“My brother heads one of the stateside units and I head the other. We expanded to have help overseas when we need it. A friend of ours takes care of those two units. They’re smaller.”
“And you make money on these assignments?”
“We do. But we don’t turn down a job if the family hasn’t got the money to pay us. We go anyway.”
“I’d heard you travel fairly often. People think since you have the money you like to take trips. I’m sure no one has an inkling of what you really do. Are your men on the ranch part of the group?”
“Yes, but we have other members scattered around Texas and nearby states. If we all lived in the same place people, would notice us leave. My men on the ranch rotate and no one says anything outside of the ranch about them being gone. Plus, we don’t get assignments too often. Although last year we had four, which was a lot.”
“I never dreamed you were doing such work. How do you do with your leg? I’ve noticed lately when you’re tired the limp is worse.”
“You’re observant. That’s one of the reasons I’m glad to have Lann here. He’s going to take over some of the jobs for me. I won’t go as often. I’ll miss it, but it’s for the best.
“Since I’ve told you a secret, you have to tell me one.”
Bliss grinned. “I didn’t agree to that.”
“Please.”
“I can’t think of any.”
“Tell me about you mother and father and their marriage. It might help me understand why you have such an adverse view of the topic.” Bern placed his empty wineglass on the table and walked to her chair. He picked her up in his arms and sat with her on his lap. “Now, talk.”
* * * *
Bern’s quiet approach helped Bliss talk about things she’d never revealed to another person, except Sunn, who knew most of her secrets. Bliss spoke of how worn down her mother became over the years.
“There was no joy in our house. Dad seldom said nice things to Mother or us. Alan became his favorite child by always agreeing with Father and taking his side. Women were to be seen, to work, and not to interrupt a man’s conversation.”
“Didn’t your father see the world changing?”
“We had no television. He read the papers, and disagreed with most of what was in them. He refused to change, to see a better way to do things.”
“You said your mother thought it was naughty to look at yourself in the mirror.”
“That was a slip.”
Bern smiled. “You must have been naked.”
“You and Lann always make me blush. Yes, I was. In my early teenage years, I’d decided to look and see the changes I felt in my body. Mom walked in on me. I was embarrassed, and then more so after her lecture that no good could come from staring at my naked body.”
“I’m surprised how open you were with Lann and me.”
“My hormones seem to go crazy around you two. I don’t know myself. I followed your lead and my instincts.”
Bern stood her on her feet. “Do you have a mirror in this apartment?”
“Behind the bedroom door, but really I can’t…”
“Try, for me.” He put his arm around her waist and walked with her into the next room. He shut the door. “Ah, a nice full-length mirror. See how good we look together?”
Bliss stared at their reflection. Bern towered above her. He wore his blond hair long, and his slate-colored eyes were a dark-gray tonight. His dark-blue, western-style, button-down shirt emphasized his broad shoulders.
“We make a good-looking couple,” Bern whispered in her ear. Then he stepped behind her and ran his fingers through her hair. “It’s like silk, and smells like the wild roses that cover the fences in the spring.” He took his time and kissed the side of her face.
Familiar guilt rose inside her. Could she do this with him? She had a strong desire to retreat and send him home. To take time to think, but if she did she’d never get the courage to do this and part of her wanted to very much.
But would it make her an indecent woman? According to her mother’s beliefs, she’d be damned forever. Heck, having two lovers would have shocked her mother to the core. She had never approved of the threesome couples, and she let Bliss know how much she disapproved.
Bern bit the lobe of her ear and brought her back to the present. A fluttering started in her belly, and her legs went weak. Bern held her close. She was aware of his cock, long and hard against her backside. Mesmerized by his movements, she watched as his hand caressed her neck, and then he kissed her.
Her heart pounded in her chest. She thought at any moment it might jump right out. He licked across the spot, near the juncture of her shoulder, where her heart beat fiercely.
