Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas Book 9)

by Laylah Roberts

  “Fuck. Carrick. I’m close.”

  Carrick hummed. Then he moved his hand around to Jardin’s asshole. Just the tip of a finger entered his puckered hole, but it was enough. Jardin shouted as he came in the other man’s mouth while Carrick continued to suck on him. His breath came in fast pants, his skin was coated with a fine sheen of sweat. He felt like he’d done a hard session of cardio when all he’d done was sit there while Carrick had sucked him off.

  When Carrick drew back from his dick, he reached down for him, pulling him onto his knees so he could kiss him. He didn’t give a fuck that he could taste himself. It was hot.

  “Christ, you’re good at that.” Jardin reached down and ran his hand up and down Carrick’s cock where they faced each other on their knees. “Lube?”

  “Top drawer of the bedside table.”

  He moved away and opened the drawer, pulling out a tube of lube and a butt plug. Excellent.

  Carrick’s eyes grew heavy-lidded as he watched Jardin place the lube and plug on the bed.

  “On your back again. Legs bent, feet flat on the mattress. Time for me to play.”

  Carrick didn’t argue, he just laid back and bent his knees. His cock wept pre-cum. His hands went behind his head.

  Jardin knelt between his bent legs and just took him in for a moment. “As much as I want you inside me, I think I’m going to need some prep first.”

  Carrick made a low, grumbling noise in his throat. “Fucking love that I’m going to be your first.”

  “First and only.”

  “Fuck. Yes. First and only. Jesus, man, hurry up, I’m dying here.”

  Jardin grinned. He liked the pain in Carrick’s voice. “Patience is a virtue.”

  “Fucking sadist, you’re enjoying this.”

  Oh, hell, yes. He certainly was.

  But there was only so long he could resist the lure of the man in front of him. Leaning over, he rested his hands on the mattress on either side of him and licked one nipple. Then he moved to his other nipple and tugged on it lightly with his teeth.

  “Fuck. Yes. Christ, Jardin.”

  He licked down Carrick’s firm abs. Damn, the man was in even better shape than before.

  “You’re so fucking hot.”

  Jardin had never felt attracted to another man. Didn’t think he ever would be. Carrick was it for him. And he made no apologies for it. He reached the other man’s cock and swirled his tongue around the tip before taking him deep into his mouth and sucking. He didn’t mess around. He kept his movements firm. Taking him in deeply before rising to let his cock slide from his mouth.

  “Fuck! Fuck! I’m so close.”

  He let him go with a plop. “No coming until I give permission.”

  “Christ. Fuck. How did I know you were going to be like this?”

  Jardin chuckled. “You’ve known me a long time. You knew exactly what you were getting into when you said yes.”

  “Bastard.” But there was no heat in the words.

  Jardin reached over for the lube and coated two of his fingers in it. Then he took his time spreading the lube on Carrick’s asshole. Jardin raised his gaze to the other man’s face. But his eyes were shut, a look of unguarded pleasure on his face as Jardin slowly slid one finger deep into his ass.

  “Christ. Christ. Christ.”

  Carrick moved his hands away from his head and twisted them into the comforter beneath him. They probably should have pulled that back. They were gonna make a mess of it.

  Not that Jardin really gave a fuck. He pumped his finger in and out of Carrick’s ass while he moved his mouth back to the other man’s shaft. Another finger joined the first, preparing him for the plug although Jardin figured he was well used to taking the plug since it was sitting in his nightstand drawer.

  He drew his mouth back then slid his fingers free.

  Carrick opened his eyes to glare up at him. “No. Fuck. Don’t stop.”

  “Sh, not stopping,” Jardin told him. “Just ramping things up.” He grabbed the plug and coated it slowly in lube while Carrick watched. Then he sat back on his heels, holding it. “Legs to your chest.”

  Carrick groaned as he got into position. “Damn it.”

  This position gave him a good view. He ran a finger between Carrick’s cheeks and over his hole, dipping the tip in.

  “Fuck, Jardin. Don’t tease.”

