by Jenesi Ash
TAKEN
LILLIAN FEISTY
CHAPTER ONE
MÉNAGE.
The word played in Chloe’s head as she wound her way through the crowded Vegas bar. Two men, seated at a small table on the other side of the room, watched her.
Her skin heated as she maneuvered toward them, dodging her way through tourists high on that entrancing Vegas vibe. Even though she’d lived here for more than five years, she could still soak up that untamed energy; an energy that had her considering something totally mysterious, unfamiliar. Forbidden.
A shiver raced up her spine.
Just a few feet away from her now. One was tall, with shaggy blond hair and bright blue eyes. The other was fair skinned and dark haired. Both were as breathtakingly handsome as she remembered.
Ménage. That was why she was here, wasn’t it? Though they’d never come right out and discussed it, ever since she’d met the two chefs six months ago at an annual culinary conference there’d been an erotic undercurrent running through all their communication.
Sexy innuendos, playful at first, now hung in the air. Suggestive. Tantalizing. Irresistible.
And now this. If she desired, she could have them. She could live out her fantasy. Experience a ménage à trois.
If she desired. Her body’s response left no doubt as to what she wanted. As she walked, her pussy throbbed at the very idea of sharing a bed with Joe and Walker. Fucking them both. Simultaneously.
God, she was wet.
From the moment Walker had e-mailed her that they were coming to Vegas, she couldn’t stop thinking about it, couldn’t stop the fantasies from slamming into her head, couldn’t stop her body’s response to the erotic scenes playing out in her mind.
She’d masturbated every night this week, imagining what it would be like to have two men make love to her. Have these two men use her for their pleasure.
And now they were here. It was real, and every nerve in her body tingled with edgy anticipation.
“Chloe!” Joe was on his feet, pulling her against his lean form in a big hug. “How are you?”
She’d forgotten how comforting his voice was. She looked up into his soft green eyes and relaxed, just a bit. “Good! I’m good.” She breathed him in. It had been over a year since she’d stood this close to a man, felt the heat from a male body mingle with her own.
It was ironic, really. She had twenty—mostly male—employees underneath her. But her position as head chef at a top Las Vegas restaurant required her to keep a solid distance from her subordinates—to always be on guard, and most importantly, to have a big ol’ pair of cojones.
Chloe remained in Joe’s embrace until he released her. Walker stepped forward. Her pulse jumped. Nothing had changed since she’d first caught sight of the tall blond with the surfer’s body all those months ago. Just being next to him sent a flurry of excitement through her belly.
She was attracted to Joe, but there was something about Walker that caused her heart to skip beats. It wasn’t just his looks. Six months of online communication had revealed a caring personality and a sharp wit that drew her to him.
“Hey, Chloe.” He pulled her to his chest and then leaned down until his lips brushed her ear. His voice was raspier than she recalled, darker. “You look fantastic.”
Her pulse quickened as his warm breath caressed her ear. God, what was wrong with her? She shouldn’t be reacting like this to the simple sound of his voice.
Fiddling with a strand of her hair, she tried to calm herself. “Thanks. You, too. You, um, look good.” Relax!
“Here.” Pulling a chair out for her, he swept his hand over the seat in a large theatrical gesture.
“Thanks,” she said, grinning.
Joe leaned across the table, his green eyes sparkling in the candlelight. “What can I get you to drink?”
“A cosmo, thanks.” She couldn’t keep her eyes off them. Six months was a long time, long enough to forget how straight Walker’s nose was, or the way Joe’s hair fell charmingly over his left eye. The way being around them made her feel so feminine and sexy.
A flutter of excitement flashed through her chest. She couldn’t believe Joe and Walker were actually here. In Vegas, sitting a few feet away from her. Was she really going through with this?
Yes. Her nipples tingled as every nerve in her body responded to the silent question.
