“There you go again, denying this.”

  “Wesson, I don’t even know you.”

  “We can change that right now. Invite me back to your place, or come to mine.”

  She hesitated. She knew it wouldn’t be just sex. That she couldn’t find relief, feel connected just to ease her lonely heart and body. “No.” She looked down and then toward the open field. He once again placed his large palm on her hip and closed the space between them. She kept her arms at her sides. She wouldn’t touch him. Wouldn’t get drawn in by his masculinity, the muscles, his good looks, and commanding attitude.

  “Don’t tense up or deny this happened.”

  “I can do whatever I want.”

  He shook his head. Then he reached up and cupped her cheek. Squeezed her ass. “I got a little taste, a little feel, and I want more. My brothers do, too. When Prime hears about—”

  “No. Oh God, no, please. I am not going to be drawn into the ways of Cherry Hill. I’m not,” she stated and pulled out of his arms.

  “What does that mean?” he asked.

  “A ménage? I won’t be your little fuck toy, and fall for that bullshit about guardianship and commitment. You just said you don’t do that. If you’re looking to get laid then you should have hooked up with the four sluts at the bar last night who wanted Prime and would have been willing and ready.”

  He smirked. “So you were jealous about that?” he asked.

  “No,” she said, a scowl on her face.

  “Sure, baby,” he said to her and then crossed his arms in front of his chest.

  “Okay, let’s just forget this happened. I need to go. I have plans.”

  “With who?” he asked and she started to jog. He, of course, followed.

  “None of your business.”

  “You’re seeing someone?”

  “I don’t see anyone,” she said.

  “You have a tough attitude for someone so petite,” he said to her and she glanced up at him as they made their way into the open field by the high school and football field. The players were practicing again and she slowed down.

  “Want to stop and watch?” he asked and slowed to a walk. They both were by the fence. He was leaning over the top and she could just about see over the top of the fence.

  “Let’s go over there. There’s bleachers,” he said and took her hand.

  She tried pulling away, a lame attempt. She liked how big his hand was and how small hers felt in his large one. God, the Jameson brothers were big. She couldn’t imagine what it might feel like to be underneath one of them in bed. How incredible it would feel to be encased by such a large body. Nothing could penetrate them. Nothing. She couldn’t believe her train of thought as she took a seat on the lowest bleacher right there with Wesson and where his brother immediately saw her. He gave a wave, and she waved back with Wesson.

  They watched the team practice. Saw them tackle and run plays. She loved football.

  “Nice,” she said when one of the plays looked like a trick play and the kids pulled it off.

  “You like football?” he asked her.

  “Oh yeah, what’s not to like.”

  “You know a lot about it?” he asked.

  She glanced at him and that smug expression he had. “I know enough.”

  He was watching her, and then he slid his palm to her leg and caressed it. Her legs were crossed and he practically covered her skin by her knees with one hand. She commented again about the team and then the coach blew the whistle. The kids started taking off their helmets and took a break. Colt walked over to them. “Come on,” Wesson said and stood up, placed his hand on her hip and guided her to the gate Colt had just opened and walked to meet them. He smiled and looked at her body. She felt it big time. This wasn’t good.

  “Hey, Bella, how’s it going?” he asked. He moved really close but didn’t kiss her on the cheek hello or touch her, but she felt like she wanted him, too. She stepped back.

  “Good. The kids look great. When’s the first game?” she asked, going for casual conversation but then Wesson placed his hand on her hip and then glided it up and down her back. His brother noticed.

  “Next week. Wednesday afternoon, a scrimmage against Benter.”

  “Nice,” she replied.

  “You’ll come see it?” he asked her.

  “Maybe.”

  “She will, and then we can go to dinner at the café or someplace,” Wesson said.

  She turned to look up at him. “I didn’t agree to that. In fact, I need to get going.”

  Colt touched her hand. She paused, lips parted. “It could be fun, and hopefully a celebration of a win,” he said and looked at her body, then to her lips.

