Bound by the Past (14 page)

All that had changed with Jon. He could merely say a few words and blow on her left ear and she felt herself coming apart at the seams. She was completely, totally in love for the first time in her life, and overjoyed by the knowledge that he felt the same way.

Tonight, though, after that strange man Reilly had left, she had seen a look in Jon’s eyes that nearly crushed her. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that by asking her to give herself to Night, he’d hoped to push her away. He was afraid of something—they both were—and she wished she could figure out what it was.

Her heart had ached as she’d looked at them. For a moment, they had seemed very much like two frightened, lost little boys. She’d longed to wrap her arms around both of them, to reassure them they were safe.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t true. Something evil was lurking in the background, she could feel the chill of it even in her toasty cocoon between these two incredibly hot, naked men.

She didn’t care. She’d face whatever it was while standing beside Night and Jon. Carly refused to hover in shadows anymore.

She’d spent too many years of her life settling for companionship instead of love. Wasted too much time lying to herself, claiming she was content when really she’d been miserable, too frightened to step outside her safe bubble.

She wasn’t going to be that woman anymore. And tonight, she’d taken a big step away from that dull person. Hell, she’d hopped in her car and driven about a
thousand miles
away from boring.

Grinning, she recalled Jon’s words. He’d wanted everything from her, and everything included allowing Night into their bed. The look on Jon’s face when she’d agreed was priceless. Jon had set all her sexual fantasies free these past few days. The fact he’d offered it with Night—a man she’d felt an instant attraction to—was simply too good to question or refuse.

She stretched her arms above her head and felt a slight pinching in her ass. She wondered what it would feel like to take Night or Jon there. She knew it was only a matter of time. Regardless of how big the toy was, she also knew from personal experience it didn’t come close to stretching her enough for these two men.

Her men—Night and Jon. Something told her they could be hers, and a feeling of possessiveness crept inside her heart. But only if they were able to offer the same trust they’d requested from her.

She sighed, exhausted. That was yet another problem to solve, but she handed that worry to tomorrow as she gave herself up to the sleep that finally beckoned.

* * * * *

Carly awoke to the sound of water running. She attempted to roll over but was held in place by a muscular arm around her waist. Night, she realized without opening her eyes.

“Morning, Beauty.” His voice was rough from sleep and she looked over her shoulder into his sky-blue eyes.

“It can’t be morning already.” She felt as though she’d only closed her eyes for a second.

“Actually, I think we’re far enough into the day that we could call it afternoon.”

She turned within his hold until they were facing each other. He brushed a light kiss on her lips, but made no attempt to deepen it. She could see his face was serious and she wondered how long he’d lain awake beside her.

She teasingly kissed the end of his nose. “It’s okay, Night.”

He seemed surprised by her playful action and words. “What’s okay?”

“This.” She gestured at the two of them naked together in the bed. “I spent a lot of last night thinking. Trying to convince myself this was wrong.”

He frowned at her words. “And did you? Convince yourself?”

“Not even a little. It would seem you and Jon have taken in a scandalous woman.”

He laughed. “Scandalous, eh? Well thank God for that. I always did hate those holier-than-thou types. Give me a bad girl any day of the week.”

“Ooh, I like that.” She giggled. “Never in my life have I been referred to as a bad girl.”

“Mmmm. Even better. Means Jon and I get to keep all that naughtiness for ourselves.” He leaned forward and kissed her hard. His arms tightened around her before his hands decided to do a little roaming. “Feel like being bad right now?”

“What about Jon?”

“Bastard’s had you all to himself for a year and a half.”

“Night, you and Jon…this isn’t…I mean, you’ve shared women before, haven’t you?” She was aware her question sounded more like a statement and she wasn’t even sure why she’d asked.

He nodded. “Ever since we were teenagers. Carly, I don’t suppose Jon has told you much about our childhood?”

“Nothing at all,” she confessed.

“Yeah, well.” She watched the same walls Jon erected anytime the past was mentioned fly up around Night as well. “Let’s just say it sucked. Jon was the only person I could rely on. He was more than my best friend. He was like my brother. Shrinks would probably have a field day with our psyches and I know Jon struggles with the fact that we’re different from most men. For some guys, a ménage is just a sex game to play.”

