Summer Solstice (8 page)

“God, I’m going to come,” Matteo gasped.

“Fuck her harder,” Jared told him. “Come on.”

A blur of motion, sensation, as the two men drove into her, it seemed. Two cocks, a primal force, sending pleasure like an electric current through her body.

Matteo tensed first, shivering as his climax hit him. But Jared didn’t stop, his hips pumping, forcing Matteo to keep driving into her even as his cock softened. Matteo reached between them, pinching her clit between his fingers, and Leigh was next, pleasure rolling over her in thundering waves as she came.

Still, Jared drove into Matteo, and even though she’d just come, the sight of them together, the feel of their two bodies against hers, was incredibly erotic. Overwhelming. Sending tremors of pleasure through her like the last waves of her orgasm. Finally, Jared called out, his body went rigid, and she felt him shudder as he came into Matteo.

All she knew then was the deep pull of night air into her lungs, arms going around her as they fell together onto the bed. And in a tangle of skin and sweat, hands and murmuring lips, they fell asleep.

The following weeks were a haze of blazing days and sultry nights. Leigh spent nearly every weeknight in Jared’s bed, sometimes with Matteo, sometimes just the two of them when Matteo went out to see friends, to play music. Neither got much work done, and weekends they rarely left the bed at all. Jared had accomplished little unpacking, and colorful takeout menus littered the tops of the boxes piled around his house, most of his artwork left on the floor, leaning against the walls.

Leigh hardly noticed. All she knew was that this man did things to her body no one had ever done before. And having Matteo with them made it all seem like some erotic dream, as though she were living an impossible fantasy she’d never dared to imagine might actually come true. She woke each morning sore all over, yet wanting more. More of them both.

More of Jared.

Jared had awakened her senses, and there was no shutting them down, whether she was with him or not. On the few evenings he was away, her body yearned for him, demanding satisfaction. She had to stand in the shower, her soap-slicked hand rubbing furiously between her thighs, until, thinking of him, she came in a fierce explosion.

But more than that, she missed him. She tried not to. But every cell in her being needed him, her heart as much as her body, which was something she wasn’t ready to think about. She adored Matteo. He was a gypsy, a little mysterious, intriguing. And always happy, carefree. He was the light to Jared’s dark, sweet where Jared was commanding. But it was Jared who was snaring her emotions.

It was July Fourth, and the heat wave hadn’t eased, the only respite the cooler evenings, when the fog rolled in. The three of them walked down to the Santa Monica Pier to see the fireworks. They arrived just before sunset and found a spot on the sand by the pier, where they sat on a blanket and drank cold, dark beer. The ocean was a thrumming roar, the water turning gray, then a deep midnight blue as the sun went down, streaking the sky in pink and gold as the crowd grew around them.

Leigh smiled when Jared pulled her to sit between his legs. She leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around her, his hands coming to rest beneath her breasts. They immediately felt heavy and hot. She moved a little so the weight of them rested on his wrists.

Her body tingled while darkness settled around them, while the crowd along the beach hummed with expectation. While Matteo sat beside them, idly stroking her bare calf, his fingers soft on her skin. She didn’t move when Jared’s fingers began to tease one nipple through her light gauze top. Her nipple stiffened and she moaned, and Matteo grinned at them.

Jared said quietly, “When I get you home I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll come for an hour. What do you think of that?”

“I think we can leave now.”

“Naughty girl. You’ll have to wait until the fireworks are over.” He gave her nipple a firm pinch before pulling his hand away.

“You’re so cruel.”

“Poor girl. You’re a tortured soul.”

“I am,” she pouted.

“Then we shall have to do something about that.”

“I think you’re in trouble now,” Matteo said, his grin widening.

Jared let her go long enough to reach into the leather backpack they’d brought along and pulled out a beach towel, which he draped over her lap.

“Jared? What—”

“Shh. Watch the sky. The show’s about to begin.”

The air rumbled, and a fiery shower of color burst in the darkness over the ocean. The crowd applauded. Jared’s hand crept beneath the hem of Leigh’s short, cotton skirt, and was instantly joined by Matteo’s.

Their fingers were cool against the hot skin of her thighs. They both moved higher, and Jared whispered, “Open for us, Leigh.”

