* * * *
Dalton was trying to calm his breathing. He was so fucking nervous his hands were clammy and he was nearly perspiring. He had served in the damn war, yet this woman made him more nervous with anticipation of what may or may not happen. Or perhaps how many things could go wrong or even right. Shit.
As he looked up toward the open doorway, he saw her standing there, dressed in blue, looking like an angel with the sunlight gathered behind her. Hank held her hand, towering over her as Jeremy and Anthony followed suit. She looked stunning and feminine and every nerve ending in his body felt the need to protect her, possess her, and hold her in his arms.
As he stepped toward her, ready to take action and claim what was instinctively his, he stopped short. Perhaps she didn’t feel so strongly about him. The thought had him scowling.
Millie must have picked up on it because her smile faltered and Hank cleared his throat.
“Welcome to our home. Let’s give you the tour.” Hank practically dragged her across the room.
“Wait,” Millie whispered and Hank stopped walking. She was a few feet away from Dalton and he watched her intently, wondering what she would say.
She looked him over from head to toe. He wondered if he had dressed too casually or perhaps he should have worn a different color than black but black was his favorite color.
“Hello, Dalton.” She reached her hand out for him to—shake it? What? He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, not shake her fucking hand as if she were the next-door neighbor. What the fuck?
As he slowly reached for her hand, she smiled just as the electrical current he felt between them in the dojo came crashing forward. An instant later she was wrapped up in his arms and he was devouring her mouth.
* * * *
Millie had no idea what the hell was happening, but she was instantly and evenly attracted to the brothers. Initially, she had thought that Dalton may have changed his mind about his attraction to her by the scowl on his face, but then something came over her. She liked him. A lot. She recalled her jealousy toward the other women that found him attractive and flirted with him. She wanted the men to belong to only her. It was a shocking, controlling thought that fed her hunger.
She poured all of that emotion into their kiss, and before long, he was lifting her up, holding her tightly against his chest and loving her mouth.
As if realizing that his behavior and response was compulsive and may have frightened her, he began to pull away. His lips slowly left hers and then he smiled down at her.
“Hot damn, woman, you set my body on fire.” She felt the palm of his hand glide across her ass cheek and squeeze. Her nipples hardened and her body rubbed against him.
“I think dessert should come before dinner tonight,” Jeremy stated and they all chuckled.
“Millie.”
Millie turned from Dalton’s heated gaze to Marco, who leaned against the entryway to another room with his arms crossed. From cowboy boots and Wrangler jeans all the way up to his Western-style black shirt and stern expression, she absorbed him completely. Her mouth slightly opened and she nearly moaned from overstimulation and complete appreciation for the five fine-looking cowboys around her.
“Come here,” Marco commanded. She widened her eyes in response, but she feared to take the shaky step toward him. She was at a crossroads of sorts at the moment. She had deep feelings for these men. All of them. When she loved, she loved entirely and that had been her downfall twice. First with Frank and then with Stewart. But she did love a man in charge. She wanted one that could take care of her, one she could lean on, and one that could also be commanding in the bedroom but bring her pleasure, not pain. Marco cleared his throat as if she were waiting too long to follow his command. This was a leap of faith. These men had shown her nothing but gentleness and affection. Third time’s a charm, Millie.
He raised his eyebrows, the cocky, sexy bastard, and she found herself slowly walking the six feet toward him. His eyes sparkled in celebration as she approached.
“Stop right there,” he whispered firmly and she forced herself to remain still and not take the last two steps and throw herself into his arms for a hell of a hello.
He uncrossed his arms and looked her over from head to toe. Oh, please don’t say you hate the color blue. Oh, please, don’t tell me what you don’t like about me. She wondered why she was being so critical and worrying about them turning out to be like other men. Give them a chance. She tensed up entirely until Marco spoke in his deep Texan accent.
“You should dress like this more often. You’re a stunning, voluptuous woman, Millie. I’m going to enjoy removing that dress from your body and exploring every inch of you.”
Holy Mary, Mother of God!
She closed her eyes and swallowed the moan she felt nearly slip from her lips.
That was the hottest thing any man had ever said to her.
When she felt his arm go around her waist and pull her to him, she opened her eyes and looked up and up until she locked gazes with Marco.
His mouth descended on hers quickly, leaving no room to prepare for his kiss. He was lethal and thorough as he explored her with his mouth as well as his hands.
Lost in the sensations and the constant state of arousal, she hadn’t realized that another body was now behind her and two sets of hands began an exploration. As Marco caressed the palm of his right hand up her dress and squeezed her thigh, Anthony moved her hair from her neck on the opposite side of her body and licked and kissed along her skin.
She lost the ability to stand and Anthony held her up.