this. You’re stuck with me, Brenna.”
So Thorn did know her name…
But why were they being so insistent about helping her? “Guys, I’m not a good lay.”
“Let us be the judge. You tell me what was stopping you before Thorn kissed you and we’ll deal with it.”
Brenna closed her eyes. Here she wanted to change her life, but she was too afraid. She was going to have to choose. Doing the same old things was going to get her the same old results. Ignoring it, masturbating, buying sex toys, living a fantasy life—none of that was going to get her where she wanted to go.
Maybe brutal honesty would.
She swallowed. “Thorn, the way you smiled at me just before you were going to kiss me. It was like a…pirate.”
Total confusion crossed his chiseled face. “Pirate? Like…grrr, mateys?”
“I’m saying it wrong. I felt like something you wanted to plunder purely for your own pleasure, not like something that meant anything to you. I don’t expect to mean anything to you after an hour, it’s just…I can’t relax if I’m feeling like I’ll be used and left.”
“We’re not leaving,” Cameron assured.
Thorn sat back on his haunches. “Too strong, huh? I guess I only know about the type of female who likes to put out and get cock in return. We never have expectations between us. I’m not sure how else to act.”
Brenna sat up, never taking her eyes off Thorn. That was the most he’d ever said to her—and the most honest. And it had pained him to say it.
“You never stay past morning?”
He scoffed. “I never stay until morning. But if that’s what you need, I will.”
“Because you feel sorry for me?” Oh God, if he did, someone open a huge hole in the floor and let her crawl inside.
“I do but that’s not why. The last hour or so have proved to me that you’re not Lawton’s fuck. He couldn’t catch a woman this…real. Hell, I never have.” Thorn heaved a sigh. “As you said earlier, you’re not a bimbo. And I’m so out of my league. I’ll leave you to Cameron.”
Thorn rose to leave the bed. Brenna reached out and curled her hand around his biceps. It was like cradling living, breathing stone in her palm. Cameron grabbed his wrist.
“Stay,” they both said.
“I’m not suited to this kind of gig. She wants something emotional, man. You know that’s not me,” he said to Cameron.
Cam shrugged. “So it will be a first for all of us. Brenna is going to have an orgasm and you’re going to get in touch with your sensitive side.”
“You’re assuming I have one.”
“Underneath all that badass? I think you do.”
“I won’t think you’re less macho if I see it,” Brenna promised.
“What’s your first in all this?” Thorn asked Cameron.
“I’ve never watched people have sex or had anyone watch me have it.”
“It can be one hell of a kick.” Thorn flashed him a grin.
“Figures you’d know. I can’t have that experience if you leave.”
“You’re going to pin this shit on me?”
“Yep.” Cam nodded.
“You know that’s unfair.”
Cam shrugged. “It doesn’t change a damn thing.”
“Fuck,” Thorn whispered. “This is getting awfully touchy-feely.”
Cameron slanted him a calculating glance. “You really going to walk away from the chance to be with Brenna? Look at her.”
Three words, and she was acutely self-conscious of her nudity under the golden glow of the lamp. Both men turned their gazes to her, and she felt their stares crawl up her legs, caress her belly, linger on her breasts. She got wet all over again, even as she brought her hands and knees up to cover herself.
Without exchanging a word, Thorn grabbed her wrist and leg on one side of her body. Cameron took hold of the other.
“No hiding,” Cam whispered. “Please.”
“You said naked and available,” Thorn reminded. “If I’m going to endure Dr. Phil Frankenstein here,” he nodded at Cam, “throw me a bone.”
She had given him her word. But this was all just so weird.
“Let’s start with a kiss,” the detective suggested. “Nothing big, no pressure. You like to kiss?”
“I love it,” she admitted.
“Good. If you don’t want more after that, we’ll talk about it,”
“But it wasn’t working when Thorn tried. I froze up.”
“All I have for my effort is blue balls,” Thorn groused.
“Do you want me to try?” Cam offered.
“Why the hell not, Boy Scout? Show me how it’s done.”
She shot Thorn a glare then turned to Cameron. “Please.”
Leaning closer, Cam scooted beside her. Caressing her face, he tucked her silky hair behind her ear and murmured, “Stop me if you need to.”
Brenna nodded, until Cameron took hold of the back of her neck. Gently, but she felt his fingers there all the same. A zip and sizzle made their way across her skin, down her spine.
“You’re shaking,” he whispered.
“You get to me,” she admitted.
“That’s what I like to hear.”
Slowly, Cameron leaned in. Brenna hesitated, then began to meet him. He watched her all the way with those expressive eyes. His chiseled cheekbones looked exotic, rather than harsh. And his mouth…tender and capable of granting the sweetest pleasure.
In that moment, she yearned for everything else possible from him.
Finally, he lips brushed hers, a barely there thing, but electric just the same. She felt the impact of his gentleness in every corner of her body. Then he eased away.
Brenna pursued, crushing her mouth against his. On her neck, his fingers tightened. He slanted his head again, finding the perfect angle until their lips fit together naturally, as if they were made that way, halves of the same whole. She sighed, and he pressed to her, tangling her top lip between his then shifting to the bottom. Another brush of lips, followed by a lingering kiss on her jaw, her neck, and she moaned.
He moved in for the kill then, urging her willing lips apart with his own. Plunging deep inside, he took her by storm. The male tang of him tantalized her tongue. The sensual dance of their mouths mesmerized her. Deep and seemingly endless, the kiss intoxicated. Brenna wanted to melt against him and beg him to do it forever.
Cameron pulled back, and with a last soft press of lips, disengaged. “What you had in mind?”
God, she still felt drunk off him. Her lashes fluttered open, and she touched a hand to her tingling lips. “Yes.”
“Fuck, that was hot,” Thorn whispered. “You didn’t do anything but kiss her.”