by Lacey Thorn
“So, is it part of your deal?”
“What?” he asked.
“Yesterday, Cruz greeted me the same way you did, but didn’t let me return the favor. Was that something else you guys agreed on? Like the two not in charge can’t speak or move until the one in charge comes?”
“We agreed we could taste you, touch you, and give you pleasure, but couldn’t take any for ourselves until we were all together.”
“Why?”
Darius sighed. “To heighten the experience of what happens when we’re all together. If the other two don’t get relief until then, it only makes sense that whoever is with you should wait as well.”
“So why not make me wait?”
“Because none of us is stupid enough to think we could keep our hands off of you,” he said, crossing to her and tugging her against his chest. “I just had you, can still taste you on my tongue, and it’s taking all I have not to lay you back out on that table and have seconds.”
She shivered and moaned. His hand rubbed over her ass, squeezing and palming one cheek before patting her softly and easing away.
“You ready to go? I thought we’d just drive around, unless there’s some place you’d like to go. We’ll head back to the house later.”
She knew exactly what they’d be heading back to do later. No matter how many times she got off, she’d still be wet and ready when she entered the door and stripped down to whatever they wanted her in. Would they spank her again? Tie her up? All take her at once again?
“Emerald?” Darius’s voice intruded on her thoughts. “Ready?”
“Melda,” she corrected. “I go by Melda, not Emerald.”
“Sorry, I forgot,” Darius said. “We’ve called you Emerald since we learned it was what Melda was short for. It’s beautiful and suits you perfectly.”
She didn’t think so, but she wasn’t getting into all the reasons right now why it didn’t suit her perfectly. She was just going to enjoy her day with Darius.
“Let me grab a jacket on the way out.” She grabbed the small purse she carried bare essentials in when she was going back and forth to work and slid the long strap over her neck, so she could wear it diagonally across her body, tucking the bag close to her hip before reaching inside her closet and pulling her leather jacket on.
“God, you look gorgeous, more beautiful than a perfect sunset. I look into your eyes and see the promise of what could be, if only I could prove the love you’ll find with me.”
She caught her breath. “You wrote the poems.”
He nodded, took her hand and brought it to his mouth once more, placing a soft kiss against her palm. Then he laced their fingers together and tugged her out the door to the motorcycle. He handed her a helmet before pulling another on and straddling the bike. She grinned at the purr of the motor then hopped on behind him, wrapping her arms tight around his waist and pressing her breasts into his back.
She heard his groan of pleasure and grinned as they took off. He handled the cycle well, driving with the skill of a seasoned rider. She just held him close and enjoyed the ride. She had an idea where he was taking her when he turned off the highway along the road that led to one of the state parks.
He stopped long enough to flash his military I.D. and pay a fee. Then they were off again. She smiled as he drove the bike to a small park. There were swings, a jungle gym, some slides, and a great view of the water. He stopped the bike, easing the kickstand down and shutting it off before pulling his helmet off.
“What do you think?”
“I love it,” she said with a grin and giggle. “But don’t think I’m going to let you chase me around the playground and pull my braid to show me you like me.”
He laughed, but there was fire in his eyes when he looked at her. “If I’m pulling your hair, we’ll both be naked and enjoying it. But I definitely plan on chasing you around.”
He took her hand, and they began walking toward the park, sticking to the path and taking their time as she looked around. A few kids played here and there, and their laughter and screams rippled across the air. Darius was tracing circles across her palm with his thumb, and combined with the way her legs were still vibrating from the bike ride, it was a wonder she could walk.
“What was it like growing up in foster care? You never really said much, except when you talked about your sisters.” It only made sense for him to want to hear about her childhood, but really there wasn’t much to say that she hadn’t already shared in her writings.
“I told you most of it in my letters. I feel like my life really started when I found myself taken in by the same woman they were with.”
“It must have been rough, moving around as a young kid.”
She shrugged, but her memory filled with how it had felt to constantly move from home to home, always hoping someone would want to adopt her, afraid of the same thing. “My first memory is from when I was four. I was staying with a couple. They were so nice, and I was going to preschool. I had the best time. I thought I’d be with them forever.”
“What happened?”
“She was killed in a car wreck, and he fell apart. I got sick and had to be put in the hospital. I didn’t get to attend the funeral, and I never saw him again.”
“Shit!” Darius muttered and stopped, pulling her close. “I can’t imagine. How long were you in the hospital? What was wrong?”
“I was sick a lot, until I turned about eight. I caught everything that came around. I was premature, and my lungs weren’t quite developed fully when my birth mom left me.”
“Jesus, I’m sorry.”
“Things happen we can’t control. It wasn’t meant to be, and I ended up exactly where I needed to be, in a home where I found two sisters.”
