Chapter 19
Serenity
My thumbs massaged circles into Bryce’s warm skin, his muscles flexing, under my touch. His professionalism melted away into open wonder.
His lips parted with a soft sigh. Slowly, carefully, I turned his arm in my hands and ghosted my fingers over the softer, more sensitive skin of his wrist, and he shuttered under my touch.
I couldn’t believe it. New Nebraska’s most renowned billionaire was putty in my humble human hands.
“Is it nice?” I asked, a slow smile pulling at my lips.
I knew the answer, but I needed to hear the pleasure in his voice.
“Yes, intensely so.” His answer was sleepy, soft, but still that of a perfect gentleman. “May I… hold your hand?”
The yearning in his eyes was almost enough to break my heart. My teeth sank into my lower lip as I looked back at Hunter.
He stood and moved to stand behind me, running a gentle palm down my hair from behind. “It’s fine. Go ahead.”
I laced my fingers with Bryce’s, his hand dwarfed mine as he held on tightly. It was such a small thing to me, but to him, I could tell by the look of awe on his face, it was… everything.
My core tightened as I ran my other hand through his soft hair. He leaned into my palm and my heart skipped a beat.
I wanted to make him feel every sensation he’d been robbed of, knowing full well how devastating the neglect of caring touch could be. I wanted to be for him what no one was for me when I needed it.
My eyes swelled with emotion, and I blinked it back, not wanting to distract Bryce from having this moment. His fingertips glowed a deep red, giving off a warm almost soothing heat and when he opened his eyes I could see the fire reflected back at me.
“This moment is beyond special. Serenity, thank you so much,” his words were soft spoken more as a prayer than a whisper.
“You’ve just made my best friend the happiest guy on earth.” Hunter murmured in my ear. Worried about any understandable negative reaction from him, I glanced back at Hunter, but he was still smiling. He wasn’t jealous, but happy I could give this to Bryce.
Hunter pulled me deeper into his embrace, holding me to him for a moment before whispering with his raspberry-scented breath. “I like seeing him happy. Why not roam a little further?”
My heart thundered in my ears, and my mouth went dry. “Further? Are you sure? You won’t be upset?”
“If he were anyone else, if this was any less incredible, I would be,” he admitted.
“But you’re doing something bordering on magic.
I can’t deny him that.” He cupped my jaw and turned his head so he could place a deep but soft kiss on my lips.
When he withdrew, his soft eyes reassured me I could touch Bryce as much as I wanted.
Bryce cut in briefly, his voice low. “If Hunter’s okay with it, touch me. Please. Wherever you like. Believe me, I won’t protest.”
I thought of all the places I’d like to touch him. I could run my fingers over his broad shoulders, the hard muscles of his abs, knowing I was the only woman who’d ever been able to do so. Unfamiliar warmth stirred low in my belly.
Shaking myself internally, I reminded myself that he was my boss, and I decided to go slow and see what might happen.
Hunter was still pressed behind me, his hands moving to just under the hem of my shirt, and his fingers running slow circles over my skin. He was teasing me, urging me on. Weren’t all males—paranormal or human—supposed to be jealous about their partners? At least, that’s what I’d heard.
Why was he different?
But then again, neither Hunter or Bryce could be described as the average man.
I looked back to see Hunter’s wry smile and his eyes alight with fascination. Was it the unique connection Bryce and I had, or something more? Whatever it was, his joy at seeing Bryce’s wonderment was painted all over his face.
They really were as close as brothers.
And I wouldn’t lie to myself. I wanted to see more, to touch more of Bryce’s body. I wanted them both.
The slow circles Hunter’s hand was making under my shirt didn’t help, and they became bolder moving closer to my chest. A delicious pleasure I’d never known about in my entire life spread along my flesh.
“Is this okay?” Hunter’s lips were warm against my ear.
“More than okay,” I sighed, riding what had to be the most powerful urges of my life. My nerves were crackling with sensation, eager for more, for everything.
“Maybe undo that top button,” Hunter murmured against my ear before he kissed it. “Massage his shoulders and neck.”
Hunter’s huge frame engulfed me, his hands on my body as he leaned forward with me.
Biting my bottom lip, I reached out and I freed Bryce’s top button, exposing the sharp angles of my boss’s collarbone.
Painfully slowly, I pulled back the collar of his shirt and let my fingers explore under his starched collar. I massaged the corded muscle of his shoulders, and Bryce’s lips parted in a soft, trembling sound that curled my toes.
“Up his neck. That’s it,” Hunter whispered, his lips now at my jaw as one hand played with my hair. “Yeah, put your fingers in his hair there.”
Bryce reclined in a dream-like state as I threaded my nails through the downy hairs at his nape, and his lids fluttered at even the smallest new touch.
Gulping a little, heart fluttering, I tried hard to mask the quiver in my voice. “Would you like to take your shirt off? I could massage your chest if you want?”
He laughed softly. “If I want… You’re so cute.” He began plucking at the buttons of his shirt, his eyes never leaving mine as he opened the crisp cotton flaps. His delicious scent flooded my senses. “Believe me, I want.”
I helped him slide the shirt free of his arms and stared at the torso beneath. Toned, just a sprinkling of light hair over defined muscles. My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for him.
“That,” Hunter said, jutting his chin over my shoulder, “is what you get when you have three personal trainers, a dedicated nutritionist, and a private gym the size of Australia.”
Bryce smirked and lifted a middle finger up at Hunter, but his eyes never left mine.
I still couldn’t believe I was doing any of this. I looked back at Hunter to gauge his reactions as I ventured, “I have some coconut oil in my room. Maybe you’d like me to—”
“Yes,” Bryce replied with sharp enthusiasm. Hunter nodded his approval.
