by Lila Rose
“W-what are you doing?” I asked.
“Babe.” He smiled. “You didn’t honestly think we’d let you go to uni on your own? I’m doing half the time and Caden will catch up later.”
“But, why?”
“Sweetheart, no one fucks with you. We need to make sure all those fuckers got the picture or else they deal with us.” He reached out and gently touched my shoulder before pulling his hand back and saying, “Don’t stress, Josie. I won’t even be in your classes. I’ll wait outside for them to finish.”
“This is going to be so much fun.” Simone clapped, started the car and began to drive.
“But...” I started before shoving the banana in my mouth and doing up my seat belt.
“Seriously, babe. Just go with it.”
It wasn’t like I had a choice, really.
Remaining silent, I smiled. If I were honest with myself, I was glad there wasn’t a choice. I had been worried with how the day would turn out. Knowing Cameron, he would be fuming over the altercation they had the previous day.
Having Eli at my back eased my troubled thoughts.
It wasn’t until lunch did I find out how difficult it was to have Eli with me. He stayed true to his words and stayed outside the lecture room. However, the looks he got from the female students irritated me. I knew there were many good-looking women around and they’d zoned in on the rough, handsome biker.
Never had I had so many girls come up to me in class to see if I could introduce them to Eli. When I didn’t respond, they glared at me. I felt bad for the barest of heart beats, but that quickly passed as I didn’t want Eli to think I was pushing other women onto him, not when my feelings for him were strong.
Groaning, I got up from my seat and walked out of the room. It was my last class before lunch and then after, I had only one other, but that would go for another two hours.
As soon as I passed the door, I spotted Eli standing opposite me, only he was surrounded by at least five women. I grumbled under my breath. I wanted to stomp my foot, waltz over there and stake my claim.
But I didn’t.
“Hey,” someone said beside me.
Looking up, I quickly took a step back. A guy I didn’t know stood before me. “Um, hi.”
He smiled. “Sorry to scare you. I’m Kevin.” Thankfully he didn’t hold out his hand to me. “I’m in a few classes of yours and, ah, sorry I wanted to see, uh, now that you’re not, um with Cameron.”
I gasped. “I was never with him.”
“Sorry.” He blushed. “I know, what I mean is, I heard Cameron has backed off and, now that he has, I wanted to know if you would like to...go out to the movies or something.”
“No,” a voice growled. We both looked to Eli standing beside us.
“Who are you?” Kevin asked.
“I’m hers and she’s mine. Not only that, she belongs to Hawks.”
My head went back. I’m his and he’s mine?
“Billy, are you coming to have lunch with us?” a girl called.
“No,” Eli snapped, his gaze never leaving Kevin.
I watched as the girl and her friends pouted and then glared at me, walking off.
“Okay, I’m gonna head off,” Kevin said.
“Good,” Eli stated in a short snap, crossing his thick arms over his chest.
Before Kevin got to step away, Caden appeared at his back. “Problem here?” Caden growled.
Goodness.
“No,” I squeaked. “Kevin was just leaving.” With a nod, Kevin quickly shuffled away from Caden turned and stalked out of the school.
“What was that about?” I demanded to Eli.
“Babe,” was all he said.
Frustrating man.
I started down the hall, making my way to the cafeteria for lunch when Caden asked, “What did that guy want?”
“He asked Josie out on a date.”
“What the fuck?” Caden growled.
Spinning to face them, I glared. “Well, it’s not like Eli hasn’t had a busy morning and now you’re here, the women will go extra crazy. I’ve lost count of the times they’ve asked me for Eli’s number or if he’s free to date or why he’s here or how they tell me how hot he is. Now they’ll do it all over again for you as well, Caden.” I growled under my breath and turned around, walking off. Frustration over everything was winning, causing me to react like a little jealous school girl.
Their laughter followed me as I entered the cafeteria and then there was silence. All eyes were on us. For once I didn’t cower and slink away. I stood tall and got in the line. Eli and Caden were right behind me.
I was looking down at the selection when someone in front of me cleared their throat. Looking up, I blanched when another male I didn’t know smiled down at me.
“Hey, I’m Tony. I was wondering if you’re free this weekend?”
Goodness me.
Did everyone know that Cameron had backed off? And now the men were confident in approaching me?
That was until Eli and Caden’s heat touched my back. Their arms were folded over their chests as they stared down Tony.
“Are they your bodyguards or something?” Tony asked.
“No,” Caden growled.
“Brothers?” Tony asked.
“Fuck no,” Eli snapped.
“Just back the fuck off and tell any fool who tries to ask Josie out, they’ll have us to deal with,” Caden ordered.
Heck. Shaking my head, I grabbed my tray and went to the nearest vacant table. I slammed my tray down and sat.
Too late I realised I only grabbed an apple. Shrugging to myself, I picked it up and took a bite. Juice dribbled down my chin. I wiped it away as Eli sat on one side of me and Caden the other side.
“You’ll need more than that,” Caden said and placed two pizza slices on my tray.
“Thank you,” I uttered.
“Precious, we’re only looking out for you.”
