by Layle Black
“It’s just a party, baby girl. Jeans and a T-shirt would be just fine. Although a skirt would be preferable.” Jac lounged against the door frame, deliciously shirtless with low slung jeans and sexily mussed hair falling across his forehead that made her want to sit up and beg. Peeling her eyes off the incredibly sexy picture he made was a super human effort.
“Clay folk are not ones who stand on too much ceremony.” This coming from Remy as he stepped from the bathroom, a towel tied low over his hips and body still gleaming wet from the shower. God help me, Selene silently prayed for strength. These two almost guaranteed they would not be leaving the house tonight at all, let alone on time. She should have been worn out after last night’s escapades but these men made her insatiable and they didn’t seem to get enough of her either.
Selene smiled at Jac and felt a twinge of regret when his own answering smile seemed muted and not its usual boyish warmth. After their talk the night before Jac had proceeded to make the slowest sweetest love to her that she had ever experienced. Each touch was gentle but relentless in his efforts to wring every ounce of pleasure from her. All she could do was lay back on his bed and endure the slowing sipping kisses and caresses that had her panting for release for what seemed like hours. When he finally slid his cock inside her she was already riding the edge of one the most powerful orgasms of her life.
“Look at me,” he’d whispered, his jaw tightening with the effort to maintain his own weakening control. Raising himself on his forearms and working her body like a fine instrument. Her fingers wandered over his toned back and arms, loving the sinewy play of muscle beneath the smooth expanse of his skin. Before long both of them were straining and sweating to reach completion. The sounds of skin slapping against skin as he pounded against her in desperation was so incredibly arousing to her ears. The silken slide of his thick cock had made her toes curl and her back arch. Even now her body gave a small shudder at the remembrance of the sheer bliss of their embrace.
The only thing that would have made it better was Remy but he’d confided to her later that he’d come down to check on them and saw them making love and opted to give them the space they needed. He’d simply told her, “We both love you in our way, cher. There will be times when we need time alone with you.” Selene warmed at the idea of spending as much time with her lovers one on one, as she did with them together. Each man was compelling in his own way and she could well imagine falling in love with them separately but together…it was truly special. Although the word special didn’t seem to cover it, she thought as she watched Remy drop his towel on the way to the closet. Just watching the man walk was arousing, she thought, lust rearing its head. He turned his head just in time to see her ogling him like she was starving and gave a slow knowing smile.
“See something you like?” Selene laughed and shook her head, raising her hands in mock surrender.
“You know I do but if we plan on leaving the house today you may want to put some clothes on. Besides the fact that I notice there is no such thing as a quickie with you two.” Jac laughed and moved to stand behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist. He leaned in close to nuzzle the sensitive spot behind her ear.
“There is such thing as being fashionably late, baby girl.” Selene giggled, pressing back against him.
“I know there is but I’d rather not show up to a party already exhausted and you two have a tendency to do that.” Jac laughed, giving her one last squeeze before stepping away.
“You make a getaway this time but we’ll get you alone at some point.” The sensual threat hung in the air after Jac left the room to go get dressed. While Remy finished getting dressed Selene just made a random selection of one of the sundresses from her suitcase. Luckily the slinky material didn’t require any ironing. Pulling it on over her head she let the dress slide down her body. The light material was airy and sensual against her sensitized skin. With each step she was keenly aware of the sway of her hips and the mild soreness between her thighs. Even her nipples ached deliciously against the silken knap of the dress. This is what these men had done to her, she mused. They’ve turned me in a sexual wanton. In such a short amount of time she barely recognized herself.
Selene wanted to giggle aloud at what Rafael would make of her now. The winsome smile slipped from her lips when she thought of her boss and his clear expectations of her coming home. Their last conversation had been brief but clear. He expected her to return to Seattle within the next few days. A deal they had been working on was hitting a snag and he told her in no uncertain terms that he needed her back there. A week ago she would have been heading back home on the first thing smoking but things had changed, she had changed. Selene had yet to talk with Jac or Remy about going home but she could feel the tension in the air. The inevitability of her leaving had become the proverbial elephant in the room that no manner of steamy kisses would change. It had been easy for her to put that worry aside given her last run in with Denny but now she had decided to put that part of her past where it belonged, behind her.
“Selene? Are you all right, petite oiseau?” Remy had come from his walk in closet dressed in snug jeans and tight fitting black shirt that lovingly clung to each muscle. His limp seemed only slight today and did nothing to diminish his sex appeal.
“Yes.” She smiled broadly although distractedly but Remy was not so quick to smile in return.
“You sure about that. You know we can talk about anything.” Along with the gentle concern in his eyes was coupled a deeper question and she wanted desperately to push it off, just a little longer.
“I am all right, silly.” Selene walked up to him and slipped her arms about his waist, standing up on her toes to press her lips against his. For a moment his lips were still but like her, resistance was short lived. With a husky groan he took up where her lips had teasingly left off. What was just a mild make out session heated to new heights in seconds. Suddenly for Selene, being on time was just not as important as being in Remy’s arms. A discreet clearing of a throat had them reluctantly pulling away from each other. Jac stood in the doorway, now dressed similarly to Remy in jeans and a chest hugging t-shirt . His smile was sheepishly jovial but his eyes were heated and zeroed in on them.
