Tamara’s own personal revelation of earlier that evening—that she was all the way in love with these two men—still felt fresh and new and a little bit scary. What didn’t feel scary was Henry’s threat, or the forbidding expressions on each of their faces.
So she inhaled deeply, exhaled, and strived for an insouciant attitude. “Is that a fact?”
“Yes, that is a fact.” Morgan frowned even as his gaze speared her.
He’s wondering what I’m thinking and why I don’t seem to be worried. She decided not to let them wonder for too long. A part of her realized she stood on a precipice. This would be the moment when everything changed. Tamara knew she’d remember this moment for the rest of her life.
She’d never said the words to any man in her entire life, never even imagined that she would ever want to say them. Yet here she was about to say them to two men. Tamara didn’t let herself angst over the decision she’d made, and she sure as hell didn’t let herself worry that they didn’t feel the same way about her.
They’d damn well better love her back, or she was going to clobber them both.
Just jump right in, both feet, one bold move. “Do the two of you have any idea how terrified I was, knowing the men I loved were facing God knows what, and there I sat, hiding in the bushes, powerless to help?”
“You’ve never been powerless.” Morgan said the words instantly and convincingly. He relaxed his stance. His arms slipped to his sides and he took one step forward.
“I felt that way, tonight. When Henry skulked off to go to you, and I realized the kind of danger you could both have been in, I felt powerless.”
“Just out of curiosity,” Henry also relaxed and took a step forward, “what did you do to poor Dennis?”
That he would call the villain “poor Dennis” told her Henry’s temper had completely dissipated.
“I stabbed him in the leg with a screwdriver.”
“A screwdriver?” Henry repeated as if he’d never heard the words before. Since he looked dumbfounded, she decided to play it up. After all, she was a smart-ass.
“Uh-huh. A small, itty-bitty one about this big.” She held her fingers apart to approximate the size of her weapon.
Morgan and Henry looked at each other, and she thought they might have paled, just a little. Morgan said, “Not even a fucking shovel.”
“We’ll have to tell Colt and Ryder how lucky they were that Susan, at least, was armed with a shovel.”
That exchange completely confused Tamara. But she didn’t worry about it, because just then both men turned their attention back to her as they each took one more step closer to her.
“Say it, please,” Morgan said. “We both very badly need to hear you say the words.”
“I will, but only if I get to hear them back.” Tamara resisted the urge to pout.
“Red.” Morgan crossed his arms in front of his chest again, and damned if the arrogant pose didn’t turn her on.
Tamara shook her head. “You are such an alpha male. I always thought I was too smart to fall for one of those.” She met his gaze, held it, and then met Henry’s. “And here, I’ve fallen in love with not one, but two Alphas.”
Neither man moved, and Tamara smiled. Alphas and arrogant, yes. And most definitely hers.
“I love you. I love you both. Although I’m not altogether certain how that happened.”
Henry tilted his head to one side. “Well, we are pretty irresistible,” he said.
Tamara laughed. She bet that smile of his had always allowed him to get away with the most outrageous things.
“But then, so are you.” Morgan reached out one finger and stroked her face. “The moment I wrapped my arms around you that first time, I knew I was a goner.”
“You make it sound like I’m a disease, and flyboy,” she poked him in the chest, “I still haven’t heard the words back.”
“I love you.” Morgan reached for her and drew her into his arms. “With everything that’s in me, I love you.” He kissed her, his lips warm and firm and oh, so delicious. His flavor seeped into her and brought her to that place of sanctuary between them. His tongue, bold and strong, caressed hers, drank from her and healed her.
Morgan ended the kiss gently and met her gaze. His lips spread into a half smile that melted her heart.
Henry pressed close to her and ran his hand down the back of her head. She turned to him and marveled at the way his eyes seemed to just sparkle.
“I love you, Tamara. You’re my very heart, and the center of my world. I love you.” He slipped his arm around her, lowered his head, and laid his lips on hers.
Wet and wild, he drew her in, drew her deep, so that Tamara wanted nothing more than to meld with him completely. Unable to resist him, she reached up with one hand and caressed his face. Her other hand blindly sought Morgan. When that man laced his fingers with hers, brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it, Tamara knew she’d come home.
“If you ever stop loving me…”
“Hush.” Morgan stroked her arm. “We won’t. That’s not how Kendalls do things, baby.”
“You’re stuck with us,” Henry said. “Good and stuck for the rest of your life. No going back, sweetheart. Not for any of us.”
“I don’t want to go back.” Tamara blinked, trying to push back the tears determined to fall. “Oh, God, I don’t want to go back. I need you both so much. You’re the center of my world, too. My heart.”
“Will you be the center of us now? Will you let us both inside you?” Morgan’s
