What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 8)

by Sabrina York

  “At least for the time being,” added Ed, from across the room, presiding over the drinks tray.

  For the time being?

  Trying to suppress her quivers, Laurie looked at her left hand and realized she was still clutching the bottle, a bit like a protective talisman. “Maybe we could have some of this?”

  “Good idea. Thanks for bringing it. You’re very thoughtful, Laurie.” Denny took the bottle from her, almost having to prize it from her fingers because she was still processing the implications of “For the time being”. He strolled across to Ed and set it on the tray while his lover did the honors with highball glasses, ice, and slices of lime.

  “Rum and Coke?” enquired Ed.

  “Yes, please!”

  A shot of rum was just what she needed; anything to settle her nerves a bit. She was feeling quite giddy from the sight of so much raw male pulchritude, and the transition from last night, which still felt like something she’d imagined, to tonight, which was oh-so real. As the two men stood by the cabinet, it was all she could do not to ogle them and wish she had X-ray vision so that she could admire them as if they were standing there naked, as they’d done last night.

  Laurie stole a glance at the innocuous woven rug on which they must have been standing for their performance, and then flipped back to the men. Even in their clothes they were devastating. Ed’s legs were long and lean in close-cut denim, and Denny’s ass was a poem of spectacular desirability beneath the creamy linen of his trousers.

  “Here you go.” He handed her the tall, generously proportioned drink on his return, as Ed took up station in the planter’s chair, just a couple of feet away, at her other side. “Chin-chin!” He clinked his glass to hers as Ed raised his in affirmation.

  “Here’s to a happy holiday.”

  Momentarily, Laurie felt as chilled as the icy drink. It seemed stupid to think of what might have been, in such warm, sexy company, but she couldn’t help herself. To cover her pang of angst, she took a sip from her drink. It was strong, but a delicious balance of spirit and mixer, just the job.

  But meeting Denny’s eye, she saw he was frowning, concern writ large across his heavenly features. He wasn’t a fool, he’d seem her sad little twist, and as she glanced across at Ed his expression was an echo.

  “Are you OK, Laurie?” Ed asked, “I know it’s a bit weird, us all being together here, after what happened last night. But I swear, last night was last night, and tonight is tonight. There’s no pressure. We don’t even have to mention it any more if you’re uncomfortable. We can just hang out, eat some good food, and then maybe go for a stroll on the beach?”

  “Yeah, just three new friends, hanging out on holiday, simple as that.” Denny laid a hand lightly on her arm as he spoke.

  But it wasn’t simple, and in a flash vision, she suddenly saw that hand on his own flesh, caressing, laced with Ed’s, and flexing, flexing, flexing. At the same time, she desperately wanted Denny’s hand upon her own body, moving and exploring in intimacy. It didn’t matter that they were patently gay, she couldn’t help desiring them. Both of them.

  “I’m fine, thanks… both of you.” She turned from one to the other, enjoying the little squeeze Denny gave her forearm before releasing her. It seemed strangely filial almost. “And weirdly, despite everything, I feel quite relaxed here with you.” She smiled at both of them, aware that she was beginning to loosen up. “Although that might just be Ed’s demon interpretation of rum and Coke… Phew!”

  “There’s plenty more where that came from. We’ve got a few bottles of this and that in reserve,” Ed said roundly.

  Laurie sipped her drink, eyeing them both. For a moment or two, there seemed to be no need to speak while they all enjoyed the killer cocktails. Just as Laurie was feeling she should open the conversation, there was a knock on the door and their buffet meal arrived.

  Chat, over food that was just as delicious as predicted, was light and strangely innocuous. They discussed the resort, the beaches, and Denny’s first forays into scuba-diving, which apparently hadn’t exactly been all that accomplished.

  “He swims like a baby hippo with the tanks on,” teased Ed, but Denny seemed unfazed and laughed it off, saying he had other talents.

  You certainly do.

  Laurie stole a glance at the golden boy out of the corner of her eye, imagining him naked and writhing again. When she flicked a look to Ed, she could almost believe he was thinking the same thing himself, his eyes were so intent on his partner.

