Checking It Twice

chapter Six


By the time Jana pulled into the driveway of her tiny bungalow, fat snowflakes were beginning to pirouette from the sky. Sending a heartfelt thank-you to Mother Nature for waiting to start the snowpocalypse until she made it home, she nudged the Mustang’s door shut with her hip and hurried toward the entrance of her house. It was still a little odd thinking of it as hers. Shortly after Lacey moved in with Bram and Ry, Jana had scraped together enough cash for a down payment to purchase Lacey’s home. The price had been too good to pass up, and she’d been more than willing to say adios to her cramped, overpriced apartment. Not to mention her next-door neighbor and his strong love affair with bad country music and burning everything he cooked. Leaving that stench behind certainly hadn’t been a hardship, and the joys of being a homeowner more than made up for the additional expenses that showed up in her mailbox every month.

With the front door secured behind her, she shrugged from her winter gear and stashed everything in the hall closet before starting up the gas fireplace in the living room and plugging in the Christmas tree lights. The festive, multicolored sparkle show shimmering off the fragrant balsam branches and pile of presents didn’t immediately lift her spirits.

Deciding her mood needed a stiff boost, she trudged to the liquor cabinet. While she rummaged for drink fixings, the doorbell rang. Her heart leapt in traitorous hope, only to plummet a second later when she realized the odds of her visitor being Nick or Kevin were slim to none. Nick didn’t even know where she lived. As for Kevin, not too likely he’d show up with the way he tore out of her parking lot like a bat out of hell.

Snuffing her disappointment as best she could, she went to answer the door. Her glum mood evaporated when she spotted Lacey standing outside stomping snow from her boots.

“What are you doing here?” Jana glanced past Lacey to the accumulating blanket of snow on the front lawn. “I can’t believe you were driving in this, you crazy blockhead.”

“You really should consider becoming a writer for Hallmark, what with your gift for flowery endearments.” Rolling her eyes, Lacey brushed some of the powdery stuff from the sleeves of her coat. “I heard about what happened this afternoon. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

It took a moment to realize Lacey was referring to the scene at the Dockside, not the infinitely worse one at Wicked Delights. “Did Bram crab to you about me?”

“No, he’s worried about you too. We all are.” Lacey shivered, drawing Jana’s attention to the fact they were standing around talking in the cold like a pair of idiots. Make that soon-to-be-frozen, popsicle-ized idiots.

Snagging Lacey’s cuff, Jana dragged her inside and closed the door, sealing off the chill. “I was just about to make a cocktail. Care to join me?”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

“Why? You preggers?” She grinned at the joke, but Lacey remained quiet. Suspiciously so. Her mouth dropping open, Jana stared at her friend. “No. Freakin’. Way.”

Lacey grimaced. “I wasn’t going to say anything until my doctor confirms the at-home pregnancy tests I took.”

“Well, how many did you take?”

“Five. They all came back positive.”

“Girl, I’m pretty sure that means you’re pregnant.”

“I know. But I want to be sure.”

She scanned Lacey’s expression, looking for any clue regarding her emotions. “So, is this a good thing?”

“I admit to being a basket case at first. I mean, I recently got on the Pill to not get pregnant.” Lacey blew out a breath before smiling sheepishly. “But now that it’s had some time to sink in…yeah, I think it is good. My parents are ecstatic, if you can believe it.” Lacey’s cheeks pinkened. “Although I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. They were a lot faster at accepting my unusual relationship than I was initially.”

It’d taken Lacey almost a month after moving in with Bram and Ry to come clean with her parents. Recalling all the late-night phone calls spent calming Lacey’s nerves, Jana squeezed her friend’s hand. “What do the boys think?”

Lacey’s face immediately glowed at the mention of her men. “Bram and Ry are excited beyond words. They’re already picking out paint chips for the nursery. You’d think they’d at least wait until we find out if it’s a boy or a girl.”

“Are you…?” Ah hell, just spit it out. “Are you going to do a DNA test once the baby’s born?”

“No. Far as we’re concerned, the baby is a product of all of our love. Ry and Bram are equal daddies in this.”

