Trials and Tiaras (Untouchable Book 7) Read online

She had her phone in her hand and checked it.

  “They’re still in the air,” I reminded her, and she made a face.

  “I know, I’m…”

  “We get it,” Coop said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back against his chest. “We’re worried too. Well, Bubba is. Me, I’m still thinking about whether I can convince you both that sex would be a way better workout.”

  One sharp jab of her elbow elicited a comical if exaggerated ‘oof’ from him as a real smile flitted across her face. “Stop teasing Ian. It’s not nice.”

  “It’s fine, Angel,” I assured her, and that earned me a solid blink. “It doesn’t bother me in the slightest.” It didn’t. The teasing anyway. Whether the rest of it would…I wasn’t entirely sure, but the kneejerk reaction to just say no wasn’t there, so maybe? Maybe not?

  “Really?” Interest flashed in her eyes and she bit her lower lip, and if I wasn’t already a little curious about testing those boundaries, I absolutely would be now.

  “Really. Now, let’s move that beautiful ass of yours and, Coop, you really can sit this out, man, if you don’t think you can keep up.”

  “Fuck you, Bubba,” he told me cheerfully, and she grinned again, yet the moment she turned her back, he shot me a thumbs up and I nodded. First level of distraction achieved.

  Archie, Jake, and I had mapped a few runs from Frankie’s place at this point. If it were warmer, I’d have suggested we drive to the lake. As it was, there was an old bike trail about a quarter of a mile from the apartments, and it would be a good run, away from traffic but on solid surface.

  I led the way at a walk, since I wanted to warm them up first. The fact Coop kept up a steady litany of complaints was hilarious. Sometimes, I wondered if he did it on purpose to distract her from any discomfort, or if he was so used to finding a way to make her smile, it just happened. Because Frankie didn’t complain once, but her smile grew a little wider with every step.

  Once on the trail, we started off slow, and despite all his bitching, Coop had no trouble keeping up. Course, when the pair of class clowns started hamming it up, I was torn between interceding and letting them wear each other out. As it was, they managed a respectable two miles, a mile out and a mile back, but the last half-mile, Frankie walked with one hand against her side and panting.

  “I remembered why I don’t do this,” she commented, and I grinned.

  “You did great,” I promised her. “Coop on the other hand…”

  He rolled his eyes and flipped me the middle finger, but Frankie laughed aloud, and that was worth just about any insult.

  “You two are ridiculous, you know,” she said as we left the trail for the walk back to the apartments. “I get it, you are trying to distract me and it’s working and you’re teasing each other and I think it’s great.”

  “Us?” Coop sounded almost offended. Almost. Hard to sound too offended when you’re cracking a grin. “Nah. This is foreplay. Remember what Bubba said about when we get back?”

  “You have sex on the brain,” I told him, not missing a beat.

  “When it comes to Frankie?” He grinned slowly. “Not all of us need to control our urges.”

  Oh. That little shit.

  Frankie, on the other hand, laughed. “Well, I tell you what, boys…” She skipped ahead and then turned to walk backwards as she looked from me to Coop and then back. “The first one of you back to the apartment gets to shower with me.”

  Then she pivoted and took off.

  I cut a look at Coop and he stared at me, then we both surged forward. For all his bluster about not wanting to run, Coop was no slouch. He cut ahead of me and turned sharply instead of racing directly up the walk after Frankie. I debated it for all of about a split second and raced after him.

  He knew the apartments better than we did. He knew the area better than we did. When he cut through a narrow passageway between the wall around the complex and the street, we bounced off each other. When he threw an elbow and I bounced into the wall, I laughed.

  “Oh, it’s on,” I warned him, but he streaked away. I was just steps behind him, and I still conserved my oxygen for a final push as we weaved through the complex, and it didn’t take long to spot Frankie as she circled down the drive. We were a hell of a lot closer to the apartment than she was, and since I knew where I was, I called, “Hey, Coop, don’t forget…I’m still thinking about it.”

