She wanted Drake, but she also wanted Kurt. What was happening to her? “Okay.”
* * * *
The caroling went well. A light snow had fallen, but with the lack of wind, the evening wasn’t cold. During their stroll, both men seemed to find a reason to take her elbow or wrap an arm around her waist as they crossed icy patches. While her singing lacked the rich quality of Drake’s or Kurt’s voices, they all had a good time. Charley surprisingly knew a lot of the words to the songs. Someone had taken the time to teach him. Was it Drake or Kurt? Or had Camille been a singer, too?
Charley grabbed her hand and tugged. “Dad said he’d make hot chocolate after we sang. Can you come over?”
How could anyone deny the urgent plea? “Sure.” This might be her opportunity to test the waters, so to speak.
Given it was Sunday evening, she figured Drake wouldn’t get a call from work. If he did, she’d be convinced he’d paid someone to interrupt him. It didn’t take a degree in psychology to see that Drake had never addressed his wife’s death. He seemed to be using work as a way to avoid his pain.
Tonight, however, he had gotten into the spirit of Christmas. Drake had been equally attentive to both her and Charley, and she couldn’t have been more pleased. She thought that after the dart game, he was giving up his claim to date her. Either he didn’t consider Kurt a threat or he believed in sharing. Ever since Kurt brought up the whole threesome concept, the idea had consumed her waking thoughts. She still hadn’t drawn any conclusions, but she wanted to keep an open mind.
Kurt brought her into the living room. “Charley,” he said, “why don’t you help your dad fix the cocoa you promised Ms. Jones?”
“Okay.” He grinned and ran off.
Without any foreplay, Kurt turned her in his arms and kissed her. Not only hadn’t she expected him to kiss her in his brother’s house, but the explosion of need startled her. Here, she’d spent her whole time thinking of Drake. Maybe she’d picked the wrong brother.
One hand cupped the back of her head, and as he tilted her back he dragged his other hand down her arm until he reached the waistband of her jeans. Was he going to slip his fingers into her pants? Her thoughts splintered. What if Charley walked in? What if Drake did? Had his warm, tender kisses not turned her on so much, she would have pulled away.
Drake and Charley’s voices carried into the living room from the kitchen. As long as they stayed there, she’d enjoy Kurt’s undivided attention. Instead of dipping between her legs, he slipped a hand under her sweater and captured a breast. Her breath caught at the promise of what might come.
Reason intruded. Was he only pretending? He said he wanted Drake to see them so that he might get jealous. She figured there was only one way to find out. She leaned forward and lowered her hand from his shoulder to his crotch in one bold move. His free hand clasped her wrist.
“We can’t. Not here.” His dreamy, hooded eyes closed, as if stopping her had been hard.
She sat back and broke the kiss. She was sure her lips were swollen and her cheeks flushed. How come he could touch her and yet she couldn’t reciprocate? Before she could figure out his motive, Drake called in from the kitchen that the cocoa was ready.
She straightened her shirt and scooted away from Kurt, who was inhaling and exhaling like a runner who’d just finished a race. One thing she discovered, Kurt hadn’t been faking his interest.
* * * *
Drake came out of the kitchen carrying the cocoa. One look at his brother and Ms. Jones almost made him drop the damn tray. What the hell had been going on? From the smudged lipstick and mussed hair, Kurt had had his hands all over Destiny. His jaw tightened. Sure, he’d run out on her a few times and hadn’t found the time to call, but he didn’t appreciate Kurt butting in on the woman he wanted. Didn’t matter Drake could never have her. He hadn’t been able to protect his wife when she needed him the most. He knew damned well he could never be sure he could protect Destiny. His brother would be leaving town soon, and she didn’t need the disappointment.
Charley picked up a mug from the tray and handed it to her. Drake’s anger disappeared. He was so proud of his son.
“Thank you, Charley,” she said with a smile.
