One Lucky Girl

by Natasha L. Black

  In a flash, three pairs of hands were on me. Jeremy’s was grabbing the cup midair, Peter was wiping the spilled liquid off my dress, while Noah was cleaning off the table.

  We were so intent in our task - me apologizing and groaning and cracking up, while the brothers helped me clean up the mess - that we didn’t notice that our parents were chuckling until a minute or so later.

  Looking up, we found them looking upon us, eyes shining.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  Mrs. Bowing was smiling. “Oh nothing.” My mom spoke up, grinning too. “Just that it really shows. That you’ll take care of my Blair.”

  And it occurred to me, as I looked from Jeremy to Peter to Noah, that she was right. The guys had shown themselves to be there for me in ways no one else ever had, and ways no one else ever would, I suspected.

  Later, back at my place, I expected the guys to invite themselves in. What I didn’t expect was for Peter to declare, “We’ve something to tell you.”

  “Dude,” Jeremy said, frowning. “Can’t it wait until after the popcorn?”

  “We’re having popcorn?” I asked.

  Jeremy let out a maligned sigh. “We were going to suggest we all watch a movie and then make popcorn. And then after the movie we were going to ask you if….”

  This was getting annoying. “Ask me what?”

  Noah stopped Jeremy, his face pale. “Wasn’t one victory for today enough?” he asked them. “Do we really have to try our luck twice?”

  “You’re already trying your luck, not telling me what’s going on,” I said, frowning.

  “Okay,” Peter said. “Just, it’s a pretty crazy suggestion.”

  “And what we’ve been doing the past several weeks hasn’t been crazy?” I pointed out.

  “Point taken,” Peter said. He walked over to the couch, and I went over to join him. Noah and Jeremy joined me too.

  “It’s about our lease,” Peter said. “It’s ending in a week.”

  “Okay,” I said. Still, it wasn’t clear where this was leading.

  “Thing is,” Jeremy cut in. “We want to see you safe. And we don’t like being apart from you, and if things continue how they been continuing.…”

  “Hold up,” I said. “You guys aren’t actually suggesting…”

  “Not exactly,” Noah said quickly. “I mean, not if you don’t want to.”

  “Dude this was a crazy idea,” Jeremy muttered.

  “Shut up, both of you,” Peter growled. He turned his attention to me. “I know what we’re asking is sudden, and way too early. We just agreed to be in a relationship, now we’re actually suggesting moving in together. If it had been a few more months, obviously that would’ve been preferable. But truth be told, if we’re going to try this, I want to try this soon. I don’t want to waste another year living in some place and sleeping over here every night anyway. If wanting that and asking for that makes me crazy and overeager, then so be it.”

  His easy confidence I wish I could have for myself. This was a crazy big thing that Peter was suggesting, and he knew it.

  “And Jeremy the dog?” I asked.

  “Oh yeah,” Jeremy said. “Wherever we go, he goes.”

  “That’s fair,” I said. “But I’ll need a little time to think this over. This is huge.”

  “Of course,” Noah said. “Take your time. And don’t feel pressured at all. The important thing is that we want to see you.”

  “Yeah, we want to see a lot of you,” Jeremy said wiggling his eyebrows..

  So, as we watched Interstellar, I did. I thought about it. Living with the brothers, waking up with them next to me, going to sleep knowing there was nowhere I’d rather be in the world. And I realized that I needed to know more – way more before I’d be able to even think about making a decision.

  I’d been so shell-shocked by their suggestion, I hadn’t even thought to ask major questions that would make or break my decision.

  “Hang on.” I paused the movie. “So, are you saying you guys would move in here, into my one-bedroom apartment?” I took a dismal look around. The place was roomy when it was just me, but would it still seem roomy when there were three full-grown men living in here? And what, we’d sleep in the same bed every night?

  “Point taken,” Peter said. “Truthfully, our plan was just to ask and see what you said and then decide later. When is your lease up?”

