Watch Me (Private Listing #1)

“I clocked the guy.” Blake flexes his fist. “I would have done more, but Madison…”

His face when he stormed into my apartment. He’d been like a wrathful angel. His green eyes blazed with fury, but his hands were soft when they lowered me down before I passed out.

“How are you?” Cooper’s eyes meet mine.

“Tired.” My voice is a little hoarse. I press my hand against my throat and wince.

Noah pulls down the sheets while Seth sets a stack of clothes beside him and gestures for me to come.

I stand between his legs, and he meets my eyes. “May I help you get ready for bed?”

Those stupid tears well in my eyes at his soft tone. I nod, not trusting my voice. Asking for my permission isn’t necessary, but after what happened… A tear slips down my cheek.

Cooper rises and stands behind me. “May I?”

I nod again, knowing this isn’t their usual, but also liking that they respect me enough to realize someone assaulted me tonight and took away my choice. They’re giving it back to me. One piece at a time.

Cooper unzips my dress and kisses my shoulder as he lowers it. Seth holds out a pair of lacy panties.

I raise my eyebrow at Seth. Leftovers from someone else? Because those definitely aren’t mine. I’m not wearing someone else’s panties, and he must see it on my face.

“All new.” His face flushes, but it’s tempered by his concern. “I ordered some after Monday for you. I liked the way you looked in your underwear and figured it was a treat for you and not your usual.”

My shoulders and face relax. I step into the panties, and he pulls them up before kissing my belly. Cooper releases my bra and I drop it with the other clothes. Seth rises before me. I look up and he drags a man’s t-shirt over my head. It smells like him, sandalwood and sin, and hangs down to my midthigh.

“Is this new?” I gesture to the bed and hold my hand to my throat.

“You shouldn’t talk, kitten.” Noah walks in with a glass of water and hands it to me. I smile and wait for Seth’s answer.

“We bought it after our last failed attempt. No one else has slept in it.” Seth rubs the back of his neck as he eyes me with worry. “We knew next time we had to be upfront about our expectations, but we’re still okay if you say you want to stay strictly professional.”

I step into him and hug him around his waist, resting my head against his chest. He wraps his arms around me. He feels safe, like nothing can get to me as long as I’m in his arms.

I’m not sure what the rules are yet for what we are doing as a group, or what may or may not be allowed in the future, but right now is no-man’s-land.

If I want to hug them, I can do that. Whatever I want and whatever they want, within reason, are all fair game.

Maybe hugging should be off-limits since it isn’t really sexual, but neither is sleeping together, and with a bed this vast, sleeping together is definitely an option.

Seth helps me into the huge bed, and I notice the guys stripping down to their boxers. I should maybe draw the line, but as Cooper slides in next to me and drags me into his arms, I lose all desire to push them away. I snuggle into him, letting his warmth and his arms make me feel whole again.

Maybe I’ll fall for them and they’ll rip my heart to shreds. Tonight, I don’t care. I want whatever security they can give me. Even if it’s not real. Seth climbs in behind me and wraps an arm around my waist to spoon me. Noah and Blake also get into the bed and someone turns the light off.

Seth kisses the top of my head. “We’ll work everything out in the morning. For now, sleep.”

* * *

I wake to a pounding headache and the feeling of burning alive between the heat of two bodies. When I groan, the arm banded around my waist tightens.

Opening my eyes, I find Noah and glance over my shoulder to see Blake spooning me. Seth comes in. He’s wearing athletic pants low on his hips and nothing else. I lick my dry lips. My body is definitely awake this morning. I probably shouldn’t be feeling tingles all over, but I remember what they did to me yesterday, and I still want more.

He carries a prescription bottle and a glass of water. My heart thumps. That’s so thoughtful.

“Figured you’d want pain meds.” He holds out the water and drops a couple of pills into my hand when I sit up.

My throat feels full and like I swallowed broken glass. So I smile, not wanting to make it worse by talking, and down the pills.

“The doctor believes you passed out, but not because of oxygen deprivation.” Seth sits on the end of the bed. “Too much stress. We need you to take it easy this weekend. Your throat may be sore and feel swollen. I can get you an ice pack.”