STORY EXCERPT

“Can you take table six? You are doing great, sis,” Kim yelled from behind the cash register in a rushed voice. More and more people were coming in as a late dinner rush started.

Justina supposed not spilling food on any of the customers was considered successful. She might have spilled a few drops of liquid heading to the tables but not on people.

She headed over to the table with her pad and pencil ready. She recognized the two men right away, and despite not seeing them for weeks, her heart started beating too fast. She stopped mid step as the air left her lungs. Just wonderful. Why did it have to be Jagger Simmons and Carter Taylor? How was she supposed to pretend like they hadn’t dented her pride by rejecting her just because she didn’t do one-night stands? She took calming breaths, putting her polite expression on. Forget those Casanovas. Who needs them and their STDs, she told herself bitterly. Good looks were nice, but she needed substance.

She locked gazes with the first man to slide into the booth by the window. Carter, a detective for the sheriff department. He wore snug dark jeans and a navy-blue polo shirt with the Pipers Creek police logo on the back. He had broad shoulders and muscled arms. She remembered feeling them during the dance, his arms wrapped tightly around her. It had felt so amazing. He was tall and built like a linebacker.

The setting sun made his short blond hair glow bright, resembling a gold halo. But he was no angel. She knew that very well. His deep blue eyes locked onto her own brown eyes, and she felt those mythical butterflies in her stomach. He was one handsome man outside, but inside, he was immature and faithless. Exactly what she did not want in a man. Just her luck her body didn’t care.

The second man surveyed the area with his deep brown eyes before taking the opposite seat. Jagger Simmons, another detective. He walked with confidence, expecting people to move out of the way for him. His hair was slightly longer, reaching his collar and had more brown than blond in it. He was also very good looking in a rugged masculine way. Heat traveled all over her body as she felt arousal.

Exhaling slowly, she made her way to the booth with a fake smile. She would be polite if it killed her. No way would she let them see how sad and inadequate they had made her feel.

 “Welcome, Detectives. Can I start you off with something to drink?” She was glad her voice came out sounding normal and not all shaky. They were probably used to women tripping over themselves to flirt with them. She had heard they were popular with the ladies, but when they’d sought her out at the bar, she’d thought they wanted to genuinely get to know her, not just have a sex-filled night and move on to the next chick. She felt their stare looking her over from head to toe in her ugly green uniform. It was impossible for her body not to react with excitement. But she was determined to resist.

 “Justina. I thought you did bookkeeping.” Carter’s voice was deep. Masculine. Seductive. She wasn’t sure why she was so affected by that. He was a playboy and a liar. Handsome, sure, but she didn’t want to be any man’s meaningless sex romp. Most men wanted a quick fling, and she was definitely not that kind of girl. She wanted something real and long-lasting. Something that seemed impossible these days. A fairytale right out of a book. That was what she was waiting for, no matter how outdated it sounded.

“Just helping out for today.” She answered his question, putting her pencil and pad in her pocket so they wouldn’t notice her hands shaking. She could do this without letting them know how much they hurt her by ghosting her once she informed them she didn’t sleep around. “Meatloaf is today’s special. Or you can have a few minutes to look over the menu.” Keep it professional and short, she lectured herself.

“Meatloaf sounds good to me. And a sweet tea too,” he replied, looking over at Jagger, who had been quiet.

She avoided making contact visually with Jagger. She didn’t want to see what his brown eyes showed. Indifference? Pity?

“How about you, Jagger? Meatloaf sound cool?” Carter asked, but his eyes stayed on Justina’s. It only added to her nervousness.

Jagger nodded yes silently, and she felt his eyes roaming over her from head to toe in her old-fashioned faded uniform. She felt her cheeks heating up as she wondered if his thoughts were critical. The uniform on its own was not flattering, and she knew she could also lose a few pounds. She had former dates mention that a few times. She liked food too much to look like a toothpick.

“I’ll have the meatloaf with whatever vegetables are available. It’s nice to see you, Justina.”

 Jagger finally spoke up, his lips curling up into a hesitant smile. A tiny peek of his white teeth could be seen. Justina quickly smiled back, not bothering with a reply and headed back to the counter, writing a ticket for two specials. She grabbed two glasses, filling them with ice and sweet tea, trying to concentrate on the task and not how jittery she felt.

“Are they making you nervous? I didn’t know who it was when I asked you to take the table,” Kim said, concern obvious in her expression. She took a quick peek at the two newcomers before looking at Justina again. “They look intense. I can take over if you like.”

“It’s fine. They were jerks, and I am over them. I refuse to let them think I am a coward.” Justina tried to sound confident, even if she wasn’t feeling it.

Kim’s look of concern increased greatly. “Don’t let them intimidate you. You deserve better than two Romeos.”

