Potential Match [Ménage.com 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (11 page)

“Where are your men, Cyn?” Duke asked, trying to convey his irritation that she might be stirring up dilemmas where there shouldn’t be.

“Oh, Duke,” Elise said, the tiny blonde looking like a schoolteacher with her black-rimmed glasses, “don’t go stirring Cyn up this morning. She hasn’t had her caffeine yet. You’re Bryn, right? I’m Elise and this is Cyn. We’re the authors that started Menage.com.”

“They let me off of my leash,” Cyn replied with a wink. She held up her hand and signaled for Willow to bring her a cup of coffee. “My GPS is still working though. Bryn, it’s nice to meet you. Elise and I are just wondering how it’s going with the three of you. You guys look mighty cozy for having just met, but who are we to judge? Elise had a whirlwind romance as well. For that matter, so did Elliot and Mitch when they met Anna. Success in the relationships from the site just means that our system is working.”

“Did someone mention a leash?”

Duke turned to see Bryan and Jason Thomas taking a table next to them. Des sat down on Bryn’s side of the booth, causing her to scoot in toward the window. Neither Duke nor Des offered to make introductions of the men to Bryn. As far as Duke was concerned, Bryan and Jason didn’t need to know Bryn. Duke rubbed his right shoulder.

“Oh, Bryan,” Cyn said, “I knew you were into the lifestyle, but a leash? Really?”

Jason wiggled his eyebrows and snapped his wrist as if wielding a whip. “I’ve got to say, Cyn and Elise, I’m impressed with your website. We’ve already been on numerous dates. It’s only a matter of time before we find the
one
. And yes, we already have a leash picked out for her.”

“We’ve made some updates,” Elise said, pushing her glasses up her nose with her index finger. “Let us know what you think of them. We’re also considering adding on a live chat feed.”

“Sounds interesting,” Bryan said, pulling out a chair and having a seat. “Duke, are you going to introduce us to the lovely lady hiding behind Des?”

Bryn’s head popped around Des, slapping him on the shoulder. “Hi. I’m Bryn Russell. It’s nice to meet all of you.”

“I’m Bryan Thomas and this is my brother, Jason.”

“Nice to meet you.” Bryn leaned forward and then immediately shifted her weight on the seat. Duke knew that Bryan and Jason noticed and knew exactly what it meant. Both men smiled. Bryn didn’t seem to notice. “Are you from Triple?”

“Yes, ma’am, we are,” Jason said with a drawl in his voice. He took the seat across from Bryan. “And where might you be from? How did you come about meeting up with the D brothers?”

“She’s off-limits, Jason,” Duke said in all seriousness.

“Have they spoken to Celeste over at the bookstore?”

“Jason, don’t rile them up,” Bryan said with a laugh.

While Duke and Des had been going through women like a fisherman goes through bait, Bryan and Jason were right behind them in terms of quantity. The only difference is where Duke liked a little kink in his sex life, Bryan and Jason lived a BDSM lifestyle. Maybe it was hitting their thirties, but it seemed as if the men in Triple who had liked to play the field suddenly felt the urge to settle down. Bryan and Jason wanted a woman who enjoyed and desired that lifestyle, and who would commit to a long-term relationship.

“Hmmm, maybe we should stop by the bookstore on the way home,” Bryn said. Des hoped it was in jest. She had taken their past and reputation with grace, but a man never really knew what a woman was thinking. The words that came out of her mouth next put him at ease. “Kidding, Des. Don’t have a heart attack. Everyone has a past and who am I to judge? Besides, being hunted by a serial killer kind of takes precedence.”

“I heard about that,” Jason said. “Triple has certainly had its fair share of excitement lately. Des and Duke will take good care of you though. You never did answer my question. How did the three of you meet?”

“We met through their website,” Bryn answered, waving her hand in indication toward Cyn and Elise. “I must say, it is so easy to use. You’ve set up the questions in such a way that it weeds out the matches that wouldn’t be acceptable.”

“Really? You met through the site?” Bryan asked, raising an eyebrow. “That’s interesting, because we also have a profile on Menage.com. They try to match their clients based on—”

“As Duke said,” Des reiterated, “Bryn is off-limits.”

