by Leah Brooke
As abruptly as he’d kissed her, he broke off his kiss, running a hand over her thigh before withdrawing and rising from the bed. “You’re helping tonight. Alastair will take you shopping. I need to get some things ready.”
She sat up, listening to the sounds of Alastair in the shower. “We all know how much you hate shopping.”
Ian turned away, heading for the bathroom, pausing and bracing a hand on the doorway.
It seemed ironic that she could hear the thoughts of everyone she met, but the thoughts of her two lovers remained elusive.
At that moment, she’d give just about anything to be able to know what Ian was thinking.
* * * *
Fighting not to show his fear at her increasing daring, Ian straightened and turned to her. “I don’t give a damn if you get pissed about it. I’m not about to stand by and watch you hurt yourself.”
Since meeting her, they’d been stunned by the scope of her psychic gift but even more taken in by her.
Her femininity and softness made him want to wrap her in cotton while her daring and stubbornness made his hand itch to paddle her well-rounded bottom.
Her confidence had grown since he and Alastair had learned how to use their own psychic abilities to shield her from the voices that bombarded her when she was near others, an ability that even included their guard dogs.
As long as he or his brother accompanied her, she could go out in public, something she’d never been able to do before.
She loved it, and each time she went out, they worked on her ability to close other people out and also to focus on her ability to read just one person at a time.
His brother took her out more than he did, and had become amazingly good at both shielding her and helping her to focus.
When Alastair had first taken her out, she’d been scared to death, but over time, she’d begun to revel in the challenge.
Filled with pride at her bravery, and increasingly stunned by her growing abilities, Ian dreaded the day when she no longer needed them at all.
Smiling, she rose and retrieved her robe again, every movement graceful and sensual. “You’re too protective. I’m not a child. I’m a grown woman, Ian. I can take care of myself.”
Ian inclined his head. “Yes, baby. I know in some ways you can, but Alastair and I understand the dangers of the world we’ve dragged you into a lot better than you do.”
Tying her robe, she paused at the foot of the bed. “I understand a lot more than you know, and you and Alastair haven’t dragged me into anything. I’m here of my own free will.”
“The dangers are there, Serena. Part of me wants to send you away so none of the ugliness can ever touch you.” Shaking his head, he allowed a small smile to hide his fear of losing her. “But you and I both know that, if you left, I’d just drag you back again. If you get hurt because of us, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Although she was loving and generous, she held something back, frustrating the hell out of him.
He didn’t know what it was, but he was determined to find out.
Chapter Two
Serena frowned and leaned forward to look out the windshield. “Why are we here? I thought we were going to the mall.”
They’d pulled up in front of a boutique on Fifth Avenue, one she suspected would make a huge dent in her budget.
With an exaggerated sigh, Alastair undid his seat belt and turned to her, a half-smile playing at his lips. “Because you need something special for tonight. This crowd recognizes designer brands, and if you’re on my arm, they’re going to expect you to be wearing one.”
“Your friends are snobs.”
Alastair unhooked his seat belt and hers and leaned over her, crowding her back against the seat. “They’re not my friends. Ian and I have a lot of acquaintances, but Jonathan’s the closest thing we have to a friend, and even he doesn’t know that there are two of us.”
Smiling, she leaned forward to brush her lips over his jaw, breathing in the scent of him and thrilling at the feel of his big, warm hand on her hip. “And me? Aren’t I your friend?”
Turning his head, Alastair caught her lips with his, forcing her lips wide. Deepening his kiss, he slid a hand inside her jacket to her waist, his fingers clenching. Sliding his tongue against hers, he slid a hand over her hair and pulled her closer.
Lifting a hand to his hair, she pulled him closer, meeting him kiss for kiss until both of them were breathless.
Lifting his head, Alastair smiled down at her, running his thumb over her bottom lip. “Darling, you flew past friend the night we met you. You’re a lot of things to us, and will be even more, but friend is too tame a word for what we are to each other.”
* * * *
Alastair sat back and accepted a glass of champagne, amused at the way the saleswoman fussed over Serena—and Serena’s reaction to being fussed over.
She had a slightly panicked look on her face each time the saleswoman got close, holding herself stiffly as she took a step back. Suddenly, she relaxed, a smile lighting her features as she turned to face him, shaking her head in amusement.
She mouthed thank you and blew him a kiss, her shining eyes filling him with satisfaction.
With a smile, he lifted his glass to her, settling back to enjoy watching her have fun.
He’d blocked his darling lover from reading the other woman’s thoughts in an attempt to get her to enjoy herself and just think about the vast array of dresses the saleswoman’s assistant kept bringing out.
He wanted to spoil her a little, but watching her now, he couldn’t help but wonder—for about the thousandth time—why he and Ian were able to connect to her so deeply.
It couldn’t have been because they were lovers because the connection had been there right from the start.
They could feel anything that she felt strongly, either physical or emotional. They could read each other’s thoughts, but not hers, and she could read the thoughts of everyone else, but not theirs.
