Bonds of Desire (6 page)

“Then what’s all this about?” She waved her hand at the two of them lying on the bed.

He did glance at Tyler then. The smile lighting his face was surprising enough to make Seth pause. The mischief danced in the other man’s eyes to banish the haggard cut of life’s trials. In its place remained a stunningly beautiful man who eyed him with a calculation that left Seth speechless. He cleared his throat so he could answer Allie. “Comfort? Kindness? Either of those familiar to you?”

She laughed. Her soft chuckle eased over them and sent shivers down Seth’s back. She dropped her defensive pose to stare at her lap and fiddle distractedly with the hem of the shirt. “I don’t get it. I’m obviously way out of my element here. I don’t know what to think, let alone how to fight.”

Tyler turned his head to look at Allie. The soft rustle of the pillow sounded loud in the quiet room. “Why are you fighting?”

She huffed out a puff of air. “I don’t know. I don’t...” She closed her eyes.

With aching slowness, Tyler eased his arm out from under the pillow to rest his palm on Allie’s knee. She flinched at the touch. Her eyes jerked open, but she didn’t look up.

“Don’t fight. It doesn’t help. Don’t give up, but don’t fight.”

She glanced down Tyler’s arm, her lashes lifting to stare at the man between them. “Then what should I do?”

Seth was held spellbound by the exchange. The power shift was so quick and subtle that even he didn’t know how it’d happened. But it was beautiful and it gave him hope. The small warmth bloomed within him without his consent.

“Stay,” Tyler answered.

Her gaze skated over Tyler’s head to land on Seth. “Do you want me to?” She was still speaking to Tyler, but the question was posed to both of them.

“Yes.”

Seth remained quiet, letting the other man control the moment. But he watched Allie, her chocolate eyes appearing both contemplative and rebellious. There were layers upon layers of distrust to peel back before anyone would ever get to the core of who Allie was. It was so clear now that the flirty, aggressive persona she’d displayed in their previous meetings had been nothing more than a perfected shield to keep her safe, much like her defensive lawyer one. He should have seen that, but maybe he hadn’t wanted to dig that deep before now.

“If you leave, so do I,” Tyler finally said.

Her eyes snapped back to him. “Of course. You’re welcomed to stay at my place. I understand.”

“No.” Tyler twisted his head in a slow shake. “If you won’t stay here, then I’m going home.”

Allie pushed to rise, but Tyler increased the pressure on her knee to keep her from leaving. She glared at his hand. “The no-manipulation policy applies to you, too,” she said tightly, her nostrils flaring slightly with each breath.

“Never,” Tyler agreed. Seth stroked his thumb over the base of Tyler’s neck. The ripple effect of Tyler repeating the motion over Allie’s knee wasn’t lost on Seth. “Free will, always. You can walk out the door anytime you want.”

Seth’s assessment of Tyler notched higher and he had to work to withhold the smile that dared to break free.

“Not if you’re going to follow. You know I can’t let you go home. Not like this.” She waved her hand over Tyler’s back.

“Would you leave if I told you I’d stay here anyway?”

She stared hard and long at Tyler before she lifted her gaze to give Seth the same penetrating look. “No,” she finally answered.

“Lay down, Allie.” Tyler lifted his arm, his command hung between them.

She turned her head away. The anticipation blended with the mystery of the next move until Seth was fighting to hold still. The undercurrents were fucking amazing. What he couldn’t accomplish, what he’d thought was virtually impossible without hours of time and patience, Tyler was doing with a masterful ease.

Maybe that was what had drawn Seth to him to begin with. The man played the submissive often enough.
Played
being the key word. But it was clear that there was a dominant streak in Tyler that wouldn’t let him bow to just anyone.

The dynamics were both magnificent and dangerous. He should end it now. Get off the bed and let Allie run. But he didn’t. He was frozen in place, compelled by this other side of Tyler as Allie. His instincts told him the next move would define their relationship moving forward.

The three of them.

