Double Trouble

by J. R. Madison

  “Ow,” I commented.

  Beside me, Jake lay, puffing like an engine. He didn’t say anything. We would normally be laughing about it, but again, that strangeness was between us.

  I stood and went over to the weights. I would do half an hour with those and then go shower. It ought to be about half past four by then. Then we’d get to the bar by half past five. It was a comfortable, time-honored routine.

  “How’s the shoulder?” Dax asked thoughtfully as he came to join me at the weights.

  “Um, okay,” I said.

  I’d actually forgotten about the strained shoulder—two or three sessions with André, our physiotherapist, and it was fixed. I rolled it experimentally.

  “Good,” he said with a grin. “My damn hip’s still giving me trouble. I’ll go get it seen to on Monday. Gabi blasted me about it too. Said I’m stupid not to get it fixed.”

  “Oh?” I frowned.

  “Uh-huh,” he grunted, lifting a weight. “Damn thing. Almost lost the game for me. Good for Jake, that he got the ball from me.”

  He’d been brutally tackled a game or two ago and his hip had popped as he hit the ground. Jake had managed to save the situation.

  “Yeah,” I agreed with an ambivalent feeling in my heart. “Good for Jake.”

  Jake came over just then. “What did I do?” he asked, grinning.

  I sighed. “You eavesdropped.”

  We both laughed. In that moment, I forgave him. We could have been fifteen-year-olds. We could have been in college.

  Jake joined up with us for dinner later: we all decided to go to the sports bar and watch the game on the screen. It had a good atmosphere. I felt a little impatient at having Dax there—it made it difficult to address the issue that dominated the space between us.

  “’scuse me,” Dax said during a commercial break, “bathroom.”

  I sighed with relief.

  “Jake?”

  “You think.”

  We started talking at the same time. We laughed.

  “Um, you first.”

  He blushed. “I was thinking about last night.”

  “Me too,” I said.

  “It was incredible, huh?”

  I nodded, taking a sip of water to cool myself off. “Yeah.”

  We both grinned, eyes sparkling. It had been something guys probably wonder about, but rarely get to try. We were lucky. I should have just been happy. I was.

  “Um…she’s awesome, huh?” Jake asked.

  “Yeah,” I said. I looked at my hands. She was easily one of the most exciting women I’d ever seen. I wasn’t about to say that to Jake, though.

  “So,” Jake said, taking a sip of his own drink. “What do you say about a repeat performance, then?”

  What?

  “Jake?”

  He was grinning, face flushed red. “She texted me.”

  “What?”

  I felt my heart tense, but it wasn’t with excitement: It was jealousy. Why him? “She has your number?” I asked.

  “I gave her mine,” he admitted, looking shy.

  “Oh,” I said. Stupid me. Why didn’t I ever think fast enough, act fast enough? It could have been me who got a text from her. “What did she say?”

  “Well,” Jake grinned. “She said to keep in touch. So, well, I think…” he shrugged. “Maybe we could go again?”

  “Jake!” I stared at him. “What did she say?”

  “Not much more than that,” he admitted. “So, well, I guessed we could just, well, say hi?”

  I looked at him in astonishment. “Jake? You really think she won’t be mad at us?”

  He shrugged. “Well? If she throws us out, we’ve lost nothing, hey?”

  I nodded. I felt a wild excitement take hold of me. It went a long way to fixing the jealousy that Jake had actually told me about it.

  “Sure,” I nodded.

  He grinned and finished the last of his drink.

  “We’ll go after the game, alright?”

  “Sure,” I nodded. Just the thought of it was exciting me. I couldn’t quite believe this was happening. I took another sip of my drink and tried not to give in to the waves of expectation coursing through me.

  “So,” he grinned. “Fair is fair?”

  “Fair’s fair,” I said, though my throat ached when I said it.

  He had been fair—very fair—by telling me. He didn’t have to. He could have just kept her to himself.

  I didn’t know—would never know—whether I would have invited him or not. Maybe it was just as well I would never have the chance to find out.

