Illicit (23 page)

But even when he’d told her outright that he didn’t want to see her again, she’d persisted. And allowed herself to believe. After all, she had this wonderful connection with him, and an ability to read his desires. How could things not work out between them?

Because … he had that ability with everyone. There was nothing special about her.

She wasn’t special.

He’d told her she was, but only to help her self-esteem. She wasn’t special to
him.
She was just another woman, like any other. He could read them all.

Nothing special.

Tears flowed again, blurring the road in front of her. She wiped them away, but instead of going straight on Garner Avenue, she turned right, heading for Jill’s place.

*   *   *

“She’s not here.” Erik sat down in the passenger seat again. “At least, she’s not answering her door or her cell phone.”

“She probably doesn’t want to talk to you,” Connor said from the backseat.

Travis started the car and pulled out of the parking space. “Let’s check the parking lot to see if her car’s here.”

Travis drove to the other side of the building and pulled to a stop. There was no sign of Lindsay’s little red Tercel.

“Maybe she’s at her friend’s place. Jill.” He’d lay odds that she’d want to talk to her close friend now.

Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the apartment building Connor and Travis had moved out of a few weeks ago.

“There’s her car.” Connor pointed at the familiar red car in visitors’ parking.

*   *   *

“You’re saying he could actually read your fantasies?”

Lindsay glanced at Jill with tear-blurred eyes and nodded.

Jill sat beside her on the couch and hugged her. “Sorry, honey. As incredibly cool as that is, if he doesn’t want to be with you, then he’s just a jerk.”

Lindsay shook her head. “No, he’s not.” Her previous boyfriend, he was a jerk, but not Erik.

Jill hugged her tighter. “Okay, he’s not very smart then. You’re amazing and wonderful, and if he can’t see that, he doesn’t deserve you.”

Lindsay’s heart ached. Jill’s soothing words were meant to help, but they didn’t. Erik just didn’t love her and nothing could take away the sting of that rejection.

A knock sounded at the door. Jill ignored it and handed Lindsay a tissue. As Lindsay wiped her eyes, another knock sounded.

“Go ahead and get it. I’ll be okay.”

Jill nodded and strode to the door, then opened it.

“Hi, I’m looking for Lindsay.”

Lindsay froze at the sound of Erik’s voice.

“May I come in?”

Jill glanced toward Lindsay. Lindsay’s heart pounded in her chest, but she nodded. As anxious as she was, she couldn’t help wondering what Erik was picking up from Jill, whom Lindsay was sure was harboring wild and lusty thoughts about the tall sexy man in front of her.

But Erik only had eyes for Lindsay as he glanced past Jill to Lindsay’s tearstained face. Jill stepped back as Erik strode into the room and toward her. He crouched in front of her, his midnight-blue eyes serious as he captured her gaze.

Hope rose, but she tamped it down. He was a decent guy and probably felt bad about hurting her. He probably wanted to make sure she was okay. But none of that changed the fact he didn’t love her. And didn’t want to be with her.

He took her hand as he searched her face.

She tugged her hand away and stood up. She didn’t want him to look out for her. If it was over, it was over.

*   *   *

Erik’s heart clenched, afraid he didn’t have a chance in hell of winning her back.

“Lindsay, please listen to me. I was an idiot. And a coward. Rather than risking that you would eventually walk away, I drove you away first. The other women in my life … I could convince myself they walked away because of what I can do. But with you … If you walked away, that would mean you were rejecting me, and I didn’t want to risk that.”

She turned to face him and the pain in her glistening blue eyes tore at his heart. “So
you
rejected me.”

His chest tightened. “I told you.” His words came out low and tortured. “I was an idiot.” He took her hands in his. “I’ll do anything to make it up to you.” He stroked a long blonde strand from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “Because I love you.”

Twenty-three

Erik’s heart skipped a beat as Lindsay stared at him in absolute disbelief. Then she turned her back on him and walked to the window. Jill hung in the background, watching hesitantly.

Erik realized his hands were shaking as he gazed at Lindsay’s back. She’d walked away. Just as he’d feared.

And he had no one to blame but himself. The perfect woman had walked into his life and he’d driven her away.

