Perfect Woman

Perfect Woman Talya Bosco

What’s better than one gorgeous, sexy man? Two gorgeous, sexy men! Tricia is in heaven when Donovan, her lover of four years, invites his best friend Kevin to join them for a weekend of carnal delights straight out of her sexual fantasies. But she wants more. She wants love. However, Donovan has made it clear in the past that long-term commitment is not in his future plans. Donovan loves Tricia. She’s his ideal…his perfect woman, and he wants more than a weekend with her a few times a year. He’s ready for forever. But he has a secret to share that may tear them apart—love or not.

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Perfect Woman ISBN 9781419924538 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Perfect Woman Copyright © 2009 Talya Bosco Edited by Sue-Ellen Gower Cover art by Syneca Electronic book publication December 2009 The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

PERFECT WOMAN

Talya Bosco

Perfect Woman

Chapter One Tricia looked around at the rest of the people in the slowly dispersing circle. It was a large gathering and she’d been looking forward to it for months. Festivals were always so much fun, and she’d never been disappointed when she came to the ones at The Grove. She’d been coming to pagan festivals here for five years and loved every minute of them. The private campground bordered a national forest, providing it with a peace and tranquility she couldn’t find at home, no matter how hard she tried. It was nothing like life in a suburb of a major city. Out of the corner of her eye she saw something move, and turned to face what was coming toward her. Six-foot six-inches of pure masculinity strode toward her with a purpose. His bright blue eyes glinted as he grinned at her, his pace picking up until he was nearly running. He reached down and scooped her up in one move, swinging her around in his arms. “Babe! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” His husky voice had her wet between the legs before he was even done with his sentence. Tricia lost herself in those eyes, drowning in memories of the past and hopes for the future. This man was no small part of the reason she kept coming back to The Grove these last few years. Ever since they’d gotten together four years ago, she hadn’t missed a gathering. Her gaze ran over the man holding her tightly. His blue eyes were framed by shoulder-length black hair, and he had a chest that she dreamed of regularly. His torso tapered down to a narrow waist perfect for wrapping legs around, which she did now. His own long, muscular legs had no problem supporting both of them.

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“You here alone?” Was that wistfulness she detected in his voice? Did he hope she’d found someone else? Had he found someone else? He hadn’t said anything to her in their regular emails, but it was still possible. “Yes.” Her response was almost a whisper. “You gonna share my cabin?” Donovan was a full-time staff member at The Grove, and as such, he had a small one-room cabin off in the woods away from the main campers. “Do you want me to?” “When have I ever not wanted you to?” “I didn’t know if maybe things had changed.” Tricia could have kicked herself for that forlorn sound in her voice. “Well there are a couple things I want to talk to you about, but not about you not staying with me. I look forward to our time together more than you know.” Donovan held her tighter if that were possible, as he placed her feet back on the ground and cupped her chin with his hand as he brought his mouth down for a welcome kiss. It didn’t matter how often she and Donovan kissed, it was always electric. And the first time after they’d been apart from each other for a while was always the best. At the touch of his lips against hers, sparks shot through her body, electrifying each and every cell with desire and need. Her lips parted of their own accord, allowing him access. His tongue swept across hers, teasing her with a promise of what was to come later. He plunged deep inside as though he couldn’t get enough of her, his taste sending another wave of heat and moisture to pool between her thighs. “Mmmmm. I missed you.” His voice was enough to make her body melt into a puddle right there. “I’m sorry I missed opening ritual, but I needed to finish some things for Diana.”

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Diana was one of the owners of The Grove, and technically Donovan’s boss, but she never gave him orders in Tricia’s presence. In fact, she treated him more like an equal than an employee. Her ability to treat everyone the same was one of the things that endeared her to everyone, newcomers and veterans alike. “That’s okay. You didn’t miss much after ritual, just basic business. Nothing is planned ’til the potluck later tonight.” “So you have a couple hours to kill?” Donovan’s eyes lit up with whatever he was thinking. Tricia laughed. “No. I promised Jill I’d help set up her tent. She brought the big one this time.” “Great, I’m sure you ladies can use an extra hand.” Tricia pretended to glare at Donovan. “Surely you don’t mean we can’t do it without you, do you?” Donovan grinned. “Babe, the last thing on this planet I would suggest is that you ever need a man’s help. But that doesn’t mean I can’t offer it, now does it?” “And it is greatly appreciated, trust me.” Tricia turned at the sound of a new voice and smiled at her friend Jill. “You just want to see him all hot and sweaty, Jill.” Tricia laughed. “And you don’t?” Jill raked Donovan’s body with a leer that would put any pervert to shame. She put her arm through one of his. “Come on, big boy. You’re needed in the campgrounds.” Women’s Lib be damned, Jill and Tricia decided to let Donovan and a couple other guys they knew, including Jill’s new boyfriend, show off their manly prowess as they put up the large twelve-person tent. The women had done it many times before, but after some ribbing directed toward them from Donovan and Jill’s boyfriend, they opted to let the men try it alone. Without instructions.

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The women sat off to the side and watched the men, timing them. Their own record was ten minutes, which the men assured them they would beat. When a few additional guys showed up, offering their muscles for the project, Tricia and Jill decided that the longer they took, the better. The two women sat back to enjoy the show. After all, how often did you get a chance to see such prime, half-naked eye candy flexing their muscles? Mostly, Tricia watched Donovan, but she was woman enough to admit a fascination with the rest of the male specimens. Especially one in particular. A tingle ran through her body when she saw him reaching across for a support pole. He wasn’t built wide like Donovan, he had the body of a runner. Strong, narrow chest, tapered waist, long legs and beautiful coffee-colored skin. As perfectly proportioned as Donovan, but in a completely different way. Tricia swallowed hard when he and Donovan stood together, obviously trying to decide what was wrong with the lopsided tent. Donovan’s black hair and deeply tanned body standing beside the other man’s dark form made her salivate, craving something she had never experienced before. The new man took that moment to look up, and stare straight into her eyes. She couldn’t look away as her mind rushed pictures to her vagina, soaking her in response. Donovan looked up to see what the stranger was looking at and smiled his bright smile at her. She saw him say something to the other man who turned back to Donovan and responded. “By the gods, Jill. I think I’m in testosterone heaven.” It took a moment for Jill to tear her eyes away from the men she was watching on the other side of the tent, and sucked in a breath when she turned in the direction of Tricia’s attention. “Oooh, Tricia. Yum. Can I have that one?” “Hell no. I want them both.” “Have you ever?”

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Tricia turned her attention to her friend. “No, I haven’t. We’ve talked about it before, though.” She turned back. “But to be completely honest, I don’t know if I could. Or if Donovan would really be willing.” “And if you could and he were?” Tricia licked her lips as she thought of the two men pleasuring her at the same time. “Then I’d definitely be in heaven.”

***** “Babe.” The soft whisper behind her had her trying to turn around before Donovan’s hands held her shoulders and prevented her from moving. He continued breathing the words into her ear. “I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely ready for something different.” Tricia looked around the campfire. People were drumming and dancing around the flames, celebrating the holiday. Some couples and triads were removed slightly, snuggling with each other in various states of enjoyment—it was Beltane after all. Donovan’s heat against her back sent warm tendrils through her body, straight to her wet pussy. The pussy that hadn’t been dry since she’d stepped onto the property earlier today. “I have something special planned.” He stroked her body, moving his hands to her waist as he pulled her gently against him. Tricia didn’t think it was possible, but her body got even more excited at his words. “What?” Her nipples hardened as all kinds of thoughts ran through her head. Sex with Donovan was always fun and inventive. “Shhh, don’t you worry.” Gently he tugged at her waist, pulling her from the fire toward the private area of the campgrounds. After a few minutes he turned them down a path she had only walked a couple times. “The hot tub?” She started to get excited in a totally different way. The owners had a wooden hot tub built into a hill, with something underneath to heat the water. She 9

