[Invitation to Eden 21.0] Falling or Flying (6 page)

“Maybe she
is
a spy, Austin. We could be in trouble. She’s not talking.”

“I’ll talk.” Joely reached up and took her hair down from its ponytail, needing to do something with her hands. “It’s not the name I was born with, but since I didn’t have any identification to get my diploma and take my pilot exams, I borrowed it from a man who was like a father to me for a few years. Artie had this small private airport, and he took me in and made a room for me there. Most importantly, he taught me how to fly. It changed my life.”

The men shared a look and then stared at her in silence. She never told that story to anyone. Not about Artie Jones…or what had come before his kindness. Vardalos knew some of it, but he’d earned that trust. So why did it seem right to share it with these two men? Why wasn’t she shutting down or walking away?

She was only sorry she’d made Court so uncomfortable. She could feel his sadness at her answer. “Buck up, Ginger. It’s a good story. I’m not trying to destroy your fantasy, I swear. You just have to ask sexier questions.”

Austin’s fingers had reached for her again and were now entwined with hers. He squeezed. “It’s an amazing story, Joely. Fascinating. I want to hear more.”

“And I want to get to the sexier questions.” Court reached for another bottle, raising the tiny whiskey carefully as he drank it dry. After he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand he lifted one eyebrow. “Challenge accepted.”

“It’s her turn, stowaway.” Austin spoke so low she had to lean closer to hear. “Ask me to choose, Joely.”

“Okay, Professor. Truth or Dare?”

He waited until she was looking into his eyes. “Truth.”

“Amateurs,” Court groused.

She had too many questions. Too many things she wanted to know. But that wasn’t what this particular game was about. It wasn’t why Court had wanted to play it, or why Austin seemed to be waiting for something. Waiting for…an invitation from her? The air seemed to be changing around her. It was heavier with the scent of flowers. Was she affecting the island or was Eden making its presence known?

Her lips tilted and she shook her head at the question that finally came to mind. And she’d been worried about Court’s question. “As your Eden tour guide, I feel it’s my duty to ask something embarrassingly intimate. Have you ever…had a threesome?”

Court was laughing so hard he fell over and Austin smiled, shaking his head. “He’s never going to let you forget you asked, Joely. He’ll never let
me
forget either. I hope you know that.”

“This is a legitimate question, not a come-on,” she assured him. “And you have to tell the truth.”

“Yes,” Austin answered to her surprise. “And I’m not ashamed to admit I enjoyed it. And though he can be a pain in the ass, we’ve been told we make a good team.”

We? Joely’s face flushed. “So you and
Court
have shared women. You’re better friends than I thought. Is that something you do together a lot, the hobby you prefer to golf and woodcarving, or just— Wait, am I allowed to ask a follow-up?”

Austin’s thumb was caressing her palm in a way that made her want to shiver. “Just this once we’ll give you a pass. I’ve been known to be reserved on occasion but Court doesn’t know what that word means. Once, years ago, a woman I was dating imagined out loud that together we would make the perfect lover. Court dared me to prove her right.”

“Let those dungeon masters have their mind-fuckery, I say.” Court lifted his empty bottle in salute. “I want a woman too busy screaming in pleasure to be able to remember to call me Sir.”

Austin shifted in his seat. “Yes, well, to answer the rest of your question, we did share a woman more than once, but it’s been a while, and I don’t think we ever mistook it for golf.”

Court waved his hand in dismissal. “You were temporarily sidelined, buddy. You’re as good as new now. I bet you could putt with the best of them.”

Joely tugged her hand away from Austin’s and cupped her heated cheeks. “I think it’s Austin’s turn to ask a question, isn’t it?”

They needed to stop talking about this. Her dreams would never be the same. Now, instead of Austin alone, she’d be imagining both men touching her, taking her, making her scream.

“Are we making you uncomfortable?” Austin’s question was hesitant. “You wanted the truth, and this is Eden so I—”

“I’m good,” she squeaked. “A bit tipsy but good. I did ask.”

Court’s chuckle was low and knowing. “She’s never done it, but she’s thinking about it now. One of us should ask her about the kinkiest sex she’s ever had, just to be fair.”

