Wicked Triplicity (Book 2 Inked Chasers Trilogy)

By Tanya Sands

Xandra Daniels, resident curvy lady at Wicked Ink, believed for so long she was merely a convenient body for two of her friends with benefits. For years, she and her coworkers at the tattoo shop have worked and played together. Except now X has decided she wants more from the two of them. She wants to be their everything.

Cooper Devlin, one half of a friendship that bonded almost instantly, holds something deep within himself for fear of losing the one person who knows him the best. All while pining for the other for so long, he fears his heart will never know true happiness. Yet, he is determined to open the eyes of those two, so they can all finally be together.

Reed Giles, broody and skating by emotionally, had travelled all over the US with his Marine father, and finally settled in San Diego, where he met his best friend. What he didn’t know was it would put him on the path to a future he wasn’t confident would succeed. He assumed his past would only guarantee loneliness for him. It would take a lot of convincing and love to show him he was worthy of more than a passing thought.

Three friends who have enjoyed each other in every sense. Three people who were oblivious to what was obvious to others. Three souls that wasted years only to recognize they all needed each other to be happy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tanya Sands
• Release date: Jul 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463838808

Tanya Sands

Tanya Sands is the pseudonym of a stay-at-home mom who, having written but not published short stories for years, finally took the leap and published her passion. When she’s not writing she’s raising her 2 young boys and 3 furbabies while her husband supports them all by driving all over the country as a long haul truck driver. She is the youngest of 6 and a proud vet of the US Air Force.

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by

Tanya Sands

Wicked Triplicity

The Inked Chasers Trilogy, Book 2

Tanya Sands

Copyright © 2018 Tanya Sands

All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

The following story contains strong and explicit sexual and other intense situations. The following story is intended for adult audiences only. Parental discretion is advised.

If you find any eBooks being sold or shared illegally, please contact the author at [e-mail].

Cover design by Hardline Images

Thank you again to my proofreaders. You’re the last sets of eyes before the readers get their hands on the book. You allow me to put out the best product I can.

To my bestie – thank you for all the help you give me while I’m writing, is always on point. I truly wouldn’t be where I am without you.

To the readers – thank you for believing in me and continuing to buy my work. It means the world to me.

And finally to my family – thank you for your patience when I’m on a roll, for allowing me to be glued to my computer screen and to sometimes forget the little things. I love you all so much.

"When are you going to just admit you have a thing for both of them?"

Xandra Daniels—X to her friends—sat on her beach towel looking out at the Pacific Ocean. It was the spot she went to when she needed to think. Her mind was weighed down with the question asked of her several times by her best friend, Lexi Dean. It was one she’d been considering for a while, years even. And it was one she’d avoided addressing. Not because she was afraid to admit it, but more she feared what could come of it.

She’d been best friends with Lexi since they were in diapers—living next door helped. In high school, they kept to themselves, probably because they just didn’t have anything in common with the other kids. Though their love of heavy metal hadn’t set them apart from the others, they had both scoffed at the cliques of teenage girls they didn’t fit in. They just didn’t have any interest in being someone they weren’t. Their maturity was beyond their years.

Another thing that set them apart was their interest of piercings and tattoos. They’d both started to hang out at a local tattoo shop called Wicked Ink. They’d gotten their ears pierced there, and when they were old enough, they’d had Mateo Alvarez do their first tattoo. That was all it took for X to become addicted to the lifestyle. Eventually she started apprenticing under Mateo, got her piercing license, and then started working there. Most people saw it as just sitting around bullshitting, partying, or doing an occasional tattoo or piercing. To X, it was an escape.

She’d seen Cooper around the neighborhood and had been crushing on him from a young age, but hanging out at the shop is when she’d first laid eyes on Reed. They both worked across the street at a carwash, and it hadn’t taken long for her to develop a crush on him too. When they both started working with her at the shop, those innocent crushes continued to grow over the years and now she didn’t know how to handle it.

Her inner turmoil was driving her crazy. It was a battle for her to admit she truly did care deeply for both Cooper and Reed. More so than as friends. Sure, X had known Cooper since childhood, but they’d run in different crowds, and even though they grew up on the same block, they didn’t hang out. Reed she hadn’t known as long, however what she felt for him was no less than what she felt for Cooper. Yet, her feelings weren’t the only issue at hand. It was theirs.

Looking at her bestie, she sighed.

"We’ve been through this before, Lex. I just don’t think either of them are really interested in being with me. I mean, I am a bit convenient since I’m the only woman in the shop and all."

Propped up on her elbows, Lexi’s head whipped around and she stared at X incredulously.

"Are you kidding me? You are, aren’t you? Lexi shook her head back and forth. Girl, you are so blind. Those two are so into you they’ve been shutting down other women for years. If I didn’t know for a fact they’d tapped your ass, I would think they were gay." She waggled her brows at X.

