by Lily Harlem
“I’m here.”
She looked over her right shoulder. Dale was sat in the back wearing a white, open-collared shirt and a plain black lightweight jacket. Shadows sliced over his face and his hands were clasped in his lap.
“We didn’t think the van was appropriate for a date,” he said.
So it was a date. “I…okay…yes…I suppose.” She closed her mouth and pressed her lips together to stop herself from waffling, but kept her attention on him.
The right side of his mouth tilted into a smile. “I’m glad you agreed to come out with us.”
“Me too.” She nodded. He was slightly hesitant with her, she could tell. What had happened, the kiss, had affected him. She needed to find out in what way and fix it, if she could.
Jackson dropped into the driver’s seat. He wore aftershave, something tangy and masculine, a little peppery too. His stubble was neater than usual, as if he’d made an effort to smarten up. And boy had it worked. The guy was sex on legs, if the muscular, inked, huge sort was the order of the day, which it certainly was for her.
“I’ve booked a table,” Jackson said, pulling into the traffic. “A little French restaurant, not far from here.”
“Perfect.” She tore her attention from him. “Is this your car?”
“Yeah…well, company car anyway.”
“What do you do?” She realized she had no idea. She always thought of Jackson as a boxer, but of course he had a day job away from the gym, the way they all did.
“I’m an IT consultant, currently working with some major travel firms.”
“Sounds interesting.”
He threw her a grin. “Yeah, it is, but mainly it pays the bills and gives me time to train.”
“And training takes up a lot of time.”
“It does.”
Again she looked at his tendon-rich forearms as he held the steering wheel. She would never have guessed he sat at a computer for his day job. Dale worked in construction so he was physical, using his bulk to shift concrete and bricks around. But Jackson…he’d surprised her.
Dale leaned forward. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Yes, very.” She smiled and tried not to think of the huge linguine she’d had earlier. Eating out twice in one day was an absolute rarity for her, but she’d manage.
“Good, because I’m starving,” Dale said, leaning back again.
Chapter Nine
Silence filled the car. Jenny racked her brains for something to say, but rather than saying something wrong, she decided to remain quiet, at least until they were all sitting face to face.
“Here it is,” Jackson said, indicating and slipping neatly into a parking space.
“Wow, that wasn’t far at all.” Jenny studied the emerald green canopy hanging over a polished black door. Swirling golden writing on the window to the left read Crème de la Crème and several candles flickered on the sill. Beside the door stood two tall topiary trees shaped like lollipops and a hessian mat, set with brass liners, read Bienvenue.
Dale was quick to hop out of the car and within seconds he was pulling open the passenger door. He held out his hand to her.
Jenny took it and he pulled her gently to standing.
“It’s okay,” he said, when she drew level with him. “Don’t look so nervous.”
“I’m not.” Oh, but she was. Being this close to Dale, remembering that kiss. Wanting to kiss him again but not knowing if it would ever happen. It was a strange kind of twisted emotional torture.
He released her hand and set his palm in the small of her back. “Come on, let’s get inside.”
Although his touch was gentle as he steered her to the restaurant, there was also something determined about the pressure he was exerting. She couldn’t tell if he was angry with her for what she’d said, frustrated with himself for his reaction, or if he just wanted to rip her clothes off and go for it the way they were about to a few nights previously.
Jackson walked next to her and for the second time she felt surrounded by them, tiny between their big bodies. She liked it, a lot, that sensation of being small and protected by two skilled fighters.
The air inside Crème de le Crème was laced with wonderful scents, and heavy chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The furniture was dark polished wood and several couples sat at candlelit tables, their conversations hidden beneath gentle French music.
They were led to a table at the back of the restaurant. The alcove was decorated with a mural depicting a tropical island full of lush green vegetation and a standing lamp, the base a huge pineapple, lit the corner.
“This is so unusual,” Jenny said.
