Liz tried to hold onto her irritation and doubt, but both were rapidly fleeing. “When someone accosts me before I can lock it, yes.”
“Aww.” Chloe gave an exaggerated pout. “There was accosting, and I missed it?”
“There would have been, but she wanted to wait for you.” Jordan nodded at Liz.
“Considerate woman. Another reason to love her.”
“Stop.” The word came out louder than Liz intended. “I told you both already, I’m not a marital aid. I’m not a third wheel. I can’t be your on-call toy.”
“That’s not what this is.” Jordan took her hand between his. Every time he touched her, another fuse in her brain shorted. “We want you in our life. I’m not talking about friendship or a booty call or anything so temporary.”
Chloe stepped up next to her and grabbed her other hand. “Exactly. This is a don’t go home at the end of the night kind of agreement. A rest-of-our-lives type of ongoing.”
“So what? The three of us live together, one big happy family?” Liz liked the sound of it more than she wanted to admit.
“Pretty much,” Chloe said.
Liz wanted to believe it. As much as logic struggled against what stared her in the face, she clung to their words. But— “The real world doesn’t work like that.”
“The real world is broken sometimes.” Jordan tugged her toward the couch, and into his lap when he sat. “We’re fond of making our own rules.”
Liz couldn’t believe how good this felt. Being held. Wrapped between them. It shouldn’t be right, but it was. She didn’t want to fight it anymore. “Is that an option?”
“Of course it is. We rewrite reality every day.” Chloe knelt on the couch next to her, which put them eye to eye.
“But how does it work? How will it work?” Liz didn’t want to keep arguing, but this sounded too easy, when getting here had been anything but.
“As a basic concept?” Jordan asked. “We all live together. No one is more important than anyone else. You become a part of us. Beyond that, we’re rewriting the rules. We make it up as we go along.” He dragged a finger down her spine, soft and teasing.
Liz saw holes in the barely existent plan. “What about jealousy?” She’d seen that and wasn’t willing to go up against Chloe again. Then there was Liz’s own jealousy. The realization struck her. She’d be breaking through a bond that shouldn’t be touchable. Not between these two.
“We talk it through. Or we shout it through. Either way, we confront it,” Chloe said.
Liz was impressed. “You two have really thought about this.”
“Not really. Kind of, but this is more of an improv deal. Probably for the rest of our lives. Like most of adulthood, uncharted territory for anyone living it, despite what we’ve been told.” Jordan slipped his hand under her shirt and settled his palm against her lower back, not moving higher—simply tempting her.
Which brought up another big question. “What about in the bedroom?”
Chloe scrunched up her face in thought. “We probably need a bigger bed.”
“Not what I meant, but even that has problems.” Liz relaxed and rested her head against Jordan’s chest, watching Chloe for even the slightest hint this wouldn’t be as easy as they insisted.
Chloe flinched but then twisted on the couch and laid her head in Liz’s lap, looking up at both of them. “Why?”
“Three people in one bed?” Why was Liz still arguing? Or rather, she did, but she wanted to stop. To accept this for what it looked like. Last time she did that, she almost lost her inheritance, but this was different. They’d insist, and she’d agree. Neither would oppose something like a background check, or any of those other precautions George insisted she wouldn’t ask for if she really loved him.
Jordan was right. She had a kind of faith in them that didn’t make sense but continued to pan out. They were in sync. Which was part of the reason she loved them. And she did. She didn’t want to fight it anymore. “I guess maybe.”
“To which part?” Jordan asked.
“To the sleeping in the same bed part. I guess maybe. Don’t think I didn’t notice you dodged the sex question.”
Chloe grinned. “You asked about the bedroom. We haven’t had sex in the bedroom.”
“Technically—”
“Our bedroom.” Chloe cut Jordan off. “Hotel sex is different.”
“Technically”—Liz picked up the argument, more because it was fun than for the sake of disagreeing—“we don’t have a bedroom. So that’s not possible. You’re still not answering the question.”
