Their Virgin Hostage (Masters of Ménage #5)(51)

Riley stared with a thoughtful sigh. She needed a man. Or two. Or three.

Damn, but she was getting to him.

"Oh, shit." Dominic pointed to the edge of the tree line where the forest started ahead.

A massive moose lumbered along. Kinley focused on Butch barking behind her.

"Kinley! Baby, watch out!" Law yelled as he jogged toward her.

Butch started growling at the moose. Kinley finally turned around-and her whole body went rigid. She gasped.

"It won't hurt you!" Law yelled.

It wouldn't charge her, but it might kick her if she got too close.

"It's an herbivore!" Dominic promised, laughing. It had been months and months since Riley had seen Dominic even crack a smile. "Do you think the moose likes designer luggage?"

Kinley let out a little scream, then turned and staggered as fast as her heels would take her. She didn't just run from the moose. She darted straight toward Law, dumping everything on the ground except Gigi and her carrier, then practically jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around him.

Law's whole body shook with the force of his laughter, but he held her like he meant to protect her, no matter what. He didn't even seem to mind that Gigi's head poked out of the purse and that she seemed intent on licking every inch of his arm.

"Law is in love with her," Riley muttered. "Fuck."

"Yeah." Dominic sobered. "And Law's only going to fall once. If this doesn't work out, he'll mourn her for the rest of his life. I can't fix it, man. If this was another time, another place, I would be all in. I like her. She's a little impractical and stubborn at times, but she's also loyal and so damn sweet that I almost can't help myself."

"But we have to help ourselves because this isn't going to end well." Riley couldn't stand the thought of his brothers being hurt. But unless Law changed course, it was inevitable. And if Dominic hopped on the bandwagon, too … shit.

And Riley hated the ache that split his chest as he watched Law turn and head back to the house, still carrying Kinley. His brother's face was completely open and happy. She said something, looking both terrified and animated. Law howled again, then leaned in to brush his lips against hers. She met him halfway. When the kiss was over, she didn't try to retreat, but simply buried her face in his neck and held on.



       
         
       
        

"You're right. It probably won't end well," Dominic admitted, his prior joy draining from his face. "But I think you should be ready to let Law make his own mistakes. If she wants him, then let him be happy for however long it lasts. Not every woman plays with a man like Simone," he reminded. "I'm going to go grab her bags before the moose decides to take a dump on them. We need to get a lock on that window."

"There's so much nature, Law. It's everywhere!" Kinley insisted as Law carried her to the porch. "Why is there so much of it?"

"It's Alaska, baby. Nature is a big selling point here. No one comes to this part of the world expecting a Neiman's around the corner." Law glanced his way. "I'm going to sit her down and feed her some breakfast. Do you want anything?"

Riley didn't want food. He was shocked to realize that, deep down, he wanted to feel the way Law felt now. Some dangerously yearning spot inside him railed that she didn't cling to him-or even look his way. He wanted to know her, feel like he had a place beside her.

He had to stop thinking this shit.

"No. I've got some work to do. Come on, Butch. Let's go look at that window."

The dog utterly ignored him, following Law, Kinley, and Gigi inside.

Everyone had a crush it seemed.

He watched through the window as Law sat Kinley at the table and poured her a cup of coffee. She peeked at Law from beneath her lashes and bit her lower lip, her eyes downcast until he handed her the mug. Then her brilliant smile damn near lit up the whole house.

Riley took a step back. He was not falling for a woman to try to share with his brothers again. He couldn't. She was Law's. Dominic could flirt with sharing a corner of their sheets or whatever. Not his problem, and Riley knew he had to let this go. If the other two didn't care about getting burned again, that was their call. They'd see the light when she used her charm to escape, this time for good. Kinley didn't really want them, and the fairy tale complete with the picket fence Law was envisioning would never happen. The sooner he and Dom figured that out, the better.

With a sigh, Riley went back to work.



* * * *



Kinley took a long swallow of her wine and stared at the accounting books spread across the table in front of her. Hours and hours had gone by since she'd escaped, only to turn around and run back into her captor's arms.