Calling the Shots (10 page)

“You’re going to have to make it up to her. And me.”

“Josh—”

“You need her and she needs you. I’m not going to let your stubbornness get in the way of what could be an amazing relationship.”

Leaning in, Josh took in a breath of Oliver’s musk. It made his head spin and his mouth water. He opened his mouth and swallowed Oliver’s cock, teasing it with his tongue until it was straining to full. Oliver’s hands flew to Josh’s head, neither pushing him away nor encouraging him. As though he was scared to make the wrong move and send Josh running.

So
not going to happen.

Sucking the tip of the head, Josh teased the sensitive vein with his tongue until the other man shook beneath his touch. Only then did he pull back and lick from the middle of Oliver’s balls, up the shaft to the crown. Oliver moaned, his hips bucking in unspoken encouragement.

When Josh didn’t think Oliver would be able to handle much more, he took the cock ring he’d been hiding and got it ready.

“I’m going to teach you about finishing what you’ve started, Ollie.”

The other man groaned as his head fell back, exposing his neck. “Don’t call me that.”

“I’m going to hold you here, right here while you think you’re going to explode or lose your mind. I’ll do it for so long you’ll be willing to do anything to make it better, to convince me to let you come.”

Oliver’s fingers tightened in his hair. “Don’t. Please. I—I’ll be good. I won’t hurt her.”

Josh ignored his protest and slipped the cock ring down Oliver’s shaft and around the base of his balls. It was one of the securest he’d ever used, and he knew exactly how far he’d be able to push Oliver over the next few hours.

Getting to his feet, Josh kept Oliver’s cock in his hand, squeezing down its length to his balls. “You’re going to stay like this until the end of the shift.”

“You bastard.”

“Then you’re going to come back to my office and wait for me to finish closing up the bar.”

“Fucker.”

“When I say we’re ready, we are going to drive over to Beth’s place and you’re going to finish what you started today.”

“Josh.” Oliver grabbed his wrist. His eyes were wide as panic colored his face. “She doesn’t want me to do that.”

“Yes, she does.”

“She doesn’t want me. I can’t do that again.”

“Do what again?” Josh knew this was it, the heart of the problem. If he pushed too much, Oliver would clam up, but he couldn’t sit back and watch him slide down a path that would lead to loneliness. Not when there was someone who would love him unconditionally.

Oliver huffed out a soft laugh and shook his head. “What if I leave here and go to the can to take it off?”

“Then you do. I wouldn’t force you into anything you weren’t willing to do. But I know you.” Josh squeezed his balls—hard. “You’re locked up in your head with your guilt, not wanting to bother anyone with your problems. I’m not going to let you do that anymore.”

“You’re one to talk,” Oliver muttered.

Josh clamped down on his surprise. Not many people noticed that about him.

“Maybe not. But I’m the one calling the shots.” Josh leaned in until he was almost touching Oliver’s lips with his own. “So you are going to leave the cock ring on and work the rest of your shift. You are going to come back here when it’s done. And you are going to fuck Beth senseless tonight.”

Oliver’s nod was nearly imperceptible. “What are you going to do?”

Josh grinned as he tucked Oliver back into his underwear. Stepping back, he surveyed his handiwork. Instead of the self-restrained man who’d walked into the office, Oliver was now a panting, lust-fueled man, ready to fly out of his skin.

Perfect.

“Me? I’m going to make sure it happens.”

Chapter Twelve

Beth adjusted the red silk corset and black leather skirt again, questioning the intelligence not only of wearing the outfit, but of going through with Josh’s plan. Her thoughts bounced between wondering if the two men would clue in to the fact that they didn’t need her, and leave, and the memory of the lost look on Oliver’s face.

