“So you think we’re all sinfully handsome huh?” Thorne gave me a sexy wink.
Well, fuckballs, I did just say that out loud. Way to go, Lexi. I mentally rolled my eyes at myself.
I jumped a little when I felt another person step close behind me. My irritation at them was fading away like water through a sieve. These men loved sandwiching me in between them. Not that I’m complaining... for now. Hell, who the fuck am I kidding, I would never complain about being sandwiched between them. Any of them.
I could tell it was Colter as I caught a whiff of his scent. It was like a mix of sawdust and cherries. Thorne smelled like vanilla and cinnamon, earlier I noticed that Connor smelled more like paper and ink mixed with a hint of peppermint. Shane--I inwardly sighed--he smelled like crisp clean apples and nutmeg. All of them made my mouth water, whenever they were near I just wanted to take a bite out of them.
My body flushed at my thoughts, clearing my throat, I slid out from between them. “Yes, well, you all know you are. I’m not telling you anything you probably haven’t heard from every single woman that you have ever met, and I'm sure it has gotten a lot of said women into your bed.”
I stopped abruptly to control the flash of white hot jealousy the speared through me at the thought of them having other women in their lives.
Whoa! Where the hell did that come from? It wasn’t like I had a claim on them. I shook my head to clear it, as Shane and Connor walked into the kitchen. Connors’ hair was wet like he had just gotten out of the shower, and Shane looked relaxed and even gave me a small smile.
Shit, there go my freaking panties again. Shane’s smile warmed my insides and the way Connor was looking at me, like I was a rare and priceless jewel, made me feel loved. Which was nothing more than fantasy. They didn’t love me, get a grip.
I cleared my throat again, I was about to tell them what I remembered when Connor spoke up sitting down at the island table, “So what did we miss? Why is she flushed again?”
“She thinks we are all sinfully handsome. And hot.” Colter told his twin.
“I never said you were hot!” I spluttered.
Colter shrugged and grinned at me wickedly, “No, but it was implied.”
I rolled my eyes at them, as they all chuckled, ignoring the way my lady parts clenched. Down girl!
Waving my hand around I looked at anything other than the guys, “Yes, well. Whatever. That’s beside the point. Is dinner done yet? I’m starving and don’t you all want to hear what I remember?”
In an instant they all got serious looks on their faces, though Shane looked more deadly than any of the others. I gulped, turning around and reminding myself to never piss him off.
As we set the table and dished up the yummy lasagna that Connor made, I told them all about my boss being murdered and how I felt scared of Christian at the end. I told them everything including the voices of Brit and Roxy that I swore I heard in the woods.
I knew I probably sounded crazy at that point or paranoid, but I also knew what I heard.
“Do you have any idea who attacked you?” Shane was staring at me intensely, it made me nervous and I started to squirm a little bit.
“Maybe.” I shuffled the last little bit of lasagna on my plate around, keeping my eyes focused on it. I really didn’t want them to think I was crazy.
One of the guys reached over and put a finger under my chin tilting my face up to theirs, It’s Thorne. His steel blue eyes searched mine and I couldn’t help but get lost in them.
He whispered, “You can tell us, Cariño. We won’t think you’re crazy. Promise.”
It was like he could read my mind. It was scary how well he seemed to know me already. Especially when I had only really known him for less than a day. I couldn’t handle this, so I backed away, I could analyze my feelings later.
Leaning back slightly I looked around at the others, they all nodded their heads at me to continue, I took a deep breath, and plunged ahead. “The eyes and mouth looked like Christian’s, so did the build, but they felt off. So was his voice. Unless he made it sound different to throw me off, or I was finally seeing the real him, I don’t know. But that’s just crazy, even though I was afraid of him, I don’t think Christian would try to kill me! And anyways I may have blown things out of proportion with him, I just don’t see the reason why he would do that.”
