Both men growled at her.
“We weren’t in a relationship when I left,” she said in a quiet voice.
“You knew we wanted you,” Carrick pointed out.
“I knew that you were attracted to me.” She looked up at Carrick then turned to Jardin. “But I . . .”
“You weren’t sure about me?” Jardin snapped.
She shrugged. “You were my boss. You never seemed like . . . you were always so standoffish.”
“We talked to you about our relationship. About getting a third, that wasn’t a clue?” Jardin asked.
“I didn’t realize that meant me.”
Jardin knelt in front of her. “Then let’s clear that up now, okay?” He reached out and cupped her face between his hands.
Then he kissed her.
* * *
Fire. Heat. He dipped his tongue between her lips, and she swore he had a direct line to her clit. She squirmed on Carrick’s lap, trapped between them both.
Carrick held her tightly while Jardin ravaged her mouth. It was a wonder she didn’t come then and there.
When Jardin pulled back, she was panting and her heart raced as she stared at his smug grin. “You’re ours. Got it? We want you. And we’re having you. No arguments.”
She pressed her fingers to her swollen lips.
“Rendered you speechless, has he, rocket?” Carrick asked with amusement.
She nodded. Then she buried her face in Carrick’s chest.
“Right. I’m calmed down enough now,” Jardin said, sitting on the end of the bed, facing them. “Tell me.”
“You’re sure you want to know?” she asked.
“Thea, we can start with your punishment if that’s what you require,” Jardin warned.
A shiver moved through her. All right, was it wrong that it turned her on? That she wanted to find out what it was like to be punished at his hands? To be taken by them both?
“You could still leave. Stay out of this mess.”
Jardin’s face grew colder while Carrick tightened his hold as though he expected her to bolt at any moment. Like she’d get far this time.
“We’re going nowhere, Thea,” Jardin warned her. “The sooner you understand that the easier your life will become. Tell us.”
She cleared her throat. The threat in Jardin’s voice was clear. He’d reached the limits of his patience.
“My dad, he’s not a great guy. In fact, he’s an abusive alcoholic with a gambling addiction. Before Mom died, he wasn’t so bad. He held down a job. But after her death, he turned to drink and well . . . he’s never been the same.”
“He ever hit you?” Jardin asked.
She nodded and touched her wrist. “One day, I came home, and he broke my arm with a baseball bat. That was before I came to work for you. Another day, he grabbed my wrist hard then choked me.
“He was gone a lot, and I managed to stop him from hurting the boys. That was the main thing, keeping them safe. I don’t have legal custody of them, so we had to stay in his house. But I paid all the bills. And kept as much money as I could out of his hands. The boys got scholarships to Elite Boys Academy. They’re both really smart. And my neighbor, Juanita, she helped me juggle looking after the two of them and working full-time.”
She took in a deep breath, calming herself then turned to look up at Carrick. “The night I had dinner with you, when I got home, I got a call from a guy I know who works at a bar.”
“A guy?” Jardin asked dangerously.
“Just a friend from school,” she said hastily.
He grunted.
Possessive bastard.
“Dad had fallen asleep. By the time I got there, I remembered I’d forgotten to text you, Carrick, but my phone was dead. Unfortunately, Dad wasn’t there when I arrived. A couple of assholes had gone into the bar and dragged him out.”
“Who?” Jardin asked.
“Derrick Silvers’ guys,” she admitted
Carrick sucked in a breath. “Fuck. Then what happened?”
“My friend convinced me not to get involved. And I decided to go home, charge my phone and text you. But when I left the bar, this guy grabbed me. He had a gun and forced me into the back of this car. They drove me to a wrecking yard and forced me into a shipping container. My dad was in there; he’d been beaten unconscious.” She paused to calm her racing heart. “Derrick Silvers was there too.”
“What the fuck? He threatened you?” Jardin asked.
“Told me my dad owed him fifty thousand dollars and that I was liable for his debt. Then he said he’d . . . he’d take me as payment.”