  “In two months,” I said.

  “So…” Jeremy said, smiling with what I was probably thinking too.

  “We could do a trial,” I said. “You guys live here for a month and a half, and if it works out maybe we could move into a bigger, nicer place together.”

  Peter took a dubious look around before commenting, “If we can make it in this place for two months, we can do anything.”

  “But before you turn the movie back on,” Jeremy cut in. “There’s something we want to show you.”

  I smiled. Truthfully, I hadn’t been totally oblivious to it. The brothers had seemed to be going to the bathroom an awful lot the past half hour.

  Taking me by the hand, I allowed the brothers to lead me to the bathroom. Then I opened my eyes with a smile. The bath water was tinged a light sparkling pink with colored petals and translucent bubbles floating prettily in the water

  “Are those hibiscus petals?” I asked.

  “I insisted,” Jeremy confessed, “Peter and Noah almost weren’t gonna go for it, but I love your smell so much I thought.…”

  I dipped a finger in the water, allowing my gaze to slink from one brother to the next.

  “So, a bathtub full of bubbles and hibiscus petals. What could that be for?”

  Peter took a step forward, taking my chin in his hands. “Why don’t you take off your top and we can see.”

  I went over and close the door behind us, and turned off the light, revealing several lit candles I hadn’t noticed before.

  Yes, something told me we weren’t going to do much sleeping tonight.

  Epilogue

  Blair - One Year Later

  “What are you thinking about?” Jeremy asked.

  I sat back in my chair and wondered where to begin. It was our one-year anniversary had stirred up a whole lot of memories in me. Mainly, thinking how fortunate we’d been the past year.

  There was our chic new four-bedroom apartment right downtown, with enough space for us to have private time whenever we wanted (which wasn’t often) and for the dog to race around jubilantly (which was four times a day, at least).

  The man who’d attacked me and the one who’d sent him had been sentenced to forty years in prison and would be old and decrepit if and when they made it out. I had also received a promotion, as had Jeremy, and we were still partners. But I didn’t know where to start with all that, so I only said, “How lucky we are.”

  Noah caught my eye and smiled shyly. Clearly, he hadn’t forgotten that time on my balcony a year back where we’d reflected over the city about our lives.

  Since then the guys and I had had enough memorable, wonderful experiences to last us a decade. The four of us had gone to Paris, a sporadic surprise trip planned for me by the brothers. And then there was that time they had us go on this Asian yoga retreat, planned by Noah, and we ended up making love in a pretty wooded spa for half of it. And then there were the countless dates we’d had in the city and in the woods beyond, cozying up in a little cabin with wine and marshmallows to spare.

  Life couldn’t really get much better. “Be honest now,” Jeremy said, his critical gaze going from me to the other brothers. “How many of you actually thought we’d make it this far?”

  “Not me,” Peter admitted.

  “Me either,” Noah said.

  “You guys are the worst,” I declared. “You really didn’t think things would work with me?”

  “I thought the pressure of being in such a nontraditional relationship would get to you,” Peter said. “There is no doubt my mind that I would do every last damn thing I c
ould to make this work.”

  Noah nodded. “Same here. Plus, I thought the whole job thing wouldn’t be as drama-free as it has been. Thank God for Chief Fallows.”

  “Thank God’s right,” I said. “She’s been more understanding than I ever would’ve thought.”

  “Well,” Jeremy said self-importantly. “I fully expected this to last. And I still do.”

  As Jeremy claimed my hand and lips for himself, Peter grabbed my other hand. “Hang on now. As soon as we got through that horrible cramped living time at Blair’s old apartment, I knew we’d make it.”

  “Me too,” Noah agreed.

  I’d had already had two glasses of wine and was feeling expansive and a bit silly. So, I said “So what are you saying? Now you expect us to last forever because we made it to the year mark?”

  Jeremy’s wry smile still didn’t disguise the avidness of his eyes. “Yeah. Why not?”

