Atlanta had taken her outside to the barn, made love to her, and then carried her into the house to shower because she had hay and some dirt in her hair and on her back.
Freeman took her from Atlanta and carried her upstairs to the bathroom, where he stripped her and then joined her in the shower, making love to her for the fourth time today. And it was only three o’clock in the afternoon.
When she emerged, Jessup was lying on the bed, stroking his cock and looking serious and also tired. She felt so concerned over him. He was a caring man, but he was scarred, physically and emotionally, and she felt the need to care for him, maybe even heal him. It was foolish, because she knew a man like him wouldn’t let down his guard over a woman, over sex. Yet, somehow, she still tried to touch him deeply and let him know that everything was going to be okay, that time healed all wounds. She should know. She’d thought she would never let her guard down and take a chance like this and let four men in so deeply. With them, she’d done it easily, even knowing it wasn’t going to last long at all.
Tears hit her eyes, but she put a smile on her face and focused on Jessup. He needed loving, compassion, and care, despite constantly pushing her away. He would disappear after they made love to her at night, and he’d head to his room to be alone. Tonight would be no different.
Freeman kissed her lips and stared down into her eyes. “You take care of Jessup and then come downstairs.” She nodded and stood up on tiptoes to meet his lips with hers. He ran his hands along her curves and then pulled the towel from her body.
He turned her around and gave her ass a slap.
“Get to it,” he teased and headed out of the room. She locked gazes with a very serious, angry-looking Jessup. She climbed on top of the bed and crawled her way to Jessup, who immediately rolled her to her back and spread her thighs.
“I don’t know why I’m always last, but I don’t like it,” Jessup told her, and he ran his hand under her hair and covered her mouth with a kiss.
* * * *
Before Freeman left the room, he watched as Jessup wasted no time getting Nina ready for himself and thrust up into her pussy, making her moan as he claimed her body once again. Freeman looked at her body, at the way she wrapped herself around Jessup and accepted his dominance and control. His heart felt heavy and swelled with adoration for Nina. The thought of leaving her one day soon made him feel sick. His emotions got the better of him, and he quickly turned away.
Freeman closed the door and headed downstairs, noting how this house, their home, felt different because of Nina. Hell, he felt different because of her.
It was strange, but Freeman felt a tightness in his chest, like a foreboding or something. Sure enough, as he headed into the kitchen, the smell of chicken cooking in the oven filled the air, and there sat Atlanta and Corona, looking at the laptop.
“What’s going on?” Freeman asked them.
“We got the info on the next mission, and we got a call from Viktor,” Atlanta said to him with his eyes squinted, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“Well?”
“We need to head back to Chicago to drop Nina off. They think she’ll be safe there, especially after Nalia was taken right outside of town here. Plus, we have to head out a week earlier than planned,” Corona told him.
Freeman’s heart ached. He didn’t want to leave here. He didn’t want to leave Nina and what they’d started with her.
“Do we have to? I mean, Jessup isn’t a hundred percent, and we still have no leads on who killed Zinc. Is it safe for her?” Freeman stated.
“Listen, we knew what this was from the start. We don’t do commitments, and it wouldn’t be fair to lead her on to believe that this was anything more than a physical attraction, lust, and desire while we stayed here all alone. It was bound to happen, with any guys and a woman as sexy and attractive as Nina,” Atlanta said to him.
Freeman pointed at him. “Don’t you dare. Don’t you fucking say that and act like she would have had sex with any group of men who watched over her. This is different, and you know it. The chemistry is like nothing I’ve ever—”
“No. Don’t make this into something it isn’t and something we can’t entertain. Listen to yourself, Freeman. We are active duty. We have to leave at a snap of the fingers when they send us in. The shit we do is dangerous. What kind of a life would that be for Nina? Us leaving for months at a time, not knowing if we’ll live or die? She knew what this was when we started it. She wanted us, and we wanted her. It ends here in Salvation.” Corona stood up.
Freeman slammed the chair. “The last thing I want to do is hurt her.”
“Then let her go. We have to,” Corona said.
“She has no one. Zinc is dead, and all she has is the job at Bailey’s. We don’t even know if she’ll be safe there,” Freeman said to them.
“Viktor and the family will take care of her, like always,” Atlanta said, and Freeman saw how he looked away. He knew in his heart that these men were feeling exactly what he was.
“We have to let her go,” Corona said.
“But I care about her,” Freeman admitted.
“And what kind of fucking life can you—can we offer her? Fear, pain, worry? She has her entire life ahead of her. She’s twenty-fucking-three y
ears old,” Atlanta said to him, not quite raising his voice but getting his point across.
“I’m pushing forty,” Corona added as he held onto the back of the chair and stared at Atlanta.