by Leah Brooke
Gesturing toward Wyatt and Hayes, who accepted congratulations and teasing comments from the other men, Eb sighed.
“Wyatt and Hayes would kill any man who touched you. You know that as well as I do. I don’t want trouble, Savannah. The men want wives. They want women to warm their beds and make homes for them.”
He gestured toward Maggie, his expression softening.
“We all want children. We want to build something here, Savannah. A home. A life. It’s damned lonely without a woman to share it with.”
Turning back to her, he nodded in Wyatt and Hayes’s direction.
“That’s what they want. They’re smitten with you, and gave up their positions with the Marshals just to be able to make a home with you here. They won’t take kindly to being toyed with.”
A delicious warmth seemed to swell up inside her as she thought about their hands on her body and the way they toyed with her only minutes earlier.
Embarrassed that she’d messed everything up, she gritted her teeth and rubbed her eyes in frustration. She turned to find both Wyatt and Hayes watching her, the possessiveness and concern in their eyes unmistakable even at this distance.
Looking away, she scanned the room, noticing that the men who’d eyed her with curiosity and male interest when she’d walked through the door smiled politely or nodded with respect before looking away.
“Hellfire and damnation.”
Eb chuckled. “And then some. Your men will get you some supper. According to everyone here, you’re already spoken for. I’m beginning to think Wyatt and Hayes planned it that way. Smart men.”
Savannah bristled. “Good. That’ll keep everyone from bothering me until I can leave. Hopefully by then I’ll be able to get Hayes and Wyatt to understand.”
She turned again to find both men starting toward her, each with two plates piled high with food.
Eb took her arm and turned her toward the table where Maggie waited.
“Good luck with that, honey. They seem real determined.”
Taking the seat across from Maggie, she nodded at Jeremiah, who sat on the other side of her friend, before looking up at Eb over her shoulder. “So am I.”
Eb grinned and took his seat on the other side of his wife. “My money’s on them.”
* * * *
Of course Wyatt and Hayes sat on either side of her, making it impossible to move without brushing against one of them.
She ate, but tasted nothing.
When they finished eating, the four men walked Maggie and Savannah back to the house, each seemingly preoccupied with his own thoughts.
Maggie tried several times to make conversation, but Savannah just nodded, finding it difficult to concentrate. Eventually, Maggie smiled in understanding and gave up.
Once inside, Savannah walked ahead of Maggie and Jeremiah, making her way up the stairs on shaky legs. She made her way to her room and listened to the men, who stayed outside talking for what seemed like hours.
She knew the looks Wyatt and Hayes had given her as they bid her good night would keep her awake for hours.
Filled with desire, their eyes flashed with impatience that they couldn’t give her a more intimate good-night.
She couldn’t hear what they said, but she could easily distinguish the rumble of Hayes and Wyatt’s voices. After hours of tossing and turning, she finally fell asleep and dreamed about being held between them.
Restless, she curled into a ball and wondered what it would be like to be on the receiving end of the pleasure their eyes had promised.
* * * *
Her lack of sleep made her grouchy the next morning, and she blamed them. Angry and ashamed of herself for responding so readily to them, she stomped down the stairs and got even madder.
Shocked at her own delight at finding them waiting for her, she swallowed heavily, hoping they would assume her red face was due to anger.
“Where is everyone? Maggie and I were supposed to go out together.”
Hayes took a step toward her, his eyes sharpening when she took a step back.
“Jeremiah took her out. She needs to eat, and it’s still dark outside. He didn’t want her to trip on anything. Besides, we wanted to say good morning to you in private, especially since we didn’t get to give you a proper good-night last night. Eb’s not as comfortable leaving us alone with you now that you told him you don’t want to marry us.”
Already trembling, Savannah took another step backward, sucking in a panicked breath when she backed into the wall. Her gaze slid to where Wyatt stood watching her, the anticipation and impatience glittering in his eyes making her stomach tighten and her pussy clench with an awareness that never failed to unsettle her.
“I don’t want to marry anyone.”
With her attention diverted, Hayes took advantage, closing her in with a hand on the wall on either side of her head. He bent over her, his wide shoulders completely blocking her view of Wyatt.
“Good morning, darlin’. Did you dream about me last night?”
Each time he spoke to her in that low, intimate tone, it sent ripples of delight over her skin.
He’d never shown even the smallest amount of playfulness toward her or anyone else in Kansas City, but here he seemed more relaxed.
She stared at his lips, her nipples beading at the memory of how it felt to have his hot mouth on them.
Biting her lip at the memory, she straightened, inadvertently brushing her nipples against Hayes’s chest.
Unnerved by the glint of amusement and determination in his green eyes, she swallowed heavily, finding it hard to keep from staring at his lips.
“N–Not at all. When I dream, it’s about being on my own, where no one can tell me what to do and I answer only to myself. I like it.”
His lips moved, capturing her attention again, remembering how firm they’d felt when taking hers. She couldn’t forget how soft they’d been brushing over her temple and cheeks when he took her. She knew the heat of them and dreamt of feeling them moving over every part of her.
