Triple Booked

by Mardi Ballou

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Triple Booked

  ISBN 9781419912979

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Triple Booked Copyright© 2007 Mardi Ballou

  Edited by Nicholas Conrad.

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Electronic book Publication October 2007

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Triple Booked

  Mardi Ballou

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Givenchy: Hubert de Givenchy, Inc.

  VW: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

  Three of Pentacles

  The Three of Pentacles is one of the few tarot cards that focuses not on an individual but on a group. The card usually depicts a sculptor or craftsman at work in a monastery while a monk and another person (often a nun or another monk) look on.

  In a reading, the Three of Pentacles is indicative of teamwork, competence and planning. It signifies artistic ability, mastery, perfection, dignity, practicality and skill. Reversed, the card’s negative aspects are exposed—sloppiness, lack of creativity, preoccupation, and mediocrity.

  Ultimately, the Three of Pentacles is about the completion of creative ventures and the beginning of creative partnerships.

  Chapter One

  “Drink up. I understand your assignment takes you to America—far from me.” Alex Rapsos accepted a goblet of dark red wine from his fellow supplicant and former lover, Demetrios.

  Alex looked up into the achingly blue sky and prepared to bid both Demetrios and the island paradise farewell. Under the powerful Mediterranean sun, the Order of the Dionysian Oracle Mages maintained the sacred flame sparked by their pleasure-loving ancestor. To them fell the awesome responsibility of keeping alive the spirit of sensuous delight in a world that often threatened disapproval and even destruction to the devotees.

  The Order had called the sumptuous Isle of Manikis home since their origin millennia before. Alex, like Demetrios, had reached the final stage of his initiation, the last supplicant step. After each completed his final mission, he would be eligible to assume the full range of powers the Mages exercised. Alex’s challenge was to convince preordained messengers to spread the word of Dionysus in the greater world.

  “In the morning I’m going to America, land of my birth. Though I hate to leave our island, it will be good to reconnect with my roots there. But I wish you could go with me.” Alex drank deeply of the wine and savored the moment as he prepared to leave. Fortunately, every step on the path to becoming a full Dionysian Oracle Mage involved refinements of pleasure.

  Demetrios watched his every move like a cat.

  “Where does your mission send you, Demetrios?”

  “To the Land of the Pyramids, not very far. But what a waste of magnificent scenery not to have a lover with me as I navigate the Nile.”

  The ferocity in Demetrios’ voice and the possessiveness he expressed startled Alex. After all, the sensuous attraction that once drew them together had long burned out and there were no more real ties. There couldn’t—shouldn’t—be any. “You will have a lover. Two. Connecting with the key contacts and bonding with them is essential.”

  Demetrios shrugged. “Yes. Essential. But how can that compare with life on this island? Sometimes I wish we could become cloistered.”

  Wanting to defuse the inappropriate tension of the moment, Alex laughed. “Shutting ourselves away would contradict our quest, though I understand your regrets. After all, how could we not miss the Mages and the island?”

  Disappointment flashed in Demetrios’ eyes. “You make it sound so impersonal.” He laid a hand on Alex’s shoulder.

  “As we’ve been taught we should in preparation for the last step.” Though Demetrios’ hand felt too proprietary, Alex let it remain on his shoulder for now. He hoped the other man wasn’t losing his edge at this late stage. Over the centuries, the followers of Dionysus had often been forced to keep their existence and practices secret or risk destruction. In the contemporary world, their main challenge was to keep the flame of sacred pleasure burning. “I’m concerned about the tight deadline we both must meet.”

  “The influence of the modern world, these pressures of time. But I am sure you will have no difficulty finding the necessary lovers.” Demetrios grinned wolfishly. “Tell me how you plan to carry out your assignment. I understand you have been studying Tarot.”

  Finally the conversation was going in a more comfortable direction. “Yes. In my meditation, I saw a Tarot card, the Three of Pentacles, which will serve as my contact point.”

