Whirlpool: Forces of Nature, Book 2

by Vivian Arend

  When she pulled away he moved with her, reluctant to let her go. He cupped her chin in his hand, staring into her face, trying to decide what move to make next. Strange emotions rushed him—desire for her, yes, but with connection and friendship at the core. The expression on her face haunted his soul.

  “Chelsea, what’s going on?”

  She knelt on the bed, her eyes shining with a pale blue light as she smiled at him. Her wistful expression was quickly replaced with a brighter one.

  “You could have died out there, so it’s only right we celebrate. Rejoice in living, laughing.” She pulled her blouse off over her head and tossed it to the side. “Loving. When you nearly lose something important, you have to celebrate still having it.”

  He wanted to look away. Oh my God, he should look away, but he couldn’t. She held him mesmerized, and when she reached behind her and unfastened her bra, he nearly swallowed his tongue.

  “Stop. We can’t do this, it’s not right. What about Braden?” The fact he had enough mental capacity left to ask amazed him. This was the man’s condo, his bed, and now Braden’s woman who moved toward him, her naked breasts thrust in his direction.

  He closed his eyes and counted to ten. Mermaids who could breath underwater were more probable than surviving if Braden found out he’d fooled around with his woman.

  “Braden agrees.”

  Jamie’s eyes popped open to see a tall figure step from the shadows.

  “Holy shit.” He scrambled out of bed, debating which way to run.

  Braden held up a hand. “Relax, I’m not going to hurt you. I said I agree with Chelsea. Life needs to be celebrated. She’s been so worried about you, and I thought maybe it would help if she knew you were truly okay.”

  Jamie stared at him in disbelief.

  “This is your idea? Are you insane? You find out someone is okay by talking to them, or taking their temperature or…”

  What the hell is going on? From nearly drowning to this? He must be dead. Or in a coma, with more of his fantasies inhabiting his dream world.

  Braden stepped to the edge of the bed and Chelsea met him, drawing into his arms and accepting his kisses. The sight of Braden caressing Chelsea’s smooth skin reminded Jamie of watching their previous lovemaking. A hint of blue shimmered in the air, and the musky fragrance he now associated with his erotic dreams returned.

  They looked so right together. The way Braden directed her, the response of her body to his touch—Jamie’s cock went from interested to demanding in seconds. Braden twisted her around until her torso faced Jamie. Two sets of eyes pinned him in place. Dark, passion-filled eyes. Chelsea held out a hand to him.

  He shook his head. “You don’t need to do this. I’m really going to be okay.” He had to resist.

  Didn’t he?

  Chelsea licked her lips and let her head fall to the side. Braden kissed his way down her neck, nuzzling behind her ear. Her nipples tightened, one breast held cupped in Braden’s hand, framed like an exotic work of art.

  Desire threaded through him, then one seam at a time yanked apart his inhibitions.

  “Hmm, yes. Feels so good, Braden. Touch me, love me. I need it, need Jamie too.” Her husky voice beckoned him, the sound swirling through the room, and Jamie grew lightheaded. The desire to join them, to touch and caress every part of the beautiful woman before him grew irresistible.

  He wanted her. It was the plain and simple truth. Jamie lifted his gaze to take in Braden’s towering frame, watching the two of them move in a beautiful symmetry together. Smooth, sensual.

  So be it. In spite of not completely understanding all the whys, he was willing to accept it for now and figure the details out later.

  They met in the middle of the bed and all his saved-up passion broke free. Jamie kissed Chelsea like his life depended on it. Her sweet tongue tangled with his, their naked torsos touching, the tight tips of her nipples hard against his chest. She caressed his shoulders, dragged her fingers through his hair, tugging harder as the intensity of the kiss increased.

  Braden joined them. He’d stripped off his shirt and the bare skin of his arm brushed Jamie’s side as they trapped Chelsea between them.

  She moaned with delight. “Oh yes, this is what I needed.”

  The breathless confession did something to Jamie’s heart. He’d desired her before all the chaos of the day, and for whatever reason he was receiving this gift, he was going to treasure it.