  The evening sped on, becoming more relaxed and easy, despite the slow simmer of confused desire Laurie felt. The men seemed to know that she didn’t want to talk about the reason she was here in this romantic place, all alone in a Cabana appointed for two. Instead they launched into their own lives, telling her all about who they were, what they did.

  Good grief, not only brawn and beauty, but brains too.

  Laurie was slightly awestruck. Both her new friends were scientists, quite eminent by the sound of it, but in entirely different fields. Ed’s research specialty was climate studies, with a particular interest in long term weather patterns, global warming and other issues; while Denny was a leading volcanologist. Laurie actually fancied she’d seen him on the television, interviewed when there’d been a large eruption. His hair had been much shorter, and the clip had been barely seconds, but thinking back, she was sure it’d been him.

  “That’s why we’re here, really,” he said, swirling his glass as they touched on field work. He was drinking water now, Laurie noticed. Did he think that he needed a clear head for something? “We’ve been loafing around in colleges and cozy cloistered seats of learning long enough, so now we’re both going out in the field. This is a last hedonistic holiday for a while, a chance to have some fun together before we head off to the ends of the earth, in different directions.”

  Ed shrugged, quirking his lips. “Well, not quite the opposite ends, but near enough. Denny’s off to Indonesia to study his pet volcanoes there, and I’m away to Antarctica at the end of October, to monitor the ozone layer amongst other things.”

  “Bloody hell! Antarctica? No wonder you wanted some late season Caribbean sun.” Laurie stared at him, trying to see him with a bushy beard and bundled up in multiple layers of insulated parka, looking like a sexy Ernest Shackleton. It was difficult; she still kept seeing him naked. “And I suppose half way up the side of volcano in Indonesia isn’t a bed of roses either.”

  “No, it can get a bit hairy, sometimes, close to something active,” admitted Denny.

  They were back in the conversation area now, with her and Denny sharing the settee again. She’d noticed that contrary to her expectations, having seen Ed taking charge last night, the blond was the ever so slightly dominant persona, in conversation at least. Ed seemed content to be quieter, listening and watching shrewdly while almost basking in the golden glow of his stunning partner.

  “So how long will you both be away for?” She glanced from one to the other, and caught a look passing between them. It was fleeting, but also telling. They cared deeply for each other and it was going to be hard to be apart.

  “Well, Denny’s off for five months and me just for four.” Ed swirled his drink in his glass. “I’m looking forward to it, professionally speaking, but it’s going to be tough without sex for all those months.” He case Laurie a seductive glance. “I’ll just have to rely on being absorbed in the work… and internet chats and my good right hand.”

  Laurie’s blushes had settled during their over dinner conversation, but now, instantly, she was glowing again. Especially when Denny added, “His very good right hand.”

  “Um… yes, it must be difficult when you’re established couple,” she observed, at a bit of a loss. The looks being exchanged between the two men were sultrier now, and Denny had this particular quirk of running his tongue over his bottom lip that was doing devilish things to her libido. It was crazy, but still, she couldn’t help herself. “Do you… do you live togeth
er?”

  “Part of the time,” said Denny, returning his attention to her, “We have a place in London, that’s near to my college… and Ed commutes and we spend weekends together. A good thing too. Because if we lived together all the time we’d probably spend far too much time shagging and never get any work done.”

  “Er… yes,” was all she could manage.

  “Pack it in, Den… you’re embarrassing our guest,” chided Ed, although his eyes were sparkling as he spoke. No doubt eager to get to the shagging.

  “It’s okay. No harm done… although maybe I should be on my way. I’m a bit tired.”

  Chicken! Scaredy cat!

  But even as she chastised herself, Denny shot out a hand and prevented her from rising.

  “Don’t go, Laurie… please.” His eyes were clear and blue, and the request seemed genuine. “Tell us about you. What’s your story?”

  Ah, the crunch. She’d known it would come and here it was.

