by Lane Hart
"Fuck you," comes the faint response from down the hall.
"He has to be at work at seven," I explain to Nadia.
"Oh. Do you have to work today too?" she asks.
"Nope, I'm off." I really like the look of relief that shows on her beautiful face, and so does my cock. It’s going to be a long damn day.
"What the hell are you eating?" Zaine asks gruffly when he shuffles past the dining table on the way to the kitchen, eyes bleary with a bad case of bed head. I know he’s heading for a caffeine fix to help get him going.
"Sausage and cheese pancakes. You want some?"
"Uh-uh. Coffee now. Food later."
"You sound tired. Not get much sleep last night?" I inquire with a smile to which he flips me off without turning around. "He's not much of a morning person," I explain to Nadia as she watches him stumble around.
"He kind of looks like an angry grizzly bear waking up from hibernation," she says quietly, and we both laugh.
"Hey, I heard that, and you're really going to wish I hadn't," Zaine tells her, heading for the table with a look of mischief I’m all too familiar with on his face. He yanks Nadia up from her seat and throws her over his shoulder while striding with a sense of purpose out of the kitchen.
Chapter 12
Nadia
"What are you doing? Put me down!" I yell, smacking Zaine's ass through his grey boxer briefs. He finally comes to a stop, but then I hear a faucet turn on. "Oh shit! Don't you dare…AH!" I scream when he sits me down underneath the cool, blasting water in the shower. Keeping an arm banded around my waist so I can't escape, he reaches in front of me with the other and turns the knob so it will dump slightly warmer water on me instead of the icy cold.
Hearing and feeling his body shake with his howling laughter at my back, I cup my hands out in front of me to collect some water before tossing it over my head onto him. I was hoping to hit him right in the face. After several tries, I laugh when I finally hear him sputter like I've made a direct hit.
I flip the dial to make the water even warmer, causing the bathroom to start steaming up. The heat begins to soothe my tense muscles and relax me, making me realize just how tightly strung I had been.
Closing my eyes, I turn around under the stream, brushing the wet hair that’s stuck to my face out of the way. Zaine's palm is still pressed against the wet t-shirt fabric covering my back, but his grip eases up since I’m no longer trying to flee.
Wiping the moisture from my eyes, I blink them open, looking up into his intense, dark blue ones only inches away. My breath catches at the hunger blazing from his gaze. What started out as a playful prank has suddenly turned erotic.
Droplets of water have scattered across Zaine's face, dripping from his hair and down his bare, muscular and toned chest and sexy abs. His damp cotton shorts leave little to the imagination, barely containing his heavy erection. The sight of which does strange things to me, like making me want things I know I can’t have.
Time stands still as we watch each other, both of us seeming unsure of what’s happening or how to react. Zaine makes the first move. His hands grip the sides of my soggy sweatshirt and begin moving it up. I raise my arms to help him get rid of it; and once it’s gone, my heart starts racing faster in anticipation of what’s to come. Next, his fingers go to work on unsnapping the button and lowering the zipper on my drenched jeans before pushing them down my hips and legs until I can step out of them.
Standing before him in nothing by my black lace bra and panties, I lean forward, grabbing his shoulders as I brush my lips over a freckle just below his left collarbone. He groans and grips the back of my hair in one hand and my hip with the other. I find another small freckle in the center of his chest, and I hold Zaine's eyes as I press a kiss to that one too.
I want to kiss him to show him how thankful I am for what he and Cash have done for me. He slept next to me all night, even though he was uncomfortable, making me feel safe at the scariest time of my life. I can't imagine having to deal with this without the two of them. I know they are nice, decent guys who would never ask me for anything in return for taking care of me, but I want and need to give them something in return.
I drop to my knees and reach for the waistband of his shorts; but before I can yank them down, Zaine grabs both of my wrists.
"No, Nadia."
"You don't want me to make you feel good?" I ask, looking up at him as water cascades down my face. His eyes are closed, and his head falls back like he’s having an internal struggle. I figure I could make the decision a little easier on him. I grab his hard length through the wet fabric and stroke him, once, then twice while leaning forward to lick his pelvic indentations. On the third stroke, his willpower snaps. Zaine pushes his wet shorts and boxers down in one quick shove.
His erection springs free, and I wrap my hand around the base of his shaft to take him into my mouth.
"Ah, fuck!" he shouts when my lips close around his cock.
I swirl my tongue around his velvety smoothness; and when his hips rock forward, his fingers tangle in the back of my hair, making me moan in approval. Arousal pools deep in my lower belly, so damn powerful, aching fiercely for relief. I work my mouth up and down his length, sucking him hard, which only makes my own desire worsen with his encouraging grunts and curses.
"Oh shit, Nadia. That feels so … damn … good," Zaine groans above me as his hips begin to move faster, thrusting deeper in my mouth.
I desperately need my own relief, so I slide my hand down into my panties, rubbing and pressing my fingertips over my sensitive flesh. I can't hold back my moans as I quickly bring myself to climax. I look up at Zaine as my body trembles with pleasure and watch as his expression contorts like he’s in pain. His grip in my hair tightens as his hips surge wildly right before he jerks my mouth off of his dick. Taking himself in his hand, he jacks himself with rough, quick strokes until he lets loose a choked bellow. That’s when ropes of his hot cum land on my chest and in the valley of my breasts, dripping down into the wet cups of my bra.
