“I made mistakes too,” she said, laying her hand on top of his and regretting it. The spark was still strong between them and it instantly crackled. “I shouldn’t have stayed as long as I did. We were two opposites trying to make it work long after we should’ve said goodbye.”
He gazed at her, those intense, almost black eyes piercing into her very soul. “Let me make it up to you. Let me help you, Eli, and Thomas nail Murphy for what he’s done to you. Please.”
She took a deep breath and held it. She knew letting Nash in on this was dangerous. It would open her heart up to him again, and she wasn’t sure she could handle that. Being around Nash was like being too close to a fire. You inevitably got scorched, and she wasn’t sure she could take the burn a second time around.
“I fucked up.” He squeezed her hand. “I want to make it right.”
She couldn’t tear her focus from that handsome, weathered face. He’d changed, she realized. Gone was the cold, aloof Nash she’d been married to. The one who closed off when he didn’t get his way. Now, he was going out of his way for her, and, especially near the end of their marriage, he’d never done that. Instead, he’d punished her by withholding affection when she didn’t do things his way. But now, when they’d made love recently, there was a tenderness to him, a humility, she’d never seen before. The accident had changed him, and maybe losing her had to. Softened the rougher edges. But he could just be playing her for a fool. She knew that was a possibility too.
However, her heart wanted to believe him.
“All right, you can help us,” she said, and the decision both thrilled and terrified her.
He smiled, stroked her cheek. “When this is all over, can we try again?”
She pulled away. “I don’t think so, Nash…” It was too hard to breathe, to think.
He closed the gap she made. “There’s been no one else since you. I meant what I said. Every woman’s face becomes yours, Fiona. I need you.”
And the danger amped up. She had to focus on breathing to keep from hyperventilating. Eli flashed through her thoughts and guilt spiked low in her belly, especially over the words she was about to utter. But the impulse was too strong to resist, and she let her heart rule her head in that moment. She had to test Nash. Had to see just how far he was willing to go to get her back. Had to know if he’d really changed.
“Maybe there is a chance. I can’t guarantee that, though. But, if we try again, I need you to do something for me. Something to prove you’ve really changed.”
“What’s that?”
She sat up straight, summoned all her courage. “I need you to scene with me and Eli. You had your two girls one guy. Give me two guys and one girl. If you really want me back, it has to be on equal terms all the way.”
His smiled turned to an enraged sneer. “That’s blackmail!”
“No, it’s more like coercion.” She stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “Take it or leave it.”
He stepped closer, brought his face near to hers. “Does he know?”
“Know what?”
“That we slept together.”
Fiona’s heart thudded in her ears. Her dangerous game grew all the more risky with each passing second. What the hell was she thinking? There was more than her heart at risk here.
“No, he doesn’t. Not yet.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell him,” Nash snapped. “Unlike you, I won’t stoop to Murphy’s methods to get what I want.”
Then he stalked off toward the bike and waited for her. After she calmed her chaotic mind, she followed. There was no warmth in touching him now as she wrapped her arms around him and prepared for the ride back. The drive was filled with silence.
***
Nash arrived at Thomas’ office early for the meeting Fiona had called. The instant tension between him and Eli didn’t go unnoticed when Fiona and her new lover walked in the room. Her stomach tightened and she took in a deep, cleansing breath. This was like walking a tightrope above a pool of sharks.
Thomas tried to ease the edginess by greeting them warmly. She took a seat next to Nash, which earned her a dirty look from Eli. He pulled up a chair close to her and Nash shot a glare his way.
“Nash is going to help us bring down Murphy,” she said, and Eli’s body tensed.
His jaw clenched and unclenched. “Do you think it’s wise? We don’t really need another person in on this.”
Before the two men could erupt in an argument, Fiona added, “Nash knows the inside of Strength Inc. as well as I do. He still has contacts there. If he goes in, it’ll raise less suspicion than you or Thomas trying to get access.”
Eli nodded, but still gave an unimpressed frown.