Connor scowled at me, “Lexi, from what I saw that day I ran into you at the Witch’s Brew, he was a controlling bastard and you didn’t blow things out of proportion with him. I’ve seen it before, he thinks he owns you and if he can’t have you then no one can.”
I could feel all the blood rush out of my head, leaving me pale and shaking. Obsessed. That’s what Connor was saying...Christian was obsessed with me. He had gotten jealous over me spending time with any of my other friends, and would crash in on us whenever we hung out. It got to the point that all of my friends but Brit bailed on me and stopped inviting me to things, because they knew he would just show up anyways. Usually making disparaging remarks about all of them and basically ruining the evening.
But murder? Or attempted murder in this case.
I just couldn’t see it. Call me naive but I really don’t think it was Christian.
Nineteen
Thorne
I watched her closely as Lexi struggled with her thoughts, I knew she didn’t want to believe what Connor said. That would mean she missed the signs for a year that her boyfriend may be a psychopath. Well ex-boyfriend now.
Her beauty took my breath away, I had to stifle a moan as she put her fingernail in her mouth. I’ve noticed she did that when she was deep in thought. I never thought I would find that attractive, but damn, it’s sexy as hell when she does it. I really just wanted to clear this table and bend her over it, to hear her moan and scream my name as I took her from behind.
I shifted in my seat as my cock hardens, and tried to get my thoughts on anything else but the sexy, raven haired beauty sitting next to me.
It’s not just her looks that drew me in either, it was the total package. From what I have seen of her so far she was witty, funny, adorably cute when she was nervous and started randomly talking about things, not to mention brave. I couldn’t believe she fought him off, most people who haven’t had any training wouldn’t last nearly as long as she did. My chest expanded in pride. Pride of her. Of what she had accomplished.
Trying to get the subject back onto a happier note and needing a break from all the attempted murder talk, as all that made me want to do is fucking go kill something. Or someone. I shared a look with the guys and got up from the table to clear it, “How about we table this for tomorrow? Why don’t we watch a movie tonight? Is that okay with you Lov--Lexi?” I stopped myself from calling her lovely, even though she was, it was also too early for pet names, even if Cariño has slipped out a couple of times. None of the guys have remarked on it me calling her sweetie in Italian, at least not yet.
Whatever was happening between all of us was still so new that I didn’t want to rush into anything and scare her off. I mean she just got out of one relationship, and probably didn't want to rush into another one. Especially if it did turn out that her ex tried to kill her. That would put anyone off of relationships, we may be doomed before we even got off the ground.
“Huh? Oh yeah, sure. What movie do you have in mind?”
“How about I show you our collection while the other guys clean up a bit?”
“If that’s okay with them.”
Lexi looked around at the guys, they all nodded and made shooing motions. She bit her lip as she stood up, and I had to stifle another groan. Damn, she didn’t even know how fucking beautiful she was. Long black hair, high cheekbones, straight petit nose, and eyes the lightest blue I had ever seen. She was tall too, only two or three inches shorter than my own six foot frame and her curves were killer.
I walked slightly behind her on the way to the living room so I could watch her perfect heart shaped ass sway enticingly. I
have had a massive hard on ever since Connor and Shane showed up with her and I didn’t see it going away anytime soon. Who needed Viagra when you had Lexi standing in front of you.
What is it about this woman that draws all of us in?
I shook my head as I followed behind her, I would think more on that later. Instead I wanted to focus on the here and now, and get to know her a little better. See if the attraction I felt was warranted. Or if it was the result of me being celibate for the last two years. I was too focused on making sure the guys were okay and that my career was on the right track to worry about getting a woman between my sheets. But now, I was thinking it might be high time to get back in the saddle.
I placed my hand on the small of her back, guiding her over to the bookshelves in the living room. Most would have the shelves stuffed with books, and we had a few, thanks to Colt and Connor who loved to read. Mainly the shelves were filled with movies of all kinds and video games. I was a big movie buff, and Hawk played video games whenever he had a spare minute.
