With a pretty flush, Hannah scrambled off his lap, smoothing her skirt. “Yes.” He and Dex exchanged a quick glance. This changed everything. They’d been ready to introduce her to the pleasures of ménage at thirty-thousand feet, but if this was her first time, she deserved a real bed and an enormous amount of patience from them.
“Oh, I get it,” she murmured. “You don’t like virgins. Because I don’t know what I’m doing, right?” Hannah backed away. “I don’t know what came over me earlier. Let’s just forget it happened.”
Slade got to his feet. His c**k was a hammer in his slacks, but it would wait for Hannah.
He took her hand and drew her closer. “Look at me, love.”
She hesitated, then finally met his gaze. He could see the courage it cost her.
“No, we won’t forget that it happened. And it’s going to happen again. We are so honored that you trusted us with the truth. We hope you’ll do the same with your body.” Slade raised her hand to his mouth, palm up, and kissed her. “We’ll take such good care of you.” Dex was right there, taking her other hand. “I promise. We’re going to cherish you.” Tears filled her eyes, along with a spark of what Slade could only describe as hope. “You’re not disappointed?”
“We’re thrilled,” Slade said. “Now, sit down, and I’ll fix you a drink. You should rest.” He poured her a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. When he turned, she was sitting in her chair next to Dex. They had left a seat open beside her. That was his place, beside her. He passed her the glass and sat. Dex began to talk about her cat and how he’d rescued the fur ball. By the time he was finished with the story, Hannah was smiling into Dex’s face. When Slade found her hand with his, she squeezed back.
Slade couldn’t help the smile creasing his face. The moment was perfect with the singular exception of Gavin on the other side of the aisle. Alone. His gray eyes were stark, miserable.
Slade didn’t know what to say, but he figured he’d better come up with something fast.
Before he opened his mouth, Gavin shook his head and stared out the window.
For the first time it really sank in that Slade could gain a wife and lose his brother.
Chapter Five
The limo slid away from the tiny airstrip, its engine purring almost silently.
Gavin was well aware that it was utterly incongruous to have a limo in a backwoods town like River Run, Alaska, but his father had kept one for his infrequent trips, and it had seemed cruel to Gavin to fire the driver. The man had been with his family for almost fifty years, so when Gavin or any of the executives came to River Run, they were greeted by the elderly driver and late-model limo.
The vehicle seated six, not that they needed that much space. His brothers had practically sprawled Hannah across their laps. She didn’t take up much room anyway. Nor, apparently could she walk. When the plane had touched down, she’d tried to stand, but Dex had been there, sweeping her into his arms. He’d passed her off to Slade when they reached the limo. Now she sat curled up like a sweetly rumpled, sexy kitten between them. The minute Dex had curled his arm around her she’d let her head find his chest and fallen asleep. Dex had closed his eyes, too.
Lucky bastard. Gavin doubted he would be able to sleep even in his comfortable bed. His c**k was still hard hours after watching Hannah spread her legs and come for the first time.
Gavin knew he’d never touch her…but in that moment, he’d felt so involved, sharing that brand new experience with her and his brothers. Fuck if he didn’t want more.
He’d never given much thought to the whole Dominance and submission thing Dex and Slade were into, but watching Hannah’s pretty backside turn bright pink under Slade’s hand had flat out done something for him. He’d imagined it was his own hands holding her down, administering discipline. He would have turned her over and forced her to ride him.
But she was a virgin. God, he didn’t want to think about that, about the fact that before too long, she wouldn’t have her virginity anymore—and one of his brothers would be the privileged man taking it.
“Have you heard from the Lenox brothers, yet?” Slade kept his voice low, in deference to the sleeping pair.
Gavin was grateful for the reprieve from his dark thoughts. When he found Hannah’s stalker, he would think of an excellent way to take more of his frustration out on the ass**le. “They sent a text saying they have all the data. It will take them a few days to go through everything.”
“We can always hope this sick f**k walked past a couple of security cameras with the package.”
“Yes, we can hope.”
Gavin watched the terrain slide by. It was high summer in Alaska, and the ground was covered in colors he never saw in Texas. Rich, vibrant flowers formed a carpet that led from the road to the flat, plain that seemed to go on for days. Even the grass was a lush Technicolor green.
“I always loved it here,” Slade said, his gaze trailing to the mountains in the distance. “I felt free.”
“We were certainly much freer than we were at home.” Gavin knew his strict father thought that sending Slade and him up here every summer was some form of punishment. Stuart James had told his nine- and five-year-old boys that they needed to toughen up, and that Alaska would make them men.
His father really had been blind. What he and Slade had discovered in River Run was real kindness and affection for the first time in their lives.
“Marnie says her cabbage won first place at the fair this year.” Slade smiled as he spoke of the woman who had met them at the airstrip that first day. Marnie ran the local tavern and knew how to handle roughnecks with ease. She’d also known how to deal with two scared boys.
He wondered if she would have any advice for one conflicted man.
Gavin turned away, staring out at the landscape. Honestly, he had no reason to be conflicted.