Charlie, Trevor, and Dante looked at one another.
Charlie spoke first.
“I have my suspicions and if Tom wants us to be partners, then I think it could keep him and his wife safe.”
“Charlie, maybe you should talk to J.R. about this. He seems knowledgeable.”
“We don’t need his help,” Charlie snapped at her and she looked away from him.
The waitress returned, bringing over four small cups of fresh espresso and four glasses of sambuca. Along with the coffees were a dish of plump, fresh red strawberries, a bowl of whipped cream, and a small dish containing a pink satin pouch, which Charlie removed immediately.
The waitress asked if they needed anything else then left.
Dante took a strawberry and brought it to Lori’s lips. She blushed, making his cock instantly hard.
“Open, baby,” he whispered, and she did, taking a small bite of berry into her mouth.
Dante knew that his brothers watched him feed Lori the strawberry. He was aroused and so very attracted to her, he didn’t think he could slow things down the way she needed. It was insane, but he felt so much for her. This date was lasting long and he didn’t want her out of his sight. He was trying not to be demanding or to come across as if he was ordering her to do what he wanted to do. He saw her response to Charlie’s demands and bossy tone.
“Let’s get out of here,” Trevor stated and Dante, Charlie, and Lori agreed.
They paid the bill and said their good-byes as they exited Casper’s. The evening was beautiful and Lori shivered as they made their way back to the truck.
Before they reached Charlie’s truck, the men stopped her.
“Are you cold, baby?” Trevor asked then pulled her into his arms. She laid her face against his chest, feeling the muscles beneath her cheek. He smelled so good. His cologne was fresh like soap and outdoors. She inhaled, instantly feeling protected and warm. Trevor rubbed her arms and Dante rubbed her back.
“Better?” Trevor asked, and she nodded her head.
“Let’s sit over here a minute,” Charlie told them as they walked toward the truck. He pulled down the back lift gate and then Trevor lifted Lori up and placed her gently onto the back. Dante was tall enough to lean right back and so was Trevor as he took position on either side of her. She crossed her legs and Charlie moved closer. He stared at her eyes and she smiled softly, wondering why he was being so serious and also if he would say something to challenge her or to get angry with her about.
“If I haven’t told you, you look stunning tonight, Lori, absolutely beautiful. I hope you’re having a good time,” Charlie said.
She was shocked by his sincerity. It looked like it took a lot for him to reveal his emotions. “I am, Charlie. Spending time with the three of you and visiting with your friends has been nice.”
“We’re enjoying spending time with you, too, Lori,” Dante said.
“And showing you off to all our friends. You’re going to get to know them and they’ll be your friends soon, too.”
“Dante, I’m not sure—”
“I wanted to get you something to remember today and tonight,” Charlie told her.
“Charlie, you really didn’t have to do that. I’ll remember today and tonight, you can count on that.” She touched his cheek with the palm of her hand. His skin felt rough with tiny whiskers like she imagined. She looked toward Dante and Trevor. They placed their hands on her leg.
* * * *
Charlie loved her sincerity, her gentleness. She wasn’t fake, and she wasn’t pretending. He was sure of it as he handed her the satin pouch. She opened it, saw the charm bracelet she had fallen in love with earlier, and a tear escaped her eye. Her lips quivered and her hands were shaking as she held her head down, not wanting to reveal her emotions to them. Instantly he took her hands into his, opening up the bracelet clasp and placing it around Lori’s wrist.
“Do you like it?” he asked as he lifted her chin with his hand.
She had tears in her eyes as she pulled Charlie toward her, hugging him. “I love it,” she whispered, and at that moment he knew he loved her.
She said thank you to Dante and Trevor, and Charlie chuckled to himself. They hadn’t a clue what he left for a few minutes earlier. He just felt compelled to get Lori that bracelet she fell in love with. She was determined to take care of herself and provide for herself, but he wanted her to see that this relationship between the four of them would be different. They would rely on one another. They could lean on one another and share in any burdens or concerns. So badly he wanted to tell Lori to quit the bar, let him and his brothers pay for her college and take care of her. But Dante and Trevor agreed, that move would make Lori run from them.
They all had a lot to learn about opening up their hearts and sharing their emotions. He was the worst at doing that, but Lori seemed to have the ability to make him share his feelings. She was special, and he would do anything to protect her and take away the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. Anything.
* * * *
Charlie pulled the truck alongside the roadway as Dante and Trevor pulled their truck behind him. They met them by the dark wooded pathway and Dante placed a light jacket over her shoulders. It smelled like his cologne and she pulled it snugly against her.
“Where are we?” she asked them.
“We’re not far from our place. There’s this beautiful stream and waterfall we want to show you. On a night like tonight with the moon so bright, it’s too perfect to not share with you,” Dante told her and she took his hand.
As they led her through a winding path, the sounds of flowing water filled her ears. Just as she followed Trevor and Charlie into the clearing, the stream and cascading waterfall came into view. It wasn’t a traditional-looking waterfall, but instead it was one set in multiple tiers of rocks, the highest at least twenty feet or more that descended into the water below.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered in awe.
