Suddenly, strong arms wrapped under her and Magnum scooped her up, shocking her.
“What are you doing? Put me down. I’ll be fine.” She panicked. He had no shirt on. He was filled with muscles and he smelled of cologne, soap, and sweat. God, she felt her entire body tighten up and in this position her breasts poured from the tank top she wore.
“Don’t give me a hard time. There’s first aid stuff at the house. We’re closer to our place then your cottage.” He carried her up the sandy beach with little effort.
“You don’t need to carry me, Magnum. I can walk.”
He squeezed her closer. “Maybe I just want to carry you, feel you close,” he said, holding her gaze.
She stared at his lips and he licked his lower one. So badly she would love to kiss him. She couldn’t. This was bad. She wouldn’t be tricked by some bachelor sex god.
She looked past him just as the high porch and disappearing horizon swimming pool came into sight.
“What happened?” Carlyle yelled from the patio. Oh no, Carlyle was there. He climbed the steps and onto the patio, meeting his brother. Carlyle took in the sight of her, his gaze landing on her breasts, her face, and then to her leg.
“Oh no, she’s bleeding.”
“Exactly. Grab the first aid kit and some tweezers. She has a nasty splinter.” He placed her down onto the lounge chair and she quickly lifted her leg and moved it over the patio.
“The chair. I don’t want to ruin the cushions with blood,” she said. He looked at her like she was nuts.
“What happened?” She heard Cavanaugh’s voice and she tightened up and widened her eyes. She gasped when Magnum placed his hand on her thigh.
“Relax, he doesn’t bite.”
“I’m fine. I can do this at the cottage. Really.” She went to move but now Cavanaugh had his hand on her knee and he lifted her calf.
Carlyle was there with everything they might need to care for her cut. She lay back.
“I can’t believe this. It’s just a cut,” she said and then sat up.
“You might need stitches,” Magnum said.
“No. Oh God, no, we can’t. I won’t go. Call Darius or Caspian.” She panicked.
Cavanaugh narrowed his eyes at her. “He was teasing you.”
She looked to each of them, who now seemed concerned and suspicious. She needed to keep her mouth shut.
“Funny, Magnum. Didn’t know you had a sense of humor.”
Carlyle chuckled. “You think he’s funny, you should hear when Cavanaugh starts joking around,” Carlyle stated.
“Fuck you,” Cavanaugh replied as they laughed.
She leaned back and listened to them banter as they clean up the cut.
“This might hurt,” Magnum said as he began to take out one big splinter first and then a few others. Was he kidding? She didn’t feel any pain with the three of them touching her, surrounding her. Jesus, she felt super-hot, and her breasts swelled, her pussy throbbed. Holy crap, I’m attracted to three men. Why now? Why these three? Carlyle held her hand and caressed her shoulder. Cavanaugh stroked her thigh and she no longer felt pain or stinging. Instead, she felt desire.
Cavanaugh lifted his hand off her thigh and stroked her hair from her cheek. He stared into her eyes, his expression hard, serious, and it did something to her.
“You’re too beautiful to have any pain,” he said to her. His brothers stopped what they were doing and gazed at her.
“Thank you for the help,” she whispered.
Cavanaugh looked like he was going to say more and then he pulled back. “Make sure you cover it and put some ointment on it so it heals quickly and doesn’t scar,” he said. Magnum mumbled as he cleaned the cut and then put on ointment and a bandage as Cavanaugh walked away.
She went to move. “Well, thank you for the first aid. I should head back.”
Carlyle pressed his hand over her belly.
“Lay back and relax a little bit. I’ll get you something to drink.” He stood and she looked at Magnum, who seemed upset.
“Magnum, are you okay?”
He looked at her. “What? Oh yeah, fine,” he said and lowered her calf and then gathered up the things he used, putting them back.
