Rough and Ready [Men for Hire 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13

  Jeff hopped off the chair and tossed the fork aside. “Good. Then let me at her.”

  She hadn’t planned it, but she’d always wanted to play chase with a lover. Now she had two who could try and catch her. Rolling, she forced her body to the edge of the table, then threw her legs over the side. She fell off and would’ve landed hard on her face if Jeff hadn’t caught her.

  “What the hell, Alex? Do you want to hurt yourself?”

  She pulled away from him, stumbling to the other side of the table. “Of course not. I just wanted to see if you could handle a moving target.”

  Jeff and Kane glanced at one another then back at her. “I think the dirty girl wants to play.”

  She took off running, as well as she could with her arms still bound behind her. But she didn’t get far. Jeff lunged at her, and wrapping his arms around her waist, caught her then lifted her off her feet. She kicked, squirming to get free, but he held on and ignored her shouts to let her go.

  She loved getting “captured” by Jeff. Her shouts to turn her loose soon changed to a squeal of laughter as he carried her to the nearest chair then put her gently down on it, her stomach resting on the cushion. He put his hand in the middle of her back and held her there even as she tried to get free.

  “Alex, you’re being a very bad girl.”

  Her hair draped over her face. Although she tried to crane her neck around to see him, her position made it too difficult. “So? What are you going to do about it?”

  “This.” The smack of his hand against her butt cheek was just what she’d hoped for. Another slap joined the first one as Jeff spanked her twice, then three times more.

  Kane drew up a chair and yanked her hair, lifting her head to him. “Are you going to be a good girl now?”

  She grinned. “Hell, no.”

  “Good to know.” He thrust his cock at her. “Finish me off.”

  She opened her mouth and let him guide his cock inside her mouth. At first she tasted her juices, but then it was all musky male after that. She pulled on him hard, and barely kept from biting down when yet another slap landed on her butt.

  “She’s nice and pretty now, man.”

  Kane’s half-lidded eyes lifted to Jeff. “And I like it. Spank her again.”

  Jeff did more than that. He not only gave her another slap but pinched her other butt cheek. She cried out as the orgasm took control of her and took her for a ride. Her body shuddered, and as her release thundered through her, Kane had to pull his cock out of her mouth.

  Before she’d had time to take a breath, Kane undid the belt around her wrists. “Flip her over.”

  He and Jeff turned her over so that her back rested on the seat. Her butt hung over one side of the chair while her breasts and head hung over the other. Kane repositioned his chair to the side of her and took hold of her breast while he supported her shoulders. Knowing what he needed, she turned her head and drew in his cock. She sucked on Kane’s cock, fondling his balls, and watched the ecstasy fill his face.

  She heard the scrape of another chair on the hardwood floors as Jeff pulled one closer and took her buttocks in his hands. He thrust his cock inside her pussy, surprising her.

  “Aw, shit. She’s so fucking tight.” Jeff glided his palm over her leg. “I’m sorry, baby. I wanted to ease into it. It’s just that I’ve been dreaming about this since that time in my pickup.”

  Kane tunneled his fingers through her hair, still supporting her as she dragged him in and out. His cock seemed to have grown even longer and thicker, the texture of his veins rubbing against her tongue.

  “That’s it, darlin’. Suck me hard. Aw, hell.”

  Jeff gripped her hips and plunged into her again. He groaned as she began to rotate her hips.

  She’d never forget Daisy’s dining room for as long as she lived. Having two cocks inside her was a feeling she’d never thought she’d experience. But that was nothing compared to having two amazing men want her.

  When the next climax hit her, she had to turn Kane’s cock loose to scream. Her body felt like a freight train tore her apart, sending her into the pain of her release and the ecstasy of it, too. She felt strong, powerful and all woman.

  Kane pulled back, and snatching a napkin, covered his release. Jeff, his eyes closed, his expression intense, tried to hold back, but then roared his own climax free.

  Her body trembled as the last of her orgasm rippled through her. Although her back and arms ached, her pussy’s ache was of a different kind, making the other small pains worth it.

