Three, Two, One (321) Page 8

  I slide the doors apart, just enough to peek inside.

  There’s a large monitor on the desk sitting on front of a wall of windows. And on the screen are the images he took of me this morning. Of JD and me. And of the three of us out on the terrace. They flip by, hundreds of them, at least. Maybe thousands. I look over at the couch where he’s sitting with a beer propped up on his leg, staring at me.

  “You can look at them if you come in here to do it.”

  I don’t know how he wants me to respond, so I’m unsure if I want to look at them or run back to JD’s room and hide.

  “I’m sorry about that,” Ark says, clearing his throat. “It’s just… JD stopped thinking about her, ya know? It took him so fucking long to stop thinking about her. And now here you are with a clue. And…”

  I step into the room.

  “And he’s gonna go looking for shit again, I just know it.”

  I take another step towards him and Ark pats the space on the couch next to him. “I love these pictures. Come look at them with me.”

  I take two more steps, and then I’m within arm’s reach and he slips his hand in mine.

  My body shivers from his touch, but I let him pull me the rest of the way, and take a seat as he lets go. My butt is barely perched on the cushion, my hands in my lap, my body on high alert in case he wants to hurt me.

  But he doesn’t. He surprises me by scooting away, propping his back against the armrest, and stretching out his legs behind me. They are long and in the way, so now I can’t lean back.

  He takes a swig from his beer. “I saw you this morning. God, has it only been one day?” I know what he means. It feels like I’ve been in their house forever. “And answers were the last thing on my mind, Blue. I mean, fuck. I’d given up, just like JD. I gave up a while back, actually. Just accepted that this was the way things were. The way my life was gonna go. But fuck.”

  I don’t know what any of that means, but I take that it’s not good by the way he finishes the beer and then throws it across the room, where it lands cleanly in an open-top trash can near the desk. “Get me another one, will you?”

  I look down at him and squint.

  He stares back. His eyes are bleary, and red, and now that I look closely, tired. Not tired like he needs sleep. But tired in a way I can relate to. The kind of tired where your body feels heavy and your mind feels empty. “Never mind,” he says in a soft voice that I’ve never heard before. He says it, but he doesn’t stop staring.

  “What?” I ask, getting uncomfortable.

  “Why’d you come in here?”

  “I was…” I was looking for my money so I could leave. But this guy. These guys… they are pulling me towards them somehow. JD and his charm. Ark and his distance. And despite the fact that they take advantage of girls for a living, they feel very… vulnerable. It feels precarious. Like the whole thing might come crashing down at any moment. Like they are held together by some invisible thread. And not some mental connection or shared experience, either. Although I have no doubt they have all that too.

  Held together by a thread that’s invisible because it’s nearly gone.

  We are alike, then. Aren’t we?

  Three people brought together by the early-morning rain.

  Two of us clinging together, trying to stick it out. Ride the wave until it crashes, and then help each other up to start all over again.

  One of us already dead. Still walking, but not living. Waiting to be saved. Or maybe wanting to be the one who does the saving.

  “I was looking for you,” I finally say. His eyes have never left mine. They are pleading now. They are pleading for me to tell him something, but I don’t know him. So I have no idea what that is. He remains silent as my words echo in my head, so I fill in the space with what I want instead. “Can we wait for JD together?”

  Ark’s eyes. Dear God. They are filled with so much. “JD might not come back for a while.” And the tone of Ark’s voice explains everything. Fear. His eyes are filled with fear for his best friend.

  “Why?” I ask back, my voice softer than his.

  Ark takes a long draw of air and then covers his eyes with his hand before he speaks. “JD’s got a drug problem. He kicked it a long time ago, but he’s tempted, ya know?” Ark lifts his hand away from his eyes for a moment to see if I’m getting this. “And the scar.” His eyes dart to the back of my neck and my fingers slip under my hair to touch it automatically. “That scar might be his undoing.”

  “I don’t know anything, Ark.”

