TWENTY-ONE
Hayes’s fingers flexed against the steering wheel as he pulled into the driveway behind Ren and Cora. He’d had the whole drive to contemplate what was about to happen, twenty minutes to talk himself out of this, but all of his old arguments had no shot against the magnetic pull he’d felt seeing Ren and Cora get playful on stage.
For the first time in as long as he could remember, he’d had fun. Seeing his best friend and the woman he’d known as Lenore goof around on stage had sent this light, helium-filled sensation through his chest. Like all the weight he’d been carrying around for years had lifted for a few minutes. He’d laughed and grinned like an idiot. And then she and Ren had gotten swept up in the moment and kissed.
He’d seen them do much more than that in the office the other day, but something about the way they’d grabbed at each other, the all-encompassing desire, had set off all of Hayes’s switches. He loved that they were so into each other. And he loved even more that they were into him. He wanted to capture all that desire in his hand and play with it, bring all three of them to places they may not have visited before.
So though he knew it was still a risk, was aware that nothing would ever be one hundred percent safe, he refused to let his past cling to him right now. Tonight, it was time to be himself, the Hayes who used to be able to walk into The Ranch with his head high and his confidence firm. To be the guy he’d let himself be in Hayven. Tonight, the outside world didn’t exist. All that was important were the two people climbing out of the car in front of him.
Hayes got out of his SUV and locked up. Cora was laughing at something Ren had said, and Ren was carrying her drink and spinning his keys around his finger.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
Ren sent Hayes a smile. “Cora’s got a hard-on for my car. I’m not sure what would get her off more tonight—going inside with us or tossing her the keys and letting her take this thing on the open road.”
Cora bit her lip and twirled her hair, feigning indecision. “Hmm, decisions, decisions . . .”
She stole the keys from him.
Ren groaned and swept an arm out, grabbing Cora around the waist before she could escape. “No way. No car until you put out. Thems the rules.”
When Cora started to playfully struggle, Ren handed the drink to Hayes and hiked Cora up over his shoulder. She let out a string of laughing curses. “Pig!”
“Oink, oink, baby,” Ren said, heading up the walk and giving her ass a playful smack.
She lifted her head, sending Hayes a look. “You’re going to let him treat me like this?”
Hayes brows lifted. “You realize he’s the easy one of the two of us, right?”
Her gaze darkened at that, like the thought both scared her and made her desperately curious. “Oh.”
He gave her a slow smile. Well, hello, Lenore. Lenore had been green, but she’d always been curious, wanting to dance along new edges each time. Brave and daring. And in that look Cora was giving him, he could see that she hadn’t been faking that part online. She got off on a little thread of fear being worked in, on pushing herself past that.
When Ren stopped at the side door and set Cora on her feet to let them in the house, Hayes took Cora’s chin in his hand. “Tell me you want to do this.”
Her throat worked, her gaze suddenly going serious. “I want to do this.”
“What’s your safe word?”
“Red.”
“Good. You can use yellow, too, if you need us to check in with you. Those will always work. And I remember your limits and preferences in Hayven, but this is real world. What do we need to be aware of?”
She rubbed her lips together. “I’m not sure. I don’t know how I’ll feel about things like pain and bondage even though we role-played some of that in the game. But I’m willing to try stuff and see how it goes. Just nothing extreme.”
He brushed her hair away from her face, feeling the tremble beneath his touch. Cora was putting on a brave face. He had no doubt she wanted this tonight, but she was nervous as hell. He let his hand slide to the back of her neck. “This is going to be good, okay? You know me. The way I was in the game is the way I am. I’m not into heavy pain play. I’m not going to permanently mark you or demand anything crazy. All I ask is that you keep an open mind and give yourself over to this tonight, over to us. My goal is to make us all feel good and to give you a chance to see what it’s like. That’s it.”
She nodded in his grip, some of the tension in her face softening. “Okay.”
Ren stepped up behind her, his eyes meeting Hayes’s over her shoulder before he wrapped his arms around Cora’s waist. “You sure there are no other limits, gorgeous? We’ve got filthy minds. You’ve been warned.”
She smirked at that, some of her trademark attitude rising to the surface. “That’s not news. And I do have one request.”
“What’s that?” Ren asked.
“No blindfolds.”
Hayes nodded. “No problem. Don’t like feeling disoriented?”
Her mouth went into a fully wicked smile at that. “No, I just don’t want to miss the view. In fact, if y’all just want to give me a few demonstrations and let me shamelessly objectify you, I’m totally good with that.”
A laugh burst out of him and he shook his head. “Not this time.” He backed her into the house, Ren stepping backward along with her, and Hayes kicked the door shut. “You’ve done enough watching from the sidelines.” He bent down to kiss her. “Time to play, L.”
