Light My Fire

16. Brooke

CHAPTER 16

Brooke

I’m down to my panties and bra.

I’ve even lost both socks.

Of course, the guys gave me the option of quitting the poker game when I ran out of money, but I was convinced my luck would turn. It had to. I couldn’t do worse than losing every single hand . Could I?

No. But I could keep losing every single hand.

And I have.

Jackson was the one who’d suggested we switch to strip poker when my money ran out. Of course he was.

Both Jackson and Wyatt are also now sock-less. And shirtless. And I’m not mad about it.

The only person at the table who hasn’t lost a single article of clothing is Luke.

Yet he seems mad.

After our laundry room talk, though, I know it’s not that he’s angry and thinking this is juvenile. He’s turned on. He’s a little tormented by me sitting here in my panties.

And I like that.

The sex with Wyatt last night, the flirting with Jackson, the confession from Luke has all combined into a warm ball of confidence and sexiness I’ve never felt before and I want to flaunt it. I want to tease them. I want to turn them on. Tempt them.

I want them to all want me so much they can’t stand it.

I want them to all remember this weekend for weeks after we get home. Months even.

I look at the cards in my hand. I understand poker, even if my play tonight doesn’t prove it.

I know enough that I should absolutely not bet on what I’m holding.

“Raise,” Wyatt says. Then looks at me.

I look from him, to Jackson—who led—then to Luke, who comes after me. “Call,” I say, staying in the round even though I have nothing.

“Fold,” Luke says, tossing his cards onto the table.

Jackson grins and turns over a full house.

“Dammit,” Wyatt mutters as he turns over only a pair.

I sigh, pretending to be upset as I show my cards.

Jackson chuckles. “Damn, girl, it’s almost like you’re trying to lose.”

I meet his gaze. “Yeah, kind of seems that way, doesn’t it?”

His smile dies a little as his gaze grows more intense. “Guess you have to ditch the bra or panties.”

“Guess so,” I agree.

Luke suddenly shoves back from the table. “I’m out.”

Wyatt and Jackson don’t seem surprised. “You sure?” Wyatt asks, though his eyes are on me. “Game’s not over.”

“I’m sure.” He grabs his bottle of beer and stomps over to the armchair that he’s claimed as his all weekend.

The open concept of the cabin means he’s still, basically, in the same room with us at the dining table and him in front of the fireplace and TV, but his back is to us now.

Interesting.

Jackson and Wyatt don’t spare him a glance.

“Come on,” Wyatt says to me. “Pay up.”

I reach under the table for my panties instead of my bra. They won’t be able to really see my naked bottom half with the table in the way. Wyatt is just to my right but with the way I cross my legs, he won’t really see anything. Not that he hasn’t already seen everything. But Jackson is across the table. He’d have to duck under the table to get a look. I hold my panties up, then drop them on the floor next to my chair.

Both men’s gazes darken. Heat swirls in my belly.

“Your deal,” Jackson says to Wyatt.

“Um, you have to take something else off too,” I remind Wyatt.

He keeps his eyes on me as he stands and strips out of his sweats, leaving him in boxers. I let my gaze travel over him as he sinks back into his chair.

He starts dealing again and with only the three of us now, the hand goes a little quicker.

Again, I should fold.

But I don’t.

Wyatt folds, and Jackson turns over a pair of aces.

I fight my grin as I turn over my garbage hand.

Jackson leans in, forearms on the table. “Sweetheart, if you wanted to take your clothes off for us, you just had to say so. We didn’t have to go through all the dealing and betting, you know.”

“It’s just a little more fun this way, isn’t it?” I ask, reaching behind me for the clasp on my bra. “Builds the anticipation.”

The surge of feminine power that shoots through me, as I hear three groans in response, has me smiling like a Cheshire cat.

I unhook my bra and also drop it beside my chair.

I note how Wyatt runs a hand through his hair and absorb his muttered, “Jesus.”

But I can’t look away from Jackson, who’s hot gaze blatantly studies me from across the table.

“Yeah,” he finally says, his voice low and gruff. “I guess it does. Of course, now the game’s over.”

I look at the table, then at the two men with me. “Does it have to be?”

“You don’t have anything more to bet with,” Jackson says.

“Don’t I?” I ask, pulling the cards toward me and stacking them. “Don’t I have anything else of value that you might want if I lose?”

I shuffle as the silence around the table stretches.

“What did you have in mind?” Jackson finally asks.

I meet his gaze. “What do you want?”

“Kisses,” he says, his eyes on my mouth. “Maybe… touching.”

I nod. “I could live with that.”

Jackson looks at Wyatt. “What do you think?”

Wyatt’s gaze locks on mine when I look at him. His eyes are hot. “I think that kissing and touching her are definitely valuable.”

