The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 3

by Heather Rainier

  “Don’t, babydoll. You’re going to hurt yourself.” He leaned close to her, gingerly slid his arms around her, and sighed when she ran her fingers through the short hair at his nape.

  Maya kissed him and said, “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Ruth tapped on the door and quietly handed Boone three pillows when he opened the door for her.

  She released Kendall and put her palm on Boone’s thigh when he returned to the bed. “It’s over now, and we’re going to move on. I hope Frank gets whatever is coming to him. I wish this bed was bigger. Then I could cuddle up with all of you.”

  “Even though we still smell skunky?” Kendall asked with a chuckle.

  Maya laughed and said, “I probably do, too. I want a shower first thing in the morning.”

  They talked until Maya’s pain meds started to take effect. The men kissed her one at a time and grinned when she got her words mixed up trying to tell them how much she loved them. She fell asleep holding their hands.

  Early the following morning Ruth came in and shooed them out to check Maya and help her bathe. Maya could tell they were disappointed by that news.

  Kendall said, “We’ll go get cleaned up and come back after breakfast.”

  Richard added, “We need to call the deputy who took our statements and tell him about the GPS Reeves may have put on your car.”

  Boone patted his pockets and said, “Where did I put the keys to the truck?”

  “Keys!”

  The men returned to the bedside. “Did you remember something else?” Richard asked.

  “Yes. He said something about a key. He threatened me, like once he got the key he was going to…” She didn’t finish the thought because it obviously troubled them to hear it repeated.

  “Key to what?” Boone asked, chewing on his lip.

  Kendall’s face lit up. “Didn’t Morgan put a key to a safe-deposit box in the last letter to you?”

  “His law office did. They included it in the larger envelope.”

  “Where is it?”

  “My purse. I stuck it in my pocketbook for safekeeping.”

  “We need to find out what is in that safe-deposit box,” Boone said. “I’m willing to bet whatever is in there will provide a clue for why Reeves tried to kill you.”

  A shiver went up Maya’s spine as she thought of just how close he’d come to succeeding.

  After the men kissed her one final time and left, Ruth returned with a sponge bath. Maya was disappointed but knew she’d have to wait at least another day to take a shower and wash her hair. Even though the cast could be wrapped, she was still too wobbly on her feet to be able to shower. Washing her hair would be impossible without help.

  “So three men, huh? How’s that working for you?” Ruth asked, a friendly twinkly in her eyes. “I probably shouldn’t be asking about that.”

  Maya chuckled and replied, “It’s okay. It’s not a big secret. I love all three of them very much.”

  “I noticed on your patient paperwork that you’re an RN. Are you new in town?”

  “Yes. I just made the move permanent last week.”

  “Great. I guess I’ll see you around here, if you take a nursing job.”

  “I’ve got a good lead on a position.”

  “So they’re all brothers, huh?”

  Maya giggled at Ruth’s avid curiosity and answered a few more of her questions before breakfast arrived.

  When Maya told her a little about what had happened the day before and explained her hiding place, Ruth was flabbergasted.

  “That’s why I was hoping to wash my hair this morning.”

  “You go ahead and eat, and I’ll see if I can find a hairbrush.” Maya smiled, grateful that she’d found a friend in the nursing community already.

  Chapter Thirty

  Two weeks after the incident at the creek, Maya, Kendall, Boone, and Richard journeyed to San Marcos to finally solve the mystery of what the safe-deposit box contained. Upon their arrival, they followed a bank employee to the private room designated for opening safe-deposit boxes and left them after placing it on the large wooden table.

  Maya’s hands shook as she lifted the lid. An envelope with Morgan’s handwriting was the first thing she saw. Lifting it out, she noticed another thick envelope beneath it. She opened the letter and removed the thick sheet of stationery, unfolded it, and read the short letter silently.

