"Cole."
I stopped musing and gave him an interested look.
He grinned at me. "Don't think too much on it, alright. It's just drinks. If you want to keep this completely professional, that's okay too. I'll meet you tomorrow at the site and we'll get started. Cool?"
Feeling a little sheepish, I got up and shook his hand again and then we parted ways. First impressions aside, he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Maybe I should consider his offer to hang out. God knows we could use the company. Between our work and relationship, Jasper, Skye and I barely had a social life. Triplet of losers, I thought in amusement as I drove home in a better mood than I had left in.
***
The apartment was filled with the sounds of soft, sensual music when I returned. What's more? All the curtains were drawn and scented candles lit. I stared at the scene around me with something close to wariness.
"Skye? Jasper?"
I started to make my way towards my room when a shriek of delight rang out from the direction of the bathroom followed by laughter. Skye. Then I heard Jasper's low, rough tones amidst that sound. With my heart beating erratically, I made my way towards them. Two hours...I left them alone for two hours.
When I banged open the bathroom door, I discovered the two of them soaping each other up and generally acting like a couple of love-crazed honeymooners. There were candles in the bathroom too.
They both turned to me as I stood there with bile rising in my throat at the joy I witnessed on their faces. Joy in being with each other. Skye's smile faltered as she noted my expression which I was sure resembled that of someone attending a funeral.
"Cole," she said huskily. "Hey. How was your thing?"
My thing. She meant the meeting.
"Great," I croaked, my throat tight for some reason.
Jasper calmly washed the shampoo from his hair and proceeded to do the same for her, gently lifting the wet strands with his thick fingers.
"You just going to stand there?" he asked me after several seconds passed and then looked at me with his dark, penetrating gaze. "Get your clothes off and get in."
My body tensed at his words. Equal combinations of desire and reluctance seeped through me until Skye took the showerhead from him and began washing the soap off from his body, throwing me an inviting look over her shoulder.
Who was this girl?
That look was enough to motivate me, though. Without thinking hard about it, I quickly undressed and then unfastened my watch to place it on the vanity.
Jasper gave me a hungry look and smirked at me. My cock responded, starting to get hard as I strode over to them and stepped inside the shower.
"Hello there," Skye said sweetly as water sluiced over my skin when she turned the shower on me.
Her blue eyes twinkled and her cheeks were rosy and flushed. Those pert breasts of hers brushed against my chest and I let out a soft sound of arousal. I could not help but grin at her. She looked so happy to see me.
"Hi," I responded, kissing her softly on the lips and then doing the same to Jasper.
He did not let me pull away after I pecked him. He held my shoulders and parted my lips forcefully, pushing his tongue inside and making me stand at full attention. He was already hard and his erection grazed my hip tantalizingly.
I felt a pair of small hands grazing my chest and realised Skye was spreading soap on my skin. Jasper let me go to watch Skye as she concentrated on her task, her nipples hard, her beautiful, long legs glistening with soapy water and her shaved pussy beckoning to both of us like a treasure trove.
"Skye," I whispered, my hands going to her hips as hers soaped my cock next. She giggled when Jasper rinsed me there and cleaned up the foam. Shit. I was so fucking hard, I was sure I would burst. These two...tending to my dick like that. Paying it special attention. Like I was all they wanted to look at. I was all they wanted to touch.
"Bend over and take his cock in your mouth," Jasper's raspy voice commanded.
My gaze shot to his and his dark eyes glittered as Skye bent to do his bidding. Then I gasped when her hand grasped me firmly at the base and she touched her lips to the most sensitive spot on my body. The head of my penis.
"Mmm," she moaned with obvious enjoyment before she took it inside her mouth and sucked on it, licking the tip.
"What have you done to her?" I asked Jasper as I watched Skye gripping my cock expertly and laving it with her tongue. "She's turned into this bad girl who's addicted to sex now."
