Keeley's Fight (The Protectors Series) (8 page)

“You alright, Butterfly?” Nate asked concerned, rubbing soothing circles on her back to help her breathe through what he guessed was a rather hellish nightmare.

“I just need fresh air,” was her reply before bolting to the front door and outside, setting off the house alarm they’d set after the pizza came the night before.

“I got the alarm!” Yelled Ty so that Nate could follow her outside, where he found her kneeling with her head down on the front grass, sobbing.

Sitting on the grass behind her, Nate pulled her into his arms and rocked her, not saying anything yet. Finally the alarm was off and Ty came running over, skidding down to kneel in front of her and holding her hands. It was probably a good ten minutes before she finally lifted her head and acknowledged they were there. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized on a soft sob.

“Nothing to be sorry for darlin’. Wanna tell us about it?” Ty asked her.

“Not yet. I just… Can I sit here for a bit?” She asked so softly they almost didn’t hear her.

“Of course. Mind if we sit with ya, Butterfly?” Nate asked.

Looking between the two of them she seemed to ponder that question for a minute, before finally answering, “I think I’d like that.”

Sitting there in the quiet, they watched the sun rise on the horizon and it was breathtaking. Seeing the different shades of red, orange, and yellow turn into pinks and gold was a sight to see. Nate couldn’t remember the last time he watched a sunrise just for the pure enjoyment of it. Squeezing Keeley just a little bit tighter to him, she relaxed her body and grabbed one of his hands and squeezed one of Ty’s hands, before getting up and saying, “That was beautiful,” with such a mind-blowing smile on her face. Nate froze and just stared at her again. He seemed to do that a lot, he thought. “Would you guys like some coffee?” She asked when she turned towards the house to go inside.

“Uh ya, sure thing, darlin,” Ty said following her, leaving Nate still sitting on his ass in the early morning hours.

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Walking inside the
house Keeley realized she had no idea where the kitchen was. Stopping dead in the doorway, she got ran into from behind. “Oops, sorry darlin’.” Tyler tried for remorse, but she could hear the smirk in his voice, plus his hands that he’d wrapped around her to land on her stomach.

Smiling, she turned her head to look up at him. “You don’t sound very sorry, Tyler.”

“You got me, I’m not. But that’s only because you feel so good in my arms.” Leaning down he brought his face closer to hers. So close, she could feel every puff of breath and practically feel his lips on hers. If she just stood up on her tip toes, she would surely lock lips with him.

Seeing his eyes widen in surprise, she didn’t realize what was happening until her lips touched his and she was doing exactly what she had just thought. Closing her eyes she decided to enjoy the moment and his kiss. Opening her mouth, she touched her tongue to his lips and he opened his mouth and met her tongue with his own. Sighing, she let him explore her mouth the way she secretly hoped he would one day explore her body. Lifting her uninjured arm up and around to the back of his neck, she pulled his head down farther into hers. Hearing him moan she started to pull away, but he reached up and put his hand on her throat, just below her jaw holding her in place, which she enjoyed immensely. Seeing a flash go off behind her eyes, she thought nothing of it until Tyler pulled his head up and smiled at her, but it was the look in his eyes that left her wondering what was going on.

Breathless she asked, “What’s with the look?”

Glancing towards Nathaniel, she saw he had a camera in his hands and an amused expression on his face. “Sorry Butterfly, I couldn’t resist,” he responded smiling.

Blushing, but secretly thrilled to see it she asked, “Where’s the kitchen?”

Nathaniel turned to show her the way, so she followed. Entering the kitchen she was immediately in love with it. Everything matched: the fridge, stove, dishwasher, and what she assumed was a wine cooler were all stainless steel. “Geez, it all looks brand new!” She exclaimed.

The stove was a double range, the fridge had double doors with an ice dispenser on one side and the freezer in the bottom. The wine cooler was glass, so you could see inside to know how much and what was in there.

Then there was the rest of the kitchen. The cupboards on the bottom were a gleaming white with black marble tops, while the upper cupboards were the same white but had glass doors so you could see inside. It was absolutely stunning. There was a breakfast nook separating the kitchen and dining room that held the coffee maker and a hanging rack for the coffee cups. The dining room was just as stunning, yet elegantly simple. There was a matching dining table in a gorgeous cherry finish that could seat at least eight people, with a buffet and hutch to hold some very nice looking china.

“This is stunning you guys,” Keeley enthused as she turned back to them, only to find they were watching her take it all in. Smiling shyly she asked where the coffee was, and got to work, as best she could with her sore arm, making it and getting everything on the breakfast bar for them. Clearing her throat she inquired, “What do you guys normally do on your days off?”

“I guess it depends on what we feel like, or what’s going on around the city. Sometimes we’ll go down to Dallas to catch a Cowboys or Stars game. Or hang out with the folks or Kenny. This time though we were just gonna hang out at home and do some work around here,” Nathaniel told her.

Taking that in while she poured them all coffee, she thought about the job she was going to be starting soon. She was excited about this new adventure in her life. The idea that they provided security meant that they helped people, right? Lost in thought she didn’t hear Tyler calling her name.

“Keeley, are you ok?” He asked.

“Oh yes, yes, I’m fine.” She smiled weakly.

“What are you thinking about, Butterfly?” Nathaniel asked.

“Umm… Everything and nothing.” She laughed. “I’m excited about working for you and starting fresh, but I’m really nervous about it because I’ve got no experience in well… anything. I didn’t even finish high school, let alone be able to learn to use a computer. The only thing I’ve done in the last five years is waitress and clean houses. I hardly think that qualifies me for what you want me to do.”

