by Lori King
“Yeah, honey, I’m sorry,” Michael said, stepping forward and pressing a kiss to Gaby’s forehead. Austin watched her eyes drift closed and her head tilt up at the sweet gesture, and he felt a smile spread over his face.
“So now that we’re here…” he started to say, but her pointed glare cut him off.
“No. We are not staying in. Michael promised me that you guys would take me out for a night on the town. I’m going to go in my room and get dressed while you three wait like gentlemen at the bottom of the stairs, so that I can have my date-like moment when I come down the stairs.”
“Date-like moment?” Kendrick asked the question they were all wondering.
“Yeah, you know, when the girl appears and the guy gets to see her all gussied up for him? He knows that she put extra effort into looking beautiful just for his pleasure, and she knows that the sparkle in his eye was worth the extra work. Now go!” She shoved at Austin and Michael, who were standing in her way, and they both stepped backward. “I mean it. I’ll be down in ten minutes.”
Austin smiled at her high-handed demands but followed her directions and went back downstairs to wait outside. It was worth breaking the law to know my woman is okay and to see her in that towel.
“Have I mentioned how delicious you look tonight?” Kendrick murmured next to Gaby’s ear as they danced, and she smiled.
“I got the message about the time you were picking your jaw up off of the floor, and thank you. I wanted to look good for our first official date,” she said, staring up into his beautiful eyes. She could almost feel the smitten look on her own face. These men were so wonderful to her, and knowing they cared enough to be so protective was a major turn-on.
Quinn had helped her pick her outfit for the occasion, and she knew she looked like a million dollars in it. She was dressed in tight black leather pants that molded to her curves and left nothing to the imagination, along with a black silk blouse with a plunging neckline, and matching black Jimmy Choo heels, and she felt like a sexy vixen. If the reactions of her three men were to be believed, she looked like one, too. Michael had, of course, exclaimed over how amazing her ass looked in the pants, while Austin’s eyes never strayed from her cleavage. Kendrick was a little more varied in his interests, but she couldn’t escape the heat in his gaze when he ran it over her.
Their date was perfect so far. They had gotten to Kraken’s Cave early enough to get a large round table between the bar and the dance floor, and after just one drink she had convinced the guys to dance with her. Swaying to a soft eighties ballad in Kendrick’s arms was pretty much her idea of heaven, and she pressed her nose against his chest, inhaling deeply.
“You smell good.”
His laughter rumbled through her, and she grinned up at him. “Thank you. So do you. You always smell like lilies to me.”
She flushed with pleasure. “Lily of the valley. It’s the perfume I wear. I like it because it’s soft and not overpowering.”
“Just like you,” he said, pressing a kiss to her lips. “My mom used to grow lilies in our yard when I was a kid. Every spring the smell would blow through the whole house, and it always made me think of her.”
Gaby looked up into his eyes, her heart breaking for his loss. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, it brings up good memories for me.” He smiled down at her. “What about your parents? I already know that your dad is some bigwig, so who is your mom?”
Gaby scrunched up her nose and frowned. “Bigwig? Well yeah, I guess so, but to me he’s just my dad. My mother is Mariella Larkin, better known as Mari. She was a debutante from a good family, and she met Daddy young. They had a whirlwind relationship and marriage that produced exactly one child before they fell out of lust with each other. They are legally still married, but I don’t believe they have been in the same room together since my high school graduation. Daddy has more mistresses than I can count, and Mom bleeds money, but they love me in their own way.”
“Sounds like a harsh way to grow up to me,” Kendrick said, looking down at her sympathetically.
Gaby shook her head, “No, I had Mama Lupe. Quinn’s mother was my adopted mom basically. She taught me how to be better than that, and how to reach for my dreams even if they collided with my parents’ personal viewpoints. I ended up becoming a designer because of her.”
“Well, then she has my vote as mother of the year, because if you designed the outfit you have on, baby, you’re a genius,” Kendrick said, pressing a quick kiss to her throat as she laughed.
