Page 44 of Shielding Lexi (Temptation)

Lexi reaches out a hand and brushes the soft leaves as we slowly make our way toward a small cottage at the end of the path.

“Is this the place?” she asks, her voice shaking. I can’t tell without seeing her face if she’s happy or if she’s disappointed. The house does look pretty small.

“This is the place,” I say, parking the bike in front of a green and white house that sets on top of a hill. From where we’re parked it doesn’t look like much and a streak of panic rushes through me. This isn’t what I wanted for Lexi. I want her to have a mansion by the ocean, with a pool and servants.

She climbs off the bike and rushes up the hill toward the house like a school girl finally freed for summer vacation.

Maybe this means she likes it?

I follow behind slowly as the guys pull in behind us, both their faces as underwhelmed as mine.

“What the hell? How does Prez think we’re going to fit four adults in this place?”

I shrug and meet Lexi at the top of the hill, her eyes wide as she twists back toward us, the open ocean in the distance behind her.

“This is my dream!” she says, bouncing into my arms. “It’s perfect, and look… we even have our own fruit trees!” She lets go and darts toward a mango tree that’s heavy with yellow and green pods.

Kane, Hawk, and I look at each other with surprising suspicion as we make our way toward the door. She can’t actually like this place. It’s awful.

“The place does have a nice view,” Hawk says, opening the front door. It was his bike that had the house key attached to it.

The second the door opens, a rich flowery scent takes over. We wander the space, taking note of how immaculate and modern it is. There’re white tile floors, exposed wood beams, and a modern stainless-steel kitchen with marble island and countertops. There’s a living room with a big screen TV and large picture windows that frame the incredible view of the ocean and sugar field. It’s like our clubhouse: shabby on the surface to hide what lies inside. I tip my hat to the Prez. He really thinks of everything.

“Looks like three bedrooms,” Hawk says, wandering back up from the hallway.

“That’s okay, the two of you can bunk,” I say with a laugh.

Hawk and Kane give me eyes, but Lexi smiles. “I’ll share a room with all of you.”

“Like what, we all get a snuggle night?” I ask, feeling an ache in my arms for her body against mine.

“I call first night,” Hawk says, pulling her into his chest playfully. I shouldn’t be jealous, I know we all make her happy in different ways, but I am. I’m jealous of his hands on her hips, I’m jealous of the smile she’s giving to him, I’m jealous of the way she falls helplessly in his arms.

“Nope,” I say, taking her from Hawk as I sling her small body up and over my shoulder and walk toward the bedroom. “I get her first night. Case closed.”

No one says anything. I suppose they think I’m fucking around, but I’m not. Having her with all of them was great but having her alone is something they’ve already experienced. It is my turn.

Laying her down on the bed, I crawl on top of her, her bright eyes looking up at me with anticipation.

“You’re really fucking beautiful,” I say, kissing her neck softly. She still tastes like salt, now tinged with a bit of lavender from the body wash on the boat. “I could spend every day just looking at you.”

“Nothing else?” she says with a smile. “Just staring… sounds pretty boring.”

“It would be,” I say, kissing her soft lips, “with anyone else.”

“Hey, no fun without us,” Hawk says, helping himself into the room that I’d forgotten to close the door on.

He lays down beside her and brushes her hair back, kissing her softly as Kane leans against the doorway.

“Maybe they wanted time alone, man,” he says to Hawk who’s helping himself to my girl.

Hawk looks up at him just barely taking his lips off her soft skin long enough to speak. “We should make this official.”

My eyes narrow, but Lexi’s face lights. It’s a sight that makes my heart melt.

“I’ve been thinking the same thing! We could have our own little ceremony where we commit to each other.”

“Like a wedding?” I ask, still wanting to kick these guys out to have her to myself.

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