Chapter 32
32
KELLI
I hated being on this side of medicine. They won’t let me out of this stupid bed as a concussion protocol, but at least I have Josh and Logan with me. Josh has been lying in bed with me, and at first my nurse was pissed, until she discovered he had been knocked out earlier today and never fully examined. She redressed his head and cleaned up the horrible skin glue job the EMT’s had done. She griped about their work, but I knew it was probably Josh’s fault for telling them to do it quickly and to let him go.
Brian was still unconscious when we got to the hospital, where they immediately rushed him off to surgery. We are still waiting to hear how surgery went and if he’s going to be okay. I was patched up and examined with Logan at my side through it all. Minus some small scrapes and bruises, I have a concussion and some bruised ribs. I’m pretty sure Josh also has a concussion, but he refuses to acknowledge that.
Logan hasn’t said anything this whole time. He just paces my room when the nurses come check on me and sits by my side, holding my hand when they are gone. I have so many questions, and I know they have them for me, but I can’t talk until I know Brian will be okay. Logan’s fingers draw circles on my wrist, while Josh’s gently stroke my stomach under my hospital gown. We stay like that for another hour in utter silence. A knock at the door draws our attention as a doctor walks in.
“Good evening, I am Dr. Peterson. Is one of you Logan Pierce?” he asks.
“That’s me. Do you know anything about Brian Stirling?” Logan’s hand squeezes mine.
His laugh is deep. “Yes, that’s why I’m here. I was one of his surgeons. You’re his emergency contact. Is it okay if I speak freely, or would you like to move to the hall?”
“Here,” all three of us say in unison.
“Okay, well he is in the recovery wing. You should be able to see him in an hour or two. It was really touch and go there for a while. His heart arrested twice, but we were able to get him back quickly. He lost a lot of blood and the bullet did a lot of damage to his shoulder. He will need months of physical therapy. This was a tricky surgery, and it’s a real possibility he won’t ever get back to full strength and range of motion with that arm. Overall though, he’s a lucky guy. An inch over and we would be having a very different conversation.”
There is a collective sigh of relief between us. “Thank you, doctor,” Logan breathes out from beside me.
He’s okay.
He’s okay.
That’s when it hits. The pain, the anger, the fear, every emotion that I shoved down today in order to keep a level head and make it through. Uncontrollable sobs wrack my body as every emotion imaginable rolls through me. I cry out the anger and the fear, letting it wash away until all that is left is relief and safety in the arms of the men that I love. Logan climbs up next to my other side, and the three of us hold on to each other. A tangle of limbs and tears and connected hands between us. We lay together until we have nothing left but love.
When I finally gather myself, I start my story in a whisper. Exactly what happened and what I remember from the moment Caleb entered that store bathroom to waking up seeing Logan’s worried face hovering over mine. They hold me through every word, anger and pain emanating from them while I tell them about his threats, his hits. Their pride shines through when I tell them how hard I fought, the moves I used. I told them I got all the way to the kitchen before he caught up to me, but not before I grabbed a knife from the block and stabbed him. That’s when he took the knife out of his stomach and used the handle to knock me out, carrying me back upstairs. I got the courage to ask the question I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer to.
“Did I kill him?”
“No baby, I did. I shot him when he shot Brian. You did so good, little flame, so damn good. We are so proud of you.”
“And we’re so sorry, baby girl. We promised to keep you safe, and we didn’t.” Logan squeezes my hand in his.
“Stop. No one is carrying guilt that isn’t theirs. He was mentally unstable and the only person who should have guilt is Caleb. You guys knew him for years, and I’m sorry you lost him. I’m not sorry for finally feeling free though. I just want to heal and move on, together.”
Logan pulls me closer against him, his cinnamon and juniper scent relaxing my muscles as it flows through me. “Together, baby, always together,” he whispers.
Josh’s lips linger on my head before getting up. “I love you. I’m going to see about getting us set up in Brian’s room. You aren’t getting discharged until the morning, so maybe one of us can stay in each room.”
I watch Josh slip from the room, then turn to Logan. “Is he okay?”
“He will be. Josh was close with Ashley; he always has had a soft spot for protecting women, you know? I think he feels responsible for not getting Caleb help after her death. I’m sure being the one to pull the trigger today just hit that home a little harder for him. I know he would do it a thousand times over though, to save you.”
