Nat raised her hips and grabbed his butt. She encouraged him to move faster by her motions. But he chuckled and held her suspended on a pinnacle of voracious hunger. Her body wanted more, and the edge of pleasure was almost a pain. She reached for something just outside her grasp. His movements quickened. Gray brought her to the top. She burst into a brilliant, warm light of joy. Her body shook with the intensity of her fervor as Gray yelled out his pleasure.
Her pussy rippled against his cock for long moments after their climax. As the movements finally subsided, Gray rolled to her side but held her tight.
They gasped for breath. A sheen of perspiration covered their bodies. Nat gazed at him. She ran her finger down the center of his chest.
“That was exceptional, but I suppose it was because we hadn’t been together before.” She glanced up at him. “I doubt we’ll ever reach that pinnacle again, at least not with that intensity.” She tried to keep her face straight and not smile.
Gray’s hand covered her breast. “Give me a few minutes and you’re going to have to apologize when I prove you wrong.”
“Promises, promises.” She giggled when he nipped at her ear. And later, two more times during the night, he made her say she was sorry for doubting him.
Nat woke to find the space beside her empty. She got out of bed and took a quick shower and dressed in her usual jeans and sweater. The coffee had been made. She peeked out the back door.
“Good morning. Get a cup of coffee and join me.” Gray motioned to her.
“I’ll be right there.” She took a mug down from the cabinet and filled it with coffee and some sugar, then grabbed two bagels and toasted them. She smeared cream cheese on both and headed out the door.
The crystal-clear air was cold and brisk. Gray pulled her chair out and took the plate with the bagels. He bit into one.
“How did you know I was sitting here wishing I wasn’t too lazy to get up and fix myself one? Thanks.”
His warm smile heated her body. She didn’t even notice the cold. “You got up early.”
“I’ve always been an early riser. You didn’t think I’d deserted you?”
“No, of course not,” she protested.
Gray took hold of her chin. “You did. I won’t ever do that. I’m not scared of loving you. I’ve been waiting to find the woman who’d make me feel like you do.”
Her shoulders relaxed, but she felt obligated to remind him of her confusion. “I’ve never felt this way either, but it’s so soon. I knew Tom for over a year before we got engaged. Even then I never really knew him. His cheating totally surprised me. You have a reputation of easily getting tired of women. How can I know that won’t happen with us?”
“The others knew the dating was for fun, nothing serious, and the newspapers made it look like I was much more of a playboy than I was. Some of my dates were friends who accompanied me to special events. I never had any relationship other than friendship with them. And I’ve never asked anyone else to marry me.”
Nat stared at him, his serious expression, and the intent look in his eyes. “I guess it’s a matter of trust. I trust you more than Holt, and I am attracted to you both. Are you sure the two of you want to be my husbands?”
“Absolutely. You know how it works. Because I’m more in the public eye I would be the one to officially marry you, but here in Triple Dare we’d have a second ceremony of our own. Holt would be your husband as much as I would.” Gray grinned. “If we both married you officially then you could be arrested for bigamy.”
“Oh, no, I don’t want any more tangles with the law. Marrying one of you, if I decide to, is enough. But I do know about the unofficial ceremony. I’ve attended one. It’s lovely and binds the three in their hearts.”
“Exactly. I couldn’t have described it better.”
Gray’s cell phone rang. “Hello. Hi, Holt, we were talking about you. You will be. Great. Lead them to it. Yes. All right, we’ll see you Monday.” He snapped his phone shut.
“News?” Nat asked.
“Good news. The warrant came through, and the detectives are getting ready to go to Ubel’s home and search the premises. But more important, Holt sat in the wooded area behind Ubel’s house all night. After midnight Ubel snuck out and buried a small bag in the far corner of his property.” Gray took her hand. “Holt believes it could be the keys or key. He said Ubel got so close to where he was hiding if Ubel had looked in the right direction he might have seen him. Knowing Holt he was dressed in black and blended so well into the landscape the guy didn’t have a chance.”
