Theirs To Protect: a Reverse Harem Romance Read online

  But fuck if Nix hadn’t wished it was him. Jealousy was an emotion he didn’t have much experience with jealousy.

  To be jealous, you had to care about something.

  Which, as a rule, he didn’t.

  But it was too damn late.

  Audrey had wormed her way in, and he didn’t see how there was any way to get her out now.

  After Clark took her virginity, they’d flipped her over on her back for Graham’s turn. Methodically. While counting to sixty. Six times. He came on that sixth sixtieth thrust.

  Meanwhile, Mateo kept finding acrobatic ways to get at her clit, managing to make her come twice more.

  Then they’d moved to the couch. Nix had pulled Audrey into his lap and played with her breasts while Danny finally managed to get his cock inside her.

  He pumped away for a whole thirty seconds before coming this time.

  And was damn proud of himself for it too.

  “Look, I did it right this time!” he’d exclaimed as he jumped up, cock still slick and bobbing around half-hard. Then he’d collapsed on the bed beside a napping Clark while Mateo headed downstairs getting snacks.

  That was about five minutes ago and ever since, Nix had been staring over Audrey’s shoulder, down her body, to her pussy. He couldn’t look away.

  Cum still dripped out of her.

  The combined cum of three men.

  Nix didn’t know why that idea was so fucking hot, but it was. Filthy dirty and sexy as fuck.

  And having her ass nestled right over his cock? Yeah, he was harder than he’d been all night, and that was saying something.

  Audrey shifted and glanced over her shoulder, eyelids heavy. “Your turn,” she said with a yawn.

  And, no matter how much he wanted to flip her on the couch and fuck her right then, right there, he just smiled and brushed her damp curls back from her face.

  “Shh, you can barely keep your eyes open.”

  He kissed the side of her temple. Then he’d lifted her into his arms. He was heading to take her to the bathroom so he could get her cleaned up.

  Danny jumped off the bed, running over and throwing his arms around Audrey and Nix.

  “Oh,” Nix said, just managing to keep Audrey aloft in spite of Danny’s vigorous hugging. Danny was grinning when he finally pulled back, his eyes shining. The dude looked drunk with happiness.

  “Audrey.” Danny’s voice burst with enthusiasm as he took her hand. “I want you to know that I love you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m the luckiest man in the world to be your husband. I love you and I’ll do anything for you.” His eyes searched her face, features going even more earnest. “I’d die for you, that’s how much I love you. We all would.”

  But Nix was more concerned with the way Audrey had suddenly gone tense in his arms.

  “Don’t say that.” Her voice was thin and reedy. “Don’t ever say you’d die for me.”

  Danny looked befuddled. “But I would. Of course I would. That’s what you do when you’re in love.”

  Audrey turned away from Danny, burying her face in Nix’s chest. Nix got the message. He started toward the bathroom again.

  He didn’t know what had gotten her so upset, but it had obviously been Danny flapping his big, stupid mouth.

  “Ignore Danny,” Nix said, giving her a squeeze as they got to the master bathroom and he kicked the door shut behind them.

  Two candles were burning in here, so even though she squirmed to be let down and turned away from him, he could still see her unhappy expression in the mirror.

  “Just think of him like a big, adorable puppy. He’s always bumbling around and running into shit, but we give him a break because well,” Nix shrugged and tried a smile, “he’s great with a pickax.”

  Audrey didn’t return his smile. “I’m fine,” she said, still not looking his way. Which was a lie. She was clearly not fine.

  She dipped a cloth in the water bucket on the counter and started swiping at her sex. She winced and Nix couldn’t stand it. Couldn’t stand seeing her there, obviously hurting, and not do anything.

  “You’re sore and exhausted.” He moved close. “Here. Lean on me.” He pulled her into a one-armed hug and while she resisted at first, eventually she rested her weight against him.

  Nix considered it a true victory when he got her to hand over the rag.

