Chapter 2

One weekearlier

Over the past few days, Sunny Boudreau had watched the traffic coming and leaving her new neighbor's house through a lifted slat in her blinds with growing fascination. So many absurdly attractive men and women had her curiosity piqued. Now, she saw her new neighbor, the woman, bringing in groceries alone. Happy for an excuse to introduce herself, she headed to her front door and out onto her porch. She rushed across their adjoining lawns to take the sack from the small, attractive, and very pregnant blonde woman. "You have your hands full. Let me help you."

The young woman looked up with her cornflower-blue eyes and smiled. "Thanks. I'm Pansy." She held up her keys. "I should've unlocked the door first. I always try to do too many things at once."

Sunny followed her through the door and glanced around. There was no furniture, but the living room windows were taped off, and paint tarps covered the floor. The yellow on the plain beige walls was an eye-popping, lemony hue.

Pansy chuckled. "Yeah, Beau blinks when he walks in here, too. Just like I tell him—you'll get used to it."

"No, I like it," Sunny said. "It's a happy color."

"That's just what I tell him." Pansy's grin widened. "Want to stick around for a beer or a glass of wine? We could get to know each other, seeing as you live right next door. I don't expect the guys here any time soon."

"Guys?"

"Beau and Billy." Pansy paused and took a deep breath. "And so you don't have to ask—yes, they are both my boyfriends."

Sunny blinked but followed Pansy back out to the car and brought in two more loads of groceries before she unglued her tongue from the roof of her dry mouth. "Two boyfriends?"

Pansy's laugh was musical, impossible to resist. "Yes, two. I hope that doesn't weird you out too much."

"No, I think I'm okay with that, but…" Sunny shook her head, grinning ruefully. "I have to admit, my curiosity over how everything…works is piqued now."

"Let's get those beers—although mine will be a root beer—and I'll tell you all about it."

Pansy wasn't the least bit shy about explaining the sleeping arrangements or the fact she didn't know which of her lovers had fathered the child growing inside her.

"That's so not fair," Sunny said, her cheeks heating up. "A fireman and a cop? I think you just became my hero."

Pansy laughed. "What about you? Got a boyfriend…or two?"

Sunny shook her head. "Nothing to tell. I teach school. I come home and plan the next day's activities for my kids, play with my cat, and go to bed."

"So, no boyfriends…"

"Not one, much less two." Sunny took a swig of her beer, thinking how dull her life was. Something she hadn't really noted until Pansy had pointed out the lack.

"We'll have to fix that," Pansy said with a waggle of her eyebrows.

Sunny shook her head. "Please don't set me up with a friend or anything. I'm not very good at dating."

"How can someone who looks like you be bad at dating?"

Sunny shrugged. "I'm a little shy. It's hard to get past the awkwardness because I never know what to say. Most guys don't try."

"Well, I hope you won't be too shy to drop by when my friends show up to bring in the furniture. Not that I want you to help with anything, but I'd love for you to meet them. One of them is a neighbor already. Maybe you know him, Gus Taggert?"

Sunny's eyebrows shot up. "The big fireman on the corner?"

"Yeah, that's him. He's as gentle as a teddy bear. You'll love him."

"Why? Does he need another girlfriend?" She'd seen the redhead who flitted in and out of his door.

Pansy held her sides as she laughed. "Ash would stripe his sexy butt at even the suggestion."

Her chest tightened. The thought of the big man submitting to something like that took her breath away. Sunny had just met Pansy, but already, her world felt as though it had tilted on its axis. She'd never met anyone who talked about sex and relationships so freely.

"You should come over tomorrow night. Everyone will be here. I'll introduce you around."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to be in the way," she murmured, and thankfully, Pansy let her escape before committing to coming. But the images of the things Pansy had described, though not in any graphic detail, remained with her.

She'd almost forgottenall about the invitation until her doorbell rang the next evening, and she swung it open to see the most handsome man she'd ever seen in the flesh standing on her doorstep.

