“She’s testing us. She may not even be aware of it, but I know the behavior. She’s pushing us to see how much we can take before we’ll get fed up and leave her.” Beck had been down this road, and he still shuddered when he thought of all the shit he’d heaped on Gloria until she’d verbally slapped his face and promised she was in his life to stay.
“So if we want her, we have to convince her we’re not going anywhere? Christ… Then what? We have to hope she’ll naturally choose one of us in time?”
“Once we help undo the damage her mother inflicted, maybe she will.” But Beck wasn’t holding his breath.
“Okay, I can suck it up until she’s on more stable ground. Can you?”
Beck pondered that question, internally weighing options that didn’t exist. “Tonight, I realized I’ll do anything in the world for her. It might be a good idea for you to consider what else you’re willing to do to make her happy.”
Seth hesitated, and Beck suspected the PI was listening between the lines. “Maybe it would be best if we slept on it and talked again in the morning.”
“Sure, but I think we both know where this is going.”
“Shut up.” Seth lay back again and tugged the blanket up to his neck. “And don’t snore.”
Yeah, Beck wasn’t any happier about what likely came next…but that didn’t change a damn thing.
On the far side of the unit, he heard the bedroom door open and whirled. Rustling told him that Seth turned toward the unexpected noise. The soft sounds of bare feet on the tile tiptoeing through the kitchen were unmistakable.
“Heavenly?” he asked.
“You all right?” Seth asked behind him.
She stepped into the room, at the end of the sofa. Beck saw her shift her weight, glance between them, curl her arms around her waist. “I’m really tired, but I can’t sleep. I thought I heard voices and I hoped you were still awake.”
Beck scooted closer and grabbed her hand. “Do you need to talk?”
“It’s not that. I’m so used to sleeping with my dad breathing just a few feet away. The bed is really comfortable…but the room is too quiet.”
It took less than half a second for him to grasp what she wanted. The air left his lungs. Motherfucker…
Behind him, he could almost feel Seth tense. “Do you need one of us to stay with you until you fall asleep?”
“Would you mind?” She sounded as if she hated to ask for the favor.
Hell, she probably did.
“No problem, angel.” Seth leapt to his feet.
Beck swallowed a groan. As if the kitten nightgown hadn’t been temptation enough, now she wanted them to climb in bed with her and not fuck her brains out? Yeah. And he damn well intended to cuddle up with her, too, because there was no way Seth was crawling between the sheets alone with her. “We’ll both be happy to make you comfortable.”
“Thanks,” she said softly as he stood.
His cock seemed convinced it was going to play with her kitty, because the moment he came near her, the son of a bitch was primed and ready to go all night. He bit back a curse and told his overeager appendage to take a rest. Wasn’t happening. Without any conscious thought, Beck pressed his hand to the small of her back. It only excited his dick more.
Seth seemed to have similar ideas. As soon as they reached the darkened bedroom, the big hulk lifted the covers and helped her under, then pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Beck leaned in behind him. “Clothes on. Hands to yourself.”
“Yeah. Comfort, not coitus,” Seth shot back as he made his way to her left and settled on top of the covers.
Ha ha. Fuck you. Beck did the same on her right.
Heavenly settled onto her stomach with a sigh and curled up with her pillow. Her breathing turned deep and even within thirty seconds.
Beck stared at the ceiling, every muscle in his body as rock-hard as his dick. If there was ever a time he needed his control…
He tried to close his eyes and empty his mind. But the luscious scent of her warm body filled his nose and teased him to the edge of sanity. All he could think about was losing his clothes, rolling her over, and sinking so deep inside her sweet pussy.
“This must be what hell feels like,” Seth muttered.
Beck bit back a snarl and closed his eyes. “I don’t think Satan could have thought of a torment any worse. Sweet dreams, fucker.”
Still floating between sleep and consciousness, Seth rolled over to find his face buried in the soft velvet of a woman’s neck. Lifting one heavy lid, he blinked as sunlight trickled around the edges of the dark curtains and gave the room a warm glow. Heavenly, still deep in sleep, came into focus. He jerked around and stared. Unfamiliar room. Unfamiliar bed. Beck’s condo.
Everything that had happened last night came rushing back.
He was still as conflicted now as he’d been then.
Thank god Heavenly was safe. And though he should probably thank Beck for stopping him from killing her landlord, Seth still wished he’d dusted the cocksucker. But Heavenly needed him far more than he needed revenge.
What else had Beck been right about?
He’d had most of a long, largely sleepless night to ponder that question.
Will you really be lost without us both, angel?
Lifting onto one elbow, he stared at Heavenly sleeping so serenely beside him. It had been a long time since he’d woken up with a woman. But waking up next to this one felt shockingly natural. It felt right.
Beneath her thin lids, her eyes darted back and forth. She was dreaming, hopefully deep in REM sleep. She needed it. He still saw dark circles under her eyes. No surprise. The poor girl had been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders for