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wasn’t sure of the engineering involved, but the water was gloriously warm and without any chemicals. Donovan smiled deeply as he led her to the showers. He tugged her dress off, baring her nakedness to the night breezes. “You know the routine, my love. Shower first. We gotta get all that sunscreen and bug spray off.” Donovan removed his sarong before reaching for the jasmine soap and shampoo the owners had waiting for guests’ use. Very few guests knew about the hot tub, and even those who did tended to stay away without specific permission. Most viewed it as Diana’s private domain. But it was still open to the rest of the campers, and there was no telling when someone else might decide to join them. Despite that, Tricia had no inhibitions about showering out in the open. Clothing was optional for the festivals, and a nude body was nothing to gape over. She usually wore some covering, but many did not. Donovan brought her closer to him under the spray of the outside shower and began to lather her up. He started with her shoulders, his large strong hands smoothing away her tensions as the soap coated her. Turning her away from him, he scrubbed her back, hands grasping her at her waist as he smoothed his way down her ass, massaging the cheeks, pulling them apart to run his finger down the cleft. Her body tightened in response as moisture rushed to her core. Surprisingly, he quickly moved onto her thighs, and then down, taking a small nip out of one ass cheek as he rubbed her calves. She felt him stand up, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her against him. He worked the soap to her breasts, massaging them, cupping them as he pressed his hardening cock against her backside. His fingers tweaked her firmed nipples, pinching them to harder peaks. She moaned when she felt one of his hands move slowly down to her core, where he separated her lips to find the little button at the top of her vagina. One finger flicked

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at it in passing, but the hand continued to roam down until he reached her hole and inserted two long fingers inside. Her body sucked them in, welcoming their presence in her wet heat. He pumped at her, sliding his hand in and out, as his thumb found its way back to her clit and pressed down hard on it. She gasped at the sensation. The soap was long gone. One hand at her pussy, one on her tit, and his mouth nibbling at the sensitive nerve running down her neck. Her breath grew faster, shallower as the sensations piled one upon the other. She wasn’t sure where to concentrate her attention, different feelings running throughout her body, all meeting, coalescing at her center, building as they exploded, tearing her into a million pieces. Gradually her breathing returning to normal as Donovan held her in his arms, her body rinsed of all soap. He turned her around to face him. “Good?” “Oh yeah.” “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips before pointing her to the tub about fifteen feet away in the darkness. “Go check the temperature while I finish washing off and I’ll be there in a jiffy.” Tricia walked slowly to the hot tub, being careful not to stub her toes on any rocks that might have worked their way on the path since it had last been cleared. When she got there, she read the thermometer they kept in the water for safety’s sake. One hundred and two. Perfect. Slowly she climbed in, letting the heat permeate her body. She laid her head back and closed her eyes, listening to Donovan finish up in the shower. She wondered what was taking him so long, but didn’t have the energy to open her eyes and look. The water came to her chest, her large breasts on top, and it felt wonderful.

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After a few moments she heard him approach. She smiled as she wondered what he had in store for her this evening. It would be exciting, whatever it was. He entered the water and made his way over to her, the small waves of water signaling his approach. Hands ran through her long hair. “Mmmm, keep those eyes closed for me, baby, okay?” Tricia had no problem with that request, murmuring her acquiescence as he massaged her scalp. His large hands soothed her, relaxing and enticing her at the same time. Tiny explosions of desire went off throughout her body as he brought his lips to hers. Donovan had the most amazing mouth. She’d never met any other man who could make her wet and writhing with just a kiss, but Donovan could. His tongue thrust between her lips, running over her teeth, playing with her as he elicited moans from her at his ministrations. She lifted her head up, keeping her eyes closed as promised, and brought her hands up to his shoulders to cradle him closer to her. His hands continued the soothing motion on her hair, tingles shooting down to her toes. Her breasts were cupped, massaged as gently as her scalp. Her breasts? His hands were still in her hair. What the—? Tricia’s eyes popped open, and she jerked her head back from Donovan. He looked at her with desire in his eyes and a grin on his face. She couldn’t turn her head since his hands were still cradling it. “I wasn’t sure how you would react, baby, so I wanted to give you a chance to experience it before saying no. This is Kevin.” He gently released her head so she could turn and look at the man standing behind the hot tub. He was leaning over, his arms around her body cradling her breasts. She sucked in a quick breath. It was the man from earlier. The one who’d been talking with Donovan. His eyes glittered with excitement…and was that hope?

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“I’ve known him for years, babe. He told me he’s seen you at other pagan events, but he’s never had a chance to meet you. The desire on your face earlier today gave me this idea. I didn’t think you’d be too averse to it, especially given the conversations we’ve had over the years.” Donovan was right. They had discussed threesomes in the past, but she’d never found anyone she was comfortable with, or that she desired enough to bring into their activities. He had often said that it would have to be someone he trusted implicitly. He didn’t want her getting hurt, and he knew he wasn’t interested in any males, so it would have to be someone strictly hetero. Finding a trustworthy hetero male into threesomes with two men and one woman was harder than they’d thought. “Was I right? That wasn’t just desire for me on your face earlier, was it?” He cupped her chin and turned her face toward him. This man knew her so well, Tricia shouldn’t have been surprised. Slowly she let a smile creep across her face. She hadn’t realized how tense and worried Donovan was until she saw the relief flash over his face. He smiled then nodded to Kevin, who hadn’t moved an inch since she’d opened her eyes. “And babe, I promise you he’s as clean as you and me. But we’ll still be careful.” He was letting her know he had condoms ready for their use. She hadn’t doubted him at all. “Thank you,” she whispered. She moved a hand to cup his face as she leaned to kiss him. Simultaneously her other hand lay on top of one of Kevin’s, urging him to continue. Tricia planned to put all her concentration on that kiss, but Kevin obviously had other plans as his hands became firmer, massaging her breasts, moving to grasp her nipples between his fingers and pinch them.

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She gasped into Donovan’s mouth and felt him smile with pleasure at her reaction to his friend. She barely had time to register that fact before Kevin pulled her back toward him and lowered his mouth to her neck. Hot, so hot. His wet tongue licked where her neck and shoulder met straight up to her earlobe, which he teased a bit before nibbling. One hand moved up to cup her chin, turning her head to allow him better access. His hand was immediately replaced by Donovan as he took her breast into his mouth, sucking on it hard. Donovan’s teeth nibbled at her nipple, his other hand massaging her other breast. Kevin was still nibbling on her ear, one hand caressing her neck, his other sweeping up her arm, holding her hand tight against his neck. She was all hands and lips. One arm cupped around Kevin’s neck, her other hand grasped Donovan by the hair, as they both showered her with attention. Sparks were shooting through her body, starting everywhere they touched, straight down to her pussy, which was pulsing with desire, pumping out fluids to ready her for more. She barely registered when Donovan’s hands went to her waist and started to lift her out of the water. He lay her back into Kevin’s arms, urging her to kneel on the seat she’d been sitting on. Kevin stopped for a moment to help with the adjusting, then moved one hand down to her breast when he obviously saw where Donovan was going. Tricia’s pussy was even with the water. It lapped at her in small ripples, sending sensations through her body with each little wave. Donovan looked up at her from his position still in the water and grinned. “Babe, you know this is my favorite part, don’t you?” Tricia inhaled sharply as Kevin chuckled from behind her. “He does love it,” Kevin whispered in her ear. “He told me how sweet you tasted, how he loves to lick you dry, and have you come again and again all over his face.” Kevin’s voice turned her on more, if that were even possible. Her eyes were trained on Donovan as he slowly moved toward her. Donovan’s hand stroked her mound, 14

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twisting his fingers through the hair, playing with it. “Mmmmm, I’d love to see this baby shaved. Would you do that for me, babe?” He seemed distracted, all attention on what he was doing rather than saying. “Yes.” Tricia’s voice was coming in gasps. She knew she was already close to her second orgasm of the night. Just watching him play with her was driving her crazy. She had to fight with her body to keep from writhing under his ministrations. She didn’t want to miss a thing, so forced herself to stay still. As soon as she got in a shower alone, that hair was gone, she vowed to herself. Donovan glanced up quickly. “Thank you.” Tricia gasped loudly as Donovan brought his head into the apex of her legs. At the exact same time, Kevin pinched a nipple hard and bit her neck sharply. Tricia shot over the edge instantaneously. Her body tightened right before exploding into a million pieces, shattering her control as she screamed, “Yes!” The men waited for some of her tremors to calm before they attacked her senses again. Donovan opened her lower lips with one hand, allowing him better access to her clit; with the other he inserted two fingers firmly into her canal. Kevin climbed over the edge of the tub, entering it to face Tricia. He bent his head down to take her mouth with his. Mmmm, he tasted like chocolate. Sweet, decadent chocolate. The kind that was too easy to overload on. His tongue fought with hers as he claimed temporary ownership of her mouth, pushing inside her, taking as much as he gave. One hand still kneaded her breast, the other moving down her back, past her waist, to grab her ass tightly. She groaned into his mouth as Donovan ate at her hungrily, moaning his appreciation as he pumped her, two more fingers joining the first pair. He was spreading her out for his cock. It had been so long since she had anything but Peter, her rabbit vibrator, that she knew she was tight, and Donovan was not a small man by anyone’s standards.

