by Eileen Green
“Being the one of the most recent ones to enter into one of these relationships, I know it can be scary and confusing,” Lily offered. “It’s good to have friends to help you out.”
“We’re not going to lie to you, Brooke. It can be daunting to deal with all the nuances involved, but it’s like any relationship, really. It takes communication, patience, and a lot of work,” Anita explained. She had three men, and three little boys. “We all have different dynamics to deal with, but you have to talk about what you want, and there will be times where you each have to compromise.”
“As for the BDSM part of the lifestyle that we know Bradley and Frank said they are into, ya have all of us here to help ya with that if ya aren’t familiar with it,” Siobhan said from the chair she sat in.
The women were all trying to help, but Brooke felt overwhelmed. This was her first relationship, and it was nice to have someone to talk to as she didn’t have her mother any more. These were her girlfriends now, the ones she didn’t have in high school and college.
“Um…” she began, feeling her face flush. Putting herself out there was difficult to do. Looking around the tight-knit group, she found them all watching her with nothing less than friendship and concern. Finally, she said quickly, “I’ve never been in a relationship before.”
Surprise registered on many of the faces, while some of them looked empathic. Lily touched Brooke’s shoulder. “I know how you feel, Brooke. I was in your same shoes just a little while back. I hadn’t ever had a relationship when Kyle and Morgan started pursuing me. I was at a loss and tried to dissuade them. I was so glad when they didn’t give up.”
“I was never in a relationship either,” Gwen announced, surprising Brooke. The woman had a grown daughter only a few years younger than Brooke. “I had been tricked into sex with the captain of the football team. Being a single mother, I concentrated on raising Heather. When Andrew and Jake came along, I didn’t know what to do. I was like Lily. I tried to push them away, but they kept coming back.
“Sometimes, we don’t know what is good for us, but the guys do. They shower us with the attention they think we need, and it is what we need, we just don’t realize it. Those two men of yours were so infatuated by you, by just your picture, and they were the ones who pushed us to help rescue you and the others. And I don’t think their love has diminished in your time apart.”
Gwen rose after she finished speaking and came around to kneel next to Brooke. “You don’t have to be scared. Relax. Let things happen. If you aren’t comfortable with them, let them know. They’ll back off. They won’t like it, but they will do as you wish. I know it sounds cliché, but let nature take its course.”
Tears began to swim in Brooke’s eyes with not just Gwen’s words, but with everyone’s support. She had never expected to ever find friends like this, and she knew at that moment fate had brought her here, even though it had been cruelty that had stepped in at the beginning.
Arms enveloped her in as the women around her rose and gathered her up. They held her as her tears fell while she was surrounded by love. She had found a home.
Later that night, Bradley and Frank took her back to the hotel and tucked her into bed again. Three nights in a row had become a ritual she could very well get used to. They held her until she fell asleep and then went to their own room.
Sunday morning, they had moved into one of the suites at the hotel. Even though they told her she didn’t have to pay anything toward the room, she insisted, especially since she was the one with the private room. She helped move her stuff, demanding Bradley not do any of the work with his injury. If they wanted to take care of her, she had to take care of them also.
After they moved, they went to a late breakfast and then out to the Fun Zone where they played miniature golf and laser tag. They had all agreed to cut loose and have some fun as they all needed it, so they did. Brooke had lost to both men, mainly because they were good with guns, and she had never played golf before.
Now, the week was off to a good start, but she had a lot to do. Before Bradley and Frank had arrived, she had been working weekends. Once the first shipment was shipped out at the end of the week, she could cut back her hours.
* * * *
Allen, the head of Brooke’s security team, seemed very astute at his job. The fifty-something-year-old man had been with Alton Industries for nearly twenty-five years. He had taken the position here in Montana as a stepping-stone toward retirement. Another year or so, he said he would be kicked back on a porch attached to a log cabin in the mountains, hopefully overlooking a lake.
Sitting across from the man in the break room, Frank knew he liked the man and trusted him. They had gone on a tour of the building before settling in here. They sat at a table in the corner farthest from the door, Frank explained about the possibility of danger that could be coming their way. Brooke had to be protected above all else, and Allen agreed.
Security cameras were set up all areas on the exterior of the building and several areas within the building. More cameras were in the warehouse than the offices, but Allen promised to have some extra ones put in in strategic spots near Brooke’s office.
Of course, Brooke didn’t have to know about what was going on. She didn’t need to worry about danger, especially after what she had already been through.
They would be there every day when she got off work to escort her home. That wasn’t just to deal with impending danger, but she was their woman and that was the right thing to do.
“Brooke’s a wonderful woman,” Allen said as they stood. “I’ve watched her grow up. You’re a lucky man.”
There was no need to let the man know there was someone else involved in their relationship. That was up to Brooke to decide. It was her reputation to protect.
“She is,” Frank agreed. “I appreciate that you want to protect her as much as we do.”
“Of course. I’ll keep you informed of the changes and if I notice anything out of the ordinary. Besides, her father would never forgive me if something happened to her.”