“I told you, we’ll teach you and you’ll have help from Julia before she retires, which won’t be for a few more months. Plus, if you’d like, you can enroll in a computer course to help you learn the ins and outs of them,” Tyler reminded her.

Taking a deep breath, she smiled at their generosity and asked the next question plaguing her at the moment. “You said yesterday at the restaurant that you were attracted to me, what does that mean exactly, and what do you want from me?”

Clearing his throat Nathaniel told her, “Well Butterfly, it means we like you, we feel like there could be something here for us to explore. All three of us. Ty and I both want you; and not as just some fling either. We want it all with you, do you understand?”

“I..I..I think so. You want to share me? Together?”

“Yes, baby doll. But we will never, and I mean never, make you do anything you don’t want to do. We will cherish you like the princess you are. We want to take care of you,” Tyler professed with the biggest smile she’d seen from him yet.

Ducking her head to take a drink of her coffee, she was equally thrilled and scared spit less at this. They were the first people to ever be kind to her, let alone want to take care of her. Tread carefully here, they could still hurt and use you. Her inner voice kept trying to interfere with what her heart wanted so badly… To be loved. It’s the only thing she ever wanted and never got. Not from the parents she was forced to slave for, not from the friends she thought she had until she was forced to drop out of school, and never once from any of the seedy employers that hired her for barely minimum wage and made her do the most filthy jobs.

Deciding she wanted to get to know them better was easier said than done. She had serious trust issues, especially with men. “Would it be ok if I asked you guys some questions?”

“Anything,” they both replied smiling at her.

“Ummm, gosh, I don’t know where to start.” Smiling sheepishly over her coffee. “How old are you both?”

“Well, I’m 32 and Ty here turned 30 not long ago,” Nate responded, shocking her at their age. It didn’t bother her, the age difference. She just didn’t think they looked quite that old.

“Is Kennedy your only sibling?”

“You bet, thank fuck! The girl has been a pain in our asses since the day she was born! Spoilt little princess,” Tyler chimed in with a smile, so she knew that while it may be true, they both still loved her very much.

“And you’re Marines, right? I’ve heard, once a Marine always a Marine,” she said it in such a gruff voice, mimicking a masculine tone that Nathaniel and Tyler both burst out laughing. “Yeah baby, that’s right. Marine for life!” Tyler told her.

“How does your arm feel, Butterfly?”

“It’s fine, Nathaniel. Just a little sore.” She smiled at him.

Struggling with how to ask her next question, and maybe the most important one, Keeley just had to know if she was the first woman they’d shared together? Thinking about what her room looked like, she had the feeling that no she wasn’t, but had they used that room with someone else? Or was she just special? Clearing her throat she mumbled out, “Have you shared women before?” Looking down and holding her breath, she waited for their answer.

“Darlin’, look at me,” Tyler coaxed her. Looking up, she saw their serious faces and waited. “We’ve shared before a few times, we like it. It makes us feel complete. But never, and I mean never, have we found a woman that we’ve wanted to bring home or spend more than a few nights with.”

Interrupting him Nathaniel continued, “It takes a special kind of woman to be able to have this type of relationship Butterfly, and honestly, we have yet to find a woman who has wanted more than the thrill of saying she’s been with two men. With you, we want it all. Everything. You understand?” He asked.

At her nod, Nathaniel went on to tell her that when they bought the house and renovated it, they knew that no woman would enter their domain until they brought home the one that would complete them. That they would marry. That even though her room was built for three, she was the only one who had ever slept in that bed. Essentially, the room was hers for as long as she was with them. It helped ease some of Keeley’s anxiety, but she was still nervous. Still had doubts that they wouldn’t want her once they learnt of her past. Deciding not to dwell on it anymore for now, she just enjoyed the quiet moment they were having, not prepared for their next question. She knew it was coming sooner rather than later, so she should have expected it. She just wasn’t ready to trust them with those answers yet, though. Because in all honesty, who would want her when even her own parents didn’t?

“Do you want to tell us what happened yesterday, before you came to the restaurant? You can trust us,” Tyler implored, looking her in the eye. She saw the warmth, the concern, but she just wasn’t ready. Shaking her head, she stood up and went back out the front door to sit on the swing she noticed on the porch earlier.

S
he shut down.
He could see it happening as soon as the words left his mouth. Her face was devoid of emotion, and her eyes went sad before they went dead, completely. “What do we do, Nate?” He asked, not really expecting an answer, but hopeful for one none the less.

“She needs time to trust us, Ty. She’ll open up when she’s ready. We just need to be prepared for everything that’s going to come with her story. If I had to guess, it was pure hell,” Nate answered him solemnly before getting up and going to their home gym in the basement.

Ty sat there thinking for what felt like hours, but in reality was probably only twenty minutes or so, when he heard his cell phone ringing from the counter. Picking it up, he said, “Go for Maxwell.”

“That crazy psycho thing you and your brother called a girlfriend, at one time, is here again Tyler Maxwell. I told you the next time she showed up I was going to sick Cooper on her. You have five minutes.” Their secretary, Julia, didn’t even give him a chance to reply before she hung up on him. Sighing he got up, thinking over their very, very short encounter with that viper. They should have known better than to get involved with her, she was too forward with her pursuit of them for their usual tastes. They had sex with her one time, over a year ago, and they have been avoiding her like the plague ever since. He was pretty sure she was like Lyme disease, only in human form. Once you’ve got it, it never leaves!

Sending a quick text to Nate that he was heading to the office to deal with something, because you don’t interrupt him when he’s working out, or you risk being tossed around like a sack of potatoes. He grabbed his keys and walked out the front door. Stopping in front of Keeley, he bent down and told her, “I’ve gotta head to the office for about an hour. Nate’s downstairs in the gym, but help yourself to anything while I’m gone, alright?”