by Fiona Archer
Reagan’s gaze dropped to the table before she looked up at him and graced him with a smile. What a sweetie.
“Thank you, Alex,”
Kane winked at the cute brunette sitting near him. “I’d ask for another slice, Reagan, but I’d have to take Quinn on another ten mile run, and I’d hate to hand him his ass again like I did last week.”
There began a short ribbing session that had even Olivia breaking into a smile. Albeit a small one, but Alex would take what he could get.
“On the subject of pathetic male specimens”—Quinn cocked a brow in Kane’s direction—“have you heard anything from Lawson?”
The crash of glass onto a plate had all heads turning to Olivia. She grabbed her napkin and mopped up her spill. Thankfully the glass hadn’t smashed but lay empty on its side next to her partially eaten desert.
“God, I’m sorry. Just ignore me.” Olivia kept her head bent down as she gathered up her plate and the glass.
“Honey? You okay?” Kane got up to help but Olivia waved him away.
“Yes, of course,” she snapped. From embarrassment? “My fingers slipped. I’ll clean this up and bring back the coffee.”
Not tonight she wouldn’t. Their little sub needed looking after.
Alex rose, then walked around to her side. He gently eased the plate and glass out of her hands. “Red, sit down, or if you need to, go rest. But Kane and I will take over clearing up and getting coffee.” He kept his voice low and quiet, letting the authority he knew she loved calm her into following his order.
It worked. Her head dropped before she turned to look at their friends. “Guys, do you mind if I head upstairs?”
“No, not at all.” Reagan was out of the chair and at Olivia’s side so fast Kane had to dodge out of the way. Kane gazed over her head at her husbands, who met his grin with their own as the two women hugged.
“Rest, sweetie. You need quiet and darkness to kick this headache.” She turned to Alex, and gently removed the plate and glass from his hand. “We’ll clear the table. You guys go settle Olivia.”
Another nurturer.
Alex dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Thanks, Reagan.”
Before Olivia could say otherwise, Alex and Kane led her up the stairs and took her to Kane’s bedroom, which was the closest. They soon had her naked and lying in the middle of the bed. Kane returned from the bathroom with a wet washcloth, a glass of water, and two pills.
They sat on either side of the bed, bracketing her. Kane handed her the water and pills. “Take these, babe. It’s been long enough since your last dose.”
She didn’t complain and drank a healthy portion of the water after swallowing the pills. “I’m sorry, guys.” Her face seemed so…solemn. Did she think going to bed with a headache somehow let them down?
“Red, it’s no big deal. Quinn and Mike would have put you to bed themselves if we weren’t here to take care of you.”
“With Reagan giving instructions,” Kane added with a soft laugh.
Olivia’s dry chuckle showed his brother was spot on.
Alex brushed back the hair that had fallen over her forehead. “Just close your eyes and try to rest.”
She grabbed his hand. Her gaze held a desperation he couldn’t fathom. She tightened her grip, as if afraid he’d let go. “I love you.” She reached out, grabbed Kane’s hand with her other. “Both of you. You don’t know how much.” She caught a sob, but smiled as if mocking her own emotional state.
Her words stole his breath. His body felt light, like a giant’s arms had lifted him in the air in a show of victory. Not able to stop himself, he kissed her, forcing himself to keep it to a long, slow kiss on account of her headache. “I love you, Red.” Alex ignored the thickness in his voice.
Kane said, “Same here, sweetness.” He leaned down, kissed her lips gently, probably wanting to make it more, but like Alex, he held back. “We were waiting for the right time. Didn’t want to scare you with too much too soon.”
They watched her eyes close as she swallowed. Her wry smile had him wondering. Then she opened her eyes. Her gaze pierced him with its ferocity. “You’ll both never know how incredibly lucky I feel to have met you both.”
“Red, we know. We feel it ourselves with you.” Alex wanted to reassure her. There was a silent urgency, something he couldn’t pick up on that felt like a shadow over his shoulder, putting him on edge at a time he should be punching his fists in the air.