Jordan trailed his nose up the side of her neck, breath hot against her skin, and she whimpered. “If we’re getting hung up on technicalities, it’s not a complete question,” he said. He nipped her earlobe, then kissed back down to her shoulder. “But I’ll bite.” He scraped his teeth along her skin.
With each new touch, he grew harder against the back of her thigh. Desire spilled through her.
“I figure if all three of us are in the mood, it’ll be like it has been in the past.” He dragged his lips along her jaw. “If only two of us are—any two of us—that’s fine too.”
He settled his palm against her cheek and turned her head, to crush his mouth to hers. Chloe made a noise somewhere between a whine and a groan. Liz kissed back, diving into the need, her tongue dancing with Jordan’s. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and the rest of her arguments fled. When they broke apart, Jordan held her head captive, searching her face.
“Okay.” She managed.
He laughed. “Okay to what?”
“All of it.” Liz wanted another kiss. Or twenty. And more. “Loving you both. Making the three of us work. Being together, all of us, equally.” They didn’t have to invite her into their lives or ask her to stay. Yet here they were, prodding, poking, and insisting.
Chloe’s weight left Liz’s legs, and the couch cushions shifted. Liz didn’t have to look to know Chloe had stood. Anticipation raced inside, pooling in her gut and traveling lower.
“You’re sure?” Jordan’s mouth quirked in a teasing smile, as he held her gaze. “If I wanted to watch the two of you together, while Chloe had her way with you, you wouldn’t complain?”
“There might be a bit of whimpering and crying out, but no complaining.” Liz was slick with anticipation.
CHLOE HESITATED IN Liz’s bedroom doorway, unable to quell the flutters of nervousness inside. Liz stood near the bed, tempting and—probably unintentionally—intimidating. Liz took the lead last time. Would it show that Chloe was inexperienced? What was she supposed to do next? This was a lot easier on paper, when there was time for plotting and rearranging and adding in the extra hot bits after the fact.
Jordan nestled his hand against her back, and it chased away some of her tension. “You know what you like and what you’ve always wanted to try.” His whisper was quiet enough only she would hear. “Start there.”
She swallowed her doubt, stepped toward Liz, and kissed her. Liz’s lips were fuller than Jordan’s. Softer. Yielding. Still swollen and smooth from the making out in the living room. Chloe nipped at Liz’s bottom lip, relishing the soft gasp she elicited. This might be terrifying, but it felt right. She wouldn’t mind kissing for hours, but when Liz raked her nails up her back, Chloe wanted more.
She dropped her hand to Liz’s waist and shoved her baggy T-shirt over her head, to toss it aside. Liz’s breasts were rounder and fuller than hers, and Chloe trailed a finger over the smooth satin bra, tracing the shape, loving the way Liz’s chest rose and fell with each gasp of pleasure.
Chloe lost track of who removed what, as their clothing fell away, the pile next to the bed growing, until they stood in front of each other, exposed.
“So many soft curves.” She trailed a finger from Liz’s collarbone, over one nipple, and down to her navel, before traveling back up the other side of her torso.
Behind her, Jordan matched Liz, groan for sigh. Though Chloe couldn’t see him, she did
n’t doubt he was stroking himself through his jeans, trying to make this moment last. The thought made her wetter. She lowered her head to Liz’s breast and took a swollen pink nub into her mouth. As she flicked her tongue back and forth, she swore she could feel it in her own skin. She sucked harder, and Liz squirmed. When Chloe pinched the other nipple, Liz writhed against her, fingers knotted in Chloe’s hair, holding her head in place.
Chloe continued to lick and fondle, each new mewl and movement spurring her further. She glided her free hand down Liz’s stomach, and the grip in her hair tightened when she dipped between Liz’s legs.
“Oh God.” Liz was panting now, grinding against Chloe’s hand, legs wobbling.
Chloe wondered if she could get herself off without being touched. Doing this, pushing each of Liz’s buttons, made her own body writhe in anticipation and empathy. She squeezed her legs together, but that only intensified her need. She stroked Liz’s clit and squeezed her breast, easing up each time Liz bucked her hips and then pressing in again. Bringing Liz as close as she could to climax, without pushing her over.
