If Only
Page 83
She sighed, trying to pull up either anger or satisfaction or pity, but found an absence of any deep emotion. Her father truly wasn’t part of her life anymore.
And she had a new family.
Detouring to the kitchen, she glanced out the back door. Two men sitting at the end of the dock. No change there, dammit.
Growling to herself, Sally went into the great room. At least Glock would be some company. She dropped down on the couch and pulled Glock into her lap. After an indignant look, the cat stood and arranged himself more comfortably—in the same position.
“Jeez, you and Galen are real control freaks, aren’t you?” She scratched his chin.
His rumbling purr was both agreement and enjoyment.
At least someone was content. Well, apparently everyone except her. Her two men had finished their beers long ago and now just sat outside. Talking and laughing—easy laughter, which she hadn’t heard in far too long.
Fine.
Although three days had passed, Galen hadn’t mentioned their talk at Kari’s house and her concerns. That sure didn’t seem fair. He was always after her to express her emotions, and now he was ignoring her?
Of course they’d been swamped in paperwork. And healing.
Still, she needed to decide what to do. She’d wanted to give Galen a little extra time to think, but now she should speak with Vance and at least let him know her worries. Then again, Galen might well have told him.
Would she stay, even knowing how dangerous their jobs were? She sighed. Yes. Kari was right. If the job was what they needed to feel complete, she had no right to change them. She loved their dedication and the way their protectiveness extended to the whole world.
But it’d sure be horrid to watch them go to work each day. Sure, anyone could die, but the odds of being injured or killed were a lot higher for law-enforcement types. Hopefully she wouldn’t turn into as much of a worrywart as Galen.
But, whatever happened, she loved them. This is where I’ll be. In their home. In their bed. In their arms.
If she didn’t kill them herself before the week was out. What were they talking about? She stroked Glock’s long gray body. “So, fur ball, I’m not real happy about being left in here with just a cat for company. If you were their submissive, what would you do?”
An indifferent tail flick was her answer.
“No, leaving them alone to enjoy their evening isn’t the answer. I’m not nice.”
The kitty smirk showed Glock’s opinion of niceness. Felines didn’t do nice. Felines did sneaky.
“Sneaky. I can be sneaky.” She considered. “Maybe I should be a sweet service sub and take my men some fresh drinks. Excellent suggestion, Glock.”
When she dumped him on the couch, she could swear the annoyed cat called her one of the names Gabi had mentioned.
After grabbing beers from the fridge, Sally headed outside…quietly. Eavesdropping? Me? Surely not.
Their voices were low murmurs that blended far too well with the soughing of the breeze in the tree canopy and the gentle lapping of water against the pilings.
Demon Doms.
A rough patch of wood on the dock caught her foot, and the beer bottles clanked together. As the men turned toward her, she smiled. “I thought you might be ready for refills.”
“Did you now, pet?” Galen’s smile was too darned knowing. “That was thoughtful of you.”
Fine. She turned her back on him.
As Vance took his beer, he subjected her to a slow perusal. “Did you feel left out, sweetheart?”
Well, honestly, maybe she had felt left out, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be interrogated. Stupid Feds. She gave him a smile that was 90 percent sugar. “Don’t give yourself airs. I just brought you some beer.”
She set Galen’s beer on his chair arm and got three steps toward the house before one of them caught her shorts waistband and dragged her backward.
“Dammit, let me go!” She tried to twist around. Vance had her.
“Don’t think so. Here, bro. Catch.” Vance yanked sideways, flinging her toward Galen.
Galen leaned forward, grabbed her waist, and pulled her into his lap.
“Demon fucking Dom, I didn’t come out here to—” She shoved at his hands until he trapped her wrists in front of her. “Let go, you asshole!”
“The little ones are fun when they wiggle,” Galen said in a conversational voice.
“Got to agree with that.” Vance set his beer on the dock and pulled his chair closer as Sally glared at him. “Can’t say I care for that language—or attitude.” He regarded her. “Been a while since we spanked our little imp.”
