Dare to Surrender

by Jeanne St. James

  Eli glanced beyond him to the vast field with a cocked eyebrow. “You think these sod fields are romantic?”

  Grant laughed. “No, but it sounded good.”

  Eli tilted his head as he studied Grant. “Is this a negotiation, counselor?”

  “You mean do I get to top you if I agree to wait to tell her until tomorrow evening? No, but... now that you mentioned it...”

  “Do you agree?”

  Grant sighed. If this is what Eli wanted... “Yes, I’ll agree. But if she gets pissed that you held back that information, I’m placing the blame all on you.”

  Eli laughed. “I accept that.”

  “Do you accept me topping you out here,” Grant swept an arm around, “in the midst of all this nature?”

  “Out in the open?” Eli jerked his chin toward a line of trees that separated one field from the next. “Or can we go amongst that batch of trees over there?”

  Grant slid a hand over his throbbing erection, showing his husband what he had coming to him. “Hmm. Fucking you against a tree... I like the sound of that.”

  Eli suddenly took off at a jog toward the trees. “Then hurry up, mon amour, I’ll be waiting,” he tossed over his shoulder.

  As Grant watched his husband get farther away, he realized with disappointment that they had no lube, so fucking would be out of the question. But that still didn’t mean he wouldn’t get to come. With a smile, Grant chased Eli down.

  Liv wiped her hands on the dishtowel and then hung it to dry. She was a little sad that Grant and Eli would be leaving soon to head back to the city. At least they’d enjoyed a last meal together before they left.

  The Reed-White family was due to return soon anyway. So it wasn’t like the house would be quiet for long. She only wished she was going back home with her men.

  Her men.

  She had to admit, even though the reason she was hiding out on the farm wasn’t a good one, she had enjoyed this time with them. Most of the weekend had been spent either naked or barely clothed, just talking or being intimate.

  Hell, she had even enjoyed being strapped to the St. Andrews Cross in the basement yesterday while Grant and Eli had their way with her, trying things that she never knew existed and definitely didn’t think she’d ever enjoy.

  But she did. Very much so.

  Grant even discussed getting one for their own house. Eli had agreed readily and if they asked her, she’d give that a big thumb’s up. She never thought she’d be into the kinkier side of sex but it was fun and exciting and, though she wouldn’t want to do it all the time, she could see the three of them doing it once in a while to mix things up.

  She could see the three of them doing it once in a while.

  Like they were going to be a permanent thing. Which hadn’t been discussed.

  Though she’d like it to be.

  Maybe she should bring it up before they left. In fact, maybe she should head into the living room right now where they cuddled on the couch, watching some police drama, waiting for her to finish cleaning up in the kitchen.

  Grant had cooked, Eli had set the table and helped with the prep of the meal, and Liv had agreed to clean up the dishes. They were a great team.

  Her burner phone rang nearby and she picked it up to see who was calling.

  Her brother.

  She hit the Answer button. “Hey, Trey.”

  “Hey, sis. How are you?”

  She moved over to the kitchen sink to peer out over the back deck. The sun was just starting to lower. “Great.”

  “So, we need to discuss what you’re doing when you get back tonight.”

  Liv turned and leaned back against the counter. “What do you mean?”

  “When they bring you home tonight, I’d like you to come stay with us for a while. At least until I can find you a nicer apartment.”

  What was Trey talking about? “I’m not coming back with them tonight, Trey.”

  “Sure you are... Unless you want to stay at the farm? Not sure why you’d want that.”

  Liv shook her head. “I’m confused.”

  “They haven’t talked about where you’d go when you got back?”

  “Grant and Eli?”

  Trey let out a hiss. “Yes, of course, Grant and Eli. Who else would I be talking about?”

  “Is it safe for me to come home?”

  “For now, yes. They didn’t tell you?”

  Liv pushed away from the counter, the blood rushing into her head. “Tell me what?”

  “That Dean was arrested and is being held until his prelim.”

  Liv looked toward the kitchen entranceway. “No, somehow they forgot to tell me.”

  Trey whistled softly on the other end of the phone. “Another good reason for you to come stay with us for a while then.”

  “When did they know?”

  “I just know Gryff told Eli Friday night.”

  Liv’s mind spun. Eli said nothing to her Friday night. Nor Saturday. Nor all day today. “They should’ve told me,” she whispered, more to herself than her brother.

  Trey sighed. “Look, I love those guys like brothers, but they shouldn’t have kept this from you.”

  She frowned. “No, they shouldn’t have.”

  “So, my suggestion is what I told Gryff to tell Eli, that you get dropped off here. We can grab the rest of your clothes from their house tomorrow.”

  “What about my apartment?”

  “I paid the remaining balance on your rent and broke your lease.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Because that place was horrible and unsafe, that’s why.”

  “Trey, I—”

  “Liv, I’m your older brother, it’s time I start helping you. We can help each other, okay? Like siblings should. Please, don’t fight this. Come stay with us. Then I’ll get you settled in a new place and we’ll find you a job that not only pays better but will let you concentrate on finishing your degree. Isn’t that what you want?”

