Winners (3 page)

It was a simple matter to pretend
to stretch and rub her ankle over the front of Ashton’s jeans in a long, slow
stroke, and “accidentally” drift her hand over Craig’s groin. She was rewarded
instantly by a stir of flesh and hid another smirk. No doubt she’d pay for
teasing later, in a totally pleasant way, so she risked another contact.

Ash caught her ankle in one big
hand, his fingers curling right around it, unobtrusively pulling it away from
his crotch—and separating her legs as he did so. The seam of her jeans was
suddenly chafing against her pussy in an extremely interesting fashion, and
when Craig dropped his arm to place it around her ribcage, his thumb and
forefinger caging the nipple of her right breast, Sinclair dampened her
panties.

She cast a quick glance at Candy
and Reece. Her friend appeared to be dozing against Reece’s chest, likely as
bored with football as she was, and Reece was staring at the screen. Which was
a good thing, because Ash’s free hand twitched into the space between
Sinclair’s thighs to cup her pussy, right when Craig pinched her beading nub.
She barely swallowed a gasp of arousal, and couldn’t contain a shiver. Ash
kneaded her heating apex, and raised one brow in a wickedly suggestive manner,
his clever fingers driving her toward orgasm, Craig sensuously tormenting her
breast.
Lord
.

Sinclair took in little hits of air
through her nose, trying to manage her breathing and not pant too obviously.
Okay, she’d started this, and in their inimitable style, her guys were
finishing it, but she hadn’t thought it through. She didn’t want to
come
in the presence of others. Or did
she? She had to admit to an illicit thrill of being pleasured in the same room
with her best friend and her man, but she also felt safe—not judged. Ash
pressed
just so
, and the burgeoning
sensations crested. Sinclair went over with a shudder and a whimpering moan,
masked by another outburst of the sports announcer. When she opened her eyes,
Craig was staring down at her with love and tenderness, his cock an
unmistakable solid presence against her hip. She knew Ashton was as aroused,
but she wasn’t looking in his direction, the now sated imp of mischief
suggesting she ignore him.

“Want another beer?” Reece’s deep
voice drew her from her post orgasmic languor, and Sinclair noted the flush of
color on Candy’s cheeks as she squirmed into an upright position.

“There are snacks in the fridge,”
her friend added.

Ash coaxed Sinclair’s feet over the
edge of the couch as Craig eased her upward to sit, perched on the edge. She
wondered if she looked as flustered as Candy, and as if on cue, their eyes
locked and laughter spilled over. After the past years of being away at school,
away from her men and her best friend, it felt darn good to laugh.
Especially when she had doubted her place with Ashton and Craig.

Pervert
,
she mouthed, and Candy winked.

All three men stared, splitting
their attention between her and her friend.

“What?”

Craig cuddled her close. “You’re
happy.”

How could he doubt it? “I am.”

“Well, it’s halftime. Let’s grab a
drink and something to eat before the game starts.” Reece stood with Candy in
his arms, letting her slide down the front of him until she gained her feet.

“Actually, Sinclair’s pretty
tired.” Ash gave her a proprietary look.

“No, I’m good.
Really.
Got my second wind.”
She’d definitely gotten
something, and this time around
they
could
tout the benefits of delayed gratification. She pretended not to see the intent
stares leveled in her direction and definitely ignored the rising tension.
“C’mon, Candy, I’ll give you a hand.”

****

Ash looked at his brother, who was
watching their little minx scamper to the kitchen, lust and longing etching his
features. He was pretty sure he appeared the same, and, unbidden, a smile
erupted. He knew exactly what Sinclair was doing. She, who never played games,
who hadn’t any sexual experience before giving herself to him and his brother,
was trying to turn the tables. He and Craig loved to sexually torment her,
bringing her up, over and over again, but not allowing her release until she
begged. Her orgasms were spectacular and worth waiting for, but they’d given
her a little taste tonight, goofing off like teenagers, and now she was making
them
wait.

Reece stepped closer and shook his
head.
“Shitty game.”

Ash jerked his head toward the
Sheriff.
What?
Then he figured out
Reece was referring to football. The game wasn’t actually bad …
ah
.
“Uh huh.”

