“Burke. I’m so glad you’re here. You are back in the country, right?” Hilary’s voice was tremulous.
“Yes, we’re both here.”
She sighed with relief. “I’m glad you’re back. Something strange happened. A man came into the office asking all sorts of questions about you and Cole.”
Marco or one of his henchmen. Burke’s blood ran cold. While Burke wasn’t terribly surprised the bastard would question Hilary, he hadn’t expected Marco to do it so openly. So brazenly. Marco would only do it if he felt entirely confident he could win this game.
“Don’t talk to anyone. I can’t say more, but you need to close the office and work out of the Black Oak building for now. Tell Dex James I said to put you up in a hotel.”
Marco hadn’t said a word about going after anyone besides Jessa, but Burke didn’t need any more guilt if the fucker changed his mind.
“I don’t understand. Please, Burke. Can you just come back and tell me what’s going on? I need to see you. You’ve been gone so long, and I need your signature on about a hundred documents. I don’t want to work from Black Oak. Dex James was here earlier today, and he was very rude.”
Dex? Rude? Yeah, not a shock. If Hilary had given Dex the slightest bit of grief, he would have steamrolled right over the petite blonde. Dex got things done. He didn’t let little things like procedure or protocol stop him. Procedure and protocol were two of Hilary’s favorite words. “I’m sorry about that, Hilary, but Dex had to move fast.”
“Why didn’t you just call me? I would have gotten you whatever you needed. I run this office. I didn’t need some brute to come in and take over.”
He sighed. This was the trouble with Hilary. She sometimes sounded like a fainting Southern belle. And sometimes she protected her territory like a rabid pit bull. He didn’t need this shit, but he’d left her a lot to deal with.
Much like Jessa.
“I’m sorry, Hilary. We had to move quickly.”
“I don’t even know what he took. He simply detached a couple of the computer things. He even demanded that I give up my laptop. I barely managed to convince him to let me get my CD out. It was rather like a burglary. He should be happy I didn’t call the police.”
He could practically see her frown. Hilary Stevens was only thirty-two, but sometimes her disapproval made her seem much older. She really should have been a school teacher since she often made those around her feel like naughty children. “It’s a good thing you didn’t. I don’t think Dex would have taken well to that.”
“At least his brothers are polite. I don’t see how brothers can be so very different, but you and Cole are proof, I suppose. Anyway, why don’t you come into the office? Or I can meet you. I don’t know what’s going on, but it sounds dangerous. It’s best if we stick together.”
Yeah, that would be great. Adding a woman with a perpetual stick up her ass and a little crush on him to the mix would be awesome. No. Marco’s target was Jessa, and Burke had to concentrate on her. “No. We’re involved in something bad, and I’m worried that anyone close to us will be hurt. Do you remember Mick Landry?”
“Isn’t he the investigator you hired to keep track of that woman in New York?”
“Jessa, yes.”
He could practically see her shrug. “What does Mr. Landry have to do with any of this? He was supposed to submit a report two days ago. He’s late and won’t answer my calls. Do you see what I’ve had to deal with?”
“He was murdered.”
That shut her up. “I-I had no idea.”
“So call Gavin James. Get to a hotel. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going. And don’t call again unless it’s an emergency.” He flicked the phone off.
“I only had to hear half that conversation to know that Hilary sounds an awful lot like a jealous girlfriend.” Jessa watched him, her feet curved under her as she reclined on the bed.
“Hilary has a thing for Burke. She can’t stand me.” Cole looked up from his work. He had wires going everywhere. “I’m a caveman. I shouldn’t be allowed in polite society.”
Again, that tiny hint of a smile. “So she’s met you, then.”
“Many times.”
Burke stepped up. His brother might be the better tracker and better with weapons, but he was going to screw up the computer. “Give me that.”
Cole seemed damn happy to defer. He stared at Burke for a moment, sharing the link that bonded them together. His brother was happy that Jessa was no longer spitting and fuming. Burke nodded, but wasn’t so sure that their little kitten had quite put her claws away yet.
“Get some sleep, you two. Well, Jessa, you get some sleep. The faster you drop off, the faster Cole can slink into bed.”
“I hate you both.” But she was shaking her head as she crawled under the covers. “Just get in, Cole. But stay on your side.”
Burke had never seen his brother move so fast. Cole shrugged out of his jacket, pulled off his shoes, and had his hand on the fly of his jeans.
“Don’t you dare. The pants stay on.” Jessa settled in and turned out the light on her side of the bed.
Cole sighed, but didn’t remove his jeans before he climbed into bed.
Burke turned back to his work, his mind on the last time he’d been in a hotel room with Jessa. New Year’s Eve. The night he was pretty sure Caleb had been conceived.
* * * *
One year earlier, New Year’s Eve – New York City
Burke watched as Jessa walked through the door, her breasts practically falling out of the little black dress she’d poured herself into. She walked into their suite and sank down on the couch, a seductive little smile on her face.
She was so fucking gorgeous. He felt his brother step in next to him. Desire practically poured off Cole.
How did she do this to them? They’d been with her for a week. They had been sleeping with her for four days. Despite their misgivings over this terrible case, they hadn’t been able to stay away from her. They were addicted. They’d tried to lay low, spending most of their time in the suite, in their bed, inside her.
“I know we’ve talked about going to Times Square,” Jessa said, crossing her legs slowly.
That wasn’t a good idea. And it certainly wasn’t what Burke wanted to do. “We talked about it. We didn’t agree to it. It’s going to be very crowded.”
“I know. I think I had enough crowds at dinner tonight.”
