“I’m sorry, but I don’t buy it. Maybe you think I’ll be an easy lay. That because you sort of came to the rescue that I’ll spread my legs and let you have at it.”
He pulled her closer and wrapped her arms around his waist as he pressed her against the car.
“No, when you spread your legs for me, it will be because you want me as much as I want you. Not because of one show of chivalry. You sound like you think that’s a dead attribute anyway.”
“I think we’re too old for those kinds of games, Cali,” Dominick added and then reached out and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.
“I don’t play games.”
“Then invite us in because you feel what we feel and you’re interested in learning more about us. We’ll talk, make some plans, and you can kiss us goodnight, send us on our way, and we’ll see what tomorrow brings,” he said to her.
She shook her head and exhaled. “Okay, but talking only, and you don’t stay long. My knee is throbbing and I have to wrap it before I shower, which is time consuming, and it’s late.” She started to walk, then stopped and pointed up at Shimmy. “Oh, and a kiss goodnight may not happen if you don’t behave.”
Dominick chuckled.
Shimmy pulled back and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they followed her up the stairs to her apartment.
“Well, aren’t you lucky that Dominick and I know some first aid. We’ll help you wrap it before you shower,” he said.
She looked at him as if uncertain how to take his offering. Then she whispered as she opened up her door. “Thank you,” she said and they went inside.
* * * *
Cali sat on the couch after getting both men bottles of water.
“This place is pretty big. It’s deceiving from the outside,” Dominick said to her.
“It’s perfect for me, and the second bedroom I use as an office,” she said.
“An office?” Shimmy asked.
“Yeah, I try to keep up with the current trends in business and finance, any new technology for accounting and things.”
“Accounting and finance?” Dominick asked.
She didn’t want to reveal so much to them, but it seemed it was inevitable.
“Just a hobby. I don’t want to waitress or bartend forever.”
Shimmy held her gaze. Damn, was he fierce. She thought Dominick was a leader type, a man in charge, but damn, Shimmy had this look in his eyes like he could interrogate the hell out of anyone and find them guilty of something.
She looked away and then rubbed her thigh.
“So, did Nevin give you some instructions and supplies to wrap your knee?” Dominick asked and put the water bottle down onto the table.
“Just this tape. He said I can use a plastic bag or cut up a garbage bag in strips and tape this to my skin, but to make sure it’s sealed tight.”
“We can help you with that,” Dominick said. He got up to look at the stuff she placed out onto the table.
She stared at Shimmy. “So why have you been pissed off since you started working at the Station?” she asked him.
He squinted at her. “Not exactly my idea of retirement.”
“Then why do it? Unless it’s for money. I understand having to make ends meet.”
“No, it isn’t the money. There are other reasons.”
“You like taking orders from Dominick?” she asked and glanced at him.
“Hey, I run a tight crew, so shit gets done.”
“Your rules are a bit extreme, and Shimmy sounds like a drill sergeant,” she said and then pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
Shimmy lowered down to the floor and came closer to her. He placed his hands on her thighs and caressed them.
Her lips parted and she tried to continue making him talk. If he touched her, kissed her again like in the parking lot, then she could lose control. It wouldn’t be smart. Not with two men this big, this much older and experienced in her apartment alone with her.
“When did you get out of the military?”
He licked his lower lip and then lowered down to kiss her bare thigh. Her pussy tightened.
“Under a year ago.”
“You saw a lot of bad things?”
He lifted up and pressed up against her to whisper into her ear. “A lot, yes.” He kissed her neck and she tilted her head back. He continued to use his lips and mouth to explore her throat and then lower.
“So trying to transition into civilian life is kind of hard.”
“It sucks,” he said and licked along her collar bone, causing the material of her ripped shirt to lower and reveal her scar.
She went to grip his shoulders and he snagged her wrists and held them at her side on the seat. She felt her shirt fall lower. She saw his eyes land on the scar from the bullet wound.
“It went clean through, under your armpit and out?” he asked.
Tears hit her eyes and she tightened up. This was going too far too fast. She didn’t want to talk about it.
She felt the hands on her shoulders and looked up to see Dominick standing close against her and looking at the scar, too.
“Damn, that must have hurt like hell. How close was the person who shot you?” he asked.
She shook her head and tried to pull her hands free.
“Don’t. Please don’t ask me questions. Release my hands, Shimmy, please,” she asked and fought to make the tears disappear. He loosened his hold but didn’t release them.
He leaned forward and kissed her jaw, then her lips. When he pulled back he held her gaze.
“One day you’ll tell us all about it, but for tonight, I just want to know if you’re on the run, if someone is looking for you to cause you harm, or take you back where you got this gunshot wound?”
“I ask myself that question just about every day. The answer? I don’t know. I’m taking precautions.”
“That’s why you wouldn’t give Stew your address and other information the other day? Warren mentioned that,” Dominick asked.
“Yes. I try to be extra careful.” She felt badly and guilty, yet she had nothing to feel guilty about.
“I’m sorry I can’t tell you more. Not right now, anyway.”
