Firebreather 2: A Royal Continuum by Marie Harte

cleavage. Shit, this promised to be a long night.
    The room Matthias took them to was a suite with one large, king-sized bed, a small kitchenette and an area containing a couch, a few chairs and a desk.
    "Nice," Ava commented before flopping back on the bed. "Very nice."
    Matthias chose that moment to share a look with Tanner. She's better than nice, don't you think?
    Tanner swallowed around a dry throat, taken with Ava's breasts lovingly molded by her blouse. A glance at Matthias showed the man obviously taken with Ava, his gaze on her body, his arousal straining the jeans that clung to him like a second skin.
    Matthias shook his head, as if shaking the carnal thoughts evident in the erection he couldn't hide. "You two can have the bed. I'm going to watch a little TV on the couch. I'm not tired."
    "How about you let me look at those ribs first?" Tanner caught Matthias's annoyance and squared his jaw.
    Ava sat up, concerned. "Matthias? I saw you get out of the truck, so don't try to pretend you're not hurting. Just a quick look and we'll leave you alone, okay?"
    "I said I'm fine. In fact, I noticed a bar downstairs on the way in. Why don't I go down and order us something to eat? Room service closes at eleven. We're an hour past that." He glanced at the bedside clock.
    "That's a good idea." Ava beamed. "You and Tanner can get us something to eat...as soon as we've looked at your ribs."
    Tanner couldn't help grinning. Matthias's annoyance was as amusing as Ava's persistent pleasantness.
    "Damn it. Go ahead and look. But I don't know what you think you're going to see. It's just bruised flesh."
    Matthias shrugged out of his jacket and moved to lift his shirt when Ava interceded.
    "Gently. Tanner, help him, hmm?"
    Matthias glared. "I'm not an invalid. I appreciate your concern, but really--"
    Tanner's touch stopped him short. That electric connection between them buzzed as Tanner felt Matthias's warm skin under his palms. He carefully lifted the sweatshirt over Matthias's head, his hands gliding over the prince's silky skin. Tanner couldn't help noting how Matthias's breathing increased, or how his nipples hardened. And a glance at Ava showed she wasn't immune to the flooding of sexual tension in the room either.
    She cleared her throat and leaned closer. But she blanched when she took a harder look. "Good lord, Matthias. That must hurt like a son of a gun."
    Tanner frowned and looked for what she was talking about. There, on Matthias's right side, was a huge purple bruise that hadn't been there twelve hours ago. Hell. Had Tanner done that with his roughness in the shower?
    You didn't do it, Tanner. Matthias's gentle voice reverberated in his thoughts. I was sore before we were together. Remember Mike with the bat from Morrow's?
    Ava narrowed her gaze at them, and Tanner realized she couldn't hear them.
    "It's rude to mindspeak in front of a person." She crossed her arms and tapped her foot, but her gaze kept returning to Matthias's ribs.
    "Sorry, Ava. I was just surprised because I hadn't noticed any bruising on Matthias earlier today."
    Ava nodded, her frown fading. But he realized she didn't question how he might have seen Matthias. Did she know about them in the shower? And why wasn't he more embarrassed that she might know? His concern faded as he realized Matthias had walked around half-naked most of the morning. Ava hadn't noticed his bruising then either.
    "Everybody happy now?" Matthias sounded disgruntled as he fought with Tanner over his sweatshirt.
    Tanner used what worked on the man, and placing a restraining hand on Matthias's chest, saw the prince freeze in place.
    "So stubborn." Ava shook her head, but Tanner saw the quick grin she gave him. Little did she realize how affected Tanner was, his palm tingling over Matthias's muscled pecs. "Well, it's obviously bruised. Matthias, breathe deeply." She put her hand next to Tanner's, and the heat fairly sizzled through the room.
    Matthias's eyes glittered, a rainbow of