Two Are Better Than One Read online

  Hannah wrapped her arms around her middle and ran in the opposite direction. She didn’t know where she was going, nor did she care. She just knew that she needed to get away. Tears streamed down her face as embarrassment and shame washed over her body. Had she really been strutting her stuff to Declan and Quinn like a two dollar whore? Greg seemed to think so. How many others in the department thought as Greg did?

  She stopped running as she went over her encounters with the exchange students in her mind. Every sexy outfit she picked out, every twist of her hair and giggle played through her head.

  Good lord, she was a two dollar whore. It was amazing how someone so smart could be so stupid.

  Hannah dropped onto her knees on the sand, stunned by her actions. For a long time she stared out over the crashing waves, wishing that they could somehow wash away the events of the past year and allow her to do them over.

  When had she gotten so loose? She was never so forward with anyone before. Hannah hardly ever dated, and never, ever flirted. There was just something about Declan and Quinn that made her think of all of those erotic novels she read and brought out her inner vixen. The men were so filled with life and testosterone. She just couldn’t seem to help herself.

  Heavens, what a mess. If she lived through the embarrassment, it would be a miracle. Maybe she could put in for a transfer to a different school in the fall…

  Soft whispers blew over the sand dunes. The voices were masculine and familiar, but too quiet to make out any words. Who would be out here at this time of night? She wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand and stood.

  Hannah briefly considered going back to the party, but she didn’t really want to be around people. Besides, there was something about the voices that called to her. She followed the whispers over the dunes as her curiosity grew.

  “Did you find her?”

  Hannah stopped walking as she recognized Declan’s voice.

  “No. I looked everywhere.”

  Quinn. Hannah knelt down behind the dune and angled herself until both men came into view. The setting sun cast a red-orange halo around them both, creating a beautiful, romantic picture.

  “Damn Greg.” Quinn fisted his hands. “He’s such an ass.”

  “I never liked him,” Declan agreed. “Now he’s scared off Hannah and I’m not sure if we’ll ever find her.”

  Hannah stared at the men. They were looking for her?

  “I’d love to punch his face in.” The normally jovial Quinn slammed his fist in his palm.

  “Come now, you know violence isn’t the answer.” Declan sighed. “I just wish I knew if Hannah was all right.”

  “You don’t believe that she had sex with Greg, do you?”

  “I don’t think anyone believes him. He’s an ass, remember?”

  Quinn shook his head. “I’m worried about her.”

  “Me too.”

  “If only we weren’t running late. We could have stopped it.”

  Hannah stood and was about to reveal herself when she saw Declan reach out for Quinn. She hunched back down behind a sand dune and watched as Declan wrapped his arms around Quinn’s shoulders. The act was gentle and affectionate. Soothing. It seemed almost as if he was consoling a lover.

  Desire sparked in her lower abdomen. She imagined herself between the two men, their hard, naked bodies pressed up against her like in one of her erotic novels. She had never participated in a three-way, but she guessed that with Declan and Quinn it would be so much more intimate than what she had read about, more intense. To be surrounded by all of that warm skin, to feel their hands and lips on her body, would be like a dream come true.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll find her.” Declan hooked his finger under Quinn’s chin and raised his head to meet his gaze. Then he closed the distance between them and covered his lips.

  They were…kissing? Hannah gasped and put her hand over her mouth. They were lovers? A hollowness formed in the pit of her stomach. She was such a fool to think that they’d be interested in her. Damn Becky for putting the thought in her head. Declan and Quinn were lovers—lovers! Tears once again stung her eyes and a sob escaped her throat.

  Declan broke the kiss and pulled back from Quinn. “Did you hear that?”

  Quinn stepped out of his lover’s embrace. “There’s someone here.”

  Hannah stood and turned to go.

  “Wait—don’t leave.” Quinn’s voice rose up from the dunes.

