The Crime of Protection

by Gloria Martin

  Olivia

  The music began to pulse right through me as soon as my sparkly, sequined costume was plastered on my body. When I got dressed, I felt ready, I felt like a new, incredibly sexy character—one that I loved to share with the world.

  This was why burlesque dancing was so perfect for me. I felt like I could be a better, more exciting version of myself, and I got to show that side of me to the rest of the world. It was exhilarating and a whole lot of fun.

  I knew that Max was going to be out there watching me tonight, and the horny feeling that gave me took me to a whole new level of sensuality. When he was in the audience, the show became about me and him. Everyone else simply melted into the background.

  Luckily, it wasn’t long before I heard the announcer calling me on to the stage, because another few moments and I may have driven myself crazy with desire.

  “… and next up is Karma!” I used a typical, fun-loving stripper-style name even though everyone knew my real identity. I found that it helped me get into the mindset that I needed to be.

  I pursed my lips, pushed out my breasts and placed my hands resolutely on my hips. I always did a good show, and I was determined that tonight would be no different.

  “Okay Olivia.” I whispered to myself. “Let’s do this.”

  As I stepped out into the lights, shaking my hips in time with the music, I flicked my eyes over the crowd, wanting to find him right away. I didn’t break character or my routine; I simply included my search for him as a part of it. As soon as I located him, I knew that I’d be able to really get into it. As I was making it good for him, it was better for the rest of the audience too, and I intended to utilize this as much as possible.

  But my eyes didn’t connect with his dark ones right away. Before they could find him, they managed to land on a pair of green sparkly ones instead.

  Jace.

  I gulped down, spinning, trying to distract myself from him, but I kept getting drawn back like a magnet. I wasn’t sure what it was about Jace, but he had me mesmerized. He always had since I’d very first met him. It was horribly complicated, and I found it a massive bug bear in my relationship. Sometimes it was difficult to be around Jace because of it—I was afraid that it was totally obvious, and that terrified me.

  I liked Max a whole lot—my feelings for him ran really deep—nothing could change that, but I couldn’t deny to myself that Jace gave me an intense frisson of excitement too. I hated it. It felt like a betrayal, and I would never admit it out loud, but there was definitely something there. If I hadn’t met Max, then maybe I would explore it, but I had, so I wouldn’t.

  He would always be an unknown to me, and I would have to accept that.

  I suddenly realized that Max was standing next to Jace, that he had been the entire time, and a humiliated blush radiated through my entire body.

  Shit!

  I tried to up the ante of my dance, to detract from my awful treachery right in front of my boyfriend. I couldn’t believe that I’d just gotten caught out. I was suddenly terrified of what the consequences were going to be—I didn’t want to lose Max over a fantasy. And that was all that Jace was. Even if we broke up, he was off limits now. I didn’t want that stupid lax moment to end things for me, not when they’d been going so damn well.

  Stupid, stupid, stupid!

  *****

  Max

  “Where to next?” Bry—the self proclaimed leader of our motorbike gang—yelled loudly over the music. He was one of those super tough guys that you just didn’t fuck with, but deep down he was kind-hearted and lovely. He was over-protective of all of us, and fiercely loyal. He’d helped me a lot when I started exploring my bisexuality, and I would always be grateful to him for that.

  I sent him a thankful smile, noticing that he’d somehow managed to read my mind yet again.

  Once Olivia had finished dancing, and we’d seen a few more of the girls, he was ready to move the party on to somewhere else, and to be honest, so was I. There was a bizarre atmosphere in the air, and I wanted to get away from it. I wanted to escape to somewhere new, somewhere with a clean slate so that I could sort my head out.

