Trek rolled her to her side and kissed her everywhere his lips could touch. “You are incredible, and ours now, Melina. All ours,” he said. Those dark blue eyes sparkled with what she hoped was truthfulness, and not a man capable of pretending when she felt special and happy because they all claimed her like no man had done before.

  Her thoughts were interrupted as Vetter approached with a washcloth to clean her up, shocking her as she reached for it. “I can do that.”

  “No,” came from all four men. She fell back to the bed and exhaled, nibbling her lower lip and feeling intimidated.

  “You are our woman, and we take care of what belongs to us. We take care of you, Melina,” Blade said as Vetter began to spread her thighs and clean her up, sending her mind and her heart into scattered directions of confusion, of desire, and so much more. Were these men real? Could she have what her friends had? What Jo had with her men? She hoped with all of her heart.

  Chapter 5

  Vetter pulled Melina into his arms and kissed her neck. He ran his palm over her ass and whispered to her, “Don’t go.”

  She exhaled. “I don’t want to, but I have work tomorrow morning and you all need rest.”

  “We got this. We need you. With us, in bed,” Trek said, and caressed her hair. She smiled up at him and he stroked her jaw, and then pressed his lips to hers.

  “You’ll come back tomorrow after work?” Blade asked, standing there in the doorway, arms crossed and looking pissed.

  “If you want me to,” she said, and he uncrossed his arms.

  “Come here.” Vetter released her.

  Trek smiled. “Of course we do. I guess it was bad planning for this to happen on a Tuesday,” he said, wrapping her up in his arms and hugging her close. He suckled against her neck and she giggled. She ran her palms up and down his arms.

  “Not so pro after all, are ya, Blade?” she teased. He squeezed her ass. “Oh really.” She chuckled and then lay her head against his chest and looked at Morris. The poor man was exhausted. She pulled from Blade and went to Morris. She bent down where he sat on the couch, his leg up, his head back just watching her. She cupped his cheeks and bent over. “I’ll see you tomorrow. You rest up, okay.”

  “You leaving because of me?” he asked.

  “No, I’m leaving so we all can get some rest. It’s nearly midnight and I have work tomorrow. I don’t get to lay around the house and do nothing all day,” she teased. She gasped when he pulled her onto his good leg.

  “Morris,” she reprimanded, and gripped his shoulder, then pulled herself back up before she landed on his bad leg. He chuckled. “I wouldn’t be bored with you around. Lots of bedroom games we can play.”

  She stared into his dark blue eyes. “Okay, handsome, I need to get going and you need pain meds. Now be good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She went to get up and he pulled her back again. She exhaled.

  “You’ll text us during the day.”

  She smiled, then cupped his cheek and kissed his lips. “I will try my best. Goodnight.”

  They walked her to the door and she waved good-bye and headed to her car. As she drove out of their driveway, she glanced at her cell phone and saw the many messages from Jo, Amber Francesca, and London—and then from Allen Pinioli.

  “Asshole.” She tossed her phone down and headed home to her townhouse. She thought about today and what would come of this relationship. When they had sex, they each spoke of claiming her their woman, of now marking her, possessing her their woman, and she wondered if it were true. If they meant it. Her heart soared with excitement, and she longed to hear the words that her friends did. To be loved. To love, and to finally feel content.

  * * * *

  Wednesday morning Morris awoke with terrible pain in his leg. He could feel how swollen he was, and the fact he passed out after Melina left and didn’t wake up all night told him he had overdone it. He lay his arm over his forehead. “Jesus, she was worth it and then some. Holy God.”

  He swallowed hard and felt a tightness in his chest. A realization that he and his brothers, his team, made a move. They staked a claim to one woman. To Melina, and it felt scary as damn hell. What the fuck were they thinking? Seriously? The woman was going to be a millionaire and then some. She was smart, professional, classy and so damn sexy that men drooled over her. In the past, any woman he fooled around with always hung on him. Always thought he was the eye catcher, and he was the one to get the attention and cause the jealousy. Not that he took any of those women seriously or anything more than a good time, but they were safe. Melina was not safe. Melina was going to test him. To make him feel things and face things he had gotten away without facing. Like emotions, desire, need, like he wanted her right here right now in his arms and against his side so he could relax and breathe.

