“I plead the fifth,” she said and then chuckled.
“Oh boy.”
“What are you drinking?”
“Raspberry vodka and Club soda,” Rocky told them as he made another one.
“How many?” Cavanaugh asked.
“Not enough. I’m still conscious,” she said. Her friends hooted and hollered, and she turned and they clinked glasses.
Leif pulled her toward him and held her from behind. She leaned back against his body and he ran his palm along her belly and squeezed her to him.
“I missed you,” he whispered into her ear.
“I missed you guys, too.” She turned around to face him and his brothers. “We still getting together tomorrow?” she asked, and reached up and stroked his hair.
He leaned closer, his lips close to hers. “Definitely.” He kissed her.
Another song came on and her friends were all singing, and she laughed as Amber stumbled slightly. When Francesca grabbed her they got hysterical. She turned to look at Flynn. His arms were crossed in front of his chest and he looked angry. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Have a drink, Flynn. You need to relax,” she said, and he uncrossed his arms and pulled her toward him and Cavanaugh. She was sandwiched between them. Flynn cupped her cheeks and Cavanaugh held her hips.
“I don’t like showing up at a bar seeing my woman tipsy, dancing sexy, showing off her body while other men watch. That is a big no-no, and there will be consequences,” he told her, and pressed his lips to hers. She couldn’t help but moan into his mouth and wonder what consequences there could be. Her first thought, from hearing her friends who were in ménages talking, was a spanking. Would he do that? She felt her pussy clench, and when he released her lips she held his gaze.
“Is that so?”
“Oh baby, you do not want to challenge Flynn,” Cavanaugh said and suckled against her neck. She eased back against him and felt his palm slid along her belly and then to her hip bone and squeeze.
“He wants this body to belong to us and no one else. Show him you’re sorry and glad we’re here,” Cavanaugh whispered into her ear.
She slid her palms up Flynn’s chest and then pressed closer and hugged him. He hugged her to him, ran his palm over her ass possessively, and tilted her chin up toward him. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“Oh yeah? How?”
“I’ll come up with something. When I’m sober,” she said, and he chuckled.”
* * * *
“Are you sure you’re okay getting inside?” Knight asked. They all got out of the SUV after giving her a ride home. It was early, like 11:00 p.m., but she had been out all day, and drinking, too. She slid her palms up his chest and he wrapped her up in his arms. He didn’t want to let her go. Didn’t want Jo out of his sight.
“I’m more than okay. Kind of sobered me up over an hour ago when you nearly tossed that guy who wanted to dance with Melina and me on the dance floor,” she said to him.
“He was looking to grab your asses.” She chuckled and gave his chest a light slap.
“He was not.”
“Was, too,” Flynn chimed in, and she looked at him, then Cavanaugh and Leif. She lay her head against Knight’s chest and just absorbed his cologne.
“Where are we going for our first date tomorrow night?” she asked.
“Oh, that’s a surprise,” Knight said, and stroked along her ass, up the crack and then to her back, shocking her. She gasped and lifted up, looked into his eyes, and he held hers firmly. Sliding his hand back over her ass he squinted at her. “You belong to my brothers and me. We’re more than ready to stake a public claim.”
“More than ready to take you to bed, explore every inch of this sexy body and mark you our woman,” Cavanaugh added.
She licked her lower lip and pulled back. “First date, guys, they’ll be none of that,” she said, and Knight pulled her back into his arms and kissed her. She kissed him back, and he took complete advantage of her position and cupped a breast as he grabbed her ass.
“Share, brother,” Flynn said, and Knight released her lips and gave her a wink, and then Flynn pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Knight watched as Flynn kissed Jo before Cavanaugh took his place. The sight of her body, so sexy, and perfect, that round, firm ass, her large breasts and the way the dress hugged her figure had made him feel possessive and crazy. From what he could tell during the ride over her, that bikini she wore was skimpy.
Leif kissed her last, then cupped her cheeks and stared down into her eyes.
“We can’t wait for tomorrow night. Dress sexy, something…accessible,” he said, sliding his hand along her thigh and to her ass. He squeezed her.
