Nailed to the Wall: Powertools, Book 5 (11 page)

“And what happened then?” Kate arched one eyebrow. “The first time you came out here? When you were so afraid we’d hate you for watching the guys touch each other? As if any red-blooded woman could close her eyes to that.”

“I didn’t think I was so transparent.” She scowled.

“Poker faces aren’t your strength.” Kayla patted her shoulder.

“Yeah well, if I was scared of losing the best thing I’d found in my life then, it’s a million times worse now. I know what I’d be sacrificing if I fucked this up.” Devon groaned. “They did tell you what happened, right? Please say they did.”

“Of course.” Kate propped her hand on her hip. It was a little hard to take her glare serious when she was naked. “If it’s any consolation, I think Mike was more nervous than you are. I should kick both your asses.”

Devon’s heart plummeted through the floor. “I earned it.”

“For doubting the experience you had? Yes. If it had been wrong, you would have stopped. Any of you. All of you.” Kate glared at her. “Did it feel messed up?”

“God no.” A wash of residual comfort and homecoming knocked her on her ass on the kitchen stool. “I felt like I belonged.”

“You do.” Kate hugged her. “Mike told me they claimed you as soon as he burst through the door. Trust me…it takes more than that to satisfy him. If anything, he came home rock hard and ready to play. I think the pressure of the whole baby-making thing freaked him out a bit. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him at the end of his leash like that.”

“Honestly, Dev, I had horrible cramps that day.” Kayla winced. “You guys did me a pretty big favor. Dave would never pressure me for sex when I’m not feeling good, but I walked in on him jerking off in the shower that morning. I admit it, I tiptoed out of there and he pretended he didn’t see me through the steam. I couldn’t bring myself to join him right then, and I felt pretty guilty about it until he told me what happened. I like knowing he’s being taken care of.”

“In that case…I’m glad to help.” Devon chuckled when Kayla pinched her arm and called her a tart. “I guess I sort of got overwhelmed, you know? That’s not an excuse. I should have thought it through first instead of following my instincts…”
 

“It’s different when they’re all together. I remember clearly that day in the pool.” Kate’s eyes glazed over a bit. “I’ll dream about it until the day I die. It’s like they’re one person. Focused on you. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t crave the power of that combined passion. Once Morgan came along, things changed. I’m not sure that was the right decision. Or maybe it was at the time. But we’re stronger now. Sure of ourselves and our relationships. We’ve had time to sort out how our individual partnerships work and how we fit into the group. Maybe we should reevaluate.”

“You just want to have them all to yourself again.” Kayla winked.

“Maybe someday.” Kate’s eyes darkened. “I’ve been thinking about how to make this work. Because the reality is I’d also be lying if I ignored the flash of instinctual jealousy that pricked me when Mike first shared the news he had claimed Devon. He told me she was hot, tight and delicate. For a blip, I wondered…would he prefer that all the time? Then he made sure I knew the answer.”

“See, I guess I’m hyperaware of the fact that I have a different relationship with the crew.” Devon winced. “I mean, I
am
part of them. I work with those assholes every day. I would hate if you thought I was taking advantage of the situation when you’re not around. I’ve enjoyed watching when they would break for a long lunch or when things would heat up on the sites. I think we’ve been really clear that they’d end up watching me with James and Neil too. But the new touch-if-you-want rule… It changes things. Makes this something more. I just want to be sure that you’re sure. Really, really sure. I couldn’t stand to screw up what we have, since it’s pretty damn amazing already.”

Kayla sidled closer, levering herself halfway onto the last free stool at the bar. “The way I see it, you hit the nail on the head there. You
are
one of them. You spend the most time with them. I expect that you have a stronger bond with them. You have so much in common. You’re on the border between friend, lover and co-worker. This is going to be harder on you, I think. You have no escape from them. No relief.”

“It’s true. You have a lot to juggle.” Kate laid her hand over Devon’s. “But when I start to get confused, I come back to this core truth. Mike’s feelings for the crew didn’t impact the formation of our love, unless it was to make it stronger. His attachment still doesn’t harm our relationship now that our gang has grown beyond the five of them and me. It’s the same for your guys and the rest of us.”

