His cock greeted that promise, letting her know she better not take too damn long. She shook her head and addressed Tar and Keeley, “Where would you two like to have dinner?”
They looked at each other then back to Lacey. Keeley spoke, “Can we order in?”
Lacey began to bounce like a child. “Oh, we could have Chinese food and watch old movies!”
Both men chuckled, neither willing to deny the women they loved such a simple pleasure.
Later that night, Lacey sat in her bedroom contemplating the day with Keeley. E leaned over where his wife sat on the edge of the bed. “Uh-oh, what is this look?” he inquired while lifting her face to his.
She held his wrist under her chin. “Keeley’s about to do something stupid and I don’t know how to stop her.”
E knelt between her legs and moved his hands to her waist. “What’d she tell you?”
She shook her head. “It’s what she didn’t say that’s the problem.” His brow furrowed, so she explained, “Don’t you see it in her gaze?”
His eyes widened. “What am I supposed to be looking for?”
“She’s dancing with a demon.” Her forehead rested on his chest. “I don’t know how to free her from its clutches.” Her confession was ripped from deep inside.
E consoled his beautiful wife, hating that he didn’t know how to fix any of this. “I think, sweetness, she’s invited him to dinner but isn’t in his trance…just yet.”
“She’s so close. And when she does, I might lose my sister forever.”
He lifted her face, once more. “Then we won’t let him win.”
“You do realize she’s about to step off the cliff?”
He nodded empathically. “Sometimes, Lacey, the only way to heal is to be completely shattered.”
She gasped and pushed away from him. “You want her to fall?!”
“Listen to me,” he pulled her close, “I want her whole and healed just like you do. Let her hit rock bottom so she’ll let us help her.”
Lacey fought his hold, but E held firm. “You want me to watch my sister self-destruct,” she screeched.
“Hitting rock bottom is how we heal.”
“I can’t do it!” she cried out. “I can’t watch it happen all over again. She’s going to get herself killed if she goes through with this.”
“Wait! What is she going to do?”
“She wants to be tortured for pleasure.”
“Fuuuuuuuuck! She craves the pain?”
“Y-y-yeeees,” she sobbed.
“Hell no!” He shot up and grabbed his cell. “Nik! Circle the wagons, brother, we got trouble.”
She looked at her husband with so much adoration Lacey thought she might burst. “I love you more than words can say.”
He leaned over her so she fell backwards on the bed. “I’ve told you before, I’m so fucking in love with you. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”
He took her mouth with fiery passion, ending their conversation.
Chapter Fourteen
Tar knew Keeley was agitated. Just how much so was revealed when she was pushing herself beyond exhaustion in E’s home gym. The very one he used to assist his friend with physical therapy before his wedding. Yes, those were some trying times, but E was proof that when one locked in their determination, there wasn’t anything they couldn’t do. He’d beat the odds, won back his life and his body. No wonder the man was softer and more compassionate than he once was. Near death experiences and fighting to get back what you lost tended to do that to man. Tar understood all too well, coming back from his own injuries that could’ve ended his career. He watched her tiny body be pushed and pushed, wondering just how much more she could endure. She suddenly slipped and busted her ass. He ran over to her and what he saw in the depths of her eyes told him everything he feared. Her craving for pain was growing stronger. She didn’t particularly care how she received it, either.
“Hey, Tigress. We need to find you an outlet that won’t kill you,” he half teased.
She leveled her gaze on his. “A bruise on my butt can’t do that.”
“True. But something tells me, the more you get the more you want.” He angled his head at her, daring the rebuttal.
She scoffed out the denial, “As if.”
Tar squatted next to her, handing over a towel. “Don’t lie to yourself, Viper.”
She glanced down and away. A tell he noticed before. Good. She wasn’t completely at ease with deceit. Still, he worried she was hairsbreadth from not giving a damn. How did one keep an addict from taking that final step into a darkness they might not ever recover from? “I know I like it,” her voice barely a whisper, “need it.”