Hotter Horizons (16 page)

“He’s got a stage three concussion and is heavily
medicated. There might be damage,” Fern said
,
 
her
tone laced with anger.

She wanted to march right down to the police
station, take Johnny by the throat, and strangle him. Helplessness had turned
into rage. All that Johnny was had lunged off of him and onto her, attacking
all three of them and spreading like a terminal cancer.

Jada sat down next to her.

“It was a bad idea, asking you all to come out
here,” she said, collapsing back into the bench.

Fern stood, her fingers curled into fists. “I
should’ve known better. After all the crap I’ve dealt with, I shouldn’t have
taken the chance,” she said forcefully. Fern raked her hands through her hair,
pacing up and down the sidewalk.

Jada stood and moved toward her. She spun Fern
around by the way of her shoulders.

“Blame-shifting isn’t going to help Alec.” Jada
shook her with every vocalized syllable, her brown eyes lit. “I’m going down to
the police station to fill out the report.” Her hands fell away. “I wanted to
stop here and check on things and see if there were any details you might have
missed or wanted me to add,” Jada said softly.

“No.” Fern released a pent-up breath. “Levi did
throw the first punch. He knows it was wrong, but with Johnny, those things
can’t be helped. Do tell the cops why I left in the first place.”

“Oh, I plan to. I left the key under the mat, but I
know you’ll be staying here,” Jada smiled. Jada leaned into her, her lips warm
on Fern’s cheek. “I’ll call you later.”

“Thanks.” Fern smiled weakly. “I’ll talk to you
later.”

The light of a new day lit the sky with hues of
gray. Faint rays of honey-colored light pushed their way through. Fern dug in
her purse and pulled out her cell phone, searching for the number of the Easton
Cab Company.

Was leaving the only answer? Fleeing hadn’t worked
before. All it did was bring more painful drama, commotion that’d filtrated
into Levi and Alec’s life. Despite Jada’s well-intended advice, placing blame
on her was accurate. Fern had opened the door to all that’d transpired.

Fern’s head lightened, acknowledging the nervousness
of being alone and on the run again. Did this make her a coward? Leaving the
two men she’d grown to love and trust. Shouldn’t she stand by her men? Every
time they looked at her, what would they see? For her, she’d always be a
reminder of unnecessary anguish. How could they value her now? They knew what
she was now, and where she’d come from.

Fern sat on the bench, the wood slats dampening her
jeans. The yellow cab pulled in, circling around in front of the hospital’s
main entrance. She stood, clutching her purse, waiting as the cab came to a
slow, rolling stop.

****

Levi took the stairs. He careened down the five
flights, his head swimming. If she thought this was over, she was sadly
mistaken. What had happened was unfortunate, but living without her now was not
an option, and Levi knew Alec would feel the same way.

He and Alec were bound by love, two minds and hearts
that’d been in sync for a long time. One thing Levi would guarantee was that
Fern remained with them. Levi would not tell Alec any different when his boy
woke up.

The nurse had come in soon after he’d woken up. Alec
had opened his eyes briefly, asking for Fern before dozing back into his
sedated slumber. A vacant waiting room was something Levi refused to look at.
The two solid bookends of his life were falling off the shelf.

Levi was well aware of the self-inflicted blame that
was rotting Fern from the inside out. He already owned it. If he wallowed in it
and Fern ran, then that thug was winning, and that wasn’t going to happen.

His arms locked as he plowed through the exit door.
Levi bolted through the vacant lobby, glancing at several empty chairs sitting
in the shadowed corners.

He ran outside, his body cooled with the fresh air
of another day. As Fern opened the door of the cab, he called out to her. His
harsh voice carried, filling the air around them.

“Frances
Carone
… if you
get into that fucking cab, I’ll hunt you down until the four horsemen of the
Apocalypse trample this earth.”

