Steady Rain Read online

  She glanced around and lowered her voice. “I haven’t met Mal in person yet, and I won’t betray Kel’s confidence. But I definitely don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression about him and me. Strictly friends only. He won’t even let me pay rent on the apartment yet. Wanted to wait until I got my feet back under me with a job. Looks like I have that part down, at least. I’m no mooch. I pay my own way.”

  The men exchanged a glance, longer than just a shared thought. “What?” she asked, worried they’d still managed to get the wrong impression.

  “If Kel signs off on you,” Tristan said, “we know we can trust you.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. “I was just thinking the same thing about you guys with Mark and Ted.”

  * * * *

  Actually, that wasn’t exactly what Tristan was thinking. He’d bit his tongue to hold back an offer to let her come look at the now empty bedroom in their house. Not only was she kinky, but they would likely be working with her on photography projects.

  And…truth be told, he wouldn’t mind tying her. Or…more. He knew damn well from the gleam in Kyle’s eyes he wouldn’t mind it, either.

  Maybe…

  Nope, way too fucking soon to think those kinds of thoughts. And he wanted to talk to Kel himself before extending any kind of offer to live with them.

  Duh, and Kyle needed to sign off on it.

  Tony called the munch to order before Tristan could ask Jess anything else. To make more room, she’d ended up sliding into the seat next to Kyle when Lindsey’s friends arrived, which made it even easier to talk to her.

  Tony worked around the room and had people introduce themselves. When it was Jess’ turn, she stood.

  “Hi, I’m Jess. I recognize a few of you in here, but it’s been six years since I lived in Sarasota. I’m back. I like rope, and I’m a photographer. It’s not my evil day job, but I do it professionally on the side, specializing in bondage and kinky photography, so I’m looking forward to being able to get back into that. Oh, single, and submissive, I suppose.” She smiled. “Been on my own for a while so I’m probably pretty feral at this point.”

  That prompted a few laughs, and Tristan uncomfortably noticed several single Doms sat up a little straighter and tried to get a better look at her before she sat down.

  Damn.

  It’d be bad form to yell, “Dibs!” in the crowded room, especially before talking to Kyle about it.

  Kyle stood and winked at Tristan before he started talking. “I’m Kyle. My boyfriend, Tristan, and I run the Knotty Fun rope group over at Venture…”

  Tristan wasn’t sure if he felt humbled or guilty that Kyle had led with their relationship. It would likely give Jess the wrong idea about them. Kyle spent a couple of minutes talking about the rope group, so when it was Tristan’s turn to introduce himself, he stood and waved at the room.

  “I think he pretty much covered it. I’m Tristan, his boyfriend, and we’re both Doms.”

  The perfect segue hit him. “We still play with other people, too—women and men—because we don’t want to kill each other.” That earned him some laughs, but he didn’t make it obvious by looking at Jess right then. “And anyone with rope questions, feel free to hit us up on Fet, or come on out to the next Knotty Fun get-together.”

  * * * *

  Hmm. Interesting.

  Gay and still playing with others meant safety.

  Meant she could finally get her ropey fix without worrying if they were rapey guys.

  And from the several meerkat-like responses she’d noticed from a few presumably single Doms in the group when she’d mentioned she was single, she’d likely be fending some off.

  Dammit. I shouldn’t have mentioned that.

  Once the introductions had moved on to another table, she leaned in close to whisper so both Kyle and Tristan could hear. “You play with others?”

  “Yeah,” Kyle said. “Why?”

  “I’d be interested in talking to you both some more about that, if you’re interested in me.”

  “Heck yeah, we’re interested,” Tristan said. “Absolutely. And we’ll give you plenty of references.”

  “I’ll be honest that I’m not looking for a Dom right now, and I have a feeling I stupidly painted a bulls-eye on my forehead when I mentioned I was single.”

  Kyle softly snorted. “Yeah, I noticed that, too. Looking for a little insurance against free-range Doms?”