Oliver had become a great friend over the past few months, and she cared for him more than she’d realized. The sex they’d shared with Josh had been better than anything else she’d ever experienced with another partner, something she hadn’t anticipated. It shouldn’t be surprising, considering how well they’d slotted into each other’s lives, and yet Beth couldn’t help but question it. She’d been the reason for the absolute dejection on his face, the pain she glimpsed when she’d told him to stop. If she wasn’t careful she might do something else unintentionally and destroy their fragile, fledgling relationship. She didn’t want to be responsible for hurting him.

Or Josh.

There was still something going on with him too, though she’d be damned if she could figure it out.

She’d overreacted to Oliver back at Mavericks, which wasn’t like her. Sure, it was easy to blame her run-in with Mitch. He’d dumped a bomb on her and she’d barely had time to process it, let alone deal with Oliver on his knees begging for sex. But Oliver was different and hadn’t deserved her reaction. Mitch had rarely taken her feelings into account when they’d been together. The whole basis of their relationship had been getting caught having sex at work, not the best of foundations for a long life together.

Oliver and Josh were her friends first and foremost. She knew in her heart they would never intentionally hurt her. Now she had to prove it to them.

Beth left her bedroom in a nervous flutter to go in search of boots she could wear with the outfit. She hadn’t even taken the corset out of the bag until tonight, having dropped it in the corner of her bedroom and promptly ignored it ever since. It had been an impulse purchase a few weeks ago, back when she’d been consumed with thoughts of primal sex between the three of them. Images she’d been scared to acknowledge until that night at Josh’s place.

Had Josh not said something tonight, she might never have had the chance to wear it. Still might not if he wasn’t able to convince Oliver to come around.

She jumped, letting out a squeak when the doorbell rang. Shit, she hadn’t even finished cleaning up. She ran through, straightening pillows, shoving dirty dishes into the dishwasher and kicking her kickboxing pads into the closet. She let out a breath as she tucked her hair behind her ears and ran her hands down the length of her leather skirt, before slipping into her boots and opening the door.

Josh’s large body filled most of the empty space. His long hair had slipped forward, framing his face as he grinned down at her. He looked feral, primitive, the sexiest she’d ever remembered seeing. “Well, hello there. Gorgeous.”

She pressed her hand to the side of her throat. “This old thing?”

“Tease.” Josh leaned forward, his forearms resting on the doorjamb. He was holding a bag with the logo of the sex store that supplied them with the toys for the club. Beth’s pussy clenched at the thought of what was inside. “I brought you a present.”

“What is it?”

“Consider it part two of what I gave to him.”

Oliver stood pressed against the far wall of the hallway, eyes locked on Josh. His shirt was unbuttoned already to the middle of his chest so she could see the flush in his pale skin. Oliver’s gaze slid to her belatedly, as if he was barely holding on to what little sanity he had left.

What the hell had Josh done to him?

“You two better come in.” She stepped back. “I don’t want my neighbors to think I’ve taken up prostitution as a hobby.”

Josh chuckled and followed her. Oliver stayed where he was until Josh turned and beckoned him in, crooking his finger before pointing at a spot on the floor.

“Now.” His tone was as hard as anything she’d ever heard one of the Doms use at the club.

Like a whip, Oliver bolted to the spot Josh indicated. Beth gasped, mesmerized by the utter surrender in Oliver’s movements. The muscles in his body vibrated with tension even as he knelt before her. Josh closed the door, ignoring Oliver, and made his way to the kitchen.

“Do you have any special water, or is tap good?”

“There’s filtered in the fridge.” She didn’t watch what Josh was doing, too consumed by Oliver to shift her attention. “What’s going on?” she called over her shoulder.

“I’m fixing things.”

Oliver shivered but didn’t say a word.

“Leave him, Beth. I need you in the kitchen.”

God, it was bizarre to ignore the man kneeling on her floor and jumping to do the bidding of another. She’d never enjoyed the few times Mitch had tried to be dominant with her; instead she’d been annoyed and frustrated by his unreasonable orders. Mitch had always tried too hard to be the leader, to take control of their relationship, while not really listening to what she wanted. Maybe that was why their sex life had stalled. But with Josh it was different. She trusted him in a way she never had Mitch. And he’d always listened to her, never judging.