Yes! For some reason she wanted to scream the word as loud as she could. She wanted to slam her hands on the table and announce to the crowd of strangers that these men were here for her. Chloe O’Malley, the chick who had not had sex in over a year. She wanted it known that she fully intended to get it on with these two men later that night.
Instead, she straightened the hem of her new black dress and took a deep, steadying breath. Okay, so she was going a tad crazy. Where was her cocktail, anyway?
Walker seemed to be biting back a grin. “You okay, Chloe? Have you eaten?”
“Yes, I had dinner earlier. Um, just leftovers but, no—I’m not hungry. Not now. Thank you.” She closed her eyes. Why was she babbling?
She spoke online with these two men almost daily. They knew things about her no one else did. But to have them actually here, where they could see her, was so much different. All safety through anonymity was gone. Risky.
Isn’t that what you wanted? To take a risk?
“Here you go.” A waitress in a feather ensemble placed a Vegas-size cocktail on the table before her.
“Thank you.” Chloe brought the oversize glass to her lips and took a sip of the syrupy red liquid. It wasn’t a proper cosmopolitan—it was too sweet. But she was thankful for the chilly drink and hoped it would help take the edge off.
She looked up to find Joe and Walker staring at her and suddenly she realized it would take a lot more than a sip of alcohol to calm her nerves. And surprisingly, she discovered there was a part of her that was enjoying the slight rush of adrenaline thrumming through her veins.
She lifted her chin. “What?”
Walker glanced to Joe. “She’s nervous.”
Joe nodded. “Yup.”
She shook her head and waved her hand at them as if to say, oh, stop! But her shaky fingers belied her protest.
Walker took her trembling hand in his dry, warm palm. “It’s just us.”
Just us. Her gaze shot between the men, each looking at her like she was a delicious crème brûlée and they were ravenous for a sweet dessert.
“Just you!” A laugh burst out of her throat.
Joe grinned back. “Just two guys who think you’re the smartest, wittiest, most lovely female on the planet.”
Coming from anyone else the statement would have sounded false, cheesy even, but she knew Joe meant it. Both he and Walker were true to their words, true to themselves.
When she’d met them at the conference in Dallas, it hadn’t been obvious at first that the men were together. It had been the subtle things, like the way Walker looked at Joe when he placed a spoonful of béchamel sauce on the other man’s tongue. The way they stood just a fraction too close together in the elevator. A definite sexual undertone was present in the men’s interaction. However, she’d never been able to pinpoint the exact nature of their relationship. Joe had once said he didn’t believe in monogamy. Walker hadn’t taken a stance on the subject.
“You are, you know.”
She looked up to find Walker’s gaze boring into hers. Her palms dampened even as desire shot through her. An intimacy passed between them and she was sure that, had she been standing, her knees would have buckled.
He didn’t look away and she gave in. “What? What am I?”
“Gorgeous.”
Her face may have flushed, but she grinned and glanced toward Joe. “You guys aren’t so bad yourselves.” Yes. Calm down, you ninny! She could do this playful banter. After all, they’d been talking this way for months.
And now they were here.
It was perfect. She’d have one night of sexual
exploration to get this longing out of her system. Then they’d go home, and she’d go on with her life. If things went well maybe they’d do it again. After all, she’d see them again in six months at the annual conference. And she couldn’t imagine it not going well. Not with these two.
She took a lingering drink of her sugary cocktail and smiled to herself. Yes, this was the ideal situation. She’d learned the hard way that her schedule left no time for a traditional relationship. A naughty tryst a couple times a year was just what she needed.
A sense of excitement took flight in her chest, and when she looked up to discover Walker’s direct gaze still on her, her breath caught. She wondered if Joe picked up on her strong reaction to his friend. She wondered if he would care.
Joe drained his beer and plunked the bottle onto the wooden table. “It’s early yet. What’s the plan for the evening?”
Her sex gave a clench at the question. An image from last night’s fantasy popped into her head. A picture of herself, naked, in bed, lying on her side, squeezed between their two hot, smooth, solid bodies—
“Chloe?”
