Completed (16 page)

“True. It’s going to be tough. The road won’t be easy. Hell, even our families will have a difficult time understanding.”

Josh set the menus to the side as the waitress appeared. “We’ll both have the lasagna please.”

The waitress nodded. “Salad?”

Nathan shook his head, as did Josh.

“That’ll be right out,” the chirpy twenty-something brunette declared as she spun on her heel and nearly skipped to the next table.

“I think we’re going to be all right. We just need to keep our communication open and take one day at a time.” Josh leaned on his elbows. “You and I are clear on our role here. We shouldn’t be wasting time worrying about our intentions toward each other. Neither of us is gay.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t mean it.” Nathan flinched.

“I know you didn’t. For whatever reason, Fate decided Samantha needed us both. And that’s what we have to give her.” Josh paused. “You know, the hottest experience of my life to date has been watching her with you. I can’t explain it, but there’s something unbelievably sexy about seeing her writhe in pleasure under your hand. It drew me in. Captivating. Mesmerizing. She’s a gem. We can’t fuck this up.”

“I agree. I felt the same about her interactions with you. Some spark. Nothing that would be acceptable with any other man, just you. It’s a puzzle. We know what the three pieces are, we just need to figure out how to arrange them so the picture is clear. Does that even make sense? Sappy, huh?” Nathan leaned back and took another sip of beer.

“Not at all. I know exactly what you mean.”

Samantha slammed dishes into the dishwasher so hard it was a wonder they didn’t break under her wrath. She still seethed with anger even though she had little right to the feeling at this point in the evening. After all, both men had texted their apologies numerous times throughout the day and she’d made the definitive choice to ignore them and essentially deny their regret.

That had been her call. But she’d wanted them to think about this long and hard. No way was she going to listen to them squabble all the time over something none of them could do anything about.

She prayed they managed to find each other this evening and work out their problems. She also prayed they each felt half as horny as she did. If so, they’d show up even without her answering their texts. If not? Well, then, she was doomed to a long night of writhing in bed alone, trying to abate the need between her legs.

Damn wolf-shifting hormones
.

The doorbell rang.
Thank you, God
.

As angry as she’d been earlier, and childishly ignoring both men’s attempts at contact, she was through with her tantrum now. She just wanted them to fuck her.

She opened the door to two very sheepish expressions.

Nathan leaned on the frame, practically falling into her apartment. “We’re sorry. Can we come in?”

She smiled. They looked sincere.

“Super sorry,” Josh added. He cocked his head and plastered a fake pouty look to his face, his bottom lip sticking out for emphasis.

Samantha pulled the door open and both men entered.

As she shut and locked the deadbolt behind her, she looked around. “I’m not very tidy,” she apologized. Papers and law books littered the living room. There were even shoes and a few sweaters strung around. This was Samantha. They had to take it or leave it. “I would have cleaned up this afternoon, but then you would have had a false impression of me.”

She stepped around them and lifted several things off the couch so they could sit.

Josh took one end of the couch. “I saw your office and then you did the same thing to my house in less than an hour. I figured.” He grinned as he grabbed her hand and pulled her down next to him.

Nathan sat on her other side. “Josh warned me about you.” He kissed her forehead, lingering with his face in her hair.

Samantha cleared her throat. “You know this isn’t going to be easy. There will be disagreements, as with any relationship.”

“Yeah, we were talking about that at dinner,” Josh said.

“Ah, you guys went to dinner together?” She dripped sarcasm. “How sweet.”

“Hardy har har.” Nathan threaded his fingers with hers and pressed her back into the couch so they could both look at her at once. “You’re gonna get whiplash.”

“Anyway, the difference is, this isn’t like any other relationship. It’s not possible to break. We can’t get ‘divorced’ so to speak. We’re stuck together, so we have to talk things out and find a happy medium for all of us.”

“Yeah, Nathan said that too.” Josh smiled and set his forehead on hers. “We decided to fight at least once a week just for the makeup sex though.”

