Tangled (12 page)

was too much, too overwhelming. She didn’t want sweet, slow lovemaking. She wanted it crazy rough—

scratching an itch versus expressing their feelings.

Scarlett needed it impersonal so she wouldn’t cry. The very last thing she wanted to do when having

sex was cry. She never had before.

“Faster,” she urged, sounding like a drill sergeant. But he did as she asked, moving faster, filling her

so deep she cried out in pleasure.

Damn it, why was he starting to mean something to her? “Harder,” she commanded, going for

impersonal.

And he did that, too. He took her with a tender savagery she’d never experienced before, and she

surrendered to it, surrendered to him. Allowed him to fuck her, make love to her, whatever he wanted to

call it but he did it all to her and she could only lie there and take it.

Enjoy it. Revel in it. Want more from him, so much more. And when her orgasm bore down on her,

rippled through her body she sobbed his name. Clung to him as if she never wanted to let him go.

The tears that formed in the corner of her eyes she could ignore. The restless pounding of her heart

she could shut out, too.

But that nagging voice in her head was hard to deny no matter how much she wanted to.

She was falling for Trevor. And she doubted he was falling for her.

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61

Chapter Seven

Scarlett was still embarrassed by her behavior that one fateful night which occurred over a week ago.

Embarrassed by that moment more than any of the sexual encounters she’d had with Trevor since this

entire thing started. It was one thing to act like a complete bitch and another to allow anyone a glimpse of

her real self, the one with fears and dreams and regrets.

And she’d been an emotional wreck, touched by the fact Trevor wanted to find out so much about her.

Shocked at herself that she let him see bits of her. Bits she normally kept hidden from others.

He’d acted like it was no big deal. He’d pushed, but he hadn’t pushed too hard. She’d pushed back,

and he’d answered all of her questions with ease. To the point where he was giving her information she

didn’t want to know.

Because by sharing a piece of him, a personal, private piece, it made everything feel much more

serious. Intimate. Like maybe they were getting deeper into a relationship or something.

And what they shared didn’t qualify as a relationship. Really hot sex, yes. Someone fun to hang out

with, definitely. A serious relationship with a man she could envision spending the rest of her life with?

Scarlett breathed deep and shook her head. She honestly couldn’t answer that last question.

She shoved the thought aside and studied the sketchpad in front of her. She sat at the tiny desk in the

large dressing area of the theatre, planning the next production’s costumes and makeup. It was her favorite

part of her job, planning and creating. The new play was a fantasy, dark and sensual and this time Trevor

wasn’t playing the lead.

Thank goodness. This production was rather sexy, and the lead actor was in plenty of intimate scenes.

I have no right to be jealous. I don’t own him.

Gah. She was being ridiculous. Pushing the sketchpad away from her, she whirled around in her

wheeled chair to find Drake standing in the doorway, a cautious expression on his face.

“Hey.” She was startled to see him. He looked good, dressed simply in faded blue jeans and an even

more faded pale blue T-shirt with some sort of abstract dragon sketched in white across the front. His hair

was damp and pushed back from his handsome face, his green eyes friendly.

“Hi, Scarlett.” He walked into the room until he stood in the middle, his hands going into his front

pockets. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Grab a chair and sit.” She waved her hand toward a few chairs not far from where he stood

and he grabbed one, pulled it up to her desk and sat next to her.

Tangled

He smelled good, fresh and citrusy. She breathed deep, studying him. He was incredibly good looking

with smooth olive skin and the pronounced cheekbones. His body was lean, his shoulders broad, almost as

broad as Trevor’s.

No comparisons, she told herself. Two completely different men, stop it.

But she couldn’t help it.

“You’re not busy, are you? I was hoping we could talk.”

Caution slithered down her spine, and she tried to smile through it. “No, I’m never too busy for you,

Drake.”

“I won’t take up too much of your time.” He seemed to be stalling.

“What’s going on?” she asked, ready to get right to the point.