“Oh really? You’re assuming you’ll be accessing my body tomorrow night?” she asked, and Knight smirked as Leif wrapped his one arm around her, slid the strap of the dress lower, and licked into the cup of her bathing suit top. She was well endowed and they surrounded her. “Leif,” she whispered, and from where Knight stood, he could see his brother’s tongue dip deeply and stroke her nipple.
“Just wait,” he said, and kissed her shoulder before fixing her top. She licked her lower lip.
“Thanks for the ride.” She started to head toward her front door.
Flynn whistled. “Slick move, bro.”
Leif smiled and they all got into the SUV and headed home.
* * * *
“I don’t know what more I can do. I’m following the diet, and doing the workouts with you, Joanna. He isn’t happy,” Alexis said to her.
“You’re doing a great job. This takes time, and I can look at you and see the changes. Maybe he’s just too stressed from work. He leaves again tomorrow.”
“He wants you to stay longer. To add more time to the training session.”
“I’m not doing that. You’ll get burnt out and risk injury. You’re already pushing it as is, and you aren’t an athlete. This plan of action is brutal and you don’t need more time added.”
The door to the personal gym opened. In came Ford McCurio. He scrunched his eyes, looked at his watch, and then demanded, “Why are you not working out? I said an additional hour.”
“That isn’t going to happen, Mr. McCurio,” Joanna told him.
“What do you mean?”
“She will get burnt out and risk injury. Alexis is doing fantastic. She lost five pounds in one week, has trimmed down on her waist, and I can see definition in her arms forming. She will continue on the schedule I developed for her body type and your request,” Joanna replied. She started to put some of the resistance bands in her bag.
“You’ll stay longer. I’ll pay you double.”
“It isn’t about the money.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Look at her. She has transitioned so much in just one week. She has already met several of your requirements, and we are close to getting her on a pathway to fitness she can do on her own to improve and maintain.”
“She needs to work harder. Stay.”
“I have plans, and I have another client.” She packed up her things.
“I’m offering you double the amount of money to shape her into a better woman, and you’re declining?”
“It isn’t about the money. It’s the point I am making, Mr. McCurio. If I push her too hard, too fast, she could get an injury. Then she’ll have to stop training and lose what she’s worked so hard for. Trust me, she is on a brutal schedule as is. Now I will be back in two days. While you’re gone, she will go into the second phase of the program. Let me do my job.”
“Fine. Alexis, go shower and prepare for the evening event.” He waved his hand at her and Alexis smiled at Jo.
“See you in a couple of days. Stay focused.”
Mr. McCurio staying in the room as she gathered her things. When she went to grab her light hooded jacket to wear over her tank top, he stepped closer.
“You’re amazing. It shocks me how serious you’re taking this.”
“It’s what you’
re paying me for,” she said, and as she put her arms in the jacket he stared at her breasts, and licked his lips.
“If she looked like you, she would be perfect.”
“She’s a very beautiful young woman. You’re very lucky to have found her,” she said, and she didn’t like the way he was eying her over and how close he stood. He reached into his jacket pocket.
“Here is your pay. There’s a little extra in there. To show my appreciation.”
“That wasn’t necessary, but thank you.” She took the envelope and then began walking. He followed.
“I’ll be leaving tomorrow. When I return in two weeks, I’ll have the rest of your pay. By then, she should look almost perfect.”
“Have a safe trip,” she said, and got out of there. What an asshole.
As she drove home, she got a call from Melina. They talked about what she was going to wear and then she told her about Alexis and her boyfriend.
“He sounds like an asshole.”
“Totally,” she replied as she grabbed her things, then got out and headed inside of the house. She was talking while she grabbed a water bottle. She didn’t have much time to get ready.
“I swear when he was staring at my breasts, licking his lips and telling me if she was perfect like you are, I wanted to punch him.”
“What?” She swung around to see Morris standing there.
“Shit, Morris is here and I need to get ready for tonight. Talk to you later, Melina,” she said, and then saw her brother’s eyes widen but then he got serious.
“Who said that to you?” he asked.
