Tempted by Two Angels [Notorious Nephilim 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 13
Sterling scooted off the bed. “You should get some sleep now, Caleigh.”
Hugh climbed off as well. “We’ll make the travel arrangements to Philly. Get some rest.”
“Good night, Caleigh.” Sterling kissed the back of her hand, sending a jolt through her body again. She definitely needed to sleep.
* * * *
Caleigh telephoned Babs as soon as she woke up, around noon. “We’re catching a train out of Chicago this afternoon. We should be in Philly by tomorrow night, just in time to make the funeral Wednesday morning.”
“We?”
“Sterling and Hugh are coming with me. I wrote you about them. You did get my letter, right?” Caleigh’s heart hammered in her chest. It wasn’t like Babs to not keep in touch. Caleigh hadn’t realized the owners would be all right with her making a long-distance telephone call, but now she wished she’d simply asked. Babs was her best friend, after all.
“I got it, Caleigh. And I’ve been sitting here ever since trying to figure out what to say in response. I’m glad you called. I had no way to reach you. The operator in Chicago couldn’t find a listing for Lilith’s Playground.”
“Sorry about that. I didn’t realize it wasn’t listed, and I wasn’t sure it would be all right for me to make a long-distance call.
“Everyone here is worried about you.”
“I’m fine, Babs. I’m happy here. Will you be at Harold’s funeral?” This wasn’t the time to ask who “everyone” was and whether Babs had shared such a private letter with anyone. Caleigh hadn’t counted on having to explain Hugh and Sterling to her parents or siblings. Was it too late to cancel the trip to Philly?
“Yes, of course I’ll be there. The entire neighborhood will be there. And I can’t wait to meet Hugh and Sterling.”
Caleigh smiled. “Really? You’re not upset with me?”
“Upset with you? You silly goose! I miss you like crazy. I’m jealous as hell, too. Two gorgeous men all to yourself. Do you think they’d share?”
Caleigh laughed, until she realized she’d written Babs before Sterling and Hugh had told her what they really were. There was no way she could tell that to Babs, or anyone for that matter. “I’ll ask them, okay?”
“Don’t you dare. I’d die of embarrassment.”
“Babs, I miss you so much.” Caleigh hugged the receiver closer to her ear. Nostalgia for her best friend and the easy conversation they’d always shared washed over Caleigh like a soaking rain, only she didn’t feel refreshed. She felt like she was drowning.
“I miss you, too, hon. Can’t wait to see you in Philly, although I’m sorry it won’t be under happier circumstances.”
“Me, too. Talk to you Wednesday.”
Chapter Seventeen
By the time the train neared Philadelphia, Caleigh was pretty sure Hugh hadn’t left the resort since they built it. She knew Sterling had but realized she’d never asked him much about his travels. She made a mental note to do so as soon as possible.
Hugh spent most of the trip staring out the window, muttering to himself about the number of telephone poles and electric power lines. When they roared past a crossing, he commented on the automobiles waiting for the train to pass.
“Tell me again when you were first sent to Earth?” she asked.
“Nineteen nineteen.”
“There were autos on the road then.”
“Not nearly as many as there are now.”
Caleigh smiled. “What other changes are most apparent?”
Hugh glanced at her, and her heart skipped a beat. Would she ever grow tired of looking into his dark eyes? They were hypnotic. “Electric lines everywhere. Wooden poles dotting the landscape. This is a beautiful planet and people are replacing the majestic views with man-made garbage.”
Caleigh tried not to smile, but he saw right through it.
“You’re mocking me.”
“No, Hugh, I’m not. But they aren’t everywhere, only near towns or large cities. And you have the telephone and electricity at the resort.”
“We have to. Our guests expect the latest technologies.”
“It’s called progress. These inventions make our lives easier.”
“No, they don’t, but none of you can see that. Your lives are more complicated because of them.”
