Sophie Oak - Found in Bliss

He’d picked up a bunch of pamphlets touting local attractions at the motel in Creede. He’d learned the lay of the land. Locals, he’d discovered, usually got bored talking to tourists. A couple of minutes of gabbing about how pretty everything was and their eyes glazed over, any suspicion giving way to the need to get on with their lives.

“Yes, they’re beautiful. And there are a lot of romantic places around here. I’m sure your wife probably loves it.”

Yep. He would rather have dealt with the waitress. The big guy was probing. It was time to start lying. “Girlfriend. She was a little tired today. She stayed back in the motel. I had to get out a bit.”

“Long drive from Pagosa. Guess you heard about how good the beer is. I’ll get you another.” The big guy turned, but not before giving him another long look.

Fucker. This was supposed to be a simple job. Now some fucking ex-cop had stared at him long enough that he could probably draw his face from memory. He thought about leaving before the guy could get back, but that would look even more suspicious. He was stuck.

And now the sheriff was here. Awesome. And he wasn’t some round-ass rural jerk who couldn’t get his head out of his anus. He looked lean and sharp. And he was talking to the big guy.

Damn it.

His cell phone vibrated, signaling he’d received a text. Yeah. That was what he needed. This job was rapidly devolving into a clusterfuck that wasn’t worth his money or time.

The target is still moving.

No fuck the target was still moving.

He was ready to leave. There would be another job. He typed back as he prepared to get the hell out of Bliss. He’d head back to New York where no one bothered to look at the people around them. He could fade back into blissful anonymity.

Sending back the down payment. Job not worth it.

The ping back was almost immediate.

500,000 more.

Someone really wanted the target dead. Damn it. He couldn’t turn it down. His fingers hovered over the keys.

Done. Second attempt tomorrow.

He nearly cringed as the big guy walked back with a beer in his hand. He didn’t like to drink on the job, and there was no question that he was on the job. It would be his single biggest payday to date. He couldn’t walk away. He just needed a few days to learn the target’s habits. He’d hoped for an easy job, but it was more complicated than he’d imagined. It didn’t help that the target had two people close all the time. He might have to take out all three of them. It would cause more scrutiny than he would like, but he could leave the country for a while.

“Thanks. Everyone’s so friendly around here.”

The big guy smiled, but it was a feral thing, a showing of teeth. “Yeah, we are.” He looked down at the smart phone in Vince’s hands. “Don’t rely on that too much. Cell service here has been spotty for months. You’re lucky you can get a text. It looks important. I’ll let you get back to it.”

He turned and walked away. Vince drank his beer and plotted his next move.

Caleb brought the car to a shuddering halt in front of her small cabin. He wasn’t sure how much Holly had paid for the tiny vehicle, but if she’d laid out even a dollar, he was pretty sure she’d spent too much.

He managed to get the car in park. The sun was beginning to go down, and soon the night would be blanketed with stars. The cabins that dotted the valley were lit with warm yellow light, giving each house an inviting glow. He was going to Holly’s cabin. He was about to spend the night in Holly’s cabin, and not on her couch this time.

His heart thudded in his chest. He was really going to do this. He was going to make love to Holly with another guy present. How did it work? Did they take turns? They had to take turns. Right? Maybe he should call someone. Wolf was a freak. He would know. The rumor was James Glen liked to share, and he and Wolf had spent the summer playing freaky-deaky games with some of the women in the area. Yes, Wolf could Cyrano de Bergerac him through this.

A soft hand squeezed his arm. “Caleb, it’s all right. You can just drop me off. You can even have the car. I’ll get Cam to give me a ride into town tomorrow. I think our schedules coincide this week.”

“No.” He turned to her, a little panic threatening to overtake him. “Why? Have you changed your mind?”

His dick wouldn’t accept it. Oh, he would force himself to walk away if she didn’t want him, but he was pretty sure his dick would just shrivel up and fall off his body. He was so fucking hard.

She smiled slightly. “No, but I was worried you had. You’re just sitting here.”

Crap. Sometimes he lost track of time. His brain flitted about, and he didn’t realize how long he’d been thinking.

A harsh groan came from the backseat. “Please to get out of car. I think my back is seizing. I turn into the pretzel.”

Alexei. Alexei was trapped in the backseat of Holly’s rolling hell on wheels. Caleb thought he was uncomfortable in the front. Even with the seat back as far as it would go, his knees were still up to his chest. Alexei had to force himself into the back. Holly had tried to convince him to sit in the front, but Alexei had insisted.

Maybe he wasn’t the world’s worst asshole. Alexei had been incredibly courteous to Holly.

Holly was out in a shot, pushing her seat forward. Alexei looked like a hulking beast in her backseat. He took up every square inch of space and then some. Caleb couldn’t help but laugh. He got out of the seat as Alexei was stretching.

“Next time you be one in back.” Alexei’s brows had come together, the first sign of impatience Caleb had seen in the man. Thank god. He was beginning to think Alexei was perfect. He seemed to always be patient, and he was willing to share his toys. It was intimidating. “I have very rough day. First the examination that we will never speak of again, then the humiliating job interview, and then deputy hate me. I am not in mood for more ping-ponging. Are you in or out?”

That was as plain as he could put it. “I’m in. I wasn’t changing my mind. I was just wondering how this was going to work.”

