by Jane Jamison
“You’re killing me here, Kell. So you went down on him and what? Did he give as good as he got?”
Jude and Riker were heading toward them with two trays full of food. “I promise to tell you everything later if you’ll shut up right this minute. Here they come.”
Thankfully, Lilly took the hint and swiveled to face the men just as they arrived and placed the food on the table. “Yum. This looks great. Thanks, guys.”
“No problem.” Riker took the seat to Kelly’s right and started distributing the burgers and soft drinks.
Jude, Kelly, and Lilly all had one burger and one drink, but Riker piled four hamburgers in front of him. He took one big bite of the first burger then stopped when he noticed the others watching him. He swallowed hard enough for Kelly to hear it. “What can I say? I have a major appetite.”
Kelly snagged a napkin and dabbed the juicy blood from his chin. “You like them rare, huh?”
He nodded then took another giant bite that left him with one third of the first burger. Grinning, he popped the final third into his mouth then chugged almost half of his drink. “Yeah. I slip them a huge tip to keep them from cooking them too much. Some nonsense about needing to cook the meat to a certain temperature to protect the public’s health.”
Lilly had taken one small bite but was now concentrating on her fries. “I do love a man who knows how to eat. How are you on hot dogs, and have you ever thought about entering an eating contest?”
Jude ignored his burger and sipped on his soft drink instead. “She’s right, Riker. You could win a small fortune and get a nice blue ribbon at the same time.”
Riker unwrapped his second hamburger. “No, thanks. I’m strictly an amateur.”
They exchanged small talk about the town, about Jude’s ranch, and tried to get Riker to say more about his livelihood than simply, “I own a substantial listing of investment properties.” Jude confessed that Riker spent a lot of time at the ranch, riding horses and helping to keep the accounting books in order.
“You don’t dress much like ranchers or cowboys.” Kelly could see Riker and Jude in almost any type of clothing and looking amazing.
“Damon and Riker live in jeans except for special occasions like tonight, but I only wear jeans while I’m at the ranch. In fact, you should come riding one day.”
Lilly shook her head emphatically. “Uh-uh. No way. I’m not getting on anything that doesn’t have either a penis or a motor.”
“Lilly, damn. We’ve already run off one family.” But Kelly had to admit Lilly could be as funny as hell, and as long as Jude and Riker didn’t seem bothered, she was okay with her say-what-I-think friend.
“Anyway, I’m full, so I’m going to head out, okay?” Lilly gave Kelly a wink and stood up, bringing the men to their feet.
“Lilly, no. Stay.” She tried to keep just enough warning in her voice that Lilly would catch it while Jude and Riker might miss it.
“It’s early. Stay.”
If she’d caught the lack of enthusiasm in Jude’s voice, then Lilly had to have heard it, too. But Lilly shook it off. “I’ve got to get up early in the morning. But thanks for a great time.”
“Riker will take you home. Right, buddy?”
An understanding zipped between the two men, and although Riker hadn’t finished his fourth burger, he didn’t complain. “Sure. I’d love to. What do you say, Jude? We’ll take the limo, and once I make sure Lilly gets home safely, I’ll double back for you two. Sound good?”
“We could walk to Lilly’s and my apartment from here.”
Lilly wasn’t very subtle when she glared at her. “You know what? It really isn’t that late, and I forgot. Tomorrow’s my day off. Riker, how about you and me get a drink at this great bar around the corner? That’ll give Kelly time to get to know Jude a little better.”
She waved off Jude’s and Kelly’s protests then entwined Riker’s arm in hers. “No, don’t thank us, and Kelly, don’t wait up.” Dragging a surprised-looking Riker along with her, she headed toward the limo.
If she hadn’t known Lilly since junior high school, she might’ve gotten jealous of her friend’s commandeering of Riker. But she knew what she was up to. Lilly really was planning on occupying Riker to give Kelly time alone with Jude.
