Awakened (6 page)

The men sat quietly, awaiting an answer from Phoebe.
Can I do this? Why not, you have feelings for both of them. But two men at the same time! Get over yourself, go for it.
“Yes, I will date you both. I would like to explore our attraction to each other. But, I won’t have sex until I’m ready and I won’t move in with you. I spent the past five years at the beck and call of one man. I won’t repeat the mistake.

Linc and Alistair looked crushed with her comparison to Callum so she added, “not that I think you two are the slightest bit like Callum but I have only known for a little more than a day. I want to be sure I’m doing the right thing this time.”

“We understand.” Linc spoke for himself and his partner. “Can we kiss you now?”

“I guess so,” Phoebe was a little overwhelmed and nervous with what she had agreed to.

Linc stood and pulled her from the chair into his arms. As his lips devoured hers, she felt his hard, aroused cock pressing against her hip. Evidence of what the men had told her was true.

“My turn.” Alistair stepped up and Linc relinquished her into his arms. Phoebe barely had time to take a breath before her mouth was captured again. His cock was every bit as hard as Lincs as it too ground into her hip.

She was barely able to stand when Alistair released her. Her panties were well and truly soaked with her own need. Her heart beat was rapid. She tingled with excitement. This was going to be one very wild ride. She couldn’t wait.

Chapter Six

Phoebe strode confidently to her desk and dropped her belongings on top. She smoothed the skirt of the pretty green sundress she was wearing. Tony and David’s voices floated to her from the conference room. This was the moment of truth. Would her bosses like the changes she had made?

She found the men studying papers that were spread over the large conference room table. David glanced up when she stepped inside. His jaw dropped open and he elbowed Tony in the ribs.

“Ow,” Tony protested. He glanced up. Phoebe could see there was no recognition of who she was. “May I ….jeez, Phoebe.”

There it is.
She laughed at the expressions of disbelief on the men’s faces.

The brothers straightened and approached her. David, the more outgoing of the two, gathered her hands and held her arms out to her sides while he admired her.

“When we spoke on the phone yesterday and you said there was a new you returning, you weren’t kidding. You look gorgeous.” He placed a chaste kiss on her lightly rouged cheek.

Phoebe lowered her eyes. She wasn’t used to such adoration and felt embarrassed about it.

“We always thought you were pretty underneath that dowdy exterior you seemed to prefer but, we were wrong.”

Phoebe’s eyes lifted in surprise at Tony’s comment.

He chuckled, “you are downright beautiful. Thank God that asshole was stupid enough to let you go. He certainly didn’t deserve you.”

“You are a beautiful woman inside,” David smiled. “And every bit as beautiful outside now too.”

“Thank you,” Phoebe murmured. “I was hoping you would like the changes.”

“Like them? I only wish I was thirty years younger.” Tony laughed.

“Rebecca had better not hear you say that.” David grinned at his brother.

“I’ll get coffee and Phoebe can tell us about her days off and the miraculous changes.” Tony pulled out a chair and waited for Phoebe to sit before he disappeared to their small kitchen.

Phoebe felt like a princess thanks to the praises of her bosses.

Tony returned with a tray holding three coffees and a small plate of biscuits. He offered the plate to Phoebe. She declined. After working her ass off in the gym, and taking brisk walks through the park for the past couple of days, she wasn’t going to ruin it by devouring what was no more than dressed up sugar. She waved the plate away and Tony sat down.

Phoebe sipped at her coffee.

“Now, spill.” David said when she lowered the cup back to the table.

“I was sick and tired of appearing so dowdy just to please Callum. With him gone from my life, I am free to be the woman I have always wanted to be. I think him and that whore did me a huge favor.”

“I’m glad you’ve made the changes. For you,” Tony said.

“Did you find an apartment?” David asked.

“Yes, I did. It’s only two blocks from here on Paton Street. No more smelly buses. And, I’ve joined a gym next door to my building.” She tried not to gush but, for the first time in years she felt happy and was enthusiastic about life.

“You sound happy and excited with your new life,” David said.

“I am happy. Linc and Alistair who own the gym, Muscles, have been wonderful. They push me but not too hard. We have become friends in the past few days and have even been out to dinner a couple of times. You would both really like them.”

