Chapter 8

Oakley stood, though it took some effort. He probably shouldn't have had those tequila shots. He was a little unsteady.

He followed Joel to the bar.

"Hey, Sadie. Can you take a break for a few minutes?"

Sadie bit her lip at Joel's request. This was it. Oakley knew what came next. Joel was going to get them alone and he was going to break it off. End it.

Just like that, all the alcohol he'd consumed evaporated as his heart lurched.

Sadie waved to a waitress, asking her to take over behind the bar. Then she lifted the hinged counter and followed them outside. The back alley behind Cruisers was deserted and only dimly lit. It was a cool October evening, the sky cloudy and the alley wet from the brief shower that had passed through earlier and killed the brutal heat of the morning. It was a dreary night. Perfect atmosphere for the hell that was about to descend.

"Listen—" Oakley started, hoping he could put off the inevitable.

"No. You listen. Or better yet, shut up."

Before Oakley could reply, Joel shoved him against the back wall of the building and stepped closer.

Then Joel kissed him. Hard.

Joel held back nothing as he forced Oakley's lips apart, his tongue stroking the inside of his mouth. Joel's hands were in his hair, gripping it tightly, using that hold to turn Oakley's head, so he could deepen the kiss.

Oakley's libido shot into orbit when Joel shoved a leg between his, pressing his knee firmly against Oakley's balls.

Oakley wasn't given the opportunity to do more than merely accept what was being given. Joel had taken over and there was no denying he wanted this, wanted Oakley.

After several head-spinning minutes, Joel moved away, his lips only an inch or so from Oakley's. Then he turned to look at Sadie.

"Come here," Joel commanded.

Sadie moved toward them, but Oakley could see the reticence, the confusion. She'd expected the same thing Oakley had. Had anticipated Joel ending it all.

Joel tugged her into their embrace, the three of them closing their ranks, connected. Joel kissed Sadie as deeply as he'd just kissed Oakley. As their lips danced, Oakley placed soft kisses on her cheek and then Joel's. When Sadie turned to Oakley, it was Joel's lips that skirted along her face and then to Oakley's neck.

"How long until closing time?" Oakley murmured when they broke apart for air.

Sadie grinned. "The second I get in there it's going to be last call. I can have that place cleared in forty minutes."

Joel groaned. "Make it thirty."

They started kissing again, none of them willing to leave the cocoon they'd created for themselves. Sadie ran her hands along their chests as Joel stroked her breasts above her shirt. Meanwhile, Oakley gripped Joel's ass cheek and squeezed.

"Too much more of this," Joel said through gritted teeth, "and I'm going to fuck you both out here. Right now."

"You say that like it's a threat," Sadie said with a light laugh.

"God." Joel pushed away. "Hurry up and close this fucking bar, Sadie."

She giggled as the three of them walked back inside. Joel and Oakley hovered near the back door, neither of them in a position to show themselves in public. Woody was hard enough to drive nails in concrete.

They leaned against opposite walls, hoping distance would help cool them off. It wasn't working for Oakley. He'd probably have to hide back here until everyone left and Sadie locked the doors.

He looked at Joel, but for once in his talkative life, words failed him. Or perhaps it was more like he was afraid he'd pop the balloon he'd just received. He didn't want to open his mouth and say something that would cause Joel to change his mind.

"It's okay, Oak. I'm not running from this anymore."

Leave it to his best friend to take one look at him and know what he was thinking. "You're all in?"

Joel nodded, but Oakley sensed the hesitation.

"I'm not going lie and say I'm not a little bit nervous about what comes next."

Sex. He was worried about the sex. Oakley recalled what Jack had said about a straight guy being willing to have sex with a man he loved. While there was definitely a strong attraction and a powerful pull, Joel had never considered sleeping with a guy before now. The rest wouldn't come naturally. There were still some barriers in place and it would take time to scale those walls. "It's okay, Joel. We can ease into that. There's no rush."

Joel looked back toward the bar, where Sadie was cleaning up like a mad woman. Oakley started to chuckle, but the serious look on Joel's face stopped him.

"I don't want to mess this up. Any of it."

