“I told you guys this wouldn’t work out. That you’re used to different women than who I am.” She tried getting up but he gripped her wrists and held her hands against his chest. She looked shocked. Hell, he was shocked by what he was feeling and also by how her wrists fit into one hand.
“You really are shy.” She swallowed hard.
He stared at her and had a thousand questions. He wanted to interrogate her and know the truth. Was she for real, but out of all the questions he should ask right now he asked her what was on his mind. “Who sent you the damn flowers, and is he competition?”
Tears filled her eyes and she shook her head. “Someone asking for forgiveness.”
“For what?”
She was quiet a few seconds. “For hurting me?” He squinted, felt his chest tighten.
“Hurting you how and when?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to ruin this day. I came here in hopes of you and your brothers being honest and good men like Brook swore you are. I can’t tell you much more. Being here is a huge enough step.”
He licked his lower lip and every instinct told him there was danger in her past, in this situation, but he couldn’t, he wouldn’t push right now. Another day, and if Brook was aware then so were Conan, Kinchley, and Kernan and he could find out from them if Faith refused to confide in him.
“Okay for now, but when you’re ready I expect more information, understand?” he asked and she nodded.
“Now, how about we get started in the dojo?” She lifted up and he stopped her.
“A kiss first,” he teased her and she lifted closer as she cupped his cheek so gently and pressed her lips to his. That was it for him. He already cared way too much for a fling or first date, and more than he ever cared for a woman he wanted to fuck. He was in deep trouble here, and so were his brothers.
* * * *
Paulie walked into the dojo and watched Hendrick as he taught Faith a few moves on the punching bag. She had red fingerless gloves on her hands and he was adjusting her hips. When she went to punch the bag her large breasts bounced and she looked adorable. Especially standing there barefoot with Hendrick towering over her. “Put more hip into it. Make that punch come from way back here and then throw it straight through,” he said and as she came back he cleared his throat and she smiled and then swung, missed the bag and hit Hendrick.
She gasped and Hendrick shook his head, had his hands on his hips and yelled at Paulie.
“You had to interrupt just then. She almost has the right form.” Hendrick grunted. Paulie slipped off his sandals he wore from the house and got onto the mat.
“Her form looks pretty good.”
“No, her hips need to move better and with the momentum of her punch.”
“I think her hips look fine,” Paulie said, caressing her around the waist and then drawing her close to him. “Hey, beautiful,” he said and stared down into her baby blue eyes. Her cheeks flushed and he pressed his lips to hers.
“I thought we were teaching her self-defense?” Rocky asked, coming into the room, too.
Paulie pulled back slowly. “You look good, sweetie. Listen to Hendrick’s instructions, he knows what he’s doing,” he said and winked at her.
Rocky approached and looked her over. “Learn anything yet?” he asked.
“A little bit,” she said shyly.
Paulie stepped aside and Rocky grabbed a handful of her T-shirt and pulled her toward him. He stared down into her eyes. “You sure are a little thing,” he said then kissed her tenderly. It was short but obviously packed one hell of a punch because as he released her lips Faith’s eyes remained closed.
“Back to work,” Hendrick said firmly and she opened her eyes and looked at him.
“Okay. What’s next?”
“Learn this first and then we move on.”
“I got it,” she said to him.
“Oh yeah, then show me.”
She stepped back, put her gloves in front of her and then pivoted her hips as she punched the bag.
“Awesome!” Paulie said.
“That was on a bag. Now try it on a person,” Hendrick told her.
“What?” she asked and Paulie could see her demeanor change.
Hendrick got into position. “I’m coming at you, what do you do?” he asked. She stepped back.
“No. Come at me with that right jab,” he said to her.
“I could hurt you,” she said to him and Paulie and Rocky chuckled.
“I doubt it, now try,” he said.
“Do I have to? I feel more comfortable punching the bag.”
“Of course you do but in real life situations you may have to hit another human being.”
“I don’t want to,” she said and Hendrick stood up straight, scrunched his eyes at her and she swung, hitting him in the stomach. Rocky and Paulie laughed as Hendrick bent over and she apologized. “See, that’s why I didn’t want to do it,”
He growled and she screamed and laughed as Hendrick lifted her up over his shoulder then lowered her to the mats. He gripped her hands and placed her wrists above her head as she straddled his hips.
“You are in for it now.”
“Don’t you dare, Hendrick. No, no, no.” She screamed and laughed as Hendrick held her wrists above her head with one hand and used the other hand to tickle her. She was screaming and laughing and then he paused. Stared down at her lips and started kissing her. Paulie looked at Rocky and no words were spoken. Faith was definitely special.
* * * *
Faith was shaking after rolling around on the mats with Hendrick and now standing by their inground swimming pool staring at their perfect bodies. The three men were covered in muscles and even had tattoos. Fierce ones with intricate black and red designs and even American flags. Hendrick’s forearms, biceps and triceps were so long, thick and muscular she felt palpitations even more so than when she was underneath him on the mats in the gym. They could crush her, heck, encase her entire body and no one would even know she was underneath one of them.
