by Dace Everan
Cole smiled then. He looked genuinely committed to the rules. Although the smug, playful look in his eyes made her wonder what rule he would break first. Her gaze darted to Ren and he offered her a dashing smile.
“He is a bit of an unruly shit but a few good smacks and he’ll be a good boy for you.”
Cole blushed and the thought of smacking Jaron did weird little things to her insides. She would never! Her gaze landed on him and then darted to Ren again. Was he friggen’ serious?
Ren dished out everyone’s food. Cole watched, smiling. She wondered if he even realized he dished out Jaron’s food. She chewed her lower lip, watching the two interact, noting the twinkle in each other’s eyes as they gazed at each other. The brushing of knuckles against cheek when something endearing was said. It reminded her of how Ren treated her when they were alone.
Ren tossed a bun at Jaron. “Bite in. These buns are awesome,” he ordered.
Jaron did so, surprise entering his eyes at the filling. He grinned. “Yup, I’m moving in for sure. Just the one kid?” he asked, his eyes sparkling and focused on Cole.
Ren grinned. “No, little girl, sweetheart of a thing,” he replied, excitement edging his voice.
Jaron raised a brow. “How’s that working out? You’re a daddy now?”
Ren chuckled. “No, Cole’s little ones, awesome kids. Wait till you meet Jake. Kid’s sharp as a whip.”
Jaron grinned. He liked seeing this happiness on his good friend.
Ren looked at Cole. “Jaron’s gonna be moving into one of the cabins. He’s replacing Kyle.” He’d be taking a cabin for now, but as soon as Cole was comfortable, he would be joining them. His gaze landed on Jaron. He knew the first summer they had spent together that one day this man would be one of his mates. He hadn’t been sure when that would happen, but now with Cole here and the things she did to his insides and the Wolf in him, it was time. This was his time to claim his mates, time for his Cole to claim her mates.
Cole looked at the man. Shit, she would have two yummy men to admire. Her eyes landed on Ren. Shit, this is bad. She couldn’t crush on Jaron when she knew deep down she wanted Ren. She wavered. Slut, dirty little slut, ran through her mind. Her stomach churned at the sudden thought and shame filled her. No! She would not feel shame. She was not a slut! She had every right to admire a beautiful man. She cleared her throat. “Excuse me,” she whispered, leaving the table, her food untouched.
Ren furrowed his brow. He had seen her watch Jaron as he left her this morning to find him in the barn. Shit, he knew the moment Jaron was on his property. Had watched to see how Cole would react to him.
Jaron waited till Cole was out of the room. “Skittish little filly,” he commented.
Ren nodded. “Yes…she likes you.” He hummed in thought. This could take a while. Maybe he was rushing Cole?
“Who doesn’t?” Jaron boasted.
Ren grinned. He loved Jaron. The younger man had always been so sure of himself. “Thought maybe you could give us a hand.” He stated. He wasn’t sure if the possessive feeling had come over Jaron yet. He looked comfortable with Cole. Cole was the first woman of Ren’s that Jaron openly kissed in an enduring way and so easily. He seemed at ease with her. He wanted the feeling to hit Jaron though, wanted him to feel the possession he had just mere weeks ago felt toward Cole.
Jaron raised a brow. “Us…? As in, you and Cole?” he asked.
Ren nodded. “She’s been through a lot…but the more I watch her, the more I think she needs more.”
Jaron took a spoonful of soup. “She has children. What more could the woman want? Sounds pretty busy to me.” The last thing Cole needed was his childish ass hounding her. Fuck, he would admit he was a big kid. His gaze darted toward the hall she had disappeared from his heart lurching. His brow furrowed. What the hell was that? Did he miss her?
Ren smiled nodding. “She is…I think before she was taken, she had wanted to try something, and there is no one else I would share her with,” he declared.
Jaron smiled. He reached across the table and caressed Ren’s hand. “I’m in.” He didn’t need any more than that. Ren had called him to fill in for Kyle, but to see him now and the way he watched Cole, he knew what was going on. Ren wanted to claim Cole and keep her. But Ren had never been a man to hold a woman back from all that she desired. Apparently, his Cole desired two. And shit if it didn’t scare the shit out of him that he desired her as well.
