“Same,” Paine agreed, rubbing his hand up and down her soft back. “I can’t control myself now as it is. I tell myself to leave her alone or else I’ll wake her. The next thing I know, I’m playing with her hair again.”
“I’ve noticed.” Rowe nodded with a smile that was larger than Paine had seen in a while.
“You’re happy,” Paine observed with satisfaction lacing his own voice.
“Of course. Aren’t you?” his partner shot back with a snort.
“Absolutely,” he assured his brother. “It’s just that I haven’t seen you smile like this in a long time.”
Rowe rubbed a hand over his face. “To be honest, brother, I can’t seem to help it. I can’t think of a bride more perfect for us than the one in that bed. She’s more than I thought she’d be.”
Paine was about to agree when he felt the woman at his side shift and begin to stretch.
“Welcome back, love.” Rowe’s voice was low and soothing, obviously toned down so as not to wake Indigo up too harshly.
Indigo blinked her eyes, squinting at Paine’s nipple in front of her nose. After staring for a few moments, she glanced up at him first. Then Rowe.
“Oh…hey.”
“How was your nap?” Paine asked, patting her on the hip where his hand rested.
Pulling away, Indigo peeked under the blanket before dropping it quickly.
“I’m naked,” she said, her face blushing red all the way down to the top of her chest.
Rowe shook his head. “No, you’re only half naked. Your top is still on.”
“It’s not covering anything,” Paine added, gesturing to the stretched armhole her breast was poking through. “But it is on.”
“And you both touched me,” Indigo announced as she tucked herself back into the top with a shrug.
“Yes.” Paine looked over to his brother, unsure what exactly was happening.
“And I liked it.” Indigo rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling as if she were looking into a mirror. “I’m naked—” Her face scrunched up. “Correction, half naked, and you both touched me.”
“Ye—”
“And I liked it,” she finished, her voice as surprised as her expression appeared in the reflection above her. “I’m staying. I’m naked. They both touched me, and I liked it.”
Paine rolled onto his side, preferring to watch her instead of her image. Indigo’s lips were moving as if arguing with herself but no sound was coming out. Every now and then she’d furrow her brow and a word broke the silence, but she otherwise seemed lost in her own little world, not paying either of them any attention as they watched her with mild concern.
Paine shook his head at Rowe when it looked like his partner was about to interrupt. She was talking more to herself than them. From what he could tell, this was their bride’s way of processing what had happened.
“I’m hungry,” she announced, turning her head to look at him on the pillow next to her.
Paine was so stunned at her quick transition from mumbling to telling him she wanted food that he lost the words to respond for a moment.
“I think you broke him, sweetheart.” Rowe laughed as he stood up. “It’s a good thing there’s two of us.”
Indigo blushed deeper than she had earlier at the mention of their ménage.
“Is this crazy?” she asked, sitting up in the bed. Indigo tucked the blanket into the well of her lap, focusing on her hands as she pushed and pulled at the fabric. “I mean, this is crazy. Obviously. But is this crazy, crazy?”
Paine frowned, not liking the tone he was picking up on in her voice. What had before sounded positive had turned to doubt quicker than he’d expected.
“If you mean, do you make us feel crazy, then the answer is yes. Absolutely,” he answered firmly. “The emotions that you arouse are feelings that I’ve never dealt with before—at least on this level. I want to see you happy; I want to make you happy. I’ve never wanted to please someone as much as I want to please you. Not my commanders, not the council, note even Rowe—”
“Thanks,” he interrupted dryly from where he was sitting. “I love you too, brother.”
“You know what I mean.” Paine rolled his eyes as Indigo giggled.
“Of course, I do,” Rowe acknowledge with a nod to their bride. “Because I feel exactly the same way, Indigo. Exactly the same way.”
“That doesn’t mean this isn’t crazy,” she argued with a shake of the head. “I mean, what’s to say this is more than a little fling? Maybe all of this feels so intense because you guys have been without—you know—for a long time and any woman would do.”
Rowe chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest. “Really?”
“You think that we’ve become mad with lust and any bride could take your place?” Paine added.
“Well…maybe…a little bit,” she answered, frowning at Rowe and the amused smile on his face as he watched her. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you couldn’t be more wrong, sweetheart.”
Chapter Nineteen
Indigo felt the frown on her face settle deeper as her brain picked apart Rowe’s last comment. How was she wrong? Was she more than just a warm body for their pleasure? Or were they not sex starved?
She was about ready to ask them more when a strange beep emitted from the door.
“Cover up, love. We have guests.” Tucking the blanket higher around her, Paine gave her every bit of cover left on the bed.
“Thank y-y-you,” she whispered, staring at the chest he bared as he uncovered himself.
Dear sweet baby Jesus, the man was hot.
With the fabric clutched to her chest, she was more than grateful for the thin barrier between his eyes and her now diamond-hard nipples. She was a bit surprised at the reaction, considering the powerful climax she’d had earlier. Normally, a good orgasm could tide her over for a day or two. A fantastic one—like the ones earlier—was good for a solid week at least.