Craig coughed. “We should probably
get going. Sinclair really is—”

“Tired.”
Ash and Reece spoke as one, and they all laughed. Ash checked over his shoulder
and caught Sinclair watching them.

He lowered his voice. “I’ll get
her. If you’re good with it, Reece, packing it in early…”

Reece shifted his stance and
grimaced. Ashton felt his pain—he was feeling something similar, his jeans too
tight over his erection. “I’m good with it.”

“And Candy?”

“Candace will be fine with it. I’ll
make it worth her while to shorten up the evening.” The Sheriff spoke with the
certainty of a man in charge, and damned if Ash didn’t feel a deeper affinity.
They’d gone to school together and hung out when they weren’t working, but
hadn’t renewed their friendship since Reece came home after his discharge. Ash
regretted that and made a decision to remedy that lapse.

“If you’re both
done with the innuendo?
I’d just as soon get our girl home.” Craig was
patting his pockets, and fished out a set of keys. “I’ll bring the truck
around.”

Exchanging another look with Reece,
Ash spoke to his brother. “We’ll be out right away.”

Reece preceded him toward the
kitchen. Candy had pulled a couple of platters out from the fridge and set them
on the island, and Sinclair was peeling the plastic wrap off.

“Sinclair? We’re heading out. Get
your purse, honey.”

Her sweet face lifted his way, and
her sunburst smile warmed him. There was a glint in her eyes. “But isn’t there
another half to the game?”

“
You taking
an interest in football now?”

“Well, the first half wasn’t
actually a hardship.”

He was aware Candy was smirking
behind her hand, and decided to step up his own game. Pushing into Sinclair’s
space, enjoying the way her silvery blue eyes widened and the pulse at the base
of her throat quickened, he leaned down. Speaking for her ears only, he said,
“We have some unfinished … business, honey.”

Swallowing, she blinked, and then
grinned. “I’m finished.”

He loved this teasing, fun loving
side of her, totally pleased she was becoming comfortable enough in their
ménage to act that way, but his aching cock wasn’t as impressed. “We haven’t
even started.”

Sinclair’s breath caught in her
throat—he heard it, a faint hiccup of sound, and her pupils dilated with pure
arousal. Could she be any more perfect?

“Candy? I’d better go. Okay?” Her
voice was husky, and his balls drew up in response to her need—and
acquiescence. Their Sinclair was a bright, educated woman who’d soon be carving
herself a niche in the animal husbandry trade in the area, but she looked to
him and his brother when it came to her pleasure. Ash had the absurd urge to
pound his chest and sling her over his shoulder like the prize she was. It
served to help him forget that every day she went toe-to-toe with animals that
could crush her in a heartbeat. But now wasn’t the time to revisit that
argument.

In a tone laced with amusement,
Candy assured Sinclair it was fine, and Ashton thanked her and Reece for the
meal, all the while urging Sinclair to the door, pausing only to grab the
little knapsack she used as a purse.

Craig had the truck right outside,
and without hesitation, Ash yanked the door open and handed Sinclair in,
following her. He latched her into the middle of the bench seat and put his own
seat belt on—her far smaller figure fit perfectly between him and Craig where
she would always fit if they had their way.

Craig shifted into drive and
cruised away from the house, the atmosphere inside the cab rife with sexual
tension. His brother drove with one hand on the wheel and set the other on
Sinclair’s thigh. Ash mirrored his touch and felt her twitch. They couldn’t
keep their hands off her, and he wondered if she sometimes needed space,
although she always leaned into their physical contact with loving
acceptance.
 

“I’m thinking our girl has a few
things to make up to us tonight, Craig.”

Sinclair tensed, first looking up
and him then swiveling to check out his brother.

“I agree. We missed the latter half
of the game because of her shenanigans.”

“Hey! We could have stayed and
watched it.”

Ash stroked his hand up her slender
thigh and squeezed gently in warning. “And have you
tease
us for the next couple of hours?”

“You just need to learn some self
control.” Her pout was belied by the humor in her voice, and he reached to take
hold of her wealth of hair, weaving his fingers through the strands. With a
tug, he lifted her face and studied it in the faint light from the dashboard.

