Another Second Chance

by Avery Gale

  “Take your medication, Spitfire. Fighting the pain will only slow the healing process. Now that you’ve agreed to be ours, we’re going to make sure you take better care of yourself.” Liam was right, she’d done very little to make her small apartment feel like home. And what they’d found in her kitchen barely qualified as food.

  “Can I take a nap out here?” She hesitated, and he could see she was debating whether or not to continue. “I… well, I don’t want to be by myself.” She nodded to the table where Liam had been working. “I know you both have work to do and…” Her words trailed off, and Bode stepped forward to tip her chin up until her eyes focused on his.

  “First lesson. You will never be punished or thought less of for telling us what you need. Eventually, we’ll be able to anticipate most of those needs, but we’ll never get it right one hundred percent of the time.”

  Liam had moved in so that his chest was pressed against Colbie’s back. Bode watched as he leaned down to speak close to her ear.

  “This will only work if you’re honest with yourself and with us. You’ll find we are quite accommodating if you are respectful with your requests. Quite accommodating, indeed.” Her throaty moan made both men smile as they settled her on the large living room sofa.

  Bode watched her eyelids close as if they were in slow motion and within seconds, the rhythmic sound of her breathing told him she was already fast asleep. Feeling his friend’s scrutiny, he looked up at Liam and shrugged.

  “I’m trying to hold back, I know I should, but there is something about her that’s a magnet to my steel. Hell, I’ve spent the better part of the past twenty-four hours just watching her sleep and the pull has gotten stronger.” If I’m falling this fast when she’s sleeping, I’m fucking doomed when we finally get her between us.

  Chapter Ten

  TOBI KNOCKED ON her husbands’ office door and waited. It had always seemed odd to knock when they lived in the building, but now that they’d moved into their own home, it wasn’t nearly as difficult to remember. And remembering reaps rewards. Kyle shouted for her to enter and she took a deep breath and pulled open the heavy wooden door. Stepping inside the oversized space, she was surprised to see he was alone. He didn’t look up until he heard the lock on the door snick; the sound seemed louder than usual in the silence.

  A dark smile filled with promise spread over his handsome face, and Tobi felt her breath catch. She would have thought the intensity of her attraction to her men would fade over time, but the opposite seemed to be true. Moments like this, she could only stand and stare at the handsome man looking at her like he wanted to lay her out on his desk and devour her. As mirror image twins, both her men looked like they should be gracing magazine covers rather than running a kink club. She still wondered about those who couldn’t seem to tell them apart. That had never been an issue for her. She’d never confused them, even when they’d tried to fool her.

  Shaking off her mind’s wandering, Tobi was surprised to find he was no longer sitting behind the mammoth hunk of oak he called a desk. Leaning against a dark leather sofa facing the fireplace, he stood watching her. She felt her cheeks heat when she realized she was staring at him like he was an afternoon snack. But dammit to doorknobs, he was delicious and all she could think about was how much she wanted to taste him. Every. Single. Inch.

  Her body had been hijacked by the hormones surging through her veins and every nerve ending fired in unison, making her skin tingle. When her nipples peaked, the lacy bra and silk blouse she wore did little to hide them from his view. She saw his pupils dilate when his gaze fell to her chest. She’d given up trying to figure out what men as good looking as Kyle and Kent could possibly see in her. Now she just counted it as a blessing and thanked her lucky stars every day that she’d barged into a meeting between her boss and Lilly West.

  The local magazine Tobi had worked for was interested in the club the West’s were opening, but Kent West had dodged her requests for an interview for weeks. Her chance encounter with his mother was the reason Tobi was standing here today. She’d been on her way to the interview Lilly made possible when the torrential rain from a sudden thunderstorm sent her small car hydroplaning into a water-filled ditch. Attempts to flag down passing cars from the side of the road had proven futile, so she’d stood defiantly in the middle of the highway. Kyle had nearly run over her and the fireworks that followed had been the tip of the iceberg. The chemistry between the three of them was undeniable and incendiary.