  Oh, but he liked to tease. And more. But he pressed the plug against Carrick’s ass and slowly started pushing it inside him. Fuck. Him. His cock grew hard at the sight. When the plug was deep inside, he tugged at it, pulling it out a few inches and slamming it back in. He stared down at Carrick as he fucked him with the plug. The other man’s eyes drifted closed and he slapped his ass cheek.

  Carrick opened his eyes to glare at him. “What the fuck?”

  “Eyes on me,” Jardin demanded.

  They stared at each other for a moment, neither giving in.

  Carrick rolled his eyes. “Fine. Fuck. Shit. Keep going. But don’t think you’ll always get to be in charge like this.”

  Oh, he knew he would always be in charge. Maybe not always like this with Carrick. If they had a third, they could dominate her together. But at the end of the day, Jardin was always going to be the boss.

  Jardin grinned as he moved the plug out again then thrust it back. “Lower your legs again.”

  As soon as Carrick’s feet hit the mattress, he took his shaft back into his mouth. With one hand, he circled the base of Carrick’s cock, with his other hand he started pumping his own dick. Fuck. Yes.

  He swirled his mouth around Carrick’s shaft. Fuck. Why had he waited so long? What had he been so afraid of?

  Losing your best friend. Yeah, well, fuck, that happened anyway, didn’t it?

  “Jardin. Shit. Jardin!”

  Jardin swiped his tongue over the head of Carrick’s cock then pulled back. “Come for me. Come in my mouth. Let me taste you.”

  He took him deeply, his eyes never leaving Carrick’s blue ones. And he saw the moment he let go, tasted him as he came in his mouth. By now his own dick was rock hard. He drank down all that Carrick gave him then withdrew from him.

  “You trust me to take you?” he asked the other man.

  “Fuck. Yes.”

  “Condoms?”

  “Got some in the bedside drawer. But I’m clean.”

  “Me too,” Jardin told him. “Tested two months ago and there’s been no one since.”

  “I got tested four months ago.”

  “Then I’ll take you bare,” Jardin said with satisfaction as he slowly drew the plug free. He threw it on the floor to take care of later. Carrick shoved a pillow under his hips to raise himself up, as Jardin coated his cock in lube.

  “Unless you wanted a different position?” he asked.

  “Nope,” Jardin replied. “I want to look at you when I take you. And I want you to know exactly who’s claiming your ass. Because I’m the only one who is going to be taking you there from now on.”

  Carrick’s face softened and Jardin leaned in to kiss him. A light kiss. To tease. Then he drew back and grabbed hold of his dick, guiding it to the other man’s hole.

  “Oh, fuck yes. Harder. Faster.”

  “I’m trying to go easy,” Jardin gritted out as Carrick rose up to meet him.

  “Why? I can take it.”

  Fuck. Christ. He didn’t want to end up blowing his load too quickly. He had to push to get past the tight ring of muscle but once he did, he was surrounded in heat.

  “Feels so good, Jardin. Please. Move.”

  He didn’t need any more prompting. He pulled out then drove in deeply. Christ. So good. Carrick wrapped his big legs around his waist as he moved, thrusting hard.

  “Carrick!”

  “I know, man. I know. Feels fucking good to me too. Just come.”

  He stared into his best friend’s face. The man he loved more than anyone. The he drove deeply one final time, coming hard.

  Fucking bliss.
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  Thea got off the phone with Jardin and placing her elbows on the desk, rested her head in her upturned hands.

  She was still shaking. After asking her if she was okay, he’d only talked about work. Which had been a relief. She was still processing everything that had happened. That had been . . . it had been a complete mess. She wasn’t even sure what the hell was going on. Obviously, Carrick and Jardin knew each other.

  But why would Carrick think their meeting had been a setup? How would that have even been possible?

  She wasn’t sure. But she’d seen his anger and his hurt. And that made her feel ill. Her entire life was a mess and she had no idea what to do. Where to turn next.

  At least she didn’t have to face Jardin this afternoon. That gave her some time to think. Not always a good thing in her situation.

