Chapter Nine

Allis sat in the passenger side of Givon’s SUV and stared at the huge house. This couldn’t possibly be his house. It was big and beautiful, and it had a wraparound porch with a swing and everything. It was just like she’d always envisioned where she’d live one day with a husband and children—someplace filled with love and warmth and family.

She’d always wanted a big family.

A huge tree stood in the front yard and just behind the house stood a dilapidated barn with tall weeds slowly consuming it. Lush, rich land went as far as the eye could see and in the distance, the mountains rose majestically for a breathtaking backdrop.

“Are you okay?” Givon asked softly. “You think you can be comfortable here? It’s not decorated all that well. In fact, there’s just the bare minimum, but you can certainly go shopping for anything—”

“Stop,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”

“Yeah?” he asked, brightening.

“Yeah. It’s the house of my dreams. So thank you for giving me a chance to experience this.”

He stared at her, his green eyes bright and piercing. They captivated her, enraptured her until she couldn’t look away. He bent toward her and hesitated right before his lips touched hers. He gave her enough time to pull away if she wanted, but she didn’t want to and, when time ran out, he fitted his mouth to hers and she closed her eyes.

The kiss started out soft, platonic, just an innocent little breath to breath. Then he shifted a bit and the pressure of his mouth became firm as she parted her lips. He wasted no time sweeping in with his tongue, twining it with hers in a sensual slide into pure eroticism. Her heart thumped heavily with excitement as Givon cupped her face, taking the kiss even deeper, pulling her as much as possible into his arms. The truck cab didn’t allow for much maneuverability and it became a little frustrating, so she tried to scoot closer and that’s when pain shot down her back, robbing her of breath. She broke the kiss to arch back with a cry, holding very still and breathing through the hot fire licking along her nerves.

“God, baby,” Givon said. “I’m so sorry!”

Why was he apologizing? For the kiss? She really hoped not. That kiss had rocked her world.

“I should’ve waited until you weren’t so sore,” he added.

Relief poured through her. She was glad he didn’t regret their kiss. “I’m glad you didn’t,” she told him, breathing through the agony, thankful when it started to ease.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since I laid eyes on you,” she admitted.

He smiled, and she loved the twinkle that came into his eyes.

“Well, then I’ll say I’m only sorry I hurt you. I’d never willingly do that. You know that, right?”

“I…I’ve not had a good track record with men,” she admitted softly.

“I haven’t had a good track record with women.”

She chuckled at that. “So together we’re pretty shitty dates. Is that what you’re saying?”

He ran a finger gently over her bottom lip. “I don’t know about you, but I think my luck has just changed.”

She melted right there, her bones turning into a puddle of goo at his words. They were sweetest words she’d ever heard.

“Let’s get you inside so you can check out your new home,” he said. He got out of the cab and walked around to her side. She’d opened her door but had to wait for him since her back ached. The stitches pulled every time she jerked or stretched too far. The last thing she wanted to do was bring back that pain.

Givon carefully swooped her up and bumped the door shut with his hip. Being in his arms made her feel breathless and excited at the same time, and lustful thoughts began racing through her head. Under her hands, his muscles rippled and flexed, the tightly woven strength throughout his body making her mouth water. She wouldn’t mind licking him up and down, maybe take a little love nip out of his tight ass.

Her panties grew uncomfortably damp. She quickly shut down her imagination. The last thing she could do right then was act on her desires. She had another ten days before the top layer stitches came out and she didn’t want to do anything that might cause a setback. If that meant living with raging hormones, so be it.

But it wasn’t going to be easy to ignore the two men who made her body tingle and her heart race, not to mention how they both made her juices run. She hadn’t even been able to masturbate since she was so sore.

He marched up the porch steps where he set her on her feet so he could unlock the front door. Just inside, he punched in a code to turn off an alarm then proceeded to swing her gently back up into his strong arms.

“Oh!” she gasped as she threw her arms around his neck again, bringing her face practically nose to nose with his.

“Did I hurt you?”

“If you did, I didn’t even notice,” she said a bit breathlessly.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, stepping across the threshold.