He could either let her go and lick his wounds. Convince himself that what he had with Connor and Travis was enough, even though he now knew it wasn’t. His life would never be complete without Lindsay.

Or he could fight for her. Convince her that he loved her, and that she loved him.

*   *   *

Lindsay stiffened as she felt Erik’s hands on her shoulders.

“Lindsay, please. Look at me.”

Slowly, she turned to face him. As soon as she gazed up at him, and saw the agony in his eyes, her heart clenched.

“I love you.” His heartfelt words rang through her, quelling the numbness and stirring emotions deep inside.

His words were true. He loved her.

She blinked as her body started to tremble. Before she could utter a word, she was swept into his embrace, his lips capturing hers in a deep, passionate kiss.

She melted against him, her tongue colliding with his as she clung to his big, broad shoulders.

“I love you,” he murmured against her lips.

Joy swept through her as she allowed herself to believe. A broad smile claimed her face and new tears sprang from her eyes. “I love you, too.”

He laughed and kissed her again, then lifted her and twirled her around in a circle. Even when her feet rested on the ground again, she felt like she was floating on a cloud.

Erik loved her.

A knock sounded at the door and Jill walked over and stared out the peephole, then she opened the door with a smile.

“Connor and Travis. Welcome to the party.”

“Hey, Jill.” Connor stepped inside, followed by Travis. “So you two work things out?”

Travis smiled as he took in Lindsay’s happy face.

Erik wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his side. “We’re good.”

“So have you asked her to move in yet?”

Travis nudged Connor in the ribs. “Give the man a chance.”

Move in?

“I just want to make sure he doesn’t blow this,” Connor responded.

Lindsay glanced at Erik.

“What do you say? Would you move in with me?” Erik smiled. “And Connor and Travis?”

“Wow.” Jill sat down on the couch and watched in awe.

“I’ll live with all three of you?” What did this mean for her and Erik?

“Yes, but you’ll be living in my room.” He kissed her hand. “I mean our room.” He nudged his head toward his friends. “They just get to share.”

She laughed. What more could a woman want? A man who loved her and wanted to spend his life with her … and his two best friends, and lovers.

“Honey, if you don’t say yes, you’re crazy.” Jill smiled at Connor. “I wouldn’t let an opportunity like this slip by.”

Lindsay gazed into Erik’s mesmerizing blue eyes, her heart bursting with joy. “Of course I will.”

That joy mirrored in his eyes as he captured her lips and kissed her with a passion that took her breath away.

*   *   *

Elation rocked through Erik as he held the woman he loved in his arms. Her soft body close to his, as it would be every night in their bed. Close and warm. Sweet and comforting.

Her lips moved passionately under his and his flood of happiness shifted as he felt desire surging through her. She wanted him.

She nuzzled his neck and whispered in his ear, “Let’s go home.”

He grinned and took her hand and she followed him to the door. Jill grinned as she watched them go.

Connor and Travis followed them down the hall.

“I can’t believe I’m being spirited away by three sexy men.”

He could sense her awareness of Connor and Travis rising.

“It’s like we’re kidnapping you,” Erik said.

Her eyes glittered. “It is.”

Images of throwing her over his shoulder like a captive and dragging her into a room danced through his head. The three of them stripping away her clothes and tying her down. The images were so intense, his cock rose to full mast, straining painfully at his jeans.

“Hey, Travis, you still have a key to the old apartment?” he asked.

The person subletting the apartment didn’t move in until the end of the month, which was next weekend.

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

With that, Erik tossed Lindsay over his shoulder and headed for the stairs. The old apartment was several flights down, but he didn’t want to ruin the fantasy by waiting for an elevator. Lindsay giggled as she clung to his shirt. His hand held firm to her sexy thighs, and her delightful butt rested against his cheek as he hurried down the stairs. Travis went out the door first and raced ahead to the apartment. He had the door unlocked by the time Erik caught up, Connor right behind him. As Connor closed the door, Travis glanced at Erik for a cue. He knew when Erik was pursuing a woman’s fantasy.

“Get something to tie up our pretty captive.”