“Do you like it?” Jackson asked, pulling out a chair for her.
“Yes, it’s quaint yet funky at the same time.”
He smiled and took a seat next to her.
Dale sat opposite.
“Menu, messieurs, madame.” The waiter handed out black leather bound menus. “And this is the wine list.” He passed a long thin menu to Dale.
Dale took it with a nod.
“Shall I bring water for the table?”
“Yes please.” Dale smiled at the waiter, who then retreated.
“This menu is wonderful,” Jenny said, even though she’d only glanced at the starters—a selection of charcuterie, duck confit, cep veloute. “Expensive too.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Jackson said. “It’s our treat.”
“But—”
“We invited you out,” he said, placing his arm around the back of her chair and leaning in. “So it’s on us. No arguments.”
“Thank you, but…” She kept the menu open and set over her white linen napkin and shiny cutlery.
“But?” Dale said, placing his elbows on the table and tipping forward to study her.
“Yes, but…I mean why did you invite me?” Jenny hadn’t had any intention of asking the burning question so soon. It had just popped out of her mouth. Her curiosity had been gnawing at her for so long. She had to know.
“I told you,” Jackson said. “We need to talk about the unusual situation we’ve found ourselves in.”
“I’m going to need that situation spelled out,” Jenny said. “Because it’s clear you two are on the same page but I’m not even sure if I’m reading the same book.”
The two men glanced at each other. Dale nodded, a little.
“The other night,” Jackson said. “When you and Dale…what shall we call it? A kiss? A heated exchange?” He tipped his head. “Do you have a name for it?”
“I guess…as you said…” She looked between them. “I kissed your boyfriend.”
Dale’s lips tightened and he fiddled with the wine menu.
Jackson reached over the table and set his hand on Dale’s. “It’s okay.”
Dale pulled in a deep breath. “Yeah, I know.”
“Dale hasn’t ever told anyone he has a boyfriend before.” Jackson paused. “Have you, Dale?”
There was a pause then, “No, but then again, there’s only ever been you, Jackson, who I’d refer to as a boyfriend.” Dale’s usual air of confidence had slipped.
Jenny got the impression this conversation wasn’t easy for him. Hell, he probably wouldn’t be having it at all if Jackson weren’t steering it, or holding his hand for support. “Does anyone know about you two?” she asked.
“Only one person,” Dale said. His right side was twitching a little, as though beneath the table he was bobbing his knee up and down.
“And that is?” she asked.
“You.” Dale swallowed. “Only you, Jenny.”
“But…” Her head was swimming. “Why me?”
“Because of this unusual situation.” Jackson drew a triangle in the air between them. “That we’ve found ourselves in.”
The waiter appeared with a bottle of sparkling water. He poured three glasses then retrieved his pad. “Are you ready to order?”
“I think we’ll have the chef’s tasting menu,” Jackson said. “For
three, but hold any mussels that might be on it.”
“Very good choice.” The waiter nodded.
“Anything you don’t eat, Jenny?” Jackson asked.
“No, I’m good.” She smiled, relieved she didn’t have to peruse the menu.
The waiter turned and left them alone again.
“So back to this situation,” Jackson said. As he’d spoken he’d stroked his thumb over her shoulder.
A sizzle of awareness went through her. Jackson’s touch was like wild fire. It sent heat spreading through her body and settling in delicious places.
“Okay,” she said, looking at the way Jackson had connected them all by touching each of them. The heat within her doubled and thoughts of what could be, of what Stella and Sian hinted about, simmered in her mind.
“From Dale’s recount of the other night, it’s very clear you two have the hots for each other.” Jackson tipped his head. His eyes were narrowed and he seemed to be looking into her soul, almost as if daring her to deny her attraction to Dale.
She couldn’t do that. “I…we got carried away I guess…but…”
“That’s not what I want to know. Though I can’t lie, I would’ve liked to be a fly on the wall.”