“The guy I’m working for to help “fix” his girlfriend. They live on Canterberry.”
“Damn, those are million dollar homes.”
“Ten for his, at least, but what a view, and his décor? The best.”
“So is he hitting on you?”
“I don’t think so, but I don’t have much time left there. He travels a lot and in the next three weeks he’ll be back for a while and she needs to be what he ordered.”
“Rich people can be such dicks,” he said.
“What’s going on?” Vetter asked.
“She’s training this woman whose boyfriend is a dick and hit on Jo.”
“What?” Vetter asked with concern.
“Not a big deal. Listen, I need to get ready.”
“Oh yeah, date night?” Morris said, arms crossed.
“You should consider it, too. Maybe ask out Melina?” she said, and then hurried down the hall to her bedroom. She needed to get ready quickly.
“Hey, keep them busy if I’m not out. That jerk made me stay longer than I was supposed to as he talked about adding more time to the workouts and flirting with me,” she called out.
“Maybe we will, maybe we won’t,” Vetter yelled back, but she knew they would entertain the guys. They liked them, this was just awkward because she never brought any man home, and definitely not four at once. She chuckled and then got into the shower.
* * * *
After greeting Cavanaugh, Flynn, Knight, and Leif hello, they walked into the living room.
“She’s running a little late,” Morris told them.
“She get stuck with a client?” Flynn asked.
Morris looked at his brothers then back at them.
“She’s training some guy’s girlfriend who wants to change the woman, and he’s loaded. Thinks he can just order people around,” he said.
“She doesn’t really talk about her clients,” Cavanaugh said to them.
Blade stared at them. “This client’s boyfriend was admiring Jo’s body, and flirted. Gave her the creeps. She was all fired up,” Blade said.
“What? Hit on her? Did he try something?” Flynn asked, standing up. They all watched the men’s reactions.
Morris could tell that they really cared about Jo. He still didn’t like that they were part of a team investigating Porcini, their father and Topaz, but Ranger told him they were very good at what they did. Maybe they could help to end this situation.
“She didn’t get into details, but that’s Jo,” Trek added.
“We’ll talk to her. Make sure things are okay,” Leif said, and ran his fingers through his hair. Morris could see the info bothered him.
“She handles things on her own. Good luck with getting anything out of her,” Vetter said, and then they heard Jo coming from the hallway. Her heels clicking on the hardwood floors. As she appeared, and all the men stood up.
* * * *
Leif’s heart was pounding inside of his chest. This whole date thing, coming here, talking to her brothers was different and they were kind of old for feeling nervous. All that nervousness disappeared and was replaced with protectiveness, and a bit of concern over Jo as they learned why she was late. As he processed his thoughts, he could hear her coming down the hallway. He and his brothers dressed nicely, dress pants, button-down shirts, they wanted tonight to be special, and Jo was definitely special to them.
As she appeared in the open floor plan, his eyes swept over her body and he felt his heart skip a beat. That was his woman. Him and his brother’s woman. She looked incredible. Her dress was a gorgeous light blue color that hugged her body like a glove. It was strapless, to her knees, and her heels high, accentuating her calf muscles. She wore her long blonde hair down, and only a tiny necklace with a heart sat right above the beginning of the deep, full cleavage of her breasts.
“Wow, you look incredible, baby,” Flynn told her first, and stepped toward her to kiss her hello.
She smiled. “You guys look great, too. Where are we going, anyway?” she asked.
“Portifano’s on the waterfront,” Knight told her, and kissed her next. Then Cavanaugh did, and there Leif stood, thinking she was so incredibly gorgeous, and here he was, scarred up and imperfect. She stared at him, giving him the once-over.
“Hello, Leif.”
He closed the space between them, then reached out and stroked her jaw. “Hello, beautiful,” he whispered, and her face flushed and it gave him a little more confidence. He couldn’t believe how much he cared for Jo, how much he wanted this to work, and how insecure he was when it came to only her. He was a Special Forces soldier, a man who should have died many times in combat, and definitely in Fallujah by the hands of a man they were now helping to locate and capture. Nothing compared to the effect Jo had on him. Nothing. He pressed his lips to hers and then took her hand, brought it to his lips as his brothers said good-bye to her brothers.
