Authors: Stephanie Ganon
Bo leaned over her stomach, flicking his tongue across her clit as he slid Duff's condom off. One touch from Bo was all it took to send Duff into orgasm, and his hot cream flowed all over her quivering belly and thighs.
As he tended to his lover, Bo's erection touched her thigh. Lily instinctively reached down and took him in hand, jerking him.
"Whoa,” he moaned, surprised. “Just like that, Lily."
She worked down to his balls, which she cupped in her palm before moving back to his shaft. Had she been able to move, she would have put more elbow grease into it. Bo arched across her body, worshipping Duff's cock.
It seemed all too surreal—all too pleasurable and passionate and intense.
Bo bent toward her open flesh again, his first licks tentative until he established a rhythm that made her body hum.
"Go slow,” Duff instructed quietly, caressing Bo's back. “She likes it slow."
Yes. Slow. It thrilled her that Duff remembered what she liked. He lent his expertise to his willing and able pupil, who ate her with zealous attention. Bo kissed and suckled her clit, laving sensual flame through her until she fought for breath to scream. It felt so good, so right. As if on instinct, he built her pleasure until it spiraled through her system.
By the time she felt Bo's cum dribbling on her fingertips, she was again lost in her own screaming orgasm.
Bo ran his tongue across her trembling sex. He continued moving up her belly, her breasts, searing her quivering flesh with kisses that soothed and sated. His last kiss claimed her lips. It was tender, gratifying.
She swallowed hard when Duff lay beside her and positioned an arm across her waist.
Lily lay between them—relaxed and satisfied inside their arms, trapped between them. The storm had long ago died down, but she still couldn't sleep. While not unduly concerned about enjoying both men, she knew there would be repercussions.
But which of them would suffer the most?
Bo leaned over Duff and watched him feign sleep. As much as last night had surprised him, he'd pretty much guessed Duff's reaction even before they'd fallen asleep. Denial. Avoidance. And a side of “it doesn't matter” was definitely on the menu.
But what had happened did matter, though he knew trying to talk to Duff about it would not be easy.
Bo had awakened in the grandest of moods, ready to take on the world. He'd settle for taking on his hot lover and the pretty redhead staying with them, of course. But if the world had beckoned that morning, he thought he might have the stamina to do his part.
He wanted to talk about this. But that wouldn't happen until Duff was ready.
What an unexpected experience, he mused.
And unexpected pleasure.
Relief flowed through Duff when Bo left the bedroom for his morning shower. He'd felt his partner's eyes on him, had heard the questions that went unasked, but until he could sort out his feelings, Duff would keep them to himself.
Not that talking would make anything better or change what had happened. Why people always insisted on talking about the past was lost on him, and he'd just as soon not develop another bad habit. While he indulged in an occasional beer or shot of bourbon, he'd given up cigars around the same time he'd dropped another unnecessary vice. More accurately, the vice—in the form of Lily Dumont—had dropped him. Hard.
"
Even a dog doesn't return to its own vomit
,” his grandmother's sweet voice reminded him.
And neither would he.
While Hillary and the horses wandered the pasture, Lily scooped and measured oats. She filled the trough, barely sidestepping Grant, who trotted up and nickered at her, exposing his teeth in an equine grin.
"Oh, so you can be friendly?” She playfully slapped his flank. Grant preened.
She'd had to get out of the house that morning before facing either Duff or Bo. She was consumed by what had happened, unable to take a step without feeling a deep ache at her core. Every breath reminded her of being enveloped by them, surrounded and smothered by hard bodies and hot skin.
She'd returned for Duff but had gotten more in the bargain than she had anticipated—something unexpected, passionate, and sweet. Bo's tender kisses had been a revelation, and she'd luxuriated in the kind of affection she'd not experienced in some years.
And Duff. Being with him again was as it had been in the past—incredible pleasure mixed with pain, intense connection matched by rough play. He'd used his anger as he fucked her, burying his rage deep inside her willing body until she'd begged for release. But he had not let her go, would not, until she'd lost total control, trembling as much from her bittersweet tears as the orgasm he pulled from her.
