by Jane Jamison
“Court her? What the hell are you talking about? This isn’t the olden times.”
“Garner’s right, Sterling. One step at a time.”
Their younger brother groaned. “Fine. We’ll go as slow as molasses and bore her to death. Yeah, sure. That way she’ll be chomping at the bit to be our mate.”
“Then it’s agreed,” said Garner, ignoring Sterling’s sarcasm. “How about we start this Friday?”
“Friday? Shit, that’s two days away. You guys are killing me.” Sterling slumped behind the wheel. “Fine. Whatever.”
“Good. Friday night it is.” Garner tugged back on the reins. “And I know exactly what we’ll do.” His idea was simple, but didn’t simple things usually work out best? “See you two back at the house.”
* * * *
Heather skimmed the dust rag over the side table. As she had ever since seeing the Wilson men in Gobbel Market, she chastised herself for overreacting. She should’ve stayed where she was instead of freaking out because they were standing near the baby items. If she had remained calm, they would’ve had a nice, easy conversation. Instead, she’d run off as though her hair was on fire. Hell, she hadn’t even purchased her groceries.
It had taken her another two hours before she’d made it back and gotten her shopping finished—without buying the baby bibs. What had she been thinking? She should’ve just kept walking straight past all the baby things.
The Wilson men unnerved her. And turned her on more than she could say. They had a way about them that made her want to risk everything, to tell them about her past and hope they wouldn’t hold it against her. Yet, she’d tried before and failed. She’d allowed herself to get close to another man and had dared to think about a future with him. But when she’d told him about her son, he’d turned his back on her. Had she disgusted him with her decision? Or had he been afraid of her past showing up to ruin their future together?
She wasn’t ready to risk it happening again. Not with these men. Without meaning to let them in, she’d allowed them to become too important.
Could she take the risk later? She’d already given in to her need for them outside the bar, but once rational thought had returned, she’d realized what a dangerous situation it was. She wanted them, not only for sex but on an emotional level. She’d heard enough about them from other people to know they had kind hearts and generous natures. They’d helped several of their neighbors and were regarded as the kind of men any woman would want, the kind of men any woman could trust with her life. Yet, to make any relationship happen between them, she’d have to tell them her darkest secret.
Could they accept her past? Or would they worry that her past would somehow ruin their future? Would they think less of her, as the last man she’d cared for had? He’d treated her as her parents and aunt had, telling her she wasn’t good enough for him.
Starting any kind of a serious relationship with Brogan, Sterling, and Garner would have to include the truth. But could she bring herself to tell them?
What if I could find my son? If I could, would I be able to be in his life? Will his adoptive parents change their minds and let me become a part of his future? Or, if he’s in foster care, would I be able to claim him now?
She sat down on the couch as the feelings that were so familiar, yet still so painful, struck her. Where was he now? Was he safe? Had a good family adopted him? Did he wonder about her, too? Or was she just a name on a birth certificate that he’d look at one day and toss aside?
Her vision blurred as tears welled in her eyes. She’d never get over giving up her son, but she’d had no other choice. Pregnant at sixteen and giving birth at seventeen had been too overwhelming. With her parents’ detesting what she’d done, and being their only child, she’d had no one to turn to. Her parents had spirited her away to live with her aunt on a farm outside Chicago, and she’d finished school by attending an online homeschool. Both her parents and her aunt had made certain that she gave the child up for adoption. And, although she’d dreamed of keeping her son, of keeping Lucas, she couldn’t have provided for him on her own. Bringing him into her unhappy family would’ve been even worse.
I never got to hold him.
Using a trusted family doctor, the family had made certain that she’d deliver the child and never set eyes on him. She’d been too exhausted, too beaten down to argue. Every day since the awful, yet wonderful night of his birth, she’d regretted her decision.
Would she have had the strength to go against her family if she’d been a little older? Or would she have given in anyway?
She brushed away a tear sliding down her cheek. What did it matter now? Her son was six years old and, God willing, living with a good family. She was nothing to him and never would be.
If only I could be sure he was all right.
But she had no way of finding him. The adoption records had been sealed. Even if she’d had the money to search for him, she didn’t have a clue how to begin.
As she’d done every day from the first day of his life, she whispered, “I love you, Lucas.”
She startled at the knock on her door. Was it Charles Victor? He was the only who’d ever come to visit her at night. Even the other girls preferred to meet somewhere else because her apartment was so small.
“Just a minute, Mr. Victor.”
She hurried toward the door. Halfway there, she stopped.
It’s not Mr. Victor.
How she knew didn’t matter. She just did. Flinging open the door, she was greeted with the men who made her both nervous and excited. “It’s you.” Flustered, she added, “What are you guys doing here?”
Did she sound harsh? Unwelcoming?
Sorting out her own feelings was hard enough when she was by herself, but doing it when they were standing right in front of her, exuding a masculinity that weakened her knees and made her want to physically jump them, was even harder.
Garner lifted the four pizza boxes higher. “Hope you’re hungry. We brought you dinner.”
She couldn’t have said no even if she’d wanted to as they whizzed past her. The thing was she didn’t want to. “Okay. Sure. Pizza sounds good.”
