Exposed Affections Read online

  “Possibly. From what her co-worker said, Julia and her friend were leaving work and he was standing outside waiting for her. Sid recognized him and called for help. Julia passed out. Luckily her co-workers are top-notch people. I think she considers them family. They stayed with her that night so her and Sid wouldn’t be alone. The guy, Pete, found this note stuffed under Julia’s apartment door,” Aiden said.

  “Coda, this is why I interjected last night as we absentmindedly held her down. We both know we were being gentle and, deep down, she knows we would never hurt her. But this fucker totally screwed with her mind. The first time I saw her naked, she tried to cover herself. So, naturally, I stopped her and held her wrists. I was holding her so lightly she could have easily gotten out of my grasp, but she was so rigid and frightened, she just freaked. I felt horrible. I didn’t even know what I did wrong, and I felt like a total shithead for scaring her.”

  “Dude. You know her fear wasn’t directed toward you. God, this prick needs to be behind bars where his ass gets fucked every which way to Sunday. I’d pay to see the other inmates treat him the way he treated her. He deserves every ass-rape that’s coming to him,” Coda mumbled.

  “Well, get this, bro… I’m not done,” Aiden said dejectedly.

  “Fuck me. What now?” Coda asked.

  “I like Julia’s boss. She’s a real class act and gave her Friday night off. That was the night you went fishing with your Miami boyfriend.”

  “Stop calling Tyson that. Just cause you’re jealous I have a friend…” Coda was cut off.

  “I’m sorry… okay, you weren’t around Friday night when Julia had dinner here with Tanya and me. She was supposed to work that night but her boss gave her the evening off, even though its one of their busiest nights. It was a good thing too because the fucker showed up and tried to get in the doors. Since shit went down the night before, the big-ass Godzilla of a bouncer turned him away and told him never to come back. From what Julia’s friend says, he punched a concrete wall and may have broken his hand,” I heard Aiden say with a slight chuckle.

  “If I ever see him, a broken hand will be the least of his worries,” Coda threatened.

  “So, now that brings us to last night,” Aiden finished with a clap on his knees.

  “Okay, now tell me what else she’s told you about the fucker. I need to know, and I’m damn sure not going to let her relive the nightmares. She slept soundly last night. Reliving this shit is just going to make it harder for her to get over the night terrors,” Coda explained in a professional manner.

  Wow. He was right. I didn’t wake up with any nightmares. It had to have been the sex. It was either the sex or being surrounded by two very protective, yummy men.

  “All right, Coda. I can’t believe I’m going against her wishes, but I think she would trust you enough to want to tell you anyway. I agree she doesn’t need to go through telling someone again. She broke down completely when she told me,” Aiden said calmly.

  “Damn. She’s way too perfect to have to go through all this,” Coda stated despondently.

  “Yeah. She’s definitely my kind of perfect. Anyway, this guy started dating her in high school, which, in my opinion, he was way too old to be dating an innocent high school girl. But, she still fell for him. She said things changed after high school and he became so controlling he wouldn’t let her work or go to college. She was barely able to see her friends. And he sexually assaulted her. From what I can tell, he did more than just assault her sexually. One thing she told me about was the night Sid had to take her to the hospital. She said, and I’m going to try to tell you as close to her words as possible, he sodomized her so badly, the bleeding wouldn’t stop. She was in a lot of pain and felt weak. She had to hide in a closet so she could call her friend because she was worried he would catch her. She had to get stitches because of what he did to her. Another thing she said that really bothered me… She said her parents adored him and never lifted a finger to help her.”

  “Damn. My girl does not deserve this shit,” Coda spat.

  My girl. The sentiment hit me right in the center of my heart.

  “Watch it, Coda. You know she’s mine,” Aiden growled.

  “How can you say that? First of all, we share everything, Aiden. I’m not surprised that we’re just now falling for the same girl. Secondly, I can’t help but feel this irrevocable draw to her. It’s like I’d do anything, be anything, just to make sure she is happy and safe. I can’t help but feel possessive over her, regardless of whether you feel the same way. This is real.”