“I know, but—”
“Hey, girlfriend.” A leggy blonde smiled at me as she stopped in front of our table. Inwardly, I groaned. I had never met this woman before and yet she was calling me girlfriend. “I’m having a party this weekend. I wanted to know if you all want to come?”
“What’s in it for us?” Eli smiled. Quickly, the smile faded and he turned an apologetic grimace to me as I glared back. I suppose I couldn’t expect to turn his playboy attitude off overnight. At least he felt bad for it.
Glancing back at the blonde, I said, “No, but thank you for asking.” I smiled.
“That’s cool, how about just your friends come then?”
I really wanted to bang my head against the table. Instead, I took my annoyance out on the pizza and bit into it roughly.
“We’re busy,” Eli said.
“Yeah, anything I could help out with?” she purred.
Snorting, I took another bite of my pizza.
“Do you have a problem?” she asked me.
Sighing, I placed my pizza down on the plate and looked back up to her. “No, I don’t, but I think you’re trying too hard. Yes, they’re hot men, but they have already said they were busy and you’re still trying to throw yourself at them.” Slamming my mouth shut, I blushed. Never had I spoken that much to someone I didn’t know, especially so confrontationally.
I was appalled by my behaviour.
Then again, I didn’t like the way she wanted a chunk out of Eli and Caden.
“Scat,” Eli growled.
She huffed and stormed back to her table.
“Sweetheart—”
“I can’t believe I just said that,” I uttered.
“Baby,” Caden started. “You think we’re hot?”
Blushing, I was glad, for once, when we were interrupted again.
“Hey all, you would not believe the rumours I’ve been hearing starring our little girl here,” Simone said as she sat across from us. She looked to my blushing cheeks and asked, “What’s going on?”
Eli chuckled, leaned
back in his seat and said, “Not much. Women keep hittin’ on us. Josie doesn’t like it. She told one girl to stop. Plus Josie thinks we’re hot.”
“Eli,” I snapped.
“Precious,” Caden said in a low tone. Turning my head, he moved in closer, so our noses nearly touched. “We like that you don’t like women tryin’ to sink their claws into us. Shows us that you do want us. So maybe, if it happens, you tell the leeches we’re your fellas.”
“Um.” I blushed, my breathing heavy. “O-okay.”
“Good.” He smiled and tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear sending tingles down my body. He caught that shudder and his smile deepened.
Shaking myself out of the daze, I glanced at Simone and asked, “So, what are the rumours?” before I picked up my pizza and started eating it again.
“Damn, woman. You are so freaking lucky,” she said, glancing from Caden to Eli. “Just from the looks they give you I could come in my pants.”
“Simone,” I snapped.
She shook her head. “What? Woman, don’t fret about the other hussies. The way these guys are with you, they’ll get the picture.”
“Simone. Rumours?”
“Oh, yeah. The others aren’t worth mentioning, but I’ll tell you my favourite. Your boys here are a part of the mob. They think you’re a daughter of some drug lord and they’re here to protect you. Also, seems Cameron isn’t here today. They’re saying they killed him.” She shrugged and started on her pasta salad.
Goodness.
Rumours I could handle. The torment before was something I couldn’t. Let them believe what they wanted. I no longer cared.
Chapter Nine
Josie
The next month flew by. And most of it was shared with happy thoughts and memories.
The first weekend was spent lounging around. The times we did venture out was to take a ride on their Harleys. Sunday morning, early hours, I woke to find myself on the couch asleep with my two men beside me. My head was resting on Eli’s shoulder, his arm slung loosely around my waist as he slouched down on the couch. My legs and one hand were behind me laying upon Caden. His body was also slouched, but both hands were warming my legs. I was worried they were uncomfortable, but I liked the position I was in, surrounded by the two most special men in my life. So it wasn’t hard for me to curl back into Eli and fall back asleep.
University was amazingly peaceful over the month. Cameron was smart enough to stay away from me, though it didn’t stop the deathly glares I received from him every time we had class together or he spotted us walking around campus. He’d also advised his friends to stay away from me. I was having more fun each day I went to uni and I wished I had said something to someone back home a long time ago, even before Simone had taken the matter into her own hands.
I’d been suffering for nothing.
Something I would regret for a while yet.
For the first two weeks, things between the guys and myself were relatively sweet. They would hug me, touch me gently with a light caress or kiss my cheek, forehead and neck.
Then Caden, ten days ago, came to me and told me we were going out on a date. Of course my heart began to beat fast in excitement, but nerves fluttered in my stomach too. Where would they expect the date to end? In bed together? I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
After I dressed in jeans and a nice fitted shirt with a jacket over the top, I walked from my bedroom to find Caden already standing by the door and Eli sitting on the couch.
“Ready?” Caden asked.
Smiling, I nodded and walked to his outstretched hand to grab hold of it. My other hand slid around his forearm.
“We’ll be back later.”
I turned, expecting Simone to be there, even though I knew she’d already gone out. So when I didn’t see her, confusion swept through me. Who had Caden been talking to?
“No worries,” Eli responded.
My eyes widened. “You’re not coming?”
He gave me a wink. “No, sweetheart, this is Caden’s and your night. I’ve got tomorrow night with you.”
