Rule of Three (Carnal Coeds #3)

by Suzanne Rock

  “I can’t believe we almost lost her,” Jag’s hands shook as they made their way from the crowd.

  “I know.” Nolan put his arm around Jag’s shoulders as they walked. “But you need to pull yourself together, man. We still have to get this group home.”

  “I know.” Jag slipped his arm around his lover’s waist and leaned his head against Nolan’s shoulder. “I was just so scared,” he whispered.

  “I know. Me too.” Nolan stopped walking and turned to face him. “I think my heart stopped for a little while back there when we couldn’t find her.” He slid his hands down Jag’s arms, sending tingles of sensation over Jag’s skin.

  “Fuck, Nolan. What if she had gotten seriously injured? What if we lost her?”

  “Shh...” Nolan pressed his lips against Jag’s forehead. “She might be a little beat up, but she’ll live. It turned out okay.”

  Pain filled Jag’s chest as he realized the hard truth. “I don’t want to lose her.”

  “I know.”

  “No.” Jag leaned back and met Nolan’s gaze. “I mean, I don’t want to let her get away. I need her.”

  “We need her.” Nolan tightened his grip on Jag’s shoulders. “I know what you’re talking about. I feel it too.”

  “We can’t let her leave.”

  Nolan slid his hand up Jag’s arm and cupped his cheek. “She might not want to be with us, you know.”

  Jag swallowed the lump in his throat. “No.” His voice sounded strained, but he didn’t care. “She’ll want to be with us. She has to.”

  “You can’t make that decision for her.”

  Jag pulled Nolan close as he thought of their time together in the tent. Remembering how well Shana fit between them made his cock ache. He rubbed it against Nolan’s swollen member and smoothed his palms over his lover’s ass. “It’s not the same without her.”

  “I know.” Nolan framed Jag’s face with his palms and covered his lips with his own. Jag whimpered as he drank in his lover’s presence. He tried to take Nolan’s strength, his resolve. It was difficult. Jag was such a mess inside.

  Nolan tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Their tongues dueled, and with each caress a little more of Jag’s fear slipped away. Slowly fear turned into hunger as Jag wanted to experience the feel of skin-on-skin. He wanted to be reminded that he was alive, and that everything had turned out okay.

  Jag squeezed Nolan’s ass and thrust his cock against his lover’s shorts. Nolan groaned as their shafts rubbed together. Only thin fabric separated them, but it was too much. Everything was too much.

  Jag reached for the tie holding up Nolan’s shorts.

  “No.” Nolan put his hands over Jag’s fingers, stopping him. When Jag looked up and met his gaze, he saw all of his fear, all of his pain, reflected back at him. “We can’t.”

  “I need to,” Jag whispered. “Fuck, Nolan, I need you.”

  Nolan nodded down the path from which they came. “They’re waiting for us.”

  “We won’t be long. I just need to feel you.”

  “You need to feel her.” Nolan squeezed Jag’s hands and then gently pushed them away. “I can see it in your eyes.”

  “Yes,” Jag admitted. “But we can’t do that right now.”

  “I know.” He slid his hands down the plains of Jag’s chest. “But I understand the need to feel close to someone.”

  Jag closed his eyes and shivered as Nolan slipped his hand under his shirt. “Yes.”

  “The need for release.”

  “Yes.” Jag opened his eyes and looked back at the path. “But you’re right. The group is too close. We’ll be seen.”

  “Maybe.” Nolan toyed with the tie in Jag’s shorts. “Maybe not.”

  Jag jerked his gaze back to his lover. “But Shana...”

  “Is okay.” Nolan pulled the string, loosening his shorts. “And the rest of the group will be occupied for the next few moments.”

  A slow smile spread out over Jag’s lips. “What are you suggesting?”

  Nolan’s gaze darkened. “I think you know.” He tucked his fingers under the waistband of Jag’s shorts and tugged him close. “I know what you need, and heaven help me, I need it too.”

  “Just a quickie.”

  “Yes.” With a flick of his wrists, Nolan sent Jag’s shorts and underwear to his knees. “Turn around.”

