Shifting Gears (7 page)

He smiled as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “All that and more.”

Then he kissed her, snuggled her close to his heart and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Five

Sloan watched out the window as streaks of emerald foliage gave way to industrial buildings. One of the other crew members had taken them to Guangzhou to catch the high-speed train to Hong Kong. The drive to the station bombarded her with sights and experiences. Every time she left international housing and immersed herself in the environment around her, reality annihilated her preconceived notions.

China, to her, consisted of so many contrasts. The terrain, the cultures and the fascinating mix of contemporary and ancient all jumbled together to create a diverse and captivating land. If she spent ten years here, she’d never absorb all the nuances. Asian aesthetics—buildings with tile roofs, paper lanterns and bold red slashes—surrounded her with beauty even in crowded, rundown neighborhoods.

She’d never been somewhere she felt more isolated—a complete foreigner—and yet reassured that many human truths were universal. A smile from a child in a stroller, graffiti in the form of characters etched into the broad leaves of tropical plants, a passerby waving hello, hawkers shouting from overcrowded stalls, and taxis blowing their horns were familiar but different.

Guangzhou appealed to her. It teemed with industrious people going about their day-to-day life, embracing a simplicity that highlighted how many times Americans overcomplicated things. Here, an object didn’t have to have a name brand stamped on the side to get the job done.

A man on a bicycle delivered supplies to the market in polystyrene boxes piled high enough to transport nearly as much as a U-Haul back in the States. A woman bore a stick across her shoulders from which two baskets of laundry swung. Scaffolding, made entirely of bamboo, teemed with construction workers who wore no safety gear, not even boots. Their rustic sandals slapping on bare feet as they scaled the hastily erected structure highlighted real differences from the world she belonged to and forced her to consider the luxuries she took for granted.

Still, the lack of precautions designed with the lowest common denominator in mind made her realize how sterile her existence in the US had been at times. She wouldn’t trade her heritage or her country for any other, but gaining perspective couldn’t hurt either.

Not all things were strange. Modern men and women in suits trudged off to a workday similar to the ones she’d suffered through when she clocked time in an office. But the smell of street-meat carts and fruit on a stick made the mundane seem exotic.

“Would you like to try some?” Mark caught her checking out the red kebab of candied fruit as they exited their friend’s car at the station. It looked like something she’d find at a carnival back home.

“What is it?” she asked Mark, but he shrugged then looked toward Lynn for assistance.

“It’s called
tanghulu
.” Lynn swerved toward the vendor, dragging Sebastian with her. “It’s delectable. Sweet and filling for breakfast. The apple-looking things are hawthorn fruit. Some of the vendors use other ingredients too.”

“This one looks like it has kiwi and sesame seeds sprinkled on top of the clear glaze.” Sloan inspected the offerings with a smile and a nod at the man working the cart.

Mark moaned. “Damn, this smells great. I’m getting one to hold me over for the ride. Anyone else?”

In the end, they each tried a different variety. The vendor seemed disappointed when they refused to haggle over the price but, despite the downturn in the economy, enough food to feed four adults cost six Yuan—less than a single American dollar.

It didn’t seem right to pay less than that.

It truly was a treat for her taste buds.

Not to mention, watching the men eat the sticky snacks from the foot-and-a-half-long skewer had naughty ideas flashing through her mind. What was wrong with her that spending the night with Mark hadn’t quenched her cravings?

Bold and daring, she’d woken during the early morning and taken advantage of her lover’s steely erection prodding her backside. When he roused again several hours later, he’d repaid the favor with a smooth, sensual fuck that enticed her to relax and allow pleasure to consume her.

“
Amico
, swap a bite. I want to try yours.” Sebastian held his skewer toward Mark, who leaned forward and ripped a hunk of fleshy fruit from the rod with his teeth. He groaned as a spurt of liquid oozed from the treat.

“Damn, that’s awesome.” Mark returned the favor, extending his stick to Sebastian. “Why don’t we have these things at home? I could get used to this.”

Sebastian bit into one of the last morsels, his lips nearly brushing the side of Mark’s hand. His throat worked as he swallowed the offering then licked his lips. “Too bad we don’t have time for another round. These rocked.”

