Liability Read online

Telling her what a good girl she was for safewording.

  The fuzzy, hazy mellowness of the earlier flogging was nothing compared to the velvety swirling abyss she was now willingly submerged in. She never wanted this to stop.

  And when he draped the fleece throw over her, she felt like trying to grab his hand and pull him back, to make him keep going.

  She heard Cole’s voice in her ear. “How you feel, sweetheart?”

  She gave him a thumbs-up.

  * * * *

  Mason helped Cole get her over to the couch, where she curled up in his lap. Then he quickly packed his stuff and cleaned the bench so he could join them.

  He didn’t want her going through this without him for her first time, so if she started crying, or something like that, he could reassure her that was a normal reaction.

  He’d gone a little harder on her than he’d originally planned, but he could see how she reacted, eagerly taking it, wanting more. She would have lain there another hour or more for him and taken everything he’d give her, he was sure.

  Not wanting to burn her out her first time, he’d reluctantly ended it despite his cock wanting him to keep going.

  Oh, yeah. Tonight he’d definitely be rubbing one out when he got home.

  Or maybe even more than one.

  When he sat on her other side on the couch, she changed positions to lay her head in his lap. Mason hesitated to touch her, looking to Cole for guidance.

  He eagerly nodded.

  Okay, then.

  Another quick fantasy of maybe having Cole sandwiched between him and Kim in bed flitted through Mason’s mind and made his cock throb.

  Damn.

  He wasn’t a woo-woo kind of player, but he definitely believed in an exchange of energy between participants when the chemistry was right. He rarely felt it this deeply this soon, however. It was almost like he could see her energy reaching out, teasing him, begging him to play with her. And his inner sadist had definitely been up for the challenge.

  Mason stroked her hair as she snuggled deeper into his lap. “Did you have any questions?” he asked Cole.

  “Nope.” He had her feet in his lap and was stroking her legs, massaging her. “Looks like you had things under control.” He smiled, a genuine, open smile without a hint of tightness in his face.

  “Did anything make you…uncomfortable?”

  “Not because of what you did.” Now Cole’s smile faded. “Look, seriously. If you’re happy playing with her, I’m happy to watch you guys play. I’m not wired to enjoy this the way you do. I’m okay with that.”

  Mason didn’t want to get too excited or act too eager. That this might have been the luckiest break he’d had in a while didn’t escape him. Meeting this couple, the perfect combination of events, and possibly a play partner?

  Excellent.

  “Not to sound…weird or anything,” Mason said, “but if we’re going to play together regularly—and hear me all the way through—we need to exchange test results.”

  “What kind of test results?” Cole asked.

  “STDs, HIV. I just had a set done a few weeks ago when I saw my new doctor down here. But even though we’re not having sex, this kind of play can involve…well, intimacy.”

  “Okay,” Kim said, finally lifting her head to look at Cole. “He’s trying to be a gentleman and not say that I probably left a huge-ass wet spot on the towel.” She flopped her head back down into Mason’s lap.

  Mason laughed. “Um, okay, sure. What she said.” Wasn’t exactly what he’d meant, because she’d been the one to originally broach the subject of orgasm play at dinner the other night and suspected it would end up being one of the boxes they eventually checked in their play.

  And if Cole randomly decided to swing for the other team, Mason wouldn’t have to worry about that, either.

  Cole seemed to grok the rationale. “Ah. Sure. We’re monogamous, but yeah. Of course, that’s fine. No worries.” He gently poked her hip. “Call your doctor Monday and get it done. I’ll get mine done.”

  “Health department does them, too,” Mason said. “Very quick to get them back.”

  “Cool,” Cole said.

  And he certainly seemed cool with it.

  Down, boy.

  Mason’s cock was screaming for attention. He could imagine it was Cole lying there in his lap, the man’s lips tantalizingly close to his cock…

  No.

  Slow down, be careful.

