Phantoms' Pleasure Read online

  "When was the last time you talked to your doctor?” she asked.

  "Two days ago. He's sure I have another week."

  "Babies can be surprising. How long have you been having these pains?"

  "Like this one? Today you mean? This is the first one."

  Jahz decided to keep a close eye on Gwen. She wasn't confident this was only a false contraction, but with late-term babies it was always wait and see. Forcing a smile, she took Gwen's order. The cook had disappeared when Jahz dropped the order in the kitchen. What the hell?

  "Burt? There's an order here for you,” she called. A cough from outside alerted her that he'd propped open the back door and stepped outside for a smoke.

  Good thing they weren't busy. Taking a moment, she took a sip of the bottled water she'd left in her waitress cubby earlier and let her thoughts wander.

  She'd technically been together with Chay and Garrett for two nights and a day, yet she felt closer to them than she'd ever felt to most people in her life. Perhaps it was the intensity and the saturation of the time they'd spent. It wasn't casual dating. They'd shared hours in close intimate contact. A lot of it talking—naked, but talking. Already she sensed their fierce possessiveness and she had no doubt they'd flatten Payton if he came near her.

  A flush of awareness had followed her all day. Could a person get arousal overload? By the time her shift ended today, she'd be ready to jump them in the middle of Main Street—another reason to be thankful so many people were out of town.

  She took another sip of water, titillated by a vision of riding Garrett's thick cock and giving Chay head while cars drove past. Her pussy pulsed, wanting their cocks now.

  Damn, she'd better get back to work before she got herself in trouble. Agitated by her thoughts she pulled her shirt away from her beaded nipples. No one would believe she was cold, not with the heat she felt in her cheeks.

  Re-entering the dining room, she meandered over to her lovers. “More coffee?” Or tea or me. Please say you want me ... the customer always knows best and I'd have to deliver.

  "How long until you're done, honey?” Chay asked, his dark eyes were almost black with repressed need. It jolted her and she wondered how apparent her own was.

  "Why? Do you have big plans?"

  "Maybe ... and you're the guest of honour."

  Excitement surged through her, and her pulse throbbed with joy. “Hmm ... the guest of honour? Should I wear anything special?"

  "It's definitely come as you are. Clothes optional but not suggested after we arrive,” Garrett told her. The side of his mouth turned up in a mischievous smile. “I'm thinking you might like my wrist cuffs."

  Oh yes ... If it was anything like his spanking, she knew she would. She glanced at her watch suddenly anxious to be finished with her shift. “Another hour,” she reported.

  Chay couldn't wait to get her out of here. His territorial instincts had slammed into high gear when he'd seen her reaction to the flowers, and he knew Garrett was feeling the same way. While Garrett was distracting Jahz with talk of his bondage paraphernalia, Chay could only think he couldn't wait to get her at home behind their alarm system.

  Every time Jahz went into the kitchen and out of their sight, his shoulders tensed, his gut knotted and he had to fight the urge to dash after her. She'd taken so long this last time, he'd been getting up when the door had swung open.

  He tried to tell himself his worry was unfounded. It wasn't as if just anyone could get through Cranston's gates, but there were ways if someone was determined to sneak inside the town. Garrett had reminded him of that enough times over the years—and Garrett would know since he was the architect cum city planner who'd designed Cranston. His uncle had hired him straight out of college and Garrett spent innumerable hours working and reworking Cranston's design as the town expanded yearly. He'd taken on more and more architectural design jobs both in and out of town over recent jobs, but Cranston was his baby. Still, Chay had a feeling that with Jahz's ex making his presence known, Garrett would be scaling back temporarily and sticking close to home.

  As the bank's Chief—and only—Financial Officer, Chay didn't have that option but it comforted him to know that come Monday when he had to return to the office, Garrett would be watching over their woman.

  Their woman ... Thinking of Jahz that way was novel, yet so right.