  She had to tilt her head back a bit to lock gazes with Colt, just like she had to do with Wesson and even Prime. “I’ll see.”

  Colt played with her fingers and she didn’t pull back. They just stared at one another. “It would make my day and my night, beautiful,” he said.

  “I don’t know if I can make it. I may have plans.”

  “Don’t tell me someone else,” Colt said.

  “I’m not looking to get involved with anyone. I have a lot going on.”

  “That’s good then, because neither are we. It can be as simple as you want,” Colt said with promise in his eyes.

  “I bet. Have a good day. See you guys around,” she said and then walked away from them. She could feel their eyes on her, could hear Wesson whistle and then Colt say something about not playing games. They were confusing her. She didn’t think she wanted a relationship with any men, definitely not a ménage, yet the feel of their hands on her, their lips, and how they touched her was so arousing that she wanted more. She didn’t need to commit to them. She could just go with the flow. She shook her head as she ran back to her cottage to take a shower.

  Prime just got off work when he spoke to Wesson on the phone. He told him about the run, about seeing Bella in the woods all alone and about kissing her. His heart was hammering inside of his chest. This was going to happen. All of them met her, and liked her. She was scared and pushing away the feelings, and denying them but she was feeling it. He just left the department and made his way to her cottage. He had to see her. To talk to her after that case overnight and this morning. The poor young woman was beaten unconscious. He was concerned about Bella running by herself. He parked the truck, got out and knocked on her front door.

  When she came to the door she looked concerned. “Prime?” she asked.

  He looked at her outfit. Short skirt in tan, camisole in black, she was barefoot and she looked and smelled like she just finished showering.

  “Can I come in?”

  “Why?” she asked with attitude.

  He raised both eyebrows up at her in challenge and she exhaled then opened the door and let him in. She closed it. He looked around the place. There wasn’t much around or decorations or things. She looked so feminine and petite standing there barefoot. “I wanted to see you.”

  “Why?”

  “Damn it, Bella, what’s with the attitude?”

  “I don’t want any trouble, or complicated problems.”

  “No complicated problems or trouble. I’m just worried about you, and needed to see that you’re okay,” he said and reached out to caress her bare arm. Her breasts looked incredible in the top. She was well endowed and wore a pretty little diamond heart that was petite like her. It fell against the deep cleavage of her breasts. He stepped closer. She stared up at him, so much smaller and fragile compared to a man his size. He squinted and she exhaled.

  “I heard about the woman that was attacked. Will she be okay?” she asked him.

  “I heard she’ll pull through. Just glad they caught the guy.”

  “Me too.”

  “Which leads me to you,” he said and slid his arm around her waist and stepped closer.

  She held on to his forearms. “Prime,” she said his name and her lips looked so good. Her scent was all consuming.

  “I don’t want you jogging alone in the woods.”

  “I am fine and can take care of myself.”

  “Not sure about that,” he said and eased his palm a little lower on her back, his fingertips close to the top of her ass.

  “Prime?”

  “I need to know,” he said and kissed her.

  At first she wasn’t receptive to his kiss, and he feared she didn’t feel an attraction to him but then that kiss grew deeper and he wanted more. Had waited months to kiss her, to taste her and feel her in his arms.

  He pressed her backward until her back eased against the island in the kitchen. He maneuvered a hand up under her skirt and as their kiss grew deeper, he felt her hand on his arm and one on his waist. He slid fingers under her panties and right to her cunt. She jerked against his fingers and he growled low. He eased his mouth off her lips to her neck.

  “Holy fuck, you’re sopping wet. You’re so damn beautiful, baby. I can’t take it. I’ve wanted you for months now. Please don’t fucking lie to me. Tell me you feel it, too.”

  “This is so bad. We shouldn’t be doing this.”

  He stroked deeper, faster. She moaned. “Oh God, Prime. Prime,” she said his name and he eased his mouth along her shoulder, used his teeth to push her strap down and then lowered his mouth to her breast. One emerged from the confines of the cup and he nipped her nipple. “Oh God, oh God, don’t stop,” she said to him and he pumped his fingers faster and faster as she cried out his name.