  “Damn it. I know. God, I know. I just… geez, Coda. You took the fucking words right out of my mouth. Regardless that it has only been a week since I met this Angel, I love her. But what is she supposed to do with two men in her life? I’m sure one of us is enough of a pain in the ass,” Aiden joked.

  My heart leapt in my chest and pounded against my skin. My breath hitched and became shallow as three words echoed in my head.

  He loves me? He hinted toward how he felt yesterday at lunch, but… does he really love me?

  “I don’t know, Aiden. I guess we could just let her make her own decisions. We could tell her she has to choose, but then we might both lose her for good,” Coda said.

  My heart stopped all together. Oh, God. They were going to make me choose? I’d rather die a thousand deaths than choose just one. The idea of choosing between the two men had the possibility of completely shattering my world.

  “I don’t like that idea at all, Coda. Okay, hear me out… do you think you and I would be able to handle sharing a woman? I don’t mean just for one night. I’m talking about in everyday life. Would we be capable of sharing her? Would she even want to be shared?” Aiden asked.

  I wanted to leap out of bed and scream YES! at the top of my lungs. However, I knew they had to work this out between themselves before I interfered. I did my best to keep my mouth shut and my body still.

  “Just look at her. So peaceful. And here we are bargaining. Yeah, Aiden. I’d do anything for her. If it means spending the rest of my days and nights with her, then yes, I’ll agree to share her with you. But, only if she would want it. I would feel so bad putting her in a position where she felt she had to choose. If we do this, we have to promise ourselves, we’ll never put her between us in any situation. Well, other than sex. I like having her between us during sex… and in bed,” Coda said with a smile obvious in his tone.

  “What would we tell people?” Aiden asked.

  “Fuck what everyone else thinks. We wouldn’t have to tell anyone anything,” Coda exclaimed.

  “Um, Coda? What about Mom? What about Bri? We can’t just bring a girl home that we are both involved with. They’d know in a heartbeat,” Aiden explained.

  “Honestly? You want to know my honest thoughts about that? I think they would both understand. They grew up with us. They know us better than anyone. They know how we share everything, including our feelings. They’ve witnessed our moods synchronizing even when we’re not around each other. I remember being with Bri one day while mom took you to some dance. You got all upset over some chick and next thing I know, I’m pissed and biting Bri’s head off. She looked me square in the eye and told me to stop picking up on your emotions. She knew I was feeling you.”

  Wow. They could feel each other’s emotions? How amazing was that. Maybe that was why I had such a connection with them both.

  “Aiden? Did you really mean it when you said you love her?” Coda asked with curiosity in his tone.

  “Yes. Definitely, yes. I’ve hinted at it already. I just didn’t have the guts to say it so early. I was so worried she would run,” Aiden admitted.

  “Do you think I’m just picking up on your feelings for her? What if these really aren’t my own emotions? God, I want this to be real,” Coda moaned.

  “It’s real, Coda. Trust me. What you are feeling is real. Last night while I was holding her, I could feel your need for her. Not just a sexual need, but a real
need for her to complete you—to see you for who you are and make you whole. Your feelings are your own, trust me on that. We may both feel for the same girl, but we are still individuals. She even said so when she told us that she can tell us apart just by looking into our eyes and how we see her.”

  Aiden’s words were so true. They were two individual people who just happened to share the same egg.

  I heard them continuing to talk, but I couldn’t stay in bed much longer. I needed to use the restroom like all normal people in the morning.

  So that they wouldn’t suspect I had been listening, I pretended to slowly wake up by shifting several times in the bed. I flopped myself on my stomach and buried my face into the pillow.

  Within moments, they were both sitting on the bed next to me. I felt a finger trace along my shoulders where my tattoo adorned my back.

  “Mmm…” I moaned. It did feel really good.

  I heard Aiden chuckle as he said, “I take it you’re awake now, Angel?”

