Beauty and the Beasts [Bride Train 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Reece Butler

  Sarah liked his partners. A lot. No matter how hard he tried to pretend they’d done nothing but kiss her while guarding her, he wasn’t that stupid. But she wouldn’t even kiss him. If he wanted her to be his wife, he had to change her opinion of him.

  Gabe’s mother once said it was always safe to start a difficult talk with an apology. The problem was, he wasn’t sure what to apologize for. No doubt Gabe could give him a whole list.

  “You going to let go of that poor beast, or hang on to him all night?”

  Luke didn’t have to open his eyes to recognize Gabe’s voice.

  “I haven’t made up my mind yet. Got any ideas?”

  “Go stick your head in the horse trough again. You eat anything today?”

  He caught himself just before he shook his head. “No.”

  “You up to rabbit? Oz snared a couple. Sarah’s thinking about a fricassee or maybe frying them. Maybe chop them up, dip them in flour, and fry them in lard.”

  He pressed his hand to his belly. “How can I be both hungry and sick to my stomach at the same time?”

  “Beer, whiskey, and stupidity. Got your eyes open yet?”

  “I’m working on it.”

  He opened them when Gabe pulled him away from his horse. He put a hand out, found the shed wall, and backed up against it.

  “Hell, Luke, I didn’t think you could look worse, but those bloodshot eyes are something to behold.” Oz nudged Gabe. “And you thought I’d scare the chickens!”

  “I’m going to unsaddle this poor beast,” said Gabe. “Make yourself useful and help Luke to the horse trough.”

  “My pleasure!” Oz grinned and rubbed his hands. “Can you walk, or should I drag you by your feet?”

  Luke held up his hand. “Why don’t you do the horse. I need to talk to Gabe.”

  “I’m not good enough for you to talk to?”

  “Perhaps you could both be of assistance.”

  “He must be feeling better if he’s using those highfalutin’ words again,” said Oz.

  Gabe handed Luke the bridle. “Hang it up. I’ve got the saddle. We’ll talk in the house.”

  “Uh, no,” replied Luke. “It’s about Sarah. I need to apologize, and—”

  “Damn right you do!”

  “Oz, give the man a chance to speak before you stomp on him,” said Gabe calmly. “If we don’t like what he says, then we stomp.”

  “I need water,” said Luke.

  “Wait right here,” said Oz cheerfully. He walked around the shed.

  “What’s this all about?” Gabe pushed past Luke with the saddle. Luke followed with the bridle.

  “I don’t know exactly what I’m supposed to apologize to Sarah about. You said I was an ass, and more, but all I want is to marry her.”

  Gabe hung up the saddle, put the blanket upside down on top of it, and held out his hand for the bridle. He wiped it off, hung it up, and left the shed. When Gabe got that thinking look, he wouldn’t talk until he knew what he wanted to say. Perhaps that would be a good thing to consider. When he used to be young, rich, and handsome, he got away with talking first and thinking later. It didn’t work anymore, but he didn’t always remember.

  Luke followed Gabe out of the shed. He was about three steps away when he heard a whoosh. He turned, barely closing his eyes before the contents of Oz’s bucket hit him. The shock of cold water damn near stopped his heart. For a moment he couldn’t breathe.

  “What the hell did you do that for!” He wiped his eyes with a soaking shirtsleeve. When he could see, he glared at Oz.

  “You wanted water.” Oz shrugged it off. “Figgered this would clear your head fast.”

  Luke wasn’t sure if he’d fall over if he attacked Oz, so he just glared. Oz must have decided Luke wasn’t going to throttle him, as he turned the wooden bucket upside down and sat. Luke shuddered. His head didn’t throb near as bad as it had, and he felt more awake. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t get Oz back later.

  “I know what you need to apologize for,” said Gabe.

  Luke thought he caught a hint of contempt in Gabe’s expression. He looked closer. Something had happened. Gabe stood tall and had a confident air about him that Luke hadn’t noticed before. Whereas he, who used charm and wit as a shield, felt like a herd of longhorns had trampled him into a pigsty. Damn. Sarah really had shared more than kisses with his partners.

