“I’m not embarrassed.”
“Oh yes, you are. Otherwise you wouldn’t have asked me if I thought you were bad.”
Crystaline leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “I’ve never had sex with two men at the same time before. It makes me feel…”
“What? Makes you feel what?”
“Exposed.” She bit her lip.
Jack leaned back in his chair, mirroring her by crossing his arms over his bare chest. “You enjoyed being exposed. What is wrong with that?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head, frustrated. “It’s just I’ve never allowed anyone…” She couldn’t find the right words to explain how she was feeling.
“Crystaline, if you’re not comfortable with the arrangement, I can go back to being just your neighbor.” One corner of his mouth lifted up in a lopsided smile.
“No!” She rose from her chair and crossed over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Jack, I like what we have going on here. I don’t want to stop.” She sat down in the chair next to him, scooting closer. “I’m just a bit unsettled is all. Ever since the accident, the lightning, I’m not quite sure what’s happening to me.”
And she wasn’t sure. The blue dream, the cravings for sex, the absolute need she felt for Joe and Jack. Even the strange rumbling warmth she felt inside when she was near them had her puzzled. Her body was healing nicely, but all these other things going on had her stumped.
Jack turned toward her until their knees touched. He took both her hands in his, and she felt warm inside, his touch comforting and safe. “Let’s work on this one thing at a time. Tell me the most unsettling thing.”
She drew in a deep breath then told him about the blue dream, about how it felt like the blue tentacles wrapped themselves around her soul and threatened to smother her. She told him how having sex—wild, passionate sex—drove the dream away. She also told him her craving for sex had increased, almost as if she was in heat.
“I feel like an alley cat, like my hussy of a cat Mischa used to be. Always on the prowl.” Crystaline felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted. Pouring out her feelings about the blue dream and her urges for passion made her feel cleansed in a strange sort of way.
“When did this all start? The blue dream?” Jack’s forehead was etched with concern.
“When did it start?” She had to think about it for a minute. “In the hospital. After the accident. That’s the first I remember of it.”
“After I found you. After you got struck by lightning.”
She nodded. “Yes. When I woke up in the hospital. That’s what I remember. I was lost in the blue dream and struggling to fight my way out. When I opened my eyes, Joe was there. Saving me.”
Jack rubbed a hand across his forehead.
Crystaline patted him on the knee. “Jack, what’s wrong? Was it something I said?” He looked so deep in thought, so serious, it worried her.
“No, no, it’s nothing,” he said, finally answering. He grasped both her hands again and stood, pulling her up with him. Then he smiled and leaned down, gently brushing his lips across hers.
She rose up on her tiptoes, deepening the kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt a stirring inside, down deep, but it wasn’t like the urgent need for him she’d felt earlier. This was calm, warm and comfortable. A spark lifting from reddish-gold, glowing embers.
Jack lifted his head, breaking the kiss. “I know I’m tired, and I’ll bet you’re just as tired as me, if not more. What do you say we get some sleep?”
Crystaline smiled. “I’d say that’s a wonderful idea.” She slid her arm around his waist as he led her out of the kitchen, flicking the lights off behind them.
In the bedroom, she crawled beneath the covers and rolled onto her side. Jack rolled up behind her, spooning her, his hand on her hip.
“Thank you, Jack,” she whispered in the darkness.
“For what?”
“For being there when I needed someone.”
Chapter Twelve
Joe kept himself busy all night during his shift, trying his best not to glance at the clock. It didn’t help. The night shift still seemed twenty hours long instead of seven.
Betty had teased him off and on all night, ribbing him about how he must have something on his mind because he wasn’t as talkative as usual. Teasing him about how he must have found a girlfriend. Joe smiled to himself. That was an understatement. As far as he was concerned, he’d found his life partner.
When his shift was finally over, he rushed to his apartment, showered and changed clothes, then hurried back to Crystaline’s place.
It was 8:00 a.m. when he walked through the front door at Crystaline’s. The house was quiet, the only light on was above the stove in the kitchen. He could smell the aroma of eggs recently cooked. Quietly, he made his way toward the bedroom and peeked inside.
In the dim morning light, he saw two forms in the bed under the covers. Jack obviously stayed the night. Good. She didn’t need to be alone right now. Joe knew she was undergoing some sort of change, but he wasn’t sure what. He moved back toward the kitchen, trying to be quiet and not wake them. He needed coffee. And sleep. But sleep would come later.
Just when he sat down at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee, he was surprised by Jack.
“Hey,” Jack said, scratching his stomach as he entered the room. “Coffee ready?”
Joe nodded. “Help yourself.” He took a sip of the hot beverage, allowing the strong flavor to sit on his tongue for a moment before swallowing. “She have a restful night?”
Jack poured himself a cup of brew. “For the last few hours. We were up quite late. Hopefully she’ll sleep a little longer.” He turned toward the table, yawning. “I need a few more hours of shut-eye myself.” He sat down across from Jack.
