Burke stepped up. His brother might be the better tracker and better with weapons, but he was going to screw up the computer. “Give me that. ”
Cole seemed damn happy to defer. He stared at Burke for a moment, sharing the link that bonded them together. His brother was happy that Jessa was no longer spitting and fuming. Burke nodded, but wasn’t so sure that their little kitten had quite put her claws away yet.
“Get some sleep, you two. Well, Jessa, you get some sleep. The faster you drop off, the faster Cole can slink into bed. ”
“I hate you both. ” But she was shaking her head as she crawled under the covers. “Just get in, Cole. But stay on your side. ”
Burke had never seen his brother move so fast. Cole shrugged out of his jacket, pulled off his shoes, and had his hand on the fly of his jeans.
“Don’t you dare. The pants stay on. ” Jessa settled in and turned out the light on her side of the bed.
Cole sighed, but didn’t remove his jeans before he climbed into bed.
Burke turned back to his work, his mind on the last time he’d been in a hotel room with Jessa. New Year’s Eve. The night he was pretty sure Caleb had been conceived.
* * * *
One year earlier, New Year’s Eve – New York City
Burke watched as Jessa walked through the door, her breasts practically falling out of the little black dress she’d poured herself into. She walked into their suite and sank down on the couch, a seductive little smile on her face.
She was so fucking gorgeous. He felt his brother step in next to him. Desire practically poured off Cole.
How did she do this to them? They’d been with her for a week. They had been sleeping with her for four days. Despite their misgivings over this terrible case, they hadn’t been able to stay away from her. They were addicted. They’d tried to lay low, spending most of their time in the suite, in their bed, inside her.
“I know we’ve talked about going to Times Square,” Jessa said, crossing her legs slowly.
That wasn’t a good idea. And it certainly wasn’t what Burke wanted to do. “We talked about it. We didn’t agree to it. It’s going to be very crowded. ”
“I know. I think I had enough crowds at dinner tonight. ”
Thank god. Burke could feel Cole relax a little. He hated big crowds, hated not being able to watch his back. “We can watch it on TV or go down to the bar, if you like. ”
She shook her head. “I don’t like. I thought we could…experiment. ”
Burke’s cock jerked in his slacks. They had taken Jessa over and over, but they hadn’t taken her together yet. They had spent nights preparing her, working fingers and plugs high into her perfect ass, forcing her to take more and more. “Be very explicit, sweetheart. ”
She grinned saucily. “You two perverts love it when I talk dirty. ”
“Yes. And I want you to talk dirty now,” Cole said, expressing exactly what Burke wanted. “Say it. Tell me every little detail, or you might not get what you want. ”
Her nose wrinkled up, a sweet little expression. “You make things so hard, Cole. It would be so much easier if you’d just pounce and do nasty things to me. ”
Cole shook his head. “But I need to know exactly what you want so I can give it to you. ”
Burke patted his brother’s back. That wasn’t exactly true. Cole feared his own tendencies. Jessa could give Cole what he needed most: Permission. His brother never simply took what he wanted. He snarled with and fought his nature to conquer, to bring a woman to her knees. Cole didn’t want to hurt, but he craved the consent to let loose his inner restraints and utterly possess. And Burke himself simply needed to be wanted for something other than his cock, body, and smile.
Jessa cocked her head. “No, you need me to tell you that I want to be dominated. Isn’t that right?”
With a faint smile, Burke wondered how Jessa could, despite her relative inexperience, be so intuitive, so wise. But he was so damn glad she was. She was everything they needed.
She leaned forward, taking Cole’s hands—and giving them both a great view down her dress. “I want you to dominate me, Cole. And Burke, baby, I want you to be the loving, indulgent man you are. I want you both. I want the possessive caveman and the tender seducer. I want the whole package, especially since you come in two gorgeous bodies. I want you together and apart, and every way you’ll have me. ”
Tears swam in her green eyes, glistened on her cheeks.
A melee of emotion surged and swarmed. It overflowed inside Burke. Fuck, he loved her. Absolutely loved her. The sentiment had never made sense before. Love had been elusive, something written about, but it had never meant anything. He understood now. Love was this ridiculous feeling of acceptance and hope and security. This was his family. These were the people he would grow old with, count on, build a life with.
“I’ll have you every way you’ll let me, sweetheart. ” Burke was caught between his raging hard-on and his soft fucking heart. The rest of the world was a piece of shit, but Jessa…oh, Jessa made it all worthwhile.