  He glanced over her shoulder to see Braden smiling at him. “It really is what we want. She needs us both right now.”

  Jamie nodded, staring with fascination at the centers of Braden’s eyes. Blue flecks of light reflected back at him. I know what you are, man of mythology. The temptation to reach over and kiss Braden no longer frightened him. Passion erased his habit of analyzing.

  Chelsea wiggled impatiently between them, and Jamie willingly turned back. He sat on the bed to worship her breasts, laving her nipples, nibbling along the soft under curve. Braden slipped a hand over her belly and between her legs, parting the pale curls of her mound to play with her clitoris. He slid his fingers in and out of her passage. Jamie watched everything as he worked his way down her body, needing to taste her as the scent in the room increased.

  “Braden, give me room.”

  Two men making love to one woman—he’d never done this before. There were points of juggling limbs he’d never realized. Braden switched his hold, bringing his hand between Chelsea’s legs from behind. As Braden eased his fingers back into her sheath, Jamie covered her with his mouth, teasing her clit with his tongue. Her flavor filled him, made his head spin. He reached down and circled his cock with a fist, holding off to make sure Chelsea was satisfied before he grew too tempted.

  They worked in tandem, Jamie matching the pace of Braden’s thrusts. Slow now, then quicker, until she cried out, her body quivering between them. Heated liquid rushed his tongue as he lapped, dragging his tongue against her folds. Braden pressed in, again and again, prolonging her climax. Jamie’s tongue brushed Braden’s fingers as the other man slowly circled her clitoris, teasing the still-quivering flesh under his fingers. Chelsea sighed heavily as she leaned back, supported by Braden’s torso, her skin flushed.

  Jamie held on to his control by a thread, his aching cock reminding him he wanted much, much more.

  “You’re amazing, Chelsea, so beautiful.” Braden kissed her neck.

  “Please…”

  The tormented need in her voice made Jamie put aside his caution. No longer waiting to see what Braden would do, he rolled her to the mattress and covered her with his body. Skin to skin, her warmth felt so right under him. He closed his eyes for just a second to appreciate it fully.

  He kissed her again, this time a slow and thorough exploration. Tongues and lips and open mouths. He breathed her in and the darkness and fears he’d experienced all faded away. She was right. It was a celebration—of life and love and a passion that had been far too long unanswered.

  The stroke of a hand down his back reminded him Braden was still with them, and yet…he couldn’t stop. All his focus was on Chelsea, on the pleasure he found in her, the pleasure he wanted to bring her.

  “You should see what I see.” Braden’s deep voice rustled through the air. He touched them both, his hands skimming Jamie’s side. Hovering where Jamie cupped Chelsea’s breast. The contrast of their fair skin and Braden’s darker coloring—his rougher, beefier hands—showed clearly. “You two look like erotic Greek statues, porcelain fine and breathtakingly beautiful.”

  Chelsea laughed softly as she snaked out an arm to catch Braden around the neck. “And you’re Poseidon, rising from the sea to love us both?”

  “Hmm, it’s not difficult to love you, baby.” He kissed her, lowering himself to lie skin to skin against Jamie’s side. Jamie watched in fascination until Chelsea squirmed under him, pressing her breast up into his hand, and he shifted to be able to reach her easier. He nibbled and licked, listening to the soft
noises of pleasure she made, hearing Braden’s whispered words of love.

  Then a hand cupped his own neck, threading through his hair. Braden took control of him and turned their faces toward each other.

  “I want to taste you.” Braden paused, and Jamie’s heart leapt to his throat. Slowly, inch by inch, Braden approached. He gave ample time to retreat, but Jamie wanted this. Wanted it as much as he wanted the woman lying under him.

  With a satisfied hum, Braden brought their mouths in contact. Rougher, more forceful than touching Chelsea, but just as right. Jamie ignored everything else and simply felt—the caress of Chelsea’s hands as she explored his back, the harsher touch of Braden callused hand trailing over Jamie’s lower back and buttocks. The softness of her body under him as she opened her legs and he nestled tighter between her thighs. The curls on her mound were wet from his mouth and her juices, and they coated his cock as he rocked his hips slowly. He was enveloped by both of them. Surrounded and satisfied.

