Hudson (15 page)

“It doesn’t seem fair to her.  I feel like we’re using her. 
Hudson, we
are
selfish.  That woman doesn’t have a selfish bone in her
body.”

“Then we have to show her what it could be like and make it
what she needs.”

“How in the
hell
do we figure out what she needs?”

His grin was so sincere, so warm, and so unlike most of the
smiles Natalia had ever seen on her best friend’s face that she was taken aback
by the beauty of it. 

“Natalia.  We
ask
her.”

“You’re in love with her.”

“I wouldn’t know.  You’re the only woman not related to me
that I’ve ever loved.  I feel protective of her.  I want her, even now, even
after having her within the last twenty-four hours.  Even after getting myself
off multiple times this morning to temper the sexual insanity she makes me feel.” 

“Hudson…”  Natalia closed her eyes against the erotic
imagery he painted.

His hands tightened around hers.  “I know the thought of
fucking you while you feast on her is almost enough to make me come right
here.  That thinking about introducing her to the fine delicacy that is your
pussy while I take her stunning ass is almost more than I can handle and still
remain in control.”  

Natalia’s breath came in small pants and Hudson could see
the pulse pounding along the pale column of her neck. 

“Sit back, Natalia.” 

It was a command and both of them knew it.  She obeyed
without question and slipped her hand from his.  

Pitching his voice low, he told her, “After I left Brie’s
place, I called her.  She’d already given herself another orgasm.  I could hear
how breathless she still was.” 

He watched as Natalia brushed her wrist over her nipple,
pretending to straighten her napkin.  He heard her breath catch. 

“I made her put her fingers in her pussy and I could hear
how wet she was.  You know how she tastes.  Sweet and musky.” 

Natalia slid her hand under her sweater and into the soft waist
of her skirt.  He saw the moment she touched her clit. 

“I told her to stroke her fingers in and out and she
did
,
Natalia.  She played with her pussy while I listened.  While my mouth watered
and my dick throbbed.” 

The linen napkin on Natalia’s lap hid the position of her
hand but he knew how she stroked herself.  He’d seen her do it often enough. 
She was unbelievably good at stealth in public and even if their server
appeared, he would never realize what was happening right in front of him. 

“Her perfect folds were all creamy and warm and it took all
that I had in me not to return and fuck her until she
could not
walk.” 

Flicking his eyes to her lap and back again, he saw his
friend’s need.  She was close but desired permission.  Gruffly, he ordered,
“Come.”

Only years of training in self-control made it possible for
Natalia to hide her orgasm.  Orgasms involving Brie seemed so much more
powerful and he knew she didn’t understand why it was that way any better than
he did.

Hudson alone was aware of the way her entire body trembled,
the pounding pulse at her throat, the shallow panting sounds she made and he
wanted
her…he
wanted
Brie…he wanted them
both
. 

He recognized how truly egotistical it was that he could not
choose between them. 

Natalia would submit, it was her nature to want what he
provided, and they
did
love one another – as possible as it was for
people like them. 

Brie…would take finesse.  Focus.  Bending her to his will
without losing any of the qualities that made her so unique.  A delicate
endeavor, one that would involve the traits that made him successful.  The same
traits that told the world what a cold-hearted bastard he could be but in this,
he would use them as much for her benefit as his own.

Watching Natalia come down gently from her climax across the
table, his cock hard as iron behind the fabric of his slacks, Hudson felt a
sense of determination unlike anything he’d felt since buying his first
business.

These women each held something he needed desperately. 

“You are even more beautiful when you come, Natalia.”  He
lifted his coffee cup and took pride in the fact that his hand didn’t shake. 

Natalia lifted her wet fingers to her lips and licked the
tips.  Hudson’s grip tightened on the mug until his knuckles were white. 

“Hudson, you look beautiful when you talk about Brie, about
us being with her together.  It’s a look I could become accustomed to seeing.”

He set down the cup and grabbed her wrist, pulling it close
so he could suck her fingers himself.  A hard tremor rocked through her body
and she knew he felt it.  Releasing them with a soft
pop
, he sat back. 

“Meet me in the restroom in one minute.”

Without another word, he stood and made his way to the dim
hallway leading to the alley behind the restaurant, turning at the last moment
to enter the men’s room. 

He leaned against the wall and waited.  There was no need to
check his watch because Natalia was exact in her timing.  As the outer door
opened, he wrapped his palm around her upper arm.  The handicapped stall at the
back of the space was his destination.

The moment the door closed, he said softly, “Turn around.” 

Natalia turned and he pressed her back with his palm.  She
bent, her hands gripping the small sink in front of her as he slid her slim
skirt up her thighs.  When it was gathered at her waist, he stroked his finger
through the cleft of her body. 

“So fucking wet.”