She parted her legs. And let out a gasp when Jared thrust his fingers into her waiting pussy.

“Quiet, my girl. There are a thousand people here.”

“Yes,” she breathed. That made it even better.

She rocked her hips to take his fingers more fully inside her. Her pussy clenched when he began to slide them in and out. Matteo stroked her thigh, then moved to her sex, feathering over her already soaking cleft while Jared pressed deeper. She looked at Matteo, and he was watching her, his eyes gleaming in the dark, illuminated by the fireworks like a burning shower overhead. It was impossible to care that they were surrounded by people. That someone might see what was going on beneath the towel.

“You feel so good, beautiful girl,” Matteo told her, his voice rough with desire. She knew if she touched him now he’d be hard as stone.

He kept his gaze on hers, stroking, stroking, while Jared fucked her with his hand. When Matteo pressed on her clit, she had to suck in her breath to keep from crying out.

The fireworks exploded above them, the force of the launchers shaking the ground. The crowd oohed and ahhed. And still Jared worked her with his fingers, Matteo’s thumb circling her throbbing clitoris. She moved against their hands, sensation overwhelming her.

Jared whispered, “Come for me, girl. Come into our hands. Fuck our hands. Yes, that’s it.”

When the finale rocketed into the sky in an electric burst of red, white and blue, Leigh’s orgasm rocked through her. Jared plunged his fingers deeper inside her, Matteo’s thumb pressing hard onto her clit, driving her on as she came. She squeezed her eyes shut, bit her lip to muffle her cries, and Jared held her close. She was trembling all over as Matteo pulled his hand away, took her hand and brushed a quick kiss across her knuckles, then let it go.

“Jesus. You are wicked, you two,” she panted.

“I pride myself on that,” Jared said. “I’ll have you converted yet, my girl.”

Her heart turned over at those lovely, possessive words.
No, it’s just sex.
But it was getting harder and harder to convince herself of that.

He pulled his fingers from her, then one by one, put them in his mouth and sucked them clean.

“You taste so good. Like summer.”

She was still shaking. “Can we go now?”

“Yes!”

Chapter Five

Jared had fucked her hard and long, as promised. Then he had fucked Matteo again while Leigh watched, lazy, sated, yet insatiable. Jared was amazing—the man had gone all night. Leigh’s thighs trembled and her sex ached.

But more than that, her heart ached as she lay in his arms, Matteo’s head resting on her stomach, all of them laid out across the big bed as the sun rose outside the windows. They’d hardly slept. It didn’t seem to matter. She loved this simple, companionable comfort. Things were always easy between them. They laughed together, often talked late into the night after they were all worn out from sex.

She knew this was a temporary arrangement, so there weren’t the usual questions hanging in the air between them. Where is this relationship going? How do you feel about me?

Leigh knew how she felt. And she knew Jared wasn’t the kind of man who got into anything permanent, so she pushed her feelings aside. Despite the incredible sex, the easy companionship both with him and with Matteo.

No, despite all that, he wasn’t for her. He’d never insinuated that he was interested in a long-term relationship. It seemed the reason he and Matteo worked so well was because they both traveled so much, because they shared other bed-mates. Jared would move on eventually. And take a piece of her heart with him.

“Leigh.” His deep voice broke through her reverie.

“Hmm?”

“I’m leaving soon.”

“What?” She sat up to look at him. His face was calm—she couldn’t tell what he might be thinking, feeling.

“I’m going to Europe.”

“Europe?” Why couldn’t she think straight?

Matteo pulled himself upright, gave Leigh a quick kiss on the cheek and got out of bed. “I need breakfast. I’ll get up and head out to find some coffee and something to eat. Be back soon with some food.”

Jared nodded at him, remained quiet until Matteo had thrown on some clothes and left the room.

“I’ve been offered a project. It’s a book of architectural photography. A group of incredibly talented folks are working on it. Some of the best in the world. And my manager’s arranged a show there for me at the same time. I’ll start in Prague, then go to Berlin. I’m not sure where else. I’ll be gone a few months, probably.”

“Oh.” She swallowed hard, the disappointment and the hurt going down like acid. Her heart was hammering, a dull, thudding ache in her chest.

