Chapter 27
Naomi
Two Weeks Later
I was discharged from the hospital a week and a half ago.
Eli isn’t getting out for a couple more days.
It turned out his injuries were more severe than they initially seemed, but he’s going to make a full recovery.
I’m lucky, in a way, that Chopper opted for more psychological torture on me.
At least I’m physically healed now. Though I know the mental wounds are going to take far longer to heal.
I’ve been going to a therapist who specializes in PTSD and treating trauma survivors.
Even though I felt mostly okay about what happened, the doctors told me that rather than try and carry on life like normal, it’s best to talk through everything while it’s still fresh.
In this latest session, I confessed to the therapist that I’m scared of taking showers. After the waterboarding, just the thought of standing under a stream of water, of having it on my face, sends shivers down my spine and floods me with panic.
Ace watches me in the rearview mirror of the truck as we drive, his brow knotted with worry.
Every so often, Cash turns to check on me.
Gage sits beside me, holding my hand. They all know that I’m extra fragile after my therapy sessions.
It’s fantastic to have their support, but I also feel like I want to shout at them to quit worrying.
I just want things to go back to the way they were between us before.
I’m terrified that they’re going to see me as damaged goods somehow.
I don’t want Chopper to have any more control over my life or to impact our future.
It feels odd to be in a car and not on our bikes, but the guys insisted it’s too soon for me to ride yet—another symptom of their overprotectiveness. For now, I’m happy to accept it. I lean back in the seat, feeling safe with my men surrounding me as the motion of the vehicle lulls me to sleep.
“We’re home,” Ace says, waking me from my slumber. Home. I guess this is how I’m starting to think of the guys’ house. No longer hiding, if I wanted to, I could leave. Go anywhere.
But there’s nowhere I’d rather be.
That evening, I’m curled up on the sofa, lost in my thoughts.
Since getting out of the hospital my men have been so caring, so kind.
But there’s been no sex. At first it didn’t bother me—I was too exhausted after everything that happened.
But then the doubts started. It’s clear that they’re fond of me.
But now I’m worried that they see me as a fragile doll and not their lover.
“So what’s the plan for tonight?” Cash asks.
I’ve been reluctant to tell the guys too much about what happened, partly because I don’t want them to see me as a victim.
I did mention the water torture, though.
I had to. When I was discharged from the hospital, Ace started to run me a shower, and I had a panic attack.
Since then it’s been sponge baths. “Maybe have a long, hot bath?” I suggest. The therapist talked about how a bath might be an easy introduction for me, since I’ll be in control and no water will touch my face.
“On it,” Gage says from behind us, going into the only bathroom with a bathtub out in the hall.
The sound of groaning pipes followed by the flow of running water into the tub comes moments later.
Ace scoops me up in his arms and carries me to the bedroom, then gently sets me down.
When he starts unbuttoning my shirt I brush his hand away, fed up with being treated like a helpless thing. “I can do it myself, you know.”
Ace chuckles softly. “I know, but where would the fun be in that?” He pulls my top over my head and kisses me gently on my shoulder before walking around behind me and undoing my bra.
Goosebumps mottle my skin, and I yearn for more.
I turn to face him, standing on tiptoes to kiss him.
He kisses me back, but when my kiss grows more urgent, more needy, he pulls away. Disappointment stabs in my gut.
“Your bath’s probably ready, you don’t want to let it get cold,” he says gently, kissing me on the forehead. He moves to grab a robe for me, helping me into it and securely tying the waist.
Am I some sort of unattractive, sexless thing to them now?
“Almost ready,” Gage calls cheerily from the bathroom. I get up and join him. He’s hunched over the tub, trailing his hands in it to check the temperature.
The room smells of lavender from the bubble bath. Steam clouds the mirror from the heat. Gage has thoughtfully lit a couple of candles and put on some relaxing music, the ambient sounds of chanting and nature, designed to take me away from this place.
Cash appears in the doorway, leaning against the frame. “Do you want any company?” he asks with a small smile. “Wouldn’t want you getting lonely in that big bath.”
Is this them suggesting that they still see me as their woman?
“If you want to be alone, we understand,” Ace starts.
“No, no, I don’t want that,” I say, shaking my head—anything but that.
