Double Bossed

by K. L. Ramsey

  “Is this an all or nothing thing?” she whispered. “If Jarrod doesn’t want me, will you still Justin?” she asked. She hated the way she almost sounded as if she was pleading with Justin to want her but she didn’t care. His kiss had her body revved up and it had been a damn long time since any man touched her, let alone kiss her the way Justin just had.

  “Jarrod wants you, baby. He’s just over thinking this whole thing.” Justin shot his brother a look and Airi could tell they were doing the silent communication thing they always did. She usually felt a little lost when they talked that way.

  “Is he correct, Jarrod?” she asked. She faced him refusing to hide. Jarrod looked her up and down as if trying to decide if she was worthy and a part of her wanted to cover her body with her arms but she didn’t. Airi firmly planted her feet and left her arms at her side, letting his eyes roam her body. The way he looked at her felt as though he was physically touching her and she couldn’t help the small moan that escaped her lips.

  “What if he is, Airiana?” Jarrod asked. God, she loved the way he used her full name. No one called her by it but him. Every time Jarrod said her name, her panties felt a little more damp from her arousal. Airi leaned into his body, wanting him to touch her the way Justin had but Jarrod had made no such move.

  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jarrod leaned into her body, stopping just a breath away from her lips. Justin was pushed up behind her, anchoring her between the two of them. Airi could feel her own breath hitch with need and desire. Hell, it felt as though she was panting.

  “What are you waiting for?” she whispered, her lips almost touching Jarrod’s.

  “I’m waiting for you to come to your senses and stop me, Airiana. I’m waiting for you to tell me no.” His growl told Airi everything she needed to know—Jarrod was just as much on edge as she was. He wanted her as much as she wanted them both. After weeks of denying himself from taking what she so willingly wanted to give to them, Jarrod was finally ready to accept everything from her.

  “That’s not going to happen,” she breathed. “I will never tell you no, Jarrod, either of you,” she said, reaching around her body to touch Justin. He moaned into her hair and thrusts against her ass, letting her feel every inch of his erection press against her through their clothing. Airi suddenly felt hot, as if they were all wearing too many clothes. She needed to remember getting naked with her bosses wasn’t something she should be doing. There were already rumors flying around the break room at work about the three of them. People weren’t blind, they could see the way she looked at both Justin and Jarrod. It was bound to be noticed at some point but she wasn’t ready to announce to the world she wanted a three way with her twin bosses.

  “You should, Airiana,” Jarrod said. Airi was having trouble following their conversation. Her brain was muddled with lust and all she could think about was Jarrod kissing his way into her mouth and claiming every inch of her needy body.

  “I should what?” she whispered. Airi gently kissed the soft skin of his neck, daring to push him, wanting more from him.

  He groaned every time her lips made contact with his skin and she took it as her sign he liked what she was doing. “You really should have told me no, Airiana,” he growled. Jarrod wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her against his body. His kiss was rougher than Justin’s. Jarrod seemed to want to consume her, almost as if he wanted to mark her as his. He nipped and licked his way into her mouth and she moaned at the sensations that were humming through her body as they both touched her. Their hands were everywhere and she wasn’t sure where she ended or they began and she didn’t care. Jarrod and Justin were giving her everything she had asked for and hopefully, they were going to give her everything she ever wanted.

  “Fuck, you taste good, honey,” Jarrod said, breaking their kiss. He looked over her shoulder at Justin, who was kissing and biting his way down Airi’s neck. She knew she would wear his marks but she just didn’t care.

  “I wonder if she tastes that good everywhere,” Justin moaned, biting down on her shoulder. She yelped from the bite of pain and when he ran his warm tongue over the spot, Airi was sure she would melt into a puddle.

  “You like that, don’t you, Airiana?” Jarrod asked. Airi nodded, not trusting her own voice. “We need to hear you, honey,” Jarrod ordered. “Justin and I won’t do anything with you or to you unless you give us the words.” They removed their hands from her body and took a step back, effectively ending all the pleasure they were giving her. Airi groaned in frustration, instantly missing their mouths and hands on her body.

