Seven Days: The Complete Story (11 page)

“That’s
annoying.”

I feign
sadness for my friend. “Yeah. Bummer.”

“And so
typical. The best men are always gay or married. That’s why I get
stuck with the dregs. Thank God I got the heads up before I put the
legwork in. It’d be such a waste to spend the entire night flirting
like mad with a guy who has no interest.” She shakes her head in
resignation. “I could have sworn he was straight though. I was
getting the vibe.”

“Your radar
must be off. You have to remember the last two guys you went out
with weren’t exactly nice in the end. Maybe you need a bit of time
without a boyfriend. You know, to get your head together and see
things in perspective again. I know how hurt you were last time. I
couldn’t bear for that to happen. You deserve to be happy.”

I sound so
shallow and two-faced. I genuinely care about Emily and want her to
be happy. Just not with Joel. Or Nicholas.

“You know,
you’re right.”

“I’m always
right when I’m giving
you
advice.” It’s a pity I never take
my own.

The door to
the toilet stall opens and a girl appears. She’s adjusting her
teeny tiny dress and swaying slightly on her heels as she moves to
the basin to wash her hands and refresh her lipstick.

“I’ll meet you
back in the bar,” I say as Emily locks the toilet door.

“Okay,” I hear
her call.

Hopefully,
she’ll be putting on her makeup for at least five minutes so I’ll
have time to let Joel know he’s a very happy gay man who has no
interest in girls at all. I have no idea what he’s going to
say.

*****

Nicholas is
cracking up. His head is bent back, his mouth is open and he’s
laughing so hard he’s almost shaking.

“It’s not
funny,” I say. “I couldn’t think of anything else.”

“I’ve never
met anyone
less
gay than Joel. You could have told her he
had a girlfriend.”

“I doubt that
would stop her, the mood she’s in. I wouldn’t put it past her to
come out here and try to crack on to Joel to turn him
straight.”

I realise it
sounds like I’m being mean but Emily does latch onto men. Even
she
knows she does. It’s like she’s always searching for
approval. I don’t know why. She’s smart, funny and a great friend.
She doesn’t need to prove anything. Yet for some reason, she needs
the security of a man to make her feel loved and whole.

“Do you think
I should ham it up?” Joel asks. “I’m sure I could perv convincingly
on a few blokes if I try. It can’t be that hard, can it?”

Nicholas
laughs again. “What? Like ‘nice arse’ or ‘check out the legs on
that’?”

“I don’t think
we need to take it that far,” I admonish. “I feel bad enough as it
is without your contribution to the scam.”

“You do
realise you’re gonna owe me for this?” Joel steps very close. I
feel his hip touching my side. His body heat mingles with mine as
he puts his lips to my ear. “Big time.”

I lower my
voice to meet his. “And how do you propose I pay you back?”

“I’m sure I
can think of something. Later.”

A delicious
shiver runs down my spine.

Around about
then, Emily reappears. It’s been a good ten minutes and she’s
grinning cheekily; despite the fact that I’ve just informed her
that the man she wants is off limits. Then I see the reason why.
Between the loos and the bar, my best friend seems to have acquired
a male friend of her own. He’s very sophisticated looking and like
her, entirely in black — sooty hair, black shirt and shoes. He’s
even got the tight black pants Emily finds so adorable on a guy,
not jeans but actual expensively cut trousers.

“This is
Alex,” Emily says. “He’s a graphic designer.”

Figures.

“Alex, this is
my best friend Sadie, and this is Nicholas and Joel.”

Everyone
shakes hands, has a drink, talks about stupid stuff you talk about
when you meet someone for the first time. We move on to the latest
bands, which of us has tickets to what music festival over the
summer and the places we like to eat in the city. Throughout the
entire conversation there’s a hand on my bottom, caressing it and
I’m assuming it’s Nicholas’ —seeing that Joel’s
gay—
but
either way I don’t care, it’s turning me on something shocking. I
can feel the excitement building with each tiny squeeze, every
subtle rub of flesh over cloth.