Yet here she was, practically panting in need, ready to poke someone’s eye out with a nipple. One look at Paine or Rowe and her body was lighting up the dick-signals she had front and center.
“Enter!” Rowe called out after Paine gave him a nod.
At his yell, the door slid open to reveal two large Phaetons.
“I brought Leere,” the larger warrior announced with a nod.
Rowe moved to block the two from moving farther into his room. “The question is, why did you bring Leere? We didn’t request a doctor—"
“And if we did, it sure wouldn’t be one who was unmated.”
Leere—or at least the Phaeton she assumed was Leere—held up his hands. “Listen, I’m not here to steal away your bride.”
“As if you could,” Paine scoffed even as he scooted closer to her.
Indigo bit the inside of her lip to hide a smile. Their posturing amused her, which caught her off guard, considering she usually found it obnoxious.
“Listen, I don’t want to be here either. I would not have even come if Hix hadn’t dragged me out of my bunk,” Leere snapped, glaring at the warrior who entered with him. “I have my own bride to worry about.”
“That doesn’t answer the question as to why.” Rowe frowned, standing his ground between the men and the bed.
Paine climbed off the mattress to join him, which left Indigo staring at a wall of muscled backs as they faced off with the Phaetons.
“Kaine’s orders,” Hix said with a shrug.
“Are you examining the other brides as well? Paine asked, taking the question right out of Indigo’s thoughts.
“No. As of right now, just your bride.”
Indigo swallowed hard as an uncomfortable feeling settled in her stomach from the attention she was receiving from the two newcomers. She hated the hesitancy that overcame her whenever it was time for her to see a doctor. The phobia had always been there but had worsened when she’d entered puberty. She was younger than most when she’d started ga
ining weight and filling out a little too quickly for her doctor’s comfort. She was only eight the first time her pediatrician “politely” gave her mom a pamphlet on obesity. Taking one look at the calorie sheet, her mom said no thank you, took her hand, and walked out.
That evening as they baked pies, her mom had explained that being bigger didn’t equate to being unhealthy. Indigo was a shining example of that herself. She fell into the morbidly obese category on the chart yet had no health issues whatsoever. The doctors were always surprised to see her blood work come back clear of any problems, but that didn’t stop them from counseling her on weight loss. She found it crazy that she could go in for strep throat, yet the doc somehow always worked her weight into the equation of her being sick.
Because being fat made me get strep throat, right?!
Indigo frowned, recalling how angry and…embarrassed she’d felt. She’d looked like hammered shit. She was so sick, and her throat had felt like she’d lined it with shards of broken bottles, but her dumbass doctor had the nerve to suggest she go on a diet before he even addressed the entire reason why she was there. All things considered, no wonder she was afraid of seeing a doctor.
“Why?” Paine asked.
At the question, Leere shrugged and Hix looked directly at her.
“I just follow orders,” the doctor said.
“How about we ask your bride, gentlemen?” Hix asked and nodded to Indigo where she sat behind her men.
She gulped.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that the request for a medical exam came from the Warlord of Hamuir himself.”
“Junie,” Indigo said on a sigh as her brain connected the dots.
“Sorry, guys,” she offered as a blanket apology. “I have a feeling DHT is following orders from his wife, and since we’re like this,” Indigo crossed her fingers, “she’s worried about me.”
“What for?”
“Why would that be?”
“Care to explain?”
“Who’s DHT?”
Indigo blinked as questions were shot at her from all four Phaetons. She had no clue how to answer them. Even explaining “DHT” was too much as she sure didn’t have the time or patience to go through the intricacies of the Marvel Universe.
“It’s kind of a long story…” Indigo broke eye contact when her matches both looked at her as if seeking answers. “I have a feeling Junie won’t let this drop until she gets the word that I’m A-Okay, so can we just get whatever needs to happen over with?”
Paine and Rowe stared at her for a moment. Their eyes searched her for answers before shaking their heads at the doctor.
“You may ask her questions.”
“And, if she wants to answer them, she will.”
“Other than that, you will not touch her.”
“Or we will break your hands.”
Although broken apart, their orders were clear.
Indigo’s insides warmed. They’d obviously taken the fact that she was nervous around doctors to heart and were trying to make things a bit easier on her. Not only was it sweet but she knew they would probably get flak back about it. From what she knew, Kaine was one of the guys in charge, and barring Leere from examining her was surely going against orders. Considering they were already locked in Rowe’s room, she could only imagine how much more trouble it would cause.
“It’s okay, guys,” she said, surprised by the calm in her voice. “If he needs to check me over, then he needs to check me over. I’ll be totally fine. The last thing I want is you getting in more trouble over something that’s not a big deal.”
Talking the situation down helped settle her nerves a bit. Plus, Indigo had a feeling she’d be able to keep her cool as long as the guy didn’t whip a scale out of his pocket and then ask her how many calories she ate per day.
“Just your vitals and a few questions,” Leere said with a brisk nod as he walked forward.
Rowe stopped him with a hand on his chest. “One moment.”
“Wha—?”
Rowe gripped his shoulders and spun him around to face the door.
“You too, Hix,” he ordered the other warrior.