Dante wrapped his arms around her from behind and they stared at the flowing water and the way the moonlight cast its glow over it.
“You were right about the moonlight, Charlie, good call,” Trevor said.
Dante began to kiss along her neck and shoulder, pushing the jacket away from her skin to gain better access.
She loved the way his strong arms felt wrapped around her and how soft and gentle his kisses were.
“You’re so beautiful, Lori.”
She felt the arm that was around her waist move higher and then he kissed the corner of her mouth. She turned into the kiss and in doing so gave him complete access to her breasts. Dante cupped one as he plunged his tongue between her lips.
She moaned into his mouth and held him tighter as he continued to explore her mouth.
When the second set of hands landed on her shoulders, she tightened up as Dante slowly released her lips.
“Easy, baby, it’s just me,” Trevor whispered then kissed her shoulder and then her neck as he maneuvered his hand under her hair.
Dante brushed his finger across her nipple and despite the fact that she was fully clothed, she felt it entirely too much.
“Dante, please.”
But Trevor turned her head so he could kiss her now as Dante released his hold and allowed Trevor his chance at kissing her.
Trevor was a lot wilder and hungrier with his kisses. He stroked his tongue into her mouth, and they battled for control until his hand moved up her dress and gripped her hip bone.
She pressed her hands against his hard chest and he gripped her hip tighter, pulling her against his body. She felt his hard erection and knew that this was going too far too quickly. It was merely a first date.
He must have read her body as she tensed up because he slowly released her lips, and Charlie was there, pulling her into his arms and hugging her tight.
As she ran her hands up his chest to his collar, he stared down into her eyes and looked dangerous. She wasn’t stupid. The man was a lethal weapon in all
aspects of the words. He lifted her up and took three steps forward until she felt the boulder under her feet. Placing her feet on there, he squeezed her tighter as he began kissing along her neck and shoulder.
“I need a little more, sugar. Just a little something.” She didn’t know what he meant but she wanted to give it to him. He was sexy, hard, and turned her on to the point that her pussy actually ached for his touch. As if he read her mind, he kissed her on the mouth as she felt his hands move under her dress.
His kisses grew deeper as he made love to her mouth and she held on to his shoulders. When his hand moved between her thighs and against her wet panties, she jerked from his mouth.
“Oh God, Charlie, we have to stop.”
He looked so intense and needy. She was in the woods, in the dark, with three well-trained military men. She should be running for the truck not ready to give them anything they wanted.
“It won’t go too far. I promise, just a little something.” He moved his fingers under her panties and pressed them to her pussy lips.
Lori tried to hide her gasp as she parted her lips, letting his tongue swirl deeper into her mouth, and squeezed his shoulders.
“Relax, baby. Let him in.” Trevor moved his hand along her thigh and under her dress. He lifted it up against Charlie’s waist as Charlie thrust two fingers into her.
“Charlie.” She moaned his name and closed her eyes until she felt Dante pressing his large palm under her dress, too. She felt her body shaking. She was so turned on right now, she wasn’t sure what was right or wrong. Dante and Trevor were massaging her ass cheeks, kneading her flesh as their knuckles made contact with her cunt and her anus. Charlie continued to plunge his fingers in and out of her. She was overly aroused.
“Look at me,” Charlie stated. When she opened her eyes and absorbed the feel of these three hard, sexy, big men fondling her with the intense expression in Charlie’s face, she shook and came hard. Her legs felt like they were giving out but the men caught her, caressed her, then kissed her wherever they could. As Charlie’s fingers left her body she felt a mix of emotions. She felt empty again and scared to not experience the feelings they gave her, loving her this way together. She worried that this type of relationship was a farce and might not truly last the test of time. And she felt relieved to finally be touched intimately by men she cared for instead of just doing it to get it over with.
Charlie hugged her then grabbed her face between his hands and stared down into her eyes.
“Going slow is going to be torture, woman. Pure fucking torture.” He covered her mouth before she could respond and kissed her.
When he released her, it was to Trevor who kissed her with just as much passion as his hands explored under her dress and then to her breasts.
“You feel real nice, sugar. All the right curves in all the right places,” he whispered flirtatiously then allowed Dante to take his place.
Dante kissed her then lifted her up into his arms and carried her all the way to the truck.
She held on to his shoulders and nuzzled her face against his neck, absorbing his cologne. She wondered, too, how she was going to make this go slow when all her body wanted right now was fast, fast, fast.
Chapter 11
The guys were all working on the house this morning, placing the Sheetrock against the walls in the area that would be the bedroom. Lou was talking to Charlie about finishing off the rest of the barn.
“I was thinking about turning the whole place into a small house for Lori. Maybe we can take this whole area here and create a large living space, then possibly a living room area over here and a fireplace over there, then a big kitchen. She loves to cook and bake when she has the time. What do you think, Charlie?” Lou asked. “Can we do it, the plumbing and electrical work and all? I’ll pay you guys for your time, too.”
Charlie was sure they could do it. “Yeah, it would take some time but I think it would work.”
