He caressed her hair. “Next time you’re coming with me.”
“It’s a deal. Maybe on the weekend?” She felt excited about the prospect of spending the day trekking through the woods with Collin and maybe even Riley and Chancellor.
“Count on it, baby. It’s a deal,” Riley said.
She kissed Chancellor good-bye next, and he gave her ass a slap.
“You watch yourself, you hear?”
She squinted her eyes at him and gave his ass a tap back, then pointed at him. “And you watch yourself, too, with all those women that throw themselves at you wherever you go.” She went to step back, and he pulled her snug against him, making her gasp in surprise. His hand grabbed her ass, and his other hand moved under her hair and neck, holding her in a possessive manner.
“No other women. I only have eyes for you. Now kiss me and tell me you’re going to miss me.”
She shivered with arousal. She loved this man. She loved Riley and Collin, too, and that scared her and excited her at the same time.
“I’ll miss you,” she whispered and eased up to reach his lips. He met them, and they kissed deeply.
She waved at them as Collin took her hand and led her out of the living room and toward the front door. Chancellor watched them go, and she smiled as Riley led her to his truck.
“Damn, it is cold out here.” She pulled her jacket tighter then zipped it up.
He opened the door for her and helped her get in. She was wearing a dress that hugged her figure and the high-heeled black dress boots she had on yesterday. In the city, it would be a bit chillier and windy, and she had a few blocks to walk before getting to Romulo’s from the subway.
She applied her makeup while Riley drove. He talked about the weekend and about getting together. She didn’t think she would be able to meet them again this week. Today was Thursday, and Friday she had the lunch meeting at Romulo’s and who knew what more work would pop up for her to do?
As she looked in the mirror and applied her lip-gloss, she felt Riley’s warm, large hand caress up her skirt and over her thigh. Her pussy immediately ached with need. It was crazy, but since they’d all made love together, every little touch from one of them, or even a sexy, flirty expression, had her body heated up and ready to be taken by them.
Being inexperienced, she wondered if this were normal. With Curran, it had been sex. Well, at least for him it was. She didn’t know any better. She’d been so needy for love, for something as simple as a hug and a show of affection, that she never saw his possessiveness and abusive behavior as wrong. She felt the tears hit her eyes, closed the mirror on the visor, and leaned back to look out the window.
Riley grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She looked at him and gave a soft smile.
“Is it normal to feel this way?” she asked him.
He looked from her to the road, glancing as he spoke.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the way you and your brothers make me feel. Is it normal?”
“How do we make you feel, Bethany?”
She looked at their hands, his large one so masculine and strong. She caressed his fingers and instantly thought about when he stroked her pussy with them or trailed a finger along her nipple before suckling her breast. Everything about each of them was beginning to become concrete and stamped in her head and on her body, never mind in her soul.
“Different,” she said.
“How?”
“I see you, feel each of you in everything I do. I don’t want to sound clingy or possessive or something, but it’s just not normal for me to have all of this and so quickly.”
“You mean to have three men care for you, show affection and possessiveness of you, and want to protect you at all times?”
She chuckled low. “Yes, and then some.” She leaned her head back against the headrest, holding his hand to her chest.
“I feel you here. And here,” she said, bringing his hand over her lap where her pussy was.
He pulled into the bus station and parked the truck.
“I think I know what you mean. Like, when you hold my hand, I think of how it felt to have you stroke my cock and caress my bare chest as we made love.”
She lifted up, reached out, and cupped his cheek.
“I’m falling in love with you and your brothers, and I’m so scared because I know nothing about love, about what I’m supposed to do because the first time I was so stupid.”
He squinted at her as he caressed her thigh and allowed her to talk.
“I had no idea what love was, no idea how a man was supposed to treat a woman. Not only because I was a virgin, and all alone, but because no one ever showed any kind of affection for me in any way. I was all alone all the time. There are things, Riley, things that I don’t want to revisit. Times when I was so down-and-out that I didn’t have any money or a place to stay and would go days without eating.”
“Jesus, Bethany. Why? Where was your family?”
“I don’t have any family. Well, a brother, but he skipped town young, and I only hear from him when he needs bail money. It’s been years.”
“Damn, sweetie, I’m so sorry that you had such a tough life, but you somehow pulled through. You’re successful, a professional woman, and so sweet. Those hard times haven’t seemed to harden you or make you miserable. That means you’re strong and truly a good person.”
She gave a soft smile and caressed his cheek.
“I don’t want to screw this up. I want to be perfect for you, for Collin and Chancellor. I just need you to be patient with me, Riley. When I was involved with the first man that showed me any kind of care, of love, I was so opened to him that I let my guard down and was taken advantage of. Riley, I’m embarrassed by my choices, my desperate need for love, for affection of any kind, and the fact that I allowed him to strike me, to be physically and verbally abusive to me because I thought I couldn’t live without him. I had nothing. I had no one, and he came along, and he made me feel special, important, and no one had ever done that before.”
