She awoke before dark to the aroma of frying bacon. The living room TV was on, but with the sound turned low. The men stood in the kitchen, shirtless, but wearing boxers. She watched as they worked together to cook dinner. Thomas occasionally patted Tyler on the ass to get by, Tyler put his hand on Tom’s back, both smiling and talking in low tones so as not to wake her.
Status quo re-established. Moving with caution she stood, startling them when she appeared in the kitchen doorway.
“Are we okay now?” she asked.
They looked at each other and nodded.
She kissed Thomas, then Tyler. “Please don’t ever scare me like that again. Promise?”
“We promise,” Thomas said. “I’m sorry we put you through more stress. And I’m sorry about—”
“You’re still my masters, and I’m still your little slave. Truth be told, the Halloween party was fun.” She looked at Tyler. “Now I understand why you planned it so well.”
He hung his head. “I’m sorry you thought we were using you, Nevvie. I never wanted you to think that, sweetheart.”
“Shh. Stop, it’s okay. Good make-up sex after I fell asleep?”
The men grinned.
“I’m sorry I missed that.” She took a deep breath. “You know, I’ve been thinking I’d like to change my name.”
Tyler frowned in confusion. “What?”
“How does Nevaeh Kinsey-Paulson sound to you two?”
Their jaws dropped and they gently hugged her.
“Fantastic,” Tyler said.
“Beautiful,” said Thomas.
“Good. Then that’s settled. After Alex’s trial is over, we’ll do it. I don’t want to do it before.”
“Because it would look odd on the witness list,” Tyler said.
“Yes. I imagine it’s going to be interesting enough. Don’t need to add any other acts to that three-ring circus. Of course, you know what that means, right?”
Both men shook their heads, confused.
With a sultry smile and sexy voice she purred, “It means once my name is changed, I’ll have given myself, totally, to my masters. Then they can finally take what’s rightfully theirs to have.”
The men were a little slow on the uptake. She blamed it on stress. Tyler got it first, then Thomas a moment later. Both men smiled.
“Seriously?” Tyler whispered.
“It’s only fair.” She studied his blue eyes. God, she loved these men. “I know you won’t hurt me. You’ll be as gentle as you were with Thomas.”
Thomas put his hand on the small of her back. “We’ll be gentle, we promise. And if it doesn’t—”
She stopped him. “It’ll feel great because I know you will have it all planned, right?”
Tyler grinned, kissing her again. “Yes, sweetheart, we’ll have it planned.”
Dinner was wonderful. She managed to sit at the table without too much pain. Tyler made her favorite comfort food—BLT sandwiches on soft honey wheat bread, the bacon cooked exactly how she liked.
Of course.
After dinner she settled on the couch while the boys cleaned up the kitchen. They watched TV and talked for a while then she waved them over.
“Help me up. Let’s go to bed.”
She sighed as she nestled against Tyler. His body fit her perfectly like that, exactly supporting and holding her. Facing Thomas, she tucked her head in the crook of his arm while his other rested across them on Tyler’s hip. Like that, they fell asleep as one.
She had no bad dreams.
The next morning she opened her eyes to find Thomas watching her.
“Good morning, sugar.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “How’d you sleep?”
She caressed his cheek. “Real good, now that I’m back where I belong.”
Tyler gently squeezed her shoulder and kissed the nape of her neck. “Good morning, love.”
She patted his hand, still too sore to turn her head that far. “Good morning.” Then she noticed the time, after eight. “Oh, geez, I’m sorry guys. I didn’t realize I’d slept that late.”
“It’s okay,” Thomas said. “We’ve been awake for a while. We didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You stayed in bed so I wouldn’t wake up?” He nodded. “My boys are back for good, right?”
“Yes,” they said.
Thomas leaned in for another kiss. “I’ll go start coffee and get your morning meds.”
“Thank you.”
He carefully rolled away, trying not to jostle her. Naked, he walked to the kitchen. She watched his backside down the hall as long as she could.
“Yum.”
Tyler laughed. “Reading my mind again, sweet?” He moved out of her way so she could roll over and look at him.
She touched his cheek. “There you are.”
He brushed the hair from her face. “Here I am, love. Always.” He leaned in for a proper kiss, his eyes locked on hers. “Thank you, love,” he whispered. “Thank you from the bottom of my soul.”
“Tyler, if you think I’m letting you two screw things up around here, you’re sadly mistaken.”
“You’re bloody brilliant. You should go back to school, become a psychologist.”
“Hey, I learned from the master.”
Tyler laughed out loud. “Have I ever told you how much I absolutely love you?” His eyes bored into hers and she felt the pull with him, that special unique connection that was different from, but equally strong as, what she had with Thomas.
“I love you, too. Don’t you ever forget it. Now help me up and get your ass out to the kitchen to make my coffee before Tom does.”
He grinned. “Gladly. Anything for my angel.”
Chapter 30
Nevvie’s physical wounds healed. She had to force Thomas to go back to the office, and Tyler to get back to writing. Both wanted to wait on her hand and foot. While Thomas moved on and put it behind him, Tyler was still deeply wrapped in his guilt and shame over the events, no matter how much she assured him that it wasn’t his fault.
She didn’t know how to pull him from that, and when she tried to talk to him about it he deftly steered the conversation elsewhere. It affected his writing, even though he tried to hide it from her. Many days he sat in his office for hours without composing a single sentence.
Bob was their contact with the State Attorney’s office and she dealt with him directly. Tyler had enough guilt and she made a point of keeping the men out of the loop throughout the process.
Nevvie steeled herself for the trial preparation. First step was to inform the assistant state attorney handling the case of their “arrangement.” Bob went with her.
“It is likely the defense will try to impeach all three witnesses, taint the jury’s opinion,” Bob said.
The assistant S.A., Frank Smith, looked like he hadn’t graduated high school yet. “How so?”
“It’s not entirely accurate to say that Ms. Barton is Tyler and Thomas’ roommate. It’s also inaccurate to say she’s Thomas’ fiancée.”
Smith frowned. “Then what would be accurate?”
“The three live together.”
“How is that different than being roommates?”
“They live together. All three of them. Together.”
He chewed on that for a moment, staring at Nevvie before Bob’s words finally sank home. “What? Like those people out in Utah?”
“No. They have a monogamously polyamorous relationship.”
“Try saying that five times fast,” Nevvie muttered.
Bob nudged her foot. “It’s not for religious reasons, and they’re not committing bigamy. I’m assuming you will take a vigorous stance on objecting to any improper questions regarding their personal relationship? It has nothing to do with the fact that Mr. LaRougue stalked Ms. Barton and attempted to murder her.”