“Be less literal and German. I’m saying you both need to go to your corners. Wait, damn, that’s another sports analogy. Must be channeling my dad today because I don’t even like sports that much.” Walt shook his head. “You two aren’t allowed to talk anymore because you’re not listening to each other. You need a mediator.”
What they needed was therapy. She should have been going to therapy this whole time but had thought she could handle it on her own.
“Annalise, how do you feel about Jakob?” Walt asked.
“I…I love him. I know I shouldn’t, but I do. Even though it is not fair to him.”
“Fair?” Jakob started.
“No. Not your turn.” Walt pointed at him. “Okay, to sum up, you love each other, but neither of you has said anything because…” Walt looked first to her.
“Because it isn’t fair to him. If I confessed my feelings, it might make him feel even more responsible for me, and I didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on him.”
Jakob was shaking his head, but Walt smiled at her. “Good. Okay, Jakob. Your turn. Why didn’t you tell her you loved her?”
“Because she’s being terrorized by a violent stalker. How could I take advantage of her when she’s so vulnerable?”
“Both your feelings are valid, but, Jakob, do you think of Annalise as a burden?”
“No. Never.”
“And, Annalise, do you think Jakob is taking advantage of you by spending time with you when you’re stressed out?”
“No. Of course not,” she murmured.
“Okay, great. Now kiss.” Walt waved his hands at them.
Annalise turned to look at Walt, utterly stunned. “I’m sorry…what?”
“You love one another. Kiss.”
Right.
Kiss Jakob.
Which she’d only been fantasizing about for months or maybe the better part of a year.
Annalise stood and faced Jakob. She could do this. Just walk over there and kiss him.
She didn’t move. Couldn’t. Jakob was right there, and a wild mix of embarrassment and uncertainty rooted her in place. She’d spent so long not kissing him that this felt awkward.
Jakob crossed his arms. Uncrossed them. Put his hands in his pockets. All the body language that said a person was unsure or uncomfortable.
They waited. The three of them. Standing there. Self-conscious and silent.
Walt sighed noisily, but he was smiling. “You two are lucky I’m here.” He reached out and took Annalise’s wrist, then pulled her over to where Jakob was standing.
Walt didn’t let go of her as he reached out with his free hand, cupped the back of Jakob’s head, and kissed him.
A hot, sharp stab of desire lanced through her. She loved the way Jakob’s eyes widened for just a moment, the shock and surprise so unlike his normal expressionless mask. Then he closed his eyes and wrapped one arm around Walt’s waist, holding him close.
Walt pulled back, a bit breathless. “Damn, man, you can kiss.” Then Walt glanced at Annalise. “Come here.”
The husky command fired her libido even more.
Walt pulled her in, without really backing away from Jakob. Her shoulder brushed against Jakob’s chest, but she kept her focus on Walt.
For the second time, he bent to kiss her. There was no chaste start to this kiss. His tongue slid between her lips, demanded entry to her mouth, and then swept inside. Walt was holding her wrist, but another arm, Jakob’s, came around her waist. Jakob tugged her forward several tiny steps, sliding out of the way as he did.
For a moment, she panicked as Jakob pressed her against Walt’s chest, allowing the other man to deepen the kiss even more. Was Jakob giving her to Walt? Saying he loved her but didn’t want to kiss her?
Then Jakob slid behind her, his chest at her back, and his undeniably erect cock against the top of her ass. Hands curled around her hips, sliding up her sides until he cupped her ribs, fingertips on the sides of her breasts.
Annalise broke the kiss with Walt, twisting to try to look at Jakob.
“No,” Jacob said, and she felt the word rumble through his chest and into her back. “Kiss him.”
“I thought you didn’t want to watch?” She sounded breathy, and the men reacted to that, both of them inhaling heavily.
“I’m not just going to watch,” Jakob said. “Walt is going to keep you occupied while I play with your pretty tits. How do you want me to play with your nipples? Do you want me to stroke the tips? Or do you like a little pain? Shall I pinch them? Ah, I felt that, felt you jerk. You want me to twist and pinch and pluck and—”
Annalise was so aroused, she was light-headed, and though Jakob was only brushing the sides of her breasts with his fingers, her nipples were tight.
She looked up at Walt, who was staring past her at Jakob, with a baffled expression. That triggered her to think about exactly what Jakob had said. And exactly how much he’d said.
“So you’ll talk as long as it’s dirty talk?” Walt asked.
Annalise suppressed a giggle. This wasn’t a giggling moment. This was a hurry-up-and-touch-me moment.
“Hold her for me,” Jakob told Walt.
Walt reached down and grabbed her free wrist with his other hand. Experimentally, she tugged, but Walt held her firmly.
Jakob’s hands slid under the hem of her shirt, his fingers slightly cooler than her skin. She shivered, but it wasn’t really from the cold. Her shirt came up along with his hands and when he touched the band of her bra, he flipped the front hem of her shirt up, fully exposing her bra and breasts. The bra was utilitarian black with smooth cups, the only ornamentation a little bow between her breasts.
Walt stepped back, still holding her wrists, and took his time looking at what Jakob had revealed. It felt lewd in the best possible way to be standing between them, Jakob having exposed her breasts for Walt.
And he was about to really expose her. His hands were working the clasp of her bra, and a moment later, the band loosened. Without pausing, Jakob yanked the bra up, bunching it, along with her shirt, under her chin.
Then his bare hands touched her breasts, cupping them, lifting slightly. Despite what he’d said, his touch was gentle, almost reverent. She inhaled deeply, pressing her breasts into his palms, and he rewarded her by stroking her nipples with his thumbs.
Walt lifted her hands, guiding them to her neck. “Lace your fingers together. Good. Now don’t move.”
He released her wrists but waited a moment, eyeing her in a deliciously threatening way. If she moved after he’d ordered her not to, she’d be in trouble.
Maybe she wanted trouble. At least the kind of trouble that Walt was promising without saying a word.
She considered and dismissed it. Because more than anything, she wanted to know what he’d—what they’d—do next.
Jakob was tall enough that he probably had no trouble seeing over her arm, even when it was raised, bent, and out to the side. She felt his chin brush her hair as he leaned in, and then his thumbs made another lazy pass over her nipples.
“Are you ready for me to stop being gentle with you?”
Annalise blew out a long, slow breath. “I’ve been ready for you to stop being gentle for a very, very long time.”
She felt Jakob’s lips touch her hair, a soft caress—the first time he’d kissed her, though she wasn’t going to count this one. No, she was waiting until he spun her around and kissed her the way Walt had.