Moving Musically

Winds of Change - one shot

  Central Oklahoma, 1998

   In the minuscule lobby of a no name, mom and pop motel Valerie looked over the printed scans in front of her. Twisting a mouse brown wave between two fingers, she mulled over how she was going to make her dissatisfaction with today's first run clear. 

  Almost none of the important information she was sifting through and comparing stuck. The new numbers rolling across the screen on the thick gray laptop in front of her may as well have been ancient Sanskrit. Instead, she was caught in rumination about the earlier truck ride that morning.

  Val made it clear she thought Luke, her new boss of sorts, was choosing the wrong patch of dark storm clouds to follow. Heading through the southern United States to nothing.

  In his infinite wisdom, the tan skinned Californian only flashed her one of his token fake smiles and shook a headful of black curls till they bounced. "No way. Double checked everything." 

   Later, she would come to realize that statement meant he'd checked with the other three members of their team. Self-taught, but intelligent enough chasers past their prime; to make sure they thought following the same storms as the other four teams she knew of on the road seemed like it would shake out to worthwhile footage.

   Nearly ridiculous to her was the idea that average citizens would spend their time scouring the up and coming internet for websites dedicated to storm destruction. But then she reminded herself she was only here because of a childhood seeped in an unquenchable thirst for knowledge about mother earth and her incredible fury. 

  Still, Lassoingtheclouds.com was set up like a cheap fansite for bad TV, and the late twenties meteorologist wished she'd done more research before signing up to runway with this particular circus. Fighting for her life after graduating from a never ending program at a university in Indianapolis. 

  A double bachelors in meteorology and physics was nothing to chuff at. Somehow, though all of the years she lost stuck at a no where TV station writing weather reports for a man who looked at her like she was invisible. Only to follow it up, coming home to a messy apartment and a useless fiance she should have dumped after high school never felt like a cage until her last few months of school. 

  When she finally took off into the wind, she left said fiance with almost no hesitation. At first taking a random offer sent by mail from a larger network in the suburbs of Memphis Tennessee. Things there turned sour quickly, even as she fought to stay above water.

  An older anchor with hair dyed to match her own brown, and hazel eyes with just a little less green than her own saw her as the competition from the get go. Nevermind Val was told the woman was retiring voluntarily soon. Or that she was in no way looking to make a celebrity out of herself in that small bubble of Tennessee. 

  Being that she was just over five feet with a volleyball player's body and the network's eye made her the fifty year old's enemy. What was intended as a moment to breathe and find out what she really wanted in life suddenly ended up a day to day battle.

  That was until Luke came in to do an interview with the early morning anchors. Val was selected as the representative of the channel's weather team. Completely oblivious to the way the storm chaser watched her every move. She asked meaningful questions and chimed in with useful facts and input.

  He was so impressed with her that he called the station back the next week to get her information. Leaving several messages on her home machine insisting she contact him back. They exchanged phone calls and emails for weeks.

  Trusting how good everything sounded and desperate for a place to feel like home again she waited out winter and her lease. A new flat in southern Oklahoma, with a small yard and her own driveway, seemed almost as impossibly perfect as the offer. And growing closer with the ragtag group of men was initially a welcomed reprieve.

  No part of her regretted leaving Indiana. Or pursuing her lifelong interest in the monsters her mother described the sky sending after their childhood trailer. Yet only one trip out on the road and already it was painstakingly clear Luke was a liar.

  He clearly was no " studied expert" in this particular field. And his " natural edge" at his chosen profession was just a small group of old, couldn't hack it, special reporters with nowhere else to go. Obviously it was only the uniqueness of his website where he regularly posted footage transcribed from tape to digital video that brought him his widespread attention. 

  Being the only team that focused on the thrill of the chase and getting themselves caught in particularly rough situations; rather than inserting themselves for the sake of furthering scientific inquiry like his mission statement claimed, had him at the top of a peer group he didn't even belong in.

  The pitch she remembered involved adding more scientific information to each video. Making sure that people watching were learning important lessons about safety. But, nothing she'd seen so far backed those claims.

 Frustration flowing up past the brink, she slammed her computer closed and buried her fingers in the sides of her shoulder length waves. Combing  her hair between the digits like rakes and scraping her nails over her scalp to try and comfort herself. 

  " Come across anything useful?" His soft guilt riddled voice made her jump. The childish, and false shy expression on his face brought her right back. Turning away from the average height, tan man. "Donno."

 Ignoring him, she took her papers and laptop. Setting them on her legs seemingly to prepare for more work. Luke let out an agitated huff. "Come on Valerie. I told you already.I'll replace the equipment."

 Directly fighting the urge to raise her voice, she clenched her fists. A placating chuckle used instead to burn some of the anger.  " You mean my laptop?"

 With a gentle smile she turned back to him. Facing the white walled dingy motel lobby. " The one that had hours of work I still needed to transfer over to permanent hard drives? The exact same one that you insisted you needed to carry off, INTO A TORNADO?"

 Aware that she lost her battle with her volume, Val had to smile at the flinch those words gained from their target. With his hands deep in the front of worn out jeans, Luke's shoulders wilted forward. Clearly preparing for an award winning apology.

  It was cut off before he could start however. A large male hand with strong fingers gripping his shoulder and turning Luke in his direction. All attention shifted to the shockingly handsome man now standing just behind her "boss".

  " Have you gotten stupider Rolling?" Speaking in a deep but smooth timber that made something inside her go soft immediately. The tall man whose crisp white tee shirt looked almost too right over his deep hickory skin snapped, despite flashing a broad smile. It was obvious he was doing his best to remain polite while unhappy.

 The now somewhat pathetic other gentleman wouldn't look at the newcomer. "No idea what you mean Rich." Clicking his tongue off his front teeth with narrowed eyes the handsome man turned to Val and reached a hand forward. "Richard Tubbs. But please," his eyes shot back to Luke, making a point "call me Rico."

  Without hesitation she accepted his outstretched hand. " Sorry to be meeting this way." He was still making an effort to come across as good company when his name rang a bell in the back of her mind. 

  The time seemed wrong to divulge her awareness of him. "No problem. Hopefully he'll listen to someone else." Behind her chair, a voice only slightly lighter than Rico's boomed out over the growing crowd around them. 

  "Take that to mean you're not on the side of riding right into a clearly unstable front without proper equipment?" Just like the first man, this one caught her off guard with his looks. Bright blue eyes and golden blonde hair that was sun-bleached at the ends. He contrasted Rico almost as if it was a match made in heaven.

  Realizing after too long she was staring at him and not answering she took his now extended hand. His slender fingers wrapped around her smaller palm until her hand felt engulfed. "Valerie Sebert. Meteorologist." 

   Warm comfortable laughter came from his chest, and the new man held her hand a bit longer than necessary. Letting it go just before responding. "James Crockett. But please don't call me James unless I'm in trouble. Call me Sonny."

  It was who she expected him to be after learning his partner's name. Still, they were an unexpected addition to her afternoon. " You two co authored a think piece on putting in better relay systems for storm sirens? For allowing counties near touchdowns more time to prepare."

  Both of them had a unique color of blush coating, the tips of their ears. Val continued with her own smile. " It was impressive. I discussed it with a group of honors students in Indianapolis."

  The first of the two to arrive stood straighter, giving an amused grin. " Well thank you Valerie." Shooting a still unhappy look at her own road partner. " How'd you get a real scientist to join your little gang of idiots?" 

 Sonny stepped up closer. Leaning his hip against the high back of the old green chair where she resided. " Seeing as her article on the benefits of increasing the funding to severe weather based study grants, and how many lives a year that tax money would save was one of the best written in favor of our little hobby in over a decade."

 With some embarrassment of her own creeping in, she looked up to see the lionesk man confidently attempt a wink. Something about how absolutely silly it looked endeared her to him with no effort. "That's an incredibly kind thing for you to say, Sonny."

 Luke bounced the toe of his expensive boot off of the worn carpet in front of him. " If we're done with our weird little love fest, I need to talk to my team member in private."

  Rico only shook his head. " I'm not done talking to you yet. You've nearly gotten your team killed the last two seasons. If we hear about one more half assed, spur of the moment speed runs directly into the core of a storm this time? The two of us are going to find a way to end your little video making career."

