Kansas City Shuffle

by Talya Bosco

  Michelle sat back in her seat and took a sip of her wine. She looked as though she was debating how to answer. Or maybe she was just thinking about her answer.

  “There are a bunch of reasons, really. I didn't write BDSM because I don't know enough about it, and it's not something I'm into. I read too many capture fantasies in the older romances and I got sick of them. But why triads specifically?” Michelle pursed her lips for a moment before continuing. “Well, you know, they say write what you know. And I know triads. I should. I've been in one for the last ten years.”

  “Excuse me?” Larissa's voice rose in surprise. Then she ducked her head as she realized how loud she had become. “Sorry.”

  “I have been in a triad for the last ten years.”

  “Really? Wow.”

  Michelle laughed. “Yes, really.”

  Larissa was shocked. How the hell hadn't she known that? You'd think something like that would have been public knowledge for a well-known author like Michelle. And why the hell was she telling her this?

  “My husbands and I keep it pretty private. Even though I write about triads, most people are okay with it in their fantasy, but not in their next-door neighbors. It makes things easier all around to not be so public about it.”

  “What about your kids?”

  “We live in a small community that tends to be more accepting than most. Our kids go to a private school there.”

  Larissa found herself full of questions. How did they handle jealousy between the men? Did the children know who their biological father was? Did she sleep with both of the men at the same time? But she had no right to ask any of those questions. So instead she sat there, unsure of what to say.

  Michelle leaned forward. “Did I shock you?”

  “Surprise me? Yes. Shock me as in am I bothered by it? No. Not at all.” Larissa pursed her own lips. “Especially not now. I, um, well, I said I met someone. But what I really meant was I met a couple of someones.”

  “Damn. You're a fast worker, aren't you?”

  “Hey, it's not my fault. It's not like I was looking for them.”

  “Where'd you meet them?”

  “At the hotel. Oh, and while I was shopping.”

  “So tell me all about them.”

  Larissa shrugged. Michelle seemed awfully interested in her love life. But then, who else did she have here to talk to about it? Susan was nice enough but seemed kind of reserved. So who did that leave her? Andy, the waiter at the restaurant?

  She could call someone back home, but she couldn't think of anyone who would be accepting of what she had done.

  “There's not much to tell, really. I met Jared after my date with Philip and Devon while I was shopping the other day.”

  Michelle opened her mouth as though to say something else, but the sound of a cell phone ring coming out of her purse forestalled her. “Sorry, I have to take this; it's my agent.”

  Michelle opened up her phone and started talking. To give her some privacy, Larissa excused herself and walked around the courtyard of the restaurant, looking at the plants and decorations set out for that purpose.

  What should she tell Michelle about the men? Part of her wanted to shout about it to the world. Part of her wanted to keep it as secret as she possibly could.

  What was there to tell, anyway? That she'd had absolutely incredible sex with two of the hottest men she'd ever met? That they'd made plans to see her this evening and take her to a play? That she fully expected tonight to end the same way last night had?

  That despite her short acquaintance with them, she felt as though she was falling in love with them? Every moment away from them, they were almost all she could think about. She pictured them together. Not just in bed. But together out in the world. Doing things, being with each other. And yes, she saw them together in the future. Hell, she wanted to see them together in the future.

  It made no sense at all, but she felt like she had come home with them. Like they gave her something, filled a hole in her life she hadn't even known existed. The thought of going back to Philly and being without them filled her with a dread that pained her heart.

  She didn't believe in love at first sight. She wasn't in love with Jared. And she wasn't in love with Devon. She couldn't be. Was it just plain old-fashioned lust? But if it was, why was it so strong? She'd never experienced it to this degree before. Not just lusting, but literally needing them. Her body craved their touches like a drug. And when she had first seen both of them, she had been ready to jump their bones almost immediately.

  It had to be something else. It wasn't love.

  Because she knew in a couple of days it would be over. She'd never see the men again. Like she and Jared had discussed before, no promises made, no vows expected. This was a vacation romance, a fling. Nothing more.

  So, there was nothing to tell. She'd already told Michelle enough. She'd told her all there was to tell, actually. Definitely time to change the subject when she got back to the table.

  By the time she returned, though, Michelle had seemed to forget their conversation. “Sorry. It was kind of important. My agent and I are having a bit of a disagreement.”

  “Sorry.”

  “No, actually I think you can help.”

  Larissa frowned. “How could I possibly help?”

  “Hypothetical situation. You meet a man. You feel as though you are falling in love with him. And he has a secret. Do you forgive him when he tells you?”

  Larissa felt like groaning. So much for changing the subject. “What's the secret?”

  “He's a werewolf.”

  Of course he was. That's what Michelle wrote about.

  “Oh, I don't know, Michelle. I can't predict that.”

  “What about your men? What if they had a secret?”

  Larissa wanted to laugh, but she couldn't. The men had been talking about something this morning; she knew they had. She'd heard the murmur of their voices as she'd been waking up. But when she'd opened her eyes, they'd stopped talking completely. They hadn't looked guilty, but she knew they were hiding something from her. But then again, she was hiding things from them.

