Page 7 of Eye of Her Storm

“Oh, baby,” Tai whispered. Then his mouth was on hers. Seth held them both as his lover and the woman they both wanted joined in a kiss, giving comfort to one another. He just embraced them, leaning his head against their foreheads, absorbing the closeness. He needed her to say yes.

When Tai let her up for air a few moments later, she turned toward Seth, her mouth gravitating to his as naturally as if the three of them had been sharing this intimacy for years. Despite her constant running, there had been a few kisses before this one. None as tender.

She opened to him, and he explored her, sliding his tongue along hers and sinking into the realization that she was theirs, finally theirs. He moaned in pure relief at having her in his arms. Finally, finally, finally. The word rumbled over and over through his thoughts. He cupped the back of her head with his hand as he kissed her, ever cognizant of what she’d just shared and worrying about hurting her.

Tai’s fingers rubbed up and down his back then he felt Tai’s mouth on his neck. Tai shook slightly with hidden emotions, and Seth knew he’d be holding the big, strong man later, just absorbing his sorrow and impotent rage. They’d get it out of their systems, scream to the night if they needed to, and tomorrow, they’d start taking care of River. She was moving in. No questions.

Chapter Two

Blood spattered the black-leather surface of the heavy punching bag and sprayed across the back of Tai’s right hand as he struck again and again. His left knuckles fared no better, but he didn’t feel the pain as he drove his fists forward. Fury, frustration and pure terror fueled him.

Brain tumor.

No hope.

Inoperable.

Death.

His eyes burned, and his jaw clenched as the news assaulted him again. So long…he’d wanted her for so long. They’d played a cat-and-mouse game the past four years. He and Seth had chased, and River had evaded. She wasn’t trying to evade them now.

While he and Seth had listened aghast, she’d lain out the news she’d gotten from her doctors in Gillette. She had a brain tumor, but it wasn’t cancer. He’d thought at first that was good news. It wasn’t cancer, thank God. But no. No, it wasn’t good news. The location made it impossible to remove. It would kill River in three months.

His fists slammed into the leather again as his vision blurred. A sob ripped from him as he fell forward, sagging into the solid bag, his arms going around it as he dropped to his knees.

No… This wasn’t happening.

“Tai?” Seth called, concern evident in his tone. He stilled at the upstairs doorway then Tai heard him start down the wooden steps, the sound echoing off the cement walls. Tai hastily sat back to rest on his heels. With his back to the stairs, he wiped at his damp cheeks then realized too late that all he’d managed to do was smear blood across the wet skin.

“Yeah?”

He heard his lover pause a few paces from the landing. Seth saw him now. Tai heard Seth’s sharp intake of breath. A soft groan.

“Tai,” Seth murmured. “Oh, babe…”

“She’s fucking dying. She’s fucking dying, and there’s nothing we can do about it. We’re going to lose her.”

“We never had her—”

“Yes, we did. God damn it! She might not have slept in our bed, but she’s ours and we’re hers. She’s knows it. We know it—at least, I do. Why else would she come to us? Because we’re hers. God…damn it!” Blind rage had him surging to his feet, and his damaged fists plowed into the punching bag again.

“Jesus! Tai! Stop!” Seth begged, coming close. A fine mist of blood peppered his white T-shirt, but Tai didn’t care. Seth shouldn’t stand so close if he didn’t want to be a part of the result.

“How the hell are you so calm?” Tai growled.

“Calm? You think I’m calm?” Seth demanded.

They’d held each other for hours tonight before Seth had finally dropped into a fitful sleep, but Tai had been too agitated and slipped from bed to come down here. Neither of them were calm.

“No,” he admitted. “I don’t think that. I’m just…” He slapped his palm against the bag. “God damn it, Seth! I’ve never felt so helpless.”

“I know.” Seth cupped his cheek. “I know, babe.” His hand slid down to Tai’s shoulder then to his wrist. Gently, he pulled Tai toward the stairs and away from the punching bag. “Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll clean up these knuckles. Then we’ll talk about a plan.”

“A plan?” Tai scoffed. “We’re supposed to plan death?”

“Stop it!” Seth exclaimed. “We’re planning life. How we’re going to live with her, love her—”

Tai gasped as a sob ripped up his throat. “I can’t… God, Seth, I can’t. How are we supposed to do this?”

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