 It was more than a bit jarring to see someone with such a calm smile sound so close to violence. Coming up to stand directly next to him, his partner added one last point before placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing a quiet goodbye.

  " This woman has more brains than all of you put together. Waste her talent, and it will be at your own detriment Luke." She turned to thank him but he was gone. Slipped into the mix of guests and chasers before she could speak.

    A last shake from Rico with his posture,

 much more relaxed, was followed up by a weighty warning. " I'm not sure how you ended up on his side. But watch yourself Sebert." Then she was alone with Luke again.

  "They're right." Standing, she gathered all the information she'd been working on for that day's clusters. " It's clear to me now you need me because your team has no idea what you're doing." 

  In a move that felt so unlike herself Val stepped into the man space, leaning up to whisper in his ear. " I doubt you even have a degree of any kind." 

 He sucked in a breath, clearly preparing to spill more bullshit. One hand shot up in front of his face to interrupt the words before they came. " Either you start hearing me out, or I'm done."

  North Texas -  One Day Later

 Dry sleepy eyes did their best to read the old fashioned black diner menu hanging just above the linoleum counter she leaned on. Val needed rest. More so though, she needed to feel less unsettled by how up in the air her future felt at that very moment.

 Yesterday's realization that Luke was only talented in grifting his audience,stung a bit more than knowing he'd tricked her along with everyone else. In her need for freedom she'd hitched her horse to a wagon filled with fools gold

  "What can I fetch you sweetheart?" A large bosomed woman with a lovely drawl and a mother's eyes pulled her from her spiral. "Oh umm… is 9:30 too early for a cheese burger?" 

  Shrugging in a lighthearted conspiratory manner the waitress replied with a jolly whisper. " Theo will cook just about anything, so long as you'll take it just as it appears on the menu." Valerie relaxed on her stool. " Well, I've never been picky. One burger, as the chef intended. A black coffee on the side."

  The order clearly held no interest to the older woman. Still, while she tucked her ordering pad into the front of her faded white apron she gave a confident nod. " I'll tell him you called him chef. It'll be the best burger you've had in your life, promise that."

  To fill the time and help ignore that pit of hunger growing in her stomach, she opened her laptop. Tapping her fingers against the counter while watching the small white circle spin in the center of her screen. Even the fairly new laptop struggled to connect to her crew's "state of the art" internet setup hiding in a boxvan out behind the joint. 

  Just as she'd gotten the necessary tabs opened up a plate slid past her elbow. " Here you go sweetie." Fresh cooked red meat smelled like heaven. "Oh wow, thanks."

  Turning on her stool she started to fight her wallet out of her back pocket. " I won't need anything else." She gave her gray haired server a grateful look. " Will ten bucks cover it with a tip?" 

   Any response was interrupted as Rico stepped up and surprised her from her left side. "I'll get her tab with all of ours." He set a black plastic billholder with his group's long bill on the counter between them. 

  Inside an urge to politely refuse started poking in the back of her mind. " That's very kind, again. Thank you." Instead of answering her directly, he pointed at the now loaded screen of radars and scrolling figures. " Which way do you think?"

  Instinctual competitive drive caused a momentary pause. In silence, she scanned over the information in front of her. Rico waiting patiently. Nothing about either man during their previous meetings suggested they needed her opinion to make the right choice. So she replied, pointing to the correlating tabs on the screen.

  "Everyone wants to follow this system to the northeast. It's got a different system moving south that will make good conditions for some twisters here." As one forearm gently landed on the back of the chrome stool she sat on, his face moved forward. Looming just over her shoulders so he could see clearly. "And?"

  Catching on his reply initially, she eventually gave her honest thoughts. "The pressure built in the second system is going to die off too quickly." Brushing her finger over the map, she emphasized two smaller storms just over the state borders in Oklahoma.

  "These two however," his face tilted towards her while she spoke, " the temperature above these systems is dropping so fast the boundaries are sure to clash in more favorable ways." From the corner of her eye she caught what appeared to be flirtatious approval on his face. "Meaning."

  Narrowing both eyes as a sign to show she was almost over this test, she sat up straighter. Speaking in a plain confident tone. " If everyone chases the storms popping faster they miss the real event." Thoughtful voice getting quieter. " And everyone's best chance yet this season to catch any worthwhile information for study."

  Lifting both hands in impressed surrender, he whistled. "Well damn Miss Sebert. You are even more impressive than we thought." Signing the receipt handed back to him, he tossed it gently back on the counter before turning to face her completely. " You and Sonny have that same knack."

  When she was clearly unsure what to say, he continued. " He knows where the danger will be. And he never can help wanting to run right at it, either."  Not sure how to take what he said she set her ignored burger back on the plate. "And you?"

 Rico got surprisingly serious. Leaning back to take a look around the restaurant, overhead fluorescence causing  his cheekbones to appear to glow when they reflected off his rich skin. For a moment she forgot they were having a personal conversation.

 "Sonny and myself have saved one another from this or that for years. I'm not the calm to his rage, if that's what you're asking. But after keeping him on the edge of his seat back in New York, having his back out here is the least I can do."

  Val watched him walk away. Remembering an article written about the two of them that long after their paper made waves in academic circles. 

  Both men started their lives in different places. Yet ended up as undercover agents for the NYPD together almost directly out of their respective academies. Retiring from service early after taking night courses in weather science. Now in their early thirties, they were coming out ahead of others in their peer group. 

  When he reached Sonny who was hanging up the phone at a booth near the door to the diner, Rico leaned in to whisper something. Clapping the other man between shoulder blades with an open palm. 

  Making no effort to hide it, the slightly thinner man turned and looked directly at her. Holding her gaze for what felt like days but was only seconds. Just before they both turned and walked out with no more communication between them. 

 Upon waking from another awful night of sleep just hours later to the sound of sirens blaring in the still dark morning hours, Val shot out of bed. Rocketing from her room still shoving important bits in bags.

   Over the dirt lot she heard another door bang open, finding the pair of men straight across from her room. Each man seemed to trip over the other before moving in the opposite direction to wake three backup vehicles worth of crewmates. 

  Offhandedly, she noticed through the door left wide open the two men came from a room with only one messy king bed. It impressed her to think they were willing to sleep so uncomfortably just so their large team could have enough rooms to sleep comfortably in separate beds. 

 Then she noticed Sonny cut back across the sidewalk. Pulling an old well worn blue tea over his head. Surely she shouldn't have allowed herself to linger on his astounding abdomen as long as she did. But when she followed the small trail of curls from his belly button to where his pants stopped her path, she noted he had on the same dark jeans Rico'd worn the previous morning buying her breakfast. 

 " Are they brothers or partners?" Laughing to herself, she rushed to meet the gaggle of men well over the middle aged bump waiting for her outside of Luke's bright red painted R.V..

 Far Eastern North Texas -              Two Days Later

  Thick wet air clung to every inch of open skin. Standing just under the hardly blowing air conditioner at a truck stop in Wichita Falls, Val pretended to look at a display of sunglasses. Spinning the cheap white plastic tower this way, then back.

  Some progress was made between her and the group after her threats to out Luke as a fraud. But despite her gut being correct back in Hanford, their fearless leader was still being a prick. 

  Even when he'd nearly pissed his sixty dollar khakis after watching back the footage they caught. An F2, just as it touched down in an open field. Clear unmistakable footage of it quickly devouring a thankfully abandoned farm in just moments. Before turning and moving across the highway to rip up nearly a full patch of government planted trees separating north from southbound traffic. 

  Nevertheless that morning, the whole table of men practically steamrolled over the presentation she tried to make during breakfast. Favoring instead a "tip" presented by an old timer straight out of the nineteen eighties. Despite his information mostly correlating with what she wanted to say in the first place, her annoyance felt like a constant fire that nothing diminished anymore. 

 Motion from just past the sun glass stand yanked her mind back to the store around her. Taking a small package of swiss rolls from their box on a white metal rack with mostly slanting shelves, Sonny offered her a small wave. 

 "Hey there fellow traveler." He looked just as tired as she felt. But even though the bags under her eyes aged her five years, the same puffy pockets under his own seem to add a youthful edge to his features. " Hello Sonny. Haven't seen the two of you since Owen's Stacks. Though maybe your bunch got lucky and pulled out ahead of the pack."

