Under My Skin (Skin Deep)

by Stone, J. M.

  Under My Skin

  By J.M. Stone

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  Copyright ©2013 by J.M. Stone

  Cover Design by J.M. Stone

  Cover Image Copyright ©HotDamnDesigns.com/The Killion Group

  Cover Image Tattoos Courtesy of Leo Parson

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  Kindle Edition, License Notes

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment. Ebook copies may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share with a friend, please buy an extra copy, and thank you for respecting the author’s work.

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  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written consent from the publisher, except in the instance of quotes for reviews. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the internet without the publisher’s permission and is a violation of the International Copyright Law, which subjects the violator to severe fines and imprisonment.

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, incidents, and places are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events are entirely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used.

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Dedication

  To the other half of my heart and soul; you know what you did and I love you for it, even if I threatened to strangle you a time or two…or five hundred. Always Ever!

  Chapter 1

  I blinked my eyes, my mouth gaping open. I was completely shocked, flabbergasted, astonished. Whatever you wanted to call it, that was me. I could not wrap my mind around what I’d just heard, let alone try to come up with some sort of sensible answer.

  But let’s back up for a second. Over a year ago, I conned my best friend, Emma, into going to a tattoo shop so I could get my tongue pierced. She ended up getting a tattoo, the first of the three she’s now sporting, but more importantly, she ended up meeting Luke, the man she’s going to marry next spring. Me? I did end up with the tongue ring, but that only lasted about six months, especially after I ripped it. Now, I actually have my own ink, drawn up specially by Brandon, Luke’s brother. They own Skin Deep together, and they do very well.

  It’s a very cute little tattoo; just a small hot pink flower with a tribal design on my front right hip. Brandon was also the one who pierced my tongue, so I figured he should be the one to do my tattoo, too. Honestly, he didn’t really give me a choice. He said he was going to do it, so why argue?

  I didn’t want anything big because I’m a small woman. I’m only 5’2, size 3/4, but what I lack in size, I make up for in boobs and attitude.

  But right now I’m still stuck on the fact that Jackson, who is Luke and Brandon’s best friend that is moving here from L.A. (who the hell moves from L.A. to Phillus, Ohio?), is standing here in front of me having said what he just did.

  “Allie? Did you hear me?” Jacks asked patiently.

  I personally wouldn’t have been patient if I’d asked someone what he just asked me. But then again, I don’t know if I’d ever ask someone what he did.

  “Allie, seriously. Are you ever going to give us a chance to really be with you? You’ve been teasing us for months now, and while I love your few and far between kisses, I want more. I want you lying in my arms at night, waking up beside me, making love in the morning…hell, anytime I want!”

  I gasped. “But, Jackson! You…I…you don’t know that you want that! You can’t know that you want that. And what about-” I stopped as he cut me off.

  “What about Brandon, right? You don’t have to worry about that. In fact, he and I have already discussed this. We’re willing to work it out, to try it, at least. We want it to work because we both want more from you.”

  A warm, deep voice chimed in from behind me. “He’s right. We did discuss this, Allie, because we both want to be with you, and we know that you want to be with us. Both of us. We also know that being with both of us is not conventional, and it might be frowned upon by people, but who gives a fuck? If we’re happy, isn’t that all that matters? What’s holding you back, Allie?”

  Brandon walked around the couch and plopped down on the other side of me, leaving me pressed between two hard, very warm male bodies. I wasn’t complaining about it, but…I still had no idea what to say to them, how to answer Brandon’s question.

  Emma had called me at the store today and asked if I wanted to come have dinner and hang out tonight, maybe watch one of the hundreds of movies that Luke and Brandon had collected over the years, but when I’d gotten here, she’d told me she forgot that she and Luke were going out for a date night. They were going to go get dinner and a movie, but she told me that Brandon and Jacks were going to order pizza and chill at home, so they asked me to stay and hang out. I agreed, not realizing that I’d been set up. That didn’t come until about ten seconds ago when Brandon joined our discussion.

  “Wait. You guys planned this little thing tonight to talk to me?” I asked. “And Emma was in on it? Seriously? You couldn’t just pick up a phone and talk to me like normal people do? And Jesus, Jacks, why’d you wait until Brandon left the room to start in on this whole thing?” I could hear my voice rising, but I couldn’t help it. Everything was feeling so surreal to me.

  “He left so I could talk to you about this. We figured you might be a little more receptive if you didn’t feel like you were getting ganged up on,” Jacks said quietly.

  “But why now? You know, I was a little confused by the fact that Emma supposedly forgot a date night with Luke, but I let it go. I mean, no big deal. But then Jacks…you drop this in my lap out of nowhere and I’m…I…I don’t know what the hell to say!” I dropped my head back and closed my eyes, feeling like I was hanging on by a thread.

