Free Centerfold by Kris Norris Page A

Aiden can take the bed.”
    Roman fisted his hand, huffing out a breath before straightening. “Fine. You need some time, we’ll give you what we can, but you can’t hide forever. And we’re not going anywhere.”
    He walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Aiden headed for the bed, sinking down on the edge as he shucked his jacket off his shoulders, rolling them in an effort to ease the straining muscles. This definitely wasn’t going as planned. He only hoped they reached an understanding before the killer struck again.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
     
    Roman stood in the bathroom doorway, staring at Scarlet as she slept in the bathtub—a pillow and her hands tucked under her head, a single blanket tossed across her. She’d spent over an hour hiding in the plush en suite last night before filing out, grabbing her belongings as she’d turned back toward the room. She’d stopped and simply stood there, waiting while they’d used the facilities before closing the door again, this time leaving it unlocked.
    Aiden had checked on her after midnight, spending the next thirty minutes sitting beside her, just watching her sleep. He hadn’t spoken when he’d finally ventured to their bed, giving Roman a kiss before turning over and drifting off. Roman had tried to get some rest, but every damn noise had put him on edge, the lingering doubt of her safety nagging at him. Though his head told him there wasn’t a way for anyone to get to her without walking through the room, his heart couldn’t stand the distance. Couldn’t ease without being able to reach behind him to feel her body curled next to him. This manor was the first time they’d shared a bed. And while he hadn’t assumed she’d be happy about sharing one again, he hadn’t considered she’d resort to sleeping in the damn tub.
    She snuffled in her sleep, shifting slightly before quieting again. God, she was beautiful. The way her brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, forming loose curls around her face. Her long eyelashes rested against creamy skin, hiding the brilliant blue that always made him think of the ocean—bright when she was happy, dark and gray when she got angry. He loved her moody little quirks—the way she scrunched her nose up when she thought he’d lost his mind. Or how her smile lit up her entire face, as if she’d flicked on a switch. She’d always looked at him like that. At Aiden too. As if they made her happy in a way no one else could.
    God, what he wouldn’t do to get that back. To have her gaze at him with an emotion other than anger or sadness.
    “Have I told you it’s kind of creepy the way you’re just standing there, staring at her?”
    “You mean the way you did for thirty minutes last night?”
    “Just wake her up. Gotta face the music sooner or later, buddy. Tick, tock.”
    Roman glanced over at Aiden, admiring the view. Chest bare, blond hair tousled about his head, he looked more than tempting. Of course, making love to the man was out of the question until they’d had a chance to talk to Scarlet. She’d seemed deeply hurt that they’d become lovers without her knowledge, and the last thing they needed was for her to walk in on them.
    He closed his eyes. Just thinking about the three of them together, bodies writhing, skin gleaming in the bright sunlight, made his dick jerk inside his pants. He clenched his jaw, flipping off Aiden before moving farther into the bathroom. He wasn’t sure he was up to another round of her glaring at them, or worse—watching her cry.
    Shit, in the two years he’d known her, he’d never once seen her cry. Sure, she’d shed a few tears chopping onions, or watching some sappy chick flick, but somehow that didn’t really count. Not like last night. The way she’d brushed them away, acting as if the simple act had weakened her somehow. It’d made him wonder in she’d cried others over the past three months. If he and Aiden had hurt her far worse than they’d ever