Samantha gasped and pushed him back.

Nathan laughed. “He’s kidding.”

“Don’t even tease about that,” she said. “I get enough disagreement every day at work. When I come home I want harmony.”

Josh squeezed her thigh, making her wish he would inch a little higher. “Any particular brand of harmony you prefer?”

Please. The sexual kind
. “What are my choices?”

Nathan lifted a hand and began numbering off options. “Let’s see. We could watch a movie. We could play monopoly. We could clean the oven. Or, hey, we could get this skimpy outfit off you and make you squirm.” He flicked the strap of her tank top with a finger and trailed it down to her chest. “Do you always run around the house wearing nothing but tiny shorts and spaghetti straps?”

“Why? Does it bother you?” She raised her eyebrows.

“No. It’s perfect.” Nathan slid off the couch and knelt in front of her, pushing her knees apart to nestle between them. “I especially like the fact you aren’t wearing a bra and I can see your nipples poking through this tight thin material. Do they make this in white?” He spread his palms on her belly and skimmed them up over her breasts.

Samantha moaned.
What was the question?

Josh tangled his hand in her hair as her head rolled back against the seat and her eyes fluttered shut.

Too damn many hands on these two men.

Josh whispered in her ear. “We’re sorry. I mean it. Won’t happen again.” He licked the edge of her lobe, sending a shiver down her neck.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she mumbled, rolling her head his direction.

“Good point.” Josh licked her bottom lip. “I’m sure there will be issues, but we won’t scream and slam out of the house. We’ll address them like adults.” He took her mouth in a kiss, reaching inside with his tongue, demanding she open for him.

Nathan pinched her nipples with both sets of fingers at once.

She loved what these men could do with her breasts. She’d never known such rapture from just a little fondling.

“I’m falling in love with you,” Nathan declared.

Samantha shoved Josh away from her mouth, her eyes opening to stare into Nathan’s face.

Josh nibbled her neck and admitted the same thing, “I think I’ve been in love with you since the moment I walked into your office.”

Samantha swallowed.
How did I get so lucky?
The sincerity in both men’s expressions overwhelmed her. Her eyes threatened to drop tears. “I knew I loved you both when Josh held my hand while Nathan claimed me for the first time.” She nodded toward each man as she said his name.

Nathan leaned his head on her chest and spoke into her shirt. “Shall we move this atonement to the bedroom? I think our mate accepts our apology.”

“Good plan.” When Josh lifted Samantha into his arms, she yelped. These two mates of hers were going to keep her on her toes. No doubt about that. Hopefully for many years.

Two weeks later…

Samantha walked into the house in the Central West End holding up a file folder. “I got it.” She beamed.

Nathan and Josh stepped in from the kitchen. The house smelled fantastic, like red sauce and garlic.

Josh grabbed the pages from her hand. “That was fast.”

“Yeah, and don’t get excited. You know this is paper, right? A restraining order is only worth the ink printed on it. It won’t keep Damon from harassing your sister.”

“I know, but it’s better than nothing.” Josh set it on the counter.

“How’s she doing?” Samantha asked.

“Mom says she’s better. One step forward and two steps back most days. She has a long road ahead of her though. Her mind is skewed. Her thinking is…well, she’s brainwashed.”

Nathan stepped forward and kissed Samantha. “It’s gonna take a while.”

“As soon as I finish this case I’m on, I’ll spend more time with her. She’s so sweet. It breaks my heart what she’s been through.” Samantha leaned into Nathan’s chest.

Josh wrapped a hand around her neck. “Baby, you’ve done more for her than anyone ever has. I’m so blessed to have you and she is too.”

Samantha smiled at them both, her heart beating in sync with theirs as they smashed together. “When will we make it past dinner before having sex?”

Every day she came home to instant nudity. Not that she was complaining, but it was comical how badly they needed each other and how fast they tended to strip when the last one entered the home each evening.

