Exposed Affections

by Rene Folsom

  “Wait a minute, a layover?” Coda questioned, finally coming to life with the news his sister was flying somewhere. “Are you coming home?”

  Her tone calmed down slightly, so I couldn’t quite make out what she said next, but Coda’s excitement seemed to increase as he listened to her explanation.

  “Yeah, I’ll come get you. No, she’s still sleeping,” he lied, peering over at me and winking—confirming the fact she was talking about me. “Okay. Love you too.”

  “Bri is here?” Aiden asked, his voice muffled by the pillow he was hugging.

  “No, but she will be in a few hours. I gotta go get her from the airport,” Coda explained, groaning while he rolled himself out of bed. “Mom told her we were in town with Julia and she hopped the first flight home. This week is her spring break as well.”

  Padding over to the bathroom, he continued talking. “I’ll go get her while you two hang out and do whatever. No sense in us all being stuck in the car to and from the airport again.”

  Knowing these two men would make my decisions for me this entire trip had me feeling free of responsibility and quite happy. The sound of Coda relieving himself with the bathroom door open again had me chuckling out loud.

  “Don’t you guys ever shut the door when you take a piss?” I hollered out.

  “Guys never close the door. I thought that was common knowledge,” Aiden joked next to me. Turning my body to face him, I was rewarded with a dazzling Stone-smile and warm Aiden-eyes.

  In my attempt to smile back, I was reminded of the beating my face took. The crude memento caused me to wince ever so slightly and my smile to retreat. Aiden’s hand slowly approached my face and hovered over my cheekbone.

  Without making contact to the wound and brushing my hair from my face instead, he asked, “Does it still hurt that bad?”

  Closing my eyes, I nodded. Yeah, my face hurt. But I was even more mortified I had to meet his family looking the way I did.

  “Julia?” he whispered, prompting me to look at him. “She’s going to love you.”

  Without needing a response from me, he leaned in for a small kiss before turning his body and extending his arm, offering me a chance to cuddle into the Aiden-nook.

  An undetermined amount of time later, I was woken up with a peck on my exposed, bruised cheek, the other still plastered against Aiden’s chest. The man hovering above me smelled like a fresh shower and delectably delicious Coda.

  “I’ll be back in a few hours. I put the arnica gel on the bathroom counter for your bruises. It should help clear them up in no time. Don’t have too much fun without me,” Coda whispered before creeping out of the room.

  Aiden and I must have fallen back asleep while Coda got ready to leave. Feeling a bit more refreshed, I reached beneath the sheets and quickly found out Aiden wasn’t hard enough for me to hop on for a ride. My fingers brushing along his pending erection caused him to stir slightly, but not wake.

  A sneaky smile crept up on my face as I inched beneath the sheet and made my way down his body. Before my movements woke him up, I wrapped my lips around his dick and submerged it into my mouth with ease.

  Wonderful moans caressed my ears once he woke up to my mouth sucking his shaft. Ripping the sheets away, Aiden looked down at me with sleep-filled eyes and a slacked jaw. While enjoying his delicious, increasing bulge against my tongue, I watched him throw back his head and listened to the primal grunt that left his lips.

  “Fuck, Julia,” he growled. The fact I drove him crazy spurred me on and made me more vigorous in my attack.

  How many licks does it take…?

  Only a matter of minutes passed before he began trembling beneath me, letting me know he was close. Propping himself up on his elbows, he looked down at me with affection as I continued to devour him. Our eyes met just as his climax overpowered his senses. Feeling his come flooding my mouth made my confidence soar with the knowledge he was so undone over me.

  As I felt the last spurt hit my tongue, I pulled away and wiped at my lips, offering Aiden a shy smile in the process. I slowly crawled up his body and straddled his hips just as he sat up and wrapped his arms around my waist.

  After placing a powerful, animalistic kiss hard against my lips, he pressed his forehead to mine and exhaled a shaky breath. I knew I told Coda last night, but felt the need to make sure Aiden was very aware of my feelings toward him as well. So, I grabbed both sides of his face, looked into his warm, gray eyes, and whispered, “I love you.”