“Why did you pull out? I wanted to taste you,” I tell him because there’s an odd hunger pain deep inside of me that really wished he would have unloaded down my throat.
When I stick my tongue out in encouragement, Zaine groans and slaps one of his palms against the shower wall as he rubs his crown over it so I can lick him clean.
“Next time,” he promises through gasps while I lick his shaft like a lollipop.
“Next time,” I agree, which puts the strange craving at bay because we both know there will be a next time.
"Fucking…hell…woman," Zaine says between pants, a lazy, satisfied smile stretching across his handsome face. He grabs me under the arms and yanks me up to my feet.
I wrap my arms around his neck and tuck my head under his chin. His arms automatically go around me, holding my wet body against his.
“Not that I'm complaining, but what was that about?" he asks softly. "Last night you said you weren't interested in being more than friends, and then you did…that, and now we’re talking about next time."
"Let’s just see what happens," I finally respond, knowing I can’t let him inside of me.
“Let’s just see what happens sounds a helluva lot better than I just want to be friends,” he agrees.
Zaine
Fuck you, friendzone!
I’m out of there and couldn’t be happier.
I figured as much when Nadia got on her knees and took my dick into her mouth, but I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on.
All I know is that I want her to do that again, and I want to repay the favor as soon as I get home from work tonight.
Reluctantly, I pull away and reach for the shampoo. Squeezing some into my palm, I sit the bottle back down then rub my hands together before reaching up to scrub Nadia’s scalp. The gesture makes her smile, matching the one still on my face. I work the suds through the length of her hair, and then she tilts her head back in the stream to rinse it o
ut.
God, she’s so fucking sexy it hurts, like the woman of my dreams come to life.
With a handful of body wash, I lather the rest of her amazing body the same way as her hair, scrubbing my cum away, and missing only the areas still covered by her underwear since she didn’t remove them and hasn’t given me permission to touch her there. Maybe tonight.
When I finish washing Nadia, she goes through the same process for me, washing my hair and body until we’re both clean, neither of us speaking a word the entire time, as if a single word could pop the little bubble we’re in.
Knowing people could be dying while I’m distracted by a beautiful woman, I finally reach behind Nadia to turn off the water, and then open the shower door to grab us both towels. Nadia wrings her hair out before hypnotizing me as she dries off and steps out onto the cool tile of the bathroom.
I follow her across the hall to the bedroom where I find her sitting on the edge of the bed with just her towel around her. She watches me get ready, from the time I pull on my boxer briefs to my shirt and pants, then finally my shoes and socks. I love having her eyes on me as if I’m the most fascinating person she’s ever met, even though I know I’m not.
Quickly returning to the bathroom, I brush my teeth and run my fingers through my hair. Then, I’m unfortunately ready to go and dreading leaving Nadia.
"You're leaving a wet spot on the bed," I tell her with a teasing grin.
"It's your own fault," she replies with a smile.
"I have some ideas for making more," I assure her.
"You're gonna be late," Cash's stern voice interrupts from the open doorway, making Nadia jump and hold the towel around her tighter.
"For fuck’s sake, I'm leaving," I grumble in annoyance at his interruption without even glancing at the other man. Instead, I push on Nadia’s shoulders gently until her back is flat on the bed and climb on top of her, my lips brushing hers. It’s the first time we've actually kissed on the mouth. It’s a nice, sweet kiss after our dirty shower together. "I'll see you a little after seven tonight," I tell her. And then with one last peck, I make myself walk away, shouldering my way past Cash on the way out.
Chapter 13
Cash
Nadia’s eyes hold mine as I stand in the doorway watching her. I wonder what she sees on my face.
I’m jealous and pissed and, fuck, going out of my mind because Zaine kissed her and I can’t.
Then Nadia’s gaze begins to wander lower, taking in my bare chest that’s covered by my arms, lower to my abs, then lower still. And how dare she? Zaine probably hasn’t even walked out the front door yet.
"Stop looking at me like that," I tell her, and she visibly startles.
"You’re standing there without speaking. How am I supposed to look at you?" she asks.
"I don't know, but you can't fuck him and then stare at me like that."
"I didn't fuck him," she snaps back quickly.
I lift a single eyebrow skeptically; because if they didn’t fuck after sleeping together nearly naked last night and taking a shower together this morning, then they must have come pretty damn close.
Part of me wants to demand that she tell me every single sordid detail, while another part wants to try and forget what may or may not have happened between them.
"Whatever," I mutter like a sullen teenager before forcing my feet to walk away.
I need to get out of this fucking house. Between trying not to think about Nadia half-naked or about whatever the hell her and Zaine did with each other I’m going to go insane.
But I can’t leave her here alone with Trent. Someone’s after her; and while I’m sure he could probably, maybe protect her, he won’t do as good of a job as I can.
