When he spotted the hair growing on the top of his hands, he stepped back and drew his hands behind him. This was not good.
Chapter Three
Tanya loved her presents, but she felt a little guilty accepting them. She had some warm clothes, but nothing this nice. “I love everything, but you shouldn’t have.”
Hercules lightly clasped her elbow. “We did come to ask you to the festival celebration, but if you don’t want to go with us, don’t feel obligated.”
She thought she heard Casius groan. They were sweet men. What could possibly happen? “I’d love to.”
Their grins were her reward. She so wanted to glance down at their cocks to see their level of sincerity but feared that would be too obvious. The bell above her door rang, and a couple of women came in.
Casius nodded. “We’ll let you go, babe. Can we get your address so we can pick you up?”
Then they’d want to come in after the festival and her secret might be exposed. “Since the affair is downtown, how about meeting me here? There should be plenty of parking this far from the town center.”
That was lame. She was practically in the town center.
“Festivities starts at five. We’ll be here.”
While the two women headed for the lingerie section, her men left. Before she helped her customers, she picked up her boxes and brought them to the back room. She was still wearing the fur hat and UGG boots. After putting the gifts back in the boxes, she exited the office with more excitement than she’d had in a long time.
* * * *
“What if they want to have sex with me?” The festival would start in about two hours, and Tanya’s nerves were taut.
Georgiana said she didn’t have time to run home and get ready, so they were standing in the store bathroom while she applied her makeup. She leaned closer to the mirror and lined her lips. “You can always say no.”
“For how long?” That came out too whiney.
Georgiana spun around. “Why, Tanya Goodman. Do I detect desire in your voice?”
Was it desire? She was twenty-six and had to lose her virginity at some point, though she bet half the town would say that since she’d serviced herself with dildos and vibrators of every size that she no longer was one. “I will admit that being around them makes me hot. It’s different from anything I’ve ever experienced before.”
Her friend recapped her lipstick, picked up the eye shadow, and returned to putting on her makeup. “Then what’s the problem?”
“You know the problem. Once they know I’m a virgin, they’ll run.”
“You don’t know that. You’re projecting your fears. Besides, you can fool them. It’s not like there will be an evidence of your innocence.”
“Fool them how? By moaning and groaning?” That might work, but she didn’t want to start off in a relationship with a lie.
“Maybe you won’t have to fake it. Just act yourself.”
“Maybe I could just tie them down and suck their cocks.” She’d done plenty of that in her life. “The men I’ve gone out with only care about their release anyway.”
Georgiana finished her eye makeup and ran a brush through her hair. “You are too funny.”
Tanya saw nothing funny about her delicate situation. “What’s funny about it?”
She put down the brush. “Look.” Georgiana clasped her shoulders. “Just do them. You want to, and they seemed taken by you.”
She’d never let a man see her naked. That would turn them off faster than a rain shower could wet the ground. Well, they hadn’t asked her to sleep with them. Hercules had offered dinner and to join them for the festivities, and that was what they would get. “We’ll see. I gotta go and get ready.”
Her friend hugged her. “See you on the streets.”
“Sure thing.” The town was so small she was sure to run into everyone.
She’d gone to every Delight Christmas celebration for as long as she could remember. One of her favorite events was listening to the high school choir sing the holiday songs. At least for one or two popular songs, the choral director asked everyone to join in, and she did love to sing.
Outside, the air was downright cold, but with her new outfit, she didn’t mind the chill. If she got cold, she could always snuggle with her men. That thought made her smile. Once she drove home, she couldn’t afford to dawdle. She didn’t know what they’d do if they got to her store and she wasn’t there. Hercules had mentioned dinner, which implied she had to dress for being inside, too, which made choosing her wardrobe more challenging. She wanted to emphasize her curves without looking cheap.
Her undergarment choice was easy. She donned some fiery-red, lace panties and bra. While they wouldn’t be seeing them firsthand, she’d know she was sexy under her clothes. After pawing through her closet, she decided on a thin, white blouse that would allow the men to see her cleavage through the shirt but not see skin, and hopefully not detect the outline of her bra. Pants were a must, as she’d be wearing her new boots. For makeup, she wanted to go exotic. She didn’t have time to curl her hair the way she liked, so she brushed it straight and pulled it back in a ponytail.
She inhaled. It was time to leave. In case they insisted on coming back to her place, she’d stocked up on beer and wine, as well as some munchies, some of which had more health benefits than others. Men liked Hercules and Casius probably watched what they ate.
Go.
Good thing she’d worn deodorant because her armpits were beginning to get moist. “They like you. Just relax.”
As soon as she turned off the house lights and locked the door, she knew this could be a night to remember. The traffic picked up the closer she got to town, but she took a few back roads and managed to get to her store a few minutes early. She parked in the alley next to her place and practically ran to get inside. Her nose had already gotten red from the cold.
