by Sophie Oak
Cade shrugged. He had no idea what was going on. He tucked his cock back in, carefully zipping back up.
“Are you going to kiss me or what?” Gemma asked, aggressively moving toward him.
Kissing was still a good idea. She needed a whole hell of a lot of kissing. She needed kissing and petting and possibly a tongue teasing into her cunt before she was ready for sex. She slammed her mouth on his, and her hands went right back to his jeans.
He pushed her away. “Damn it, Gemma. Slow down.”
She stopped, her body going completely still. She took a moment and then smoothed her hair back. “I’d like to get out now.”
Good. They needed to get inside so he and Jesse could lay her out and show her what foreplay was. He’d love to meet her previous lovers because they obviously hadn’t taught her pleasure. Cade slid out of the car, forcing his big body out of the backseat and onto her driveway. He could breathe again. The night air cooled his skin. He reached his hand back in to help pull Gemma out, but she didn’t take it. Awkwardly, she struggled out of the car. She nearly fell over, but Cade caught her. She pushed away from him as quickly as she could, steadying herself on her impractical heels.
“Thank you for the ride home.” Her face was a polite blank.
“What?” Cade looked at Jesse. What the fuck was going on?
She didn’t reply, just turned and walked toward her door, digging in her purse for her keys.
He’d been dismissed. He looked at Jesse, who was staring at Gemma as she climbed the two steps to her porch.
“You didn’t do anything,” Jesse said, his eyes never leaving her. “If I’d gotten in the backseat, she would have done the same thing to me and I would have reacted the same way.”
Cade had the sudden, desperate need to go after her. It didn’t matter that he was scared. It didn’t mean shit that he knew he wasn’t good for her. He couldn’t walk away. “Gemma?”
She didn’t turn around, simply stood at her door in the gloom of the night, trying to force her key in.
“You can go if you want to, but I’m going to handle her.” Jesse had a frown on his face. “She’s about to find out she’s not in charge of this.”
Jesse started toward her, and Cade followed, hoping he hadn’t just fucked everything up.
* * * *
Jesse checked his temper. He was righteously pissed off, but he needed to handle Gemma with care. “Let me do that.”
She was struggling with the key. She obviously couldn’t see the lock since the light on her front porch was out. She shouldn’t walk up alone when she couldn’t see. Anyone could charge her from the dark, and she wouldn’t know what hit her.
“I’ve got it, Jesse.” She cursed as the keys fell out of her hand.
Jesse got to them before she could. “Baby, let’s go inside and talk about this.”
“He doesn’t want me. You two are a packaged deal. I get that. So why don’t you both just run along?”
His head started pounding, just a bit. Something was going on with Gemma. He could see it plainly. She’d been on edge all night, but he wasn’t going to let her ruin this. “We’re going to go inside and sit down and talk about this like rational adults. Gemma, you weren’t even aroused.”
She frowned. “How the hell would you be able to tell?”
He held her panties up. “These are bone dry, darlin’. They should be wet.”
She gasped and reached out for her underwear. Jesse was faster. “Give me those.”
“No.” He shoved them in the pocket of his jeans. “Now, you don’t want to go inside? We can do this out here, but you might want to keep your voice down.”
“I am not doing anything out here.”
“You were ready to rape Cade just a few seconds ago in full view of your mother’s cabin.”
“Rape is a strong word,” Cade said, standing well outside her range of fire. Chickenshit.
“Rape? Really?” The words dripped with sarcasm. “He was as hard as a rock.”
“But he wouldn’t have touched you because you weren’t ready, baby. Now, let’s go inside and we can do this right.”
Her body was brittle, her words even harder. “I tried to do it right. I’m not exactly a virgin, Jesse. It didn’t work out. No problem. Not everyone is sexually compatible. It’s no big deal. There are more men in this town.”
Cade groaned. “Gemma, don’t do this.”
