10. Cara
ten
Cara
“ P lease don’t,” Monroe murmured, catching my elbow with his rough hand. His touch sent shivers through me. Gooseflesh crept over my skin, and my nipples peaked. If he hadn’t realized I wasn’t wearing a bra, he did now.
With a low groan, Monroe stepped into my personal space, and with his free hand, he gently lifted my shoulder strap back into place. “You look beautiful, and we both want you comfortable.”
“I’m half-dressed,” I gasped, my face flaming. The fantasy that he’d strip me naked right here and do dirty, dirty things to me was strong. But in reality, I was super self-conscious. I didn’t do this. Heck, I’d never even invited a boy over, never mind into my room.
It was a good thing that Monroe was all man.
It was even better that he wasn’t alone. At least with the two of them here, I had a hope of resisting throwing myself at him.
Except that he’d brought the only other man I’d been fantasizing about.
“We can all be half-dressed, then.”
Monroe shrugged off his tee, and I nearly swallowed my tongue. He had those muscles on the sides of his stomach like mini six-packs as well as an actual six pack. And his arms…. I whimpered when I saw the thatch of silver chest hair. I wanted to bury my face in it and breathe him in while I touched every part of him.
Being in Monroe’s arms was comforting, like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night. But goodness gracious, I wanted so much more than that. How was I ever going to face Zali again when all I wanted to do was climb her dad?
“Bewty, mayte,” Hux drawled in a cross between a bad Texan accent and even worse British one. He looked so self-satisfied, but I was confused. Was that supposed to be Australian? I thought it was, but Alec’s ridiculous attempt at an accent was so appallingly bad that I wasn’t sure.
“Huh?” Monroe asked and looked to me. His lips twitched as he bit back a laugh. Monroe mouthed, “Did he just say, ‘beauty, mate’?”
“I think so?”
Their teasing was so fun, and I wanted in on it. Hearing them was such a nice change from all the frustration Mum and Dad had dumped on me. I loved that they could talk to me and did, but I was stuck in the middle of my parents’ marriage falling apart. I wanted to be Switzerland, but instead they were basically fighting for my loyalty and effectively pushing me away.
Alec placed his plate and then the tray down on the table before unbuttoning his shirt. He shrugged it off, and my brain went offline. It gave up the ghost and handed the reins to my libido. It was the little devil on my shoulder, the one telling me to drop my top and invite them to eat dinner straight off me. Tattoos decorated his arms and chest, and where Monroe’s muscles were tight and defined, Alec’s were thicker. But he had the same six-pack with those mini six-packs, and his suit pants were low enough on his hips that I could see the trail of hair running from below his belly button down to his bulge. And goodness gracious, was it a generous package.
He kept speaking, his words registering in my brain in slow motion. “I should have worn sweats. Mind if I take these off too?”
He gestured to his suit pants, but before I could really put my foot in it and say, “Yes, please,” Monroe was shooting the idea down.
“Modesty, mate. It’s a thing.”
“My body is a gift.” Alec held his arms out wide, and I couldn’t help the giggle-snort that erupted from me.
Mortified, I slapped my hand over my mouth and fake coughed, trying to cover the noise.
“So is your winning personality,” Monroe deadpanned, rubbing his thumb gently over the inside of my wrist.
I pressed my legs together, trying to relieve the throb between them, and Monroe pulled me closer. Already unbalanced, I fell forward and caught myself on his broad chest. I cupped my hand on his firm pec, and I brushed my thumb over that delicious hair as he rested his hand on my waist to steady me.
He was so warm and sexy. I wanted to explore, but I was too shy to put myself out there. How did I tell him that this was my first time? I had no idea what I was doing. How did I ask him to lead me?
How could I even think that? He was my best friend’s father.
Not only that, but there was another man in the room. Alec was just as beautiful but in a completely different way. His tattoos, the dark glint in his eyes, and the wicked curl to his lips reminded me of a fallen angel. He was dangerous and would be down for anything.
Monroe tugged me tighter against him. He let go of my wrist and splayed his hands out across my lower back. His fingers brushed the top of my butt, and he slid them down, curling them over my cheeks, and squeezed. The move was possessive, and I melted into his touch, pressing myself closer.
