Enlisting Her Heart Read online

  Violet hadn’t heard Hulk approach and jumped when he draped an arm around her shoulders. “Shit! You scared me!” She playfully smacked his chest. The butterflies fluttered in her tummy. She had always found dancing one of the most romantic actions and fantasized about having a man whisk her away and sway her into the throws of passion, but so far the best she had was a couple drunks cop a feel at the old bar Alaina used to work at. It was a woman’s dream—one which more than likely wouldn’t ever come true. Still, a girl could dream, couldn’t she? Her dreams usually ended with disappointment from the unrealistic picture she painted, but that was who she was. A normal girl with her head in the clouds, or a book whenever she could.

  “Sorry,” he laughed. He watched her look on at the couples dancing and grinned. As if on cue, the band began a slow melody. “May I have this dance?” He bowed melodramatically, kissing the back of her hand. Violet giggled at his display and nodded, her heart jumping in her chest.

  “I’d be honored, kind sir.” She allowed him to lead her into the sea of bodies and was half shocked when he pulled her against him closely. Violet looked up, almost swearing that his emerald eyes were glowing. His hair had grown out from its usual bic smooth shave and shaped into a neat high and tight. The torches and fire danced across his features mesmerizingly, almost making her stumble when he spun her into a turn and dipped her. He held her there, slowly leaning down. His eyes didn’t break from hers until their lips were a mere breath apart. Just when she was sure he’d kiss her, he spoke.

  “You look beautiful tonight.” Violet fought the urge to tilt her head the slight distance that remained between them. He pulled her upright, keeping their eyes locked and his lips close to hers.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. Her eyes fluttered shut when he leaned in, brushing his mouth against hers. She didn’t know if she was imagining it all or it was reality, until she felt his moist tongue trace along the seam of her lips. She parted for him to gain entrance, feeling the fire ignite as soon as they made contact. Hulk kissed her softly, pressing with just enough pressure, melting her. Violet had always had a thing for a man who took charge, and Hulk was no exception. When his tongue slid against hers, Violet’s knees went weak. He kept it soft and sensual, but the underlying demands had her blood pumping through her veins.

  Hulk groaned from the sweetness of her lips. He hadn’t expected her to comply so easily, much less meet him with the same amount of enthusiasm. In fact, he half expected her to slap him. When she leaned into him, lacing one arm up around his neck to pull him down tighter, he fought for control. Going without a woman for so long had him chomping at the bit. His breath caught in his chest, refusing to deliver oxygen to his brain. No. He wasn’t going to rush things with her. This was about more; and as much as he wanted to strip her down and ram into her sweet spot he refused to deny himself by getting all of her. He let his mouth give just enough insinuation of his desires before pulling away. When she looked at him stunned, he grinned. “Peach. My favorite.”

  Violet looked at him, trying to get her mind to function to understand what he was talking about. When she didn’t reply, he chuckled. “Peach Bellini?”

  Her drink. Right. She hadn’t drank enough to be drunk per se, but the fruity frozen cocktail had her relaxed and feeling the music in his arms. “Oh, yeah. It’s my favorite too,” she smiled back. He spun her around, leading her across the floor with ease. “Where did you learn to dance so well?”

  “My mother always loved dancing. So, when dad was deployed or working late nights, she taught me.” He laughed remembering, “We’d move all the furniture out of the front room and put on some of her old records or eight tracks and cut a rug. From disco to ballroom, our little party of two would last into the wee hours of the morning.” Violet listened, feeling the sentimental value of each word. It was hard to think of Hulk disco dancing, but the faraway gaze in his eyes warmed her heart. He hadn’t spoken about his folks much.

  “Where are your parents now?”

  “Dad died in combat when I was nineteen. Mom passed the next year from a broken heart.” Hulk’s eyes misted, so Violet pulled him tighter. It was no wonder the man held on to the group so tightly. They were his only family left.

  “I’m so sorry to hear that.” She reached up and kissed his cheek softly. He couldn’t help but smile at her sincerity.

  “My mother would’ve loved you. You have the same spunk and excitement for life that she had.”

  “She sounds like an amazing woman. I wish I could have met her.” As the song changed to a more upbeat tempo, Hulk changed his footwork. As he spun her out into a spin and then pulled her back, Kodiak walked up.

  “May I cut in?” he said, not tearing his gaze from Violet. She looked between them, unsure how to respond. She cared for them both in different ways. Where Hulk was intense, Kodiak was fun. Before she came up with an excuse to leave, Hulk surprised her.

  “Sure.” He pulled her tight and dropped a kiss on her forehead before handing her to Kodiak. Before she could speak, Kodiak had pulled her away into the sea of bodies.

  “I’ve wanted to get you in my arms all night.”

  “Well, now that you have me here, what are you gonna do with me?” she teased. He whipped her around, flinging her out into a spin and pulling her back before lifting her up over his head. She laughed, having more fun than she had in a long time. Kodiak pulled her up close and smiled. “Eat your heart out, Patrick Swayze.”

  Violet smiled at his reference. “That’s one of my favorite movies.”

