Appassionato (11 page)

Emma sat up. “What? A reporter was talking about us?” She felt both men suddenly pay more attention to her conversation. She closed her eyes as the room spun, but it didn’t help much as her brain suddenly zoomed in on Duncan fiddling with the window shade, trying to get it to close completely and block the sunlight. Jake was attempting to quell the vertigo he was experiencing from both the bonding and the airplane. She felt their alarm and wordless pleas for more information. She would’ve been hurt at their obvious desire to keep their relationship secret if she hadn’t also been aware of the strange suppression of any information having to do with bonding in the past week. The entire thing was frightening and suggested something more than just public disinterest. She suspected someone very influential was behind the dearth of news reports, someone who had both money and political capital.

“Oh, I think it was someone from an internet news site. She was talking to her cameraman, and they were speculating about who you were and what your relationship was to Duncan and Jake. She thought you might be a relative, but the cameraman wasn’t convinced.” Julie giggled. “If Duncan and Jake hadn’t been undressing you with their eyes the whole time, I don’t think it would’ve been an issue. Where were you right after the encore, anyway?”

Emma cursed in her head, feeling the men’s frustration. “I was in the bathroom, remember?”

“I saw Jake grab you, don’t think you can wiggle out of explaining. I’m your friend. I’m not gonna say anything if you were with them.”

Emma stared at Julie, trying to weigh what to say against her fear that something bigger was going on. Just this morning, she saw on the news that around twenty people were missing from the Philadelphia area. She suspected it had something to do with bonding but all the authorities would say was that they “were looking into the matter.” She sighed. “I told you, I had to pee. That’s all.” Emma willed Julie to believe her. Julie rolled her eyes but didn’t press her.

“All right, whatever. I gotta go shelve these books. You should seriously consider going home, though. You look really pale.” Julie squeezed Emma’s hand and got up, gathering the books on her way out of the office. Emma pressed her palms to her forehead, willing the headache to subside. It didn’t work. She had a feeling that it was really, really bad that Jake and Duncan had to fly out to LA on a red-eye the night of the concert. They’d had five minutes for a hasty good-bye after the fan meet and greet, and then the two men were off to film a new music video. Emma went home that night feeling good, feeling hopeful. The three of them had been completely unaware that the bonding was going to flare up like this. In the back of her head, she and the men had the feeling that they shouldn’t have separated, at least not so soon. She put her head down on her desk, relishing the cool feel of the wood against her skin. She needed a moment before she dialed the front office to call in sick. The only thing that helped was the knowledge that Jake and Duncan were getting closer every minute as their plane headed for the Philadelphia airport.

* * * *

“I hope I can make it to baggage without barfing.” Jake closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the seat. He sensed Duncan’s sympathy from across the aisle. He wished the other man could come back over and hold his hand, but they were landing and had to wear their seat belts. Thank God they had first class seats, he thought, swallowing hard. If he’d had to squish himself into coach seating feeling like this, he knew he’d have thrown up already.

It would look weird if I came over and cuddled you
, Duncan thought. Jake smiled briefly then clutched the seat’s armrest as he felt the plane lurch again. “I can’t wait until this plane is on the ground,” he muttered.

“It won’t be long now.” Duncan shifted in his seat then sighed.

Jake cracked open his eyes and saw that his friend didn’t look any better than he felt. Duncan was pale, the last remnants of the eyeliner from the video shoot smudged beneath his eyes like bruises. Duncan lifted his head and met Jake’s gaze, the heat in his warm, brown eyes belying the exhaustion his body showed. “Duncan—” Jake began then stopped, not sure of what he wanted to say. He could feel Emma in his head, dimly heard her talking to her boss. He hoped to God that she was getting out of school for the day. He wanted her home when the plane landed. That’s where they were going.

“I’m fine, Jake, just concentrate on yourself. I’m tired, but I don’t get nauseous like you do.” Duncan shifted again, looking like he wanted to stretch out his neck and back.