His gaze met hers, pale and piercingly direct. “I’m curious. Are you and Trevor…involved?”

Oh. Well, she hadn’t expected
that
question. Talk about putting her on the spot. “Um, well, we’ve

been seeing each other a little bit. Kind of. Nothing serious, though.” She winced the second the words left

her mouth.

Was she giving Drake hope? Did she want him to think she and Trevor were exclusive? Was she even

still interested in Drake?

Confusion muddled her brain, scrambled her thoughts. She honestly didn’t know the answer to any of

those questions.

“Nothing serious.” Drake’s voice was flat, and he looked away from her with a sigh, plunged a hand

through his hair in a gesture of frustration. “I don’t want to ask you this Scarlett, but did he say anything

about me…and him?”

“Yes.” She wasn’t going to lie. Better to be out with it. “He told me about it.”

“Everything?” Drake looked shocked.

She nodded. “
Everything.
”

“Wow. Huh. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He has no shame. He puts everything out on the table.”

Wasn’t that the truth? She knew she certainly appreciated Trevor’s honesty.

“He won’t take my calls. Now I know why.” He glanced back at her. “You two make a good couple.”

“We’re not a couple.” She shook her head as if to emphasize her words. The idea scared her. It scared

her because the thought of them being a couple also appealed. “We’re not even dating.”

“Then what are you two doing?”

Fucking? She couldn’t say it like that. Didn’t want to hurt Drake’s feelings or make herself look like

some callous bitch.

But it was the truth. Right?

Uh huh, right.

“Just something very casual,” she said instead. It sounded better that way.

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63

Karen Erickson

“Hmm.” He gazed at her desk as if lost in thought. “Can I admit that I’m jealous?”

“Can I admit that I’m jealous of what went on between you two?”

“Sure.” He smiled, dazzling her with perfectly straight white teeth. No wonder she had a crush on

him. She
still
had a minor little thing for him. Her tummy fluttered at the sight of that sweet smile. “Too

bad we can’t share him.”

“Who says we can’t?” The words fell out of her mouth when an idea formed in her brain. A very

wicked one.

Drake’s smile faded. “You can’t be serious.”

She was dead serious. The more she thought about it, the better it sounded. She’d get the best of both

worlds. All three of them would. She’d originally wanted Drake, Drake wanted Trevor and Trevor wanted

her.

Now they could all have each other. Tangled webs and all that good stuff.

“I am very serious,” she finally said, wanting to choose her words carefully. “I mean, why not? It

might be fun.”

He studied her as if she’d grown another head. “Have you ever been in a threesome before?”

She had, a long time ago when she’d first moved to L.A. and had been up for everything and

anything. Anything to help escape her old, boring lifestyle. To indulge the dirty thoughts that had

consumed her. She’d been curious back then, free to try anything once. And she had. She’d been wild and

crazy and had given it away too much.

“I have,” she answered. “Have you?”

His cheeks colored, turning a ruddy color. “I have. A few times.”

“With a woman involved?” She had to know if Drake was one of those gay guys who’d never touched

a woman. That was Brad, Austin’s ex-boyfriend. Oh, he’d kissed a few girls but that was it.

I don’t touch the pussy
, he’d said to her more than once.

She studied Drake’s hands, his fingers. She wondered if he touched the pussy.

“Yeah.” Drake nodded, looking slightly petrified.

The way they were discussing it, cold and clinical as if they were putting together a business

transaction suddenly struck her as funny. Scarlett started to giggle, tried to stifle it with a hand over her

mouth, but she couldn’t help but let it tumble out.

Drake’s expression turned mortified. “What’s so funny?”

“This. The way we’re talking about it. Like we’re trying to put together a business deal.” She shook

her head, her giggles turning into full-blown laughter. “It’s kind of ridiculous.”

“You’re the one who started it.” Drake smiled.