“Enough fucking teasing.” Liz covered Chloe’s hand and rubbed both their fingers against her swollen core. When Liz came, shuddering and driving into Chloe’s touch, Chloe felt it through every inch of her body. Hot on her skin. Echoing in her nerves, as if it was happening to her.
Liz sank to the edge of the mattress with a shaky laugh. “I didn’t realize light torture was on the menu.”
“I didn’t want it to be over too soon.” Chloe raised her fingers to her mouth, and holding Liz’s gaze, licked them clean, one by one. “Next time, I want a first-person taste.”
Liz grabbed Chloe’s hips and pulled her closer. She kissed along Chloe’s stomach, toward the navel, down to her pelvis, dipping to trail her lips over the top of Chloe’s mound, bathing the area with attention. She looked up at Chloe, eyes wide. “Lie down.”
Chloe did as she was told. When Liz straddled her and pinned her arms above her head, Chloe squealed in surprise and pleasure at having the warm, soft body pressed so close to her core. Liz dipped her mouth next to Chloe’s ear and stage-whispered, “Payback time.”
“Threats and promises.” Chloe squirmed under Liz, to feel skin against skin, not to try and get away.
Keeping Chloe pinned, Liz slid open the drawer of the nightstand by the bed and pulled out a long, sheer scarf. With a couple of quick, loose knots, she bound Chloe’s hands to the headboard. If Chloe tugged, breaking free wouldn’t be a problem, but that didn’t sound like any fun.
With a twist of her head to the side, Chloe saw Jordan unzip his jeans and work his cock free. He gave her a hungry grin, as he slowly stroked his shaft, and a new level of need surged inside her.
“Eyes on me.” Liz’s command drew Chloe’s attention again. Liz dove her hand back into the drawer, and this time produced a bullet-shaped vibrator. It wasn’t big, maybe only four or five inches long. The hard plastic glinted in the light, and when Liz twisted the bottom, a soft buzz filled the room.
“Do your worst.” Chloe taunted.
Liz trailed the toy over Chloe’s chest and over her nipples, barely touching flesh. Ghostlike vibrations traveled through every sensitive bit they passed over, flowing through Chloe, following nerve endings, and plucking them like strings. Liz traced her breasts, the insides of her wrists, her inner thighs—everywhere but the need aching from Chloe’s sex.
When Liz finally dragged the toy along Chloe’s lower lips, Chloe cried out, arching her back to get closer to the touch. Liz pulled away. With each pass up and then down, Liz increased the pressure and drew nearer Chloe’s clit, but didn’t make contact. The tiny buzzes from the toy rocked Chloe’s skin, and orgasm built inside, hovering by a thin string that refused to break. Liz nudged Chloe’s swollen nub, and climax crashed through her. She jerked away out of instinct, pleasure threatening to overload her senses, but Liz kept the vibrator locked on its target.
“Please.” Chloe struggled for her voice. “I can’t—”
Liz shoved two fingers inside Chloe, adding another point of contact. Chloe’s head swam with clouds, as she came again. Jordan’s familiar grunts in the background amplified the stimuli flooding her. She ground against Liz until she couldn’t anymore, and then collapsed back on the mattress with a whimper.
“Beautiful.” Liz kissed Chloe’s thighs, pulling all other contact away, and moved up to claim Chloe’s lips.
Chloe worked her wrists free and held Liz close, memorizing every sound, sensation, taste, and scent that filled the room. This was perfect. Not only the sex—though that was incredible, and Chloe had a feeling it would only get better the more they learned about each other—but all of it. This amazing missing piece they’d found in Liz. That Chloe and Jordan trusted each other enough to make the leap. Chloe couldn’t have scripted it better if she’d tried.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jordan watched Chloe and Liz curl up together, the evening light dancing over bare skin. More gorgeous than anything he’d drawn from his imagination. Definitely one of his new favorite sights. He sat on the foot of the bed, and Chloe unwound herself enough to nestle against Liz, both of them watching him. Wow. How did he get so lucky?
“Were you really going to move to L.A. without saying goodbye?” Chloe spoke in the content, half-drowsy tone he loved. She was happy.