  “Sounds promising.”

  “Maybe. Do you ever wonder, Demetrios, if there’s something missing?”

  “Such as?”

  “I don’t know. Something bigger, something more fundamental—” Alex was rarely at a loss for words.

  “Bigger than the primacy of pleasure and the power of the Dionysian mages?” Demetrios’ mouth quirked into a cynical smile. “Alex, what do you dream of that’s even grander?”

  Alex shrugged. “I don’t know. But maybe now I’ll find it.”

  “Maybe we both will.” They finished their wine.

  * * * * *

  After an unusually long show of restraint, Jade Flint finally grabbed Gabe Corelli’s penis. She bit it hard—and moaned as the dark chocolate shell gave way, allowing thick vanilla custard filling to spurt into her mouth. Then she slowly licked the last drop off her full red lips.

  “That’s it,” Gabe rasped, “we are getting out of here now.” Watching her scarf down the candy—from his goodie bag, for cryin’ out loud—was the last straw. If he didn’t get down and dirty with her soon, his throbbing erection—the one that had been trapped in his pants all night—might blast them both out of the room.

  Jade, who’d been eyeing his crotch since before she ate the treat, raised a perfectly arched brow. As soon as he got her where he wanted her, he’d fuck her until she howled at the nearly full moon and every planet and star in the universe.

  “I promised Maura we’d hang around ‘til after the party and help her clean up.” She winked at him. “Looking at this crowd, I’d say it’ll be a late night.”

  He cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her face so they were eye to eye. Her green eyes brimmed with laughter and lust, turning him on still more. Even after they’d been together more than three years, the sight of her beautiful face, the long black curls cascading down her perfect back, her rounded curves just made for love derailed his thought processes. “Make her another promise,” he growled.

  “But there’s also someone she wants us to meet. About our writing.”

  “She can give him our business card.” Gabe couldn’t wait much longer, and he knew Jade couldn’t either. That was one of the infinite number of things he liked—loved—about her.

  “There you are.” Maura Fox, their hostess, came over and took them each by the hand. “I’ve been hunting for you two for ages. Jade, that guy I told you about is here, and you’ve gotta meet him.”

  Gabe groaned inwardly. When Maura got people into her clutches, a speedy exit became next to impossible. Usually, he enjoyed challenges, but a man with a serious hard-on had limits. “We’d love to, Maura, but we just got a cal
l. Upstairs neighbor’s tub overflowed. Now there’s a flood in our apartment. If we don’t rescue our computer, we can say arrivederci to six months’ writing.”

  Jade looked at him as if he’d just sprouted a second head, and Maura let loose with a string of loud guffaws. “Oh, Gabe. No wonder you’re such a great writer—the way you can make up stories on the spot. Now you two come along with me. I want to introduce you to Alex.” She stopped. “I did read your Tarot cards already, right?”

  Gabe rolled his eyes. Maura always had a theme for her parties, and tonight’s was Let Me Read Your Card. Every goodie bag contained one Tarot card, which Maura would interpret for the recipient. Whatever. Gabe had no idea where his bag went after Jade appropriated all the chocolate. Frankly, he didn’t give a damn.

  “You haven’t read mine.” Jade produced her bag and handed the other woman an oversized card.

  “But this is great,” Maura gushed.

  Since Maura got excited about everything from the patterns on tissue boxes to finding a new man, Gabe didn’t take her enthusiasm too seriously.

  “Really? What is the card? What does it mean?”

  Gabe knew Jade didn’t buy into the Tarot bullshit, so he figured she was just humoring their friend.

  “This,” Maura bubbled, “is the Three of Pentacles. You see the three people in the picture? They’re involved in a project together, a work project.”

  Jade squinted at the picture while Gabe, practically gritting his teeth, prayed for them to finish yakking so he and Jade could get the hell out of… He smirked as inspiration struck. “Did you say Three of Testicles?”