She avoided Drake’s gaze. Something major had happened between her and Kurt. He and his brother needed to have a serious talk. It wouldn’t be fair to her if they got involved. Charley already adored her. What if things went south and he needed to discuss Charley’s progress. She’d feel uncomfortable around him. Where would that leave his son? The kid already had lost one mom.
Kurt set his cup on the coffee table and slapped his thighs. “What say we play a game of Monopoly?”
Charley clapped. He loved that game.
“That’s a great idea.” This was Christmas, and anything his son wanted, he’d give him if he could.
“I’ll get it,” his son said.
While Charley retrieved the game, Drake took the centerpiece off the dining room table. “Let’s play over here. There’s more room.”
He wondered if Kurt and Destiny would team up against him again. As much as he should be upset, he could see the spark in her eye that she cared for both of them. He squashed the image of all three of them in bed. Don’t go there. He had to accept the fact that some things weren’t meant to be.
He took his place at the head of the table and Destiny sat to his right, with Kurt opposite him. Even over the aroma of chocolate, he could smell the sweetness of her perfume, and his cock hardened. He had to get a grip before he embarrassed himself.
Charley came running in with the game in his hands. “I want to be banker.”
No telling who’d end up with money at the end, but he was up for it. Kurt and he argued over what piece they wanted, but apparently Destiny wasn’t going to wait around to see who won the debate. She picked up the car.
Kurt reached over and stilled her hand. “That’s the piece I want.” He winked, obviously trying to rile her up.
“What? You think I should have the iron or the thimble?” She widened her eyes, looking way too cute. “Do women only belong in the house?”
He held up both hands. “That thought never crossed my mind. I was convinced you’d go for the top hat, since you’re such a dandy.”
She giggled and handed over the car to Kurt. “Fine.”
Charley picked up the dog, and he took the battleship because his life seemed to be one skirmish after another.
The game began, and Destiny was more competitive than he thought. Kurt, surprisingly, let her get away with anything she wanted. He hadn’t seen his brother so attentive to another woman in a long time. Maybe it was because her flirtatious actions were directed at Kurt.
He wanted Destiny to look at him that way. If only he could figure out a way to rekindle her interest, he might give it a go. But she’d have to understand that a permanent relationship wasn’t in the cards. Hell, why was he doing this to himself? She’d be better off looking elsewhere than at the Devereaux men. His work seemed to take too much time, and Kurt wouldn’t be around much longer. Destiny was in for disappointment, that was for sure.
Charley picked up a card and cheered. “I get to collect two hundred dollars.” He looked up at Destiny.
“That’s two of these bills.”
He grinned. His heart almost splintered at the affection between them. For the first time in a long time, he hadn’t been focused on the clock. The fact his phone remained silent was another miracle. Given his son’s lack of ability to count money, Drake was the first to go belly-up.
“Well, I’m done.” He scooted back his chair, gathered the cocoa cups, and placed them on the tray.
Destiny stood, too. “I need to be going.”
Damn, he was hoping Charley would go to bed and give him some time alone with the sexy vixen. He could use a few kisses and some touching.
“Come on, Charley. Let me tuck you into bed.” Kurt must have read his mind.
His son’s lip quivered. �
��I want to play another game.”
Destiny placed a hand on Charley’s shoulder. “We have school tomorrow, and I don’t want you yawning in class.”
He looked up at her. “Okay.”
His son never gave in that easily. Kurt led him down the hallway. Drake put the cups back down.
“I am really sorry how things have worked out, but I’d like you to give me another chance.” Why again am I doing this? She deserved better.
Her face sparkled. “I’d love that.” Maybe it was his imagination, but her breath seemed to come out faster.
Aw, hell. One kiss wouldn’t hurt. He’d been dying to taste her all night long and moved in. The moment his lips touched hers, he knew he was lost. Her warmth spread through him, causing his cock to expand. She opened her mouth, and he willingly accepted the invitation. At first she was tentative, but as he explored her mouth, her tongue grew bolder. Wanting to taste her skin and inhale her scent, he pulled back and ran his mouth down her neck.
