The Best Mistake (5 page)

God help her, his crystalline gray eyes seemed to look right through her. “I know. I’m probably alive because you have given me edible, healthy food. Thanks, Lace. It smells fantastic.”

That was an exaggeration, but a nice compliment. “You’re a good cook,” she argued and tried not to notice that his shirt clung nicely to his muscular chest. And always, that little wayward dark curl brushed his forehead…

Dammit
.

“I grill meat.” He beat his chest with a fist, his grin infectious. “And bribe my mother to make side dishes. Not exactly the same thing as four-star cuisine. And that’s only for show when I have guests. Most nights it’s takeout. Doctors have notoriously bed diets. Do as I say, not as I do.”

“Tonight’s menu is pretty simple.” For emphasis she stirred the sauce.

“I have a weakness for pasta.”

“Me too,” she admitted. “And Ran would eat it every night of the week.”

“He and I have always had very similar tastes.”

What the hell does that mean
?

The flutter in her stomach had not so much to do with what he’d just said as the way Rick looked at her. Quickly, she picked up the sponge from the sink and wiped away the wine spots from the granite countertop. “Can I get you something to drink?”

His brows rose fractionally. “You don’t have to wait on me. I can get it myself. I might have a glass of what you’re having. I brought the other bottle of red when Ran said we are having Italian. Do you want me to open it for dinner to let it breathe?”

Now she really felt like an idiot, especially when he unerringly opened the cabinet with the wine glasses and got one for himself. He’d been there a thousand times and knew his way around about as well as she did. “Sure,” she mumbled. She needed some fresh air. “I think I’ll sit on the back patio with mine.”

“I’ll join you.”

Oh…Great
.

“If you don’t mind.” He fished out the corkscrew from the right drawer.

“Of course not.”

Yes, I do. I’m doing my best to ignore you
.

She went out through the dining room, the French doors opening to a small deck that overlooked the backyard, the lawn trim and bordered by a privacy fence. Still it was relatively serene, if a bit bland compared to Rick’s house and yard, which had a lot of charm and character. Ran had installed a portable waterfall that made a soothing sound, and Lacey took a seat at the wrought iron table and sipped her wine. Rick followed her out, bringing with him the half-empty bottle of Chianti.

“Good day?” he asked, settling his tall body into the chair next to hers, his smile easy and charismatic.

“Not bad.” She turned her face into the slight breeze in an attempt to look perfectly normal “Did you and Ran get a lot done?”

“We did. It’s hard to believe but the remodel is almost complete.”

“What’s hard to believe,” she said drily, “is that a busy lawyer and a surgical resident who works seventy hours a week even took on the project, much less finished it.”

“We work pretty well together.”

Was it her imagination or was there a slight, confusing inflection to that statement? Luckily she didn’t have to respond because at that moment Ran strolled out in clean shorts and a T-shirt, his hair still wet, a slight smile on his face, and he took the chair on the other side of her. “Smells great in there.”

An echo of what Rick had said, but that wasn’t surprising. They were actually a lot alike and not just in looks.

“Hope it will be good,” she responded lamely.

Ran smiled at her. “Oh, I’d bet on it.”

“So would I.” Rick took a long, slow sip of wine, but he held her gaze while doing it.

Were they still talking about the food? She suddenly wasn’t sure. The last time they were all together it had been more than awkward, but this didn’t feel the same at all.

She had the unsettling notion that she was out of the loop in some way, and besides, it was more than a little distracting sitting between the two of them. She stood abruptly. “I should go put in the garlic bread.”

“Can I help?” Rick asked politely.

Yes, he could help…but not in the way he meant.

“I can do it myself.” She headed for the doorway.

She almost didn’t catch it when Ran murmured, “But it’s never as much fun alone, is it?”

Dinner was over, the dishes cleared. He and Ran were doing them in tandem, with one clearing, one loading the dishwasher. Lacey insisted on helping at first and then she gave up when they shooed her away and sat outside with her glass of wine while they finished.