“You’re excited and perhaps frightened. This won’t hurt and may help.” His low, sexy tone had her wanting to yell, touch me, make love to me. But, she didn’t. She leaned against his hard frame and waited for his next move.
He started unbuttoning her blouse. When he pulled it off her shoulders, he smiled. “I’m glad you wear bras so easy to get rid of.” He unsnapped her bra in the front, but left it hanging partially open while he nibbled at her shoulder and ran his hands along her arms.
“Look at how lovely you are.” When he spoke, he slipped her bra completely off. His lusty look had her nipples instantly tightening. He cupped her breasts in his hands. “They’re luscious, and your nipples are a dusty rose. They make me want to taste them. Look at them. They’re a part of you.”
Bliss had looked at his face when he’d touched her, but now he waited until she dropped her gaze to herself, to her breasts. He moved his hands away, uncovering her. Bliss face went hot, but she looked.
“Now”—he brought her hands up and placed them against her breasts—“feel how soft they are.”
She tried to pull away, but he held his hands tight over hers. “Relax. It isn’t naughty. It’s good for you to know that we’re being truthful when we describe you as soft and sexy. For me, please touch your nipples, rub them. You’ll excite me.”
Bliss glanced at his face. “I can’t.”
“Sure you can.” He waited patiently.
She gingerly touched her peaked nipples. He took her hand and showed her how he wanted her to rub them. When she did, she felt his cock jerk.
“See, my dick likes to see you touching yourself.”
She dropped her hands, and he chuckled. But then he unfastened her belt buckle. “You might as well see the rest of your ravishing beauty.” Quickly, he’d unzipped and pulled her slacks and shoes off. She stood with nothing on but her blue lace bikini panties.
His hands caressed up her legs. “See your long, curvy legs, and I like your soft, flat tummy and rounded hips.” He put one hand on her stomach and ran the other underneath her panties.
Her whole body burned for his touch. Her panties were wet from her arousal and of their own accord her legs stepped further apart to let his fingers go into her pussy. His two fingers rubbed inside her opening and with his other hand, he tweaked her bud. Bliss’s body shook with a fiery fever.
“Look at your body and what I’m doing to it.” Bern spoke in a commanding voice.
She’d closed her eyes, but she looked and saw a woman in the mirror she didn’t know. Her eyes were wild with desire, the lamplight on her bare skin made it glow, and she stood in a position begging to be taken by the hard-faced man holding her tight.
He spread her lower lips. “See your gorgeous pink petals hiding your jewel.” He lightly pinched her clit. “This is you. A very desirable woman.”
Bern moved his fingers in and out of her pussy while he rubbed across her clit. His lips sucked on the edge of her shoulder.
A decadent pleasure built in her core. Her pussy pulsed with the need to be filled by Bern’s hard cock.
Bliss stared at Bern’s face. His eyes smoldered with heat, and at his temple she saw his pulse beat. A sheen of perspiration shown on his forehead. He was holding himself back to give her the opportunity to accept
herself and throw off her inhibitions.
His two fingers rubbed across her G-spot. “Ah,” she moaned and put her head back against his chest. He nipped her earlobe and pinched her nipple. Suddenly an intense wave of sensual heat and pleasure rose and spilled across her body. She leaned her head back and said his name.
He kissed her. “Let go, baby. Take all I have to give.” Bern held her tight as her orgasm shook her inside and out.
Then Bern swept her into his arms and placed her on the bed. He removed his clothes and sheathed his cock and thrust inside her still rippling pussy. The feel of his hard cock sent a second frenzy of delight zipping up her spine. Her heated blood raced throughout her body. Bliss clenched her pussy around his cock, and she heard his yell of relief as his dick pulsated inside her.
He rolled to his back and took her with him. She lay across his panting chest. His heart pounded in her ear. Bliss snuggled against his body and went to sleep to the music of his heartbeat.
