It seemed to Riker that Chastity wanted them to think that she was dating Colt, to stay clear of him and his brother Nash. They were going to have a talk with her as soon as she arrived Friday night.
* * * *
It was Thursday, and Chastity took the day off to visit the aquarium and clear her head. Desi left numerous messages, stating that he was away on business and that when he returned, they were going to have a serious talk. She was still angry at his tone and assumption that she would see him. Didn’t the order of protection prove that she wasn’t interested?
She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and adjusted her sunglasses. That nagging sensation in the pit of her stomach kept reminding her about how familiar this all was. The never-ending phone calls, the threats, and demands were all indications of a stalker, a man who controls and batters women. But she didn’t want to believe that this would happen to her. She didn’t want to assume the worst about Desi since he never struck her or verbally abused her. It was like she had this label inside of her head about what a batterer really was. She took an uneasy breath and dismissed the nagging sensation once more. Today was a day of relaxation and peace.
It was a gorgeous, warm day, and the weather for Friday was going to be clear and mild. The perfect weather for an opening night for Riker and Nash’s place.
The thought of them filled her with mixed emotions. She looked over the railing in the sea lion area, and watched the amazing animals swim beneath the water. There were a set of stairs leading underneath the tank where she could watch them swim below. She walked that way and entered as a couple exited.
She watched for a few minutes and enjoyed the underwater activity. Glancing at her watch, she knew that the underwater aquarium exhibit was just down the way, and she loved seeing all the sea creatures and assortment of fish. She headed that way.
Walking in the sun, she felt her cell phone vibrate and her chest tightened. This was the new reaction she had every time her phone rang or buzzed. She worried that it was Desi and that he would continue to make her life miserable. Sometimes she wondered if she should just meet with him one more time in a public place and make him understand that it was over between them.
She glanced at the message box. Colton.
Hey, are you still at the aquarium?
She texted back as she walked to the line for the underwater sea life exhibit.
Yes. What are you up to?
Just trying to get word out about the opening tomorrow night. Where are you exactly?
The aquarium underwater sea life exhibit. You know I love this place.
Great! Call me later and let me know how your responses are for tomorrow. We need a successful turnout.
No problem. Bye.
Chastity smiled to herself then walked along with the small crowd down to the underwater aquarium. It was huge and very beautiful. Most of the people walked through quickly, but not Chastity. Sure, there were other things to see at the exhibit, and even some new things, brought in each year, but the aquarium that remained all year round at the exhibit was her favorite. It was a thirty-five minute ride to get here, but well worth it. It made Chastity feel like she was getting away from it all. As she took a seat on one of the benches, hidden to the side of a little cove area, she imagined being in the tropics. Someplace warm and relaxing with white sandy beaches and not a care in the world. The reality of her life was that she could never afford such vacations. But here, even for just a little while, in her mind, she could pretend.
She watched the various tropical fish swimming through the water. There were so many different species. Maybe one day she could go snorkeling.
“Is this seat taken?”
She swung her head around the moment she heard Nash’s voice. Surprised to see him here, she felt her jaw drop and then the second voice sounded on her other side.
“How about this one?” Riker asked, and she looked back and forth between them. They leaned forward and she leaned back so it would be easier to talk with them.
“What are you two doing here?”
“We came to see you,” Riker said then smiled. She absorbed the sight of the tight dark blue shirt he wore and his designer jeans. A glance toward Nash, and she was surprised to see him wearing jeans and a nice navy-blue T-shirt. A Polo Ralph Lauren, by the label on the sleeve.
“What? Why? How did you—” She closed her eyes and gave a sigh of understanding. “Colt.” She whispered.
Then she crossed her legs and leaned back against the bench.
What was that man thinking? She was trying to maintain some control and sanity here. Staying away from Nash and Riker was her plan. She just needed to get through opening night tomorrow. Then she wouldn’t have to see them again.
