TripleThreat1 (6 page)

“Really, Zachary. I thought I was clear when we had this
discussion last week. You know that I've been worried for some time about not
meeting your needs.” He dismissed my automatic denial with an imperious wave of
his hand and smiled at Jeremiah.

“I wanted to give you something special. I contacted Tristan
and attended an auction. The auction was quite different from what I
envisioned. Although there were a few full-time slaves on the block, there were
mostly professional submissives—men who sought a longer commitment without the
hassles of a relationship. However, selecting someone from the catalog and
bringing him home felt a bit like giving you a puppy. Since you’d hired people
from Tristan in the past to work at the club, I spoke to him about our needs
and he had the perfect solution. I had no idea that his employment services
extended to long-term contracts. It's an elegantly simple arrangement, matching
skill with a perceived need. Supply and demand, so to speak. Zachary, I
perceive you have a need. It’s my job to make sure those needs are met.”

While I tried to wrap my mind around his words, Archer stood
and moved to the drink cart, filling his glass once again. Rather than
returning to his seat, he came and sat down next to me on the smaller sofa. He
cupped the back of my head and crushed our mouths together. When he finally
released me, there was a little buzz of need running through my brain. God, what
this man could do to me.

“Archer, don’t you know that I love you? I love what we have
together. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I needed to make him understand
that I was okay with the way things were.

His palms soothed my cheek, my eyebrows, my jaw. “Actually,
Zachary, I do know. But you do have needs that must be met before you start to
resent what we have. Trust me, love. Do you really think I would introduce
another man into our relationship if I wasn’t absolutely sure our love was
strong enough?”

I blinked in surprise. That made such sense in an Archer
kind of way.

Archer turned to face Jeremiah. “I find you to be a charming
young man, and I confess, I'd hoped that Zachary would select you among the
candidates, but this had to be his decision. I won’t interfere in whatever
relationship Zachary chooses. You are here for the next year as a personal
assistant to help us with our daily affairs. Appointments, banking, however
Zachary chooses to assign you is perfectly fine with me.”

Turning back to me, Archer continued. “Zachary, I know you…and
I know you probably had some idea in the back of your head that you could scare
Jeremiah away with some of the more extreme examples of BDSM, particularly as
we had this party to arrange. Obviously, Jeremiah performed exceedingly well.
Above and beyond the call, I’d say.”

I recognized the shift in his voice, knew an order was
coming. Brow furrowed, Archer studied Jeremiah again, before turning his
attention back to me.

“You will continue to use Jeremiah as your personal
assistant. That
is
an order. I won’t force you to go beyond those boundaries,
however. I have one request. Jeremiah came to us in good faith and under
contract, but there was no doubt he had a fair expectation of receiving
training as a submissive. I would like Jeremiah to watch us do a scene someday.
I believe he deserves that much.”

I turned to Jeremiah. Despite the fact that we’d been
working for nearly thirty-six hours, his dark hair was still stylishly spiked.
Add the stubble of beard that darkened his jaw, and the way he captured his
lower lip between bright white teeth…gorgeous. God, he was so fucking young. I
felt gray and washed out next to his youthful good looks. I wanted nothing more
than to hustle off to the bedroom with Archer, to fall against him, and after
being well-used, we would both sleep for a week. But we had Jeremiah here, now.
Looking fresh and interested.
Shit
.

“Can I ask a question?” Jeremiah spoke up from near the
fireplace, surprising me and drawing my attention back to the present situation.
“That might have been my first club scene with Doms and Masters, but I don’t—I
mean…” he paused. I had a feeling I knew where this was going, but I waited.
Jeremiah moistened his lips, looked down at his drink as if surprised to find
he was still holding a glass. He tossed back the liquid courage and shuddered.
When he met my gaze, I saw desire…and maybe a little loneliness haunting those
lovely green eyes.

“Zack? I watched you out there…you were one of the most
popular Doms in the room. All those subs kept presenting—kept asking for you. But
if I understand the arrangement here…what you and Archer…so why not—” his
rambling question broke off.

The need practically vibrated from the boy—
shit
—from Jeremiah.
Still I hesitated to give in to the temptation he presented. Then Archer’s hand
slid up my back, and I knew what I wanted…what I needed for tonight. I shifted
my gaze to look into the swirl of blue-green of Archer’s eyes, the familiar
crinkle at the corners as my lover’s gaze met mine. I smiled just for him, and
felt the familiar tug in my chest. After a long moment, I looked back at
Jeremiah and caught him watching us, a hungry look on his face. Jeremiah still waited
for an answer.

I gave the young man what I hoped was an understanding
smile. After all, there was much we needed to discuss since I hadn’t managed to
scare him off. I wanted to know why he chose to be contracted for a year of
service. What did he expect from me? What would those lips feel like wrapped
around my cock? All questions that needed answers. Someday—soon, maybe—just not
today.