“I can tell you’ve got a monster headache.”

“Nothing I can do about it,” Duncan replied shortly. Jake sighed as the other man resolutely turned his face away and closed his eyes.

* * * *

An hour later, Jake was quietly cursing under his breath because he hated the entourage that had to follow them everywhere. He was grateful for the bodyguards, Charlie and Dave, because sometimes the fans were overwhelming, but he wished they could just walk through an airport without all the commotion. He stopped in front of the luggage carousel, wondering again why he didn’t hire someone to do this for them.

“Because you thought it would keep me humble,” Duncan retorted, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

Jake slung a look sideways, noting the slump in Duncan’s shoulders. The long video shoot meant neither man had been able to get any sleep the night before. To be honest, it was also because of the bonding. They’d had a trailer where they could rest before catching an early flight, but there were too many people around them for Jake to crawl into bed with Duncan without creating a lot of questions they weren’t yet ready to answer.
Damned shame
, Jake thought bitterly.
I would’ve enjoyed napping with him.

Duncan looked at him and Jake blushed, fighting back a surge of frustration. Blushing! This bonding thing was seriously fucking with his manhood. Duncan laughed and winked. Jake rolled his eyes, fussing with his leather cuffs. He wished he could take them off. They hid the bonding tattoos perfectly, but his skin itched. He wanted to uncuff the leather and rub his arms all over Emma. And Duncan. He grinned, sneaking another glance at his friend, savoring the snug fit of his jeans.
Duncan has a really nice ass
. Jake felt his face heat up again. He still wasn’t used to thinking about another guy like that. He imagined touching Duncan’s cock, wondering what it would feel like against his hand. The other night with Emma had blurred into a vague memory of desperation. All he could really recall was the sensation of a lot of skin against his and then coming his brains out. Jake shivered, trying to reign in his wayward thoughts. He watched Duncan shift his weight and shove a hand in one of his front pockets.

“Behave yourself!” Duncan walked over and hissed in his ear.

Jake grinned, feeling somewhat better with the closer proximity until a flurry of flashes from the few random fans stuck behind airport security sparked in his vision. He grimaced. The lights did nothing to help his headache.

“Serves you right,” Duncan said.
I want to throw you down and rip off your clothes, too, but I’m not torturing you thinking about it, am I?

Jake stared at Duncan, his body going hot all over. Duncan’s words, though silent, came through loud and clear in Jake’s head. His cock swelled. Duncan stared back. Neither man realized their luggage had come until Charlie nudged Duncan.

“Man, what is up with the two of you?” Charlie reached past Jake and snagged Duncan’s larger suitcase. “Here, make yourself useful.” He shoved the bag at Duncan, who barely caught the handle before the bag tipped over. “And you, catch your own bag.” Charlie jerked his head at Jake’s bag coming around the metal conveyor, hands already full with two more pieces of luggage.

Jake startled out of his aroused daze, grateful that at least the nausea had subsided, though the erection now pressing against the front of his jeans was anything but comfortable. He adjusted himself, hoping no one would notice, and shouldered his bag. He very carefully avoided looking at Duncan and tried not to think about Emma. He could tell she was driving somewhere, hopefully home, and didn’t want to distract her. After everyone grabbed their luggage, they began the long trek through the airport to the exit where Jake had a car waiting. They both mostly ignored the fans clustered around them, smiling cursorily and waving now and then.
Maybe if we’re lucky we can get out of here without Duncan having to sign anything
, he thought. He felt Duncan agree.

Neither man noticed the woman who followed them through the airport, her attention unwavering until their car pulled away from the curb.

