Clay didn’t worry about himself. He’d talked with his captain when he’d started his inquiries in Sacramento. His unit would have his back if Tomlinson tried anything dirty. And if the asshole was man enough to face him with a gun or a knife in his hands, well, Clay would be more than happy about that.
He was virtually sure it wasn’t going to happen.
What he didn’t trust, though, was whether Gem would be able to hold out against whatever Tomlinson brought. He wasn’t worried anymore, like he’d been the night they’d met, that she’d fall for her ex’s crap if he came wooing her. Clay knew her now—she was smart, and strong, and she was finding her backbone.
But she had feelings for Clay and Jace and Quinn, along with an over-developed sense of responsibility. If Tomlinson convinced her that he could put the hurt on one or all of the guys, she might cave.
Clay convinced himself it was going to be his job to be sure that didn’t happen.
And maybe it was self-serving, but he thought he might be most persuasive with his hard dick filling some hot, soft part of her body.
It was past time for it, anyway. He put out his hand. “Come on, babe,” he said. “You and I are going out.”
Chapter Three
Gemini looked up at Clay. Jace and Quinn both stood as soon as Clay spoke. Their gazes were on him, and not seeming entirely friendly. Uncertain, she slowly put her hand in his.
Clay nodded as though giving his approval and glanced over to Quinn, giving the impression that he was unmoved by that one’s stare. “What time do you need her behind the bar?”
It was Saturday, and Gemini knew Mach One would start getting busy by five or six.
“Seven,” Quinn said, and something passed between the two men that Gemini didn’t get.
Clay nodded and made a kind of imperious motion with his head.
“Just the two of us?” Gemini asked, still unsure about what was happening.
“Yeah,” Clay said. “We’re not done.”
Quinn seemed to be watching carefully, but he stepped close and took her other hand. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” He touched his lips to her forehead. “I’ll see you at seven.”
Gemini nodded and turned to Jace. He wasn’t looking at her so much as appearing to square off with Clay. Apparently unconcerned, Clay met him glare for glare. Finally, he lifted a brow and Jace relented. “Yeah,” he said, coming to her. “I’ll see you later, Gem.”
He gave a little touch of his lips to hers.
She looked at Clay then and could see his impatience. She drew a breath and took a step forward. He nodded, almost like a pat on the head, she thought resentfully.
“Where are we going?”
He took her down the stairs and through the bar. “My place,” he said.
Outside, he led her to yet another Outback. He held her gaze steadily while he opened the door and waited for her to get in.
She’d first assumed that he wanted to talk with her more about Bryce. She realized he’d led her to think that. But it didn’t feel like that to Gemini now. It felt more like it had to do with the previous conversation they’d had. The one about how they’d decided to deal with their shared “interest” in her.
Watching her, he seemed to read her skepticism. And he didn’t have a lot of sympathy. His sharp blue eyes flared. “Chicken?”
She damn well should be. He wasn’t being the least bit subtle about what he meant to happen.
Gemini put a hand on the car to steady herself. It was warm from the summer sun and felt soothing to her. It wasn’t easy to think of what these three handsome, compelling men had decided about her. However she felt about it, whatever she was going to decide about it would be tested this afternoon.
There was another source of heat when Gemini looked up to Clay. His gaze had trailed down her body and came back up slowly. It was as heavy as a touch, hot as a stroke, and set her breath on edge.
What was she to think of this? They were all so very attractive, so appealing. They were strong, masculine men who made no bones about their testosterone-driven natures. They would bring to bear all of their substantial resources to have from her what they wanted. But they’d never hurt her. Never lift a hand to her. Never use unfair means to get what they wanted.
She could say no to them, and they’d accept it. She could say no right now and walk back into Quinn’s apartment. Looking up over her shoulder at his front windows, she thought she should do it.
Quinn was perhaps the gentlest of them, the kindest. She was living with him, for all intents and purposes.
And he’d promised her patience. As much as she needed.
Unlike this one who stood watching her.
He’d seen the direction of her gaze, followed the train of her thoughts.
“Did he stop you from leaving? Did he ask you to stay?”
No. He wouldn’t. Because he’d offered her that patience. Because he’d leave it to her to choose.
But would she choose Clay? He was the fiercest of them, the most formidable. She played with fire, even considering it.
Yet it was a very seductive fire. His desire for her was blatant, compelling.
He was very tempting.
And very impatient.
“You don’t have to decide everything right now. It’s not like I’m asking you to marry me. Just my place, my bed, right now. That’s all you have to decide.”
Gemini looked at him for one more minute. It was a thing that called to her, she couldn’t deny that. And she had been denying herself those things—what she wanted—for too long now.
She got into the car. After her shower, she’d changed into a sleeveless cotton top and a short skirt. She’d settled herself and fastened her belt before Clay removed his gaze from her thighs, stepped back, and closed the door for her.
He sat behind the wheel, his broad shoulder nearly touching hers. He pulled out into the street and took the conversation in a different direction than she expected.
