Chapter Four
K ane
The gym fell silent except for Nova's quickened breathing. She stood frozen, unaware that her presence was like a live wire charging the air.
Everything about her heightened my senses and brought my cock to life.
Even from ten feet away, I could smell the sweet scent of her floral perfume. Could see the bead of sweat trailing down her neck, disappearing beneath the neckline of her dress.
The urge to trace its path with my tongue was overwhelming.
“Like what you see, Kitten?” I asked again, my voice rough.
Her eyes dropped to my abs, lingering on the tattoos that disappeared beneath my shorts. When she realized she was staring again, that beautiful blush I loved so much crept up her neck to stain her cheeks.
She started to look away, but I wasn't having that.
“Don't,” I commanded softly. “Never hide your desire from us.”
Behind her, Haze shifted closer, his massive frame casting her in shadow.
The way she instinctively leaned back toward him, seeking his protection, while her eyes remained locked on me, made my cock throb.
She was already responding to us, even if she didn't realize it.
“Have dinner with us tonight,” I insisted, making it clear it wasn't a request.
Her pupils dilated at my tone.
“At our place,” I clarified.
“I...” She glanced over her shoulder at Haze, who gave her an encouraging nod. I could see the internal debate playing across her expressive face. Finally, she whispered the answer I wanted to hear, “Okay.”
“Good girl.” The praise rolled off my tongue naturally, and her sharp intake of breath was exactly the reaction I'd been hoping for. “We'll pick you up at seven.”
Nova nodded again, then practically fled the gym.
The sway of her hips in that flowery dress had both Haze and me tracking her every move until she disappeared from our sight.
“Fuck,” Haze growled, his voice thick with want.
I turned to my best friend, seeing the same hunger in his eyes that I felt burning through my veins. “Tonight?”
He nodded.
The next few hours crawled by at an agonizing pace. I tried to focus on my training. My fight with Mad Dog was coming up fast, and I couldn't afford any distractions. My mind, however, had missed the memo and kept drifting back to Nova.
To those innocent blue eyes. The way she trembled whenever Haze or I got close. How perfectly she'd fit between us.
“Your head's not in it,” Dragon commented after I missed an easy combination for the third time. He steadied the bag, concern etched on his face. “Take a break, man. This isn't like you.”
“Fuck.” I yanked at the tape on my hands, frustration coursing through me.
He was right. I couldn't concentrate worth shit.
Not when I kept imagining Nova's soft curves pressed against me, wondering how it would feel to have her under me.
“Gotta get your head straight, brother.” Dragon's voice was low, tone serious. “This fight with Mad Dog? It's big. Lots of money riding on it.”
I ran a hand through my sweat-soaked hair. “Yeah, I know.” The payout for this fight would help fund the club's expansion plans. I couldn't afford to be distracted. “Pick this back up tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” Dragon confirmed. “Get your head straight.”
After a long shower, where I tried unsuccessfully to wash away thoughts of Nova, I headed across town to the brownstone Haze and I called home.
Walking through the front door, I pulled up short. The strong scent of cleaning products hit me first, followed by the sight of Haze meticulously dusting our entertainment center.
I rolled my eyes.
Looked like I wasn’t the only one overthinking shit.
“Nervous, brother?” I smirked, heading to the kitchen and grabbing two beers from the fridge.
He grunted, which was basically a yes in Haze-speak, and accepted the beer I held out.
“She's perfect for us,” I reminded him, leaning against the wall and watching him obsessively polish the same spot. “You've seen how she responds.”
Another grunt, accompanied by a slight twitch of his lips. Yeah, he'd noticed how she melted when I used a commanding voice and how she gravitated toward him when she needed to feel safe.
The way she fit so naturally into our dynamic was a heady feeling—for both of us.
“Slow,” he rumbled, finally setting down the cleaning supplies. “Don't want to scare her.”
I nodded. “Follow her lead. Let her set the pace.”
The next few hours were spent preparing dinner. Cooking had always been my therapy, and tonight, I needed the distraction.
By six-thirty, the house smelled amazing and everything was ready. There was just one thing left to do.
We took my Challenger to pick up Nova, the tension building with every mile. When we pulled up to the clubhouse at exactly seven, my breath caught.
She stood waiting outside, and holy fuck, if she didn't look edible in a simple black dress that hugged every perfect curve.