“You’re our girl, Olivia. Don’t ever question that.” Kane’s voice held the insistence, the same need to reassure that Alex felt in his gut.
She squeezed their hands then let go. “Ignore me, I’m just feeling a little emotional.” Her face smoothed out as she reached for the washcloth in Kane’s hand. “I’ll be better by morning.” She placed the cloth over her eyes, then tucked her arms under the soft covers.
Alex shot a glance at Kane, whose brows were drawn together, but he remained silent as they both eased off the bed. “Okay, Red. You rest. We’ll be up soon.”
“Okay,” came her soft reply as they cleared the bedroom doorway.
Alex pointed to downstairs and Kane nodded.
They reached the bottom of the stairs where Quinn was helping Reagan into her black suede jacket. Mike put his hand out for a shake. “We’re heading off. You need to be with your girl.” He grasped Alex’s hand, then Kane’s.
“I’m not going to protest.” None of them would believe him if he did. “Thanks for understanding.” Alex shook Quinn’s hand, dropped a kiss on Reagan’s cheek, as did Kane.
“Yeah, we appreciate it.” His brother opened the front door.
Reagan placed the strap of her handbag on her shoulder. “I’ll call Olivia tomorrow, make sure she’s okay.” Her mouth tipped down on one end. “Nothing’s worse than a killer headache when you have company.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. She’ll appreciate that call.”
They stood at the front door and waited until their friend’s SUV drove away before Kane locked up for the night, then joined Alex in the kitchen.
“They’ve taken care of everything.” Alex checked the dishwasher, which was packed with dishes, glassware and pans, all rinsed and ready to be turned on.
Kane opened the fridge. “Reagan left us her cheesecake.”
Alex wasn’t surprised by her generosity. “We’ll give Olivia’s meds time to work before heading up.” He moved to the coffee maker. “Want a cup?”
“Sure.” Kane leaned back against the kitchen’s smoky-gray Caesarstone counter as Alex opened one of the darkish blue cupboards and grabbed a couple of mugs. “Tell me I’m crazy, but instead of jumping for joy at the fact Olivia’s just told us she loves us, I’m wondering what the hell is going on in that mind of hers?”
Alex poured their coffee—black, no sugar. “It’s not just you.” He slid a mug over the counter’s smooth surface to Kane, and then sipped from his own.
“I can put some of it down to the headache, and let’s face it she’s coped with a heap of crap over the last few days.” Kane went to sip his coffee, but with a shake of his head, set the mug down on the counter. “But there’s something else, and I don’t have a clue what that something is.” He ran a hand through his hair, leaving furrows from the rake of his fingers.
So what then? “We could ask her mom if she knows of anything that’s on Olivia’s mind.”
“No, I don’t want to worry her mom unnecessarily. For all we know, this could just be a monster headache and we’re panicking because it’s Olivia, and we’re overprotective bastards who want to kill anything that threatens her.”
Good point. Alex nodded. “Since things are officially serious between Olivia and us, I think we should get Quinn to do a deeper background check than the normal routine one carried out when we first offered her a contract.”
He sipped his coffee and waited for what was to come.
Kane’s head jerked to the right to face Alex. “You don’t trust her?”
&n
bsp; Yep, Kane to the rescue of their girl.
“That’s not what I meant.” He reined in the urge to glare. “I want to make sure there’s nothing there we need to focus on to make her life easier.” He held his cup in one hand and braced his other against the counter. “Think about it. We always went into battle knowing our terrain as best as we could. This is the same thing. Except this time we’re emotionally involved, making it even more important to have all the facts before us.”
Kane’s shoulders lost their stiffness. “Can’t argue with that logic.”
“I have my moments.” Alex allowed the corner of his mouth to tip up.
“Bastard.” Kane chuckled. “Drink your damn coffee and let’s get upstairs.”
Ten minutes later, they were in bed, one on each side of Olivia. Her even breathing proved the pain-killer Kane had given her had done its job. Maybe some rest will give her a chance to recharge.