  Tamping down the proprietary desire to demand she stay within arm's reach, he watched her glide across the restaurant to check on Gwen again. What would it be like to see her just as pregnant with their child? He chuckled to himself. There would be plenty of time for that in a few years. Why rush the time the three of them had together now? Still a completely primal instinct grabbed his cock. His hand fisted. The sex, however, could be rushed, with Jahz bent over a table and him taking her hard and fast.

  "This day will never end,” he muttered. “I need to fuck so bad."

  "You're so completely besotted,” Garrett laughed quietly.

  "Look who's talking. I bet you have a raging hard-on, too. Do you feel like dragging her back to the cave?"

  Garrett nodded. Whatever else he might have been about to say was interrupted by the screeching of the town's only ambulance as it raced down Main Street.

  They glanced out the window. “I wonder what's up,” Chay said. The ambulance rounded the corner to Riley Drive and sped out of sight.

  "No idea, but I'm betting it will be the buzz about town in about ten minutes—fortunately for whoever it is, almost everyone is at that football game,” Garrett replied. Chay looked at him, seeing a note of worry lining his forehead.

  "What is it?"

  Garrett shook his head. “I don't know. Something's off ... God! This is so frustrating. You know how it is. Sometimes, I get these feelings but no information to go with them. This isn't like it was with Jahz when I knew right away that she was our one. I just know the sooner we get Jahz out of here and to our house, I'll feel better—and not because I want to drill her into the bed either."

  Tension clamped onto Chay's shoulders again. Enough was enough. Getting up, he met Jahz halfway across the restaurant. His hands settled on her lush hips, and he was immediately reminded of clasping them last night when he'd fucked her. Forcing down his response, he kept his grip light. “Do you think you can bust out of here a little early? Garrett and I can grill dinner for you."

  "You know I'd love to, but it's my second day—"

  "Carol won't care. It's dead around here."

  "Kelly's not back yet, either. She wasn't feeling well. I'd feel guilty—"

  A pained shriek rattled through the restaurant.

  "Gwen!” Jahz exclaimed.

  Chay felt the blood drain from him as he saw the pool of liquid on the floor around Gwen's chair. His hands tightened on Jahz's hips as his vision swam.

  She smacked him. “Don't faint! Garrett, call 9-1-1.” She dug in her pocket and shoved her keys at Chay. “Go up to my apartment and get a blanket and towels."

  "Should I have the cook boil water?"

  Chay wasn't sure but he thought he saw her roll her eyes. “No, just get the blankets and towels."

  Unbelievable excitement vibrated through Jahz. This was her forte. God how she'd missed it. She certainly would rather be in a hospital helping deliver a baby but at least she could help here.

  "Gwen? Where are your husbands? Can we call them?"

  "Football game,” the woman panted.

  "What! You're this far along and—"

  "Jahz,” Garrett interrupted. “They're the head coach and the band director. Um ... can you come over here a sec?"

  Loathe to leave her patient, Jahz frowned. “Gwen, rest your arms on the table and breathe. As soon as Chay gets back we'll get you laid down until the ambulance gets here. I'll be right there,” she said, pointing at Garrett. “Everything's going to be okay."

  Standing straight, she made notes about the course of events on her order pad while she walked over to Garrett. “What's up?” she a
sked.

  "The ambulance is going to be a while."

  "Why?"

  "They were picking up Kelly at the drugstore. She collapsed. They were on the way to our medical centre when she started seizing and now she's not responding. The doctor is with her, and they're rushing her to the city hospital, but it's thirty miles away."

  "But she was fine! Oh my God! Why didn't they airlift her?"

  "There isn't one."

  Jahz took a deep calming breath. “Okay, then we take Gwen in your car."

  He shook his head. “You don't understand. The doctor is with Kelly."

  "The doctor. There's only one?” she exclaimed.

  "It's a small town, Jahz."

  "Okay. Okay. This is okay.” She wouldn't freak out. She'd done this before, but always under much better circumstances. “Tell 9-1-1, they need to get someone here ASAP, but that we can deliver the baby. We'll need post-natal facilities. And try to get her husbands on the phone. They need to know what's going on. This is more important than football."

