Part 9 (1/2)
”So Billy J's not only stupid, he has lousy taste.” Mel raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. He used his thumb to rub over the spot as if he wanted to work that kiss right into her flesh.
She felt a greater sense of affection from these two men holding her hands than she ever had from Billy J, period.
”I didn't think that way at the time,” she said. ”But the longer I spend with you, the more clearly I'm beginning to see the past as it really was.”
”And your mother wants you to give this prince a second chance?”
”I told her that it was not going to happen.”
”Good. Because if anyone comes sniffing around our woman, we'd have to take exception to that,” Connor said.
”Your woman, huh?” She kind of liked the sound of that.
”Absolutely,” Mel said. He brought her hand up to his lips again. ”Said 'exception' might prove painful-for Billy J.” He gave her a grin that let her know in no uncertain terms that Mel would most definitely enjoy the process of taking exception to Billy J's unwanted attention.
It occurred to Emily Anne that if her mother did tell her ex where she was, she wouldn't have to bother the sheriff with her problem. She could just let her men handle the situation.
Her men.
Emily Anne guessed she liked the sound of those two words, but not near as much as she liked the reality of them.
”What time do you have to work tomorrow, precious?”
”I'm on the later s.h.i.+ft. I don't have to be in until noon or so.”
”Good. Would you stay the night with us?”
”There's nothing we'd like better, angel eyes, than having you between us all night long.”
She didn't need to be convinced. The idea of getting out of bed and going home after more of their hot, steamy loving simply didn't appeal to her. She wasn't ready to move in with them even if they did ask her to today. But the occasional sleepover sounded better than fine.
”It's an amazing coincidence,” she said, ”because there's nothing I'd like better than to spend the night between the two of you, too.”
Chapter 10.
The more time Connor spent with Emily Anne, and the more he learned about her, the more deeply he fell in love with her.
He watched her eat, almost marveling at the dainty way she used her fork to spear the small pieces into which she'd cut her roast beef. He figured a man was pretty far gone when he became enamored of the way a woman ate her dinner.
Connor thought about all the little things he'd known about her before he became her lover, and all the things he'd learned just tonight.
When she'd told them about Billy J, and the way that a.s.shole had dumped her, he recalled that moment during Carrie Rhodes Benedict's wedding reception-that moment when Emily Anne took to the stage and brought the house down with her rendition of Faith Hill's ”Breathe.”
”What about you, sweetheart?” He wondered why, all things considered, the question hadn't come to him before now. ”You've got some pretty awesome pipes on you.” When she looked up at him, confusion on her face, he elaborated. ”When you sang at Carrie's wedding, Mel and I were there, remember? You stunned everyone with your voice!”
”He's right, precious. You've got one h.e.l.l of a voice,” Mel said. He seemed to get Connor's point. ”Is that a dream of yours? Maybe getting a recording contract of your own some day? I don't know that much about it, but I think you're good enough to get one, if that's something you really wanted to do.”
Her smile softened, so sweet in its honesty that Connor, who'd never once thought in such terms, could have sworn he felt his heart melt just a little bit. ”Thank you, both of you. But no, that's not something I've ever wanted.” Emily Anne shook her head as if to emphasize her words. She set down her fork and took a tiny, delicate drink of her sangria. Watching her drink her wine got him hard.
G.o.d, Talbot, you have got it so bad.
”I've never fancied a singing career of any kind. I do know I have a good voice, and I might get up and sing a song or two if the occasion presents itself now and again. I like the singing in and of itself-but it's just something that I do for fun, or when I'm in the mood.” Emily Anne shrugged. ”I wouldn't want the pressure or the...the complications, I guess, that can sometimes go hand in glove with a career in the public eye.”
”That's fair enough,” Connor said. Suddenly everything he didn't know about this woman seemed immense and he felt an almost-desperate need to begin filling in all the blanks. ”Is there something else you'd like to do, though? Not that there's anything wrong with working at l.u.s.ty Appet.i.tes. There certainly isn't. But do you have a goal or a dream? Something in life that you want to have or achieve?” He wondered at the look that crossed her face, a shadow of emotion that came and went in a heartbeat's worth of time. Then she gave him a smile that went straight to his c.o.c.k.
”Well now. Are we talking long-term or short-term goals?”
”Either or,” he said. He understood the look in her eyes before she said another word. He looked over at Mel, who'd also been focused on her face. Clearly, he recognized that spark of interest, too.
Miss Emily Anne Bancroft was aroused. It also crossed his mind that she meant to distract him away from the discussion about her goals and dreams with s.e.x, but that was all right.
They would return to the subject of the lady's life goals eventually.
”There is something I'd like to do short term. It has to do with that hot tub upstairs.” She looked at Mel, and then met his gaze again. ”I've heard whispers about water sports, but I've never had the opportunity to explore the concept.”
”Is that a fact?” Yep, his c.o.c.k was getting harder by the minute. ”I'm sure that between us, Mel and I can satisfy your curiosity when it comes to all things wet and wild.”
”I do believe that between you is exactly where my curiosity-and appet.i.te-are both likely to be satisfied. For all things...physical.”
Connor loved it when Emily Anne got a little bit bold. She had the prettiest blush, and her eyes sparkled even more brightly than usual. It also did something to him to know that she was stepping outside of her comfort zone, daring to be daring, and doing it for them, for him and Mel.
He didn't need to be told this was a side to herself she'd never shown anyone else before them. He just knew it was so.
Reaching out, no longer able to keep his hands to himself, he stroked her hair and then settled his hand at the back of her neck.
”I need to taste you again, angel eyes.” He didn't give her more than a second, but he didn't need to worry because in her eyes he read a desire that matched his own. She halved the distance between them, reaching for him even as he bent toward her.
He didn't so much kiss her as he drank her in. Already the taste of her was something he craved, and that craving, he knew, would be his for the rest of his life. He used his tongue to explore her mouth, dipping in and around to scoop up every nuance of her flavor. He could taste a hint of the sangria she'd enjoyed, and the fruity sweetness just enhanced her flavor more. His right hand joined his left in touching her, a small caress to her cheek, then down to her neck so that he had the sense of holding her face-holding her-in his hands.
He'd never been more conscious of his strength as a man, or more aware of being entrusted with something so precious and fragile.
He lifted his lips from hers, pleased beyond words when her eyes appeared glazed as if his kiss had somehow short-circuited her brain.
”Let's clear up in here so we can spend the rest of the evening satisfying your...curiosity.”
Emily Anne definitely liked the way these two men did things, even outside the bedroom. Neither one of them seemed allergic to pitching in to tidy the kitchen, and wasn't that something? She'd been willing to do the job solo since they'd cooked the meal. Instead, they'd allowed her to think that they were letting her help. She'd pick something up only to have it s.n.a.t.c.hed from her hands-gently and usually with an accompanying, very distracting kiss.
By the time Connor turned out the lights in the kitchen and Mel took her hand to lead her back upstairs, she was hotter than she'd ever been in her entire life.
He didn't let go of her hand until they reached the master bathroom. He brought her to the hot tub and reached over to turn on the jets. When he faced her again, he used his index finger to trace the V opening of the robe she wore.
”Are you too sore or too tired for more loving, Emily Anne?”
”I'm not sore at all. I want you inside me.” It had become increasingly urgent to her that she have Mel's c.o.c.k inside her p.u.s.s.y, just as she'd had Connor's earlier. She wanted both of these men with an equal intensity.