Logan put her on the gurney and climbed up into the ambulance. They secured her before rolling her into the ambulance. She clung to the sides when her stomach lurched at the sudden movement. She took a deep breath and tried to keep from losing her meal.
Logan’s hand covered hers. He pried it away from the edge of the thin bed. She gripped his fingers and held on until they arrived at the hospital. He released her when the doors to ambulance opened. She once again held on to the stretcher when they rolled it out of the vehicle.
They rolled her through the hallways. She closed her eyes against the glare of the overhead lights. She didn’t open them again until the sense of movement stopped. They transferred her to a bed. Soon, a doctor and nurse came into the room.
The examination seemed to drag on as the doctor checked her. Poking and prodding. She’d swear the damn woman came back to push at the same spot over and over again. The questions and memory tests annoyed her almost as much. Jason and Tony arrived before the doctor finished with the thorough examination.
The diagnosis came back as expected, a mild concussion. The doctor sent her home with instructions to rest, take pain medication, and avoid strenuous exercise. If her conditioned worsened, they were to bring her back. Logan, Tony, and Jase were given instructions to wake her every two hours.
Chloe grimaced. It would be a long night.
Chapter Sixteen
A pipe swung at her head. Chloe raised her arm, expecting pain. She gasped as the bar connected, coming awake with her arms up to protect herself.
Chloe drew in a shaky breath and sat up. Logan’s arm slipped down to her waist. She was surprised that he didn’t pull her into his arms. Neither of the two men next to her budged. Normally, they would have been ready for some loving. Not that she thought that would happen.
They’d been attentive and caring last night. There’d been a point when they’d woken her earlier this morning that she wouldn’t have minded a little play. No such luck. They’d checked her over and put her back to bed.
She grabbed Logan’s wrist and lifted his hand off her. Her eyes went to Logan’s face. She expected to see him awake, but he slept on without any disturbance. She crawled down the bed, hoping to avoid waking them yet.
They’d been considerate. Hell, they hadn’t yelled at her. They weren’t happy about how she and Dixie had been separated. As a way to say thank you, she wanted to make them something special.
She’d cook breakfast, but she also planned to do something more. They had breakfast every day. She’d taken a turn at putting together the meal. That didn’t seem like a thank-you to her. No, she’d make a treat for them that she had fixed for Dixie once or twice. Dixie called it bear crack.
She padded out of the room. At least she didn’t have to chance searching through drawers for clothes. Since she was in pain last night, she’d worn a purple tank and blue night shorts to bed last night. It was one of the few times she’d worn anything to bed in the last few weeks. This would do until after breakfast.
When she walked into the kitchen, she inhaled, savoring the rich aroma of coffee. Someone already made it, probably Jason since he hadn’t been in bed. She didn’t have to worry about that.
She set out the butter and gathered the other ingredients. After a little thought, she decided to start the cookies before she began breakfast. She mixed honey, flour, eggs, and a few other ingredients into a soft dough.
She turned on the oven before she pulled out the baking sheets. As she glanced over at the silver ovens on one wall, she smiled. She loved the ovens in this house. No lengthy preheating needed at all. She portioned out the dough into balls on the baking sheets before putting the cookies into the oven.
With that done, she focused on breakfast. She whipped up pancake batter and put on some sausage. Those men loved meat. To be honest, she’d begun to crave it. She debated throwing on some eggs, but decided she was hungry for some of the fresh fruit that she’d seen in the refrigerator.
The sound of the door opening drew her attention. She’d wondered where Jason went. Jason might have gone out for a run.
“Something smells good.” Jase strode into the room and stopped in the doorway when he saw her. “Hey, sweets, what are you doing up? I thought you’d sleep a little while longer.”
“I woke up and decided to do some cooking. Do you mind checking those cookies for me? Are they golden brown at the edges yet?” She smiled over at him.
He wore black shorts and a sleeveless blue shirt.
