Dear Rose 3: Winter's Risk (9 page)

Zach removed his mouth from Quinn and glanced at the spent man. Another thing he enjoyed about men. Getting a mouthful shot from a triggered cock. “Liked the plan, did you?”

“Yep.”

“I expected you…to put up more of a fight.” He tapped Quinn’s pelvis. “Roll over.”

Quinn did what he asked without preamble. “You had your hand on my dick, Army Man. Like I was going to resist.” He blew out a breath. “I think anyone having their hand on my dick would get a pass to do most anything to me.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He stroked his hand along Quinn’s firm buttocks. “Nice ass.”

“I work out. I do glutes.”

“I can tell.” He cupped the firm globes in his hands and squeezed. Not too hard, but enough to let Quinn know he was back there.

Quinn grunted. “Careful with the merchandise, Army Man. I have to dance this weekend.”

“Like I’d ever bruise my playground.” Zach lovingly stroked Quinn’s butt cheeks before urging him up on his knees.

“If I weren’t in this state, I’d make you work more for this.” Quinn did what he was urged to do.

“Mmmm-hmmmm.”

“I would. I just…don’t have it in me right now.” Quinn shifted up, placing his ass exactly where Zach wanted it.

“You’re about to have me in you.” Zach picked up the foil packet and ripped it open. He slowly sheathed himself in the condom.

“Yep, yep, promises, promises, Army Man. You’re a lot of talk. Where’s da action?” Quinn glanced back and grinned.

“You keep saying that, and I keep proving you wrong. Don’t you ever learn?” Zach clicked open the bottle of lube and poured a generous amount in Quinn’s hole and around it. He also took one hand and coated the condom in it.

“No.” Quinn shook his head and turned forward. “You have to keep teaching meeeee.” His voice rose an octave as Zach put his tip right at Quinn’s hole and pressed in.

A minor penetration. His cock didn’t fully enter. More a slip in and back out again.

But Quinn stopped talking. His hands turned white with gripping the slipcover. His breathing hitched.

Good. Zach couldn’t temper a smile. He shifted forward and pushed inside Quinn a little bit more.

And a little farther.

He’d move out, then push back in a fraction more than he’d been in. The warmth, even through the condom, was intense.

He took his time, allowing Quinn to adjust to every centimeter of him he let Quinn have.

Quinn’s back arched. “God, pound in me, Army Man. Pound in me.”

Which was what Zach wanted to do. He wanted to lose control. But he couldn’t. Not yet.

Until he was fully seated. Fully enclosed in Quinn’s warm, welcoming body. Quinn gripped Zach’s cock like a glove. He was ever so tight.

Josie would be as tight. Just as hot. She’d melt around him with her body. Smell so good.

“Move, you bastard.” Quinn said the words through gritted teeth, interrupting Zach’s thought of sensual Josie.

And Zach did. Damning himself all the while.

He was in the moment with Quinn.

And it was good.

Why couldn’t he be normal and enjoy it? Why did he have to think about what he didn’t have? He tried to focus on the man in front of him, but Josie kept interfering. It was always like this.

Their deal had changed nothing.

In and out, back and forth, he sawed his body across Quinn’s. Until he was pounding. He was going so hard. So fast. So much pleasure, dammit. Even with the obtrusive thoughts.

And the zenith took him up into the sky as he poured his soul into Quinn. His climax gripped him firmly, taking him up to the heavens, then sitting him back down on the couch as he collapsed against Quinn in a heap.

He couldn’t breathe, yet his lungs insisted on panting trying to get enough oxygen. Another rock of Quinn’s butt back against him, and he shivered.

Too much.

It took all he had to remove himself from Quinn’s body and push off the couch. He slipped the condom off and then looked around at what to do with it.

“Tissues on the coffee table.”

Which meant Zach had to move. He stumbled over on legs that shook and deposited the condom in the paper.

Quinn didn’t move. He lay on the couch, spread-eagled. His butt gleamed in the light with the wetness of the lube still glistening.

Zach enjoyed the moment. The exhilaration of good sex. The wonderful endorphins cruising through his body. The feeling it couldn’t be better than this.

Only reality always intervened. It had a way of flashing in and reminding Zach why he could never be happy.

He’d thought about Josie while they’d been having sex. It wasn’t fair to the man in front of him. Why couldn’t he be normal?

