Diane [The Town of Pearl 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (10 page)

“I’m not going to promise not to kiss her. Her kisses are fucking sweet.”

Drake smiled. “Tell me about it.”

* * * *

Diane felt confused and tired and so high-strung right now. She would have let them do anything to her. She had just wanted to come home, take a shower, and go to sleep. Maybe they would listen to her request and leave? Just as she thought that, she heard Drake talking to Mark and then the footsteps across the hardwood floors. It had to be Lucas. He was coming in to talk to her or maybe get his kiss next.

The thought excited her and frightened her. Hadn’t she just asked them all to leave? Lucas was the mean, quiet, silent-but-deadly type. He hardly spoke to anyone and when he did, his expressions were so cold and unemotional.

She gripped the counter behind her and stared at him.

She was stunned as he pulled one of the stools away from the island and sat on it. He was tall. About six feet three inches with shoulder-length black hair that made him appear untamed. How badly she would love to run her fingers through his hair and make him come undone. But she was no seductress. Hell, she was a damn virgin who just happened to show a totally unrealistic side of her on broadcasted television. She felt her heart sink. Her life had become a mess in such a short period of time.

“You’re upset, and tired from your trip. I understand that, but you need to know that their feelings have nothing to do with what you did and what you were wearing in Dallas onstage.”

Even the man’s tone was hard and scary. But as she thought about his words she realized he said “their” feelings, not “our” feelings. She slowly raised her head up to look at him.

His palms were lying flat on the thighs of his jeans.

“Their feelings? So you don’t feel the same way as them?” she asked, her voice cracking on the last syllable.

His expression changed to shock a moment and then returned to serious again. He looked her over, and she could have sworn she felt his touch so deeply inside.

“I’m not sure,” he replied, and she felt kind of embarrassed. She assumed all three of them wanted her because that was what they told her at the restaurant. Did Lucas lose interest because she did the lingerie show?

He looked away from her and then back at her. “Come here,” he whispered. She didn’t know why but his tone, his expression, and his stance all turned her on and made her pussy wet.

“Why?” she asked softly. He raised one eyebrow, didn’t move his hands from their position, and stared at her.

“Come here, Diane,” he said, and she swallowed hard. She walked closer, right between his legs.

She tilted her head up toward him as he looked down into her eyes. She swallowed hard as she absorbed the sight of his black, shoulder-length hair and the intensity in his blue eyes. He was well built with lots of muscles, and wide shoulders.

“Why do you keep the clock Drake and I made you in the boutique, instead of here at your home?”

She hadn’t expected that question as she held his gaze and stared at the cute dimple in his chin.

“I spend more time at the boutique than I do at home, and I love hearing it chime, and watching the little bird come out.”

He nodded as if he accepted her reason.

He reached up and placed his hands on her outer thighs while holding her gaze.

“I like you. I’m attracted to you, but I really don’t know you. That needs to change.”

She swallowed hard. Boy, was he a real hard-ass and a man of few words.

“I don’t think this is going to work out.” She started to turn, but his large, firm hands held her in place. She felt the warmth, the masculinity of them through the thin material of the skirt she wore. Everything hummed with awareness. Her thighs, her ribs, her breasts, and even her pussy. This was what these three men did to her. They were the first men she had ever been attracted to, never mind thought about having sex with. But she just wasn’t sure why they wanted her and why now?

Was it because of the show? Was it because she was one of the few single women remaining in town they hadn’t bedded? She wasn’t certain. All she knew was that every denial, every thought of negativity she tried to place on them or their intentions was wiped out by the powerful attraction she felt. She lusted for these three men. She wanted them, but she yearned for acceptance, love, and to feel needed and desired just as much.

“There’s only one way to find out, Diane. Get to know us, then make your decision.” He caressed his hands up and down her hips, pulling her a little closer and between his splayed thighs. Her face was level with his chest in this position as she tilted her head up to hold his gaze.

“Why do you want to get to know me?”

“Because I think we’re a lot alike.”

“How so?”

He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and then released it. She watched him carefully, and boy, did she want to kiss him. He was so good looking and so mysterious. He smelled incredible and she imagined hugging him to her, pressing her mouth against his neck as she absorbed every ounce of his scent. He was a god.

She refocused on his question as he seemed to just stare at her as if lost in thought. Could he possibly be feeling the same attraction? Could he be at a loss for words? Did he want her or was he just along for the ride with his brothers?

“What could you and I possibly have in common?” she challenged.

“We’re both quiet, like to keep to ourselves, and usually don’t like a lot of attention drawn to us.”

“I kind of ruined that last one over the weekend.”

“Why did you do it?”

She looked down and then back toward him again. “Well, they needed me, and I guess I’ve always been the kind of person that helps others out when they’re in need. I never did anything like that before. I was in a total panic, but they all claimed to not see it. I guess no one saw that.”

“I think everyone was focusing on your beauty, and your body.” He caressed her waist and gently pulled her closer.

She gripped his shoulders. Feeling the muscles beneath her palms made her heart race faster. “But that’s not me. I won’t even go swimming down by the water hole in a bikini because I’m so shy about people seeing my body.”

“Why, when obviously you’re perfect.”

“Perfect? I think not.”

He pulled her onto his lap. She had no choice but to wrap an arm around his shoulders as she lost her balance. He felt just as muscular and solid as Mark and Drake. They were perfect, not her.