  “Mmhmm…” I murmured.

  “So damn cute,” Coda said as he kissed my cheek.

  I cracked my eye open and blinked rapidly before peeking at the two men.

  “Well, good morning, sunshine,” Coda chuckled.

  “Morning. What time is it?” I asked.

  “Just a little after ten thirty, Angel,” Aiden replied.

  “Wow. I slept that long?”

  “Well, in all honesty, we didn’t let you go to sleep till nearly four in the morning,” Coda explained.

  “But, no… I mean, I didn’t have any nightmares,” I said with an astonished look.

  “I’m so glad the sex worked,” Aiden snickered.

  “Me too. I could make sure you’re taken care of every night, love,” Coda promised.

  I giggled at their joking. Now I really, really needed to pee.

  I slowly sat up and, with careful consideration, I leaned into Aiden and kissed him sweetly on the lips. No tongue, since I hadn’t brushed my teeth yet, but just enough to let him know I was happy to see his handsome face. I turned and offered the same attention to Coda before pulling the covers away and climbing out of bed.

  Stark naked, I calmly walked toward the bathroom. Without turning around, I said, “It’s so wonderful waking up in the morning with two exquisite men to stare at my ass.”

  I heard them both burst out in a fit of laughter as I shut the door.

  Chapter 8

  “We adore the fact that your heart is big enough to hold us both.”

  Later that day, Aiden, Coda, and I met a security team at my apartment to install an alarm system. I didn’t even want to know how much it cost to have them come out on a Sunday.

  “You know, Julia. You could always just stay with us until we get the bastard,” Coda grumbled.

  “I know, Coda. You’re sweet for offering. But this is my home. I worked hard to build my life back up to where it is now. I don’t want to go into hiding all because some monster is peeking from under my bed,” I explained.

  “I better never find the bastard anywhere near your bed,” Coda mumbled, clearly not amused with my joke.

  I just hugged the man. He was sincerely trying to keep from throwing me over his shoulder and whisking me away at that very moment.

  Aiden, in all his handsomeness, sauntered toward the two of us sitting in the living room. He took up real estate on the edge of the coffee table so he was sitting right in front of Coda and me.

  “I know this sounds paranoid and all, but would you let me take you to school? At least for this next week?” Aiden asked calmly, with pleading clearly in his eyes.

  “Aiden, that is definitely not a good idea. I should not be seen riding with you. It would only make Rob’s accusations more real, if he actually does snitch,” I explained.

  “How about I take you to school, Jules?” Coda asked. “That way you’re not seen arriving with Aiden but we’ll both know that creep isn’t anywhere near you. I’ll even walk you to class and give you a big kiss in front of all the other classmates. They’ll get a kick out of their teacher’s twin making out with Miss Julia Petersen.”

  “Yeah, and if they don’t happen to see you two at the same time, they’ll think I’m making out with my teacher,” I said with mock horror.

  “I’ll just make sure he’s around. It’ll make our lie completely plausible.”

  “I didn’t really think it was a lie though. I mean, yeah, we’ll be denying my relationship with Aiden, but…” I trailed off. Did he think me being with him was a lie?

  “But? But, what, Julia?” Coda asked.

  “Well, I just… I thought… Oh, damn,” I said as I put my face in my hands.

  “C’mon now, Jules. You know you can say anything to us,” Coda comforted.

  “I know that. I just don’t know how to say what I’m thinking. I thought, if it does get out that Aiden and I are together, I didn’t really think our story of me actually being with you was a lie,” I said with a flush blistering my face.

  “Shh, Angel. It’s not a lie. You’re just as attached to Coda as you are to me. It’s okay. The only lie we will have to endure is denying you and I are involved. It’ll totally suck, but if it’s what we have to do to protect you, then…”

  “So, you’re fine with how I feel about both of you?” I asked. I knew I heard their conversation this morning, but I really wanted to hear it from them directly.

  “How do you feel, Angel? You can tell us anything. We want to know how you feel,” Aiden asked.

