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  She ground herself against Craig when he inserted one iron hard thigh between her own, desperate to ease the throbbing in her pussy.

  He continued to press his thigh against her while he administered to her aching breasts. Leaning his head down, Craig sucked one rosy nipple into his mouth, catching it with the edge of his teeth.

  Without warning, he released her breast and dropped to his knees, causing her to gasp as she looked down at him. Sliding both hands up her thighs, he squeezed them gently.

  “Open up, Baby,” he growled.

  “Oh, God, Craig. Please...”

  Pulling her thighs apart, he licked her stomach when she quivered from the feel of him against her body. He pressed moist, hot kisses against her. Undoing her jeans, he began to slide the thick denim down her thighs while he moved his mouth closer and closer to her core. She kicked her jeans off when they reached her ankles, eager to be as bare as possible.

  Craig moved excruciatingly slow, placing bites and licks against her stomach as he neared her mound. He briefly nipped at the skin above her briefs before moving his mouth lower to blow hotly against her pussy, causing her thighs to tremble.

  He suddenly stood, grabbing her around the waist and twisting to set her down on the bench set against the opposite wall. She felt the cool wood against her ass before he was once again kneeling in front of her.

  He reached down with both hands and slid her panties off as he looked up and caught her gaze.

  Craig caressed both ankles, releasing her gaze to look down at what he was holding in his hands.

  He raised one leg, brushing his lips against her ankle, causing her to moan and lean her head against the wall behind her. He slowly moved his lips up her leg, lingering at her knee until she whimpered. She felt his smile bloom against her skin, tickling the inside of her knee. His hands were a hard presence against her calf, biting into the flesh.

  He licked his way up her thigh. He paused briefly at her core, causing her to clench her thighs as she waited for his wonderful lips to kiss her right where she was dying for it.

  Instead, she groaned when he lowered her leg, lifting its twin and starting the whole process again. He kissed around her ankle, before licking a path up her calf. His hands were hot as they pressed against her skin, following the curves when he slowly moved upwards again.

  This time she was determined that he was going to touch her between her legs. Her pussy gave one welcoming spasm at the image of him before her. Releasing her hands from their death grip on the bench, she brought them to his head, letting her fingers tangle in the silky strands.

  “Please, Craig!”

  “Please what, Baby?” he asked.

  “Please...” she whimpered, unable to form the words.

  Thank God, he didn’t make her spell it out for him. He chuckled darkly before spreading her legs further apart. Craig leaned in, exhaling a hot breath against her core as he stared at the results of his handiwork.

  She glanced down to see him between her legs.

  “Christ Jesus. You did not have that before.”

  His voice sounded tight to her ears, and her lips curled in response. She knew exactly how she must look, her bare mound would lead his gaze right to the glint of gold nestled at the top of her folds. There would be absolutely nothing to distract from the jewelry decorating her clit hood.

  Craig leaned in once, licking up her slit to tease the gold barbell resting against her clit. She clenched her thighs. His hard hold on her legs was the only thing that prevented her from closing her legs when she moaned at the sensation.

  He continued to tease with the tip of his tongue against the metal, causing the bottom ball to press against her clit with every movement. She gasped, shivering as she felt herself moving closer to a powerful orgasm. She couldn’t stand this. It had never been like this with any man she had been with before.

  He leaned further in, taking the barbell in his teeth and tugging when he bit down. At the same time, one of his big hands released her thigh and he pressed two of his fingers into her.

  She screamed when she shattered from the sensations. Her pussy pulsed while Craig continued to thrust his fingers into her, prolonging her orgasm. He rubbed his fingers inside her core, causing her to moan again when she was thrust back into another orgasm, just as strong as the first.

  She tightened her hands in his hair, and had a vague notion that she might just pull out the thick strands if she wasn’t careful. But, oh God, it’d be worth it to see him bald as long as he didn’t stop what he was doing.

  When he finally did stop his ministrations between her legs, she was one big mass of jelly. She didn’t think she would ever be able to move again.

  Craig backed up after one last lick against her core, soothing this time instead of inflaming her senses and stared up at her.

  Suddenly she was in his arms, and he was striding down the hallway toward the master bedroom.

  Without pausing, he dropped her to her feet before pressing her backwards and lowering her to the bed. Stepping away, Craig stared at her laid out in front of him. She resisted her small urge to cover herself and instead just gloried in the heated expression in his eyes.

  Craig’s hands went to his belt buckle, releasing his belt and moving to the button at the top of his jeans. He kept his eyes on her as he slowly lowered his zipper, letting the denim fall to his feet before stepping out of them.

