As the pummeling water pushed Sam into climax, her cry of release became a scream that sent a hard shove of pleasure up the base of Geoff's spine, through his chest and definitely through his cock, flooding his own response into her vibrating throat.
He gripped her shoulders, holding her in place so she couldn't get away from what crashed over her, through her. He wanted her to fly like she'd never flown before, so when she fell to earth he could catch her.
"Oh fuck . . ." He choked out the words, more fervent than a curse. What he'd told her was so incredibly true. He'd imagined such an intuitive interaction with a submissive, but he'd always been too practical to believe it could happen like this. But the freaking remarkable thing was this was just the beginning, the tip of all the things he wanted to do for her, with her, to her.
She was thorough, of course. He had to stifle a half-pained chuckle as she kept working him in her mouth, not willing to ease up until he stopped her, drew her back. She was so eager to please and, though he was the Dom, he was amazed at how much her generosity spurred his own to the point he knew he'd do anything for her.
Even now, she kept her head pressed to his leg, her arms wound around him as he reeled the showerhead back up and returned it to the mount. Lifting her to her feet, he settled her in his arms, holding her against his chest and letting them both lean against the wall.
"I'm done," she mumbled. "I'm going back to bed for the rest of the day."
Geoff couldn't think of anything he'd enjoy more than spending the rest of the day in bed with her. But the only reason he could indulge their shower play was because he had an off-site meeting this morning that wasn't until nine o'clock, which had given him an advantageous extra hour at home. He was glad to be able to give her that much more time, to reinforce what had started the night before. He was sure she'd woken up worried he might renege on his promise. He wouldn't. If he backed away, leaving her alone with these feelings like she'd done something wrong, he was not only an idiot, he'd deserve every bit of the thrashing Chris could and would dish out.
He kissed her brow tenderly. "Sure, you say you're exhausted. Now. But if you're like most women, your batteries will recharge in the next hour. I'm the one who will nod off in the middle of the client meeting. Which, by the way--and I say this with total regret--I better get my ass in gear so I can be on time for it."
"Boo," she complained, but she smiled up at him. Shutting off the shower water, he shifted her in his arms and pushed the door open. She stepped out, his hand on her elbow steadying her.
Which meant he felt her freeze, as abruptly as if she'd been shot through with ice.
Chris was standing in the doorway of the bathroom, watching them. Because of the damn steam and water on the wavy glass of the shower door, Geoff had no idea how long he'd been there. His face was unreadable, but the second Geoff's gaze met those cold brown eyes, Chris was gone, pivoting on his heel.
"Chris," Sam said urgently, but Geoff knew he wouldn't respond. Damn it. He grabbed a towel and handed one to Sam, giving her a hard second look to make sure she was steady on her feet. "I'm fine," she said, understanding. "Go after him."
He strode out of the bathroom, the towel held around his hips, water beading off him and leaving a trail on the carpet. "Chris," he said sharply. "Damn it, don't you fucking leave."
He heard the heavy tread of Chris's work shoes hit the kitchen before Geoff even reached the living
room. When he came into the kitchen, he didn't see him, but he didn't have to wonder if Chris had beat him out the door. He walked right into his fist.
The son of a bitch coldcocked him at the kitchen threshold, the power of the punch knocking Geoff back against the frame. When someone hit him, Geoff's first response was normally retaliation. Over the years, he and Chris had had enough fights they practically had a scripted choreography. One hit first, the other hit back, and there was usually an exchange of three punches before they hit the ground and turned it into a down-and-dirty wrestling match that sometimes went Geoff's way, sometimes Chris's. In the end, it always ended up with them sitting together, bloody and bruised, sharing a beer.
Somehow he had a feeling this wasn't going to end as amicably, especially since Chris didn't seem interested in further physical contact. Of any kind. He'd stepped back and was dominating their modest-sized kitchen. They were of like height, though Chris had a more muscular bulk, and his skin was bronzed by outdoor work, blending the scattering of freckles he'd had across his nose and cheeks since he was a kid. His dark hair was tousled over the frosty brown eyes.
"Chris, it's not like that, man."
"Sure it is," the other man said, lip curling in a sneer. He wore camo pants and a T-shirt. When he came straight from work, he was usually in one of the dark blue Cortez Landscaping shirts Esteban had his employees wear. Since Chris was wearing one of his eclectic, off-the-wall T-shirts instead, it told Geoff they'd probably driven through the night, stopping at a truck stop for a quick cleanup. This T-shirt had a drawing of a brontosaurus wearing sunshades, with "Dinosaurs are Cool" printed around the long body. It had been a gift from Sam.
Sam slipped past Geoff's elbow. Without thought, Geoff reached out and caught her arm so she wasn't in between them. Right on the heels of her startled glance was Chris's incredulous expression, making Geoff wish he could recall the gesture.
"Really?" his friend said, his voice tight. "You really think I'd ever raise a hand against her?"
No. He wouldn't. Maybe it was the power of the things rolling off Chris that had made Geoff grab her, as if he knew other ways Chris could hurt her right now. This was his fault. He should have waited, no matter what Sam had thought. No matter that he'd found her eagerness to embrace her submissive side too irresistible. He'd been weak.
Sam was wearing the robe he'd left on the end of her bed, a silky thing that clung to her in patches because she'd dried off hastily. It was barely tied, so the neckline was revealing the curves of her breasts. She looked irresistible still, especially if he thought of where she'd been moments ago, how he'd taken her in the shower and then on her knees.
But she wasn't aware of her appeal. When either of them told her she was beautiful or hot, it flustered and pleased her in a surprised way that wasn't artifice. So it wasn't vanity that made her do what she did next. Far from it. Maybe it was all those feelings that had been bouncing between them too long, the braveness of her submissive nature, or her womanly intuition, but whatever combination it was made her risk herself now, in a way he didn't anticipate until the move was made.
Chris was still staring daggers at Geoff, so when Sam moved her hand to the tie of her robe, neither of them was overtly focused on what she was doing. She loosened the tie and opened the garment, sliding it off her shoulders so it whispered to the floor in a pool of thin fabric.
Chris's gaze snapped to her. With her back to him, Geoff saw the quick rise and fall of Sam's shoulders, her slim fingers curling next to her thighs, all signs of nerves as she stood before their roommate, letting him have a good, long look.
Geoff had meant what he'd said last night, about how he thought of her as theirs, not just his. However, if he'd ever needed direct proof of it, he had it now. As she stood naked between them, he wasn't jealous. Instead, he wanted Chris to feel everything he'd felt last night, an experience he wanted to share with Chris as much as Sam did.
She said nothing at first, and he wondered if she was building on what they'd done last night, giving Chris a chance to look his fill without interruption. For Geoff's part, he couldn't take his eyes off the lingering impression of his teeth on her shoulder, evidence of how he'd claimed her last night. It was probably good her hair was spilling forward over that side, because seeing that might be a little over-the-top for all the emotions Chris was handling right now.
Though it was difficult not to interfere, Geoff stayed motionless, watching the two people he cared about most in the world face each other.
"This is yours," Sam said to Chris. "I belong to both of you. You understand that. You know it." Her voice broke, a little tremor, and she moved a step forward. Then another.