Songbird(22)

Her hair slid forward, a curtain over her shoulders. The strands tickled Greer’s skin, and he wrapped his hands in them, gathering until his fists rested on her shoulders. Then he extricated his fingers and let them slide down her body until he cupped her br**sts, rolling the sensitive peaks between his thumb and forefinger.

Her pu**y fluttered and convulsed wetly around him, and unbelievably her orgasm rose when just moments before she’d been limp and sated.

“Come with me,” she whispered. “When I do.”

“Always. Always with you.”

She closed her eyes as he raised a hand to her cheek. She nuzzled into his palm, enjoying the simple pleasure of his touch.

Fluidly she arched over him, undulating, finding a smooth rhythm that had them both straining. Their harsh breaths filled the air, and when she opened her eyes, her unfocused gaze found Taggert, still lying on the bed, his eyes glowing with lust. And love. For her. All for her.

She reached for his hand even as she gripped Greer with her other. She stared at them both with all her love for them to see. The words stuck in her throat. She was too gripped by emotion to force them past stiff lips. But she could show them.

She guided Greer’s hand down to where they were joined, and he slipped a finger through her folds until he found her swollen little nub. His fingers spread the hood, baring her clit to his touch. He stroked, just light little touches but it was enough to send her right over the edge.

She jerked, gripping Taggert’s fingers until they were bloodless. A low cry of desperation burst from her chest. It hurt. God, the tension was so great she was going to shatter.

Up and down, she slammed against his body, driving him deeper, harder.

“Emmy!” Greer cried.

His finger pressed hard against her clit, and she shattered. He arched convulsively into her, and she was too tired, too devastated to continue the ride. So he held her hips and did the work as his release flooded into her.

Long after she’d slumped forward, his hips rose, his thrusts easing in and out of her. And then he wrapped his arms around her, holding her so close she could feel the frantic beat of his heart.

He kissed her hair and then her temple. He raised his hands to pull the heavy curtain away from her face, and she lay limply over him, absorbing his strength.

“Ours now,” he murmured. “Ours, Emmy.”

She smiled and glanced lazily up at Taggert who lay there still watching. She raised her hand and he laced their fingers together before letting them fall to the bed beside him.

“Yours,” she said simply.

Chapter Ten

Emily lay between Greer and Taggert, one arm and leg thrown over Taggert and her head resting on his shoulder. Spooned behind her, Greer rested his hand possessively on her hip and he kissed her bare shoulder.

Peace. For the first time in a year peace filled her. Sweet. Unending. So exquisite she wanted the moment to last forever.

With a wistful sigh she snuggled a little deeper into the crook of Taggert’s arm.

Some of the constant ache she’d lived with ever since Sean’s death dissipated as she felt the steady reassurance of Taggert’s heartbeat and Greer’s warm lips brushed across her skin.

And then, because she couldn’t stand another moment without saying it, she whispered, “I love you.”

They both went still beside her, their bodies tense. Not even the sounds of their breathing could be heard. The silence hurt her ears. It was harsh. A white void that filled her with insecurity all over again. It was too easy to go back to that awful day when her world had irrevocably been turned upside down.

“Do you mean that, Emmy?” Greer asked as he stroked the curve of her behind.

Taggert raised his head to stare into her eyes. There was such hope reflected in his gaze. And fear. She found herself staring at the same insecurity that rocketed through her chest.

“I’ve always loved you. That’s never changed. It didn’t change when I married Sean. I loved him. I loved you. I’ll always love all of you.”

Greer put his lips to her shoulder again and left them there. She felt the slight tremble as if he were trying valiantly to come up with just the right words.

Taggert shifted and came up on one elbow. He touched her cheek, his finger tracing the line of her jaw and then lightly feathering across her lips.

“I love you too, Songbird. I think I’ve always loved you.”

Her heart swelled, and she swallowed to alleviate the discomfort. An ache bloomed but a different kind of ache. Not the sharp, incessant pain of grief and longing. This was overwhelming. Hope budding and unfurling like a flower seeking the sun.

“I love you,” Greer whispered against her skin. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

She closed her eyes against the sting of tears. It wasn’t fair. How could she hope to have it all when she didn’t have Sean?

“Emmy, look at me.”

Taggert’s command, tender and coaxing, penetrated the fog swirling in her mind. She forced her gaze to his, her lips trembling even as he continued to stroke his thumb over her mouth.

“Tell me why you blame yourself for what happened.”

Her pulse jumped and stuttered. She tried to shrink away, but she was caught between the two men. There was nowhere to run.

“Sean gave up so much for me. For my dream. He loved me. Protected me. He died protecting me.”