  He’d never had such a rich and full experience before in his life and he reveled in it.

  “I want you. Want you now.” Chelsea pressed upward, her rigid nipples hard against his chest.

  “Shit, I need a condom.” Thank God one part of his mind still functioned. Oh please, let there be one close by. He couldn’t remember if he had any.

  Braden disappeared for a moment before returning and handing him a package. Braden dropped beside them and kissed Chelsea passionately as Jamie fumbled with the wrapper, desperate to get it open, desperate to cover himself. When he finally returned to his spot, cradled between her legs, Braden backed away, letting him see into Chelsea’s eyes.

  One final moment of hesitation. “You’re sure?”

  She wrapped herself around him, lifted her hips and pulled. He slipped slow and steady into her heat. The shimmering blue rising around them didn’t surprise him at all, nor the sweet spicy aroma filling the air. What he didn’t expect were the tight heartfelt emotions rolling through him as he made love with her, her fingers roaming his torso, the little moans of passion she released making his heart sing with joy.

  This connection, the friendship that was so much more—it was right. He left the fears of not knowing it all behind and accepted it as the gift it was.

  When he’d buried himself to the hilt, they both sighed with satisfaction and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You good, Chels?”

  She smiled up at him, her eyes bright, caring in her touch. She arched into him. “Fabulous.”

  He didn’t want to go harder, didn’t want to miss a second of the erotic drag of his cock through her passage, the way she squeezed him perfectly. He lowered his head to her shoulder and slowed even more, prolonging his climax as long as possible. The flutters of her body around him let him know she grew closer as well.

  Braden joined in again, kissing Jamie’s shoulder, running his hands over Jamie’s buttock and thighs. As an electric tingle began at the base of his spine, Jamie let it all wash over him. Braden’s soft touch—a simple caress, almost nonsexual. Chelsea’s fingers on his back and shoulders. The intimate caress of thrusting into her warmth.

  Again and again he pressed in, his strokes increasing in tempo as she panted beneath him. He slipped a hand between their torsos to press her clit and she cried out, her passage pulsing around him. With one final thrust, he buried himself deep to explode. Every one of his stored-up fantasies faded in comparison to the reality.

  When they stopped shaking, the haze of flicking lights around them made him content. It was right. He lifted his head to gaze into her eyes and the emotional pain in them shocked him.

  “Chelsea? What’s wrong?”

  A tear escaped and ran down her cheek. “That was amazing, and I’m glad you’re my friend. Thank you.”

  He held her tenderly, kissing away the tear. A heavy weight settled in his limbs, and he didn’t even question when Braden pressed their naked bodies together, Jamie’s back warmed by Braden’s chest. Peace and contentment overshadowed the confusion, the flickering blue lights increasing even as his eyes grew too heavy to hold open any longer. As he drifted off to sleep, he wondered how he was going to explain any of this in the morning.

  Chapter Eleven

  Braden stirred his coffee again, the liquid growing cold as Chelsea paced the living room for the umpteenth time.

  “He’s awake.”

  She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. Soon they’d know if it had worked. All night long she’d cuddled Jamie, taking in every second she could in his presence. Having Braden embrace her at the same time made the situation overwhelming. Powerful.

  Painful.

  She wished the situation could be different and she could wake up every day with the two of them. “How are you going to explain why we’re here? In the condo?”

  “We’ll play it by ear. I’m not sure how much he’s going to remember, and I don’t want him waking up alone.”

  The bedroom door opened and Jamie shuffled out, stark naked. Chelsea flushed and turned her back so as not to embarrass him. Jamie gasped out a curse.

  “Holy shit. Sorry, guys.”

  Braden snorted into his coffee cup. “Oh, damn. Meant to warn you. Hey, we’re here.”

  Jamie laughed. “Nice heads-up. Give me a second.” When his footsteps retreated and the door to his room closed again, she turned to see Braden wearing a huge grin.

  “He seems okay,” she whispered.

