by Mari Carr
As his tongue darted in and out of her opening, Leah realized he’d been right to take them away from the house. She couldn’t have held in her cries of delight, her pleas for more.
When Sawyer pressed two fingers into her pussy, she saw heaven, splintering into white-hot bliss as her orgasm came. She ran her fingers through Sawyer’s hair, trying to use her grip to drag his face up to hers.
“Come inside me.”
He shook his head. “Not yet, Leah. I’ll tell you when.”
He reached toward the bottom of the bed. For the first time, she noticed the small basket there.
“What’s that?”
“Supplies.”
He collected a tube of lubrication and a slim vibrator. Leah recalled that his mother had been here and she frowned.
“I brought this out after Vicky worked her magic with the rose petals.”
“How did you know—”
He shrugged. “I’m finding it easier and easier to read your expressions, your thoughts.”
She smiled wickedly. “Can you tell what I’m thinking now?”
He nodded. “Hell yeah.” He shoved two fingers inside her. “You want to come again.”
Her eyes drifted closed as he thrust into her ultra-sensitive pussy. “God, Saw. So good.” She was on the verge of exploding when he retreated. “Wait. Don’t stop.”
He shook his head. “No, you’ve already gotten a freebie. Now you’re going to wait for permission.”
He opened the tube of lubrication and spread a generous amount on his finger. She started to tell him that wasn’t going to be necessary. The juices of her arousal coated her thighs. She was plenty wet enough to take him in.
His finger brushed against her ass and she realized his intent. “Payback?” she asked, the word coming out on a harsh breath.
“Lift your legs.”
She bent her knees, allowing Sawyer better access to her ass as he grabbed an extra pillow and placed it beneath her hips.
“Jake offered to join us tonight.”
His comment caught her unaware. “What?”
“When we were setting up the bed, Jake said he’d be willing to play the third if we had a hankering to indulge in a threesome.”
Leah’s head swam with the idea. “A ménage?”
He nodded. “You ever tried that?”
She shook her head. “No. Have you?”
His face told her instantly that he had. “A couple of times at BDSM parties. Another Dom asked me to play the third in a scene between him and his sub. She liked being taken by two men.”
Leah’s mouth suddenly went dry. “At the same time?”
He chuckled. “Don’t look so horrified. It is possible, you know? Some women really get off on it.”
Leah tried to figure out if she was that kind of woman. Lucy was radiantly happy in her committed threesome with Silas and Colby. Even Cindi had confided to her a certain kink for multiple partners. Leah wondered what it would be like, but she didn’t feel the same pull toward that practice as she did the bondage, the pain.
“Did you like it?” she asked.
He placed his hand on her thigh, gently caressing her skin. “It was okay. I was the extra guy, so for me, it was strictly sex.”
Sawyer looked at her. “Leah, I meant it when I said I’d give you anything. If you want to explore a ménage, I’ll do it.”
She took a deep breath and spoke the truth, praying it wouldn’t drive Sawyer away. “I don’t want to.”
He released a long, relieved breath. “Thank God. I told Jake we’d consider it, but if you’d said yes and he’d come to this bed, I’m terrified I would have killed him the second he touched you. I realized the other night I’m a jealous bastard. Men get near you and I lose my head.”
She laughed. “I share that trait. I got detention for skipping gym because it was either that or beat the crap out of Beth for bragging about doing it with you.”
“Gotta admit I’m disappointed to hear that. A catfight between you and Beth would be pretty—”
Leah pinched Sawyer’s thigh hard. “Don’t finish that statement.”
Sawyer grinned, looking far from chastised. “I never saw jealousy as a particularly hot feature in a woman, but it looks pretty damn good on you.”
Sawyer’s finger pressed harder against Leah’s tight hole, and the conversation died. She closed her eyes, trying to ward off the climax threatening to erupt when he worked first one, then two fingers into her ass.
“Does that hurt?” he asked.
“Yes,” she hissed. “I fucking love it.”
