Chapter 3

Three

Jesse

" H ey Jesse, wait up."

Lora flagged me down just as I stepped out of the hospital, ready to head home after a long twelve-hour shift. Everything but my head ached, but nothing a good run wouldn't fix. Hopefully.

I had on my favorite running shoes, a pair of black running shorts that gave me the most flexibility and a halter top that barely brushed the top of my shorts.

Perfect workout gear for an early morning run home several blocks from here as a warmup for tomorrow's fundraiser race for military families. The last three weeks have flown by and crawled at the same time for multiple reasons. With summer in full swing, lots of soldiers were coming in dealing with dehydration and sunburns anywhere from light to severe. They did tough work protecting our country and I pounded the corridors of the hospital willing to do anything to make sure the men under my care didn't suffer if it could be helped.

But that wasn't the only reason the last weeks were heavy. Kane and Hawk were discharged from the hospital the day after we all struck a deal. An hour after they swept out just as quickly as they bulldozed in, it all began.

Every day since, one thing or another arrived for me from the men. Either while at work, or at home. Often with little notes attached that either made me smile or blush. Oftentimes, it was both. How they garnered my address I have yet to find out.

I waved at my best friend.

I couldn't help but smile. This made twenty bouquets, this time white daisies from the look of it, and the usual white envelope perched between the petals.

Oh boy.

"Didn't think you would get away without your daily dose of romance, did you?" Lora nailed me with her arched brow look. "So, when are you gonna spill the beans and tell me who your mystery man is?"

I blushed hard and played it off, using the envelope as a makeshift fan. I felt bad for not telling her it was two men—the same ones she also had the hots for.

"Look, it's already getting late in the morning and I don't wanna be running when it's too hot out. In due time. Promise, 'k? I'm not even sure I want to pursue any of this craziness that keeps finding me, to be honest," I explained, a little wide-eyed as she passed over the bundle of flowers.

"Oh, you tease," she joked with an easy smile. "Fine, have your secrets for now. It won't be long before you're spilling all the dirty deets to me over beer and pizza."

"Deal. Just let me figure it all out and then you're my go-to girl."

"Deal!" Lora pulled me in for a hug and I stopped her before she could turn to leave to finish out her shift.

"Can you take these? I don't want to ruin them on my run plus they are your fave flower, right?" I have so much jam-packing my tiny apartment I don't know where to put another bundle of flowers anyway.

"Sure! Thanks!"

I loved seeing the happy smile on my friend's face, knowing she wasn't mad about me not wanting to spill on all the details just yet.

"See you later, 'k?"

"Yeah, yeah, be careful, chica . Text you later!"

Fifteen minutes later I rounded the last corner leading home, my leg muscles stretched and nicely warmed up. Not many could spend twelve hours on their feet and then go running but it worked for me and I slept like a baby once my head hit the pillow. These days it was the only way not to think about them. Showing up at work with dark rings under my eyes wasn't a good look so I did everything I could do to wear myself out so I didn't lie awake at night wondering if I made the right move.

The closer the fundraiser came though, the more Hawk's blue eyes and Kane's warm touch invaded my every thought.

My typical path around the military base began as a slow run, building quickly to hit my usual speed and then I went flat out for another twenty minutes before hitting the stairs to my apartment. If I got a weekend off, I often shoot for a much longer run.

The best part was the cool down shower after such a long run. I liked to play out a little fantasy where Hawk and Kane both have me pressed between them, their hands soapy as they lather my languid body, leaving not even half an inch untouched by their strong fingers.

Once rinsed they would turn me around and…

I picked up speed, needing to get home and into my shower as quickly as possible. I could already feel the bud between my folds starting to ache. I've never pleasured myself as much as I have since meeting Hawk and Kane. Now it seemed almost nightly I withered in my sheets, crying their names.

Damn, I even broke down and bought my first vibrator online. Something I swore I'd never need. Now it's my bedtime best friend.

My feet pounded the pavement. Heavy rock 'n rock jammed in my ears from a long playlist that had my heart hammering more than the run itself. Every thud of the drum felt like a strum against my clit and my libido cranked up three-fold with every step. The last half block blew by in a breeze and I came to a quick stop at the foot of my steps.

I was out of breath and left in shock at what greeted me when I looked up the ten steps between me and strong, muscled bodies. Both shirtless, wearing black uniform shorts wrapped around bulging legs.

Fuuuck.

Neither man looked to have been remotely ill just three weeks ago.

"Hi, Jesse, baby," Kane purred. He wore a wicked smile as did Hawk, who stayed put while his friend walked down the stairs like a fucking tanned sex god to greet me.

I'm pretty sure I wore my stunned look for all of the five seconds it took for Kane to come to a stop by my side.

"We were just out training for tomorrow's marathon. Warming up the muscles. Hope you don't mind that we stopped by to check in on you? See how you are doing?" he offered offhand, pushing a hand through thick hair. He slipped my hand into his other and with each word he placed a kiss on one of my fingers. Those pretty dark eyes of his glittering with mischief and arousal.

Talk about swoon-worthy. Ok, so don't shoot me but all the flowers and dirty notes they've been sending me have worked and I'm just about ready to throw myself in his arms and demand they steal me away.