“Hello?” Bryn sang out in a high-pitched voice. “I’m right here and can answer for myself.”

“I like her already,” Cyn whispered to Elise.

“Bryn, you don’t understand,” Duke said, shifting his feet and leaning against the booth seat. He wasn’t about to sit when he knew they’d be leaving any minute. “Bryan and Jason’s tastes extend to the more extreme. They wouldn’t have been in the categories you were searching.”

Des leaned down and whispered into Bryn’s ear. It was evident that his brother went into further detail regarding Bryan and Jason’s yearning for a woman who loved bondage and discipline as much as they liked giving it. Bryn’s face flushed as she realized what they were talking about, and she shifted in her seat again. Duke smiled at her apparent understanding of what they were discussing.

“Um, I’m sure you and Jason are really good men, but Duke and Des are more my type,” Bryn said, the blush still radiating her cheeks. “We’re, um, well—we’re taking our time and getting to know one another.”

“I heard that there’s been a detective in town breathing down Sheriff Whittington’s neck.” Leave it to Cyn to bring up an unpleasant topic, Duke thought. Before he or Des could cut her off, Cyn said, “You do look an awful lot like those victims. We heard through the grapevine that you actually escaped the killer. Good for you, girl. Now that you have Duke and Des, you couldn’t be safer.”

“Don’t jinx us, Cyn,” Des said, scooting out of the booth and pushing Duke back a step. “Why don’t you stay and bug Bryan and Jason about their profile and impending matches. We need to be going.”

Duke and Des both held their hands out for Bryn to take. She reached for them and tried unsuccessfully to hide the fact that she was uncomfortable. If Duke had to guess, Bryn was more aroused than anything. He could see her hardened nipples through her shirt. Bryan and Jason were well aware of why she was moving delicately, while Cyn and Elise seemed oblivious. Cyn was still trying to catch Willow’s eye regarding her cup of coffee, but Willow seemed distracted. Duke followed her gaze and noticed that Detective Flynn had just stepped into the diner.

Flynn looked the same as he did the night that he’d interviewed Duke at the hospital. His brown hair didn’t have a strand out of place. The black suit he was wearing was tailored to perfection, while the shine on his shoes was brighter than the Arizona sun. Duke figured he wouldn’t last long in Triple, and frankly, Flynn’s leaving would indicate that Bryn was in the all clear of the killer’s sight. Seeing as how Flynn was looking their way, he wasn’t there to tell them he was heading out of town. Shit.

“Oh, no,” Bryn said, standing in between Duke and Des. “Do you think they found her?”

Duke knew Bryn was referring to the killer’s latest victim, and while he wanted to reassure her that hadn’t happened, Duke was relatively positive that it had. The urge to protect her from all of this evil overcame him, and he pulled Bryn into his body, holding her close.

“It looks like we’re about to find out,” Duke answered.

“Bryn,” Detective Flynn said as he walked up to them, “I need to speak with you privately.”

“Whatever you have to say to Bryn, you can say to us,” Duke snapped, not liking the way the detective was looking at her. He looked over at Des and wondered if his brother was aware that the detective was interested in Bryn. Duke had never been one to feel jealousy, but right at this moment, he swore he was seeing green. First it was Bryan and Jason, now it was the detective. Duke’s right shoulder was starting to ache again. “Has something happened?”

Duke had to grit his teeth when Flynn looked at Bryn for permission to speak in front of them. Des inched a little closer to Bryn’s left side. The diner’s noise level suddenly became quiet, while everyone’s attention was turned their way. Bryn nodded, but Detective Flynn still seemed uncomfortable.

“Maybe we can grab a corner booth or walk across to the sheriff’s office,” Detective Flynn suggested. “This isn’t something that should be discussed with the entire town.”

“Please, Detective, just tell me,” Bryn begged, leaning into Duke and holding on to him a little tighter. “Have you found her?”

“Yes.” Detective Flynn took his time as he looked directly at each of them. His gaze finally landed on Bryn. “And as we thought, he’s coming for you next.”

