STORY EXCERPT

“What life, Shane?” Addison yelled, spinning around to face the second man who wouldn’t let her hide. What was it with men telling her what to do? Addison felt like she was at her breaking point, and Shane kept pushing and pushing her to accept who she was. She almost hated him. He was as bad as Cane, telling her who she was supposed to be. “I didn’t choose this life! Cane took me away from everything I knew and expected me to accept I was some savior of the Noble race. You keep saying it, too! I’m not! I’m a daughter to a wonderful woman who thinks I’m dead, a friend to some great people who think the same thing, and a nurse who happened to be good at her job that she no longer has. I don’t belong in your world, and no matter how many times you say it, you can’t make it true!”

The coffee spilled over the rim, burning her hand, causing a hiss of pain to leave her lips. Shane didn’t say a word as he took the mug from her uninjured hand and led her to the kitchen. No matter what she said or did, his patience seemed to know no bounds, and it more than irritated her—it made her downright mad. She’d had numerous outbursts since her rescue, and he would always remain composed and quiet until she calmed down, giving her time to gather her composure, when all she wanted to do was argue. He was the total opposite of Cane. When she wanted to fight about something, Cane would go head to head with her, exchanging heated words until she was exhausted. Not Shane. What she would give to see him lose control. He made her feel things only Cane had, which made her resentment worse. How could two men who were so different generate the same feelings?

Turning on the tap, Shane brought her hand under the water and let the cool liquid flow over the scalded skin. While his large fingers inspected the damage, Addison couldn’t help but study him and wonder how someone so big could be so gentle. Well over a foot taller than her, Addison guessed Shane was probably an inch or so taller than Cane. And while Cane was flawed, Shane was perfect. His short black hair was never out of place, his classic features contained not one blemish, and his long lashes framed warm auburn eyes that invited her to touch. It was an invitation she couldn’t accept because of her feelings for Cane. What kind of woman was she to love one man and be on the verge of loving another? Her eyes ran down his body anyway, as if they had a will of their own.

Shane was the epitome of strength. Where Cane was muscular and lean, Shane was solid muscle with arms bigger than her thighs and hands that could snap her in two. He never once made her feel afraid of his size, though. Shane made her feel safe and protected. Addison’s eyes travelled down his broad chest, skimmed over the area she’d been dreaming about lately, and down his denim-clad legs. The laces of his black boots were untied, having put them on no more than fifteen minutes ago. His feet were well over twice the size of hers, which immediately brought Addison’s gaze to the bulge in his jeans she had originally tried to ignore, comparisons running rampant.

“Are you done staring?” Shane asked. Addison jerked her hand away in embarrassment, only to have him snatch it back. “I’m not complaining, mind you.”

“I was just comparing you to Cane,” Addison snapped at him, mad at herself for being caught. Seeing Shane’s left eyebrow raise in question, Addison realized what she had confessed and immediately felt guilty. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I was just thinking how—”

“Different we are? And asking yourself how you can be attracted to both of us?” Shane grabbed a towel like he hadn’t just opened a gigantic chasm with his declaration. Addison couldn’t believe he had just said that and was stunned he would bring it up. They had a silent agreement to ignore what they felt, both going through the motions of maintaining a friendship. At least, she thought they had a silent agreement. Men could be downright idiotic. Addison needed him for security while adjusting to normalcy, and he needed… She wasn’t quite sure what he got out of helping her, but he was well aware of her feelings for Cane. Addison ignored the reprimanding voice in the back of her mind shouting repeatedly, selfish, selfish, selfish! Shutting off the water, he took the dishtowel and dried the remaining droplets from her hand while she struggled for the right words.

“You know I need to find Cane,” Addison cautioned. “What I did, well…what I did to Cane was wrong. I put his life in danger by not trusting him, and now he’s got a bounty on his head. The Fray will hunt him down, and he’s not safe out on his own. He should be here with you, Reese, and the others. And just to clarify, I’m not attracted to you,” Addison lied, snatching the towel and her hand from his grasp, ignoring the stab of guilt. Since when had she become a liar?

“First of all, Cane is a big boy and can take care of himself. You did what any person would do in that situation.” Shane leaned back against the sink and crossed his arms, making his chest muscles slide against his black T-shirt, not that she noticed. Addison looked away. “Second, you seem to be leaving yourself out of the equation. Your sister and her husbands built this compound for Nobles, and since you are a Noble, this is now your home. Third, you shouldn’t lie to yourself.”

Addison wanted to hit him, but knew she would only end up hurting her other hand against his solid chest.

ADULT EXCERPT

“I like having you at my mercy.” Shane turned to his left side, bringing Addison with him. Her back to his chest, he placed one arm under her neck and used his right hand to explore. Addison felt his fingers lightly brush the underside of her breast, just enough pressure to feel his caress and make her writhe in need. Her movements made his cock slide against her ass, perfectly placed between both cheeks, reminding her of when he had used his finger to stroke that forbidden area. He answered by grinding against her, but still wouldn’t touch her where she wanted. Addison grabbed his wrist and tried to force his hand to cover her breasts and knead them, but his strength far outweighed hers.

“Uh-uh. Relax, Addison. Let me give you pleasure.”

Again, Shane trickled around and around the swell of her breast, circling closer to her peaked nipple, which had hardened in anticipation. When he finally reached her tip, Shane feathered it with his middle finger until she literally felt like a fire started at the center and worked its way into the tissue of her breast. Not able to take any more, Addison begged. “Harder, Shane. Squeeze me. Do something!”

Shane’s answer was taking her nipple in between his thumb and index finger and gently rolling it back and forth. On occasion, he would slightly lift upwards, creating a direct connection to her clit, which had now started to pulsate in neglect. Shane must have kept this up for five minutes before switching to the other breast. Her cream leaked out onto her thighs, and Addison was pretty sure if he kept up his administrations, she was going to come.

“Lift your leg over mine,” Shane ordered in a strained voice.

“What?” Addison was lost in a place that was hard to describe. All she could feel was Shane’s touch, and it was as if nothing else existed. Her body even started to crave his gentle strokes.

“Lift your leg up over mine and bend it backwards a bit. I’m going to slide into you.”

Addison did as she was told and lifted her right leg over his right leg and bent her knee. His legs were so large that in this position, she was wide open. More juices ran down the front of her thigh. His hand ran down her abdomen and traced the outline of her ribs, and then he brought his hand closer to his hip to rub the small dip of her ass cheek.

“I wish we had a mirror. Then I could see those beautiful petals opening to take me in. Your hair is so fine and light here that it’s like an illusion of coverage. I can still see everything.” Shane adjusted himself until his cock was even with her slit. She hadn’t even noticed when he slid a condom on—that was how far gone she was. “Feel how wet you are. Soaking wet. Touch yourself.”

Addison automatically reached down to her wet folds, through her damp curls. The thought of denying Shane never crossed her mind, and when she touched herself, while his dick slid back and forth between her dewy lips, an electrifying feeling ran through her. She gathered some cream and smeared it on her clitoris, using harder strokes to ease the ache.

“I can’t wait any longer,” Shane murmured.

Right when Shane breached her entrance, Addison opened her eyes to see Cane standing in the doorway. She jerked her hand away and would have jumped from the bed, had Shane not held her in place. “Let him watch, Addison.”

“But—”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of this,” Shane whispered roughly in her ear. “Let’s see if it’s something we can live with.”