Then we dance
and it’s subtly sexy. Emily is so engrossed with Alex she hasn’t
seemed to twig that I’m doing the threesome version of
Dirty
Dancing
and at one point I mistakenly kiss Joel because I’m
feeling so turned on. At least I hope she didn’t notice, because in
the very next instance I seem to be kissing Nicholas. The whole
thing is like a blur of bodies and lips and I’m loving every
minute. Finally, we’re so sweaty it’s time to call quits on the
dancing so we head back to the bar and Emily sends Alex to order
another round. I raise my eyebrows in her direction while his back
is turned.

“He seems
nice,” I mouth, nodding.

“And
sooo
cute,” she mouths back and moves closer to me so we can
put our heads together. “Not a sign of arsehole so far,” she
whispers.

“That’s
great.”

“In fact, I’m
thinking he and I need to go somewhere so we can get to know each
other a little better.”

“Oh Emily,
you’re not going to shag him are you? You promised you’d stop
hooking up with random boys. You’ve only just met.”

“I wasn’t
thinking anything of the sort… for a change. What I meant was that
maybe I could coax him into going for a walk on the beach or
something. You know, to talk. Do you think he’d be up for it? He
won’t see it as an invitation to throw me in the sand and have his
way with me, will he?”

I glance over
to the bar where Alex is paying for drinks. He’s been very
attentive to Emily. “I don’t think so. If you let him know you want
to take things slowly I think it’ll be okay—”

As opposed to
myself who is about to have my way with two men.

“—But can you
text me and let me know what you’re up to?” I add. “So I know
you’re safe? I mean, Alex seems nice, but people can change once
they get in the dark and I don’t want you out there alone without
me knowing where you are.”

“Yes,
Mum.”

“The key to
the cottage is under the frog statue near the front steps, if you
get home before I do and there’s a spare toothbrush in my bag if
you need one.”

“I’m not gonna
ask why you brought a spare toothbrush.” Emily smiles. “You’re the
best friend ever.”

I give her a
hug. “Be safe.”

“I will.”

“And have fun.
But not too much.”

Emily goes to
the bar and whispers something to Alex who quickly distributes
drinks and then yanks her out the door as if he’s been waiting for
the invitation for hours. At last, Nicholas, Joel and I are alone…
in a crowd of, oh, two hundred or so. The only impediment to my
night has been removed. There are no more excuses.

I turn back to
find the boys standing there looking at me. And the look I’m
getting is telling me they’re thinking the same thing I am.

The trip from
the bar to my place takes no longer than six minutes but it feels
like the longest walk of my life. The boys have made small talk the
whole way but it’s not helping. Even being insanely smashed is not
helping. The butterflies are back and this time they have teeth.
They’re gnawing at my insides inflating the indecision I thought
I’d so cleverly squashed. I’m
soooo
nervous.

Okay. That’s
an understatement. I’m freaking out, packing it.

As we walk,
Nicholas takes hold of my hand. His skin is warm and his palm soft.
He looks down into my eyes; his own filled with a mix of desire and
understanding. I feel calmer. Well, not as likely to throw up. The
nerves are still there, I mean, I’ve never done anything like this
before so I suppose it’s understandable. But, somehow, just from
the way he’s looking at me I know it’s okay and I
definitely
know I want to do it. It’s the getting started part that’s the most
difficult.

“It’s okay,
Sadie,” Nicholas says, softly. “We don’t have to do it if you don’t
want to.”

I squeeze his
hand. I can’t speak. I’m overwhelmed by the fact that even though
he knows I’m a sure thing he’s letting my feelings be the guide for
this. He’s not pressuring me into anything.

On the other
side of me, Joel is quiet, too. He’s walking very close, I feel his
arm graze mine every now and again and I wonder what’s going on
inside his head. Is he jealous that Nicholas is holding my hand? Is
that why he’s so quiet when he’d usually be making some silly joke?
I don’t want him to feel that way. I want us to be okay. I slide my
free hand into the back pocket of his jeans. I can feel the firm
muscles of his butt moving as we walk. He clenches them on purpose
under my fingers and I catch a glimpse of his cheeky grin. There’s
nothing wrong. He’s simply going with the flow, letting this thing
we’re starting run its course.