  I’d spotted the moment between Jace and Liv—I’d have been an idiot to miss it—and it had made me feel all weird inside. I hadn’t felt angry and betrayed, like I probably should have. Instead I’d wished that they would be more open about it, so that I could be involved. I wanted to be a part of it, not someone ignored on the outskirts. It hurt that they seemed to see me as just that—even though I completely understood. Neither of them were mind readers and I hadn’t told them my feelings, but my emotions didn’t understand logic, and right now with booze flooding my system, I couldn’t seem to get that under control.

  I needed to get as far away from it all as possible. I was growing increasingly intoxicated, and I didn’t want that to impact on how the night played out. I was aware that I could go either way with what I did next, and I didn’t want to do it thoughtlessly. I didn’t want to do anything that could have long term effects, anything that I would regret tomorrow.

  “That German place?” I heard myself slur. “The heavy metal place?”

  “Sounds good.” The guys all agreed quickly, which pleased me. I didn’t want to go through the usual hour of debate, I just needed an out, and I needed one now.

  I could feel Jace’s eyes carefully trained upon me, but I refused to look at him. He didn’t need to know that he was putting me through an emotional rollercoaster. In fact, him finding that out would cause all kinds of trouble—and that was the opposite of what I needed.

  “You guys go on if you want, I’ll wait for Liv.” I wanted a moment to myself, to get my head together, but it didn’t seem like I was going to be granted that.

  “I’ll wait with you.” I heard Jace stating, sending everyone else on their way. Him remaining behind with me was going to cause me all kinds of issues, I was dizzy in his presence—how was I supposed to organize my thoughts in that environment?

  “Anything you want to tell me?” He asked as soon as we were alone. I shook my head firmly, not trusting myself to speak and I heard him sigh deeply. He was disappointed in me for closing off, and that saddened me, but not enough to change my mind. My lips were going to remain firmly shut no matter what.

  Luckily, before anything else could happen, Olivia breezed over to us, seemingly totally unaware of the tension that was flowing between us.

  “Okay guys?” She said hurriedly. “Are you ready to go?”

  We both nodded mutely, and she set about ushering us outside. She chatted incessantly, trying to cover up the silence, but I managed to tune the most of it out.

  And then we started the most awkward cab ride of our entire lives. I wasn’t sure if the others were feeling weird because of their over-the-top eye contact, or if it was me making them feel that way, but whatever it was, I could feel my mood darkening considerably until I was all the way into pissed off.

  *****

  Jace

  After the horrific cab ride, we entered the club clumsily, none of us quite knowing where we stood with one another or what we should say.

  At first, we’d joined the other guys, all sitting around a large table which managed to defuse some of the tension, but as time passed and people separated off into small groups, we found ourselves alone once more.

  As the night wore on, Max grew increasingly grumpy the more he drank. Olivia and I tried to work out what was wrong, but he wouldn’t tell us anything. I had the horrible sneaking suspicion that he was beginning to think that I had feelings for him, and that devastated me. I didn’t want that to destroy the friendship that we had, but I wasn’t sure what I could do to stop him from hating me for the way I was feeling. I didn’t even think the feeble excuse that I couldn’t stop it would help.

  As he stomped off to the bathroom, after some unexpected harsh words with Olivia, I turned to see the distressed look on her face, and I couldn’t resist trying to comfort her. I threw my arm
around her shoulder and pulled her in close to me. The way she felt against my body was incredible, she felt really right there, but I couldn’t focus on that. This was about Max. I needed to shut my emotions down as much as possible, if only for five minutes.

  “He’ll be alright.” I said, comfortingly. “It’s probably just one of his moods…” I tried to act like I knew what I was on about, but realistically Max’s emotions were a minefield of confusion to me.

  “I just feel like he’s hiding something from me.” She jumped in, clearly exasperated. “It’s making it very difficult for me to be with him.”

  I made an agreeable noise, not really sure what I should say. I wasn’t sure what he was hiding from her, so I couldn’t exactly give any advice. I really hoped that she wasn’t going to ask for my opinion on anything to do with their relationship – I already felt like I was too heavily involved.

