Magic of Three (19 page)

With that she found herself spewing out all the angry years with her ex-husband and her father before that, about losing her mom and practically raising herself. Julian told her about his overly controlling father and Tim touched on his life on the streets after his own family kicked him out. They didn’t dwell but she could practically feel the pain behind their words, especially with Tim.

Then they talked and laughed about trivial things. Tim entertained them with stories about different customers in the club. Julian responded with edge-of-your-seat tales of different cases he’d worked, no names of course. Lisa talked about the struggles of opening her own business, being responsible for other people’s well-being as well as her own success.

Time flew by and before she knew it they lingered over coffee, beignets and an order of Bananas Foster. She scraped her spoon against the plate, getting the last bit of ice cream and banana.

She’d enjoyed herself and didn’t want to leave.

The men seemed to feel the same, lingering at the table. Julian sipped his second cup of coffee while Tim stared down at the remains of his first. No one spoke for a long while, a comfortable silence.

“What now?” Tim finally asked.

Lisa found herself staring at Julian. He stared back. “Do you want to go home?” he asked.

Lisa shook her head. The thought of going back to her lonely apartment filled her with a strange emptiness.

Tim grinned, looking to Julian as he signaled the server, who quickly brought their bill. He tucked cash into the black leather holder before standing. He and Tim walked around the table, both helping Lisa to her feet.

Julian tucked her under his arm, leading her out as Tim followed close behind.

“Your choice,” Julian murmured as they nodded to the host and walked out onto the Strip. “We can spend more time on the town, gamble, dance, catch a show, whatever your heart desires. Sky’s the limit. Or we can go back to our place.”

Lisa knew the answer but had to ask the question. Had to hear him say it. “What would we do there?”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with. We can talk, listen to music, watch a DVD or anything else you want.”

Tim came up on Lisa’s other side, lacing his fingers in hers. An eager puppy look scampered across his lovely face. “You know what my vote is but no pressure. It’s your choice completely.”

Lisa squeezed Tim’s hand as she leaned into Julian’s side. “I’d like to see your place. Sounds like the hottest time to be had in Vegas tonight. No promises that I won’t back out but we’ll see.”

Tim raised her hand, rubbing her thumb across the back to his lips. She expected him to let go or Julian to step away as he signaled for the valet. Neither happened. The two men seemed content to hold on to their pieces of her.

In turn, she basked in their warmth, their attention. Never had one man affected her this way much less two at once.

They continued to hold her until a jet black Mercedes pulled up to the curb, the valet hopping out and heading their way. Julian released her to take the keys and slid into the driver’s seat. Tim opened the door for her, helping her into the passenger seat before taking the back.

Julian looked at her as he turned over the engine. “Here’s to possibilities.”

Chapter Seventeen

Feeling like Cinderella escorted by two Prince Charmings, Lisa stepped into utter luxury. That was the only way she could think of Julian and Tim’s thirtieth-floor condo overlooking the Strip. Pure, clean, classic design. She didn’t know what kind of a place she’d imagined for the two men, especially considering Tim’s occupation, but this wasn’t it.

Wood and solid marble floors. Deep plush throw rugs that tickled ankles. Sturdy oak furniture. Beautiful, realistic paintings of exotic landscapes. Every piece spoke of wealth, class and taste. Not a bachelor pad with its cheesy shag carpet and pin-up posters. It even smelled nice and clean, wood and polish as opposed to leftovers and dirty socks.

“I know, doesn’t look a bit like me,” Tim said, grinning at her gaping amazement. “Julian decorated the living room, kitchen and his office. I did the bedrooms and dining room.”

Lisa nodded, walking farther in to where she could see the dining room. She smiled. She’d stepped into something out of the Arabian Nights. Rich exotic colors and fabrics. Dim flickering lighting, emulating candlelight and punctuated by a small gas fireplace against one wall. The table sat close to the floor with three short plush stools as seats.

“Let me take your purse and get you something to drink while Tim gives you the tour,” Julian said, stepping closer, heating her with his body warmth. “I’ll throw some snacks together and set them up in the living room. The night view’s fantastic.”

Lisa nodded, handing him her little black clutch purse as she let Tim take her by the arm and guide her down the hall.

The guest bedroom was another exotic theme, set up Japanese-style down to the bed, barely inches off the floor, and the rice paper shades. A kimono covered one wall while a Japanese mountain landscape covered the opposite. A full set of samurai armor stood in one corner, a set of katana hanging proudly above the helmet.

She expected Tim to take her to the master bedroom next. Instead he pointed out the guest bathroom, done in tropical style, soft pastels and mosquito netting. The smell of an ocean breeze filled the cool air. She ignored the effect and stared at the far door, obviously the room foremost on her mind.

Tim tapped her on the nose, drawing her attention back to him. “You’ll see that room soon enough, when you’re ready. Until then you’ll just have to wonder what I did. Keep you curious enough maybe we’ll get there sooner.”

“Another theme?” she asked, still staring at the closed door.

“Of course. I enjoy hunting for pieces to match the theme I have in mind. I love setting a mood, letting the environment channel certain emotions, associations.” He stopped, grin turning playful. “Julian even helped on choosing and designing that one.”

“So what mood did you want for your room?”

“Do you honestly have to ask that?” he asked, pulling her toward him.

