by Becca Van
“Hailey. Thank God,” Roman said as she opened her eyes.
“Roman,” Hailey whispered. Her throat was sore and dry. She tried to lick her lips but her tongue felt as if it was stuck to the roof of her mouth.
“Here, baby.” Chance held a glass of water with a bent straw sticking out of it for her.
Hailey took a few sips, swirled the cool moistening liquid in her mouth, swallowed and then had more water. She nodded when her thirst was appeased for the moment.
“Roman, it wasn’t your fault. Please stop blaming yourself. He was mad, insane,” Hailey said.
“I know, sugar, but if I had been more vigilant, David would not have gotten near you.”
“Roman, if it hadn’t been today it would have been another day. He was insane. Nothing, or no one, would or could have stopped him. It wasn’t your fault. Please stop blaming yourself. Would you have blamed Dillon or Chance if I was with them and he managed to kidnap me at the time? Please, your brothers don’t blame you and neither do I, so stop beating yourself up.”
“I love you so much, Hailey. I couldn’t have lived with the guilt if he had killed you.” Roman drew a ragged breath.
“I love you, too, Roman. Stop going over the scenarios of what if. Someone wise once told me to grab life with both hands, not to dwell on the past, but to live for the present and future.”
“Love you, baby,” Chance said from her side. He leaned down and kissed her dry chapped lips. It was the best kiss she’d ever had because she was still alive and it was from one of the men she loved with her whole heart.
“Hailey, I love you so much. I can’t wait until we can get you out of here.” Dillon rubbed a hand up her arm.
“Me either,” Hailey yawned. “What happened to David?”
“Connor shot him in the hand and the police took him away. Noah said that he is going to be taken to a mental facility where they can treat his illness. Hopefully he will get the help he needs,” Chance said.
“He’s a very sick man. I hope he does get the help he needs, too.” Hailey yawned again.
“Get some sleep, Hails. We’ll be back first thing in the morning to bust you out of this joint.” Roman winked and then smiled. He was finally able to let go of the guilt, which had been assailing him, at least for now. His woman was alive and well and her monster would never be able to hurt her again.
“Love you guys,” Hailey muttered just before she drifted to sleep.
* * * *
Hailey was ready and waiting the next morning. She’d showered with help from a wonderful nurse and couldn’t wait for her men to arrive. She’d slept fitfully throughout the night, the noises of a hospital intruding, making it difficult to sleep deeply and also because she had not been in the arms of one or all of her men. She was still in the curtained off cubicle in the recovery ward and the incessant noise was giving her a headache.
“Hails, how are you feeling?” Roman asked as he walked through the curtain, Dillon and Chance close behind.
“Good. Did you bring me something to wear?” Hailey asked hopefully.
Roman held up a plastic bag with a shop logo on the front.
“Oh, Roman, you didn’t have to buy me anything, I have clothes back at the house and bungalow,” Hailey said. She was secretly delighted that Roman had bought her something new. It had been a long time since she had new clothes but she didn’t want her men spending their money on her.
“I love you, sugar.” Roman bent down and kissed her on the lips.
“Love you, too.”
“I bought you a pair of new track pants. They’re a size larger so they won’t rub on your thigh and irritate your stitches.” Roman said.
“You’re such a sweetheart.” Hailey smiled.
“Nah, just don’t want you uncomfortable. Do you want some help putting them on?”
“Yes, please. Wait a minute, honey. Dillon, Chance, come and give me a kiss,” Hailey demanded.
Dillon and Chance moved forward, kissed Hailey in greeting, then moved back for Roman to help her dress. She was dressed in no time at all, wearing a new pair of sweat pants with one of her men’s T-shirts. She felt so loved and her heart was bursting with emotion.
“I’ve already gone through all the paperwork, so let’s get out of here,” Hailey said impatiently.
“Allow me, sugar,” Roman said a moment before he scooped her up into his arms.