  Without waiting for more questions, she hurried back to Gwen. Thankfully, Chay returned with what she'd asked for. “I brought this from your bathroom,” he said, holding out a bottle of hand sanitizer.

  "Great. Help me move Gwen away from this puddle. Gwen ... hon, we're going to move you to the floor. I'll have to deliver the baby unless the doctor gets back in time. Don't worry. I have lots of experience—"

  "You do?” Chay blurted.

  She levelled a look at him. “You're not going to be like this when I have a baby, are you?” Her eyes went wide as she realised what she said. “I mean ... umm..."

  "It's okay.” He grinned. “I probably will."

  Wow. His admission stunned her—not just his belief that he'd freak, but the intention in his declaration. Her gaze flew to Garrett. He grinned and winked. Oh my...

  So she wasn't the only one feeling their connection.

  "Gwen,” she said, turning back to the expectant mother. Together with Chay, she moved the woman to the blanket Garrett hurriedly laid out just ahead of them. “I've helped deliver hundreds of babies and I've even delivered about a dozen all by myself. Garrett go flip the sign to closed so no one comes in, but don't lock the door so the EMTs can get in when they finally get here. Chay, I need a few pillows to prop up Gwen."

  "You're very bossy when you're working,” he commented.

  "Nobody's perfect. Go!” She took Gwen's wrist to check her pulse after Chay had run to get the pillows. “Men aren't very good at this."

  "Hey!” Garrett complained.

  "Come here and hold Gwen's hand. Remind her to pant.” Quickly she used the sanitizer on her hands. “Gwen,” she said, using the woman's name again to keep her focused. “I'm going to see how close you are."

  "Oh no you're not. Not while I'm right here,” Garrett exclaimed, genuine distress filling his words.

  "Stop. At least you're not having a baby."

  Moments later, she knew there was no waiting for the doctor before the baby would get here.

  "Oh God!” Chay exclaimed, walking in on the exam.

  "Get back here,” she called when he turned to leave. Looking at the floor, or Garrett, or anywhere but the women, he returned.

  Jahz propped the woman. Ignoring her lovers, she talked to Gwen, telling her when to push—and not to. Jahz was in her element.

  "How much longer for the doctor?” she asked. “Call and find out, would you?"

  "Is everything okay?” Gwen exclaimed.

  "Everything's perfect. I'm just thinking you'd like your doctor. Okay, Gwen. This is it! Push!"

  "The ambulance is ten minutes out,” Garrett reported. He watched, stunned, as Jahz delivered the baby, cleared its passages so it could cry and handed it—her—to her mother. She covered both baby and mother with the clean towels and wrapped the edges of the blankets around Gwen's legs.

  "I brought you fresh clothes,” Chay reported. Jahz looked ruefully down at herself. And Garrett almost laughed at her surprise.

  "Will one of you come with me a minute? I need one of you to stay here, but I don't want to touch anything."

  "Good idea. I'll come with you,” he said, picking up her clothes and leading the way to the bathroom. The sight of Jahz working had been one of the most exhilarating experiences of his life. How cool it had to be to bring lives into the world like that. “Why are you waitressing?” he asked a few minutes later when they were alone in the bathroom and Jahz was washing.

  "Pay got me fired from my job.” She peeled off her clothes then washed again. “I love being a nurse. I started applying for jobs around the state when I came to stay with Tam. It's a slow process—the waiting you know—and there are a lot of hospitals, but something should come up soon."

  "You have been?” he asked, panic gripping him. If she got a job across the state, she'd leave Cranston—well, obviously. Why would she turn down a job in her field when she loved it?

  "Yes. No bites yet.” She pulled on her clean clothes. “Has anyone called Carol? She needs to know about what's been going on.” She pulled her notepad from the pocket of the discarded apron and wrote down the last of Gwen's labour details then shoved her clothes in a plastic garbage bag that had been beneath the counter. “I should have called her earlier."

  "You were a little busy,” he said as he followed her out of the restroom. “You know your ex really is an asshole."

  "You have no idea.” She sidled up to him and leaned against him, kissing him quickly. “But you're not. And Chay's not. And I can't wait to get to your house."

