Just One Kiss (The Town of Pearl 8)

“I…I think maybe I should head back to my place. It’s been a long morning and—”

He reached up and cupped her cheek, ran his thumb over her lower lip, causing her to look up into his eyes. Everything about him, about them was a turn-on. The firmness and masculinity of his fingers, his body ignited feelings in her that were foreign.

“Don’t be scared of us. Ever. We’re not trying to trick you into anything. Never think that we’re trying to hurt you or make you do something you don’t want to do. We’re going to take things slow, Lucia. As slow as you need. Hell, as slow as we need, too. Now come on, we’ll drive to our place and you can see for yourself how cool Salvatore’s stuff is. Then we’ll drive you home.”

He moved his hand from her cheek to her neck, gave a gentle squeeze that she felt vibrate all the way to her pussy, and she knew she was in trouble. She liked them. All of them, and suddenly her focus went from them hurting her because they might be dishonest, to them touching her and her being unable to handle such a gentle aspect of an attraction or relationship.

Gabriele took her hand and led her along the streets of Pearl and to the parking lot where they parked their big black pickup truck. She was doing this. She was taking another step toward trusting these men, and she prayed to God she didn’t just get lured into some kind of trap.

* * * *

Lucia sat between Lucifer and Gabriele in the backseat of the truck. A thousand thoughts were running through Lucifer’s head. The scent of her perfume, the feel of femininity between him and his brother, all aroused many thoughts and emotions in him. He never really gave full thought to sharing one woman with his brothers. Not that they never discussed it, but he didn’t think they really understood the power, the uniqueness of such a relationship.

Sitting here now on their way to the ranch, he began to think about all the possibilities if Lucia was the one. There would be many a day spent with her in town, walking, holding hands, and even shopping. There would be dinners in town with friends, socializing like only a woman was capable of making her men participate in, and of course having her in their home. Waking up to the feel of such femininity and beauty in his arms would be like a dream come true. The fact that they all seemed to be feeling this attraction and perhaps thinking the same thoughts aroused him even more. Especially since Salvatore seemed comfortable with Lucia and even shared his talent with her. He hadn’t shared that with any woman, ever.

Lucifer reached over and covered Lucia’s entwined hands. She stared up at him as she allowed him to clasp her one hand with his as they held gazes.

“We’re almost there. Our parents built the house when they moved here over thirty-five years ago. We put on the additions to make room for all of us and to update the house.”

The truck slowed down, and Lucia looked out the window.

“Oh my, that is beautiful,” she whispered, and he squeezed her hand. He was proud of their hard work. They had all completed it together, a form of therapy after losing their parents and of course leaving the service. Lucifer and his brothers grew closer during that time in their lives. They had all changed so much over the years, but their bond hadn’t. It only seemed to grow stronger.

They all got out of the truck, and Gabriele took her hand and pulled her by his side. He stared down into Lucia’s eyes, and Lucifer witnessed the exchange of attraction.

“You like it?” Gabriele asked her.

“What’s not to like, Gabriele? It’s a stunning home. That porch is breathtaking. Oh, and that swing. Wow,” she said, heading toward the steps and right to the large custom-made swing that Salvatore had just installed.

“This is incredible,” she said, smiling as she rocked on the swing.

Lucifer leaned against the porch column by the stairs while Maxwell, Gabriele, and Salvatore joined them. Salvatore watched her run her hand along the wood.

“It’s so smooth. Oh,” she said as if it just clicked. She looked at Salvatore. “This is one of your pieces, isn’t it?” she asked him. Salvatore nodded.

“Why don’t you show her the other projects, Salvatore?” Maxwell suggested, and Lucifer felt a little nervous. Salvatore was the one to convince about starting a relationship with Lucia. So far he seemed to be leaning toward it despite his verbal statement of not wanting to get involved and being afraid of hurting her. But Lucifer could already see the difference in his brother when he was around Lucia. He watched as Salvatore placed his hands in his pockets and motioned with his head for Lucia to follow him. For a man who had faced death numerous times in the service, he sure did look a bit intimidated by Lucia. But Lucia seemed to pick up on it as she walked closer to him and looped her arm through his as they headed toward the barn together.

“What do you think?” Maxwell asked him and Gabriele.

“I like her. She feels the attraction too,” Gabriele said.

“I like her too, but she’s definitely not keen on sharing her life in South Carolina. I could do a little digging,” Maxwell suggested.

“I’d hold off on that. We don’t know enough about her or her situation. Let’s try getting her to open up to us first, and then if things progress and she’s still untrusting, we could do a little digging,” Gabriele told them, and they agreed.

“So what do we do while Salvatore shows her around the barn and his projects?” Lucifer found himself asking. He was already missing her. Feeling on edge that she would take off or something.

Maxwell chuckled.

“We need to give her time to get to know each of us. This is good that she and Salvatore seem to be hitting it off. Let’s wait inside.”

Lucifer looked toward the barn, hoping that things went smoothly. Salvatore could use a good woman in his life. They all could. And it didn’t matter to him what was in her past. He just knew that he wanted her to be part of their future, of their family. He would do whatever was necessary to ensure that happened.

* * * *

Salvatore couldn’t help it. Her reaction to his work was genuine, and it seemed to bring the walls he had built up down a little. He watched Lucia run her hand along the wood on the chair he made, and then she looked up at him.

“Can I sit in it?” she asked him, and he nodded his head, keeping his arms crossed in front of him while he watched her.