  “After spending this incredible past year with you,” Peter was saying, a bit wistfully. “Forget it.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said, feeling a bit guilty. “I was only joking. Besides, it has only been one year.”

  “You’re right,” Noah said, putting on a brave face. “One year and.…” He looked at his watch. “A few hours.”

  I laughed. “You remembered what time?”

  He nodded. “Speaking of, I’m pretty sure that bills for us.” He looked at it and got out his card.

  “Hold up there.” Jeremy blocked his card with his own.

  “Oh, you two,” Peter said, putting his card on top of the stack.

  “Are you guys ever going to let me pay for myself?” I asked.

  No matter how many times I asked them, they wouldn’t let me. Even going as far as to approach the waitress after, to switch cards. By now, I’d learned to just give up and let them do what they would, showing my appreciation in other ways, buying their favorite cupcakes, picking up a shirt I knew would look great on them.

  After the bill was paid, instead of heading outside like I expected, they lead me into the lobby.

  “But this is the super fancy….”

  “Hotel.” Jeremy grinned. “Exactly.”

  Inside, the elevator was a golden splendor and as soon as the elevator doors closed, Peter’s lips pressed to mine.

  I pulled away. “But….”

  “Shhh.…” Noah said, pressing his lips on mine.

  In my ear, in between kisses Jeremy explained, “This will take us straight to our room.”

  As he and Peter both worked on one in each strap of my dress, I barely had time to realize that they were right, as the elevator pinged at the top the Penthouse and gave way to the most exquisite room I’d ever stepped foot in. I was too filled with arousal to really notice though.

  Not with how Noah’s mouth had plunged onto one exposed breast and Peter’s the other.

  “Guys,” I said weakly, unsure exactly what I wanted to say.

  “What?” Jeremy’s smile was pure wickedness as he swept his arm around the empty, stunning room. “There’s no one here – and I won’t tell.”

  Just like that, the men’s mouths released me and they carried me.

  “Best anniversary yet?” Noah asked.

  I could only nod.

  Peter smiled, going over to the lights. “Just wait – you haven’t seen anything yet.”

  And that was when we were thrown into pitch darkness. We tangled together on the bed, undressing, touching, petting, kissing.

  All I knew was that it felt damn good, and I didn’t want it to stop. Not with the way one mouth was feasting on my clit, another on one nipple, and another on the other. Not with the way one finger’s pulses matched perfectly the pace of everything: fast, merciless.

  In a matter of seconds, the perfect symphony of suckling mouths and pulsing finger had my orgasm brimming in me. But they taunted it, slowed, kept it in check, stretched it maddeningly.

  “Guys,” I broke out.

  “Not so fast,” they said, and that was when I knew what they’d been waiting for – a dick slid into me.

  In and out, and someone was kissing me and someone was grasping my breasts.

  By the time it was all over, I’d lost track of how many times I’d come.

  All I knew was, as we lay in a puddle of limbs, wrapped in three different pairs of arms, that I was as happy as I knew I could be. Forever.

  Saving Sky (Sample)

  1

  Jack

  “You have to go! It’s for the Captain!” Welsh said as he clapped me on the back.

  “I know, but strip clubs aren’t really my cup of tea,” I said. “I’d rather not.”

  “Okay, it’s not a strip club, it’s a gentleman’s club,” Welsh said, emphasizing the word.

  “You realize those are the same thing, right?” I asked.

  “They are not!” Welsh shot back, horror in his expression. “There are a lot of differences!”

  “Women taking off their clothes and men watching them, that’s what they are,” I said with a laugh. “You can’t argue that.”

  “A gentleman’s club is far classier, hence the name. Everything is nicer, including the girls. So, you’re a lot more likely to find someone hot to take home than you would if you were at a strip club,” he said. There was a look on his face that told me he planned to do that very thing.

  “I don’t have any intention of even going, let alone taking any of the girls’ home,” I replied. “Seriously man, I’ve got work to do.”