“Not yet. Are you feeling all right? Do you have a headache or any pain at all? I can finish cooking if you do.” Jason walked over to stand by her as she flipped pancakes and turned sausage.
“I feel fine. There is this sort of heavy feeling in my head, like I’ve overslept or something, but I don’t have double or blurry vision any longer.” She shrugged and focused on putting more batter on the griddle.
“What can I do to help then since you seem to have breakfast and cookies under control? Or are the cookies for breakfast?” Jase grinned.
“No, the cookies aren’t for breakfast.” She shook her head and laughed at his teasing. “Well, you can cut up some of the fruit in the fridge and keep an eye on the cookies for me. Take them out when they get golden at the edges.”
“Did you get hungry for cookies? It seems a strange thing to cook first thing in the morning.” Jason pulled strawberries, peaches, and blueberries from the fridge. He washed them and began cutting the strawberries and peaches.
“No, the cookies are… Well, I intended to surprise you three with them. I’ll explain about it later.” She could at least tell the men why she cooked them at the same time.
“Okay, I’ll look forward to it. If these weren’t hot, I’d steal one of them right now. The smell is making my mouth water.” Jason took a last glance at the cookies and went back to working on the fruit.
“Well, the cookies aren’t finished yet. They need to cool. I’ll put the finishing touches on them then. No sneaking a bite.” She pulled the last of the sausage out of the pan and covered the plate.
“They smell delicious.” Jase peeked over at them.
She waved her spatula at him. “Shoo. Go get Tony and Logan. I’ll finish the last of the pancakes, get the syrup out of the cupboard, and get everything on the table.”
He smiled at her. “I’ll be back soon.”
She put the platter of pancakes on the table and moved the cookies out of sight for the moment. She didn’t expect them to stay secret. The smell teased her nose. The honey sweetness would slam into them. Her sense of smell wasn’t close to theirs yet.
By the time the three men wandered into the kitchen, she had the table set, coffee in their cups, and she sat waiting for them with coffee and juice in front of her. They walked into the room. She could see them inhaling. The mixed scents must be giving them a few problems, because they didn’t stop at one big inhale.
“Pancakes, sausage, and fruit. It smells delicious, but did you warm up some honey with it?” Tony walked over and took the seat to her right.
“No, no warm honey. Is that the way you three have your pancakes?” She raised a brow. It wasn’t normal, but she could see the appeal. Most whyrbears loved honey in any form or food combination.
“Not most of the time. Occasionally, but that’s most often when we go out to eat for breakfast. It’s easier to have someone else take care of the sticky, warm honey mess.” Jason dropped into the chair on her left. He served himself pancakes, fruit, and a portion of the sausages.
Logan took the seat across from her. “Then why do I smell a strong scent of honey?”
Chloe smiled. “Because I did cook something else while I made breakfast. You’ll have to wait until I finish working on it to taste them though. Eat your breakfast.”
“I like it when you’re demanding and assertive, but then again I like it when you beg.” Tony grinned and cut a hunk of his syrup-coated pancakes.
“You begging isn’t such a bad
sound either.” She raised a brow. All right, she hadn’t heard him beg yet, but it was on her list of things to do. She would hear it.
Chloe picked up a few sausages to go with her pancakes and fruit and settled down to eat. She left the rest for the men. They demolished the last of the pancakes and sausage. When they finished, a few slivers of fruit remained.
“Now, where are these things you made earlier but need to finish? I can help you with that.” Tony looked around the kitchen. His eyes locked on the covered cookie sheets.
“Why don’t you go shower and get dressed? It won’t take me long to finish this up. I’ll let you taste what I made for you when you get back.” She put a hand on his chest. She only had to chop a few nuts and mix up a simple honey frosting.
“You made them for us? Why?” Jase eased up beside her.
“You comforted me last night. I don’t know how long it’s been since I felt like that.” She bit her lip. “Go on. I’ll be right here when you get back.”
