by Aubrey Rose
Beth tried to hide her disappointment, but Jayde saw a quick flash of it in her eyes. “Okay, I understand.” The girl hugged her before she turned and headed to the door. “Miss Jayde, this shop is really missed. We hope you’ll reopen soon.”
“We?”
“All the locals, of course.” She slipped out the door, and Jayde watched her fan herself from the heat as she walked down the street.
She took a deep breath and exhaled on a sigh. What had she just committed herself to? She couldn’t cook. In fact, calling her the world’s worst baker would not be a stretch of anyone’s imagination. But the earnest look on the poor girl’s face had done her in, and now she had to try. She looked at the door leading to the kitchen, fear trembling through her limbs. Time to get the recipe book and at least give this a shot.
Chapter Five
Aidan woke to the smell of baking chocolate, a sweet aroma that made his mouth water. The house smelled like Katriona again. What the hell? He turned to Marc and planted a kiss on his shoulder. “I’m going to go check on Jayde. I’ll be back shortly.”
Marc mumbled something he couldn’t understand, but didn’t move.
He slid from the bed and snagged a pair of jeans from the back of the chair. The aroma drifting through the house made his mouth water and his stomach grumble. But if what he thought was going on down there actually was, it wouldn’t be food he was hungry for once he saw her. Partially dressed, he slipped from their apartment and headed down the steps, taking two at a time.
The lights were dimmed in the entire building until he reached the entrance to the bakery, but even there, no lights shone in the main area. Instead a low glow came from the door leading to the kitchen. Outside the front window, it was pitch-black, as the sun had gone down many hours ago. He and Marc had spent the entire day and evening giving Jayde some space to deal with it all, but waiting to have her had damn near driven them into a sexual frenzy as everything about her called to them both. Katriona had laughed when they’d scoffed at the idea that her granddaughter would be their fate; now they questioned how they could avoid it. A chill swept over him, from either the cool room or just the sense of inevitability he faced. He should have snagged a shirt too.
Unsure of what he would find in the kitchen, he eased the door open slowly. The heat of the room rushed out, enveloping him in warmth and scents of deep, dark chocolate.
The counters were covered in tray after tray of varying types of fudge. He recognized peanut butter, chocolate chip, raspberry swirl, and of course, his favorite—dark chocolate. In the midst of all this sweet-smelling perfection stood Jayde, looking good enough to eat herself. Her red curls were tucked tightly behind her ears, her skin flushed a pale pink from the heat and her efforts. The vigor in which she stirred her latest creation heated his blood. He would like to see that look of intense concentration on her face as she sucked him deep into her throat.
Blood pounded in his dick. A feral desire to be naked and free gripped his insides. He needed nothing more right now than the sensation of plunging into her wet heat. He should have made Marc come down with him. His defenses were crumbling, and he hadn’t even gotten close to her yet.
She’d shucked her blouse, probably because of the heat, and now stood there in a turquoise lace camisole and a skirt. Funny how she always wore skirts that had her constantly tugging at the hemlines trying to cover herself. He didn’t understand why. Her body was lush and full, driving him wild every time he got near her. He and Marc had been going at each other nonstop since she’d arrived, fucking every chance they got. Desire for her did that to them. They needed each other now more than ever, but Jayde’s arrival had upped the ante. Destiny or not, they both ached for her on a level so deep it’s as if she’d taken up residence inside him. Aidan rubbed his chest. Every day Marc reminded him that she wasn’t ready. That they had to wait.
He didn’t want to wait anymore. Couldn’t.
“Jayde.” He spoke softly in the hopes of not startling her, but she gasped and looked at him with wild fear nonetheless.
Her hand clutched at her chest. “Oh, Aidan, you scared me to death. I didn’t think anyone else was still awake.”
“The smell in here woke me.”
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I dug out gran’s recipe book, and well, next thing I knew, I’d tried every flavor of fudge she had listed.” She swept her hand around the room, shying away from his gaze.
“It is nice to see someone cooking in here again.”