“You would have?” she said, unable to hide her surprise at his admission.
“See you and Dale, getting it on, what’s not to love about that?”
He wants to watch us?
“So you’re not mad?”
“Hell no, I’m turned on by the fact he needed you so badly, and you were ready to strip naked and let him ravish you. Yeah, turned on is how I feel, not mad.”
“So you wouldn’t have been jealous?”
Jackson lifted his hand, crooked his finger and ran it down the back of her cheek. “Only that he got you first,” he whispered. “After all this time, he’d have beaten me to the finish line.
They’re in competition as to who can screw me first?
“Oh fuck,” she murmured.
“Yeah, fuck.” Dale reached forward and touched his fingers to the tips of hers. “That’s what would have happened if you hadn’t brought up Jackson.” He paused. “Hearing you voice your thoughts, your suspicions, it freaked me out, Jenny. I thought we’d been subtle, discreet, that no one would guess.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t think anyone else has if that helps.” She paused. “Really, I’m so sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry…I’m just not ready to come out as bisexual.” Dale shook his head.
“I get that. It should be in your own time,” Jenny said.
“Of course it should,” Jackson added. “A few of my family members, a couple of friends know that I have, shall we say, a wide sexual appetite, but it’s not common knowledge among my colleagues and certainly not at the gym. It wouldn’t do me any good in boxing circles. I’d end up a crowd drawer for the wrong reasons if folk knew I was in love with my sparring partner.”
Dale glanced at Jackson. A hint of a smile played on his lips.
“You know I love you, I’ve told you often enough.” Jackson winked at Dale.
“I love you too.”
“Wow, you guys are so cute.” Jenny giggled, though it was a tense laugh. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. “Like…jeez, you’re big tough blokes, fantastic fighters, yet you’re in love—soppy, heart-stopping, romantic love.”
“Love is love,” Jackson said, running his hand over her shoulder, down her arm and then setting it on her thigh, out of sight, beneath the table. “But the thing is…”
“What?” It was hard to catch her breath with him pressing in close and touching her leg. “What is the thing?”
“Love is boundless and as it turns out, we both want you, too, Jenny.”
“You do?”
“I don’t think you should have any doubts about me,” Dale said. “Surely you felt it the other night when I backed you up against the wall, you had your legs around my waist and—”
“Oh fuck, the details of you two together.” Jackson groaned and squirmed on his seat. “You want me to get a stiffy in here?”
“Of course, I always want you hard.” Dale grinned.
Jackson grunted a reply Jenny didn’t quite catch. He rubbed her thigh and blew out a breath. “You see, Jenny, we have this thing, our thing, but Dale…” He seemed to struggle to find the right words.
Dale tipped his head and raised his eyebrows, urging Jackson to go on. “But I what?”
Jenny took a sip of her water. The bubbles popped on the roof of her mouth.
“Dale, he…he likes to fuck, a lot. To be honest I’d say he was damn greedy for it all the time.”
“Hey,” Dale said. “I’m in the prime of my life. I was made to fuck.”
“Tell me about it,” Jackson said with a sudden dirty grin. “But you just can’t decide if it’s me or Jenny, can you?”
“There’s no decision, it’s both of you. You know that.”
Jackson chuckled. “See, plain old greedy.”
Dale mock scowled. “I can’t help it.” He turned to Jenny. “For so long I’ve seen how Billy treated you, hated it, we both did. I was just waiting for you to find the courage to leave him, stand up for yourself, then I knew you’d blossom. And to be honest.” He wafted his hand in her direction. “One look at you tonight, in that dress and it’s clear you’ve already grown your wings. You’re magical, beautiful, you represent everything I admire in a woman.”
“I do?” Jenny swallowed tightly. Emotions pinged around inside of her. The last thing she wanted was to well up with tears but Dale had just hit the nail on the head. Leaving Billy had been everything and more she’d hoped it would be.