Fiona cast a desperate glance in Thomas’ direction and he picked up the cue. “Let’s fill Nash in on what we’ve got so far. You know about Murphy framing Fiona for the steroids, but he was also stealing cash from one of her accounts.”
Nash’s eyes widened. He glanced at Fiona and then at his brother, but didn’t say a word.
“Like I told you,” Thomas said to his brother. “Murphy has a gambling problem, and he was taking Fiona’s cash to fuel his addiction.”
Fiona added, “Murphy had one of his hacker friends accessing my computer, recording my keystrokes, that sort of thing. I didn’t have a clue until the cash went missing.”
“But Murphy isn’t as smart as he thinks he is,” Thomas continued. “He’s been gambling at my casinos, so I have proof of his little problem. That and I have my own set of hacker friends who can prove Murphy was stealing from Fiona.”
“Is he still stealing from you?” Nash practically growled the sentence.
Fiona shook her head. “I changed my accounts right after the money went missing. The bank investigated, but Thomas’ people got quicker results.”
Thomas winked. “I know how to cut corners.”
“The bank traced it to the hacker,” Fiona said. “But they couldn’t tie it to Murphy like Thomas could. That’s why I’ve been staying above the club. Murphy cleaned out my one account. I couldn’t pay my rent and I lost my lease waiting for the bank to clear things up. I finally got my money back, so I can look for a new place.”
“You could always move in with me,” Eli said, which earned him a scathing glare from Nash.
“I paid Murphy’s hacker, Mr. James A. Morris, a visit,” Thomas said, thankfully subduing the tension once again. “He broke and told me Murphy put him up to it. Promised a big pay off, but never delivered.” Thomas opened up his smartphone. “And I recorded our conversation.” He punched a button and the nervous voice of this hacker floated through the tiny speaker.
“So what now?” Nash asked. “How do we thump this bastard asap?”
“Our next move is getting inside Strength Inc. to talk to the other fighters who backed Murphy in framing Fiona,” Thomas told him. “We need to put pressure on them, eliminate more of Murphy’s allies. That’s where you come in.”
“Just tell me when and where.” Nash sat on the edge of his seat.
Eli grumbled beside Fiona.
Fiona ignored this and turned to Nash. “Trent Mako and Fernando Alves corroborated Murphy’s story about me pushing ’roids. I suspect it was because Murphy has something on them. Go in there, find out what it is, and promise them we’ll protect them if they help us pin this all on Murphy. Show them the evidence we have against him.”
“It’s done,” Nash said.
Thomas handed him folders filled with the information he’d need and they agreed Nash would pay the Strength Inc’ gym a visit tomorrow morning. Both fighters would be there then, training. After a hesitant handshake between Eli and Nash, they all vacated the office, but Nash touched Fiona’s shoulder and asked for a moment.
Eli gave them both a scowl.
“I’ll be right there,” Fiona told him, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze before he slowly walked down the hall and waited at the end for her, watching them the whole time.
; “That thing you proposed in the park? I’ll do it,” Nash said.
“What thing?” She knew what he meant, but she was messing with him.
His frown indicated he knew this. “You, me, and him in a scene.” He looked toward Eli. “You want proof I’ve changed, proof I love you and will do anything to get you back, you got it.”
***
When Nash arrived at the Strength Inc. gym, Murphy was nowhere to be seen. This worked to his advantage, since he didn’t want Murphy to see him talking to Alves or Mako and grow suspicious. There would be a perfect time for dealing with Murphy, and Nash looked forward to that.
He spotted Alves at a punching bag near the right hand side of the gym.
“Hey, Alves,” he called out. “You got a minute? Need to discuss something with you.” And he pointed toward the locker room.
“Good to see you, Falcon.” Though Alves expression showed worry rather than welcome. Maybe Murphy had told the fighter about his recent altercation with Nash. “Give me ten minutes.”