Tapped my ass? Really? No other description comes to mind?

Though Lexi shook her head, X chuckled. But Lexi was right, they definitely weren’t gay.

Cooper Devlin and Reed Giles were her co-workers now and the stars of many dreams, which had her waking with her hand between her legs and her entire body crying out for their touch. A touch she knew well. Though they’d been together sexually, it only happened when the Wicked and Iron Fist crews got together. Then there was the fact X and Lexi had both been shared between the men in both crews. The sex had always been good with all the guys, but with Cooper and Reed it had been so different.

Hey, are you listening to me?

Lexi’s question brought her back to the present.

No, Lexi, I’m not listening to you. I’ve tried to explain why I don’t have anything with either of them. You know how I’ve felt about them all these years, and I don’t think I could choose between them, X replied.

Lexi sat up, looked at X, and laughed.

I swear, I wonder about you sometimes. I see how they both look at you. Yes, both of them. And who said you would have to choose? X’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth, but Lexi continued, Seriously, why should you? Tons of people are in polyamorous relationships. If everyone is consenting, why should it be a problem?

I doubt they’d consent, though. Sure, we’ve all had sex together, but you were there, Lex. Everyone was fucking each other. They were crazy parties, but that doesn’t mean they’d want that all the time. And if they did, who says they wouldn’t want to be anything but friends with benefits? X couldn’t control her lack of confidence.

"One, having fuck buddies looking like those two is not a bad thing. And two, I’d bet my Saturday night tips they want more from you. You’re not going to know unless you say something," Lexi said matter-of-factly.

The fact she sounded like the subject of a lovelorn article submission was bad enough, but her lack of confidence was bothering her. X had never been a shy schoolgirl in the past and she really shouldn’t be one now, yet, for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to be that woman with Cooper and Reed.

Shaking her head to clear the awkward moment, she turned to her friend. I just don’t know how to bring it up. She sighed. When I think I’ve got it figured out, they act so weird and I lose the nerve to say anything.

I don’t get it, X. Lexi looked at her in confusion. You’ve never been the shrinking violet type before. Not even with the guys you dated in the past. Why would you be one now?

I don’t know, okay? I have absolutely no clue why these two are different, X said. "Oh wait, maybe it’s because there’s two of them and they’ve had opportunities to date other women. What confuses me, though, is that I’ve never seen them with another woman. Damn it, I don’t know."

If only things weren’t so complicated.

Yes, baby, like that. Don’t stop. Deeper.

Reed Giles gripped wide hips tightly and gave her exactly what she wanted. Her ass was in the air and it was the most perfect one he’d ever had the pleasure of fucking. She fit him like a glove, almost as if she had her hand wrapped around him and was stroking him from tip to base. She felt so good he knew he would pop any second. And just like that—imaginary fingers snapping—he felt the warmth spreading across his belly.

Wait, what? Why wasn’t he—?

Sitting up in his bed, Reed looked down his body and saw the proof of his climax cooling on his skin. His hand was wrapped tightly around his dick and it was still stroking. Gritting his teeth, he stopped as the head had become super sensitive. He looked over the side of the bed for something to clean up with and saw only a t-shirt. Grabbing it, he grimaced as he wiped the mess off.

Great, so I’m reverting back to my fuckin’ teen years. This woman is driving me nuts. Reed barked out a laugh. "And now I’m talking to myself. What else is she going to make me do?"

Reed began to strip his bed, and tossing the bedding to the side, he swore inwardly when a knock sounded on his door. He called out for Cooper to come in, and impatiently waited for the ribbing to begin.

Hey, buddy, you ready to— What happened? Wait, let me see if I can guess. Cooper tapped his chin making Reed clench his jaw in irritation. "So, I’m not smelling shit, so that can be ruled out right away. Now, you weren’t drunk last night when we went to bed, so you probably didn’t piss the bed. That leaves—"

Shut the fuck up, Coop, Reed cut him off tersely.

You did, didn’t you? Cooper started to chuckle. How old are you that you just spooged on your bed? Hell man, I haven’t done that since I was thirteen.

Seriously, can you please stop. Get out of my room so I can get dressed and we can get going.

It wasn’t that Reed was embarrassed, per se. It wasn’t like he could control where his mind went when he was sleeping. Nor could he stop his body from responding. Yet it hadn’t happened to him in so long, he wondered why it would now.

But I’m curious. It’s been so long since I had a wet dream. Did it involve X and I or just X? Were we tag teaming her or was it just you and her? Was she sucking you off or maybe you were—

Enough! It happened, okay? Can you stop yanking my chain long enough for us to get going and do what we gotta do, please?

