Whirlpool (18 page)

The table was set with a feast. Cinnamon buns, sausages, a bowl full of scrambled eggs.

“Hot damn.” His stomach grumbled. Okay, maybe food first, then they could get to the welcome-home sex.

Jamie passed him a coffee cup and nudged him with his hip toward the table. “Sit, we’ve got a ton to tell you.”

The three of them consumed the mountain of food while Chelsea shared about her classes. Jamie told stories about the students he’d taught. All the while Braden watched them carefully, soaking in their presence. They wouldn’t be around for long, and he didn’t want to spoil their time together longing for it to be different.

“You spoil me.” Braden laid a hand on Jamie’s shoulder, needing to touch, needing reassurance they really were there.

“I like cooking and it’s better than the frozen dinners you’ve been nuking for the past four months, isn’t it?”

Braden laughed. “Guilty as charged. I still want to know how a guy who grew up with maids and chefs taking care of him can cook so damn well.”

Jamie shrugged. “I’m a good learner. And there’s always something new to challenge me. Speaking of challenges…”

Chelsea and Jamie exchanged secretive glances and Braden couldn’t take it anymore.

“All right, enough. You two have teased and hinted the whole meal. Spill.”

“We’re moving home.” Chelsea beamed at him.

“What?”

Jamie leaned back in his chair. “Chelsea won’t be going back for the next semester.”

“You’re quitting?” Disappointment warred with excitement. He wanted her home, but he didn’t want her to give up on her dreams.

She rose from her chair and came to his side, resting her hand on his arm. “Not really.” Her smile grew larger. “I applied for special credit for the hours I’d put in at the museum here in Jaffrey’s Cove. The professor who checked my work was so impressed with the additions to the displays and media presentations I’d completed the past couple years, he marked and gave me credit for four full courses. I’m officially done my first year of studies in half a year’s time.”

“Holy crap.”

“It gets better. He’s fast-tracked me. Said I was one of his best students and since I seemed to work well with minimal supervision he set up at study-at-home program for me with him as a mentor. It won’t be the same degree as completing the university classes, but I’m good with that. Part of the reason I wanted to go away to college was to get out of Jaffrey’s Cove and see something of the world. I enjoyed my classes, but after living in the big city for the semester, I’ve had enough. The school wasn’t the be all and end all.”

Braden pulled her in for a giant bear hug. “I’m so proud of you. That’s incredible.”

“Plus…” Jamie rose as well and stood behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “I got the contract with the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

Braden grinned at him. They’d debated and researched for months, trying to find a job that would allow Jamie enough freedom to continue to use his skills and let him return to Jaffrey’s Cove on a regular basis. “Congratulations. You’re the new acquisitions director?”

“Associate. I’ll be working under the curator to authenticate pieces they are looking to acquire. The added bonus is that I get to take an assistant with me. I happen to know this fabulous woman who is very talented…”

Braden leaned back with a jerk. Did he mean? “You can hire Chelsea?”

“No reason why not. It’s very common for couples who are involved to partner up on work like this. Our fieldwork will also be more than sufficient to satisfy the assignments and research she still needs to complete.”

Chelsea grinned up at him. “We’ll be gone for a couple of weeks at a time, but home between assignments. It’s about the best situation we could possibly have asked for.”

Braden cupped her face in his hands and pressed their lips together. Every time they left it would tear a tiny piece of his heart away. But having Chelsea achieve her dreams was worth it. “You’ll get to see the world, baby.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I know. And I’ll be with Jamie, and you’ll be here when we return.”

He rested their foreheads together, breathing in the scent of her. It wouldn’t be a normal lifestyle, but it was perfect for the three of them. “I might just have to join you on a trip or two, you know, take my vacation time somewhere exotic.”

Jamie nodded. “Easily done and that would be fantastic.” He knelt, enclosing Chelsea in his embrace but adding Braden to the circle. “This isn’t about taking her away from you. I hope you know that.”

Braden stared at Jamie’s beautiful sea-colored eyes. Chelsea—he’d always loved and desired her. Jamie—the man had snuck into his heart and soul. “How can I not want her to achieve a dream she’s had forever? And knowing that you’re with her makes me even happier. In fact, I think you two should get married.”

