The Lovers: Cards of Love Series

by Cole, Fiona

  She nodded and whimpered. “Inside me, then hard on my clit.”

  “Good girl.”

  I rolled her nipples between my fingers. Ate her moans of pleasure. Sucked on every inch of her breasts. I wanted to look down at Jackson, watch his tongue move over her cunt, but I didn’t. I gave all my attention to her, making a hollow effort to put her in the center of the night.

  I’d fucked Jackson for her, but somewhere along the way, I didn’t even believe that lie anymore.

  19

  Carina

  He fucked Jackson for me.

  Not because he wanted to.

  I put us here and we’re happy. Adventurous. On the right track.

  Sex has never been so intense and intimate as it has been the past month.

  Jake was happier.

  But was it because of our sexual adventures together? Or was it because of Jackson?

  Did we look like that when we had sex? Like nothing else mattered but being connected?

  I blinked, bringing the computer screen back into focus. The thoughts had been tumbling through my brain all day. The justifications and rationalizations. I wasn’t sure what to think anymore after Saturday night.

  I needed to push it all away and doublecheck this email to Alexander. We were in the process of working out a deal for his needs. I couldn’t wait to bring in such a lucrative client. We would be able to keep his business for years as he expanded his hotel empire.

  My door creaked open and Jake popped his head in. “Knock, knock. Can I come in?”

  “Sure.”

  My heart sped up watching him walk into my office, his confidence and broad shoulders taking up all the space in the office, sucking the oxygen from my lungs. He was beautiful, and I loved him. But my heart also beat harder because of nerves. At some point we had to address what would happen. I just wasn’t sure what my response would be.

  He sat a paper bag on my desk, the emblem of my favorite Asian restaurant on the front. I couldn’t stop the groan from rumbling in my chest.

  His smile had me wanting to groan for a whole new reason. “Thought I would bring you some lunch. Obviously, I made the right choice.”

  “Eggrolls?”

  “Damn right.”

  “Ung. I love you.”

  “Love you too, baby.”

  He pulled out the food, and I hit send on my email before giving the boxes my full attention. He sat on the other side of my desk, already digging into his food.

  “I figured I’d also stop by so maybe we could talk. We haven’t really had a lot of time since Saturday night.”

  His eyes flicked back and forth between his carton of food and me. We both knew we needed to talk. We both were unsure of how it would go.

  “Are you okay? With everything that happened?”

  This was it. No matter what I thought I saw, this was my chance to make it what I wanted. If I questioned him and showed my insecurity, he’d stop it all. Jake was loyal and if I told him something was hurting me, he would move heaven and earth to make it better. If I played it off like I was fine, we’d continue, and we’d keep this connection between us.

  Besides, I liked Jackson and I wasn’t ready to be done. Despite my misgivings, I was happy with our arrangement and I was probably making a mountain out of a molehill.

  With my decision made, I let my eyes slide to half-mast and gave him a slow, sultry smile. “More than okay. Saturday was beyond hot. Exactly what I wanted it to be. Just like my fantasy.”

  I hadn’t realized quite how tense he was until I saw him exhale and his shoulders dropped in relief.

  “Good. I was worried you maybe looked at me differently after I’d had sex with a man.”

  With each word he said, his shoulders crept back up, and he would look me in the eye less and less. Just as much as he would do anything to make me happy, I’d do the same for him, and I hated seeing him filled with doubt.

  “No, Jake. You’re still the sexy, strong man I fell in love with. I can’t see you as anything else.”

  His lips quirked up and he peeked at me through his full lashes. “Sexy, eh?”

  “Hot.” I dragged the word out and ended with an accentuated t. “Strong. Watching your muscles flex and strain was a whole new experience from my spot on the chair.”

  “You liked that?”

  “God, yes.” I squirmed in my seat. “The way your arm flexed as you stroked him or gripped his jaw. I loved watching you.”

  “Hmmm. . .This is giving me ideas for tonight. Can’t wait to get you home.”