Sally froze.
Both men burst out laughing, and it would only be justice if her glower could turn them into stone. Or at least boil their beer. But nooo.
Galen tightened his grip around her wrists before sliding his free hand under her shirt.
“No bra. Very nice.” A calloused finger circled one nipple before his palm cupped her whole breast. He kissed the curve between her neck and shoulder, sending goose bumps down her arms. “She smells like vanilla.”
Because she’d started to make the ungrateful bastards a cake.
“Yeah? Let’s see.” Vance pulled his chair next to Galen’s, and his hand went under her shirt, possessing her other breast before he kissed the other side of her neck. Two men touching her, kissing her. Her insides began to boil, melting her resistance, her anger, her hurt feelings.
Vance took her mouth in a long, deep, wet kiss. “Have I mentioned how much I love you, sweetheart?”
“I—”
“I love you, imp,” Galen whispered in her ear and nipped her earlobe, sending dark desire pooling in her belly.
“Mmm.” A hum had started under her skin. In the moonlight, their faces were shadowed, but her hands knew their shapes. She flattened a palm on each cheek. Galen’s hard beard stubble, Vance’s softer.
Galen set his hand over hers, turning his face enough to press a kiss to her palm. “Want to know what we were talking about, Ms. Curiosity?”
“I certainly would, Master Grumpy Pants.”
Galen’s grin flashed before he ran his fingers over the breast he’d captured and used his fingernails to pinch the very tip.
A tiny zing shot straight to her pussy. He tugged on the entire areola, and the boiling anticipation coursing through her made her squirm.
Vance curved his hand over her upper thigh, his weight stopping her wiggles, his fingers rubbing lightly against her pussy. “We were talking about you, of course.”
“Oh.” Right. Her curiosity rose, vying with her arousal. “Anything you want me to know?”
“Aren’t you just the well-behaved submissive?” Galen commented. His tone turned grave. “Yes, you need to know what we decided.”
Her heart seemed to stop, and she chilled despite the heat inside. Were they going to send her away? She swallowed back her fears and lifted her chin. They loved her, and if they’d decided on anything short of living together, they’d have a fight on their hands. “Spit it out.”
“I like when she gets all pissy.” Vance grinned at Galen before his gaze met hers. “Galen told me about your talk. Your concern about our jobs.”
Oh, no no no. They were going to call it quits. Ice invaded her bloodstream, and she had to clasp her hands together to keep them from shaking. “But I—I didn’t give Galen an ultimatum. I just said I was concerned.”
“Ah, but we’re giving you an ultimatum, pet,” Galen said softly.
Vance turned her face to his. “We’ll change to less risky jobs…”
Less risky? They’d be safe? The surge of relief was a massive roaring in her ears. Safe.
Galen finished, “But in return, you will marry us. Both of us.”
The roaring ceased as the word registered. The big M one. Marry? Her heart stopped. The world stopped.
She stared at Vance, at the certainty in his grin. At Galen with the calmness, the happiness in his smile. “Oh yes.”
Lunging out of the chair, she wrapped her arms around Vance’s neck and kissed him. “Yes. Yes, I will.” The kiss was possessive. Hot. “I love you so much.”
When Vance pulled back, he turned her around.
She put her hands on each side of Galen’s face and kissed him, trying to tell him without words how much she loved him.
They’d demanded she free herself from her past—and cared enough to change for her. She lifted her head, looked into Galen’s intense black eyes, and repeated, “Yes. Yes, I will.”
As she turned and wrapped an arm around each man, she frowned. “You’d better not go and get all depressed again, or next time I’m aiming for your balls.”
“Fuck, she’s a mean subbie,” Vance muttered before he recaptured her breast as if he had the right.
“Ayuh.” Galen slipped his hand between her legs. “But she’s our mean subbie.”
Epilogue
Two months later
After hanging a sign on the front door directing people toward the side gate, Galen made his way through the house and out the back.
The sound of easy conversation and laughter washed over him as he crossed the patio. Splashing came from the pool where Jessica and Beth were swimming token laps, stopping at each end to gossip and giggle.
