Whirlpool (17 page)

She leaned over and elbowed Joshua softly. “Behave.”

She stared at Jamie, a gentle smile on her lips. An eerie sensation crept over him, as if a hand had stroked his mind. It swept past his heart and the warmth that rose in her eyes settled all the worry inside him. She accepted him, not only his knowledge of the merfolk, but his relationship with Chelsea and Braden. As strange as it seemed, her approval was vital.

“You’re telling the truth and you feel nothing but goodwill toward us.”

Everyone in the room relaxed, as if a balloon had released its air. He hadn’t realized just how keyed up everyone had become, waiting for Alexia to decide. She rose from her chair and came around the table to give him a quick hug.

Funny. While she was damn attractive, he didn’t feel the same rush that touching Chelsea brought, or Braden for that matter.

She stepped back and brushed his cheek lightly with her fingers. “Thank you for adding your talents and skills to our group. Although I’m curious what you’re planning to do after this job is completed. It doesn’t seem like there’s a lot to keep you in the cove.”

He joined Chelsea and Braden, the tension inside leaching away. “I’ve got some ideas, but we need to discuss it first.”

There were myriad possibilities, but for now, knowing that they had all their options open to find a way that would work for the three of them made the future a lot brighter.

Chelsea pushed open the door with her shoulder, juggling groceries in both hands. She caught a glimpse of the guys in the living room and gave a hello shout. “You would not believe what they’ve got down at the shops for Halloween candy. I’m tempted to dress up and go house to house myself.”

She dropped the bags on the counter and finally clued in to what was happening on the couch.
Oh yeah, that looks mighty interesting.
“Shit—sorry, don’t let me interrupt.”

Jamie untangled himself from Braden. He rose and adjusted his shirt, trying to hide his hard-on. His flushed face made her smile.

“Hey, Chels.” He kissed her and she tasted Braden on his lips.
Yum
. She slid a hand down his torso until she cupped his hard length lightly.
Double yum.

“Hmmm, hello, but didn’t you hear me? You and Braden don’t have to feel guilty if you want to fool around when I’m not here.”

“It’s not that. We just got good news and one thing led to another and…” Jamie hesitated.

Chelsea paused. He was hiding something, and even though he was only slowly opening up to more physical interaction with Braden, she didn’t think the secret was about them getting caught necking. She glanced at Braden. Yup, he looked guilty as well.

“What are you two plotting? Other than sex?”

Braden laughed. “I told you we’d never keep it under wraps.”

“Yeah, yeah, you win.” Jamie peeked into the grocery bags and grimaced. “You didn’t buy any chocolate.”

Chelsea poked him in the side. “Quit stalling.”

Jamie held out his hand to her. She smiled and accepted it, walking with him to the couch. It felt so right to be together with both Braden and Jamie, and other than the occasional twinge of fear that someday Jamie would find Jaffrey’s Cove too quiet, she was happier than she thought possible.

“Braden and I have been talking over some long-term plans. A colleague at Boston University contacted me a few weeks ago about a temporary position that’s opened up. I’ve agreed to teach a series of guest lectures next semester, beginning January.”

And there it was. Her heart fell. “You’ll be leaving us?”

Braden pulled her into his lap. “Actually, you’ll both be leaving
me
. Your mom told us you’d applied to Boston as well as UCLA, so we checked into your paperwork. You were already approved there as well. Jamie talked to a few people and they’ve found room for you to start in January. You’re in.”

Chelsea frowned in confusion.
Boston
? “How can I…? Are you saying he used his influence to get me in? And I still can’t afford it and I don’t want Jamie to pay for me.”

“Actually, I paid half and Jamie the other half. Baby, consider it a loan if you want, but it makes no sense for you to not go. Let us do this for you. Plus, he didn’t use his name for anything more than rushing the process a little. You were already accepted all on your own.”

She stayed silent for a minute, her gaze darting back and forth between the two of them. A trickle of hope stole through her. Getting to go away to university? Live on the east coast and explore another part of the world? Excitement tinged with an edge of uncertainty remained. Braden. How could she leave him? She touched his cheek lightly.

“You don’t mind if I go away?”

