Velvet Steel (17 page)

Noah looked away. “There are no guarantees in life, Shane.”

“I know.”

“But we have been through so much already—five years of struggles to create S&N Steel and make it the powerhouse it is today. We never faltered in our commitment to the company or each other.” He returned his gaze to Shane. “That’s got to count for something.”

Noah was right. Why hadn’t he seen it before? His friend wasn’t a fly-by-night acquaintance. Shane had stood the test of time. They had gone through hell and back to build the company, and not once had either of them even thought of walking away. Suddenly Shane knew Noah would bring the same type of commitment to their relationship—with or without Kitty.

“You’re right, of course. Just like always.” He flicked his gaze to Noah’s mouth. “I never should have doubted you.”

“I shouldn’t have doubted you, either.” Noah’s voice was so low that Shane barely heard him.

Shane eased forward. “I feel connected to you, Noah, especially when we are both with Kitty. It scares me.” He lifted his gaze to look into Noah’s eyes. “I don’t want to be scared anymore.”

“Neither do I.” Noah covered Shane’s hand. “I don’t want to lose you, Shane.”

“You won’t. I promise. Trust me. You, me, and Kitty, we’ll be together forever.” He’d make sure of it. Shane leaned forward and pressed his lips against Noah’s mouth. Desire rose and tried to cover the fear. Why wasn’t Noah responding? Shane tilted his head and played with the edge of Noah’s mouth. He used his teeth and tongue, gently teasing his lover to open himself. Noah sat rigid and unmoving.

Shane tried harder. He raised his hands and framed Noah’s face.
Please
. He leaned forward, pressing his abdomen into Noah’s half erection. Tension built in the air, and panic swelled in his chest.

Then with a sigh, Noah finally relaxed and opened his mouth. Hunger rose in Shane and threatened to spill over into tears. He kissed his lover, taking his time to explore every inch of teeth and tongue. Noah tasted as sweet as ever, but there was something else, a faint, recognizable taste that tickled at the edges of Shane’s consciousness. He dismissed it, lowering his hands and beginning to undo the buttons on Noah’s shirt.

Noah raised his arms and mirrored Shane’s movements. Shane could feel his lover’s hands working over the long row of buttons. Noah opened the fabric, then ran his hands over the planes of Shane’s chest. Shane shivered as heat spread out over his skin, tightening his muscles. Blood poured from his brain and pooled in his cock.

Shane threw himself into the job before him, sliding his hands lower. He wanted to touch his lover, to claim him for his own. He ran his hands down Noah’s chest and abdomen, down to the small tuft of hair right above his lover’s belt. Shane toyed with his lover’s skin, enjoying the way his touch made Noah shake with need.

A familiar scent tickled his nose, and his mind struggled to place it. There was something different about Noah, but he wasn’t sure what. It didn’t matter. He started to undo his lover’s belt. Something didn’t seem right. He sensed Noah pulling back, not giving percent. What was going on? Urgency overcame him, and Shane broke the kiss to focus on his task. Noah was breathing heavily, and so was he.

Shane undid the belt and unzipped his lover’s jeans. Noah’s cock sprang forth, eager and ready. Shane ran his finger down the length of Noah’s shaft, then slid his thumb over the bead of moisture at the tip. He met his friend’s gaze as he lifted his hand and slipped his finger into his mouth. Noah’s taste exploded across his senses, making him hard all over. His cock ached, and he blanked his mind to his questions.

“I want to taste you.” Shane lowered his head toward Noah’s lap.

“Wait.” Noah put his hands on Shane’s shoulders and eased him back upright. “There’s something you should know first.”

Shane’s desire began to recede. “What?” Then he remembered where he had smelled that sweet scent. “You’ve been with Kitty.”

Noah’s guilty expression spoke volumes. “I was upset over what you had said down at the lake. I thought our relationship was over, and she was trying to console me.” He looked away and shrugged. “It just happened.”

“Just happened?” Shane whispered the words as disbelief rushed through his body. He knew he should have been jealous, but he just couldn’t muster the emotion. Shane
had
said some mean things to Noah, and he was glad Kitty had been able to comfort him. Images of the two of them together flashed through his mind, turning his cock painfully hard.

“That’s great,” he said.