Because my imagination ran away, my mind stuttered and I lost the ability to think for all of five seconds. I forced my heart rate out of the sky and back into my chest.

How to answer Kane's question when I had a feeling both the men on my doorstep meant something entirely different by checking in on me ?

Despite trying to wrangle my heart into control, my pulse ratcheted up another ten beats per minute, and I grew breathless from the thoughts coursing through my mind. Why were they really here? I'd never seen them run this route before when they were on the base between tours.

Without responding to them, I shot forward up the stairs and came to a stop by Hawk's side. He'd found the only spot on my railing where I don't have some kind of flower pot to lean his heavy frame against.

Hawk leveled his bright blues on me. He moved in, gathering my hand in his, lacing our fingers together. I watched as he brought his lips to the back of my hand.

"We missed you, Jesse. Please don't be mad at us for wanting to come and see you. We couldn't wait 'til tomorrow. Deal or no deal. We needed to touch you, see you. Know that you are okay."

Truth shined back at me in the depths of his captivating eyes.

"Is that all right with you, sweetheart?"

My brow wrinkled.

Damn, he was good.

Kane silently flanked me on the right. The air felt like it was high noon outside instead of barely eight in the morning. And my limbs suddenly turned heavy, difficult to move. All I wanted to do was lean against the wall of muscle surrounding me and let them take over.

Probably because my body thought it should be horizontal, being worshipped by two hot fucking Army Rangers with me in their sights.

As I reached for the handle of my door, keys in hand, my mind took another route. I'd heard rumors that the pair was savvy when it came to getting what they wanted, and apparently, they wanted me. But for how long? Am I really entertaining the idea of a casual screw?

Well, it was that or my new vibrator.

I locked eyes with Kane.

If I opened the door, no way would I deny them entry but to do so meant a nonverbal yes to whatever ideas they had in mind of doing with me.

Oh boy! Tomorrow I would no longer be a virgin.

That idea kinda made me want to do a Snoopy dance right here on my front steps.

Another option...I could offer them drinks, we could talk about tomorrow's race and then they could be on their way after a little small talk.

Ha! I wanted to laugh at myself. Like that would happen.

Either they would have me pinned to the wall or I would toss them both on the nearest flat surface and have my way with them. Want to know my deepest, darkest secret? I didn't fear losing my virginity as much as I feared not living on the edge at least once. Taking life by the balls and doing something just for me. My nursing degree was for my mother and father. They wanted me to follow in the family footsteps, and it made me happy. But, I never cut loose. Never had me time. When does Nurse Jesse Jordan get to be the wild version and live life?

Today. Right now, is when.

Ok then. So, I was doing this. Two men, four hands, and two beautiful cocks were about to be mine. My heart leapt into my throat as my whole body shivered with excitement.

My pussy pulsated, and I wanted to slam my thighs together and hold in that sweet pleasurable pressure.

Sometimes you just have to jump headfirst, everything else be damned, right? Yeah, maybe I need to do just that to find my answer.

My breath ripped in and out of my lungs as I slipped the key in and swung the door open.

"Gentlemen, would you like to come in for something refreshing to drink? Maybe some breakfast?"

Fire hit my cheeks.

There—I said it. No going back now, I suppose.

I flicked my gaze up to meet both of theirs, and the intensity that hit me back knocked me off my feet.

Hawk and Kane both took an elbow to steady me and both were right there leaning in, their large masculine bodies there to protect me. From what I didn't know, but I felt protected all the same.

"Let's get you inside before the morning heat overcomes you and then you have all the neighborhood hens cackling about you taking two men into your apartment," Hawk growled into my ear.

Morning heat! Ha! But he did have a point about prying eyes and the gossip train.

Hawk took my elbow and gently pulled me behind him while Kane stepped up behind me. Together we made our way to my apartment on the third floor.

I was sweaty and wanted a shower. My hair was stringy in front of my eyes, and I pushed the straggling locks off my forehead. I could think of a dozen better ways to start something with Hawk and Kane than in my workout gear, dripping sweat and my shirts riding up the crack of my ass. But the way Hawk kept undressing me with his eyes every few seconds and Kane's growls from behind me one would think I was dressed to the nines and smelled like a bed of roses.

Their bare torsos glistened in a way that imprinted on my brain. As long as I lived, I would never forget the sight of two hunky soldiers leaning casually against the railing of my apartment building, smiling at me. Waiting for me like I'm everything they ever wanted.

My hips swayed more than normal with the slipperiness between my legs as we made our way down the corridor to my number. We rolled to a stop and Hawk held out a hand. Eyes locked with his, I passed over the key.

My face heated—along with every other inch of my body inside and out. Beside me, I could feel Kane's stare like a brand across my skin.

My pulse quickened as Hawk swung my door open and waited for me to make the next move. This was way more than an offer of bottled water or something to eat. Did I want to accept this challenge of two men in my bed? I couldn't think of why they'd want me in the first place—I was nothing extraordinary. But the way they looked at me and touched me so gently…reverently…it seemed like more was happening here than just a quick screw on a Friday morning.

I let my gaze roam over each of them and up to their grinning faces. I gasped when I felt a strong, warm hand settle on my lower back right above my ass cheeks.

Body scorching hot, and nearly a puddle of desire on the floor, I stepped inside and opened my door wider. "Please, won't you come inside?"