“You’re a smooth talker, but I like it.”
The song ended, and they headed back to the table where the waitress was delivering their food. The guys teased her about ordering a double bacon cheeseburger and cheese fries, but she waved them off. If they are going to be with me, then they better see the real Gaby from moment one, she thought as she dug into her yummies.
As they settled into eat, Kendrick noticed Jackson Stone leading a strange woman through the bar. After a quick wave, Jackson stopped looking irritated at the delay.
“Hey, Stone. Do you guys want to join us?” Kendrick asked as they all took in the newcomer. She was stunningly beautiful with light-brown hair and hazel eyes, but it was the flare of determination and excitement that Gaby could see in her that made her want to know her.
Jackson shook his head. “Sorry, Kendrick. Maybe next time. We were just leaving. Katrina Cross, this is Kendrick McClure, and Austin and Michael Curtis. We work together. And this is their girlfriend, Gaby Larkin.”
Gaby’s grin widened as she waved from her seat across the table. She was too far to shake Katrina’s hand, but she was close enough to see the tension in Jackson’s muscles as Austin and Kendrick shook her hand. Michael’s blue eyes sparkled with humor. “Do my eyes deceive me, or is Jackson Stone out on a date? Has the world ended and we didn’t get the memo?”
Gaby gasped at Michael’s teasing, while Austin reached out and slapped his brother on the back of the head. Katrina just laughed openly and hooked her arm through Jackson’s. “Sorry, Jackson’s still a little put out that I pulled my gun on him earlier.”
The group went silent, staring at Katrina like she had just told them that she was an alien from the planet Zorn, and she was stealing Jackson away. “You…pulled a gun on the lieutenant?” Austin asked slowly in disbelief.
“Well yeah, but it was a mistake. Okay, so not really a mistake since I meant to, but you know a girl always has to be careful when a man creeps up on her on a deserted road.”
“I did not creep up on you,” Jackson snapped.
“Sure, honey.” She batted her eyelashes at him then smiled at the group again. Gaby choked back a laugh at the wink that Katrina threw her, while her guys still seemed wary, as if not quite sure what to think of Katrina.
“Are you new in town, Katrina?” Gaby asked with a warm smile. She was pretty good at reading people, and Katrina seemed like the kind of woman who could throw down and have some fun. Hell, any woman that could get under the cold skin of Jackson Stone was worth getting to know.
“Call me Trinity, please. And yeah, just got here today. I’m staying at the resort.”
“That’s an awesome place, and I love their spa. You should stop by my store if you get a chance the next time you’re in town.”
“Oh? What kind of store?”
“I just opened Designs by Lark. It’s a clothing and lingerie store a block over,” Gaby said with a proud grin.
Trinity’s eyes opened wide with interest. “Oh yeah? I will definitely have to stop by. Not that I wear underwear much. But still, it’s always fun to have something hot to wear that a man can rip off me.”
The men all gaped at her, but Gaby laughed. “That’s what I thought when I opened it.”
“Excuse us, we’re leaving.” Jackson snapped out of his stupor and grabbed onto Katrina’s arm. With a quick wave good-bye the two headed out the door of the bar leaving a stunned audience behind.
“Hell has fro
zen over,” Michael said, and Gaby fell into a fit of giggles.
“Oh, he deserves her. She’s going to give him a run for his money.”
Austin frowned at her. “Why do you say that?”
“A woman’s intuition. Now, who’s on deck for the next dance?” Gaby asked. This night was actually turning out to be one of the best nights of her life. She was surrounded by three men that she was hopelessly and helplessly falling love with. What could possibly go wrong? A flash of Tristan’s face appeared in her head, and she felt a frown mar her brow as she followed Austin to the dance floor.
She didn’t hide it fast enough, because he was immediately wrapping an arm around her and tipping her head so that she was forced to look into his eyes.