“I am all for skipping the crab boil party and sticking around here for the evening.” Remy laughed and gently set Selene away from him.
“We better at least put in an appearance. Besides I want to show off our girl.” Remy gave Selene’s ass a gentle slap and clasped her hand to pull her toward the door. Jac made sure to steal a brief kiss before she could get by him as they headed down the hallway. She was content to go along with them and push the future aside for a few hours. A glum feeling settled in her belly. Her future and her past, both determined to control her present happiness.
Chapter 20
For all appearances Remy was the picture of contentment. His woman was beautiful and tucked against his side and his best friend sat on the other side of her, just as close, just as protective. A perfect triad. A perfect family. He smiled at passersby and interjected in conversation when it was required. Inside, he was seething. Selene’s little attempt to sideline him when he asked her what was wrong before they’d left his house had him grinding his teeth. Jac knew him well enough to cast him sidelong looks of inquiry but Remy ignored him, shining him on with a distracted smile. Remy wanted to growl out loud with frustration. Their time was growing short and soon letting Selene go was going to be an inevitability. He’d been hoping against hope that she would choose to stay with them. Damn it, he wanted her to want to stay. Fucking needed it.
With a sigh he took a swig from the tall glass of sweet tea he’d been nursing since they’d arrived at the party. The festive sounds of laughter and blues rock music coupled with the mouthwatering smells of barbecue and crab boiling did nothing to lighten his mood.
“You hold her any tighter and she might run off for fear of her life, old buddy.” Remy turned to see Troy Doucette sidling up next to h
im, a cold beer dangling from his fingers. Nodding his head in greeting, Remy silently sized the man up, his arm tightening around Selene. He and Troy went way back and Remy just plain didn’t trust the man. They’d both served in the military, Remy in the Marines and Troy in Navy SEALS. The world of military Special Forces was not that big, so Remy had heard of Troy’s resume and hair raising exploits. The man had a death wish and Remy couldn’t help but feel protective of Selene in his company. He supposed the only real difference between him and Troy was Selene. She’d been his anchor, his reason for keeping his feet on the ground, a reason to come home. If it were not for the fact that Remy was a big man himself and sure of his own strength, he might have been intimidated. Troy’s six foot five frame of compact muscle made him the center of female attention since he was a kid. Remy should know because more than a couple of females he’d known had been swayed by Troy’s tough guy charm. The man should have warning tape wrapped around him, Remy mused. Tattoos snaked along the other man’s arms like badges of honor.
Troy looked like a true badass and Remy would be the first to admit it was not just for show where Troy was concerned. They’d never been what one would call close friends but the men had a grudging respect for each other like evenly matched warriors meeting on the field of battle. Both their families were as old as the town of Clay Parish and often found themselves in each other’s company growing up. They also shared a common history in the military, although Remy personally thought that branch of the Special Forces was probably the best for a man like Troy. Jac and Remy had been wild coming up but Troy? The fucker had been downright certifiable.
“I see that Clay ‘curse’ got a hold of you.” Troy gestured toward Selene, his eyes also taking the opportunity to look her over like a prize calf. Remy fought the urge to punch his old friend’s face in.
“You keep those eyes to yourself, Troy. Besides…I am not feeling particularly cursed.” Troy laughed, taking a swig from his beer bottle shaking his head as if finding a private joke ridiculous.
“Whatever you say, Remy. That’s the problem with men from Clay. They’re screwed and they don’t even know it or care because they are so obsessed.” Remy refused to take the bait, Instead taking a drink from his own glass while letting his other hand trace along the curvy waste of his lover. The bitter tenor to Troy’s statement was not lost on Remy but then was not the time to ask searching questions. Besides the fact they were just not that close..
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Troy leaned around Remy to make eye contact with Selene, who had stopped talking to Jac to turn to Remy. She smiled in Troy’s direction and that was all the invitation he needed. Another urge to open a can of whoop ass on Troy had Remy gripping his glass. The son of a bitch had always been supernaturally handsome but when he turned on his thousand watt smile women tended to hand over their panties along with their phone numbers. To Remy’s relief Selene’s friendly expression did not change, sweetly friendly, very polite and totally not interested.
“Selene, this is Troy Doucette, an old friend. His family has lived here in Clay since it was settled. Do me a favor and don’t go anywhere alone with him.” Troy laughed. His eyes glinted in silent challenge. Remy watched Troy grasp Selene’s hand and raise it to his lips in an old world salute that was at odds with the tattoos and skull trim. Remy looked over at Jac and spied the same “if he makes one false move” look. Troy chuckled and slowly released her hand as if he loathed to. Remy knew Troy knew exactly what he was doing and was enjoying every minute of it.
