Whatever his and Mel’s differences were, they paled in comparison to the perfection that was his Milla.
Ending the kiss, he pulled back wary. “Are you going to slap me again?” he asked holding her as she swayed in his arms.
“Uh…no.” Milla licked her lips and opened her eyes. “I…uh.” She cleared her throat. “Do you expect me to stay here with you?” Her voice came out almost a squeak. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. So far you’ve had a difficult time keeping your hands to yourself.” She glanced at Mel. “His house might be a better idea and you stay here.”
“His house is a room at the boarding house. He doesn’t have an extra room for you to sleep in.”
“You’re going to give me my own room?” She smiled. “For some reason, I half expected you to drag me to your room by my hair and have your way with me like some caveman.”
“Darlin’, if I’d decided to have my way with you, you’d already be in my bed and, I promise you, I wouldn’t have to drag you there.”
Milla’s cheeks darkened with a blush at his announcement. She didn’t argue though, and that surprised him.
“Let me show you to your room.” Turning, he led the way up the stairs and showed her to the room he’d used as a child. “We’ll put your things in here.” He turned to Mel. “Help her bring in her things, if you don’t mind. I’ll go see if I can find something to fix for dinner. Also, you might want to go to the boarding house and bring some of your things over. You should stay here, too. I think she’s going to need all of the protection she can get. The last thing I want is for that blond giant to think he’s got a chance of getting away with breaking into this house.”
“I’m right on it.” Mel turned to Milla. “Show me what you want brought in and I’ll carry it up for you.”
Jonas followed them back down to the first floor and made his way to the kitchen. He hoped he had something in the fridge to fix for dinner. Otherwise he was making a grocery run before the store closed for the night.
Opening the refrigerator door, Jonas glanced into the large, but almost empty, interior and sighed. “Great. It looks like I have something to fix, after all.” Warmed over pot roast might not be the best dinner in the world, but considering it was a meal he’d purchased from Sarah at the diner, he knew it was something good enough for his mate.
He’d just set the food on the counter and started to uncover it when someone banged on the kitchen door. Looking up, he saw Merrick there with three of his deputies. Immediately he thought back to Perry and that punch he gave him and groaned. The man had sworn out a warrant for his arrest after all.
Striding to the door, he pulled it open and turned back to the food on the counter. “So, gentlemen, what fresh hell have you brought me?”
“We need to talk to you about that asshole Perry.”
“What about him? He didn’t look like anything we couldn’t handle.”
“Apparently, he’s been using your mate to blackmail humans, somehow. We’re not sure how, yet. We’ll let you know when we figure that out. We just want to warn you that you’re going to have your hands full keeping him from her.”
“Don’t worry about that, gentlemen. Taking care of that asshole will be my pleasure.
Chapter Thirteen
Milla woke the next morning, resigned to the fact that she couldn’t stay here. As much as she liked the idea of staying in Paradise and making a life for herself, she knew it was nothing more than a dream. Her life wasn’t a dream. It was more of a nightmare, much like the one she’d had last night.
Tossing the covers back, she got out of bed and headed for the shower. Though she’d bathed the night before, she felt used and dirty. She usually did after Perry invaded her dreams. She didn’t know what it was about the man, but he seemed to sneak inside her dreams every time he was near. Milla was certain it was her subconscious mind telling her that she’d never be free of the overbearing jerk.
“Why? Why can’t he just let me go?” Why was having her so important to him? It wasn’t as though he loved her. He could care less about her, just so long as he kept her near and traveling with him.
Reaching out, she adjusted the water to hot and stepped beneath the spray. Maybe the near scalding water would drive the man from her brain. She stood beneath the spray, letting the water wash the oily, violated feeling from her skin. Resting her hands against the wall of the shower, Milla bowed her head and cried.
Why did he seem to find his way into her dreams over and over again? She knew it was a dream from which she couldn’t wake, yet she couldn’t banish him from her mind. Almost every night he’d managed to find his way inside her head while she slept. That was one of the main reasons she’d left. For some reason, he didn’t plague her mind when miles separated them. It was one of the reasons she kept running.
The man was a freaking menace! It was just too bad that she hadn’t figured that out before she slept with him. She might have saved herself some heartache. Then again, maybe not. She’d started dreaming of him before she’d become his lover. The dreams were one of the reasons she’d thought him the one for her—for a short time, anyway.
It was just too bad she didn’t see through him before she slept with him. She might have saved herself a boatload of heartache if she had.
After thoroughly scrubbing every inch of her body, Milla turned off the water and stepped out onto the thick, lavender rug. She loved this house with its beautiful wood floors and this bathroom with its ivy-trimmed walls and lavender accents.
Wood and chrome towel racks gleamed when she pulled the fluffy towel down and dried herself. This really was the kind of home she’d dreamed of owning one day. It was too bad that Perry couldn’t leave her alone to live her dreams. Instead, he followed her around, constantly turning her dreams to nightmares and her wishes to dust.
