A Trick of the Moon

by Melinda Barron

  “I'm still voting for Bear,” Declan had said.

  “That wasn't Bear I fought,” Dario had replied. “That was a kid, and he got the better of me, damn it.”

  “Bear's anger over us being out here could have to do with the fact we're on the payroll and boinking the boss. Maybe he hired someone to search the campground.” Declan had started to kiss her then, and Maura had tried to push him away, intent on continuing their conversation. But Declan had been too fast, putting her on her back. The two of them had ganged up on her, tickling and kissing her.

  She'd been surprised they'd all settled into one wonderful heap with her in the middle. It didn't take long for the men to fall asleep, and for the first time since they'd arrived, they hadn't made love. She'd missed the physical contact, but she'd also loved the emotions that she felt with the two of them wrapped around her, arms and legs intertwined, soft snores from the two of them making her smile as she'd stared up at the moon through the open flap of the tent.

  110

  Melinda Barron

  Lying in their arms had been perfect, and it brought back to mind the discussion she'd had with herself that afternoon, about their relationship.

  Whether at the kiva site or at her father's house, she wanted to know if what she was feeling would transfer out to the real world, or if it was just a trick of the moon.

  This trip, she realized, would help her decide just that. Seeing how they reacted to each other around others could be an eye-opener. Mesa Verde was busy during the summer season, and she'd been lucky enough to find a hotel in Cortez. She would have preferred to stay in a tent at the park, but all the campgrounds there were full.

  It took them a little less than an hour to reach Cortez. They'd checked into the hotel, and now, as they were driving up the narrow, curvy road that led to Mesa Verde, Maura checked her watch and chuckled. “You've got a lead foot, don't you, Officer Fuentes?”

  “You want to give me a ticket? Or maybe you think it's your turn to perform a strip search.” He stuck his tongue out and wiggled it back and forth.

  Warmth spread through Maura's body, settling in her clit. She wanted to tell him to pull over and make good on the promise of his tongue, but the road was narrow and heavily traveled.

  Maura's eyebrows raised in mock chagrin. “I'm sure I've already seen all you have to offer.”

  He didn't take his eyes off the road, but the sound of his voice swept over her, and she felt as if he were looking her up and down, licking his lips in anticipation. “I'll let you play with my nightstick.”

  Declan's laughter punctuated Dario's statement. “Cut it out, you two. I have a strong desire to visit some ruins while we're here. You can wait for sex later.”

  The sound of Dario's snort almost made Maura produce one of her own.

  “You want to visit ruins? I'm sure you know as much about this place as the people working here. How many times have you visited Mesa Verde?”

  A Trick of the Moon

  111

  “Lots.”

  “Me too,” Maura said, looking out over the valley as the SUV continued to wind its way up the road. “But that doesn't stop me from loving it more every time I come. Look at it. It's magnificent.”

  “I have to admit, you're right,” Dario said. “I should have made Declan drive so I could sightsee more. It is definitely one hell of a ride.”

  The car grew quiet as they all admired their surroundings. Now, as she sat snuggled between Dario and Declan, she wanted to bring up exactly what seemed to be happening between them; but she was afraid if she did, she would ruin the atmosphere. Maybe later, back in the hotel room, she could bring it up.

  But how did you do that? So, are we just going to be fuck buddies, or is there something else going on here? I think something's building, but if it's not, tell me now so I can stop thinking that way. I don't want a huge letdown back home.

  “Pull into this area.” Declan was pointing to a parking lot off to the right-hand side of the road. “I'll take the wheel and drive us around, and then we'll take a guided tour with a ranger.”

  Dario pulled the SUV into the lot, putting it into park. “Do we need a guide with you around?”

  “Yes,” Declan replied. “The guides know far more than I do.”

  Once he was behind the wheel, he started to talk about the area, how the ancient Publoeans had mostly lived on top of the cliffs until the later part of their lives at the park. At that time they'd made their homes on the cliff sides.

  As he talked, Maura's mind wandered to what life would have been like for these ancient people.

  The landscape was beautiful, true, but living out here without the modern amenities people were so used to would have been tough. She couldn't imagine 112

  Melinda Barron

  climbing up and down ladders to get to houses, gathering places, or kivas.

  They all did it, young and old alike.

  Thinking about them made her wonder again about the kiva on her father's land. They were trying to figure out who was using it now, but just the fact that it existed made it special, no matter what was happening in the present time.

  No, she corrected herself, that wasn't true. If someone was using the kiva for evil purposes, trying to draw on the energy that would possibly surround the place where rituals had taken place, then that could change things, make them very bad. She had a strong belief in spiritual energy, and if it was being tapped for evil, it needed to be stopped.

  She was still pondering what they would do after they discovered the kiva's secrets when she realized the car was stopped and both men were staring at her.

  “What?”

  “You looked so lost in thought,” Declan said. “Care to share?”

  “I'm just wondering about the people who lived here. It's just so inspiring.”

  Dario squeezed her knee, and she felt a different sort of inspiration shoot through her. She wished once again they'd been able to secure a campsite here, so they could enjoy the full effect of the park that evening.