“Well, I’m in here, and I’m following these recipes, but I have to be honest—I’m not much of a cook. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever made anything that others have deemed edible. But after Beth came by this morning, I felt obligated to at least try. I think my grandmother would have expected that.”
She turned to the counter and picked up the big leather bound book that her grandmother had stored far more than simple recipes in.
“But these recipes... They’re so odd. What was gran up to before she died?” Jayde moved closer and pointed to Katriona’s scribblings along the borders of each page. “I don’t know what all these symbols mean?”
Aidan froze. Shit. If she freaked out on him... He wasn’t sure she was ready to hear the significance of her grandmother’s “scribblings” as she put it. Over time as the veil between good and evil wore thin, it had become necessary for the more powerful witches to hide their dangerous spells. For Katriona it made sense to use the recipe book she guarded at all times. Eventually, when Jayde was ready, Marc would teach her how to combine the recipes with the hidden code to tap into the true depth of her power.
“She doodled a lot.” He kept his answer as non-committal as possible. It wouldn’t do to get caught in a lie down the road.
Jayde shrugged. “I guess. Although something about them remind me of something I’ve seen before.”
He turned around the room again, surveying all the hard work she had put into creating all these trays of fudge. He desperately needed a change of subject. “I find it hard to believe that you can’t cook, sweetheart. It smells divine in here.” He zeroed in on the oversize tray of the dark chocolate and strode over to it. “This flavor is my favorite.”
She raced around the corner to where he stood. “I’m...uh...I’m not sure you want to eat that.”
“Why not? It looks delectable.” But if she didn’t want to share her chocolate, he could certainly suggest an alternative. His cock thickened, aching.
“It’s probably not any good.”
He frowned. “I think you underestimate yourself.” Still, he understood how much approval from those around you meant to a person’s soul. He plucked a piece from the tray and brought it to his nose, inhaling the combination of chocolate and vanilla. “It smells really good. Guess there’s only one way to find out.” He quickly took a bite, amused by the look of horror splashed across her face.
The familiar flavor of Katriona’s fudge and something extra exploded in his mouth. It was like a sensual stroke on his tongue that shot sensations straight to his groin.
“You aren’t saying anything. Oh God, It’s awful; I knew it. Let me get you something to drink. There’s napkins on the counter if you need to spit it out.” She started to turn away, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her body against his.
“No, Jayde. It’s incredible. Have you even tried any of them?”
She shook her head. “I was afraid to. They looked pretty and I wanted that to be enough.”
On a sigh, he lifted the fudge to her mouth. “Open.”
Slowly, her ruby lips parted, opening for the confection. His pulse hammered in his head, pounding with a lust that wouldn’t be denied. When her mouth closed over the treat and she bit off a piece, he set the chocolate aside. The look on her face was priceless as the fear slid away and was replaced with a rapture he knew all too well.
While she savored that small bite, he dipped his head to her neck, licking along the curve to her shoulder.
She tasted of sugar and woman. He was lost.
He continued to kiss and nibble his way upward until he reached her lips. With no thought of stopping, he rubbed his tongue over her bottom lip, and she opened her mouth. He took advantage and slid inside, exploring her, leaving no spot untouched. The sensual taste of the chocolate and woman pushed him beyond the point of no return as his hands reached for the bottom edge of her camisole. He tugged upward, breaking the kiss long enough to get it over her head before continuing his steady exploration of her mouth.
His hands roamed the soft skin of her waist and torso, tracing the curve of her spine with his fingers. Ending the kiss, he pushed her an arm’s length away and looked at those brilliant green eyes, shining with as much lust as he felt.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Oh babe, nothing is wrong; I just need to slow things down a little. Besides, I want to watch you.”
“Watch me?”
“Yes. I’m going to watch you strip down for me.”
She blushed an even deeper shade of red and averted her eyes.
“Uh-uh. Don’t go hiding from me.”
“I can’t help it. I’m not...”