  Dearest Maya,

  If you’re reading this letter it means the paperwork in this box is yours to do with as you see fit. I wanted to save it as a surprise for you, for after we retired, which is why I stored it at the bank. Too many people know where our safe is located, and I wanted these papers kept separate under lock and key. Frank was the only one who knew about them besides me, and that’s part of the reason for the secrecy. I didn’t want him to try to wrangle you out of this piece of land. I hope if you’ve read my other letters you’ve distanced yourself from him.

  Two separate geologists confirmed the deposits of natural gas on this acreage are enormous. All the information you need, along with the name and address of someone you can trust to help you decide what the best options are, is in the envelope, too. Give Kendall, Boone, and Richard my best.

  Love,

  Morgan

  The tone of Morgan’s letter was friendly, and as she reread it, Maya was reminded that Morgan had been a thoughtful, analytical thinker. While writing this letter, it would have occurred to him that she would be moving on with her life by this point. At first, his formal friendliness had struck her as odd, but now she understood it. He didn’t want to cause her additional pain. The last letter he’d sent was truly the last love letter she would be receiving from him. With this one he was helping her move on in the only way he could. He’d been so right about Frank. And he’d been fairly intuitive in offering his greetings to Boone and Richard as well.

  I’ll always love you, Morgan. Thank you.

  She handed the letter to Boone, and the men gathered around it to read as she lifted the other envelope from the box. She opened the flap of the thick envelope, and several official-looking documents slipped out.

  The first was a deed to a piece of property in Louisiana, made out to Morgan. There were also geologist’s reports and a letter estimating the value of the property at two million dollars.

  She looked up at the men and handed them the documents.

  When she was finally able to speak, Maya said, “Morgan used to say that when we retired we would live like a king and queen. I thought he meant our investments were doing well, which they are. I didn’t have a clue he had this.”

  Shock was evident in their eyes. Kendall asked, “What are you going to do with it?”

  They hadn’t tendered an official proposal to her yet, but Maya knew exactly what she wanted to do with at least a part of it. Invest it in a promising Texas cattle ranch known as the JWB.

  * * * *

  Maya cuddled up to Kendall as they drove to San Marcos the second week in June to finalize the sale of her house. Since it was just the two of them for the trip, they were riding in her sporty Cadillac. Kendall put his arm around her so she could scoot even closer to him. It was early morning, and they had a long drive ahead of them.

  Kendall, Boone, and Richard had been incredibly patient regarding her incapacitated status, cooking meals, doing all the laundry and housework, and helping her with the physical therapy she’d recently started for her left arm and shoulder. The wounds had healed, and the nightmares that had plagued her for a few weeks were also beginning to diminish. Frank Reeves was in the custody of the State of Texas and likely to remain there a long time. He was now facing prison time not only for Maya’s attempted murder, but for Morgan’s murder, as well. New evidence incriminating him had been uncovered that linked him to Morgan’s death.

  During her recuperation, her men had backed off from making love to her as often as she might’ve liked. She’d practically had to beg the first time, after re
minding them her doctor had released her from any restriction regarding intercourse. Her only limitation had been the bulky cast on her arm which had been removed earlier in the week.

  The closing on the house went without a hitch, and they had the rest of the hot June afternoon and evening to look forward to. They had made reservations at a quaint little bed-and-breakfast on the outskirts of San Marcos, which was owned by a friend of Maya’s.

  After Charlotte had them situated in their little cottage, she showed them the room’s features. It was a well-known fact among the local BDSM and kink community that The Lasso Inn catered discreetly to an unconventional clientele.

  With a naughty twinkle in his eyes, Kendall pointed to a fern-bedecked plant stand located by itself in the corner of the room. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Maya giggled and nodded. “Yes. Charlotte gave Morgan and me one just like it for a Christmas present several years ago. Her husband builds them himself.”

  “Yes,” Charlotte said in her genteel, Southern accent. “Zane has made quite a niche for himself online in the kinky, convertible furniture business.”

