Bound by Their Kisses(11)

“We’re pretty pleased you like it here, too, kitten. I can promise you this. Nearly every man in this town would drop everything if you needed help. You can count on all of them to keep you safe. Don’t ever forget that,” Zander told her, a serious expression on his normally relaxed face.

“I won’t,” she promised without thinking.

Everything seemed to drift around her as she listened to the muted sounds of kids playing on the other side of the hedges. The picnic they’d prepared had caught her by surprise. No one had ever spent so much time trying to impress her or do anything special for her. They’d gone out of their way to create a little getaway where she could relax and not have to worry about anything. They’d even secured a longer lunch hour for her to spend there. How could she continue to resist their advances when they treated her like she was special? To them, maybe she really was.

It wasn’t like she couldn’t change her mind and walk away if they started making demands she wasn’t comfortable with. What could it hurt to just see where things led? She wanted them and wasn’t going to deny it to herself anymore. The problem became how to explore their attraction to each other without giving in to anything they wanted even when it wasn’t something she wanted. Falling in love happened whether a person wanted it to or not, but falling under someone’s spell could be prevented. At least she hoped it could be.

Tessa shook her head as if shaking off a spell and started to get up again. This time Zander let her move, and his arm dropped away from her waist.

“I really should get back. Thanks for lunch. It was really nice.” It sounded so blasé, but she really didn’t know what else to say.

“It was our pleasure.” Zander stood up as well.

When she started to walk off, he captured her wrist and pulled her back toward him. She was so startled that she didn’t even try to pull her arm free of his light grip. Instead, she found herself surrounded by him and Tag, cocooned between the two men like a child wrapped in a blanket.

“Before I walk you back,” Zander began, “we need to talk about tomorrow night.”

“What? What about tomorrow night?” Tessa was afraid of what they were going to say.

“We want to take you out, Tessa. How about we pick you up about six thirty? Will that give you time to wind down and relax some after work?” Zander asked.

“I–I really don’t think it’s a good idea for us to see each other. I’m really not interested in dating anyone at all right now.” She stared at his chest because it was easier than looking into those amazing blue eyes of his. They seemed to be able to see inside of her and figure out what she was thinking.

“Baby girl, it’s a very good idea. We’ll take good care of you. Just give it a chance. We’d never force you into anything you don’t want, Tessa. I’d hoped you would know that by now,” Tag said, his voice rough as if some emotion was clogging his throat.

She looked up over her shoulder at him. “But if you set your mind to it, I’ve no doubt you could make me want it bad enough to relent. That’s what scares me, Tag.”

Zander leaned his head down so that their foreheads met. “That was honest, kitten. Thank you. I promise we won’t push you too far. But we will push. We want you, Tessa. Not just for one night, or even one month. We want you as ours. Running isn’t going to solve anything, so don’t even think about it. You’re under our skin and in our blood.” He brushed his lips across hers before leaning back.

“My turn, baby.” Tag turned her around to face him. His eyes held a promise that she wouldn’t get off as lightly with him.

When he pressed his lips against hers, she couldn’t stop the shiver that traveled down her spine. The warmth in her blood that had started with Zander’s kiss heated up as Tag took possession of her mouth. Tessa’s pussy softened before growing wet in anticipation. He swept his tongue inside the moment she relented and opened her mouth to his. Just as soon as it started, he pulled away, panting as heavily as she was. It was as if he only wanted to secure her capitulation in opening to his kiss but wouldn’t push her by taking her deeper into the kiss. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed or maybe even pissed about it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Tessa. Zander’s going to walk you back while I take care of this.” Tag backed away then turned to start gathering up their leftovers.

“Ready?” Zander asked, holding out his hand.

She wasn’t sure if she was or not. So much was going on behind that word that she was almost afraid to take his hand. When she placed hers into his clasp, he squeezed it softly and led her back through the park and to the front door of Heavy Trinkets. When he gave her a chaste hug and pushed her gently through the door, Tessa realized she hadn’t exactly told them no on going out with them the next night. She had to give it to them. They were smooth.