“Talk to me?”
“What about?”
“We used to be wonderful friends.”
He pushed past her into the bedroom to grab a robe to cover himself.
“I am not the enemy, Lance,” she cried in frustration.
No, sweet Abbie was not his enemy, her uterus was. He knew the day JC discovered he’d finally struck fertile ground he would lose his lover. Lance looked at Abbie’s haunted, unhappy eyes –
they had missed each other. In their crazy situation, mutual support had strengthened them. Now, the uncomfortable lifestyle was crushing them.
JC had taken such perverse delight in keeping his two lovers separated as he had when he had first taken Abbie. Since geographical distance hadn’t worked. JC had placed emotional distance between them. Lance had been the easiest one to break. Announcing he wanted Abbie pregnant had done it easily enough. Lance hadn’t punished JC – he had punished Abbie.
“I miss you, too, baby.” He opened his arms to receive the sweet, soft body of his other lover.
“Oh, Lance!” she whispered happily against his neck.
He closed his arms tightly around her. Her arms went around his neck as she rose on tiptoe to kiss him. Her lightweight was enough to throw him off balance. He toppled back on the bed with Abbie on top of him. They laughed with each other, as they hadn’t done in the previous weeks.
“This feels good.” Lance touched her cheek gently. “I really missed my friend.”
“Whatever happens, Let’s not lose each other Lance,” Abbie told him. “We ‘re the only ones who understand what we’ve been through.”
He nodded, arranging them more comfortably on the big bed. Grabbing a pillow, he tucked it under his head as Abbie lay against him. They were like frightened children clinging to each other in the dark. Loving JC was wearing them both down.
“I’m sorry JC was an asshole last night.” Lance’s blood boiled when JC let those girls climb all him the night before. He’d seen the hurt in Abbie’s eyes.
“You can’t stop him and you can’t take the blame.”
“He was too wasted to do anything. He was asleep before I finished undressing him.”
“He hurt you, too, Lance. He’s cheated you more than me.”
“I knew the score. You didn’t.”
Abbie sighed. “I remember when I couldn’t wait for him to come home from the studio. Now, I can’t wait till he leaves some mornings.”
He tipped her chin up. He kissed her softly, again and again until their lips clung hungrily.
Abbie slid one hand into his short hair as their tongues mated. She had missed the easy comfort of his kisses, of his touch.
“Baby…” he whispered as he trailed his lips across her cheek. “Thank you. Thank you for coming in here and for still loving me. I need you, too.”
She wanted to cry for him. She might have been innocent of any duplicity – JC had cheated on him more. Lance had been placed in the horrible position of sharing his lover or losing him. Then Lance had become Abbie’s protector – at the expense of himself. If he had let JC get away with mistreating Abbie, she most probably would have left – leaving Lance as ‘only’ once more. She wanted to do something – anything to make him feel better. “What can I do? I want to do something for you.”
Earnest, dark eyes peered up beseechingly and he felt his sex rise. Nothing new there. Her sweet loving nature could turn on a marble statue. He opened her robe, pleased to find her naked beneath. Bending his head, he took rose pink bud into his mouth – without any preliminary licks he sucked it strongly.
“Lance!” she gasped at the pleasure-giving mouth.
“Touch me, Abbie,” he commanded huskily.
She didn’t need coaxing. She pushed the robe from his shoulders, caressing his neck and back. When he lifted his head she had access to his smooth hard chest. Her hands moved lower over his taunt stomach and still lower.
“Oh, God, yes!” he groaned as he was taken into small, soft hands. He pushed her to her back, his hand going between her legs. Wet heat greeted his fingers.
“Oh Lance…” She arched into his pleasurable touch. “Oh, yes!”
Before either of them realized the momentous step they took, Lance moved between her thighs.
“Lance!” Her eyes went wide with shock when he shoved into her tight body. He was thicker than JC and it took a moment to adjust.