“Fuck!” Jardin got up to pace again. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he said he would hurt the boys if I told anyone. I believed him. He gave me a week to come up with the money. He started leaving me roses and notes. One was under my car’s window wiper. Another appeared on my desk at work. Thursday night I came home to find him in my house. I knew I had to leave. The boys weren’t safe. I wasn’t safe. So, we pretended to go to school, got an Uber to pick us up at the back entrance and take us to the mall. I left my phone there, and we changed clothes then caught a bus into the main terminal, then got on one headed to Lafayette. There, I . . . I pawned my mom’s gold and diamond necklace to buy a car, and we came here.”
“Why here?” Carrick asked.
“Maddox told me a bit about Haven. About how women here were protected. It sounded like an amazing place. And I guess, I think it made me feel closer to you,” she said to Jardin.
“We’re going to take care of this, rocket,” Carrick told her.
“How?” she asked. “He’s been arrested several times, nothing sticks. He likely has cops and judges in his pocket. How will you stop him?”
Jardin stopped in front of her with a smile. “We won’t. We’ll set Regent on him.”
“Regent? Your brother? How will he get him to leave me alone? I don’t want him paying the fifty grand for me.”
“Oh, he won’t give Silvers a dime. And don’t worry about Regent. He and Victor have been dying to take Silvers down. No excuse as good as him making a move against our family.”
“But I’m not family.”
“You are now.”
Her heart fluttered. God, did he know how much she longed to have a family? A place to belong? Someone to share her burdens?
“There are bigger monsters in the world than Derrick Silvers,” Jardin told her, pulling out his phone. “My brother is one of them. Stay here.”
He stepped out of the room, his phone already to his ear.
“Is he . . . does he really mean that?” she asked.
“Nobody goes up against Regent and wins,” Carrick told her seriously. “Jardin’s oldest brother can be terrifying. But he’s all about family. Derrick Silvers is toast. He’s no longer on your list of worries.”
She couldn’t dare to believe it.
Jardin walked back in, an intense look on his face as he stared at her. “Regent said to consider it done.”
“Really?” How could it possibly be that easy?
“Really. But he also suggested we stay here until it is.” Jardin looked around the motel with disgust.
Carrick turned her so she was straddling his lap. He grabbed her chin, raising it. “You sure you want to live here? We’ll do it if you want to. If you can’t go back to New Orleans. But you need to be sure.”
“I don’t . . . I mean . . . it would be easier here in some ways. But at the same time, New Orleans is home. And even though I dislike a lot of the people at the boys’ school in New Orleans, it’s a good school. It pushes them. Can I . . . can I talk to the boys about it?”
“Of course, rocket,” he told her.
“How long until we have to pick them up from school?” Jardin asked, looking at his watch.
“Uh, about three hours.”
“Excellent that should be just enough time to take care of your punishment.”
23
Was it bad t
hat he liked the way her eyes flared? That hint of trepidation and excitement that filled her gaze. If it was bad, Jardin didn’t care.
He stalked his way over to her. This fleabag motel wouldn’t have been his choice of location for their first time together, however, he wasn’t waiting. So, this dingy room would have to do.
Okay, it wasn’t that dingy. Still, she deserved far better. Especially after hearing about how her father had treated her. After seeing where she’d lived. She deserved everything.
Thea gasped as he pulled her from Carrick’s lap to stand in front of him and held her. Reaching down, he gently took hold of her chin, raising her face. Staring down at her, he couldn’t believe he finally had her where she belonged.
He watched as she swallowed. “Nervous?”
She nodded.
“Don’t be. We’re gonna take care of you now, aren’t we, Carrick?”
“Oh, yes.” Carrick moved up behind her, sandwiching her between them.
“You’re our priority now, sweetness,” Jardin told her, running a finger down her cheek. “Your health, your happiness, your safety. We’ll do whatever is necessary to take care of you.”