His body was hard everywhere.
Every.
Where.
The throb between my legs increased until the erection pressed against me was all I could focus on. What did I do now? I’d imagined what it would be like to be held by a man I was attracted to, but this level of raw need was on a whole other level than I’d anticipated. My fingers curled into his pecs, and his cock twitched against my hip.
I bit back a moan, imagining what it would be like to see all of him naked and hovering above me, my legs open wide to accommodate him. Jiminy Cricket, I wanted that more than anything.
Monroe’s voice was rough when he licked his lips and added, “But seriously, leave your pants on.”
I almost cried in protest. I wanted both of them naked.
Alec pulled his hair from its bun as he sauntered over, and it fell loose around his face. I wanted to grip the long strands as he slammed into me over and over. My eyes fluttered closed as the visions flickered in my mind’s eye like video footage.
His whole persona screamed sex. The curl of his lips and the grace of his movements reminded me of a panther on the prowl. I wanted him just as much as I did Monroe, the throb between my legs not lessening for a moment.
Alec stood behind me and pressed in close, trapping Monroe’s hands with his hips. He reached up and brushed a loose piece of my hair back off my shoulder and flicked his tongue at the juncture. Then he nipped me. My body reacted without any conscious thought from me. An electric current zapped through me and lit up every one of my nerve endings. He trailed his lips higher, his touch a whisper-soft tease, and I gasped.
Alec rolled his hips, and his hard cock pressed against my butt. I squeaked, and although I was mortified, I dared not move. Was I dreaming? I didn’t think I could bear it if I woke up.
Girls like me didn’t get two of the most gorgeous men lusting over her. But according to every romance I’d ever read, they were staking their claim. On me. And hoo boy, was I here for it.
Monroe had to be able to feel how hard Alec was, and that knowledge made it even hotter. Would he like it? Would Alec? I flicked my gaze up and watched Monroe. His eyes had darkened, his nostrils flared, and his chest expanded as he sucked in a sharp breath. My kitty tingled, and desire flowed through my veins like lava, scalding me. I could imagine being between them so clearly, and as Alec thrust forward again, grinding on me, I couldn’t help my breathy moan.
“Shall we eat?” Alec asked, his voice a rough rasp.
His words may have been innocent enough, but my reaction to them was anything but. His heated breath tickling my throat was like the kiss of a summer storm, raw and intense. I shivered. My nipples peaked, and my insides swooped.
Monroe cleared his throat and flexed his hands. He rubbed my butt in the most delicious way, but Alec would surely have felt it too. His breath caught. It was barely a hitch in his throat, but I watched as the corners of Monroe’s lips tipped up the slightest amount. He wasn’t laughing at Alec, though. It was something more than that, something hotter. His eyes gleamed darkly, and when his tongue peeked out to swipe across his bottom lip, I knew he didn’t hate Alec being there.
Alec made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, and his dick bucked against me, getting even harder. I tilted my head back, resting it on Alec’s shoulder as I tentatively flicked my thumb over Monroe’s nipple. He punched his hips forward and ground against me just like Alec had been doing.
I hummed and reached around to Alec, holding his hip tight in place against me. I may not have been experienced, but I knew what I wanted.
Them.
I wanted to be pinned between them while they explored every inch of my body. I wanted them to be unafraid of touching each other too.
Hey, if I was going to dream, I might as well fantasize about a why choose romance where the curvy girl gets both the silver fox who deserves a second chance at love and the darkly sexy hockey star.
Oh, and that dream extended to watching Alec and Monroe together too.
I definitely wanted front-row seats to that show, ladies and gentlemen.
After they’d taken my virginity.
“Hmm?” Monroe answered, dragging me back to the conversation. What had Alec asked?
“Shall we eat?” Alec repeated.
“Yes.”
Monroe’s voice was all deep and gravelly when he spoke, and I swallowed down my whimper.
