Faithful in Pleasure (9 page)

“So Melda isn’t unique and beautiful?” she asked with a teasing laugh.

“Everything about you is. I’m not sure how we got so lucky, but I’m very grateful.”

“That’s sweet, Darius.”

“You amaze me,” he whispered against her hair. “Such strength disguised by blinding beauty.”

She laughed and pushed him away. “I’ve cried many times, wondering what was wrong with me, and why no one wanted me.”

“They were fools not to see what a gift you were. Besides strength lies in how we rise after the fall, and believe me, everyone falls at some point.”

She opened her mouth to brush his comment off but didn’t. “Thank you,” she said instead. “Regardless, I wouldn’t change anything since I ended up growing up with Skye and Deja. They’re my best friends as well as my sisters.”

“I bet you three were always getting into mischief.”

“We might have a time or two. Mostly, we ran around with the boys next door, getting them into mischief.”

“Boys next door, huh?”

She shook her head and laughed. “The McBride’s lived next door to Mrs. Potts. They had three sons, Rance, Adam, and Noah. Rance was sixteen when I moved there. Adam was eleven and Noah was eight. I think all three of us girls had a crush on Rance, but he never acted like he knew. Skye used to moon after him, writing his name over and over in a notebook with hearts around it. Which only makes their relationship now all the more funny.”

“Why’s that?”

“Skye mooned over Rance until she turned sixteen and caught him necking with a girl when he was home from college. Now he’s the one who comes home and looks her up, and she’s the one who pretends he doesn’t have a thing for her.” She sobered up, remembering what Skye has shared on girls’ night. “He should be home again soon.”

“What happened?” It amazed her how Darius just seemed to pick up on what she wasn’t saying.

“He’s an agent with the FBI. I guess he was shot recently and is planning to come home while he heals.”

“I hope he’s okay,” Darius said with sincerity. “What about his brothers?”

“They’re still around. Adam’s a teacher. He married a girl we graduated with, and they have a little girl. Noah’s in medical school but comes home to visit when he gets a chance. What about you? Any family?”

“Both my parents are still alive and well. They both taught school. My mom still does, third grade. She says it’s her duty to make sure at least the kids in her class still learn how to write in cursive, so they can sign their names. My dad’s a principal now, high school.”

“Any siblings?” They were walking again, his warm fingers interlocked with hers. She was so comfortable and at ease with him.

“One brother, Daniel. He’s younger and still in college studying computers. The kid’s a whiz with them.”

“What about you? What do you like to do when you’re not a soldier?”

Darius smiled. “Write mostly. Read. I love poetry and as you’ve seen, I write a bit now and then myself. I like to work with my hands. Cruz, Houston, and I have talked about opening a business together. We’d like to buy property in need of a little TLC, fix it up, and either sell it or rent it out.”

“That’s right up my alley,” Melda said enthusiastically. “I wrote you that I work for a property manager overseeing the places he owns. I work with the people and businesses housed on his property, collecting rent and working with them on any upkeep or repairs required. I even inspect new places that come up for sale. I love it.”

“I know. You spoke of it often in your letters.”

They stopped at the swings, and he held one for her to take a seat before gently pushing her while they continued talking.

“How long are you really planning to stay?” She couldn’t hold the question back. It had been eating at her since they’d all been together yesterday. She was falling, hard and fast for her three Marines, and it scared her.

“That depends on you,” he answered.

“Why? I assumed you’d only have a few weeks before you had to head back.”

“We’re not going back. Not permanently, at least. We’ve spent enough time in the desert. It’s time to come home now.”

“Then how does it depend on me?”

He caught the swing and smiled, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear that had worked loose of her braid. “Because we want you,” he whispered. “We planned nothing past coming here and finding you.” He kissed her softly on the lips then let her swing back away from him.

“What are you looking for?”

“Me personally? Forever. I’m not big on games. I’m upfront, honest, faithful. And I want the same in return. I want you. The chance to get to know you on a deeper level, a chance to see if I can make you fall in love with the man I am. Houston and Cruz feel the same way.”

