Candy Ever After (Hot Candy Book 2)

by Jo Raven

I’m half out of my chair already, blood rushing in my ears. “What did I say? I didn’t mean to upset anyone.”

  “It’s not you, Candy Pop.” Jet struggles to shove Joel off. He fails and sighs, leaning into the other man. “I’m fine.”

  “You could talk to me,” Joel suggests. “About your family.”

  “Nah. I’m too sober for this shit.” Jet glances at me and away, but not before I see a shadow cross his gaze.

  “Fucker…” Joel shakes his head and sighs. “Then let’s cook. You chop up the onions, I hope they make you fucking cry, and Candy…” He waves a hand at me imperiously, and I smile uncertainly as I walk to take my place on his other side. “You cut up the bell peppers while I find the rest of the ingredients.”

  “What are we making?” I ask, trying not to stare at Jet’s somber profile, or his sexy body—or Joel’s for that matter. Besides, chopping the red bell pepper requires all my attention, unless I want to chop off my fingers, too. This knife’s sharp.

  “Chili con carne, Joel style.” He’s rummaging in the fridge, and I can’t help but look at his firm ass.

  “Ow.” Didn’t I know it? A line of blood appears on my finger. “Shit.”

  “Let me see that.” Jet grabs my hand. “You’ll survive. Let me bring you a Band-Aid.”

  “You okay, girl?” Joel stares from me to Jet and back. “You sure? You okay about everything?”

  “Uh huh.” I nod, smiling. “Okay about everything. Hey, what about the bananas? Are we going to eat those?”

  “That’s desert. With vanilla ice cream. Meanwhile…” He grabs a pot and puts it on the stove. “Wanna learn how to make my patented chili? Watch and learn, baby girl. Watch and learn.”

  ***

  After the heavenly chili and the divine dessert, I pass out again—more gradually this time—curled up on the couch between them. Thank God I remembered to text Brylee earlier about not going home tonight.

  I doze off on Joel’s padded shoulder, then wake up at night to find my head on Jet’s leg. Next time I wake up I’m sandwiched between them—and the next time, Jet is gone.

  I know he’s gone because Joel is facing me, snoring softly, and there’s nobody else on the couch with us.

  “Joel.” I hesitate, then shake his shoulder. “Wake up.”

  “Mmf?” He blinks owlishly at me. He’s resting his head on his bulging biceps, and my mouth waters just a little. “Wha?”

  “Jet. He’s gone.”

  “Gone where?” He sits up, scanning the dim room. “He left the apartment?”

  “I don’t know. He’s not with us here, on the couch.”

  “Shit.” He slumps back, lies down beside me. “Jet doesn’t sleep much. He’s probably drawing, or playing games on his phone or something.”

  “Why?”

  Joel shrugs, brows pulling together in a frown. “Nightmares. Stress. Anxiety.”

  “Oh.” I worry my lip between my teeth. “Can I help?”

  Joel shakes his head in the negative. “I don’t know.”

  It’s way too early in the morning to think straight. The sky is still dark outside the windows, and it’s chilly. I burrow closer to Joel for warmth, and he throws an arm over me, drawing me closer to his chest. He’s sporting some morning wood, but he doesn’t seem to be thinking of anything sexual as he lies there, gaze distant as if thinking, his arm heavy over my ribs.

  “Does it have to do with what he started saying earlier, in the kitchen?” Joel gives me a hooded look, but I forge on. “About his parents. You told me once that he’s been through a lot. What did you mean?”

  He stares at me, a strange sadness in his pretty eyes. “That’s not my story to tell.”

  “Joel…” I’m frustrated. They’re my boys, especially now, in the dark hours of dawn when I can pretend we have something more than wild sex. “If he’s in pain, I need to know, so that I can help him.”

  He’s studying my face, seeking something. I’m not sure what it is, but after a long moment, he seems to find it, and he nods. “You like him. You’re starting to care for him.”

  For both of you, I want to say. I want to grab Joel and kiss the hell out of him, shake him and shout in his face that he’s winning me over every day with his sweet concern for both Jet and myself, but I just nod.