The hem hit just above her knees, showing off legs that I wanted wrapped around my waist. Her golden hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and she'd done something to make her blue eyes look even bigger.
“Damn, Kitten,” I groaned as she slid into the backseat. “Are you trying to kill us?”
Her cheeks flushed that pretty pink I loved. “Is it too much?” She smoothed her hands over the dress nervously.
“Perfect,” Haze rumbled from the passenger seat, his eyes dark with appreciation as they raked over her.
The drive to our place was charged. I caught Nova's gaze in the rearview mirror more than once, watching how she'd quickly look away, biting that plump lower lip. Each time she did, my grip tightened on the steering wheel. That innocent gesture shouldn't be so fucking erotic.
When we pulled up to the brownstone, I watched her take in the historic brick facade. From the outside, it was nothing fancy—just another upscale residence in a quiet neighborhood. But inside, we'd made it ours.
I helped her from the car, savoring the feel of her small hand in mine. The slight tremor in her fingers told me she was nervous, but excited.
Good.
That's exactly where I wanted her.
“Welcome home, Kitten,” I murmured, guiding her up the steps with my hand on the small of her back.
The moment we stepped inside, her eyes went wide. The open floor plan gave her an immediate view straight through to the kitchen where candles flickered on the granite island. “This is beautiful,” she breathed, taking in the exposed brick walls and dark hardwood floors.
Haze helped her out of her light jacket, his hands lingering on her shoulders. She shivered at his touch, and I noticed again how she unconsciously leaned back into him before catching herself and stepping forward.
“You cook?” she asked, surprise evident in her voice as she noticed the elaborate place settings on the dining table.
“Kane,” Haze answered.
She giggled, and the sound went straight to my cock. Everything about her affected me like this—her laugh, her smile, the way she moved.
“Wine?” I offered, already reaching for a bottle of red I'd bought specifically for tonight.
“Please.” She wandered into the living room, her fingers trailing over the leather couch. My mind immediately went to how she'd look spread out on it, begging for us.
The image was so vivid I had to adjust my cock that had decided to rise to the occasion.
Nova paused at a black and white photo on the wall—one of Haze and me as teenagers, arms slung around each other's shoulders. We couldn't have been more than fifteen, but even then, our bond was evident.
“You two have known each other a long time,” she said softly, studying the photo.
I stepped closer, offering her the wine. “Since we were kids,” I explained, watching her take a sip. “Everything we've done, we've done together.”
Her breath caught at the implication in my tone, a pretty blush staining her cheeks. Good. I wanted her to think about exactly what that meant.
The timer in the kitchen chimed, drawing her attention. “Something smells amazing.”
“Garlic butter shrimp pasta,” I told her. “With fresh herbs from the garden out back.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You have a garden?”
“Kane,” Haze rumbled, his lips twitching.
I flipped him off good-naturedly, enjoying Nova's delighted laugh.
This was what we wanted. Her, comfortable and relaxed, seeing how naturally she could fit here with us.
“Dinner's ready,” I announced, guiding her to the dining room. I pulled out the chair that would put her between us. A statement I was not so subtly trying to make.
Nova sat delicately, seeming still a little on edge. Haze and I took our seats beside her, and I started passing around the food. I needed her to feel at ease. This was just dinner.
As we all dug in, she finally started to relax. The wine helped, but it was more than that.
She seemed to be genuinely getting comfortable here, between us.
“This is incredible,” she said, twirling another forkful of pasta. A small drop of sauce clung to her lower lip, and I had to grip my thigh under the table to keep from leaning over and licking it off.
“Kane's good with his hands,” Haze commented, more words than he usually spoke.
Nova’s cheeks turned a bright shade of red, the double meaning not lost on her.
I let the conversation flow naturally for a while, enjoying how she opened up to us. She told us about her aunt who raised her, about her love of books, about her dreams of having a family someday.
Finally, when the plates were nearly empty and Nova was on her second glass of wine, I decided it was time.
“So, Nova,” I started, deliberately letting my voice drop into that commanding tone that always made her squirm. “There's something we should discuss.”
She set down her fork, those blue eyes wide and questioning.
“You've noticed how Haze and I operate,” I continued, watching her carefully. “We share everything.”
A pretty blush spread across her cheeks, down her neck, disappearing beneath the neckline of her dress. “Everything?”
“Everything,” Haze confirmed, his voice thick with desire. That single word seemed to hang in the air between us.
