Page 31 of Broken (Powertools: The Shields 4)

Neither did Ace’s fully erect cock, which strained at the zipper of his jeans and brushed against her lower back as he edged up behind her. Sandwiched between two of the more powerful men she’d ever met, she might have been afraid, especially after what she’d so recently gone through.

Instead, she felt sheltered.

“Don’t worry, Ace. I’m not going to leave you hanging like he does—physically or emotionally.” Ruby reached behind her and cupped the prominent bulge there, making him groan. “I know I’m dorky as hell and you two are studs, but this doesn’t lie. You want me and I’m not going to get in my head about it anymore.”

She squeezed him, wringing a moan from him. And causing herself to wonder what the hell had gotten into her. Liam was partially right—her internal systems were still going bonkers after her near-death experience—but it was more than that. It was about finally being honest and unleashing the part of her that wished she’d been brave enough to do exactly this for the past several months.

“I’m into this. You’re definitely into it. And so is Liam, even if he’s still trying to pretend otherwise.” Ruby sneered at him, refusing to pull her punches anymore.

“I’m not—”

“You are.” Ace backed her up, inspiring her to rub his cock through his pants as a reward. “Sometimes you’ll give in long enough to get us off, but that’s it. And that’s not going to cut it anymore. I want something more than orgasms, even damn good ones.”

Ruby looked over her shoulder and smiled up at him, promising she was going to give him everything he desired. “I’ve got you, Ace.”

He rested his cheek on the top of her head for a moment, hugging her from behind. But when she expected Liam to say something…anything…he only stared hungrily at them instead.

“For a while there, I thought Ace was the one who was broken. He’s not. It’s you, Liam.” Ruby snuggled against Ace’s side, loving when his arm—scars and all—looped around her shoulders and tucked her tight to him as if she belonged there. Because she was starting to believe she might.

“You know I don’t have a lot of patience to begin with, and I’m running short. So are you in or out?” Ace asked his lover, or was it about to be his ex?

No, Ruby wasn’t about to let Liam ruin the best thing in both of their lives.

“You’re fucking in, you hypocrite.” She scowled at him. “You keep saying you don’t want to hurt us, but what the hell do you think you’re doing? If not to me, then to Ace?”

Ace jerked and stared at her with wide eyes as if he never expected it would beherprotectinghim, but there she was, standing up to Liam even though he was easily twice her size.

Liam’s jaw hung open. No sound came out so she kept pushing.

“Of all the places in the world for us to be, one of the safest is in your bed.” Ruby took a step toward him, her hand snagging Ace’s and dragging him with her as she stalked Liam. “There, only you have the power to wound us. So don’t. Just don’t.”

His eyes flashed. “You sound like JRad.”

“Not surprising.” She shrugged. “I learned a lot from him. About computers, and also relationships. Spending time around him and Lily is…enlightening.”

“Kind of like living here.” Liam stared up at the ceiling and sighed. “We’re surrounded by relationship experts. It isn’t that easy for me. It freaks me out. Thinking of losing you.”

“If you never claim us, then you’re already going without,” Ruby said as gently as she could when the urge to shake him bubbled within her.

Ace cleared his throat. “Stop holding back, Liam. Unless you think we can’t take it.”

Liam’s pupils dilated and the noise that rumbled from his chest was as close to a growl as she’d ever heard from a man. Ace was antagonizing him and it was going to work.

Ruby curled the fingers of her free hand in the waistband of Liam’s jeans. She intended to drag him with them if necessary, the hunger in his stare and his matching bulge to Ace’s making it plain that he wanted to get naked as much as they did. Maybe more.

Instead, he clasped her hand in his much larger one. “You’re sure this is what you want? I’m not cute and cuddly like Ace.”

Ruby feigned shock. “No kidding. You’ve got much more in common with a grumpy grizzly than a teddy bear. Bring it on.”

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