Triple Knockout (Make Mine A Menage Book 3), page 22
She blinked at Willow. Oh man, she should have realized there was no way this woman could have been one of the auctionees. There wasn’t one darn submissive thing about her. Wait until Jana finds out I met an actual dominatrix. Reminded of her boss’s insane bucket list, she chuckled. “I know someone who would love to be your bestie.”
“And here I thought I was your bestie.” Van stuck his bottom lip out in the most adorable pout ever.
Dropping Willow’s hand, she gave him a reassuring squeeze on his bicep. “I was referring to Jana.”
“Speaking of which, shouldn’t your delicious ass be upstairs getting ready for work?”
“I was about to head up.” She tossed Willow another smile. “Nice meeting you, and congrats on the job.” She started to turn away but Van stalled her by tugging on her ponytail. His smoky gaze confirming that he knew the precise cause for the goosebumps cropping up on her skin, he lowered his head and licked the patch of sweat right above the zipper of her sports bra. Her nipples immediately tightened and she had a sneaking suspicion that the dampness between her legs wasn’t entirely from overexertion on the treadmill.
He straightened and smacked her on the ass. “Too bad we’re short on time. Otherwise, you coulda forgone the shower completely in favor of a tongue bath.”
“You are a worse tease than Beau.” Shivering at his wicked laugh, she hustled toward the rear hallway. As she shot past the gym bunnies she caught their open-mouthed stares.
Heh. Who’s snickering now, bitches?
~*~
Still basking in her giddy and admittedly petty triumph, she unclicked her seatbelt. Before she could lean across the divider to give Van a kiss goodbye, he shut off the engine and pocketed his keys. “Oh. You’re coming inside,” she stammered like a complete doofus.
“Yeah, but I’ll pretend not to eavesdrop while you’re dishing to Jana about the hot sandwich filling you’ve been providing me and Beau.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “What makes you think I was going to tell her anything?”
He copied her pose and added a cocked eyebrow for good measure. Grumbling under her breath, she shoved open her door. “It won’t be nearly as much fun talking about you behind your back when you’re right there.”
“Maybe not for you. I, on the other hand, will enjoy it immensely.”
They entered the store together but parted ways as Van journeyed toward the toy aisle. She gaped after him. “You’re shopping?”
“Yep.”
“For what?”
He didn’t answer—which only made her curiosity spike through the roof. A series of pointed coughs intruded on her obsessive bemusement and she swiveled to see Jana giving her exaggerated hand waves. Obeying the mute summons, she crossed to the checkout desk. Jana leaned forward, her gaze positively sparkling. “So how did everything go?”
“I’ll tell you as soon as he leaves,” she whispered.
“I’m not one of those impatient in-and-out shoppers,” Van shouted. “This could take a while.”
Groaning, she glanced over her shoulder and spied him toward the rear of the store, his broad back to them as he scanned the shelves. Good grief. The gorgeous pain in the ass must have superhuman hearing or bionic ears.
Her lips twitching, Jana pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and mouthed, “Call me later.”
She nodded before joining in on Jana’s conspiratorial tee-hees. With their crafty plan in place, they trekked to the back room. While Jana collected her belongings, Allie hooked her purse strap on the peg in the closet and then tossed her coat over it. After pocketing her honey-do list for the night, she returned to the front of the store. Van was waiting at the checkout.
“I thought you said you were going to be a while.”
“You took away my excuse for lingering.”
Rolling her eyes, she stepped behind the register. Her gaze fell on the two items he’d placed on the counter and her mouth went dry. The same sure as hell couldn’t be said for her pussy. Jana chose that moment to sidle up next to Van and inspect his purchases. Her eyebrows formed perfect twin arches and a huge grin split across her face. “Apparently it went very well.” She winked at Allie. “Definitely call me later.”
The heat in her cheeks an uncomfortable blend of embarrassment and arousal, she watched Jana skip out the door. The instant the Woody Woodpecker chime stopped its obnoxious laughter, she picked up the box containing the Ben Wa balls. “Okay, the vibrating plug is pretty much self-explanatory, but why these? I told you I already have a pair.”