  He couldn’t lose his heart to this couple and be as bad as Freddie. He still needed to get out, meet people. But if he met a cute guy who wasn’t kinky, who was okay with him playing…

  That wouldn’t be bad at all.

  * * * *

  Cole was still so hard when they got back to his place that night he thought he could probably punch a hole in the Drywall with his erection.

  When Mason had mentioned exchanging test results, he’d almost said something stupid, like, “Sure, you can fuck me!”

  But yeah, that made sense.

  He’d stopped at a drugstore on their way home and purchased batteries for the egg.

  Then he had Kim strip and get on her hands and knees on the bed. He tested the egg, found it worked, and grinned as he slid it inside her.

  She moaned.

  He turned it on the lowest setting and patted her on the ass. “Stay right there.” He fetched a condom, lube, and a towel from the bathroom. After he stripped, he got her lubed up and slowly slid his cock into her ass as he bumped up the setting on the egg.

  Her shoulders dropped to the mattress as she loudly moaned.

  Holy hell!

  Between the feel of her coming around his shaft, and the feel of the egg vibrating inside her, he was already close to exploding.

  He held still, playing with the egg’s settings and enjoying her reactions.

  When he got it set where he wanted it, with her moaning and coming, he slowly started fucking her.

  He closed his eyes and imagined it was Mason’s ass he was fucking, picturing the way the guy had looked at the club.

  No, he hadn’t watched Mason’s hands, but his body, focusing on the intent look on the man’s face, his brown hair, not too short, not too long, casually styled.

  He’d love to plunge his fingers into that hair as he fucked the man’s mouth.

  Or feel Mason’s hands in his hair as he reciprocated.

  Cole felt his release closing in quickly. He thumbed the controller to high and started fucking Kim hard and fast, her moans only adding to his as he finally exploded and filled the condom.

  He found the remote and turned the egg off, chuckling. “Wow. I will be sure to thank Mason for the use of this.”

  She gave him a thumbs-up.

  * * * *

  Mason didn’t even bother unloading his bag when he got home. He went straight into the bathroom, stripped, climbed into the shower, and quickly stroked his cock into exploding in record time.

  Damn.

  Thinking about Cole and those blue eyes the guy had almost immediately got him hard again.

  Not something he’d been able to do in years.

  He didn’t argue with it, either. He sank to the shower floor, leaned against the wall, and stroked his cock while he fingered his ass with his other hand. He didn’t even bother getting out to find a butt plug.

  Didn’t take him long to empty another load into his hand, either.

  He sat there for a minute under the spray, eyes closed.

  Shit.

  He was already emotionally invested in the couple.

  How the hell did I end up here?

  Regardless, he knew he’d have to be careful. Very careful. He didn’t want to be an asshole and rush too fast, or the asshole that fell for them when they didn’t feel that way about him.

  He slowly climbed to his feet, soaped up, rinsed off, and then made his way to bed where he collapsed.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tuesday night, Mason headed over to his father’s house aft
er work. They were supposed to go out to dinner, Mason’s treat, and Mason driving.

  While Mason ate Sunday lunch with his father a few times since his return to Florida, this was the first time he’d been to his dad’s house in a couple of years. They would be out later that evening, and Mason didn’t trust his father’s nighttime driving. Mason preferred not to have him on the streets after dark.

  Loved his dad? Of course he did. Neither his dad nor his mother had been abusive to him growing up, or disowned him when he finally came out to them.

  His parents just had no business ever getting married to each other in the first place.

  Mason rang the doorbell when he arrived. From somewhere inside, he heard his father’s voice bellow in reply.

  “Come in. It’s unlocked.”

  Mason opened the door and was pleasantly surprised to find the house…not a pig sty. Corbin Lange wasn’t a hoarder, but he wasn’t the world’s best housekeeper, either. Both due to his personality and his arthritis. Since Mason’s dad was currently single, it wasn’t like there was a woman in his life to keep everything tidy, either.

