Desire Unleashed [Desire, Oklahoma 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Leah Brooke

  Nat gripped Hoyt’s shoulders, swallowing a sob. “Hoyt?” Her voice broke, and she had to swallow another one that threatened to choke her.

  His hand moved over her hair, cupping the back of her head. “Yeah, baby?”

  Conscious of the men talking around them, she buried her face against his neck. “I think I’m going to cry.”

  Hoyt hugged her closer. “Go ahead, baby. I’ve got you. God knows you have every right to cry.”

  “I don’t want them to see.”

  “Then they won’t.” He started moving, through the hedge and back to the parking lot. “Go ahead, baby. It’s just you and me.”

  The first sob broke free without warning, and before she knew it, she started crying hysterically. It was as if a torrent broke free, the fear of the last few hours all coming out in a rush. Keeping her face against Hoyt’s neck, she struggled to speak. “I c–couldn’t b–breathe.”

  Hoyt’s arms tightened, his hand moving up and down her back. “What do you mean, you couldn’t breathe?”

  Now that she’d started crying, she couldn’t seem to stop. “I started c–crying before, but my m–mouth was t–taped and I c–couldn’t breathe.”

  The horror of the night continued to wash over her, and as soon as she thought she could calm down, it all came rushing back. “They c–came into the house. The h–hit Jake. They hurt him. I w–want to s–see him.”

  “We’ll go right now, honey.” His voice, so calm and soothing, wrapped around her.

  “Okay. Okay.” Nat nodded, wiping her face on his jacket. “I’m okay now.” The hiccups in her voice irritated her, and she accepted the bottle of water Hoyt offered to her, knowing that either Lucas, Devlin, or Caleb had given it to him.

  After taking several small sips, she felt steadier. Lifting her gaze to his, she smiled and sniffed. “Sorry about that. Thanks.”

  Hoyt smiled faintly, but his features looked as if they’d been carved in stone. “Thanks for the call.”

  Nat shrugged, more of the tension escaping on a giggle. “I figured you might be looking for me.”

  “Fucking bitch.” Her kidnapper’s voice came from somewhere behind Hoyt, who turned. A bloodied and battered Chuck started to struggle, but Ace, who towered over him, tightened his grip and gave him a warning look.

  She knew Ace would be right in the thick of things.

  “Careful.” Ace smiled coldly. “You’re talking about his woman, and if I let him, he’d tear you limb from limb.”

  Caleb’s usual smile was conspicuously absent. “And enjoy doing it. Hell, I wouldn’t mind having a few minutes alone with you.”

  Looking up at Hoyt, Nat grinned, feeling a little better. “He called you a pussy.”

  Hoyt’s slow smile warmed her all the way through. “Did he?” He didn’t seem at all concerned by the insult.

  “Yep.” She turned her head as Devlin appeared with the other man. “Said all the men in Desire are pussies because of the way they coddle the women.”

  Held against Hoyt’s muscular chest, and drawing strength from him, Nat tilted her head back to smile up at him. “I hate to admit it, but I needed a bit of coddling.”

  Devlin smiled, but she suspected it was for her benefit. “Then he picked a hell of a way to test that theory.” He grinned and winked at her. “Doesn’t appear that the women are too soft, either. What the hell did you do to Bob, Nat? He can barely stand.” He turned him over to the other officer, who demanded a statement.

  Blinking at the other officer’s tone, Nat leaned her head against Hoyt’s wide chest. “I did the same thing to him that he did to Jake, but instead of the butt of a gun, I used a lamp. Asshole.” Lifting her gaze to Hoyt’s she smiled and cupped his jaw. “I remembered what you said about looking for a weapon.”

  Hoyt grinned. “Good girl.” Bending low, he touched his lips to hers. “I’m proud of you, baby, but I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”

  Lucas leaned close, running a hand over her hair as he pulled out a flashlight and pointed it at her face. “We may coddle our women, but they’re our greatest strength.”

  Without a backward glance, Hoyt turned and started toward the truck with Lucas, Devlin, and Caleb. “And our greatest weakness. Christ, I’ve never been so scared.” Raising his voice, he turned to glance at Ace. “Tell your friend that if he wants a statement, we’ll be at the hospital.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Still tense, and watching Natalie carefully, Hoyt smiled as she fussed over Jake.

