Appassionato (28 page)

Duncan answered this question. “The police don’t know anything about the drug. That’s why you haven’t heard a report. They didn’t even know it existed.”

Another reporter asked a question before Lisa could pick again. “What does the drug do?”

“It heightens the mental senses of the person who takes it, for a short time,” Jake said, not elaborating.

“What does that mean?” the reporter asked, looking confused. “Mental senses?”

“It means that it gives the person a limited sense of empathy. The person taking the drug can read the emotions of others while on the drug. I’m sure you can see how dangerous that is. When the drug wears off, the user experiences a sort of mania, then disorientation. We don’t know what the long-term effects are yet or how addictive it is. It’s called ’Path’ on the street.”

“Why are you giving us this information instead of the police?”

“We think that the origin of the drug is tied to a large, underground criminal organization.” Duncan held up his hands, trying to quiet the crowd down. “No, we don’t have a lot of evidence and, no, we don’t know where it began or who is behind the drug. All we know is that we rescued eighteen people and one of the seven kidnappers escaped. Clearly there is something larger going on. It’s not easy to draw blood and synthesize a drug based on a new phenomenon like bonding then get the drug on the streets in a little over a month. That takes a great deal of money.”

The crowd was quiet as everyone considered the implications of what Duncan had just said. Then one man moved forward. Lisa nodded at him when he looked to her for permission.

“How safe is it for you to be telling us this?”

Duncan snorted. “Not safe at all. But we’ll be a lot safer the sooner you write your articles and post the video of this interview on the web. The more people who understand what’s happening the better.”

Jake slid off his stool and moved closer to Duncan. “And we’re going to be hiring more security in the near future.” Duncan looked at Jake with surprise. Jake looked back, clearly serious. Duncan smiled.

Lisa pointed at the crowd. “One more question.” She gestured to a woman near the front.

“What does this mean for your tour? Are you canceling any dates? What about Emma? If you have to stay together since you’re bonded, does that mean she has to travel with you?”

Duncan laughed. “That’s a lot more than one question.”

The woman flushed but didn’t back down. “Hey, some of us are actually here to find out about your music.”

Jake grinned at the woman. “I like you.” She blushed even more, and Emma had to smile. Her men were charmers, that’s for sure.

“I’m going to keep touring. Emma has resigned her job as a librarian and will be coming onto the tour as my personal manager. Jake will be taking over as my keyboard player, and of course he will continue writing my songs with me. So it all works out great for the music.” With that, Duncan slid off his stool and slung an arm around Jake. Then he turned to Emma and pulled her down too, hugging her with his other arm. His and Jake’s love spun through their link loud and clear. She pulled Duncan into a kiss, laughing when Jake shoved in first. She kissed Jake, then Duncan, then the two men kissed each other. None of them paid any attention to the flashes exploding like fireworks around them.

Epilogue

The crowd roared and Emma glanced at her clipboard to make sure everything was ready for Duncan and Jake to go onstage. The dressing room was set up, the sound guys were ready, the equipment was working with no problems. The musicians jostled each other good-naturedly behind the metal stairs at the back of the stage. Everything was perfect. Emma closed her eyes and let the anticipation of the crowd wash over her. She sensed Jake and Duncan savoring it with her and smiled. When she opened her eyes, her men were standing in front of her, ready to go onstage. Duncan had on leather pants, combat boots, and a black T-shirt so tight she could clearly see the metal studs of his nipple rings through the fabric. Jake wore tight black jeans, soft boots, and a brown leather jacket with nothing on underneath so that the smooth skin of his chest flashed every time he moved. They looked good enough to eat.

“Hey, none of that. I don’t want to go onstage with a hard-on again,” Duncan said, his smile belying his admonishment.

Emma laughed. “Yeah, right. Like that’s anything new. By the time you get to the third song it’ll be like you’re having sex. On stage. In front of a million people.”