“You, okay?” Soft green eyes gazed into hers.
“Mmm…hmm…”
“I need this.”
She nodded, understanding the need.
He rocked into her gently; aware it was little Abbie beneath him. “Uh, baby…you’re nice and tight.” Not as tight as the usual hole he ‘poked’. The thought made him smile.
“I’ve missed that smile,” she told him as she reached for another kiss.
“It’s all yours, Abbie.”
Lance’s loving of her was far different than JC’s. Lance was like a gently, soothing rain. JC was more like a thunderstorm – awesome, beautiful and often destructive. Flowers needed gentle rains. Torrential downpours crushed petals and beat them to the ground. Even when she felt his body begin to stiffen, Lance didn’t pound into her. He continued to stroke smoothly until she tensed beneath him. Instead of the horrendous screaming orgasm, they were released into gentle waves of pleasure. Abbie arched up, driving him deeper as he released within her. Soft, sweet kisses replaced gulps of air as the lovers floated gently down to earth.
Lance lifted off of her to lie on his back. Curling an arm around he, he brought her against his side.
“That was wonderful,” Abbie purred as she kissed his damp chest.
“Yeah, it was.”
One horrible thought flashed through Lance’s mind: he did not want to share Abbie with JC.
JC was stunned to find the lovers asleep on his bed. Lance lay on his back with his face turned toward Abbie, one arm around her. Abbie was snuggled against Lance, her head tucked beneath his chin. One slender leg was wedged between his. Lance’s semi-erect manhood lay against a pale thigh. If he hadn’t known better, he would have believed they were truly lovers, but Lance didn’t desire girls – and they still wore their robes albeit they were opened and revealing much.
Smiling, he decided to join them. He’d been neglecting Abbie of late. Maybe she had asked Lance to relieve her.
*****
Last night Abbie had treated JC like so much dirty laundry. On the limo ride home, she had pushed his hand away when he’d reached under her skirt. He’d turned his hot mouth to Lance, who turned his head away so JC’s lips found his neck. That worked for him, he sucked and licked at the blonde’s neck until Lance removed himself to the seat across from them. JC once again turned his attention to Abbie. And once again was met with a chilly reception.
“Leave her be, C. You’re drunk,” Lance grumbled.
“I’m horny.”
“Which I had nothing to do with.” Abbie reminded him of the two women he let paw at his pants.
“But they didn’t get it, ‘cause I save that for you,” he purred against her neck.
“I am so honored.” Abbie shoved at him.
*****
Okay, so he’d been an ass last night, but here his two lovers were – in his bed waiting for him. JC stripped out of his clothes and climbed on to the bed next to Lance. He reached down to fondle the blonde’s manhood and sacs. Lance pushed his hips up to the pleasing grip. JC’s mouth swooped down to take the sleep soft mouth aggressively with his.
No! was Lance’s first thought finding himself being groped by JC. His next was to protect Abbie. He didn’t want the other man’s hands on Abbie. As gently as he could, he released the girl and pushed her away.
“C’mon, pretty boy,” JC taunted. “ Open up those delicious lips.”
Abbie stirred. “ Lance?”
“JC, baby.” JC reached to stroke the juncture of her thighs.
Abbie woke quickly and scooted away from him, her panicked gaze going to Lance.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” JC barked.
“Leave her alone, JC,” Lance said, reaching for JC’s hand to bring to his lips. “I’m here.” He really didn’t want this either, but to save Abbie from it…
JC turned his attention back to Lance, allowing Abbie to escape.
Abbie waited for Lance to return to his room, some place JC wouldn’t look for her. When he finally came in, he looked tried and sick. She immediately went to him, but he backed away.
“Don’t touch me!” he commanded, putting his hands up.
She saw the bruised look in his beautiful jade eyes and ignored him, hugging his sweaty body.
“I’m too dirty, Abbie,” he groaned as she buried her face against his chest.