Shimmy lifted her hands up to his lips and he kissed her knuckles. When he laid them back down he lifted her leg and Dominick put the things he needed on the table to wrap her knee. As he held her calf and caressed it, she felt overwhelmed with emotions once again. They were both so caring and soft spoken. This was a side of them she didn’t think existed. They were both usually yelling, giving orders, or had continuous scowls on their faces.
“Let’s take off the old bandage and put this new one on before I wrap it up.” They worked together, sealing her knee up nice so it wouldn’t get wet.
She leaned back and looked at the bandage. “Wow, I’m impressed. A cook and a nurse,” she teased.
Shimmy smoothed his hands up and down her legs.
“You have beautiful skin, Cali, and your thighs are really sexy and toned. I can stay and help you in the shower if you want,” he said and she felt her cheeks grow warm and knew she was totally blushing.
“Um, I don’t think so.”
He gave her a wink and then leaned forward to kiss her again. When he released her lips, his lip curled before he stood up. He reached out to offer her his hand and she took it. He pulled her up into his arms.
“You aren’t working Thursday morning, are you?” he asked her.
“No. I’m off Thursday because I’m working Friday and Saturday.”
“With that knee?” Dominick asked with an angry expression.
“I need to work and this is just fine.”
“I’ll pick you up at nine,” Shimmy stated.
“In the morning?” she asked. He chuckled.
“Not an early morning person?” Dominick asked. She shook her head.
“Well, be ready for us.”
“What are we going to be doing?”
“Don’t worry, just b
e sure to wear jeans and pack a bathing suit and change of clothes.”
“No, I don’t wear bathing suits,” she stated.
“Why not?” Dominick asked and Shimmy turned her toward Dominick.
“I just…well, the scar.”
“We saw it so no need to hide it from us. Besides, maybe you’re not the only one with scars,” Shimmy said to her.
She looked at him with questions about that statement, but then Dominick caressed under her hair and tilted her head back and kissed her.
* * * *
“Marlena, just call her and ask her about what happened,” Peter said to her.
“We know what happened. Wayde just told us about the fight outside of the Filling Station and Dominick and Shimmy knocking Jester and Larkin on their asses,” Cole stated and smiled.
“She means about last night and them following Cali to the apartment and staying for nearly an hour,” Peter added.
“I’m just concerned. She doesn’t need any more trouble, and I don’t know those men, except that they’re way older than her, and more experienced, and, well, from the way she described Shimmy and Dominick, working for them in the kitchen, they’re mean and controlling,” Marlena told her husbands.
“She’s a grown woman. She’s beautiful and smart and has a right to live a normal life,” Peter said to her.
“She’s not in any position to be living a normal life. Those men could still be looking for her.”
“There’s no safer place then Repose. Besides, the Perkins men are soldiers. Green Berets who were bad ass in the military. If she’s safe with anyone, it would be them,” Wayde stated.
“Well, that’s just great. You’re condoning this? What about Pete? What is he supposed to tell her father when he calls?” Marlena asked.
“If he calls,” Cole said and she looked at him.
“He’ll call. She’s his daughter,” she said and then her cell phone went off. She looked at it and then looked at Wayde.
“Cali is going out for the day. Shimmy is picking her up. She won’t be here for lunch and she has work the next several nights until Sunday.”
“And so it begins. The courting,” Pete stated.
His brothers chuckled but Marlena was concerned. She texted back. Be careful.
* * * *
Cali tried on three different bathing suits. All of them were skimpy and bought for the purpose of sunbathing, not swimming. She looked at all that exposed skin and got more nervous. Where would they go swimming? Would she be alone in this bathing suit with four big, masculine men who could easily take advantage?
She started to really panic as she stuffed more things into the bag and was grateful she took the time to shave and moisturize. She bought a change of clothes, a nice skirt and blouse to put on afterward, a small bottle of perfume, deodorant, plus items to wrap her knee for swimming. She heard the rev of a diesel engine and then got the text that they were here. Shimmy’s text had said “they.”
She looked at herself in the small mirror and then took a deep breath and released it. When she went to open the front door, Dominick was standing there.
He smiled and looked her over in appreciation.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He pulled her close and kissed her softly on the lips. She grabbed on to his muscular arms and pushed back.
“I thought we were taking things slow,” she said, shocked at how shaky her voice sounded and also how aroused she was at the sight of him. Dominick. Big, tall, tan, muscular Dominick wearing a T-shirt in military green and camo pants. Jesus, could he look any more desirable?
She felt his palm glide along her ass. “Sorry, baby, but you look edible.”
Her cheeks warmed and she shook her head.
“Come on, we want to leave as early as we can so we can enjoy the cool morning. It’s going to be a scorcher by eleven. Got your bathing suit, right?” he asked.
“All set.”
He gave her a wink and they headed down the steps and to the truck. She noticed the trailer attached to the back of the truck and it had ATVs on it. It was an instant smack in the face of anxiety and intimidation when he opened the passenger door to the truck. Warren stepped out and gave her a wink. “Morning, baby,” he said and she shyly looked away. Culhane was driving, Shimmy was in the backseat, and Warren told her to get in. She climbed up into the back and right next to Shimmy, who looked pissed off. His lip was swollen some, too.