Quinn lifted his head. “Why so serious, Army Man?”

Even in this moment of quiet and joy, Zach couldn’t take it in without the feeling of doom.

Despite all they’d said, there was no way this could work. All his doubts crept up and pinched him.

“No reason.” He lied to Quinn. He lied to himself, telling himself this could finally end his relationship hell. “I do have to go. Get ready for work in the morning.” He dressed in a hurry, leaving Quinn to lie on the couch and watch him with expressive eyes.

“You’re running. Why?” Quinn propped himself up on one elbow.

“I’m not. I have to get up early. Need to get to bed.” He yanked on his shirt and tried to pull his gaze away from the delectable Quinn lying there. He could pull off his clothes and go hide in Quinn for a while longer. Like he just had. But it wouldn’t help.

“You’re lying. That’s why you’re leaving now. What are you booking away from?” Quinn shifted to his feet.

Zach couldn’t let Quinn touch him. If Quinn touched him, he’d be lost. He’d stay. And that would lead to things that would never succeed. “I’m not. I have to get to work.” He licked his lips and hunted around for his shoes.

Quinn stopped where he stood in front of the couch. “You can’t lie worth a fuck, Army Man. You obviously weren’t in special forces.” He appeared puzzled. And hurt.

Fuck it. Zach was ruining the moment. And taking Quinn down in the process. “I…can’t stay the night.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” Zach closed his eyes for a moment and tried to find the words to explain. “Because what we did, what we would do. I…can’t change who I am. I can’t be with only you.”

Confusion filled Quinn’s features. “I know. I can’t either. That’s why we’re going to try things with Josie. Both of us can get what we need. A man. And a woman. And she can have us.”

Zach rubbed his face. “And then what? Down the road? When she decides she wants marriage? When she decides she wants kids?”

“You agreed to give this a chance. To see where it would go.” Quinn looked pissed off. “We don’t know what any of us will want in the future.”

Which Zach could handle a lot better than Quinn being hurt. “I did agree to give it a chance, and I do know what I want. I had sex with you. I thought about her. I’ll have sex with her. And I’ll think about you. It fixes nothing for me. You can separate out the attraction. I can’t. And it’s not fair to think about someone else when I’m with you. Or with her. That’s my problem.” He shook his head. “It’s not fair to either of you.” He finally got his stubborn shoe on and headed for the door. “I’m sorry. I am.”

And he exited before Quinn could give any retort.

Chapter Five

Josie watched as Quinn took a swig of his drink after having stared into it for several long minutes. Yeah, she’d just been watching him while he sat there. He seemed melancholy. Well, as down-and-out as a Lab puppy could be. Something was troubling him.

And yet, she couldn’t help but stare at him like some lovesick puppy herself.
You’ve got it bad.

Yeah, she did.

She started over to him, only a figure blocked her way.

Rose folded her arms across her ample chest and stared into Josie’s eyes with a knowing gaze. She wore a tight red gown that showed off her curves. Both were plastic and padding. The sequin-covered dress glowed under the lights in the club. She wore black strappy heels that made Josie’s feet hurt just by seeing them.

It was a shame Rose was a man. Because she was a good-looking woman. Sometimes Josie had to remind herself this was Devyn. Yeah, there were manly features to Rose that would never be covered by makeup or tricks of cloth. But that fake rack would be the envy of any flat-chested woman. Not that Josie was. She had serious cleavage. Had been a bother when she was in middle school. But in high school? She’d learned to use it to her advantage.

“How’s it going, Josie?” Rose turned to see where Josie had been staring. “Hunky, ain’t he?”

“It’s going fine, Rose.” Josie couldn’t help but wonder if Rose had noticed her staring. Probably. She noticed everything. It was one thing she shared with Devyn, because Josie had that impression of him too. Only Devyn didn’t let you know what he noticed. Rose did. “And aren’t you involved?”

Rose waved a hand. “Pshaw. I’d not trade Carl in for anything, but I’d have to be dead not to look.” She turned her head. “Especially at that one.” She swiveled back toward Josie. “Course, that other one you’re dating is nothing to sneeze at either.”

If Josie had been fairer, like Rose’s friend Ally, she would have blushed to the roots of her hair. As it was, she felt the heat rise up on her cheeks and face. If she was going to do this, she’d have to get used to people’s comments and learn not to react. After all, Rose’s were nothing compared to what people were going to say. She needed to learn not to pay them any mind. “Yeah, they are both fine.” She prided herself on her voice not wavering.

