by Amanda Rose
So while the other two have been out, Alistair has been spending time with me. I still don't understand him. He's not been as cold again as he was when I first arrived, but he's got moments when he's curt and distant. After being around him for almost two full days, you'd think that I'd know him better, but no, he's still an enigma. A rather attractive one, I have to admit.
"The violin was my mother's," Alistair says quietly. "We used to play together a lot."
"I'm sorry."
"Oh no, she's not dead. It's just ... it's complicated. Anyway, the guys want to talk to you. Shall we go back to the kitchen?"
He waits by the door and lets me through first. Always the gentleman.
When I pass, he whispers, "Feel free to play, whenever you want."
Luther and Ben have cleared the kitchen table. All that remains is a simple manila folder.
"We finally got your contract approved," Ben says cheerily as he pulls back a chair for me. Seriously, do they teach them at spy school to be such gentlemen?
"Our superiors are happy with our choice of you, so now all you need is to sign."
I take out the contract from the folder. It's at least fifty pages long. Seriously? I'll need all morning to go through that.
"Ben, want to give me a summary again?"
Alistair frowns disapprovingly but Ben grins. "The initial contract is for six months, to be extended at our discretion. Your annual leave allowance and salary can be found on the final page. And yes, we tried to get it as high as possible.”
I open the last page and my eyes widen. Hell, I've never been anywhere near that salary before.
"There's a bonus for nights and weekends too."
I look at them. "Seriously? How is this financed? I thought the government has no money?"
Luther chuckles. "We're on the front line of fighting crime. There's money for that."
"Aren’t the police the front line?"
"Okay, we're the front-line intelligence. Better?"
I smile innocently. "Front line spies?"
Alistair growls. "Don't use that word in my house." He turns to the other two and shrugs. "I liked her better when she wasn't talking."
I grab the contract and sign at the back. "Too late. Now you're stuck with me."
"And you with us, don't forget that," Ben says with a smile. "And to celebrate our fourth musketeer joining us, I've ordered sushi!"
Luther groans.
"He doesn't like it when we order food," Alistair whispers. "But sushi seems to be the only food he can't cook himself."
"My sushi was excellent," Luther protests.
Ben huffs. "They were too big, too meaty, not sticky enough. They were little abominations rolled in nori."
I watch their bickering with an ache in my chest. They belong together, they're a team. Will I be able to become a part of them? Or will I be the fourth wheel on a three-wheel car?
"But first, we've got your first assignment, Emily," Ben announces. He pulls out a slim laptop from below the counter and hands it to me. "We intercepted several letters to one of our Albanian friends." From the way he pronounces 'friends', I'm pretty sure they're quite the opposite. "I need you to translate them; the scans are in the Project Tuna folder."
I snort. "Project Tuna? Seriously?"
"Luther always uses food to name our assignments. Don't remind me of Mission Coronation Chicken."
I laugh as I switch on the laptop. It's sleek, light and looks expensive. Just like the phone they gave me. Damn, these guys have money.
There's only one folder on the desktop and I open it. Ten images of scanned, crumpled letters are waiting for me.
"Why letters? Why don't they write emails?"
"They think they are harder to trace. Which is bullshit," Luther explains. "There's a note at the post office to scan any letters going to this address before passing them on. We've found out quite a few titbits of interesting information through that."
"I'll get on it right away," I announce, glad to finally be able to do something. I don't want to be a scrounger, living on the guys' generosity.
"Thank you," Ben says, looking at his watch. "Lunch should arrive in about two hours. Al, how's Project Broccoli going?"
While they talk about Alistair hacking into someone's bank accounts, I open the first letter. Whoever has written it has terrible handwriting. Deciphering these scrawls will take time, even before I start translating.
I excuse myself, take my crutches and head to the living room to be able to work in quiet. My work as a super spy has begun.
Ben was right, the sushi is excellent. I've not had sushi since... I don't even know. It's been years. I forgot how much I loved them.
And for dessert, Ben ordered mochi; sweet, sticky rice cakes. They cling to the top of my mouth in the most delicious way. I love Luther's cooking, but this is just... amazing.
After lunch, we sit together, everyone lost in their own thoughts. I admire how everyone in this household fits together. So far there have been no major arguments. There are a few rules, like everybody cleaning up after themselves, but besides that, the guys seem practiced at living together, better than most couples.
"Do you remember Joanna's reaction to sushi?" Alistair asks suddenly and the other two groan.
"Don't start, we've only just finished eating," Luther complains, making theatrical gagging noises.
"Who's Joanna?" I ask, a tiny voice inside of me begging that it isn't a secret girlfriend. Which makes me question why that would upset me. I quickly dismiss that thought though. It's that time of the month, of course my hormones are looking for something to latch onto. Like three hot guys sitting around me, for example.
"My ex," Ben sighs.
"No, my ex," Alistair mutters.
"And mine," Luther adds.
"Are you saying that you were all with this one girl? One after the other or... at the same time?"
"Both?" Alistair says, looking at the other two for confirmation. They nod, but stay quiet, while I'm bursting inside with all my curiosity.
"How can that be?" I ask, trying not to sound too eager.