“Jeremiah, will you excuse us? Monday will be here soon
enough and we can start dealing with things, then. Have a good weekend—
boy
.”
I hoped he understood the promise of that word.

Then as of one mind, Archer and I left the room hand-in-hand,
the weight of Jeremiah’s gaze on our backs.

*

Moving to our bedroom, we undressed with the efficient
familiarity of an old married couple. Tonight wasn’t about games, tonight was
for comfort, for a reaffirmation of what we meant to each other. Despite all
our experiences, all our years together, the combination of Archer’s attempt to
give me what he thought I needed, jumping back into the BDSM game, and having
Jeremiah in our home, all left me unsettled. He knew me well enough to realize
I didn’t want a scene tonight. Tonight was for us, friends, lovers, partners.

“I need you, Zachary.” He pulled me close and ran a firm
hand along my spine then cupped my ass.

“Yes.” My answer was very nearly a sigh, and I turned,
pulling him with me until we tumbled onto the bed. Archer rolled us until I was
on my back, his heavy body covering me from thighs to shoulders. Solid.
Comforting. Mine.

The kisses started slow, with an almost-there brush of lips,
while Archer pinned my wrists in his strong hands. He teased me with the
promise of a kiss and I chased his mouth, seeking more, wanting his tongue his
teeth, his lips.

“Hungry lover.” The laughter in his voice was right there,
ready to spill.

“Tease,” I said. My own voice was strained as I lifted my
head from the mattress, still chasing his kiss.

“Mmm…only a tease if I don’t keep my promises. I assure you,
the follow through will be most thorough.” Still avoiding my mouth, his teeth
grazed my neck and I arched and bucked against him, seeking more. His laughter
flowed over me. Releasing my wrists, he cupped my face in his hands and
plundered my mouth. I sighed into the kiss, surrendering. God, I’d needed this.
Needed him.
The kiss was sweet, steady, and as slow as if we had the
rest of our lives together.

The sound of our moans and quick breaths filled the air as
Archer finally released me from the drugging kiss and began to move lower. His
hands and mouth worked magic on my skin, and even at this slow pace, Archer was
a threat to my control. He worked one of my nipples, sucking and biting until
the little nub was an achy peak before turning to give the other nip the same
attention. “Mmm…love your nipples, Zee.”

I sucked in a breath at the nickname. It was a seldom-used
reminder of what he’d told me the night I first submitted to him, more than a
decade ago. After three years, the slow burn of desire had built to a raging
need. I’d dropped to my knees at his feet and bowed my head in offering. My Master
from that moment. He’d threaded his hands into my hair and tilted my head, his
gaze steady. His words were like a tattoo on my heart.

Archer to Zachary. A to Z. That makes us complete. This
is the beginning and the end for both of us, Zee.

How would adding Jeremiah to our relationship change us? I
pushed aside my doubts, as Archer’s tongue at my hole brought me back to the
here and now. In a scene or not, the man knew how to keep me focused. I moaned
as his thumbs joined his tongue, opening me.

A second, then a third, finger joined the first, as Archer’s
mouth moved to my balls. “I’m ready enough. Need you now, A.”

I might have keened or whimpered or whatever you want to
call the unmanly sound that escaped as Archer slowly slid his fingers from my
ass.

“I want you on your knees.”

Words escaped me as I reached for the lube on the nightstand
and Archer slicked his cock. Archer pressed in some slick, then the head of his
cock was pushing at my hole and I opened for him. When he was seated deep
inside, Archer wrapped his arms around my chest and used his superior height to
pull us both up upright, resting on our shins, with me impaled on his cock.

“So full.”

“Yes,” he whispered. Then Archer shifted again, spread his
thighs and lifted me fully onto his lap. I leaned back against his chest and
dropped my head onto his shoulder. As deep as he was, our movements were small,
slow, and so intimate, I felt he could see into my soul. I was flying, surrounded
by Archer, tethered to the world by the strength of his arms.

“Love you, Archer.”

The arms holding me tightened and his lips pressed against
my neck. Then the words I needed more than my next breath whispered across my
damp skin.

“Don’t ever doubt my love again. You’re mine, Zachary. Never.
Letting. Go.”

~~The End~~

Laura likes it hot, which helps explain why she
ended up Arizona after living in such diverse places as Japan, New Orleans,
Maine, and Florida. She once enjoyed hobbies such as gardening and travel. Now
the characters in her head compel her to tell their stories to her readers, so
she writes. She shares her home with her husband and youngest son, two dogs,
and a cat. Laura also writes under the name L.E. Harner, and her books can be
found at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks, and other online
retailers.

Connect with Laura at:

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/lauraharner

Facebook: http://facebook.com/lauraharner

Or even better…check out the website at
http://lauraharner.com

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