Crossroads 3: Gut Instinct (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

“Great shot. Gotta go.” Felicia went about taking more pictures with her cell phone.

  “That was weird,” Lidia said to Sonya.

  She just chuckled. No need to tell them that she was friends with the nutty woman snapping pictures of everyone.

  “Well, let’s mingle, honey. It was so nice seeing you again, Sonya.”

  “You too, Kenneth, and nice meeting you, Lidia. Enjoy the evening.” Sonya watched them walk away. She saw Kenneth’s hand smooth down Lidia’s back to her ass and give it a tap. So he had a girlfriend? She was so bad at reading guys’ behavior. She thought the worst of everyone.

  “Hey, was that the guy from the party a couple of weeks ago?” Selina asked Sonya as she joined her, carrying a martini.

  “Yes it was.”

  “I thought he gave you the creeps.”

  “He didn’t because I thought he was hitting on me. I even thought he was following me when he showed up Saturday morning at the bottom of the trail I run.”

  “What? Shit, maybe he is.”

  “No, he has a girlfriend. That was her with him.”

  “The tall brunette?”

  “Yep.”

  “Maybe she was just a date.”

  “No, he had his hand on her ass. I don’t think a first date would allow for that.”

  “Depends on the woman. He is a fine-looking older man with a lot of money. Some women throw themselves at men like that,” Selina added.

  “Could be. I really don’t know. I’m not that great of a judge of character apparently. He said he wanted to be friends. I guess he meant it.”

  “Do you like him at all?” Selina asked.

  “Nope.”

  Selina smiled. “That’s because three SWAT guys are always on your mind.”

  Sonya blushed.

  “I knew it. You should just go out with them and see where it leads.”

  “If they ask me to, but I have to admit they intimidate me. A lot. They’re so big, and they have all those muscles and hard expressions. I’m so quiet, laid back, and such a hermit most of the time. I mean all I do is work then go out to these types of things because of you girls. Besides, losing my brother who was a cop doesn’t make dating one, never mind three, such an easy decision.”

  “Things like that happen, but you can’t let it stand in the way of happiness. Yes, they are intimidating, and they are law enforcement, but they don’t make you fearful or make you think they could hurt you.”

  “No, definitely not.”

  “I just want to be sure you follow your gut. Especially with that Kenneth guy. There’s just something about him.”

  “I know what you mean, but I think I’m in the clear.”

  “Seems that way. Want to go meet the others?”

  “Sure.” Sonya took a sip from her apple cider drink.

  * * * *

  Kenneth gave Lidia a tap to her rear.

  “How did I do?” she asked, licking her lip and giving him a wink.

  “You did great, Lidia. As long as you do as I say and stick to the plan, you’ll get that little bonus we talked about earlier.” He leaned closer and kissed her neck. She smelled like some French whore, but she was good for the part she played. Now Sonya would think he had a girlfriend, and she would let down her guard and be friends with him. When he took Sonya and brought her home to the place she would spend the rest of her life in, she would come willingly, and then Nathan would finally be happy and their family complete.

  Lidia smiled and ran her hand up and down his chest.

  “I’ll do whatever you need me to do, Mr. Mason. Whatever, you want.” She then stood up on tiptoes and kissed the corner of his mouth, letting her tongue touch it slightly.

  I bet you will, but could you handle my idea of a lover? I doubt it.

  He had to be careful. If he used Lidia to ease his own aches and desires, he would have to get rid of her. It wasn’t a chance he was willing to take. He glanced around the party and spotted Sonya talking with her friends.

  I must be patient, and Nathan will finally get what he deserves, and perhaps I will as well.

  Chapter 3

  Sonya and her co-worker and friend Brice were sitting in the restaurant downstairs at the office building. They had a good hour extra to kill because their bosses were in a meeting outside of the office today. She was glad it was Friday. The week had dragged, and all she kept thinking about were Jay Bird, Caleb, and Big Guns. She had heard from Suzette that they had been involved in some big raid and it led to a series of secret raids all week. She even heard about them on the news, and it frightened her with worry for their safety.