“Honestly? I’m going to miss you like crazy. I love you, baby, but at the same time I want you to go. Knowing you’ll be with Jamie makes it tolerable. And I expect you to email and video conference and send me tons of whatever the hell those weird things you type on the phone are.”

Chelsea let the budding happiness inside burst into full bloom. “You never answer my texts anyway.”

“No, but I read them.” Braden kissed her tenderly.

She nodded slowly before responding. “I’d be crazy to not leap at the opportunity, but guys, you should have included me in the conversations.”

Jamie shook his head. “Didn’t want you to be disappointed if I couldn’t swing it.”

“I understand, but I’m a full part of this relationship. Don’t leave me out anymore.” A bubble of inspiration hit. This might be the chance she’d been looking for. She planted her hands on her hips, raising her chin to challenge her men. “So while I want to say thank you for being so incredibly generous, I’m claiming a forfeit from both of you.”

Braden tweaked her nose and she smacked his hand away with a laugh. “Okay, baby. We give. You’re right, and we promise not to organize your life without you again. What’s our punishment? You want us to take you out to dinner?”

“I want to watch.” She crawled up on the back of the couch. Jamie flushed bright red and Braden grinned from ear to ear.

“Watch?”

“Yes, Jamie.” She fluttered her hand at him. “Just pretend I’m not here and go back to what you were doing before I came home.” Her sex tingled in anticipation.

“You don’t want to join us?” Braden asked, giving her a slow clothing-melting stare from top to bottom, and the tingle increased to an electric pulse.

“Oh, I’ll let you know when I want in on the action.” She crossed her arms and tapped her lips. “I think you should start by taking everything off. Makes it easier for the watching, you know.”

Jamie leaned over her to nuzzle at her neck, caging her on either side with his strong arms. “You’re a naughty girl.”

She reached down and pulled his shirt from his slacks. “You, Braden. Naked. Now.”

He stepped back and smirked as he stripped off his shirt. When he popped the button on his slacks Chelsea licked her lips. She’d had months to enjoy the contrasting beauty of her men. Jamie’s smooth, lean torso, Braden’s heavy muscles. The desire she felt for them both didn’t seem to diminish, only grow stronger, and with it her heart’s desire.

She was totally in love with them both.

Braden reached out and snagged Jamie’s wrists, pulling him close and taking over the job of removing his slacks. Braden peeled down the waistband of Jamie’s boxers and the evidence of his arousal sprang into view. Jamie hissed as Braden captured his erection in one hand and pumped lazily.

“Oh holy shit, that feels good.” Jamie thrust his hips forward, his abdomen muscles tight, eyes closed. Chelsea undid her own pants and slipped them off, covering her clit with her palm to stop the deafening sound of her pulse from disturbing them.

Braden fisted Jamie a few more times before releasing him and removing his own clothing. He shifted lower on the couch, his hips resting in the middle of the seat. His cock rose straight into the air and traces of familiar blue flitted around him.

“Come here,” Braden ordered, and Jamie laughed as he settled on top of Braden, his knees on either side of Braden’s thighs. The position brought their cocks into contact and Chelsea sighed with delight as Jamie leaned closer.

“Don’t you go getting bossy as well. Chelsea as a domme I’ll accept for tonight, but I’m not your bottom.” Jamie cupped Braden’s skull in both hands and took his lips with a consuming kiss.

Darkness and light. Raw power melded with passion. Their contrasting skin tones made it appear as if an angel made love with one of the fallen. Jamie’s blond hair fell across Braden in a curtain as she watched their tongues tangle. Braden used his teeth on Jamie’s neck, biting rougher than he’d ever treated Chelsea, and Jamie growled. He reached between their bodies and clasped their rigid cocks together between his palms.

They panted as they moved together, the air filling with the scent from their bodies, shimmering lights increasing. Jamie stroked their shafts, rough and quick, as Braden dropped his head back on the couch.

“So fucking good. Harder, Jamie, oh damn…yes.”

Chelsea stripped off her blouse and bra, letting the cool air in the room wash over her burning skin. The sights, the sounds, the smells—everything drove her own desire higher until she couldn’t wait any longer.