Just as well she wasn’t in the room. Rick plunged his hands back in the soapy water. He wasn’t doing a good job of staying neutral, and really, he should just leave.

The entire idea was crazy anyway. Lacey wasn’t going to go for it. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to go for it…well, not true.

But the unconventionality of it gave him pause. Ran was ten times more adventurous than he was, and he always had been.

Hell
.

The alternative was to walk away, and he was pretty sure he couldn’t do that.

She was gorgeous as ever this evening in a clingy tank top that outlined her firm breasts, and light blue linen shorts, her arms smooth and lightly tanned, her silky hair held back in a ponytail. He’d done his best to seem nonchalant but his awareness of her was up to a high-octane level and it seemed impossible she could miss it. He’d caught a glance or two across the table during dinner but had done his best to just concentrate on the food—it had been delicious—and wait for whatever came next. Ran had seemed pretty confident this was going to be quite an evening to remember, but then again, it was entirely up to Lacey.

Entirely. Unless she was one hundred percent sure, he was prepared to just go home and do his best to forget about it, hopefully with a bit more success than he’d had getting rid of the memory of the soft, urgent pressure of her mouth on his and the feel of her in his arms.

Okay, maybe forget was a bit optimistic.

If he’d been able to do that, he wouldn’t there at that moment, wondering just how the hell this evening might turn out. Rinsing out the last pot, he handed it over and Ran deftly dried it and hung it on the copper rack above the stove.

“I’ll be right back. Go join Lace on the deck.” His cousin headed off toward the bathroom.

Dinner officially over. Normally, he’d thank Lacey and take off, and maybe that was exactly what he should do right now…

Instead he wiped off the counters a lot more meticulously than he would have at home, even more carefully when the back door opened, slid shut and he knew—he felt her—in the room. Rick rinsed off the sponge, keeping his back turned, tried to decide if he was a coward or if he just didn’t want to deal with how it would affect them all if she didn’t go for this—didn’t want him, and how it would turn their lives upside down.

“Men who clean up dinner are sexy.” Slim arms slid around his waist, making him stiffen. Warm lips touched the back of his neck. “Uhm…very sexy. You probably knew that. Good strategy, counselor. You’ll probably get me into bed with that one.”

Obviously she thought he was Ran again. But yet, even knowing that, he did the unforgiveable and didn’t turn around immediately. Instead he stood there and placed one of his hands over hers where they were clasped all too close to his crotch, taking in a deep breath and lightly rubbing his fingers over hers, pretending for a moment she was actually nestling close to
him
.

Then he turned around, seeing her eyes widen.

“Shit,” She tried to step back. “I did it
again
…I can’t believe…why are you both wearing gray shirts? I can’t…from behind—”

“Lace,” he said, not knowing if he the reason he was reaching for her was to apologize or for something else, but he caught her waist, and he might have hauled her back up against him—front to front this time—when an amused voice halted the moment.

“Don’t let me interrupt.”

Rick looked over, saw Ran’s slight grin from the doorway where he stood with a shoulder propped nonchalantly against the jamb and briefly exhaled. His first impulse was to let Lacey go, but his cousin shook his head, ever so slightly, as their gazes met.

“No, I mean it,” Ran said softly, lifting a brow. “Finish what you just started. I think it might be exactly what needs to happen. I know it’s what Rick wants. Lace, remember a conversation we had about a month ago? I meant my part of it, and honey, now is your chance.”

She knew exactly what he was referring to. It was evident in the rise of a blush in her face. Her slender body had tensed; Rick could feel it under the light pressure of his hands. Her lips parted as if she was going to respond, but she said nothing. Her gaze went from Ran back to him, a hint of uncertainty in her beautiful dark blue eyes. Rick took advantage of the moment of hesitation and lowered his head to kiss her.

It might be a huge mistake, but then again, Ran was right about one thing and now that they’d talked about it, Rick had to admit that he and Lacey were so aware of each other that the entire evening had been uncomfortable. He considered himself conservative, but to his surprise, especially now, the idea of being her second lover was okay with him. More than okay, he thought as he slanted his mouth over hers and slid his arms more firmly around her.

