Love Under Two Wranglers [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Ménage Everlasting)

by Cara Covington

  Apparently she wasn’t the first “client” his sister had sent his way.

  The balding, slightly paunchy man ushered her into his office. She could tell by the way he looked at her that he wanted her.

  She could use that.

  “So tell me…Miss Smith…is it an apartment you’re looking for, or a house?”

  Mary Ellen had thought long and hard about her choice. She tilted her head to one side. “I’m interested in subletting. My friend told me you had a few prime locations?”

  There were always professionals who had to leave on business, sometimes for months at a time. Such people sometimes either used realtors, or property management companies.

  Fortunately, Norman’s business was both.

  “That’s going to cost you—above the cost of the rent.”

  “How much?”

  He made his first preference plain by the way he ogled her body. God, I must be getting old. It used to never bother her to give a guy a tumble, no matter who he was. But the thought of doing Norman gave her a sick feeling.

  “Well, if we’re talking money, I’d want three thousand dollars for my trouble, and then two for the rent. Of course, if you don’t have that much…we can negotiate.”

  She gave him as bright a smile as she could manage. “That’s wonderful, that is exactly in my budget.” Then, because she needed the good will, she said, “and maybe you could call me in a couple of weeks, once I’m settled in. I’d be happy to show my appreciation then. A gift.”

  “Well now, Miss Smith, that sounds just fine. Let me show you what’s available. The very best I have is a fairly new apartment, two bedrooms, luxury all the way.”

  The apartment he took her to had a “community” façade about it, complete with a pool. It came furnished, of course, which was why she’d chosen to sublet. Plus, there was less paperwork subletting to a crooked manager—and she could leave it in a heartbeat.

  “I hope cash won’t be a problem, Norman.” She counted out the bills for him, and by the way he worked at suppressing his grin, she knew it wasn’t. No paper trail made it easier for him, too, to hide his “bonus,” and she knew it.

  It took less than an hour for the deal to be done. She stood by the large window and watched the weasel drive away. And then she got busy.

  Mary Ellen had a few things she needed to purchase before she could go forward with the rest of her plans—and as it wasn’t even noon hour, she got right to it. As she’d scanned the business listings in the phone book, she’d positively salivated when she found just the right place for her.

  The first thing she did was to treat herself to some long overdue pampering. A facial, mani, pedi, and an exfoliating massage went a long way to restoring Mary Ellen’s sense of self. She’d had her hair done, too, a nice chic style that took years off her appearance.

  A quick stop at a mall for a few outfits and she felt more in control of not only herself, but the situation—and ready to take the steps that would bring her what she craved more than anything in the world.

  Revenge.

  She’d learned a lot over the past five years. So her last stop was an electronics store where she was able to get herself a laptop, and a second burner phone. Both were necessary tools for revenge. Armed with everything she’d need for the next day, at least, she headed back to her new digs.

  The first thing she had to do was contact the one man who could help her. She knew how to do it, too. Once she got her computer up and running—one of the benefits of luxury living was free Wi-Fi that was not in any way connected to her—she scanned the ads in the Laramie, Wyoming, newspaper that he’d used in the past, and sure enough, in yesterday’s edition, was the contact information she needed.

  She sent off an e-mail reply, and gave her new cell phone number as a contact. Mary Ellen grinned. Now it was only a matter of time.

  She didn’t know how to do everything that needed to be done to find those two wranglers. As far as she’d ever known, they’d been drifters—no-accounts. She thought they’d come from somewhere out west—Montana or Colorado—but she wasn’t sure.

  She was pretty certain her old friend Oscar would be able to help her track them down. She already knew that Oscar had all the details on every member of the investigative team. He’d been the one to give her the heads-up, just before he’d vanished. He knew who they were, and likely how to find them. The only question was whether or not he’d help her. “You bet your ass he will, especially when I tell him that those two boys are looking for him.” Mary Ellen had concocted the perfect story. She’d tell him that one of them had visited her in prison just a couple of months ago, along with that damned investigator. That they’d told her they knew her part in the conspiracy had been small, and that she’d been used and then abandoned by Doctor Death himself. She would tell him that they hinted that they were closing in on him and this was her chance for early release.

  She would tell Oscar that she hadn’t completely believed them—but had turned them down, because she was more afraid of him than of the authorities.

  That much, at least, was absolutely true.

  Oscar Tooms was one hell of a dangerous man. But he was still a man and, with the right staging and the right lines, he could be played.

  Mary Ellen sauntered over to the bar in her pretty living room. This apartment wasn’t quite as fine as her ranch house had been. But it was several steps up from prison and her daddy’s ramshackle, falling-down house.

  She poured herself a glass of the very fine Kentucky bourbon she’d so recently purchased. Sipping, she closed her eyes to appreciate the lovely burn as the liquid gold slithered down her throat.

  Life was finally good again. But not nearly as good as it was about to be.

  Chapter 10

  “That was our fault, entirely.” Alan sighed and then met her gaze.

  Situated between them in the front of Alan’s Ford F150, Holly had a lot of trouble keeping her focus on the conversation. She could feel the press of their thighs against hers. The closeness made her sizzle inside.

