Bound by the Past Read online

  Night’s cock twitched, grew harder. For a second, he considered dragging her upstairs and tying her to Jon’s bed. To hell with scaring her away. He couldn’t let her escape. He pinched her nipple firmly, increasing the pressure until Carly gasped, the sound the perfect blend of pain and pleasure.

  Jon narrowed his eyes at him in warning, then he answered Carly’s question. “You don’t belong here, Carly. I’ve tried to tell you that since our first night together.”

  She scoffed, her resentment laced with the slightest touch of humor. “Oh, that’s right. I deserve better.”

  Night grimaced. Apparently this wasn’t Jon’s first attempt at saving Carly. It bothered him that even though his friend had fallen in love with the woman, he’d still tried to push her away, still let his guilt about the past keep him from truly committing to Carly. Or allow her to commit to him.

  Jon ran a weary hand through his hair, frustration rife in his eyes. When he spoke again, his voice was angry, the kid gloves gone. “You know what I want, Carly.”

  Though it killed Night to do it, he tightened his grip, wrapping one hand around her delicate throat—making sure she felt captured—then he punctuated Jon’s statement with another pinch of her nipple.

  “You’re giving me to your friend?”

  Jon shook his head, a cold smile betraying him. He took no pleasure in what he was doing. “Don’t sound so alarmed. I’ll be there too.”

  Carly laughed. “Well, I was banking on that.”

  Her words fell in the living room like a nuclear bomb, setting the world off-kilter, blinding Night momentarily. The same seemed to hold true for Jon.

  Then Night saw realization dawning on Jon’s face.

  She wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t leaving.

  She was willing to take them both on.

  Confusion crossed his Jon’s face for a brief second. “Why?” Jon’s question was whispered so softly, Night didn’t hear it as much as read it on his friend’s lip.

  “If I leave tonight, that’s it, isn’t it?”

  Carly had seen it all, understood Jon’s plan. She knew what was at stake.

  “You shouldn’t be here.” The words seemed ripped from Jon’s chest. It took all the strength Night possessed not to contradict his friend, not to release Carly and walk the fuck out of the house.

  There was someone who shouldn’t be there, but it sure as shit wasn’t Carly.

  It was him.

  “This is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

  Night wasn’t sure when he’d closed his eyes. It was a coward’s escape, but it had been too hard to see the pain in his friend’s face. When he opened them again, he was shocked to see Carly wasn’t looking at Jon. Her gaze was solidly on his.

  His ability to lock down his emotions was gone. He stared at her, terrified to be so naked, so exposed.

  She studied his face for several quiet minutes. “You want me?”

  Night swallowed heavily. How could he betray his friend? His admission was all they needed to make her leave. Maybe not tonight, but soon. The darkness in his soul was too overpowering, too all-consuming. It would creep out eventually and destroy any chance Jon might have had for a happy ending with this beautiful, normal woman.

  Night nodded.

  Her expression cleared. Carly James had turned a corner, made a decision. For a second, Night found himself jealous of her self-assuredness because he’d never been more confused in his life.

  She turned back to Jon. “This is what you’ve been hiding from me.”

  Jon lifted one shoulder slowly. For a second, Night thought it looked as though Jon were afraid to move at all, too terrified of spooking her. “I warned you, Carly. I want everything from you. Everything.” Jon’s gaze traveled over her shoulder and met his. “He’s my best friend. Everything that’s mine is his.”

  “I know.” It was a simple admission on her part, but Night felt those two words race through him like a shot of adrenaline to a man whose heart had stopped beating.

  After all these years, could Carly be the one woman who would complete them? Save them?

  Her fingers rubbed against his cock again—and this time it wasn’t an accident.

  “Carly?” Night had never heard such anguish and love mixed together as Jon spoke her name.

  Carly trembled in his arms. Night tightened his hold. The three of them stood frozen for several moments until Night heard the one small word he knew would change his life forever.

  “Yes.”

  Jon was shattered by Carly’s response.