And she had a new family.
Detouring to the kitchen, she glanced out the back door. Two men sitting at the end of the dock. No change there, dammit.
Growling to herself, Sally went into the great room. At least Glock would be some company. She dropped down on the couch and pulled Glock into her lap. After an indignant look, the cat stood and arranged himself more comfortably—in the same position.
“Jeez, you and Galen are real control freaks, aren’t you?” She scratched his chin.
His rumbling purr was both agreement and enjoyment.
At least someone was content. Well, apparently everyone except her. Her two men had finished their beers long ago and now just sat outside. Talking and laughing—easy laughter, which she hadn’t heard in far too long.
Fine.
Although three days had passed, Galen hadn’t mentioned their talk at Kari’s house and her concerns. That sure didn’t seem fair. He was always after her to express her emotions, and now he was ignoring her?
Of course they’d been swamped in paperwork. And healing.
Still, she needed to decide what to do. She’d wanted to give Galen a little extra time to think, but now she should speak with Vance and at least let him know her worries. Then again, Galen might well have told him.
Would she stay, even knowing how dangerous their jobs were? She sighed. Yes. Kari was right. If the job was what they needed to feel complete, she had no right to change them. She loved their dedication and the way their protectiveness extended to the whole world.
But it’d sure be horrid to watch them go to work each day. Sure, anyone could die, but the odds of being injured or killed were a lot higher for law-enforcement types. Hopefully she wouldn’t turn into as much of a worrywart as Galen.
But, whatever happened, she loved them. This is where I’ll be. In their home. In their bed. In their arms.
If she didn’t kill them herself before the week was out. What were they talking about? She stroked Glock’s long gray body. “So, fur ball, I’m not real happy about being left in here with just a cat for company. If you were their submissive, what would you do?”
An indifferent tail flick was her answer.
“No, leaving them alone to enjoy their evening isn’t the answer. I’m not nice.”
The kitty smirk showed Glock’s opinion of niceness. Felines didn’t do nice. Felines did sneaky.
“Sneaky. I can be sneaky.” She considered. “Maybe I should be a sweet service sub and take my men some fresh drinks. Excellent suggestion, Glock.”
When she dumped him on the couch, she could swear the annoyed cat called her one of the names Gabi had mentioned.
After grabbing beers from the fridge, Sally headed outside…quietly. Eavesdropping? Me? Surely not.
Their voices were low murmurs that blended far too well with the soughing of the breeze in the tree canopy and the gentle lapping of water against the pilings.
Demon Doms.
A rough patch of wood on the dock caught her foot, and the beer bottles clanked together. As the men turned toward her, she smiled. “I thought you might be ready for refills.”
“Did you now, pet?” Galen’s smile was too darned knowing. “That was thoughtful of you.”
Fine. She turned her back on him.
As Vance took his beer, he subjected her to a slow perusal. “Did you feel left out, sweetheart?”
Well, honestly, maybe she had felt left out, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be interrogated. Stupid Feds. She gave him a smile that was 90 percent sugar. “Don’t give yourself airs. I just brought you some beer.”
She set Galen’s beer on his chair arm and got three steps toward the house before one of them caught her shorts waistband and dragged her backward.
“Dammit, let me go!” She tried to twist around. Vance had her.
“Don’t think so. Here, bro. Catch.” Vance yanked sideways, flinging her toward Galen.
Galen leaned forward, grabbed her waist, and pulled her into his lap.
“Demon fucking Dom, I didn’t come out here to—” She shoved at his hands until he trapped her wrists in front of her. “Let go, you asshole!”
“The little ones are fun when they wiggle,” Galen said in a conversational voice.
“Got to agree with that.” Vance set his beer on the dock and pulled his chair closer as Sally glared at him. “Can’t say I care for that language—or attitude.” He regarded her. “Been a while since we spanked our little imp.”
Sally froze.
Both men burst out laughing, and it would only be justice if her glower could turn them into stone. Or at least boil their beer. But nooo.