  “Yeah, Julia. He’s right. We’re here for you no matter what,” Coda agreed.

  “Well, I feel this undeniable connection with both of you.” I turned to Aiden before I continued, “Aiden, I don’t know how to describe how I feel so strongly about someone I’ve only known for a mere week, but I can’t deny it. And Coda, I… How can I feel so intensely about two different people?”

  Coda grabbed my face in his hands and made me look at him closely before he said, “I understand you must be confused, Julia. Just follow your heart. What does your heart tell you?”

  “My heart tells me I want… no, want is the wrong word. I need both of you. I need you both more than my next breath.”

  I looked down at my hands in my lap, wishing one of them would say something.

  “Angel, we need you too. Look at me,” Aiden gently commanded. I looked up and saw nothing but love in his eyes. “We adore the fact that your heart is big enough to hold us both. I know for a fact I speak for both of us when I say we want this.”

  “Amen,” Coda agreed.

  “So, you’re okay that I want to keep you both?” I asked, just to be sure.

  Coda gathered me up into his arms and said, “Oh, you have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that.”

  I smiled at Coda and looked over at Aiden, pleading for him to react the same as Coda with my confession.

  “I adore you, Angel. You’re so perfect for both of us,” Aiden approved.

  Just as I leaned in to kiss my men, the security guy came into the room and cleared his throat.

  “Mr. Stone, there seems to be an issue with one of the windows. You’ll need to get it fixed before we can secure the entire premises. However, it looks a bit suspicious, so we’re going to suggest you have law enforcement look into it before anything is touched,” the security guy said with a twitch to his finger, like he wanted us to follow him.

  My bedroom window led out to a small balcony that I never used because it required me to climb out the window, which was silly in my opinion. We were on the second floor, so I didn’t think anyone would bother that particular window. Sure enough, there were several cuts and a large crack, almost like someone tried to cut the glass but didn’t know what they were doing.

  “Aiden, that looks like someone who was inexperienced with a glass cutter tried to etch something. Although, with the way the window is paned, I don’t see how that would help them gain entry. Not unless they managed to etch a full circle and p
ut their arm through to unlock it,” I explained, hoping my glass cutting experience would help.

  I reached out to feel the glass, just to see if it was etched through.

  “Don’t touch it, miss. If there is any evidence, you’ll want the police to collect it,” the security dude said as I retracted my hand.

  “Sorry,” I apologized. I never did think ahead about that kind of stuff. “I’ll call Detective Gowan,” I said grimly as I walked away.

  “I’ll come with you, Angel. He met me, so he may not mind me being in on the conversation,” Aiden said as he followed me out of my room.

  The tears immediately began to fall as I walked out into the living room.

  “Shit, Julia. You okay?” Aiden asked.

  “I can’t stay here. He’s ruined it for me. I can’t…” I muffled into Aiden’s chest as he pressed me hard to him. A few moments later, Coda came up behind me and held me tight against Aiden.

  “C’mon. We need to feed you, Jules. Lets get out of here,” Coda said in my ear.

  I just nodded as they dismissed the security team and walked me out, locking the door behind us.

  “Wait. Can I go back in and get my laptop?” I asked. Not that I really needed to ask them, but it felt good to let someone else make the decisions.

  “Of course,” Aiden said as he unlocked the door for me again.

  After grabbing my MacBook and a few other small things, I moped and walked out of the apartment. I heard Coda telling Aiden something about the security guys and how we’ll need to call them once the window is fixed. I almost told them not to bother, but I knew Aiden paid for what was done already, and I felt bad that I would soon have to tell him I was moving. There was no way I could stay in that place any longer. What I had been calling home was now tainted.

  I called Detective Gowan from the car as we headed to a local diner for something to eat. He gave me the usual run-around about how we didn’t have proof it was Rob who tried to break in. At this point, I didn’t give a fuck anymore because I was so upset. I hung up on Detective Gowan and stared out the window.