Oakley understood. He'd felt the same way since the beginning. Joel had gone along for the ride, convinced from the start there were limits. Now that Joel had rejected any restrictions and admitted to his feelings, he could see exactly how much there was to lose.

"So we'll slow things down, watch our step. I got your back, bro. And you got mine. We can figure it out together."

"I don't think we have as much time as you think," Joel said, his gaze still glued to Sadie. "She's like a caged bird. I keep thinking we're going to leave that door open for one second and she's going to fly away."

"No." Oakley refused to believe that. He couldn't. Not when he was so close to getting everything he'd ever wanted. "We'll convince her to stay."

Joel gave him a crooked grin, but Oakley got the sense it was meant to comfort him, that Joel didn't really believe they'd succeed.

After a few minutes, they were decent enough to walk back into the bar and help Sadie clean up. It took closer to an hour, but finally, Sadie was able to lock the door and they were alone.

They wasted no time. Oakley grabbed Sadie and kissed her hard, Joel's words still troubling him.

After several minutes, she was the first to pull away. Oakley started to tug her back, but she shook her head and looked at Joel. Then, she walked over to the closest chair and sat down. She wanted to watch. Them.

Oakley had promised they would take things slowly—and he meant that—but he'd waited too long for this moment. He gripped Joel's shirt by the front and pulled him close, kissing him.

Joel wasn't a passive lover, not with Sadie and—thank God—not with him. He cupped Oakley's face with his large, calloused palms and deepened the kiss.

Oakley released Joel's shirt, his hand drifting down. He stroked Joel's erection through the thick denim of his jeans. Joel sucked in a loud breath. Oakley wondered if his friend would shove his hand away when Joel released his face.

Then Oakley's eyes drifted closed as Joel covered his hand and pressed Oakley's fingers harder against his cock.

"Open my pants, Oak."

Like Sadie, Oakley was a goner whenever Joel issued his commands in that deep, sexy tone.

He unbuttoned Joel's jeans and slid the zipper down. They both went commando. Oakley was glad for that easy access now as Joel's cock sprang free.

Oakley wrapped his fist around Joel, stroking him. He'd seen his cock every night for weeks as they fell into bed with Sadie. He had longed to touch it, to hold it. To…

To hell with slow.

Oakley dropped to his knees. He could feel Sadie's gaze on them, watching their every move. It made the moment even more intense, hotter.

Joel didn't move away, didn't resist as Oakley opened his mouth and took the head of his cock inside.

He heard a quiet gasp from Sadie. Oakley hated that she was so far away. He released Joel and looked at her. "Come here."

She stood and walked over to them. "I thought…"

Joel pulled her close for a kiss. "This only works if it's all of us."

Oakley felt the same way. He loved Joel and he was truly attracted to him, but without Sadie, there would be no them. Not like this.

Oakley tightened his grip on the base of Joel's cock, prompting his friend to groan. Sadie glanced down and smiled. Then she dropped to her knees next to Oakley.

Oakley kissed her briefly, grinning when Sadie bent closer and ran her tongue along Joel's cock.

"Jesus," Joel muttered. "You two are trying to kill me."

For several minutes, he and Sadie took turns with Joel's cock—licking, sucking, even nipping at it—each trying to push their lover over the edge. Joel had a grip on each of them, one hand in Oakley's hair, the other in Sadie's. Each time one of them did something he liked, his fingers tightened. Oakley's scalp stung from the pressure, but the pain didn't make him want to stop. It made him want more.

Then Sadie moved back a little bit, handing the reins to Oakley. He lost no time grabbing them. He opened his mouth wider, taking Joel so deep, the head of his cock brushed the back of his throat. This wasn't Oakley's first rodeo. He'd mastered deep-throating in high school.

Joel groaned louder when Oakley swallowed the head. However, Oakley started to choke when Sadie's hand found his cock, squeezing it tightly through his jeans.

Oakley released Joel with a gasp. "God, Sade."

Joel must have caught a glimpse of their girl's game because he chuckled. "Now you can feel my pain."

