“You’re that distrusting? I thought I was bad and Slade too, but you take the cake.”
“Because I’m in charge of this family and when one of you hurt, I hurt. I’m not taking any chances and I won’t be forced to let down my guard no matter what. Now, if there isn’t anything else, I need Rose in here so we can get her bank things in order and deposit her check.”
“You opened an account for her?”
“She obviously needs help organizing her money. Get her and tell her to come to me.”
Rome got up and shook his head. He had never seen Mercury like this. He was fierce, putting up a wall around his heart even more so than the rest of them. Rome realized that this thing with Rose was different and special, but he did have his fears too, and only time and actions were going to prove if it would last.
* * * *
Rose was smiling when she came back into the house with Slade and Falco. Rome had told Remo and Rylan that Mercury wanted to see her. Rylan smiled and opened his arms. When she came right to him and hugged him he inhaled her scent, kissed her neck, and could smell his brothers’ cologne on her. He ran his palm along her ass, knowing she wore no panties.
“Have fun checking out the cottage?” he asked.
Slade pulled some water bottles out of the refrigerator and handed one to Falco and one to Rose. When she pulled back to grab the water Rylan held her hips in place.
“She may need another tour in a little bit to decide if she likes the potential the cottage has,” Falco said and took a sip from the water bottle as he approached and ran his hand down her arm and then gave her ass a tap.
“Falco.” She rubbed her bottom.
“We can give her a tour when she’s done talking with Mercury,” Remo said and winked.
“You each have a punishment to dish out to her,” Slade said and Rylan squinted his eyes at Slade.
“What happened?” he asked, pulling her more snuggly against his chest. Rose took a sip of the water bottle and then placed it down on the counter.
“Seems our woman held a secret from us last night out of a little fear of being too intimate,” Slade told them.
“Slade, I said I was sorry, and I explained my thought process.”
“You held back,” he replied.
“What’s going on?” Rome asked.
“We don’t need condoms with her. She has an IUD,” Falco told them.
“What?” Rome asked.
“You didn’t tell us? Why?” Rylan asked, cupping her cheek.
“I was holding back. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal to want to try and stay in control when basically I gave up complete control of my body to all of you. I had anal sex. We haven’t even had a first date. In fact, I think the spankings were unjustified,” she said and looked at Slade, then Falco.
“Hell no, they weren’t, and you loved them, too. You were coming like a faucet,” Slade stated and she covered her face with her hands and pressed against Rylan’s chest. He chuckled.
“Okay, now we know we can be spontaneous and not have to worry about packing protection,” Rylan teased and ran his hand under her skirt to her bare ass.
She shoved it down. “Rylan.”
They all chuckled.
“Mercury wants to see her in the office, then she can meet me in my room and I can prove to her that in our beds is the best place for her to stay instead of the cottage.”
“Oh really?” she said to Rome as Rylan released her.
“Don’t you sass him, girl. The man is not the kind to tease,” Remo warned her. She nibbled her bottom lip and then reached for the water bottle. He took her hand.
“We’ll make plans for a first date, okay? Then tomorrow we do those self-defense lessons.”
“Are we back at that again?” she asked and started walking away. Rylan grabbed her hand and walked with her.
“You need to be prepared for the unexpected. All women do, because screaming for help or getting the opportunity to call 9-1-1 may not be options. Now come on, Mercury isn’t a patient man.”
She turned around and waved at the others as Rylan walked her to Mercury’s office.
“Here she is.” Rylan gave her a wink and then he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.