  “So, have you heard from your three knights in SWAT?” Brice asked, and she chuckled.

  “No.”

  “Really? After the one guy, Big Guns, kissed you? What the hell?”

  “I told you that my friend Suzette said the team was involved in a series of secret raids.”

  “The ones on the news involving the drug house outside of the city?” he asked as then took a bite from his sandwich.

  “Yes. It sounded like it turned into them finding other locations.”

  “Damn. The last one just last night involved return gunfire.”

  “I know. I was so worried. Even now it’s hard to not think about their professions and decide if I can really take a chance and get involved with them.”

  “Why is that? You like them so much already, and obviously, they like you.”

  “I guess I feel I’m so different from them. They’re fearless and capable. I’m quiet and almost obsolete.”

  “Get the hell out of here. You are not obsolete. You’re beautiful and funny and smart, plus classy and sweet.”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you, Brice. Cass is so lucky to have snagged you.”

  He laughed and then he held her gaze. “I’m the lucky one.”

  They continued eating lunch and then headed back to the main lobby. As they walked out the doors, Brice’s cell phone rang.

  “Let me take this real quick. It’s Cass. Want to walk outside a bit before we head up?”

  She nodded as he answered the phone and told him she would meet him outside.

  She headed toward the rotating doorway and out to the front of the building. It was gorgeous out but a bit breezy. She would have to dress warm for her run tomorrow, as the temperature was colder in the mornings now with fall approaching.

  As she headed toward the large water fountain and display outside, she caught sight of a man in a suit looking at his cell phone and then at the building. She realized instantly that it was Kenneth.

  She watched him from afar. He was dressed in a designer, custom suit and held a black brief case in one hand and a cell phone in the other hand. He was standing alone and in a spot notorious for bad signals. She laughed as he cursed and had to stop herself from making fun of him, but he seemed so hard and controlling. She could tell he was frustrated as he turned in a semicircle, as if that would work. She stood up and headed toward him just as he turned toward her. His eyes lit up, and he smiled.

  “Sonya.”

  “Hi, Kenneth. What are you doing?”

  “Trying to get this message to send, but there’s something wrong with the service.”

  She smiled. “Come closer to the fountain. You’re standing in the worst spot possible.” He followed her and looked at his cell phone, and apparently the message had gone through.

  “There it goes. Wow, why the hell does that happen right there?” he asked her, and she shrugged.

  “I don’t know, but working here you learn all the strong areas for connections and the weak ones.”

  She walked back to the fountain and took a seat as he followed.

  “What are you doing out here?” he asked.

  “Oh, Brice and I just finished lunch. I was getting some fresh air before heading back inside.”

  “Brice?”

  “Hey, sorry about that. Cass made some reservations for us for dinner tonight,” Brice said, joini
ng them.

  She stood up. “Brice, meet Kenneth Mason.”

  Kenneth reached out his hand to shake Brice’s, and she could see him sizing him up. Kenneth definitely was a bit hung up on himself, and Sonya couldn’t help but to think about how Felicia spoke about Mike, her ex.

  “Hi.” Brice said, checking him out too.

  “Well, we should head back inside. It’s a bit chilly, and you left your sweater upstairs.” Brice placed his arm over her shoulder and guided her away.

  “It was nice seeing you again, Sonya. Thanks for the help with the cell phone.”

  “No problem.” She waved and headed inside with Brice.

  “Who was that guy?” he asked her.

  “That was the guy from that party a few weeks ago. The one I said was kind of weird.”

  “What? And you were talking to him?”

  “He showed up at the fall festival last weekend.”

  “Oh crap.”

  “No, he had a date. A really pretty brunette.”

  “So? That could have been a friend.”

  “Not with his hand on her ass most of the night. They were kissing and hugging. It was serious, not some fling.”

