I jump when the door to the office is kicked open wide.
“Problem is I don’t believe that shit,” the intruder says snarling.
Chase enters the room and grabs me by the throat with his arm. He quickly closes the door with the bottom of his foot. My neck stuck in the crook of his elbow. A gun pointed at my temple. I can’t move.
Cutter steps back and simultaneously pulls out his weapon.
Pointing it at Chase.
His left eye twitching.
His stance relaxed but ready.
“Let her go, and I’ll let you walk out of here.”
“So you’re a cop killer too?”
“I’m not anything but a man that wants you to let go of his friend.”
“What is it about this trick anyway?” He squeezes my throat a little harder. “I’ve been watching her for weeks, seen her naked as a jaybird, and I don’t get it. Why are you assholes willing to kill for her?”
Cutter’s eye twitches a little more.
“No one in here killed your brother.”
“No one in this room? So you’re saying it was your brother that did it? Or perhaps that Roman asshole? Yeah, I think he’s the one responsible.”
“We can talk about this all night once you let go of Jade.”
He squeezes my throat a little tighter. I plead with my eyes for Cutter to stop bringing up my name. Chase doesn’t like it, and the angrier he gets, the more I can’t breathe.
“It’s hard to get that one to make an appearance. I lured Jade to Baltimore in the hopes that he’d follow her. I just assumed she was fucking him and he’d come running. But he didn’t come. Only your brother did. Then I started watching her at her apartment. Thinking she’d run to him like usual to tell and that he’d show up there. But this one’s a tricky little trick. Seems like she didn’t say anything to any of y’all about me.”
He tightens his grip yet again.
I can see Cutter is getting agitated.
This negotiation isn’t going the way he intended.
“You’ve got the wrong people,” he says through clenched teeth.
“Well this is the thing,” Chase says. “I can’t just take your word for it. I’m pretty sure the last people who saw my brother alive all work at this shit club. I want us all to have a conversation. On record. And I’ll leave your girlfriend alone. You’ve got forty-eight hours.”
“They’re not in town.”
“Well I guess they better get back in town, or I’ll have the feds crawling all over this fixer business bullshit of yours. I’m sure you have a lot of other bodies buried that you don’t want turning up.”
I feel woozy.
I underestimated this psycho.
He hasn’t let up his chokehold on me since he grabbed me.
And I’m starting to lose consciousness.
I think about all sorts of things before I hit the office floor. First, I pray that nothing happens to Cutter. Second, I hope that the screen on my phone doesn’t shatter. It’s brand new. And third, I hope that Camden had a safe flight.
I miss him.
Jade
I wake up in unfamiliar surroundings. Definitely not the club. I’m in a large bedroom with exposed brick on the walls and wooden beams running across the ceiling. I’m lying in the largest cherry wood four-poster bed I’ve ever seen and with the softest tan and rust sheets that smell like sandalwood. Smells like … Camden.
My head is pounding. Harder than any hangover I’ve ever had. And I start to remember. Chase at the club. Him holding me by my neck. A gun at my temple. Cutter with a gun pointed at him trying to save me. I’m alive, but where’s Cutter? I try rolling onto my side and feeling around for my phone when I notice a large body asleep in a chair in the corner. Arms folded. Head leaning on the wall behind him. It’s Cutter. Thank God.
“Cutter,” I try calling out to him with a scratchy throat. “Cutter.”
His eyes pop open. “You’re awake!”
I try shaking my head yes. It hurts too much to speak, but I’m not really sure why.
“Shhh,” he warns me. “Everything probably hurts. You took a nasty fall when you passed out. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t have time to catch you and deal with officer crazy.”
“Chase—”
“He’s not dead. He was about to be though. Once you fell to the ground, I got the jump on him. My gun was deep in the fucker’s mouth, but then Joan came in. Screaming. Asked me if I wanted her to call the police. So what I could I say? No?