“What if they don’t find anything?” Nat’s breath caught, and she started breathing fast.
Gray picked her up in his arms and sat back in his chair. “Be calm. Slow your breaths. I’m right here. We will find what we need. If not at his house, then at the bank on Monday. He’s too arrogant. I’m sure he’s confident he has set you up so well that you’ll be found guilty. But he’d have kept something that will bring his grand scheme tumbling down.”
“I’m sorry for being such a coward.” Nat cuddled into Gray’s arms. The slow, steady beat of his heart calmed her.
“We aren’t going to sit around and worry. We’ll keep busy today. Let’s go riding.”
“Good idea. Anything to keep my mind off of the search.”
Gray grinned. “I can think of lots of fun ways to keep you and me entertained. Run get your hat. I’ll go saddle our horses.”
Chapter Ten
Holt followed the detectives and police into Ubel’s house. Ubel looked shocked to see him.
“You were spying on us the other Friday night,” Ubel snarled.
“Correct.”
“What’d you do? You must have screwed that pathetic Sondra to get her to lie for you.” He’d barely gotten the words out when Holt’s right hook caught him in the jaw.
“Keep your mouth shut. Sondra Hook is a lady, and she doesn’t lie. Which we’ll find out soon enough.” He stood over Ubel’s body.
Castor yanked him back. “You do any more punching, and you’re out of here. We’ll charge you with obstruction of justice.”
“I’ll behave.” He shrugged off Castor’s hand on his arm.
Castor and Anderson joined the others in searching every drawer and corner. Ubel had gotten up and sat on a chair in the kitchen. He rubbed his jaw and glared at Holt. Holt smiled back.
One policeman took the computer and several brown bags full of other items to their van. After the downstairs had been searched two cops started on the second floor.
“Castor,” Holt called out. Castor and Anderson turned. “Last night I sat in the woods behind this house.” Holt saw Ubel’s face turn an ashen color. “Ubel took a late-night stroll. He buried a sack in the far northwest corner of his property.”
Anderson glanced at Ubel. “You look sick. Do I need to help you to the bathroom?”
“There’s nothing the matter with me. This man is a liar. He probably buried evidence Natalie Newlyn had, and he’s trying to set me up.”
“Guess it wouldn’t hurt to check anyway,” Castor said. “What do you think, Anderson?”
“I’m with you. I’ll get one of the policemen to guard this guy. Holt can show us the spot.”
Ubel glared at Holt. When the detectives left for a second, he whispered, “I’ll see you dead. I have ways.”
Holt leaned down in his face and gripped his throat tight. Ubel’s face turned a dark red. “You or your man won’t get near me without my knowing. Please give me an excuse to kill you.”
He released Ubel when he heard Castor and Anderson’s footsteps.
“Show us where he buried this sack,” Castor said. Holt led the way out of the house to the back corner where he’d seen Ubel.
Anderson made quick work of digging up the small leather sack. Inside was a shiny new key. “What do you bet this will open Natalie Newlyn’s front door?”
“We’ll check it on our way back to the precinct,” Castor said. He turned to Holt.
“You sat out here all night?”
“Your men had the front covered, but I learned a lot about watching the backside when I was overseas. Ubel had to have suspected something was up when Sondra took leave. He needed to get rid of that key.”
“Yep, Tom probably let him in. He’d never suspect Ubel would shoot him. But Ubel had to have a key made to get into Natalie Newlyn’s condo and find the gun to frame her,” Anderson said. “A clever scheme that almost worked. I can’t wait to see what we find at the bank.”
Castor nodded. “You can let Callahan know to bring his client back Monday or Tuesday. We ought to have the rest of the evidence by then. We’ll get her charges dropped and Ubel arraigned for the murder.”
“She’ll be glad to hear her nightmare is almost over.” Holt stared hard at the two men. “Next time you might check further before jumping on the wife.”
Castor flushed red, but Anderson nodded. “You’re right. We were wrong. Thanks for bringing us back into it so we don’t look quite so much like horses’ asses.” He grinned and shrugged.