  Desire rippled through Jag’s lower abdomen as he did as he was told. Nolan pressed his hand on Jag’s back, easing him down over a nearby rock.

  “I don’t have any supplies,” Nolan confessed. “This might be a little rough.”

  “I don’t care. You know I like it rough.”

  “Yes.”

  Jag’s cock thickened as Nolan pulled down his shorts and slipped his swollen cock between his ass cheeks.

  “Just a quickie,” Nolan repeated.

  “Yes.” Jag braced himself on the rock as the tip of Nolan’s cock pressed against his opening. Jag arched his back as Nolan grabbed his hips.

  There was nothing gentle or easy about the entrance. Jag wanted it rough, and that was what he got. With a swift, sure stroke, Nolan entered him. The satisfying sound of their bodies coming together made Jag groan.

  “Shh...” Nolan said as he curled his body over Jag’s. “Don’t make a sound. They’ll hear us.”

  “Yes. Oh fuck, yes.” Jag loved the way Nolan could make his body stretch. He always felt so good, like they belonged together.

  Nolan grabbed his hips and straightened. Without a word, he began to move, performing long, hard thrusts into Jag’s backside.

  Jag bit his lower lip as desire spiraled through his core. Again and again his lover filled him, reminding him of their connection. Jag’s thoughts scattered as he let himself go and offered everything he had up to the man who had given him so much. He closed his eyes and focused on the sound of them coming together, and how Nolan took more command over Jag’s body with each thrust.

  It didn’t take long for Jag to be swept up in the moment. He felt Nolan’s movements become harder, more erratic. The thrusts pushed Jag’s own cock against the rock, rubbing it in such a way to fuel his need. Jag imagined that it wasn’t the smooth surface that touched him, but Shana. He pictured her pussy gripping him, of her moans filling the air.

  He bit down harder on his lip as the impulse to moan rose up in his throat. Nolan’s heavy breathing filled the air, and Jag knew that he, too, was thinking about their lover.

  God, Nolan felt so good, so fucking good. Jag reached down and grabbed his cock, applying more pressure to his swollen member. He pressed his cheek into the stone and ran his fist up and down his length, picturing himself sinking deep into Shana’s core as Nolan claimed him from behind.

  “Fuck, Jag. I’m close,” Nolan whispered. His thrusts became more needy and desperate.

  “Harder.” Jag whimpered as he rushed closer and closer to the edge. Nolan pushed harder, his thrusts lifting Jag off the ground and onto his toes. Jag tightened his grip around his cock as the familiar tingling rippled along the base of his spine.

  On the next thrust, his world exploded. Jag bit down hard on his lip as his orgasm tore through his body, robbing him of strength. His seed spilled out onto the rock, coating his hand in the process. Pleasure poured through his body, numbing his mind and turning his limbs to water.

  Within seconds, Nolan groaned and shook as his own orgasm overtook him. He continued to thrust, filling Jag with all of the passion he felt. Each push lengthened Jag’s orgasm, stretching out the ribbons of joy until Jag felt consumed by it all.

  When it was over, Nolan leaned down over Jag and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  Jag opened his eyes and smiled. “No, thank you.”

  Nolan chuckled and slipped out of Jag’s body. “Come on. They’re waiting for us.”

  “What about Shana?”

  Nolan shrugged as he pulled up his pants. “Once we get back to base, I’ll tell her that I need to question her. Then we can ask he
r about making us a permanent threesome.”

  “But she might refuse.” Jag straightened and pulled up his pants.

  “She might.” Nolan tied off his shorts and pulled down his shirt. “And if she does, then we’ll just have to convince her otherwise.”

  Jag grinned at his lover as he straightened the last of his clothes. “I like how you think.”

  “I know. It’s why you started dating me.”

  Jag made a big show of dropping his gaze to Nolan’s cock. “Well, that was one of the reasons.”

  Nolan laughed as he took Jag’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go make Shana an offer she can’t refuse.”