Needless to say, he’s in a holding cell, and there are some cops itching to get a statement from you once you’re up for it. Evidently the guy’s been going nuts trying to prove the murder of his brother, so he could earn some brownie points and get his job back. As if anyone gives a shit about the murder of his drug addicted half brother. I think he was grasping at straws with that one if you ask me.”
“Where am I?”
“Let me go get you some pain medicine and some water. Maybe a little something to eat. You’re in mine and Camden’s house. This is Cam’s room. He’ll be here soon. When the two of those meatheads heard what happened to you, they were on the first thing smoking out of Miami. No one fucks with our girl. Don’t you worry, heads will roll on this one. That fucker will never get out of jail. Cam will figure out how to pin about ten different crimes on his ass.”
I laugh a little, but it hurts.
“I’ll be right back. I know I’m naturally funny, but you’ve got to stop laughing at the king, all right? You’re going to hurt yourself.” He smiles.
I shake my head in agreement.
After I take two hospital-strength Motrin that Cutter got from God knows where, I eat a small bowl of chicken and wild rice soup he made for me, and then I lay back down.
“I know you like massages, so I’m going to rub your feet for you. Put your ass right to sleep.”
I don’t really like random people touching my feet, but I’m too tired to protest, and he’s not lying. He gives the best foot rubs ever.
Someone is spooning me.
Someone warm and hard.
There’s a large, muscular arm tossed across my middle covered in a sleeve full of familiar looking tats.
“I’m home,” Camden rumbles by my ear.
“Hi,” I manage to eek out.
“How’s your head feel?”
“Much better.”
“I heard Cutter gave you one of his famous foot massages.”
“He did.”
“You feel up to a shower?”
“I don’t have any clothes here.”
“Actually, you do. We took the liberty of bringing over a couple of your things here while you recover. It’s not safe at your place. It took me all of five minutes to get in and out of your building with your shit.”
“You have my key, jackoff.”
“You remembered that?”
“I wasn’t that drunk. You slid it right in your back pocket.”
“It’s amazing to me how selective you are about your drunkeness. Too drunk to willingly consent to me being inside of you in Baltimore. Sober enough at your place to notice that I took your key and then you throw up. Interesting.”
“My place is fine. I’ll be fine to recover at home.”
“Did you know that Chase had been in your apartment?”
Oh my God.
“What?!”
“Exactly. You rethinking your living situation now?”
“Isn’t he locked up?”
“Okay, maybe I didn’t communicate the right way about this. You’re staying here with me for a few days. End of story. No discussion. It’s not forever. Just a while. I don’t care whether they lock his ass under the jail. It has nothing to do with whether you’re staying here or not.”
“All I did was fall and bump my head. I’ll be fine.”
“Correction—you were strangled with a chokehold by a trained police officer until you passed out, fell, and bumped your head.”
&
nbsp; “Well when you put it like that—”
“When I put it like that, it scares the fuck out of me. When I put it like that, I’m glad that my brother was there. When I put it like that, it makes me consider the fact that I should have listened to my gut and not gotten on that plane. Look what happens when I don’t listen.”
“Pfft. Don’t kid yourself. You wanted to stay home, because you hate to fly.” I chuckle as I slowly sit myself up. “It had nothing to do with me.”
“Get in the shower and shut up. It’ll make you feel a hundred times better.”
* * *
Camden didn’t lie. His shower feels incredible. That’s one thing about living in an apartment building, there isn’t much you can do about the dismal water pressure. You get what you get, and you don’t get upset. But by the time I get out of Camden’s shower, I feel like a new person.
I put on a throwback BubbleYum Bubblegum T-shirt and a pair of pink LuLaRoe leggings that were in my carry all bag that Camden packed. I never wear these items out. They are strictly for lounging around my apartment. I thought it was amusing how one of the outfits he selected for me happened to be all pink. I think the secret about what my favorite color is may be exposed.