Sloan’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head at the exchange. Did they even realize how hot they were together? Mark had said they’d shared intimate situations before. She believed it after seeing how natural and at ease they were around each other.

When she turned, she saw Lynn staring as she fanned herself. The day hadn’t built enough swelter for that until the two guys started eating from each other’s hands. At least she hadn’t been the only one to notice. If the desire etched on her new friend’s face was any indication, Lynn had enjoyed witnessing the exchange as much as she did.

Sloan had to look away before she spontaneously combusted. She studied the pattern of stones beneath her shoes until her breathing returned to normal. Then her gaze lifted to Mark’s to find him grinning as he licked the last of the juicy sweetness from his fingers with extra relish, promising he knew where her mind had gone—straight into the gutter.

Desire crackled in the air between them.

Lynn broke the moment when she laughed out loud. “You two are great together, you know that? You don’t even have to be touching and I can see the attraction.”

“Pretty awesome, isn’t it?” Mark winked at them both.

“Yes, it definitely is.” Sloan grinned. “Careful though, or Lynn might get the wrong idea. Unless of course, you want her and Sebastian to see how well you can clean that stick off.”

Mark froze.

For one horrible second she feared she’d taken their playful banter too far. Then the dilation of his pupils along with his gruff tone convinced Sloan her instincts had been dead-on. He’d hoped to tease all
three
of them, not her alone.

It’d worked. And she found she liked the idea.

“We better head to the platform or we’ll miss the next train.” Sebastian cleared his throat then scrubbed his hands over his face, the bulge in his jeans impossible to miss. Lynn dropped a chaste peck on Mark’s cheek then took her fiancé’s arm, letting the subject drop with no hard feelings.

They hustled into the station, cleared customs then boarded a sleek, advanced train. Public transportation here exceeded all options available at home. Sloan wished she could hop on something like this in NYC and zip over to the Midwest—quick, cheap and green.

Quiet and introspective, Mark ushered her into the window seat in a row for two passengers while Sebastian and Lynn took the pair of spaces across the aisle from them in the remarkably comfortable car. When Sloan peeked over at the other couple, they were making out, indulging in a long, slow mating of lips and tongues.

Despite Sebastian’s attempt to battle his urges, it seemed Mark had inspired a sexual reaction in his partner.

She grinned at the couple, nudging Mark in the ribs with her elbow. He blinked then shifted his stare from the seatback in front of him. Had Sebastian’s earlier refusal to play their game upset him?

Sloan squeezed his hand. The young man looked into her eyes, allowing her to study him closely. Slight lines had formed at the corners of his mouth. “Are you okay?”

“Terrific.” He beamed. “I’m on an adventure with my Cougar and my two best friends after an amazing night. What more could I want?”

The wistful cast to his rhetorical question made her itch to fill whatever void plagued him. She folded their armrest up then tugged his hand until he abolished the gap between them.

When she settled against his warm side, something hard jabbed her hip. “What do you have in your pocket? Or are you happy to sit next to me?”

She wiggled her eyebrows and he laughed, shaking free from the gloom shrouding him.

“Sorry to disappoint. That’s my iPod.” He shifted to one side, delving into the ripped, European-style denim hugging his slim hips for the device. “I like to listen to music when I travel.”

“Who do you have queued up?” She wrapped her fingers around his wrist, loving the contrast of her crimson nails and his olive complexion. When he rotated the screen, she frowned. “Angels and Airwaves. Huh. Never heard of them. Damn, that makes me feel old.”

“Why should it? Here, we’ll listen together. Then you’ll know they kick ass.” He handed her one of his earbuds before situating the other so he could hear too. “This album is my favorite. It’s called
Love
.”

Sloan’s chest lurched at the look he shared with her—hot enough she wondered why she hadn’t melted into a puddle on the floor. She sighed then rested her head on his chest, canted so she could watch the scenery fly by.

