Alpha Thunder [Alpha Protectors 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read online

  She couldn’t help grinning. “Really?”

  “Yeah, really,” they chimed in together with those deep sexy voices.

  She accepted the steaming coffee from Doug. He cupped the bottom of the mug until she curled her fingers around the thick handle securely. His big hands were strong-looking with long, well-formed fingers. She felt the warmth of his body with the nearness of him. Her body became aroused all over again. She focused on the cup, lifted it to her mouth, and took a tentative sip. Hot, but not so burning hot that it hurt.

  “You don’t want cream and sugar?” he asked.

  She met his intense gaze. “No, thanks. It’s delicious just like this.”

  Troy frowned.

  What? Had she said something or done something else wrong besides walk through a cloud burst and ask for a possible job interview?

  “You’re still too wet in those clothes,” he said. “Do you have a change of clothing with you?”

  “Not professional-looking clothes. I had planned a day trip hunting for a new job today. I only brought casual shorts to change into later before heading home.”

  “Where will you stay?” Doug asked. “It’s too wet out and still raining. Driving could be dangerous.”

  “I didn’t plan on staying overnight,” she said, shaking her head at her poor planning. She was usually well prepared. In fact, her mother had always said she took after her father’s only good trait in that she was so methodical and careful about how she handled things. Thank goodness she didn’t take after that bastard in any other way.

  This day trip hadn’t gone the way she’d expected, or planned. It did not bode well for securing the job they offered, since they obviously needed help from someone who would be ready for any and all possible problems.

  “Where did you park your car?” Troy asked.

  “I left it parked at the far end of town where I ran out of gas.” She couldn’t help smiling at her luck as they chuckled.

  Troy turned to Doug. “She’d best come home with us and get into dry clothes before she catches cold.”

  Doug nodded in agreement. “We’ll take care of your car in the morning and help you get some gas. This rain should let up by then.”

  She shook her head in surprise and denial. “I hate to put you to so much trouble.”

  “No trouble at all,” Troy assured her. “We have a big house with plenty of room for guests. You can stay there while you get settled.”

  “We probably have some clothing that would fit you, too. We sometimes have friends and family stay over. Clothes are left behind every once in a while.” Doug grinned at her.

  She’d packed her change of clothing in her purse. She had to agree that their suggestion to stay at their house made sense, but what did Troy mean about getting settled? Did that have something to do with the job? Was staying over at their house a part of the deal? That wasn’t the sort of thing she’d ever done. “Really, I can find a place to stay. I don’t want to put you out.”

  “No problem at all,” Troy said. “And by the way, we’re looking for someone to work for us helping with our scheduling and keeping us on time with our business meetings. The job would also involve talking with businesses we’re doing jobs for, and keeping track of materials and the suppliers we’ve ordered from.”

  “Do you think you’d be interested?” Doug asked.

  This kind of work sounded exciting to her. She’d never had a job like Troy described. “Yes, I do. Your offer sounds intriguing.”

  “Don’t worry about salary,” Troy said, slashing his hand through the air. “You tell us what you want. We’ll work with you.”

  “Right,” Doug said.

  She couldn’t believe her luck. It sounded almost too good.

  “Now, let’s get you out of here and over to our place so you can get some dry clothes.” Troy took the half-full cup of coffee from her and put it on a table nearby.

  Doug held out his arm and gestured toward the back of the store. “Our truck’s out back.”

  Of course they would have a truck. Marcy couldn’t help smiling. “Sounds great.”

  Chapter Three

  It didn’t take long to drive to their house. Doug parked his truck behind a sleek sports car which belonged to Troy. He’d left it parked in front of the entrance to their expensive-looking home. Their sprawling single-story house was a handsome contemporary design. A long walkway led to the double front doors each of which was embellished with a large diamond-shaped brass medallion.

  Troy and Doug escorted her inside with Doug holding one side of the double doors wide for them. Just enough light revealed an elegant, tastefully designed and decorated expansive interior with high ceilings. Troy touched a light switch on the wall and lights turned brighter throughout the rooms she could see from the large entry area. Shades of rich, dark browns and greens were complimented perfectly by various shades of gold and cream. Original oil paintings graced the walls, with scenes of Native Americans of various tribes involved in activities of daily life. There were bronze sculptures of animals, some with Indians beside them. The subtle lighting played over the art giving it a rich warm glow.

  “The kitchen is this way,” Troy said, indicating the area to the left, “and the bedrooms are down that hall. He indicated the hall to the right of the entrance.

  “Make yourself comfortable. Other than the two bedrooms at the far end of the hall, you can pick whichever one appeals to you,” Doug said.

  “Please feel at home here,” Troy said, smiling at her. “We’ll be in the kitchen putting together some dinner. Do you like steaks?”

  “That sounds delicious,” she said.

  “Join us when you’re ready,” Doug said with a warm smile as well.

  “Thank you, I will,” she assured them.