  Moving around to the other side of the stand between them, she met him at the end of the aisle. "Well, we caught the mess over in Love County. Stayed an extra day to help folks find family and do what we could." Val couldn't help but reach out and gently grab one of his upper arms in a friendly show of encouragement. "It's wonderful that you all stayed and helped."

  Guilt filled her thinking again of how her own voyages had done almost nothing toward what she convinced herself she'd work toward while a storm chaser. Seemingly noticing her downward tick in mood he only placed his hand over hers, brushing his thumb across her knuckles. 

 "You all ought to be cautious about how fast that cold snap is moving down from the mountains." Applying a gentle squeeze to the hand under his, he looked past her to where Luke waited in his truck. Removing her hand carefully Val acknowledged his worry.

  "I'm pretty sure it's going to break down to a more serious day than anyone is really saying out loud." With a slow reach just over one of her shoulders, he pulled a pair of round bottom glasses from the stand. " This is a nice green."  Casually, he slipped the glasses up the bridge of her nose.

  She blinked at him. "Make sure you keep your team heading the same way as us, huh Darling?" Setting the very tips of her fingers on either side of the glasses when he finished sliding them on, Val made a small sound of agreement.  "I have a feeling we might be going in the same direction."

  After purchasing a bottle of water, one questionable hot dog, and the embarrassingly unneeded pair of green glasses she walked out around the back of the building. Looking for Luke. Following the sound of low voices, she rounded the corner to a shock.

  Sonny had Luke against the wall with one forearm pinning his neck. " Put her back in home's way and I'll make more than good on Rico's threats fuckface." Her accidentally let out gasp shifted their attention and once again she watched the mysterious all American looking man vanish without explaining himself.

  Later that same night in a nearly empty saloon that smelled like stale beer, cheap cigarette smoke, and home smoked pulled pork, Val was beating herself up. When she'd got back in the truck with Luke after finding him and Sonny he wouldn't even look at her.

  "I don't know who you think you are. But you can't just show up here after two years of hard work and assume just because you're smarter than me you can steal everything I've worked for." Deep brokenness at the edge of hiis voice caught her off guard.

  In silence, she sat in the passenger seat. Listening to their team decide to follow a larger grouping of clouds straight north rather than taking the angle back west like the others. "Good chance we get our own Love County."

  No Love county found them. Then, she spent the afternoon listening to all of them complain that no one lost their home or life and they had nothing to record. Altogether sickening her further against the troop of chasers.

  So she sat there, eyes locked on the weather report streaming from the square, fuzzy TV screen hanging above the bar. Pushing a plate of ignored french fries around while chastising the woman on the screen for having no idea how to do her job.

  "Large concern in south central Oklahoma my ass." Pounding back another large gulp of the on tap, affordable beer in her glass she set it back on the table a little too hard. Tears started to burn the inner corner of her eyes.

  In the motel next door she was positive the rest of her guys were getting a pleasant if not grumpy night's sleep. All she could do was continue to stress about what she would do when the season was over. Once her contract with Lassoingtheclouds was done she imagined storm chasing would be another failed chapter of her story .

  "Didn't see you out on the road Doll." The familiar timber of Rico's voice jarred her in place. Dropping her boots from the table leg onto the floor with a thud, Val shot up. Him and Sonny suddenly appeared on either side of her hightop. Prompting a quick wipe of her eyes with the back of her hand to hide the coming emotions.

  "Hey, what happened?" Golden tanned fingers wrapped around her wrist as Sonny tucked a finger under her chin to make her look him in the eye. "I'm ok, just… overthinking. Some more." 

  Rico leaned on the table with one elbow. Keeping his features easy but concerned. "Where did Luke run you all off to?" Without the ability to stop herself Valerie spilled it all.

  Each deep concern about whether or not she made the right choice, the fact that she was ashamed she hadn't vetted the opportunity better. Unable to look back at either man, she concentrated on picking the label off of her wet bottle bit by bit.

  At the end of it all her blonde companion stood straight from where he'd leaned in, making identical pillars on either side of her out of the two men. "It's alright to be upset that things didn't work out Darling. But you gotta put blame where it belongs at some point as well. Luke lied to you, and now he's wasting your potential on games. Dangerous games." 

  Tugging the waist of his lightwashed, fitted jeans, he turned and took a couple of steps towards the door. "Wait." She reached out and wrapped an arm around his elbow. Immediately he stopped, but his expression was one filled with anger. " It's not just about you. He's got new people out there year after year. Putting themselves in bad positions with his gang of idiots. They're dangerous."

  Valerie could feel herself wilting in her chair. "Wait." Rico stood up, moving in close to say something against Sonny's ear. Sucking in a heavy breath the worked up of the pair gave a gesture of compliance. Then moved to stand near her tall chair again with his body facing towards the nearly empty saloon. "I'm sorry Val. I just get a little hotheaded sometimes." 

  Not missing a beat she shook her head. Anxiously tucking messy hair behind her ears. "No it's alright. I know you're right."  Pushing a missed stray wave from her forehead and hiding it behind her ear Rico spoke gently.  "How about a dance huh?" 

  Too surprised to say anything, she allowed him to take her elbow and lead her from the chair to the center of the mostly abandoned dance floor. When he wrapped both well built arms around her waist and pulled her close, she didn't hesitate to press her cheek firmly against his sternum.

  Rico smelled like black coffee, roots and something warm. It made her want to disappear into his skin and stay there until things didn't seem so bad. Listening to the radio hit country tune sing about missing home and needing a lover she squeezed her arms a little tighter around his middle.

 Making slow circles in place he hummed along with the melody. "All this isn't really so bad Val. Everyone just gets real tense early in the season. There's a detectable pattern that develops rather quickly if you're paying attention."

  He ran broadhands up and down the center of her back, almost pulling a satisfied coo from her. "And Sonny believes Luke's trend is going to kill someone?"

  Laughing quietly so only they heard it he shrugged. "Mostly I think he's upset it might kill you." Unsure how to respond she simply went back to hiding in his arms. It continued like that through the next song until something urged her to look up.

  Immediately, her hazel eyes locked on stormy blues still watching from where they'd left Sonny. There was something deep stirring in the back of his gaze, but she couldn't read it. Obviously the two of them were set to make a mission out of saving her.

  But the longer she looked back at his unshakable stare while still feeling the comfort of Rico's hold, she couldn't decide how she really felt about either man. Or what they may actually want from her.

  As the next song started the arms around her started to let go. Looking up in surprise she was left speechless at his complicated expression. "Maybe you should give old Sonny a roll. He used to be quite the ladies man, believe it or not. I bet a dance may help him as much as it seems to be settling you."

  Taking a peek back over her shoulder, she found the other man already on his way to them. "Suppose it's my turn." He extended a hand palm up and Val gave him a thankful smile. Then leaned up to place a kiss on Rico's cheek. "Thank you for the dance." He wrinkled his nose and lifted his brow playfully.  "Oh, I'm not done dancing with you yet."

  Sonny pulled her in. Running his fingers up the length of her arms to wrap them around his neck before circling his arms at her waist and tightening his hold until their bodies were pressed flush. Resting his palms across the center of her back.

  Wordlessly, he started to sway them back and forth. Keeping them in the same position rather than turning round. His body becoming a barrier between her and the rest of the active saloon. "Its still brave of you to choose to be out here with the rest of us. Even if it hasn't worked out like you hope so far."

  He spoke the words into her hair just above her ear. Loud enough, so she could hear him clearly over the music but the conversation still felt intimate. She tilted her head upward, speaking against the side of his neck 

 "I don't feel brave, but it means a lot to have you two around. This last week would have been… " "Shhhh, you don't have to commend us for being decent Val. You just need to find you people." Not realizing she did it, her grip on the back of his neck tightened fingertips burying themselves in his soft hair.

  He made a gruff sound. But pressed his nose against her temple and continued to sway them back-and-forth to the sounds of Dolly Parton. Eventually he pulled back and cupped the side of her neck. "We could be your people Darling." Her face filled with sudden appreciation. 

