His hand moved quickly, tangling in her hair, pulling it back with a little bite of pain. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, James.”
“That’s right. You call me by my name.” He whispered the command in her ear.
She shivered at the dominant tone. “James.”
“That’s right.” He slipped in behind her and cupped her breasts.
“My James.” He was hers. For now.
His fingers tightened on her nipples, rolling them between his thumbs and forefingers. He tugged and rolled and played her like a finely tuned instrument. “You’re lovely, Hope. You hide this under all those clothes.”
She had her reasons for wearing her dowdy, sensible clothes. They reminded her that once she hadn’t been sensible at all, and it had cost someone her life.
She banished him. Christian had no place here. But Noah did.
“Hello, darlin’.”
James didn’t stop his slow exploration of her breasts even as his brother’s voice filled the room.
“You are one gorgeous woman,” Noah said.
Like his brother, he was half-naked, showing off a phenomenally built chest. He was bulkier than his brother. He obviously spent a lot of time in the gym. He was darker, more brooding. He was completely sexy. She could still hear his dark voice telling her to not lie to him. He’d taken control when he’d found her on the side of the road. He’d been commanding, and everything deep inside her had responded to his take-charge attitude.
She liked the fact that he was a little rough. He hadn’t tried to charm her. He’d told her what he wanted. Charm could be deceptive. There he was again. Christian was always there trying to fuck everything up. But this was her time, and he wasn’t welcome.
“She is gorgeous, brother.” James lowered his head as he gently pushed her back into the pillows. When had he gotten in front of her? He seemed to move like a wraith. One minute he was behind her, his denims making contact with the soft flesh of her ass, and then next he was easing her down to the bed.
Noah stood beside them, looking down on Hope with a satisfied smile. “I knew we would be here.”
She wasn’t sure why they weren’t fighting, but she was willing to go with it. The idea of both James and Noah wanting her made her heart soar. So different and yet so sweetly alike. Their shared history was so interesting to her. She’d never had a sibling. Her mom had one child, and that had proven way too much for her to handle. Hope had dreamed of a family and one that didn’t consist of mere duty. Her mother had shoved a plate of food in front of her at dinnertime and then turned on the TV. And when she was sixteen, her mom had screamed at her to get out because Hope hadn’t gotten along with her new boyfriend. She wanted a family like James and Noah had had. It was as alluring as their hard bodies and gorgeous faces. It was sexier than anything.
She imagined herself between them. Warmth and strength would surround her. She would feel small even though she wasn’t. She would feel safe, engulfed by their power.
“Could someone kiss me?”
Something was wrong. She could feel it. There was something she was missing, but James leaned forward and sucked her nipple into his mouth. Noah climbed on the bed behind her, turning her head gently so he could take her mouth. His tongue surged inside, playing against hers. So sweet. She loved the way he tasted and how James sucked her nipples. This was what she’d longed for—to be the center of their attention. She’d only known Noah for a day, but she longed for him.
She hissed at the little nip James gave her.
“Oh, he’s a bad man, Hope.” Noah chuckled against her lips. “He’s going to leave marks.”
She would take them. She didn’t mind rough. She liked it. She would like to walk around knowing her flesh bore a little bit of James Glen’s discipline. Damn. She was a freak, but it was fine.
“I’m going to leave a mark, too, darlin’.” Noah pressed kisses all over her face. “I’m going to spank that pretty ass of yours just before I fuck it. I’m going to open up your asshole and shove my cock in.”
She shuddered a bit. Dark and forbidden. He would take her to places she’d never been before.
“This is mine.” James’s fingers slid through her pussy. “I’m going to eat this like a ripe peach.”
That sounded perfect.
James kissed his way down her torso, dipping his tongue into her navel before rubbing his nose right in her pussy. “You smell good, Hope.”
“He likes to eat pussy,” Noah said. “I do, too, but I can wait my turn.”
She gasped as James’s tongue slid over her clit. It felt so good. Her whole body was languid and soft. She was their pretty plaything.
“You’ll be waiting a while, brother. This is my treat for now,” James said before shoving his tongue right up her cunt.
“He never liked to share our toys.” Noah frowned. “I’m going to tell Mom.”
“Are not.” James’s head came up.
“Are, too.” Noah was frowning like a mad toddler.
“Are not.”
“Are, too.”
Hope sat straight up in bed. “What is wrong with you two?”
“It’s his fault.” Noah pointed at James.
James rolled his eyes. “Is not.”
“Is, too.”
“You’ll have to forgive them,” a very cultured British voice said. Hope looked down, and Butch sat at the end of the bed dressed in a crisp doggy tuxedo. “They really have no manners. But that one does.”
She followed the dog’s line of vision.
James and Noah were gone. Christian Grady stood over the bed, the golden halo of his hair shining in the moonlight.
“Did you think I would let you get away from me? There’s no leaving me, Hope. You’re mine. Forever.” He smiled down at her, and that was when she noticed the long silver knife in his hand. It dripped with blood. “I can keep you with me forever.”
Hope woke up screaming.
Her heart raced as she clutched the quilt. The dream hung like cobwebs, muddling her mind. She was at the Circle G. She was in the guest bedroom.
And she suddenly wasn’t alone. The door slammed open and James stood there, his hair wild and wearing nothing beyond a pair of boxers. He had a baseball bat in his hand, his every muscle ready for a fight. “What’s happening? Is someone in here?”
James held up the bat as he walked around the room. He threw open the closet door.
Her hands were still shaking. She looked down to make sure she was still in her pajamas. It was stupid, but she was still foggy. Everything was in place. Before she could answer, Noah and Butch were in the doorway. Noah had on flannel pajama bottoms, and Butch was just a dog. His tongue lolled out, and his tail thumped. He looked excited about the potential of a little late-night play.
“Are you okay, Hope?” Noah asked, his eyes wide.
She was now. And she felt a little dumb. “I am so sorry. It was a bad dream. I take it I screamed?”
“Like someone was trying to kill you.” James’s chest moved up and down as he finally let the bat drop. He eyed his brother. “Were you going to have Butch lick the intruder to death?”
Noah absently ran a hand across his dog’s head. “Were you going to use someone’s head for batting practice? Let me point out that your batting average was under two hundred.”
James shot his brother the finger before turning back to her. “Would you like to tell me what the dream was about?”
God, no. Let’s see, it was about having some hot sex with both you and your brother, and then Noah’s dog turns out to be the voice of reason and oh, yeah, my criminally insane ex showed back up, and he was holding the knife that he used to kill my best friend. Yeah, no way was she telling him any of that.
Hope shook her head. “I really can’t remember.”