by J. Kearston
I don’t even miss a beat, but Atlas trips when I say, “Why does she have to choose one of us? Her kind are incredibly open about sex and orgies and stuff. And the three of us already have an unusual dynamic. If everybody is cool with it, we could just shack up together. I’d vote Lucien’s house since it’s the biggest.”
Atlas catches himself before he face plants, but grabs my shoulder and drags me to the edge of the pit where there are less bodies. “The fuck are you talking about?”
I look him dead in the eye, completely serious. “You know what kind of man Lucien is. Do you really think he has it in him to give a girl the attention she needs? You think just anyone will put up with all of the shit you get into for thrills? Between the three of us, we could be everything she needs. We could give her the attention she requires to thrive and pick up each other’s slack when we just don’t have any more to give.”
He gives me an odd look as he mulls over my words. “She does seem like a handful.” And I know he’s actually considering it when he asks, “And what about you?”
“Heck, I was made for this sort of thing,” I grin shamelessly.
He laughs as we merge into the crowd. She switches the song to one even more upbeat with a bass level that rattles the walls. Despite the distance, her eyes immediately fall on Atlas, winks, and then goes back to work just as quickly, rocking her hips in time with the bass. It’s like she knows immediately where any of us are and I wonder if the tethering between the four of us is different on her end than it is on ours.
As promised, the crowd goes nuts for it, bodies grinding and dry humping each other. A couple of women try to approach us, but even Atlas turns them away. From the moment Cambria went to bat for us, I couldn’t even imagine looking at another girl twice, let alone screwing one of them.
And Atlas? He’s an all or nothing kind of guy. When he’s single, he fucks anything that gives him the time of day. But when he’s in a relationship? That’s it for him. He’s a hopeless romantic and in his mind, Cambria’s already his. So when he turns away yet another girl, I know I have his answer on the unusual situation.
Lucien on the other hand seems to be going the polar opposite. He’s so set on fighting this thing we have with her and proving that his life is still his own, that he’s going to try sleeping with someone just to make a point to himself. As Cambria pointed out, we’re all free to do what we will as far as she’s concerned, but I know Lucien. He’ll regret it come morning and it will be a huge setback for what could be a great thing if Atlas and I can just get the other two on board.
We start working our way in his direction, some woman pawing all over him. His jaw is tight as he dances with her, or more appropriately described as letting her rub herself all over him.
“Luce,” Atlas shouts to be heard over all of the music.
He doesn’t hear or see us at first, and eventually I have enough and shoo the woman away. “He’s taken!”
She looks at the three of us, shrugs, and gives us a thumbs up. Leaving to try her luck elsewhere, she departs without a scene, thankfully.
“What now?” He doesn’t have to go on any tirade, the simple phrase encompassing everything. I explain the same thing to him that I did to Atlas, but as expected, he isn’t sold nearly as easily.
“Things are complicated enough already without sleeping with her too,” he snarls, stomping back into the crowd. I sigh, but expected as much.
The rest of the night drags on as Atlas and I spend most of it at the bar now that we aren’t looking to hook up with anyone. Lucien resurfaces a couple of hours later, but he doesn’t have anyone clinging to his arm so I take that as a step in the right direction.
“Not a word,” is all he says before slamming back a couple of drinks. “When’s she due to get off?”
“Depends how good you are,” Atlas fires right back, nursing a steady buzz.
Lucien smacks the back of his head and I walk over to the edge of the pit, not seeing her at the turn table. I return back to the others, frowning.
“She’s not there.”
That gets both of their attention, but Lucien is more practical. “She’s likely in the bathroom.” He goes back to his drink, full of pent up frustration and no outlet because he can’t get over himself.
After another half hour passes and she doesn’t reappear, Atlas gets tired of waiting and goes to search for her. I strum my fingers across the bar nervously, debating going after him too, but knowing full well what I’ll likely find. Cambria outright said that she was considering getting lucky tonight and fuck, who would deny someone like her? Last thing I want to walk in on is someone balls deep in the girl that I’m head over heels obsessed with.
