Radiance (11 page)

She met Elijah’s eyes and nearly lost herself in his expression.  Moving closer to block her from view of the room, their palms crossed her body and cupped her breasts. 

Her heart stumbled.  Perhaps she didn’t understand their interest after all.

“Firmly
bi
sexual,” Elijah murmured.  “The confusion comes from wanting you more than other women, Brie.”  Lifting his face, he added, “We didn’t seek you out as a front.  I’d
never
allow you to be used in such a way.”  Flattening his palm over her heart, he held her gaze.  “This would break badly.” 

“Gabriella.”  She looked at Harper.  “Six months remain before we come for you.” 

“I don’t understand.” 

Elijah’s lips pressed against her temple.  “I promise you’ll understand
everything
.” 

They passed her mouth back and forth between them, holding her hands on cocks that throbbed with need while they massaged breasts that ached for so much more. 

“You’re a creature unlike anything or anyone I’ve ever known.”  She heard the strain in Elijah’s words.  “Until you’re naked, sweating, and coming apart between us, I won’t stop.  I’ll show you no mercy.” 

Her moan vibrated into Harper’s mouth and his hand lowered to press against her low belly. 

“You’re shaking, Gabriella.” 

Then their hands slipped lower, stroking together over her mound through the thin fabric of her pants.  The resulting orgasm was instantaneous, unexpected, and violent. 

Her fingers curled around them through their slacks and tightened hard.  She pulled her head back to stare at them, panting heavily. 

“You still think me weak.  I have images in my mind I never realized would make me wet.”  She stroked her hands down to cup their balls firmly.  “I want to know how you taste.” 

Staring at Elijah, she whispered, “I wonder what it will feel like to have you both inside me.”  Leaning up, she licked over his lips.  “To feel you both come.  The heat of you filling me up with pleasure I can’t even
imagine
.” 

She watched as they stilled, jaws clenched against climaxes she could
feel
them having beneath her hands.  Elijah’s head dropped back on his shoulders.

Turning to look at Harper, she gave him a slow smile.  “You continue to underestimate me.” 

“I’ll work on breaking the habit.”  Dragging his hand up her torso, he settled over her breast and tweaked her nipple.  She gave a low moan.  “Think about us when you touch yourself later, Gabriella.” 

She sighed as they bent to trade her mouth once more.  The need on Harper’s face made her ache. 

Elijah raked his fingers through her hair and clasped a handful firmly at the base of her skull.  “There’s more to tell you.  Only when you’re firmly in my hands will you know the answers to the questions you haven’t asked.” 

He nuzzled her cheek and whispered, “I’ll dream of you, Brie.  I’ll think about you touching yourself with my name on your lips.  Lips that will be wrapped around my cock before I die of the wanting.” 

At the muscle between her shoulder and the column of her neck, he bit her gently with his teeth. 

“I wait for you.”  Straightening, he held her gaze for a long moment.  “Goodnight, Brie.” 

With a final kiss, they walked back to their table, collected their jackets, and left the club. 

Tawny’s voice behind her made her grin shakily.  “I bow, bitch.  I motherfucking
bow
.” 

* * *

In the car, Harper’s mind ricocheted from thought to thought.  He stared at Elijah with wide eyes. 

“How did we
not know
she was still in town?” 

“It doesn’t matter now.  All is well, Harper.” 

“All is…”  He raked his fingers through his hair.  “How can you say that?  All is
not
well!”

“You can trust her.  I know you know that.”  His half-smile didn’t match the panic in Harper’s heart.  “Only I have ever made you lose control in public.” 

“You’ve
never
lost control in public for anyone, Elijah.” 

“The culmination of all things I desire most.  It won’t happen again but it’s telling that she was able to accomplish it.” 

Harper leaned his head back on the seat.  His heart ached. 

February 2015

That she hadn’t seen Elijah and Harper in more than a month had Brie ready to vibrate out of her skin. 

The only thing that helped the insane sexual tension was physical therapy.  She upped her routine to five days a week.

Intense pain and buckets of sweat but finally…progress.

She’d been practicing walking without the cane in the apartment.  Sometimes she was afraid because her leg felt too weak to support her but twice, she’d almost forgotten the hated crutch when she left the house. 

On Valentine’s Day, she received three dozen white roses with a note from Elijah. 

I’d rather be there.  E

After placing several in her studio to dry, she arranged the others around her apartment.  It made her feel closer to him. 

Riya relayed information from Micah that Harper was in Europe overseeing the purchase of a textile factory.

No one seemed to know when they’d return and it made her wonder about the future when both men were gone for months at a time. 

To the apartment, she said in disgust, “You haven’t even seen them naked.  Dial back the Suzie Homemaker vibe.” 

Brie didn’t ask others about the two men.  She smiled when they passed along news but inside she felt like she was cheating.

If they wanted her to know, they’d tell her personally.

