The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries #2)(62)

He’d noticed that?

“And socks,” Jake continued. “She likes her fuzzy socks. Her feet get cold.”

Ian’s brows climbed up his head. “Is there anything else Princess Serena needs? Would you like to pick out her panties for her?”

Jake and Adam managed to answer that one at the same time. “She’s not allowed to wear panties.”

Ian closed his eyes as if gathering the reins of his patience. When he opened them again, he sighed in obvious defeat. “Well at least I taught you something. Adam, I expect a call as soon as you figure anything out.”

He walked out the door.

“Does everyone have to know about the panties?” Serena asked.

Adam shrugged. “I don’t want Alex to waste time packing something you’re not going to need. Panties are a privilege, not a right.” He reached out and pulled her into his lap.

She didn’t hesitate. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling safer than she had in an hour. Adam surrounded her.

“I can’t go home.” She knew she sounded forlorn, but she couldn’t help it. It had seemed real before, but now it was super-HD-3D-Technicolor real. She couldn’t go home. She had two men whose job it was to make sure she stayed alive. This was her life.

“It’s all right, baby,” Jake said, his hand in her hair. “We’re not going anywhere.”

She clung to Adam and prayed Jake was telling the truth.





Adam took the bag from Alex’s hand and stepped aside as Mojo trotted in. Alex had brought everything they needed, including the laptop he’d left at the club. It was still on and still running its program. Adam quickly went and plugged it in, unwilling to lose the data.

“That dog is useless,” Alex said, a glimmer of a smile on his face as the big mutt wagged his tail. “He barked once when I walked in. I told him to stop it in a slightly deeper than normal voice, and then he followed me around with his tail between his legs. He’s a sub dog. How did she find a sub dog?”

“I think like attracts like in this case,” Adam murmured, petting the dog.

“Is she okay?” Alex asked.

Adam nodded. “Sort of. I think she’s still in shock. Having her laptop will help. I really appreciate it, man.”

“No problem.” Alex stopped. “You’re serious about this girl, right? Because Eve actually thinks she’s a little fragile.”

“She’s not fragile. She’s been through a lot.” She was strong.

“I think Eve’s worried about you hurting her.”

“Why the hell would I hurt her? I’m trying to protect her.” He defended himself, but he’d already hurt her once tonight.

“You throw yourself into these things without really thinking it through, and Jake can be like a cactus sometimes. I’m a little worried about what happens to her if this thing doesn’t work out. This is her fantasy. She’s been dreaming about this, writing about it. I’m just worried about what happens when the bubble bursts.”

“It won’t.” Adam was getting a little sick of everyone warning him. He wasn’t a kid. He was thirty freaking years old, and he knew what he wanted. He wanted Serena. He intended to have her.

Alex held up his hands in mock surrender. “Just make sure you let her down easy if the time comes. That’s all I’m saying.”

Alex turned and walked out the door.

“No one believes this can work.” Jake stood in the kitchen archway, a glass of wine in his hand. It had to be for Serena. Jake didn’t drink wine. He was a beer and whiskey kind of guy.

“Well, we know differently.” Adam didn’t like the hollow look in Jake’s eyes. “I f*cked up. You f*cked up. Look at us. We’re still fine. She’s still here. It’s going to be okay.”

He had to believe that. He’d given up way too much to think that they couldn’t make it work in the end.

Jake nodded. “She’s still real quiet. I told her to take a shower. You need to go to her. You need to fix her. She gets in that head of hers and she won’t come out.”

She’d been silent on the way home, looking back out the window as her car disappeared. That car was going to be towed again, and she might not feel safe in it. It had been a symbol of what she’d accomplished, and now it was a reminder of how much life could suck. She couldn’t go home. She was alone and vulnerable and probably wondering what else could go wrong. She needed to be reminded of what could go right. Gentle, sweet cajoling probably wasn’t going to work.

“One of us needs to keep watch. I think she needs you more than me,” Adam conceded. She needed a Dom. She needed someone who wouldn’t take no for an answer when it came to her happiness.

Jake shook his head. “I had my time with her. Now you show her what we want. We want to share. Well, it’s your turn, brother. Top her if she gives you trouble. It’s what she wants. You can do it. She doesn’t need a spanking. She just needs a firm push in the right direction to get her mind off all this shit and back where it should be. Me and Mojo will keep watch. Well, I’ll watch, Mojo will likely lick his own ass. A lot.”

Jake shoved the wine glass in his hand and practically pushed him toward the master bedroom. The house had five bedrooms. He and Jake each had their own. There was a large master they had set up for a relationship that hadn’t occurred. He’d settled Serena into it and thought about how perfect she looked there. He would unpack her clothes in the morning and store them in the center dresser. There were three in the room, each one empty. But not after tomorrow.