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Essex was equal parts shocked and thrilled Miami had avoided physical relationships since they’d been together. Knowing she’d essentially saved herself for them was damned encouraging.
Miami tried to turn her head, wanting to avoid looking Giles in the eye, but he wasn’t having it. Keeping his fingers on her chin, he shook his head side to side, indicating he wasn’t backing off.
Miami sighed, and Essex knew whatever she was going to share wasn’t something she relished confiding.
“It just seemed wrong. I gave up trying to understand it and hoped someday, I’d meet the right man.”
“The right man?” Essex couldn’t hide his frustration. Miami took one look at his body language and stepped back, her hands twisting in front of her. Damn it, he hadn’t meant to frighten her, but he was practically vibrating with irritation.
“I think what Essex means is he’s surprised you didn’t recognize you’d already met the right men.”
Giles was right, but it was odd seeing him in the good guy role. Usually, Giles was the one fuming while Essex defused a situation. He couldn’t imagine how she’d convinced herself they’d been nothing more than ships passing in the night. Essex was all set to respond with a snarky remark until he saw the self-doubt shining in her tear-filled eyes. His negativity dissolved in an instant as he pulled Miami into his arms.
“You have to believe us when we tell you the last thing we wanted was to hurt you.” She was too proud to tell them how hurt she’d been, but he’d seen it in her eyes. Releasing her, Essex let her step back but shook his head when she would have moved out of arm’s reach.
“And we damned well didn’t want to leave you alone in bed. We left a note with the concierge.” Giles cast a glance at Essex because they’d disagreed on where to leave the note they’d hastily scrawled on the hotel’s expensive linen stationery. Essex wanted to leave it in the room, but Giles had insisted it would be overlooked.
“He was busy giving directions to a young tourist who couldn’t seem to find the damned beach. Why anyone thinks they need guidance to find a half-mile of sand-covered shoreline across the street is a mystery to me.”
“Did the concierge try to stop you?” Essex was reading between the lines, but he was fairly certain her attempt at humor was intended as a distraction. When her cheeks turned a deep shade of rose, Essex knew he’d nailed it. Giles tilted his face toward the ceiling and shook his head. Essex knew his friend well enough to recognize the body language—he was trying to maintain his composure.
“He called my name, but I didn’t stop.” She dropped her gaze to the floor for several seconds before raising it again to look between them. “I was mad, okay? I was pissed, and I knew if I talked to anybody, I was going to lose it.”
“You were mad or hurt?” Miami’s reaction was one of genuine surprise. The way her eyes widened told him Giles’ question was unexpected. To her credit, Miami didn’t rush to answer. Watching her worry her lower lip, Essex knew she was giving careful consideration to her response.
“Until now, I hadn’t spent time analyzing my response, but now that you ask, I think I was angry because I was hurt. Maybe that doesn’t make sense, but it’s the truth. I didn’t like knowing you’d been able to slip under my radar. I went to Central America to prove to myself I didn’t need anyone.”
Essex grinned when her gaze lowered to his cock; the damned thing was still bobbing against his lower abdomen.
“If you thought this conversation was going to deter my desire for you—think again.”
“You’re insatiable.” Miami couldn’t hide her amusement. She appreciated their senses of humor and knew the words were spoken in jest, rather than undeserved criticism.
“Can we dissect the past later? I was hoping to get to the part where I get to come several times and look like I’ve been playing mattress mambo when Lilly arrives. If I remember correctly, she’s a pistol and will expect good gossip.”
Essex burst out laughing, and Giles smiled and shook his head.
“Why are you still dressed?” Giles recovered quickly, crossing his arms over his chest and spreading his legs shoulder-width apart. Miami blinked several times, probably more because of the abrupt change in the course of their conversation than confusion. Essex saw her lips twitch just before she started scrambling to rid herself of the clothing they’d given her.
“Sorry, Sir. I guess I was distracted. Being in the room with two hot, easy-on-the-eyes men causes my brain to short-circuit.” In less than five seconds, Miami was naked as the day she was born.
Essex tried to his damnedest to keep his eyes focused on her face, but if there was ever a woman who personified temptation, it was Miami Walker. The men who’d beat her must not have known what their boss had planned because they’d landed all their blows where ordinarily they would have been hidden by her clothing. It didn’t matter that her torso was battered and bruised—she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“You are so fucking beautiful.” Giles might have been the one to speak the words, but Essex agreed with the sentiment. “Get on the bed and open your body and mind to what we’re going to give you.”
Watching Miami gingerly lift herself onto the mattress reminded Essex they needed to be careful. She would probably deny any lingering limitations from the physical trauma she’d endured, but he didn’t need her confirmation when he could easily see how measured her movements were.
Miami settled in the center of the bed, legs spread wide, her arms stretched out above her head. The bed wasn’t particularly long, so her hands were doubled over against the headboard. Essex eased the first hand to the corner of the mattress. Ordinarily, he’d secure her wrists to the bedposts with silk scarves, but they weren’t in their own space or at the club, so he didn’t have the conveniences ordinarily at his fingertips.
“Move your hands, baby. Reach for the corners of the bed and leave them in place.” As soon as they were ashore, Essex promised himself they’d drive to the club for a weekend of play. Until the Wests decided on a location for their satellite office, he and Giles would work from their Austin headquarters.
“Open your legs a little more, Miami. I want to see your arousal glistening on your pussy lips.” When she complied, Essex stood shoulder to shoulder with Giles to enjoy the view. “She’s amazing, isn’t she? So responsive. Her body recognizes what it wants, even when her head isn’t playing from the same sheet of music.” Essex grinned when he saw Miami’s lips moving silently. If he had to guess, he’d say she was warning herself to stay still since it looked as though she was repeating the same thing again and again.
“I agree. Our sweet sub is perfect. Her curves fit my hands as if we were made for each other. I can smell the earthy scent of her arousal, and it’s making me crazy. If she tastes half as good as I remember, I’ll be lapping those slick folds until she is begging me to let her come.”
From the end of the bed, Essex could see cream flowing from her center.
Damn, she is so fucking responsive. We’re never letting her go.
