Jake stared at Duncan, his body going hot all over. Duncan’s words, though silent, came through loud and clear in Jake’s head. His cock swelled. Duncan stared back. Neither man realized their luggage had come until Charlie nudged Duncan.
“Man, what is up with the two of you?” Charlie reached past Jake and snagged Duncan’s larger suitcase. “Here, make yourself useful.” He shoved the bag at Duncan, who barely caught the handle before the bag tipped over. “And you, catch your own bag.” Charlie jerked his head at Jake’s bag coming around the metal conveyor, hands already full with two more pieces of luggage.
Jake startled out of his aroused daze, grateful that at least the nausea had subsided, though the erection now pressing against the front of his jeans was anything but comfortable. He adjusted himself, hoping no one would notice, and shouldered his bag. He very carefully avoided looking at Duncan and tried not to think about Emma. He could tell she was driving somewhere, hopefully home, and didn’t want to distract her. After everyone grabbed their luggage, they began the long trek through the airport to the exit where Jake had a car waiting. They both mostly ignored the fans clustered around them, smiling cursorily and waving now and then. Maybe if we’re lucky we can get out of here without Duncan having to sign anything, he thought. He felt Duncan agree.
Neither man noticed the woman who followed them through the airport, her attention unwavering until their car pulled away from the curb.
Emma paced around her living room, the nausea gone, thank God. She still felt unsettled. She could feel Duncan and Jake coming. Did they know where she lived? She shook her head. She never told them. How could they know? Except she felt them getting closer. Her skin was so sensitive she’d had to put on a loose tank top as soon as she got home from school. Even the soft fabric of her blouse had irritated the bonding tattoos. It felt weird to be home so early. She wasn’t even hungry, though she hadn’t eaten lunch. She walked to her bookshelves to scan the titles but ended up straightening the books on the shelves instead of picking one to read. She sighed and dropped her hands after a minute, giving up trying to find something to distract her brain. She wasn’t expecting the surge of electricity that suddenly shot through her body and she gasped, reaching out a hand to keep from falling, knocking a few books to the floor. It felt like a live wire had zapped her right in the chest. She let go of the shelf and stumbled to the window as she heard a car door slam shut. On her quiet street, an unfamiliar car idled beneath the large maple tree. Duncan and Jake and another man were hauling bags from the trunk. They were here! She felt her breath catch when Duncan looked up, unsmiling. Emma stepped away from the window to the front door. She unlocked the deadbolt and swung it open just as the car drove away. The two men started up her sidewalk as she opened the screen door, sliding the clip at the top to prop it open. She felt the last of her headache subside the closer they got. When the men reached the doorway, she stepped aside into her living room. They lifted their bags inside, and Jake turned to close the screen door. When he finished, Duncan quietly shut the inside door and slid the bolt.
“Emma,” Duncan said, his voice hoarse. He hadn’t moved. Emma looked him over, taking in the tight jeans and black T-shirt, his bonding tattoos exposed and gorgeous against his olive skin. His long hair was tousled and the brown strands tumbled over his shoulders. She could see the glint of his silver ear gauges through it and had a sudden urge to shove her hands in that hair and drag his lips down. Duncan shuddered. Jake walked toward her, dark jeans and green button down shirt matching his flashing eyes. She watched him unsnap his leather cuffs and drop them to the floor, appreciating the way his biceps pushed against the fabric he’d rolled up, knowing that if she grabbed his lapels he wouldn’t stop her from ripping them open. She closed her eyes and smiled.
“I wouldn’t stop you.” Jake halted in front of her. “You can rip off any clothes you want.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. Emma felt like she’d been drugged. She could feel their spiraling arousal sparking along her thoughts.
“I’d help you rip it off,” Duncan said and Emma twitched, not realizing he’d come up beside her. Jake traced her lips with his thumb and her eyes flew open, wanting to see his face before they kissed. She bit the tip of his finger and she watched his pupils dilate.
“Jake—” she whispered just as his mouth came down. He teased her, pressing small kisses along her lips. She gasped, opening up, and then he was inside. He tastes like blueberries, she thought, then reached up and grabbed his shirt, hanging on so she wouldn’t fall. A few snaps gave way and she smelled the musk of him, inhaling deeply. Duncan groaned and pressed close. Emma melted into Jake, overwhelmed by his kiss and the feel of Duncan’s thick cock pressing against her from behind.
“God, Emma, you’re fucking gorgeous,” Duncan rasped. He rutted against her, trusting in Jake to keep her steady. Jake held her up as she tore her mouth away to breathe. Jake didn’t stop. He just kissed down her neck, sucking a bruise into the hollow of her throat while she writhed.
“Please,” she begged, frantic for more. Duncan slid his hands under her shirt, cupping her breasts as she shoved her hips against Jake, relishing the feel of his arousal against her stomach. Duncan shuddered, then flicked his thumbs over her nipples. Emma groaned. Oh, my God, she thought as she felt the two men’s need inside her head as well as against her body.
“Jesus,” Jake gasped. Emma felt him stare at her lips, his eyes going heavy-lidded as Duncan buried his face in her nape. Jake’s cock swelled impossibly harder. She felt him even through their clothes. Then Jake lifted Duncan’s face with a hand and kissed him brutally, desperation in every line of his body. Duncan gasped and Emma froze in the middle as Jake devoured his friend, their lips clashing, then gentling as they realized they were finally safe, somewhere they could touch each other without fear.
“Jake, oh—fuck it!” Duncan muttered then sucked on Jake’s full lower lip, letting it go with a sucking pop that made Emma’s sex throb.
Jake opened his eyes. “Duncan—” His lips were red and swollen. Emma’s mouth went dry.
“No, don’t,” Duncan interrupted. “I know what you’re going to say and it doesn’t matter.” Duncan leaned back in and kissed the other man, dirty and hot. Emma felt a flash of confusion before she understood that Jake was about to apologize for his lack of control when Duncan cut him off.
Jake trembled, his hands gripping Emma’s hips. Her body was trapped between them, but her mind wasn’t. She was right there with them, feeling Jake’s regret at having such a hard time dealing with his sudden attraction to Duncan. Emma realized that Duncan never dreamed Jake would someday return his feelings. He had Jake as his friend and that had been enough for him. Tears pricked her eyes as they kissed. She never wanted to forget this feeling—their sense of joy and astonishment. When they broke apart, they were breathless but happy. Jake smiled and looked at Emma.
“Honey,” he said, leaning down to kiss her before stepping away. Emma’s heart seized for a moment, then she realized he wasn’t leaving. Duncan rubbed her arms, then tugged her away from the front door and the pile of luggage they’d dropped haphazardly at their feet. Jake walked ahead of them, heading unerringly for the bedroom. The muscles in his back flexed as he ran his fingers through his hair, smoothing the curls Emma had mussed when she kissed him. Then he unsnapped his shirt and let it fall open as he looked over his shoulder at them. “You coming?”