He laughed. “You minx. That’s an interesting way to get around the prices.”

“I have no idea what you mean.” She sipped her wine, batting her lashes, a sly smile sneaking out. “The appetizer was ginger beef, by the way.”

The empty plate was removed and a new dish brought. He barely heard her, the new item of potential torture holding him in awe. “Is that…still alive?”

She covered her mouth with a hand, her eyes shining like diamonds. “Oh dear.”

“Well, not that I’m saying no to trying whatever it is that you’ve got arranged here, but you got to understand that usually I kill the beast before I toss it in the pot.”

Jaxi shook with her laughter, tears running down her face. She wiped at her eyes with her napkin, before taking a deep breath and grinning widely. “Thank you for taking me out, even if this kind of fancy-schmancy thing isn’t what I’d want to do all the time. It’s been a lot more fun than I thought it would be.”

Blake tried to ignore the simmering pot that sat in the middle of their table, concentrating on her face instead. Nope. Didn’t work. The steam rising between them created a haze that kept drawing his gaze downward. He lifted his spoon and bravely scooped a bit. “You’re welcome. Gonna be nice this time and tell me what this is?”

Jaxi hesitated, before nodding agreement. “Stewed monkey brains.”

“Ahhhh…” He jerked to a stop with the spoon barely touching his lips. Five seconds later and he would have spewed all over the pristine white tablecloth. Her choked laughter started again, and he shook his head, delight filling him.

Damn woman. Damn fine woman.

Only two more courses to go. Heaven help him.

Chapter Seventeen

Matt clicked on the light beside the bed. The tiny loft apartment over the back barn hadn’t been used for a long time. He’d gone out earlier in the day to make sure it was clean and ready.

And to wonder just how fucked he was in the head to have agreed to arranging a ménage.

The lighting in the room was low, and Matt stared at Helen, wondering if the flush staining her cheeks was fear or anticipation. “You okay?”

She hesitated. “Yeah. It’s just…strange. Thinking about being with someone other than you.”

“I know.” The idea of sharing her still sat funny. Matt pulled her close, nuzzling against her neck. “We don’t have to do this, you know. Gabe ain’t gonna say a word if he shows up and we tell him to take a hike.”

He didn’t want to admit how much he really wanted her to choose that option. To tell him that this was all a mistake and she was madly in love with him and him alone.

Damn it, he wanted the words and the actions.

Helen linked her fingers around his neck and pulled him in for a long lingering kiss. He nibbled on her lips, taking the time to lick and caress. Stroking with his tongue, teasing with his fingers across her lower back. Tiny brushes on the bare skin between the bottom of her T-shirt and the top of her low-rider jeans.

He kissed his way along her jaw, sucking the dangling lobe of her ear into his mouth. “You want to be naked before he gets here?”

She shook her head. “No. I think…I want to go slow.”

Matt scooped her up and carried her to the bed. Before Gabe arrived, and after he left, Helen was going to be all his, even if he had to share her for a short while.

He laid her down, crawled beside her and stared into her eyes. “I’ve wanted to be with you since we were little tykes riding the school bus. You’d hop on at the second-to-last stop, and I’d try to make it look like a real coincidence that there was an empty seat next to me. Didn’t let you know that I’d just kicked Daniel out of the way to make room for you.”

She laughed and cupped his face in her hands. “Matt Coleman, why does every session of lovemaking seem to include a trip down memory lane?”

Because she’d been there his whole life. He grinned. “I like travelogs.”

Matt rolled over top of her and settled between her legs, their hips separated by their clothing, but the heat more than enough to be felt between them. He rocked slowly, the ridge of his cock riding the seam of her jeans, and she opened her thighs and closed her eyes.

“Yeah. I feel that so good. Oh, Matt, it’s like you know everywhere to touch, everywhere to make me squirm.”

He did. All her hot-buttons were so familiar to him, what she liked, what she wanted. Except for her request for this ménage—that one had come out of the blue. “You okay me getting you off quick the first time?”

She smiled, bright blue eyes flashing. “Now what kind of silly question is that? As if I’m going to turn down a patented Coleman orgasm.”

They laughed together, then paused as he caught her gaze. He wanted her to know how he felt, even if she didn’t want to hear the words. She was going to know in spite of him not saying it.

He tugged her T-shirt aside, unsnapping the button of her pants and slowly undoing her zipper to allow him to slip his hand under the waistline. He stayed overtop of her undies, cupping her heat as he took her lips again. She flicked the tip of her tongue against his, tiny motions that he matched with increased pressure, his middle finger bearing down on her clit.

She gasped. “Oh yes, that’s the spot. More.”

He forced the wet silk between her folds, molding the fabric to her, teasing with a light touch that maintained constant pressure. Helen writhed on the bed, her head twisting slowly from side to side as he kept up the pace. Then he leaned over and covered one breast with his mouth, biting her nipple through the fabric, and she came, shaking under him.

When she opened her eyes, it was to sigh with satisfaction, one hand cupping his cheek.

He was leaning forward to kiss her again when the knock sounded.

Something went icy cold inside, until she flicked a glance toward the door. Her breathing sped up, a flush rose over her neck. The intensity of her arousal answered the unspoken question of whether she really wanted this or not.

Matt kissed her, hard, intense, before scrambling off the bed and heading for the door. He cracked it open just in time to spot Gabe shift position, straightening up from where he’d reclined against the railing of the landing.

Gabe rubbed his mouth. “Am I invited in, or no?”

For one long second Matt stood motionless, tempted beyond belief to tell his cousin to take off.

