Chapter 14
Back at my house, I invite them in, because I’m not ready for the night to be over.
Nick surveys my living room as he takes off his coat. “What a nice home you have. I love how you decorated it.”
“Our house could use a woman’s decorating touch,” Rudy says. “We stopped after making it functional.”
“You’re being modest. I love your house,” I tell them.
“It smells good in here, too,” Nick says. “Is that a real Christmas tree?”
I nod. “Felix and Jasper helped me get it, actually.” I didn’t plan to mention the Winters, but part of me wants Nick and Rudy to know that Felix and Jasper are good guys, too.
“Oh, really?” is all Rudy says as he turns away from the tree to direct his attention to my bookshelf instead.
I offer them something to drink, and as I’m filling water glasses, Cupid wanders out.
She might not usually be so bold, but I always give her a little dish of canned food at night, so she’s probably more hungry than scared.
Or maybe she thinks Nick and Rudy are Felix and Jasper, and she’s looking for more ear rubs.
It turns out that the Frost brothers are, of course, well qualified to give ear rubs, too. In fact, they have her purring in record time and doing the little elevator butt move, shamelessly begging for more affection. If she knew they were veterinarians, I’m sure she wouldn’t be so friendly.
“Who’s a pretty kitty?” Nick’s saying in a voice meant just for her.
Eventually, the three of us settle onto the couch, while Cupid goes over by the door to inspect the men’s shoes. She sniffs them first, then starts to roll around on them.
“I’m sorry about that,” I tell them. “Cupid, leave their shoes alone.”
“It’s okay,” Rudy says. “Her scent will give Trixie and Sammy a mystery to solve later.”
We sit and watch her for a moment, before Nick puts his hand on my knee and gives it a little rub. “Thanks for coming to the concert with us tonight.”
“Thank you both for inviting me. It was really special.”
Rudy caresses my shoulder. “You’re really special, Holly.”
“We like you a lot,” Nick adds.
“I really like both of you, too.”
“I’m surprised we never met before, but I think it was fate that brought us together to volunteer,” Nick says.
“Yeah?”
“We’ve been looking for someone like you, someone kind and smart and caring.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as he squeezes my leg.
“And someone who’s comfortable being close with both of us,” Rudy says.
Nick’s expression turns playful. “The only problem with you is that you’re also seeing other men.”
I start to say something—I’m not sure what—but Nick hurries to add, “I’m joking, I’m joking.
Of course, we don’t love it that you’re going out with the Winters, but if things are going to work out between us, we want you to make an informed decision.
We want to know that you’re choosing to be with us because we’re right for you, if that’s what you decide. ”
“I appreciate you not pushing to make things exclusive right away. This has all been such a whirlwind, and I’m trying to figure things out, but I do know that I like you both very much.”
Nick scoots closer and takes my face in his hand, his eyes fixed on mine. I tilt my head as he moves in, welcoming him, and then his lips press to mine. He kisses me in a way that confirms everything he’s just said. It’s a declaration of his feelings, tender but determined.
Butterflies flutter inside me as the kiss grows deeper. His tongue finds mine, then moments later, his teeth briefly tug at my bottom lip, and the butterflies morph into a growling tiger.
This kiss is something new, and I like it. A lot.
The way his hands are moving is new, too.
They frame my waist, then slide up my sides and around to my back, skimming over the band of my bra through my shirt.
He’s exploring, so I take the opportunity to do the same, stroking over his solid upper arms, to his shoulders, then moving my hands around to his broad back as he brings me closer.
He kisses a spot next to my ear, then nibbles at my earlobe, and I melt against his soft, fuzzy sweater.
Meanwhile, a second set of hands caress my hips, and the heat of a second body warms my skin. From behind me, Rudy lifts my hair and presses his lips to the back of my neck, and I start to sway between the men as they work together to get to know my body.
“You’re gorgeous, Holly,” Nick murmurs as he kisses my neck, my collarbone, my shoulder.
When I arch my back in response to another kiss from Rudy, Nick slides his hands up and over my chest. His thumbs stroke once over the fullness of my breasts and glide over my nipples, but he doesn’t linger.
Rudy’s hands slide under the bottom of my shirt and touch the bare skin at my waist, but they don’t go further.
Then, just as smoothly as they descended on me, they pull away. I’m wondering if I did something wrong when Nick shifts on the couch and adjusts his pants.
“It would be so easy to get carried away with you.” He leans in to give me another kiss, much more chaste than those that came before it.
I turn to look at Rudy, who smiles at me even though he looks a bit tortured.
“Would it be so bad … to get carried away?” I ask them.
Rudy wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him so that my head is resting on his chest. He rubs my arm as he talks in a low tone.
“It would be the easy thing, but it may not be the best thing. Being with someone means a lot to us, and we don’t want to rush it.
We don’t want to give you the idea that we’re just here for your body. ”
The animal part of my brain is silently screaming, Take my body!
“If we build our relationship before we get physical, things between us will be that much stronger, and that much more pleasurable.” Nick takes my hand in his and runs the tip of a finger up the inside of my wrist, giving me a little preview of the pleasure he speaks of.
I’m frustrated, but I’m also very touched. They clearly put a lot of value on sex and intimacy, and they want our relationship to grow from a strong foundation. If I wasn’t so turned on at the moment, I’d have to admit that their view aligns closely with mine.
There’s definitely a place and time for casual encounters, but when sex is really good, it’s about much more than just physical satisfaction.
So now I have even more respect for these two men, but I’m also excited to have seen a preview of their naughty side.
The way they worked together, touching me and kissing me, making me feel so much—even over my clothing—gives me all sorts of ideas about how amazing things could be with the three of us.