Retreat From Love (15 page)

“And Simon is a friend. Do not speak ill of him.” Freddy’s lips twitched. “Although if the truth were known, he’s probably had more than half of London since he does not discriminate between men and women when it comes to lovers.”

Brett was still upset. “Clearly you do not either. Because you are hoping to fuck Anne, aren’t you? Isn’t that what this is leading up to?”

Anne was thrilled with his outburst. Now that it was out in the open, she wanted to take the lead and run with it. Before she could say anything, however, Freddy answered Brett. “Yes, I am, and so are you, if you aren’t too afraid to admit it.”

Anne spun to look at Brett. He stared between them, his mouth moving but no words coming out. To Anne, that looked like a yes. She smiled.

Freddy stood up suddenly. Anne wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but she trusted that he was going in the right direction to give them all what they wanted.

“Don’t you want to know?” he asked softly with a knowing little smile. “Don’t you want to know what it was like with Simon?”

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God, yes, Anne wanted to know. She’d never thought much about men having sex.

She wasn’t entirely sure what that entailed, actually. Did they simply take each other in their mouths? Anne had done that a time or two, and didn’t especially care for it. But again, they were strangers. Would she have liked it with Bertie? Would she like it with Freddy and Brett? The thought of tasting these two had her mouth watering.

“I want to know,” she told Freddy honestly. The look he gave her was as approving as it was amused.

“God,” Brett muttered as he rested his forehead in his palm.

“I think that means he wants to know too,” Anne told Freddy helpfully with a little grin.

Freddy laughed. “As I said, it was better, sweeter. I knew Simon was concerned with my enjoyment, my pleasure. And he made sure that I did enjoy it. Very much. It was powerful and exciting.” He stared at Brett. “But for all that, I only did it once.

Because Simon was not the man I wanted to have sex with.”

“Christ.” Brett was staring back at Freddy.

Anne became wary. “Does that mean that I am only to be a once-in-a-lifetime encounter as well? Because I have had enough of them. I am ready for more.” With a start she realized it was true. She wanted more with Freddy and Brett. Today was only the beginning. For the first time in her life she wanted more than the thrill of a quick, illicit encounter. She was realistic enough to realize that there could be no real future here with either man, but they could have more than this afternoon, surely. They could be together as long as Freddy and Brett were here. For the first time Anne wanted a lover, or lovers, and not merely a fuck.

“No, Anne,” Freddy told her gently, laying a hand on her cheek. “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t have you once and walk away. You are a woman to be savored again and again. And I shall, if you’ll let me.”

Anne felt foolishly weak at his praise. She smiled tremulously. “You are a rake, Freddy. You know just what to say to make my knees weak.”

Anne looked over at Brett who was watching their exchange intently. She couldn’t read his mood. Was he still angry over Freddy and this Simon person? How did he feel about what they were proposing? Did he understand what they wanted? Of course he did, how could he not know how much both Freddy and Anne wanted him? Before she could say anything further, Freddy smiled cheerfully.

“I do believe that I am in the mood for a swim. It has grown rather warm.” Freddy began to unbutton his jacket. “Anne? Would you care for a swim?” His smile turned mischievous.

Anne had already learned that when Freddy smiled like that, it usually meant he was up to something. She laughed aloud. She stood and turned her back, presenting Freddy with the row of buttons along the back of her dress. “I would love a swim. As you both know, I am fond of a dip here now and then.”

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Freddy began to unbutton her dress as he snorted with laughter. “A dip, hmm? I think that can be arranged.”

“Really?” Anne teased. “Because I’ve heard the duke is rather strict about that sort of thing.”

“I’ve heard the same thing,” Freddy responded seriously. He finished unbuttoning her dress and pushed it down over her shoulders as he leaned in to whisper loudly in her ear. “He insists that beautiful women swim naked here as often as possible.”

Anne giggled like a young girl. “Well, I can take care of that today, but my schedule is full tomorrow.”

Her insides were dancing with nerves and excitement. She wanted Freddy and there was no doubt in her mind she would have him today. But she wanted Brett to be a part of it this first time, to join in their fun. All the talk of Bertie and what must seem like a betrayal of sorts to poor Brett…she just wanted to make him forget all of that. She wanted him to lose himself in her body, in the joy of a man and a woman…and, er, another man, coming together. She almost giggled again.

