It Happens in Threes Read online

  “He’s never been violent,” she protested. Even as she said the words she wondered if he could be. She knew Thomas. Mostly. He wasn’t capable of such extremes. He just tried to be persuasive, in a scary sort of way.

  “Just because you’ve never seen it, doesn’t mean he can’t be or isn’t.”

  His remark triggered a memory, a trickle of fear as the threatening words loomed in her mind, hanging there like a noose.

  Standing in the doorway to Thomas’s office she’d overheard the loud, stressful discussion. Thomas had ordered, “Take care of the little hack. Be sure to hit the return key by mistake. And take action to prevent further bugs. Do I make myself clear?” The voice on the other end of the speakerphone replied too quickly for her to make out his words but for sure it was a man. And there was something about the voice. Something familiar. Something she couldn’t quite recall or explain.

  “And the flowers the other day, his doing?”

  Michael’s question dislodged her thought.

  “I don’t know.” She shuddered, her hazel eyes wide, making her look like a vulnerable child. “I don’t believe so, but I’m not sure.”

  Good, he thought. He didn’t want to panic her, but she had to be realistic and she should be scared.

  Pulling her into his arms, he wanted to shield and protect her. “Any more phone calls, threats, or electronic messages we handle it my way. Understood?”

  Looking down, she nodded.

  He knew her too well. She’d lied. With thumb and forefinger, he grasped her chin, tilted it up. Glaring into gorgeous catlike eyes, he insisted in a gruff voice, “No more half-hearted promises. No more lies. I mean it.”

  “Yes, dear. Whatever you say, dear.”

  “That’s better,” he said, smiling at her sarcasm. “Ruby?” He waited for her to really look at him, deep into his eyes. “You lied to me.”

  She smiled up at him. Reading her expression, he watched with satisfaction as the knowledge that she was in trouble hit her. This was just the opening he needed and he wasn’t going to pass up.

  EIGHT

  The tremor underlying his tone conveyed her perilous position. In his eyes, she witnessed his expression of anger and fear change to desire. Uh-oh. She pushed herself from his embrace taking several steps back out of his reach. “I...ah...I did…”

  He cut off her reply. “Since when do you stutter? Don’t try to deny it or lie. I caught you. And you no longer have an excuse to stall.”

  His smirk infuriated her, and his eyes were dangerous. The gorgeous blue had gone almost black. She took several backward steps putting more distance between them.

  “The only question is what should your punishment be?”

  Her eyes squeezed shut. A thrill of fear and excitement rushed up her spine. Damp heat pooled between her thighs.

  “I could throw you over my knee and give you a good spanking.” His lips curved with mischief. “But I’m rather fond of that firm little ass.”

  Her mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe it. He threatened her and complimented her in the same breath.

  “Hmm. I seem to recall that particular fetish,” she said in as breezy a tone as she could manage.

  She swallowed hard as Michael advanced several more paces in her direction.

  “Or...I could wash your mouth out with soap for telling a lie. But I rather like those soft, suggestive, ruby red lips and think they can be put to better use.”

  Sucking air through clamped lips, Ruby felt her cheeks turn scarlet. “If that’s an invitation, forget it. I’m not into ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am’,” she squeezed the words out.

  “It wouldn’t be like that, Cat. Let me show you.”

  Using her nickname, he bewitched her. She could and would resist. With more resolve, she stood straighter and shot back, “Once was enough.”

  In an attempt to ward Michael off, she held her hands stretched out in front of her. But when they made contact with his chest, she stroked the hard muscles.

  This was not a good idea. He’d hurt her. He had been her high school sweetheart, her first love, and he’d broken her heart. But she couldn’t break free from him and the invisible string that kept them tied emotionally.

  Even after they broke up in high school he stayed in close contact. Sometimes, very close. She’d never forget the holiday he showed up at her parents’ house while she visited from college. Forever more, those three days emblazoned in her mind. He pursued her with passion and she gave Michael her virginity, only to have him leave before she awoke without so much as a word.