Noah leaned back, clearly stunned. “Great? You mean you’re not jealous?”

Shane smiled. “She’s special, isn’t she?”

“Of course.”

“And she can give you something I can’t give.”

“I didn’t say…” Noah’s voice trailed off as he raised his brows. “I think I can see where you’re going with this.”

“Now you understand what I’ve been trying to tell you all along.” He leaned forward and kissed Noah on the mouth. “I think this is a good thing. I knew there was something special about Kitty. I’m glad you see it too.”

“I-I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” Shane ran his thumb over Noah’s lips. “We’ve been through so much together, and I know I’ve brought you pain. I think the reason I’ve been so distant is because something was missing from our relationship. I think that thing is Kitty.”

Noah stared at him for a long moment. When he finally did speak, his tone was skeptical. “Kitty?”

“Yes.” Shane lowered his hand. “I know it’s hard to explain, but there is something about her that lowers my inhibitions. When we both have the same goal of pleasing her, I feel closer to you.”

Noah closed his eyes and eased his head back onto the futon.

Shane hurried to continue. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. I think…I think I need both of you in my life.”

Silence stretched as Shane waited patiently for Noah to respond. Had he said too much? Maybe Noah wasn’t ready for a permanent threesome.

“You’re not crazy.” Noah opened his eyes and stared at Shane. “I feel it too.”

“You do?”

“When we were together with Kitty, I saw a side of you I had never seen before. Emotions showed clearly on your face, and I could
feel
the love you had for me here.” He pointed to the middle of his chest. “I also felt the affection you had for her.”

Shane breathed out a sigh of relief. “Then you really do understand.”

“I understand you somehow need Kitty to be able to show your emotions for me.” He shifted forward in his seat, placing his face inches away from Shane. “What I don’t understand is why.”

Tension crackled through the air until every hair on Shane’s skin stood on edge. He stood and drove his fingers through his hair. “I don’t understand it either, but I can’t change it. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

Noah thought for a moment. “It’s obvious she fills some need I can’t fulfill.”

Shane put his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “She did the same for you too. She gave you what you needed when I couldn’t.”

“I know.” Noah met his gaze. “What does this mean?”

Shane sighed. “I don’t know. It gives us a lot to think about, that’s for sure.” He crouched in front of his lover and ran his fingers over Noah’s half-erect shaft. “I think we need to have sex with Kitty again.”

Noah pressed his lips together and dropped his gaze to Shane’s hand. He watched in silence for a moment as Shane ran his fingers up and down Noah’s length. Finally Noah shuddered and met his lover’s gaze. “I think you’re right. It will tell us if we really care about her or if she’s just a catalyst for our relationship.”

Shane wrapped his fingers around Noah’s cock. “I agree.”

Noah gave a low, throaty sound, sparking something primal in Shane’s lower abdomen.

“I don’t ever want to leave you, Noah. You mean too much to me.” Shane positioned himself in front of his lover.

Noah groaned as Shane’s hand tightened around his shaft. “I’ve only just wanted to make you happy, Shane.”

“I know.” Shane stroked Noah slowly from base to tip. “Right now pleasing you will make me happy. Doing
this
will make me happy.” He bent forward and ran his tongue around the tip of Noah’s cock. Noah’s skin felt smooth and soft, like velvet over steel. Shane dipped his tongue into the small crease on the underside of Noah’s cock. He continued to move his hand, pumping his fist in a way he knew would give Noah the most pleasure. When his hand reached the top of Noah’s cock, Shane placed his lips on the head. With a slow, deliberate movement, he slid down Noah’s length, using both lips and fingers to give him pleasure.

Noah gripped the arm of the futon with his hand. “Oh God, that’s good. That’s fucking good.”

Using his free hand, Shane parted Noah’s thighs, then fully opened the zipper. Desire spiraled through Shane’s body as he pumped faster and sucked harder. He developed a steady rhythm that built tension in the air around them. The temperature rose, and Noah placed his hands on Shane’s head. Shane felt Noah’s guidance and adjusted his movements so that he took Noah deeper into his mouth. Soon Noah’s cries filled the air, and he performed small thrusts off the seat. Excitement ran through Shane, and he doubled his efforts.

“Oh fuck, Shane, I’m close.” Noah’s body tensed and rose off the futon.