  Maura rolled her eyes. “Pentacles, Gabe. Pentacles. Get your mind out of your pants.”

  “Man’s other head…” he started. He wished Jade would chime in, make some comment to show she was paying attention to him. But she was staring at the card.

  “It looks like they’re building something, consulting plans,” she observed in her exploring-the-museum voice.

  Maura nodded energetically. “The first meaning of the card is great skill in work or trade. This tells me you’re very good at what you do—not that I need a card to tell me you’re a great writer. You and your partner.”

  Jade was now fully focused on Maura. Though Gabe always paid attention when anyone talked about their work, right now his hard-on screamed for priority. Immediately. “Sounds wonderful, Maura. Thanks for the brilliant interpretation. We really have to go.”

  “No, I want to hear more.” Jade just wasn’t getting it.

  Maura’s grin grew even wider. “This card is perfect because it also means artistic ability—which you two have in spades. And there’s mastery and perfection. This is an amazing card for you to get.”

  “Yeah, we’re great. You know it, I know it. So how come we’re not rich and famous?” Jade’s brow furrowed.

  Gabe winced. He hated that he and Jade still lived in a crummy little apartment furnished in poverty-stricken grad school style, eating store-brand pasta several nights a week. Talk about a mood-breaker. His erection deflated back to neutral.

  “It’s coming.”

  I’m sure not, Gabe thought.

  Maura droned on. “Renown and Rank—those mean fame. Power and Dignity—heck, that means you’re going to be rich. Oh Jade, Gabe, I’m so happy for you!” She congratulated them as if it were a done deal. A realist at heart, Gabe knew how much actually separated them from achieving their dreams.

  For once, Jade was speechless, her face aglow with hope.

  Just then a tall, swarthy guy who needed a shave and a haircut broke into their little circle and put his hands on Maura’s plump shoulders.

  She practically purred as she took him by the hand. “Oh, Alex, here you are. Now I can introduce you to Jade and Gabe. Alex is also a writer, and he’s really interested in talking to you about your work.”

  “Alex Rapsos.” The shaggy-haired guy looked like he’d just stepped off the plane from some Greek isle. He was staring hard at Jade, as if they were the only two people at the party. Gabe stepped between them.

  “Gabe Corelli.” Rapsos gripped his extended hand with I want to break your bones and send you to the emergency room intensity. Gabe gripped back even harder. The handshake ended in a draw.

  Jade reached over Gabe. “Jade Flint.” She held out her hand, which Rapsos shook—obviously not inducing pain because she kept smiling. “What do you write, Alex?”

  “Love in its infinite varieties—the elixir of the gods. The mysteries of Dionysus.”

  Gabe yawned. He despised spouters of bullshit. “Bacchus,” he spat out.

  Rapsos’ lips curled in a tasting-lemons pucker. “Ah, yes. The later name for Dionysus, when the Romans took over and diluted the original myth.”

  “The Romans never diluted anything. They took base, raw material and raised it to a pinnacle of greatness.”

  “We can debate that point later. Let’s talk about your writing first.” Though Gabe expected Rapsos to speak with a thick foreign accent, his oral roots came directly from the borough of Queens. Rapsos bared his teeth in what he may have considered a smile.

  “Whatever.” Gabe yawned. “Jade and I have plans for tonight, and we’re already late.” Gabe stressed the words “Jade and I” and “late”.

  Jade started to say something, then looked as if she’d finally arrived on the same page as Gabe. Better late than never.

  “Maybe you can hang out for a few minutes. Be fashionably late to the next place and all that. It’s New York, after all.” Rapsos was still focused on Jade.

  Geez, what was wrong with this guy? Gabe managed to sound polite only because he didn’t want Jade bending his ear later with one of her lectures.

  Fortunately, his lady backed him up. Finally. She flashed her million-watt smile. “Sorry, Alex. It won’t work for us to talk tonight. But I’ll give you our business card. You can call or email tomorrow. We’ll set something up.” She sounded so damned sincere.