“Not what? Jayde, look at me.” When she met his gaze, he continued. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You practically glow with your femininity. Now please take off the rest of your clothes before I die here, sweetheart. I really need to be touching you.”
“Do as he says, Jayde.” They both turned to the door to see Marc standing there, stark naked, his hard-on jutting boldly from his hips. “What?” He narrowed his eyes at Aidan. “You thought I wouldn’t hear or sense what was going on in my own house? You two are radiating sensual energy so strong, the neighbors can probably feel it.”
Jayde started to back up. “I’m...I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
Aidan reached for her and caught her by the hand before she could get away. “Wait. You don’t understand. Marc isn’t mad at us.” He smiled broadly at her. “Oh no, baby, he wants you as bad as I do. We want you together.”
Marc’s gaze raked over her body. “If you won’t remove your clothing, I’ll have Aidan do it for you.”
Jayde blinked in surprise at Marc’s surly demand. He’d come down without bothering to dress, obviously assuming he’d join in. Uncertainty plagued her.
“C’mon, baby, don’t back up. The two of us have been panting after you for days now. We need you.” Aidan tugged at her arm, pulling her several inches closer.
This was more than she could process. She’d been about to drag Aidan to the floor, and now they both wanted her? Her brain wasn’t functioning. Not when all she could think of was being taken by the two men who’d consumed her thoughts since she’d met them. Now they were offering her everything she’d fantasized about. What was the catch?
Marc cocked his eyebrow in question, and God help her, after the dreams and time alone, she couldn’t resist him. Nor did she want to. In an outrageous bold move for her, she reached behind her back and slid the zipper of her skirt down, easing the soft fabric down her bare thighs. Kicking the skirt out of the way, she stood up straight before them with nothing but a pair of pink bikini panties to cover her more-than-ample frame. When neither man made a move, clearly waiting still, she slipped out of the undergarment as well. Jayde balled her hands to hide them shaking before she again lifted her gaze to the men watching her so intently, her body bared to them. The only thing left was the moonstone necklace she’d refused to take off since she’d found it.
A shiver coursed down Jayde’s body from the top of her spine to the tips of her toes.
“Are you cold, baby?” Aidan stepped to her, reaching out to caress her arms. His head dipped, and he kissed her shoulder, trailing kisses down her arms and back again. Tiny prickles danced across her skin. His hands roamed and explored her shoulders, waist, and anyplace he could reach, before he finally took her lips in a soft, passionate kiss. The hunger simmering close to the surface exploded, and she moaned into his mouth.
More. She needed more.
Aidan settled his hands at her waist and lifted her onto the edge of the counter, her legs dangling over the edge. She shivered, anticipation warming her from the inside out. He parted her thighs and stepped between them.
“You’re so beautiful.” His fingers stroked from her knees inward, following the direct path to her already wet center. “Mmm, do you want me, Jayde?”
Hell yes she did. His sensual smile drove her wild with need.
“Yes.” Her answer came out sounding far more breathless than she’d expected.
Marc moved to her side, his mouth close to her ear. “Just him, Jayde? Or do you want more?”
Marc’s blunt question caught her off guard and she blurted the first thing in her head, “I...I want you both.” No point in hiding the truth anymore. She’d worry about the consequences later.
Aidan’s face split into a wide grin while his fingers continued to play with her, stroking her clit like a musical instrument. When he paused to pinch it, her hips bucked, begging for more.
Marc reached for her heavy breasts, kneading them with just the right amount of pressure to drive her insane. She arched forward, hoping for more, and his fingers rubbed and pinched her taut nipples. When she moaned her pleasure, his movements grew stronger, rougher. Their hands worked together, with one working her pussy and clit while the other stroked every other sensitive zone of her body until she trembled with the need to come. She tried to jerk away to stop from making a fool of herself. Her control was slipping away.
“It’s okay, Jayde, relax. Come for us,” Aidan murmured.
