She smiled at him.
“I was trying to, but Cassidy wanted to join her friends for lunch. Do you know everyone?” she asked, slightly turning toward the table.
Everyone was just watching them.
“I do. These are my friends, Marcus and John Towers. Guys, meet Frankie.”
Frankie reached out to shake the guys’ hands as both men smiled and then looked at Mike as though he was a god. Frankie was a stunning woman. He shouldn’t be so pissed off right now, but he was. He didn’t want other men around her, flirting with her. He needed to do something.
He cupped her chin.
“Join us for lunch? Cassidy’s in good hands with these guys.”
She didn’t even glance at Cassidy. Instead, she locked gazes with Mike and nodded. He was relieved. He felt as though she wanted to be with him as much as he wanted to be with her. Most importantly, she showed him that she wasn’t interested in any of the other guys at the table.
He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her softly. When he released her lips, he let his hand slide down over her ass—facing the table of guys and specifically Max and Todd—and gave her a light tap.
“Come on, doll. Later, guys,” he said.
Frankie pulled from him a moment. “I’ll meet you after, Cassidy, and we’ll head down to the beach?”
Cassidy smiled and nodded.
“Max, can you hand me my beach bag?” Frankie asked Max, and he stood up and brought it to her.
“See ya around, Frankie. Probably at Prestige,” he said, but Frankie just took her bag and walked toward Mike, hugging his arm to her as Marcus and John held the door to the inside of the restaurant open for them.
* * * *
Lunch had been fun despite the awkward moments when Mike had arrived with his friends to see her squeezed between Max and Todd.
Finally, after lunch, John and Marcus said goodbye and shook her hand, and Mike suggested they take a walk while Cassidy and her new boyfriends finished up their lunches.
She didn’t know what to say to Mike or even whether to bring up the scene he’d walked up on. She didn’t want him to feel jealous, yet there was a part of her that felt special and cared for that appreciated his sincere reaction and jealousy. She would be lying if she said it didn’t turn her on.
Mike took her hand, and they walked a little ways down the boardwalk until he stopped her by a small area and bench. He turned her around, gently pressed her against the railing, and placed one hand on her waist. He held her gaze, and then he let his eyes roam over her cleavage. His move caused her cover-up to lower, exposing her full breasts, covered by the small black bikini.
“You couldn’t wear something that covers more of you?” he asked, teeth clenched as he breathed through his nose.
She felt her belly tighten, and for a moment, she was concerned. He must have seen her expression change to fear, and he lowered his head and pressed closer, hugging her to him.
“Nothing was going on, Mike,” she whispered, hugging him back.
He pulled back slightly and cupped her cheek but kept his other hand at her waist. It felt so good to be held by Mike and touched this way.
“I didn’t look that way when I showed up. They were too close to you and hitting on you.”
“Your timing was perfect.”
He softly ran his thumb along her lower lip. “I didn’t like it.”
She gulped. Her breasts felt fuller and her pussy actually tightened. His seriousness and firm statement aroused her.
“Just kiss me, Mike.”
He lifted one of his eyebrows before he covered her mouth and kissed her deeply.
When he finally released her lips, his hold still firm, he stared down into her eyes, all serious once again.
“Come home with me.”
Her eyes widened, and she tried putting some distance between them.
“I’ll call my brothers. They can meet us there, and we can spend the rest of the afternoon and evening together.” He kissed her forehead and then along her cheek to her ear.
“I want you, Frankie. I don’t want to lose you to anyone else.”
This was a huge decision, a big step, and she was so fearful of making another mistake.
“Mike, I’m not ready for that. I need slow,” she told him.
He pulled back slightly. He looked disappointed as he glanced over her shoulder and out toward the water. His eyes were narrow and tight, his lips sealed, and she felt compelled to explain a little.
“Mike, there are things that happened to me, I mean that I went through that I need to still work out. Trust isn’t easy for me, yet here I am, wanting you and your brothers, too.”