“So, is this why you came up with the idea for our club? You like this stuff?” Nash asked.
She swallowed hard. She could do this. She could have a perfectly natural, platonic conversation and relationship with these two men. So what that her heart was causing her voice box to shut down? Maybe they didn’t notice her nipples pressing hard against the white tank top she wore beneath the sheer white blouse.
“Chastity?” Nash whispered, and then Riker placed his hand over her knee but kept his eyes straight ahead as if he were transfixed on the sea life.
His warm, large hand felt so good against her skin. She felt instantly shielded from harm. Wasn’t that a misconception?
She cleared her throat and tried to push Riker’s hand off her knee, but he wouldn’t budge. “Riker?”
“Tell me about how you came up with the aquarium idea?” Nash asked then faced her as he took her hand into his and held it on his leg. She looked down at it. She felt the excitement, the connection of having both men touch her at once. It was an amazing feeling. She had to look away from Nash. She couldn’t look at either man’s perfect face. It was too much. She felt too much.
She stared at the water in front of her.
“I didn’t pick it because I like this stuff. I asked your staff what things interested you and Riker. After some deep research, and a bit of snooping around, I found out about your fishing magazines and snorkeling trips to Maui, New Zealand, and Costa Rica, Nash. I heard you enjoy going to the beach. And Riker, I found out about your love of collecting unique art, and a bit of a fantasy about mermaids.” She smiled.
Riker squeezed her knee and Nash clasped her fingers between his fingers and gently squeezed.
“You are pretty resourceful,” Nash said.
She looked at him. “I have to be. I have to gain an understanding of the client, so I can make their dreams and visions a reality,” she replied.
Nash stared at her, and she looked up at him. She could get lost in the deep blue of his eyes.
“We didn’t give you much to go on, yet you figured out what we like.”
“Like I said, Nash, I asked your employees.”
Riker moved his hand up her thigh to her waist, and turned toward her. He cupped her face with his hand and moved closer.
“Sounds to me like you interrogated them.”
She was lost in his dark blue eyes, and how the color of his shirt brought out the blue. He leaned closer.
“It doesn’t seem fair.”
“What?” she somehow replied.
“That you know a bit about us, and we know hardly anything about you,” Riker said.
She shyly attempted to look down but Riker wouldn’t allow it. “Don’t shut us out.” He pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her softly as Nash squeezed her hand then moved his fingers and hers up under her skirt and against her skin.
Riker deepened the kiss, as Nash stroked his fingers and her own between her thighs. She kept her legs crossed and tightened up. Pulling from Riker’s kiss, she panted.
“Oh God. What are you doing to me? We’re in a public place,” she stated.
“No one is coming over here,” Riker told her very confidently.
“You don’t know that. This is a public place. Anyone
can come around the corner.”
Nash stroked his finger back and forth against the V between her thighs and her panties.
“Honey, sometimes being naughty and fearing getting caught can be a total turn-on,” Riker said.
Nash stroked her panties again. “It can be very stimulating.” She was shocked. Nash was the conservative one. The un-wild twin, or so she thought.
“Oh God, this is crazy.”
“It is, but trust us and we’ll take care of you.” Riker leaned closer and began to kiss her neck and then lick her skin. He cupped her breast and she gasped. Riker covered her mouth with his. He devoured her soft moans as Nash pressed his fingers firmly between her thighs. She was struck with a whirlwind of emotions. Desire, excitement, fear, lust, all consumed her. But she couldn’t move. She could only react to the feel of their strong hands, the power of the kisses, and the safety of their arms.
She didn’t want to resist. Her pussy felt so tight and needy. One touch. Just one stroke and she would shoot off this bench.
Nash leaned against her other side and whispered into her ear. “Open for me. Let me ease that ache, baby.”
Oh my God, I want to. Oh, but I can’t. Can I? Oh hell.