"I know right?" Jasper stood there proudly and grinned at me before moving his eyes to Skye and where she was sucking me. I watched his Adam's apple bob and his eyes grow slumberous. "She's exquisite."
"Ahh," I let out a moan and slapped a hand on the tiled wall to hold myself steady as she cupped my balls and sucked harder. "Mmm. Fuck, baby. You're getting so good at this," I encouraged and reached down with my other hand to caress her hair. Skye had only ever given me two blowjobs before this and each time, she seemed to find a way to heighten my pleasure.
She let go off my cock with a popping sound, smiled up at me angelically and said, "I had a lot of practice these past couple of days," before putting my dick in her mouth again.
I stared at Jasper in horror and he laughed at my expression.
"You're so fucking cute," he told me, blowing me a kiss and then glanced down at Skye again. "Take him all the way in," he ordered her.
"No," I protested weakly. I was still not sure she could deepthroat because she always found me too big for her mouth. Plus I was not into all that gagging shit. The last thing I wanted was for Skye to choke on my dick. "Baby, it's fine. You don't have to - Oh, fuck!" My eyes rolled as she relaxed the back of her throat and took me in all the way. I started to pant. God. Her mouth. Her sweet mouth doing all those dirty things to me.
"He likes it so much," Jasper said after a while, speaking to Skye in a seductive tone. "He won't demand more but he likes it, my little boy."
Little what now?
I cast him an incredulous look and he shrugged.
I didn't know what to make of this. My depraved boyfriend corrupting my sweet girlfriend. I wanted to hold her suddenly and sooth her, tell her all this was not necessary with me. I loved us just the way we were. Vanilla.
But Jasper had other plans. "Put your finger in her ass," he told me and his hand shifted to his own cock, stroking it slowly. Hell no. Skye and I had never done anal either. No butt stuff. We were going to take our time and explore that when she was ready.
I frowned at him suspiciously. "Did you-?"
"No," he replied calmly, knowing what I had been about to ask. "Not yet."
I growled a little then. Fucker. What exactly was he teaching her when my back was turned? What gave him the right to decide what she was and was not ready for and who got to go into unchartered territory with her?
He noticed the anger on my face and narrowed his eyes. Skye increased her speed at that moment and I was lost to the pleasure while Jasper stroked himself harder as he watched her.
"Go faster," he urged as he jerked his cock and swallowed hard. "Grip his balls. Make him come hard, Skye."
She moaned and I wanted to say something. I wanted to stop her and tell her she did not have to but I also wanted her to finish the job. It felt incredible. My balls tightened and as my vision filled with erotic images, her mouth around my dick, Jasper jerking off beside us, Skye's delectable ass in front of me, I climaxed so hard, I saw stars.
My knees almost gave out and that was when my lover, the asshole, took my face in his hands and kissed me passionately, taking my groans into his mouth.
Shit. I was angry with him yes but I could not deny how hot this was. When he drew back, I turned to Skye who was looking at me with a swollen pair of lips and glazed eyes. I crushed her naked body to mine.
"I love you, baby," I told her, emotion clogging my throat. "You have no idea just how much."
She clung to me for a minute and then pulled away to smile at me
, caressing my face with tenderness. Her eyes shifted to Jasper beside us and she parted her lips when she realised he was still hard. "Um...do you need me to-?"
"No," I barked, startling her. "He can take care of it himself. Come with me." Grabbing her hand, I pulled her out of the shower and led her to the bedroom, not even bothering with my towel or hers.
~~~
Chapter 31
Skye
Cole was rather subdued after the bathroom encounter. After drying me off quietly, he handed me a long-sleeved t-shirt and sweatpants then put on a pair of jeans himself. I sat on the bed and watched him through the open bedroom door as he walked around, snuffing out all the candles in the apartment and lowering the volume of the music. Then he made me some coffee and himself something that looked like green tea and sat on the bed with me, sipping it without a word.
I finished my hot beverage and reached out to brush some strands of his hair off his forehead. "So how's your new partner?" I asked softly. "Jasper told me all about the project. I'm glad for you."
