Page 15 of Purgatory (Devil Dogs of the Apocalypse #1)

I’m about to make my way back up the trail when the sound of masculine voices ring through further down the beach, closer to the house. After a few seconds, I see Hawk, Cole and Jax all running towards the water, then abruptly stop to ditch their clothes and saunter into the lake.

“Holy dick parade...”

Did I mention they’re all naked? Let me say it again for those in the back.

Buck-assed freaking naked in all their birthday-suit glory for my unknown viewing pleasure.

Damn, do they look good. And now they’re all wet from the lake.

Tiny droplets of water decorate their gorgeous skin, highlighting their muscular forms. At varying times, each of their arms come up to swipe at their wet hair, making their muscles contract and bulge with the movement.

Those gorgeous V-cuts in their hips, like arrows pointing to the treasure on a map.

Holy shit my libido can’t take this. I’m not even near the water but I guarantee I’m soaked.

My voyeuristic mind having a field day. I need to get a grip on my breathing or else I’m going to pass out right where I am from hyperventilation.

“Oh my fuck, I’ll take that cold shower now...”

I make my way back to the house, luckily before the three musketeers, and their impressive swords, and head straight to the bathroom at the end of the hall upstairs.

There’s no need to wait for the water to warm up as I leap headstrong into the freezing cold water to drown out some of my endorphins before they take over and have me humping a door frame.

Unfortunately, however, the frigid water does nothing as I find myself picturing the guys, in all their naked glory, and my hands start wandering my soaked body.

It’s not until my fingers brush my aching core that I realize I’m doomed.

Instantly, my body starts shaking and convulsing with the need and urge to combust. I can’t control my hands as one continues rubbing at my clit while the other squeezes and teases my nipple.

Trying to stifle the whimpering sounds coming out of me, I bite my lip.

It’s futile, though, because as I come, I let out a loud, embarrassing groan of satisfaction.

I stand there, leaning up against the shower wall, coming down from the orgasmic high I'd given myself when I hear the sink turn off.

My eyes could have just jumped out of my skull right then and there.

Did I leave the sink on? I don’t remember turning it on. But that was someone turning it off... Oh shit fuckity fuck fuck! Did they hear me? Who is they????

“The others are back too. Just wanted to let you know, before you made any more noises that would keep everyone up tonight.” A new, deeper voice, smooth and dark like melted chocolate, with a slight southern accent, rumbles on the other side of the curtain.

“Shit. Sorry. I... uh... I thought it was just me here...” I giggle awkwardly.

A throaty chuckle resounds, “When you’re here, baby doll, you’re never alone... food for thought.”My jaw practically hits the floor as I hear the bathroom door open and close softly with his exit. My core suddenly springing to life like I didn’t just get myself off seconds ago .

SERIOUSLY? What was it that got me all hot and bothered NOW?

The deep resounding god-like voice? The quasi threat?

The ‘babydoll’? The hat-trick of all three?

Holy shit, I'm fucked. I’m going to be living in a perpetual state of horny from now on if I don’t get my head straight.

It's totally happening. I’m turning into a toad. Big, old horny toad.

I hurriedly dry off, wrap the towel around me and practically run to my room to avoid the eyes of the other guys since I forgot to bring any new clothes in with me.

I almost make itwhen I see Hawk casually standing in his room opposite mine.

His large body leans on the door frame as he takes his time looking me up and down and flashes me a wink and a panty dropping smile.

Fuck, did he hear me too?

I blush and closed the door behind me. I need to get a grip before I spontaneously combust from all of the testosterone surrounding me now.

∞∞∞

After the shower incident, I got dressed in a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt I found in the room, fully believing I was going to hide in my room for the rest of the night.

Unfortunately, during my daytime activities, I had forgotten to eat anything besides those cookies for breakfast. So, when the luring scents of mouthwatering goodness wafted through the house, my grouchy stomach yelled at me.

Loudly. Thankfully, I was alone for that embarrassing moment.

I decide to give up on my seclusion in favor of sustenance, ego be damned.

I tip toe out of my room and down the hallway, listening for the sounds of the others.

It’s not until I get to the landing that I finally hear them, laughing and carrying on about nothing in particular.

I take that as my cue to saunter down and join them.

Now’s as good a time as any...

When I finally reach the edge of the kitchen, I see them all.

Cole and Hawk are standing at the island, while Jax is stationed on the other side, working at the stove.

Cole is busy cutting up vegetables for what looks to be a salad, Hawk is slicing up bread and Jax is stirring some kind of soup.

I realize, now, that the scent that traveled upstairs and drew me down here, was that bread.

It looks freshly baked and delicious and my mouth waters at the thought of sinking my teeth into a piece of it.

“Would the princess like to come out of her tower and join us for some chow?”

I jolt at the sound of Hawk’s voice and realize I've been lingering in the hallway like a creep.

