More, page 14
I shook with rage and desperate need as I stepped inside the house. I set down my bag and keys and called out for Matthew.
From the time it took me to get to the subway, ride to my stop, and walk to the townhouse, I'd managed to work up to pissed off. I was done letting my father push me around. Done letting his game drive me into hiding and force me to move over and over.
I took a deep breath and waited for Matthew's response. I didn't mind being wound up with need, but I didn't want to bring any anger into a moment of pleasure with him. He didn't deserve that.
When he didn't answer me, I moved down the hall toward the kitchen and heard their voices.
“It sucks.” Richard. Strained. Angry. But not aiming it at Matthew.
“I can imagine. After all your hard work.” Matthew. Calm. Caring. He caught sight of me as I rounded the corner. “Hey, Luke. What ya doing home early?” The two were sitting across from each other at the kitchen table.
“I... uh, had a bad day. I thought I'd head home after lunch. Sorry about dinner. I can stop another night.”
Matthew gave me a smile. “That's okay.”
“Am I interrupting?” I asked.
“No,” Richard said. “Just telling Matthew about my shit day. Got out of a meeting and cancelled my afternoon, including the dinner for tonight. Then I reminded myself if I came home early, I wouldn't be alone.” He smiled at Matthew then grew serious again. “I lost the lakefront deal.”
“Sorry.” I shoved my hands into my pockets. Half-full cups of coffee sat in front of each man. I made a beeline for the pot.
Matthew's attention refocused on Richard. “Is there anything you can do to get them to change their minds? It sounds like a great area to invest in.”
I leaned back against the counter and swallowed slow sips.
“It was,” Richard said. “Man, I'd have made a mint. There are a ton of plans for the area. It's going to explode with condos and shopping centers. Fuck.” His hands wrenched into fists. “It's gone. I did everything I could. Sometimes someone comes in with a sweeter offer. I know the money shouldn't be an issue, but losing the deal irks me to no end.”
“I get that,” Matthew said. “You live well, but you aren't all about having money and stuff. It isn't you. You wanted the deal and you lost it. That's the part driving you crazy. I mean... you like to have control, yeah?” Matthew dropped his head and smiled, his eyes on the table.
Richard laughed. “I guess I do.” His hands unclenched. He lifted an open palm to caress Matthew's cheek.
“You'll get the next one.”
I pushed off the counter and went to them. “He's right. You're not the type to be kept down for long.”
“Thanks, Luke.” Richard stood and gave me a quick kiss. “You guys want to crash on the couch and watch some TV? We could order pizza later.”
“Sounds good.” Matthew stood and bounced off toward the living room.
Richard chuckled as he watched him leave. Not an ounce of tension remained in the big man's body or his laughter. Matthew was good for him. Hell, I was laughing too. He was good for both of us.
We relaxed against one another on the couch. I didn't tense or freak about what it meant to be close without an agenda in mind. I fought the instinct and let my hands wander, let myself enjoy Richard and Matthew for as long as I could.
I was getting used to not being alone. Getting used to them. To wanting. To needing. To the easy way we were together. Shouldn't that scare me? Shouldn't I be leaving?
I tried to push away thoughts of my father and what the man had said. And the way I'd found the perfect distraction when I'd gotten home. Most importantly, I tried to avoid that I was referring to the place I'd just moved into as home. Wasn't it temporary?
It didn't matter. None of it mattered.
I had moved in with two men to whom I'd made promises, to whom I'd agreed to be faithful. It was more than I had allowed myself to do since I was nineteen years old.
It was a start.
For once, I was not letting myself or my father scare me away from a good thing.
Chapter Fifteen
Throughout the week, I became a part of an evening routine that had nothing to do with surveillance video feeds or time spent trolling the Haven for someone to spend a half hour with.
