ShiftingGears

by Jayne Rylon

  Sloan trembled in his grip, her nails digging into his shoulders.

  They stayed locked together, quiet, until Sebastian broke the silence. “He’s gone.”

  Sloan sat up straight, putting a gap between their chests. He wished she hadn’t moved. He missed her heat and her softness over his heart.

  “Sorry about that. Bad timing.” She kissed him sweetly.

  His mind spun so much that he let her distract him for close to a minute before correcting her. “Perfect timing. Dio! Shooting deep into your pussy…”

  He ended on a groan as an aftershock shook him.

  “I almost didn’t make it in time.” She held up her palm for him to see. An opaque slash marked her pink skin. He leaned forward, intending to lick her clean when Lynn spoke up.

  “Wait!” She panted. “He’s inside you right now?”

  “Yes.” They both moaned together.

  “Holy shit,” Sebastian muttered reverently.

  “Don’t move,” Lynn suggested. “Enjoy it. Let me see your hand, Sloan.”

  Mark looked to his lover with one eyebrow raised. Would she do it?

  Sloan nodded. “I’m going to give it to her.”

  The two women together packed a punch.

  Sebastian groaned, drawing his attention. “What did we do to get so lucky, amico?”

  “I don’t know.” Mark stroked Sloan’s hair, in awe of her. He gripped her wrist then extended it toward Lynn, who looked close to coming herself. Flushed cheeks, chest rising and falling rapidly, eyelids half-closed, she’d enjoyed their show.

  When Sloan’s fingers hovered below Lynn’s face, his best friend’s woman dipped her head and licked the line of come from start to finish until she’d gathered all the opalescent fluid onto her tongue.

  Sloan’s pussy clamped around Mark as her orgasm extended, wringing another wave of pleasure from him. He expected Lynn to swallow the sample but instead she turned to her fiancé.

  “Taste them,” she whispered before she sealed their lips in a kiss.

  The moment Sebastian indulged in the delicacy, sucking his fiancée’s tongue into his mouth, Lynn exploded. She released a series of escalating moans that Sloan echoed.

  Mark hugged his partner closer, supporting her through another round of ecstasy. Her pussy squeezed his softening cock so hard it slipped from her grip. They both groaned at the loss.

  Sebastian’s eyes darted from Lynn to Mark to Sloan and back in an endless loop. He cursed in Italian then grunted as his orgasm struck. He humped Lynn’s covered ass while he emptied his balls in his shorts, inspiring a sigh from both women.

  Mark had seen Bastian come hundreds of times before when they’d shared women, or jacked off to porn during late nights on the circuit. Something about this time was different.

  Yeah, he’s never had your sperm in his mouth when he shot before.

  He wondered if Sloan noticed his cock twitch against her thigh.

  The secret smile spreading against his neck, where her face rested in the crook of his shoulder, proved she had. Too exhausted to deal with the fallout of their spontaneous, reckless behavior, he closed his eyes, snuggled Sloan close then drifted off for the remainder of the ride.

  The day had hardly begun but he couldn’t image it ending much better than this.

  * * * * *

  Sloan shifted out of Mark’s hold when his light snores caused her smile. How could he be such a stallion and so adorable at the same time?

  She retrieved her laptop from her bag and flipped it open. Trains here supplied free wireless internet connectivity. She could definitely grow accustomed to this.

  When her browser popped open, a chain of new blog posts clogged the screen. A giggle escaped her chest, disturbing Mark a bit. He snuffled then adjusted his position to lean closer to her before returning to a regular pattern of deep breathing.

  Sloan petted his thick hair then returned her attention to the Tempt the Cougar blog.

  Lynn: Good morning, Cougars! I’m writing while hurtling across Asia on a bullet train with the man of my dreams. Ah, I live a tough life. All kidding aside, I’m really excited. Sebastian and I are headed to check out Cheung Chau island near Hong Kong for the sun and surf book I’m working on. And you’ll never guess who’s with us…yep, Sloan and Mark.