At first she was simply pliant, obviously unsure, not participating in the kiss but not resisting either, and then one hand rose to rest on his shoulder and suddenly she responded with flattering enthusiasm, allowing him to pull her close enough that her breasts were against his chest. The option of keeping it just a romantic kiss flew out the window when she made a small sexy sound in the back of her throat and she slid her other hand through his hair.

Nice girl, hot woman. Not a bad combination. He let his hand drift down her neck to trace her collarbone, the swell of her breast under his palm.

It was the most satisfying kiss he’d ever had. He was already hard, his cock stiff and pulsing, that fast. When he finally lifted his head, his voice was more than a little husky. “Oh yeah, that’s what I can’t seem to forget. Let us give you your fantasy.”

Lacey stared up at him, her lashes slightly lowered, still pressed against him. Ran had moved up behind her and he kissed her neck, loosening her ponytail so her hair spilled loose, and ran his fingers lightly along her bare arm. She shivered. “I wasn’t serious.”

“We are.” Ran nibbled on her earlobe.

“We are,” Rick agreed, trying not to pressure her, but then again…

“Don’t let me think about this too much,” she whispered.

The request was no doubt good advice and Rick interpreted it to mean:
Don’t give me time to change my mind. Hurry.

Done. He reached down, scooped her into his arms and headed toward the bedroom, aware Ran was no doubt right behind them. Lacey gave an outraged gasp at the theatrical gesture, but it was breathless…and arousing and that was about the last encouragement he needed.

Rick found that when Ran had excused himself he’d switched on the low lamp in the bedroom and pulled back the bed linens, so he was able to deposit Lacey on the cool sheets, but she immediately sat up in a flurry of shining hair and caught the edge of her shirt, tugging it upward. Underneath she wore only a lacy little bra that cupped her beautiful breasts into tempting mounds, and Rick was way past tempted already. “If this is my fantasy,” she said almost defiantly, “we’re all naked.”

Apparently once she was on board, she was
on
board.

“Like you’d have to ask twice,” Rick muttered, his hungry gaze riveted as she reached around and unfastened her bra, exposing her perfect tits. She slid the straps down her arms and then almost playfully reached for the buttons on her shorts.

“Strip,” she ordered.

When the lady decided to take charge, she did a pretty good job of it.

He obeyed, aware that Ran was also complying, neither of them able to shed their clothing fast enough, especially when she shimmied her shorts and panties off and tossed both aside. Naked, she kneeled on the bed and looked at Rick. “You already know I like to be on top.”

There was no question she’d lost her mind.

Utterly.

Completely.

But as Rick climbed on the bed, she didn’t care. All evening she’d had the feeling something was going on. It was in the way Rick looked at her, in the way Ran looked at her too, and she’d seen them exchange a glance more than once. The heightened sense of awareness between all three of them had registered, and while she hadn’t exactly expected
this
, she’d known that whatever it was involved all three of them. She’d half-expected Ran to force them all to try and talk out the awkwardness, and had braced herself for it.

This was much better in her opinion, because, if the truth be told, when she’d confessed that night she’d always secretly thought a threesome might be an adventure that would really turn her on, Rick was exactly who she’d had in mind as the third party.

Beyond that, she wasn’t sure. This was hardly what she’d been raised to think was the normal course of events in a relationship…or was this just a male game? She’d mentioned the fantasy first during that teasing conversation, but she’d never expected it to come true.

“Is this me?” Her uncertainty must have shown in her face for Rick reached up and touched her cheek.

“It’s whoever you want it to be.” His response was hushed. “Get this straight. No one is pushing you into anything.”

No, they weren’t. She knew it too. Damn, he was gorgeous, built like Ran with nicely toned muscles, wide shoulders and at the moment, the same impressive erection she remembered from that night neither of them seemed to be able to forget. His hair was stark against the white linens as he reclined against the pillows, a slight, all-too-sexy grin touching his mouth. “Whatever you want, Lace, I’m right here.”

