Four of Hearts (20 page)

* * * * *

Ryan let Candace slip from his grasp, and into Richard’s arms. His hand lingered on hers, until she raised it to his lips and placed a soft kiss on his knuckles. He wondered if he could ever get used to this, to handing his wife over to Richard. The feel of Fallon in his arms brought another tide of emotions, one he’d never thought possible. He loved Fallon as much as he loved Candace, and in the same way. He loved everything about her, her quick mind, her drive and ambition, her love for Candace and Richard, and he wanted her. He wanted to make love to her as desperately as he wanted to make love to Candace.

Fallon wiggled into his arms and straddled him. His cock surged between them, but he held back. As desperate as he was to have her, he had to know she wanted him. Her hands rested on his shoulders, his on her hips. She dipped her head and touched her lips to his. He returned the kiss, slanting his mouth over hers. She opened for his questing tongue, sparing with him like the equal partner she was when they were together.

With one hand, he cupped the back of her head, while the other explored her body at will. He traced the indentation where the swell of her hips gave way to her slim waist, and from there he explored her ribcage. His thumb lifted her breast and when she groaned against his lips, he covered her breast with the palm of his hand. Her nipple was a soft peak in his palm. He teased it with his thumb until it became rock hard before he tore his lips from hers and lifted her breast to this mouth. She arched her back, offering him more. Her hands wrapped around his head and held him to her. He moved to the other breast, taking all she offered, giving all he had. Fallon writhed against him and he lifted her, allowing her to sink down onto his cock until they were joined completely.

A groan welled up and threatened to escape as she took him into her sheath. She wiggled against him, seeking her comfort spot, and he closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the edge of the pool. God, she felt good. When he opened his eyes, Fallon leaned over him, smiling. His heart tripped. Warmth spread from the region of his heart to encompass his whole body. It was a feeling he was well acquainted with. He felt it every time he made love to Candace. It was that special awareness that came from being one with your soul mate. Could it be possible to have two soul mates?

Fallon leaned back. Ryan supported her as she laid back, her arms spread to stabilize her. Water lapped over her stomach and chest. Her nipples broke the surface, and then disappeared again, only to bob to the surface a moment later. He flexed his hips and drove his cock deeper. Beside him, Richard made a sound. Ryan glanced at Candace who now sat impaled by Richard, her back to his chest. Richard’s hands worked Candace’s nipples to hard peaks.

Ryan watched, fascinated as Candace accepted Richard’s touch, covering his hands with her own. He loved that about her, how she wanted to be a part of everything they did together. Fallon clenched her inner muscles around his cock and he focused on her again. She grasped his forearms and pulled herself upright, and as she did so, Candace reached out and cupped Fallon’s breast. Fallon froze where she was, suspended above the water, holding onto Ryan’s arms for support. Ryan shifted his hands on her back, and brought her closer.

Supported fully by Ryan, Fallon slipped a hand around Candace’s nape and pulled her closer. When their lips met, Ryan fought to control his reaction. He flexed his hips, and Fallon groaned at the deeper penetration, but her lips remained on Candace’s. Richard reached for Fallon’s hand and placed it over Candace’s breast. Ryan couldn’t take his eyes off the two women. Their lips and tongues dueled. Their hands pleasured. And all the while, they rode the two men who loved them.

Ryan couldn’t stand it another minute. His hips moved of their own accord, driving into Fallon with slow, deep thrusts. As much as he wanted to come, he wanted to bring her pleasure too. One hand slipped between them and found her swollen clit. He circled it, applying pressure, then backing off until she met him thrust for thrust. Soon, she tightened around him, and she broke the kiss with Candace, but dropped her head to Candace’s shoulder as the waves of her release took over. Ryan clenched his teeth, wanting to feel every contraction before he gave in to his own need. When, at last, he spilled himself inside her, he was grateful for the wall at his back because his muscles refused to hold him upright.

Beside him, he recognized the distinctive gasping moan Candace made when she came. Shortly after, Richard grunted, followed by a long sigh. He knew the whole thing should feel sordid and wrong, that he should be jealous, furious even that his wife was with another man, but all he felt was contentment. Candace loved and found pleasure in Richard and Fallon’s arms, and he too loved and found pleasure with Fallon. And, if this encounter was any indication of their feelings, Richard and Fallon felt the same way.

He prayed they did. Otherwise, they were all fucked.

* * * * *

Candace pushed open the door to her and Ryan’s suite. Her latest encounter with Drew and Bree left her exhausted and more than a little frustrated. The pair had returned to the ship a week after the rescue, and by all accounts, picked up right where they’d left off arguing. Richard made it clear he was through refereeing their fights, and that’s where Candace came in. After witnessing one tiff that reminded her of two hormone crazed junior high kids, she’d stepped in and defused the situation. Since then, she’d been the go-to person when they erupted into a shouting match.

Fallon greeted her from the small kitchen. “How did it go?”

“They’re both alive, but I swear, if I have to break them up one more time, I’m going to lock them in the holding cell together until they kill each other, or do something else to diffuse the sexual tension between them. This is getting old.”

“Tell me about it. Richard’s been dealing with them for over a year.”

“I don’t know why they’re fighting it. This has gone on so long, I’m afraid when they finally do get together it might cause a nuclear meltdown.”

“Who knows why some people deny themselves what they want. Maybe they have good reasons.”

Candace accepted the tall glass of fruit juice Fallon passed over the counter to her. “The desire between those two is like a downed power line. You can practically see the electricity in the air.”

Fallon shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll work it out.”