Chapter Seven

Tyler held his arm aloft, the effort causing a flash of nails to dig across his back. It only meshed with the inferno that blazed from his shoulders to his thighs, nothing he couldn’t ignore.

Allie’s head was turned away from them, shoulders stiff and spine straight, but she hadn’t bolted. Not yet. The lawyer was fighting a battle that only she could decide. He got that. He had many scars from his own personal clashes.

His throat was raw and parched again, and not from the meds. The room was distinctly silent, yet his heart beat loud and demanding in his head. Partly from the headache that gripped his skull in a tight hold, but mostly from wanting this too much.

There was something within him that needed Allie to lie down. To submit, even if she didn’t completely comprehend what her actions would mean. Would she follow her desires or her rules?

She was a beautiful woman who would be amazing if she ever let go. Did she even know how?

It was dangerous and stupid, this game he was playing. He shouldn’t be here. But he was. And so were both of his insistent saviors.

“Allie?” he said into the lengthening silence, his voice as firm and gentle as the Dom behind him. The slow, consistent strokes of Master Seth’s thumb back and forth against his neck a silent encouragement.

Tyler had no illusions; Seth held the power. And for some fucked-up reason, Tyler wanted that. It soothed him, actually. He didn’t want to fight it. Not now. Not here. An ease had settled through him with the simple placement of the Dom’s hand on his neck. Authoritative without being demeaning. Comforting, not subjugating.

It’d been subtle and perfect.

Allie turned back around and studied them, her brow lowered in a way that seemed almost natural to her. Then, with big exaggeration, she rolled her eyes up and huffed out a breath. “Fine. If it’ll make you happy. It’s not like lying in bed with two hot men is a hardship.”

Tyler smiled. The squeeze on his neck was another sign of approval that smoothed through him. And damn, did that feel good.

He worked to keep the satisfaction from showing as Allie stretched out on the mattress, copying their pose by lying on her stomach. She wiggled around a bit, tugged the shirt hem down before swiping an extra pillow off the floor to tuck it under her head.

When she’d settled, giving one last puff of breath to blow a stray hair out of her face, Tyler chuckled. He lowered his arm, using the opportunity to brush a few more hairs away. Her skin was soft, her curls surprisingly silky, not coarse like he’d imagined. “What happened to the dignified lawyer?”

She smiled, the humor lightening her eyes to a weak shade of coffee. “I stuffed her in the closet. I have three older brothers. I know how to play with the boys.” She winked, her personality flip as disarming as a kick to his gut.

Seth’s soft grunt only made her smile widen. The other man lifted up, and her gaze shifted to look at him over Tyler’s head. “Do you? And what do you play, Allie?”

Her smile faltered, the light in her eyes dimming. “That is not your business. But I’ll note your interest.”

“Oh, you know my interest. You’re just too scared to do anything about it.”

“You arrogant—”

“Not now.” Tyler cut Allie off, the fun of the moment gone.

To his surprise, they both listened. Seth dropped down behind him, the thumb rub restarting.

Allie clamped her lips tight, her lashes brown and long against her cheeks as she closed her eyes. The room had brightened since he’d first woken up, the light coming in around the curtains growing stronger as the sun rose higher. This unguarded view of her was so different than the one he’d seen last night. Her cheeks were flushed a pale red, offsetting the dark stain of her lips.

She was way out of his reach, but then, so was Master Seth. Yet the strong Dom’s hand on his neck felt like a claim. It couldn’t be, but Tyler was going to take what he could from the moment. Steal the illusion for when he left. Because there in no way in hell they’d want anything to do with him once he’d healed. These two were too good for a whore.

Don’t get attached.
They’re just slumming
,
boy
. His dad was right, but he was in the middle of them now. His old man’s mirthless laugh bounced around his head, insinuating itself within the grind of his headache.

The strange, almost surreal sense of the moment urged Tyler forward. He had nothing to lose at this point. He pushed the heavy mass of her hair over her shoulder before resting his palm on the warm skin of her nape. The tiny shiver that raced down her spine trembled like a chain through his arm and into his chest. He exhaled a long, slow breath as a foreign sense of contentment flowed through him.

