Authors: M.Q. Barber
The finale crashed across the sky at eleven o’clock. They mingled a few minutes more with the neighbors before he ushered her downstairs with the promise of dessert.
She’d seen the brandy-style glasses of chocolate mousse in the refrigerator earlier. Three of them. Either he thought Jay would join them for dessert, or he’d made him one anyway because Jay loved dessert.
Henry added a dish of fresh local raspberries, and he and Alice shared it between them on the couch. She stayed until well after midnight, enjoying the dessert, the company, and the conversation, expecting Jay to get home any minute.
By one in the morning, it seemed obvious Jay wasn’t coming home. And Henry hadn’t given her any clear sign of
his
intentions, either. Had this been a date? Or was he lonely because Jay was out with a woman?
When she yawned for the third time in five minutes, Henry’s hand came to rest on her shoulder in a light squeeze.
“Go on, Alice, off to bed with you. Your company has been a splendid diversion, but I’ve ideas swimming in my head for a new project that I believe is about ready to begin.”
She smiled at him, untucking her legs and stretching before trying to stand. “Happy painting, Henry.”
He returned her smile and stood when she did, a gentleman’s gesture. “A properly prepared canvas and a vision of beauty are all I require, my dear.”
Chapter 3
“We’re on Henry’s turf now, Alice. He’s the culinary genius. I just do what I’m told.”
She stood in Henry and Jay’s kitchen enjoying Jay’s chatter and Henry’s quiet expertise. Henry had heightened his polite reserve for this moving-in anniversary dinner. A chaperone, almost, for a weird date with Jay.
Yeah, keep dreaming, girl.
Despite the backless halter she’d worn, a flowing, flirty, knee-length black dress, this was not a date. Dinner, yes. Date, no. Just her considerate, across-the-hall neighbors inviting her to their apartment for a celebratory meal.
Even if Jay went out with women. Even if maybe Henry had been kind of dating her last month with the dinner and fireworks. This was not a date. Henry was not setting her up with his boyfriend. Probably.
Henry spoke while he worked. “Jay, open the wine, please. It needs a few minutes to breathe.”
Jay carried the bottle to the table, raising his eyebrows as he passed her.
“See what I mean?” Jay whispered, but she caught the small twist in Henry’s lips.
He stood behind the kitchen island, a commander overseeing the final inspection of his troops, adjusting this dish and that one. He had beautiful hands, long, slender fingers, nimble and strong.
“Woolgathering, Alice?”
She jerked her head up. Henry no longer hid his smile.
“I…everything looks fantastic. I can’t wait to eat.”
“Ah. Of course. Excellent timing, my dear. If you’ll allow me to escort you?”
She worked to bring her heart rate down as he approached.
“You’ve selected a beautiful dress, Alice. Entirely too fine for Jay’s benefit, I’m afraid. He’s rather immune to fashion.” He threaded her hand through his arm and led her to the table. “Myself, on the other hand…Mmm. Let’s just say I appreciate the thought that went into your choice, hmm?”
Oh God. She’d been way too fucking obvious with the dress and the staring, and he’d tired of her attention whore routine.
“Uh, I, it’s not often a girl has the chance to dress up for dinner.”
Henry clicked his tongue. “Jay and I have both noticed your interest, Alice. It’s nothing of which you need be ashamed. We’re flattered.”
She waited for his gentle brush-off. God, why couldn’t she meet any
available
nice guys? Ones who could dress themselves in the morning and put a meal on the table once in a while? Ones who could hold her attention for more than three dates but wouldn’t pressure her for commitment?
“Definitely flattered,” Jay chimed in. His gaze raked over her body.
The move might’ve earned a stranger a drink in the face, but not Jay, her de facto best friend. His look was what she’d wanted when she put the dress on. Even if he was untouchable.
No rule against fantasizing. She’d apologize and promise to rein it in and everything would be fine.
“Manners, Jay.” Henry released her arm to pull out her chair. “I won’t tolerate such boorish behavior. Alice deserves more dignified attentions.”
She studied her sandals against the dining room rug. Dignified, undignified…hell, she liked ‘em both.
“She wants to play, Henry. You know she does, even if she hasn’t said so.”
Jay rarely sounded so serious. She opened her mouth to ask about their game when Henry spoke.
“
Enough
, Jay. Sit down and keep your eyes on your plate if you can’t be polite.”
Jay’s eyes, defiant, lusting, caught hers. And then he sat and stared at his plate. What the hell had she walked into tonight?
“Alice. Please accept my apologies for Jay’s rather forward behavior.” Henry took a softer tone with her than with Jay, gentler, and his hand grazed her bare back. “The young are always in such a rush.”
She would’ve smiled if she weren’t so confused by their behavior tonight. Jay might have her birthday beat by eighteen months, but the impatience and immaturity she had shed still clung to him. Henry had a decade on Jay, but age wasn’t what set him apart. She imagined him mature and controlled even as a child. Dignified.
Henry tipped his head and captured her gaze. He was taller than she was. Not much. She might match him in heels, not that it mattered, since they weren’t dating and never would be. His height hit the sweet spot that made standing beside him exquisite, even if she’d never admit it aloud to the ones she turned down, the ones who weren’t the perfect fit.
Henry’s fingertips trailed over her spine, and she shivered.