On a day when the weather was positively
mild
for February, she decided to take a walk to her favorite coffee shop.  The baristas were thrilled to see her and insisted on bringing her order to the table she chose out of the way. 

Distracted, she smiled when Natalia took a seat in the chair opposite.  “Hello, darling.” 

“You look lovely.  How did you know I was here?  Does Hudson have me fitted with a tracking device?” 

“Not yet.  I harass poor Carlo and tip Henry enough to pay his mortgage to keep a sharp eye on you.” 

“Thank you but you know I’m
fine
.”  She frowned.  “You’re up pretty early, aren’t you?” 

Leaning on the table, Natalia quirked her brow.  “The man
barely
rests, I feel like a slacker if I go back to sleep after he leaves for the day.” 

Brie laughed.  “You work
very
late hours.  No guilt required.  Sleep when he leaves until your body tells you to wake up.  He likes taking care of you and doesn’t resent that you need it.” 

“You’re fucking brilliant.”  She pointed at the blank sketchpad.  “I rarely see a page that isn’t filled with something.” 

“Natalia…”  She swallowed hard.  “I-I know.  About their relationship.” 

Electric blue eyes lifted to hers and widened.  “I assume they didn’t
intend
to reveal their little secret.” 

Brie explained the night she’d watched them at the club.

One of the staff set Natalia’s coffee in front of her with a smile.  “I thought you’d left.  Enjoy.” 

Mechanically, she sipped the brew.  “Darling, how do you
feel
about this new information?” 

“Curious.  At first, I thought they meant to use me as cover.”  A warm shiver passed over her as she remembered their attention.  “Apparently
not
.” 

The blonde blinked.  “To my knowledge, no lover has
ever
been privy to that particular detail, Brie.”  She cleared her throat.  “They never
meant
for me to know.” 

Processing what she implied, Brie sat forward.  “Natalia.” 

“We hadn’t known them more than a couple of years.  All of us belonged to the same club in Dallas but weren’t aware.” 

Lifting her eyes, she murmured, “You know the particulars of The Playground?”  Brie nodded.  “We…ran into them there.  The circumstances left no doubt regarding their relationship.” 

Mind racing, Brie said softly, “Don’t give me details.” 

“Well
done
, darling.”  Natalia sipped her coffee.  “For a while, I’m certain Harper feared Hudson would use the knowledge to gain an advantage.” 

“He’s not a dirty fighter.” 

“When Harper realized neither of us were sharing the information or shunning them in social situations, it became an unwritten piece of history between them.  It changed the way Hudson was considered from that moment on.” 

“He was taken seriously as an up and coming business talent with a strong core of honor.” 

Natalia nodded.  “Exactly.  From then on, it was easier for a young man from nothing to get meetings with the most powerful people in the world.”

Sitting back, Brie’s lips parted in shock. 

“Without Harper Delkin, Hudson would have continued to accumulate money and power because he
never
quits.  However, it would have taken longer.  Harper’s nod of approval for an illegitimate boy from the basest poverty opened doors that would have been
forever
closed to him.”

“Give me a second.  Give me just a second.” 

Her mind reeled with the knowledge that Harper helped her best friend when he was starting out because he was grateful for his discretion about the man he loved.

Brie had another revelation.  “It also led to the correct assumption that you weren’t disgusted by the thought of their relationship.  It made
you
more appealing.”  She grinned.  “You wouldn’t have thrown up pesky emotion all over them.” 

Natalia laughed and the beautiful sound drew smiles from around the café.  “I
adore
your pesky emotion.” 

“That they can keep their two worlds completely separate shows an incredible strength of will.”

“Neither of them would risk Harper’s reputation on the kind of women wealthy men tend to pick up like lost pennies.”  She shook her head and blonde curls bounced.  “Without the luck or, you know, the ability to read.” 

Brie lost it completely for almost a minute.  “That’s so wrong.  I’m sure
some
of them are smart.” 

“They’re few and far between.  It’s enough to make me grind my teeth at social functions.”  She winked.  “You’re the kind of trophy powerful men should want.  The perfect package.” 

“Hardly, Natalia.” 

“Men like the flash, sometimes the Victoria’s Secret label on their ass, and then bitch like children when the poor dumb thing turns out to be all fluff, no filler.  You have lots of good filler with your brain, heart, and
pretty boobies
.” 

The blonde mouthed the last bit and Brie didn’t know if she’d be able to pull herself together. 

“Gabriella.”  Her laughter strangled and she glanced up to meet Harper’s eyes.  Elijah stood beside him.  “Natalia, always lovely to see you.” 

“Hello, gentlemen.  Did your plane set you down on the roof?  I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground.” 

“We wanted to surprise Brie.”  The addition from Elijah visibly stunned Natalia.  “I do
speak
, Lady Roman.” 

“Beautifully, as a matter of fact,” she answered.  “I’m going to take Brie’s advice and nap.”

