Three (17 page)

“Oh…thank God.” Jackson breathed a sigh of relief and started towards the master suite.

“Jackson…wait.” Xander stopped him. “I think she had a minor panic attack earlier. It happened after I gave her the tour of the house. Especially when she saw the master bed and bath. I can’t be too sure, but I think the scope of how we do relationships kind of overwhelmed her. So maybe we should try not to smother her.” Xander finished.

“Oh…uh. Do you think it would be alright to just say hello. I want to see her first, and then I can start on dinner.” Jackson said, unsure of himself now that he realized Simone may not be as on board as he thought.

“Yeah, Jax. I don’t think that would be a problem. She’d probably be happy to see you.” Xander reassured his friend, feeling bad for deflating his good mood.

Jackson walked down the hall to the bedroom at a much slower pace this time. He walked through the closet to the bathroom. He looked over at the tub and his heartbeat stuttered and then started to pound at this chest when he saw only her nose peeking out from the water.

“Si!” Jackson shouted in fear.

Her eyes popped open and she sat up quickly. Jackson’s heart relaxed but only a little as he took in the vision of his very own sea-nymph. As the water sluiced down her body; Simone’s ebony hair cascaded down her back, her warm dark eyes stared at him through sooty eyelashes that were wet and spikey. Her caramel skin glistened and her little brown nipples stood erect on her small plump breasts.

“Jackson.” Simone breathed his name, like a caress.

Without thinking; Jackson strode over to her, dropped down to the top step and grabbed her face between his massive hands and kissed her soundly. They broke away on a gasp and Jackson searched her sleepy eyes, trying to gauge what she was feeling.

“Are you okay? Xan said that you freaked out a little.” Jackson said, still holding her face gently like he was protecting fragile glass.

“Yes. I’m okay.” Simone looked down, breaking eye contact, unable to hold his piercing silver gaze.

“Simone, look at me.” Jackson commanded softly. “I don’t want you to feel pressure to try to be someone you’re not to fit this obviously unorthodox relationship. Just be yourself and trust me it’ll work. You’re perfect as is.” Jackson spoke gently.

“Okay.” Simone nodded her face in his hands, closing her eyes and breathing deeply.

“In any new relationship between a man and woman, gay, lesbian or otherwise; they have to get to know each other and figure out what works for them. And it’s the same here. Just like you have to adjust to us, we’ll adjust to you. But I want you to know that I want this. More than anything I’ve wanted in a long time.” Jackson said passionately as he gently stroked his thumbs over her cheeks. “I don’t want you to decide right this moment if you want to stay…for good. Well, that’s a lie. Of course I’d love it if you said you wanted to stay right now, but I know this is a lot for you to take in. I just want you to give us a shot and to really consider staying and making this work.” Jackson finally finished his heartfelt plea.

“Alright. I’ll think about it and take everything you said into consideration. Thank you…for being so thoughtful and patient with me.” Simone said shyly.

“It’s nothing.” Jackson said before placing his firm lips on her forehead.

His lips moved from her forehead to her damp eyelids, cheeks, nose and then her soft wide mouth. Hesitantly testing the water, Jackson’s tongue tentatively flicked out against Simone’s full lips. And she gasped at the sensation, opening to him instantly. Jackson took her assent and ran with it. His tongue stroked boldly into her mouth. His hand traveled down her cheek, past her neck and cupped her breast in his hand. He stroked his thumb over her sensitive nipple and she gasped against his mouth.

“Jax.” She said breathlessly, almost like a question.

Jackson’s hand continued a path down her body, into the water, cupping her hot sex. Her hips reflexively pumped into his hand. He slipped his middle finger inside her tight heat and his thumb made circular motions over her hardened clit. Simone’s bottom lip trembled with need and she looked up at him with such naked passion and love that Jackson’s heart clenched and jumped into his throat. His only reaction was to bury his other hand in the hair at the nape of her neck, holding her still so that he could devoured her mouth in desperation. His hand continued its assault on her quivering flesh. And Simone exploded with her climax. Her inner walls flexing against his fingers and her cry of ecstasy absorbed into his mouth.

As she came down from her high, Jackson released her lips and they rested their foreheads against each other, catching their breath.

“Better.” Jackson asked with a grin.

“Yes.” Simone sighed happily, the much needed climax that she was denied earlier in her distress, finally released the pent up tension in her body that the hot bath had failed to do. “I feel like a noodle now.”

“Come on. Let me get you out of there, before you turn into a prune.” Jackson said as he got up to grab a giant fluffy towel.

He helped her to stand and wrapped her up like a burrito before lifting her out of the tub like a small child. He held her tightly against his wide barreled chest as he walked into the bedroom. He sat her on the gigantic bed, walked out of the room and came back a minute later with her bags and opened one of the suitcases. Simone sat quietly watching him rummage through her bag, a small smile playing at her lips.

“May I ask what exactly are you looking for?” Simone asked with a chuckle.

“Your p.js. So you can relax for the evening.” Jackson said looking up, the side of his mouth lifting up in a heart melting crooked smile.

“Ah, I see. Those would be in the other bag.” Simone pointed to her other piece of luggage.

Jackson opened the other suitcase and grabbed her fleece pajama pants and a long-sleeved undershirt. He brought the clothing over and unwrapped the towel.

“Arms up.” Jackson instructed.

“You know I’m a big girl. I can dress myself.” Simone said as she raised her arms.

“I know. I just like taking care of you. Is there something wrong with that?” Jackson said, and then bent down to place a soft kiss on the end of her nose.

Simone just shook her head no. Too overwhelmed to speak. It had been a long time since someone had wanted to take care of her. It made her think of her mother and she had to squeeze her lips together to keep from crying. She stood up and he helped her step into the comfy pants. When he was finished he looked down at her and saw her eyes were glassy from unshed tears.

