Page 7 of Broken (Powertools: The Shields 4)

Ruby didn’t mean to, but she mirrored his utterance in a much softer, reflexive echo.

The men froze, then broke apart.

Ace scrambled off Liam so fast he would have crashed to the floor if Liam hadn’t had his hands still in the vicinity of Ace’s trim waist to steady him.

“We can’t do this. Not withherhere,” Liam whisper-shouted to Ace.

Ace went still and deflated like one of those wobbly signs in front of a car dealership when the wind died. Was Liam ashamed of what they did together? Was that why they kept things strictly behind closed doors…? Well, up against the wall between their apartments. Or were they granting her some sort of professional courtesy?

If it was the latter, Ruby would have assured them she didn’t mind their show in the least.

“I need to hit the shower before bed.” Liam’s voice was rough as he ran his hands through his hair. Even his brisk rubs couldn’t entirely put the medium-length top, which faded into shaved sides, back in order after Ace had mauled it. His gilt hair twinkled in the glow from the under-cabinet lights in the kitchen beyond. Sure, they’d been sparring in the gym before they’d found her in crisis earlier, but Ruby would bet money Liam’s primary objective had more to do with his impressive hard-on than cleaning himself. That massive bulge in his shortshadto ache.

“Go ahead.” Ace nodded. “I can hold down the fort for ten minutes.”

“Of course you can.” Liam didn’t argue. “When I’m done, I’m going to crash. Alone. In my room. Work out the rest with our guest, huh? It’d be better if you let her have your bed, so there’s another layer of insulation between her and the front door or the windows.” Liam attempted a smile, but it was nearly as strained as his voice…and his shorts.

Ruby wondered if they were embarrassed by what they shared. She sure as fuck wasn’t. It was something darker that washed over her as she replayed their kiss in her head for what she was sure would be the first of a million times.

Ruby tried not to let the swirls of envy erase her genuine happiness for the guys. No matter what Sola, Kennedy, and Laurel kept telling her, these two didn’t need—or want—anyone else. Those sparks of attraction she’d imagined she’d felt from time to time were nothing compared to the blaze they’d ignited in each other moments earlier. After seeing firsthand the passion between them, Ruby was certain they were enough for each other.

So why did they seem so twisted up about it? And why weren’t they more open with the team about their relationship? It wasn’t like anyone kept their private life to themselves around the place.

Hell, half the times she went to use the pool or hot tub or steam room she waltzed in on some porn-worthy activities. Kennedy, Sola, and Laurel were constantly comparing notes on their newfound threesomes and James—well, shit—that man had stories about orgies with his old Powertools crew and their wives that she wouldn’t believe if they’d come from anyone else. Even Jordan had been known to take a break from boss-man mode when his wife Wren and husband Kason were around.

Ruby let her eyes close again as she wondered if she’d ever find someone who looked at her like the people she was surrounded with daily looked at their lovers.

“Hey.” Ace startled her when he cupped her shoulder and shook her gently. “Sorry to wake you, but Liam and I think it’s best if you sleep in my room.”

“Oh. Uh, ’kay.” She didn’t have to fake the rasp in her voice. Except it came from being turned on, not being asleep. Before she could untangle herself from the blanket, Ace’s arms scooped her up from the couch and cradled her against his chest. “So different.”

“Huh?” he wondered as he carried her effortlessly to his room. Her mind went wild imagining it was for far different reasons.

“Than Liam.” She nuzzled her face against his neck shamelessly, hoping to dull some of the sting of his roommate’s rejection.

“Oh, yeah. I’m bony and scrawny compared to him.”

She laughed. “Not how I would have described you. Am I hurting your arm?”

“It’s fine.” He didn’t answer her directly, nor did he set her down until it was on top of his mattress, which put the couch to shame in the comfort category. She felt like she was nestling into a cloud and she never wanted to leave.

Ruby stretched like a cat, rubbing herself on every bit of his bedding in the process. Oops.

“You want me to run over to your place and get you some stuff?” Ace asked. “I mean, not that pajamas are required here, feel free to sleep naked if that’s your thing, but I’ll go get them if you want.”

Ruby laughed. As if she’d strip down in front of these two and their bazillion abs. “Thanks. I usually sleep in only a T-shirt, so this is fine, but my toothbrush would be great, and, uh…”

“What?” He dusted a stray hair from her face.

“My emoji pillow and stuffies. I can’t sleep without them.” She figured her cheeks were as red as her hair at that point, but really, was it any surprise to them that she was a massive dork? “The poop one seems especially appropriate tonight.”

He laughed. “You got it. I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable…in my bed, I mean.”

“Are you sure this is okay?” Ruby double-checked, not because she didn’t want to burrow into his pillows and fall asleep surrounded by that leather-and-spice smell that had lulled her earlier, but because he had to be ragged inside still from Liam shoving him away so fast.

“Yeah, of course.” He nodded. “Liam called it. It’s best if there’s another barrier between you and any access into the building. Feel free to lock yourself in even.”

“You’re not planning on joining me?”

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