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Donovan’s tongue lapped her juices, his fingers stretched her canal, while his teeth nipped at her clit. Kevin’s fingers spread open her ass cheeks, one finger finding and playing with the tiny rosette. He pushed on it slightly, as though testing her. Donovan, Kevin, Donovan Kevin, her attention torn between the two, both creating sensations too much to handle. Her body was on fire, heat hitting her from the water, the men, from inside her own body. Before she knew it, she was flying again, this time screaming into Kevin’s mouth as the tip of his little finger pushed into her ass, his hand squeezing her cheek hard, pushing her against Donovan’s mouth and hand. Donovan pumped hard and fast, sucking at her forcefully, rapidly, as her orgasm went on and on, her body vibrating as tears ran down her cheeks from the strength of it all. She was barely conscious as she felt herself lifted out of the tub and carried a few feet away. Donovan lay her down on a soft bed. She realized it was a king-sized air mattress, with blankets and sheets. “Mmmmm.” Her eyes were fluttering open as she saw Donovan smile over her body at Kevin. “I think we may have worn the lady out, old friend.” Kevin’s voice sounded disappointed, but his face looked eager. “I sincerely hope not. I haven’t gotten to have half the fun you have.” Tricia smiled in contentment as they began to stroke her body again from top to bottom. Donovan moved to her head, stroking her arms as he pulled them up toward him, holding them in place above her head, leaving her stretched out to both of their gazes. Kevin worked his way down ’til he was sitting between her legs, hands caressing the inside of her thighs. His voice sounded thick with emotion as he told her, “You are so beautiful. I’ve seen you so many times, but we never had the chance to meet. I told Donovan of the exquisite angel I’d seen at Pagan Picnic, but who disappeared before I could approach her. Every time I’ve caught a glimpse of you over the years, you were gone before I could move.

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“I’ve built fantasies around you. Ones where I got to please you in every way imaginable. Please, my angel Tricia, let me pleasure you.” Tricia was speechless. What did you say to a man who called you beautiful, an angel, and asked to pleasure you in every way imaginable? Yes! Not only yes, but hell yes! Instead of yelling out what was in her head, she only nodded. He smiled, his eyes brightening in pleasure as he lay down between her legs. Only then did Tricia realize that one or both of them must have lit torches while her eyes were closed in the hot tub. She could see both her men clearly in the flickering light as they moved to pleasure her further. Kevin moved between her legs slowly, deliberately. He blew a gentle breath across her mons, and then cupped it with his hand. “Mmm,” he murmured before laying his head down on her. He inhaled deeply, rubbing his head against her, making appreciative sounds all the while. Tricia watched him, sparks starting anew at his actions. Donovan had hold of her hands, trapping them in his loving grasp, fingertips moving back and forth across her pulse points. Kevin inhaled again as he turned his face into her, burying his mouth. “I don’t know why you want her to shave this.” He lifted his head slowly to look at Donovan. “I think it’s wonderful.” Donovan’s rumbled laughter vibrated her body. “Oh, I agree, my friend, but I want her to experience it bare. Give her another new experience.” Tricia was sure he had that evil grin on his face that usually promised something decadent and wonderful. “Too true. That will definitely be something different for her. But in the meantime, I’m gonna enjoy it while I can.” Kevin once again turned his attention to pleasuring Tricia. One finger stroked her cleft from tip all the way down to her ass, and then back up again. Tricia squirmed, but Donovan held her immobile. 17

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Kevin used one hand to open her to his view before darting at her clit with his tongue. Her hips bucked up into his mouth. His hand wrapped around her ass as he buried his face into her. Holding her tight against him, he flicked, sucked and bit at her clit, sending darts of energy spinning through her body. Her body was still close from her previous orgasms and it didn’t take much to drive her to the brink again. “Oh, Kevin. Donovan. Oh gods, yes, that’s it.” Donovan continued to hold her tight against him, his hands massaging her tits, squeezing and turning her nipples, pinching and pulling her to orgasm. Tricia knew her body couldn’t take much more, she needed that release that was right…right…there! She thrashed against the men holding her, the orgasm more intense than any she had ever had before. Donovan covered her mouth with his as she continued screaming to the gods as wave after wave of sensation drowned her in feelings. Her legs tightened around Kevin’s head, the little conscious thought she had was to not squeeze as they tensed. Instead, she pushed down on his shoulders with her thighs, eager not to hurt him with her quaking legs. It was the last thought she had before she lost control of her body and darkness overtook her.

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Chapter Two “Babe? Are you okay?” Donovan looked concerned when she opened her eyes. Tricia smiled contentedly. Damn. That had never happened before. She’d passed out. “Oh yeah, more than okay. Where the hell did I find such wonderful men? What did I do in a past life to deserve this?” Donovan smiled the smile that always made her heart go pitter-pat. “I think we should be asking that question, babe. Trust me, we’re enjoying it as much as you.” He scooted behind her, leaning her back against his chest as he pulled up the blanket he must have put over her when she passed out. She snuggled warmly against him under it. Tricia smiled as he held her tightly. “Kevin went to get us something to eat. We thought you could use something to keep your strength up. We don’t want you passing out for the night before we’ve had our way with you.” “Oh gods, Donovan, I’m not sure how much more I can take.” He kissed her on the top of her head. “Whenever you want to stop, babe, you just let us know.” “But that’s so unfair. I’ve come already more times than I can remember, and the two of you—” “Will be fine,” Donovan interrupted her. “We wanted to give this to you tonight. Kevin wasn’t exaggerating when he said he’s wanted to meet you for years. I never put two and two together until earlier today.” “How long have you known him?” “Since we were in high school. We went to college together too. He really is a great guy. Probably my closest friend.” “You trust him?”

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“With the most precious thing in my life.” Tricia lay there in his arms about to ask him what that was, when Kevin came around the corner. He smiled when he saw the two of them and approached them eagerly. “Feast fit for a queen, I hope.” He kneeled down on the bed beside them, laying down the basket he held laden with goodies. “Cheese, crackers, sausage, fruit, and of course, apple juice.” He gestured to each of his offerings in turn. The Grove was a dry retreat, alcohol wasn’t allowed, which suited Tricia well, as she didn’t like alcohol. The men didn’t even let her feed herself. They spent the next hour or so feeding her bites of food, eating and talking about themselves. Tricia was fascinated to learn things about Donovan she’d never known. Everything Kevin said about him just reinforced what she had known for a while. She was in love with him. The problem was, he didn’t feel the same. He enjoyed his life at The Grove and had no desire to put it aside and live a life in the mundane world. At least not with her. He’d told her long ago he didn’t want any permanent commitment. This was probably the closest he’d get. Tricia had accepted that, and for a while she’d been content, but no longer. Earlier this year she’d decided she was ready for more. She needed more, and she wasn’t sure Donovan wanted what she wanted. She knew he loved children and would be a wonderful father, but she didn’t know if he wanted his own. If he was ready to go back to the real world and all that entailed, including things like work, bills and neighbors. But she knew she owed it to both of them to tell him what she wanted. To give him the chance to express his own needs and desires. She cuddled back against Donovan, his arms tightening around her once again. If this was the last weekend she had with him, she wanted to remember each and every minute of it.

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Kevin rummaged around the basket again, looking for something. He tilted his head up and gave a grin that Tricia already recognized as broadcasting he had something planned. Pushing the basket aside, he moved down to her feet, and pulled her down the mattress until she was lying flat. Once again Donovan held her arms above her head. “How are you feeling?” Kevin’s lighter voice asked her as he caressed her calves, pulling the blanket off her, his eyes darkening with desire. “Mmm,” was Tricia’s only response, her body already beginning to tingle again with desire. “If I do anything you don’t want, just tell me to stop, okay?” Tricia looked at him. She had no fear. Donovan was here and would keep her safe. “Okay.” She watched as Kevin reached into the basket once more and pulled out a silk scarf. He reached up and handed it to Donovan, not saying anything. Donovan reached out for it, and then bent down to kiss Tricia on the lips. Pulling back, he laid the scarf over her eyes, and tied it behind her head before returning to hold her hands. Her heart jumped into her throat. She’d been blindfolded before, but never by a man she’d just met. Never in the company of two men. She forced herself to calm down. Donovan was here. She was safe. “Babe, are you okay? Do you want us to stop?” She felt his hands go to the scarf as though to untie it. “No.” She reached for his hands. “No, this is okay. It was just…unexpected.” “If you’re sure?” Was she sure? Hell yes. She realized she wanted this, all of this more than she wanted to breathe. “Definitely.” He slowly removed his hands, stroking her face on his way to hold her arms once again.

