by Amy Sumida
“All I know is I want her. I want to get to know her. And I don’t mind sharing her with the two of you. Just the idea makes me hard.” Doug motioned to his growing erection.
“A few weeks ago, I would have told the two of you to share someone if you wanted, but now I’ve met Aria.” Jason shook his head. “I can’t let her go, either. I feel alive for the first time in forever.”
“So, then we’re agreed?” Chad glanced between his two best friends. At their nods and grins, he continued, “So back to my original question. Do you think she’ll go for it now that you kissed her?”
Jason examined Chad, noting the tightness of his muscles along his neck and shoulders. Knowing his kiss with Aria caused the tension weighed heavily on him, but God help him, he wasn’t sorry. He took the opportunity when it presented itself and he would do it again. But now he needed to alleviate his friend’s concern. “I think everything is going to be fine. She didn’t recoil or get scared after the kiss, even when she talked about coming back to our room.”
“Are you sure?” Chad ran his hand through his brush cut.
“Yes.” Jason watched as his single word allowed Chad to relax back into the couch. His body shrank with the release of tension. “I did tell her this morning I was the one sleeping alone tonight, but just to make sure, how about I sleep in with Doug and you sleep alone?”
“That way we’ll know if the kiss messed anything up, right?” Doug looked at each of his friends. “So, we’re really doing this? Finally trying for the foursome we talked about all through high school?” His grin stretched over his face as his knees bounced.
Chad checked with Jason who nodded with a grin. “I guess we are.”
— Aria —
Aria quietly slipped out of her bed. Sleep would not come. With each passing moment, her panic increased. Her heart thudded. Each beat reverberated throughout her body. She waited, hoping the thuds would stop, but worried what it would mean if it did stop. Starting towards the door, she turned away remembering the kiss she and Jason shared. Sleeping in a bed with him would be a bad idea. Not knowing if she could keep her hands to herself if she was pressed up against him, it would be better to stay here. Right? What about his friends? Could she really climb into bed with him after the moments she shared with both Chad and Doug? Neither kissed her, but the moments felt just as intimate to her. And if Jason’s bed was occupied? Could she really climb in with either Doug or Chad after her heated kisses with Jason?
I’m such a freakin’ mess!
Somehow, she thought Jason wouldn’t care if she climbed into bed with either Doug or Chad. He was the one to ask her to cuddle up with Doug earlier. Crap. Crap. Crap. Indecision and confusion hung over her like a black cloud as she spun to face the door again.
Decisions. Decisions. She bit her lip and balled her fists. Her head felt like it was on a swivel. Bed, door, bed, door. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Squaring her shoulders, she slowly released the breath she’d been holding. She opened her eyes. With a determined stride, she headed out her door towards the guys’ room.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The door opened revealing Chad with a welcoming smile on his face. “Aria.” He pulled her towards himself. “I’m so glad you came.” He kissed her cheek catching the corner of her mouth by accident.
Aria stepped closer into his arms as a shudder ran through her body from the feel of his lips on hers. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she buried her head into his chest. Breathing deeply, she let his scent soothe her frazzled nerves. Chad’s hands caress her back as he stepped backwards, giving him room to close the door.
“Hmmm.” Her body melted into his.
“Let’s get you into bed.” Chad lifted her feet off the floor when Aria refused to loosen her arms from around his waist. He carried her in a modified bridal style, back to his bed. “You’re in with me tonight. Is that okay?” He held his breath waiting for her answer.
“Of course.” Aria’s lips brushed across his bare chest with her answer as he lowered her onto the bed. When his shivered, she smiled in relief. Deciding not to hold back after all, her lips already brushed his skin, so why not kiss and taste it. She puckered up, placing an open mouth kiss over his heart. Her tongue snaked out for a quick taste before she pulled back. She unwrapped her arms, turned, and lay back in his bed.
Chad took a steadying breath. He reached down to shift his erection in his underwear to a more comfortable position before climbing in behind her. He pulled her back into his chest and wrapped an arm around her waist, her body moulding itself to his.
“Good night,” he said against her hair.
Chapter Ten
— Chad —
“Where are you going?” Chad mumbled against the back of her head as his arm tightened around her hips snuggling her ass into his groin.
“Sorry to wake you.” Aria momentarily gave up the struggle to extricate herself from his hold. “I need to head back to my room.”
Chad squeezed her body and kissed the back of her head. “I don’t want you to go, but I understand.” He released her hip only to slide her body over his so she could get out of the bed on his side. “Beach cabana again?”
“Yes. See you there?” Climbing out of bed, she turned and started to bend over before jerking to a stop. His eyes narrowed as she stood up quickly to take a step back.
Reaching out, he grabbed her hand, pulling her to a stop.
“We’ll be there.” He let go of her hand and pushed himself to a seated position. Swearing she nearly kissed him, he wanted to give himself every opportunity to receive a first of hopefully many kisses. He started to swing his legs over the side of the bed when Aria stopped him.
“What are you doing?” Aria glanced over to the bed where Jason and Doug still slept deeply.
“I’m walking you back.” Chad started to stand.