ADULT EXCERPT

They all stood, and she led them down the hallway to her bedroom. She had a full-size bed, and her room was always neat. Trying to be brave, she removed her shirt, thankful she had worn one of her prettier bras. It was purple and lacy.

“Purple has just become my favorite color.” Carter stepped closer tracing the edge of her lace. Goosebumps traveled though her body. “I knew you would be exquisite, babe, but damn.”

She blushed as Jagger stepped to her side, placing kisses on her bare shoulder and pushing her strap down, exposing her bare breasts. Carter let his thumb swipe over her nipple, and she gasped. She hadn’t had a lover in a few years, so she was feeling some anxiety. They were used to experienced lovers who knew all kinds of things.

“What’s wrong, Justina? Did you change your mind?” Carter asked, noticing the change.

“It’s not that. I want you and Jagger both. I haven’t had sex in a few years, and I am not experienced like your usual lovers. I don’t want to mess this up,” she admitted, unable to keep eye contact with them. She didn’t like admitting her lack of experience, but she wanted to be sincere.

Jagger lifted her chin up, his dark eyes filled with heat, not pity. “This isn’t a competition to see who knows more. We want you, only you. We want to feel your excitement. I want you to feel how aroused you make me. Just you, Justina.”

“The past was just us going for physical needs, nothing meaningful. With you, I want to feel something, a connection, a deeper emotion than basic lust,” Carter added.

She smiled, feeling the tension drain away. His words made her feel like she wasn’t being a fool. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“No need. We need honesty if this is going to work,” Carter assured her, unclipping her bra and letting it fall to the floor.

He cupped her breasts, making her blush. She wasn’t used to being openly nude in front of a lover. She was glad the room was bathed in only the dim glow of a lamp.

“You are so gorgeous, Justina. Your curves are such a turn-on, but it’s your pretty brown eyes that show what you are feeling that get to my heart. You are so sweet.”

Jagger was positioned behind her, sliding her pants down her thighs. He laid her on her bed. She felt a tinge of embarrassment covered only in tiny panties. She’d never felt so self-conscious, but they’d had a lot of women as lovers, glamorous women.

They started undressing in record time. “Do we need condoms?” Jagger asked, his eyes glittering with heat and lust.

“I’m on the pill, but I think we should use them,” she said, thinking of their wild reputations.

Carter lay next to her, kissing her neck. She searched his eyes, but he didn’t seem angry at all, and she felt relief. She didn’t want to hurt their feelings, but she wanted to be smart too. “I swear we are clean, baby, but I get your fear. We have never not used one, and we get physicals for work twice a year.”

Jagger was on her other side, caressing her stomach. “I have some with me. Soon you will trust us enough to know we would never put you in harm’s way. This isn’t a one-night stand, Justina. I care about you, and it goes beyond simple lust. I want to make you happy and protect you. I have never said that to a past lover.”

She felt touched by his words. She sniffed. “For a tough guy, you sure do know the right words to say.”

He rolled his eyes playfully. “Don’t tell anyone.”

* * * *

Jagger had never felt so many emotions during sex before. Of course he felt arousal—Justina was beautiful—but he also felt more. He wanted to take care of her, protect her, make her happy. Maybe that was why he’d fought this so hard. He’d never seen a happy relationship for long. Sure, maybe at the beginning but soon things always went south. He didn’t want that to happen with Justina, so he was determined to do his best to make this relationship work. He wasn’t letting fear make him miss out on this wonderful opportunity.

He leaned down to take her mouth in a deep kiss where he could let her feel what she did to him, how happy he felt being here with her. She moaned into his mouth, and he knew Carter was eating her pussy.

When he came up for air, he assured her she was safe in their arms. His cock was hard as steel. He sat up, rolling the condom over him. Someday he might feel her bare, and he couldn’t wait for that day. She screamed as Carter made her come.

“Ride me?” he asked her.

She smiled and nodded, moving above him. She hovered over his cock and slid down slowly on it, making him groan. He placed his hands on her hips. Her nipples were hard, and he couldn’t resist pinching them, making her moan with pleasure. Her tits swayed with her movement, and he licked his lips. She started moving slowly, arching her head back. He’d never seen such a beautiful sight. Justina let her emotions play out, no coyness, just honesty. He liked that about her.

“Have you ever had a cock in your ass?” Carter asked from behind her.

Jagger felt her get wetter and smiled.

“No,” she replied, sounding breathless. “But I want to experience everything with you both. I trust you, Carter.”

“Trust me to make it good for you?” Carter put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m adding a little lube to make it easier.”

“She wants it, bro. I feel her getting wetter by the second,” Jagger bragged, winking at her.

She blushed so adoringly he felt himself fall just a little bit deeper.