Chapter 2

“Okay,” I finally say. “But I’ll pay you back for everything.”

“You don’t have to worry about that right now,” Kellan replies as he lets go of my shoulders and stands back up.

“You’re too kind.”

“Come on, let’s get your girls in the backseat of my car where it’s warm, the heat is on.”

Shaking like a leaf, I get out of my car and open the back door, bending down to help the girls out. Miley is the first to move, quickly wrapping her arms around my neck. She’s shivering, poor thing, mumbling something about it being so cold that her teeth keep clattering. Kellan joins us with a pair of blankets he fished out from the trunk of his vehicle, wrapping one over Miley.

“Go with the sheriff, honey,” I tell her. “He’ll get us warm in no time. I have to get your sister.”

“Okay, Momma,” she replies, her head already resting on his shoulder as I hand her to him.

For a split-second I watch my daughter as she so eagerly relaxes in his arms, and a peculiar kind of warmth fills my heart. We might actually be okay. Maybe it’s just fickle and treacherous hope toying with my senses, but at least my girls will be warm tonight.

“I’ll call my brother to come and tow your car,” Kellan says as he carries Miley over to his vehicle.

I get Annie from the backseat. She’s awake and cranky, but as soon as I wrap her in the second blanket and shower her cold, pink face with kisses, she calms down long enough for me to move her safely and smoothly to the warmth of the sheriff’s vehicle. Miley holds her close, constantly whispering words of comfort like the wonderful big sister that she is, and it’s all I can do to stop myself from breaking down again. They both deserve better than this.

I walk back toward my car where Kellan is just ending a call. “Thank you so much,” I tell him as he puts his phone away.

The wind is blowing harder now, each flake smacking my face like a tiny blade. I pull the hood of my parka over my head, having completely forgotten about how cold I am. My toes hurt. Kellan frowns as he sees me wrap my arms around myself in a tight hug.

“Don’t worry about it,” he says. “My brother will be here in twenty minutes. He was on his way back to North Platte after an emergency job with his pickup truck. Lucky for us.”

“I’m not sure what qualifies as luck anymore,” I reply.

The intensity of his gaze makes my body light up from the inside. How am I even able to register these reactions when I’ve been in fight-or-flight mode for so long? Kellan comes closer, his green eyes searching my face, while I can’t help but admire the soft line of his lower lip.

“I have an extra blanket in the trunk,” he says. “That is, if you want to stay out here. The passenger seat is heated. Up to you, Avery.”

“A blanket would be great,” I tell him. “If I get in the warm car now, I’m pretty sure I’ll pass out.”

He nods, smiles subtly, then goes back to his car. I watch him tread carefully across the snow, each step echoing determination and strength. Kellan returns with a third blanket which he gingerly drapes over my shoulders pulling me closer as he brings the corners together for me to hold.

“Thank you.”

He makes sure I’m sufficiently bundled, then takes his phone out again. “Give me your ex-husband’s name and description. I can put a BOLO out on him and make sure he’s apprehended sooner rather than later.”

“Daniel Madison,” I say, wondering if a BOLO would be enough to stop that bastard from coming after us again. “Once I get my phone charged, I can send you more details,” I add. “Like social security number, pictures, that kind of stuff.”

“License plate number, last known address, any official court documents will all be helpful,” Kellan says. “We’ll sort the rest out tomorrow at the station. But the name and a description should do for the time being.”

“Six feet tall. Medium brown hair. Brown eyes. Medium build. Works for a finance firm. Or did. I don’t know anymore. I don’t keep up.”

“I suppose the divorce was messy,” he says.

I nod once. “It was, but I didn’t have enough evidence to keep him away from the girls. So, the court granted him visitation rights once every two weeks. Until he hit me. That’s when I got the restraining order.”

“When was the divorce finalized?”

“Five months ago.”

“And when did you get the restraining order?”

I need a moment to remember the exact date. “December first. Last week. We moved to Campbell as soon as I got it.”

“Does he still have visitation rights for the girls?”

“No. Temporarily suspended, pending a court hearing. I’ll need to file some papers for that. Damn, I need a lawyer. I need a lot of things.” And I’m about to hyperventilate as the prospect of going through the court system again fills me with anxiety. “I thought I’d put him behind us.”

Kellan looks at me with kindness, not pity. “Listen, forget about him for now. At least for tonight. Give yourself some peace. You and your daughters have been through enough.”