Aria pushed on his chest until he sat. “I’m fine. You stay here and sleep.” She placed her fingers over his lips. “I mean it. You get some more sleep and I’ll see you later.”
Chad grinned under her fingers. She was too cute when she tried to order them around. He fought the urge to answer with, “Yes, ma’am, yes. Whatever you say, ma’am.” Instead he stuck out his tongue and licked her fingers, eliciting a giggle making his smile wider.
She pulled her hand away. “Goof,” she muttered, but couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
“See you later.” Chad remained seated watching as she walked towards the door. Hearing the door open and then click closed, he slid back into bed.
“I’m so glad she showed last night.” Doug stretched his arms over his head before turning over onto his side.
“Me, too,” added Jason as he pushed the sheet down to his hips revealing his bare torso.
“Me, three.” Chad couldn’t keep the smugness from his voice as he slid deeper into his bed.
“I’ll bet.” Doug chuckled as he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.
— Aria —
Aria tiptoed into her room.
Steps past her bed, she heard Trish roll over. “What are you doing Aria?”
“I can’t sleep, so I’m heading out onto the patio.”
Trish rubbed her eyes. She turned to glance at the clock. “It’s still pretty early.” She yawned and sat up. She stretched her arms and back. “Are you sure you can’t sleep any longer?”
“The sound of the waves is very soothing. It relaxes me.” Aria smiled. “Go back to bed and I’ll try to get more sleep outside.”
“Fine.” Trish resettled herself into bed. “But you’d tell me if you needed help, right?” She stared across the room. Aria was thankful the dim light kept her eyes hidden from Trish’s examination.
“Of course.” Aria kept her voice neutral, but her lips turned down. She walked out onto the patio, lost in thought. Keeping secrets from her friends weighed heavily on her spirit. Friends shared. Not believing she would ever find herself in a situation like this, s
he didn’t know what to do or how to act. Her confusion and struggles only made things worse. It was better this way, protecting them.
Yes, keeping my secrets protects them.
~
Waves crashed over Aria’s feet as she stood in the surf soaking up the sun, her skin a little darker from the previous days’ sun exposure. Thankful the pinkish colour from the sun her first day never materialized in to a burn, she reminded herself to thank the ladies in her support group. Although the credit for the tan did not belong to her alone. The guys applied sunscreen or reminded her to apply sunscreen like clockwork. It was as if they knew her skin required extra care. But then again, maybe they did know. Chad, more than likely, researched her medications or already knew the side effects of them. Her heart swelled knowing they cared at least a bit for her.
She stepped farther into the water. The red flag flying, but Aria didn’t care. The surf appeared the same as the other day when a green flag flew.
I’m sure it’s just too early for them to have changed the flag.
She wandered in deeper, sucking in her stomach to contain the squeal trying to escape as the cooler water tickled her bare skin. Holding her breath, she plugged her nose, and dove in, wanting to get the shock over with. She surfaced in deeper water, no longer able to touch bottom.
The surf flowed faster and rougher in the deeper water, but she loved it. The wildness mixed with the restrained control was what life was all about. She floated on her back, feet pointed out towards open water and relaxed, allowing the waves to carry her back towards shore. When the water became too shallow, she swam out, repeating the process again.
Lost to the world of relaxation, she missed the arrival of the body floating next to her. The body stood, hands gripping her waist. Her eyes shot open and stared into the chuckling face of Jason.
“What are you doing out here all alone?” Jason leaned over her and placed a fleeting kiss on her lips.
Aria dropped her feet surprised to find she stood in waist deep water. “I was floating and relaxing until someone scared me.” She gave Jason the stare women everywhere were famous for.
“But alone? What would Chad say?” Jason let go of her waist and reached for a hand. He pulled her out into deeper water.
“I’m fine alone.” Jason lifted an eyebrow. “Fine, I’m not supposed to be in the water alone, but I couldn’t resist. No one wanted to come in with me.” She peeked over her shoulder back to her friends on the beach, and noticed none of them were looking out at the water. Her lips turned down.
Hmmm, so much for watching me.
Jason checked over his shoulder to the beach. He frowned as his fingers tightened in hers. “Well, I’m here now so you’re good.” At her beaming smile he added, “And I won’t tell Chad. We’ll add it to our snorkel secrets.” He winked before letting go of her hand and diving under the water.
Aria chuckled. Her heart soared at Jason’s compassion. The frown on his face when he saw her friends on the beach ignoring her broke her heart. Three virtual strangers took better care of her during this trip than her three best friends. Maybe her friends were finally getting tired of her illness? She hoped not, because she didn’t know what she would do without them. She dove under the water to reach Jason.
They floated and swam until Chad and Doug joined them. Then the four of them frolicked in the water until Aria’s stomach growled.
Chad glanced towards the shore where the cabana attendant arrived carrying a tray filled with breakfast. “Come on, sweetheart, time to eat.” He grabbed her hand and towed her to shore. The other two followed closely.
Finishing breakfast, Shona, Jennifer, and Trish left to meet up with Kyle, Mark, and Derek. Aria waved, telling them to have fun.
