STORY EXCERPT

“See something you like?” Vin asked Pelham as they got cold beers from the tiki bar.

“What do you mean?” Pelham asked, and took a slug from the bottle of Stella.

“Come on, man, you and your brothers have had your eyes on Melise for months now. Why aren’t you making a move?”

“Hey, don’t go trying to play matchmaker. You know we deal with heavy shit. Don’t need to worry about a woman or the potential problems that come with one.”

“Yeah right. I can tell you from experience that nothing else will matter if there’s an attraction there. By the way you stopped short and stared at the woman’s body, I think it’s safe to say you’re attracted to her.”

“Who the fuck wouldn’t be? She looks like a model, has an incredible body, and is very professional.”

“All great qualities for men of your standards and capabilities.”

Pelham tore his eyes away from Melise for a moment and looked at Vin. “Can’t do it to Jordan. It wouldn’t be fair or right.”

Vin squinted. “He’s still having issues?”

“Not as frequently, and he isn’t here with us, so what does that tell you?” Pelham asked.

“Well, I guess all you can do is keep being there for him and help him to get stronger. You shouldn’t not pursue an interest, though. I can tell you first hand, stubbornness and excuses can only hold you back for so long.”

Pelham looked back toward Melise.

“She’s single,” Vin added and chuckled. “What? Enjoy yourselves, like Eduardo is doing right now with Antonia.”

“The woman looks scared.”

“She should be. Eduardo is powerful and suave with the ladies. Antonia seems old school.”

“Like Melise.”

A few minutes later as Pelham noticed Melise joining the conversation between Eduardo and Antonia, he walked over and joined them. The woman was stunning. She had long brown hair, bright green eyes, and full, soft lips. Her body was perfect, and her skin tan and wet from perspiration. It was pretty damn hot out.

“Need a drink?” he asked her. She looked up toward him, her lips parted, and she shook her head. “You look like you do,” he told her, gazing over those sexy curves, her full breasts pushed together by the bikini top that deepened her cleavage.

“I think a dip in the pool will help,” Antonia said and started to get up from the lounge chair. Eduardo took her hand and helped her up. Pelham did the same for Melise, and he pulled a little too much and their bodies collided.

“Oh God, so sorry,” she said to him.

He took the opportunity to graze her lower back and hip with his hand before releasing her. “No problem at all. I’ll join you,” he said as he stepped back and pulled off his shirt. He had already changed into swim trunks. He caught her gaze over his body, and he knew he looked good. He and his brothers trained like crazy, always ready to defend themselves or counterattack whether they were in casual attire or suits. Most of their jobs in the past were as heavies—men putting pressure on people needed to comply for their bosses’ businesses. They’d come a long way from being the bodyguards. Now, they were the heavies, bosses themselves. The ones with power to assist those in need, and they gained a respect in the families and in the business circuit so everyone knew to not fuck with them or their friends.

He watched Melise slowly step into the water after Antonia and Eduardo went in. Carson and Warren were in the pool already and talking to Nolte, Cane, Merdock, and Covaney, while Costanza and Vin remained by the outdoor bar. His brothers looked toward Melise as she swam in the water to cool off. The pool had built-in seats along the sides made to enjoy drinks by the pool and still be in the water. Costanza and Vin handed out some more cold beers and then some kind of mixed drinks for the ladies. Warren took one for Melise and offered her a seat along the side next to him and Carson. She took it as she sat on the edge of the pool, the water dripping along her breast and her belly, then against the tiny gold belly ring he almost missed.

“Haven’t seen you in a while, Melise, what have you been up to?” Carson asked her, taking a slug from his beer, holding her gaze.

“Just working a lot,” she replied, shy like usual. He was pretty sure they intimidated her.

Warren looked her over. “You look amazing. Still doing those kickboxing classes at Donny York’s dojo?”

She looked surprised. “How did you know that?”

“I was in there one day visiting him for a favor he needed and I caught sight of you going into the class.”

She nodded. “I do still go but to the five a.m. class now.”

“That’s early,” Carson said to her.

She looked at him. “Not enough hours in the day. I have to go early, or by the time I get home from work I start making excuses, so it ensures I get it done.”

“Good for you.”

“How about you guys, do you work out there?”

“No, we have our own gym and set up at the house. Got everything we need and one another to beat up on,” Warren said, smirking.

“Who beats up on whom? I’m pretty sure I always wind up last man standing,” Pelham teased.

“Bullshit, last man standing. Usually it’s Jordan,” Warren said and chuckled. Pelham felt his gut clench. He didn’t want to bring up Jordan or worry about the guilt he felt having some fun, flirting with Melise and knowing he couldn’t take it further.

“Who’s Jordan?” she asked and took a sip from her drink.

“Our brother,” Carson said, straight-faced.

“You guys have another brother? So, there’s four of you?” she asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” Pelham snapped and gave Carson and Warren mean looks.

Melise slid down from the seat. “Well, I need to dry off, then help with the food.” She walked out of the pool, and they watched her.

“What the fuck?” Warren whispered to him.

Pelham gave him a dirty look. “You don’t bring up Jordan. Not ever. It isn’t right or fair.”

“Pelham, she’s gorgeous, sexy, and sweet, and we’re all attracted to her. What’s the big fucking deal?” Warren asked.

