Unbridled and Unjustified [The Double Rider Men's Club 11] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (20 page)

Troy’s heart actually hurt when she finished talking. He understood her reluctance, but damnation, he hadn’t said those words lightly. Yes, he’d said them during sex, but the more he thought about it, the happier he was that he’d expressed his true feelings.

Declan nodded. “Once you’re completely safe, if that’s what you want, we won’t stop you. But in the meantime, let’s enjoy each other.”

Over Ava’s head, Troy caught his friend’s telltale expression. Declan had a certain mischievous look in his eyes. The kind of expression where Troy was supposed to go along for now, and then they’d completely blindside whoever they were trying to persuade later on. Troy nodded and relaxed.

If nothing else, discovering that Declan agreed with him about being in love with Ava was worth any embarrassment or hurdle they’d have to vault across going forward. Now he knew. Now he and Declan could plot together. After ensuring that the assassin after her was subdued, he and Declan could focus their singular concentration on making Ava fall in love with them in return.

* * * *

Declan woke at dawn, stretching his body as a flood of memories from the night before circulated in his head. Ava’s arm was hooked over his belly, but she was facing Troy’s back on the other side of the bed.

Last night, after two more rounds of epic sexual satisfaction lasting well through the night and into the wee hours of the morning, they’d all three collapsed in a satiated and nearly comatose state. He looked out the window as the eastern sky brightened with each minute. He’d lost track of time as his internal clock was all fucked up during this flight and hide out for their lives scenario.

He and Troy had certainly spent their fair share of working during odd hours in the past, but not recently. They’d kept to a fairly nice nine-to-five schedule for months. But no more. Not since doing this complicated favor for Clay and Jake. Not since finding Ava and as a result going on the run with her.

He was supposed to be resting up right now for the journey planned for later in the evening. Unfortunately, he found his surprisingly romantic thoughts regarding Ava too difficult to suppress in order to actually stay asleep. Each breath of her scent put him in overdrive even while he slept.

Troy was obviously taken with her since he’d whispered that he loved her in the shower. He’d never actually heard his best friend utter those words before to a woman. Declan’s attitude regarding permanence and women certainly wasn’t a secret. But Ava was so different.

He took the opportunity and turned his head to one side to bury his face in her hair. The mere fragrance of her filled him with something he hadn’t felt in ages. Optimism for a romantic future.

A swell of vibrant hope rose suddenly in his chest. Perhaps he and Troy wouldn’t spend the rest of their lives alone, only seeking temporary comfort as the opportunity came available and never finding anyone who wanted the same things they did out of life.

Plus, Ava hadn’t latched on to the possibility of getting a man or expressed a single desire to pursue them so she wouldn’t have to work anymore. Not like Shannon. Not like his wife who’d stomped his heart into pulp only few months after they’d married when it became painfully clear she didn’t care what he did besides bring home money for her to spend outlandishly on all manner of things.

Declan understood that Ava was reluctant to commit to anyone she’d only known a short time, let alone two men with a unique lifestyle she’d be expected to participate in. He understood that more than most men, but there was something about Ava that called to him on a primal level.

Maybe a relationship with her wouldn’t work out, but he felt the need to take his best shot this time. Until he’d met Ava, he hadn’t even wanted to
try
permanence with any other women. He didn’t plan to let her get away without fighting for her. She most definitely deserved his wholehearted attempt at happiness. And if it didn’t work out, well, then at least he could say he made the effort.

He closed his eyes again but was too keyed up to sleep. He wasn’t going to be able to settle down for a while. Might as well get up.

Rising carefully so as not to wake either of them, Declan pulled his jeans on, grabbed his cell phone and keys from the dresser, and quietly exited the bedroom. The place was so small any conversation he had on the phone would echo and disturb the others. So he left the house altogether and walked to the shed where they’d parked the minivan out of sight. The structure was rickety at best and had only three walls. They’d backed it into the space initially to hide the license plate, but also because it was habit for a quick getaway if ever needed.

He dialed Clay’s number as he climbed through the driver’s door, wanting to get an update on their situation. He hoped the assassin was either dead, subdued, or on his way home. Although, likely Clay would have already called with that information. Declan didn’t really expect to get any good news, and he was right.

Clay’s voice was gruff with either lack of sleep or having just woken when he said, “What!” rather ferociously into the phone.

“Wake up, Clay. I want an update.”

“Update?” There were some banging noises in the background. Was he stumbling over a pyramid of boxes?

“What are you doing?”

Declan heard a few mumbled curse words in response before he answered, “Nothing. And there’s nothing new to report either.”

“What the fuck have you been doing all this time?”

“Oh, you know. Watching movies, catching up on old episodes of
Law & Order
, and generally fucking off every chance I get, what do you think I’ve been doing?”

Declan tamped down the urge to laugh. “I’m sure I don’t know, because meanwhile, I’ve been busy dodging fiery, exploding house-shaped shrapnel, running from irate, gun-wielding farmers, and hiding away from every single member of law enforcement and a bomb-crazy assassin across two states.”

There was silence at the end of the line. Declan thought he’d hung up, but after a few moments, Clay said, “I’ve been fielding mostly useless calls trying to find any pertinent information and getting none, by the way. Oh, and for fun, I’ve just started watching the tapes from the diner in Arkansas that Ava and Troy visited. Next I’m going to watch the icemaker freeze water into cubes. Since it would yield me about the same amount of progress.”

“Very funny, smart-ass.”

“Well, it’s been a frustrating couple of days.”

“I understand that. So Troy told me you want to make the three of us play dead when we get to Colorado. Is that really our only option? ‘Cause I’d like to explore other possibilities, if you don’t mind.”