  They indicated she should go and pick out a bedroom. The hall was bright with light. She peeked into the first two rooms, one across from the other and discovered they were as beautifully decorated as the main living room. She decided the next room would be perfect with a view of an expensively lighted swimming pool with double French doors leading to it. The French doors opened onto the stone terrace surrounding the pool. She doubted there’d be a chance to swim tonight with the rain coming down again. Puddles of rainwater collected on parts of the stone terrace.

  A knock on the door she’d left slightly open caught her attention. She hurried over and opened the door wide.

  Doug stood there holding an armload of thick white towels. He grinned at her. “Thought you might like to have a shower or bath.”

  “Yes, thanks.”

  “Where do you want me to put this?” he asked.

  She glanced quickly around the large room. “How about that chair next to the dresser? Is that all right?”

  “The bergere will be perfect.” Doug crossed the room and set the towels down on the chair.

  She hadn’t known the name of that style of chair before. It had carved wood arms and legs. The wide seat and back beckoned her to sit in comfort on the soft looking cushions covered in a silky-looking fabric. Her parents had never bought such fine furniture, although her mother had often enjoyed looking through ads of decorated rooms. She had a lot to learn about furniture and decorating homes if she planned to take their job offer.

  “Yes, that should work fine,” she said.

  “Dinner’s ready. We’ll be waiting for you in the kitchen.”

  “Thanks. I’ll just change out of these damp clothes.”

  He smiled at her as he closed the door behind himself.

  She opened her bag and found the casual top, shorts, and underwear she always packed to relax in after a long day of job searching. A door in the middle of one wall must lead to the bathroom. She opened it a crack. “Oh, my.” She opened it wide and walked into the biggest, most luxurious bathroom she’d ever seen in person. She crossed to the long, white marble counter and set down her change of clothes between the double sinks.

  Mirrors revealed every side of h
er from where they hung on the walls. She stared at her face and looked into her eyes. On acceptance of their offer, she had a job. It looked like a good one with promise for building and profiting from her contribution to their company. Her doubtful eyes stared back at her. It seemed too good to be true. Since her father had walked out on her mother and her, she’d had all kinds of jobs to help pay the bills. She’d never been offered a job like this one before. From the way these two guys were living, their business must be very successful.

  The money made by those two guys was obvious. Every part of this huge house revealed their ability to create a comfortable showcase dwelling. If she worked for Troy and Doug in their business, would she have a salary she could depend on for a long time? Would the salary help her and her mother pay their bills, live comfortably, and allow her to pursue her dream of graduating from college? A degree in accounting and economics was the key to her secure future. She dared to believe she could achieve that goal.

  The shower doors beckoned. She grasped the shiny silver handles and opened the clear glass doors with both hands. The shower held every modern bathing device one could imagine. She closed the doors and turned toward the soaking tub in the center of the far end of the room beneath a wide window curtained by what looked like white silk. The glowing white tub stood on a raised platform. She would need to step onto the raised area and climb over the narrow curved side one leg at a time to use the lovely thing. The same style silver handles as on the shower doors adorned the end where a comfy-looking cushioned chair rested, containing a basket full of various bath soaps, sponges, and fluffy wash cloths. She was drawn to remove the basket and sit and relax.

  She wanted to experience both the shower and the soaking tub, but she couldn’t decide which one to use first. She peeled off her damp clothing and draped it on the counter. Her nipples were still erect from the cold, wet clothing.

  A knock on the door made her jump. “Just a minute,” she called out, and hurried into her change of dry clothing. Leaving her damp clothes on the counter she walked swiftly to the bedroom door and opened it. Troy stood outside smiling at her with that wolfish look. He’d changed into more casual clothes.

  Chapter Four

  “Dinner’s ready unless you’d rather soak in the tub first.” He grinned at her as if he knew exactly what she’d been thinking about bathing.

  She smiled back at him. “I’m starved. That beautiful bathroom will have to wait. Are these clothes too casual?”

  “You’re dressed just perfect. Come on.” He swept one arm behind her and gestured toward the main part of the house with his other. She stepped ahead of him as he escorted her down the hall and across the house to the kitchen.

  She could smell the delicious aroma of steaks and moaned in expectation.

  “Doug and I like our meals prepared so they would beat all contenders. Tender, juicy, and tasty.”

  “Smells heavenly and sounds delicious,” she said. “You guys know just what a hungry girl will love.”

  “It’s our pleasure.” Troy looked down at her and smiled again. “We always try our best.”

  Was she imagining it or did she see a definite wolfish glimmer in those eyes of his? She couldn’t help shivering a little at the thought of what it might be like to become involved with him. Her thoughts weren’t professional at all. She’d better stick to the business of securing a good job.

  “Hey,” Doug greeted her from the other side of the kitchen island where he stood filling three plates with delicious-looking steaks and whole steaming potatoes. “Help yourself to a plate. There’s butter and sour cream for the potatoes and if you don’t see the sauce you want we have lots more condiments.”

  She picked out the plate with the smallest steak, thinking she probably couldn’t eat all of it. Troy pulled out a comfortable-looking stool for her to sit on at the island.

  “What would you like to drink?” Troy asked her. “We have wine, beer, or we can mix a drink for you, or there’s sodas and water. If you’d like coffee or tea we have that, too.” He looked at her, waiting for her answer.