“What the hell is this about, Gemma?” Jesse was starting to lose patience. “You watch what you say now. If you push me too far, you’ll likely find yourself over my knee.”
“I would love to see you try, McCann. Don’t you forget what I did to Max Harper.”
“Don’t try it. It won’t go well for you.”
She was pushing him. Her foot tapped against the wooden porch, making a rhythm for his blood to pound to. “We’ll see about that. Now why don’t we both go our separate ways? Cade doesn’t want me, and I know you can’t get it up unless your friend is around.”
A vision of stripping her and forcing her over his knee assaulted his brain. He would smack that sweet ass of hers until it was red and nothing but sweet words came out of her mouth. She would fight him at first, but he would keep going until she submitted. He would have her at his goddamn feet by the end of the night. She wanted to challenge him? She wanted to top him? Oh, she would find out just how dominant he could be.
And he would be right back in jail. No. He turned. His temper was frayed. He needed a break. He needed to think.
“That’s right. Walk away. Guess your little plan didn’t work out.”
He closed his eyes, the truth sliding into place. Gemma’s walls were so high and so thick that sometimes he forgot they were there. She used that sarcasm and bitter wit like armor against the whole damn world. She wanted to be in control because she didn’t trust anyone else to be.
He understood that. It had taken him years before he could open himself up to anyone. Cade still closed his own heart off. They were a fucking trio. Three people who were so damaged it seemed impossible they could work.
But Jesse decided long ago he wouldn’t let the damage of his past wreck his future. He could still remember Nancy Gibbs holding him. It was roughly a year after he’d come to live with them. He hadn’t talked much, just waited to do something dumb and get kicked back to the street. Night after night he woke up, those months in the detention center playing in his nightmares. Nancy had held him while he shook and cried. He’d been sixteen, but in that moment, he’d finally gotten to be a little boy holding on to his mother.
Nancy hadn’t backed away because he’d been bitter.
He was falling for Gemma Wells. It would be easier to walk away and find someone less difficult, but he had the very bad feeling that her face would haunt him for the rest of his life, that no other woman would move him the way she did. She was smart and funny and strong. The bitter brattiness went with it like a car whose engine purred perfectly but had been marred with a horrific paint job. He wouldn’t give it up. He would bring that car back to life.
Tenderness. Care. Gemma needed those. She needed his protection. Even from herself.
He turned back around and walked straight up to her. She backed away, her heels slipping. He caught her, hauling her close. “It’s all right, baby. It’s okay.”
“Stop it.” But she didn’t pull away.
“Tell me what’s wrong, Gemma. Tell me why you’re acting this way.” He kissed her temple. She was so small in his arms.
“He doesn’t want me,” Gemma insisted.
Cade was suddenly crowding her back, and Jesse felt something inside him ease. He’d half expected Cade to run, but he was here, giving her what she needed. “That’s bullshit, baby. I want you so bad, but I want you to want me.”
Her eyes tightened, a look of consternation crossing her face. “I was all over you.”
Cade slipped an arm around her. She was totally caught, and that was how Jesse wanted her. “But you didn’
t want me. Baby, I can tell when a woman wants me.”
Jesse cuddled close. She seemed to be responding to the contact in a way she hadn’t when she’d taken the reins. “Tell me about your sex life.”
She tried to pull away, but they held her fast. “This is stupid.”
“How about this? I’ll tell you what I like and Cade will tell you what he likes and then you can talk about your fantasies.”
She sighed. “Why can’t we just do it?”
He chuckled. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? That would leave you in control because you wouldn’t have to put anything on the line. Well, I don’t think I want to play that way. Hush and listen. Cade, you go first. Touch her while you talk.”
“I like to go slow.” Cade’s voice proved his words true. He spoke in long syllables, drawing out each word as his hands cupped her breasts. “I don’t want to roll on and roll off. I want to play with you for a long time. You’ll be our plaything, a soft little doll we pass between us. I want to see every inch of you. I want to play with these nipples.”