“Don’t yell at Duncan, honey. I like to watch him get all hot and bothered when he’s performing.” Jake grinned and swooped in for a kiss. Emma batted him away haphazardly.

Duncan shook his head in exasperation. “It’s all your fault, Jake. You’re the one wiggling your ass behind the keyboards. I can’t help but be appreciative.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “You have no self-control.”

“I have plenty of self-control. I just don’t see the point in using it,” Duncan retorted.

“Boys, please,” Emma scolded. They turned to her at the same time and she nearly melted beneath the heat of their combined attention. She pointed to the stage. “You’re on in thirty seconds.”

Duncan smiled and kissed her, taking a moment to press against her lips until she opened her mouth, breathless. He licked inside, and Emma gasped as he swiped his tongue against hers, then pulled back and bit at her lower lip, sucking until it throbbed. She didn’t even have time to savor the sting before Jake moved in, kissing her until she dropped the clipboard to hang onto his shoulders. Then he gently broke the kiss and set her away from him. “Not now, honey. We’ve gotta put on a show.” She swatted at him as he ducked, then laughed as he goosed Duncan on the way to the stage, making the other man jump and swear.
How is this my life?
she thought.

* * * *

Three hours later, Duncan and Jake crashed into the dressing room where Emma waited. As soon as they were through the door, she swung it closed and locked it. Jake was already kissing Duncan, his mouth wild, his hands in Duncan’s hair. He looked like he was trying to climb the taller man as their auras sparked and flared around each other. Emma stepped closer, hoping to prevent costume damage. She remembered how embarrassed she’d been the time she and Jake had ripped Duncan’s shirt off after his performance. She’d had to send someone out to find something for him to wear for the fan meet and greet and he ended up wearing one of the concert T-shirts sold for his own show.

Come on, that was funny
, Jake thought to her as he continued to devour Duncan’s mouth.

If you can form a coherent thought, you’re not doing that right
, Emma thought back at him.

Jake pulled away from Duncan to glare at her. “You think you could do better?”

She shivered at the look on his face, then squared her shoulders and nodded.

“What are you doing all the way over there, then?” Duncan asked, mouth wet and swollen, his voice sounding low and fucked-out after singing for three hours. “Come here.”

Emma walked over to her guys, unbuttoning her blouse on the way. Her aura reached out to them, waiting to thread through theirs. She moved closer, letting her top fall from her shoulders, not caring where it went, not caring about much of anything as she watched Duncan try to wrestle Jake’s jacket off. He paused for a moment with the garment half on, half off,
looking at Jake’s gorgeous chest
, Emma thought. Then, in an unprecedented move that she would remember for the rest of her life, he grabbed the leather in his fists and picked the smaller man up, turning and pressing him against the dressing room wall. Emma gasped and Jake didn’t look like he was in much better shape as Duncan mauled Jake’s mouth. Jake lifted his legs up and locked them around Duncan’s waist as Emma swayed on her feet, trying not to come just from watching. Duncan rocked into the smaller man, shoving his hips forward. Emma felt their arousal, enjoying the way Duncan’s thrusts pressed against Jake’s swollen cock. A little bit longer and they’d all come, just from this. Then Duncan lifted his face and let Jake slide down the wall.

“Emma, come here,” he said, turning. Emma swallowed at the heat in his eyes. He reached out a hand and she took it, letting him pull her over. He tucked her against his chest then leaned forward, pressing her back into Jake. She gasped as she looked down, the colors of their auras blending and sparking as Jake’s arms snaked tightly around her ribs. Then Duncan slid her panties down and she groaned as his hands lingered on her skin. Now all she had on was her bra and skirt, but that didn’t stop Duncan as he stepped back for a moment to unbutton his pants. He pulled out his cock and Emma looked down at the crown, leaking and red as it peeked out between Duncan’s fingers. She itched to touch him and tried to move, but then Jake groaned behind her, squeezing until she could barely breathe. Duncan surged forward, his hips jerking as he slipped his dick against her soft folds. Emma shook and Jake lifted her off the ground, angling her pelvis just right. Then Duncan pushed inside her body, shoving her against Jake. She’d never been so grateful for going on birth control as she was now because—
Wow, no condom
. He felt divine.

