Page 92 of Double Daddies (Dirty Daddies Anthologies #8)
Chapter Seven
Wren
As we pull up to Centennial Park, my stomach churns seeing all the people here today. I should have known it would be busy today, being a Sunday and all but I didn’t think about it. Now, I’m wishing we would have gone straight to the twins' place.
I turn to see Elijah staring at me, his eyes focused on me with an intensity that takes my breath away. His gaze roams over my body, lingering on my lips before returning to my eyes.
“Ready?” He grabs my bag, then jogs around the car to open the door for me.
“Thank you.” I smile as he locks our hands together and leads me to a shaded part of the park.
He spreads the blanket out on the grass before I sit down, and he sits next to me. “Do you want something to eat? I have sandwiches and fruit.”
“I’d love some fruit,” he admits.
I reach into my bag and pull out a small container of fresh-cut strawberries, pineapples, and cantaloupe. I pop the lid off and hand it to him with a fork.
“This is perfect, uccellina ,” he murmurs, taking a bite of pineapple. He moans in pleasure, the sound sending a shiver down my spine.
I turn away, trying to hide the blush that's creeping up my cheeks. I focus on the trees swaying in the breeze, the leaves rustling in the wind. Anything to distract me from the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
He chuckles softly, the sound deep and velvety. “It’s delicious,” he says, his voice dropping to a husky timbre.
My heart skips a beat as I hear him set the container down and move closer to me. I can feel the heat of his body as he leans in, his breath hot against the shell of my ear.
“You’re delicious,” he murmurs, his voice a low growl.
My breath catches in my throat and I can feel the heat rise in my body. I turn to face him, our eyes locking, and I can see the desire burning in his gaze. I bite my lip, unsure of what to do next, but before I can make a move, he captures my mouth with his in a searing kiss.
His lips are soft yet demanding as they move against mine, his tongue sweeping across my lower lip, seeking entrance. I open for him, welcoming him in, and our tongues dance together, exploring and teasing. His hands slide up my arms to my face, pulling me closer, deepening the kiss.
I’m lost in the moment, my mind racing with thoughts of him, of us, of this new and unexpected connection. His fingers tangle in my hair as he breaks the kiss, his forehead resting against mine.
“Fuck, Wren,” he murmurs, his voice thick with desire. “You’re perfect.”
“Well, aren’t you two cozy?" Elijah laughs as he drops onto the blanket beside me. Ezra pulls back, his eyes hooded with desire as he looks from me to his brother.
“She brought us food,” Ezra says, his voice a low rumble.
Elijah’s eyes flick to the container of fruit, and a smirk plays on his lips. “Well, that was thoughtful of her.”
He reaches over, his fingers grazing mine as he plucks a strawberry from the container. He pops it into his mouth, savoring the sweetness. “Mmm, that’s good.”
I can’t help but watch as his tongue darts out to catch a stray drop of juice, the simple gesture sending a bolt of heat through my body.
Ezra clears his throat, drawing my attention back to him. “I’m glad you could join us, Eli.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he replies, his eyes never leaving mine. The tension between the three of us is palpable, and I can feel my heart racing in my chest.
I look away from them both for a moment as the hairs on my neck stand at attention. Just before I turn back to the guys, I see him. Richard.
A scream erupts from my lips as I try to back away but my feet get caught in the blanket. I fall into Elijah’s arms and I fight him to let me free but he only holds me closer.
“What’s wrong, uccellina ?” he murmurs in my hair. I glance around, my eyes frantically searching the crowd, but Richard is nowhere to be seen. Was he really there? Did I imagine him standing by that tree? Questions swirl in my mind and I don’t know what’s real anymore.
“I-I thought I saw someone I used to know,” I whimper into my hands as tears stream down my face.
The twins’ heads both whip around, looking in every direction. “Where is he? I don’t see him,” Ezra snaps.
“It doesn’t matter. I probably just imagined it. I should get home.” I grab my bag and stand up, but Ezra is on me in seconds, pulling me into his hard chest. His arms wrap around my body as he buries his nose in my hair, breathing deeply.
“You’re not going anywhere, Wren. You’re coming home with us.” He lets go of me and Eli takes my hand. “Let’s get your blanket. You’re spending the night at our place.”
“I need to tell Wy–”
“Already taken care of, little bird. You’re coming with us,” Eli demands.