Rose patted Josie on the shoulder. “You’d be the envy of a lot of women in this place, even if they bat for the same team. Hell, you’re the envy of a lot of guys in this place too.”

To have one guy as hot as Zach or Quinn interested in her was a miracle in itself. Much less two. There went the greedy bells again. Developing a thicker skin was on her agenda. Maybe in time that would come. “I know.”

“He doesn’t seem so happy, though, does he?” Rose nodded toward Quinn.

“No. I’m not sure why. I was about to go find out.” Josie had an inkling. It was another reason she’d been staring at him as opposed to approaching him. She had a feeling it had to do with Zach. And she wasn’t going to like the answer. Especially as she had a date with Zach tomorrow night herself.

“So do Quinn and Zach know about each other?” Rose didn’t seem to want her to go yet.

“Yeah.” That had been a relief. They now knew about her dating them both. They could make decisions about that.

“Good. I’m glad everything is out in the open.” Rose’s head cocked to the side. “So let me ask you, Josie girl.”

“What?” Had it been anyone else but Rose, Josie would have taken more offense. But Rose was known for being in everyone’s business. She’d also heard several people mention what good advice she gave. In addition, Josie had heard a rumor she’d brought Neo and Phil together and then Ally and Tucker. Not to mention Rose/Devyn and Carl were well-known in the queer world they walked in and seemed to have a great relationship. That was a track record Josie didn’t have with any guys. Zach and Quinn had been the longest relationships she’d had since high school.

“You know Zach is bi. Quinn is bi.” Rose smoothed down her sparkly evening gown.

Josie nodded and shifted her gaze to Quinn, who still hadn’t noticed her presence. She wasn’t sure he’d seen her in the audience watching him dance. Zach had been conspicuously absent. Another thing that seemed to spell some foreboding.

“Zach’s a little different from Quinn, though.” Rose lowered her voice as though it was a conspiracy.

“Oh?”

“Zach’s never been able to be happy with one
guy
or one
girl
. Because he always thinks about what he doesn’t have. Quinn can be happy for a little while like that, but for him, dating you and Zach would make him happy. Zach, not so much.” Rose shrugged. “Fucking shame. Zach’s always left wanting what he doesn’t have.”

That would explain some of Zach’s reluctance in the beginning. It must be hard to never be happy with what you were given. “It is a shame.”

“If only Zach could find a woman who would want to be with
two
men at the same time. Course, most in life have sticks up their asses about polyandry. They can’t imagine it working or some such BS.” Rose shook her head. “What he needs is a good woman not afraid to push some boundaries.”

Josie narrowed her eyes at the drag queen. Rose couldn’t be intimating what she thought Rose was, could she?

Two men.

Me.

In a relationship.

Having sex together all at the same time.

That wasn’t what had been proposed, exactly. Quinn had tossed it out there as if intrigued but seemed to be happy with the idea he could have Zach and Josie in his life to date but not be together at the same time.

What if Zach wanted that? What if he wanted to be a complete and utter threesome?

Heat rose up Josie’s body again, and it wasn’t from embarrassment this time. The idea of two men kissing her, two men’s cocks in her. It was far from disgusting. Or appalling.

Delicious was more like it.

But it would be different from anything she’d ever done. She’d be happier with things the way they were. Maybe one day she’d be ready.

Oh God, what if Zach thought she already was?

Rose cleared her throat and arched a brow at Josie. “Lost in thought?”

She hadn’t answered Rose. “Oh. Yeah. It must be hard on him.” Zach probably thought he’d never be happy. Not the way polyandry was viewed in their society. And Josie held in her hand the possible solution, only she wasn’t sure she could go through with it. Despite her curiosity.

“Yes. Well, I have to go. People to see and a Carl to do.” Rose grinned. “Maybe you could help Zach with that. Quinn too. Good luck, Josie.” And with that, she swept away before Josie could open her mouth.

Not that she knew what she wanted to say.

She’d always tried to be a good girl. She’d rarely succeeded. Life always seemed to get in the way of her being “good.” And now…

Good girls didn’t have sex with two guys. They didn’t enter into a ménage in any way. Her life as a bad girl would be set.