He did not answer me. Picking up both our empty cups, he carried them over to the kitchen sink and dumped them in there. Okaayyy.
My phone beeped with a text and I leaned over to check the message.
Is he sulking again? - Jasper.
I sighed and typed back.
Just relax, will you? He thinks you've corrupted me and it's a lot for him to handle. -Skye
There was no text for several minutes. Out of my peripheral vision, I watched Cole return to my room slowly. Then my phone beeped again.
One moment, he says he's fine, the next he wants to kill me. I can't watch him break like this, Skye. We need to end this. I'm sorry but we're just going to have to put him first. - Jasper.
Shock rammed through my body at the easy manner Jasper had employed to end things between us. Two days of fucking me in every position he could think of and this was his way of dumping me? My heart ached as I read the message over and over again and I didn't know what to reply. Cole finally opened his mouth and asked me what was wrong.
I forced a smile and inhaled deeply, putting on a brave face for him. "Nothing, baby. I have work starting from two this afternoon. Three back to back sessions today. And one of my clients is so moody, I really wish I hadn't taken her on."
His gaze grew sympathetic and he rubbed my back slowly. "I'll drive you and pick you up okay. I want to. I'm free for the rest of the day."
I nodded. "Okay. Do you want to sleep for a while? Work will take hours so I just want to take a power nap."
He smiled at me. "You go ahead. I'll catch up with some reading. Will wake you after twelve."
Putting my phone away because I did not want to think about Jasper's text anymore, I snuggled with Cole, inhaling his clean, familiar smell and falling asleep on his chest as he buried his nose in a book.
****
Three weeks went by. Yes. Three long, agonizing weeks where Jasper and I tried our best to avoid each other. It was back to being all polite and distant again. If I was alone in a room, he did not enter and vice versa. I slept in my own bed. Sometimes Cole slept with me and other times, with Jasper. If Cole happened to be at work and Jasper and I were free, either he left the house or I did. No touching. No talking. Nothing. It was as if those two exciting and beautiful days had not even existed between us. Jasper could be very cruel when he chose to be. I knew that from the start so then, why did it still hurt so much?
Cole did not comment on the situation at all. He never asked us any questions. I figured he was relieved we had ended things and he had simply decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Even though it killed me to treat Jasper like he meant nothing, I never resented Cole for it. He gave me so much love and attention, it was hard to be dissatisfied. He even amped up on the sex, adding more kink to our usual lovemaking.
And I always knew Cole was Jasper's heart and soul. Jasper Wells would kill for his lover and he would die for him as well because he always kept his promises and he hadn't made any to me. Only to Cole. I could not resent him for that either. My initial anger had faded, replaced only by heartbreak.
My birthday came and Cole surprised me with new paint supplies and canvases as presents. He then took me shopping and we spent the entire day eating out, cruising through the streets of Milan, going sightseeing and then spending the night at Milano Di Paradise, a luxury hotel where he spoiled me with flowers, chocolate, expensive wine and my favourite of all, pizza. We took a long, sensual bubble bath and had lots of amazing sex.
Cole made sure I enjoyed myself and was happy. But I thought of Jasper alone at the apartment, probably popping open a new bottle of scotch and watching a Batman cartoon and my heart ached at the image so much, I almost sent him a drunk text.
Something was missing from this fairytale but I was the only one who seemed to acknowledge it.
The next morning, I said goodbye to Cole as he left for work straight from the hotel while I checked out late and came home. Without even checking the apartment, I knew it was empty. Jasper's presence was so tangible, I did not have to look to know whether he was around or not. Quietly, I went to my room and dumped my overnight bag on the bed.
I paused when my eyes landed on a small, rectangular box in the middle of the bed with a note attached to it. With trembling hands, I reached for it and opened the note.
It was Jasper's handwriting in bold, slanting strokes.
***
Skye,
Happy Birthday.