  Kane eased her into a sitting position and handed her a napkin to clean herself. She did so, all too aware that something had changed between them. She checked their faces, but after exchanging another look like the one they’d done earlier, they kept their eyes averted from hers.

  Oh, shit. Please don’t tell me it’s happening again.

  A real agony, greater than any physical pain she could ever suffer, tore at her from the inside. Had she made a mistake giving herself to them again? Did they already regret what they’d done?

  She fought back the tears as her vision grew blurry. She wouldn’t let them see her cry. Besides, she didn’t know if it was going to turn out like that. Perhaps there was a little hope left that they’d want more than just sex.

  She swallowed the sob that threatened to come, rose, and pulled on her clothes, stuffing the torn undies into one of her pockets. From the noises they made, they did the same, but she kept her back to them. Still, the words she dreaded came anyway.

  “Alex, honey, we need to talk.”

  Chapter Eight

  Alex’s throat closed up on her. The moment she’d feared was coming true. She gathered her strength and turned to face them. “There’s no need to say anything.”

  Please, don’t say anything.

  Kane and Jeff glanced at each other.

  For two guys who supposedly don’t like each other, they’re sure in sync.

  “Yeah, there is.” Jeff took a deep breath.

  This can’t be good. Even he’s dreading saying the words.

  “Jeff’s right. We need to tell you.”

  She might as well get it over with. The pain had already struck deep into her heart. Why not let them tear it in half?

  She crossed her arms and tried to appear more detached than she felt. “Okay, then, go ahead. Spit it out.”

  Damn it. Will they stop glancing at each other?

  “We can’t do this again.”

  She was amazed when her heart didn’t literally break apart. “You can’t do what again? Eat dinner with me?” She zeroed in on them and wished she could kill with one look. “Or you can’t fuck me again?”

  Okay. Maybe not kill. But at least maim.

  Anger crawled through her, slowly replacing the hurt. She took hold of that anger and let it grow.

  Maybe it won’t hurt as much this time.

  Yet she knew that was impossible. She’d never cared for anyone like she did for them. She needed to hang on to her anger for as long as she could. Anger would help rebuild the wall they’d broken down. But once the anger was gone, it was going to hurt more than she could even imagine. Maybe more than she could endure.

  Jeff appeared as stricken as she felt. But that wouldn’t weaken her resolve to hold onto the fury building inside her.

  Kane, who usually let Jeff take the lead, seemed to be in charge of the conversation. “That’s partially right. We can’t have sex again.”

  Jeff took a step forward, but she backed up. If he touched her, she’d be sure to fall apart. “It’s not about the sex. It’s about us. We don’t want to share you.”

  What did he just say?

  She had to make sure her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her. “I’m not sure I understand.”

  The struggle to find the right words showed on Jeff’s face. “We can’t share you any longer. Sure, it was fun, but it can’t stay this way.” He ran a hand through his hair, and she ached to clutch a hunk of it as he’d d
one hers. Except once she did, she’d tear a handful out.

  “So you’re dumping me?” Why couldn’t they just spit it out and get it over with? Better to die a quick death than a slow and painful one.

  “Hell, no.”

  She almost smiled as they both answered at once. Did they realize how often they did that?

  “Then what are you driving at?”

  “Like I said. We don’t want to share you.” For once, Jeff looked like he was finding it difficult to find the right words.

  “Wait. Are you trying to tell me that I have to choose between you?” She held her breath, ready for them to laugh at her. They’d both deny that they wanted her, adding to her embarrassment. In her confusion, that made more sense than having to pick one of them over the other.

  “Yeah, that’s about it.” Kane’s smile was one of relief.

  They both want me.

  Her joy had her smiling back at him before it hit her. They were giving her an ultimatum. She had to choose. “But you’ve already shared me. Twice.”

  It was crazy. Was she really standing in the middle of Daisy’s dining room talking about how many times they’d taken her? How many times she’d given her body, hell, her heart to them?

