“No, just go,” she slurred badly, it might not have even made sense. She knew Tremaine could translate, drunken Lizanese. Plus, he wouldn’t leave her, no matter what she said. Apparently, Robert wouldn’t either. “Please, go,” she mumbled as the tears fell down her face.
Robert’s big hand smoothed over her back, soothing her no matter how much she feared the contact. “Hush, Liz,” he murmured. “We’re here, and we aren’t leaving you. We’ll take care of you,” he promised, even as she threw up the rest of what was in her system.
Once she was done, Tremaine picked her up gently and Robert peeled her dress off. He kept full eye contact as he removed her bra and panties.
Tremaine wrapped his arm around her waist and carried her into the shower.
Liz felt his naked body and panicked. She tried to scramble out of his arms, but Robert stepped into the shower and grabbed her upper arms as he looked into her eyes.
Robert told her, “Come on, Liz. We need to get you cleaned up.”
Her hands covered her stomach as the tears came harder. Ashamed, depressed and feeling pathetic, she hid her scars, those horrible reminders where James had stabbed and tore at her with that damned blade, stealing her one chance at happiness.
“Go, please just go. I don’t want you to see me,” she sobbed.
“Shh, I know. I found your letter today, Liz. I know now, and I’m so terribly sorry. Tremaine told me about the scars. It’s okay though. It’s not your fault, baby. I want to make it better.”
The letter? He found the letter today? But the scars, those terrible scars.
Liz had given Robert his own set.
She looked down and saw Robert still had the marks she gave him. Her handprints lay over his heart and on his side.
“Oh no,” she whispered, feeling like she was shattering into a zillion shards. “Why, Robert? Why wouldn’t you let Emily fix that?” She ran her fingers over those marks on his perfect body.
There were tears in his dusky blue eyes. “You healed them fine, Liz. This way, I always have something of you on me.”
Covering her face, Liz turned back to Tremaine. He wrapped his big arms around her and pulled her close. “Liz, doll, don’t cry. It’s all over and done with. You’re okay, he’s okay. No one cares about the scars. You’re still the most beautiful creature either one of us have ever laid eyes on. We all have our own scars. Don’t worry about yours, Liz.”
Yeah, Trem had scars on his hands and up his arms from pulling Sinclair’s burning corpse from her. How was she supposed to stop crying when she knew she was the reason they were both ruined?
“He’s right,” Robert told her. “Your scars don’t ruin you.” His chest pressed against her back, pushing her tight into Tremaine.
She had to still be drunk, because she was seriously getting turned on by all that naked wet flesh pressed against hers. Then Robert’s hand slid around her waist and covered all those ugly scars as he pulled her back against his chest.
Shit. His erection was pressed hard against her ass, and how inappropriate was that after all the crying and puking, and especially in front of Tremaine.
Her brain must have been mush because she meant to pull away but melted into his embrace as she looked into Tremaine’s dark eyes. They burned with desire she had never seen directed at her.
Embarrassed, she looked down and found his thick, proud length. Okay, she really couldn’t resist when they were both right there and ready.
* * * *
Tremaine cursed his raging hard on. He wanted to comfort Liz, and did his damnedest to ignore the desire pumping through his veins.
She was falling apart, and damn it, he knew he shouldn’t be aroused, but he was. Especially seeing Robert behind her with desire darkened eyes, his hand spread out on her flat tummy.
Sure. Liz had scars, but they were really very sexy, especially knowing that she had survived and came out fighting.
Her dusky pink nipples were so tight and her breath was coming in great gasps when she looked up and her eyes locked on his. A blush started across her cheeks and flowed down her body as she tore her eyes away.
She whimpered when her gaze found his stupid cock standing at attention.
“Liz,” Robert breathed against her ear. “You want us both?” Robert’s deep blue eyes locked onto Tremaine’s as Liz nodded. Robert’s hand slid down between her thighs to cup her mound, and she moaned deep down in her throat. “Trem,” Robert asked with a desire roughened voice, “you good with this?”
