Their Nerd (Two Plus One, #1) Read online

  He searched her face and asked, “Yes or no?”

  “Yes.”

  Chapter Three

  They agreed neither one of them should be driving, so Justin scheduled an Uber to pick them up. He watched her, standing a few feet away, at the curb outside, looking everywhere but him. The pause in conversation was enough for her to withdraw, and he struggled to bring her back into the discussion.

  He and Antonio had worked late Friday night, bringing everything together in preparation for Monday. Though tonight should have been their Saturday night respite, Antonio called at the last minute and said he needed to deal with some family business.

  Justin was disappointed at being blown off. However, the sexy redhead with pale green eyes, who watched him from across the bar and looked away every time he tried to catch her gaze, was a pleasant distraction. Enough to make him forget for a few moments he’d been looking forward to watching Antonio work. The way his voice dropped and his accent grew heavier when he was flirting.

  Rather than lingering on that, Justin needed to draw himself and his siren back into the conversation. “What was it that changed your mind about me? The promise of a sexy best friend? No, wait—it was the comic references, wasn't it?”

  It was a bonus that she let him fly his geek flag. It had been a long time since he felt like he could let that side of him show with anyone besides Antonio, and being himself felt good.

  Crinkles of laughter scrunched around her eyes. “Depends. Is your friend really as attractive as you say?”

  He brought his hands to his chest. “You know how to squash a guy's ego. But I did ask. Truth is I'd switch teams for him.” The casual statement snagged something in the back of his mind, but he couldn't grasp the thought. He shook it aside.

  A car pulled up to the curb—blue Nissan Versa, like the app said it would be. The driver rolled down the passenger window. “You Justin?”

  “That’s me.” Justin opened the back door for the woman and took the opportunity to study her legs—long and slender in something as simple as jeans—when she slid into the car. He sat next to her, grateful for a crowded back seat for the first time he could remember.

  “Justin. Got it.” She shifted enough to face him but made no effort to put space between them. Her thigh pressed against his, searing hot and tempting.

  He shook his head. “Sorry—what?”

  “Your name. I didn’t catch it before. I’m Em.”

  The driver maneuvered them into traffic, and Justin was glad he wasn’t chatty. Justin shook Em’s offered hand, letting his touch linger. “Pleasure to meet you.”

  “Is it?” She was still smiling, the passing streetlights and traffic adding a mischievous glint to her eyes. “Because when we left the conversation, you were going gay for your friend. Which is a hot visual—especially that you don’t mind admitting it—but it leaves me out in the cold if I say he’s the reason I’m going home with you. My final answer is it was actually the possibility of hearing you tell stories about your trips abroad. That, and I assume you have a massive home entertainment system, for playing those horrific movies you mentioned.”

  “I knew it. I need to lose that shark line in bars and start leading with Hey, baby. Want to come back to my place and see my impressive equipment?”

  Her laugh was light and playful. “Sure. You should do that. Can I watch next time you try?”

  “Is that where the appeal is?” It wasn’t what he meant to ask next, and it took him a second for his brain to catch up to his mouth.

  “The appeal in what?” she asked.

  Might as well go with it, now that he brought it up. “The fantasy of two guys at once. Is the appeal in watching?” He kept his voice low, wanting this discussion to stay intimate and for their ears only.

  “The two guys thing was meant to be a shock-value kind of statement. It didn’t carry the impact I thought it would.” Pink dotted her cheeks, and she bit her bottom lip.

  She’d meant for her confession about being with two men to deter him. Why didn’t it? “It was close enough to the front of your thoughts for you to grab it as a quick answer. You’ve considered it before.”

  “I think you’re as fascinated with the idea as I am.”

  “Then you are fascinated by it.” Justin was as well, on an intellectual level. The idea of kissing Antonio, making out with him, more, was enough to raise his blood pressure. Justin had never been attracted to any other man, though, and he wasn’t willing to risk what he had with Antonio for casual experimentation. He didn’t even like entertaining the thought because it was so implausible.