“What is it? What’s wrong, love?”
“Nothing, I’m great.”
“Then what’s the frown about? We haven’t even started dancing yet, so I couldn’t have stepped on your toes already.”
She laughed. “No, you didn’t. I was just thinking and got distracted for a moment.”
Austin’s arms held her close to his broad chest, and they rocked to the music. “The only thing that should be distracting you is me and my brothers. Tell me what’s going on in that sexy head of yours.”
She hesitated, trying to decide if she really wanted to tell him about Tristan or not. The likelihood of Tristan carrying out any of his threats was minute, but if she wanted to give this relationship a chance, she needed to be honest.
“My ex-boyfriend called me yesterday, and he said some nasty things. It’s not that big of a deal. In fact I was thinking about how lucky I am to have found you three after spending almost a year with his dumb ass.”
Austin’s arms tightened. “What did he say, Gaby?”
“He called me a few names, and he said that he was going to come to the island and bring me back to New York. I know it was just talk, but it bugged me.”
Austin stopped moving and pressed against her shoulders to lean her back. “He threatened you?”
“Not exactly—”
Before she could get another word out, Austin was dragging her back to their table and his brothers.
“Gaby’s ex is threatening her.”
Kendrick and Michael instantly looked volatile, and Gaby rushed to clear the air. “Wait, let me explain!”
“What’s his name?”
“What did he say?”
“If he’s threatening you, I’ll rip his balls off.”
She threw her hands up and growled. “Stop it. Let me explain before you three go roaring off to rip the skin off of the guy! Tristan Rogers is the son of people my parents know. He is also a fellow designer, though he can’t keep a job because he’s an asshole. His parents own multiple corporations that deal in textiles and design, so we had something in common. We dated for about ten months, and then I ended it right before I moved back here. He hasn’t quite accepted that the relationship has run its course, and he called me yesterday. He was angry, and he said some things that I honestly don’t believe he meant.”
“What did he say?”
She met Kendrick’s steady gaze and took a deep breath. “He said to pack my bags because he was coming to Sunset Point to pick me up and take me back to New York.”
The three men exchanged looks that seemed to hold a whole lot of meaning before anyone spoke again.
“Do you want to go back to New York?” Michael asked softly. The fear in his voice pierced her heart, and she reached her hand out to cup his cheek.
“No, Michael, I don’t. I don’t love Tristan. I never did. I want to stay here and see where this goes with you three. I’ve built a life on Sunset Point, and I have no intention of messing it up.”
All three men seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and Michael pulled her into his lap, nuzzling her ear. “Good, because, baby, he would have to go through all three of us and the entire SPPD to get to you.”
She laughed and kissed Michael deeply. “It’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine.”
“When you say that his parents were friends of your parents…Gaby…what does your father do for a living?” Austin asked, his jaw clenched. She could see on his face that he already knew the answer, but he was waiting for her to come clean.
“My father owns several companies, but I’m sure you already know this. His parents owned a large cattle ranch in Texas, and they turned it over to him when he was nineteen. Being young and naïve, he decided that the land must be oil rich, as a ranch to the north of his property had found oil. Surprisingly, he was right. When he struck oil, he was pretty much instantly rich. He sold his oil company several years ago, but by then he had varied his interests. He still owns a cattle ranch—the largest in Texas—but he also has his hand in other industries. Including textiles.”
She watched them, waiting for their reaction, but they all just seemed to take it in. No on drew away, or grimaced, or even looked down their nose at her for having money. It was refreshing.
“So, you’re telling me that your dad is really, really rich?” Austin asked slowly. She nodded, and he nodded back, and then they just sat there for a few moments, her body tense in Michael’s lap.
“Are you embarrassed by it?” Kendrick asked with a frown.
“Not exactly, I just…well…all of my life everyone has wanted something from me. I can’t even tell you how many men have feigned interest in me because of my father’s money. I had to be sure that you guys liked me for me.”
