“Not really. It’s longer than the other ladies wear.”

  “You’re my responsibility, not them,” he snapped at her.

  “I don’t want to be a responsibility,” she snapped back, surprised that she had the nerve to argue with Kase. She must feel comfortable and safe with him. Why else would she do something so crazy?

  She looked down at his large hand that was over her thigh and knee. It looked so big. He could easily pull her closer, control her with his strength and size. Her heart raced, not with fear but with desire.

  “It’s more than that, and you know it. Stop fighting so much and just accept this.” His tone was all Kase. Commanding, forceful, a complete boss.

  “Oh, how romantic,” she said sarcastically and looked away. He in return squeezed her knee, moved his hand a little higher between her thighs, shocking her as he stepped on the gas, taking the winding roads with precision showing off an ability that had her both aroused and nervous. By the time they got to the house and cottage she was wet and shaking. She quickly got out of the car, but before she even closed the door he was there.

  Kase cupped her cheeks. “Romantic? Really? Do you know the last time I even went out on a date or had feelings for a woman and not even this strong?” he asked her, sounding pissed.

  “No.”

  “High school, and to think about it, my ultimate goal was to get laid, and she was the hottest girl in school.”

  “Nice,” she whispered.

  “No, the truth is I don’t know how to handle you, how to handle this attraction to you or your defiance to orders, to my orders to protect you in every way because I feel so possessive and protective of you. Why the hell can’t you just give a soldier a break and comply?” She felt him shaking.

  “Well, one, you scare me, two, I never had the chance to date or be courted, and three, the only thing I know about intimacy is violence and pain, and having no control over any of it. Sex was forced upon me. I’ve never had a lover. My virginity was ripped from me, Kase, so maybe that’s why I am having difficulty complying.”

  “Jesus,” Rhett said as he, Alex, and Nash were there too and listening.

  “That isn’t what being intimate, what making love is all about,” Kase said.

  Tears filled her eyes. “Well, it’s all I know.”

  “Not anymore.” Kase softly pressed his lips to hers. She brought her palms up against his chest and moved them up and down. She stepped into his embrace and kissed him back. Felt his hand slide along her body, against her ass as he squeezed her closer. He bent down and scooped her up into his arms. She pulled from his lips as he carried her to the door and Nash unlocked it.

  “Kase?” Her heart pounded inside of her chest.

  “Nice and slow, and only as far as you’re ready to go.”

  She gulped, and they all walked into the house. Kase set her feet down on the rug. He cupped her cheeks. “What do you want to do first?” he asked, and her stomach rumbled.

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “You didn’t eat, did you?” he asked.

  “Come on, Maya, you need food, and to eat on a regular basis,” Nash said to her. She glanced at him, then at Rhett and Alex who leaned against the island in the small kitchen.

  Kase pressed up against her back, his forearm across her midsection, his palm on her hip, and then she felt his lips against her neck. “We’ll make you something.”

  “I should go wash up.”

  “Okay, go shower or whatever, and we’ll fix you something to eat then talk,” Alex said, pushing off the island to start looking around for things to make in her refrigerator.

  “Uhm…maybe you guys could leave and come back in a little bit?” she asked, moving from Kase’s embrace.

  Kase shook his head. “Not happening. Trust is earned, and we’re trying to earn your trust. We aren’t going to barge into that bathroom and force ourselves on you. Real men, gentlemen who care, who are respectful, don’t do that shit. Now trust us. Go shower, change into something comfortable, and we’ll wait here. We’ll fix you some food, and then we’ll see what happens.”

  She nodded. How could she not? She knew deep down that these men were sincere and that they were gentlemen. She couldn’t keep letting the past dictate her decisions in life. In fact, when she did come out she was going to ask Nash and Alex about more training. She wanted to build up her confidence and be strong, not weak. “Okay, help yourselves to something to drink or whatever. I’ll be back.”

  “You did great, Kase. You really came out of your comfort zone with her, and it’s a step in the right direction,” Alex said to him.

  Kase exhaled. “Jesus, I feel so fucking crazy. Like I don’t know what I’m doing, yet when I kiss her, hold that delicate, sexy body in my arms, I just want and want more.”

  “That’s how we’re all feeling.”

  “She’s feeling it, too,” Rhett said.

  “She sure is. You should have heard the attitude she gave me in the car,” Kase said and explained the conversation.

  Rhett whistled. “Any other woman and you would be carrying her to the bedroom right now. You know the difference here. We know the difference here. It’s pretty fucking obvious that her first time was the rape. How fucking wrong is that shit? We have to teach her that making love is beautiful, meaningful. I want to make it last forever with her.”

  “Agree,” Alex said.