So many hands and mouths. Oakley couldn't understand why anyone would choose to live with just one lover. He feared there was no way he could return to coupledom. Not when three was so fucking much better.

Sadie unzipped his jeans, her hand reaching beneath the denim to grip Oakley's cock. She lifted her head slightly, silently telling Oakley to start sucking again. He would never cease to be amazed by the power exchanges the three of them shared—each of them willing to submit to another's dominance.

He took Joel back into his mouth, working the hard flesh in earnest now. Sadie stroked Oakley's cock in time with the rhythm he created. He was in charge of her speed, her depth. His mouth was the remote control. It was the most incredible sensation of his life.

Oakley hoped Joel could hold off for just a moment more because he was so close. Jesus, Sadie's hand could be registered as a lethal weapon.

Through it all, Joel was anything but passive. He continued to pull their hair as he wove a litany of dirty, beautiful words around them. For a quiet guy, Joel had an arsenal of sexy shit to say, his deep-voiced, commanding tone only adding to Oakley's need to come. Soon.

"Deeper, Oak. God, man. So fucking good. Suck it harder."

Oakley responded.

"Tighten your grip, Sadie. You make Oakley come before me and I'll throw you over a table and eat that sweet pussy of yours until you scream."

Sadie responded, clearly interested in the promised prize, and Oakley jerked, his rhythm thrown off as his balls filled. He wasn't going to make it much longer.

One more pull from Sadie's hand, one more pass of Joel's cock—deep in his throat—and Oakley erupted.

Joel grasped his head, holding him still as jets of come spurted from Oakley's dick, covering Joel's shoes and the bottoms of his jeans. Through it all, he still had Joel's cock in his mouth, the thick flesh muting his cries, his moans.

As the climax waned, Joel took over. Oakley had been a fool to think he'd ever had any control of this moment. It had been Joel and Sadie all along.

Joel used his grip to tug Oakley's mouth off his erection until just the head of his dick remained. Then he pulled him back roughly. Oakley let his friend fuck his mouth, opened his lips, and gave Joel everything he had left to give. He was being used. And he loved it.

Sadie remained on her knees beside them, watching. After only a moment, she lifted her gaze to Joel. "Come in his mouth," she whispered, her voice revealing exactly how much she was enjoying this show.

If Oakley was helpless to resist his lovers, it seemed Sadie had that same power over Joel. Within seconds, Joel came, his thrusts shorter, harder and punctuated by each drop of come that slid down Oakley's throat.

Joel pulled out of his mouth with a pop and Oakley's ass fell back on his feet, his strength drained.

At least it was.

Until Joel zipped up his pants, lifted Sadie from the floor and placed her on the table nearest them. He had her jeans and shoes off within seconds. Then he grabbed a chair and sat down for the feast.

Oakley found himself crawling closer, wanting a better view. He suddenly understood the soft mews Sadie had made while watching Oakley give Joel the blowjob. It was as if Oakley could feel what Sadie was experiencing when Joel stabbed her sweet opening with his tongue.

Though neither of them had touched her before this moment, Sadie was close. Oakley could see it, could hear it.

Sadie's pussy was covered in her juices and her back arched toward Joel's mouth, needing more.

"So sexy, Sadie," Oakley said, recalling the effect of Joel's dirty talk on both of them earlier. "You're so wet, baby. Dripping. I bet you want Joel to suck on that pretty little clit, don't you?"

Joel moved in response to Sadie's cry of desire, dragging his tongue out of her, his lips closing around the sensitive nub.

Sadie jerked roughly. "God. Yes!"

"Poor empty pussy. You need something inside. Something filling it," Oakley said, loving that he could direct Joel's actions.

Joel continued to suck on her clit as he pushed two fingers in to the hilt.

"That's it, Sadie." Oakley loved the way she lifted her hips in time with Joel's rough thrusting. Oakley had never taken a woman with such strength, reserving the more aggressive sex for his male lovers. Clearly he had underestimated exactly what women could take. What they enjoyed.

Sadie seemed to crave it hard. She beat her fist against the flat surface of the table as she made her own demands. Oakley had thought himself drained after her hand job, but when Sadie lifted her legs and wrapped her ankles around Joel's shoulders, driving her pussy harder into his friend's face, Oakley's cock began to stiffen again.