  “Allie, come on. You know this isn’t out of nowhere. Jackson and I have made it clear that we’re into you. You’ve kissed us both, and wanted to do more. The only one holding back in this situation is you, and well, we’re done waiting. In fact, we both asked Emma what she thought because she knows you best.” Jackson kept his voice gentle, obviously trying to placate me.

  I snorted. “Oh, and what’d she do? Declare open season on me for the two of you?”

  Brandon answered this time. “No. All she said was ‘it’s about damn time’! But even she couldn’t tell us why you’re holding back.”

  Good question. I mean, it’s not that I hated the thought of being unconventional, because, let’s face it, I was completely unconventional on my own. A self-proclaimed free spirit…I really just enjoy being myself, who I am, and I don’t care what people think. Usually. But this…this was a litt
le different. I mean, isn’t it a little greedy to want or have two gorgeous men in your bed every night? And what about kids?

  Don’t get me wrong; growing up with my parents being how they are, I’ve seen some shit that most kids would be traumatized by. Like when ‘Aunt’ Sherry would come to stay for a weekend and after I’d go to bed, she, Mom, and Dad would smoke these funny smelling cigarettes, and then Sherry would be in bed with them in the morning when I woke up. Of course, as I got older, I realized what that funny smell was, and exactly why Mom and Dad were sharing a bed with ‘Aunt’ Sherry.

  And that doesn’t mean that my parents were bad people, or bad parents. They loved me, provided for me, and taught me right from wrong just like any other parents would do. They just made things a little more fun than some, and were very…open about other things.

  The more I thought about it, though, I realized that none of my arguments were very convincing as to why I should fight it. What’s the harm in trying? At least we’d know then if it wouldn’t work. But would my heart be able to handle it if it didn’t? Or, God forbid, what happened if there was something more with one than the other?

  I sat up, shaking my head at the turn my thoughts were taking. I noticed that the room had gotten very silent, and two pairs of eyes were trained on my face, watching intently for any sign of what I was thinking. I looked at them, studying each one in turn.

  Brandon was 29, my age, stood about 6’3, had gorgeous blue-grey eyes, and closely cropped black hair. He was muscular but lean, tattooed, and had that unshaven, kind of scruffy look going for him that made me want to lick him. He was also the jokester of the group; always ready with a quick comeback, loved to make people laugh. I almost think he does it to hide how intelligent he really is. He isn’t usually very forthcoming when it comes to details about his past, but one drunken night loosened his tongue and he let it out. Let’s just say it wasn’t the easiest for him, but he and Luke are doing quite well for themselves now.

  Jackson was 32, the same age as Luke, but he was taller than both of the other two, topping out at 6’4. I had to crane my neck to look up at him (well, any of them, for that matter). He was broad shouldered and, just like Brandon, muscular but lean, tattooed, although he has quite a few less than Brandon, but his eyes were a deep, warm brown with the longest eyelashes I’d ever seen on a man, let alone a woman. Thank God, that didn’t detract from his masculinity in any way. In fact, it made you want to melt when he turned those babies on you. His hair was also dark, close cropped to his head, but he was clean shaven. And when he smiled? Holy Mother of Mary Kate, if that didn’t want to make me drop my drawers. He had the cutest little dimple in the side of his cheek that got me every time.

  So, really…what the hell was my problem? It wasn’t as if I was unattracted to them; in fact, it was the polar opposite. Maybe I was too attracted to them.

  Brandon broke into my thoughts. “Allie?”

  I gave them both a small smile. “I honestly have no answer for you. I don’t know why I’ve been fight-”

  My words were cut off by a harsh groan. I don’t know who’s mouth it came from, but what I do know is that I was suddenly crushed to Jackson’s chest and his lips were on mine, nipping at my bottom lip until I gave in and opened for him. He thrust his tongue between my lips, kissing me deeply, thoroughly. After a minute, he pulled back, kissed me gently one last time before I found myself being turned and then Brandon was there, wrapping me up in his arms.

  His lips caressed mine tenderly, his tongue dancing softly over mine, asking for more rather than taking like Jackson had. The difference in their kisses was like night and day, although I knew Brandon could be just as intense as Jacks. But now, in this moment, the contrast just served to make my pulse pound, to make the ache building between my thighs spread through my body until I wanted nothing more than to be lost between the two of them.

  Brandon’s kiss didn’t last nearly as long as Jackson’s, and I found myself sitting between them again, panting slightly for breath.

  “Wow,” I muttered. “Okay then.” I blew out a breath, trying to get my thoughts back in order. “Back to what I was saying…”

  Again, I was interrupted. “You don’t need to say anything more, babe,” Jackson replied. “You said yourself that there’s no reason to fight what we all want. It’s settled. We’re giving this a go.”

  Brandon chimed in, “Yep. No use in fighting it anymore, Allie. Just give in and let it happen. It’s all going to work out just fine.”