  “Why wait? We have a whole lunch hour.”

  “God, I love how dirty you are.”

  “I mean, the first time we fucked was at work. Let’s call it nostalgic.”

  He stood and slowly walked around the desk until he stared down at me. “As I recall, you were bent over the copier. Go ahead and stand up, hands on the desk and present your ass to me.”

  I squirmed again trying to alleviate the ache building between my thighs before standing and doing as told. “Like this?” I asked over my shoulder.

  His hand skimmed over the curve of my bottom and moved down to my bare thigh before sliding up. “I think I’ll spank you or at least grip you hard enough to mark you. That way when you sit through the rest of your meetings today, you’ll remember how deep I was inside you.”

  “Jake.” I arched my back and moaned, spreading my legs a little further to give him access to between my thighs.

  There was a sharp knock on the door that had me jerking upright and Jake taking a casual step back to lean against my desk, his back to the door so he could adjust the bulge beneath his slacks.

  I ran a hand through my hair and cleared my throat, hoping they didn’t hear the arousal in my voice. “Come in.”

  That arousal was sucked from my body when my father pushed through the door. “Carina, can you make copies for everyone at the meeting?” he asked, barely looking at me. But he lit up like a Christmas tree when he saw Jake. “Oh, hey Jake. Didn’t see you there.”

  I ground my jaw at his request. I wasn’t his secretary. I had my own part of the meeting to prepare for, but he probably just assumed I put together a cute, frilly presentation filled with zero research.

  “Hello, Mr. Russo. Just came by to have some lunch with my girl.” Jake reached down to clasp my clenched fists in his hand. “And I’ll have Angela make those copies. I know Carina has been preparing for this meeting and needed to go over a few notes before this afternoon.”

  God, I loved this man.

  “Of course. Of course.” My dad waved away Jake’s comment like it was nothing. He probably didn’t even hear anything after my name. “You know Jake, you should come golfing this weekend. The CEOs from Ackerman Inc. are coming along to talk business and I’d love to have you there.”

  Jake moved his hand to my back, rubbing soothingly. I wondered if he could feel the steam pouring off me. Jake hated golfing. I loved it, and I loved the business, but did my father ever invite me? Nope.

  “Carina, how are things going with Alexander Kent?”

  Taking a deep breath, I calmed my anger and tried to come off calm and professional. This was my baby and there was no way he could avoid my work on it. He had to acknowledge my business prowess with this interaction.

  “Good. I just emailed him before Jake came in. We’re in the process of negotiating the contract.”

  He winced and nodded slowly. “Why don’t you send all those files over to me after making copies for the presentation? I’ll take a look over where you’re at and finish up the negotiations man-to-man. Jake, you can step in and get some experience. You’ll need it when you start handling the bigger contracts.”

  Jake brought his hands up in front of him, shaking his head. “I appreciate the offer, but this is Carina’s project.”

  He gave me a reassuring smile when I mouthed Thank you. Jake always said I’d run the company better than him. I wouldn’t, but I loved his faith in me. We were equals in
his eyes and we’d run this company like equals. I just had to hold out long enough.

  “Either way, I’ll expect it in my inbox before dinner.”

  I lost calm and professional in an instant. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Carina Russo. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “What is wrong with me? What is wrong with me?” My voice was loud and shaking with indignation. “This is my contract. Mine. I did the work. I did it all, and I will not let you take it from me because of your misogynistic ideas.”

  “Carina, stop throwing a tantrum. This right here is why you wouldn’t do well in negotiations. Would you throw a fit in the middle of a meeting if it didn’t go your way?”

  “Are you kidding me? When have I ever given you any indication that this is how I would be when I’ve shown everyone—including you—complete professionalism?”

  “But this is a man’s world. That is how they will think of you when you stroll in. These men who run these companies won’t take you seriously.”

  I growled, having no words that could express my emotions.

  “It’s just the way they think.”

