A Darker Trinity by Candice Gilmer
Copyright 2008 Lyrical Press, Inc.

  • A Darker Trinity
  • Candice Gilmer
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    • Lunch at work was always a boring affair; take out leftovers, fast food, or a sandwich from home. Nicole had managed this morning to swing into the local convenience store to pick up some food before barely making it to work on time. Still, she'd beat Kayleigh by about ten minutes.

    James had left just before dawn, saying he had an early meeting, but not before he had made her some coffee and apologized profusely for not being able to stay longer. Part of Nicole wondered if she should have been mad. But that part was squashed by the truly sated sexual part of herself that reminded the doubting brain she hadn't just been laid last night, but thoroughly and completely satisfied.

    It didn't matter that she'd only gotten about an hour's sleep. And considering the fact her sandwich was looking more and more like a pillow every second she spent in the cafeteria, she could have used a few more.

    Thwack!

    Nicole jerked upright to see Kayleigh drop her bag on the table.

    "So?" she asked, her eyes almost bugging out of her head. It didn't help that they'd been super busy all day and hadn't had any time to do any chatting at work as usual.

    "I didn't sleep much."

    Kayleigh squealed. "Oh man, so how was it? I mean, you didn't get much sleep, so it must have been pretty good, but was it mind blowing? I know that guy had to be at least mind blowing."

    Nicole blinked at Kayleigh's fast words, slamming into her like a train. "Mind blowing doesn't begin to cover it." Her hand slipped down to between her legs, at the apex of her thigh, where James had bitten her. He'd done it more than once, or she thought he had, but when she'd inspected the area after her morning shower, she saw little more than a slight bruise.

    Yet it had been so intense-she couldn't help wondering what secret nerve cluster he'd discovered that elicited such a reaction.

    "Oh, wow. I wonder if his friend is free. Surely the friend would be as incredible." Her eyes darkened in lusty waves.

    Nicole made a face, her hackles rising at Kayleigh's comment. After all, she'd been the one dancing with James and Joseph. Kissing them both in the parking lot. Not Kayleigh.

    She wasn't sharing them.

    Wait a second, Nicole thought as she forced herself to calm down. They're not mine. Both of them aren't mine. And who was she to say that Kayleigh couldn't see Joseph? She'd been with James last night. Why should she feel any possessiveness over Joseph? After all, Joseph was a free agent.

    Kayleigh glanced at her. "What should you care? I mean, you've got the dark haired one. I'm sure the blond will be getting lonely." She grinned, a predatory smile on her face.

    "Yeah," Nicole said, and felt her purse begin to vibrate. She pulled out her cellphone, but it wasn't ringing. The vibrating didn't stop. She dug deeper into her bag and found the phone she'd gotten from James.

    "Speak of the devil," she muttered as she glanced at the screen. "Hello?"

    "Nicole, love," came Joseph's voice, a purring in her ear that reeked of sexual prowess.

    Nicole shivered at his tone. It amazed her how different they both sounded on the phone. "Hello, Joseph."

    Kayleigh's eyes lit up. "Give him my number."

    Nicole put her finger up at Kayleigh and directed her attention to the phone.

    "How are you?"

    "Tired," Nicole replied, her honesty lingering in the words.

    "I shall chastise James for keeping you up so late."

    "Don't chastise him too much," Nicole replied with a smile.

    "But I should. Because now you'll be too tired for my company tonight."

    Nicole's face flushed. She glanced at Kayleigh who was holding her hand at her ear, thumb and pinky splayed out in the universal gesture for telephone, mouthing for Joseph to call her.

    "I don't know about that."

    "Good, because I haven't been able to sleep for the raging hard-on I've had since the dance floor."

    Nicole bit her lip, repressing a grin. "Well, you should do something about that."

    "Oh, believe me, I will. But I think I need a female's touch to ease this ache."

    Nicole glanced at Kayleigh, who was starting to look annoyed. "My girlfriend Kayleigh would probably be able to help out with that."

    Kayleigh grinned.

    "Spare me. There's only one person who could ease this ache."

    "And who would that be?"

    "You."

    Nicole's face flamed red, and she bit her lip. What could she say to that? "Uh, I don't know how that's possible." Kayleigh made a motion to her watch and got up from the table. Nicole nodded to her and kept focused on Joseph.

    "Why not? Meet me for drinks tonight."

    "I really can't. I have to get some sleep."

    "Meet me at ten. Go home, take a nap, rest that lovely little head, and meet me at Clawson's."

    Last night with James had been amazing-and she wasn't sure how she felt about his best friend calling her the next day. What kind of a friend was that? "Don't you think you should be asking James about this?"

    "I'll take care of James."

    "I don't think it's a good idea. I'd hate to cause dissention between you two."

    "You won't, love."