“Oh no, not again.” She groaned.
* * * *
Blaine kicked himself for letting his opportunity pass him by as he followed Adele out of the woods. He’d nearly frozen up, circuits overloaded, or floated away in some tantric trance upon seeing her bottom waving in the air. He’d wanted to sink his cock between her thighs, but when he had the opportunity, he’d stalled like a jalopy. What on earth was the matter with him?
Another rumble from the heavens brought his eyes skyward to see that the dark rain clouds had returned. A fat, cold raindrop splashed across the bridge of his nose, adding insult to injury. Now his fantasy to have her in the soft moss under the trees would have to wait until the weather turned nicer.
He grinned seeing the twigs and pine needles stuck in her hair. He’d come so close, at least now he knew where to pick up again.
He had to hurry to keep up to the pace Adele set back to their sorry little campsite.
Already gathering up the clothes they’d laid out on the rocks to dry, Tyler glanced up as they approached. Right away Blaine could see that Tyler assumed they’d been fooling around. The other man seemed disappointed.
The thought left an unsettled feeling deep in Blaine’s guts, and he wondered if perhaps that was why he’d become distracted. Normally Blaine wouldn’t hesitate to push his way through a crowd of guys in a bar to be the first man in line for a gorgeous woman, but this time he couldn’t just walk away. They were stuck with each other while they were stranded on the island for who knows how long. It didn’t seem like a good idea to step on anyone’s toes. Adele was a rare gem, a woman who shared his passion for the great outdoors. She had a spitfire sense of humor, too. If Tyler had hooked up with her on the first opportunity he had, it would have made it rather uncomfortable to be around them. No one wanted to be the third wheel. The situation forced intimacy and demanded extreme caution. He could only hope Tyler felt just as chivalrous.
His gaze followed Tyler as the other man rushed with the clothes over to the hut. A moment later he heard Adele giggle.
His stomach lurched and his face grew hot as he imagined what might be going on out of his line of sight. Forget chivalrous, it’s on!
* * * *
Adele blew on a charred log, encouraging the embers to catch on a strip of birch bark. Soon a stream of dense smoke rose up, swirled about the small enclosure, and found a gap in the branches making up the roof. While the guys grabbed the gear, she’d gone ahead with a burning stick in hopes to keep their fire going. Eventually, a tiny flame leapt to life, and she smiled. It seemed as though her efforts had paid off.
She busied herself by gathering enough small stones to make a makeshift oven in hopes that it would contain the fire and keep them warm through the night.
Tyler poked his head inside just long enough to toss their semi-dried clothes into the far corner. His eyebrows rose with a glance to the fire. “I suppose this means we won’t be huddling together tonight?” he said, punctuating his comment with a sly wink.
She shrugged and gave a small giggle, but he’d disappeared again into the night before she could tell him to go ahead and try.
The thought of sharing that small space with both the guys sent a shiver of excitement coursing through her. The day’s teasing and sexual banter had ramped up her libido to the point where she believed she might go off at the merest touch from either of them.
Then how awkward would that be? She placed a few more sticks onto the fire and tried to distract herself with thoughts of the city and everything about it that she did not look forward returning home to.
Sounds of industry came from the other side of the wall. Leaning out, she could see both of the guys worked hard gathering firewood. The rain was starting to come down harder, and the pyre Blaine had constructed was little more than a wide bed of embers with a huge plume of smoke.
Seeing they had the shelter part covered, she set about the task of preparing some food. The whole experience felt rather primal to her, but she doubted any of her cavewoman ancestors had ever been lucky enough to have two gorgeous hunks in her cave.
