Page 79 of A Gentleman's Wager

Lucerne held out his hand to her.

Beckoned.

With eyes wide and bright, she stared at his outstretched palm, uncertain whether she was more frightened of accepting it, or of missing out.

“Bella.”

She wasn’t sure what held her in place, not any sense of morality or wrongdoing, although there was certainly something dark and forbidden about watching them kiss. Perhaps she was merely anchored by her own excitement. If this were a spell, then surely sudden movement would break it? She had no desire to wake from this dream to find herself alone, the hearth fire burned to ashes and only a pervading sense of loss to take to bed with her.

“Please,” Lucerne begged.

Cautiously, she crossed the short distance between them. Once she was close enough, Lucerne grasped hold of her tightly, and pulled her between them. They surrounded her in a crushing embrace. The soft cotton of Vaughan’s shirt pressed against her cheek. Lucerne’s form moulded to her back.

“My brave, beautiful, Bella,” he murmured as his kisses plucked at the back of her neck.

Excitement warred with her sense of vulnerability. Whore, Vaughan had branded her more than once. She risked a quick glance at his face, sure he was thinking such thoughts again now. His expression was sybaritic and without obvious malice. Though how long that would last was yet to be determined.

“Now here is a quandary for you. Should I tell you what Lucerne desires?” he said.

It seemed plain enough from the way their hands roved her body. Vaughan nudged against her playfully. He was fully aroused, his cock jabbing her in the pelvis, while Lucerne’s nudged against her bottom.

“Allow me to explain myself. What say you, Bella? Will you let us love you together?

Two sets of eyes regarded her wolfishly. Play along or go to bed alone?

“How exactly would that—”

Lucerne ran his hands up her taut body and found her nipples. They leapt to attention under his expert touch. Soon her breasts felt heavy, and she longed for the sensation of his mouth upon them. Instead, he began unfastening her dress. Lucerne’s breath tickled against her exposed skin as the shed garment fell to the floor leaving her between them in chemise and stays.

“I never said yes,” she reminded them.

Vaughan arched one brow. “You never said no either.” His lips grazed her throat, then trailed downwards, while his hands cupped her breasts into an abundance which he buried his face in.

“What is it to be, yes or no?” Lucerne enquired. He rocked against her and the melt between her thighs grew thicker.

“Yes, of course,” Vaughan mouthed. “How could she possibly resist?”

How indeed? Such a possibility as this was unlikely to present itself again. “Yes,” she agreed.

“You won’t regret it.” Lucerne moved in to kiss her, but she turned her head offering him her neck instead. Her rival had sunk to his knees, and she was fascinated by the precision with which he was pulling the cord from her stays.

When he reached the last hole, he pressed a kiss to her stomach that made her tingle inside. Even through her chemise, there was no mistaking the heat of his touch. He lifted her hem and passed the bunched fabric to Lucerne, who relieved her of the garment. Being naked between them seemed to magnify every sensation, the whisper of the air around them, Vaughan’s slow deep inhalations to the fore—as if he were deliberately tempering his ardour—and Lucerne’s sharper ones to her rear.

Vaughan nuzzled against her inner thigh. He scented her as if he were about to taste an expensive wine, then extended his tongue. At the contact, her heart hammered. His touch remained whisper light, a tease that only hinted at future delivery. Meanwhile, Lucerne’s clothing brushed her skin, sending shivers across it.

“Don’t you both need to be naked too?” She would be more comfortable if she wasn’t the only one of them so exposed.

“Tis by no means essential, but it if pleases.” Vaughan stepped back and removed his robe. He allowed her to pull his shirt from his pantaloons and over his head. Infused with sudden confidence, Bella also unbuttoned him. His erection reared at once, jutting towards her accusingly. She circled his navel, resisting the urge to go down on him, and then traced the scar she found across his ribs in fascination. Who had given him the silvery gift, and why?

While Vaughan stepped out of his remaining clothes, Lucerne turned her to face him. He sought her gaze, uncertainty dancing in his eyes. Bella plucked at his clothing. “So very many fastenings.”

“The price of being in vogue.”

Vaughan seized her from behind, again demanding her attention and winning it. Bella could only watch as Lucerne undressed, frustrated by his nearness and the gulf between them, while Vaughan directly roused her senses. She wanted to rake her nails across Lucerne’s pale skin, but Vaughan held onto her hips, and drove his cock against her. It slipped, thick and hard into the channel between her cheeks.

“Had a change of heart about a certain point of entry, have you?”

“Definitely not.”