  One night of love making, or passionate, wild sex and he was attached. He was whipped, damn it. “Fuck.” He lifted up and the pain had him moaning loudly. There was a knock at the door.

  “Yo,” he said, and rubbed past the bandage, hoping the ache would subside. He needed ice. Like a fucking ice bath to soak in.

  Blade peeked in to check on him. “You okay?”

  “Fuck no.”

  Blade chuckled and ran his hand through his hair to the back of his neck. “We’re all in pain, and feeling a bit testy. I think Trek is about to punch Vetter.”

  “Shit. I’m all swelled up and in pain.”

  “You didn’t take the painkillers last night.”

  “I never woke up after Melina left us.” A scowl formed on his face.

  Blade was quiet. “How about an ice bath?”

  “You mind?”

  “No, you know we’re a team and we’re brothers. We’re in this together like everything else.”

  “Like Melina, you mean?”

  “Hell yeah, like Melina. I can’t stop thinking about her, and neither can Vetter and Trek. In fact, they’re mad at her because she hasn’t responded to their texts, and now they feel like pussies for sending them before even noon time.”

  “Noon time? What the hell time is it?” Morris asked, and turned to look at the clock. He reached for it and cursed.

  “She’s got some kind of powers. I’ll be damned.” Blade smirked.

  “She got some kind of everything, and we all want more and I don’t think any of us want to share. Which means we all better either throw the get together this weekend or be ready to go to the get together this weekend. I’m not taking a chance of some other dicks picking her up.”

  “Help me up. When she comes over tonight, we’ll make plans.”

  Blade lifted Morris up, and then Morris placed his arm over his brother’s shoulder as he moaned and groaned. “Ya think she’ll be all for bed for the weekend and maybe food?” Morris asked.

  “We were thinking the same thing,” Blade replied, and they chuckled.

  “Although, you might wind up a cripple if you keep that pace up with her and this bad leg.”

  “Hell of a way to go. I’ll suck it up,” he replied, and Blade helped him.

  An hour later when Morris came out of the bedroom feeling a lot better and hungry as anything, Vetter and Trek looked angry.

  “What’s up?”

  “Melina texted back. She’s having a bad day. May not make it tonight.”

  “What?” he asked Trek. “Did she say why?”

  “Just a surprise account and extra work, plus she’s going to New York Monday.”

  “Monday to New York? For how long?” Morris asked.

  “Four days, her text said.”

  “Shit.”

  “Exactly,” Trek said.

  “And so it begins,” Morris whispered, and he didn’t like the way he felt. Almost insecure, and it had to do with being injured, not at a hundred percent, and perhaps looking and feeling weak in such a capable woman’s eyes.

  “Screw this. She’ll be over tonight. I’ll make sure of that.”

  He pulled out his cell phone and texted her.

  “I expect you here tonight. What we have is special and not seeing you isn’t going to fly. Make it here.” He texted and then leaned back and waited for her response.

  * * * *

  When Melina first arrived at the office she was swamped with work and phone calls. Apparently, the trial run of her software at Vanderfield Restaurant and casino was a complete success. Now there were calls coming in with people wanting to be added to the list as the software received official patent. She was going to have to meet with her attorney this evening, or latest tomorrow morning. She thought about Morris, Trek, Blade, and Vetter so much since last night. This was a hectic time in her life and so much was happening. She needed to prioritize her time, her responsibilities, and make room for a social life. In the past when things got tough, she just didn’t hang out or go anywhere.

  “Melina, Mr. Renaldi wants you in his office. He said it’s important.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know, Mary Beth said some big shot came in and he and Mr. Renaldi have been talking for an hour.”