I heard her small gasp as she took in our collection, I moved so I could see her face. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was open into a perfect O. Damn, what I wouldn’t give to see that mouth wrapped around my cock.
Get it together, Thorne! I chastised myself and chuckled, rocking back on my heels I asked her, “See anything you like?”
Lexi snapped her mouth closed and gave me a heated sideways glance, “Maybe.” Her voice took on a husky quality that made my blood heat up.
She put her finger on the seam of her closed lips and assessed the shelves again. She giggled as she pulled out one of my movies, “Really? Love, Actually? You guys are into Rom Coms? I wouldn’t have pegged you as the type to like those.”
I felt the blush staining my cheeks, “It’s, ah, mine actually. I like them but the other guys don’t. So I usually end up watching them myself.”
She turned to me, a small smile gracing her beautiful lips, “Well, I happen to love them. So, next time you’re in the mood for one. It’s you and me, okay big boy?”
“Sounds great.” It sounded better than great. To wrap her in my arms and nibble on her neck as we watched the sappiness play out on the big screen. That sounded like heaven to my war torn heart.
“Now what else do we have here?”
She put the movie back right where she got it from; I sighed in relief, I had a small OCD problem and liked to keep everything organized. Hazards left over from the war. It was chaos overseas, I didn’t need, or want, that following me home. Plus, 14 years in the Marines left its mark.
I saw her eyes light up as she reached for--not a movie but a video game. Huh, who knew? I wouldn’t have pegged her as a gamer. But seeing the way her eyes lit up, add in the fact she was practically drooling over the cover, stroking it softly and making small cooing noises, I would wager she was a hard core gamer.
“Umm...Lexi? You okay there, babe?”
Her eyes were excited as they crashed into mine, taking my breath away. They turned more of a baby blue color than their normal ice blue. I’ve always been an eye and ass man. ‘The eyes are the windows to the soul’ as my grandfather used to say. Right now, I believed him. Lexi’s soul was screaming at me that she was mine and my brothers.
“I can’t believe you guys have the new Assassin's Creed!” She practically squealed and bounced on her toes as her eyes flitted back to our shelves. She gasped again, her hand darting out like a snake. “Ohmygod! And the newest Tomb Raider! All of the Prince of Persia’s? Oh and old school Tekken! I love it! Can we play Tekken instead of watching a movie, please?”
She turned, batting her lashes, and pouting her pretty lips at me, I chuckled and brought my hands up to help her with the games piled in her arms, “If you’re sure you’re up for it. Shane is the champion; we can never beat him.”
Her eyes got a mischievous glint, “Oh. Let’s do this! He hasn’t played with me yet.”
“Can I play with you?” Connor strolled into the room, giving Lexi a heated glance that left no doubt just what kind of playing he had in mind.
Shit. Now I’m thinking of playing like that!
I smiled, turning back to the shelves, and put back the other games, I also took the opportunity to reach down and adjust myself.
Damn, this woman is giving me a serious case of blue balls.
“I want to play Tekken 6 instead of watching a movie.”
“Well If you want to play you have to beat the king.” Shane said sending a smirk Lexi’s way. I saw the blush rise up from her chest, not that I was staring at her chest or anything. However, I was so busy being mesmerized by her flushed skin that I almost missed the determined smile that lit up her face.
“Bring it on, Hawky.”
I burst out laughing along with Con and Colt at Shane’s face. It was part scowl, part astonishment that she would dare call him that.
“Oh, this is going to be good.” I took the game from her, going over to our game console. We had everything from the original PlayStation and Xbox to the newest ones in both. Okay, we all liked to play from time to time. It was a great way to unwind after a hard day, or if we couldn’t sleep. I was eager to see how she fared. No one could beat us, or keep up with us.
“Let’s get this party started!” Lexi whooped, coming over to sit down on the couch.
Let’s get it started indeed.
Twenty
Lexi
I stretched, getting up from the couch, smirking at Shane as he pouted. I had kicked his ass 9 out of 10 rounds in Tekken. Only reason he won the 10th was because Connor distracted me by running his fingers up and down my arm.