I grab my blanket, shaking it out before folding it quickly and shoving it into my bag. Elijah grabs my bag and we head toward the parking lot.
I feel safe between the two of them. I can’t help but wonder how long it will last. How long until they grow bored of me?
How long until they find out about my past and decide I’m not worth the drama?
My chest aches at the thought of being cast aside by them.
I don’t know when it happened, but Ezra and Elijah have gotten under my skin and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
We get back to their place, and I can’t stop thinking about Richard and how he was there. I know I saw him. He was watching me, and the fear that grips me is like a vice squeezing my heart.
Elijah guides me to a chair and I sit, staring out the window at the city below. The lights are bright and twinkling, but all I can see is the darkness that lurks within my mind.
Ezra kneels in front of me, taking my hands in his. “What happened, Wren?” His voice is soft and gentle, but I can hear the underlying concern.
“I saw him. He was there, watching me,” I whisper, the words barely audible. The fear that I’ve been holding in all day threatens to consume me, and I can’t stop the tears that spring to my eyes. “He found me.”
“Who is he?” Elijah asks, his voice a low growl, the protective edge evident in his tone.
I take a deep breath, gathering the courage to finally say his name.
“Richard Baines. He’s my ex-boyfriend.”
The moment the name leaves my lips, a heavy silence fills the air. I can see the shift in their expressions, the way concern morphs into something darker.
The twins exchange a look, and I can see the anger in their eyes. “Did you know he was in Chicago?” Eli asks, his tone measured and controlled.
“I thought he was still in Tennessee. He must have followed me.” The realization hits me like a ton of bricks, and I feel sick to my stomach.
I've been so careful, so cautious, and yet he still found me. The thought of what he could do, of what he’s already done, sends a chill down my spine.
A wave of nausea washes over me. “He just… he just stood there, watching. It felt like he was waiting for me to notice him. I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was going to pass out.”
Elijah’s jaw clenches, and I can see the muscles in his arms tense. “Wren, you’re safe now. He can’t hurt you. We won’t let him.”
The panic begins to rise within me, I feel my breaths becoming shallow and rapid. My heart races, pounding in my chest like a wild animal trying to escape. “I can’t… I can’t breathe…” I gasp, the world around me starting to spin.
Ezra’s grip on my hands tightens further, and I can see the concern etched on his face. “Wren, focus on me. You’re okay. Just breathe with me.”
But the words feel distant as the room around me closes in. I can’t shake the feeling of being trapped, and the darkness creeps closer. “I’m scared… I can’t… I can’t do this…” I stammer, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Wren, listen to my voice,” Elijah says, his tone steady and calming. “You’re safe. You’re not alone. Just breathe. Inhale through your nose… and exhale through your mouth.”
I try to follow his instructions, but the panic feels suffocating. I squeeze Ezra’s hands, desperately seeking comfort. “I don’t want to feel this way!” I cry, my voice breaking.
Ezra shifts closer, his presence a grounding force. “You’re not alone, Wren. We’re right here. Just keep focusing on us. You’re safe with us.”
With their encouragement, I manage to take a shaky breath, feeling the tension in my chest begin to ease, if only slightly. “I’m trying,” I whisper, my voice trembling.
“Good. That’s all you need to do,” Elijah reassures me, his eyes locked onto mine. “Just keep breathing. You’re doing great, little bird.”
“I can’t believe he found me…” My eyes fall closed as more tears fall down my cheeks. “How do you know…” I trail off. “You already know, don’t you?”
“You don’t have to tell us everything, uccellina , but we will need to know the whole truth soon. It’s important for your safety and ours. We can protect you,” Ezra promises.
I nod as another tear rolls down my face. “I know. I’m just scared and tired of being scared.”
“Why don’t we watch a movie or something and just have a quiet night in? We’ll cook for you. How’s that sound?”
I wipe my face. “Sounds good, actually.”
“Then that’s what we will do. Come on.” Elijah stands then reaches for my hand to help me up. “It’s going to be okay, Wren. You’re not alone anymore. You have us.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. I follow the twins to their living room, the silence heavy with unspoken words.
I sit between them, the warmth of their bodies a comforting presence, a reminder that I'm not alone, that they are here for me.
And as the movie begins to play, I allow myself to sink into their embrace, their strength giving me the courage to face the fears that threaten to consume me.