Several times over the past heart-wrenching hours they had held her, fetched coffee she didn't want and magazines she couldn't read, trying their best to offer comfort. It was an indescribable feeling, to know these two incredible men cared about her.
Now, she watched both of them doze and felt her heart swell with love. Life was too short—she held the frail evidence in her hand. She couldn't walk away from Brock and Nick. And looking back on it, she thought that was what Papaw had been trying to tell her. She believed he'd initially kicked up a fuss because he knew something was happening to Nana, but when Jessica had panicked and tried to get rid of her two lovers, Papaw had locked them in the room, giving them time to talk and get their feelings out in the open.
But what would Nana think of her granddaughter having what amounted to a married relationship with two men? Jessica knew the older woman was very progressive—even radical—in her viewpoints, but was she progressive enough?
The blue-veined hand moved under her fingers, and Jessica glanced down to see Nana looking at her. Though her grandmother looked tired, she seemed alert as she asked quietly, “What're you still doing here, honey? You should be home getting some sleep."
"I couldn't leave you.” Jessica gave a light squeeze to Nana's hand. “I had to make sure you were all right."
Nana smiled and looked at the dozing men. “It was nice of the boys to come with you."
"Hmm.” Jessica studied her grandmother and decided that now wasn't the time to bring up the unconventional relationship she wanted to pursue with the twins. “They were still at the house when Papaw blew through, trying to tell me something was wrong."
The older woman gave a soft laugh. “What did they think of that?"
"They didn't believe it was him.” Jessica shrugged. “But that doesn't matter. What's important is that you get better."
Nana nodded. She closed her eyes and murmured, “You know, the boys’ grandmother used to tell me about the kind of bond those two share. It would make being married very difficult, I imagine. Unless...” Her lids swept up. Eyes twinkling, she said, “I suppose they could share the same wife. Know anyone up for the job?"
Jessica's heart lodged in her throat. “You ... wouldn't mind?"
"Well, it would cause tongues to wag, wouldn't it? But what you do with your life is nobody's business but yours.” Nana frowned. “Though I suppose you can't actually marry both of them. Which begs the question—which one would you choose, and would the other one be hurt?"
"No, ma'am.” Brock's voice was raspy with sleep. “We've already discussed it, and Nick and Jessie would get married. But I'd be a partner with her in every sense of the word, just the same."
"Well, then, there you are.” She brought up the hand with the IV in it and covered a yawn. “Oh, I'm so tired."
"You go back to sleep.” Jessica stroked her grandmother's hand. “You need your rest."
"So do you, dear.” Nana eyelids drooped, but she kept them open. “You take the boys home and get some sleep. I'll still be here tomorrow.” She gave up the battle and closed her eyes. “Besides, you need to let your grandfather know I won't be joining him just yet. Not now that there might be a chance for a great-grandchild in the near future."
* * * *
Jessica walked into the house and dropped her keys in the small bowl on the antique washstand in the downstairs hallway. It was after two A.M. and she was exhausted. The guys didn't look much more alert than she felt, though Brock did murmur, “We're gonna have to talk about where you keep your keys.” He closed the front door and locked it, then walked down the hallway with heavy treads.
She stuck her tongue out at him and started dragging herself up the stairs. Both men followed her. When she reached her bedroom door, she looked over her shoulder to see them pulling the hems of their T-shirts from the waistbands of their jeans. With a frown, she muttered, “I'm too tired."
Brock shook his head with a sigh and shouldered past her into her room, peeling off his T-shirt as he went. “I am, too, darlin'. But I'm not sleeping in my clothes."
She trailed in after him, acutely aware of Nick following close behind. “There's not enough room in my bed for all three of us.” At the sight of Brock tabbing down the zipper of his jeans, she stopped so abruptly that Nick bumped into her.
"Sorry, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Your brake lights aren't working."
"I only have a queen,” she pointed out. “We can't all fit."
"Sure we can.” Brock kicked off his jeans and hooked his fingers in his boxer briefs. Her gaze riveted to his bulge, she watched in fascination as he peeled the soft cotton over his partial erection and shoved the briefs down his muscled legs.