Caleigh stared past him at the buildings and streets rushing by. The familiar sights of Philly were vastly different from the forests and lakes surrounding the resort. Caleigh thought she’d be homesick, but realized she missed Lilith’s Playground, not home.
“Hugh, were you ever on Earth before 1919?”
“Many times.”
“So you’ve seen a lot of progress then.”
“Yes, but nothing as fast as this century has experienced.”
She stared at him, unsure whether to ask. The answer might not be one she wanted to hear. “How old are you?”
Hugh cut his gaze to Sterling, on her other side, who leaned close and whispered in her ear. “We’re ageless, Caleigh. Don’t try to work it out. You’ll give yourself a headache.”
* * * *
Caleigh waited until the last possible moment to finish dressing so that she, Hugh, and Sterling arrived as the funeral was beginning. She’d woken with a headache and couldn’t face chitchat with her family or Babs right now. They slipped into a pew near a side door. Caleigh glanced around. It had to be at least six years since she’d last been in this church.
To her left, she gazed at the solemn look on Hugh’s face. On her right, Sterling squeezed her hand, and she held onto it as the congregation rose to face the aisle. When the coffin passed by, draped with the American flag, Caleigh fought back tears. She tried not to imagine Harold lying in that box, cold and dead, but her mind filled with pictures of decaying, rotted flesh.
When the service ended, she insisted on driving to the cemetery in the procession. Sterling had driven to the church from the hotel, and Caleigh had been convinced they’d all die before they arrived.
“When did you learn to drive?” she asked as they wound their way through streets, following the other autos.
“I didn’t.”
Caleigh snapped her gaze to the passenger seat, where Sterling grinned at her like he’d just told the best joke ever. From the back seat, Hugh slapped his knee and laughed loudly.
“You two are unbelievable. Complete brats.”
“But at least we got you to smile,” said Sterling gently.
Hugh reached across the seat and rubbed the back of her neck. “Still some tension in these muscles. When we get back to the resort we’ll have to find a way to relive some of that stress.”
Caleigh shivered. She shouldn’t be thinking about sex at a time like this, but with these two so close, that was like trying not to breathe. She had thought they might suggest sleeping in her hotel room last night, but they hadn’t said a word. They’d merely made sure she was safely in her own room and told her to sleep well.
How long had it been since she’d made love to them? It felt like years. But every time she tried to imagine herself in their arms, pictures of Harold lying in his coffin invaded her consciousness. How did a person get over the death of a friend and lover, especially one they’d jilted by letter while he was fighting a war?
After the graveside service was over, Babs finally caught up with Caleigh. As her best friend gave her a tight hug, Caleigh’s eyes welled up with tears.
“I suppose I’ll have to come to Illinois now just to see you,” said Babs, releasing Caleigh, and giving Hugh and Sterling long, searching looks.
Caleigh made introductions. Babs stared at both men, and her cheeks flushed, but Caleigh didn’t mind. Women had been giving them openly lustful looks since they boarded the train in Chicago. It was impossible not to. They not only outshone every other man around, but once you looked into their eyes, you never wanted to glance away.
“I hope you two realize this is my very best friend, and you’d better be good to her,” said Babs.
Babs batted her eyelashes, and Caleigh had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. “Well, if you aren’t, I’ll have to drive right up there and do something about it.”
“You’re welcome to visit us anytime,” said Sterling. “With or without a reason to.”
“I don’t know. Caleigh said the place is pretty swanky. I’m on a budget these days.”
“Your visits will be on the house,” said Hugh. “You’re Caleigh’s best friend, after all.” He put his arm around Caleigh’s shoulder and heat rose to her face. His gesture was so sexy and endearing, she found herself thinking about fucking them both silly again. Only the sobs from Madge, Harold’s mother, snapped her back to reality.
Babs turned to watch Harold’s mother wail in her husband’s arms as they were handed the flag from Harold’s coffin. “He was their only son. That flag can’t replace him. Why do they do that?”
“He died while defending his country,” said Caleigh.
