Page 15 of The Secret's Out

Breathing deeply, taking in what consumed my thoughts every day, I wrapped my arms around his waist. His own arms settled down at his sides. He knew, more than anyone, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be touched. Too much had just happened. My senses were already haywire.

“Baby,” he whispered into my hair and ran his chin on the top of my head. My breath hitched.

Caden was here.

Eli was here.

With a final intake of all that was Caden—leather and warming spices—I turned from his arms and directly into Eli’s, who was waiting for me. Eli, knowing me also, rested his arms at his sides as I took from him the comfort I needed. Only these two men could I touch freely and from the whispered voices around us, maybe my unwanted attention or touching hadn’t gone unnoticed like I thought it had, then again maybe they were just admiring my men. My home.

“Sweetheart,” Eli said with a smile in his voice. I rubbed my cheek against his chest in answer, because I wasn’t ready to move or talk. His lips touched the back of my neck. I stiffened for only a second, but breathing in Eli’s scent of his Prada Luna cologne helped my mind to know I wasn’t in danger. I was being taken care of.

Stepping away, I asked, “What are you both doing here?”

“Just visiting, precious, and I’m glad we did. Who was that wanker?”

Shrugging, I looked to the ground and said, “Just an annoying someone.”

“Sweetheart, you wanna tell us what’s goin’ on and who Cameron is?” Eli asked.

“Maybe we should go somewhere first?” Caden suggested.

Nodding, because so many eyes were still on us, I thought it would be wise to get away from uni to somewhere more private. Not that I was sure I was going to tell them everything that had been happening. If I did, Cameron may only live ‘til the morning. Not that it would be a loss, but I didn’t want Caden or Eli to be arrested for anything, especially an idiot like Cameron.

“We can go back to my place,” I said and grabbed my mobile from my back pocket. All thoughts of returning to class left my mind. “I just have to let Simone know where I’ll be.”

“Who’s she?” Eli asked.

A stab of jealously gutted me. I didn’t like Eli asking, but I had no right over him or Caden. I had pushed them both away because I couldn’t pick between either of them and that situation hadn’t changed.

Clearing my thick throat, I answered, “A friend I live with. She’s been...everything since I came here.”

“We must thank her.” Eli smiled.

And how will you do that?I found myself snapping.

Good God. I needed to control myself. I had never had the urge to snap at anyone, no matter the situation. However, I found myself wanting to do anything and everything so Eli and Caden didn’t...what? Sway to someone else?

What was wrong with me?

Was it because I had missed them so much?

Because they reminded me of home?

No, they are my home.

Both of them?

How could I think that?

“Precious, you look exhausted. Let’s get you home.” Upon my nod, Caden picked up my forgotten backpack from the ground and steered me toward his Harley. After loading my items in his side-saddle, he asked where I lived. Thankfully, it wasn’t far from school. Once I informed him, he straddled his seat and patted the space behind him. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have climbed on behind him. But being Caden, or even if it were Eli, they both knew what I was comfortable with. So, as soon as I was seated, I placed my arms at his waist when he fired up his beauty. Finally, a smile lit my face as we pulled out of the park and rode off. It had been too long, too long since I was on a bike, and too long since I felt safe, surrounded in warmth from the two most important men in my life.

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