  “I don’t know.” She ran her fingers through her hair in a pissed off gesture. “Sometimes I think it would be easier if… if…” The way she was looking up at me showed me exactly what she was thinking about. The same thing that I’d spent months pondering.

  She was wondering what it would be like to be with me. She was considering what would have happened if she’d met me first.

  I don’t know who made the first move, only that we couldn’t keep apart for another second. Before another beat from the drum could ring out, we were making out like horny teenagers. It felt amazing to finally give into the temptation that had been hanging over us forever. So much so, that we didn’t even acknowledge the rest of the world, until a gasp from Max. We jumped apart like being struck by lightning. We'd be caught. Oh fuck.

  I flicked my eyes between everyone, inescapable panic rising up through my chest. As if I hadn’t done enough damage, now this? What the hell was wrong with me?!

  “Liv? Jace?” Max’s eyes darted between us both, as if he couldn’t quite believe the betrayal. My heart was racing, my mind whirring, trying to come up with an excuse, but I couldn’t because of course there wasn’t one.

  I’d fucked it. I’d ruined everything. Why couldn’t I just keep my fantasies in my mind? Why did I have to ruin my best friend’s relationship? Did I really have no self control?

  I waited tentatively, expecting him to blow at any moment. I half wanted to grab Olivia’s hand, to comfort her through it all, but I knew that action would be incredibly inappropriate. I knew that would make it so much worse. We would have to just wait until he made up his mind what he was going to do next.

  He stepped closer, and it took all that I had to not recoil. If he was going to punch me, then I was going to have to take it. I deserved it after all.

  But then I watched as he leant across and kissed Olivia with a fierce passion, before taking a step back and doing the same to me. Fireworks exploded in my stomach as his lips crashed into mine after a lifetime of wanting, and my body screamed out in fervor, unable to believe what was happening.

  “Come on.” He murmured with a clear fire in his eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”

  I shot Olivia a disbelieving look, before spotting the same hooded, desire filled expression in her face as she nodded.

  That was when I realized what was about to happen. All of my unexpected dreams were about to come true.

  We were all going home. All three of us. Something was going to happen between us all. I was going to get to explore Olivia and Max in what was clearly going to be the best damn night of my whole life…

  *****

  Olivia

  Of all that I’d been expecting the moment I realized that Max had caught me making out with Jace, him inviting us back to his home together was the last of it. But as we sat in the cab, my mind whirring, I came to the conclusion that it actually made perfect sense.

  That moment after he’d kissed us both, that was the real him. The side of himself that he’d been hiding was the bit that was attracted to men—a secret that I found incredibly sexy. I’d never been a part of a threesome before, and I’d never knowingly dated a bisexual man, but I was more than happy to experiment. Particularly with these two hunks who I found extremely attractive in their own rights. I’d been attracted to both these guys for a while now, and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was getting to act upon that.

  As we pulled up outside of Max’s loft, I began to feel all kinds of excited—a level I’d never experienced before. This was a place that I’d been hundreds of times before, but I’d never felt quite this exhilarated about it. This night could have easily gone bad, and I was so, so glad that it was this way. I was so grateful that I was on my way to having all kinds of fun.

  “Shall we?” Max grinned, looking happier than I’d seen him in a very long time, indicating for me to go indoors. I was pleased to see him so over the moon, I was glad that I could that for him. I was happy to finally be able to see a clearer version of the guy I liked so damn much.

  I followed behind Jace, in the middle of these two men, wondering if either of them could feel how loud my heart was pounding. I wondered if either of them were as nervous and excited as I was.

  We’d barely made it into the living room, before Max spun me around and began kissing me passionately. The way he kissed was different to Jace, just as amazing and it turned me on just as much, but his technique was less passion-filled and needy, it was more sensual and demanding.