“Yeah and watching you stand up for yourself, it was so fucking arousing.” He huffed. “Maybe I’m perverted, I don’t know. But it was like seeing a girl turn into a woman in the blink of an eye, and not any old woman, but one I couldn’t stop thinking about…” He paused. “When I wasn’t thinking about Jackson that is and then…”
“What?” Jenny asked, carefully storing his words so she could examine them later, when she was alone and quiet.
“And then Jackson said that he…” Dale’s words trailed off.
“…I confessed,” Jackson carried on. “That you’d caught my attention, too, in the trouser department.”
Jenny giggled again, at his choice of words and the way he moved on the seat as if adjusting himself.
Dale smiled and it was the smile she was used to, not the one he’d given her in the car, which had been full of tension. “Have we freaked you out?”
“No…well…yes a little.” She paused as the waiter set down three plates. Each one held a single scallop set on a bed of rocket and drizzled with pea-green oil. A single strand of samphire sat on the top.
They all murmured their thanks yet no one picked up their cutlery.
“A little?” Dale repeated.
“Well a lot actually. It’s been rare in my life that one guy wanted me, but now two. And not just two regular guys, but two handsome, sexy fighters who are suggesting that we…” She drew her words to an abrupt halt. Was she jumping the gun? Had her conversations with Stella and Sian sent her way past the mark? “Suggesting that we…” Still she couldn’t say the word ‘threesome’. It was so alien to her, despite the images running through her thoughts and stealing her fantasies.
“That we all get it on together?” Jackson said in a low murmur. “The three of us, at the same time.”
“Er yes…that.” She picked up her knife and fork and hovered it over her scallop.
“It’s okay,” Jackson said. “We get that Billy was a total arsehole for years and we’ve probably confused you further by admitting to our relationship.”
“As well as our joint attraction to you,” Dale added
“I’m okay about that, really, it’s cool.” She cut a sliver from her scallop and popped it into her mouth. She barely tasted it.
The two men looked at each other, then Jackson pick
ed up his knife and fork.
Dale reached for the wine list. “We need a damn drink.”
The waiter must have seen Dale grab the list because he glided up to the table. “What can I get you, sir?”
“We’ll have a bottle of the French chenin blanc, please,” Dale said. “Is that okay with you, Jenny?”
“Perfect.”
“Listen,” Jackson said when the waiter had gone from earshot. “There’s no pressure. Whatever you want is cool with us. We want a relationship with you, not just a romp. We want the three of us, together in a heart-stoppingly romantic way as you just put it.”
“Yeah, ’cause after the other night,” Dale said, “when I felt the electricity between us, when I got a taste of how good we’d be together, I knew we had to explore this. I wasn’t sure at first. Admitting to you about my relationship with Jackson is a big deal—”
“And I won’t tell a soul, I promise.”
“We know that.” Dale smiled. “We trust you. But when Jackson said he felt the same, there was nothing else to do other than bring you here tonight and all speak the truth.”
Jenny nodded and popped another piece of scallop into her mouth. Of course she was glad the men had taken control of the situation. Much as she was all for grabbing hold of the reins in her life again, her suggesting sex with these two men was running before she could walk.
“So we’ll take it slow,” Jackson said. “See where it goes, agreed?”
“Agreed.” Dale swiped his tongue over his bottom lip and looked between Jackson and Jenny.
“I guess.” Jenny nodded. “That’s the best thing to do.”
Chapter Ten
“Do you want to come in for coffee?” Jenny asked as Jackson rolled his Mercedes to a halt outside her apartment block.
For the last half of the meal, and the entire way home, the offer of ‘coming in for coffee’ had been rolling around on her tongue. She knew Jackson had said they’d take it slow. But right now, after a few glasses of wine and a nice dinner, she was sick of slow and fed up of waiting and really hacked off with not getting any sex.
Jackson glanced at her then over his shoulder at Dale. His eyes flashed in the dark car.