He and Ren had shared women in the past. Nothing serious, a few one-night stands. Fuck, they’d even spent a few lonely nights in each other’s arms. Who was he kidding? He loved Ren and Ren returned that loved tenfold. Ren was his alpha and always would be. He and Ren were connected and meant to be. His gaze darted back to the hall Cole had hastily exited through. Was Cole Ren’s mate? His bitch? What was his role in this oncoming relationship? And an oncoming relationship it would be. Ren would never invite him to home territory just to fuck his woman.
Chapter Ten
Jake and Etty looked the new man over. “I’m Jake. This is my little sister, Etty,” the little man introduced, holding his hand out to Jaron.
“Jaron Stokes.” He shook the boy’s hand and lowered to a crouch and held his hand out to Etty. The little one blushed and held her hand out and he kissed her knuckles. “Pretty little lady. You look like your momma.” Etty blushed further. Jaron grinned at the innocent blush. “I hear Ren’s having a dance on the weekend…You have a dance card, little one?” Etty shook her head. Jaron harrumphed. “Well, we’ll have to fix that. I want the first dance,” he declared, grinning at Jake. “Pretty sure the neighbor girls will be there. You’ll be busy. We can take turns keeping our eye on her,” he assured.
Jake grinned, and Etty looked at Ren. “Really? A dance and other kids will be there?” she shrieked in awe.
Ren nodded. “Yup, big barbecue, lots of kids, lots of people. Bonfire, dance in the barn.”
Jake’s eyes widened. “You mean the one at the back we’re not allowed in?” he asked.
Ren chuckled ruffling the kid’s hair. “Yup, the one and only,” he declared.
It had taken him most of the week to clear the place out and hide his props. It would only take a day to put it back together with Jaron’s help and Theo’s and Lane’s. They would be arriving shortly after lunch tomorrow. They had called early that morning to assure him they were on their way. “Should we see if Momma needs a hand?”
Jake shook his head. “Have homework. Etty has lines to practice for her play next month.”
Ren grinned. “Need help?”
Jake shook his head. “Nope, Momma will help me,” he assured, taking hold of his sister’s little hand. “Come on, Etty, Momma’s gonna scream when she hears you got the lead.” He dragged her toward the kitchen. Jaron went to follow. Ren grabbed his arm, halting him.
“What? I want to hear her scream,” he replied, disbelief on his face that Ren would hold him back.
Ren chuckled. “Give her and her kids time. She’s a bundle of nerves already,” he instructed, both looking down the hall at the laughter and hoots of pleasure. He could just imagine Cole hugging Etty up in her arms, kissing her chubby little cheeks. Shit, he wished he was there to share that.
“Ren!” Her voice rang through the house and his heart clenched at the sight of her carrying Etty and rushing to him. “She made lead! I told you she would do it!” she gushed, hugging him and squishing Etty between them.
Ren grinned, nodding. “I know. Sorry, little one, I had my doubts,” he admitted.
Etty grinned. “I did what you said, Ren. I pictured them all in their underwear…That’s really hard. Momma wears pretty underwear and seeing Mr. Adams in lace really was funny.”
Ren’s grin grew tenfold. He had felt Cole’s lacy bra, but to this day had not seen her in her intimates. Jaron stared slack-jawed at Cole. Shit, he wanted to see her in her lace.
Etty giggled. “I nearly laughed at the thought of Mr. Pollo in his lace. He’s so
old and fat.”
Cole shushed her, glaring at Ren. “You told her to picture them in their underwear?”
Ren grinned. “Yeah, why not?”
She growled and both men shivered. Etty cupped her momma’s cheek. “It helped, Mommy. I was so scared up there in front of all those teachers. There were ten of them we had to speak in front of.” Cole looked at her daughter. Etty grinned. “Miss Jakes has nothing on you, Mommy. You’re way prettier.”
Cole blushed, kissing her daughter’s cheek. “Thank you, hon, don’t you dare tell her that.” Miss Jakes was the youngest, prettiest one there, and for her daughter to tell her she outshone that woman did wonders for her ego.
Jake chuckled from behind them. “I don’t agree, Momma. I’m sorry. I think Miss Jakes is prettier,” he admitted, devilish smile on his face.
