“I won’t be anything less than honest with you. Ever.” It was a gift he could give her. “I’m not cut out for small-town life. But I’m also not willing to limit this little thing. Dallas isn’t so far away.”
He wouldn’t lie to her, but that didn’t mean he had to tell her what he really meant. He would let her think he was talking about seeing her every now and then. He was really thinking that he could easily move her into his world.
And then what the fuck would he do about Ben? Was he really going to try to cut Ben out because he was terrified she would prefer him? He couldn’t stand the thought of being the distant third with her.
But nothing mattered if she wouldn’t even kiss him.
She nodded and, just for a moment, he was worried she would walk away. “Okay then.”
Chase took a deep breath and prayed he survived without completely terrifying her because all he wanted to do was get her under him. And she wasn’t ready for that.
She wasn’t ready for this. It was stupid. She’d screwed his brother the night before, thinking it was him. She’d kissed Ben, but Chase was so much more intense. And she knew if she turned him away, he’d be hurt.
And she didn’t want to turn him away. Not at all.
She took a single step forward, her face turning up toward his. He loomed over her, but in a good, sexy, protective way. She went up on her toes, pressing her body up to reach toward his. His hands came out, cupping her arms. He leaned down just a little, his lips a hard, unforgiving line. It should have made her run, but instead she just wanted to soften him, to see if she could make him smile. She wanted those lips curving up because he was happy with her.
She pressed her mouth to his, a slow melding of flesh. She’d sort of meant to make it a quick buss, but the minute her lips met his, she stopped, unwilling to break the connection.
His hands skimmed up her arms, cupping her shoulders and then finding their way into her hair.
“So fucking sweet.” He groaned against her lips and then took over.
His tongue traced her bottom lip, his hands winding in her hair, pulling her back so her face was lifted to his. His mouth opened over hers and every nerve in her body lit up like a match on the first strike as he devoured her.
So hungry. She could feel how hungry he was. For dominance, yes. But he needed affection more. It was easy to submit. He would stop if she gave him any indication that she wasn’t happy. He’d proven his control. He’d slept in a chair across the room from her though the bed was certainly big enough for all three. Ben had taken the couch as though neither brother was willing to concede the guardian role to the other.
He’d lain beside her in bed this morning, offering up everything he had, but not taking.
She was safe with him. His tongue danced and played against hers, his body crowding her. Her breasts rubbed against his chest and suddenly she wanted to be against him, nothing but skin touching skin.
She let go, allowing her instincts to lead her. What had Gaby said? Sometimes the worst mistakes led to the best future. She wouldn’t have a future with them, but she could have a hell of a present. She broke away.
“Natalie.” Chase growled her name, his hands tightening as though he wouldn’t let her go. “I’m not going to do anything. Just let me kiss you for a while, sweetness. I promise it won’t go anywhere.”
But she wanted it to go somewhere. She pulled her shirt over her head. She was naked. God, she hadn’t been naked in front of Chase. He’d only seen her backside. Ben had seen even less. She hadn’t been naked except for a shower in forever. She’d forgotten how good it felt to have air on her skin and warm, appreciative eyes.
Not cold, assessing ones. Funny how it came back in little bursts. Things she’d thought she’d forgotten. Little moments she’d buried down.
You’re getting fat, Bunny. Do you think I want a fat slave? Who will buy you when I’ve used you up? Daisy in there is going to have to go because she’s too old. No one will buy her. If you keep getting fat, you’ll end up where I’m going to put her. Where useless slaves go.
“Don’t leave me.”
Chase’s rough voice pulled her out of that terrible moment when she’d known Gretchen was going to die. Bunny. Kitten. Daisy. He hadn’t let them keep their names.
Chase’s voice was gravelly, but the words behind it were so vulnerable.
Tears, sweet piercing tears, filled her eyes. God, it felt so fucking good to be here, on the verge of crying. She wouldn’t. Not yet, but it would happen. “I’m so sorry, Sir.”
“What did he do?” His hands came up, but he hesitated, not taking what he so obviously wanted.
She moved in close, again, those instincts she’d buried rising to the surface. The need to please, to be comforted. Instincts she’d simply followed before were coming back in spurts almost as though balancing the bad memories. They had done this for her. Where there had been only the bad shit before, Chase and Ben were reminding her that there had been good in life, too.
She wrapped her arms around his waist. She didn’t like talking about it, but her therapist claimed it was the best remedy. There was poison in her system, injected by a snake of a man. She had to get it out. “He would inspect me, all of us really. He never said anything good.”
There was no pulling away, no treating her like she was damaged. In fact, he rubbed that big cock against her belly as though it needed a little comfort, too. “Sweetness, I don’t need to say it again, but he was a psychotic asshole and he obviously had horrible taste in women because you’re so fucking gorgeous, I can’t stand it.”
“Really gorgeous,” a second voice said.
Chase growled again. It seemed to be his default mode of communication. “My brother is back. And he’s looking at your ass. Can I tell him to go away?”
She tilted her chin up. “I thought you two shared.”
His face was blank. “Usually. What if I want you to myself?”
She didn’t want to choose. The thought actively made her stomach ache. She pulled away and reached for her shirt.
Ben frowned at his brother, his hair falling over his forehead in a perfect wave. “You really should get dressed, Natalie. Your friend is here, and she’s got some important news.”
She forced the T-shirt over her head, trying to forget about the horrible position Chase was putting her in. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to start some war between brothers. She’d thought she could keep them for a little while, but this wasn’t worth the heartache.
Chase’s jaw hardened stubbornly. “Natalie, we need to talk about this.”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about. Thank you for listening, Sir.” He was just a Dom, nothing more. If she opened up to the other Doms, she might discover that this kindness had been waiting for her all along. She couldn’t cuddle with Cal. He was married, but there were unattached Doms. It would be like therapy. She would just ask them to spank her and then hug her afterward. Chase was right. She needed to be trained all over again, like a computer rebooting.
Ben was holding a pair of jeans and a T-shirt that didn’t belong to her.
“Where are my clothes? You said Gretchen was here.” Had Gretchen not had a chance to go to her place? She was anxious to get back into her own things. Wearing Chase’s T-shirt made her think about them too much.
Ben handed her the clothes. “I took these from Georgia’s suitcase. Sweetheart, Gretchen got into your room, but someone had gotten there first. Everything was ruined. Someone destroyed the place.”
Her little apartment? The only place where she felt really safe? A sob nearly escaped her lips as she ran out the door toward Gretchen.