  As Nolan lead Jag back to the group, Jag’s worries increased. What if Shana didn’t feel the close connection that Jag felt? What if her need for them wasn’t as great as theirs for her? Jag pushed the questions from his mind. He couldn’t dwell on the negative. They’d just have to ask her and hope for the best.

  * * * * *

  Somehow, Nolan managed to get through the rest of the afternoon. He and Jag had agreed that Nolan should be the one to approach Shana, since Jag was still too emotional over the ordeal in the river. Nolan had looked for an opportunity to talk to her all afternoon, but within the hour they had met up with the second group, and there were too many people and too much to do.

  They had arrived at base camp, and somehow he, Jag, Mateo and Bree had managed to get through the closing speech and congratulations. Something must have happened in the other group, because Odin barely acknowledged Shana’s accident and Mateo and Bree seemed tired and distracted. He made a mental note to speak with Mateo about it later.

  After the reception, people started exchanging phone numbers and hand shakes. He and Jag stood off to one side, ready to answer any questions that the patrons had about their other classes and programs.

  “I’m not the freak, you’re the freak.” Bree’s voice rose up through the crowd.

  “Are you serious?” Odin took a step back and pointed at her. “You’re the one who likes pickles.”

  Bree slapped him across the face. “They’re a hell of a lot more satisfying than you.” Bree stormed out of the room, leaving a somewhat bewildered Odin in her wake.

  “Bree, wait.” Mateo followed her, giving Odin a frosty glare as he exited the room.

  Nolan nudged Jag as the crowd returned to their normal chatter. “Looks like there’s trouble in paradise,” he whispered.

  “No kidding.” Jag scanned the crowd. “So when are you going to talk to Shana?”

  “Soon.”

  “It better be real soon, because it looks like she’s about ready to go.”

  Nolan scanned the room and found Shana and Odin heading toward the exit.

  “Shit.” He maneuvered his way through the room, weaving among the other students until he reached Odin and Shana. “Hey, wait up.”

  Shana glanced over her shoulder, saw him, and then put her hand on Odin’s arm.

  “Hey,” Odin said as he held out his hand. “Sorry I was so difficult at the beginning.”

  “No problem,” Nolan said. “I hope you had a good time.”

  “I, uh, it was okay.” He looked at the doorway Bree and Mateo had just passed through and refocused on Shana. “I’ll meet you in the car.”

  “Okay.”

  “You leaving with him?” Nolan asked when Odin was out of earshot.

  “Yeah. We came together, remember?” She shrugged. “Besides, he had a rough time in the other group.”

  “Really? What happened?”

  Shana smirked. “Evidently, Bree and Mateo asked him to be their boyfriend.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  She giggled. “Can you believe it? They wanted a threesome with him—a permanent one. I think he’s still in shock.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” She shook her head. “Finding out that Mateo was bisexual took him completely by surprise. I think he called them a few names, which got them upset.”

  “Yeah, I bet.”

  “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.” Shana turned to go.

  “Wait.” Nolan touched her shoulder and waited for her to meet his gaze. “I was wondering—Jag and I would like to speak with you privately before you go.”

  She glanced at the exit. “Odin is waiting for me.”

  “It will only take a minute.”

  She stared at him, considering. “Okay.”

  As Nolan led her to the office area, his heart began to thud against his ribcage. Odin’s situation seemed to amuse her. He and Jag were laying their hearts on the line. If she had a similar reaction to their proposal, it would kill him.

  Unfortunately, it was too late to change things now. Not that he wanted to. If he didn’t take this opportunity now, both he and Jag would always question whether they had missed out on an opportunity of a lifetime.

  “Right in here.” Nolan opened the door to the conference room. Jag smiled and stood as they walked in.

  “Hi, beautiful.” He glanced at Nolan and his smiled faltered. “Oh my God. What happened?”

  Chapter Ten

  Shana couldn’t imagine what the men wanted to talk to her about. After her accident, they had gone off alone together and then had practically ignored her the rest of the day. Sure, they had a lot of responsibility with the class wrapping up, but she would have liked it if they at least checked in with her once before the end.