“I think we have ourselves a little
challenge, Craig.
You up for it?”

“I’ve been up for it since
darlin
’ here started wiggling and teasing right there in
Reece Murdoch’s living room.”

“Uh huh.
I’m thinking we introduce our girl to the full benefits of ménage tonight.”

Craig’s chuckle filled the air,
right alongside the scent of aroused woman. Ash loosed Sinclair’s hair and sat
back to let her think on what was coming. Anticipation was a fine thing, and he
and Craig were suffering enjoyably right along with her.

Chapter Three

“Alone at last.”
Reece couldn’t remember what movie that line came from, but Candace looked as
anticipatory as he felt, her mouth softening and her eyelids appearing heavy.
The little dress needed to come off.
Now.

She rewrapped the trays and shoved
them back in the fridge, her movements quick and sure. “You
wanna
lock up? Turn off the TV?”

“I’ll take care of it. I want to
find you naked, kneeling on the bed, chest to the mattress when I get there.”

“Yes, Sheriff.”
With a sultry look, Candace glided past him on those damn shoes.

“Leave the footwear on.”

“
Yessir
.”
Fuck. He didn’t need any formal titles in
their play, but being called Sir did something for him, especially when it came
from his woman’s sweet mouth.

Taking his time, he went around the
house, testing windows and locking the front door—the back door was rarely
used, but he’d check it, too. It was his job to practice safety, but his most
precious possession was in his home, in his bed, and he’d do anything to
protect her. He flicked off the TV, giving the game only a cursory glance, and
picked up the empty bottles from earlier, shoving them back into the carton.

After turning off the lights, he
made his way to the bedroom, using the ambient illumination spilling out from
that room’s door. As he entered he stumbled to a halt. Despite knowing what
would greet him there, he still wasn’t prepared. The two bedside lamps were on,
spilling a warm glow over the bed, highlighting the flawless, dewy skin of his
woman. Following his orders, her curvaceous form was in the center of the
mattress, the long line of her back rising from her lowered shoulders to the
roundness of her ass. His gaze narrowed for a moment on the fading welt his
belt had left—Candace loved her spankings, slipping away on the flood of
endorphins the pleasure/pain released, her stress draining away. And Reece
loved to provide the sensual touch.

Golden curls obscured her face, but
he had no doubt she was watching him through the curtain of hair. He didn’t
school his features. He had no need to appear inscrutable. Candace Grant had
his heart and the rest of him in the palm of her little hand and he didn’t care
who knew it, most of all her.

Her breasts were pressed into the
mattress, pushed higher from where they rested on her knees; such was the
length of her legs in comparison to her petite torso. He admired the side view
of one of the full mounds, and his hands itched to be filled by them, his
fingers longing to squeeze and mold that soft flesh. But that was for later.

Unbuttoning his shirt, he strode to
the dresser and retrieved the package he’d left there earlier. The plug wasn’t
a beginner’s size and had some heft to it, made from beautifully polished
steel, a jewel inset in the flanged base. Semiprecious, the guy behind the
counter had called it. Not a sapphire, but a blue topaz—the color of Candace’s
eyes. And semiprecious was such a misnomer.

Impatiently tugging his shirt off,
throwing it over a chair before he worked his jeans off, he studied his woman.
“
You thinking
about anything in particular?”

“Just waiting on
you, Reece.”
Lust colored her tone, made it thick.

He thought about the three people
who’d just left their place, a loving ménage, and cursed his hint of anxiety.
He was enough for Candace. He had to be, because there’d be nobody else
touching her.

Cracking the plug out of its
sterile packaging, he saw her tense and
jerk
her head
to the side, one eye uncovered as her hair shifted. “Don’t break your
position.”

She stilled instantly, and he
reveled in her obedience, his sexual dominance working for both of them. Cock
aching with renewed, desperate need, he stepped into the attached bath and
washed the plug. After drying it, he took it and a bottle of lube back to
Candace, resting one knee beside her. She breathed evenly, and he ran one hand
down her back, palm slipping over all the little vertebrae, relishing the way
she lifted into his caress.