Under My Skin (Skin Deep #2)

Jackson was 32, the same age as Luke, but he was taller than both of the other two, topping out at 6’4. I had to crane my neck to look up at him (well, any of them, for that matter). He was broad shouldered and, just like Brandon, muscular but lean, tattooed, although he has quite a few less than Brandon, but his eyes were a deep, warm brown with the longest eyelashes I’d ever seen on a man, let alone a woman. Thank God, that didn’t detract from his masculinity in any way. In fact, it made you want to melt when he turned those babies on you. His hair was also dark, close cropped to his head, but he was clean shaven. And when he smiled? Holy Mother of Mary Kate, if that didn’t want to make me drop my drawers. He had the cutest little dimple in the side of his cheek that got me every time.

So, really…what the hell was my problem? It wasn’t as if I was unattracted to them; in fact, it was the polar opposite. Maybe I was too attracted to them.

Brandon broke into my thoughts. “Allie?”

I gave them both a small smile. “I honestly have no answer for you. I don’t know why I’ve been fight-”

My words were cut off by a harsh groan. I don’t know who’s mouth it came from, but what I do know is that I was suddenly crushed to Jackson’s chest and his lips were on mine, nipping at my bottom lip until I gave in and opened for him. He thrust his tongue between my lips, kissing me deeply, thoroughly. After a minute, he pulled back, kissed me gently one last time before I found myself being turned and then Brandon was there, wrapping me up in his arms.

His lips caressed mine tenderly, his tongue dancing softly over mine, asking for more rather than taking like Jackson had. The difference in their kisses was like night and day, although I knew Brandon could be just as intense as Jacks. But now, in this moment, the contrast just served to make my pulse pound, to make the ache building between my thighs spread through my body until I wanted nothing more than to be lost between the two of them.

Brandon’s kiss didn’t last nearly as long as Jackson’s, and I found myself sitting between them again, panting slightly for breath.

“Wow,” I muttered. “Okay then.” I blew out a breath, trying to get my thoughts back in order. “Back to what I was saying…”

Again, I was interrupted. “You don’t need to say anything more, babe,” Jackson replied. “You said yourself that there’s no reason to fight what we all want. It’s settled. We’re giving this a go.”

Brandon chimed in, “Yep. No use in fighting it anymore, Allie. Just give in and let it happen. It’s all going to work out just fine.”

I eyed them suspiciously. “Why are you both so convinced this is going to work? I mean, have you ever tried something like this before? I know, Jacks, you had that thing…yeah. Umm…”

Brandon chuckled, laughing at Jackson’s face turning red, and then replied, sheepishly, “Well, actually, I, uh…had my own apartment for a while after high school. You know, wanted to try the whole on my own thing. My roommate and I both dated this girl at the same time. Like…together.”

I stared at him, completely taken by surprise by this. “What happened then?” I asked.

“Well, actually, they started to get really serious about each other, like marriage serious. It wasn’t like that for me; I liked her and all, but I wasn’t in love. So, it was done for me, but last I heard, they got married and are working on their fourth kid.”

I nodded slowly, taking it all in. “What about you, Jackson? Anything you want to let me know about this type of situation?” I raised my eyebrows, waiting for his answer.

He cleared his throat before saying, “Luke and I used to do the same thing with girls. Nothing serious, ever. In fact, we’d always said that when we found that special one that we were meant to be with, it would never happen unless it was discussed and rules were put into place; but even then, it was probably never going to happen. That thing with Emma…that was kind of a fluke.” He flinched, rushing to finish quickly, “I never touched her! I swear to you!”

“I know. Emma told me about it. It was an…interesting…conversation. But if you had that kind of pact with Luke and now you’re telling me you’re in this because you want to be with me, how is that any different? Why are you willing to do this with Brandon?” I asked.

Seriously, it was a good question, at least to my mind. It almost made me think that this was something that they were just trying to get out of their system, that they weren’t that serious about me. And if I was honest with myself, I could definitely see myself getting serious with them. Yes, I said them. Geez, what am I getting myself into?

I’ve never been one to seriously date, because I don’t want to settle for just anyone. I want that toe-curling, butterfly stomach, melt-at-his-kisses kind of love. And none of the guys I’d dated in the past had made it past the first or second date. If they did, it always turned into more of a booty call situation than anything.

Jackson cocked his head, looking at me almost as if he didn’t know what to say. But he must have because he replied, “Well, I’m not willing to stand aside so Brandon can have you.” He turned to Brandon. “No offense, man.”

“None taken,” Brandon replied. “We really did discuss this, Allie. Jackson and I both know what we are getting into, we both are coming in with eyes wide open. I wasn’t standing aside for Jackson to have you, either. We both want you and we’re willing to do what it takes in order to make you happy. And, since we’ve both done it before, we’re not averse to sharing.” He grinned widely at me after saying that. “Just means that you’re that much happier, getting twice the lovin’!”

Oh, Lord.

Chapter 2

I yawned, blinking my eyes as I tried to wake up. I moved to stretch but found that my mobility was severely hampered at the moment, due to the fact that I was surrounded by hot, bare male flesh. A moment of panic zinged through me before I realized that I hadn’t gotten drunk and blacked out the night before.

Last night came flooding back; the talk we had, after which we ordered pizza and cuddled on the couch while we watched some weird ass movie the guys had picked out…And then they convinced me to stay the night. I’d done that before, sharing Brandon’s bed with him. But it was strictly platonic. Okay, well not strictly platonic because he’d always managed to sneak in some kissing and mild petting, but nothing beyond that. Plus, Jackson had never been in the bed with us.

I’d kissed Jackson before, too. We’d done about the same amount of making out and petting that Brandon and I had, but I’d never slept in a bed with him. For one thing, he currently doesn’t have a bed to sleep in. The one time they tried to get me in Brandon’s bed with both of them, had been the night of the Halloween party, and I ended up sleeping on the couch while they shared Brandon’s bed.

Jackson is some hot shot architect on the west coast, and his mom and sister live out there still. They’d moved there when Jackson was fresh out of college and got a job for a firm there. He worked there for a few years and then opened his own firm. He’s been working from home and flying back when the occasion calls for it, and he apparently does very well for himself considering he’s been scouting in Cincinnati to find a place to open a satellite office. Then he could appoint someone to run the L.A. office and he’d have only about a thirty to forty-five minute commute to the office.