Page 170 of Pretty Broken Wings

I lean my head back in silent defiance. He just follows the motion, gently cupping my jaw, then tracing his fingers down it. He then moves his fingers to my forehead, tracing them between my eyebrows, smoothing the wrinkle there.

“You haven’t been eating enough.”

His words settle over me. I haven’t been eating enough? That’s ridiculous. I’ve been eating. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gage. I eat.”

Gage just hums, then his hand grazes down the side of my face to my neck, then down to my arm. The touch is feather-light but somehow still burns as it goes. He moves across where his brother has my arms pinned, then finds my wrist.

Prickles of pleasure run up my skin.

“You haven’t been eating enough. Your skin gets dry, your hair is rougher than normal, and you’re less quick to laugh. You’re stressed, Raven.” His fingers stop dancing across my skin, and then he grabs my wrist and squeezes. “I won’t stand by while my woman doesn’t take care of herself.”

His attention is like a heavy weight. I feel it all over my body, and I shift under Axel’s muscled arms. He doesn’t ease up.

“I…”

“So Raven…” his voice softens. “Celeste.” Then it softens even further, so it’s just a whisper. “Princess. You’re gonna eat somesteak for us. Then some pizza.” Gage picks up a piece of meat with his fingers and pushes it toward my face.

“Wait!” I swallow, pulling my head back, feeling heady and unbalanced. Like he just stripped me naked for both of them to see. And maybe he kind of did.

Gage pauses.

“Wait, I…” I try to come up with a suitable response. Shame washes over me, along with anger. He’s right; I haven’t been taking care of myself. I’ve been putting the business first. But it wasn’t like I was trying to neglect myself. I don’t like that he not only saw it, but he called me out on it. “I’ll eat when you let me go. Don’t tell me what to do.”

There’s a pregnant silence in which Axel does not let me go.

Gage takes one breath in. I see his chest expanding, filling up his shirt.

For a brief second, I look for that old fear that’s followed me most of my life. Only, it’s just Gage in front of me. The familiar lines of his body soften as he lets the breath out.

“I don’t think you’re understanding.” Gage leans in. “I can and will tell you what to do. You do it for us all the time. And we love it. I’ll always get off on letting you take the reins, Raven. But,” he leans closer till his breath brushes my face, “that doesn’t mean we won’t take care of you.” His hand traces back up my arm. “That we won’t notice every detail you may not see yourself.” He’s up to my shoulder. “And what I noticed is you’re not eating.” Then, his hand is at my neck, and he wraps his fingers around it, gently squeezing. “You can be angry. You can fight us, but you have to eat.”

I swallow, feeling my throat bob against his hand. He’s not letting up on the pressure, but he’s not hurting me. He’s just a steady presence, one that’ll just push harder if I fight. Again, I search for that old fear. I don’t find it. Instead, I just find comfort.

“Do you trust us enough to take care of you, Raven?”

The question is soft. So soft in contrast to the two powerful men around me.

My heart races. Not because the answer is no. Because the answer is yes. Idotrust them.

Gage is still holding my throat, waiting for a response. I don’t say anything. Instead, I relax into Axel’s hold and open my mouth. Relinquishing control. Inviting Gage to do what he wants. To take care of me.

There’s silence for a beat, and then Gage makes a throaty sound. Under me, I feel Axel’s crotch stiffen.

Gage tries to clear it, then offers me a bite of steak. I take it, the flavor dancing on my tongue. It’s good. Really fucking good.

“That’s a good girl.” Gage’s voice is husky. “That’s a good fucking girl.”

He feeds me bite by bite, alternating the steak and the pizza. As he does, I feel my grip on the business worries start to slip away. I’d love to be financially independent. And I will be one day. But that won’t come at the expense of my relationship with Gage and Axel. I won’t let my past build up walls between us.

Axel loosens his hold, rubbing circles on my skin. Both of them shower me with attention until it makes me dizzy.

Finally, when the food is gone, I’m not sure if I need to jump their bones or let them jump mine.

Then, I remember that it is their birthday, and I got them presents. For a second, I worry they’ll think the presents are stupid. Then, I shake that off.

Gently, I wiggle my way off Axel’s lap, and this time, he lets me. I go to grab the gifts, and when I return, both men are clearing off the table.

“Shit, Raven, you didn’t have to do this,” Gage says, but I see the flash of softness in his eyes. Axel too.