A shiver passes through me and I feel my nipples tighten. I’m certain they notice. I want badly to look in Luke’s direction, but I know he’s not looking over here. Still, he’s listening.

“Okay, then,” Jackson says. “Deal ‘em.”

I pass the cards out and study my hand, holding the cards up in front of my chest. And fighting a smile.

And finally, I have something decent. Interesting.

Jackson bets, Wyatt calls, and they both look at me.

It doesn’t matter how this hand goes. This is fun. I’m naked with two hot guys. And I’m having sex tonight. With someone.

“Call,” I say.

They both breathe out as if they were worried I was going to fold and take myself out of this hand.

Silly boys.

Jackson lays down three of a kind in queens.

But my straight beats that. I lay mine down with a grin. He arches a brow.

Then Wyatt lays down his full house.

He gives me a wicked grin. “Lose your pants, Jackson,” he says, without looking at his friend. To me he says simply, “Come here.”

My heart starts hammering, but I swallow hard and stand.

I hear Jackson groan when he sees my full naked body for the first time. I don’t look away from Wyatt, though, suddenly feeling flushed and nervous and jumpy.

I’m bare naked in the same room with three men. Well, maybe two and a half. Luke isn’t participating here and I know he’s not going to do anything. Still, he’s here , and as always, I’m acutely aware of him.

Wyatt reaches out as he scoots his chair back slightly. He pulls me into his lap. He cups the back of my head and brings me in for a deep, long, lots-of-tongue kiss.

My entire body lights up, and I feel hot and tingly from head to toe.

Some of it is definitely the kiss. Wyatt Doherty is a very good kisser, but it’s also that I know Jackson is watching us. That makes it even hotter. I wouldn’t have suspected that.

Wyatt’s other hand is on my thigh, and he starts stroking up and down. I part my legs slightly on instinct, wanting his touch higher… deeper.

“Hey now,” Jackson says. “Kissing or touching, right?”

Wyatt pulls back and gives me a grin. “Right. Almost forgot.”

I’m breathing fast and I’m wet and hot and don’t care at all about poker suddenly.

“Um…”

But I don’t have to come up with any words. Wyatt’s big hands settle on my hips and he turns me to face the table. But keeps me in his lap.

Jackson doesn’t say anything. His gaze settles on my breasts, and my nipples tighten just from him looking at them.

He shuffles and deals without looking at the cards once.

Wyatt can obviously see my cards as I pick them up, but I don’t care.

Wyatt is down to his boxers and I can feel his cock, hard and thick, pressing against my ass. Jackson is also now down to boxers only, though I can’t see him beyond the edge of the table.

Still, from the mid-ab area and up, he’s gorgeous. Smooth medium brown skin stretching over lean muscles that flex as he arranges his cards. He’s not as muscular as Wyatt and Luke, but he’s still in very good shape. His shoulders, chest, and abs are well defined, and I want to run my tongue over all of them. Then there’s his thick, short, curly black hair, his big brown eyes, those lips that I now know are soft, but firm and that I want to feel on so many more parts of my body…

“Brooke,” Wyatt says, squeezing my hip. “Your bid.”

“All in,” I say, not even looking at my cards. I could have a royal flush, and I don’t care.

They both give dark, low chuckles.

“What’s all in mean to you, sweetheart?” Jackson asks, running the tip of his index finger over the tops of his cards.

“That if I lose this hand, the winner takes me upstairs and gets all the kissing and touching he wants for however long he wants,” I say, shocking myself.

The two men at the table both seem to freeze.

“Goddammit.”

We all turn toward the muttered curse from the living room area.

Luke has sprung up from his chair and is stomping toward the front door.

“Luke?” Wyatt calls.

“Going for a walk,” is his terse response. He jerks his coat from the hooks by the door and yanks the door open, slamming it behind him.

O-k-a-y.

“He’s just—” Wyatt starts.

“It’s okay,” I tell him quickly. “What’s in your hand?”

I’m not worried about Luke. This is his decision. He could stay. He knows I would be fine with it. This is his choice. If he’s all wound-up and upset, that’s on him.

Wyatt lays down two pair.

Jackson lays down a flush.

“Okay, then.” Wyatt’s hands settle on my waist and he squeezes. Then I feel him kiss the back of my head. “Have fun, you two.”

He nudges me up from his lap and toward Jackson.

This is… strange. And exciting. And god , I want this.

I really like Wyatt. So much. Last night was amazing. But I also want Jackson so much. I know so many people would judge me for what’s about to happen. A week ago, I might have judged me for what is about to happen. But these two guys aren’t judging. And no one’s getting hurt here. We’re all consenting adults. We all know exactly what’s happening.

So I take one step toward Jackson. “You’re the winner,” I tell him softly.

“Yeah.” He reaches out and takes my hand. “I sure fucking am.”