“I totally agree. But some ground rules probably wouldn’t hurt, right?” Morgan asked.

“You’ve been pretty quiet. What do you think about this?” Kate had clearly spent some time considering the possibilities and come prepared with a plan. “When we’re all together, or a whole pair—trio, whatever—is present, it’s anything goes as long as the couples involved consent.”

“So if Dave and I are hanging out with Neil, James and Dev…” Kayla squinted her eyes as she puzzled through the scenario.

“It’s your call.” Kate nodded. “There shouldn’t be any limits then. But for now, we’ll reserve one person bonding with the crew for special occasions. You know, maybe each person’s birthday. Sort of like, whoever is celebrating gets to be the centerpiece for the night. They can ask for whatever and whoever they want. No one will be excluded, though. Those not playing could still view if they wanted.”

“Damn, who would choose not to?” Kayla shifted in her seat, fanning her rosy cheeks.

“I’m not making anyone else’s decisions for them. I feel like if we’re in it together, there’s nothing seedy about it. When I saw Mike around you at dinner, Dev, I noticed a difference. It felt right to me. He seemed more natural when he interacted with you. He loves you. All the guys do, same as we love them. But it’s something totally different than what he and I have as a pair. Hell, Morgan even wrangled him into seeing the dentist somehow! He still won’t tell me how you did that.”

Morgan didn’t reveal their secret, though she and Kayla nodded their agreement.

“I admit, not being there when the guys took you screwed with my head a little. I started to wonder if Mike enjoyed himself more with you than me or if he might start to expect a new flavor every week. I don’t think that’s healthy for our relationship.” Kate showed all her cards. “This way, it’s not that different from what we talked about the other day, really. You know, swapping when we’re together. Except every once in a while we’d take turns letting someone have all the attention. And that’s putting it more simply than I mean to. I’m not trying to brush this off. Life is a constant jumble of priorities and unexpected shit. If we stick together, we can even out the peaks and valleys, make life better for all of us, you know?”

Morgan raised her hand sheepishly.

Devon whacked her on the butt with a dishtowel for the ridiculous propriety.

“I agree with you in theory.” Morgan winced. “I’ll never forget the heat in Joe’s stare when he watched Dave, Neil and James playing with me. Hell, I retired that cake recipe. It could never taste as good as when I shared it with the crew. And Joe told me Mike was actually the one to suck him off at the end the other day. Damn do I regret not seeing that for myself, by the way. But for the first time, I got a little case of jitters. I think you’re right. It’s best if we reserve five-on-one for times we’re all present. And…playing devil’s advocate here…we haven’t actually tried swapping yet. What if we do and someone finds out they can’t handle it?”

“Then we’ll discuss and reconsider.” Kate made sure to make eye contact with each of her friends. “I couldn’t bear to break what we have now. It’s a good thing. I think everyone has to know this is a risk-free environment. Everyone’s in or no one is. Agreed?”

Each of the women nodded in turn.

When they got to Kayla, she nodded too. Still, Devon could tell the naturist had something else on her mind. “Spit it out, Kay.”

“What if it’s not five-on-one? What if it’s eight-on-one?” The usually brash woman spoke so softly, Devon wasn’t sure everyone had heard. “And I’m not just talking about the
guys’
birthdays either.”

“To be frank, I’m not sure I’m ready for that, Kay.” Morgan interjected before Devon could process the idea of such hedonistic gluttony. “I might never be. Like Neil and his no-BJ rule. But I would like to observe. And I don’t begrudge you the request if it’s something you’re interested in and the other girls are too. Who knows, maybe after I see it for myself, I’ll change my mind. I hope you don’t count on that, though. Is that okay?”

Kayla hugged Morgan. “I would never pressure you into something you didn’t enjoy. But thanks for understanding.”