But sex, no matter how spectacular, wasn't the same as Duff's love. She'd run away from his love when it was hers to lose, and her loss was now Bo's gain.
Sighing, Lily leaned on the fence and wondered if it was still early enough to sneak back inside without running into anyone.
Duff's determined footsteps crunched the grass behind her.
"I can't believe you took care of all this.” His tone was a mixture of admiration and incredulity. “How long you been awake? You got all the animals out and fed ‘em already?"
Lily nodded, relieved Duff hadn't come outside to criticize. “I've seen you do it a million times. Of course, when I last stayed here, there were fewer bodies, but the general idea is the same.” She quickly averted her gaze, not wanting him to notice the heat spreading across her cheeks.
"You did a fine job, Lily. Really. Thank you."
"It was no problem. I appreciate what you're doing, getting your friend to get my car running and all. It's truly the least I could do."
Duff looked about to say something before he pulled back, retreating inside himself as was his habit. His dark eyes held a question—one Lily knew he'd never ask.
Best to keep things light, she decided. “Is Bo up yet?"
"Yes. He has a little work to finish, so it looks like you and I will be dining on frozen waffles this morning."
She groaned. Neither she nor Duff could cook worth a damn, so she supposed they'd take what they could get. “Who am I to argue?"
Once inside the kitchen, she went to work, opening the freezer to retrieve the waffles, pulling syrup from the cabinet. Duff worked beside her, scooping coffee and frying bacon. Breakfast was ready in record time, probably because neither spoke during preparation. Not one word had passed between them since their return to the house, and Lily couldn't tell if she should be worried or glad.
Duff ate silently, barely seeming to chew anything he swallowed. The few times he looked up from his plate were unsettling since his normally expressive eyes were cold and blank.
I'm supposed to play along like last night didn't happen. But Duff knows me better than that.
How could he fuck her all night long and then turn around and pull this? When he dared look at her, it was as if he was looking at trash. But he was working under an old assumption. Her days of being used and tossed aside were behind her, and she definitely wouldn't take any more shit from a man she cared for this deeply.
She stood and undressed without preamble, tossing her sweats to the kitchen floor. Duff's expression remained cool, but Lily's experienced eye told her he boiled inside.
"Don't do that.” He set down his fork. “Don't make a fool of yourself, Lily."
"The only fool is you if you're gonna sit there pretending you don't want to throw me across the kitchen table and fuck me.” Lily went to him, posing, twirling. She almost giggled when proof she'd won the battle became evident, tenting Duff's jeans.
His face burned crimson as he rammed his shaking hands in his lap. “Stop being silly."
"Who's the one being silly? I'm trying to talk to you, goddamn it, and the only time I know you see me is when I'm naked!"
He snorted but warily studied every inch of her.
"I came back for you. I came back to make it all right again.” She reached out to stroke his chin, hesitating when he didn't pull away. “I am so sorry. That's all I can say, and I know it's not enough. But if you let me back in your life—"
"You can't come back into my life!” he roared, smacking away her hand. “I love Bo. Can you understand that? He's nothing like you, Lily, and it has nothing to do with him being a man, either. He's good and honest and dependable. You've never been any of those things a day in your life. How am I to believe you can change now?"
"But I can! I'm ready to do that for you. You once believed in me, Duff. Let me prove to you that I'm worth it."
"It's too late."
She dangled on a thread so thin one hard breath would send her into oblivion. But she couldn't—wouldn't—fall. She went to him, positioning her body until he was forced to look at her. Then she lowered herself onto his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Duff's thumping pulse was visible at his shirt collar.
Lily pulled his hand to her pussy, daring him to touch deeper. Their gazes locked. Duff jerked away his hand, rubbing her nectar between his fingertips.
"I can't, Lily. I just can't. I know what happened last night was...” He shook his head as if shaking off a nightmare. “But I just can't cheat on Bo.” He stood, momentarily embracing her before gently setting her on the floor. “Get dressed. Bo needs to make a run into town in a little while, and he wants to get you some clothes."
He turned his back and with slumping shoulders ambled out of the kitchen, leaving her alone to dress.