  In fact, they both seemed uncomfortable around her. As she switched her gaze from Nolan to Jag, she wondered what was going on.

  “Everything’s fine,” Nolan said. He motioned to a chair. “Please, sit.”

  She moved to do as she was told. Awareness tingled along her skin as Nolan closed the door and he took his place beside Jag, opposite her on the table. The three of them were alone once more, probably for the last time.

  That thought made her sad. Unlike Odin, she had been open to a three-way relationship. After talking to Hannah and Becca, the idea of a threesome wasn’t as new as it was with Odin. After spending time with Jag and Nolan, it was all she could think about.

  But that didn’t mean that they were thinking about it, or were even considering it. She knew that they had seduced women before. She was nothing special in their eyes. At one point she had thought that, perhaps, they might have thought her as something more, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Their avoidance convinced her of that fact.

  An uneasy feeling settled in her stomach as she watched the men exchange glances. “What is it?”

  “How are you feeling?” Nolan finally asked.

  “Fine.” She shrugged. “The helmet saved me when I fell. I have a couple of bruises, but nothing really bad.”

  “Good.” Jag let out a long breath. “I don’t know what we would have done if you got hurt.”

  She focused on the sexy kayak instructor. She opened her mouth to speak but didn’t know what to say. They were both acting weird.

  She turned to Nolan, knowing that out of the two of them, he was always the one in charge. “What is it you wanted to talk about?”

  Nolan swallowed and pushed his long, dark hair from his face. “I didn’t realize how difficult this would be.”

  She glanced at Jag, who looked rather uncomfortable. “It’s probably better to just come out with it.” Curious, she turned back to Nolan. “Honesty is always best.”

  “Yes.” He cleared his throat. “You mentioned that something happened this weekend with Odin and that Bree and Mateo had asked him to be part of a threesome.”

  She narrowed her gaze and leaned back in her chair. “Yes, that’s true.”

  “You said that he never really considered a permanent threesome before, and that was what led to the emotional outburst and fighting.”

  “Also true.” She glanced at Jag, who seemed to be getting more and more uncomfortable by the minute. “He had always considered himself a one-woman type of guy.”

  “What about you?” Jag leaned forward an
d rested his elbows on the table. “Do you consider yourself a one-guy type of woman?”

  His words stunned her. She lowered her arms. “I suppose I’ve thought about it. I have two friends back at college who are in ménage relationships.”

  “Would you like to be in a ménage relationship?” Nolan asked.

  She turned to Nolan as her heartbeat quickened. “What are you trying to say?”

  Nolan flashed her a seductive smile and leaned closer. “Would you like to be in a threesome relationship with us?”

  “With you?” She glanced at Jag. “Both of you?”

  Jag chuckled “That’s normally how it works.”

  “I-wow.” Her skin tingled as she became hyper-aware at how focused the men were on her. “This is sudden. We barely know each other.”

  “But we’ve connected. You can’t deny that.” Nolan stood, walked around the table and crouched next to her. “You can’t deny that we shared something special down by the lake.”

  “And in the tent,” Jag added as he mirrored Nolan’s movements. Shana’s heart beat faster as the men took her hands.

  “I know that this is sudden,” Nolan said. “And we’d certainly understand if you wanted to take things slow.”

  “It’s just that we’ve been with other women before,” Jag said. “And we never felt anything like we feel when we’re with you.”

  Tears stung her eyes as she focused on Jag. She couldn’t have heard them right. They couldn’t be offering her what her heart desired, could they?

  “What are you saying, exactly?” she whispered.

  “We’re saying…no we’re asking if…” Nolan tightened his grip around her fingers. “If you want to continue what we started this weekend and see where it leads.”

  “You mean a sexual relationship, right?”

  “No,” Jag said. “Well, yes, I guess sex would be part of it.”

  She focused her gaze on Jag, not daring to believe her ears. “What are you suggesting?”

  “That we try being an item for a while.”

  “An exclusive ménage,” Nolan added with a shrug. He tried to appear nonchalant, but Shana could see the excitement in his eyes. “We can’t make any promises, but we could just take things slow and see where it leads.”