by Leah Brooke
“I’m sure it’s not. I’ve been with both you and your brother, remember? I recall it being pretty hot.”
Glancing at Ian, she frowned at the look of anger on his face. “What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so surprised? You were there.”
Ian whipped his head around. “I know I was there. Both times. I also know that when you and I have sex again, it’s going to be a hell of a lot more than pretty hot.”
Serena grinned. “Oh, is it like a competition? Hmm, if you and Alastair are going to try to outdo each other, I’m the one who’s going to be the winner.”
Ian cursed under his breath, curses that Serena had never even heard put together so inventively.
“So, lady, you like sex?”
Serena shrugged and looked out the window. “Sure. What’s not to like? Both of you seem to be pretty good at it. It felt good.”
“Felt good? Is that all sex is to you? Feeling good?”
Serena struggled to hide any trace of emotion. “Don’t tell me it’s more to you. You already told me the score.”
Ian’s tires squealed as he whipped into the drive leading to the house he and Alastair shared.
“So sex is just for fun?”
A little surprised at the anger that poured from him, Serena frowned. “Isn’t that what you just said? After all, what kind of relationship would we have if you and your brother were both having sex with me?”
Ian stabbed the button for the gate with a lot more force than necessary, his tone thoughtful. “Yeah. What kind, indeed?”
He roared through the gate and stabbed the button again to close it, the light illuminating the grounds also illuminating his hard features. “So you’ve really only had one lover?”
Serena laughed softly. “Are we really going to discuss lovers? I’m sure you don’t want to tell me how many you’ve had, or has it been so many that you haven’t kept track?”
Ian slammed on the brakes just inches from the garage wall. “We’re not discussing me! We’re talking about you. How many men have fucked you? How many men have you let sink into that tight pussy?”
Serena jumped out of the car, barely resisting the urge to slam the door. Keeping her expression bland to keep the hurt from showing, she winced as he slammed his own door, his long strides eating up the ground as he circled the car and came toward her.
“You and your brother are something. I don’t have any diseases, if that’s what you’re worried about. Besides, I won’t be taking you into my bed again anytime soon.”
“That’s what you think.”
“How many women have you fucked?”
His jaw clenched. “None of your business.”
“Oh, so I’m supposed to tell you, but you don’t have to tell me.” Smiling up at him, she tried not to think about how incredible it felt to be in his arms. “Guess what, Ian. You’re not as sophisticated as you’d like to think. You’re a male chauvinist.”
He lifted her into his arms and high against his chest, easily overcoming her struggles. “Whether you want to admit it or not, baby, men and women are different in every way. I’m not discussing my previous sex life with you. I’m free of disease, just like Alastair. You don’t need to know any more than that. Now, how many lovers have you had?”
“I already told you that it’s none of your business.” Frowning, she looked up at him. “I suppose you think I’m a slut because both you and Alastair screwed me.”
He shook her, the fury in his eyes plainly visible. “Damn it, Serena. It’s not like that!” A muscle worked in his jaw. “I swear, woman, you know just how to push my buttons.”
Shrugging again, and a little shaken by his anger, Serena deliberately kept her tone low and calm. “That’s exactly the way it is.”
Reaching up, she cupped his jaw. “Don’t ruin it. We all know it’s not going to get serious. Let’s just enjoy it. Oh, look, Alastair’s waiting.”
Ian carried her up the steps, brushing past Alastair, who stood in the doorway. “Yes, he’s been worried about you.”
He set her on her feet just inside the door. “Talk to Alastair. Let him know that you’re all right before he gives me a headache asking about you. Tell him what Steve said, and then you can tell him that sex with him was hot and made you feel good, but when it’s done, it’s done.”
Alastair took her in his arms as soon as her feet hit the floor, gathering her against him. “What the hell’s going on? Are you all right?”
Serena watched Ian walk out of the room, his anger evident in every stride.
He cared. He didn’t want to, but he did.
She wrapped her arms around Alastair, pulling his head down as she stood on her toes. “Look at you. You’re all scratched and beat up. Your eye’s swollen. Bet it’s going to be black and blue tomorrow. Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Wincing at the cut on his lip, she pushed his damp hair back to study his face as he pushed Ian’s jacket off of her shoulders. “Carello did all this?”
Alastair frowned, looking insulted. “Of course not. His bodyguard did most of it. Are you okay?” Setting her slightly away from him, he ripped her dress the rest of the way off of her, leaving her dressed in only her bra and panties.
Turning her, he ran gentle hands over her, pausing at the stitches on her arm.
“Jail’s too good for them. When I think about what could have happened, it gives me chills. Elise is more evil than I thought. If you hadn’t been able to communicate with us—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Eager to avoid eye contact, she lifted his hand to her lips, brushing a kiss over his bruised and scraped knuckles. She still didn’t know why they’d been able to hear her thoughts, and although it had saved her life, she didn’t know how to deal with the vulnerability of having such an intimate connection with them.
She’d gladly take them inside her body, but she sure as hell didn’t want them in her head.
Just as they didn’t want her in theirs.