  “Jake doesn’t.” Usually Jake stayed out of our arguments, just offered support and let me fight my own battles. But my father worshipped the ground he walked on and maybe he would believe in me more if he saw the way Jake believed in me. Of course, it didn’t happen that way because he had an argument for everything.

  “That’s because he loves you. Of course he believes in you.” He sighed like he was tired of arguing with a child. “Just send it, Carina. End of discussion.” With that he turned and walked out.

  I stared at the empty space he’d just left trying to calm my breathing. Jake stepped behind me and rubbed at my tense shoulders.

  “So, I guess fucking against the desk is out?” he whispered into my ear.

  I breathed a laugh and shook my head. He knew just the right thing to say to make me relax. To make me laugh.

  I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Later, okay? I want to finish what we started.” Pressing up on my toes, I kissed his chin.

  “I’m going to hold you to that,” he said before capturing my lips in a heated kiss that helped me forget the last ten minutes.

  “Let’s invite Jackson over tonight.”

  “You sure?”

  I was. I wanted to get lost in the moment between two sexy men. I wasn’t done with our arrangement.

  “Definitely.”

  20

  Jackson

  “Hey, man.” I let my eyes eat Jake up as he brushed past me to walk into my apartment. He was wearing a pair of slacks and a white dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled up and stood in stark contrast to the tattoos decorating his skin. Then there was his butt. I had to bite my lip as I closed the door to hold back my moan. “Thanks for giving me a lift to Voyeur. My car should be done by tomorrow morning.”

  “No problem.”

  When he turned back to face me, I couldn’t help myself. I placed my hand on his waist and leaned in to brush my lips against his. He froze a bit, but less than usual. I’d stop if he didn’t reciprocate the kiss. Every time. I pulled back with a smile and walked over to the kitchen to put some dishes away I’d just finished washing.

  He strolled around my tiny space, looking around and taking it all in. Not that it took long.

  “How’s house hunting going?” he asked once he made it to the kitchen. He leaned against the counter with one hip and smirked at me.

  “It’s not that bad.”

  “Your neighbor is watching a rerun of The Office. I can hear it word for word.”

  I moved past him and slapped his ass. “Smartass.”

  He jerked with a laugh. “Keep it up and I may be spanking you later.”

  With an eyebrow cocked, I stepped close to him and spoke low. “I may have let you fuck me, but no way in hell will I bend over your knee for you.”

  Jake dropped his gaze, but not before I saw a blush stain his cheeks.

  “You’re so fucking cute.”

  He peeked up from under his lashes, and I dipped my knees enough to reach his lips. This time I lingered long enough for him to taste me and feel me. My tongue brushed the seam of his lips as his hand moved to my waist. We both moaned and just barely brushed tongues before pulling back.

  “We shouldn’t do that without Carina,” Jake whispered against my lips.

  I knew that. And I hated it because I wondered how Carina would react. Would she be turned on by the idea or would she accuse him of cheating? Deep down, I knew it was cheating. They invited me into their relationship, and each time I kissed Jake without her there, it was only about mine and Jake’s relationship. I wanted to stop because I didn’t want to hurt her. But I couldn’t.

  “I’m sorry.” But still I leaned in for one last peck.

  Things had changed after we’d fucked. The next morning had awkwardness hanging around the apartment, and I’d left wondering if everything was over. I’d made sure to kiss both of them extra-long before walking out, my heart thundering in my chest, terrified I’d never get another chance. But then they’d invited me over the next night and we’d fucked like rabbits.

  At least we fucked Carina.

  Carina also began talking about their wedding more and more. I tried to become invisible in those moments because each time a date or color or flower was brought up it weighed heavier and heavier on my chest. It felt like a guillotine was dropping on our time together and it made me panicked. When it all started, I hadn’t planned on it going this far, but I was pulled in. I knew when I first spent the night with them what I was getting in to. But the game had changed for me and my heart was in play. And my heart was selfish. So, I stole every moment I could in case it was the last.