She was too nervous to look over at Brett. He hadn’t gotten up and walked away.

She took that as a good sign.

Behind her she heard Freddy splash as he entered the pond. A chill chased down her spine, ending in a tingle between her legs. He was naked.
Naked.
Just the thought made her breath catch and her stomach clench. She hadn’t realized she’d been standing there clutching her dress to her chest. She forced her fingers to unfold and then let go.

The dress slipped down and caught on her hips. Anne gave a wiggle and it came loose and fell to pool around her feet. Her heart was pounding. She had never been completely naked in front of a man before. Not even Bertie. No, wait. She’d been naked in front of Brett and Freddy a week ago, here at the pond. For some reason that made her more nervous. What if she wasn’t what they remembered?

Anne sternly rebuked herself. A man did not soon forget a naked woman who

emerged from a pond dripping wet and slapped him silly. Both men had shown in many ways the past week that they wanted her. In Brett’s case, reluctantly. But she was old enough to recognize desire when she encountered it. They desired her. So she needed to stop being so foolish and get naked. Right now. Anne took a deep breath and unlaced her chemise. She reached down and drew it over her head, letting it flutter from her fingers before she dropped it on the ground next to her.

Beside her she heard Brett rasp as he sucked in a breath. She had worn nothing but her chemise. She hadn’t bothered with petticoats today because she had been planning on this all along. Feeling surer of herself, she slowly bent over and ran her hands from her ankles up to her hips. She heard Freddy mutter something behind her that sounded like “Good God.”

Head held high, Anne turned toward the pond. She still couldn’t look directly at Brett, but she caught a glimpse of a hot, intense gaze that made her blush from her head 76

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to her toes. Her gaze collided with Freddy’s as he stood in the pond, the water coming up to his hips.

Freddy looked ready to leap out of the water and devour her. She had an alarming euphoria coursing through her veins, feeling a little like a mouse before two hawks. She took a moment to catch her breath and looked, really looked, at Freddy. He was going to be her lover. God, the thought made her stumble a little. He was so tall, his chest and arms leanly muscled, tight but not youthful. No, he was a man now, in every way. She remembered what he’d said, that he had had sex with a man. Instead of repulsing her, it aroused Anne inexplicably. She saw Freddy’s nipples peak on his chest. They were surrounded by a fine layer of auburn hair, pale pink crested coins in the middle of his well-defined pectoral muscles, and she wanted to lap at them and nibble them to see if they tasted as good as they looked. She gasped at her wayward thoughts and her gaze flew up to meet Freddy’s amused one.

“Come, Anne,” he urged her, holding out his hand invitingly. “Come and join me.”

How could she say no? She walked slowly into the water, the lapping of the warm water against her calves, thighs and stomach a wanton caress hinting at things to come.

Brett held his breath as he watched Anne walk to Freddy in the water. She was so beautiful. Her skin was pearly white, creamy and luscious, every inch of her. Her dark hair was still piled on top of her head, and he’d glimpsed the patch of thick dark curls between her legs as she’d turned to the water. She’d been blushing furiously for all her bravado. Anne may think she was experienced, but that blush said more than words.

Brett wanted to hold her tight and reassure her even as he drove his cock inside her and watched her come apart in his arms.

Brett let his gaze wander to Freddy. He’d seen Freddy naked before, but for some reason today he was different. Brett saw him differently. What was it? Brett ran his hand through his hair and was angry to feel it trembling. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? Freddy and Anne together? Brett rolled to his feet intent on leaving them to their play. He slid his eyes to the side for one last look and he realized what it was, why Freddy looked different to him. Because Freddy was no longer the inexperienced boy he’d imagined him. He’d fucked Simon, and he’d liked it. He wanted Brett, and he knew exactly what he was asking for. Brett trembled anew. All that stood between him and Freddy now was Brett’s guilt.

Freddy watched him with those all-too-perceptive, gorgeous blue eyes. Brett had never told him how much he loved those eyes. Brett had never told him a lot of things.

And now he never would. Anne was still walking toward Freddy, toward that

outstretched hand, and in Brett’s imagination that hand was reaching toward him as well. With a heavy heart he turned away.