“Beth?”

She leaned in and placed a kiss to Oliver’s cheek, enjoying the strong scent of his sweat, before she joined Josh. “Dare I ask what you did to get him on his knees on my floor?”

“I simply told him what to do and he listened.” Josh had filled up one of the water bottles she kept in her cupboard for kickboxing, and was working on a second. “He’s very attentive when he wants to be.”

“Okay.”

Josh hadn’t changed out of his club outfit. The leather pants hugged his ass and thighs, accentuating every muscle of his long legs, while the boots he wore gave him the appearance of some kind of kinky biker. Beth shifted closer and pressed her hip to his. “I didn’t know what you had in mind for tonight.”

He cast a quick glance down to her cleavage. “I find that hard to believe. Where did you get this?”

He ran a fingertip along the top of the corset. His skin was cool and damp from the water, sending delicious sensations through her chest. Her nipples hardened, and Beth was instantly so wound up she knew things were going to get crazy.

“I’ve had it for a bit, but never had the occasion to wear it before now.”

“I approve.”

“I’m glad.” Beth peeked around the door to check on Oliver. “Are you just going to leave him there?”

“That actually depends on you.”

She wasn’t a fool. She knew before they’d arrived what Josh was planning—a repeat of the other night, and then some. But coming face-to-face with Oliver and something that he so clearly wanted, she didn’t know how to feel about it. It was one thing to play a game, but it was something else to go into a full-on BDSM scene on purpose. What if she screwed it up? It wasn’t as if she had any practical experience herself. Sure, she’d seen lots of goings-on at the club, but this was on a completely different level.

She’d totally misread Mitch. She’d given herself blindly to him two years ago, made him the largest part of her life without thinking about what she really wanted. It had been so easy that first night back at Pulled Long to let Mitch tease her. Gentle caresses along the back of her arm. Soft chuckles close to her ear, sending shivers through her body.

When Mitch had picked her up and placed her on the sturdy counter in the kitchen, Beth let her brain shut down and her body take over. She’d come so hard that night, but not because Mitch had done anything special. It was only much later that she realized what had turned her on was the idea of doing something dangerous.

The extent of Mitch’s repertoire had been limited to sex in the kitchen, or missionary in a bed. No games, no toys, nothing to shake things up. It was as if getting caught by Paige at the coffee shop stripped him of whatever adventurous streak he had. The spark and excitement was chewed up, and what little was left behind hadn’t been enough to keep them together. No wonder they’d grown apart as quickly as they had.

Josh was different. He had no boundaries. He had more than enough experience for all three of them to continue to explore the wonders of sex for years to come. Not only that, Beth liked Josh as a friend. Beth was Josh’s equal. He pushed her to better herself, to explore feelings she would otherwise ignore. Tonight was no exception.

Wrapping her finger around a lock of hair, Beth cocked her head to the side and pushed out her hip. “I think I’ll be okay with whatever you throw my way.”

The smile that broke across Josh’s face melted Beth’s heart. “Excellent. Take this.” She grabbed the water bottle he pressed into her hand and the bag in the other. “I know you haven’t mentioned this specifically, but I get the feeling you might be up for it.”

Letting one of the handles fall away, Beth peeked into the bag. It took her brain a few seconds to decipher what it was she was seeing, but when it did, a rush of warmth rolled down her face and throat.

“I…don’t have a clue how to use that.”

“You’re a quick study. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Do I…do you think he will…” She closed her eyes and chuckled. “God, you know how to throw a person, Josh.”

He opened his water and drained the bottle. “I try. Tuck it away for now. If you want to use it, then go for it. I have a feeling Oliver won’t say no to anything.”

It would certainly take her desires for something exciting in the bedroom, the urge to be the dominant one, to the next level. And Oliver, well, she’d be able to give him what he wanted. Rolling the bag, she held it behind her back. “We’ll see.”

