Indiscretions by Madelynne Ellis Page A

mornings spent cocooned together in bed, sleeping off the excesses of a night’s debauchery. The sort of debauchery that left them with stubble burns and muscle aches, and sometimes bruises. Nights spent chasing a single moment of bonded perfection.
    They were perfect together.
    Only, together rarely involved just the two of them anymore.
    Just like that the blissful vision shattered. Bella was part of their lives now. He couldn’t deny it, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. Triangles were supposed to be strong, but sharing didn’t come easy to Vaughan. He didn’t want a slice of Lucerne’s affection. He wanted it all, and if he saved his wicked thoughts until they got home, the arrangement would no longer be the same. Bella would be present, and by God, she’d demand a role in whatever they had planned. There was no hiding from her, no escape. Locked doors didn’t keep her out, nor alas did threats, and he disliked casting idle ones.
    She was with them here, but sat apart with some friends at present. This place, this moment, provided the perfect opportunity to slip away and find some quiet time together.
    Vaughan reached out and caressed the outline of Lucerne’s arse through his breeches.
    Lucerne jerked in alarm. “Vaughan!” The tremulous tenor to his lover’s voice only boldened Vaughan’s stroke. Fear brightened the blue of Lucerne’s eyes as he warily turned his head. “Not here. It’s too risky. There are too many people.” A pink blush crept over Lucerne’s high cheekbones and up into his hairline.
    “Of course,” Vaughan acquiesced with a nod. He closed his eyes and allowed his jaw to relax, faking deep affinity with the music. The risk itself was half the appeal. What he intended wasn’t merely taboo, like stealing away with a maiden for a quick grope in a broom closet, it was illegal, a deplorable and debased act according to both the Crown and the Church.
    “Stop it!” Lucerne tilted his head towards him so that his hiss blew straight across Vaughan’s ear. “I’m not fooled. I know what you’re planning.”
    “But no one else can read my mind.” Vaughan pursed his lips and allowed Lucerne’s imagination to fill in the details of the fantasy running through his head. The result increased the colour in Lucerne’s cheeks to a warm shade of ruby. “You’re blushing like a virgin now.” Actually, Lucerne blushed far more prettily than any of the virgins he knew. Vaughan touched the tip of his tongue to his upper lip. The one thing guaranteed to set Lucerne’s blood afire was anticipation. Lucerne was all about the slow burn, and Vaughan could stretch out this tease for five minutes or the rest of the night. Regardless the outcome would be the same, Lucerne overeager, standing to attention and begging for affection.
    Fear of reprisal really wasn’t everything. Sometimes lust prevailed.
    “You know you’ve got me all wrong,” Vaughan said a moment later.
    “Have I?”
    “Actually I was imagining things the other way around. You must contemplate that too sometimes, don’t you? You have to have considered how it feels to give and not receive.”
    Lucerne’s jaw fell slack.
    I have you. Vaughan knew it would work. He was after all dangling a very tender morsel before his lover’s eyes. Bella’s presence necessitated certain arrangements. Namely that she and Lucerne took turns being in the middle. He never gave up his position of dominance. Anything else would upset the delicate balance of their relationship. That and he struggled to master his emotions at the best of times. There was no question of his being able to do so while Lucerne was swiving him. The sensations involved were far too exhilarating and far too raw. In truth, he didn’t like to dwell on where such a scenario with the three of them present would lead. Individually the pair continually stretched the limits of his endurance. If they ever made a genuine, concerted attack on him… Well, the results were