  “You catch on quick.”

  “I try. Say what you need to, and we’ll nod and agree.”

  “Thanks. I owe you.”

  “Then how about dinner sometime this week?” Tristan said. “Come on over and we’ll cook for you. Or we’ll take you out. Your choice, no pressure. Our treat, either way.”

  It would be nice to get out. Except…

  “You know, Kel gave me a key to Venture and told me I’m welcomed to use it any time they’re not open. I’m off Tuesday and Wednesday, so if you’re free Tuesday night, we could get takeout somewhere and take it over there and I could do a photography session for you. If you’re ready for one.”

  The men exchanged an eager glance. “Really?” Tristan asked. “That’d be great.”

  “I live right next door, in the apartment Kel has there. So any time you want to come over on Tuesday is fine.”

  “How’s five sound?” Kyle asked.

  “Perfect.”

  “Any preference on food?”

  “Nope.”

  They’d just finished exchanging phone numbers and e-mail addresses when the introductions ended.

  No shit, thirty seconds later, she had a guy who looked to be in his sixties already crowding her where she sat in her chair, forcing her to half-turn to look up at him, and asking her if she’d like to play next Saturday.

  She smiled and leaned back, against Kyle behind her. “Sorry, I have to work next weekend. And I’ve already arranged a play session with Kyle and Tristan, but thank you for the offer.”

  Okay, so technically it wasn’t play, but she wouldn’t feel guilty over that.

  Or how, when another guy practically cornered her when she got up and crossed the room to talk to a couple of people she knew from before, she again smiled and used the same excuse.

  That guy was younger and under other circumstances she might have considered at least meeting him for coffee, but he was stupidly persistent and lacking in reading clues. He followed her across the room, still talking to her, even reaching out to touch her shoulder when she turned away from him to talk to someone.

  This time when she turned around to give him a piece of her mind, Tristan already stood there, behind the guy, with his hand on the man’s shoulder.

  He smiled down at the guy, because he had at least three inches on him. “Hey, Chad. Whatcha doin’?” His volume was quiet enough others couldn’t hear him, but she heard the decidedly steel edge to his tone.

  “I’m just talking to her.”

  “No, the lady is trying to talk to her friends, and you followed her after she gave you a polite no-thanks, then you put your hand on her. Now, we’ve talked to you about this before.”

  * * * *

  In fact, Tristan’s words to the guy the last time, two rope group meetings before, had been if he ever saw Chad pulling that bullshit with another woman, he’d kick his ass.

  The guy was stupid-young, mid-twenties, but that was no excuse. Both he and Kyle had sat him down to go over etiquette and protocols when he first started coming to the rope nights eight months earlier.

  Including that, unlike in the vanilla world, you do not touch someone without their permission.

  Especially a woman, and doubly-especially a woman who’d politely told you no and was walking away from you.

  Anger, and then recognition, flashed across the kid’s face before he turned, mumbled an apology, and actually left the room.

  Tris glanced at Kyle, who’d stood, but was still at their table, and shook his head at him that Kyle didn’t need to follow
him.

  Jess stepped in and gave Tristan a quick hug. “Thank you!”

  Tristan hoped she didn’t feel the chub that holding her in his arms created. “Hey, any time. Not my first time having to talk to the guy, unfortunately. I’ll make sure I tell Tony and Ross about him.”

  He proceeded to do just that, and kept an eye on her the whole time he talked with Tony and Ross. Another guy walked over and introduced himself to her, shaking hands with her, but apparently he wasn’t a douche. After it looked like she’d politely rejected him, he retreated to go talk to Lindsey.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about that hug.

  How…perfect she was. The right height…the way his arms felt around her.

  Damn.

  When she headed back to their table, he excused himself and followed, making sure to shoot one other guy a pointed glare as he passed, sending a silent if slightly erroneous message.

  Not his fault if they assumed something.

