“I could think of a better use for a blanket than taking a nap. Of course a nap afterward would be good.” Boone watched the rosy blush increase over her cheeks and barely suppressed a growl when she smiled up at him.
Maya turned to his brother and asked, “What do you think about that?”
Boone sighed in relief when she reached for Richard. His brother seemed unsure how to answer until Maya put her arms around his waist and hugged him with a contented sigh. It seemed to be what Richard had needed, and Boone smiled at the confused, vulnerable smile that appeared on Richard’s face.
He kissed the top of her head and said, “I think the blanket would need to be king-size.”
Boone watched in approval as Maya tilted her head up to kiss Richard. Boone’s cock stirred to life, and he was willing to bet Richard was having a similar experience as she stretched up on tiptoes and pressed her body to his. Tightening his arms around her, Richard lifted her off her feet and devoured her lips like a starving man.
Boone was proud of Maya for not pulling away first. She must have sensed that Richard needed to be the one in control of the moment after his doubts had been put to rest.
When Richard released her and carefully set her on her feet, Maya held his hand, looked between them and said to Boone, “Kendall and I had a talk this afternoon on the way over here. If you read the letter Morgan sent to Kendall then you know I love Kendall very much.” Her lips trembled as she continued. “And you also know I wanted a ménage relationship with Kendall and Morgan but never asked for it. Kendall told me that you’re all interested in having an arrangement like Grace does, with equal sharing. He also said that you might like that with me. Is that true?” She looked slightly uncomfortable, and he realized she might be secretly worried they would judge her for wanting something so out of the norm.
Boone wanted to put her fears to rest. “Yes, Maya. It is true. We’ve played the field both on and off the rodeo circuit, and we’ve dabbled in the singles scene in Divine. I’ve been attracted to you since we met when you were in college with Kendall and Morgan but never acknowledged it because you were off limits.”
The relief showed in her eyes, and he felt gratified by her reaction.
Maya turned to Richard and said, “Richard, this has to be hard for you. The last time I recall seeing you, besides at Morgan’s funeral, you were planning a wedding with Michelle. That was three years ago. Do you think you’re ready for something like this? You don’t have to go along with the guys for fear of disappointing me. I don’t want you to feel like you were dragged into this because it’s something Boone and Kendall want. I sound pathetic asking you straight out like this on the day after I arrived, but is there a chance you might have feelings for me that could grow into something that will last? There seems to be something worth exploring between all of us, but I’m only here for a week, so…”
Boone could see her chest heaving a bit and realized she was rattling on, getting more and more anxious because Richard wasn’t showing any kind of response. He wished Richard would say something to reassure her because Boone couldn’t. She’d wonder later if Richard was really on board or not. No, Richard had to be the one who responded to her direct question.
Richard frowned and said, “I’m not going to lie and tell you I’m jumping in with both feet. I’m not that kind of guy. But I can truthfully tell you I want to give this a try.”
“Fair enough, Richard,” she responded with a nod. “I don’t expect you all to make dramatic declarations of undying love to me this week. Let’s just see if what the four of us have together is sustainable. Boone, when I kissed Richard how did it make you feel? Will it make you jealous for me to kiss him like that?”
Boone answered with utter confidence, “No. I like it. But if you kiss any other man besides me or my brothers, I’ll throw you over my knee and blister your little ass until it’s bright pink.”
Maya’s face registered surprise and then she laughed out loud. “Oh, is that supposed to scare me, cowboy? It’s been a while since I’ve been tied up or had a good spanking.”
Boone burst into laughter at her words. “Damn, she’s perfect, Richard!” Boone felt himself fall a little harder for her. In just a few words she’d told him a lot.
Most of the women he’d dated had been vanilla, either buckle bunnies on the rodeo circuit or here in Divine. The idea of a paddling would’ve sent most of them running and had in a couple of cases when he’d mentioned it. One of the few exceptions in his dating career had been a woman who’d wanted to spank him, which had been a no-go.