As sleep claimed him, Alex breathed deep, taking in the fresh floral scent of her shampoo. The smell, tied to Olivia, lingered in his mind, and instead of calming him reminded him what he and Kane had to lose if anything ever happened to Red or the future they were building together.
* * * *
Olivia sensed the warm male body next to her long before she became fully awake. On her left side. Alex. He always slept closest to the door. Her protector.
She wanted to curl up against him, savor his warmth, the strength of his embrace as she wondered what fresh hell the day would bring. Her chest felt heavy, the burden of her decision almost too much to bear. A reminder of what she stood to lose lay right beside her.
Maybe she could stay here, shut out the world in some futile attempt to ignore Lawson? She should be so lucky.
“Morning, Red. Feeling better?” Alex’s voice sounded from above her. He ran a finger along the edge of her jawline.
She opened her eyes. So caught up in her misery she hadn’t thought about her headache and now waited for the pounding in her head to start up, but none came. “My headache’s gone.” Surprise filled her voice.
“Good.” Alex’s gaze remained clouded with concern. “Kane gave you some stronger pain-killers last night. It allowed your body to ignore your mind and get past the pain.”
He had? She hadn’t questioned Kane when he had handed her the pills last night, such was her desperation to close her eyes and escape from both the headache and the world.
But she could not hide forever. Looking to her right revealed a thin line of sunlight trying to get past the drawn curtains. The light wasn’t usually so bright when Alex climbed out of bed. “What time is it?”
“Seven thirty. I’ve been up, had my morning run, showered, and joined you so Kane could do the same. Neither of us wanted to leave you alone in case you woke up still with that hammering going on in your head.” The deep V formed by his brows let her know he wasn’t done fussing.
The fact both men cared so much shot an ache in her chest. How freaking lucky she was to have such men in her life. Nobody need tell her the answer. It only added to the misery of the impossible choice she confronted.
The soft scrape of Alex’s finger on her cheek drew her gaze back to his face. “Thank you for taking such good care of me last night.”
“That’s what partners are for, Red. It would be the least you could expect from a Dom, but this is more. You’re ours. We cherish and take care of what’s ours.”
Theirs.
The muscles of her throat tightened. Even if she had words, she wouldn’t be able to get them out. She swallowed. Alex’s gaze sharpened, his look turned searching.
“You know you can tell us anything, no matter what?”
No, she couldn’t. Not this.
“Sure, but there’s nothing to tell.” Did he know something? How could he? If she hadn’t panicked last night when Quinn asked about Lawson, she could have begged off and gone up to rest without worrying everyone. “I guess I’m just nervous the headache will return.” She forced a quick smile. “You know me, I’m a panicker.”
“No you’re not.” He leaned over her, his body pressing hers deeper into the mattress. The show of dominance thrilled her. “You’re a planner with your notebooks and lists. When you’re under pressure, your analytical side takes over, gives you strength in your reliance on facts.”
He knew her so well. And that was dangerous.
“Then you’ll just have to take my word that everything’s fine.” Challenge was all she had left in her arsenal. She moved her hands to his chest and pushed against the hardness of the muscles underneath his skin. Her efforts proved futile against his unyielding strength. The ease with which he held her magnified his authority as the conflicting needs of escape and desire warred within her. “And both of us need to be out of bed.”
“I disagree.” Alex’s hand pushed between her legs to her pussy. His fingers slid over her flesh with an ease that heated her face. His eyes darkened at her tell. “Your body knows where it belongs.” He thrust two fingers inside her, swirling them in a quick circle, firing a tremor of need up her center. She gasped. “And who to trust.”
He rolled back, threw the covers off them both, then grabbed a condom from the bedside table and sheathed himself. His hands spread out on her inner thighs, pushing them wide.
“We shouldn’t—”
His quick, hard kiss cut her off. “Oh, but we will.” He drove into her in one powerful thrust, invading her warmth in a startling moment of joining. She wrapped her arms around him and felt his cock stretch her flesh—a slight burning that soon deepened into pleasure as his hardness brushed the inner walls of her core. Her every nerve came alive. His eyes fired with a sensuous flame.