  Part of him had hoped that by pushing her into Night’s arms, she would run scared. Reilly fully intended to use her in his mission to bring Cassandra down. Desperate to save her from that fate, he’d intended to force her hand. He was certain that by thrusting the idea of a threesome at her, she would leave. Escape him and his black soul forever.

  Now, with a single word, she’d given him the greatest gift he’d ever received. He glanced at Night—Carly locked tightly in his embrace—and saw the same look of reverent disbelief on his friend’s face. She wanted them both. Just when he felt as though he couldn’t love her any more, she blew him away with her generosity and seemingly endless supply of compassion.

  “Upstairs.” Night made the quiet demand before releasing her, only to turn her slightly and lift her into his arms. Jon followed closely behind as Night carried her to the bedroom. Placing her back on her feet, Night reached for the hem of her shirt and swiftly pulled it over her head.

  Jon expected her to rebel against this sudden disrobing. She was still uncomfortable standing naked before him. No matter how many times or ways he tried to tell her she was beautiful, she truly didn’t believe it yet. He was amazed as he watched her stand unmoving for his friend’s perusal. Something had definitely changed, blossomed, opened up in her tonight.

  Night, however, was far from motionless or quiet. His hands worshipped her, touched her everywhere as he told her over and over how lovely she was.

  The sight of her shapely body continually left Jon speechless despite the fact he’d seen her naked countless times. He could appreciate Night’s overwhelmed response.

  Walking toward them, Jon took his place behind her and unhooked her bra. He heard Night gasp as he pulled the lacy material away from her body.

  “Jesus,” Night whispered. Jon watched him fall to his knees. Reaching around her, Jon lifted her breasts and offered them to his friend. Night’s tongue swiveled around the pink areolas several times as her nipples grew larger and harder. When it seemed he couldn’t resist any longer, Night sucked the flesh firmly into his mouth. She moaned and squirmed, Night’s attention to her sensitive breasts setting her body on fire. Jon continued to hold her, pushing her into his friend’s mouth. He couldn’t take his eyes off the image of Night kneeling before her, worshipping her with his mouth as her hands tugged and pulled Night’s hair, holding her to him.

  Finally, Night released her and clumsily stood back up. “More,” he demanded, and Jon knew what he meant. Turning her to face him, Jon reached down to undo the fastening of her jeans. When he had them unzipped, Night pulled them down her hips. She kicked off her tennis shoes and the jeans were quickly shed as well. Jon had only a moment to notice she was wearing the new black thong he’d bought her before he heard a snap and the panties fell away.

  “Sorry,” he heard Night mumble, and he chuckled.

  “You’ll never be accused of having too much patience,” Jon teased and he was thrilled when Carly joined in the laughter. He still couldn’t believe she was really here. Really letting them both touch her and love her.

  “Well, I must say I’ve finally found something you both have in common.” She looked at him as she spoke. “In your haste to get me naked, neither one of you has bothered to remove a single piece of clothing.”

  Jon laughed, recalling their first night together when she had come in his arms before he’d even taken off his shirt.

  “She seems to have
strong feelings about equality in nudity, Night.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind.” Jon watched as his friend pulled his T-shirt over his head. “Is that better, Beauty?”

  She turned to look at Night and Jon heard her gasp softly. “I think I’ve spotted another similarity.” Her gaze was locked on the unmistakably large outline of Night’s erection.

  Night grinned and slowly unzipped his pants. With teasingly slow shakes of his hips, he pulled his jeans down in small increments, giving her an eyeful of his striptease.

  Jon was unable to resist discovering the effects of his friend’s body on her and he pulled her back against his chest, letting his fingers drift down her stomach to her clit. Her small opening was drenched and dripping as he pushed his finger inside.

  “Damn, that’s nice. Night. Come feel this.” Jon didn’t bother to remove his finger. Instead, he watched Night’s expression as he touched her pussy for the first time.