“I hear you. I could use some sleep, too. I wanted to come by and check on her though. Make sure everything is okay.” Joe could feel his lack of sleep in his muscles and his mind. Yesterday had been not only a physical workout what with all the unbridled sex, but it had also tested his mind, thinking about how the three of them would make this relationship work.
“You know there’s not only something physical going on with her, right?” Jack asked, raising his cup to his lips.
“I know. I just don’t know what it is.”
Jack lowered his cup. “I think I might have an idea.”
“What? What do you think?” Joe leaned forward, wanting answers. He truly cared about Crystaline and wanted to know what was going on with her and how he could help.
“I need to go home and do a little research first, before I say anything.” He waved a hand in the air. “It’s something I’ve read about but never seen firsthand. I want to look into it a bit more before I say anything. I don’t want to sound like a nut.”
“All right. I’ll give you that. But let me know what you’re looking into, would you? She’s healing, her wounds are almost back to normal, but I’m worried about what’s happening in her mind, too. She seems a little…unsettled.”
Jack grinned. “That was the exact word she used last night. Unsettled.” He drank down the rest of his coffee then looked at Joe. “You gonna be here for a while?”
Joe nodded. “For an hour or two. Then I’ve got to get some sleep. At home. I don’t know if I could sleep with her being so close to me. So…well, you know what I mean.”
“I certainly do. That woman is hot.” Then he laughed. “How’d we get so lucky?”
“I don’t know, but I’m thanking my lucky stars.”
Jack rose from the table and placed his cup in the sink. “Okay, I’m heading next door. I’ll look into what I was talking about and be back in a while. Maybe by then she’ll be awake, and we can all sit down and talk about it.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Later.” Jack left the kitchen. Seconds later, Joe heard the front door open then close.
With a big sigh, Joe got up and refilled his coffe
e cup. He’d stay here until Jack returned, just in case she woke up.
* * * *
Jack pushed through his own front door, smiling at the thought of what the other neighbors might be thinking. He’d left Crystaline’s wearing only his jeans. They’d probably saw Joe enter, then him leave. Maybe they’d just think they were taking care of her. He was pretty sure they all knew about Crystaline getting struck by lightning. It was in the newspaper. He’d read the article. That was what had him thinking. The fact that Crystaline’s cat was killed during the lightning strike.
He made a beeline for the shower. Then he was going to go through his books. Not too many people knew about his interest in the paranormal. It was something he had wanted to pursue after he retired. He had quite a collection of books on the subject, and now that collection just may come in handy.
* * * *
Crystaline opened her eyes to find Joe sitting on the edge of her bed, looking down at her. She smiled. “Good morning.”
He reached over and brushed a strand of hair off her forehead, his touch warm and gentle. “How you feeling?”
She stretched her arms above her head and pointed her toes. “Mmm, a little tired, a little worn out, but good. I feel good. Where’s Jack?”
“He went home to take a shower. He’ll be back later. Are you hungry?”
She shook her head. “No. But I’d love some coffee.”
Joe smiled. “Well, your wish is my command. I already have some made. Would you like that in bed, or are you going to come to the kitchen?”
Crystaline pushed up to a sitting position. She could feel every muscle straining after all the sex she’d had last night. “I’ll get up. I need to start my day. And work some of these kinks out, too.” She shrugged her shoulders, moving them around.
“Okay. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He rose from the bed and walked to the door. Turning back, he said, “If you need help, just holler.”
“I will.”
He smiled then headed down the hall.
Crystaline sighed a huge, satisfied sigh. Last night had been one in a million, and she hoped their relationship continued exactly like it had started. Even though she’d had the blue dream in the middle of the night, Jack had been there to push it back, out of her head. She still didn’t know for sure what was going on with her mind, but with these two men to help her, things were looking up for the future. Throwing the covers back, she grabbed her robe and headed for the kitchen and some much-needed coffee.
Joe had a steaming cup of dark brew waiting for her when she entered the kitchen. “That smells so good,” she said, sitting at the table and picking up the cup. She inhaled deeply, the aroma sparking her nerve endings.
“Are you very tired? I know we gave you quite the workout last night.” Joe sat down across from her.
“I’m tired, but it’s a good sort of tired.” She felt calm and sated, a little sore but no worse for the wear. “When is Jack coming back? Did he say?”
“He said he’s going to get a few hours sleep and do some research. Then he’ll be back.”
“Research? About what?”
Joe shook his head. “He didn’t say. Said he had an idea about what’s going on with you and he’d let us know if he was right.”
Interesting. What could Jack possibly know? Was it about the blue dream? She hoped so. She really would like some answers about what was happening to her. About what had made her change into some sort of sex kitten.
“What would you like to do today?” Joe asked.
Looking into his sleepy eyes, she felt a stirring near her heart. Could it be love? It was definitely attraction, but there was more to it. She reached across the table and placed her hand over his. “You look so tired. Don’t you want to get some sleep?”
He laughed lightly. “Yeah, I definitely need some. But I’ll get some shut-eye when I can.”
“I’m wearing you out.”