So, I take a shower to cool off, jerk off to the memory of Nadia wearing nothing but her underwear and towel while biting into my own forearm like a pathetic loser. Then, I descend the stairs to endure an entire day with the woman I want and can’t have.
She’s like a compulsion. I crave her almost as much as I crave blood. At least when I drink the red stuff from a bag I can concentrate on other things for a few days before the hunger sneaks back up on me.
Nadia, though, I can’t shake. I don’t even think sleeping with her and biting her will do the trick either.
I’m so fucking screwed.
“What are we watching?” I ask when I take a seat in the sofa since Nadia and Trent are in the two recliners.
“The news,” Trent answers.
“Wow. Exciting. What’s next? Golf?”
“You don’t have to stay here with me,” Nadia says. “I’ll be fine with Trent since he’s got the day off.”
“I’ll survive the boredom,” I assure her. “Although maybe we can spend this time thinking about who those men are that came after you twice now.”
“I told you I don’t know who they are!” she exclaims.
“No idea what they want with you? You haven’t pissed anyone off or owe anyone money?”
“No!”
“Any asshole exes who could be heartbroken enough to want to hurt you?” I ask. And instead of giving an instant denial like she gave to the previous questions, Nadia keeps her lips sealed. “There is, isn’t there?”
“I’ve had a few guys who didn’t take the breakup well,” she finally explains.
“How many? What happened? Tell me everything.”
“It was just two or three men. Things ended…badly, so I broke things off, told them I didn’t want to see them again, and it took a while before they finally stopped showing up at work and my apartment.”
“And?” I ask.
“They wanted to keep seeing me, even though we clearly weren’t good together. I guess they were just too blind to see it at first, but eventually they got the message after my repeated rejection and went away.”
“This happened with three different men?” I ask for clarification.
“Yes.”
“Did they know each other?”
“No, not that I’m aware of. All three were customers who I helped and then asked me out.”
“Sort of like me and Zaine?” I point out.
“Ah, yeah, I guess so.”
Is it really all that strange to imagine men seeing her at the grocery store, wanting her, asking her out, and then not giving up when she cut them off?
“Did you sleep with these three men?” I find myself wondering aloud.
“Yes. But I’m not a slut,” Nadia huffs indignantly. “They are the only three men I’ve ever been with.”
“I didn’t say you were a slut or even think it,” I assure her. “I just wanted to know how serious the relationship was.”
“A few days, and I slept with each one just once,” she responds.
“Just once? With all three?” Now that is unusual. “You’ve only ever had sex three times in total?”
“That’s a damn shame,” Trent remarks without taking his eyes off the television.
“It’s complicated, okay?” Nadia replies with a shrug. “And I don’t want to talk about it anymore. How about you tell me how many women you’ve been with Cash?”
“I’m not the one with a group of kidnappers after them,” I point out. “But if it makes you feel better to know my past, I’ve only been with one woman a handful of times in the past two years.”
“The same woman?” Nadia asks.
“Ah, yeah.”
“And before her?”
“Before her, when I was human, I slept with…six different women, all more than once but not more than a dozen times,” I answer honestly. “Does that make me a slut?” I joke.
Nadia’s brow is furrowed as if she’s thinking about something hard. “Who do you sleep with now that you’re a vampire?”
“A female vampire,” I tell her. “Jezebel, the one who turned me. It’s impossible to be with a human without giving away what I am. And being burned at the stake is one of the few things that will kill a vampire. Eventually. It’s a slow and ago
nizing death because our bodies heal so quickly.”
“Oh,” she mutters.
“So you can’t tell anyone about me or Zaine or Trent,” I explain. “Unless you want us to die.”
“I won’t,” Nadia says confidently.
“Not even if you’re tied up and being tortured?” I tease.
“Not even then,” she promises.
Nadia
I didn’t realize until now just how much these guys are trusting me by letting me stay here with them and by telling me their secrets.
And when Cash was questioning me, I wanted to tell him about what happened with my three previous lovers, but I couldn’t.
Why not?
Because I want him.
It’s wrong and stupid and…dangerous. He’s a vampire. A blood drinking immortal who could easily kill me. And yet I still trust him not to hurt me.
I tell myself that it’s just comfort I seek after everything that’s happened the last few days and that I feel safe with Cash since Zaine’s not around.
But that’s not entirely true.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like whenever I’m around men for any length of time, I feel drawn to them and need to get them naked. Which is ridiculous because no one needs to have sex. We need to eat and drink and sleep.
So why does it seem so crucial that I get Cash inside of me? I’m wet and desperate for something I shouldn’t be thinking about.
“You’re looking at me like that again,” he points out, and I didn’t even notice I had been staring at him.
“No, I’m not,” I deny as I look away, back to the television that’s now showing daytime game shows.
Trent sucks in a breath and then grumbles, “Goddamn it. I need some air.” He’s up and out the front door a second later.
Unable to sit still any longer with my pulse throbbing between my legs, I get up and head into the kitchen to make a sandwich to try and stop at least one hunger. I grab a plate from the cabinet; but before I can pull the lunch meat from Trent’s fridge, Cash is behind me. His hands on either side of the counter cage me in but don’t touch me.