He chuckled and continued thrusting. “Thought we might find some creative ways to have a threesome with just the two of us.”
He removed his fingers, returning almost immediately with the vibrator.
She gasped when he slowly pushed the slim toy into her rear. “Ohmigod,” she cried, when he turned it on low.
She expected—hoped—he’d fuck her now. Her pussy was empty and she was overwhelmed by the need for him to fill her.
“Come for me, rose.” He teased her to a second hard orgasm.
“Sawyer, please,” she begged. “Come inside me.”
“Not yet.”
He played with her forever, leading her to climax after climax with his tongue, his teeth, his fingers. She thrashed against the mattress in a mindless haze of endless ecstasy.
Finally, exhausted, sated out of her mind, she panted, “Can’t. Take. Any more.”
Sawyer raised his head, looked up at the sky and said, “One more.”
Leah followed his gaze and saw the sun rising on the horizon as Sawyer turned the vibrator in her ass on high and thrust his cock into her body. She exploded, splintered, shattered.
And, as he predicted, she screamed.
Chapter Eleven
The phone rang, jarring Sawyer from a deep, contented sleep. He looked around the room, taking a moment to remember where he was—Leah’s apartment. He glanced down and discovered Leah snug within his arms. They’d worn each other out last night, making love until the wee hours of the morning.
In the month since the wedding, he’d spent more nights at Leah’s apartment than he had at the ranch. Leah was uncomfortable spending the night in his bed, claiming it was disrespectful to his parents. He loved her old-fashioned values and how staunchly she stuck to them.
Sawyer still continued to eat dinner with his family every night, Leah often joining them at the table. Afterwards, they’d adjourn to the living room to watch movies or play games. While Sawyer knew the entire family was trying to hoard every moment they could with their father, he’d enjoyed reconnecting with his brothers as well. They spent hours catching up on the years apart and, in some ways, it was like they’d never left Compass ranch at all.
Vicky and JD always invited Leah to stay, but she’d refuse with a blush. Sawyer would drive her home and they’d spend the night doing a little reuniting of their own. The friendship they’d always shared blossomed and their love deepened more with each passing day.
Sawyer picked up his phone. “Hello?”
“Saw. I think you should come home.”
His heart stopped when he heard Sam’s urgent tone.
“JD?”
Sam cleared his throat, trying to mask the agony in his tone. “Yeah. It’s not good. It was a rough night. I don’t think any of us expected this to happen so fast.”
“JD’s lived longer than the doctor said he would. I think there’s a difference between expectations and hope.”
Sam sighed. “Guess you’re right.”
Sawyer closed his eyes in regret. He should have stayed home last night. His gut instinct had told him to remain, but he’d let JD convince him he was okay, telling him to go and have fun.
Sam interrupted his thoughts. “He’s asking to see Leah too.”
“We’ll be right there.”
Leah lifted her head, concern rife on her face. “Sawyer? What is it?”
“We h
ave to go.”
She rose quickly, dressing in the jeans he’d peeled off her the previous night. They both dressed in silence, but before he could put on his boots, he stilled. “I’m not sure I can do this, Leah.”
She’d grabbed a clean T-shirt from her dresser and donned it. Her face was filled with understanding. “You’re one of the strongest men I’ve ever known, Saw. You have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
He rubbed his forehead wearily. “Right. Okay.” His body was numb with dread. “You ready to go?”
She took his hand. “Yeah. I am.”
They drove to the ranch in silence and Sawyer tried to mentally prepare himself to face this day. JD’s health had declined steadily in the month following the wedding. Last week, he’d stopped getting out of bed, his body finally wearing out. They’d all tried to put on a good face, moving their games and movies to JD’s bedroom, pretending like they didn’t see what was coming.
The hardest part about all of it was watching JD suffer. His spirit was stronger than ever. Sawyer couldn’t imagine what it was like for his father to lay in a bed, helpless, while his mind was still fully aware and cognizant of everything going on around him.
