“What?” She asked, her train of thought on his eyes and lips, not what he’d asked her. “Oh, it’s Jessie, my name is Jessie.”
“Nice to meet you Jessie.” Jax replied, before pulling her closer. His hands on her hips guided her movements, a slight pressure at her shoulders from Liam guiding the top of her body. They were dancing on one of the darker parts of the floor and Jax and Liam must have felt free to do as they pleased in that semi-darkness.
Jessie, lost in the moment of her freedom and being so close to these two strangers, gave herself up to their attentions. She felt fingers brushing her breasts, a hand gripping at her ass as her hips were pulled into Jax’s, and the pull of Liam’s lips as her neck was grazed in the slightest of kisses. Their movements were sensual, erotic, and hidden from view.
Jessie had started off her night telling herself she wasn’t a trollop, and for a moment anxiety rang through her body. She’d not been with anyone but Michael in her entire life yet here she was, all but having sex on the dance floor. She stumbled for a moment and looked at Jax. Something about him drew her in, some animal magnetism that she couldn’t define and she knew if he asked her to strip here and now she would.
That thought was like a cold splash of water and Jessie stumbled away, pleading the need for the bathroom to disentangle herself from the men. Jessie had never felt anything so strongly, not even in the early days of her relationship with her ex-husband. In the bathroom Jessie splashed her face with cold water before toweling herself dry. She looked into the mirror, into her own eyes, wondering what exactly had happened.
She pulled her hand up to brush her hair out of her face and caught Jax’s scent on her hand. Pulling the other one up, she smelled Liam. Her knees actually wobbled for a moment and she grabbed the sink to stay up. Her body already craved the men, their scent made that craving worse. What was it about a man’s scent, especially if mingled with a very nice cologne, that brought us to our knees, she wondered. Jessie looked at herself, unsure of what to do.
Be a big girl, something told her. Do what you like now, what you want to do. You’re free, it’s your night, do exactly as you like. Jessie squared her shoulders once more and decided to do just that.
Jessie spotted the men at the bar and waved at her friends with a confident smile as she walked past them. She signaled to ask if any of them wanted a drink and counted as hands raised. She walked up to the bar and settled between the men.
“What are you having, lovely?” The bartender asked his hands on the bar as he watched her.
Jessie ordered the drinks and turned around as the bartender walked away to make the drinks.
“What are you doing later, Jessie?” Jax asked, putting his drink up to his lips, his very kissable lips, Jessie noted.
“I’m not exactly sure yet.” She offered with a twinkle in her eye.
“I could drive you home, later.” Liam offered, holding up a drink that looked like soda. You’re my neighbor right? I’m heading your way.”
Liam spoke with a jocular tone, as if he knew the old come-on was corny and was laughing at himself for using it. I liked that he didn’t take himself so seriously.
“Let me get these drinks back to my table. Want to join me?” She spoke to both men, her imagination in overdrive now about what would happen if she took them both home with her.
Possibilities flitted through her brain and she envisioned some of the more adult movies she’d watched in the privacy of her own home with the volume down and the curtains drawn. The problem with most of those films was that they were the popular male fantasy of two men sharing a woman, subjecting her to crudity and facials with their fluids. That didn’t turn Jessie on, not one little bit. Being some guys’ toy for the night wasn’t what she had in mind.
Jessie could see from the way that Liam flirted with the other women at the table that he was a bit of a player. His main attention was on Jessie but Liam was definitely a charmer. And she wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship, just a once in a lifetime thing. Jessie had been married all of her adult life but she’d heard stories from her friends and wanted to experience that for herself. Once wouldn’t hurt would it?
Jessie looked over at Jax, her eyes sparkling in the near dark. Yeah, once wouldn’t hurt. She saw him watching her and took a sip of her drink, trying to build up her bravery to go through with the idea that had now become fully formed in her mind. How was she going to suggest to these two men that both should take her home where they’d treat her like a queen, not some poor doll they’d use and throw away?
Jessie’s nerves started to frazzle as the night came to a close. She was brave enough to do it but neither man seemed to be catching her subtle hints or gestures. She’d brushed Liam’s thigh with her fingers and he’d looked at her, a question in his eyes, but he’d said nothing. She’d smiled, hoping he’d take it as an invitation but he said nothing, just stared at her.
Jessie turned to Jax then, hoping to get a better response from him. He’d clasped her hand in his, pushing it into his thigh. Jessie suppressed a moan when her brain told her to go higher and pulled her hand back to her own lap. She knew she must be coming off as a very naughty girl to these guys and that ended it for her. She wasn’t cut out for playing the temptress. Young and beautiful she might be but brave and willing to make a fool of herself, especially with a man she lived next to, she was not.
Jessie pleaded a sudden headache and fled the bar; calling a cab to take her home once she reached the fresh air outside of the bar. She wasn’t sure if anyone had actually heard her saying she was going to leave but she needed the fresh air, she needed to get away. As the cab pulled up and Jessie got in she looked back at the bar, wondering what might have been.
Obviously this was going to take baby steps. Trying to rush into a three-way sex fest with those two sex gods had her all but paralyzed with doubt by the time she left. Maybe slow and steady really would win the race. If they ever gave her that opportunity again after running out on them like that.