“Mmhmm,” was all he had for an answer. It was likely the only way he was ever going to have Liz, and he needed her so damned bad he’d take her any way he could get her in that moment.
“Please.” Liz looked up at Tremaine as she leaned back into Robert and her back arched. Her breasts jutted toward him, begging for his hands.
Tremaine bent to take her nipple into his mouth and her hand locked onto the back of his head as she turned her mouth to Robert who was working her body until she was writhing between them.
He kissed his way to her other pert bud and suckled as he dropped to his knees. His mouth trailed down her ribs. Licking each scar and placing a tender kiss before moving to the next. Her body undulated as pleasure overtook her.
When she finally fell still, Robert held her up as his fingers stroked her slick heat. Tremaine pushed Robert’s hand out of the way and pulled Liz’s leg over his shoulder to lick her dripping desire. She tasted of magic and dark chocolate, a sweet spice.
“Trem, fuck yes,” she whimpered before Robert took her mouth again and captured her pebbled tips between his fingers.
Every sound she made drove his need further, his cock jumping, ready to drive into her. It didn’t matter, if he only ever got to make her come, he would die a happy man.
Her hand tangled in his hair as she rode out her pleasure, soaking his face. He lapped at her, pushing her over the edge again, until her head thrashed back and forth.
“I can’t,” she begged, “Oh, God, I can’t.” She gasped and half sobbed as her whole body trembled. “Too much, Trem, fuck,” she screamed and came undone.
Robert caught her when she collapsed, hefting her into his arms as he carried her out of the shower.
* * * *
Robert was intoxicated by Liz, like every other time they had been together. He never could resist her, but sharing her had never crossed his mind. Somehow, things fell into place with Tremaine.
Liz was spent, and was practically jelly in his arms. Robert murmured against her ear, “You okay, love?”
She nodded, and he took a towel to tenderly dry her off. He wasn’t sure if what they did was right. The alcohol had to still be in her system, but she looked to be in better shape than before she started to pound back the rum.
His eyes grazed over her long lithe body as he lovingly dried her skin. He found her scars for the first time and couldn’t help running his fingers over the smooth white skin.
“James won’t live this time, and when this is all done, I won’t leave you. I can’t.” Robert looked into her eyes. “I swear it, Liz. No matter what you say or do, I won’t go. I can’t.”
Her hands tangled in his hair as she pulled him to her for a kiss that spoke of longing, of a mending heart, and undying love.
“I’ll go,” Tremaine said softly before he tried to step around Robert.
Liz stopped the kiss and grabbed Tremaine’s hand, pulling him back to her.
“No, don’t you dare. You want this as much as we both do. We can figure it out later.” She smiled a little. “I will never forgive you if you walk out after what we just did.”
His voice was gruff. “Are you sure, Liz? I know it’s what I want, but I don’t want you to hate me when you realize you have Robert back.”
“I can’t hate you, Trem. Never, not for anything,” she insisted.
Robert shook his head. “You’ve been there for her every day that I wasn’t because I was too stupid to fight. You’re as big a part of
her heart as I am.” He grabbed Tremaine’s shoulder and pulled him closer. “I’m grateful you took care of her when I didn’t. I saw the way she reacted when you pulled her into your body at the bar.
Tremaine dropped his eyes, but Robert surprised himself when he leaned in to give him a bruising kiss. That was another thing he had never imagined, but it felt right.
Liz’s breath caught as she watched. Tremaine tilted his head, slanting his mouth over Robert’s as he deepened the kiss with a groan.
Maybe they had a solution to mend everyone, even if it was less than conventional and unexpected.
“Right, bed,” Liz pushed them both toward the door and back to her room.
“I have one question,” Tremaine growled. “Who goes where?”
