by Aubrey Rose
Going left, she walked into the brightly lit shop, the sweet smell of chocolate and vanilla filling her senses. Oh, and coffee. Inhaling deeply, she thought a tall cup of iced java would be perfect right about now. The interior walls were the same aged brick as the outside of the building, and it gave the place a cozy feeling. The couch and overstuffed chairs at the far end of the room looked comfortable and inviting. This place seemed perfect for her grandmother, and Jayde would have enjoyed seeing her here. She traced her fingertips along one of the glass cases, admiring the nostalgic look that had been preserved despite the newness of the fixtures. Tears welled in her eyes as the responsibility of it all overwhelmed her. This wasn’t supposed to happen like this.
Her head pounded with the beginnings of a migraine as she tossed her bags on one of the chairs and took a seat on the couch. Looking at the empty glass cases around the room, she could imagine them filled with her grandmother’s candy and treats. Her talent in the kitchen had been legendary, and Jayde had always enjoyed her fudge the best. While the quiet comforted her, the emptiness of the room left her adrift, wishing to see her gran come through the kitchen door to smile and chastise her for being away for so long. Tears pooled in her eyes and threatened to fall down her cheeks. She fingered the stone between her breasts, taking strength from it, willing a calm she desperately needed to flow over her.
Stretching out on the couch, her skirt riding up her plump thighs, she rested her head on one of the pillows and shut her eyes in an attempt to block out the bright light. She just wanted to lie here for a while and relax. She had all the time in the world to deal with it all, because she had nothing to get back to. Her life had miraculously crumbled to mere dust just in time for this mess...
* * * * *
Marc stood propped against the wall right inside the doorway, watching Jayde sleep. She was everything he had imagined and more. Footfalls sounded on the steps leading to the bakery, and when Aidan came through the entrance, Marc grabbed his arm to get his attention. He placed his finger against his mouth and indicated for Aidan to stay quiet, before pointing to her sleeping form on the far couch.
Aidan turned in her direction, his straight black hair settling around his shoulders. “Is she okay?”
“I think she’s just sleeping.”
“Is it her? The one we were expecting?”
“I think so. She matches the vision I had of her, as well as the picture we found on Katriona’s nightstand. And the energy in the room matches what I’ve been sensing for hours now.”
“She’s even more beautiful than I expected.”
Marc froze, momentarily speechless at the longing that vibrated from Aidan when he spoke. “Getting to know her should be a very interesting experience.” He moved farther into the room to get a better look.
His gaze was drawn to the glow of her skin. Her beautiful face had softened in sleep, and she had a mass of fiery curls that surrounded her head. But it was the fair, smooth skin that called out to him to touch her. To taste her. Katriona had certainly sent quite a woman to tempt him, that was for sure.
Marc bent down and touched her cheek.
Her eyes flew open, and she gasped. “What the—”
“It’s okay, Jayde; you’re safe.”
She sputtered awake, struggling her way to a sitting position, attempting to pull down her skirt. It had ridden up in her sleep, revealing the sky blue panties she wore underneath. The sexy silk had his gaze riveted to the spot between her legs.
“Who...? What...?” She closed her eyes and inhaled before continuing. “How did you know my name?”
Marc rested a hand on her shoulder. “My name is Marc, and this is Aidan. We live on the third floor. We’ve been tenants of your grandmother for some time.”
“Oh...oh of course.” She stood and smoothed down her clothes and her long mane of deep red curls. A faint blush tinted her cheeks, enhancing her natural glow. He imagined those long fingers touching his body or Aidan’s. He bit back a groan at that, and in the light of the sunset, her head looked as if flames surrounded it. Beautiful.
She tugged at the edge of her blouse, pulling it over the rounded, sexy curve of her belly, and ended up revealing the deep cleavage of her breasts. Nestled between them was the blue moonstone he and Aidan had been searching for all these months.
His back stiffened. Katriona had said that it was hidden in a safe place, but this—this was not safe at all.
