Safe and Coasting with Ecstasy [The Heroes of Silver Island 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Tonya Ramagos

  Mett shoved a fork full of the dressing in his mouth, made a considering face, and took another bite of it. “Not bad, but it’s missing something.”

  Kimberly slapped the table with her palm. “That’s what I told him. It’s almost perfect, just like my mom used to make, but it’s not quite there. He said you would know what it is.”

  “I do.” Mett’s fork moved on to the candied yams.

  “Those are my favorite.”

  He nodded as he swallowed the bite. “He nailed those, right.”

  “He did,” she agreed. “So, are you going to tell me what he missed in the dressing?”

  “Nope.”

  Kimberly gasped and gaped at him. “Why not?”

  The grin that unfolded on his lips was so boyishly sexy and mischievous it made her want to swoon. “If I told you then what would I make to impress you later?”

  Ay, caramba. That was definitely the most forward thing the man had said to her yet. He held her gaze for a long moment, that smile that spoke of danger and wicked excitement still on his face, but his eyes were serious and flaming hot.

  She sipped her drink, needing something cool to counteract the burn wreaking havoc through her system. It didn’t help. Desire was looping through her, tightening its hold on her like a satin ribbon.

  He finally looked away, averting his attention back to his plate, and her focus fell to his hands. They were large, decisive, and corded. They moved without hesitation as he polished off the rest of the food on his plate and her flesh burned to feel them caressing her body, roaming her bare flesh, covering her breasts, and cupping her pussy.

  “Thank you.”

  His words snapped her from her mental trip to happy hormonal land. She dragged a finger over her bottom lips, wincing when it came back wet. Christ, she’d been well on her way to slobberville just watching the man eat.

  “For what?”

  “Suggesting I eat.” He leaned back in his chair, pushed the plate away, and took a swig of his drink. “Charlie and his crew did a good job. He’s one hell of a cook and apparently a good teacher.”

  “He said you’re better.”

  He lifted a shoulder. “I had three years in the kitchen with Mom before he came around. She’s the one who can really cook.”

  The way he spoke about his mother warmed her heart. “You’re both really close to her, aren’t you?”

  “She’s always been there. It doesn’t matter what trials or tribulations she’s faced, she’s been my rock.”

  Kimberly got the odd sense that there was far more to it than that, but she didn’t feel comfortable asking just yet. He didn’t give her a chance anyway. He pushed his chair back, reached for her hand as he got to his feet, and pulled her up with him.

  “I believe I owe you a dance.”

  The sensation of her hand in his made her dizzy, intoxicated, and she knew it had nothing to do with the Pearl Diver. It was as if his fingers came equipped with tiny needles that penetrated her flesh and injected her with a heavy dose of erotic needs she couldn’t control. She let him pull her onto the makeshift dance floor, turned to face him, and wound her arms around his neck. His hands framed her hips, holding her in firm but gentle grip as he started to lead her in a swaying dance to the slow opening bars of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

  Kimberly lost herself in his gaze, in the feel of his hands on her, in the magic of being pressed against the hard wall of his body as the lyrics to the song penetrated the sexual fog being with him created in her head. She didn’t care about presents under the tree or stockings hanging from the fireplace either. All she wanted for Christmas was him.

  The tempo sped up and he changed his hold on her. He grabbed her hand and twirled her around in a move so graceful it surprised a laugh out of her. Then they were boogying to the beat and, boy howdy, the man had moves. His lean hips gyrated and his muscles flexed with a skill and smoothness that drew the attention of half the crowd around them.

  He twirled her one last time as the song drew to an end, pulled back into his arms when it faded into another slow Christmas melody, and grinned down at her. “I didn’t embarrass you, did I?”

  She barked a laugh. “Are you kidding? Let me guess, your mother taught you to dance like that.”

  He chuckled. “We used to dance around the house every Christmas Eve. Still do, if Charlie and I can make it home.”

  She flattened her hands on his biceps and felt his muscles flex beneath her palms as he slid his hands slowly up and down her spine. “I bet Christmas at your house is a riot.”

