Hunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters (61 page)

Her dress shimmered with each step she took, so did the earrings that dangled from her ears. Even her hair sparkled—they’d probably put some pins in it or something. When they reached the porch, the door didn’t immediately open.

Max peered through the peephole. Noah had stopped and was kissing her. Holy crap, it was sexy. It had nothing to do with how they were both blonde or how they both looked like they’d stepped right out of a fashion magazine. It was the expressions on both of their faces and the way Hayley buried her fingers in Noah’s hair. They were lost in each other.

Maybe Hayley had changed her mind. Or maybe Noah had.

Just when the doubt weasels had convinced him Noah’s text was a mistake, Noah pulled away and cupped Hayley’s face. His voice was muffled, but clear enough for Max to hear him ask Hayley if she still wanted this. That there was no pressure, he could just tell Max it was off.

Hayley’s nod, and her verbal reassurance she was sure, had him returning to the living room. Noah would never let him forget it if they found him waiting by the door like an over-anxious schoolboy.

Five minutes passed before the door finally opened and then there she was, standing in his front hall. The beads on her blue dress sparkled, creating an angelic halo. The dark fabric accentuated the creaminess of her skin. And her eyes – he could lose himself in their warmth, just settle right in and bask like his mother’s cat in a patch of sunlight. Her lipstick was smudged—and there were traces on Noah’s lips. She’d still leave traces of crimson on his dick—and Noah’s—by night’s end.

Her eyelids lifted to meet his gaze, the long lashes sweeping up to reveal those expressive dark eyes. No hint of fear filled them—lust, yes. Anticipation. Yup, that was there too. She was completely unashamed of what they were about to do.

Hell yes!

CHAPTER FIVE

The entire drive over her stomach had flip-flopped as she’d wondered about...everything. The only thing she wasn’t questioning was her decision to have the threesome. Being with them both, at the same time, would be amazing—of that she was certain. And that she could trust them. Implicitly. Both for the pleasure they’d give her and their discretion.

Noah had hardly spoken until he pulled in front of a beautifully restored old Victorian two-storey house less than half a block from Lake Ontario. The porch light spilled a soft buttery light over the porch and across the yard, warming the old cedar trim of the house and the red brick sidewalk like a Welcome Home sign. While she knew he did good work and earned every cent he made, to be able to afford a house in The Beach much have cost him over a million dollars, and from the care this one spoke of, probably closer to one point five.

“This is yours?”

“No. It’s Max’s place—it used to be his grandparents’ but when they couldn’t look after it anymore, he couldn’t bear the thought of strangers living there, someone else cooking in his Nonna’s kitchen, so he bought it from them.”

He climbed out and rounded the truck to open her door. His hand was warm on the small of her back as he walked her up the front path. Not many guys still had those old fashioned manners which on its own would have made him high on Hayley’s list.

He opened the door and stepped aside, allowing her to enter first. Rather than gutting the place for the open concept people loved these days, they’d kept the original footprint of the house. She especially loved the stained glass window at the bottom of the stairs, and the—“Are those the original skirting boards and dado rails? And...oh my God, I love the pine plank flooring, is that original too?”

“They are.” Max stood in the middle of a set of French doors. He was wearing a plaid shirt she’d seen him wear a dozen times before, and blue jeans. His feet were bare, which probably explained why she hadn’t heard him approach. Or maybe he’d been standing there the whole time. “We’ll give you a tour in the morning.”

“H-hi. I, uh, decided to take you up on your offer.”

“I know.”

Before she could ask what happened next, Max lifted her hands and pressed her knuckles to his lips. “
La luna si nascose il suo volto per la vergogna quando sei uscito stasera.”

Behind her Noah muttered, “What did you do? Spend the night searching the web for romantic Italian sayings?”

Hayley bit back an insane urge to giggle. Max had often complained about how people expected a guy with a name like Moretti to speak fluent Italian, but as a second generation Canadian, he knew a spattering of words but not enough to converse. Which made her suspect that Noah was right. But more, she loved how Noah calling him on it broke the tension that had been gripping her.