Since it was their day off, they had plans to knock out the yard work they usually did for their landlords, the Glickmans. Reed didn’t mind helping out. It was something his father, the Brigadier General, would have expected him to do. It had been drilled into Reed’s head that those who were able should help those who were unable. And when he’d found out that Mr. Glickman was a Korean War veteran it sealed the deal.

Though the area hadn’t always been his home, Reed had come to think of San Diego as his hometown. He and the General had moved there in his junior year of high school. At first, he’d been resentful of yet another move, but that was until he’d met Cooper at his part-time job at the carwash near the house. They’d had some things in common, drawing being one of them. Their skills were so honed they could even finish each other’s drawings. But the biggest thing they had in common was the fact they were both attracted to girls with more curves—a rarity for high school students to admit. For Reed, it was as if fate had ordained their friendship to be strong and lasting.

You’re getting to be no fun in your old age, buddy, Cooper joked as he turned to leave Reed’s room.

Hey, dumbass, we’re the same age, Reed said wryly.

That may be so, but I’m definitely younger and cooler, while you’re the one people expect to be more responsible, aka boring, Cooper shot over his shoulder.

Hey, pal? Reed waited for Cooper to turn back around, then he grabbed his crotch. I’ve got your boring right here. And I’ve never heard X say she was bored with me.

Well, that’s because I keep her so occupied, she doesn’t have time to think rationally about anything. Cooper laughed when Reed flipped him off. Now, I call dibs on the mower, you get the edger.

They spent the better part of the afternoon taking care of the shared backyard, pulling weeds, watering the garden Mrs. Glickman was so proud of, and even trimming hedges. Once everything was done, they each took quick showers to rinse off the dirt and grime from their landscaping work and met out by the pool their landlords insisted they use whenever they wished. The day was ended with them barbequing some burgers and watching a baseball game on the TV.

A couple hours later, they sat on their balcony listening to the soft sounds of instrumental music from the fifties. Reed knew the Glickmans were downstairs on their patio swaying to the soulful sounds that transported the elderly couple to a time when they were younger. A time when their love may have been in a newlywed phase.

Reed couldn’t help but envy them. Their marriage had stood the test of time, had been fruitful, and appeared to be what couples strived to be. Since he hadn’t seen anything similar to it in his own parents’ marriage, Reed had thought such happiness unobtainable. It made him wonder if anything similar could possibly be in his future.

Then his past wormed its way in and reminded him of a time he’d never shared with anyone. Only his father knew of it. The memory mocked him and his wishful thinking.

Cooper Devlin had been distracted all day. He’d walked in on his best friend stripping his bed, the faint smell of sex in the air, cluing him in Reed had been masturbating. Neither of them were in any way, shape, or form shy, but Cooper had to admit if he’d had a wet dream and came all over his bed, it wasn’t likely he’d be telling Reed about it.

The fact Reed had been dreaming of X wasn’t a surprise to Cooper. There had been many a time in the shower Cooper had to take care of an erection caused by thinking of her. He’d been half in love with X since he was a kid, but he hadn’t had the nerve to approach her in any way until after he and Reed had begun to work at Wicked Ink. Then, seeing her every day, he’d been able to catch on that Reed also had a thing for her.

At first, he’d backed off thinking to give Reed the chance to be with her, but then they’d become friends with the Iron Fist crew and began to hang around with them. Even Lexi, X’s best friend, was with them. It wasn’t until the first time both crews played together sexually that the thought of sharing X with Reed had taken form.

For years, Cooper had held out hope that the three of them could be a thing, but it hadn’t happened yet. Even the rest of the two groups had gravitated away from playing with X, almost as if they knew Cooper and Reed had wanted X and didn’t want to stand in their way.

Even though Reed was his best friend, Mateo also knew him well, the only other person besides Reed. Not even his own parents could carry that claim. However, they were a story for another time.

Mateo had cornered him one day, before the others came in to work, to ask him point blank what was going on with the three of them.

"Hey, Coop, can I ask you something?"

They were sitting in the main room chilling out.

"Yeah sure, Mateo. What’s up?"

"I’ve been seeing you and your boy Reed playing more with just X the last couple times we’ve gotten together. You guys dig her, don’t you?"

Cooper held his breath, at first not sure how to answer.

"Yeah, of course, you’ve seen us with her. Kinda obvious, man."

"Well, shit yeah, I see you two get hard for her, but you have a thing for her? Mateo looked at him closely and continued, Don’t fuckin’ lie to me, either. You know that shit pisses me off."

Looking away because that was exactly what he’d been about to do, Cooper said, I mean, I do, yeah. I’m pretty sure Reed does too.

"Then why haven’t you laid claim to her? What confuses me, though, is you don’t seem to look jealous when she’s passed around to the rest of us. Mateo narrowed his eyes. Unless you don’t want her?"