  “There’s nothing much to tell you, really. I’m an office manager, working in a boring office for a boring firm. I don’t do anything exciting or valuable to society. I’m twenty seven… but… well, at the moment I feel old as Methuselah and about as interesting. No special hobbies, except reading and sometimes I do a bit of sketching. I like art.”

  She was babbling, and avoiding the issue. Ed clearly knew that, because he leant forward in his chair, his warm brown eyes intent. “What are you doing here, Laurie? It’s not usually the sort of place where a woman, or a man for that matter, holidays alone.”

  To her horror, Laurie’s eyes started to water, and a strange wobbly feeling gripped her. If it hadn’t been for Denny’s gentle hold on her arm, which seemed to be supplying strength directly into her bloodstream, she might have had dizzy turn. She squared her shoulders, blinked, and mentally braced up.

  “I’m on my honeymoon, actually.”

  Both men had the grace to look taken aback. Denny blinked. “But… don’t you need a husband for that? Where is he?”

  Laurie took a big breath. She felt oxygen starved. “I don’t have a husband. I nearly did have one… but the guy I was engaged to told me he was going to marry his pregnant girlfriend. And he waited until two weeks before our wedding to inform me of th… that!” Her lip quivered. She fought to control it, but it was getting hopeless. “So there you are. I’m honeymooning alone because it was too late for a refund. And I’ve left that bastard to make the arrangements for selling our house and sorting out everything else. To hell with him!”

  It’d been more superficially civilized than that, but Laurie didn’t care how it sounded. The grief and anguish and shock broke over her all over again like a great wave crashing over the white beach just a couple of hundred yards away. She began to gulp and sniff and sob, and descend into being a complete mess, longing for the ground to open up, allow her to drop in, and cover her up again.

  She was a pond of shame and distress, isolated by her state of rejection. Until Denny’s warm, white-clad arms folded around her, and she found herself clasped against his firm chest and enveloped in a delicious cloud of his spicy male cologne. Even as she still gulped and sobbed, she was aware of Ed swiftly crossing the gap between his chair and the sofa, and dropping his knees in front of her. While Denny hugged her, his lover stroked her back and her forearm in a slow, soothing rhythm.

  Laurie had no idea how long they rocked and comforted her. It could have been minutes; it could have been hours. She only knew that their attention, even just their presence, was far more of a panacea than the commiserations of her girlfriends had been, and even gentler and more tender than the response of her family.

  Enclosed in a circle of warmth and silent understanding created by two virtual strangers, she suddenly felt the ice shell she’d formed round her heart starting to melt. A carapace she had barely been aware of, that she’d erected to keep herself sane, but which she suddenly realized that she didn’t need as much. Not now.

  “What a despicable, idiotic plonker,” growled Denny, breaking the silence, “How the hell could he do that to a gorgeous woman like you?”

  Laurie laughed, and dabbed at her eyes with her free hand. The one Ed wasn’t caressing.

  “He is… yes, he is a despicable idiotic plonker, you’re right there.”

  “Exactly,” concurred Ed, “And he doesn’t deserve a woman like you. You’re obviously far better off without him.”

  They were just being nice, but still it felt good. The way they spoke of her, describing her as gorgeous, made her spirits soar.

  Settling down, she found herself smiling. “It’s funny… the way you two call me ‘gorgeous’ and all. Surely you really think that… well… you each think the other is gorgeous, not some leftover woman who blunders in and makes an exhibition of herself?”

  Denny took her by the shoulders and set her a little away from him, staring into her eyes with his, that were as clear and blue as the beautiful skies outside were at midday. Ed took her hand very firmly, and when she stole a quick glance at him too, his eyes were very intent.

  “Newsflash, beautiful Laurie,” said Denny gently. Then he leant forward and pressed a quick light kiss to her lips. As their mouths made contact, Ed’s thumb stroked against her palm, just as lightly, “Just because Ed and I are together, and we share a sexual relationship, it doesn’t mean that we’re not attracted to women sometimes too.” He kissed her again, and this time, simultaneously, Ed kissed the palm of her hand. “And we especially like sexy women who aren’t afraid to join in when we’re playing a little game.” His eyes flirted briefly to the spot on the rug where he and Ed had stood last night, joined.

