“I’m not, Eric. I just feel that this is too much for me. You and your broth
er make me want things. Things I just shouldn’t want and can’t have especially right now. There’s a lot going on, and I’ve always been independent. I don’t like feeling out of control of my life, and that’s what I’m feeling right now.”
“Max and I don’t want to add to your distress. In fact we want to help you through this, Stacy. There’s no need to handle this New York situation alone. Two can be better than one,” he teased then winked.
She held his gaze and absorbed his sexiness. “Three can be a crowd and cause trouble. I won’t come between you two and deal with that right now as well.”
She walked toward the living room couch, and Eric followed.
“You won’t cause trouble between Max and I, Stacy. This thing between the three of us is real, and it’s happening whether you’re ready to face it head-on or not.”
“That’s the point, Eric. I don’t need you or Max involved with my life right now and with all this stuff from New York. I can handle it alone. I’m not your possession, or Max’s for that matter.”
He took two steps toward her, and she was just out of reach of his hands if he were to grab to reach for her.
“That’s where you’re wrong, baby. My brother and I are fixin’ to make you all ours,” he stated firmly and with such cockiness and masculinity that she didn’t know if she wanted to punch him or jump his body. He messed with her mind and made her feel illogical. She didn’t know if she should trust him or run from him. His declaration caused her body to tighten with sexual need. It was insane.
The sound of someone knocking on the front door drew both their attention.
“Who could that be?” she asked, and Eric never took his eyes off of her. She felt her nipples pebble and her pussy throb with need. Damn it to hell, she wanted to throw him down on the living room floor and fuck him as if she were experienced and capable. The problem was that she wasn’t and it was complicated.
“It’s probably Max. He stopped into town to update the sheriff, Wyatt, our cousin.”
She reached for the knob and began to turn it while Eric’s words sank in.
“He did what? Why would he do that?”
She heard Max’s deep voice and began to open the door wider. There he stood. All six feet four inches of pure law enforcement Texan. Again her heart pounded in her chest, and she nearly stopped breathing as his dark-brown eyes looked her body over. Did she just cream herself? Oh shit.
She attempted to remain still and not to shift her legs or give any indication of how turned on she was at the moment. It didn’t take much to get turned on by Eric and Max. She felt the moisture drip slowly down her inner thigh and cursed the short shorts she wore. She didn’t want to look down to check her crotch, but she was thankful that her shorts were black and could cover any evidence of her arousal. At least she hoped they did. Breathe, Stacy. Just breathe.
“Evening, Stacy,” Max stated, eyeing her from head to toe. She was so acutely aware of his visual evaluation that her body hummed. If certain parts were capable of speech, they would be chanting “touch me.” Her breasts felt more swollen and needy. Her belly felt tight as she anticipated his touch. Would he kiss her just like Eric had, or would he hug her or perhaps pull her up into his arms and kiss her breathless? The anticipation was killing her.
“Stacy, are you all right?” he asked, and she realized she was lost in thought. She looked away from him and tried to focus on being annoyed that Max had gone to tell the sheriff about her situation. Cousin or not, Max didn’t have the right to interfere like that. Plus, he even spoke to the investigator from the DA’s office. Was it her, or was she beginning to lose control of her own life? Abruptly she turned away from him and headed toward the kitchen.
* * * *
Max looked at his brother Eric as Stacy gave him a dirty look then walked away. She was pissed about something, and he looked to Eric for answers. His brother smirked then shrugged his shoulders before he followed Stacy to the small kitchen. Max did the same, and as he was about to question Stacy, she spun around, placed her hands on her hips, and stared at him. He noticed that the abrupt movement caused her breasts to bounce and sway, giving away the fact that she wore no bra. She was adorable and sexy at the same time. Max licked his lips then stepped closer to her. He absorbed the tight tank top she wore, the even tighter black short shorts that clung to her toned upper thighs and also accentuated her mound. Was she wet for him and Eric? He couldn’t help but wonder and hope because right now his cock was at full attention. He was even turned on by her cute little red toenails. He wanted her, and was going to have her. Max stood in front of Stacy and placed his hand on her waist. He placed his other hand on her neck and cheek, caressing her skin as he pressed his body closer. She remained stiff, but she didn’t pull away.
“What are you all pissed off at?” he asked her, looking down at her face. He loved touching her even in the simplest of ways. He used his thumb to caress across her hip bone and remain holding her firmly.
Her eyes widened at his question, and then she placed one hand over the hand that covered her hip bone and the other against his waist as if trying to keep space between them.
“You had no right taking the phone from me today and talking with the investigator. You also had no right going off to tell the sheriff about it either. This is my business, not yours,” she stated firmly until he raised his eyebrows at her tone toward him. He pressed his hips against her, causing her to wedge against the counter in the kitchen.
“You are my business,” he stated firmly.
“And my business as well. The sooner you accept that the better,” Eric added, taking position to the right of Max.
She gasped at their proclamation, but before she could verbally attack him, Max took full control of the situation.
“Get this straight now, Stacy. Eric and I are fixin’ to make you our own. We will protect you, and we will do everything in our power to keep you safe and help you. You, in return, will obey our better judgment and without lip,” he stated softly as he rubbed gently along her waist and up to her ribs. Stacy in response gasped at his apparent gall then practically growled.
“Fuck you!” she replied to his statement in what sounded like the damndest Bronx accent he ever heard.
Instead of losing his cool at her potty mouth, he gave in to his own need to taste her and make her see that denying the attraction between them was just wasted time.
“With pleasure, darling,” he whispered then covered her mouth with his own.