  “Let’s see if I can do this in order by syllables.” Gabe held up his hand, fingers wide. “You were an ass, showed conceit,” he said, lifting a finger with each syllable. “You were arrogant, condescending…” He stopped at his fourth finger and frowned at Oz. “I need a five-syllable word to keep my list going.”

  “Don’t ask me,” said Oz, lifting both hands. “I never got no schooling. Check Lumley’s dictionary. You might find one in there.”

  “Contemptible?” Gabe shook his head. “No, that fits Luke, but it only has four. Wait! Su-per-cil-i-ous. Means patronizingly haughty,” he said in answer to Oz’s frown. He counted, lifting a finger with each syllable. “That’s five.” He nodded sharply at Luke. “I told you studying those word lists would be useful some day.” He frowned and tapped his chin. “Now I need one with six syllables.”

  “But, I’m not any of—”

  “Yes, you are.” Both of his partners spoke at once.

  Is that what Sarah thought about him? A drop trembled on the end of his hair, right at eye level. The light caught it just before it fell. It rolled down his ugly nose and dropped off. The broken nose Sarah said would ensure his spectacles would never slide down.

  No woman of his acquaintance would make a remark like that. First, a disgraced woman like Sarah would never be allowed in a drawing room. Second, one did not mention deformities in polite company. Third, none of the women, even if they’d admitted they’d seen it rather than pretending otherwise, would see any advantage in something so hideous.

  Sarah wouldn’t pretend. Unlike his mother, who pretended all her life that everything was perfectly fine, Sarah wouldn’t sweep things under the rug. She’d rage and yell like Mrs. Downey, full of passion. His partners had already experienced that passion. He wanted the same.

  Yes, Sarah was a wonderful woman and a perfect partner for his life. But, according to Gabe and Oz, he’d thoroughly insulted her. Perhaps trying to be like his father was a mistake. This was, after all, the West. His father wouldn’t survive one season without the money, contacts, and comforts of his home.

  “I don’t wish to be anything like that,” he said quietly.

  “Good.” Gabe slapped him on the back so hard he had to fight to keep his feet. “I don’t want to have a partner like that, either.”

  “What do I do now?”

  Gabe held up his fingers again. “Beg. Grovel. Apologize.”

  “Hey, you missed a word,” said Oz. “What has three syllables?”

  Luke sighed. “I know that one. Idiot.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Sarah, carrying the plate of meat dredged in flour, salt, and pepper, turned the corner of the cabin and stopped. Three men stalked toward her. Gabe looked serious while Oz, now dressed, looked like he was thoroughly enjoying himself. The man in the middle, Luke, looked miserable. His eyes were red, and he was wet from his head to his knees. She added up the picture with the yell and decided Oz had soaked Luke. Good!

  She turned up her nose at them and continued into the cabin. She looked around for a place to set the plate. The table was gone, but not the benches, so she placed it there. With Daisy away there was less chance of the meat disappearing. She opened the firebox and bent over to look in.

  “I’ll get the fire going if you want to peel potatoes.”

  She recognized Gabe’s voice so didn’t bother turning around. “Why don’t I get the fire going and you do the peeling?”

  She didn’t move as Gabe’s slow footsteps approached. Her breath hitched and her pulse increased, but she stayed where she was, her bottom pointed at him. He stopped rig
ht behind her. His thighs warmed her back cheeks. He bent forward and ran his hands up her body from her hips to her breasts. Her pussy clenched when he held one in each hand. But he didn’t just hold them, he massaged her nipples.

  “My pa had a word for women like you,” he said quietly.

  “Yes?” She opened her mouth, panting to breathe. Why would she be so needy when she’d exploded three times today, with two different men?

  “Interesting.”

  She swallowed. When he didn’t continue, she spoke. “Why?”

  “Because Ma would wallop him if he swore.” He chuckled. “He said Ma was interesting, and uppity, and ornery, too. Most of all, Pa said she was a handful.” He chuckled and massaged her breasts. “I’ve got a couple of handfuls right here.”

