Desire Unleashed [Desire, Oklahoma 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)
Page 1
Desire, Oklahoma 9
Desire Unleashed
Jake and Natalie Langley’s marriage was perfect, or so she thought.
But, something had changed—a distance that had never been there before.
And she didn’t know why.
Braced for the worst, she’s shocked at news she’d never bargained for.
Hoyt Campbell was on his way, and he wanted to be a part of her life again.
Scared of the feelings she’d harbored for her son’s biological father, and the only other man she’d ever loved, she begs Jake to refuse to allow him to come.
But, Hoyt, now retired from the Navy, was already on his way, determined to win back the only woman he’d ever loved, even if it meant sharing her with the man he’d trusted to take care of her long ago.
Despite her feelings for Hoyt, Nat’s determined to fight for her marriage.
But she hadn’t counted on both men uniting in their decision to share her—a decision that would change their lives forever.
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre
Length: 123,028 words
DESIRE UNLEASHED
Desire, Oklahoma 9
Leah Brooke
MENAGE EVERLASTING
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting
DESIRE UNLEASHED
Copyright © 2014 by Leah Brooke
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62741-821-8
First E-book Publication: May 2014
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Epilogue
About the Author
DESIRE UNLEASHED
Desire, Oklahoma 9
LEAH BROOKE
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Nat Langley turned from the kitchen sink, her stomach lurching at the sound of her husband’s cell phone.
It was a sound she’d come to hate over the last several months.
It was a sound that could change Jake’s mood in an instant.
And she didn’t know why.
Secret calls. Secret text messages.
Calls and messages that he wouldn’t discuss with her, and that widened the distance between them.
It scared her so much that she’d finally stopped asking.
And she hated herself for it.
He’d been getting text messages all morning, and the tension surrounding him seemed to be growing with each one.
His eyes, flat and cool as he read the newest one, lifted to hers again, his hard expression turning the knots in her stomach to ice.
Swallowing heavily, she turned back to the plate that she’d spent the last five minutes washing, fear and anger at herself igniting her temper. “Another one of the mysterious messages you don’t want to tell me about?”
She wanted to call the words back as soon as she uttered them, but she couldn’t stay silent any longer.
Something had to give—one way or another.
Expecting him to wave her question away, and tell her it was nothing the way he had repeatedly over the last several months, Nat stilled at the pregnant silence that followed.
She’d never been shy about confronting him in the past, and the fact that she was now infuriated her.
The distance between them had gotten worse in the last few weeks, making the tension even worse.
And it scared the hell out of her.
She loved Jake more than her own life, and the thought of losing him was more than she could stand.
Without answering her, he texted a short reply and set the phone aside, staring down into his coffee.
Taking the opportunity to watch him unobserved, Nat blinked back tears, the surge of love and desire nearly overwhelming.
God, she loved him so much.
Other than a few gray strands in his dark brown hair, he looked much the same as he did the day she’d married him. Regular trips to the gym kept him in shape, and the few gray strands at his temple only made him look more distinguished. His eyes, the color of dark chocolate, could go from loving and indulgent to sharp and possessive in a heartbeat, but now held a misery that tore at her heart. His unwillingness to confide in her le
ft her feeling bereft and unsteady—her entire world off-kilter.
His confidence had always been a source of security and comfort and she hadn’t realized just how much she relied on it.
His arrogance frustrated her at times, and aroused her at others, but the insecurity in his eyes now frightened her more than she wanted to admit.
It was as if her entire world and everything she knew had been yanked out from under her.
And she didn’t even know why.
He’d always been a fantastic lover, and had introduced her to the world of dominance and submission many years ago.
With patience. With love. With tenderness.
He’d drawn her closer until they became like one.
Something tormented him, shaking the control she’d come to rely on, convincing her that whatever secret Jake had been keeping from her was significant, so significant that it would change their lives forever.
She was losing him—a little more every day.
And it terrified her.
He was her husband. Her lover. Her Master.
Her rock.
They’d become closer than she’d ever thought she could be to another human being.
He was a part of her, so much a part of her that it hurt her that he didn’t confide in her.
He’d always confided in her.
He loved her.
She could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch.
Even now.
Especially now.
She’d watched for signs that he no longer wanted her, but the opposite appeared to be true.
Jake’s lovemaking had become more intense than ever, and his touch held a desperation she didn’t understand. Each time he made love to her, it was as if it would be the last time.
Wiping her hands, she fisted them in the towel and turned away from Jake to stare unseeingly out the window.
As much as she tried to deny it, all signs pointed to either Jake having a lover, or some kind of illness.
She’d rather face the lover.
The fact that he wouldn’t talk to her about it convinced her that it was bad.
Very bad.
Blinking back more tears, she swallowed heavily and turned again, her breath catching to find him watching her, his eyes unreadable.
With a sigh, he leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table, his hands fisted in front of him. “Sit down, Nat. We have to talk.”
No! I don’t want to know!
She wanted to scream it. She wanted to turn and run out the back door—to escape back into pretending that everything was okay again.
Once she knew whatever Jake had been hiding, she could no longer pretend.
Once he told her, things would never be the same again.
She didn’t know if she could bear it.
She had to.
She had to face whatever happened, and with the strength Jake expected of her.
Too nervous to sit, Nat shook her head, bracing herself for the blow to come. Closing her hands on the edge of the cold granite countertop, she locked her knees when they threatened to give way, swallowing the huge lump in her throat. “So, you’ve finally decided to tell me?”