“Ring me up and you’ll get your answer.”
Highly suspicious and concerned about what he might have up his sleeve, she scanned the barcodes for both items. “That’ll be sixty dollars.” She shrugged at his look of confusion. “I gave you my employee discount.”
“Shit. Looks like I’ll be doing all of my shopping here from now on.” He handed over his credit card. As soon as she swiped the Visa, he picked up the box with the Ben Wa balls and ripped open one corner of the plastic overwrap.
Oh, God. Looked like her suspicions were right on the money. She gulped. “Don’t you want me to put that in a bag?”
“Nope.” He nodded at the plug. “That can go in, though.”
She tossed the vibe in before he could change his evil mind and then pushed the receipt his way. Rather than scrawling his signature on the line, he rounded the side of the desk, his dark gaze intense. She swallowed hard. “You really shouldn’t be behind the register.”
“Why? Worried I’m gonna plunder your drawer?” He nudged her forward against the lip of the counter, his hand cupping her ass. “Unzip your pants.”
“W-what?”
“You heard me. Now do it. Before I spank this gorgeous tush.”
Normally she’d be all for that punishment, but what he was suggesting...
Who was she kidding? A big part of her was turned on by the notion of doing something so naughty and inappropriate. And it was only the two of them in the store. Her fingers shaking, she fumbled to loosen the top button on her jeans and shucked the garment down her hips. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. You do realize how bad this looks if a customer walks in?”
“Really? Cause where I’m standing, it looks fucking hot.” He slid his hand inside the back of her panties and strolled his fingers over her pussy. She whimpered and he took pity on her—if you could call it that—by easing the Ben Wa balls inside her and hiking her pants back in place.
She hurried to zip up and fasten the button. Her tiny relief at not having been caught was quickly overshadowed by the devious torment of the silicone-covered balls shifting around inside her. She bit back a moan. “How long do I have to keep them in?”
“Until I decide otherwise.” Gripping her hip, Van turned her so that she faced him. “If I even suspect you’ve disobeyed me on this it’ll be blindfold and no orgasm for the rest of the week. Understood?”
“Y-yes, Master.”
“Good girl.”
Her pussy clenched around the balls and she caved to another whimper.
“You’re also not allowed to come without my say so.”
“Yeah, I figured as much.” Son of a bitch.
Van lowered his head and claimed a woefully short kiss. His twinkling gaze confirmed just how much he enjoyed being the instigator of her torturous suffering. “Try and have a good day, sweetheart.” And with those encouraging parting words, the rat bastard monster grabbed his wallet and the plug and exited the store with a happy whistle a thousand times more aggravating than Woody’s laugh.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Fuck me sideways.”
Tearing his attention away from the training manual he’d been going over with Willow, Beau glanced at Van in time to catch his grin. He followed his best friend’s gaze to the entrance. That’s when he spotted what—or rather who—had prompted the colorful exclamation from Van.
Willow gave a low wolf whistle. “That silver fox stud muffin can fuck me sideways and upside down. Who is he and why haven’t you assholes introduced me to him?”
Van was already halfway across the room, leaving Beau to field Willow’s questions. “Corey is Van’s mentor. He’s better known as Smash McRay. And hate to break it to you, but he apparently prefers dick.”
“So do I. Look at all this shit we already have in common.”
Grunting at Willow’s sarcastic comeback, he watched Van and Corey exchange affectionate one-armed hugs and slaps on the back. The greeting was nearly identical to countless ones they’d shared throughout the years. The only difference this time around? Beau couldn’t shake the visual of Corey on his knees in front of Van, his lips wrapped around his dick. And hell if that didn’t make him a little itchy to plant something down Corey’s throat too. Namely his fist.
“Woah.”
Momentarily distracted by Willow’s outburst, he veered his focus to her and noticed she was giving him the side-eye.