Joel had voiced his fear of death by sex. Oakley now understood his concern.

He rose from his place on the floor and came to the opposite end of the table from Joel, bending close to Sadie's face. She had clearly expected him to kiss her, but Oakley had other plans. He grasped her wrists and tugged her hands above her head, caging them there.

Sadie struggled to pull them free, but he merely tightened his grip. "You're ours," he whispered. Joel was afraid she'd fly. Oakley shared that same fear. Somehow they had to find a way to make her stay, to make her want this.

Joel stopped moving, lifted his head curiously. Sadie groaned, unhappy at the sudden lack of stimulation below her waist. She tried to pull his face back to her pussy with those sexy legs around his shoulders, but Joel was stronger.

"You're captured, Sadie. At our mercy. Ours," Joel said.

Oakley had known the night of the wedding what he wanted from this relationship.

Forever.

He got a sense that Joel had finally turned that corner tonight. There was one last person to convince, but it wouldn't be easy. Joel had compared her to a caged bird, the image conjuring up all the sexy ways they could shackle her. Maybe he'd see if he could borrow some handcuffs from his cop friend, Evan.

Sadie claimed she wasn't interested in a relationship, but Oakley got a feeling there was something else holding her back. So far she had managed to keep them at arm's length. Despite spending night after night inside her body, she hadn't let them anywhere near her heart.

Sadie's breathing had grown shallow, faster. Oakley wondered if it was her helplessness or their words driving the reaction. Was she turned on or terrified? He suspected it was both.

"You like bondage?" Oakley asked.

"I've never let anyone…" Her words faded. Bondage required trust. It appeared that feeling went hand in hand with love in Sadie's world. She wouldn't give either easily. If they could get her to trust them, perhaps the other would follow.

"Will you let us? Tie you up, blindfold you, gag you? Take you hard?"

Sadie licked her lips and swallowed heavily. Her gaze never faltered from Oakley's. The woman had courage, he'd give her that.

"Yes," she said at last.

Oakley smiled, her response giving him hope. She trusted them with her body. He wouldn't give up until she relinquished her love as well.

He looked at Joel. His friend's face was lined with desire. Like Oakley's, his cock had sprung back to life. Joel's erection was outlined clearly by his jeans.

Joel unhooked her legs and stood, unzipping his pants once more and running his cock along Sadie's slit.

God…it was never enough with these two. Never enough.

"Yes,"Sadie hissed, her head spinning. She was used to Joel taking control, but this dominant side of Oakley was just as potent. It felt as if he'd looked inside her head and seen all of her deepest, darkest fantasies.

Oakley released her hands. "Don't move them or Joel will flip you over and spank that pretty little ass of yours."

If that was a threat, it was a weak one. She actually considered the option. Before she could test them, however, Oakley pulled off his t-shirt and ripped it in half. Joel continued to press his cock against her, the head of it caressing her from clit to anus, then back again. She tried tugging him closer with her legs once more, but the man was strong as steel. She couldn't budge him.

Then her attention was drawn to Oakley, who lifted her head to pull the soft cotton of his shirt over her eyes. She was instantly pitched into darkness.

She hadn't thought the loss of her sight would feel so intense or…scary.

She had agreed to Oakley's suggestion of bondage because she suspected she'd never get this opportunity again. She had spent her entire adult life longing for this type of experience, but she'd never, not once, found someone she'd trusted enough not to hurt her.

Sadie had no doubts about Oakley and Joel. Not one. They may get rough, but they'd never crossed the line into true pain. They were able to read her expressions, to understand her cries, to give her exactly what she wanted without going too far.

She tensed up slightly before taking a deep breath, trying to relax, to play it cool.

Leave it to Oakley to watch out for her, to study her face. He knew the second she started to freak out a bit.

He leaned over, his breath hot on her cheek. "You only have to say stop, Sadie."

"Is that my safe word?" She meant the question as a joke, as her way of acting all tough and badass. Somewhere along the line, both Joel and Oakley had figured out she was anything but. It was dangerous. She needed that upper hand back.