“Married?” Chelsea squeaked.

Jamie nodded enthusiastically. “That’s an excellent idea. While we could simply live together, being married will make insurance and other things easier. Plus, my mother will finally get off my back.”

“Your family approves of her, don’t they?” Strange how he’d gone from being fiercely jealous at the thought of anyone with Chelsea but him, and now he couldn’t imagine life without Jamie in it as well.

“My family loves her. The hints my mother dropped the last time we went for dinner were startlingly blunt, even for her.”

“Guys…” Chelsea said.

“Well, that works well. You two get married, and we can move into the other apartment I own here in town. It’s a little larger, and no one would think anything of you renting a part of it for the times you are in town. The merfolk don’t give a shit, and the humans in town would think it’s a smart way to care for your possessions—having the sheriff as your landlord.”

“Guys…”

Jamie continued. “As long as you’re sure about it. I thought we could have another ceremony in front of Alexia, confirming that it’s actually the three of us—”

“Hello, there is another person involved in this conversation.” Chelsea pushed herself away and turned to glare at them, arms crossed in front of her.

Braden stared at Jamie in confusion for a minute. He’d missed something and hoped Jamie caught it.

“Chels?” Jamie stood. “Did you not want to get married?”

She sniffed. “No.”

Braden swore. “Why not?”

Chelsea lifted her chin. “Because you didn’t ask me.” She twirled on one heel and left them both, retreating to the back of the condo.

Braden dropped his head into his hands while Jamie snickered. They grinned at each other.

“You really okay with me marrying her?” Jamie asked.

“Definitely. Only it looks like we’re going to have some groveling to do first. Hey, that ceremony, the one in front of Alexia?” Braden grabbed Jamie and held him. “You and me are a part of it.”

“Chelsea’s the center.”

Braden nodded. “She always will be, but there’s no denying that you and I are connected as well.” He leaned over to kiss Jamie. They got lost in each other for a minute, Braden tugging Jamie closer until the heat of their bodies meshed together.

“Ahem.”

They broke apart to see Chelsea standing in the doorframe of the kitchen, naked as a jaybird. She lifted a brow before strutting away, the rounds of her ass swaying from side to side.

“I’m ready to grovel,” Jamie said.

“A very good idea. Let’s go grovel together.”

Vivian Arend has hiked, biked, skied and paddled her way around most of North America and parts of Europe. Throughout all the wandering in the wilderness, stories have been planted and they are bursting out in vivid colour. Paranormal, twisted fairytales, red-hot contemporaries—the genres are all over.

Between times of living with no running water, she home schools her teenaged children and tries to keep up with her husband—the instigator of most of the wilderness adventures.

She loves to hear from readers:
[email protected]
. You can also drop by
www.vivianarend.com
for more information on what is coming next.

Look for these titles by Vivian Arend

Now Available:

Granite Lake Wolves

Wolf Signs

Wolf Flight

Wolf Games

Forces of Nature

Tidal Wave

Turn It On

Stormchild

Coming Soon:

Wolf Tracks

Falling, Freestyle

Slippery when wet…

Tidal Wave

© 2009 Vivian Arend

Forces of Nature, Book 1

From her first kiss to her first sight of dolphins dancing on the waves, Alexia Colten has always held a special place in her heart for Jaffrey’s Cove. Now that she’s back to help her grandmother settle into a home, she discovers this place has lost none of its remembered magic. In fact, it seems more magical than before—and more erotic.

After she’s gifted with a beautiful, dolphin-etched medallion, she finds herself surrounded by the golden boys of summers past. Her body is filled with longings she can’t explain and dreams of blue lights that turn into lovers.

Joshua Marley and his cousin Anthony are merfolk, a people capable of living beneath the waves as either dolphin or human. Alexia holds the medallion that marks her as the next in line to lead their people—if she can prove she can transform. Working in tandem, they’re sure they can arouse her passion and protect her from those who would use her simply to gain power.