  “Christ. She’s soaking wet.” Night thrust his own finger roughly in her alongside Jon’s—and she exploded into an orgasm.

  Jon almost laughed at the stunned expression on Night’s face. He was used to her incredible sensuality. The woman could come at the drop of a hat.

  Night’s shock quickly turned to something he recognized. “Jon,” he warned.

  Jon nodded and watched Night push her back onto the bed gently.

  “Condom,” Night barked. Jon retrieved one from the bedside table and pushed it into his friend’s hands. Night had the condom on and was inside her sweet pussy in under a minute. This first time wouldn’t last long. It had obviously been a while since Night had taken a woman to bed. Even Jon could feel the unquenchable need to claim and conquer her, despite the fact he’d made love to her several times last night.

  “Oh Beauty,” he heard Night mutter. “I can’t hold back. Too good. Too good.” He chanted the words in time with his quick thrusts and Jon watched her respond. Within seconds, she was climaxing again and dragging Night with her.

  “Holy shit!” The words were barked out between gasps as Night struggled to breathe. She giggled at his words, more than a bit breathless herself.

  “Well, now that we have that out of the way…” Jon tried not to let the staggering impact their lovemaking had on him show in his face. For a moment, he considered his past years struggling toward normality. Something deep inside told him this wasn’t normal. No normal man nearly came in his own pants at the sight of his best friend fucking his woman—and yet that was exactly how he felt. Watching Night take Carly was almost as good as taking her himself.

  Jon saw Night studying his face. His friend was worried. Worried he had changed his mind.

  Jon captured his gaze and smiled. “There is still the issue of Carly’s punishment.”

  A smile broke on Night’s face and he laughed.

  For the first time in his life, Jon felt truly happy. Regardless of the fact Cassandra was wrecking havoc again, he felt good. Deep-down-in-his-soul good. It wasn’t a feeling he’d ever experienced before and he knew he had the two naked people in his bed to thank for it.

  “Punishment?” Carly was squirming under Night’s body, no doubt plotting an escape.

  “Carly.” Night’s tone was firm. “Stay still.”

  Jon rejoiced to see his sweet little submissive respond instantly, then she frowned as if appalled with herself. “How do you guys do that?” she muttered.

  Night kissed her rather than respond. She would soon discover exactly how much he and his friend had in common. He almost felt sorry for the poor little thing, attaching herself to two Dominants with possessive streaks a mile wide. Then he recalled her strength, her passion, her courage. He chuckled as he reconsidered. It was he and Night who needed the sympathy. Carly James was destined to run them ragged.

  Jon glanced down and realized he was still fully dressed. Pulling his shirt off, he quickly divested himself of his pants, boxers and shoes as well. Night rose from the bed but kept a firm hand in the middle of her chest, not allowing her to rise.

  Night looked over and gave him an it’s your show gesture. Her punishment, this time, was his to mete out. She’d scared the hell out of him today and had placed herself in serious danger whether she’d realized it at the time or not.

  “Lie down in the center of the bed on your stomach and grip the headboard. Open your legs.” Jon stood at the foot of the bed with his arms crossed against his chest. Night remained beside the bed, obviously awaiting instructions.

  When she moved into position, Jon gestured toward the bedside table next to Night. “There are a couple things we’ll need. Grab them.” He didn’t bother to elaborate. Night would know.

  Jon began to crawl up onto the bed, dragging his hands along the backs of her legs as he went. Reaching down, he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Get up on your knees, but keep your head down. The only thing I want to see right now is that gorgeous ass of yours.”

  She complied and Night moved to his side. He glanced down at the items in Night’s hands and saw he and his friend were definitely on the same page.

  “Tell me why you’re being punished.” Jon placed his palm gently against her bare buttock. She flinched slightly, expecting him to spank her, rather than merely touch.

  “I didn’t tell you where I was going.” As soon as she finished answering, he spanked her—hard—and she cried out. This was going to be a lesson she wouldn’t soon forget.

  “And?” he prompted, spanking her other cheek with equal force.

