“She said leave her alone.”
Nevvie didn’t recognize Thomas’ voice at first. The hard, steely edge and dangerous tone startled her. Was this her gentle, playful Thomas?
The drunk tried to focus on Thomas. “Who the fuck are you?”
Thomas stepped between Nevvie and the man, and now people watched. Thomas stood an inch or two taller than the guy, but the drunk outweighed him.
The man was forced to step back. Thomas held up his left hand, pointing at his wedding band. “She’s my wife, asshole. Back. The fuck. Off.”
The drunk took another unsteady step back. She watched as Tom clenched his fists, the war for control raging inside him.
And inside her. Something about the set of Tom’s body, his voice, started her lower belly throbbing and aching. He would fight for her.
His wife.
Jesus! She knew it was an excuse to try to diffuse the situation, but still…
She could almost see wheels turning inside the drunk’s head. He wasn’t anticipating this. Fight to save face, or admit he was a jerk for hitting on another guy’s wife?
Unfortunately one of the guy’s equally drunk buddies thought he was helping when he staggered over and tried to pull his friend away. “C’mon, Jack, let’s go.”
The drunk opted for ego and yanked free, then took a swing at Thomas.
Thomas caught the guy’s fist and followed with a well-placed undercut to the man’s breadbasket, knocking the wind out of him. Jack folded like a trailer in a hurricane and hit the wooden deck, on his knees and gasping for air. Thomas stepped back, feeling for Nevvie behind him without taking his eyes off the drunk or his friend.
Nevvie grabbed Thomas’ arm and he backed against her, blocking her in with his body. She suspected they’d have to kill him to get to her. She instinctively put her arms around his waist.
Thomas’ low, possessive growl made her ache with need. “I suggest you get your friend the hell out of here before he gets the crap beat outta him.”
Another not-quite-so-drunk friend helped the drunk friend get Jack to his feet and manhandled him out of the bar. The show over, the other patrons returned to their conversations.
Nevvie clung to Thomas, breathing heavy and realizing she ached to feel his arms around her—and his dick in her. He turned and threw a couple of bills on the bar to pay for the beer and grabbed the bottle. “Come on, sugar. Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him, forcing her to practically jog to keep up with his long strides. She followed him, still mentally reeling.
Inside their room with the door securely locked behind them, Thomas set the beer on the dresser and started emptying his pockets. She hadn’t moved from beside the door.
He looked at her. “What?”
Nevvie launched herself at him. She threw her arms and legs around him, and he caught her, returning her kiss with urgency, moaning as he cupped her ass and held her to him, grinding his hips against her.
She wanted him to fuck her. Right then. Raw, hot, bed-bouncing, lusty, screaming at the top of her lungs sex. From the feel of him between her legs, so did he.
“Goddammit, Tommy, that was—” She couldn’t finish, because his tongue was down her throat.
He greedily devoured her, falling with her to the bed, running his hands down her body and under her dress.
Hell yes, she was getting laid!
Thomas’ fingers skimmed up her bare thighs and found her panties. Hooking his thumbs in the waistband, he started working them down her hips. He moaned, running his lips from her shoulder to her ear, blistering hot against her skin. “Jesus, baby, I want to—”
His cell phone rang, Tyler’s custom tone, like a splash of ice water on them.
His eyes met hers for a split-second before he rolled off, she rolled the other way, and he answered. She sat on the edge of the bed, panting, her eyes closed.
What the fuck am I doing?
Thomas took the phone into the bathroom and closed the door while she sat there trembling, still tasting Thomas on her lips, his scent on her skin like a dream.
So close. So. Fucking. Close.
She groaned, falling back on the bed. What the hell was wrong with her?
The bathroom door opened and she caught part of Thomas’ conversation, felt the bed give under his weight as he sat across from her. “She’s okay, Ty. It was a stupid drunk… Everyone’s fine, we’re back in the room. Sugar, don’t worry about it. We’re fine… All right, here she is.”
He gently nudged her hand with the phone. Without opening her eyes, she took it. “Hi, Tyler.”
“Sweetheart, are you all right?”
His nearly frantic tone made her feel even more guilty. Fuck. She nearly jumped him a few days ago, and now Thomas. “I’m fine. We’re okay.”
“Oh, thank goodness you weren’t hurt.” She spent several long, agonizing minutes assuaging Tyler’s rattled nerves before saying good night and returning the phone to Thomas.
“We’re fine. We’ll start back in the morning after breakfast… Yes, we’ll be careful. Are you okay?… All right. Make sure you lock the doors before you go to bed. I love you, Ty…You too. Good night.”
Thomas dropped the phone to the bed. She felt him fall back, his head near hers. He broke the silence after many long minutes. “You okay, Nev?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry.”
“What the hell are you sorry for?”
“For jumping you.”
“I’m not sorry. Why should you be?”
Nevvie didn’t know how to take his comment and finally rolled over to look at him. “Dammit, I nearly raped you, Thomas.”
“Sweetie, were you and I involved in the same encounter a few hot minutes ago? Because I sure felt like I was in complete control of what I was doing.”
His brown eyes held her. She felt as attracted to him as she did Tyler, but in a different way.
A dangerous way.
Anger flashed through her. What the fuck were two monogamous and happily committed gay guys doing kissing her anyway? She couldn’t come between them like this!
“Is this some sort of game to you two?”
He rolled over to look at her right side up and dropped his voice. “Did it feel like I was playing a game, sugar?” he growled.
She gulped and shook her head.
“Okay then.” He sighed. “Thank God he called when he did. I know he said he’d share me with you, but tonight isn’t the time or place. Go get ready for bed, and I’ll give you a back rub to put you to sleep.”
She nodded, not pressing him for further explanation. What did he mean it wasn’t the time or place?
Dare she hope that meant one day there would be? Somehow, she needed to find the strength to confront them, get answers.
But not tonight. While she wanted answers, it would kill her to hear confirmation that they weren’t serious. At least this way her fantasies remained intact.
She changed clothes and settled in bed.
“Roll over, hon. Time to send you to dream land.”
Nevvie did, moaning in a different way at the feel of his hands on her. Damn, he was good. He’d learned to melt her the same way he did Tyler, and on more than one occasion had put her to sleep in this fashion.
He shifted position, straddling her. She closed her eyes and fantasized about what might have happened if Tyler hadn’t called.
When she opened her eyes the bedside clock read two-seventeen, and Thomas had a protective arm curled around her, his breath even and steady in sleep.
Closing her eyes she tried not to think about how safe it felt being nestled in his arms.