She didn’t know what happened. There was some kind of exchange, a reaction between Magnum and Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh’s expression was so serious it made her heart race as he told her she was too beautiful to feel any pain. The way he held her face and gazed into her eyes made her think he was going to kiss her, or at least wanted to, then he thought better of it. Jesus, thank God he didn’t kiss her. She scooted to the side of the chair.
“Wait, have a drink first and then I’ll drive you down to the cottage,” Carlyle said to her.
“I don’t need you to drive me, Carlyle,” she said, taking the bottle of water he offered. His hand covered hers and the bottle. Her lips parted as she looked up at him.
“Would it kill you to be stuck in an enclosed space with me?” he asked, surprising her. What was going on with these three men? She didn’t know how to respond, but he released her hand and she opened the water bottle, focusing on that and drinking it instead of replying to his comment. He stood there waiting. Magnum placed his hand on her knee. She looked at him. His hand was huge, but so was Magnum. “You should know that we won’t hurt you, but we will protect you if need be. We’re here if you need anything,” he said to her. She gulped and then tried playing off a response like she didn’t know why he would say that to her.
“Kind of above and beyond the whole landlord thing, isn’t it? I mean, is this what you guys do? Rent your cottage to single women and then pry into their lives? A ride here, advice there, oh and maybe offer a job, too?” she said, suddenly feeling like she’d been scammed. Jesus, all men were shits. All after something. Son of a bitch, and she thought they were sincerely being nice. She went to walk and gasped a moment as the pain in her calf and ankle surprised her. Both men reached for her and grabbed her hips. Her jaw dropped.
“What the fuck are you talking about? I didn’t even know who you were when I hired you.”
“Yeah, well I don’t believe you. These are your brothers. You live together and it looks like you like to do a lot of things together. Nice try, Carlyle. Find some other woman to fall for your line of bologna,” she stated and started to walk. Magnum pulled her close and she grabbed onto his forearms.
“I don’t know what you’re rambling on about. My God, you sound paranoid.”
Her eyes widened. “Paranoid? Paranoid, huh? Maybe I’m just not like other women the three of you have met before. Maybe I’m not gullible. Now before this turns into a really bad situation and we say something that forces me to find a new place to rent, we should stop talking.” She went to move and Magnum didn’t release her. He stared at her lips and then looked like he was clenching his teeth.
“No talking sounds good to me.” He pulled her close and kissed her.
* * * *
Holy heavens this damn woman got under his skin and into his head like no other. He couldn’t believe she thought they were scamming her, lying to her about their intentions. Did she think they would attack her, or try to get her into bed? Well, sure the thought crossed his mind, and this was why. She was incredible.
He ran his hand along her hip and then down over her ass. He squeezed and pressed her closer, his fingers grazing under the tiny jogging shorts she wore to run. He devoured her moans and then felt her hands running through his hair. She was kissing him back, feeling what he was feeling. She tightened up and moaned and he moved his hand as Carlyle joined in. Magnum slid his hand up her narrow waist then to her breast. He was shocked at the size and feel of it. Fuck she was big. He stroked her nipple and she pulled back from his mouth.
“Magnum. Oh God, we can’t.”
Carlyle slid to the right and cupped her cheeks. “Fuck we can because this attraction is instant and in-fucking-sane,” he said and then pressed his lips to hers and kissed her next.
> Magnum slid his hand back to her ass and then moved behind her as Carlyle moved in front to kiss her better. Magnum could hear her moaning and his brother, too, as he caressed up her back, under her hair, and gripped her hair and head possessively. Magnum then maneuvered his arm around her waist and pressed his cock against her lower back as he rocked his hips.
“Magnum, Carlyle, oh God!” she exclaimed.
“Easy, baby,” Carlyle whispered and kissed her softly on her lips and then along her jaw. She tilted her head back and Magnum smiled, holding her against his chest while Carlyle cupped her breast and stroked the nipple.
“Holy fuck, woman. You are built to more than satisfy a man,” Carlyle told her.
