Primal Passion (4 page)

God. He had no business being here. Denise’s
response proved that.

Standing in his boxers, he crossed his arms,
refusing to look at his partners.

“Gunner Wells.”

The name rang a bell and curiosity won out as
Price watched the other man disrobe. It was the man from the lab,
Denise’s friend. From the corner of his eye, he watched Denise’s
face evolve from surprise to sheer delight.

Gunner stood before them in black boxer
briefs, a perfect specimen of a man. He had what Price called a
pretty-boy face, light-brown hair that hung longer on top, green
eyes and a clean-shave. While Price employed weightlifting to
increase his muscle mass, Gunner appeared to maintain his trim
build with cardio. He had a runner’s body.

Gunner caught him staring and offered him a
friendly, harmless smile before he turned back to look at Denise
with nothing short of pure joy in his face.

Great. The Grand Master had slammed him into
a threesome with two people who already knew each other and would
be perfectly content to live happily ever after as a couple. Where
did that leave him?

The Grand Master had an answer for that too.
“You now belong to one another. Come forward.”

All of them reached out with their right
hands as the Grand Master removed the heavy gold chain from his
neck. He wrapped it around their wrists, binding them together.
They’d passed the point of no return. From this moment forward,
Price’s life would be entwined with these two people. In a matter
of minutes, they had become his future.

Gunner was the first to move. He leaned
forward and pressed a soft, quick kiss on Denise’s lips. A slight
flush colored her cheeks. She looked like a young girl with her
first love. Shit. For all Price knew, Gunner had just given Denise
her first kiss. That thought stuck in his craw.

If it was her first kiss, Price was going to
make damn sure it was the second she remembered. When Gunner and
Denise parted, Price was there. He cupped her cheek with his free
hand. He wasn’t interested in nice and easy. That had never been
his way. He pressed his mouth to hers, firmly using his grip on her
face to hold her still. Then he nipped her lower lip, taking
advantage when she opened her mouth and gasped. Using his tongue,
he explored the wet, sweet warmth. He was surprised—and
aroused—when Denise returned the touch, brushing her tongue against
his.

He wasn’t sure how long they stood there,
learning each other’s tastes and smells, but Price recalled they
weren’t alone when the Grand Master cleared his throat. Price
released her, pleased to see her face wasn’t merely pink, but
bright red. He looked at Gunner, expecting to receive a look of
disdain, of rebuke. What he didn’t anticipate was to find Gunner
studying Denise’s face curiously.

“Your relationship is yours. You will choose
how to live your lives, but there are rules. No one must know about
the trinity and you may never stray outside your marriage.” The
Grand Master removed the chain from their wrists. “You have one
month to get your affairs in order. At that time, you will return
here and be formally bound in the marriage of the Trinity Masters.
Now go.”

The Grand Master left without a backwards
glance, which irritated Price. Denise bent over to retrieve her
robe and quickly put it back on.

Nothing like spending your honeymoon with a
shy, innocent bride and a stranger. Price’s anger returned.

“My limo is still outside. I suspect when we
return to the dressing rooms we’ll discover keycards to a hotel
suite. We can travel there together if you’d like.”

Gunner nodded. “Sounds good to me. I arrived
here by taxi and my suitcase is in the dressing room.”

“Good. I can have my driver pick up spare
clothes for me once he’s dropped us off.” Price looked at Denise.
“We can swing by your apartment for clothing. Unless you’d prefer
to spend yet another night in the same jeans and T-shirt.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You said it wasn’t
you. That you weren’t—”

“I didn’t know I would be participating in
this ceremony until I opened that letter.”

Denise bit her lower lip anxiously. “Oh.” She
gave him a contrite grin. “Sorry.”

Price wasn’t sure if she was apologizing for
her accusation or the marriage. It didn’t matter either way. She’d
already turned her attention to Gunner.

“I didn’t know you were a member of the
Trinity Masters,” she said.

Gunner smiled. “How could you? It’s a secret.
We wear masks at social events, and I’m afraid I don’t attend as
many of those as I’d like. Work usually interferes.” Gunner ran his
knuckles along her cheek.

