“Not at all. As long as you need it.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” He hung up before she could answer, and walked to his car that he’d left parked at the office.
Chapter 5
Unusually quiet, Isa sat staring out the passenger window, brooding. Her entire demeanor reminded him of the night she’d convinced him to get her awakening started. His experience with the coming of knowledge had been a nightmare and he wanted to save her from the horror he’d endured. She convinced him hers would be different, that what they had was real, and he was a much better choice over the alternative. She was right.
He parked and, without a word, she hurried inside.
What’s going on in her head?
Toryn followed, then shut the door and stood there a moment. When he finally turned, after taking a deep breath, he found Isa staring at him with concern etched into her beautiful face.
Frustrated, she blurted out, “Scotty doesn’t have much time left.”
Toryn knew how to bring his health back, but couldn’t bring himself to ask her. If she chose the seductive solution, he would help her save their friend any way he could, but it wasn’t an easy subject to broach.
Illogical, he wanted to be greedy and keep Isa all to himself. Trust wasn’t an issue, he knew she cared deeply for her friends, and if she could help, she would. Plus, he honestly enjoyed sharing women in the past. But Isa was different. She was his everything and the only person he ever wanted for the rest of his life. Still, if she wanted to experiment, he was fairly confident he could be on board with the right person. Scotty, if they could convince him, was at the top of that list.
Toryn took in a deep breath and answered, “No, he’s truly unwell.”
Nervousness poured off her as she bit her lip, her head tilting as she wrung her hands. Then she blurted out a hasty stream of words. “Scotty’s deterioration is because of his lack of sex for the last six months?”
He nodded slowly.
“Because of his bond to Saressa?”
“That is the root of the problem, yes.”
Her brow pinched and she walked to the window. The tension in the room became so thick he could cut it with a sword.
Unsure what to do, or say, he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Whatever her decision, he would support it, but he refused to influence her. It would tear him apart to stand by and watch Scotty die before him, but Isa was more important.
Her voice held a tremble. “If I had found a way to break Saressa’s bond to Scotty, but it involved sex, with me, what would you say?”
A tendril of hope twisted through him, but he kept his tone and expression neutral. “You need to make that decision. Not me.”
She spun around and glared at him. “First, I’m not having sex with anyone without you. Second, if you’re involved, you get a say too. Third, I’m not totally sure what I think, and need reassurance this isn’t the worst plan in the world.”
A chuckle escaped as Toryn relaxed. He loved the fire in her eyes. How her determination flared strongest when she was the most unsure. “There are a few things to consider. Scotty isn’t into men, but I’m happy to share you with him for a night. He’s my closest friend here on Earth, and if you’re up for it, I am too. However, I’m not positive we can convince him unless you’re one hundred percent sure you can break his bond. He’s tired of sex without a connection. I can’t say I blame him.”
“I can break it.”
“Tell me how.” He only asked because he needed to be sure this wasn’t a temporary bandage until the next time Scotty gave up.
“I had this dream the other night.” She looked up at the ceiling, shoving her hands into her pockets. When she met his gaze she shrugged. “Saressa and Scotty aren’t bound the way we are. It looks similar, feels the same to him, but she forced it with magic. It’s more like how she bound Alenathos, but instead of using a necklace, the catalyst was sex. When he tried to leave, she paralyzed him and twisted his thoughts around to make him think he was having sex with Jayde.”
Toryn nodded. Scotty originally attempted to court Jayde the way her mother insisted. Then, out of the blue, the night before he proposed, Scotty was mated to Saressa. The bitch had squeezed in and stole him away from his true mate.
Isa’s hands clenched into fists. “I know how she did it, and I’m nearly positive I can completely break the bond. I also think I can prevent Saressa, or anyone else, from forming the same artificial bond again without binding him to me. And really, I don’t want anyone else bound to me, so that wouldn’t happen.”
If she could do it, there was honestly hope. “I think he’d appreciate that.”
“Okay, but how do you feel about all this?”
He closed the distance and encircled her waist with his hands. “I have an amazing woman willing to pull our friend out of the pit of depression he’s drowning in. He’s one lucky son-of-a-bitch because he’s going to get you for a night—”
“And you,” she finished for him.
Toryn’s head tipped from side-to-side. “If you insist, I’ll be involved, but you’re going to have to focus on him. I’ll focus on you. If I get hands-on with him, he’s going to stop everything.”
Her brow arched, humor dancing through her eyes. “And you know this how?”
He couldn’t hide the grimace. “Saressa put him into situations with multiple men, many times. He had no control, as if he were a puppet. She did it as punishment when she realized how much he hated being with a man.”
Isa’s face scrunched up. “Will this work then?”
“It has to. He’s running out of time. We’ve shared women in the past.” Toryn shrugged. “I know what he will and won’t do. This can work, if he’s not set on death.”
She pushed him back, her eyes narrowed. “That’s really not comforting. I preferred my ignorance on that topic.”
He sighed. “I had to convince him to take care of his needs. It was the best way I could think of. He kept sending the women away that I brought him. With me there, he had no more argument. It happened twice.”
“Hopefully, this won’t be the same.”
