Fever for Three Read online

  The place was rustic and older, but it looked busy, clean, and the smell when she opened the car door was delicious. The sign where the specials were posted said “Meatloaf Monday”. It was Thursday. Looked as if meatloaf was always on.

  Paulo led her in, hand gentle on her arm, warm. Sure. Everyone smiled and nodded and the lady behind the long counter popped her gum.

  “Everyone here seems to know everyone else, hmm?”

  “Give or take. Some get along better than others.” That seemed very cryptic for Paulo, but she hardly knew him, really, so who was she to judge?

  “It’s like that anywhere.” She offered him a smile. “You should have seen my last school.” When your year ended with a knife fight, it was a little depressing.

  “It sounds like the big city didn’t agree with you.” Paulo helped her into a booth and she jumped when someone slipped into the seat across from her.

  “Why would it agree? Cities are loud. Hey, honey.” Josh popped up in the strangest places.

  “Yes. Hello. It was scary. Lots of violence. It’s hard to teach like that. Hard to keep everyone learning.”

  “Bet the kids liked you though. Hey, you haven’t had any more snakes since Monday, have you?” Josh asked.

  She chuckled. “No, thank goodness. No, I haven’t. I was so glad to see you.”

  That had been…terrifying. Thank goodness Josh had been dropping by with a can of coffee and he’d dealt with it.

  Paulo raised a brow. “Did you plant a snake in Cheri’s garden, guapo?”

  “Would he do that?” Her eyes went wide and she shook her head. “No. No, I heard him make the ack noise.”

  Josh’s cheeks went red but he chuckled and nodded. “I sure did. It was a biggun’, P. Four-foot diamondback.”

  “Madre de dios!” Paulo’s eyes went wide and he nodded at the waitress when she brought the coffee pot over. “You keep the skin?”

  “Yeah.” Josh looked at her, then frowned at Paulo. “I mean, it kept its skin. They’re protected.”

  Paulo made this odd little disbelieving sound. “Right. You’re a good guy.”

  “I am!”

  There was something different about them today. There was none of the chest bumping they’d done at her house that first day. They were laughing at each other.

  It was adorable.

  Charming.

  Made her feel a little guilty too because she wanted to lean over, see if Paulo’s kisses were as warm as his hands. At the same time, she wanted to push into Josh’s lap and rub. They smelled so good, better than any men ever had.

  She pressed her hands to her hot cheeks, worried that her glasses might steam up. She’d never had such amazingly sexual thoughts, especially about people who were right there in front of her.

  “You okay, querida? You look flushed.” Paulo’s fingers trailed over her arm and her nipples went hard.

  “Just fine. So, meatloaf?”

  “Mmmhmm.” Paulo looked…hungry.

  Josh made this low sound, raw and deep enough that she shivered. Okay, Cheri Louise. Get yourself together. This was just about meatloaf. Food. Not eating them up with a spoon.

  Paulo’s body seemed to heat beside her and Cheri caught herself rubbing her thighs together. This was the most bizarre thing, this desperate need she had for both of them. She wasn’t that kind of girl.

  Not at all.

  The waitress came over, nostrils flaring in the weirdest sort of way. “You guys ready?”

  Josh chuckled softly. “Getting there.”

  Cheri heard a thump under the table. Josh jumped, glaring at Paulo, and she stared back and forth at them. “What the heck is with you two?”

  She got two wide-eyed stares in return.

  “Us? We’re just two old friends.”

  The waitress snorted.

  Josh puffed up a little. “Meatloaf.”

  Paulo nodded. “Me too.”

  She tried to smile. “I guess that’s a ‘me three’.”

  “Sure thing.” Marlene didn’t seem put out by Josh, so maybe this kind of banter was normal.

  It unnerved her though, more than a little, and she found herself staring at the table. How could she be sitting across the table from the man she wanted to fuck and next to the man she wanted to date?

  “What’s wrong, linda?” Paulo asked, patting her leg.

  She must have jumped a mile, but she managed a shrug. “I’m feeling a little out of place.”

  “I bet anyone who comes here to work feels that way.” Josh winked. “We’re tight-knit.”