* * * *

Emma paced around her living room, the nausea gone, thank God. She still felt unsettled. She could feel Duncan and Jake coming. Did they know where she lived? She shook her head. She never told them. How could they know? Except she felt them getting closer. Her skin was so sensitive she’d had to put on a loose tank top as soon as she got home from school. Even the soft fabric of her blouse had irritated the bonding tattoos. It felt weird to be home so early. She wasn’t even hungry, though she hadn’t eaten lunch. She walked to her bookshelves to scan the titles but ended up straightening the books on the shelves instead of picking one to read. She sighed and dropped her hands after a minute, giving up trying to find something to distract her brain. She wasn’t expecting the surge of electricity that suddenly shot through her body and she gasped, reaching out a hand to keep from falling, knocking a few books to the floor. It felt like a live wire had zapped her right in the chest. She let go of the shelf and stumbled to the window as she heard a car door slam shut. On her quiet street, an unfamiliar car idled beneath the large maple tree. Duncan and Jake and another man were hauling bags from the trunk. They were here! She felt her breath catch when Duncan looked up, unsmiling. Emma stepped away from the window to the front door. She unlocked the deadbolt and swung it open just as the car drove away. The two men started up her sidewalk as she opened the screen door, sliding the clip at the top to prop it open. She felt the last of her headache subside the closer they got. When the men reached the doorway, she stepped aside into her living room. They lifted their bags inside, and Jake turned to close the screen door. When he finished, Duncan quietly shut the inside door and slid the bolt.

“Emma,” Duncan said, his voice hoarse. He hadn’t moved. Emma looked him over, taking in the tight jeans and black T-shirt, his bonding tattoos exposed and gorgeous against his olive skin. His long hair was tousled and the brown strands tumbled over his shoulders. She could see the glint of his silver ear gauges through it and had a sudden urge to shove her hands in that hair and drag his lips down. Duncan shuddered. Jake walked toward her, dark jeans and green button down shirt matching his flashing eyes. She watched him unsnap his leather cuffs and drop them to the floor, appreciating the way his biceps pushed against the fabric he’d rolled up, knowing that if she grabbed his lapels he wouldn’t stop her from ripping them open. She closed her eyes and smiled.

“I wouldn’t stop you.” Jake halted in front of her. “You can rip off any clothes you want.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. Emma felt like she’d been drugged. She could feel their spiraling arousal sparking along her thoughts.

“I’d help you rip it off,” Duncan said and Emma twitched, not realizing he’d come up beside her. Jake traced her lips with his thumb and her eyes flew open, wanting to see his face before they kissed. She bit the tip of his finger and she watched his pupils dilate.

“Jake—” she whispered just as his mouth came down. He teased her, pressing small kisses along her lips. She gasped, opening up, and then he was inside.
He tastes like blueberries
, she thought, then reached up and grabbed his shirt, hanging on so she wouldn’t fall. A few snaps gave way and she smelled the musk of him, inhaling deeply. Duncan groaned and pressed close. Emma melted into Jake, overwhelmed by his kiss and the feel of Duncan’s thick cock pressing against her from behind.

“God, Emma, you’re fucking gorgeous,” Duncan rasped. He rutted against her, trusting in Jake to keep her steady. Jake held her up as she tore her mouth away to breathe. Jake didn’t stop. He just kissed down her neck, sucking a bruise into the hollow of her throat while she writhed.

“Please,” she begged, frantic for more. Duncan slid his hands under her shirt, cupping her breasts as she shoved her hips against Jake, relishing the feel of his arousal against her stomach. Duncan shuddered, then flicked his thumbs over her nipples. Emma groaned.
Oh, my God
, she thought as she felt the two men’s need inside her head as well as against her body.

“Jesus,” Jake gasped. Emma felt him stare at her lips, his eyes going heavy-lidded as Duncan buried his face in her nape. Jake’s cock swelled impossibly harder. She felt him even through their clothes. Then Jake lifted Duncan’s face with a hand and kissed him brutally, desperation in every line of his body. Duncan gasped and Emma froze in the middle as Jake devoured his friend, their lips clashing, then gentling as they realized they were finally safe, somewhere they could touch each other without fear.