Part 2 (1/2)

”I knew that part.” She grinned. ”Be right back.”

Dax leaned forward in his chair. ”Okay, bro, time to fess up. You let Emma win, didn't you?”

Griff looked at Emma. She watched him while she sipped her beer. He could lie and say that he hadn't let her win, or tell the truth and admit he had. He elected to fudge his answer a little. ”You saw my last shot. I missed it.”

”Yeah, but did you purposely miss it?”

Emma's eyes narrowed. ”Don't you dare say you let me win.”

He wanted to laugh. Griff hadn't felt like laughing in ten months. He wasn't sure if he could smile anymore without his face cracking. ”You won't hear it from me.”

”But you did, didn't you?” Emma's bottle made a loud thunk when she set it back on the table. ”You drew up on that shot so the ball wouldn't go in the pocket.”

”Here you go.” Lana arrived with her tray loaded with bowls of peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream.

Saved by the dessert, Griff thought. He dug into his cobbler, but made the mistake of glancing at Emma again. She glared at him.

”I want a rematch, Coleman.”

”Rye has a pool table,” Alaina said. ”Y'all could play at his house.”

”You and me,” Emma said, pointing her spoon at Griff. ”Tomorrow night. No holding back.”

”I'll bring the beer,” Dax said, grinning.

”I'll pick up barbecue.” Rye also grinned. ”Should be an interesting evening.”

”Are we on?” Emma asked Griff.

Griff had grown up with his two brothers. As triplets, they were naturally close, and naturally compet.i.tive. They'd all played many different sports in school and still enjoyed physical sports when they had the chance to play. He'd been raised to be considerate of women, be a gentleman at all times. That's why he'd let Emma win.

Her challenge made the compet.i.tive beast inside him rear up on its hind legs and release a roar.

”We're on.”

Chapter Three.

When Emma decided to spend a few days in Lanville with Alaina, she'd wanted nothing but to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy the time with one of her best friends. She'd teased Alaina about Rye, saying if her friend was f.u.c.king a Coleman, then so could she. She'd expected that Coleman would be Dax, and still believed they would be really hot together.

Yet it was Griff who made desire curl in her belly.

She had no illusions about a lifetime with the widower. Nor did she want one. Her draw to Griff was all about having a good time. Alaina told her he hadn't been with a woman since his wife died. It was a shame to let all that testosterone sit idle.

Especially since she would gladly help him use it.

Throwing back the covers, she stretched her arms over her head and pointed her toes. A long hot shower, a bite of breakfast, and she'd be ready to start the day. Since Rye said he'd pay for barbecue for supper tonight, Emma decided she could make the side dishes. Something healthy would be good, but baked beans and potato salad went perfectly with barbecue. She'd top off the meal with her quadruple chocolate brownies for dessert.

Everyone would be on calorie overload, but she suspected the guys would love it.

Since she knew Alaina and Rye had already left for Stevens House, Emma didn't bother covering up her nude body with a robe. She wandered into the kitchen, where she saw a note propped against the coffeemaker.

Coffee ready to be brewed, just push the b.u.t.ton. See you later. A Lainy always took such good care of her. Emma pressed the b.u.t.ton to start the coffee, then headed for the big shower in the master bathroom. She loved the feel of the water from all those jets. .h.i.tting her body.

Steam billowed out of the enclosure before Emma stepped beneath the hot water. She tilted her head back and let the water roll over her for several moments, then picked up the bottle of liquid soap. The scent of jasmine drifted to her nose as she poured a generous amount into her palm. Their housemate Kelcey had her own bathroom in her house, while Emma and Alaina had shared a bathroom. Luckily they both loved the scent of jasmine. After working the soap into a thick lather, Emma slowly spread it over her body with her hands.

She drew in a sharp breath as she pa.s.sed over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She hadn't been with a man in two weeks and her nipples were feeling neglected. She pleasured herself on a regular basis, yet her fingers weren't nearly as satisfying as a man's mouth. A d.i.l.d.o didn't fill her p.u.s.s.y as well as a man's hard c.o.c.k.

Emma plucked at her nipples as she imagined a man touched her. She imagined a man's lips at her nape, his teeth lightly sc.r.a.ping over her skin, while he cradled her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He'd rub his c.o.c.k against her a.s.s, the hard length sliding between her cheeks.

”Mmm, yes.”

She let her hands drift down her body to between her thighs. Her lover would press her against the wall of the shower, bend his knees and slip inside her from behind. He'd move gently, easily, his thrusts intended to slowly build up her desire. That would work for a while, but Emma would soon want it harder, faster. She always wanted it harder, faster.

The lather let her fingers glide over her swollen folds. She flicked her c.l.i.t with her thumb, caressed it with her fingertips. As hot as she felt now, a climax was only a few strokes away. Although it would feel good, she wanted more than good.

She wanted amazing.

Alaina had shown her all the settings on the removable showerhead last night, including a pulsing action that she said was perfect for o.r.g.a.s.ms. Slipping the showerhead from its holder, Emma set the spray to pulse and checked the flow on her palm. Oh yes. Definitely perfect.

Emma sat on the built-in seat in the corner. She spread her legs and ran the spray up and down her l.a.b.i.a. Closing her eyes, she leaned back and raised her feet to the seat. The new position let her reach every part of her intimate flesh. She focused the spray on her c.l.i.t, moved it up and down her folds again. She groaned out loud when the pulsing water touched her a.n.u.s. She held the showerhead in place, letting the warmth caress the sensitive tissue. a.n.a.l stimulation had always been a huge turn-on for her and the path to a staggering climax. She suspected today would be no different.

Her toes curled when the pleasure began to grow stronger in her body. She rubbed her c.l.i.t with her fingertips as she kept the spray directed on her a.n.u.s. The o.r.g.a.s.m stole her breath as it flashed through her like a wildfire, gathering speed until it consumed every part of her.

”Oh yessssss!”

Eyes closed, mouth open, her body trembled with each wave that flowed over her. Her lungs were still fighting for oxygen when she managed to open her eyes. It took several more moments for the strength to return to her legs so she could stand.

Alaina hadn't kidded about the showerhead being a girl's friend.

The climax had definitely been amazing, but it still wasn't enough. o.r.g.a.s.ms with her fingers or a showerhead would never compare to the ones she received from a man.

She thought of Griff as she shaved her underarms, legs and mound. She wanted her next o.r.g.a.s.m to be with him. Tonight would be the perfect opportunity.

Griff noticed Emma the moment he stepped into Rye's kitchen. She and Alaina were laughing and talking as they took dishes from the cabinets and food from the refrigerator. The scent of barbecued beef and pork filled the air. Leaning against the doorjamb, he watched the two women scurry about the room.

”How much time left on the barbecue?” Alaina asked with her head inside the refrigerator.

Emma stopped tearing the lettuce leaves in her hands and glanced at the timer on the stove. ”Ten minutes.”

”I'm gonna warm up the baked beans.”

”Okay. Grab that cruet of salad dressing while you're in there so I can toss the salad.”

Griff's gaze slowly traveled over Emma. She wore tight, faded jeans that hit her right at the hips. A loose blouse in shades of turquoise, hot pink and gray was tied at her waist, leaving that sliver of skin exposed again.