  He stumbled a step, and I shot past him and hit the backdoor with enough time to get it open before Frankie and Coop made it to the stairs. She was panting, flushed, with the wisps of her hair that escaped her ponytail clinging to her face, and she slid right up to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Coop tried to slide around me to get inside, but I slammed a hand against the doorjamb and cut him off at the chest.

  “Aww, you can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  “Sure I can,” I told him as I ran a hand down Frankie’s back. She’d sweated enough that the shirt was damp. “You go shower in the other bedroom, and we’ll talk after.”

  He laughed at me, but when I didn’t grin or make a joke, he sobered. Better. With a nod, I tugged Frankie inside and flipped on the coffee maker on the way past.

  “Oh, I love you,” she enthused, still holding my hand, and I grinned.

  “I know.”

  In the bathroom, I turned the shower on and then helped her strip out of the clothes. The flush on her cheeks added to the light in her eyes. Instead of climbing under the hot water, she turned into me. The hug at the door earlier had been one thing, but this was needing more, so I locked her up close and squeezed as she rubbed her cheek to my shirt.

  “It’s too soon for them to be there yet.”

  “Yeah,” I told her. “We weren’t even gone an hour.”

  She sighed.

  “It’s going to be okay, Angel,” I whispered and pressed a kiss to her damp hair. “Come on, let’s get you in the shower, and then you can have coffee and we’ll find food.”

  “Ian.” The soft demand in her voice had me hesitating, and I pulled back to meet her gaze. The skin of her arms was chilly beneath my fingers, so I rubbed my hands up and down her biceps. Her nipples were tight too, but the steam from the shower and the heat of the water had already begun to warm up the bathroom.

  “What, Angel?”

  “The thing with Coop…”

  “Shh. I’m not making any promises, but I’m also not wildly opposed either.”

  Surprise skittered across her expression, and yeah, I probably deserved that.

  “I’m a possessive bastard, we’ve established that.”

  The corners of her mouth tilted upward. “I kind of like that about you.”

  “Good. But Coop is very much what you need right now.”

  “I need all of you,” she argued.

  One finger against her lips, and I pressed my forehead to hers. “Listen to me, Angel. I’m not making any decisions for you here, I promise. But I’m also not blind. Coop is what you need right now, because he always makes you smile.”

  She sucked my finger between her lips and raised her eyebrows.

  “Someone wants to be bratty.”

  A little shrug, and I chuckled.

  “Frankie, really, I’m not saying yes. I’m not saying no. But let me ask you something…” I tugged my finger out because the swipe of her tongue was distracting as hell. At her wrinkled nose, I gripped her arms and then slid my hands down to her ass and lifted her up. She wrapped her arms around my neck and met my gaze without any shyness.

  This right here was probably my favorite change. The directness that existed between us now. I could tell her anything, and I made damn sure she could say anything to me. We needed that communication. No more misunderstandings. Never again.

  “When I said I’d think about it earlier…did you like the idea?”

  Lips pursed, she considered me. “I don’t want you to be unhappy.”

  “Not what I asked, Angel.”

  “But it ma
tters,” she countered, and I sighed because sometimes, I had to remember we were as important to her as she was to us. “It matters because no matter how much I might be thrilled by the idea, I can’t enjoy it if you’re not happy. Worse, if you’re uncomfortable.”

  “Fair,” I conceded.

  “And I don’t want you to push out of your comfort zone because you’re feeling sorry for me.”

  I scowled at her. “Angel, one warning and one warning only. The next time you accuse me of doing anything because I feel sorry for you, I’m going to spank that sweet ass of yours red. Clear?”

  “Not hearing a threat there, sir.”

  Dammit. I couldn’t laugh at her, but the dare was right in her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  “I do,” she admitted, and I groaned.

  “What am I going to do with you?”

  When she kissed my chin, I smiled. “Whatever you want, I’m hoping.”

  “And if I decide to see how curious I am about having Coop in the room? Rumor has it he likes to watch.”

