The Brothers Next Door (A Striker Brothers Romance #1)

by Terry Towers

  “I am.” I massaged the back of my neck, the tension within me building. “She’s a pretty amazing woman. She’s smart, beautiful, sweet...”

  “She is.” He agreed and I could see in his eyes that he wanted her for himself. I could read my brother like an open book as he could me.

  “Then you want her?” An idea had been forming in my mind and I needed to know Darrin’s mindset before bringing it up.

  He looked directly at me. “You had her first. But if you weren’t interested in continuing seeing her, then as long as it doesn’t bother you, I’d like to ask her out again.”

  Rubbing the scruff on my chin, I tried to think of a good way to broach the solution I had in mind. There was no way except to just come out and say it. “What would your thoughts be on sharing her?”

  Darrin’s hand stopped in mid-air, with the beer bottle almost to his lips. “Excuse me?”

  “Just hear me out.”

  “Right.” He was giving me the look he usually gave me when he felt I was being a jackass. Usually I got that look from him just before I was about to do something terribly stupid.

  “You could use getting out there again, Darrin.”

  “With your woman?”

  “She’s not my woman—yet. It’s only been a couple of dates. We shared a girl before.”

  “We were eight years old and it was Becky Cairn from across the street. We also both married her, but lo and behold, neither one of us are actually married. That beer must be affecting your mind, I may have to cut you off.”

  “Just hear me out. We’re both busy, I’ve never been one for one-on-one relationships since they’re so demanding and it kills my options for other women, and you’re just getting back into dating. She made a comment when we were on the Wonder Wheel she’d like us both, so why not give it to her.”

  He frowned and rolled his eyes at me. “I’m going to assume she was just messing around.”

  “What?”

  “And what happens if we both fall in love with her, or her with one of us. It’s dangerous.”

  “You’re overthinking this. We’re just going to take her out and have some fun.”

  “I’m being realistic and considering the pitfalls of what could happen if it goes bad,” he defended. “Not to mention her feelings on the matter. How many women actually would want two men?”

  Was he serious? All of them! “Every woman out there! They may not admit it, but what woman wouldn’t? Two men to make her feel like a queen…”

  “And what about the sex?”

  “What about it? We can try a little two on one action.”

  “Right?” My brother continued to look skeptical.

  “How about we discuss it with her?”

  Darrin laughed. “Okay, how about this, you go on and talk to her and let me know what she says. Good luck with that by the way, Romeo.”

  “And if she says sure?”

  His laughter increased. “Then by all means I’ll happily double up on her with you.”

  He wasn’t taking me seriously. That was fine. I had every intention of discussing it with her. When I came back with the answer I was looking for, the answer to our little dilemma, then I’d rub it in his smug face.

  Chapter 11

  Layla

  What an evening. I looked down at the massive teddy bear and smiled. Picking it up, I cuddled it to me and carried it into my bedroom, depositing it onto a chair in the corner by the closet. I had just finished stripping down to my panties and was in the process of pulling my canary yellow satin teddy over my head when there was a knock at my door.

  Shit.

  I wanted to spend some time taking a soak in the tub with some lavender scented oils, some mood candles, and reading before bed, bringing myself down from the high of the evening. Maybe it was just a pizza delivery guy with the wrong apartment number, wouldn’t be the first time that happened. It was such a big building it normally happened a few times a month from what I was told.

  Grabbing my yellow satin robe which matched the teddy, I pulled it on and secured it with the little ribbon belt as a second round of knocking began. Reaching the door, I looked into the peephole and my stomach did a little flutter. One of the brothers was on the other side, and after another moment of evaluating him, I determined that it was Nate.

  Opening the door, I smiled at Nate despite the peculiar look on my face wondering why he was there. “Hey, Nate. This is a surprise.” I halfway expected him to pull me into his arms and kiss me. The kiss both brothers had given me earlier had been chaste. A part of me hoped he would, but he didn’t.

  “Hi.” He shifted from one foot to the other as if nervous.