  “I guess your worry was over nothing after all.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Well, that’s a plus, and now you can move on with the SWAT guys,” he teased and gave her shoulder a nudge.

  “We’ll see, Brice. I obviously am not a very good judge of character after all.”

  He chuckled. “Nope, apparently not.”

  She gave him a shove as they headed into the elevator to get back to work.

  As she looked out the door before it closed, she spotted Kenneth, and it appeared as though he was staring right at her from outside. She got that funny sensation and then blew it off as nothing at all. He wasn’t looking at me with anger in his eyes. He probably wasn’t even looking at me, and why should I care? He has a girlfriend, and he’s not my type at all. So why does my gut clench every time he’s near or I see him? Because I’m easily intimidated, and that’s why getting involved with three huge-ass SWAT guys may not be the right thing for me to do after all. God, I’m so paranoid, and I always think the worse. Thanks, Mom, for fucking my head up for life.

  * * * *

  “Man, I’m so fucking tired. I’m already feeling this second beer,” Jay Bird said as Big Guns and Caleb chuckled.

  “Me too, but I’m hoping Sonya shows up here tonight,” Big Guns said, and then Caleb nodded toward the doorway.

  “There she is,” he said, and all three of them looked toward the entrance as Sonya arrived alone. Her friends Beverly, Joyce, Felicia, and Selina were on the other side of the bar and seemed to notice her arrival too. They all cheered, and Sonya shook her head, looking embarrassed. It seemed she hated getting attention like that.

  Jay Bird took in the sight of her. She’d obviously come from work and was dressed in a business-type suit in navy blue with matching heels and a light sweater. She looked stunning as usual, a real professional woman who was always smiling.

  She scanned the bar and then the restaurant, her eyes landing right on his, and he smiled. She stopped short of her friends as some guys said hello and one kissed her cheek. She looked annoyed about it, and he stood up from the stool.

  “You see that?” he asked Caleb and Big Guns.

  “Yup, but she’s moving on. Who are those guys?” Big Gins asked.

  “I don’t know them,” Caleb said. It was obvious they were all watching her.

  She received hellos from her friends, and as they talked, he caught her looking their way.

  “What do you think? Go over there or wait to see if she comes to us?” Big Guns asked.

  “Wait. Then we’ll know if she’s interested.

  * * * *

  Sonya was talking to her friends when she found out that one of the members of team Venom had been injured during the multiple raids, and even Jay Bird had some bruises and cuts on his arm. She was immediately worried about them, so she excused herself to go see the guys. They had been watching her but hadn’t come over. She hoped they weren’t angry for the way she’d left the fundraiser last weekend at the police station.

  She made her way through the crowded bar and came up behind them. It amazed her how big, tall, and muscular they each were. They stood out in a crowd, and she couldn’t help but be turned on by that. She was shy, average, and really didn’t have much to offer them, yet the pull to be close to them, to soak in their scents, their charismatic, strong personalities, and their touch was becoming difficult to ignore.

  She reached out to touch Jay Bird’s arm, but he already turned around and looked down at her. He gave a half-smile, and she instantly knew she had hurt their feelings last week.

  “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Hi, Sonya,” he replied, and the tension, the attraction, was potent.

  She swallowed kind of hard, finding it difficult to talk to him, to them, when they looked so good and sexy in their collared shirts, with sleeves rolled up to their elbows exposing bulging forearm muscles.

  “How are you? I heard that you guys had a very intense week at work.”

  “Intense is putting it mildly,” Caleb said with his arms crossed standing to the side of Jay Bird.

  Big Guns moved in behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She gasped, closed her eyes, and teetered a moment. This was so unreal, to have such strong intense feelings for three men at once. She felt desperate for them to touch her and be close.

  Jay Bird stepped closer, placing his hands on her hips. She was sandwiched between him and Big Guns, and she was thankful for the heels. Not that they helped that much. Her face was level with Jay Bird’s chest.