“What’s your beef with Smash McStudmuffin?”
“Nothing,” he lied between his teeth. “Why?”
“Oh, I dunno. Your death glare just now kinda gave it away. To be honest, it has me a little worried about the life expectancy of Bruno’s future daddy over there.”
“Who is Bruno?”
“My Chiweenie.”
He frowned. “What the hell is a Chiweenie?”
“My dog! He’s a Chihuahua and a Dachshund mix breed.” Willow tossed up her arms. “Bruno has been rocking his adorable doggo sweaters on my Christmas cards for the past five years, but do you even notice or care, you unobservant son of a bitch?”
“Jesus Christ. I’m sorry, all right?”
Willow sniffed. “You’re forgiven. But only because you’re my boss and I don’t want to lose my Christmas bonus. Getting back to your beef with Smash—”
“I already told you there’s no beef.”
“Sure. And I don’t own fifty strap-ons. Spill it, Colton.”
This was why you never got into a standoff with a dominatrix. They were masters at making you squeal. Like literally, thanks to those fifty strap-ons. “I’m going to tell you something that you better never fucking tell anyone. Ever. Not your sister. Not Bruno. No one. Capiche?”
“It’s gonna be hard keeping it from Bruno, but whatever.”
He sucked in a fortifying breath. Although he knew Willow wouldn’t judge him, it was still damn difficult to free the words. But he needed to do it, and not just to get her off his back. He was done lying to himself and others. Time to officially come out of the closet. “Van and I sort of...have a thing going on.”
“And?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m not talking about our business.”
She waved her hand impatiently. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Still waiting for you to tell me what you sucking Van’s cock has to do with my future husband over there. Unless...did that bastard cheat on me with Van?” Her expression a cross between livid and devastated, she hugged him. “How could they do that to us? To Bruno. Goddamn them.”
His head spinning, he pulled back and stared at her. “How the hell did you know about me and Van?”
“Hon, I’ve known for years.”
“Well, that’s entirely impossible, seeing how nothing sexual happened between us prior to yesterday.”
She returned his squint with one of her own. “You mean to tell me you’ve made that man wait ten years for a blowjob and a piece of ass? Good God, even I’m not that sadistic. I don’t know whether to bow to you right now or dick punch you for Van.” She angled her head as if she was mulling the options. “Oh wait. Guess I’m still pissed at him for cheating on ya, so he might be getting the dick punching.”
Leave it to Willow to completely misinterpret his meaning. He wasn’t about to try to correct her, though, seeing how he didn’t have the spare two hours it’d probably take arguing with her over it. “Van didn’t cheat on me. The thing with him and Corey happened a long time ago.”
“Are you shitting me right now?” She plunked her hands on her hips. “You nearly broke me and Smash McStudmuffin up over something that happened in the past? You are a piece of work. Piece. Of. Work. The only way you’re going to smooth this over is with an introduction. And an extra fifty in my Christmas bonus. Bruno needs a new sweater.”
Aw, hell. Satisfying as it would be to rearrange Corey’s face, that particular triumph would only last for the two seconds it’d take for Smash to return the favor. Match-making him with Willow, on the other hand? Now that could potentially provide countless years of petty enjoyment.
Visions of fifty strap-ons dancing in his head, he grabbed Willow’s hand and escorted her across the room. As soon as they were within a few feet of Van and Smash, Willow faked the worse performance of an accidental trip in recorded history and conveniently landed in Corey’s arms. Completely oblivious of how he’d been set up, Smash righted her before shooting Van a grin. “Hell, if you can arrange for beautiful women to fall into my arms every time I stop in, I’ll donate as many sessions as you want.”
Van clapped Beau on the shoulder. “I was just hitting Corey up with our plans for doing the free Youth Camp this spring. From the sound of it, we’ve got ourselves a celebrity trainer on the roster.”
Beau shook Smash’s hand. “Thanks, man. Glad to have you on board.” His own personal issues aside, he did appreciate Corey’s generous contribution. It was undoubtedly a huge boon for Haymakers, and he was thrilled the kids would have the kind of training he’d only been able to dream about back when he was their age.
