A Shot of Love Potion [Love on the Rocks 5] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  She took it and he pulled her into his arms.

  “Feel okay?” he asked with his hand over her bare ass.

  “Wonderful,” she said and he winked.

  “We’ll start the bath,” Rylan told her and leaned over to kiss her, too. Then he stepped away and Remo looked at Slade.

  “We’ll shower and then start breakfast for Rose.”

  “I’ll help her find something to wear,” Slade told her and then pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. Remo smiled as he watched Slade run his hands along her thighs and ass as he kissed her. He knew the others were trying to keep their distance and were unsure how to handle the intensity of their feelings, but last night with Rose was like nothing they ever had or felt before. It seemed to affect each of them in different ways. Rome, Mercury, and Falco didn’t do relationships, and they sure weren’t emotional sappy types. Not that Remo, Rylan, and Slade were, but Remo and Rylan knew they weren’t leaving Rose alone in bed last night and certainly weren’t going to let her wake up alone. She trusted them last night and that trust would grow by respecting her and being open about their feelings.

  Remo just hoped his brothers’ intense personalities, their need to be so tough and controlling, didn’t distance them from Rose. That could ruin this potential gift before they even fully unwrapped it.

  * * * *

  Rose picked up the towel and wrapped it around herself. She had feared that Slade may have wanted to shower with her, and she knew it was silly, but she felt like she did a lot with him and his brothers last night and needed some recovery time. Showering with someone was personal. Not that having sex, anal sex, hell, ménage sex, wasn’t personal, it totally was and she felt different. She felt so alive, happy, and then the negative thoughts began.

  Why weren’t Mercury, Slade, and Falco in the bed or even the room when she woke up? She knew why Rome wasn’t. The man was recovering from gunshot wounds. Jesus, what the hell happened? What was he involved in? Were the police involved or was this something illegal? She ran her hand over her belly that rumbled loudly. Last night she hardly ate anything at all, she was so nervous around the men. She had been emotional too, selling her paintings for so much money and also getting paid ten thousand for modeling that diamond. She had a lot to do. She needed to deposit that check to ensure it was real.

  She had bills to pay, and paintings to go through, and she needed to decide what to show at a gallery event. Was that really happening? She dried her hair and thought about the money she now had. A cushion, a start to hopefully more money to be made. The James men made her nervous though. She wasn’t very business savvy and didn’t know about negotiating contracts or deals for something like this. Could she possibly ask one of the James brothers to guide her through this, or was that too personal, being too needy?

  She heard the knock on the door.

  “Yes.”

  “I have your clothes,” Rylan said and she opened the door and there he stood. Six-foot-three, thick black hair, a sexy scruff along his chin, and those sexy killer eyes that ate her up. His smile even reached them.

  She reached for the clothes. “Thank you.”

  “We washed them and dried them, but the skirt may be a little damp.”

  She looked at them.

  “Um, no panties,” she said.

  “Honey, when I came into the room last night you were completely naked. I’m thinking you lost them on the car ride over maybe,” he teased and reached up, cupped her neck and head, and pulled her closer before kissing her.

  When he released her lips she felt like putty in his arms as he chuckled and then gave her ass a tap.

  “Get dressed and we’ll head downstairs for something to eat.”

  He walked out of the bathroom and she got dressed quickly and then walked out barefoot.

  “My shoes?” she asked him and he looked around for them and then bent down and found them in the corner. She sat on the bed and slowly put the strappy heels onto her feet.

  “You feel good? Not tired or anything?” he asked.

  She smiled and it touched her that he was concerned.

  “I feel fine. Thank you.” She stood up and he took her hand and guided her out of the bedroom. The sun shined through the many windows in the place and as they came to the staircase she was in awe of the view she missed last night of the beach. She stopped and stared out the large floor-to-ceiling window.

  “Oh my God, that is incredible,” she whispered and took in the sight of the long, wide beach, the ocean coming up the shore, and what appeared to be a smaller house to the right. Like a cottage.

