Only Skin Deep: Paranormal MMM Romance, page 19
“Don’t think I don’t recognize what the two of you are trying to do. You’re inching your way in.” Colby laughed. “I’ll have to give it to you both. You’re persistent.”
“Is it working?” Luca asked, grinning.
“Must be,” Ash stated. “He’s still letting us inch closer.”
Colby opened his mouth, but quickly closed it, a hint of a smile on his lips. Ash took advantage of the moment. He leaned forward and stole a kiss, just as he’d seen Luca do at the shop earlier. Colby stiffened against him, but his lips grew as malleable as the clay they’d worked. He slanted his head and deepened the kiss, curious how far Colby would let them push.
Ash moaned when Colby’s tongue snaked out and brushed against his. He lifted his hands, ready to cup the back of Colby’s head, but realized his hands were covered in clay. He pulled back, lifting his palms. “I want to touch you. I need to wash my hands.”
“Rinse in the bucket before the sink,” Colby insisted, jumping from the stool. He ran in front of Ash and dunked his hands in the bucket.
Ash followed, as did Luca, and they cleaned off as quickly as possible. He laughed as Luca flung water at him as they raced to see who would be clean first. Colby won that race, flipping to the sink. Ash joined him seconds later with Luca shoving him over to sneak under the faucet, too.
As soon as his hand appeared clean, he spun and dragged Colby against him. Slanting his head, he recaptured and explored their mate’s mouth. The hunger rose, and his body quickened, ready for what came next. Luca joined them, pressing against Colby’s back.
He broke the kiss, holding Colby’s gaze to see the need in their mate’s eyes. Colby melted back against Luca, his eyes fluttering closed. Luca’s gaze switched to Ash’s before he trailed a heated path along Colby’s neck with his lips and tongue.
Ash reclaimed Colby’s lips. Their human leaned in, appearing just as starved for their affections as they were for him. Ash slid a palm down Colby’s chest and skimmed it lower, over the tip of his thick shaft tenting his pants. Colby wanted, and it was beautiful.
He reached for the button at the top of Colby’s clay-covered jeans, exposing a bit of hair that arrowed down. Ash drew the zipper down, teeth clenched against the want throbbing in his veins. His heart thundered in his ears, the sound deafening.
Ash massaged the brief-covered hardness that tented through the open vee. Colby sobbed, gasping for breath at every touch. Eager to see their mate, Ash pulled the edge of the waistband down and the head of Colby’s cock popped from behind the fabric, red and raw and angry. It needed comfort, something Ash was more than ready to offer. Lowering to his knees, he lashed his tongue around the tip before sucking a few inches into his mouth.
Colby gasped, his hips thrusting forward. He fed more of his cock into Ash’s mouth. Back arched, mouth open, and head thrown back, Colby was gorgeous in his lust. Ash watched him as he suckled the root, adding more fuel to the fire.
He met Luca’s ravening stare, noting the longing there, too. Soon, both men watched him as he worked Colby’s shaft with his hands, lips, and tongue. Luca lowered a hand, gripping the root of Colby’s cock, feeding the shaft to Ash. Luca lowered his other one to massage Colby’s swollen balls.
Together, they assailed Colby, hungry to hear his cries of pleasure. They didn’t wait long. Whimpers became moans. Moans became gasps for air. Colby stiffened, his head falling back to Luca’s shoulder.
“Oh god… oh god…” Colby gasped. “Ash!”
He moaned, coming hard against the back of Ash’s throat. Ash slowed but continued his sucking, draining every drop. When he lifted from Colby’s cock, Luca leaned down to kiss him, sharing the flavor of their mate’s seed.
“Coby?” came from just outside the studio.
Ash jumped to his feet as Colby quickly covered himself with Luca’s help seconds before Daniel appeared.
“The oven buzzer is going off, Ash.” Daniel frowned, as if he sensed he’d walked in on something he shouldn’t. “Are we gonna eat?”
“Of course we are,” Ash said, wiping his lips with the back of one hand and realizing he’d missed some clay here and there. He made a display of wiping himself off to hide himself, grabbing the bench he’d been sitting on earlier to cover his erection.