His effort to keep her from being overwhelmed by the thoughts of others had inadvertently helped him to understand how to erect a mental shield between her and the rest of the world.
He didn’t believe in destiny, but the connection between them couldn’t be denied.
What’s wrong? Why was Serena nervous? What the hell happened to make her so happy all of a sudden?
Alastair stilled. You can feel that from there?
Of course I can feel it. Whenever she feels something strongly, I seem to feel it no matter how much distance is between us. What did you do to make her so happy? She’s almost giddy.
Smiling, Alastair watched Serena refuse the saleswoman’s offer to help her try on the dress and quickly disappear behind the curtain. She’s trying on dresses, and the saleswoman gets too close. He felt Ian’s shock and smiled. Before you ask, yes, I’m blocking her. Completely. He grinned when Serena burst through the curtain and rushed forward. He took a moment to admire the way her jeans hugged her ass as she gulped down the rest of his champagne, laughing softly when she made a face at its taste and shoved the glass back at him. Watching her rush back to the dressing room, he sipped the champagne, feeling the warmth of her lips on the glass.
Months of practice had made it easier to erect a block to protect her from being bombarded by the thoughts and feelings of others, and now he could almost feel the mental shield kick into place. She’s having a great time. He smiled when she laughed out loud at something the saleswoman said. “I could sit here and watch her all day. Her confidence keeps growing.”
He frowned when she hid the dress she’d picked out and disappeared behind the curtain with a cheeky grin, his cock stirring at her playfulness. She’s becoming more playful every day. Everything about her excites me. Even her anger.
Ian’s silence spoke volumes, the rush of love for Serena coming through loud and clear. It makes you realize just how close she’s allowed us to get to her, doesn’t it?
It does. Alastair stretched his legs out
in front of him and waved off the assistant’s offer of more champagne, his attention caught by the movement of the curtain.
The sight of Serena had him quickly sitting up again, his mouth going dry.
The red gown lovingly hugged every curve, accentuating the upper curve of her rounded breasts and small waist in a way that made his hands itch to touch her.
When she turned, he got a tantalizing glimpse of the outer curve of her breast, followed by a view that had his cock coming to attention.
The dress defied gravity, the strapless dress also completely backless, all the way down to the upper curve of her gorgeous bottom.
I’m trying to work here.
Jesus!
Clenching his jaw, Alastair met her gaze in the mirror, struck by the siren staring back at him.
Her small smile, filled with the feminine knowledge of a woman who knew she had her man’s attention, had his cock swelling even more. The look in her eyes told him that she knew the effect she had on him, the sway of her hips when she turned toward the curtain again teasing him.
Alastair inwardly cursed when Serena disappeared behind the curtain again, struggling not to rush after her. He jumped to his feet, moving to stare out the window. Wait until you see the dress she’s picked out to wear tonight. Jesus.
The image he’d been forced to portray to the world gave him access to a lot of beautiful, sophisticated women, but he’d never met a woman who affected him the way Serena did.
She challenged him as no other woman had and delighted him as no other woman ever could.
Turning when he heard the curtain open, he hid a smile when the saleswoman rushed to Serena. A short conversation ensued before Serena turned away and headed toward him, smiling as she flicked her black, silky ponytail back. “I picked out shoes, too.”
Unable to resist, he wrapped a hand around her ponytail and urged her closer. “I saw that smile.”
Her violet eyes twinkled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. She’s bagging the dress. She wouldn’t let me pay.”
Wrapping a hand in her silky hair, he tugged gently, lifting her face to his. “I have an account here.”
An elegant brow went up, the combination of cool serenity and playful firecracker turning him inside out. “Oh. You shop here often?”
Releasing her hair, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, dropping a hard kiss on her lips. “You’re becoming almost as much of a smartass as Ian.”
Serena grinned, sliding a hand over his chest. “I’ll try harder. I can’t have him outdoing me.”
Chapter Three
Sitting at the elaborate dressing table Ian and Alastair had bought for her, Serena watched Alastair emerge from the bathroom, meeting his gaze in the mirror. Once again struck that such a devastatingly handsome man loved her, she lowered her hand to watch him.
Wearing only a towel, his damp hair slicked back, he moved with a sinuous grace that reminded her of a lion. Closing the distance between them, he gestured toward the lipstick in her hand, his eyes filled with erotic intent. “Don’t bother.”
Bending, he held her gaze in the mirror as he slid both hands over her shoulders and down to her chest, opening his hand to reveal a stunning necklace.
Gasping at its beauty, she sat mesmerized by the large pendant, the square red stone in the center surrounded on all sides by clear stones that looked like diamonds.
“Dear God. That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Not even close to being as beautiful as you.” He kissed her hair before fastening the necklace at her nape. “It suits you.” He ran a hand down her hair, which she’d left loose for the evening, holding her gaze and touching his lips to her shoulder. “You look incredible—whether you’re wearing a designer gown and a little makeup or wearing jeans, with your hair in a ponytail and paint smeared on your cheek.”
