Part 11 (1/2)
No, he and Connor weren't bis.e.xual and never would be. But there was an intimacy between them, nonetheless. They were partners, as true in their own particular kind of partners.h.i.+p as Jake and Adam Kendall were in theirs.
If they got what they'd both confessed to the other that they wanted-Emily Anne as their wife-then they would be life partners as well.
Mel remembered a time when he'd been on a stakeout with Caleb Benedict. Caleb had already introduced him to his brother and their wife, and told him a little about his family history.
He'd finally gotten up the nerve to ask the man if things in the bedroom got weird, sometimes. He'd been a young rookie cop trying to learn about the job-and about life-from his older and much more seasoned training partner.
He could still recall what Caleb had said, as if he'd just told him yesterday. He'd said, ”Things are never weird, they're just the way they are. It takes a special kind of trust and a special kind of bond between men to share a woman. But when it's right, there is nothing else on G.o.d's earth quite like it for a man.”
Mel thought he might have a glimmer of how that might be so. He didn't feel it yet. In fact, he did kind of feel weird. But knowing that others were able to find the sacred in this gave him hope.
He thought again to Caleb's qualifiers. They weren't there yet, but he believed that if he could build that kind of trust with any man, that man would be Connor Talbot. Tonight, especially, he had hope.
He had great hope.
”What if I want one, or both, of you, in the night?” Emily Anne pulled his attention back to the present. She'd turned from the bed and literally stepped into them both. She wrapped her arms around their waists, and looked up at Connor, and then turned her gaze on Mel.
”That would only be fair because one-or both-of us is likely to want you in the night, too.”
”There's no right or wrong here, angel eyes. There's just the three of us, finding our way. If it's what we want, then it's right. I figure this bedroom-when we're in it together-is like a special place, a very private place where it's just us.”
We really are on the same page.
Emily Anne gave them a slow, s.e.xy smile. ”That's what I was feeling, and I thought I maybe I was being fanciful.” She stretched up and kissed Connor, then she reached for him. Her body flush with his, he could feel the way her nipples bored tiny indentations in his chest. He returned her kiss, not at all surprised that his c.o.c.k began to harden. He didn't think there would ever come a time when this woman ceased to arouse him.
”Come on, precious. Let's get you tucked into bed between us.”
Chapter 12.
Emily Anne stepped across the Victorian front porch and walked through the door of the historical old building that housed Discretion.
Now I understand why their sign out front clearly states that Discretion is adults only!
Soft light filtered in through the heavy white lace curtains that lined the large windows. Besides s.e.xy lingerie, apparel, jewelry, and shoes, the quaint interior was filled with antique gla.s.s counters displaying s.e.x toys and display racks with leather items she couldn't imagine the purpose of...but found she was curious about. Against one wall were several bookcases filled with books.
Rather than feeling like she'd entered a ”s.e.x shop,” the surroundings were intimate and inviting. Br.i.m.m.i.n.g with beautiful clothes and accessories, her fingers fairly itched to see and touch and buy. Emily Anne knew she'd found her new favorite place to shop. The aromas of new leather and scented candles gave the atmosphere a seductive aura.
”Good morning, Emily Anne. Welcome to Discretion,” Summer Webster said as she stepped around the big antique oak counter by the front door. Clad in a dark teal maxi dress with a crisscrossing surplice bodice and bejeweled silver sandals, Summer was the epitome of voluptuous confidence as she clasped Emily Anne's hand.
She'd recognize the shop's owner on sight, of course, and gave her a big grin. ”Good morning.” She couldn't stop her gaze from tracking from one display to the next.
A gorgeous chemise in lavender vied with a beautiful c.o.c.ktail dress in turquoise for her attention. The cut of the skirt coupled with the wrap-around style of the bodice would look really good on her. She looked at Summer. ”I don't know where to start!”
Summer hooked her arm through Emily Anne's. ”That's easy. Just tell me what you need.” Normally, a sales woman doing that would set her on edge and in fear for her pocketbook but Emily Anne felt like she was talking to a friend.