Toryn pulled her against his body and kissed her hard. Pulling back, he promised, “Being with you is different, no matter the circumstances. You don’t compare to any other person. You’re all I want and need. That you are willing to help one of my closest friends in a way only you can, reinforces how special you are and how lucky I am to call you mine.”
“Always yours, even if we fix Scotty. And I’m not sure I could do this without you. The act would feel like a betrayal, no matter how okay you are with it.”
He smiled. “Then it’s a good thing I know where his hang-ups are and how to avoid them.”
She took in a breath and smiled. “I know where he’s at.”
His brow arched. “Where is that?”
“The cabin. He asked if he could spend some time there.”
Toryn winced. “He wants to be closer to nature. He’s declining rapidly. If we do this, it has to be tonight.”
“What are we waiting for?” She grabbed his hand and dragged him to the door. “You driving?”
“You bet, Princess.”
Chapter 6
Scotty stood outside, listening to the irregular patter of raindrops in the trees. The storm raged around him. Lightning flashing, thunder rolling, while broken tears fell down his face.
One image haunted his memories. Hated as she was, he could picture no one else. Saressa’s dazzling green eyes sparkled with obsession, her red mane flowing around her as she walked toward him not wearing a single stitch of clothing.
“Go away!” he screamed, even though no one was there to hear him.
“Scotty? It’s me!” a familiar, worry-filled voice shouted back. Not Saressa’s cold, steely one.
The image morphed. Glittering emerald eyes filled with worry locked on his. He blinked and saw Isadora running for him. Her long black hair soaking we
t. Leather pants caressing her shapely legs, and a shimmering silver tank covered her tiny waist and lush breasts.
“Isa?” he asked, standing up as she closed the distance. “What are you doing here? Where’s Toryn?”
She threw her arms around him. “Come inside. Please. I can fix everything.”
He shook his head. “No one can fix my problem. Let me fade away.”
“I can release you, Scotty. Please, come inside,” she pleaded.
Hope sparked, but didn’t light. Still, she was soaked and he couldn’t imagine why she was here, of all places.
She shivered in his arms, and he drew her closer, offering what warmth he could. He looked up at the sky and saw the lightning flash, striking a tree twenty feet away.
“Shit, you need to be inside.” The storm didn’t help his state of mind anyway.
Twining her fingers in his, she pulled him toward the cabin and through the back door.
When he stepped inside, he found Toryn leaning against the front entrance. One leg crossed over the other, his hands in his pockets as he looked Scotty’s way through thick, black lashes.
“I don’t understand,” Scotty said, looking from Toryn, to Isa, and back. Then it hit him. “She’s yours. You can’t expect her to fuck me, and me to be fine!”
Isa caught his jaw and pulled his face to hers. She peered into his eyes, and he nearly got lost there. Similar to Saressa’s, but filled with compassion and desire, not greed and hate. Her expression was such a strange combination from her, he’d never expected that much emotion directed at him, least of all from Toryn’s mate.
She pressed closer and took his hands in hers. “You’re letting yourself deteriorate. I can’t allow it.”
Scotty’s mouth fell open but no words emerged.
Toryn added, “Hear her out, Endiscott. She can do more than mend your body.”
Her brow set in determination. “I can break Saressa’s hold over you. Even make it so she can never rebind you. I can free you.”
“I won’t be bound again. Never bound again. It’s not worth it. I hate myself every time I let a woman into my bed, knowing that if there was a spark present, it would be instantly squelched because of this sickening bond.”
She flinched.
He rushed to explain, “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I do. But I can’t have you. Not truly. My heart can’t take being shut away from the one I’m bound to.”
“Oh. How about if my solution will leave you completely unbound to anyone?”
“If—but that’s not a possibility.”
“It is.” One corner of her mouth jerked up. “Can you handle a hot night with me and,” she nodded back to Toryn, “him if he keeps his hands on me and not you?”
With a frustrated sigh he pulled his hands away and ran them through his tangled hair as he stepped back from her. “Isadora, I don’t see how that will possibly help. You broke Alenathos’ bond to Saressa by binding him to you. Bind me to you, and I’m in the same damned boat I’m in now. I’ll be desperate for you when I can’t truly have you. Granted, you are much kinder than her, but my heart will never survive.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared up at him. “You won’t be bound to me or Toryn, and you certainly won’t be bound to that cunt. I figured out what Saressa did to create the bond. I know how to eradicate it, and prevent the same from happening again.”
Her confidence ignited hope, but his current situation still dampened it. Regardless, his cock thickened, hardening in response. “Shit, Isa, don’t toy with me. How can you possibly know that?”
“Same way I know what my uncle did to so many. I saw it. Felt it. Even saw her thoughts. I can fix this.”
His chest heaved as his eyes drifted over her. Her nipples were tight peaks straining against her thin top, her eyes dilated with desire, and goosebumps covered her arms.
Need for someone other than Saressa pumped through him for the first time in months. He wanted to throw Isa to the ground and bury himself in her.
Remembering Toryn, his gaze snapped to his oldest friend. “Did you know she planned this?”