Babs glanced at her. “This must be tearing you apart inside.”
Hugh squeezed her shoulder tighter, and Caleigh blinked back fresh tears. “I’ll be okay, Babs, in time. Would you do me a favor and entertain Hugh and Sterling while I speak with Harold’s parents?
Babs’s smile was bright enough to light up half of Philly. “I’d be delighted.”
“Do you want us to come with you?” asked Sterling.
Caleigh shook her head. “No, but thanks. I have to do this alone.”
Harold’s father, George, shook her hand warmly. “Caleigh, we heard you were in Chicago. I’m so glad you came.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it. I’m so sorry.”
George’s upper lip quivered. “He thought the world of you, you know.”
“Yes, sir. I do know that. He was a good man.”
“Have you spoken to your family?” George glanced at a spot over her left shoulder.
“Not yet.”
“Who are those men with Babs?”
“Coworkers. They were kind enough to escort me.”
Caleigh hated lying to George, but this wasn’t the time or place to explain Hugh and Sterling. After she said her good-byes to George and Madge, she walked to where her parents and sisters stood.
Aislinn and Maire wanted to know who Hugh and Sterling were, but her parents were more concerned about whether she was all right living in Chicago. After explaining three times she was actually fifty miles north at a private resort, she finally gave up and told them she was being careful to lock her doors at night and had befriended other female singers so she always had someone to walk through the city with. They’d never listened to details where Caleigh’s singing career was concerned, and Caleigh didn't expect them to start now. She was grateful when she was able to make her excuses and return to Babs, Hugh, and Sterling.
“Has Babs told you two all my childhood secrets by now?”
“Absolutely,” said Hugh. “And we promised her we’d tease you mercilessly as soon as we get back.” Something about the way he said the word “mercilessly” sent a jolt straight to Caleigh’s pussy. An image of being held down and paddled by him and Sterling raced through her mind.
Babs looked from one man to the other. “It was very thoughtful of you not to let her come here alone.”
Sterling squeezed Caleigh’s hand. “We never would have done that to her.”
Babs sighed out loud. “When do you have to leave?”
“We’re catching a train back to Chicago tonight,” said Caleigh.
“I wish I could come with you.”
“So do I, Babs.” Sterling released her hand, almost as if he knew she wanted to hug her best friend one more time.
* * * *
Rehearsals started the day Caleigh, Hugh, and Sterling returned to the resort, and this time both men showed up. Caleigh hadn’t been sure she was ready to start working again, but she found it helped take her mind off the sight of Madge crying in her husband’s arms and the look on George’s face when he’d told her that Harold had thought the world of her. Had they known he proposed? Had they known she turned him down?
Hugh and Sterling had dinner sent up to Caleigh’s suite and surprised her with a Silvertone and phonograph records.
“Now you can listen to all the great songs you sing,” said Sterling, beaming as he held up the dust jacket of a Benny Goodman record.
“I can’t believe you did this.” Caleigh rifled through the records, making cooing noises as she came across many of her favorites. “This was so thoughtful.”
“We didn’t want you to be bored up here, all by yourself,” said Hugh, stroking her hair. Caleigh’s nipples tingled and her clit throbbed. It had been far too long since she’d made love to her two fallen angels.
“Well, then, perhaps the two of you would join me for dinner? You’ve sent up enough food to feed at least five people.”
“That was the plan.” Hugh grinned, then walked over to the wet bar and poured them each a glass of whiskey. “I think Sterling has developed a taste for this stuff.”
“Not really. I’d rather have this.” Sterling opened a bottle of white wine and offered some to Caleigh.
“Um, if I mix drinks I’m likely to dance naked on tables or something.”
Sterling waggled his eyebrows while Hugh laughed. “We can’t have you doing that, now can we?”
Caleigh clamped a hand over her mouth as she joined their laughter. She had no idea why she’d said that, but now that the image was in her mind, she couldn't think of anything else. “Let’s put on a record and have dinner,” she said, selecting an album she knew contained no love songs. It was going to be impossible to keep from touching them tonight.