The gesture was oddly heart wrenching. Maybe because it fit into her dream future—the one with the big house and husband—where he’d carry her into their house and make passionate love to her after exchanging vows. She shook her head to clear the fanciful notions as she got her first glimpse of the inside. As beautiful and stately as it was outside, it was practically an empty box. The furniture was the bare minimum. A couch, chair, television and a coffee table were brand new without scuffmarks or any sign of wear and tear. She half expected to see price tags still on everything. An air of neglect clung to the house, as if it was more for show than functionality. Everything was either white or beige, including the hardwood floors—no color, no pictures, no personality of any kind.

Stairs lay to the right, leading up to a second floor. The large, empty living room led into an equally huge kitchen. Allis entered the room and had to admire the state-of-the-art updates that Givon had installed. A breakfast bar separated the workspace from the dining room with leather padded chairs neatly pushed in. A closed door led off from the kitchen that she assumed was a pantry. Granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, mahogany cabinets, everything was shiny and new, but again, it all had that unused air about it.

“It’s lovely,” she finally said.

“It’s empty,” he corrected.

She raised an eyebrow. “Deliberately?”

“No, not really. I bought this house hoping… Well, it sounds silly now.”

“Hoping what?”

“For a family,” he said. “It took me about six years to renovate this into a home but all I’ve got is a big old house with great taste that sounds hollow every time I walk across the floor.”

Once again, he’d surprised her. “You want a family?”

“I do. I did. I’m forty and I always thought I’d have little ones running around by now.”

“Luckily for you, men can father babies all their lives,” she quipped then blushed red when he cocked his eyebrows. Talk of babies made her body bloom hotly.

Just then, a truck rolled onto the gravel driveway and she blinked, breaking the spell that had come over her. She blinked and glanced out of the living room window. North stepped out of the cab. He wasn’t wearing his usual bandana and his golden hair ruffled slightly in the breeze. His black leather cut with a red band around the bottom rested on top of a fitted black T-shirt, outlining every muscle of his toned body. When he reached the porch, he looked up and caught her staring at him through the glass and something crackled between them.

Dear Lord, I am going to be living with two drop-dead gorgeous men.

Givon didn’t miss Allis’ reaction when she saw North and it just cemented his decision that inviting them both to move in had been the right one. What had started out as a mission to save a woman’s life had morphed into something else—something more. He didn’t know exactly where this was heading, but in his gut, he knew this was a step in the right direction.

“Knock, knock,” North said as he stepped through the doorway. He pointed outside. “I’m going to need a hand getting my bike off the trailer.”

“Coming,” Givon said.

“You think I could use that barn out back to store my trailer and other stuff?”

“Other stuff?”

“This and that.”

Givon looked at him skeptically then led the way outside to the truck.

“How much ‘this and that’ stuff could you possibly have?” He looked into the back of the truck and saw one duffle bag. “Seriously.”

“I’ve got some tools in storage,” North replied. “I’d be nice to get rid of that storage container so I can have access to them whenever I need them.”

“Oh. Sure,” Givon replied. “You clean it up and it’s all yours.”

“Thanks,” North replied. They stood at the winch that connected the trailer to the truck. “You unwind it and I’ll guide the bike down.

It didn’t take long to park the Nightster and maneuver the empty trailer to the side of the house. Givon leaned over and sniffed North. North pushed him away.

“What the hell?”

“You smoked.”

“What are you? Part bloodhound?” North asked, scowling.

“Man, I knew I should’ve bet you.”

“Fuck you,” North groused then ruined his tough guy look by smiling. “I’d never place a bet with you ‘cause I’d lose. Allis settling in?”

“We’ve only been here a few minutes,” he answered. “I hope she brings a little warmth to the house.”

“Why? Is your heater not working?”

“No, I mean family warmth.”

“Oh. Like decorating?”

“Sorta.”

“Unless it involves motorcycles, I’m shit for interior designing.”

“Yeah, I kinda figured that.”

North grabbed his arm. “Look, Giv, I’ve been having some crazy thoughts about Allis.”

“You too? Thoughts on what she’d feel like naked and how she’d taste? Those kind of crazy thoughts?”

“Well, shit,” North said with a sigh.

“I was actually thinking of inviting Leo, Merrie and Braden over for dinner.”

North blinked. “Well, shit.”

“You’ve said that already.”

“Yeah. Didn’t diminish the implication.”

