22
Tomi slippedon Cole’s T-shirt and quietly tiptoed from the room, coffee mugs in hand. Cole lay sprawled across the bed on his stomach, head pillowed on his arms. Her heart fluttered and she spilled a bit of the coffee over the rim of the cup. Damn, she’d known this would happen if she let herself fall in love with him again—she’d known he would become her everythingagain.
Tomi did an internal eye roll. She’d never fallen out of love with the man; she’d just been running scared. This was why she’d never returned to their hometown, never answered any of his letters or calls or emails. On some level, she’d always known there was no escaping their soul-deep connection, that if Cole ever found her again he wouldn’t let her go again…and viceversa.
But fate must’ve had its own plans in store for them. Tomi shook her head and quietly eased the door shut behind her. Cole’s relentless pursuit had been 100% effective at breaking down her walls. After all this time, he’d read her like an open book and given her exactly what she needed, just like he’d promised. He’d left her with no option but to admit to them both how much she loved and neededhim.
Her womb clenched at the memory of their lovemaking, the tender ache between her legs a sweet reminder of what he’d done toher.
When Tomi reached the end of the hallway, she peered around the corner, hoping to avoid the twins. Although she wasn’t the least bit ashamed of what they’d done, she still wasn’t sure of what she’d say to them. The kitchen was empty and she blew out a long sigh of relief. She’d take the reprieve to gather her wits, steal some more time with Cole in bed. Then she could facethem.
Tomi crossed to the coffeemaker and set down the cups, frowning at the spoon lying on the counter, she picked it up and studied it. She and Cole both drank their coffeeblack.
“Morning,beautiful.”
Tomi’s stomach flip-flopped and she dropped the spoon, wincing when it clattered loudly on the tile countertop. Behind her, Carter had silently entered the kitchen. With his wild blonde hair and light golden eyes, his looks were utterly devastating. Any woman would readily fall for him, but despite what he’d done to her at Cole’s bidding, Tomi’s heart didn’t even flutter in his presence. His light didn’t hold a candle to Cole’sdarkness.
Tomi cleared her throat, realizing she’d been standing there too long without responding. “Morning.”
Like a tiger surveying its prey, Carter’s knowing gaze swept her from head to toe. “You lookhappy.”
His words surprised her, but they shouldn’t have. Of the Fury brothers, Carter had always been the most sensitive to what others were feeling. “Iam.”
The corners of his lips curled up into a smile. “He’s happy too, you know? Cole went through hell when you left him. I’m glad to see you’re back. Reallyback.”
Guilt flared inside her with a vengeance. Her decision to break ties with him had been selfish. Stupid. She’d only been able to see her own fear and grief. Tomi licked her suddenly dry lips and turned back to the coffee. “I thought he’d get over me. We were only really together for a year.” She dumped their undrunk coffee into the sink, set up the coffeemaker with fresh grounds and enough water and hitbrew.
She felt Carter’s presence behind her and then his hands settled on her shoulders, turning her around. Although he wasn’t as tall as Cole, she still had to tilt her head back to look into hisface.
“He’s loved you for your entire life, just like you’ve loved him. Or did some other blonde pain in my ass constantly pester me to talk to Cole on her behalf?” Carter reached up and grabbed a loose strand of her hair, wrapping it around hisfinger.
Tomi frowned and pulled her hair free of his grip. “Pain in yourass?”
“I’d say she was more of a pain in my ass,brother.”
Tomi peered over Carter’s shoulder to see Clint leaning casually against the doorframe. To anyone who didn’t know them as well as she did, they would appear identical. Except for the tiny scar on Clint’s right cheekbone—the result of stepping into a fight in which he was totally outnumbered. Tomi glared at him too. “Glad to know I was such apest.”
Carter chuckled, backed up to the kitchen table and sat down. As if he were on rotation, Clint crossed to her, filling up the space his brother had just vacated. There was no emotional awareness in Clint’s gaze. “Did you enjoy last night?” he askeddirectly.
Heat that had nothing to do with embarrassment rose to her cheeks. Of course, she’d enjoyed it— and the fact that Cole had remembered her fantasy in such detail overwhelmed her. Clint leaned in, caging her between his arms as he braced them on the counter behind her. “I enjoyed it immensely,” headded.
Her stomach revved up into her throat—until she caught a tiny hint of amusement in his lusty gaze. Clint was up to his usual shtick, trying to put her on edge. Well, Tomi wasn’t a shy teenager anymore and she had no intention of being intimidated by any Furybrother.
He’d obviously decided to play this little game before he ever saw her. Too bad she was older and wiser now and knew exactly what to do to turn the tables. She lowered her chin a fraction and then bit her lip, staring up at him through her lashes in a false show of demure submission. “What do youthink?”
A shadow of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed immediately by the flare of awareness. “I think the way you responded was the hottest thing I’ve everseen.”
Clint’s gaze raked her from head to toe and her treacherous body responded. Her nipples tightened as the erotic image of Clint caressing her breasts filled her mind. His gaze stopped at her chest, narrowing in on the evidence of herarousal.
But it had been Cole surrounding her, Cole commanding her. He was the one who’d left her shaking. The knowledge gave her the courage she needed to put his twin in his place. Tomi put her hand on his chest and guided him backward, propelling him into a vacant chair while Carter watched in amusement. “Is this what you want? Me all to yourself?” Tomi leaned in, forcing Clint’s back against the table. “Is that what you think Iwant?”
Clint glanced at his brother out of the corner of his eye, his discomfort obvious. She moved in, intending to make him squirm. He thought he could walk into this kitchen and handle her like he had any right of ownership? Well, she’d demolish that thought, and enjoy doing so. Tomi turned Clint’s face back to hers. “You didn’t answer my question,” she said in a soft, teasingtone.
Some of Clint’s obnoxious self-assurance faded. “Tomi, that’s not what I meant,” he stammeredout.
“It’s not? It sure sounded thatway.”
“I wasjust—”