Lisa didn’t resist, letting her body sag against his. Hard muscle and warm skin beneath tight cloth. Tim ran his hands down her back, cupping her ass and pulling her closer. She felt the hard length of his growing erection press against her stomach.

Tim dipped his head slowly. At any time she could pull away. He held her firmly, but not so tight that she couldn’t break his grip. He left everything up to her.

And she wanted a taste.

As his mouth covered hers she melted. Heat. Lust. Emotion flowed over and through her as he pushed her against the wall. Here was the ravishing she’d expected from Julian. One hand moved up to cup her breast as his other pulled her leg up to his waist.

She moaned against his mouth as he pressed forward. He rubbed his aroused cock against her quivering slit as his tongue licked her lips, begging entrance.

Lisa tilted her head to the side as she buried her fingers in his long golden locks. Her mouth opened to his invasion, happy to follow wherever he led.

Tim groaned his approval. His mouth took hers, sinking in and filling her. He tasted sweet, thick and bright, like liquid sunshine. Lisa’s pulse roared in her ears as she pulled him closer.

Tim pushed her away. “Shit, you’re addictive. I’m surprised Julian made it home at all today. You must have kicked him out because I sure as hell wouldn’t have left your bed voluntarily.”

Lisa grinned, her hands falling to his waist as her leg dropped back to the floor. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Confidence, hell.” He jerked her away from the wall and against his body. “I hope you stay tonight,” he purred, the ramble rattling through her. “I want you. I want to slide inside you and never leave. I want to watch Julian push you past anywhere you’ve ever gone before, breaking your control. I want to taste your screams of pleasure against my tongue.”

Lisa swallowed, hunger making her throat feel thick and her mouth dry. “And I thought Julian was the poet.”

“Where do you think he learned how to use that silver tongue of his?” Tim winked. “You don’t think he was that good before I came along, do you?”

Lisa laughed, her head dropping against his chest. He petted her hair and murmured endearments until her shoulders stopped shaking.

“How am I supposed to resist you two?” she asked against his chest, not wanting to move away, his dark spicy scent sinking into her soul.

“Haven’t you figured that out yet?” he growled, rubbing idle circles on her back. “You’re not supposed to resist. You’re supposed to succumb, to fall deep under our seductive spell.”

Lisa’s lips twitched. “Well, I’m halfway there already.”

“But not quite all the way yet?” Tim asked, nudging her chin up, forcing her to meet his solemn gaze.

“Not yet,” Lisa whispered, not sure herself if she was telling the truth. It felt so good, so normal to be here with both men but how could that be? “Why don’t we go back to Julian for now? Let me get my bearings and decide where exactly I want to go?”

“I like you better without your bearings but you’re the boss,” Tim replied with a shrug. “It’s always your choice.”

Lisa stood on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss on his lush mouth, chewing his bottom lip for a split second. “If things go the way I suspect it’ll be worth the wait.”

“Oh, I have no doubt,” Tim answered, licking his abused lip before smiling. “You’re well worth the wait.”

She blushed and shoved at his shoulders. He laughed, leaning over and smooching the tip of her nose. “We’d better get moving or Julian’s going to start feeling left out. You’ve never seen anything as pitiful as Julian in a full pout.”

“I can’t picture a man like Julian pouting.”

“Believe me,” he said, shaking his head in mock horror, “it ain’t pretty.”

“We can’t have that. I like both of you just the way you are,” she replied, casting a teasing look from beneath heavy lids. “Even if you’re prettier than me.”

Tim sighed in pity, patting her back. “I know it’s hard to look as good as we do but you more than do us both justice. I can’t wait to get my hands on that body of yours. Julian gets to have all the fun first.”

“Now who’s pouting?”

“Yes but I make pouting look good. Hell, I make everything look good, better than Julian. But I don’t let him know that.” He turned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and moving back down the hall.

She leaned in, tucking herself in his grasp. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Only when I get the right encouragement,” he replied while making a kissy face. She giggled, hanging off him as mirth shook her.

“Tell me you haven’t been encouraging him,” Julian said, looking over the back of the couch as they returned. Lisa’s stomach took a dip at his tousled hair and dark, heavy-lidded eyes.

Tim smirked at her blank look and gave Julian a conspiratorial wink. “No, she’s just giving me a taste of paradise before ripping it away.”

Julian gave Tim a Cheshire Cat smile, eyes raking Lisa’s mussed appearance. “Necking the second I’m out of sight, hmm. Not even considering that I might want to take part. Now that’s pretty selfish of the two of you. You’re going to owe me for that.”

Lisa’s cheeks warmed but Tim jumped into the verbal fray with both feet. “You’re one to talk,” he snapped, hands on his hips and eyes narrowed. “If anyone should feel left out it’s me.”

The testosterone lay thick in the air, even if all in play. Lisa had no intention of being treated like a bone in a tug of war between two junkyard dogs. “If you don’t shut up you’ll both be left out again,” Lisa snapped as she plopped down.

Tim plopped on the floor at her feet, looking up at her with those puppy dog eyes again. “You don’t mean that, sweetheart,” he pleaded, his full lower lip quivering as he slid a hand up her calf, massaging as it went. “Tell me you don’t or tell me how to make it up to you.”

He laid his head against her thigh as Julian scooted closer to her. Julian slipped his hand into her hair, rubbing her scalp. Tim ran both his palms up and down her fishnet-covered thighs.