Page 33 of Hastings (Brothers in Arms #15)
CHAPTER 33
H astings couldn’t believe that he had two incredible people in his arms, wanting him, wanting this . He’d told them both how terrible he could be, and yet they were still here. Stephen, my God, Stephen , in his arms. Again . What had happened between them before hadn’t been a fluke, or a spur of the moment decision made rashly on Stephen’s part and regretted later. And Mads, as much as he needed Stephen, he could tell that she needed him; needed them both. She was harder even than he was, ground down by life to be this sharp, blindingly bright treasure they held in their arms. How could she doubt that they wanted her? Why would they want anyone else when they could have her?
He pulled her closer as he ended his kiss with Stephen. Stephen’s kisses were like sugared tea, so many flavors, soothing and sweet on his tongue, making him want more. “I lied,” he whispered. “You can kiss. You can kiss like the very devil.”
Stephen’s soft laughter traveled through all three of them, and it made Maddy undulate against him. She caressed his neck as she kissed his collarbone. Then she bit it. Hastings’s cock stood to attention at the whiplash from soft and gentle to rough and back again as she licked the sting of her bite away.
“Yes, well, I’ve had two very good teachers,” Stephen told him. Stephen leaned down and breathed in the scent of Maddy’s hair. She did smell lovely. Hastings saw her reach back so she could clutch at Stephen’s hip, rubbing her bottom against Stephen’s crotch, and Stephen nipped her earlobe.
“I like this,” Hastings whispered. “Watching you two.”
“See?” Maddy purred. “Now you know how I felt.”
“Not quite, but I’m going to,” Hastings vowed. He began to untie the laces on Maddy’s dress, but Stephen stopped him.
“As much as I would like to do this right here and right now,” Stephen said, “Mrs. Tulane is down the hall. I’m very grateful it was Maddy who found us yesterday and not her. But I do think we should take this upstairs.”
“You’re right,” Hastings agreed. He took a deep breath and let it out, and then let them both go. “I’d rather do this in a bed.”
“Some of the things I’d like to do can be done on my knees,” Maddy said with a secret little smile, and Hastings started to reach for her again as she laughed. Then he saw the puzzled look on Stephen’s face.
“Oh, this is going to be fun,” Hastings told her, grabbing her and spinning her around so he was hugging her to his chest while she faced Stephen. “The things we are going to teach him.”
Maddy stifled a laugh with her hand. “Upstairs, now,” she said when she had herself under control. “I can’t wait another second.”
“Why do I feel a little threatened?” Stephen said, his smile belying his words. “Lead on,” he said, waving them toward the door.
Hastings bent over and swept Maddy off her feet with an arm under her knees. Her arms closed around his neck, and she looked delighted. He was fiercely glad. There were things he wanted to do with Stephen, but there were many things he wanted to do for Maddy.
Stephen followed them out the door and up the stairs. When they got to Stephen’s room, Stephen quietly opened the door and ushered them in, looking up and down the hallway before he stepped inside and closed it just as quietly.
“Essie?” he asked.
Maddy shook her head. “She and I had a long discussion after dinner, and she won’t be bothered by us.”
“Excellent.” Stephen sighed, smiled, and then ripped off his jacket and tossed it aside.
Hastings could tell Maddy was as obsessed with Stephen’s physique as he was. He set her feet down and patted her bottom, pushing her in Stephen’s direction. “Go play,” he told her.
She didn’t need to be told twice. She crossed over to where Stephen stood in front of the windows with their half open curtains and placed both hands on his chest. Stephen closed his eyes and put his hands over hers. “That feels lovely,” he said.
“It certainly does,” Maddy agreed. She ran her hands up and down his chest and his arms, and then circled him, caressing his back. “You’re lovely all over,” she told him. “I thought all parsons were round, somber, old men until I met you.”
“How many parsons have you known?” Stephen asked, a smile in his voice as he looked over his shoulder at her.
“Just you,” she said, running her hand across his upper back. “That’s just what I imagined, is all.”
“Well, let me get the rest of my clothes off so you can judge me properly.”
That made Maddy move quickly out of the way. “Yes, please,” she said eagerly.
Hastings pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it onto the back of a chair, then beckoned Stephen over with a curl of his fingers. “Let me help,” he said. Stephen reached out and took his hand, letting Hastings pull him closer.
“If I remember correctly, you’re quite good at helping me out of my clothes,” he said to Hastings. As Hastings started to undo the buttons on his trousers, Stephen put his hands on Hastings’s chest and caressed his muscles, ruffling his chest hair and rubbing his nipples. Hastings’s heartbeat became a little erratic and his breath stuttered. Stephen leaned down and kissed his neck and then licked along his collarbone. “Salty,” he murmured, and suddenly Hastings felt like he was all thumbs and couldn’t work a button loose.
He felt Stephen’s hands at his waistband. “Let me return the favor,” Stephen whispered against his skin as he began to unbutton Hastings’s trousers. Suddenly it was a race to the finish, and Hastings shoved Stephen’s loosened trousers down over that glorious arse. When Hastings’s trousers were open Stephen took his time working them down, his hands brushing against his arse cheeks and sliding against his hips until Hastings was mad with wanting to be touched, his cock aching with need.
Suddenly Stephen gasped and arched his back. Hastings looked over his shoulder and saw Maddy caressing his bum. “I want to bite this,” she said, pinching one muscular cheek. “I want to rub my breasts against it.”
“Let me disrobe fully,” Stephen said, sounding a little breathless. “And then you may do whatever you like. I can’t imagine there is anything I won’t enjoy.”
Maddy suddenly stepped back and she looked a little uncertain in the candlelight. “Are you sure?” she asked. “You were with Hastings earlier. And you said you didn’t enjoy it when you were with a woman before. I mean, if you prefer men, that’s all right, truly.”
Hastings paused as he was kicking off his boots, waiting to hear Stephen’s answer. Maddy had just made him realize that, with Stephen’s giving, nurturing nature, he might be doing this for them instead of for himself, no matter what he’d said earlier.
Stephen looked between the two of them. “For God’s sake,” he said impatience in his voice. “I’ve already told you I want this. How many times must I say it? Should I beg?” He got down on his knees and crawled awkwardly to Maddy. His trousers were tucked up under that amazing arse. When he reached her, he slid his hands under her dress and Maddy sucked in a harsh breath as she grabbed his shoulders tightly. “Please, please, please,” Stephen whispered. “Have me, Maddy.” He glanced over his shoulder with a teasing look. “Hastings, won’t you please take me, too?” His teasing erased Hastings’s doubts and stoked his desire.
Stephen turned and buried his face in Maddy’s skirts, right at her cunt, and he rubbed his face there. “Parson, you are very naughty,” Maddy said, her laugh breathless. “And I will absolutely do that.” She dropped to her knees and kissed him, her hands going to the plump cheeks she’d admired earlier and squeezing. Stephen wrapped her tightly in his arms and all teasing was gone from their kiss.
Hastings kicked his boots off and pulled off the rest of his clothes. Watching Stephen and Maddy kiss was strange to him. It was exciting, and even though he wasn’t over there with them, he felt a part of their embrace. He’d never felt that before when he watched people fuck. Oh, he’d seen it as a child, when he lived in tight quarters and there was no privacy to be found, and as an agent when he was spying on people. None of that had excited him. But these two kissing had the same effect on him as if they held his cock in their mouths.
When he was naked, he walked over to them and stood just to the side, so close his erection was nearly touching their faces. They ended their kiss, and both were breathing heavily. Almost as one they turned to look at his cock, and both of their faces showed eager welcome.
“Show him what you can do on your knees,” Hastings told Maddy.