Page 7 of My Ex’s Billionaire Brothers (Forbidden Hearts #5)

HUNTER

I kick open the door to our so-called “two-room suite,” half expecting a raccoon to scurry out or a tumbleweed to roll by. Instead, I find a tiny living space with scratched furniture and brownish carpet that’s seen better days—maybe in the last century.

Still, it’s not that bad. There’s a little kitchenette off to the side and two closed doors. One leads to a cramped bedroom meant to fit three big Carver men. The other is the same size, and it belongs to Anya.

I set my duffel bag on the threadbare couch, stretching my arms overhead until my joints pop. “Whew,” I say, grinning at Gage, who’s lugging in the rest of our stuff. “At least there weren’t any cockroaches skittering when I turned on the light.”

He snorts, placing his bag against the wall by the kitchenette. “If there were, I’d probably handle it better than you.”

“Don’t get me started, old man,” I tease, flicking a playful salute his way. He’s only a couple years older than me, but it’s fun to poke him about it. He rolls his eyes and steps aside as Theo enters behind us, phone already pressed to his ear.

“This place is definitely not four stars,” Anya says, wincing as she gently tests the living room chair with her hand. Her blue eyes sweep the dusty corners. She wears an oversized cardigan, but I can see the tension in her body.

Oh, how I’d love to help her with that.

I cluck my tongue. “Nah, but maybe two stars if we’re lucky. I’m sure it’ll do for one night. Tomorrow, we’ll find something better.” I catch her gaze and give a reassuring grin, determined to lighten her mood. In return, she manages a small smile, which warms my chest more than it should.

I turn to the closed door on the left, leading to the bedroom that’s presumably for me and my brothers.

I creak it open and see two twin beds jammed into a tight space—definitely not ideal for three men, but we’ll manage.

The mattresses, surprisingly, look new enough, and when I flop onto one, it doesn’t squeak or sag.

“Huh,” I call out, “not bad, actually. Springs instead of hay, and the sheets smell clean.”

Anya appears in the doorway, peering in. Her gaze flicks from me to the narrow beds. “You guys…are all going to sleep in here?”

I roll onto my side, propping my head on my hand.

“We’ll figure it out,” I say, giving her a wink.

“I’ve shared worse accommodations with Gage and Theo.

” It’s not exactly a lie—we’ve had some rough travel experiences.

But at least those times, we didn’t have to worry about impressing a beautiful woman.

She bites her lip, her expression complicated. “I feel bad. I have two beds in mine. I can take one of the beds, and one of you can?—”

I wave a hand dismissively, hopping up. “Absolutely not. You deserve some privacy.”

She nods, hugging her arms around herself. I see the flicker of relief in her eyes. She’s so used to tiptoeing around others, not wanting to be an inconvenience.

She can inconvenience me any day.

Theo’s voice drifts in from the living room, clipped and formal as he presumably deals with some work crisis.

I already texted Micah at my office—everything is handled.

Nothing to worry about. Gage leans out of the kitchenette, phone in hand.

“You guys all right in there? I’m about to order pizzas. ”

“Pizzas?” I echo in mock horror. “Do you know how many carbs that is, big bro?”

“You can skip dinner if you like. Or nibble on lettuce from the nonexistent mini fridge. Your call.”

“Yeah, yeah. Fine. Order the pizzas. I guess I can cheat on my diet for one night.” The idea of a greasy slice suddenly sounds fantastic after the long drive.

Anya trails behind me, her suitcase still in hand. She glances from me to Gage. “Thank you. Pizza…actually sounds lovely.” She hesitates, looking at the small dining table jammed against the wall. “Should I just…? Let me put my things in my room first.”

“Need help carrying that?” My gaze flicks to her luggage.

She shakes her head. “I’ve got it.”

I watch as she disappears into the other bedroom, the door closing softly behind her. My eyes linger on the empty space, mind drifting to Gage’s proposition from earlier. It’s a crazy idea—an obviously bad idea, if I think about it logically. But logic rarely plays a role in my decisions.

Gage clears his throat, snapping me out of my reverie. “Pepperoni for you? Cheese for her, maybe?”

“Sure,” I say, feigning casualness. “And let’s get at least one with veggies. My conscience demands it.”

He rolls his eyes but taps in the order. Meanwhile, I grab my wallet and keys from my pocket, tossing them onto the small table. Theo paces in the corner, murmuring into his phone. Something about licensing agreements and expansions. The hum of everyday business talk, so I tune out.

Not long after that, the aroma of hot cheese and sauce coaxes a grin from each of us before we get started. “Definitely not Boston-style,” Gage remarks, inspecting the cardboard boxes. “But it’ll do.”

We settle around the table, Gage and Theo on one side, Anya and me on the other.

It’s a tight fit—our knees bump against each other under the worn tabletop.

I find myself reveling in the closeness, especially Anya’s presence next to me.

We all grab slices, and for a moment, the tension melts away as we devour the greasy, delicious food. Even Theo lets his shoulders drop.

“You know,” I say around a mouthful of pepperoni, “this is probably the best pizza we’ll have all trip.” When Anya looks at me skeptically, I raise my slice in a mock toast. “Because it’s the first. The second pizza is never as magical.”

She laughs softly, rolling her eyes. “I’ll remember that when you’re on your third slice.”

“Hey, I’m a growing boy.” I shoot her a playful grin, and she snorts, nearly choking on her soda.

Theo finishes his slice quickly and checks his phone again. He stands, wiping his fingers on a napkin. “I need to call one of my assistants.” He sets his plate aside. “I’ll step outside, maybe get some better reception.”

Gage pushes the half-empty pizza box away.

“I could use a shower.” He stretches his arms, his black T-shirt pulling taut against his broad torso.