  “Then I’m okay with that.”

  “And if I decide to try for more? To let him play with you, too?”

  She shuddered, and I swore her nipples pebbled tighter. I didn’t know if it was the suggestion of me wanting more or the idea of him playing too. Her tongue flicked out to wet her lips. “I’m okay with that too.”

  “What if I blindfold you and then don’t tell you which of us is doing what?”

  Her eyes widened, and I swore her pupils dilated. That was an idea she really liked.

  “Good to know,” I murmured. “Shower, Angel.” Because that little shudder had left her shivering. I carried her over and set her in the tub.

  “What about you?” She’d gone a little breathless, and my smile widened. That idea rapidly gained merit with me. I liked the idea of teasing her senses and one way to do that was to take away one, but this reaction… I trailed my fingers up her arm, then touched her chin and leaned in to kiss her. She opened up so sweetly to me, and the delicate suck of her mouth against my tongue had my cock pulsing.

  “I’m coming in, I promise. But you have to keep your hands to yourself.”

  She pouted. “The whole point was you are going to be naked in here with me…”

  “Oh, Angel. I know what the point was, and I know what you were looking for. But I won fair and square. So my rules apply.”

  An impatient little huff escaped her, and I nearly ruined the mood by bursting out laughing. She was adorable when she wanted to push it. She was downright irresistible when she challenged the rules by being just this side of a brat. Of course, then she stuck her tongue out at me before she turned away, and the crisp slap of my hand on her ass earned a startled yelp and a laugh. I also didn’t miss the way her thighs pressed together.

  I stripped and joined her in the shower before she even had her hair soaked and then took over lathering the shampoo into her hair. As I stroked my fingertips against her scalp, she let out a little sigh.

  “Archie’s not my brother,” she whispered. “That didn’t happen, right?”

  I pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “Angel, everything I know about your mother tells me she lied about something somewhere.”

  A shudder went through her, and she pressed her hands to the wall. I went from washing her hair to running my hands up and down her back.

  “There were four tests, Angel.”

  “I can’t lose him.” Those words were so soft, they damn near broke my heart.

  “You won’t.”

  “You sound so sure.” And she needed that certainty. Good thing I had it in spades.

  “He’s not going anywhere. He’s one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met. He can out stubborn you when he puts his mind to it. He can talk himself out of trouble and reshape any situation to make it work. Angel, trust this if you trust nothing else—he loves you, and there is nothing he won’t do for you. Whatever the hell Standish said to you and whatever the hell your mother told him, that isn’t changing a damn thing. We’ll figure it out. I promise.”

  When she sank back against me, I wrapped my arms around her again and held her.

  “I’m worried about him,” she admitted. “I hated telling him. I hated hearing it.”

  “I know. Jake’s with him, and you know Jake, he’s going to be in full-on Pit Bull mode. He won’t let anything get near him.”

  She laughed a little. “He’s very protective.”

  “Yes, he is. And he’s more than a little pissed off at how you two have been treated and extremely motivated to make sure they both get back here whole and hearty.”

  “Are you indulging me?”

  “Just bit,” I promised and smoothed a hand over her stomach. “Is it helping?”

  “A bit.”

  “Good.”

  “Ian?”

  “Hmm?”

  “The idea of you and Coop doing things to me when I can’t see you is really hot.”

  “Good to know.” I tweaked her nipple. “Can I go back to bathing you now?”

  A husky little laugh escaped. “You’re really working at distracting me.”

  “Oh, I haven’t begun to work on you, Angel.” The clench of her ass against my cock was a clear sign she understood that promise.

  Good.

  Valentine’s Day

  “Frankie, what’s the matter?” Coop’s hands were hot against my icier ones, and the rain spattering me and soaking my hair registered as the honk of a horn pulled my gaze to the street. The familiar yellow SUV had pulled over, blocking a lane of traffic, and Archie and Ian both stared out at me. Jake probably did too, but I couldn’t see him.

