Once Stone had discovered the idea of two men servicing her tickled some sort of fancy for Theo, he knew he wanted to offer her the experience. And yet he had struggled with the question of sharing his wife. Though his best friend could be the only choice, he still found the notion challenging. He and Cooper had shared women many times over the years, starting as early as Eton, when they had to scrape the cost of one up between them. It seemed his father had not considered prostitutes part of a young man’s necessary expenses.

But Theo? She was special, and though he wanted to indulge her every fantasy, the idea of sharing her with anyone had his hackles rising. Yet, he would muddle through for the sake of her bourgeoning sexuality. To crush her erotic curiosity now would be like putting a prized racer out to stud too soon.

So he’d dug deep and asked Cooper to join him as he received a special gift he had ordered for his and Theo’s private use. As they set up everything, he planned to broach the idea of exploring what he believed to be Theo’s deepest desire. He wanted to fulfill it for her.

He had ordered some custom-built pieces similar to those from The Market right after their first night, and today they were to be delivered. It was only three items, but they would occupy one of the many chambers upstairs. Of course, the door would be locked, and only Peter, a footman, would be permitted into the room to clean and polish the wood. If the bed needed to be made, the footman would supervise.

Once the delivery men unloaded the crates into the room, Cooper helped Stone unpack and set everything up. He had purchased a very fine spanking bench, a St. Andrew’s Cross, and a throne upon which he might sit and spank his wife when lesser punishment was needed, or just for fun.

The room also contained a relic of a bed from the 1700s. It was old and built to accommodate four or five sleepers. He’d acquired it a few years back from an old inn that shut down. He’d had a new mattress stuffed and new sheets made for it. The bed offered plenty of space for him to maneuver, and should Cooper decide to join them, they could easily all fit.

The possibilities suddenly seemed endless as his wife’s acceptance of his control settled into his bones. Tonight he planned on introducing her to their new room, a new toy, and possibly a whole new experience.

“Cooper, I was wondering if you might be up to some of our old antics?” Stone dragged the bench into position.

His best friend coughed and sputtered. “Is the ball and chain chafing so soon?”

“Gad, no.” Stone couldn’t help the light burn that rode high on his cheeks. “I believe my wife might enjoy the idea of welcoming two men into her bed.”

Cooper raised an eyebrow. “What leads you to believe such a thing? Aside from the fact I am assembling a St. Andrew’s Cross in your spare bedroom.”

“Of all the sights she took in that night at The Market, the one thing she seemed most curious about was Linc and Wolf with the little brunette. I believe she is curious about what it might be like, and, being the accommodating husband I am, I would like her to have that experience.”

Cooper laughed outright.

“It’s not that funny, Cooper.”

“Oh, but it is. Whoever gave you the idea that you were accommodating?” His friend chortled to the point of snorting.

“Do be serious. I am asking you to help me.” Stone paused. Lowering his voice, he admitted, “I don’t think I could stand for anyone else to touch her.” He stared at the floor, unable to look up and let his friend see how difficult the entire proposition was for him.

“Bloody hell,” Cooper muttered. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Not at all, but I want to give her the opportunity if she wishes it.” They set the last of the furniture into place, covered the pieces—except the bed—with Holland covers, and locked the door behind them.

“I’ve never known you to be this attached to a woman. If you believe you can handle this, I shall be your third. But you must promise me that if the situation becomes too much, you will cease things and let me leave. I’d not lose you as a friend.” His friend’s loyalty was the primary reason Stone thought he could manage this one night for his wife.

Cooper slapped him on the shoulder in the closest thing to a hug they would ever share.

“I promise. And thank you for this, Cooper. As I said, it will be up to my lady wife if this occurs or not.”

“Agreed.”

They retired to the billiards room to await Theo’s return from a visit with her sister. Dinner would be a casual affair with just the three of them. In the meantime, a few friendly wagers would entertain them.

---

Theo arrived home to find the men occupied with table games. She greeted her husband and then retreated upstairs to change for dinner. She opted for a silk-and-cotton gown covered in an alternating pattern of flowers and dots underlaid by cream-and-blue banding.

The dress emphasized her neck but entirely covered her chest and arms. It was a demure dinner dress meant for a simple evening at home. She joined the men in the study to wait until dinner was served.

“Good evening.” She had met Cooper only the once at her wedding, and then, of course, she had seen him the night she visited The Market. He was a handsome blond devil with big, soulful brown eyes and the physique to rival any Greek god as depicted in the National Museum.

They both bowed. “Theo, you remember my friend Robert Cooper, Earl of Brougham. Cooper, my wife, Theodora Denton, the Countess of Stonemere.”

“Lovely to see you again, my lady.” Cooper bowed over her hand.

“Please, call me Theo. I know how close you are with Stone. You are all but family.” She clasped his hand in hers.