Nash nodded and took a seat on the bench near Alves. Heading to the locker room early would just give the fighter a chance to bolt and elude his questions, and he wasn’t taking that risk.
Alves finally made his way over and they headed to a quiet corner of the locker room, farther away from the showers and the hub of activity.
Nash wasted no time in pinning the fighter with the truth. “I know you helped Murphy frame Fiona with the steroid rap. Now tell me why. Fiona was a good rep. She took care of her fighters. Way I see it, Murphy must’ve had something on you and Mako to get you guys to turn on her like that.”
Alves turned grey then white. “You have no proof of that.”
“No, but I have proof Murphy isn’t the golden boy he pretends to be.” Nash proceeded to show Alves the evidence that pinned Murphy as an embezzler. He also played him the recorded conversation between Thomas and the hacker. “You can help Fiona if you give me the info I need. What did Murphy have on you?”
Alves’ lips became a tense, thin line. He looked away from Nash, ran a hand over his short, dark hair. “Murphy knew I cheated on my wife. Fucker got pics of it somehow, and he threatened to tell Mary about my affair. I love her, Nash. I made a mistake. I couldn’t let that happen. Mary would leave me in a heartbeat if she found out.”
His words hit home. Nash remembered his own infidelity and remorse clouded his anger, tempered it with regret. “You want to nail Murphy for blackmailing you?”
“Sure.” Alves nodded. “And I’m sorry … for Fiona. You gotta believe me. I never wanted to do that to her. Fiona was a great rep. She didn’t deserve what Murphy made us do.”
“If I guarantee you protection, will you go on record about Murphy? Take it to Daniel if I need you to?”
“You bet.”
Nash waited until a fighter who wandered into the area left before he continued, “Do you know what Murphy had on Mako?”
Alves’ face wrinkled and his feet grew restless. He couldn’t hide his conflicted loyalties. “Mako was doing steroids and Murphy knew it. He told Mako he’d pin the whole thing on him if he didn’t help frame Fiona.”
Nash took this all in, his anger at the manipulative Murphy raging higher. “Bring Mako by my place tonight. Tell him I’ll make sure he’s protected if he goes on record too. We have to take Murphy to Daniel, but I promise you two will stay clean.”
“Thanks, man.” Alves shook his hand. “I’ll contact Mako and see you tonight.”
They agreed on a time and Nash left. The need for revenge burned hot in his chest.
***
Eli massaged Fiona’s shoulders with the wash cloth and her eyes fluttered closed. She let the stress of the day melt as she relaxed. The warm water eased her sore muscles and the caress of Eli’s skin comforted her nerves.
But her stomach tensed as she thought of the last words Nash had spoken to her that afternoon. He’d agreed to her proposal. Now she just had to get Eli to do the same.
Before she could stop herself, she broached the subject. “Can I ask you something?”
Water sloshed over the sides of the whirlpool tub as Eli leaned forward to kiss her neck. “Of course.”
“Remember how we talked about scening with other people?”
His chest stiffened and his arms went tense as they encircled her waist. “Yes.”
“Would you be willing to scene with me and Nash?”
His silence made her heart thud in her ears. Eli’s fingers dug into her hips, almost painfully, then relaxed.
“You’re going back to him, aren’t you?” His rough words tickled her ear and made her shiver.
Fiona turned to face him. The hurt etched into his features sucker punched her in the gut. “Eli …” She stroked his handsome face. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I won’t lie or make promises I can’t keep. But I do love you, and I want so much to share this experience with you.”
A low rumble emitted from his throat. “But with him?”
She feathered a kiss over his soft lips. “Like I said, I won’t lie. I still love him, too. I thought I was over Nash, but … seeing him.” She shook her head. “He’s like a force I can’t withstand.”
Eli’s frown deepened and he clutched her tight to his chest. “I don’t want to lose you.”