“What’s wrong, Si? Did I do something wrong?” Jackson asked anxiously.

“No…no. You’ve done everything just right. So right, it’s a little scary. Like you can read my mind or something. I was just thinking about my mother. She was the last one to pamper me like child. And you dressing me, brought back memories. Good ones, though.” Simone gave him a watery smile and she brushed away the wetness from her eyes.

“Yeah, it hits you at random times, doesn’t it? The loss?” Jackson looked down at his feet, understanding exactly what she meant. “It doesn’t completely go away. I still miss them.” Jackson turned and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“Now I’ve upset you.” Simone said, coming up to him and placing a gentle hand on his broad back. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s nice to talk to someone that understands how I feel.” Jackson turned to her and grabbed her hand, pulling her to him in a warm embrace. She felt safe from the world in his strong arms. “Alright, I have to get dinner started. Wanna come down with me? Have a glass of wine?”

“Yeah sure. That sounds nice.”

~~~

Five minutes later, they had all migrated to the kitchen. Xander sat on one of the three stools at the island and he pulled Simone in between his wide spread legs to sit on the edge. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently for a moment and kissed her temple lightly. And they watched as Jackson rummaged through the refrigerator and cabinets, gathering things to make dinner.

“So you mean to tell me that you cook
every
night?” Simone asked Jackson, incredulous before she took a sip of delicious red wine they had poured for her.

“Well not
every
night. Sometimes we go out to eat or get takeout. But that’s a bit tough considering how far we live from the city. So I cook most of the time.” Jackson answered, glancing up from his work to wink at her.

  “So what do
you
do then?” Simone asked looking back at Xander.

Xander took a sip of his beer and then leaned back on the stool, placed his hands behind his head, in a pose of complete relaxation. “Nothing. He’s my bitch.” Xander sighed with bliss.

Simone and Jackson burst out laughing. “You’re full of shit, Xan!” Jackson chuckled. “Don’t let him fool you, Si. He cleans the house and washes the dishes after I cook.”

“Hmm…actually I think Jackson has the better end of the bargain.” Simone said after thinking it over a bit.

“Oh just wait. He blasts music and dances while he cleans. So I think it’s more like
Saturday Night Fever
than actual cleaning.” Jackson laughed at the scowl Xander gave him.

“So…
if
I were to stay…what would I contribute?” Simone broached.

“Nothing. We’ll take care of you.” Jackson said seriously.

“What?! I have to do something!” Simone exclaimed.

“You would. It’s a lot of work to deal with two grown babies. We need lots of affection and attention.” Xander squeezed her tightly.

“Wait. What about work? I can work, right?” Simone asked, standing up and stepping away from Xander so that she could look at both their faces and wouldn’t be distracted by Xander’s warm embrace.

“Well, I mean you don’t have to if you don’t want to. We’ll take care of you financially too.” Jackson pointed out.

“I’m not some freaking concubine! Or sex slave! To just laze around all day reading magazines, eating grapes or any crap like that, while I wait for you to get home!” Simone railed, her relaxed mood completely obliterated.

“It doesn’t have to be grapes and magazines. You could always watch soaps and eat bon-bons.” Xander joked, not picking up on the queue that she was about to lose it.

“It’s not fucking funny, Xander!” Simone finally exploded, making the smile quickly dissolve on Xander’s lips. “If I’m really going to consider this relationship, I have to have something to do. I have to have my own identity outside of you two. I did not go to school for nothing. I did not work my ass off to sit around all day to find ways to please you two!” Simone finished in a shout.

“We didn’t mean to downplay your needs.” Jackson tried to soothe, at the same time, giving Xander a look for making a joke out of the situation. “You can do whatever makes you happy. We’re just saying that you don’t
have
to do anything if you don’t want to. Or you have the choice to do whatever you want to do. It’s up to you.” Jackson explained as he poured more wine into her glass, hoping to bring back her peaceful mood.

Simone accepted the refilled glass and sat on her own stool, keeping her distance from both of them. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her frazzled nerves.

“I’m sorry, Si. I wasn’t serious. That was just my tasteless way of always trying to get a laugh. I was being an ass.” Xander apologized and reached over to squeeze her hand.

“I know. I’m just a little on edge, trying to figure out where I fit in this…this…” Simone didn’t know exactly what to call what they were doing.

“Triad. Threesome. Triangle. Tripod. Three peas in a pod. Whichever. You pick.” Xander listed off, finally drawing a reluctant laugh from Simone.

“Okay. Triad, then. So I’d like to help around the house and with the cooking. And
if
I decide to stay, I have to find a job.” At the hopeful look Jackson gave her, she continued. “But I’m not at that stage…yet.” His shoulders slumped a little in disappointment at her words.

“You’re only here for another week and a few days. Are you really going to be able to decide by then?” Jackson said quietly, somewhat shyly like a little boy. The big chestnut curls hanging on his forehead, didn’t help.

“I honestly don’t know, Jackson.” Simone admitted.

He just nodded his head and continued to work on dinner, staying silent. Simone downed the rest of her wine and hopped off her stool. She walked around the island and laid a hand on top of Jackson’s as he chopped mushrooms. His hand stilled and he looked down at her with melancholy gray eyes.

“How can I help? Point me in the right direction, Master Chef.” Simone tried to lighten the tense atmosphere.

“You could start a pot of water to boiling. And then if you want, you could start dicing up those tomatoes.” Jackson said pointing to where the pots were.

“So what are you fixing exactly?” Simone asked curiously.

“Seafood pasta. Angel hair pasta, with a lemon zest sauce, shrimp, mussels and fresh clams still in the shells.” Jackson listed off nonchalantly, as Simone gaped at him in wonder.

“Where did you learn to cook like this?” She asked him.