“Except those pot shots at Cali,” she said and looked around them then back at them. “I could do without that kind of excitement,” she said and Wallace smirked.
Tobias got serious. He reached out and stroked her jaw. “We’ll be sure to keep you safe.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and then looked away from him. She pointed up along another set of paths. “Solomon mentioned a longer trail that leads to a main campsite up to the right. Is that where you guys usually set up camp?” she asked.
“No, that’s for the tourists and any locals who are looking to socialize. We like to enjoy the peacefulness of our own camp away from other people,” Tobias said to her.
“It’s a time we get to clear our minds and just enjoy Mother Nature after work. It gives us time to talk or just spend time together,” Wallace said to her.
“Oh, well, don’t worry, I’ll probably find my own spot so I’m not interfering in your time alone. I was thinking about heading a little farther away from the obstacle course and more toward the lake.”
Wallace reached out and touched her hand. She stared at him and he instantly felt the shock of attraction to his system. “I didn’t mean for my brother and I to be alone. I meant the whole point of camping for us is to be relaxed without a worry, and not having to put on a conversation with strangers. You can camp with us. Plus it’s safer that you’re not alone. Just in case.”
“In case of what?” she asked him.
Wallace stared down into her eyes and then licked his lower lip. “Any unexpected dangers.”
“Hmm, then I guess I may take you up on your offer of sharing the campsite. We’ll see how it goes,” she said and then Tobias spoke.
“How about we head up toward the obstacle course and shooting range first? Then we can take some time to scope out a good location to camp,” he asked.
“Okay, since this is your neck of the woods, I’ll follow you guys,” she said and then bent down to lift a large backpack onto her back. He could see the roll for the sleeping bag and what looked like material for a tent. He was kind of hoping things went so well, she would share their tent with them. As she followed Tobias, he watched her. She was strong and also had a great figure. He could tell by the way her clothes fit. There was something about her that drew his attention. Maybe the color of her hair, the brightness of her green eyes, or the sweetness of her smile. Hell, could be the scent of her shampoo that eased through the air right now, hitting his nostrils and making his cock harden with thoughts of getting a closer scent.
* * * *
Tobias watched Wallace show Chloe how to shoot the rifle and then switch to the side arm to navigate the beginner’s obstacle course. They were surprised that only a few groups of people were around and they passed them on the way up. They had the place to themselves and took advantage of it.
Wallace had his hand on her hip and pointed forward, keeping her close to him. She seemed to avoid looking at him but she didn’t pull away. The sight aroused Tobias more than he thought it would.
“It has a little kick to it, so hold it in your shoulder good,” he told her.
She looked at Wallace and then at Tobias. “Tobias did tell you that I’m familiar with guns?” she asked.
Wallace glanced at Tobias and then back at Chloe. “He mentioned that.”
“Then I should be fine. I just needed help with locating the targets.”
“Okay, then we’ll stand back and let you have a go at it.”
She gave a nod and then started shooting. Wallace didn’t take his eyes off of her and neither did Tobias. She moved along the path with grace and accuracy, hitting each target. When she got to the next section she lowered the gun to the ground and then pulled her side arm, held it steady and shot, moving even quicker than with the rifle. It was pretty damn obvious the woman was well trained and it made Tobias have more questions. When she finished up the course she paused and looked over her shoulder.
“That was pretty good for a beginner’s course. I haven’t been through one of these in a long time.”
“Looks like it hasn’t been that long with that type of shooting, honey.”
Tobias turned around to see Scottie standing there. Chloe took a retreating step back but then Wallace wrapped his arm around her waist and introduced him.
“Chloe, meet our other brother, Scottie,” he said and she relaxed a little.
“Where did you come from?” she asked.
Scottie looked her over and gave a nod toward the right to a more dense area of brush and pathway that disappeared down an incline.
“Nice to meet you, Chloe.” He reached his hand out for her to shake and when she did, her eyes widened and then she quickly pulled away.
“Want to move on to the more complicated target and obstacle course?” Wallace asked her.
“Sure,” she said to him.
“This time no giving hints of where the targets are,” Tobias said to her.
“Well, you guys will have an advantage because you know where they are already,” she said as she picked up her bag.
“They move them every day so no one knows where they’re going to be. It’s a bit sneaky but you have to catch them with your eyes. It’s great training,” Tobias told her.
“Okay, lead the way,” she said and Tobias felt the tap to his shoulder as Wallace led Chloe along the path to the next course.
He locked gazes with Scottie. “She’s gorgeous,” he whispered.
“You seem surprised,” Tobias replied as they followed.
“I guess I expected something else. I don’t know. She can handle a gun. She holds like a professionally trained agent or cop.”
“I know. I was thinking the same thing. I’m hoping we can find out more about her.”
“Shit, this sounds like trouble.”
“I think you’ll find that she’s worth it,” Tobias said and then they headed up the path the rest of the way.