  He smiles a little when I say his name. “They never do, Blue.” He studies my reaction, which might in fact be a blush. Thankfully the light is low. “Do you like the pictures?”

  I look up at the monitor and watch them as they flash by. Two or three seconds is not enough time to study them. And I feel like I look a mess in them. I’m wearing that wet and filthy dress from the night before. My bare feet and open legs. It all says… sad.

  And I am sad. So I guess it’s accurate. He’s captured me perfectly.

  A sad and desperate girl lost in the rain.

  “Yes,” I say, still watching the slide show. “I love them.”

  “Me too.”

  “Can I wait with you?” I ask again. He never answered me and there’s no way I can be alone tonight. I’d rather be with almost anyone than be alone. But—I look over at him. Study his face. He looks hard. His jawline is straight and distinct. The stubble on his face tells me he hasn’t shaved in more than a day. And his eyes… He’s much better than just anyone. “Please,” I add.

  “How about I wait with you instead?”

  I don’t understand, but then he swings his legs over my head and stands up. I’m pulled to my feet and he takes my hand and leads me back down the hallway to JD’s room. “We can wait for him in here,” Ark says, as we enter.

  I don’t argue. I know there’s some sort of struggle going on between them over me, so this must be his answer to keep the peace. He lifts the covers and motions for me to get in. I do. And he walks around to the other side of the bed and takes a seat, leaning over, with his hands over his face.

  His back is covered with the same tattoo as JD’s. A huge piece that covers all the skin. Two dragons, wrestling—and yet not fighting. Their bodies make a circle, and it feels a little bit like the yin-yang sign. Dark and light. Good and evil.

  There’s a sphere between the two dragon heads and I reach out and touch it, making him shudder. “What’s it mean?” I ask. “The ball in the middle?”

  He turns his head a little, so he can look over his shoulder. “Everything, Blue. It’s everything. The world. Life. Dreams. Money. Happiness.”

  “Are you two fighting over it?” I don’t know why I assume the dragons are Ark and JD, but I just do.

  “No,” he says, lifting his legs and lying back with me. He slips an arm underneath my neck and pulls me into him, a definite plea for intimacy. “No, we’re not fighting, Blue. We’re partners. We’re in it together. There’s a banner that runs along the bottom and JD has the Latin version. ‘Omne trium perfectum.’ Every set of three is perfect.”

  “What’s yours say?”

  “‘Not everything should come in threes.’”

  I laugh. “Could you be more opposite?”

  It’s quiet for a while after that. His breathing evens out and matches mine. My eyes close and I’m in the twilight of sleep where my thoughts rush around like a madman’s dream. “No,” he finally answers. “We are the definition of opposite.”

  The light flicks on and I open my eyes to find JD staring down at me and Blue. I glance over at the window and see the faint glow of the dawn. The light flicks off and he drags his shirt over his head and kicks off his shoes. “What are you doing?” he asks as he unbuttons his pants and lets them drop to the floor.

  “Waiting for you.”

  “I’m fine,” he says, climbing into bed on the other side of Blue. “I just needed time to think.” He clasps his ha
nds behind his head and stares at the ceiling.

  “You find any answers?”

  “No. Just more questions. Did you fuck her?”

  “No, JD.”

  “Sorry,” he says, never looking at me. “I’m tired.”

  Blue’s hand reaches out to him and settles on his chest. I catch a smile on his face and then his hand covers hers and gives it a squeeze. He chances a look over at me and I shrug. I have no clue what we’re doing. I have no idea what this girl is thinking. But she extended her hand to both of us. And she caught us in a time when we both need what she’s offering.

  My shrug is enough for JD. For now, anyway. She’s not mine. Not his. She’s ours.

  He turns her body to angle her ass into his hips and wraps his arms around her, pulling her close. I go to get up so JD can get whatever it is he wants from her, but she reaches out and grabs my bicep. She gives me a squeeze and when I turn my head, she’s looking straight at me. “Stay,” she says softly. “Please,” she begs when I don’t answer.