“Your eyes are sparkling. Is it because of these men?” The protective side of David kicked in. “They’re not taking advantage of you are they?”

“Not at all. They are very much in love and are being very kind.”

“In love?” David asked.

Phoebe giggled at the serious look on David’s face. She had lost her father when she was barely sixteen. David and Tony would never replace him but they filled some of the fatherly void in her life. “Yes. With each other.” She was extremely close to her bosses and they talked about most things. But, she wasn’t ready to tell them she was exploring the possibility of a relationship with a gay couple.

“It’s good to see you so happy. If there is anything we can do or, if you want to talk, we’re both here for you.” David assured her and his sincerity and caring warmed her.

“And we won’t pass judgement on any decisions you might make.” Tony added.

“Thank you. I love you both.” Phoebe stood. “It’s time I got to work to sort out the mess you two will have made.”

The men laughed as she left. 

ᴥ ᴥ ᴥ

Phoebe’s legs felt like lead as she pushed through the door and entered the gym. She had been on her feet all day, running all over town delivering papers.

Alistair was waiting at the front desk as usual. He greeted her with a kiss. Her body came to life.

“Hi beautiful.”

Her response was flat. “Hi.”

“Something wrong?” Concern showed in his eyes.

“Busy day. I don’t want to be here.”

Alistair had heard that statement on more than one occasion. “Tell you what. Let’s get into your session and as soon as you’re done I’ll ask Marie to give you a massage.”

“Can I skip the session and go straight to the massage?” she pleaded.

Alistair laughed and took her hand. “Nice try.”

Phoebe groaned but allowed Alistair to guide her to the area they used near the rear of the gym.

Alistair set the treadmill in motion and Phoebe stepped on. “I’ll be back in ten minutes,” he said.

Phoebe waited for a few minutes before lowering the elevation from 10 back to 5 and the speed from 7 down to 5. She knew if Alistair found out he wouldn’t be happy but she really wasn’t feeling herself.

Sweat beaded on her forehead and upper lip. Her heart rate climbed.

Ten minutes later Alistair reappeared. She switched off the treadmill before he could see she had altered the settings. She accepted the towel he offered as she stepped down. He escorted her to a large floor mat.

She flipped the lid on her water bottle and gulped the cool liquid.
Boy it’s hot on here today.

The routine was the same one she followed three times a week. It started with three sets of twenty squats. Alistair and Linc assured her these would help to keep her butt curvy – “just the way we like it,” they had told her.

Next were three sets of twenty bicep curls. The 5kg weights in her hands felt more like a ton.

Then pulse lunges – twenty with each leg.

Triceps, lateral raises and front raises followed. Three sets of twenty each. The weights became increasingly heavy even though they had actually remained the same.  Her arms and legs really hated her now.

She paused for a few more huge gulps of water and wiped the sweat from her face.

Alistair held out a skipping rope. She groaned but accepted it.

“Start…..now.” Alistair pushed a button on his wrist watch. She had to complete three minutes of skipping with a ten second break after each minute. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep for a week.

Linc sauntered up as she finished. “How’s it going beautiful?” he asked before his lips locked with Alistair’s.

“Slowly,” Phoebe grumbled.

“She’s a little out of sorts tonight,” Alistair explained.

“Busy day?” Linc asked.

Phoebe nodded.

“I promised her a massage from Marie when she’s done.” Alistair said.

“Come on then, on the mat, forty crunches.” Linc ordered.

Great, now I have two of them growling at me.
She flopped onto the floor and began. Linc counted. She struggled to reach ten. Her chest hurt, her vision was blurred and she felt nauseous. She was decidedly unwell. What was wrong with her? Her eyes lifted to the two men as she sat and struggled to drag air into her lungs.

Alistair and Linc realized something wasn’t right, Phoebe was terribly pale and her lips had a bluish tinge. They dropped to their haunches beside her.

Linc placed his hand on her forehead. She leaned into the coolness.  “C…c…can’t breathe,” she puffed out.

“Someone, bring me some water,” Linc shouted to no-one in particular. “She’s burning up.” A plastic water bottle was thrust into his hand. He flipped the lid and attempted to get Phoebe to drink. She pushed it away. She couldn’t breathe, how could she drink?