  Of course it was. She’d wanted to finish her degree for a long time, but... “Yes, but, Trey—”

  “But nothing. You’ve been on your own for long enough. Did I agree with it? Honestly, no. Do I understand why? Yes. So let’s put that all behind us and move forward. Please?”

  Liv closed her eyes and nodded her head even though Trey couldn’t see it.

  “I’m your big brother, Liv. Let me be that for once.” He sounded dejected and that made her heart squeeze. She didn’t want him to be sad. She wanted him to be happy. He deserved it.

  And so did she.

  “Okay.”

  “So you’ll come back here?”

  Her eyes flicked back to the open entryway to the kitchen. “Yes. For just a little while.”

  “That’s all I wanted. I’ll see you soon. Love ya, sis.”

  “Love you, too, Trey. See you soon.”

  The call dropped and Liv stared at the phone for a moment before stepping forward to place it on the nearby rustic wooden table.

  Eli knew that Dean had been in custody since Friday and said nothing to her. Grant knew, too. Both of them kept that important information from her.

  She did not like that. At all.

  As she stepped into the large great room of the log home, she hesitated just inside the entranceway. Eli and Grant were on the couch with Grant leaning into the darker man, Eli’s arm thrown around his shoulders.

  Suddenly a pain shot through her at the thought of not being with either one of them. If it was true and it was safe for her to go back, did she really want to go stay with her brother? Or did she want to go home with Eli and Grant? Now that it was safe, would they want her to remain in their house? Or would they expect her to go back to her apartment?

  So many questions, so many decisions. And she needed answers.

  But first, she needed to know why they’d kept Dean’s arrest from her.

  When Eli’s head turned to look over his shoulder, he spotted her and sat up straighter, taking Grant with
him. Grant turned to look at her, too.

  “Are you two heading out soon?” she asked.

  “Can you come sit with us for a moment? We need to talk to you,” Eli said, uncurling his arm from around Grant’s shoulders.

  Liv moved farther into the expansive room and came around the couch to face them.

  “Liv, sit, please?” Grant asked, indicating the space between the two men as they slid apart.

  She nodded and suddenly felt as if in a fog like the first time she ever saw Eli in the lobby of the law firm. Though, it was only a little over two weeks ago, it felt like a lifetime.

  They both watched her carefully as she sat between them, their thighs touching, their warmth seeping into her bones. The safeness and caring she felt sitting in between them rolled over her and filled her heart and mind.

  But she still wanted to know why she wasn’t told about Dean. That bothered her.

  “Do you have something to tell me?” she asked carefully.

  “We have something to ask you,” Eli clarified.

  She turned toward him to study his dark features. His bald head that fit him so well, his black eyebrows, his dark brown eyes, his wide nose, his deep dark brown tones of his skin, his full, smooth lips which had brought her to pleasure numerous times. His long fingers with the neatly manicured fingernails as he reached out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear...

  In a very loving way. His expression was soft and because of that, she had a hard time holding on to any resentment she felt from him keeping Dean’s arrest a secret.

  “What do you need to ask me?”

  Grants hand brushed down her back and she glanced over at him next. His dark hair which was currently a ruffled mess, his glasses which made him look so smart and emphasized his beautiful and expressive hazel eyes, his tightly-trimmed shadow of a beard, his corded neck she liked to sink her teeth into. Both men had broad chests and their bodies were absolutely beautiful. She appreciated everything about the two men. Including their intelligence.

  And sitting in between the two felt right. It felt like home, like she belonged there.

  For once, she belonged somewhere.

  She felt included. Wanted. Needed. Appreciated.

  Her heart swelled.

  “Olivia, we’d like you to move in with us.”

  She blinked and before she could stop them, her words spilled out. “Trey wants me to stay with them.”

  “You spoke to Trey?”

  She nodded and met Eli’s gaze. “Yes, just a few minutes ago.”

  She didn’t miss when Eli’s eyes slide to Grant before quickly coming back to her. “What did he say?”

  “What you forgot to tell me... Or didn’t forget, just omitted. You want to explain why?” She needed to at least give them the opportunity to explain. She owed them that much. And it wasn’t like she hadn’t enjoyed every minute she’d spent with them over the weekend. Even if she knew Friday night, the possibility of staying at the farm for the weekend might have crossed her own mind.

  “He told you about Dean’s arrest,” Grant said from behind her with a flat voice.

  She peeked over her shoulder at him, but he was already moving off the couch and coming to kneel on the floor at Eli’s feet so she could face them both at the same time.

  She nodded. “Yes, he did. And like I said, he wants me to come stay with him. Why shouldn’t I do that?” She wanted to hear it from them.

  “First of all,” Eli began. “It was my idea to withhold the information until this evening.”

  “Why?”

  “So we could spend this time together. Just us. Are you angry with me?”

  Liv studied Eli, who genuinely looked a bit worried about how she’d react. She reached out and traced her fingertips over his jawline. “I’m disappointed that you weren’t honest with me. Not that you actually lied. But you should’ve told me and given me the choice to stay or go.”

  Both Eli and Grant nodded.