“Am I supposed to pick one of you?” She just couldn’t wrap her mind around being able to keep all three of them. How could she be that lucky?

“We’re sharing you now. Did you not enjoy last night?”

“You know I did.”

“Then what has to change?”

“What about jealousy? Comments made from other people when we go out?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I don’t know. I’m sure there will be moments when jealousy rears its ugly head, but I don’t see it lasting. Houston, Cruz, and I know what we want, and I don’t see us doing anything to screw it up. So mostly, it’s all in your hands. As for other people, who cares really. The only people with a say in this are the four of us. No one else matters.”

“You’d stay here? With me?”

“This is as good a place as any to start a new life.”

“What about your families?”

“I can only speak for myself here, Melda, but I’ve been away from them before. I love them, and I’ll always go home to visit. But I’m a man, and I need to build something for myself with a woman I love and friends I can trust.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t, until you do know.”

He pushed her in silence for a bit as she digested all he’d just shared with her. She wanted to call Deja again and talk some more about what the dynamics were like living with three men, having three men as your lovers at the same time on a more permanent basis. So many questions tumbled through her head that only her sister could really answer for her.

“I’m glad you guys shared my letters.”

“Me, too,” he murmured, squeezing her hand gently.

“I’m even happier you came to see me.”

“We couldn’t have stayed away.”

“I’m enjoying getting to know you guys and learning which letters each of you wrote.”

“We did have the advantage over you there,” he admitted with a chuckle.

“How did you decide who answered which letter?”

“Same way we decided who got the first date with you. We rolled for it and left it to the luck of the dice.”

She couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I guess that’s one way.”

“Houston won the first letter. Cruz got second, and I had a bad roll that day.”

“Houston had the bad roll this time?”

“Actually, no. He won again, but he let Cruz and I go first. Said he wanted the last date. I think he might have something big planned.”

Melda felt a shiver go through her, making her nipples harden and sending a surge of need straight to her cunt. What did Houston have planned that made him want to be last? Darius caught her on the backswing and held her tight against his chest. She could feel the heat of him, the raw masculinity of his muscular flesh.

His breath caressed her ear. “I’m ready to head back whenever you are.”

The words sent another shiver through her. She couldn’t wait to see what they had planned for today. Especially now that she had an idea of the agreement they had with each other.

No one would be able to speak or touch her, unless Darius gave permission. At least until he came. So what would her big warrior indulge in today? What fantasy did he plan to fulfill with her? And how would he share her with Houston and Cruz?

Chapter Six

“You remember the rules as soon as we step in the door?” Darius asked, and Melda nodded. She was anxious to begin.

Darius used his key to unlock the door and pushed it open for her. As soon as she crossed the threshold, he stopped her with a hand on her wrist. She stood silently while he shut and locked the door behind them, then stepped in front of her. She remained quiet as he just looked at her.

“Take the jacket off.”

She slid it easily off her shoulders and handed it to him to hang on the pegs just inside the door on the wall. He turned back to her, and she felt his gaze like a physical touch. He lifted his hands and trailed his fingers over her shoulders, down over her breasts and aching nipples, until he hit the hem of her shirt. He easily tugged it up and over her head. When she would have dropped her hands back down, he pressed them against the door.

“Keep them there.”

He toyed with her nipples, tugging and teasing them before dropping his head to her chest and using his mouth to suck through the lace of her bra. She moaned, arching her breasts out toward him, craving more of his touch.

“You are so beautiful, Melda,” he groaned. His eyes lifted and met hers. “You dazzle my senses every time I look at you. But it’s not just your blonde curls and big green eyes, not just your perfect curves that would bring any man to his knees in worship.” His hand slid to her left breast and cuddled it, his thumb rubbing over the upper curve. “It’s what’s in here, hidden from those who don’t search and find it. It’s the woman you are. Strong, faithful, and true. Resilient, compassionate, and giving. You’re the whole package a man searches for but rarely finds.”