  CHAPTER 5: RYANNE

  “Whew.”

  I collapsed back onto my couch. It was six P.M. and I had spent most of the afternoon in town. I’d finished my chores for the weekend—little admin things—and then gone shopping with Jackie, my best friend. We’d talked for hours. I wished I could tell her about my experience.

  She wouldn’t believe it.

  I sighed. I couldn’t quite believe it either. I had never imagined trying something like that. Frankly, I wouldn’t have believed it would work. I had been pleasantly surprised.

  “Well, I guess I should do something constructive,” I told myself sternly. Sitting here and letting my mind sift through minute details of my experience the previous night was not my definition of constructive. I blushed.

  It had been an incredible experience. Going to bed with either of the boys would have been quite enjoyable, I thought—they were well built, handsome, and appealing—but both?

  Wow. Just wow.

  I smiled to myself as my body responded pleasantly to those vivid memories. I felt a sweet warmth spread through my belly and I knew that I was aroused now. I chuckled.

  “Come on, Ryanne.”

  This was not the space or time to indulge in thoughts like that. The evening was a thing of the past—something I could sit and remember in my chair when I was old: not something I would do again. I grinned to myself and got off the couch, taking off my stilettos.

  “Well, not both of them together anyway.”

  I grinned. I had decided to text Jake this morning—just a casual text, saying he should keep in touch. I was being naughty, but what woman wouldn’t want a sexy football player as an occasional boredom reliever? I had received a reply—a “yeah, I’ll be doing that” simply—but that was at least something to go on.

  And then, I thought with another grin, I’d have something else to remember in my old age. Having some fun with Jake. I had chosen him out of the two of them for a couple of good reasons.

  First of all, because he’d been the only one of the two to politely furnish me with contact details. Second, because he seemed the more confident and ready to connect out of the two. Third, because he seemed less serious. The other guy acted more like he cared.

  And I didn’t want anything that seemed like a commitment right now. I just wanted those naughty memories for my old age.

  Hopefully I’d have bought a nice house by the seaside and I sit on the porch, watching the waves break on the shoreline. It was a nice thought: safe and peaceful.

  I lay back on the couch, looking up at the ceiling and wondering if I’d feel safe and peaceful before I was seventy.

  “Come on. Let’s sort this shopping.”

  I carried the designer shopping bags through. I had bought new undies and new slacks for the office, silky-soft and floaty. I also had a new dress to wear to Jess’s birthday event next week.

  I couldn’t resist getting it out of the bag and laying it on the bed. Seeing it made me feel excited for the party.

  It is stunning and it suits me.

  I lifted it, letting the silk catch the air as it floated to the bed coverlet. It was white, with a high waist and tight bodice, from which flowed a loose, floaty skirt. I loved it the moment I clapped eyes on it. I considered trying it on now, but the clock showed me it was getting on for six thirty. I might as well start cooking dinner.

  I like cooking: it’s my
hobby. I had planned to make a new dish with tuna—something out of the Gordon Ramsay cookbook Jess bought me for my own birthday last year.

  I was just finishing my meal at around seven-thirty when the doorbell rang for the gate.

  I dropped my fork on the floor, picked it up and ran to answer the buzzer with a frown on my face.

  “Who would that be?”

  The mailman, I recalled. I’d ordered a pair of boots online and I had been expecting them today. I pressed the button. I realized afterward that I should probably have checked that it was the mailman first—if I just let a serial killer into the apartment block I would be sorry.

  I sighed. “There’s a doorman, Ms. Richmond. He can deal with it,” I told myself.

  At that moment, my doorbell rang again—this time, the one for my apartment in particular. I tensed and went to the door, which, fortunately, had a lens. I peered through. Saw the side of a man’s head.

  My jokes about serial killers suddenly felt real and worrying.

  “Hello?” I called. My heart was thumping and I felt scared.

  “Hi!” a familiar voice replied.

  I just about fell over. I had only recently heard that voice, but already I recognized it. It was Jake.