“I guess it’s just you and me.”
Her pussy throbbed at the idea of getting Jude alone. What had happened to her? Since meeting the three hot men, she couldn’t think of anything except sex. Had she gone too long without sex, and this was her body’s way of telling her to get it on? Or was it just that these men affected her more strongly than any other men had ever done? That would explain the unusual tingling she got every time she got near them. Yet the most amazing thing was that she didn’t care how it had happened. She liked how she felt. She liked how each man made her feel special, like she was the only woman in the entire world. And she loved how they weren’t jealous of each other’s attention to her. But was that because they were willing to share her, as Riker had claimed? Or because they didn’t know the extent of her physical relationship with each man?
Jude cupped his palm to her cheek. “Let’s go to your place.”
“Yes.”
* * * *
The apartment was the perfect mix of Lilly’s and Kelly’s personalities. He could pick out which picture on the wall belonged to which girl and guessed that the splashes of reds around the room were a nod to Lilly’s hair. The vegan cookbooks were easy enough to peg to Lilly. The tidy desk where a laptop and paper trays sat was definitely Kelly’s. A filing cabinet served the dual purpose of both storage and end table. He could see Kelly’s subtle touch in the soft cushions and throws lying over the back of the sofa. He ran his palm over an old discarded armchair that had been lovingly restored, and couldn’t help but think Kelly had been the one to do it.
“I don’t have much to offer you in the way of a drink,” called Kelly from the tiny kitchen. If someone added a pass-through in the wall separating the kitchen from the cozy living area, it would’ve helped to open up the space. As it was, he couldn’t see her as she gathered drinks.
“Don’t worry about it. Whatever you have is fine with me.”
The biggest piece in the room was the large bookcase that dominated one wall. Books were neatly stacked onto the shelves—Kelly’s handiwork, no doubt—and intermixed with knickknacks and potted plants. A photo album caught his eye, and checking over his shoulder to see if she was coming, he pulled it out and settled on the sofa.
Family photographs, some aged with time, covered every page in an orderly fashion. A woman who resembled Kelly smiled out from a picture as she held a tiny infant in her arms. The man who stood next to the woman in the hospital bed had a kind face, and he recognized the smile as Kelly’s. Childhood photos followed those, and, although the young girl in the scenes was heavier, on the edge of obesity, he still saw the woman she was today. Strangely, the photographs were either just of Kelly alone or with only her father. Had her mother left them?
“Uh-oh. Please tell me you’re not looking at my album.” Kelly held two glasses of what he assumed was a soft drink then hurried over to sit beside him. She attempted to take the album away from him, but he held on to it.
“I didn’t mean to pry, but, after living with a photographer all these years, I tend to want to open photo albums and see what’s inside. Is this young girl you?”
He thanked her for the drink, but his mind had already focused on her fragrance. Her scent was intoxicating, alluring, and natural. He could hear the pumping of her blood in the vein on her neck, and if he wasn’t already half in love with her, he’d have driven his fangs into her neck and tasted her sweet life essence.
He’d never killed anyone and prayed he never had to. There had always been enough willing donors to quench his thirst even during the first days after he’d transformed into a vampire. Now he preferred to rely on blood banks and other non-invasive means of finding blood.
“Unfortunately, ye
s. My father indulged my sweet tooth. I never met a chocolate I didn’t like.”
Although she laughed, he could hear the sadness in her words. “And your mother? Is she taking the pictures?”
As he’d guessed, the sadness ran deep, with her sorrow reflected in her soft eyes. “My mother died a few days after I was born. A complication with the birth they said, but I never really understood it, and my father couldn’t bring himself to talk about it.”
He placed a hand over hers. “I’m sorry. But at least it looks like you had a wonderful childhood. Are you still close to your father?”
“I was, but he was killed by a drunken driver two years ago.”