Jason stood, gathering Aria’s breakfast dishes and handing them to Doug. Bending over the sun lounger, he placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “See you this afternoon.” Standing, he waved goodbye to Doug and Chad before heading off to class.
“Sunscreen time.” Doug wiggled his eyebrows as a smile split his face. He reached down, pulling a bottle from the basket. “On your stomach, darling.” He moved over to sit on the edge of Aria’s lounger. Pouring some out onto her back, he started to apply it. “Your muscles are really tense today. Anything bothering you?”
“Hmmm, no, not that I can think of.” Aria bit her lip as the lie rolled off her tongue. She knew exactly the cause behind her tense muscles…her feelings for the three men and how they treated her like a treasure. She let loose a small moan as her muscles started to relax under Doug’s strong fingers. “But I’ll take tense muscles if I get this treatment all the time.”
Chad chuckled. Aria discretely watched him from under her eyelashes. His eyes remained trained on her back where Doug’s magical fingers worked. Chad moved, trying to hide his growing tent, but she saw it all. Biting her lip, heat racing up her spine, her eyes tracked him as he slid over to sit on the foot of her lounger.
His hands, slick with sunscreen, traced the back of her legs from ankle to knee while Doug’s continued their assault on her back and shoulders.
Tilting her head forward, face pressed into the lounger, Aria closed her eyes. Ahh. Heaven. Two sets of very different hands all smoothing over her skin at once, created a mixture of feelings in her. All of them fabulous. She felt a delicious pull in the bottom of her stomach leading down…down…down to areas unused in the past few years. A fire ignited. One Aria was concerned would consume her. The salty smell of the ocean invaded her senses further relaxing and stirring her soul. Turning her face to its side, she wondered if she would ever be able to visit a beach again without getting turned on.
As her muscles turned to mush, Doug removed his hands. He leaned down and kissed her upturned cheek. “That should keep you protected for a bit.”
“I think so. Thank you, both of you.” She smiled at Chad who moved back into the lounger next to her.
“Feeling okay? Still swollen? Heart racing?”
She smiled at the expression of concern on Chad’s face. “I’m fine. I haven’t felt like I did that day, so everything’s fine.” The mirror didn’t lie. She knew what he saw. The dark circles under her eyes had disappeared thanks to the amazing sleep she received while sleeping within their arms.
“You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?”
“Yes, Chad, I would tell you.” Aria pushed herself up onto her elbows. “And you. I would tell you as well.” She glanced at Doug. “And before you ask, yes, Jason is included as well.” She winked at both before dropping back down.
~
Aria’s heated gaze remained glued to Doug and Chad swimming in the water. The heat climbed, making this the hottest day so far. They wanted her to join them in cooling down in the water, but she felt tuckered out from her earlier long swim with her guys. Neither one wanted to leave her on her own, but she put her foot down agreeing to a compromise. She agreed to stay in the cabana while they swam so they could watch over her.
She leaned back on the bed with a frozen drink. Her lips pursed as she contemplated the distance between their cabana and the beach. It was times like these she wished they could be on the beach proper. The distance made it impossible to fully appreciate their magnificent bodies as they moved through the water with their powerful muscles on display. Recalling from memory, her brain easily filled in the gaps made by distance. While water flowed smoothly over Jason’s long, lean muscles, it gathered in the cut lines on the bodies of Chad and Doug.
She smiled each time she caught them turning their heads towards her. Their care and concern continued to amaze her. It felt wonderful especially after her friends bailed on watching her this morning. They knew she needed eyes on her at all times while in the water by herself and they promised to watch her. Not wanting to get upset, she returned her thoughts to the men in the water.
The men stood in the surf and waved as they started to walk back towards her. She waved back when the voices of two women talking on the other side of
the cabana curtain caught her attention.
“Fuck, they’re hot.”
“Totally agree. I would do either of them in a heart beat. Even the third one that isn’t here.”
“Shit, I would do any combination of the three. I would almost even consider sharing one with you if I had to.”
“Same. Too bad they seem to be hanging around some other chick. Not that she seems to be with any of them.”
“Yeah, they’re friendly and touchy with her, but that’s it. Not like she looks like she could even handle one of them, let alone all three.”
“Cock blocker is what she is.”
Aria listened to them both chuckle as they walked away. The muscles in her forearms started to strain under the tightness of her clenched fists.
How dare they speak about me that way.
Their poisonous words buried themselves deep into her mind. Are they right? Is this what my girls were hinting at?
“What’s up?” Chad walked into the cabana. His eyes dropped to her fists lying on her lap.
Aria tried to blank her face, masking the anger and confusion she felt. “Umm, nothing.” She focused on the wet body standing in front of her, hoping it would clear her mind. She bit her lip as she took in how the water droplets on his half sleeve sparkled in the sunlight. One thing those women had right, they are hot. She pointedly ignored their comment about sleeping with the guys, scared of what she might find.
Sitting on the bed beside her, Chad picked up her right fist, massaging until he could straighten out her fingers. He sat on the bed beside her. “Are you sure?” His concerned eyes peered into hers as his hands moved up to her forearm, massaging the tense muscles.