Selene couldn’t help but stare at the newcomer, Troy. Was every male in Clay a fantasy waiting to happen? The man was walking tattooed sex with eyes so piercingly light grey they almost appeared illuminated from within against the deep tan of his skin. If it weren’t for the fact that she was completely into Jac and Remy her head might have been turned. The mischievous twinkle in Troy’s eyes hinted that he was well aware of the power of his own attraction and he flaunted the hell out of it. Her own responding smile was just as communicative. It said “I am taken.” Troy gave an almost imperceptible answering cheeky nod. Message accepted and received.
“It’s been a while, Troy. Still got that houseboat on the river?” Jac’s attempt to be conversational was completely lost on Remy but he appreciated his friend’s ability to defuse an ass kicking on the horizon.
“I am more comfortable on that old tub than I ever was at the big old house. Too much space makes me nervous.” Troy shrugged, as if a multimillion dollar house was no better than a shack.
“Look at you boys crowding around that poor woman.” Agnes Rubidoux strolled over across the crowded lawn, a bright smile of welcome on her face. She reached for Selene’s hand and tugged her to her feet. A lovely floral maxi dress floated about the voluptuous perfection of her body.
“I am stealing this beauty away to give her a break from all this rampant testosterone. You boys play nice with each other while we’re gone.” Just that quickly she swept Selene away into the crowd. Troy laughed and raised his bottle of beer in a mock toast in the direction the women had left.
“That Agnes can charm a gator out of his skin. Why didn’t I ever get close to that one?” Remy smirked, shooting Troy a glance.
“Because her men would string you up like a skinned rabbit. Those two are immovable forces when it comes to her.” Troy shrugged, his eyes roving about the crowd as if he were looking for someone.
“That would make their relationship pretty much the norm around here.” A bitter tone underplayed Troy’s statement. Before Remy could inquire the other man waved them off and headed toward the crowded barbecue tables.
“What the hell is up with him?” Jac sipped at his lemonade, a frown raising his brow. Remy shrugged, his mind already back on Selene and where she could have been whisked off to.
“He was always an odd one and being in the SEALS didn’t make him any tamer. Something happened to him though. His eyes have that dead look, like nothing can touch him.”
Jac nodded in agreement. He was all too familiar because he saw the same dead look in Remy’s eyes when he first came home. He’d only truly come to life when Selene had come back. When she left that look would be back, he thought grimly. Their time was over, he felt it. He just hoped they would survive it.
* * * *
“I thought I should swoop in and give you a little break. Being surrounded by men all the time can get to be a little much.” Selene followed along after Agnes listening to the petite woman chat sunnily. She couldn’t deny it had been nice to step away from Remy and Jac’s protective embrace but that was only because being near them tended to throw rationality out of the window.
“I hope you are loving our little slice of heaven here in Clay. Rather ‘Clay Clay’ as it’s known outside the town limits.” Agnes’s good natured giggle about being from the infamous town of Clay was so light hearted Selene couldn’t help laughing as well. Agnes directed them to an empty picnic table set with an array of food and they sat to watch the party.
“I am glad Remy and Jac brought you along tonight. I think this is the perfect way for you get introduced to the town.”
Selene looked out over the crowd of people milling around and chatting over plates of food and bottles of beer. It all looked so normal, she mused. Won’t the people of Sparks be shocked to see regular people and not wild orgies performed on the lawn. Just as she marveled at the normalcy of it all, Selene started to notice the differences that set Clay apart as a town. It was nothing obvious at first glance but little things like gentle touches and pecks on the cheek between men and women. What she thought of as couples were actually groupings of three, two men and one lucky woman.
“Expecting something different?” Selene looked over at Agnes, who watched her with a curious smile. Selene smiled sheepishly.
“Actually I think I was. I must admit I was expecting something a little more… nude. Rumors about Clay take all types of forms and they all involve indiscriminant sex.” Agne
s laughed, shaking her head in wonder.
“I’ve lived in Clay all my life and I have yet to see that kind of action. At least that kind of action outside the privacy of one’s own home. I think if people saw how normal we are they would be sadly disappointed.” Both women laughed and Selene truly relaxed. Something about Agnes made her very likable and genuine.
“I notice you don’t have your son with you tonight.” Selene took a cream cheese laden cracker from a platter and nibbled.
“No…thank goodness. I love my little man but mommy and daddies need a break every now and then. He’s with my mother tonight and she’s loving it. Hopefully she hasn’t given in to his charming wiles and feeding him copious amounts of sugar.” At the mention of the word “daddies,” Selene let curiosity get the best of her.
“Do you know if Carl or Sid is the father?” Agnes shook her head, appearing not the least bit bothered that Selene asked such a personal question.
“We’ve never had any DNA testing done and quite honestly doubt we will unless it becomes necessary. As far as they are concerned they are both the fathers and that’s all right with me. Look, Selene, I know this type of arrangement is uncommon and controversial but we all are happy and in love. Don’t get me wrong, though. Just like any relationship we have our issues but I figure no more than a regular couple. Sid and Carl can be…demanding at times but it’s no more than I am willing to give. I imagine it’s like that with others as well.” Agnes spoke matter-of-factly and without apology. Selene admired her staunch acceptance and couldn’t help but feel a little envious.