  With lightning speed, Aiden covered my mouth with his own—so hot, so passionate. His hands pressed into the center of my back and his lips hot as fire caused me to melt into him.

  “I love hearing you say that,” he mumbled as he devoured my neck and consumed my heart.

  Then it dawned on me—neither man had said it in return.

  Chapter 32

  “Love your girl and never take her for granted.”

  Coming back down to reality, I had to remind myself I’d only known these two men for two weeks and, within those two weeks, life had thrown me several curve balls. So, dwelling on those three little words would just be silly of me.

  Then again, the fact no man had ever said those three little words to me hit me hard and made me second guess how desirable I really was. Even Rob didn’t find me desirable enough to love.

  “I’m going to go take a shower,” I said as I pecked Aiden on the nose and got off his lap.

  Ever since I was sixteen years old, my morning routine consisted of taking my birth control pill after I brushed my teeth. The difference in routine that morning threw me for a loop. The fact I was still waiting to hear back from the hospital about my blood work made my stomach turn and nausea to build inside me.

  As if lightning struck my cerebral cortex, I suddenly realized I had unprotected sex with both men last night. It had been so long since I hadn’t taken birth control, I totally spaced.

  “You’re so fucking stupid, Julia,” I whispered as I looked at my tattered self in the mirror.

  Grabbing the edges of the bathroom counter, I took a few deep breaths and hoped the queasiness would pass quickly. Thankfully, it only took a few moments before I was finally ready to get my ass into the shower.

  The sting of the surging water felt heavenly as it warmed my skin. Each drop cascading down my body loosened my muscles and made me sigh with exquisite relief. After what I went through, I was certain I would never take a warm shower for granted ever again. Just rubbing my fingers against my scalp and feeling the shampoo lather through my hair was soothing enough to make me forget my worries, even if it was only for a few moments in time.

  Sucking Aiden and listening to him come earlier had my clit throbbing. I didn’t want him to get the impression that he had to return the favor, but I was feeling the need for his fingers to relieve the tension pent up inside me. To avoid running to him each time I wanted to get off, I unhinged the showerhead from its holster and snaked it around my body.

  The removable showerhead was probably the best invention since sliced bread. Two clicks of the adjustable pressure caused the massage setting to pummel against my sensitive skin and an audible sigh to leave my lips. Spreading my legs ever so slightly, I closed my eyes, lulled my head to the side, and allowed the water pressure to take me for a ride.

  Enjoying the feel of warm water against my clit, my mind began to wander. I thought of Aiden and Coda and how it felt to have their lips upon me simultaneously. I thought back to the night they both had me sandwiched between them in the car, driving me wild with their dual sensuality.

  Then my twisted mind went off the deep end. That nasty fucker snaked his way into my head, nearly making me drop the showerhead in disgust.

  “Goddamn him,” I cursed out loud, pissed a man had the power to ruin everything there was about me.

  “What’s the matter?” a voice boomed right in front of me, making me pop my eyes open in surprise and squeal like a scared cat. That time, I did drop the showerhead, mak
ing sprays of water go every which way.

  “Fuck, Aiden! You scared the living shit out of me!” I gasped. Well, it was more like a breathless scream.

  “Sorry, Angel. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was enjoying watching you play with yourself when you suddenly cursed me out. I thought you knew I was here. You okay?”

  “I wasn’t cursing you. Although, I should after that little stunt you just pulled,” I reprimanded as I picked up the showerhead and tried to catch my breath. Looking up at his worried face, I felt the need to put his mind at ease. That wounded puppy dog look had me weak in the knees, making me feel like a prisoner ready to confess.

  “I was trying to enjoy a little alone time when Rob and all the filth he represents popped into my head, totally ruining the moment for me,” I explained as I hung the showerhead back onto its bracket.

  “I’m sorry, Julia. I wish there was something I could do to—”

  I silenced him by placing my hand on his chest. “Stop. Your pity and self-loathing doesn’t help.” Stepping closer to him and placing my lips inches from his, I continued, “Your distracting fingers help wonders though.”