“But it’s not like that for you and Jon?”

“It’s hard to explain, Carly. The way I was raised on the commune, the things I saw the adults do…”

“You mean sexually?”

“Yeah…it wasn’t exactly what you’d call normal. I met Jon when we were both eleven. Before he came…” He paused, clearly frustrated at not finding the right words. “Shit. None of this is going to make any sense. Sometimes it felt like my soul had been ripped out as a baby and all I was left with was this hollow shell of a body. Then Jon came along, and it’s like he gave me half of
his
soul. There are times when it feels like we’re different sides of the same coin. Does that make any sense?”

She considered his words and then she thought about Jon. For nearly a year and a half they’d been friends, but she didn’t really know anything about him. She’d always felt as if there were huge gaps in her knowledge of him. Those gaps hadn’t closed when they became lovers, either. In fact, they’d seemed to grow larger. Last night, when Jon had looked at her, when he’d held her, she’d felt as if she was seeing him complete and whole for the first time ever. She wondered if the same hold true for Night. “It does.”

It hurt her to realize how terrible their childhoods must have been. How much pain they must have endured. The strength of their unique bond had been their lifeline and she suspected neither would have survived without the other’s presence—in or out of the bedroom.

“Are you ever going to tell me about your childhood?” She asked the question, despite the fact she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. If she found out they’d been abused, it would devastate her.

“I have a feeling everything is going to come out eventually whether we want to talk about it or not.”

His bizarre answer left her confused until he continued, “You remember Mrs. Thomas, the lady you met at the retreat?”

She nodded.

“Her real name is Cassandra Walker. She’s Jon’s mother. She’s also the devil in disguise.”

Jon came out of the bathroom in time to hear Night’s final words—and his temper exploded. “What the hell are you doing?”

Night started. Jon realized his friend hadn’t intended for him to hear his confession.

Carly quickly sat up. “Jon, stop.”

He was heading toward the bed, a towel draped around his hips. The only thought in his mind had been to beat Night to a pulp. She must have read his intent because she scrambled out of bed and placed herself square in front of him.

Night’s cocky laugh came from behind her. Jon’s vision clouded an even deeper haze of red.

“Got myself a fierce little bulldog here, don’t I, Jon? Beauty, much as I appreciate the gesture, I can take care of myself.” Night rose from the bed and stood beside her. Both of them were still naked, but clothing didn’t seem to be on anyone’s minds.

“What the fuck were you telling her?” Jon’s anger refused to abate.

“The truth. You know, bud, that stuff you avoid?” Night’s fists were clenched and he dared Jon to make the first move.

“Enough!” Carly’s voice was loud. Jon was surprised to see her place herself between them again. No woman had ever dared stand between them when they were in the midst of a fight. It was a foolish move, and some of his anger turned toward her. Silly woman continually put herself at risk. Night must have felt the same frustration.

“Dammit, Carly!” Night was yelling now. “Get out of the way. Hell, get out of this
room
before you get hurt.”

“No.” She crossed her arms beneath her chest. The movement pushed her breasts higher. Jon groaned and she grinned. She knew exactly what she was doing. Clever girl intended to fight fire with fire.

“Christ, woman.” Night ran his hands through his shaggy hair when she turned sideways so he could see her position as well. “You
are
a bad girl.”

Jon laughed, and as quickly as his anger came, it left. Night was a part of this evolving relationship as much as he was, and lies and deceit would never sit well with his friend. Now that they had her in their bed, Jon’s fear of her desertion was almost unbearable. A large part of him knew there was no way this happiness could last. Not with his mother back in town, not with the past nipping at his heels like a pit bull.

“I’m a cold and lonely bad girl. Come back to bed.” She glanced at him. “Both of you…please?”

“I think we’ve been a bit neglectful of our woman, Night.”

Night nodded. Jon could see the evidence of his friend’s desire for her hadn’t dimmed a bit. His erection was long and hard and like a compass, pointing due north straight at her.