  “This is all hypothetical, right?”

  “Of course.”

  “I guess it depends on my feelings for them. If I felt as though I were falling in love with them, then part of me would want to forgive them no matter what. But I'd want to know why they'd kept the secret, and I'd have to agree that it was an acceptable reason for having kept it. Not to mention the time factor.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “How long did it take them to tell me? Did they wait to make sure I was fully ensnared in their net? As in so in love with them I would forgive them anything in the rush of fresh love? Or was it a beyond-their-control kind of reason. You know what I mean?”

  “Yeah, I think I do. So basically if Ed and Danny make Marianna wait for no justifiable reason, whether it be fear of losing her, or that they just didn't want to tell her, then you'd find it more difficult to accept.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Okay. I'll bear that in mind.”

  “I gather the next story isn't your typical one?”

  “Not really.” Michelle shook her head. “Most of my stories have the women at least peripherally aware of the pack. This one is a complete stranger to the pack and what it means. I'm not sure how she'll handle it.”

  Larissa chuckled. “Oh, come on. A woman is told that her men not only love her, but she's guaranteed that they'll love her forever. They are physically and genetically incapable of cheating on her and will always desire her. Not to mention take care of her, give her independence, and always support her.” Larissa shook her head. “Yeah, you're right. I don't know how she'll handle it either.”

  By the time Larissa was done, Michelle was laughing as well. “Okay, point made.”

  “And what does she care if they get hairy once in a while? Your wolves aren't controlled by the moon; they can do it when they want. They retain thei
r humanness when they shift. What's not to love about a man who can keep you extra warm when you just want to cuddle?”

  “All right, all right. I give up.”

  Larissa asked a question that had been bugging her all afternoon. “So are your men anything like the men you write about?”

  “Actually, yeah. I couldn't ask for two better men to spend the rest of my life with. They are wonderful fathers, absolutely incredible lovers, and well, just perfect husbands. I guess you can say they inspire me.”

  * * * * *

  Jared stood at the fireplace of his office and watched his sister and Devon discuss the fiasco he and his best friend had made of their courting of Larissa. Michelle wasn't happy with them, and she made no secret of it.

  “So what do you pair of Einsteins intend to do now?”

  “I don't see why you need to worry about it. We have it under control.” Devon sat on the couch looking relaxed and without a concern in the world. But Jared knew better. He knew Devon's guts were in as tight a knot as his were.

  Michelle rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. If that isn't a load of bullshit. You have a problem, and you know it. You ran this stupid contest, and you met your mate. Now how the hell are you gonna tell her that's what you did?”

  “Hey, we weren't the ones who ran it.”

  Michelle sighed. “You let Mother do it, didn't you?”

  Devon put up his hands with a smile. “Hey, she's not my mother. She belongs to you and Jared.”

  “Do you think she suspects anything?” Jared spoke softly.

  “Does she suspect you're a pair of alpha werewolves looking for a mate? Probably not. Does she suspect something else is up? If she doesn't now, give her a little bit and she will. She's too smart not to realize that learning about two different triads in a city the size of Kansas City is more than a coincidence.”

  Michelle sat down in the comfortable chair opposite Jared's desk. “I wish I'd known you'd told her about Mom and the dads.”

  “I hadn't intended to, but I needed a good example of a triad. Bringing you up didn't seem the wisest choice either.”

  Devon shook his head. “You talked to her. Tell us something helpful, Michelle.”

  “I don't know what to tell you, Devon. You both know her better than I do already. You know she doesn't like lies. And she is gonna feel betrayed. The longer you wait, the worse it's going to be.”

  “You know the rules. We can't tell her until both the pack is done testing her and we're sure she wants us.”

  Michelle smirked. “Trust me, she wants you.”

  Jared sighed. “You know what he means, Michelle. I wouldn't blame her if she walked away once she finds out what's been going on.”

  “I know.” Michelle hugged her brother. “I do think she's stronger than that. But if you wait too long, I can't promise anything.”

  Chapter Eight

  Devon gloated as they walked to the car after their evening out. “I told you you'd love it. I can't believe you've never seen it.”

  “No, although I've wanted to. I just wish someone had warned me that the nuns come out into the audience.”

  He snickered. “What, you didn't like being smacked on the knee and told to uncross your legs?”

  “I've never been so embarrassed in my life.”

  Jared growled. “She's lucky I didn't smack her back for touching you.”

  Larissa smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked down the street, her arms linked in each of her men's.

  “My hero. Although if you'd growled like that when she got me, she probably would have run backstage.”

  Devon squeezed her arm. “I'm sorry, Larissa. I should have warned you, but I never even thought about it. I've seen Nunsense enough times to know anyone in the front row is fair game.”

  “Oh, don't be silly. I had fun. Anyway, where else can you get a group of fake nuns berating you for not going to church? I'll just make sure to wear a longer skirt next time.”

  “Don't even think about it.” This time Jared's growl was louder and held more meaning. He glared at her as he helped her into the limousine waiting for them.