Ren chuckled, draping an arm over Cole’s shoulders, steering her toward the kitchen. “Need any help, Cole? Jaron’s a whiz in the kitchen,” he offered.
Cole shook her head. “And I’m a woman who needs her personal space,” she reminded him. Ren released her and took Etty from her arms, taking her to the table.
Jaron zeroed in and hugged himself close to Cole. “I’ll be so close you won’t even notice me in the way,” he whispered in her ear. Cole peeked at him, a blush covering her cheeks that went down her neck and chest.
Jake cleared his throat. “Think you should leave my momma alone. She likes Mr. Ren,” he clarified.
Jaron backed away from Cole and looked down at the boy. Shit, he had forgotten about the kids. He would have to keep that in mind at all times. “Sorry, no offense meant, Jake. I enjoy cooking and I wanted to assure your momma I would not get in the way.”
Jake gave a slight nod, crossing to the table with his homework in hand. “Just remember, she hits and hits hard if you get in the way,” he warned.
Jaron grinned. He didn’t mind a little smack here and there. He glanced at Cole. She was already busying herself cooking. “I’d take his advice,” she said, not looking at Jaron.
Making supper in Cole’s kitchen was a new experience for Jaron. He had spent years as a cook in camps and in the city. This woman obviously had experience in a big kitchen as well as small and was the most pleasant woman to work with. Even with the prior warnings of hitting.
Supper was full of laughter. Etty practicing her lines, screwing up every once in a while. Her gaze continuously landing on Jaron with a faraway look. Ren called the look and Etty blushed as she admitted imagining him in underwear. Jaron had assured her no lace is ever worn by him…unless he was to dress like one of those men from the times way back with the silk and lace shirts, otherwise nope, no lace.
After supper Ren took the kids outside for a walk while Jaron and Cole cleaned up the supper mess. “Ren tells me you’ve been here a few months now?” Jaron questioned, loading the dishwasher. Cole nodded. “How are you liking it? The old man has softened up a lot this year,” he shared.
Cole smiled. “I love it here. Ren’s good with my children. He’s considerate of me.” She bit her lower lip. She shouldn’t be talking about Ren with Jaron.
Jaron grinned. “Looking forward to the big dinner this weekend?” he asked, leaning back against the counter watching her.
Cole glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes shrugging. “I don’t like big crowds,” she admitted.
Jaron harrumphed. “Yeah, Ren mentioned something about that. You’ll be at the dance?”
Cole shrugged. “Probably hang out here with the kids.” She rinsed out the pot, handing it to him.
Jaron sighed. “I asked your daughter for the first dance. Sorry, I thought you would let them out to enjoy the festivities and meet some of Ren’s people…maybe hang out with the kids. I think a few from the school will be there.”
Cole stopped and looked at him. Shit, she hadn’t even thought that the kids would be into that.
“I heard Theo and Lane were going to be here. I ran into them a few months back. They mentioned coming up here and seeing Etty and Jake. I honestly thought they had meant older people, not children.”
Cole flushed. Shit, she couldn’t let Etty and Jake miss out on hanging with Lane and Theo.
Jaron worked around her as she stood, dazed. By the time she had worked herself out of her stupor, they both faced each other, kitchen clean and nothing left to do.
Cole flushed as she realized Jaron had finished up. “Sorry, thank you.”
Jaron grinned, reaching out, caressing her heated cheek. “No prob…Me and Ren are taking a run tonight, want to join us?”
Cole’s eyes met his and the warmest green eyes met hers. She shook her head, biting her lower lip. She wasn’t sure she could trust herself out there in form. She had gone for a quick run the other day in the afternoon and wound up next to the river face nuzzling her own pussy. When she had gotten back, Ren had commented about bitch in heat and she had gotten upset till he explained the comment. She was Wolf. She wasn’t supposed to be offended at being called a bitch. She took it to mean the equivalent of woman in heat.
Jaron sighed. “If you change your mind, let us know. Been a long time since I’ve run. Moon’s near full. You’ll definitely have to come out on the weekend.” He rumbled. Cole gazed up at him, breath catching. How the hell had he gotten so close? His thumb swiped across her lower lip. “We would both really like it if you did,” he whispered, pulling her close.