  He placed a thumb over her lips and said one more thing before walking over and sending Rico back to dance. "You wouldn't understand just what you were asking for." 

 Rico swooped in. Twirling her by one hand before dipping her with a charming smirk. "That's enough of that tense shit tonight. Let's have some fun. The weather is supposed to be easy tomorrow. No need to be up with the sun."

  For the next ninety minutes or so, the two of them traded off occasionally. Keeping her moving and smiling. It had been weeks since she'd felt this much like herself. She joined them at the table for another drink and got very little information from them about their time as undercover police. 

  Only halfway through stepping back out for one last dance with Sonny, Luke and a couple members of her group walked in. Clearly already drunk and looking to start something. 

  She was just standing straight from laughing so hard, she nearly collapsed in Sonny's arms after a comment he'd made about an old farmer ready to get home to his favorite swine. When the wide, infectious grin on his face dropped.

  At the bar counter Luke was projecting his complaints loud enough for the bar to hear. "Not worth half of what I'm paying her. What's the point of bringing on a new meteorologist if all of her predictions have led me nowhere." Val felt her joy evaporate. 

  "I should head back to my room." Sonny still had a hand on either of her hips. "Nah sweetheart. Don't let him chase you off." His furrowed brow and clenched jaw tugged at her heart. Still, she couldn't stay on the dance floor for all to see 

  "Just need some time where I don't have to think about fucking Luke Cassel." She closed her eyes and felt a chill run up her spine. "Even for a couple hours."

  Coming closer as he spoke, an agitated looking Rico took her from Sonny's arms and headed toward the door. "We've got cards and beer in our room." She almost protested. Roaring laughter from a crowd gathered to hear Luke bitch changed her mind. "That sounds great."

  Waking to the sound of a door closing the next morning, she turned over only to realize she wasn't in the room she expected. Lying on top of the blankets she was tucked under Sonny was propped against the headboard of a queen size bed. 

 He had one long arm tucked behind his head. Showing off his exquisite physique in a beam of light coming in between the hotel room's cheap curtains. Still wearing the same faded jeans from last night while his shirt was on the back of a nearby chair.

  Rolling delicately onto her other side she found the second queen bed in the room abandoned. Scattered playing cards still sprawled out across a three by three folding table between the beds.

  Pleasant memories of an evening spent discussing university and their own adventures in New York in their early twenties came back. Lighthearted, arguments about modern westerns versus the classics.

  The two men had an easy chemistry between them. Finishing sentences and passing things back and forth without a word said. Val found herself yearning for a similar kind of bond in the nomadic life she led.

 At some point, they all mentioned feeling a bit hungry, so the two of them journeyed out to their truck to dig through bags of road snacks. It took them longer than she expected to come back. And by then the mood seemed settled.

  So they'd all taken up positions on the two beds, respectively, and the chatter had calmed down to more serious discussions. When she realized she was starting to doze off she made a move to stand and walk back to her room. But she vaguely remembered Sonny leaning over from behind her and tucking the blanket over her shoulders. Kissing the outer one softly. Then Rico turned off the lights. 

  With most of her weight on one hand she pressed up against the mattress below and sat slowly. Taking a look around at their things where they lay without care.

  Three duffel bags, one that seemed to have both of their clothing. Another with equipment and wires strewn around it on the floor. The last seems to be a mix of personal things and toiletries for the two. 

  There was a journal on the bedside table between the two queens. A dark brown leather book with Rico's name on the top left corner. Next to it, a copy of the book Giovanni's Room looked well read. A matchbook of familiar branded matches, she'd seen Sonny take in and out of his shirt pocket marking a center page.

 "Good morning." His rasping drawl behind her made something in her stomach clench. But turning to see him rubbing the sleep from each eye with balled fists causes her heart to jump. "Good morning." Her reply cracked on her tongue and he paused.

  Dropping his hands to his lap and tilting his head in concern. "Alright Darling?" Replacing her expression with a gentle rise of the corner of her lips and soft eyes she reached out and squeezed his hand on the bed.

  "I'm great. Just getting my bearings." Sonny turned his hand to lace his fingers with hers, brushing his thumb over her knuckles. "Rico'll be getting breakfast." He shifted in his seat. Lifting his opposite arm above his head to stretch the side of his body that was still all night. "You sleep okay?"

 "Oh I would have paid for breakfast. After drinking your beer, eating your food and taking up your bed last night." Valerie made to stand so she could try to cut Rico off at the small motel restaurant. But Sonny just held her hand firm. "Nah, we were happy to have you here Val."

 He moved in closer. Bare chest only inches from her body, observing her closely with still narrowed morning eyes. His tongue flicked out over his bottom lip, and she couldn't find anything to say.

  "You two have been… the best these last few days." Cautiously, she used the tip of her middle finger to brush a curl of blonde hair off the middle of his forehead. Spreading her fingers to run them through his messy mop of bedhead. 

  Sonny put a hand on her hip. Crowding in closer and dropping his voice even further. "But what if we," his question was cut off by the door opening. It didn't make her uncomfortable but the man next to her didn't move away as his friend came in with two to-go bags of boxes.

  "Well, then. Good morning everyone." Val felt her mouth fall open, and her lips tried to make words until Sonny pulled back. "What did you scrounge up huh?" She looked back at the blonde needing to see that nothing in him looked upset.

  But he only gave her a wink and stood up to help split up the food. " I wasn't sure what you'd eat." Her face snapped back in the direction of Rico, who was looking at her with a bright air to his movements. 

 "Oh, well I'm not picky." She watched him open four boxes. One with a pancake meal and some bacon. Another housing classic eggs benedict. The other two options were a basic assortment of bacon, egg sausage cheese and biscuit in different combinations.

  "I'll take whatever you guys don't want really." Sitting down across from her with the remote in his hand Sonny shook his head. "Ladies first." Rico sat down next to her as she picked up the box of eggs benedict. "Glad to see you still here."

  "I should leave soon, I'm sure you want to enjoy the one day of liveable weather we're having in a couple weeks." Rico looked to Sonny then back. "Well, if you don't mind, we were talking after you went to sleep last night and we'd like to have a chat about something."

  Swallowing the bite of food she was still working on, she took a sip of orange juice from a styrofoam cup "Of course." Val dabbed a napkin against the corners of her mouth and made sure to give both guys an open smile. 

  "What's up?" Nerves started working the unprocessed food in her stomach. One of her hands picked at the blanket next to her hip. Rico placed a palm over her fingers. "No need to worry. We… We just wanted to talk to you about Luke."

 Sonny set his sandwich down. "Join us." She looked up from her toes with wide eyes. "What?" "He means," throwing an annoyed glance at his partner Rico went on "we would love to have you join our team. I know you have contracts with Luke, but I'm positive we'd talk him out of it." 

 Tapping her foot with his playfully Sonny added. "The pay may even be better. At least, it'll be real backed chasing." A wave of emotions flooded from her. She set the box of food on the table and stood up. Tugging, at the leg of her shorts needlessly.

  "You already have a big team. This is… so kind. But really, you two have already been so" "Kind?" Rico stood and pulled her in by her waist. Leaning down as he spoke to look her in the eye. A rich, thoughtful amber stare settling her some. 

  "We have people leaving at the end of this season. They want to have normal, steady lives." He took a folded contract from the back of his green cargo pants. "There's already a contract ready to go because we knew we'd likely find our next best scientist in the field this year."

  Val took it from his hand. Reading over a more than reasonable proposal lasting three years. With already set work on campus of an accredited college breaking down their footage and that year's overall reports. It was almost unbelievable. 

  Resting back on his palms, looking almost too sure they had her, Sonny chimed in. "It's not too good to be true Valerie. You're a talented scientist even in a field that's currently oversaturated." Rico turned her back to him. "Please, hang with us today. We're heading to an outdoor flea market in Boston. Think it over and let us know later."

  Almost immediately, however, clarity overrode caution and she took the pen she'd seen earlier off the bedside table. "May I?" Rico nodded and made room on the card table for her to set the contract down. Without another second of hesitation, she put her signature on the line.

 "I'm… there's still a lot to work out. But I can't imagine a better team to join as long as Luke will let me out of my contract." That settled, they all sat down to finish their food in comfortable quiet.