Allen nodded his salutation as he exited the room. Frank sat back down and nursed the coffee from his paper cup. He was going to wait until Brooke was ready to go to lunch.
* * * *
Dinner had been simple at the Italian restaurant next to the hotel. Stuffed mushrooms topped with mozzarella cheese baked in red sauce was their starter, which Bradley and Frank had eaten most of. Bradley had noticed Brooke seemed a bit preoccupied, but he had left it alone for the time being.
Brooke had the chicken parmigiana, which she picked at although she did eat most of the meat. Frank had gotten the linguine carbonara and Bradley the linguine pescatore. Clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, and fish sautéed with garlic and white wine was a delicious combination, but he kept looking over at Brooke, who was sitting next to Frank.
Nervous energy radiated off their woman and he finally had enough. “What’s wrong, Brooke? You seem out of sorts today.”
She startled at his words. “I’m fine,” she choked out.
A quick glance at Frank told Bradley he noticed the same thing. Frank covered her hand with his. “You were fine this morning when I visited you. But now, you seem distant.”
Straightening up in her chair, she plastered a smile on her face. “Really, I’m good. Just have a lot going through my brain.”
“Care to explain, love?”
She shrugged and looked around the restaurant. “I’d rather wait until later.”
Bradley and Frank’s eyes met. By the looks of it, both were confused.
The trio quietly ate at the cheesecake Bradley had ordered, Brooke only taking a couple of bites. Once they had paid their bill, they made their way back to their room.
Closing the door with a resounding click, Bradley watched Brooke make her way to her room. They would let her get ready for bed and then tuck her in, which he began to look forward to each night. Tonight, he wasn’t sure if she was up to it.
“L
ove, are you really all right?” he asked anxiously.
Brooke stopped in the doorway and turned. There was a twinkle in her eyes that Bradley hadn’t seen before.
“I’m fine,” she answered quietly. “I’ll be out in just a bit.”
Staring after her, even after the door closed, confusion reigned. A glance at Frank told him that the man was just as befuddled.
Both men sat on the end of their beds. Bradley wasn’t sure what to do in the awkward silence, so he removed his shoes. Frank followed suit.
They were wearing blue jeans and nice button-up shirts. Frank’s was a pale yellow and Bradley’s a light blue. Deciding he was overdressed, Bradley slowly pushed each button through the small holes until the garment hung open, revealing the wife-beater he wore beneath it.
Lying back on the bed, he stared at the ceiling. “I wonder what’s going on with her,” he said softly.
“So do I.” Frank sounded worried. “She was fine when I went to see her this morning and at lunch. Something must have happened at the office after I dropped her off after we ate.”
As the minutes ticked by, Bradley had to wonder if Brooke had gone to bed without them. Feeling the need to check on her, he began to get up when the door opened.
Halfway up he stopped, his breath halting in his throat. Frank’s mouth was hanging open as he stared at the vision standing in the doorway.
The beauty of an angel stood before them. An angel in pink.
Looking shy, Brooke stood with her hands clasped before her, her head bowed. Golden-blond hair tumbled down around her shoulders, giving the effect of an aura surrounding her.
A pale pink teddy clad her body, or rather, hid the tasty bits. Barely. Her full breasts helped hold up the item along with the tiny straps over her shoulders. Long legs emerged below where the skimpy piece ended.
Bradley licked his lips as if he were suddenly starving. But it certainly wasn’t food he was wanting. He wanted the woman who stood before them.
His cock was fighting for space in his jeans, and losing miserably. It felt like it was being choked to death.
Reminding himself to breathe, he took several deep breaths before he stood. As he started for her, he noticed Frank hadn’t moved yet. With a quick tap on the shoulder as he passed the man, Bradley hoped he had brought him out of his haze.
As he stopped in front of Brooke, he heard Frank finally shift in the chair. Movement to his right told him Frank must have jumped to stand next to him.
Brooke raised her eyes to look at them both. Dark green, the color of a shadowy forest, met his. They were lust-filled and anxious, with a spark of trepidation.
“Are you sure you want this, Brooke?” When the words left his mouth, he could have kicked himself, for her answer could deny them any pleasure.
A rosy hue tinged her face, neck, and chest. Her nipples looked as if they were trying to poke through the thin satiny material covering them, and the most heavenly aroma of arousal scented the air.
Her body was telling them she was ready. But her emotions were what was most important to Bradley.
Lifting her chin up and squaring her shoulders, she nodded. “I’m sure. I realized the other night that our lives aren’t guaranteed.” Brooke reached out her hands to both, waiting for them to reciprocate. “I don’t want to lose any more time with either of you.”
Bradley and Frank moved at the same time, accepting her hands with theirs. They waited for her to lead them into her room, giving her the power to take things in her time.
Brooke’s dark green eyes sparkled with delight as she slowly made her way backward toward her bed. She stopped when her backside met the piece of furniture.
“Will you make love to me tonight?” she asked, a hitch in her voice.
Just wanting to make sure, Bradley asked, “Are you sure about this, love? If you are, you are ours. No going back. Understood?”
