He was definitely the most compassionate out of the three. It was he who offered their apartment for free to her, a perfect stranger.
Then there was Buddy Landers. Boy could that man stop traffic with his looks and his muscular body. He was sexy, tall, and had dark hair that somehow made his blue eyes stand out. She couldn’t help but stare at him in awe. He was that handsome. But he had a way about him. Tough, bossy, and charismatic were pretty good words to describe Buddy.
Then there was Trent. That man gave her palpitations from his authoritative, “guilty before proven innocent” expression every time their eyes locked. She couldn’t help but to feel that Trent trusted her the least and, like her, had difficulty opening up his heart.
As she got closer to the street before the driveway to their house, she heard a truck approaching. She looked over her shoulder to see who it was, hoping that it wasn’t Buddy, Trent, and Johnny before she could get inside her apartment and hide. It was Trent. She turned around a little too quickly and lost her footing. Her balance went next as the handlebars shook and she rode over the gravel on the side of the road and into a rut. In a flash she was on her side, elbow burning and ass stinging.
She heard the tires squeal as she tried to unwrap herself from the bike.
“Nina, my God, are you okay?” Buddy asked.
She looked up to see Trent and Buddy. Buddy got to her first. He carefully pulled the bike out of the way, tossing it to the side. Nina tried to stand up, but the second she moved, her ass and back hurt.
“Ouch.”
“Whoa, slow down. You’re hurt.”
When Buddy reached out and touched her cheek, she froze in place. They locked gazes.
“Let me help you.”
She stared at him until her elbow began to throb something terrible.
“I can get up,” she said, but in her position she couldn’t. Buddy reached down and lifted her by her waist. She wound up against his chest on the side of the road, and before he lost his balance, he hoisted her in the air and stepped toward the truck.
She straddled his waist. “What are you doing?
“Looking over the damage. Come on now and sit down on the bed of the truck.”
Trent pulled the back tailgate down and Buddy placed her on it. She cringed and ran her hand to her ass and tried rubbing it where it hurt. It was her lower back and butt that ached. She felt like she was bleeding.
Trent walked over with a first aid kit as Buddy ran the palms of his hands on her thighs. “Where does it hurt the most?” he asked. But she couldn’t concentrate. Not with his large hands rubbing up and down her thighs.
“Her elbow is bleeding. Let’s get this bandaged up and then take her back to the house to look her over better,” Trent said.
Buddy held her arm and looked at the damage. “We should really wash this out first.”
“I’ll wrap this gauze around it for now but when we get to the house we’ll clean it out good.”
“That’s okay. I can do it myself. Johnny gave me that kit.”
Trent ignored her and wrapped the elbow with the gauze. Then Buddy gently raised her arm and leaned down to kiss her bandage.
“What are you doing?” she asked in shock pulling away.
“Kissing it to make it better. Did it work?” he asked her teasingly.
She felt her cheeks warm, and her body was suddenly overheated. Why whenever these men were around did her pussy leak cream and her nipples actually harden? Was this even normal?
She tried to slide down off the truck but Buddy caught her. He helped her down, slowly, letting his body rub up against hers. The feel of steel-solid muscles aroused every part of her. She was overwhelmed at her response, even her throat felt as if it had closed up and she could barely breathe, panting instead.
“We’ll bring you home. Come on, honey,” Trent said. She heard his voice, it felt like little vibrations of desire traveled over her from Trent’s voice alone. She held Buddy’s gaze, mesmerized by his expression. A firm hand guided her toward the passenger side of the truck and before she could climb in, ass aching, Buddy lifted her up. She gasped and gripped his shirt.
“You’re hurt. As soon as we get you to our place, we’re going to look you over. Thoroughly.”
All she could do was gulp. Buddy was an extremely macho, tough man. He had this look in his eyes all the time. Same with Trent. It was like they were a force to reckon with, but not in a bad way, more like for the good guys.
She felt as if that thought was rather delusional. Was she thinking positive thoughts in order to condone her body’s reaction to these men? Was she simply looking for excuses to try and open up her heart one more time? Fear gripped her insides as she prayed she didn’t get sick.