“Oh, god,” Holly said, her eyes widening in horror. And her breasts were still hanging out, though now that they were alone, Caleb sort of liked the dress. “Are we back to the negotiation thing? Couldn’t you two just attack me and let it all sort itself out?”

Alexei ignored her, turning his serious eyes on Caleb. “It is simple. We make love to her. We show her how beautiful she is.”

“Yes, what he said.” Holly took her keys and went to open the door. Her heels made a snapping sound against the wooden steps.

Caleb still had some questions. It was better to get them all out of the way. “Look, despite the town I live in, I’ve never had a three-way. I mean, how do the logistics work? Are we going at her at the same time? Do we draw straws to see who goes first?”

Alexei leaned in, his voice going low. “One in pussy and one in ass. I have brought condoms and lube. This is how it works.”

“I’m not stupid, Alexei. I know that’s how it works in the end, but there’s a huge problem with your scenario,” Caleb pointed out. “She hasn’t had sex in…how long has it been since you had sex, babe?”

Even in the fading light of the evening, he could see her cheeks flare. She leaned over the railing of her porch, her voice a low hiss. “Like seven years or so. Do you have to yell it? Callie’s cabin is right across the street, and her hearing is really good.”

“Sorry.” Caleb lowered his voice. “I was just pointing out to Alexei that anal sex is not possible tonight.”

“Oh my god.” Holly opened the door and put a hand to her cheeks before pocketing the key.

“I have had sex with many anuses. I know what I am doing.” Alexei’s face was scrunched up as though he was trying to figure out a problem. “I never had problem before. You lube it up and go. Women enjoy.”

Yeah, he bet Alexei had done many anuses. Damn, they needed to work on his English phrases. He was sure the hookers Alexei had paid hadn’t had the same problem Holly would have. “You’ve had sex with experienced women. Holly’s not experienced. She hasn’t had regular vaginal sex in years. I doubt she’s been giving dudes across the county some backdoor action. She’s probably a virgin there. That asshole of hers is going to be very tight. So fucking tight. You see the sphincter muscle is…”

Holly stamped her heeled foot on the porch. “Don’t you dare go into an anatomy lesson, Caleb Burke. Get in the house. We are not discussing my anus in my front yard.”

Alexei’s face lit up. “You are in trouble, friend. Take my advice and stop thinking. You are allowing your brain to control this when your heart should be in control.”

His heart? That was a scary prospect. He’d prefer for his cock to be in control. “All right, but we have to get her ready for the whole anal thing. We have to go slow.”

“I will bow to your expertise if you will listen to me about the heart. No more thinking. Just to feel.”

Caleb nodded his head. There was a big part of him that was screaming inside. What the hell was he doing? Did he really think for a second that he could just fuck her and then go home? Sleeping with Holly would change things.

And what about your life right now do you love?

Not a goddamn thing.

Alexei turned and walked into the cabin, and Caleb followed him. Maybe Holly had the right idea. If this were left up to him, they would all sit down and stare at each other awkwardly until they had sufficiently talked it all out and knew where everyone’s hands were supposed to go.

He thought about Caroline. She’d been a virgin when he’d first slept with her. That was exactly what they had done. They had discussed it, planned for it, set an appointment. It had been scheduled almost right down to how long she should take to have an orgasm.

He could barely remember what she looked like when he was awake. He’d taken her virginity, married her, neglected her, and gotten her killed, and the only time he could really see her face was in his nightmares.

“Don’t.” Holly walked straight up to him. She put her hands on his face, pulling him back in to the real world. “You’re here, so now you’re mine. I won’t take a silly no, Caleb.”

Fuck, he didn’t have to worry about not remembering Holly’s face. He saw it nearly every second of every day. Passion. He felt so much passion for her it scared him. He’d never felt that for Caroline, and it was one more pound of guilt to weigh him down. It was there, but he couldn’t give in to it. He needed Holly more than he needed to give in to his guilt.

He pulled her to him. God, he loved the way she felt. She was soft against him, so fucking feminine that everything male inside him responded. He’d married Caroline because it had been expected of him. She’d had the right breeding, the right social connections, the proper education. She’d fit into his world. But Holly was his world. His whole fucking world.

“I’m crazy about you.” He couldn’t say the “L” word. He might never be able to say the “L” word again. He’d said it before, and it had been utterly meaningless. But she should know he thought about her always.

She smiled, the sight lighting up the room. “I like you, too, Dr. Burke.”

Fuck. She didn’t even know his real name. How long could he hide that from her? Had he been out of society long enough that everyone had forgotten? His family connections were moot. He never intended to walk in that world again.

His cock throbbed in his jeans. She was so soft, so fuckable. He’d never wanted a woman the way he wanted Holly.

“Take your clothes off, dushka. Show him what he’s been wanting to see.” Alexei’s deep voice reminded him that he wasn’t alone.

And that didn’t freak him out the way it should. Knowing Alexei was here, that he would stay beside her all night, gave Caleb a sense of peace. Holly deserved it.

She took a step back, and her hands went to the shoulders of her dress. Her fingers were shaking a little. Her breath came out in a ragged little puff.

“You’re beautiful, dushka. So lovely. Let me see all of you. Show me how gorgeous you are. Do you know how long I have waited for this moment?”

“I think that’s why I’m worried. I’m not twenty anymore, Alexei.” She looked so vulnerable standing there. Did she really think she needed to hide from him?