  Lifting her hand from his chest, smiling, he kissed her fingertips and palm. A jolt of electricity swept through her body, the haze of shock fogging her brain. He was using some kind of magic charm on her. His tongue flitted against the inside of her wrist. A long forgotten sensation caused her knees to weaken.

  “Liar,” he growled.

  A small voice inside her head screamed, step away, get away from him! Without warning, her retreating movement halted. She backed herself up against the sofa and into a proverbial corner.

  No room to maneuver, Ruby decided to try and bluff her way out. With a defiant elevation of her chin, she hoped he would believe she wasn’t interested in his touch and stop stalking her around the room.

  It didn’t work. He tugged her against his solid chest, wrapped a hand around her nape, and stroked it. Hating herself, the rapid beat of her pulse betrayed her desire.

  “Hmmm...my favorite idea is...” His sentence trailed off as his mouth crushed down on hers. The kiss sent heat streaking through her, overwhelming in its intensity.

  She knew she should protest—needed to—couldn’t—really didn’t want to.

  This was a mistake of gigantic proportions. They were friends, not lovers.

  * * * *

  Michael heard the soft moan escape her lips. Breaking the kiss, he gazed spellbound into the emerald depths of Ruby’s eyes. They revealed passion, desire, and something else. Vulnerability.

  She made no effort to pull away. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. With his fingertips, he brushed her cheek, soft and smooth. Looking from her face to the delicate swell of her rising breasts and back, her heartbeat quickened along with his.

  “I’ll make this good sweetheart. I promise. Trust me.” He made an x on the area of his chest where his heart lay underneath. “Cross my heart.”

  Cupping her upturned face in his hands, Michael saw a flicker of trust in her eyes. Ruby licked the spot where his mouth had just been. His thumbs stroked her soft, full lips glistening sensually, waiting for more of him. He wanted to drink from them again.

  He devoured her mouth with his, plunging his tongue into her sweetness, seeking her familiar taste. As he deepened the kiss, she responded, her tongue teasing his in a slow dance.

  Skimming his rough fingertips up and down her arms, he felt the tingle and magic of her response to his touch. Forced to stand on tiptoe, Ruby draped her slender arms around his neck. He urged her body to press closer to his, gathered her tighter in his embrace. Soft where a woman should be, yet firm, her trim curves molded against him.

  Desire emanated from her in waves, flooded his nerves. Muttering something unintelligible, he cupped her bottom and lifted her into his arms. Her lean legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him tight into her cocoon.

  “Bed,” he hissed, carrying her toward her room.

  “It’s a mistake,” she said. Breathless, she nodded contradicting herself.

  His mouth experienced her lips again, tracing their curve with his tongue, invading her velvety softness.

  “It’d be a mistake if we didn’t.”

  Letting her slide down the length of him, he deposited her on her feet in front of the four poster bed, not releasing her. When he stripped her of the chambray shirt cover-up, she didn’t resist.

  “Nice shirt.” The shirt was his. It hit about mid-thigh and looked sexy-as-sin on her drop-dead beautiful body.

  As
Ruby stood before him in an ocean blue bikini, he was consumed by her. His fingers threaded through the golden silk of her hair and she gripped his shoulders tipping her head back to allow his mouth greater access.

  “That’s it. Hold on tight, because this is going to be one hell of a ride.”

  His mouth claimed hers as his palm slid down inside the tiny triangular scrap of fabric that barely covered her firm breast. When his thumb rubbed over the sensitive nipple, she whimpered. As her body arched into the rock-hard bulge in his shorts, a low growl escaped him, and the need to get her naked overtook all reason.

  His hands pressed her closer, her moans intermingled with his. Reaching behind her, he untied the strings that held the bikini top in place. The blue material fell to the floor. Newfound treasures lay bare for him to explore.

  No longer the thin, flat-chested tomboy he fell for in high school, Ruby was an alluring woman with curves. Firm, up-tilted breasts more than filled his large hands. Blowing a light breath across the tips of the raspberry colored nipples, he watched them pucker, heard her suck in a breath.