He licked his fingertips and placed them over her clit. 
When her eyes met his in the mirror, he began to circle them over the sensitive
flesh while his other hand worked to release his cock. 

“I need your pussy wrapped around me, Natalia.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never taken you in a bathroom.”

“One more item to check off my list.”

Not soon enough, he notched himself at the entrance of her
pussy and wrapped his forearm around her waist.  “Put your leg up on the
toilet.”  She did, balancing carefully on her other foot. 

There was no time for finesse.  In a situation like this,
urgency was unavoidable. 

He thrust hard and deep, his fingers never slowing on her
clit.  Hudson bent over her, sealed himself to her back, and whispered,
“Imagine Brie is standing against the wall, watching me fuck you while she
plays with herself.”

Natalia bit her lower lip and moaned softly. 

“Imagine she’s waiting her turn.  Waiting for us to fuck
her.”  She was unable to control the way her body clenched and shook around
him.  He tunneled harder and faster.  “After I take you, after I fill you, she
wants to taste us.  Sample us direct from your body.  Stroking her tongue over
you, in you, before sucking your little clit between her lips.”

With a low keening wail, she rocked back, coming even as she
took his control. 

“Yes.  Fuck yes.  So good, Natalia.” 

He inhaled deeply of her hair as they struggled to keep the
sounds they made quiet.  He continued to rock against her, long after he’d
emptied his balls. 

He watched his best friend in the mirror.  “You get the same
look when either of us talks about her, Natalia.  Now we need to show Brie what
we have to offer.”

“Hudson, I hope you know what you’re doing, darling.”

They straightened their clothing, cleaned up, and returned
separately to their table.  When they sat across from one another once again,
he motioned to their server for more coffee. 

Meeting her eyes, he murmured, “I don’t have a choice.”

Brie waited quietly for her doctor on Monday afternoon. 

This would be the final physical and lab work before her
procedure.  She was nervous but excited.  When the nurse left her alone to
change, she stripped and slipped on the hospital gown. 

It was freezing in the exam room and she knew she was
shaking.  Then the door opened and a man who was not her regular doctor walked
in. 

“I’m sorry – who are you?”

“Dr. Tavin had an emergency.  I’ll be doing your final
workup.”

“Oh, alright then.  Who are you?” 

Sighing, the man answered, “Dr. Brilsk.  I fill in for Dr.
Tavin here and at the hospital.”

Brie pushed down her nervousness.  It was always hard to get
comfortable with new doctors.  She took a calming breath as the good-looking
doctor glanced over her chart.

“I see you’ll be having reduction surgery.  Hmm.”  His eyes
cut to her and she nodded.  He seemed to take her in from head to toe. 
“Nothing else?”

“I don’t…what do you mean?”

“Let’s take a look, shall we?  Stand up.” 

Brie did so and the doctor lifted the hospital gown,
exposing her panties and nothing else beneath.  Every part of her wanted to
recoil but she didn’t.  Instead, she stared straight ahead and waited for him
to be done. 

“I’d suggest here, here, and here as well.” 

Something cold on her torso made her look down.  He was making
marks on her skin and moving around her hips to her ass.

“Excuse me.  No.  I don’t
want
all that.  The surgery
is for my back.  That’s all I’m here for.”

“In for a penny, that’s what I always say.  You have to do
the recovery anyway, why not come out looking good all over?  You could be
pretty.”

For a moment, she stared at him in shock.  Then her temper
kicked in – a rare occurrence – and she yanked the gown from his hands. 

“Fuck
you
.  You don’t even
know
me.  How dare
you try to make me feel bad about the
rest
of my body?  As if I don’t
feel bad enough about myself already.  Get the hell out of here.  I’m getting
dressed.”

“No need to get overly
emotional
.  We’ll just do the
reduction
if you…”

“Get
out
!  I’m not staying here another minute.  I’m
going to start screaming if you don’t leave.” 

He scrambled backwards to the door and slammed it behind
him. 

Brie pulled on her clothes as fast as she could and ignored
the nurses calling her name as she ran for the elevator. 

Once inside, she collapsed against the back wall in tears
that made her even more
furious
.  As she neared the lobby, she did her
best to wipe her face but when the doors slid open and she came face to face
with Natalia, the effort was useless.  She started crying uncontrollably
again. 

Without a word, Natalia pulled her from the elevator and out
of the lobby to the street while making a call on her cell phone. 

“Come back.  Quickly.” 

Moments later a car pulled up and Brie found herself in the
back seat with Natalia beside her.  Natalia pulled her close and Brie laid her
head on her shoulder.  She felt stupid, small, and ugly.

“It’s alright, Brie.  Tell me what happened.  Don’t cry. 
We’ll fix whatever it is.”

Between gasping breaths and continued tears, Brie got the
story out and was mortified that it made her sob even harder. 

