the floor next to the bed like Venus arising from the waves, but a more masculine version, and glared at both of us. Which even I thought was rather unfair, as whatever was going on was surely nothing to do with me.
"Sorry," Johnny said and lowered his weapon before placing it under the pillow. "What just happened?"
Oh, hell. If I'd known the gun was there, I wouldn't have been quite so eager to leap into bed as I had been earlier. Living with the twins was certainly going to be a dangerous sport, even more than I'd imagined.
"Nothing happened. Nothing that needs an armed response anyway, little brother. God knows why you're so trigger-happy. Thank goodness you have me to keep you in line. And what happened was that Liam kicked me out of bed, so I'll need to add that particular misdemeanor to his punishment list."
Had I? Obviously, the caution I'd been learning in my dealings with the Delaneys hadn't yet filtered down to my feet, and I was out of bed and kneeling before Johnny could even think about picking up the gun again.
"Sorry, sir," I said, head bowed and wondering if there really was a punishment list and, if so, if I could steal a glance at it at some point. "I had no idea. Please forgive me, I'm sorry."
Behind me, Johnny chuckled. "I don't think it was deliberate."
"I know." Mark sighed and stood so his shadow towered over me, "Even so, in our business, we can't let anyone get away with anything. It's the slippery slope toward anarchy and God knows what. Standards are everything."
"Yes, I realize," was Johnny's response, "but the bed's too small for the three of us. We'll have to buy another."
Mark glared at his brother and then down at me. He leaned forward, resting his hands on my shoulders, bringing my mouth into the perfect position for his cock. Whatever he might have said to Johnny was lost forever as I took advantage of this opportunity and drew my tongue down his length.
" Jesus , Liam." Mark stepped back. "You pick your moments, don't you?"
I couldn't resist giving him a cheeky grin. "Just saying sorry for the small bed, sir."
He snorted. "Oh yes, very funny. But you need to remember one thing, Liam."
"What's that?"
"Don't push it."
"No, sir." I barely breathed my response. "Never."
With hierarchy restored and Johnny's enthusiasm disarmed, we bundled ourselves back into bed and settled down for sleep once more.
Just before I finally drifted off, Mark nudged me.
"Sir?"
"Just one thing, Liam. If you kick me out of bed again, I'll give Johnny full permission to shoot you. Understood?"
"Understood, sir."
* * * *
For a variety of reasons, all of them more than valid, I was ten minutes late for work at the gallery the following morning. Melissa was already in and gave me a challenging stare as I stumbled through the front door and tried to make a quiet entry into the fray. This proved more difficult as she was sitting in my office rather than her own.
"Ah, hello, Melissa. Sorry I'm late. I was... I was ..." The picture of what I actually had been doing, which had made me late in the first place, flashed up in my head and I found myself giving the boss a rather goofy smile.
She groaned and waved her hand. "For God's sake, whatever you do, please don't finish the sentence. I'm not sure my blood pressure could take it."
"There's nothing wrong with your blood pressure, is there?"
"Not yet, but by the look on your face it's only a matter of time. I gather the move to the mansion went well then?"
I pulled up a chair opposite, leaned back and gave what even I had to admit was a very self-satisfied sigh. "Oh yes. This morning was especially good, though there was a bit of an issue last night about the size of the bed and Johnny's gun, but it was all smoothed over this morning. Which. Was. Perfect. If you know what I mean."
Melissa rolled her eyes, stood and straightened her hair, while I admired the elegant tailoring of her pale green suit. Nothing off-the-peg there, I was sure of it.
"I'm