Chapter 24
Opening Bell
Wyatt
I wake up to Sara snuggled against me. And no Finn.
Unlike Dante, I knew to lock the door if I wanted to keep Sara to myself. And I’m glad I did. Her cheek rests over my heart. Her hand holds my waist. She’s thrown a leg over mine and her nightgown has ridden up over her hips.
As tempted as I am to fuck her, I pulled her into my bedroom because I knew she needed a break. And she doesn’t seem inclined to make it happen herself.
I stretch beneath her and she curls up on me. Her lips part and she releases a breath across my skin. I brush her hair off her face but she’s still fast asleep.
Last night, I checked to make sure she didn’t have on panties and then told her to go to sleep. She fell asleep after a while but my mind couldn’t shut off. What the hell was Tom thinking?
All I can hope is that he didn’t know what he was getting into until he was too deep. But why run? Why not talk to us? And what were they looking for in his parents’ townhome? Was it just a ploy to show they could get to Sara? Or was there something Tom took that they wanted?
I grab my phone, unwilling to get out of bed and disrupt Sara quite yet. My text conversation with Tom has been one-sided lately. That doesn’t mean he isn’t reading it. If I told him about me and Sara, would he come back?
I could take a picture of her right now, asleep on my chest. Would he blow up? Probably. But would that also blow us up? Undoubtedly. Tom and me. Sara and me. Tom would make sure she never looked at me the same again.
This can’t end yet. Sara was never meant to be mine.
I came to terms with that long ago, but now that I have her.
.. I just want to hold her for a while longer.
Fuck her, tease her, make her beg for me.
Work her out of my system. Then I’ll admit defeat and let her fall into Drew Young’s arms. Because while he may not be perfect for Sara, he’s a much better candidate than I am.
“Wyatt.” Her voice is soft as her fingers drag against my side. She doesn’t lift her head or even open her eyes. “What time is it?”
“Early, trouble. Sleep. I’ll let you know when it’s time to wake up.” I just want to hold on to this moment with her for a little longer.
“Mmm.” She snuggles against me and my heartbeat quickens. No other woman has snuggled with me. Ever. I’ve never wanted this. Sex was just sex with those other women. Sara is more. I want this part of it. I want all the parts of it.
Blowing out a breath, I look at my phone. Finding out what’s happening with Tom is important. We need to know who’s after Sara and how to keep her safe. We can’t do that if we’re in the dark.
Me:
Sara’s at our apartment, but she might not be safe here
We need to know who’s after her
What the fuck did you get into this time?
Fuck. It’s one thing for him to drag us into trouble. It’s another to drag Sara into it.
I toss my phone onto the nightstand and breathe out.
“Were you trying to reach Tom?” Her breath warms my skin.
“Don’t know what good it will do,” I admit and run my hand down her back. I should have made her take off this nightgown and sleep with me naked. Next time.
She lifts her head and her pale green eyes meet mine. “He’s really in trouble this time, isn’t he?”
Her voice is tight. I wish I could say he’s not, but we all knew from the start that something more was happening than Tom deciding he needed a vacation. He never would have put Sara back in our orbit if he just needed a time-out.
The only way he would make her stay with us was if there wasn’t any other way to protect her.
“Probably.”
“If he’s in danger, shouldn’t we be doing more to help him? Like maybe contact those Feds?”
I search her eyes. “We don’t have anything to tell them. Maybe Tom worked for the guys Mac and X are after. Maybe he worked for someone that worked with them. I don’t know that I trust Mac gave us the whole story. He gave us what benefits his boss and that’s it.”
Sara sighs. “I think we should pay Beth a visit. Maybe she knows something.”
“Maybe.” I run my hand through her hair. “And by we, that means us, trouble, not you.”
Her eyebrow arches, and I can almost see the wheels spinning as she decides whether to get mouthy about it.
I shake my head. “Go get a shower and get ready for work. We’ll talk later.”
Her eyes stray down my body to my erection in my boxer briefs.