  Justin chuckled and she spun around to face him. “This isn’t funny, Justin,” she grumbled, pointing her finger into his chest. “I’m not playing games here. If you are, then we need to stop this right here and now. It’s been a damn long time since I’ve been with a man, let alone two. Well, that technically has never happened but you know what I mean.” Airi knew she was rambling and judging from the sexy smirk Justin wore, he didn’t seem to mind.

  “I think we get it, baby,” Justin said. “You don’t want games and neither do we,” he promised. “We just need to hear you say the words if you want us to proceed.” Airi hated when Justin and Jarrod teamed up. It would always be two against one and she wasn’t sure the odds would ever be in her favor.

  Airi suddenly felt less sure of herself. She wanted them both but if things went south, and they usually did, she would be left jobless and how would she take care of her son. Everything she did in life centered around Milo and making good decisions for him. When she got out of the foster care system, she made some questionable decisions and Cole Summers was her worst. Airi ended up pregnant and had no one to turn to, so she stayed with Milo’s father and let him hurt her. Every time she landed in the hospital with a new bruise and even some broken bones, the nurses would beg her to leave Cole—but she didn’t. She was afraid of having to take care of her baby on her own. Leaving him, with her sister’s help and support, was the best decision she ever made. Airi knew she couldn’t go back to making questionable decisions just because her body hummed to life every time her two sexy as sin bosses entered the room. She knew better than that now.

  “I’m afraid if I say yes you’ll stop wanting me,” she whispered.

  “That’s not possible,” Justin admitted. She shot him a look of disbelief and slipped from between the two of them, instantly missing being shielded by their bodies. Before she jumped into bed with them she was going to need to make sure they both knew the score. She wasn’t out for just a good time like the women who they picked up at the club. Airi needed stability in her life, someone—or in this case, two someones—who wanted to stick around and be a part of her life as well as Milo’s. She wasn’t looking for promises or sweeping declarations but she needed some reassurances they weren’t going to dump her after they were finished using her.

  Airi sunk down into one of the plush leather seats and didn’t miss the looks of disappointment on either of her boss’s faces. “I’m sorry guys but I can’t just jump into bed with you. I have my son to think about and making hasty decisions hasn’t worked out for me in the past. Milo’s father was—difficult to say the least.” She hated that just a few minutes ago, she was wrapped up in them, kissing them and now, she was spilling her guts about her biggest mistake.

  “We know all about that asshole ex of yours, Airiana,” Jarrod growled. She shouldn’t have been surprised they had researched her past before hiring her on at Grayson Industries but a part of her was.

  “You investigated me?” she whispered. Justin crossed the small cabin to sit down on the seat next to her, pulling her onto his lap. She should have told him to leave her alone but honestly she needed the comfort he was offering. If she was going to have to verbally relive her dark past, she might as well do it wrapped up in her sexy boss’s arms. Jarrod tentatively sat next to them, seeming a little lost as to what to do or how to act around her still.

  “We did, baby,” Justi
n said. “Jarrod and I won’t let just anyone into our personal lives and being our assistant, you would be privy to our daily lives and information most people don’t get to see. After HR did their thing, I hired someone to dig around a little and well, look into your past.” She wanted to be angry but she honestly couldn’t blame them for wanting to be cautious.

  “For someone so young, you have been through so much,” Jarrod whispered. He pulled her hand into his own, resting it on his chest. Airi could feel Jarrod’s heart beating through his dress shirt. “We won’t push you Ariana but we won’t hurt you either. You have to know that would be the very last thing we would intentionally do.” Airi nodded, trying to decide if she wanted to ask her next question. It was easier to pretend her bosses were clueless about her past but a part of her needed to know just what she was getting into.