"She was my girlfriend first," Ben explains. "Then she had an affair with Alistair, then Luther. At the same time. Without any of us knowing. When it came to light, she disappeared. We still don't know if she was for real, or someone sent to spy on us. Or even a test from our superiors, but if it was, we definitely failed."
"What a bitch," I curse, surprised by the passion in my voice. I shouldn't be feeling this annoyed at their behalf, surely? And a little disappointed that they didn't share her?
"Yeah, she definitely was that. Ever since, we've been very open about our relationships with each other." Luther sighs. "Not that there's much to talk about at the moment. Three single men, living in a house together like students, with jobs that don't allow them to talk about their work with others. I don't think we're prime relationship material at the moment."
I want to disagree - and again, I can't believe that I almost protested. What the heck is wrong with me? Sure, I've been with guys before, but always just a short fling. I've only been in long-term relationships with girls. Two, to be exact, and both ended badly. So why am I drooling over three men?
"When did Joanna leave?" I ask curiously.
"About ten months ago. This house has been without a female visitor since then. You're the first woman we've had to stay with us in almost a year," Ben says, only to correct himself a second later. "But only to stay platonically, of course, totally platonically. Not like Joanna, not at all."
Luther laughs. "Better stop there, Ben. You don't want to scare our guest."
"I'm not easily scared," I protest.
"No?" Suddenly serious Ben is back, the investigator with the piercing eyes who talked to me in that cafe. The one who thinks he can tell apart truth from lies.
I grin. "Two truths, one lie. I’m scared of octopi. I’m scared of wedding dresses. I’m scared of fire."
"Can we guess as well?" Ali
stair pipes up enthusiastically.
"Go ahead. One guess each."
"What does the winner get?" he asks with an innocent smirk.
"What do you want?"
"A hug."
I sigh. Men. "Okay then, tell me your guesses."
Ben has been staring me while I came up with my three statements. In fact, I don't think he's blinked at all. He's still studying me, but his gaze has turned from curious to something else. Predatory.
"I'll go for octopi as the lie," Luther decides.
"Nah, I think it's wedding dresses," Alistair argues.
Ben still hasn't said anything. I'm starting to squirm under his scrutiny. Finally, he smiles. "Fire."
Wow, three different answers. And it's such a pity that one of them is therefore right.
"I get up and limp over to Ben, spreading my arms wide. "Sir, you are the winner," I announce, inviting him in. He steps into my arms and gently hugs me. His fingers drum on my shoulder blades; it tickles. I lean against his chest and his grip tightens. He starts running his hands over my back, circling slowly. And with each circle, they reach a lower point on my spine. The anticipation of him soon touching my bum is making me shiver. I press against him, not wanting this hug to end. And judging from the hard bulge pressing against my stomach, neither does he.
He rests his chin on the top of my head as he slides his hands under my jumper. They're cold and I shiver again, both from the cold and the sensations running through my body. This is turning into more than just a hug. And I know the other two are watching, but right now, I don't care. We could be standing in the middle of a busy road and I wouldn't want him to stop. He's exploring my back with his hands, while rubbing against my front with his chest, making my nipples harden. I know without looking that they're showing through the bra. I ache to be touched. It's been so long.
He lowers his head until his lips are on the nape of my neck, gently hovering above my skin. His breath is hot. Instead of touching me, he gently blows on my skin, starting on my right shoulder and working his way down towards my décolleté. I don't care about his hands still running over my back, I want to feel his lips on my body, on my mouth, everywhere. A slight moan escapes me and a chuckle rises from his chest. Slowly, very slowly, he opens his mouth and licks over the soft skin above my breasts, where my jumper ends. Now I wish I had put on something more revealing. Something with more... access.
Suddenly, he places both hands on my bum and pulls me even closer against him. I can no longer ignore this erection. He knows I can feel it; he knows how I affect him.
So far, my hands have been hugging him, not moving. I was too busy trying to control myself - ripping off his clothes in front of the other two didn't seem like a good idea. But I no longer care. I claw his back, showing him that I want to play. That I want more. I don't want to be passive. I want all of him.
I move back a tiny bit, just enough to squeeze one hand in between us. He groans when I place it on the bulge between his legs. I want to free him.
I fumble with the button on his jeans. Why can't men just wear jeans with velcro? So much easier to open...
"Let me," he whispers hoarsely and takes his hands off my bum, helping me open his trousers. I slide a hand in, gently embracing his manhood. Maybe it's my memory, but are men usually this large? I'm not used to anything bigger than my ex's strap-on, so this is going to be interesting... If we do it. Maybe he doesn't want to. Maybe he thinks what the rational part of my mind is screaming just now: we've only just met; we're in the same room as two others; if I sleep with him, does that make me someone giving sex in return for a bed? But then he gently lowers his hand and touches me between my legs, and all those worries disappear.
I gently stroke the silky skin on his cock, revelling in the groans this produces. I'm exploring, experimenting, while he massages my mound through the fabric of my trousers. I can feel myself growing wet. Gripping his hair with one hand, I pull him down towards me until our lips meet. Finally.
"If you two don't get a room, I'll come and join you," Luther growls from the other end of the kitchen table.