“Not this morning, trouble.” I lift her off me and swat her ass. “Go get ready for work.”
Sara
I shouldn’t have pouted at Wyatt when he kicked me out of his room, but one of the benefits to waking up with a guy under me is supposed to be getting off first thing in the morning.
Instead, I sulk in the shower. It’s been a while since I showered alone. Next time I sleep with Wyatt, I’m unlocking the door so Finn can slip in. Now that’s a good way to wake up.
After I’ve dressed and put on makeup and did my hair, I step out of my bedroom and head to the kitchen where there’s already a pot of coffee. As I pour a cup, arms curl around me from behind. That sinful cologne of Finn’s fills my senses.
“Wyatt’s room is going to be tricky,” Finn murmurs in my ear. “That bastard kept you all to himself last night.”
I lift my cup to my lips and lean back against Finn’s warmth. “He didn’t even take advantage of me.”
“What an ass.” Finn kisses my neck. “I would have fucked you so hard.”
“And woken me up,” I point out.
“You would have enjoyed it.” He kisses my earlobe, sending sparks trickling through me.
I make a noncommittal noise and he chuckles.
“Tonight you’re sleeping with me, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure you sleep well.” Finn draws away and I turn to face him. His dark hair is perfectly coiffed. His green eyes dance as he grabs a cup and fills it. “Before I fuck you.”
My insides melt. I could definitely get used to having these guys all the time.
“I’ll make you an omelet.” Wyatt comes into the kitchen and brushes a kiss over my lips.
“Is this your plan, Wyatt Hawkins? To fatten me up?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
He crowds me against the counter, looking down at me with those dark eyes and surrounding me with that tantalizing leather scent. “If I wanted to fatten you up, trouble, I’d remove your IUD and fill you with my baby and keep you that way.”
I swallow as I search his completely serious eyes. Wyatt wants me to have his baby? I think my ovaries just exploded. He dips his head and brushes his lips against mine. Fuck, I wouldn’t mind him putting a baby in me.
“Now, sit at the table like a good girl and let me feed you.” His mouth moves against mine and I swear my panties have never been wetter.
Since I’m going to work, I definitely want to be wearing panties and that’s not against the rules. Or it shouldn’t be.
When he backs away to grab the eggs, I fan myself with my hand and move to the table to sink into a chair before my knees finally give out.
Finn chuckles. “And here I thought I could just eat you for breakfast, flower.”
I arch an eyebrow at him, but he sits across from me.
The apartment door opens and Dante comes in, slick with sweat from his workout. His hair is pulled into a tight knot. His icy eyes find me and my awareness kicks up another notch.
“Someday I’m going to wait for you to get home before getting ready for work.” I give him a smile. “My shower was pretty lonely this morning. And I’m not allowed to make myself come without permission.”
Dante grins and wipes his face with a towel. “That’s a shame, pip. You’re beautiful when you’re getting yourself off.”
My pussy pulses. Fuck.
“She just needs permission beforehand.” Wyatt sets an omelet in front of me and my stomach growls at the delicious scent. “Go take your shower before she decides to lick you clean.”
Dante smirks. It is tempting. He pauses for a second before heading to his room.
“You, trouble, eat.” Wyatt sets his omelet at his place setting before waiting for me to take a bite.
“So bossy in the morning,” I murmur before making a show of cutting a piece off and putting it in my mouth.
“I still have two punishments to hand out.” His gaze takes me all in. “Want to add to that?”
“Not this morning.” I blow him a kiss before I focus on eating.
Finn and Wyatt talk about a new client they have coming in this morning. I listen with interest, knowing I’m likely to spend the day in my office crunching numbers again.
Dante comes out of his room, dressed and ready for work. He pauses behind me and kisses the top of my head. “Morning, pip.”
I take a sip of my coffee. “Morning, boss.”
He gives me a wink before he fills his travel mug.
“The car’s waiting.” Wyatt stands and offers me his hand.