“This is exactly what I hoped for.” Kate broke the lingering weight of the moment with a huge grin and a clap. Then she ticked off their agreements on her fingers. “When intact couples are together, like me and Mike over at Morgan and Joe’s house or all nine of us here today, anything goes. Birthday girls and boys name their pleasure. Anyone who agrees is in. Anyone who doesn’t feel like playing can stay and watch or leave, no hard feelings. None of us will ever judge. We swear to be open and honest if something makes us uncomfortable. What do you think?”

Each of them took time to really consider. This wasn’t a fling or some crazy college experiment. These were their lives—their hearts, their soulmates, their futures—they were talking about.

“I think it sucks ass that my birthday was last month and I gotta wait a whole year for my turn.” Kayla plumped out her lower lip.

“Ohh, good call.” Kate grinned. “Mine is coming up soon. Neener neener.”

“Lucky thing our birthdays happen to be distributed pretty evenly throughout the year. Otherwise we might develop some chaffage.” Devon giggled.

The women linked hands with their neighbors until they made one continuous, unbroken ring. And with that, the promise was sealed.

“Time to celebrate.” Kayla grinned.

“Does anyone have condoms?” Morgan confessed, “I’m wearing a diaphragm, like Kate said she’s been doing when we play together, but I haven’t been taking my birth control for a while. Mike and Kate aren’t the only ones hoping for a miracle.”

The friends squealed and fussed over each other. In the meantime, Kayla retrieved a jumbo box of rubbers in various colors and flavors from the bathroom and plunked it on the counter.

Devon raised her eyebrows at the mega-assortment.

“What?” Kay whistled innocently. “They’re smart to have on hand for guests in the resort. Okay, plus I figured it wise to be prepared since we seem to gravitate toward my house for our sessions. I swear. Being a naturist is
not
about getting it on at every opportunity. That’s your faults.”

She wagged her finger at each of them, cracking up the whole time.

“Can I ask a favor?” Kate beamed when the women all nodded without reservation. “Mike is pretty far behind in the sharing space. The closest he came was granting Dev her wish the other day. Would you mind if we made his day?”

“You want to team up on him?” Morgan grinned.

“I’d love to see him speechless for once.” Devon chaffed her hands together. “Let’s do it.”

“I’m in, too.” Kayla winked at Kate. “Settle down, I think I see him coming in right now.”

They giggled as they peeked through the kitchen window. Sure enough, he headed straight for their trap.

“Why do you ladies look like you’re up to no good?” Mike crossed to the sink and filled a bottle with chilled well water. The filtration unit he’d helped Dave install ensured the taste was great direct from the tap.

All four of the women gawked as he slammed the refreshment. His throat flexed in time to his gulps. He sighed and placed the re-emptied container on the counter. When he turned and caught them staring, he swiped the back of his hand over his lips. “What? Did I drool on myself or something?”

He dusted at the front of his fitted T-shirt. Not a single droplet had escaped his mouth.

Pacing, he took a few steps one way, then a couple back. Their gazes tracked his every move.

“Oh. It’s like that, is it?” The corners of his mouth kicked up in a self-assured smile that had Devon squirming in her seat. He locked his stare on his wife, who nodded. “Today’s the day, huh? Where are the rest of your guys when I need them? Some crew. Abandoning me to the clutches of four horny women. Then again, maybe that’s not a terrible fate.”

He stalked toward their assembly, his eyes flicking from woman to woman to woman to woman. No one uttered a peep.

“Am I dreaming or do I really have you all to myself for a bit?” He stripped his shirt over his head and dropped it on the slate floor tiles.

Morgan began to clarify.

Mike waved her off. “The rest of them are about five minutes behind. They were wrapping up a few things and shooed me from helping. Let’s teach them a lesson about keeping you waiting.”

Devon couldn’t deny his rugged grace and beauty. Neither could Morgan, apparently. She reached out and tentatively traced the ridge that stretched from his hipbone to disappear beneath the waistband of his low-riding jeans.

He trapped her fingers against his taut belly, then slid their joined hands into his pants. All the while, he never once glanced away from his wife. Kate used his belt to tug him closer. She kissed him as Morgan circled around to hover by his right side.