  JD’s fingers slide down her body. I can feel his movements like they’re hers, that’s how close we are. And I know the moment his fingers slip inside her, because her eyes close and her mouth opens to let a tiny moan escape. It’s so small. Just a breath of air, really.

  I watch her face as JD touches her. Not jealous, not exactly. I can touch her too, she’s made this clear. But I’m not sure what I’m feeling.

  And then her hand is on the waist of my sweats, pulling them down. My dick is hard and it springs out. Her touch almost kills me, that’s how delicate, and sweet, and sensual it is. She doesn’t pump me hard, like the girls in our videos. She doesn’t get busy with it, like this is a job.

  No. She strokes me in a way I’ve never felt before.

  Her breathing increases as JD reaches for her breast and kisses her neck. “Blue,” he says. Her back bucks against him and then he switches positions, so he’s hovering over her. So he’s staring down at her. So he’s taking control of her. “Tell us to stop now, or this shit’s happening.”

  She looks over at me, like she wants my opinion on the matter. “I’m in,” I say. More to reassure JD than her. Because that’s who he’s really asking. Me. He wants to know if we’re gonna do this. He wants to know if we’re really gonna share a girl.

  Blue looks back up to JD. “Don’t stop.”

  “Fuck, yes,” he says back. And then he leans down to kiss her. Fisting her hair and grinding his hips into hers.

  I grab her thigh and open her legs. JD’s hands are no longer in the way, so I scoot down her body and slip my face right into her sweet spot, looking up to catch her expression as I tease her with my tongue.

  “Ohhhh,” she moans into JD’s mouth. He straightens up and then straddles her, his knees on either side of her shoulders. And the moaning stops because his cock is in her mouth.

  JD lifts his hips and I can see through his legs, a perfect view of Blue as she works him. She takes him like she touched me, with careful consideration. Not fast and wet, but slow. Deliberate. I finger her. First one, then two. She loses control of her work, and JD thrusts too hard, making her gag.

  “Fuck, yes,” he says again.

  I lift Blue’s legs to gain access to her ass, and when my tongue slips in to probe, she begins to beg. “Please,” she says, looking up at JD. “I need this.”

  “Tell me what you need, darling,” JD says. He likes to talk when he fucks. “Tell me what you want.”

  “I need you both,” she moans.

  “Where?” JD prods. “Keep telling us what you want, Blue.”

  I stop what I’m doing to her clit. My fingers withdraw from her ass. And I wait for it. Because I want to hear it too. I need to hear it too.

  “Both of you, JD.” She looks down to me. “Inside me, Ark. Please.”

  JD moves backwards, forcing me back as well. His hand reaches down to stroke himself a few times before he positions himself over the top of her. Her pussy is wet from my licking and her body is so ready, she angles her hips upwards, inviting JD in.

  He lowers himself just enough for the top of his cock to enter and this drives her wild. I kneel behind JD, waiting for him to give her what she’s begging for. And when he finally thrusts inside her, I almost think she’ll come right then. I move off to the side and JD fucks her hard for a few seconds, pumping into her with a fury. She winces and cries out, and I place a hand on JD’s back. “Easy,” I tell him.

  He slows. I move to the side of Blue and lie on my back, while JD pulls out, wraps an arm around her waist, and lifts her up, placing her on top of me. My dick is so hard it slides right between her ass cheeks and bumps up against JD’s balls.

  “Oh, fuck,” he says. “Jesus. Fuck. Ark.”

  I reach down as JD lifts her hips up to allow me to gain access. Her pussy is so wet, dripping down into her ass, I have no problem entering her. She stiffens from the moment of pain, but I pull out a little, giving her time to get used to me. She breathes heavy, panting, as JD whispers dirty, soothing things into her ear. “Let him in, Blue,” he says. “Let us fill you up, baby.”

  I slide in a little farther and again she whimpers. But this time I don’t stop, I ease in a little bit more, and then I get past the muscles trying to keep me out and I’m fully inside her ass.

  “Oh fuck, yes,” JD says. “Fuck, yes. I can feel you, dude.”