She tightened up and then pushed from between them. She fixed her top and looked around frantically. She started heading toward the door to the house and then stopped short as Cavanaugh stared at her.
His brother had been watching, perhaps wanting her like Magnum and Carlyle did.
“Don’t run off. Stay and talk to us,” Cavanaugh said.
She shook her head. “This is wrong. I can’t do this. This isn’t right, and you’ll only hurt me. Jesus, why now?” She asked and went to turn around.
“Stop,” Cavanaugh demanded and she instantly froze in place. He walked to her, turned her around to face him, and stared down into her eyes.
What the fuck was Cavanaugh doing? He was going to scare the hell out of her with his demanding, controlling ways.
* * * *
Cavanaugh caressed her arms and gazed down into her gorgeous blue eyes. He had been watching from the doorway, fighting the compulsion to join his brothers and get a taste, a feel of such a sweet woman as Precious.
“I should go,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “Answer me this. Did you like my brothers kissing you? Did it feel good?” he asked her and then stepped closer, moving one hand from her arm up her shoulder to under her hairline and cupped her head.
“Cavanaugh, it doesn’t matter. It’s not smart.”
“That’s not what I asked. Did you enjoy it?” he pushed and then he used his other hand to squeeze her hipbone.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Don’t ever lie to me, Precious. Do you understand me? Everything else can work itself out, but lying to me kills it all,” he said and she stared up into his eyes.
“I hate liars, too. I’ve been lied to at the worse, most scariest times of my life, Cavanaugh, but it makes no sense for me to make such a promise when there is no relationship between us, and there can’t ever be one,” she said to him.
He squinted at her. “Is that so? Because I think a relationship just started as I watched you kiss my brothers and I waited to kiss you next.” He began to lower his mouth slowly to hers.
“We shouldn’t,” she said but didn’t turn away. Instead, she closed her eyes right before he kissed her, and holy fuck, nothing else mattered but making Precious theirs.
* * * *
Precious was in shock. Three men? Three strikingly handsome, sexy, muscular, capable men were kissing her and saying things to her that no other man ever had. They were older, experienced, that was for shit sure. None of that mattered as Cavanaugh ravished her mouth, lifted her up against his body, and then pressed her against the side of the house. Her thighs locked around his waist and one hand held her head possessively as he devoured her moans while the other hand ran up her thigh and then to her breast. He moaned into her mouth and she couldn’t believe how on fire her body was and how badly her pussy throbbed with need. She could live a fantasy right now. She could lose her virginity and engage in a ménage encounter and it would all be worth it. The thought scared her. She couldn’t let them that close. Couldn’t let any man that close.
He must have sensed her need to slow things down. Cavanaugh gently released her lips but continued to kiss her jaw and her neck. She gripped his shoulders and he pushed her tank top down and then licked into the deep cleavage of her breasts.
“Cavanaugh, stop. We have to stop this,” she stated.
He looked wild and his dark brown eyes bore into hers. She noticed his shirt was pulled open and she wondered if she had done that to him as he kissed her. She felt insane, needy, and slowly he fixed her tank top and then set her feet on the floor.
“Stay for lunch. We’ll talk and get to know one another better so you’re more comfortable with the three of us,” he suggested. He took her hand and she glanced at Magnum and Carlyle.
“Wait.” She pulled her hand free and pushed a loose strand of hair from her cheek and then rubbed her fingers along her lips, still feeling their kisses. She wanted to be in their arms. She felt good, safe, cared for in their arms.
They could be using her, lying to her to get her into bed. Every man was after something for themselves. She knew that and had learned the hard way. She stepped back.
“Damn, baby. I don’t know what crazy thoughts are going through your head but get rid of them and trust us,” Magnum stated.
She shook her head. “I need to go. I need to go right now.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Magnum said.
“No. Just let me be. Please, Magnum, this was way too much for me. A shock, really. I never even thought of engaging in anything like this and right now is really bad timing. I don’t trust my judgment and I can’t trust people.”