Chapter 2
Jessie awoke the next morning with a headache. Reaching blearily for two aspirin she knocked her phone off the bedside table. The device flashed on and she saw she had several messages. After picking up the phone and taking the pills with a bottle of water she felt like she was ready to face the world, and the consequences of her actions last night.
Jessie scrolled through the messages, several asking where she’d disappeared to and one from Jax. How did he get her number? One of the girls must have given it to him. Pressing a hand to her head she went into the bathroom to shower away the night before, or try to.
Jessie walked out of the house an hour later to check her mail and stopped as she saw Liam outside, washing his car without the armor that most women would need to look at his glorious chest. Namely a shirt. She slowed as she walked out, watching him as he soaped up the car on the concrete driveway only twenty feet from hers.
He looked up as if sensing her presence and waved with a grin on his devilishly handsome face. Jessie waved back, feeling like a complete fool over her behavior last night. Sure she’d finally got her divorce papers, and yeah she’d had a few drinks, but really! Thinking those two men would take her home and make her their queen. She must have been drunk, she told herself. Really drunk.
Jessie was walking back from her mailbox when Liam called out to her.
“Hey, do you need to get your car? I was thinking about going out for some food over in that direction if you need a ride.”
“Oh, uh…” Jessie hedged, looking at her empty driveway for a way out. Finally she shrugged and gave up. The girls were probably still passed out and wouldn’t be any help to her at al. “Sure?”
Jessie gave a tentative smile and walked into her house to get her things. She came back out and offered to help Liam finish washing the car.
“That would be mighty kind of you ma’am. And I promise not to spray water all over that nice white top of yours in the process.” Liam spoke with
a straight face but his mouth kept twitching and he couldn’t hide the mirth from his eyes for long.
“Oh, I just bet you’ll try very hard, won’t you? Not to I mean.” She decided to tease back, some of the shyness leaving with his comment.
“Well, after last night I’d say you might deserve it but that was a strange night for you wasn’t it?” He broke into the one topic that had her panicking as if it was no big deal.
“It was, yes.” She muttered, staring a hole into an invisible spot she was trying to wash away with a soapy cloth.
“So what was it? I’ve lived here for weeks now, the only visitors you ever have are your female friends. I’ve never seen a man going into or coming out of your home, then there you were last night, ready to go. Mighty beautiful I might add, but acting very out of character for a woman who’s barely done more than wave at me in all that time.”
“We’ve chatted a couple of times.” She protested, looking defensive.
“A few but not for long. About the weather, about the seasons, but nothing involved. So what was the occasion? New job? Moving?” Liam looked curious as he picked up the hose pipe to rinse the car off.
Jessie looked away from him, that chest too much temptation to stare at. She noticed a tattoo across his back, it looked like angel wings but she wasn’t sure yet. When he turned to spray the car she saw they were wings in a tribal style that spread from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. Her mouth became a pool of saliva as she looked at him from the back, his body gloriously cut and shaped.
Liam finished rinsing the car then went to the garage to open the door. He came out on a black BMW motorcycle. Being a novice to motorcycles Jessie didn’t know anything about it other than the fact that it said BMW on the side.
“Are we going to wash that too? Is this my penance for going home early last night?” She joked.
“Oh no, it’s a nice day so I thought we’d take this instead of the car. Unless you’re afraid? I have an extra helmet.” He held the helmet up, waving it at her with a quirked eyebrow.
“Ah. I’ve never been on one before.” She told him, looking at the bike with anxiety.
“There’s nothing to it, you just lean with it and don’t try to jump off.” He told her, pulling a shirt out of the car and putting her things in a saddle bag. “Hop on, you’re perfectly safe.”
Jessie took his words as a promise and hopped on, her legs sliding along his thighs as he started the motor. It wasn’t as loud as some she’d heard but there was a quiet vibration she found rather enjoyable. Jessie suppressed a giggle and put her feet on the pegs as her arms slid around Liam’s waist. This was going to be an experience.
Jessie had settled in for the ride, hoping she was sitting correctly, when she heard Liam’s voice in her head. Or maybe it was the helmet.
“You alright back there? You can talk to me, there’s a mic in your helmet.” He ended the speech with a slight chuckle as he felt her jump.
“Oh that is really cool.” She said, then realized he could hear her when he chuckled again.
“Yes. So about last night? Did you win the lottery by any chance? Or maybe you finished college?”
“Oh, no, I finished college three years ago. I’m a web designer. I work for a company over on the other side of the city but I work from home when I can. Nothing can beat working in your pajamas.”
“I believe I could think of a few things. If not graduation then what? Something set you off last night.”
Jessie gave him credit; he was definitely an observant fellow. She realized then she’d evaded his question many times, though she hadn’t meant to exactly. She was distracted by his presence, not avoiding the question.
“My divorce papers came yesterday, the final decree that means I’m a free woman. It wasn’t a happy marriage so I went out with my friends to celebrate being free of that lunatic finally.” Jessie made herself stop, she knew men didn’t like to hear about a woman’s crazy ex-husband any more than women liked hearing about crazy ex-wives.