“Are you okay?” she asked him. He gave a nod.
“How is your lip? It looks sore,” she asked and went to reach up, but stopped herself. She was the one determined to take her time, yet she naturally was upset by his demeanor, and instantly reached out to comfort him. So weird. She kept her hands on her lap as Warren got in next to her and Dominick hopped back into the front seat. Culhane took off down the road.
“It’s fine,” he said and gave her a little smile.
“No jeans?” Warren asked her.
“I couldn’t get them on with my knee bandaged up, and then when I put on a smaller bandage, the tightness of the jeans made it feel worse. I opted for these.” She tugged on the casual black cotton pants that looked like designer sweatpants.
Warren ran his hand along her thigh. “They look good, and comfortable. Smart choice for what we have planned,” he said and she gave him a smile. As they headed in the opposite direction of town, she wondered where they were headed. She figured they planned on doing some ATV riding, because they were on the trailer the truck was hauling, but there were only four, and five of them.
She swallowed hard as she realized it meant she would be holding on to one of these men for the ride. She looked at Warren’s hand. He was wearing that big, macho military watch she found to look so sexy on his wrist. A quick glance at the front seat and she could see Culhane sporting a similar one, and from the one arm she could see, the man was covered in ink. She swallowed hard. Tattoos hurt. She should know, she had one tiny shooting star below her bikini line and hip. The only way to see it was when she was naked. She thought she had been so courageous and bad ass when her friends in college all dared her to do it. She did, but had to pick something her father wouldn’t find out about. When she saw the shooting star, she knew she wanted that.
She glanced at Dominick, who just turned to look at her and smiled.
“I bet you’re wondering where we’re headed. It’s a few miles up the next turn. There’s a large amount of open land and we can drive right up to the swimming hole to cool off afterward,” he told her.
“It’s really great. There are some tricky trails, then some wide open ones. We only have four ATVs, but since the trails are really for more experienced drivers, we figured you were safest with one of us.”
“Well, thank you for that. I have never been on an ATV before. Do they go very fast?” she asked.
Dominick smiled and Warren removed his hand from her thigh and placed it over her shoulders and the back seat of the truck. He was a big man—they all were—and needed space. It made her feel protected.
“Pretty fast,” Culhane said.
“Are they hard to drive?” she asked.
“They’re expensive and can be dangerous, so you’re not going to,” Shimmy snapped at her. She looked at him and then leaned into Warren, who immediately squeezed her close and took attention away from Shimmy.
“If she wants to try she can, but with one of us on with her. Anyway, Cali, we even packed some lunch.”
“You thought of everything, and it sounds like fun. Thank you for inviting me to tag along.”
Warren leaned forward slightly to grip her chin so she would look up at him.
“Tag along? Hell, baby, we want to spend time with you and get to know you. Maybe even steal a few kisses, too, if you’re giving any out still,” he teased and she knew he was talking about how she kissed his brothers. He leaned closer to her lips and she shyly looked down.
“I thought we were taking things slow.”
He tilted her chin back to
ward him.
“Slow is good. Real good.” He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her tenderly. It was sweet and slow, and when he released her lips she wanted more. She held Warren’s gaze. “If slow is really what you want, then I guess skinny dipping is out of the question for later?” he asked and smirked.
“I can assure you it is most definitely out of the question, Warren Perkins.”
The others chuckled.
“Watch out, Warren, she called you by your full name. She’s serious,” Dominick said and they laughed.
The truck came to a stop along a long dirt road. In the distance she saw what looked like the top of a big house and a barn, but Culhane kept driving the truck straight ahead and then down a narrower path. When the truck climbed a hill and then came over the top and down past a huge number of trees, she gasped at the sight. It was a gorgeous lake with beautiful flowers and greenery around it, including an area with a large picnic table and outdoor grilling area. It looked like someone’s private property. Then, as the truck came to a stop, she saw the floating wooden raft in the center with a ladder attached to it.
“That is gorgeous,” she said as Warren got out and offered her his hand. She immediately stepped down and started walking closer.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. My God, look at those flowers, and this set up, and, oh, God, is that a swinging rope to jump into the water?” She was carrying on and then heard them chuckling. She was about to turn when Dominick snagged her around the waist and kissed her neck.
“I had a feeling you would appreciate this, Cali,” he said and trailed more kisses along her neck until she turned to face him and he kissed her mouth while pulling her up and against his body.
She felt his palm ease along her hip, then over her ass. He squeezed her ass and pressed her tighter as he deepened the kiss. When a second set of hands landed on her hips, she pulled back and Dominick released her lips and smiled. “Damn, baby, we could skip the ride and spread out a big blanket and do a different kind of exploring,” he said and she chuckled, giving his arm a slap.
“I don’t think so.”
The Battlefield Series 5: Breaking Through the Pain (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 10