When she’d first met them she’d thought their banter was an act just for her, then she’d overheard them when they didn’t know she was around, and nope. Max was the joker and Noah his straight man, though Noah had his own droll, self-deprecating humor that most times went right over Max’s head.

“Okay, so what does it mean?” Noah asked.

“It’s supposed to mean that the moon hid her face in shame when she saw you tonight.” Max frowned. “Or it was supposed to, but who knows with these online translators.” He shrugged, his face lighting up with his unassuming what-do-I-know grin she’d grown to love. “It was either that or call you
la mia patatina
.”

“What does that mean?”

“My little potato. It’s what Max’s grandfather calls his grandmother all the time.” Like Max, Noah knew a smattering of Italian. Probably because he hung out with the Moretti family as much as Max did.

“He calls her a potato? Why?”

“Because when they’re cooked they’re soft and tasty.” Max shuddered. “I don’t want to think about them doin’ it like that.”

For all his complaining, the warmth in his voice made part of her go squishy inside. For all his tough guy act, Max Moretti had always been a total softie when it came to his family. Over the past two years, she’d met the entire Moretti clan—from him taking them on a tour when he finished a renovation, a Thanksgiving dinner, and an endless number of birthday and anniversary parties—one of the products of such a large family. She’d loved the entire Moretti family’s closeness, but that he wasn’t shy about showing it? Totally drool worthy.

His voice roughened. “About tonight. If you’re having second thoughts, we can still call it off. We won’t think any less of you.”

The nerves that battered her stomach since she’d walked in settled. When she’d given her sexual fantasy answer at Sophia’s party, it had been an off-the-cuff remark, a joke that she’d not expected to ever have fulfilled. Especially with Darrell as a partner. But with Max and Noah as her partners? Her resolve stiffened.

She straightened her shoulders and stepped so she could see them both. “I know what I want. And I want this. Both of you. At the same time. Tonight.” Yes, it just felt right. “And of course you have to use condoms.”

“We’d insist upon it,” Noah answered, his voice deeper and rougher than it had been at the reception. “Good.” “It’s going to be better than good. It’s going to be fantastic.” Max lowered his head and caught her lips with his.

Max kissed differently than Noah. More directly. It wasn’t a matter of confidence—Noah had plenty of that, but Max was about strength, conviction. He was totally into the kiss, his lips firm. Noah’s kisses had been gentle, soft. Questioning, waiting for her to respond. Just...different.

It wasn’t that Hayley preferred one over the other. Max was closer to her height, so she didn’t feel like she was forcing him to bend over too far. He’d shaved more recently so his skin was softer, though there was something to be said for Noah’s light scruff. By the end of the night, they’d both leave marks on her skin. Marks that she’d welcome as badges. Where she’d tasted wine and coffee on Noah, Max was minty from the mouthwash he must have just used. Mouthwash to prepare for her arrival. Since he knew he’d be kissing her.
They’d
be kissing her.

“What?” Max pulled away. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Absolutely nothing. This was her fantasy. Her one shot at them both. The one night she wouldn’t have to choose between them, wouldn’t have to feel guilty that she’d asked Max out last week and Noah tonight. She caught the hem of his shirt and tugged. “Ditch the shirt, slave boy. I want bare skin against me.”

“Your wish is my command.” A grin promising he’d soon return the request, Max quickly discarded the shirt and dropped it on the floor. When his hands went to his fly she stopped him.

“No, that’s for me to do, slave.” She stepped closer again and cupped his jaw between her palms. She kissed him, taking control this time. His erection was a hard pole against her by the time she drew away with a breathy, “I like how you follow orders.”

“I liked your orders. But I have a few of my own.” He caught her hands and flattened them against his chest. “Noah, undo Hayley’s dress, will you? There’s a zipper on the right side.”

The warmth of Noah’s hands and the gentle tug on the zipper had her arching into his touch, but held captive by Max’s gaze, she didn’t glance over her shoulder to see what Noah was doing. A brush of warm fingers shoved the fabric off her shoulders. She caught it just as it sagged over her breasts. While she might not have any reservations about being naked in front of both of them, there was fricking big window just behind Max—there was no way she’d give the neighbors more of a peep show. “Maybe we should take this upstairs.”