  “I don’t know what you’re thinking, kitten, but your breathing just kicked up, and I can see the flush of arousal spreading over your exposed chest. I do love your low-cut blouses. Not only because they give me sweet peeks at the lusciousness awaiting me, they also let me see that first evidence of desire moving over your flawless skin. The rapid rise and fall of your breasts as your breathing shallows pushes the peaks of your nipples temptingly into the silk. But it’s your eyes that tell me you’ve gone to a memory that’s sent sweet cream to your pussy. I know if I reached under that scrap of material you call a skirt, I’d be able to slide my fingers between your wet folds and pull them back coated with the evidence of your need.”

  Everything he’d said was true. Every word. He hadn’t even touched her, and she was already skating dangerously on the edge of orgasm. The man was her Master in every sense of the word, but he often reminded her that his real power lay in his love for her. She knew it was true… he gave her exactly what she needed. Her biggest hurdle as a submissive was accepting their definitions of need weren’t always the same.

  Forcing herself back to the moment, she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. The corners of Kyle’s lips twitched, and if she didn’t know him as well as she did, she would have missed it. The small tell let her know he recognized her switching mental gears. When she didn’t move, he held out his hand to her. He hadn’t needed to speak. The small gesture had been enough to call her to his side. Standing in front of him, she relaxed. The tension she’d felt under his scrutiny always fell away when he touched her. His chocolate eyes were warm with a love she hadn’t believed was possible before she met the two of them.

  “That brilliant mind of yours is wandering again, kitten. Let’s see if we can’t get you to focus, shall we?” He widened his stance and pulled her between his legs until she was flush against his chest. Wrapping her long hair around his fist until it tugged at her scalp, Kyle made certain her focus was centered on him. His tight hold on her hair sent tingles of pain dancing over the roots and forced her attention to zero in on the man lowering his lips to her. Just before they connected, he smiled down at her.

  “There’s the look every Dom loves, all your thoughts directed on your Master. Anticipation sending those delicious endorphins coursing through your blood. Your body was already responding to me, and now that your mind isn’t spinning out of control, it’s catching up as well.”

  He was right, her body was balanced on the precipice, and his words were a large splash of gasoline onto the fire. Kyle had proven time and again he could make her come with words alone. Add in the small bite of pain and the underlying feeling of being bound? Yep, she was toast. His lips brushed back and forth over hers with a featherlight touch, making her want to tangle her fingers in his hair and pull him close, so she could plunder his mouth and claim him all over again.

  The citrus mint smell of his favored mints filled her senses, the scent unique to him and one she associated with intimacy. She’d once read that a person’s sense of smell was a huge memory trigger and her Masters made it easy to believe.

  “There you go again, my love. Time to step up my game if your mind has time for a field trip.” Sealing his lips over hers, he stole her breath and every thought. Nothing existed outside of his kiss. Probing every corner of her mouth, his tongue was relentless in its exploration. Tobi found herself just hanging on for the ride.

  *

  KYLE FOUGHT HIS SMILE as Tobi pressed herself against the hard ridge of his
erection. Damn, she was so wonderfully wanton; he often wondered what he and his brother had done to deserve her. She had a mind as sharp as anyone he’d ever met, and her loyalty to those she loved was unfailing. He’d never known Tobi to dislike anyone without a solid reason. Their parents adored her and their children thought their mama hung the moon—he and Kent agreed. She was a natural submissive who challenged them daily because she craved the reassurance they cared enough to rein her in.

  After her mother died when she was seven years old, the only attention Tobi had gotten was cruel beatings her father had administered. Her older brother escaped to college, and his indifference had crushed her. Kyle still beat the shit out of the bag in the gym anytime he thought about her father chaining her to the walls and thrashing her with anything he could lay his hands on. The only thing that kept him and Kent from killing the bastard was that he was already dead.