  Hannah closed her eyes. Could this evening get any worse? She couldn’t run away now. She’d have to talk to them. Hannah decided she’d be curt and quick, then get out of there and go home as soon as possible.

  Hannah had let Becky give her hope for something more than a life of seclusion, and now she was paying the price. Hannah was better off with her cat and her erotic novels.

  It was best to get this over with as quickly as possible. Slowly she turned around.

  Both men started moving toward her.

  “Hannah,” Declan was faster than Quinn and reached her first. “My God, we were worried about you.”

  “Were you?” Hannah looked from Declan to Quinn. “Just now you were kissing. You couldn’t have been that worried.” Hannah winced at the men’s stunned expressions and immediately regretted her words. She held up her hands between them. “I mean, it’s none of my business—”

  “You saw that?” Quinn asked.

  Declan took a step forward. “Did it disgust you?” He took another step. “Scare you?”

  “A little.” She shook her head. “I mean it didn’t disgust me. I just didn’t know that you two…” She waved her hands in the air between them.

  “We are lovers, yes.” Declan stopped and held his hands out at his sides. “Does that bother you?”

  “No. Yes.” She sighed and dropped her hands. “I don’t know.”

  “There’s more,” Quinn said.

  “More?”

  Declan glanced at Quinn, and then refocused his attention to her. “We like kissing each other, but we find it much more erotic to both be kissing another woman.”

  “Much more erotic,” Quinn said as he stepped closer.

  “Does that make you uncomfortable?” Declan asked.

  “I—” Hannah thought back to what Greg had said. She now had a reputation for being easy. Did Quinn and Declan expect her to have sex with both of them? More importantly, how did she feel about that?

  She thought about her erotic novels back in her apartment. It had always been a fantasy of hers to have a threesome, but never thought that stuff happened in real life. Now she was facing the opportunity to experience something she had only read about. What was holding her back?

  “We heard what had happened with Greg,” Quinn said. “We want you to know that no one believed him when he said you had sex with him on the beach. He’s known for shooting off his mouth.”

  Some of the tension in Hannah’s shoulders eased. “Really?”

  “Yeah,” Declan said. “Did he hurt you?” He took another step closer.

  “No, not really.” Just shook her up a little.

  “You’re shivering.” Quinn closed the last of the distance between them and touched her shoulder. “You’re freezing.”

  “I’m not that cold. Really.”

  “Then why the goose bumps?”

  Because you two are overloading my senses with testosterone. Hannah chewed on her lower lip, unsure of how to respond and not sound foolish.

  “If you’re cold, then why didn’t you say something? Come here.” Declan reached out and pulled her close to his chest. Instead of being afraid or disgusted, like she was with Greg, she felt warm and safe. Declan smelled spicy and male, a heady mix. She felt a tightening in her lower abdomen as he wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek on the top of her head.

  She had never had anyone care for her quite like this before. As the daughter of divorced parents and an abusive father, it had been a very long time since she had felt so safe in a ma
n’s arms.

  Declan was over six feet, and all muscle. Hannah let out her breath and slid her arms around his waist. He wore nothing but swim trunks, allowing her to touch his skin. She rubbed her cheek against the fine hairs of his chest and toyed with the small container that hung from a string around his neck.

  “What’s this?” she asked.

  “Never you mind, love.” Declan tightened his grip around her. “It’s not important now.”

  Hannah wrapped both arms around his waist and savored his body heat, his calm strength. She closed her eyes and sighed.

  “That’s it, little one. Relax. We’ll take care of you.” Quinn placed his hands on her shoulders and began to massage out the tension of the past few hours. She didn’t realize how uptight the party had made her, or how on edge Greg’s advances had left her. She moaned her approval as Quinn kneaded and soothed her muscles with his fingers. They felt good, real good. It was almost as if the men were coaxing her into an erotic dreamland.