  She rubbed her bottom against him. His breath caught this time.

  “I’d better stand up or supper will never get done.” He trailed his fingers over her back as he stood. “I’ll be keeping your back warm tonight, Sarah. Guaranteed.”

  She stood up. The tops of her thighs were wet from her swollen pussy. Again. Gabe put his hands around her waist and lifted her off the floor.

  “Put me down!”

  He laughed and carried her over to the potato bin. He set her down and patted her bottom. “You do the women’s work and I’ll take care of the fire.”

  “You can take care of my fire before you warm my back,” she said. She began filling a pot with potatoes. “And I want a guarantee on that, as well.”

  “Anything I can do to help?” Oz stuck his head into the cabin. He looked at Sarah, who held up the bowl of potatoes and a knife. “Ah. Time to make that step, I think.” He backed out again. “Luke,” he yelled, “we need a couple of boards from the leftover floor over at the new kitchen. ’Bout two feet long.”

  “Good,” said Sarah. She poured water into the pot to wash the potatoes. “Keep that man away from me.” She unbuttoned her wrists to roll up her sleeves.

  “Oz?”

  “No, Luke.”

  Silence descended, other than the sounds of them working. Sarah had learned that Gabe had a number of silences. One was an after-orgasm quiet bliss. Another was suited for sitting together and enjoying each other’s company. This one felt like he said something by being quiet. She glanced over. His serious look had nothing to do with stoking the stove.

  “All right,” she said. “What is it you want to say to me about Luke.”

  “Luke can speak for himself.”

  “Are you sure?” She turned to him, her hands dripping with water. She held the potato she hadn’t finished rinsing.

  Gabe closed the firebox. He looked at her for a moment before nodding. She turned back to work when he left the cabin without replying. The man blew hot and cold! He made her burn, and then walked away. Though he did guarantee to spend the night with her. That could prove interesting, depending on who was next door. Heavy feet climbed into the cabin.

  “Gabe, make up your mind if you’re going to help or not.” She turned when the feet stopped.

  Luke, still in his wet clothes, looked at the floor. He raised his eyes without moving his head. The word “arrogant” no longer fit. Not only were his clothes and hair a mess, he looked…defeated. It was not a pretty sight.

  “You’re dripping on my floor.”

  “You’re right. I’ll add the apology for that to the end of my list.”

  “List of what?” She turned away. “Pardon my back, but there’s work to be done if we’re to have supper before dark.” She picked up a dirt-encrusted potato in each hand and rubbed them against each other.

  “I’m here to beg, grovel, and apologize.”

  “How pleasant for you.”

  “To beg forgiveness, grovel before your kindness, and apologize for being an idiot.”

  “I forgive you for being an idiot. I expect you come by it honestly.”

  It was so quiet she could hear him swallow. “You missed the grovel part.”

  “You can grovel all you like as long as you chop onions for supper. Otherwise, leave me to work.”

  He solved the problem of a lack of table the same way she had, by using the bench. He straddled it and leaned forward to chop. He didn’t say anything until he’d finished two onions.

  “As you said yesterday, you are a practical woman. It’s a trait I admire. Perhaps that’s why you can be so strong. You’ve endured things that would have broken other women.”

  “You have no idea what I have endured.” She growled the words, angry at him for assuming he knew anything about what had happened to her.

  “The death of your brother and parents. Banishment by your uncle. Betrayal by the man who should have cherished you.”

  Those, she could admit it to. “You said your family is gone. So are your handsome features. There are men who wouldn’t wish to endure those things, either.”

  “If Gabe and Oz weren’t with me when I returned to what was left of my home, I might not have endured it.”

  “They care for you.”

  “Not as much as they do you.”

  She stopped at his quiet words. “I will leave before I destroy your partnership, Luke. I don’t think I’m in danger in town. When someone brings Oliver, I’ll return to the bakery with them.”