Sunny gasped and took a step backward. One part of her knew she was staring overlong at the man, but she couldn't help herself. Wearing a black tee and jeans, he was tall and well-muscled but not overly so. His black hair was pulled back into a ponytail. His beard and mustache were cut close, emphasizing a strong chin and sensual mouth. Dark eyes glinted beneath finely arched black brows. His mouth was firm but beginning to curve.

"I didn't mean to frighten you."

Good Lord and he spoke with a slight Spanish accent. Her jaw dropped a fraction of an inch more. Could he get any sexier?

He cleared his throat. "I'm Mondo Acevedo. Pansy sent me to ask you if you'd like to come over for pizza."

She shook her head, but he reached for her hand. She stared down and back up, so tongue-tied her face reddened. His hand was warm and strong and completely engulfed hers.

His dark gaze was warm and inviting. "Pansy said you're shy, and I'm not to accept any answer but yes. Since she's pregnant, I don't like to see her upset."

With that, he pulled her slowly out the door and across her yard, glancing back to give her a small smile here and there, his eyes glittering with laughter.

And yet, she didn't feel stupid or gauche because he wasn't mocking her. By the time they reached Pansy's front door, she, too, was grinning.

When they entered the house, she glanced around to find that the tarps were gone, the tape pulled from windows and doorframes, and furniture had been arranged around the living room. To the left, the kitchen was filled with beautiful men and women, all in her age range, all healthy and smiling easily at one another, hands drifting on shoulders and butts. They were a touchy bunch. A thought that caused a pang inside her chest. Wouldn't it be nice to have friends who were that close and affectionate?

"Everyone," Mondo said, dropping her hand to curve his arm around her back and push her gently forward, "this is Sunny."

"Hi, Sunny," came their collective response. Smiles of welcome were accompanied by not-so-subtle perusals of her figure.

Mondo's hand returned, slipping over hers to give it a squeeze.

Before she became uncomfortable with the group's attention, Pansy struck a pan with a metal spatula. "Pizza's getting cold!"

Everyone formed a line and playfully jostled each other to get to the open pizza boxes.

Sunny stood beside Mondo, quietly waiting her turn. "You can let go of me now," she said softly.

"Do I have to?" he teased, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand.

Her blush deepened. "How will you fill your plate?"

"I have very clever hands."

Shaking her head, she laughed. "You shouldn't tease."

"Why's that?"

"Because I could be one of those girls who develops crushes at the drop of a hat. I could wind up stalking you."

Mondo's eyes wrinkled at the corners. "You won't stalk me."

"How do you know that?"

"I'm good at reading people."

"And you're never wrong?"

"Rarely."

Because his penetrating stare caused her heart to beat in a wild flurry, she glanced away. "You met me a minute ago," she murmured.

"And in that minute, I've learned you are shy around men but impatient with yourself for feeling that way." He bent toward her and tapped her nose. "And you are attracted to me. But I will be honest with you, ni?a, I am not what you want or need."

Embarrassment at his too-accurate guess flooded her cheeks. "You don't know what I need," she said, anger causing her voice to quiver.

One corner of his mouth curved. Kind regret shimmered in his eyes. "You think you want adventure, but I would be more than you bargained for, querida."

Already, he'd called her little girl and darling. How condescending. How dare he? Next, he'd pat her head. She tried to tug her hand from inside his, but he quickly ringed her wrist.

"You think a lot of yourself."

"No, but like I said before, I read people well." He lifted his chin toward the crowd, settling in chairs in the living room. "We're all good friends, but we have certain secrets."

"I know Pansy has two boyfriends living with her."

He arched a dark eyebrow. "What do you think about that?"

"I know what ménages are. I know about polyamory. I read."

"Is that something you would want for yourself?"

Sunny tried to maintain her anger, to bristle beneath his penetrating stare, but the softness of his voice was very nearly mesmerizing. "I don't know," she whispered. "But I'm a teacher. It might be hard to hide something like that when my two boyfriends show up at the faculty parties."

"Like I said, we have secrets, but that doesn't have to be one of them." He smiled and let go of her. For a moment, she curled her fingers, missing his warmth.

He waved her ahead of him, and she nearly dropped a slice of pizza because she was so aware of him behind her. Her mind tried to imagine what he looked like standing there, what they looked like together. Mondo's friends certainly found something about them fascinating to watch.