I look again at my surroundings. We’re still in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm, yet there is a sense of safety wrapping itself around me, and I can feel my whole body gradually relaxing. Granted, this blanket is definitely helping, but so is Kellan’s overwhelmingly masculine presence. I wonder if the universe saw me in desperation and decided to give me a break this time.

“How old are the girls?” he asks as we wait for his brother to reach us.

“Miley is five. Annie is three. Although Miley is way more mature for a kid her age. Or mellower. Whatever it is, I’m thankful, because I doubt I would’ve been able to handle two wound up girls in these circumstances.”

“And what do you do? For a living, I mean.”

“I’m an interior designer, though I didn’t start my career until after I got divorced,” I say with a heavy exhale. “I’ve been taking on clients here and there, mostly remodeling projects. I handle everything from top to bottom—carpentry, plastering, painting. I do it all.”

Kellan gives me a long and curious look, a glimmer of fascination in his eyes. “You do the hard labor too?”

“I can’t afford to pay additional contractors. But I’m really good at it. I used to help my dad out a lot on his remodeling jobs when I was a kid so I’m familiar with the work.

“What about you?” I ask Kellan. “Did you always plan on becoming the sheriff of Lincoln County?”

“Not really. My parents figured I’d take over the family business, but I decided to join the Navy instead.”

“Oh. Quite the twist,” I chuckle softly.

He smiles, but there is a tinge of sadness shadowing his expression. “Yeah. It was an intense and eye-opening experience, to say the least. But then I got my honorable discharge and came back here. I joined the Police Academy and saw how poorly the whole county was doing in terms of law and order. I wanted to do something; it was almost like a calling.” He pauses upon seeing a pickup truck approaching us from the north end of the snowy road. “There he is.”

“Your brother?” I ask, immediately aware of the tension in my voice.

“You’re safe with us, I promise,” Kellan replies gently. I reckon he can tell I’m still on edge.

It’s only when his brother pulls over and gets out of the car that I realize this could very well be the spiciest visual Christmas present I never imagined I’d get. Kellan’s brother is almost identical, albeit significantly larger, taller. An even greater mountain of a man with equally striking green eyes and dark hair. He’s dressed in charcoal gray overalls and a thick black turtleneck.

“This is Fallon,” Kellan says.

Fallon definitely lives at the gym or deadlifts a dozen tractor tires every morning just for kicks. I feel so tiny by comparison. Then again, at five-foot-five I’m practically minuscule compared to these two. I can’t help but lick my lips as I gaze at them, unable to look away.

“Hi, Fallon,” I mumble.

He grunts something that sounds like ‘Hi’ before he glances over at my old Citro?n. “That it?”

“Yeah. We’re not sure what’s wrong with it,” Kellan tells him.

Fallon walks over to my car and opens the driver’s door. The keys are still in the ignition, so he tries to get the engine started, checking the dashboard with each turn. “I think it’s the electrical system,” I blurt out when Fallon gets out of the car and decides to look under the hood next. “There’s no power whatsoever. It’s done this before.”

“Possibly,” he replies, giving me a steady, dark look.

I imagine this is what a deer caught in the headlights feels just before the inevitable impact.

“You’ll have plenty of time tomorrow to look at it,” Kellan tells him. “I’m gonna take the girls back to the house for the night.”

“That’s sensible,” Fallon replies, then glances my way again. “I’ll give you a diagnostic tomorrow after I check everything.”

“Thank you so much,” I reply.

Kellan gently nudges me with his shoulder. “Come on, time to go. Your girls need warm food and a decent bed to sleep in.”

All I can do is follow him back to his car as the snowfall thickens and the winds howl even harsher against the white night. Once I’m in the passenger seat, seatbelt fastened, I find myself depleted and sinking into an unexpected dream state. I catch one last glimpse of Fallon pulling his pickup truck closer to my car so he can anchor it to his pulley before my eyes surrender and darkness beckons me.

I’m not sure how long I was out, but I awaken just as we are pulling up outside a ginormous mansion—a magnificent colonial-style construction set within a sprawling beautiful garden. The hedges are all covered in snow, much like the rest of the property, but I can imagine this place on a hot summer’s day, greenery everywhere beneath a clear, blue sky. The building itself is U-shaped, with a dark-red brick fa?ade and French windows, wrought iron terraces on the first and second floors, and white stone columns adorning the porte-cochere.

“Are you doing okay?” Kellan asks as he takes the keys out of the ignition.