  He couldn’t resist. He pulled back. Lifted her top and tossed it off. When her hands went to his shirt and she slid her palms underneath it he was insane with desire. She wanted him, too. They started pulling off clothes and then he lowered down to his knee, slid her thigh over his shoulder, inhaled her scent and latched on to her cunt with his mouth. He gripped her sexy thigh and she grabbed his hair and head as she rocked her hips against his mouth. He slid his tongue to her asshole and she bucked. He pulled back.

  “Fuck, I need you.”

  She stared into his eyes.

  “Tell me yes.”

  “I can’t give you more than this. I shouldn’t let go like this.”

  “Fuck it, we both feel it. Do I need a condom?”

  “Oh God.” She shook her head. “No. I have an IUD.”

  “Holy shit. You’re so damn beautiful.” He lifted her up and she was so light, so feminine as she kissed his neck and he carried her to her bedroom. They were totally naked and he could feel her hard abs, her toned thighs and big breasts. He lowered down to the bed and explored her further. He pressed her arms above her head and licked her left breast, tugged on the nipple then licked her right breast.

  “Prime,” she exclaimed.

  “I know, baby. I know and I feel it, too,” he said and aligned his cock with her cunt, entwined their fingers together and he slowly pushed his cock into her cunt. She went to look away. “Look at me. Fucking look at me, Bella. You’re mine. You’re going to be mine.” He saw the tears in her eyes as he plunged all the way in. His heart felt full with emotion. He never felt anything like this before.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh God, Prime.”

  “I know. I feel it, too. I know,” he said and the talking was over. He thrust into her repeatedly and she cheered him on. He rolled over and now she was above him, her big breasts rocking and swaying as she thrust her hips and rode him like he never felt a woman ride him before. She was exotic, sexy, a goddess, and this protective, possessive feeling consumed him with every thrust of her hips and his. He slid his palms and fingertips up and down her hips and back as she rode him, ground her pelvis and sought out her relief. She looked incredible and he fell deeply for her and he knew this was more than lust. It had to be because the need, the attraction, the instant possessiveness was consuming him in every way.

  “Fuck,” he said and rolled her back to her back and gripped her by her armpits, his hands so big against her small frame that his thumbs could manipulate her nipples at the same time. The possessiveness grew deeper as he stroked into her so hard and fast that the bed made noises and then she cried out her release and he followed. He filled her with his seed, marked her his woman. He lowered over her, half crushing her a moment as he suckled against her neck and then rolled to the side. He held her against him as she panted for breath, her lips against his skin. He used his palm to massage her ass.

  They calmed their breathing, and were silent. He thought about his brothers. About sharing Bella with them. He couldn’t stop stroking her skin or breathing in her scent. When she started to move he gripped her and looked down into her eyes. Her small, delicate hand was on his ribcage as he turned to look down at her. He thumbed her nipple and then looked at her body. She was fucking perfect and then some.

  “I didn’t expect this. I…I’m speechless,” he said to her, and held her gaze.

  “It was crazy. We don’t need to analyze it. We’re both consenting adults, and the lust was there.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “More than lust, sweetie.”

  She shook her head. “I need to get ready.”

  “What?” He was shocked. Was she kicking him out after that? What in God’s name was she doing? He felt used, or like she didn’t feel what he felt, but he remembered the tears in her eyes. He knew her attitude and need to stay closed up. “You’re not pushing me away or blowing this off as just sex.” She went to get up and he pulled her back underneath him, a thigh between her legs and the other leaning to the side so as not to crush her. She stared at his face. “You are not blowing me off after that. It was incredible. You’re incredible,” he said, easing his palm along her hip and up over her breast.

  “I can’t do this. I can’t give you more. It happened okay but it doesn’t mean I’m yours.”