Holt stayed long enough to see Ubel handcuffed and taken in. Then he caught the next plane out to South Dakota. He wanted to tell Natalie the news to her face. His body ached with the desire to have his dick deep in her sweet, hot pussy. He had no intention of waiting until later Monday or even Tuesday. She and Gray were having too much fun without him.
* * * *
Gray and Nat rode all around Gray’s ten acres. They stopped at the creek and removed their boots. Then they sat dangling their feet in the cold water.
“Will you live at the cabin after you take over the whole ranch?” Nat asked.
“No. The farmhouse is the center of all the ranch business. Holt and I will need to be there. It’ll be easier to live where all the action is taking place.
“Holt is going to buy the cabin and this property from me, and he’s investing an equal amount in the ranch property. We’re buying the ranch property from my parents just as if we were any purchaser.”
“Will your parents want to live year-round at the beach condo?” Nat kicked her feet in the cool water and enjoyed watching the sunlight sparkle off the stream as it rippled across rocks and sand.
“Oh, no. My dads couldn’t stand being away from here all the time. They’ve already bought a small adjoining spread south of this ranch. Mr. Glace agreed to sell them fifty acres of his land. As soon as they give Mom her anniversary gift next week, then they’ll have her look at the plans they’ve had drawn up for a much smaller house. It’s to be built while they stay at the condo this summer.” He grinned. “They said she didn’t need a lot of house to be worrying about and cleaning. Now whether she agrees or not, we’ll see. Mom can be stubborn at times.”
“My dads should be thinking of retiring, too. They have Boyd and Nick, who’s getting his agriculture degree, to take over.”
“They’ll retire when they’re ready.”
Nat turned to face Gray. “Are you certain you’ll be happy with a much smaller practice and living here at the ranch most of the time?”
“I’ve given this plan a lot of thought. I’m ready. I have been for the past year, but I kept putting off the date. Since my folks made their decision, and I met you, it all fell into place.”
She shook her head. “I’m not certain about us. You know that.”
“You will be. Give us time. As my fathers have said, ‘Ladies need courting.’”
“What an old-fashioned word, but I agree with them wholeheartedly.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that.” He kissed her. “Are you hungry? We can ride back and grill a steak.”
Just then her stomach growled. Gray laughed. He grabbed her hand and helped her stand. “I got my answer.”
When they got back to the cabin, Nat went straight to the kitchen. “I’ll put the potatoes on to bake while you start the grill. After a quick shower, I’ll fix a salad.”
Gray pulled her close and kissed her. “You are so sweet. I’d like dessert first, but I know your stomach is calling for food. Later I want your whole attention.” He gave her butt a smack as she walked by him.
Desire surged hot in her veins. Gray was so easy to know and love. Did she love him? If not yet, she was headed that way. Holt was more complicated. A three-way relationship intrigued her. Still, she’d have to trust both men. It wouldn’t be easy for her.
Stepping into the shower, Nat turned the water to cool. She thought about Holt and his entry into her bathroom. She glanced at the door. Of course it stayed shut. He was hundreds of miles away. She was ambivalent on whether she wished he’d show up or not. Well, no worry. He had work to do in the city. Monday would be soon enough to see him again.
Relaxed after her shower, Nat put on the one sundress she’d brought with her. It would be cool outside, but if needed she had a matching yellow sweater to wear. She wore her white sandals and sprayed on her cologne before going to the kitchen.
She made a large salad and tossed it with honey-mustard dressing. Gray came in with the steaks.
“Wow.” He nuzzled her neck. “You look and smell good enough to eat. I was going to ask if you wanted to go out on the patio, but it’s cool. You’d shiver in that dress.”
“I have a sweater in my bedroom. I’ll get it. It’s so pleasant out there.” She looked at Gray. “Your hair’s wet.” She noticed he’d changed into clean jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. “Will it be too cold for you?”
“Honey, you break my heart. I’m tough. Anyway, whenever I look at you my temperature goes sky high. The cool air will keep my lust in control until you can eat.”