Denise grasped Gunner’s hand as he started to
pull it back. She looked at his Trinity Masters’ ring. “I’ve never
seen you wear this.”

Gunner shrugged. “In my line of work, it’s
best not to wear anything too distinguishable.” Gunner lifted the
charm on her necklace. “I could say the same thing about this.”

Denise grinned. “It was always getting caught
on stuff in the lab. I broke the chain twice before I finally just
put it away. I only wear it to Trinity Masters’ get-togethers.”

“That makes sense. I suppose I should have
suspected you were a member. When I was looking for a scientist
with the knowledge to help me with my case a few years back, I went
to my old biology professor. He’s part of the Trinity Masters, and
he directed me to you.”

“Professor Moreau. He’s the one who
introduced me to the Trinity Masters.”

Price didn’t like being reminded of Denise
and Gunner’s long history. “If you two are finished with your walk
down memory lane, I’d like to leave.”

He wanted to kick himself when Denise’s smile
faded, her gaze turning leery as she looked at him. “Okay. You know
if you want to, you could just have your driver drop me off at the
lab. I can get my car, head to my apartment to pack and meet you
both at the hotel later.”

Gunner chuckled. “No dice. I know you. You’ll
pop into the lab to check one little thing and we won’t see you
again for six months. We’re sticking…like glue.”

Price appreciated Gunner’s help. He’d opened
his mouth to say, “hell no,” but the other man’s response had been
worded in such a way that Denise didn’t become irritated. Until
some of her fear of him abated, Price was going to have to tread
lightly, an act that didn’t come naturally.

“Fine. But I definitely need to go back to
work tomorrow.”

Gunner’s gaze met his and Price felt an odd
connection to the man. Almost as if he could read his thoughts.
Gunner knew as well as he did that Denise wouldn’t be returning to
work tomorrow. Or even the next day. The three of them had too much
to sort out, lives to connect, living situations to arrange,
and…sex. Price had participated in ménages before, with two women
and sometimes with a woman and another man. He was no stranger to
the logistics. It would take them time to ease Denise into exactly
what the consequences of this arrangement would mean for her. She
obviously hadn’t put together the fact she was the only woman bound
in marriage to two straight men.

Price put his hand on her back. “We’ll see,”
was all he said in response to her assertion she’d return to work.
Better to save that argument for another day. Tonight was going to
be difficult enough.

Each of them returned to their private rooms
to get dressed and gather their things. Then they met up in the
corridor a few minutes later and walked to the limousine in
silence.

Price didn’t miss the way Gunner placed his
hand on the small of Denise’s back in a familiar, friendly way. She
didn’t shirk from the other man’s touch. In fact, she leaned toward
him, encouraging Gunner to pull her closer. Price rubbed his
temple, fighting against the growing pressure. If he didn’t find a
way to calm down, he’d spend the evening with a killer
migraine.

He closed his eyes once they were all seated
in the car. He’d studied Aikido for several years and, while he’d
long since moved on to learn other forms of martial arts, he still
employed the relaxation techniques as a way of centering himself.
Mercifully, Denise and Gunner seemed to need some time for quiet
reflection as well. The trip to Denise’s apartment was made in
complete silence.

When they arrived, Price felt calmer. Denise
opened the door before his driver, Roman, could get there.

She apologized when Roman jogged around the
car to offer her his hand. “Oh, oops. I was supposed to wait,
wasn’t I? Sorry.”

Roman smiled. “No problem, Miss.”

He and Gunner followed her out.

Denise frowned. “I’ll only be a minute. You
guys can wait here.”

Gunner grasped her hand and led her to the
front entrance of her building. “Nope. I’m coming up. I’ve always
wanted to see what your place looks like. In my mind, I’m picturing
every surface covered in test tubes, boiling brews and microscopes,
as well as a half-completed Frankenstein lying on your dining room
table. Am I close?”

Deni laughed. “Busted. Don’t touch the
monster though or he might come to life.” She raised her hands in
what Price assumed was supposed to be a threatening pose.