“Imagine what it will be like when Bryce comes for you. Give me a scenario.”
Gemini thought about it. “I’m in the bar, working. It will be late because he won’t want to lose a day’s work. He’ll get through his day, have his power dinner and drinks or attend whatever important function, and then he’ll use a private jet to come here.”
“Yeah. So, you’re behind the bar.”
She considered. “He’ll stay in the car—a rented limo. He’ll send his personal assistant in.”
“Ron Perdue.”
She looked at him. “Yes.”
“He’s not a personal assistant, darlin’. He’s an enforcer.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he does whatever’s necessary for Bryce to get what he wants.”
Memories of Bryce and Ron tumbled in her mind, until they fell into a pattern that fit Clay’s description better than hers. Yet again, she cursed her naiveté.
She was quiet too long, so Clay prompted her. “Perdue comes in. He catches your eye and gives you a nod out the door. What do you do?”
“I…I go to Quinn. Or you and Jace, if you’re there.”
“Behind the bar. You stay behind the bar.”
“Yes.”
“What will Perdue do then?”
She thought. “He’ll shoulder his way up to the bar. He’ll watch me darkly until I cave and go speak with him.”
“And how long will that take?”
She knew there was a right answer, so she gave him what he wanted. “All night. I won’t talk to him.”
“Right. So it won’t happen that way. He won’t put himself in a position where he’s not in control. So, what if you’re alone in Quinn’s place? What if he waits until you finish your shift and he follows you up?”
“I’ll—”
“Wrong.”
Gemini looked at him. “What?”
He gave her the kind of look she expected from Ron—dark. He’d driven them downtown and used a card for entrance into a pa
rking garage. They were in a reserved parking slot and he turned off the ignition then gave her the benefit of his full attention. “You won’t be alone in Quinn’s place, or anywhere else.”
She sighed. “Right.”
“I’d like to buy you a handgun and train you to use it.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
She chewed her lip, trying not to be cowed as he focused his slightly scary fierce gaze on her. “Because I’m not going to shoot anybody.”
“No matter what?”
“Yes. No matter what.”
He was clearly frustrated, but she knew she was right. They were talking about her coming face to face with Ron or Bryce. Whatever it came to, Gemini knew she’d never credibly point a gun at one of them.
He was going to object, to press his point—she was sure of it. But she noticed that his gaze had fallen to her mouth. She let her lip slide out slowly from under her teeth. It was a very effective distraction, apparently.
“Come inside,” he said, and his voice was husky. He climbed out his side and was around to give her a hand almost before she got the door open.
He took her around to street level. They were on North Tejon, and he opened a locked door that was under a canopy between a clothing boutique and a local newspaper. He took her through a small lobby and up wide stairs that were all old brick and polished wood.
They went up three flights to a fourth-floor loft. He had a corner unit lit by large, arched windows on two sides. The walls were more old brick, the ceilings twelve feet and exposed, the floors shiny, aged hardwood. There were skylights over the kitchen and, beyond a partial wall, the area she presumed was the bedroom and bath. The floor plan was open, with nothing to block the views of downtown and distant mountains. There were French doors to balconies off the living space and the bedroom.
She was there now, hustled right through to stand on a Navajo rug placed beside a king-sized platform bed. The place was neat, almost Spartan, and beautiful. “This is lov—”
Clay interrupted her with an abrupt hand cupping her face and the other wrapping around her waist and pulling her close. His gaze was hot, focused on her lips, and his mouth was close. “When will you know if you’re pregnant?”
Her lips tingled, stimulated by just the force of his gaze. She spoke slowly, almost as if they were numb. “Soon. I can do a test in a few more days.”
“So it doesn’t matter, what we do now? Either way?”
His lips were closer, and she felt mesmerized. “No.”
“Good.”
The grip of his arm pulled her tightly against him. She felt his whole length against her body, including the hard span of his erection. His hand lowered to her ass, and he rocked once to be sure she got the full picture.
Then his mouth was on hers, hot and urgent. He foraged, finding his way inside, taking her deeply. “I’m not going to care,” he said, words forced out between kisses, “what you do with Quinn and Jace.” His lips, his tongue slid down her neck. He drew on her, sucking a mark onto her skin. “That’s up to you. It won’t matter to me. To us.” He slid his hand under her skirt from behind, working a finger under her panties and into her.
She was wet for him already. But he was rough, using not just one finger, but two. He thrust into her and she moaned with the sting of it.
That caught his attention. He lifted up, looking at her, watching as he fucked his fingers into her.
Her breath shuddered out with each deep stroke. He held the hair at the back of her head, keeping her facing him, vulnerable to him.
He liked watching the effect as he used her. She could see his appreciation of it in his gaze.
He paused with his fingers deep inside her, carefully regarding her with his next move.
She moaned again when she learned what it was. He stroked his thumb over her anus, not taking any care about protecting her from his nail. He circled her, letting her know what was coming.
Then he gave it to her. Watching intently the response on her face, he pressed in.
“Ahh.”
