Page 45 of Playing with Desire

“Either of you feel like you might have any broken ribs?” she asked, having witnessed a few blows to their midsections during their altercation.

“No, they’re just sore,” Rick replied.

“Same,” Declan agreed.

“You’re both going to have bruises along with all those cuts and scrapes on your face,” she said, turning her attention to Declan, who was leaning back in his chair, his damp T-shirt detailing his defined chest and strong, muscled abs.

The urge to slip her hand beneath the hem to touch all that hard, heated flesh was strong, and she had to force her gaze back up to his face. Ignoring the awareness humming through her body, she stepped between his spread legs and examined his various lacerations with a light touch of the antiseptic pad.

“It won’t be the first time we’ve walked around looking like we were in a cage fight,” Rick joked from behind her.

Summer pursed her lips and shook her head as she put ointment, then a butterfly Band-Aid on the laceration slashing across Declan’s brow. “There are better and more nonviolent ways to settle differences.”

“But they aren’t quite as satisfying as planting our fists into each other’s faces.”

“It’s true,” Declan said, his voice a low, husky rumble, making Summer realize how close her breasts were to his eye level. “Seeing his swollen lip and that bruise showing up right below his eye makes meverysatisfied.”

There were no apologies for what they’d just done to one another, but clearly all that aggression had served its purpose to release all that built-up testosterone between them. They were both calmer now, less uptight—especially Declan—and she hoped the truce lasted.

Rick grew more serious. “Now that Declan and I have cleared the air, you both need to figure out where things stand between the two of you.”

Summer put the first-aid supplies back into the box they came in, unsure what there was to figure out when it came to her and Declan. It wasn’t as though Declan had returned having changed his mind about wanting her, and that knowledge hurt to the depths of her soul. He’d returned because he was being forced to make a decision about his career and future, which, unfortunately, had nothing to do with her.

“We can’t all keep coexisting like this,” Rick added.

She exhaled a deep breath and absently smoothed a palm down the front of her dress. “I agree, and hopefully I’ll be out of the house soon. I have an appointment with a leasing agent for an available apartment tomorrow during my lunch hour. If I like the place, I’ll put down a deposit and schedule to move in this weekend.”

Even though the tension had eased, Summer still felt responsible for pushing both men to the breaking point over her, and she gave them each a quick, meaningful look. “All this anger and hostility has to stop,” she said, hearing the plea in her own voice. “I don’t want to be the one to come between the two of you. You’re all each other has as family, and you two maintaining your relationship is more important than fighting over me.”

“You won’t come between us,” Rick promised as he slowly stood up, then moved behind Summer.

Confusion wove through her as Rick put his hands on her shoulders and turned her so that she and Declan were face-to-face and only a foot apart, with him still sitting in his chair. Declan looked equally wary, both of them unsure of what his stepbrother was attempting to do.

“I know where you stand with me,” Rick murmured, leaning in close so his lips were near her ear, his voice making her shiver. “You’ve made your feelings for each of us very clear, and I respect your choice. I think Declan needs to realize and accept where you stand withhim.”

Despite anything that might have happened with Rick, her choice was, and always would be, Declan. She just wasn’t sure if those soul-deep feelings were reciprocated by the man in front of her.

Summer sucked in a startled breath as Rick unzipped her dress, then slid his hands inside the fabric to push it off her shoulders. She quickly pressed her hands to her chest, catching the garment before it could fall to the ground. “What are you doing?” she asked, slightly panicked, while Declan narrowed his gaze at Rick in a way that made her worry another brawl was about to ensue.

“I’m giving you to who you belong to,” Rick said simply. “I’m letting Declan know exactly where you stand with him, and it’s up to him if he’s going to take everything you’re offering.”

She swallowed hard, knowing she couldn’t give Declan her body without her heart and love being a part of the package, too. In front of her, she dared to meet Declan’s gaze. His jaw was clenched tight, not with anger but an undeniable desire that made her sex throb and ache for him in response. She was relieved that he at least still wanted her physically.

“If this isn’t what you want, use your safe word,” Rick said in a more demanding tone. “Otherwise, let go of your dress and show Declan what’s his.”

This time, there was no hesitation as she dropped her arms back to her sides, allowing Rick to finish pushing the garment down the length of her body until it pooled around her feet. Then he unclipped her lacy bra from behind, and she let that fall, too, baring her full breasts to Declan’s dark, heated gaze.

He groaned deep in his throat, his fingers curling into fists on his jean-clad thighs as he held on to his self-control and restraint.

“She’s yours,” Rick said to Declan, moving away from Summer. “She always was. Don’t be a fucking idiot a second time around.”

Then Rick walked out of the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone, making it clear that he was bowing out. Relinquishing her to Declan. But Summer’s biggest fear was that he’d reject everything she was offering.

Since Declan hadn’t moved, Summer took a tentative step forward, situating herself in the wide gap between his spread thighs. Gently, she glided her fingers along his jaw so as not to hurt him more than he already was. “Do you want me to stay or go?” Her voice trembled with how exposed she was feeling emotionally.

“You’re staying right here with me,” he said in that possessive way she loved. “Where you belong.”

She wasn’t sure if they were just words spoken in the heat of the moment, but they made her heart soar, anyway. She watched him pull his shirt over his head and toss it aside, then he sat up straight on the chair and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her even closer. Without warning, he latched on to one of her nipples, pulling the sensitive tip hard and deep into his mouth. Moaning softly, she threaded her fingers though his hair, her back arching as he bit one achingly tight nipple, then the other. He soothed the sting with a sensual swirl of his soft tongue before doing it all over again.

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