The kind of pleasure he could give just using his mouth should have been illegal—but she was glad that it wasn’t.
She couldn’t help wanting more.
With her mind swirling with sinful thoughts, she tore her gaze away from his lips to look into his eyes, startled by the indulgent laughter and expectation in them.
He seemed so different from the man he’d been in Kansas City that she sometimes wondered if she’d imagined the man he’d been before.
Belatedly realizing that he’d spoken, she swallowed heavily, her face burning.
“What did you say?”
With a gleam in his eyes she didn’t trust, Hayes ran a finger down the front of her shirt, pausing to tease a nipple.
“You seem distracted. I said that Wyatt and I are going to have to do something about that. You should be dreaming of being snuggled into a warm bed between us, where you’ll sleep every night for the rest of your life.”
He tapped her nipple, grinning when she cried out, a rare grin that made her heart skip a beat.
His smile fell, his eyes narrowing as he switched his attention to her other breast, this time ignoring her nipple entirely. Using one finger, he caressed the underside, making her nipple bead even tighter.
Fisting her hands at her sides to keep from reaching for him, she let out a shaky breath.
“I–I’m n–not interested. I w–want to b–be on m–my own.”
Bending low, he brushed her lips with his, sliding his hands up to cup both of her breasts, his thumbs stroking her nipples over her shirt.
“What do you want to do on your own that you can’t do living here and married to us?”
Dying for his kiss, to feel his incredible mouth against hers, she parted her lips in an automatic invitation she didn’t even intend to extend.
To her delight, he accepted immediately, using his lips to part hers even wider and sweeping his tongue inside.
Tasting coffee and sin she
grabbed onto him, rising to her toes to get even closer.
Her head spun at the slide of his tongue over her teeth, her breath catching when he curled his tongue around hers, encouraging her to follow his into his mouth.
Surprised at her own daring, she pushed to get even closer.
She couldn’t get enough of him, wanting more, closer, harder.
Wicked. Sensual. Hot.
She didn’t know how something so sinful could feel so natural and right, almost as though she’d spent her life just waiting for this.
She hadn’t even known she could experience this kind of closeness with a man, a connection that included not only sex, but trust and respect.
At that moment, she wished with everything inside her that she didn’t have to leave.
When he wrapped his arms around her and drew her even closer, she could all but feel herself melting against him. When he started to lift his head, she moaned her distress, nearly climbing his body in an effort to keep his lips against hers.
Hayes took a shuddering breath and groaned, letting her know without words that he suffered the same way she did. He dipped his head again, taking her lips in a lingering kiss, one with a hint of desperation.
Lifting his head, he brushed his lips over her cheek, his breath warm against her ear.
“You belong here. With us. There’s nothing out there for you that you can’t find here with us.”
Savannah pushed against his flat stomach to put some distance between them, both surprised and disappointed that he allowed it.
“How about freedom?”
Wyatt closed in on her other side, taking her arm to pull her to him. Running his hands over her hair, he tilted her head back, searching her features.
“You’ll have a hell of a lot more freedom with us than you had with your uncle—just not enough to get into any trouble. You’ll be safe with us, Savannah, and we’ll do everything in our power to make sure you’re happy.”
Picking her up with hands at her bottom, he slid them to her thighs, silently urging her to wrap her legs around his waist.
Savannah rubbed against him, unable to stop herself, her breath catching when Hayes moved in behind her and nuzzled her neck.
Focusing on Wyatt’s eyes, she shook her head.
“What do you mean—just not enough freedom to get into trouble?”
Wyatt’s eyes narrowed.
“You’ll stay the hell away from other men, and you won’t do anything, anything, that would put you in a dangerous situation.”
Threading her fingers through his too-long hair, Savannah watched his mouth as he lowered it, holding her breath in anticipation of his kiss.
“I would never do either one of those things.” Just the thought of allowing another man to touch her made her sick to her stomach.
Wyatt paused, sliding one hand to her bottom again and the other behind her neck to pull her closer.
“Then there’s no reason not to marry us.”
* * * *
With Wyatt’s words still ringing in her ears, Savannah put aside the shirt she’d just finished mending and reached for another.
“You have a lot of mending to do on your own.”
Maggie shrugged.
“A lot of the men do their own, but I offered to help. Duke and his men do all the cooking, and cleaning the house takes very little effort. I’m lucky enough to have husbands who can afford to buy candles and soaps in town so I don’t have to make them. The real chore is the washing, but a few of the men help me with the water, especially now, so it isn’t that bad.”
Savannah smiled. “Do you remember when I begged to help you and Esmeralda, but I didn’t know how to sew?” Smiling at the memory, she met Maggie’s gaze. “Esmeralda was horrified and said that I would need to know how to mend when I marry. The three of us would sit by the fire and talk for hours.”
Pausing, she frowned. “I didn’t realize how much I missed that until now.” She’d only remembered the long hours she’d spent sitting alone and mending her uncle’s clothing.
Maggie’s sad smile tugged at her heart.