“That’s a beautiful gem you have there, Jayde.”
Her hand flew to the chain and lifted the stone, rubbing the smooth surface between her fingers. “Thank you.”
The husky tone of her voice sounded like sleep and sex. It made him want to get to know her a whole lot better. First things first. He had to know if she had any idea of the danger she toyed with.
“Where did you get it? If you don’t mind my asking.”
She stared at him with her deep green eyes, a shadow of distrust touching her face. He could almost see her processing his question and trying to come up with why he was so curious about it.
“It was in my grandmother’s safe-deposit box. Although I don’t understand at all why she hid away such a beautiful necklace. I couldn’t resist putting it on.” The way she continued to finger the stone had him worried. Every passing second changed the energy around them. Surely she sensed it.
Aidan cleared his throat behind her. She jumped like a scared rabbit, letting the stone fall back between the most breathtaking cleavage he’d seen and breaking the spell between them. She nibbled on her bottom lip.
“I’m sorry about your grandmother, Jayde,” he offered. “We both cared for her very much.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t look at him when she said it, and instead began gathering her things. “If you two will excuse me, I need to get changed and get a feel for the place a little. It’s been a long day, and I’m not feeling all that sociable at the moment. You don’t mind, do you?”
“No, of course not. Please let us know if we can be of any help. Miss Katriona is going to be missed.”
“Thank you.” She grabbed up the last of her belongings and headed out of the shop and up the stairs to her grandmother’s apartment, now hers. He watched every step, unable to take his eyes off her curves until she disappeared from sight.
“What are we going to do now?” Aidan asked. “We need to get that necklace from her before it’s too late.”
“There’s not much time. I can already feel it working.” Marc nodded absently as he rubbed the front of his jeans, trying to adjust himself to ease the ache for her in his groin. Normally, the instant attraction he’d felt for her could easily be explained by simple attraction for a beautiful woman. He and Aidan were extremely sexual on a good day. This however, felt different. Just as Katriona had tried to warn them. They had more than one issue to deal with.
“You felt it too, huh? Any chance it’s just a side effect from the stone?”
Marc cocked his eyebrow in response. “You know better than that. We’re immune to the stone, but not the woman who wears it, obviously.”
Aidan looked down at Marc’s crotch and smiled at the erection plainly visible through his thin pants. “She really got to you.”
“I know you’re not mocking me, you look to be in the same condition.” Marc stepped forward, and Aidan took a step back. “She got you hard too. Why?”
“Did you see her? So lush...so much energy surrounding her. I’m not sure what I expected, but the reality is fucking potent.”
The deep tone of Aidan’s voice told him more than words ever could. He took a few more steps, and Aidan backed up. The man’s eyes glinted with lust. He liked it when Marc stalked him like this. Tonight Marc would take what he wanted and share a pleasure neither of them would be forgetting anytime soon, while Jayde slept in the apartment across the hall...
Aidan’s back hit the wall.
Those sexy lips sent a sizzle of need to where Marc’s cock throbbed against his zipper.
Marc leered at him and slapped his hands on the wall on each side of Aidan’s head. “I know you don’t want to get away.”
“No.” Aidan’s voice came out a husky whisper, the sound of a man on the edge of desire and dying for more.
“What do you think of the fact that Jayde got me horny as hell? Or the fact that I’d be upstairs fucking the both of you right now if I could?”
Aidan’s eyes darkened, and his breathing kicked up a notch. Marc knew it wasn’t jealousy that had him excited. Oh no, just the opposite. They’d been waiting a long time for this day. When the woman who would be theirs to protect showed up.
“Tell me what you want right now.”
Aidan hesitated. The man knew how to push every fucking button Marc had, the ones that would draw out his dominance.
“Say it.”
“I want you,” Aidan growled.
“Liar. You want Jayde, don’t you?” Marc leaned his hips forward, rubbing his cock against Aidan’s.