* * * *
Bern glanced at her sleeping face. Her creamy-white skin glistened with perspiration. He ran his fingers lightly through her hair. She was right. She wasn’t conventionally beautiful. But to him and Lann she was everything they’d wanted. She touched a deep spot in him, a wounded place, and gave him a sense of peace. With her beside him, perhaps he could bring all the parts of himself back together.
She’d been surprised about his covert job, but accepting at this point. When he went on his next assignment with her knowing the dangers, he suspected she’d not be particularly happy.
Her loving had cleared his head of his melancholy mood. She’d made him feel invigorated. Bliss opened her eyes and smiled.
“Sorry I went to sleep on you, literally.”
“No problem. I thought we might take a shower and play some more if you aren’t too tired.” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Me tired? You’re three years older than me, you and Lann. I have lots of energy.”
Bern flipped her over his shoulder and walked to the bathroom. “I’m going to make you regret calling me an old man.”
“I didn’t say old man.”
“You insinuated, which is as good as saying it.”
He placed her in the shower and turned on the water. He laughed when she jumped out of the way of the cold water hitting her. “It’ll get warm in a minute. I thought you needed to be fully awake to keep up with this old man. I’ll be right back.”
He hurried into the bedroom and got a condom out of his pocket. When he returned to the bathroom, he put the packet on the ledge of the shower. The water had warmed, so Bern got in beside her.
She had lathered the soap and took her time surveying his body. She washed his face, his neck, and rubbed her soapy hands across his nipples. His cock hardened at her soft touch.
She scooted down and washed his flat abs, then she kissed his stomach. When she got to his aroused cock, he turned the shower so the water didn’t splash in her face. Bliss glanced at him.
“Do you want me to give special attention to this area?”
“If you’d like to.”
With her sudsy hands, she stroked his cock, and then she caressed his sac. “Give me some water.” She backed off while he rinsed off. She knelt again and took his cock in her warm mouth. He inhaled deeply.
His fingers massaged her scalp through her damp hair while she moved up and down the length of his cock. Her tongue licked the sides and across the crown. He tried to hold back, but her delicate treatment had his brain ready to explode with pleasure.
Bern put his hands under her armpits and pulled her up beside him. She looked puzzled.
“Why didn’t you let me finish?”
“Because I wanted this more.” He sheathed his dick, pushed her against the shower wall, and brought her legs up. She wrapped them around him. His cock nudged at her pussy opening, and then he slowly pushed inside, enjoying the clasp of her tight walls enveloping him completely.
“You feel very good in me.” Bliss kissed him.
Bern pulled out, and then went back in deeper. He moved fast and hard. Euphoria rushed in his veins and desire sizzled straight from his cock to every nerve in his body.
Her hot pussy rippled around him and the scent of her sweet arousal filled his head. He pushed hard once more and held her tight. She trembled and bit his shoulder as she went over the cliff with him.
When he let her legs down, he bent his head to hers. “I may have to admit to being a bit older. If I can make it to your bed, I’ve got to sleep a few minutes before continuing.”
“I don’t mind taking a nap. Mind you, being younger, I don’t really need it.”
Bern laughed. He got out, dried her and himself, then carried Bliss to bed. “I haven’t laughed so much in a long time,” he said as sleep overtook him.
* * * *
Bliss lay and listened to his heartbeat. He and Lann were as different as night and day, and she loved them both. She raised on her elbow and looked at his face. He had demons and Lann didn’t. But he hadn’t let them conquer him.
All of her plans were going awry. They wanted marriage. She’d wanted nothing but her shop, or so she thought. But if necessary, would she give up the shop for the men, or vice versa? Was it possible to have both and be happy?
Chapter Ten
When Bliss woke, sun shone between the drapes and a warm, masculine arm was wrapped around her waist. She didn’t move, but enjoyed the warmth of Bern’s closeness. The clock on her bedside table read nine. She hadn’t slept this late in years, but they’d made love once more in the early-morning hours. She decided to try and get up without waking him. As soon as she moved, his arm tightened and his cock was getting hard. Bliss turned to face him.