“Allow us to escort you back to the building,” Harper said.  Natalia looked as if she’d object.  He added firmly, “
Please.
” 

Frowning, the blonde nodded.  To Brie, she said, “Come, darling.  We need to go.” 

Confused at her friend’s change of mood, Brie quickly gathered her bag and the four of them left the cafe.  Everyone was strangely quiet and she
hated
being so slow with the cane. 

“I’m sorry I’m holding everyone up,” she murmured.

“Nonsense, Brie.”  Natalia tugged her hair from behind where she walked side by side with Harper. 

Both men were quiet and she wanted to ask if they were okay as they approached the building awning. 

A long black van sped toward them, a front wheel jumping the curb.  The side doors started to open before it rocked to a complete halt. 

Elijah said coldly, “
Cover.
” 

Harper grabbed Natalia roughly and wrapped his arm around Brie’s waist, carrying her to the front doors.  Henry opened it and he all but threw them into the lobby as the concierge came out from behind the desk. 

He barked, “Safe room.  Call Winters.” 

Then he raced back to the street and Brie shoved grabbing hands away from her.  Distantly, she heard Natalia scream her name.  Her leg gave way at the front glass and she stared through the window on her knees. 

Several men wearing masks, dressed in black, were in a battle with Elijah and Harper on the sidewalk.  She watched the men fight back to back, the bodyguard moving faster than her eyes could follow. 

It seemed to go on forever.
 

They disabled several of the attackers before the rest of the security team landed in the thick of things. 

“You need to come with me, Brie.”  Carlo tried to lift her but she fought him.  “I have to get you to safety.”

“No!  I’m staying
here
!  I have to stay here!” 

Just then, Harper met her eyes over Elijah’s shoulder.  The bodyguard’s body protected his completely, pressing him against the van.  Elijah’s other hand held one of their attackers suspended by his throat against the vehicle. 

She watched Harper’s lips move and Elijah glanced over his shoulder.  His eyes went wide when he saw her at the window.  He dropped the assailant and kicked him in the head. 

His hand on the back of Harper’s neck, the bodyguard walked him close to the front of his body, barking orders at his team.  They stepped over several downed figures and entered the building lobby.

Elijah dropped to one knee beside her.  He kept Harper with him, forcing him to kneel as well. 

“Brie.  Let go, Brie.”  It was only then she realized she still held the metal framing around the front glass.  “Come away from the windows.  Let’s get you to safety.” 

Lifting her fingers away, she nodded.  Her head felt dizzy and her stomach felt upside down.  “I-I don’t think I can get up.” 

“Let me help, Brie,” Carlo told her gently.

Turning to the concierge kneeling at her side, she noted a bruise forming along his jaw.  “Did I…did I
hit
you?” 

“You were upset.  It was an accident.  Let’s make sure you’re safe.”  Nodding to Elijah, the concierge helped her stand.  “You landed on the floor pretty hard.  Wrap your arm around my shoulders and I’ll try to find your cane.” 

“I’m sorry, Carlo.  I didn’t mean to hit you.” 

“I know, pretty girl.  No harm done.  Natalia is probably about to lose her mind so let’s get to her as quickly as possible.” 

The trim man helped her to a space behind the lobby desk she’d never noticed.  The tile pressed in to reveal a safe room. 

The moment she entered, Natalia grabbed her from Carlo and collapsed on a padded bench. 

“I am
telling
, darling.  You scared about ten years off my life.”  Holding her shoulders, she gave Brie a sharp shake.  “When trained people with
guns
tell you to get to safety, you fucking
do it
and let them do their
job
.” 

“I didn’t know what was happening and it made me panic.”  Then she burst into tears and Natalia hugged her tightly.  “I need to be told things so I don’t react badly.” 

“It’s alright.  Everything is alright.”  To someone else, her friend said, “Get a blanket.  I need to warm her up.” 

Instantly, a soft blanket wrapped around her but Brie couldn’t stop shaking. 

Lifting her hands, Natalia hissed.  “Jesus, Brie.  You snapped your nails to the
quick
.”  Electric blue eyes lifted and there was a long pause.  “I didn’t know it was so powerful already.  Now I understand your reaction.” 

All the adrenaline left Brie’s body in a whoosh and she zoned out, shaking and confused. 

She didn’t know how many minutes passed when she realized Hudson crouched in front of her.  He held her shoulder hard.

“Gabriella.” 

She blinked.  “I…I messed up.” 

“Everyone messes up.”  He smoothed a lock of hair from her face.  His other hand held Natalia’s so tightly his knuckles were white.  “You’re both safe.  That’s the important thing.” 

“Those men…they were after Harper.”  Hudson nodded.  “They would have kidnapped him,
hurt
him.  He and Elijah could have been
killed
fighting back.” 

“Violence is an unfortunate side effect of money.” 

Brie rubbed her temple hard.  “I didn’t realize.  I thought Leonard was a
precaution
.  I’m so naïve.  I didn’t think…I never thought it would touch people I care about.”