  Justin didn’t know what was different about tonight—enough whiskey he’d lost track, the tantalizing woman next to him, or an extra kiss of humidity. The notion wouldn’t leave him alone, especially with Em as part of the vision.

  “You still haven’t quite answered—what about the fantasy does it for you?” he asked. Maybe her answer would help him sort out his own curiosities, given he didn’t have another outlet for them. “Is it the multiple points of contact?” He hovered his hand millimeters from her cheek, drawing a path along her face without making contact.

  “There’s some allure in that,” she said, “but you were closer the first time.” She tilted her head into his touch, and heat sparked against his fingertips, racing up his arm and igniting his pulse. Her sigh—so quiet he felt it on his palm, as much as heard it—added more fuel to the flames.

  He struggled to flip back those few minutes and remember what he said. The fuzz of alcohol and all the blood rushing from his head made it a difficult task. “With what?”

  “The watching. The being watched.”

  Snippets blinked through his thoughts. Sitting at a distance, while she stripped down and ran her hands along her body in a private show. Making her moan, kissing along freckled skin and finding out where her sweet spots were, while someone else looked on. Being that someone else. Each new scenario danced along his skin and teased, asking which was most appealing. He lowered his head to her ear, inhaling a faint perfume. “In other words, there’s a level of anticipation in knowing our driver is only a few feet away and might catch us if we misbehaved?”

  “You’re making it too simple.” She rested her hand on his thigh. Did she know she traced tiny circles along the inside of his leg, making his cock twitch, or was it a subconscious tick?

  “Help me understand.”

  “There’s an intimacy to it. Two people are attracted to each other, and they do... that. There are sparks.” She met his gaze and held it, licking her lips.

  He had to stop himself from kissing away the shine, afraid it would stop her explanation.

  “I can’t believe I’m telling you this,” she said. “Even my best friend doesn’t know these things about me.”

  “With any luck, by the end of the night, I’ll find out a bit more she’s not privy to.”

  “Fair enough. Add a third to something that private, either participating or witnessing, and the intensity rises. It’s kind of like vicariously feeling what they feel, but on a more personal, up-close level.” Em frowned and looked away. “I’m not doing a very good job of explaining.”

  “We’re here.” The driver’s sharp tone shattered the immersive bubble around Justin and Em.

  Sure enough, they were parked in front of a stucco, three-story house that looked like all the others sprawled along the winding street. Justin adjusted to the shock of being part of the real world again and forced a smile at the man looking back at them. “Thanks, man,” Justin said and helped Em from the car.

  His dick didn’t get the signal the conversation was over, and rubbed against the seam of his jeans as he and Em strolled up the walk, their fingers intertwined. It loosed the floodgate on his desire again. When they reached the front door, he twirled her, to place her back against the frame, then cupped her cheek. He dipped his head enough to feel the warmth radiating from her lips. Her quiet gasp screamed in his ears. “I think you’re doing a
wonderful job of explaining,” he whispered against her mouth, and kissed her.

  The taste of sour apples and cola lingered on her tongue. She pressed into him, grinding her hip against his erection. He slid his hand to the back of her head, to twist his fingers in her hair. He tugged her head back and laid a row of kisses along her jaw and neck.

  He managed to fish his keys from his pocket and not let go of her, and was surprised he got the door unlocked without dropping them. “Walk me through this daydream of yours.” He kicked his shoes off, then pushed her back toward the couch. The reality of her body molded to his overlapped with images of Antonio sliding up behind her and joining in the fun.

  “I don’t know. Me, you, this friend of yours, and lots of naughtiness?” Hesitation filled her reply. “You know how it works. You’ve seen porn.”

  She had no idea how true that statement was. He glided his hands under her top, to dance his fingers up her spine. “I want to hear your interpretation. Are you watching or an active participant?”