When they arrived at the ranch, Sawyer was surprised to find his brothers sitting in the living room rather than with JD. Seth and Sam had both postponed their honeymoons when JD took a fall the morning after the wedding. It had scared the shit out of them at the time. Now, when Sawyer looked back on it, all he could recall was how downright healthy his father had looked in comparison to now.
His mother entered the room, carrying a tray loaded with bagels and muffins. Sawyer took it from her, placing it on the coffee table. The more JD’s health declined, the more energetic Vicky became. She’d been in perpetual motion since Sawyer arrived home. At first, he’d thought it was because of the wedding, but now he realized his mother was coping with her grief through constant activity. He was terrified of the moment when she stopped moving.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Silas jerked his finger toward the hall. “Lucy shooed us out. Said our constant hovering was grating on her nerves, so she could only imagine how JD felt.”
Sawyer took one glance at the anxious faces surrounding him and appreciated Lucy’s concern. “I might peek in for a minute.”
Silas looked like he’d object, so Sawyer darted out of the living room. He’d tried to brace himself during the car trip for what he’d be faced with, and he thought he’d better do it now before he lost his nerve.
At the end of the hall, he paused. He could hear Lucy’s voice. Peering in, he found his sister-in-law perched on the side of JD’s bed. She had his hand in hers, both pressed to her belly, and they were crying softly. Sawyer stood motionless, unable to lower his gaze despite the fact he’d obviously stepped into a personal conversation.
“Silas is hoping for a boy, of course. I think the idea of having a daughter terrifies him.”
JD smiled weakly. “I got lucky. Dodged that bullet with my boys. What’s Colby say?”
Lucy grinned. “Oh, you know Colby. So long as the baby is healthy and happy, he’s doesn’t care either way.”
Lucy was pregnant? Sawyer smiled despite the agony tearing through his gut.
“I wish I was going to be here to see the littlest Compton, Lu. You tell that baby Grandpa JD loved him…or her…more than anything.”
Lucy sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. Her voice trembled when she promised, “I will.”
“You’re going to be a wonderful mother, Lucy.”
His reassurance broke the last of Lucy’s restraint and she bent forward, quietly crying against JD’s chest. Sawyer’s father stroked her hair gently, promising her everything would be okay.
Sawyer stepped into the hall, careful to keep his presence unknown. He only made it two steps from the door when his strength failed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly slid down until his ass hit the floor. He rested his head on his bent knees.
That was where Lucy found him several minutes later.
“Saw?” she whispered.
He looked up, unable to hide the tears streaming down his face. “Congratulations on the baby, Lucy.”
She smiled sadly. “Thanks. JD’s asking for you.”
He took a deep breath and forced himself to stand. He recalled Leah’s encouragement. Put one foot in front of the other.
He kept that advice in mind, practicing it until he found himself by his father’s bed. “Hey, JD.”
JD opened his eyes. “I already talked to the other boys this morning. Gonna tell you what I told them.”
Sawyer nodded as he sat in the chair by the bed. “Okay.”
“I want you to look after your mother. This is going to be hard on her for a while. Keep an eye on her.”
“You don’t need to ask that, Pa. We’ll be here for her as long as she needs us.”
JD coughed, the dry sound wracking his too-thin frame roughly.
“Be happy, Sawyer. You only get one shot at this life so don’t screw it up. Find what makes you smile and hold onto it tight.”
Leah’s face drifted through his mind. “I think I can do that.”
JD shook his head. “Boy, how many times do I have to tell you, there’s no think to it? Lead with your heart. It won’t steer you wrong.”
“You’re right. Leah makes me happy. I don’t plan to let her go.”
JD smiled weakly and nodded. “Good. ’Bout time you got smart.”
They both glanced up when they heard a knock at the door. Silas, Seth and Sam all stood there, shirtless.
It took a moment for Sawyer to understand what the devil they were up to. Rising, he pulled off his shirt as well.