  “Jet’s mom is from Australia, but they moved to the States, East Coast, when he was ten. Then he moved here to Madison when he turned seventeen. That’s when I met him. He was my classmate at school.” Joel draws a long breath. “Something happened to him when he was younger, here or earlier in Australia. He won’t talk about it. But he told me once that his father was a violent man, and fuck, I don’t even want to imagine what he might have been through.”

  I lift a hand to his face, stroke his cheekbone. “You took care of him, didn’t you?”

  “We’ve been friends since we met. We have each other’s backs. He doesn’t open up easily, but he’s honest and true. He’s like a brother to me.” He opens his mouth, closes it.

  It’s obvious Jet is much more to him than a brother. The way he looks at him is so hot, it could burn tracks in the air, but it’s not my place to point that out.

  “So he has been living here? With his parents?”

  “Never met his parents. He came here to live with his cousins, and I’m damn glad he did. He used to have very bad nightmares when we first moved in together. They got better over time, but lately… Lately they’ve come back.”

  “Maybe the phone call from his cousin has something to do with it?”

  “What phone call?” He’s suddenly wide awake, gaze boring into mine. “The hell? Did he say that to you?”

  “No, but I overheard him talking and he seemed upset. Why, is there a problem with his cousin?”

  “I don’t know. Dammit.” He closes his eyes briefly. “But I’ll find out.”

  PART III

  Honey Fuck or Bunny Fuck? That is the Question

  Chapter Twenty

  JOEL

  “I live with my cousin,” he says. “Can’t afford a place of my own yet.”

  I consider his frown. “Well, I’m looking for a roommate. I can cover the rent for now. You can start paying your part when you get a job.” When he hesitates, I press on. “It’d be fun. And we can play videogames all night.”

  Not sure why it’s so important to me that he say yes. Other than the fact he’s my best buddy, that is. Maybe it’s because I’m not entirely sure his cousin’s house is a good place to be. From Jet’s few mumbled comments, I got the impression the cousin’s parents aren’t much better than Jet’s.

  “Fine,” Jet says, and groans when I slap his back. “You sure about this, dude?”

  “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

  And I mean it.

  His cousin called him, and he didn’t tell me. He was upset, Candy says. What the fuck happened, and when will he fucking talk to me?

  I’m not a random stranger, I’m his best friend, I’m… I’m the guy he has jacked off with, for chrissakes. The guy he had threesomes with at least twice in the past few days.

  What more is needed for a guy to earn himself some trust? What do I have to do, suck him off?

  A burn starts in my neck, spreading to my face at the thought. The mental image of Jet thrusting his dick into my mouth shouldn’t turn me on.

  My mind’s fucked-up right now. I’m generally turned on—by Candy, the threesome, watching the two of them fuck… It’s all jumbled up inside my head.

  And after waking up a second time to find Candy scrambling to get dressed, with Jet already gone from the apartment, I want to hit something. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep. I should have gone to find him last night, asked him what his cousin said.

  Dared him to deny it. Pushed him a little. I missed my chance. Of course, there’s always tonight. Need a plan. Need…

  Need what? What am I gonna do, push him against the wall and demand an explanation? Demand full disclosure? Like I’m his boyfriend or somet
hing?

  Have I gone nuts? Too much sex too soon. That must be it. It’s melting my brain and frying my gray cells. If Jet doesn’t want to talk, then that’s his business.

  Pissed at the world and at myself, I roll out of bed—well, off the sofa, almost faceplanting—and march into the bathroom to shower and get ready for another day at the fucking office.

  God, I hate working there. Even after the misunderstanding with the boss was resolved, I feel uneasy in my skin. Like he’s watching me.

  Totally paranoid, I know, and that shit’s getting old now. It’s been more than a year since the scandal, and although quite a few people on campus were giving me the side-eye then, nobody seems to know my face at work, which is fine by me.

  Fuck, if my dad knew about it… I’d find myself disowned.

  So what, right? Wouldn’t be the first or the last person to have a fallout with his parents. I know.