  Although if he had his way and things worked out, it wouldn’t be an assumption, and she’d have both him and Kyle to keep an eye on her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The rest of the munch went uneventfully. The more Jess talked with Kyle and Tristan, the more she liked them.

  Going to have to ask Kel about them.

  Although Cali, Max, and Sean had arrived and seemed to know them, too.

  Hey, the more people who signed off on Kyle and Tristan, the better. Besides, it wasn’t like she was looking to have sex with them.

  Sure, a great fantasy to have sex with both of them, but a “relationship” wasn’t in her sights right now. With her new job going so well, she wanted to focus on her.

  And, hellooo, they were gay.

  That meant safe.

  Two more guys approached her to talk, but fortunately, one of them wanted to ask for more information on setting up a photo shoot with his submissive. The other was easily diverted when Kyle casually draped his arm around her shoulders while she talked to the guy and she snuggled closer to Kyle.

  At the end of the evening, Jess felt really…good. She was home, she was once again among people she felt comfortable with, who respected her, and she already had two photo gigs set up.

  Stanley was ready for his last walk of the night when she returned to the apartment. While she was waiting on him to do his business, she sent Kel a text.

  How well do you know Tristan and Kyle from the rope group?

  Kel called her. “Why?”

  She told him about the munch.

  “Oh, I’ll vouch for them, yeah. They’re good guys. Never heard anyone badmouth them. Good for them finally getting together. We were all wondering if they would.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Well, they both kept dating women who weren’t right for them, for starters. And we could all see the chemistry the guys had together when they teach.”

  “Wait, what? I thought they were gay?”

  He sounded confused. “Did they say that?”

  “No, I just…” She swallowed. “I assumed it from them saying they were each other’s boyfriends.”

  “I know I’ve heard Tris tell people he’s bi. I figured Kyle was, too.”

  “Oh.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  She realized he’d asked her that. “No, I just…never mind.”

  “Don’t let that scare you off playing with them. They definitely do not have a gropey rep, either of them. Any time I’ve seen them play, they usually have full dance cards all night long. Shibari, and impact play. And the club is all yours Tuesday night. Have fun. I’ll tell Marcia and Cali you’re going to be there. Unless you wanted to use my photo setup downstairs. Feel free, if you do.”

  “I was thinking the club.”

  “This’ll be a good way to get your name out there again, either way. I’m glad you met up with them tonight.”

  “Me, too.”

  They chatted for a couple of minutes before he had to go. “I’ve got a photo shoot tomorrow up in Citrus County, so I need to get to sleep.”

  “The boat guy?”

  “Yeah. Helps pay the bills and keeps me from getting bored. I mean, the properties pay my bills, but the photography jobs bring in my fun money. Not that I’ve had much time for that lately. Let me know if you have any more questions.”

  “Thanks.”

  She headed back up to the apartment, Stanley on her heels. First things first, tomorrow night they’d eat dinner at her place, and let Jess see how Stanley liked the guys. Because if they didn’t meet the Stanley seal of approval, nothing else mattered.

  Meanwhile…

  She dug out one of her vibrators before turning off the lights and crawling into bed.

  Yeah. One fantasy of being sandwiched between those two hunks—and maybe even Purson—coming up.

  * * * *

  “What’d you think about Jess?” Kyle asked on their way home from the munch.

  “I’m looking forward to working with her on Tuesday.”

  Kyle refused to get frustrated. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “What did you mean?”

  “I meant…what’d you think of her? Like, playing with her. Or maybe more, one day, depending on how things go.”

  “Honestly?”

  “Yeah, of course.” Kyle fought the urge to hold his breath.

  “If we were to ever have a third, unless Jess turns out to be a puppy kicker or something, she’d probably be my ideal woman.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” Tristan’s voice turned wary. “Why? Didn’t you like her?”

  “I did like her. A lot.”

  Tristan’s hand settled on Kyle’s right thigh and crept toward his bulge.

  And, of course, Kyle’s cock responded, thickening and throbbing.

