Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Emilia

E milia was overwhelmed by sensation at a level she had never experienced before. Aiden's hard cock in her, stimulating her already aching clitoris with every swirling thrust of their bodies, and now Wren, his firm, thick fingers working against her arse, opening her for what was yet to come. She was pleased there were no servants in the house, for she couldn't hold back her moans and cries of pleasure as she surrendered her body fully to these men. Her men.

"Ready, angel?" Wren whispered behind her as she felt the thick head of his cock at her backside.

"Yes," she moaned. "Oh, please, yes."

He gripped her hips as Aiden stopped moving momentarily. There was not a breath taken between them as Wren pressed against her, slowly taking her. Pain met with pleasure as he opened her unused channel. Then pleasure won the battle as he slowly seated himself within her. She felt so full with them, so achingly, perfectly full, as if it had always been meant to be this way.

"Can you feel each other?" she moaned.

Aiden jerked out a nod. "Yes," he gasped. "I can feel him. It's so good, Wren. You feel so good."

"You too," Wren murmured as he slid back and then forward again, causing both Emilia and Aiden to cry out.

She couldn't hold back anymore. She returned to rocking over Aiden as she held tight to his shoulders. Wren matched his strokes to her rhythm, his hands gripping her hips. She would have marks there later. She wanted them, his fingers tattooed on her skin forever.

Wren's mouth found her shoulder—he licked and nipped her flesh as she began to ride harder and faster. Pleasure so powerful she almost feared it was rising in her, coming from every part of her body. It flowed through her, making her limbs light and her body clench against it. The men were relentless, not giving her respite from the wild sensations until she bucked, nearly unseating both of them as she screamed through the powerful orgasm that roared through her.

Her gripping body had clearly driven them to the edge, too. Both of them increased their tempos, clenching tighter against her flesh. Wren released her with one hand and reached out, his fingers tangling with Aiden's. He moaned, the sound echoed by Wren, and then they were both coming, filling her until she went weak with it and collapsed on Aiden's chest.

She had no idea how long they lay together after, her sprawled over Aiden, their bodies still joined. Wren with his head against her hip, his fingers playing along Aiden's thick thigh. All she knew was that she never wanted to move from this place, she never wanted this to end.

But it had to.

She shifted at last and groaned as Aiden's cock slipped from her body. Wren moved so she could roll onto her back and stare up at the ceiling above in silence.

"That was everything I ever wanted," Wren said softly.

She glanced down at him. He was watching her, concern on his face. Aiden was too. Her two protectors. Except what could they do to keep her safe except wreck themselves? In some ways it was no different than it had been when they were younger. Oh, they both had more resources now, more power. But it wouldn't be enough when faced with her husband.

"Please don't look so forlorn," Aiden said, leaning up to kiss her. "Let us have the pleasure of what we just did for a while longer, at least. Now, Wren, why don't you and I go prepare a bath for our fair lady? Rest, Emilia. Rest at last and don't fret over the future."

She nodded and watched as they got up, dressed themselves, helping each other here and there, sharing smiles, their connection plain. She ached as she watched it, a lovely, happy ache that she hadn't felt in so long. And as they left her, she sighed and closed her eyes. Perhaps the future wasn't certain, but for now she was safe.

So she slept for the first time in weeks and knew that the two men who had just loved her so well would keep her from harm. She just hoped she could do the same for them.

* * *

Aiden

E ven though Aiden and Wren had both spent their passions less than half an hour before, the tension between them was still thick as they walked together to the kitchen in the cottage. There was already a big pot there, bubbling with hot water.

"You were preparing," Wren said softly.

Aiden nodded. "I put it on when I made the tea we abandoned in the other room. I thought she'd need something to relax. She's been ragged from fear for weeks."

Wren shut his eyes and his expression tightened. Aiden caught his breath, for he knew that look well. Wren working to fix a problem. For the first time since he'd received Emilia's plea for help, he believed they might be able to save the day. Together.

"Come, there's a pump behind the cottage," Aiden said. "We'll get more water first and then take that pot up to the tub."

Wren followed him and they exited through the servants' entrance at the back of the kitchen. There were two buckets already at the pump and Aiden began working at it first to fill one. Wren watched a slight smile on his face.

"You look absolutely gorgeous doing that, you know," he said.

Aiden laughed, though the compliment made him very aware that his body was still throbbing with need despite the powerful experience earlier.

"I'm sure you will, as well." He wiped his brow and then continued at the pump. "So why did Emilia's husband call on you to find us?"

Wren stiffened. "Still worried about my motives?"

Aiden stopped pumping and stepped around to him. He caught Wren's arms and pulled him in for a kiss. He'd meant it as a quick moment of comfort, but Wren had other ideas. He dragged Aiden closer, their bodies molding together as the kiss deepened, their tongues warring and then slowing until it was a gentle, erotic exploration of each other.

When they parted, they were both panting with the power of it. Aiden managed to gather himself and step back. "I'm sorry about what I asked earlier," he said. "We were running for two days. Your arrival was so unexpected, but I know you, Wren. No matter how long we've been apart, I know you would never be party to harming either Emilia or me."

Wren's expression softened slightly and he nodded. "Good. I can't imagine how difficult this has been for you. For her."

