Page 22 of Marauding Daddies

“Is this a welcoming visit or is there another reason you arrived at my doorstep... uninvited,” she continued colloquially with a sharp emphasis on the last word.

“She’s asking for it, Keith.”

Aria refused to let her gaze wander back to the man whose deep voice rumbled toward her.

“True,” Keith said as he flashed her a smile.

She took comfort in the fact that at least one of the two men might be manipulated, although she wasn’t all too confident that she would get away with too much, even where Keith was concerned.

His eyes narrowed on her as if in a warning that he could read her thoughts before he continued. “But perhaps we should give her the benefit of the doubt.”

“For what? That she ran off like a thief in the night without saying goodbye, or that she’s illegally cutting our fence for the intent of trespassing on our land, or that she pretends to be ignorant of why we’re here?”

Aria felt a ripple of fear tiptoe down her spine at the dark entry into Kevin’s voice. There was no denying she was guilty on all three charges. Still, she refused to offer him even a courtesy glance.

Her eyes remained glued on Keith. The smile on his face warned her that he was aware of what she was doing. The glimmer in his gaze could be interpreted in two ways. That he was enjoying her assertive yet bratty attitude, or he was warning her to tread lightly. She suspected Kevin was already on tender toes, and Keith knew her attitude could ignite an explosion of epic proportions.

Well, that’s what the intel she had gathered on the two men had revealed. In their ménage relationship, Kevin was the one who charged head-first into battles and had a short temper to go with it. Keith was the calm one who brought balance to their relationship.

“Maybe we should cut her some slack. I have a suspicion she’s new to the South and doesn’t know how things are done around here.” Keith’s explanation elicited a disgruntled growl from his brother. One that made Aria’s toes curl since she had heard a very similar sound a few times that night at the club... whenever he was in the throes of sexual euphoria.

“So, Ms. Harper. Are we going to air our dirty laundry in full view of your employees, or are you going to invite us into your home?”

This time, Aria had no alternative but to look at Kevin since the warning notes thrilled darkly in his voice that he didn’t appreciate being ignored. She had a feeling he wouldn’t hesitate to take certain, and she was sure painful, measures to correct her attitude.

“You’re mine now, Babygirl. Mine and Keith’s. I suggest you don’t ever forget that.”

The words he had murmured when he had first taken possession of her body suddenly flashed through her mind—as fate would have it, at the same time, their eyes met. The grin slowly breaking through the darkness clouding his face was testimony that he had once again read her mind. Like so many times that night, her cheeks exploded with red spots.

The Doms during training had been formidable but didn’t come close to the power of Daddy Kevin. Why this man had the knack to make her feel like a little schoolgirl irritated the hell out of her but at the same time, it excited her beyond measure.

“Since you insist,” she said with clenched teeth.

“We do,” Keith stated firmly, his voice sounding ominous.

“Very well.” With her nose angled at a haughty pitch, she spun around, uncaring that she showed her vexation to everyone watching. She had managed to avoid the confrontation of Kevin’s claim that she now belonged to them by leaving before they woke that night, purely because she wanted to be in control of the discussion. Now, once again, they had boycotted her resolve to be the one leading the direction of the relationship she was forced into so she could fulfill her mission.

Nothing had gone as planned since she had set foot inside Club Rogue. For one, she had miscalculated the effect the two men would have on her libido, not to mention her inability to keep the lust contained that sparked to life deep inside her every time they were near.

Aria marched up the winding brick pathway with her nose pointed high in indignation. The click of her boots on the pavement announced her ire to the onlookers. She headed for the sprawling two-story Southern plantation-style house that loomed at the end of the walkway. The grand white pillars supporting the second-floor balcony seemed to stand at attention, framed by two massive oak trees that stood like solemn sentinels.

As she passed by, she glanced sideways at the immaculate gardens surrounding the house. Carefully trimmed rose bushes in full crimson bloom lined the edges, accented by bursts of colorful wildflowers. In the center, a marble fountain trickled a tranquil melody, the cherub statue in the middle, poised as if playfully sprinkling the lily pads floating on the water’s surface. It was a beautiful, artful scene, but Aria was too preoccupied with the two men on her heels to appreciate the idyllic setting.

As she led them into the house, it was becoming increasingly difficult to remember they were her enemies, not her lovers arriving for a hot, sexual tryst. Unnerved at the direction of her thoughts, she stood fidgeting with her fingers as they entered the study through the patio door. The room was decorated in rich, earthy tones that gave it a warm, rustic feel. Heavy maple wood furniture with intricate carvings filled the space. A large desk sat in front of a huge bay window overlooking the mountains, the glass letting in ample natural light. Plush brown leather chairs and a sofa were arranged around a massive stone fireplace.

The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookcases crafted from the same maple wood as the furniture. They were filled to overflowing with books of all sizes, their aged spines a rainbow of colors. Soft curtains in a deep forest green hue framed the windows, complementing the dark wood and brick of the fireplace. Although the overall effect was one of masculine comfort and sanctuary, Aria loved the room. It was here that her uncle had spent most of his time planning and executing his dream at a successful trail guest farm.

As she stood nervously fidgeting, the tranquil setting did little to calm Aria’s unsettled mind. She continued to wrestle with her conflicted thoughts, the cozy study offering no distraction from her racing mind.

“So, do your worst,” she snapped as she caught Kevin’s censoring look.

Ignoring her, he sat down in an oversized leather chair and stretched out his legs. The action was deliberate, as if he was preparing himself for something he was expecting to enjoy.

“I’m curious, Babygirl,” his voice deepened to a Southern drawl. “You have clearly been trained in BDSM, but you’re not an experienced submissive, so tell me, when you think of a Dominant, what is it that you expect him to be.” He gestured between him and Keith. “Us to be?”

“Strict, demanding, caring...” she hesitated briefly, then motored on, “And shit scary.”

Their laughter boomed through the room, startling her. She stared at them wide-eyed. Keith wasn’t that much of a surprise since he was always smiling, but watching Kevin’s face took her breath away. His laughter completely transformed his typically austere face. His usual furrowed brow smoothed out, and his firm mouth curled upward into an open, joyful smile. His eyes crinkled at the corners as his expression softened. It was as if years of weight had lifted from his shoulders as he let out an infectious, booming laugh.

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