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“Open up.” Kevin’s voice whispered in her ear, and she opened her mouth, eager at the thought of one of their cocks in her mouth. It wasn’t a cock that entered her mouth. She realized it was a grape as he plied it between her lips and told her to bite. Gods. They were feeding her grapes under a moonlit sky while she lay naked and blindfolded. Where in the Elysian Fields did these men come from? She couldn’t have planned a better night if she tried. A couple more bites of grapes and then something new. Mmm, an orange, sweet and sharp against her tongue. Juice ran down the side of her mouth, and immediately a tongue licked it up. She could have sworn it was Donovan’s, but sometime in the last few minutes he had moved and was no longer holding her hands above her head. Free, she moved her hands to stroke the man beside her. “Uh-uh,” a voice whispered as two hands from her other side grasped her arms. “You need to leave them up there.” When she whimpered, the lips that produced the whisper brushed her ear. “I promise you, we’ll make it worthwhile.” Tricia nodded quickly and received a sharp bite on her lobe in approval of her actions. A wet tongue stroked one of her nipples, causing her to jerk, but a hand pressed on her chest held her down. “Patience, my love.” Shivers ran over her body as a light summer breeze bathed her skin. Goose bumps popped up on her body, but she knew it wasn’t from the coolness of the night air. It was from the heat her two lovers were creating inside her. The hand still lay on her chest holding her immobile, as something cool dribbled on her nipple that had just been licked. The same substance was dribbled on her other nipple, and then pooled in her bellybutton. “Mmm, Mother Nature’s personal serving bowl.” She didn’t know why, their voices were nothing alike, but as her body heated and their voices softened with tenderness and desire, she was finding it difficult to tell them apart. 22

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One mouth covered a nipple as a hand worked its way down to the apex of her legs, covering her mons in heat. She barely had time to register the other nipple was getting cold before it too was covered in a hot, wet mouth as her lovers began licking and sucking in tandem. Another hand worked its way down her body, this one heading under her thigh, lifting her leg to provide it with easy access to her vagina. One long finger slowly inserted itself into her sheath, her muscles sucking it in. The first hand resumed its movement, and had reached her clit, pinching it between thumb and finger, sending sparks through her body. Both men continued bestowing attention on her breasts and playing with her core as she thrashed her head back and forth, reminding herself to keep her hands where they were, despite the desire to knot them in her lovers’ hair. The single finger was joined by another, and then another. Her lover pumped her, scissoring his fingers, pressing against her walls. He turned his wrist so he could crook his fingers and rub against her G-spot, instantly sending her body into shakes as yet again, another orgasm overtook her. One of them left her breast, only to dip his tongue into her navel, licking what had been dripped into her bellybutton before moving on, replacing his hand on her clit with his mouth. Tricia gasped as the sensation of his mouth, sticky with whatever was in her navel, wrapped around her. “How’s it taste, Kevin?” Donovan pulled his mouth from her other breast to ask his best friend. “Hmmm, sweet as heaven. Didn’t even need the honey.” He chuckled at his own joke before returning to give her clit a sharp suck. Tricia sucked in air. Oh gods, they were going to kill her with orgasms. “You ready for me? You ready to be fucked so hard you scream?”

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Which one had asked? Did it matter? Hell no. She was more than ready. “Yes, please. Now.” The two of them changed position once again, never leaving her untouched, unstroked. A hand always caressing her at all times. She heard the wrapper of a condom rip open before someone positioned his head between her legs. She opened them wider, ready for whatever he had to give her. The swipe of a tongue made her gasp. Once, twice. Then delving inside her quickly before leaving her just as quickly. She barely had time to register he had moved away, before hands grasped her shoulders and moved her to a kneeling position. She had one behind her and one in front of her. Together they pushed her legs open and urged her up on her knees. She felt a penis at the crack of her ass, bouncing in anticipation. Slowly her lover moved it down her ass, around to her vagina. He positioned her just right and slowly entered her. Her other lover hadn’t quit either, somehow his tongue was at her again, flicking at her clit as the long cock penetrated her from behind. He licked at the tight bud of nerves, synchronizing each lick with her first lover’s withdrawals. Slowly her lover from behind pumped her as her muscles held him in tight. He had one hand wrapped around her waist, the other grasping her breast, as he breathed heavily in her ear. Her arms free at last, she reached down for the man between her legs, knotting her hands in his hair. “Please.” She whimpered, tugging at him. He stopped. “Please what?” “I want more.” She quickly moved her hands down to his shoulders, encouraging him to a sitting position. Once she had him where she wanted him, she began to caress his chest, down his stomach to his cock. Her hands grasped it tightly. “I want this.” “Where do you want it, babe?”

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“I want to taste it, I want to suck it.” Her thumb flicked over the tip, rubbing the pre-cum around the head of his shaft. “Are you sure?” “Give it to me now.” Her voice was firm, taut with excitement and need as she tugged firmly but gently at him. “I think she means it, bud.” Kevin was the one behind her. Before she could think, he rammed himself hard into her, pulling her back toward him. Tricia fell forward with a gasp, but Kevin kept her from falling completely, his arm grasping her around the waist. When she’d calmed down, he helped her, easing her until she was supporting her weight on her hands and knees. His hands caressed her stomach, to her back and up her spine. She arched back into his touch as shivers ran through her body. His hands moved up to the back of her head, and the silk scarf fell off. Donovan lay in front of her, on his back, propped up on his elbows. He was between her arms, his shaft at full attention. The look in his eyes made her mouth water. Kevin’s hands ran back down her sides to grasp her hips, holding her tightly around him. “Take him, Tricia. Take him in your mouth and suck him dry.” Her gaze locked with Donovan’s as she slowly lowered her mouth and did as ordered. Did as she wanted and took him into her mouth. Tricia had never experienced such a sensation. Being filled at both ends by two glorious men. The entire night seemed only a precursor to this one moment in time. Kevin fucking her from behind, buried deep to the hilt as though he had no intention of leaving her. Donovan, here, in front of her, laid bare, his hands tangling in her hair as she sucked him in deeply. There wasn’t time for gentle foreplay, she knew he was ready to come, more than ready from the shivers running through his body. She took him in fully, bobbing her head in time to Kevin’s thrusts, sucking him harder and harder, loving him, the feel of

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his thick cock in her mouth. Kevin moved a hand to flick at her clit, making her moan, causing Donovan to twitch. “Oh gods, babe. Yes, oh. I’m gonna come. Right in your mouth.” Incredibly turned-on even more by his words, Tricia increased the pressure on his cock, willing him silently to shoot his seed down her throat. Kevin sped up too. Harder, faster, Tricia could tell he was close, as close as Donovan. Oh, what it would feel like to have both of them come in her at the same time, to experience release simultaneously. Her body shivered hard at the thought. As though that shiver were just enough to send him over the edge, Kevin yelled, “Oh yes! Gods, now!” as he thrust one more time, even harder than before. Donovan moaned loudly, eyes still locked with hers as his hips jumped, forcing his thick cock all the way to the back of her throat, as he too came, spurting all he had into her mouth. She sucked it down, swallowed it, eager to take all he had to give. Kevin wasn’t done yet, his hand still moving on her clit, her tension at its peak, as she too came when both men shot their last inside her.

