McKenzie, Cooper - Daria's Heroes [Men Out of Uniform 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free Page B

milk from the counter by the refrigerator.
    Daria smiled down at her sandwich. Peanut butter and banana cut in triangular quarters. She did not need to lift the bread to know he had placed a layer of chocolate chips between the peanut butter and the slices of banana. A relatively healthy sandwich with a treat, Roman was the only one who fixed her favorite sandwich just the way she preferred.
    “Thank you,” she said softly as she stared at the sandwich without making a move to eat it.

    * * * *

    “You’re thinking too hard,” Roman said as he sat in the chair next to hers.
    She had not touched her sandwich yet, just looked down at it with an intent expression. He knew from past experience with Daria that he had better be ready to discuss something of serious importance.
    “What is it that has you staring at your favorite sandwich like it’s covered with ants?”
    He fought back a smile when Daria shrugged and picked up the first quarter of her sandwich. He watched as she quickly ate it in three bites, as she did the second one. When she picked up the third quarter, she finally looked at him.
    “Why did you kiss me like that?”
    She sounded confused and looked beyond troubled. Roman thought he felt Mrs. Stone’s hand reach into his chest and squeeze his heart at the idea that he had caused this beauty any troubling thoughts. Though it was hardly the time for this particular discussion, the reality of the situation needed to be brought into the open.
    Pushing back from the table, Roman turned his chair. He twisted her chair around so they sat face to face. “I kissed you because I couldn’t hold myself back any longer.”
    “But you’re gay! And if you haven’t noticed, I’m not a man. And you love Gage! You two have been together forever. Why would you want to screw that up?” Daria’s eyes got bigger with every sentence. She blinked twice before pushing back and standing. “Maybe I should leave and go stay with Mariellen or Kelso instead.”
    Before she could take a step, Roman grabbed her arm and pulled into his lap. “No, baby girl, you’re staying here with us. There are some things we need to talk about. I wanted to wait until you’d gotten your feet under you, but now is as good a time as any.”
    Daria wiggled in his arms, trying to get away, but Roman held tight. He shifted her to sit across his lap and held her with one arm around her back, holding her hips, and the other arm wrapped around her chest, his arm just brushing the undersides of her breasts.
    “Roman, let me go! What will Gage think when he comes back?”
    Roman tightened his hold as she attempted again to climb from his lap. “Gage knows how I feel. And I know how he feels. We’ve talked about this, and we’re in agreement. Now settle down and relax,” he ordered, purposely using his Dom voice to see if she would react as Gage did.
    She stilled immediately, proving to him that she was as much his woman as Gage was his man.
    “What’s going on?” Gage asked as he stepped into the room.
    “We’re about to have a talk,” Roman said.
    “Now?”
    Roman nodded. “Right now. Get yourself a glass of juice and join us.”
    Daria frowned at him, her bottom lip pooching out just a bit. “How come he gets juice and I have to drink milk?”
    She looked so cute pouting that Roman could not help himself. He leaned down and brushed a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Because, sweet Daria, Gage has a severe sensitivity to milk.”
    “Oh,” she said, looking surprised. “Why didn’t I know about this?”
    “It’s not a big deal,” Gage said as he sat down in the chair she had used. “You didn’t finish your sandwich.”
    Roman watched as Gage picked up the last quarter of the sandwich, smashed it appropriately flat, and held it up to Daria’s lips. Roman waited until she finished eating before reaching a hand out to his partner.
    “Daria, the first thing you need to understand is that we are not gay. We are monogamously