The Battlefield Series 2: Scars Run Deep (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “Oh, God, Fox, this is crazy. So crazy.”

  Gino lay on his side right next to them and reached for her chin as she locked gazes with him.

  “I want to kiss you, too.” He then pressed closer as Fox lifted up.

  She leaned toward Gino and saw him smile softly before his lips touched hers. She couldn’t believe it. She wasn’t scared or intimidated. She was turned on having both of these large, sexy men desiring to kiss her. She didn’t even panic when she felt Fox’s palms move up and down both of her thighs until she felt his lips against her belly right above her mound as the cool air collided against her panties.

  She pulled from Gino’s lips, and she looked at Fox.

  “Fox.”

  He lifted up to lock gazes with her. “I’m just exploring. I won’t go too far.”

  “I think we should stop. It’s too much.”

  Gino cupped her cheek and tilted her head up toward him.

  “Don’t be afraid of us. Ever.” He lowered down and kissed her lips softly, tenderly, and she couldn’t help but to reach up and run her fingers through his wavy hair and feel the tickle against her cheek from his whiskers along his cheeks. He was sexy, charismatic and—

  She moaned deeply when lips landed on her pussy right over her panties. She shivered and tightened up, but Gino kissed her more fully. She lifted her pelvis in response to Fox’s tactics and then felt her panties pull to the side and his tongue lick her very wet pussy.

  “Fox. Oh, God!” she cried out after pulling from Gino’s lips.

  She looked down at him, seeing only his head and face but feeling his tongue plunge into her wet channel, instantly making her pussy leak cream. She tilted her pelvis upward as he pressed a finger up into her cunt. Her head fell back, and she grabbed onto Gino’s back and shoulder.

  “You’re so sexy, baby. So sweet and beautiful. My God I want to see you come. Let Fox make you come, Antonia. Please,” he begged of her.

  She was panting and moving her hips as Fox added a second digit to her cunt and lifted up to thrust more effectively.

  “Gino. Oh, God, this is too much. Oh,” she moaned.

  She felt Gino kissing along her neck, talking to her softy with tender words of encouragement, about trust and this attraction between them. His lips worked in sync to Fox’s fingers. A suckle against her neck and chest then over her cleavage and into her bra. Fox’s thick, hard fingers moved a little faster and then would pause as he took a moment to lick her cream and tease her clit. It was overwhelming, and she tilted her pelvis up and moaned her release.

  Fox pulled fingers from her cunt and suckled her cream, taking her breath away. Gino continued to feast on her breast, and then she felt the buttons come undone, and reality came crashing back.

  She shoved at Gino as Fox’s mouth pulled from her cunt. She tried sitting up but was wedged with her thighs open and Fox in between them.

  “Easy, Antonia. Easy, baby, slow down. What’s wrong?” Gino asked her.

  Fox gripped her thighs and held her gaze, his lips wet with her juices, his eyes glazed over, and she just stared at him as tears filled her eyes. They would see the scar, the cut under her breast, and then they wouldn’t want her. They might pretend to want her, but they would think about how she got it, and she would have to tell them and ruin everything.

  “Don’t,” Fox said firmly.

  She shook her head and closed her eyes. “Please let me get up.”

  “No,” Fox said, and she popped her eyes open.

  “Fox,” Gino said his name, but Fox held her expression firmly. She didn’t fear him, per se. She felt that them bashing heads right now was inevitable.

  Then Fox started to massage her thighs all the way up to her groin and that very needy pussy of hers. This man made her want things. She looked at Gino.

  “It’s too much too soon.”

  Gino caressed her jaw. “It isn’t. You’re scared. You stopped me from unbuttoning your blouse so I could explore you more fully. Why? Because of the scar?” he asked.

  Her mouth opened, and she didn’t know what to say. Of course she assumed they knew about the knife wound, just as most of the town had heard about it the night she arrived in Repose. This was different because no one knew how she got it. How could she tell them her ex had done it as a sign of ownership and possession and that one day he was going to show up to take her back? Hell of a way to start a relationship with men she was falling in love with.