  “What’s that?” she asked as Rylan wrapped his arm around her waist and placed his chin on her shoulder.

  “That’s a cottage that was the original house on the property. We restored it and kept it as a guest house.”

  “It must have incredible views, sitting so close to the water.”

  “Oh, it does. I’ll show you later if you want to see it.”

  “Really? I mean you don’t have to. If you guys have work to do, I can get a cab and head back to my place.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her and then quickly changed his expression to a smile.

  “Come on, let’s eat.”

  She wasn’t sure what just happened and why he looked angry and then recovered. She was already starting to feel a little awkward, especially at the fact that none of the other men were even around or wanting to see her. Had she made a mistake last night sleeping with six men she wasn’t even dating? God.

  She felt her cheeks go flush and as she entered the living room and then the open kitchen she was in awe once again. Marble counter tops, crisp white cabinets, another view of the ocean. The décor was exquisite. “Incredible,” she whispered and then caught sight of Remo by the stove cooking eggs and bacon and Rome in a cushioned chair with his eyes closed and his lips tight like he was in pain.

  “Almost ready?” Rylan asked Remo.

  Rome’s eyes popped open and he looked at her, but he didn’t smile. She looked away, feeling like she did something wrong.

  “You sit here. Do you like coffee, juice, tea?” Rylan asked.

  “Whatever you have is fine. Thank you,” she said and then Remo came over with a platter of enough eggs and bacon to feed an army.

  “Are the others joining us?” she asked.

  Remo looked at Rylan.

  “They’re working,” Rome barked from the corner. She felt her heart ache. She made a mistake. They asked her to trust them. Told her how much they wanted her and now that they had her she was pushed to the side like nothing.

  “What’s wrong? I thought you were hungry,” Rylan asked as he placed a plate with eggs and bacon in front of her.

  She stared at him and Remo, who looked concerned.

  “I can go. I can call a cab and be out of here. Wait for them down by the front gate,” she said.

  “What? Why the hell would you do that?” Rome barked from behind her. She actually jumped in her seat and then Rylan shook his head and smiled.

  “Don’t be silly. I’ll drive you home later. Let’s eat and then Remo and I can show you around the property and that cottage. You’ll love it,” Rylan said.

  She didn’t want to be rude so she nodded and then ate some eggs and bacon. She heard Rome mumble something. She turned to look at him.

  “Rome, did you eat? Are you hungry?” she asked.

  “I’m fine,” he barked.

  “He’ll eat after. He isn’t comfortable at the table and he stopped taking even over the counter pain meds,” Remo told her.

  She looked at Rome.

  “Shouldn’t you be on painkillers for a while so that you don’t have any pain and can move around better?” she asked.

  “That would make sense, but tough guy over there is as stubborn as a mule so he’d rather eat food cold and by himself so we don’t see him struggling,” Remo said to her.

  “Shut up, Remo.”

  “Did you eat breakfast ye
t?” she asked Rome. He shook his head.

  She reached over and made another plate of eggs and bacon and grabbed a fork and walked over to him.

  She made a forkful and then brought it to his lips. He stared at her. “What are you doing?”

  “Feeding you.”

  “What the fuck for?”

  “Because you won’t feed yourself, and you’re a big man. You need food for nutrition and energy to be strong. You don’t eat, you’ll feel weak. Take it from me, I know,” she said and then raised one of her eyebrows up at him when he didn’t open his mouth.

  “I don’t need anyone taking care of me. I’m already a lot better than two weeks ago.”

  “That’s good,” she said and moved the fork full of food closer. He took a bite. She forked another portion of eggs and brought it to his lips.

  “What did the doctor say about healing time?” she asked.

  “I’m healing quickly. I’ll be better in another week or two.”

  “That’s great,” she said and he reached out and stroked her thigh.

