Page 4 of Double Take

He braces his hands on his hips. “You’re acting like she’s your property.”

“She’s–”

“Pretty as fuck and has the most gorgeous eyes and mouth I’ve ever seen.”

My hands ball into fists. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation, but I’m not about to let him run her off. “Stop it. Think with the head on your shoulders for once. She’s skittish. Clearly, something or someone,” my short nails dig into my palms, “has made her doubt herself. Whenever the phone rings, she jumps like someone’s coming after her. When I ask her how things are going, she stumbles all over herself as if she’s afraid I’m going to chastise her for not catching on quick enough.” I forcefully relax my body and rake a hand through my hair. “When I called her in just now, I think she thought I would fire her for leaving the coffee pot on too long.”

He shakes his head as fury fills his eyes. “I noticed the same thing the other day. She’s nervous. Always looking over her shoulder and startling at everything. I’ll never understand why men treat women like trash. If they don’t want to be with someone, move on. There’s no need to torture them.” As if he realizes what he said, the muscles in his jaw flex. “And if someone is after her, I’ll take care of him and make sure she’s safe.”

“I’ll take care of it. She works for me, so she is my responsibility.” I pace between my desk and the window. Trying to imagine what has happened to make her so insecure has kept me up one too many nights the last couple of weeks. Or maybe it’s because I’m obsessed with having those long legs wrapped around my waist that makes me feel like a caged animal.

“Dude.” Oliver grabs my shoulder and spins me around. “It’s my turn.”

Since high school, we’ve switched off dating women we were interested in as we’re both attracted to the same traits and physical attributes. It’s a curse we’ve learned to live with.

Because as much as we’d love to share the same woman, mentioning that topic outside of a sex club has the girl running away faster than a cheetah chasing an antelope. The only time we had any success was with Amber during our senior year of high school. But she ditched us both to keep from being labeled a freak.

What’s the big deal about twins sharing? Clearly, when it’s something outside of a T-shirt, people get squeamish.

“The fuck if it is.” My teeth gnash together so hard I’m shocked when they don’t disintegrate.

“Yes, it is. You dated Michelle last.”

“Dude.” I shake my head. “That was you. You took Michelle out on a date, remember?”

“No, I didn’t.” He frowns, and his face falls. “Shit. I did. It’s been so long ago I forgot she was my date to that charity function. How long ago was that?”

“Probably four years ago.” I roll my shoulders backward to ease the tension slicing through my back. Neither of us has dated anyone since our half-sister Sage started dating her husband, Jace.

Once we saw our sister in love, it was hard to pretend we’d ever be happy without sharing a woman. When one of us would date someone, the other would feel left out, and the woman could never accept that we were so close. She’d get jealous of the time we spent together, demanding more for herself, and then, it would end.

Michelle couldn’t stand Sage or me. Family is number one for us, and if a woman can’t appreciate that, she’s not the right fit. So, we’re stuck with the club to scratch a momentary itch. “It’s my turn, but I’m not dating Rylee. She’s my responsibility to protect and treat with–”

“If you’re not asking her out, that makes her free game.” He rotates on his heel as if he thinks I’ll let him out of my office to ask her out. The fuck if I am.

I grab his shoulder. “If you step one foot in that room to ask her out, I’m going to shove my hand through your face.”

“Easy.” His eyes dance with laughter. He loves getting a rise out of me, but just as quickly, his face falls. “What if we tried one last time?”

I swallow hard over the lump in my throat as heat rises up my body until it covers my face. “Rylee is too scared for something like that.”

“I didn’t mean we should bring it up today.” He shrugs. “But if we make her feel at ease and help her through her issues, maybe she’d be open to it.”

Now that the threat is over that he’s going to barge into Rylee’s office like a bull in a China shop, I trudge back to my chair and flop onto my seat. “Like that’s going to happen.”

“There are women out there who are into polyamorous relationships. They enjoy being shared and appreciate the attention of two men. Rylee has clearly been emotionally if not physically and sexually abused, so….” Bile rises in my throat as he speaks. I don’t want to think about what she’s been through, but it’s useless to pretend her life has been sunshine and roses. “She deserves a man who treats her with respect, shows her that she’s worthy of love, helps her through any trauma she’s endured, and keeps her safe if anyone’s looking for her. And what’s wrong with that being the two of us?” Oliver takes the seat across from me.

Could Rylee be interested in a non-traditional relationship? She’s gorgeous and has no idea what pull she has over men with her perfect curves and gentle, warm spirit. I would love to discover the repressed vixen deep inside of her because the last man she was with clearly didn’t know what he had, or he was threatened by her potential and convinced her that she was worthless to keep her from spreading her wings.

What if we could help her reclaim her strength, and she was open to being shared? Adrenaline surges through me, leaving me feeling anxious and excited. But it’s just as likely she’ll run off at the first hint of attraction as she did when Oliver waltzed into the room like a lone man in a women’s prison. Not to mention, if she finds her confidence again, that doesn’t mean she’d stick around with either of us, let alone both of us. That’s about as likely to happen as being struck twice by lightning.

What if she chose one of us and refused to be shared? Could I handle that?

Fuck no. If she chose Oliver over me, I’d lose my shit.

The room spins. What in the fuck? Am I willing to choose a woman over my brother? Pressure builds on my shoulders as reality sets in. Ten minutes ago, I wanted to protect her, but that was only half of it. Sometime during her brief stay, I’ve become intrigued and borderline obsessed with her.

“I don’t think sharing is…. Never mind.” I stab my thumb and index finger into the corners of my eyes and rub to ease the tension brewing in my brain. “Let me think about it. But no matter what, she deserves to be kept safe and appreciated. Let’s focus on that. We need to figure out what she’s running from. Or who. And keep her safe so she has room to discover what she wants.”

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