  I can feel him too. His dick is moving slowly inside her, but when I move as well, he throws his head back and thrusts deeper.

  Blue wails.

  I place another hand on JD’s back. “Easy, man. If you ever want to do this again, she needs to have fun too.”

  JD leans down to kiss Blue on the lips. “Sorry,” he says. “Sorry. I’ll go slow for you.”

  I reach under JD’s arms and grip her breast, kneading and squeezing it until she relaxes. JD moves slowly now, letting her get used to us both, and then my hand slips down and begins to tease her clit.

  This is when she goes wild.

  Her whole body arches, her mouth is open, moaning this time, not screaming. Her legs are shaking, trembling from the pleasure and the exertion. I keep it up, and then JD is pumping hard, his cock sliding past my own as he fucks her. His arms strain to hold himself up. He’s kissing her lips. Sucking her neck. Biting her shoulder.

  And then she stops. Everything stops. For one moment, we are still.

  She explodes. I can feel her muscles straining as she comes all over JD’s dick. He bites his lip, trying to hold back so we can both enjoy her release before we finish and it has to end. She clenches twice, then three times. Once for each of us, I think to myself with a grin. And then when her wave of pleasure starts to dissipate, JD pumps her hard and pulls out, spilling his semen all over her belly.

  “Yes, fuck, yes,” he whispers as he kisses her face. “Fuck, yes.”

  I push him off her and then roll Blue and I over so I’m on top. “One more time for me, OK?” I ask her as her body, wanting so desperately to relax, arches up again as my fingers flick against her clit.

  “Ohhh,” she moans.

  And then I’m inside her. I go to the pace of JD’s heaving breathing next to me. Hard and fast at first, but then slower. He catches his breath. Blue accepts my movements and begins to match me, her hips moving with mine. I thrust deeper and deeper with each long pulse. And then I cup her face between my hands and look her in the eyes. “Ready?”

  She closes her eyes in response, but I want to watch her. “Open your eyes, Blue,” I command. “And watch me.”

  She tries, she really does. But then she’s coming again. Not the explosion she had with JD inside her. But something else entirely. It’s like floating on a river. It’s like we are underwater and everything is slow and distorted. We come together. And I don’t pull out like JD did. Her belly is still slick and sticky with his semen and it slides between us. Mixing with our pleasure and our sweat.

  We are not three people in a bed.

  We are no
t two people finding our climax.

  We are one.

  “Wash with me, Blue,” JD says a few moments later. “You’re sticky, baby.”

  I’m so fucking tired, I just ignore him. But then he scoops Blue up and carries her into his bathroom. A few moments later the shower starts and I find myself straining to hear what’s going on.

  I can guess, of course. JD is not a one-fuck-a-night guy. This much I know. He’s gonna do her again, and that pisses me off.

  I throw the covers off and walk across the room and through the open door of the bathroom. The steam is fogging up the mirror and the glass shower door, so I can’t see much. But I don’t need to. She’s on her knees in front of him.

  I open the shower door and both sets of eyes turn to me. JD smirks, like he knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away. “You’re too late, bro,” he says, a small groan coming from his throat as Blue takes his dick deeper into her throat. But then JD relaxes and turns his attention back to me. “You have to sit this one out.” He nods his head to the tiled bench on the far side of the shower.

  I shrug and take a seat on the bench. “Makes no difference to me,” I tell him. “This is my usual view anyway. Me watching while the throwaway girls suck your dick for money.”

  JD’s smile falters and the girl pauses her bobbing head, like she might say something back. But then JD places his hand over the crown of her head and bends down, his dick falling out of her mouth like the water dripping down his back.

  “Ignore him,” he says. And then he kisses her on the mouth and stands up. She tilts her head up and holy fuck, I’d pay a thousand dollars right now to see her blue eyes looking up at me like that. Because I know what she’s thinking. It’s the same thing they all think.

  He uses them. Pays them to suck him off in public. Everything that pours out of his mouth is a lie. And they know it.