Chapter 51

Maura knew they were coming up behind her before they said anything. They both moved like cats like usually, but she sensed them. And that made her mad. She didn't fucking want to be in tune with them. She wanted to be left alone. Why did no one seem to understand that but Jillian? Probably because she was surrounded by idiot men.

"What are you two doing here?" she asked without turning around. She sensed they paused as if surprised.

The silence lengthened. The only sound she heard was the crashing of the waves and the few people scattered on the beach. She braced herself and turned to face them.

Her heart hitched and tears burned the back of her eyes. Dammit, how did they do this to her? She should be mad, but something in her wanted to comfort both of them. Sure, they looked tired, as if they hadn't slept at all, and lord knew if they were there in the morning, they had a long flight from Miami. Still, she was mad. Or was.

She shook those thoughts away and asked, "Are you going to answer me?"

They looked at each other, then back at her. She rolled her eyes. Without another word, she turned and started walking down the beach. The sun was just getting warm and the trades were pretty strong. She walked into the wind welcoming it. It was still another sign she was alive.

"Maura," Zeke said jogging up to her. She knew without a doubt Rory was with him.

"If you can't say anything then go back to Miami."

"Be reasonable for a second, baby, we need to talk."

"Don't baby me, you idiot. Both of you had a chance to tell me to stay there. You had a chance to tell me you wanted more and you didn't. Go away."

"Maura, you need to stop right where you are," Rory ordered. It was the same voice he used when they were playing and it pissed her off that he used it now. It pissed her off even more that it turned her on.

She did stop, but she did it to turn and face him. "You ass, do not even think that I am going to allow you to order me around outside of the bedroom. I've told you before that I don't go for that."

He was frowning at her, but she couldn't see his eyes, as they were shaded by his mirrored sunglasses. Zeke looked between the two of them.

"Maybe we should take this conversation inside."

She shot him an angry glance. "I don"t care who hears. Besides, it doesn't really matter. There aren't that many people out here and I am not taking either of you back. Together or separately. Go away."

"You told us that you loved us. Was that a lie?" Rory asked.

"No, but it doesn't matter. I gave you a chance, you blew it."

She turned and started walking again.

"If you do not stop walking away I will smack that ass until it burns."

"Go suck an egg, Rory. I'm not interested in a Dom who doesn't have the balls to admit when he's in love."

She didn't hear them approaching this time until it was too late. He grabbed her by the arm and turned her around.

"Goddammit, we flew over half a day to be here. You could at least give us some consideration," Rory said.

"Consideration?" Everything she had been feeling for days, for weeks even, welled up. The pain, the loneliness and the fear exploded and she couldn't hold it in. "You have some fucking nerve. Damn you. I don't owe you anything. Anything. I gave you both everything you could have ever wanted, but apparently it wasn't enough."

The last was said on a sob. She tried to hold it back, but she couldn't seem to do it. The tears started to fall.

"Oh, baby," Zeke said as he reached for her. She backed up and almost stumbled down.

"No. Don't touch me."

"You will stop that right now," Rory ordered.

She stopped and so did Zeke. "What?"

"Crying. I can't stand a woman who cries."

She was so surprised by the comment she opened her mouth but nothing came out. Zeke was smiling.

"I will cry if I feel like it."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, I don't like it and Zeke doesn't either."

"You're on your own there, Rory."

She shot Zeke a nasty look. "And just what the hell do you mean by that?"

His smile widened further. "I have no problem admitting that I love you. Rory, there, he does. Big bad Dom doesn't like saying the words."

"Shut the fuck up," Rory said.

"See."

Hope sprung but then the last week came back to her. His distance, and the way he pretended that she didn't matter. And tears welled up again.

"Shit, okay. Stop that," Rory ordered, yelling this time. She had never been the kind of girl who cried, but this time, she could not stop herself. They spilled over, streaming over her cheeks.

Rory grabbed her by the arms and opened his mouth to yell at her, but in the next instant, he fell onto the sand in front of her. He pulled her against him, laying his head on her stomach. She looked at Zeke who was grinning at her.

"I love you, Maura," Zeke said. "Please, love, I'm so sorry we doubted you."

Her heart melted but she tried to ignore it. They were only doing this to get her back. She didn't want them to say things to get her back. She wanted them to actually believe in her. Words meant nothing if they truly didn't believe in what they were saying.

Zeke shook his head. "I can see those wheels turning in your head, love. We made some mistakes but you have to know that we both really love you."

She looked down at Rory who then looked up at her. "I love you. Please, take us back. We aren't anything if you aren't with us, love."

A fresh set of tears welled up.

"Oh, Rory," was all she could say.

"We should have believed you. We should have stood behind you," Zeke said, his smile fading. "We love you and we should have been there for you. We failed."

He grabbed a bag from Zeke and pulled out a leather collar.

"I'm not saying this just to get you back. I bought this when we went to Rough ‘n Ready."

She looked at it and at the word. Ours. It was before she told Rory she loved him…before everything went bad.

Maura looked at him, then at Zeke.

"We were complete and utter asses," Rory said.

"Speak for yourself," Zeke muttered.

"No, we were. Both of us wanted forever with you but we didn't have the nerve to deal with it. And I know Zeke waited for me to agree, but then he never asked."

"Oh, I see, this is my fault." Rory stood up but he kept his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. "You always blame shit on me. I think maybe you should have said something about all of us moving in together, but you didn't.

Zeke threw his hands up in the air. "You would have freaked."

It was so normal listening to them bicker.

"There you go again making grand plans and expecting us to skip along behind you."

She giggled. They both stopped and looked at her.

"I'm sorry, but I can't believe you flew all this way to convince me to take you back just to stand on the beach and bicker."

Zeke's mouth curved. "Sorry, love, but Rory and I like to bicker."

"Way to sell the whole living together. Are you saying I'll have to play referee?"

They glanced at each other.

"Oh, God, I will." She sighed dramatically.

"Love, if you take us back we will never bicker," Rory said.

She laughed. "Really? Starting off forever with a lie, Rory?"

He stepped back and took her by the shoulders. "Are you saying you're taking us on?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I think you need to be saved from each other. With your knowledge of weapons, one of you will end up dead at some point."

He smiled as he pulled her closer. A soft brush of Rory's mouth had her heart tumbling. She sensed Zeke walking up behind her. She turned and accepted a kiss from him.

"People will think we're freaks," Zeke said.

"I told you before, Zeke, fuck them. All that matters is us."

Zeke looked up at Jillian and Conner's house.

"Don't worry about him. He'll come around. And if he doesn't, don't worry about it.

"He's your brother," Zeke said.

"And you two are the loves of my life. He has to accept it."

Rory kissed her again, pulling her close as Zeke stepped up behind her.

"So," she said with a smile, "tell me you came with a plan of where we're staying, ‘cause there's no way I'm going to deal with my brother in that little house."

"Not really, but I'm sure we can find a room for the night, Maura," Rory said.

"All we cared about was getting here and getting you back," Zeke said.

"Well, I suggest you figure it out soon." She slipped out of Rory's arms. "Because one of you is going to have to get me to wear this." She shook the collar at them.

Rory grabbed her and pulled her back into his arms. "So, is that a challenge, Dillon?"

She smiled. "You betcha."

She heard Zeke talking and she realized he was calling one of the hotels to reserve a room.

"I guess we can't complain too much about his planning at this point," Maura said.

"No, love, we'll let him plan all he wants, as long as he let's us sleep in."

Joy filled her heart, her body already warming under the sensual assault of Rory's sweet kisses.

"Sounds like an excellent plan to me," she said deepening the kiss as the warmth of their love filled her.

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