  And yet. I can’t imagine that—being rootless. Homeless in a sense, even if you have a roof over your head. I remember how pissed off they’d been at my sister when she started dating a guy who’d lived on the street before, a guy who didn’t meet their high standards.

  Imagine finding out their son was photographed with his dick out, jerking off as two girls had sex on a couch.

  Or even worse, that now he’s getting too comfortable with his roommate. That he has threesomes on his couch.

  Yeah, they wouldn’t hold back, like they did with Evie. It sounds damn awful to say this, but they never expected much from her. They sure expect everything from me—to be the perfect son, with the perfect job, perfect magazine spread life, the golden American boy.

  Their custom-made son.

  At least there’s this new sports project the boss has assigned me that’s taking my mind off all this mess. I’m still getting familiar with it, studying the files and the sponsors, trying to arrange some meetings. Can’t deny I’m excited to be given this opportunity.

  If only I could relax.

  Man, I wish I could spend my days writing stories, watching Jet draw them into amazing comics. We could sell them. Why the hell not? Why do I have to have a nine-to-five office job like everyone else?

  Christa from the marketing room is laughing as I pass, peering at me over her coffee mug, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because of me. If she happened on the picture online.

  It could still be floating on the interwebs. Or someone who saved it back then could post it again. People I thought were my friends back then had a kick out of plastering the photo all over the place. Hunting down every single one and doing my best to take it down was a nightmare.

  I trust Ellen not to do anything stupid like tell her friends about it, but what about her girlfriend? Her new girlfriend that I barely know.

  Christa is definitely staring at me as I pass by again. She winks.

  Fuck, I’m getting claustrophobic in here. Can’t wait for this day to end.

  ***

  Despite wanting to leave as early as possible, I stay late at the office, sorting through the papers and folders. The project’s goal is to collaborate with athletes of the region to promote a new brand of biodegradable sports products. The idea is to also involve environmental NGOs, charities, schools and sports clubs.

  It’s a big deal. A lot of money is needed. A lot of work required. And I wanna do this. For many reasons.

  By the time I decide my brain won’t process anything else and clock out, loosening my tie and rubbing at my itchy eyes, it’s dark and windy outside. I’m driving to the bookshop to pick up Jet and Candy, on full autopilot, when the reality of what I’m doing hits me.

  Going to pick up my girl and my boy.

  Okay, rewind. Let’s not get carried away, okay? This makes it sound like a routine. Like a relationship. And it’s not. We’re just friends. Who fuck.

  What? No. Wait. I fuck Candy. Jet is just my buddy. And Candy is just a pretty girl I happen to like and fuck and who might be my girlfriend one day.

  Putting things in context helps gain fucking clarity.

  Scowling at nothing, I park and jump out of the car to reach the bookshop. There’s no guarantee Candy wants to come back with us again tonight. That what happened the last few nights will repeat itself. And I shouldn’t care.

  I look through the glass façade. The Closed sign is on, but I can see Candy and Jet sitting in the corner, in those comfy armchairs they have for the customers, heads bent over a book.

  What are they doing?

  I knock on the door and their heads come up—one dark, one blond, two pairs of eyes tracking me.

  I really shouldn’t feel warmth spread in my chest when they both grin at me. My heart shouldn’t speed up and my pants grow tight.

  Fuck.

  Jet is the first one to get up, putting the book quickly away. In fact, he slips it behind his back, like a kid caught with the cookie jar in his hands, and whirls about to shove it between other books on a shelf, his shoulders rising and falling fast, like he’s breathing hard.

  I frown at him, but meanwhile Candy all but jumps on me, wrapping her arms and legs around me, and my frown melts into a grin as her body collides with mine.

  Jesus, this girl. I’m spinning her around and laughing like I’m on drugs before I know what I’m doing, and it feels right. I feel… happy.

  And then Jet joins us, grabbing me from behind, spinning me, too, and I feel… content. No, not content, wrong word.

  Complete.

  In degrees, I come to a stop and put Candy down, then turn to ruffle Jet’s hair, still grinning, my heart still pounding. Jet’s smile is wide and bright. Genuine. Can’t remember the last time I got a real smile out of him, one that reaches his eyes.

