Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
I expect her to contradict him and tell us that the night is over, but when he bends to brush his lips against hers, she doesn’t stop him.
She kisses him back, and it’s tender at first, but then his hands start to stray and the kiss grows more heated. My brother strides over and pulls at her shoulder, turning Lorraine into his arms and picking up where she and Leo left off.
I smooth her hair back and brush my lips against the pulse point on her neck, feeling her heartbeat speed up as we hold her. Her robe slips on one side, and my mouth follows it, laying kisses along her collarbone and out to her shoulder. She may not want to talk, but maybe we can show her through our actions why we should be together.
There’s a lot we can say without saying anything at all.
“Just tonight,” she murmurs as Dante’s mouth descends to her chest, where the robe slips from her breast, exposing a hardening nipple.
As his lips pluck at the rosy bud, a knock at her front door, followed by the doorbell, startles us all into stillness.
It’s late, and it’s clear from Lorraine’s expression that she wasn’t expecting anyone. “I’ll check my security app,” she whispers, brushing past us on her way to her bedroom.
By the time I reach her room, along with the three other men, her lip is snarled in disgust. “What the …?”
“Who is it?” Leo demands.
Her brow is in a knot when she looks up at us. “It’s my ex.”
We’re all still again, until she says, “I’m not going to answer.”
There’s another knock, another ring, and then the distinct and ominous sound of a key in the lock.
Lorraine tugs her robe tightly around her, securing the knot as she hurries to the front door. The four of us men exchange looks and through unspoken agreement, we stay in the bedroom, out of sight, though we can clearly hear the activity at the front door.
“What are you doing here?” Lorraine demands.
“Who’s here, Rai? Whose truck is that outside?” His voice is deep, and his words slur together. The intimacy of him calling her by a nickname stings.
“That’s none of your business, and this is no longer your house. You don’t get to let yourself in here.”
Silently, the four of us put our pants back on as we remain on alert.
“You didn’t answer the door. I was worried about you,” the man says.
“Like hell you were,” Lorraine says. “Leave. If you need to talk to me, you can call me tomorrow.”
“I’m not leaving, Rai —”
“Stay here,” Leo tells the rest of us, his tone verging on murderous as he storms out of the room. Dante starts to follow him, but I throw out my arm and stop him. Lorraine’s ex doesn’t need to know that she has more than one man in her bedroom. We’ll listen to make sure Leo doesn’t need backup, and if he does, we’re at the ready.
“Who the hell is this?” the man’s voice booms.
“I’ll take care of this, Leo,” Lorraine says, her voice high but firm.
“Is he the man you’re with tonight?” her ex says, sounding disgusted. “I’ve been hearing stories, Rai, lots of ‘em. I heard you’re behaving like a tramp.”
“She told you to leave,” Leo says.
“Leo, I’ve got this.” Then, with even more firmness, she says, “Leave now, Nick. You don’t get to tell me what to do or comment on what I’m doing.”
“You’re making a fool of yourself, Rai.” His voice trails off and a slam follows.
Dante, Troy and I rush out to the entry, where Lorraine has slumped against the back of the closed door.
“I’m sorry,” she says, sounding exhausted.
37
Lorraine
“Why would you be sorry?” Darian says, his voice full of anger that I know isn’t directed at me.
My heart is pounding, and I feel like I’m in a fog of sudden fatigue.
“Has he done that before?” Dante demands, but I wave off his question and shake my head.
“I need to be alone,” I say, taking a deep breath that makes my chest ache as I stand up straight.
Leo is pacing in front of me, but stops to respond. “We’re not going to leave you alone after that.”
“The night is over. I’m sorry, but I just want to sleep.”
“What if he comes back?” Troy demands.
“He’s not dangerous. He’s never hurt me. Not physically. I appreciate your concern, but I just want to be alone, and I’ll be fine. I promise.”
Dante starts to object, but Darian interrupts him. “I’m sure Lorraine knows best.” In a lower voice, he adds, “If we refuse to leave after she’s asked us to, we’re no better than that man.”
The men clearly aren’t happy about it, but they collect their things and gather at the door in just a couple of minutes.
“Call us immediately if he returns,” Leo tells me.