  “How much did you learn about me?” she hesitantly asked. From the look on Justin’s face, she had her answer—they knew everything.

  Justin

  Justin banded his arms around her middle, pulling her tighter into his body. God, the way Airi was watching the two of them nearly gutted him. He wanted to tell her that her past didn’t matter to either of them but it did. After he and Jarrod got their report back from the private investigator they hired, they were dumbfounded that the same confident, capable woman who interviewed with them could go through so much shit and come out seemingly unscathed. Airiana Scott was the strongest woman he had ever met and he wasn’t about to let her think her past left her wanting in some way.

  “We were given a full report about your life, Airi. We learned about your parents’ deaths and you and Ivy being put into the foster care system. I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” Justin whispered.

  Jarrod seemed just as upset about Airi’s story as he felt. His brother pulled her hand to his mouth and gently kissed her knuckles. Justin loved the way Jarrod seemed to want to comfort Airi because he honestly felt the same way.

  “Our mother left us when we were just six,” Jarrod offered. He shrugged as if it was no big deal but Justin remembered how much their mother’s leaving affected his brother. Jarrod didn’t speak to anyone besides him for months. Their father dragged Jarrod from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what was wrong with him but he just needed time.

  “I’m so sorry,” Airi offered. “That had to be rough, on both of you.”

  Jarrod nodded. “It was,” he whispered.

  “I don’t know how a parent could willingly walk away,” Airi said. “Milo is my life and sure, it’s hard being a single mother but I wouldn’t give up a single second with him.” Jarrod smiled at Airi’s mention of Milo. Justin knew his brother had been sneaking up to the daycare center to check in on the little guy. He was a cute kid and easy to fall for, much like his mother.

  “We at least had our father,” Justin continued. “You had no one.”

  “Well, for a while I had my sister. We were lucky to get into a few good homes and they were able to keep us both together. But then, Ivy aged out of the system and I was left alone. They moved me a few times and Ivy lost track of me. That’s when things got bad,” she croaked.

  Airi paused and Justin thought she was going to end her story there. He wouldn’t push her, neither of them would. Telling her story was something they would let her do on her own, even if they knew how it ended—they wouldn’t push.

  “I was placed with an awful family and let’s just say their teenage son liked me a little too much,” she whispered. Airi swiped at her hot tears and the sight of her crying was too much. Jarrod seemed to feel the same way, pulling her onto his lap from Justin’s and wrapping her in his arms. Justin hugged her from behind, cocooning her with their bodies.

  “I’m so sorry, baby,” Jarrod crooned. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want.” Airi shook her head and wiped her eyes.

  “No,” she insisted. “I don’t talk about this to anyone—well, except Ivy and I’m careful about what I tell her. She feels so guilty about leaving me when she really had no choice.” Justin watched as Jarrod held Airi, knowing whatever happened between the three of them after Airi had spilled the truth about her past, Jarrod wasn’t going to just let her go.

  “His name was James but everyone called him Jimmy,” she started. “I was just sixteen and the family I was placed with had four other foster kids besides me and their son, Jimmy. I had to share a room with two other girls who were both younger than me but I didn’t mind. Honestly, I liked sharing a room with them, it was like having a sister again and I missed Ivy.” Jarrod and Justin were quiet, letting her get everything out. The thought of losing Jarrod made Justin a little crazy, he couldn’t imagine what Airi must have felt or what she went through.

  “At first, everything was great but then Jimmy started coming into my room late at night and crawling into bed with me. I thought it was one of the other girls since they would both crawl into bed with me when they were scared or had a nightmare. When I realized it was Jimmy, I threatened to tell his parents and he acted as if he didn’t care. He told me to go ahead and tell them because they would never believe me. I had no choice,” she sobbed and buried her face in her hands.

  Every protective instinct Justin had come roaring to life and he wanted to find this Jimmy and beat the shit out of him. He knew it had happened years ago but listening to Airi relive her torturous past made it feel fresh and new, as if it happened to her yesterday.