“Fucking
men
.  Brie, you are perfect, just as you
are. 
Yes.
  Yes, Brie.  You can’t let that asshole ruin what you want
for yourself.  I’ll get another doctor for you but first let me take you home
and make you some tea.”

She nodded and the man she recognized as Hudson’s driver
made the turn toward her apartment.  For the next few minutes, she worked to
get her crying jag under control. 

Natalia said nothing more, simply held her and smoothed her
hair. 

Fifteen minutes later, Brie opened the door to her apartment
and Natalia smiled.  “Definitely you.”  Turning and closing the door, she took
Brie’s shoulders in her hands.  “Go change.  Something soft and comfortable. 
I’ll make tea.” 

Then she leaned forward and kissed her forehead and both
cheeks.  The last kiss was placed lightly on her lips before she was turned
toward her bedroom.

Brie returned with her face washed and her clothing changed
to find Natalia plating tea and cookies.  The woman was stunning in very high
gator heels, a slim-line cashmere skirt, and silk blouse.  Her hair glistened
smooth and blue-black in the morning sun from the kitchen window. 

She was long and lean…
gorgeous
.

Natalia turned as she appeared and gave her a warm smile. 
“There you are.  I’m waiting for a call-back from the cosmetic surgeon who
handled some scars for me a few years ago.”

“Thank you.  Maybe I…I should just forget it.”

Tray in one hand, the other sliding around Brie’s shoulders,
she led her into the living room.  When she was settled on the couch, Natalia
perched on the edge of her coffee table with a gentle smile. 

“That would be a mistake, Brie.  You know the pain will only
get worse.  Right now, you’re young enough to avoid long-term damage but what
about another five years or ten?  Can your back and shoulders take another five
or ten years of this?” 

She handed Brie a cup of tea and her cell phone rang. 

“Hudson?  Yes, I’m here with her.  She’s better now.  Positively
adorable in cotton jammies, in fact.”  Natalia winked at her and Brie blushed. 
“No need to rush.  I made tea.”  She listened for a moment with a little
wrinkle between her eyes.  “As a matter of fact, I
do
know how to make
tea.  As I recall, you incinerated a pot holding nothing but water so one must
not cast stones.”

Glancing at Brie, she rolled her eyes. 

“Settle, Hudson.  Brie’s feelings were hurt but I’ve assured
her she is absolutely perfect and that the doctor was a fuck-wad.”  Natalia chuckled
as she reached over to smooth a wayward curl behind Brie’s ear.  “Nope, she
isn’t crying anymore.  Fresh and lovely, our Brie.”

The words shouldn’t have made her feel warm inside, but they
did. 
Our Brie
.  Did she want to be
their
Brie?  What did that
mean? 

Stop being naïve…you know exactly what it means.

“Yes.  I already called him.”  A pause.  “Darling, I would
trust her with no one else.  I’d have suggested him from the start had I
known.”  Natalia smiled and handed her a cookie, which made Brie give a small
laugh. 

Putting her fingers over the phone, she murmured, “I think I
could get good at this nurturing thing.  You’ll have to teach me.” 

Her hand rested casually on Brie’s knee and after staring at
the perfect manicure for a long time, Brie set down her mug of tea, reached out,
and traced her fingertip over the smooth lacquer polish.  It was deepest brown,
the nails short and squared, and made her slender fingers appear longer and
more delicate. 

Turning her palm over, they held hands as Natalia answered Hudson’s
questions.  When her thumb began to smooth back and forth over the soft webbing,
Brie leaned her head back and listened to the easy banter between old friends. 

“Brie.” 

Her name, said in Hudson’s voice, pulled her from a quiet pool
where she’d been swimming.  Opening her eyes, she stared into his black ones
and gave him a smile. 

He was crouched in front of her; Natalia once again perched
on the coffee table behind him.  Brie realized she still held the other woman’s
hand but made no effort to pull away. 

“You alright?”

She nodded.  “Thank you, Hudson.  Why did you come?”

“To assure myself that you weren’t going to let some fucking
quack mess with your head.” 

She didn’t try to stop him when he lifted the edge of her t-shirt
and scowled at the faded marks she’d been unable to wash away completely. 

The cosmetic surgeon had narrowed her waist by several
inches, made lines for a tummy tuck, and shaved off large portions of her hips
on either side.  Hudson saw those when he pulled her stretchy sleep pants away. 
His palm was warm as he cupped her side. 

His voice was quiet.  “None of this bullshit.  Not
ever
. 
The reduction will help you with the pain I know you have.  The rest of you
does not need to be fucked with, Brie.” 

Leaning over, he kissed her tummy and nuzzled the warm skin
with his cheek.  “You are beautiful and soft and warm.  Just as you’re meant to
be.  Exactly right.”

