Tangled: Steele Ranch - Book 3

by Vanessa Vale

  “Yes. Penny called them first.”

  “Wait, Penny’s with Cricket. Jesus, that’s not good.”

  Penny was pregnant. While I was scared shitless for Cricket and Penny, but a baby? If this turned out okay—no, not if, when—Jamison and Boone weren’t going to let her out of their farmhouse of theirs and if she tried, they’d tie her to the bed. I wasn’t sure if they were into restraints and shit, but they’d be into it quick.

  “She’s not.”

  I exhaled. Thank fuck. But that meant—

  “Cricket made her leave. I guess Cricket shoved her car keys at her and told her to get away to keep the baby safe.”

  “Then where the fuck is Penny?”

  “In Cricket’s car. Waiting. She’s on the phone with Jamison and he’s keeping her calm. I’m leaving the station now and I’m ninety minutes behind you. I called Lee, but he’s in Buffalo and losing his mind.”

  Buffalo was in the middle of Wyoming, a five or six-hour drive from Missoula.

  Our woman was being confronted by an asshole who’d threatened to rape her. She’d gotten away from him at the strip club. This guy wasn’t going to like that. He was pissed at her. Not pissed. Obsessed. Knowing the kind of men who ran shit places like the strip club, they were misogynistic assholes, thinking a woman was only as good as she looked in pasties or how skilled she was on her knees. Cricket had kicked him in the figurative balls, and while it made me so fucking proud that she’d taken care of herself, now I was scared as fuck for her.

  “Even though some other asshole got arrested, he was still hiding from the police. And in the one place they wouldn’t look,” I told him. “He’s not going to let Cricket go.”

  Archer didn’t respond. There was nothing for him to say to that because I was right.

  “I’ll call you when I get there.”

  I hung up on him and focused on driving. Once I hit the exit ramp, I had to slow down. Finally… fucking finally, I pulled into her lot. There were three police cars haphazardly parked, lights flashing. I slammed on the brakes, put the truck in gear and climbed out, not caring I left it in the middle of the lot running. I ran toward them, but slowed, not wanting to get shot by a trigger-happy cop.

  There, standing with two police officers and Penny was Cricket. Whole.

  I exhaled and my heart settled back in my chest. The panicked feelings I had lessened, but didn’t ease. My cell rang in my pocket. “Yeah?” I said when I put it to my ear.

  “Penny says they have the guy arrested and on the way to the hospital. Cricket maced him, then kneed him in the balls. Cricket’s fine.” Archer’s voice was full of relief, but I doubted he’d be fully calm until he saw Cricket for himself.

  “I see her. She’s with the police.” I hung up on him and went over to her. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and while she wasn’t panicked, she had the look of someone post-battle.

  When she saw me, she practically wilted. She walked around the police officer and right into my arms. I held her to me, breathed her in, kissed the top of her head. I spied Penny and she was smiling, gave me a reassuring thumbs-up. I watched as she put her cell back to her ear. I had no doubt she had Jamison or Boone on there.

  One of the officers walked by and I called to him. “That woman, Penny, she’s pregnant.” I tipped my chin in her direction. “She should be sitting down somewhere out of the sun. Get her some water.”

  The guy nodded. “On it.”

  Having her be fifteen feet away and with the police officers right beside her, I knew Penny was safe, knew this guy would tend to her. I could focus on Cricket.

  Her hands went to my shirt, tangled in it and she held on for dear life. I didn’t mind. I didn’t want her to ever let go. She began to cry, and I felt the sobs through my palms on her back.

  Shit. Fuck. I hated it when she cried, but this, she needed to do it, to bleed out the excess adrenaline, the fear. She needed to do so while she knew she was safe, that everything was going to be okay. It was the same for me. I needed to hold her, to feel her, breathe her in and know she was fine so that I could calm down, too.

  Fuck, I’d almost lost her.

  “I love you,” I said, leaning down so I spoke close to her ear.

  She pulled back, titled her chin up to look at me. Tear stained, I wiped her cheeks with my thumbs.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I love you, Cricket. I’m sorry for being such an asshole, leaving you at night. I did it to protect you because I love you.”