  She couldn’t breathe as she looked at the hard length of him on display.

  He moved away briefly to grab a square of foil from his bedside table. With a winsome grin that had her heart clenching, he smoothed on the condom, watching her face as he did it. He was full of contradictions. This gorgeous man, who made her laugh harder than anyone else, had touched her in places she’d only ever achieved with him.

  He moved forward to cover her body, capturing her mouth in a kiss when he pressed her down into the mattress. He ran his hands down her body and took hold of her hips as he ground himself into her softer flesh.

  Then he was right where she wanted him, rubbing the head of his cock into her slick folds. They both gasped when he hit the barbell over her clit, and he repeated the motion when she arched up into him.

  Craig buried his head in her shoulder as he pressed forward, pushing the length of himself inside her pussy. She moaned at the fullness, he was stretching her in the most delicious way. She brought both knees up to clutch against his waist. He began to pull back, and she gasped, pressing her thighs tight to keep him inside her.

  Craig moaned once before he began to drive back into her body. She cried out as she felt herself hurtling toward an explosive orgasm, her body trembling and she held tight to him. She shattered, keening as she threw back her head in abandon. Craig growled, pressing into her once, twice, before joining her in release.

  Minutes...hours...days later, she realized she still held tight to Craig. She loosened her arms, moaning softly at how empty she felt without him inside her.

  He leaned down to kiss her forehead before moving off the bed to walk to the bathroom. She heard the water come on in the sink and turned to her side to watch the doorway. Within seconds he was back carrying a cloth. He smiled down at her as he pressed the warm washcloth between her legs, soothing her body. When he was done, he returned the cloth to the bathroom, turning off the lights as he made his way back to the bed.

  He crawled back into the bed, folding her in his arms as he brought her in close to his chest. She wound her arm around his waist, snuggling into his body, bringing her knee in to press between his thighs. She thought she felt him kiss her head again, but sleep was starting to claim her.

  Chapter 7

  Craig inhaled deeply, drawing the scent of Penny deep into his lungs. He lay on his back, hugging her delectable body to him. Her head was lying on his shoulder, and one arm and leg was flung over his body. He held her tightly, not wanting to let go. Because of that, he was aware the second she woke up.

  He ran his hand down her b
ack. “Stay.”

  “Craig…”

  “Please. Stay. I don’t know what else to say.”

  Penny snuggled in closer to his hold before lifting her head to look him in the eyes. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s too complicated.”

  “Actually, it’s pretty simple. Do you want to stay?”

  “Of course I do.”

  Elation filled him. “Then, what’s the problem?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Well, that wasn’t helpful at all. “Come on, we stick together remember? We can figure anything out between the two of us.”

  “The two of us?”

  “Shit, Pens. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Do you want to be with him?”

  “I want to be with you.”

  “That wasn’t what I asked.”

  Craig sighed. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  “I want you to be honest. Come on. Tell me the truth.”

  “I want to be with you.”

  “And Mack?”

  Craig hesitated. He wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do, but she’d asked for honesty. “And Mack.”

  She was silent for a moment. Craig wasn’t sure what that meant, but he was starting to think he’d messed up good.

  “So, you want to be with both of us?”

  “I know how that must sound. I realize you probably think I’m the biggest asshole, or that I’m confused...”

  “Are you?”

  “The biggest asshole? Looks like.”

  “Confused?”

  “More than I’ve ever been.”

  “Me too.”

  Craig finally turned to look at her again. “Yeah?”

  “I wasn’t entirely honest with you before. A lot changed for me over the years, too. I’ve been with two men before. A long time ago now.”

  “You’re not even thirty yet. How long ago could it possibly have been?”

  Penny laughed, curling up closer to his body with the movement. “You’re an idiot.”

  Craig realized what she’d just said. “You’ve been in a ménage?”

  “Not a relationship. But, sex, yes.”

  “What’s the difference? You can’t have a relationship with three people.”

  “It’s possible. I have a friend in Houston who’s with two men. She’s the reason I experimented. There’s a few things I’ve done with her help, actually, including getting the piercing. But, I see what they have together, and it works for them.”

  “Are the men together, too?” He wasn’t sure that would work. How could it possibly work? Hell, some people couldn’t even manage to have a relationship with one person.

  “Yes. They weren’t at first, but they’ve grown a lot closer over the years.”

  “Years?” Whoa.