  “Of course you didn’t, honey,” Justin offered. Jarrod shot him a look, and Justin could tell his brother was feeling the same way as he was. Jarrod wanted a few minutes alone with Jimmy to work out some of the anger and frustration they were both feeling.

  “Jimmy told me if I didn’t do what he wanted he would just take it from one of the two younger girls. They were just eight and six,” she sobbed. “How could I let him do that to either of them? They were just babies. I was sixteen and well, I knew I could do what he wanted if it meant protecting the other girls.”

  “Fuck,” Jarrod swore. “You were just a baby yourself, Airiana.” Airi sat between them and allowed them both to wrap her in their arms. Justin wasn’t sure where she began or they ended. Airi letting them hold her was everything.

  “That was my first time but it didn’t stop there. He kept coming back and eventually, I ended up pregnant,” she whispered. “I had to tell an adult, so I told my foster mother thinking she would help me but I was wrong. She told me I was a liar and her son would never do those things to me.” Airi shrugged as if it was no big deal but Justin could tell it had cost her everything. “I was moved to another home and two weeks later, I lost the baby,” she cried.

  “I’m so sorry, Airiana,” Jarrod apologized. “It wasn’t your fault—none of it was.”

  “I know that now,” she said. “But, at the time I was a mess. No one believed me about Jimmy and when I lost the baby, I was actually relieved. What kind of monster feels relief when she miscarries her own child?” Airi sobbed and stood from her place between them. They both reluctantly released her but stood to flank her sides. Justin needed to be near Airi, even if she was refusing to let them touch her.

  “You weren’t a monster at all, honey,” Justin soothed. “You were a scared kid who was all alone in the world. You wouldn’t have been able to take care of that baby. Hell, they would have probably taken the baby away from you and placed him or her in the system. You can’t beat yourself up like that.” Airi laughed and Justin knew she didn’t believe a word he had said.

  “It’s funny you choose those words, Justin. That is exactly what I did but instead of punishing myself, I let my boyfriend do that for me. When I got out of the system, I had nowhere to go. Ivy never found me and I was afraid she found out what had happened to me and didn’t want me. I had run away more times than I cared to count and was labeled a problem teen.” She laughed but Jarrod and he found the whole story less funny.

  “What happened next?” Jarrod prompted. He knew his brother knew
damn good and well what happened to Airi next, they both did. Jarrod was probably wanting her to tell him herself though, knowing she wasn’t done venting.

  “Next, I hooked up with my ex—Milo’s father. His name is Cole Summers and he made me promises I was naive enough to believe. God, I thought I had finally found someone who cared about me but I was so wrong. After I got pregnant, he started hitting me. It got to the point where he was breaking bones he threw me around so much.” Justin didn’t hide the frustrated growl that escaped his chest. The thought of any man doing that to Airi made him crazy. She was so tiny that he imagined any man would cause her a great deal of damage if he laid his hands on her.

  “If this is too much,” she said, shooting Justin an apologetic look. The last thing he wanted her to do was apologize for anything that happened to her in her past.

  “No,” he said. Justin took a chance and pulled her into his body, loving the way she willingly let him. He hooked his finger under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. He needed for Airi to see he was one hundred percent on her side and the only way to do that was to look her in the eyes.

  “I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that, honey,” Justin said. Jarrod pushed up behind Airi and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

  “We both are,” he offered.

  “But not all men hurt women,” Justin soothed. “Jarrod and I would never do those things to you,” he promised. She gifted him with her smile, nearly taking his breath away.

  “I know you are both good men and would never hurt me physically. I’m just worried about what you can do to me emotionally,” she admitted. Justin loved how honest she was with them. He wanted to promise her she had nothing to worry about on that end either but he couldn’t make her that oath. The storm still raging in his brother’s eyes told him he might not be able to offer Airi what she needed from them and that worried him.