His cock stiffened, rising to point toward her.
"I'm tired,” she muttered again, with no real heat. Truthfully, if either of them really wanted sex, she knew she could muster up enough energy to participate.
"So am I.” Brock motioned toward his erection. “This guy, though, has a mind of his own.” He moved toward her and cupped her chin in one big hand. “But we can both wait ‘til we've gotten some rest."
"Us, too.” Nick cupped her nape. “You're not gonna sleep in your clothes, are you?"
In a few short moments, they had her undressed and in bed on her back. They lay on either side of her, each with one brawny thigh covering the nearest of her legs, and arms over her waist.
They blanketed her with warmth, making it hard to be alert enough to talk. But they needed to have a conversation.
"We need to talk."
"Later.” Nick pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “We love you, and you love us. The rest will get sorted out. For now, you get some sleep."
"But—"
"No buts.” Brock's deep voice rumbled in her ear. “You and me and Nick will be a family. If we have kids, it won't matter who donated the sperm, because we'll both be the father.” His mouth pressed against the side of her throat. “You and Nick will get married to present an acceptable façade, but in my heart you'll be my wife, too."
"You could at least ask,” she grumbled. She'd never had a man ask her to marry him before, and it looked like she never would.
"Uh-uh.” Nick moved his hand up and cupped one of her breasts. “If we ask you might say no. So it's a done deal."
She couldn't say no. She wanted both of them. She loved both of them. And she'd have them.
All because Nana had wanted extra security put in the old house. While the Phillips twins had made her house safe, they'd stolen her heart. Sometimes it took a thief.
Or two.
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Sherrill Quinn
Sherrill Quinn spent twenty years building her career in Human Resources, reaching the pinnacle as Vice President only to realize her life needed to go in another direction. After taking a “how to write erotic romance” course online in February 2005, she discovered her true calling and hasn't looked back.
You can read about her current and upcoming books at her website, sherrillquinn.com. She'd love to hear from her readers at [email protected].
* * * *
Don't miss The Claiming, by Sherrill Quinn,
available at AmberHeat.com!
As an Intergalactic Marshal, Kassinda Marjani is all about the job. When her brother is imprisoned on trumped-up charges and she's blackmailed into capturing Rhys Valorian ... well, she's determined to bring in the exiled vampire prince—her former lover—to save her brother's life.
But things don't always go according to plan...
When Kassinda and Rhys crash land on a barbaric planet where men cherish their women and see to their pleasure whenever—and wherever—necessary, Kass realizes she might have to move onto Plan B. If only she had a Plan B.
Good thing she has Rhys...
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Don't miss Surrender's Edge, by Pepper Espinoza,
available at Amber-Allure.com!
Geoffrey Kirk has been in love with his best friend, N
ash, since almost the moment they met. Convinced that Nash would never return his feelings, he forced himself to move on, and fell for his assistant, Sunny. Despite his strong feelings, he never acted on them, and when he discovered Sunny and Nash together, he thought he lost his chance for happiness forever.
Until Sunny and Nash make it clear that he hasn't lost anything ... and he still has a great deal to gain...
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Don't miss Soul Obsession by Amy Wolff-Sorter,
available at AmberQuill.com!
A story blazing with reluctant passion, bitter betrayal, ghostly retribution and the battle for a man's very soul...
A brilliant businessman...
Daniel Grogan is at the top of his game as he prepares to marry a wealthy socialite. But something goes wrong on his wedding day and his path takes a crazy turn toward strange visions of mountains and oceans, and a growing obsession about a woman he's never met face to face.
A rebellious rabbi...
Peggy Witwater entered the rabbinate to serve her people. When congregational politics deal her a vicious blow, she fights the tide of change while trying to help Daniel; not realizing her actions could ignite her own deeply buried obsessions.
Passion and vengeance from beyond the grave...
As the two are drawn toward one another, they fall under the shadow of a vengeful spirit who will stop at nothing to claim Daniel. To win the battle for his soul, Daniel must acknowledge past wrongs, or risk falling into an eternal—and fatal—enchantment.
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It Takes a Thief or Two Page 6