Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

Penny

They’re not taking me back to my aunt’s house.

That much is obvious.

When I stormed out of the firehouse, Nick and Zeke were hot on my heels, continuing to glower at each other until we climbed into Zeke’s truck. It wasn’t lost on me that Nick let him drive—and that act of consideration is the one thing giving me hope. Thanks to Zeke’s injury and their exchange while braving the fire tonight, the power dynamic was off when they walked into the firehouse. Having those strange men check me out and rile their possessive nature didn’t help. I could excuse their pissing contest…but I don’t want to.

If I make an exception every time Nick and Zeke alpha out over me, it’s going to become the norm. And I can’t be happy like that. We can’t be happy like that.

“This is not the way to my aunt’s house, Zeke,” I point out from the passenger seat. “You missed the turn.”

A muscle jumps along Zeke’s jawline. “I’ll never be able to sleep without you safe in my bed. Not for the rest of my life.”

“You sleep with us tonight and always,” Nick rumbles from the back seat. “It’s non-negotiable.”

I snort. “Oh, it’s back to ‘us’ now. How convenient.”

“Watch your bratty tone.”

That sharp command from Nick makes my breasts sensitive, my thighs feel like jelly. “Sorry, Daddy,” I murmur, squirming in my seat. “But I’m not done being mad. And I’m allowed to go back to my aunt’s house if I want.”

“You don’t really want that.” Zeke rolls to stop at a red light and reaches over to cup my chin. “You don’t want us to go out of our minds, do you, baby? I’m already halfway there just knowing you want to.”

From behind, Nick’s fingers slide up my nape and twist into my hair. “You’ve been claimed, little Penny. Your place is with us.” His sigh reaches me. “We wouldn’t last a single goddamn day without you.”

Tears prick the backs of my eyelids. “I won’t be the rope in your tug of war.”

“I’ll take responsibility,” Zeke says, sliding his thumb along my bottom lip. “I’m a fucking hothead, baby. You were right. I was just feeling…”

“Insecure?” I supply, unable to stop myself from giving his thumb a kiss. “Is that the first time ever?”

“Yeah,” he laughs, taking off through the intersection. “Guess that’s why I didn’t react so well.”

Nick clears his throat in the back seat. “I’m to blame, too. I…tried to give Zeke what I thought he needed tonight. You. But I couldn’t watch without taking.” His fingertips massage my scalp. “We’re both possessive men by nature. Throw in the most desirable woman on the planet and we turn into animals, sweetheart. I’m…sorry.”

“Wow.” I swipe at my eyes. “An apology from Nick and an admission of insecurity from Zeke. This is like a mobile therapy session.”

We stop outside Zeke’s building and he shifts into park, turning to me and sliding his palms up my thighs, tugging on the frayed ends of my jean shorts. “Don’t give up on us.”

“Don’t threaten to, either, please,” Nick grumbles, his touch still moving in my hair. “I can’t even take the thought of losing you.”

Wishing we weren’t in the truck—because I now have the overwhelming need for bear hugs from them both—I unsnap my seatbelt and climb out, waiting on the sidewalk for them to join me. When they do, I waste no time gripping the fronts of their shirts and dragging them close. “I’m sorry. I won’t threaten to leave anymore.” I kiss both of their chins. “Next time I’ll just do it.”

“You better be joking,” Nick says.

Zeke frowns at me. “That’s not funny.”

I giggle and let them go, dancing off toward the building entrance. “Are you coming?”

“The fire is only fifty percent contained,” Zeke answers, catching up with me to unlock the door. “We have to get back to the scene.”

“We’ll make sure you’re inside safe first.” Nick takes hold of my hand and guides me toward the elevator. “This time, stay put, sweetheart.”

I turn into his arms once we’re inside the elevator. “Yes, Daddy.”

Zeke moves up behind me, massaging my bottom with a strong hand. “Bet you’re sore. Want me to draw you a bath?”

“Yes, please,” I breathe, leaning back and letting the younger of the two men tease my lips with his own. “Are you sure you guys can’t stay and wash me?”

Their twin groans send shivers down my spine. “Stop torturing us,” Nick says. “I’d love more than anything to take a washcloth to your little well-fucked pussy.”

“And I’d love to get you dirty all over again.”

Zeke coaxes my mouth open for a short, tongue-sweeping kiss, before letting Nick take a turn slanting his lips over mine, only stopping when the elevator dings to let us off on Zeke’s floor. Each of them takes one of my hands, escorting me down the hallway, and I take a moment to savor how content I am. There are going to be bumps in the road with these two uniquely different men, but as long as we come home together at night and all of us are secure in our importance in the relationship, nothing can wreck what we’ve found.

Once inside the apartment, Nick and Zeke move from room to room, checking in closets and beneath beds. Testing window locks. Zeke ends up in the bathroom drawing me a bath, and the homey sound of water filling the tub makes me sleepy. I flop down on the couch to admire Zeke’s butt through the bathroom doorway where he bends over the tub, testing the temperature. And I turn around and catch Nick changing his shirt, that chest full of salt and pepper hair causing me to give a big feminine sigh of appreciation. Nick catches me and smiles—for the first time since I met him?—and holy God above, he’s just as handsome as Zeke when he does it.

“Wow.” I tip sideways on the couch and curl into a squealing ball. “I’m really glad we’re not arguing anymore.”

The water stops in the bathroom and Zeke’s mouth finds my ear a few seconds later. “You have no idea.”

“Be good and stay inside.” Nick’s hands settle on my knees, sliding up the insides of my thighs, a single knuckle brushing my juncture, up and down the seam of my shorts. “One of us will be home to drive you to school in the morning. And when we’re all together tomorrow night, we’ll take turns eating this sexy pussy.”

“Okay,” I manage, flustered. “Sounds ideal.”

Zeke laughs. “Your bath is ready, baby.”

I make no move to stand. I’ll get there eventually. “Thank you.”

My face really wants to pout when both men head for the door with clear reluctance, but I do my best to smile. Until Nick is walking out into the hallway and I shoot back into a sitting position. “I meant what I said,” I call out, my voice softening when they turn. “I love you. Both of you.”

Some people go their whole life time without having another human being look at them the way Nick and Zeke look at me right now. As if they can’t stand to be existing in a world where they’re not touching me.

“We love you, too.”

They say it at the same time, truth in every syllable. Their love hangs in the air and when the door closes behind them. I hug myself and slump back down, already counting the minutes until I see them again. A short while later, I’m just about to drag myself into the bath Zeke thoughtfully drew for me when there’s a knock at the door. Excitement tripping along my nerve endings, I jog for the door, twist the locks and throw it open.

“Did you change your minds—”

Horror clouds my throat and cuts me off mid-sentence. Because it’s not Nick and Zeke on the other side of the door. It’s the face that has slowly been revealing itself during my nightmares of the fire. A shiny bald head and the flat, emotionless mouth. It all comes back to me—his smiling face looking back at me through the smoke, a cigarette dangling from his lips. And the laughter. It’s coming from him and my memories at the same time. There isn’t a doubt in my mind.

This is the man who killed my father.

I must say it out loud, because he pulls a weapon from his coat and backs me into the apartment, saying, “Smart girl.” His eyes are a little wild, the humorous tilt to his head making my sick. “I’m the man who’s going to kill you, too.”

“H-how did you find me?”

“Followed you from school. Your father was always going on about his intelligent college girl and her designs,” he responds, casually surveying the apartment, the red container sloshing where it dangles in his right hand. “Had to wait, though. Your guards never leave you alone.” He looks back at me with a wink. “But they can’t help you now.”