  But then again she'd be thrilled to get back to the hotel room, hopefully soak in the hot tub and enjoy dinner prepared by someone in a restaurant. It had been a long time since she'd been pampered by being away from work at the Full Moon, and she was looking forward to it.

  They exited the car and started toward the area where the ranger would begin the tour. Numerous people already milled about, waiting to get an up-close and personal look at the cliff dwellings.

  As they neared the crowd, she was surprised to have Declan take one of her hands and Dario the other. They both squeezed gently, and she thought A Trick of the Moon

  113

  they would drop them. But they didn't, holding her close as they discussed the tour they were about to take.

  The close contact, in full view of everyone who would be going with them on the hike, answered one of the questions she'd been pondering for the last few days. She felt something, yes, and they did too.

  She noticed one woman giving her a strange look, and Maura just grinned at her. The woman returned a halfhearted smile, then turned back to the people she was with. Within moments her group was glancing their way, but trying to look as if they were looking at the scenery.

  Eat your heart out, she wanted to say as the ranger called them to order and started to talk about the ancient ones and how they survived in this area for so many years. The group started along the path and her lovers kept hold of her hands, making her feel warm and loved. At the steep or narrow areas they helped her, even though she'd walked these paths before, and really didn't need it. She wanted it, though, wanted the contact with them in a public setting.

  She read their continued hand-holding and gentle touches as a statement that they didn't care what others thought. They wanted to be close to her, and if someone noticed or questioned the fact two men were holding her hands, they didn't care. They were a threesome, at the Full Moon, and here, at Mesa Verde.

  As they started up the f
irst ladder, with Declan in front of her and Dario behind her, she thought about being in between them and staying that way.

  She needed to find an inroad to the conversation, feel them out and see what their feelings were on the matter. Hand-holding was nice, but who really knew what people were thinking?

  The guide was saying there were no known writings left by the ancient ones, only pottery, baskets, and the like. One of their fellow tourists asked the guide if it was true the tribes practiced cannibalism. Before she could answer him, Declan spoke up, saying evidence on the subject was spotty at best.

  114

  Melinda Barron

  The forceful way he stepped forward and addressed the man reminded Maura of how passionate he was about his chosen profession. As the two men argued the subject, the guide turned to another woman to answer her question.

  Declan's voice rose, indicating he was becoming agitated. Beside her, Dario squeezed her hand, then leaned over and kissed her gently. “I'm going to go rescue our boy. He can get a bit carried away sometimes when it comes to archaeology.”

  Maura watched him walk to the two men and clap Declan on the shoulder, the movement strong and forceful, and, she was sure, meant to deliver the message he needed to calm down.

  She turned and looked out over the valley below them: green trees and sandstone rocks carved with doorways and windows, all of it lit up by a bright afternoon sun. The scenery was beautiful, and behind her, Declan and Dario were laughing as they approached. They each put a hand on either of her hips, and she thought nothing in the world could ever be so perfect.

  * * * * *

  “Lord, that feels so good.” Maura leaned back on the pillow and closed her eyes, savoring the feel of Declan's hands as they massaged the balls of her feet…her very sore feet. They'd taken not one but two tours that afternoon, visiting the Balcony House and the Cliff Palace, walking up and down trails and ladders to see the intricately carved places where the Indians had lived. Each one she went into fascinated her more, and even though she'd been on the tours several times, she didn't regret going on them again. She had to duck to get into the dwellings, and once inside she'd wondered about the small stature of the people who had lived here.

  Now, however, she worried only about herself, and her aching limbs. “I'm so out of shape,” she said as Declan moved to the other foot. Dario was beside her, his hands tracing lines up and down her arms.

  “It was hard,” he said as his fingers moved over her stomach.

  A Trick of the Moon

  115

  “Yeah, that's why neither of you is complaining about being tired.”

  “We're tired,” Declan said. “We're just wanting to concentrate on you.

  Maybe we should take a shower.”

  “Is the stall big enough for three?” Before the words were out of his mouth, Dario had jumped up from the bed and moved toward the bathroom. His

  “barely big enough for one” seemed to echo and came at the same time there was a knock at the door.

  “Got it.” The cop hurried from the bathroom, grabbing his wallet from the dresser as he passed.

  “No.” Maura sat up. “I should pay, since this trip can be considered a business expense. There's cash in my wallet.”

  She'd used the company credit card to pay for the gas and room, and she'd wanted to keep all the expenses on one card. Since she'd forgotten to give the number to the restaurant while ordering, she wanted to use her cash and no one else's. She wasn't exactly sure how her father would feel about this trip, but she was sure that, in the long run, she would be able to convince him that it was done for the business.

  Hopefully.

  Dario ignored her, though, pulling open the door and taking two large brown bags from the young man who tried not to look like he was looking over Dario's shoulder to see who else was in the room.

  Dario shut the door and set the bags on the bed. “A Chinese feast for three.”

  They sat cross-legged on the bed and dug into the food quickly, passing around plates and cardboard boxes. The discussion focused on favorite restaurants in Albuquerque, and Maura knew this was an opportunity to bring up the future, see if they wanted to continue their tryst once they were home.