  They’d had dinner at a barbeque restaurant, and then taken in a western-slash-comedy playing at the Starplex Galaxy 16. True, the movie had been less than advertised, but she’d loved being in the darkened venue with these two hot men.

  Not that they’d done anything more than hold her hands, but that in itself had made her feel cherished.

  Cherished, Holly was quickly discovering, was a very fine feeling, indeed.

  “I’m with Alan,” Duncan said. “Next time, sweetheart, you choose the movie.”

  Holly giggled. “You said that as if you were resigning yourself to some terrible future fate.” She met his gaze, looked over at Alan, and then grinned. “I guess it’s true—all those silly television commercials about guys hating chick flicks.”

  They both looked so sweetly embarrassed. She decided to put them out of their misery. It wasn’t fair that they should take the blame for their dissatisfaction with the movie. She’d thought it was going to be a good one, too. “Now, I’ll agree that movie was a disappointment. All the best moments—all three of them—we had likely already seen in the trailers.”

  “I hate when that happens,” Alan said.

  “No kidding.” Duncan echoed his sentiment.

  “But none of that really mattered to me, because what I loved best was sitting between you with each of you holding one of my hands. So as far as I’m concerned, the night was a hit. I only have one question.”

  “That was our favorite part, too.” Alan shot her a glance, and then laid his hand on her left thigh.

  Duncan slipped his arm around her shoulder and used his thumb to stroke tiny little thrills into her body.

  Who knew I could get aroused from someone caressing my shoulder?

  The lights of the city were behind them, and they were headed back to Lusty. The butterflies that had flown in her stomach earlier when she’d thought ahead to what she had planned returned, and she felt everything in
side her quivering with anticipation.

  “What’s your question, Holly?” Duncan’s deep voice, vibrating so close, added another silken thread in the ribbon of arousal winding through her.

  “What happens next?”

  “What do you want to happen next?” Duncan’s gaze held hers.

  Nancy had told her that very likely, Alan and Duncan would wait for a signal from her that she wanted to move their relationship forward. And while it had only been a week ago that very day that they’d come to her at the library, she couldn’t see the sense of waiting to take things to the next level. I’ve waited all my life to meet these men and to feel like this. I’m done with waiting.

  “I want to be with you. I want to be with you both. I want to do again what we did Wednesday night, but I want it to be your hands on me.”

  “Honey, there’s nothing we’d like more, but our control around you isn’t as strong as it should be.”

  “Sweetheart? If we had you naked between us, we’d end up making love to you.”

  Obviously she hadn’t been clear enough. She knew one word that would make them understand exactly what she meant. She tilted her head and met Duncan’s gaze. “Promise?”

  “Are you sure?” Alan put the truck’s signal on and made the first left turn back to Lusty. Then he pulled the truck to a stop at the side of the gravel road. He slipped the shifter into park, and then turned to look at her.

  Tingles ran through her because both of these handsome men were looking at her as if she was the sun, the moon, and all the stars combined. Then they met each other’s gaze.

  “We could go back to the ranch. Chase, Brian, and Carrie made it more than clear that we’re to consider their house our house but…” Alan sighed.

  “But we don’t want your first time to be where others can hear us.” Duncan’s voice held a world of regret. “Or where you might feel embarrassed the morning after, seeing one of them on the stairs.”

  Holly’s heart melted. She never really doubted that these two wranglers were men of integrity. But it was really nice to have that confirmed.

  They’d said they were courting her, but Holly wasn’t wearing rose-colored glasses, even though she was a virgin. There was no promise of a forever future here. How could there be, so soon?

  But she’d lived the last several years believing that she was an asexual woman, one who was destined to never find a man who could or would light her fires.

  Then she moved to Lusty, and found two of them. She didn’t know about the future except for one thing. If she didn’t seize this moment, take this chance, she might regret it for the rest of her life.

  She opened her purse and pulled something out and held it up for them both to see.

  “A key?” Alan asked.

  Holly felt her face heat. She was glad the interior of the truck was dark. “I had planned to invite the two of you back to my apartment tonight. But this afternoon, Nancy and the guys headed out to Tennessee for a few days, to visit Jeremiah’s folks. They won’t be back until Tuesday. So…she offered us the use of her house until then. If you’re interested.”

  Holly had felt a little bit brazen, making this plan with her new BFF. But she’d also felt empowered. I’m a modern woman and responsible for my own choices.

  “If we’re interested?” Alan answered that question by shifting the truck back into gear and taking off with a little spray of gravel.

  “Holly Bethune, we passed interested after our first taste of your sweet lips,” Duncan said.

  “We’re going to make you come over and over again, honey. We’re going to peel you out of those clothes and feast on you. Just as soon as we get you inside that house.”

  Holly thought the rest of the ride back to town happened in a blur. Before she could fully grasp the reality of it, Alan was easing his truck into Nancy Jessop’s driveway.

  The men opened their doors at the same time. Duncan jumped out then reached for her. She hadn’t even realized she still held the key. But Duncan did. He snagged it and tossed it—presumably to Alan. She didn’t get a chance to verify that because Duncan then lifted her up into his arms and held her tight. His delicious lips were so close, she couldn’t help herself. Holly wrapped her arms around him and put her mouth on his.