“Is that what you really think? Or do you already know that we’ll both have her...soon?”
The delicious friction had him inhaling sharply, but it was Aidan who reached for him first, his hand wedging between their bodies to rub Marc’s erection through his pants.
At the simple touch, he jerked in Aidan’s hand and hissed. “On your knees. Now.”
Aidan smiled and slid to the floor, a look of eager anticipation on his face. He made quick work of unfastening Marc’s belt and sliding the zipper down to free him, but when his large hand encircled the shaft in a tight grip, Marc groaned his appreciation.
Between seeing Jayde’s bare thighs just inches below her pussy, and now Aidan’s willing submission, he wasn’t sure he would last more than a few minutes before he came. “Our beauty has the smoothest, palest skin I’ve ever seen. The way her skirt inched up her generous thighs—” He banged the wall when a warm tongue stroked over his crown, swirling the edge and slipping into the slit to lap at his fluid.
Fuck. His lover knew just what he liked and how to use it against him. Marc looked down in time to see Aidan open his mouth wide and swallow him whole, taking his full length to the back of his throat. His control snapped. He grabbed a fistful of Aidan’s midnight black hair and forced him to take more before sliding back out. When only the tip remained, he pushed his way back in and fucked Aidan’s mouth with short, hard strokes. With every nudge against the back of his throat, Aidan would swallow and tighten around him until Marc was mindless with pleasure.
“Deeper, take it deeper.”
Aidan stroked and licked the underside until Marc couldn’t take it anymore. “Oh hell, I’m going to come.”
His head fell back as he struggled to stop the release. He wanted to draw out the pleasure a little longer, let Aidan work his flesh until he joined him in a frenzy. The hand at the base of his cock tightened to an almost painful level, slowing the need enough to allow him to hold off.
“I can’t wait to see Jayde touch you like this.” Aidan groaned. “It’s going to be fun to see her make you wild.”
With his tight fist squeezing and that wet, firm tongue brushing over every inch it could, Aidan reached for his balls and stroked them.
“Hell yes.” He loved Aidan working him over like this, taking it, controlling his orgasm. “So good.” His breath grew harsher as even Aidan’s pressure at the base of his cock did little to stop the onslaught of pleasure threatening to slice through him. He wanted to come in his mouth, let him suck every drop. Unexpected images of the three of them together flashed through his mind. Jayde’s lush lips would look incredible wrapped around either of them, and it would drive them both crazy.
Marc bent down and grabbed Aidan’s flat, beaded nipple. The tiny nub poked at the fabric of his shirt, and with two fingers, he tweaked it with a hard, quick twist. The resulting moan from Aidan vibrated the length of his cock, shooting pleasure from the base of his spine to the top of his head. On a snarling hiss, the pressure from Aidan’s hand lessened, and he began stroking as fast as his mouth was swallowing him.
The pressure built in Marc’s balls, tightening his whole body until the storm of his release exploded. The blood rushed to his head, roaring in his ears as his hips jerked repeatedly and completely out of his control.
Every day Aidan reminded him in different ways that they were a perfect match, and today was no exception. As the breath sawed in and out of his lungs, he looked down and met Aidan’s gaze. The love, acceptance, and sheer pleasure there tore at his heart. He never wanted it to end, and with Jayde here now, he was certain that she would take their relationship further than either of them had experienced before. If they could convince her to do the right thing.
He pulled from his lover’s mouth with much regret and hauled him up by the shoulders. “Time to go upstairs and finish this, my love,” he whispered. “I think we’re in for an exciting ride.”
Chapter Three
After a long night of restless sleep, Jayde finally gave up and headed downstairs. With the sun barely on the horizon, she doubted anyone would be up, and she could have some time alone in her gran’s bakery with her thoughts and memories for company.
Seconds after she eased her door quietly open, she heard an angry male voice filter up the stairs. She halted in mid-step and hovered at the top, debating whether to retreat to her room or investigate. This is your house now, Jayde. You should probably know what’s going on.