  The one moment I was eager to repeat, but hadn’t yet, was Jake fucking me.

  I didn’t usually bottom. I just hadn’t been with many other tops. I enjoyed it, I just also enjoyed being in control. But with Jake, the power had flowed between us and I loved him taking ownership of my body. That night had been everything to me. The way he’d held me as he thrust inside me, his hard length switching between soft and powerful strokes. Each one had me holding back my cries of ecstasy as he took me. I would gladly let him in my body over and over again. Anything to feel that close to him. Like we were the only two people in the room. Like we were the only two people that mattered.

  When he’d flipped me over and stared down at me as he stroked my cock, losing himself inside me, something had cracked open in my chest. Jake had always been a weakness; a dream I was sure I’d never have. He was engaged and straight. I tried to convince myself I believed that even as his cock grew soft in my ass. However, now he was no longer a dream I could make excuses for. My heart yearned for him in a way I didn’t know possible. It hurt at the thought of not having him. It beat harder at just the thought of him. It knew no boundaries, denied me nothing when I was around him. Hence all the kisses, all the touches. I wanted it all and I couldn’t put that need back.

  We may not have had sex again, but after the week, I knew something had cracked for Jake too. He let me kiss him. And our nights together got bolder each time.

  “Oh, fuck. Jake. Suck me.” Jake knelt before me, my cock thrusting in and out of his full lips. His hands pressed to my thighs to control my thrusts. I just gripped his hair and pulled him down on me until his eyes watered, and his gag reflex kicked in, tightening around the head of my cock.

  “Gonna come,” I moaned, giving him the warning I always did so he could pull back. However, when I tried to pull back his hands gripped behind my thighs and pulled me closer. His mouth remained wrapped around me, not letting up. If anything, he began sucking harder.

  I looked down to find him staring up at me. Blinking over and over, I tried to process what was happening. He knew I was going to come and he stayed on. He gave me a small nod and a wink—a fucking wink—before going back at it. Oh, fuck yes. Jake Wel
lington was going to swallow my cum.

  “You want it?” I dove my fingers back into his hair and fucked his face, turned on more than ever. “Taste me, Jake. Oh yes.”

  I was unintelligible grunts and moans, spilling dirty words and racing to the finish line, scared he’d change his mind.

  “Yes. Coming.” I held him close, pushing down as far as I could go. “Taste me. Fuck yes. All the way back.”

  Pleasure rushed down my spine and my legs shook as I began coming. After the first jet of cum, I began fucking his face furiously wanting to coat his entire mouth with every drop. I wanted him to taste me for the rest of the night. Know that he’d sucked a man’s cock and liked it. Cum slid out of his mouth and down his chin. The sight sent aftershocks of pleasure through me and I thrust a few more times, slowly. He lapped at my cock and slipped his tongue in the slit at my head. I wanted to cry with the way he loved my cock once I was done.

  Then he sat back and faced Carina, grabbing her face and bringing her to taste me off his lips. She’d licked the cum from his chin and it had my cock twitching all over again. It also had my heart twinging as my mind screamed “mine.”

  Ignoring that, I fell between her legs and played my part.

  “Dude, these donuts look amazing.” Jake’s comment pulled me back from the memory. I looked down at the box emblazoned with “Holtman’s”.

  “Fuck. Fuck.”

  Jake looked over at me like I’d lost my mind.

  “Daniel gave those to me this morning to drop off with Andrew. I totally forgot.” I ran my hand over my hair and thought of my options. “I’m sorry I wasted your time. I’m gonna need to get an Uber to take me over there before Voyeur.”

  Jake waved off my idea. “I’ll take you.”

  “You sure? I don’t want to waste your night.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Shut up and let’s go.”

  Taking Jake to see Andrew filled me with nerves and happiness. Andrew wasn’t known for his tact. But taking Jake to meet the most important person in my life had me holding back a cheer of joy.