She gave a start. “Um, sorry. What were you saying?” She took another sip of her drink. Get a grip!
Joe grinned. “I hear they have a nightclub right downstairs. You’re a local, is it any good?”
She nodded. “Yes. I love House of Blues—what’s wrong?” Walker was shaking his head at her, making a slicing motion with one finger across his neck.
Joe rolled his eyes. “He hates dancing. But it’s two to one, right?”
“That’s right. Two to one.” For some reason the words sent wicked goose bumps tingling up her arms.
Joe stood and extended his hand. “Shall we?”
She glanced over at Walker’s unreadable expression then looked back at Joe. She nodded and gave him her hand. “Yes. Let’s.”
Because Chloe was a local, her Nevada driver’s license allowed them to bypass the long line of people waiting to shake their thing inside the House of Blues.
Once they passed through the entrance, the steady beat of a catchy tune lured them down into the heart of the club. Flanked by the men, she held their hands as they descended the wide staircase.
She looked sideways to Joe. “I’m so glad you thought of this! I haven’t been dancing in forever.”
Joe just smiled as Walker grumbled something. They landed at a table on a platform overlooking the dance floor. At eleven o’clock things were just beginning to get started, and the club wasn’t too crowded yet.
They each took a seat and Walker placed an order with the cocktail waitress. As they waited for their drinks to arrive, a fresh wave of excitement washed over her.
Drinks, dancing, and after that who knew what could happen? But one thing was for certain; she was more than ready to go with the flow. Every minute she spent in Joe’s and Walker’s presence elevated the anticipation thrumming through her veins, and she couldn’t stop snippets of her fantasies from flitting through her head, keeping her on edge like a talented lover.
Joe took her hand in his tight grip and she gasped. “Wanna dance?” He grinned as if he knew what she’d been thinking.
She looked at Walker. “What about you? Are you coming?”
He shook his head. “I’ll watch.”
Her pussy tightened. Such a simple statement, and yet…
She gave herself a mental shake. “You sure?”
He nodded. “Yes. You two go.”
This was a test, a challenge. She could see it in his sharp blue eyes. Well, she was ready for the trial. More than ready.
Two stairs down to the dance floor. Joe led her to a spot not too far from where Walker sat. She glanced up just in time to catch Walker’s nod of consent. Interesting. But she couldn’t dwell on the subtleties of the boys’ dynamics, not when Joe was pulling her into a rhythm with him. Not when he was leading her with such command it melted her a little.
The music blurred together, one continuous pattern that freed her mind beat by beat. Joe never broke physical contact, even if it was just their fingers touching.
When a tall redhead got too close to him he subtly turned his back on her and pulled Chloe tighter. “You’re the prettiest girl here. You know that, right?”
She smiled against his neck, soaking it all up.
Strong. She had to be for her job. Her position required total dominance. She needed to be stronger than the most overbearing man working for her.
Every day she covered her long brown hair in a handkerchief and dressed in unflattering chef’s pants. She wore hideous black, nonslip shoes that felt heavy and awkward, masculine. She played her part, a role that made it too easy to forget she was still a woman.
She glanced at the black stilettos on her feet. She’d bought them just for tonight. The things were killing her, but they made her feel sexy, alluring.
Joe pulled back to look into her eyes. His expression was dead serious. “I’m not lying. You’re amazing. Walker and I discussed it at length. Discussed you at length.”
She peeked over Joe’s shoulder and caught a glimpse of Walker. Her stomach dropped at the way he was staring at her. At them. Her legs trembled when she caught the spark of desire burning in his eyes.
Joe’s hand was on the small of her back as he pulled her against the length of his body. She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath.
This was it. It was happening. When she felt his lips softly brush against hers, she welcomed it, opened her mouth and met his tongue.