  “Please don’t. Gabe and Oz need you. I’ve never seen either of them so…” He paused. “I suppose the word I’m searching for is ‘happy.’ I’m the one who should leave. I’ve insulted you terribly, without meaning to.”

  She placed the clean potatoes in a bowl, picked up a cloth to dry her hands, and faced him. Actually, she faced his profile, as he continued chopping.

  “We shall have to agree to get along, for the sake of the others.”

  He nodded, still concentrating on his task. “I’ll sleep in the shed. I wouldn’t want to interrupt…anything.” The tips of his ears reddened, though his scar went white.

  She knew he wanted her, but his ideals were stronger than his desire. He wanted to be sure his seed wasn’t wasted on a woman who couldn’t give him what he thought he needed more than anything else. Gabe or Oz’s child might already be growing inside her. It wasn’t likely, but they wouldn’t demand her freedom in exchange for their baby.

  “We shall be civilized,” he said. “I now see how my parents behaved so well with each other. It’s a matter of practice, keeping one’s emotions at bay.” He bowed his head curtly, turned, and left.

  Sarah stared after him. That’s what her childhood had been like, as well. Parents who disliked each other but pretended otherwise, for society’s sake.

  “Are you all right?” Gabe stood on the rock in front of the door. “I saw Luke marching out of here.”

  “I just realized that perhaps Luke and I aren’t that different, after all.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Sarah was up at daybreak on Wednesday, working hard. As promised, Gabe had kept her warm all night. After some slow loving they’d curled up on her bed in the front cabin and slept all night. She woke to a brilliant sunny morning and a hard cock nudging her backside. It gave new meaning to rising with a smile.

  By midmorning she had a pot full of boiling clothing in the yard. She’d collected everything after supper and set them to soak overnight. The pounding of hooves made her look up. Oz raced over. He did not look very pleased. He reined in, vaulted out of the saddle, and tied his horse up.

  “Quick, before they get here.”

  “Before who gets here?”

  “I’ll explain later.” He lifted her into his arms. She grabbed him around the neck when he began running to the new part of the cabin. “Thank God we moved your bed in this morning.”

  He set her on the bed and knelt in front of her.

  “Now, Sarah, I won’t if you say no, but I’ve been thinking about you all morning and I’m ready to explode. I want it hard and fast, but I’ll slow down if you say so.”

  His need matched her own. She’d opened most of her blouse buttons earlie
r, hoping he would notice. She wore nothing other than stockings and shoes underneath, and it felt wickedly good to have a breeze blow across her skin.

  She lifted her skirt up. His eyes widened as he stared at her pussy. She flicked open buttons and revealed her breasts. He groaned and covered one with his mouth. His hot tongue laved her nipple. She shuddered when he scraped it lightly with his teeth.

  He backed up and looked down. They both watched his fingers enter her pussy. He curled them forward. He used a pinching movement, with his fingers inside her and his thumb on her clit.

  “God, Sarah, you make me so hard just thinking about this.”

  She reached for his pants. “I want you in me. Now!”

  He kept his hand working inside her as he unbuttoned and released his cock.

  “Oh, yes,” she moaned. She lay back, hooked her heels on the edge of the bed, and spread her knees. He held her hips and thrust inside, slowly and surely, until he reached full depth. She squirmed, his fullness stretching her again.

  “You want it hard and fast, angel? Just nod if you can’t talk.”

  She nodded, squeezing his cock inside her at the same time for emphasis.

  He pulled back and surged forward, holding her hips just above the bed so he could control his movements. He stared at the place where they joined. She put her hands to use, one pinching a nipple and the other on her clit. His nostrils flared and he bared his teeth like a gruesome mask. Her orgasm grew closer, the tension tighter and tighter. She pinched hard, the pain giving her an edge, and…yes!

  He snarled even harder and lifted her bottom higher, changing angles and setting her off again. Deep inside, his cock exploded. He thrust again, and again, until he finally shuddered. He dropped forward onto his elbows. His cock, still thick and hard, responded with every exhale. He chuckled, tantalizing her even more.