  She nodded, even though that wasn’t what she’d meant at all. Lobo Basin was homey. “Most small towns are, hmm? I think even lots of neighborhoods in big cities are.”

  “Well, don’t worry, honey.” Josh chuckled, reaching for his drink. “You’re going to fit in fine.”

  “I’m trying.” She added sugar to her coffee and enough cream to make it right. “The children like me.”

  “So do I.” Both men said it at the same time.

  She looked from one to another, eyes wide. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Paulo’s arm rubbed against her shoulder, warm and hard with muscle.

  The touch relaxed her, bone deep, and she smiled. Thank goodness tomorrow was Friday. She needed some quality down time. The bathtub and the vibrator had worked last time. Hopefully it would tomorrow too.

  “So, would you like to go driving this weekend?” The question from Josh came out of left field.

  “I…” Okay, weird. Was it weird to sit here with Paulo and make a date with Josh?

  Paulo rumbled a little, the sound one she felt more than heard. “This is only her second week of school, Josh. Let her rest this weekend.

  Josh’s nostrils flared. “I think the drive out to the old grounds is real restful.”

  “Old grounds?”

  Paulo nodded. “Indian dwellings. There are drawings and such.”

  “Oh how fun!” That would be so neat to see. And she just hated to offend anyone.

  “I’ll pick you up Sunday at noon? We’ll take a picnic lunch out and explore.”

  “I… Okay. Okay.” God, she had guilt.

  That calloused hand of Paulo’s landed on her leg again, squeezing. Comforting. Maybe it was okay. She sure hoped it was.

  The biggest pieces of meatloaf she’d ever seen landed on the table. There had to be a pound of meat on her plate. There was also gravy and mashed potatoes, but the meat… Heavens.

  “That’s huge,” she murmured, trying not to admit that it made her mouth water.

  “Yes ma’am.” Josh grabbed his fork. “It’s good for you.”

  She wasn’t sure about that, but it sure looked fine. She tried a bite and she couldn’t help but moan a little. Oh that was yummy.

  Paulo shivered next to her, then tucked in, and then there wasn’t any more talking because they were eating. She made it through about a quarter before she had to slow down, but the boys, lord, they devoured it.

  When she pushed her plate away halfway through, they fell on hers like starving men too.

  “Y’all don’t get fed enough.” She needed to get her little kitchen completely unpacked, make a brisket for…one of them.

  “Well, I ain’t a cook.”

  “You’re not much of anything.” Paulo’s laughter rang out, making her and Josh both stare.

  “I’m a cowboy.”

  “Do you have horses?” She loved horses. She used to have one when she was a girl, a pretty paint named Hannah.

  “I do. Anytime you want to go riding…” Josh trailed off, his cheeks going red. “Either or both of you.”

  Paulo chuckled. “I’ll call. I have plans tonight.”

  Her heart sort of flopped down into her belly with the meatloaf. Paulo had a date? With someone not her?

  “You do?” Josh arched an eyebrow.

  Paulo nodded, took Cheri’s hand. “I’m taking Miss Cheri to get ice cream, and then I’m going to t
ake her home.”

  Oh.

  She smiled so wide her cheeks hurt a bit. “I’d like that a lot.”

  “Good.” Paulo nodded as if it was all settled.

  Josh crossed his arms, leaned back in the booth. “What’s your favorite ice cream, girl?”

  “I like java chip best. Chocolate and coffee, you know?”

  “You like your coffee. I like pistachio. Paulo likes cherry vanilla.”

  “Mmm. Can you get good ice cream close by?”

  “Sure can. At the Dairy Dawg. They have hot dogs and fries, but the best is the ice cream.” Paulo looked so tickled. She’d had a Dairy Dart where she grew up. She’d bet this was the same kind of place.

  “The Dairy Dawg? I love it. I’m so there. Well, after I digest. My goodness that was a lot of meatloaf.”

  “Esta bien.” Paulo licked his fork, a motion that struck her as oddly erotic.

  She bit her bottom lip then slid from the booth. “Ladies’ room. Be right back.”

  She needed to wash her hands. Powder her nose. Maybe splash cold water on her face.

