He tsked, but settled to let me finish. When it was done, he thanked me and went to put his brush away, then I heard the familiar sounds of him making something to eat. He brought through a bowl of pasta and a drink, and I sketched while he ate. As he was rinsing the dishes, my mobile phone buzzed. It was Trace.
“Not like you to call my mobile,” I said cheerfully. “Everything all right?”
“All is well. But I gave Marlowe my bed and now I can’t sleep. I wondered if I might?—”
“Come on over.”
I locked the door behind him as he slipped inside moments later. “Are you sure James doesn’t mind? Did you ask him if this is okay?”
“He’s fine with it. Not that I asked his permission, because if you recall, we both want to build something with you. We can’t do that if you’re walking on eggshells waiting for invites all the time.” I tugged him against me and kissed him softly.
He sighed and leaned into me as I deepened the kiss. He slid his arms under my shirt, stroking my back with fingers that felt needy and hopeful. We made out for a while against the wall until finally he had to take a proper breath.
“You can wreck me with just your kisses. What am I going to do?” His erect cock pressed against mine, the slight rasp of fabric as we shifted back and forth a heady torture I wanted more of.
“We could take this somewhere more comfortable?” I mouthed the smooth skin of his neck, working my way down until I captured his Adam’s apple. “You have such soft skin. I’d not met a human who never has stubble until you. It’s a novelty. And you taste delicious.”
“Thanks.” He huffed a laugh. “I’ve never been able to grow a beard. Can’t say I mind overmuch.” He slipped one hand down the back of my trousers. “I’d very much like to continue this somewhere.”
“Wait here.” One last quick kiss, because I loved tasting him and hearing him sigh like that when I touched him. I stuck my head into the kitchen. “James, Trace is here.”
He turned around. His eyes darted to my groin and he smirked. “So he is. I hope you’re not asking my permission for anything because I thought we’d had that discussion.” He crossed his arms over his chest as if daring me to disagree. I could feel doubt oozing from his pores though, so instead of taking him at face value, I crooked a finger.
“Really?” He rolled his eyes, but stepped forward.
“Nearer, I don’t bite.”
He sniggered. “You’re so full of shit, Eddie. And you definitely need some new lines because we both know that’s a stone cold lie.” But his eyes crinkled and he walked into my arms with a sigh that seemed less resigned and more inquisitive.
I bent my head to smoosh my nose into his newly washed hair and breathe in the scent of him. “It was a line that worked perfectly well for decades, you know. When I was a strictly one-and-done kind of man. You’ve thrown a tree onto the tracks of my pick-up lines, Mr Wilson.”
He sniggered again, then tipped his head up. “Is this an invitation to join you, by the way, or do you want privacy?”
“You’re always invited, love.” I cricked my neck backwards. “Isn’t he, Trace?”
“Of course.” Trace joined me in the doorway, his eyes hot as he raked them over James’ partially clothed frame. “I can’t think of a time when I wouldn’t want both of you, separately or together.” He held up a placating hand at James’ wince. “It’s all right, I know joining in might be too much for you, James, but Iwant to say again so there’s no misunderstanding, as much or as little as you can give is just fine. That won’t change, regardless of how long we do this. Right, Eddie?”
“Right.” I shimmied them both towards the bedroom. “We should probably get comfortable.”
I clamped down on my tongue when James stepped out of his pyjama bottoms, his snug boxer-briefs clinging to his arse and thighs.Do not comment. He’s evidently okay with this right now.
Instead of saying something unhelpful and ruining the mood, I stripped at speed down to my underwear, then sat on the bed and curled a hand around James’ waist. “Kiss me?”
His gaze flickered to Trace, then he met my eyes steadily as he nodded. “Hold me?”
I knew what he wanted. He’d recently confessed he liked it when I held him firmly. I had to do it right so as not to freak him out and make him feel trapped. With Trace’s eyes on us, I urged James to bend so he could rest his knees on the mattress between my open thighs. I clasped him around the neck and by one hip until there was almost no space between us. My lips fuckingtingledas they met his, I was so turned on. He opened for me on a breathy sigh, melting against my chest as I sucked on his tongue and licked over his teeth, which tasted minty from his tea.
The rustle of fabric over my shoulder told me Trace was divesting himself of his clothes. I mentally urged him to approach, while feasting on the scent and taste of James. Now his ears were no longer a secret, he allowed and encouraged me to touch them. So I did, running my tongue along the shell, lightly enough to make him shudder with need.
“Lick the tips.” A husky rasp behind me. James’ warm hands landed on my shoulders as Trace added, “He’ll love it.”
“Just how many Fae have you banged to know that?” I chuckled. My breath gusted over James’ delicate skin, bringing him out in goosebumps. “On second thoughts, don’t tell me. It’s probably best I don’t know.” I clamped careful teeth around the tip of one ear and scraped upwards. James moaned loudly.“Fuck.”
Oh yeah, he does like that.“Put your hands on me, Trace? I’m doing all the work here,” I quipped. I didn’t mind, because it turned out James wasn’t the only one who liked being watched, something new I’d discovered since he’d come into my life. But I’d never say no to a hot man pawing at me. Or two, it seemed. James tightened his grip on my biceps and panted as I made a meal of his ears and neck, writhing against me as I devoured him.
Warm hands made a slow map of my own neck, then my shoulders and down my spine. Questing fingers burrowed under the waistband of my boxers, slipping low to caress my bollocks. I gasped.
I felt James smile against my cheek. “What’s he doing to you?”