After a little longer, even Lucien is getting antsy. If that isn’t evidence enough that she got under his skin, nothing is. I’ve been with him for nearly a decade and the man is nothing short of composed to the point I questioned if he could even feel anything at all. Just his anger should be enough to signal that he has it bad for her; barely anything can get a rise out of the man.
He’s being so damn stubborn and it’s clear he won’t be doing anything, which means I need to stop being a little bitch and go find them. I take a deep breath and steel my nerves, preparing to get to my feet and head off in the direction Atlas disappeared in, when a heavy hand lands on my shoulder. I turn to find the bouncer glaring at us while fighting the urge to hit him as my stomach sinks, and I nearly vomit.
“Two strike rule, fellas. We don’t tolerate guys hassling our employees here. You’ve been eyeing Ria all night; hope you’re not dumb enough to have a repeat of last time.” Jax narrows his eyes at us, radiating menace.
I bat his hand off of my shoulder and glare right back. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, its people fuckin’ touching me when I’m not expecting it. Not a lot pisses me off, but that puts me in an instant bad mood when it happens.
“Situation’s changed,” I spit through clenched teeth. “Just ask her.”
He gives me a pointed look. “Trust me, I will be.” He moves off and scans the crowd before disappearing down a hallway.
Lucien gives me the courtesy of finding his glass incredibly fascinating, giving me time to pull myself together. It always fucks with my head when I’m caught off guard, and sometimes it takes me a few minutes to get control of the reins again. After nearly half an hour, I rise to my feet.
“I’m going to look for them, you coming?” I try to force levity into my strained voice, but I know he picks up on it.
He finishes his drink and gets to his feet, scowling. “Dorian, I know you’re smitten with the girl, but this can’t end well. We’re already in far too deep with her and she’s practically a stranger.”
I can barely hear him over the music and it actually helps more than I expect. Soon, all of the nightmares are chased away by the throbbing base and noise so loud I can hardly think, let alone remember. It’s a beautiful distraction, and before I know it, I’m back in control of myself, breathing steadily.
“Exactly. We’re already in so deep with her that we’re living together. So really, the only logical conclusion is to go for broke. What would make an already complicated situation worse is if we start bringing random people home to bone when she’s there or her to do so when we’re at her place.” When I see his jaw tick, I know I’ve almost got him, so I continue to push. “Unless the thought of watching some rando fuck her in the back alley really doesn’t bother you in the slightest? If so, I will apologize and drop the subject entirely.”
He doesn’t confirm or deny, but his refusal to answer is an answer in itself. Lucien is a lot of things, but overly protective is his strongest trait. He took it upon himself to unofficially adopt me all those years ago, and Atlas fell into the fold a few years later. There are few people he cares for, but the ones he does, he goes all in harder than Atlas. Black and white. There are things that are his and things that aren’t. Once Lucien decides you’re someone he needs to look out for?
It’s why he doesn’t date and rarely hooks up with people. He keeps his head buried in work because he doesn’t want to waste time with people that don’t matter.
I push open the door to the employee lounge and pull to an abrupt stop, Luce crashing into my back. Cambria, Atlas, Jax, and some woman I haven’t seen before are seated around the table in various states of undress with cards strewn all over the table.
The woman sitting beside Cambria is down to a bra and jeans; gorgeous dark, smooth skin on display. Her hair is pulled away from her face in a braid down her back, but she tugs it over her shoulder to fiddle with when she notices the bouncer’s attention on her. Jax is down to his boxers, same as Atlas, and the behemoth’s eyes keep flitting between us and the girl.
“Who plays strip poker at work?” Lucien demands, his scowl bleeding into his tone.
Cambria’s silver eyes flit to him and she grins, not balking at his reproach in the slightest. Of all of them, she’s the only one still fully clothed and a growing pile of winnings in front of her.