  “You’re right,” Grant said, placing a hand on her knee and squeezing. “We should have. It’s not just Eli’s fault, Liv. It’s mine, too. I agreed with this. I really think we needed this time together to figure out what we all meant to each other. Would you have wanted to stay if we’d told you?”

  “Yes! That’s the thing, I would have. This weekend was wonderful. It cemented what I was realizing.”

  “What were you realizing?” Eli repeated, his face appearing hopeful.

  “That it feels good to have someone—or someones—there for you. It’s nice to be able to lean on someone in troubled times. To feel loved.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “So just because it’s safe for me to find a new place to live, to go back to my job, doesn’t mean I’d never see either of you again. I mean, we don’t live a state away. Hell, we don’t even live in two different cities. I’d be close.”

  “But you’d be closer if you moved in with us permanently,” Eli suggested.

  “As much as I love being with you two, you can’t keep supporting me.”

  “Liv, we can afford to while you go to school, finish your degree. Find your dream job.”

  Dream job. She had no idea what her actual dream job would be. “Right now, I just want to find something that will pay enough so I’m not always struggling.”

  “I can understand that. But now you can figure out what your career path should be, whether it’s social work or not, and not be forced into taking a shit job. And you’ll never be struggling if you’re living with us. That I can promise,” Grant insisted.

  “You could always come work for the firm,” Eli offered.

  Liv shot him a surprised look. “To do what? Clean the toilets? I don’t have any skillsets for the firm.”

  “Gryff could find you something.”

  “And he’s in agreement with that?”

  She didn’t get an answer. So she figured Gryff may not know anything about what Eli suggested.

  “Let’s not worry about that right now. What do you think about what Eli proposed?” Grant rose up on his knees and leaned into her legs, capturing her hands. He pressed them to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

  She stared down at him at her feet. “You’re completely okay with this?”

  “Yes, I am, honey. I honestly am. Never in my wildest imagination would I think that my husband and I would be inviting a woman to come live with us, to become a part of us. But I am. He is. We are.”

  Relief flooded through Liv. She wanted this, too. She couldn’t be happier at the offer of her moving in with them. Losing some of her independence would take some getting used to, but she was sure all the good that would come from being in a relationship with two men she loved would be worth it.

  “I have something to confess,” she said.

  Neither said a word, instead they just waited patiently as she gathered her courage.

  “I know this is too soon, that things like this normally don’t happen this quickly, but this weekend made me realize...” she hesitated. She was going to flay herself open by admitting what she was about to admit. She would be making herself vulnerable, but she wanted them to know. And if they didn’t feel the same, that was fine. Maybe their feelings would grow to equal hers eventually.

  “What?” Eli finally prodded, beginning to look anxious.

  She cupped his cheek with one hand and Grant’s with the other. “I’m pretty sure that I love you.”

  Both men jerked. Grant sat back on his heels, grabbing the hand at his cheek and sliding it to his mouth to place a kiss on her palm. Eli grabbed her other hand and squeezed her fingers.

  “When you say that, do you mean both of us?” Grant asked.

  “Yes,” she gave him a small smile. “Both of you.”

  “You’re pretty sure?” he asked, his lips twitching.

  “Yes, pretty sure,” she confirmed with a sharp nod of her head, fighting back a giggle.

  “What would make you very sure?” Grant teased.

 
; “Time,” she said honestly.

  “That we can give you,” Eli said. “We’re pretty sure we love you, too, Olivia.”

  She rolled her lips in for a second, then asked, “You’re pretty sure?”

  Eli’s lips curled at the ends. “Yes, pretty sure.”

  “What would make you very sure?” she teased back.

  “Like you, time. I think time’s needed to make this something solid. We’re willing to give it that and it sounds like you are, too. That makes me very happy, ma chérie, as I’m sure it does mon cher mari, too.”

  “Are you willing to give up your apartment, honey?”

  “Trey already broke the lease, so I have no choice. Are you sure you two don’t want me to stay with Trey for a week or two as we explore this further?”

  Grant and Eli’s gaze met and held for a moment before they both looked back at her.

  “Only if that’s what you want or need, ma chérie, otherwise, we’d prefer you to be with us.”

  Liv thought about it for only a moment before saying, “I want to come home with you two.”

  “You can always stay with Trey if you need a break from us bossy men,” Eli said.

  “That’s true.”

  “I was only kidding, ma chérie,” he laughed. “I hope you never need a break from us.”

  Liv pushed to her feet, breaking their contact. She headed for the spare bedroom where her stuff was being kept.

  “Where are you going?” Grant called out.

  “To get my things. I’m ready to go home now,” she called back.

  She smiled as she walked down the hall. Her heart was full. She was going to make a home with these two men and she couldn’t be happier.

  Even coming from rough beginnings, her brother had found his place with people he loved.

  And now she had done the same.

  Finally, after all these years, she was going home.

  Epilogue

  “You did perfect, honey,” Grant said, carrying a bottle of wine into the study along with three glasses. “I was impressed. I’m normally not rooting for the DA, but in this case, I was, and you were the perfect witness. If I were Dean’s attorney, I would have seen my case going down the shitter as soon as you started answering questions.”