“Except when they’re a bit skittish,” he murmured. “Is that what you are, Alice? Perhaps you’re feeling unsure of your place here?”
She couldn’t meet his gaze for long. His eyes invited her to drown in tender concern, implied an intimacy that made her nervous and needy. Jay proved no help, his focus locked to his plate.
“If you don’t wish to play, my dear, that’s fine. We three may still have a lovely dinner, and your longing looks will be no less welcome for the declined invitation.”
Her gaze flicked back to Henry’s. She wet her lips. Beneath the nerves welled a thrilling jolt, an anticipatory burst of glee.
“But there could be more if I want it?”
More. Like Jay’s fling last month? A one-night affair? With Jay or Henry?
Why not both?
He smiled, his fingers tracing lines on her back. Pride coursed through her, as though she’d asked an astute question and now basked in the professor’s praise.
“Precisely. If you want to play, you must say so explicitly. I value our friendship. I won’t have misunderstanding lead to fear or ill will between us.”
“And by ‘play’ you mean…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence. Was he serious? Were
they
?
Sure, she’d fantasized about her neighbors a hundred times in the last year while her fingers and her vibe gave her the pleasure she craved. Not once had she expected to stand in their dining room with an open invitation to their bed. If that’s what this was.
Henry’s hand stopped moving on her back. Pursing his lips, he gave an absentminded nod.
“Of course. It’s too soon. Forgive me, Alice. I’ll have dinner on the table in a moment. Jay, if you’ll entertain our guest,
politely,
while I bring out the salad.”
She sat, because he turned her with gentle hands and pushed the chair beneath her.
He walked away, around the table, past Jay, and her gaze followed him. Why was he leaving? What had she done? What could she say to bring him back and make him touch her again, make her skin tingle and the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand on end?
“He means we want to fuck you. You don’t have to say yes, but I really wish you would.”
“
Jay.
” Henry stopped dead, his back stiff, and spoke in a low, clipped tone. “We will discuss this behavior later, you may be assured.”
“Wait.”
Both men looked at her, Jay eagerly, Henry with suppressed anger.
She fortified herself with a glance at Jay before meeting Henry’s eyes. He made the decisions here. She’d figured out that much, at least.
“Is Jay right? Is that what you want?”
Henry closed his eyes and bowed his head. When he faced her again, he’d regained his neutral composure.
“Though crude, Jay is not entirely incorrect. You are quite lovely, Alice, and I confess, I should like to see that loveliness flushed with pleasure, wanton and needy, and to satisfy those desires for you. But we will
not
–”
He gave Jay a hard look, one that made Alice squirm. The slipperiness against her skin suggested her panties wouldn’t last the night.
“We will not force a decision upon you. The choice must be yours. It need not be made tonight.”
She pressed her thighs together and bit back a gasp.
“If I wanted to make that decision now, you wouldn’t turn me away?”
“If you are capable of articulating what you want, then no, I will not turn you away. Please be certain, however. If this is something you haven’t considered before, something perhaps you want someday but not yet, do not feel you need to rush your decision. The offer does not expire at midnight.”
“I, I
have
considered it.” She’d need to do better than a choppy whisper if she wanted Henry to let her play. She cleared her throat, forced herself to enunciate. “I do want it. Now. Tonight. I want to play, Henry. I want you to make me feel wanton, and I want you to satisfy my needs.”
She’d never spoken quite so bluntly to a prospective sex partner. An odd lightness, a liberation, filled her chest.
Henry’s face glowed.
Jay nodded enthusiastically in her peripheral vision.
“Very well. In that case, I believe dinner will keep.”
She sat taller in her seat as Henry studied her, stretching her spine, wanting even her posture to be perfection in his eyes. She waited in silence.
“Alice. Stand up and step to your right, please.”
She did so. Her heart thumped faster. She had next to no idea of what she’d agreed to, but she knew these men. Henry’s courtesy, Jay’s sweet wit, their thoughtful concern and willingness to help her out whenever she needed.
Henry’s eyes, a calm green sea, reassured. She trusted him to keep her safe.
Henry stepped up to the table across from her and held out his arms.
“Give me your hands, please, Alice.”
Her palms were sweaty. Henry’s were warm and dry. His fingers clasped her own, and he rolled his thumbs across her knuckles in soothing repetitions.
“You’ll need a word, Alice. If you wish to stop, at any time, for any reason, simply say your word.” He raised his voice, his gaze fixed on her. “Jay, what’s your word?”
“Tilt-A-Whirl.”
“Thank you, Jay.” Henry smiled. “He hates carnivals. Your word, Alice?”
She took a moment to think.
“Pistachio.”
“Good. Say it again, please.”
“Pistachio,” she promptly repeated.
“Delightful.” He drew her hands toward him until she lay bent across the table alongside her place setting, hips crowding one edge and fingers curving around the other. “You’ll leave these here, Alice.”
The rough touch of the tablecloth reached through the fabric of her dress. Anticipation and the friction hardened her nipples. Had she ever been this turned on before a man had even truly touched her? No. No, not unless she was by herself, eyes screwed shut, fantasies playing out behind her lids.
Hands reached for her face, turning her toward the foot of the table where Jay sat. Fingers swept her hair out of her eyes, draping it down her neck to fall to the table.