“Finish what you have. I’ll go take a shower, because I’m all sweaty, but I think you’d have to drag Logan and Tony out.” Jason dropped a kiss on her cheek. “And, baby, you’re supposed to feel cared for and safe.”
She hugged him before he left. He was right. Logan and Tony didn’t leave the room. Tony started clearing the dishes and continued with the job even when she told him she’d get to it after she finished. With a sigh, she acknowledged that she couldn’t budge him. She mixed up the frosting and drizzled it over the cookies before sprinkling crushed nuts on top.
“All right, I’m finished. Now we have to wait for Jase to get back.” She turned around and leaned back against the counter.
“With the way that smells, you plan to make us wait for him to come back?” Logan stepped over to help Tony finish loading the dishwasher.
“Yes.” She folded her arms across her chest and leveled a glare at him.
“You know I could pick you up and grab that pan of cookies.” Logan raised a brow, but didn’t walk over to her.
“I know, but you won’t. You wouldn’t like being on my list.” She smiled. A wicked thrill skittered through her at the thought of playing with them.
“Baby, I’m sure I could get off your list before we go to bed tonight.” Logan took a slow step forward.
“With the way those smell, it might be worth a stay on your list,” Jason said as he walked into the kitchen.
“Well, since you’re here, no one has to find out if it is.” She put three cookies each on three small saucers and carried them to the table. “Now, taste them, please.”
The three men each took a saucer and started munching on the cookies. A smile spread across her face. They finished the three she’d served them and looked toward the pan. That had been Dixie’s reaction to them.
“Baby, you might want to ease away from that pan.” Tony took a slow step forward.
“Maybe I should put this away. You can save some for later.” She pursed her lips and glanced at the cookies.
“Didn’t you say you made those for us? A surprise for something.” Jase raised a brow.
“Yes, I did.” She grinned and lingered in front of the cookie sheet to tease them.
“Well, then, you should move away from our cookies and tell us why you made them.” Logan ambled forward. “I could always put you behind me though when I get to you.”
She strolled over to the table. With a grin, she turned the chair around to face them and sat down to watch. They each gathered a few more cookies. From their intensity, she’d half-expected them to devour the whole pan. They each ate a few but left some on the pan.
“I think you might have made bear nip, baby. Those were delicious.” Logan leaned back against the counter. “Why did you make them?”
“A thank-you for not yelling last night. I know you were frustrated and angry.” She sighed. “Plus a thank-you for taking care of me.”
“Yeah, we were angry, but we didn’t yell because you and Dixie had been separated by accident. We couldn’t blame anyone but the woman who attacked you.” Tony shrugged.
“Although for a few moments there, it was a close call. Seeing you hurt, especially when you passed out, enraged us.” Jason strode over and took a seat beside her. His fingers covered her hands, lifting them off her lap. “If you’d sneaked off on your own though, Chloe, you’d know how angry we were.”
She grimaced. She didn’t doubt that. They had been very vocal about her safety.
“Yeah, but I wanted to say thank you for that and watching over me last night. That loving attention, even waking me up, was so damn sweet.” Chloe turned her hands under Jase’s.
“That’s what we do, baby. We take care of you and love you.” Tony came up behind her. His hands kneaded her shoulders.
Tension rocketed through her. Fear, nervousness, and hope mixed within her. Had he just said love?
Chapter Seventeen
She blinked and stared at Jason. Her mind locked on Tony’s words. Did he mean love as in the deep emotion or the hot sex that made her fall into a deep, satisfied sleep nearly every night? She didn’t know how she felt about them. How was she supposed to respond when she didn’t know which one he meant? She didn’t want to hurt them.
She pulled her hands away from Jason, jumped to her feet, and spun. Her arms wrapped tight around Tony’s waist. She hugged him, pressing her face against his muscled chest.
He held her close. His hand glided up and down her back. Tears pricked at her eyes. She blinked, hoping to get control of the swell of emotion. She sniffed and savored the closeness. His warmth sent images of taking her clothes off and feeling their bodies pressed skin to skin.