  Was he angry and didn’t want to see me anymore? Maybe it was for the best anyhow. The whole situation had gotten awkward. A girl couldn’t have two men, it was one or the other, and I didn’t think I could make the choice.

  “Can I come in?”

  I tightened my robe around me and nodded, taking a step backwards and motioning for him to enter. “Of course.”

  I’d only gone on a date or two with Nate. Sure, I was smitten and the attraction I was feeling towards them both was intense and undeniable, but I’d move on if he was here to dump me. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d picked myself up and dusted myself off after a break-up and no doubt wouldn’t be the last.

  Closing the door behind him, I motioned for him to follow me to the living room. “Take a seat.” I inhaled deeply and sat down next to him, slowly exhaling and waiting for the let down.

  “Look. I think we need to come to a decision on how we should proceed considering the circumstances. This wasn’t something any of us anticipated, but here we are.”

  “Yes.” Placing my hands on my lap, I waited with bated breath to hear what he had to say.

  “What would your thoughts be on dating us both?”

  Cocking my head to the side, I eyed him, trying to guess his angle. Was he joking? To hell with it, I’d assume he was serious even if I made an ass out of myself. “There’s a whole lot of pitfalls to this. I’m not even sure where to start… Like how would the sex even work?”

  He ran a hand through his hair and I could see his confidence and comfort level had taken a nose dive. Maybe he really was serious. I couldn’t let my excitement over the idea get the best of me—yet.

  Trying to calm myself, I continued, “Do you have a plan?” I stared at him a moment. “I can see in your eyes you do, so let’s hear it, because I’m a little confused as to the ins and outs of this.”

  “Have you ever been with two men at the same time?” His question made me blush and I adverted my gaze.

  “I’m not so sure how that would work…”

  “You haven’t, then?”

  “Not too many women have.” There was a defensiveness in my tone that I didn’t mean to add. It felt as though I were defending myself and why would I need to defend myself over that? There was no shame in not being double teamed.

  Nate laughed and held his hands up in front of him. “Whoa, just back it up a minute, I’m just asking a question. Is that something you think you could get comfortable with?” His laugher, followed by his smile, faded and he stared at me, his expression genuine.

  Holy shit! Dude was serious. Where was Darrin? If his proposition was sincere then shouldn’t his brother be here to have a say in the matter?

  As if reading my mind, Nate continued. “Darrin is quite skeptical over it, but his main concern is you. He’s on board with the idea if you are.”

  “Wow, you guys actually had a conversation about this?”

  “A short one. It had to be discussed.”

  “I see. This is a lot to digest. When you walked in here, I honestly didn’t think you were serious.”

  “You did say on the Wonder Wheel that you’d like us both, so we’re offering up the opportunity.”

  My eyes narrowed at him a moment as I considered whether or not there was an angle. “We’re talking dating, relationship, s
ex, it’ll all be shared?”

  “You get us both.” He said it matter-of-factly, like it was an everyday thing for him. Hell, maybe it was. I was just getting to know them, perhaps this was what they did frequently.

  “Both.” I swept my tongue along my lower lip. My mouth and throat had suddenly become dry. His gaze dipped and focused on my lips, sending my pulse racing. My eyes suddenly narrowed at him. “I’m not the kind of girl that can be used as some sort of fuck toy…” I hated the taste of those words in my mouth but that had to be said.

  He frowned, taking my hands in his and giving them a squeeze. “That’s the furthest thing on our minds. You’d never be considered that.”

  I nodded, blushing.

  “We both genuinely like you and want to get to know you better.”

  The heat in my cheeks intensified, as I was feeling foolish for having blurted that out. “Sorry, it had to be said for my own peace of mind.”

  “Of course, totally understandable. But if you’d want to choose one…” His eyes displayed his apprehension. “We’d respect that as well.”

  “Why didn’t Darrin come here as well?”

  Nate grimaced, giving me a lopsided smile. “He figured you’d toss me out on my ear.”