  “Michael,” she whispered, “we can’t—we shouldn’t…”

  “We can. We should,” he groaned between clenched teeth. “This is so right.” He intended to make it right.

  He wanted to savor her, to relish her with his tongue. Cupping a bared breast in his hand, he brought it up, took it into his mouth, and covered the nipple with his lips. Sucking gently, she tasted sweet like honey and caramel. He licked, bit the taut peak, he kindled the blaze of passionate heat he knew smoldered just under the surface.

  She squirmed in his arms rubbing her chest against his. He appreciated that she was ready for him—but he wasn’t. Not yet. Until she was thoroughly satiated, he was determined to deny himself. He wanted this to be memorable for her.

  “Oh, can’t forget the other one.” She breathed hard. As he applied himself to her right breast, sucking the rock hard nub with the same care and caress, she clawed at his shoulders, tried to pull at his shirt.

  “Please, Michael. Please. I...I want to touch you.”

  He released her. Taking a step back, he held his arms spread out wide at his sides. “Be my guest, undress me.”

  Nervous and unsteady, she tried to pull the shirt over his head, but it wouldn’t budge. She kept trying to tug it off until Michael gave a low chuckle.

  “You might want to try unbuttoning it first.”

  Through lowered lids, she peered up at him. His eyes glittered with humor under the blue fire of passion.

  Instead of following his directions, she decided on a different approach. Starting at the top of his collar, Ruby wrapped handfuls of material in her fists and yanked with all her strength at the cotton, watched as the buttons popped off one by one in rapid succession.

  An excited shriek of satisfaction escaped her lips. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

  Finally, gaining access to the wide expanse of his hard chest, running her palms across the mass of curly hair, she felt his heart hammering. The slightest touch of her fingers sliding over his flat nipples caused them to become tight and erect. Drawn by them, she tasted one with a dainty flutter of her tongue.

  Michael gave a deep-throated groan. His arms encircled her and he hauled her back to him. Mouths clung together hungrily, bodies pressed skin to skin. When his soft hair brushed against her breasts, rubbed the responsive nipples, she sighed in delight. Electrifying sparks traveled along her nerves.

  Dropping to his knees, she felt Michael’s fingers pull on the strings of her bikini bottoms. A quick tug on the ties and she stood before him...naked, soul bared, trembling with excitement.

  When he saw, from extremely close up, her Brazilian bikini wax, she saw his blue eyes widen with anticipation.

  “Wow! You have an exquisite little muff.”

  An unsure giggle escaped at his words. He gaped. His gaze seared Ruby from her head to the tips of her red painted toe nails. Her heart skipped a beat, then two, and soared.

  “Come here, sweetheart, and open for me. I want to go for a dive.”

  Ruby hesitated at his request, her heart raced. His hands on her hips, Michael urged her closer until she could feel his hot breath.

  “Trust me.”

  She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to. Her embarrassment slipped away as her need to be engulfed by Michael’s touch, taste, and desire took over. She spread her legs wider, opening herself to him. Lifting her right leg, he nibbled the sensitive skin on the inside of her thigh making her whimper, and then placed it over his shoulder.

  Strong hands clutched her bottom, his cheek rubbed against her lower belly, while he nipped it with playful tenderness. At the tickling sensual touch, her stomach quivered. He brushed the edges of her softness with his lips, exploring the sensitive spot between her thighs with his tongue. Stroking slowly, ardently, he stripped her breath away.

  “So sweet.”

  His tongue plunged into her, again and again. With each gentle stab he caressed her. She shook and panted. A quick blast of heat, intense and concentrated, fireworks exploded, she clutched his hair, cried out his name. Twisting, Ruby reached for more of paradise and the tiny bursts.

  “So damned sweet and hot.”

  The coolness of the bed covers pressing against her back, stole her breath. Michael stretched her out on the foot of the bed, her legs dangling over the edge. Capturing her mouth, her arms entwined around his neck, he leaned over her, not quite settling his weight on top of her.

  Wriggling, lifting her hips toward his, she indicated her desire for him to be inside her, now, without further delay.

