Chapter 16

Bridger's heart wouldn't stop beating a furious drum. Even hours after Nathaniel had left, he could still hear her words ringing in his head.

I'll never escape.

He knew what she meant. The hell. The memories. The damage to her young mind. It made him sick, and yet he kept reminding himself it could have been worse. If she hadn't been purchased by his own grandfather, and some menace to society had her right now…

In an odd way, Bridger was grateful the old geezer had purchased her. He'd inadvertently saved her, and now she was in Bridger and Colter's home—safe, warm, and fed.

Loved.

Loved?

Jesus.

She'd been with them only twenty-four hours, but it seemed like a lifetime. The three of them moved around each other in the bathroom with far more comfort than the night before. They took turns brushing their teeth and using the attached toilet.

It wasn't until they stepped into the bedroom that Summer started wringing her hands together. She was still wearing Colter's sweatshirt and the shorts. They'd spent some time that afternoon choosing clothes for her to keep from the pile on the bed and packing the rest up to go back to the boutique.

Colter made most of the choices. Bridger didn't have strong opinions about fashion, and Summer had stood next to them, chewing on her thumbnail.

She was twenty-two years old and, in some ways, definitely an old soul. Now that Bridger understood her childhood better, he realized she'd spent most of her time with adults. No wonder she hadn't had friends and still had trouble making friends.

In other ways, Summer was stunted. Maybe she hadn't been before she'd been abducted, but Bridger figured she'd been a hot mess ever since her parents had died. She'd lived a bit in denial, having moved out of her childhood home and into an apartment without even claiming her inheritance.

Nathaniel had been relieved to have found her. Now, he had someone to claim the trust, though when he brought it up several times, Summer had shaken him off. She hadn't seemed interested or ready.

It didn't matter for now. Whatever financial needs she had would be met by Bridger and Colter.

Colter headed for the walk-in closet and returned wearing shorts like last night. He came to Summer and tipped her chin back. "Why are you panicking?"

She shrugged. "I'm infringing on your space. You're being too kind by letting me sleep with you. I'm sure you'd rather be alone."

Bridger wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck with a level of liberty he shouldn't be taking. It was so intimate and personal as if she'd been here for years. They hadn't had sex. They had, however, given her the most beautiful orgasm. The memory still made his cock throb.

Colter cupped her face and kissed her lightly on the lips. "We want you here, honey. If you reach a time when you'd rather sleep in the other room, we can reevaluate, but neither Bridger nor I would be able to sleep with you in the other room. We'd worry."

"Okay," she whispered.

Colter smiled and looked up at Bridger. "You go change. I'll get her settled."

Bridger met his gaze, his heart rate picking up at the subtle demand.

Colter lifted his hand from one of Summer's cheeks and reached past her to set it on Bridger's cheek. "I know that look, love. Go change before I really pull out my dominant side."

Bridger licked his lips. He'd rather see Colter's dominant side, but it wouldn't be appropriate in front of Summer. She was in a near-constant state of shock as it was. She didn't need to add male-on-male dominance to her repertoire of "skills."

When Bridger didn't move fast enough, Colter slid his hand around to the back of Bridger's neck and gave him a firm squeeze while narrowing his gaze in a no-nonsense, nonverbal display of total dominance.

It was such a small thing. He'd simply instructed Bridger to change. It could have been perceived as a simple suggestion to divvy up what needed to be done. "I'll get Summer settled while you change." But that wasn't what Colter had meant, and that wasn't the tone he'd used.

"Uhh…" Summer interjected. "The room is starting to steam up. Would you like me to step out for a few minutes?"

Still holding Bridger's neck, Colter dipped his gaze to hers. His expression was serious, eyes slightly narrowed. "Does it bother you?"

"Does what bother me?"

"The fact that Bridger and I are a couple in every sense of the term. We're not just friends or roommates. We fuck. Sometimes, we take turns dominating, though more often, it's me on top. Figuratively. Does it make you uncomfortable?"

She shook her head. "No." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

Bridger's cock stiffened further.

Colter continued. "After what you've been through, does my dominance frighten you?"

"No. It's not the same. It's not abuse. It's not non-consensual. It's…kinda hot. I've never seen two men together. I'm jealous of the love you share and the way you can communicate with each other with just a look. I love the dominance. It's not meant to be cruel and degrading. It's meant to be titillating and sexy. I can see the difference. I'm also in your bedroom, where you'd probably rather be alone."

"We don't want to be alone, baby," Bridger told her. He would have leaned closer and nuzzled her neck, but Colter was still holding him.

Colter glanced at Bridger and then back to Summer. "He's right. The truth is we've been in a bit of a rut, living life, dropping into bed tired at night, not connecting as often as we should. Maybe it's unfair or somehow irresponsible, but your presence is bringing us closer."

Summer inhaled slowly. "Maybe it's unfair of me or somehow irresponsible, but I like being around your energy. It feels real. It feels like a type of normal I haven't been around before. The love you feel for each other is palpable, and I want to stand in it and watch as if I belong."

Her words were so profound. Deep. Bridger's knees nearly buckled.

Colter set his forehead against hers and nuzzled her nose. "That's so eloquent and so deep for someone as young and inexperienced as you." He shifted his gaze to Bridger. "You heard the lady. She doesn't mind my dominance. Get your ass in the closet, love, before I change my mind and paddle it in front of our guest."

Bridger's breath hitched. He was also torn. Had he ever in their ten years felt this dominated by his lover? He didn't think so. They'd never played this hard at home. They'd assumed roles at Roses and Thorns in the past, done scenes together that were arranged, negotiated, and specific.

They'd even engaged in impact play. Colter had probably struck Bridger over a padded bench more times than the other way around. They'd enjoyed the feeling. The release. The power exchange.

But nothing like this. The air was thick around them. Filled with promise and the underlying threat. It was so heady that Bridger felt the urge to defy his partner just to see what he would do.

Would he bend him over the edge of the bed in front of Summer, jerk his jeans down to his knees, grab an implement from their toy bag, and punish Bridger's tight ass?

His fucking cock was harder than ever. He wanted that. He wanted Summer to watch. He wanted her to stroke his hair and hold his hand while Colter pummeled his ass with a flogger or paddle.

Fuck. Bridger wanted her to watch while Colter thrust first his fingers and then his cock into Bridger's ass. He wanted Colter to do it from behind in a show of dominance that could not be misunderstood.

Colter groaned, yanking Bridger out of his thoughts. Shit. How long had he been standing here?

"In the closet. Now. Clothes off. Face the back wall. Palms flat on the wall above your head. Legs spread." He took a step back and pointed toward the open closet door.

Bridger didn't dare hesitate. For one thing, he couldn't. For another thing, he didn't want to. He hadn't been this turned on in a very long time.

He kissed Summer on the temple, turned, and headed for the closet.