“I can walk, you know. A few stitches aren’t going to stop me.”
“I know, Hails. Humor me. I need to feel you in my arms again,” Roman said in a husky voice.
Hailey wrapped her arms around Roman’s neck, placed her head on his shoulder and snuggled in. “Can we stop at the café for breakfast? The food served here is terrible.” Hailey wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“We sure can, sugar. What do you have a hankering for?” asked Roman.
“Hmm, since horse isn’t on the menu, I guess I’ll have to settle for pancakes. No, maybe bacon and eggs. I’m so hungry,” Hailey said just before her stomach growled loudly.
“So I can hear,” Roman said with a laugh. “I’ll order everything on the menu if you want it, sugar.”
“No, but I might just order the pancakes and the bacon and eggs.” Hailey grinned. “Who’s driving?”
“I am,” Chance answered. He leaned down and kissed her passionately before Roman got in the truck, keeping Hailey on his lap.
“You know I should be sitting over there with a seatbelt on.” Hailey pointed to the other side of the seat.
“Wait a minute,” Roman said. He proceeded to pull the seatbelt out and over the both of them, then clipped it into the slot. “Better?
“I really don’t think…” Hailey frowned.
“Good. Don’t think, sugar,” Roman said before he took her mouth with his own. The kiss he gave her was so carnal, Hailey wanted Roman to strip her down and fuck her in the back seat of the truck.
“Hey, behave, you two,” Dillon growled, the smile on his face evident in his voice.
Hailey pulled her mouth from Roman’s and panted for breath as she gave Dillon a wink.
“All right, let’s go get some breakfast,” Dillon said as he climbed into the back seat of the truck.
“Hey. Do I look like a chauffeur to you?” Chance asked over his shoulder.
“I can get in the front seat with you,” Hailey suggested.
“Not on your life, sugar.” Roman growled with mock anger, his arms tightening around her waist.
“Can we just go please? I’m really hungry,” Hailey complained.
“Sure thing, honey,” Chance answered as he started the vehicle.
They arrived at the cafe five minutes later. Dillon scooped Hailey out of Roman’s arms, carried her inside the cafe and had her deposited comfortably in a chair. Her men sat down next to and across from her, they perused the menu then ordered when the female waiter stopped at their table. They all gave their orders and just as the waitress turned away, Hailey heard her name being called.
“Hailey,” squealed a familiar feminine voice.
“Simone,” Hailey replied.
“Oh my God, girlfriend. Are you okay?” Simone asked. She approached Hailey and gave her a gentle hug.
“I’m fine,” Hailey replied as she returned the embrace.
“I’m so glad. I was so scared for you,” Simone said in a tremulous voice.
“Yeah, me, too.”
Hailey watched as Sam, Griffith, and Connor walked up behind their wife, surrounding her, comforting her in her emotional stress by placing their hands on her back and arms. Hailey stood carefully, as her leg twanged with pain, progressed slowly over to Connor, wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. Connor returned her hug, awkwardly placing an arm around her, while patting her on the shoulder with the other.
“Connor, thank you for helping saving my life. I’ll never be able to repay you for that, but if you ever need anything, or if I can do anything for you, please just let me kno
w.”
“Aw, now, Hailey, I would have done it for anyone,” Connor said, obviously uncomfortable with her attention as his cheeks began to redden.
“I know you would have, but I still thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Hailey replied. She reached up, grabbed his hair, and pulled his head down to her, she gave him a noisy kiss on the cheek, and chuckled when his face got redder.
Connor didn’t say anything, just gave her another pat on the shoulder.
Hailey caught Roman, Dillon, and Chance looking at her with pride and she smiled softly at them. She loved them all so much and thanks to hers and Simone’s men, she would get to spend the rest of her life being able to love them. With a sigh of contentment, she turned and limped back to her chair and grinned widely as she watched her men thank Connor. The display of affection was laughable. They thumped him on the back, shook his hand, and thanked him verbally. They all looked so awkward it was funny. Simone and Hailey glanced at each other. They noticed they were both biting on their lips to contain their mirth. It broke free. They laughed and laughed until tears were rolling down their cheeks. It was such a great stress relief and in that moment, a friendship bond between the two women was forged forever.