  He wiped down her pussy in long, slow, gentle strokes.

  When she started shaking against him a few moments later, he thought it was from the cold water.

  “I’m sorry, beautiful. I’ll get you back under the covers in just a moment here. I want you to be clean so you don’t—”

  But her shuddering just got harder the more he talked.

  Which was when he looked down and saw she was crying.

  “What the fuck? Audrey?” Shit. “Did I do something wrong? Did we hurt you?” His gaze went to the doorway. If one of those bastards had pushed too hard or—

  “No, no,” Audrey said, waving a hand and then swiping at her cheeks. “God, it’s not anything like that. It’s just—” But she broke off before she could tell him what was upsetting her and Nix wanted to punch something. To put his fist through someone’s face. To pull the guts out of anyone who even looked at her sideways—

  “It’s just today,” she said, shaking her head at herself and wiping her eyes. “It was all so much. The wedding and then tonight.” She swallowed hard and squeezed her eyes shut. She pressed her palms into her eyes and then dropped them, taking a deep breath and looking toward the ceiling like she was praying for strength.

  Nix’s guts twisted with every action. Finally, her gaze fell back oh him. “I’m sorry, can we just ignore that ever happened?” She tried for a smile but it was watery. She tried harder, holding up her hands. “God, I swear I’m not this weak person.”

  Always the fighter. Even against what she thought of as her own weaknesses.

  He pulled her into his chest again.

  He remembered how much his sister Roxy said hugs helped when she was upset. He always just wanted to get down to fixing whatever her problem was but she got mad at him. No, just listen to me. And then give me a hug, she’d always say.

  If only every problem could be solved so easily.

  But with the way Audrey borrowed into his chest, he thought it might have been the right move after all.

  They stood together for a long time like that. Audrey in his arms, face buried against his bare chest.

  He knew he should tell her they ought to go back to the bedroom. She needed rest. She thought today was tiresome. Tomorrow was the reception and the receiving of gifts from everyone in town. He knew it could be an overwhelming prospect, even for people who’d lived here a long time.

  “What Danny said out there,” she said, surprising him after the long silence. “Do you feel the same way?”

  Suddenly Nix was the one going tense. Was she asking him if he lo— He wasn’t sure if… It was complicated. The gut-twisting feeling came back. He wasn’t sure if he could ever— Not after losing Roxy. Yeah she was his sister, not his lover, but it had still broken something basic in him that couldn’t be fixed and—

  “Would you die for me?”

  Nix immediately relaxed at her clarification. That was an easy one. “Yes,” he said simply.

  She nodded and her hold around his waist tightened. But only for a moment. Because the next second, her wide sea-blue eyes were focused on him.

  “Nix,” she lifted a hand to cradle his face and he couldn’t help sinking against her gentle touch.

  “Let’s just forget the rest of the world for a little while, okay? Let’s play pretend. We’ll pretend it’s before the Fall. And you’re just a normal man and I’m a normal woman.”

  She licked her lips and her gaze dropped to his mouth. “And this is our wedding night.” Her whisper was barely audible. She moved so that they were chest to chest and her pelvis was flush with his. His cock went immediately back
to full mast.

  “Audrey,” Nix frowned. “You’re sore. And exhausted.”

  But when he tried to pull back, her fingernails dug into his hips.

  “It’s our wedding night,” she repeated. Then she went up on her tiptoes, rubbing her breasts against his chest as she went.

  She kissed up his neck, teasing her tongue against his earlobe.

  “Fuck, woman,” he growled.

  “That’s the idea.” Her words and hungry kiss broke the last of his restraint.

  He shoved the bucket of water off the counter and landed her ass there instead. He didn’t care that the damn water spilled everywhere or that it was another bucket he’d have to haul up from the well.

  He kissed Audrey deep. Taking everything she was offering.

  Her legs went around his waist and his cock bobbed against her sex.

  Yes. Fuck. Yes. Finally.

