The revelation tugged at her, making warmth of a different kind snake through her. Kade stood and went for the buckle of his pants, taking his time pulling the belt free. Grant took his place behind her again, his palms stroking along her hips. “You look delicious tied up like this, sweet Charlotte. You’re about to make the two of us very happy.”

Words seemed clogged in her throat, but when Kade dragged his zipper down, Charli found her voice. “Yellow!”

Grant’s hands froze in place and Kade backed up a step.

“Charli, what’s wrong?” Grant asked, his concern evident.

She tried to look behind her, a feat with her hands behind her back, but she managed to catch his eye. “Please, Grant. It’s okay that Kade is here, but I don’t want anyone inside me except you.”

As soon as the words were out, she knew them to be true. She wasn’t simply saying them for Grant’s benefit.

He stared at her for a moment, the blue of his eyes swirling with an indecipherable concoction of emotions. Then his eyes crinkled at the corners, an invisible smile. “You got it, darlin’.”

His lips hadn’t curved, but she’d seen the pleasure there and couldn’t help the ridiculous little leap of her heart.

Grant quickly unbound her hands and flipped her onto her back, his expression almost reverent. “It was brave to call your word. Thank you for letting me know. You sure you’re okay with everything else?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good girl.” He yanked at her shirt, pulling it open wide, the buttons plinking onto the desktop and floor, and unclasped her front-hook bra. “Then let’s at least give our friend something to look at while he takes care of that hard-on you caused.”

Kade moved to the side of her desk, looming over her on the left. She looked up at him, silently thanking him, but the concerned-friend expression had evaporated. His blue eyes darkened as his gaze raked over her with uninhibited male appreciation. The look alone raised goose bumps on her skin. Kade may be a nice guy and a friend to Grant, but there was no doubt an intense dominance ran right beneath that layer. Kade freed his cock from his boxers and stroked up the length, spreading the bead of moisture on the tip with his thumb and not taking his eyes off her.

Grant set something on the desk next to her and in front of Kade. Lube. Kade squirted some in his palm, then glossed his shaft until it was thick and pink. The sight riveted Charli. She’d never watched a guy jerk off before and hadn’t imagined how freaking hot it could be to see a man taking his own pleasure. The fact that he was still wearing a full suit only added to the effect.

Grant’s fingers spread her, finding her soaked. “I think she likes the show, Vandergriff. Dirty girl.”

“The show ain’t so bad from my perspective either,” Kade said, his hand slowly working up and down, like he was taking his good, sweet time.

“It’s about to get better.” Grant flipped open the cap of the lube.

Charli’s attention snapped toward Grant. Was he going to jerk off, too? Because even though she’d love to see that one day, she may fucking die if he wasn’t inside her soon. Her body could only handle so much deprivation.

His smile was wicked, a dark promise. “Don’t worry, darlin’, I’m going to take good care of you. But I like seeing that panic in your eyes at the thought of me not fucking you.”

He tugged off her shoes and pushed her heels onto the edge of the desk, spreading her fully, then brushed a teasing finger over her back entrance. An involuntary moan slipped past her lips.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Grant said, his finger applying gentle pressure now. “You’ve ever been taken here, Ms. Beaumonde?”

“No,” she said, gasping as his well-lubed finger slipped past the resistance. “Oh, God.”

With slow, deliberate motion, he pumped his finger inside her ass, lighting up nerves she didn’t even know she had. Edgy sensation made her squirm. She arched her hips, not sure if she needed less or more.

“Touch your clit, sweet girl,” Grant directed in a pied-piper tone, daring her to trust his guidance. “The stimulation will chase away any discomfort and turn into something I think you’ll thoroughly appreciate.”

Don’t think, just do. She brought her fingers to her sex, stroking herself the way she liked and brought her other hand to her breast, drawing her nipple between her fingers.

A soft groan sounded in her ears—Kade. “Fuck, she’s sexy.”

“That she is,” Grant said, satisfaction underscoring his words. “Stay relaxed for me, Charlotte.”

She hardly heard his instruction, the pleasure winding through her body and weighing her down, pulling her under. She touched herself without shame, not caring that two men were watching. She felt sensual and beautiful and more confident in her sexuality than she could ever remember feeling.

But right when she was sinking into the moment, something cool and unyielding pushed against her backside. She clenched automatically. But Grant’s palm stroked her thigh. “Easy, relax your muscles. It’s just a plug. You’re not ready to take me yet, but this will be a good start.”

Kade laid his free hand over the one she had against her pussy. “Keep going, Charlotte. You’re driving me fucking wild. I love watching you.”

She moved her fingers, dialing up the pleasure again, and Grant pushed the lubed plug past the tight ring of muscle, stretching her. She bucked against the bright burst of sensation. “Shit…”

Grant’s expression turned ravenous, and he unfastened his pants. “Don’t come yet. You’ve still got me to deal with.”

Holy hell.

He grabbed her beneath her knees, pushing the backs of her thighs up and out, opening her for him. She had no idea how she was going to take him, too, but she yielded to his knowing hands, trusting that he wouldn’t hurt her. His cock pressed against her soaked sex and, after a little bit of effort, slid in, filling her to the hilt. Every muscle in her body seemed to contract. The plug made everything tighter, fuller. It felt like he was everywhere.