  “I put myself in danger.”

  He hit her three times in quick succession and watched her lovely flesh turn a bright shade of red.

  “And?”

  Her breathing was ragged and he struggled to keep going. She was trembling slightly and he started to pull back.

  Night placed a strong hand on his shoulder. “She has to learn to trust us. Things around here are changing, Jon. The danger is real. She can’t make impulsive decisions that might endanger her life.”

  “And, Carly?” Jon repeated, spanking her twice more.

  “I’ll never do it again.”

  Jon bent forward to place his lips on her burning flesh. He attempted to soothe the soreness away with his tongue. He felt Night’s hands caressing the other cheek.

  “If anything ever happened to you, Carly…” Jon was surprised to hear Night’s anguished words.

  She must have shared that astonishment. She rolled over and reached out for them to join her. They lay down on either side of her as she turned first toward one and then the other, offering her apologies and kisses to both. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll call next time. Tell you my plans.”

  Soon their kisses became more heated and their touches became almost frantic in their desire.

  “Night, I think we better introduce her to that toy of yours before we go any further.”

  She froze at his words. “Toy?”

  “Roll over, Beauty.” Night gripped her shoulder and turned her to her stomach once more. “Get back up on your knees. Just like you did for Jon earlier.”

  She paused and Jon laughed at her reaction. “No more punishment, Blue Eyes. Only the good stuff for the rest of the night.”

  “For the rest of our lives.” Night muttered the last and Jon smiled at his friend’s hushed wish.

  If only. Silently, Jon sent up a prayer that she never left them.

  She pushed onto her knees and he couldn’t resist running his hands across her rear end. The color on her cheeks had faded to a light pink.

  Brushing a light kiss against her buttocks, Jon watched as Night reached for the bottle of lubrication. She stiffened when she felt Night’s finger prod at the entrance to her back hole. Despite the promise he’d made on their first night, Jon hadn’t taken her there yet.

  “Relax, Carly.” Jon tried to soothe her as Night slowly pushed his lubed finger in to the first knuckle.

  “She’s fighting me.” Night removed his finger and looked at him. �
�You’re going to have to distract her or I’ll end up hurting her.”

  Jon grinned. Lying down on his back, he pulled her over him. He’d been in agony since watching Carly and Night make love. He was more than happy to distract his little ladylove. Gripping her hips lightly, he angled her until he was poised at the opening of her tight pussy. Ever so slowly, he pushed her down onto his hard cock.

  She sighed happily when at last he was fully lodged and he felt her start to rise back up. “Oh no you don’t.”

  “Jon.” She fought to move on his erection. She was ready for action and he smiled at her enthusiasm.

  “You only get fucked once you’ve taken Night’s toy into your body.”

  Overcome by frustration, she pounded her small fists against his chest. “Now, Jon, please. Don’t make me wait.”

  “Way I see it, sweetheart, you’re the one making us wait. Night and I aren’t exactly small men and we’re both dying to get into that tight ass. We can’t do that ’til we’ve stretched you out a bit. That’s what the toy will do. Think about it, Carly. Both of us inside you, pounding hard into your ass and cunt. You want that, don’t you?”

  “God help me. I think I do.”

  He laughed briefly at her astonished, somewhat mortified confession until her internal muscles clenched him with an almost unbearable tightness. It was all he could do to keep himself from flipping her over and pounding into her now.

  “Then let Night in.”

  She nodded and Jon watched Night squirt more lube onto his finger. It was pure torture to feel Night’s finger slowly work its way into her ass.

  “I can feel him inside you, Carly. Do you like that?” If she rejected this part, he wasn’t sure what they would do. There was nothing like the feeling of taking a woman together, pounding in and out of her tight body in unison.

  “Yes.” She began thrusting back toward Night’s finger and Jon saw his friend grin. He removed his finger and she started to protest.

  “Hold still, Beauty.” Night opened the wrapper on the butt plug Jon had purchased for her.