Willow cleared her throat loudly enough to be heard three states over. Taking the unsubtle hint, Beau made the proper introductions. His blue gaze loaded with flirtation, Corey lifted Willow’s hand and kissed her knuckles. The charming motherfucker probably expected her to swoon at his feet. Instead, she went with her typical low-key style and gripped the strings on his hoodie, tugging him forward as she planted a smooch square on his mouth.
“And my job here is done.” Shaking his head, Beau left Corey to his fate and made the journey back to the front desk. All things considered, the pair probably would make a good couple. Well, trio if you added Bruno.
Reminded of his own triad, Beau dug out his cell phone and glanced at the time. Two hours and some change before they were due to pick up Al. Although their talk earlier had seemed to lift her spirits, he was still worried about her. Not wanting to bother her while she was at work, he tapped a quick text. Hope your day is going as wonderful as you are, sweetheart.
Apparently being head over ass in love had turned him into a cheesy text writer. Grimacing, he set his phone aside and rifled through the training manual. Although he’d been the one to write the damn thing, and therefore practically had it memorized, going through it again at least gave him something to focus on other than the revelation currently doing cartwheels through his brain.
He was utterly and hopelessly in love with Allie and Van.
Shit. So much for not obsessing over it. Now he had no choice but to acknowledge it and accept the truth that’d been knocking at his heart. If he was completely honest with himself, his feelings for them had always been his true Achilles heel and his biggest vulnerability. It was far easier to not put a name to his emotions. It’d been his coping mechanism all these years. But that was impossible now.
His cellphone pinged, offering a welcome respite from the mess in his head and his heart. He scanned Allie’s message. Not so wonderful. I’m desperately horny and want to kill Van.
He winged off his reply. Welcome to my world.
As if he’d been conjured by the sheer force of their surly thoughts, Van sidled up to the desk. Beau eyed the now empty front entrance. “That was a fast visit. Did Willow scare him off?”
“No, Corey took her outside to show off his Harley.” Van scratched his jaw and chuckled. “How much you wanna bet he’s wearing her collar before the end of the day?”
“Not only that, it’ll probably match Bruno’s.”
“Who’s Bruno?”
“Willow’s Chiweenie.” He offered Van a warning stare. “Whatever you do, don’t ask her what that is. You’ll live to regret it.”
“Duly noted.” Van remained unusually quiet for a long moment. “We haven’t talked much about this morning. How’s your ass doing?”
He grunted. “It feels about as comfortable as you asking me that question.”
“I’ll go heavier on the lube next time.” Resting his arm on the edge of the desk, Van fidgeted with the signup sheet for Matt’s Aikido class. “There will be a next time, right? I need to know where you stand with all of this. The threesome. Me. Being my sub.” An uncharacteristic uncertainty clouded his gaze. “I know it’s presumptuous to say that without a contract or collar.”
“Or, you know, actually asking me,” he pointed out dryly.
“That too. I was planning to wait and ask you and Al together.”
“Might want to wait until she’s in a less murderous mood.” He passed his cell phone to Van and grunted when his best friend chuckled at the texts on the screen. “You’re the only crazy fucker I know who finds his imminent death hilarious.”
“Only because I just realized I’m going to top your face-sitting casualty.” Van grinned, his eyes twinkling with wicked amusement. “You’re looking at the first ever case of death by Ben Wa balls.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Excuse me, dear. Do you have this available in a size twelve?”
“I’m not sure. Let me check in the back.” Her smile pained, Allie snatched the naughty Mrs. Claus costume from her customer’s hands and trotted to the stock room. Once out of sight, she did the awkward wiggle dance she’d perfected over the last four hours. “If I’d known the workout my kegels would get holding these damn balls in place I would have skipped the treadmill.”
She located the size twelve in the inventory and rushed back to the register. “You’re in luck. It was our last one. Is there anything else I can get for you?”