“Oh, you feel good, darlin’, so fucking good.” He groaned as he moved all the way back then buried himself again, rocking her against the desk. “I can’t wait until it’s me in your ass, fucking you until you scream from release.”

He pumped into her, his cock jostling the plug with every thrust, and her fingers pinched and stroked her clit as if under someone else’s control. Her thoughts began to whirl into oblivion. She angled her head back, the onslaught of sensations making her body pulse with electricity. Orgasm waited impatiently in the wings, her mind holding it off until she heard the words she needed.

“Look at me, Charlotte. Just me,” Grant demanded as he fucked into her harder. “I want to see your eyes when you come. Want you to know who’s doing this to you.”

Though it was near impossible to keep her eyes open, she locked onto Grant’s gaze like a lifeline. But the intensity in his eyes was enough to knock what little control she had flat out of her. She was his in that moment. Whatever he said she would do. His pleasure was hers.

Sweat dotted his forehead and his hair was mussed, like he’d been running his hands through it. He looked like a beautiful beast, feral and determined, claiming his territory. And emotion danced through the blue of his eyes. He was in another place and was taking her there with him.

Moisture coated her fingers as she worked her clit, his pelvis hitting her knuckles with every thrust. Sensation climbed to a breaking point. Every tendon in her body seemed to coil, energy beating through her in colorful waves.

“Grant.” The word was a mere gasp, a desperate plea.

“Come for me, Charlotte. Give me your pleasure.”

The dam broke, and the rush of it all crashed over her. A scream tore from her throat as her every molecule seemed to crackle with sparks. Her body writhed, trying to handle it all.

Kade’s groan mixed with their sounds of pleasure, and hot splashes landed against her skin—his release painting stripes across her breasts and belly.

“Ah, God.” Grant came hard inside her, his body shuddering through his orgasm, her name tumbling from his lips over and over again.

She closed her eyes, absorbing the music of that sound, the feel of him surrendering to her as much as she was slave to him. She didn’t think she could ever tire of hearing him call for her like she was the only woman that existed in the world.

She knew when they drifted back to earth, the outside world would push in, but in that moment, lying there beneath him, she was truly happy.

Maybe for the first time in her life.

And possibly for the last.

TWENTY-ONE

After Grant helped clean Charli up and gave her his dress shirt to wear, she curled up in a chair near his office door, looking a little unsure of herself all of a sudden.

He frowned over at her but was distracted when Kade returned from the restroom and touched Grant’s arm. He turned to his friend, and Kade put a hand out to him. “I’m going to head out now, but thanks for inviting me in, Grant. She really is a lovely sub. You’re lucky to have found her.”

Grant shook his hand, weariness settling over him. “Thanks, man. I’m glad you had a good time. I wouldn’t have trusted her with just anyone.”

Kade smiled like he had some secret. “I know.”

They exchanged good-byes and Kade walked toward the door, stopping next to Charli. He reached out and brushed a hand over her hair. “Thank you, Charlotte. It was a privilege.”

She put her hand over his and gave him a warm smile. “You’re a good guy, Kade Vandergriff.”

“Don’t let that get out, all right? It’d ruin my reputation.” He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

Grant’s chest seized with jealousy, the simple move kicking up a shit storm inside him. Kade may have not entered Charli’s body, but he could give her something Grant couldn’t, a tenderness that, by the looks of it, Charli craved.

Kade straightened and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. “Later, gorgeous.”

By the time Kade walked out, Grant’s mood had tanked. Later, gorgeous? Guess Kade would be looking Charli up after Grant’s time with her ended. He gritted his teeth and picked up the equipment he’d stocked his cabinet with this morning. “Let’s get you back to the house. I’m sure you want a bath.”

“Sounds good.” She shifted in the chair and stood, unspoken questions all over her face. She looked so young standing there in his too-big shirt, her hair mussed and makeup smeared—like a college student after a long night out. Like Rachel used to look when they first moved into together. She’d always loved wearing his shirts.

The air whooshed from his lungs as if a sack of sand had been dropped on his chest. He turned away from Charli, bracing a hand on his desk.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he snapped, his words coming out like broken glass.

“The hell you are,” Charli said, her bare feet padding across the wood. “You’ve gone pale, like you’ve seen a ghost.”

His shoulders hunched.

“Oh,” she said softly.

He looked over at her, and she took a step back, as if she was suddenly afraid to touch him. “Charli.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, acting chilled despite the warm room. “That’s exactly what happened, isn’t it? Something reminded you of your wife.”

He forced himself to a stand, trying to regain control of his hammering heart. “I’m sorry. I’m okay.” He closed his eyes, took a breath. “It’s been happening a lot lately.”

Ever since you stepped into my life. He didn’t say it, but he knew it was Charli’s presence that was knocking the dust off the memories he thought he’d packed away. He had no idea why. Charli didn’t look like Rachel, and she damn sure didn’t act like her. His wife had been quiet, almost fragile, and innocent to a lot of the world. She’d been sheltered her whole childhood by a very strict family, and Grant had felt the instinct to protect her from the start of their relationship. A job he’d failed in the worst way possible.