Her knees went weak, but he held her steady. They kissed that way for what must have been minutes, exploring each other’s mouths, knowing all the while Walker was watching them.
Walker. His gaze on their mouths set her sex on fire. For some reason being watched by Walker turned her on even more than the actual kiss between her and Joe.
Joe. He was walking her backward until she hit an obstacle. It was the half wall, topped by a scrolling iron rail that separated the bar area from the dance floor. Although her back was turned, she knew Walker was sitting just on the other side, only inches from her.
And still Joe kissed her, deeper now as his hands went gliding over her rib cage, her sides, until he gripped her hips.
Her limbs went liquid when she felt Walker’s hand caress her head, petting her hair for a minute before he gathered a handful and pulled. She gasped, astonished at how the abrupt pain made her sex pulse.
Joe released her mouth to skim his warm, moist lips over her neck, her collarbone. Her heart hammered in time to the steady beat of dance music as he continued to taste her skin.
Walker tugged her hair, forcing her head to tilt back over the railing. The diffused lighting was dim, but anyone could see them. Anyone could see her melting under the touch of these two men. Anyone could see the way she spread her legs so Joe could step between them. Anyone could see the way her chest rose and fell in a rushed rhythm.
For a second Chloe worried that someone she knew would catch a glimpse of her behavior, but she pushed the concern aside. In the dim light, no one was likely to recognize the woman in the flirty dress and teased hair.
And it was sinful how the idea of people watching them encouraged her behavior. Lowering her lids, she imagined eyes on her, aroused by what they saw. Two men making love to one incredibly fortunate woman.
She moaned aloud as she felt Walker’s free hand encircle her throat, holding her tight with the grip he had on her hair and her neck.
“Chloe?” Walker’s voice was a warm question in her ear.
“Yes,” she panted.
“Is this what you want?”
Last chance. If she was going to walk away, this was the time to do it. She took a deep breath, exhaled.
Joe looked at her, his green eyes dark and serious and wanting. She jerked a nod. “Yes. I want you. Both of you.”
And she did.
CHAPTER TWO
SHE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO CHANGE HER MIND.
They exited th
e club and entered the casino, Walker leading her by the hand and Joe strolling along on her other side.
Despite the fact that she wanted this, she was still nervous, and as they approached the elevator her heartbeat sped faster and faster until pure adrenaline raced through her veins. She had no idea what was going to happen, no idea if this would affect their friendship. She hoped not. But this desire had been building and there was no way she could turn back now.
Later. She would worry about consequences later.
Then they were in the elevator, standing on a swirling red carpet, and Walker was pushing floor 35. The door was closing and soon they’d be alone—
But a hand shot between the elevator doors, pushing them back open. Her toe tapped an impatient beat as a crowd of people pushed their way inside. Walker and Joe inched closer to her, surrounded her.
She was shaking.
Hurry up! she wanted to scream. But the fucking elevator seemed to be stopping at every floor. Damn tourists!
The three of them stood at the back of the mirrored elevator car, listening to the Muzak. Her pussy throbbed. The lace of her bra teased her sensitive nipples. When she felt Walker’s fingers on her skin, she jumped.
He smiled down at her. “You okay?”
She nodded. “Yup, great.” His touch burned a circle around her wrist.
He drew her hand behind her back. In her daze, she didn’t notice Joe doing the same thing with her other hand, but seconds later Walker held both of her wrists, pressing them against the brass rail lining the back of the elevator.
Restrained. Walker’s grip was as solid as a metal handcuff. She glanced at Joe, who was smiling at her like the handsome devil he was. And she couldn’t say anything because there were two gray-haired women in front of them talking about the value of the ninety-nine cent buffets.
They stopped at another floor and one of the old ladies exited. Then there was just four of them. The remaining woman turned and smiled.
Chloe tried to return the gesture, but it must not have worked because the woman looked downright alarmed. As soon as the elevator doors opened the elderly woman bolted as fast as her Easy Spirits could take her.