“We can’t make any kind of commitment. Jordan needs us to be there for him. A woman could get in the way, unless you’re talking about something temporary.”

“Really, Pelham? Even I can tell she isn’t a temporary person. Hell, I was going to ask her out, but then you ruined that shit by basically barking at her.”

“I didn’t bark.”

“You sure the fuck did,” Carson now added, too.

“Whatever. Do whatever the fuck you want.”

ADULT EXCERPT

When Melise got to her condo, she headed upstairs and thought about tonight and about Elliott’s suggestion, but as she rounded the corner, she stopped short. There was Jordan, and he didn’t look happy.

“What are you doing here?” she asked him.

“Unlock the door and let’s go inside.”

“What? No, I’m not letting you inside of my apartment. You followed me to the bar and now here. That’s creepy.”

“I wasn’t the only one, now open the damn door,” he said fiercely as his cell phone rang. She reached for the knob and unlocked it, and they went inside.

“Yeah, a black sedan, it’s parked by the corner, one guy driving. He picked up on her at work and has been following since. … Didn’t recognize him, but I’m assuming he was hired by those assholes. …  Yeah, she’s fine, I have her here. We’ll wait for you to handle that.” He ended the call and she stood there, arms crossed, and stared at him.

“I don’t stalk women,” he said as he glanced around the place. She raised both eyebrows up at him. “What? I don’t.”

“Oh really? How about the pier while I was painting?” she asked.

“Seriously? That was different.”

“I don’t see it that way, and it seems like you stalking me is becoming a regular occurrence. Bet you shocked yourself when you met your old military buddy at the bar and found out he’s my brother.”

He stepped closer and held her gaze. “It was a shock, but it also gave me relief.”

“Relief?”

He closed the space between them, and she uncrossed her arms and let them fall to her sides. He gently touched the material of her dress on her hip and stared down into her eyes. “To know they were related, and not lovers.” He pulled her snug against him, slid one arm around her waist and the other up under her hair and head. “I should have kissed you last night, but if I did, you would have come home with us, and we would still be in bed.” He pressed his lips to hers as she processed his words and absorbed his kiss. He plunged his tongue into her mouth and was walking her backward until her back hit the wall by the door. She moaned into his mouth and felt his fingers slid up under her dress against her thigh. She felt so much, wanted so much in that moment, and it was wild. She shouldn’t be doing this with him, yet she wanted to.

She pressed her palm against his chest, and then he lifted her up with one strong arm and hand, his fingers at her ass. He slid a digit along her crack over her thong panties, and she moaned deeper. She wanted those fingers closer to her cunt. Hell, inside of her cunt. In that moment, he found her pussy and pressed up into her. She gasped, pulled from his mouth, tilted her head back, and moaned.

“You’re so wet, so fucking responsive. You want this. Want my brothers and me to pleasure you, hell, to fuck you,” he said, and pressed his mouth to her neck as his fingers thrust and stroked into her cunt. She felt so much, too much. His mouth and chin maneuvered against the cleavage of her breast to try and take a taste. He couldn’t, but she wanted him to, and she slid her hand up to her top and undid the buttons. He growled. “Holy fuck. I thought I would never feel again, Melise. Where the fuck did you come from?” he asked, and then licked into the cup of her bra and found her nipple.

“Oh Jordan, oh God, this is wild.”

“Incredible,” he said. When someone knocked on the door, she squeaked aloud.

“Unlock it. Let them in,” he said with his fingers still stroking her cunt.

“Jordan?” she said and held his gaze.

“They want you, too. Want this with you. Now, open the fucking door or they will break it down with worry,” he said, and she reached down and unlocked it as he slid a finger over her asshole, lubricating it with her cream, and pressed a digit up into her.

“Oh!” she cried out very loudly as Pelham, Carson, and Warren entered the condo, closed the door, and started making comments.

“What is going on in here?” Pelham asked, and he caressed her hair from her cheek. He pulled the finger from her ass and pressed another digit to her cunt.

“She’s wet and very responsive, but naughty. She didn’t even know someone was following her.”

“You were,” she said and gasped for breath.

“Not me, the other guy.” He pushed his fingers faster, deeper.

“Oh God, please. Please,” she begged.

“Come for us,” Jordan said to her.

She stared into Jordan’s deep green eyes as he pumped his fingers and she cried out her release. He pressed his mouth to hers, kissed her tenderly as he pulled his fingers from her pussy. She wrapped her legs around his waist tight. He was so big, so thick and hard, and he carried her as if she were light as a feather. Right to her bedroom, right in front of her bed as he set her down and began to undress her. “Oh God.”

“Slow and easy. I’m not stopping now. I need more, Melise. Please. It’s been too long since I felt a God damn thing,” he said to her as her dress fell to the floor.

She reached up and cupped his cheeks. “I have to be out of my mind,” she said to him.

“God damn, you’re so beautiful,” Warren said, and she looked at him, at Carson and Pelham standing there watching them.

“You all want me?” she asked them.

“If you’ll have us,” Pelham said, and he stepped closer. Jordan eased her back, her body fully exposed to them. She wore panties and a bra that barely covered her full breasts. “Say yes,” Pelham said to her as he cupped her cheek and gazed over her breasts, licked his lips, and then looked back into her eyes.

“Yes.”