“I’ve got an idea,” Ace suggests. “Cash, come with me. Gage, you help Naomi up here.”
Gage salutes. “Aye aye, Captain.”
Just like that, Cash and Ace disappear, shutting the door behind them, leaving me bewildered.
“Ready?” Gage asks me softly, stepping forward to take my hand, his brow furrowed with concern.
I nod. “It’s just a bath,” I reply. However, we both know the truth. I’m shaking with nerves, afraid of a goddamned bath. No wonder the guys are acting strangely. I must seem like a crazy person.
Gage doesn’t point out all the reasons why we know this isn’t just a bath; he doesn’t ask me if I want him to leave either, which I’m grateful for.
I can’t do this alone. I shrug off my robe, the silk slipping over my skin as it drops to the floor.
Gage holds my hand, helping me to get in.
I dip a tentative toe into the water, then flinch and pull it back out.
“Is it too hot?” Gage asks.
I shake my head, biting my lip to stop myself from crying at my pathetic weakness. It’s just a bath, I remind myself.
“I could get in with you, if you think that would help?” Gage softly suggests.
I’m grateful that it’s him here. Perhaps the others knew that it was his kind gentleness that I needed most right now and made their excuses. “If that’s okay?” I say, voice barely above a whisper.
Gage doesn’t hesitate, he immediately strips down naked and climbs into the tub, holding out his hand ready to help me in.
With him here, suddenly I don’t feel so afraid.
I climb inside, and we sit down together, Gage sitting behind me and me between his legs.
Just like the first time we took a bath together.
The warm water envelops me, and with Gage there, it doesn’t feel scary at all. It feels good. It eases my aching muscles, and I finally start to relax as Gage gently washes my skin.
“My brave, beautiful woman,” Gage murmurs, kissing my neck as he washes my back. “I was so scared I had lost you.”
“Me too.”
I guide his hand to wash my front, feeling my nipples harden as the sponge goes over them.
I let out a breath of arousal, and I can feel his erection growing.
There’s a shiver of satisfaction that he still wants me.
I guide his hand lower, underneath the surface of the water, yearning to be touched by him, to forget everything.
“Naomi,” he says, hesitating, wondering if this is too soon. But it’s not. I want him. Need him.
“Please,” I beg.
This undoes him, and he allows me to pull his hand under.
We moan in sync as his hand strokes my clit, and I push his finger inside my slit.
He gently massages my breast with his other hand as I grind on his fingers, desperately needing to find release.
To forget everything, if only for a short while.
It’s been so long that his expert fingers send me crashing over the edge, far too soon.
I cry out Gage’s name as I shatter on his hand, cumming hard and urgently, feeling his cock throbbing hard against my back.
I fall back against his chest, a giant grin on my face, and he leans over to kiss me.
“Maybe I can get over my water aversion quicker than expected this way?” I suggest with a grin.
Gage grins back, happy to see me smile. “I’d be honored to help.”
“You were supposed to be getting clean, not dirty,” Ace quips from the doorway. I hadn’t even heard him approaching. He doesn’t seem mad, though, quite the opposite.
Cash appears behind him, a smile on his face at the sight of us. “Wanna come downstairs and check out what we set up while you two lovebirds were busy?”
I nod, feeling lighter and less anxious—it’s incredible what an orgasm can do.
Much to my delight, the surprise is that they’ve rearranged the living room floor space to make room for two of their mattresses from upstairs to create one giant bed.
“Movie night and pizza,” Cash says proudly.
“The pizza is on its way already,” Ace adds.
I feel touched by their thoughtfulness. “It’s perfect.” I’m also feeling confident that, with all three of us in a bed, I can convince them that I’m ready for us all to have sex together. I want to be with my men tonight.
When the pizza arrives, filling the room with the comforting smell of molten cheese, we put on the movie—I chose a soothing, nothing-bad-happens chick flick—and climb into bed.
I’m wearing a pair of panties and a strappy top, and the guys are all in their boxers.
Surely, there’s no way we can all resist temptation all night long? I tell myself.
However, when I wake to the guys all sleeping soundly beside me, sunlight streaming through the curtains, dust motes dancing in the beams, and birds singing outside, I realize that I must have fallen asleep during the movie before I could enact my grand seduction.
Some femme fatale I am…