Between getting caught spying on Jax this morning, seeing the guys naked at the lake - albeit it was from a distance but still, I saw naked man toosh, it counts!

- Jax’s interloping on my naughty shower time and Hawk’s not so subtle wandering eyes afterwards, I’m a mess.

I have no idea how I’m supposed to act right now.

Let the awkward shenanigans begin!

I meander into the kitchen with a little wave and a bite to the lip.

I’m not exactly sure where I should go so I head over to the side of the island and perch against it.

“Thank you, it smells really good. I’m Alessandra, by the way.

Thank you for taking me in.” I say to Jax.

I’m not really sure if I should offer my hand out for him to shake or what so I just awkwardly stand near him.

He turns his face towards me and gifts a curt little nod before resuming his mantle at the stovetop, stirring the pot .

Ok...

Accepting that as his way of greeting, I turn on my heel and start to move to the island. I don’t even get a step in before he reaches out and grabs my arm.

“Sorry, uh, Alessandra... Nice to meet you, I’m Jackson, but you can call me Jax, everyone does. And, um... you’re welcome...” He looks like he's about to say more but he remains tight lipped and decides to turn back to the stove, busying himself with the meal preparation.

After a few confusing minutes, Cole takes it upon himself to break up the silence.

“So, how was your day?”

How was my day. Um, well... I saw your dicks? No... I shouldn’t start with that. Jax walked in on my playing with myself. GAH!

Setting those thoughts aside, I focus on everything else.

“Uh, it was good. I walked around the house more. Found the trails that run down by the lake.”

“Oh yea? The lake is great. See anything you like out there?” Hawk pipes in.

Erm, yea, a sexy man parade all for me!

Memories pop into my head of this afternoon, making my cheeks flush. Hawk eyes me curiously, a smirk coming to his lips. Jeez is this guy psychic or something? I can’t seem to hide anything from him. I silently tell myself to reign it in.

“Um, yea, the sunset was stunning.”

Hawk’s smirk grows even more smug. Shit, he knows. I gotta shut this down before I say anything I regret.

“I haven’t fully been able to relax long enough lately to really enjoy anything so it was nice. I can see why you all love this place.”

“Jax really has a little slice of heaven here. I’m glad you’re feeling better and were able to see it.” Cole says.

Jax quickly swings his gaze towards Cole in acknowledgement before announcing, “Food’s up.” He lifts the large pot of what I now notice is tomato bisque, made from scratch, and places it on the island beside Cole’s salad and the bread Hawk sliced.

We all dig in. As the sounds of contentment and appreciation surround us while we fill our bellies, I think back to what Cole said.

About Jax having a little slice of heaven.

I can see it. Feel how true the sentiment actually is.

How, for so long, I felt like I was drifting in between two different planes of existence.

Neither here, nor there. Neither dead nor living.

Stuck in limbo. But then, these guys found me.

My angels. Delivering me to their kingdom in the woods.

Away from death, away from the sprawling desert of oblivion, and instead to an oasis hidden in the middle of it, where life and happiness and love flourish amongst these three.

I look to each of them, in turn. My gaze holding a few seconds before I move onto the next. Finally, I look to Jax and notice he is looking right back at me. How long has he been staring at me? His eyes are soft and his voice just as soft and gentle as he asks, “What are you thinking about?”

I take a second to think but the only thing that I can respond is, “Just... thank you...” They all give small smiles and nod their heads, returning to their meals.

I find the solemn drop of the dinner conversation a bit overwhelming.

The desire to hear them laughing as they did before I arrived pulling at me so I take one for the team and lay myself over the coals adding, “especially for the show I got at the lake...” I let it linger on the air.

Letting it wind through their brains until-

There it is. Each of their eyes suddenly light up and the kitchen fills with their ruckus laughter. Hawk points at me.

“I KNEW you saw us. Beautiful sunset my ass. Yea my ass is more like it!” and he erupts in a belly wrenching fit of laughter, along with the rest of us.

“Gonna have to keep an eye on your wandering eyes, darling. I’ll be watching you.” Cole jumps in. A sly smile taking over his lips and drawing my eyes to them. Yea, he knows what he’s doing, making himself look all delectable over there with his threats and his promises. I see you, Doc.

Jax is quiet, too quiet. I turn my head to glance his way.

He’s still staring at me. His lower lip between his teeth as he bites down on it.

His eyes glancing down at me and then back up to my face, just like he did earlier.

His traveling gaze sending goosebumps down its path as his stare lingers.

I can feel it on my skin. Like a finger, softly caressing me on its travels across my body.

My mouth opens on a soft gasp and without any preamble, the moment ends.

His head pops back, the spell is over. He shakes it a little and goes back to his food as if he didn't just mentally undress me in front of everyone.

I take a deep breath, taming the arousal that had taken hold of me at just a simple look, and turn back to my food again, trying my best not to find myself trapped in his gaze for the rest of the evening.