  “Who is it?”

  “Not a clue.”

  “I have so much to do. Okay, I’ll be back as soon as I can. Can you take care of the copies, Call Barbara and let her know the e-mail was sent, and the particulars are ready for her viewing?”

  “Definitely. I’ll also confirm the reservations for New York and your room accommodations, plus the table at the corner for you, Mr. Renaldi, and the other staff attending.”

  “Excellent. I will be back.”

  “By the way, you look extra happy today, and that dress is sexy.”

  She felt her cheeks warm. “Thanks. I kind of had plans after work, but I just laid the groundwork to cancel. We’re swamped.”

  “If you look this happy and have on an outfit like that, you need to continue with your plans. You are glowing.”

  “Thanks,” she said, and then headed down the hallway in her burgundy slim fitting, sleeveless dress that accentuated her curves, and looked both professional and yet sexy. Her high heeled shoes were perfect and her undergarments skimpy, because she hoped to meet the guys and let them peel her clothes off of her and make love to her for the rest of the night. God, she hoped she could meet them anyway.

  She knocked on the door as Mr. Renaldi’s secretary told her to go right in.

  She opened the door as she heard him say come and then she stopped and nearly tripped.

  “There she is. You look incredible, Melina. Come on in, you remember Jovani Pinioli?” She couldn’t help but give the man the evil eyes, but he ate her up with his and closed the space between them.

  “Of course she does. My biggest mistake was letting her go,” he said, and winked.

  Her boss smiled. “And my best decision was hiring her.” He smiled at Melina and she gave a smile back.

  “Jovani is here with an offer that I think we should consider.”

  She tried to relax, she really did, but he looked so smug and as if he succeeded in whatever this game was he was playing.

  “What offer would that be?” she asked.

  “Please sit down and he will explain.” She had no choice but to sit, and of course, Jovani stood and talked about this contract he had with Mercanan, a company who built a restaurant and hotel on a very exquisite piece of island in the Caribbean.

  “So you see, we want to use your new software, and have you personally watch over the installation and tutorials for all employees,” he said to her, and smiled at her boss, who was not even aware of this game Jovani was playing.

  “Well, unfortunately, there’s a waiting list, Mr. Pinioli. Might I suggest you try—”

  “Melina, my client is willing to pay you more than double the amount of money it’s worth just to avoid the waiting list and get on board with this. It’s the final thing he needs to complete before opening the hotel and restaurant in the fall. Five hundred thousand, Melina.” Her boss was smiling and looking like a little boy on Christmas morning who saw a thousand gifts under the tree.

  She was shocked. “Why would he want to pay that? It makes no sense,” she replied. Her boss cleared his throat.

  Jovani smiled. “I talked you up, Melina. Told him how thorough you are and how amazing this new program is, and how as soon as the patent comes through, and after the finalization of it going public, it will be impossible to get you to personally assist. He went crazy. In fact, I’m certain he would pay more. He will set you and whomever you need with you, up in a room at the hotel, all expenses and meals paid for, everything.”

  “I like it. We would be out of our minds. Jovani has the paperwork and contract right here,” her boss said, and looked at each of them.

  Melina was beside herself with shock.

  “I’ll have our attorneys look over the documents, and then Melina has to as well.”

  “Can we get those signed by tonight before she changes her mind or someone else comes in and bumps me and my client out of the picture?” Jovani asked.

  “Of course she can.”

  “Actually, no, I can’t. I’m not staying late tonight. I’m swamped with other responsibilities and this trip to NY Monday.”

  “We can have Meredith handle all that. Your focus can be on this for the next several hours.”

  “I won’t be rushed. I need to make sure everything is in order,” she replied and swallowed hard.

  The phone rang and her boss took the call. He covered the receiver. “I need to take this. Why don’t you show Jovani out, and maybe set a time for you and him to discuss, and any needed changes to the contract? Before we leave on Monday.”