“It’s . . . I still can’t believe you both want me.”
Jardin narrowed his gaze. “Why wouldn’t we want you? Why wouldn’t we consider ourselves fucking lucky to have you? You’re smart.”
“Beautiful,” Carrick added, running his hands up her sides.
“Loyal.”
“Kind.” Carrick kissed the side of her neck and she tilted it to allow him better access.
“Courageous. Although, I would wish you had a little less courage and a bit more caution.” Jardin leaned down to kiss her, nipping at her lip until she opened up and allowed him in. To taste. To torture. To conquer.
When he drew back, her face was flushed, her breath coming in sharp pants. He placed both hands on her hips, holding her against him. Fuck, he needed her.
“If this is too soon, if it’s too much, tell us now, Thea,” Carrick said to her. “We can stop, back off a bit, give you time.”
Jardin scowled at Carrick. He didn’t want to do any of those things. He wanted to claim her. Now.
Carrick just stared back at him calmly. Fine. Fuck. He’d give her time if she needed it. What were they talking about here? A day?
To his shock, she shook her head. “I don’t want to wait. If the two of you are sure . . . I mean, I don’t think I could handle this if either of you changed your mind.” Her head dropped down. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Carrick turned her to face him. This time he was the one to grab hold of her chin and raise her face. “Not happening. Understand me? The only way you’d disappoint us is by not trusting us with the truth. We want you, Thea. You think we just randomly picked you? We feel you, right in here.” He patted his chest. “We could be happy without you, but we’d never be complete. Understand me?”
“What he said,” Jardin added, making her look over her shoulder at him with a smile.
“Then I’m all in,” she whispered.
“You remember what I said about us both being Doms?” Carrick asked.
“Yes, but you’re sometimes a bottom?”
“Sometimes. But not for you. I’m always your Top. For sex anyway.”
“I’m always in charge,” Jardin growled. “Of both of you. But especially you, sweetness. And you’ll have rules to follow and consequences if you don’t.”
She looked back at him pleadingly. “You’re not really going to punish me for leaving?”
“Oh, yes. I certainly am. For not telling us what was going on. For running away. For risking yourself. For not telling me you were living in a dive. That you were unsafe. The list goes on.”
Her bottom lip dropped in a pout. Oh, hell, no. She did not just do that.
“Put that away,” Jardin ordered. “That shit doesn’t work on me.”
“Besides,” Carrick whispered. “You might just like your punishment.”
She turned sideways so she could see them both. “Maddox said you’re a sadist.”
Jardin swore. “That asshole.”
“Are you? Because while a spanking seems, um, doable, I don’t think I could go for any real pain.”
“And you won’t have to. Because I don’t get pleasure from inflicting pain on people who don’t want it. Punishments are different, of course. You break the rules, you get punished to deter you from breaking the rules again. Then, I won’t hesitate. But I’m not going to strap you down and take my whip to you because I’m some deviant sadist.”
“But then . . . won’t you miss it?”
Jardin grinned. “We’ll work it out. It’s not something I need all the time. Carrick has yet to decide if he wants to feel the bite of my whip. Maybe I’ll take you to Saxon’s while we’re here. There’s always someone there who enjoys or needs the pain.”
She frowned. “You’d touch them? Be with them?”
He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck then reached for Carrick, bringing him closer. “I’ll be with no one but the two of you. You always come first. Helping with a scene doesn’t have to be sexual, but if you don’t want me to do that, I won’t.”
“Okay,” She whispered. “Maybe we can see.”
“Good girl,” he crooned. “You’re going to be our very good girl from now on, aren’t you?”
She looked from him to Carrick. “Yes.”
“Yes, Sir,” Jardin told her.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Now, I’m going to go sit on the end of the bed and go through your rules while Carrick strips you.” He met Carrick’s gaze, saw the heat and, unable to resist, drew him close to kiss him.