  Mr. Stein had popped his head in before to check on her. She couldn’t believe that Jardin had sent one of the law firm’s partners to check in on her.

  She hurriedly got to work, moving Jardin’s appointments around. He’d only had two this afternoon. And none in the morning. She managed to shift them both to Friday then she did a few other jobs. The afternoon seemed to tick by, and she was ashamed to say she counted down the last ten minutes before she thought she could safely leave.

  Without looking around, she hurried to where she’d parked her car. She didn’t get a parking spot in the same building as where they worked like Jardin did. But she’d managed to find a cheap parking lot not too far away. It was outside and looked more like an abandoned lot. And it was poorly lit at night, which was going to be a problem when the days grew shorter. But, right now, it was a godsend.

  It wasn’t until she got close to her car that she spotted it. A single red rose sat under her windshield wiper.

  Her hands shook as she pulled it out. There was a note attached.

  Three days until you’re mine.

  Her stomach revolted and she leaned over to vomit. When she’d rid her stomach of what little food it contained, she moved around to the driver’s door and opened it. She sat inside, tears streaming down her face. He knew what her car looked like. She was under no illusions he didn’t know where she lived. And worked.

  She had until Saturday. What the hell was she going to do?

  15

  Carrick groaned as he came.

  Jardin had woken him with his mouth around his dick. Fuck, what a way to wake up. Jardin hummed and swallowed him down, licking his cock clean before he slid up his body, pressing kisses to his skin.

  Smiling, Carrick leaned in and kissed him. “Fuck, man, you suck cock like you’ve been doing it all your life.”

  Jardin threw his head back and laughed. Joy filled Carrick. Most people only saw Jardin’s serious side. And he was an intense guy, but he had a softer side. Usually, it only came out around women and children. And Carrick.

  “I’m going to take that as a compliment,” Jardin said with a grin that turned into a groan as Carrick grasped his firm cock with his hand.

  “Oh, it certainly is.”

  “I can’t believe how much we fucked all night. I’m not twenty anymore.”

  Carrick snorted as he continued to jack him off. “Neither of us are. But we’ve got lost time to make up for.”

  “Fuck. Yes. God, we do.” Jardin leaned in to kiss him. “Nothing I want more than to spend the day here with you.”

  “But you have to work. I get it.”

  “I . . . holy fuck, Carrick, that feels good . . . don’t have appointments this morning. I can sleep in for a bit. If you can.”

  “Hmm, I think we can do better than sleep in.” Carrick scooted down the bed until he came face-to-face with Jardin’s hard-on.

  Well, good morning.

  Thea walked into the office the next morning in a daze. She hadn’t slept all night and, truth be told, it was starting to catch up with her. She was feeling woozy and out of sorts.

  She hadn’t wanted to come in today. She hadn’t wanted to see Jardin. To talk about yesterday. She didn’t want to do anything except hide from her problems. As she reached her desk, her heart started to go into overdrive.

  Fear flooded her system, with an overload of adrenaline that made her feel ill.

  There, sitting on the desk in a vase was a single red rose. Her hand shook as she reached out to grab hold of the card. She didn’t need to read what it said. Yet, at the same time there was no way she couldn’t not read it.

  Two days until you’re mine.

  Bile rose in her mouth, and she barely made it to the garbage can. Shaking, tears flooded her eyes, and she sat for a moment trying to pull herself together.

  It was messed up.

  It wasn’t real.

  Get up, Thea. Sitting on the ground isn’t going to do anything. Jardin will be here soon.

  Big girl panties on.

  “There’s something I need to talk to you about,” Carrick said. They were both lying on the bed, facing each other. Both sated from their morning lovemaking.

  He really needed to get up and open the garage. And Jardin would need to go home and get changed before heading into work.

  But there was still something niggling away at him and he couldn’t let it go.

  Jardin opened his eyes, watching him with sharp intelligence. “Yeah? What’s that?”

  “Thea.”

  Did the other man flinch or did he imagine it?

  “What about Thea?” Jardin asked. “You never did say how you met.”