  “We missed you.” He held her gaze and stared at her with an expression that seemed to be holding on to a thread of hope she would feel the same way.

  “I missed you too.”

  He released a long sigh. Was that relief? It sure made her feel like that was what he felt. His hands caressed from her hips to her ribs but stopped short of the underside of her breasts. She wished he hadn’t. Then she realized they were in Crossroads, not alone somewhere safe, where she could tell them that she wanted them and wanted to take the chance and let them make love to her first. She gulped just thinking about their reaction. How would they feel that she was a virgin? Would it turn them off, scare them off, or even make them feel as if she was immature for waiting until now, twenty-five years old?

  The sound of roaring laughter broke the trance the four of them seemed to be under. Big Jay released her shoulders, Caleb took a sip from his beer, and Jay Bird began to release her hips and step back, but she felt desperate to not break the physical contact. Sonya reached up and ran her palms along his chest then pressed up against him. She held his gaze, felt his hands smooth along her hips to her ass, and press her tighter against him, and he met her lips with his. She kissed him first, took from his lips and then deepened the kiss until she heard someone clear his throat, and slowly, she and Jay Bird stopped kissing. He sat back on the stool, taking her with him between his thighs, and she hugged him tightly, kept her face against his chest, and inhaled his scent. His hands massaged, caressing her ass and her back. Then she looked up as she felt the fingers gently trace her jaw, and she locked gazes with Caleb.

  His deep green eyes looked so intense. She felt that magnetic pull and lifted back away from Jay Bird, who continued to hold her close.

  “I missed you too.” He clutched her chin then leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was slow, lingering, as he tasted from her lips and brought out a soft, quiet moan before he released them. When he did, he held her gaze and, very seriously, with Jay Bird’s palms over her ass lying flat and possessive and Big Guns caressing her back, told her what he wanted from her.

  “I’ve never felt this way before, nor have my brothers, and I don’t believe that you have either. Come home with us. I want to feel more of it. I want all of you, Sony
a.”

  “The three of us do, baby,” Big Guns said to her and kissed the top of her head.

  “Say yes,” Caleb whispered, and her heart hammered and her stomach felt excited, and overall, her gut instinct said yes, to trust them and to take this chance at happiness for once in her life. Still, there were reservations, fears. She really didn’t know them that well, and they didn’t know her, what her fears were, what made her so quiet, shy, and feel so obsolete. All she knew was that, in their arms, this close to them, she didn’t feel anything but pleasure, a sense of belonging, and happy. Maybe none of the other things mattered anymore because Caleb, Big Guns, and Jay Bird had the power to take them away. Even if it were for just one night.

  Caleb raised his one eyebrow up at her, waiting for her response.

  “Yes,” she whispered, and then she hugged Jay Bird and exhaled in relief and excitement to feel of his hands caressing her ass and then her back as he hugged her tightly.

  * * * *

  Caleb took Sonya’s hand and brought it to his lips as they all headed out of Crossroads. They decided that Caleb would drive along with her in her car and follow Jay Bird and Big Guns’s truck as they headed to their place.

  “Afraid I’ll change my mind and not go home with you guys?” she asked, her voice cracking. He hid his smile. She was feeling as strongly as he was. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it as he held her gaze.

  “We’re not taking any chances. A week without seeing you, touching you, was too much, and especially after this week we had with work.”

  She smiled softly as they got to her car. She hit unlock, and they both got into the car.

  Caleb pointed as he saw the bright lights when the big black truck appeared and he knew it was Jay Bird and Big Guns. She pulled out and followed the truck.

  Caleb absorbed the scent of her shampoo and perfume. Even her car smelled like her, sweet, sensual, and sexy. He couldn’t resist touching her as he leaned a little closer in her small car and ran his hand along her knee. He felt her shaking.

  “Relax, Sonya, we’re going to take our time with you. We want this to last.”