Jesse had to move back slightly to make room for Cade’s hands. Gemma moaned a little as Cade’s fingers tightened over her shirt.
“I’m going to suck on them. I’m going to bite them just a little. You’ll squirm because it hurts but it also feels good. You’re going to go crazy. Your breasts will be so sensitive after I’m done.”
Jesse took over. “And the whole time he’s playing with your breasts, I’ll touch your pussy.” He let his hand slip under the waistband of her skirt, gliding over her taut belly and finding the valley of her sex. He could feel the heat coming from her pussy. She wasn’t dry now. Slick moisture coated her clit, making it easy for him to slide his fingers over her. She wasn’t where he wanted her yet, but she was getting there. And she seemed to like dirty talk. “I’m going to touch this little jewel with my fingers and my mouth. I like to eat pussy. It’s my favorite meal. I can eat this pussy for hours. Don’t you see what you’re denying us if you go too fast?”
“Yes.” Her voice was a breathless whisper, her hips moving against his hand. She was getting wetter by the moment.
“Good sex should start slow. We’ll get to the point where you trust us enough to toss your skirts up and fuck you senseless, but not yet. We’re going to fuck you so long and so hard that all you’ll have to do is look at one of us and this little pussy will get wet because you’ll know what we can do to you.”
Cade kissed her ear. “With our fingers and our mouths and our cocks. We can fill you up.”
Jesse sighed. She was finally responding. “Tell me what you want.”
She leaned into him, her voice almost too low to hear. “I want to submit.”
His cock jumped. “Darlin’, I can help you with that.”
Chapter Eight
Why the hell had she done that? She’d just said it, like she was commenting on the weather and not asking for kinky sex stuff. Gemma’s whole body stiffened.
She’d done it because they tricked her and they were still tricking her. Damn. Her whole body went limp again, their hands lulling her into a sensual haze. She’d tried to just get it over with, but no, they had to talk. She’d been ready to push through and get to the part she wanted to get to—that moment when they would cuddle her. Patrick had hated it, but she thought these two might like holding her.
Neither one was behaving the way he should. But then again, her body was misbehaving, too.
“You want to submit?” Jesse’s voice rumbled along her skin, causing her to shiver. His damn voice wasn’t the only thing making her quiver. His fingers skimmed her clitoris, parting the petals of her labia.
She should clear that up. It was a dumb fantasy brought about by romance novels and the desperate need to not be in control for five damn minutes. “It was just a joke.”
She nearly squealed. They moved in perfect time. Cade’s fingers tightened on her nipples while Jesse pinched her clit.
“Don’t lie to us.” Jesse twisted his fingers slightly. There was a sharp pain that shifted into heat and a restless energy. “Tell me.”
“I want to try it.”
Their fingers eased up. Cade dipped into her bra, warm hands cupping her breasts. “Why did you try to go so fast, baby?”
“Men like fast.” Men wanted to get in and out. They liked a woman who could keep up with them.
“I don’t,” Jesse said. “I like slow. I like all night long.”
“Patrick liked to get to sleep.”
They both stopped. “Who the hell is Patrick?” Cade asked.
“Is he the man you were supposed to marry tomorrow?” Jesse asked.
He was the man she’d been ready to marry and who’d called her, not even bothering to remember it was supposed to be the night before their wedding. He was the man who had really taught her about sex. Two-minute Patrick.
She nodded. “Yes. We were supposed to get married, but I found him with another woman.”
Jesse leaned over, pressing his lips to hers in the sweetest kiss. “Hold that thought. Cade, distract her while I open this damn door. We’re giving the whole valley a show. I think I caught the glint of binoculars a minute ago.”
Embarrassment flashed through her system. Everyone was watching her?
And then Cade whirled her around and dragged her close, those strong hands pulling at her hips. His mouth came down on hers. She knew she should protest. She started to push away, but her hands met the most perfectly sculpted chest. Cade was made of pure muscle, but his mouth was gentle on hers. “Give me your tongue, baby.”