I nod, understanding that from my bear. Taking a life, even to save one, could not be easy on anyone. “Are you okay?”
“I thought we were too late. Seeing you crumpled on the ground like that, it broke something in me. It may take a while of me not leaving your side to put that part back together.”
I love this man so deeply. He could never leave my side again and you wouldn’t hear me complain. He has been awake for almost two days straight now. He looks utterly exhausted and wrecked, yet here he is, holding me like I’m the most precious jewel and staying awake since it’s not safe for me to sleep. “Can you kiss me, handsome?”
He carefully pulls me over top of him, his hands running through my hair at the side of my head. Soft lips meet mine in a salty, sweet kiss that’s filled with so many words we are too tired to say. I lie on his chest, kissing him with every ounce of love in my body. We lie together, tongues tangling, hands absently gliding over each other, until Josh returns with a wheelchair in tow.
“They said we could go see him, but that this has to be your chariot of choice, baby.” He chuckles at my horrified look. “Let’s get a move on. Get your sweet ass in here.” Logan helps me from the bed, making sure I am covered in my scratchy hospital gown before putting a blanket on my lap.
We make our way through the hospital to the recovery wing. It’s a smaller hospital, so he is only upstairs a few halls over. I halt Josh outside the door, not ready to see him yet.
“What’s wrong?” Josh asks behind me.
“He’s never going to love me back after this, is he?” I hate how small my voice sounds, but I know he is going to make this the end for us. If he wouldn’t let us be together before, how could he look at me after this? I know he’s going to put everything on his shoulders, blaming himself.
Josh crouches down in front of me, lifting my chin with his finger. “He needs therapy. We probably all do, but that’s a conversation for later. He has never stopped loving you, not for one second. We won’t let him get away with his bullshit baggage anymore, okay?”
His earnest green eyes pierce my soul. “Okay,” I whisper as he kisses me quickly. I reach for his neck, trying to get more, but he leans back laughing, trying to move around me to push my wheelchair in the room. I grab his wrist, pulling him back to me.
Josh leans back down, keeping his lips just inches from mine. “Behave, Kelli girl. The doctor said you have to take it easy, and I have been dying to spank that juicy ass peeking out of that gown.”
My body turns molten, my panties incinerated. He might have just been trying to get me out of my head, but damn, it worked. Brian looks over as we enter, his face falling when he looks down at me. Pain is written all over it as his eyes catalog every bruise he can see. My face probably looks the worst, a bruise forming around my nose and eyes where I bashed my face onto the floor. Miraculously, I didn’t knock out any teeth or break my nose, but that doesn’t mean it looks nice.
Josh rolls me up to his right side, and the minute I reach for his hand, his fa?ade cracks. His lip trembles as he tries to hold his emotions in check. Stroking his hand, I reach up to touch his cheek. “It’s okay. You’re okay, I’m okay. We are all going to be okay.” My thumb brushes away the rogue tear that falls as we sit there reveling in the fact we are alive and together.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispers, sounding every bit the broken man he claims to be.
“None of that. You don’t feel sorry for a damn thing. We are alive, and we are moving on.” I look at the guys, standing on his other side. They both nod in agreement down at us, hands in their pockets. We stay in the room for another hour, taking it all in, feeling the heavy weight of the day slowly lifting.
Eventually, a nurse comes in saying Brian needs to rest and I need to get back to my room. Logan and I go back, Josh staying with B for the night so he won’t be alone. The look in his eye tells me it is more than that, but that’s something to get into another day. Logan spends the night in my bed, despite the nurses bringing him a cot. I get woken up every few hours for checks, and he doesn’t complain once, just holds me tighter after each one.
JOSH
Logan pushes Kelli back to her room where he is going to stay with her tonight. It’s hard letting her out of my sight, but it’s time Brian and I hash this out. I should feel bad that he just got out of surgery a few hours ago, but I don’t.
“How are you feeling?”
He grumbles, trying to adjust himself in the bed and wincing every time his shoulder moves. “Like I got shot in the shoulder. Thanks for saving my life.”
“Yeah, well, you better not make me regret it.” I kick my feet up onto his bed, relaxing into the chair.
“What the fuck dude? That’s fucked up.”