  The innocuous-looking plant stand was in actuality a convertible St. Andrew’s Cross, completely ready to use with eyebolts for securing a naughty sub by their wrists and ankles.

  Charlotte also demonstrated a sliding panel on the side of the bedroom armoire that hid an assortment of impact play toys, such as floggers, paddles, whips, and canes. Maya stifled a snicker at the eager gleam in Kendall’s eyes.

  “I put something special inside for y’all,” Charlotte said, opening one of the doors indicating a gaily wrapped present inside. “Think of it as an early engagement gift, but don’t open it until later tonight. The girls still want to take the two of you to supper. If you open it we may not see you for the rest of your stay.” The merriment in Charlotte’s blue eyes and the pink in her cheeks made Maya wonder what was in the gift.

  Closing the cabinet, her lovely, blonde friend led them out the French doors and showed them their private patio. “There’s a wedding reception being held later tonight. Unfortunately,” she added gesturing to the pavilion roof on the other side of the cedar fence, which gave them complete privacy, “the pavilion backs up to your cottage. I hope it won’t be too much of an inconvenience.”

  Maya shook her head and started to reassure Charlotte, and then noticed the devilish twinkle in her eyes. “You kinky little minx!”

  Charlotte shrugged and giggled. “I just thought you’d want to know, that’s all. Nobody will be able to see onto your patio. And with the band playing they probably couldn’t hear either.”

  Maya replied, “That’s good to know.” Kendall never said a word, but Maya noted the mischievous grin on his face.

  When Maya had let the rest of her friends know she was back in town overnight, Sheryl, Trina, Linna, and Charlotte all insisted on taking them to supper once more.

  Linna, one of the realtors Morgan had worked with, quizzed Kendall about Divine, asking him what the real estate market was like and if decent housing was easily available. Sheryl was less bashful this time and wanted to know whether the citizens of Divine gave Maya a hard time for being in a polyamorous relationship.

  Kendall replied, “Unfortunately, we have to fly under the radar as much as possible. We have some unfriendly folks in town who are making it a little difficult for the girls right now.” He told them about the blog and the continued harassment they’d been dealing with.

  Maya nodded. The girls grew quiet and gave her their attention. “For some reason the bulk of their gossip and moral outcry seems to be directed at us, the women in the relationships. That’s why I think it must be a woman behind the blog being written. The men are painted almost as innocent, beguiled victims.”

  “Still no idea who is behind the blog?” Sheryl asked as she sipped her soda.

  Kendall replied, “The last I heard, the guys who are investigating the blog and the attacks at the shop had some leads they’re working on.”

  Trina, one of her former neighbors and fellow book-lover, hmphed in disgust and said, “I should move there just so I can stalk those jerks and kick their asses. Kendall, do you know any single, cowboy hotties who aren’t spoken for yet? One? Two? Three, maybe?”

  “Trina, it would take one hell of a cowboy to keep you under control. He might have to use a rope,” Sheryl said with a snicker.

  “And a paddle!” Charlotte chimed in.

  Linna choked on her iced tea and added, “And a gingerroot butt plug!”

  “Ouch!” Maya said as she shushed them all. Restaurant patrons were staring. “I don’t think she’s that bad.”

  Kendall laughed at Trina’s straightforward questions and told her irrepressible friend that he knew several cowboys who hadn’t been claimed yet. The other women laughed uproariously when Trina whooped for joy and declared she was moving to Divine.

  Maya wished they all could. She would miss her friends very much. When she told them so, they fought tears and promised they would come for a visit.

  When they returned to the cottage, the wedding reception was in full swing under the twinkling lights strung abundantly from the ceiling of the pavilion.