  She’d been checked over, and other than a few bruises, including the beginning of a black eye, some cuts on her feet, and some soreness, she appeared to be fine.

  He’d been furious to see the duct tape still remaining on her wrists and ankles, and even more furious to see the red marks and broken skin left behind when they removed it.

  She’d been treated, the marks wrapped with gauze. Dressed in hospital scrubs and non-slip socks, she looked adorable, and somehow even smaller and more delicate, and he couldn’t stop hovering over her.

  Jesse had cried when she’d seen her, and looked like hell.

  Clay and Rio didn’t look much better, but now that the crisis had passed, they did their best to lighten the atmosphere and try to get Jesse to settle, but when neither of the women was looking, their eyes glittered with anger and concern.

  As Natalie leaned over Jake, Hoyt reached out to rub her back, unable to stop touching her. He knew the muscles there were sore by the way she moved, but she wouldn’t admit it.

  Jake didn’t seem able to stop touching her, either. Holding her hand, he smiled drowsily. “Tell me again.”

  Natalie bent to kiss him, seeming steadier now that she was with Jake. “No. You have to sleep. I’ll tell you the whole story again when we get home.”

  Jake’s brow went up. “Just because I’m lying in this bed doesn’t mean that you’re in charge, little one. I want to hear how you got away again.”

  Lucas, Devlin, and Caleb came through the door with food and coffee. Devlin grinned. “Hey, we’re just in time. I want to hear all the details, too.”

  With a look at Jake, Hoyt moved to one of the reclining chairs the hospital staff had provided, settling Natalie on his lap. “Eat while you talk.”

  Accepting the cup of coffee from Lucas, Hoyt watched as Jesse fussed over her sister, making sure she had orange juice and coffee, while Caleb urged both women to take breakfast sandwiches.

  Sipping his coffee, Hoyt listened to Natalie tell her story, watching her attentively for any signs of pain.

  She looked exhausted, but she couldn’t seem to sit still for long. Her pale features made the dark circles under her eyes, and the bruise forming around her right one even more pronounced. When she finished her sandwich and juice and set her coffee aside, he pulled her back against him, where she slumped without protest.

  “I swear I could hear Hoyt in my head telling me to look for a weapon, and I knew that if I did something stupid, Jake would kick my ass.”

  “You’re damned right I would.” Jake smiled, but didn’t open his eyes, obviously under the effects of the pain medication.

  Caleb bent to kiss Natalie’s hair. “Our tough girl. We’re all very proud of you, honey.”

  Ace walked through the door, smiling gratefully as he accepted a cup of steaming coffee from Devlin. “Both men have had medical attention and are on their way to jail.”

  “Pity.” Hoyt finished his coffee and set his cup aside, gathering Natalie closer. “I wish I’d had the chance to strangle both of them with my bare hands.”

  Clay nodded. “I can imagine, but I have a feeling that getting to Nat was more important.”

  Ace sipped his coffee, eyeing Natalie over the rim. “You did a hell of a job of escaping, and word’s already spreading around town. The sun’s coming up. Why don’t you try to get some sleep? You look beat, honey.”

  Jake stirred. “Why don’t you and Hoyt go home and get some sleep? Everyone’s been u
p all night.”

  Natalie stiffened. “No. I’m not leaving until you do. If you sleep, I will.”

  Clay got to his feet. “Come on. Let’s clear out of here. No, Jesse. Don’t bother arguing. You need to go home to get some sleep, and Nat needs to be alone with Jake and Hoyt.”

  Within minutes, everyone had gone, leaving the three of them alone. Before he could say anything, a nurse came in, handing him a blanket with a smile.

  “I didn’t think you’d be leaving with the others. Everyone’s talking about what happened, and we’re all so thankful that you’re all okay.”

  “Thank you.” Accepting the blanket, Hoyt covered Natalie before easing the chair back to a reclining position, settling Natalie as he watched the nurse take Jake’s vital signs.

  He waited until the nurse left and closed the door behind her before kissing Natalie’s hair. “Go to sleep, baby. You’re safe now.”