Goodness. Now I was a ball full of more nerves than before.
Caden and I would be alone for the first time since they’d arrived.
Alone.
Would he try to kiss me?
Oh, I hoped so...even though the thought sent butterflies to assault my stomach.
Still, I hadn’t gone without Eli before and I was worried he would be hurt over my time with Caden. Would he be jealous and end up lashing out in some way?
“Babe,” Eli called. I then watched him stand from the couch and stalk toward me. He cupped my cheeks and smiled reassuringly down at me. “I love that you’re worried about going out without me, but you and Pick need this, like I’ll need it tomorrow night. We need our time as a couple instead of the three of us.”
“But—”
“Sweetheart,” he interrupted. “I’m not saying I don’t like the times when it is the three of us. But I think, to make this work, we need...fuck, I’m gonna sound like a chick. We need our separate date nights.”
Caden coughed a laugh into his hand. “Yep, chick sounding right there, brother.”
Eli rolled his eyes. “Fuck off, you agreed with me.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Caden’s gaze. “You did?”
“Of course, baby. Billy may be an idiot most of the time, but sometimes he can get something right.”
Eli’s hand slid from my face to my shoulders. “Sweetheart, I need you to do something for me.”
He sounded so serious that I asked straight away, “What?”
“Hit him.” With his head, he gestured to Caden. I giggled when I saw his mouth twitch, showing me he was joking.
“Precious won’t do that.”
Eli leaned forward, his lips swiftly touched my neck, and then he whispered, “Have a good night, babe, and no worrying about me. Just enjoy it, okay?”
He pulled back to look down at me. “Okay, Eli,” I whispered.
That night Caden took me out on our first official date and it was totally different to what Eli and I did together. Caden first took me to a restaurant where we ate seafood, talked and laughed a lot.
He was surprised when I asked him if he thought what we were doing was going to work. His nod was fast and then he said, “Yeah, Josie. I know what I feel for you and I know Billy feels the same way. It helps he’s an okay guy and I trust him with you. It’ll be good. Christ, fuck that, what we’ll have will be fantastic.”
My shy smile told him I believed him. If he and Eli could work together to be with me, then I had to stop worrying about the both of them turning against each other for some reason or another. I had to trust them with that, like I trusted them with me.
After eating, Caden took me, in Eli’s new truck he bought in the first week of being here, for a drive. At first, I thought he was taking me parking...because wasn’t that something couples did?
My men were rough, tough, bikers. No doubt they were feeling frustration in their pants with how slow things were going. And I felt bad for it. Especially when I was the one holding back from them and then, I’d witness, some mornings, their morning wood, which they would try to hide while they went to the bathroom. It wasn’t only their morning wood I’d been thinking about, but the times when I would sit on the couch with them, or the times I cleaned the apartment and I’d find them watching me while they—what they thought discreetly—adjusted themselves in their jeans.
Though, thinking of their...erections wasn’t a good plan on my first date with Caden. When he pulled into the only drive-in theatre, I was thrilled and now turned-on from thinking of them being hard for me.
“Baby, come here,” Caden ordered. With sweating palms, a fast beating heart and nerves dancing in my stomach, I slid along the seat to the middle one, right next to him.
Only I panicked for nothing, because all he did was draw me into his body by his arm around my shoulders. Then he leaned back and we
watched the movie while he shovelled and I nibbled on the popcorn.
My lip was something I also nibbled because I wanted something to happen. I wanted Caden’s lips on mine. I wanted to know what they felt like, what they tasted like. I was weary of the forehead and neck kisses. If we were supposed to be a couple, then shouldn’t it have advanced already?
Then a thought crossed my mind.
Were they waiting for me to make the move?
Goodness, maybe they were. They said they’d take it slow, but it was becoming too slow.
A frustrated and annoyed groan fell from my lips and filled the truck’s cabin.
Why would they do that to me? I was useless in that department. They had to make the move, not me for goodness’ sake.
“What’s up, precious?” Caden asked, his arm tightening around my shoulders.
Without thinking, I moved forward and twisted around to glare at Caden. His arm fell from my shoulders as he stared back with an amused look upon his face.
“Don’t smirk at me, Caden. What were you both thinking? You both know I’m not confident. I need either of you to make the first move. If you leave it up to me, we’ll never get there and by God, I want to get there sooner rather than later, no matter how much it scares me, thinking that somehow I will stuff it all up and you and Eli will laugh at my fumbling schoolgirl ways and leave. I—”
I didn’t get to finish. Caden’s hand went to my neck and I was roughly pulled toward him. There with his lips lightly resting against my mouth, he growled, “Baby, all you had to do was give us a sign, and now you have.” He smiled before his mouth crashed down on mine.
David, my captor so many years ago, had never kissed me and I was grateful he hadn’t. Because what Caden was doing to me was something special and I was happy to have shared it with him and then, I was excited to share something just as special with Eli the following night.
The kiss wasn’t gentle, it was hard and blissful. Caden slanted his head. I followed suit and the kiss deepened when he slid his tongue into my mouth. Goodness. Then he groaned and my hands frantically gripped his tee, never wanting him to move from my mouth again.