Matthew made dinner most nights. I helped finish the food or set the table when I could. After we ate, we'd watch TV, or Richard and I would get some work done on our laptops while Matthew read a book. The nights ended with sex— in the bedroom, the basement, or even on the couch if we couldn't keep our hands off one another before the show ended. We hadn't spent a night together all week that didn't include getting off in one way or another.
Matthew and I had also spent time setting up the spare rooms, unpacking, and rearranging furniture. Matthew even brought over a small television and an Xbox from his mom's place. Richard turned a deep shade of red when he saw it.
“Feeling old?” I asked when we were alone later.
“God, yes. Sometimes I look at him and I think I'm robbing the damn cradle.”
“Does it bother you?”
“Not enough to give a shit. Or to give him up.”
I couldn't argue with him. I'd never cared about the age difference between myself and any other man. Then again, I hadn't had a relationship with anyone since I was nineteen. When it came to casual fucks, as long as they were legal, I didn't care. And I wasn't about to let it start bothering me. Not when it might have meant Matthew was too young for me.
While he worked on his room, I fixed the other one up to serve as my office. I also wanted to include a bed, in case I needed to sleep alone at some point. I didn't want to mention anything to Richard, so I lived with the room as it was. Things were going well with the arrangement, and I didn't want to disrupt the flow we had going or anger or disappoint them in any way.
I'd taken to giving their feelings considerable amounts of thought. Which I guess made sense when so much of my usual life had vanished, and I was left with all sorts of free time.
It was easy to let go of my obsession with my stalkers. Not because my father said he wouldn't send his men. I didn't believe he'd tell the truth. It was more the diversion of Matthew and Richard and my unexpected enjoyment of our temporary living situation that had me relaxed.
After work on Friday night, I wasn't the least bit concerned with sex clubs, hidden cameras, or fathers. I stepped in the house and headed straight for the kitchen. Matthew sat at the counter leaning over Richard's laptop, his iPod clipped to his pants, headphones in his ears. A low beat of music a generation below my style was audible from the tiny speakers. Not a surprise. When I was in high school, he was in the first grade. I stepped close behind him and glanced at the screen. Shopping for more video games. Richard would love that.
I leaned in and pressed my lips to his ear. “Hey, smells good.”
Matthew flashed me a smile. “Thanks.” He removed the headphones. “It's a pasta dish. Sort of like gourmet pizza with pasta on it and fresh basil and mozzarella. I found the recipe online. I've never made it before.”
“Sounds good. Where's Richard?”
“He said he'd be late.”
I sat next to him and gestured at the computer. “Shopping?”
“Yeah. Richard said I could use his laptop to get online, check my e-mail.”
“Buying a new game?”
He stared at the screen. “I got a gift card from my mom. For my birthday.”
“When was your birthday?”
He lowered his gaze and ran a finger over the touch pad. “When we had our date.”
“You should've said.”
“Nah. It's just a birthday.” His head snapped in my direction. “Hey, don't tell Richard.”
“Why?”
“I think it might make him feel bad he missed it. But we barely knew each other, you know?”
“Okay. Next year, though, I'll have to tell him when it comes around again. Then he'll know he missed it anyway.”
Matthew's eyes went huge. He bit at his bottom lip and lifted a hand to touch my face.
What the hell? I kept making promises to him I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to keep.
I kissed him. “Happy birthday, Matthew.”
“Thanks.” He swiped a finger over my lower lip.
I wanted to get closer, touch him more. I stood. “I think I'll use the time to catch up on some work.”
“Okay.” Matthew stood and stepped around the counter to turn the stove's heat down. “This'll keep until Richard gets home.”
His hand brushed my thigh as he moved by me again. Goose bumps rose up. My pants scraped the sensitized skin.
I snaked a hand in his and pulled him back to me. He tasted like basil and tomatoes. I nibbled his lips, his tongue. He was the perfect appetizer.
I savored my way to the flesh of his neck. He dug his heel into my calf and dragged me closer to him. I didn't want to let go. I wanted to taste everything. I wanted to bend him over the counter face first and sink into him until he screamed my name, until he understood how much I wanted to be with him.