***** Tricia had no idea how many hours had passed when she woke. The torches had burned down and the moon had moved beyond the trees where she could no longer see it. The Milky Way shone brightly above their heads, giving her just enough light to see their surroundings. Although she enjoyed camping, she was used to waking up every few hours when sleeping outside, regardless of whether she was alone or with someone. She judged it to be about four o’clock. A light blanket lay at their feet, but in the humid summer night it was unneeded. Especially given the body heat surrounding her. She lay partly on her side, her back propped up against Donovan, whose arm held her tight around her waist. Kevin lay on his stomach on her other side, one hand cuddling her breast. What a glorious way to wake up. She wiggled back against

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Donovan, pulling Kevin’s hand against her. She was content to stay there for the rest of her life. The rest of her life? Was she really that decadent that the thought of having two men in her life forever was something she would honestly contemplate? She knew it wasn’t really that uncommon, she knew a few triads, but it wasn’t something she had ever thought about before. It was a lot of hard work, too. It was hard enough having a relationship with one man, never mind two. Tricia snorted. Relationship, yeah right. Here she was planning a future with both of them and she hadn’t even known one of them twenty-four hours. And the other, well, he wasn’t big on commitments. She knew that already. Even if Donovan was willing to commit to her, she certainly wasn’t about to give up her life in the mundane world to spend the rest of it here in the woods, magical though it might be. And he’d made no secret of the fact he had no intention of going back. Tonight was all she had with the two of them. Maybe, if she was lucky, the entire weekend. She would have to accept it for what it was and cherish the memory when it was gone. Donovan’s arm tightened around her and the whisper of a breath brushed across her ear. “Morning, babe.” She smiled, cuddling into his hold, loving the feel of him against her as his cock jumped against her ass. “Mmm.” “How are you? Sore?” Tricia took a moment to take stock. She actually felt very good. It wasn’t as if they had ridden her all night—she had only taken Kevin inside her. They had paid so much attention to her, they barely got any from her before they all passed out from exhaustion. “Honestly? No.” “Good. Cause it’s my turn, and I want you now.”

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Tricia had time enough to gasp before Donovan flipped her onto her back. He leaned over her, kissing her deeply. “Last night watching you with Kevin, I have never been so turned-on in my life. The way you took him into you, how excited you were as you sucked me off. Oh gods, babe.” “You’re sure it didn’t bother you?” She tried to be quiet. She didn’t want to wake Kevin. “Hell no, just the thought of it makes me ready to come again.” She smiled. “Thank you. It was unexpected.” She reached up to cup his face. Donovan had started massaging her breast, eyes on her face. “Do you want to do it again?” She knew the shock must have shown on her face, because he snickered as he moved to take a nipple in his mouth. At her intake of breath, he moved his way down her body. “We have the whole weekend, babe. It doesn’t have to be just one night.” Surprised, she looked over at the other man they were discussing. His eyes were wide open, and his hand was stroking his already hard cock. “I’m perfectly willing.” “Oh gods.” Donovan had reached her throbbing pussy, and ran his tongue up her cleft. “What do you say, babe?” Kevin’s hand stayed on his cock as he watched them, smiling at her. What did she say? Hadn’t she just been thinking of having them again? “Yes,” she gasped, her hand grasping Kevin’s cock as Donovan thrust his tongue inside her. At her gasped agreement, Donovan rose up and positioned himself at her entrance. Quickly, he thrust in, all the way to his balls. “What did you say, babe?” he asked her one more time, his voice husky with arousal and control. Kevin had moved one hand to massage her breast, the other stayed on his cock, covering hers now as he encouraged her to stroke him faster. “Yes. I want it. I want it all.” 28

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With that, Donovan pulled out and slammed himself into her again. She saw nothing but him as he leaned down to take her mouth with his, ramming harder and harder, hands above her shoulders supporting his weight as he slid in and out. She braced her feet on the mattress, meeting him thrust for thrust, needing him deep. She heard Kevin groan, and she glanced over to see his eyes glazed with excitement as they pumped him together. “You are exquisite,” he whispered as he thrust into their hands with a moan and came all over himself. Donovan grasped her shoulders tight, pulling her into him, penetrating her as deep and fast as he could. Tension built, she knew she was ready. “Oh yes, Donovan, yes!” she screamed as, with one final thrust, he shot his cum and collapsed on top of her.

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Chapter Three This time she awoke in Donovan’s cabin. Sometime after their last bout of lovemaking, they’d all moved there to get in from the elements. Nearly summer though it might be, morning dew was not only wet, but often cold. Stretching, she realized she was alone in the bed. It was queen-sized, so although the three of them had fit on it, it hadn’t been the most comfortable night she’d ever spent. But since most of the night she’d been lying on one or the other of the men, it hadn’t been as bad as it could have been. Briefly she wondered what time it was, and then saw the clock beside Donovan’s bed. She had just over an hour to get showered, find something to eat and then make it to the first workshop she wanted to attend. The public showers were on the way back to her tent, so she took advantage of that and jumped in, despite not having her stuff with her. The Grove always had biodegradable soaps available to their guests, as the co-ed showers emptied into a dry creek bed. There were six different stalls, each fed by their own water heaters, so there was always plenty of hot water. The shower curtain helped the more modest of festival attendees, while the large stalls themselves allowed plenty of room to get changed in or to have more than one person at a time. Tricia stripped and hung her dress over the stall, figuring she’d put it back on after her shower just until she got back to her tent. The weather was warm enough she would dry fairly quickly, so lack of a towel wouldn’t be an issue, either. She had barely gotten under the spray before an arm snaked around her waist and pulled her tight against a hard wide chest. Donovan. She’d know that chest anywhere.

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“Mmm,” Donovan moaned behind her. “Good morning, Tricia.” His voice was a husky puff of air against her ear. “Morning.” She smiled as she snuggled back against him. “How are you? Ready to start the day?” She laughed. “I will be as soon as you let me take my shower.” “Any regrets in the light of day?” Donovan surprised her with the question. She had almost expected him to take her immediately, and she was already wet again, wanting it. “None at all. It was glorious.” “You tell us when you want to call an end to it, babe. This can go on or it can stop now.” Stop now? Did he mean her and him? Did he want it to end? No, she had to stop jumping to conclusions. Just because she was afraid that he wouldn’t be open to more didn’t mean she had to worry that he wanted to end it. He hadn’t said or implied anything that should make her so worried about it. It was her own fears playing tricks on her. She knew that if he wasn’t ready for more she couldn’t keep things going the way they were. It would hurt too much. But that was on her, not him. Projecting or blaming him for those insecurities was unfair to both of them. And now wasn’t the time to talk about it. They both had things they needed to do today, and that kind of a conversation would take time and energy. Maybe tonight after ritual, when both of their obligations had been taken care of, then they could talk about their future. So right now she was going to be selfish and take what she could get. She’d worry about later, later. Instead of responding to his unspoken question, she turned in his arms and looped hers around his waist. There was time enough later to tell him of her plans. Right now she wanted him inside her, fucking her like nothing else, no one else mattered.

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She told him how she felt. “Donovan, right now, I want you. I want you inside me, fucking me.” His mouth came down on hers, hard, his hands wrapped in her hair pulling her to him. He ravaged her mouth as if he never wanted to let her go. His tongue dueled with hers for supremacy, thrusting in and taking charge. Her pussy dripped with excitement. She loved when he got all demanding and forceful like this. As if he could never get enough of her. His hand went down to her crotch, his knee forcing her legs apart, and rammed his fingers inside her without hesitation. She gasped as he forced her to lean back against the shower wall with the strength of his thrusts. He blazed a trail across her face to her neck, to the point he knew was extra sensitive and bit her sharply, as he pushed his hand into her again and again. She didn’t think it was possible after last night, but she came, hard and fast, leaving her gasping for air. Pulling his hand out, he lifted her against the wall and slid his cock inside her, straight to his balls in one swift thrust. Her legs instinctively went around him, holding him tight inside her. “Gods, woman. I want you so badly. I need this. I need you. I miss you when you aren’t here. No more. You’re mine.” He moved, accentuating each of his words with a thrust of his hips, jamming himself inside her. “You. Are. Mine.” Tricia barely registered what he was saying. Her mind wasn’t working, only her body as she accepted each and every thrust with moaning eagerness. She didn’t want it to end. Ever. He held her up in his hands, pumping at her, fucking her hard against the wall, almost mindless in his actions. He’d never been this out of control before, and damn, she loved it. Before she was even aware of it, she was cresting again. His cock rubbed her walls, jamming all the way to her spine while he held her tight, as though he’d never let her go. 32

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He shouted her name as he came for her again and again.

