Hot Wired (2 page)

Chapter Two

The guy standing in the doorway when Carol came out of the bathroom had to be Sham.

He was her height, but compact as hell. He was downright exotic looking with skin so clean it shimmered under its bronze tan. She’d seen men with long hair before, but this babe wore his in a gleaming black braid, not just a sloppy twist and a rubber band. He’d fastened his hair in a fat loop at his nape with a silver clip. It looked damn good with the blinding white T-shirt he wore.

She tried to move like a sleek cat as she sauntered toward him, holding her hand out. “Hi. You must be Sham.” She checked out his slumberous dark eyes and full lips. “We were waiting for you.”

He nodded toward her and then looked over her shoulder. “My partner said you needed fuses.” He held them out to her. She thought he was going to leave, but he took several steps inside the candlelit living room to look at the unframed artwork over the couch. “Do you sketch?”

She folded her arms over her breasts and eyed him for reaction. “I do the background art for fashion and cosmetic advertisement layouts.” She was proud of her work. “What do you think of my so-called art?”

Sham relaxed, striking a blood-stirring pose, thumbs hooked in his back pockets, well-defined, muscled legs spread to give his cock front position. He hadn’t made a move in her direction, which was slightly off-putting to Carol. Hell, what was wrong with her? Then Baron went to stand beside Sham. His arm went around Sham’s waist, and he kissed the stoic man’s cheek.

Something very near jealousy shivered through her stomach. Bunk, what the hell did she care if they were backdoor buddies?

She poured the third glass half full of wine and tapped Sham’s arm. “This might make the art more enjoyable.”

He tipped the glass to his generous lips and drank. He had a way about him that stirred a new feeling inside her. She rolled her eyes in disgust. Hell, in twenty minutes, her life had become one big mix of too many men and too much uncertainty where she fit in. The problem was resolved when Baron reached out and hugged her close.

Now they were three.

This was comfortable, just her and two hot males in the twilight, disturbed only by a candle’s flicker. Carol slid a searching glance at Sham’s profile and back to Baron. He punched a hole in the pleasant bubble, taking the fuses from her hand and switching on his flashlight.

“It’s not getting any cooler in here, people.” His palm caressed her ass as he turned away to head for the basement. “You coming, Sham, or were you on your way to another job?”

Carol took the glass Sham held out to her and enjoyed the warm brush of his fingers on hers. His mouth softened into a stingy hint of a smile.

Like Baron’s, Sham’s voice was deep and rich in timbre. “You are a gifted artist, Carol.”

She seldom accepted praise with humility, but this mysterious stallion played with her desire to please.

* * * *

Down in the cluttered basement, Baron looked over his shoulder at Sham. “Well, what do you think?” Experience told him to not expect an immediate reply from his exotic friend. Baron slammed the switches in position and turned to see Sham bathed in the glaring light of the overhead fixtures. “Do you like her?”

Sham gazed at him for a moment. “She’s different.” Picking up a pair of tomato-red panties from the floor, he smiled. “How was she?”

To Baron, that meant he’d found the third member of their trio. “Perfect.” Remembering his recent fuck with Carol sent a surge of heat through him. He stood near Sham and leaned in for a light kiss. The cool reception he received worried him. “You’re not pissed, are you?”

Sham laughed softly, the sound tickling Baron’s balls. “I should be. You’re damn lucky Mr. Bell wasn’t here with a few friends. It was careless and, as usual, you run headlong into everything. Just don’t forget why we’re here. It’s her ex we’re after, not her.” His arms went around Baron, the press of his healthy body igniting Baron’s desire for more.

Kissing Sham was an unreal experience to Baron, soft and hard at the same time, and the scrape of his white teeth on his lips as the kiss deepened pleased him. Sham always tasted good, and the wine enhanced the mint already on his breath. “Shall we ask her over for a soak in the hot tub tonight?” The hard press of Sham’s cock to his almost sent him off in delirious space.

“Let’s wait.” Sham glanced toward the stairs. “She seems damn independent.” He added, with some hard meaning, “I didn’t think we were looking for a third party in our relationship. Slow down, okay.”

“She doesn’t have to know we are bounty hunters. She’s the bonus for taking her ex off the street.” Baron draped his arms over Sham’s shoulders. “You can teach her about wine, and you both like art.”

“Don’t be so fast to make plans, sweetheart.” Sham massaged Baron’s back. “She may not want any part of us, no matter what.”

With his normal cockiness, Baron shook his head. “She likes us both, especially you.” He picked up the fuse wrappers and tossed them in a trash can. “Come on. Let’s feel her out.”

“On the idea?” Sham’s quirked brow amused Baron, and Sham scowled lightly. “I have a feeling this is a mistake.”

Baron groaned softly. “What are you worried about?”

Sham glanced toward the stairway. “It was simply dumb luck she didn’t catch us messing around with the electrical box.” He lowered his voice, locking his gaze on Baron’s eyes. “What’s going to happen when she figures it out? I don’t like the idea of using her.”

“Using her?” Baron shook his head, gripping Sham’s arm. “She’s a woman that will make up her own mind. Hell, Sham. What’s gotten into you?”

“Okay.” Sham touched Baron’s shoulder. “She’s not a pick-up in a bar. I don’t want to play with her emotions.”

