Foundation for Three (20 page)

Both men cracked up. Pete tilted her chin toward him. “You are a true treasure.”

Zoey wasn’t sure what had come over her to say something so suggestive, but now that she had, she was glad. Aggression was not in her genes, but she was enjoying every minute with these men so much that she didn’t want it to end. They were smart, noble, sexy, and kind. She’d been wrong in her belief that being with two men would automatically end in disaster.

She ran a finger down Pete’s chest. “Now what?” Should she take off her clothes or try to strip them of theirs?

Pete pulled the lapels of her shirt apart, and the snaps popped one at a time. When her blouse fell open, his blue eyes shimmered. “Holy fuck. Thad, look at her. She’s perfect.”

They were probably trying to set her at ease. Thad twisted her toward him. “Let me see.” He whistled. “You’ve been holding out on us.”

At his sincerity, a smile tugged at her lips. Thad twisted her back to face Pete, and then slid her blouse down her shoulders. Thad’s lips pressed against her bare neck, and electric pulses shimmied down her body.

“Shouldn’t we get clean first?” That way, she could touch them all over.

“Shh.” Thad nuzzled her neck again then moved close to her ear. “How about we decide? We’ll do whatever feels best at the moment, okay?”

Anything either of them wanted to do was fine by her. “Sure.” Her blouse floated to the ground, and the cool air kissed her shoulders. “Do you want me just to stand here?” Having them undress her would be a high.

Pete placed his hands on her breasts and rubbed his thumbs over her bra. “What do you want to do?”

Touch you, feel your skin under my fingertips. Kiss you both.

Show them
.

She latched onto Pete’s big belt buckle and yanked it open. He smiled. Encouraged, she undid the top button of his jeans, and then unzipped his pants, one notch at a time. When she managed to get the tab to the bottom, she whipped open the two sides. Her breath caught. “Oh shit. Where’s your underwear?”

Pete cracked up. “I like to go natural.”

Dampness spread between her legs then something heavy clunked behind her. As much as she wanted to check out Pete’s cock, she looked back at Thad. Standing on one foot, he tore off his second boot.

She tossed him her best frown. “I was hoping to take off your clothes.” Slowly. With lots of touching.

“With the speed you two were getting naked, it’ll be morning before you get to me. I’ve waited a long time for this, Zoey Donovan, and now that making love with you is near, I can’t wait anymore.”

She wasn’t sure she’d heard Thad say that much at one time before. And for him to express an emotion like that floored her. Not wanting to delay the adventure anymore, she reached out and slipped her hands under Pete’s shirt to hurry the process. His warm skin nearly burned her fingers, and she itched to take in more. But Thad was right. She needed to strip Pete naked now.

“You are so beautiful,” Pete said. “I can’t wait to taste you.” When he ran a tongue over his lips, she froze. Her whole body caught on fire as her breath lodged in her throat. Good thing he pulled back or she might have dismissed the shower. “Thad’s right. This is taking too long. Don’t move. I want to finish undressing you as soon as I get naked.” Pete stepped back, shucked his boots, socks, pants, and shirt in record time.

Her gaze zeroed in on his big cock, and then she raised her eyes upward to his flat abs, past his spectacular pecs, and up to his massive shoulders. All the wallboard lifting, hammering, and demolition sure had made his body hard. “Wow.”

Pete smiled. “Now, it’s your turn—or rather, our turn to get you undressed.”

She swallowed. They both wanted to help?
Yes!

From behind, Thad’s hand slipped around to the front and undid the button on her jeans. His touch made her senses swirl. The zipper followed next. Instead of tugging her pants lower, he slipped a hand down her belly over her yellow lace panties. She sucked in a big breath as the thrill of being one with him—with them—made her a little dizzy.

“Nice,” Thad whispered. As if he were playing the piano at the apex of her thighs, he leaned his naked chest against her back. When his cock pressed against her rear, a big breath escaped.

Using his injured hand, Thad lifted her hair out of the way and sucked on her earlobe. She let a low moan escape. Hoarse, needy, wanting.

“She likes that, Thad.” Pete slipped his hands under her bra and pushed the confining material on top of her breasts. “Incredible.” He leaned over and ran his tongue lightly around one nipple. His touch made her lightheaded and hot.

“Did you forget about the shower?” She was barely able to get the words out through the thick haze of lust blocking her brain.

She didn’t want to stop them from what they were doing, but at some point none of them would be able to keep from making love. When they sniffed the rust and sweat lightly coating parts of her body, they might be sorry.

Pete laughed. “I don’t forget anything you say or want.”

How sweet was that? Thad’s hands clasped her hips. “I’m naked. I say we get clean.” As if he was finished with teasing her, he dragged the right side of her jeans down and then her left, using his right hand both times.

His injury must be bothering him, but if it hurt him too bad, surely he’d stop. “Let me take off my shoes,” she said.
And then my bra.
Removing them might be tough for a man with only one good hand.

“I have a better idea,” Pete said. A second later, he scooped her up and placed her on the edge of the bed.

Without a word, both men dropped to their knees and removed her shoes and socks. Zoey leaned back on her elbows to make it easier for them. Pete nodded, and both of them slipped off her pants. They acted like a well-honed military unit on a mission, complete with hand signals and head motions.

The bra hiked up over her breasts couldn’t possibly look sexy. Since neither man seemed to have this need to remove it, they must think it looked fine, which was all that mattered.

“Thad, you go ahead and finish unwrapping the present,” Pete said, “but after we’re clean, we go slow. Real slow. I want to hear Zoey beg for mercy.”

