Sharing Annabelle

Chapter One - Nico

Sharing Annabelle is a triple POV menage romance.  Due to explicit content, it is intended for ages 18+ only.  

Nico

It's dark out. Not just regular dark, but like... pitch black dark.

Two in the morning in a back alley behind a Chinese restaurant and a dry cleaner that closed down at least five years ago.

But this is where Ryan told me to meet him. I check my phone. He's late.

Ryan's been weird lately. He's stopped introducing me to his friends or asking me to go along when he goes out. Sometimes, he doesn't call for days at a time.

We're breaking up, I think to myself. Ryan's going to break up with me.

The thought makes me choke up. Sure, things have gotten weird. But... fuck. I've never wanted someone as much as I want Ryan. I've never had my entire body sing for someone. Never craved their hands. Their lips. Their scent.   

I look around, reading all the neon signs. Beijing Palace. Lee's Drug Store. Triple X Video Rental.

I don't see the men approach me. I don't see them attack.

I don't hear the crack of the baseball bat as it hits my skull.

But I see it.  It's like I'm hovering over my own body, watching my lifeless form bleeding from the head. Then I'm screaming.

At least I think I'm screaming, but it's not coming out.  It's a little like being held down underwater fighting for air.

"Nico." The voice is calm. Steady. "Come back, man. You're dreaming again."

Then there are hands on me. Gentle ones. Rubbing my chest and bringing me back to reality.

I'm in my bed. In my room. In the apartment I share with Jesse.

"Come back, Nico," he says. He sounds shakier this time. Like he's worried about me.

"Jesse?" I croak out. Tears prick up in the corners of my eyes and I fight to keep them from spilling out. I don't want to fall apart in front of Jesse. Again.

"It's okay, man," he whispers.

The mattress shifts, giving way to Jesse's body as he crawls in bed next to me. His arms wind around my waist and he lets me rest my head against his chest. I'm still shaken up from the nightmare and I don't relax right away.

"Let it go, Nico," Jesse says, encouraging me to melt into him and enjoy the feel of his sleep-warmed skin under my cheek. It takes a minute, but I settle down. 

I try not to clutch Jesse like a body pillow. Or enjoy the feel of him holding me too much.

I try. But I can't help it.

In no time at all, the nightmare is forgotten and I'm lying here, half naked, in Jesse's arms, and he's holding me the way a boyfriend would. I shift my hips away from him so he can't feel me getting hard underneath my sweatpants.

I remind myself for the eight millionth time that Jesse is straight.  He loves me.  But not like that.  

I mean, he's one of those super open-minded, comfortable straight guys that isn't weirded out by touching another man. He may have made out with a guy once or twice on dares and he's told me that he's had sex dreams about his sister's ex-boyfriend more than once. But he's not interested in men. Not really.