  He could feel the heat of Tobi’s sex through his jeans and the heady scent of her arousal surrounded him. He couldn’t count the number of times since she’d entered their lives he’d nearly come in his pants. Damn, the woman made him feel like an out-of-control teenager most of the time.

  One of the things he loved about sharing her with his brother was knowing they could play off one another when their control was too close to the edge. Their twin bond was strong enough that verbal communication wasn’t usually required. Hell, Kent was probably cursing like the sailor now because he’d was stuck in Houston waiting for the weather to clear enough so he could fly home. They’d taken off a few minutes ago, and Kent was faunching at the bit to get back to Tobi. How his mother had talked him into flying her to the Gulf was a mystery to Kyle. All he knew was she was working on something special for their dads for their upcoming sixtieth birthdays, and she’d wanted to approve the final plans personally. Why it was urgent when the party was still ten months away, he didn’t know.

  “Now who’s the one whose mind is wandering?”

  Christ, when had she stopped kissing him? Growling a wicked promise against the shell of her ear, he turned her quickly and bent her over the desk. Lifting her skirt, he smiled when he saw the thong she wasn’t supposed to be wearing.

  “Oh, kitten. What were you thinking coming to me with panties on?” Her only response was a gasp when he ripped what was probably an expensive piece of lace from her quivering body. He didn’t give her a chance to spread herself for him, he simply kicked her feet apart. “Arch your back bad girl. Covering your pussy means those swollen folds are going to feel the sting of the swats you’ve earned.”

  She thrust back until her sex was completely exposed to the fall of his palm. The first strike sent her up onto her toes, and she moaned. Damn, she was so fucking perfect, he wasn’t sure he’d ever stop thanking God he’d sent her to them. He pulled his throbbing cock out from behind the zipper of his jeans between swats, partly to be sure he was ready to fuck her, but he also wanted to avoid the permanent damage the damned metal teeth were doing to a body part he had big plans for.

  After the third swat, he bent down and bit the hot flesh. She’d have a mark, but he’d been careful to avoid breaking the skin. She screamed his name in the way she knew made him completely insane. Moving behind her, he pushed between the swollen folds and smiled as he watched his cock disappear between the glistening, scarlet tissues. When he pressed against her cervix, she groaned and rippled around him.

  “Christ. You are so fucking hot. I don’t have the words to tell you how incredible it feels, kitten. All of those lovely muscles pulsing around me as your heat sucks all logical thought from my mind.”

  “Please, oh please, fuck me, Master. I need to know how much you want me.”

  The last bit made him snarl. “Want you? Kitten, I can scarcely breathe without you.” And it was true. Tobi owned him, heart and soul. He still hadn’t found out why she’d come to his office, but that was going to have to wait. Right now, his wife deserved his undivided attention. Whatever had led up to that whispered admission was about to be pushed so far out of her mind she wouldn’t remember a time when she’d questioned how much he wanted her.

  Chapter Eleven

  LIAM HADN’T NEEDED to open his eyes to know Colbie was awake. He swore the energy in the room shifted, and he smiled to himself. Damn, he was already so in tune with her, it amazed him.

  “What are you smiling about?” Her quiet question surprised him. I guess that smile wasn’t as hidden as I thought it was.

  “I knew you were awake without opening my eyes. Sensing the shift in your consciousness made me feel connected to you in a very unique way, Spitfire.” He opened his eyes to find her watching him cautiously, her brilliant blue eyes shining for the first time since she’d been injured. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

  “I am, but to be honest, I’m afraid to move, and I really need to use the restroom.” Her smile lit up the entire room.

  Liam unfolded himself from the chair he’d been resting in and helped Colbie to her feet. When she laid her cheek against his chest, he felt like he’d just been hit with a sledge hammer. He wrapped his arms carefully around her and held her. For several minutes, neither of them moved or spoke. Until this moment, he’d never understood all the fuss about hugging. Some of the tension he’d been feeling the past several days drained away, leaving behind an odd sense of peace, despite the less than ideal circumstances.