On the next thrust, Noah exploded, filling Shane with all his pent-up emotion. Shane swallowed and continued to work, eager to drink every last drop Noah had left to give him. On and on, Noah’s cries rose until he finally collapsed on the futon, exhausted.

Shane gave Noah one final lick, then crawled up next to him on the futon.

“You’ve never done that before.”

“I know.”

“That was amazing.” Noah moved over into the crook of Shane’s arm.

“You’re amazing.” Shane cupped his lover’s cheek. “Don’t ever forget that.” He encircled his lover with his arms and held him as they looked out over the treetops at the lake beyond. Shane’s cock ached for fulfillment, but he held it in check. Noah needed him right now, and he couldn’t be so selfish.

“Where’s Kitty?” Shane asked after a moment.

Noah pointed toward the cabin. “She’s locked herself in the bedroom. She said she wouldn’t come out until we got our act together and made up.”

“Smart girl.” Shane pulled Noah tighter. “See how good she can be for us?”

Noah’s body relaxed as he inched closer. “I see what you mean.”

Shane wanted to stay like that forever but knew it was impossible. There was too much to be done if they wanted to convince Kitty that she needed both of them in her life. “I say we sleep on it and then tomorrow cook her something special. Then we can sit down and talk to her about fulfilling her fantasies.” Excitement rippled through him at the thought of the three of them together again.

Noah frowned. “What about our plan—the one where we are supposed to gain her support in buying out Velvet Steel?”

Shane had forgotten about that. It seemed almost silly now, in light of what had happened between them. “I don’t think we should come clean with her if that’s what you’re asking.”

Noah sighed. “I don’t either. It would hurt her too much. At least, not yet.”

“It’s only Saturday night. We still have some time before we have to go back to the city. I suggest giving her the night to sleep on it. That way we can figure out what she means to us before we do anything rash.”

“You mean if she means more than just sex.”

Shane nodded. “And more than a way to get Velvet Steel.”

“Agreed.” Noah turned around in Shane’s arms. “It would be better if we laid out all the cards on the table when we finally tell her. To do that, we have to be sure ourselves what we want.”

Shane smiled. “Sex first, talk later. I kind of like that.”

Noah smiled, and a hint of something primal shifted through his gaze. “Me too.” Before Shane could react, Noah kissed him on the mouth. “Now, speaking of sex…”

Shane loosened his grip on his lover as Noah got off the futon and crouched before him. He sat, stunned, as his lover began to undo his zipper.

“I’m feeling the need to reciprocate your affections.”

Shane watched as Noah pulled out his thickening cock. “Fuck, Noah.” His eyes rolled back as Noah stroked him from root to tip. Anticipation swirled around him, making his entire body harder than steel. “Have mercy.”

Noah glanced up and flashed a wicked smile. “Oh no, I’ll show no mercy.” He bent over and wrapped his lips around Shane’s thick head. He felt so hot, so wet—

Shane’s cries of pleasure echoed through the forest.

Kitty dried her hair as she approached the cabin. She had awoken early this morning to find Shane and Noah curled up on the futon on the porch. The sight both delighted and frustrated her. She loved that they had put aside their differences but didn’t know what that meant for her. Would they decide they didn’t need her anymore? Would they go back on their word and leave her to face the rest of the weekend by herself?

After watching the men sleep for a few minutes, she had decided to give the men some more time alone. Well, to be honest,
she
needed the time to sort out the jumbled emotions rolling around in her mind. She had grabbed a muffin from the container on the counter and gone down to the lake for a swim. The water had always cleared her thoughts and settled her restless spirit. She needed both this weekend if she was going to be able to handle the men and their mood swings.

And handle the deep affection she felt toward each of them.

She had pondered Shane and Noah as the water carried her away from shore, but it didn’t help her predicament. When they’d first met, she was physically attracted to both of them. It was all about sex, nothing more. Now, since coming to this cabin, a deeper bond had begun to develop. Never before had sex been so mind-blowing for her, so intense. It was more than that, though. They brought balance to her all-work world and showed her how to have fun again. Kitty had remembered how to smile and laugh, and realized she hadn’t done enough of either in her life. She found she cared for both Shane and Noah and wanted to look after their well-being.