  Three hours later, she was standing in a stall full of antique books. Enjoying the familiar smell of well worn pages and thinking back to long nights, studying in the university library. The days late morning and early afternoon had been some of her favorite in months.

  Taking herself back to her room to clean up and get dressed. Before meeting Sonny and Rico back at their room to ride forty minutes away. Sitting in the middle seat with most of her weight rested on Rico's side as Sonny drove.

  None of them spoke very much, just listening to the top forty station that came in almost clearly on their truck radio. Rico had an arm around her back, and Sonny's hand rested on her knee when he wasn't shifting gears. The sunlit ride passed in no time at all. 

  Now she turned over a well read copy of The Great Gatsby. Jay's story wasn't all that interesting to her. Yet carefully done drawings around the borders pages drew her attention from the shelf. 

 Wearing an ankle length white Sundress that buttoned in front, covered in soft blue and yellow flowers. Paired with simple brown tennis shoes. She felt pretty for the first time in days.

  Off in the distance she could see both of her companions looking through a stall of old men's clothing. Pulling out old worn coats and trying them on. Rico in a light grey V neck and green cargo pants. And Sonny looked casual in torn black jeans and a blue flannel he'd torn the sleeves off. Both of them in nearly matching brown work boots. 

   A summer full of days watching them interact with each other easily started to grow in her mind.  It was cut short by the sound of several wind chimes in an open tent further down the line going mad. Turning to the sky, she realized it was growing dark quickly.

  Feeling a hand brush across a craft.Her back, she looked over to see Rico now standing close. "Something changed." Val nodded, searching for their third. "He went to find a phone and call Embry."  Their lead meteorologist.

 "We should go check the radio." "He'll know to find us at the truck." Taking her hand he led her through the still unaware crowd of people back to the asphalt parking lot. Things were growing dark quickly. Everything, suddenly overwhelmed by an eerie pale green hue.

  "Rico…" Val's fingers dug at his palm. It didn't feel like it cooled down enough for a funnel to drop. But every other condition was slowly reaching a fever pitch around them. "What do you think doll?" The look on his face promised he would hear her out. 

 "We don't have time to make it to the truck." All around them women with two to five kids started piling out of tents looking bewildered. An elderly couple's automatic wheelchair snagged on a large chunk of earth blown in their path by building winds.

  "These people have already waited too long, we have to find somewhere to send them." Not needing anymore instructions he started to look around over the crowd. "There's some kind of concert hall there," pointing to a large outdoor stage then spinning her back toward the rows of tents he gestured to a one story brick building a couple hundred yards off "or whatever that is?"

  Making a choice on the fly, Val pushed him toward the theater. "See if there is a lower level we can shove some of them in." But he wasn't already on the way, well aware of what needed to happen next.

 For her part she ran toward the brick building in the distance. Telling families trying to pack in trucks or SUVs to stay off the road. Halfway to her destination, hail started falling from the sky. And just off in the distance the largest funnel Valerie could remember seeing started to weave around itself in the sky.

 "Oh fuck." Throwing both hands out to tug at the metal door handles to what seemed like a recreational facility, she almost screamed when it wouldn't open. Behind her a small herd of people looked scared and already at the point of bad choices. "Stay here!"

 Looking back over her shoulder she saw Rico leading one half of the old couple toward the theater. Letting out a sigh of relief that he must have found something safe. But there was no way it would fit everyone.

 "What the fuck are you doing out here?" She almost fell over herself whipping around to find Sonny. "There's not enough room!" Val frantically pointed an arm in the direction of Rico, still visible through the storm. 

 "Where have you been?!" Unreasonably upset that she'd been so worried for him, the short brunette pushed Sonny. But he only leaned her around the corner of the building pointing to a small concession stand where she could see scared people from the nearby playground watching them through the ordering glass. 

  Making an annoyed noise he made a thumbs down motion until the peeping teens went back to hiding. "There was only so much room, but I got everyone in when I saw the sky go green." Before she could express her awe at his quick movement, a branch crashed off a tree nearby. Almost taking her out, leaving a deep cut down her leg. 

 "Goddammit, come here." Sonny bent over and picked up a large rock from the ground under the carefully selected bushes circling the rec center. Leading her by one elbow back to the glass doors. "Everyone back up." With her tucked behind, he slammed the rock through one door, kicking out the rest of the glass then reaching up to unlock the handle. Repeating the same on the inner doors. 

  "Find the locker room or showers. Get down low." Sonny didn't follow them. Instead he picked Valerie up and walked through the twisting halls looking for an office that would house the first aid kit. "I can walk." Despite moving quickly and soundlessly, Sonny's heart was pounding so hard she could feel it through his chest.

  "No. You can't. You're still bleeding Darling. Now," One loud bang nearly drowned out by the howling of the winds around the building and he kicked open the administration office "sit here and don't move." Practiced ease allowed him to put her down gently even though he felt rushed by the very gods. 

 "It hardly hurts." Rolling his eyes he set a hard white box that should have been screwed to a wall on the top of the admin desk next to her. "Because you're all hopped up on adrenaline." A crash sounded to their left and the front doors were taken out on the other side of a large two way glass wall that let those in the office see the front of the building. 

 In a moment a large boulder rolled right through the bottom that Sonny'd left intact, making the cheap steel frames weak enough a gust took them off and sent them in separate directions. "Oh my god Sonny!"

 Val slapped his shoulder so he would pay attention over the nearly impossible to hear roar of mother nature. Something like a fog horn mixed with a train just as it runs past you on the track. "Rico!" In a careful squat their missing counterpart was making his way in the destroyed entry.

 Sonny shot up. "Fuck me!" He started for the door then turned and looked at her for a pause they didn't really have. "Fucking fuck." In one wide step he was back in front of her. Gripping the hair on the back of her head tight, he smashed his lips against hers. Then set her on the ground.  "Don't move."

 There was no time to react, he was out the door and she was on her knees, holding her breath while she watched him make his way to Rico. Each man gripped anything close on the wall. Dragging themselves little by little.

 When they rounded corners to the same hallway Rico shot up, hardly missing a small white board that went whipping down the hallway. She could see him shouting and tried to read their lips. "What the fuck Ivory."

  Using his broader shoulders Rico shoved a tilted bookcase to the side, but it jammed on two garbage cans welded to the ground. Sonny came up and lifted from his side as well. "Could ask you the same thing, you fucking idiot." They proceeded to shove one another a couple times.

 Neither looking particularly angry. In fact by the time Valerie realized they reminded her of the night she saw her grandmother pace the living room riddled with anxiety. Grandpa Rick was in the backyard going after some particularly nasty coyotes. 

 When he came back bleeding, then had to admit that he'd shot himself in the thigh loading the gun, she slapped him in the face before kissing him so deep Val thought they may swallow one another. The look in Rico and Sonny's eyes was the same amused concern. 

 All at once a million puzzle pieces clicked into place. In perfect time to watch both men throw their arms around one another for a brief embrace, followed by a kiss just like the one she'd seen between her Grandma and Grandpa. "Oh."

  A truck being rolled past the front of the building got their attention back and they slowly crawled to where she waited. However, she'd made a point of going around the other side of the desk and away from where she could be struck if the double sided glass hit.

  Another bang nearby altered her to them coming through the door. Sonny immediately yelled. "I said DON'T MOVE." Rico only chuckled from adrenaline and made note of a thin trail of red blood moving around the side of the desk. "Sonny…" he tapped the other man on his chest with the back of his hand.

 Both of them got down on the floor and came into view soon. "Hey there." She looked up with her best attempt at humor. The true severity of the outside storm setting in. "Hey doll." Rico sat close to her under the desk. One arm around her shoulders to bring her flush to his side. 

 Watching her carefully as he did so, Sonny copied his positioning. Leaning in close to compact the three in the sparse foot space under the thick wood desk. "Okay?" She knew what he was asking, and that even the danger around them likely didn't stave off whatever fear he had now that she might have seen them.

 "I just thought you may want a moment to yourselves." She took one of both their hands in hers. And felt them both relax, until a new kind of dull screeching sound started to grow closer. Sitting up Rico realized a tree from the playground area, a massive dead oak trunk surrounded by large unpleasant looking branches, was heading right to them. 