  “I’m surprised Charlie hasn’t invited you the Christmas dinner yet. I know you’re going with him to the concert tomorrow night.”

  Kimberly’s heart skipped a beat. He knew. God, but how much did he know? Had Charlie told him about kissing her on the patrol boat yesterday?

  “He hasn’t.” She chewed her bottom lip, deciding whether or not to put voice to the question suddenly ping-ponging in her head. After a moment, she decided to go for it. “If you know I’m going out with Charlie tomorrow night, why are you dancing with me now?”

  “You asked me to,” he said simply, but the way his hands continued to move caressingly up and down her back said far more.

  “Do you always do what a woman asks?”

  “If I think it will make her happy, yes.” His hands settled on her waist and he pulled her even closer against him. Something about the move made her believe he’d done it without even thinking, as if his attraction to her was running the show and he didn’t realize it. “Thank you, by the way, for going with Charlie to the concert. I can’t stand heavy metal.”

  “Then why were you going to go?”

  He shrugged as shuffled his feet, leading her in a slow turn on the dance floor. “There’s not a lot we don’t do together, even when it’s something one of us doesn’t care for.”

  “What about women?” Kimberly closed her eyes briefly as the question spilled from her lips before she could stop it. She started to apologize, but saw a keen understanding move through his expression that stopped her.

  “That’s one thing we’ve never done together.”

  The finality in his tone yanked back her next question before it accidently slipped. He’d just told her he would do what a woman asked if he thought it would make her happy. What if she were to ask him and Charlie to share her? Would he do it then?

  But no, that wasn’t the way she wanted it happen. She wanted him. She wanted Charlie. She wanted the three of them to be together. Still, for a true ménage relationship to work, they had to want it, too.

  The song ended and his hands slowly slid from her waist. Her body grieved the loss of the contact, immediately wishing she could have it back. She walked with him off the dance floor, her mind reeling. The party around them was still going strong, but she’d suddenly had enough of it for a while.

  “Do you want to step outside and get some fresh air?”

  He gestured toward the door. “Lead the way.”

  Her step faltered when they got to the door. He reached around her, pushing the door open for her, and she walked out. She tipped her head back as she moved onto the sidewalk and smiled at the array of twinkling stars in the sky.

  “It’s another perfect night on the island.” She righted her head and turned to find he’d stopped behind her, his gaze fixed on her. “It’s funny how we have so many of them. It makes it really seem like paradise.”

  “I’ll admit this is definitely an interesting place.” His voice was low and husky and his gaze never wavered from hers.

  Kimberly took a gamble and closed the scant distance between them. His hands returned to her hips as she wound her arms around his neck. “Thanks for dancing with me in there. I had a great time.”

  “So did I.”

  “I’m glad you were able to make it after all.”

  He stared at her, his expression starkly sexual and his eyes filled with emotions she couldn’t separate. She
didn’t see the intent in his eyes that she’d seen in Charlie’s when he’d kissed her the first time. She saw a longing in Mett’s instead and a stalwart control that seemed to be keeping him from giving into that desire.

  “I want to kiss you right now.” The admission sounded wrenched from him, as if it had hurt him to say it.

  Kimberly swallowed and licked her suddenly dry lips. “I want you to kiss me right now.”

  A seriousness filled his eyes again, a certainty that seemed laced with sorrow. “I can’t give you the rest of what you want, Kimberly.”

  He couldn’t give her the ménage she wanted. That had to be what he meant.

  “A kiss will do for now.” It was the first step. The last thing she wanted to do was come between two brothers, especially ones as close as him and Charlie. But maybe, just maybe, if she was given enough time, she could find a way to convince them they really wanted the same thing she did.

  She rose to her tiptoes and heard him sigh as she brushed her lips lightly over his. She expected him to pull back, to let her go, and walk back into Island Hall. Instead, she felt him surrender. He slid one of his hands around her, splaying his fingers on the small of her back, and held her so closely even oxygen couldn’t get between them as he covered her mouth with his in a kiss so tender, so sweet, and so mind-blowing it stole a little piece of her heart.