“Yeah, well so are the bullshit life choices you’ve been making. I’m tired of it. We all are. That shit stops now.”
“What are you talking about? The doctor said I need to rest, and you need to get your feet off my bed.” He tries to shove them off, but I plant them right back in place.
“Logan and I have allowed you to be a martyr for too long. We watched you shut down when you pushed Kelli from your life the first time and we won’t let it happen. That’s on us as much as it is on you, and I’m sorry for that. But now that we know her, love her, we aren’t letting you do that again.” Brian looks more upset than pissed, so I take my feet off his bed and lean forward. “You’re going back to therapy. You’re going to pinpoint the exact reason you feel you can’t be with Kelli, and then you’re going to fix it.”
“I don’t know how to do that. To fix it. I have made so many mistakes, Josh, too many for her to forgive.”
“That’s the thing about our girl. She will forgive you anyway and not hold it against you. You wax poetic about how she sees the real you, the parts you don’t always show. It’s time you do the same for her. See the big heart that is so full of love to give. The strength in every ounce of her. The forgiveness she gives so freely.”
He looks distraught still, like he really doesn’t know how to move forward from here. “Can you help me get set up with Krystal again?”
“Of course. I was going to see if she will see Kelli, too; I know she specializes in trauma. Look, B, you’re going to mess up again. We all are. Well, maybe not Logan, but I know I will piss Kelli off again eventually. That’s okay, though. We are in this together, and Logan and I will help you along the way. This is new, and we are figuring it out together. We will help with anything you need. The one thing we won’t take is you shutting her out or hurting her again.” I cross my arms, ensuring he understands that I’m serious.
“You think she can really love me after all of this? After I made mistake after mistake, including getting her kidnapped?”
“Yeah, B, she hasn’t stopped loving you for a second,” I promised.
He nods his head, then leans back against the pillows, looking up at the ceiling. “Thank you,” he whispers.
I lean forward to grip his leg, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We’re a unit. We always have been. That unit just includes Kelli now, and we aren’t complete without you. It hurts us to watch you hold yourself back and not be part of the family we are creating with her.”
“I’ll do better. For her. For all of you, I promise.”
“Good. Now, do you want to hear what happened to Kelli, or are you going to lose it?” I don’t want to make Kelli talk through it all again, and I can’t have Brian shutting down again.
“Can you tell me in the morning? I need some time, and I need to sleep.”
“Okay man. I’ll be here with you if you need anything.” We sit in silence for a moment before soft snores drift from him. I take the quiet time to reach out to Danny and let him know what happened and where we are. He promises he and Alex will be here the moment visiting hours start and they will get Logan’s care for us on the way. I then reach out to Brian’s old therapist Krystal and get a plan set into motion with her. Trauma can either bond you or break you, and I wasn’t going to let it break us. With everything taken care of, I slip down to Kelli’s room to check on her one more time, happy to see her and Logan asleep in bed together. Then I head back to Brian’s room and crash on the cot a nurse brought in for me.
KELLI
Alex waltzes into my room the minute they allow visitors. He takes one look at Logan’s large body wrapped around mine and snorts a laugh while I hold a finger to my lips, telling him to hush.
“He has had maybe four hours of sleep in the last three days; let him sleep,” I whisper as he walks over to my other side, giving me a kiss on the head.
“I have so many questions, but first, you look like shit, and Danny is going to lose it when he sees you. He’s up seeing his brother first.” I flip him off, attempting to stick my tongue out at him, but my nose screams at me. That’s going to be tender for a while. He grabs my free hand, giving it a squeeze. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks, Alex. Thank you for everything you have done. For me, for my case, for keeping Danny sane. You have been a port in this storm, and I am so grateful for you.”
“You know we’d do anything for you. It’s just nice to know you are finally safe.” His eyes land on Logan again. “Well, your body is, not so sure about your heart.”
I run my hands through Logan’s soft messy hair. “They’re keeping that safe, too.” Alex’s eyebrow raise in question, a snort leaving me in response, but I wince at the pain in my ribs. “Oh come on, you and Danny send me off to live with three amazing and delicious men, and don’t expect something to happen?”
“Fair. Can I ask… how are things going with Brian?” He looks down at the bed, his hands, anything but my face.
“What do you know, Alex?”