* * * *
“So where did you learn how to shoot?” Scottie asked her when he was getting his gun ready. Ahead, Tobias was going through the obstacle course. Wallace stood next to Chloe.
“My grandparents had guns. I lived with them in the south Bronx and they brought me to the shooting range and one of these obstacle courses upstate a few times. I had a knack for shooting.”
Scottie stared at her and she looked away. Wallace placed his hand on her hip.
“You’re really good at it. How long since you’ve been to one of these things?” he asked and stepped closer.
She took an unsteady breath and Scottie knew that his brother wanted to kiss her. Hell, he wanted to as well, she was that attractive.
“A long time.”
“We should do this more often. It’s fun,” Wallace said and then cupped her cheek and stared down into her eyes.
“Wallace, I told Tobias that I can’t get involved with you like this. Friends I’m fine with.”
Wallace shook his head. “I’m not fine with that, and I don’t think you are either.” He pulled her close, covered her mouth, and kissed her.
Scottie was instantly aroused at the sight. As often as he and his brothers talked about sharing a woman one day and continuing a family tradition—it seemed out of reach, like a fantasy that would never come to fruition. All because of their jobs, and their inherent distrust.
As Wallace eased his mouth from her lips he pressed his forehead against hers.
“Damn, Wallace. Why did you kiss me?”
“Probably for the same reason I kissed you,” Tobias said as he approached with his rifle over his shoulder. He set it down by the bag and then reached for her and pulled her into his arms. He cupped her cheeks and spoke firmly to her.
“I don’t know what you’re hiding, what you’re not telling us, but I don’t fucking care. I want you. Want to get to know you. Want to enjoy you with my brothers. We can do this friends thing first, but my patience is slim, Chloe. You should know me by now.”
“Is
this the whole ‘my way or the highway’ ultimatum I mentioned?” she asked.
He stroked her hair and licked his lower lip. “It’s the I always get what I want, and this attraction we feel is too damn strong to ignore, and I want you. I want all of it.” He covered her mouth and kissed her fully as Scottie watched. He swallowed hard, unsure of what to do next. He didn’t know her long enough to kiss her. He didn’t want to kiss her for no reason and make her feel like she was some object for them to possess. So when she pulled from Tobias and then laid her head against his chest and stared at Scottie, he was shocked at her words.
“I suppose you’re going to want to kiss me, too?”
He stared at her. “I’m willing to wait until we know one another better. You and I just met.” He stepped closer and she lifted up from Tobias’s chest but Tobias still stroked her hair.
Scottie stared down into her eyes. He reached out and ran his thumb along her lips while tilting her jaw up.
“It isn’t that I don’t want kiss you. I just don’t want you to feel like some sort of possession or object. I feel the attraction, but I don’t know you. Maybe spending this time with you can help to ease all our minds so we can determine what happens next,” he said to her and she nodded.
“That sounds fine with me. I think we need to slow things down,” she said and looked at Tobias.
“Getting to know you is definitely important. Be honest with us, Chloe, and this will work out just fine,” Tobias said to her and Scottie saw a look in her eyes that made him feel like trouble was simmering here. Who the hell was she? Really?
* * * *
Once they got past the kissing incident by the obstacle course, the day got better and more relaxed. Chloe was feeling high-strung and also completely aroused, which was not good at all. All three men were gorgeous and had magnetic personalities that called to any sane woman. Not that she could claim to be sane right now. She’d thoroughly enjoyed their touches and kisses as they explored the woods and went on a hike to locate camp for the night. They showed her some cool streams and little caves along the lake. The men shared some stories of good times up here and also about their brother Stephan who hadn’t shown up yet. She could tell they were disappointed. It seemed like this camping excursion was meant to spend time together and enjoy each other’s company. She couldn’t believe she wanted to know what Stephan looked like. She really was asking for trouble here, but every ounce of her felt interested. She couldn’t deny it.
She felt the hand on her hip and Scottie press up against her back.
“This is a decent spot, but something off the beaten path would be better. We like our privacy,” he said and stroked her ribs.
She wondered what he meant. Like a make out session, or could he think she would sleep with them? All three of them in a tent? The thought both scared and aroused her. It would be a first, that was for sure, but then again, so was a ménage encounter, too.
They made their way through some dense brush and into a small clearing. She was shocked to hear the water and see what looked like a small stream.
“This is it,” Wallace told her, placing his hands on her shoulders. She looked around them and it was a perfect setting for a campsite. It was small, but they wouldn’t need much space.
He leaned closer and kissed her neck. She shivered with goosebumps and reached up to cover one of his hands.
“Like it?” he asked her.
“Yes, Wallace, it’s perfect.”
“I’ll gather the wood for the fire, Wallace, if you want to set up a spot in the center,” Scottie told him.
“I’ll start setting up the tents,” Tobias said.
“I can help with that, too. I can set mine up a little farther away so you guys can have some private time to talk. I don’t want to be in the way,” she said and started walking forward but Wallace stopped her. She turned around to face him.
He pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her waist. “We want you close. This is about getting to know you and you getting to know us.” He leaned down and brushed his lips gently against hers. He smiled and she did, too. “Okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said and he released her to find Tobias watching them and then indicate for her to place her tent right beside theirs in the middle.
They gathered up fresh water for cooking.
“Come along with me, Chloe. An entrance toward the lake is down the path a ways and we can fish for dinner,” Scottie said to her.
“Fish?” she asked, surprised.
“Call us if you need our help,” Tobias teased.
“Chloe and I got this,” Scottie said and then took her hand and led her through the brush with him, carrying a duffle bag of some sort.
“So how long have you known my brothers?” he asked her.
“Well, Tobias for months, and Wallace I just met the other night at the bar,” she told him.
“You’ve lived in town long?”
“A year.”
“Damn, I should get out more when I’m here.”
She chuckled.
Scottie looked closer to her age. He had a young face, dark brown eyes, cute dimples, and was super tan.
“You work a lot?”
“I’ve been on this one project for nine months now. I only had a few days off before I started it, but I was in Cuba.”
“Cuba? That explains the nice tan,” she complimented him.
He gave her a wink as they got to the lake and he set the bag down. He looked around them.
“What do you need?” she asked.
“I was looking for a long stick, kind of thick so that I can carve the edge into a spear.”
“Are you serious? You don’t have a fishing pole?”
He continued to look around them and then she crossed her arms in front of his chest as he chuckled.
“You’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?” she asked. He gave her a wink and then unzipped the bag and pulled out three small short poles and started putting them together. In no time he had it all set.
When he stood up he pressed closer to her and placed one hand on her hip. “Just so you know, honey, I could carve a nice spear and fish with it.”
Damn, was he too sexy as he said that to her. She felt her cheeks warm.
“That’s impressive,” she replied in a flirty tone.
He gave her a wink. “Just you wait,” he said and then looked at her lips, licked his lower one and she thought he might kiss her, but then he released her hip and walked closer to the water.
“This is beautiful down here. How come there aren’t any other campers around?”
“They tend to stay up on the other side and not too close to the water. The critters come out at night and some are big,” he said and eyed her over.
“Well, don’t you worry, Scottie, I can take care of myself just fine,” she replied and stood next to him.
He started fishing and then looked at her.
“You have any family, besides grandparents?” he asked her.
She shook her head, even though she had an uncle. A man connected to organized crime, but she wasn’t about to share that little bit of info.
“How about you guys? Is it just the four of you?”
“No, we have parents. Three dads and our mom who lives in Keanter. Then lots of cousins, aunts, uncles—the whole load of them.”
“Wow, a big family. It must be hard trying to find time to see them with your schedule,” she said and he looked a little upset at that.
“It’s been a long time. I’ve been satisfied with having enough downtime to see my brothers and do things like this, camping and stuff.”
She felt badly and even more so since she was imposing on their time together.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you feel unwanted. It’s quite the opposite. In fact, my curiosity about you is what got me to even show up today. I was ready to make an excuse.”
“Your curiosity?”
“Tobias talked about you a few times. When he mentio
ned getting together with you today I was curious. Tobias has never talked about a woman before. None of us do.”
“Why is that?” she asked and looked at him.
“Workaholics, I guess.” He looked away and back at the water.
“That’s lame. Why, really?” she pushed even though as she asked that she knew she was asking for trouble and more questions about herself.
He looked at her, let his eyes graze over her body and her body reacted—she could actually feel his gaze against her skin.
“No woman ever gained our interest enough to discuss her with one another, and we don’t trust easy.”
She thought about that a moment. “I don’t trust easy either.”
“I kind of figured that out since you don’t share much personal stuff.”
“I don’t find it necessary to live in the past.”
“How about sharing to ease our minds and let us know you’re not hiding something?” She felt her gut clench and guilt fill her heart.
“Life is about taking chances, I guess,” he went to speak and the line pulled. He started reeling it in and sure enough he caught a decent-size fish. He pulled it off the hook and placed it into the bucket then went to fish some more.
He asked her a few more questions and she closed up. She figured it was easier this way. As they gathered the bucket with three large fish—more than enough for the four of them—he stopped her by grabbing her hand. Pressing closer, he stared down into her eyes.
“I don’t know what you’re so scared of. Maybe if we all take a chance on this, it could work perfectly.”
“Maybe if we did, it wouldn’t work out at all,” she replied. He shook his head and gently gripped her chin.
“Something tells me only good can come from this.” He started leaning closer and she worried about letting Scottie kiss her and wanting him to. Right before his lips touched hers, she closed her eyes and he kissed her. The kiss quickly turned passionate, so she started pulling back and he ran his palm along her ass, pressed her close and then kissed her fully until he was ready to release her lips. When they parted he shook his head. “Damn, baby, and you didn’t want me to kiss you.”
The Battlefield Series 7: Disguising the Truth (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7