Suddenly tired, she slumped against him, closing her eyes as he wrapped an arm around her and led her from the room.
“I just want to take a shower and go to bed.”
“Then that’s what you’ll do. Ian and I will both be sleeping with you tonight.”
Serena turned away, blinking back tears. “Fine.” She couldn’t imagine anything nicer, or safer, than sleeping between the two men she feared she’d already fallen halfway in love with.
For as long as it lasted.
Chapter Eleven
Listening to Serena breathe, Alastair stared at the ceiling, wondering if he’d ever be able to sleep again.
He’d never worried about anyone except his brother, but he knew Ian had always been more than able to handle himself.
Worrying about Serena took worry to a whole new level.
He found himself tied to a pint-size vixen, one who apparently had no concept of the effect she had on others, and one who seemed to get into trouble with remarkable ease.
Every time he started to drift off, the image of her in the lion pit played over and over in his mind. He’d been nearly paralyzed by the terror emanating from her, and only his own fear for her and determination to save her had allowed him to keep going. Now, though, he couldn’t stop thinking about what would have happened if one of the lions had attacked.
He couldn’t stop imagining what those teeth and claws could have done to Serena.
He got chills when he thought about what would have happened if she hadn’t been able to communicate with them the way she had.
He didn’t know how she’d been able to do it, but he thanked God that she had.
Serena moaned in her sleep and twitched, turning away from him.
Frowning, he gathered her close again, pillowing her head back on his shoulder. Even in sleep, she turned away from him, as if not comfortable touching another person.
She didn’t let anyone close—except during sex.
During sex, she couldn’t get close enough.
Only then did she give in to the loneliness that shone in her eyes, reaching for the warmth and caring of another person.
It broke his heart, and made him want her more.
He wanted to give her all the warmth and closeness she’d been missing in her life.
And get some of the warmth and closeness from her that he suddenly realized had been lacking in his.
His almost primitive hunger for her fulfilled something inside him he hardly recognized—at the same time sparking an overwhelming need for more.
More passion. More caring. More closeness. Just…more.
The ability to mentally communicate with her provided an even more intense connection, one that apparently made Serena uncomfortable.
He would have to work to overcome that, because he found it increasingly difficult to imagine life without her.
Breathing in the scent of her, he pulled her close, his chest swelling at the way she sighed in her sleep and cuddled against him. Enjoying the feel of her in his arms, he rubbed her back, running his other hand over her hair. Frowning when she whimpered and tried to move away from him again, he gathered her close, holding her when she whimpered again and fought him.
Turning toward her, he wrapped both arms around her, speaking softly but hoping to penetrate the dream tormenting her. “You’re okay, darling. Stay here. I like having you in my arms.”
Oh, my God. She hates me. She really hates me. No. Don’t stick me with that. What are you doing? Who’s that man? No! Alastair!
Shocked that he could hear her nightmare, Alastair tightened his arms around her, holding her when she tried to push him away and screamed his name.
Fighting his fury, he forced a calm, soothing quality into his voice. “You’re safe, darling. I’m here. No one can get to you.”
He’d kill anyone who tried.
Holding her trembling body against his, listening to her ragged breathing, and running his hands up and down her amazingly soft arms, he realized that there wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for her.
Hurts. What happened? Where am I? It’s so dark, I can’t see. What is that? Oh, my God. It’s a lion. No. I must be dreaming. This can’t be real. Oh, God. He’s moving toward me. I’m dead.
I just started living and I’m dead.
I have to move. He’s coming closer. I’m going to die. I always thought I’d know.
The resignation beneath the terror worried him even more.
“You’re all right, Serena. Everything’s okay.”
Ian burst into the room. “She’s having a nightmare.” He raced to the side of the bed and started to reach for her, stopping abruptly and fisting his hands at his sides when she screamed and lurched upright.
Alastair caught her, his heart in his throat. “You’re okay, darling. I’ve got you.”
When his brother turned on the bedside light, Alastair got a look at the torment and concern on Ian’s face.
“We’ve got you.”
He looked away from Ian to gather her closer. Burying his face in her neck, he stroked her silky skin and let her clean, sweet scent wrap around him. He rubbed her back with smooth, firm strokes in an effort to stop her trembling, careful to keep his tone soothing. Surprised at how natural it felt to hold and comfort her, he kissed her hair.
“It’s all over, darling.” Meeting his brother’s eyes, he found himself even more shaken by the anguish he saw there.
I wish I’d been the one to beat the hell out of him.
Ian got to his feet, his hands clenched at his sides as he strode from the room. He paused right outside the door, turning back, his eyes full of anguish. “Spend a few minutes alone with her while I finish my phone call.”
Serena took a shuddering breath and pressed a hand to Alastair’s chest, pushing slightly away from him as she watched Ian leave, still watching after he’d disappeared from view.
“Sorry about that.” Her voice broke, knotting Alastair’s stomach.
“What are you doing in here?” She looked around and stilled, the confusion in her eyes so sweet and vulnerable it tightened his chest and sent another surge of protectiveness through him. “What am I doing here? Oh, I forgot. You brought me to your room.”