  I unlocked the door, opening it with the safety catch on. I felt furious—partly because of the relief, but partly because he was the last person I thought I’d see unexpectedly here, ever.

  “You!” I hissed. “What the hell are you doing here? Go away.”

  “You said to keep in touch,” he said, with a grin on that handsome babyish face.

  I felt the urge to slap him. “Listen,” I said crossly. “The term, “keep in touch” means via phone. Not actual touch. I didn’t invite you here.”

  He looked upset. “Oh,” he said.

  I could smell the vestiges of alcohol on his breath. The hallway was dark and I couldn’t really see him well enough to deduce how drunk he was. Great. I now had a built, entitled drunkard on my doorstep. Served me right for my foolish text message.

  I rolled my eyes and considered my options. I wondered if I should phone security and have him evicted. It was a definite option. It was the one I would have chosen, had he not put that stunning head on one side. My insides heated up at the sight of his neck muscles. He was hot.

  “Okay,” I said. “You can come in. But only for an hour, mind—I’m timing you. Some fun and then you’re out.”

  “Oh?” he looked surprised but not displeased. He nodded. “Great.”

  I opened the door, wondering if I was alright in the head. I probably needed sleep. This was a stupid, crazy risk. But a small, excited little-girl part of me couldn’t resist.

  I saw him cross the threshold, and then someone else followed; someone that must have been concealed in the half-light of the hall. The second man had blond hair and a rugged, handsome face and those stunning eyes. He grinned at me.

  “Hi?” he said.

  “Now come on!” I said, losing my temper. This was too much!

  Part of me was offended at their assumption I’d want them both again. But a larger part, admittedly, couldn’t help laughing. They stood there like two embarrassed but hugely overdeveloped boys, red-cheeked and unsure what to do with themselves.

  “What?” Jake said. Tyler didn’t say anything.

  “What?” I repeated, exploding. I was tired and surprised and annoyed. They had chosen to come at a bad time—all my friends knew not to interrupt my relaxation time on Saturday evenings; my chance to unwind. “You can’t tell me you don’t know how wrong this is?”

  “Wrong?” Tyler asked. He, of the two of them, looked upset. I guessed who had initiated this mess—it wasn’t him.

  “Yes! You have no right to come in here uninvited! This is my evening off. If I had any sense at all I’d have you both evicted,” I shouted.

  They looked at each other. Jake rocked on his heels, a nervous gesture and the first indication I had of him feeling ashamed. I shook my head.

  “You really are disgraceful, both of you,” I said.

  They both looked at me with hopeful grins. They could hear my voice getting less angry as time went on. I knew I had likely lost any hold I had on them. Short of sending the security up and having them thrown out—a move that would put my reputation on the line—I couldn’t get rid of them now.

  Well, maybe I could have if I actually wanted to.

  As I watched them, shifting uncomfortably, looking at each other, I was starting to change my mind. I saw Jake look at Tyler and Tyler shoot him a wrathful stare. He cleared his throat, about to speak.

  “This was your plan,” he hissed. He sounded mad at his friend. He cleared his throat again, seemingly to launch into a reproachful tirade—one that would probably cause them to leave now.

  I cleared my throat then and interrupted. Seeing the antagonism between the two of them had given me an idea. A wicked, naughty idea that I would never have dreamed of having. But why not? It was about time I was wicked and naughty. I had put up with nonsense from guys in the past—the thought of getting my own back was suddenly appealing. And besides, I just felt mischievous. It wasn’t often I got to let my hair down.

  “Okay,” I said. “You’re invited.”

  They both stared at me. Jake gave a slow smile—one that made heat rush through my body and my loins flare as if someone lit them up. Tyler went white.

  “You mean it?”

  I sighed. “No, I’m making it up—what’d you think?”

  I couldn’t help some impatience. I knew I was being unfair, but these two did make me feel impatient sometimes. They seemed a bit slow on the uptake.

  Jake frowned but Tyler nodded.

  “Thanks,” he said.

  “Great,” I said.

