16
“Hold up.” Not the most intelligent thing I’ve ever said, but it’s what I need. For them to hold up so I can catch up to what the fuck I think I just heard. “You want me to be your girlfriend? Or, like, to date casually?”
“All of us. Yes.” Arden doesn’t flinch when he meets my gaze. “We talked it out after last night.”
“We were going to ask you to stay in town and even live with us until you get on your feet,” Dash offers. “Since that motel is pretty fucking bleak.”
“Either way, we don’t want you to go,” Ranger concludes.
I hold up a hand and close my eyes. “I’m still putting this together. You want me to be with all of you after tonight? Into the future? All three of you?”
“I told you she’d freak.”
My eyes snap open. Ranger said it, and he’s glaring at the other two. “I’m not freaking,” I say. “More like surprised and trying to figure it out. Because I was going to ask you guys tonight for pretty much the same thing. I’m glad you said it first since I probably would’ve lost my nerve.”
“So you want this, too?” Dash can’t hide a grin. It’s kind of adorable, which is not a word I would’ve used to describe any of these three until now. They put up a good front, but inside they’re sweet, protective teddy bears. And they’d probably be sick if they even suspected I thought of them that way.
“I mean, yes. I do.” My eyes threaten to fill with tears. “If you want me.”
“Haven’t we proven that already?” Ranger asks as he takes a seat beside me, so close our knees touch. “We want you. Until now, we’ve only shared women on a one-off basis.”
“You’re different,” Arden continues as he steps up behind me. The weight of his hands on my shoulders is nice. Comforting. “You’re worth doing things differently. None of us wants to say goodbye.”
I place a hand on one of his, twisting my head around to look up at him and smile for the first time since they blew my mind. “I didn’t want to say goodbye, either. I didn’t know how to say it, is all.”
“So you’ll stay?”
“I want to. I don’t want to leave you. I know that for sure.” It’s almost too surreal. Like I passed out after coming too hard, and this is all a fantasy being spun by my worn-out brain. But I feel Arden’s hands massaging my shoulders. The warmth of Ranger’s body close to mine. The velvet sofa under me. I even hear the light pulsing of music coming from downstairs, the little bit of sound that floats up even with the soundproofing I know they must have in place.
This is really happening, even though it feels like a dream I hope never ends.
“Now you have everything you need to start a new life.” Dash rests against the sofa he and his friends just took me on. “The money, the freedom. And three men who’ll take care of you. No matter what you need.” There’s no missing the edge in his voice on that last part. I know what he’s saying. They want to take care of all of my needs, including one I never knew I had before I met them: the need to be used and defiled and cared for tenderly afterward.
“It’s like a dream come true. I almost don’t want to believe it.”
“I think we all know what it’s like when you try to wrap your head around things suddenly going your way after they haven’t for so long.” Ranger looks around at his friends, who nod like they understand too well. “You might not want to believe it at first.”
“Because you’re used to the rug getting pulled out from under you,” Dash adds, folding his arms and frowning at a memory.
“I’m used to that,” I agree.
“But this is real.” Arden squeezes my shoulders again before running a hand over my hair. “You don’t have to second-guess this.”
“You can finally have a life of your own.” Ranger’s hand covers my knee. “We want to be part of it. That’s all.”
“Where would I live?” I ask. So many questions are bouncing around in my head, but that’s the loudest one.
“Where do you want to live? And please, don’t say that motel.” Dash shivers a little, which makes me giggle. A big, tough guy, but he can’t stand the thought of roughing it.
“No, not the motel,” I agree. “Do you expect me to live with you? That’s what I mean.”
“It’s up to you. We talked about that, too, and we’re ready to follow your lead.”
I get a choice. It’s almost scary—but I’d better get used to it. I can’t be too scared to live my life. “I think I would rather live on my own,” I decide. “No offense. Please, don’t be mad.”
“Why would we be mad?” Ranger’s lips twitch in the beginnings of a grin. “I’m not ready for a woman living in my space, anyway. Nagging me. Bossing me around. No, thanks.”
“But at least do us one favor. Stay with us tonight. I can’t stand the thought of you being in that motel another minute.” Arden’s no-nonsense expression tells me there’s no room for argument. “Tomorrow, we’ll help you start looking for another place. Even if it’s a hotel and not an apartment, you deserve better.”