Chapter Ten
Popping a handful of berries into her mouth, Adele watched the mushrooms she’d gathered hiss and spit on top of the lid to the coffee can. Using the coffee can she’d packed and some water from the lake, they’d made a very strong pot of coffee. The rest of the grounds went into the bottom of her backpack, and they took turns sipping from the metal container. The coffee was bitter, and she winced every time she took a swallow, but it helped the lethargy she’d been feeling from the lack of food. After the coffee had been consumed, they fried the mushrooms and divided them evenly among the three of them and chewed mint leaves afterward to help her swallow the tasteless fungus. At that point she’d have sold her car for a pound of butter, anything to give their food a little flavor. She vowed the next time she decided to go on an excursion such as this she’d at least pack some salt. Then she thought better of it, and decided not to go on the excursion at all.
At least they wouldn’t starve. Together they’d made what might have been a traumatic experience almost enjoyable, she thought, looking at the guys with admiration. It was clear to her that they were more clever than most of the people she hired for the company, and far more nervy. The fact that Tyler brought his work along was annoying, but it showed dedication and guts to take such a risk. And even though Blaine put on a tough guy act, she knew he was more sensitive than he let on. She felt like a ping-pong ball caught between two paddles, wanting both of them equally and wishing to hurt neither.
They sat in silence, finishing off their meal with raspberries. Even though Adele loved raspberries, and they were an expensive treat at the grocery market, she didn’t feel as though she were pampering herself.
“I’m thinking about trying my hand at fishing,” Tyler said, eyeing up a small twig he had sharpened to a point using her jackknife. “I think I can use this for a hook, and I found one of your barrettes in your pack that would make for a good lure. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Sweetie, if you find me something other than mushrooms, mint, and berries to eat, you can have my grandmother’s heirloom brooch to jury-rig,” she replied dramatically.
Blaine gave her a level look, smiling slightly. “Are the berries getting to you?” he asked fondly.
“Do they need a little spicing up?” Blaine winked.
“A little variety, you say?” The boys bantered back and forth.
She smiled and shook her head. “Why do I always feel out numbered with you two?”
“Two against one?”
“Two in one?” For a moment Blaine’s gaze lingered on her breasts. She flushed under the heat she saw in his eyes. She didn’t know exactly how to respond, but there was no doubt in her mind what Blaine wanted from her. She would gladly give it to him, too, if it didn’t pose such a problem for them after.
They fell into an awkward silence, each of them caught up in their own train of thought.
Rain beat down on their improvised roof for the second time, and she didn’t hold much hope that anyone would be out looking for them in such bad weather. There hadn’t been any signs of activity on the horizon in the twenty-four hours since they’d gone missing. No sound of airplanes flying over, no boat motors roaring across the water.
Their fire began to die down, and unfortunately they’d used up the majority of their firewood. She knew she should go and gather more, but she really didn’t feel like getting wet.
She knew she should welcome the break from her hectic life, but she’d become accustomed to the fast pace and knowing everything was working as it should. Were she sitting at home in her little apartment, she’d be surfing the internet, checking stocks and bank statements, and if nothing else, watching a movie on TV.
She knew her restless sex drive was to blame for her agitation, but without any means to get some privacy, she couldn’t play with herself and take the edge off.
After awhile she sighe
d and asked, “Do either of you have a clue what time it is?”
They both looked at their watches.
“Mine’s dead.” Tyler shook his head.
“Mine too.”
“Oh well. What’s it matter anyway?” She half laughed to cover up her disappointment.
Blaine grinned at her. “Are you bored already?”
She nodded glumly. “Aren’t you?”
“I know I sure am!” Tyler chuckled. “All my entertainment is at the bottom of the lake with my electronic equipment. What do people do without their laptops anyways?”
“Don’t ask me,” Adele said with a sympathetic shrug. “I’m a workaholic. I have no time for fun.”
Tyler looked thoughtful but didn’t say anything more.
“They fuck, I guess.” Blaine said after a minute had passed. The sky chose that moment to rumble loudly, giving Blaine’s last words extra drama. She turned to look at him to find him staring at her. Grinning like a sprite, he looked as though he’d like to fuck her at that moment.
Adele rolled her eyes. “That might be what you do.”