“And so am I.” Ran had also gotten on the bed and lay, nude and propped on one elbow, his naked body sculpted in the low light. “This is all about you, babe.”

She believed them. Trusted them. Both.

Considering she was in bed with a hunky doctor and an equally gorgeous, successful lawyer, both of them staring at her with open sexual hunger, what a nice start to her fantasy. She wasn’t as self-conscious as she’d thought she might be—not that she’d ever thought this would ever really happen—and she shook back her hair. “Since that mistake was what started all this, maybe Ran is right. We should finish it, Rick.”

“Sounds like heaven.” He reached out to touch her lightly with a brush of his long-fingered hands. Surgeon’s hands, strong but deft, and her skin tingled in reaction. Her body reacted in other ways too. Between her legs she was wet. She could feel the warmth there, and her breasts were taut.

“I think it started like this,” she murmured, on her knees next to him, acutely aware also of Ran watching them. Lightly she ran her hand down the length of his erect penis, the swollen length high against his flat stomach. Semen already beaded the tip and she bent to lick it off with a swirl of her tongue, hearing him give a low, muffled groan. When she cupped his testicles and slid her mouth over the crest of his erection, she could have sworn the next groan came from Ran.

That’s right
. This wasn’t just her fantasy. He’d said he wouldn’t mind watching. Apparently that was true.

Salty, smooth, hot, hard…tactile sensations mingled with taste and sound, and Lacey sucked gently as the tip touched the back of her throat and then she slid upward and lifted her head. Rick’s eyes were half-shut, his chest lifting quickly. She straddled him. “Then I think I did this.”

“Condom?”

“Pill.” She had no doubt Rick was perfectly healthy. He took his profession and responsibilities seriously and wasn’t a believer in casual sex in the first place. Even if Ran hadn’t told her that, she knew it just from being around him so often. Leaning forward to kiss him, she rubbed her wet cleft against his damp, slick cock, stimulating her clit, pleasure spiking at the delicious friction. He cupped her ass and kissed her back, rocking erotically and she moaned, always vocal during sex. Somehow the ladylike persona she kept in place at all other times was not an option for her at a time like this. No one who knew her professionally would ever believe what she was doing now.

She really didn’t believe it herself, but that lingering thought in the back of her mind was banished as Rick whispered against her lips, “Remember what you did next? I sure as hell do.”

As if she could forget. Maybe if she’d had that ability they wouldn’t be doing this, but as she straddled his hips and rose up to guide his cock into her pussy and sank down, sensation bombarding her nerve endings, stretched and joyously filled, she decided that was just as well.

Her knees splayed on either side of his hips, she began to move up and down on his stiff length, the motion liquid because she was so aroused her lubrication made it effortless, perfect, sublime…

Rick caught her rhythm easily, his hands holding her hips, thrusting upward into each downward glide, his expression intense, his skin flushed a darker hue, his breath audible with each exhale. She had the triumphant feeling he was trying to hold on to his control and having some trouble with it.

“Lace.” His eyes shut, his hands tightening on her hips. “Oh God. You’re so perfect.”

“No one is perfect.” She almost stopped moving, arrested, caught in the moment and the physical pleasure of it, but also aware that this wasn’t casual.

For any of them. If she thought so, she wouldn’t be doing it, she realized with blinding insight. That made it damned complicated.

Rick opened his eyes and stared at her. A smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “The standards vary. And I happen to think you are about as close to perfect as it gets.”

“I agree.” Ran reached out and very lightly touched her thigh. “You’re driving me crazy here…don’t stop, sweetheart.”

Just what she wanted. To nudge him over the edge, to do it to them both, and so she took in a shuddering breath and slowed the pace a little, lifting to sink back down slowly. “How’s that,” she asked, her voice throaty, not sure which one she wanted to answer her.

Her own orgasm was starting to climb, to peak, and when Rick reached between her open thighs to rub her clitoris in a circular motion, she started to topple over the edge.