“Then by all means, call me Cooper or Brougham.”

Theo looked him over, squinted with one eye closed entirely, and then grinned. “Cooper, it is. You simply aren’t a Brougham.”

They all laughed and enjoyed a drink before dinner as Cooper regaled her with childhood stories of her husband. Soon enough, the dinner chime sounded, and the two men escorted her into the dining room.

Stone directed her to sit at the head of the table as he and Cooper each took a side. They continued to chat and laugh through dinner until Theo rose. “Well, I shall leave you two to your port.”

“Dash it all, I think I’d much rather continue this convivial little group. We should move to the study, where we can indulge in a drink while still enjoying ourselves.” Stone rose and assisted her.

“If you wish, Stone.” Theo couldn’t hide how pleased she was to continue their evening of frivolity. Soon they were in the study, reminiscing about their childhoods. Theo relayed a story of playing Poor Pussy with the village vicar back home. Her mother had been selected to be the kitty, and when she had reached the vicar and meowed pitifully, all while her face grew bright red, the poor man couldn’t keep a straight face. Instead, he laughed uproariously and wound up the poor pussy.

The men laughed with her until their sides hurt. Theo thought for certain Stone’s might split open.

“I have a wonderful idea,” her husband said suddenly. “Why don’t we play?”

“Play what?” Theo asked, still a bit befuddled from her mirth.

“Why, Poor Pussy, of course.” Stone schooled his features.

“A capital idea,” Cooper chimed in.

“Absolutely not,” Theo countermanded the men. She would not crawl about the floor in such a ridiculous manner. Not to mention, with some of the more erotic experiences she’d shared with her husband, the use of the word “pussy” had a whole new connotation for her that would make the game feel more awkward than it might have to start.

“Oh, come now, pet. I’d like to play Poor Pussy. And you can have first go.” He winked.

The nerve of the blasted man. She could have first go, as though he were doing her a favor. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to stand in your way, my lord.”

“You may call me Master, pet. Cooper will not be offended by such intimacy, would you?”

“Not at all.” Cooper sipped his brandy.

Theo tamped down her surprise at Stone’s openness. She hesitated, long enough that were they alone, she would have earned a punishment. Her gaze darted from one calm face to another. “As you wish, Master.”

“Excellent. Now, on your paws, Poor Pussy.” Stone’s tone brooked no resistance.

Theo couldn’t restrain the sigh of resignation as she sank to her knees and then dropped forward onto her hands. She started with Stone, being more comfortable with him than his friend. She crawled across the floor to where he sat and dropped her bum to her heels. She curled her hands like paws and meowed.

Straight-faced, Stone looked at her and said, “Poor Pussy, poor Pussy. I think you can beg better than that.”

Theo wanted to curse the man for not having said it a third time. She sighed and tried again. This time, she rested her “paws” on his knee and meowed mournfully.

“Oh, much better, but not quite close enough.” Stone winked at Cooper.

Blast him, he would pay for that. This time, she worked her way between his thighs and rubbed her cheek along his inner thigh while mewling piteously. His prick lengthened in his trousers as her breath fanned over his groin and her cheek rubbed him through the fabric.

He inhaled sharply and released it slowly. “Poor Pussy, Poor Pussy, my Poor Pussy.” His face remained steady and unchanged.

Theo frowned and realized she had to move on to Cooper since there was nobody else to turn to. She hesitated.

“Now take yourself over to Cooper and beg him as prettily as you did me that last time,” Stone ordered.

Her stomach flip-flopped. Granted, she found him attractive, but she had never been so intimate with a man other than Stone. She glanced at her husband, uncertain.

He smiled his encouragement and then raised a brow at her continued hesitation.

She sighed and crawled over to the blond Adonis. As before, she eased between his open thighs and laid her head on his leg. His cock hardened, and again she found herself rubbing her face against a fabric-covered cock—just not her husband’s. In an unexpected turn, she found her thighs grew damp with her desire despite the blush that warmed her cheeks. She closed her eyes, drew a breath, and meowed. The ragged sound that emitted from her throat couldn’t have sounded less like a cat.

“Poor Pussy, Poor Pussy—” Cooper hesitated and glanced at her husband, who must have nodded to go on. “Poor Pussy.” And then he smiled.

Theo worked very hard not to return the smile and won out. After a moment, she jumped up and proclaimed, “Ha! You’re the Poor Pussy.”

Cooper grinned and dropped to the floor from his chair. “Very well, if you insist.” He turned and winked at Stone, then made his way over to where she had taken her seat. He neared her skirts, crept closer, reached out to grasp the hem exposing her trim ankles, and waited.

Confusion and surprise held her still as she took in the image of such a handsome man practically peeking under her skirts. Theo shot her wide-eyed gaze at her husband, who responded with a calming casualness. “If you’re not interested, you need only say the word.”