  As I thought about Jace standing behind us, just watching, I realized that Max was totally in control of this situation. We would both be following his lead tonight, to see where it would lead. He’d found us in a betray cinch, and he’d decided to take things to this level, rather than to fight. Myself and Jace were both going to be putty in his hands tonight, and I was pretty sure that he knew it.

  And as if to confirm that thought, Max spun me around, and offered me to Jace, as if I were his property. Instead of feeling offended by this crazy gesture, I was thrilled.

  Jace stepped tentatively towards me, as if he wasn’t quite sure if this was a test or not, before resting his hands slowly on my hips. I stepped towards him, tugging him into me. I knew that Max wanted this—I was certain that he wouldn’t have started it if he didn’t—and the red hot desire burning furiously in my stomach wanted to get this show on the road. I couldn’t wait for any of this, I needed them both and I needed them now.

  As Jace and I kissed, I felt Max’s hands trailing up my thighs. He roughly tugged my panties to one side, and began exploring my wet, hot desire in the way that he knew I liked. We may have only been together for a few months, but that time had been filled with sexual experimentation and he knew my body extremely well. He knew how to get me going, better than I knew myself.

  “Oh, God.” I panted into Jace’s mouth as he pushed his rock hard erection up against my leg. He felt amazing, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have him inside of me. I knew how fantastic Max would feel, and I couldn’t wait for that, but Jace was something new and I needed more of him too.

  “Come on.” I heard Max gasp from behind me, clearly turned on by the scene that was unraveling in front of him. “Let’s go to my bedroom.”

  *****

  Max

  As we walked purposely to my room, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. I’d started off this night feeling all wrong, at odds with myself, but it had managed to turn out amazing. Somehow one of the worst nights of my life, had become my best.

  As soon as I’d spotted Jace and Liv kissing in that nightclub, I knew that I could react one of two ways, and I’d been smart in my decision. Somehow, I’d just guessed that they were both up for it. I didn’t think Jace would be willing to wreck our friendship unless the stakes were high, and as soon as our lips had connected, I realized that he was into me too. He may have been a straight man, but there was a part of him that wanted to see what was between us, just as much as I did. I couldn’t believe how much time I’d wasted trying to avoid anything between us, but in that moment it was all worth it. I wouldn’t
have changed all of this for the world.

  As soon as we were by the bed, I watched Liv sit down on the sheets looking expectantly at me. She knew that since she and Jace had effectively betrayed me—not that I minded—that I would be calling the shots, and that made me feel sexy and powerful all at once. I loved being in the dominating role, it made me feel incredibly masculine, so I was glad that on top of everything else, I was getting that too.

  Using this new knowledge that I was in charge, I pulled Jace towards me by the cuff of his t-shirt and began to kiss him once more. One time was not enough; I needed to feel him again. I needed to confirm that it hadn’t just been chemistry in the heat of the moment.

  As an involuntary moan quickly escaped his lips, and I instantly knew it was a two-way street, so I tugged his t-shirt over his head, then quickly removed mine too.

  His fit body was amazing, he had muscles everywhere and I found it difficult to keep his eyes off of him. I knew that he took care of himself, but I had no idea just how great his body was. I could hear Liv gasp loudly in delight at all of the nudity surrounding her, but even that wasn’t enough to drag my eyes off of him. Instead, I just continued to undress, and Jace followed my lead.

  Once we were both fully naked, we took a second to drink in one another’s full appearance. I feared that this may be a step too far, that it may push Jace over the edge and away from me, but he continued to look as turned on as I felt, which sent blots of desire racing through me. I was glad that all of this newness wasn’t freaking him out—his rejection might have just killed me.

  Then we both climbed onto the bed on either side of Liv, and started to work her body, finally giving her the attention that she deserved.

  As Jace tugged her dress over her head, I ran kisses over her thighs, as I tugged down her panties, he explored her with his fingers almost trembling with what she had to offer, as he unhooked her bra, I tugged and teased her nipples with my mouth, sending her wild with pleasure.