Lost Souls - Book 2 "Convergence"

Chapter 5

Marcus narrowed his eyes speculatively and regarded his brother with sympathy. He could see the uncertainty warring with fragile hope in the man's expression and he wished there was a better way. If they proceeded as he'd proposed, Cooper would be stuck watching Marcus work his way closer and closer to Tabitha, not knowing if he'd ever be included in the final payoff. They would be taking a hell of a risk. Once the subject of introducing Cooper into their relationship was broached, Tabitha could easily refuse to accept him...or both of them. With the pitiful amount of information they had at the moment, there wasn't enough to be able to predict how she would react to their proposition.

"Shit," Marcus said, softly, resting his head in his hands. He just wanted Tabitha...and he wanted Cooper with them. Was that too much to ask? What he wouldn't give to skip over the hard stuff and jump straight to the part where they were happily together...all three of them.

"Yeah...shit. That about sums it up," Cooper echoed, with a heavy sigh. He fixed Marcus with a heartbreakingly honest stare. "I won't stand in your way...if...if she only wants you, Marcus. You know that, right? What we want, may be too much to ask from her and you...you claimed her first. She's all yours, if that's what she decides." He dropped his gaze and fixed it on the bottle of beer he was idly twirling on the table. Without looking at his brother, Cooper swallowed hard and quietly continued. "For all we know, things may not even get that far. Once she finds out about our lifestyle, she could very well bolt. We just don't know what's going on in her head."

Marcus planted his palms on the surface of the table and extended his arms, pushing himself against the back of the booth as if it were too small and he was trying to escape. Frustration hardened his muscles and tension vibrated his bones. A faint growl echoed in his head and Marcus wasn't sure if he'd imagined it or had actually made the sound himself. His beast was growing restless again, warning him that his brief period of respite was almost expired.

"I want her, Coop," he growled. "I want her so fucking badly that it's eating me up inside like a goddamned cancer. I want her so much I can taste her, but I want to have her with you. It just wouldn't be the same."

"I know...and...thanks. You have to go after her and see what happens. All we can do is take it one step at a time and follow her lead." Cooper released the bottle he was playing with and picked up his tumbler. He swirled the liquid before tipping the glass and pouring the drink into his mouth, swallowing it down in one go. The whiskey burned a trail into his stomach, blunted the sharp edges of apprehension brewing in his gut like a bitter soup. As a fog of numbing warmth crept up his spine and blanketed his brain, he couldn't let go of the one hopeful thought that kept circling in his mind.

She'd be perfect for us...absolutely, fucking perfect.

"Hello boys," Diego drawled, appearing beside their booth suddenly and startling them. He slid his big body onto the seat beside Cooper, glancing quizzically between both men.

"Uh...whazzup?"

"Nothing," they responded together.

Marcus gave Cooper a dirty look and shook his head at Diego and changed the subject. "I thought you were staying home tonight?"

Diego scowled turning a steely eye on Petra, who waited beside him, staring a hole into the carpet at her feet...her very naked feet. "I was. Plans changed," he grumbled.

"I can see that," Marcus said, scanning the length of a naked, leashed and gagged Petra.

Diego gave the leash a mild tug and pointed to the floor. "Down."

Petra stiffened, her irritation evident in the furrows that formed between her eyes, but she obeyed, sinking to her knees and bending forward until her forehead rested on the carpet.