The shower was getting cold, despite the dedicated water heater. They’d spent too much time, it had to be late. They soaped and rinsed quickly before turning off the water. Donovan handed her a towel before drying himself. “I’m sorry.” Tricia looked up. “Sorry? For what?” “For…that.” He gestured with his hands to the shower stall. “Why?” “I lost control, I’m sorry.” He walked over to the sinks on the outside of the shower wall and started getting his morning things out. He’d brought his toiletries with him, which explained the towel he’d handed her. “Donovan, it’s okay. I liked it. You didn’t see me protesting, did you?” She tried to laugh it off. This wasn’t like him. They’d had rough sex before, admittedly not quite that rough, but he hadn’t reacted like this. “You deserve better.” “Better than coming in less than two minutes?” She reached for his hand. “Donovan, it’s okay. You know I enjoyed it. Now tell me what’s really bothering you.” He didn’t answer her for so long she began to wonder if he was going to answer her at all. “Last night. Everything. I planned it.” Tricia laughed, suddenly relieved. “I know you did, and trust me, I’m grateful.” “No, I mean I planned it for you. So you’d have a replacement for me. If you wanted one.” Tricia grew cold. She looked away, afraid he would see the tears in her eyes. “If I wanted one? Are you asking me if I’m tired of you? Or are you saying you’re tired of me and you’re just trying to dump me easily?” 33

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He didn’t answer her, and her hurt grew. She reminded herself to wait before jumping to conclusions. That habit had gotten her into trouble more than once. Especially now, when so much was at stake, she needed to listen. When he still didn’t answer, she tossed the towel down beside him. “Okay then. I promise you I won’t make any demands on your time any longer.” She stood up and walked over to where she had left her dress. She pulled it down and over her head in jerky motions, so angry she couldn’t get it on right the first try. By the time she was adjusted, Donovan was behind her again. “Tricia, it’s not like that.” She kept her back to him. She didn’t want him to see the tears that had come back and were threatening to overflow. She forced herself to take a deep breath and listen to him. “Then what is it like?” Donovan sighed. “I need more. More than just The Grove, more than just this.” She heard him walk away a few steps before he continued talking. “You know I’ve been here for four years. What I never told you was why I was here.” She took a chance and glanced over at him. He was leaning on the sink, his back to her, hands gripping the edge so hard his knuckles were white. “I left the real world behind after my fiancée died. She was in an accident, a stupid senseless accident that was nobody’s fault. Icy roads with a steep drop-off…there was nothing anyone could have done. “Diana offered me a place to heal my wounds. To reconnect with the gods I had felt deserted me. It wasn’t working. “And then I met you.” He turned around slowly, his gaze meeting hers. “You don’t realize it but you helped me build my life back. Helped me remember who I was. Helped me learn to love again.

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“It’s taken a long time, but I’ve realized that I can’t go on like this. It is time for me to go back. I had a life there. A job, friends. I’ve loved my time here, but I need to move on.” Tricia’s heart jumped for joy. He wanted to go back. He wanted to live a normal life again. To live in the real world. It was everything she wanted, too. But he didn’t say anything about wanting that life with her. He talked about going back. Going back and leaving her someone else to have fun with. Nothing about going back with her, or wanting her with him. Then the rest of what he’d said hit her. He had a fiancée? And in four years he’d never mentioned her? “I’m leaving at the end of the month. My renters are moving out then and it’s the perfect time for me to go.” Tricia didn’t know what to say. Her heart felt hollow, as though waiting for something more from him. “My place in Columbus is about an hour from yours. I know that can be a long drive after a hard day of work, but I want to give it a try. I wanted to try and see if what we have will work in the real world.” Real world? He wanted to try for a relationship? She felt as if she should be jumping for joy like she almost had been minutes before. But something in her felt wrong, empty. “You had a fiancée?” He nodded, walking toward her. “Yeah. Her name was Louise. It was a long time ago, like I said.” “And you never told me?” Hurt lanced through her as she realized he’d never trusted her enough to share that part of him. Had he even gotten over her death yet? “I couldn’t. It hurt too much at first. And then, well, I don’t know.” “Why do you want to go back now? Are you sure you’re ready?”

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He reached out and caressed her upper arm with his hand. “Yes. I know I am. And I owe it all to you. I love you, Tricia.” He owed it all to her? Apparently not. She couldn’t have helped when she didn’t know. The rational part of her mind told her this was a good thing. It was a good thing he was ready to go back. That he’d worked through his grief and anger and had come through it. But the irrational, emotional, primitive side of her brain was roaring for attention. In all their time together he hadn’t trusted her enough to tell her about this Louise. She’d trusted him with everything about her over the years. He knew about her failed relationships, her problems with work. Even the rape when she was a teenager. He knew everything about her. She’d never held anything back. And even now, when he was telling her, all he could say was he didn’t know why he hadn’t told her before? If he’d withheld such an important piece of information about himself like this, what else didn’t she know about him? What else would moving to the real world show her about him? She’d thought she was in love with him, and that maybe he shared the same feelings. But you couldn’t love someone when you held so much back. “I love you, Tricia. I want to give us a try.” Tricia smiled sadly. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear those words from you, Donovan. For you to say you wanted to go back, that you wanted to be with me. But you know, for some reason they just don’t have the exact effect I was hoping for.” Her head was spinning with half-finished thoughts, concerns. She lifted his hand and kissed the palm, a tear dropping onto his skin. “I love you, Donovan. But maybe love isn’t enough.”

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“Tricia? Babe, I don’t understand.” He cupped her cheek with the hand she’d held. Tricia just shook her head. “I’m glad you’re ready to go back, Donovan, I really am. But maybe I’m not the reason you should go back.” She nodded her head to the woman walking up behind him. “Diana’s coming. Why don’t you go see what she wants and we can talk about this more later?” “Tric—” “Please, Donovan.” She smiled again, before turning and walking away.

***** Tricia spun around as she heard her name called. She forced herself to smile as Kevin approached her from another vendor’s booth. It was free time, and she had decided to do some shopping between workshops and dinner. The last place she wanted to be was in the middle of the campground with her friends. Where Donovan would be able to find her easily. She still wasn’t ready to talk to him. So instead she was indulging in some retail therapy. The variety of vendors here always amazed her. From people selling “witchy” items they bought mass-produced from catalogs, to people who were true artisans with one-of-a-kind items. Kevin came from the direction of one of the jewelers’ booths she had admired earlier. The woman was a true talent and her work, and prices, were testament to that. “Find anything you like?” she asked him as he approached. “Lots.” He stopped short of invading her personal space. In fact, he left plenty of room between the two of them. A strange amount given what they’d experienced together last night. Was he not used to seeing a woman after a night of sex? Or had Donovan told him about their conversation earlier and Kevin was unsure where he stood? Regardless of what Donovan had done, it wasn’t Kevin’s fault. He’d still given her a wonderful time last night, and she didn’t want him to regret it. 37

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She reached out for him and pulled him close for a hug. “Are you okay?” she whispered in his ear. “Are you regretting last night? Please don’t. At least not because of me. I loved every minute of it. It was wonderful.” Kevin returned her hug, holding her even tighter. “Hell no, I don’t regret it. But I wasn’t sure how you felt. That’s why I left early this morning. I didn’t want to embarrass you if you felt badly about it.” Tricia smiled sadly as she moved back. “No, no regrets.” Kevin lifted her head with his knuckles and stared into her eyes. She blinked, hoping he couldn’t tell how close to tears she really was. Instead of saying anything about the obvious moisture in her eyes, he sighed and took hold of her hand. “Let’s go for a walk. I think we need to talk.” They walked for a while, passing small groups of people as they also walked the grounds of the retreat. Eventually they found a quiet spot away from everyone else. Stone benches surrounded a small round stone table in a cozy little area perfect for eating, writing or just contemplating the world around them. It was hidden from view of the path by virtue of being in a small alcove of sorts created by large trees, providing them with shade and privacy. “Okay, tell me what’s wrong,” Kevin ordered after they sat down on the same bench, backs to the table. “Nothing’s wrong. I told you already.” “No, you told me you didn’t regret last night. And I’ll take you at your word. But something is wrong.” “Tell me this first. What did last night mean to you?” “What do you mean?” “Was it just a quick screw? A different way to get off?” “Would it matter to you?” Tricia thought about that for a moment. “Yes, and no.” 38

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Kevin looked at her intently for a minute before sighing. “Okay, I’ll go first.” He looked away as he started. “We weren’t making it up last night when we said I’ve noticed you before. For years Donovan has been telling me about this wonderful woman he knew. This paragon of beauty and grace. Part of me started to fall in love with that woman of his despite having never met her. He kept telling me I needed to come here and meet you, but it never seemed to work out right time-wise. “In turn, I’ve been telling him of this mysterious woman, this woman that I only saw in fleeting moments at festivals and gatherings. I’d see you at the gatherings in the city, or even a couple times at one of the bigger gatherings, like PSG, but had never been able to approach you. If I’d managed to time my visits here during a festival, I’m sure we would have met, Donovan would have made sure of that.” Kevin shook his head and smiled sadly. “But to be honest part of me was afraid to. I didn’t want to meet his perfect woman.” Tricia looked down and felt a blush steal across her cheeks. She was far from perfect. “Neither of us ever realized it was the same woman. Until yesterday. It was all I could do to not walk right up to you and grab you when I saw you looking at us while we were putting up the tent. And then when Donovan told me you were the one he’d been talking about all these years, I was devastated. Until he told me his plan.” He turned and looked at her. “Yesterday was the fulfillment of a dream I’ve had for a long time. If it never happens again, I’ll always cherish that memory. I’d be lying if I said I would be content with it, though. “And I’m not talking just the sex.” Kevin laughed, “Not that it wasn’t the best sex of my life. No, I’m talking about the whole package. “I enjoyed myself talking with you last night. You’re everything Donovan said you were and more. You’re everything I always knew you’d be. I’m not telling you this to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s not like I’m declaring undying love, I promise. But I know I enjoyed being with you, and I’d love to get to know you better, and maybe have 39