“I do, when I’m trying to be a benevolent roommate. Atlas came to stay with me so that the two of you could try your luck in the cesspool,” she chirps, as if the thought of us getting laid doesn’t bother her in the slightest.
I hate the fact that it stings, that I want her to care and am not sure where we stand in her eyes.
Lucien directs his anger at Atlas instead. “How’s this taking care of her?”
Atlas leans back in his seat, not caring that he’s down to nothing but his underwear. “I’m making sure she doesn’t get into trouble, just like you wanted, boss. Figured gambling can bring out the worst in people and she might need an extra hand if things got out of control.”
Cambria gives Lucien a strange look. “Taking care of me? Luce, I didn’t mean that as literally as you’re taking it. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long damn time. I just meant that,” she cuts off when she realizes Jax and the woman are still in the room.
Lucien sighs. “If you’re done with your shift, let’s just get home, shall we?”
She doesn’t get up right away. “Night’s still young. I can stay with Atlas while you find someone to blow off steam with.”
I interject before Lucien can say something insulting by mistake. “Nah, we’re not really feeling it tonight. Let’s just go back to Atlas’ place and watch a movie or something.”
She furrows her brow, but doesn’t push. “Sorry, Stella. Guess it’s just you and Jax for the next round.” She stuffs her winnings into the too tight pockets of her shorts and kisses the girl on her blushing cheek, winking at her when she’s behind the bouncer. “I’ll lock the door on the way out so no one else can interrupt the game, sorry about all this.”
Jax turns to lock eyes with Cambria and in them I see his barely veiled panic. “These pretty boys bothering you again, Ria? Hate to see you get in over your head and three seems like a lot, even for you.”
Cambria bites her lip, no doubt debating the idea of toying with us all, but ultimately sighs. “Nah, they’re my escorts. Hired men, sent to attend to my pleasures. Besides, no kink shaming, Jax. If I want to end my night with a gangbang, that’s my choice, just like I won’t call you out on any of the weird shit you’re probably into.”
He laughs awkwardly, still looking uncomfortable at being left alone with Stella, but a little more relaxed after her teasing. “What about the golden rule?”
She grins. “Still a few days before they expire, by my last count.”
Stella snorts a laugh. “Three day time limit? You mean you haven’t started the clock yet? Girl, I commend your restraint.”
She grins and shoots a finger gun in her direction while coming around the table and beside me. “I am rather commendable. A dick a day is a fine life motto, my friend, you should give it a try.” Her eyes light up in a genuine smile when Jax stiffens, offended, and she turns to Luce. “Sorry, sir. Does it count when I’m thinking with your dicks instead of mine this time?”
Stella bursts out laughing and we head out, leaving them to figure out how to navigate what is obviously a crush to anyone besides the two of them.
Lucien groans, putting a hand on the small of her back to usher her out. “You’re incorrigible,” he chastises.
“You mean insatiable,” Atlas fake coughs, smiling as we make our way out of the club and flag down a cab to take to Atlas’ apartment.
We get into the car and I claim the backseat beside Cambria, because sue me, but I want to soak up any time with the enchantress that I can. She doesn’t even need to use her gifts to enthrall me and I will gladly surrender to her charms without a fight.
Chapter 8
Atlas
“Five more minutes,” Cambria groans as I shake her shoulder.
She’s passed out on the couch, an empty bottle of rum on the ground beside her while Lucien’s knocked out in the chair and Dorian’s in the middle of the floor. We got her home last night and carried on drinking, just hanging out and watching movies. By the time we all fell asleep, it was only a couple of hours before my alarm went off for work.
“Sorry, princess. It’s my turn for bring your fae to work day, so up and at ‘em.”
She groans again, but peels the blanket off of herself and gets to her feet. “Worst nickname ever.” She stumbles towards the bathroom to take a quick shower and get ready while I finish grabbing the things we’ll need for the day.