Laughing, she left to get her sweater. When she returned he’d set the outside table and had a steak and potato on each plate and a bowl with salad. They carried the food outside. Nat ran back to get the tea.
Gray pulled her chair out for her. “Welcome to the Callahan diner.”
“Let me see if your food is any good.” Nat cut into her steak and tasted it. “This is delicious. And I must say whoever did the salad chose an excellent mixture.”
“I agree.” Gray took a bite of salad. “Very good.”
They didn’t talk much after the teasing. Nat concentrated on filling her empty stomach and enjoying the ambiance. The sunset streaked the western sky with orange and red.
“I’m glad we decided to eat outside,” Nat said. “Did you ever see anything more lovely than a sunset?”
From behind a warm mouth brushed across her neck. Nat jumped.
“Yes, I have. You sitting here in a yellow sweater and dress with the sunset lighting your hair with fire.” Holt’s husky voice slid like hot lava straight to her lower abdomen, stirring embers of desire into a full flame.
Gray shook Holt’s hand. “What a surprise. I’ll throw a potato and steak on the grill. It’s still good and hot.”
Holt swung into the seat to her left. His searing gaze had her heart tripping.
“We didn’t expect to see you until Monday.”
“I didn’t want to wait. I was hungry, for you.” He chuckled when her face went red from the heat he’d aroused in her body.
Gray came back and Holt told them what had occurred.
“Monday, they’ll get into his bank records.”
“He had one key?” Nat asked.
“Yes. We surmise Tom let him in. Ubel probably presented himself as contrite and asked to talk. But he needed your key to get the gun and frame you. When you left your purse in Tom’s office that day, Ubel must have seen it as a golden opportunity.”
“I still don’t see how he knew we had a gun.”
“He might not have known. I believe he hoped he’d find one or something else of yours he could use. He knew your work hours. He had plenty of time to look around.”
“I don’t think I can ever sleep in that condo again. I’ll have to sell it.”
“Of course you will. Holt and I each have a condo. You can use either one if you want to spend time in the city shopping or g
oing to the theatre.”
Nat frowned at Gray. “You keep insisting it’s decided I’ll marry you two. I haven’t agreed.”
“Would you marry just him?” Holt’s statement silenced both Gray and her.
She tried to see his face clearly in the dusk. Shadows and his expertise at hiding his emotions kept her from reading anything from his expression.
“Have you changed your mind?” she asked.
Gray slipped out of his chair and went around the corner of the cabin toward the grill. Neither Holt nor Natalie spoke for several minutes.
“You seemed happy, lighthearted when I came up behind you. Obviously you and Gray are well suited. Possibly you and I aren’t.”
“You and Gray have planned to share a wife. To live here in Triple Dare where a threesome is the norm.”
“Plans can change, if necessary.”
Her heart sank. He didn’t want to marry her. His hard outer shell appeared impregnable.
Gray returned with Holt’s plate. He glanced at Holt and Nat. “Do you want me to leave?”
Holt shrugged.
“No. Stay and visit with Holt. I’m going to have an early night. See you two tomorrow.” Nat took her plate to the kitchen, scraped the food off, put it in the dishwasher, and went on to her bedroom. When she shut her door, she locked it.
Her chest hurt. She didn’t want anyone comforting or talking to her tonight. Nat pulled her old flannel nightgown out of the drawer. She hung her dress up and took off the rest of her clothes then slid the soft, comfortable gown over her head.
Once in bed, she let the lump of pain melt and run in tears down her face. He’d changed his mind. Well, he never was that into her. Yet he had said he was hungry for her before she denied her feelings. The emotional roller-coaster ride of the last few weeks had raked her insides raw. She didn’t trust her own inclinations.
She buried her face in the pillow and sobbed harder.
* * * *
“You handled that well. What in the hell got into you,” Gray snapped.
“Don’t push me.”
Possessive Protectors [Triple Dare County, South Dakota 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 9