Alec pulled away first, touching his hand to my elbow. Monroe let go of me as Alec guided me to the table. But Monroe didn’t wait around. He pulled out my chair, grasped my hand, and brought it to his lips. I watched as he kissed my knuckles, the heat in his eyes lighting me up like a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. I rubbed my thighs together, desperate to relieve the throbbing need in my kitty and wetting my thighs.
Then he presented me with a plate filled with delicious smelling food.
“Thank you,” I said, grateful that they’d thought of me. My stomach rumbled on cue, and I flushed hot as Alec passed me the orange juice off the tray, having clearly heard the noise.
“How was your flight?” Monroe asked Alec.
He shrugged, pressing his lips together. “Let’s just say that no one interrupted me, so I got some sleep.”
Monroe furrowed his brow. “Okay?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Alec smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. It was his professional smile, one that I’d seen him flash before when he was doing interviews. “Where do you two live? Are you from near here?”
We told him about how the Gold Coast was only an hour’s drive away and what it was like there. Monroe pulled out his phone and showed Alec photos of the Broadwater taken from Zali’s house, the mob of kangaroos that regularly fed near her private beach, and the view of the Surfers Paradise skyline that he and Ryder had seen when they’d gone fishing two weekends earlier. The way Monroe and Alec were sitting with their heads together and Alec’s wonderous smile at the kangaroos was adorable.
“What do you do, Cara? I know you work for the sponsor. What kind of warehouse is it?”
“Yeah, it’s my dad’s company. We’re a sporting goods store—everything from equipment to clothing. I’ve worked at the register before, but I’m a junior admin team member there now.” I hesitated, then added, “But I can’t see myself there for much longer.” I didn’t want to be cryptic, but I was unsure whether to say more. Alec’s curiosity, the way he sat with his eyes glued to me, his entire concentration focussed on me, spurred me on, and I explained, “It’s very dry. I don’t want to work there forever.”
“Do you know what you want to do?” Monroe asked curiously. “I had no idea when I started out. I fell into working at the marina by accident.”
I was used to the eye rolls and the comments about “real fiction,” but I didn’t want to hear it from Monroe and Alec. Other people peeved me off, but it would hurt coming from them. Romance readers were my people—we had a common bond—and I knew they’d understand, but most others didn’t. Whether it was monster smut, contemporary romance, or witches unlocking their powers from great sex with their harem, we were all in it for three things—the happy ending, the other kind of happy ending, and the swoony escape from reality. I wanted in that community with a fierceness that made my blood pump harder and the words pour from me.
I sucked in a breath and figured I’d go for broke. If they were going to criticize, it was better that I knew now. “I want to be an author. A romance author. Spicy romance specifically,” I clarified. I waited for the laughter, for them to tell me I was being ridiculous, but it didn’t come.
“I can picture you doing that,” Monroe replied with a warm smile that made crinkles appear at his eyes. He set down his knife and squeezed my hand.
“Is that what you were doing here?” Alec asked, gesturing to my laptop on the other side of the small table. “And on the bus?”
“I was,” I said. “I started off doing work, but when I’d finished, I swapped over to my manuscript. I’m still figuring out a few plot points, you know. I’ve written the meet cute and the first kiss, but I’m still working on the bones of the conflict.” I didn’t want to go into any more detail—they’d realize exactly who my characters were inspired by. Even answering one or two of their questions would make it obvious that Monroe and Alec were my muses. But I wasn’t ready to admit out loud that I was lusting over them.
We kept eating, but I only managed to clear about half my plate. I set down my cutlery and watched as Alec eyed my leftovers. Without a word, I slid the plate to him.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Absolutely. You missed out on a second serving.” I smiled, my belly flip-flopping at the way he dug straight into the steak and moaned like it was the best thing he’d tasted.
Monroe refilled my glass with the cold water from the refrigerator, and I slowly relaxed, my state of near undress not bothering me as much when Monroe and Alec had both made the effort to make me feel comfortable.
Our conversation kept flowing easily as Monroe asked Alec about his career. I’d followed him long enough to be able to answer most of the questions myself—his rise through the juniors was lightning fast, he’d been picked on the starting line for his college team during his freshman year and was drafted to the NHL in his final.