“We better check and see if he’s being a good boy.” Josh’s smile was enough of an indicator that he was in full mischief mode.

Oliver hadn’t moved. His arms were at his side, fingers still balled into fists. He’d been waiting for them. His gaze floated between the two of them, and Beth was certain if he kept breathing that fast he’d begin to hyperventilate. Josh kept his distance, but scrutinized Oliver.

“Our boy’s had a rough night.”

Beth stood beside Oliver. Condensation on the bottle dripped down her hand and wrist before falling to the floor. Tossing the bag to the floor by the couch, she switched hands and pressed her wet fingers to the side of his neck and placed a kiss to his cheek.

Oliver whimpered. “Sorry.”

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry about what happened earlier. That wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Honey, it wasn’t you.” She kissed him again, his time letting the contact linger. “I’d just had a run-in with my ex, the one who got me fired from a job a few years ago. I thought I’d gotten past it, but apparently I have a few hang-ups left.”

She pressed the cold water bottle to the middle of Oliver’s chest, enjoying the way he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Christ.”

“I bet you’re thirsty. You’ve been running around all night serving others. And Josh did something to you as well. Didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

He shook his head.

“Tell me.”

He shook it again—harder.

Beth shifted the bottle to his nipple as she nipped at his earlobe. “Tell me, Ollie.”

He stiffened but didn’t pull away. “I hate that nickname.”

“Then tell me what I want to know and I won’t use it again. What did Josh do to you tonight to get you so wound up?”

Oliver groaned. “He sucked my cock until I was about to come. Then he put a fucking cock ring on me.”

Beth closed her eyes, could picture the scene without the need for additional details. “He did that in the office, didn’t he? Because he knew I’d ask you what was wrong.” Josh loved to break through people’s barriers. Plus he was a fucking tease.

“He told me I had to make it up to you. That I’m not allowed to come until you’ve been satisfied.”

What the hell was it that Josh wanted? She needed to see, to understand what it was he was hoping to accomplish from this little example of control. Instead of the smug expression she’d half expected, Josh stood straight, like a current was rolling through him. She knew he was attracted to them both. What she couldn’t understand was why he couldn’t act on those desires. He was willing to help everyone but himself.

“I know how you can make it up to me.” She dropped to her knees and pressed up against Oliver’s side. “I’m going to sit on the couch and watch you give Josh everything he wants. Then when he’s done with you, I want you to go down on me. If you’re a very good boy, I’ll let you come after that.”

A choked sob slipped from Oliver as he turned his face to her shoulder. “I can’t do this.”

Beth cupped his cheek and gently turned his face. “Why not?”

But Oliver refused to say anything else. She was drawn in by his wide eyes, bright with unshed tears. He was older than she was by a year or two, but at the moment he seemed significantly younger. Someone had hurt Oliver in a way far deeper than Beth had experienced.

“You
can
do this. I want you to.” She kissed his cheek and nose as she ran her fingers through his hair. “I know this is new, but you’ve seen the subs at the club. They’ve gotten to a point where they trust their top and simply let go. You’re still learning. Trust me. Trust Josh. We’ll take care of you.”

She didn’t stop, didn’t break contact until the tension beneath her caress lessened and Oliver began to reciprocate. The first fleeting brush of his fingers along her back quickly morphed into a massaging grip. Their soft moans mingled, encouraging Beth to move things forward.

It took surprisingly little effort to lean into the kiss. It was different from before, more intense as she dipped her tongue into his mouth. Oliver was here, hers for the taking if she could get out of her head long enough to accept him. With her eyes closed, Beth let physical sensations become her sole focus and ignored her doubts and fears. When Oliver squeezed her breast, pinching the nipple firmly, her instant reaction told her that Josh had been right. She needed this—wanted Oliver and Josh regardless of her past. Mitch no longer mattered.

Pulling back, she kept her eyes closed for a moment longer while she whispered, “I want you to crawl over to Josh. I want you to pull out his cock and suck him down.”