“You two can finish up if you’re still hungry.

I’ll be out in a few.” He throws me a knowing look—one that says, Don’t do anything too stupid.

Then he gathers his toiletry bag and steps into our shared bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Suddenly, the motel room feels quiet. Anya and I remain at the table, half-eaten slices and empty soda cans between us. Her gaze flicks toward me, an uncertain smile playing on her lips. “So.”

I lean back in my chair, hooking one arm over the backrest. “So.”

She fiddles with a napkin, folding and refolding it. “Is the shower big enough for Gage?” she blurts, then flushes instantly. “I didn’t mean that in a weird way, just…he’s so tall. And I’m nervous about this place being…run-down.”

I chuckle. “I’m sure it’s a tight fit, but the man’s resourceful. Probably spent half his life dealing with cramped military bases or something.”

She smiles. The silence creeps in again, heavy with unspoken questions. I sense she’s working up the nerve to ask about our earlier conversation—the proposition for her to explore her not-so-vanilla side with our help.

Finally, she exhales, voice dropping to a confidential hush. “Did you three…mean it? The offer about helping me explore…myself?”

I should probably tell her no, that we were just joking around. But the sincerity in her eyes, the vulnerability— I can’t lie to her. Besides, I want her to have that freedom.

“Yeah,” I say softly, reaching for her hand under the table without fully thinking. I cover her smaller hand with mine, feeling her tremble at the contact. “We did. I know it’s a huge leap, but we’re serious.”

“So, how would that…work? I mean, it’s not like you’ve all dated one woman before, right?”

That is a loaded question. “Not exactly dated , no.” I squeeze her hand.

“But we’ve shared submissives and women before.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. We created Sins as a place to enjoy ourselves with no judgments and no normal rules.

This doesn’t have to be any different than that.

Just some lessons, maybe a little guidance. We stop anytime you want.”

She swallows hard, nodding slowly. “Part of me is…” She exhales shakily. “A part of me is so curious. I never got to figure out what I liked or wanted. I dated before Calvin. Not much, though. And then Calvin—he always decided for me. And I guess I just went along.”

I fight not to cringe when I hear his name. I don’t want her to compare any of us to that asshole. I rub my thumb gently across her knuckles. “Well, this time, you get to decide.”

Her lashes flutter as she gazes at me. There’s a spark in her eyes, something bold edging out the shyness.

My pulse kicks up a notch. My protective nature wants to keep her safe, but my playful side wants to tease this out, see how she reacts, watch her blossom into this new, daring version of herself.

The person she should have gotten to be a long time ago.

“Hunter,” she says, voice a little unsteady, “I’ve never…done anything like this.”

I smirk, leaning closer. My fingertips brush a strand of hair off her cheek. “That’s okay. No pressure.” My words are gentle, but inside, my heart pounds like a drum. “What do you want right now?”

She hesitates, glancing around as if making sure Gage isn’t about to step back in or Theo isn’t eavesdropping. Her gaze settles on me again, and I see her throat flex as she gulps. “I—I want to break a rule,” she whispers, barely audible.

Specifics, woman . “Which rule?”

She bites her lip. “The one that says I’m a good girl who…doesn’t do impulsive things.”

We’re in a run-down motel suite, the hiss of the shower audible through the wall, and Theo’s phone call drifting in from the outside corridor. Is it wise to start this now? Probably not. But I’ve never minded before.

“You sure?” I murmur, leaning in close enough to feel her breath on my skin.

She gives a shaky nod, and I see the courage flicker in her eyes. “I’m sure,” she manages.

My heart thunders. I cup her cheek, letting my thumb rest just beneath her lower lip. I want to see her unravel the constraints she’s lived under. It’s something I’ve always loved about kink. Seeing someone come out of their shell and discover who they are at their core.

I want to see Anya’s core erupt.

I lower my head slowly, giving her a chance to back out.

She doesn’t. Instead, she tilts her face up, and I brush my lips against hers.

The contact is gentle at first, just a soft, searching kiss.

Her hands flutter uncertainly at my knees—when did her hands go there?

Then she grips my collar like she’s holding on to me to steady herself.

That little bit of trust I’ve done nothing to earn snaps my self-control.

I shouldn’t rush this, but I can’t stop. I slip my hand behind her neck, deepening the kiss.

Her mouth opens to me, and we share a slow, heated moment that has my pulse roaring in my ears.

I taste a hint of tomato sauce and soda on her lips, a strangely comforting reminder of how normal this can be—just a man and a woman sharing a kiss over a cheap motel dinner.

Except it’s anything but normal. It’s the first step into a world she’s never explored, and we both know it.

She whimpers when I angle my head to kiss her more fully. My free hand slides around her waist, pulling her closer so our bodies touch, my knee between hers. Sparks zip along every nerve. Her fingers curl into my shirt, clinging as though she’s afraid I might vanish.

After a moment, she breaks the kiss, gasping softly. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes gleam with a new light—equal parts excitement and shock. I rest my forehead against hers, savoring the rush of warmth between us.

Her expression shifts to something uncertain. “Is this okay? I mean, what about Theo and Gage?”

I kiss her forehead reassuringly, trying to maintain my playful composure even as my heart thrums. “Hey, we’re not doing anything they wouldn’t allow. We’ve been honest about this. But we’ll talk it through together, to make sure everyone’s on the same page. No secrets.”

She nods, her body relaxing against mine. “I appreciate that,” she whispers. We separate a bit as we hear the shower turn off. My blood is still buzzing, my lips tingling from the kiss.

Pressing her hand against her chest, like she’s trying to calm her own racing heartbeat, she bites her lip again, laughter mingling with her breathlessness. “That was…definitely not the good girl route.”

I shrug, playful grin returning. “Welcome to the wild side, kitten.”