“I uh…,” Liz turned around before the bed and a smirk twisted her lips. “Lay back on the bed, Trem.” He crawled up the bed and lay back with a raised brow. Liz climbed up after him and settled between his legs as she bent down and took a long lick of Tremaine’s length before looking back at Robert. “Come on up here.”
“For the record,” Tremaine murmured, “I want in your pussy the next go around.”
“You good with that, Robert?” She purred.
Robert climbed up behind her with a nod. He ran a finger over her asshole and her eyes fell shut as she pushed back against him, his fingertip delving in a bit and they both groaned.
He had his answer, but asked, “You still okay with back here?”
“Mmhmm,” she moaned.
He took his finger and sucked it before placing it back and sliding in slowly. “Then next time, I’ll take you right here while Tremaine makes love to you.”
“Okay,” she whimpered. She turned back to Tremaine and licked the crown of his thick length before closing her mouth over him. Tremaine groaned as his hands fisted in the comforter.
There was something perfect with the three of them. Robert proved it by slowly gliding into her hot, slick core.
She moaned, and Tremaine’s eyes slammed shut on a gasp as Liz went back to work.
* * * *
Must be the alcohol letting me go through with this. Or maybe I’m having the best damned hallucination ever.
Robert pushed into her, and she took more of Tremaine into her mouth. They moved together as one, and she loved the way Robert’s fingers dug into her hips, and how Tremaine’s hands fisted in her hair as he fucked her mouth.
She took her time exploring Tremaine because she didn’t think it was possible to come again after what they had already done.
Robert seemed to take pleasure in proving her wrong because she was right on the edge, but he had always known how to draw her pleasure out for hours when they made love all night long.
“Oh fuck, Liz,” Tremaine tried to pull her off as his cock twitched. She dug her nails into his wrists to keep him from trying to stop her. He cried out his release as she swallowed down every drop of his pleasure.
That had to have been what Robert was waiting for because as soon as Tremaine stilled and she released him, Robert flipped her over, next to Tremaine and plunged into her hard.
“Robert,” she cried, “Please, oh yes.”
Tremaine’s fingers twined with hers as Robert leaned down to kiss her senseless. He made love to her slow and deep.
It didn’t take long to spiral right off the edge as she felt his release. She was too lost in the pleasure to do anything but ride it out, until Robert rolled to her side, bringing her with him. Tremaine turned into her, wrapping his arms around her.
Right, wrong, it didn’t matter. She felt loved and cherished for the first time in so long, she wouldn’t give it up for the world.
Chapter 19
“You really believe that if Liz is alive, she’s back in Edenton of all places?” James balked.
“Of course. Tremaine Gallagher is there. I guarantee he’s still protecting that little bitch.” Jarvis snapped back.
He was having a hard time believing she would willingly go back to the place he had tried to rape her, and then killed her unborn child.
How the hell had she survive to come after him? She had been wrecked.
At least he had managed to break Robert and Liz apart. He obviously left her. He could imagine Liz admitting everything James had done, and Robert throwing her away. It would have ruined her, it had to. No one could walk away that shattered and go back to where it all happened. Could they?
She was already falling apart when she found him the day after he ruined her. Her only goal was to kill him, and maybe die in the process. He could still remember feeling true fear for the first time.
A chill travelled down his spine. Liz had meant to kill him. His own brother had let her. Hell, Robert looked like he wanted to help. Emily hadn’t even attempted to heal him all the way. His dick didn’t work, he couldn’t even feel the damned thing, and the scars… it looked like a flaccid jigsaw puzzle, though the rest of his skin wasn’t much better.
He was going to make Liz pay dearly, and he was going to force Robert to watch as he tore Liz apart.
“Edenton? I suppose things will finally come full circle.” James took comfort in that.
* * * *
Tremaine woke with Liz curled around him, her head laying over his heart and his hand in her hair. Robert’s arm was slung over her side and resting over his hip, just above where her leg lay over Tremaine.
