do.”
Joe rumbled from beside them, where he cuddled Morgan against his chest.
“Why do I sense an enormous but ?”
“It’s true.” Mike sighed. “I’m worried, for the first time since we found each other, that if we’re not honest now, we could lose this closeness. I refuse to let us drift apart.”
Devon felt like an interloper. Hell, she’d barely gotten to know them and they were a decade into their friendship. “Should I go?”
“Shh.” Neil put his hand over her mouth.
“Hell no, you shouldn’t leave.” Dave rounded on her. “He’s talking to you too. You’re part of us. Can’t you sense it? This crazy bond? It’s happened to us enough times now to recognize when we meet someone that belongs here. It doesn’t take long to be sure. Unless you don’t feel it?” She bit her lip until Neil removed his fingers to let her speak. “There’s a connection.”
“That’s good enough for me.” Mike shifted, rising to his knees so they could see him better. “I’m telling you right now that I trust you. Each and every one. If something were to happen to me, I’m confident you would look after Kate.” She whimpered beside her soon-to-be-husband.
45
“Don’t worry, babe. I’m not planning on checking out anytime soon. But why should it be any different when we’re here? Now. Together. I love you, Kate. Same as Joe does Morgan and Dave with Kayla. Neil, James and Devon too.
Being with the crew before we met you didn’t impact that. Changing how we act around each other is stifling us. I’m afraid it will lead to fights. To discontent.” He rubbed his temples. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I’m more sure now than ever that how we’ve gone about things is not the answer. Watching and staying apart sucks. We need to be together. It’s how we’re best. However feels natural. Right, Kayla?”
“It makes sense to me, yes.” She roused from Dave’s embrace. “If you want to express your affection physically, you should. Like the other day. I could tell when Dave walked through the door. His eyes were brighter and he hugged me twice as hard as usual. It’s a vital part of you guys. Sharing like that. Whatever seems right and nothing else. But I expect you to tell me all about it, in detail, if I’m not there to enjoy it firsthand.”
Murmurs from around the group ensured they were all in agreement.
Devon shivered. “If I had a vote, I would love to watch you do more than play voyeurs. As hot as things got the other day, I saw you struggling to stay detached and I wondered… God, you have no idea the dreams I’ve had the past two nights.”
“You do have a say.” Mike nodded at her. “Each of us does. I’m guessing we’d all be in favor of sharing that link with each other. With you.” A smattering of curses, moans and pleas—both masculine and feminine—
filled the wild evening. Rice-paper lanterns with botanical prints cast a soft glow over the gathering. Radiance enveloped them as darkness gathered outside the boundaries of their intimate world. Nothing beyond the reach of their spell mattered.
46
James moaned and Neil caressed her shoulder. “Sort of like your first time all over again.”
“Unless you count fantasies, group sex is definitely something new for me.” She smiled up at him, accepting his light kiss.
“We’ll be gentle. At least where you’re concerned.” Mike grinned. He didn’t hesitate in resuming his usual role, foreman through and through. “James. Get on your hands and knees in the middle of us. Let’s see how well Dave designed this contraption.”
47
Chapter Five
The men surrounded the slightest member of their group, staying low and helping him stabilize while they caused ripples in the surface of the lounger. If the presence of four smoking hot men and their fantastic ladies messed with James’s equilibrium as much as it did hers, Devon understood his need for their steadying touch.
The