JD looked at them, confused. “What—”
Silas stepped forward. “We’ve said a lot today, Pa. But you always taught us to be men of action. So there’s something we have to show you. We hope you know how damn much we appreciate everything you’ve ever given us. Though we may have struck out on our own, you were never far from our hearts. You never will be.”
One by one, each of them pivoted on their boot heels, allowing JD to see their tattoos for the first time. There wasn’t a sound from the bed for a long time. Sawyer’s heart raced as he wondered what their father thought of their secret tribute to Compass ranch and their parents. For each of them, it had been a way to carry home around with them as they took off to explore the world, to seek their destiny.
Sawyer recalled the first time he’d seen Silas’s tattoo. He’d known—even at fifteen—that he’d have that same mark on his skin. He’d believed the tattoo would sustain him during the years he was gone. In many ways, it had.
But he’d been wrong to think he needed a visual reminder of Compass ranch. The tattoo was only skin-deep while his love for this land and his family went straight to the bone.
“These don’t look new,” JD said.
Silas turned around. “Nah. Mine’s about ten years old. We got them on our eighteenth birthdays. Just before each of us left.”
JD smiled and closed his eyes. “I should skin Snake alive.”
They laughed, facing their father once more.
Vicky came in, gasping in surprise when she caught sight of their bare backs. “What the devil?”
She forced each of them to stand still as she traveled from son to son to son to son, studying each tattoo carefully, slowly. “You took us with you when you left.”
Sawyer smiled when Sam embraced his mother gently.
“Everywhere,” Sam whispered.
”And this…” Her eagle eyes surprised none of them. Vicky traced her initial entwining with JD’s on Sawyer’s back. “Think Snake will do one on me?”
“Don’t need it, V.” JD clipped his sentences, conserving energy. “We’re permanent. Never forget.”
“I swear it. And I have the only reminder I’ll ever need.” Vicky clung to Sam, silent tears falling. “My boys,” she whispered.
JD coughed weakly. Vicky released her child, taking the chair by her husband’s side. “What do you need, JD?”
He grasped her hand, his voice weak when he replied. “You, my love. That’s all.”
Vicky kissed his bony, gnarled fingers. Sawyer closed his eyes, choosing to remember the man his father had been before pancreatic cancer. Tall, strong, vibrant. That was the man imprinted on his heart, the one he was going to tell his nieces, nephews and children about.
JD’s breathing became loud in the quiet room. The raspy sound drowned out even the pounding of Sawyer’s heart.
“Seth. Get my girls. Colby, too. Wanna see everyone I love. Standing around me. Healthy. Happy. Alive. My legacy.”
Seth slipped down the hall, returning in seconds, followed by the rest of the family. Leah strode straight toward Sawyer. He was glad for her strength when she wrapped her arms around him. Even better, his brothers had the same support, the same love. Colby embraced Lucy as Silas came to stand behind Vicky, his hand resting on her shoulder.
None of them said a word as JD slowly scanned the room. When his gaze landed at last on Vicky, he smiled.
And closed his eyes.
Chapter Twelve
Two days later, Leah rocked on the front porch swing. She watched the sunrise with Sawyer and Vicky. The three of them sat together quietly, letting the morning sounds soothe them. The crickets were out in full-force, providing the soundtrack for the sky’s show as the darkness faded to light, producing the most beautiful colors Leah had ever seen.
She’d stayed at the ranch with Sawyer since his father passed away. Once JD’s body was taken from the house, the energy had drained out of Vicky like someone had pulled a plug. She had gone into the living room, claiming the couch, looking far too weary and refusing to budge. The family took turns keeping her company each day, while the others worked on taking care of all the preparations necessary for the funeral.
Vicky had offered some input, but for the most part, she was content to let them handle all the details. Each night, one of the boys would escort her to her bedroom and stay with her until she fell asleep. Leah’s heart flooded with emotion when she saw the quiet care Vicky’s sons gave to their mother.