It’s Tuesday night and another slow night at the club, so I don’t really need to be there, as if the King brothers were ever going to let me out of their sight again anyway. So I figure I’ll watch movies all night. The guys have a killer set up with a theater sized television screen, surround system, and stadium seating in their movie room.
When I come out of the room, I almost choke on my saliva. Camden is wearing nothing but a pair of baggy blue basketball shorts that showcases his mouth watering body and Cutter is wearing a pair of soft red sweats that seem to hug his every nook and cranny. They are beautiful men. Especially Cam. They smile when they notice me.
“Feel better?” Cam asks.
“I do, yes.”
“Ready for a movie?” Cutter asks. “I popped popcorn.”
“Oh? Neither of you is going to go to the club?”
“Not tonight. Roman’s going to check in with Marco. He’s got it handled.”
“Oh okay, then yeah, I’m down for a movie. What are we watching?”
“Ladies choice. Go to the controller over there and scroll through the movie titles. Click enter when you find one you want.”
“All right.”
There are several rows of seats in their home theatre, but they select the three seats in the front. Saving me the one in the middle. I decide on a Jason Bourne marathon which seems a win-win for everyone. I get to watch Matt Damon kick ass and they get to watch Matt Damon kick ass. We’re just watching for different reasons. By the middle of the second movie, Camden’s hand is on my thigh, and he’s slowly rubbing it back and forth.
I don’t say anything but just try to continue eating my popcorn.
He politely takes the popcorn bag out of my hand and puts it on the seat next to him. Then he presses a button on my chair that extends the chair into a laid back lounge position. My head is back. My legs up. And by the next scene his hand is dangerously close to making its way in between my legs.
I still don’t say anything.
Eventually his hand lands on my heated mound. Kneading and massaging me into a totally heightened state. My legs begin to part on their own, and it isn’t until one of my legs touches Cutter’s that I realize what I was doing. I’m letting Cam touch me with his brother right next to me. Did they lace the butter on this popcorn with something?
“Wait—”
Camden stops moving his hand.
“You all right?” he asks gently.
“I just want to be clear, and no disrespect, but I’m not letting Cutter touch me. I don’t get down like that.”
“Understood, bean.” Cutter agrees. “I just want you to feel good on whatever terms you’re comfortable with. I’m fine with just watching.”
I’ve always been very comfortable with my body. Hell, I walk around my apartment naked all of the time. But I’ve never had sex or been sexual with someone else in the room. That is just pushing all sorts of control boundaries for me.
“I thought you didn’t like sharing?” I ask Camden.
“Cutter is the exception.”
Camden turns my head to face him making sure to be extra careful with me. He slides his tongue inside of my mouth and begins a languid exploration of my mouth. Teasing my tongue with soft suction and taking soft bites of my lip.
“Her mouth tastes like red licorice and hot butter, Cut.”
“Yeah?”
Camden continues kissing me as the hand that was between my legs slides up and under my shirt. Cupping one of my breasts, kneading it gently, and playing with my nipple.
“No bra,” he announces.
Is he going to give Cutter a play-by-play of everything he does to me? It’s actually kind of hot. I don’t mind it.
Camden stops kissing me and tells me to, “Lie back and let my brother watch while I make you come for me, Jade.”
Fuck.
When I turn my head to look at Cutter, his eyes bore into mine with a hunger I’ve never seen before. I can almost feel the floor drop from beneath me. He’s using a slow and deliberate pace while he rubs a very large erection inside of his sweats. If he were to speak, I’d swear he would be asking me permission to pull it out. For me to taste it. Or maybe that’s what I’m fantasizing he’ll say.
Camden pinches my nipple firmly and everything down south clenches in delight. My mouth opens but nothing comes out but an indiscernible sound.
“Taste.” Cutter demands gruffly.
Camden leans completely on his side facing me and takes his hand and slides it completely down the front of my leggings.
“No panties.”