I wish I could have made it special for you but I wasn't too worried because I knew Cole would cover all the bases.
I also know we're not supposed to be communicating on a personal level but I wanted to give you something so you wouldn't think I'm a complete asshole. Hope you like it.
Jasper.
***
I did not open the present. Instead, I sat on the bed and cried for a long time, the note crumpling in my clenched fist.
Jasper...
I ached for him. I wished I could hold him and never let go. I wished I could thank him the same way I thanked Cole for doing nice things for me. With loving smiles and passionate kisses. Where was he? He knew Cole's schedule and mine too. He knew I would come home alone and find the present. And he left so we would not meet.
Sniffing quietly, I opened the box and then cried some more when I saw the book. The latest release from one of my favourite YA fantasy authors. Crystal Reynolds. The book was called Blade of 'O'Hara and I had been waiting to buy a hard cover special edition after I had saved up enough.
"Damn it, Jasper," I bit out and punched my pillow. Why couldn't you have just ignored my birthday? Why did you have to show me you still care?
I had to conduct painting lessons for two clients later that day so I got ready and left around noon. Halfway through my lesson with Bianca Martinez, a twenty three year old client, I received a text from Cole.
Is it okay if we go out for drinks tonight to Armaan's? - Cole.
I frowned at the message. We? We as in all three of us or just him and I? The three of us had not been out together since that trip to Olivia's in Finale Ligure. I wasn't up for this but Cole had been so amazing yesterday, I did not want to seem like a party pooper. He talked about his partner, Armaan, sometimes and I deduced the guy was all right. Fun and easygoing. They were on pretty friendly terms now. The guy lived in Pavia with his wife.
Sure, baby. That sounds cool. -Skye.
Meeting a couple of strangers and playing nice after a hard day of work? Not my cup of tea. But I cheered up when I remembered the book Jasper bought for me and figured I would sneak off and read some when nobody paid attention.
Chapter 32
Skye
I gawked at the sight of the large house rising in front of me as Jasper drove us up the driveway, following the GPS address Cole's friend/partner had texted earlier. Damn. His place was huge. It was not a house but almost like a mansion. There was even a fountain at the entrance.
&nbs
p; "Are you sure he's just an architect?" I asked Cole and he did not answer because he looked just as shocked as I was.
Jasper, on the other hand, appeared unimpressed as he got out of the car. We had mostly been silent throughout the half hour long drive to Pavia, with Cole offering bits of information about his partner. I suspected Jasper hated the thought of a threesome outing as much as I did now. It was too much pressure trying to maintain a modicum of aloofness when all we wanted to do was reach out to each other.
He looked amazing in a white dress shirt and jeans, his blond hair neatly styled, and so did Cole with his black sweater and slacks and those glasses. Between them, I felt very plain in my blue and white striped dress and white sandals with my hair held up in a ponytail.
Cole's friend, Armaan, came outside to escort us and he was busy talking to Cole and Jasper after the introductions as he walked us inside so I was free to check him out. I mean, wow. Who wouldn't? Cole never mentioned his business partner was so gorgeous. I bet he made a lot of money by modelling or something on the side. Hence, the mansion.
We entered a spacious living room with apricot-coloured sofas and I gratefully sunk into one with Cole pressed to one side of me and my purse stuck to my other side holding precious cargo.
Right away, I found out Armaan was into soccer. There was this gigantic poster of Italy's national soccer team along one wall, some trophies with soccer balls, soccer ball figurines and fixtures and the owner himself wore a blue soccer Jersey with jeans, looking extremely handsome and attractive as he passed drinks around and chatted almost non-stop about every topic under the planet. His voice was such you would never get tired of hearing it.
I tried not to drool but I was pretty confident Cole wouldn't blame me if I did.
"Oh, good, you're here," our host said all of a sudden, looking towards the staircase. "Guys, this is Jas, my wife. I should mention she was already married to an inanimate object when I became her husband. Not that I mind. I mean, I can compete with a laptop no problem."
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