*   *   *

At Erik’s words, a tremor of pure lust quaked through Lindsay. Erik strode toward the couch and flopped her down on it. Thankfully, it seemed the guys had sublet the apartment furnished. Their stuff didn’t look like it would really fit in the penthouse.

Connor reappeared empty-handed. “No rope.”

Of course, they must have packed everything but the furniture.

With a gleam in his eye, Erik slid his hand up her thigh until he reached the garter. She quivered as he flicked it open, then lifted her skirt to find the other and released that one, too. His fingers trailed along her foot as he unfastened her shoe, then tossed it aside. As he peeled off the stocking, Travis stripped off the other one. Her insides clenched in anticipation of what was to come.

Erik coiled one stocking around her wrist.

“Hey, if you tie her up first, we can’t get her clothes off.” Connor grinned. “At least, not without tearing them.”

Big strong hands swooped down on her, unfastening the buttons on her blouse, tugging it from her shoulders, lifting her to stand. Her skirt slipped away, then she felt the hooks on her bra release. She sucked in air as it slipped away.

“No,” she cried, realizing she was supposed to play the unwilling captive.

Erik glanced at her and she winked so he’d know she was playing along.

“Please let me go.” She stood before them in only her panties and garter belt. Her nipples hardened under their intense scrutiny. Her garter belt slipped away.

“We’re not going to let you go, doll,” Connor said. “You’re our prisoner and we intend to enjoy the situation to the fullest.”

She sucked in air as he cupped her breast with his big, warm hand. Travis leaned down and licked her nipple, then took it in his hot mouth and sucked. She grasped his shoulders, as if to push him away, but she couldn’t quell her soft moan.

“Are you going to tie her up?” Connor asked.

“Actually, I have an idea. Travis, get undressed and stand behind her.”

Travis grinned. “My pleasure.”

Connor took her wrists, as if she might try to bolt. She watched Travis pull off his clothes, anticipation building in her. The sight of his big, hard cock as he stripped off his boxers sent her heart fluttering. He stepped behind her and she felt his erection press against her butt.

Erik grasped her wrist. “Give me your wrist, Travis.”

Travis complied and Erik wrapped their wrists together with the stocking.

“Stretch out your fingers.”

Erik took her hand and pressed it to Travis’, then wove the trailing end of the stocking in and out between their fingers, until her hand was matched tightly to his.

Travis curled his fingers, and hers moved with them. “Hey, this’ll be fun.”

Erik connected their other hands in the same manner and stepped back, smiling at his handiwork.

Connor stripped away his clothes. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Travis moved his hand and cupped her breasts. Or, rather, she cupped her breasts, with his hands covering hers. He kneaded. Her hard nipples pressed into her palms. Her head fell back against his shoulder.

“You really must let me go.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Connor walked toward her, his big cock bouncing.

Erik grabbed a chair from the dining room and set it behind Travis. Travis flattened her hand on her stomach, steadying her, and sat down. Connor stepped squarely in front of them and Travis moved her hand to take hold of Connor’s cock. Together, they stroked the big, hard erection.

“Yeah, man. Now in her mouth.”

Staying in role, she shook her head, but her mouth watered at the sight of his big cock getting closer as Travis leaned forward, pressing her closer to Connor’s cock. Connor wrapped his hand around her head as Travis pressed the cock to her mouth, then pushed it inside. Oh, God, it was so big. He glided it in and out and Travis tucked their other hands under Connor’s balls, cradling them in her palm. He pressed up and squeezed her hand lightly around them.

“That is so fucking hot,” Connor murmured.

Her glance flicked sideways to see Erik stripping off his clothes, too. Behind her, Travis’ cock grew harder. Connor’s cock glided deeper. In and out of her mouth. She started to suck. She couldn’t help herself. It felt so good stretching her mouth.

He pulled out and Erik stepped in front of her. He pressed his big cock to her lips and it slid inside. At the same time, Connor pressed his cock to Travis’ mouth and it disappeared inside. As the two cocks thrust in and out of their mouths, Travis found her breast. Their joined fingers stroked over her nipple, sending wild sensations thrumming through her.