  God, it felt good to have her in his arms again.

  * * * *

  God, it felt good to be in his arms again.

  He’d held her all the way to the hospital, checking her for injuries as she spoke on the phone to Jake.

  Once they got to the hospital, he carried her inside, meeting her demand to go straight to Jake with a steely glare, and continued to the desk.

  Remembering the look on the nurse’s face, she smiled, knowing that if she hadn’t been used to it, the sight of Hoyt would have been enough to make her take a second look.

  But, with Lucas and Devlin striding confidently on either side of him, and Ace and Caleb bringing up the rear, she could understand the woman’s dumbstruck expression.

  Living in Desire, she’d seen it often enough, but she always got a kick out of it.

  The men of Desire had a presence that others seemed to lack.

  To her relief, Hoyt stayed close while the police got her statement, and seemed to know when her strength waned, somehow ending the interview and clearing the room.

  He’d helped her dress in the scrubs the kind nurse had given her to wear, and despite her objection, carried her to Jake’s room where the others waited.

  He hadn’t been more than an arm’s length away from her, giving her the strength she needed to put on a brave face for the others.

  She’d never been so scared—for herself and for Jake—and now that it was over, she couldn’t seem to stop shaking.

  It had been a struggle to hide it from Jesse, and it was a relief to finally be able to relax.

  She watched Jake until her eyes began to droop, struggling to stay awake until he fell asleep.

  Grateful for the dim light, she leaned against Hoyt, pressing her face against his chest. She didn’t want Jake to see how badly it shook her to see him lying in a hospital bed, his face almost as white as the bandage wrapped around his head.

  His hair, so dark against the white sheets, had been washed clean of blood, but she still saw it. The image—imprinted on her mind—refused to go away.

  Even hurt, his concern had been for her.

  According to Jesse, it had taken both Clay and Rio to keep him from leaving the hospital, and even though Hoyt had called him and let him speak to Nat on the phone, Jake hadn’t settled until she walked into the room.

  Even through the relief in his eyes, the concern couldn’t be mistaken. He’d gripped her hand like a lifeline, and hadn’t looked away from her as if trying to convince himself that she was all right.

  He’d had his eyes closed for several minutes and started to doze, suddenly jerking. “Nat?”

  “I’m right here.” She started to get up, pausing when he waved a hand and closed his eyes again.

  “No, don’t get up.”

  Hoyt settled her back against him again, his eyes narrowed. “Do you need something, Jake?”

  Opening his eyes again, Jake glanced at Hoyt before his gaze settled on hers. “Is she really all right?”

  Nat blinked, stiffening. “I already told you—”

  A dark brow went up, his arrogant look making her feel a little better. “You told me what I want to hear. Hoyt will tell me the truth.”

  The concern and love for her shining in his eyes made it impossible for her to get angry with him for not believing her. Shaking her head, she smiled and leaned back against Hoyt, hoping to allay her husband’s fear. “If you’re accusing me of lying, I’m going to kick your ass when we get home.”

  He didn’t smile as she expected, his expression hard as he held her gaze while adjusting his pillow. “You’re not fooling me, Nat. I see the worry in your eyes. Seeing me in this hospital bed scares you, and you’ve already been scared enough. It makes me sick to my stomach that I couldn’t protect you, but it doesn’t make me fragile or weak, and I won’t be treated that way. I want the fucking truth.”

  “Jake, don’t get upset.” Afraid that getting worked up would only make his head hurt worse, she tried to go to him, but Hoyt tightened the hand around her waist, pulling her back against him.

  “He’s got every right to be upset. I’d be pissed off, too, if you tried to hide something from me, or treated me like a child.” Closing his hand over her arm, he massaged gently, facing Jake. “Her wrists and ankles are raw from the duct tape. Her jaw isn’t broken, but it’s swollen and she’s got the beginning of a black eye from where she was backhanded.”

  “Backhanded?”

  Nat shivered at the ice in Jake’s tone. “Jake, I’m—”

  “Quiet.” Lifting his head, Jake looked at Hoyt. “One of them backhanded her?”