“I’m so sorry, Bethany. What did he do to you to finally make you leave him?” he asked her, and she lowered her hand and looked at her lap. He placed his hand over hers, and she looked at him.
“He was out with friends. Apparently took some kind of drug or something. Whatever it was, he was flying when he came to the apartment with some friends. I was upset because it was late and they were drinking, but when he struck me in front of them and started beating on me, ripping my clothes, letting them see me—”
The tears fell from her eyes, and she clammed up and wiped them away.
“I wound up in the hospital. I should have died. That scar you guys noticed on me was from surgery I needed to repair my spleen. It tore from the impact of his strikes and kicks.”
Riley pulled her against his chest, and she hugged him tightly. He ran his fingers through her hair and held her, and she felt his body so tense and the press he applied to her made her think that he was struggling with the anger he felt at knowing she’d sustained such injuries. She pulled back and reached up to clutch his cheeks. She saw the veins by his temples pulsating, and his eyes showed so much emotion she felt her heart ache.
“I don’t want you to angry or to think badly of what I went through and how I allowed that to happen. I’ve dealt with those decisions for years and never let any man close to me, or any person for that matter. Even Lacey and Suzette only learned of the abusive relationship recently, and not all the gory details. No one else knows, Riley, but I want you and Collin and Chancellor to know because the chance I’m taking with you is the biggest risk, and I’m scared. So very scared.”
“Don’t be scared, baby. We would never hurt you, never strike you because real men don’t do that. That’s not how you show a person love. I’ll talk to my brothers. We’ll take things as slow as you need, but you need to promise me that whenever you feel afraid, or if something
reminds you of that time and has you panicked, you tell me. That you will always be honest with us.”
“I promise, Riley.”
He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her softly. When she pulled back and smiled, she realized that she needed to hurry to catch the bus.
“Oh God, I need to go, or I’ll miss it. That will be a shitty start to a perfectly wonderful morning.”
He smiled as she pulled down the visor and rechecked her makeup. She fixed her eyes and then her lips.
“Can I ask you one more thing before you head to work?” he asked.
“Sure. What?” she asked, zipping up her jacket and preparing to head out of the truck.
“This guy, the one that hurt you, where is he now?”
She swallowed hard and felt the anxious, fearful sensation in her gut.
“I don’t know. Last I heard, he was in jail again. He went to prison for the assault charges but got the attempted murder charge dropped. His lawyers negotiated, and I didn’t have the money or the power to push for more. Then I heard he wound up back in jail, so I really don’t know.”
“Good. Call me later so I know you got to work safely?”
“You bet.”
She kissed him again and then got out of the truck and hurried to the bus, just making it before it left for the train station. She watched him in his truck and waved through the window as she left, her heart feeling a little more uplifted that she’d told Riley about Curran. She just needed to take her time and be cautious. After all, she hoped that this was going to be the first time and the last time that she ever fell in love. That thought had her smiling from ear to ear and once again thinking about the men, and hoping for another wonderful weekend in their arms and in their beds.
Chapter 7
“Hey, Riley, are you and Collin going to stop into Crossroads Saturday or what?” Detective Mitch McKay asked him as he met him on the way inside to the police station.
Riley’s mind was still on Bethany and what she’d told him this morning. He had told Collin and Chancellor, and both men were in a state.
“We might. May have some other plans for the weekend.” He headed with Mitch toward the front of the office and the main waiting area.
“Plans, huh? Do I know her?” Mitch asked, and he couldn’t help but smile at his friend. Since Mitch and his brothers had met Mia, they had been the happiest he’d ever seen them. Especially Merdock, who had really had a hard time adjusting to civilian life after being in the military for so long.
“You might. She’s good friends with Suzette and Lacy. It’s their friend Bethany.”
“Bethany? I don’t think I know her. Does she hang out at Crossroads or attend any of the parties?”
“I don’t think so. My brothers and I barely go to the get-togethers. You know Chancellor. He’s always keeping busy with work and new investment ventures or traveling.”
“This Bethany has him wanting to be a homebody or what?” Mitch asked.
“She’s really sweet, and we all get along well.”
Mitch chuckled.
“I get it. I’m happy for you guys. It would be great to see you all at Crossroads. It’s a pre-Thanksgiving celebration, and I heard that Doc and Stitch are making a lot of food. It should be fun.”
“I’ll talk to my brothers and Bethany and see if we can stop in on Saturday.”
“Great. Hey, did you hear about that break-in this morning in Portland Place? At first the owner thought that the wind did damage to the lock on his barn door, but further inspection showed that he was missing some equipment.”
“Any leads?” Riley asked, feeling out of the loop. It must have taken place when he was driving Bethany to the bus stop, but no one had called him. He would have to ask Susie, his office manager, why he wasn’t informed. He liked to keep on top of everything that was going on in Wellington and the surrounding towns.
“Well, I’m heading in to see one of the other officers. There was apparently another similar break-in near Forest Cabins.”
“Forest Cabins? When?”
“Just last week. Not sure if there is a connection or not.”