Closing his hands on her waist, he lifted her to her feet, unzipping the hidden side zipper of her dress, allowing it to puddle at her feet. “That dress defies gravity. I have no idea how it stays up.” Easing her around the bench, he tossed his towel aside and pulled her against him, pushing her hair back from her face before sliding a hand down to caress her breast. “I do like how easy it is to get off.”
As always, the feel of his hard body against hers sent thrills of delight through her. Rubbing against him, she lifted her arms to circle around his neck, pulling his head down, even as she rose to her toes. “So do I. God, it feels so good when you touch me.”
The muscular arms that came around her enveloped her completely, lifting her high against him. “Then you should feel good all the time, darling, because I touch you every chance I get.”
“I know.” She ran her fingers through his wet hair. “And I never get enough of it.”
Lowering his head, he nibbled at her lips. “I hope you never do.” Pressing his lips against hers, he forced her mouth open, taking her mouth in a kiss filled with hunger. Without breaking his kiss, he lowered her to the bed, the gentleness in his kiss a sharp contrast to the forcefulness of his thighs parting hers.
She loved how he needed her, loved when the hunger made him forget all about his smooth moves and practiced caresses.
It gave her a feeling of power, a heady feeling that warmed her all the way through. It also made her feel small and feminine, secure in his embrace. Writhing under him, she gripped his shoulders, meeting each slide of his tongue with her own in an erotic dance that left her breathless. Tearing her lips from his, she moved against him. “Hurry. I want you inside me.”
Her nipples beaded and burned at the friction of his hot chest, her pussy clenching in anticipation, desire for him like a hot flame licking at her everywhere.
Groaning, he broke off his kiss to reach into the bedside table, leaning back to stare down at her as he rolled on the condom. “Sometimes I want you so damned much it scares me.”
Keeping her thighs spread with his, he leaned forward, gripping her wrists in one hand and holding them over her head. “I won’t let you get away. If you leave, I’ll follow you and bring you back.” His other hand slid under her, cupping her bottom and lifting her, and with one powerful thrust, he thrust deep. His eyes narrowed on hers, flaring at her cry of pleasure. “Say it.”
Serena cried out again and again as he took her, each powerful thrust going deep and filling her with heat. “I l-love y-you. Oh God. Alastair!”
Bending his head, he nipped at her bottom lip, the sure possessiveness in his hold and in his thrusts creating a tingling heat in her clit and pussy that quickly spread outward.
“So fucking beautiful. Christ, I love being inside you. More. Take more. Yes. Come for me.” The desperation in his voice and in his touch stunned her and had her automatically holding him tighter.
The possibility that she might one day be able to read their minds, and the damage it could do to their relationship, created a tension between them that couldn’t be resolved.
No matter what happened then, she would never forget the way they loved each other.
“I love you. I’ll always love you.”
Alastair pumped into her faster, his eyes hooded and glittering with emotion. “I’ll make sure you never stop.”
No more words were needed, their bodies doing the speaking for them.
Serena’s mind went blank, the pleasure so intense she couldn’t even think.
Digging her heels into his tight bottom, she arched, the warning tingling sensation lasting only seconds before the first wave of ecstasy hit her.
Crying out, she gripped his hand the best she could, letting her legs fall back as he groaned and quickened his thrusts. “Mine!”
Short, shallow thrusts kept his cock unbelievably deep, the sensation raw and erotic and keeping the waves of release washing over her.
“That’s it. More. Take more. Take it all.”
Using his thighs to keep hers high and wide, he slid his hand from her bottom to grip her hip. Changing
the angle of his thrusts, he caressed her swollen and sensitized clit with his thumb, holding her gaze with his narrowed one. “More.” His voice, raw and deep, sent shivers through her, the demand and hunger in it thrilling her and adding to her pleasure.
Stiffening, she came again, the intense pleasure tightening every muscle in her body for several heart-stopping seconds before releasing her again. “Alastair! Oh God. Oh God.”
She tumbled out of control, once again transported to a world where nothing mattered except her lover.
Growling his own release, Alastair wrapped an arm around her and rolled to his back, keeping her impaled on his cock as he settled her over him. Holding her close, he ran his hands up and down her spine, his lips moving over her hair.
They stayed that way for several long minutes, caressing each other in intimate silence.
Listening to the sound of his heart beating, and warm in his arms, Serena let her eyes close and drifted, moaning when he moved. “Hey!”
Alastair chuckled. “Hey, yourself.” Holding her against him, he sat up and propped pillows behind him. Settling back, he lifted her face to his and smiled down at her. “I love you.”
His smile of satisfaction gave her the sense of belonging she’d relished since they’d become lovers.
Since her mother’s death, she’d resigned herself to spending the rest of her life alone, but both Alastair and Ian had included her in their small family, amazingly making her the center of it, surrounding her with the love and security that allowed her to spread her wings.
Running his fingertips down her sides, he studied her features. “What are you thinking about so seriously?”
Smiling back, Serena shrugged, running her hands over his chest and arms. “We’re going to be late to the party.”
“That’s not what you were thinking about.”
Smiling to hide her unease, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his chest. “Oh? You think that you can you read my mind now, too?”