“Yeah. I must’ve dozed off.”

“You did and that’s a good thing. It means you felt safe enough.”

I lose myself in his eyes for the better part of a minute until I remember my girls are in the backseat. One quick glance as I catch my breath and smile, seeing both of them fast asleep and wrapped up in their blankets, their plump cheeks pink with warmth. “I think I can put them straight to bed,” I whisper. “We did manage to eat something earlier before…” My voice trails off as the horror of what happened returns to haunt me.

Kellan takes my hand in his and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “That’s alright,” he says. “Their room is ready, and so is yours.”

“Hold on, two rooms? That’s too much, Kellan. We can just use a single room for the night.”

“Nonsense. There’s plenty of space for the three of you. Just relax tonight and tomorrow we will deal with your ID, bank cards, and your car, along with whatever else you need.”

I don’t like this feeling of helplessness. “I… I don’t know.”

“Accept the kindness of strangers,” he says. “It won’t cost you anything, Avery. It’s literally the least I can do.”

“What about your brother?” I ask. “I don’t expect him to fix my car for free.”

“He owes me a favor.”

I scoff and nod toward the mansion. “And what about this other guy who lives here? Does he owe you a favor, too?”

“As a matter of fact, he does,” Kellan shoots back with a confident smirk that has me hot and slick between my legs.

“Oh, great. So, what, you’re just going to cash in on all your favors for me, a total stranger? That’s too much.”

“It’s my decision,” he says. “All you have to do is let others take care of you and your girls for once. What have you got to lose?”

Not much at this point. He’s right, I need help. I need to keep my babies safe and fed while I rebuild my life. And if Kellan is willing to help me, why the hell not? I will need to find out what the conditions are, the details. I’m hoping there isn’t a catch, but even if there is, it can’t possibly be worse than freezing to death on the side of the road or having to deal with Daniel ever again. I shudder at the mere thought. And to think I was ready to give that man my whole life. For better and for… gah. Lies. All lies. I married a monster, and this is the price I have to pay.

Kellan takes Annie while I handle Miley as we make our way across the driveway and up the stairs leading to the front door of the mansion. We’re greeted by a tall man with dazzling blue eyes and shoulder-length blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail.

“Avery, this is Luke,” Kellan says.

Luke gives me a polite nod, his gaze softening at the sight of my daughters sleeping soundly in our arms. “Welcome, Avery. Consider this your home for as long as you need it,” he says.

He’s in his mid-thirties, I’m guessing, much like Kellan and Fallon, and he is just as well-built. His jeans hug his muscular thighs, while his sweater is taut across his chest and shoulders. The term eye-candy comes to mind.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” I reply humbly. “We’ll be out of your hair in no time, I promise.”

“There’s absolutely no rush,” Luke says, a smile testing his lips. “Come on, let’s get the little ones to bed first, and then we can talk about what you need.”

Kellan gives me a quick wink. “I know where he keeps the good scotch.”

I smile as I follow the two men inside, although I struggle to breathe once I take in the enormity of this place. The foyer is huge, with an elegant marble floor and modern wood planks on the walls. There’s plenty ofnineteenth century art hanging everywhere, the gilded frames carrying subtle marks of the passage of time. Every side table features mother-of-pearl inlays, and there are Chinese-style vases everywhere, each loaded with an assortment of surprisingly beautiful and finely crafted faux flowers. As an interior decorator, I can’t help but register all these marvelous details.

We go up the stairs and down a dimly lit corridor in the west wing of the mansion. The girls’ room is decorated in a classic western style, with oak and walnut furniture, plaid patterns in shades of brown and green, and soft linen curtains hung over tall windows. There’s a bed big enough for both girls to comfortably sleep in, and as we settle them in together, I kiss each of my daughters on the forehead, breathing a sigh of relief.

“I have friends who come to visit occasionally,” Luke says as I carefully close the door behind me and join him and Kellan in the hallway. “Some of them have small children, so I’ve made sure I could provide them with all the comforts of home. As soon as Kellan called, I knew I’d be able to accommodate the three of you.”

“Again, I cannot thank you enough for this,” I reply.

“And again, please, don’t worry about it. We’ve got service staff coming in on a daily basis to clean and cook, so your girls will be well-looked after,” he says.