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the chance to be with you again. But I also know that Donovan has first dibs. And he won’t let you go.” Tricia was unsure how to respond. Donovan had first dibs? Didn’t he know that Donovan was leaving? That he had been offered up as a replacement for Donovan? “I enjoyed being with you too.” She smiled gently. “In addition to the sex.” She took a deep breath. “Did you know Donovan was leaving? That he was returning to Columbus?” “Yeah, he’s been thinking about it for a while.” Of course he had. Why tell the woman he professed to love before he told his best friend? Stop it, Tricia. He wanted to tell you in person. He wanted to see your reaction, not have you read it in an email. Kevin squeezed her hands. “Did he tell you how he feels?” Tricia nodded. “Yeah, he told me. But he also told me about Louise.” “Louise is gone, Tricia. Do you begrudge him loving someone before you?” Tricia pulled her hands out of his. “Hell no. I’m glad he’s loved before. It breaks my heart that he had to go through such pain.” “Then what is it?” Tricia sighed. She should be having this discussion with Donovan, not Kevin, she knew that, but it seemed easier to explain to Kevin somehow. “Do you know how long Donovan and I have been together? Well, been lovers?” “Almost four years.” “Exactly. Which means shortly after he came down here. In four years, you think he could have mentioned this fiancée of his before now. All this time we’ve been together, we’ve shared so much about our past and present, and yet he never trusted me enough to tell me about Louise.”

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Kevin smiled grimly. “He took Louise’s death hard. They’d known each other since he was eight. They started dating before they were even out of junior high. There was never anyone else for either of them. It was almost a year before he came here and started to learn to live again. In fact, when he started telling me about you was the first time I had real hope for him that he would recover.” Kevin smiled into her eyes. “You helped him do that more than anything else.” Tricia looked away. No, she hadn’t. If she had she would have at least known about the woman whose death had driven him to run away from the world. “I never knew about her. Not until this morning.” Kevin nodded. “I understand that.” “How the hell could I be responsible for healing him then, Kevin? I didn’t even know what was wrong with him. How can he say he loves me if he couldn’t trust me with that?” Kevin grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him completely. “I don’t think it’s a matter of trust, Tricia. Is that truly what you think?” “I don’t know. I just know it hurts. I feel like I’m being a spoiled little brat who was finally offered the one thing she wanted, and then gets all pissy because the color was the wrong shade.” “And what’s the one thing you wanted?” “Donovan’s love. Him to come be with me.” “You have that. Isn’t that enough?” “It should be, shouldn’t it?” “You should ask Donovan why he never told you.” “I did. He said he didn’t know.” “Can’t you accept that maybe that’s the truth? Maybe he doesn’t know why he never told you?” Tricia ran her gaze across Kevin’s face. “Then why do you think he never told me?” 41

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He shook his head. “I’m not a psychologist, Tricia.” “No, but you’re his best friend.” Tricia held onto his hand for a moment and then shook her head. “Never mind. Sorry. I never should have asked. It was wrong of me. The last thing I want to do is put you in a position to betray his trust in any way. Neither of you deserve that.” Kevin looked at her for a long moment before responding. “You’re doing exactly what you’re accusing him of doing. Not trusting. He told you he loved you and wanted a future with you. You’re angry and afraid. And that’s understandable. But while you deal with that, you need to deal with your feelings for him and his for you. Why don’t you try to trust that he knows how he feels?” “What if I do and he realizes he’s wrong?” “If you don’t, then you’ve already lost.”

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Chapter Four Tricia went through the motions for the rest of the evening. For the first time in longer than she could remember, even ritual wasn’t able to get her out of her slump. She was more of a place holder in the circle than anything else. Thank the gods she didn’t have an active part, or she never would have been able to do it. She was numb. That was the only description she could come up with for how she felt. The things Kevin said still reverberated in her head. And she was more confused than ever. After ritual, instead of taking part in the dancing and drumming around the fire, she removed herself from the partiers and walked the around The Grove. She found herself at one of her favorite places. Much like the space she and Kevin had spent time in this afternoon, this was a rarely visited area. And at this time of the night, she was pretty much guaranteed privacy. A single stone bench sat in the middle of a tiny fairy ring, lending to the impression of being between worlds. It was actually where she and Donovan had met so many years ago. He’d walked in on her as she sat meditating. He’d apologized and made to leave, but she’d assured him she had just finished up. So instead he hung around and talked to her for a while. They’d eaten lunch together and spent the rest of the festival in each other’s company. He told her then that he wasn’t looking for anything permanent, and she’d felt the same way. Maybe she deserved as much of the blame for him not telling her about Louise before today. She’d never pressed him to find out why he’d given up his job. Why he’d left his family home and come here. Maybe if she had, he would have opened up more to her.

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“I should have come here first, but I didn’t think you’d want to relive the memories.” Tricia sighed. She should have known he’d find her here. Hell, maybe she’d wanted him to. “Donovan.” She sat on the ground, hugging her knees to her, leaning against the bench. “I tried to catch you after ritual, but you disappeared before I could get close to you.” He’d been at ritual? She hadn’t even noticed him. What else had she missed? “I’ve been looking for you ever since. If someone hadn’t stopped me on the way out I would have been able to follow you.” He sat down beside her but she didn’t turn to look at him. It was easier to look out into nothing. Easier to hide her tears. “I had a talk with Kevin this evening.” “That’s nice.” “He called me all kinds of choice names. He said I was a fool.” Her hero. She hoped she wasn’t going to come between them. But then, he’d pretty much called her a chicken. “He told me I was wrong. That I had done things the wrong way. That I had to talk to you.” “You two have been friends for a long time. I’m sure he’ll get over it eventually.” “Maybe. But he was right. He also told me a couple of other things.” She shrugged. She didn’t know what to say. “Can I have a few minutes of your time? I really think we need to talk.” He was right, they did need to talk. But she still wasn’t sure what she wanted to say, what she wanted to hear. Instead of telling him that, she nodded. “First off, about Kevin. I know I said he was my replacement earlier today. But I didn’t really mean it.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not right. I did mean it. But with 44

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qualifications. I meant if we didn’t work out. If you didn’t want to be with me anymore. If you disagreed with my plans.” She turned her head away, her gaze searching out the dark outlines of the trees surrounding them. She knew he had more to say. So she waited. He moved his body so he was facing her, knees to knees. He took her hand and she let him have it, but refused to look at him. “I know what it feels like to be alone. To feel abandoned. To give up things you love because of memories. I didn’t want that for you. If you didn’t want to be with me, I wanted you to be with someone else who could make you happy.” She turned and looked at him then. “You aren’t making any sense, Donovan. If I chose to end it, what makes you think I’d stop doing things I love because of you?” His sigh seemed to echo across the clearing. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Obviously. Hell, I never do where you’re concerned. My brain seems to take a trip out the window whenever I see you and my heart takes over. Unfortunately it isn’t as rational as the brain. “I love Kevin like a brother. I know you can’t accept my love for you right now, but he is a good man. You should give him a chance.” Tricia shrugged. “You’re hurt.” Donovan’s sudden change in topics confused her enough that she answered honestly. “Yes.” “You’re hurt and angry that I never told you about Louise.” Tricia removed her hand from his grasp and stood up, needing to move as she tried to decide how to answer him. She took a few steps away before turning around to face him. “Yes. Hurt, angry, confused. “You tell me you love me. That you want to try to make a future out of what we have. But you bring another man into our relationship and tell me he’s your