She smiled up at him. “You won’t. But I need you to share me, too. I know I’m asking a lot. I’ll understand if you can’t …”
He gazed down at her, his brow still knitted with wrinkles of concern. “I’ll do this with you, with him.” He let out a sigh that bordered on a growl. “I don’t want to, but for you I’ll do anything. I love you, too, Fiona.” Then he placed a kiss to her forehead.
“Thank you, Eli.” She snuggled deeper into his wet, slippery embrace. “It means a great deal to me.”
She had promised he wouldn’t lose her, but what she couldn’t promise was exclusive love, and she knew this hurt him. It hurt her to be so torn between these wonderful men. But she couldn’t lie to them or her heart—she loved them both and needed to be with them both. What the future held, she had no idea, and it scared her too much to think on it right now.
***
The three agreed on a day. Monday, because the club was closed then. Eli told Fiona to go treat herself, spend the morning at a spa and shopping, but she wasn’t to come back to her apartment at Claim Me until after 6 pm.
She was shocked the two men had actually swallowed their differences and decided to work together on this. So far, no broken noses or calls from the hospital saying she had to pick up two brawling, large males.
With her department store bags, she made her way toward the side entrance of the club. The place was quiet and dimly lit. Just enough light for Nash and Eli to move around should they need something on the lower floor.
She listened as she headed up the stairs to her apartment, but no sounds filtered from within. After unlocking the door, she slowly turned the knob and let herself in.
The main area, which was set up as the play room for her clients, was aglow in soft candle light. Tapers were placed in simple metal candle holders on a torture rack and on a bureau that held sex toys. Some tea lights lined the top of a shelf that displayed whips and paddles.
But the men were nowhere to be seen. At least, not yet.
A shuffling sounded from her bedroom. She put her bags down and headed in that direction. Before she reached the archway, Nash appeared at the threshold.
He was dressed in tight leather pants and biker boots. His thickly muscled chest gleamed, as did his long black hair. Smiling, he walked toward her and took her hand.
Eli joined them moments later, similarly dressed and looking just as devastatingly gorgeous.
They knew what she wanted them to do. Eli asked her to write up instructions for both of them, and she did. Wordlessly, they began. First they lead her to the bathroom.
No one spoke as Eli ran a hot bath filled with bubbles while Nash undressed her. Togethe
r, they guided her into the water. The scent of rosewood and vanilla wafted up around her, making her muscles relax as she sank into the warm, tranquil liquid.
One of them raised her up so he could sit behind her, while the other plunged his feet beneath the surface as he sat on the side. Thankfully the whirlpool was large, or it would never fit them all comfortably. A new, spicy fragrance tickled her nostrils as the lover behind her squirted shampoo into his palm. She dipped beneath the surface and wet her hair before he applied the mixture and washed her red curls.
The last of her tension eased from her muscles. The lover sitting on the end of the tub reached for soap then massaged the slippery suds into her feet, up her ankles. The more they pampered her, the more she relaxed, until she became one with the water. Her muscles were loose and limp. She was fluid and floating.
They made love to her body without bringing her to release. The lover sitting on the edge joined them in the water and, together, the two men washed every inch of her. She burned with desire as they caressed her breasts, teased her nipples, with a soapy wash cloth. Her lower belly ached for climax when they spread her legs and stroked up her thighs, cleaned her sex and rubbed her clit with the soft fibers of the cloth. She gasped out, knowing they wouldn’t give her an orgasm yet, and their throaty chuckles sent a shiver through her.
Once the bath was done, they carried her out of the tub and took their time gently toweling her off. They lingered again at her breasts, swept languid strokes over her belly, and their fingers crawled over her throbbing sex and clit, taking their sweet time in drying her there. She moaned and practically cried out for satisfaction.
But satisfaction would not arrive for some time.
When this was done, their touches turned from soft to dominating. With slitted eyes, one lover led her to the torture device she had chosen. They fastened her with her back against the Saint Andrew’s Cross. Her damp skin tingled from the leathery touch of the crisscrossed device, and her nipples hardened further from the anticipation of what would follow.
BDSM Mega Boxed Set Page 97