  Before he could argue with how fucked up in the head I was, I kissed him passionately. With our limbs coiled together and the warm water cascading around our bodies, Aiden expertly distracted me with his tongue—then his fingers—then his tongue and his fingers.

  “Mmm,” I moaned as the last of my release flowed out of my body in waves of pure bliss. Surprisingly, the water was still warm and felt divine over the bruised surface of my body.

  Stepping out of the shower and leaving Aiden to do his thing, I had a sudden feeling of relaxation and contentment blanketing my fears.

  Drying off didn’t feel quite as comfortable though. The terrycloth scraping along my delicate skin made me wince as I slowly dealt with the pressure of the towel against the bruises on my arms and back.

  After wiping away the condensation coating the large mirror, I stared at my naked form. The swelling in my face was completely gone, but a bit of the discoloration was still evident, especially around the bite mark I kept covered with a small bandage. The welts and bruises on my arms left some distinct marks that took on a mixture of yellows and greens across my pale complexion.

  Wishing the arnica was some sort of magic remedy, I slathered the gel all over the bruises covering my body. Still feeling more than just a little self-conscious about my battered appearance, I dug through my makeup bag and sighed with relief when I finally found the concealer. I wanted to hurry and get this over with before Aiden was done showering.

  After covering up what I could, I slipped on a pair of new jeans and a turtleneck, looked at myself in the mirror, and said, “That’ll have to do.”

  “What’ll have to do?” Aiden asked from the doorway, making me jump slightly with surprise. There he stood in nothing but a towel, little beads of water dripping from his hair—such a sexy distraction indeed.

  “Oh, I was just talking to myself.”

  Turning to face him, I gave him a soft smile and hoped he wouldn’t dwell on it. With my wet hair pulled back into a ponytail, I brought the strands in front of my shoulder and twisted them nervously.

  “You look so adorable,” he whispered, making his way toward me. One hand held the towel together low on his hips, accentuating that Y-shape of his pelvis leading to…

  Yeah.

  “What are you smiling about?” he asked as he hooked his finger beneath my chin and brought my gaze back up to his eyes.

  “The fun stuff you have hiding behind this towel,” I responded, while grabbing onto the edge of the terrycloth and tugging lightly, bringing him flush against my body.

  “Damn. Is that all it takes to make you smile?” he joked as he let the towel drop to the floor.

  “Mmhmm,” I mumbled and nodded, inching in for a smooth kiss. Pulling away, I slapped him on his bare ass and said, “Get dressed. I want to go outside and enjoy this beautiful day.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I heard him say with a laugh as I sauntered out of the bathroom door.

  We spent the morning walking around the valley and checking out the waterfalls nearby. True to his form, Aiden brought his camera and never stopped his shutter-happy finger from photographing everything in sight. The weather was absolutely perfect and made me realize how much I’d been neglecting the outdoors. We finally found our way back to the house and buried ourselves on the couch.

  After finding a book that piqued my interest, I plopped myself on the sofa next to Aiden and laid my head on his lap. Sticking my nose in a book was always a great way for me to sit back and relax. Aiden lazily played with my ponytail, twisting the strands of hair between his fingers, while he watched a basketball game on television.

  The feel of his fingers combing through my hair had my eyes growing heavy in a matter of minutes. The next thing I remembered was hearing Coda’s voice as he entered the room.

  “Shh. She fell asleep,” Aiden whispered.

  Yeah, my lazy ass could have sat up at that moment, but I was way too comfortable to move a muscle. Plus, I loved hearing them interact when they thought I wasn’t listening.

  “No, Coda. Don’t wake her,” a girl’s voice chimed softly. I only assumed it was Bri, but my sleep-ladled thoughts were too sluggish to crack open an eye and check things out. Seconds later, I noticed a sweet smell that reminded me of gardenias in springtime. Must’ve been her perfume.