“Never, if I get to choose.” Josh pulled her in to a kiss, leaving Nathan’s hands behind her on her hips. His cock pressed into her lower back.

With Josh holding her face, trapping her with his lips, Nathan slipped his palms under her blouse and spread them over her stomach. “Your skin is so smooth.” He grazed her waist and traveled up to her breasts.

The moment he squeezed them, the lace rasped over her nipples, making her moan.

“Bedroom,” she pleaded. “Now.”

Nathan held her still. “Why? What’s wrong with the living room? You worried about someone walking by?” He chuckled.

They still hadn’t quite worked out the details about how to inform their friends and neighbors they were in a threesome, but at least they all recognized the stress was mutual. No one of them was any more concerned than the others.

By now the neighbors had to have caught on to some sort of antics next door. After all, Nathan had already moved in completely, his lease having ended three days ago. And Samantha hadn’t been to her apartment in a week.

It seemed easier and somewhat comical to let the neighbors stew for a while. The three of them enjoyed pondering what sort of discussions were held over each dinner table.

“Honey, do you know that nice man living next door? The doctor? I think his sister moved in with her husband. She must be homeless.”

“Sweetheart, is our neighbor Josh gay, do you think? He has a man living there. I think there might be a woman too. Huh…”

“What’s with young people these days? I’ve seen a woman coming and going from the house next door and she kisses more than one man when she leaves.”

Samantha smiled to herself and tipped her head up to see both her mates’ expressions. “Let’s break in the living room. And leave the blinds open. I’m sure the neighbors are running out of dining discussion. It’ll spice up their lives tonight.” She grinned.

Nathan and Josh said nothing. They simply pulled her clothes off and leaned her over the back of the couch.

Ahhh
…

Becca Jameson lives in Atlanta, Georgia. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading, editing, scrapbooking, running, swimming, biking, or taxiing kids. After enjoying several years on the editing side of the business, she decided to give writing a try. Now she can’t stop! And the voices in her head are clamoring to get out faster than she can get them onto “paper”. Becca writes both contemporary romance and paranormal, but there is no telling what she may come up with next.

http://www.beccajameson.com
 

Blood.

So much blood.

As though she were floating in the room, separated from her body, Ashley watched the blood drip off her fingers and land on the tile floor. Each plop rang in her ears, amplified by the silence now reigning in her studio.

Moments ago, the house had been filled with her screams, the loud pulsing of her own blood as it flowed through her ears, the grunts and groans of her attacker as he’d attempted to dominate her with his strength.

Now it was over. Silence. And blood.

She heaved for breath as her hands began to shake. She willed herself to release the knife, and it clamored to the floor, bouncing twice with a ping that made her flinch.

Oh God, I killed him
.

The reality of her actions sank in as she stood rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch. Her legs wouldn’t respond to any of the messages her brain fired at them.

She stared in disbelief at the man on the ground at her feet. Damon Parkfield. She felt not one ounce of remorse for her actions. Should she?

Concern for the repercussions, yes, but not sadness or sorrow. If she had to go to jail for the rest of her life for this killing, so be it.

Sirens wailed outside. She jerked her head up at the sound. The sirens got louder and multiplied.

She narrowed her gaze, knowing instinctively they were coming for her.

Damon entered her home less than half an hour ago. The cops were fast.

His downfall: she’d been anticipating him. She’d known he would come for her.

No longer the weak girl he’d held captive for four years, Ashley’s mind had cleared. Her ability to think rationally had returned in bits and pieces over the past months. She’d visualized every imaginable scenario of this moment.

She’d known he would come eventually. Never for a second had she doubted his tenaciousness. Neither a restraining order nor the passage of time would keep Damon from seeking revenge.

“You’re mine, bitch.”
His words still rang in her head. But Ashley’s head was no longer floating in the clouds as she had been for the four years he’d tortured her. Nothing he could say would have altered the course of her actions.

What he didn’t consider was her determination not to be taken by him a second time outweighed his resolve to abduct her and hold her under his thumb once again.