“You woke me up with all your thinking.”
“I did not.”
He grinned. “No, it was your butt wiggling that did the trick. Good morning, sweet thing.”
“And good morning to you, too. It’s after nine. We have to meet Lann at ten.”
“He can wait.” Bern grabbed the condom on the bedside table and rolled it onto his dick.
She trembled when his cock slid into her pussy. Wonderful sensations of heat and pleasure spread through her body with each stroke of his large, hard cock.
“I want to wake up forever with you snuggled close to me.”
Bliss licked her lips and Bern’s eyes smoldered with lust. “You are a persuasive man. I bet you’ve told other women the same.”
“No, I never said ‘forever’ to anyone else.”
His warm body surrounded her, and his slate eyes stared deep into hers. His cock moved in and out of her pussy in a slow, seductive rhythm.
“We have to get up.” She wasn’t ready to admit how touched she was by him and Lann. They were tantalizingly different, and both were good men.
“You’re running scared. Don’t worry. We won’t let you down.” Then he stopped talking and moved fast and hard until she reached the top of a wave of joy and slid softly down the other side. His orgasm hit almost immediately after hers.
He kissed her and moved to take his weight off of her. She rolled to her side and placed her hand on his chest. She liked feeling his pounding heart and knowing she could excite this wonderful, handsome man.
“Get up. We’ll be late.” Bern playfully swatted her butt.
“Now you’re in a hurry.” She huffed, pretending to be annoyed.
* * * *
Bern smiled and watched her naked body disappear behind the bathroom door. He stretched. His body felt rejuvenated and the dark clouds worrying him earlier last night had long disappeared.
He hadn’t slept as well in weeks. Bliss excited him sexually and soothed his inner soul. Whatever it took, he and Lann had to convince her to marry them. He sat on the side of the bed for a few minutes. When he stood, he walked around the room as he usually did to smooth the kinks out of his body. But this morning there were few and his leg didn’t hurt at all.
When Bliss ca
me out of the bathroom, he stood at the window looking out. “Watching the traffic go by?”
“Waiting patiently for my lady. You look especially lovely this morning.” He walked to her and kissed her sweet mouth. “I won’t be long. We’ll stroll to the café.” He ran his hand over her soft skin one more time before going in the bathroom and turning on the shower.
Cool water rushing over his head had him completely awake, and then he remembered his one concern. How would Bliss react to Lann’s generous offer. He worried she might blow up at Lann and consequently at him. He shrugged his shoulders. He’d learned a long time ago there were things you could control, and some you had to leave to fickle fate.
* * * *
Lann had gotten a table for them. He waved and Bliss led the way across the room. Lann stood and pulled a chair out for her.
“You two look remarkably relaxed and happy,” Lann commented.
“We are.” Bern took the seat beside Bliss.
Bliss smiled, but didn’t comment except to say, “I’m hungry.”
“Here comes our waitress. She brought me coffee while I waited for you two. I haven’t ordered yet.”
“We took our time,” Bern said.
Lann looked at his watch. “You must have been a good influence on him to make him late. It’s ten fifteen and the man is usually as reliable as an alarm clock.”
Her face heated as she recalled the last long, sexy kiss Bern had given her before they went out the door. “You love to make me blush.” She kicked Lann in the shin.
“Ouch, I didn’t deserve to be kicked.”
Bern laughed. “Yes, you did.”
“You can’t take sides with her. We have to stand together or she’ll take over.” Lann winked at Bliss.
“After last night, I don’t care if she does.”
“Wow, I am getting jealous.” But the twinkle in his eye told Bliss he didn’t mean it.
She sat back and enjoyed their camaraderie. The two men were obviously good friends, and they liked to tease each other. The waitress came to the table and took their order. She returned quickly with their coffee.
Capturing Our Lady's Heart [Commando Cowboys and Renegade Texans Unite 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 10