“You’re messy,” Daniel said, grinning.
Ash glanced down to check if there was anything terrible showing and was sure he was okay. “I am. Colby was just giving me a pottery lesson, and I got clay everywhere.”
Daniel laughed. “Why’s your face so red, Coby?”
Colby coughed. “It’s hot in here.”
“No, it’s not,” Daniel said.
Ash headed for the door, urging Daniel closer to it—all while holding the bench like an idiot. “Wanna help me grill those steaks?”
“Sure, but you have to clean up first,” Daniel said.
“I do.”
Daniel exited, Ash on his tail. He paused, eyeing a grinning Luca and a mortified Colby before lowering the bench and walking out. He returned to the kitchen and began the arduous task of cleaning bits of clay from his hands, arms, and shirt at the sink.
His cock still tented his pants. Standing at the sink, it wasn’t noticeable. At least to anyone but Ash. His mind drifted as he washed himself. He could taste Colby on his lips and tongue, aware that would haunt him throughout dinner.
After getting most of the loose clay from his shirt and pants—he tossed the used paper towels into the trash. Too bad Luca’s on magical lock-down. He could clean this up with a snap of the fingers.
Once clean, he turned on the grill built into the exquisite commercial range to heat and retrieved the steaks from the fridge—reclaiming some semblance of control over his body. His cock softened a bit, thankfully.
“Can I help?” Daniel asked.
“Do you want to make the salad dressing?” Ash asked.
“We have some in a bottle,” Daniel said. “It’s in the refrigerator.”
“Nah,” Ash said. “Homemade is better. I can show you how.”
“Okay,” Daniel said happily.
As they tossed oil, honey, Dijon, and vinegar into a bowl, Luca and Colby appeared at the back door, looking cleaner than he’d left them. He noted bits of clay in Colby’s hair and realized they’d done a piss-poor job of cleaning themselves in their haste to get to one another. A sly smile crossed his lips and only seemed to cause Colby’s face to redden more.
Handing the bowl and whisk to Daniel, he grinned. “How about you two set the table? Dinner will be ready in less than fifteen.”
The pair stepped into action. Fifteen minutes later, the foursome carried steaks, potatoes, salad, and fixings to the table. Like a proper family. That thought brought a sudden sense of peace to Ash. He missed having family as much as Daniel did. The coven had given him a sense of that, as had Luca, but having Colby and Daniel in their lives gave it gravitas.
Already, the pair had become a vital part of who they were. There was no way he would let go without a fight.
Colby was theirs.
They were Colby’s.
Ash watched as everyone settled in, enjoying the meal he’d prepared with a sense of pride. Smiling faces around the dinner table, charming conversation, and another spectacular bottle of wine. When they were done, all agreed it was a lovely meal.
“Luca?” Daniel asked. “Are your parents dead, too?”
Ash’s gaze flipped to Luca, and he noted the pain there.
“Daniel!” Colby chastised. “That’s impolite.”
“Sorry,” Daniel mumbled.
“Daniel and I were discussing our parents while I was prepping dinner,” Ash said to Colby before offering a smile. “He was feeling sad, and I shared that I’d lost my parents, as well.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Colby said, holding Ash’s gaze. “I know full well how much it sucks.”
“It very much does,” Ash murmured. It seemed he had something in common with Colby after all—but why did it have to be loss?
Colby turned his attention to Luca. “Are your parents still around?”
“Yes and no,” Luca replied. “My mom and stepfather, that is. They’re living, but they moved to New Orleans some years ago. We don’t see each other as often as we used to, and I miss her.”
Ash realized that statement wasn’t completely honest. Luca and his mother’s relationship had always been fraught with tension, and the distance had benefitted them both. His mother was a free-spirit and hadn’t always given Luca the stability a child needed, yet she adored her son with all her heart. Ash saw it in her eyes when they’d last gone to New Orleans.
Grief suddenly filled Luca’s face, and Ash wondered what it was from.
“Your dad?” Colby asked.
“Never knew him,” Luca answered.
Luca’s mother had never told him who his father was. She’d had a revolving door of boyfriends and stepfathers around as his father figures. Most hadn’t lasted long, although the current one held the record.
