Fever for Three (4 page)

She bit her bottom lip then slid from the booth. “Ladies’ room. Be right back.”

She needed to wash her hands. Powder her nose. Maybe splash cold water on her face.

They were enough to set a poor schoolteacher on fire.

* * * * *

Paulo watched the gentle sway of Cheri’s ass as she walked away. Then he turned on Josh. “Will you stop pushing? She needs to be wooed,
vato
.”

“Pushing? You’re the one who came to her work, babe.”

“For food! I’m not asking her to go cruising.” He couldn’t stay mad though, not with Josh grinning like a fool and a belly full of meatloaf.

“Uh-huh. You’re going to get her ice cream. We all know how that ends up.” Josh licked mashed potato off his fork.

Paulo watched that pink tongue move, fascinated. “Well, you have to admit, I have a better chance of easing her into this.”

“I’ll rock her world.”

He couldn’t argue that. Josh was sex made flesh.

“We’re going to have to take it easy though.” Not that easy was in Josh’s vocabulary. Stubborn
vaquero
did everything the hard way.

“Kids sure like her. She’s got my sister’s boy in there.”

Paulo nodded. “She fits right in.”

“She does. Makes you wonder. You know, if she’s like us.” One of Josh’s eyebrows went up and down.

Paulo shrugged. “She doesn’t smell like full-on pack. You think it can be recessive?”

“Sure. They wouldn’t have brought her in otherwise. The elders wouldn’t risk the pups, right?”

“No, I guess not. That was why we fixed on her as our mate. Have to wonder how she doesn’t know.”

Mate. Their mate. The concept still blew him away.

Josh looked at him, grin slow and lazy. “You coming by tonight, giving me a…blow-by-blow?”

His body tightened, which if it did any more he would pop like a spring that was wound too tight. “Sure,
vato
. I hope to be late.”

“I’ll be up.” Lickable little perv. Josh was always up. For anything. The other night he’d tried tying Paulo up. Oh God, that had been crazy. Josh had finished up the last knot and then tortured him with all the things they would do to Cheri someday.

Cheri came back out from the bathroom, smiling, pushing her big glasses up.

He rumbled softly, loving how the early evening light made her glow. She was so unaware of her own beauty, of her own body. Paulo couldn’t wait to help her discover how sensual she could be.

Josh’s eyes heated. “Soon, babe, hmm? All of us?”

“Yeah. Yeah,
vato
.”

“What did I miss?” Cheri asked when they both sprang to their feet.

“Nothing,
linda
. Nothing at all. Are you ready to go? It’s a nice little drive in the afternoon.”

“Who do I pay for supper?”

He held out his arm and she slipped her hand in. He squeezed her fingers, feeling the solid connection they already had strengthen at the simple touch.

“I got this one.” Josh surprised Paulo by pulling out his wallet.

“Oh. Are you sure? I owed Paulo…”

“For what?” Steering her toward the exit, Paulo tucked her arm through his, which pressed her breast against him.

“I…I was supposed to take you out next.”

She was soft, warm, and Paulo wanted to adore her, inch by inch.

“Were you? You can get me ice cream.” That was adorable, how she wanted to buy.

“Okay, that’s fair.” She smiled at Josh. “Sunday?”

“Sunday.” Josh touched the tip of her nose. “I’ll pick you up.”

Paulo wanted to bite Josh and kiss her. Not necessarily in that order. Instead he just nodded at Josh. “Later,
vato
.”

“You know it.” Josh winked and waved.

“You two seem to be getting along better,” Cheri said, leaning against him on the way to the truck.

“We been friends a long time, yeah? Sometimes that makes things growly.” Paulo leaned down, kissed the top of her head. She smelled like sunshine.

“Oh. You were so mad at each other that first day.” She shivered, but he didn’t think she was cold at all.

“You just met us on a bad day.” Year. Decade. Whatever.

“Well, I like you much better. Getting along I mean.” She ducked her head, her cheeks pink as could be.

“Mmhmm. Me too, if it makes you happy.” She liked them. They made her wet and needy. He could smell her, and it was heavenly.

They got in the truck and she slid close to him. He was thankful as anything that he had a bench seat instead of the bucket seats in Josh’s truck. That made it much easier.

He draped an arm around her, let her lean. “So, ice cream or a drive first?”

“Oh I’m stuffed. Can we drive first?”

“I’d love that.” He knew a quiet road where they could park, could stop and sit in the bed, watch the sunset.

He headed out into the desert, an old country artist singing on the radio, Cheri humming along. They both sang a little to the chorus and when the song changed to something Mexican, she sang in Spanish with him.

By the time they stopped, he was achingly hard, needing to kiss her. “You want to watch the sun set?”

“I’d love that.” She leaned close, lips brushing his cheek.

It was so easy to turn and take her lips, kissing her long and slow.

Sweet.

He groaned, fingers carding through her thick hair, loving how her lips opened for him. She was so sweet, like apples with a touch of cinnamon. He wanted her. Now.

Cheri scooted closer, her hard nipples pressing against him. She had the most amazing curves under those weirdly baggy clothes. Paulo had a feeling she never even realized how they revealed as much as they hid.

He let his hand rest at her waist as one kiss melted into another, soft sounds beginning to vibrate between them. His other hand slid up her back so he could sink his fingers into her hair, letting the soft mass loose from the clip she’d bound it into.

So lovely, so fine, pouring around them. He hadn’t known it was so long. The silky texture made him want to rub it all over his body.

“
Que linda
. So pretty.”

“Thank you. You make me dizzy.”

“Is that good?” He hoped it wasn’t a bad thing.

“Yes. Yes, Paulo. So good.”