  “Oh, you’re going. It’s his bachelor party! With any luck Cap’s only going to be married this one time, and you’re going to feel pretty stupid in the morning when you are the only one in the unit who didn’t show up at the party,” Welsh shook his head.

  I hesitated. He did have a point with that one. I didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t show up, and with the buzz about the party being at the club circulating through the force, I had a feeling I was the only one who wouldn’t be.

  “We’re leaving in an hour. You don’t have a lot of time to decide,” he pushed.

  “I already made up my mind,” I said. “I’m not going.”

  “That’s stupid. You are going, and you’re going to have a good time. Trust me. You can’t go to Smitty’s and not have a good time,” Welsh replied.

  “Smitty’s? He chose Smitty’s?” I asked. “Now I’m definitely not going.”

  “What’s wrong with Smitty’s?”

  “What isn’t?”

  “Jesus Jack. Quit being such a pussy. Just show up for an hour. You never know, you might want to stay longer when you see what they have on the menu and get a drink or two in you,” Welsh argued.

  I hesitated once more. I really didn’t like those venues, but he kept making good points. If I went, I didn’t have to stay for very long. I could show up, make sure Cap saw that I was there, then head home.

  “Are you just trying to get a rise out of me? Is that it?” I asked. “Seems to me like you want me there pretty bad, when we all know that you’re going to be throwing money at the strippers and ignoring the rest of us.”

  “Do you have to call them that? It’s degrading. These women are dancers. Hence why they work where they do. Show them some respect,” Welsh shook his head once more in mock disgust.

  “I’d show them plenty of respect if they kept their clothes on,” I replied. “Now finish with filing the reports from today so we can get out of here.”

  “I’m only going to hurry if you’re going to the club. We can start showing up like an hour before Cap gets there to get the table set up and shit,” Welsh rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

  “I’m working in the morning so I can’t get drunk,” I flipped through a couple folders on the desk before sliding them into a drawer.

  “You sound older than you are, Jack. Thirty-three should be your prime of life, not when you’re at home in your slippers at seven on a Friday,” Welsh gave me a look and I shrugged. My job was exhausting, an
d I didn’t often go out for drinks with friends anymore.

  It wasn’t just about being home at a certain time. I had outgrown a lot of that lifestyle. I still had a drink every now and then, but Welsh, being eight years younger than me, would far rather be out partying when he could get away with it than not.

  It was embarrassing at times. As an officer of the law, I felt we should carry ourselves with more respect, even when we were off duty. But it wasn’t my place to tell him what to do with his free time.

  He was an adult, and he could do whatever he wanted.

  “Just come for one hour. Just one!” he persisted. “I’ll even pay for you to get an Uber back home. Really.”

  I sighed, putting more files in another drawer. I hated doing paperwork, and I wanted to get it done as quickly as possible. Welsh happened to be good at it, so if I could get him off my back, we could get out of there in a matter of minutes.

  At the end of a long stint, I was ready to be off. One more day, and I could be.

  “Okay. If it’ll make you lay off and get the rest of the work done in here, I’ll go,” I said. “But I’m not going to stay very long, and I don’t want you begging me in front of everyone like a little lost puppy, either.”

  “Deal,” he said triumphantly. “But I swear as soon as we get there you aren’t going to want to leave. You’ll be right there with the best of us next to the stage, trust me.”

  “I highly doubt it.”

  “Tits and ass, my friend, and lots of it. You know you’ll like it. Hell, I know you will,” he laughed as I walked out of the office, leaving him to do the rest of the paperwork himself.

  It might be good for me to get out for a night. It had been a while.

  “I told you! I told you you’d be glad you came!” Welsh nearly shouted in my ear as we walked into the club. We didn’t get out of the office as early as he’d wanted, but we were still there before the Captain and several of the others.

  The music was blaring, making it difficult to hear what he said. There were times I didn’t think that would be a bad thing.