By the time she comes out in just a t-shirt and panties, towel drying her hair and searching for her shorts, Lucien is awake and making coffee. He rubs his temple, gearing up for a day at work with a migraine. He frowns at her when she comes into the kitchen, tugging the hem of her shirt down in an effort to preserve her modesty, and I want to smack him for being so stupid.
Cambria gives him an amused look. “Does my underwear offend you, boss?”
He scowls down at her. “Do you have to walk around half naked?”
Grinning, she picks up on his tone and finding joy in his discomfort. “A girl wears less in a swimsuit and I doubt you’d scold her for it, but if it makes you that uncomfortable,” she trails off and shrugs, grabbing her shorts off of the couch where she must’ve shimmied out of them last night to sleep.
She never looks at Lucien to let him see the amusement on her face, instead choosing to bend over and give him a full view of the way her underwear clings to the curves of her ass as she shimmies her hips. Turning in our direction as she buttons them, she glances up with a teasing smile in Lucien’s direction.
“That better? I’d hate to make my roommate uncomfortable. I forget how funny humans are about their modesty. I’ll try to do better from now on; promise.” She draws a weird symbol over her heart which I assume is the fae version of ‘cross my heart and hope to die’, and bounds over to chug a cup of coffee quickly.
Lucien’s jaw is tight the entire time and if I didn’t think the man was sexually repressed before, I’d be hard pressed to argue against it now. Everything about Cambria screams ‘seductive siren’ and I’m impressed that Lucien has managed to hold onto his delusions for this long.
Throwing an arm around her shoulders, I guide her to the door, calling back over my shoulder just to taunt him. “Don’t worry, Luce. If I’m busy, the guys will take care of her. We’ll see you tonight!”
I only get a brief glimpse of possessive outrage in Lucian’s amber eyes, but it’s enough to let me know we’ve almost pushed him to where he needs to be. Is it cruel to manipulate our friend? Maybe. But we’ve known him for so long that we know him better than he knows himself. Lucien needs us just as much as we rely on him. He keeps us from going too far out of control and we keep him from missing out on life because he can’t see things for what they are.
Though I admit I’m riding a fine line, pushing the familiarity he allows in our relationship. I know better than to become too complacent, because honestly? Lucien scares the shit ou
t of me sometimes. But like it or not, he thinks of Cambria as one of the people he needs to take care of now. He just needs a little push in accepting it and seeing that he’s already there.
I just hope he doesn’t kill me before he realizes how helpful I am.
“So, where do you work?” she yawns, before her eyes light up.
Passing her my spare helmet with a smile at her excitement, she puts it on, adrenaline far more effective than coffee. “Construction. Current project is on the other side of town, so we need to leave early if I want to get there on time.”
I climb onto my bike and she slides on behind me, wrapping her arms tightly around my stomach before clenching her thighs against my hips. “You ever ride before?” I feel her shake her head and walk her through the safety and mechanics, but don’t even finish before Luce is there stuffing her arms through my riding jacket I’d left inside.
“Bad enough she’s wearing shorts on your death trap,” he mumbles, glaring at me once for good measure before stomping over to the cab he had to call, heading to the office.
I grin, overly pleased that he’s coming around as Cambria has a similar amused lilt to her voice. “I see why you were trying to get him laid,” she teases. “Guy’s a little high strung.”
Laughing, I fire up the bike and kick off. “That’s putting it mildly.”
The rest of the ride we don’t bother trying to talk, just enjoy the wind rushing past, the freedom and thrill that comes with riding. Much too soon we’re pulling onto the job site and Cambria loosens her grip, slipping away from me. I mentally slap myself before I can start waxing poetic over the way I miss her sweet scent and arms around me, as well as...fuck, I’m already doing it.
She takes off the helmet and passes it over, sliding an elastic band off of her wrist to tie her hair back in a ponytail. I shove my hair out of my face, a clear reminder I need to get it cut, and run my hand across the stubble on my jaw. I didn’t bother shaving this morning, tired as all get out, and it shows. I just hope I don’t look like a dang hobo at this rate.