She moaned when he caught the bottom of her ear between his teeth, and then dug her fingers into his arms. What this woman did to him. His need for her increased with each touch and with each taste.
Her hair smelled like peaches and her skin was soft as silk. When she ran her hands up and down his arms, he had to have more. He slid a palm up her shirt and cupped her breast. He expected her to flinch, but she pressed her body closer to his.
His cock ached. “I want you naked,” he whispered in her ear.
Chapter Four
Destiny’s body went rigid. She’d been so carried away that Drake’s words barely registered. “We can’t.”
As if he didn’t hear her, he slipped his hand under her bra and pressed her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, making her pussy do somersaults. If he touched her panties, he was sure to know how much she wanted him.
Her comment must have registered for he pulled away. His eyes were half-closed and his mouth partially open as if he, too, had been in a sensual coma.
“You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. Charley’s in the other room.”
“Not to mention Kurt.”
He drew the back of her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “No, Kurt wouldn’t mind. In fact, he might stand behind you and enjoy your body with me.”
Once again the image of making love to both men slammed into her. She couldn’t imagine what four hands and two mouths would do to her.
She broke contact and straightened her outfit. As if she’d conjured up Drake’s brother, Kurt wandered in.
“Am I interrupting something?”
“No,” they both said in unison.
Kurt’s grin told them he didn’t believe them for a second. Could this get any more embarrassing? Hadn’t she spent time on the sofa with Kurt, and then less than two hours later was in Drake’s arms? What was wrong with her?
“I guess I should be going.”
Before either man stopped her, she picked up her coat and practically ran out. Once in her car, she started the engine and sat there, her breaths coming out fast. Her tit tingled where Drake had touched her, and her pussy was wet from the way he kissed. She was a basket case.
Her head cleared somewhat on the way home, but she had a hard time grasping the fact that she wanted both men. She prayed that work would take her mind off the men. Only it hadn’t.
Getting through the next two days took her teaching patience to a new level, but her focus remained on the two men she loved.
Finally, Christmas vacation began, and she couldn’t wait until Thursday night. Sharing Christmas Eve dinner with two men she adored made her ache with need. With Charley at the house, there wouldn’t be an opportunity to taste either one, but she’d enjoy just being with them.
She’d e-mailed Drake asking what she could bring. Naturally, he told her he had everything covered. After she insisted she help in some way, he agreed a pecan pie would be welcome. Now she had to bake a pie and figure out what gift to bring each of them. Drake loved ties, so that choice would be easy. Charley would be happy with a toy car, she bet, but Kurt would be tougher. She actually ended up driving to Bozeman and spending several hours shopping for the perfect gifts.
Finally, Christmas Eve arrived. The winds had picked up outside, and the forecast was for snow. Nothing was more beautiful than a snowy Christmas Day. The only thing she was going to miss more was Christmas with her family. Since her break was only two weeks, and she had yet to prepare her lesson plans for next semester, she decided not to fly back to Florida. Besides, she’d just been with them for eighteen months.
Being with the Devereaux men would help make up for her loss. Figuring out what to wear was the hard part. Should she go conservative and school-like for Charley’s sake, or sexy for her men? In the end, she wore nice slacks with a tight sweater that showed off her body. She wished she could have worn spiked heels so she’d be more at eye level with them, but walking in the snow made that impossible.
With her gifts in hand, she headed over to Drake’s house. Her hands were sweaty, though she wasn’t sure why. The evening would be fun. When she rang the bell, Charley answered.
“Ms. Jones is here,” he shouted.
“Charley, you don’t need to yell,” Drake said from somewhere in the house.
She stepped inside. The warmth embraced her, and the scent of cinnamon and turkey permeated the air. Someone had been decorating. A large Christmas tree sat in the corner of the living room where none had been a few days before. She guessed Kurt had been the elf at work.