Chapter Thirteen
Hailey sighed as the last of her stitches were removed from her thigh. They had been driving her mad. The itching they had caused had been phenomenal. Her men were driving her crazy, too. At least one of them had been with her twenty-four-seven since she had been released from the hospital. They didn’t seem to want to let her out of their sight. As much as she understood, she also needed some time to herself.
Whoever was babysitting her would occupy her time by playing games, watching movies, or just snuggling with her. Dillon had tried to teach her to play poker and even though they’d had a lot of fun, Hailey just couldn’t seem to get the hang of it. They’d ended up playing kids games instead. She smiled as she remembered Dillon’s complaints as she slapped her hand down on the stack of cards when they’d being playing snap. Seven times out of ten she had beat him and he’d pouted like a little boy. He was the most competitive out of his brothers and even though he liked spending time with her she could see that he was restless at times. It was like he had things he wanted to do and couldn’t stop fidgeting, and he glanced out the window a lot.
“You hate to lose don’t you Dillon,” Hailey said.
“Yeah, I do. If I do something I want to do it to the best of my ability.”
“Even games?”
Dillon shrugged and smiled. “I like to win.”
“You’re supposed to have fun, too.”
“Oh I am, Hailey. I love spending time with you, baby.”
The rest of the day had flown as she and Dillon laughed and played. She was glad that he had had fun. He was so intense most of the time and it was good to see him enjoying himself.
“You know how special you are, don’t you?” Dillon asked and Hailey smiled but looked down shyly when her face heated. He reached over and nudged her gaze back up to his. “Why are you embarrassed, baby?”
“Uh…I’m not used to getting compliments.”
“Is that right?” Dillon narrowed his eyes at her but she could see the gleam in his eye. And then he smiled at her and her heart stuttered at the emotion she could see in his gaze. “You’d better get used to it, Hailey, because we are going to tell you how we feel all the time.”
Tears of happiness and love came to her eyes and then Dillon had pushed the small table between them aside, reached out for her hand and pulled her into his lap. She had no idea how long she sat snuggled up to him but she felt so peaceful and content. She felt like she truly belonged, like she was home where she was meant to be.
Chance had played Scrabble and chess with her the next day and when they’d tired of those games, they’d spent hours doing a large jigsaw puzzle. He wasn’t as competitive as Dillon but still cheered if he won a game. Chance was the most patient and laid back of her men and tirelessly answered all her questions about their life when they were growing up. Her men had had loving parents and even though they were no longer alive she could hear the love in Chance’s voice when he spoke about them. She could tell that her men missed their parents but she was glad that they’d had such love and nurturing in their lives, which had molded them into the men they were now. He was also very observant because when Hailey had begun shifting about as she kneeled on the floor with discomfit and had started yawning Chance had called a halt to their play.
“It’s time you had a nap, Hailey.”
“I’m fine,” she’d replied only to end up covering her mouth when she yawned again.
“Bullshit,” Chance had snapped out. He’d then lifted her from the floor into his arms and laid down on the couch taking her with him. His back was to the back of the sofa and her front was plastered along the length of his body. He’d begun to stroke a hand over her head and then down her body and as she’d breathed in his wonderful manly scent she’d relaxed in his arms and fallen asleep. She loved the way he could get all dominant and taken care of her.
And Roman was so solicitous he was almost over the top. As soon as she mentioned a drink he’d jump up off the sofa and hurried to the kitchen. She’d spent hours cuddled up on the couch with him watching movie after movie until she could have sworn her eyes had turned square. He’d even let her watch a couple of chick flicks and hadn’t complained. Roman liked to make her happy and would do stuff for her with a smile on his face even if he didn’t like doing it. She’d put a stop to that of course, but she didn’t feel guilty about making him watch the occasional girly film. God knows he’d made her watch enough action movies, but she kept the fact that she didn’t mind watching them to herself.
