She walked out of the room, and Alejandro laid his head against the bathroom doorframe, the cool wood doing nothing to soothe his heightened libido.
*
“Hey, tease. Did you sleep well?”
“Tease? Me?” She smiled and sat primly at the table where he’d placed a steaming plate of food. Now he could see what Alex’s problem was. The nymph was still wrapped in the towel, her dainty bare feet wrapped around the legs of the chair she sat in.
Lord, her parted legs. Her sex was wide open under the towel.
He nearly dropped the pan he was carrying to the sink.
No wonder Alex had been so clearly flustered muttering into Ryan’s mind for the last few minutes.
He set the pot down, cleared his throat and returned his gaze to her. “Wasn’t sure if you’d want breakfast or lunch, so I kinda did a combo.”
“Mmm, it’s fantastic. I could have eaten anything.” She mumbled the words around a mouthful. “I was starving. You didn’t feed me enough last night.”
“Sorry. I think we got preoccupied.” He sat across from her. “Where’s Alex?” He knew, of course. The man was probably right where she’d left him, trying to gather his wits and pick his lower lip off the ground.
“In the bathroom doorway I presume. Though I don’t know what you boys find so alluring about a woman wrapped in a huge towel.” She glanced up at him with her coy look.
“It’s not the towel that’s so tempting, it’s what’s under the towel.”
Alex finally sauntered in and took a seat next to Lindsey.
“Did you guys talk to Kara?”
“Yes,” Ryan looked her in the eye. “We called her, got the name of the church, and then called my dad to check it out. Jess is with Kara, so you don’t have to worry about her.”
“What the hell kind of church is called His Mighty Sword?”
Lindsey turned to Alejandro. “A very strict one that rules with a sharp object.” She chuckled and then turned serious. “Kidding. No one ever came at me with a knife.”
She resumed eating ravenously.
“We really should feed her more often.”
“Claro.”
“We should go home,” she announced.
“I could see that coming.” Alex faced her. “You’re safe here, mi alma.”
“I know I am, but what about Jess? She can’t be happy about being forced to leave her apartment. This is my fault.”
“This is definitely not your fault. You didn’t ask for any of this.” Ryan reached across the table and took her hand. “We haven’t had enough time together yet. Alone.”
“I know, but I can’t just leave Jess sleeping over at Kara’s. She could go home if I was there with her.”
Alex sucked in a breath. “You can’t go back there, cariña. I mean even if there weren’t crazy people waiting outside your apartment, we … want you with us.”
Ryan watched Alex’s face as he selected his words. No way in hell were they ever letting her out of their sight, but she needed to believe it was her choice. She’d never agree to stay with them if they commanded it.
He smiled. As big of a pain in the ass as it was to skirt around the truth, he was secretly glad his mate was a woman with a spine. He liked that she had strong opinions and could stick up for herself.
Lindsey shook her head. “I admit there’s something between us. Something powerful, overwhelming even… But I’m not prepared to give up my life and just flit off with you two simply because you command it. I have obligations. Hell, I’m starting a job in a week and a half. I need to finish getting ready for twenty-seven first graders.” She laughed, but then sobered.
“How are we going to handle this?” Ryan implored.
“No idea.”
“Listen. We don’t want you to give up your life. We just need to be a part of it … from now on. A large part.”
“When you two are around, I can’t think. This isn’t me.”
“It’s still you, mi alma. Just a new you. We don’t want to change you, just make your life better.” Alex laid a hand on her shoulder and she flinched.
It dug into Ryan’s chest. A pain that grew as she pulled away from them, at least mentally.
“You don’t get it.” She jumped up. “I can’t concentrate. All I think about is sex, sex, sex. I’m flustered.” She grabbed the front of her towel to keep it from falling from her slender frame as she ranted.
Ryan swallowed, thanking God that was the effect they had on her. At least it was something. Sure, he could smell her arousal, but he needed her mind to engage also.