  It was like a Pavlovian response at that point. Tris touched him—Kyle got hard.

  “We don’t want to scare her and come on too strong,” Tristan said as his fingers started drawing lazy circles across the denim covering Kyle’s inner thigh. “So we need to take things slowly and carefully with her.” Every circle grew closer to Kyle’s cock, which was now fully hard again. “Because we’re not those guys, and I don’t want us getting a rep for being those guys.”

  “Agreed.”

  “And I’d like to talk to Kel about her,” Tris added.

  “Also agreed.” Kyle shifted slightly in the driver’s seat to spread his thighs wider and give Tristan better access. Tristan’s long, nimble fingers walked up the inside of Kyle’s thigh and stroked the front of his jeans, tracing the shape of his cock just to the right of his zipper.

  Kyle groaned. “You trying to make me come while driving?”

  “No, because you’re going to need to hold it if you want to fuck my ass when we get home.” Tristan slowly stroked Kyle’s cock through the denim, an evil smile curling his lips. “You do want to fuck my ass when we get home, don’t you?”

  “I want to fuck your ass right now.”

  “That would make you a distracted driver, and I don’t want to die. Get us home first.”

  They were barely inside the front door when Tristan kissed him and started tugging his shirt from his waistband. Hands fumbled, feet moved, and they stripped each other all the way to their bedroom, where they were finally naked by the time they hit the bed.

  His hunger for this man. That was what had been missing in all of Kyle’s previous relationships.

  The need he felt for Tris, which had burrowed deep into his soul and made it feel like he could never get enough of the man.

  His man.

  Tris ended up on top of Kyle in bed, but he crawled down the man’s body and sucked Kyle’s cock down his throat, meaning Kyle couldn’t complain.

  Even the sex between them was perfect, hot and hard and satisfying something inside him he’d never realized was lacking before.

  Tristan’s mouth drove Kyle crazy. The man had taught Kyle so much about how to properly suck a
cock over the past couple of weeks, things he’d never even realized he’d been missing before. Just when he thought Tris was going to get him over before he could fuck the man, Tris sat up and reached for a condom and lube from the side table drawer.

  With a smile, he slowly impaled his ass on Kyle’s cock.

  “Oh, fuuuuck, man.” Kyle’s hands squeezed Tristan’s hips, thrusting all the way up inside him as Kyle’s eyes devoured him. The way his shoulders and chest tapered down to a narrow waist and a completely gorgeous and fuckable ass, the V of his lower abs pointing to a cock that stood straight out right now.

  Kyle reached for his cock, fisting it, stroking him. “Gonna come for me?”

  “Fuck yeah!” Tristan threw his head back and slowly rocked on Kyle’s cock, riding him, making it last.

  “You’ve got me spoiled now,” Kyle gasped. “We do get something going with Jess besides play, she’s going to have a high bar to meet.”

  Tris smiled down at him with heavy-lidded eyes. “I’m sure we can teach her, if she’s willing.” He leaned in, planting his hands on either side of Kyle’s head. “Imagine one of us fucking that gorgeous ass of hers while the other fucks her pussy.”

  “Fuuuuck!”

  Tristan’s smile widened. “Watching each other’s faces over her shoulder, trying to hold on until the other comes so we can fill her together.”

  “Oh, shiiit!” Kyle bit down on his lower lip, trying to hold back. Meanwhile, he pounded Tristan’s cock, trying to get him there so he could quit holding back.

  “Yeah, sexy, right?” Tristan lowered his face until his lips hovered just over Kyle’s. “I want to lay under her with her pussy on my mouth and licking your cock as you fuck her. Make her scream our names, and suck your cum right out of her as she’s swallowing my load.”

  Kyle reached up with his other hand and pulled Tristan’s head down to kiss him. That’s when Tristan finally exploded, and Kyle could let go. As Tristan’s ass flexed and squeezed around Kyle’s cock, Kyle’s balls emptied into the condom and he gasped at the hot wave of pleasure bouncing through him.