  She nodded, and she and Jovani walked out of the office. He placed his hand at her lower back, and towered over her. When they got to the hallway past the secretary and to the elevator, he stopped her by placing his hand on her hip.

  “You look amazing, Melina. I told you I was impressed with your intelligence and your ideas. My client will be so happy, and of course, my bank account will be as well. How about we do lunch, talk this through?” he suggested.

  “No can do, and to be honest, I’m not sure this is going to work. I’ll have to look at the contract thoroughly, and that takes time.”

  “You have until the weekend, like your boss indicated,” he replied, looking at her body. He stroked her hip and she pushed his hand away.

  “Don’t touch me. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but like I told your son, I’m not interested in anything you have to offer.”

  “Your boss is, and I know you are interested. What woman in her right mind wouldn’t be?” he asked, and pressed a strand of her hair away from her cheek.

  “You don’t want to anger your boss.”

  “Five hundred grand, Jovani? That’s insane.”

  “Not for a wealthy, filthy rich businessman like my client. I just need to warn him when he meets you to keep his hands off what’s mine.” The elevator doors opened.

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “My eyes are on you, Melina. My patience is dwindling. It’s time to come home where you belong. In my bed, and part of Slader Corp again. We’ll be brilliant together.”

  “You’re out of your mind.”

  He pulled her to the side as the doors closed and the elevator descended. She gasped. “Not out of my mind. I just know what I want, and this time around they’ll be no escaping. No running. You’ll be mine. I guarantee it,” he said, and slid his palm along her ribs right under her breast. She stepped back and he gripped her wrist. “No backing out, or I’ll be certain to figure out a way to make your boss fire you for doing so.” He released her wrist as the doors opened and they entered the lobby. “Thank you for the meeting. I’ll wait to hear from you.”

  Melina was furious, and also scared. Why go to such great measures to try and get her into his bed, and to be his woman? Why? As she turned to head back up her mind went to the price tag. Five hundred thousand? Holy crap. Then she thought about the responsibility and ways to make sure she didn’t have to be gone for months or anything like that, but perhaps a few days a week to fly out and check up on things, or maybe leave for two weeks and work around the clock? She could bring extra staff and work it all out.

  She had a trillion things to do, and before she even made it to the office, Meredith and several other employees who would all benefit from such a large contract greeted her with applause as her boss smiled wide and then gave her a high five. “You, are amazing. Get moving on that contract. I’ll have the attorneys do things on our end.”

  When she finally got some alone time in her office, she wondered how the hell she would get through this, and what was Jovani after doing this. She wasn’t going to see the men at all. As she got the text message, she looked at her phone and widened her eyes.

  Morris was giving her an order that made her panties wet, and her mind lose focus on all that needed to be done. Could she make it there tonight?

  She looked at the clock and then texted him back.

  Will try my hardest.

  How was she going to tell them about her old boss doing this deal with her and the company? Did she even have to? They all just started this thing and the chaos of work was definitely going to keep them apart more often than not. Could they accept that? She was nervous and unsure, but she missed them and was willing to give it a shot.

  “Cancelling your plans?” Meredith asked.

  “Hell no. You only live once, Meredith. No regrets. I’m leaving by seven, and that’s final.”

  * * * *

  Jovani Pinioli got into the Range Rover and exhaled.

  “How did it go, boss?” Mark, his driver and assistant, asked.

  “Rather smoothly. She didn’t know what hit her. Melina has changed though.”

  “Changed how?” Mark asked, pulling into the light traffic.

  “She’s more confident, empowered, and has a bit of an attitude when provoked. It’s a turn on, and definitely arouses my interests even more. Could make for some interesting foreplay, breaking that confidence down and getting under her skin. You should have seen her. That burgundy, slim fitting dress, her fucking curves. God damn, my cock was so fucking hard. She’s special, Mark. So fucking special, and rich, too. She’s brilliant, a model companion and wife.”