His grin faded. “Hell no,” he protested. “Sadly, I’m like you. No time. They have us working overtime in the warehouse, and by the time I get home I’m exhausted, but you’ve got to hope somebody out there is fucking every chance they get. I sure would if I could.”
She sighed and stared dreamily into the glowing embers of their dying fire. “Me too.”
There was another awkward silence. Only the occasional sound of one of them smacking a mosquito could be heard.
Blaine threw the last of the branches on the fire. Sparks rose up in the air along with a tall plume of smoke, making each of them cringe then sigh with relief when nothing larger caught on fire.
“Well, I don’t think they’re going to be out there looking for us in this weather.” Blaine filled in the void.
“Do you think we’ve hit the news yet?” Tyler, who had been checking on his wounded toe, asked.
Adele’s heart skipped a beat. She’d forgotten all about the media and the spin they would put on their disappearance. Her father would be worried sick, each of their employers would scramble to find a way to cover their asses, legally, and every detail of their lives would go under the microscope. “Oh man! How embarrassing!” she exclaimed.
“What?” Blaine frowned. “It’s not like we planned this. It could happen to anyone.”
“I suppose,” she admitted, raising her head. “I just hope they aren’t one island over.”
“How ironic would that be?” Tyler laughed.
“About as ironic as getting rescued in our underwear.” She stole a peek at Blaine’s strong thighs and the intriguing seam that traced a line around his groin and remembered how sleek his body looked. Then she thought about how the media would spin that one. Two young men and one woman stranded on an island in the middle of paradise. The thought wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, it was a dream come true.
Chapter Eleven
Adele shifted her shoulder for what felt like the hundredth time in a vain attempt to find a comfortable position. The ground was as unforgiving as a bed of nails, but at least she wasn’t cold. Sandwiched between the guys, she reaped the benefits from both of their warm bodies.
As she shifted again, this time more aggressively, she bumped against Blaine’s groin. What she felt there made her hesitate. A telltale bulge pressed against her buttocks, and she knew it couldn’t be anything but a very impressive erection. He was unmistakably turned on. Now she was curious to know if he was awake.
A short snort followed by an ecstasy-induced moan told her whatever had created the effect in him existed only in his dreams. Feeling slightly disappointed, she edged her body away from his. She found it hard enough to keep her thoughts out of the gutter. A hard cock sliding along the groove of her ass would be too much temptation.
A cool breeze touched the space where Blaine’s hard warmth had been, and she sighed with relief only to tense up again a second later. In her efforts to put some distance between her and Blaine, she disturbed Tyler who rolled over. In doing so, he placed his hand on her left breast and swung his leg up over her thigh. Pale moonlight illuminated their stick shelter just enough for her to make out Tyler’s face. His eyes were closed, and for all she could see, he was still asleep. Trapped beneath his leg, she could endure it, enjoy it, or push him away. Her decision was made for her when Blaine closed the hard-earned gap, planting his rigid cock right back where it was most comfortable.
She closed her eyes and groaned as a wave of butterflies swept through her middle. If only she could give in to her desires, wake them both, and convince them everything would be all right if they just—
Her groan was answered by one from Blaine, who shifted forward again and stretched his hand out across the distance where it came to rest on Tyler’s shoulder. Her eyes widened, and she caught her lips between her teeth to keep from laughing. Blaine moaned again, and she felt his hips lift and push harder into her.
The rocking motion bumped Tyler, rousing him with a start. She saw his eyes open and his head rise up from the ground to see whose arm it was that caressed him. Muscular tendons flexed as Blaine’s fingers kneaded his flesh, and Tyler jerked back, a look of confusion apparent on his face. The sudden motion startled Blaine who woke with a start and found Tyler glaring at him. Adele couldn’t stifle her laughter a moment longer.
Both guys simultaneously rolled away, each of them muttering something incomprehensible. Knowing it was going to be mighty awkward in the morning, she let her laughter ring out uninhibited.