He nodded, and met his scrutiny full on. “She wanted to make sure I was okay with this first. I would do anything to bring you back to us and prevent Saressa from standing in the way of your life. Even if it means I walk out that door and come back when she’s done.”
Isa flinched but nodded. The fear in her eyes killed that prospect immediately.
Scotty had always desired Isa. She was every man’s fantasy rolled into one. No denying he wanted a night with her. However, she was completely and totally head-over-heels in love with Toryn. Leaving Toryn out would damage his friendship with Isa and he wasn’t willing to do that, even for his own freedom or comfort. Besides, Toryn and Scotty had shared women before—meaningless women neither had a true connection to.
Isa may be one of Scotty’s few surviving fantasies, but she was Toryn’s other half. Isa would never forgive him, even if she wanted to. He could see it in her stance. She’d gone from ready for him to ready to bolt.
Scotty shook his head. “If—and that’s a pretty big if—we do this, we’re all a part of it.” He rubbed his hand over his face and paced away. “Shit. I need to know we can all be friends afterward. I won’t jeopardize that.”
Her hand landed on his shoulder. Warm and gentle, his dick lurched in response to the tenderness. “Scotty, look at me.” Her voice was a low purr, and he could do nothing but turn toward her.
“Tonight won’t change our friendship. Not for me. Not for Toryn. We need to know you’re on board with this though. I’ll admit, I’ve been attracted to you since the moment I laid eyes on you. You being Toryn’s friend kept me from ever admitting it, but it’s true.”
He couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, Isa. A man would have to be blind and deaf to not want you. Even then, I’m sure you’d find a way to seduce him.”
Isa looked back at Toryn. He winked, a sly smile lifting one corner of his mouth. Turning back, she stepped into Scotty’s body and tiptoed up to place her lips against his. The kiss started soft, tentative, then heated as she pressed tighter, pushing her full breasts against him.
He took over, spinning her toward the wall as his hands caressed up her body, over the sides of her breasts. The feminine moan that escaped nearly barreled him into pushing things further, but he stepped back.
She stared up at him, her eyes silently begging for more. “Believe me now?” she whispered.
Scotty took another look at Toryn. He practically panted as he watched Isa, the front of his pants bulging. Toryn was easily as aroused as he was, but stood back, waiting for a decision.
He wasn’t ready. Scotty drew a shaky breath, staring at Isa. “We need ground rules, and not to mention, a drink.”
She nodded, pulling the wet tank off her body, and dropping it to the floor in a soggy thump. Her black bra held her breasts like an offering. He couldn’t tear his eyes from the glorious display.
He choked out, “Should have kept that on for now.”
She grinned. “Distracting?”
He nodded dumbly.
Toryn chuckled. “Trust me, old friend, she still has that effect on me, as well. Let me get those drinks.”
He walked between them to the small bar built into one wall of the living room. Scotty saw what he poured into the three tumblers. Faery wine.
Scotty gave Toryn a look and a slight shake of his head. He remembered what Toryn had said about Isa’s first experience with the substance. Granted, that was before her awakening.
Swinging his gaze back to Isa, he asked, “You okay with faery wine?”
“Very. I assume Toryn told you about the first time I slammed it back.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Why I wanted to make sure.”
“I’ve had it since.” She shrugged. “Besides, we both trust you, and we want to see you whole.”
Toryn placed a glass in Scotty’s hand, then took one to Isa before gulping his back.
Isa took a sip, and held the glass. Probably wise since they were about to get up close and personal, and if he over-stepped his bounds, he needed her to put him back in his place.
Scotty threw his back, hoping the liquid courage would get him over the fact he was about to share his closest friend’s woman. How did this not change anything between them all? He wasn’t sure. However, resisting Isa when she looked at him like that was impossible.
Self-control didn’t exist when Isa blatantly wanted a man. She was more tempting than any siren or nymph he’d ever met.
“Let me change into some dry clothes before we talk.” Scotty took one more look at Isa’s delectable curves. “I’ll bring you a shirt so we can get through this conversation.”
She laughed. “You could strip now.” Isa placed her glass in Toryn’s waiting hand as she kicked off her ankle boots, then opened the leather pants, scooting them down her legs.
The tiny black thong begged to be torn from her body.
Shit, Scotty, she’s your best friend’s mate. No tearing anything from her body unless they both beg you to do it.
She walked toward him, a wicked smile on her full lips.
* * * *
The way Scotty watched her made Isa’s blood boil. Knowing Toryn was right there, watching her the same way, increased her desire. There was something freeing in having the man she loved encourage her to explore her fantasies with a man he trusted. Trust was the component she thought they all needed.
Staring up into Scotty’s eyes, she gripped the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his rippling muscles. She tossed the soaking wet garment to the floor and trailed her fingers back down each ridge, following the indented shadow between muscles to his pants with hungry eyes.
His hands caught hers, stopping the motion. “Talk first. Rules. Need rules.” Such desperation in his voice.
Toryn moved behind Isa and murmured, “If one of us says stop, we all stop. Simple as that.”
Scotty shook his head and snapped his attention to Toryn. “I trust you, Toryn. You know where my hang-ups are.”
Seductive Solutions Page 3