Jana shook her head. “Wow, you’ve come a long way since last year.”

“I finally realized what was important.”

Taking in the undeniable happiness radiating from Lacey, Jana squeezed her in a tight hug. “I’m so happy for all of you. But I’m especially happy for Baby Embryo—because he or she is getting the world’s most awesome auntie.”

Snorting, Lacey unwound her scarf. After stashing that and Lacey’s coat in the closet, Jana led the way into the living room. Lacey plopped onto the overstuffed club chair, her gaze sweeping the room. “I really like the changes you’ve made in here.”

“I was thinking of painting the wall behind the TV a chocolate brown.” Or maybe cocoa, to match Nick’s eyes. Then again, green was also a dreamy color. If she could find the perfect complement to Kevin’s hazel—

A pointed cough issued from Lacey, breaking through Jana’s mental color swatching. “Kevin mentioned he was going to stop by your store.”

“Yeah, he did. About an hour ago.”

“Did you two get things worked out?”

“Not exactly.” Reminded of the torment in his eyes while he’d stared at her and Nick, she swallowed hard and trekked to the liquor cabinet. She poured a double shot of apple brandy and took a swig, willing the warm buzz trickling through her veins to speed up enough to numb her heartache.

“He cares for you,” Lacey said gently. “A lot. Take it from someone who spent fifteen years hiding from her feelings.”

“Apparently tonight is all about people sharing Kevin’s feelings for me.” Everyone except Kevin. Grunting, Jana kicked back the remainder of her brandy.

“He hasn’t left for Vegas yet. Who knows what could happen between now and then?”

Swiveling, she gave Lacey a squinty look. “That almost sounded like a dare.”

Lacey offered an innocent smile. “Double dog ya.”

The mention of double brought her thoughts careening back around to another of her enormous dilemmas—her mutual attraction for Kevin and Nick. Pursing her lips, she crossed to the couch and perched on the arm, absently rubbing the base of her glass along her knee. “How do you deal with being in love with two men?”

If Lacey was surprised by the question, her expression sure didn’t give her away. Probably she was used to being asked that by now. Or maybe it was something she’d mulled over on her own countless times. “I would never have thought I’d be okay with it, but now I can’t imagine it being any other way. The thought of not having Ry and Bram in my life…it’d be unbearable.”

“Hmm.”

Something sharpened in Lacey’s gaze. “Why do you ask?”

“No particular reason.”

Lacey’s cellphone suddenly blared the opening bars of “Who Let the Dogs Out”, saving Jana from having to elaborate further. Convinced she’d dodged a bullet, she listened to Lacey’s side of the conversation with Bram. After reassuring him that Jana was okay, Lacey promised to head home before the roads got too wicked and hung up with a sweet Love you directed to Bram and another he was instructed to deliver to the worriedly pacing Ry.

Wistfulness stirring, Jana eyed Lacey. “You guys really have built the perfect relationship, haven’t you?”

“It’s far from perfect, but it works for us.” The shrewdness returned to Lacey’s expression. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“No.” Jana glanced toward the bay window and the snow whipping against the glass. “You better hit the road before this becomes a full-scale blizzard.”

“Subtle, Jana.”

Chuckling, she slid from the arm of the couch as Lacey stood. “I just don’t want Bram kicking my ass if you skid off the road. Really.”

The twitch of her nose more than relaying that she’d seen through that bullshit, Lacey walked with her to the front entrance. She tugged on her coat and scarf, hugged Jana goodbye and dashed out to her SUV, her form an indistinct blur amongst the flurries of snowflakes. Once Lacey’s taillights disappeared into the snowy dusk, Jana closed the door and slid the deadbolt home. Traipsing back into the living room, she surveyed the liquor cabinet, debating the feasibility of one more drink. Indulging in another brandy might harsh the mellow from the first one. Deciding not to take the risk, she pivoted away from the cabinet and journeyed down the hall to the bathroom instead.