There had also been a couple of girls he’d dated while still living in Seattle who’d been members of a BDSM club. He’d perfected his technique while dating both of them, and they’d been very disappointed when he’d decided to join Kendall and Richard on the rodeo circuit. He hoped they’d moved on to Doms that were taking good care of them.
When the moment of levity was over she said, “I needed to make sure there’s no jealousy, because I’m not going to become the object of some screwed-up chest-beating contest between the three of you. I’ll want time alone with you. Would that be a problem?”
Surprisingly, Richard spoke first. “Maya, we’d like you to be comfortable with us, and we don’t ever intend to fight over you. Are you going to show preference for Kendall over the two of us, since he’s known you longest?”
Maya shook her head negatively. “I don’t plan to.”
Richard said, “Then you can understand where we’re coming from. It sounds like you feel as strongly as we do about sharing. It’s mutual or it’s not happening.”
“I agree,” Boone said, adding, “You’re the one in control, Maya. We won’t rush you. I want you to know that.”
“Have you ever shared a woman before?”
Boone glanced at Richard but couldn’t gauge what he was thinking. Boone replied, “Kendall and I have.”
Maya paused as if weighing her words. Richard spoke up before she could. “We’re experienced, Maya. Threesomes were never my thing, but I promise you I’d take good care of you.”
She let a breath out and looked at Richard in what seemed like surprise before a bright smile crossed her pretty face. Her features reminded Boone of the angels and cherubs he’d seen in classic paintings.
“What I was about to say is I’ve never done that. I don’t want to be compared to the other women you’ve had before. I have no doubt you would take very good care of me, Richard.”
Boone chuckled and stroked a strand of hair away from her cheek. “The threesomes were all casual, with no strings attached. There’s no comparing them with what we’d have with you. You’re special.”
Maya nodded and grinned sexily. “Well, let’s get my ‘special’ ass back to the truck. It must be getting close to suppertime, and Kendall’s been working while we’ve been playing,” she said as she tugged on their hands.
“Not quite yet,” Boone said as he pulled her back to him.
“What?”
“You know what,” he murmured as he pulled her close and tasted her sweet lips. Her herbal fragrance clouded his senses as the kiss intensified, and she flicked at his tongue with the tip of hers, teasing him. Unable to deny the urge, he lifted a hand to cup one of her luscious breasts and rubbed the stiffened nipple through the fabric of her top. She shuddered and gasped, gripping his biceps tightly. He held the back of her head in his other hand and took complete control, tilting her and taking the kiss deeper. He wanted to roar in triumph at the way she gave over to him, allowing him to rule the moment. When he finally released her she had a dazed look in her eyes.
“Now we can walk back to the truck,” he said softly. She nodded and turned to Richard, who smiled at her and reached for her hand.
Boone watched Maya as she walked out into the late afternoon sun. He made a mental note to find a king-size blanket to put in the work truck because it paid to be prepared. Yeah, I’m a frickin’ Boy Scout. He watched admiringly as her lovely ass swa
yed back and forth. Her snug jeans rode those swells just right, and his cock hardened further at the teasing view. Richard walked beside him, and he glanced at his brother to find his eyes glued to her swinging ass as well.
Their conversation had gone well, and Boone was impressed at the way she took the initiative, instead of playing demure, trying to get declarations of love from them before making a move. He had a feeling Maya wasn’t going to have a hard time at all breaking through Richard’s wall of reserve.
* * * *
As Maya walked along, lost in her own thoughts, Boone and Richard walked on either side of her. Watching them in her peripheral vision, she acknowledged to herself that this was really going to happen. She was going to know what it felt like to be with three men, surrounded by them, making love with them. Maybe soon.
She smiled to herself, remembering the looks on their sinfully handsome faces when she’d taken the bull by the horns on the creek bank. She’d dared herself to go for what she wanted, and she’d been rewarded. And those kisses had practically melted her bones.