  Another horn sounded, then the car behind them ripped sideways with a squeal of tires to whip around them. It was after five. The traffic was heavier, and they were just stopped on the side of the road. I glanced back at Coop.

  “What happened?” He gripped my hands in his, and I swallowed. The sound of slamming car doors stopped the silent words that didn’t want to leave my mouth, and then Archie and Ian were both there.

  “Babe, what happened?” Archie had an umbrella in hand, and he snapped it open over me and Coop.

  Fuck. I stared into his brown eyes, and I swore my heart broke all over again. It couldn’t possibly be true.

  “Angel.” Ian had a hand on my back, and I tore my gaze from Archie to look at Coop and then Ian. Suddenly, Jake slammed out of the SUV and stalked over to us. They were all dressed nicely.

  They all smelled great.

  Fuck.

  Valentine’s day.

  “Frankie, tell me what the fuck is going on so I can fix it,” Archie said and dragged my attention back to him.

  I really didn’t have the words. “I had a meeting with…” I started to say ‘your dad,’ but I couldn’t push those words out. I couldn’t say his name either. “With Mr. Standish…” That sounded even worse. I really couldn’t get it out. His expression turned to stone. How the hell did I tell him this?

  My silence went on for too long, because Archie thrust the umbrella at Coop.

  “I’ll fucking kill him.”

  Chapter Three

  Actions Speak Louder Than Words

  Coop

  I finished my shower first. No surprise. In the kitchen, I filled a mug with coffee and set the coffeemaker up to do a second pot when we finished the first. While sipping that coffee, I got out the cinnamon rolls from the fridge and popped a couple of containers open and got them in the oven. At least those were fast and easy to make.

  They were also comfort food. The cats swarmed around me in search of food, but I was on to them. Bubba had fed them earlier before he woke us up. A yawn cracked my jaw as I went in search of the phone. No messages yet. I didn’t think there would be, but always better to check. Bubba padded out into the kitchen, hair damp, and looking way more alert than I felt.

  Course, if I’d just had a shower with Frankie, I’d be pretty pumped too. He glanced down at the
oven window and nodded before grabbing a mug and filling it. When he didn’t automatically fill one for Frankie, I raised my brows.

  “She’s on the phone with Rach,” was all he said, and I nodded. Like me, Bubba had just pulled on sweats. We didn’t say anything. The heat in the apartment had been turned up to chase away any lingering damp chill. After a couple swallows of coffee, he focused on me. “She likes the idea.”

  “She likes a lot of things.” I kept it light and conversational, but I also wasn’t playing dumb. “If you’re not comfortable, it won’t work.”

  “I’m aware,” he conceded. He studied his coffee for a moment and then looked at me. “How comfortable are you with following instructions?”

  I drained the last of my coffee, then glanced from him to the doorway and finally the stove. There was sixty seconds left on the timer. Nothing like the sense of being in the double Jeopardy round to make me laugh. “Depends on who you ask.”

  “I’m asking you.”

  Okay. I met his gaze head on as I stood. “Why? And before you get snappy, there’s a reason I want you to spell it out. We’re dancing around this, and I was serious earlier when I said if you’re not comfortable, then it won’t work. So be explicit on what you’re asking me, and I’ll try not to give you too much shit.”

  It was the least I could do.

  “Also, let’s be quick. She’s gonna smell these in a minute, and if the coffee doesn’t get her out here, those will…”

  “You have a point,” he agreed, heading to the coffeemaker while I got the cinnamon rolls out. He refilled my cup and his own. There was enough left for Frankie to get one big mug. Neither one of us would touch it until she’d had hers. “I like control,” he admitted, never looking at me. “And I don’t know that I could ask this with Archie or Jake.”

  I didn’t know if he could either, particularly right now. Though Jake might surprise him. Archie remained a wild card.

  “Can I ask how it works with you and Jake?”

  I shrugged. “You can ask. We just…go with what works.” We hadn’t really discussed it beyond being okay with the other being there. Well, that and easing her into the idea of it. “Porn helped.”