“Now that is a reason to celebrate.” Liam said with a fake southern drawl. “We gonna have to take you out for a real meal then, missy. Make this a proper celebration. I bet I can even put a barbecue together later. You want to invite some of your friends and I’ll invite mine?”
“That actually sounds really nice. I can stop on the way home and pick up whatever is needed.”
They discussed a menu and made a list. Liam gave her some money to help pay the costs because she insisted on paying for half, and she headed off to the grocery store.
Three hours later her friends were standing around Liam’s back yard, once more discussing the fine quality of the man’s bottom when Jax sauntered in. He was dressed in dark blue denim, a black t-shirt, with a black bandana over his head. Obviously he’d come in on the motorcycle they’d heard.
He walked over to Liam to greet him and Liam pointed out Jessie. She felt her cheeks turning red and waved as he walked over to her.
“Hi there. I hear we’re celebrating you being a free lady. Congratulations.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek politely, his eyes hidden behind a pair of black sunglasses.
Jessie squinted up at him and wished she’d brought her own, they’d have been something to hide behind if nothing else.
“That I am. How are you today?” Jessie thought it was a stunted, typical question but it was all she could think to say. Her brain was going into overdrive again.
“Doing alright now that I’m here.” He said, obviously not in the mood for a lot of words. He pushed his sunglasses up and she could see his gaze was locked onto her. “So what do you want, sausage or chicken?”
For a moment Jessie looked confused then realized what he was asking her. “Oh, I’m going to have one of both. That special sauce Liam made up tasted heavenly when I tried it earlier and I love smoked sausage so yeah, greedy cow, aren’t I?”
“Hey, that’s cool. I like a girl that knows her own mind and likes to eat. Should I bring you a plate?” He asked with a smile that melted Jessie’s knees.
She plopped down in a seat beside her friend Megan and shook her head, a besotted look on her face.
“Girl, you got it bad. For two of them. I’m surprised they aren’t fighting over you already all the signals you’re throwing out to them both.” Megan didn’t look judgmental or put out and Jessie smiled.
“How hot would it be to have both?” She whispered in Megan’s ear, earning her a shocked look from her friend.
“Seriously? Have they offered that?” Megan gasped back quietly.
“No, but it’s all weird, they aren’t fighting or being asses, they’re both acting like normal men interested in a woman. I kept thinking about it last night and was on the verge of begging for it, oh, I’ll tell you later.” Jessie said as both Jax and Liam came over, Liam bringing chairs with him.
“Liam said you made this potato salad, Jessie. That’s the best potato salad I’ve tasted in years, girl.” Jax said as he handed her a loaded plate, and one for Megan. “I didn’t know what you’d want Sweet Meg, so I brought you a little of everything.”
Megan twittered as she took the plate and filled her mouth with potato salad in a move Jessie knew was meant to keep her from saying something embarrassing. She’d done it herself. Jessie looked over at Megan and winked, teasing her friend, and Megan spluttered, laughing as she tried to swallow her food.
Liam walked off, and then came back with two bottled beers, handing them to the ladies.
“I think you two need these to cool yourselves down a little. Something’s got you all flustered.” Liam used that fake southern drawl again and Jessie howled with laughter, something incredibly funny about the situation.
The rest of the day went well and Jessie stumbled home with a very tipsy Megan in tow around 2 am. They’d laughed, they’d joked, they’d been serious and discussed Jessie’s past, and the others told their tales, though she doubted anybody would remember the next day.
Around lunch ti
me Jax and Liam came over to ask the ladies if they wanted to go out for a ride. Megan pleaded with her tummy and head, saying she didn’t want to be sick all over anyone but she insisted Jessie go with them. Megan was curious about how this was all going to turn out and whispered to Jessie that she’d better not chicken out before pushing her friend out of the front door.
Jessie rode with Jax this time on a bike Jessie couldn’t identify but it looked like the typical biker’s bike to her, even if she didn’t know what the insignia meant. Jax had the same kind of helmets as Liam and they spent the ride talking about him, Jessie insisting he stop making her talk about herself.
“I don’t think I know what you do for a living, Jax.” Jessie thought to ask.
“I was a fireman, I worked over in the city, but I left that when my father passed away and left me his bike shop. This bike is one of his creations.” Jax told her, and Jessie was stunned.
“Wow, you create machines like this? That is awesome. And you were a fireman. Wow, hats off to you Jax, you’ve lived an interesting life so far.”
“It pays the bills.” He said without giving away that his business was one of the most profitable on the east coast and had netted him a rather large bank account.
They drove out of the city and into the countryside, the summer air cooling the heat from the pavement of the road. Jessie loved the exhilaration of being on a bike and watched the scenery going by. Before long they pulled off at a farm and drove back into a long stretch of woods to the farmhouse.
“This is our friend Jakes place. I guess to an outsider, we kind of look like a gang but it’s really just a group of us that get together from time to time. Keeping it closed keeps people from peeking in, asking questions about what we’re doing. Nothing illegal, mind, just things we’d like to keep to ourselves.”
Billionaire Retreat Page 46