Liz frowned, but it vanished quickly. “I was heartbroken. You two had each other. I was tired of falling for the wrong people and then having to stick around and watch the results. Running away seemed easy.”
“Without saying goodbye.” Chloe repeated.
“I was going to send a card, congratulating Jordan on his new venture.” Liz pointed toward the other side of the room. “It’s handwritten and everything, and sitting on my dresser. That’s kind of like goodbye.”
Chloe’s pout was exaggerated. “No. That’s nothing like it.”
“Speaking of...” Jordan had been wondering this, and now might not be the time to ask, but since the topic was already out there— “Did you have anything to do with Jonathan changing his mind?”
“No.” Liz’s answer came without hesitation. “I asked him to hear you out in exchange for me considering their partner agreement, because I believe in your project. I couldn’t mix how I felt with a decision like that, though. You deserved an impartial ear. Anything and everything he did with your presentation was his decision. He told you no based on what he saw, and he changed his mind for the same reason.”
“You didn’t influence him at all.” Jordan liked winning this on his own. Which wasn’t true. Liz still made it possible, and Chloe supported the entire thing, but it was nice to hear the idea had its own merit.
“I’ll admit it was harder for me to sign with them, knowing they’d passed on a deal as good as you. Fortunately, Jonathan made the right decision in the end, so my struggle didn’t last long.”
Chloe sat up and scooted until her back rested against the wall. “And now you’ll spend your time on the other side of the table from people like Jordan?”
“Mmm... Sexy pillow talk.” A smile played on Liz’s face, and teasing lined her sarcasm.
“You love it,” Jordan said.
Liz propped herself up on one elbow. “I love the two of you—”
“Wait. Stop. Hold on. That’s the first time you said that.” Chloe grinned.
“I love you?” Liz said. “Not that you gave me much of an opening before, barging into my place like it was important or something. But I do. I love you both. I’m completely and totally head-over-heels.”
Fucking music to his ears. As good as when Chloe said it, and just as right. Jordan nudged the bottom of Chloe’s foot with his toes. “Let the lady finish her story.”
“Thank you,” Liz said. “I won’t exactly be on the other side of the table. I made an amendment to my agreement, because I enjoyed the way I worked with Jordan. Beyond the I’m-in-love reasons.”
“Excuse me—dec
larations of love are momentous.” Chloe sounded indignant.
Jordan agreed but couldn’t help teasing her. “Are you going to Instagram it?”
“No. But I would like to bask for a moment.”
“I’ll be basking for a long time.” Liz moved to sit next to Chloe.
“Okay. We’ll all bask.” Jordan dragged out the words as if making a concession, loving every minute of the banter. “But I want to hear about how I’m so wonderful I changed Liz’s career path.”
Liz tossed a pillow at him. “Arrogant ass. I liked the work we did—figuring out if your idea was financially feasible; running the numbers; piecing it all together.”
“And I couldn’t have done it without you.” Credit given where credit was due.
“I know.” Liz smirked.
He lobbed the pillow back. “Now who’s being arrogant?”
“It’s not ego.” She looked smug anyway. “It’s a statement of fact. I figure you’re not the only person out there with a marketable concept and no clue how to approach selling it. I made sure I’ve got the freedom to hear pitches from people who have the ideas and platform, but maybe not the contacts or knowledge to assemble a business plan around it. I work with them, to see if the numbers add up, and there will be times I’ll pass on projects I pour a lot of time into. On top of that, if I want access to firm funds beyond my own, I have to sell the projects to the other partners.”
“So you really are an angel,” Chloe said with awe.
“With little pointy horns holding up my halo.”
“Because you’re not moving after all, because we’re wonderful—” Chloe hesitated. “You are staying, aren’t you?”
Liz nodded. “I’m staying.”
“Good. In that case, when are you moving in with us, Liz?”
“That’s a big assumption.”
Jordan watched the conversation like a tennis match, enjoying the way the two slid seamlessly from one topic to the next. Liz really did belong with them.
The Geeks and the Socialite Page 20