I leaned forward, holding her gaze. “But there's more to it than that, Kitten. I have... specific tastes when it comes to pleasure.”
Her fingers tightened around her wine glass. “What kind of tastes?”
“I like control,” I stated plainly, watching her reaction carefully.
Instead of fear or disgust, I saw curiosity spark in those innocent eyes. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, and fuck, if that didn't make my cock jump.
“Haze and I,” I continued, my voice dropping lower, “we've shared women before. But never like this. Never someone we both wanted to keep.”
Her eyes darted between us, her chest rising and falling with quickened breaths. “And you... you both want...”
“You,” Haze finished for her, reaching out to brush his knuckles down her cheek.
“Have you ever explored, Kitten?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
She shook her head, but her pupils were dilated, and her breathing shallow. “No, I’ve never...” She blushed again, and I had a feeling I knew exactly what it was that she wasn't saying.
“Would you like to?” I asked, keeping my voice gentle despite the desire raging through me. “With us?”
Her eyes darted between Haze and me, uncertainty warring with desire on her beautiful face.
“Take care of you,” Haze promised her, his deep voice gentler than I'd ever heard it. “Keep you safe.”
“Show you pleasure like you've never known,” I added. “But only if and when you're ready.”
Nova took a shaky breath, her fingers toying with the stem of her wine glass. “I... Okay.”
Thank fuck.
I opened my mouth, but before I could respond, she quickly added, “But I need time. To process all this.”
Pride swelled in my chest at her honesty. My kitten was soft and sweet, but those claws were sharp when she needed them to be.
“Of course,” I assured her, reaching across the table for her hand. “We'll go as slow as you need. No pressure.”
Haze watched silently, taking it all in. He was a man of action; words didn’t mean shit to him. Truth be told, I was surprised he’d said so much tonight.
Nova swallowed hard, and I watched the pulse flutter in her throat. “Can I ask questions? About... about how it would work? With both of you?”
“Always,” I replied. “What do you want to know, kitten?”
She bit her lower lip, gathering courage. “Do you... do you both want to control me?”
Having sweet innocent Nova here, talking about sex, was sexy as hell. “No, Kitten. I'm the only one who likes control. Haze… he has... different tastes.” I swayed my head back and forth trying to find the words to make her understand. “Do you know what a voyeur is?”
Her nose scrunched up adorably. “Like a peeping Tom?”
I burst out laughing. God, she was too fucking cute. “Sorta, but Haze is different. He wants to fuck you, but he gets off watching too.”
Her eyes were big and round, and her cheeks were crimson. So fucking cute. “Oh,” she whispered, understanding dawning in her eyes.
“Exactly.” I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Together, we'll give you everything you need.”
Her tongue swept across her pouty bottom lip. “And what would you expect from me?”
“Trust,” Haze answered immediately. “Honesty.”
“Loyalty,” I added, watching her eyes for a response. Loyalty was everything in this life and the one thing that mattered most to me.
Nova's tongue darted out to wet her lips again. “And if I don't want to do this?”
“Then we don't,” I stated firmly.
She nodded, and I could tell that she was processing everything we’d laid out.
Finally, she looked up, her eyes giving away the decision she’d made. “I want to try.”
“Such a good girl,” I praised, watching her shiver at the words.
“Slow,” Haze added.
When we finally drove her back to the clubhouse, I helped her out of the car and pulled her close.
“Sweet dreams, Kitten,” I murmured against her ear. “Think about what we discussed.”
She tipped her head back to look at me. “Are you not staying here tonight?”
My eyes raked over her face, noting her downturned lips. As much as I wanted to tell her fuck yes, you'll never sleep without me again, I knew that wasn't what she needed right now. Instead, I dropped a kiss onto her lips and did the less selfish thing. “No. You need your own space right now. But we'll see you first thing tomorrow, yeah?”
She nodded, her small body trembling against mine.
When I released her, Haze stepped forward, his large hand cupping her cheek.
“Baby,” he rumbled, then pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before stepping back.
“Go on inside now.”
Haze and I watched until she was safely inside before climbing back into the car. Pulling through the gates, I was pleased that the evening had gone better than we'd hoped.
“Perfect,” Haze said from beside me.
I nodded. I couldn't agree more.
She was fucking perfect.
Now we just had to show her that she belonged with us.