She’d never begged in her life, but with these men, she just might.

Chapter Sixteen

B
oth men climbed on the bed like predatory animals. Pete slipped a hand behind Zoey’s back and smoothly unclasped the bra hook as if he’d done it hundreds of times. With care, he slipped the strap down first one arm and then the other before tossing the bra to the top of the bed. “Better?”

Zoey’s pulse soared. “Uh-huh.”

Pete tapped her nose. “I’ll get things ready.” He slipped off the bed and ducked into the bathroom.

Get things ready?
All he had to do was turn on the water. As soon as Thad stretched out next to her, Zoey’s focus shifted to him.

He lifted onto his elbow. “You know what got me through those long hours lying in that hospital bed when I was undercover?”

His soft words caressed her skin. Or else it was his finger brushing against the tip of her nipple. “What?” Shivers of delight flowed down the sides of her breast.

“Waiting for you to come talk with me.”

Her heart rate increased. “Seriously?”
Tell him
. “They asked me to visit once or twice to make it appear legit, but once I met you, I was so intrigued that I couldn’t stay away.” When she wasn’t with a patient, she’d stopped in to see him.

“Oh, yeah?”

She rolled onto her back and placed her hands behind her head, as if being almost naked with this man was an everyday occurrence. He leaned over her and caressed her belly with his lips before moving lower. Her breath caught. “Yeah.”

“Why’s that?” He looked up at her, his eyes sparkling.

Thad was fishing for a compliment, but she didn’t mind. She wanted to tell him how much she liked him. “You were focused and determined to do whatever it took to help catch the serial killer, even if it meant putting your life in danger.”

“You think I was some kind of hero?” Thad puffed out his chest.

“I don’t think it. I know it.”

His chin lifted. “I am, aren’t I?” She loved the glint in his eyes.

The bathroom door opened. Pete stopped then clapped his hands. “Dude, she’s not even naked. What’s wrong with you?” He rushed toward the bed, acting as if Thad had committed a crime.

Zoey laughed at Pete’s ridiculous tone. Not wanting Thad to hurt himself by having to take off her panties, she slipped them off herself. Only then did she remember not all men liked a waxed pussy. Brazilians were her one vice. Not nails. Not pedicures. Not even haircuts. Just being free of the frizz made her feel more feminine.

Neither man said anything. She looked up at Pete first who blew out a small breath. “You keep getting better and better.” Pleasure raced through her.

Thad rubbed a thumb over her pussy lips and electric sparks shot everywhere. “Smooth.”

Pete held out his hand. “Come on. I can’t wait to touch you all over, sugar.”

She let him pull her to her feet. As she stood, she looked behind her to make sure Thad was okay, that he wasn’t favoring his arm.

As Pete led her to the bathroom, he held her hand. When he pushed open the door, she halted. All of the lights were off, except for the one in the shower. Ten beige candles flickered, encasing the room in a warm and romantic bliss. “It’s awesome.” She was glad he’d found the matches.

“I wish I’d thought to buy pink candles.”

He remembered how the beige ones had triggered her breakdown. Zoey stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “No. These are perfect. Thank you.”

“Nice,” Thad said, coming in behind them.

“I thought so, too.” Pete opened a drawer and picked out the remote. A few buttons later, the shower shot to life.

She’d seen the gadget, but hadn’t had the time to figure it out. “That is so cool.”

Pete smiled. “It’s one of my favorites.”

Thad stepped next to him. “Lemme see that.” Pete handed it to Thad, who seemed fascinated with it. “You can set each side’s temperature?”

“Yup. Nothing but the best for Zoey.”

She stared at him. “Did I order that?” Her mind must be playing tricks on her.

Pete shrugged. “No. I wanted to throw in something extra as a thank you for using Banks Construction.”

No wonder he was a success. “You didn’t have to do that. Your work alone speaks for itself.”

Pete leaned over and kissed her this time. “Well, thank you, sugar. But enough talk. It’s time to get you clean.” When he dragged a finger down her throat, and then around her breast, her nipple puckered. She heard him chuckle, despite the noise from the running water.

Pete pulled open the shower door for her, and she stepped to the side with the more powerful showerhead. When she didn’t need to wash her hair, she preferred the side with the Rainshower head. She held out her hand to test the temperature. It was perfect.

Pete entered, and as soon as Thad removed his bandage, he joined them. Staples punctuated his wound, but the injury didn’t look too bad.

She looked between the two men. “Can I wash you guys first?” It would help settle her nerves to touch them.

Thad looked at Pete then back at her. “How about you clean Pete’s back while I clean yours?”

She was a big believer in equality. “Kind of like a train. I like it. After we do one side, we should turn around and wash the other.” That way she could touch them everywhere.

Thad tucked a tongue in his cheek. “Yeah. Then we turn around.” She liked this lighthearted side of him.

Hold it
. Thad’s sexy look registered. “You aren’t thinking of having sex in the shower, are you?” She wasn’t innocent, but none of the man she’d dated had ever wanted to do that.

“Not us,” Pete said with a grin.

She wasn’t sure she believed him, but she’d wait and judge if they asked.

“Dunk your head under the water,” Thad said. “You need to get wet, so I can wash your back. Then I’ll do the same.”

As soon as she finished, Thad took her place. The water sluiced over his corded muscles and heated her from the inside out. While Thad stood under the warm flow, she checked out Pete, who seemed to be enjoying the gentle shower.