“You amaze me, Emerald.” He must have seen something on her face that had him correcting himself. “Melda. Sorry, it’s going to take me a while to remember Melda and not Emerald,” he said sincerely. “We’ve spent the last eighteen months referring to you as Emerald because the name is as unique and beautiful as you are. It’s hard to wrap my mind around changing it. Probably going to be the same for Cruz and Houston. We should have taken more notice of how you signed your letters, and not fixated on how exotic Emerald was.”
“So Melda isn’t unique and beautiful?” she asked with a teasing laugh.
“Everything about you is. I’m not sure how we got so lucky, but I’m very grateful.”
“That’s sweet, Darius.”
“You amaze me,” he whispered against her hair. “Such strength disguised by blinding beauty.”
She laughed and pushed him away. “I’ve cried many times, wondering what was wrong with me, and why no one wanted me.”
“They were fools not to see what a gift you were. Besides strength lies in how we rise after the fall, and believe me, everyone falls at some point.”
She opened her mouth to brush his comment off but didn’t. “Thank you,” she said instead. “Regardless, I wouldn’t change anything since I ended up growing up with Skye and Deja. They’re my best friends as well as my sisters.”
“I bet you three were always getting into mischief.”
“We might have a time or two. Mostly, we ran around with the boys next door, getting them into mischief.”
“Boys next door, huh?”
She shook her head and laughed. “The McBride’s lived next door to Mrs. Potts. They had three sons, Rance, Adam, and Noah. Rance was sixteen when I moved there. Adam was eleven and Noah was eight. I think all three of us girls had a crush on Rance, but he never acted like he knew. Skye used to moon after him, writing his name over and over in a notebook with hearts around it. Which only makes their relationship now all the more funny.”
“Why’s that?”
“Skye mooned over Rance until she turned sixteen and caught him necking with a girl when he was home from college. Now he’s the one who comes home and looks her up, and she’s the one who pretends he doesn’t have a thing for her.” She sobe
red up, remembering what Skye has shared on girls’ night. “He should be home again soon.”
“What happened?” It amazed her how Darius just seemed to pick up on what she wasn’t saying.
“He’s an agent with the FBI. I guess he was shot recently and is planning to come home while he heals.”
“I hope he’s okay,” Darius said with sincerity. “What about his brothers?”
“They’re still around. Adam’s a teacher. He married a girl we graduated with, and they have a little girl. Noah’s in medical school but comes home to visit when he gets a chance. What about you? Any family?”
“Both my parents are still alive and well. They both taught school. My mom still does, third grade. She says it’s her duty to make sure at least the kids in her class still learn how to write in cursive, so they can sign their names. My dad’s a principal now, high school.”
“Any siblings?” They were walking again, his warm fingers interlocked with hers. She was so comfortable and at ease with him.
“One brother, Daniel. He’s younger and still in college studying computers. The kid’s a whiz with them.”
“What about you? What do you like to do when you’re not a soldier?”
Darius smiled. “Write mostly. Read. I love poetry and as you’ve seen, I write a bit now and then myself. I like to work with my hands. Cruz, Houston, and I have talked about opening a business together. We’d like to buy property in need of a little TLC, fix it up, and either sell it or rent it out.”
“That’s right up my alley,” Melda said enthusiastically. “I wrote you that I work for a property manager overseeing the places he owns. I work with the people and businesses housed on his property, collecting rent and working with them on any upkeep or repairs required. I even inspect new places that come up for sale. I love it.”
“I know. You spoke of it often in your letters.”
They stopped at the swings, and he held one for her to take a seat before gently pushing her while they continued talking.
“How long are you really planning to stay?” She couldn’t hold the question back. It had been eating at her since they’d all been together yesterday. She was falling, hard and fast for her three Marines, and it scared her.
“That depends on you,” he answered.
“Why? I assumed you’d only have a few weeks before you had to head back.”
“We’re not going back. Not permanently, at least. We’ve spent enough time in the desert. It’s time to come home now.”
“Then how does it depend on me?”
He caught the swing and smiled, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear that had worked loose of her braid. “Because we want you,” he whispered. “We planned nothing past coming here and finding you.” He kissed her softly on the lips then let her swing back away from him.
“What are you looking for?”
“Me personally? Forever. I’m not big on games. I’m upfront, honest, faithful. And I want the same in return. I want you. The chance to get to know you on a deeper level, a chance to see if I can make you fall in love with the man I am. Houston and Cruz feel the same way.”
“Am I supposed to pick one of you?” She just couldn’t wrap her mind around being able to keep all three of them. How could she be that lucky?
“We’re sharing you now. Did you not enjoy last night?”
“You know I did.”
“Then what has to change?”
“What about jealousy? Comments made from other people when we go out?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I don’t know. I’m sure there will be moments when jealousy rears its ugly head, but I don’t see it lasting. Houston, Cruz, and I know what we want, and I don’t see us doing anything to screw it up. So mostly, it’s all in your hands. As for other people, who cares really. The only people with a say in this are the four of us. No one else matters.”
“You’d stay here? With me?”
“This is as good a place as any to start a new life.”
