"No such thing," Jason replied. "We were just taking advantage of our youth, right?”
"Don’t say that, you’ll remind me I’m not that young anymore," Ian protested. The two of them had a comfortable chemistry, their banter flowing with ease like it was well-practiced. I felt myself starting to relax, too--it was easier to let go and have a good time when I knew they were in a good place with one another. Even if I had no idea who I was actually planning on focusing all my attention on.
"So, you lived here long?” I asked Ian, turning my attention to him. I noticed his eyes flick down over my body for the briefest second, and I couldn’t help but smile. He liked what he saw, and I felt the same way. I wasn’t sure if I should push to take things a little further, or if I should just settle on Jason the way I had intended when I had seen him across the bar.
"Yeah, a couple of years," he replied. "I used to live on the coast, but there’s something about this place, you know?”
"Like the women," Jason cut in, and I felt his hand shift to my knee beneath the table. I glanced over at him and shared this brief, secret smile. He knew just what he was doing to me, and he liked it.
"So I’ve heard, but I don’t get out enough to be able to tell," Ian remarked.
"Ian just split with his girlfriend," Jason explained, squeezing my leg lightly. "That’s why I managed to get him out tonight."
"Yeah, it was this or another night in my apartment by myself and I didn’t feel like that was a good idea," he remarked.
I laughed. "Well, I’m glad you decided to come out here tonight," I replied, fluttering my eyelashes at him. "Otherwise, I would never have gotten a chance to meet you."
"Likewise," Ian agreed.
I felt Jason tighten his hand on my knee a little bit. I liked that. I could make him a little jealous, couldn’t I? There was nothing wrong with that. I just wanted to play with them both. They were just so … so deliciously tempting. I liked the way being around the both of them made me feel--powerful and elegant, wanted and womanly.
We talked a little about nothing in particular. I was flirting, giving them the attention I knew they craved and letting them feed it back to me in just the same way. Was there anything better in the world than this feeling? This was what I had been craving, more than anything, the intensity of being wanted the way they wanted me. The sex came second, though I enjoyed that, too. It was this, the heady delight of having men pursuing me.
And I could tell that the two of them were in high demand in this place. That made it more intense. A few girls slowed as they passed our table, looking over at one or the other and lonesome little me in between them, clearly wondering if there was a hope in hell of squeezing into this little group. I knew what they were thinking--there were one too many men around this table for me to deal with but I wasn’t sure about that yet. Besides, if both of them were happy with my company, then what was the issue?
"You know, I should probably be getting back to my place," Ian remarked after he’d finished his second glass of wine.
I sighed and cocked my head at him. "Sure I can’t tempt you to keep the night going a little longer?”
He grinned at me. "Who said that the night was over already?” he asked.
It took me a second to figure out he was inviting me back to his place, but as soon as it clicked into place, I grinned and looked over at Jason. "You mind?" I asked. "I could use another drink ..."
"Hey, I’m happy with it if you are," he replied, waving his hand as though urging me on. "I could do with another drink, too."
And with that, I left the bar with the two men. I wasn’t feeling drunk, but I was light and giggly like my feet were barely touching the ground. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I promised myself that I hadn’t expected a damn thing, as a result, the universe gifted me these delicious specimens to choose between.
We arrived at Ian’s fancy apartment, and I grinned as I took the place in.
"This really is amazing," I told him. It was modern and sleek, expensive-looking. The walls were decorated with minimalist art that probably cost more than my entire hotel room.
"He’s an art dealer," Jason told me, a little boastfully like he was proud of his friend and didn’t care who knew it. "He has the most amazing stuff here."
"Hey, not as amazing as the wine I’ve been keeping for a special occasion," Ian replied, cutting him off and keeping him from getting too effusive.
"Let me boast about you, all right?” Jason shot back. His arm was around my waist, his easy contact with me delightful and exciting in equal measure.
"I’m flattered that you think I’m worth a special bottle of wine," I replied.
Ian shot me a look as he moved behind the breakfast bar that separated his kitchen from the rest of the living space. "Well, if anything that Jason’s told me about you is true, then I figured you’d have to be.”
I felt that flutter in my chest again and glanced at Jason, eyebrows raised. Exactly what had they been saying about me?
Whatever it was, it was clear Ian liked what he’d heard, which I had to admit was something of a relief. After everything that had happened with Donna, it was nice to know that not everyone saw my dalliances as an excuse to shame me or treat me as though I was worth less in some profound way. Ian cracked the wine and handed me a glass. I took a sip. It was white and crisp and a little sour, I liked it at once.
"I don’t know much about wine so this is probably wasted on me," I confessed, as Ian led us all to a couch and an arrangement of chairs in the center of the room. A large window looked down over the street below--it was starting to fill up with people as they headed out to their parties and clubs and fun times. Well, as far as I was concerned, my fun time was right here, with these two men. That was all I gave a darn about.
"If you’re enjoying it, that’s good enough for me," Ian replied, and he touched his glass to my own.
Jason’s thumb skimmed over my waist, a little reminder that he was right there next to me. I was surprised he wasn’t more jealous, given how openly Ian seemed to be flirting with me. Maybe he liked seeing me wanted by someone else? Maybe it was something that made him feel desirable, knowing I had chosen him over the other options out there? Not that I had exactly gone as far as to choose him outright.
I got to my feet and headed to the window. I looked out at the people outside. They were buzzing with energy and seemed to reflect the same attitude I had. This night could go anywhere and become anything, the very thought of it was thrilling.
I felt a pair of hands on my hips and looked at the reflection in the glass expecting to see Jason looking back at me. I was surprised, and more than a little taken aback, when I saw that it was Ian. I glanced around, my eyebrows raised.
"You don’t mind if I touch you, right?" he murmured.
I looked beyond him to Jason, who was eyeing us with obvious enjoyment. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the man behind me. "Not at all.”
I felt him lower down to my neck, and I gasped as soon as I felt his warm mouth on my skin. Could this be happening? I wasn’t totally sure I knew what was going on, but then, I remembered the first time I had ever gone past making out with Jason. It had been with Cara at my side; the two of us sharing him.