  Kodiak snorted. “No way. That’s a lame movie! It’s cliché. A failed attempt at Romeo and Juliet, where instead of death do part, the ending he drives off into the sunset.”

  “It’s about summer love. Sexy dancing, hot love, and forbidden desires with some kickass music,” she retorted.

  “I’ll give it that. The music was awesome, but the guy was a tool. He should have chased her instead of the other way around. Any guy that doesn’t go after you, doesn’t deserve you.” He spun her again, dancing circles around the other couples. “The ending should have been a happily ever after. I hate the parting is such sweet sorrow endings. It’s bogus, bullshit. There is no way a real romance would have just ended with the vacation. Did they not have mail? Hell, it’s not like the dude had a job he couldn’t leave…”

  Violet choked back a giggle. “Wow. I see you have given this quite a bit of thought.” The song ended and she turned to leave when he pulled her back against his body. His outlook on the romance warmed her heart. Most men didn’t read that far into a movie, let alone romance. Was he a closet romantic?

  “Where you going?” He joked, “What, a man can’t have his opinions on love?”

  Violet shook her head, trying to figure him out. He surprised her around every corner. Guys thought about getting laid, plain and simple. “I…I thought maybe I should get back…” She tried to make an excuse but fell short, her need to find out more about the gentle giant becoming a must. The little voice in the back of her mind reminded her that Hulk had agreed but it still made her feel guilty. It was no secret she had feelings for him, and vice versa. But Kodiak… She cared for him too. Whether it was more than just a friendship she didn’t know and wasn’t ready to figure it out yet. True, he was sexy as sin wearing a tight pair of jeans and a blue shirt that made his sapphire eyes sparkle, but so far she hadn’t been successful. His brown hair had grown out some, getting soft curls on the longer part of his norm military cut. Violet wanted to run her fingers through it and see if it was as soft as it appeared but refrained. The band had taken a break and the DJ had taken over, pumping “Cowboy” by Kid Rock. In a flash, Kodiak had positioned his leg between hers and pulled her against him, gripping one hand low on her back and the other high on her ribs. If not for the wicked flash of orneriness in his eyes, she would have pulled away. His intentions weren’t solely honest, but then again, the hunger that radiated off him made her knees weak. “Watch the paws, you big bear.�
� She laughed.

  “Mmm. I’ll do my best. See if you can keep up with this cowboy, baby.” His hard muscles flexed against her, twisting and grinding.

  Violet grinned. “Mmm. I’ll do my best,” she mocked. In a blink of an eye she turned, swaying in a circle, stopping with her ass inches from his groin. With each beat she shimmied down, arching her back to touch the sand. When she worked herself back up, her tantalizing little dance had him growling. Back and forth they went, amping up the stakes with each chord of the song. Their hands explored, their bodies entwined. When he spun her and grinded up against her hips, she couldn’t help the gasp that escaped at the massive hard-on that pressed against the crack of her ass. By the time the song had faded into another equally alluring song, Violet was in the groove. Ironically, the song that now pulsed around them was “Bump N’ Grind” by R. Kelley. Great. So much for reserve. Violet stole a glace at the crowd and was relieved to see far worse going on than the display they were giving. With her mind at ease, she fell into a hypnotic, erotic pace.

  Kodiak sent a thank you toward the heavens. The song couldn’t have been more perfect. Not only did he get a chance to dance with her, he now had an excuse to grind all up on the fiery redhead who had haunted his dreams for months. Her little body was even sexier than he had imagined. And the way she moved…dayumn. She was a walking wet dream. “Watch it, little lady. You might be starting something you can’t finish.” He winked. Her eyes narrowed, her lips curving slightly. She pressed into him, grinding against the pup tent protruding from the seam of his jeans he was so desperately trying to hide.

  “Or maybe you are scared you can’t handle me.” Kodiak fought the urge to claim her right there and then.

  It had taken all of Hulk’s willpower to keep from marching over and knocking the fuck out of Kodiak when he saw his hands rub all up on Violet. His anger had charged forward, rearing the ugly green head of his jealousy. But as they danced, he had a different idea. She seemed to be enjoying herself, which was all he wanted. Instead of ruining her night, he decided to push past his own hang-ups and test the waters some.

  Violet’s arms were wound around Kodiak’s neck as he rolled against her. When something pressed against her from behind, sandwiching her in a wall of muscle, she fought a moan. Her head spun to see whose hand was now planted on her thigh and brushing against her breast and met the intense glare of Hulk. Her body stiffened, unsure how to react. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. “Damn, you’re so fucking hot.” Hulk traced the tip of his tongue along her earlobe and she shivered. Her eyes shot back to Kodiak, hoping this wasn’t the beginning of a pissing match. From the look he gave over his shoulder, it was the opposite. The duo worked her into a raging boil of need. Her hands roamed over them both, feeling out each ripped mouthwatering muscle of their upper bodies. Hulk forgot about the competition and reveled in the moment. Violet seemed lost in them, her body responding to each touch and caress. For time the song provided, he let go and allowed himself to just feel. Having a woman become turned on at the aid of another set of hands was more intoxicating than he would have ever dreamed. It was intoxicating—watching her soak up all they had to offer. With each groan that came from her parted lips a brick around his pride and heart tumbled down.