  “Sit,” he stated firmly and she couldn’t believe how aroused his tone, his personality made her. She should feel frightened, or at minimum concerned being in this amazing house with six extraordinary men of power, wealth, and mystery. Most importantly she should be concerned that Rome was recovering from gunshot wounds. Who shot him? What was he doing? Where was he when he got shot? He tapped her upper thigh and ass and she slowly sat down on his lap. His palm slid along her back and ass and then her thigh, pulling her closer.

  She brought a piece of bacon to his mouth and he ate it next as he caressed her thigh. She crossed her legs and he slid his other hand between her thighs, scrunching his eyes at the move because it was the arm with the bandage on it. His fingers pressed further, but not too far up. He stroked her just enough to turn her on and make her want to know everything about this gorgeous, hard man in front of her. Her pussy throbbed and if he pushed further he would find out she was bare underneath. Her heart raced. He was so attractive and manly, from his striking blue eyes, cold as ice, yet when he looked at her and stroked her skin she felt hot as hell.

  “Don’t overthink why the others aren’t here right now,” he whispered and glanced at Remo and Rylan, looking like he was embarrassed or maybe uncertain to tell her this.

  She held another fork full of eggs for him to bite off the fork. “We don’t bring women here. Ever,” he stated and he opened his mouth and took another forkful of eggs to his lips. His fingers stroked her skin.

  She wanted to ask why, but wondered if she should. She learned from the way they made love to her last night, and from the small conversations that these men were dominant and insisted on being in control. She had been taking care of herself, answering to herself and no one else for years now. Would she be able to give them the control they would surely insist upon? She had seen Gianna’s, Pina’s, and Venetia’s men in action with them. Her friends were all quick to respect and accept their men’s dominance and control. Rose felt like resisting to test the water, but she also wanted to know why they never brought women to their home. Maybe they had some hotel room they used instead, but last night’s circumstances and the power of their desires made them screw up and bring her here in desperation and a need to have sex with her. Maybe it was another reason why the others still hadn’t come around to see her. It was insulting and hurtful and she reacted.

  “Why not?” she asked and Rome’s fingers stopped stroking her a moment. She looked at his wide shoulders, the big muscles, the hard, yet gentle fingers that aroused all her senses and she knew she really didn’t care to know. She just wanted to be reassured that last night wasn’t some one night stand, a temporary case of sexual insanity that she would either regret on her list of stupid fucking things she did in her life or on the list of life-altering moments that would stand out amongst all other events in her life. Considering how many times they made her orgasm and scream out their names for more, she was leaning toward it being the most amazing experience of her life.

  “It’s our home, our sanctuary from all the danger, the business, and bullshit,” Rome said in a serious tone.

  “Then why did they bring me here?” she asked.

  “I think they’re asking themselves that question and coming up with the same answers and they aren’t ready to face it,” Rylan said, joining them.

  “What do you mean? Like they’re regretting it? Like it was a one-time thing to get me out of their system or something?” she asked and her voice cracked with emotion. Rylan narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head. Rome squeezed her inner thigh and gently caressed the skin.

  “That you’re special. That last night was incredible and each of us has a different way of showing emotions, reactions to things, events, and people in our lives. So don’t go overthinking shit. We’re not a bunch of sappy men that are going to spill our guts out to you. We don’t ever have women here and we have rules that you’re going to have to learn to accept. One being to not ask so many questions,” Rome said in that tone of his that she thought was bossy and snappy but it seemed to be his personality. The man was bad ass and then some. Why she thought he must be pretty damn capable and well trained to have avoided getting killed, she didn’t know, but it made her like him even more.

  “Well, they don’t have to worry about me being clingy or thinking that I want things from you,” she said and continued to feed Rome.

  “Want things from us? You mean use us for our money?” Remo asked her.

  “Well yeah, I’m sure women have tried that with you guys thousands of times and you’re sick of that. I don’t want anything from you. Well, not anything material. I just hope you’ll be respectful after what we shared last night.”

  “Respectful?” Rome asked and she gave him the last piece of bacon and stood up. She walked the dish to the sink.