  When she finally shifted in his arms, he let her step back. The shy smile she gave him made Liam’s heart leap. Very soon, she’d know how little need she’d have for shy. He and Bode would banish it from their relationship. He’d always known this would be more than a casual hook up. They’d always planned to bring her into their lives, but they hadn’t planned for it to be as dramatic as it was turning out.

  “If you want to take a shower, I think we could wrap your arm in plastic wrap to keep the dressing dry.” Her hesitation was all the invitation he needed. “I’ll shower with you, of course. I want to be sure you are steady on your feet. There’s no need to add a concussion to the mix. And there’s a bonus, too.” He waggled his eyebrows at her in his best cartoon character imitation. “I’ll get to see you naked—again.”

  “We both get to see her naked.” Liam knew Bode had walked in behind her, but she hadn’t noticed and let out a startled scream before spinning around so quickly her feet tangled beneath her. Colbie literally fell right into Bode’s arms. “Damn, Storeen, you need to be more careful. Master Liam and I have plans for you later which do not include another visit to the local emergency room.” She flushed before hurrying down the hall and the two men stood stock still, watching her retreat.

  “I’m getting plastic wrap to put around her wound. We won’t be able to stay in there long, but a brief lesson will be good for her.” Liam made his way into the kitchen and returned a few seconds later with the wrap and a roll of bondage tape. When Bode raised a brow in question, Liam shrugged. “It will help secure the wrap and who knows what other uses we might find for it.”

  “A couple of bone shattering orgasms will help her sleep later. She’s wound pretty tight. Without the medication, I’m not sure she’d be sleeping at all.” Bode might have been trying to pretend his motives were altruistic, but he wasn’t fooling Liam. The man loved bondage and his eyes had brightened like a five-year-old who’d just gotten his first glimpse of the tree on Christmas morning when he’d seen the florescent pink tape.

  “I agree. Gus said she’s admitted having trouble sleeping at times.” Liam hadn’t been surprised. Considering everything she’d been through and the fear of God techniques the witness protection agents used, it was a wonder she slept at all.

  “Let’s go.” Bode held up a bottle of shampoo and grinned. “I got this from the salon in the Forum Shops Spa. It’s supposed to remove most of the coloring from her hair. They assumed she was using over-the-counter coloring kits and doing it herself, which means it will be easier to break it down.”

  In Liam’s opinion, ad
ding the small specialty shops behind the club had been pure genius. They specialized in all things kink. He’d wandered the small shops when they’d first arrived and marveled at the inventory and elaborate displays. Tobi and Gracie were gifted at marketing. It was easy to understand why they’d built such a successful business consulting for other clubs wanting to copy their idea.

  “Did you make her an appointment? I want her waxed, and she should get any other treatments she wants as well.” Liam was usually the one who took care of the spa appointments for any sub they’d dated, so he’d been surprised when Bode volunteered to make the arrangements. Nodding toward the master suite, he led the way down the hall.

  “The appointment is made and Gracie helped choose the other services since Tobi was in Kyle’s office. Her friend said she’d gone to talk to him about the nanny, but when I walked past the door on the way to the spa, I heard her screaming Kyle’s name, so either their meeting went really well or it went south in a big way. Either way, I knew she wasn’t going to walking out of there under her own steam for a while, so I graciously accepted Gracie’s help.”

  They’d both stripped to the skin, stepped into the shower and went stock still. Colbie’s sweet voice filled the air as she sang, “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver. Liam froze. Her voice was as good as any professional he’d ever heard; hell, she sang it better than John Denver and he’d written it. But it was the words that haunted him. It was one of the few songs from the 1970’s he recognized. The lyrics about leaving sent a shiver up his spine. When she got to the part about returning, her voice broke.

  “I don’t fucking think so,” Bode snarled as he stepped around Liam. She stood in the enormous shower wrapped in a towel. He was glad she hadn’t started the water because he’d learned the hard way there were very few places in the large enclosure where you wouldn’t be soaked in seconds. The damned thing had more showerheads than Home Depot.