Using the side entrance, she stepped inside and flicked on the lights. Would she look desperate and lonely if she waited in the chairs by the window? Probably. Instead, she stepped behind the counter and straightened the bags, samples, and business cards on top. She was proud of herself for only glancing at the clock six or seven times in the three minutes before they knocked.
Her stomach flipped. She smiled and waved. Moving as smoothly as she knew how, she went to the front and opened the door. The cold air blew in. They looked incredibly handsome in their thick jackets and scarves.
They came in, and since Hercules was the first in line, he gave her a hug. “Ready to enjoy the celebration?”
She stilled for a moment, enjoying his large size and comforting hold. “Yes. Let me get my coat.” She’d draped her jacket, scarf, and other gear over the seats, so it only took two steps to reach them.
Hercules rushed next to her and helped her into her jacket. When she slipped on the hat, he brushed away her hands. “I’ll tie it.” He looked over at his brother. “She looks so cute, doesn’t she?”
Heat raced up her face. She listened for sarcasm but found none. She was afraid to believe that they were all that she’d built them up to be.
Casius held open the door, and she stepped outside. When she turned back to lock the door, Casius took the key from her. “I’ll do that. You put your gloves back on.”
No man or men had ever been this considerate. “Can I ask you something?”
He drew her close. “We are open books. We’ll tell you anything.”
She doubted that. Everyone had secrets. “Why don’t you two have a girlfriend?”
Sasha had said that her men had told her they liked to share their woman. She had no problem with the concept of a ménage, as so many in town were in that kind of relationship. Of late, it seemed like all of her friends had fallen in love with two men.
She always figured there would never be even one man who wanted her, let alone two who were into sharing.
She pulled on her warm gloves and waited for Casius to lock the door. When he finished, he slipped the key
into her pocket.
“We got a reservation at Del Carmen’s. I hope you like Italian.”
“Seriously? I heard they’ve been booked up weeks in advance for festival night.” That place was posh, expensive, and was highly sought after since it opened a few months ago.
Hercules winked. “We’re friends with the owner.”
“Fantastic.” She’d only eaten there one time during the debut week, and it was fantastic. It was right down the street on Marchant Avenue across MacLeash Boulevard. At least they wouldn’t have far to walk. They hadn’t answered her question about why they didn’t have a girlfriend, but she decided it was probably better not to talk about it and just enjoy herself.
The men stepped to each side of her. Beside these two, she was the tiny one. As they reached MacLeash Boulevard, the street was blocked off with the vendors lining each side of the street. Hercules captured her hand as they wove their way through a group of students who were milling in the middle.
A small Christmas tree sat on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, and the front window was lined with lights. She inhaled the scent of pine. “I love this season.”
Casius draped an arm around her waist and tugged. “So do we.”
He held open the door and escorted her in. The hostess smiled and showed them to their table. Since she didn’t ask their names, she must know them. That was interesting. The young girl led them to a back room.
Relief shot through her when she spotted her friend, Jen Anderson, and her fiancés, the Black brothers.
Both men stood and held out their hands to her dates. Since Hercules and Casius worked for them, it made sense they’d greet them so warmly.
Casius pulled out her chair. They were seated two tables away, allowing for a more private conversation. “They seem to know you here.”
Hercules glanced at Casius then back at her. “That’s because we own the place.”
“Get out! Really? I thought you were security men for the Black brothers.” She kept her voice low, not wanting their bosses to overhear in case it was a secret.
Hercules laughed. “We are, but .we wanted to invest our money in something we’ll enjoy.”
“You don’t handle the day-to-day activities I take it.”
“We do sometimes. I like to greet people, but most of the time we have our day job.”
Her day job took up her day and most of her night. “How long have you been with them?” She nodded to their bosses’ table.
“Four years. We did security in Pittsburgh before that.”
The waiter came by for their drink orders. “I’ll just have a cup of hot tea.” Since getting to know Kendis, the owner of Delightful Teas, she’d become a convert. Having something hot on a cold day would be good, too.
She’d grown up in Delight and wondered why she hadn’t met them before. “I guess between the two jobs you keep busy.”
“We do.” They both stilled as if one of them was about to say more but decided not to. “Our lives are so ordinary. Tell us about yourself.”
This was the part about dating that she disliked. Okay, that and having to turn the guy down because there was no chemistry. With these two, she suspected a different story.
“I was an only child, and my mom doted on me.”
“Your parents live here in town?”
She bit the inside of her mouth to keep her lips from trembling. “I never knew my dad. My mom got pregnant in high school. She died four years ago of cancer.”
Hercules placed his hand on hers and gave her a comforting squeeze. “We’re real sorry, babe.”
“What about your folks?”
“They live in Idaho. They like to stay isolated.”
Casius laughed. “I think they like to stay frozen.” The two men exchanged a glance she couldn’t decipher.
Hercules picked up his glass of red wine and downed half the contents. “What’s your favorite memory of your mom?”
There were a lot of good times, but also ones that were painful. She sorted through some of her happier moments. “It might have been when I actually won a beauty pageant.”
“You sound surprised, babe. Why?”