She slid down to the seat and joined the action, slipping her hands around their necks and accepting their kisses in turn. Sweet whispered words of desire and sensual caresses continued and blended together. Skin on skin, fingers exploring and stroking. Jamie leaned back far enough to pull her between them and suddenly she was sandwiched, intimately tight against Braden’s steel-hard cock. Moisture traced her belly. She lifted her hips to rub along him, trying to ease the ache in her clit, and the head of his erection breached her folds. One smooth motion buried him, filling her core.

“So God damn right.” Braden grasped her head and took her mouth with a heated kiss, making her shiver with the passion he shared. Behind her Jamie pressed his torso against her as he bit her shoulder.

“Can you take me too?” he asked and she moaned as she nodded. She wanted it all. He left them for a moment, returning with a tube of lubricant. Jamie touched her carefully, preparing her as Braden continued to thrust his cock upward. She thrilled as Braden suckled her breasts, nipping the peaks to hard points. Jamie eased a slippery finger, then two, into her ass, teasing the sensitive nerves of her anus until she couldn’t stand it.

“Now, take me,” she begged, pressing her hips back onto Jamie’s fingers as best she could while embedded on Braden’s cock.

Jamie rose behind her and together they held their breath until he’d pushed his way in, sliding tight against Braden until there was nothing but a thin barrier keeping them apart.

It wasn’t just about their bodies, oh-so-intimate as they moved within her. It wasn’t just the flares of St. Elmo’s fire swirling around their heads, caressing their skin. It was the words Braden whispered, the touch of Jamie’s hand over Braden’s jaw, the light of love shining in Braden’s eyes. The way they encouraged her to reach her peak, stroking and enticing until her climax enveloped her, rolling through her with undeniable power.

A force of nature taking her in its grasp.

It was the way they cherished her, and each other. She never wanted to be free.

Braden shook the water out of his eyes as he exited the ocean and jogged up the beach to the condo. If he hurried, he still should have time to grab a shower before meeting them at the airport.

Talking on the phone and emailing was for the birds.

Still, it had been better than nothing. Having both Jamie and Chelsea gone for the past four months helped him realize just how much they meant to him. The only thing that made it bearable was that Jamie and Chelsea would spend the summer with him before the two of them had to leave again. May to August—it wasn’t long enough, but he’d take every second he could get.

He sprinted up the stairs to the balcony of the condo. He’d gone for a swim to get the cobwebs out of his brain this morning. He was downright giddy with excitement.

They were coming home.

He stepped through the French doors and her scent hit him first. A sweet fragrance—honeysuckles or lilacs. Then he was slammed from the side as a pair of arms wrapped around him and Chelsea attached herself to him.

“Holy shit, you’re here.” He squeezed her tight, burying his face in her neck and taking in her perfume, letting it fill his head. “Oh God, I’ve missed you.”

He kissed her, soaking in her taste, tangling his fingers in her hair. Her lips were soft and flavored like heaven, and he could have stood there all morning. Dripping wet and breathing her air. They separated with reluctance, staring at each other. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Missed you too.” She hugged him, resting her head on his chest. Braden looked around. Jamie had to be there as well. Sure enough, the man stood by their side, wearing an ear-to-ear grin.

“I didn’t miss you at all,” Braden joked. “Bed hog.”

Jamie crushed Chelsea between them and offered his lips for a welcome-home kiss. Braden savored the contrast between his lovers’ touch, between their tastes.

They were home.

By the time they managed to peel themselves apart, Braden was nearly dry.

“Go take a shower and wash the salt off. We brought breakfast with us. I’ll get it ready.” Jamie disappeared into the kitchen area. Chelsea walked with Braden toward the bedroom.

“You excited to be back?” he asked her.

She nodded. “Boston was lovely, and my classes were fabulous. Still, I missed Jaffrey’s Cove, and I missed you. A lot.”

He tugged her into the bathroom with him. “Join me?”

She grinned. “Jamie will be pissed if you ruin his meal.”

“I need someone to scrub my back.”

“Right, like we aren’t going to be fooling around in three seconds flat if I get in that shower with you.”

He waggled his brows. “Nothing wrong with that picture.”

She slipped from his grasp and out the door. “I want you too, but first, breakfast.”

Braden sighed in frustration. Now that they were here, mundane things like showers were a waste of time. Although he liked that Chelsea stood up to him. He showered and dressed in record time, rushing toward the most amazing aroma from his kitchen.