  Complete. What the hell does this mean? Why does my chest feel full, fit to burst?

  Refusing to analyze it for now, in a sudden hurry to get them both home, I tug on their arms, herding them out.

  It’s only when we reach my car I realize I haven’t even asked Candy if she wants to come along.

  “Girl.” I turn to find her and Jet holding hands, and fuck if that doesn’t make me smile—again—and man, what’s wrong with me? “Are you coming home with us tonight?”

  “You mean she has a life outside of this thing between us?” Jet mutters, his smile turning into a darker grin, one that tells me he’s unsure of himself. He’s always brasher when he’s unsettled. “We know you have a roommate. How many people do we have to compete with?”

  “You kidding me? What other life?” She waves a hand back and forth, her brown eyes sparkling. “I’ve wanted you guys for so long.”

  Jet glances at me, a slight frown pinching his features. Then he chuckles. “For so long. Like, for almost two weeks.”

  Two weeks. Just that? It feels like so much longer.

  Which makes it even stranger that I’m so comfortable with her. Like she’s part of the family now.

  Alarm bells go off in the back of my mind, but hell if I know what they mean, and besides, she’s talking again.

  “About that other life… You’re right, I need to go to my apartment first, grab a few things, see how Brylee is doing. Can I still come afterward?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Jet huffs, rolls his eyes. “Can she, J?”

  “Maybe. If she brings ice cream.”

  She laughs. It’s a delicious sound. “Will do.”

  “And don’t you dare put on contact lenses,” I tell her. “I want you in those sexy-ass glasses!”

  She flushes. “Yes, sir. Meet you guys in maybe two hours? I’ll ring the bell. Don’t get too distracted with each other to hear it.”

  “Distracted?” I mutter.

  But she’s already dragging Jet to my car and pushing him inside. She’s talking to him about… Harry Potter?

  Huh.

  He’s smiling again, though, that secret, real smile, and I shake my head as I settle behind the wheel. Chattering away like kids. About a children’s book. With wizards and shit.<
br />
  Something Jet has never done, from what little he’s let slip about his past. Something he’d never allow himself to do a few weeks ago.

  Lower his defenses. Allow himself to play. Let himself be young for a change. He sometimes feels so much older than his twenty-one years.

  Of course, the thought of him playing brings back the memory of him fucking himself with the vibrator, and I hiss as my dick hardens.

  Boundaries, right? Context? Clarity?

  Yeah, whatever, man. I don’t know which way is up and which down anymore, and that’s the goddamn truth.

  ***

  Jet is quiet as we ride the elevator upstairs and enter our apartment. I want to ask what he’s doing with Candy late at the shop every day, reading Harry Potter of all things, but his silence puts me on edge, and I just flop on my bed, closing my eyes for a bit.

  I’m tired. Can’t settle on a single thought. And I’m still hard, dammit. Resting my eyes for a minute sounds like a good idea. Then I’ll see if we can order some takeout and…

  Sleep drags me under, even as I struggle to fight it. Darkness presses, heavy, on me and I sink through the mattress, sucked out into the void.

  Arms close around me, sending me into a spiral across empty space. It’s warm, though, and the arms make me feel safe.

  The darkness clears, and I’m standing in a room with plush furnishings. Velvet sofas and tasseled lamps, lit candles set on the low tables, like a turn of the century brothel, all done in red and gold.

  Jet is there. He’s sprawled on one of the sofas, naked, a muscular leg carelessly thrown over an armrest.

  Stroking himself. His eyes are closed, he hasn’t seen me, but he’s whispering something. I can see his lips moving.

  A hot surge of arousal has my dick hardening. I grip it as I watch him. He’s beautiful, lean and strong, his dark hair in messy spikes, his thick cock in his hand.

  I reach down for my hard-on and am not surprised to find I’m naked, too. Gripping my dick feels good. Watching him jack off feels good.

  I take a step forward, to see him better, to sit down with him, when space shifts. The darkness rolls as if someone is shaking a dark snow globe and all the black glitter is swirling around us.