  She was the one who reached down and guided him inside her.

  Nix didn’t know if it was still remnants of all the other guys’ cum or if she was just that wet for him, but he slid right in.

  Her body went stiff for a moment and she hissed in a breath.

  Nix stilled immediately. “Shit, I’m sorry gorgeous. Are you okay?”

  A devouring kiss was her response. Nix groaned against her lips.

  Fuck. So hot. So tight. His cock surged in her pussy. And Jesus, she squeezed around him like a damn vice. Then she relaxed. Then squeezed again.

  It felt like his heart was going to explode out his cock. That was how fucking insane and amazing being buried inside her felt.

  “You’re bigger than they are,” she gasped into his mouth.

  And fuck if that didn’t make his giant cock even harder.

  “There’s a reason I didn’t take you first,” he growled, lifting her ass slightly off the counter so he could shift to get a deeper angle.

  She groaned and her legs wrapped around him even tighter.

  “But you’re ready for me now, aren’t you? They stretched your little virgin pussy just enough so you can take all of me.”

  Her high-pitched cry of pleasure was the only response he got as he ground down against her clit with his next thrust.

  She cried out again, arching her back and thrusting her breasts upwards.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. “Let’s go out there,” she whimpered, restlessly grinding on his cock. “I want to be with them while you fuck me. I want it to be together. It should be together.”

  That was fine with Nix. As long as he got to stay buried inside her, he didn’t care if he did it parading down the center of main street.

  She was so light, he could carry her and still keep fucking her as they went, lifting and dropping her body up and down on his pole.

  As soon as they came back in the other room, Mateo and Graham looked their way. Graham’s hand immediately dropped to his dick. He’d put sweatpants on, but he shoved them down so he could jack himself better.

  Clark stirred and sat up groggily, immediately coming to attention when he saw Nix and Audrey.

  “Against the wall,” she said in between kisses, digging her fingers in Nix’s hair and scraping down his scalp in a way that drove him fucking crazy. “And don’t be gentle. I’m not a goddamned vase that needs to be handled with kid gloves.”

  So Nix slammed her up against the wall. And for once, he didn’t apologize about it. The action only seemed to excite her more. He held her up by her ass and she rode him, flexing up against the wall and back down, her ankles locked around his back.

  Aww fuck. She was squeezing on him again. Squeezing. Releasing. Squeezing again.

  “Jesus, Aud. Do you know what you’re doing to me?”

  “Less talking,” she muttered between biting kisses. “More fucking.”

  Daaaaaamn. What was a man supposed to do with that? Other than give a lady exactly what she asked for?

  They fucked. Nix lost track of time. Of everything.

  There was only Audrey’s pussy.

  His cock.

  Her tits.

  Her tongue and nipping teeth.

  She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth, dragging her teeth along it as she released it and then fuck—she was squeezing on him tighter than she ever had yet.

  She was coming.

  Her face scrunched in agonized ecstasy as she came and Nix lost it. He came with her, shouting her name as he pumped cum into her hot, tight as hell little cunt.

  And after they were spent, he stumbled over to the bed, managing to carry her with the last little bit of his strength. He shoved Clark over, only briefly noticing Mateo cleaning cum off his own stomach and smirking. He could just bet that was one hell of a show he and Audrey had put on.

  Audrey.

  His wife.

  Their wife.

  As he looked down at her settling into his side, little spoon to his big, his chest expanded in a way he hadn’t felt in a very, very long time.

  And it had him wondering if maybe it was time to rethink the whole never-letting-anyone-in promise he’d made to himself after losing Roxy.

  Maybe there was room in his life for love after all.

  Chapter 20

  AUDREY

  They were all sleeping.

  Audrey wasn’t.

  She’d been pretending to sleep.