Bryn leaned against the bathroom counter and used her hand to wipe away the condensation that had accumulated on the mirror. Staring at her reflection, she was amazed at what had transpired within the last three days. Bryn looked the same but felt as if she was a different woman. Who knew that driving across the border into Triple would have drastically changed her life?

The sadness that had hung over the rest of the day was like a rain cloud that wouldn’t float away. Detective Flynn had informed them that the victim had been found right outside of Triple, but on the south end. While they had various officers covering the area within the two-mile range the killer seemed to dump the bodies from the abduction site, their target had decided to broaden his range. To top it off, the killer had pinned a note on the victim’s body that read:
Brin isn’t allowed to disobey me. I’m coming for her.

“No one is getting inside of this house, Bryn.”

Bryn lifted her gaze in the mirror to find Des leaning against the doorway to the bathroom. They’d tried to keep her spirits up and had discussed various ways to ensure her safety with Detective Flynn. The bottom line was that they had no clue when the serial killer might come after her or how. It was an unsettling feeling, and Bryn didn’t like being scared.

“What if he waits them out?”

“Who?” Des asked. “The cops that are posted outside the house? Flynn wants this killer so bad he can taste it. Imagine what it will do for his career if he captures a serial killer that’s had Phoenix on edge for the last year. He’d be a hero.”

“So we’re banking my life on a cop’s ego?” Bryn turned, tucking the towel tighter underneath her arms. She knew that had come out rather snappish, but Bryn couldn’t help herself. “Des, what if this guy finds me? What if he does to me what he did to those other women? I’ve finally reached that place in my life where I’m content—happy. I have a mother that drives me crazy, but that I love more than anything. My client list is growing and couldn’t be better. And now I’ve finally met two guys who make me feel—”

Bryn broke off the remaining words she was going to say. Actually, she wasn’t quite sure what her next words were going to be. She just knew that she’d never felt like this with any other man. Maybe it was exchanging e-mails with them that started to weave them together, sharing little details like their favorite color and food. They told each other their wants and dreams. Sure, it wasn’t as if they’d spent years getting to know one another, but sometimes it wasn’t time that made a difference—it was the persons.

Des pushed away from the doorframe and took the two steps across the tile to where she stood. Bryn could feel that enchanting forest start to surround her as she let his eyes guide her. She let go of the towel, allowing it drop at her feet while Des pulled her into his embrace.

“What do we make you feel, Bryn?” Des asked, his breath caressing her face.

“I–I’m not sure,” Bryn whispered, letting their lips touch. “It’s all a ball inside of my chest, and I can’t distinguish one emotion from another.”

“Having almost lost you before we ever had a chance to see how good it could be has put things in perspective.” Des pulled away and turned her to face the mirror. “We want to see this, protect this, cherish this.”

Bryn saw her lips part, a flush steal across her cheeks, and her brown eyes cloud with desire. Her breasts lifted with each shallow breath she took. Goose bumps were scattered over her skin, as well as on the areola of each nipple. Her bare pussy showed an engorged clit peeking out of her folds after having had a day of neglect while her ass had hoarded all of the attention. Bryn’s juices now covered the inside of her thighs. She’d never seen herself exposed in this manner and certainly not in such a sexual state. They’d made her this way.

“Pull one leg up and place your foot on the counter,” Des ordered. “I want to see your pussy.”

Bryn lifted her foot, not taking her eyes off of Des’s hand. Once her foot was secure and her body was leaning into his for support, Bryan followed his fingers as they trailed down to her pussy. He used two fingers to slide into each of her folds, pulling them apart and revealing her swollen nub. It seemed twice the size it normally looked, and now that he’d uncovered her clit, the slight throbbing that had started now seemed to be a full-on, excruciating pounding.

“Please take my plug out,” Bryn pleaded. “Make love to me. I can’t take anymore, and Duke won’t do anything about it.”

Des chuckled as he leaned down and placed tiny kisses along her shoulder. “Duke wanted to make sure you’re ready to accept both of us. He wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”

“Other people have anal sex.” Bryn tried to move her hips, but Des’s hand held her in place. Damn, she just needed him to touch her clit. “You don’t hear stories of butt plugs with them.”