Page 97 of The Betrothal

ISABELLE

There was no real time to dwell on those pesky feelings, since Seb had leaned into Ben and the two muttered between themselves briefly, then they rose.

Seb extended his hand for me to take. “Let’s go, Killer.”

His tone allowed for no argument, so I stood and let him lead me from the kitchen and up the stairs. Where I’d expected an escort to the guest room, he surprised me by turning sharply at the top of the staircase, leading me towards Ben’s bedroom.

I’d never been inside. The light flowed freely into the space. Aside from the huge bed and two bedside tables with tall lamps, there was no other furniture, the surfaces of the tables and the windowsill were bare.

The bed was made, dark grey blankets and silky sheets folded neatly over the top, tucked in perfectly at the edges. Ben had no scatter cushions or needless decoration.

What he did have were three large, black-framed photographs. Ben and Seb, Ben and Alex, and in the middle Alex and Ben with two people who could only be their parents.

The brothers smiled broadly, the older couple between them had years on my parents and I thought back to Alex’s account of his mother’s difficulties. They’d had Alex later in life.

I spun taking in the rest of the space. Behind the bed which sat against the far wall, the black-stained wooden headboard reaching up at least five feet above the mattress, there were two openings. Nothing beyond them was clearly visible from where I stood. Ben took my hand in his and led me through into what was a slightly smaller space.

The walls were covered by floor-to-ceiling cupboards and shelves, the handful of surfaces in here weren’t bare, but they were extremely carefully arranged.

A selection of personal items, grooming toiletries and another smaller framed photograph, this one of Ben’s mother.

I felt him watching me while I looked at the photo, his hand tightening on mine in the shared moment. Then he opened a cupboard.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have much hanging space.” He pointed to several shelves which housed my meagre possessions. I didn’t have a chance to reply when Ben continued. “Seb offered to clear his rail for you?”

“My things are in your room?” I didn’t manage to answer his question, settling for a ridiculously obvious statement. Izzy, Jesus.

“You don’t think we’re letting you away from us for even a second given you’re leaving us soon, do you?” Seb’s arms wrapped around me from behind, his head coming to rest on my shoulder.

“But, you didn’t know when I was leaving until just now?” I wasn’t buying that.

“We hedged?” Seb replied. “Plus, it was one of the ways we managed to relax after the wicked brother whisked you away.” He made light of the situation but the scowl marring Ben’s features told me he was still far from happy with the lost days.

“Okay.” My reply was aimed at Ben and the shadows haunting his eyes cleared slightly.

“Okay!” Seb crowed. “I think we need to wash the last two days’ hard labour from your body.” Seb’s hands roamed over my hips.

“How do you know I helped out? And why would you think that I didn’t shower?” I played along, although I did desperately want a hot shower.

After a morning working as a lumberjack and then the cold journey back under the crisp sun, I felt icky.

Seb didn’t miss a beat. “Question one, I know you. Question two, I don’t really care.” Seb swept me up, ignoring my complaints and bundled me down the hall.

I clamped my hand over my mouth, my peals of laughter quietened by the action.

Alex was downstairs and I couldn’t say for sure that it would bother him, I thought it might. Maybe it wouldn’t. After all, he was the one to tap out downstairs before we talked about anything else.

Before I knew it, I had been placed gently back on my feet beside the bathroom sink and Seb was lifting my jumper until it blocked my view entirely, leaving me no choice but to raise my arms and allow him to slip it off. When my ability to see was restored, I discovered the door was closed and both men were watching me, their gazes intense. The sexual tension in the room was rising and anticipation coiled in my stomach.

Ben lifted his t-shirt, exposing his torso to us. Seb and I watched hungrily while he lowered his joggers, revealing he was naked underneath.

He straightened, the length of his erection thick between his thighs.

Both Seb and I stared and Ben’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Perverts,” he grumbled playfully, his voice hoarse. “Strip her.”

I gulped, offering no resistance as Seb smiled at Ben before reaching to remove my top, then tease my leggings down my thighs and over my feet. He rose to toy with the straps of my bra, my preferred bralettes often felt less sexy than some of the alternatives, but the way they both watched me left me with no doubts whatsoever at their desire for me.

Seb slipped the straps down my arms, gently tugging the bralette with them, he allowed the elastic to catch just above my nipples then dragged it down so it caught on the sensitive flesh, ripping a moan from me, they peaked tightly.