At this comment, he laughed heartily. “That, my dear, is an understatement.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.” She rose from her chair and walked to stand by his side. Placing one hand on his cheek, she leaned down and placed a kiss on his warm, full lips. Immediately a tickle began inside her, pricking her nipples to stand at attention. When she stood up, she swiped the pad of her thumb over his bottom lip. “Joe, I just can’t get enough of you.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. Resting his chin between her breasts, he looked up at her. “I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you, you know.”
A rush of feeling filled her. She placed a hand on either of his cheeks. “I’m pretty sure I feel the same way. How could it happen so fast?”
He smiled softly. “What does it matter?”
She chuckled. “You’re right. It doesn’t.” She pulled his head back and leaned down and kissed him again, a long, lingering kiss. She pushed her tongue past his lips and moaned. He tasted of warm coffee. His fingers dug into her ass, pulling her even closer, until she was almost in his lap. She wanted him yet again, wanted him to explore every inch of her. She wanted to explore every inch of him. She wanted to spend days, and nights, writhing in bed with Joe.
And Jack.
She broke the kiss, raising up to her full height and sucking in a breath. “Goodness, you take my breath, Joe Travis.”
He laid his cheek on her tummy and hugged her close. “I’ll breathe for you.”
She rested her arms on his strong shoulders. She felt loved, taken care of. She wanted so much more of this. Finally, she patted his shoulders, signaling for him to let her go. “You’ve got to get some sleep. I kept you up yesterday, and you worked last night.” She stepped away and returned to her seat across from him. “Besides, I need you rested so we can fool around later.” She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically. This felt good. It felt so unlike her, but it felt good, this letting go.
He raised his coffee cup in a toast. “To later.”
She grinned and raised her own cup. “To later.”
They both sipped, their eyes locked on each other over the rims of their cups.
Chapter Thirteen
Joe left her an hour later and went home to get a bit of rest. Now it was two in the afternoon, and he’d just stepped out of the shower for the second time today. Four hours sleep had done wonders for him, and he couldn’t wait to get back to Crystaline. He also wanted to see what sort of research Jack had done and if he’d found some answers to what was going on with her.
Her.
Their woman.
Crystaline.
He flew across town to her house and parked out front. As he walked up the front walk, the door opened, and there she was, smiling and waving him in. vHis heartbeat kicked up a notch, and he took the front steps two at a time. As soon as he stepped through the door, she pressed herself against him and pulled his head down for a kiss. Kicking the door shut behind him, Joe wrapped one arm around her to cup her round ass through the soft sweatpants she wore, his other hand tangling in her hair. She tasted of mint, as if she’d just brushed her teeth. He wanted more. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, and she moaned in agreement. He felt her nipples like hard little pebbles poking through her thin T-shirt against his chest. His cock thickened, coming to life. He devoured her mouth, an animal coming alive inside him. He had to have her.
“God, I want you,” he said when they came up for air.
She looked at him with those electric eyes, shining so brightly blue this morning. “Then take me.” vHe didn’t hesitate. “To the couch,” he ordered, turning her in the direction of it. He guided her in front of him, but when she began to step around to the front of the large piece of furniture, he stopped her. “No. Stand behind it.”
She looked over her shoulder, her eyes flashing. Then she moved around it and stood facing the back of it.
“Tell me right away if I hurt you,” he said, coming up behind her.
She placed her hands on the back of the couch.
“Just tell me what you want, Joe.” vHe hooked his fingers into the elastic waistband of her sweatpants. “Bend over.”
She did as he asked, bending at the waist and placing her hands on the seat cushion.
Joe could feel the slight tremble in her legs as he slid her sweatpants down, over the beautiful curve of her ass and down to her ankles. There, her round globes exposed, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He cupped the cheeks of her ass, stroking, separating them while he massaged them. She shivered, heat radiating from her.
“Joe…” She raised up on her tiptoes.
“Shh.” He took a step back and undid the button and zipper of his jeans, pushing them and his underwear down quickly. His cock, rock solid and ready, sprung forward. “Are you ready baby?”
He saw her nod her head.
Using his thumbs, he spread her cheeks and stepped forward. He entered her from behind and almost came immediately. She was wet and hot, her pussy already clutching at him as he inched his way inside to her core, wanting to take his time, having to bite his lip to keep from just pounding into her. She was tight, perfect, and he wanted to delve to her deepest depths.
She moaned and shook her head, trying to push back against him.
He stopped her by placing one palm on the small of her back, holding her down. “Don’t move. I’ll do all the moving this time.”
And move he did. He stroked deep inside her, her pussy tightening against him, the friction so delicious he thought he’d died and gone to heaven. He looked down at her, bent over the couch, at his mercy. He pulled back and shoved in with force, jerking her forward.
She let out an “ahh” and again tried to push back, to take more of him inside.
He pressed down harder on the small of her back and began to find his rhythm. Sweat began to bead on his body, his cock straining to go deeper and deeper into that welcoming, moist hot place. Her muscles milked him, opening for him when he drove deep, clutching and spasming when he pulled back. His cock thickened, pulsed, and then—
Transference (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 6