Lips parted as she caught her breath at his words while her eyes lit up even more. Brooke’s hand tightened around his.
“I-I want to be yours.” Her words were but a mere whisper, but he had heard them as if she had shouted them. An intake of air told Bradley that Frank had heard them, too.
“Oh, darlin’, you are ours whether we do this tonight or not.” Frank’s Texas drawl was stronger in his arousal, just like Bradley knew his accent was more pronounced also. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
Her stature never wavered, nor did the lust-filled gaze that graced her face at Frank’s words. “I meant it. I don’t want to waste another minute. I want to know what it feels like to be loved by you both.”
Frank gathered Brooke in his arms and lifted her onto the bed, letting her legs dangle off the edge. Nervous laughter bubbled from her sweet lips as the man let his hands glide down her legs before losing any touch of her body.
Bradley released her hand and shrugged out of his blue shirt and tossed it aside. He watched as Brooke’s dark eyes roamed his body, her tongue dashing out to lick at her lips as if she were hungry.
His dick twitched in his jeans at the action, desiring the feel of her tongue and lips on him. But he knew tonight had to be about Brooke and the pleasure she would receive.
A gasp escaped Brooke when she took in his chest and abs even though they were covered by a thin cotton shield. At that moment, he was glad he was in such good shape. Probably needed some sun, but he kept his body in top physical condition, and Brooke’s reaction to it pleased him.
He sat on the edge of the bed next to her, not quite touching her yet. The nervous energy that flowed off her was endearing yet concerning. Bradley knew that her emotional well-being was first and foremost with him and Frank, and they had to go slow.
Leaning down, he pressed his lips to the side of her neck, right under her ear. They had found that was a trigger point for her. One hand found her arm and began to lightly tease her silky skin. A shudder ran through her body as a sigh sounded.
Bradley placed small sucking kisses along her neck, then down to her shoulder, and then back to her neck. She squirmed at his attention.
He slid his hand up her arm to her shoulder, and then down to her chest. Her heart was pounding wildly beneath his hand, most likely from nerves.
Opening his eyes as he nuzzled the sensitive spot at the junction of her neck and shoulder, Bradley saw that Frank had knelt before Brooke and was laying kisses along the arch of her foot. Brooke shivered.
Both he and Frank had talked about their first time with Brooke. They wanted it to be slow and romantic, to show her their love, but they also had decided to take her on together since she was a virgin. They wanted to go as they had begun with her. A team.
Brooke moved her hand along Bradley’s thigh though it was gentle. It passed over the section several times where the bandage was visible as a slight bump under his jeans. She hadn’t felt where he had been injured before, nor had he shown her the area. When he had been examined by Dr. Anderson, Brooke kept her gaze away from him, plus, she had been behind the nurse the whole time.
Tentatively, he let his hand glide lower until his fingers slipped beneath the top of her teddy. He felt her arch her back until her breasts thrust up as if she was offering herself to him. Bradley wanted what was going to come next, but he had to make sure one last time. His hand stopped where it was.
“Are you totally certain about this, Brooke?” Bradley asked softly, his lips at her ear.
With his stomach tumbling inside of him as he waited for her answer, he prayed silently that she said yes. Although they had had a relationship over the phone and the internet, he was one hundred percent certain of his feelings for her.
Growing up, he had bounced between his father and mother due to their divorce. They had married young, but it had been an arranged marriage also. Both sides of the family were wealthy and had seen the money and prestige that the union would bear. There had been no love before the divorce when he was seven, nor was there any due to the numerous partners that ca
me after for either parent.
After watching the train wreck that was the example of relationships for him, Bradley vowed he would never be like his parents. He waited for the right woman to come along, and when he had seen Brooke’s picture, a fire began to burn within his belly, and it had grown tremendously since he met her in person nearly a year ago. When he had been shot, his heart had literally hurt at the thought of never being able to be with her, to have babies with her, or to grow old with her. That’s how he knew he loved her with every fiber of his being.
As Brooke’s heart beat so strong and so fast beneath his hand, Bradley waited. When she finally spoke, he realized he had been holding his breath.
“I want us to be one,” she said confidently. “I want this with all my being.” Brooke moved her other hand up and caressed Bradley’s cheek as she looked into his eyes. “Make love to me, both of you.”
Her last words were said with a breathy plea that spoke to Bradley’s cock. He needed to be in her, claiming her as his own, yet he knew they needed to go slow.
Tilting his head, he claimed her mouth with his. Warm and plump, hers moved beneath his before her tongue swept out. He opened to her and let her take control of the kiss.
One arm went around her shoulder to hold her to him, while his other hand slipped down farther under her lacey material. The curve of her breast rose against his fingertips with her intake of a breath before he found her nipple. A gasp from her was captured in his mouth.
Bradley flicked her nipple with his fingernail, drawing a moan from her. Her chest pushed out farther as if asking for more. He gave it to her by capturing the hardened nub between his finger and thumb and giving it a squeeze. Another gasp from her told him that she did enjoy the bite of pain. Doing it again, he brought another gasp from her, and Brooke slipped her hand around to the back of his neck, and up into his hair.