I open my mouth to respond, but Ben takes this as an invitation to press past my lips with his tongue. He enters my mouth, playfully nudging my tongue out of the way. I moan, fire racing through my body. He is so hot, I need more. I pull him closer, needing more of his touch, his mouth, his hands.
He breaks the kiss, leaving me breathless. "Take off your shirt," he whispers huskily, and I don't even think about it, I just do it. My nipples are pressing hard against the silky fabric of my bra. Alistair bought it for me; black and covered in tiny roses. Right now, I want it off my body.
Someone reads my mind and unclasps it from behind. I turn, only for my mouth to be met by hard, demanding lips. Luther has joined us. I give in to his kiss, opening for him. He isn't as playful as Ben, he's impatient and firm. While he's pushing into my mouth, my bra is slid down my arms until I'm naked from the waist up. Someone sucks in his breath.
I close my eyes, going with the flow. Hands are touching me, my breasts, my nipples, gently squeezing, rubbing, pulling. A mouth on my throat, nibbling on my flesh. My trousers are being pulled down and with the guys’ help, I slip them over my cast and step out of them, held in strong arms that won’t let me fall. A finger slides past the fabric of my panties and enters me from below. I quiver, my legs no longer able to stand. Luther pulls back from the kiss and I breathe, still not opening my eyes.
"Let's go somewhere more comfortable," he whispers, and picks me up as if I weigh nothing. Snuggling against him, he carries me into one of the guys' bedrooms. The others are following us, breathing just as heavily as I am.
CHAPTER NINE
Luther puts me down on the bed and rips off my panties. Without a word, I spread my legs wide. It's like a dream in which I do things I would never do in reality. Inviting three men to touch me. Wanting them to fill me. Craving their touch.
"Are you sure about this?" Ben whispers into my ear, and I know that he refers to the assault. But right now, my memories are silent, all that's alive in my mind is the desire for them.
"Yes," I whisper, opening my eyes to look into his beautiful brown gaze. "I want you."
"We can stop at any time," he promises, but to me, it sounds almost like a threat. I don't want them to stop. They haven't even started.
Ben leans down and kisses me passionately. I close my eyes again, wanting to feel every tiny touch without my vision interfering. Ben's lips on mine are causing sparks to explode in my mind. Our tongues dance in harmony, circling each other, embracing lovingly.
Something wet is at my nipples - no, it's one of the guys taking it into his mouth. He's sucking gently, the puckered skin stretching as my nipple is elongated. His tongue flicks over the top of it, and I arch my back, wanting more. Luckily, they get the message. A second later, my other nipple gets the same treatment. All three guys have their mouths on me, sucking on my nipples, kissing me deeply. I moan as I feel a hand slowly parting my folds, rubbing my bud in small circles. I reach out and encourage them to go further. Alistair chuckles as I guide him deeper until his finger slips into me with a satisfying sound. I am so wet; I can feel my juices running down my ass. I'm aching to feel one of them inside me. Alistair moves his finger in and out, exploring, turning, then adding a second. I stretch, thrusting my hips down to meet him. I want him deeper, but his fingers aren't long enough. I groan in frustration, and Ben nips my lower lip in response. He starts to suckle on it, driving me crazy. They are all making me crazy with their foreplay.
"Please, hurry up," I gasp, making them all laugh.
"I didn't expect her to be so impatient," Luther grins, beginning to massage my bud while Alistair's fingers are still stretching me inside. Goosebumps are forming on my skin, making it even more sensitive.
"Who is going to go first?" Alistair asks, and I know it's a question for both the guys and me. But I don't want to choose. I want them all. Am I greedy? Definitely.
He begins to move slowly, making me moan in pleasure. Alistair takes Ben's former place and gently kisses my lips, rubbing over mine with his. He's not using his tongue like the others; instead, he pulls back and then presses hard against my mouth again and again, teasing me, not letting me feel him properly. It's frustrating and incredibly hot at the same time.
Luther cups my breasts in his large hands, beginning to massage them with a tight grip. He's not one to be gentle, and I like that about him. He's uncompromising, steadfast, strong. And right now, I could kiss him for what he does to my nipples - but my mouth is already being occupied by Alistair.
I hear a zipper open and almost simultaneously, a second one. Luther's hands disappear from my breasts and I groan in disappointment.
He chuckles. "Stretch out your arms, beautiful."
I do as he says, spreading my arms until my wrists are at the edges of the mattress.
"Good girl." I can hear the smile in his voice.
He guides my right hand until I can feel his cock, thick-veined and hard. I grip it and have trouble fitting my hand around him. He is going to hurt. And feel so good.
I begin to rub his cock up and down, rotating my thumb on his tip, spreading the drop of pre-cum that's warm and sticky against my skin.
While Ben's rhythm is getting faster, grinding my ass against the satin sheet, Alistair stops his kiss only to lick my fingers a moment later, taking them into his mouth one by one. I didn't think it could feel this good. His mouth is like a warm cave I could curl up in - then his cock is in my wet hand and I know why he did it. I start pumping him, my hand slick from his kisses. He is not as thick as Luther or Ben, but longer.