Even if this all fell apart, it felt right, it felt too right to ever regret the night of passion. They all seemed a little more whole after the three of them had made love.
He considered getting up to make breakfast, but he wasn’t ready to let go of Liz. For now, with the way she curled into his embrace, he could pretend that she was in love with him.
He still expected to be shut out of Liz’s heart. She had always been Robert’s, from the very moment they laid eyes on each other. It only made sense that Tremaine fade into the background to let them have their lives and love back.
“No.” Liz jerked in her sleep. “No,” she cried out.
Robert came awake with a start and looked at Tremaine, probably feeling as helpless as he did.
Tremaine scooped her up and held her to his chest. “Liz, doll, wake up.” he rocked her just as he had so many mornings when the nightmares took her. “Liz, come on, doll. Wake up for me.” Tremaine ran his fingers across her face and she caught his hand as her eyes flew open. “It’s okay,” he cooed. “We’ve got you. It’s just a nightmare, doll.”
“Trem?” she panted, and then looked over at Robert. “Oh yeah, Robert,” she whispered as doubt clouded her eyes.
“Are you okay, Liz?” Robert reached out to caress her face but she flinched. Before he could pull his hand away, she snatched it and pulled it to her.
“Yeah, surprisingly, yeah. Sorry. The nightmares, they get bad.” She shrugged and climbed out of bed. Liz stumbled as she backed away. “I’m just going to go take a shower, and then we can deal with breakfast. I uh… sorry.”
They both watched her leave the room. Tremaine couldn’t help wondering where he fit into their lives. He sure as hell didn’t know, but she didn’t seem as sure of Robert as he expected either. As selfish as that was, he did feel a little better.
Robert cleared his throat. “So, this wasn’t how I envisioned our reunion.” Dragging his fingers through his golden mane of waves, he glanced back at Tremaine. “Especially after Fallon and that whole nightmare, but it really does feel right with you and Liz.”
Shit, Fallon and the night of hell hadn’t even entered his mind, and thankfully, he couldn’t remember most of it. What they were forced to do was unforgivable. Hell, Fallon nearly killed him in self-defense and he couldn’t blame her.
Tremaine shook his head. Robert was right, there was an undeniable connection, but that didn’t change the past. “You sure about that? I know you’ve been in love with Liz since the second you saw her. Same goes for her loving you.” Trem looked away. “I didn’t think we would go the
re last night. I just wanted to help her get through, and then we were there. But, Robert, I don’t want to take anything from what you two had.”
Robert took a deep breath, and lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Trem, it’s been twenty-one years. She’s fallen in love with you. I can’t force you out of her life any more than you could shove me away. I can’t imagine it will be easy, but we’ll figure it out.” Robert squeezed his shoulder.
Tremaine looked up and their eyes locked.
“That is if you are okay with us,” Robert told him.
“Honestly? Yeah, I’m good with this. I never thought this would be okay with you, hell even her. Now maybe we should go join her so we can make sure she knows we aren’t bailing, because I guarantee she is talking herself out of any kind of relationship with either of us.” He knew she was scared to death of being that badly broken again. Not that he had any intention of letting her feel that again.
“I won’t let her, not after last night.” Robert said before climbing from the bed. He walked to the bathroom. Tremaine followed, but he was still worried about where this was going. If Liz didn’t love him as a man, then he would let her go, even as it tore him apart.
* * * *
Liz stood under the spray of hot water, attempting to process. She really had them both last night. She had fallen apart and they put her back together again.
What happened to shutting down all of those feelings?
She remembered panicking when she woke in the middle of the night, and then breaking into pieces in the bathroom. And then they were all in the shower and everything happened. The rum, it had to be all that rum. She had been so incredibly horny between the only two men she had ever loved, and she had loved them both for so long that she no longer felt whole without them.
Today is going to be awkward as fuck.
Falling Into Place Page 16