“You don’t remember, obviously, but you spilled your guts to me in a drunken word vomit a few months after Brian ghosted you. He also happened to share his feelings with me and asked me to keep an eye on you. I’ve been filling him in on your life monthly for years. Half your birthday and Christmas gifts from me have really been from him. Your secret love has never been a secret to me.” My mouth drops open. The whole time I felt abandoned by Brian, he was still trying to be in my life in the only way he felt he could. My mind was reeling with this new information.
“Does Danny know?”
“No, it’s the only secret I have ever kept from him. I don’t want to keep it anymore, Kelli. Please.”
I can understand the burden that’s been on his shoulders because of this. “Things are complicated, Alex. My heart has always beat for Brian, he just has to figure out how to allow that love in. He feels undeserving, and that’s not something I can fix for him. He has to love himself first, and he just isn’t there right now. I’ll tell Danny everything, promise.”
Danny showed up soon after, ensuring Logan woke up with his screeching over the state of my face. It looked better than I expected, but my body felt like I had gone a few rounds in the ring with an ogre. The doctor came in, signing off on my release with the orders to come back with any confusion, nausea, or headaches. Alex won the game of rock, paper, scissors for who would stay behind with Brian for another night until he could be released.
Logan still refused to leave my side, but was still too tired to drive home, so Josh drove his car home. Danny drove me in the Jeep, while Logan slept in the back. I came clean to him about everything on the drive. The past between Brian and I, my relationship with Josh and Logan, and everything that happened with Caleb. He cried with me at the hard parts, and laughed with me over Josh’s secret dom side. He had always suspected there was more with B and me, and said he was hoping something would happen.
At the house, Danny and Josh pampered me while Logan napped. They treated me like I was on the brink of death, not dealing with a concussion and bruising, but it was nice anyway. Danny painted my nails for me like when we were kids, and we caught up on everything that has been happening with him.
After cleaning up from dinner, Josh declared I needed rest and carried me upstairs to bed. He walked straight to Logan’s room, where the scent of lavender drifted from the bathroom. Logan was sitting on the edge of the tub, lighting candles as the tub filled with bubbles. It was a sight to behold, the muscles in his back rippling with each movement. The doctor said I had to take it easy, but I was only human, and I was craving their touch.
Logan finally looked back at me, his smile soft. “Hi baby, I got you a bath ready. I put some Epsom salt in it to help.” Josh’s hands ran up and down my arms, setting off goosebumps along my skin. From behind me, he gently lifted my shirt, pulling it over my head before dropping to his knees to pull down my shorts and undies. Logan sucked in a breath, watching Josh’s every movement. He lowered himself to his knees in front of me, allowing his hands to trail up my legs. They both started at my ankles, trailing their hands up my body, kissing every scrape and bruise on their way.
I melted into their touch, overwhelmed by the sensations. They made their way up my body until I was pressed between them. They helped me slip into the tub, my muscles instantly relaxing into the heat. Logan carefully wet and washed my hair, while Josh softly washed my body with a cloth.
“I hate every mark on your body, but I am so damn proud of you. You are so beautiful. Your strength. Your resilience. Your light that leads the way for us. You are everything, Kelli girl.” Logan’s soft voice trails out between light kisses to my face.
“Let us take care of you tonight, baby, please,” Josh begs, his fingers gliding through my core under the water.
“Yes,” I breathe out. Their hands on my body is driving me wild. I need this closeness with them again. Need them to know I’m safe and I’m theirs. They help me from the bath, toweling me off before leading me to the bedroom. I lay out in the middle of the bed while they stare down at me.
“Show us.” Logan speaks first, rubbing a hand over his erection in his shorts. I let my knees fall apart, spreading my legs out wide. “So fucking pretty.”
Josh climbs up the bed, his head dipping between my legs, licking my center that is already dripping for them. “And so damn sweet.” He dives in then, tonguing me with fervor. This is a reclaiming. They knew I didn’t let Caleb touch me, but they still needed to erase his touch from my skin and replace it with their own.
Logan strips out of his shorts, stroking his hard cock, eyes roaming my body. He moves to climb on the side of the bed, tweaking my nipples. “Make her come.” Josh doubles his efforts, adding two fingers to stroke inside me, licking circles around my clit. I need more. Leaning my head to the side, I try to take Logan’s dick in my mouth.