Milla was still damp when she stepped out of the bathroom. The cool air of the bedroom hardened her nipples, making her shiver. Gooseflesh rose on her skin as she hurried over to her suitcase and rummaged through it, looking for something to wear.
She pulled a Navy blue button down blouse and a pair of jeans from the case along with a blood-red bra and panty set. She never felt sexier than when she wore her matching underwear.
After donning her clothes, she looked out her window and into the backyard. Jonas didn’t have any close neighbors. The privacy fence he had would hide her from prying eyes if she decided to use the hot tub she saw in the gazebo or the kidney-shaped swimming pool. Milla sighed. She didn’t want to think about leaving so soon, but she knew she might have to leave Paradise.
If she did, it wouldn’t be today and it definitely wouldn’t be before she attempted to seduce two certain were beings out of their clothes. She might be too old to throw herself at two hot guys but, by god, she was going to do it. She deserved a little happiness and she was determined to get it, even if it was only for a few short nights.
Striding to the bathroom, she looked at her hair, wondering if she should bother to dry it and take an iron to it, or not. Taking care of her hair was something she’d grown accustomed to over the years. Instead, she decided to go natural. If the two men couldn’t accept her with her wild hair in its natural state, it might make it easier to leave.
Taking a deep breath, Milla turned to face the door. “Here goes nothing, girl.”
With her spine straight and her chin in the air, Milla opened the door and stepped out into the hall. “Here goes nothing,” she muttered again as she headed for the stairs.
On the first floor, Milla followed the sound of voices to the kitchen. She didn’t pay attention to their conversation. She’d never been nosey. There wasn’t a need. She usually learned more than she wanted every time someone got too close.
Besides, she was too busy wringing her hands, trying to figure out why in the world she thought she was going to be able to seduce two hot white boys with her too-curvy forty-five year-old body and too frizzy hair. I
f she was smart, and she obviously wasn’t, she would have run back up to her room and locked herself in.
Instead, she stood with her hand resting on the open door and stared at the two men who had somehow grown more handsome over night.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Jonas said with a grin. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“I might kill for some coffee,” Milla replied with a groan.
“Be careful what you say around here, love.” Jonas chuckled. “Someone’s bound to take you seriously. After all, a few of the wilder males have slugged it out over the last doughnut at the diner.”
“You can’t be serious!” Milla shook her head with disbelief. “Really? Over the last doughnut? I could see if it was over the last cup of coffee, but fighting over a doughnut is absurd.” She grinned at them.
Taking the cup Jonas offered, she closed her eyes, brought the cup to her face, and took a deep breath. “God that smells heavenly.”
“A woman after my own heart.” Mel rested his hand against his chest. “I’ve never met a woman—or a man, for that matter—who loves coffee as much as I do.”
“I think we’ve both met our match in this little lady,” Jonas said just before he pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Did you sleep well?” He looked at her for a moment and then frowned. “I can tell you didn’t. What’s wrong?”
Milla’s heart melted at his concerned expression. Her body responded to these men in a way that she didn’t understand. She burned for both of them. How would she ever be able to choose between them?
Sure she’d read in their minds that others here in Paradise practiced some sort of strange polygamy—two men for one woman, but she also read that they barely tolerated each other. There was no way they would agree to share her. Not that that was what she wanted. She really didn’t. Her face burned as she lied to herself. Besides, what she read in their minds couldn’t possibly be true. Maybe it was just some sort of weird fantasy they shared without their knowledge.
Jonas cupped her cheeks, his thumbs lightly brushing the dark circles under her eyes. Her stomach clenched as her body responded to his touch. Cream slid from her channel and coated her panties. This was how a man should be with his lady. He shouldn’t be overbearing and mean.
For once in her life, Milla not only had one decent man interested in her, she had two. It was too bad that she couldn’t stay and make a life with one of them.
Milla brought the cup of coffee to her lips, closed her eyes and took a sip. The hot liquid filled her mouth with its sweet and creamy taste of French vanilla. She moaned. “God this is good.”
Jonas escorted her to the table, his hand gently resting against the small of her back. “Have a seat, beautiful. I’ll fix you some breakfast.” He scooted her chair in before moving toward the stove.
Blinking back tears, Milla stared at the tabletop. She wore no make-up, her hair was a frizzy mess and the men called her beautiful.
“You do look especially lovely this morning,” Mel said with a smile. “You have a certain glow about you. I like it.”
“I just might fall in love with you both, if you’re not careful,” she said with a sad smile. “A girl could get used to this sort of thing.”
To Milla’s complete surprise, they both smiled and said, “That’s the plan.”
“Huh?” Milla tilted her head her gaze shifting between them. “What’s the plan?” They couldn’t have meant what she thought they meant.
“We’re trying to get you to fall in love with us,” Mel said. “I thought that was obvious.” He glanced at Jonas. “Apparently, we’re doing it wrong.”
Milla stared at them, her mouth hanging open. “You can’t be serious. You two want me to fall in love with you both?” Maybe what she’d read in them was true, but how could it be?
Jonas rested his hands on the table and met her gaze, his own expression intense. “That’s the way we do things here in Paradise, love. When two men find their mate, they do anything and everything to ensure that she’ll want to bond with them.”
