Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

“I’ll check in with Theo tomorrow.” Coop rests his upturned hand on my thigh and I slide mine into it. I’m grateful for the warmth of him and Noah. That they didn’t lose faith in me. “He’s been at Cliodhna this week to see if the spy might contact Deidre.”

I turn to him. “I thought Patrick was here to help set up the honey trap?”

Coop’s eyes smile when he catches mine. “He is, but Cliodhna is an almost perfect match for the other companies the spy contacted. Why waste the perfect opportunity? Besides, it will give us a trial run if nothing else.”

Blake stands and starts clearing the table. He keeps his eyes down when he says, “You shouldn’t sleep in your room tonight. We don’t know why Andrea wanted Robert to come after you, but we can’t be sure she won’t send someone else. Someone who might not be so respectful.”

I didn’t even think that my room might not be safe. My chest warms. Blake is still protecting me. I watch his back as he goes into the kitchen. What did I do that made him think he couldn’t trust me? Was it really all about the women in the past?

“We can sleep in my room.” Noah draws my attention his way. His dark eyes hold mine.

We’ve all been sharing my bed, but I can’t see all of us fitting on Noah’s bed. It’s also too soon for me to forgive Seth and Blake.

Coop squeezes my hand, breaking me out of my thoughts.

Nodding, I turn to Coop. “Both of you.”

I avoid the others’ eyes. It’s too soon. I need time but I need comfort too. Coop and Noah will provide that.

“Of course, sweetheart.” Coop lifts my hand and grazes my knuckles with his lips. Warmth settles in my stomach.

“You guys go.” Seth stands and picks up some trash to throw away. “Blake and I will clean up out here before retiring to bed.”

My chest tightens at the resignation in his voice. I don’t want to shut them out. Not completely.

Noah pulls my chair out. When I stand, I can’t help stopping and watching Seth and Blake. They work seamlessly to clean the kitchen. I don’t want to be like this, but the hurt still aches in my chest. I’m not those women. I will never be those women.

Hopefully, they realize that.

When Noah offers me his hand, I hold mine up to him and walk into the kitchen. Seth pauses and I step into his arms and hug him around the waist, pressing my cheek against his steady heartbeat.

“Good night, princess,” he whispers into my hair as his arms close around me.

I breathe in deep, because this man is still mine and I’m still his. “Good night.”

When I step back, Blake drops his gaze from us and turns to load the dishwasher. Releasing my breath, I close the distance between us.

“Blake?”

He doesn’t turn around. “Yeah?”

“I love you.” My words are soft.

He turns and sweeps me into his arms. His heartbeat drums in my ear as he holds me tight. “I love you, tiger.”

Tears well in my eyes. We’re not completely torn apart, but we’re definitely shaken from their lack of trust.

When I pull away, he cups my cheek and lifts my face to look at him. His green eyes shine. “I know you aren’t like them, love. I feel it in my soul, but I’ve been wrong before and let everyone down.”

Exhaling, I cover his hand with mine. “We can’t go forward if you can’t let go of the past. Those weren’t lessons for the future. They were warnings about those women.”

“I know.” He blows out a breath and slips his hand from my face. “I don’t know why I let it get to me.”

I step closer to him and slide my hand over his rough jaw. “You don’t have to worry about me with another guy. At least not outside of this group. I love each of you and would never hurt or betray you in that way. I’m yours and you’re mine. End of story.”

He turns his head to press a kiss against my palm. “You need rest. Good night, tiger.”

“Good night.”