We reach the
beach gate and I remove my hand from Joel’s pocket to unlatch it.
As I do, I stumble on the step, partly because it’s dark and partly
because I may be a little drunker than even
I
realised.
Instantly, there are two sets of hands on my body, steadying me,
and as I right myself Joel moves in front of me leaving Nicholas to
take up the rear.

“Did you hurt
yourself?” Joel asks.

I do a quick
mental check. My knee is stinging but I muster a smile. “I’m fine.
Tripped on the stupid maxi dress.”

Joel’s eyes
skim my body. I feel them travelling along my bare arms, over my
collarbone and down my cleavage towards my ribs. I’m wearing no
bra; the thin straps of the dress don’t allow it. His eyes come to
rest on my breasts and instantly my nipples harden like he’s just
kissed them. I don’t move. I simply swallow and wait to see what
he’s going to do.

“I think the
dress is hot,” he says. “But you look so much better without
it.”

He yanks my
waist towards him. My body is against his. The gentle thumping of
his heart is in sync with mine. Behind me, Nicholas has moved
closer too. He’s flipped my hair over my shoulder to expose the
skin at my neck. My back is nestled against his chest and he’s
squeezing my hand tightly as his lips dip into the space where my
shoulder meets the top of my spine.

Then Joel’s
lips are on mine. They’re hot and urgent and as he deepens the
kiss, I can’t help but kiss him back, I’m so turned on. Nicholas
has both of my hands now. He’s pinioned them gently behind my back
and is directing them to feel the erection growing between us while
Joel continues his offensive on my mouth. I feel hands raising my
skirt, touching the soft skin at the edge of my underwear. I feel a
finger tracing the outline before it delves inside, teasing me
where I long to be teased the most. As Joel, flicks his tongue in
and out of my mouth, the hand finds its target. Fingers pinch
gently and I’m pulsing so hard I think I’m about to come right here
in front of the house. I’m wet and needy, ready for whatever it is
they’re going to give me.

The heat
builds. Joel kisses me harder. His hands are on my breasts now and
through the flimsy fabric of my dress I feel him tug at first one
nipple and then the other. The fingers in my knickers are working
faster too. I can’t kiss anymore, I can’t breathe with what they’re
doing. I need release.

“Do it Sadie,”
Nicholas still has his lips at my neck. “Show us how you come.”

I hear Joel
groan with desire, feel the vibration of his mouth against mine.
This is like nothing I’ve felt before. Ever.

And it’s
soooo
good.

*****

I wake before
the boys the following morning. We’re in a tangled heap on the bed,
all naked limbs and twisted sheets. I stare up at the ceiling, a
satisfied smile spreading across my face. I did it. I actually did
it. That’s something I can’t quite believe. I think the secret —
apart from the crazy attraction I feel to them both — lays in the
fact that it was planned. I’ve never been that good at spontaneity
but if I know what to expect I can plan for it. It makes me feel
more comfortable.

Closing my
eyes, I let the images of last night swirl through my head. They’re
hot. So hot, I feel the throbbing begin at the very idea. The
blindfold, the darkened room. One of the boys taking me from
behind; the other nipping at every part of my body. I want more.
Yes, that’s what I want. And I want it now.

I roll in
Joel’s direction. He’s asleep, so I snuggle into his chest and wrap
my arms around him. He feels good — hard and soft at the same time.
His heart is beating slowly, lulling me back to sleep. Then he
stirs and his arm creeps over mine, his hand comes to rest on my
bum, which he caresses before giving it a pinch.

“Ouch,” I
whisper, half-giggling and not wanting to wake Nicholas.

“Morning.”
Joel bends his head. His lips are on mine. His mouth begins to
devour me, making me open up to him. I love the way he kisses. I
pull away at last and he makes a little face like he’s sad.

“Morning,” I
whisper back.

“Are you
okay?”

“Yep.
You?”

He grins and
kisses me again. I guess that’s his answer.

Over my
shoulder I feel Nicholas stretching. He rolls, spooning me, and
brushes the hair from my shoulder before kissing it. His fingers
linger and I feel loved, so loved.

“Morning,” he
says. His voice is gravelly in the aftermath of the drinking last
night but the huskiness is sexy. It sends ripples of desire through
me.

I kiss his
fingers on my shoulder. “Morning.”