A Little Harmless Fantasy(98)

They said nothing and headed down to the beach. Conner slipped his arms around her waist and set his chin on her head. “I still want to hurt them.”

“Oh, babe, they’re already hurting. Hopefully they don’t fuck this up or I will shoot them.”

He chuckled and kissed her head. “That’s my woman.”

* * * *

Maura knew they were coming up behind her before they said anything. They both moved like cats like usually, but she sensed them. And that made her mad. She didn’t fucking want to be in tune with them. She wanted to be left alone. Why did no one seem to understand that but Jillian? Probably because she was surrounded by idiot men.

“What are you two doing here?” she asked without turning around. She sensed they paused as if surprised.

The silence lengthened. The only sound she heard was the crashing of the waves and the few people scattered on the beach. She braced herself and turned to face them.

Her heart hitched and tears burned the back of her eyes. Dammit, how did they do this to her? She should be mad, but something in her wanted to comfort both of them. Sure, they looked tired, as if they hadn’t slept at all, and lord knew if they were there in the morning, they had a long flight from Miami. Still, she was mad. Or was.

She shook those thoughts away and asked, “Are you going to answer me?”

They looked at each other, then back at her. She rolled her eyes. Without another word, she turned and started walking down the beach. The sun was just getting warm and the trades were pretty strong. She walked into the wind welcoming it. It was still another sign she was alive.

“Maura,” Zeke said jogging up to her. She knew without a doubt Rory was with him.

“If you can’t say anything then go back to Miami.”

“Be reasonable for a second, baby, we need to talk.”

“Don’t baby me, you idiot. Both of you had a chance to tell me to stay there. You had a chance to tell me you wanted more and you didn’t. Go away.”

“Maura, you need to stop right where you are,” Rory ordered. It was the same voice he used when they were playing and it pissed her off that he used it now. It pissed her off even more that it turned her on.

She did stop, but she did it to turn and face him. “You ass, do not even think that I am going to allow you to order me around outside of the bedroom. I’ve told you before that I don’t go for that.”

He was frowning at her, but she couldn’t see his eyes, as they were shaded by his mirrored sunglasses. Zeke looked between the two of them.

“Maybe we should take this conversation inside.”

She shot him an angry glance. “I don't care who hears. Besides, it doesn’t really matter. There aren’t that many people out here and I am not taking either of you back. Together or separately. Go away.”

“You told us that you loved us. Was that a lie?” Rory asked.

“No, but it doesn’t matter. I gave you a chance, you blew it.”

She turned and started walking again.

“If you do not stop walking away I will smack that ass until it burns.”

“Go suck an egg, Rory. I’m not interested in a Dom who doesn’t have the balls to admit when he’s in love.”

She didn’t hear them approaching this time until it was too late. He grabbed her by the arm and turned her around.

“Goddammit, we flew over half a day to be here. You could at least give us some consideration,” Rory said.

“Consideration?” Everything she had been feeling for days, for weeks even, welled up. The pain, the loneliness and the fear exploded and she couldn’t hold it in. “You have some fucking nerve. Damn you. I don’t owe you anything. Anything. I gave you both everything you could have ever wanted, but apparently it wasn’t enough.”

The last was said on a sob. She tried to hold it back, but she couldn’t seem to do it. The tears started to fall.

“Oh, baby,” Zeke said as he reached for her. She backed up and almost stumbled down.

“No. Don’t touch me.”

“You will stop that right now,” Rory ordered.

She stopped and so did Zeke. “What?”

“Crying. I can’t stand a woman who cries.”

She was so surprised by the comment she opened her mouth but nothing came out. Zeke was smiling.

“I will cry if I feel like it.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I don’t like it and Zeke doesn’t either.”

“You’re on your own there, Rory.”

She shot Zeke a nasty look. “And just what the hell do you mean by that?”

His smile widened further. “I have no problem admitting that I love you. Rory, there, he does. Big bad Dom doesn’t like saying the words.”