“Oh.” Hooray. He kissed her again, pushing his tongue into her mouth. She opened like a flower for him and he growled happily, keeping his touch light, gentle. He loved her softness, her taste, the way her breasts crushed against his chest when he slid toward her, the gear shift digging into his leg.

His fingers slid up, tracing her ribs, brushing the underside of her breast.

Her soft gasp felt amazing against his lips, and he pushed up a little harder, feeling the soft flesh under the structure of her bra. She pressed down into his touch, careful. Hesitant.

Paulo wanted her lost in his touch, not scared of it. He kept it gentle, easy, but he didn’t stop.

He explored her lips, tongue tickling the corner of her mouth. When she started panting, her breath ragged and uneven, he moved, his lips sliding down her neck.

Oh someone had a hot spot there. Right there where he’d leave his mark. Just licking at it made her shiver, her nails digging into his upper arms.

“Mmm. Is that good, lady?”

“Makes me shiver, Paulo.”

“I like how it does.” He licked some more, his tongue scraping her delicate flesh.

He was careful not to nip. That was for them together—him and Josh, tasting her, licking her, marking her. His cock ached, balls tight at the thought. Josh would go for the upper swell of her breast, he would bet. Then they could share the sweet, hard nipples, listen to her moan.

Paulo tried to breathe, the image making him so hard he broke out in a cold sweat, the effort it took not to come huge.

“Paulo…” The sound of his name in her voice was so good.

“Right here,
querida
.” He wanted to strip her naked, lay her out and love on her. He wanted to know what she tasted like in her most intimate places.

“Right here.” She pressed closer, hand sliding along his arm.

Kissing her again seemed like the easiest thing in the world, and he kept touching her, his thumbs rubbing over her nipples. Her bra was lacy; he could feel the fabric sliding between them.

“Want to see,” he murmured, pushing at her top. He wouldn’t force it, but he hoped she’d help.

“I… No one will see us, right? This is private out here?”

“Don’t worry,
querida
.” Hell, anyone in a half-mile radius could probably smell them. They’d stay away or Paulo would bite them, and not in a good way.

“I trust you.” She stripped her too-big top off, baring lush curves framed in white lace.

Oh
dios
. Yes. Sweet lady. He stared long enough that she started to move to cover herself, and he took her hands. “No,
querida
. I was just looking. You’re so pretty.”

He met her eyes, smiled as her cheeks pinked, and he could smell the rush of arousal that his words caused.

He thumbed one nipple through her bra. Her skin was creamy and smooth above the edge of the lace, his hand looking very brown in comparison. Her sweet nipple though, it was dusky, rosy, the tip pressing into his touch.

Paulo’s breath came in on a shaky inhalation and he pushed his thumb against her, watching for her reaction. Her sweet lips parted, and she sucked in a breath, lovely curves pressing closer.

The bra had to go. He unclipped the back and let her breasts really push into his hands. He weighed them, finding them perfect for him. He wanted to lick them, suck them.

So pale, never kissed by the sun, and his hands looked so rough, as if they might scratch her. He moaned, bending, lifting so his lips could press to the tops of her breasts.

“Oh.” Her fingers shook when she took his cap off before they pushed into his hair and urged him closer.

“Mmm.” He moaned a little, the tiny scalp massage sending shivers down his spine.

Cheri took a breath, moaned, then one nipple slipped up, teasing his lips. He sucked it in, flipping it back and forth with his tongue.

“Paulo. Oh…”

Mmm. She liked that. So did he. He did it again, his body shifting, trying to get closer to her.

He sucked gently, the action necessary and simple and perfectly right. She tasted like home. Like all things warm and comforting. Not like Josh, who tasted like danger and crazy adventure.

Her legs moved restlessly, thighs rubbing together, proving her desire. Her scent intensified with every movement, and he pushed a hand up along her thigh.

So hot, he could feel her through the denim. Wet. She was wet for him.

“Lift up,
querida
.” His hand slid down under her butt to help her. He needed to get her jeans open and down.

Her tiny lace panties matched her bra, her body soft and lush and perfect enough that he wanted to wallow in her belly, in the curve of her hips. She was so feminine, and it was as if she was made for him.

Them.

She was his mate and Josh’s.

He must have looked too long, because Cheri blushed, hands covering her belly, as if she wasn’t perfect or something.

“No, love. No hiding.” Paulo smiled. “Have I said that already? If not, I mean it.”

“I just… Usually this happens in a dark room, hmm?”

“Isn’t that sad?” He got her underwear down too before stroking her belly.

His fingers played, slipping south, the strawberry-blonde curls drawing him. They were a couple of shades darker than her long hair, which hung loose and free. He had no idea where her glasses had gone, but he loved the dazed look in her eyes as he let one finger touch her slit, dip inside and test the most perfect wetness he’d ever felt.

Paulo almost howled, his wolf wanting to claim her, wanting him to sink his cock inside her. That might not be fair to Josh though. He focused on her pleasure, on drawing out soft sighs and low moans, on making sure she craved his touch. They shared more kisses, deep and drugging, his lips clinging to hers.

Her hips rolled up, starting to move in time with his touches, trying to keep in contact with his fingers.

Her clit was right there under his thumb and he rubbed it in circles, pushing her a little.

“Paulo…” Oh sensitive girl. He smiled and took her lips, tongue pushing in to taste her again and again. She was so wet for him, so hot. She felt amazing.

Her thigh pressed against his cock, her hips moving restlessly as she shuddered. He wanted to spread her out, lick and nuzzle, hear her cries. Too damned bad they didn’t have the space. The gear shift was about to get intimate with him as it was. He rubbed a little faster, listening to her near-desperate cries.

Just like that, sweet lady.

It amazed him how much he wanted to see her come. How he was willing to put his own pleasure on the back burner.