But it wasn’t all about Alec. He asked just as many questions of Monroe, who then filled us in on his role as the senior crane operator at the marina. He oversaw the smaller boats being lifted out of the marina for placement on the dry docks and into storage. But the much bigger yachts—the forty, fifty, and even one-hundred-foot behemoths—were his domain. He was the only one who operated the three-hundred-tonne lift to hoist the largest vessels out of the water.
It was fascinating listening to them talk and watch the way their hands moved and their smiles grew wide. They were completely different, but they both lit up as they spoke about their passions, and that grumpy arrogance that I’d seen in Alec at the airport and on the bus was nowhere to be found. He wasn’t a bear. He was a teddy bear.
When the plates were empty, they both stood up and worked seamlessly together, cleaning the leftovers onto one plate and stacking them neatly on the tray. I watched as Alec picked it up and Monroe held the door open for him. When they returned, Alec asked, “What? You look surprised.”
“Pleasantly.” My cheeks flamed, and I looked down. “I like it when people help others. Like that—” I gestured to the door. “You didn’t have to stack it so neatly, but you did. It was… nice.”
“I may be rich now, but I wasn’t always. Working hospitality is hard. It takes a dick of epic proportions to make a person’s job harder.”
My smile grew. I loved that he thought that way. The last boy I’d crushed on was mean to a bartender. I’d never looked at him again. Even if he noticed me, I knew we would never, ever work.
Alec undid the tie on my hair, and the mass of tangles flopped down around my shoulders. He leaned down and spread his fingers over my decolletage, slipping them underneath the neckline of my singlet. I squeaked, and my cheeks flamed, my insides quivering. Butterflies fluttered in my belly. They took flight and twisted and turned, flying high before swooping low. I shivered, my kitty clenching and want spiralling through me from his touch.
He nuzzled my temple before murmuring against my ear, “Why don’t you get your hairbrush so I can brush your hair for you?”
I swooned. Was there anything more romantic than a man being kind to his girl?
I stood up. “I’ll—” I gestured to the bathroom and scampered off. My legs were shaking, and my body was overheating. My nipples were hard, straining against the material of my pjs with each inhale. I was wet too, and my core was throbbing, begging to be filled. I slammed the door as soon as I crossed the threshold to the bathroom.
I rested my hands on the vanity and stared at myself in the mirror. My eyes were bright, my cheeks were flushed, and my hair was an absolute mess. My singlet was sitting unevenly, one side caught under one of my many rolls. “Get it together, Cara. They’re gorgeous, yes. But we’re just hanging out. Act like a normal person. Please just be… normal. Stop all this—” I shook my head and held it low, focussing on my fingers white-knuckling the countertop. “—horniness.”
I needed to settle down, but to do that, I needed to stop letting my imagination carry me away. I closed my eyes, trying to calm down, but all I could see in my mind’s eye was Monroe kissing me. Then the picture morphed, changing into Alec in front of me, his hands exploring with a practiced touch as he slid his tongue into my mouth. Oh man, I had it bad. Worse, I had no idea who I wanted my first kiss to be. How was this my life? I bit my tongue, unable to wipe the giddy grin off my face. I had the chance to possibly kiss one of the most handsome men I’d ever met. Or maybe both. Eek! They were right there, standing shirtless in my loungeroom, waiting for me.
I pinched myself.
Yep, I was awake.
I shifted my weight from side to side, doing a silly little dance. A shock of sensation hit me, and I shivered with desire. I whimpered, ridiculously keyed up and needy for more. I lifted my head high and straightened my shoulders. I wanted them, and if they offered, I was going to take them up on it. Whatever it was.
Maybe.
Was I brave enough? No, I couldn’t think like that. “I can do this,” I stated, trying to channel some of Zali’s confidence.
I brushed my teeth, put on deodorant, sprayed perfume on my wrists, and grabbed my hairbrush from my bag.
I opened the door, and my heart stopped as I watched them relaxing in my space. Alec was scrolling through movies on the television. He paused on a black-and-white one—a cowboy movie from the fifties. “This is your era, isn’t it, old man?”