“I know, I know.” Her laughter died, and she thought of Trevor. How would he feel about this? He

was a kinky bastard. She didn’t think he’d mind. He’d probably be for it.

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Tangled

An image floated through her mind, of her naked, sprawled on Trevor’s bed. Drake would be on one

side of her and Trevor on the other, their big, masculine hands roaming all over her body. Touching her

breasts, her thighs and stroking her wet pussy. She’d suck Drake’s cock while Trevor pounded deep inside

of her, driving her to the most intense orgasm of her life.

Mmm, watching Drake and Trevor together, their sweaty male bodies wrapped around each other,

cocks in hands, mouths locked. It appealed to her voyeuristic tendencies, and she wondered if Trevor would

mind if she watched.

Her now very wet pussy ached, and she swallowed hard. She couldn’t get carried away, not yet.

But if this was going to happen, it was going to be oh, so good.

“So what do you think?” she asked softly, reaching out to touch Drake’s arm. He was strong, firm

muscles shifting beneath her fingers, his skin warm. He felt good.

“I honestly don’t know what to think.” He stared at her, that intense gaze locked on her face, making

her want to squirm. But in a good way. “How do
you
feel about it, Scarlett?”

“I can share,” she murmured. Did she really believe that? She told herself she could.

But deep inside, she wondered.

“With me? You won’t have a problem with me being there? In bed with you and Trevor?” He looked

truly concerned.

“I don’t think I have a problem with it. I chased you for months, after all. I’m finally getting what I

wanted.” And that kind of scared her. “Do you have a problem with me being there with you and Trevor?”

“No, I don’t think so. I’ve always liked you, Scarlett.” He reached for her, his broad palm curving

around her cheek, turning her face toward his. Her heart dropped into her stomach, and she realized he was

going to kiss her.

Oh God, what would Trevor think? Would he be mad if he saw us right now? Or would he join in?

But the kiss Drake dropped upon her lips was simple, pleasant. It sent a warm buzz through her, and

she slowly drew away from him, wondering why he didn’t give her the same electric jolt straight to her

pussy like Trevor did every time kissed her.

Every single time.

“I need to talk to him,” she whispered, blinking up at Drake. “I need to see if he wants to do this. We

can’t just spring it on him.”

“Of course we can’t.” He looked offended that she even suggested it. “Why don’t you bring him to

the club tomorrow night? I’m working a short shift. I’ll be done by eleven.”

Possibilities. She should be thrilled, but a shaft of apprehension cut through her. “If he’s interested,

I’ll do it. We’ll be there around eleven.”

“And if he’s not?” Drake’s brows lifted.

“If he’s not, then we won’t show up.”

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Karen Erickson

He sighed. “The ball’s in your court, Scarlett. I have to give it to you.”

She hoped having that ball didn’t end up costing her everything.

Trevor couldn’t wait to get Scarlett alone. All day he’d been tortured, having her close yet not being

able to touch her. She wanted their relationship to be kept on the down low, a secret from everyone at the

theatre. At first he’d been more than ready to agree to it. He wasn’t one to let everyone know his personal

business. Hell, everyone knew he couldn’t stick to commitment. He rarely saw a woman more than twice.

Scarlett had become the exception.

For whatever reason he’d started to feel offended by her secretiveness. Why didn’t she want people to

know they were together? Was she embarrassed? By him?

The idea rankled. Pissed him off. They’d been in meetings the entire day. Discussions of what was

happening with the new production, introducing the new actors joining them and the new crewmembers.

Scarlett had led one discussion about the costumes and makeup, how extravagant it was going to be.

They’d been around each other all day and yet she’d barely looked at him. Could hardly bring herself

to smile at him. He’d purposely stood next to her at one point, asking her in an intimate whisper if she was

okay, and she’d given him a stark, cold yes as an answer.

That was it. Just one word and then she’d walked away.

Damn woman ran hot and cold and it drove him up the frickin’ wall. He didn’t tolerate this kind of