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replacement. Then immediately after dropping that bomb you tell me about the woman you loved and lost five years ago.” Tricia gestured wildly with her hand. “I actually find it easier to accept the Kevin thing than I do Louise. I understand you want me to be happy. “What I don’t understand is how in all our time together you’ve never even mentioned the woman who broke your heart. You never trusted me enough to tell me the real reason you left your life in the city and came here. You’d tell me that life became too much for you, that you needed to get away, but never, not once did you tell me you’d lost the woman you loved. “You never even hinted about her, Donovan. Never once trusted me enough with your feelings, with your heart, to tell me why you’d come here.” He got up quickly and strode toward her, his hand outstretched. “That was never it, Tricia, I trust you with my heart. I trust you with my life.” She shook her head. “How can I believe that, Donovan? In the last four years I’ve told you everything about me. Everything. How many people do you think know I was raped when I was sixteen? How many people know I was addicted to drugs until I was twenty-three? “Don’t you think that hurt to face again? That I was taking a risk trusting you with that about me? I did it because I trusted you. Because I loved you.” Tricia took a few steps away to the edge of the ring, holding herself tightly. “I don’t know, maybe I thought you’d understand me better. Maybe I thought I understood you better.” “I trust you, Tricia. It wasn’t that.” He was behind her now, his hands on her shoulders. “I never told you about Louise because I was scared. “At first I was scared because losing her almost destroyed me. It overwhelmed who and what I was. It was easier not to talk about it. And then I was scared that my feelings for you would make me forget her and everything she’d been to me. If I shared them with you I feared they’d become less important.” 46

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He turned her to look at him. “And then when I realized I was ready for something more, that I was ready for a life with you, I was scared telling you about her would do exactly what it’s done. Push you away from me. Make you despise me for my weakness.” “Despise you?” Donovan shook his head. “What kind of man runs away because the woman he loves dies? I ran away from everything, Tricia. My work, my home, my family. I dropped everything and came here.” Tricia felt her heart break once again. She hadn’t despised him for a second. She would never do that. Suddenly her anger, her selfishness over this one thing overwhelmed her, forcing her to realize that maybe she wasn’t good enough for him. It wasn’t him who had failed, it was her. “You didn’t run away, Donovan. Yes, you left. But you left to heal. You still keep in contact with your family, you keep your finances afloat. Hell, you even made sure you had decent renters for your house before you left. You didn’t run away from your life. You walked away to something. You knew you needed something different to get better, and you searched that out. “As to what kind of man falls apart like that when the woman he loves, the woman he’d loved since they were children, dies?” She cupped his face with her hand. “Well, that kind of man is an incredible one. To know that someone is capable of that level of love is not only scary, but incredibly uplifting.” Donovan covered her hand with his. “Shortly after I came here to The Grove, I met you. You were so full of light. You had a love of life that attracted me, helped fill the void inside me. Despite the pain I still felt inside, I started to heal. “Eventually thinking of Louise didn’t hurt so much. I began to look forward to seeing you more than I had any right to. I knew I was ready to move on. But I didn’t know if you were. We’d started our relationship with the understanding of no strings attached, and I didn’t think it fair of me to change the rules on you midway. 47

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“I knew I needed to tell you how I felt. And tell you about Louise, but then I worried you’d compare the love I have for you to the love I had for her. I loved her with all my heart. And part of me always will. But that was a young love. The love of someone different than I am now. “The love I have for you is just as strong but different in so many ways. I’ve grown to love your strength, your understanding, your compassion for others. I burn with the thought of seeing you again, and when you leave after festivals it’s all I can do not to run after you and ask you not to go. “So I stand here and admit I screwed up. I can promise you my life, past, present and future, is an open book from now on. I won’t let fear rule me anymore. It’s cost me too much already.” Tricia felt tears well up at the corner of her eyes. She shook her head. “No, Donovan. I’m the one who screwed up. I let my own fears get in the way of what you were trying to tell me. I listened with my head full of baggage instead of my heart filled with love. I’m sorry.” Donovan smiled at her before bringing his head close to hers for a soft, gentle kiss. “Silly woman. That’s one of the things I love about you. Your ability to think things through, to look at things in different ways. There’s no need to be sorry.” “Yes, there is. I was an impatient fool.” “Will you agree to dating me? To giving our future a chance once I move back to the city?” Tricia nodded her head quickly. “Yes.” “Then we can work out the rest as time goes on.”

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Epilogue Tricia looked up from her perusal of her closet and smiled. No matter how often she saw Donovan in tight jeans and a t-shirt, she didn’t think she’d ever get used to it. It hadn’t occurred to her until the first time he’d visited her at her place that she’d never seen him in anything but festival garb. Nothing compared to the promise of that denim cupping his firm ass, though. And when the top button was undone as it was now, it was all she could do not to jump his bones. When they returned to The Grove next week for Samhain, she’d almost be disappointed to see him in a kilt or sarong again. Tricia sighed happily. They’d been together for nearly six months, and it had been more incredible than she expected. Their living apart hadn’t lasted long. He’d put his house up for rent again and moved in with her after just a couple of months. So far it was going exceptionally well. Kevin was a frequent visitor to their place, sometimes just for dinner, sometimes for the entire evening. For a while they’d all thought about making it a more permanent situation, but had decided that it was best the way it was. She was fond of Kevin, and felt an attraction, but wasn’t in love with him. And he wasn’t in love with her. He deserved better than that. And Tricia would do everything she could to help him find it. “You sure you’re okay with this?” Donovan asked her, smiling from across the room. They’d been trying to play matchmaker for Kevin, and tonight one of her friends from college was coming over to meet him. “Definitely. How about you?” He walked toward her, every step filled with sexy intent. She backed up, laughing, her hand up as though to hold him off. “Stop that. We don’t have time.” 49

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“Kevin won’t be here for at least thirty minutes.” “Stop it, you pervert.” Her laughter made it difficult to fend him off and hold onto the towel wrapped around her body at the same time. “Pervert, am I? That’s not what you were saying this morning. Or earlier this afternoon.” His hand grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into him. His already hard cock pressed against her belly. “Do you know how sexy you are?” Tricia felt her heart melt at his words. All laughter was gone and her body was flooded with the warmth of being loved, and being sure in that love. “Gods, Donovan. You take my breath away when you say things like that.” His voice was as soft as hers, as full of lust and desire. And love. “It’s true, Tricia. To me, you are the sexiest woman alive. Not only the way you look, but everything about you.” “Donovan.” Tricia felt tears spring to her eyes at his words. “I’m sorry it took me so long to be ready for you.” “While you were getting ready for me, I was getting ready for you. Any regrets?” She thought she knew the answer, but still felt as though she had to ask. He shook his head emphatically. “Not a one. You make me complete in more ways than I can describe.” “I didn’t do anything, Donovan.” He smiled sadly and shook his head. “You’re wrong, Tricia. You did everything. Just being who you are was enough for me. It was exactly what I needed. I just hope that I can be even half as much for you.” Tricia stroked his cheek with her hand. “How can you ever doubt that? You are the one person I need in my life. I’m sorry for what brought you into my life but I will ever be grateful for it.” Donovan nodded. “I know deep down that Louise was here for a reason, and she is even now in the Summerland enjoying her time before being reborn again. And I’ll

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always be glad I had her in my life for as long as I did. But that doesn’t make my love for you any less.” Tears gathered at the corners of Tricia’s eyes at his words. Her throat was blocked with emotion. Donovan adjusted his hold and pulled her even closer to him. “I don’t have a ring today. I was going to do this all fancy later tonight, when we were alone, but I can’t wait. Would you do me the honor of handfasting with me this Samhain? I know it won’t be legal. I would love to do that later, when we’re both ready. But I need to know that you’re joined with me under the eyes of the gods. I know it’s a big step. We’ve been back less than six months, but will you?” She swallowed over the lump in her throat and took a couple tries to get her answer out. “Yes. A thousand times yes. Whether for a year and a day or for eternity. Yes.”

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About the Author Talya is an avid fan of all forms of the printed word. She has been reading for as long as she can remember, and has dreamed of being an author for almost as long. On any given day, when she’s not working, you can find her at the computer or curled up somewhere in her house reading whatever has caught her fancy that week. She has been known to push the limits of her deadlines, or go to work on little to no sleep, only so she can finish a book she is reading. Her reading habit was the bane of her family’s existence while growing up, but she has found a wonderful man who shares her evil inclination. They live quietly, reading books, playing on computers, practicing martial arts and enjoying one another’s company. Tayla feels all the reading has helped her to become a better author. She has devoted her professional life to writing fun, erotic stories that make you believe in second chances and happily-ever-afters.

The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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Also by Talya Bosco Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy I anthology Stowaway

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