  Holy crap, they’re disgustingly cute together! I took a picture with my cell camera, check it out. Awwww… Now they look sweet and innocent napping together, but I have to let you in on the real deal, girlfriends.

  Hanging out on this group for a while, I’ve heard some fantastically steamy stories, but you ladies are never going to believe what happened today. I’ll let Sloan decide to share the deets if she wants, but I have to say, she’s officially the queen of the Cougars and my personal hero.

  Rachel: Oh, damn, that sounds cougarlicious. Give us a hint or two to hold us over! Did she complete the Challenge?

  Lynn: Uh-huh. Big-time. I could tell by their goofy grins this morning, but let’s just say I might have even witnessed proof of it myself.

  Darci: You tease! Are you four getting nasty together? You’re both my heroes. Two hot hunks of Cougar bait at your beck and call, rawr!!!

  Rachel: Bam chica wow wow. Go Sloan! Did you tell her about the other stuff, Lynn?

  Lynn: Shhh, no. Not yet. Not like this.

  Sloan: Looks like I picked a good time to dig out my laptop. What’s going on here? Don’t you ladies have your own Cougar bait to play with?

  Darci: If it isn’t our newest superstar member. Don’t act all grumpy. We know you got banged until you were going off like a frog in a sock.

  Sloan: Please tell me that’s an Aussieism? Can someone translate?

  Lynn snickered from across the aisle. She whispered, “It means something similar to going bananas. You know, as if a frog got stuck in a sock.”

  Sloan chuckled. “This has to be the best group of women in the world. Thank you for introducing me. I can’t wait for the next Romanticon so we can hang out in person.”

  Sloan: Ah, Lynn explained, I got it now. Too funny. And, yep, that’s pretty much how it was. God, he’s amazing in bed and even better out of it. I can’t wait to hang out at the beach this afternoon. I brought a ton of books.

  Rachel: Have a great time, ladies. And, Lynn, you better fess up or we’ll do it for you soon!

  Lynn: You’re right. It’s the perfect opportunity. Let me do it my way, please. Oops, look at that. We’re pulling into the station. Gotta go. Toodles!

  Sloan glanced up when the train slowed. She shot Lynn a poignant look then snapped the lid of her computer closed.

  “Uh-oh, what are you two up to?” Sebastian winced when Lynn cast him a beatific smile.

  “Nothing. Why would you say that?”

  “Because I know you, mio amore.”

  Lynn leaned over to kiss him until he forgot all about the calculating glint in his fiancée’s eye.

  Sloan couldn’t be so easily distracted. What secret was the other woman keeping and how did it relate to her and Mark?

  She swore she’d find out by the time they made it back to their apartments.

  Chapter Seven

  Sloan sighed as wind whipped her hair in front of her face. Mark stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist, keeping her steady as they flew over the waves in a huge hydrofoil ferry.

  The tourist transport vessel reminded her of her earlier study in contrasts. Garbage collectors lived in their work boats in Causeway Bay, which they’d departed from, surrounded by the high-rise buildings in Hong Kong’s financial district—some of the most amazing on Earth.

  In the distance, she caught sight of a rich, green lump on the horizon. The blob quickly turned into a mixture of gray granite and lush vegetation swarmed by thousands of tiny fishing crafts, most barely bigger than a canoe. She swore she’d never seen so many boats in all her life. The bright, painted dinghies formed a mass tight enough to walk across, extending several hundred feet from the shore.
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  “The fishermen have all brought their early morning catches in for the dinner rush.” Lynn spoke above the gusting air to fill her in.

  “But it’s not even lunchtime. Are there enough people living here to sustain all this?” She waved her hand toward the jumble.

  “No. A bunch of the seafood will go back on this ferry to exclusive restaurants in Hong Kong for tonight’s specials. Many of the people below deck are buyers. The ones who pay top dollar will score the cream of the crop. Though typically even the lower tiers are amazing here.” Lynn licked her lips. “I’m looking forward to including a few dining recommendations in this section of the book. We might have to taste stuff from a handful of places.”