Jake stood and moved gracefully around the table toward her, every lean muscular line of his body tight with tension. Reaching for her hand, he brought it to his lips, his eyes flat and searching hers for something, but she didn’t know what. “I’m sorry I couldn’t talk to you about this sooner, but I’ve had a lot to think about. I don’t like the distance between us.” He lifted his other hand and pushed back a loose tendril of her hair, his eyes narrowing when she stiffened. “We’ve never had that before, have we? Distance. You and I have done well together, haven’t we?”
Panic slammed into her—panic she struggled to hide even as bile rose in her throat. Taking a shuddering breath, Nat held herself stiffly, shaken by the uncertainty in his eyes, something she couldn’t remember ever seeing before. “You caused this distance by not telling me what’s wrong.”
“I know.” Jake gave her one of those fake smiles he’d adopted over the last several months, gripping her chin and keeping her gaze lifted to his when she would have looked away. “I had to get some things straight in my head. I also didn’t want you to have to worry any longer than you have to.” He smiled, another smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I know how you worry about things.”
Fearing the worst, Nat hardly dared to breathe. Pressing her hand, still wadded up in the towel, against her stomach, she took a shuddering breath. “And it took you several months to get things straight in your head? I’ve been worried all this time, so you didn’t do me any favors. Whatever it is, tell me. I’m strong. I can take it.” Her voice cracked, terror gripping her by the throat and making it nearly impossible to speak.
Jake’s lips curved in a semblance of a smile. “It appears I’ve run out of time.”
Nat’s knees turned to rubber, her stomach churning as the world spun around her. “No. Oh, God. Please, no!”
Reaching for him, she could feel the blood draining from her face. Her worst nightmare. A sob escaped, and then another. “No! Oh, Jake. Please, God. No!”
She fisted her hands in his shirt as her knees buckled, her world crumbling around her.
Please, God, no! No! No! Please!
Anything but this! She could handle anything but this.
Stop it, Nat!
He needed her now. She had to be strong.
She straightened, holding on to the countertop when her knees refused to support her. “You’re dying. Tell me everything.”
Jake cursed, catching her before she hit the floor and yanking her against him. “No. Oh, God, baby. No. There’s nothing wrong with me. I promise.” Rubbing her back with a firm caress, he held her tightly, his hold keeping her upright. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Shhh. I never expected you to think something like that. I’m so sorry, baby. I wasn’t thinking. Oh, God, baby. I’m so sorry. So sorry. I’m not sick. I swear to you, I’m not sick. Hell, I’m a fucking idiot.”
He was sorry.
He wasn’t dying.
He wasn’t dying.
Thank you, God!
She tried to lock her knees, but they felt as though they were made of rubber, her entire body trembling in reaction. Gripping his shoulders, she took several shaky breaths, holding on to him like a lifeline. “You’re everything to me.”
Cupping the back of her head, he pressed her face against his shoulder, and she went eagerly, his low, crooning tone and clean, masculine scent starting to center her again. “You’re everything to me, too, baby. You’re the most important thing in my world. Christ, how could I have been so fucking stupid? I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. It never dawned on me that you’d think something like that. Please forgive me. I swear there’s nothing wrong with me.”
Clinging to him, Nat swallowed another sob and lifted her head, wiping away tears in order to see him clearly. “Are you sure? Don’t lie to me. I know I fell apart, but I can handle it. We can handle it together.” Her voice came out as little more than a ragged whisper, but she could tell by the flare of his eyes that he’d heard her.
His smile, filled with tenderness, began to warm her again. “I’m sure.”
Holding her face between his large hands, Jake groaned, his eyes tortured. “I’m sure. Hell, baby. I’m sorry. I never dreamed you’d think I was sick.” His smile held a hint of sadness. “I swear, I would never keep something like that from you.”
He wasn’t sick. He wasn’t dying.
That only left one thing.
Another woman.
Taking a deep breath, Nat stiffened, locking her knees to remain upright.
The joy—the overwhelming relief—began to fade, leaving her feeling cold and bereft.
Knowing she had to count on her own strength, she straightened on shaky legs and gently pushed his hands away, bracing herself against the countertop at her back. Lifting her gaze to his, she took a
deep breath and let it out slowly. “But you have been keeping something from me. What is it?”
She needed to hear him say it. She needed to hear from his own lips that he’d betrayed her.
She needed to hear him say that he didn’t love her anymore.
Bracing herself to have her heart ripped from her chest, Nat forced herself to face him squarely. Sucking in a breath at the flicker in his eyes, Nat avoided his outstretched hands and stepped to the side. “Don’t. Just…don’t. Say it. Whatever it is, you’re not looking forward to telling me about it. I see it in your eyes.” The excruciating pain almost doubled her over, but she knew she couldn’t let him see it.
She’d fall apart later—much later—when she was alone. Confused, she stepped closer to him and laid a hand on his shoulder, needing the contact, and despite her anger and fear, aching for him.
Pulling his arm until he faced her, she looked up at him, her pulse tripping as always at the flare of possessiveness in his dark eyes. “Tell me. I’m scared, and you know how much I hate that. If you’re not sick, whatever it is, I can take it. Just tell me the truth. Dragging this out is killing me.”
His handsome features, so beloved, softened as he trailed his fingers over her hair. “I’m sorry, baby. I sure as hell didn’t mean to scare you. Keeping her hand in his, he turned away, leading her into the living room. “I’ve been pretty scared myself. Give me a minute. I have no fucking idea how to begin.”
Nat allowed him to pull her down to the sofa, but instead of snuggling against him the way she normally did, she slid to the opposite end and turned toward him, needing to see his face. “Well, you’re going to have to figure it out. You’re pissing me off.”
Jake didn’t smile the way she’d expected, and even more alarming, his eyes didn’t light with anticipation the way they usually did when she confronted him with her temper.