She opened her mouth to respond, and he took immediate advantage. His tongue slid against hers. She’d been kissed before, but not like this. Cade took over, forcing her head back. She’d been so worried when she’d kissed him before. It had been nice, but nothing special. This was what had been missing. Cade held her, his arms a cage that locked her in and wouldn’t let her go. She wasn’t in control. She wasn’t dominant. She softened, her whole body shivering at the thought of giving in to these men.
And she was damn glad Jesse still had her panties because if they’d been on, they would be wet. Her pussy was practically melting. Cade ate at her mouth, devouring her like she was a sweet treat.
She nearly protested when he moved back, the loss of his mouth on hers so terribly rough. But he leaned over and picked her up, his arms going under her knees. He hauled her against his chest like he was picking up something small that weighed next to nothing. Cade, who didn’t want anything serious, held her like she was infinitely fragile.
She wasn’t, of course. She wasn’t some flower. She was more like the rock that anchored things down than some pretty, petite flower, but just for a moment she envisioned herself as soft and deeply feminine. She gave in, letting her head rest against his chest, pretending this was her right as his lover, to lean on him, depend on him, to know he would take care of her.
Dangerous thoughts. The world didn’t work like that, but just for tonight, she was going to pretend.
Jesse turned the light on, illuminating her little cabin. No one had updated the décor for years. The living space seemed trapped in the seventies, but somehow Jesse looked right here. He looked like he belonged in the rustic setting. Cade carried her to the couch.
“My bedroom is back there,” she said as he sat her down.
Jesse shook his head. “I suppose Patrick always did it in a bed.”
She wrinkled her nose. Yeah, she should probably stop talking about Patrick. New lovers didn’t like to hear about the old ones. She needed to write down a whole set of rules. “I don’t want to talk about Patrick.”
She wanted to kiss again. She’d never liked kissing. It was awkward and messy, and she never knew how to hold her head, but when Cade kissed her, he just moved her where he wanted her. She wanted Jesse to kiss her. She wanted to feel the scruff of his beard against her face.
What would it feel like on her pussy?
Jesse whistled.
“Damn, darlin’. I would give a lot to know what you just thought. Your whole body flushed, but we do have to talk about Patrick. Now take off your shirt.”
“What?” Were they going into therapy? “I don’t think I want to be the only one naked.”
Jesse shook his head. “Cade’s been naked since he set you on the couch.” He looked at Cade, a wry smile on his face. “How the hell do you manage that?”
Gemma looked up and felt her mouth drop. He was naked. He was just really naked. So damn beautifully and gloriously naked. Why did he ever wear clothes?
Cade shrugged. “It’s my superpower. I don’t like clothes. Gemma, here’s the deal. I like to be naked when I’m at home. I actually would rather just be naked wherever, but Nate passes out tickets and let me tell you, they are liberal with the fines here.”
Well, of course he liked to be naked. He was perfect. Six feet two inches of perfectly muscled male god stood in front of her. Every inch of him was defined, from his broad shoulders to his washboard abs and lean hips to powerful legs. Her mouth actually watered. She’d kind of thought cocks that big were a myth, like Big Foot and vampires. She’d been pretty sure they were photoshopped into porn videos, but no, Cade’s was vividly real and pointed straight her way.
They wanted her to talk? She could barely breathe.
“See, now I’m getting jealous,” Jesse said, frowning.
Fuck. She was screwing up. She’d screwed up all night long. This was what she did. This was why she concentrated on her job and not the stupid emotional stuff—because she was hideously bad at the emotional stuff.
“Hey, hey.” Jesse got to his knees in front of her. He forced her to look into his seriously blue eyes. “I was joking, baby. Why did you get so tense? Baby, I was just teasing. You can’t help but look at it. People can see it from space.”
She laughed, tears forming in her eyes because she was in way deeper than she thought she was. Why did they have to be so sweet? “I don’t want to screw up.”