In the three weeks since the rescue, the four of them had lived more or less together. Candace no longer felt any embarrassment at being with any of the three people she shared her life with. Ryan loved her, and she loved him, but their love had expanded to include Fallon and Richard. Now they moved between each other’s living quarters as if they belonged there, and Candace had to admit it felt right.

“I sure hope so,” Candace said. She turned to the living area littered with interior design boards. “Did you get a chance to look at any of these?”

“No.” Fallon joined Candace on the other side of the raised bar that separated the kitchen area from the living area. “You know, the only good thing I could see about being kidnapped was I thought it would get me out of this job.” She strolled around the room looking at the various design boards propped on every piece of furniture. “Honestly? They all look fine to me. Can’t we just do eeny-meeny-miney-mo?”

Candace laughed. “I wish, but we have to choose.” Fallon made a face and Candace had to ask, “If you didn’t want to help me decide, why did you agree to spend a week on the island doing just that? I could have done it without you. I still can.”

“Truth?” Fallon asked.

“Truth.”

“I wanted to spend the week with you, getting to know you better. I think you know how much I care for you, I always have. You’re more than a friend. You’re more like a sister, but. . . not. I can’t explain it, but I feel it in here.” She fisted her hand over her heart.

Candace mirrored Fallon’s hand over her own heart. “I feel the same way about you. I like being around you. I like touching you, and I like it when you touch me.”

Fallon took the few steps to close the distance between them. When she stood in front of Candace, Fallon cradled Candace’s cheek in her hand. “It’s the same for me. I know I should be jealous, but I like to watch you with Richard. I love him so much, and you bring him pleasure, and I think he pleases you, too.”

Candace saw the sincerity in Fallon’s eyes, felt it in her feather light touch. “Thank you. I think you know how much Richard means to me. I love being with him, and I think he likes being with me.” Fallon smiled, and her thumb stroked along Candace’s cheek. “But I love Ryan. More than anything. I like seeing him with you. I know he wouldn’t make love to you if he didn’t care for you.”

“You aren’t jealous when I’m with him?”

“No. Should I be?”

“No. I’d never come between you and Ryan. I love Richard, and he’ll always come first, but I love you and Ryan too.” Fallon leaned in and brushed her lips over Candace’s, then straightened and turned back to the room full of design boards. “So, let’s make some decisions here. The sooner we do, the sooner we can move on.”

Candace put her fingers to her lips, dazed by Fallon’s easy acceptance of their new relationship. It was so far from the norm, that Candace had a hard time wrapping her head around it, but she wasn’t going to let that get in the way of her or Ryan’s happiness. She turned her attention to the boards. “I’m leaning toward the richer colors.” She pointed to one in particular she liked. “I think the dark reds, black and gold give the impression of opulence. The reds will pop during the day, but at night, with the right lighting, the gold tones will prevail. Who wouldn’t want to be naked in a place that bathes them in golden light?”

Fallon studied the board Candace indicated. “I think you’re right. I vote for that one.”

“You’re just agreeing with me to get this over with, aren’t you?”

“Damned straight,” Fallon said. “Now all we have to do is decide which of those fabrics we use.” She pointed to the stack of fabric samples taking up one of the chairs. “Right?”

“That’s the way it works, sort of. Now that we have the basic color scheme, we have to pick fabrics for all the different areas of the resort. We can’t use the same thing in every area, it makes it too hard to tell one area from another.”

“Just shoot me now,” Fallon said.

* * * * *

Ryan heard their laughter even before he entered the suite. Candace’s soft, musical laugh mingled with Fallon’s deeper, more robust one. He’d never heard anything more beautiful in his life. They were safe and they were happy. With a smile on his face, he opened the door and stepped into the suite.

“Bang, bang,” Candace said, her arm extended, her finger pointed at Fallon like a mock gun. Fallon dissolved into a fit of laughter and fell backward onto the sofa. They both jumped when he came into their line of sight, and once they saw it was him, they burst out laughing again. It was infectious and Ryan joined them, though he had no idea what was so funny.

He pulled Candace into his arms. He’d never get tired of feeling her body molded to his. Her smile lit up her entire face, and her eyes sparkled with merriment. For a few seconds he drank in the sight, and it warmed his soul. Her laughter lifted his heart, and he couldn’t resist a moment longer. He framed her face in his hands and lowered his lips to hers. Laughter gave way to a deeper need. Candace rose to her tiptoes and slipped her arms around his neck, bringing her body closer to his.

This is what he craved, this instant connection with Candace. Every time they came together, it was as if they became one person, or more accurately, he became a whole person. He let his hands slip to her waist and tightened his hold on her. A shiver ran through him as he remembered how close he’d come to losing her. He took the kiss deeper, felt her surrender completely. Richard’s voice penetrated the veil of desire surrounding them.

“Geez, get a room, will you?”

Ryan let Candace slip back to her feet, but continued to hold her close. “Look around. This is our room.”

Richard looked around as if he’d never seen the place before. “Oh yeah, I guess it is.”

Candace placed a kiss on Ryan’s cheek, then slipped from his grasp. He let her go, absorbing the loss like a blow to his gut. “Hi, Fallon.”

“Hi,” she said, disengaging from Richard’s embrace.

“So, Richard. What brings you here?”

“I came looking for my wife. I think I need to get her out of here before she gets ideas.” He winked at Candace.

“Fallon all ready has ideas,” Candace said.

“Yeah, I know. And I love every one of them,” Richard said. “Let’s go.” He pulled Fallon toward the door. “There’s just enough time for you to show me an idea or two before dinner.”

“Are we checking out Russell’s show tonight?” Ryan asked as Richard and Fallon headed for the door.