His grin widens, with a hint of psycho in it, and my heart flutters. My body is intrigued way too much by him. His hand slides higher up my thigh, playing with the trim on the skirt of my dress.
I press my legs together, giving him the fuck-off hint. What the hell is he doing? And why is my body reacting to him as if she likes it? My cheeks heat at the thought of what he wants, because I thinkI know exactly what he’s doing. This morning was never going to be enough for him. Or for me.
He pushes his hand between my thighs like there was no effort involved at all, and the truth is, I can’t fight him off, even with both of his brothers at the table eating with us. I don’t really want to. His palm moves all the way to where my silky thong sits.
A gasp escapes my lips as he cups my pussy through my panties, stroking his fingers over my most sensitive spot.
I look to Asher for help or something, my eyes widening, but he just looks fascinated with his brother’s antics. His lips curl up at the sides in a way that makes him look sexy as all hell. And suddenly, I’m crazy flustered. And that makes my heart race even faster.
“What are you doing?” I snip under my breath at Cruz. So much for not talking to any of them, but he’s just made it impossible.
Cruz pulls his hand free. “Getting you to talk to us again.” He chuckles as if he just won something.
Even damn Jagger is snickering at his brother’s behavior.
The fucker. Now I know why Sloane swears like a sailor. She would have had to growing up with these assholes and their games. “Don’t fucking do it again.” I shut my legs up tight, crossing one leg over the other.
He chuckles, delighted that he got a rise out of me. “Why? Don’t deny you liked it. Your cheeks are all pink and pretty, and darlin’, your cunt was soaking wet for us.”
I blink back at him. Did he just say forus? Something in the heated way he’s looking at me and the way my heart races tells me he did, and he meant it. Have they all just had a little chat while I was in the shower and now this is an us-and-her situation? Because that’s what it seems like. Jagger and Asher’s gazes are just as heated. Damn.
I grab up my bowl and stand in a rush. This situation calls for more than crossing my legs. I’m insanely attracted to all of them, and now I have crazy ideas racing through my head. Ideas I shouldn’t be having when I’m so damn annoyed with them all. I move over to the breakfast bar so I can eat in peace and quiet without all of them looking at me like they want to jump my bones. And secretly, so I can get my thumping heart and pussy under control.
Cruz’s laughter vibrates through the apartment, erratic and playful. “I’ll let you eat your meal, but know this, you won’t be able to run from us all night, little darlin’. This apartment isn’t very big,” he sing-songs, having way too much fun at my expense.
I stare at my plate of food, trying not to react to him at all. This place might not be big, but I have a lock on my door, and once I have finished my dinner, I’m locking myself back in there. I have to or I know what’s going to happen. I’m going to screw all three of them and not even be sorry about it.
Jagger’s dinner is so delicious, I eat in record time to savor every bite, and also to get away from them. I can feel their eyes on me, sense the tension in the air. They keep chatting, talking about a fight between two bikers that happened at Jagger’s bar today, but I do my best to tune it all out. I can’t get wrapped up in their lives, just as much as they need to stay out of mine. It’s the only way to survive this. When I’m done, I collect my bowl and move into the kitchen, stacking it in the dishwasher along with some other items that need cleaning. Jagger might be an exceptional cook, but this place is a mess. I do my best to clean up, then walk past them like they are not even there and close my bedroom door, locking it behind me.
I sit at the end of my bed, looking down at my hands, realizing I’m trembling. This is what they do to me—make me a shaking mess. I don’t know what it is about them, but they light up a thrill withinme, something that wasn’t alive until Cruz wrapped his fingers over my mouth and dragged me into the dark. He woke up a dark, deprived part of my soul that wants their crazy brand of fuckery. It doesn’t make any sense, and I wish it would just go away.
With a heavy sigh, I collect up my headphones and find my favorite eighties playlist. “Manic Monday” blares through my ears, and I breathe in the first full breath since I left my room for dinner. I screenshot a photo of my playlist and upload it to my Instagram page with the caption,My escape.
Jagger bursts through the door, his eyes wild, and before I know it, I’m off the bed, my headphones falling to my shoulders as he forces me into the wall, caging me in from behind. His large frame presses into me, trapping me, as his thick fingers pin my hands above my head.
Bucking against his grip, I try to press back and escape, but his hold is relentless. “What the hell, Jagger?” I suck in a ragged breath, my body so heightened with him so close to me I can hardly function. I know this time I locked the door. The damn lock must be for fucking show.
He lowers his head so his breath dusts over my earlobe. “Don’t run and don’t hide from us. You’re here because we want you here. It has nothing to do with your brother,” he growls out like he’s the one annoyed with me and not the other way around.
I shove back at him, my ass getting a little too close to his crotch, very dangerous territory when he’s holding me like a caveman. “You can cut the bullshit, Jagger. How naïve do you think I am? I know I’m just a payday to you, so stop trying to pretend there’s more going on here than there is.”
His bitter laugh vibrates through my room. “We kept you because we wanted to, we’re protecting you because we decided to. Did you really think Cruz or Ash would let you go once they decided you weretheirs? Don’t you turn this into something it’s not because you’re angry with your brother and papa.”
I shift my head so I can see his face. “So, this is just about keeping your brothers happy?” I have to ask. I know it’s petty, and with his hands on me like they are, probably risky as well, but I have to know what I am to him.
Suddenly it feels like his body is even closer to mine, the rough fabric of his jeans rubbing against my bare legs. His nose brushes over my hair, and I’m sure I hear him inhale deeply. Like he’s breathing me in. “You know it’s not,” he says, his voice softer.
I stare at the wall in front of me. “I don’t know anything. From where I’m standing, it looks like this is all just fun and games for you. You came to see me at the club, paid for me, made sure I couldn’t see you or touch you. Then acted like nothing had happened between us afterwards and made me feel like I was losing my mind. Now I find out my brother employed you to take care of me. Was that shit at the club all part of this protection plan? Book her out so no one else can, or some shit like that? You’re fucking unbelievable.”
With one quick move, he spins me so I’m facing him, his hand tightly cupping my chin so I’m forced to look up at him. The other hand is still clinging to my hands, pinning them above my head with so much force I can’t move. “What you need to realize about me, flower, is I don’t do anything I don’t want to. If I fuck you, it’s because I crave you. If I let you live under my roof, it’s because I need you here. You stepped off that bus and turned our world upside down. And now we all have to live with the consequences.”
My breathing is so shallow I feel lightheaded. When we were together in the club, I couldn’t see him, couldn’t stare deep into his eyes, but now it’s like he’s gazing right into my soul, like he’s searchingmy inner thoughts and trying to corrupt me with his. “What are the consequences?” I whisper, not understanding.
His eyes flash with something dark and deranged, and it sends a shiver over my skin and moisture pooling between my legs. Then he crashes his lips onto mine and presses me back into the wall. His powerful hands cling to me as though he’s afraid to let me go.
I can’t move, can’t think properly in this proximity. He overwhelms my senses, and I melt. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I kiss him back just as hungrily. He never once kissed me in the rooms, not on the lips anyway, and this, this feels so different. So real.
As our lips part, he looks almost lost, like he even surprised himself by kissing me. The hand that was holding my face moves down my body, stopping at my waist. “Just don’t fall in love with us,” he warns, his voice deadly serious. Can he see it, that look of love on my face?