  Chapter Three

  Charlie studied Kimberly, enjoying the way the light of the full moon played over her ebony hair. Despite the darkness, he saw her eyes twinkle as bright as the stars above them as he cut the boat engine and settled on the bench seat next to her.

  He slid an arm around her and snuggled her close at his side, dipping his head to brush his lips to the top of her head. “Are you cold?” He figured the temperature on the water was a good ten degrees or more colder than it had been on the mainland. Yet, he felt the warmth of her body seeping into his even through the barrier of her clothing and his.

  She tipped her head back to look up at him and gave a half-laugh. “Are you kidding? After being squashed between sweaty bodies on the coliseum floor for three hours, the chill out here feels spectacular.”

  Charlie grinned. “Yeah, I guess it does. I thought we’d coast the rest of the way unless you’re in a rush to get back to the island.” He gauged the distance to be about three miles to the shore.

  Her arm snaked around his front, her delicate fingers curling around his side as she cuddled even closer. “Nope. I’m perfectly content where I am right now.”

  He hooked a finger beneath her chin and licked the crease of her lips. “So am I.” Her lips parted on a soft sigh of invitation and he delved his tongue inside, ruthlessly shoving the image of her kissing Mett out of his mind.

  She didn’t know he’d seen them last night. He’d been coming out of Starry Skies, his hands laden with refill dishes for the buffet inside Island Hall when he’d spotted her and Mett on the sidewalk across the street. He’d started to call out to them when he’d see her turn to face his brother, watched as her arms had gone around Mett’s neck, and then she’d rose to her tiptoes and kissed him.

  Charlie had stepped back into the shadows, jealousy twisting his gut. He hadn’t been angry at either of them. Maybe he should’ve been. Mett knew he’d already asked Kimberly on a date, but that still hadn’t stopped his brother from sticking his tongue down her throat.

  Then again, from his vantage point across the street, he’d clearly seen it had been Kimberly who had kissed Mett. He’d already known his brother was equally attracted to Kimberly and he’d started to suspect it wasn’t a one-sided deal.

  As she angled her head, allowing him to take the kiss deeper, he found part of himself not giving a shit if she was into Mett, too, or not. She was with him right now and that was all that mattered tonight. If he played his cards right, he’d make her forget about Mett and have her all to himself.

  “I’m definitely not cold now,” she whispered, a smile playing at the corners of her lips as he licked his way to her cheek. “Has anyone ever told you that mouth of yours should come with a warning label?”

  Charlie chuckled and nuzzled his face in the side of her neck. “No. That’s a new one.” Wanting to hold her even closer, he slid his hands to her waist and lifted her to sit sideways on his lap.

  She turned her torso toward him, her brows winging up and amusement dancing in her eyes. “Well, just lift me like a ragdoll and put me where you want me.”

  He grinned. “I did. Thank you.”

  She threw her head back and laughed, exposing the tantalizing column of her throat he couldn’t resist leaning forward to kiss. He dragged his tongue down her flesh and felt her pulse race. She flattened a hand on his shoulder and laced the fingers of her other hand through his hair as she righted her head and gazed at him.

  “How did you end up on Silver Island?”

  She blinked at him as if coming out of a spell. He could relate. He felt himself fall under a spell of her making every time he got near her.

  “Chance, I suppose. Maybe fate.”

  Her fingers toyed with his hair as she spoke and he had to force himself to focus on her words and not how incredibly fantastic it felt.

  “I was born and raised in Lucedale. The city is a lot larger now than it was back then.” She groaned and rolled her eyes. “I hated it! I could wait to grow up and get as far away from the small town life as I could.”

  “And you made it what, roughly sixty miles?”

  She snorted. “As it turned out, yeah. I got farther away for a few years. A lot farther away. My mom died when I was fourteen. My father is a truck driver and is gone a lot. I stayed with a close friend most of the time after mom died. I did odd jobs to make money, babysitting and that kind of stuff, and then got a job waitressing when I turned fifteen. I saved every penny. By the time I graduated high school, I had enough to carry me through for a while. I had a decent car my father had bought for me and I packed my bags and hit the road.”