  “Yeah.” Staring down at her, Hoyt ran a finger lightly down her sore cheek. “He paid for it, but not enough. It’s still swollen, but not as much. They put an ice pack on it down in the emergency room, but she didn’t want to walk in here with it because she didn’t want you to worry.”

  Nat pushed his hand away. “You weren’t supposed to tell him that.”

  Hoyt smiled, bending to touch his lips to her cheek. “I’d want to know.” Lifting her chin, he studied her features as he continued to speak to Jake. “She’s also sore, especially her back—probably from wrenching it, and being pulled around.”

  His lips twitched at her look of surprise, and he turned back to Jake. “She’s been trying to hide it. The doctor wants her to take it easy for a couple of days. He gave her a muscle relaxer, and I have a prescription for more. Between being up all night, the adrenaline crash you both have to be feeling, and the medicine they’ve given you, I think both of you should settle down and go to sleep. I know I could use some. I’m getting too old for this.”

  With a sigh, he dropped his head back and closed his eyes. “Christ, Jake, I don’t know how you do it.” Lifting his head again, he smiled down at her. “One week with her and I’m exhausted.”

  Jake grinned, looking so much like his old self that she wanted to cry, and she squeezed Hoyt’s hand in gratitude. Reaching up, Jake turned off one of the lights, leaving only a very dim one to bathe the room in a soft glow. “She’s always been a handful. Keeps me on my toes—that’s for sure.”

  Looking a little more relaxed, Jake closed his eyes and settled back. “I’m glad you’re here to watch over her tonight. As soon as I get a few hours sleep and get rid of this headache, we’ll go home, and I can check her over myself.”

  His faint smile held a hint of sadness that ripped a piece of Nat’s heart. “This’ll be the first night since we got married that we haven’t slept together, won’t it?”

  Swallowing the lump in her throat, Nat nodded, blinking back tears. “Yeah.” It was a silly thing, she supposed, but one that saddened her. Forcing a smile, she met his gaze squarely. “We’re together, though, and that’s what’s important.”

  Hoyt lifted his head again, looking from one to another. “Except for the night Joe was born—right? Wait a minute.” He frowned at Jake. “I thought you said you didn’t have sex for a while after you got married.”

  Grinning, Jake dropped his head back again. “Even though we didn’t hav
e sex, I wasn’t about to start married life sleeping in separate beds. That kind of thing could become a habit, and that’s not what I wanted. Besides, she didn’t need to be alone and I wanted to hold her. She was a restless sleeper when she was pregnant.”

  Smiling, Nat shared an intimate look with Jake as memories of the night she’d given birth to Joe came rushing back. “Despite the dirty looks from the nurse, Jake crawled into bed with me and held me all night. She tried to kick him out. Hoyt! What are you doing?”

  Standing with her in his arms, Hoyt carried her across the room and lowered her to the hospital bed. Holding on to her as Jake smiled and made room for her, he smiled. “I’m not surprised Jake didn’t let the nurse kick him out. I know that once I’m in bed with you, I certainly don’t want to leave.” He touched his lips to her forehead before straightening, tucking the blanket around her. “You two need each other tonight. Get some sleep.”

  Searching his features for any signs of jealousy, Nat gripped his hand. “What about you?” Relieved to see only love and concern in his eyes, she lifted his hand to her lips. “You’re not leaving, are you?”

  The flare of pleasure in his eyes humbled her. “I’m not going anywhere. Get some sleep so I can take you both home.”

  * * * *

  Lying in the recliner, Hoyt found it nearly impossible not to go to Natalie when she started to cry, but knew that she and Jake needed some time together.

  She’d needed him, not only to rescue her, but to hold her—to hide her from the other—so she could cry.

  She’d trusted him enough to let go in his arms, and despite the turmoil, it had been the most precious moment of his life.

  The surge of love for her made him dizzy, the intimacy he’d craved even more potent to his senses—more overwhelming—than he ever could have anticipated.

  Jake murmured to her, holding her close as he comforted her. “I’m fine, honey. Just a headache. How many times have you accused me of being hardheaded?” Settling her against his shoulder, he kissed her hair. “I was scared for you. Your poor face. Does it hurt? Maybe I should call the nurse for more ice.”