Every time she felt something meaningful directly to her core and her heart, thoughts of Rico and her past invaded and destroyed those thoughts. Would she ever feel safe, confident, and willing to risk a broken heart or even a broken body? Why did thoughts of being with any man make her feel pain, worthlessness, and like she was being used?
She closed her eyes to will back the tears and adjusted her body in the seat. Both men climbed into the truck and she felt claustrophobic. She zoned in on her aching elbow and her sore ass and hip to clear her head of the lustful, wanting thoughts now ruling her mind.
This was not real. Their desire for her, their attraction, their compassion was an act. They would hurt her threefold. They were even bigger than Rico, more capable than Rico, and they would destroy her once and for all.
* * * *
Buddy’s heart was hammering in his chest. He couldn’t believe how turned on and aroused her was. When he saw Nina riding her bike, her ass moving on the small bike seat and her toned thighs accentuated with every stroke of the pedal when she pushed down, it aroused him. She was wearing a black tank top and flimsy cotton shorts that hugged the curves of her ass. The tank lifted slightly, revealing toned abs and tan skin. But when she looked back, the shocked expression on her face, and look of intimidation did something to him. When she lost control of the bike and fell, he cursed, as did his brother Trent, who stepped on the gas and quickly pulled over.
She was not going to ignore them and hide from them any longer. Seeing her injured did something to his insides. It upset him, angered him, and made him want to wrap her up in his arms and protect her from ever feeling any pain even as minor as a bee sting ever again.
As Trent pulled into the long driveway, they both saw Johnny’s truck, and he smiled to himself. Johnny must have headed home early to try to catch Nina before she got to her apartment. It seemed even Johnny was getting fed up with Nina hiding out and avoiding them.
“We’ll get you patched up quickly, especially with Johnny here. He’ll make sure you didn’t get hurt worse than you’re letting on,” Trent told her firmly and Buddy felt her leg shaking. She was nervous.
“I told you that I’m okay. I can take care of myself.”
“No you can’t. That’s why we’re here,” Trent snapped at her.
The truck stopped and Buddy got out then reached for Nina.
“I can do it,” she said, holding his gaze, but damn it, he needed to touch her again, to feel her in his arms. Wanting her acceptance was becoming a priority.
“I’m going to carry you and you’re going to let me.” He pulled her by her hips toward him. Her thighs widened as she slipped on the leather seats and wound up straddling Buddy’s waist. He stood there holding her hips, and she placed her hands on his shoulders for support.
Gazes locked, heart racing, he spoke softly to her. “You are the most gorgeous woman I have ever laid eyes on. I’ll admit, I’ve known a lot of women in my thirty-two years of life, but none, and I mean none whatsoever, compare to you, Nina. I want to help you. I want to protect you, wrap you in my arms and take away that expression of fear, timidity, and uncertainty that some asshole caused. Now, I’m not the only one who feels this way. Avoiding us isn’t going to happen anymore. I’m carrying you inside our house. We’re going to make sure you’re okay, and maybe, maybe I’ll even kiss each boo-boo, and you’re going to let me because you want to and you feel the attraction, too. Now, hold on, honey, while I carry you.”
He felt her hands grip his shoulders and then she hugged him as he carried her into the house.
Buddy locked gazes with Trent who winked and opened the door for them.
As he carried her into the kitchen he saw Johnny standing there, concern filled his eyes.
Buddy was too consumed with emotions, feeling Nina cling to him as he placed her ass down on the island in the kitchen. She didn’t let go. Instead she hugged him tighter and he knew his words, his confession and honesty, had gotten to her.
He rubbed her back as Johnny and Trent stood on either side of her.
“It’s okay, baby. My brothers feel the same way and want the same thing. To protect you and get to know you better. You feel so good in my arms.” He whispered on the top of her head and then kissed her hair. Her fingers tightened and he could feel her warm breath penetrate his shirt over his heart.
“What happened? Why the bandage?” Johnny asked, and Trent explained. Nina slowly pulled back and her expression of uncertainty pulled at Buddy’s heartstrings. Her lips were wet and full, her eyes glossy, and having her this close to him, with her breasts nearly pouring from the tank top, was too much to resist.