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.r: Roni Loren
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.