These men were too nice. “I was six. My mother was quite a large woman, and I’m thinking she wanted some glory through me. At first it was fun, and I can’t tell you how much I loved winning, but soon it dominated her life. And mine.”
Casius got a far-off look. He finally shifted his gaze to her. “It is hard to be something you aren’t.”
He really understood. Before they could continue, the waiter came by, and they placed their order.
Hercules leaned back in his seat. “So have you tried out all the toys in your store?”
She’d been asked that question many times. “A few.”
Not wanting to talk about sex, she decided to ask more about them. “Did your parents ever explain why they chose such unconventional names for you two? Were they into Greek mythology?”
Hercules leaned forward. His deep-set, black eyes shimmered. “My mother was Italian.” He made a sweeping motion with his hands, perhaps to show why he’d chosen to open an Italian restaurant. “Heracles was the Greek demigod from which Hercules was derived.”
Casius nodded to his brother. “Someday you should show Tanya your lion skin you’ve worn.”
“Only on Halloween.”
She’d have to remember to look up the myth. She was a bit rusty. “What about Casius?
He laughed. “Mom meant for me to be the Roman senator, but she wasn’t very good at spelling. She left off the other s.”
“He’s lucky. Who wants to be named after a murderer?”
“So true. Et tu, Brute!” Okay, that made her sound like a real dork. She held up a hand. “Sorry. Did the kids every give you grief?” She knew how cruel teenagers could be. He probably was over six feet in the fifth grade. She looked at Hercules first since he was taller by a few inches.
“Believe it or not, I wasn’t very big until I turned sixteen.”
“Define big.” She was overweight by the time she turned ten.
“Six feet. Then I grew about two inches a year for the next five years.”
Casius looked around as if he wanted to impart a secret. “When you’re tiny, people pick on you, but when you’re this big, they don’t dare.”
The food came, and they dug in. Each man ordered two different entrées and three salads. Here she thought she had an appetite. Her trout tasted fantastic, and the vegetables with the tomato glaze were divine. In between picking at her food and sipping her tea, she couldn’t keep her gaze off the men.
She chuckled. “Your food bill must be outrageous.”
“You have no idea,” Casius said.
In no time, they were done. Hercules finished the last of his wine. “As much as I would love to sit here all night finding out every intimate detail of your life, we did promise you a night on the town. Are you ready to engage in the festivities?”
“Absolutely.”
The men had been open and sincere, not to mention hot. Even watching them chew their food turned her on. The more time she spent with them, the more she was thinking that this might be the night she lost her virginity.
Chapter Four
The streets were crammed with people, and the men insisted on holding Tanya’s hand as they maneuvered their way to the courthouse. The main event stage was situated between Cutler and Church Street on MacLeash Boulevard.
“I think this is my favorite part of the festivities.” She looked up at Hercules then Casius.
“Why is that, babe?”
“I guess it’s because, when I was a kid, my mom loved to sing. She’d bring me here, and we’d sing along with the choral group.” He grinned. “What?”
“We’re pretty good singers, too.”
A lot of people said they sang, just like a lot of people said they were runners, or claimed they were going to write a book, but they ran one time or wrote one chapter and stopped. “That’s
great. You’ll have to sing along.”
She doubted these two behemoths could be top security men, run a restaurant, and sing, but time would tell.
Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around. “Hey, Kendis.”
Hercules let go of her hand, allowing her to receive her friend’s hug. “How’s it going?” Her voice came out close to a growl as she glanced up at her two men.
“Have you met my dates? Hercules and Casius?”
She laughed. “I told you Jeremiah and Mario used to be the security heads before Hercules and Casius took over, didn’t I?”
She waved a hand, embarrassed she’d forgotten that detail. To her, Kendis’s fiancés were entrepreneurs. She looked over her shoulder. “Speaking of which, where are they?”
“The Drinking Emporium has a booth. If you get cold, stop on by. As a special treat, they’re serving hot chocolate.”
“You’re not serving tea?”
“I’m set up, but I hired a few girls to help me out so I could mingle a little.”
That was fantastic that she was doing well enough to have some helpers. Tanya wished she could afford to have someone work for her.
Casius clasped her hand. “Come on, babe, I think the high school choir is about to begin.”
She looked back at Kendis. “You want to join us for a song or two?”
Her friend beamed. “I’d love to.”
As the four of them made their way to the event, she glanced over at Kendis who looked happier than she’d ever seen her. Her friend would be getting married in a few months, and she wondered if that was the reason for her glow. “You seem really happy.”
Kendis practically jumped up and down. “I am. I went to the doctors two days ago and found out I’m pregnant.”
Around here, once people got engaged there was no stigma to having a baby. “That’s wonderful.”
“I know. I am so thrilled. After I have the baby, which will happen after I’m officially married, as opposed to—”
“What?”
“Nothing. Once the baby is born, Jeremiah and Mario said they’d fix up the back room of our store for the baby, so I can work and watch our child.”
Their Virgin Mate [Panther Cove 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