Speaking of which, the handsome man himself came out of the kitchen, dressed in jeans and a yummy mocha sweater, wearing an apron. He kissed her. “Merry Christmas.”
He looked upward. She followed his gaze and spotted the mistletoe. “Merry Christmas to you.”
Drake followed close behind and handed her a glass of wine. Even though she was no longer under the kissing ball, he bestowed a lengthy kiss on her, too.
“Welcome.” He took the bag carrying the gifts from her hands. “You shouldn’t have.”
“The pie’s on top, so be careful.”
Drake set the bag on the coffee table and removed the dessert. “Have a seat. Dinner will be ready shortly.”
Kurt disappeared and came out with a camera in hand. He bent down and snapped some close-ups of her. “Kurt!”
“What? I’m here to document Christmas Eve. It’s been a while since we’ve had a beautiful woman at our table.” She pushed aside the image of Camille sitting on the sofa and at the table. Ghosts had no place interfering on this day of joy.
“Thank you.”
During dinner they talked mostly about school. Charley certainly didn’t need to be listening about the events of a murder trial. She was impressed with how well-behaved he was during the meal. While he was good in class, not all children were able to listen during an occasional adult conversation.
The meal itself was divine and the company wonderful.
She clapped her hands after the dishes were cleared. “How about you open the presents I brought.”
Charley cheered. She handed him his present and he tore open the paper. His grin was worth the whole trip.
“I love my truck, Ms. Jones. Thank you.”
She gave a present each to Drake and Kurt. To show off his new tie, Drake draped it over his neck even though it hardly went with his camel sweater. For Kurt, she’d gotten a polarizing filter for his camera, something she’d heard him mention he needed.
Kurt rubbed her hand. “I can’t think of a better present. Thank you.”
Drake handed her three presents. “For you, from us.”
Oh, my. “You’ve done so much for me already.”
She unwrapped each one. Kurt bought her a wool scarf and Drake gave her a matching hat. Charley’s contribution was a box of dark chocolates. “These gifts are perfect. Thank you all.”
Kurt put the gifts in the living room. “Anyone up for a game of Wii?”
“Yes!”
Charley shouted.
She knew she’d stand no chance against him.
In no time, Charley proved that youth would win every time. Boy, did that make her feel old. Kids these days were so tech savvy. In the end, she and Kurt lost to Drake and Charley. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so much.
Since there was no school the next day, Charley had been allowed to stay up late. That was her cue to leave. As soon as Charley disappeared into the family room, she gave each one of the men a lengthy kiss good night.
* * * *
Destiny woke up the next morning with a slight headache and a stomachache. She never should have eaten two pieces of pecan pie, nor should she have mixed wine with eggnog, but she wouldn’t have traded the experience for the world. She laid out her gifts so that she could look at them time and time again. Were Kurt and Drake thoughtful men or what?
Needing to keep busy, she spent all morning cleaning. Somehow getting organized made her feel better. She was in her kitchen fixing a cup of coffee when someone knocked on her door. She peeked out the kitchen window. It was Kurt! She wondered what he was doing here on Christmas Day. She raced to answer it.
“Hey.” She smiled and ushered him in.
He stomped his feet on the mat and came in. “Since it’s Saturday, and it’s so beautiful out, I thought maybe I could convince you to go shooting with me.”
“I could never kill anything.”
He laughed and held up a hand. “No, I meant with a camera. I have a spare and thought we’d go up to Hellman’s Ridge. The view is fabulous up there.”
“What about Charley and Drake?”
“They’re doing some father-son bonding.”
Her heart melted. “I’m glad. They need time together.”
“Those were my thoughts. So, are you up for spending the day with the third wheel?”
“Sounds wonderful, but no one considers you that.” From the shine in his eyes, he was using the outcast comment as an excuse to be with her. Her pulse raced. Not only would she get quality time with him, she’d get to spend time outside, something she hadn’t done much since her arrival. “How about I pack some sandwiches?”
Monroe, Melody S. - Destiny's Desire [Pleasure, Montana 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 4