“What about your families?”
“I can only speak for myself here, Melda, but I’ve been away from them before. I love them, and I’ll always go home to visit. But I’m a man, and I need to build something for myself with a woman I love and friends I can trust.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Then don’t, until you do know.”
He pushed her in silence for a bit as she digested all he’d just shared with her. She wanted to call Deja again and talk some more about what the dynamics were like living with three men, having three men as your lovers at the same time on a more permanent basis. So many questions tumbled through her head that only her sister could really answer for her.
“I’m glad you guys shared my letters.”
“Me, too,” he murmured, squeezing her hand gently.
“I’m even happier you came to see me.”
“We couldn’t have stayed away.”
“I’m enjoying getting to know you guys and learning which letters each of you wrote.”
“We did have the advantage over you there,” he admitted with a chuckle.
“How did you decide who answered which letter?”
“Same way we decided who got the first date with you. We rolled for it and left it to the luck of the dice.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I guess that’s one way.”
“Houston won the first letter. Cruz got second, and I had a bad roll that day.”
“Houston had the bad roll this time?”
“Actually, no. He won again, but he let Cruz and I go first. Said he wanted the last date. I think he might have something big planned.”
Melda felt a shiver go through her, making her nipples harden and sending a surge of need straight to her cunt. What did Houston have planned that made him want to be last? Darius caught her on the backswing and held her tight against his chest. She could feel the heat of him, the raw masculinity of his muscular flesh.
His breath caressed her ear. “I’m ready to head back whenever you are.”
The words sent another shiver through her. She couldn’t wait to see what they had planned for today. Especially now that she had an idea of the agreement they had with each other.
No one would be able to speak or touch her, unless Darius gave permission. At least until he came. So what would her big warrior indulge in today? What fantasy did he plan to fulfill with her? And how would he share her with Houston and Cruz?
Chapter Six
“You remember the rules as soon as we step in the door?” Darius asked, and Melda nodded. She was anxious to begin.
Darius used his key to unlock the door and pushed it open for her. As soon as she crossed the threshold, he stopped her with a hand on her wrist. She stood silently while he shut and locked the door behind them, then stepped in front of her. She remained quiet as he just looked at her.
“Take the jacket off.”
She slid it easily off her shoulders and handed it to him to hang on the pegs just inside the door on the wall. He turned back to her, and she felt his gaze like a physical touch. He lifted his hands and trailed his fingers over her shoulders, down over her breasts and aching nipples, until he hit the hem of her shirt. He easily tugged it up and over her head. When she would have dropped her hands back down, he pressed them against the door.
“Keep them there.”
He toyed with her nipples, tugging and teasing them before dropping his head to her chest and using his mouth to suck through the lace of her bra. She moaned, arching her breasts out toward him, craving more of his touch.
“You are so beautiful, Melda,” he groaned. His eyes lifted and met hers. “You dazzle my senses every time I look at you. But it’s not just your blonde curls and big green eyes, not just your perfect curves that would bring any man to his knees in worship.” His hand slid to her left breast and cuddled it, his thumb rubbing over the upper curve. “It’s what’s in here, hidden from those who don’t search
and find it. It’s the woman you are. Strong, faithful, and true. Resilient, compassionate, and giving. You’re the whole package a man searches for but rarely finds.”
“I’m not,” she whispered, unable to hold her feelings in. “Trust me, very few people have ever found me worthy of keeping around, much less seeing all the things you just said.”
“Then shame on them. They lost out on the greatest treasure out there. You.”
“Darius.”
“Shhh,” he crooned. “Just relax and let us show you what we see every time we look at you. Let us show you, you have more than just your sisters to count on now. We’re not planning to go anywhere, Melda. Not unless you force us away.”
Melda caught her breath as he slid to his knees and reached out to undo the snap and zipper on her leather pants. He pushed the fabric wide and placed a kiss on the naked flesh of her stomach revealed in the gap. His tongue traced the edge of her lace panties and dipped under briefly to tease her.
He leaned back and lifted her foot to rest on his hard thigh, taking his time removing her boot and sock before doing the same with her other foot. His fingers traced the arch of her foot, rubbing and caressing, making her moan with pleasure.
“You have such dainty feet,” he murmured, lifting one up higher, making her bend her knee to ease the movement. His head tilted down, and he flicked his tongue over her big toe. “I love your feet, especially the dark red polish.” His tongue slid over her again. His eyes met hers just before he leaned just a bit closer and sucked her into his mouth.
A zing of pleasure shot straight to her pussy and had her juices spilling. Holy, shit! She’d never had anyone suck her toe, had never once thought it would be sexual. Before this moment, she would have shaken her head and said the thought of anyone sucking her toes was a total turn off. But Darius had her blood humming as he worked his magic on her. Both his thumbs were pressing into her arches, rubbing as he continued to suck at her. She felt each tug of his mouth as if he were sucking on her pussy, on her clit, on her nipples.
