SIXTEEN
LUKE PULLED HIS CAR INTO the space reserved for the penthouse and went around to open Claire’s door. She’d given him more than one curious look, but for now at least she seemed comfortable to let him lead. Taking her hand, he led her to the elevator, grateful when the doors immediately slid open and it was empty. Unlike the one in his building, this elevator wasn’t private, but he and Eric didn’t use it all that often and the building was convenient for both of them. They’d had the place for years.
Luke inserted the special key that let the elevator bypass the other floors and go straight to the penthouse. It only took a few moments for the car to reach the top floor but he kept his hand on Claire the entire time, stroking her back through the silk of her blouse, letting his finger trace the bumps of the pearls cuffing her wrists. He’d had plans for those pearls since their weekend in the city.
When the doors slid open, he guided her to the front door and she looked up at him with another puzzled expression on her face. Using the tip of his finger, he smoothed the crease she got in her forehead when she was thinking too hard.
“Relax, sweetheart.” Before Luke could say more to reassure her or reach for his key card, Eric opened the door. “Overeager much?” he murmured over the top of Claire’s head to the other man.
“Eagerly anticipating,” said Eric. “There is a difference. You look beautiful, cher.” He pulled a surprised Claire from Luke’s arm and led her into the penthouse.
The sun had just started to sink and the wall of windows glowed golden, warming the mostly white room. Keeping his arm around her, Eric led Claire to sit in the center of the deep leather sofa. He’d already put a bottle of Cristal on ice and poured a glass for he and Claire, leaving Luke to fend for himself.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Eric said, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand like a lover not a friend.
Claire froze, and Luke struggled to remind himself that he was the one who’d set this all up. Eric agreed, of course, enthusiastically but it had been his idea. He’d seen the way she reacted to the trio at the club. She’d been turned on, so turned on in fact she took what she wanted from him instead of waiting for him to give it to her. And if what they were doing with each other was having sex why shouldn’t she experience something she was obviously interested in. They were all consenting adults, and it wasn’t the first time he and Eric had shared.
“I made food,” said Eric. He must have sensed some of Claire’s tension because he pressed a kiss to her cheek only pausing for a moment to nuzzle her ear before standing again. “I’ll be right back.”
As soon as he disappeared into the kitchen, Claire stood and walked to the window. Sipping her champagne, she looked out over the city below. The crease was back and he wondered what was going on in that gorgeous head of hers. Pouring a glass of champagne for himself, he joined her at the window, but when he tried to pull her into his arms, she stepped away, turning to face him.
“Is this what you want?” she asked, motioning back toward the kitchen.
At first he tried to convince himself she was asking for some kind of permission from him, but that didn’t feel right. “We can make you feel so good, sweetheart.”
“I don’t doubt that,” she said, but there was no heat in her voice, only resignation. “But is it what you want? Are you sure?”
She searched his face, and he fought the urge to cover his eyes. He was a grown man; he shouldn’t have to hide, but he wanted to. She wasn’t just asking if he wanted the sex. There was something with much greater weight behind her question. Finally he nodded, unable to say the words out loud that he had the feeling would change everything.
“Okay,” she said, but instead of curling into his arms, she turned away.
When Eric came back with small trays of appetizers, she hurried to help him and then settled next to him on the sofa.
“This looks fantastic,” she said, leaning in to press a kiss to Eric’s cheek. “Is that your pate?”
“Of course, and I’m still going to feed it to you even though your hands are much cleaner now.” He raised one of Claire’s hands to his lips, lingering for a moment, before turning it over so he could run his nose along her palm and press a kiss to the pulse point at the inside of her wrist.
Normally Luke would mimic Eric’s movements, but he couldn’t bring himself to reach for Claire’s other hand. He sat and watched as his friend spread pate on a cracker and held it to Claire’s lips and watched as she opened her mouth for him, leaning forward to take the bite from his fingers. She closed her eyes, making sounds of pleasure so similar to the ones she made when he touched her, it shot straight to his cock.
The look on Eric’s face said his friend was enjoying himself too. Claire opened her eyes, licking cracker crumbs from her bottom lip, and Eric was there with another bite of pear this time. She murmured appreciatively and took another swallow of her champagne, draining the glass. Luke forced himself over his inertia and refilled the flute for her, topping off his own glass.
He absentmindedly ate whatever it was Eric had put out for them while Claire and Eric talked about reductions and complementary tastes, and Claire made those noises that had his cock going rock hard. Eric insisted on feeding Claire with his fingers and by the time Luke had drained his glass of champagne, he could see she was taking extra time licking the chef’s fingers with her hot pink tongue. Luke watched hypnotized as she sucked Eric’s finger into her mouth. The chef’s eyes went dark and Luke knew he was feeling Claire’s tongue working his finger the way she worked a cock.
“I think I’ve had enough food,” she said, releasing Eric’s finger. “I’ve never done anything like this. You’re going to have to help me.”
“It will be our pleasure, cher. All of ours. We can make you feel extraordinary things.”
Luke was glad Eric was finally including him in the seduction, but he could barely hear over the pounding of his heart in his ears.
“Could I ask something?” She looked nervous and Luke wanted to reach for her. Fold her in his arms and keep her safe. Instead he let his hand rest on her thigh, grateful when she didn’t pull away.
“Of course, cher. We’re here to serve you.”
“Would you blindfold me?”
“It’s the easiest of things,” said Eric, standing and helping Claire up.
Luke got to his feet behind them, letting his hand rest on the small of her back as Eric led her by the hand toward the bedroom. He felt her hesitate when they reached the doorway, but she didn’t stop. Once they were inside, she looked from the bed to Eric and then back to him.