"This isn't a game, Sade." Joel stopped moving. "You understand that, right?"

Sex is always a game.

She didn't express that dark thought aloud. How could she? Joel and Oakley had just shared a really special moment, acknowledging their feelings for one another. It had been beautiful, but it had also made her feel like a usurper. She didn't belong here with these guys. Despite everything they said, she knew—really knew—deep down in her gut, that they were looking for something serious. Something lasting and real.

For some insane reason and despite everything she'd said to the contrary, they thought they were going to find that with her.

She couldn't give into them.

Oakley pressed a soft kiss on her cheek. "We won't hurt you, Sadie."

She pursed her lips together, too afraid her thoughts would escape. Because despite Oakley's assertion, she knew they wouldn't have a chance to hurt her. She'd strike first.

Without her vision, Sadie felt lost. She was used to being able to read their expressions. It helped her understand what they were thinking and feeling. The blindfold was stealing that advantage from her. Neither man spoke for a moment, which left her adrift, confused.

She considered sitting up and calling a halt to the whole thing. She'd thought that was Joel's plan earlier, when he'd dragged her and Oakley to the alley. It struck her now that she'd actually felt a measure of relief as she had followed them outside. She'd believed Joel would do the hard part for her.

Sadie couldn't force herself to move. Neither of them held her, restrained her. Joel remained between her legs, Oakley standing just above her head. It would be a simple task to just get up and leave.

Yet she couldn't move. She may not be tied down, but she was captive. And the worst part was she had willingly allowed them to confine her.

"Please." Her voice was too quiet, too weak. What the hell was she begging for?

Joel ran his fingers through her slit once more and she moaned. Yes. This was what she wanted. What she needed. She couldn't escape on her own, so she'd let them take her away, help her hide from all the shit crowding in her head.

She was too much like her mother. Always feeling the need to disappear.

Somehow Oakley and Joel understood that.

Oakley reached for her hands once more, dragging them above her head and holding them against the smooth surface.

She waited for Joel to enter her, to thrust inside. He was right there and she was so ready for it. She should have known better.

One moment his fingers were on her clit, the next he had the front of her blouse in his hands. He ripped the material apart. She heard several buttons skitter along the floor.

She wasn't sure what was so freaking hot about a guy ripping her clothes off, but there was no denying her arousal went from hot to scorching. Even so, she sighed and feigned annoyance. "I loved this shirt."

Oakley chuckled. "I love it now too. Shows off some of my favorite parts of you."

She fought not to laugh. Oakley had a definite addiction to her boobs. The man was forever touching them, sucking on them or baring them the second they managed to get somewhere private.

"Put the rest of your t-shirt to use, Oakley. I need help."

Joel's voice was serious, sensual. Oakley released her and she heard another rip. Her freedom was short-lived when each man claimed a wrist. Joel bound her to one leg of the table, Oakley the other.

She tried to tug her arms free, but her lovers hadn't lied. This wasn't a game. Their knots stuck.

A slight unease crept in as her true helplessness soaked in. She couldn't see what they were doing and she couldn't move her hands. Her defenses were being stripped away.

"I…" she paused. She'd been about to call a halt to the whole thing, but something stopped her.

"Five more minutes, Sadie." Joel ran his hand along her chest and stomach. "Give us five more minutes. If you hate it, we'll stop."

Sadie could do that. She thought. "Okay."

She jerked slightly when she felt hands—Oakley's—reach beneath the cups of her bra to lift her breasts out. Then he shifted to her side and took one nipple in his mouth. He took a page out of Joel's book, applying more and more pressure until the pleasure morphed into the slightest bit of pain.

"Uh," she said, the sound coming out more breath than grunt.

At that point, everything started to move faster as both men touched, licked and bit her. Through it all and despite the blindfold, she knew exactly who did what. It was fascinating to her that in such a short time she'd become so attuned to them.

It was Oakley who'd drawn off one of her shoes and sucked her big toe into his mouth. The sensation made her giggle, which encouraged him to tickle the bottom of her foot.