  The crowd began to die down, and Violet was stumbling to keep from inviting them both back to her room. Thankfully, they looked just as torn as she did. Whether it was the alcohol or the atmosphere, Violet had tread into a wild side of herself she didn’t know existed. Reluctantly, Hulk and Kodiak released her and walked back to the bar. They ordered her another drink, the conversation minimal. What she found more disturbing than the awkward situation was that it wasn’t so awkward. It was the desire that flowed from each of them that had her itching to take the night one step further. If not for the fear of ruining the spell that had been cast over them, she would have. Still, something held her back. If there was to be a future that included the two men she had it bad for, she needed to take things slow.

  “This view is gorgeous,” she said, looking out at the moon casting its glow on the sparkling water. From the waves that rolled against the surf to the warm light breeze, the night left only fantasies and possibilities for her imagination to ponder.

  “Yeah. It is.” Kodiak’s eyes roamed up and down her body. She turned and caught him, darting her eyes to Hulk. The look in his eyes was something she couldn’t put her finger on. Arousal? Pain? Anger? His expression was hard, making it too hard to decode what he was thinking. She didn’t know what to say or do. She sucked her drink down a little too fast, feeling the alcohol rush through her system. The three engaged in small talk for the next twenty minutes when Violet had enough. Deciding it was time to end things before something ruined the night’s events, she made for a clean break.

  “Thank you both for a wonderful time, but I’m headed to bed. I think that last drink got to me.” She fanned her face, hoping they bought her lame excuse. Hulk nodded and set his glass on the bar.

  “I’m calling it a night too. I’ll walk you back.” Before Hulk could step away, Kodiak looped his arm through Violet’s.

  “The pleasure was all mine. Shall we?” He held his other arm outstretched for Hulk to lead the way, only to be left hanging. Hulk glared at him and moved to Violet’s other side and took her other arm. Violet felt the tension and groaned inwardly. Things seemed to be getting more complicated as the night went on. It was definitely time to go to bed.

  When they arrived back at the huts the team had rented out along the beach, they waited while she opened her door. Violet turned to thank them, unsure what to expect. Both men just stood there as if expecting something. The situation of it all got the best of her so she did what any woman would do—she ran. “Thanks again for a fun night. See you both at breakfast.” Before they had a chance to respond, she had shut and locked the door.

  Hulk turned to Kodiak and shrugged. He had no idea what he had expected to happen, but it hadn’t been this. Sure he knew she liked Kodiak. Who didn’t? He hadn’t ever considered being in a polygamous relationship before and still wasn’t. So what? He expected a kiss good-night? Then what, she'd kiss Kodiak? Hell, the more he thought about it, the more her reaction made sense.

  “Well then. Come on. I’ll buy you a drink before we call it a night.” Kodiak nodded toward the bar. As much as Hulk wanted to be pissed, he couldn’t. Kodiak was his brother and hadn’t done anything he hadn’t done himself. How could something so good be so fucked up?

  “Maybe a drink will do me some good.” He reached down and adjusted his junk, not caring who saw. Kodiak laughed, shaking his head.

  “I know what you mean, bro.”

  Chapter Three

  One drink had turned into four. Hulk had relaxed some and was now lying in bed, praying it had been enough to numb his mind so he could get some sleep. With him and Kodiak sharing a room, it was almost impossible to drown out the sound. He reached for his headphones but his phone was dead. “Fuck.” He grabbed the extra pillow and shoved it over his head, trying to doze off before the punishing rays of the sun came streaming through the window at its normal ungodly hour.

  Kodiak had just coasted off into the darkness when Hulk’s screams jarred him up, his heart thumping like the hooves of a racehorse against his rib cage. “No! Venus! I won’t leave you!” Kodiak looked over and saw Hulk thrashing against his sheets. His screams tore at his soul. He knew exactly what demons were torturing his brother and, his heart shredded into pieces. He sat up and stood, carefully approaching. He had to stop it, had to free his friend from the hell he knew all so well. There was no doubt this was why Hulk had been a walking time bomb ready to blow at any minute, and it was time he defused him.

  “Bro, it’s just a bad dream, man.” He reached out and touched his arm, trying to wake him. Hulk’s fist flew up and landed on the side of Kodiak’s jaw. He stumbled backwards and fought the anger that immediately spiked in his blood. Hulk was still sound asleep. His yells
were getting louder. He was careful to grab his foot this time, keeping his distance. “Zane! Fuck, man, wake up!” Finally, Hulk woke, disoriented and looking around. “Come back to me, bro. You’re on vacation, not on the battlefield.” When he spotted Kodiak, recognition finally hit as to where he was.

  Hulk had been fighting to get to Venus moments before the Humvee exploded. When he woke, he didn’t know where he was. “Wha—”

  “It’s okay, dude. Let it go man. You can’t keep going on like this.” Kodiak didn’t know what to say. Guys didn’t do mushy shit, much less to each other. But the subject had been avoided for too long. Hulk was getting worse before their eyes. Hulk blinked a few times, sitting up.