One of the first things she’d splurged on after buying the house was a complete remodel of the master bath. She’d paid through the teeth to have the old tub-and-shower combo ripped out and replaced with a clawfoot tub, but it’d been more than worth it. The depth was perfect for soaking her cares away. Amazing coincidence, since that was precisely what she aimed to do.

She stripped from her clothes and pinned her hair up with a butterfly clip. Sitting on the edge of the tub, she dialed the faucet on and reached for her favorite ginger-scented bath salts while the hot steam enveloped her. A second later she sank into the swirling, fragrant water with a deep sigh of pleasure. Propping her feet on the lip of the tub, she wiggled her toes. The sight of the pink and purple stars Lucinda had so artfully designed only served to remind Jana of the date she’d planned with Kevin for the upcoming weekend. Shortly after that, he’d be leaving for Vegas. And leaving her behind. Heaviness wedged behind her sternum.

Closing her eyes, she took several calming breaths, willing her previous tranquility to return. The cordless sitting on the sink console let out a shrill ring, making her jolt and causing water to slosh all over the place in protest. Damn it, she’d forgotten she’d left the stinkin’ phone in here this morning. It was tempting to let it go to voicemail, but the chance of it being an emergency made it impossible for her to ignore the call.

Scooting to the foot of the tub, she cranked off the splashing faucet and reached for the phone. With an impatient jab of her thumb, she clicked the Talk button. “Hello?”

A brief silence stretched on the line before a throat cleared. “I’m sorry.”

Kevin’s voice both a balm and a knife to her weary emotions, she clutched the receiver in a tight grip. Several more beats of silence ticked by.

“Jana, you there?” Unmistakable worry underscored Kevin’s soft demand.

“Yes.” She could practically feel his relief sweeping through the line.

“I thought you might have hung up on me.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“No, but I would have deserved it.”

“Why did you leave?” Her heart thudding faster, she scooted back into a reclining position. “Is it…is it because of Nick and me kissing?”

“No.” A rough exhalation crackled through the receiver. “Maybe. I was shocked as hell to see him there. And then you…and him… How the f*ck do you even know each other?”

“He’s been selling me products for a little over a year.”

“Oh.” Another tense silence. “He’s a great guy. I’m glad you found someone, Jana.”

The quiet sincerity in his voice increased the pressure in her chest. “We’re not together.” I don’t have either one of you. The ache expanding in her heart, she shifted in the tub, disturbing a small wave of water.

“What was that?”

“I’m taking a bath.”

Even more interminable silence. “I should let you go.”

“No.” She’d already stripped her soul to him. What difference did it make if she was physically naked now? The second the thought entered her mind, a heady streak of awareness blazed through her.

This was as naked as she’d ever been with Kevin. And might possibly ever be with him. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see her. In a way, it was even more exciting that he couldn’t.

“Mmm.” Giving full rein to the throaty murmur, she rested her neck on the padded plastic pillow attached to the tub and closed her eyes again.

“I’ll call you later, okay?” A husky, desperate edge had entered Kevin’s tone.

“No. Talk to me now. Please.” The hot, silky water stroked her skin like a lover’s caress. Her nipples beaded, breaking the surface of the steamy water.

“I don’t have anything to say.”

“I can give you some inspiration.” Wiggling into a more comfortable position, she grazed her fingertips over her breasts, circling her puckered areolas. “Tell me what you’d do if you were here in the tub with me right now.”

His harsh inhalation leaked through the receiver. “Jana, I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can. The way you touched me the other night, God, it was amazing. I want that again, so badly. Even if it’s only through your voice. Your words. Please.”

“I shouldn’t have done that. It wasn’t right to lead you on. Make you think it could be anything more than a one-time thing.”

“D-do you regret doing it? Making me come?”

He remained quiet for a second. When his voice finally appeared, it was noticeably husky. “No. I loved making you come.”

Her skin flushed. “Then do it again. Right now. I’m naked, wet and ready for anything you want to do to me.”

“I…”

She waited, her breath suspended. Seconds stretched into infinity. If he’s hung up on me, I’m going to freakin’ kill him.

“I’d wash your hair.”

The vise let up on her lungs. Despite her relief, consternation still prodded at her as she considered his statement. Wash my hair? That’s kind of…not what I’d been hoping for.

