Page 84 of Protect Me
Kleo shoves her. “Come on, let’s get you a drink.”
“Like that’ll help,” Fiona says, but she lets herself be guided toward the bar.
Liv laughs as they walk away. “As you can see, news travels fast here.”
“So, everyone knows my real name?” I ask. “And they’re not pissed about it.”
“Relax. You think these people haven’t used aliases to run from their pasts too?” She snorts. “Now, Iinsistyou forget about all that and enjoy yourself today,” Liv says. “You’re my friend, and this is a place for friends.”
Adaya, who I haven’t seen since she pieced me back together, pushes through the crowd, a pink drink in her hand. “Good to see you on your feet,” she says. Then her gaze raises to the three towering men behind me. “Boys,” she greets.
“Adaya,” Duncan replies.
“We’ll be just outside,” Bracken adds as his fingers graze my lower back.
The three of them leave, shutting the door behind them.
“How are you feeling?” Adaya questions as she takes a drink.
“Good as new. Better, actually,” I add with a smile.
“So I see.” Liv elbows me gently in the arm. “I take it things with the boys have taken a turn?”
My cheeks heat. “Is it that obvious?”
“You’re staying at their apartment; you needed time to compose yourself this morning…then there’s the massive hard-on Killian was sporting when he answered the door.”
I stare at her for a moment then, unable to help myself, throw my head back and laugh. “I guess it’s safe to say we’re busted.”
“Girl, you’ve been busted since the night you arrived,” Liv says with a laugh. “I saw how they looked at you. They were goners from that moment.”
“Even I can attest to that,” Adaya puts in.
Their words warm me. The idea that all three men—even Duncan—felt that way about me all this time makes me feel wanted in a way I never have before. “Yeah, I guess I’m the one who took a bit of convincing. But it’s new for me.”
“What, sex?” Liv raises a brow, but I laugh.
“Not just sex. I mean the fact that there’s three of them and one of me.”
“New is exciting,” she says with a grin. “Besides, what woman wouldn’t want to be ravished by three sexy men? “
I laugh. “Fair point. I guess since it’s not the norm, it’s taken me some time to come around to it.”
She snorts. “We’re not the norm, honey, and that’s a-okay.” She guides me further into the room, her arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Now! Who wants to guess how big my belly is?”
* * *
Two hours of great food,drinks, and amazing companionship later, I’m stepping out of the cafeteria and nearly running head-first into the Ringmaster, who has posted up just outside. I stiffen, staring up at him as fear dances in my belly.
He looks down at me with copper eyes that seem to see straight through to my soul, and I resist the urge to scramble out of his way.
“Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Killian will be right back,” he tells me. “He went to grab some food since he was getting a bit testy.”
“Oh.” I smile. “He should have just come inside.”
The Ringmaster arches a brow. “And risk Fiona cutting off his favorite appendage? Nah. Killian has at least some self-preservation in him.”