She definitely wasn’t going to take another turn.

Austin was watching her with something new in his eyes. “I don’t think so, Court. I think I want to skip my turn, and then I’d like you to dare me to kiss our sexy pilot senseless.”

Oh God.

“Austin Wright, I dare you to kiss your pajama bottoms off this blushing beauty while I watch.”

“Wait, Aust—”

Oh God, those lips. He kissed her as if he’d done it a thousand times before. As if he knew exactly what drove her crazy because she belonged to him. Exactly the way he had in all her dreams. His full lips parted and his tongue began a sensual battle for dominance in her mouth, making her moan.

He tasted like whiskey and desire. Joely melted, her head falling back as she gave in completely. He followed her, unwilling to break contact. He wasn’t touching her with anything but his lips, but she could feel his caress on every part of her body. She shivered and her nipples went hard against his t-shirt. The smells of flowers and fire and this man were like a narcotic, making her head spin.

She turned her body toward him in a silent plea but all he did was suck her lower lip into his mouth before skimming his tongue along hers. Her skin felt hot and too tight, and she was already wet, just from this. From his kiss. It felt like she’d been waiting for it forever. Wondering if the real thing was better than the dream.

It was.

She couldn’t resist the desire to reach for his hand and lift it to her breast, cupping his palm against it in demand.

Austin moaned and his fingers dug into her flesh through the cotton fabric, filling his hand until her nipple was pressing into his palm.

“Jesus,” she heard Court mutter. “She knows what she wants, doesn’t she? But she needs more, Austin. Take her shirt off.”

Joely gasped but lifted her arms willingly when Austin grabbed the hem of the t-shirt to pull it over her head. He lifted his mouth from hers long enough to toss the shirt aside, long enough to stare at the rosy peaks that topped her small breasts while she watched his eyes. They were like a storm over the ocean. She could easily lose her way inside them.

“Austin.”

He was kissing her again, both hands cupping her breasts, fingers pinching her nipples until she groaned and arched her back, begging for more.
Yes.
She reveled in the scrape of his fingertips, rougher than she’d expected, and the bite of his teeth on her lips. Reality was so much better.

She knew Court was watching and she didn’t care. Every tug of Austin’s fingers shot straight to her sex, making her tremble. Maybe it was the drink, or the romance of the old plane, or the danger of being lost on the island. Maybe the aphrodisiac that was the Eden breeze was finally working on her. Whatever the reason, she knew she’d never wanted anyone this much. Never needed so desperately to be taken.

And she wanted Court to see it.

Joely reached out to tug on Austin’s shirt and his hands left her long enough to comply with rough haste, the sound of buttons popping making her smile against his lips. Then she was touching his chest. Smooth and strong. He felt so good. When she caressed his stomach, his fingers tightened against her breasts, making her gasp.

Oh God, she liked that. She loved that. She wanted him to do it again. Her hands dropped to his belt and he took his mouth away. Joely moaned in denial at the loss.

“Not yet, baby. Not that.” He raised his voice, the smoky sound rasping with passion. “Court? Dare me to make her come.”

“Do it.” Court’s rumble sounded pained. “Hell, man, if you don’t I will.”

“No you won’t. Not tonight.” Austin stared into her eyes as his hands cupped her shoulders and pushed her onto her back against the pile of clothes. “Tell me
you
want this, Joely. I need to hear you say it. Tell me you want me to make you come.”

“Yes,” she answered breathlessly, trying to pull him on top of her. “I want it. I need it.”

He hesitated, but she was all need now. There was no room for thought or doubt or shame. No room for pride. She was wild as the island. She had to have more. “He dared you,” she moaned. “You have to do it or you’ll lose the game, Austin.
Please
.”

“Jesus, Joely.” Austin yanked the thin pajama bottoms off her legs and gripped her thighs with his hands, opening them wide on either side of him. “God, look at you. You don’t know how long I’ve wanted this, how many times I dreamed about how sweet you’d taste. You’re so wet, baby.”

He lowered his head and she cried his name at the first firm lick of his tongue. Austin growled against her clit and her hips lifted in reaction.

More
, she was chanting in her head.
More, more, make me come
.

