Her 2 Protectors

During today’s shift, I had to talk myself off a ledge more than once. I paced the locker room, needing like hell to go check on Nick and Penny. To make sure he didn’t have his goddamn hands on her. Did she walk out of the bedroom this morning, all drowsy and sexy from sleep? Would Nick have been able to resist that?

No. No man could. I’m practically slavering as she glides past me, smiling at the curious way she looks at the pictures on my wall. Her pumpkin and cinnamon scent wraps around my neck like a rope, dragging me after her, my hands flexing at my sides. One move. One move and she’d be pinned between me and the wall. A few seconds of my tongue on her neck and she’d be begging for sexual relief. And why shouldn’t I give it to her? Nick had the privilege last night. It’s my turn.

“Where was this one taken?”

Her sweet voice lures me back from the dark side. Kind of. “Uh.” I move down the hallway to stand beside her. “San Diego. Near the naval base in Coronado.”

“Palm trees,” she sighs, clasping her hands beneath her chin. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in person.”

“No?” I turn to face Penny, leaning an elbow on the wall. If she thinks I don’t notice her gaze falling, falling and landing on that couple inches of abs I reveal, she’s mistaken. It makes me want to unzip and let her see exactly where that happy trail leads. “Seen one, you’ve seen them all, I guess.”

“Have you ever climbed one and grabbed a coconut?” She twists a little, clearly flirting with me. “Or do they only do that in cartoons?”

“Waiting until one falls on my head is more my style.” I push closer, walking her backward until she hits the opposite hallway wall. “Or it used to be. Waiting until something falls in my lap has always been the way I operate. Until you.”

She takes a shuddering breath, holding her hands out. “Zeke…I want you to touch me, but we have to wait.”

“I knew when I saw you through the damn smoke, Penny. You’re mine.” Tightness travels into my chest, my throat. “Do you know how hard it is to wait for another man’s permission?”

“He’s waiting. I’m waiting, too. Everyone is.”

“Are you? Is he?” I plant my hands above her head. “You’re telling me he spent a whole day with our little hot-to-bang virgin and didn’t try to fuck her sideways?”

I let out a hot breath against her neck and she moans. “H-he wanted to. But he didn’t.” She shakes her head. “Zeke, this isn’t going to work if you get jealous every time we’re not together. There has to be trust.”

My laughter is dark, my fists twisting on the wall. “It’s so goddamn hard, baby.” Her cunt is wet underneath that shirt—and it’s one inch away from my cock. I could ram myself right through the crotch of her panties and have that cherry popped. One fucking drive. “I need you, Penny. This is torture.”

“I know,” she breathes, eyes closed. “But even if the three of us didn’t have the rule…I wouldn’t want us to go any further yet. Not when you don’t believe Nick and I followed the rule today. It feels wrong, not having that trust.”

I mash my forehead into the wall, her body heat tempting me to the edge of my breaking point. “Give me a reason to believe there are two men alive capable of keeping their hands off your perfection. Give me a reason to believe you.”

“I’m attracted to each of you for different reasons,” she murmurs, after a few seconds. “With you…it’s so physical. Chemical. You’re gorgeous, intense and fun a-and, I just want you to touch me. Claim me.”

“This isn’t helping,” I rasp, liquid leaking from the tip of my cock. “Jesus.”

“It’s different with Nick. He…makes me want to be a good girl. While you make me want to be bad. He’s my caretaker and you’re the spark. It confuses me sometimes. But I need both. I love both.” She meets my eyes and I swear to Christ, the earth moves under my feet. “I won’t break your trust. And I won’t break his.”

I didn’t think it possible, but I believe her. They didn’t touch behind my back. My jealousy is still at the forefront, but it’s dimmed slightly. Something about her explanation clicked. Felt right. I’m not sure how I can come to terms with another man being in her life. Maybe it’ll still take me longer, but being the one who calls to her physically, while letting Nick give her something emotionally…it’s enough to appease the beast for the moment. Almost.

“He licked you last night,” I grind out. “He’s tasted you and I haven’t. It’s making me insane.” I drag my hands down the wall, letting them hover on either side of her hips. “The scales aren’t balanced. Pull up your shirt and let me look. I won’t touch, but I need something just for me.”