“I’m not,” she whispered, unable to hold her feelings in. “Trust me, very few people have ever found me worthy of keeping around, much less seeing all the things you just said.”

“Then shame on them. They lost out on the greatest treasure out there. You.”

“Darius.”

“Shhh,” he crooned. “Just relax and let us show you what we see every time we look at you. Let us show you, you have more than just your sisters to count on now. We’re not planning to go anywhere, Melda. Not unless you force us away.”

Melda caught her breath as he slid to his knees and reached out to undo the snap and zipper on her leather pants. He pushed the fabric wide and placed a kiss on the naked flesh of her stomach revealed in the gap. His tongue traced the edge of her lace panties and dipped under briefly to tease her.

He leaned back and lifted her foot to rest on his hard thigh, taking his time removing her boot and sock before doing the same with her other foot. His fingers traced the arch of her foot, rubbing and caressing, making her moan with pleasure.

“You have such dainty feet,” he murmured, lifting one up higher, making her bend her knee to ease the movement. His head tilted down, and he flicked his tongue over her big toe. “I love your feet, especially the dark red polish.” His tongue slid over her again. His eyes met hers just before he leaned just a bit closer and sucked her into his mouth.

A zing of pleasure shot straight to her pussy and had her juices spilling. Holy, shit! She’d never had anyone suck her toe, had never once thought it would be sexual. Before this moment, she would have shaken her head and said the thought of anyone sucking her toes was a total turn off. But Darius had her blood humming as he worked his magic on her. Both his thumbs were pressing into her arches, rubbing as he continued to suck at her. She felt each tug of his mouth as if he were sucking on her pussy, on her clit, on her nipples.

Her hands were still lifted over her head. Her eyes were closed and her head was thrown back against the door while little sounds of pleasure escaped. And he was doing nothing more than sucking her toes.

“Darius,” she moaned his name, a plea for more.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered as he slipped his mouth off her and lowered her foot to the floor.

Reaching up, he tugged the leather slowly down her legs, taking her panties with them until both were around her ankles. He lifted each foot free of the material, rising back on his knees to cup his hands around her hips and pull her toward him. His lips pressed along her hip, across her stomach, and over her other hip. He nuzzled into the crease of her hip joint and then kissed over the curls atop her sex, flicking his tongue down to tease at her clit where it rose from between her pussy lips.

“Darius!” His name was a cry of pleasure this time, yet still a plea for more, so much more.

His chuckle washed over her. “You want this pretty little pussy eaten?” He crooned the question.

“Yes!”

“You’re going to get your wish. Again and again and again.” He leaned in and nuzzled until his lips brushed her clit. He kissed her softly there, sliding his tongue out and twirling it softly around the swollen bud. “But not just yet,” he whispered as he pulled away.

She groaned in frustration and tried to follow his retreating mouth with her hips, but his hands prevented her as he stood once more.

“Let’s take this off, too.” He reached behind her and unfastened her bra. He reached up and gripped her hands where they still rested above her head. She expected him to tug them down so he could remove the bra, but he didn’t. Instead he lowered his head and used his mouth to work the cups up and over her breasts until each nipple was revealed.

“I swear your nipples are the sweetest berries I’ve ever tasted.” He groaned as he took one in his mouth and sucked greedily at it. He used his teeth, tongue, and lips then released it to move over to her other one. Back and forth he went, sucking and nipping both until they were red and swollen from him. Her pussy was dripping with need.

“Darius!” She did her best to throttle the scream of his name. She wanted. She needed.

He pulled her hands down and made quick work of removing the bra and tossing it over to join the rest of the pile of her clothes. He urged her forward just enough so he could reach something lying on the table.

“Close your eyes,” he ordered.

She blinked at him, taking in the heat of his gaze before dropping her eyelids again. She felt the brush of material across her face as he placed something over her eyes and turned her to tie it in place behind her head.