  Shit. All Gabe wanted to exchange with this guy were the words “good” and “bye”. But he knew Jade had a soft spot for writer wannabes, so he’d have to let her give him the card. With any luck, Rapsos would lose it.

  Except by the way Rapsos clutched the card, Gabe knew he wouldn’t.

  “I still haven’t read your Tarot card, Gabe, or yours, Alex,” Maura said.

  “Go ahead and read Alex’s, Maura. Jade and I have to go.”

  “You can’t leave before I read your card, Gabe. It’s the high point of the night.” Maura pouted.

  “I’ll take a rain check. Great party, but Jade and I really have to go, as in we should have left half an hour ago.” He hugged her, then stood by and watched as she and Jade exchanged air kisses.

  “I’ll call, first thing in the morning. Right after the cock crows.” Rapsos spoke directly to Jade.

  Gabe mentally rolled his eyes. “Not too early. Jade and I like to sleep in.” He didn’t add the word together—at least not out loud. Though Rapsos might not be the sharpest blade at the ice rink, even he had to know two was company.

  Satisfied that he got the last word in, Gabe steered Jade to the door.

  * * * * *

  “Talk about unfriendly,” Jade complained as Gabe practically dragged her the five blocks to where he’d parked their ancient VW. It wouldn’t have killed them to spend a few minutes at the party talking to Alex Rapsos, who seemed really sincere about connecting with them as writers. It hadn’t been so long since she and Gabe had been wannabes. “And what’s with all the macho ancient Roman posturing? You sound like your uncle Giuseppe.”

  Gabe scowled. “That guy started it with his Dionysus crap.”

  “I found his ideas kind of interesting.”

  “Well, go read up on your newcomers’ guide to Bullfinch, but let’s not encourage this guy. You know what pains these wannabes can be. The ones who want us to help them find an agent or an editor. Or they mention an idea for a story with an eye to suing our asses late
r.”

  Sometimes Gabe could be so insensitive. “There’s nothing he said that should get your potential lawsuit dander up. Besides, you know writers are readers, too. Could be a fan or a reviewer.”

  Gabe unlocked the door, held it open and waited ‘til she’d buckled up before he closed it. She adored Gabe’s gentlemanly gestures. It would be easy to take them for granted, but she didn’t because she loved him. He could be as annoying as hell when he got possessive and bossy, and the encounter with Alex had brought those traits out in full force. But heck, usually even his annoying traits endeared him to her. Okay, she had it bad.

  “Nah, he’s not a reviewer or we’d have heard of him. As for high-maintenance fans who stalk us, you know my opinion of them.” After Gabe stomped around to the driver’s side, got in and started up the car, he added, “I don’t know why you gave him our card. With any luck, the guy won’t call.”

  Remembering how Alex had looked at her, how hungry he’d seemed for contact with fellow writers, Jade shook her head. “I expect he’ll call.”

  “Well, then whoever answers should get rid of him.”

  “I disagree. He might have something worthwhile to say, and we’ll never know if we just cut him off without listening. Even if all we end up getting out of it is helping a newbie.”

  Gabe snorted, then went into a stony silence that lasted until they got to their apartment. For once, Jade allowed the silence to continue. Yeah, she’d found Alex disturbing, maybe a little too much in the hyperawareness of a sexy-guy way. But Gabe was the love of her life. She’d never do anything to hurt their relationship, and she knew Gabe would not take kindly to her paying extra attention to another man. She didn’t blame him there. She would not appreciate having to deal with her guy developing wandering eye syndrome.

  Once inside their cozy quarters—an optimistically labeled living room and bedroom, a kitchenette and minuscule bath—Jade gave a brief thought to redecorating with style to maximize the place’s limited potential. Look what Maura had accomplished with little more actual space. But her work with Gabe seemed to absorb all of Jade’s creative energy…