Claiming Lori

Claiming Lori
Marteeka Karland and Shara Azod
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2011 Marteeka Karland and Shara Azod

Lori Saunders squealed when she turned on the light to her living room to find three incredibly huge, incredibly hunky men sitting on her sectional. They'd scared the hell out of her. Especially since she'd shut the door and had broken out into a chorus of "Baby Got Back," all while shaking her ass in a little shimmy.

On one level, though, she wasn't the least bit surprised to see all three of her usual tormentors waiting for her as she stumbled back into her house. They had keys, after all. It was just startling.

"Now, guys." It was really hard not to sway on her too-cute boots, especially when confronted by three very sexy, very pissed visions of male loveliness. They sat in her living room as if they had every right to be there, glowering something fierce. "I'm a big girl now. And legal, to boot. If I want to go have a little fun, damn it, I'm entitled."

She was an only child, but it had never stopped the three knuckleheads from next door from acting like she was their kid sister. Being the only child of a single father, it had been nice when she was a kid, but the three busybodies had taken it to a whole different level since she'd first sprouted breasts. When her dad had retired and moved to Florida, leaving her the house, she should've known these three would hinder her newfound independence.

It was Alex who came over to steady her. Good old Alex, with his gorgeous auburn hair and bright blue eyes. Damn, he was tall. When had he gotten all large like that? All three brothers had always been hunkalicious, but this was a bit beyond the regular old hot and made a beeline toward sublime. Why hadn't she noticed that before?

"You know, you are one hot firefighter." A bevy of giggles escaped before Lori could call them back. Shit, now they were going to know she was sloshed. Still, it was funny. Hot firefighter, what a cliche.

"And you are headed toward having one hot little ass, sneaking out like that." Alex's reply was delivered with one of those lopsided grins designed to get a girl all wet and wanting. Man, did it ever work.

At twenty-four, she hadn't had an actual boyfriend in like... well, never, really. Guys she called herself interested in never lasted for long with the three Neanderthal McAlister brothers nosing around.

Alex, who had just turned twenty-nine, was usually the first to ferret out any and all pertinent info on any prospective male friend. He would then turn over all he knew to Michael, who was now thirty-two. If the two of them couldn't find anything bad enough to warn her off, they would turn to thirty-five-year-old Jack to intimidate the crap out of the guy, making sure he'd never return.

She could see it when she was sixteen, but, damn it, she was legal! A girl deserved a little fun in her life. Which was why she'd snuck out tonight.

"Do you know how dangerous it is, going out and getting drunk?" That came from Jack. Black Jack, as she referred to him somewhat ironically, had jet-black hair with faint reddish highlights. He had the same sapphire eyes as his brothers, though, making him devilishly handsome. Unlike his two younger brothers, Jack wasn't a firefighter, but a cop. A detective now. "What if something had happened to you, Lori? What if someone attacked you or your friends? What would you have done then?"

Jack didn't come forward as Alex had. Instead he sat there taking up the corner of the sectional, where it turned into a big armchair, looking like he was the man of the house. Didn't that thought just give her the shivers? Black Jack, all big, strong and fierce, walking around shirtless, pulling her down in his lap, maybe coming home and taking her right there against the front door as she greeted him...

"Lori, are you listening to me?" The sound of Jack's voice snapped her back to the present.

Unfortunately, her wayward tongue forgot she was no longer daydreaming. "I would totally love to see you naked," she blurted out, almost falling forward in Jack's direction. Luckily, Alex caught her in time.

"Our baby girl is good and toasted." Michael, who was generally the quiet one, spoke up for the first time, looking like he was biting back a full belly laugh. "I think the lecture can wait until morning, Jackson."

"Yeah, what he said." Lori would agree to just about anything to get herself out of the current situation. Her brain wasn't communicating with her mouth too well. That could only get her into worse trouble. "And I am not your baby anything. I told you for the last time I am a full grown woman, damn it."

Lori decided the best thing she could do was emphasize the point, so she cupped her breasts, impressive D-cups that no "baby" would have, and shoved them up a notch or two for good measure. The sweater she was wearing hugged her curves, with a deep V in the middle for just the right amount of cleavage. No way they could miss those bad boys now.

"Holy crap, Michael, I think you should pour our little drunk into bed before I say or do something I'm gonna regret." Alex actually stepped away from Lori like she'd just shoved a snake in front of his face.

That was so not fair. Lori wasn't conceited or anything, but she worked hard to keep in shape. What the hell was his problem?

"Shut up, Lori." Alex fixed a hard stare right at her when she opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind. "You're drunk, and I am not in the mood right now. I'm so damned pissed you went out like that --" he waved his hand all up and down her front, "-- knowing other guys were looking at what is ours, I could tan your hide right now. But you're too drunk to feel it."

Wait -- "ours"? What the hell did that mean?

"Huh? I am not yours or any-damn-body else's!" She was sick of this shit. "How can I be with the three of you hovering all the damn time?"

There, she'd said it. No going back now. At least they would know how she felt. It would be one thing if any one of them would step up to the plate, but they treated her as if she were their little sister. Well, she wasn't. She was a woman with needs, damn it, and it was high time they realized it.

"You're still ours," Jack said quietly, looking rather amused by the situation.

"You always have been. You're a little too drunk to prove it tonight, but tomorrow, baby girl..." Slowly rising to his feet, Jack came over and caressed the side of her face with a single finger. Lori felt her heart pounding against her breastbone, goose bumps breaking out all over. "Tomorrow we plan on showing you just how much you belong to us."

Lori was left dumbfounded, watching Jack and Alex walk to the front door. She was too scared to even breathe, terrified she might wake up at any given second. If Jack had meant what she thought he did, then one of her most torrid fantasies was about to come true.

"Come on, let's get you to bed." Michael came over and guided her to her bedroom with a firm but gentle hand. Lori went with him, not sure what else to do.

She stood there as he stripped off her sweater, boots and jeans, even the lacy underwear she'd worn just in case she got lucky. Truth be told, it wasn't that she hadn't gotten any offers. It was just that none of the guys who approached her seemed worth it. None of them could measure up to those damned McAlisters.

"You really are gorgeous, Lori." As if to put an exclamation point on his statement, Michael placed a soft kiss on her belly before ushering her over to her bed. "It's gonna be hell not touching you tonight."

She wanted to ask him what he meant by that, but the margaritas she'd had made it too hard to think, let alone ask life-altering questions. Her eyes were suddenly too heavy, and her tongue seemed glued to the roof of her mouth. It sounded like Michael was stripping off his own shirt and jeans. She only wished she could open her eyes a little wider to get a good look.

As he climbed into her bed and pulled her against him, she had her answer. There would be questions later. Right now she was just really tired, and Michael felt so nice and warm. She'd ask in the morning...