“Brett.” Anne’s voice stopped him. She had a throaty voice, seductive. Her laugh was intoxicating, better than the best brandy. With that one word she held him as tight as any rope. “Brett, please. Look at me.”

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He couldn’t deny her. He turned. She was standing in the water not a foot from Freddy. The water lapped at the lower curves of her breasts, breasts that he’d only gotten a glimpse of the other day. They were round, full but not heavy, just this side of lush. Perfect. Her small dark pink nipples were hard, plump and delicious looking. She was framed in the outline of Freddy’s body behind her.

“Stay. Stay with us.” Anne spoke softly, but each word reverberated inside him. He had to turn away now, before it was too late. Before he forgot how to say anything but yes, forgot all the reasons to say no. At that moment Freddy stepped forward and put his hand on Anne’s shoulder, then ran his palm over the firm curve of it and down to grip her upper arm lightly. The sight of Freddy touching her broke everything in Brett.

In that second he understood more about himself than he’d learned in the past thirty years. He wanted them both separately, but together they would fulfill him in a way he hadn’t realized he needed. And he was weak enough to need it more than his desire to do the right thing. Without a word Brett began to undress.

Anne smiled—a huge, happy grin. Then she laughed and Brett knew that he would treasure this moment, this day. Clearly they wanted him now. They needed him to bring them together here. But when Anne and Freddy were irrevocably tied to one another, deeply in love, because how could they not fall in love with each other, then he would leave. He ignored a small part of his conscience that whispered he was telling himself lies. Perhaps he was, but today he didn’t care. Today he would let himself have this.

When he was naked he felt none of the self-consciousness he’d anticipated. Both Anne and Freddy were looking at him hungrily. They didn’t see his scars, his damaged leg. Maybe when the thrill wore off they would see how much older he was, his many imperfections. But right now they were as enthralled with what was happening as he was. Brett walked into the water.

Suddenly Freddy laughed and he grabbed Anne under the arms and spun her up out of the water. She squealed and Freddy let her go, throwing her deeper into the pond. A laugh burst out of Brett at Anne’s scream of outrage. She sputtered out of the water and immediately splashed Freddy in the face.

“You rotter!” she yelled. Brett could tell she wasn’t angry. He didn’t think she’d be.

She seemed like the kind of woman who could give as well as she could take. The kind of woman who would see Freddy’s action as fun instead of worrying about her hair.

She continued to splash Freddy repeatedly as he tried to get close to her.

“Flank her, Brett,” Freddy yelled at him as he made a grab for Anne and she dodged him with a laugh. Brett laughed right back as he dove into the chest-high water and kicked toward Anne. She screamed as they tried to cage her in, but she was laughing so hard she could barely move through the water.

“Don’t you dare!” she yelled, valiantly trying to splash them both behind her as she slogged through the water. Brett swam around her and burst from the water right in her path, surprising her. He shook his head and the water droplets from his hair flew all 78

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around. Anne covered her face with her arms, shrieking. Freddy came up behind her at that moment and grabbed her around the waist, producing another surprised shriek.

“I’ve got you,” Freddy yelled with a laugh. “You can’t get away.”

Brett closed in on her in front, crowding her into Freddy until his chest pressed against her breasts, flattening them. Anne squirmed between them.

“What makes you think I want to?” she asked breathlessly.

Brett was breathing heavily, their games quickly turning into play of another kind.

He was exhilarated. Excited beyond anything he’d ever known before. He was going to do it. He was going to have Anne. And Freddy, or at least have Anne with Freddy.

Anne was looking up at him from beneath lashes dark and thick with water. “Say something,” she whispered. “Tell me.”

Brett realized he hadn’t spoken aloud. He hadn’t told her anything of what he was feeling. That was his way, he supposed. But he wanted to share this with Anne. “I want you,” he said softly, as he wrapped one of the damp curls that had fallen against her neck around his finger. “May I, Anne? May I have you?” It wasn’t enough, but he couldn’t find the words. He could never find the words when it was important. Instead he tried to convey everything he was feeling in his glance, in the caress of his hand down her arm, in the clasp of his hand around hers in the water.