  It was a trick she’d learned when practicing meditation with Uncle Dale. You had to figure out some way not to go nuts with all the quiet, alone time. Some people got real religious. Other’s went the hedonism route. Audrey had never been much into religion and she was in a bunker in the middle of nowhere, so a life of reckless pleasure wasn’t exactly an option for her. So meditation turned out to be her ticket to keeping herself free of the looney bin.

  You counted your breaths and relaxed every one of your muscles and practiced letting go. Letting go.

  Let go, she whispered silently to herself. Let go of all of it.

  She’d been faking sleep for twenty minutes now. Just to be sure.

  Deep manly snores came from all around the room. She counted the distinct patterns. Three on the bed with her. One on the couch where Danny had passed out. And Mateo on the floor right beside the bed.

  She’d have to be careful not to step on him when she got up.

  It was time.

  Move, she ordered herself.

  And then stayed exactly where she was.

  Nix’s arms were so warm around her. So strong and safe.

  Ha. Safe.

  Her father thought he could keep her safe. She’d just been thirteen when Xterminate hit their town, a suburb of San Antonio. Her mom had died several years before of breast cancer, so it was just her, her dad, and Charlie.

  Then, about eight months after reports of Xterminate first appeared, all the girls and women in town got sick.

  All except Audrey.

  When the women started dying in droves, it was like the men left lost their minds. The police abandoned the department the second day fighting and looting broke out. Fires burned all over town. It was all out anarchy.

  Charlie and dad tried to keep Audrey hidden.

  But then one of their neighbors who—a man who’d had four daughters, girls Audrey had played with all growing up—came to the door, grief-stricken over his daughters’ deaths. He demanded to see Audrey’s body. Every one else had been taking their daughters and wives to the center of the neighborhood to burn them. So where was Audrey?

  When Dad told him he needed to leave, it attracted an audience. A crowd started gathering and apparently Dad gave Charlie some sort of prearranged signal. Then he stepped out the front door, locking it behind him.

  Charlie grabbed her hand and they ran for the back door. They’d cut her hair short and been dressing her like a boy for weeks in case anyone glimpsed her through a window and Dad had the motorcycle gassed up and ready to go out back.

  There was no chance to say stop or even ask what was going on. Charlie all but t
ossed her on the bike, climbed on behind her, and they sped off.

  Uncle Dale had a couple of his friends go back to check on Dad—planning bring him up to the bunker to reunite with them.

  But he was dead. He’d died that day he tried distracting the crowd on the front porch.

  The crowd had apparently torn him apart when someone reported they’d recognized Audrey driving off with her brother, healthy and whole. People she’d known her whole life, turned into animals by their grief and some kind of madness Audrey still didn’t understand.

  I’d die for you, that’s how much I love you.

  Fucking idiots.

  Her anger was finally enough to get her moving. Slowly. She couldn’t ruin it now by rushing. She’d come this far. She bit her lip as she lifted Nix’s heavy arm and slipped out from underneath it.

  His snoring stopped and he shifted in bed. He squeezed his arm tighter for a moment and Audrey had to act fast.

  She slid out from his grasp and shoved a pillow underneath his arm instead. He squeezed the pillow close and settled back to snoring.

  Audrey breathed out in relief.

  One obstacle down.

  She looked down at the floor where Mateo was sprawled. He’d put out most of the candles earlier and one was still burning. And it was minutes from going out. Every few seconds it flickered and sputtered, flickered and sputtered.

  Audrey held her breath as she stepped in the small clear bit of floor between Mateo’s outstretched arm and his head.

  Right as she did, the candle flamed out.

  Shit.

  She looked down, heart in her throat. Dammit. Was his other arm by his side or was it closer to his head? How far out did she need to step to avoid landing on him?

  She closed her eye and tried to remember, but it was no use. Too much adrenaline was pumping through her veins.

  The wedding had been hard enough to get through but then getting back to the room with the guys…

  She’d told herself it would be no big deal.

  So she’d have some sex.

  Then they’d finally let down their guard and then she could escape.