It was Joel whose teeth latched onto her earlobe, applying pressure until she cried out. Joel liked her pleasure/pain noises. She was accustomed to his efforts at provoking them. And because she was that girl, she held off as long as she could in providing them. The end result was more pain, but also the reward because she really fucking liked it.

Her knees were pushed apart. Hot breath and a wicked tongue—Oakley's—hit at her opening. He drove his tongue inside her as her back arched in need. It wasn't enough.

"Please," she repeated again, wishing her hands were free to grab his hair, pull him over her and force him to fuck her properly. She knew exactly what she wanted. She needed it hard and deep. And now.

If either man—or both—knew of her distress, they didn't let that knowledge sway them. They simply continued to torment her with some of the hottest touches she'd ever experienced, pushing her to a hairsbreadth of climax before backing her away from it again.

Murder began to cross her mind when Oakley rose and Joel took his place between her legs, driving two thick fingers inside her. For a moment, she thought they were taking pity on her. After all, it wouldn't have taken more than two more of those rough thrusts to send her spiraling. The motherfuckers knew it. Once his fingers were buried deep, Joel held still, not moving, not giving her the satisfaction she craved.

"I will kill both of you the second you untie me."

Oakley chuckled, which sealed his fate. He was going to die first. As always, Joel remained silent. Without the benefit of sight, that left her to wonder what he was thinking or feeling. Knowing him, he was plotting ways to make her suffer even longer.

She was pleasantly surprised when she felt the head of his cock press against her pussy, seeking entrance. He slid in easily, given the fact they'd turned the water spigot on high as far as her arousal was concerned. Once again, he stopped when he was fully seated, not giving her the friction she needed so badly.

He bent over her body and she blinked rapidly as the blindfold was tugged away, the light too bright after so long in darkness. When she could focus her vision again, Joel was there. His lips mere inches from hers.

The look in his eyes took her breath away. He looked at her as if she truly mattered to him. As if he loved her.

Her heart lurched painfully and she tried to convince herself she was misreading it.

Not love. Lust. That was all this was.

Then Joel leaned closer, offering her the sweetest kiss she'd ever received. The tenderness lasted only a brief second before Joel stood upright and gripped her hips, plowing into her with all the force and speed she'd been begging for.

She came within seconds.

Joel pulled out and Oakley took his place. He found her sweet spot on the first thrust, pushing her to the hilt of yet another climax. Over and over, he stroked that magic place until she gasped, then cried out, then came.

She had mere seconds to recover before Joel returned, the hard, brutal, amazing thrusts dragging her out of her sated bliss and tossing her back into the red-hot flames of desire.

Sadie lost sense of time and place as Joel and Oakley took turns, marking her with their unique brands of fucking, playing her body like a finely tuned piano. She lost count of how many times she had come, certain it had to measure in the triple digits. Hell, maybe she'd hit a million. Who knew? At some point, her hands were untied, but she couldn't recall who had done it or when.

She'd been bound to the table, their all-too-willing captive. Joel flipped her to her stomach as he entered her again. She trembled with need and exhaustion. He bent over her, his lips caressing her shoulder.

"Last time," he whispered.

Sadie loved being taken from behind. The position allowed Joel to go deeper. Typically, she was an active participant, using her grip on the table to meet him blow for blow. This time, she was a rag doll, devoid of strength. All she could do was take, to accept what he gave.

It was a beautiful offering. Her orgasm struck hard and, finally, Joel was there with her. He pulled out at the last second, his come landing on her back in hot spurts.

Then Oakley filled the void. Only when his climax—and her gazillionth—came, he stayed inside her. There was something perversely fulfilling about allowing them to take her without condoms, to come inside her when she'd never given anyone else that privilege. Some nights, she'd hold off on showering for a little while after they left her bed, simply marveling at the sticky reminder of what they'd done together.

She closed her eyes, pressing her head against the slick wood of the table beneath her. Sadie couldn't look at them, couldn't face her lovers and see what she knew was there.

Love.

No.

She'd simply keep her eyes—and her heart—closed. She could do this.

She had to do this.