Even without the sex, this morning has been perfect.
Yeah, I’m not ready for this to end. This could go on forever and I’d be happy.
Dante
The guys are in a meeting this afternoon when I check in on Sara. She’s got files open on her desk and her eyes glued to her screen. She’s a hard worker, which is good. It means I can sneak out without her following me.
I let the receptionist know I’m leaving, and when I reach the lobby, I run into Drew. I check my watch.
“It’s after lunchtime. She ate at her desk.” I eye him up and down.
Drew smiles. “Just thought I’d drop in and say hi. Boyfriends can do that, right?”
I shake my head. “Don’t know. I’ve never been a boyfriend before.”
“I wasn’t ever a good one.” Drew shrugs it off like it isn’t a big deal. “Where are you off to?”
“We have an employee that’s sick. It might be something more or she might have caught something on her cruise.” I glance back toward our offices. “It will help settle Sara’s mind if I find out for sure.”
“You’re going alone?” He glances around as if suddenly aware it’s just me.
I smirk. “I’m usually enough.”
Looking me up and down, he chuckles. “But if you go missing, my girl won’t rest until you’re found. I’ll tag along.”
Raising an eyebrow, I say, “I didn’t really ask you to.”
“Too late. I’m invested. Let’s go and then I can come back a hero to my girl.” Drew gives me an evil grin, knowing exactly what he’s doing.
“Our girl.” It’s useless to argue. In public, she’s his girl. He follows me down to the garage. Might as well make use of this time alone with him. “Are you going to the fundraiser on Saturday?”
None of us have talked about it. But our firm has a table. We’ve all had dates for months.
“Tom was supposed to go so we have an open seat. You could bring Sara.” And that way I don’t have to worry about her while we’re all occupied.
“Sounds good. Do you all have dates?” He meets my gaze over the top of the car.
“Yes.” That’s a problem for another day. Sara isn’t going to like it, but it also shows that she’s dating Drew and we’re all okay with it. Every now and then a rumor will pop up about me and Sara. I’ve taken her out of events before to prevent something happening with Wyatt.
That won’t be an issue this time though.
If she does something to upset Wyatt, he’ll just punish her when we get home.
“Does Sara know yet?” Drew takes his phone out of his pocket.
“We haven’t discussed it.” I navigate the roads using the GPS. “I wasn’t even sure if we were still going, but we might be able to ask around about Tom’s secret client.”
“She knows now.” Drew puts his phone down. “It’s only proper for me to ask.”
I shake my head with a reluctant grin. “You’re enjoying this being-her-boyfriend thing a little too much.”
He shrugs. “That’s what I wanted from the start. To date Sara. Even though she was just looking for an easy fuck.”
“Hmm.” Not real happy to hear that. Not surprised, but not happy.
“Didn’t know I’d need to stand in line for her though.”
I glance his way but he doesn’t seem upset by that fact.
Just saying what’s on his mind. Besides the strip club, there really aren’t any red flags with Drew.
He’s a player but that’s not unusual in our world.
The cheating is not great, but he didn’t do it to someone he really wanted to be with, according to him. Sara is different.
“So, who are we going to see?” Drew asks.
“An employee, Beth Brown. She’s an associate who works closely with Tom. She went on vacation when he disappeared.” I turn down a street and look for a spot to park. Should have used a driver. “Tuesday she was supposed to work, but emailed in she was sick.”
“Not great timing.” Drew points out a spot.
I park the car and we both get out. Her apartment building is down the block.
“What are we expecting here?” Drew rolls up his sleeves. He left his jacket in the car.
“Hopefully a sick woman, who wonders why her boss showed up on her doorstep.” I blow out a breath and gesture to the building. “This one.”
We climb the steps and I find the button for Brown. I press it and we wait.
The door buzzes to let us in.
“Maybe she’s expecting someone?” Drew opens the door.
“I don’t have a good feeling about this.” But I’m still going in.
Drew chuckles. “Famous last words.”