He went no further than the first knuckle, just enough to claim her sphincter with the greatest impact. He reamed her then, and she shuddered.
“Clay.” She had her hands on his arms, his hard biceps serving as her grounding.
“Gem. Baby.” He burrowed into her again, his breath and mouth hot along her neck. He kept working her ass, the stimulation there gritty and incredibly sexual.
“Take your blouse off, babe. Show me your tits.”
He leaned back again, letting go of her hair. Watching her, waiting for her to comply, he slid his free hand between their bodies. Under her skirt, he dipped his fingers down the front of her panties to find her clit.
Like he had the skills of a sex wizard, he found her magic spot. He pinched first, then gently rubbed her.
“Babe,” he said, bringing her attention back, reminding her of his instructions. “Blouse. Tits.”
She was almost too far gone to notice. She arched, her body sinuously responding to his erotic skill. With her eyes closed, humming now in a blissful daze, she crossed her arms in front, grasped her blouse, and lifted it over her head. Her arms fell back as she dropped it behind her.
He liked what she’d given him. He grunted his approval at the view—her back arched, her breasts thrust upward, just barely covered by ivory cups that were all but transparent. She could feel her hard nipples straining against the fabric.
Straining for—yes. With a growl, Clay dove in. He clasped his mouth over one nipple, drawing hard. It was almost enough to send her over, that exquisite stimulation adding to the arousal he worked into her with his fingers, clit and pussy and ass.
“Clay!”
He tore his mouth away to take her other nipple. “Off,” he growled again, muttering curses against her breast between rough pulls.
Her bra, she realized. With a bare hold on sentience, she reached back to open her bra. He swore some more as she tore it away, baring her breasts for him.
“Use your hands. Shove them up for me.”
By instinct more than anything, she cupped her breasts and offered them to him. He nuzzled with his face and then took her nipples into his hot mouth, one, then the other, nearly managing to hold both at the same time. He started pushing deeper, his thumb into her ass, his fingers into her cunt, rubbing harder at her clit.
In wild ecstasy, Gemini writhed against him, falling helplessly back. He let her go, letting her fall onto the bed, letting her slip from his fingers.
She moaned out the loss, blind with need. Tossing her head in frustration, she was barely aware as he grasped her skirt and panties and tore them from her. Barely aware as his thighs pushed between hers and his mouth found its way back to her breasts. Barely aware of anything until he speared into her, his hard, huge cock thrusting in, in, filling her completely with one seizing, compelling, conquering stroke.
Gemini cried out, rocking in wild pleasure as he pumped into her. He’d so thoroughly aroused her, he so exquisitely filled her now, stretching her, stimulating her, owning her, that she fell into a tumultuous, devastating orgasm within moments. She bucked and wailed, spasming uncontrollably, helplessly convulsing as he drove her impossibly higher.
“Ah, ahh!” Lost in pleasure, completely undone, she went over.
* * * *
“You know what I want.”
Clay was almost beyond caring. Gemini was an incredible fuck, and he’d nearly lost his mind plowing into that spectacularly tight, hot pussy. Her climax had been extended and wild and just about took him with her.
But there was one thing he’d wanted since the night he fucked her in the bar. The night she’d cried out in pleasure, letting him finger-fuck her ass while he went off in her cunt.
He’d fucking waited for it, and he was going to have it. “Roll over.”
“What?”
He was sure her ears were ringing. If he’d ever seen a mind-blowing orgasm, she’d just had one.
He’d crow about it later. Now, he was on a mission.
It didn’t matter if she didn’t understand him, if she couldn’t hear beyond the haze he’d fucked her into. He pushed at her hips and rolled her over. She went easily, like a lamb to slaughter.
He grabbed a pillow and tucked it under her hips, then took a moment to appreciate.
Her ass was gorgeous, heart-shaped and rounded, toned. He put both hands on her and savored the feel of it, enjoyed the look of his tanned hands against that creamy skin. With his grip, he opened her and saw all.
Her pussy still gaped a little, riven as it had just been by his cock. She was all pink and glistening, moist from her own excitement and pleasure.
And the little rosette of her ass—that was sweet as hell. Just the view of it, on display for him with her ass raised in the air like an offering, was enough to make him groan.
He leaned and drooled a little spit onto her, then touched her with his thumb.
That got her attention. Her breath caught and she went on high alert, like she was waiting for his next move.
He gave it to her. He pushed in, having to force his way a bit against that tight sphincter.
She shuddered. “Clay.”
“You like it, baby. I remember from the last time I fucked you. You don’t want to like it. You don’t think you should. But you do.”
He leaned over her now, using his fingers on her. He’d left as much spit as he could, and he worked it into her now. Pressing in with his middle finger, he diddled her, just inside the sphincter. “Don’t you, baby?”
She quivered and breathed out a rough moan. “Clay.”
She was going to have to learn to give him what he wanted.
He pushed a second finger in now and stretched her until she squealed.
“Say it. Tell me you like it.”
“Clay.”
Gemini Page 7