  He broke the kiss. “I don’t think so. Not yet.”

  His devious chuckle caused a chill of anticipation to flow through her. He found her breast, teased the nipple to a peak with the tip of his tongue. She moaned and pressed him closer with her hands. Mouthing her breast, grazing the nipple with his teeth, he stole her voice away.

  “Mmmm. I’m not done yet.” He kissed his way down her rib cage. Reaching her belly button, Michael explored it with his tongue.

  Her senses on fire, desire pulsed through her blood, hot and insistent. Michael teased, explored, and enjoyed her. She didn’t think she could take any more. But his tongue continued traveling down her body, leaving a wet trail down her skin. She was astonished to realize why he placed her at the foot of the bed. His lingering caresses headed south.

  Grabbing his head with both hands to still his progress, she beseeched him. “I—can’t...no more.”

  “Oh, but you can, much more.” He moved lower, savoring her. “This is all about you.”

  He gave—of himself. Ruby didn’t remember him being so generous. Of course, she only had the one time to compare him. And that time, he took.

  He parted her. Touched her. A light sweep of his tongue, just one easy stroke, and her thighs trembled with a series of electric pulses. “Michael…”

  He intended to drive her crazy. Lightheaded, Ruby couldn’t think. All her senses centered on the remarkable feelings his tongue elicited below her waist.

  Pushing her knees apart, he suckled, then demanded. His tongue moved slowly, then faster, back and forth in delicious circles, followed by up and down strokes against the hard pebble of passion. He drove her to the edge and held her there.

  Sensations swamped her. Panting for air, Ruby clung to the covers with outstretched arms, trying to hold on, afraid if she let go she would fly apart. Her hips cupped in his large hands, Michael continued the urgent assault of his tongue.

  Like a bow strung too taut, she arched her back. When the orgasm seized her, she screamed. Not a ladylike yelp. A lurid exclamation that reached the core of her being. He sustained the luscious torture and the waves of pleasure seemed never-ending.

  Ruby thought she would splinter. Her thighs clamped shut around his head, her feet pressed against his shoulders. Explosions ripped through her mind and body. She rocketed up the bed only to have her ankle meet with resista
nce, halting her retreat.

  Like a lion ready to devour his prey, Michael prowled up the length of her body. Deep blue eyes burned with hunger and he licked his lips in anticipation.

  Her hunger for him overwhelming, she pleaded with him. “Now. Please, Michael.” She couldn’t bear waiting any longer. She had to feel him inside her, raised her hips in a blatant invitation.

  Michael took her mouth again. On his lips, she tasted him and herself. She gave a low moan at the flavors. She reached for the snap on his shorts, pulled it, and heard the rasp of the zipper as it glided down.

  Before they could go any further, Michael stilled her hands. “I think it’s time for Brother Jonathan to come out and play.”

  Her brows wrinkled in puzzlement. “Who is…”

  Before she could finish her question, Michael stood next to the bed, slipped his shorts along with his boxer briefs down, and kicked them aside.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh. Brother Jonathan,” she said in a husky voice. Her tongue trailed over her parted lips with pure satisfaction at the sight of just how excited Brother Jonathan was to be released from his constraints.

  Michael settled himself between her legs. Kissing the flat of her stomach, each taut nipple, he nuzzled her ear, and then abandoned it to possess her mouth. Aware of his hardness pressed against her opening, she lifted her knees, invited him.

  He dipped a finger inside her welcoming wetness, then a second. She moaned as he stretched her.

  “Warm and wet and ready.”

  “I want this. I want you, Ruby. I want to be inside you.” His blue eyes burned with fever, pleaded with her, as did his words.

  “Tell me you want this. Tell me you want me. It’ll kill me, but I can stop here. Please.”

  Stop? He would stop? How could he? She couldn’t. She wanted him, in her, all of him.

  “I want you. Please, pretty please, Michael, with you on top.”

  “Oh, I intend to please.”

  Propping her hips against his warm, sinewy thighs, he barely slid inside her when she rasped, “Yes, oh yes!”