“That just proves you already have feelings for her.” Baron slapped his partner on the back. “All she has to do is say no.”

They went back upstairs to rejoin Carol in the living room. She’d draped herself in a silk sarong and had turned on the stereo. Baron stretched out on the couch, drinking another glass of the bad wine, getting himself worked up watching her move to the music. Disco.

She smiled at Sham and held her arms out. She wanted to dance.

He took her in his arms, and her body melted to Sham’s, her sigh drifting around the room as he brushed a soft kiss to her shoulder. She looked at Baron when Sham murmured in her ear. “You’re a kitten, Carol.”

She laughed and pressed closer to his cock. “I hope you’re a tiger, Sham.”

After a few minutes, Baron got off the couch and stretched his arms over his head. Sham kissed her cheek and walked away toward the door.

She clamped her hand over her mouth, laughing nervously. “I forgot to ask how much you charged.” She ran to get her purse off the television set. “How much?”

“This is on the property owner.” Baron waved off the bills she held out to him. “Maybe have dinner with us tomorrow night?”

Baron liked the way she looked at that moment, soft and sweet, and a little flustered.

“Sure.” She sounded breathless. “Where and what time?” She took the card he held out to her.

“Our house, around eight.” Baron had easily started the preverbal ball rolling.

Chapter Three

The air conditioner hummed happily while Carol finished the last of several sketches for La Gilda perfume. Black lace and red satin brought out the message of sensuality the manufacturer wanted to convey. As a bonus, they had sent her a dozen bottles of the pricy stuff.

The evening before slipped back into her thoughts. Two men all to herself. She’d wanted to try Sham out to be sure having both of them appealed to her. She’d done threesomes before, but in the back of her mind, she felt a little nervous. Images of being handled by snarling animals always accompanied her desire to play doctor with two guys. Maybe these two fuck baits would get her over that fear. What the hell, she wanted to have both of them at the same time. She was a big girl and needed a regular fix of excitement.

Sham’s beautiful dark hair came to mind as she piled her hair on top of her head. Everything about him intrigued her. There had been glints of interest in his dark eyes, and she had been disappointed when he left so early. Then there was Baron, his eagerness to do what she wanted made her smile. He was a gamer, fun and built like a brick outhouse. He reminded her of her younger days of experimenting, but he wasn’t a throwaway. She wanted more of him.

If it came to choosing one, that would be impossible. She liked them both. In fact, she was anxious to find out where she fit with them.

Soft, heart-melting music poured from her CD player, and the mood hit her fast. She closed her eyes and swayed to and fro, hugging herself, finally moving her hands up to cup her breasts, pinching her nipples until she gasped. Running her hands down to her crotch, she pressed her clit, her hips bucking against the flash of erotic pleasure. She sat on the edge of her bed and spread her legs, lightly touching her pussy. She had to have more.

Lying back on her soft mattress, she pulled her robe aside and spread her legs. She didn’t plan to orgasm, just wanted to warm up for the evening. Several quick strokes, and it was too late to stop. Her juices flowed, and her thighs were slick and ready for anything. She loved the way her clit came out of hiding the hotter she got. Flicking it several times, she enjoyed the quick slivers of red heat streaming to her pussy. Bracing her feet on the footboard, she arched her hips and drove herself into an explosive orgasm, drawing her legs up to completely enjoy the indescribable pleasure.

As quickly as it had come, the passion was spent. Carol bounced out of bed and showered, taking extra care to use lots of the free perfume on her crotch after toweling off. She wanted to be perfect that night. In her bedroom, she chose her clothes carefully. Pulling a white and mint green chiffon sundress off its hanger, she considered the underwear she wanted. Hell with that. She wanted to feel free.

She dried her hair, catching it into a soft ponytail and fastening it with a white agate clip. She applied a little eye shadow and mascara before slicking on a rose gloss, and she was ready. She grimaced with self-reproach. Those two would probably not even notice what she had on. She would make sure they noticed everything about her.

Looking around the quiet apartment, she decided to take the chance the evening would be a pleasurable adventure.. She needed to get out. Besides, she still had to have Sham. At least once. What if they didn’t have a party in mind? She laughed lightly.

Of course they do.

She got in her vintage Beetle and headed off to the part of town where older homes had escaped the bulldozer. At one time, she’d considered renting one until she heard what rent ran on the prime real estate.

Twenty minutes and lots of mind-blowingly slow speed limits, she turned onto the street where her dinner dates waited. She sat in her car for several minutes, staring at the two-story house of cream and pink stucco. The windows gleamed in the street lights’ glow and she could see flowers in neat beds bordering the L-shaped porch. When they said house, they meant house.

Shrugging off her momentary awe, Carol got out of the car and hurried up the three levels of steps. She heard sprinklers close by and hurried to avoid a soaking. The porch light came on, and Baron opened the mullioned glass door.

He laughed and led her inside the foyer. “You didn’t get wet, did you?”

Here in his own surroundings, Baron seemed more relaxed but twice as predatory as she remembered He obviously had just showered, the glint of water in his spiky hair inviting her fingers to tug it a little. She tore her gaze from the navy lounge pants clinging to his cock and locked onto his handsome face.

“No. I heard it before it caught me.” She couldn’t help but gawk. The place was beautiful. “Don’t tell me you guys decorated this place by yourselves.”