She was held by his gaze as sure as any rope could have kept her from running. Not once did he look away as he surged deeper, harder, lifting her leg to impale himself right to the root.
This was more than claiming her. It was sharing more than sex. This was a statement—to her. She belonged to them body and soul.
“Alex.” Saying his name added a deeper intimacy to their act. She wanted that closeness, craved it like it was a necessity for life.
“Ours, Red.” The possessive tone of his voice sent a shiver over her body. He adjusted his angle to skim his cock against the side of her inner walls.
She clung to him, tightening her arms, wanting to hold on to him forever. Whatever she could experience, she would take and cherish, no matter what the future would bring.
With every thrust, their breathing grew more rapid. He had her close. So, so close. She wrapped her free leg around his hips, feeling him sink into her with a fullness that took her breath away. Her body gathered tight as tiny ripples of pleasure built into a storm of rolling sensation that threatened to overwhelm her.
Alex leaned on one elbow and fisted her hair with his spare hand. “Say it, Olivia.” That voice, so low and commanding, forced her to concentrate on him. Only him. The hard, angular lines of his face filled her vision. “Say you love me.” He stopped moving, holding his body rigid on top of her.
She tightened her arms around him. “I do. You know I do. Always.” Conviction strengthened her voice. She met his stare, held it, watched and waited as all hesitancy in his face flew away as if chased by an angry wind.
Her words were no lie. No matter what happened in the future, she was inextricably linked to Alex and Kane.
Her soul. Her body. Her mind.
He moved his hips, slowly at first, then faster, embedding himself deeply. She clamped around his hardness, holding onto him as he pulled out. The dragging sensation on her sensitive inner walls pushed her past reason, holding her at the excruciating edge of climax.
Eyes closed, body shaking, she dug her fingernails into his back, wanting to leave her mark, make him experience the precise, sharp edge of her passion.
“That’s it, Red. Let me feel you.” His fingers found her clit. “And to prove I’m not a selfish bastard, I’ll return the favor.”
He gave her
tight bundle of nerves one hard, exquisitely long pinch.
Behind her eyelids went brilliant white. Her orgasm burst over her, driving body-jarring spasms through her, battering her senses. She pressed her hips against him, frantic in her need to feel his closeness, to be one with him.
Under her hands, his muscles tensed. She opened her eyes, determined to see this moment. He looked down at her, his gaze possessive, proud even, before his eyes closed as a long shudder took over his body. With his jaw clenched, his grip on her hair tightened to near pain.
His guttural cry of release was all male, pleasuring her with its carnality and that instinctive awareness that she, the woman under him, had helped bring him to that pinnacle. Empowered, still hungry, she rode out his orgasm, forcing her hips up until the last vestiges of her energy evaporated, leaving her well sated and limp under him. The weight of his body was heavy and wonderful, bonding her tighter to him.
He released her hair to gently grip her chin. His eyes, filled with warmth and the knowledge he’d taken her in every way a man could take a woman, softened as they studied her face. “Love you, Red.” He claimed her mouth in a long, deep kiss, sucking on her bottom lip and giving it a stinging nip before letting go.
“Love you, Sir.”
Her words echoed in her head. Nothing could take that truth away from her. Not Lawson. Not whatever choice she was soon forced to make.
She loved Alex and Kane.
Now and forever.
* * * *
Olivia sat at the long meeting table in Kane’s office at the lodge and glanced at the door he had only just walked out of as she spoke into her phone. “Thanks for reading my e-mail so promptly, Mr. Granger. I appreciate you calling me.” She listened as the son of the original owner of the website Arch Bend, Then and Now shuffled papers. “I’m sorry to hear of your dad’s passing.”
Talk about timing of the call. She would have had to make a hasty exit if Kane hadn’t gone to meet a guest for lunch in the restaurant. She had begged off joining him, her appetite having long since deserted her.