She threw her head back and Jake bit along her neck as Duncan began rocking. Jake’s cock throbbed against her lower back like a brand, and she couldn’t move or think or do much of anything except tremble as their arousal ramped higher and higher. She reached an arm around Jake’s head, holding his mouth against the soft skin of her throat and threw the other arm around Duncan’s neck. He buried his face in her hair and began thrusting harder, short, sharp stabs forward. Emma reveled in the thick heat of him as he slid inside, bumping her clit over and over with the base of his erection. Jake moved one of his hands down to her pussy and he grabbed Duncan’s cock, making the other man groan. Jake chuckled into Emma’s ear as she squirmed, trying to rub herself against his thumb.

“Don’t worry, honey, we’ll get there. I just want to savor the journey,” Jake murmured in her ear, his voice so low Emma felt him in her spine more than heard him. Then he rubbed his thumb against her clit without letting go of Duncan’s cock. He softly circled her nub, over and over, and she shuddered. Duncan froze, then tried to thrust again, but he was blocked by Jake’s hand. He moaned and Emma thrashed as much as she could, sandwiched between the two men.

“Oh my God, Jake, I need—” she gasped and he suddenly pressed his thumb against her, unmoving.

“No, please. Move, Jake, please,” Emma begged. Duncan panted in her ear as his hips jerked against her, trying to shove his cock inside. Jake chuckled and Duncan pulled out, then trembled as Jake pumped his hand around the other man’s erection, once, twice. Emma could tell he was circling his fingers around the crown of Duncan’s cock, teasing at the slit, then squeezing tightly so that Duncan couldn’t come.

“Jake, Jesus Christ, let me come,” Duncan ground out.

Jake chuckled, then moved his hand as Duncan tried to fuck into Emma again. Duncan slid all the way home with a shudder, making all three of them groan. Jake slipped his thumb back over Emma’s clit, jamming his hips against her back. Then suddenly, he pushed them away from the wall.

“Where are we going?” Emma gasped as Duncan took over holding her up. She wrapped her legs tighter around his hips as he followed Jake to the beat-up sofa in the corner.
Why do these places always have old sofas
? she wondered vaguely.

“I want to fuck Duncan,” Jake said, rummaging in his bag. Duncan jerked, catching his breath and Emma sensed him think,
it’s about damn time
. Then he dropped Emma on the sofa and she whined, protesting as he slipped out of her.

“Hang on, sweetheart,” Duncan panted. He dragged her ass to the edge of the cushions and knelt on the floor, pushing back inside in a single hard thrust that had her gasping.

“God, finally,” Jake muttered. He stood up and walked over, holding a bottle of lube and a condom loosely between his fingers.

“Do you know what you’re doing with that?” Duncan teased, holding still. Emma squirmed, trying to get him to move. “Shh, relax, Emma,” he soothed.

“Oh, please, have a little faith in me,” Jake scoffed in response to Duncan. He dropped down and coated two of his fingers with the slick substance. “Sorry, it’s a little cold.”

“Come on,” Duncan said impatiently.

“Okay, okay,” Jake murmured. Emma felt Duncan jerk as Jake slipped one finger, then two into Duncan’s hole. “Jesus you’re tight.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve never done this before,” Duncan panted.

What? Never?
Jake thought. Emma sensed his astonishment.

“Never,” Duncan said out loud. Jake trembled and eased his fingers inside Duncan. Emma felt him work at the muscle. Duncan shuddered, trying to hold completely still and failing. Then he arched back with a groan as Jake brushed against his prostate. “God, there! Right there, don’t stop, Jake,” Duncan muttered, bucking.