“Fuck,” Cutter groans. Stroking himself harder.
Camden slowly begins sinking one of his fingers inside of me.
Then two.
“Soaking wet,” he reports.
“Taste,” Cutter demands more urgently this time.
Camden slides his finger in and out of me several more times while flicking my clit rapidly back and forth with his thumb. I start lifting my hips urging him on. Begging for more. Everything inside of me begins to wind and coil tightly, and then I start to shudder as my orgasm glides over me. My pussy clenching his finger tightly. In the middle of my release, Camden pulls his finger completely out, smacks my pussy with three fingers, and I convulse again and again.
All I can do at this point is whimper in exhaustion when he slides all three fingers into my mouth with instructions. “Taste yourself, Jade. This is what you taste like when I’m in between your legs. You see why I always want more? You taste so fucking good.”
My eyes begin to close in bliss as I suck, and taste myself on his fingers.
“Eyes open,” Cutter demands.
On command I flick them open, and when I do Cutter grins in approval. Continuing the deliberate, hard strokes of his cock.
I inadvertently lick my lips. Imagining the taste again.
Camden notices my reaction and chuckles. “Are you sure you don’t want Cutter to play?”
I don’t give a verbal answer, and I don’t nod yes or no. Honestly I’m not sure about anything that’s happening right now. I just know it feels good. Everything they’re doing feels good.
The brothers look silently at each other, and then Camden gives Cutter a single head nod. Almost instantaneously, Cutter stops stroking himself, leans over, and gives me a gentle kiss. Making sure to swipe his entire tongue inside of my mouth.
“You taste delicious, bean. Exactly like I knew you would,” Cutter says. “Do you trust me?”
I nod my head yes, but I’m scared.
“We’re just going to make you feel good.” Camden promises as he waits for my consent. “Nothing you can’t handle.”
“Okay,” I whisper nervously.
Cutter sits up and walks behind my chair. He crouches dow
n behind my head and stretches my arms up by the sides of my head. Pulling my shirt up and off.
“Hold onto my head while I kiss you. I want to taste you again. Don’t move those hands.”
Cutter bends over and starts kissing me passionately, while I hold onto his head. At the same time, he uses his hands to starts playing with my breasts. Massaging and kneading them. Rolling my nipples with his knuckles and fingertips. Over and over until my breathing becomes labored.
Then Camden stands in front of me.
When he starts to pull my leggings completely off I panic a little. It was a knee jerk reaction. I stop kissing Cutter back and motion to keep my leggings on, when I hear a sharp command by my ear. “Don’t move those hands.”
Camden stands there watching us. Waiting for my reaction. I consider what I’m doing and who I’m doing it with. Two men I trust. Two men who would risk everything for me. Who I would risk everything for. One man who I think I may be falling in love with.
And that’s when I decide to finally let go.
Camden
I’m taking a moment to appreciate the view. To witness the initial trepidation then complete surrender of a beautiful woman I have always cared for and now adore. I imagine that I’m breaking every one of her rules, and practically destroying the walls of safety that she’s erected around her heart. Even though she seems to be enjoying it physically, this has got to be difficult for her, but I’m honored and humbled that she would give herself over to me in this way.
When Jade places her hands back on my brother’s head upon his command, Cutter lifts his eyes to mine in appreciation and gratitude as well. He knows that this probably won’t be commonplace. That I’m not likely to share my bed on a regular basis with him, and not just because Jade may not be able to handle that or want that, but because I probably won’t want it either.
But I also realize that Cutter was scared shitless too. Scared that we almost lost Jade to that maniac, Chase. Frightened that she could have been seriously injured on our watch. Another mistake that we’d have to pay the highest price for. Thankfully, yet again, my brother was there when I needed him to be. He saved our asses when we were almost shot in the head after the casino fiasco, and he saved us once again, because he was able to handle Chase Whitman before the guy was able to do any real damage to our girl.
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