“I miss Esmeralda so much, and I’ve missed you, too. I’m so glad you’re going to be here when the baby’s born. I hope you’ll stay afterward. Eb and Jeremiah say that Wyatt and Hayes are good men. He thinks they’ll convince you to stay. I’d hoped you would marry them.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
“Oh, Savannah, it would be so wonderful to have you here with me. Other women will be coming along—mail-order brides—but you and I have been friends forever. Please stay. Marry Wyatt and Hayes. They care for you so much.”
Savannah shook her head, trying to ignore the surge of delight at the reminder of how much Wyatt and Hayes professed to love her.
“Maggie, I don’t want to get married.” Looking away, she sighed. “I couldn’t stay here even if I wanted to, and it’s obvious Wyatt and Hayes belong here.” The fact that both Wyatt and Hayes seemed more comfortable than they’d been in Kansas City supported that.
With the ease of long practice, Savannah picked up another shirt and began mending the torn sleeve, hurriedly changing the subject.
“You know the only reason my uncle even allowed us to be friends is because he was afraid of Mr. Tyler and couldn’t figure out a way to put an end to it without offending him.”
Smiling to hide the hurt she could never quite shake, Savannah glanced at Maggie.
“After you left, I had no freedom at all. I like having it now. I can do whatever I want to do.”
Savannah kept her head down, afraid that the person in the world who knew her better than anyone would see too much.
“I’d been planning to leave for a long time. You know how much I hated him. After I took care of his chores and favors, I did everything I could to earn money. I took in sewing, cleaned stables, anything I could do to earn enough to leave.”
Dropping her sewing, she stared down at her hands.
“He was evil, Maggie. You never knew some of the things he did to me. Beatings that would take me days to recover from—”
She stopped abruptly and picked up her mending again, afraid she’d already revealed too much. Her hands shook so hard, she set the sewing aside. She wouldn’t be able to mend anything until she calmed down.
The memory of a terrible night, a memory never far from the surface, rose again, threatening to choke her. She didn’t want to think about what would have happened if Eb hadn’t come by and saved her.
Another vision rose, one of the night Wyatt and Hayes had taken her. They’d been so tender and loving, and she’d soaked it up like a sponge.
Since then, no matter how they touched her, she fell under their spell, making her wonder if her uncle had been right about her after all.
She’d spent her entire life fighting not to be like her mother. It unsettled her that if her mother were alive, she would be applauding the fact that Savannah had given herself to two men.
Her mother would be proud.
The thought sickened her.
Turning her head, she looked again at Maggie.
Glowing with health and happiness, Maggie stared at her in horror.
Savannah couldn’t help but smile, unable to imagine a woman more unlike her mother.
Maggie’s love for her husbands showed, and it was plain for anyone to see how much Eb and Jeremiah adored her.
Dropping the shirt she’d been working on, Maggie reached for her.
“Oh, Savannah! I didn’t know it was that bad. I knew he was hitting you, and I told Mr. Tyler. I’d hoped he’d stopped.”
Fighting back nausea, Savannah forced a smile. Not wanting Maggie to start crying again, Savannah came to her feet, stretching to ease the sore muscles in her shoulders.
“Don’t cry for me. All of that’s over now. I love being free, Maggie. I don’t want to give that up. I can do whatever I want to do, and I don’t have to answer to anyone.”
Frowning, Maggie sat back, rubbing
her swollen abdomen, something Savannah noticed she did quite a bit.
“Jeremiah told me that you were almost attacked twice on your way here. If not for Wyatt and Hayes intervening, you could have been hurt, or even killed, Savannah. It’s not safe for you to be alone.”
Maggie’s eyes darkened in concern.
“I thought you were sweet on Wyatt and Hayes. Back in Kansas City, I heard them talking about kissing you. They’re very protective of you, Savannah, and talked to Eb and Jeremiah about you several times. They told them they wanted to marry you and that they couldn’t start their positions here as sheriffs until they got you here. They won’t stay if you don’t. They’ll follow you wherever you go.”
Savannah turned and moved away to hide her burning cheeks, not stopping until she got to the window. She stopped abruptly, her heart leaping to her throat at the sight of Wyatt crossing the yard.
She’d know his deceptively slow, long-legged stride anywhere.
To her shock, he stopped in his tracks and turned his head, lifting it in her direction as if somehow knowing she was there. His sharp eyes held hers, steady and warm, with an underlying possessiveness that felt more right than it should have.
She didn’t know what Maggie would think if she knew that she’d done far more with Wyatt and Hayes than kissing.
She burned at the memory of what they’d done to her. Each time they touched her, it felt better than the time before, and she knew if she kept allowing it, there would come a time when she wouldn’t be able to walk away.
The thought that she could have them for the rest of her life became harder and harder to resist each day.
Still, she had no choice. If she stayed, it would ruin everything they were all trying to build here. If her uncle found her here, he would see to that.
With a sigh, she ran her finger down the cool glass and over the place she stared at Wyatt, as though by touching the glass, she could touch him. When he smiled, she realized what she’d done and dropped her hand.