Emily Anne laughed. ”Everything! I need underwear and outer wear and something else.” She took stock of her surroundings. There was a pretty Hispanic woman, very obviously pregnant, clearly a colleague of Summer's, at the back of the shop. She seemed focused on setting garments on a hook by one of the change room doors, for an unseen customer. Emily Anne lowered her voice. ”I need some ultra intimate items. Do you carry b.u.t.t plugs?”
Stop blus.h.i.+ng, newbie!
Summer grinned, leaned closer, and lowered her voice as well. ”Yes, and lube, too.”
Emily Anne nearly sighed in relief. Considering her experience with Billy J, lube was definitely a ”must buy” item. ”Yeah, I'm definitely going to need some lube, won't I?”
Summer looked as if she was going to burst out laughing. ”You can have just plain lube, or you can have flavored.”
”Flavored?” She didn't need a mirror to know her face looked shocked. She was shocked.
”Mmhmm, it comes in strawberry, vanilla, and banana.”
”Oh my G.o.d!” Emily Anne started to giggle, and for once she didn't even care that her cheeks had turned bright pink.
”Okay, let's start out easy and then deal with the toys in the end.” Summer snickered, and Emily Anne realized she now felt completely at ease with the woman.
”That's funny...and bad.”
”I know.” Summer sighed. ”I should behave and just put a plug in it.”
Emily Anne burst out laughing. When she caught her breath again, she said, ”I was so nervous about coming in here today. Now I'm not nervous anymore. Thank you.”
”You're welcome! Seriously, there's nothing to be nervous or even shy about. We're sisters, aren't we? I mean, we have a lot in common, you and I, when you think about it.”
While speaking, Summer used a tape measure and took quick, perfunctory measurements and made notes on a tiny notepad. ”Just a side note, Emily Anne. Make sure your men know that I have your measurements and will keep a record of your preferences. So if they ever want to come visit the boutique and shop for you they don't have to worry about guess work. We also have a website if they'd like to shop for you online, instead.”
”Do you have many men who shop in here for their women?”
Summer flapped her hand. ”Honey, all the time. They're some of my best and most generous customers.”
”I have a hard time imagining a man enjoying shopping for me.” Emily Anne looked down at herself and placed her hand almost protectively over her soft belly, unconsciously wis.h.i.+ng she was smaller.
Summer noticed the gesture and squeezed her shoulders. ”Up until recently you probably also never thought you'd fall for two men, either. I've been where you are. Give it some time to let some of those negative messages you've had pounded into you be replaced by the truth. You're gorgeous.”
Emily Anne thought of the years of teasing from so-called friends and all her cousins and aunts and even her mother, women who should have been supportive of her but really had never been.
Summer's empathy was both welcome and, Emily Anne could tell, sincere.
”Yes, we do have a lot in common. So I guess that does make us sisters, of a sort.”
A mischievous twinkle entered Summer's beautiful hazel eyes. ”Well since I'm a few years older than you are, let's just consider that I'm your big sister, and I am about to give you some clothing advice.”
”That sounds perfect. Lead on, big sister.”
Emily Anne found herself coveting all the beautiful bits of lace and silk that Summer showed her. Set after set of gorgeous bras with matching panties-some bikini, some full brief, and one or two that were thongs, made her mouth water and her credit card quiver.
It shouldn't have amazed her that everything Summer suggested not only fit like a dream but looked very good on her. She had a hard time choosing.
The one set she absolutely couldn't refuse was a shelf bra, deep crimson, made from a pretty luxurious satin. It had scandalous straps that ran up either side of each breast and met around her neck, like a halter. She paired it with a panty that was demure rose lace in the front but in the back was fit together down the center seam by fine crisscrossing ribbons made to look like the lace-up closure of a corset. She thought it would be the perfect outfit for her to wear when she and her men began to experiment with those ”toys” she also intended to buy.