“Why do I sense such sadness in you today?” Colby asked Luca.
Ash sat back, watching the interaction. Luca clearly hadn’t shared his bad news. Luca shrugged instead of answering.
“He’s our mate,” Ash said. “You should share with him.”
Luca frowned. “No reason to saddle him with that.”
“What? Is it something to do with my curse?” Colby asked.
“No,” both he and Luca said in concert.
“What’s a mate?” Daniel asked.
All three heads turned toward Daniel.
“Nothing,” Colby spat, rising with plate in hand. “We need to clean up.”
Ash sat back, as did Luca, eyeing one another a few seconds before rising and clearing the table. Tension filled the air as they cleaned-up. When it was over, Daniel excused himself to his bedroom. Colby wiped the counter, and as soon as Daniel’s door closed above, he turned to them.
“I can tell something’s wrong,” Colby said. “What is it?”
“One of my clients died,” Luca said.
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that,” Colby murmured, appearing confused. “Someone you were working on after the guy I saw?”
A shine came to Luca’s eyes, and he turned for the back door. “I need a minute.”
As soon as the door closed, Colby turned to Ash—fear in his eyes. “I don’t understand. Are the tattoos failing? Am I going to die?”
“No, no, no…” Ash moved closer. “Mrs. Stephenson had cancer, and it had metastasized before she’d ever come to him for help. If she’d come earlier, he might’ve been able to cure her, but her pride had gotten the better of her.”
“Pride?”
“She was his teacher. Middle and high school.” Ash chuckled to himself. “I know this sounds impossible, but that giant of a man was a shrimp growing up. Bullies targeted him. Mrs. Stephenson protected him—as in going above and beyond to save him repeatedly. Far more than was her duty. After her diagnosis, she didn’t come to him sooner because she feared being able to afford the cost.”
“The cost of magic…” Colby murmured. “I’ve heard it mentioned a few times.”
“Yeah,” Ash said. “Only, he wouldn’t charge her. He paid the price himself.” Ash glanced at the door, both wanting to give Luca space and needing to console his witch. “Ultimately, he redid her tattoo at least a half dozen times and refused payment for each of them. He gave her another decade she hadn’t expected with her family, without pain, but she succumbed, and it’s hit him hard.”
“That’s heartbreaking,” Colby murmured.
“He tried so damned hard to give her more than that… but the cancer had taken root and wouldn’t let go.”
Colby crossed the kitchen and opened the back door. Ash followed behind and saw Luca leaning on the railing of the small back porch. Colby wrapped his arms around Luca’s waist. Luca spun in the embrace, eyeing Colby and then Ash.
“I’m so sorry, Luca.” Colby pressed his face against Luca’s chest.
A tear slipped down Luca’s cheek. Ash closed the gap between them and wiped the tear away. He grabbed the back of Luca’s head and drew the man’s head down for a kiss. Ash wasn’t sure how it happened, but they were soon kissing one another. He shared sips from both mates. Luca and Ash surrounded Colby, and the embrace tightened. Kisses deepened; fingers explored.
“We should take this inside before the neighbors see something they shouldn’t,” Colby murmured between caresses.
Chapter
Fourteen
Since his orgasm in the studio, Colby had struggled not to beg them to finish what they’d started. Days of endless dreams and fantasies of them touching him—fucking him—had wreaked havoc, but he was forced to contain the craving and eat when the only appetite he had wasn’t for food, no matter how delicious the dinner Ash prepared was.
The second Daniel departed, he’d expected their touch. Skin prickling, he’d counted the seconds, waiting to witness how soon they pounced. Luca’s pain had quieted the urge, and he’d simply wanted to offer comfort. He understood the pain of loss all too well.
When he found Luca in the twilight and saw the familiarity of grief, his heart tightened, and he knew he’d do anything to offer solace. It was his chance to repay some of the compassion Luca had shown him. Luca had kissed him unexpectantly, and he’d been dragged back under the tidal wave of lust. If intimacy was what Luca needed, how could he not yield to that desire?
“We should take this inside before the neighbors see something they shouldn’t.”