“No, you did it for me. That doesn’t make you dirty. It makes you my hero.”
His arms closed around her tightly as he buried his face in her hair. He needed to breathe in Abbie’s clean sweetness. JC had been mean mood since Abbie had slipped away and hadn’t been particularly gentle with Lance. In fact, he ached. All he wanted was a hot shower and to sleep.
Abbie released him only to take his hand. She led him to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, she adjusted the temperature. Then she faced him, sliding the robe off his body. “Go on.”
While Lance stood beneath the soothing spray he closed his eyes. He was in turmoil – he needed to go away for a few days on business. There was no way he could leave Abbie alone with JC in the mood he was in. He could ask her along, but what if she truly wanted to work things out with JC, then what? And what did Lance feel about his lover and band mate? He didn’t know that either.
He opened his eyes when Abbie stepped naked into the shower. “Abbie…”
She hushed him with gentle fingertips against his lips, lips swollen by JC’s aggressive, hungry kisses. “You think you’re dirty to me, so I’m going to wash you clean." Taking a washcloth, she gently bathed his neck, arms and chest. Moving behind him, she washed his back and buttocks. His hiss when she drew the soft rag delicately between his firm cheeks, she knew JC had been rough with him. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, tears rolling down her face.
“He didn’t get at you,” he said, as if that explained everything.
Abbie continued her ministrations by once again stationing herself at his front. Kneeling, she washed his strong, muscled legs, noting the reddened skin of his tights. She recognized whisker burn easy enough. She leaned forward to brush her mouth over the abused flesh.
Lance moaned at her gentle touch. “There’s nothing left,” he told her as she cleaned his intimate flesh.
“Lance…” she scolded softly. Rising to her feet, she washed his hair as he closed his eyes, savoring the sensation.
“Mmm…” he murmured appreciatively.
She moved away from him, preparing to leave the shower stall.
“Abbie?” His eyes flew open in a panic.
“You’re all clean now.”
“Not yet.” He held her against him. Pure bliss. Her lips traced his collarbone. She stilled wanted him, still loved him. That made him truly cleansed.
For some time, they stayed within the warm, humid sanctuary of the shower, merely holding to each other.
“Abbie?”
She looked up in the vanity mirror to see JC at her open door, clearly undecided whether he would be well received or not.
“Come in.” She continued brushing her hair until he came behind her in the mirror. “What can I do for you?”
“Can we talk?” he asked quietly.
“I’d like that.”
“Wanna go some place neutral? Kitchen? Dining room? Maybe out?”
This was the JC she had fallen in love with.
“Here’s fine as long as you adhere to my ‘no-sex-in-my-room’ policy.”
He nodded. “If you think I’m coming on to you, bash me with a lamp or scream. Lance’ll come running like a bat out of hell.”
Putting her brush down, she waved to the foot of her bed. “Have a seat.”
He waited until she was seated at the head of the bed before he sat.
“What’s on your mind?” she asked.
“I love you, Abbie,” he blurted.
Abbie’s eyes went wide – that was a potent opening salvo! “I might point out that you’ve not acted like it for several weeks.”
“I could give you a dozen excuses, but nothing justifies the way I’ve been acting. Not really.”
“I’m glad you realize that.”
“I don’t know why I have been an asshole. Things were so great when this all started, the three of us. We even liked each other…” he sighed heavily. “Then Lance moved out of our bedroom… We stopped being together… It hurt.”
“Josh, all of those things happened because of you.”
“Me? I never asked for Lance to leave.”
“But you made it hard for him to stay.”
“How did I do that?”
“Put yourself in his shoes. He was your lover – he loves you so much, Josh… Then I came into the equation – and you weren’t honest with either of us.”
“I – I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know that I could love two people like that. You’re an awful lot a like you know? Very caring. Very open with your love. Gentle. I guess that’s why I felt I needed you both. You both gave me everything. That was so awesome!”