  Hannah felt Quinn’s warmth behind her and images of her wildest fantasies sprung to the forefront of her mind. She pictured their bodies tangled on the bed, limbs entwined, moving to the beat of a primal rhythm. Heat spiraled out over her skin and the muscles in her lower abdomen clenched with need.

  Quinn inched closer and his long, thick erection pressed into her backside.

  “Oh,” she gasped and moved her head away from Declan, bumping it against Quinn’s chest in the process.

  “Is there something wrong, little one?” Declan asked.

  “No, it’s just…” Her voice trailed off as the men moved in closer. She felt both their erections, one at her backside and one in her belly. They were both as turned on as she was. Hannah moistened her lips as she thought of something to say.

  “It’s just that you’ve never been held by two men before,” Declan said.

  “Yes.” She sighed in relief.

  “Does it make you uncomfortable?” Quinn asked.

  She thought about it for a moment. “No, not at all.” In fact, there was something that felt strangely right about having the men surround her.

  “Good,” Quinn ran his fingers over her upper back. “You know Hannah, I’ve been thinking about this moment ever since I first laid eyes on you.”

  “Me, too,” Declan confirmed as he spread his palms over her waist. “Ever since you walked into that lab class.” He reached up and trailed his fingers along her cheek. The motion caused her to lift her head and meet his gaze.

  “Those tank tops you wear are an incredible turn-on,” Declan said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “You were driving us both crazy.”

  “I was wearing a lab coat.”

  “True, but we knew what was underneath.”

  “And those skirts…” Quinn added. “I didn’t know long skirts could be so sexy.”

  “Yes, they are.” Declan cast his gaze down toward her breasts, which were popping out of her bikini. “That swimsuit is sexy, too.”

  “Very sexy,” Quinn agreed.

  Declan shifted his gaze to her hands. “And your nails… They look much more feminine.”

  “I—” Okay, so Becky was right. Hannah made a mental note to thank her roommate later.

  “And that smile…that’s the one.” Declan’s features softened. “You have a beautiful smile.”

  “And a wonderful laugh.”

  “If you don’t want this, love,” Declan said as he ran his thumb over her lips. “I suggest you stop it now.”

  “I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to hold back once we get going,” Quinn added. “You’re like a drug, Hannah. A beautiful, addicting drug.”

  Greg’s advances had felt like taunts, but Hannah didn’t sense any condescending tone from either Quinn or Declan. They both meant what they said. She turned them on, just like they turned her on. Both of them.

  Becky was wrong. Hannah didn’t have to choose between them. For one long, glorious night, she could have both of them to herself. She only needed to seize the moment.

  But what about tomorrow? How could she face both of these men at school knowing they did what they did? She didn’t delude herself that this was forever. This was a sexually charged moment. They were alone on the beach, and barely clothed. This would be nothing more than sex. Was she okay with that?

  She thought about all of the good times that they had together throughout the year. Then she thought of Becky’s words earlier that day. She had said that Hannah needed to ‘put herself out there’ and not hole up with books for the rest of her life.

  What better way to embrace life than to have sex with two gorgeous men on the beach? No strings attached?

  “I want this,” she said.

  “I knew that there was a kinky vixen underneath that reserved exterior,” Quinn said.

  Declan flashed him a frown.

  “I’ll do this on one condition,” Hannah amended.

  “What’s that, little one?” Declan asked as he shifted his focus back to her.

  “That there are no false promises or testaments of undying affection. I don’t want anything to be weird between us when school starts again in the fall.”

  Declan opened his mouth to respond, but she held up her hand. “Please. Let’s be honest. This is nothing more than a good time, so let’s keep it that way, right?” Over the past year she had developed a closeness with the men. She didn’t think her heart could stand it if that was lost.

  Declan glanced over her shoulder at Quinn, and then returned his gaze to hers. “Okay.”

  “Whatever you want,” Quinn added.