My heart is growing to the point where it feels as if it might explode. This really is too much, but I am too overwhelmed and exhausted to argue. Besides, I shouldn’t. I need to accept the kindness of strangers, just like Kellan said. So I offer a nod of appreciation and a soft smile. “They’ll be hungry when they wake up.” “We should call Helen,” Kellan tells Luke.

“Who’s Helen?” I ask as we make our way back down the stairs and into a lounge area on the ground floor.

“My aunt,” Kellan says. “She’d be happy to help and she’s an excellent babysitter.”

“Oh, I can’t afford a babysitter. I can look after my girls.”

The sheriff takes a seat in one of the massive leather armchairs by the window, pointing at the other one next to him. “Make yourself comfortable.”

“I’ll cover the babysitting expenses,” Luke says, walking over to a beautiful ebony cabinet with hand-painted doors. I notice a subtle limp as he moves, but he doesn’t seem to be in any kind of pain. It must be an old injury.

“Why on earth would you do that?” I ask, my breath faltering.

Luke gives me a sideways glance as he takes out three tumblers and a bottle of Laphroaig whiskey, bringing everything over to the coffee table in front of us. “Because you need some time for yourself,” he says. “Come on, Avery. I know enough about what you’ve been through to understand that you could use the respite. It doesn’t cost me much, and Kellan’s aunt could also use some paid work.”

“I’ll pay you back,” I insist.

“I’m not worried about that,” he says and pours a generous amount of whiskey in each glass. I’m immediately enthralled by the smokey fragrance that accompanies the dark amber liquid as it settles.

I shake my head. “I insist. I pay my own way,” I say stubbornly.

He nods and gives me a soft smile. “Alright, but until then, rest assured that all of your needs will be taken care of.”

I can’t help but question their generosity, though. I look over at Kellan. “Why are you all doing this?” I ask. “I mean, your brother is fixing my car. Your friend here is giving me a place to stay and food, not to mention a stiff and delicious glass of whiskey which, by the way, I’m probably gonna finish that bottle tonight. And you made all these calls on our behalf… why? I understand kindness and generosity, but it still feels like it’s over the top.”

“Avery, let me tell you a little story about us,” Kellan says, his gaze bouncing between Luke and me. His friend takes a seat on the couch, quietly sipping his whiskey as he watches us with curiosity. “Luke, Fallon, and I were Navy SEALs. Far from home, always in combat mode, always fighting and watching each other’s backs in the most hostile places on Earth. The three of us have been through unimaginable moments together and have come close to death more than once. Hell, we damn near lost Luke during our last mission.” He pauses and finishes his whiskey in one gulp, then pours himself another. “We’ve seen what violence does to innocent people. And we’ve seen what happens when those innocent people don’t get the help they need. So we made an oath upon returning to the states.”

“We swore to help those in need, no matter what,” Luke continues. “It costs us little to nothing to do it. It’s pennies, Avery, I promise. Barely a blip in the bank account.”

“Judging by the size of this manor, I believe you,” I mutter, then give Kellan a frown. “You don’t have to go out in this blizzard again, do you?”

“I live here,” Kellan says.

That has me stumbling for a reply. “What?”

“We all live here. Luke, me, Fallon. The west wing is ours. The rest of the place is dedicated to our security business.”

“Hold on, I thought you were the sheriff of Lincoln County.”

“I am. But I’m also a partner in Wolfhound Security, which is Luke’s company.”

“Our company,” Luke corrects him with a half-smile before he looks at me again. “When we came back from the service, I had enough money saved to invest in this property. It was being auctioned after the bank repossessed it from a defaulting former owner. Kellan and Fallon pitched in with money of their own, and we decided to invest in a private security business. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office pays for our services once in a while, but the bulk of our clients are corporate giants from both the states and overseas. I’ll give you a tour of the place tomorrow, though my point is you’re safe here, Avery. You’re safe and taken care of until you’re able to get back on your feet.”

“Our honor demands it,” Kellan says, never taking his eyes off me.

I feel tiny, sinking into this chair, unable to say anything. They’re being genuine, and I have to accept that there are still good people in this world. Decent people who are willing to help me without wanting anything in return. It just so happens that these guys are also hot as a midday in August, and my body is responding in ways I’d forgotten it could to the presence of a man.

A couple of hours go by as we talk about my situation and how I got to this point. I figured that if I’m to be protected, they need to know more about Daniel and our relationship. Both Luke and Kellan listen quietly as I tell them about my troubled adolescence, both making sure my glass is never empty. I’ll give the whiskey credit—it has loosened up plenty inside of me, and not just my tongue.

