Wilde Love (The Brothers of Wilde, Nevada 6)

Her smile got to him. In some strange way, it melted his cold heart.

“Master, about what you asked of me at your tree,” she said timidly.

“Sweetheart, nothing has changed about what I’m asking of you.” He hated how her shoulders sagged when he told her that. But he couldn’t lie. Not to her. “I’m not trying to be an asshole, but I know what won’t work.”

“Then help me understand why, Austin. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Okay. You deserve that. You do.” He took a deep breath and looked her directly in the eyes. “You saw Denver rush in here like a bodyguard?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you think he blasted in here like that?”

“He’s on edge. All of your brothers are. There’s someone out there that still wants to harm me. Once Rich wakes up, the sheriff will find out who that person is, but until then, those four are hypervigilant.”

“Yes. That’s all true. But he knew no one else was in here but you and me. Right?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes, but—”

“And I’m sure that one or more of my other brothers are outside the window. True?”

“Dallas is.” She seemed confused by the track he was taking.

He’d never told anyone why he couldn’t be a part of a plural arrangement with his brothers, and he’d never expected to fall for the same woman as them. But he had. He continued, knowing Jessie had a right to know the truth. “Think, pet. Why did he rush in?”

She shrugged.

“The reason is he doesn’t trust me alone with you.”

She frowned. “That’s not true.”

“It is. You know it. Denver is an amazing Dom, but he’s not twenty-four-seven. I am. He can be tender and soft. That’s not in me.”

“But you’ve been—”

“Shh. Let me finish. My brothers and you imagine a future with all of us living

in a beautiful house with a white picket fence.”

“It’s the future I pray for.”

“I believe you need the bite of my whip and the strength of my firm hand. My brothers would all say that they would have no problem with my ways, but in time, they would. First, Jackson would step up to urge me to back off. Phoenix would be next. Dallas would follow. And even Master Dom Denver would eventually demand I ease up. I can’t. Softness isn’t in me. Hardness is.”

“That’s not true.” Her eyes were wet again.

As much as Austin hated giving her the ultimatum, he knew he must. She needed him to be strong. “So you see, pet, why you have a choice to make.” I may have failed to protect you, but by God, I’ll never fail you again. “You’re like no woman I’ve ever known. You’ve touched me, and I’ve touched you. You can’t deny that. I am the right choice for you. We fit. Jessie, you must choose me.”

Chapter Six

“Listen to me, Austin Wilde.” Jessie felt anger well up from deep inside her. The shock of the past twenty-four hours had stripped her of any restraint.

She left his side and stood in front of him, and still she needed to tilt her head up to gaze into his eyes. The man was a giant. “You say you don’t have any softness, but that isn’t true. I know for a fact it isn’t.”

His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t speak.

She couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions that had cracked her timidity. “I never dreamed that I could fall for five men. It’s absolutely crazy but true. And I won’t say that I wish the things that I love about each of you were inside a single man. That definitely isn’t true.”

“Go on, pet.”