Now Colter and Thorne were duking it out on the screen. I made my way to the kitchen; I was hungry for a snack and thirsty. It had been a couple of hours since dinner and I was really craving some ice cream or something sweet. My mind flashed with images of taking the guys into my mouth. Wonder if they would taste sweet.
Shaking my head, I searched for the cupboard with glasses. When I had asked earlier if I could get some coffee, Thorne had told me to make myself at home, then proceeded to make me a cup. I chuckled at my thoughts, all of them were sweet and caring, making sure I was okay. I had only had a few coughing fits, and was generally feeling a lot better. Thorne was a magic worker, I bet he would have magic hands as well.
Whenever I started coughing all of the guys would look at me to make sure I was feeling okay, Thorne checked my temperature at least twice to make sure my fever didn’t come back when I asked if they had a blanket. I tried telling him I was fine, I just couldn’t sit without a blanket covering me. He of course didn’t listen to his patient and insisted on sitting with me in his lap. To make sure I really was okay he had said. I smiled, shaking my head and chuckling.
Finally finding the glass’s, I got a glass of water, taking a drink just as Connor strolled in looking like sin.
“Whatcha lookin’ for gorgeous’?”
“Well I got a drink and now I’m on the hunt for something sweet. Got any chocolate ice cream?”
Connor looked sheepish for a second, “No. See we take turns doing the grocery shopping because none of us like doing it. But we tend to get things that only we like for our weeks. And well… It was my week last week and I don’t like ice cream.”
My mouth dropped open. What the ever loving fuck? “I’m trying not to judge you right now, but I may fail-- scratch that I am failing. Who the hell doesn’t like ice cream?”
Connor smirked, “I’ve never been fond of it, Colter on the other hand loves the stuff. Another reason I refuse to get any when I shop. It pisses him off but not enough to where he will go to the store to get some.” He chuckled.
I shook my head, turning to go to the pantry, I said over my shoulder, “I’m not sure we can be friends anymore, Con.”
Just as I stepped into the walk in pantry, I felt Connor at my back. His heat seared into me, making me feel warm all over. What was it about all four of these men that instantly got me
hot and bothered? Granted Christian wasn’t the best sex I ever had and we had stopped having regular sex months before the breakup. It had gotten to feel like a damn chore, a chore I didn’t want.
Maybe that was why all of these men affected me this way, but I didn’t truly think it was. There was something about these men that drew me in, like a moth to a flame. Something primal, animalistic almost.
I gasped, snapped out of my thoughts, when Connor brushed up against me. I watched his strong, muscular arm with fascination as it reached slightly over my head, moving aside a jar of spaghetti sauce. My breathing was shallow and my heart was beating fast watching him reach behind the jar as he pulled out---.
A bag of milk chocolate covered pretzels.
Nuzzling the side of my neck, he breathed into my ear, sending shivers down my spine, “Now these on the other hand. These are my weakness.”
I couldn’t catch my breath again but this had nothing to do with illness, and everything to do with the sexy man standing close to me. I could feel the brush of his erection on my ass. He was making me nervous and hot all at the same time.
I knew what was going to happen as soon as I slowly turned around and was inches from Connor.
“Now those I can get behind. I love putting those on top of a nice big bowl of chocolate ice cream. Something about the sweet and salty combo does it for me every time. But never white chocolate I mean who came up with that crap? Chocolate is supposed to be brown, not white or red or whatever other fucking color they want to make it. But funny enough I can’t stand dark chocolate either. Well on most things, there’s these Milano cookies that have dark chocolate on the inside but it’s a very thin layer so it mixes well with the cookie ratio. Not too much--”
Thankfully Connor stopped my nervous rambling with a searing kiss. Damn, this man can kiss. It was our second one and I was already like an addict craving more. I needed his lips on mine like I needed air to breathe.
Lexi's Justice Page 13