The music had a hypnotic quality to it. Long sections of rhythmic electronic echoes left her plenty of time to reflect on the bond growing between her and Mark. Not to mention the link they shared with the other couple on their journey. Then the music picked up, turning into a sexy rock song. She wished they were in a club, the music blaring so she could dance with Mark to the soulful melodies.

“This is great.”

Mark nodded, singing along softly. It felt as though he’d written the beautiful lyrics for her. By sharing, exposing himself further, he tempted her to drop her inhibitions.

She shifted in her seat, the motion rubbing her breast against his ribs. He reciprocated, grooving in time to the beat with subtle motions that pressed them together. His fingers tapped a complex syncopation on her knee as they swayed along with the song.

By the time the music ended, she would have given a month’s salary for some privacy. She had an insane urge to take care of Mark, to ease the dissatisfaction she sensed in his soul. Something about his tirade the other morning, and the way he reacted to Sebastian’s subtle rebuke at the station, made her suspect he considered himself second string in the men’s friendship.

The fury he’d lashed out with had stemmed from hurt.

Everyone notices Sebastian, not me. I’m just the navigator. Some loser who rides along with a superstar and drools over smoking-hot, professional ladies who are completely out of my league unless they decide to slum it with some young, dumb, walking hard-on for a night of endless fucking.

Not that she got any such vibe from Sebastian. Hell, the driver would probably be horrified if he knew what Mark thought. She tensed as she considered the years Mark might have suffered in silence under the guise of friendship.

Of course, her lover chose then to focus on her line of sight. When he saw her looking at Sebastian, he stiffened and withdrew.

“Come back, Marco,” she whispered. “It’s not what you think.”

“Women have always preferred him. You don’t have to hide it. I’m used to it.” He impressed her because he really meant it. How many times had he sacrificed what he wanted for Sebastian? His generosity enhanced his appeal, though he’d taken it to unhealthy levels. “But I have to warn you, he’s committed to Lynn.”

Maybe she could help Mark see the pattern of self-destructive behavior ensnaring him. She didn’t intend to preach to him but she could try to demonstrate how much more he was than a stud for hire.

Sexy, loyal, generous, funny and gentle but fierce when cornered, he deserved better than believing himself second best. Their time together would be sweeter if she knew he’d have a shot at sustained happiness after their affair ended—because, surely, once she restored his confidence, he’d ditch her faster than their world-record lap time.

Some lucky woman would be thrilled to have him. The bitch.

“Well,
this
woman wants you. For you. Not as a way to get closer to your friend.” Sloan captured his unsteady hand and guided it to her thigh, beneath the hem of her flouncy skirt. After a quick look around to ensure no one else had come near, she encouraged him to seek out the source of the wetness dampening her thighs.

She revealed her surprise.

“
Dio
,” he panted. “No panties? You’re soaked.”

“All for you. Because of you.” She kissed the side of his neck, over the spot she’d identified as one of his pleasure points. When she’d nipped him there this morning, he’d emptied himself inside her with a roar.

Sloan whimpered at the memory.

“Spread your legs, Cougar. Let me give you pleasure.”

“No.”

His head jerked backward until he could meet her stare. Confusion swirled in his warm brown eyes. “Because we’re in public?”

“No, you drive me crazy no matter where we are.” Sloan checked the empty car one last time before making up her mind. “Because
I
want to service
you
. Right here, right now.”

“That’s not a good idea…”

“I don’t care.” Before he could object, she shoved his faded t-shirt up his abdomen, tucked her fingertips into his waistband and ripped open his fly. She purred when she caught sight of his bare cock standing at attention.

Very ready despite his protests.

Sloan scooted to the edge of her seat then bent to bury her face in his lap. She licked him from root to tip, measuring his long hard-on with her tongue. She paused to glance up at him from her perch and whisper, “But if I get thrown in a Chinese prison for giving you the greatest blowjob of all time, make sure you don’t leave me there to rot. Stripes aren’t my thing.”

Lost in each other, they both jumped when Sebastian laughed at her joke.

“Oops. Don’t mind me and Lynn.” Sebastian grinned when Sloan blushed. “I’ve got your back, Mark. Enjoy. It’s not every day you get an offer like that. Besides, you know how Lynn gets off on watching.”