  I eyed them suspiciously. “Why are you both so convinced this is going to work? I mean, have you ever tried something like this before? I know, Jacks, you had that thing…yeah. Umm…”

  Brandon chuckled, laughing at Jackson’s face turning red, and then replied, sheepishly, “Well, actually, I, uh…had my own apartment for a while after high school. You know, wanted to try the whole on my own thing. My roommate and I both dated this girl at the same time. Like…together.”

  I stared at him, completely taken by surprise by this. “What happened then?” I asked.

  “Well, actually, they started to get really serious about each other, like marriage serious. It wasn’t like that for me; I liked her and all, but I wasn’t in love. So, it was done for me, but last I heard, they got married and are working on their fourth kid.”

  I nodded slowly, taking it all in. “What about you, Jackson? Anything you want to let me know about this type of situation?” I raised my eyebrows, waiting for his answer.

  He cleared his throat before saying, “Luke and I used to do the same thing with girls. Nothing serious, ever. In fact, we’d always said that when we found that special one that we were meant to be with, it would never happen unless it was discussed and rules were put into place; but even then, it was probably never going to happen. That thing with Emma…that was kind of a fluke.” He flinched, rushing to finish quickly, “I never touched her! I swear to you!”

  “I know. Emma told me about it. It was an…interesting…conversation. But if you had that kind of pact with Luke and now you’re telling me you’re in this because you want to be with me, how is that any different? Why are you willing to do this with Brandon?” I asked.

  Seriously, it was a good question, at least to my mind. It almost made me think that this was something that they were just trying to get out of their system, that they weren’t that serious about me. And if I was honest with myself, I could definitely see myself getting serious with them. Yes, I said them. Geez, what am I getting myself into?

  I’ve never been one to seriously date, because I don’t want to settle for just anyone. I want that toe-curling, butterfly stomach, melt-at-his-kisses kind of love. And none of the guys I’d dated in the past had made it past the first or second date. If they did, it always turned into more of a booty call situation than anything.

  Jackson cocked his head, looking at me almost as if he didn’t know what to say. But he must have because he replied, “Well, I’m not willing to stand aside so Brandon can have you.” He turned to Brandon. “No offense, man.”

  “None taken,” Brandon replied. “We really did discuss this, Allie. Jackson and I both know what we are getting into, we both are coming in with eyes wide open. I wasn’t standing aside for Jackson to have you, either. We both want you and we’re willing to do what it takes in order to make you happy. And, since we’ve both done it before, we’re not averse to sharing.” He grinned widely at me after saying that. “Just means that you’re that much happier, getting twice the lovin’!”

  Oh, Lord.

  Chapter 2

  I yawned, blinking my eyes as I tried to wake up. I moved to stretch but found that my mobility was severely hampered at the moment, due to the fact that I was surrounded by hot, bare male flesh. A moment of panic zinged through me before I realized that I hadn’t gotten drunk and blacked out the night before.

  Last night came flooding back; the talk we had, after which we ordered pizza and cuddled on the couch while we watch
ed some weird ass movie the guys had picked out…And then they convinced me to stay the night. I’d done that before, sharing Brandon’s bed with him. But it was strictly platonic. Okay, well not strictly platonic because he’d always managed to sneak in some kissing and mild petting, but nothing beyond that. Plus, Jackson had never been in the bed with us.

  I’d kissed Jackson before, too. We’d done about the same amount of making out and petting that Brandon and I had, but I’d never slept in a bed with him. For one thing, he currently doesn’t have a bed to sleep in. The one time they tried to get me in Brandon’s bed with both of them, had been the night of the Halloween party, and I ended up sleeping on the couch while they shared Brandon’s bed.

  Jackson is some hot shot architect on the west coast, and his mom and sister live out there still. They’d moved there when Jackson was fresh out of college and got a job for a firm there. He worked there for a few years and then opened his own firm. He’s been working from home and flying back when the occasion calls for it, and he apparently does very well for himself considering he’s been scouting in Cincinnati to find a place to open a satellite office. Then he could appoint someone to run the L.A. office and he’d have only about a thirty to forty-five minute commute to the office.

  I haven’t seen the plans for his house yet, but Emma said they’re amazing. I’ve only seen the framework and bits and pieces that have been done from afar because I’ve never really wandered over there to check it out. Probably should do that sometime soon; especially now, given the circumstances I find myself in.

  They’d convinced me. Actually, they really hadn’t given me a choice, but whatever. I’d agreed to give it a chance, so here I am, Allison Anne McCormick, in bed between my two…boyfriends? Lovers? What the hell do I call them?

  They’d dragged me off to bed, laid me between them, and both proceeded to kiss me senseless, their hands roaming my body and making me writhe with want, but neither of them allowing their hands to touch anywhere near the parts of me aching so bad for it. I’d finally smacked them both away from me and curled up, refusing to talk to them or even touch them anymore. Then they’d both laughed and cuddled up to me, Brandon holding me against his chest while Jackson spooned me from behind. I have to admit that it was pretty nice…