  Taking a deep breath in, I slowly released it. God, so many things could go wrong, but then again, so many things could also go so right. I won’t lie, the idea of having both those gorgeous men fawning over me, caressing me, filling me, had its appeal. I’d simply guard my heart and have a good time. Sure, I hadn’t been completely serious on the Wonder Wheel simply because I didn’t expect to be faced with that situation, but lo and behold, that was the exact situation I was being faced with currently.

  It was too good to be true—how could any woman in their right mind pass it up? Two men to lavish attention on me. Smiling, I nodded. “Okay, let’s give this a try. What’s the worst that could happen?” Despite asking the question, I knew there were a whole lot of worst case scenarios that could happen.

  “Good. Good.” Letting go of my hands, he released what seemed to be a nervous chuckle as he stood.

  “Were you nervous?” Smiling, I stood with him, giving him a playful punch to the shoulder. “I would never have guessed the man that picked me up at the club the other night could be nervous over anything.”

  “I’m relieved, quite frankly. It’s not every day I share a woman with my brother. I figured either you’d go for it, or slap me for suggesting it. Figured the odds were fifty-fifty.”

  “Uh-huh.” Walking him to the door, I wondered what the good night protocol was now. Stopping at the door, Nate grasped the door handle, but didn’t turn it. Instead he turned back to me, pausing a moment, and then slipped his arm around me, pulling me into his arms.

  I fell into him, slipping my arms up his chest and lacing my fingers behind his neck. His body was so hard against me, his frame overshadowing mine. As he lowered his lips to mine, my lips parted.

  His hands slipped down my back and to my ass. Both hands grasped my buttocks and squeezed, pulling me tight against him, my pelvis rubbing against his groin, which was sporting the beginnings of an erection.

  When his lips touched mine, a jolt of exhilaration raced through me. Memories of our night together came rushing to my mind and I moaned. I wanted him, here and now. We’d already agreed to continue dating so what would it hurt?

  “Stay tonight,” I whispered, tearing my lips from his and looking up at him for confirmation.

  He stared down at me a moment and my heart sank. The look he gave me wasn’t one of lust, but of regret. “I want to, you have no idea how much.”

  “But…”

  “But I can’t.” Releasing my ass, he placed his hands on my shoulders and gently pushed me back. “Not right yet.”

  A frown emerged from my lips as I cast my gaze downward, slightly embarrassed.

  “We need to do this right, to make it work.” Leaning into me, he grazed my jawbone with his lips and then placed a quick kiss on my neck. “Next time we’re together, you’ll have two men, not just one. Can you wait for that, baby?”

  Let’s go get Darrin now! A voice in the back of my mind yelled out, but I didn’t say the words. Instead, I nodded. “Next time.”

  He ran his thumb along my lower lip and I inhaled sharply. The man was such a damned tease. “I’ll be in touch.”

  Pulling away, he grasped the door handle again, but unlike last time, he twisted the knob and opened it, letting himself out.

  Ohmygod. My entire body deflated as I stared at the closed door a moment. Two men. So much could go wrong. They were brothers, for Pete’s sake. There was a possibility I could come between the brothers. I’d never be able to live with myself if that happened. Maybe I could call after him and say no, it was a bad idea. But he seemed to be confident it would be all right and I felt exhilarated over the idea. All I could do was trust he knew better than I did and enjoy the ride while it lasted. Just don’t get attached, I told myself, though I knew that was easier said than done.

  Chapter 12

  Layla

  I was feeling overwhelmed with the new job, I’d admit that. It was a big switch from the small community of Bangor. There were a couple of times throughout the morning that I felt like maybe I wasn’t up to the amount of work they demanded of me. But I got through, and lunch hour was both a much needed and welcomed break.

  Exiting the high-rise building, I took a deep breath and slowly released it with a grin appearing on my lips for the first time that day. I’d been so busy that I hadn’t even had a chance to think about the brothers and how things would pan out, but I’d thought about it while I masturbated and then fell asleep with fantasies of them racing through my head last night.