Carrick was a bit hesitant at first, then he threw himself into the kiss, pulling Jardin closer. They drew apart slowly, both of them breathing heavily.
“Oh, God, that was so hot. I think I just came a little. More? Please?”
Both of them looked to Thea. Then Carrick let out a laugh, his shoulders shaking. “More? You have to earn more. Come here.”
* * *
Carrick drew Thea closer as Jardin pulled the curtains closed. He admitted, he’d still held some reservations about how she would take him and Jardin together. Wondering if he’d be left out again. When Jardin was in a room, he tended to dominate it.
But Carrick knew he would have a role to play. Jardin could sometimes be too much, too overwhelming. He brought balance to the possessive beast. Not that he wasn’t just as possessive. He simply hid that side better.
As Jardin took off his jacket and shirt, Carrick turned her to face the other man and stepped in behind her. He reached around to cup her full breasts.
“Like what you see, rocket? He’s ripped, isn’t he? So fucking hot.”
Jardin grinned over at them as he stripped off his pants. Each item of clothing was neatly folded and placed on the other bed.
“Well?” Carrick demanded, pinching her nipples lightly and smiling at her gasp of pain. “Answer me.”
“Y-yes, he’s gorgeous.”
“Sometimes I think I could just spend all day watching him move,” Carrick admitted, letting his gaze roam over Jardin possessively.
“Easy now, I haven’t even got my dick out yet,” Jardin joked as he stripped off his boxers and wrapped his hand around the monster in question.
“Holy. Shit.”
“Big, isn’t he? And gorgeous.” Carrick reached for the bottom of her shirt, pulling it swiftly over her head. “But don’t worry, if I can take him you certainly can.”
“Wow, I’d like to see that.” She wrapped her arms around her middle.
“Maybe we should do this later. When it’s dark.”
“And why would we do that?” Jardin asked in a deceptively soft voice as he laid back on the bed, dick in hand, watching them both.
“Because, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly skinny. I have rolls and cellulite and I really need to shave, like, everything.”
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“Carrick,” Jardin said in a firm voice. “Take care of Thea’s punishment.”
“With pleasure. Thea, bend over.”
“W-what?”
“Bend over,” Carrick firmed his voice. He didn’t want her thinking he was a pushover just because he was easier going than Jardin. It was never acceptable for her to talk about herself like that.
“But why?”
“Because you just insulted something precious to us,” Jardin told her. “And talking badly about yourself is never acceptable.”
“I didn’t know!”
“You didn’t know that you shouldn’t put yourself down?” Jardin asked skeptically. “Besides, it’s all lies. You are beautiful. Every inch of you. Carrick.”
“Bend over, Thea. Every minute you procrastinate is another ten smacks.”
She let out a small gasp but bent over. Her skirt molded over her ass. Fucking perfect. He squeezed one cheek. He slid it up over her ass, revealing some very safe, granny panties.
“She needs new lingerie,” he told Jardin.
“Excellent, I’ll get on that.”
“Are the two of you going to take over my life?” she asked.
“Pretty much,” Jardin said.
“Objections?” Carrick asked.
“I’ll let you know when I have them.”
Carrick grinned. He just bet she’d let them know; it was going to make life interesting when Jardin realized he couldn’t have his way all the time.
“Good for you, rocket.”
Jardin just snorted. “Spank her already.”
“All right, that’s ten—”
“Ten? It’s at least twenty,” Jardin interrupted.
Carrick sent him a quelling look. “She’s new. Let’s cut the difference at fifteen.”
“Fine. Fifteen.”
Carrick grabbed hold of her panties and stripped them off. She stiffened, but when he tapped each of her feet, she lifted them so he could pull them off. He turned and walked to the garbage can, chucking them in.
Jardin grinned. “I approve.”
“Knew you would. Spread your legs, rocket.”
“Oh, God,” she muttered. But she parted her legs. He took in the sight of her ass, round and firm.
Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas Book 9) Page 18