“M-mates?”
“Yes, Milla,” Mel added. “As surprised as we both were to find out that Jonas and I are bond mates, neither of us is willing to give you up. Unless, of course, you reject us, you are our mate. We intend to court you and make you realize that you don’t want to live without either of us.”
“This place is crazy. You’re both crazy! I can’t possibly marry you both, no matter how much I might want to. It’s illegal!”
Covering her face with her hands, Milla couldn’t believe she’d just said that. She wasn’t complaining about the possibility of having two husbands, only that it was illegal for her to do so. What was wrong with her?
Lifting her head from her hands, she studied them both for a moment before asking, “H-how does something like that work?” Now that the initial shock was gone, Milla found herself getting aroused at the thought that they both really wanted her and it wasn’t some sort of far out fantasy on her part.
Jonas turned off the stove, their breakfast forgotten as he approached the table. “Darlin’, that’s something we’ve been dying to show you.”
Milla’s eyes rounded as she watched them both move around the table, toward her chair. “I…um…why are you two taking your clothes off?”
Chapter Fourteen
Jonas forgot about the stove as he approached the table and pulled his shirt off over his head. He tossed it into the corner, uncaring that it had been clean only an hour before.
He’d dreamed of this moment. He ached to show her how their relationship could work. He and Mel could learn to get along. They would learn to share her. It could work out. If Mel’s reaction was any indication, he felt the same.
They both stalked her, lowering their faces as they pinned her with a gaze that would have paralyzed their prey.
“Now wait just a minute.” Milla held her hand up as though to ward them off.
Jonas felt his gut clench as the tip of her tongue darted out to wet her upper lip. He couldn’t help but stare at her luscious mouth. He needed to kiss her again, but it was Mel’s turn. The poor man had watched him take their mate into his arms at least twice, now. It was time he experienced the joy of having their mate pressed close.
Jonas slowed his approach, a groan escaping him as he watched Mel pull Milla into his arms, duck his head and slant his lips over hers.
Milla brought her hands up, circled Mel’s neck with her arms and pressed her body against his, sensually rubbing back and forth, like a cat begging for attention.
Eager to feel her soft skin sliding against his, Jonas moved behind her, pressed the length of his body against her back and bent his head. Pressing his lips to the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, he bit her gently, and then used his tongue to lave away the sting.
Milla jerked in their arms. Her legs gave out and they held her safe between them.
Jonas closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, drawing in her sweet smell and the intoxicating scent of her arousal. Reaching down, he grasped the full globes of her ass, and lifted her against him. He couldn’t help himself. He pressed the ridge of his hard cock between her cheeks.
This was what he fought for day in and day out. He’d done it all for this one woman who held their hearts, their very lives in her delicate hands. This beautiful miracle was the reason they rescued countless women from the abuse of the rogue Tudra. There was no mistake. Milla carpenter was his and Mel’s miracle and a day would never pass that he wouldn’t thank the gods for sending her to them.
With another groan, Jonas pulled back, taking her with him. They couldn’t do this here or now. It was too soon. Milla deserved more. She deserved to get to know them first.
His cat screamed its frustration and his body burned with the mating heat, driving him to claim her. But his will was stronger than any instinct and, after a moment, Jonas found the strength to step away from her, taking a confused Milla with him.
> Milla stared up at them, her dark-chocolate eyes wide, her lips still wet from Mel’s kiss. Reaching up, she pushed at her wild mass of hair with a trembling hand. Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the counter behind her and tested his resolve.
“Why did you stop?” The mixture of confusion and disappointment on her face almost had him taking her in his arms to prove that they hadn’t rejected her, but Jonas didn’t trust himself.
He held out his arm, stopping Mel when he would have stepped forward and done what Jonas had himself refused to do. His low growl warned the younger man not to test him. It wouldn’t be wise now that his control was already stretched so thin.
“We do want you, Milla. More than you know.” More than she could possibly imagine. “But it’s too soon. You deserve better. You deserve time to get to know us.” Reaching out, he gently stroked her cheek.
“Let us give that to you.”
Perspiration dotted his forehead as the heat of the el calor scorched him from the inside out. He rested his hand against his stomach as though he could somehow hold it there, but he couldn’t. The only way to rid himself of the expanding heat and pain was to complete the bond with his mate. As much as his cat urged him to force the issue, he couldn’t.
Jonas knew he was falling fast for his mate and he refused to do anything that could harm her—even at the cost of his sanity, or his life.
Chapter Fifteen
Milla stared at Jonas for a moment. She could tell he was in pain. She felt the terrible burn he had deep inside when he touched her. Both of the men burned, but the fire in Jonas was far worse, deeper.
She twisted her fingers together, nervous. What if they didn’t really want her? She knew it was unlikely. It was most likely just some irrational fear of rejection she held deep within her. Whatever it was, she needed to get over it—and fast. If what she read in their minds about this el calor business was true, Jonas didn’t have much time. He was older than Mel and the older they were, the more of a toll it took on the male.
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