  He nodded. “I think we’re in the clear. Didn’t act like he remembers a thing.”

  The hollow pit in her stomach opened up again and her heart ached. “That’s…good.”

  Braden lost his smile and held out his hand to her. She went and crawled into his lap, curling up and letting him pet her for a minute.

  “I know, baby, you and me both. But we have to keep the rest of the pod safe.”

  She sniffed softly. “Just, it hurts. I really care for him.”

  He kissed her forehead and they sat in silence, waiting.

  When Jamie joined them a few minutes later, she made sure she’d wiped her eyes dry and replaced her expression with a cheerier one.

  “Why are you guys here? I mean, not that I mind, but it’s early hours. You need me for something?” Jamie felt the side of the coffeepot. “Cold. Man, I must sleep like the dead. Good thing you weren’t more burglars.”

  “Just wanted to know if you were up for a little action today. Hit the boardwalk, go for breakfast. It is Saturday.”

  Jamie nodded slowly. “Sounds like a plan.” He pointed to the two of them. “Neither of you had anything else on the agenda for today?”

  She shook her head. He’d forgotten the whole incident of the day before, but he hadn’t seemed to forget they were friends. She’d take it. While having him as a lover was what her heart and soul wanted, having him lose all memory of her would have burned.

  “I need to get a few groceries, but nothing else. You have anything you’d like to do?” she asked him.

  Jamie paced over to stare out the window. “We could go paddling, but the ocean looks a little rough.” He turned slowly, his gaze flicking between herself and Braden, more guarded now. Hesitant. “I have another idea if you’re up for up.”

  Braden nudged her and she rose, stepping to the side. “You’ll find we’re game for just about anything,” he said.

  Jamie threw back his head and laughed out loud. When he stopped chuckling, he approached cautiously, almost like he was stalking her. A shiver raced up her spine. The look in Jamie’s eyes… He knew something.

  Oh my God, he remembers.

  Jamie stopped mere inches away. “First, I think you forgot to give me something this morning.”

  She swallowed, glancing at Braden for direction. He frowned, rocking uneasily on his feet. Chelsea turned back to stare into Jamie’s blue-gray eyes. “What…what did I forget?”

  He snuck his hands around her torso and pressed their mouths together. A lazy, but thorough kiss that made her toes cu
rl. His tongue stroked into her mouth, playing with hers. She had her fingers tangled in his hair before she realized what she was doing.

  She broke off with a gasp.

  Braden sputtered in the background, finally finding his voice. “What the fuck do you think—?”

  Jamie held up a hand. “Don’t try it. It’s not going to work. I remember everything. The diving accident, making love with Chelsea. There’s only one thing I’m curious about.”

  He interrupted the stream of steady curses falling from Braden’s lips by closing the distance between them. Chelsea watched in amazement as Jamie grabbed Braden by the shoulders, pulled him down and planted a huge kiss on him as well.

  Braden stiffened before assuming control, hauling the other man against him hard and ramming their mouths together. A hot and fervent embrace followed, both of them battling for dominance. Tongues and teeth and hands grasping in impassioned fury. Chelsea whimpered, a sudden hard throb between her legs demanding attention.

  Jamie had remembered.

  The men separated, backing away from each other. Jamie was breathing hard and smiling harder.

  Braden shook his head. “Bastard. Why in the hell did you do that?”

  “What? Kiss you? I was curious why you didn’t join in more last night. It was obvious you wanted to. Of course, I’m not a hundred percent sure I’m ready for a physical relationship with another guy, but I can’t say I’m totally opposed to the idea either.”

  “You shouldn’t have remembered last night,” Braden complained.

  Jamie sat on the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table. He patted the place next to him and Chelsea flew to his side, curling up close to revel in the warmth of his body. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she rested her cheek on his chest. His rapid heartbeat betrayed his unease in spite of his nonchalant attitude and she fought back a laugh.

  It was going to be amusing to watch her men find a place of balance.

  She sucked in a breath of air. Her men.

  “Oh my goodness.” She leaned back to examine Jamie closer. “I don’t understand. I mean, I’m glad, very glad, but how…?”