  Jesus. Where the hell had that thought come from?

  “God damn, baby, stop it right now. Stop the thoughts of pushing us away. We all have battle wounds, scars from our pasts, but they’re ours. In order to move forward, you have to accept the past and put it behind you,” Fox said to her.

  “It’s not that easy,” she whispered, lying back and then covering her eyes with her hands.

  “It is that easy. Take it from me and all the shit I’ve gone through,” Fox said to her.

  She uncovered her eyes and looked at him. He continued to caress her thighs, letting his thumbs come so close to touching her pussy, where she wanted them to be. It was unnerving, and she couldn’t think.

  “Take it from me, too, Antonia. If you’re afraid that the scars will bother us, don’t think that for another moment,” Gino told her.

  She was shocked. “How could it not bother you? You’ll ask questions and want to know what happened. I don’t want to talk about it or about him.”

  “One day, when you’re comfortable with us, you’ll tell all of us,” Fox added.

  She shook her head. “No, you say that now, but then you’ll focus on it and ask questions and then stop feeling what you feel for me and not think I’m beautiful anymore.”

  “Never. It will never happen,” Fox said.

  She stood her ground, despite their attempts at reassuring her.

  “How about we move to the couch, spend a little more time with you tonight before we head home,” Gino suggested.

  She nodded as he got up but then looked at Fox, who had yet to move from his position. He locked gazes with her then lifted up and loomed over her. He pressed his palms down onto the rug above her shoulders and leaned his mouth closer to hers. She could smell herself on him, and it made her wild to think that he enjoyed feasting on her pussy. For that short time he had, she could tell he was experienced with a woman’s body. She should be petrified, but she wasn’t.

  “Next time things will be different. You’ll let us in because, when all four Cortland brothers want something as badly as we want you, we get it.”

  He lowered down to kiss her, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tight. God help her when the next time came. She knew for certain she wouldn’t be able to say no or deny what she wanted. Would they be her next big mistake, or her last?

  Chapter 6

  “Surprise!”

  Antonia covered her heart and gasped in shock. It had been a set-up. A birthday surprise just for her. The tears stung her eyes, and she looked at Brooklyn, who was smiling wide and clapping with excitement, having pulled off throwing Antonia a surprise party. She’d never had a party for her birthday. Looking around at all the staff and new friends brought on a surge of appreciation for this town and those around her. They were all clapping and cheering, and it was Brooklyn who hugged her first and laughed.

  “I thought I wasn’t going to pull this off. Then this morning you said you were up late and so tired. God, I thought you were going to refuse to come here.” Brooklyn rambled on and on. She’d thought Antonia had known and then Dominick and Ledger added their worries the last several days.

  Antonia couldn’t believe it as they each hugged her and wished her a happy birthday. A few minutes later Cesar and his brothers approached. They looked her over in the short strapless yellow sundress she wore. She figured they’d been only coming by to check on the arrangements for the so-called breakfast early tomorrow morning. Boy, had they pulled a fast one on her.

  “Happy birthd
ay, honey,” Cesar told her as he held her gaze and pulled her into a hug. She hugged him tight, inhaling his cologne, and felt his hand smooth along her ass. She was instantly aroused and kissed his neck before she pulled back.

  He squinted at her, seemingly shocked by the move, but then Damon pulled her into a hug and kissed her lips, then along her jaw and neck, before wishing her happy birthday. She kissed his neck, too, said thank you, and then saw him squint at her.

  When Gino took her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips kissing them, not taking his eyes off of hers, she thought she might pass out from the heat.

  “Happy birthday, sexy.” He kissed her on the lips softly.

  She licked her lower lip, watching Gino’s eyes stare at her mouth before she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and turn her around.