  “I’m in and I want that, too. God, I don’t want her out of my fucking sight,” Nash said and looked toward the doorway. The shower stopped.

  “I don’t think she’s ready for us tonight, but I’m not leaving her. I think she needs to get used to us and more comfortable on an intimate level. We’ll see how this goes,” Kase said and then paced until they heard the hair dryer. Alex started making an omelet while Nash made her toast.

  Maya adjusted her bra, felt how swollen and needy her breasts were. Even her nipples were hard just thinking about the men. She decided to put on a bigger T-shirt, one that hopefully hid her aroused nipples. She threw on a pair of cotton shorts, and then took a deep breath and exhaled. She wanted to let go a little. She didn’t want them to leave her alone. She would ache all night, have bad dreams, and wake in fear and a cold sweat. She hated the nights. Absolutely hated them.

  “It smells good out here. What are we having?” she asked, and all eyes went to her. She stopped short, placed her hand against her chest and throat. It was overwhelming, powerful the way these four extra-large, capable men ate her up with their eyes.

  Thank God Nash approached, smiled down at her, and caressed her cheek. “You smell better than that omelet. Damn.” He lowered down, kissed her lips softly before he moved his mouth to her neck and kissed her skin. She couldn’t help but to place her hands on his chest and close her eyes.

  She felt his hand slide along her ass and then back up her back so quick but still effective as her pussy leaked a little cream.

  “Thank you so much for this,” she said as he led her past Rhett, who caressed her hip as she walked by like he couldn’t resist touching her. She took a seat right next to Alex. Kase was leaning by the end of the island and watching her.

  “So, no food for you guys?” she asked and started to cut into the omelet.

  “We ate dinner,” Kase said firmly and she swallowed.

  “Okay, I was a little off today. Had a busy afternoon and was working on some things. Anyway, there’s some stuff to discuss.” She took a bite of the eggs. She felt her stomach protest a little, but she would eat the eggs and try to relax and let things happen here.

  “What kind of things?” Alex asked.

  “Just some phone calls and organization. I need to get back into a stricter schedule. Actually, I wanted to ask you and Nash if you could still do the training things with me?” she asked and then took another bite of eggs.

  “Of course we can,” Alex said.

  “I want to learn more moves. I want to build up my confidence level and, well, maybe get some muscles.” She lifted her arm and flexed.

  Alex took her arm and kissed her forearm then up toward her shoulder. “You have nice toned arms. What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t know. I mean, like look tougher,” she said and made a face.

  Nash chuckled. “You’re too damn beautiful to look tough.”

  “I can look tough,” she added and then took the last few bites of egg before she slid off the seat and brought her dish to the sink. She grabbed a bottle of water then turned around to look at them as she took a few sips. She placed her palms back against the counter. “I’m serious, Nash. I want to learn more, maybe do some weights and things. I heard that kickboxing really makes you stronger, faster, and get an attitude.”

  “I think you do attitude pretty damn good already,” Kase said, straight-faced.

  She worried her bottom lip as he approached. He stared down at her. She must look like a peanut leaning here barefoot in shorts and a T-shirt, and this sexy man, well, men in their cowboy boots and flannel tops smelling edible. Her cheeks flushed. He put his hands on the counter behind her under her arms. His forearms grazed her breasts, and damn did they harden instantly.

  “Alex and Nash are working tomorrow, which leaves Rhett and I to train you,” he said, looking over her lips and making it sound like he meant more to the word train than she was referring to.

  “Hmm, I don’t know. Are you capable? Of training me, I mean?” she teased, and it came out of her mouth so easily she almost felt giddy and ready to chuckle.

  “Baby, you got no idea,” he whispered and swept his lips against hers. He still didn’t move his hands, and he didn’t press closer. It was like he was waiting for her to do that. To make a move. Well, she was aroused, and feeling pretty certain she wanted a little more from Kase, from all four of them, so she let go of the counter, slid her palms slowly up his chest, and kissed him back. Then she felt his arm slide around her waist and haul her up closer, higher against him. He pulled her thigh up against his hip at the same time so she wound up straddling him. Her ass hit the counter as he plunged his tongue deeper in exploration. She was aroused, needy, and then moaned into his mouth. She felt his hands move up under her top, and she didn’t panic. She tightened a moment then moaned again as his large, warm hand cupped her breast.

  He pulled softly from her lips. “Holy shit,” he said and bit his lower lip as he stroked her breast, used his thumb to tease her nipple. Her lips parted as she tried catching her breath. “She has one hell of a body on her,” he said to his brothers.

  “I can see that, and sure would like to do a little exploring,” Rhett said, and he pressed some loose strands of hair from her cheek and licked his lower lip.