—
The sound of the nickname he called her on the phone kicked the joking mood right out of her. In one second, they were being playful and teasing, in the next, she realized she was really doing this. Ren and Hayes, both dominating her, both touching her. A hard shiver worked its way through her body, making things hotter instead of chilling them.
Hayes set her soda on a table by the door. She realized she hadn’t even had time to drink it. But caffeine was the last thing she needed. Because the way Hayes was looking at her had everything dialing up to eleven inside her. Humming. Buzzing. Vibrating with anticipation. There was no chance in hell she was going to get sleepy. She was a deer in the middle of an unfamiliar forest with two mountain lions stalking her. She wasn’t going to blink, much less get sleepy.
Hayes locked the door behind him and didn’t bother to turn on a light in the kitchen. Ren was behind her but not touching her anymore. She could feel the heat of his body near, hear the soft fall of his breaths. His awareness. Hayes reached out and brushed the back of his hand over her breast. Her nipples had already been straining against her bra but the simple heat from his touch made her arch and gasp. Everything seemed hypersensitive. Almost too sensitive. She inhaled a deep breath, trying to center herself, calm down.
Hayes dragged his hand back over her, making electricity curl down her belly and pulse between her thighs. She shifted in her boots.
“Look at you,” he said, his voice low. “You’re so keyed up you can barely stand still. You’ll never make it for what we have planned.”
She closed her eyes. “I’m trying. I promise. But I think I was halfway there already when we were dancing.”
“Halfway there, huh?” Ren asked.
“Yes. Apparently, I’m way too easy.”
Hayes smiled and stepped closer to her, his big hand spreading over her ribs. “Cora, you’re far from easy. Deprived is more like it. But don’t worry. We’ll take care of you. This isn’t going to be a one-course meal.”
His hand slid down to cup her sex, the heel of his hand putting pressure right where she needed it. She groaned and Hayes closed his eyes like he was inhaling that sound.
Only then did she remember that this was the first time he’d touched a woman in years. This wasn’t just going to be sex for him. This was going to be him finally taking off the last of the shackles. And God, did she want to see him freed.
How many times had she imagined standing before Dmitry like this? Him being real? Feeling his touch and seeing his face? All of those talks and late nights culminating with them being with each other without any barriers? It was almost too much to hold in her head at once.
Ren’s fingers traced up the sides of her neck in an almost lazy massage as Hayes held her in his palm, making her ache and want to grind against his hand. Ren’s lips brushed her ear. “I bet you’re so wet from having two hard cocks rub all over you at the club that you’ve ruined your panties. I bet you’re all slick and pink just thinking about the things we could do to you.”
Cora’s teeth pressed together, the words working through her and making her too hot for comfort. In her previous life, she would’ve been embarrassed, felt awkward by her level of arousal, but she couldn’t seem to find those emotions right now. He wasn’t wrong. She was ridiculously wet. If this went on much longer, the state of things would be visible through her pants. She tried to stay still, but she was squirming at the still presence of Hayes’s hot palm against her. She needed relief. “Please.”
“Mmm, please what?” Hayes asked, a predator scenting his prey. “I’m not sure I know what you’re asking for. Better be specific.”
Her eyes were squeezed shut. She couldn’t look at them and feel this all at the same time. “Please touch me, stroke me.”
“Stroke what?” Ren said. “Use your words, Cora.”
The heel of Hayes’s hand rocked ever so slightly, not nearly enough, and he knew it.
“Please,” she begged. “My clit. Please rub my clit. I need— I’m dying here.”
“Just rub it?” Hayes asked. “You’ve got low expectations, L. I think we can have more fun than that. What do you think, Ren?”
“I think you’ve waited a long time to taste your lovely Lenore,” Ren said to Hayes. “And I can tell you, remembering how she tastes has already got me hard.”
“Hmm, he makes a good case,” Hayes said, that tortuous hand still moving too slowly to do anything but drive her out of her mind. “But I think I might need to taste you both.”
Cora’s eyes popped open at that.
Hayes had a dark, pleased smile. He moved his hand away, making her want to beg all over again, and pressed the same hand over the thick outline in his pants, giving himself a squeeze. “Both of you get undressed. I don’t want anything on either of you.”
Cora stiffened, old self-consciousness coming back, but after a beat, Ren seemed to sense her nerves and stepped in front of her. He gave her that heartbreaker smile of hers. “Want help?”
She swallowed hard and nodded.
Ren went to work, pulling her top off as she unbuttoned her pants. Before long she was down to her underwear and bra, boots kicked to the side. Ren unhooked her bra, letting it fall away, and then he let his gaze slowly glide over her. He traced a fingertip over her panties, making her shudder, and then he tugged them down and off, leaving her bare and exposed in the low light.
“Now me,” he said softly.
Cora licked her lips and went for the buttons on his shirt. She could feel Hayes watching them and somehow that only made her burn hotter. She liked knowing that this was turning him on, that they were giving him a show. So she decided to give him a little more.