  “Depends on the day.” More courage worked its way into her voice. She kept her gaze on her hands, as she moved up the front of his shirt, undoing buttons along the way. She trailed her mouth over his chest, tracing the lines of some of his tattoos. “Sometimes I’m watching the two of you make out.” She dragged a thumb over his nipple. “Sitting back and playing with myself, while he covers you with attention.”

  Justin liked the way she pulled him into the description, and he had shed enough inhibition that the thought of Antonio’s naked form against his added to his arousal.

  It had been a long time since he let himself entertain that image, but tonight it was more vivid and intense than he ever remembered it being. “Playing with yourself? I like that. What next?” He dropped one hand below her waist and ground denim against her slit. She pushed into his hand with a moan, hips thrusting in time to his teasing.

  “He kisses down your chest, undoes your pants, ­ and works you free.” She slid his zipper down as she talked. When she wrapped her cool fingers around his warm shaft, he hissed at the shock that raced through him.

  “You’re watching while he jerks me off?”

  She bit her bottom lip. “Better. While he takes you in his mouth.”

  God. Justin could almost feel the heat of lips against his cock, and they were Antonio’s. “What if I want you to be an active participant?” he asked.

  “You could kiss me while he was kneeling between your legs.”

  Justin liked that suggestion. He sought out her mouth again, bit at her lips, and devoured her groans, until they broke apart with a gasp. “What next?”

  Eyes wide, she stared at him and shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t know or won’t say?”

  “Both?”

  He was immersed in the daydream, as it bled into this moment, and happy to pick up the slack. “I’ll help. I want to see these full lips wrapped around his dick.” He pulled his thumb along her bottom lip. She flicked out her tongue and drew the digit into her mouth, to trace along the pad, then draw circles, before releasing him.

  “So we’ve moved on from him at your feet? If we shift position, does that put you behind me?” she asked.

  He spun her and slid his hands to her breasts. “It does. And I’m taking advantage of it.” He pinched her nipples through her bra and shirt, and she gasped.

  Her back pressed into his chest, and her ass teased his cock until he thought he might come.

  “You look gorgeous, giving him head. Trying to keep up the rhythm, as I roll these nubs between my fingers.” He pulled harder, and she squirmed in time with his touch.

  Her breathing grew shallower. Her pants rubbed against his exposed dick, creating enough friction it almost hurt, but still enticed. “I might lose track of what I’m doing if you keep that up,” she said.

  He dropped one hand to the button on her pants and undid them. “I’ve lost track of what I’m doing. Watching your ass wiggle in the air, I can’t help but slide my fingers between your legs.” He pushed under her panties and dipped into her folds. “Fuck. You’re soaked.” In the fantasy and in real life—the combination kept him anchored.

  “Because I’ve never done something this intense before.”

  Him either. “I can’t let him have you all to himself. I need to be inside you.”

  She wiggled her ass one more time, then hooked her hands in the waist of her jeans and pushed her clothes to the floor. He barely had the presence of mind to grab a condom from his wallet and roll it on.

  Hand on her back, he pushed her forward. She caught herself on her palms and knelt on the edge of the couch. Her gorgeous, round butt teased him, temptation hiding between her legs. Would this have been so potent without the verbal play? He was grateful he didn’t have to find out.

  He nudged her pussy, then thrust forward, pushing his cock deep inside her. Gripping her hip with one hand, he moved the other to her clit.

  When he found the swollen button and circled it, she cried out and drove back into him. He pumped against her while he rubbed her sex, using her gasps to pace himself. “Are you still sucking him off while I fuck you?” he asked.

  “Yes. But not for long. He’s close, and I’m too distracted by what you’re doing. I have to pull back, but he’s stroking himself.”

  Justin was too lost in the fantasy and in Em, to keep talking. He pressed harder against her clit, and her pussy clenched around him when she came.

