“I don’t understand the logic, but it gets better every time,” gasped Peyton.
“That’s because we’re just so awesome as a team,” joked Kenan.
They wiggled around until everyone was comfortable, and then Hazel said, meaning every word, “It’s because we belong together.”
“Yes, we do.” Peyton dropped a kiss on her nose.
* * * *
The entire community was on a holiday. Today the children’s slide was being officially opened, and then everyone who wanted to would be allowed to use the new equipment, followed by a communal barbecue lunch on the grass. The animals had all been penned at one corner of the field to allow everyone else to play ball games and to run freely on the grass.
Many of the younger men had formed themselves into teams to play games, enjoying the unusual experience of chasing around in a wide open space. Children ran and screamed with delight, giving the impression there was far more of them than only the nine.
Promptly at ten o’clock the Captain made a speech, and each child untied one of the ribbons crossing over the slide and climbing frame.
The children raced up the stairs, forming themselves into a line with four-year-old Ashley in front and fourteen-year-old Aidan at the back. Then, slowly, and linked together, they all slid down as one to shouts, and cheers, and foot stomping from the entire community.
The second time they climbed up the frame to slide as before, and then after that it was a free for all, with most of the adults wanting a turn, too.
Ruth ran up the stairs with Tyler and Hazel. Tatiana looked at them and commented, “If I was twenty years younger, hell, ten years younger even, I’d be up there, too.”
“Well, come with me then,” said Lucas.
“My knees are much better than they were, but I think that’s too many steps to attempt,” she replied.
“Stairs? What stairs!” Lucas swept her over his shoulder and ran to the slide, pushing his way through the crowd. Arrived at the ladder, he shifted her from a fireman’s carry to a piggyback position and climbed the steps like a monkey.
“Look at Grandma Tatiana! Look at Grandma Tatiana!” shrieked Tyler.
The children gathered at the base of the slide and soon were surrounded by a clapping, cheering crowd as Tatiana waved to everyone from the top then slid down.
“Again, again,” yelled Tahlia and Joey.
“Absolutely. It’s my turn to be your escort this time,” said Jed, helping Tatiana to scramble onto his back.
As soon as she reached the bottom, “Now it’s my turn,” said Yuri.
“Oh my. It’s easy to see why you three make Ruth so happy,” Tatiana whispered into his ear.
* * * *
Hazel sat on the grass watching her three men playing a ball game with Tyler. It was the first time they’d been a normal family on a picnic, she realized. The men talked with Tyler about his schoolwork or about their lives, every day, but this was straight play and fun.
Peyton patiently threw the ball to Tyler over and over again. Kenan took Tyler aside and taught him a tricky, sneaky spin throw.
Later Reuben taught Tyler how to turn a somersault. Hazel watched, and thrilled inside to see her son growing and flowering under the attention and guidance of men who loved him.
Holy Hannah! It’s not just sex or lust. It’s true and real. A relationship. We’re a family.
* * * *
Ayla, Ethan, and Gideon, Ruth, Yuri, Jed, and Lucas, Greg, Travis, and Dave were seated around a conference table with the Captain and the 2IC.
“We’ll be planning for a time away from here of around three months. That’s one reason why the team needs to be small. Transporting three months’ food, water, and equipment for ten people will be a big enough challenge,” said the 2IC, George Samine.
“This time we’ll overfly the area, and assuming all is safe, we’ll drop you and all the equipment outside the entry cave. Another team will go with you to protect the area and help you transport the supplies deeper into the system and then make several caches in different places. We’re looking at painted equipment bags that will blend into the rock walls for a start,” continued the Captain.
“Water will be the biggest problem,” said Gideon.
“The news there is not all bad,” said the 2IC. “The lake is tainted but not too badly. It’s perfectly safe to wash in lake water. You could even drink it if necessary, but I would only do that in an emergency.”
“The challenge will be to find the tributaries to the lake. Likely some of them are pure. If you find clean water, you’ll find any survivors. The only way they could have stayed alive so long is for them to have discovered healthy water and new food supplies.”
“What are the signs of radiation illness? How will we know if any people we meet are healthy apart from obvious things like sores or something?” asked Ruth.
“That isn’t easy. People develop anemia and cancer. They’re long-term illnesses. Short-term they may get gastrointestinal problems from eating or drinking something poisoned by radiation, but long-term problems are far more difficult to see and diagnose without medical help. What is far more likely is that people will have died from starvation or from violence by other people in their group,” said the Captain.
“I’ve always thought of that kind of would-be survivalist as a ‘crazy.’ But that’s not really correct is it?” asked Ayla.
“Yes and no. They’re not acting in a sane and logical fashion in their preparations. Certainly this Edu-Tech group appeared to be suffering from lack of good planning and leadership. But they may have overcome that and sought out clean water, a place where they could grow plants and fish. They may have a well-managed, thriving little community. But don’t drop your guard. They may merely be planning to rob you of all your supplies.”
“Understood.”
“Now, let’s get down to some details,” said the Captain.
* * * *
“You will be sensible. You are to harness that adrenaline-junky streak and watch each other’s back. You’re to come home to Peyton, Tyler, and me safe and sound. Three months is a very long time, and I expect you to be careful and sensible every second you’re gone. I love you all and couldn’t bear it if you didn’t come home to me,” ordered Hazel, standing in front of Reuben and Kenan, and emphasizing her words with a finger poke to their chests.
“Yes, ma’am,” said Reuben, with just the faintest hint of a smile on his face.
Kenan lifted her finger to his mouth and sucked it slowly inside, causing cream to drop from her cunt onto her panties. Holy Hannah, the man was hot. How she’d miss them both. It hurt so much to wave good-bye to them but she knew they’d be dreadfully unhappy staying home. They were born to search, and save, and fight if necessary. She could no more keep them at home than she could nail Jell-O to the wall.
First Kenan then Reuben kissed her. They ruffled Tyler’s hair, gave him a hug, and hugged Peyton. That was new, the extra closeness between Peyton, Reuben, and Kenan.
“We’ll be back before you know it. We love you, too. We five are a family,” said Kenan.
“Hell yeah.”
THE END
WWW.BERENGARIABROWN.WEBS.COM
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (ghosts, vampires, fairies, and werewolves), and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance, so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men; two women/one man… Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily ever after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.
Also by Berengaria Brown
Ménage and More: Vivienne’s Vacation
Ménage Amour: Tempting Tenealle
Ménage Amour: Forever Yours 1: Intensity
Ménage Amour: Forever Yours 2: Complexity
Ménage Amour: Forever Yours 3: Eternity
&nb
sp; Ménage Amour: Possessive Passions 1: Shared Possession
Ménage Amour: Possessive Passions 2: Possess Me
Ménage Amour: Possessive Passions 3: Ultimate Possession
Ménage Amour: Raw Claiming 1: Raw Craving
Available at
BOOKSTRAND.COM
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Brown, Berengaria - Raw Need [Raw Claiming 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 7