  “Especially nice women who’ve been done over by bastards and who deserve a bit of fun and sexual pampering to take their mind off things…” It was Ed now, and he punctuated his observation by slowly licking the palm of Laurie’s hand in a way that left no doubt what he was mimicking.

  Between her legs, a pulse of desire woke and fluttered. In her chest, there was a commotion in her heart, a tilt-a-whirl of wonder and anticipation.

  This is it. This is it.

  Even after last night, she’d not believed anything could happen with these two. A part of her mind still didn’t quite believe last night had been real.

  But it had been real, and this was too. She could feel the touch of Ed’s nimble tongue; and see the mind-bending blue of Denny’s eyes. “Do you dare?” he said soft and low, inflected with challenge.

  It was the tipping point. She could draw back now, and just go. They’d understand her reticence, and think, well, just another shy girl who isn’t quite up for it, no problem, maybe we’ll find someone else.

  Or she could stay, plunge in, and give herself over to them and whatever they wanted to do with her. They seemed decent guys, the type that wouldn’t really hurt her. But still, but still.

  Denny eased her closer to him, taking her mouth again, using a kiss as the challenge this time, inviting her to respond.

  Laurie hadn’t really had a lot of sex before. There’d been Jim, obviously, but regardless of whether he was randy as a goat with Melanie, he’d seemed almost under-sexed with her—and definitely not that imaginative. Before him there’d been two or three boyfriends over the space of her adult life, all of them seeming like a serious thing at the time, but later fizzling out. And in each instance, she’d not really been to cut up about it, not from a sex point of view. With Jim, she’d been fond of him, and somehow bewitched by the idea of something permanent and lasting, and the idea of being in love rather than actually feeling it. So she’d overlooked the shortcomings that now seemed so obvious.

  But this was completely different. A desire and an adventure she’d never be able to overlook or forget. If only she had the boldness to reach out and grab it.

  Do you dare?

  Yes, I do! I do!

  Reaching up, she dug her fingers into Denny’s silky curls, and opened her mouth to his, meeting his tongue when it plunged in,
warm and hungry.

  Yes! Not two but three silent voices seemed to chorus the word; those of the men, cheering her on, and her own inner voice proud of her own courage.

  Denny kissed hard, kissed hungry, kissed dominant. Again, savoring his onslaught, Laurie almost wanted to laugh at the misleading quality of appearances. His fey, pale clothes and golden looks concealed the heart of a predator, and even the fact that he’d “received” last night probably only meant he’d demanded that his partner service his needs.

  He held on tight to her, a hand at the nape of her neck, another on her shoulder, making her accept his kiss in a thrilling, primal way. He tasted of wine and honey and new beginnings.

  And all the time, Ed was at work too, at first gently kissing her hand as if it were a holy artifact, but then, suddenly, on the move. As Denny kissed and subdued her, Ed began exploring. Still kneeling, he settled his hands on her thighs, one each, on the outside surfaces, slowly sliding them upwards, then down again, and then up, tantalizing her. Laurie sighed into Denny’s mouth, feeling the urge to open her legs, and lift her bottom, to allow Ed more access.

  “Good girl,” whispered Denny, his lips starting to roam too, as he gently pushed her so she was leaning against the woven back of the settee. He kissed her brow, her cheek, and a sensitive spot beneath her ear, then tracked down the side of her neck, on and on down until he nipped at a spot just above her collarbone. As his sharp teeth plagued her, Ed’s hands were down below, sliding between her thighs, urging her to open her legs, and to open her heart and self to the pair of them.

  “Relax,” urged Denny, still nibbling. Laurie could feel his fingers at work at the nape of her neck, then before she had time to stop him—not that she wanted to—he unfastened her halter top. Peeling it down, he exposed her breasts in her flimsy strapless bra.