He followed them in silence, trying not to
lose the composure he’d just managed to regain in the car. However,
it was difficult given their surroundings. There was no way in hell
Denise was keeping this place after they were formally bound. He’d
been surprised when she’d given her address to Roman. Surely she
made enough money at the lab that she didn’t have to live in such a
shady neighborhood. Plus, the security in her building was
deplorable. Anyone could walk in from the street and roam the dimly
lit hallways.

Denise led them to the second floor, but she
stopped short when they reached her apartment.

“What’s wrong?” Gunner asked.

“The door’s ajar.”

Price’s instincts took over. He stepped
around Denise and pushed her behind him. He noticed Gunner’s
response mirrored his. Both of them reached for their backs and
produced guns. Interesting. He was going to have to find out what
Gunner Wells did for a living.

“You have guns? Both of you?”

Price shushed Denise, pushing her more
securely behind him when she moved toward the door. “Quiet.”

Denise obeyed, then he felt her hands close
around the material of his shirt. He tried to ignore how much he
liked that she trusted him to protect her. She wasn’t shirking away
from him, rather she was moving closer.

Gunner stood to the side, gun at the ready as
Price slowly pushed the door open. The apartment was destroyed,
furniture overturned, dishes and picture frames shattered, books
and papers covered the floor.

Denise gave a small sound of distress,
clinging tighter as they slowly entered the room. Gunner quietly
and efficiently walked down the hallway, peering into the other
rooms while Price kept Denise covered.

“No one’s here,” Gunner said, sliding his gun
back into his waistband.

Price turned, struggling to pull Denise’s
hands from his shirt. She was pale, trembling.

“My stuff.”

It was demolished. Her TV had been kicked in,
her couch cushions shredded. Price wasn’t sure he’d ever seen such
a malicious attack on a place. This wasn’t a robbery. It was
destruction.

Gunner looked miserable as he gestured down
the corridor. “There’s something you should look at in the
bedroom.”

Price put a supportive arm around her waist
as they walked toward her room. Though she was visibly shaken, she
was holding up better than Price expected.

Denise released a long, shaky breath as they
stood at the doorway. “Shit.”

Above her bed, someone had painted the words
Baby Killer in bright red. The paint was thick enough that it ran
along the walls and dripped onto the bed, looking far too much like
blood.

“Assholes. How many times do I have to
explain what I do? People are so stupid.”

Price admired the spunkiness in her voice.
While most women would have been terrified by such a horrifying
message, it appeared to fuel Denise’s anger. Maybe he’d misread his
absent-minded, hyperventilating virgin scientist. There was spirit
in her.

She started to step into the room but
something caught Price’s eye. He grasped her waist and pulled her
back, jerking her hard against his chest.

“Price. It’s okay. It’s just paint.”

“Don’t move.” He pushed Denise toward Gunner,
who remained in the hallway, then he dropped to his knees.
“Tripwire.”

“No fucking way,” Gunner said.

“What’s that mean?” Denise asked.

Price followed the wire, careful not to touch
it. It disappeared under an overturned laundry basket. He ventured
a guess they’d find an explosive device hidden there.

“What do you do for a living, Gunner?” he
asked.

“FBI.”

Price nodded. “Good. Call the Boston office.
Get them to send a bomb squad over here. Denise, you’re getting the
fuck out of here.”

“Hating what I do is one thing, but wanting
to blow me up is just stupid. How did they plant a bomb in my
house?”

Price rose and took her arm. “I have no idea,
but until we figure it out, you’ve just bought yourself two
permanent shadows.”

Gunner followed them downstairs, describing
to someone on the other end of his cell what they’d discovered. In
the meantime, Price found the landlord’s apartment and informed the
man he needed to evacuate the building. Through it all, Denise
remained silent, though Price was happy to see her color had
returned.

In fact, she seemed extremely composed. Price
didn’t know what to make of a woman who took a bomb in her
apartment in stride while having a full-blown panic attack over
standing in front of two men in her underwear. She was a puzzle, an
enigma, an unexpected surprise.