13. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Ryker

It was Thursday, and I had my head on right. I'd slept off and on all day Wednesday and Wednesday night. I'd been roofied or drugged, I was sure, and it took a while to get the drugs out of my system. I was finally thinking straight.

After I was dressed, I went downstairs to grab my keys and get on my way. I hoped to hell Mr. Danvert didn't ask me where we were regarding the Tremblay project. I had no idea what to tell him.

It would probably be best for me to walk to work, but I didn't have time to fuck around, so driving it was. I needed to get to the office and lose myself in something so I could forget that stupid, fucked-up nightmare.

Twenty-minutes later, I pulled into the parking garage under the building and found a spot on the second level. I grabbed my messenger and duffel bags from the back of the car, ran up the stairs of the garage to the lobby, and crossed over to the stairs that led to the law firm's floor.

I opened the door to find the stairwell was dark, but who needed light to climb fucking steps? I counted them like I always did, and as I was about to take the second flight, I was grabbed from behind.

My body froze, and I dropped my duffel and held up my hands. I'd just fucking been through this routine a few nights earlier, but this time, I didn't give a flying fuck if I lived or died.

"What do you want? My wallet's in my back pocket. My keys are in my messenger bag. Take it all."

A nose slid along my neck, and then there was a soft kiss. I'd never heard of a mugger kissing their victim.

I inhaled, and aside from the musty smell of the stairwell, I recognized a sandalwood and citrus scent easily. "What are you doing here?" I didn't even know whose name to say.

"I'm here to prove we're worth your trust. We're worthy of your love and friendship and anything else you have to offer. We have a lot of things to tell you when you're ready to listen, Ryker. Please, please, give us another chance."

"Who are you?" The hands on my chest were familiar. Stephen. God, I was drawn to him, but that shitshow I'd seen Tuesday night continued to play through my head like a horror movie.

"It's me, Etienne."

"No. Etienne doesn't want to touch me like this." The voice whispering in my ear was deep and sexy, while Etienne's was high pitched and proper. It made me smile.

"Etienne and I have come to an agreement we've vowed to keep if you'll have us. You seem drawn to us for different reasons, so we've agreed to allow the other to come forward when you need them. We're both still in here, baby, but you'll get the best of both worlds. Etienne will take you to art galleries and tea parties. He'll introduce you to the right people and ensure you know all the details of our family accounts so you can prepare the paperwork for the nonprofit. We want you to run it, Ryker."

I stiffened, but I didn't try to pull away. "I don't understand, Stephen."

"I will fill your nights with love and passion. I'll take you out on the town for dancing and dinners, and I'll ensure you know how much we both love you. How much we both crave your attention and desire to protect you should the need arise, but we've promised not to monopolize your time or make each other jealous."

I pulled away and turned toward the beautiful man, barely able to see him, which reminded me of the first night with the trash on Royal Street. "Was it you or Etienne who was taking out the trash that night?"

What the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind? This is another nightmare! My mind was spinning with questions I couldn't answer.

"It was me, Ryker. I saw your beautiful face in the moonlight, and I couldn't speak. Etienne wouldn't let me follow you to make sure you got home safely. We've worked out our differences, and we're ready to be the man you need us to be. We want to get to know you. Will you give us a chance?"

An overwhelming urge came over me. "Are you doing that?" I felt Stephen's hands holding mine, and as much as I wanted to jerk away, I couldn't. I wanted his touch. It calmed me, even though I didn't want it to. I didn't want to take comfort from him, but I couldn't help myself.

"I'm not doing anything to you, but I want to, Ryker. Can we take you out tonight? Please?"

"Can you take me somewhere now? I'll call my boss and tell him we're still working on the nonprofit paperwork, but I want to know if what Cubby said is true. Are you a vampire?" As the words tumbled out of my mouth, I knew I'd lost my grasp on reality.

The beautiful man sealed his lips over mine, and the kiss took my breath. His tongue was soft and tasted of mint. When his arms wrapped around my body, he could have done anything he wanted to me, and I wouldn't have cared. I wanted to feel his lips on every inch of my flesh.

Stephen pulled back and licked up the side of my neck. "If I am, is that a deal breaker?"

I chuckled. "Yesterday, I'd have said yes. Today? No."

"Let's go."

He took my hand and led me out of the stairwell and back to my car. I opened the door for him and then slid behind the wheel. I pulled out of the garage and stopped at the light, turning to my passenger. "May I speak to Etienne?"

The beautiful blond man smirked. Etienne's eyes softened and his playful smile covered his face. "At your service, mon amour. Can I ride home with you so we can talk?"

Traffic was heavy for early summer, but some tourists liked to start the day early. "What do you want to know?" I asked Etienne.

"Do you play chess? Do you like music? How about gardening? I'd love to have an herb garden in the back of the house for Gerard to harvest for use in the restaurant. Would you consider planning it with me?"

"Uh, let's see. I do play chess, though probably not up to your caliber, but if you train me, I swear I'll get better. I love music of all kinds. One of my foster mothers used to plant a garden I had to weed, but it was nice because I got to spend time alone. I can help you plan a garden, and we can tend it together."

That brought a happy little clap from him. We chatted about places around New Orleans we'd like to see. "How about touring the cemeteries? Is that something you'd ever want to do?" My first year of law school, I was a poor student, so for entertainment, I'd walk the cemeteries and read the epitaphs, trying to imagine their lives.

"That, I'm afraid, is something Stephen will enjoy doing with you. For me, it hits a little too close to home, being dead and all." We both had a hearty laugh at his joke.

After turning left onto Canal, I drove down Dauphine and parked in front of the house. I stepped out and walked around, opening the door for Etienne before offering my hand to him. When he got out, I led him inside, and after I closed the door, I shoved him against it.

"I'd like to talk to Stephen if you don't mind." I watched as the alluring silver eyes met my gaze and the sexy smirk replaced the sweet smile.

"That's going to take some getting used to. Before we go any further, there's something I want. Cubby showed me the marks on his thighs from Rory. He said it was the most incredible feeling he'd ever experienced. I want to know how it feels to have you sink your teeth into me."

Stephen kissed me passionately, and as my tongue swirled in his mouth, I felt the same sharpness from one of his teeth as I'd felt the last time we kissed. My tongue began to bleed, and Stephen sucked on it harder.

I jerked away. "No. I want you to bite me in the same place Rory bites Cubby." If I was going in, I would jump in headfirst.

Stephen sliced open my polo shirt with a fingernail before kissing down my chest until he got to my pants. My shirt dropped from my shoulders, and then my pants were open and fell from my legs.

"How the hell did you do that?"

His laugh made me smile. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

I looked down to see those gorgeous silver eyes staring up at me, taking my breath and my voice. He was beautiful. He was exactly what I wanted, and when he sunk his teeth into my groin, the pain sliced through me before euphoria set in. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

After a moment, Stephen sunk my cock into his throat, and took me away from all my worries. His tongue swirled around the head, setting the nerves there on fire and drawing me closer to the edge. Far too soon, I shot down his throat.

I gasped, trying to catch my breath and stay on my feet, but Stephen picked me up. "Which room is yours, Ryker?"

My body was too weak to do anything but point. Stephen carried me upstairs and into my room, placing me on my messy bed. "I'm sorry I didn't make my bed." It felt important to say.

Stephen turned on the bedside light and covered my nakedness with the sheet before Etienne's smile appeared. "Are you okay?"

Seeing his gorgeous face, I knew I was meant to be with them. However, it worked. They were mine.