“I love your hair. It always smells like flowers.”

“It’s my shampoo.” She reached for the bottle resting in the jam-packed caddy. “Organic botanicals and biotin.” Holy shit balls. Were they really discussing shampoo right now? Talk about the worst attempt at phone sex in the annals of time. “Okay, you’re done washing my hair. Now what are you doing?”

“Conditioning it.”

She wasn’t entirely certain, but she swore she detected Kevin’s smothered chuckle as she gritted her teeth. “You’re deliberately being obtuse.”

“I’m not having phone sex with you, Jana.”

“Why? Worried you might get too excited?” she baited.

“No, I’m worried you’ll get the wrong idea. You deserve to be happy, with a guy who can give you everything, not just words through the phone to get you off.”

Fidgeting with the cap on the shampoo bottle, she scooched deeper into the tub until the water bobbed beneath her chin. “I think you’re more than capable of doing that.” Unlike that stupid broad Heather. Okay, maybe it was mean and unfair to pass judgment on a woman she’d never even met. But honestly, anyone who didn’t recognize how truly wonderful Kevin was had to be a freakin’ bozo.

“There are things you don’t understand about me. Things that keep me from giving you what you need.”

Uncertainty unfurled in her stomach. She wanted to reassure him, but if she revealed that she knew his secrets, would it scare him off even more? It was a risk she had to take. He needed to know that she accepted him. All of him. “It’s okay that you like to watch.”

Tension rooted her in place as she waited for Kevin to say something. To say anything. When he did, there was no missing the wariness in his voice. “What exactly are you referring to?”

“I know about the voyeurism.”

Kevin uttered a terse swearword. “What else did Nick tell you?”

“Please don’t be mad at him. You know what a pain in the ass I can be about weaseling information from people.”

“What else did he tell you?” Kevin repeated tightly.

She swallowed, desperately trying to defeat her nervousness. “I know about the threesomes.”

“Is that all of it?”

Frowning, she stashed the bottle of shampoo back into the caddy. “Yes. What else is there?”

His exhalation was heavy and strangely relieved. “Nothing. I just wish he’d kept his damn mouth shut.”

“Why? None of that stuff bothers me.” She licked her lips, her pulse increasing. Did she dare tell him? It’d only be fair, since she knew some of his deepest, darkest secrets now. “In fact…I’ve wondered about it. What it would be like, being with two men.”

Kevin was quiet for a long moment. “You have?”

“Mm-hm. I’ve gotten myself off thinking about it. Even went so far as to use a vibrator in my p-ssy and ass at the same time to make it seem real.”

“Jesus Christ.”

Grinning, she extended her foot and ran her toes along the heated metal of the faucet. “Just being honest here.” Crooking her leg, she eyed the rippling stream of water snaking down her calf. Yes, a lover’s caress. Or better yet, two. In her mind’s eye, it was so easy to picture Nick’s fingertips trailing along her thighs, tormenting her, while Kevin’s grazed her nipples. Shivering, she used her free hand to pluck at the pebbled peak of her right breast. A soft moan floated between her lips.

“What are you doing?” Kevin’s voice was strained.

“Touching myself.”

“F*ck.” The expletive sounded muffled, like Kevin had pulled the phone away from his ear for a second. “I figured that. I thought we agreed no phone sex.”

“I didn’t agree to that.”

“Then I’m hanging up.”

Like hell he was. He needed more convincing to stay on the line? Then by God, she’d provide it. Bracing her foot against the slick wall of the tub, she canted her pelvis upward. The silky, rippling surface of the water lapped at her *, exactly like a wet, teasing mouth. She gasped, her hips rocking with the motion. “Yes, lick me. God. His tongue feels so good.”

It took a moment to realize that the labored breaths she was hearing weren’t coming from her. “Kevin?”

“Jana, don’t—”

“Watch Nick eat my p-ssy. Please. I—I need to come…so bad.”

The groan that tore from Kevin was almost enough to trip her over the edge into orgasm. Although it nearly killed her to deny herself, she sank her hips beneath the water, letting the delicious sensations float further out of reach.