“Great, she’ll love it. You know, Charlie, she’s sacrificed a lot for her family. This is the least I could do considering she won’t accept any financial help from her mother and I. I want it to be perfect.” Charlie went back to working on the bedroom while Freddie and Jasper continued to work on the plumbing and electrical work.
“How was the date last night?” Matt asked Charlie, Dante, and Trevor as they worked.
“Went good, I think she had a good time,” Charlie said.
“I think it went great, too,” Trevor added.
“So tell me what happened? Did conversation flow comfortably? Did you take her to a nice place?” Matt was truly interested as Trevor told him a little about the date.
“I’m glad it went well, guys.”
“To be honest with you, the more I get to know her the more she surprises me. I was so wrong about her. She’s special, you know what I mean?” Dante asked as he looked at Matt.
“I know exactly what you mean. That’s how I see Janie. I love her more than anything and I can’t wait until we’re married.”
Charlie smiled at Matt knowing that Janie was a great woman and perfect for Matt.
* * * *
Lori headed out of the pharmacy in town and nearly knocked into Dr. Andrew Henley.
“Hey, Doc, how are you?” she asked him as they moved to the side of the walkway.
“I’m doing good, how are you, and how’s your wrist?” She looked really cheerful today and he was glad.
“It’s fine, no complaints.”
“How did your date go with my brothers yesterday?”
She blushed a little at his bluntness then answered. “Very nice, I suppose a lot of people know we went out?”
“Hearts are breaking all around town.”
“Well, your brothers are very attractive and have a lot to offer any woman.”
“I meant over you.”
“That’s nice of you, Doc.”
“I know that they’re my brothers, but I’m just telling it the way it is. I hope it works out.”
“How are Michelle and the kids? Maggie said she was getting together with them today, for the kids to play.”
“They’re doing great. Andy loves playing with Ben. Ben’s a good kid. You and Maggie have done a great job.”
Lori smiled wide. She was proud of Ben and the fact that he truly was such a well-behaved kid. There wasn’t a mean streak in him and she hoped he stayed that way.
“So I hear my cousin Jasper has a date with your sister tonight.”
“You heard right. Can I ask you honestly, Doc, what kind of a man is Jasper? He seems kind of quiet. I see him come into the bar on the weekends.” She didn’t want to sound like some overconcerned parent but she worried about her sister. Maggie didn’t need anyone with baggage or the potential to hurt her.
Andrew seemed to have read her mind and immediately attempted to put Lori at ease.
“Your sister will be in good hands, Lori. Jasper is a nice guy, never been married, he’s not a drunk if that’s a concern. As a matter of fact I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smashed,” Andrew said with a smile as they sat down on the bench outside of his office.
Lori released a sigh of relief.
“You know I understand your concern and realize that not everyone knows what happened to you, Ben, and Maggie. I can honestly say don’t worry about Jasper. He’d never hurt her, he likes her a lot and he’s made that clear. You know Maggie already told him about Ben’s father and the way things went down.”
Lori was surprised and concerned that now Jasper would tell Charlie.
“Lori, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You haven’t told my brothers yet, have you?”
“No, I…I guess…I guess I’m just scared to. You’re gonna have a field day with this one, Doc, but if I talk about it, say what I’m feeling out loud, it hurts too much. All the fear, the secrecy, the pain reemerges.”
“I can understand that, Lori. You’ve had to take care of Ben and Maggie for so long, and focus on only them, that you don’
t know how to think about yourself and what you might need. You can trust Charlie, Trevor, and Dante. They’re in love with you.”
Lori was shocked by Andrew’s words. Was that what she was feeling? Love? She knew she had to tell Dante, Trevor, and Charlie everything that happened in order for their relationship to continue but she didn’t want the drama. She didn’t want them to feel sorry for her.
“Isn’t love amazing? It can lift your spirits higher than anything in the whole world. Confide in them, Lori. You can trust my brothers. Believe me they won’t hurt you. They know what it feels like. They can understand what you’re going through and you may be able to help them as much as they can help you.”
“I know they do. Michelle told me about how much they changed after returning from the service. I saw a picture of them before they left and then when they first returned. I could see the pain, the sadness, and the dullness in their eyes. I want to help them to feel happy.”
Andrew smiled at her.
“They probably want to do the same for you, too.”
“You know, Doc, besides offering your basic, general family physician stuff you should also offer some private counseling on the side. You’re good at it, easy to talk to, and don’t sound condescending, or like a know-it-all. You sincerely want to help and I appreciate that. Sometimes doctors get all caught up in being busy, showing little empathy for their patients and so on. You don’t do that, and you need not change a single thing. Thanks.”
Lori gave him a kiss on the cheek and rose from the bench. They said good-bye and Andrew watched as Lori walked away.
He took out his cell phone and called his wife Michelle. She was outside on the porch with Maggie having some iced teas as the kids played on the jungle gym.
“Oh hi, Andrew, how was lunch?” Michelle asked.
“Great, I just wanted to call you and tell you I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart. What brought this on?”
“Lori Shay, that’s who. She’s an amazing person, Michelle, and I hope things work out between her and my brothers.” He then told her a little bit about their conversation.
The American Soldier Collection 4: Their Blue-Collar Girl (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13