  I was tempted by the food cart across the street, but I knew there was a deli a couple of blocks away that made the most amazing Philly cheesesteaks so that was where I headed. Besides, I needed to get my body moving and stretch my legs anyhow. Office work was a killer on the figure and I was one of those people that gained weight simply by looking at food.

  A gust of wind hit me and whipped a strand of hair into my face. My pace slowing, I closed my eyes as I pushed the hair away.

  I groaned as I found myself colliding with a solid wave of resistance. Startled, I opened my eyes as I stumbled a step backwards, unsteady on my heels. Why in the name of God I wore high heels to work was beyond me. Though in my defense, I didn’t do a lot of walking back in Bangor. I think I’d done more walking in the past couple of months while back here in New York City than I had the entire time living in Bangor. This move would definitely be a good thing for my waistline which had grown over the past few years.

  “So sorry,” I muttered, realizing that it wasn’t a wall or stationary object at all, it was in fact a person. My eyes travelled up the chest covered in an NYPD uniform to meet the gaze of one of the brothers. I stared into his eyes a moment, attempting to decipher which twin it was. The name plate Striker didn’t help me. But there was something in his eyes, which were filled with concern, that gave me the answer I sought. “Darrin?”

  He smiled. “Good guess.”

  Taking a deep breath, I could smell his cologne. It tempted me to lean in, but I refused, opting to take a step backwards instead. Returning his smile, I pushed my hair out of my face a second time. Damned breeze was relentless.

  “Hopefully I’ll get better at it as time goes by.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  Had Nate informed his brother that I was on board with his proposition? Darrin’s gaze wasn’t giving away any clue as to the answer.

  A“Where were you headed in such a rush?”

  “Food.” I looked down at my watch. “I’m on lunch break and have fifty minutes left. Was thinking Frankie’s Diner.”

  “Amazing cheese steak.”

  Laughing, I nodded. “You’re reading my mind.”

  His eyes twinkled with amusement. “It’s a gift. Would you believe that’s
exactly where I was headed?”

  Cocking my head to the side, I eyed him carefully. I wasn’t sure, but I’d roll with it. “Great minds think alike, I guess.”

  “Indeed. Do you mind if I join you?” he asked, extending his arm to me.

  “Not at all. I’d love it, in fact.” Talk about the day looking up. As we walked I still felt a little apprehension, however. Did he know? Should I be embarrassed? I kinda was. What type of woman fucked two men at the same time, brothers to boot?

  It was their idea. Not mine, I told myself. But then again, wasn’t it a fetish of many men to find a woman who’d let two men tag team her? Certainly that type of girl wasn’t someone they took seriously. The idea made me feel bad. I didn’t want to be their fuck toy despite Nate already assuring me that I wasn’t that to them. Damn, what did I want? What did I expect?

  “What’s the matter?”

  I gave my head a shake as I looked up into his eyes, seeing the concern shining in them. “Nothing.”

  “I’m a cop, I have a sixth sense for this stuff. So spill it.”

  God, this was embarrassing. “Oh, we’re here.” Releasing a loud sigh, I was seriously relieved to see the restaurant coming into sight. Saved by the deli.

  “We’re not through with this,” he warned as he opened the front door for me and let me inside before him.

  Pretending to ignore the comment, I made a show of examining the menu before us, as I got into line, despite knowing I wanted a Philly cheese steak. Thankfully, Darrin didn’t call me out on it. After a five or so minute wait, we reached the register.

  “Officer Striker!” The woman, who I’d guess to be in her early twenties, smiled wide at Darrin, virtually ignoring me. “Isn’t today your day off?” She began twirling a lock of blonde hair around her index finger as she stared at him.

  Hmm. My hackles went up a bit. He wasn’t mine, not yet, but then why was I making like a jealous girlfriend?

  “Yes, normally, but someone called in sick so I took on an extra shift.”