  She checked the table to see what they were drinking. They each had a bottle of beer. “Beer’s fine,” she said. Doug opened a bottle for her and they joined her, pulling out stools at the island on either side of her. Being basically surrounded by two handsome hunks was new for her. She liked having them this close even if she did feel a little overwhelmed. They had changed into cut-offs and short-sleeved knit shirts and she couldn’t help but notice their muscles beneath those dark tans. Speechless, she cut into her steak and took a bite.

  Her eyes closed as delicious tasting meat almost melted in her mouth. She didn’t even have to bite down. A moan of pleasure escaped her before she could stop herself. She opened her eyes wide and glanced at both guys. What would they think of her? They both had little smiles curving their lips as they enjoyed their meal. “This is delicious,” she said, her voice soft with her breathless feeling.

  “Glad you like it,” Doug said softly.

  “What would you like on your potato?” Troy asked.

  She turned to see what he held. “I think I’ll try both the butter and the sour cream,” she said, and couldn’t help smiling a little mischievously at him.

  He smiled with a look of satisfaction as he handed her both the butter dish and the bowl of sour cream. After mixing the butter into her potato she added a couple of big spoons-full of sour cream. She opened her mouth wide in anticipation and closed her lips over a fork full of the concoction. She closed her eyes and moaned again at the fantastic flavor of the mixture. Opening her eyes, she looked up at Doug. “What did you put into this to give it such a great taste?”

  He smiled at her. “That’s my secret mix of spice.”

  “How much do you want from me so I can have the secret recipe?” she asked.

  “Hmm, I’ll have to think about that.” He grinned at her, teasing her.

  She smiled back at him. “Okay, just so you give it to me soon. I’d hate to leave here without it.”

  Troy cleared his throat. “Don’t worry. You can have anything you want before you leave here.”

  She met his gaze and knew from the look in his eyes that he meant exactly what he said. How much did he mean she could have? She had a feeling she could find out if she wanted to. She took a swallow of her beer and turned back to finishing her steak and potatoes. She felt butterflies in her stomach thinking about what Troy had said. Exactly what did he mean?

  They finished their meal and she took her plate to the sink.

  “I’ll get these,” Doug said as he stepped close beside her and began rinsing the dishes.

  She glanced back to see Troy putting the leftovers in the fridge. There was nothing for her to do. She looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows toward their back yard area and the huge pool lighted by underwater floodlights. The rain still came down hard enough to discourage any outdoor exploration. The air was probably too cold for a swim. She folded her arms around her midriff.

  She felt Troy’s warmth as he stepped close behind her.

  “Did you play in the rain when you were a kid?” he asked.

  Carefree days like that felt far behind her even as she remembered how they’d usually been interrupted by her father’s mean moods.

  “Once in a while,” she answered.

  “Adults are allowed to play in the rain, you know. It’s fun at any age.”

  She looked up and met his smile with hers. “That sounds like fun.”

  Doug had finished cleaning up the kitchen and joined them. “Come on. You can jump in the heated pool if you get cold.”

  That definitely sounded inviting. “Okay. I want to try out the puddles. It’s been a long time.”

  “All right,” Troy said in that sexy voice of his.

  At first tentative, she quickly discovered the pleasure and fun of splashing through the puddles. After splashing Doug and Troy and being thoroughly splashed in return, she backed away from them and enjoyed t
he water by herself, thinking a dip in the pool would also be fun. What if they joined her? Would it be two against one? Would they gang up on her? She’d have to chance it.

  Chapter Five

  They both stared at her as she wandered from one puddle to another splashing water into the air with abandon, the rainwater soaking her clothes.

  “God almighty,” Doug said softly to Troy so she couldn’t overhear. “I can see every sweet curve of her delectable body all over again.”

  “Damn, I’ve had a hard-on since the first time we met her. I couldn’t help it with her all wet with her clothes clinging to those generous globes,” Troy said. “We’ve got a ways to go before she’ll have any sex with us, I’m afraid.”

  “Yeah, she seems a little shy even if she is flirty. We don’t want to scare her away,” Doug said, concerned. “I guess we’ll just have to admire her from here for now.”

  “I don’t know if I can stay this far away from her at this point,” Troy said. “She’s halfway down the side of the pool from us. I’m looking forward to holding those sweet curves between my hands.”

  “I know what you mean. I’m hard as a rock, just watching her move, and thinking about cupping those curves in my hands, and gettin’ a taste of her. I’m so ready I just want to sink my cock deep inside her hot pussy and kiss her senseless while I find a badly needed release.”

  “Hell, there she goes.” Doug watched her skip through the puddles to the other side of the pool near the shallow end.

  “She’ll be into the pool and farther away from us in a few seconds,” Troy warned. “I say it’s time to round her up. You go that way and I’ll head around this end. We’ll catch her before she jumps in.”

  Doug was on his feet and running around the end of the shallow side as Troy raced toward the deep end. They swept Marcy into their arms before she could jump into the pool. She screeched as she swung back and forth in the swing they formed with their arms beneath her back and legs.