The anger that swept through him was as unexpected as it was intense. Why did some humans lose what little sense they had and get behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated? He’d never understand the stupidity of it. He felt his fangs burst through his gums but he pushed them back. If he could find the driver, he would rip his throat out for causing her pain. He struggled to dim the redness flooding his vision and averted his gaze.
“Do you have any other family?” Part of him hoped she’d say yes for her sake. Yet the greedy side of him wanted her all to himself without the burden of dealing with siblings and other relatives.
“Not like how you’re asking. But Lilly and I have known each other since middle school. She’s the sister I never had.”
He changed the subject, wanting to bring her joy instead of heartache. “You were as beautiful then as you are now.”
She snorted then clapped a hand over her mouth as she stared at him. “You’re kidding, right? I was fatter than fat. Ugly with a capital U.”
He was amazed that she saw herself that way. Squeezing her hand, he vowed to make her understand. “Never say that about yourself. Either as a young child or as the woman you are. Can’t you see it? Here. Look at this picture of you.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Let me tell you what I see. I see the same crystal blue eyes with a sparkle that can take a man’s heart and make it her own. I see the smile that’s hidden in your frown, because even when you’re unhappy you see the better side of life.”
“You sound like Damon. Like you’ve got a bit of Southern Comfort in you.” She relaxed, letting out a slow breath as though she’d held it, waiting to what he’d say about her past weight problem. He put his arm around her waist then turned back to the album.
“I see your strength in the way you stand. Look at how you thrust out your chin. It’s like you’re daring anyone who looks at the picture to call you fat. That same spunk is still with you.” He took her chin and held it with the tips of his fingers. “See? You’re still holding your head high.”
“Jude, come on. I know I’m not fat any longer, but—”
“But nothing. I can see why Damon wants to shoot you. Maybe he should take an older photo of you and join it with the new one. He’s gifted when it comes to different techniques like that.”
“No. I can’t let him photograph me. I’m nothing like the women in his pictures.”
“You’re right. You’re not.”
Surprised, she sought his gaze. “Oh.”
“You’re more.”
She cast her gaze down, but the smile on her face was his reward. “Remind me to call you whenever I feel bad about myself.”
“You’d better.” He gave in to the yearning to feel her skin under his touch and caressed her cheek. “So you’ll think about posing for Damon?”
“I’m not saying I will, but I’ll think about it.”
His caress threw fuel on the fire already burning inside him. He kissed her hard, and her sigh filled his mouth. She fell against him and clutched his arms, giving him the signal he needed to scoop her off the sofa and carry her down the hall. She broke the kiss long enough to point to one of the doors. He willed the door open without touching it then bumped it wider.
Putting her on the bed, he stood, keeping his gaze on her. She was so beautiful he almost believed she was a magical being from another world. The light from the hallway made his silhouette shadow her, and, with another thought, two candles on a nearby table flicked on.
She gasped and started to sit up, but he shook his head and she lay back down. “But how did the candles light up?”
“Does it really matter?”
Her gaze followed his hands as he unbuttoned first the cuffs then the collar of his shirt until the material fell away. He thrilled at her quick response to the sight of his bare chest and pulled his belt buckle loose. Again, she wanted to sit up, to help him with his slacks, but he pushed her back. The flaps of his slacks fell open, exposing his erect cock.
Her dark eyelashes fluttered as she took him in then reached to wrap her hand around his dick. He almost stopped her but was willing to let her please him before he had a chance to please her.
“You’re going to be mine tonight,” he whispered in her ear. He felt her tremble at his words. “I’m going to feast on your pussy then shove my cock deep inside you. If you don’t want this as much as I do, say so now before it goes too far and I can’t stop.”
He skimmed his hand down the front of her dress, and the buttons came undone. She didn’t notice as her eyes were on his.
“Don’t…”
He held his breath for her to finish the sentence.
“…stop.”
Her dress fell open, exposing her bra and lacy panties. Groaning at the sight of her smooth skin, ready for his touch, he helped her slip her arms out of the dress and let it fall underneath her.
