Turning her cheek to rub against his slightly scruffy one, she had a moment of clarity. This was her peace, her salvation, with these men she would find her redemption.
She felt stronger with them near. Like she could conquer anything. Now all she had to do was beat down her fears and slay her own dragons. Because as much as she knew these two men would do it for her, she needed to do it for herself and that couldn’t be done hiding behind them.
Seven
The change in her demeanor was magnificent. The most exquisite sight Linc had ever seen. He wondered what changed it. The last few days she’d opened up to them, told them of the things she liked to do and what she hated. That she no longer wanted to be a designer, and that while she mourned the loss of that passion she felt like she was meant for something bigger.
They hadn’t shared her bed since that first night, not wanting to push her more than she was ready, but they often heard her moaning or whimpering. She never called out again, though, so they weren’t sure about waking her. As she came down the stairs in the early morning sun, dressed in a pair polka dot leggings and a long flannel shirt matched with black UGGS, her hair up in a messy knot of fire on her head, he’d never seen a more beautiful sight. Her face clean of makeup so he noticed a few freckles spread across the bridge of her nose and spreading out under her eyes. It made her look young, almost too young.
For the first time since meeting her, Linc worried that maybe she was too young for them. She had her whole life ahead of her and they were slightly jaded and mostly set in their ways. What if they just brought her down even more? Made her more cynical about the world.
“Deep thoughts, Lincoln?” she asked as she passed his reclining form on the couch, going straight for the coffee pot that had just finished percolating. Such was her morning routine he’d noticed.
“Nah, just… pondering.”
“Pondering what?”
“Life?” He half joked because it was true, he was. Just not what she probably expected. “Going somewhere?” he asked before she could question him further.
“I am,” she answered hesitantly. As if she didn’t want him to know where.
“Let me get sleeping beauty here up and dressed and we’ll come with,” he tried to suggest, not wanting her out of sight.
“Ummm, that’s ok. This is kind of something I do alone.” Avoiding his eyes while telling him that only piqued his interest more.
“Where?” Simple question but totally loaded too.
He watched as she walked to the door, coffee and purse in one hand, keys in the other ready to open it and walk out. “Florence,” she told him, stunning him long enough to give a small wave and slip out before he could react.
“What the fuck do you need to go to Florence for?” he yelled knowing she wouldn’t hear him but needing to get it out.
“Who the fuck’s going to Florence at this ungodly hour?” Creed asked crankily from the floor.
“Kennedy,” he growled out.
Yeah, that got the fucker moving quickly. Straight out the front door in nothing but his boxers.
Laughing, Linc threw on some sweats and grabbed a pair for Creed, following him out in his bare feet. Seeing them toe to toe was a sight he wouldn’t soon forget.
Creed was six plus feet of muscles packed on muscles, covered in tattoos while Kenny was much smaller and softer. The contrast in their sizes was a huge turn-on and seeing her fired up, an angry blush working its way up her cheeks made his cock ache and throb.
When she poked Creed in the chest making him loom over her more, he could hear the threatening grunt of frustration escape his brother as she continued to tell him why it was none of their business why she was going.
“That’s where your wrong, Sunshine. Everything about you is our business. Now, why the fuck do you need to go to Florence at six in the fucking morning?” Creed bellowed.
Slowly coming up to them he tossed the pants on Creed’s head, making him shoot a look that would ha
ve made lesser men cower but he laughed it off. Seeing Kenny try to cover a laugh brought a big fucking smile to his face though. Didn’t matter how pissed or frustrated either of them were, anytime she smiled they melted.
Sadly, she fucking knew it too.
One day, though, it wouldn’t work.
Today he could tell was not that day as Creed dropped his head to his chest letting out a frustrated growl before looking to the sky as if in prayer.
“Woman,” Creed growled low in his throat.
“You growl a lot,” she pointed out.