  “Wow,” Mason said as he looked around. “You finally hire a maid?”

  His father walked in from the kitchen, a slow, ambling shuffle that Mason realized was a lot worse than it’d been eight years ago when he’d moved to Nebraska.

  “Sort of. Kid next door is in college. I pay her cash to come in once a week and do a thorough clean, and she stops by another two nights a week to tidy up.” He grinned. “Cheaper than dating or a damn divorce.”

  “Ah.” Well, nice to know he wasn’t taking advantage of some poor woman and playing on her sympathies.

  “You come alone?” his dad asked.

  “I’m not dating anyone right now, Dad. Told you that.” This was a familiar verbal joust they engaged in.

  He shrugged. “Told you if you do, you can bring them.”

  “I would if I was dating someone.” Wow, this was going to be an interesting night. He could see it already. “I tell you that every time.”

  “So how’s that guy you were seeing in Nebraska?”

  “Don’t know. I told you, we’re just friends now. We weren’t really compatible for more than friends.”

  “Sounded like you said he wanted more?”

  “He did, but the guy’s twenty years younger than me. I never should have gotten involved with him in the first place.”

  “Heh.” His dad laughed. “Coulda told you that myself. Too young ain’t worth messin’ with. Don’t even bother tryin’ to be friends with him. Not worth the aggravation. Believe me, I know that. Look at me and your mother, for instance. Better off ignoring each other.”

  “I don’t want to be like that, Dad. I’m—”

  more evolved

  “—trying to be nice.”

  Trying not to be an asshole, like his father could be.

  Yeah, like Corbin Lange was a paragon of romantic relationship dynamics.

  Not.

  His father snorted again. “Tryin’ to stay friends with him won’t get you anything but trouble. Trust me on that one.”

  Mason was currently ignoring Freddie, though, and hadn’t replied to any of the man’s texts since Saturday. Mason had too much fun with Cole and Kim on Saturday and wanted to focus on his life there in Florida. Reconnecting with old friends, and making new ones.

  Fortunately, there’d been nothing from Freddie yesterday, and then this morning the whiny, plaintive tone had started in again. Only three texts today so far, but Mason was still planning on holding off replying to him until at least tomorrow. The last thing he wanted was to get the kid wound up again.

  Freddie…well, no, he didn’t want to totally ghost Freddie and be a dick like that, but if the guy couldn’t take a hint and either back off or accept reality, he might have to put his foot down again. Maybe this time Freddie would take the hint without Mason having to resort to the nuclear option of blocking him.

  He hoped.

  “Why don’t you want to discuss your life with me?” his father asked. “I told you, I’m fine with it.”

  “I appreciate that, Dad. I’d tell you if there was anything to tell. I work, I go home. I’m barely settled into my condo, so I haven’t had time for hobbies.” Mason fought aggravation. From one extreme to the other. Freddie, whom he couldn’t share any details with about his life, to his dad, who wanted details he didn’t have to give.

  None that he would want to share with him, anyway.

  His dad ambled his way toward the front door. “I’m not like your mother. I don’t freak out.”

  “Let’s go eat.” Mason didn’t even want to go there with the conversation. If his dad started on a tear about Mason’s mom, that’d be the entire conversational subject of the night, rehashing stories that Mason had heard dozens of times since he hit eighteen and his parents’ unofficial moratorium on going after each other in front of or to him fell by the wayside.

  They never should have been married.

  They headed to a seafood restaurant that Mason hadn’t been to in years. He was shocked when he moved back to find it was still open. In downtown Sarasota, on 301, it was a mainstay of the area and served delicious food.

  At least he hoped it still did.

  Once they were there and seated, his dad stared at the menu. “What do you think looks good?” he asked Mason.

  Mason sighed. “You know you need new glasses, right?”

  “No, I don’t. It’s dark in here and the print is tiny.”

  “Okay, Dad. Sure.”