  “You know, not talk about me behind my back or tell people you slept with me.”

  “Whoa. Slow down and stop washing the dishes,” Remo told her and grabbed her hands, dried them off then brought her back over to Rome’s chair. “Sit,” he said and she did. Rome placed his hand on her thigh again.

  “Last night was incredible, amazing, and the best fucking night I’ve ever had. Rome told you not to read into the others not being here. Give them time to process what they’re feeling, okay? We run a multitude of businesses as well and it takes up a lot of our time,” Remo said to her.

  “I have a bunch of things to do, too. I need to deposit the check from last night. I have a bunch of overdue bills to pay, and even food shopping to do. This money I made last night was a life saver. So maybe it’s best if I leave now and give your brothers time to process their emotions.”

  “You’re not leaving. Tell me how last night was a life saver,” Rome said to her and continued to caress her thigh.

  She took a deep breath and released it.

  “Things haven’t been great for me, but now I have some money and can take care of myself better.”

  Rylan reached over and grasped her chin. “You weren’t taking care of yourself?”

  “I was struggling but now I’m not. Everyone has tough times.”

  “We could help you with whatever you need,” Rylan said to her.

  “No. No, definitely not and I don’t need anything.” She stood up and turned away from them.

  “How bad were things for you, Rose?” Rome asked.

  “I’m not discussing this with you guys. I can take care of myself, and have been for quite some time.”

  “You weren’t doing a very good job of that at all,” Mercury said, joining the conversation with Falco and Slade. All three men looked serious and also gorgeous at the same time. She had it so bad for these men. It was terrible to have her emotions all twisted up. Did they want her here or not? She felt nervous, unsure, and even needy to be with them and absorb their masculinity and the safety she felt having them around. Even though they seemed distant, it was like her gut
told her to trust them but her emotions and feelings of insult were making her resist her gut instincts. She wished they would resolve this and reassure her. Maybe they weren’t good with women and relationships after all.

  “What do you mean, Merk?” Rome asked.

  “She is thirty thousand in debt, plus behind in her rent. Landlord said you owe three months,” Mercury told her.

  “Wait, how do you know that?” she asked and then she felt her face heat up and then anger filtered through her body. “You investigated me?”

  “Protocol,” Slade said, arms crossed.

  She was shocked.

  “You made a few comments that had me concerned and the others, too. Mercury looked into your background for a few reasons,” Rylan said to her.

  “What reasons besides lack of trust?” she asked and crossed her arms in front of her chest. It was difficult to act tough and unintimidated when six large men surrounded her and she wasn’t wearing any panties. She swallowed hard.

  “That’s a good enough reason in itself,” Mercury said firmly, with his eyes narrowed and a look of superiority. Even dressed casually in a button-down blue polo shirt and black pants, the man looked like a shrewd businessman. A man capable of anything. She knew he was older, seasoned in many ways, but she felt insulted.

  “Seriously? Meanwhile last night you ask me to trust you, to accept the strong feelings we had and then you do this? You go behind my back and start thinking the worst and what I may be after from you and you get a hold of my financials, my personal life? God damn it, Mercury, you’re just some rich asshole who needs control over everyone and everything.”

  She started to storm off when Mercury raised his voice.

  “Stop right there,” he said and Slade and Falco blocked her from leaving. She took a step back and stared at Mercury with daggers in her eyes. He was so distrusting. They all were. My God, how embarrassing. They know how much money I owe and that I’m behind on rent. None of it matters because I have the money now.

  “I don’t need to tell you anything to make you understand that accepting our control, our rules are necessary, and we will take the time to make you understand. We have concerns that were recently brought to our attention, which is why we are just joining you now. The men you were keeping company with last night are trouble. Specifically Molokai Volupus and Weiller Onsanna. We were just talking to Graham and then a few of our associates. Molokai has connections to the men responsible for shooting Roman,” Mercury told her and then looked at Roman.