by Zara Chase
Her disguise really was no disguise at all.
Nicole sipped at her glass of wine and perused the menu, studying the array of dishes on offer with professional interest. The ambience appeared to ease the tension Pascal had sensed in her ever since they collected her from her hotel. Pascal and Kai were content to watch her, feeling no need to make conversation. They were eventually rewarded when she looked up from the menu and offered them an uncontrived smile.
“So many of my favorite dishes, I’m not sure what to order.”
“The beef Wellington’s good,” Kai said.
“Hmm, I might go for that, but I also love beef bourguignon, if it’s done right.”
“Most people enjoy it,” Rochelle said, drifting up to them, order pad in hand. “Least ways, I haven’t had any complaints.”
“Do you use onions or shallots?” Nicole asked.
“Shallots, of course.”
Nicole smiled. “In that case I’ll have the bourguignon.”
“Good choice.”
Both guys ordered steaks, extra rare.
Rochelle rolled her eyes. “Like I don’t know that by now.”
“Did you manage to find out anything about my grandfather?” Nicole asked as soon as Rochelle left them.
“Not so far,” Kai replied. “But we have found a ton of paperwork dating back to when the fund started and before.”
She raised a brow. “It’s not computerized?”
“The fund is, obviously, and details of all the contributors, but there’s a lot of correspondence thrown into files dating way back.”
“Why way back?”
“Impulse has always had some sort of investment scheme going. Sometimes more than one at a time,” Pascal explained. “The brains behind the operation came up with the bright idea of combining them all into one hedge fund.”
“I see.” She frowned. “I think. You make it sound as though Impulse is a cooperative.”
“It is, I guess,” Kai said. “Almost everyone in town is invested in the scheme and benefits from the profits.”
“Provided it stays in the black,” Pascal added. “And so far, we’ve managed to ensure that it does.”
“Yes, Gramps enjoyed a healthy return on his investment.”
Pascal smiled at her. “Well then, we must be doing something right.”
“Impulse seems to be a tight-knit community,” she said, picking up her fork and tasting the garden salad that had just been placed in front of her. “I particularly feel it in this place. It’s odd, but it seems almost like one big family.”
“She feels at home already,” Kai pheromoned. “That’s real encouraging.”
“It is,” Pascal said. “That’s why I’m sure someone here will know something about your grandfather’s connection to the place, if there is one.”
“There has to be. Otherwise, why would he have kept on about it on his death bed? It was obviously very important to him.”
“Our problem,” Kai said, leaning one elbow on the table and resting the side of his face in his splayed hand, “is that your grandfather’s original connection probably has nothing to do with money.”
A server appeared with their main courses, suspending conversation. Nicole stuck a fork into her beef, tasted it, closed her eyes, and sighed.
“It’s excellent,” she said. “I can’t fault it.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Pascal made her smile when he pretended to wipe sweat from his brow. He then applied his attention to his steak, which leaked blood when he cut into it. “Rochelle will be pleased.”
They ordered more wine and spoke about nothing in particular until they’d finished their food. Nicole complimented Rochelle when she came to clear the plates and the two of them held a long conversation about the merits of grass-fed beef.
“You were saying something earlier about Gramps’s connection to Impulse possibly having nothing to do with money.” Nicole eyed them both from behind her horrible glasses. “What did you mean by that?”
“Well, you don’t remember him coming to America ever, right?”
“Right.”
“So either he happened on the fund by chance, which I doubt, or he knew someone personally from Impulse, probably someone who’s now in England.”
“And that person,” Kai added, “made such a big impression on him that he invested a large sum in our fund.”
“Ah, now I’m with you. The clues are more likely to be in the records Rafe and Vilas are going through than in the financial ones.”
“Right.” Pascal leaned toward her, careful not to touch her. “Rafe suggested that we use our place as headquarters for the treasure hunt. He’ll send everything he can find over to us, and we already have the financial files there.”
“I don’t understand. What difference will that make?”
“Perhaps none, but we thought you might want to help. There’s a lot to go through and only you will know if something or some name looks familiar.”
“Yes, all right.”
“So you might as well check out of your hotel and move in with us.”
Her head jerked up. “Hang on a minute!”
“It makes sense,” Pascal said, leaning his chair back on two legs and crossing one foot across his opposite knee. “We have plenty of space and you can then spend as much time as you like rooting through our disreputable past.”
“Let me think about it,” she said.
“Sure, no sweat.” Pascal returned his chair to its correct position. “Now, have you saved room for dessert?”
* * * *
Nicole awoke early, her head still full of the dinner she’d had with the guys the night before, and more specifically their suggestion that she temporarily move in with them. It did make sense, and yet she was hesitant to agree. Why that was she couldn’t have said. They’d behaved like perfect gentlemen and had barely touched her. Well, why would they? Half the women she’d seen in the Cat’s Whiskers had been gorgeous. She’d made it obvious that her interest in them was purely professional, so why would they bother to pursue her? All they cared about was keeping the money that now belonged to her in their damned hedge fund.
