“Is there room on this ranch for us?” Christian asked.
“Of course—I wouldn’t dream of putting you off if you want to stay.”
“Claire here has room in her heart for you and me both.” Christian stroked her side, close to her breast.
“That so?” Tucker swallowed, a shadow crossing his face. His voice sounded as if his dog had just died and the country song about it was belted out by his most hated performer.
“Well, she hasn’t come out and said it yet…” Christian looked deep into her eyes, “…but I know she’s in love with you.”
She nodded, unable to help herself.
“And I think she’s in love with me.”
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she grinned at Christian.
Tucker scuffed a hand over his jaw, fingertip resting on the silver stud under his lip. “So what does that mean?”
Christian swallowed hard, his throat working. “Means there’s one more confession to be made.”
Tucker waited, as did Claire. Time ticked by.
“Say it,” Tucker said softly.
“I…I want to be part of this ranch, because it’s the only place I’ve truly felt as if I do some good.”
Claire squeezed him close.
“And?” Tucker prompted after a minute of silence.
Christian dropped his gaze, then snapped it back to the man they both longed for. “And I want you too.”
Tucker’s chest heaved at the blow Christian’s words delivered. Dark heat clawed at his insides, and his cock was instantly erect. Throbbing, hard as steel.
His friend wasn’t only talking about jacking off together on the couch with cold beers beside them. If his tone of voice didn’t alert Tucker that Christian wanted more, his friend’s burning gaze did.
Tucker met that gaze straight on. In that instant, he accepted everything that Christian was to him—more than a friend. Their sex had entangled them but Claire had united them.
She made a quiet noise that made Tucker’s sac draw up close to his body in need.
Again, he locked his gaze on her sweet, tormenting mouth.
He wrapped her tight to his body. With a cry, she threw her arms around him. He crushed her lips beneath his, bruising her, devouring. Christian pressed close to them, his body hard and hot as hell.
Without releasing her mouth, Tucker removed an arm from around her waist and reached for Christian.
His friend shuddered and dropped his forehead to Tucker’s neck as Claire kissed the fucking hell out of him.
Her tongue was wild, driving him to the brink. Tucker tightened his hold on Christian, and the three of them grappled in their embrace. Hands moving. Exploring. Tugging at clothes, which they didn’t want to be there.
Tucker tore his mouth free from Claire’s. She moaned her displeasure.
I’ll take care of you, baby. But I need to take care of him too.
Catching Christian’s gaze, Tucker let understanding flash between them. All of the passion he’d ever known with his friend had suddenly escalated to a monumental peak. This was it.
Their mouths collided in a fury of need. Hard lips, tooth against tender flesh. The painshot through Tucker’s heart and shattered some of the old hurt, bringing only warmth and desire.
Christian gripped Tucker’s nape and plunged his tongue deep into his mouth. Sensation ripped through Tucker as their kiss spiraled out of control. The stroke of Christian’s hot tongue brought him to the quivering edge of the precipice. Another damn swirl, a scrape of Christian’s face hair, would make Tucker come too soon.