Monroe was spread out in one corner of the sofa, his arm along the back of the couch. He shook his head and muttered, “Smartass little shit.” But he wasn’t annoyed. I could see the way his lips twitched and heard the humour in his voice.
I cleared my throat. I wanted them to watch me strut over. Full of confidence, head held high, I was going to wow them. They turned to me, and I shot them a coy smile. I stepped over the threshold and into the loungeroom.
Then I was falling.
My feet were tangled up together and my hands were cartwheeling.
“Shit,” one of the guys said, and there was a shuffling sound.
But all I could focus on was my slow-motion descent and the carpeted floor coming up to meet my face quicker than I could stop it. I was beyond the point of no return, pushed past the tipping point, and I was going down, no matter what I did.
My knee hit the floor and pain shot through it, radiating up my leg to my hip. I cried out and brought my hands up trying to protect myself.
For once I was grateful I had hair long enough to cover my face. I hit the floor, my elbow and shoulder copping the brunt of my fall, together with my hip. I bit back a sob and wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole. This is what I got for faking confidence.
With my face kissing the floor and my gut sinking at the knowledge that the night was over, I closed my eyes and willed the white-hot heat to subside from my cheeks.
But it only got worse. Alec and Monroe were right there with their hands under my arms, helping me up. I managed to push up and bring my knees under me, but the moment I put weight on my left side, pain electrified my leg. “Ouch,” I whimpered, trying to balance without putting my knee down.
“We’ve got you,” Alec murmured. He curled his arm around my back and hooked his hand under my arm. Monroe was on his knees on the other side of me, and he guided my other arm over his shoulders.
“Lean on us as we help you stand, pretty girl. Don’t put weight on your knee,” Monroe instructed.
As soon as I was standing, Alec asked, “Are you okay? Dizzy?”
“No,” I mumbled, mortified. Seriously, where was that giant sinkhole?
“I’m so sorry. I kicked off my shoes. I didn’t realize they were in the way,” Alec admitted. His lips were turned down, concern clouding his eyes.
“It’s okay. It was an accident.”
I tried to take a step and winced. Alec didn’t hesitate. He hooked his other arm under my legs, keeping the other one around my back and lifted me into his arms. I squeaked and threw my arms around him. He made it look effortless, but it was anything but.
“I’m too heavy,” I whispered, holding on for dear life. “You’ll hurt yourself.”
“You’re the perfect weight,” he chided.
He strode to the couch with me in his arms, and I wanted to die. Or maybe I already had, and I was in heaven. Or embarrassment hell. I wasn’t sure which.
Alec sat down with me, twisting so he was sitting sideways with me between his spread legs, my back to his front. He pushed my hair over my shoulder, wrapped his arms around my waist, and nuzzled my nape.
Monroe slid a cushion under my knee and pursed his lips.
“Don’t move. I’ll get some ice.” He sauntered away, letting the door slam closed behind him, and I hung my head low.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“Hey, I’m the one who should be apologizing.” He paused and pressed a kiss below my ear. He hummed when I shivered and he asked, “Did you hit your head?”
When I shook my head, he added, “I love how responsive you are.”
He kissed the shell of my ear, and I shivered again. I closed my eyes and relaxed against him.
Monroe returned and pulled the coffee table closer. He wrapped the bag of ice in his shirt and deposited it on the table before grabbing another cushion off the sofa. “Can you lift up a little?” he asked, sitting on the armrest. The couch was way too small for the three of us, especially with me sitting side-on, but apparently Monroe didn’t mind. I lifted slightly, and Monroe propped my knee up with the cushion and slotted in next to me, tugging my feet in his lap.
Oh goodness, I hadn’t shaved my legs, and now they were in his lap, his hands dangerously close to the cactuslike surface.
“I’m okay,” I whispered. “Thank you for helping me up. I know you just sat down, but you can’t be comfortable. Neither of you have to stay.”
Monroe turned his gaze to mine and smiled gently as he threaded our fingers together and lifted my hand to his lips. He murmured, his heated breath against my skin, “I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
“Me neither,” Alec echoed and pressed a kiss to my shoulder.
“What’s happening here?” I asked in a whisper.