“You can trust us,” Cavanaugh said with conviction. She shook her head.
“I can’t do it. I’m not capable of doing that right now. I’m sorry. Please tell me where the door is.”
Magnum told her to follow him and she looked at Carlyle and Magnum. “Thank you for the first aid,” she said and then followed Magnum. When he walked her all the way down the driveway, she thought she was home free from fighting the urge to go back and just accept this attraction with all its potential for disaster. Magnum grabbed her hand and pulled her close. He cupped her cheek.
“Magnum…”
“It isn’t fair. You feel this attraction as we do. Fuck those people in the past that hurt you. Forget about what’s going on and what really sent you here and give this a shot. We can protect you. We’re resourceful, wealthy, smart, and goddamn it, I’ve never felt so compelled to be with a woman like I feel with you. It can’t be normal,” he said to her and she felt the tears fill her eyes. He narrowed his eyes at her.
“I’ve been lied to, used, betrayed by people I trusted my life with. I saw things, experienced things that have changed me, Magnum. Made my heart close up, made me put up a wall in order to survive. My pain isn’t over. Getting involved with you and your brothers is not the smartest thing to do. Not when I’m not strong, when I might not be able to tell if you’re lying to me, faking feelings, or if it’s real. I trusted them and they took advantage of that trust and placed me in front of death’s door. I can’t just let my emotions, my desires make the decision that could kill what little I have left. Please understand me.” She caressed his cheek and then went to step away but he held her close.
She didn’t know what moved her to reveal something so personal, but she had.
“I’m sorry they hurt you, but I won’t apologize for the feelings, the depth of this attraction the three of us feel for you. I won’t. Just think of this when you’re home, all alone, and hopefully thinking about giving us a chance.” He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her gingerly, sweetly. She could have easily melted in his arms, but the fear of being hurt and used was stronger right now.
She pulled back, and he looked upset, but she had to.
“Thank you,” she said and then turned and headed the rest of the way down the driveway and to the road to the cottage.
Chapter 5
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Gianna said to Precious, shaking her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Precious said, standing outside the clothing boutique in town. She was surprised to see Darius and Caspian walking with a beautiful woman. Four other men were with them, surrounding her. P
recious felt her belly quiver as each man was introduced to her and she realized they all shared Gianna as their woman. Holy shit. Six men and she was freaking out about kissing Magnum, Carlyle, and Cavanaugh.
“Precious is renting the cottage that Carlyle and his brothers own. She’s new to town and working at Carlyle’s as a bartender, right?” Darius said to her, making it obvious that he really didn’t tell his girlfriend who she was.
“Yes, I just started, but I like it so far,” she replied.
“You working the party Saturday night?” Darius asked her.
“Yes, and tonight, too. I think there’s some pre-celebration or something for the guys that finish top three in the race for finals.”
“Yeah, should be crazy busy,” Caspian said to her.
“The street is blocked off all day and night Saturday so you may have to park a good distance from the bar,” Darius told her.
“I might just walk here and back. I did that the other night.”
“You shouldn’t be doing that,” Darius scolded and then she looked at Gianna’s expression. She hoped the woman didn’t think there was something going on between Precious and her boyfriends.
“I’ll meet up with you guys in a minute. I need to talk to Precious,” Darius said and waved his hand for her to follow him.
“Nice meeting you. Enjoy the day,” Precious told her. Gianna gave her a half smile, but Caspian wrapped his arm around her shoulder and whispered in her hear.
“Are you out of your mind walking home alone at like three o’clock in the morning? I heard about all the guys who were in the bar talking to you and checking you out. Anyone could have come after you.”
“No one did. I was fine. I took precautions.”
“It isn’t safe. Maybe I can work out one of the guys from the department coming by and driving you home after your shift Saturday.”
Love at Carlyle's [Love on the Rocks 8: Special Edition] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 8