Givon laughed. “Come on. Grab your duffle bag. Pick whatever room you’d like.”

Allis sat on the couch, waiting for them to walk in. She smiled shyly at them.

“I’ve put coffee on,” she told them.

“Thanks, sweetheart,” North murmured. He dropped his bag by the door and walked over to kiss her on the top of her head. “How’re you feeling?”

“Sore,” she admitted.

“You got pain medicine?”

She nodded. “They gave me a prescription but it knocks me out. I don’t want to sleep just yet. I want to see my home.”

North smiled and held out his hand. When she placed hers in his, he gently helped her to stand up. Then they turned to Givon.

“Well, roomie? Lead the way.”

Along with the living room and the huge kitchen and dining room combo, Givon pointed out a laundry room, a half bathroom, and a sunroom that looked out toward the mountains. After the ground level tour, Givon led them up the stairs. It took Allis a little longer since she had to go slowly and rest between each step, but he didn’t mind. He liked watching North help her. He had thought jealously might be a problem, that he wouldn’t be able to handle seeing Allis in North’s arms, but that was far from the feelings coursing through his system.

“There are five bedrooms,” Givon announced. “With two and a half bathrooms and a full attic.”

“Jesus,” North muttered. “Overcompensating much?”

“Fuck you,” Givon replied good-naturedly. “My bedroom, the master, is at the end of the hall. I use the bedroom next to it as my home office. The other three are available.”

A full bathroom faced the stairs and there was a linen closet next to it. Toward the left were the other three bedrooms. Allis inspected each one.

“I’ll take this one,” she said, pointing to the smallest of the three.

“Are you sure?” North asked. “Why don’t you take this one?”

He pointed to the largest of the three.

“I have nothing,” she replied, “which is actually less than your one duffle bag. Besides, you’re a lot bigger than I am, so I’m thinking the bigger bed will suit you better.”

“Actually, you do have things. I’ve got several bags of clothes for you in my truck.”

“What?” she asked, flabbergasted. “How?”

“I stopped off at Walmart before I came here.” He shrugged. “As much as I would’ve loved to see you walking around in nothing, I think clothing is more prudent.”

Red stole over her cheeks.

“So, it’s settled,” Givon said. “North, unpack your things. Allis, I’ll run down and get those bags. I think tonight we’re going to have a little celebration.”

Allis put a hand out to the bed and swayed a little. Givon and North both jumped forward to grab her.

“What’s the matter?” North demanded.

“My back is really hurting,” she said in a strained voice. “I don’t think I’m much up for celebrating tonight.”

“I’ll go get your pain pills,” Givon said, turning to bolt out the door. He ran downstairs to the kitchen where he’d placed all her paperwork and items from the hospital. She’d spent four days in the hospital and had assured Dr. Blake she’d be better protected at his house. He was extremely glad North was there to help take care of her. He scooped up the medicine container then opened it to shake out two white oblong pills. He got a glass, filled it with water, followed by quickly ducking into the laundry room located off the kitchen to grab one of his clean T-shirts. He didn’t mind washing clothes but he hated putting them away. Most of the time his stuff was piled high on the dryer.

As he went back upstairs, he took the steps two at a time and entered her bedroom to see that she’d sat on the bed with North squatted in front of her, holding her hand.

“Here,” he said and opened his hand.

Allis gave him a wan smile and took the pills, swallowing them down with the water without a hint of protest. When she was done, North set the glass on the small nightstand.

“I also brought you one of my shirts for sleeping in,” he said, holding it out to her. “Do you need help?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I can’t raise my arm.”

The hospital had given her an old set of scrubs to wear home and the men helped her to stand and carefully pulled the borrowed shirt over her head. Her breasts came into view and he had to beat down his raging libido at seeing her dusty rose nipples looking like succulent little berries. He wanted to take one into his mouth and suck until she writhed under him in pleasure.

Averting his gaze from the perfection of her beautiful body, he helped her put the shirt on as North untied the drawstring pants and helped her step from them. They guided her down onto the mattress and pulled the covers up to her chin. Seconds later, she was breathing deep in slumber.

North placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. As he turned away, Givon recognized the heat in his friend’s eyes because it burned through him. Yes, whatever it was that drew both of them toward this woman was potent and Givon was thankful she was safe under their roof.