Chapter
Twenty-Eight

The sound of Levi’s voice clawed through the thick
air like a caged cat. A gust of air blew into her, his body now right behind
hers. He pressed up against her. His breaths puffed into her hair.

“I’ll compensate you for your trouble. There’s been
a change in plans. We’re not in need of your services,” Levi said coolly to the
cab driver. The man nodded, turning off the meter.

Levi’s hand reached around her, handing several
bills to the driver.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Levi said, slamming
the door.

The cab pulled away from the curb. Levi tipped her
chin, forcing her gaze to meet a pair of eyes Fern was trying to avoid.

Avoidance!
The story of my life.

Fern gnawed on the inside of her cheek. Briny blood
flavored the rotten taste in her mouth.

“I ruined everything. I hurt all that you love.” Her
tone was hoarse. Levi grabbed her arm, steering her back to the bench and sat
her down, his actions rather forceful.

This conduct didn’t faze her. That’s what Levi was.
He possessed an intensity that crossed all boundaries, but had lured her in,
wanting to share that passion with her along with all his candidness. He’d
chosen her, yet Fern had found some of the softness she often felt was buried
deep inside of him. Had she given him license to allow it to emerge? Could she even
give herself that much credit?

“No, Frances,” Levi said, his jaw lined with
irritation. “
Johnny
has hurt all that
I love, and that includes you.” His tone lowered to a tormented hush.

Fern’s body stilled. Levi took her hand. His fingers
stroked over hers. His mouth touched her cheek, his lips a loose pucker. His
course whiskers grated against her skin. He pulled back, guiding her eyes to
his once more. His powerful stare stilled all that was around them.

“Yes, I love you,” he whispered. “And Alec … I
believe our man has spoken for himself. He woke up briefly—”

“He did? How is he? What did the nurses say?” Fern’s
words rushed at him on a breath fueled with relief. Dr.
Scala
had made it sound as if he’d be sleeping for days. Levi silenced her, placing
his fingers over her lips.

“He wasn’t awake for long, but asked for
us
 
as
soon as his
eyes opened.” Levi grinned, his eyes softening. His eyes pooled with a liquid
Fern wanted to drink. His smile warmed all the cold corners of her soul. “If
you leave us now … then Johnny’s pain becomes ours, and I won’t let that
happen,” he said thickly. “Right now the love I feel for you is endless. You,
my dear Frances,” Levi paused, taking a breath, “are our forever.”

“Oh God,” Fern whimpered. Her chest went tight. Her
head exploded with all the reality and intensity only Levi could provide. No
one had ever made such a declaration.

“I need you now. I need you to help me, help Alec.
We need to bring our man home, Frances,” Levi told her. He pulled her to her
feet, wrapping his body around hers. His strong arms enclosed around her,
cloaking her with warmth.

Levi had a rare sustenance. It was vital nourishment
that’d been missing from her life and could only gain potency alongside Alec.
These were two men Fern didn’t want to live without.

****

Six weeks later

“Lift your leg,” Alec
said,
his tone raspy with need. His hand reached around in front of her, slipping beneath
her knee, spreading her open. His smile expanded over the skin of her shoulder.

Air moved into parts of her body that’d been closed.

“That’s it. Mm, tonight’s
gonna
be hot, so hot,” he said breathlessly. His head nestled in between her thighs.
Fern lay on her side, Alec jutting up behind her. Alec lifted her leg a bit
more, her tendons stretching.

“I just want to make sure you’re okay to do this,”
Fern said.
 
She searched for Alec’s gaze
over her shoulder. Alec began licking her neck, speaking between panting
breaths.

“I can’t wait any longer. Plus I asked Dr.
Scala
if I could resume all normal activities, and he said
I could,” Alec told her with emphasis. A guttural groan vibrated into her
flesh. “I’ve been fondling you and only kissing you for weeks … I can’t stand
it. No man can sleep in the same bed with you all this time and not act,” he
said through dry laughter.