  “And it was great.” Kane hooked his thumbs in his belt. “But sharing you in sex with Jeff is one thing. Sharing you for a lifetime is another. That’s not happening.”

  Once again, they’d thrown her. “For a lifetime?”

  “Yeah.” Jeff’s blue eyes brightened. “We both care about you. No, that’s not right. I love you. I don’t know about this guy.”

  “Knock it off. You know I love her, too.”

  She didn’t know whether to be thrilled or upset. They’d told her that they loved her. Yet, almost in the same breath, they were demanding that she choose between them.

  Yet how did they know that she loved them? Their cockiness in assuming that she loved them hit a sore spot. The fact that they were right didn’t matter.

  How could she pick one over the other? She loved them both. It was as though they were telling her to decide between living only in the night or seeing only the sun again. What was one without the other?

  “You are out of your fucking mind.” She’d spoken, her tone intense, but her voice low.

  Again with the damned look.

  “What?” Kane frowned, his earlier smile gone.

  “I said that you’re out of your fucking mind. Both of you.” She shook her head, refusing to let them dictate her life with every ounce of her body. “I’m not choosing.”

  “But you have to.” Jeff’s scowl matched Kane’s.

  They’re more alike than they know.

  “No, I don’t. Just because you waltz in here and we have great sex doesn’t mean that gives either one of you the right to issue an ultimatum. I—” She froze, aware of what she was about to say. Did she dare tell them that she loved them, too?

  “Then what, Alex? If you think we can go on like this for any length of time, then you’ve got it all wrong. There’s nothing else you can do. You have to pick one of us.”

  She glared at Jeff. “No. You’ve got it all wrong. I don’t.”

  Kane muttered something under his breath. Although she hadn’t understood the words, she got the gist of his meaning.

  “Just choose me, Alex. Let Jeff get out of here while he still has a shred of dignity left.”

  “Fuck that, Kane. You’re the one she’s going to kick to the curb.”

  She almost laughed. Just how cocky could they get? “I’m not choosing either one of you and that’s it.”

  “So you expect us to share you forever?”

  Forever. Wow. Did Jeff mean it? Yet Kane had said the same thing.

  “There’s a third choice that you’re overlooking.” All at once, her fear was gone. She knew what she had to do. As far as she was concerned, it had to be all or nothing.

  “What’s that?” The concern in Jeff’s voice was unmistakable.

  “I could pass on both of you.” She spun on her heel, eager to make it upstairs to her room. If they caught her, she wasn’t sure she could keep her resolve. The third choice was worse than their ultimatum, but what other option did she have? To lose either one of them would leave a hole inside of her for the one she’d turned down.

  She made it as far as the foyer when she ran into the large man. He was huge, standing well over six feet and built like a linebacker.

  “Oh!” Alex stumbled back from him and would’ve fallen if Kane hadn’t caught her. She jerked away from him, but kept her attention on the brute of a man. His face said he was used to getting into fights. Three scars ran down one side of his face as though someone had taken a rake to his flesh.

  “Who are you?” Kane took to one side of her.

  She was just as happy when Jeff came to the other side of her. They were ready to protect her from the man-brute.

  “Name’s Lou. I’m looking for Avery Martin. You seen him?”

  His voice was as rough as gravel and twice as deep as the ocean. She couldn’t place the accent, but it wasn’t any kind she’d heard in Oklahoma. She shook her head, instinctively wanting to protect her half brother. “He took off yesterday and won’t be coming back.”

  She was a lousy liar. Always had been, and judging from Lou’s expression, she was still a lousy liar.

  “Lady, come on. Where is he? You his sister?”

  “Half sister,” added both Kane and Jeff.

  At that moment, the front door opened and Avery stepped inside. He took one look at Lou, then spun on his heel and started running. Lou proved that a man his size could move fast when he wanted to.

  Lou had Avery by the collar by the time she, Jeff, and Kane made it out to the front yard. “Let him go!” But as she’d expected, Lou didn’t pay any attention to her.