She’d taken a huge risk bringing Nick into the fantasy, but apparently it’d paid off. It made sense in a way. According to Nick, he’d been the one to break through Kevin’s resistance when it came to his inhibitions and intimacy issues. Maybe Kevin was so conditioned by his past with Nick, to needing that visual stimulus—even if it was mental—that even the suggestion of it was all he required. Looking to test her theory, she prepared the scene in her head, her desire to make it good for Kevin outweighing her own pleasure at the moment. “Are you watching his mouth on me?”

“Yes.” Sandpaper didn’t have anything on the consistency of Kevin’s voice.

She slid a hand between her legs. Even the tiniest flick of her fingertip along her * was enough to make her shudder. She longed to stroke herself to a fast and furious climax, so much so that her toes curled in tormented anticipation. “Tell me what you see.”

When his words finally came, they were low and gravelly, to the point that she had to strain to hear them. “You. Your skin pink and flushed. Quivering. Nick’s head is bobbing between your legs. Jesus. Do you have any idea how f*cking sexy you are when you’re being eaten out?”

Oh my God. When he decided to get into it, he held nothing back. A featherlight caress over her * prompted her hips to arch and undulate. “I want you to touch me while he’s licking me.”

“Where?”

Goose bumps ghosted across her skin. “My breasts.”

“Do you want me to suck your nipples like I did that night?”

The remembrance of Kevin’s teeth and tongue working her into a frenzy elicited a shuddery moan from her. “Yes. Your mouth felt so good on me.”

“Then I’ll play with them while Nick’s tongue swirls on your *. Okay?”

His statement shivered beneath her skin before resonating on a cellular level. She didn’t just imagine his mouth on her. She felt it to her very core. “I love the way you touch me.”

Another ragged exhalation gusted from Kevin. It was impossible to tell if it was due to arousal or resistance to her admission. “I want to watch you take Nick’s cock.”

She suspected his request was as motivated by a need to change the subject as a desire to amp up the fantasy they were building. Still, a wanton decadence coursed through her while she continued to rub her *. “Mouth? Or my p-ssy?” She barely breathed the words.

“p-ssy. I want you to be able to tell me how good he’s making you feel while he’s f*cking you.”

Suddenly she’d gone from the seducer to the seduced. If Heather had honestly thought Kevin distanced himself from sex, she was a damn idiot. Jana eased two fingers inside her soaked channel, her hips jerking as she pressed against her G-spot. “Oh God.”

“Take him deeper, Jana. Let me see you come undone on that cock.”

A fierce tremor shook through her, tightening every muscle in her body and straining her nerve endings to the breaking point. A part of her wanted to drag it out, build up the pleasure. Even as she clung to that desperate thought, she knew she’d never hold out that long. She increased the friction on her G-spot, and her slick inner walls pulsed, intense ecstasy points tensed and ready to detonate. Though it was her own fingers she f*cked, it was the memory of Kevin’s buried inside her that tore a whimper from her and made her inner muscles contract. She slicked her thumb over her *, a warning pulse throbbing through the swollen bundle of nerves. The bath water rippled around her, its warm, liquid caress carrying her toward the approaching peak.

“K-Kevin, I’m…” She squeezed her eyes shut, her teeth chattering slightly as the wave of pleasure crested.

“Come, baby.”

It was the first time he’d ever called her by any endearment. Its effect was devastating. Body bowing, she cried out, the sobbing wail echoing in the small, humid space of the bathroom as the orgasm slammed into her with blinding impact. She shuddered, the spasms racking her so hard she dropped the phone. It hit her shoulder and bounced once before splashing into the water.

“Shit.” Frantically scrabbling sideways, she groped blindly for the phone, the damn thing evading her grasp like a slippery fish. Finally she managed to latch on to it. Gripping the side of the tub with one hand, she stared at the waterlogged phone. One glance at the dead display screen verified the unit was done for.

A groan competing with her smothered laugh, she slumped against the back of the tub, her shoulders shaking with mirth. Death by phone sex—at least the device went out with a bang.