Dinner was fabulous, just like every meal Caleigh had eaten at Lilith’s Playground. Hugh and Sterling kept both her wine glass and whiskey glass filled, teasing her about how long it would take for her to start dancing. By the end of the meal her stomach hurt from laughing so hard, and she was quite drunk.
Gone were thoughts of the funeral and her parents’ cold response to seeing her again after so many months. She missed Babs, but Hugh and Sterling were here, and they were going out of their way to entertain her tonight. She wanted to be with them again. She needed to feel their skin against hers and to be taken by them.
When the album finished, Caleigh selected another one and sat between Hugh and Sterling on the sofa. “Okay. Now tell me what Babs really said about me.”
“She said you run through men like water, and we’d better watch out,” said Hugh, grinning in a way that made her panties flood.
“And she also said it isn’t fair that you have two men while she currently has none,” said Sterling.
“She did not say that.” Caleigh couldn’t help but laugh because she could picture Babs saying exactly that. Babs had a lot of nerve saying Caleigh ran through men like water. Babs had broken if off with more men in the past few years than Caleigh had done in ten years.
“She most certainly did,” said Sterling, giving her a fake pout.
“And you weren’t the least bit tempted?”
“I’ve always preferred dark-haired women.” Sterling stroked her arm, sending waves of desire straight through to Caleigh’s fingertips and toes.
“So have I,” said Hugh, snuggling closer to her. “Unless Babs isn’t a real blonde. Then I might be tempted.”
“Oh, I see how it is now. You only like me because I’m a brunette.”
Hugh gave her a smoldering look. “No, I like you because you’re intelligent and funny, and because when you sing my dick gets rock hard.”
“Oh, that’s so romantic, Hugh. You’re sweeping me off my feet.” Caleigh’s entire body trembled. She couldn’t look away from his eyes. “How about you, Sterling? Does your dick get rock hard when I sing?”
Sterling actually blushed. “Um, yes, it does, but that’s not the only reason I like you. You’re the most beautiful wom
an I’ve ever seen, and I never get tired of your company.” Caleigh gaped at the love pouring out of Sterling’s emerald eyes.
She didn’t know if they were using their powers on her right now, and suddenly she didn’t care. This had been the worst week of her life. She’d had to face the reality that she had been using men and taking their affections for granted since high school. One of them had died knowing she didn’t love him enough to marry him, even though she’d strung him along for years. She couldn't go back and undo any of that, but she could move forward. She could try to love these two men who were perfect and who treated her like something precious.
Chapter Eighteen
“Your turn,” said Hugh, quietly.
She glanced at him. “What do you mean?”
“Your turn to tell us why you like us. And don’t tell me you’re only using our bodies for great sex.” The grin was in place, but the expression in his eyes was serious and vulnerable. He really wanted to know, and he was uneasy about her answer. Caleigh recalled how she’d often wondered if they could read her mind, but apparently their powers didn’t include that ability.
If there was ever a time for her to tell them how she felt, it was now. But Caleigh wasn’t ready for that. She’d never been the first one to say “I love you,” and she wasn’t entirely sure they felt the same way. She’d be a damn fool if she told them she’d fallen in love with them and they didn’t feel the same way.
“Well, you are both amazing in bed, but no that’s not the only reason I like you. You’re charming and fun and easy to talk to. I’m comfortable with you.”
The answer seemed to satisfy Hugh. The look of trepidation left his eyes, and he bent his head to kiss her. Caleigh opened her mouth to let his tongue inside and moaned in the back of her throat. Her body exploded like a thousand tiny fireworks had gone off under her skin. She wrapped her arms around Hugh’s shoulders and thrust her tongue deeper inside his warm mouth.
Behind her, Sterling reached around and cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples through her clothing. “Caleigh…I’ve missed you so much.” He nuzzled her neck, sending shock waves of desire straight to her soaking-wet pussy.