  She didn’t pull away, and he didn’t ease up. The squeezing around his shaft mingled with her cries, drawing him toward climax. His legs threatened to give out, but he steeled himself. Digging his fingers into her pelvis, he pounded hard and fast, the slap of skin against skin filling the room.

  He grunted as orgasm spread through him. His vision narrowed, his ears rang with their mingled sounds of pleasure, and the scents of sex and whisky teased his nose.

  After he was spent and her screams faded to whimpers, he slowed down, then puttered to a stop.

  “God damn.” He bent at the waist, to lay kisses along her back, then pulled her upright.

  She wobbled, and the lack of balance was enough to send them tumbling to the couch.

  “I think you left a mark.” She splayed her hand over her hip.

  He pushed her back enough to kiss the pale flesh. “Better?”

  “I don’t think it will stop the bruising, but I’m not complaining.”

  “Fuck. That was incredible. And you felt amazing.” As the endorphins from pleasure ebbed, logic seeped in. Did he really do that? Fantasize about his best friend sucking him off? About sharing this woman with Antonio? How was Justin supposed to face him again?

  Em curled up against him and rested her hand on his stomach. Her gentle breath fell across his chest. “Thank you for the fantasy,” she said.

  Right. It was only a daydream. Antonio was attractive, but it wasn’t as though Justin harbored a secret crush on him. This was fun and games and a one-night stand. Nothing more.

  He didn’t realize he’d dozed off, until sunlight struck his closed eyes, jarring him awake. He stretched and realized he was alone on the couch. That was a bit disappointing.

  “Em? Are you still here?” he called through the house.

  No answer.

  Bummer.

  There was a note on the coffee table. The flowing script said, Thanks for the wonderful night and the memories. Good luck with your investors.

  The sentiment made him smile. He was glad he wasn’t the only one who enjoyed it. Better still, her good luck meant she’d been listening to him last night. Even if he’d never see her again, it was nice to be heard beyond the sex.

  His phone beeped. That must be what woke him up. He grabbed it from the floor, where it had tumbled at some point during their playtime. Antonio had left a voicemail saying they could start their day whenever Justin was ready.

  Hearing Antonio’s voice didn’t make Justin squirm as much as he’d expect. He
could push the fun of last night aside and brace himself for the long weeks ahead.

  Chapter Four

  Antonio made himself comfortable at Justin’s kitchen table and opened his laptop. The motions were familiar and comforting—things he’d done dozens or possibly hundreds of times, since Justin bought the house a few years back.

  “My apologies for last night.” Antonio would have rather been working. Even though it shouldn’t be necessary, it was better than showing his father’s business partners around town and pretending he didn’t recognize all the subtle attempts to remind him how much better things were back in Milan. Their efforts had the opposite effect.

  Justin had offered to keep him company, but Antonio didn’t want him knowing the real reason for the visit. He didn’t intend to reveal his father urging him to come home, unless things got that bad here. Which they wouldn’t.

  Justin took a seat, tablet in hand for notes. “We needed a night off anyway, and I kept myself busy.” There was the tiniest catch in his voice. It could have been a swallow, or a pause to breathe.

  Antonio knew it was more. “What did you get up to?”

  “You know—a bit of this, a little of that. A lot of gorgeous redheaded siren with a brain to match.”

  Antonio almost pushed for more, but something he couldn’t define stopped him. “You and your redheads.”

  “Anyway.” Justin’s voice was too sharp in the quiet room, echoing off polished stone and stainless steel. “What else do we need to cover before tomorrow?”

  “We need to make sure we’re not missing any tiny details.” Last night didn’t matter. Either Antonio’s company or whatever Justin got up to that he hesitated to share. If they got this right—making the retainer and Grant happy, while still letting their side project continue—Antonio would remain in the States. He hated the idea of letting his father down, but proving this company was not only viable, but also cutting edge, would soften the blow of him staying here. With Justin.