Normally that word wasn’t in her vocabulary, but looking at them, seeing the way they both wanted her, made this different beyond the two-men thing. Although two sets of hands caressing her was pretty damned incredible
“Don’t fight it, babe. You want this as much as we do.”
He had no idea. She doubted either of them had a clue of the torture she’d put herself through dreaming of this very thing. But he was right—she wanted this with them, more than anything else she could think of.
Marc looked at her with a wicked smile; then, with a tight pinch to her clit, as well as to a nipple, a shockwave blazed through her. She cried out, letting it take her over.
“Damn, Marc, she’s so wet. Look at her tremble for us.” His thick fingers dived inside her passage, reaching for her sensitive G-spot, throwing her into a climax even stronger than the first. “Come on, baby, give me more.”
“And so tight. Damn.”
Aidan removed his fingers as she continued to ride the pleasure. He flipped her over so that she stood back on her feet with her chest leaning forward over the counter. She felt him pushing at her wet folds a split second before he drove into her, fast and smooth, stretching her as he stroked her sensitive walls. Undeniable bliss whipped through her, and her hands beat at the countertop, looking for something to hold onto. Her mouth opened to scream, but no sound came out, because she couldn’t breathe.
“Oh my love, she is so fucking tight. I can’t stop myself.” He pounded in and out of her harder with each stroke, every touch filling her with frissons of pleasure and heat until he too cried out with his climax. Eventually his movements slowed, and Jayde rested her forehead on the counter as she tried to catch her breath.
She trembled with little aftershocks as she gulped air into her lungs. When Aidan slipped from her body, she stood on shaky legs and turned, looking first at the satisfaction on his face and then at the obvious hunger on Marc’s. His tanned body looked carved from granite in its absolute perfection, and his erection was certainly hard as stone.
The way he looked at her drove her to go to him and kneel.
“Jayde, you don’t have—”
“Please, I want to.” She opened her mouth wide, and he pushed his gorgeous cock between her lips. The perfect taste of male spice exploded on her tongue as she licked around his slit, lappin
g up the moisture already waiting for her. His hands tightened in her hair, pulling her farther onto his hardness. She relaxed her throat, trying to accommodate more of his large, thick size. She’d never been with a man this big. Her pussy once again tingled with pleasure as she sucked lightly, taking him as deep as she could, her tongue working the underside with quick swipes.
“Beautiful,” Aidan said. “She is absolute fucking perfection on her knees sucking you off. I bet her pussy is dripping again with all that sweet honey.” He brushed against her back when he knelt down behind her and wrapped his arms around her, one hand pinching at her nipple, the other diving for her center. She moaned around Marc as her desire built again under Aidan’s relentless attention.
The hard heat of him swelled against her tongue, warning her he was close. She suckled faster and wrapped her hand around the base to stroke him each time he pulled from her mouth, all while Aidan applied more pressure against her clit in a furious rhythm.
“Oh yes, baby. Like that. Oh hell...” On a loud grunt, Marc came, pulsing against her tongue, pushing her over the edge into yet another explosive climax. She swallowed every delicious drop while her tongue coaxed him to the end.
When Marc pulled from her lips, she slumped back into Aidan’s arms, exhausted and replete. All the hours of marathon cooking and the mind-blowing sex had wiped her out.
“Sleep. I need sleep,” she whispered.
“Yes, you do, darling. You need to rest up for tomorrow.” Aidan’s warm breath brushed against her ear as he spoke, sending a new shiver down her spine.
Looking into Marc’s eyes while Aidan’s arms surrounded her gave Jayde a sense of peace she’d sought her entire life. “What’s tomorrow?”
“Your destiny.”
Chapter Six
Jayde stumbled from the shower still tired and in need of sleep. Marc and Aidan had woken her several times through the night with their wanton touches and sweet kisses. Once, she had surprisingly found herself holding their softened cocks until they’d hardened with desire yet again; they all seemed insatiable. When she’d rolled over in bed to find herself alone, she’d pried open her eyes to discover it was two in the afternoon. She’d slept more than half the day away.