I wrenched my hands away from him. “I'm gonna head upstairs.”
He whimpered and pouted.
“That was a taste,” I said. “Let's wait on the main course for Richard, huh?”
He licked his lips. “Oh, okay. Good idea.”
I laughed and brushed a hand over his ass. I headed to the stairs and shook my head. What had come over me? Teasing him, touching him was a delight, an addiction. He was always so damn responsive and eager.
I booted my laptop and flipped open my cell to make a call I'd put off all week.
“Hi, Walter.”
“I was wondering when I'd hear from you. You're lucky I know Richard's reputation. How's it going? And where are you calling me from?”
“I'm at home— I mean Richard's.” I winced.
“Ah. It's going that well?”
“Yeah, so far.”
“Really?”
“Did you have such little faith in me?”
“No. I thought you might have lacked the faith in yourself.”
I leaned back in the chair and propped my feet on the desk. “Yeah. I think I did. It's been better than I expected, but I didn't expect much.”
“Honestly, I'm surprised you're still there. It sounds like you're trying.”
“I think I am.”
“Will you be staying?”
“For a while.”
“And your father?”
“He called me the other day. I met him for lunch.”
“Met him? In person?”
“He asked, and I wanted to know what he's up to.”
“And?”
“He said he's going to stop sending his men but wouldn't tell me why. He threatened me, said I should leave town. He said the press was going to figure things out, start making my life miserable.”
“Sounds like he might be the one who's being threatened. Maybe a reporter already knows about you and the club and is blackmailing him.”
“Could be. He was nervous, unreasonable.”
“You believe him? About his men following you?”
“I don't know. Since I moved here last week, I haven't seen anyone. I'm still careful, but it's liberating in a way. Not having the cameras, not trying so damn hard to keep him in the dark.”
“You still be careful. Be on the lookout for him in ways that have nothing to do with being followed. He'll lie to the media if he has to.”
“Yeah, well, I've never been concerned about my reputation. Not like he is about his.”
“Still,” Walter said, “it's no fun to have hatred and lies slung at you.” He paused. “So it's Friday night and you're home. I'm guessing if I'm in the Haven this weekend, I won't see you?”
“Right. We're staying in. Not sure when I'll be back to the club.”
He snorted. “I hope it isn't any time soon.”
I hoped not either. But my protective instincts, hidden just under the surface, wouldn't let me admit it out loud. Not even to Walter.
We talked for another few minutes, and when we said good-bye, I listened to him laugh yet again about how I wouldn't be at the club.
I hung up and concentrated on work until a knock sounded on the open door an hour later. I gestured for Richard to come in.
“Getting some work done?”
“Yeah.” I shut the lid on my laptop and stood. “But I'm done for the night.”
“Good, ‘cause we better get down to dinner. Matthew said it's been in the oven for a while now.”
“He's excited about a new recipe. It wouldn't be fair to make him wait much longer. Although it is fun to watch him bounce around.”
“He's amazing, isn't he? Man, I had no idea we'd be getting such a good cook when I asked you guys to stay.”
“How could you? What did you really know about us?”
“A few things, but nothing related to cooking.” He smirked.
“Oh?”
He stalked closer to me with each word he uttered. “I knew you liked it when I made you beg. You liked it when I told you what to do and when I kept you tied down.” His arms wrapped around me.
“Uh-huh.”
He whispered in my ear. “You even liked it when I teased and wouldn't let you come until you looked at me.” He kissed me.
I wrapped a hand around his neck and crushed his mouth harder against mine. I massaged every part of him I could reach. I loved the strength of his muscles under my fingers. I loved his responses under my hands. I loved his tongue's eagerness as it explored my mouth.
I didn't want to stop touching, stop kissing. I wanted to learn his sweet spots. I wanted to know where my mouth on his body would drive him crazy. I wanted him to throw me up against the wall and take me while I stared into his green eyes.