"For her it's been so much worse," Aiden whispered. "Her nightmares…"

He trailed off and bent his head. Wren reached out and touched his hand. "You saved her. As for me…" He sighed. "Well, I believe the viscount believes he can manipulate me. He knows we have a past, the three of us. But he thinks you and I were rivals for her."

Aiden had bent his head to return to the water but now he wrenched his gaze up to Wren. For a moment they stared at each other and then Wren started to laugh. Aiden couldn't help but join in at the ridiculousness of that belief.

"Oh yes, rivals," Aiden said when he could finally breathe past his humor. "That's exactly what it felt like less than an hour ago."

"An intense rivalry to be certain," Wren said, though his tone was becoming more seductive. "Who will break first and lose control?"

"We should wager on it next time."

Wren's expression went darker with desire. "As long as Emilia wins the race, I'm happy to try to break you after."

"A bargain," Aiden said, and extended his hand. Wren's fingers stroked over his and then he released him.

"Since I don't think it would be appropriate to do all the things I'd like to do to you out here, why don't you let me fill the second bucket with water so we can go inside and get back to the very fair lady in our bed?"

Aiden moved the full bucket of water and stepped aside so Wren could work on the second one. He watched him move for a while, appreciating his form as much as his own had been appreciated a few moments before.

"I have my own questions, you know," Wren said and glanced up at him.

"And what are those?"

There was a hesitation and Aiden tensed slightly, this time not with pleasure. It seemed they were very serious questions, indeed.

Wren cleared his throat. "Why did she come to you?"

And there it was, the remnants of a pain that had existed for a long time. He and Emilia had always tried to protect Wren. He had more to lose, after all. Further to fall. And Wren had always hated it, being pushed outside of the pain so he wouldn't be ruined.

"You know I became a solicitor after we lost each other."

"Yes," Wren said softly, but Aiden heard the intense pride in his voice. The same he felt when he saw how Wren had raised himself up.

He smiled. "Emilia had insisted her father pay for the apprenticeship, just a he paid for yours, as a reward for my father's years of service as his butler. I went to the side of the old man's own solicitor and took over his practice when he died a few years ago."

"You took over her father's estate work," Wren breathed.

Aiden nodded. "Yes. When her father died, I was responsible for the distribution and settling of his small estate," Aiden explained. "I saw her once last year after the death. It was only in passing, but she was… God, she looked so small with the pain she was trying to hide. I wanted to touch her so badly, to hold her, but Wilburn was always lurking. Now I realize that must have been part of her abuse, not to let her see a friend, someone he believed once had feelings for her."

"Once," Wren whispered.

"I doubt he believed that those kinds of emotions could last after so many years parted. He was too small minded and cruel to be able to picture that one could love without hope for decades, a lifetime, as we had all planned to do when we were so ruthlessly parted."

Wren trembled and his hand faltered on the pump handle. "So because she saw you…"

"She knew my address from the estate paperwork that required her signature. Her father had left her a little pin money separate from Wilburn. Perhaps at the end he knew the mistake he'd made in matching her. I don't know. But in her desperation she reached out to me."

Wren's bucket was full and he straightened from the pump. His blue eyes were midnight with emotion and glimmered with unshed tears. "What did she say?"

"Just two lines," Aiden choked out. "I will see them dance before my eyes until the day I die. I need you, Aiden. Please help me. " He drew in a few breaths to calm himself at the memory. "She didn't even sign it. I suppose she feared it might be intercepted and then she could claim ignorance. But I knew it was her. I knew her handwriting."

"So you swept in and kidnapped her," Wren said.

"Is it kidnapping if the abductee wishes to run with you, to never look back?" Aiden asked.

"No. You saved her," Wren corrected. "Thank God you saved her."

"It was only when we were out of London that she stopped shaking. That she felt safe enough to tell me the same story she told you. And she wept. And screamed. And clung to me. Clung to me all night as we slept in a barn because she feared being found out if we took a room at an inn on the route."

"And had nightmares," Wren said.

Aiden nodded. "Yes." He watched Wren carefully now. He was unreadable. Aiden supposed he sometimes had to be that in his profession. "I promise you, love, we weren't trying to lock you out."

"And yet you did. You could have called for me the moment you received her note. You could have included me." There was an edge to his voice as he said those words.

Aiden took his hand. "We were trying to protect you."

"I don't need protection, Aiden." Wren tugged his hand away and ran it through his hair with a ragged breath of frustration. " She does. And without both of us involved, we won't be able to provide it."

"We're both involved now," Aiden whispered. "And we'll make certain she is safe."

Wren nodded and then glanced up at the house. "And what about all the other things we could make certain she was?"

Aiden shifted. "You're talking about what we just did. You're talking about our bond with each other."

"Yes."

For a long moment, Aiden didn't answer as he relived all those powerful moments in that bed in the cottage. "If she wants to continue, I see no reason why we should deny ourselves. She deserves all the pleasure in the world after what she's endured."

"Good." Wren picked up his full bucket of water and then leaned in to gently kiss Aiden. "Then we're agreed. Now why don't we go up and continue?"

Aiden watched Wren go into the house, enjoying the view of his toned shoulders as they strained against the weight of the full bucket. But his pleasure was tinged with worry. Here they were in a fantasy land, and he would revel in it as long as it lasted. But the real world still existed and its real threats. None of them could forget that if they wanted to get out of this alive.