Their Virgin Concubine(94)

She moved to slam the door in their ridiculously handsome faces, but Tal put a hand out, stopping it. He looked perfectly healthy, like he’d never taken a bullet for her. God, he’d nearly died saving her life. It was easy to forget that in the face of what had happened after, but he’d nearly sacrificed everything so she could live. She was sure now that he’d done it because of who he was, not because he loved her. Still, she owed him. She stopped trying to force the door closed.

“Piper, my love, I could call, but I doubt you would answer.” Tal pressed his advantage, walking in past her, brushing his big body against hers. It reminded her of everything she’d had…and lost.

Why was he calling her ‘his love?’ What did he want? Her eyes narrowed as he stared at the phone she’d thrown.

“I suspect you intend to change your number.”

She might owe him this one last confrontation, but she wasn’t going to back down. “Yes, I think I will. We could all use a fresh start.”

Rafe walked in next, his dark eyes flashing. “I agree.” He reached down and lifted her into his arms, hauling her to his chest before she had a chance to protest. A smile split his face as he turned with her. “My Piper, you look good enough to eat.”

“She does, brother,” Kade said, his voice going low and sexy. He leaned in and brushed his nose against her hair. “She smells perfect, too. My brothers and I have talked about it. You have no idea what oranges do to us now, Piper. We can’t eat breakfast with getting hard-ons.”

What the hell were they doing? Saying? Why try to seduce her if they were marrying another woman? “Let go of me.”

“Never again,” Rafe replied, holding her tight. “I plan to hold you forever.”

Tal chuckled even as she struggled in Rafe’s arms. “They are impatient, my love. I told them we should sit down first and have a nice long talk, but I should have known they wouldn’t do it.” He sobered, his face grave in an instant. “Forgive me.”

She could have sworn tears were in his eyes. He didn’t shed them, but she felt a deep emotion coming from him. “I told you all is forgiven. Now please put me down. I wish you the best with your new bride. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave.”

Tal’s hand came out to touch her cheek. “I couldn’t stand being parted from you. I thought it would be better if you were somewhere safe in the world, but these last weeks have proven to me how wrong I was.”

“Piper, please understand, you were almost killed,” Kade explained. “Tal barely pulled through. He came out of surgery, and all he asked was that we send you away.”

Bitterness churned in her gut. He’d nearly died, and all he’d cared about was making sure she wasn’t there when he woke up. “Well, you two took care of that. Please put me down.”

All three men had a hand on her. Kade smoothed her hair back. “He was crazy with the thought that it could happen again. For nights afterward, he woke up screaming, thinking Khalil was back to rape and kill you. He tore his stitches three times before the nurses were smart enough to sedate him at night.”

She went still. He’d been that worried? She couldn’t compete with Tal’s anxiety. She couldn’t force him to see that it was worth the risk. “You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m safe here. And I’ll take care of myself.”

Rafe shook his head. He couldn’t seem to stop smiling even though, to Piper’s mind, it was extremely inappropriate. “You don’t have to take care of yourself. Not when you have three husbands dedicated to the job. Piper, we cannot live without you. Tal has finally come to his senses, and now we can move forward with our lives.”

Rafe winked down at her as he turned and strode to the big bed. He tossed her lightly on it.

“Take off your clothes, habibti or I swear I will rip them off you.” Kade was already working the buttons on his dress shirt, revealing gorgeous tanned skin.

Piper ignored the ribbon of need working through her and backed up, trying to get to her feet, but they blocked all three sides of the bed. “Wait. You told me you were getting married, and now you want me to sleep with you?”

But Rafe had also mentioned that she would have three husbands who couldn’t live without her. Were they saying what she thought they were saying? Was she the bride?

Tal laughed outright, looking younger and lighter, as though some heavy weight had left him. “And you tell me you’re so smart. Yes, my love, we’re getting married. We have a lovely bride selected, though I managed to push the law through so she won’t ever feel as if she was wed for any reason but love.”