“I don’t remember unbuttoning…did you undo my dress?”
Chapter Six
“Kelly, what do I have to do to get you to forget about the candles and your clothes?”
She smiled and tugged on his cock just enough to let him know where her mind was. “What candles? Although I would like to see the rest of your clothes gone.”
Jude straddled her, putting his legs on either side of hers. The muscles in his legs were strong, and she could feel their strength against her thighs. Pushing his slacks to his knees, he started to get up, but she was tired of waiting.
Sitting up, she held onto his cock and flicked her tongue over one of his nipples. He groaned and dragged his fingers into her hair. She sucked on his nipple as her hands got busy on his cock. Cupping his balls, she stroked him, using her tongue to slide across his pecs while she pushed her breasts against his chest.
Her bra was gone with his hard pull, the material tearing under his hands. Taking her breast in his hand, he forced her head up and slanted his mouth to cover hers. The kiss was hard, but she loved the feeling of control she had over him. Massaging him, she brought his cock to an even larger, thicker size. His pre-cum wet her palm as she moved her hand over the tip.
He came away from the kiss panting as hard as she was, but she wasn’t ready to let him control what happened next. Laying her palms against his chest, she pushed him, making him go on his back. She yanked his shoes off and followed them with his slacks. Yet when he reached for her, she shook her head and rose to stand over him.
He licked his lips and reached for her. She’d never have believed she’d act this brazen, but he’d gotten rid of her bad body image and had made her feel like the sexiest woman in the world. “Watch.”
Slowly, she slid her thumbs under the top of her panties and inched them farther down her legs. His eyes were filled with lust as she swayed to music only she heard. Little by little, she slid the lacy material down until only her mons remained covered.
“You’re killing me, Kelly.”
“But you’ll die a happy death.” She smiled then ran her tongue over her upper lip. Using her arms to push her breasts together, she skimmed her fingers below the panties to cover her mons. He moaned but didn’t take his eyes off her.
She brought one hand out from under her panties and slid it to her breast. She could see he was torn, wanting to watch both hands at once, as his gaze darted up to her breast
then back down. She licked her fingers then circled her nipple, wetting the taut nub. She slid her other fingers between the folds of her pussy.
“My fingers are wet.”
“I see that.”
She shook her head. “No. Not these fingers.” She wiggled the fingers pinching her nipple.
His gaze dropped to her other hand, and she saw him swallow hard. Rubbing her nipple and her clit at the same time brought her a fresh wave of yearning. But she was in control, just the way she wanted.
Jude took his cock in his hand and stroked it. “Don’t make me wait much longer. I don’t know what I’ll do if you do.”
She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side as she continued to pleasure herself. In one day, she’d gone from having no man to getting intimate with three. Yet she wasn’t ashamed. The men had brought out a side of her that she hadn’t known existed.
She smiled a satisfied smile. Kelly Sims, the goody-good girl, had gone bad.
Her clit throbbed with every press of her finger. Her nipple ached to have more than her own finger torture it. Going to her knees, she moved his hand away from his cock and pushed her crotch against his cock. He took her breasts, brushing her hand away so he could sit up and take her nipple into his mouth.
She tossed her hair back and dug her fingers into his shoulders. Rocking back and forth, she simulated fucking him. His hard cock jerked with her movements, straining against her panties.
Jude’s eyes grew darker with a tint of red, and for a flash of a second, she wondered how that could happen. But her question was gone when he nibbled on her tit then took hold of her panties and ripped them away.
His gaze fixed on hers as he took her by the hips, lifted her up, then shoved her down. She cried out as he plunged his cock inside her. Holding her breasts, he kept watching her, his jaw clenching as he thrust his cock harder into her pussy.
She’d lost control, but she no longer cared. All that mattered was riding his cock until she couldn’t stay on top any longer.