  A little V formed in her brow. “You leave me because you love me?”

  I gave her a small smile, lowered my head and gave her a sweet kiss. “That first night last summer, in the hotel room, I had a nightmare. I hurt you. I won’t hurt you again.”

  “You won’t,” she countered, seemingly sure that I wouldn’t.

  I slid my hands up and down her arms. “You don’t know that. It’s killed me since then that I bruised you. Shit, you’re the one person I want to protect more than anything. I’m broken, baby.”

  She shook her head, went up on her tiptoes and kissed me and not as sweet or gentle as I’d kissed her.

  “You are a big, loveable idiot.”

  I wasn’t sure about the loveable part, but the rest fit.

  “You can’t make that decision for me,” she added.

  One of the police cars backed up and left. I did a quick scan for Penny, saw she was sitting in a fold-up lawn chair someone had put on the grassy area in front of the apartment building. She had a water bottle in her hand and was situated in the shade. She was still on her cell.

  I looked back at Cricket. “I won’t put your safety at risk. That’s a hard limit for me. I make decisions if it’s about your protection.”

  “I call ‘red’ then,” she countered. “When we’re sleeping, we’re not playing. We make decisions together. You, me, Archer and Lee. All of us. I love all three of you and I’ll sleep with all three of you, and I mean sleep. I won’t be shortchanged.”

  I smiled then and I felt…light. “You love me?”

  She nodded, tears filling her eyes again. “I love you, Sutton. Just the way you are. And the nightmares, we’ll work on them together. Get therapy. Have Archer or Lee in bed with us. Whatever, but I won’t have you walking out on me, even if it’s emotionally.”

  I nodded once. “I get it.”

  “Good.”

  I felt better than I had in…forever. For the first time, I felt hope. And love.

  “Tell me what happened,” I said, switching to the big fucking elephant in the parking lot.

  She shook her head. “Later. I just want to get Penny and get home.”

  Home.

  “And where is that?” I asked, sliding my hand over her hair.

  “Wherever you are. Archer, Lee, too. As long as we’re together, I’m home.”

  Fucking right.

  15

  LEE

  * * *

  “Cricket!” I shouted, bursting through the front door of the main house. It had been a long ride back from Buffalo, even though Archer had kept me updated and I knew both Cricket and Penny were fine.

  “Up here,” she called.

  I looked at the ceiling, then took the stairs two at a time. She met me halfway, all but leaping into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist and kissing me.

  Thank fuck. This, right here, was what I’d needed for the past ten hours. Cricket, in my arms.

  “Jesus, woman, you scared the shit out of me.” I lifted my head long enough to say that, to breathe, our lips an inch apart.

  I carried her up the rest of the steps to the second floor. When I turned the corner, I saw Sutton leaning in the doorway of one of the bedrooms. His jeans were on, but not buttoned. He wore nothing else. Past him, I saw Archer on the bed, the sheets rumpled.

  Cricket had on clothes, at least I felt soft cotton as I gripped her ass. Glancing down, I took in her thin, white tank top and tiny blue sleep shorts. Her hair was up in a slopp

y bun. She looked perfect.

  “Did you win?” she asked, hooking her ankles at my lower back.

  I grinned. “Of course, I did.”

  She grinned right back. “Of course, you did,” she repeated. “My hot cowboy.”

  “Hey,” Sutton said, his tone laced with mock hurt.

  Cricket turned her head to look over her shoulder. “You’re my hot cowboy, too.”

  “But right here, with you in my arms, this is winning it all,” I told her. “Nothing else matters. I love you, baby.”

  Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them away and smiled brilliantly. “I love you, too.”

  I kissed her then, long and hard, my tongue finding hers.

  “You’re okay?” I asked her when I finally lifted my head, walking into the bedroom. Sutton stepped back to let us pass, but joined us. I’d stolen her breath and she’d stolen my heart.

  “I am. He scared me, but I used the mace, kneed him in the balls and ran off. I didn’t go in the apartment. I knew better. Penny called the police and they got there fast.”