Luca lifted him to the railing, pressing between his thighs. “Let them look. I don’t care. I want you, Colby.” He stole another kiss, breathless. “I need you.”
He captured Colby’s mouth, devouring. Colby moaned, forgetting his reservations with one lash of the tongue. Luca held his head in place and feasted, the hunger growing. Hooking both arms under Colby’s knees, Luca lifted him from the railing with ease.
Turning, the movement allowed Ash to move in behind Colby. The cool night air washed over him, a breeze causing him to shiver. He sensed it wasn't just the cold, but the consuming presence of being crowded between two powerful men.
He barely noticed when they moved indoors. Engrossed by the caress of their hands traveling over his body… them hot and hard against him… Colby surrendered to them, sensing how right it was.
He was laid onto the carpet in front of the fireplace. Luca started the gas fireplace with a flip of a switch before joining Ash in removing his clothing. Soon enough, he was naked under their appraisal—forgetting for a few moments the hideous scarring covering half his body.
When he writhed, desirous of their touch, his stiff joints brought it all back and he was yanked from the haze of lust. Shame filled him, and he moved his arms to hide himself.
“Don’t,” Luca whispered, dragging his hands away. “You’re beautiful… just as you are.”
Colby stiffened, struggling with the praise, knowing it to be a lie. How did they find him anything but atrocious? He had eyes. He realized what he looked like.
Ash captured his chin and forced his gaze. “You are not these scars. We see past them. If you can’t, view yourself through our eyes.” He stole a kiss. “Our mate… our beautiful, beautiful mate.”
Colby wanted to believe them. He held Ash’s stare a moment before turning to gaze at Luca. He noted nothing but reverence in both men’s eyes. Shutting his eyes for a few seconds, he released his hands and relaxed his body.
They didn’t care about the scars. Why should he?
The moment he abandoned his doubts, they spun a sensual spell around him, driving thoughts of anything but their touch from his mind. The pair assaulted his senses, their kisses, nibbles, licks, and caresses driving him to the point of madness.
Time slowed as they dragged out every pleasure.
Over the long minutes, they’d divested themselves of their clothing. They thrashed together on the carpet, the warm drafts from the fire washing over his body. Colby rolled onto his hands and knees, lifting his bottom toward Ash as he grasped the root of Luca’s cock.
Lube appeared from thin air. Literally. He glared at Luca, who chuckled. “It’s not magic. I promise.”
“It is,” Ash whispered, grabbing the bottle from Luca. “But we’ll let this one slide. For now.”
Colby was nearly past the point of conscious thought. He was a pool of need. The second Ash’s wet fingertips pressed against his puckered hole, he keened. Surging against him, Colby allowed the digits to sink inside him, coating him there.
He sucked Luca’s cock into his mouth, moaning around the shaft as Ash fingerfucked him, preparing him for more to come. He’d already seen Ash’s length and girth, knowing it was likely the biggest cock he’d ever taken. Luca’s was longer, but not as thick… and was probably the better choice to go first.
Releasing Luca’s cock, he pulled off Ash’s fingers and spun to face the shifter. Ash frowned for a second, but only a second, as Colby grasped his hard cock and drew the head between his lips. He offered his bottom to Luca, using one hand to spread his cheeks wide.
Luca took the hint and moved into position. He rubbed the head of his shaft up and down Colby’s crack, wetting it. He added more lube and pressed the head against Colby’s anus.
“Colby… do you wa—”
Colby pressed down on Luca’s cock, sensing the question of consent. He impaled himself as his answer, delighting in the moan of pleasure that bubbled up Luca’s chest.
Luca’s fingertips dug into his hips, and he was yanked farther down the shaft. He gasped when Luca pulled out and drove deeper. Deeper still on the next thrust. Ash’s cock popped free from his lips on the mewl that came when Luca was fully seated.
“Fuck, that’s hot,” Ash whispered, looking over Colby’s head at where they were linked. He leaned over and used both hands to spread Colby’s cheeks apart. “Slide out and back in, baby. Let me see you fuck him.”
Luca did as he was told, sliding out and driving deep again. He moaned, the shaft going deeper than the last.
