Her back went as stiff as board. Yeah, someone had messed with her. “You won’t hurt me? Really.” She sounded more sarcastic than reassured.
“We didn’t earlier,” Finch reminded her.
“I was holding a gun.”
“Think that would have stopped us if we really wanted to do you harm?” I asked.
She studied us. “I can take care of myself.”
“You sure as fuck can,” Finch said without blinking. And she hadn’t even been dressed. “I remember how hot your pussy was against my back. You can tackle me anytime you want.”
“We won’t hurt you,” I repeated, patting my chest. “Here.” I was getting an idea of why she was so jaded. Some guy had fucked with her. Hurt her enough to put her off men entirely.
“You can’t say that,” she countered, shaking her head. “A relationship only leads to heartache and worse.”
Yeah, I’d been dead-on. I didn’t know who it was that had done a number on her, but if I ever found out, the asshole was going six feet under.
“Fine. No relationship. Use us for our bodies,” Finch offered.
What the fuck was he saying? We wanted it all with Eve—or at least to see where this could go. Not a one-night stand. No fucking way. That wouldn’t be enough.
What was he playing at?
She laughed, then quickly stopped. “You’re serious.”
Finch shrugged. “Guys use women all the time. Use us. Ditch the vibrator and go for the real thing. Times two. Trust me, we’ll make you come. Hard.”
I was slow. Thank fuck Finch wasn’t. We wanted more out of Eve. Sure, we’d had flings. Solo and together. If I had to come up with one of those women’s names, I couldn’t. Nor picture their faces in my mind. That was pretty shitty, but I’d never led one of them wrong and they probably didn’t remember much about me either. As for those who’d just wanted to fuck Eddie Nickel’s son… I’d caught on to that back in college.
I wanted Eve. For more than her body, but we could start with no-strings sex. If that was how she wanted to play it, to keep her heart out of it for now, that worked. Once we were in her bed, we could take our time, show her how real men treated a lady. To prove that we wouldn’t hurt her. That we were playing for keeps.
“We’ll be here, sugar,” Finch said. “Just say the word and we’ll take care of you.”
3
EVE
What the hell had that been about? Finch and Shane had offered me—point-blank—a no-strings fling… with both of them. Sex. As much as I wanted. Orgasms, as much as I wanted as well. The question was, why?
I’d practically ripped Finch’s arm out of his socket, forced him to the floor and handcuffed him. I’d pointed a gun at Shane. It wasn’t the best first impression, that was for sure. They weren’t mad. They were… amused. I somehow intrigued them, which was completely ridiculous.
They intrigued me, that was for damned sure. I couldn’t believe I never knew Poppy’s brother was such a hottie. And Finch, well, when God handed out the good genes, he’d certainly shown up.
They weren’t hard on the eyes. Far from it. It had been an hour since they’d left me standing by the barn, speechless and confused. And horny. Since then I’d counted five women who’d come up to Shane by the bar, and two had given their phone number to Finch. I hadn’t even known in the day of cell phones that the concept of writing it on a little slip of paper was still a thing.
They weren’t hard up. They’d said they were hard, for me. Again, why? Why me?
I hadn’t been playing hard to get. I hadn’t been playing at all. Why not go for the blonde in the pink puffy coat or the brunette in the very snug black ski pants? They’d seen me in my underwear, knew that I had as many curves as a straight line.
They’d not only offered themselves up for sexual services, but had walked away. They were letting me decide the if or when.
“Earth to Eve.”
I blinked, realizing I’d zoned out on Nix. He and his girlfriend, Kit, had caught up to me by the bar. I couldn’t blame my behavior on the rum drinks even though I’d had three. I blamed it on two hot cowboys.
“Sorry.” I offered him a small smile. “What were you saying?”
“The mayor called after you left the station.”