  I saw another look pass between and I realized I’d seen correctly. There is a rivalry here, and one I could exploit, if I chose to.

  I grinned.

  “Okay,” I said airily. “Jake?”

  He grinned.

  “Come and join me in the bedroom. Tyler? I’ll call you in a moment.”

  I saw a weird look pass both their faces. Jake looked triumphant. Tyler looked shattered. He covered it quickly, but I’d seen it. I felt my heart twist and then an implacable coldness covered it. I had felt shattered by guys so often—Levine most recently, but others in the past. Let them feel the pain for a change.

  I grinned at Jake and led him to my bed.

  He grinned at me.

  We kissed.

  His arms round me were hard with muscle and they crushed me to his chest. I sighed and leaned into the kiss, his tongue pushed right into my mouth as my body leaned on his, feeling proof of his arousal stiffen against me.

  I pushed him in the center of that lean chest and he stumbled a little, then grinned and lay down on my bed.

  “Good,” I said, smiling in approval. “You’re on track, Jake.”

  He grinned. He reached for me and pulled me down onto the bed beside him, pressing his lips to my own. I hadn’t been expecting him to show that sort of initiative, so I was pleasantly surprised. I leaned back and reveled in the feel of his hard, lean body pressed to mine.

  When he leaned back, gasping, I stroked his strong shoulders. “Mm,” I murmured. “Shall we get those clothes off, hey?”

  He nodded. Then, as I started to undress him myself, quickly and efficiently, I saw him frown.

  “What about him?” he asked, jerking his head. “When’s his turn?”

  I sighed. “You really want to share with him?” I asked, surprised by his level of loyalty. I was also a little affronted, if I was honest. I would have assumed he’d be pleased to be singled out and have time with me.

  He grinned. “I don’t know. Do I get a choice?”

  I smiled wickedly. “I’ll choose when we call him. Maybe you get to have me to yourself?”

  He frowned. Then he smiled. “Sounds like a game with rules?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Rules of plea
sure,” I whispered. “If you satisfy me, we don’t call anyone.”

  His brow went up, but he was smiling, eyes bright and aroused. I felt my own arousal burn me. I needed him so much now it hurt.

  “Come on,” I said huskily. “Let’s do this.”

  He grinned. He finished undressing and then pushed me back onto the bed, pulling off my clothes. I rolled over and quickly put all my things aside—my new dress had to be protected—and then joined him on the bed.

  He seemed to take my directive seriously and I was amazed by how much pleasure my body could feel. It was only after we’d both finished that I recalled there was someone else waiting in the hallway.

  CHAPTER 6: TYLER

  I stood in the small open space outside the bedroom. I could hear the muffled cries and pants and I could imagine—even though I couldn’t see—what was going on in there.

  I felt my hands ball into fists as I heard her scream.

  “Oh!” She cried.

  It was a scream of pleasure, but it twisted in my guts, like agony. I wanted her so much. Why had she picked him? What was going on here? It was horrible.

  He was groaning too, and I guessed they had climaxed. I leaned on the wall, my eyes closed. It was too much. I had been a little jealous yesterday. Now, hearing them having such a passionate time of things was torturing me. I hadn’t expected it.

  “Tyler, that’s Jake.”

  I whispered it aloud, wanting to convince myself that I didn’t mind, that it didn’t matter and that I was being disloyal. He was my best friend, my colleague. My teammate. But right now I wanted to go in there and smack him. I imagined how satisfying it would be to pull him off and push into her myself, seeing her face contort in pleasure as I filled her, thrusting into her as I had seen him do before and as I knew he was doing now.

  I slid down so that my back was on the wall, my knees clasped. I was sitting there, listening to the sighs and barely whispered things they said as they lay down.

  I had my eyes tight shut, but I could imagine with such vividness what was going on in there. My mind fed me an image of her, lying on her back, those fantastic, strong legs spread to let Jake pound away at her. I wanted to be him more than I had ever wanted anything. This was the second time he’d been inside her. This just wasn’t fair.