Nicole had trained herself never to think about any man in a personal way, but annoyingly she couldn’t get images of Pascal and Kai out of her head. The way Pascal’s eyes glistened when he was amused and the manner in which Kai focused his attention on her as though she was the most interesting woman on the planet had left their mark. It made her remember how it felt to be feminine. It made her glad she was wearing sexy underwear, even if they couldn’t see it.
It made her as confused as hell.
What fascinated her most about them was the manner in which they moved as though their limbs were boneless. Their musculature, combined with lithe feline grace, was a compelling combination. They were compelling. They would laugh themselves silly if they knew they’d awoken deeply buried sexual desires in someone as frumpy as she went to great lengths to appear. She’d been almost disappointed when neither of them made any attempt to touch or flirt with her, which in turn infuriated her. She absolutely didn’t need to be thinking that way. It could only lead to trouble.
It didn’t matter. She’d got herself all steamed up, but that was one problem she could resolve for herself. Nicole’s hand drifted to her right breast. The nipple had gotten rock hard, just from thinking about the guys. She squeezed it between her thumb and forefinger so hard that it brought tears to her eyes. How would it feel if Pascal did that to her? How would it feel if he nipped it between his teeth and sucked it into his gorgeous mouth? He’d been very formal during dinner, but she’d noticed his gaze drift to her breasts on several occasions, like he knew what she was hiding beneath her shapeless caftan.
Such thoughts caused the deep tug between her legs to intensify almost painfully. If Kai were here, perhaps he’d suck away the joy juices trickling down the insides of her thighs. Perhaps he’d bury his head between her legs and eat her pussy until she was
reduced to begging him for more. Perhaps he’d have mercy and see to it that her frustration gave way to a piquant orgasm.
Shit, it was never gonna happen. He wasn’t here, and this situation needed sorting. Spreading her legs as wide as they’d go, Nicole brought her knees up and slid several fingers into her slick cunt. Just as well Kai and Pascal couldn’t see her like this. Her pubic hair was disgustingly long. Men didn’t like that. They preferred women to shave their pussies, didn’t they? Nicole had no desire to attract any man, so she no longer shaved.
Her fingers were long, but not long enough to fill her cunt and give her the satisfaction that eluded her. Her thumb found her swollen clit and agitated gently. That was better. Now the heat was really building. Her fingers delved, her thumb increased its pressure, her other hand pinched a nipple, and her hips rode up and down in time with her fingers. A surging rush heated her bloodstream as Nicole allowed her imagination free rein.
It was Pascal’s fingers agitating her pussy. Kai’s playing with her tits. The thought of two men having free access to her body ought to have put an end to her fantasy. Instead her pleasure built, fire lanced through her veins, and she cried out as a cataclysmic orgasm gripped her. She rode her fingers until the tingling sensation spread to every corner of her body. She was literally on fire and, just for a moment, forgot who she was supposed to be as she crested the wave of her own making.
When Nicole came down to earth again she felt calmer, more in control. Of course she’d take up the guys’ offer and move into their apartment. It made perfect sense and meant her sojourn here would likely be shorter. That was a good thing, wasn’t it? If being in close proximity to them for too long got her juices flowing…well, she’d just have to sort herself out again, like she just had, and they needn’t be any the wiser.
* * * *
Kai’s rigid cock rubbing against Pascal’s thigh woke him early.
“And good morning to you, lover,” he said, turning to kiss his buddy hard on the lips.
“I can’t sleep,” Kai complained.
“I got that part. Presumably you’ve been kept awake by thoughts of our lovely mate.”
“Yep. She’s so full of insecurities it makes me sad, and I can’t wait to make her feel better about herself.”
“Did you catch sight of her eyes when she took her glasses off for a moment in the restaurant? Shit, they’re huge and the deepest brown I’ve ever seen. We really need to find out why she covers them up like that. It’s a crying shame.”
Pascal lay flat on his back, hands cushioned behind his head, a cue for Kai to feed on his nipples. He did so using his lips, tongue, and teeth, knowing better than bring his hands to the party.
“That’s it, lover, bite them like you mean business. I’m so fucking hard just thinking about sweet Nicole that it’s making me crazy.” Kai bit down hard and Pascal groaned. “That’s it, give me some more pain.”
Kai, in submissive mode, followed Pascal’s instructions to the letter, doing only what he was told to do. Pascal massaged his own cock, which was thick and pulsating, ready to give Kai the ride of his life.
“Imagine doing this with Nicole,” he said. “Did you see her nipples through that wet bathing suit?”
Kai lifted his head and nodded vigorously, stretching Pascal’s rock-hard nipple painfully away from his body.
“Imagine having your teeth wrapped around one of them and those gorgeous legs spread wide for us.”
Something like a groan slipped past Kai’s lips. Pascal slapped his butt hard and told him to stop what he was doing.
“Get on the bed, face down, knees up to your chest, face to one side, legs spread.”
“Yes, Master.”
Pascal grabbed a tube of lube from the bedside drawer and slathered Kai’s ass with it, working it into his anus with two fingers.
“We’re gonna do this to Nicole, once we’ve got her over her hang-ups,” Pascal promised. “Except her hands will be shackled to the bedhead, she’ll be blindfolded, and her nipples will be clamped, obviously.”