“Why do men like seeing things being blown up all the time?” Hailey had asked.
“The action is exciting and is constant so a movie doesn’t become boring.”
Hailey had been glad that her back was to his front and hadn’t seen her roll her eyes. It must be a male thing, she thought to herself, because she’d watched plenty of movies which had no action but kept her on the edge of her seat. She liked her mind and emotions to be engaged more, but she liked being able to cuddle up on the sofa with him.
Even though she relished each and every minute her men spent with her, she was more than ready to get back to a normal life.
Enough was enough and Hailey wanted the touch of her men again. No matter what Hailey did to try and seduce them, nothing worked.
Her men hadn’t made love with her since she’d been home and she was beside herself with desire. Her body was crying out for their touch. She loved the one on one time she got to spend with each of her men, but she was becoming restless and wanted, needed to get back into a normal routine. She was so horny she wanted to jump their bones all at once, over and over again.
Simone had visited her once and she had brought the blond-haired woman she had seen in the café the first day she had arrived in Passion. Nikki Sprite was such a fun woman to be around and her men were all so protective of her. Nikki made her and Simone laugh with her antics for freedom. She loved to goad Tony and Colt the most and said Bear was a pushover and gave her whatever she wanted. Hailey thought that was astounding since he was the biggest of her men, but she’d learned to never judge a book by its cover.
Simone and Nikki had told Hailey they couldn’t wait to introduce her to the other women in Passion involved in ménage relationships. Her friends said the women, Antonia and Natasha Cameron and Elizabeth Lamb, were down-to-earth with wonderful senses of humor. Hailey was looking forward to it. She’d never had female friends before moving to Passion.
Hailey sauntered out of the Doctor’s office, grabbed Dillon’s hand, pulled him along behind her and out the door to the truck.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Dillon asked with a frown marring his face.
“Not a thing. I’m just in a hurry to get home,” Hailey replied and hoped he couldn’t see the gl
eam in her eye.
“Okay, as long as you’re sure nothing’s bothering you,” Dillon said and it looked like he was trying to contain a smile. Maybe he and his brothers knew what was bothering her after all. They should, since she’d been blatantly trying to entice them into her bed, alone and together, and even though they had given her all of their attention, they had ignored all of her sexual overtures. She sighed as Dillon helped her into the truck, then he quickly walked around and got in behind the wheel. He started the ignition, checked the traffic, reversed from the parking space and headed home.
But she knew her men were up to something. If she caught them in a room talking, all of them would immediately stop speaking and turn to her with a smile. They were constantly asking her if she wanted or needed anything and if she was in pain and even though she loved the way they took care of her, she needed more from them.
Dillon pulled the truck into the drive moments later, hopped out, went around to Hailey’s door, scooped her up into his arms, and carried her inside.
“I can walk, you know,” Hailey said with exasperation, but wrapped her arms around Dillon’s neck and snuggled into his big, warm body.
“I know you can, baby. I love the feel of you in my arms. We all do.” Dillon kissed her on the head as he walked. He took her straight into the bathroom. Hailey gave a sigh of delight. There were candles lit around the bathtub which was full of steaming, scented water, waiting for her to luxuriate in. Dillon slid her down the length of his body, helped her undress, and steadied her as she got into the tub. She sank down with a sigh, the warm, oil-scented water relaxing her senses as she sat chin deep.
“Oh this is so nice. Thanks, guys,” Hailey called, loud enough for Roman and Chance to hear her.
Chance entered the bathroom with two glasses filled with wine, Roman on his heels with another two. They set the glasses on the rim of the tub, stripped from their clothes, then all three of her men joined her in the large spa bath.