  She looked way up into Fox’s eyes, and he swooped down and kissed her deeply, taking her breath away. She heard the hoots and hollers and knew these men were making a public declaration. Funny thing was she was fine with it. Last night with Gino and Fox had really calmed her fears a little and made her see the potential in giving them a chance.

  Fox didn’t release her entirely once he stopped kissing her. He gave her that serious, sexy look that was all Fox and then kept his arm around her waist as he turned her toward their friends. The music was turned up, some of them were dancing on the dance floor out by the deck, and she took in the sight of it all. The flowers, the decorations, and, of course, all the food and drinks. That was when Carina handed her a mixed drink and then made a toast, calling Antonia her best friend.

  Brooklyn hugged her tight and then whispered into her ear.

  “I love you, baby girl. Always,” she said, and Antonia hugged her.

  “I love you, too. Always.”

  * * * *

  Gino could tell that Antonia was feeling a little buzzed. She wasn’t drunk, but she was a definite lightweight when it came to alcohol. She held him around the waist as they walked out of the Filing Station and over toward their truck. As his brothers opened the truck door, she stopped him and pressed her hands against his chest as she looked up into his eyes.

  “It was such a great party. I never had a birthday party before. Did you know that?”

  He saw a flash of sadness fill her eyes, but then she turned away. He scooped her up into his arms, heard her intake of breath, and felt her grip him tight as he placed her into the seat of the truck. When she moved over to the middle, Fox slid in next to her on the other side and took her hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Antonia nuzzled against Fox’s shoulder.

  Gino was relieved that they seemed to be making progress with Antonia. Her fears about her past, the particulars about how she’d gotten a scar on her body, hit a nerve with him, and he was trying to not think about all the possibilities of what could have happened to her. He and Fox had explained the time they had with Antonia to Cesar and Damon, and they both saw it as progress. Tonight they’d made everyone aware that the rumors were true. They’d claimed guardianship of Antonia, and she seemed accepting.

  The ride to her house was quiet. A silent yet palpable feeling filled the air. He could have sworn he could hear his heartbeat, Antonia’s heartbeat, and the sound of her breathing. The attraction between them was incredibly strong and growing stronger with each step of acceptance she took. She was so lovely, so feminine and sweet. That shy, ladylike timidity was in great contrast to his and his brothers’ intense personalities. Yet it wasn’t so drastic as to distance them. Instead, he found himself calmer around her, more in tune to his emotions, and willing to take his time. It was so unlike Gino to feel this way. He was always on guard, always ready for the next call, the next chase to find Chino and destroy his world. He honestly hadn’t thought about Chino when in Antonia’s presence.

  When he pulled the truck into her driveway and they all got out, Fox lifted her up into his arms and carried her into her house after Cesar unlocked the front door. Damon turned on lights, and Fox sat down on the couch with Antonia cradled in his arms.

  “Did you have a good time?” Fox asked her, caressing her hair from her cheek.

  She leaned her head back against his shoulder and looked at all of them. They’d gathered around her small living room, and Gino took in the sight of her. She was so petite and sexy. His protectiveness for her intensified, as well as his need to be close to her and make her his woman.

  “I had a wonderful time. Did all of you?”

  “Sure did. It was really nice. You’ve made a lot of good friends, Antonia.” Cesar leaned back into the couch, trying to pull off relaxed, but Gino’s brother was anything but relaxed.

  Cesar was aroused, needy, desperate to make Antonia their woman officially. They were all feeling the same things, had spoken throughout the night about how obsessive they were feeling and how they cringed at the idea of leaving her tonight alone in her house, in her bed. Gino saw her expression change, and she looked away from Cesar and right at him.

  Gino swallowed hard and slid from the couch to move closer to where Fox held her on his lap.

  Gino locked gazes with her, those gorgeous green eyes, then her silky smooth skin, her abundant breasts held snug in the strapless sundress she wore this evening. He ran his palms along her thighs as she shifted on Fox’s lap.

  Fox turned her so her back was against his front and now Gino had full access to her. He knelt in front of her as he continued to massage her thighs.