  It was a quick recount of the situation, but I didn’t want more than that now. I just wanted her.

  “Penny’s okay?” I asked, just to make sure.

  She nodded. “She’s fine. I think it will take Jamison and Boone a day or two to recover.”

  I leaned my forehead against hers, reveled in the connection, the feel of her squirming in my hold. “Me, too, baby. Me, too.”

  “Not a scratch on her,” Sutton said. “Don’t worry, we checked.”

  Cricket rolled her eyes and flushed a pretty pink. I watched as the color crept down her neck and to the top swells of her gorgeous tits which were braless beneath the tank top. The color of her nipples was visible and so was each little hard bump around the peaked tip.

  “You didn’t wait for me?” I asked.

  Archer huffed from the bed. “Sutton didn’t make it in the front door before he took her.”

  “Archer pulled up, found us,” Sutton confirmed. From the look on his face, he didn’t look the least bit sorry about it.

  “He had the truck bed open and her bent over,” Archer added. “Fucked her right there.”

  I looked to Cricket, saw the dreamy look on her face. Yeah, she’d wanted it.

  “I couldn’t wait a second longer,” Sutton replied.

  I totally understood. I was dying to get in her right now.

  “I got her up here and in the shower before I had my turn,” Archer added.

  “Two quickies, baby,” I said to Cricket. “I need you. Fuck, I need to be in you, know that you’re safe. Ready for one more?”

  She nodded, bit her lip.

  “We were waiting for you,” she told me, lifting her hand to run over the top of my head, slide down to my neck and hang on. “I…I want all three of you. Together.”

  My mind went blank for a second because all the blood went south right to my dick. “To…together? As in together?”

  She laughed, nodded.

  “Shit, I’m going to come just thinking of it. That’s going to have to wait. I have to be in you. Quickie. Now,” I said, my mind a hazy blur of need, my dick driving my thoughts.

  “Yes. Now,” she agreed, her hands coming around and trying to undo the snaps on my shirt.

  I walked forward until I had her against the wall, the press of my body and her legs around me holding her up. I reached down, undid my jeans, worked my cock free.

  “Shit. Fuck, baby, I don’t have a condom.”

  She shook her head. “I’m on the pill. You don’t need one.”

  I stilled, my head clearing somewhat at what she was saying. “I thought you wanted—”

  “I’m not ready for a baby. Not for a long time. But I’m on the pill and Sutton took me without one before realizing it. Since I’m on birth control, I don’t want condoms or the lack of them to stop us.”

  I heard his huff behind me. “I was thinking with the wrong head,” he said.

  “It’s fine,” she continued. “I just want a commitment, a relationship, to do it without one.”

  I grinned then. “Baby, this is a relationship. And commitment? Fuck, you’re stuck with us.” I found the hem of her little sleep shorts and tugged at them. She unhooked her legs long enough for me to work them off before she wrapped herself around me once again.

  I felt the slickness of her as my dick settled right at her entrance as if it knew exactly where to go. I didn’t wait, didn’t hold back, just gripped her hips and pushed her down onto me. She was so fucking slick. The feel of taking her raw was indescribable. “Shit, I’ve never done this. Never gone bare before.”

  I began to move, her heels digging into my ass prodding me to give her more.

  “You’re so wet. Is that Sutton and Archer’s cum easing my way?”

  She nodded, her head pressed back against the wall. “Yes.”

  Fuck, the thought of her filled with all of our cum made my balls tighten, the tingling need to finish started at the base of my spine.

  “I love being in you. I love you, baby. I’m going to fill you up, ease this need and then we’ll take you together. All fucking night.”

  Her fingers dug into my shoulders as she writhed. “I love you, too. Yes. More!”

  That was just what I wanted to hear. Everything I’d ever wanted was right here in my arms.

  * * *

  ARCHER

  * * *

  I was glad I’d already had Cricket because watching Lee fuck her had me hard again. Seeing her soothe him in the most elemental way possible was incredible to watch. And to hear them say they loved each other made it all the sweeter. I’d taken the time in the shower—barely—to wash every inch of her, to ensure she really wasn’t hurt. Not even a scratch or a bruise from the fucker.