  “Now that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make,” Sebastian remarked. He and Mark high-fived above the women’s heads.

  Before long, they disembarked into a port filled with more bicycles and insulated boxes. Merchants lined every inch of the boardwalk. They shouted about their amazing finds, bundled on the platform. The more elaborate setups included aquariums stacked ten high to display their fish, still alive to guarantee freshness.

  The vast array of creatures had Sloan questioning how anything could be left in the ocean if they repeated this ritual day after day. She fell behind as she examined the contents, picking out animals she’d only seen on National Geographic before. Cuttlefish, octopi, shellfish—they had them all.

  Mark waited for her at the end of the walkway. He leaned one hip against a pylon with his arms crossed over his chest. God, he made her drool.

  “You okay?” He cupped her face in one hand then kissed her.

  “Mmm.” She hugged him tight then took his hand in hers and started walking toward the shops where she spotted Lynn’s bright sarong. “Yeah, hoping none of that goes to waste.”

  “I thought the same thing. Lynn told me they release the live fish that don’t sell. But she might have said that to make me feel better.” He shrugged. “She knows that kind of stuff bothers me.”

  Sloan beamed up at him. The more she learned about Mark, the more she felt she could be completely honest around him.

  They wandered through the open-air market, past the stalls of salted fish and souvenirs. Lynn darted into the spaces, returning with dozens of bags for Sebastian to carry, not that he seemed to mind. Nothing quite motivated Sloan to buy until they happened across a young woman. Quiet, she sat on a stool behind her wares, concentrating on her craft instead of shouting about bargains to anyone who wandered too close.

  “See something you like?” Mark slowed to match her pace. They scanned the beautiful shell jewelry together.

  When her gaze landed on a set of coordinating necklaces, one long and feminine, the other short and masculine, she didn’t hesitate. “Excuse me?”

  She hoped the woman would compensate for her ignorance. With the tourists flooding the island on a regular basis, she might know at least a little English.

  When the girl looked up from her work, Sloan smiled.

  “How much?” She raised the set in front of her then pointed to the calculator on the table beside a simple metal money box.

  The jeweler looked between her and Mark then grinned. “Good for you.”

  Sloan and Mark turned to face each other, their gazes locked. Whether she was talking about the necklaces or their new relationship didn’t matter.

  The woman was right.

  She punched a number in the four-operation calculator then spun it around. Three Hong Kong dollars.

  Before Sloan could dig out her wallet, Mark beat her to it. He handed the woman a twenty then pointed to a pair of matching earrings and a bracelet. “Those too please.”

  When the merchant attempted to give him change, he refused.

  “Thank you.” He waved to the vendor before she could insist.

  Beneath the spotty shade provided by a banyan tree, he gestured for Sloan to turn around. When she complied, he swept her hair from her neck then fastened the shell clasp. She spun in his arms, loving the appreciative flare in his eyes.

  “Your turn.” She stood on tiptoes then reached up to secure the strand around his thick neck. What should have been simple knotted twine and strung shells looked gorgeous on him. Rugged, natural and unassuming.

  “Perfect,” they said at the same time.

  “Jinx.” He silenced her laugh with a scorching kiss.

  Sloan couldn’t say how long they indulged but it seemed like mere seconds before Sebastian’s call cut through the haze of longing surrounding her. “There you two are. We’ve been searching up and down the market. Figures, you’re more interested in making out than hunting trinkets.”

  “Sorry.” Mark had to clear his throat a few times before he could say more. “What’s next on the agenda?”

  “I want to research the boatbuilding yard and the pirate’s cave but that probably means there’s no time for Pak Tai temple if we’re going to grab dinner on the beach before heading back.” Lynn scratched the attraction off her list.

  “We could split up,” Mark suggested. “Not that I don’t want to hang out with you guys, but if it would help for the book, Sloan and I could check it out. You know, take some pictures and make notes for you to include.”

  “You would do that?” Lynn clapped her hands but settled down after a moment. “You don’t have to. I know you don’t get too many breaks. If you want to hang out at the beach and relax, that’s fine. I understand.”