“And now?”
She frowned at Michael’s question. “Now what?”
“Are you sure now that we want you for you, sweetheart?”
She blushed and smiled a little, “Yeah, I think I am. You guys don’t treat me like property, or like a prize to be owned. You treat me like an equal. Like you really want me.”
“You got that right, love. We want you. Now, if you’ve finished dinner, we would really like to take you home and show you how much,” Michael said into her ear, and she felt the shiver of heat skim down her spine. Her body shuddered, and her pussy throbbed. This was it. After a week of waiting, they were finally going to make love to her again. Her body reacted hot and fast, and she stood up abruptly.
“Last one to my place has to watch,” she said, and she spun around to take off out the door of the bar.
She heard Austin and Michael curse as Kendrick laughed behind her. One of the three of them was going to have to stop to pay their tab, but she wasn’t going to slow down to see which one. She wanted them to chase her. The anticipation that had been building in her body for the last week was threatening to explode, and they were offering to help her burn it off. She was ready.
Kendrick caught up to her first, and she yelped in surprise when he scooped her up in his arms, carrying her with ease.
“What are you doing? Kendrick! Let me down!” She struggled for a few minutes, but his arms were like tree trunks with no give to them.
“I’m carrying you off into the sunset like Prince Charming, Gaby-baby. See, there’s the sunset, and here I am carrying you off. Do you think the Prince took Cinderella to an apartment to have his wicked way with her?”
She couldn’t help it. She began giggling at the image of the stately cartoon character doing the nasty with the prim and proper princess. It just struck her as funny, until the moment Michael and Austin caught up to the two of them, and she caught a glimpse of the desire in their eyes.
This was going to be a night to remember.
Instead of taking her to her place, Kendrick physically carried her the seven blocks to their condo on the beach. She would have expected him to be huffing and puffing after carrying a hundred and fifty pounds of woman in his arms that far, but instead he seemed amped up and capable of carrying her for another dozen blocks easily.
He let her slide down his body, leaving no question about his desire for her, and when she was standing on her sexy four-inch stiletto heels again, he gripped the back of her head and brought their lips tog
ether in a heated kiss. She writhed against him, trying to get friction to the parts of her which needed it the most, and when Austin stepped up and pressed against her back she moaned into Kendrick’s mouth.
She leaned back a little to allow Austin’s hands room to move up her sides and cup her breasts. Being back under the gentle touch of her men felt like coming home. She was nearly purring with pleasure as they touched her everywhere.
Silent conversations were happening around her, because Michael cleared space on their dining room table, while Austin lifted her arms to pull her shirt off. Kendrick pulled his mouth away from hers as the shirt came between them, and he focused on the snap of her pants. By the time Austin had her bra off, Kendrick was shoving her pants and panties down to her ankles, and Michael was on his knees releasing her feet from her strappy shoes.
It was like being caught up in a tornado of hands as they stripped her clothing and managed to seat her on the edge of the table. She didn’t even have time to protest before Michael’s head was buried between her thighs. Planting her hands just behind her, she held herself up, as his tongue feast on her slit and drove her quickly to the edge of orgasm. Austin and Kendrick were both stripped of their clothes when Michael paused and flashed a smile up at her. His lips were covered in her juices, and his face was flushed with desire. The dark blue of his eyes had shifted to nearly black, and she could see the emotions rolling through them.
“You taste like candy, sweetheart,” he said, pressing a sweet kiss to her inner thigh before delving back into her cunt like a madman.
Michael brought her to orgasm in no time flat, and when her arms got shaky enough that she struggled to hold herself upright, he jumped to his feet and pulled her up to meet him. His cock was hard behind his zipper, and she wanted it inside of her more than she wanted anything else at that moment. Reaching down between them, as he walked with her in his arms, she managed to slide the zipper down and pry the button open, but she just couldn’t get his cock out where she wanted it.