If only

Vance considered. He’d enjoy the work, and it was appealing to keep the partnership together. But no. “I want a few more years with the Feds. But after that, yes.” He shook his head. “Might be good to have a bit more space anyway…if we’re going to make this a formal sort of relationship.”

“I’m not sure how to do that,” Galen admitted. “Sally deserves a fancy wedding as well as legal protection.”

“Well, now, I’ve been thinking about that.”

* * *

Inside, Sally ended the call on her cell with mixed emotions.

Tate had been calling each week…just to get to know her again. This evening, after regaling her with Emma and Dylan stories, he’d mentioned their father. Apparently the children had told their friends about the fiasco of a dinner party…and what Sally had said. Sally was still remembered fondly by the townspeople. Her father was now being avoided.

She sighed, trying to pull up either anger or satisfaction or pity, but found an absence of any deep emotion. Her father truly wasn’t part of her life anymore.

And she had a new family.

Detouring to the kitchen, she glanced out the back door. Two men sitting at the end of the dock. No change there, dammit.

Growling to herself, Sally went into the great room. At least Glock would be some company. She dropped down on the couch and pulled Glock into her lap. After an indignant look, the cat stood and arranged himself more comfortably—in the same position.

“Jeez, you and Galen are real control freaks, aren’t you?” She scratched his chin.

His rumbling purr was both agreement and enjoyment.

At least someone was content. Well, apparently everyone except her. Her two men had finished their beers long ago and now just sat outside. Talking and laughing—easy laughter, which she hadn’t heard in far too long.

Fine.

Although three days had passed, Galen hadn’t mentioned their talk at Kari’s house and her concerns. That sure didn’t seem fair. He was always after her to express her emotions, and now he was ignoring her?

Of course they’d been swamped in paperwork. And healing.

Still, she needed to decide what to do. She’d wanted to give Galen a little extra time to think, but now she should speak with Vance and at least let him know her worries. Then again, Galen might well have told him.

Would she stay, even knowing how dangerous their jobs were? She sighed. Yes. Kari was right. If the job was what they needed to feel complete, she had no right to change them. She loved their dedication and the way their protectiveness extended to the whole world.

But it’d sure be horrid to watch them go to work each day. Sure, anyone could die, but the odds of being injured or killed were a lot higher for law-enforcement types. Hopefully she wouldn’t turn into as much of a worrywart as Galen.

But, whatever happened, she loved them. This is where I’ll be. In their home. In their bed. In their arms.

If she didn’t kill them herself before the week was out. What were they talking about? She stroked Glock’s long gray body. “So, fur ball, I’m not real happy about being left in here with just a cat for company. If you were their submissive, what would you do?”

An indifferent tail flick was her answer.

“No, leaving them alone to enjoy their evening isn’t the answer. I’m not nice.”

The kitty smirk showed Glock’s opinion of niceness. Felines didn’t do nice. Felines did sneaky.

“Sneaky. I can be sneaky.” She considered. “Maybe I should be a sweet service sub and take my men some fresh drinks. Excellent suggestion, Glock.”

When she dumped him on the couch, she could swear the annoyed cat called her one of the names Gabi had mentioned.

After grabbing beers from the fridge, Sally headed outside…quietly. Eavesdropping? Me? Surely not.

Their voices were low murmurs that blended far too well with the soughing of the breeze in the tree canopy and the gentle lapping of water against the pilings.

Demon Doms.

A rough patch of wood on the dock caught her foot, and the beer bottles clanked together. As the men turned toward her, she smiled. “I thought you might be ready for refills.”

“Did you now, pet?” Galen’s smile was too darned knowing. “That was thoughtful of you.”

Fine. She turned her back on him.

As Vance took his beer, he subjected her to a slow perusal. “Did you feel left out, sweetheart?”

Well, honestly, maybe she had felt left out, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be interrogated. Stupid Feds. She gave him a smile that was 90 percent sugar. “Don’t give yourself airs. I just brought you some beer.”

She set Galen’s beer on his chair arm and got three steps toward the house before one of them caught her shorts waistband and dragged her backward.

“Dammit, let me go!” She tried to twist around. Vance had her.

“Don’t think so. Here, bro. Catch.” Vance yanked sideways, flinging her toward Galen.

Galen leaned forward, grabbed her waist, and pulled her into his lap.

“Demon fucking Dom, I didn’t come out here to—” She shoved at his hands until he trapped her wrists in front of her. “Let go, you asshole!”

“The little ones are fun when they wiggle,” Galen said in a conversational voice.

“Got to agree with that.” Vance set his beer on the dock and pulled his chair closer as Sally glared at him. “Can’t say I care for that language—or attitude.” He regarded her. “Been a while since we spanked our little imp.”

Sally froze.

Both men burst out laughing, and it would only be justice if her glower could turn them into stone. Or at least boil their beer. But nooo.

Galen tightened his grip around her wrists before sliding his free hand under her shirt.

“No bra. Very nice.” A calloused finger circled one nipple before his palm cupped her whole breast. He kissed the curve between her neck and shoulder, sending goose bumps down her arms. “She smells like vanilla.”

Because she’d started to make the ungrateful bastards a cake.

“Yeah? Let’s see.” Vance pulled his chair next to Galen’s, and his hand went under her shirt, possessing her other breast before he kissed the other side of her neck. Two men touching her, kissing her. Her insides began to boil, melting her resistance, her anger, her hurt feelings.

Vance took her mouth in a long, deep, wet kiss. “Have I mentioned how much I love you, sweetheart?”

“I—”

“I love you, imp,” Galen whispered in her ear and nipped her earlobe, sending dark desire pooling in her belly.

“Mmm.” A hum had started under her skin. In the moonlight, their faces were shadowed, but her hands knew their shapes. She flattened a palm on each cheek. Galen’s hard beard stubble, Vance’s softer.

Galen set his hand over hers, turning his face enough to press a kiss to her palm. “Want to know what we were talking about, Ms. Curiosity?”

“I certainly would, Master Grumpy Pants.”

Galen’s grin flashed before he ran his fingers over the breast he’d captured and used his fingernails to pinch the very tip.

A tiny zing shot straight to her pussy. He tugged on the entire areola, and the boiling anticipation coursing through her made her squirm.

Vance curved his hand over her upper thigh, his weight stopping her wiggles, his fingers rubbing lightly against her pussy. “We were talking about you, of course.”

“Oh.” Right. Her curiosity rose, vying with her arousal. “Anything you want me to know?”