* * * *
Blaine was having the most amazing dream when Adele’s quaking shoulders woke him. At first the jerky vibrations had added to the reverie featuring Adele perched upon his lap and giving it for all she was worth, but then the smooth shoulder he had been caressing pulled back with such force it jarred him out of his fantasy.
When he opened his eyes and looked into Tyler’s confused expression, he realized just what he’d done. Adding salt to the wound was Adele’s riotous laughter as she took delight in both of their innocent mistake. He couldn’t blame her really. His thoughts softened as he imagined how bright her face must have looked. She truly was beautiful, especially when she laughed.
His cock throbbed in response, and his face flushed with warmth. He was lucky, he realized. She could have been angry with him instead of laughing. He had wedged his hard-on tight against her bottom, after all.
It dawned on him then that she had done little to resist him. That bode well for him, he decided, a confident smile on his lips once again.
* * * *
Tyler could still feel where Blaine had caressed his shoulder. The warmth and pressure had woken him, but when he’d opened his eyes, he’d been disappointed that it wasn’t Adele who stirred his desire. He knew Blaine hadn’t intended for him to be the recipient, but it had been embarrassing nonetheless. In truth, they’d both been caught trying to make the moves on Adele in the middle of the night, albeit it, unconsciously. She had to know by now they competed for her affection, and yet continued to favor them equally.
He didn’t know what it would take to tip the scales in his favor, but Adele had a way of making his worries disappear. As long as she was nearby, his thoughts were on her and everything he’d like to do with her. It wasn’t all about sex, either, he realized, despite the fact that his cock ached from being hard so often. She was beautiful, yes, but he admired her other traits as well, her intelligence, her courage, and how she was so adaptable that she barely blinked an eye once she learned they were stranded.
His cock pulsed, reminding him of another of her pleasing traits, one he’d experienced first hand in the raspberry bushes earlier that afternoon. She promised to be dynamite in bed, or wherever it was she’d take him, and he certainly hoped she would. He drifted off with his hand wrapped around his shaft and his mind full of pleasant thoughts once again.
Chapter Twelve
/> The first thing Adele did the next morning was gather enough grass to make a soft bed. If they had to spend one more night sleeping on that hard rock, she was going to make the best of it and soften it with the only thing around she could find. It also put some distance between her and the guys. Despite her hunger, her aching muscles, and what she believed to be the onset of a nasty cold, she’d been dogged by sexy dreams all night long. Clearly the guys were getting to her. At least they’d successfully distracted her from fretting constantly about being rescued or not. It had barely crossed her mind all afternoon, but now, with another day ahead, she had to focus.
Next, she improved the so-called oven, stacking the stones higher so they could pile more sticks into it, then she stacked enough firewood to last at least another night.
By the time she had done all that, she felt grimy, sticky, and smelly, so she decided to go jump in the lake. Only she announced she would do it privately.
After the night’s hilarious performance, both of the guys had found a quiet place far apart from the other. She knew they’d have to talk about it sooner or later, and the best thing she could do was stay out of their way. She had laughed mercilessly at their expense and felt little compunction about it. If they were forced to be in each other’s space, then she’d far rather be honest with one another. No one else was around to comment on their goings on, hell, they could do whatever they wanted while they waited to be rescued, and that included a little male on male as far as she was concerned. Somehow she doubted they’d offer up that kind of show. They had eyes only for her and that suited her just fine.
That thought stayed with her all the way to her bathing spot, a tiny inlet, sheltered by low-hanging evergreen branches that she’d seen on her wanders the day before. It offered the perfect bathing oasis.
Stripping down, she carefully laid her clothes within arms reach along the rock. Dipping a toe in first, she accepted the fact that her worst prediction had come true, the water was cold. Nonetheless, she reeked, and it had to be done. Sucking air through her teeth, she eased her body down into the dark pool, scattering a school of minnows ahead of her.
Nichols, Tara S. - Island of Three (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 6