He mimicked Seth’s steady motion on his neck, stroking his thumb in a matching rhythm over Allie’s skin. The baby hairs at her nape were soft and springy under his coarse pad. The contrast was a reminder that he was too rough for her.

She lifted her eyelids, her stare one of searching wonder, not penetrating scrutiny. “You’re my client,” she whispered as if she didn’t really want to voice the words.

“I told you I don’t want a lawyer.” Especially if that stopped this from happening. He didn’t want the lawyer, he wanted her. The grip on his neck tightened a touch.

Tyler wasn’t dumb. The grappling tension between the two people on either side of him was still in place, even stronger than last night. It layered over him, wrapped around him in a sizzling cloak of suppressed desire.

“Then I really should leave,” Allie stated.

The only movement in the room was the slow, consistent pace of thumbs over skin. The occasional
clink
of a pipe in the wall and the low bang of a truck lumbering over a bump in the street below were reminders that the outside world still existed.

He lifted a brow. “We’re back to that again?”

“You need your prescriptions.”

“I’m good for now.”

Behind him, Seth shifted closer. The sheets rustled with the jiggle of the bed as he moved. He looped a foot over Tyler’s lower leg to rest between Tyler’s feet. His claim remained on Tyler’s neck as he messed with the pillow before going still.

Tyler could sense the long length of the man down his side, even though he only physically touched him at his neck and calf. The heat from Seth’s bare torso was like a furnace simmering so close, singeing without burning.

Allie glanced up, her eyes narrowing a fraction. The touch of Seth’s lips against Tyler’s crown was unmistakable, the kiss soft but certain. A keening hum, almost a whimper, stuck in Tyler’s throat, the protective spell the Dom was weaving over him an enchantment he couldn’t refuse. Had no strength to deny, nor desire to do so.

“I don’t understand,” Allie said, her gaze shifting between the two men.

“What?”

Her eyes held on Seth, her lips pressing together. “All of this. Any of it.” She stared at Tyler. “Why am I here?”

Exerting a touch more pressure on her, he reinforced his words with the tightening of his grip. “Because you want to be.”

The stillness made the moment that much more compelling. It was as if none of them wanted to move because motion of any kind would send the whole thing crumbling apart.

She closed her eyes. “This is crazy.”

“What’s crazy?” Seth asked. “We’re just three people lying in a bed talking.”

“Then why does it feel like something more?” There was doubt-laced skepticism in her question, but it couldn’t hide the underpinnings of longing that sneaked in.

“Do you want it to be?”

It seemed like a question that applied to all three of them, yet none of them spoke.

He followed Allie’s lead and closed his eyes. The fire that smoldered on his back was manageable with the two beside him. He refused to acknowledge the grumblings of his bladder or think about his other injury. He wasn’t going to ruin any of this.

Even the lingering snarls of his father’s digs couldn’t bring him down.
It won’t last
,
boy.
No one would want a slut like you.
The internal cuts were worse than the external ones. Some scars never went away. But he could bury them, at least for a while.

He inhaled, the blended scents of flowers and spice creating a place for him to linger. Hide. The consistent swipe of Seth’s thumb, the steady warmth of Allie under his palm—things to hold him grounded.

Keep him from falling.

But experience told him the ground would still come and hurt like a bitch when he smashed into it. Unwanted, his toes started bouncing. Too many thoughts, too much pain. So much he should forget.

Even more that he shouldn’t want.

* * *

What am I doing?
She couldn’t open her eyes. If she did, she’d have to leave. Because there was no way she was lying in bed in Seth’s T-shirt with Tyler’s hand possessively tucked against her neck. None. Allison English did not do things like this.

Not in high school, college, law school or after. Never.

Attending the Mardi Gras party at The Den was the riskiest thing she’d ever done. And then it was only because she could hide behind a mask. Pretend to be someone else for the night.

But here, there was nowhere to hide. Except in the dark. And she didn’t want to leave. God knew why, but she didn’t want to fight it. Not now.