The tear that slipped from the corner of her eye into her
hair brought him over her.  “No.  Don’t cry.  Ssh…”  He gathered her up and
hugged her hard.

She never wanted to do without hugs again. 

Natalia received the loud
hurt and angry
tears –
understanding what it was like to be a woman in a world that expected
perfection.  She’d given her comfort and empathy. 

Hudson received the
quiet
tears that had accumulated
over a lifetime – first from boys and later from men – of never thinking she
was good enough, pretty enough, or thin enough. 

Always comparing her to her sister.  The hurtful suggestions
of diets, exercise, and now plastic surgery to “fix” what was “wrong” with
her. 

Brie was
exhausted
.

Complete disorientation confronted her when she opened her
eyes.  She hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep, had no idea how she’d gotten to
her bed, and was staring into the lovely eyes of a woman who affected her in
ways no woman had before. 

“Natalia.”

“I love that your eyes seem black but in reality they’re a
dark blue.  Summer midnight,” said the ethereal creature stretched out beside
her. 

“How…?”

“Hudson carried you.”  Brie’s eyes widened in instant
embarrassment and she stiffened.  “One word, Gabriella, just one and I promise
you he will spank your ass.”  Natalia followed these words with a grin.  “Not
that I wouldn’t like to see that…but still.”

“She speaks the truth,” came the throaty reply just behind
her ear.  “Not a word, Brie.”

Strong arms tightened around her midsection as the fact that
she was stretched out in her own bed with the two people on the planet she was
most physically attracted to, sank in. 

It wasn’t so much the fact that Hudson licked along the
shell of her ear.  It was more that she was unable to hide her reaction to it. 
She stared into Natalia’s eyes as her entire body responded to the moist heat
she wanted…everywhere.

“My first boyfriend told me I looked more like a boy than
his little brother,” Natalia told her as she entwined their hands.  “My second
boyfriend requested I keep my padded bra on during sex so he could at least
pretend
I had some tits.” 

Brie’s heart hurt and she knew the other woman had felt much
worse hearing those words. 

“The first man I seriously dated, who I thought was
different, offered to pay for a
rack
because I needed to take my
hotness
up a level.  Hudson got there before I could go through with it.”  Natalia
went quiet as she watched Brie’s tears fall into her hair.  “Are you crying for
me, Brie?”

“The first time I saw you, I thought, I will
never
be
that beautiful and sophisticated.  Every part of you is in perfect symmetry
while I feel like I was stuck with the wrong puzzle pieces.  You are stunning
and those men were
wrong
, Natalia.  So very wrong.” 

Brie reached out, her knuckles stroked along the fine
cheekbone and down her jaw. 

“You touch so easily, Brie.”  Thinking it was unwelcome,
Brie moved to lift her hand away but Natalia pressed it closer.  “Please don’t
stop.  No one touches us.  No one
ever
touches us.” 

“
Why?
”  Her confusion was honest.  “All I want to
do
is touch you.  B-both of you.”

Natalia got closer, placed her forehead against Brie’s, and
sighed in pleasure when she was hugged warmly, naturally.  “We’re cold, Brie. 
I don’t know why but we are.  We don’t know how to connect, to touch, without
payment of some kind.  We’re selfish, both of us, but we refuse to take without
compensation.”

Stroking her narrow back, Brie smiled. 

“My compensation is in the giving, Natalia.  Consider us
even.  I wish you and Hudson could see what I see when I look at you.  That you
are worthy of love and affection…and far from cold.  These things take time, I
guess.  Maybe there will be enough.”

“Why wouldn’t there be enough time, Brie?”

Her smile held a touch of sadness.  She wouldn’t burden them
with the truth. 

It wasn’t time.  Not yet. 

“You sparkle.  The two of you together are elegant and
beautiful; people notice you and move aside to watch you.”  She shrugged one
shoulder.  “My family has money.  I
know
how to behave in formal
situations, how to act at a cocktail party, and which stocks to invest in, but
those things don’t come
naturally
to me.”

She nuzzled their cheeks together and gave Natalia a light
kiss. 

“I’m more likely to be found chatting with the coat-check
girl or the valet.”  Brie ran her fingers through Natalia’s hair and smiled.  “It’s
like silk.”  She traced her brows.  “Your hair isn’t naturally black…”  Natalia
shook her head.  “What color is it?”

“Blonde.”

“Will you tell me why you changed it?”

“The jokes, the misconceptions.  Then I started to like that
it matched my insides.”

“You think your insides are dark?”

“I think…I
know
I’m not like most people and I don’t
know why.”

“What makes you different?” 

“I’m afraid of children.  I have no interest in things women
are supposed to care about.  I go through my life on autopilot.  The black, the
club, the people I take to my bed enforces a distance.  So no one ever knows.”