  Aiden, Coda, and Bri sat around the living room and chit-chatted about various things—work, friends, and her life in general—when suddenly the subject switched to me.

  “So, are you two going to tell me what the hell happened to her?” Bri asked quietly.

  “She’d rather this week be about anything but her issues, Bri,” Aiden defended.

  “That’s why I’m asking you now. I’d rather get the skinny from you than bother her with it.”

  Coda sighed before saying, “She had a run-in with an old boyfriend who deserves to be behind bars. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “Damn,” she whispered.

  “Yeah. Damn is putting it lightly. She deserves so much better,” Aiden said.

  “Are you guys both seeing her? Mom hinted to it but wouldn’t spill,” Bri asked.

  “Yeah. She’s not used to it yet,” Coda answered. “But we just can’t help our instant attraction to her. She’s so special in so many ways.”

  “It’s about time,” Bri said a bit louder than she had been talking this entire time. “Listen guys, this entire situation with her is something you need to cherish because we all know just how difficult it has been for a girl to accept you two as a package deal. Love your girl and never take her for granted. Don’t push her away with your macho, overprotective reactions.”

  “When did you become so insightful?” Coda asked with a bit of laughter.

  “Just looking at her, seeing what she’s gone through, especially knowing she’s my age—it makes me realize how lucky she is to have two guys like you and how you two are even more lucky to have someone put up with your shit,” she responded bluntly.

  Her honesty and take-no-shit attitude made me chuckle, bringing their attention to my top-secret, eavesdropping location in Aiden’s lap.

  “How long have you been listening?” Aiden barked above me.

  Cracking open an eye, I saw Coda staring at me with amusement. “Not long,” I lied.

  Sitting up, I readjusted myself and extended a hand to Bri. “Sorry I’ve been lazy. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “Same to you, Julia. You’ve been all Dumb and Dumber could talk about for the past two weeks,” she replied, hooking her thumb in their direction and flashing a smile that matched those of the twin variety.

  I instantly felt comfortable around Bri as she spoke about her new boyfriend back in Cali. She reminded me a lot of Sid, which, in turn, made me feel a pang of yearning for my best friend.

  “Mom said she wants us to meet her at the shoppe so w
e can all go to lunch together,” Bri said. “Is that okay with you two stoners?”

  “Yeah,” they both answered in unison, eliciting an eye-roll and a smile in my direction from their little sister.

  “Good. I call shotgun!” she hollered as she skipped toward the door.

  “What are we, teenagers?” Coda laughed.

  “Shit,” Aiden grumbled. “Don’t complain about it, Coda. I like playful Bri.”

  “All right then,” Coda agreed as he crouched in front of where I stood. “Hop on, Jules!”

  Without hesitation, I clambered up onto Coda’s back and enjoyed my first piggyback ride to the awaiting car.

  Chapter 33

  “A fist-bump solidified their nerd status.”

  The ride to Ann’s antique shoppe wasn’t very far but still happened to take a while with all the winding mountain roads. Bri talked about herself most of the way, which didn’t bother me one bit. The more she talked about herself, the less we had to talk about me and all my fucked-up-ness.

  Coda sat in the back seat with me while Aiden drove. Scooting as close to me as possible, Coda wrapped an arm around my shoulders while his fingertips caressed my knee. Bri’s rambling words became nothing but a murmur to my ears as he cupped my cheek and brought his lips close enough to brush over mine.

  I quivered at the feel of his warm breath on my face. His mouth melding to mine had me closing my eyes as the feeling of pure bliss consumed every fiber of my being. I was in my own little Coda-cocoon and I loved every minute of it. His tongue sliding in and out of my mouth and his hand caressing my jaw was my undoing. I was ready to climb his lap and didn’t care who was around to witness how he so easily captured my soul.

  “Could you two stop sucking face long enough to talk to me? Aiden is boring,” Bri whined from the front seat.

  I started to pull away, but Coda held me against him, continuing to kiss me passionately. His hand broke away from my jaw and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him hold a single finger up to his sister, telling her to hold on for just a moment longer.