  His arms slid around her. “Home."

  He couldn't wait to get her there, and he hoped that someday soon she'd be calling it home, too. He'd designed the house with a wife in mind, and he could easily see Jahz as mistress of the house.

  "Mmm...” she hummed, snuggling against him. His cock immediately responded. Soon, very soon he'd have her. Worry for her, as well as anger at her ex, had taken its toll on him. He needed to feel her flesh to flesh and reassure himself of her safety and his ownership.

  "I need to go check on Gwen,” she murmured.

  The doctor arrived shortly after and was more than impressed by Jahz's work. Carol had been, too. After giving everyone the rest of the day off—although she'd muttered something about firing the cook who'd disappeared in the crisis—she'd shut down the restaurant then rushed for the hospital where they'd taken her sister. Kelly had been stabilised but Carol understandably wanted to be at her side.

  "It's a good thing you're coming home with us,” Chay commented, as they walked the short distance from the restaurant's back door to their house, half a block away. “You don't have any linens."

  They'd been thrown away, along with her other clothes.

  "Not that you'll need any,” Garrett said. “Or clothes, for that matter."

  He intended to get her out of the ones she wore as soon as possible.

  She plucked at her T-shirt. “But I thought you were grilling dinner for me."

  "You don't need clothes for that.” He imagined Jahz spread out, naked, on the lounger on their back deck. Perfect.

  At the house, he punched in the security code. After they'd dropped their things inside the doorway, Chay headed for the kitchen and Garrett twined his fingers with hers then led her to the deck. It was split, part open air and part enclosed. He and Chay hadn't put in the storm windows yet, so the cool November air wafted through the screens. With the heat they'd generate and the warm water of the hot tub, it wouldn't matter.

  He hit the switch to start the jets churning the water then turned to Jahz.

  "It's beautiful here,” she murmured, looking at the lake crashing to the shore in the distance. Trees bordered their lot giving the yard privacy until the beach. A breeze rustled the branches and the few leaves that had yet to fall. The sun was low in the sky. Its mellow light cast an orange glow over the water and the deck where they stood.

  "It's probably my favourite place in the
world."

  "I can see why."

  Coming up behind her as she watched the waves, he lifted the hem of her shirt and skimmed it over her head. “I'll get cold,” she murmured as his hand splayed on her flat abdomen. He slid his palm towards her belly, letting his fingertips slip beneath her waistband.

  "I'll keep you warm,” he promised. He kissed her shoulder and nudged aside her bra strap. “When I designed these houses, I envisioned them as havens of privacy. Places to be alone with lovers, yet close to nature. I planned Cranston around the natural landscape of this area."

  "It's marvellous. I didn't realise you were the designer."

  He let out a dry laugh. As much as they'd discussed, they'd all managed to skirt their careers, keeping their talk on relationships. That shocked him actually since he usually defined himself by his job.

  "I'm an architect with specialisation as an urban planner. Chay is a financial officer over at the bank. He guides people on their investments. Helps them with loans, retirement plans. Stuff like that—it seems odd that I'm telling you this now."

  He unhooked her bra and tossed it aside, as well.

  "I guess we've had more basic communication between us.” She sighed. “Will you massage my nipples? That feels so good."

  "Oh yeah, baby. Tell me anything you want."

  She turned. A flush burned up her neck and into her cheeks. “I liked ... um ... last night. The two of you ... I guess it would be ... dominating me.” She bit her lip. “Neither of you will hurt me and it's all part of the play—I need that. It makes me feel like a woman. Is that weird?” She covered her face with her hand. “Oh God this is so embarrassing. I shouldn't—"

  "You can say anything to either of us,” Chay said, his voice deep with arousal. Garrett turned to see, his partner was standing near the door with a platter of steaks and potatoes for the grill. His cock tented his soft jeans and he'd discarded his shirt in the house.

  Garrett gave him a slow smile. While some men might be resentful of sharing, he wasn't. Chay was his other half. They thought alike, though their personalities differed. They operated in a similar manner, wanted the same things, loved in the same manner...