  As soon as I was reassured about that, I’d pressed her against the shower wall and had taken her. Bare. Just as Sutton had done and now Lee. There wasn’t anything else between us. Pulling up to the main house and finding Sutton fucking her right there was all the proof I’d needed that they’d talked it out, that while I didn’t think he was cured from the nightmares that plagued him and had almost robbed him of Cricket, she knew the truth and would be there for him.

  If anyone could help him, it was Cricket.

  Cricket cried out her pleasure a second before Lee tensed and came. They remained still except for their ragged breathing for several seconds before Cricket uncrossed her legs and she stood. Once Lee knew she wouldn’t slide to the floor, he stepped back.

  Sutton took her hand, led her to the side of the bed as Lee began to shuck his clothes. It was time. We were going to claim her together. I was the ass man, had taken her there before and knew how she liked it. I’d take that tight hole again. I assumed Lee would take her mouth, Sutton her pussy, but time would tell. And we had plenty of it.

  We’d forced Lee to stay for his competition, completing his ride before he came back. Assurances that Cricket was fine weren’t enough. He’d had to talk to her personally before he was satisfied enough to finish his job. He didn’t have another competition for a week. After Sutton had called and said he had Cricket, I’d put in for vacation. As for Sutton, I wasn’t worried. Jamison would give him all the time off he needed. We needed to be with Cricket. To make sure what we’d built so far would stand.

  I was confident it would, but we were committed and we’d give the time. Starting now.

  Lee went into the en suite bathroom and I heard the shower turn on.

  Without a word, Sutton took off her tank top so she was bare to us. I watched as I stripped quickly, watched as Sutton’s hand cupped her pussy. “I love feeling our cum here. Love knowing you’re marked. You’re ours, baby.”

  She nodded, her eyes falling closed as he gently played with her. She’d taken three big dicks, and hard. He had to be gentle. He pulled his hand away long enough to turn her about to face me, and then began to pleasure her from behind.

  I cupped her breasts, played with them as I heard the water shut off. That had been the shortest shower in the world.

  Leaning down, I kissed her and Sutton and I worked her back up. It didn’t take long, she was well-primed from all three of us.

  When Lee returned, he took Sutton’s place behind her as Sutton undressed.

  I lifted my head, asked, “Ready?”

  She nodded. “I want you. All of you.”

  Her cheeks were flushed, her nipples as red as her lips, the peaks tight. I couldn’t miss the wet sounds of Lee’s fingers playing with her pussy.

  Sutton moved to the bottom of the bed, lying at an angle so his head was by the left edge, his knees bent and his feet flat on the floor. His dick thrust up, ready for Cricket. He crooked his finger and she crawled onto the bed, then over him, giving me and Lee a gorgeous view of her cum-coated pussy. And I didn’t miss the other furled hole that would soon be mine.

  I went to the side table, opened the drawer and grabbed the lube I’d left there. Her pussy might be dripping, but I wouldn’t take her ass without tons of lubrication.

  Sutton had her sitting on his lap, dick buried deep inside her before I even flipped open the lid. His hands went to her breasts, cupped them, his fingers working the nipples as she worked herself on him.

  “More,” she said, looking to me.

  That was my cue and I wasn’t waiting a second longer. We’d all fucked her, even had one dick in her pussy, another in her mouth at the same time, but never a double penetration with her pussy and ass. Not even the first night we’d all been together last summer. She’d taken my dick deep in her ass so far several times. She’d come from it, so I knew it was something she liked. Taking two cocks at the same time was going to be different. More. And if it was the last thing I did, I’d make it so good for her.

  I dripped lube onto my fingers, began to carefully work it into her, circling her hole, pressing, stretching until she took one finger, then two, then a third as Lee continued to slowly fuck her.

  When I was sure she could handle it, that I knew her ass was well prepared, I added a liberal coating of lube to my dick, got it nice and slick, then moved right behind her, stood between Sutton’s wide-set legs.

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