There was no question in her mind that she wanted these brothers. She wanted to play and laugh with Kendall, she wanted to cuddle with Richard and soothe their shared pain, and she wanted Boone to tie her to the bed and do whatever he wanted to with her. He was dominant, like Morgan had been, and that was what she’d recognized in him earlier.
Looking up at Richard, Maya pondered his quiet nature, wondering at the best way to approach him. She decided she wanted quiet time alone with him first. He seemed most uncertain of the three of them, and she contemplated how to lay both their fears to rest so they could move forward.
He smiled down at her and slid his fingers across her palm and entwined their fingers. His hand was big and rough, making her own seem small in comparison. He gazed at her, his pale blue eyes triggering a pounding reaction in her heart at his sweet gesture. She stumbled, and they both reached instantaneously to steady her. After her whispered “thank you,” they continued until they were within sight of Kendall’s truck.
Maya offered to help them finish up the chores, but all three men dismissed the idea, and she busied herself picking a bouquet of wildflowers. There was an antique rose bush near the sad remains of the house, and she made a mental note to bring shears, rooting hormone, and potting supplies on her next visit. A flowerbed filled with bushes grown from cuttings from the original rosebush would be lovely after the new house was built. Maybe they’d let her dig up the heirloom bush before construction started.
Maya squatted down in a thick patch of yellow daisies and reached out to gather some for variety in her arrangement. A horrific chill raced over her skin as her ears were filled with the telltale warning of a rattlesnake close by. The sound seemed to come from directly in front of her, and she didn’t have time to retreat before the snake struck.
She stared in shock at the wound on her left hand then traced the source of the stinging bite to the agitated rattlesnake coiling in the tall grass, preparing for another strike. Powered by adrenaline, she flung herself backward as far as she could, rolled to her knees and crawled to the bare dirt, screaming and holding her hand to her stomach.
She no longer knew where the snake was and struggled to her feet to put as much distance as she could between herself and it. She tripped and lurched forward, straight into Richard’s arms. He hit his knees with her and sat her down after looking around the yard.
Gasping in deep gulps of air, Maya whispered, “Snake.”
“I know. We heard it.”
She sat, leaning back against his inner thigh and tried to slow her breathing. The pounding rhythm of her heart made her feel like she was suffocating, and so she panted shallowly.
Richard tilted her chin so she’d look at him. Calmly, he said, “Listen to me, Maya.” Kendall and Boone both skidded to a stop beside them and crouched down at her side. “Kendall is going to look at the bite. I need you to calm your breathing and your heart rate as best as you can. The calmer you are, the slower the venom will move through your bloodstream.”
Her hand tingled fiercely as she did her best to settle down. Boone wrapped his bandana around her wrist snugly but not so much the circulation was cut off completely. Kendall checked his watch and looked closely at the bite, careful to not raise her hand as he did so.
“I see venom. It’s not a dry bite.” He placed her hand against her abdomen. “Keep your hand there. We’re going to take you to the hospital.”
“How far?”
“Not far. Divine has a hospital and ER. We’ll be there inside of ten minutes.”
“More like five. I’m driving,” Boone said as he held her hand to her abdomen.
Richard lifted her in his arms and carried her with little outward effort to the truck Boone and Richard had arrived in earlier. It had a backseat, and Richard lifted her in then climbed in behind her and drew her into his lap.
“Doing okay?” he asked in a reassuring tone.
Still trying to breathe calmly, Maya rested her head against his chest and nodded. She could hear his heart beating against her ear. It sounded like it was about to pound out of his chest. She wrapped her right arm around his middle and squeezed. Richard responded by holding her more closely. She felt safe in his arms.
Kendall turned in the seat in front of her and asked, “Did you get a good look at the snake?”
Shuddering, she recalled the threatening rattle of the venomous reptile. “Yes, it was a diamondback. I saw the markings clearly. It was as big around as my wrist. It didn’t rattle until I was practically on top of it.”