Bo popped the trunk and placed their purchases inside. “You hungry?” He gestured at the fast-food restaurant several doors down. “I could use a burger."
"I think that's an excellent plan.” Lily gazed at her feet, unable to stop staring at her new running shoes. “Thanks so much for these, Bo."
They walked across the parking lot, avoiding the coasting cars and nodding at fellow shoppers. Bo held the door open for Lily. Inside, the lines moved briskly, and their orders were ready minutes later.
At their table, Lily thanked him for the third time, causing Bo to scowl.
"Don't say it again,” he said. “It's really no big deal. You needed a good pair of shoes, and I was glad to do it."
"But a hundred twenty dollars worth? Those fifteen-dollar kicks would have been more than enough. And the clothes... Fifty-five dollars for jeans?” She'd liked them so much that after Bo paid for them, she'd ducked inside the changing room and pulled them on.
"The jeans look amazing on you, so the money was definitely worth it. As for those cheap shoes, they would have worn out in a week. Besides, my life's pretty cushy. I have a little money saved up, I work from home, and Duff's benefits ain't exactly peanuts.” He swiped an onion ring from her tray. “These have absolutely no flavor."
"I know.” She wrinkled her nose. “The batter needs seasoning."
"Speaking of seasoning,” Bo said, his face breaking into a huge grin, “and let's be clear—this is a really bad segue—I thought last night was pretty...spicy."
"It's all I can think about. Duff, on the other hand, wants to pretend it never happened."
"I know. He won't even look me in the eye. It's like he felt he'd cheated on me or something."
She sighed and reached for her strawberry shake. “He does. In fact, I think he hates me more now than he did before. When I first came back, I was simply the whore who'd left him. Now I'm the whore who fucked his boyfriend."
Bo's expression darkened. “About that. You could have been almost anything, Lily. Beauty aside, you're no dummy, so I don't understand how you wound up—"
"An old whore?"
Bo looked at his plate.
"I was more of a professional girlfriend, but I get the idea."
"There's nothing old about you. Seriously, did you happen to take a look around the mall? I didn't see one woman who could hold a candle to you. Not one."
Lily shrugged. Being born pretty wasn't much of an accomplishment. She'd done nothing to work for it; she certainly hadn't deserved it. Beauty had always been part of her packaging, and if she was being honest, it probably hurt more than it helped.
"I'll bet every one of those women you saw has at least one person in their lives who loves them. Someone who depends on them.
That's
pretty to me, Bo, especially now that I'm beginning to see lines and creases I've never seen before. My youth was wasted on being pretty, and when I'm old, I'll have absolutely nothing to show for it. So fuck pretty."
He folded her hand inside his own. “You think that's the only reason people like you?"
"I know it. I'm not exactly a good person, am I? Good people don't do the things I've done. If I looked on the outside the way I feel inside, I'd never get close enough to anybody to hurt them. They'd see me coming.” She bit her bottom lip, anything to stave off the unexpected tears she felt swimming to the surface. “The only good thing I ever did was making sure I never got pregnant. Surprised, huh? I'm vigilant about that because I don't know if I could go through with an abortion, but I also know that no kid deserves to have me for a mother."
"What a kid deserves even less is to be raised by someone with such low self-esteem.” Bo squeezed her hand. “You don't need Duff or the world at large to be hard on you. You're your own worst critic. Maybe that's why things have been so rough for you."
"I don't know any other way to be."
"Have you ever tried to be different? How will you know unless you try, Lily?"
She smiled, though she felt anything but happy. She didn't know quite how to take Bo sometimes, and that made it difficult to know how to play him.
I'm doing it again, aren't I?
Finally she admitted it to herself. If she let it out, maybe—maybe it meant she had a chance. Maybe she could change.
"I threw myself at Duff today. While you were in the bedroom working, I took off my clothes and tried to fuck him in the kitchen.” Watching Bo's expression, she went on, ready to accept his anger. “He didn't want me. Said it would be like cheating on you, and I guess he was sort of right. I'm sorry, Bo. It won't happen again."