Later there would plenty of time to sort out the crazy jumble of feelings that twisted in her stomach. It was so easy to convince herself of that as long as she kept her eyes closed.

The gentle presence of Tyler’s touch unsettled her almost as much as Seth’s kiss last night. But she didn’t pull away. Even now. How long had it been since she’d felt this...safe? Crazy really, given that should feel far from that. And she was supposed to be doing that for Tyler, not the other way around.

The shift in movement was subtle, slow. The slight pressure on her neck tugged her forward and she allowed it. She knew what was coming and still she went.

“You’re not my lawyer, Allison.” Tyler’s soft words breathed over her cheek right before his mouth touched hers. It was light at first, a brief test that passed into a longer caress when she didn’t resist. His lips were slightly chapped but so certain and persuasive. Touching, nipping but never pressing further. It was as if there was nothing to fight. No reason to resist. The warmth radiated from his palm and flowed through her in a languid flush that had her clenching her legs together to hold back the warmth that ignited within her.

He was courteous almost, so very different from the harsh, demanding man of the night before. She moaned, a low-pitched whimper that broke through the delusional haze she had allowed.

She jerked back, pushing on the mattress to thrust off the bed. This wasn’t right. Her pulse raced and her gaze swung between the two men who hadn’t moved. Curled together, both half-naked, they appeared so intimate. How did she fit into that?

Why would she want to?

“W-what are you doing?” she stammered. A vicious replay of Seth’s kiss whipped through her mind in a bad déjà-vu moment. She backed away from the bed, the need to run clamoring full force within her.

“Kissing you,” Tyler responded, his steady voice much calmer than her own.

Seth watched her, his position behind Tyler practically screaming his claim on the man. Yet Seth had kissed her last night. Now Tyler had.

“I can’t do this.” She shook her head, the verbal denial needing reinforcement. The sharp corner of the doorjamb dug into her shoulder blade, and she shuffled to the side.

“Do what?” Seth asked. “I thought you were committed to helping Tyler.”

She glared at him, in some ways thankful that he riled her. “I am, and you know that’s not what I’m talking about. Stop twisting everything to get what you want.”

“And you know what I want?”

“You obviously want Tyler.” And why did that thought anger her?

Seth smiled, the look one of devious intent that was just for her. “That’s not all I want and you know it, Allie.”

She didn’t need this. Dang it. Lifting her chin, she pulled her business armor around her and faced off. “I’m here because Tyler needs legal help and I promised not to abandon him. But I will
not
be played with.”

“I wasn’t playing,” Tyler said, the quiet firmness more forceful than if he’d shouted the words across the room.

“Neither am I,” Seth said.

“Yeah. Whatever.” She waved off Seth’s statement, not willing or able to believe anything either man said. “I have to go to work. I’ll get your prescriptions filled while I’m out.” She turned to leave but stopped to give them both one last glance over her shoulder. “I will be back.” She shut the door behind her. Maybe Seth would take the hint and stay in there until she left.

To that end, she quickly changed into her business suit and made to leave, hoping to avoid the walk of shame that came with the bedhead and morning departure. The
click
of the bedroom door opening had her almost sprinting to the exit. She wasn’t afraid of Seth. She just needed time to regroup.

“Your car is in the parking garage beneath the building.” His deep voice stilled her retreat, her hand on the door handle, so close.

She gritted her teeth and refused to turn around. “How’d it get there?”

“I had it moved last night.”

With everything that had happened since then, she’d forgotten about that. Giving over her keys at the door hadn’t been high on her worry list when she’d thought Kendra was in trouble. “Right.” She finally turned to face him. “And where are my keys?”

He pointed to the side table next to the door. Sure enough, hers were sitting in a container with a collection of other keys. She snatched them out of the bowl and shoved them in her purse.

She forced a smile. “Do you need me to grab anything while I’m out?”

He shook his head, a half smile on his lips. “You don’t have to do this.”

Blowing out a breath, she resisted the urged to yank her hair out. “Yes. I do.” She held his challenging stare, not backing down. “I should be back by five.”

“And then what?”