Thank god. Burke could feel Cole relax a little. He hated big crowds, hated not being able to watch his back. “We can watch it on TV or go down to the bar, if you like.”
She shook her head. “I don’t like. I thought we could…experiment.”
Burke’s cock jerked in his slacks. They had taken Jessa over and over, but they hadn’t taken her together yet. They had spent nights preparing her, working fingers and plugs high into her perfect ass, forcing her to take more and more. “Be very explicit, sweetheart.”
She grinned saucily. “You two perverts love it when I talk dirty.”
“Yes. And I want you to talk dirty now,” Cole said, expressing exactly what Burke wanted. “Say it. Tell me every little detail, or you might not get what you want.”
Her nose wrinkled up, a sweet little expression. “You make things so hard, Cole. It would be so much easier if you’d just pounce and do nasty things to me.”
Cole shook his head. “But I need to know exactly what you want so I can give it to you.”
Burke patted his brother’s back. That wasn’t exactly true. Cole feared his own tendencies. Jessa could give Cole what he needed most: Permission. His brother never simply took what he wanted. He snarled with and fought his nature to conquer, to bring a woman to her knees. Cole didn’t want to hurt, but he craved the consent to let loose his inner restraints and utterly possess. And Burke himself simply needed to be wanted for something other than his cock, body, and smile.
Jessa cocked her head. “No, you need me to tell you that I want to be dominated. Isn’t that right?”
With a faint smile, Burke wondered how Jessa could, despite her relative inexperience, be so intuitive, so wise. But he was so damn glad she was. She was everything they needed.
She leaned forward, taking Cole’s hands—and giving them both a great view down her dress. “I want you to dominate me, Cole. And Burke, baby, I want you to be the loving, indulgent man you are. I want you both. I want the possessive caveman and the tender seducer. I want the whole package, especially since you come in two gorgeous bodies. I want you together and apart, and every way you’ll have me.”
Tears swam in her green eyes, glistened on her cheeks.
A melee of emotion surged and swarmed. It overflowed inside Burke. Fuck, he loved her. Absolutely loved her. The sentiment had never made sense before. Love had been elusive, something written about, but it had never meant anything. He understood now. Love was this ridiculous feeling of acceptance and hope and security. This was his family. These were the people he would grow old with, count on, build a life with.
“I’ll have you every way you’ll let me, sweetheart.” Burke was caught between his raging hard-on and his soft fucking heart. The rest of the world was a piece of shit, but Jessa…oh, Jessa made it all worthwhile.
Cole still held back. “Think carefully. I’ve been as gentle these past few days as I know how. But if you give me permission, the gloves come off, baby. And I can be damn dark.”
He could. Burke didn’t need a woman’s submission the way Cole did, but he understood his brother and often assisted so Cole got what he needed. “Sweetheart, I’ll keep him in check. He never pushes too far. Don’t be scared.”
Jessa stood and inched closer. “I’ve read up, looked at some videos. I’m ready to try more. I trust you.” She stared right at Cole. “Both of you.”
Burke watched his brother’s eyes close briefly. When they opened, the Dom had taken up residence in his brother’s body, and Burke knew they were in for an amazing night.
“You need a safe word, one you can say to stop everything. Pick one now.”
She blinked, hesitated. “Resolution?”
Cole nodded. “Resolution is fine. Now undress. Slowly. Take off your clothes and get to your knees. If you’ve done your research, then you know the slave pose. I want to see it.”
Burke took a long breath at the thought of their Jessa truly submitting.
She rose, a fine tremble in her hands, but her eyes were steady, resolute. Her hands went to the back of her dress.
“Will you help her, Burke?” Cole said, his gaze never leaving Jessa.
He stood behind her an instant later. “Allow me, sweetheart.”
Grabbing hold of the zipper, he dragged it down slowly, revealing her creamy skin. As he pulled, he kissed his way along her spine. Then he eased the dress down to her waist, trapping her arms at her sides. With a practiced hand, he flicked the clasp of her bra open, allowing her breasts to fall free.
“Is this what you wanted to see?” Burke asked, his hands coming around to cup her breasts. He watched Cole over Jessa’s shoulder. She wiggled a little, her ass grazing his cock. “Stop, sweetheart. Patience. Let me present you to Cole. He wants to see your breasts, pussy, and sweet ass.” He whispered in her ear, “We’re going to take your ass tonight, Jessa. We’re going to share you in every way possible.”
“I want that,” she managed to choke out a whisper.
“You’ll have it,” Cole said, backing away and sinking down into the plush chair across from them. “Eventually. But we do this my way tonight, Jessa.”
She nodded, gasping a little as Burke flicked her nipples, sending tingles and a bite of pain through them until they hardened. “Yes, Sir.”
Cole shook his head. “No. No ‘Sirs.’ My name, Jessa. Say my name. Tell me that you want both of us to take you. Together.”
That naughty backside of hers was moving again, twitching against him. “Yes, Cole. I want you and Burke to take me at the same time. I want you in my ass, Cole, and Burke in my pussy. I want to serve you tonight, to worship your cocks.”
“I like the sound of that.” Burke continued rolling her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. Her skin was flushing, her breasts swelling. He’d bet anything that pussy was nice and wet.
“It’s only fair,” she murmured. “You’ve worshipped me. I wouldn’t have believed it could be so good, that I would feel so…cherished.”
He kissed her neck. “You are cherished, Jessa.”
“Precious pet.” Cole consumed her with a stare. “So fucking precious. Show me that pussy. It belongs to us, and I want it on display.”
“Let’s do what he says, sweetheart. He’ll make it worthwhile.”