“After Dad died, my mom remarried soon after. I’m sure they already knew each other, ” I pause to take another sip. “Point is, after that, things went downhill quickly. My mother stopped listening to me, paying attention to me. It was all about Greg and his big plans, his feelings. That we should be thankful for Greg, that we’d be poor and miserable without him. It didn’t matter that he had a drinking habit or that he liked coming into my room without being invited.”

“Did Greg ever touch you?” Kellan asks, his voice low and his eyes as dark as the night outside.

It has stopped snowing, but there is no moon in sight. Only a black sky over a sea of sparkling white. It’s eerily beautiful and comforting to admire from the warmth of this armchair. “No. He never had a chance. I was about seventeen when he first tried anything,” I reply. “But whenever he came into my room, I made sure to ask him loudly what he wanted so my mom could hear. She was crazy jealous, even of her own daughter. Like I would actually try and steal her new husband away. I have no idea what made her change so drastically, but I reckon Dad’s death sort of broke her beyond repair.”

“And you said you moved out of the house as soon as you turned eighteen?” Luke confirms.

“Yes. I met Daniel through a friend. He was an instant charmer. He was quick to woo me, to make plans, to plant ideas of a future together.” I sigh deeply. “I was scared and desperate to get away from Greg. Mom wasn’t really there anymore, physically or mentally, and she’d started drinking as well. I had to get out of there, and Daniel made me believe that I would be safer with him.”

“What happened after you moved in with Daniel?” Kellan asks.

“Oh, it was good for a while. He love bombed me in all the right ways. Made sure I was hooked. He even helped pay for design school. Once I got my degree, I was eager to get my career going, to pay him back for what I’d thought was kindness, love, and much needed support. But then I got pregnant with Miley, and Daniel insisted that I become a stay-at-home mom, that I could do interior design once Miley got bigger.”

“I’m guessing you became pregnant the second time around just as you were preparing to focus on your design career again,” Kellan concludes, slowly shaking his head.

“Bingo.”

“Was he abusive the whole time?” Luke asks.

“No, not right away. Well, not physically anyway. I know now that abuse comes in many forms. Whenever I resisted him, whenever I went against his word, he’d find ways to punish or to sabotage me. I was raising Miley and Annie on my own. We couldn’t get a babysitter because Daniel wouldn’t pay for one. I didn’t have any friends because he wouldn’t let me.”

“Why would you need friends when you had Daniel?” Kellan exhales sharply.

“Precisely. But like you said earlier tonight, none of that matters anymore. I managed to get away from him. And I found myself in the company of good people tonight. So, here’s to you, Kellan. Here’s to you, Luke. And here’s to Fallon, too. I just hope he can do something about that old car of mine.” The three of us clink our glasses together before taking another sip of whiskey.

Luke checks his watch, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Well, I’m off to get some shuteye. Early start in the morning. Avery, please, we mean it when we say stay as long as you’d like. There’s no rush. You’ve got the time and space and resources here to do anything. Just make sure you allow yourself to rest.”

“Thank you, Luke.”

He gives Kellan one last nod, then slowly gets up and walks out. I listen to the sound of his receding footsteps, registering the slight difference in his rhythm. There’s definitely something off with his right leg, though I dare not ask what. Given that they were in the Navy together and based on the few details that Kellan let slip during our earlier conversation, I can only assume that Luke is living with a service-related injury that left him with that subtle limp.

Silence falls over the room for a short while as my gaze wanders around.

An entire wall is covered with bookshelves—all precious or first editions, judging solely by the intricate engravings on the spines and the high-quality leather binding. There are plenty of sculptural bookends sprinkled in between, likely collected from their overseas travels. I see East Asian motifs, African totems, and Polynesian patterns here and there, along with various vintage weapons mounted in glass cases.

“It’s been a long day,” Kellan says, pulling me out of my brief reverie. “You must be exhausted.”

“I am, but that catnap I had on the way here pulled the dial back a bit,” I giggle, noticing that my glass is empty. “You’re right, though. I should get some sleep. I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Oh, I wasn’t implying that at all,” Kellan replies. “I’m just surprised you’re still able to walk and talk after what you’ve been through tonight and being out in the freezing cold for so long. The Nebraskan winters aren’t known for being gentle on the human body.”

I get up and find myself wobbling. “I guess I’m not that good at the walking part anymore.”