She slowly uncrossed her legs. The need to feel more of Nash’s touch and to relieve the throbbing in her cunt was too much. Combined with the fear, the anticipation that someone may come into the little cove in the corner, aroused her. She wasn’t an exhibitionist, but for crying out loud, she liked the feeling she had right now.
Her belly did a series of somersaults.
“That’s it, Chastity. God, you feel so soft. These panties feel tiny. They barely cover you.” Nash stroked along her slit. Back and forth, she felt her cream lubricate her cunt. Riker deepened the kiss, he stroked his tongue into her mouth, and then Nash pressed a digit up into her pussy.
She gripped onto his hand.
Nash kissed her ear then whispered next to it. “Release my wrist, baby. Let it go. Just feel. Damn, you’re so wet. You got me so hard right now, Chastity. Fuck.” Nash thrust a finger up into her.
Somehow he pulled one of her legs over his leg, instantly opening her up for his ministrations. Adding a second digit, he thrust his fingers into her very wet pussy.
She pulled her mouth from Riker’s, and Riker continued to kiss along the seam of her lips, then the corners of her mouth, her cheeks, then back to her mouth again. It was like neither of them could get enough and neither could Nash.
His strokes deepened.
Riker smoothed a hand into her tank top and cupped her breast. She thrust her hips against Nash’s fingers, and then Riker pinched her nipple. She moaned louder into his mouth. It was all too much for her. The fact that at any moment someone could catch them doing this excited her. Small spasms erupted from her pussy. Her own cum dripped down her ass. She felt her entire body tighten, and then Nash stroked another finger over her puckered hole and she lost it. Riker pressed harder against her as she nearly screamed from her orgasm. She felt herself lose her breath. Her vision clouded, her mind incapable of any rational thoughts. Nash slowly stroked her some more then eased his fingers from her pussy. He fixed her skirt and her thigh then kissed her cheek as Riker released her lips. They stared at her.
Riker pinched her nipple, making her gasp. “You are amazing.” He kissed her cheek.
She felt her body heat up all over again. He removed his hand and fixed her top. She assisted him then leaned back and stared at the water display in front of her.
“So that’s what an orgasm feels like?” she whispered.
Nash touched her cheek. He stared down into her eyes with a very serious facial expression. “You never had one before?” he asked. She was embarrassed once again in front of Nash and Riker. She swallowed her pride and figured that she already admitted it, so what did it matter now.
She shook her head. “Never.”
Riker caressed his hand up her crossed thighs. “Oh, we’re going to be giving you plenty of those.” He winked then nipped her lower lip.
“Riker,” she scolded then lowered her eyes. Both men grabbed a hand of hers and leaned back against the bench.
“So, how many little hidden nooks like this are at this exhibit?” Nash asked, and she shook her head, feeling her cheeks warm, as both men chuckled.
* * * *
Nash and his brother took every opportunity to touch Chastity or caress her skin as they toured the rest of the exhibit. When they came to a series of specialty designed paintings that were 3-D images or appeared to be moving images, he recognized the paintings.
So did Riker.
“Hey, this is the one of the moving mermaid in the ocean. It looks so real, and almost exactly like the one you had put in at Hidden Treasures,” Riker said as he walked closer and started checking out all the different paintings from the local artist.
“I thought you would like that one. I had a hard time actually. Because there’s this one, too.” She pointed to a beautiful painting of a seascape and a mermaid sitting on a large boulder sunbathing as the waves crashed against the rocks. The wind was blowing her long blonde hair behind her, and she was smiling.
Nash stood behind her. He could see it clearly over Chastity’s head.
“Hey, you look like her, Chastity,” Nash said, and she shook her head in denial. Riker squinted his eyes and moved closer. “My God, Nash, you’re right. It’s beautiful,” Riker said.
“Why didn’t you choose this one?” Riker asked.
“I don’t know. The other one fit better for the club. This one looks more like it should be in a study or a special place. It wouldn’t be appreciated in the club,” she said as she stared at the picture.