  “Where did you go?”

  She gave him a look that told him the answer to that question should have been a no brainer. “Where does over half the teenage population of the world dream of going when they grow up?”

  “California?” Geezus, she couldn’t have been more than eighteen and she’d driven halfway across the freaking country to a state like California alone?

  She nodded. “Hollywood to be exact.”

  Charlie drew his brows together. “You wanted to be an actress?”

  “No,” she said simply. “I’d just always wanted to go there. I stopped off in places along the way, spent some time in New Orleans, Houston, Phoenix, the larger cities along the southwest.” She shrugged. “I pretty much became a drifter. Even though I didn’t have any education beyond a high school diploma, I didn’t have trouble finding a job. I did a lot of receptionist work, waitressed at a few restaurants, hosted at a few more, and eventually, when I reached Hollywood, I weaseled my way into a front desk position at the Roosevelt.”

  “Damn,” Charlie breathed. He was actually impressed. The way she was describing her journey didn’t give him the impression of a young woman hard on her luck and mooching off of anyone. She’d apparently had a dream in her head and the gumption to go after it full steam ahead. “What about your father? Did you keep in touch with him?”

  “Of course! We talked every day, sometimes several times a day. I think we built a closer relationship when we were both driving on the road than we’d had my entire life. He was always just a phone call away.” She winced. “I’ll admit there were a couple of times I had to take advantage of that, you know, Oh, Daddy, my car needs new tires. I’ve got a hundred and fifty bucks to my name, and the tires are going to coast a hundred and seventy-five. That sort of stuff.” She lifted a finger. “But I only did that a couple of times and only when it was absolutely necessary. Boy, it was hard to swallow my pride and make the call even then. Dad never flinched. I think it made him happy to know I still needed him n
ow and then.”

  Charlie chuckled. “I bet it did if you were that independent.”

  “I was and, believe me, I know how to live off of a dime when I have to.” She straightened in his lap and held her head high. “If I want something, I’m going to figure out how to get it.”

  Charlie grazed the backs of his fingers down her satiny cheek. “I don’t doubt that for a minute.” He let his hand fall back down to her waist. “So, you made it Hollywood, landed a job at one of the ritziest hotels in the city, and then what?”

  “I enjoyed life. I met all sorts of people from the rich and famous to those down on their luck. I attended parties, fancy dinners—”

  “With a boyfriend?”

  She poked the tip of his nose, grinning. “I wondered how long it would take for that question to pop up. I dated a few guys here and there, but never landed into anything serious. Some of them wanted to be and I actually thought a couple could be.”

  “Why weren’t they?”

  She chewed her bottom lip as she mulled over the answer for a moment. “Let’s just say that apparently Hollywood is full of the wrong kind of guys and I seemed to be a magnet for all of them.”

  Charlie could relate to the magnet part. He’d damn sure felt drawn to her from the moment he’d saw her.

  “Most of them turned out to be too controlling, especially the ones with money. I wasn’t looking for a man to support me. I was doing fine on my own. I don’t mind a man who asserts a bit of authority in the bedroom, but attempting to run my life on the other side of that door doesn’t fly with me. Then there was this one—” She stopped and shook her head. “Make that two, who thought they could get physical in their controlling.”

  Charlie stiffened as anger bubbled in his throat. “They hit you?” He’d kill them. If he ever found out who they were, he’d rip the fucker’s heads off. That was if Mett didn’t get to them first.

  She scratched the side of her nose and averted her gaze. “Yeah.” She met his gaze again, her eyes flashing with life. “And, let me tell you, that definitely didn’t fly, especially the one who thought he could stalk me and threaten me into coming back.” She made a raspberry sound with her lips. “I let him know right away I wasn’t some weakling he could torment into getting his way.” She frowned. “Although, he was part of the reason I left Hollywood. It was okay, though, because I had gotten bored with it anyway.”