“Where will I be?” Kai asked breathlessly as Pascal eased the head of his cock into his partner’s anus.
“I’ll be underneath her, fucking her sweet pussy. You get to have her ass.”
“Yeah, man!”
Pascal reached for the plain wax candle he’d lit before they started fucking. Kai, with his face turned the other way, had no idea what was coming. Pascal tilted the candle and allowed hot wax to drop onto Kai’s ass. He yelled out.
“Shit, that’s hot!”
“Too hot?”
“Hell no. You know I love it.”
Still inside Kai’s butt, Pascal pulled him onto his side, staying with him. Kai’s erect cock was now exposed.
“Want some on that, lover?”
“What do you think?”
Pascal chuckled and took a bite at Kai’s shoulder.
“Just checking.”
“You think she’ll go for this hot wax game, too?”
“If we train her right.”
Pascal drizzled hot wax over Kai’s pubic hair and scrotum. Kai gasped, gritted his teeth through the pain, and then grinned.
“Now you’ve really got me going, Master.”
Pascal knew his buddy wanted more of the same, but enough was enough. He put the candle aside and started to move inside Kai, making no effort to treat him gently.
“She suffers from erotophobia, that’s her problem.”
“What, you think she’s afraid of her own sexuality?”
“That’s what the word meant last time I checked.”
“Then we’re just gonna have to persuade her otherwise.”
“Yep, I doubt if she knows that she actually exudes sexuality, no matter how appalling her choice in clothes.”
“We need to go and visit Feline Fashions and buy her some stuff.”
“All in good time. If we rush things we’ll spook her.”
“I guess.”
“Concentrate on what I’ve got for you, lover.” Pascal drove himself hard and deep. “Feel that?”
“Shit, Pascal, you’re so fucking hot today. So fucking big, you’re stretching me to the limit.”
“Get used to it. That’s what the thought of having Nicole does to me. Last night, how I kept my paws off her I’ll never know.”
Kai moaned and thrust back against Pascal. “You just hit my fucking prostate, man.”
“That’s kinda the idea. Want some more?”
“Hell yes!”
Pascal would normally punish Kai for being so needy. Today was different. Pascal’s own control was almost nonexistent and it was all Nicole’s fault. A beautiful woman pretending to be a grunge was a real turn-on. The challenge of getting her to open up and explain what had spooked her was formidable. He suspected that her neuroses were deep seated and that she probably didn’t even acknowledge their existence, much less talk about them.
But she was their intended mate, no question, and Pascal was prepared to take things as slowly as necessary. The reward would be had when they put her world to rights and taught her things about herself she probably wasn’t aware of.
Pascal increased the pace and strength behind his thrusts, sweating as he filled Kai to capacity, his cock swelling as he grabbed Kai’s hips and delved as deep as he could. Possibly deeper than ever before.
“Let’s fuck each other, lover,” he said, biting down hard on Kai’s shoulder again.
“I…I can’t hold it, Pascal. Shit, fuck me, here it comes!”
Tingling exhilaration spiraled through Pascal as he, too, shot his load, deep into Kai’s ass. The burn intensified as he let rip, slapping Kai’s thigh hard with the flat of his hand as his orgasm went on, and then on some more.
“Fucking hell, that was good.” He pulled out of Kai and rolled onto his back, laughing. “Seems just the thought of having Nicole to play with has taken us to a new level.”
“Amen to that.”
“Come on, let’s s
hower. Then we need to go and call on her and persuade her to move in here with us.”
“You’d best go alone,” Kai said reluctantly. “One of us needs to stay on top of the markets.”
Chapter Seven
“Good morning.” Pascal stood over Nicole’s table, situated in a quiet corner of the breakfast room at the White Sands.
“Oh, hello. I didn’t see you come in.”
“Probably because you had your head buried in that book. What are you reading?”
Nicole flushed and shoved the book into her bag, but not so quickly that Pascal didn’t catch sight of the lurid picture on the front cover.
“Nothing important.”
Pascal was tempted to tease her about her reading material, but manfully restrained himself. “Did you sleep well?” he asked instead.
“I always sleep well.”
“Of course you do.” Pascal pinched a strawberry from the bowl of fruit on her table and popped it into his mouth. “Have you thought any more about our suggestion?”
“Yes.” She paused, concentrating her attention on stirring her coffee far more rigorously than Pascal considered necessary. “I guess it makes sense to move in with you guys. I’m all yours if you still want me.”
Oh, babe, you have no idea!
Pascal suppressed a triumphant smile. “You’ve made the right decision,” he said.
“I’m keen to get to the bottom of this conundrum.”
“I’m sure you are. I guess Impulse isn’t your kind of place and you want to leave as soon as you can.”
“Actually, it’s an idyllic spot, but I have a business to run. I can’t neglect it indefinitely.”
“Presumably you have reliable people taking care of it in your absence.”
“Yes, but even so.”
“You all done here?”
She drank down the rest of her coffee and stood up. “Yes, I’ll just run upstairs and pack my bags.”