“Good deal.” Sterling came back, hooked his arm around her, and took her along with him.
“Wow. Four pizzas. And large ones.”
Brogan placed the four six-packs of beer on the counter of her galley kitchen. “We’ll each eat one of them, so that leaves one for you.”
She’d never be able to eat an entire pizza, but it was nice of them to bring one just for her. “Thanks.”
“Do you like beer?” Brogan studied her. “Was that what you were drinking the other night at the Wolf’s Den? Or do you like wine better? Sterling can run out and get a few bottles. Or do you like the harder stuff? Whiskey maybe?”
“Thanks for volunteering me, man.” Sterling hugged her tighter. “You like beer, right, good-lookin’? You wouldn’t make me go back out into the cold, would you?”
She laughed at his feigned pitiful expression and ignored the mention of the bar. “It’s not cold out, but yeah, I like beer.”
“I’m saved.” Sterling threw up his hands in a hallelujah gesture. “Let’s chow down. I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving.” Garner flipped open the first box. “Darlin’, do you have any napkins? We don’t use plates—unless you want us to.”
They were acting as though they’d been together, at least as friends, for a long time. It made her feel good inside. “It’s up to you. I’m fine with using napkins. They’re in that bowl on the table.”
Friends. Was that all she was? If so, would that be enough for her? If they didn’t want anything more, it would hurt like hell, but at least as friends they’d still be in her life. Could she be a friend with benefits and nothing more?
“What’s wrong, baby?”
She jerked her gaze to Brogan, who had a slice suspended in air as he studied her. “Nothing. Just got lost in my thoughts, I guess.”
/> “Don’t act like a girl, darlin’.” Garner opened the other box, revealing a large pepperoni pizza. “Have at it. We like a woman who eats like a real person.”
“Yeah. No nibblers for us.” Sterling winked. “Unless it’s us you’re nibbling on.”
Was that any way for a friend to talk? She hoped the hell it wasn’t. “Thanks.” She accepted the slice Garner offered her and took a big bite. Was it delicious because of the taste or because the men were there?
“Sit down, guys. Make yourself at home.” As though they hadn’t already done as much.
The men folded themselves into the chairs around her small table. They had to scoot the chairs back to fit their long legs underneath. Feeling nervous, she eased into the last chair and settled between Brogan and Garner.
“This is really good pizza.” It was small talk, but small talk was all she could manage with them staring so intently at her. Staring as though they wanted her for dinner instead of pizza.
“Yeah. Sugar makes an amazing pizza.”
“You’re talking about Sugar Makeland, right? The owner of the Lick Your Plate Diner?” It was a silly question considering how many people were named Sugar. Or, rather, how many weren’t. That and the fact that Fate didn’t have a pizza place. The food had to have come from the diner.
“That’s the one.” Brogan took another bite of his piece, devouring half of it in one gulp.
They ate in silence for a few minutes as her nerves took hold of her again. Strange how they could make her feel so safe and yet rattle her at the same time.
Brogan wiped his mouth. Yet instead of leaning back and relaxing as she suspected he would, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. His intense expression said it all. Bringing her dinner was only an excuse.
“Heather, we came over tonight because we want to talk to you. We need to tell you something important.”
She glanced at Sterling and Garner. They’d grown tense, too. “Okay. What about?”
“Fuck. About this.” Sterling scooted his chair back with a loud scraping sound. With a growl, he grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her onto her feet.
She didn’t have time to say anything. Hell, she barely had time to think. He moved her backward, swiftly, until her back was against the wall. Before she could say a word, he had her pinned.
His kiss was more of an attack than a kiss. Hot and fiery, it burned into her. His hard body pressed against hers, leaving barely any space between them. His tongue lashed around her mouth like a conquering warrior laying claim to new territory.
She moaned, lost to his touch, captured by his manliness. Yet instead of fighting back, instead of pushing him away, she let him take control. A control she was more than happy to give.
“Damn it, Sterling. We were supposed to talk first.”
“Nah. He’s got the right idea.”
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard the gravelly sound of Brogan’s low voice. Although his voice was always deep, it had dropped even lower, going to a level that was primal.
Sterling pressed his bulging crotch against her stomach. The hardness of his cock was all too apparent, all too intoxicating, matching the unyielding resistance of his lips.
“Take her to the bedroom,” ordered Garner.
A groan—or was it a growl?—came from Sterling as he pulled away. Her yelp covered the sound as he bent low and lifted her body onto his shoulder. Her stomach rested on his strong shoulder as her top half fell forward, her hair forming a screen that shielded her sight.
She couldn’t say anything. Didn’t even want to try. Like cavemen claiming their woman, they carried her into her bedroom. She expected to be thrown on top of the bed, but instead, Sterling roughly dropped her onto her feet.
She was left trembling as the men backed away. Her breath burned in her throat as her chest rose and fell with her hard breaths. What did they want her to do now?
Brogan stepped past her to yank the bed’s covers down. She ached to reach out to him as the warmth of his presence passed her, but she resisted. If he’d wanted her to touch him, he would’ve told her.