She gulped and took a sip of her bottle of water before she got enough nerve up to pull off her clothes and show her black bathing suit. Normally when she sunbathed she would wear a bikini, but any pool parties or gatherings with friends she wore this one. It was less revealing, yet raised high on her thighs, and dipped low in her back as well as the front. It had support for her large breasts, which right now were on alert and completely aware of the three sexy men watching her.
“Are you coming in?” Paulie asked, staring at her as he stood in the pool and then leaned against the side. She was so hot, and not just sweaty from the gym and the hot temperatures either. She hoped the water was cold.
“Is it cold?” she asked.
The sound of country music filtered through the air as Rocky put on the radio. It was coming from surround sound speakers where the cabana was and even in the pool. They knew she was shy and nervous as Hendrick went under the water to cool off and then Paulie did the same. Rocky started walking in by the steps and she took the opportunity to pull off her pants and the tank top, then raised her arms up to place her hair on top of her head so it wouldn’t get soaked.
When she turned around Rocky smiled at her. She walked to the steps and dipped her foot in. “You look really good, sweetie. I’m glad you’re here,” he said to her and she smiled.
“Jump in, it feels great, then we’ll start cooking up some lunch,” Paulie said and she made her way into the pool, glad that it was cool enough to take away some of the heat in her body until Paulie grabbed her and dipped her in his arms.
“You are filled with surprises, sweetie,” he said and looked at her lips and then at her breasts.
“Why is that?” she asked.
“You just are.” He stared into her eyes. “Do you want to kiss me?”
She nodded her head.
“Then stop torturing me, woman,” he said, sounding breathless and Faith leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. It was erotic
and sexy, being in his arms, her skin against his skin, and the feeling of being protected and cared for outweighed her fears. She lifted up and ran her fingers through his hair then felt the second set of hands on her. She was now cradled between Paulie and Rocky.
Lips pressed against her skin on her shoulder and then toward her neck. Rocky suckled hard against a sensitive spot as Paulie continued to deepen the kiss. She felt the water move, then her body shift, hands lifted her from under the water and then Rocky used his teeth to lower the strap of her bathing suit. She pulled from Paulie’s lips. Their hold tightened.
“Easy, doll,” Rocky said to her and she was breathing heavily.
“We feel it, too. Let us explore a little. We won’t go far,” he added and leaned down to lick along her breast, pouring from the top.
“We shouldn’t. It’s too much.”
“Best way to get to know one another is to explore these feelings, don’t you think?” Paulie asked her and stroked her jaw with his finger. She stared up into his dark blue eyes and he nodded.
“Trust us, Faith. We’re good men. We won’t take advantage of you. You say stop and we stop.”
She wanted to feel more, and she didn’t want to come off like some prude or something. She nodded her head.
“Words,” Hendrick said firmly. She stared at him.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Good. Now, do you like when Paulie kisses you and touches you?” Rocky asked.
“Yes,” she said and Paulie stroked her jaw and then down her throat to her breast.
“How about when I touch you at the same time.”
“I like it.”
“Thank God,” Hendrick whispered and they chuckled. She wondered if she was making them feel as nervous as they made her feel.
Rocky began to lower the strap to her top on one side as he kissed along her neck and shoulder. “Feel good?” he whispered and then kissed and suckled a little more firmly.
“Yes,” she said in a sigh, then Paulie touched his lips to hers and she kissed him. Hendrick slid his palms up her thighs under the water and then Rocky kissed her skin lower and lower until a breast emerged and he suckled her nipple. She moaned into Paulie’s mouth and Rocky suckled harder. Then fingers slid along her thighs and then Paulie shifted and Hendrick slid her strap down on the other side and his mouth explored her other breast. They were holding her up between them as each man suckled on a part of her. She was shocked and so incredibly aroused when she started moving her hips and then gasped and came.
Paulie pulled from her lips. “Holy shit, baby.”
Fuck,” Hendrick said and slid his palms to her ass and squeezed her. He lifted her higher and then lowered his mouth to her pussy right over her bathing suit, shocking her.
“Hendrick!” she exclaimed and wiggled and pushed free from them.
“Whoa, slow down,” Rocky said to her and pulled her into his arms as she fixed her top.
“You were coming in our arms. Why are you stopping this?” Hendrick demanded.
“Hendrick, you’re scaring her. She was shaking,” Rocky said to him in warning.
“Why did you stop me, us?” he demanded to know.
“It’s too much. I shouldn’t have let you do that.”
“No, you should have because it was perfect,” Paulie said as he reached out and stroked her cheek.
“You’re aroused and turned on by us just as we are by you, why did you stop it from continuing?” Hendrick pushed.
“This isn’t even a first date. I hardly know you.”
“You feel the attraction. You like our touch and you want more. Your body doesn’t lie, Faith. Why stop it?” he asked firmly.
“It’s too much,” she said and started to walk from the pool.
Hendrick got in front of her. “Does this have to do with the flowers?” he asked her, shocking her. She opened her mouth to say something and nothing came out.
“What flowers?” Rocky asked.
