“I’m fine,” he said, tonguing the inside of his cheek. “Lucky for me, your brother has the right hook of a limp noodle.”
With a sigh of relief, I stepped around Connor so I could glare at the brother in question. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Frank glared right back. “The bastard deserved it.”
“Oh, give me a break.” Rolling my eyes, I gestured to the hand he still cradled. “Is your hand okay?”
He flexed his fingers, wincing. “I think so,” he muttered. “I’ve never hit anyone before.”
Law made a rude sound behind me. “So glad I could pop that cherry for you.”
Frank pointed at him with his uninjured hand. “You don’t get to talk until I’ve gotten to the bottom of this with Gabi. Then I’ll decide whether or not it’s worth breaking my hand on your face.”
Connor, having apparently decided the danger had past, relinquished his spot between the two men. “I’ll get some ice packs,” he said, heading for the kitchen.
“Gabi.” Frank’s attention returned to me, his eyes blazing. “What the fuck is going on here?”
A rush of blood warmed my face as I shrugged. “Coffee, crumpets. The usual Sunday morning stuff,” I said lamely as I sank back into my chair at the dining table. “I really enjoyed seeing the wedding photos last night. I knew Bill would do a good job, of course, that’s why I recommended him. Do you want some coffee?” I rose from the chair again before the question finished leaving my mouth.
“I don’t want coffee,” Frank barked. “I want answers.”
Turning to face him, I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what you’re talking about and I can comment on the accuracy?”
“I’m talking about the three of you,” he gestured at each of us with an accusing finger, “shacking up together for some kind of kinkfest.”
“Kinkfest?” I scoffed. “Really? That’s the word you’re going with?”
“Is it true?”
“There’s no kinkfest.” He seemed so relieved, I would have felt bad about bursting his bubble—if he hadn’t punched my boyfriend in the face. “But we are in a relationship with each other, yes.”
The relief morphed into a groan of dismay. He turned to Law, throwing his arms in the air. “What the hell, mate? I go away on my honeymoon and you’re back here taking advantage of my sister?”
Law never had a chance to answer, thanks to my indignant shriek. “For fuck’s sake, Frank, don’t act like I’m some innocent young miss. I’m a fully-grown woman in charge of my own body and mind. No one is taking advantage of anyone here.”
Connor came back with two ice packs wrapped in tea towels. My brother’s eyes narrowed in Connor’s direction as he handed one over. “What about you? You’ve been in love with my sister since high school. Everyone knows that. Is this really what you had in mind all these years, to share her with some other man?”
Passing the second ice pack to Law, Connor crossed his arms and looked Frank right in the eyes. “Yes, actually. But only with one man.”
“Fuck me.” Frank’s eyes widened in shock and he sank onto the edge of the couch. “I think my brain just broke.”
With a heavy sigh, Connor sat beside Frank. “None of us knew this would happen,” he said in a low voice. “But it’s been a long time coming and the three of us need to deal with it.” When Frank shook his head, Conner continued, “You’re right, I’m in love with Gabrielle. It’s the big secret I never could keep. As for Law,” he paused, glancing up at the other man with a wry grin, “we’re still working out what’s going on there. But the point is, we’re not kidding around here. We’re taking care of each other, and we’re seeing where it leads.”
“It’s going to lead to Gabi’s heart getting broken… again,” Frank insisted. “I may not know what happened the first time these two broke up but I—” He stopped short and I could all but hear the pieces falling into place in the sudden silence. Rising from the couch, he swung around to face me. “Why did you break up? You both refused to tell me back then and I couldn’t do anything about that, but now I want to know.”
I took a deep breath, figuring now was as good a time as any to get everything out in the open. “Law kissed Connor. I walked in on them.”
“You fucking arsehole,” Frank roared, launching himself at Law once more.
Law expected it this time and he sidestepped away from Frank’s grasping hands. “Back off, mate, or I will put you on the ground.” His voice was calm, devoid of anger, but it left no doubt about the truth of the statement. Frank had spent the last few years as a desk jockey. Law had at least ten kilos on him, all of it muscle mass. If it came down to it, there was no fight Frank would win.
With a long groan of frustration, Frank turned back to me. “Gabi, are you really doing this?” The heat of anger had left him now and his shoulders slumped forward in defeat. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
I’d asked myself the same question so many times. Through all the push and pull, when I’d been unconsciously drawing Law closer only to thrust him away again. Now I’d experienced what life could be like with these two incredible men, I had no doubts.
“I do want this, Frank,” I said clearly, without a hint of tremor in my voice. “I want to be with them, and the three of us owe it to ourselves to see what we can be together.”
He nodded his acceptance, albeit reluctantly. “When are you going to tell Mum and Dad?”