“Put your hands on the bed, Carly, and bend over.” Night moved to stand behind her while Jon climbed up on the bed. He sat in front of her so that her lips were poised right above his raging hard-on.

“Do you want me to leave the toy in or take it out, Beauty?”

They’d left the thing inside her all night. Jon imagined taking it out and replacing it with something a little larger.

“What?” Her question came out in a gasp of hot breath that teased Jon’s cock.

“I’m going to fuck that sweet pussy of yours from behind while you try to suck some of the meanness out of my buddy there. Do you want me to leave the plug in or take it out?” Night asked again.

“Leave it in.”

Night’s breath came out in a groan. Jon understood the feeling. What on earth had they ever done to deserve her? She was the last piece in their puzzle, the perfect fit, their ideal mate.

The sound of a condom package unwrapping jarred Jon from his thoughts. Gripping her head softly in his hands, he pushed her face lower until he felt her tongue dart out to tease the slit of his cock. As she licked up and down, he felt her breath hiss around him as Night started to slide into her wet, hot cunt. Glancing up, he watched Night’s penis disappear inch by inch and she hummed with pleasure around his cock when Night was fully seated.

Running his fingers through her lovely hair, Jon whispered, “Ready, sweetheart?”

She nodded her assent and they both began fucking her, their movements timed perfectly. She quickly picked up the rhythm, pushing against Night as he thrust forward before moving down on Jon’s cock as Night retreated. The speed and power of their movements grew slowly, faster and stronger as each of them reached for their release. Jon’s eyes rolled up in his head as Night shouted and Carly began to tremble between them. She finished swallowing his come only seconds before her own orgasm shook her.

Night supported her weight as the last waves passed through her. Reaching under her arms, Jon pulled her into the bed and felt the mattress sag as Night joined them on her opposite side. Minutes later, he heard their soft breathing and it was obvious both of them had fallen asleep. Jon silently wished he could join them in oblivion. Wished he could share in their peacefulness.

Instead, his own worries wouldn’t let him rest. He couldn’t shake the idea that all of this was simply too good to be true. Fate, under the guise of his mother, was waiting to play her hand and once it was laid on the table, he feared—once again—he would go broke.

Carly looked up at the sound of knocking on her office door. Reilly stood in the doorway.

“Hello.” He smiled at her. “I was in the area and thought I’d stop by.”

She returned his smile, although something inside her stirred uneasily. After Night’s confessions about being born on a commune and the revelation about Jon’s mother, she’d begun connecting the dots regarding their childhoods, but the men had refused to discuss the subject any further.

Here before her stood a man who could answer, if not all, most of her questions regarding their past. The problem was her conscience—knowing how they would feel if she did—didn’t seem willing to ask.

“Come on in. I’m afraid Jon’s teaching right now.”

“Oh, I didn’t come to see Jon.” Reilly glanced over his shoulder and gestured at the open door. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” Her brain went into overtime as she tried to figure out why he would want to meet with her behind closed doors. She knew Reilly hoped she would consent to return to the center to help them expose whatever was going on, but since she had learned who Cassandra Walker Thomas was, she was leery to participate.

“I’m sure you know why I’m here.”

“Yes, Mr. Reilly, I am, and—”

“Reilly.”

“Pardon me?”

“My name. It’s just Reilly. No Mister.”

“Oh. Okay. Reilly, I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to help you. I mean, I’m just a secretary and the idea of going back to that place undercover seems more than a little bit out of my range of abilities. Besides, I can’t believe you would ask Jon and Night to help you, considering it’s Jon’s mother you’re hoping to expose.”

“I see they’ve been telling tales. However, I confess myself confused. Did they seem unwilling to see Cassie arrested?”

“Well…no. I mean, we didn’t discuss her in any great detail, but the fact does remain she’s Jon’s mother.”

He shook his head and the frown that seemed ever-present on his face grew. “Cassandra was no mother to Jon. A more evil woman has never walked the Earth, I can assure you of that. She is a selfish, devious woman whose sole purpose in life is to be admired, worshipped and served.”