“Okay,” I murmured.
Hunter rose with a quick, “I’ll get it.”
I watched his retreating back and melted inside for these amazing guys who had shown me such kindness, protected me, given me the type of care that, until very recently, had only existed in memories. They were both so special to me.
What if I needed them both—
All thought fled as Bryce’s hand caressed my thigh through my pantyhose, sending shivers of pleasure through me.
My breath caught in my throat as his palm slid higher, under the hem of my skirt. Caressing places I’d never let anyone else touch, his fingers running over my scars like they weren’t even there.
The rush of warmth from his attention turned scorching.
Suddenly my hair stuck to the back of my neck, and sweat beaded on my brow. I fanned myself with my free hand in front of my face, trying to get some cool air on my sweltering body. My cheeks and forehead were pulsing, my blood searing, as Bryce’s hand moved up further, massaging my thigh.
His fingers brushed another scar and I couldn’t take the heat.
I jerked back, bumping into Hunter, who’d returned just in time to stop me falling onto the rug below. “You okay?” His brow creased, the back of his hand coming to my forehead. “You’re burning up.”
I shook my head. “I’m fine. I think. I just need to cool off in the shower.”
It felt like I’d come down with a sudden fever, or maybe embarrassment?
Bryce was now sitting up, shirtless. His body near perfection, his brown eyes still aflame, but his face dejected. “I’m sorry, I should have asked… before touching you like that. Please, forgive me.”
I waved a hand, trying to maintain composure despite the heat still washing through my body. “There’s nothing to apologize for, really. I’ve just had a long day, too many delicious carbs”—I faked a yawn—“We can do it another time soon, I’m sure.”
Both guys looked upset, and like a coward I ran into my room.
It had been a wonderful moment, one that had awakened new flames of desire in me. The problem was, those same flames were now burning too hot to be explained away as simple desire. My skin felt like I’d laid in the blazing summer sun for twelve hours straight.
Boiling inside and out.
I needed to cool down. Right now.
The water hissed from the showerhead, coating my body in a heavenly blast of icy spray. As I tipped my face back in the chilly water, the heat dissipated. Then I noticed wisps of steam escaping my skin.
I watched the tendrils with a small frown. Maybe it wasn’t embarrassment, but magic.
Maybe I wasn’t as immune to Bryce’s condition as we all thought? I mean, I definitely didn’t feel any crippling pain, but… that heat. We might need to be more careful next time.
When the last of the unnatural warmth left me, the relief came fast and gooseflesh began to pimple my arms. I cautiously turned the shower temperature dial until the jets became lukewarm.
My pulse fluttered in my neck, still riding the unexpected thrill of Hunter’s gentle, giving lips and both of their hands all over me. My body reminded me what I should be craving as a healthy twenty-two year old… but I’d never had the opportunity with a man. At least, one I wanted.
Now I was struggling not to think about having two at once. I almost laughed out loud at myself. Maybe it wasn’t right, but I couldn’t stop the thoughts…
I closed my eyes and envisioned Hunter and Bryce both standing shoulder to shoulder in front of me. Nothing hiding their bodies from my gaze. My mind filled in the blanks I hadn’t yet seen, every muscle would be tight and defined. Their eyes wild with desire, and their cocks hard, and ready for me.
I was the one who’d turned them on out there. Not some elemental girl or sexy fashionable vampire. Me.
A fresh wave of heat flooded me at the memory of them looking at me with desire in their eyes. They wanted me. This time the heat felt natural and it pooled low in my belly.
I turned the dial a fraction warmer, then squeezed a cool dollop of my lavender shower gel into my cupped palm.
Working the gel into a lather, I rubbed it all over my body, the layer of bubbles coating my skin in slippery, soft swaths of soap.
My hands lingered near my thighs, even higher up than Bryce had been.
I hadn’t touched myself between my legs since I was in high school, and the thought made nervous butterflies take flight in my stomach.
But I just had to. My eyes still closed, I caressed my soap-covered breasts, circling my fingertips around my nipples. I thought of the way Bryce’s touch felt nervous, and reverent, and how Hunter’s touch was more… playful and flirty.
One palm skimmed down my stomach and between my thighs as the other clasped the shower’s steel rail to steady myself.
I almost let fear deter me, but I was safe here, in Hunter’s loft. I let the fear wash away and focused on what was left.
The desire I’d felt in the living room with him and Bryce came flooding back and I slid a finger along my slit and then circled my clit with a soft sigh of satisfaction.
It took me several minutes to find the right rhythm. When I did, my pulse raced and it became harder to breathe.
I imagined Hunter sitting on the sink, naked with his cock in his hand as he watched me, encouraging me. Then I imagined my hand was Hunter’s, giving my body the pent-up release it so badly needed. I couldn’t help the trembling moan that escaped my lips as I circled faster.
My legs spread farther apart so I could try a finger inside me. Then I quickly lost my nerve. I took a deep breath, letting Hunter’s handsome face appear in my mind. Back to stroking my clit, hoping the fizzle of the warm shower would mask my moans. Then I thought about Bryce.
And all the things that he might do if he were standing naked behind me right now. How he’d seemed to want to touch me so much out there. I pictured his hand where mine was between my legs, the other on my breast as he pressed his hard naked body against me.
I rubbed faster, pushing past my limits until my thighs quaked. A pulse of something built low and spread through my core.
I leaned on the shower bar, my back arching as the building pressure released in an intense explosion of pleasure. I cried out into the tile as I climaxed, surrounded by lavender-scented steam.
I struggled to catch my breath, as it felt like I was floating under the shower’s spray.
After a few moments, I floated back down to earth and laughed as I washed off the bubbles until the water ran clear.