Nash wrapped an arm around her midsection and held her close. He closed his eyes a moment as he kept his chin lightly on top of her head. He wanted to feel this moment. He suddenly hoped that there were more moments like this with Chastity to come.
As they moved on to the other paintings and pictures, Nash placed his hand under Chastity’s hair and against the back of her neck. He stroked his thumb back and forth over her nape. She accepted his need to hold her like this. One look at Riker, and his brother appeared happy.
* * * *
They decided to grab some lunch together before heading home. Riker and Nash were able to get a private table on the balcony looking over the large gardens at an expensive restaurant down the street from the exhibit. There was a bright red umbrella blocking the sun and a sheer curtain that kept the bugs at bay and also gave them some privacy. The waiter took their orders then returned with drinks. Chastity looked out toward the gardens and the warm summer day.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Nash said to her, and she turned to him and smiled.
“I’ve never been here before. It’s beautiful, and the view is amazing.”
Riker took a sip of his red wine, and then Nash clasped his hands on the table.
“I’m surprised,” Nash said.
“Why?” she asked then took a sip from her glass of red wine and placed it back down onto the white linen tablecloth.
“A beautiful woman like you should dine at the finest restaurants in the city with the best views.”
She swallowed hard and then traced the rim of her wine glass with her index finger. “I didn’t say that I haven’t dined at such a fine restaurant, just not this one.”
“Did Desi bring you to places like this?” Riker asked, shocking her. Her finger paused on the glass, as she thought about his question. She locked gazes with him. Riker and Nash were big men, and they sat only inches away from her on either side. She wanted more space. She felt herself begin to panic.
Riker held her gaze, and it was a serious expression on his face. “Tell us about him.”
“No,” she replied without hesitation.
Nash scooted his seat closer. His knee was touching hers, and the small connection caused an instant shock to her system.
“Please.” She lowered her eyes to t
he glass.
Then she felt Nash’s hand on her knee. He caressed her skin, and whispered to her. “We want to understand what’s going on. We care about you. We don’t want you to be in danger.”
She snapped her head toward him. “Why do you care?”
Nash looked away from her a moment. She felt Riker scoot closer to her now, too.
She waited, anticipating something but unsure what. Then Nash spoke.
“We lost someone.”
She could hear the sadness in his voice. The woman who helped to name the club The Jewelry Box? Now her own heart ached and became filled with emotions she wasn’t accustomed to, like jealousy. This woman hurt them, or they hurt her. God, please don’t tell me that they hurt her.
“The one who helped name The Jewelry Box?” she asked, and Nash nodded. She looked at Riker. He didn’t seem as upset as Nash.
“You loved her, too?” she found herself asking, and immediately Riker shook his head in denial.
“We both cared for her. We shared something special. When Maggie died, we were both devastated. She was our lover,” Riker explained.
Chastity took a deep, unsteady breath. “How did she die? When?”
“We killed her. It happened two years ago.” Nash leaned back to take a sip of his wine.
“What do you mean killed her? Please explain that to me.”
“We weren’t always in the club business. We made our money in investments, and we used to be federal agents,” Riker explained. She was surprised, but also impressed.
“She came into our lives two and a half years ago. About a year into an investigation, we met Maggie, and things just happened between the three of us. As the investigation began to get intense, we were about to expose the mastermind behind a huge international drug smuggling operation. We became marked men, and the bad guys blew up our boat. Maggie was supposed to meet us there. She had called and told us she was waiting, with a surprise. On our way there, we were tipped off about a deal going down, and we called Maggie to tell her we would be late but she didn’t answer. We got concerned, and then we both got calls threatening us. They said that they would go after our girlfriend. Of course we rushed to the marina, with backup, and as we got there, we saw Maggie waving to us,” Riker explained.
Their Greatest Treasure [Power Surge: The Billionaire Club 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7