In the blink of an eye, Kellan bolts from his seat and catches me before I fall. I remain soft and gooey in his arms as he holds me, my body burning hot against his. Our lips are dangerously close. Our eyes shadowed and hooded. The alcohol must be working some kind of voodoo on the both of us, because neither can pull away.

I can feel his heart thudding against mine.

“I think I’m still stiff from the cold earlier,” I whisper.

“I won’t let you fall,” he says softly. His rock-hard body has me anchored safely, each muscle twitching nervously beneath his sheriff’s uniform.

“Thank you,” I reply.

“You’re welcome,” he says, his gaze dropping to my lips.

I should go upstairs. My room is next to my girls’ room and I know I should sleep. But I cannot pull myself away from this sizzling man, and I don’t think he’s ready to let go of me yet, either. Time slows down as we look into each other’s eyes, flames burning within. The fire consumes me from the inside to the point where I can no longer take it. Whatever is about to happen, I’m going with it. I deserve to allow myself this moment, to feel good and forget, even if just for a moment.

“I might kiss you,” Kellan says.

“I’m hoping you will.” Where did that come from? Never mind. Can’t take it back.

He captures my mouth in a kiss. It’s sweet and tender at first, breathing one another in. Eyes close as our tongues slip through, tasting, discovering. But then a ravenous hunger strikes, and we’re devouring one another. My God, he is delicious. His tongue swirls and wrestles mine. My pulse starts racing as his hands move up and down my back, fingers digging into my hips. He pulls me closer, and I feel him hard against my core, ready to consume me.

“Oh, wow…” I manage as he trails wet kisses down the side of my neck.

I’m still wearing my velvety pink jammies from our Campbell place, which is actually a good thing, because all Kellan has to do is tug and… there goes his hand, right under my panties. He lets out a hiss of a sigh as he peers deep into my eyes while his fingers slide between my slick folds. “Fucking hell, Avery. You’re so wet.”

I gasp as his fingers explore me while his other arm wraps tightly around my waist, holding me firmly in place. “Oh… Oh, right there.”

It’s been so long since I’ve felt a man’s touch. The last man to touch me turned out to be a despicable monster. Every intimate moment I’ve ever had with Daniel has been soiled by the ugly truth of his nature, and so I am compelled to create a new and sweeter memory with this man standing in front of me. Kellan kisses me once more, deeper this time. It’s intoxicating.

My hands rest on his shoulders, my mind ablaze as I try to get them to move. I’d love to get under his shirt, to feel his skin against mine, but I’m grounded where I stand. He’s got me paralyzed, my legs parting gradually as his fingers continue working me closer to the edge. I’m panting, my breasts pressing against his rippling muscles as one finger slips inside.

“Ah,” I whimper against his lips, my eyes wide open as I look at him.

He’s loving every second of this. A devilish smile slits his handsome face as a second finger goes in. I’m gushing like a river as he licks his lips, his breath ragged as I feel his cock twitching against my belly.

“I think you need this,” Kellan says. “I want to see you come.”

“Oh, Kellan.”

He’s got the base of his palm pressing my clit while a third finger penetrates me. I hold on to him tight as the pressure builds up inside my core, every nerve ending alight while I try to remain standing. He is right about one thing—I desperately need this release, and he’s determined to make that happen. “Deeper,” I whisper. “Harder, please…”

“Gladly,” he grunts and starts finger-fucking me mercilessly.

I hear the wet sounds of my pussy as he works me into a blinding frenzy. The orgasm rocks me to the core and I cry out in agony and ecstasy, the waves rippling through me until my knees give out. And just like that, all the turmoil I’ve endured up to this point dissipates in a colorful cloud of blinding sparkles, my heart exploding as he teases my pussy and squeezes every last drop of pleasure out of me before pulling his hand back and licking his glistening fingers. He stares into my eyes as he does so and it’s so hot, I nearly come again.

He gives me a moment to recover but he never lets go. He simply holds me close, watching, analyzing every feature of my face as I try to take all of him in. I didn’t expect tonight to end this way, but I knew from the moment I met Kellan that I wanted him. Badly. All of him. To my shame, I’m craving his brother, too. And Luke is a morsel on his own. Good grief, Avery, the snowstorm must’ve burned your brain circuits.

“I think it’s time you get some sleep.,” he says gently.

I nod, suddenly exhausted beyond reason. I’m confident that I’ll be having sweet dreams.