Cole’s eyes widened as he dipped and brushed his lips across hers. She whimpered and pulled away, rushing from the room smacking right into Ren as she rounded the corner. Oomph! She tumbled back, Ren grabbing for her arm steadying her.
Jaron caught her around the waist and easily hefted her up and right smack against Ren’s solid front. Her breath caught and she heard something about where are the kids.
Ren’s voice assured, both children were out and busy for a moment. Jaron growled and it sent shivers down Cole’s spine. Ren lifted her and curled his hands under her thighs, lifting them till she wrapped her legs around his waist. Jaron nuzzled her neck and Ren took her mouth.
Cole whimpered at the assault, the pure bliss that reared through her body. Strong hands groped her and their heat surrounded her. Hot breath fanned her neck as Ren’s hot mouth claimed hers in a hungry kiss, his dick solid and jutting against her aching pussy. “One day soon, Cole, I will fuck you…” His mouth slammed to hers and his tongue thrust into her mouth.
She moaned and her own tongue stabbed against his. Her nipples beaded to aching points as Jaron pinched them, his dick rubbed against her ass. Her hands grasped at Ren’s hair, holding him in place.
“And soon, sweetheart, I will fuck you as well,” Jaron whispered against her ear.
Cole shivered, pulling her mouth from Ren’s. Ren grasped her chin and forced her to face Jaron. Jaron whispered soft kisses over her lips. Her tongue darted out and dared lick his lower lip.
Ren groaned at the sight. “Take her, Jaron,” he ordered, watching as Jaron’s mouth claimed Cole’s in a hungry kiss.
The slam of the back door brought a round of groans. Jaron stepped away and Ren looked Cole in the eyes. “We will finish this later.” He pecked her on the cheek and lowered her. As he passed Jaron, the man leaned toward him and the two shared a quick kiss.
Cole stared in awe, jaw flapping open, a squeak escaping her. Ren just kissed another man! Oh, God, she had been pinned between two men and her pussy dripped and ached for both of them.
“Hey, mom! There are kids out there!” Jake cried, racing down the hall, slamming right into Jaron.
The man grunted, steering the boy around him. “Whoa, slow down, buddy, you would have plowed your momma down with that force,” he pointed out.
Etty followed just as fast and nearly collided with Jake’s back, had Jaron not swept her up and lifted her over the boy and set her down in front of Cole.
“Whoo-hoo, you’re strong, Jaron,” she gushed, cheeks red and flushed from obvious running.
&
nbsp; Jaron grinned. “Careful, little ones, house isn’t a place to be running,” he replied, glancing at Cole. The woman was still in shock from him and Ren kissing. He wasn’t sure if it turned her on, or just awed her?
Ren slapped his shoulder. “Guests are arriving already. Maybe I should go make myself friendly.”
Jaron chuckled. “Good luck, my friend! You? Friendly?” he teased, receiving a shoulder punch as Ren darted from him and headed toward the back door.
Cole was bombarded with news on the kids, the families that were out back and taking up residence in the cabins she had cleaned and made all pretty. Her mind swam with questions. How many people did Ren invite out, and what the fuck had just occurred between the three of them, and was Ren bisexual? Had to be! He kissed another man, kissed her. Oh, God, they had her sandwiched between the two of them and nothing had ever felt so right as in that moment…Wait, no, offering Ren her ass the other night felt right. She groaned and both her children looked at her in question, and then concern.
“We’ll stay in the house with you, Mommy,” Etty whispered and Cole could see her obvious disappointment.
Cole shook her head, picking her up and resting her on her hip. “None of that, hon…Ren has assured me these are good people. I have no reason to fear anyone out there.”
Jake hugged her around the hips. “I love you, Mom,” he declared looking up at her.
Cole smiled, her heart melting. She rested her hand on his head. “Love you, too, hon.”
Jake grinned. “I know if you didn’t you would keep us and yourself in the house all weekend. You’re not going to though, right?”
Cole chuckled. “No, hon, just because I’m a big scaredy-cat doesn’t mean you two are. I’ll suck it up and go play.”
Chapter Eleven
Cole stared at the three families. Ren hugged men and women, crouched low, and greeted little ones, even plucked up a baby and snuggled it close.