After a heavy sigh, she crept downstairs one quiet step at a time, straining to make out their words before they realized she was listening.
“We have to tell her, Marc.”
“Not yet. If we scare her, she may run, and then where would we be? At least here we can try to control any damage.”
Jayde’s mind raced in confusion. Were they talking about her?
“So when do we tell her? We can’t wait too long.”
“Dammit, Aidan, you think I don’t know that? If you’ve got a better idea, let’s hear it.” Their voices were loud now as their argument escalated. Curiosity piqued, she decided it was time to make an entrance. Besides, she need some coffee.
“Am I interrupting?” She kept her voice light and strong but had to stifle a laugh when both men sprang from their seats at the sight of her.
They’d been sitting at the little café table in front of the window, where there were newspapers opened and strewn across the surface. The delicious aroma of fresh-brewed coffee was stronger in here, and her gaze darted to the serving bar in the corner.
“Good morning,” they both managed to say in unison, looking like two little boys who’d just gotten their hands caught in the cookie jar. Although there was nothing little about these two. Tall, dark and gorgeous and almost enough to distract her from coffee. Almost.
“Morning,” she answered as she bee-lined for the caffeine.
“Here, let me get you some coffee.” Aidan jumped in front of her and began pouring another cup. “How do you take it?”
“Black, two sugars.”
Marc continued to stare, and she started to grow uncomfortable under his scrutiny. His dark eyes practically glowed with heat as his gaze raked her over from head to toe and back up again. She hadn’t even bothered with real clothes, instead coming down in a thin tank and pajama bottoms. She’d assumed they were together, as in together... He lingered a moment on her breasts, where it would be impossible for him to miss that her nipples had hardened and now strained against the fabric of her shirt. Maybe they were bisexual. After her years in San Fran, where’d she seen anything and everything the mind could imagine, nothing surprised her when it came to human sexuality.
“I didn’t think anyone would be up.” Oh God, was that her voice? The husky, whispered tones perked up both men, and their gazes sharpened with a quick glance to each other before resettling on her face. They now looked at her as if she was something to eat, and they were starved. Her brain functions halted for a second, and she shook her head, trying to get the sudd
en image of the two of them licking over every inch of her out of her mind. Aidan broke the moment first, with a handsome smile that caused butterflies to take flight in her stomach.
Marc turned and pulled out the empty chair for her. “We’re both early risers. In fact, we’ve been anxiously waiting for you.”
Stunned by his quick movement, she looked at him. Short and wavy dark hair teased his forehead, and his angular jaw was dusted with a few days of shadow, giving him the rough, dangerous look that worked so well on someone like him. His eyes, however... Oh yeah, she could get lost in the mysterious depths of sable brown that somehow seemed to see right through her. While not as traditionally beautiful as Aidan, the sight of him was like a punch of reaction in all the right places.
Aidan handed her the mug, and she gulped greedily, not caring about the slight burn from the hot liquid. Something was definitely wrong with her, and maybe the caffeine would help. It wasn’t a normal thing for her to sit down for breakfast with two gorgeous men and wet panties.
“Did you sleep well?” Aidan’s voice rolled from his tongue like warm silk, every syllable sending a shiver up her spine.
She nodded and gulped more coffee. Her sleep had actually been restless and intermittent, but she didn’t want to get into that now. “May I?” Her hand hovered over the tray of bagels. She’d skipped the last few meals, and her stomach rumbled in hunger, reminding her she needed to eat.
“Of course.”
When she bent and reached across the table, she felt each man’s gaze lock on the gap at the neckline of her tank top. A heated blush crept up her neck, until her face flamed in embarrassment. She hadn’t even bothered with a bra this morning.
“You’re still wearing the necklace?” Marc asked.
Jayde stopped mid-chew and looked long and hard at his face, trying to read his eyes. “Why shouldn’t I?”