But their strength alone may not be enough to help her face the challenge of her new position…

Warning: This title contains a conniving granny, naked men in the surf and shifters who take fun in the water to new depths. Snorkels not required.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Tidal Wave:

Alexia wondered briefly what she was doing in Anthony’s arms while Joshua wandered the room behind them. It was so different from anything she’d experienced before, the need welling from deep within calling her to keep these two men at her side. More than called, demanded. She longed for Joshua, a heady all-out desire that shocked her to the core, but she wanted Anthony as well. Alexia had never been one to fool around indiscriminately, always keeping sex in the context of long-term relationships. But there was no denying the urges sweeping through her now, harder and hotter than she’d experienced before.

It had to be something to do with the medallion, with the dolphins.

Did she want to be out of control like this? She’d accepted the medallion as a gift from her Gram. A trinket. Not some life-changing “now you are one of us” commitment. Yet here she stood in Anthony’s arms. Her hand throbbed from the smack she’d delivered to Michael’s face. Her body tingled from head to toe with the need for…something.

Kissing Anthony felt right. Sweet, tender kisses that turned her inside out. Anthony’s touch teased. Tentative at first, his lips on hers like a brush of the ocean on the shore at its very calmest. She stroked his lips with her tongue, and he drew a hand around her neck to adjust the angle of their mouths to bring them closer together. He nibbled on her lips, along her cheek to the V of her neckline and a shiver ran through her. Anthony was softness and intimate caring.

Then Joshua returned and the heat skyrocketed. Twisting her in his cousin’s arms Joshua took possession of her mouth and controlled her. Tongues met, teeth bit. This was what she’d been longing for and she urged him on, her lips hot and moist on his. She wrapped an arm around his neck to lock him in place, the fingers of her other hand still tangled with Anthony’s.

Three bodies close together, the rough fabric of their jeans brushed the bare skin of her legs and made her want more of their touch everywhere. Joshua’s hands held her hips firmly to his groin, his erection a hard ridge against her belly.

Anthony nipped the back of her neck, then lapped to soothe the pain away. He pulled the zipper on her dress inch by inch to release the garment from her body. A trail of kisses flowed downward, laving her bare skin with his tongue.

“She’s not wearing a bra,” Anthony whispered in awe as a finger brushed softly over the exposed skin of her back.

Joshua pulled away and Alexia restrained herself from following him, chasing his addictive taste. His hands pushed the straps of her dress aside and the top pooled around her hips. Anthony stroked her shoulders and down the curve of her breasts. He cradled her in his palms, lifting the firm globes to Joshua like an offering. The heat of Joshua’s stare hit her full on, and she forced her eyes shut to avoid going up in flames.

Then she was covered with caresses as her dress was lowered to the floor, and lips and hands touched her body again and again. She didn’t know who kissed her neck, didn’t care who caressed her breast. Skin to skin, moist kisses after searing hot touches. One of them flicked the pearled tip of her nipple, and her womb flooded with moisture.

“We want you, Alexia. All of you,” Joshua said before his tongue slid along the edge of her soaking wet undies. She opened her legs voluntarily, wanting more. Offering more. He pressed a kiss to her heated core, his teeth snagging on the fabric covering her. Hot breath on hot moisture combined and whirled together into a flammable danger zone. He leaned in harder with his lips, licking the length of her slit over her panties and she shivered.

Take them off, please.

She wanted his mouth on her, no barriers. Joshua sucked the fabric again, the crotch sopping wet between her juices and his mouth. Alexia tilted her hips, attempting to make him touch her more intimately, and he laughed. His hands traced over her thighs, thumbs rubbing along the inside toward her tender core. He pushed into the material, his fingers probing her pussy ever so slightly.

“Oh sweet mercy,” Alexia moaned. It was torment, the lightness of his touch on super-sensitized tissues.

Her panties slid away, and she rocked on suddenly shaky legs until Joshua’s hands steadied her. One hand reached behind her to clasp her ass, his fingers dipped into the crease between her cheeks. The other stroked her slit, fingers dragging through the moisture to settle where her clit pulsed in time with her heart.