She reached down and slid her fingers into this thick, dark hair, holding him close as her hips rocked against him again.
More
, she begged as he teased her with light strokes around her clit.

“That’s right, Mary Ann,” Court muttered. “Show him what you want. Austin, I think your girl needs a hard ride. She’s too fucking close for you to tease.”

Joely closed her eyes. Why was that sexy? She knew Austin could taste the fresh flood of need at Court’s raw commentary because he groaned against her hungrily. Then he was gripping her hips and rolling onto his back with her thighs on either side of his head.

“Oh my God,” she moaned, her hands still in his hair as she looked down into his eyes.

“Take what you need.” Court urged. “Ride him. Or do I have to dare you?”

She leaned forward so she could balance on her hands and started to slowly rock against his mouth. It was an intimate position. Powerful.  She lifted her hips just out of reach, smiling when she heard him growl. His strong hands dragged her back impatiently, and then finally he was thrusting his tongue deep inside her.

“
Yes.
God, yes, like that, Austin.”

His fingers dug into her the cheeks of her ass and hers curled into the ground as they moved together toward her climax. The firelight flickered around them like a living primal spirit. That was how she felt. Uncivilized. Hot. Wild.

She turned her head and saw Court staring at her over the flames, his expression almost savage. The need coming off him in waves of heat only fueled hers and she pumped against Austin’s mouth faster. Harder. Court bit his lip, watching her breasts swaying as if he wanted to taste them. As if he wanted to join them. Share her with Austin.

Had she thought about it before? Would she ever be able to think about anything else?

“Fuck me,” she whispered, looking away from Court and down into stormy gray eyes. “Taste me, Austin. Make me come. That’s what I want. Yes, deeper.
God, yes
.”

She screamed when the orgasm hit her, the sound skipping across the water and echoing through the trees and into the night. She wondered for a heartbeat if they could hear her at the castle, and then she couldn’t breathe or think or feel anything but this. Him. Austin.

Her body was quaking and her mind still reeling when Austin kissed her thigh and slid out from under her. She dropped her forehead to the ground and closed her eyes, hoping she wasn’t going to shake apart while Austin and Court spoke above her.

“You good here for tonight?”

“Take her, Austin. We both know you need to.”

He scooped Joely up in his arms and she looked over his shoulder at Court standing alone by the fire. Their game was over.

“Where are you taking me, Professor?” She buried her face in his neck and inhaled, memorizing every detail of this moment. She couldn’t remember anyone doing this for her before. Carrying her. Taking care of her.

She could learn to like it.

He ducked when they reached the entrance and she looked around, seeing the cave lit by Court’s two sex candles and more clothing piled on the ground in lieu of a pallet. The box of condoms was the stand-out decoration. “Why does this look like a planned seduction, Austin Wright?”

“Planning
is
usually what I do,” Austin responded gruffly. “But this was Court. He planned. I dreamed.”

“Dreamed?” He kept saying that. Suddenly everything looked strangely familiar. As if they’d been here before, like this. As if this was always going to happen.

He laid her down on the clothes and stood, unbuttoning his pants. “About you, Joely. More times than I can count. I dreamed about making love to you in this cave before I flew to Miami yesterday. I only realized it was the same place when we arrived. Maybe the island is the one with the plan.”

You’re in my dreams too.
Joely bit her lip so she wouldn’t admit it out loud.  “She does like to meddle,” she murmured, watching him slip off the remainder of his clothes. “At this moment I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.”

When he stood naked above her she swallowed and licked her lips. Austin was too good to be true. To be real. Was she still dreaming? He was like one of those Greek statues…if those statues were of well-endowed demi-gods with erections that made her mouth water. Made her want him again.

Unable to restrain herself, she rose up onto her knees and slid her hands up his thighs. She could see the puckered scars on his kneecaps and hips, and she wanted to run her tongue along them. She didn’t like thinking of him in pain, but without them he would be too flawless. They made him real. Human. Sexier.

She tilted her head back and sent him a siren smile. “In this dream of yours was I on my knees like this?”

When her hand gripped his hard shaft he hissed. “Actually, this is a surprise.”