“Have a good time,” Morris said.
“Take care of her,” Blade barked.
“Cut it out, guys. Have a good night, and don’t wait up,” she added, and winked at her brothers who looked pissed.
She hugged Leif’s arm and off they went to start their very first official date. This was crazy.
They got into the SUV and Leif and Knight were on either side of Jo in the backseat, and Flynn drove while Cavanaugh sat in the passenger seat. Knight took her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. “Had a crazy day?” he asked.
“Not really,” she replied, and Leif slid his palm over her knee. Her legs were crossed and she smelled incredible, too. She looked at him.
“What about this client hitting on you?” Leif asked her. She squinted and then exhaled.
“It was stupid and I’d rather not waste time talking about it. I sort of regret taking it on, but Mr. McCurio’s girlfriend, Alexis, is really sweet. I just wish she would realize that she doesn’t need to change for this man. It’s obvious by the way he treats her, and the way he looked at me today, that he doesn’t love her like she loves him. I hate seeing that,” she said, and looked away. Leif cupped her cheek and turned her face toward him.
“What did he do exactly?” he asked.
“I handled it, Leif, like I’ve always handled aggressive men who flirt, or try shit. You don’t need to protect me.”
“Oh…that is where you are wrong. You’re our woman. It’s our job, ou
r need to protect you so that you’re always happy, safe and well loved. Now, is this guy a potential problem and how long do you need to work for him?” he asked her.
“I take care of myself,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “Wrong answer. This is a good opportunity for us to discuss rules with you. As our woman, and us as your men, we don’t keep any secrets, and you no longer handle these types of things alone. You aren’t alone anymore,” he told her, and tears filled her eyes. He squinted.
“I…I don’t think I can do that. I mean, I’m used to handling everything on my own, and truly, Leif, this isn’t a big deal. Men hit on me constantly.”
His chest tightened.
“Fuck,” Knight said, and she turned to look at him.
“Don’t tell me that women don’t throw themselves at you guys. Your all freaking gorgeous, have incredible bodies, are older and have those capable expressions. Throw in your scars, Leif, his slight limp, Knight’s silent, brewing personality and Flynn’s commanding, in charge attitude and women probably throw themselves in your path and spread their legs screaming “take me,” she said with attitude.
Knight lifted her up onto his lap, making her gasp.
“Silent, brewing type?” he asked and dipped her.
“You know it’s true.”
“You don’t seem to realize the effect you’ve had on us, do you?” She squinted at him.
“You pop into our heads while we’re at work during the day. I can smell your scent, your shampoo, the perfume you wear and you aren’t even in my office, or have been there. You had me dancing on the fucking dance floor at Gordon’s, and baby, I don’t fucking dance. So many ways you’ve affected each of us, and we haven’t even sunk our cocks into her sweet, sexy body and claimed you officially our woman. But that changes tonight. Tonight we all throw inhibition to the wind, and we don’t think about the past, about the future, but instead the here and fucking now. I want you, Jo. Want to hold you in my arms, make love to you with my brothers, and wake up in our bed tomorrow morning with you. I don’t want to hear about your independence, your tough girl attitude and how you’ve been alone, because that all changes with us. We protect what is ours, what we care about, and we also get what we want, and we want you.” He pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her in such a possessive, sexy manner that Leif felt his cock thicken, and his heart pound with fear she might turn them down and not want to make love to them. His insecurities about his scars entered his mind. His conversation with Cavanaugh about his limp and whether she would be embarrassed walking hand and hand with him, and then knight’s admittance that he was more than willing to change, to do whatever was necessary to make her his woman, and of course Flynn’s concern over her well-being, and whether or not him and Knight were ready to slow down their jobs, keep them national instead of international in order to not make Jo worry. These were big changes, big thoughts, but they all came down to one fact. They wanted Jo as their woman, and they wanted to be her men, and never had they ever shared or wanted a woman like this before so it was real. Jo was going to be theirs and that was it.
Healing Hearts 10: The Scars That Bind Us Page 12