“Can I touch you?” she asked Ren.
Ren’s eyes darkened. “Who am I to deny that kind of request?”
She glanced over at Hayes, who gave a little nod. Silent permission.
She took her time unbuttoning Ren’s shirt and pushing it open and off his shoulders. He was so beautifully made that she enjoyed having a second to just indulge in the view. The colorful tattoos snaked down his arms and up over the front of his shoulders. There were intricate patterns and embedded pictures that one day she’d love to spend time cataloging. But for now she gave in to another impulse and leaned forward to run her tongue over one of his nipples. She bit gently.
Ren groaned and his muscles flexed. His long fingers tangled in her hair as she made her way down his chest and abdomen. When she got to the jut of his hipbone, she bit again. He hissed out a breath. “Fuck.”
“Muroya likes a little pain,” Hayes said, his voice heavy with arousal. “Look what you’re doing to him.”
Cora let her gaze travel downward, where Ren’s erection was straining against his fly. On impulse, she lowered to her knees and ran her tongue along his cock through the material. Ren’s grip tightened in her hair. “She’s not the most obedient sub.”
But there was no censure in the words, and he didn’t stop her.
She unhooked the button, slowly took down the zipper, and then grabbed the band of his boxer briefs to draw them down. She exposed the head of his cock and trapped his shaft against his belly. The crown was glistening with fluid and her tongue pressed to the roof of her mouth. She wanted to lick along the head and capture every drop. The urge threw her off for a second—that utter need to taste him, not just to make him feel good, but for her own pleasure.
Her gaze jumped up, catching his stare. She knew the question was all over her face. His jaw tightened like it was taking all of his restraint to stay still. “Ask me first.”
Her throat felt like it’d shrunk three sizes. Ask him for the privilege of sucking his cock? The idea should’ve rankled. If Kevin had pulled that shit, she would’ve rolled her eyes. But that was because, in truth, she hadn’t ever been all that motivated to go down on any guy. She hadn’t craved that experience like she did right now. She’d done it to be nice. She wasn’t going to do this to be nice. “May I please taste you?”
“Taste what?” Hayes said, stepping beside Ren. “Remember, I’ve met Lenore. I know you’re not shy. Not when it comes to this. So let’s not pretend.”
Cora straightened her spine. He was right. Why the hell was she trying to act demure or shy with them? In her fantasies, she didn’t play that shrinking-violet game. “I want to taste his cock.”
“Good.” Hayes reached out and swiped his thumb over the head of Ren’s erection, catching the fluid there. The move elicited a grunt from Ren and the rapt attention of Cora. Hayes lifted his glistening thumb and pressed it to Cora’s lips. “Taste him, then.”
She closed her eyes, a ripple of heat going through her. Just seeing Hayes so casually touch Ren pushed buttons inside her. He was showing her rather than telling her. Nothing is off-limits. All of us can enjoy. All of us can touch. No one’s here to say no or put up walls.
She opened her eyes, lifted her gaze, and sucked Hayes’s thumb into her mouth, the taste of Ren mixing with the salt of Hayes’s skin. Pleasure flared in his eyes as she ran her tongue along the underside of his thumb and then sucked. Ren’s fingers, still in her hair, pulled tight.
Hayes cleared his throat and pulled his thumb free. “Ren, take your pants off and get on the table before I lose my patience.”
Cora smiled inwardly. She’d tempted Hayes. She could see it all over his face. He had a plan, but right in this moment, he’d wanted to grab her and shove his cock in her mouth, take his own pleasure before seeing to either of theirs. He was reeling himself in. For some reason, it was comforting knowing they were all on edge already. They were all weak tonight.
Hayes put out a hand and helped her to her feet. He ran a hand down her back. “Are you cold?”
She couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out of her. “Are you kidding? I could heat a small village right now. Meat could be roasted over me.”
He smiled and pulled her close, her naked body pressing against his clothed one. His palm cupped her ass and squeezed. “I’m into you, Cora Benning. Have I mentioned that yet?”
“You tell that to all naked girls in your kitchen?”
His expression turned wry. “Has nothing to do with the nudity, though that is greatly appreciated.”
“Enormously appreciated,” Ren added.
“No, you make me smile. Have been doing that for a long time.” His fingernails pressed into the flesh of her ass, making her toes curl, and then he gave her a swat. “Now I want to give you something to smile about.”
Knowing it was probably out of the realm of the rules, but doing it anyway, she pushed up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his mouth. “You already have, Master Dmitry. I’ve been smiling over you for a long time.”
Something flickered over his expression at that, something tender and real and potent. Her chest squeezed tight, but the look disappeared as quickly as it was there. He cleared his throat, that stoic mask slipping back into place.
It was time to play.