“This way, we know. We can trust in how things turned out,” he said, stroking the top of her hand on his thigh.
Twining her fingers with his, she asked, “How did he approach you with the idea of a ménage?”
Ransome smiled, remembering Justin staring down at the bed he shared with Charity, and wondering where that conversation would lead. “He started with an apology. Then he told us he wanted to give you what you needed. He knew you well enough to know you’d never ask, for fear of hurting him. So you see, I could never be mad at you for being loyal. And there wasn’t really anything to forgive Justin for. When we were teenagers, we didn’t know anything about life, or making relationships work. And who’s to say we wouldn’t have screwed things up? We’re here now, and it’s good. I have no regrets because the years made me who I am. Val might make some smart-assed comment but I think he’d tell you the same thing. I don’t want you to have regrets, angel. Life’s too short for that.”
“I still feel like I should ask forgiveness.”
“Only if we forgive each other for the lost years and make them up together,” he said, lifting her hand to kiss her palm. “Deal?”
Charity’s smile was tender and there was a husky timbre to her voice as she tugged at his hand to pull him into the bed with her. “Join me?”
“I will in a minute. For now, you’re mine to toy with.”
A lazy smile was her only response as he eased open the edges of her robe, revealing her curvy legs. She’d conceded having to stay in the hospital overnight when Justin had offered to bring her favorite robe to her.
A sigh escaped from her as he slid his palm up her warm inner thigh underneath the satin. “Ransome.” The way she murmured his name in slow syllables, sounding so pleased, made him want to take care of her all night. Do anything she wanted him to do.
Reaching up to the switch over her head, he dimmed the lights and left her just long enough to lock the hospital room door and open the blinds on the window. He wanted to be able to see her in the moonlight. Even though it was unlikely, he knew his little exhibitionist would enjoy the possibility they might be seen by anyone walking by outside.
The shiny satin of her long robe reflected the dim light and framed her creamy skin as he parted the edges, revealing her naked curves to him. He kissed her left hand and then carefully positioned her forearm and the attached IV at the edge of the bed. “Leave that there, angel. I don’t want to accidentally hurt you.”
“Mmm. I’d forgotten all about it.”
She shivered as he stroked her inner thigh. “Are you cold?”
“No. I’m really hot and getting hotter, just from the way you’re looking at me.” She eased her other, injured arm out of the way as well and rolled her hips. When he cupped her breasts in his hands, she arched her back, applying more pressure and rubbing her tightened nipples against his palms. Leaning forward, he caught one of the stiff peaks in his mouth and sucked and tongued on it. She moaned encouragingly when he switched to the other and lavished it with the same attention.
Her scent intoxicated him as he slid his hand over her abdomen, tormenting her with a tickling touch, veering his fingertips around her mound until he reached her inner thigh. She complied when he pressed her leg to the side, opening her for his touch and his gaze. His cock throbbed for release from his jeans when he saw the glistening evidence of her earlier statement.
The temperature in the room seemed to soar as she watched him with lust glittering in her eyes. She propped her heel up on the sheets so that her beautiful pussy was fully—brazenly—exposed. He never got tired of the way she shamelessly gave herself like that, whether it was the three of them or when they were alone with her. Nothing was held back.
There was a breathless quality to her voice as she said, “I need you, Ransome.”
“I know,” he whispered, touching her lips with the backs of his fingers as he watched her watch him. His balls ached and his cock grew even harder as her hot juices seeped onto his fingers.
She fumbled for the button on his jeans and he repositioned, so she couldn’t reach it, smiling when she moaned pleadingly as he repositioned both of her arms.
“Stubborn woman.”
“I want to touch you. Come on,” she whined and pouted when he shook his head.
“I don’t want you hurting any worse than you already are.”
“The IV doesn’t really keep me from using my hand.”
“I know but if I accidentally jerk it out of your forearm I’m going to feel bad about it. Just be still, woman.”