CHAPTER SIX

Noah scooped her in his arms and carried her up the stairs knowing Max would follow. Instead of stopping on the second floor and heading to Max’s room as they’d agreed, Noah continued to the top floor. To his room. There was nothing stopping them from moving down to Max’s room later, but just once he wanted her in his bed. If he stopped at Max’s room now, he might never get the chance for her scent to saturate the linen, for her hair to stream over his pillow. Because he was pretty sure by the time this experiment was over, she’d never return to this floor, instead choosing Max over him. If she indeed chose to see either of them again.

After flicking on the light, he slowed his pace and set her on her feet by the end of the bed. She’d been looking around from the moment they’d cleared the stairs, no doubt assessing the décor of his room. Or maybe just checking to make sure it was safe.

He’d known jackshit about decorating before he’d met her—but with each house they’d worked on, Noah had listened to her numerous conversations with her stager about color and lighting, accent walls and accessories, so when it came time to decorate this space, this was all Hayley’s design. From the cool grey walls and white wainscoting, and bamboo flooring that reminded him of driftwood, to the subtle lighting in the focal wall that jutted above his king-sized bed. Even the duvet was a copy of one she’d picked out for the house they’d just finished.

Noah collared Hayley’s neck with his hand, gratified and relieved when she trusted him enough to lean into his palm. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “We promise we won’t do anything you don’t like.”

Hayley lifted her face as if seeking him. “I know—I trust you.”

He kissed her and once again he tasted a hint of the wine she’d sipped, and the dark chocolate and cherries from the dessert she’d chosen. But where he’d kept his kisses on the porch gentle, now he feasted upon her, teasing and tempting her.

He kissed the curve where her neck met her shoulder then sought Max. A nod had Max slipping her dress over her shoulders. The silky fabric fell to the floor to pool at her feet, leaving her in just a pair of white lacy panties and stiletto high heels.

God, she looked so fucking sexy. He skimmed a hand down her belly, drawing a soft exhalation. They’d already planned that he’d take the lead at first.

Noah’s gaze had locked on Hayley’s breasts. Hayley had beautiful breasts, bountiful breasts. Breasts he couldn’t wait to bury his face—and his cock—in. Which he planned to do later. After he’d thoroughly pleasured Hayley first.

“You’re still dressed. Max, ditch the jeans.”

“My pleasure.” A flip of a button, a wiggle of his hips and Max ditched his jeans, kicking them into a corner.

“Hayley, lean against Max.”

Not only would it get her used to the idea of both of them touching her, but it would give him the freedom to take his time going down on her. Man, did he want to taste that sweetness between her thighs.

Max wrapped an arm around Hayley’s waist, his skin dark against the porcelain of hers. She twisted her head to look at him—there was an almost visible connection between them that Noah wanted to be part of. Love in Max’s eyes, and friendship and trust in Hayley’s.

Hayley twisted in Max’s arms, draped her arms around his neck, the length of her spine curving like a ballerina’s, her breasts pressing against Max’s chest, the two of them unaware of anything else, of him. Max caught Hayley’s mouth with his... Her soft sigh spoke of need and desire as her eyes fluttered closed. Max cupped her breast, his thumb teasing her nipple that peaked with the attention until she moaned and arched up. Only then did he capture one nipple between his teeth, tugging slightly, earning a sharp intake of breath.

Her eyes still closed, Hayley’s head fell back, the pins in her hair sparkling under the overhead lights.

Max was hard angles, muscles covered in tanned skin, made darker from the dark hair, especially over his chest, the cut of muscle sloping over his hips, the heavy erection bobbing from a nest of dark hair at his groin were all angular compared to Hayley’s curves, from the plump breasts to the slope from her waist to her hip.

They were a living Vermeer, a study of light and dark, of smooth and hard, of beauty both masculine and feminine.

“You just going to stand there watching, or are you going to join us?” Max asked, using that rough gravelly tone that Noah had only heard when Max was completely turned on.

He turned Hayley so she faced Noah, her mouth slightly swollen, her eyes soft and dark, inviting, making Noah’s cock hardened until it was painful.

Noah lowered himself to his knees in front of them, dragging his tongue over her belly.