  They were enough to set a poor schoolteacher on fire.

  * * * * *

  Paulo watched the gentle sway of Cheri’s ass as she walked away. Then he turned on Josh. “Will you stop pushing? She needs to be wooed, vato.”

  “Pushing? You’re the one who came to her work, babe.”

  “For food! I’m not asking her to go cruising.” He couldn’t stay mad though, not with Josh grinning like a fool and a belly full of meatloaf.

  “Uh-huh. You’re going to get her ice cream. We all know how that ends up.” Josh licked mashed potato off his fork.

  Paulo watched that pink tongue move, fascinated. “Well, you have to admit, I have a better chance of easing her into this.”

  “I’ll rock her world.”

  He couldn’t argue that. Josh was sex made flesh.

  “We’re going to have to take it easy though.” Not that easy was in Josh’s vocabulary. Stubborn vaquero did everything the hard way.

  “Kids sure like her. She’s got my sister’s boy in there.”

  Paulo nodded. “She fits right in.”

  “She does. Makes you wonder. You know, if she’s like us.” One of Josh’s eyebrows went up and down.

  Paulo shrugged. “She doesn’t smell like full-on pack. You think it can be recessive?”

  “Sure. They wouldn’t have brought her in otherwise. The elders wouldn’t risk the pups, right?”

  “No, I guess not. That was why we fixed on her as our mate. Have to wonder how she doesn’t know.”

  Mate. Their mate. The concept still blew him away.

  Josh looked at him, grin slow and lazy. “You coming by tonight, giving me a…blow-by-blow?”

  His body tightened, which if it did any more he would pop like a spring that was wound too tight. “Sure, vato. I hope to be late.”

  “I’ll be up.” Lickable little perv. Josh was always up. For anything. The other night he’d tried tying Paulo up. Oh God, that had been crazy. Josh had finished up the last knot and then tortured him with all the things they would do to Cheri someday.

  Cheri came back out from the bathroom, smiling, pushing her big glasses up.

  He rumbled softly, loving how the early evening light made her glow. She was so unaware of her own beauty, of her own body. Paulo couldn’t wait to help her discover how sensual she could be.

  Josh’s eyes heated. “Soon, babe, hmm? All of us?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, vato.”

  “What did I miss?” Cheri asked when they both sprang to their feet.

  “Nothing, linda. Nothing at all. Are you ready to go? It’s a nice little drive in the afternoon.”

  “Who do I pay for supper?”

  He held out his arm and she slipped her hand in. He squeezed her fingers, feeling the solid connection they already had strengthen at the simple touch.

  “I got this one.” Josh surprised Paulo by pulling out his wallet.

  “Oh. Are you sure? I owed Paulo…”

  “For what?” Steering her toward the exit, Paulo tucked her arm through his, which pressed her breast against him.

  “I…I was supposed to take you out next.”

  She was soft, warm, and Paulo wanted to adore her, inch by inch.

  “Were you? You can get me ice cream.” That was adorable, how she wanted to buy.

  “Okay, that’s fair.” She smiled at Josh. “Sunday?”

  “Sunday.” Josh touched the tip of her nose. “I’ll pick you up.”

  Paulo wanted to bite Josh and kiss her. Not necessarily in that order. Instead he just nodded at Josh. “Later, vato.”

  “You know it.” Josh winked and waved.

  “You two seem to be getting along better,” Cheri said, leaning against him on the way to the truck.

  “We been friends a long time, yeah? Sometimes that makes things growly.” Paulo leaned down, kissed the top of her head. She smelled like sunshine.

  “Oh. You were so mad at each other that first day.” She shivered, but he didn’t think she was cold at all.

  “You just met us on a bad day.” Year. Decade. Whatever.

  “Well, I like you much better. Getting along I mean.” She ducked her head, her cheeks pink as could be.

  “Mmhmm. Me too, if it makes you happy.” She liked them. They made her wet and needy. He could smell her, and it was heavenly.

  They got in the truck and she slid close to him. He was thankful as anything that he had a bench seat instead of the bucket seats in Josh’s truck. That made it much easier.

  He draped an arm around her, let her lean. “So, ice cream or a drive first?”