She took a seat in a folding chair near Pansy, who sat like a queen in an overstuffed chair with one boyfriend, a tall, buff African-Asian man sitting on an ottoman with her feet between his legs, and another, a big, brawny blond, with a stool pulled close so he could feed her.

Because she was more concerned about escaping Mondo's overwhelming charisma before she made a total fool of herself, she didn't raise an eyebrow over the boyfriends' behavior.

Pansy waved away the next bit of pizza and leaned toward her, her eyes wide. "Tell me. What were you two talking about? I could see the steam rising off you both."

Her boyfriends both kept quiet, but their gazes studied Sunny's body and face. Likely wondering what the hell Mondo had been doing with her. He was way out of her league. He was ten times better looking than she was. "He was warning me off."

Pansy's jaw dropped, and then she gave a whoop.

"Glad I could provide the entertainment," Sunny muttered, wondering if Pansy had a mean streak.

"He wouldn't be warning you off if he didn't like you," Pansy whispered. Then she gave a squeal, cupped Sunny's cheeks, and kissed her right on the mouth.

It was only a quick peck like a woman might give a friend if they knew each other really well and both women were used to kissing mouths, but Sunny sure wasn't. She blinked but was so shocked she didn't move away.

"You liked that?" the blond boyfriend asked, friendly curiosity glistening in his blue eyes.

"I…" She glanced around, once again finding every gaze on her. She didn't know why, but suddenly she wished she'd worn a few more layers of clothes. She felt naked beneath their scrutiny. And when she reached Mondo, his eyes smoldered. "It was just a kiss."

"Just a kiss? Must not have done it right." Pansy arched an eyebrow and tugged a lock of Sunny's long hair to pull her closer.

This time, there was time for her to react. And even to think. But she remembered the smoldering heat in Mondo's eyes and leaned in to meet Pansy's soft mouth.

Mondo watched the kiss,and his cock slowly filled. It had plenty of time to turn to hard peckerwood because the kiss went on and on. Both women leaned into it, Pansy's fingers sinking into Sunny's silky hair, Sunny moving closer until her breasts flirted with Pansy's. He'd bet everything in his wallet Sunny had never kissed a girl before and had never done anything so publicly provocative, and he damned himself. He was responsible for her reacting this way. Sunny was angry with him for being blunt and showing him the only way she could think of to prove that he was wrong about her.

How he wished he wasn't.

But the kiss continued, the women rocking their lips together. Dios, it was a sexy thing to watch, and not a person in the room could look away. When he caught Jackson's quick, surreptitious adjustment of cock, he knew he had to do something to end it, or poor Sunny would get a lot more than she'd bargained for.

He strode toward her and slid an icy can of coke into her hand. "You forgot a drink."

The kiss ended with Pansy twisting her head and giving him a wide-eyed are-you-kidding-me look.

Mondo narrowed his eyes and reminded her that her ass wasn't her own. He kicked Beau's booted foot, and Beau cleared his throat, stood, and walked from the room, but not before he'd given Pansy a silent signal to follow.

Mondo took Pansy's abandoned seat. "Going to eat your pizza?" he asked Sunny as though he hadn't noticed she'd been the lip-locked center of the universe just a minute ago.

She glanced down at her lap. Rosy color flooded her cheeks, and she shook her head. "You can have it." Shifting the plate to his knee, she rose, walked right out of the living room, and turned to the left. The sound of the front door closing followed a moment later.

"Dude, you were fucking cold. She seemed nice." Craig sent Mondo an evil glare but followed it with a bite of pizza.

"And I look like I belong with nice?" Mondo snorted. "She doesn't belong here. She's an elementary school teacher."

"Who just kissed the face off of Pansy. Cut her a little slack. She just met us."

"Do you want to add a fourth to your arrangement?" Mondo asked, his words clipped.

Craig's eyebrows lowered. "No, but I'm sure I'm not the only one in the room who felt the sparks coming off you both."

"Mind your own business," Mondo bit out.

Craig pursed his lips and kept silent.

Marti cleared her throat loudly.

