Start Me Up by #5
Sean was the first to recover, it seemed.
He made to sit up, wanting nothing more in that moment than to leave the couple and return to his own private room.
But Liberty, with her cheek resting on Mase’s chest, opened her eyes and placed a small hand on Sean’s bicep.
It actually hurt. The yearning he felt at the sight of her dainty hand holding him there physically hurt.
He looked at her and waited, but she said nothing—nothing, yet everything all at the same time. She smiled softly as if telling him thank you.
Sean frowned. What they’d done was wrong. If only she knew how he’d touched her husband, she wouldn’t be thanking him. And if Mason knew of his behavior in the pool, he’d be knocking him out.
With her taste still on his tongue, he forced a reassuring smile and stood from the floor. Mase called his name in a questioning tone, but Sean didn’t stop. He went straight to his room, stepped inside with alacrity, and shut the door.
About twenty minutes later, as he was settling back into bed, he heard the knob turn. Mason’s form filled the doorframe, silhouetted against the soft glow of the hall light. “You asleep?”
“No.”
“Can I come in?”
“Your house.”
Mason stepped over the threshold and softly shut the door. He walked to the bed, and Sean prayed he wouldn’t come too close.
“Where’s Libby?”
“She’s sleeping.” Mase sat down on the edge of the bed. He’d put sweats on, and his knee brushed Sean’s thigh through the covers. “Are you okay with what just happened?”
“Are you?”
“It depends. If you can handle it, then yes.”
“And what about Libby?” Sean felt protective of her in ways he couldn’t explain. Never before had he felt such a need to shelter a woman.
“Liberty will be okay so long as you don’t freak her out.”
“Me? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you allowed another man to touch your wife tonight. If I’m right in my assumption, this is new territory to y’all.”
“Not just any man. You. I trust you, and Libby likes you. She trusts me. But you’re right, this is new to us.”
“Why?”
“Why what? Why have we never had a threesome before?”
“No,” Sean snapped. “Why now, all of a sudden? Why with me?”
“Like I said, I trust you.”
“With your wife?”
“Yes, with my wife,” Mason agreed calmly.
“You haven’t seen me in thirteen years, Mase. For all you know I could have turned into a complete scum bag.”
“You didn’t,” Mason said with complete confidence and unjustified conviction.
Sean scoffed. “How the fuck do you know?”
Mason looked at him with steel in his eyes. “Because I know. I know you, Sean. You can’t hide who you are from me. You never could. She told me what happened in the pool today. You liked women long before you started liking men.”
Sean stiffened. He’d never liked men. Only Mason. And what happened in the pool was an oversight.
“Relax. I’m not going to run out and buy you a rainbow flag, but you really should get over that. It’s all just labels. You are who you are no matter what you label it.”
“Are you upset about the pool?”
Mase shifted his jaw. “I’m surprised, but after thinking about it, no, I’m not upset. Like I said, Liberty likes you.”
“She said that?”
He chuckled. “Yes. As a matter of fact, she admitted she was attracted to you.”
His mind boggled at such an open and honest relationship where a wife could admit to liking another man. But beyond his confusion was great pride. She liked him. Him.
Sean pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. “What happens now?”
“Well, if you aren’t planning to run away scared, then I’m not really sure.
We’ll have to play things out and see. I can tell you what can’t happen though.
Under no circumstances are you allowed to act as if nothing happened.
If you stay, you acknowledge the fact that tonight happened.
Liberty’s fragile and has a lot of demons in her past. She won’t be able to deal with you pretending nothing happened.
It’ll stir up old memories she doesn’t need right now. I won’t allow her to feel ashamed.”
“So what, you want me to bring it up at breakfast tomorrow? ‘Gee, Libby, this French toast is delicious. By the way, so is your pussy.’ What the fuck, man? I can’t do that!”
“Don’t be an idiot. I’m just saying…be casual about it. How would you act with a lover the next morning?”
“I’m usually out by sunrise.”
Mason pursed his lips. “I’m not surprised.”
“Don’t,” Sean warned. He didn’t need another lecture about his inability to commit to even short-term affairs.
Sighing, he tried to think of how he would act with a woman the morning after.
“I don’t know. I guess I would be a little affectionate.
Knowing me, I’d probably try to hit it one more time before I sent her home. ”
“Okay, then be like that with Libby, affectionate, but no hitting it.”
Sean was shocked. “Are you serious?”
“Very. I’ll tell her I’m okay with this—for now—so long as we all remain honest with each other and you don’t fuck my wife without my permission.”
Sean’s eyes went wide. “Dude, do you hear yourself? Fuck your wife? You’re out of your mind! You two took vows—”
“If you can’t handle this, then I’ll help you pack. But if you’re going to sit here and act like you aren’t interested, I’m going to tell you you’re full of shit. It was my cock you were licking a half hour ago.”
Sean gritted his teeth and fought the urge to punch him in the face. “I’ll stay.”
“Good. I’ll talk to Libby in the morning.” He stood. “Oh, and one more thing. On the third floor is another guestroom. Under no circumstances are you allowed in that room unless Liberty invites you. Understand?”
“What’s up there?”
“Nothing. That’s just her space. She knows she can go there and catch her breath if things overwhelm her. Promise me you won’t go up there unless she invites you.”
“Okay, I promise.”
“Good.” He turned toward the door.
“Wait,” Sean hastily called, and Mase stilled, glancing back. Sean felt his gaze even through the darkness of the room. “What about us? Do you expect this shit to go on and your wife not to notice that another man’s hand on your ass throws you into orgasm?”
His sigh echoed in the darkness. He came back to the bed and lowered himself to sit on the edge of the mattress. Sean jerked in surprise at the brush of Mason’s knuckles over his rough jaw and couldn’t stop himself from leaning into the caress.
“I need to tell her. I’m just trying to find the right moment.
I almost told her tonight, but the opportunity slipped away from me.
I don’t know what the next week will bring, but I know I loved being with both of you tonight.
Liberty loved it too. And I’m pretty positive you were enjoying yourself.
I think we should just see what happens.
However, as much as I’m in control of my wife’s pleasure, I’m usually aware of what she wants and doesn’t want.
The moment she changes her mind or objects, everything stops, and it’s over.
I don’t need her to say it out loud. I’ll be able to tell. ”
Sean caught his wrist. “Where does this leave me?”