  Larissa waited for the two men to climb into the car after her before pretending to pout. “Well, I had fun. Didn't you?”

  Her innocent tone was belied by her climbing atop Jared's lap and straddling his legs.

  “I thought we were going to see something a bit more adult. That's the last time I let Mr. Amusement over here buy the tickets.” Jared frowned.

  Larissa wiggled her bottom. “But I really did have fun. Shouldn't that count for something?”

  Jared grabbed her hips and stopped her wiggling. “Rissa, behave yourself.” His words were stern, but his tone and the smile on his face told a different story. Not to mention the hard-on she could feel rising against her crotch.

  “Give me a reason to.” Her whisper was husky and full of intent. She reached for the button on his pants and began to open them as she talked. “You told the driver earlier that you wanted me to see the lights in the plaza after the show. We won't be back at the hotel for at least an hour. I have something much more fun in mind than just looking at pretty lights.”

  Larissa spread Jared's pants open to allow her better access. Her short skirt was pulled tight across her legs. Devon knelt behind her and inched the material up slowly. The heat of his hands warmed her thighs.

  “I want you, Jared. I want both of you. Here. Now.”

  “Rissa,” He groaned, obviously still trying to hold back.

  “I didn't explain why I was so embarrassed that the actress chose me to pick on, did I? It's because I wasn't wearing any underwear. And I was afraid I'd pulled a Sharon Stone. No undies, Jared. I sat there for the last two hours squirming in my juices every time you or Devon smiled at me or touched me.” She grabbed his hand and placed it on her breast. “I need you, Jared. I'm burning for you.”

  “She's soaked, Jared.” Devon had worked her dress up, and it now bunched around her hips. He caressed her pussy with one hand as his other hand stroked her leg. Jared's gaze flickered down, and she heard him suck in his breath at the sight. When Devon slid a finger inside her, Jared's nose flared and his hands tightened on her hips.

  Larissa thrust against Devon's hand, rocking on it. “Oh, he feels so good, Jared, but I want more.”

  Two more fingers joined the first, and his thumb began to stroke her clit. She felt an orgasm build up quickly, but she really wanted more than just a fingering.

  She reached into Jared's pants and stroked his hard, thick cock. “I've always dreamed of having sex in a limo. Only this way, I can get it times two. Are you going to deny me one of my fantasies?”

  She knew he wouldn't. Not only would he give her anything she wanted, she knew he wanted it as well. “I want to suck you, and then I want you to fuck me. I want to ride you hard. I want you to make me scream.”

  She barely felt herself lifted and tilted before she realized she'd been impaled from behind. Devon thrust into her hard, as though reminding her he was there as well.

  “What do you want from me, sweetheart?” His voice ran down her body like liquid fire. She leaned back into him as he pushed into her again.

  She gasped, trying to get her breath back to answer him. “That. I want that. I want you to fuck me from behind while I suck Jared into my mouth. And then when you both are ready, I want you both to take me at once.”

  Devon's moan reverberated through her entire body. “Are you sure?”

  She turned her head to look at him and smiled. “Very.”

  She'd refused it last night, but now, tonight, here, she wanted them both. She wanted Devon in her ass while she was fucking Jared, but first she would take care of her initial fantasy. She kissed Devon, then turned around to face Jared and bent her body forward.

  Jared had obviously given up protesting because his cock stood up at attention, waiting for her.

  When her lips surrounded his mushroom head, his gasp of pleas
ure made her heart trip, and she locked her lips around him tightly.

  Before the other night, she'd never been with an uncut male and, until last night, had never held one in her mouth. The extra skin moved smoothly against his shaft as she stroked him with her mouth.

  She'd never get tired of his taste; she knew that like she knew her name. The two of them reminded her of a freedom she'd only dreamed about but could finally experience with them.

  Jared rocked into her mouth much the same as Devon rocked into her pussy, and for a moment she was lost in the sensation. It was only when Jared lifted her head by the chin that she remembered something much more pleasurable was in store for her.

  Devon pulled her up and held her to him with one hand. He tossed a condom to Jared.

  “Where the hell did you get that?”

  Devon hugged her tight. “It's a full-service limo company, darlin'.”

  She could only assume he'd slid one on himself before entering her and was grateful that he was thinking about more than her orgasms.

  Devon thrust into her again before he slid out, still hard, dripping liquid onto her inner thigh, and she moaned at the loss. But she wasn't empty for long, as he kept hold of her hips and lifted her straight onto his best friend's cock.

  Larissa loved sex in this position. It forced her lover into her hard and deep, making her feel as though he were buried permanently inside her. Her groan of satisfaction was matched by Jared's own.

  Devon's fingers, wet from her juices, teased her ass, probing gently for admittance.

  “Have you ever done anal before?” Jared asked, adjusting them both to keep himself buried inside her and still allow access for Devon.

  “Yes.”

  “It will be tighter, more intense with two of us. If it gets to be too much, you tell us, okay?”

  Devon pushed a finger into her ass, and she moaned loudly, nodding her head in agreement with Jared. Jared kept her attention on him, rocking his hips gently as Devon added a second and then a third finger, stretching her out.