Garner tore off his shirt, ripping it from the neck down to the top of his jeans. A rush of lust swept through her as she traveled her gaze over his broad chest, the dark hair spreading from one brown nipple to the other then down to the enticing dip at the front of his jeans. Breathing was suddenly even harder to do. His hands floated over the button, but his gaze settled right on hers.
“Better get those clothes off, darlin’. If you leave it for us to do, you won’t have much left.”
All her worries were forgotten. She didn’t care about her past or her future. The only time that mattered was right then and there. “I’m home. I don’t need to worry about having clothes to get back home.”
“Neither do we.”
She looked to Sterling, not understanding what he’d meant. And she didn’t care. She wanted them more than she’d wanted anything. Her prior experiences were gone, sure to be made insignificant once these men took her.
Sterling tugged off his T-shirt and tossed it away. He was as solidly built as his brothers, just as tanned and just as delectable. She wanted nothing more than to run her tongue over his skin and around his huge cock. He grinned as he pulled back the flaps of his jeans and showed her exactly what was waiting for her.
“You took too long, baby.”
She craned her neck around to find a very naked, very hungry-looking Brogan behind her. “Too long?”
“We warned you, good-lookin’.”
They fell on her, jerking her one way then the next as they tore her clothes from her. Her shirt ripped apart, shredded as though they’d taken scissors to it. Brogan lifted her off her feet as Sterling and Garner each took one side of her jeans and jerked in opposite directions.
How can anyone tear jeans apart with their bare hands?
Her question was lost as her bra and panties shredded in their hands. She was lifted higher then, her arms and legs spread outward as though they were at a concert and she’d jumped off the stage to let them catch her.
Sterling’s mouth connected with her pussy, sending her into a quick climax. Brogan held her back against his chest as his hands tortured her nipples. Garner shoved first one finger then another into her pussy then added the same to her dark hole, easing into her, urging her tight rings to give entry.
It had all happened so quickly that she hadn’t had time to think, to react. Now, as all the sensations wracked her body, she cried out. They had her under their command, bringing exciting new feelings. She cried out again, but her cry was muffled when Brogan covered her mouth with his own.
His kiss was hard, needy, and demanding. He nibbled at her lower lip then bit a little harder. She flicked her tongue over her lip, both to see if she tasted any blood and to entice him to bite her again.
Her pussy was on fire with Sterling’s tongue, teeth, and fingers plunging into her, then out, then back again. The fire moved outward, running along the quivering of her body until, at last, her whole body shook.
Garner was a master at her anus. He shoved his fingers into her butthole, stretching his fingers, twisting them against the protest of her tight ringed muscles. Garner bent over, slicking his tongue around his finger then dipping his tongue inside her tight hole.
The two men were so close together, yet she sensed that they didn’t touch each other. She moaned as Brogan turned her mouth free.
“Bed. Now.”
In the next moment, she landed on top of the bed. She’d barely had time to catch her breath when Brogan fell between her legs.
“Fuck me, baby.” He shoved her legs apart, roughly, not giving her a chance to refuse him.
She gripped the sheet underneath her, her heart pounding, her breath coming in short blasts. Her juices, her body’s call to him, slid over her ass cheeks. His cock was so enormous, and for a moment, she almost begged him not to do it.
And then he did.
Hoo
king her legs over his elbows, he yanked her to him and shoved his cock inside her pussy. A split second of pain seared into her and then was gone. Her vaginal walls fought against the intrusion, but as the friction grew, so did more of her juices.
Harder and harder he slammed into her. His face was a tense mask. His eyes blazed, and she was sure she saw bright splashes of amber in them. Yet she couldn’t think, couldn’t imagine what they might be. His strength, his dominance, overpowered her.
For the first time ever, she truly felt what it was like to be a woman.
Only a real man could’ve shown her what that felt like.
Sterling and Garner moved to the side of the bed. Each of them stroked their cocks, their expressions just as intense as Brogan’s.
Brogan was a machine come to life. He rocked back and forth, his balls slapping against her butt crack as he drilled into her. His body, like hers, glistened with sweat. If she’d had the strength to lift her upper torso high enough to grab hold of him, she would’ve dragged her tongue along the sparkling beads of sweat decorating his massive chest.
“Damn it. Move.” Garner shoved his brother.
Brogan let out a sound that could only be described as a growl, an animal-like noise that came from low in his belly. “Fuck you.”
“Fuck you.”
Stunning her, Garner threw his body against his brother’s. Brogan fell to the side and, after another shove from Garner, rolled off the bed. Garner, his jaw muscle flexing, yanked her to him. Without hesitation, he plunged his cock deep inside her pussy.
“Fuck you, man. Listen to your alpha.”
Garner pulled back his lips in snarl. “Don’t pull that alpha shit here. It doesn’t apply to me. And never with our woman.”
Briefly, she wondered at the word alpha then got lost in the moment.
Brogan backed off, his hand wrapped around his cock. “I want her back.”
Heather was doing well just to keep up. Like his brother, Garner was strong, his rams into her pussy rocking her toward the headboard. He bent lower over her than Brogan had and snagged a nipple between his teeth.