“Well, keep me posted.”
“Sure will. See ya Saturday,” Mitch said and headed down the hallway.
Riley headed to see Suzie and find out more about the break-in. Forest Cabins were near where Bethany had her place. His concern for her safety was instant, especially with her coming home late tonight and tomorrow night without one of them there to walk her in. He didn’t want to push or be overprotective and scare her, but he may have to ensure he or his brothers were at her place when she arrived home tomorrow and Friday. Just as precaution.
His gut clenched. He didn’t like leaving her, and his concern and protectiveness was definitely stronger, hearing what she’d gone through. Other people may have failed her and hurt her badly, but he and his brothers wouldn’t do that. After telling them what Bethany had told him yesterday morning at the bus stop, they were even more interested in making a commitment to her, but they were new at this, too. It would be a fine line between protectiveness and control in Bethany’s book. They needed to tread carefully, even though his gut said, “Protect your woman with all you’ve got.”
* * * *
Bethany smiled as she texted back Collin while she stood by the corner of the restaurant waiting on the other guests to arrive. Her boss, plus a few board members and Cristano, would be there. She answered her text quickly, noting that Collin was insistent on meeting her at her place once she arrived back from the train station. She’d been pleasantly surprised to find her Jeep and Chancellor sitting at the train station yesterday when she arrived home from work. Not having to take the bus meant a world of a difference.
“Boyfriend?” She heard Cristano’s voice as he approached, and she was shocked that he’d snuck up on her. She really was so out-of-it when she had her men on her mind.
She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Hello, Cristano, how are you?” She reached out her hand to shake his. He watched her carefully, and it put her on edge.
“Not going to tell me?” he pushed.
“It’s a friend.” She looked away.
“Please tell me it is not Chancellor Cummings.”
“What? Why would you say that?”
“Ah, so he has piqued your interest?”
“Well, it was actually his brother, if you must know.”
“His brother?”
“His name is Collin.”
Then the others arrived, but she couldn’t help but notice Cristano’s facial expression change, and he suddenly seemed angry. Could he know Collin? He did seem to have heard of Chancellor, but Chancellor was a well- known businessman, not Collin.
She shook hands with the other men and realized that she would be the only female with them today for this informative lunch. She imagined Chancellor’s reaction to such a thing, and for some reason, she remembered his warning about watching Cristano and not trusting him, but little did Chancellor know that she already knew what Cristano was capable of. She just didn’t want to ruin this business opportunity, and working with him in a limited fashion would be over in just a few more weeks.
As they sat down and began to discuss the restaurant and what they liked about it, and what they felt needed help, Cristano leaned a little closer. He had taken the seat next to her but was at the head of the table.
“Just curious, Bethany, have you spoken to your brother recently?” he asked her, and she was shocked. He knew she didn’t speak to Angelo. Angelo hadn’t even shown up at the hospital when she was in critical condition.
“I’m sorry that it upset you that I asked.”
“I suppose it shouldn’t, but nothing has changed in the several years since…” She stopped and tried to find the right words to say. He held her gaze with one of firmness, power, and a bit of suspicion. She didn’t like Cristano, and she would be sure to never cross him.
“Since the assault and winding u
p in the hospital, I only heard from him once.”
“When was that?” he asked, seeming more interested in her answer than someone just trying to make conversation. But she owed Angelo nothing. He’d shown no love, no care for her when she needed it most and when he knew she would forgive him every time, no matter what. It was to hold on to any bit of hope to feel normal, like she had a blood connection.
“Two years ago, he called me for money.”
“Money?”
“He was in jail in Chicago and needed bail money. He never paid me back.” She reached for the glass of wine and took a sip.
She hadn’t expected him to cover her hand and give it a tap.
“You’ve been through a lot, Bethany. Your choice in the men you’ve trusted hasn’t gone the right way for you. Perhaps you need a little guidance?” he asked.
She felt a mix of emotions. Was he hitting on her, inferring that he would be a good choice or a temporary lover, or was he hinting that Chancellor wasn’t right for her, and why? She wanted to know, wanted to engage him to find out, but then Roger Harris asked her for an update on her ideas for the series of restaurants that were going to be opening in four different boroughs of New York.
She began to explain her ideas, with the men asking some questions in between.
“So you see, since each borough and the locations have a different feel to them, we would contour that restaurant to the patrons there. For instance, this location gets a lot of business people, small business dinners where use of the private rooms are always booked up. However, on the East Side, there’s more people interested in the nightlife and the continued party after dining. We want them to remain at Romulo’s and enjoy the evening on a more upscale basis. That restaurant has a lot more of a sophisticated, older crowd and has a martini bar, and some other specials will draw in those crowds there.”
She explained about the other two restaurants and their locations, and Romolo himself seemed so thrilled. She could tell by the huge smile, the redness to his cheeks, and how he kept looking at her boss and at Cristano and winking and smiling. He was definitely impressed with her and her ideas. Everything was going smoothly.
Crossroads 5: Show Me What Love Is (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13