  It was the first kiss she’d ever initiated, and it was a success—if the growling, greedy sound he made kissing her back was any measure. She slid her arms around his neck, eager to taste him, to revel in the way his tongue slid in and around hers, as if they danced. She tried to grasp his hips with her legs and whimpered when the fit of her skirt prevented the move.

  Duncan broke their kiss. “Let me help, baby.”

  She felt his hand on her skirt, and realized he was raising it for her. She sighed when she finally was able to grip his waist with her knees and lock her feet behind him. The sound of a door closing made her blink.

  “I didn’t even realize you were carrying me inside the house.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart. That’s a hell of a compliment.”

  A click told her that Alan had locked the front door. Holly met Duncan’s gaze and she could practically feel the lust in him. Then he shifted her in his arms, and she did feel his lust—his denim-covered cock felt enormous, nestled against her cotton-covered crotch.

  Heat surrounded her as Alan stepped in close behind her. He nuzzled her ear. “We’re inside the house, honey.”

  She felt his fingers at the back of her skirt and understood he was opening the button. “Put your legs down for a moment, sweet thing.” His words tickled her ear even as her body responded to the softly spoken command.

  Her skirt fell, and cool air kissed her legs. Then Duncan adjusted his hold of her once more.

  “Lean back, Holly, and raise your arms for us, baby.”

  She did as Duncan asked and her T-shirt went sailing over her head. She barely had a moment to register the sensation of fingers at the clasp of her bra. Then that garment, too, was gone. She wrapped her arms around Duncan’s neck once more.

  “You have the prettiest breasts.” Duncan looked down and she followed his line of sight. Plumped on his chest, her nipples had already hardened into pebbled peaks.

  She looked up and met his gaze. “I really liked it when you sucked on my nipples. It made everything inside me hot and wet and wonderful.” She liked the way Duncan’s eyes widened, and the way it seemed as if she could see a flame burning there.

  “Lord, woman.” Alan rested his head on her shoulder. “You say the damndest things.”

  Holly didn’t know whether to laugh, or apologize. She opted for honesty. “I read somewhere that it’s a good idea to tell your lover what you like. I thought in this case for me, being honest would be doubly important.”

  “It is.” Duncan’s voice sounded deeper.

  She was so conscious of the press of his erection between her legs. She thought he might have even gotten bigger in the last couple of minutes.

  “Am I the only one who’s going to be naked?”

  “You’re not naked yet, honey.”

  “No, but I have hope.”

  “Is the bedroom upstairs?”

  This was the moment she’d been waiting for—the moment when she made the final choice, to give these men her virginity. Her nerves quieted and a sweet kind of joy settled over her. “Yes. It’s the door on the left at the top of the stairs.”

  * * * *

  Alan didn’t consider himself a man slut, but he’d had sex. He was a healthy adult, in his third decade of life, and he liked women.

  But never, in all of his experiences with members of the opposite sex, had he ever set out to make love to a virgin.

  With Holly it will be making love, and not having sex.

  He’d be forever grateful to Jeremiah Winthrop and Eli Barton for dropping in last night. He and Duncan had both known that Holly had the key for this house, and that Nancy had encouraged her to use it.

  He guessed the movie really had sucked, but all he�
�d focused on in that darkened theatre was holding Holly’s hand and imagining that she invited them back here.

  Duncan eased Holly down so she stood on her own two feet. “Alan needs to taste you, baby.”

  “Does he?” She tilted her head in such a way that Alan knew she was looking over her shoulder at him.

  “I sure do.” He laid his hands on her shoulders, and then caressed her, neck to fingertips. He followed through and wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her close. “Are you nervous, sweetheart?”

  “Maybe a little.” She sighed. “I’m not afraid. Just nervous.”

  “Us, too,” Duncan said. He turned and went over to the large dresser that stood opposite the bed. On the dresser were several candles and he set about lighting them.

  Jeremiah had also told them where to find the controls for the sound system, and how to operate it.

  He and Duncan were grateful, because they’d wanted to do their best to make Holly’s first time special.

  “You’re nervous, too? How can that be? You’re not either of you virgins. I’d bet on that.”

  Alan exerted light pressure, and Holly responded. She turned around in his arms and then looked up at him.

  He gently worked the pins out of her hair, all the while holding her gaze. “No, we’re not virgins. But we’ve never made love to one before—we’ve never made love to you. We treasure the gift you’re giving us. And we don’t want to blow it. We want to make this first time for you as special as we can.”

  He dropped his gaze so he could watch as he combed his fingers through the silky strands of her hair, and tucked the light strands behind her ears.

  Holly reached up and caressed his cheek with her hand. He worried that the light stubble would abrade her skin. She seemed to revel in the texture. “It’s going to be special, because it’s you and Duncan. That’s all the special I need.”

  Alan cupped her face. The scent of the candles and the sound of sultry ballads surrounded them. “You keep saying things like that, honey. I think if I looked the word ‘special’ up in the dictionary, I’d see your face.”