“I don’t think so, love.” He pulls away from me, “Tonight is about you.”
Josh groans into me, the vibrations coursing through me. His fingers rubbing over my inner walls, his mouth never letting up, licking me like a man starved. My orgasm builds, tingles traveling through my body. “Don’t stop, please don’t stop, daddy,” I moan out, hands stroking through his hair. The growl in his chest is feral as he sucks my clit hard, right as Logan sucks my nipple into his mouth. Pleasure radiates through me, my body floating around me as they stroke me through my climax.
Josh gently climbs over me, taking my mouth in a searing kiss. “Fucking love when you call me that,” he says with a gravelly voice that’s contrasted by his tender movements. He rolls to the side as Logan takes his place between my legs. Hovering over me, his lips meet with mine as he gently cups my face. His moan sends shock waves to my oversensitive clit.
“You taste like your pussy, baby. I don’t want to go a day without that taste on my tongue.” He kisses me again, deeper this time, still gentle against my face. His hips rock into mine, his hard cock gliding through my wet lips, hitting my clit with every glide. After a few glides, I feel a hand grab his dick and notch it at my entrance. He pushes into me in one hard thrust, both of us moaning at the sensation.
“You were taking too long,” Josh mutters from beside us, making me realize Logan’s hands never left my face. God damn, why is it so hot that he helped his best friend fuck me? Logan sits up on his elbows, locking his blue eyes to my own. His thrusts are long and soft, afraid he’s going to hurt me.
“I need more. Give me more.” He moves up onto his hands, thrusting his hips harder into mine. His cock rubs my inner walls just right with every thrust. “Fuck, right there, baby.” He picks up the pace, grinding into me in perfect rhythm. His hands reach out, holding onto both of mine above my head, his eyes filled with lust.
“I love you so much, baby girl. You’re mine. Ours. Forever. Say it.”
“Yours forever,” I repeat to him, feeling the truth of it in my soul. His hips piston into mine, my second orgasm building. Arching my back, my eyes close as my muscles tighten.
“Open, pretty girl,” he growls at me. “Look at me when you come on my cock.” My pussy flutters around his cock, strangling it as I come, screaming out his name. His hips pump three more times before he is spilling into me, hips pulsing out every last drop. Careful not to crush me, he rolls us both to our sides as he pulls out, letting his cum leak onto the sheets. “I don’t know what I love more, watching you come, or watching my cum drip out of your puffy, pink pussy.”
I whimper at his words. These two always know what to say to make me savage for them. Before I get too comfortable, Josh sits on the other side of me stroking his hand down my back, giving my ass a light slap.
“My turn.” He sits up against the headrest. “I want you to ride my cock while I hold you.” I sit up, giving him a sweet smile. My bear, tough and strong, but so soft in the center. Climbing up the bed, I drop a leg to either side of him. He lines up his erection with my center so I can sink down onto him. “Goddamn, you feel so good. Ours forever.”
“Yours forever.” I hold onto his shoulders as I rock my hips, grinding them down over him. It feels so deep in this position, his cock seated to the hilt. My clit rubs against his pelvis with every roll of my hips. He grips my hips gently, rolling me faster over him. This might be the fastest three orgasms I’ve ever had. Emotions heightened, my body is responding to their every touch.
Josh leans forward, nipping my kiss-swollen lips before kissing me deeply. My mouth opens for him, our tongues stroking before he sucks my tongue into his mouth, all while never stopping the roll of my hips. “I love you, Kelli Winters,” he whispers against my lips. His tender heart threatens to push me over the edge for the third time. He must feel my pussy squeezing him because he groans, gently dropping his forehead to mine.
“I love you, too, Josh Baker,” I whisper back, letting my nails reach around his head and scratch through his hair.
“Come with me,” his rough voice demands, “Now, baby.” His demanding voice sets me off, shattering around him for the third and final time tonight. My pussy milks his cock, each spurt of cum painting my inner walls. His arms wrap around me, holding me through our orgasms as we come down. His hands rub up and down my back as he kisses my shoulder and neck.
When my body fully relaxes into him, Logan appears from the bathroom with a warm, wet cloth. He helps me off Josh’s lap and cleans me up despite my protests that I can do it. They settle me into the center of the bed, wrapped between them. Things almost feel complete, like the pieces of my life are falling together. Almost.