  After dead-bolting the front door, Kendall strode toward her with a predatory gleam in his chocolate brown eyes, unbuttoning the cuffs on his button-down shirt. She watched his tanned hands, his fingers moving nimbly on the buttons. Thoughts of him using those sensuous fingers on her had her pussy tingling with longing in a split second.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Kendall crooked a finger at her, and she went to him as if drawn on a marionette string. He removed her lightweight summer dress and thong then allowed her to unbutton his shirt front. She slipped the shirt from his broad, thickly muscled shoulders, and he stood and removed his jeans and boxers.

  After they were both naked, Kendall removed something from his suitcase and tugged her hand and drew her to the French doors leading onto their private patio. Noiselessly, he opened it, and they stepped out into the moonlight completely naked. Conversations and laughter filtered to them through the privacy fence, but no movement from the other side was visible. A thrilling sizzle of heat rushed through her as the warm, evening breeze rushed over her nude body, culminating in her drenched pussy.

  “Come sit in my lap,” he murmured, taking a seat in a comfortable-looking, padded patio chair.

  He drew her to him so she faced him, straddling his thighs with her ass perched on his knees. The warm, nighttime breeze sent a shudder through her whole body, and her pussy quivered with need. She caressed his cock as she kissed him and whispered, “Aren’t you glad I got back on the pill?”

  “Babydoll, you have no idea how glad I am.”

  Maya lifted up and wrapped her arms around his neck. He positioned his cock and sighed blissfully as she slid down on him.

  On the other side of the fence, a conversation concerning the colors the bride had chosen to decorate her new home in continued. The band started the next song, and there was a smattering of applause.

  “They’re a few feet away from us and have no idea,” Maya whispered. She balanced on her tiptoes and reveled lustily in the feel of his strong hands gripping her hips as she moved fluidly up and down on his cock. She tucked her knees in beside his hips and leaned forward, changing the angle of their connection, and had to stifle a groan at the pleasure coursing through her body.

  “Imagine the fence disappearing, Maya. They can see you sitting in my lap, riding my cock.”

  She held on to him as she pictured the wedding guests watching in fascination as Kendall and Maya made love under the moonlight. Some would be shocked, but others would watch and be turned-on by the sight of their sweat-sheened bodies joined together and the way Kendall held her so securely in his arms.

  She loved knowing they watched her but kept her eyes focused on Kendall’s face. The feel of him inside her without the latex barrier was divine, so hot and slick.

  “I�
��m so close, Kendall.”

  “Me, too, babydoll. They’re watching you. You’re so beautiful like this, and they can’t take their eyes off of you.”

  Resting her cheek on his thick shoulder as they continued moving together, she closed her eyes and imagined it. The moonlight was shining down on them, their entwined flesh luminous in the lunar glow. She heard a very faint whirring sound and had to stifle a cry when he gently applied one of the battery-operated toothbrushes they’d used as a vibrator to her clit. He began thrusting hard as the telltale spasms started within her.

  His whispered voice did her in. “They might enjoy what they’re watching, but they can’t ever touch. You’re mine.”

  Oh, so completely, totally yours!

  They moved together until they reached the silent crescendo. The orgasm slammed into her, and she raised her lips to his to mute her cry. His arms tightened around her as he thrust powerfully several times before becoming motionless with a shaky groan. He held her tight, and his body practically vibrated with his orgasm. He tilted his head back as his cock pulsed inside her, and she watched his handsome face in fascination as he bit his lower lip.

  When he was finally able, Kendall whispered, “Wonder what other household items we can pervert.”

  Maya had to put her hand over her mouth to suppress her laughter. “Speaking of kinky and perverted, we can open Charlotte and Zane’s gift now.”

  Kendall assisted her as she lifted off of him and led her back into the cottage. After closing the door, she opened the armoire and took out the gift. They unwrapped it together, and Kendall slit the tape on the cardboard box with his pocketknife. Inside, amidst frothy, white packing peanuts were two smaller boxes. She pulled out the one on top.

  Kendall studied the picture on the label and said, “Now that looks kinky. What does it say?”