“Someone sent her purple roses and they were in her garbage. It was new and a big arrangement. She lied to me earlier and said they were sent to her by mistake.” He raised his voice.
“What? Are you seeing someone else? Were they from another guy?” Paulie asked.
“Stop this. Why are you doing this, Hendrick? Can’t you just leave it alone?”
“No, it’s why you’re stopping us from exploring these feelings and I want to know who the dick is,” he demanded.
“That isn’t why I stopped it. It’s too much. I’m not as experienced as you guys are. You’re obviously used to having your way with women who come here as you seduce them into bed. That isn’t me.” She started toward the stairs and Hendrick grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.
“Don’t you dare do that. Don’t compare yourself to other women and women like that who are easy. We like spending time with you and we want you, plain and simple. That’s the truth.”
She parted her lips and then she felt the tears in her eyes. She had to be honest. She was ruining this time with them. She didn’t want that. She wouldn’t let Andrew ruin it either.
She cupped Hendrick’s cheeks as Rocky and Paulie approached.
“I sort of lied, because I didn’t want to show my distress or let those flowers ruin this first date with you guys.”
“So they were from a guy?” Hendrick asked.
“It was a mistake because he has no right to send them.”
“Who the fuck is he?” Rocky demanded to know.
She reached out to him. “Please calm down. There’s no need to be jealous or angry. I’m sure you have secrets, or relationships from the past you never want to revisit,” she said to him.
“This guy hurt you or something?” Paulie asked her. She nodded her head. Hendrick looked pissed.
“Please, Hendrick, I don’t handle aggression and confrontations well. I like calmness, serenity, not chaos and being upset.”
“Well, it’s kind of what I feel, not knowing exactly why this guy, an ex, I assume, sent you such an elaborate bouquet of purple roses.”
“To get under my skin. To see if he can control me still.”
“Control you?” Rocky asked her. Tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t stop them.
“This isn’t over, is it?” Hendrick asked.
“I believed it to be over. I haven’t heard from him in over a year. It was a shock to come home from the event yesterday and find a delivery guy there waiting.”
She figured she could give them some information but not everything. She didn’t need them feeling sorry for her or worse, feeling annoyed with her for allowing a man to control her then beat her in anger.
“I’d rather not talk about this and ruin the day,” she said to them.
“Oh no, we are definitely talking about this, sweetie, and remember, no lies to us, ever,” Hendrick said and then they made their way out of the pool.
* * * *
Hendrick couldn’t help the sensations he had. His gut clenched and his gut was never wrong. Could this guy, this situation have something to do with Faith’s shyness?
They grabbed some towels and she wrapped herself up in one and then took a seat in the sun. She stared at them as they gathered around her.
“I don’t want to do this,” she whispered. Rocky reached over and caressed her knee.
“We just have a few questions. To ensure that you’re okay. This guy, is he a problem? Someone who might try and come back into your life?” Rocky asked her and Hendrick watched her body language, and the way her eyes held his brother’s gaze.
“I hope not. Things ended badly. He wasn’t right for me. I met him only a month or so after moving to Sussex.”
“You lived in Sussex?” Paulie asked. She looked away and barely smiled, an indicator that she was trying to hide her true emotions.
“There wasn’t anything in Mercy at the time that fit my budget. I moved here from New Jersey on a whim, really. I took a chance, applied for the teaching job and was
shocked that I got it. I hadn’t quite planned it out thoroughly so I took whatever I could grab quickly. I didn’t want to worry about wasting time finding the right place while I needed to get things ready for the school year. There were a lot of changes going on. I was a little vulnerable at the time.”
“What do you mean changes?” Paulie asked.
“Vulnerable why? Because you moved out here alone?” Hendrick asked.
She leaned back, let the towel fall from her body and she crossed her legs. She was classy and sexy. She placed her hands on her lap and looked at them as she spoke.
“My family isn’t really close. My brother is in the military and he kept taking tour after tour and was stationed overseas. He lives in Germany and is some higher up or something. I barely talk to him. My parents retired and have been traveling and enjoying life. I was sitting around wanting a family, a support network and when it came to getting offered this job there was no one to talk to and process the decision with. I figured they all did their own thing, ya know, so why shouldn’t I do mine? It wasn’t like they call or ask how I am.”
“That’s not fair, baby. How long have you been taking care of yourself?” Rocky asked and reached over to caress her cheek. She chuckled.
“A long time, but I got up the nerve to leave New Jersey. To worry about me, my life and what I wanted. My family wasn’t really a family anymore so I took the chance.”
“That took a lot of guts,” Hendrick said and he couldn’t help but to think about his parents and especially his father. The man was abusive in so many ways. A drunk, a batterer, and someone he and his brothers learned to hate. Especially as their mother suffered and wouldn’t leave him. When it came to cases like that with work, it was always so hard to handle. He cleared his mind and focused on Faith. It didn’t sound like her parents were abusive, it sounded like they gave up on being there and became self-centered.
“How did you handle the move here alone and meeting people like Brook, Emma, and Casey?” Paulie asked.
Healing Hearts 8: Teach Me What Love Is Page 6