He couldn’t imagine his bed without her now.
Straightening, she pulled away from him, gasping when she remembered she’d worn nothing to bed, and holding the sheet up to cover her nakedness. “I guess since Anthony Carello and my cousin are in jail, I’ll be going soon.”
Alastair gritted his teeth at her cool serenity. “Are you all right now?’
She moved away, scooting to the far side of the bed.
“I’m fine. Where’s Ian? I thought you said I was sleeping with both of you.”
Pleased that she didn’t sound as shaken, Alastair slid up, letting the sheet slide to his hips as he leaned up against the headboard to watch her.
He didn’t bother to cover himself when she gathered the sheet around her and stood, his cock throbbing under her gaze. “Ian couldn’t sleep. He’s pissed because he didn’t get to beat the hell out of Carello.”
Snapping her gaze back to his, she blushed adorably, obviously embarrassed to be caught staring at him. “Oh.”
* * * *
Serena had to force herself to turn away from the sight of Alastair reclining back against the headboard.
He didn’t seem the least bit self-conscious with his nudity, appearing to be more interested in watching her than anything else. “Yeah, oh. Where are you going, darling?”
She found herself moving sinuously as his eyes followed her, the predatory gleam turning them to dark gold.
The surge of lust blindsided her.
With his bruises and black eye, he looked like a warrior, a very primitive and hungry warrior, his hooded gaze moving up and down her body.
His cock rose from between his thighs, long and thick, the pearly drop at the tip making her mouth water. With his overlong dark blond hair, and that predatory gleam in his golden eyes, he reminded her of the lion she’d encountered earlier.
Powerful. Graceful. Golden.
Pulling the front of the sheet higher, she tried to keep her gaze on his, but it kept travelling lower. “I can’t think when I’m in bed with you.”
Alastair smiled, a slow, wicked grin that made her stomach flutter. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Every defined muscle seemed to invite her caress, the gleam in his eyes challenging her to come back to explore.
Her need for him had Serena taking a step back toward the bed, stopping abruptly at the sound of Ian’s voice.
“You okay now?”
Serena whirled, facing Ian as he walked into the room in that slow, graceful walk that never failed to send her heart racing.
Searching her features, he took another step toward her. “Tell me.”
Serena’s breath caught when he circled her, her shoulder tingling beneath the fingers he danced over her skin.
“Anthony Carello’s in jail. S–So what do we do now?” When the sheet slipped, she managed to catch it just before it slid low enough to expose her nipple, but didn’t bother to pull it back up again. She wanted them too much to pretend that she didn’t want their eyes on her.
Ian turned her in his arms, his brow going up in that arrogant way that both irritated and aroused her. His eyes dropped to the bare skin that had been exposed when the sheet slipped, the gold in them darkening as he touched a finger to the upper curve of her left breast and began stroking. “What do we do now? Since you’re wide awake, and aroused, I have a few ideas about that.”
Holding the sheet between her breasts with one hand, Serena reached out to grip his forearm—not to stop him—but to steady herself against his decadent onslaught.
Sucking in a breath, she forced herself to remain perfectly still as he slid his finger over the upper curve of her breast, right above the edge of the sheet, and breathtakingly close to her nipple.
Thrilling at his touch, and in the
desire glittering in both men’s eyes, Serena moaned, her breathing becoming ragged as she dropped the edge of the sheet a little more, exposing her beaded and aching nipple to their gazes.
Thrilling at their rapt attention, she rubbed her thighs together against the ache that settled there, the sharp edge of arousal weakening her knees. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. It caught in short gasps on every stroke of his finger as it came tantalizingly close to her nipple. “Now that he’s in jail, I–I’m not in d–danger, and you don’t n–need, oh, my help.”
Ian’s gaze lifted to hers, his eyes flaring with heat as he touched the tip of his finger to her nipple and began stroking, teasing it and making it tingle.
“But I need you.”
Tightening her hold on his forearm, she leaned into him, struggling to focus on their conversation. “You don’t need me, you want me.”
Ian tapped her nipple, his eyes narrowing at her cry. “Do you care? You like sex, and the pleasure we give you.”
Serena shrugged, allowing the sheet to slip lower. “What’s wrong with that? Isn’t that the way the game’s played?”
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her closer and began to roll her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, increasing the pressure. “I wasn’t aware that we were playing games. Evidently, you are.”
Alastair came to his feet and started around the bed and toward her. “Careful, Ian.”
He came toward her with a look of intent and hunger in his eyes, a look that sent her pulse tripping, and made her yearn for him with a hunger that never seemed to wane. Reaching out a hand to her as he approached, he smiled when she placed hers in it without hesitation.
Appreciation shone in his brilliant tawny gaze as it raked over her, along with a promise for pleasure when his eyes held hers again, along with impatience.
He wanted her, and didn’t want to wait any longer.
Her stomach quivered with excitement when he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. The heat and strength of his body against hers never failed to ignite the passion for him that always simmered just below the surface.