  “Yep. I’m trying to think… They just celebrated number eleven. I’m pretty sure that’s correct. It works for them.”

  “How?” Seriously, he wasn’t getting how it could work.

  “They’re honest with each other. Extremely honest. It’s the only way something like that can happen. The minute one person feels the least bit left out they need to talk about it.”

  Could it work? Did he even want to be in a relationship with Mack and Penny? Of course. It smacked of more than a little like having your cake and eating it too, but he didn’t care.

  Would Mack? “Mack said he wanted to be with me.” Way to just blurt that out there. Craig sighed.

  “Did he? Wow. Okay, so, you want to try something?”

  Craig winced. “He never said anything about you. What if…?”

  “What if he doesn’t want me?”

  He didn’t even want to think about that. He was just beginning to think that his dreams might be possible. Being with two people that he loved and respected and was friends with would be amazing. Having to let one of them go because they couldn’t be with the other person would be horrible. Because Craig didn’t want to have to choose. He couldn’t go to Mack if Mack didn’t want Penny.

  Shit, what kind of man was he? Both Mack and Penny deserved far greater than him. They deserved someone who wanted them and only them.

  “Maybe this isn’t the greatest idea,” he said.

  “We won’t know until we try.” Penny shuffled over and crawled out of bed.

  “Wait, where are you going?”

  “We’re going to see Mack.”

  “Now?” Craig wasn’t sure he liked the high pitch his voice had just registered at, but this really wasn’t the best idea Penny had ever had.

  “You want me to stay, right?”

  Craig stood up, moving forward to grasp her by her arms. “You’re going to stay?”

  Penny inhaled deeply. “Promise you’ll help me if I move back?”

  “Of course, I promise. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t?”

  “I’m hoping you want to be more than just a friend.”

  Craig grinned. “Penny, I’m already more than a friend.”

  She nodded in agreement. “There’s a lot of things I’d need to work out.”

  “You’re not happy in Houston. You told me that yourself the last time we talked before you came up here. All those little things can be dealt with. I just need to know if you’re going to try.”

  “I feel lighter.”

  “Huh?” Eloquence, that was his name.

  Penny laughed brightly before pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “I feel lighter now. It’s like I can breathe again now that I know what really happened with my parents. Well, now that I know something, at least. I think I’m okay with not knowing everything.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  “Nothing. You said it yourself, the guy is dead. No one but me thought my dad had done anything, so even if Ed didn’t kill her, if she killed herself, what good would pursuing what happened do for me? She’s dead. My dad didn’t kill her. I don’t think even this police force would agree to open a twelve year old case that had been ruled accidental only on my word. It wouldn’t prove anything. It doesn’t matter anymore in the grand scheme of things. Finding out what happened, won’t bring her back. Besides...”

  Craig shifted in place. “What?”

  “I think she’s at peace, now. I think I was meant to find that journal, so that I could come home. Maybe that’s why dad kept it all these years.” She grinned ruefully. “Sounds all woo woo, doesn’t it?”

  “Hey, I’ve heard stranger. That makes sense to me, though. I’d like to think she’s at peace. Same with your dad.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So, you ready to make this your home in truth?”

  Penny nodded. “It’s always been home for me. It just took me a few years to realize it.”

  He pulled her into a hug. “I’m glad.”

  “Let’s go find Mack. I’m ready to take the next step.”

  Craig breathed out. He wasn’t sure this was the best idea, but he’d hate himself if he didn’t make an effort.

  ***

  Mack pulled up in front of the brewery. He couldn’t resist a quick look at Craig’s dark house. It was far enough away that there was privacy, but he couldn’t help himself from looking anyway. What had he done last night? Fucked up, that was for sure. But, had he done any damage to his friendship with either of them?

  He couldn’t go over there. He’d already made an ass of himself, and he wasn’t sure he could face Penny again after last night.

  Shaking his head, he stepped inside the front door and looked around. It was coming along nicely. The front entrance was an open room with wood paneling and picnic tables set up throughout the space. A bar sat opposite the door, his taps recently installed. They hadn’t done much with the décor but he wasn’t in a huge hurry. He’d get to it in time. Wandering behind the bar, he quickly walked through his working space, checking out each of the brewhouses as he passed them.

  Everything looked
in order. So, what was he going to do today to distract him? It was the weekend so no one else was due to come in.

  He wandered back into the main area just in time to see Craig and Penny walk in. Fucking fantastic. His day was just getting better and better. Especially once it became very clear they’d done something last night. They were more relaxed, moving into each other even when they weren’t touching.