He reached out and tipped her chin up with his hand. “Look, this is a brilliant opportunity for me.”

“I know that.” She was furious when tears thickened her voice.

“Ah, now, don’t do that. I can’t bear it.”

He leaned in and kissed her mouth, kissed her tear-damp eyes, her hot forehead. Her heart twisted at his tender touch.

He pulled away and looked into her eyes. For a moment she thought she saw something in the dark brown depths of his gaze. A glimpse of emotion. But she knew it was only her own wishful thinking.

“When do you go?”

“On Friday.”

“So soon?” That was only two days away.

“I just got the news. Another photographer was supposed to go, but he’s been ill and can’t make it. I’ve been asked to replace him. And I don’t think long goodbyes do anyone any good. Leigh, you knew I’d be leaving eventually, didn’t you? That I’d have to work. I never led you to think otherwise.”

“No, you didn’t.” She pulled in a long, sighing breath, trying to calm her racing pulse. “I’ve always appreciated your honesty.”

“Right, then. Can we enjoy the next two days? Do you want to be here with me?”

“Yes. Of course.” If only he knew how much.

“Matteo is leaving tomorrow. He’s playing a show in San Diego. He’ll stay a while to do some surfing, then maybe head down to Mexico with some friends.”

A small stab of pain for Matteo too. But it was Jared who was breaking her heart. It had always been Jared.

She nodded her head, unable to speak as a knot lodged in her throat.

“That’s my girl.” He rubbed a stray tear from her cheek with his thumb. “I’ve had the most wonderful summer with you. You’re an incredible woman, Leigh.”

“Don’t say that. Please.”

“It’s true.”

Then why wasn’t he staying with her?

Jared lay back on the bed and pulled her on top of him. He kissed her again, softly. His lips were so sweet against hers. He tasted faintly of the beer they’d been drinking the night before. Her body heated up, despite her aching heart.

“Make love with me, Leigh,” he whispered.

He’d never called it that before. It was always fucking.

Don’t think about it.

She slid her body against his, her already tight, hard nipples grazing his chest. He cupped her bottom in his big hands and pulled her hips into his heavy erection.

“Ah, Leigh,” he groaned.

She reached into the nightstand and found a condom, slipped it over his thick shaft, and positioned her wet sex over him. She needed to feel him inside her. Needed to have at least that much of him.

She parted the lips of her sex with her fingers and slid onto the hard length of him, his cock filling her. He reached up and took her face in his hands, drew her down for another kiss.

When his tongue pushed into her mouth, slipping inside, all wet, sweet heat, she began to move. His hands threaded through her hair, caressed the back of her neck, her shoulders, while she rocked her hips against him.

This was different, somehow, even as the familiar stab of pleasure shot through her.
He
was different. Was she fooling herself into believing he felt something for her? That he was going to miss her the way she missed him even now? Even with his flesh buried inside her body, he was lost to her already.

He thrust into her, faster and faster. His pelvis ground against her clit, and the pressure built quickly. And when she came, pleasure crashing over her like the waves of the ocean, she cried out.

“Jared!”

“Ah, God…”

Moments later he stiffened beneath her, pulled her body close to his, her breasts crushing against the hard wall of his chest. And her name escaped his lips on a long sigh.

The next morning came all too soon, the early dawn light filtering through a haze of fog outside the windows of Jared’s house. The moment her eyes opened, it hurt to think that this was the last time she would be there for a while. Maybe forever. Who knew what might happen in the months Jared was gone? He could forget all about her.

She wouldn’t forget him.

Matteo had returned the previous morning with breakfast, as promised, and she’d done her best to swallow her emotions and simply appreciate her time with them. She was surprised when Jared had asked her to stay while he packed his suitcase, his camera equipment, taking her back to bed for the afternoon while Matteo ran errands. They’d napped, made love again, napped some more. Somehow, afternoon had turned into night, and they’d all gone to dinner, had a few drinks, coming back to the house and falling into bed. There was no sex, just the three of them in a warm tangle of limbs, which seemed all the more poignant to her. Leigh had expected to lie awake all night, but she’d slept heavily and dreamed of Jared. Now her eyes were heavy, and the early light felt cold to her. Stark. She pulled the blankets closer around her shoulders.