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ChapterNineteen

“D o you...” Lucy’s voice came out as a high-pitched squeak. She cleared her throat. “Do you two have to work tonight?”

“Not tonight. We always stay on theme nights, but the rest of the time the staff knows what to do. They’ll always ring if there’s a problem. We’ve both learned they work best when we don’t hover over them. Anyway, I’m there each weekday so if some problems come up, I can deal with it then.”

Curious, Lucy asked Sebastian, “Why on theme nights?”

“We have this thing. Every patron who wants writes out a suggestion for a theme and puts it in a box. On theme nights at eleven, we pull one suggestion out and that becomes the next theme night. The person whose suggestion it was wins dinner for four at the restaurant. It’s become a tradition that one of us pulls out the winning entry. ”

“So if I had come on another Saturday night it’s possible you two wouldn’t have been there.”

“Highly probable that we wouldn’t have been.”

Jack gave her hand a squeeze as he said, “So you see it was fate all along.”

They reached the car and Lucy was on tenterhooks all the way back to her house. They pulled up and Jack helped her out of the car, both walking her to the front door. She was confused.

Were they coming inside?

Were they just going to drive away?

What was happening?

She had to admit to herself she’d be very disappointed if they just drove away. There’d been so many hints of what was to come that she hovered on the edge of a knife.

“Key.”

She rummaged in her bag and handed her keys to Sebastian, pointing out which opened the front door. He unlocked it and pushed it open, stepping aside for her to enter.

When she entered, she turned and looked at the both of them standing in the doorway.

“This is where you dictate things, Lucy. It’s all up to you. We can come inside, sit, and relax. Learn more about each other. We can leave now, make arrangements to see you another day. This is whatever you want.”

“Me?” she squeaked. “Um ... come in.”

Lucy stood aside so they could pass.

Both men gave her a little peck on the cheek as they entered. She closed the door behind them, put her back against it, and took a huge breath. She then placed her bag on the hall table. Sliding her shoes off, she turned to them.

“Don’t look so worried, Lucy, nothing will happen that you don’t want.” Sebastian was almost laughing at her as he held out his hand. “Come on, come and sit down somewhere. Lead the way.”

Lucy took his hand and led them back into the parlor. She always felt relaxed in there with the two huge over-stuffed sofas and the fireplace. It looked welcoming and friendly.

Jack sat on one and Sebastian settled alongside him, pulling Lucy down onto his knee. Once again Jack picked up her legs and put them across his knee.

Her senses heightened—the touch of Jack’s hands on her legs, Sebastian’s arm around her, and the heady, musky aroma of male arousal, mixed with their aftershave, floating in the air. She could hear them breathing, hear her own heartbeat and knew it was back to beating faster than usual.

Sebastian’s thumb made tiny circles on the top of her arm, while Jack’s hands were going down to her toes then running up her leg to her mid-thigh.

Lucy wanted them both to stop. She wanted them both to do more.

Damn, I have no idea what I want!

“Relax, Lucy,” Sebastian whispered in her ear. His breath on her neck made the hairs stand up. Unconsciously, she arched her neck, and he kissed it. A line of goose bumps marched their way down to her wrist.

“Oh.” She stuttered and to her own ears her voice sounded so soft and tiny.

She wanted time to slow down, to speed up.

The touches from each man were like fire, her skin over-sensitive.

Biting her bottom lip, she understood she needed to learn how to relax around these two.

I need a diversion. Maybe a drink would help. “Um ... would you like a coffee?”

“Yeah, that would be nice, thanks.”

Lucy managed to get off Sebastian’s knee and get into the kitchen without falling over.

Standing still for a minute, eyes closed, she fanned her face with her hand, blowing air out hard.

If just the simple touches these men were giving her was enough to get her this aroused, she wondered how on earth she’d feel when they were intent on making love to her.

She stirred and switched on the kettle, then grabbed some mugs and put grounds into the large coffee plunger.

Jack wandered in. “Let me help, Lucy.”

“Oh. Er ... I’m making coffee.” What a fool! She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Jack just laughed. He touched her hand. “Take it easy, beautiful. Just let things go wherever they may. I know this is rather overwhelming. Seb is ... well, he is so sensual he turns me on all the time.”

Lucy understood at that moment Jack knew exactly how she felt, and she was grateful. Although, to her, he was just as sensual. Both turned her on.

Jack helped Lucy make the coffee.

Thank goodness. I’d probably serve them water and sugar and nothing else. Jack kindly carried in his and Sebastian’s mugs, leaving Lucy to manage her own, which she miraculously did without spilling any.

Sebastian patted the lounge alongside him. “So tell us, apart from reading, what do you like to do?”

Jack sat on the floor, his head leaning against the seat. Lucy sat and took a tentative sip from her mug. Sebastian somehow managed to get even closer to her while Jack had his head between her leg and Sebastian’s.

Lucy found it difficult to concentrate with Sebastian’s voice so close to her ear as well as feeling, and seeing, Jack’s head.

She very carefully resisted the temptation to run her fingers through his hair.

Trying to ignore all these new but very exciting sensations, Lucy gave her head a tiny shake and cleared her throat.

“Um... I used to enjoy bush-walking but haven’t done any for years. I’m afraid I’m out of condition.”

Jack looked up at her. “We like that too! That’s the great thing about living here. There’s so many tracks and trails.”