Mondo resigned himself to the fact that his friends weren't going to leave him alone even though he'd asked—not so politely—for them to butt out. "Yes, Marti?" he said with a roll of his eyes when she cleared her throat a second time. "I wouldn't want you to strain something Jackson will miss."

"Mondo, you know we love you and think you're the sexiest thing on the planet, right?"

"That's going a little far, don't you think?" Jackson muttered.

Marti kissed Jackson's cheek. "You can make me eat my words later." Her gaze swung back to Mondo. "You're not getting any younger. And look at us," she said, waving her hand to encompass everyone in the room. "We haven't died of boredom. We just want you to have what we have."

Mondo suppressed a smile at her earnest tone and the way Jackson slipped his hand between her legs to distract her. "And what do you have?" he asked.

"Um, um…" She pushed on Jackson's firmly lodged hand. "Um, what do we have? We have…" She paused to gasp and stopped pushing Jackson away, parting her thighs as her jaw sagged. "This. We have this," she said, letting her head fall back. An urgent, blissful, trademarked Marti bleat followed.

"This is cozy," Mondo said, "but I'm not settling." He pushed up from his seat, giving Billy a small salute. "Tell Pansy, after Beau's finished paddling her ass, that if she needs anything…"

Billy nodded. "I think we've got it covered. Later, bro."

As soon as he closed the front door behind him, he sighed. He'd known exactly what Marti meant by this. He recognized the connections each of them had made. Ties that bound them with love and lust, and happiness had taken firm root. Mondo wanted that, too, but he'd learned the hard way that settling for something less than what he needed wouldn't work, and he never wanted to hurt a woman by trying to be something he wasn't.

He slid a hand into his pocket and pulled out his keys when a sound broke through his thoughts. It was coming from Sunny's house or perhaps behind it. There was another sound, a garbled groan, and he stepped off the sidewalk and followed his ears. She sounded as though she was in pain. Had something happened? Had she injured herself, or was someone inside her house now hurting her?

He reached an open window and slipped up next to it. At the next moan, he glanced quickly around the edge and then halted. He'd never have guessed that would be the sound she made when she was enjoying herself, but immediately, the noises she made softened.

Three things struck him.

First, he'd never been this moved by watching a woman pleasure herself. Built small and slender, she wasn't the sort of woman he usually preferred. Her breasts were tiny mounds, topped with puffy pink nipples, the tips protruding deliciously. A lovely mix of Asian and European, her sloe eyes were narrow slits as she undulated her small hips.

Next, her pussy was engorged and a deep strawberry pink, and the prettiest he'd ever seen, dark hair on her mound looking silky and straight. He felt jealous of the fingers trailing between her folds, fluttering the edges of her inner lips before sinking inside her. As she pushed past the knuckles, her face screwed up, and a whimper rent the air. Her lips, surprisingly lush, stretched and then pursed the closer she came to erupting.

Lastly, and most disturbingly, a wave of tenderness swept through him. She was lovely and so alone in the moment. She deserved a lover who would worship her and caress her into ecstasy. Only, when he imagined that lover, he saw himself kneeling to place his face between her thighs to drink her pleasure, to stroke her with his tongue, and burrow gently with his fingers.

She deserved someone who'd pay attention to her every shiver and groan, who'd know when to suckle and when to lick. When to stroke. Someone who'd read the writhing of her thighs and know the moment had come.

Her thighs tightened on the arms of her chair, and her back arched. Fingers from one hand dove deep. She slipped the slim forefinger from her other hand into her mouth and then, slick with her spit, lowered it to rub her naked clit.

Mondo's breath held, and he gave into temptation, letting his cock fill. As she rode the crest of a noisy orgasm, his erection pulsed. But he wasn't some voyeuristic perv, and she was an innocent who didn't deserve to be watched from the shadows as pleasure overrode her body.

After one last glance that burned the image of her sitting there alone in the lamplight, he turned from the window. As he walked swiftly away, Mondo cursed the fact she lived next to Pansy. Someone Pansy would know and know well. She wasn't someone he could trifle with and then leave. No matter how attractive he found her, he'd have to stay far, far away.