“He’s ripe, babe, and so are you. Fuck, you smell so
good,” Levi said impatiently. He touched her with the tip of his tongue, his
focus on her clitoris. Fern knew his technique. He always placed the flat of
his tongue on her clit, applying a light pressure. His assault was a slow and
clever composition that flowed into long, evenly pressured strokes before
expanding his exploration by bathing the walls of her pussy. When he jammed the
tip of his tongue up inside her, Fern cried out.

“Oh, please…” she gasped
,
 
arching
into his expert mouth. Levi
grabbed her hips, pressing his mouth on her, his tongue darting in and out of
her opening again and again.

Air rushed at her body when he pulled away,
replacing his tongue with his finger.

“So wet, so amazing.
Oh
Frances,” he breathed. “Alec, make love to our girl … please.”
 

“She needs more time,” Alec said, his voice husky.
“I’m going to get you ready.” He peppered her shoulder with airy kisses.

Alec’s finger eased down the seam of her ass. He
tenderly stroked her, spreading her natural arousal right where he needed. His
finger probed gently, pressing on that tight bud of muscle that was adapting,
but still unaccustomed to the nature of their activities.

“Ah.” Fern bucked back, feeling Alec’s cock jab at
her spine.

“I’ve got you. Have I ever steered you wrong?” He
lightly sucked on the back of her neck.

Fern shook her head, her voice lost. Sensations
raced through her, filling her core with a heat that opened her on both sides.
Alec’s finger penetrated her further before he added another. He touched her
insides, scissoring his fingers, urging her to unlock her body for both of
them.

“That’s perfect,” Alec said, his chest fluttering
behind her. “You’ve gotten the hang of it.”

Levi abruptly sat up and moved to the bottom of the
bed. Fern’s eyes flashed open, surprised by the hurried movement.

Alec was leaning over her now, rolling her on top of
him. The room tipped. Darkness shifted as she was positioned on top of Alec,
his cock at the seam of her thigh. Fern reclined on his chest, eating him with
her hands as she touched every rib. She flicked his nipple with her tongue. Her
hips were being pulled back. Fern gripped Alec’s arms. Firm biceps flexed
beneath her palms.

Hot breaths wafted across her buttocks as she was
spread open from the rear. Alec’s eyes gleamed. He thrust his hips. His request
rode on a gasping breath.

“Take me inside, Fern, please.” He pulled her into
him. He held his cock, in search of her inner depths.

Fern tried to focus. She’d lost some skills over the
recent weeks, forgetting how to manage this juggling act. As Levi’s tongue
prodded inside her from behind, her entire body shuddered.

“Jesus,” she hissed. Alec laughed, cupping her cheek
as he slid inside her pussy. His arms tightened around her, sealing them
together.

“Yes.
Oh God, fuck!”
Alec’s
brow
creased,
his body taut with the thrill. Fern
began to undulate over him, taking in his expressions. Alec’s mouth opened, his
neck stretching back. She brushed strands of hair off his brow as his cock
burrowed in further, making that spot ring with pleasure.

“Oh.” Fern dragged in more air. Levi was invading
her from behind, filling her with a fire that radiated throughout her body. Her
skin flamed, and then cooled with a shivering tingle as she accommodated him.
Her insides were filled, stuffed with their bodies, their erections hard with a
desire that sometimes frightened her, but never waned.

Levi’s body caged over hers from above, his cock
fully inside. His dark voice filled with vulnerable admission as it tunneled
into her ear from behind.

“I love you, Frances, we love you. It’s so utterly
complete now.” He sighed as his body moved in and out of hers. Alec’s fingers
dug into her hips, his body grinding again, excited over his other lover’s
words.

The desire was strong, an acute love that grew with
each passing day. Their bodies stretched together, their flesh moist now with
sweat. Blood surged through her, setting her up for a sweet release that
swelled inside, yearning for those sweet contractions that her men always
provided.