“I'm glad you're here, Luke. I missed you today.”
I tensed.
“You're freaking?” he asked without letting go.
“A little.”
“But you aren't leaving?”
“No, I'm not.” I relaxed and leaned into him.
“Good. Now, come on.” He smacked my ass. “I hear Matthew's cooked this great dish. We'll have to eat before we can get started with what else I'm hungry for.” He kissed the end of my nose.
I followed his fine ass down the stairs and tried to convince my dick dinner came first. I'd given it a taste of Richard and Matthew, and it wanted more.
Matthew had gone all out and seated us in the large dining room where we ate one of the most amazing pasta dishes I'd ever had.
Richard hummed with each bite. “This is fabulous, Matthew. Thank you.”
“It is,” I said.
Matthew sat taller. “Thanks.”
“So it's been a week,” Richard said. “Everything seems to be going good so far. You guys miss the club?”
“No,” Matthew screeched. “I uh... ” He clanked his fork onto his plate. “I don't miss it. Not at all.”
“I'm glad,” Richard said.
“Yeah?” Matthew shifted in his seat. “I've had the best week.”
“Me too.” I didn't take my eyes off my plate as I said the simple words. Neither man ever left me wishing I had someone new to be with. It was hard to accept, but I wouldn't lie to them. I looked up. Two stunned men stared at me. “What? Have I not been acting like I'm enjoying myself?”
“Yes, you have. I just... ” Richard trailed off.
“You admitted it,” Matthew said.
“I thought it would have been obvious with every orgasm.”
“That was obvious,” Richard said. “But what about when we weren't in bed?”
“I've enjoyed your company. I mean... ” I sighed and threw my hands in the air. “What do you want me to say?”
Richard got up and hunched next to my chair. He cupped my cheek and forced me to look at him. “The truth.”
“I'm not sorry to be here. I've had a great time. Hell, I like you two more than anyone else in my life right now.” I squeezed my eyes closed. Shut up. Shut up. I looked at Richard again. “There. Happy?”
He swept his palm over my cheek. “Why, yes, I am. I like you, Luke.” He glanced over at Matthew. “And you too. I think this whole thing is working out as I hoped it would.”
Matthew moaned.
I laughed a quick, unruly chuckle, partly to ease the tension in my chest, and partly because he was making sex noises and we were only talking.
I guess we'd said enough, or too much depending on one's point of view. Richard pulled me to him and kissed me, slow and gentle. It didn't take long for Matthew to kneel next to Richard and join us.
I lost all coherent thought with each kiss. The intensity built, need burning through every touch, every lingering caress of lips and hands.
I stripped Matthew of his clothes and took off my own while Richard got undressed. I grabbed Matthew and led him to the other end of the long table. I kissed him and laid him on his back. His legs splayed out on either side of me. Fuck if that didn't look like the best invitation. No other man I'd ever been with was as ready for me as Matthew.
I licked at his neck, chest, stomach, and inner thighs. I worshipped his body, enjoyed the smell of him, learned every inch of him. I worked my way to his balls and sucked on them in turn while I stroked his cock with my hand.
He writhed beneath me, his head twisting from side to side on the table. His hands dug into my hair, rubbed my neck. My heavy cock arched up toward the edge of the table. I was careful with my movements to protect it but wished like hell I could get some friction, wished I could feel Richard behind me.
But he had left the room. I knew when he came back, though. Thick, slick fingers ran along my ass and pressed into me.
I rocked back. Wanting more. Needing to feel the burn, needing to feel his dick stretch me. “I'm ready. Need you inside me. Now.”
He continued to move his fingers and handed me a condom over my shoulder. Thank God. I was only half certain I'd have stopped myself from lowering my mouth over Matthew's erection. It called to me.
I rolled the condom on him and took his prick in my mouth. A few teases later and Richard plunged into me. I reached back and grabbed a hold of one of his thick thighs slamming against me, the power there like a goddamn steamroller.