“Chloe, the cookies were delicious, but don’t think those or a few sniffles will get you out of trouble if we’re angry at you,” Logan said.
A hand cupped her chin, tilting her head back. She opened her eyes to find him standing right next to Jason. He looked a little worried. The reference to the sniffles gave her the clue about what might be on his mind. He didn’t want her to cry.
“I can’t bribe you with sweet treats?” She raised a brow and smiled at him, hoping he realized she wouldn’t burst into tears.
Jase lifted her and put her on the round table. “Bribery is against the law, Chloe. Let us show you what we do to a mate who tries to bribe us.”
Logan stepped up next to him and grabbed the bottom of her shirt, pulling it up. Excitement hummed through her. The low-level arousal spiked at the titillating threat and the thought of being naked in front of them.
Tony slipped in and raised her arms when she made no move to cooperate. Logan pulled the shirt over her head. She lowered her arms and crossed them over her chest, baiting them to see what they would do.
“Hands on the table. Otherwise, I can have Tony hold them behind you.” Jason leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead.
Her inner muscles clenched, and a rush of fluid slid from her pussy. Her mind flashed images of Tony behind her, his arms hooked with hers. With that type of encouragement, she wasn’t moving her arms at all.
“I think someone likes to be made to obey.” Logan gripped one of her wrists and guided it away from her body.
“And what if I’m not in the mood for this?” She looked pointedly at Logan. Damn, but she was such a liar. She was in the mood for sex with them.
“Baby, I can smell your desire. Do you think I’d believe that you’re not aching for me to part your thighs?” Jason drew his fingers over her thighs.
“I always want you, but maybe not this.” She tugged at Logan’s hand.
“Well, would you like me to stop this?” His fingers edged under her shorts.
Hell, no, don’t stop. She bit her lip, torn between teasing and the demands of her body.
“All you have to do is say the word and we’ll stop.” Tony said and his hand smoothed over her ribs. His fingers drifted over the swell of her breasts. “That’s all you ever have to do. Is that what you’re s
aying?”
“We need an answer, baby.” Logan drew her hand down to her side.
She swallowed. The thought of them pulling back sent a jolt through her. “Don’t stop.”
“We won’t. We’re showing you what we do to women who try to bribe us.” Jase’s hands drew back out of her shorts, but skimmed upward to the waistband. “Tony, hold her arms for us.”
“More than happy to. Make her moan.” Tony put a hand on her shoulder and urged her to lean back.
His arms hooked through hers and pressed against her back, giving her a little support. She braced the palms of her hands on the tabletop. Her gaze locked with Jason’s.
He smiled, wicked enjoyment flowing from him. She saw anticipation in his eyes. His fingers hooked in her night shorts. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath them. He’d been with her when she put them on. They hadn’t left her alone last night out of fear that she’d fall and hurt herself.
“Lift your hips, or should I rip these off?” Jason trailed his fingers over her stomach, but his eyes lowered to her pussy.
She lifted her hips. She didn’t want any doubt that she was more than willing. He tugged the shorts off in a swift move. His hands smoothed over her legs in long strokes.
“Your sweet cream teases me, Chloe. I’ll taste those juices and listen as you plead and beg for me.” He drew a chair over and sat. His palms flattened against her inner thighs, pushing them wider apart.
“Will I beg, or will I be moaning when you fuck me hard?” She licked her lips.
“You’ll beg, baby, because I’ll be playing with these tits.” Logan’s palm cupped one of the full mounds. His head lowered to the other.
Logan’s mouth opened. Hot breath fanned over her nipple. She tensed as anticipation sizzled over her skin. His tongue swirled around the taut tip. She tried to turn into his touch, but Tony’s arms and the position kept her from succeeding.
The swipe of Jase’s tongue across her thigh drew her attention. Her breath caught when he traced a path upward. His fingers tightened on her thighs.
Latent Desires (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 13