Lucy nodded in agreement as Sebastian spoke again. “Jack and I try to spend at least half a day walking once a month. I love it.”

Jack tapped her knee. “You’ll have to join us. Seb loves taking photos when we go, too.”

“Photos? Do you enjoy photography, Sebastian?”

“I do. It’s my one addiction.”

“My grandfather loved it, too. He was a real buff. I had to throw out a couple of cameras that had rusted, but there are still two Rolleiflex cameras. There is a Leica as well that was his favorite, and it’s still in perfect condition.”

Jack started laughing.

Sebastian just looked at him, puzzled.

“You think I’m bad with books, Seb. You’re worse with cameras.”

“I’ll have to show you my grandfather’s cameras. Sebastian, I’m sure you’ll appreciate them.”

“I most certainly will!”

“You can tell me if the two Rolleiflex are still in working order or not.”

“I’d like that,” he replied simply.

Jack looked up again at Lucy. “Have you always lived here, in the mountains?”

“Yes. Like I said, my family have lived here for generations. When I married, we lived in Blaxland and then when we divorced, I had this tiny two-bedroom flat in Katoomba.”

“You’ve never thought about moving?”

“No. I love it here. I love the summers because it doesn’t get too hot, although the bush fires scare me. Then in winter it’s kind of snuggly weather.”

“Nah, yeah, the fires are terrible. Looks like this place is pretty safe, though.”

“Yes, there’s never been a fire too close to this house. It isn’t as densely forested as some of the other areas, and sometimes in winter we even get a light dusting of snow.” She looked at Jack. “Sorry, Jack, it isn’t enough to ski, but you can have a great snowball fight.”

“I’ll remember that.”

They talked idly for another hour or so, then Sebastian spoke. “I think we should leave this lovely lady to think about things.” He looked at Lucy and took her hand. “It’s been a big day. We’ll give you a chance to decide about everything and how you feel without our distracting you.”

Lucy understood he knew the two of them were making her think of sex more than think about the relationship they were offering, and she was grateful. They all stood.

“If we may, could we see you again soon?”

“Please yes, I’d like to.”

“That’s great! Unfortunately, it won’t be tomorrow. We’ve got a new staff member coming. I’ve got to interview him, discuss his duties, then see how he works out. Jack, what time did Brad say that new waiter was coming in?”

“Twelve-thirty.”

Sebastian looked back at Lucy. “Okay. Normally, it would have been done through the week, but of course we weren’t here. Anyway, if it’s okay with you, can we see you for a meal on Wednesday evening?”

She nodded.

Sebastian still had hold of her hand. He gave it a little squeeze. “Should give you a good chance to think about things clearly without any, er ... distractions.”

Jack leant over to kiss her. “See you then on Wednesday, about six-thirty.”

Both men took a hand and they walked to the front door.

Lucy was a little disappointed they were leaving, but she was also rather grateful.

She felt they weren’t pressuring her. Instead, they were giving her a chance to assimilate everything she’d heard.

She could think through things over the next few days without the unsettling influence of having the two of them so close.

When they reached the front door, Jack opened it.

Sebastian wrapped his long arms around Lucy and held her tight.

She drank in his heady, woodsy aroma as he lowered his face and brushed her lips with his.

Of their own accord, her hands wrapped around him—one around his neck and the other curled against his chest. I can get quite addicted to his kisses .

Her excitement spiraled upward again as his mouth teased and tempted hers.

He kissed one side of her lips then the other. His mouth touched the center of hers lightly before finally pressing hard against them.

When they broke apart, he looked down into her flushed face, his gaze never leaving hers, and gave her a squeeze before moving aside.

Jack took his place. She noticed his smell was slightly different, maybe muskier, and somehow reminding her of something salty like the sea.

His lips were on hers, demanding to let his tongue enter her mouth. She opened her lips slightly, and he almost pounced in her mouth with his tongue. They did some sort of wrestle until they, too, broke apart.

Lucy wasn’t at all surprised to find her excitement level now off the charts as her pulse raced furiously. Slightly breathless, she inhaled deeply through her nose.

Two delicious looking men who both wanted her. She’d have to be dead from the neck down not to feel excited.

“Goodnight, Lucy. See you around five on Wednesday.”

Sebastian walked through the door then brushed a hand down her arm. Jack let his hand trail down her arm too, squeezed her fingers, then joined his partner. Sebastian threw an arm across Jack’s shoulders and together they walked to the car.

Lucy watched as they headed off down the cobbled driveway before she closed the door and climbed the stairs thoughtfully.

Washing her face then cleaning her teeth, Lucy changed into her nightie and climbed into bed.

With her hands behind her head, Lucy thought of all that had transpired.

Sebastian had been right—there was so much to take in, not least of all was the whole Dom thing.

If she understood Sebastian correctly, then he didn’t really consider himself a proper Dom.

It was more that he needed to be in control and direct things.

That she could readily accept. Heaven knew she desperately wanted someone to take charge of her in the bedroom. To decide what pleasure to give her and take care of her. The thought of a ménage didn’t scare her. In fact, it seemed perfectly natural to her.

Drowsily, she lay recalling what it felt like to have two men kiss and hold her, how exciting it had been to have Jack running his hand up and down her leg while Sebastian blew against her ear. She fell asleep with a smile on her face, remembering.