Hix gave them a questioning look but turned around as well.
“Love.” Paine handed her a bundle he scooped off the floor. “Put these on first.”
Indigo blinked at the handful of clothes he’d passed her, taking a moment to recognize her underwear and sleep shorts. Her mouth dropped open.
“I can’t believe I forgot,” she said with a blush as she untangled her panties from the shorts. Her brain obviously hadn’t woken up quite yet. Slipping under the cover, she shimmied her way into them quickly. “Thanks.”
Paine smiled at her before his eyes grew concerned. “You don’t have to agree to this. It doesn’t matter that this came down from Kaine. You’ve already said how uncomfortable you are in situations like this, and you are more important to us than following orders.”
His voice matched the softness in his eyes, and Indigo felt her defenses crumble even more at how sweet he was being to her. His reaction was completely different from the times she’d mentioned her phobia to friends and they’d made her feel stupid.
“I appreciate that,” she said sincerely, “but I’ll be okay. Plus, you don’t know Junie. Once she makes up her mind about something, there’s no talking her out of it. If she wants me to see a doctor, she’ll find a way to make it happen, even if she has to fly up here and drag me to one herself.”
“No, she won’t!” Paine squawked. “Rowe, tell her that she can’t leave with the warlord’s wife. I don’t care who she’s mated to.”
“Love.” Rowe looked at her and rolled his eyes. “You’re not allowed to leave with the warlord’s wife.”
Indigo giggled, unable to stop herself, as she watched Rowe tease Paine.
“If you two are done flirting with your wife,” Leere broke in with annoyance, “perhaps you can let me follow orders so I can go back to mine.”
“Sorry,” Rowe said with a grimace. “I know it’s not your fault, Leere.”
“But she’s our first concern,” Paine tacked on.
“As she should be,” Leere agreed with a nod as the men let him pass and sit next to her.
As he opened his bag, he gave her a gentle smile. “My suggestion is that we get this done as quickly as possible. That way I can go back to my bunk and your two Brakken will stop glaring at me. Sound good?”
“Sounds great,” Indigo said, giving him a thumbs up. The vibe she felt coming from him was a lot more welcoming than her last doctor, so she didn’t think she’d have a problem sitting through an exam if need be.
“How have you been feeling? Any general aches or complaints?” he asked, shining a small light into her eyes.
“No aches.” Indigo blinked when the light moved away, causing her eyes to water from the brightness that had seemed to shine directly into her brain.
“Open your mouth.”
Before she could follow instructions, Paine growled from beside the bed. Indigo’s eyes shot to him. The warrior had silently closed the distance between her and the doctor, ready to intervene if necessary. His eyes were filled with worry as they watched her.
“Calm yourself, Paine,” Hix ordered. “It’s part of the exam.”
“I don’t like—”
Indigo reached out and touched his hand, feeling a need to comfort him. Her stomach flip-flopped when he automatically linked their fingers. “I promise it’s okay.”
“I don’t like this. I would prefer we waited for Tamin or Rodin on One,” Paine mumbled. “I trust them.”
“He doesn’t want to be here either.” Indigo nodded to the doctor scowling beside her. “C’mon now. Aren’t I supposed to be the one freaking out?” she joked, hoping it would help him relax.
She waited for the tension in his grip to ease, keeping her eyes on him the whole time, before turning back to Leere.
“Ahhhh,” she said, opening he
r mouth and sticking out her tongue.
Leere leaned forward, getting a good look before moving back. “On the surface, everything looks fine. Your color is good, and your vitals are normal. I don’t see anything that would concern me.”
“Thanks.” Indigo nodded, letting out a sigh of relief that the exam had been a walk in the park.
“How do you feel?” Leere asked again, repeating the earlier question she’d chosen to ignore.
“Ummm,” she mumbled, trying to think of how to answer.
She had been exhausted, both mentally and physically, when she’d been kidnapped—again. But since then, in the past twenty-four hours, she’d racked up more hours of sleep than she’d had in the last two weeks. It didn’t sound like much, but that minimal amount of sleep had maximum effect on how she felt. She knew there was a lot more that she needed, but the time she’d been able to indulge in had done wonders.
“I’m a little bit tired,” she hedged. “And, I think I may be getting a bit of a cold. Other than that, I’m fine.”
“Are you positive?” Leere asked, watching her as if he didn’t fully believe her.
Not that it mattered if he did or not.
Indigo nodded, convinced that all she needed was the opportunity to catch up on more sleep and she’d be golden.
“I will send Kaine my official report,” Leere said, standing up to leave. “Please let your husbands know if you have any concerns or questions for me.”
“Thank you, Leere.”
“Yes, thank you,” Paine mumbled, slapping the doctor on the back as he ushered both him and Hix out.
Chapter Twenty
“I still don’t understand why you wanted to come to the common room,” Rowe complained again.
Paine bit his tongue to restrain himself from yelling at his brother. The repetition coming from Rowe was putting him on edge. He didn’t understand why their wife wanted to mingle with the others, but he wasn’t going to keep pestering her about it.
Warriors of Phaeton: Paine and Rowe Page 14