She knew they had plenty of time to get to the hospital, which would more than likely have the antivenin for that particular pit viper’s venom.
“Sorry, guys. I should’ve been paying more attention to where I was reaching. I ruined the day.”
Boone looked back at her and quirked an eyebrow before turning his eyes back to the road. “Yeah, Maya, what’s up with that? You sought that big rattler out and pissed him off just so he’d bite you.” Preparing to make the turn onto the highway, he added, “Hold on.”
Richard’s arms tightened momentarily around her, and he braced himself as Boone turned, flipped on the hazard lights, and nailed the accelerator.
“Well, I should’ve been more careful. I’m sorry.”
Kendall reached back and stroked her knee and said, “No need to apologize. I’m sorry it happened, but I’m glad you weren’t alone, like earlier.”
Richard shuddered and held her closer. His lips were pressed together in a straight line as he looked into her eyes.
A smile came to her lips as she watched him watching her, and he said, “I’ve never noticed before that your blue eyes have a hint of green to them. They’re beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Maya whispered. “Your eyes are, too.” She spoke quietly because she didn’t want the guys to hear her complimenting his unusual eyes and give him a hard time. She had a feeling he was self-conscious about them.
He shrugged. “Most people are put off by them. I know they’re kind of strange to look at.”
Maya shook her head and said, “I love them.” He closed his eyes, and she reached a fingertip to his lightly bearded jaw. She tilted his face so he would look at her again and kissed the center of his chin. He kissed her lips lightly and asked, “How does your hand feel?”
“The bite is throbbing and my hand is a little tingly and hot, but that might be from binding it. How much farther?”
Kendall turned and said, “Just a couple of minutes.”
* * * *
Richard held the door for Maya several hours later as the four of them emerged from the Divine Hospital Emergency Room. He shuddered again at the memory of her scream of fright and pain, and the way she’d tumbled to the ground after she’d been bit. She’d struggled to her feet to get farther away but had tripped, and he’d done everything in his power to make sure she didn’t hit the ground again. The pain and shock in her angelic blue eye
s had fired every single one of his protective instincts. He hadn’t been able to let her go until it was absolutely necessary at the emergency room so she could be treated. Even then he’d held her hand every chance he’d gotten.
Proving that news traveled fast in a small town, a reporter from the Divine Courier had come by to interview her and asked if they’d killed the snake so he might take a picture of it. Kendall had handled the nosy reporter and sent him on his way.
The doctor had determined the envenomation was mild and she’d needed an antivenin injection and a sterile dressing for the bite itself. After blood tests and multiple checks for her respiratory function and blood pressure, the doctor discharged her with instructions on how to care for the wound and what to watch for. Her hand was discolored and the bite looked swollen, but otherwise she’d said she felt fine, if shaken up.
Richard had found himself watching her anxiously all evening for signs of complications or side effects from the antivenin. Every time she’d caught his eye, she’d smiled at him reassuringly, but Maya appeared as though the experience had wiped her out.
As he helped her into the truck, Richard asked, “Maya, are you hungry?”
She’d sent them to eat supper while she was observed in the ER, telling them she was slightly nauseated and didn’t want anything. They’d gotten something from the hospital cafeteria and immediately returned.
“Maybe for a piece of toast. I’m so tired,” she said, her voice soft as she leaned against him. He tucked her to his side in the truck as Boone drove them home.
Richard caught the smile Kendall and Boone shared as he lifted her from the truck cab and carried her inside. He placed Maya on her feet and set about making her toast. He brought the plate to her, and she smiled in thanks and took it from him. She ate quickly and took a shower.
Boone and Kendall left her in Richard’s care and drove out to the ranch to bring back the truck Kendall had left there. Wondering what else he could do to help her feel better, Richard looked in the kitchen cabinets. He spotted tea bags and decided to make her some tea, which might help settle her stomach.
The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 3 Page 7
