Page 230 of Mountain Men Heroes

“Let’s get you fed.” Dyson stood and pulled me along with him. “We can definitely table this for now.”

They led me to the kitchen and we ate pizza, mostly in silence. Once my belly was full, all I could think of was going to bed. To sleep.

“Um, guys. I think maybe there’s something we should talk about tonight.” I looked back and forth between them. Even as tired as I was, I could feel heat building in my core as I thought of sliding into bed with them again. But I didn’t think I had much energy left in me. “I, um, know this morning, we kind of talked about picking things up where we left off. Tonight. I mean, before you left. You guys are expecting…”

“Clara,” Dyson broke into my babbling. He stood from the table and leaned down to rub his nose along my temple before pressing a kiss there. “Your first time isn’t going to be rushed. And it isn’t going to happen when you’re too tired to keep your eyes open.”

I blinked up at him and raised a hand to stroke along his jaw. “Thank you.”

He took my hand and kissed my palm. “Don’t ever thank us for caring for you. Now, why don’t you let us clean this up and you go get ready for bed.”

I kissed him softly and then got up and moved around to Eeli’s chair. I gave him the same soft kiss, smiled at my guys and headed to bed, looking forward to sleeping cradled in their arms again.

I don’t know how long it took for them to join me because, by the time they got there, I was already fast asleep.

Eleven

Clara

Ididn’t get to wake up cradled in the warm safety of Eeli and Dyson’s arms. Instead I jolted awake in an instant. Odd noises hit my ears and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Trying to get my bearings in the darkness, I sat up straight.

“No!” The scream sent me scrambling for the side of the bed at the same time Eeli sat up straight and started reaching out. My movements were impeded by Dyson at my back.

That didn’t last long. In the next second, Dyson grasped my upper arms, pulled me up and all but flung me out of the bed.

I landed hard on my ass. “What…?”

A small lamp someone left on allowed me to see Dyson lunge toward Eeli, ducking at the same time Eeli lashed out with a powerful fist. Dyson’s shoulder caught Eeli in the middle and tackled him down to the bed. He pinned him there.

“Wake up, Eeli. You’re safe. Wake up.” Dyson shook him slightly without letting him go.

Eeli woke up fighting. I could see the glow of rage in his eyes.

“You’re safe. You’re home, Eeli. It’s me, Dyson.”

At the sound of Dyson’s name, Eeli froze, his body arched mid-buck. All the fight went out of him and he sank back into the mattress. Dyson stared down at him for another minute, assessing him, before moving off him and right off the bed.

He crouched down next to me. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to be so rough. Are you okay?”

Eeli knifed up in the bed. “Clara? Oh, shit. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

The panic in his voice did what nothing else I witnessed did—spurred me to action. I sprang up from my spot sprawled on the floor. “I’m okay. I’m fine.”

I passed my hand over Dyson’s shoulder, offering quick comfort before I crawled across the bed to Eeli. I didn’t hesitate when I got to him. I crawled straight into his lap and wrapped myself around him. I could feel him trembling under me.

He closed his arms tightly around me. “You’re sure? I didn’t hurt you?”

“Shh.” I ran my hands up and down his back, soothing him as best I could. “I’m fine. You startled me, but no damage was done.”

He squeezed harder for a second and his breath came from him raggedly. “Thank God.”

I don’t know how long I stayed in his arms before Dyson came over and rubbed his hand over my back. “It’s late, sweetheart. I think we could all use some more sleep.”

I pressed my face into Eeli’s neck and pressed kisses along his jawline. “You okay, now?”

He nodded.

I eased myself back and he allowed his arms to slacken as I slid to the spot beside him that I was already coming to think of as mine. I looked up at Dyson. “You, too. You need more sleep.”

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