  “Oh I’m stuffed. Can we drive first?”

  “I’d love that.” He knew a quiet road where they could park, could stop and sit in the bed, watch the sunset.

  He headed out into the desert, an old country artist singing on the radio, Cheri humming along. They both sang a little to the chorus and when the song changed to something Mexican, she sang in Spanish with him.

  By the time they stopped, he was achingly hard, needing to kiss her. “You want to watch the sun set?”

  “I’d love that.” She leaned close, lips brushing his cheek.

  It was so easy to turn and take her lips, kissing her long and slow.

  Sweet.

  He groaned, fingers carding through her thick hair, loving how her lips opened for him. She was so sweet, like apples with a touch of cinnamon. He wanted her. Now.

  Cheri scooted closer, her hard nipples pressing against him. She had the most amazing curves under those weirdly baggy clothes. Paulo had a feeling she never even realized how they revealed as much as they hid.

  He let his hand rest at her waist as one kiss melted into another, soft sounds beginning to vibrate between them. His other hand slid up her back so he could sink his fingers into her hair, letting the soft mass loose from the clip she’d bound it into.

  So lovely, so fine, pouring around them. He hadn’t known it was so long. The silky texture made him want to rub it all over his body.

  “Que linda. So pretty.”

  “Thank you. You make me dizzy.”

  “Is that good?” He hoped it wasn’t a bad thing.

  “Yes. Yes, Paulo. So good.”

  “Oh.” Hooray. He kissed her again, pushing his tongue into her mouth. She opened like a flower for him and he growled happily, keeping his touch light, gentle. He loved her softness, her taste, the way her breasts crushed against his chest when he slid toward her, the gear shift digging into his leg.

  His fingers slid up, tracing her ribs, brushing the underside of her breast.

  Her soft gasp felt amazing against his lips, and he pushed up a little harder, feeling the soft flesh under the structure of her bra. She pressed down into his touch, careful. Hesitant.

  Paulo wanted her lost in his touch, not scared of it. He kept it gentle, easy, but he didn’t stop.

  He explored her lips,
tongue tickling the corner of her mouth. When she started panting, her breath ragged and uneven, he moved, his lips sliding down her neck.

  Oh someone had a hot spot there. Right there where he’d leave his mark. Just licking at it made her shiver, her nails digging into his upper arms.

  “Mmm. Is that good, lady?”

  “Makes me shiver, Paulo.”

  “I like how it does.” He licked some more, his tongue scraping her delicate flesh.

  He was careful not to nip. That was for them together—him and Josh, tasting her, licking her, marking her. His cock ached, balls tight at the thought. Josh would go for the upper swell of her breast, he would bet. Then they could share the sweet, hard nipples, listen to her moan.

  Paulo tried to breathe, the image making him so hard he broke out in a cold sweat, the effort it took not to come huge.

  “Paulo…” The sound of his name in her voice was so good.

  “Right here, querida.” He wanted to strip her naked, lay her out and love on her. He wanted to know what she tasted like in her most intimate places.

  “Right here.” She pressed closer, hand sliding along his arm.

  Kissing her again seemed like the easiest thing in the world, and he kept touching her, his thumbs rubbing over her nipples. Her bra was lacy; he could feel the fabric sliding between them.

  “Want to see,” he murmured, pushing at her top. He wouldn’t force it, but he hoped she’d help.

  “I… No one will see us, right? This is private out here?”

  “Don’t worry, querida.” Hell, anyone in a half-mile radius could probably smell them. They’d stay away or Paulo would bite them, and not in a good way.

  “I trust you.” She stripped her too-big top off, baring lush curves framed in white lace.

  Oh dios. Yes. Sweet lady. He stared long enough that she started to move to cover herself, and he took her hands. “No, querida. I was just looking. You’re so pretty.”

  He met her eyes, smiled as her cheeks pinked, and he could smell the rush of arousal that his words caused.

  He thumbed one nipple through her bra. Her skin was creamy and smooth above the edge of the lace, his hand looking very brown in comparison. Her sweet nipple though, it was dusky, rosy, the tip pressing into his touch.