  Mason used an exceeding amount of patience to get through the dinner with his dad. He knew he shouldn’t feel like that, because he was lucky his dad was still in relatively decent health. Both his parents were.

  Still, it was one more adjustment to make.

  Then again, I’ll take dealing with him over dealing with Freddie.

  * * * *

  It was nearly nine o’clock by the time Mason returned home. He’d meant to text Cole earlier to check on Kim.

  Hopefully it wasn’t too late. He decided to send the text.

  Hey, just wanted to make sure Kim’s still doing okay.

  He was heading for bed a little later when his phone buzzed with a text. He ignored the notification for a new text from Freddie to read the reply from Cole.

  She’s begging me to go to the club again this weekend. :)

  Mason sat there on the edge of the bed and contemplated his reply.

  Finally, he settled on one he hoped didn’t come off as douchey.

  Let me know if you want to meet for dinner and go to the club. I don’t have any plans.

  Cole’s reply arrived before Mason could even set his phone down.

  I’ll say yes now or Kim will smack me for not confirming. :)

  Mason smiled. He wouldn’t call Kim a brat, or even pushy. He could feel the excitement in the couple Saturday night and remembered how good that energy felt.

  Eagerness.

  A safe eagerness he wouldn’t have to worry about turning into something psychotic.

  He hoped.

  Then I’ll tell Tilly we’ll have two more for dinner and see you at Sigalo’s at the same time. :)

  Another quick reply.

  Thank you for all of this. We really appreciate it.

  Another thing to make Mason think. How many times in their relationship had Freddie ever said thank you?

  Rarely.

  You’re welcome. I’m having fun, too.

  Speaking of Freddie, he thumbed through the messages. Freddie was now at work and shouldn’t even be on his phone, but that rarely stopped the guy. Freddie had sent him another couple of plaintive, pitiful messages meant to invoke sympathy and hopefully a response.

  Mason deleted them.

  Freddie could wait another day. Or two.

  Or hell, even longer.

  Mason plugged in his personal and work cells and crawled under the covers.

  * * * *

>   Cole stared at his phone, deep in thought.

  Kim wasn’t the only one who wanted to go to the club again this weekend. Cole knew he wouldn’t be up to doing a lot of the things he saw, but he knew he could do some of them. And he felt comfortable, both from watching Mason and from talking to others about Mason, about Kim playing with the man.

  It didn’t hurt that he enjoyed watching the man as he’d worked with Kim.

  Stop thinking like that.

  Mason was a good-looking guy. Not the Hollywood, gym rat, fake kind of good looks. The kind of good looks Cole was attracted to, a real, average person with a nice personality.

  Okay, so Mason’s nice ass didn’t hurt, either.

  The night in college kept coming back to mind. He knew his fantasies needed to remain firmly in the realm of fantasy. Not to get ahead of himself.

  Not to do anything to screw this up for Kim. It was a relief to know that he could pass off the things he wasn’t comfortable doing to someone else more capable, who would also enjoy doing them.

  Everyone would be happy.

  He texted Kim.

  Mason’s okay with getting together again on Saturday. Okay?

  She replied faster than he’d expected.

  YES!! :)

  He smiled. I called that one right.

  * * * *

  Kim’s heart raced as she stared at the phone. She knew she had a grin on her face, a silly, shit-eating grin she might be embarrassed to own up to were she not alone.

  Hell, yes, she was okay with that.

  She quickly texted him back. Thank you. Love you.

  He replied.

  Love you, too. Talk to you tomorrow. Good night.

  She couldn’t stop thinking about Saturday night. It’d consumed every spare moment of her thoughts yesterday and today at work. While driving to and from work.

  What they’d done Saturday night had completely opened her eyes. She got what not just Mason, but everyone had warned about going slow. It would be too damn easy to throw herself into this without a second thought.

  It felt that good, that natural.

  That right.

  Like a missing piece had slipped into place, a connection made deep inside her soul.