  Kane and Jeff split apart, each going on either side of Lou. Kane growled out his words, making it clear that he meant business. “Turn him loose.”

  “Sorry, folks, I can’t do that. Avery here owes my boss a lot of money. My job’s to bring one of two things back. Either I take the money back or I take him back.”

  “Come on, Lou, do me a solid. I can give you the money if you’ll just give me until Saturday like Enrique said.”

  Alex tried not to act surprised at Avery’s promise. He couldn’t have earned enough from the little time he’d spent working on the ranch. Had he done something illegal to get it?

  Lou shook his head and pursed his lips. “Kid, you’re no better liar than your sis.”

  “But I—I don’t have it all. Not right now anyway. I have a couple of thousand. Take that back to Enrique. I’ll get the rest to him as soon as I can.”

  “What do you think Mr. V is? A bank? He don’t do no loans. Naw, man, two thousand ain’t going to cut it.”

  “But he gave me until Saturday,” moaned Avery.

  “What can I say? Mr. V changed his mind.” He shook Avery as though he were a small, disobedient child. “Looks like you’re coming back with me.”

  Alex grabbed Kane’s arm. “Please. Don’t let him take him.” To her amazement, he peeled off her fingers and left her standing there as he walked over to his truck. Was he leaving? How could he say he loved her and not help Avery?

  “Here.”

  She pivoted toward Jeff who held out an envelope for Lou. “What’s that?”

  Jeff gave her an uneasy smile. “It’s ten thousand dollars.”

  Her mouth parted as she gaped at him. “Ten thousand dollars? You’re walking around with ten thousand dollars in your hip pocket?”

  “Strictly speaking, it’s a cashier’s check made out to Cash. But yeah, it’s ten thousand dollars.”

  Lou studied the envelope, his black eyes flicking from Jeff to her. At last, he took it without releasing Avery. Thumbing it open with his free hand, he took one hard look at what was inside then tossed Avery aside. Avery fell forward, landing on his knees.

  Lou shoved the envelo
pe into the pocket of his silk shirt. “Looks like you’ve got a good friend, kid.” A knowing expression came over him. “Or maybe I should say your sis’s got a good friend. Either way, you’re off the hook. Try not to get snagged on it again.”

  Alex couldn’t believe it was over so fast. She helped Avery to his feet. They stayed where they were until Lou had slid behind the wheel of his car and turned it around to head down the driveway.

  “Where’d he go?”

  Jeff hooked his thumbs in his jean pockets. “Not that it’s any concern of yours, Kane, but Lou got his money and left.”

  Avery placed his hand on Jeff’s shoulder. “I swear to you. If it takes me a lifetime, I’ll pay you back every red cent.”

  “Damn straight you will,” muttered Jeff.

  She was still trying to comprehend what had happened. “You paid his debt. But why?”

  Jeff’s blue eyes locked onto her. “Because he’s your family. And if he’s your family—”

  “He’s my family,” interrupted Kane. He held up a large manila envelope. “I had the same idea.”

  “Oh, my word. Are you saying there’s ten thousand dollars in that?”

  “Sure is.” Kane opened the flap wide enough for everyone to get a look. Cash, stuffed as hard as it could be, was in the envelope in hundred-dollar denominations.

  “Too bad that I beat you to it.” Jeff’s grin was wider than she’d ever seen it.

  “Wow. I can’t believe you guys would do that for me.” Avery shook his head, obviously as stunned as she was.

  “Like Jeff, I did it for Alex. But I won’t do it again. You got that? As far as I’m concerned, next time they can have your ass.”

  “Sure, man.” Avery nodded so hard she thought his head would fall off. “In fact, once I get back to the ranch, I’ll hand over the money I’ve gotten so far.”

  He caught her worried look. “No, Alex, I didn’t do anything wrong to get it. That’s my pay plus I sold a couple of things. You can stop worrying about me getting into trouble. I’ve learned my lesson. Finally.”

  “Make sure that you have.” Kane’s dark eyes flashed. “Or you’ll have to answer to me.”

  “And me,” added Jeff.