'Kate. Sweetheart.' He gathered me against his body. 'Did you hurt your head?'
'I'm all right.' I rubbed the sore spot, more dazed by his concern than by the thump I'd taken.
'Poor thing,’ he murmured, rocking me.
Left without his partner, Sean stepped towards the window and turned away. The setting sun gilded the curve of his spine. He raked his short blonde hair back. His shoulders sagged. A little worry tightened my throat. What if he really cared for Joe? Then a truly horrible thought brought my hand flying to my mouth. 'Oh, God, Joe, I didn't bite you, did I?'
He kissed the tip of my nose. 'No, sweetheart, you let go just in time.'
With a flattering lack of effort, he scooped me off the floor and set me on my king-sized bed. Sleepy and warm, I let him remove my bra - which was the only clothing I had left. His hands passed over my breasts in gentle exploration, a strangely comforting gesture. Then he pulled the chenille coverlet up to my neck.
To my surprise, considering Sean's possessive streak, both men settled on either side of me. Sean snuggled against my back and sighed with exhaustion. I patted the arm he draped around my waist. In all my fantasies, I'd never dreamed of seducing him.
Of course, I hadn't really seduced him tonight. He'd just gone along. Well, more than gone along - he'd enjoyed himself. So why did I feel as if I'd stolen something from him? Why did I feel protective? Most of all, why did I wish we could do it again - not just Joe and I, but the three of us together?
Divorce rebound, I thought. You figure if one man will prop up your self-esteem, two should send it through the roof. I didn't believe that, though. I'd caught a glimpse of the real Sean tonight, and it had struck a chord.
We had more than our lust for Joe in common.
The question was, what did I intend to do about it? Keep it light, I thought. Treat it like a game and no one will get hurt.
The object of our affections lifted the erotic novel I'd
left by my bed a lifetime ago. 'Hm,' he said. One finger stroked the naked clinch on the cover. 'I'm sure you sleepyheads don't need it, but I think I'll read you a bedtime story.'
The sound of furious whispers woke me, that and the circling caress of a hand on my hip: Joe's hand. Already I recognised the long fingers, the gentleness all out of proportion to his years. Or perhaps his gentleness depended on youth. Perhaps life would roughen his soft edges.
The thought disturbed me. In fact, being disturbed disturbed me.
I feigned sleep, which was not an easy task. Sean's naked front spooned my naked back and his erection nuzzled the crease of my buttocks. Lust told me to squirm closer. Curiosity told me to be quiet and listen. Curiosity won.
'What is your problem?' Sean hissed.
'She's asleep.'
'Don't worry. She'll like it.' Sean's chest was damp with excitement, his nipples pebbled and hot. Whatever 'it' was, I suspected he'd like it, too.
'But I've never done it before.'
Sean reached over me to ruffle Joe's hair. 'It's not hard. Hell of a lot easier than going down on a man.'
'What if I can't find it - and how do you know?'
‘I had a life before I met you, you know. Just because I like men better doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good-looking woman.'
'But I thought - You never said -'
This was getting too private for me. 'I'm awake,’ I said and laid my hand on Joe's belly. His stomach muscles jumped.
'Oh,’ he said, and, 'Oh, man,’ when my fingers ventured lower.
Grasping the root of his erection, I pulled slowly until the flare of his glans crossed my palm. He caught my hand before I could stroke him again.
'Behave yourself,’ he said. He threw the covers off the three of us and stared at me in the moonlight. His hand trailed down the curve of my side. 'You are so beautiful.'
My skin heated under the compliment. Had anyone said those words so convincingly before?
The mattress creaked as he scooted lower on the bed. I heard the coverlet fall to the faded Turkish carpet; heard the rush of Joe's breath. Did those hastened exhalations signify anxiety or arousal? I prayed he wasn't doing something he didn't want to do. He kissed the tender skin beneath my navel, then rubbed his face across my fleece. Aside from the endearing gesture, which he repeated, he didn't seem to know where to start. My concern intensified.
'Here,' said Sean. He lifted my upper thigh and arranged it over Joe's shoulder. The scent of male sweat and female musk perfumed the air.
Joe kissed one plump lip.
When he went no further, Sean said, 'Watch.' His hand, callused from the construction work he did every summer, slid down my belly. He combed through my curls to part my labia.