  "Sonny!" He was pushing her down, and Sonny flew out from their hole to grab a smaller desk and turn it to the side. More or less making them a box just big enough for three out of the three solid sides and the floor. Never before had she felt like a chimera. All limbs and groans and the building around them trembled in the blast.

 It was the largest storm Val was ever stuck in. And suddenly an awful station in Memphis didn't seem so bad. Not sure whose shoulder she was buried in, sobs began to rip from her chest.

  Both of them closed ranks. Tightening their arms and tucking their legs further between each other and her. "It's alright Valerie." Rico whispered in her ear before kissing her on the temple. "We got you." Then the glass shattered. A tunnel created by the entry way hall trying to limit where the gusts coming in from outside could wander finally losing out to the seeming unstoppable force of wind.

  One man made a pained sound, and she started pawing at their bodies, finding nothing substantial. "We're okay, darling." Sonny took both her hands and pinned them to his chest. Each of them resting their forehead on either her shoulder or hair. "It's almost done." Rico soothed her with slow strokes of his hands up her sides.

  When the chaos stopped at last they peeled apart, none of them mentioning how close they'd just been. To each other and death.

 After a second to breathe Rico brought her to the locker room to look over all the people who'd followed them there. Helping her hobble her way in before heading back toward the theater to check on those survivors, Sonny already went to check in on concessions and make sure no one was thrown around in need of assistance. 

 After an hour of being stuck on her ass, Val said fuck it. Limping her way out the front door and among the crowd of first responders and their charges. "Valerie?" 

 Coming from the lot an older member of Luke's team, Tucker, was running over. "Luke was banging on every door of the motel looking for you this morning. Where have you been." As she started to make explanations, Rico approached with a fixed scowl. 

 "You should be sitting on your ass inside right now." Completely ignoring Tucker, the brunette only raised her shoulders. "Got bored. Couldn't miss the relief effort." 

  Their unwanted third party snapped. "You ran off with Rigg and Murtaugh?" In what seemed like an uncharacteristically harsh reply Rico whipped around on his heel. "I'm sorry… what the fuck did you just say?" 

  Tucker stepped up closer, "Isn't it true you bailed on cop jobs you sucked at to do this?" Val moved to stop the fight, separating the argument and pushing the men apart. They were pushing and bickering around her.

 Rico, careful not to hit her with his moving arms, still obvious to her starting to teeter on her feet. "Rico…" He placed a hand on her hip. "It's alright. We should leave." But as she went to step away everything wavered. 

 On his way over from the opposite side of the lot Sonny was the first to notice the deep red stream of red coming from the cut she got during the worst of it down her leg. "Val!" She looked in his direction and collapsed on Rico's side. "Oh…"

   Four hours later she walked out of a steamed-filled bathroom in the last available hotel room in all of southern Oklahoma. Wincing at the tight pull from seven stitches down her thigh. Caught by the bright yellow lap light coming off a yellow wood table next to the large king sized bed Val lifted one hand, trying to hold her towel on with the second. 

  "Shit sorry." Sonny sat up from where he'd draped himself over one corner of the large bed. Taking the place she'd vacated for her turn in the shower. All of them exhausted by one hell of an evening. 

  "It's alright, I shouldn't have looked right in it like an asshole." From behind Rico laughed as Sonny hit the switch to dull the large lap. "How are you feeling, Doll?" After sucking in a deep breath she sat on the end of the single bed.

  "Tired, sore. But also…" "Wired as hell?" Sonny was laying down again. An arm placed over his head like the night before. He was still in only his towel, and suddenly his nakedness and her were glaringly obvious. 

  "Yeah. Wired is a good word for it." She stood and went to the single backpack she'd brought in, digging for a nightgown. "Damn, I grabbed the wrong bag." Rico sat up, leaning over to open one of their duffels.

 Once open though it became clear he'd grabbed the wrong one from the truck on the way in. "Looks like we did too." Sonny still sounded like the most relaxed person in the room. "Well it's been a long day." 

 He sat up, looking at Valerie. "What's got you… uncomfortable darling?" Looking at the opened bag on the floor it was a mix of all their filthy clothes she remembered seeing them wearing the last few days. Something about the sight of their things all mixed up reminded her of their kiss during the storm. 

 "I'm not uncomfortable." Peaking over her shoulder, the need to look away again was almost immediate when she saw his knowing expression. "No? Then, what would you say you are?" Rico put a hand up. "Sonny, it's been a fuck of a night. Leave it."

 Val sat up straighter on the ground, "No wait, I…" her eyes darted between the two men. Each of whom seemed on the edge of leaping from the second floor windows. "I just hadn't realized. I suppose." 

 Sonny's hand gently cupped the back of her head so she'd look directly up at him where he leaned down off the bed. Nothing about having looked angry but rather terrified.  "And now that you do? What…" "How do you see us now?" 

 Rico had his hands clenched over his kneecaps so tightly his knuckles were white. Val put one hand on Rico's closest, then the other on Sonny's cheek. "I think you're two of the best men I've met. And I think looking back if one of you were a woman it would have been obvious sooner."

  Both their faces fell. "No, I… I don't mean that in any kind of bad way. You just make sense. You make each other seem so easy to know." They looked at one another and a cheesy grin cracked across both their faces. "Can I ask… have you always known?"

  Turning on his back, Sonny took her hand in both of his. Holding it over his face to trace the details of her knuckles like an ancient map. Rico looked at his lap. "When we were under, it turned out the leader of the gang we were watching had a… particular preference." 

 Sonny's teeth ground together from how hard his jaw clenched, his partner telling their story like a somber duty. "At first, Sonny got by on flirting. He could've flirted with a wall anyway. But then… Well Benji wanted more."

 Val looked up at the side of the blonde's face. But he shook his head in silence. "No, no one made him. But to save our cover he did what you'd imagine." Bringing her hand to his mouth Sonny pressed his closed lips to the back of her hand and stayed like that.

 "After a few weeks of him refusing to talk about it, and nearly drinking himself to death I told him my truth." Her attention turned back to Rico in the armchair. His eyes were full of unshed water. "Since high-school I'd been hiding how I felt when I looked at an attractive man."

  Almost in unison, they let out a sigh. " Trying not to look at other teammates in the locker room. Knowing once I got out of the academy that it was a part of myself, I would have to keep hiding." Sonny rolled on his stomach, picking up the tale.

   "That went from confessions, to secret nights in hotels pretty fast." They shared another long glance. " It became clear that we couldn't be who we were, where we were. After a few decisions and a lot of hard work, we ended up down here."

  Rico leaned forward and brushed the back of his knuckles over a bruise on Val's jaw.  His legs spread wide, so he could lean down close and speak to her delicately. "After a couple years we realized no matter how happy we were together… We liked women too. Needed them even." 

 "So, we started to take nights apart on the road." Sonny dropped an arm down over her shoulder, fingers lacing with Rico's on her thigh. " That hasn't helped either. We need, well what we need is a dream." He brushed the tip of his nose from the crook of her neck to the end of her shoulder. Going still for a moment before pressing feather like kiss where he stopped.

 "What do you mean?" Everything happening around her felt too astonishing to be real. "He means, we want a third." Val must have looked as shocked as she felt. Because they both laughed, though there was some sadness in the sound. 

 "Like, for sex?" It wasn't normal for her to feel unschooled or square when talking about any sort of sexual or social topic. It was 1998 for God's sake, one of her best friends in college was a lesbian. "Yes." 

  The word came so deep out of Sonny's chest that it vibrated off her back. Something between her legs reacted without her meaning to. "But, for everything else too." He turned her face up to him. Clearing all of the stray strands off of her face. 

  "Oh." The searing heat of his stare left her speechless. Sat there unmoving, they shared breath until Rico spoke. "Do you want him to kiss you Val?" Even his voice was somehow impossibly deeper. "I do." Now he was laughing.

 "Getting ahead at yourself maybe, but I like the enthusiasm." Sonny didn't seem to have any time left for humor. "Come here." Without rushing her, he placed a hand under both of her arms to help her lift backwards onto the bed.

  It was daunting to look either of them in the eye.  Instead, she concentrated on the floor where all of their feet sat close together. "It's okay if you want it to be Darling." He pressed his forehead to hers, and she nodded.