Galen tightened his grip around her wrists before sliding his free hand under her shirt.
“No bra. Very nice.” A calloused finger circled one nipple before his palm cupped her whole breast. He kissed the curve between her neck and shoulder, sending goose bumps down her arms. “She smells like vanilla.”
Because she’d started to make the ungrateful bastards a cake.
“Yeah? Let’s see.” Vance pulled his chair next to Galen’s, and his hand went under her shirt, possessing her other breast before he kissed the other side of her neck. Two men touching her, kissing her. Her insides began to boil, melting her resistance, her anger, her hurt feelings.
Vance took her mouth in a long, deep, wet kiss. “Have I mentioned how much I love you, sweetheart?”
“I—”
“I love you, imp,” Galen whispered in her ear and nipped her earlobe, sending dark desire pooling in her belly.
“Mmm.” A hum had started under her skin. In the moonlight, their faces were shadowed, but her hands knew their shapes. She flattened a palm on each cheek. Galen’s hard beard stubble, Vance’s softer.
Galen set his hand over hers, turning his face enough to press a kiss to her palm. “Want to know what we were talking about, Ms. Curiosity?”
“I certainly would, Master Grumpy Pants.”
Galen’s grin flashed before he ran his fingers over the breast he’d captured and used his fingernails to pinch the very tip.
A tiny zing shot straight to her pussy. He tugged on the entire areola, and the boiling anticipation coursing through her made her squirm.
Vance curved his hand over her upper thigh, his weight stopping her wiggles, his fingers rubbing lightly against her pussy. “We were talking about you, of course.”
“Oh.” Right. Her curiosity rose, vying with her arousal. “Anything you want me to know?”
“Aren’t you just the well-behaved submissive?” Galen commented. His tone turned grave. “Yes, you need to know what we decided.”
Her heart seemed to stop, and she chilled despite the heat inside. Were they going to send her away? She swallowed back her fears and lifted her chin. They loved her, and if they’d decided on anything short of living together, they’d have a fight on their hands. “Spit it out.”
“I like when she gets all pissy.” Vance grinned at Galen before his gaze met hers. “Galen told me about your talk. Your concern about our jobs.”
Oh, no no no. They were going to call it quits. Ice invaded her bloodstream, and she had to clasp her hands together to keep them from shaking. “But I—I didn’t give Galen an ultimatum. I just said I was concerned.”
“Ah, but we’re giving you an ultimatum, pet,” Galen said softly.
Vance turned her face to his. “We’ll change to less risky jobs…”
Less risky? They’d be safe? The surge of relief was a massive roaring in her ears. Safe.
Galen finished, “But in return, you will marry us. Both of us.”
The roaring ceased as the word registered. The big M one. Marry? Her heart stopped. The world stopped.
She stared at Vance, at the certainty in his grin. At Galen with the calmness, the happiness in his smile. “Oh yes.”
Lunging out of the chair, she wrapped her arms around Vance’s neck and kissed him. “Yes. Yes, I will.” The kiss was possessive. Hot. “I love you so much.”
When Vance pulled back, he turned her around.
She put her hands on each side of Galen’s face and kissed him, trying to tell him without words how much she loved him.
They’d demanded she free herself from her past—and cared enough to change for her. She lifted her head, looked into Galen’s intense black eyes, and repeated, “Yes. Yes, I will.”
As she turned and wrapped an arm around each man, she frowned. “You’d better not go and get all depressed again, or next time I’m aiming for your balls.”
“Fuck, she’s a mean subbie,” Vance muttered before he recaptured her breast as if he had the right.
“Ayuh.” Galen slipped his hand between her legs. “But she’s our mean subbie.”
Epilogue
Two months later
After hanging a sign on the front door directing people toward the side gate, Galen made his way through the house and out the back.
The sound of easy conversation and laughter washed over him as he crossed the patio. Splashing came from the pool where Jessica and Beth were swimming token laps, stopping at each end to gossip and giggle.