  “You said you never had a birthday party before, but today will be the first of many birthday parties, many celebrations with friends and with us,” he told her, moving his fingers closer to her pussy as he spread her thighs wider. She tightened up.

  “Are you sure about that, Gino?” she asked, and he paused, squinted at her, and saw the uncertainty. Was she denying this connection still?

  He gave a small reassuring smile and licked his lower lip.

  “I’m positive that my brothers and I will be celebrating all future birthdays of yours with you, caring for you, protecting you, and being there for you.”

  She lifted up and shocked him by cupping his cheeks between her delicate, small hands.

  “Why do you want me? I’m not perfect in any way. My only experience with a man, the only man I ever was intimate with, the man I gave my heart and soul to, betrayed me. He told me things similar to what you’re suggesting now.”

  He shook his head. “No, baby. We’re not him. We’re not going to use you, abuse you—”

  She clenched her eyes closed and released his cheeks. He gripped her thighs tighter and gave her a squeeze. Her eyes popped open.

  “That’s what he did to you, didn’t he? He struck you, controlled you, forced his way into every aspect of your life, and made you feel like you couldn’t function without him.”

  Tears filled her eyes, and she swallowed hard. “He still has a hold on me.”

  Gino felt angry, frustrated, and he didn’t know how to handle this. He’d never known a person who was abused before, used by a man like he was assuming some guy had used Antonia. He took a deep breath as he noticed his brothers’ facial expressions of anger, confusion, maybe frustration Before someone could say anything, he spoke up.

  “It just seems that way, but he doesn’t have control anymore. He isn’t here. We are,” he said to her.

  Antonia’s expression concerned him. It was as though she only partially believed him. What could he do to gain her trust and make her see that this guy’s hold was over?

  She glanced at Cesar and Damon. Fox kissed her shoulder, and she closed her eyes and waited a few seconds.

  When she opened her eyes, she ran her hand along Gino’s beard. His heart soared with desire for her. His cock hardened, and he wanted to make love to her, cherish her, and wipe all the pain that man had caused away.

  “He marked me, Gino. Cut me when I denied what he wanted me to do. He made sure that I would always belong to him, no matter how far I ran, and that no man would wan
t me ever again.”

  He shook his head, and Cesar and Damon moved closer as Fox remained holding her on his lap, pressed kisses to her bare shoulder from behind her.

  “No, baby, that’s not true at all. You can’t let him have that control of you still. My brothers and I want you and nothing else matters.”

  She shook her head, and he exhaled in frustration but in total understanding.

  “Let me ask you something, Antonia. Look at me, baby,” he said, and she opened her eyes and looked at him with such anguish and sadness his heart clenched.

  “If we had scars on our bodies and we’d been mentally, physically abused by someone and those scars marked us permanently, would you accept us as your men despite all that?”

  She nodded immediately. “Of course I would because I know what it’s like to be a victim of abuse, but that’s not the case. It’s so upsetting and humiliating. I’m embarrassed by what he did to me and his treatment of me and why I stayed simply because I was desperate for affection and attention of any kind. Even abuse.”

  “I want you to see what no other people other than my brothers have seen. To know that when I say I know how you feel, and what you’re living with, I do.” He stood up, unbuttoned his shirt, and took it off. When he turned around, he heard her intake of breath as he revealed the deep gashes and scars from the time he’d been taken prisoner with Fox and they’d been beaten and tortured to the point they wished for death.

  When he felt her hands touch his skin, he tightened up, but she wrapped her arms around him and kissed the scars. He closed his eyes and let go of those feelings he held within him for years. He was amazed that it was Antonia now giving him support and love when his intention had been to give it to her.

  He turned around and cupped her cheeks before he swept his lips over hers and kissed her. When he released her lips, she hugged him tight.

  “We all have scars, baby. Some run deeper than others, but they’re still scars, still battle wounds that remind us of the fights we engaged in to stay alive, to be free, and to make it here to be with you.”