  “You interested, doll?” Kase asked, in that deep, sexy Texas accent of his.

  “Maybe,” she said, and her voice cracked.

  “Don’t ever be scared of us, or to tell us if something is too much. You know we want you, but it’s only if you want us and when you’re ready to accept us,” Alex said.

  “She will be. Soon enough, because she feels what we all feel. This is real,” Nash said.

  Kase cupped her cheek and jaw and kept stroking her breast and nipple. “Feels damn perfect. Let’s get more comfortable.” He lifted her up off the counter and carried her to her bedroom.

  “Kase?” she questioned as he lowered her to the bed and slid his thigh between her legs. He was careful not to crush her, and he felt so heavy, so big. She was staring at him, trying to read his mind, maybe see a change in him like he might turn into a monster and attack.

  “Never. Never fear me or my brothers.” He lowered his mouth to her neck and kissed her gingerly. She was trying to breathe through her fears, through the memories of the past, the pain, the attacks.

  “You’re doing just fine, sweetness. Just keep breathing, and absorbing the feel of all of us around you, protecting you,” Alex said, and he eased onto the bed next to her. As Kase shifted his mouth to the other side of her neck, she turned and locked gazes with Alex who was smiling softly. “You’re our angel. Sent to us when we lost faith that we could ever feel anything even close to this. You do that to us. You bring us together and one day you’ll complete this family.” He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

  A tear fell. “Family?” she asked, her voice cracking. She was filled with emotions, wanted so much right now and with them. Could she let down these walls and trust them? Could she?

  Kase lowered as he lifted her top up to her chest.

  “Can I take this off of you?” he asked.

  “Uhmm.”

  “You’re safe with us. Always, sweetie,” Nash said as he sat on the other side of her, and Rhett was right behind Kase.

  They lifted her top up off her.

  “My God, you’re incredible,” Rhett said, his eyes zeroing in on her breasts. She wanted them to like her body. She knew she was a bit skinnier than usual, but she would work on that. On gaining strength and muscles.

  Kase eased up, and pulled her lower on the bed so he knelt on the floor between her legs. He ran his palms against her ribs, used his thumbs to play with her belly ring.

  “Sexy, and for our eyes only for now on. No short tops revealing this, you hear?” he asked and held her gaze with a serious expression.

  “I don’t wear short tops.”

  “You could,” Rhett said.

  Nash chuckled. “Not after she was just warned not to by Kase. This body is for our eyes only,” Nash added.

  “Are you the jealous type, Kase?” she found herself asking him.

  “Never thought I was, but with you, I’m going to be quite possessive.” He pulled her up and placed her arms over his shoulders as he kissed her again. Her legs were wide against his thick waist, and as he explored her mouth, she felt fingers undo the clip on her bra. Then Alex was caressing his palm up and down her back. She moaned into Kase’s mouth.

  “Let’s see our goddess,” Rhett said. Kase lowered her down, her bra fell, and their intakes of breath, their expressions of hunger had her covering her breasts with one arm.

  “No,” Nash said and took her arm, held her gaze. “You let us see all of you. Trust us to only go as far as you say. All we ask is that you don’t deny what you feel for us. We’re all taking a risk here. Ménage relationships are amazing, but they also require complete trust and commitment. They’ll be no turning back for us, and we hope not for you either.”

  She stared at him, absorbed his words, and looked from him to Rhett, to Kase, and then Alex. Slowly Nash moved her arm. Kase slid his palms from her hips to her breasts as she lowered back down to the bed and exhaled. She closed her eyes.

  “Just feel, and know it’s us, loving you, wanting you, caring about you,” Alex said to her. She was breathing through her nostrils, felt the tightness in her chest, and then she gasped as Kase pinched her nipples. Her eyes popped open.

  “Very responsive. Your body knows, Maya. Reacts to my touch, to all of our touches with need. You want more?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  He smiled. Kase actually smiled. “Men, our woman needs to get used to our touches, our lips, and our tongues. Let’s show her what a little foreplay is going to be like.”

  Nash lowered down to her left breast and licked and suckled it before he suckled her nipple. She went to move her arm, and he raised it up above her head. Alex did the same thing on her other side. Now both arms were above her head, and she felt Alex’s mouth descend upon her other breast. They did what they said, and feasted. They sucked and tugged as she lifted her pelvis and then felt her panties and shorts being pulled down. Before she could panic she moaned and came. Then Kase’s mouth was on her cunt. He used his tongue to tease her body to lick away the cream that just kept coming. He maneuvered fingers into her pussy between his suckles and licks. “Oh God, please. Please!” she exclaimed and tilted her head back and came again.