 "Kiss me Sonny." Surprising her he still stalled. "If he kisses you, are you gonna be here in the morning?" Rearranging herself so she was facing Rico, the true weight of their fear became suddenly obvious. 

 "Have you," "Shared before?" Sonny chewed his bottom lip. "No. It's a complicated situation. We've been careful to keep it separate from the rest of our lives." From the chair Rico's answer broke her heart a little.

 "It's not complicated to love each other." Even as she said it, Val knew the world they lived in didn't make the words true.  It was apparently what they needed to hear, because the response was Sonny wrapping both arms around her suddenly and pressing his lips over hers. 

  Caution to the wind she ran a hand up his chest, the other cupping the side of his long neck. He slid her up his lap, fingers dug into the meat of her ass. Thighs opening to wrap around his back she coiled both arms around his neck.

  It felt like she'd been set on fire. Days of stress, fear, anger and loneliness all wiped out by his fingers tangling in her hair to tilt her head so he could suck at the base of her neck. "Careful," gripping the chair arms like a vice once more Rico looked like a king on a throne and sounded like he'd had a good dose of something heady "he'll leave you all marked to hell if you don't chastise him."

  Sonny gazed his teeth over where he'd already left a wine colored bruise and let out a low laugh, "She'll like it as much as you pretend not to." Val hummed with satisfaction from the feeling. "Unfortunately Rico, I think he's right."

   Sonny kissed her with a grin. "I am?" Nodding against his lips she shrugged. "Can't think of being upset over people knowing I'm with either of you in public." Flipping them on her back he looked playfully serious. "Good."

  Val watched her fingertips glide over each muscular ridge while he lay down over her. Feeling up his arms and following sweat licked tan skin down his back. An ache in her core starting to throb in response to the sound he made when she racked her nails back up.

  Towels being the only thing keeping the thick bulge between his legs from pushing inside her, her legs wrapped around his hips. Limbs circled one another close as he stole the air from her lungs. 

 There was a creaking from the armchair and then the bed behind her dipped. Sonny moved down as Rico leaned in. Stealing her lips with his. Tongue exploring her mouth with eager enthusiasm. 

 It was almost overwhelming at first. Four long hands touching almost every inch of her but then it felt comfortable, right even.

  Slender fingers gripped Sonny's thick hair while the other hand wrapped around the back of Rico's head. Keeping him close for when the others' exploration made her particularly needy. 

  "Gonna take these off Darling." Tugging his own towel out of where it bunched between their hips Sonny paused. Waiting for permission despite the lack of question in his tone. Val gave a nod. "You too." Tilting her head back to indicate it was time for Rico's sweats to go as well. 

 Seeing both of them fully for the first time felt like meeting God. Inch after inch of deep umber, pulled tight over well earned muscle. Tangling with bronze skin fitted over a body equally impressive. When Rico crawled slightly over top of her to kiss Sonny, taking him by the jaw and holding him still until satisfied, she was surprised by the sound she made.

  Breaking apart they looked down at her like hungry predators. Happily looming over downed prey without a care. "Here we haven't even started putting on a show." Sonny grazed both hands up the length of her torso, squeezing her breasts. "We can put on a hell of a performance, next time." Rico teased. Toying with one stiff nipple using the pad of his thumb while Sonny pinched it. 

  "Mmm, he's right Darling." Looking at each of them on his way down, the blonde kissed from her ribs till her legs were over his shoulders. Lapping at her wet slit as soon as he could get a taste. With a gasp she threaded her fingers back in his hair.

   "His mouth is his best and worst bit." Rico spoke directly against her lips. Then laced his fingers in her hair and muffled her sounds with his. 

 Sonny circled her clit in a tight pucker, sucking while it pulsed. Her hips came up from the mattress. Ankles locking behind his head. Twisted on one elbow to get a better reach, then licked from Rico's stomach up to his neck, biting roughly. 

   He groaned and shifted to face her on his knees. Cupping a hand around her neck to push a long tongue past her lips with a groan. She broke the kiss to make a desperate plea. "Let me taste you." Both men grunted approval. 

 Laying out next to them, Rico guided her face to his member. Using both hands she lifted it, impressed by the length but also the girth. "You two certainly have a lot to write home about between the two of you huh?" She stroked him from base to tip. Sounding like an eager explorer thinking of how Sonny was only slightly smaller.

 "All for you baby doll." Rico was pushing the hair from her face to enjoy watching her learn him. Just as she opened wide to slide his light purple tip down her tongue Sonny ran a hand under her bottom. Tilting her hips up and pushing his tongue past her entry.

  Her moan sent Rico's hips jumping. Cock charging down her throat. She gagged on it, but only moved up and then bobbed back down for more hungrily. Each sound either of them made added to the flood growing between her legs.

  Rico observed from his spot among the pillows with enraptured focus. Val looked almost petite, nearly swallowed by their forms. Paler than even Sonny, she was like cream flowing over them.  

  The image of her greedy jaw trying to open further even to fight down his erection, as Sonny kept her lower half exactly where he wanted it so he could devour her nectar made his chest swell with pride. 

 Sonny traces the tip of his tongue around her rose bud. Lower jaw hanging open so the watching Rico could see his pink muscle working her. Trailing his own gaze up the length of Valerie to see her cheeks hollow while she sucked his lover like steak on a bone.

  Their eyes met and his cock twitched against the bed. Hips pumping over the white sheets trying to find much needed sensation. Focusing back on her juices he switched his tongue for his thumb. Keeping the tight circles going while digging his tongue as deep in her core as he could. Savoring the way she coated it. 

  Val was trying to concentrate on making Rico feel good. At least as good as she felt. But Sonny's careful attention had her choking on moans that wanted to cry out around the leaking cock in her care. 

  Bracing one arm on the bed next to Rico's hips she had to pull away. Forehead rested on warm skin to try and breath through her coming climax. "Oh fuck Sonny…" he growled between her legs, pressing with just enough extra force on her nub that she fell into shaking cries.

  "Look at you go." Rico held her hand, panting along with her deep inhales. She rolled so she was facing up at him, on her back with her head on his hip. Smiling as if she'd won a million dollars. Sonny slowly kissed his way back up. 

  Stopped by the other man before he got to her lips. "Lemme get a taste?" Without missing a beat Sonny kept crawling. Leaving her pinned and happy as a clam, watching them share the taste of her. Their joint moan almost sent her over the brink again. 

 Walking her fingers down his public trail she gripped his member by the shaft. Pumping it lazily, leaned up as much as she could to lick the cum beading the lip. Not expecting the sensation Sonny hissed, breaking apart his kiss to look at her with needy curiosity. 

 "Oh baby," Rico kissed Sonny's neck as he whispered "you go ahead and let her show you what she can do." Winking to her Rico led him to his back. "You're in for a treat." 

 Val shifted herself to her knees. First leaning over to kiss Rico, then moving from one man to the next she was almost pulled flat on top of him when Sonny over enthusiastically yanked her close to get a kiss of his own. 

  Once they ran out of oxygen, she made her way down his neck, leaving a mark on his neck to match the one he left her. Sucking a deep inhale when she felt Rico behind her grazing fingers up her slit. "Go ahead then Doll, give my boy just as good as I got."

  Sonny smirked. One arm in his favored spot below his head, the other hand holding one of hers against his thigh. Val locked eyes with him and lowered her mouth over his pink tip. Then sucked it with more force than she used on Rico, picking up on the difference in their natural affection. 

  In perfect response he lifted his hips from the bed to meet her. "Goddamn darling…" She moved lower, almost able to fit him all the way in her mouth before she gagged. "Fuck… what a good girl you're gonna be." Sonny sounded hypnotized.

   And for a moment, all him and his life mate did was watch her take him to the edge of sanity.  He could tell by the slightly glazed over expression in Rico's eyes the fingers waiting over her clit had gone still. 

  "Forgot about making her feel good already" the lion haired man lifted a foot to kick Rico's knee. Rico only rolled his eyes. "No, just watching my new favorite person please my old favorite." Leaning forward he kissed between her shoulder blades. Then started to swirl two fingers over her clit. "I feel your heartbeat."