“I saw the show,” he whispered and then ran the palm of his hand up and down her arm. She pulled her lip between her teeth and held his gaze waiting for him to say more. When his hand caressed to her shoulder and neck and then he cupped her cheek, she stared at him.

“You were the most beautiful woman on that stage. Not just because of your body or the sexy things you wore, but because of that look in your eyes. The one that revealed your insecurities and your shyness.”

“You could see that?” she asked in amazement.

“I saw that expression pass before your eyes, and then go to that confident expression you get when you’re determined to hide how you really feel.”

She squinted her eyes at him.

He looked at her lips and then back into her eyes. “You had that look on your face in Francine’s the other day when my brothers and I explained about getting to know you better, and that Mark bought all that lingerie for you.”

She didn’t know if she should believe him, but every ounce of her gut instinct told her that Lucas wasn’t lying. Before she could answer, he was pulling her closer.

“The getting to know one another starts now.” He touched his lips to hers and it was soft and gentle, yet just as highly explosive as Drake’s and Mark’s kisses.

He pressed his tongue deeper and she kissed him back, exploring his mouth as they gently dueled for control. She started to caress her hand over his shoulder. She longed to run her fingers through his hair, but the sound of footsteps crossing into the kitchen from the other room had her pulling from Lucas’s lips. He ran his thumb along her bottom lip.

“I could get used to those kisses, Diane. Real used to them.”

* * * *

Drake and Mark walked in on Lucas kissing Diane, and her sitting on his lap. They would make progress with her because the attraction was there. Now it was time to backpedal and make her see she meant something to him, and to Mark and Lucas, before the lingerie show.

She started to get up off of Lucas’s lap when he stopped her.

“Stay.” He caressed her cheek with his hand.

She pressed her hand against his chest and shoulder and picked at the material. She didn’t look up at them.

“I’m sorry about my reaction in the living room. I’m tired, I guess still a little shaky about the weekend. I was on guard after the show, because of the party, and all the people who were talking to me about the show. I guess I just couldn’t wait to get home and get back some normalcy. I know you guys want to get to know me, and I want to get to know each of you.”

“That’s all we’re asking for,” Lucas told her. She nodded her head at Lucas and then looked at Mark and him.

“So, what do you say to having lunch with us tomorrow? Maybe try this out again?” Drake asked.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She slid off Lucas’s lap and began to walk away, but Lucas pulled her back between his legs so she was now facing him.

“What’s wrong?”

She shyly lowered her eyes and then looked at them.

“Well, I don’t exactly know who in town saw the outtakes from the show on the local news stations. I was kind of thinking of lying low for a bit.” She wrung her hands together.

Lucas covered her hands with his.

“It will be fine. Everyone in town knows you and you’ll be with us,” Drake told her, joining them and standing behind Diane.

“What if we bring lunch to you and sit out back, behind the boutique on the patio?” Lucas suggested.

She smiled and nodded her head. Lucas smiled and so did Drake and Mark.

“Then it’s settled. We’ll meet you tomorrow at noontime at the boutique with lunch,” Mark told her, and Drake still felt a bit unsure.

He hoped that Diane would keep an open mind about this relationship. He also hoped that she could ease Mark’s mind about work and focus on completely retiring from the military and working for the government. As far as Lucas was concerned, Drake could already see that his brother cared for Diane. Maybe she’d be able to get him to open up his heart, instead of hiding behind his work, and remaining alone all the time.

All Drake could do was wait and see.

“Are you sure about this? I thought the point of meeting Diane for lunch was so that she can get to know us and we can get to know her?” Drake asked as he stared at Mark who was on the computer in the home office. Lucas was leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed.

“I know, but we said we wanted her to feel comfortable with each of us. You two go ahead and have lunch with her. I’m onto something here and expecting a call from someone. It’s important.”

“It’s about Brenda, isn’t it? I don’t get it. I mean I know that you had a thing with her, and that you worked together, but I thought the commander said he didn’t want you totally involved in the investigation?” Drake asked.

Mark looked up from the computer screen, and Drake could tell he was in a serious state of mind. When his brother was involved with something, he went full throttle.

“Just do this for me. Tell Diane I’ll see her when she’s closing up shop. Try to make plans for dinner tonight with her. As far as with this case, my commander only wants my minimal involvement. I’m willing to use my connections and resources to find out the truth about Brenda. Please understand why this is so important for me to do. I can’t give up on her. I just don’t believe that she’s somehow involved with the bad guys. It’s not like her. She’s missing, and this line of business things aren’t always as they seem. She wouldn’t give up on me if the scenario were reversed.”

“It makes me wonder if your feelings for her weren’t stronger, or if you still have feelings for her.”

“The hell I do. I told you, Drake, nothing was between us. We became friends. We shared our personal lives. I can’t drop this case without knowing the truth about what happened to her.”

“Having sex with a woman you worked undercover with is not anything to take lightly,” Drake added with an attitude. He would be so pissed off at his brother if he became obsessed with finding out about Brenda. He needed to focus on Diane and all four of them.

“First, we didn’t work together undercover. Second, it was sex, plain and simple. Third, I considered her a friend despite the fact that a romantic relationship didn’t work out between us. She felt the same. There are things about this case, about her missing that aren’t adding up. I can’t not try to find out what really happened to her. She wouldn’t give up on me. Not with the information the department is receiving through informants. It’s not adding up.”

“What the hell, Mark? The commander, her commander, thinks she’s with that Persian guy. She committed treason. She chose him instead of her own country and her oath to the United States as an agent. There’s nothing you can do about it.”