  “Really, I don’t mind if Mark doesn’t.” Sloan respected him for helping his friends. “I’d love to see a temple. What should we know about it?”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s the site of an annual bun festival that celebrates deities who protect the island’s inhabitants from the plague. In the early nineteenth century, locals believed the plagues were retribution for the evil deeds of the pirates who lived on the island. It’s supposed to be exquisite.”

  “I think we can handle that.” Mark nodded.

  “Well, there is the pesky part about it being inhabited by ghosts.”

  “I don’t know, now I’m scared.” Sloan smiled. “I’ll assume they’re friendly ghosts.”

  “If you see one, don’t wait to find out, okay?” Lynn laughed.

  “I promise.” Mark crossed his heart.

  “All right, kids, let’s get going. Meet at Tai Kwai Wan beach at, say, four o’clock?” Sebastian glanced at Lynn. “Is that long enough?”

  “Depends on how many times they stop along the way to sneak a quickie.”

  “Who cares about them?” Sebastian winked. “How many times are we going to stop for a quickie?”

  “Ever done it in a pirate cave before, big guy?”

  “Arggggg.” He lunged for Lynn.

  She tossed a map to Mark then took off toward the boatbuilding yard. “See you guys later! Make sure you put sunscreen on any of your exposed parts!”

  After consulting the chart, Mark led Sloan toward the peak of the island.

  “Handy having a navigator along on vacation.” She rested her head on his side, enjoying the weight of his arm around her waist as they strolled.

  “Not something most people consider but thanks.”

  “I bet more women than you think have appreciated your skills.” Sloan forced the truth between gritted teeth.

  He didn’t respond, content to enjoy the brilliant sun and their closeness. She didn’t blame him. Hindsighting wasn’t high on her list of favorite activities either.

  They stopped along the way to grab a plate of fantastic-looking shrimp and a couple bottles of local beer, which they inhaled under a striped umbrella as they watched a stream of people pass by. Even in a tourist village, many stared at her and Mark.

  They stuck out like a sore thumb, especially with their blond hair. The attention unnerved her after a while and she got to her feet. “Ready to head to the temple?”

  “Sure, let me grab another beer for the road. It’s getting steamy out here. You want one?”

/>   “Sure, thanks.” Sloan smiled when he handed her a bottle. She used the condensation gathering on the cheap label to cool her neck.

  Mark finished paying then turned back. He groaned when a droplet slid along her throat, and leaned closer to lick the moisture from her skin. She shivered, her nipples hardening against his chest. He dropped a quick kiss on her lips then patted her ass. “We’d better move on before we get ourselves in trouble.”

  “Probably true.” Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about having him for dessert as they wound their way through the town.

  They came to a crossroads in a residential neighborhood, turning toward the temple. A basketball court filled with kids adjoined the ancient monument. The juxtaposition struck a chord deep within her. How many children had grown up here, lived and died while the weathered fu dogs guarding the sacred space held eternal watch?

  “Damn, that’s something, isn’t it?” Mark murmured below his breath but she caught it anyway.

  “Spectacular.” She entwined their fingers as they approached the building together. Magnificent enamel dragons perched on top of the red roof’s peak. Inside, murals lined the walls and incense wafted on the breeze, perfuming the temple with its musk.

  “You know…” Sloan immediately regretted breaking the silence.

  “What?”

  “Never mind.”

  “No. Tell me, Cougar. Please?”

  “It’s just that…well, I don’t usually believe in things like ghosts.” She winced, hoping he didn’t think she’d gone nuts. “But, here, in this place, it’s easy to imagine lost souls wandering these halls.”

  A bell tinkled in the distance, probably shifted by the breeze off the water.

  “Sometimes I feel like a ghost.”

  His confession surprised the hell out of her.

  Sloan stopped midstride, their linked arms forcing him to face her. “Why do you say that? Because of Sebastian?”

  Mark nodded. “I’m a shitty friend, I know. But sometimes it’s like I’m invisible.”

  “I see you.”