Helen pressed against his back, her hands wrapping around his waist. Her lips, warm and gentle, made contact with his neck as she kissed him. She wanted this, and he’d give it to her. This once, and only this once.

He motioned with his head and pulled the door open. “Party for three, ready to begin.”

Gabe slipped past, clutching his cowboy hat in his hands. Helen remained tucked against Matt’s side, and he pulled her around to face him.

“Anything makes you uncomfortable, you want to stop, you tell us. Any time, any time at all, alright?” He stared into Helen’s blue eyes, searching for signs of fear.

She licked her lips and nodded. “I trust you.” Helen glanced over his shoulder at Gabe. “And you’re…”

He waggled his brows. “Lucky?”

Matt laughed at the optimistic tone in his cousin’s voice. “Bloody lucky.”

“That wasn’t the word I was looking for, but if you like it, okay.” Helen leaned against Matt and threaded her fingers through his hair, tugging until his mouth came down to her level.

Matt took a deep breath and concentrated on giving his lover the fantasy she’d asked for. He kissed her, and she trembled as he caressed his hands up her waist, over the sides of her breasts. He swallowed her groan of delight, bracing himself as she pressed closer. When he realized she’d shifted position because Gabe had stepped behind her, trapping her between their two male bodies, a streak of desire hit Matt hard enough to make his knees shake.

Okay, he’d wondered how he would feel, having another guy touch Helen. But right now, he was amazed at the intensity of the excitement sweeping him.

Matt stepped back, leaving Helen leaning against Gabe’s chest. Her eyes were wide, mouth open in an O. She shivered, her head leaning to the side as Gabe kissed her neck. There were goose bumps on her arms, and small gasps of pleasure escaped her lips, her eyes closing as Matt observed for a moment.

“I’d love to say hello properly and get a taste of your lips.” Gabe gazed over her shoulder at Matt. He nodded agreement even as Helen answered.

“If you’re going to ask permission every time before you do anything, this will be a very slow evening.”

Gabe turned her to face him, winking lightly. “Oh, there’re times to go slow and times to go fast, and I’m pretty sure Matt and me can show you which is which. Don’t you worry, darling.”

He leaned in and kissed her, a bare brush of his lips over hers. Gabe pulled away and Helen leaned after him, as if trying to make the contact last longer.

“Ah-ah. You ain’t in charge here. Kiss Matt and show him how much you appreciate him setting this up, and then we’ll see about what’s coming next.”

Helen twirled away from Gabe, her mocking pout fading as she stepped to Matt’s side and pressed herself against him tight. She cupped his face and smiled sweetly. “I do think you’re pretty damn special, Matt Coleman. Thank you.” She kissed him like she was on fire, tongue and lips taking him by storm. Matt curled an arm around her and let her cling like a burr as they shared a moment—hot and wild. No holds barred. Gabe could have been a million miles away and all that remained was need and heat. When they drew apart, Matt gasped for air.

Gabe brought Helen back to his side and took her lips again. This time, his kiss was as heated as what she’d just shared with Matt. Gabe caught her hands and pulled them down by her sides, and Matt got inspired. He tugged off his belt and clasped her wrists himself, looping the leather over and over until she was bound, helpless to free her arms.

“Nice trick, Matt. You two use ropes often?” Gabe unsnapped the top button of Helen’s blouse, his gaze fixed on her face.

“I like ropes. Matt’s good with them.”

Gabe smiled. “All cowboys are good with ropes, darling.”

“Some more than others.” Matt ran a finger down her back. “And this ain’t about ropes, is it? It’s about trying something brand new.”

Helen laughed. “Then why’d you tie me up?”

Matt kissed the side of her neck gently as he grabbed on to the sides of her blouse. “Because I wanted to.”

He jerked the material apart, buttons flying, skittering over the floor. One more move brought the fabric off her shoulders to bunch together at her wrists.

“Oh, yes. That’s a very pretty sight.” Gabe hummed approvingly as he stroked the top swells of her breasts, fingering the edge of the black bra Helen wore. When he leaned forward to lick the path his finger had followed, Helen shivered.

Gabe pushed aside one shoulder strap until the bra cup fell away. Helen arched her back and pressed her chest forward, the exposed nipple tight and peaked already.

“Sweet, sweet darling.” Gabe licked the tip lightly, then surrounded her and sucked.

Helen whimpered and tugged at her restraints.

Matt pulled the other side of her bra off, giving Gabe a full view of her tits. Gabe took up the challenge and cupped her, lifting one side and then the other to his mouth. The material from her blouse and bra hung around her waist, bunched up and awkward. Matt pushed past the fabric to slip his hand into her pants again, the moisture from her previous orgasm and her current arousal making her soaking wet.

He skimmed a finger through her folds. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Her reply turned into a gasp as he thrust in two fingers, heel of his hand hard to the apex of her mound. Matt stilled, listening to her panting breath as Gabe suckled and bit lightly, her nipples gone dark with excitement.

Matt tugged her pants awkwardly with one hand, only to find Gabe taking over the task. His cousin unzipped and slid her pants from her hips, stripping her bare from the waist down. He stopped to stare in admiration. “Oh, darling, you are full of surprises, ain’t you?”

Helen widened her stance, leaning heavily on Matt, exposing herself to Gabe’s intimate inspection. “You never seen a woman who waxed before?”

“Oh, I’ve seen it. Just didn’t expect to find your pussy all bare and delicious. Matt, I’ll say it again, you are one lucky man.”