That had been years ago, but even now, Mateo’s question bothered him. Cooper did want her, and from the signs Reed gave off, he did too. However, he and Reed had never spoken about what they were going to do about X in regards to how they felt about her. Maybe that was the problem. Neither of them had come out and voiced how they felt.

Now would be a great time, though, because after several years of the crews not coming together, they finally did again about a month ago, giving him and Reed a chance to be with X again. Although this last party had been pretty tame compared to what they were like nine or ten years ago, the lack of actual sex had been okay with him. Of course, he would’ve loved to have more, but he wasn’t going to complain after all this time without the opportunity to touch X.

He almost felt like a coward using Iron Fist’s parties to fulfill his want of Xandra, but he didn’t know how any other way. He didn’t want to step on Reed’s toes, and he didn’t want to lose X as a friend by scaring her away with what he wanted to ask of her. He needed them both for reasons that went beyond sex and friendship.

Essentially, Cooper had no one left in his life with a blood bond to him. His brother died when he was a kid and his folks left him before he could legally drink. If it weren’t for the fact he and Reed had found where they currently were living, he’d have been homeless. When he’d moved out, they had sold their house, packed up everything, and deposited five thousand into his savings account.

He’d been so busy settling in to his new job and the shared apartment, he’d not known about them moving until he’d gone to get some old boxes from the basement of his childhood home. Seeing a new family living where he’d grown up, he immediately called his father, only to hear a bullshit story about them not being able to stand living in San Diego, where Cane had died, a moment longer.

The bitterness of knowing his own parents seemed to want nothing to do with him had created an emptiness that hadn’t had any chance of healing. It had taken a while, but eventually he realized he did have people in his life that could do more than replace what he’d lost. The Wicked Ink and Iron Fist crews were already family. They had been there when he needed them.

Hey buddy, you okay? Reed interrupted Cooper’s thoughts.

Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? Unless you’re talking about how the Padres just lost a game they had in the bag. Cooper hoped his attempt at humor would distract Reed.

I’ll never get why you think they even stand a chance of getting the opportunity to play my Bombers.

Cooper was glad to see his diversion tactic could possibly be working. Reed was a die-hard NY Yankees fan and relished bragging about the many World Series pennants they had won. It made for some friendly arguments. Though he knew he was in for some good-natured ribbing, Cooper welcomed the abuse, if for no other reason than to take his mind of the heavy thoughts floating around in his head.

As they sat outside listening to the music their landlords were playing, Cooper couldn’t help but wish for the opportunity of moments like the Glickman’s were having. He wanted the opportunity to grow old with someone—no, with two particular people. All he had to do was dig deep and determine the right moment to get them all on track. If it didn’t blow up in his face first.

Cooper walked into Wicked Ink, absently acknowledging the ding the door made. Iron Fist’s album was playing because they tended to be their go-to in music choice. Reed was nowhere to be seen, so more than likely he was working on someone. X was behind the counter manning the phones. He assumed Pushy had gone on a lunch run since he wasn’t in the shop. Slowing his pace, Cooper drank in the woman’s presence.

Her dreads were pulled back away from her face by some kind of headband, her Angel’s Kiss—a barbell piercing through the middle of the bottom lip—was visible. In Cooper’s opinion, that piercing was so fucking sexy. Her hand was tapping a pencil on the countertop and she was talking on the phone. The moment she noticed him, her head cocked to one side, displaying the creamy skin of her neck. The urge to go to her side and run the tip of his tongue along the skin was so strong he had to bite his tongue and merely smile at her in greeting. She tipped her head and gave him a half smile in return.

Heading back to Reed’s station, he peeked his head in to see the other man working on a back piece. He remembered the guy coming in a couple weeks back to get the design started. They’d gotten through half before the client had received a call his wife was in labor with their first kid. He’d had enough time for Reed to cover what he’d done before the guy rushed out. Looking down at his friend’s work, he gave a thumb’s up.

Turning, Cooper made to go to his station, which he’d passed to get to Reed’s, and ran right into X. Her arms waved wildly trying to keep her balance, so he grabbed her around the waist to steady her. The move pulled her body against his, making him suck in a breath. At the same time, she also reached for him, her hands gripping his upper arms. His eyes went to her chest, rising and falling, then he looked at her mouth—at the same time she ran the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip—and then finally his eyes locked with hers.

X, what are you doing to me? Cooper asked her under his breath.

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her exactly what was going on in his head. To tell her how she tempted him just by looking at him. To kiss her deeply and completely and claim her. To show her exactly how her soft curves affected him. To tell her how he wanted her in his bed, under him for hours. But he didn’t do any of that. He didn’t say or do anything, instead held all of it back.

You okay, Coop? she asked somewhat breathlessly.

Relief spread through him that she hadn’t heard what he’d just said. Since the very intimate occurrence at IF’s house, he’d come up with any number of excuses to brush against her, touch her. Yeah, and he was pretty sure he’d been obvious