  “The hell it doesn’t,” he said firmly.

  She firmed her lips. “You’re going to blow this out of proportion, Deputy Jameson.”

  “You’re hiding something, Miss Forn.” he said her name and she tightened up and then stared up at him.

  “You can push me away all you want, but I’m not going to allow that. It was incredible. I can feel your heart racing now. I can see the goosebumps along your skin from my touch alone,” he told her and traced her nipple with his fingertip. It hardened. “I can feel your wet pussy. You’re ready for more, and you know what? I am, too,” he said and lowered down to feast on her nipple. When he felt her hands move through his hair he knew she was feeling what he was and something was holding her back from acknowledging this attraction and the connection. He worried, but she wouldn’t budge. It would take time and he and his brothers would figure it out.

  He trailed his mouth along her belly then to her hip bone. She was thin, yet hard and muscular. He suckled toward her groin and she wiggled and gripped his head a little more firmly. He licked along her groin, tasted her lotion on her skin, something sweet. “Is that vanilla?” he asked and then flicked his tongue against her clit.

  “And brown sugar. Oh Prime, we should stop. It’s too much.” She panted, head tilted back.

  He pressed her legs wider and refused to let her go. “I disagree, Miss Forn. I disagree entirely,” he said and plunged his tongue into her cunt and continued to prepare her body for another round of lovemaking. He would break down those walls she had up and with his brothers’ help she would concede, and realize this was meant to be and it wasn’t worth fighting it.

  Isabella felt so conflicted right now. She wanted to be in control, to the point that she let her guard down, and fed into her desire to feel some kind of human connection. To know she had control over who she gave her body to. She hadn’t expected to feel so much for Prime. She was lying to herself if she thought this would be just about sex, about lust and need. How could she let this happen? The fact was, she thought about his brothers, too. About Wesson and Colt, and maybe them joining next time really made her panic. As Prime thrust into her body a second time she held on tight, did some exploring of her own and enjoyed the feel of his large, muscular body against hers, but more so the protected feeling she had never felt before. It made her realize she never was protected. That she had to protect herself at all costs.

  She eased her fingers through his hair. He pulled slowly from her body and licked her nipple, her breast and then along her neck. She tilted back, and as he lifted to move she held him to her. “Don’t,” she said to him and squeezed him tight. She could hardly breathe, he was so heavy, but she loved the feel of being wrapped up in armor. Impenetrable armor, and she held on as long as she could.

  He eased up and they lay on their sides facing one another. He squeezed her hip and then up her shoulder to her neck.

  “That’s better. No pushing me away, Bella. Please don’t push me away,” he said to her and she stared into his blue eyes, absorbed his masculinity, his seasoned look. His cologne and macho attitude filled her senses and consumed her every thought and emotion. She liked him. A lot. She wanted, and wanted and wanted so much and she wasn’t used to that. She placed her hand on his waist, felt the muscles. She licked her lower lip as he stared at her with more hunger in his eyes.

  The last year changed her perspective on life, on men, on trust, yet she let down her guard and had sex with Prime. What was she thinking? She knew he was older, and it surprised her that he spoke so honestly to her about his emotions, his need for this to be more than sex. “How old are you?” she found herself asking.

  “Thirty-six,” he said and used his thumb to caress her lower lip.

  “And you?” he asked.

  “Twenty-four,” she said and he squinted but then pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and gazed at her breasts, her belly.

  “You have an incredible body, baby.” He eased his palm along her arm to her wrist. He brought it to his lips and kissed the tattoos there. “What does this mean?” he asked and she didn’t want to answer. To reveal any of her private information, her pain. She eased back.

  “I need to get up and shower. I have plans.” She eased off the bed.

  “Bella, come on,” he said to her and sat up. He sat on the edge of the bed. His thick, long cock, beautiful perfect body just asking to be pleasured by her. She stepped closer and he held her wrist and took her other hand. He eased them behind her back as he pressed his mouth to her chest, her sternum. She closed her eyes.