“And unfair.”
“Baby, if I would have told you I was sleeping with another guy, you would have walked away.”
“Or I would have told you to make up your mind.”
JC shook his head. “You would have walked, Abbie.”
“That would have been my choice, not yours.” Abbie pinched the bridge of her nose. Could he possible be as blind as he seemed? “We digress. Lance couldn’t bear to watch you and I together anymore. I think he did it for me as well. It was hard to watch sometimes.”
“But you moved out after you and I shared a bed alone.”
“You did something I consider unforgivable.”
“What?” He couldn’t remember any heinous crime.
“When I wasn’t in the mood, you went to Lance.
“Did you want me to seduce you?”
“No, you were supposed to just hold me close, let me know I was loved. Not many other people have the option to grab lube and go down the hall – and poor Lance, he was in seventh heaven thinking you came to him, because you loved him.”
“I love Lance!” he protested.
“Not the way he deserves to be loved.”
“So, you’re saying I need to decide who I keep and who I throw away.”
“No, who do you love enough to be faithful to and who do you love enough to let go.”
Tears filled those beautiful blue eyes of his. “Help me, Abbie.”
She smiled sadly and held out her arms to him. He readily accepted her comfort. He lay against her, sobbing softly as she nuzzled him.
“Help me,” he whispered.
“I wish I could, baby.”
“Tell me you’re the one I need to be with.”
“I wouldn’t do that to Lance.”
Resting a hand on her belly, he murmured, “Tell me you’re pregnant, I’d know you needed me more.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not giving you any outs, Josh.”
JC raised his lips to hers in the first readily given kiss in weeks. “Abbie, will you come to my room so we can make love?” he asked, his eyes full of love and true desire.
Abbie responded to those eyes as she always had. “Yes” she kissed him again, lingering to relearn his flavor, his tongue, every crevice of his mouth.
“Baby…” JC arched up to give her more.
Breathlessly, she murmured, “You go on. I’ll be there in a bit.”
Abbie kept her blissful reunion with JC to herself the next evening when she saw Lance. All day she had run the night over in her head. It was as if someone had turned on a light in JC’s head and he realized how horrible he had been to her – and with some prodding by her – to Lance. Once again, JC was the passionate, giving lover he had been in the beginning – But she wouldn’t tell Lance.
“Abbie!” Lance met her at the door when she arrived home from work. The haunted look gone from his eyes; he looked happy.
She laughed as he swung her around in the air and set her back on her feet. “Maybe I need to work late more often,” she teased.
“No! I’ve been waiting for hours for you.”
“And why have you waited hours?”
“This morning, JC came to me and apologized for the way he hurt me.”
Abbie didn’t say it had happened at her urging. After they made love, she and JC had talked more. She had been insistent Lance deserved better. “I’m glad.”
The blonde sighed happily. “We made love like we used to and we talked. He said it was like he was possessed or something, that if he should ever be like that again I have his permission to knock some sense in him.”
So, JC had decided on a separate but equal policy. That didn’t work for her. Still her gentle friend was so delighted she wasn’t going to do anything to take that beautiful smile from him. “I’m glad for you.”
“And I won’t be afraid to leave you here when I go to Mississippi for a few days.” He hugged her tightly. “It’ll be okay, Abbie.”
She was supposed to be the young, naïve one – how is it that she was the one who saw the reality of the situation? JC, for all that he did love both Abbie and Lance, could not handle keeping two lovers happy. It put a stress on him that led to ugly behavior.
His face growing serious, Lance bent his head to kiss her tenderly, lingeringly. “I love you, Abbie. You helped me keep it together.”
“We held each other together.”
Setting her a little from him, he grinned. “It’s my last night in town for while, let’s go to dinner.”
“Let’s!”
Abbie said nothing when she was left alone in her room that night. She wouldn’t grudge Lance his happiness at having his lover’s undivided attention.