Sandra and other patrons of the gym had gathered nearby to find out what was wrong.

Alistair turned to their Manager. “Get an ambulance.” Sandra dashed off to her desk and did as she’d been asked.

Phoebe was getting scared. Her chest was on fire and why couldn’t she breathe? Opening her mouth like a stranded fish, she attempted to suck in some air.

“Sweetheart, I’m going to lie you back onto your side. It might make it easier for you to breathe.” Linc sounded terrified. He laid her back gently and rolled her onto her right side. He then bent her left leg at the knee and draped it over her right leg.

Alistair sat beside Linc and assisted. Concern radiated off them. Their eyes showed their worry. It was the last thing she saw before darkness engulfed her.

Sandra led the two Paramedics through the gym to where Phoebe lay. They crouched beside the lifeless body.

“My name’s Matt. What happened?” he asked as he placed a blood pressure cuff on Phoebe’s arm.

“She was very tired when she arrived.” Alistair felt guilty about pushing Phoebe into a session. He should have known she was unwell. “She was sweating a bit more than normal then she complained she felt unwell and couldn’t get her breath.”

“I’m Kate.” The female Paramedic said as she held a stethoscope to Phoebe’s chest. Holding her wrist at the same time, she checked her pulse. When the results had been noted, she sat back on her heels and gazed at the two men. “Her heartbeat is rapid. Did she complain of headache?”

Linc and Alistair glanced at each other before turning their attention back to Kate. They shook their heads.

Matt continued checking various parts of Phoebe’s body. “I’ll get the gurney.” He rose to his feet and disappeared through the onlookers.

Kate pulled out a bag of clear fluid and tore open a pack. As she assembled the IV she spoke, “I suspect it’s low blood sugar. Do you have any idea what she’s eaten today?”

“No idea,” Linc answered.

“Sorry,” Alistair responded.

“I’ll get this IV started and then we’ll transport her to Memorial. The doctors will run a few tests and probably keep her overnight.”

They watched as the needle punctured Phoebe’s skin above the wrist and the bag of fluid was connected.

Matt reappeared pushing the gurney.

Phoebe was lifted onto the mobile bed and the IV bag, which now dripped fluid steadily into her arm, was placed on a hook attached to the frame.

Phoebe moaned as she began coming to.  Her eyes took in the people around her. “What happened?”

Linc hovered over her and was relieved to find she was breathing more easily. “You passed out. The Paramedics are taking you to Memorial. We’ll change and be there shortly.” He lowered his head and kissed her lips gently.

Alistair then took his place. His kiss to her lips was equally gentle. “We won’t be long.”

Phoebe smiled weakly before she was wheeled away. She didn’t want to go to the hospital but, she felt too weak to argue.

ᴥ ᴥ ᴥ

Alistair and Linc clutched each other’s hands as they hurried through the glass entry doors of Memorial Hospital and up to the enquiry desk.

“Phoebe Rogers. She was brought in by ambulance,” Linc told the woman behind the desk.

The young woman studied the computer screen in front of her. “Bay 11 in Emergency. Ask the nurse to buzz you in.”

“Thank you,” the men said.

They dashed down a long hallway, following the signs to the Emergency area. They approached a glass window.

“May I help you?” a nurse behind the window asked.

“Phoebe Rogers. Bay 11. Please,” Linc answered.

“Go down to the door at the end and I’ll buzz you in.”

They mumbled their thanks and rushed to the door. A loud buzzer sounded and the large white door swung inward. The men stepped through.

Numbers were displayed above each bay. They found Phoebe in no time. A man in a white doctor’s coat was with her. He turned to see what had put the bright smile on his patient’s face.

Linc noticed the doctor’s eyebrows raise when he caught sight of his, and Alistair’s, clenched hands. They ignored him and moved to the head of the bed. After they both placed a kiss on her lips, Linc asked, “how are you feeling sweetheart?”

“I feel a little fuzzy. The doctor was about to explain what happened.”

“Are you family?” the doctor asked gruffly.

“Partners,” Linc and Alistair answered in unison.

Phoebe’s hand was held between her
partners.
When the doctor’s head whipped around and he noticed, she had to smother a giggle. His eyebrows had risen so high, she thought they might end up on his scalp.