  He pushed two thick fingers inside without warning. She gasped and had to stop herself from pulling the cock out of her mouth to gain her air back. But her rhythm hit quickly. Taking him down to nearly the hilt, coming back up with her hand to follow stretching her drool over his member. 

 Behind her Rico was setting his own stride. Pumping two fingers in her core while his thumb circled her nub. Her body rocked back to meet each thrust, making wet slippery sounds fill the room.

 As her second climax started to build her two companions made eye contact once more. A silent but clear conversation started between them. "Get these fingers all wet Val, then me and Sonny got a real interesting request." Inner walls clenched, anticipating which of the many things they'd discussed wanting to do with her was winning out round one.

  "Mmmm, she sounds like she likes that idea babe." Sonny used the tip of a finger to move her hair from her eye so he could make sure she looked as thrilled to be here as he felt. She grinned with with cock still in her mouth and he almost coated her throat right then. "Fucking hell."

  But the pleasure between her legs was catching up with her faster than she could ignore it. And before she knew it her folds were trying to suck Rico's fingers in. Thighs shaking with delight as she coughed out spit and precum while pulling off Sonny's erection. 

  "We are gonna make some messes out of you Valerie Sebert." Rico moved around where she could see them both. "Well, what's the interesting request?" She looked back and forth between them where they sat against the headboard. A kid in a candy shop of meat and muscles. 

  "I would like to fuck you." Sonny's direct response made her sure there was more, "Then?" Rico shook his head, lazily stroking the beast between his legs while they spoke, "Well, that's the part where it may… give you pause."

 Val threw her arms up. "We're kinda past tiptoeing around it aren't we?"  "I want to fuck him." Rico's eyes narrowed. "Like… while I watch?" It felt slightly embarrassing how her voice went up and excitement. Sonny laced his fingers with hers, "While you're under me. He's had the fantasy for years." 

  She couldn't make sense of what they were saying. " You want me to lay underneath Sonny while you fuck him? I mean… It's not a problem." "No." Rico took her other hand. "I want to be inside him while he's inside you."

 She must have looked as flabbergasted as she felt because they both immediately started sitting up. "It was a stupid," "I shouldn't have," "Wait!" Palm flat against their sternum she pushed them both back against the headboard.

 "I've just never even considered that was a thing. Which says more about me than it does either of you." Sonny put a hand up. " You haven't been watching seven years worth of cheap pay per view Bisexual male porn either Val. You're not a prude because any of this seems a lot to you."

 "Yes." The mood was quickly leaving, and she was terrified they'd never ask again if things kept going the direction they were going. "I don't care how we do it. Or… who does what to who. I just want one of you… inside me."

  Without any more words they surged forward. Spending a time simply handing her from one to the next. Kissing and looking over every inch of skin between her breasts and her mouth. 

  She laid back against the pillows and spread her legs wide for both of their hands to take time circling her clit or pumping past her entry.  "Please." She whispered the word to open air as they each sucked a mark. 

  "Okay Darling." Rico moved away and for the moment was lost to her grasp. Sonny moving over the top of her. "Here." He took two of the pillows on the bed and tucked them under her hips to lift them and make himself more accessible. 

  Cupping either side of his face she pulled him in close. The bed dipped behind them and she felt one of Rico's hands rubbing up her thigh. Then it moved off her and she knew where it was heading. Sonny's fingers moved back down her body. After the sound of a cap popping and some quiet, he hissed into their kiss.

  She could hear a new wet sound like his circling her clit. And knew by the way he thrust forward minutely that Rico was prepping him. Trying to imagine what it looked like in her mind, she felt her folds twitch. 

 Kissing down Sonny's cheek to his neck to try and see some of what she was missing. Rico was on his knees behind Sonny, one hand holding an asscheek out of the way. The other moved slowly in time with the way Sonny's fingers were thrusting in her.

  She bit down on the shoulder in front of her mouth. Listening to the small whimpers already spilling from the man on top of her, and watching him be opened. "Ready?" It was like something from within depths spoke through the beautiful hickory man at the end of the bed. His voice was so low she imagined it would tickle against her skin.

  Sonny nodded with his face hidden in her neck. "God yes." He sat back just enough to check her eyes one more time. "You still," she followed the question in a kiss, laying her legs open wider to allow him to line his dripping cock up to her entry. 

  "What does she feel like?" Rico had his head tilted to see as much as he could of Sonny sliding between her folds.

   The stretch of him was so exquisite that her back immediately arched. Sinking him to the base, her body already having waited too long. 

  "Yes, fuck." There was a sharp sting as she relaxed to accommodate his size. Once he was still Rico moved closer, clearly lining himself up. Valerie herself held her breath as if it was her who was going to be entered again. Sonny made a sound against her cheek like he was being released after endless pain.

  Wrapping his arms under hers and spreading his thighs further apart, naturally pushing himself even deeper in her core where he was yet to pull back from. Rico put a hand on the bed next to both of their sides, and then shifted forward and up with his hips. 

  Sonny whined then pushed back pulling himself from her a few inches when he did so, and they all moaned. The man at the back grunted, and then began to piston his hips. "Ima get you open, then" Sonny cut him off, "Then I'm gonna take us all to heaven."

  His mouth crashed back over Vals. Her own body starting to figure out where it fit in their equation.  Hips lifting from the bed to meet Sonny's cock. A hand grabbed hers where it held his waist, and she looked around his shoulder to find Rico's  fingers laced with hers. Squeezing their shared grip tighter. 

   After things started to move easily Sonny looked behind him with confident excitement. "Stay right the fuck there." Rico cocked a brow but nodded, then Sonny looked back to her, "here we go baby." He pulled himself back, taking the cock inside him to the base while leaving her only the tip. "Oh Jesus."

  For a second, she thought he may have changed his mind when he moved. But he surged forward seemingly only needing to work out the angle, and set a deep steady pace. Pounding into her then back. Her nails dug in his shoulder blade, and the fingers gripping Rico's hand only got tighter.

  "Holy shit." She knew most of the pleasure came from the knowledge of the act itself. And how badly they'd all wanted the dam to break. But she already couldn't wait to try the million other things she'd never thought of doing with two cocks and three holes. "Holy shit is right, doll."

   She couldn't know it, but from where he was positioned leaning his shoulders back just a bit so he could tilt his head and see between Sonny's leg, Rico was watching the tight asshole around his cock slide down and savoring how it matched the length of cock disappearing into a perfect pink pussy.

  Sonny didn't have words. He only had sensation and amazement. Every inch of his skin felt like it was on fire and drenched in water at the same time. Loving every deep stroke back to take Rico's thick length, only to find tight walls waiting where usually he had a pillow or air. Val felt like velvet heaven.

  All three of them descended into a mess of sweat-slicked ecstasy. Hardly able to do more than hold on for the ride until Val started to feel her core tensing one more. "Oh… oh fuck…." Sonny struggled to pull back, held tight by her clenching walls.

  But Rico also seemed aware the end was coming. In powerful thrusts he slammed his hips into Sonny. Bouncing the meat of his ass of his pelvic bone. The force pushed him deeper and harder into the waiting Valerie  below. 

  With pride, he took in the sounds of each of them falling apart, and unable to string together a sentence of appreciation or warning. "Fill her up just like you handsome." Thrusting three more times he spilled a load of seed deep in Sonny.

  The hot liquid pulsing against his inner pleasure spot sent Sonny barreling to the end. Trembling lips still moving over Valeries as she rode out the end of an orgasm that had been beautiful to witness. Emptying himself against her cervix. 

  In a weak heap, they caught their breath. Sonny tried to brace himself over Valerie, so the two men's heavier bodies didn't crush her. Rico rolled off first, reaching under his man to tug Valerie closer. "Next time, I'm gonna know just what you feel like."

  Almost unable to open her eyes she hummed happily and smiled against his chest. "Sounds like a perfect way to spend the morning as far as I'm concerned." Sonny laughed as he spooned her from behind. "And here we were worried the two of us would be too much for you." 

____

  Reaching down to pull the blankets up over their cooling bodies she only lifted one shoulder playfully. "There's still time to try."

Hello I hope you enjoyed my passion project. I actually went and played Happy Xmas (war is over) when I finished the smut last night.