  It wasn’t what she wanted, but it was what they wanted, she was sure of it. Guys her age didn’t want attachments and relationships, no matter how well they got along with a woman. Hell, hadn’t she just caught them kissing? They were probably in a deep, committed relationship already. They were just looking for a little fun.

  And if Declan and Quinn wanted fun, then she could give them that. Pure sex. No emotion or messy complications.

  She’d give them the time of their lives, then go home to her empty apartment. No one would ever have to know how alone she really felt.

  Chapter Three

  Something didn’t sit right with Declan. Perhaps it was how Hannah’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, or how her voice hitched. She was emotional, he reminded himself. Emotional people said things that they didn’t really mean. He and Quinn would give her what she asked for, but he’d be damned if this didn’t mean anything more than a good time for him. Declan had thought that Hannah knew she was much more than a one-night stand, but perhaps she didn’t. Perhaps he had to show her how much she meant to him.

  Perhaps then she might believe there could be something more between the three of them than just a fuck in the sand.

  Declan removed her glasses and set them down on a nearby rock. Then he hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her head to meet his gaze. “We’ll give you what you wish, but make no mistake. You’re more than just a fling to us.” He shifted his gaze to her lips. They looked swollen and red and so utterly kissable. “Much more.” Declan’s whole body tightened with need as he covered her mouth with his.

  Her lips were soft and yielding. Declan groaned as he ran his tongue across her lips, coaxing her to open to him. She did and he took advantage. Declan swept his tongue inside her mouth, and her taste burst on his tongue. She was sweet, like a forbidden chocolate. Hannah’s kisses were better than he had ever imagined.

  He slid his hands over her hips and hooked his fingers underneath her sarong. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He feasted on her mouth, touching and exploring, claiming her for his own.

  Declan sensed Quinn moving behind her. His lover’s earthy scent blended with Hannah’s sweet one, creating an intoxicating aroma. Quinn kissed Hannah’s neck and shoulders, then slid his fingers under the shoulder strap of her bikini.

  Declan’s fingers trembled as he undid the knot in her sarong. He
wanted to feel her, all of her. He had been dreaming of her for far too long. It was time to make his dreams become reality.

  She moaned against his lips, a soft, feminine sound that made his whole body shake with need.

  “She’s amazing,” Quinn whispered against her skin. “I could kiss her forever.”

  Declan dragged his lips away from her mouth. “I know.”

  “I want to taste you,” Hannah turned to Quinn. “Both of you.”

  Declan glanced at Quinn, who nodded in understanding.

  “Perhaps some other time, little one,” Declan said. “Tonight it is about you—your pleasure, your enjoyment.”

  “I can’t take enjoyment when I know that neither of you—”

  “Oh make no mistake, we’ll have our enjoyment,” Quinn said.

  “Just not now,” Declan added. Hannah was still shaken from her encounter with Greg, and unsure of her own sexuality. If the three of them ever stood a chance of making it as a trio, then they had to make sure that Hannah knew how aroused she made them, how much she was needed. Declan wanted to make sure that Hannah realized that being with both men would be better than anything that she had ever experienced. When it was over she needed to crave them as much as each of them craved her.

  Declan was thankful he and Quinn had been together long enough that they understood each other. Quinn knew she needed to feel cared for, just like Declan knew it. The knowledge that Quinn was so in tune with Declan’s thoughts made Declan painfully hard.

  “Relax and focus on our touch,” Quinn said.

  “I-I’ve never had sex with two men before.”

  “Well, there’s a first time for everything,” Quinn chuckled against her skin.

  “Relax, we’ll take care of everything.” Declan let go of her sarong, letting it fall onto the sand. Then he snaked his arms around her waist and slipped his fingers under her bikini bottoms.

  “Your skin is so smooth and feminine,” he whispered into her ear. “If you are this soft on the outside, I can only imagine how good you’ll feel on the inside.” Declan lowered his head and kissed a hot, sensual line along her jaw, causing her to groan. This woman was going to be his undoing, he could feel it.