Clay sighed into the phone. “No. I don’t mind. Explore away. But we don’t even know what this guy looks like. I can protect you better once you’re on DRMC soil, but if this guy’s resolute—and everything I’ve learned about him says he’s the very definition of determination—then we have to be smart about your safety.”

“Right. I get that.”

“But you don’t want to settle down and live like a protected witness in a boring little town somewhere off the beaten path, right?”

Declan pondered his statement for a minute. “That’s part of it.”

“You really don’t want to settle down, either. I know you’ve been less than excited about finding permanence along with our lifestyle.”

“Actually, that doesn’t bother me as much as giving up my profession and our investigation business. Troy and I have spent years building it up to where it is. Having some fucking assassin ruin it over what amounts to misplaced pride and a foolish resolve to kill the wrong person just pisses me off.”

“I get that, too. And I’d feel the same way. But your lives are more important than all of that other stuff. I’d rather you were alive somewhere than dead because I had you out looking for a long shot in a photograph.”

Declan suddenly realized how much Clay felt responsible for their current circumstances. “Well, don’t worry so much. I’m actually not sorry about doing this favor for you. If we hadn’t been there because you basically forced us to stop and show her the picture, then Ava would already be dead. I won’t ever regret saving her life.”

“I see.” Clay’s tone was sarcastic. “Sounds like someone has been repeatedly enjoying carnal pleasures while on the run for his life. Have you finally discovered a woman who doesn’t make your balls shrivel at the first sign of commitment?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe? The fact that you didn’t just verbally rip my head off for the suggestion speaks volumes about your feelings for one very special Miss Ava Campbell.”

Declan banged his head against the headrest. But couldn’t deny his feelings. “So I like her. So what? She’s the first woman I’ve had such strong feelings for since my ex-wife got her hooks into me, and more importantly, my wallet, and didn’t let go until she’d confiscated almost half of my net worth. Years have passed since then, maybe it’s time for me to move on.”

“Well, if it matters to you, I’ve done some research on Ava. On paper she’s certainly nothing like your ex. Maybe it is time to
give love a chance
.”

“Shut up.” But he was laughing.

“Get here safely, Declan. Take care of each other. Call me once you’re on the road tonight.”

“We’re leaving at sunset. We can’t make it on a single tank of gas, but when we stop, we’ll find a busy truck stop like last time.”

“Good idea.”

“Not my first time at the rodeo.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Whatever. Stay safe.” He hung up.

Declan folded the burner phone in half, climbed out of the minivan, and quietly headed back to the cabin as the full circumference of the hot sun crested the horizon, promising a sunny, clear day ahead. He put his phone and keys back on the dresser with a minimum of noise, carefully climbed back into bed, and snuggled up next to Ava. She sighed in her sleep, pressing her butt into his body. His cock promptly pulsed, but he fought the rampant urge to wake her for more.

Perhaps she’d be more willing and inclined after some much-needed sleep. Besides, the anticipation of spending the trip to Colorado fucking in the backseat of the minivan as Troy drove and glanced into the rearview to watch them was more satisfying than anything he could dream up to do right now.

* * * *

Ava woke late in the day curled around Declan as she had the day before. She glanced at her watch, noting that it was about an hour before they planned to leave. She’d woken up a little while ago when Troy left the bed. He’d placed a soft kiss on her forehead before departing. One of many sweet gestures she would miss after this fiasco was all over with.

Just as Troy had done to her, Ava kissed Declan’s forehead gently and moved out of bed. He didn’t stir. He’d been up earlier so he probably needed the sleep. She slipped her jeans on and her shirt before departing the room barefoot.

She started a pot of coffee and rummaged through the dwindling supplies in the small refrigerator, searching for what she could fix for breakfast. Even though it was late in the afternoon, she’d feel funny eating supper after just getting out of bed.

Troy’s whispered words from the night before drifted across her memory.
I love you, Ava
. She didn’t kid herself. Troy had said he loved her in the middle of an extremely sexually charged interlude. But that didn’t translate to a future. Did it? She figured a week or two after they got to Colorado they’d tire of protecting her from unseen entities
maybe
trying to kill her and let her get back to her ordinary life. She planned to go with no regrets.

On some level she wasn’t completely convinced
anyone
was really out to get rid of her. Who would care enough? The answer was no one. Perhaps there had been some other unrelated trouble in her house. Perhaps a faulty gas regulator had caused the destruction of her future business. Maybe this was all just an exercise in pseudo protection. Then again, why would they go to such lengths to protect her? Because she was a handy piece of ass? Doubtful, since she was the one who’d initiated the first kiss and all the eventual sex.

Her own lack of self-worth played a part in her feelings. She’d started her life over in the remote, quiet place where her parents had grown up. While she’d enjoyed the past several months, there was a niggling little voice deep down that whispered she didn’t belong there and that she was destined to fail anyway. Having her house blow up had been harsh, but in some ways not completely unexpected. Perhaps it had been a sign. How sad that she always seemed to expect to fail.

Maybe she didn’t deserve to start over. Maybe she was destined to never succeed at the last moment in whatever she did. A self-pitying tear fell from the corner of her eye. She wiped it away and contemplated her next move.

Once they got to Colorado, perhaps she should thank them for their protection and go off on her own. The insurance would pay for her loss. She could pay off her loan. And then she could move away and start over once again. Maybe she didn’t have to go back to Arkansas. She could go anywhere. She could even stay in Colorado, right?

Only this time she’d just get a job, work for a paycheck, and stop trying to live a dream that obviously wasn’t in the cards for her. She’d stop taking in strays as if it mattered. Then no one could be disappointed in her anymore. Least of all herself.