He cupped her cheeks and stared down into her eyes.
“Who hurt you?”
She blinked and tried looking away, but Mike wouldn’t have it. His fierce dark eyes, the tattoos on his arms, and the scruff on his face all aroused her and intimidated her at the same time. He was a firefighter, a person who was supposed to protect and preserve life, to rescue those in danger. But she had looked to a first responder before, to Kevin, in the hope of getting back those feelings of security, safety, and love she had when her family was alive. The risk of being used and getting hurt was so strong.
“Talk to me, baby. Make my brothers and me understand your fears. We can work them through. You don’t think we’re afraid of falling for you? You think we’re not worried that you might find someone else or perhaps not care for each of us or maybe that you’re interested in a ménage just to say you had one? There are lots of fears.”
“I would never do that.”
He raised one of his eyebrows. “We would never hurt you or use you.”
He brushed his lips against hers. “Come back to our place. We’ll watch a movie, hang out on the couch, and just get more comfortable with one another.”
“Frankie.”
She heard her name. Mike released her, and she spotted Cassidy with the guys.
“I’m going to head out. I’ll talk to you later or see you tomorrow night at work.”
“Okay. Bye.” She waved at them and then looked at Mike.
“I guess my plans have changed,” she whispered.
He smiled, pulled back, and took her hand. “Good, come on. On the way we’ll discuss options for movies.”
She chuckled as she tried to keep up with him.
“No girly, mushy stuff,” he told her.
“No gore and bloody massacres,” she replied.
“Some violence and action?”
“Of course.”
“Great, we’ll find something to agree on,” he told her then kissed her again as they walked.
She loved the feel of his much larger hand holding her smaller one. She loved how tall and muscular he was and also how sexy and wild he appeared with the tattoos and the scruff on his face. She hugged his arm, and he smiled down at her as they reached his truck.
Was she making a huge mistake? She wasn’t sure, but nothing would happen that she wasn’t ready for. No matter how turned on Mike made her, she would maintain control and not give in so quickly. Taking it slow was the best thing she could do.”
He started the truck and placed his hand on her thigh right under her cover-up and against her skin, and she felt about ready to faint.
Perhaps taking it slow and not giving in would be too difficult to do after all.
* * * *
Mike couldn’t help but to stare at Frankie as she held on to the railing off the back porch and looked out toward the bay. It was so quiet out here, and he and his brothers loved that about the place. It had needed a lot of work, but they were all handy, especially Nate and Rye.
She turned toward him, leaning against the railing, looking at him watching her. She smiled, and his heart pounded, and his cock hardened for the dozenth time since he’d seen her today at Sullivan’s.
“This is such a beautiful spot. It’s quiet and so peaceful here. How long have you guys lived here?” she asked.
“Turbo and I have been here the longest, about ten years.”
“Nate and Rye didn’t always live with you guys?”
“They were off doing their thing. Nate worked for the government after being a soldier in the Army. Rye had some ups and downs for a while until he figured out what he enjoyed doing.”
“Construction, you mean?” she asked, walking closer.
She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip of tea. He still couldn’t get over her body. He could see partially through the cover-up, and there was something on her hip, closer toward the front. Was that a tattoo?
“What? Is there something on me?” she asked and looked down at her cover-up, pressing her palms over the material.
He sat forward on the chair and shook his head. “Sorry, I thought I saw something, but I think it’s on your skin.”
“Oh, my tattoo.” She smiled as she clasped her hands in front of her.
He licked his lower lip, and she held his gaze.
“Can I see it?”
She looked around them and then took a step back. He slowly stood up.
“I thought you said something about a movie?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
Mike gently took a fistful of the material and pulled her closer again.
“Come on, baby. I want to see it. I’ll show you mine.” He released his hold, reached for the hem of his T-shirt, and pulled it up and over his head. He placed it down on the table and caught her staring at his body.
She swallowed hard. “Very nice.” Then she tried turning away. He placed his hands on her hips.