  She didn't do it, though. Each time she thought she would bring the idea up, she filled her chopsticks and stuck the food into her mouth. It was the 116

  Melinda Barron

  innate fear of rejection that kept her from talking. People were different when they were around others, and although today had been fine, she didn't know how it would go later.

  Beside her, Dario put his plate on the bed and rubbed his stomach. “Too much food.” Yet he dug into a bag and pulled out six cellophane-wrapped fortune cookies. “Guess we ordered enough that they thought there were more people here.”

  He tossed two of the cookies to her, another two to Declan, and placed two on the bed before him.

  “In college, we always added the words 'in bed' after reading the fortune,”

  Maura said, picking up her first one.

  “That could be interesting,” Dario said. “Let's try that.”

  Dario opened his first cookie, clearing his voice before reading. “Life will help you along the way, in bed.”

  “What does that mean?” Dario held up his hands. “Even without the 'in bed' part, how can life help you along the way?”

  “It's a fortune cookie, Fuentes; they don't come with instructions.” Declan picked up his first one, then read. “Seeking instruction will make things easier for you, in bed.”

  Maura and Dario dissolved into laughter. “Hey, I don't need help in bed,”

  Declan said, waving the little slip of paper around. “I'm so good, I can give lessons.”

  “Teach a class on how to have great sex?” Dario popped a piece of cookie into his mouth and spoke around it. “That could prove interesting. Could you teach while you were…tied up?”

  “Trying to keep me from playing?” Declan stretched out on the bed.

  “On the contrary, I think it might prove interesting to tie you to a chair, then let you tell me what to do to our pretty little boss. Would you like to watch A Trick of the Moon

  117

  me fuck her? I would have to follow your lead while your hard cock strains to be touched?”

  This time the room grew deathly silent, until Declan whispered, “Fuck yeah.”

  Maura's breath hitched as she thought about Dario's proposal. It made her wonder about their relationship and if they had ever touched each other in the past. The intense look they were sharing said there had been something, and she wanted to ask. But now wasn't the time.

  “Does this mean the boss becomes the plaything?”

  “Yeah,” Declan said. They both glanced at her, and she already felt naked and very aroused. Declan licked his lips, and her nipples hardened in response. Then he stood and threw away empty cartons. Dario took the ones that still held food and put them in the small refrigerator, then took one of the chairs away from the table and set it next to the bed.

  “Have a seat, but take off your belt first.” Declan pulled the leather from its loops, then sat down in the chair. Maura watched with rapt attention as Dario wrapped first Declan's, then his own belt around Declan, binding him to the arms of the chair.

  The cop's hands went to Declan's waist, the image making her throat tighten. He undid the jeans slowly, sliding the zipper down leisurely, keeping his gaze locked on his friend's. She again wondered if they were more than just friends and they hadn't told her yet. But frankly, at this point in time, she didn't care.

  The scene playing out in front of her was fascinating. Dario gripped Declan's jeans, and the other man lifted his hips. The cop moved the material down, and Declan's cock popped up, hard and ready for action. Dario traced it with his finger.

  Maura inhaled sharply, resisting the urge to tell him to suck it. She'd like to see that. When Declan groaned in delight, Dario moved his hands back to 118


  Melinda Barron

  the jeans, pulling the material down to Declan's ankles. Then he stood and moved toward the bed.

  She couldn't tear her eyes off Declan, the tip of his cock glistening with his desire. Dario stepped behind her and grasped her hips, pulling her backside into contact with his jean-clad body. She could feel his hard dick pressing against her.

  “What should I do first, teacher?”

  “Undress her, but do it little by little. Squeeze her tits; kiss her neck. She likes that.” Dario's hands went immediately to her breasts, pressing them against her; he filled his palms with them until Maura moaned; then he sought out her nipples, finding them easily and pinching. She groaned, wanting to yell at him to undress her, like he'd been told to do.

  Before she could utter a word, though, Declan muttered her name. “You will remain silent except for groans and moans, do you understand? I'm the boss right now, not you. If you can't remain quiet, I'm sure there's something we can find to gag you. Nod to answer me.”

  She followed his instructions, soft gasps of pleasure escaping her mouth as Dario lifted her T-shirt over her head, then unclasped her bra. He pushed the straps off her shoulders, wrapped his arms around her, and once again captured her breasts in his palms. She let the bra fall to the floor, savoring Declan's deep groan of satisfaction as he watched Dario massage her.

  Declan's gaze burned into her as Dario again pinched her nipples, the feeling more intense this time, making her whimper in a mixture of pain and pleasure.

  “Tell me how it feels, Maura.” Declan's command sent shivers down her spine.

  “Hurts, but feels good too.” And it did feel oh so good. The sharp pinches spread through her body.

  “Yes, I can tell. Dario, get her naked. Now. I want to see her pussy.”

  A Trick of the Moon

  119

  Dario moved in front of her, his fingers making quick work of her button and zipper, stripping her with expert hands. After she was naked, he stepped up next to her and ran his finger over her stomach before letting his fingers dip between her legs.