  “That’s part of what I have to tell you. In the interest of honesty and communication. Thea and I . . . well, we . . .”

  Jardin’s eyes widened. “You slept with her?”

  “No. No, I didn’t sleep with her. But we did go on a date. And we kissed.” He explained how he’d met her, bribing her into a date with him. How that date had ended up here at his house.

  “When she left that night, I told her to text me when she got home but she never did. My messages went unanswered. When she finally did text, it was to say she couldn’t come help me the next day in the office like she’d promised.”

  Jardin frowned and sat up, resting against the headboard. Carrick stared at his cut chest. Damn, the man was hot.

  “That doesn’t sound like Thea. She’s only worked for me for two months, but she’s a hard worker and she does what she says she will.”

  “I didn’t think it seemed like her either. But she ghosted me. She didn’t reply to any of my messages or texts. And when I saw you with her yesterday—”

  “You came to the conclusion I sent her to mess with you?” Jardin asked incredulously.

  Carrick winced. “Far-fetched, I know. But I was angry. There was the woman I thought liked me, whom I liked, sitting with the man I loved, who’d hurt me.”

  “I get it,” Jardin said quietly. “But I didn’t know the two of you had met.” He reached over and ran his finger over Carrick’s nipple. “You like her?”

  He stiffened. “Well, yeah, I did. But like I said, haven’t heard a thing from her so, obviously, she doesn’t feel the same.”

  Jardin shook his head. “No. I don’t think that’s the case. She was hurt when you were mad at her yesterday. And she’s been off her game these past few days. Staring off into space, jumpy. I took her out for lunch yesterday to pry answers from her. I touched her yesterday and she acted like she thought I was going to hit her.”

  “I barely touched her wrist, J,” he said with a frown. “I couldn’t have hurt her, not unless . . .”

  “She was already hurt,” Jardin said. He looked thoughtful. “She’s worn long-sleeved, high-necked shirts all week.”

  Carrick sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t like this. You think someone’s abusing her?”

  “I don’t know. But there’s something going on with her.” Jardin stared at Carrick. “If she’d replied to your messages, come to the garage that day, you’d still be seeing her? Want to be with her?”

  Carrick swallowed. How the fuck d
id he answer that? “Well, yeah, but I’m with you now.”

  “One doesn’t have to preclude the other,” Jardin mused.

  “You mean you . . . you like her too?”

  “I’m having a lot of trouble keeping her out of my head. I keep having to recite all the reasons I shouldn’t want her, yet none of them seem to stick.”

  “So, what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that we need to figure out exactly what’s going on in my PA’s life. We need to fix it. And then we need to convince her that having two men dote on her, protect her, dominate her, is better than one.”

  “She might not go for it,” Carrick warned. “And I . . . I can’t be just another dick again, J.”

  Jardin reached over and grabbed him behind the back of the neck, his face fierce. “You were never just another dick. I don’t ever want to hear you say that about yourself. But if for some reason you ever feel it, you’ll tell me.”

  Carrick nodded. “Yeah. I will.”

  “Besides, Thea isn’t Sally. And I do believe it might just take both of us to take care of her.”

  “I’ve got to go,” Jardin told Carrick at this front door.

  Carrick sighed. “I know. So do I. You’ll text me if you find out anything about Thea?”

  Jardin frowned. “Yeah. I’ve got a meeting with a client and then I’ll go into the office and try to have a talk with her.”

  “Should we take things slowly with her? I mean you and I have just started . . .” Carrick trailed off.

  Jardin reached up and cupped the side of his face. “You and me? Always meant to be. We’ve known each other for years.”

  “Not like this.” Carrick’s eyes ran over him and Jardin felt his blood heat.

  “No, not like this. But I suppose you could be right.”

  Carrick raised his eyebrows in shock. “I am? Never thought I’d hear you say those words.”

  Jardin mock-scowled at him. “I can admit when I’m wrong.”

  “Uh-huh.” Carrick leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed over his wide, naked chest. Fuck, it was hard to remember he had to work and couldn’t take him back to bed.