Page 26 of Nailing Studs
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To my relief, they didn’t follow me. I lay in my bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to think clearly.
Part of me was so mortified that I’d run out on them, but the other part was just glad I was giving myself the time and space to truly consider what they were offering me.
I knew what my body wanted, because all I’d been doing for the last couple of days was fantasize about either man in bed with me, or both of them, in bed with me, all three of us together. In my fantasies, this all had been easy. In real life, though, how would this even work? And how would this affect me emotionally? I didn’t have such a great track record with relationships—I’d been the one to get hurt time after time. What would my heart end up doing? Would I get hurt? Would they?
A vision of Dom’s hurt and wounded dark eyes flashed into my mind, and I felt an instant sense of protection for the strong, brawny man. For all his strength, Dom had a vulnerable side, and I found myself wanting to protect him. As for Taylor? He was such a shining star, sparkling bright with his quick flash of a smile, the way his eyes twinkled. He didn’t seem to be hiding a deep dark side like Dom, but I had a feeling of protection for him, too. I’d hate to see Taylor hurt to the point where the light went out of his eyes.
I barely knew Taylor and Dom, and they seemed imminently capable of taking care of themselves, but I didn’t want to be the source of hurt for either one of them. Maybe it was just that I’d suffered enough hurt from the likes of Grant and the other men in my life, but I also prided myself on never deliberately hurting anyone.
But why was I so focused on the aspect of hurt? I’d just received a delicious offer from Taylor and Dominic. Why couldn’t I simply enjoy myself—wholeheartedly, lavishly, sensually, without an ounce of guilt or inhibition—for once in my life?
I’d been through enough heartache by now to know that life came with no guarantees. I mean, I enjoyed the guys already. I loved looking at them. Being with them. They were also straight shooters, and it was nice to hear their intentions up front. They were looking for some fun. To see where this mutual attraction led us.
They weren’t looking for a relationship or love.
They’d laid everything on the table, and I appreciated that. I could go into this with my eyes wide open. Besides, they weren’t asking for forever. Anything we had, two or three of us, would be a temporary fling. That was especially true because they now knew I intended to sell the house no matter what and move to the Bay Area. But even so, like they said, we could date. One or the other or both. Or progress to something more physical, one or the other or both.
Was I really going to give up the opportunity to see where this could go? To see how it felt? To experience two beautiful nice guys with no strings attached? I mean, come on.
I pictured the drive back from lunch yesterday, with Dom, and how things might have gone if we’d stayed in the truck right after Dominic cut off the engine.
I could see him, sliding his hand up my thigh, kissing my neck, sliding his hand upward to rub slow circles over my jeans-covered clit, licking the hollow of my clavicle, then turning strong, commanding, and grabbing my head in his hands, plunging his tongue into my mouth—
“I like the turn your mind has taken.”
A voice yanked me from my delicious reverie. I blinked before turning my head to see Dominic standing in the doorway, hands on his hips, hisstance not aggressive but rather casual…inviting. Here I am. Like what you see? Come and take me.
Heat radiated up my neck and I realized I’d been panting. “I’m sorry, what?”
He took one step into the room, watching me as I lay on the bed. “I announced my presence, but you were out of it.” A hint of a grin tweaked the corner of his mouth upward. “And you were breathing heavy. I know you’re processing what we told you earlier.”
“It was a lot to take in,” I replied, grabbing a pillow and hugging it for security. What was I afraid of?
“I get it. But your thoughts have shifted, haven’t they? Youwere already imagining it, weren’t you?”
I blushed and almost lied on instinct. But then I heard Tabitha whispering for me to go for it, to be brave, and I was tired of this indecision, tired of the fear. Tired of life being fine. I took the plunge.
I lifted my chin and said, “Yes, I was. I was picturing us, actually.”
Dom’s eyes darkened. “The three of us?”
“The two of us. You and me. After lunch, when you pulled up outside my house. How things might have gone differently if…”
He came closer to me. “If?”
“If I’d known what you were going to offer me today, maybe I wouldn’t have jumped out of the truck so fast. Maybe we could have…” I stumbled to a stop, not knowing what I meant. Maybe we would have kissed? Slept together? Called Taylor and asked him to come over for a threesome?
“I...I don’t know if this is me.” I wasn’t sure I was making sense, and it was hard to think with Dominic reaching out to caress my hair, push it out of my face, and lift my chin to look up at him. My insides were melting faster than I could process it all. “I’ve never been with more than one guy at a time before.”
“Haven’t you ever fantasized about it?”
Dom’s eyes held mine even as I was tempted to look shyly away from him. There was an intensity there, a hunger, but a softness, too.
“Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to have two men give all their attention to your wants, your needs?” he asked, fingers moving to rest lightly against my knee, almost hesitantly. “Two tongues devoted to the wants, the needs of your body? Two minds, sensing your desires?”
I shivered when he walked his fingers a few inches up my thigh. I caught that hint of a grinthough he tried to hide it. He saw the goosebumps along my neck. And he knew his words, his fingers, his presence so close to me caused it.