When Regan slipped back into the bedroom, she found a gown spread across the foot of the bed. She’d never seen anything lovelier. Tiny, pink embroidered rosebuds, decorated white silk. Tie tabs on each shoulder held it up.
It fit perfectly. Draped low in front and back, the gown skimmed the tops of her feet. She brushed her hair until it gleamed and cleaned her teeth. About then, one of them knocked on the door.
“May we enter?”
Hay, always with his extra punch of verbiage.
“Please.” She turned to greet them.
He opened the door and entered, followed closely by Seth. They stared as though they’d seen something stupendous.
“Thank you for the gown. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
“It’s beautiful on you,” Seth admitted.
“I’ve never seen a lovelier vision,” Hay added.
She tried to hide her smile of pleasure but couldn’t. “I’m not sure what to do now.”
“Darlin’, there’s not much question in my mind,” Seth said. They moved toward her as one. She opened her arms to wrap around both.
Hay kissed her. His hand cupped and squeezed a breast. Seth nipped at that tender place on her neck where her pulse jumped, and fondled her other breast. Hay ran his hand down her back.
“You’re so soft,” Seth whispered, “so perfect.”
“I love you both very much,” she answered and turned so she could kiss him. Then she moved to kiss Hay. “You two fulfill me.”
Seth bent to skim his hand along her hip, then dropped to his knees. With his stump wrapped lightly around her right knee and his head nestled at the apex of her thighs, he caressed her right ankle. Slowly he moved his hand up to her calf. He teased the curve of her knee and finally rubbed his palm up her thigh and back to her hip. Only then did he lift her gown over his head so he could nuzzle his nose between her legs and to her pussy.
She spread her legs to give him better access, and he took advantage, teasing her clitoris with his tongue. She squirmed, flexing her hips toward his head.
Hay stood behind, his hands never stopping. He stroked her back, sides, around to her breasts, and over her backside. He didn’t stint with his kisses, either. His mouth demonstrated the same hunger as his hands, nibbling her neck, licking her shoulder, and lightly biting her butt.
Regan nearly swooned, overwhelmed with sensation from one end of her body to another. Seth’s tongue swathed her clit, and she came hard, unable to move. “Yes,” she moaned. “Yes, yes!” He lapped at her, dipping into her channel, laving her clit as she trembled with the power of her climax.
“Time to get you into bed,” Hay said from behind.
Seth rose. Hay helped her the few feet to the side of the bed. He pulled the tab holding the left shoulder, and Seth pulled the tab on the right. The gown puddled at her feet.
Seth had pulled back the coverlet. He stripped without finesse and scooted to the far side of the bed. Regan moved to lie next to him. The bed held firmly under their weight, and even when Hay, naked and fully erect, slid behind her, she barely noticed a dip.
The frame held them with plenty of room to move and was long enough for the men to stretch and not feel cramped. It swamped her with its size, but between her men she felt cozy and snug.
“Throw your leg over me, Regan,” said Seth in a voice so low she strained to hear him. She had come to recognize this tone as an indication of his desire. It always added to her own excitement. She inched closer and tossed her leg high over his hip. Hay snugged up to her back. This time she recognized the cold cream smeared on her backside, and she shivered with anticipation.
Reaching back, she tugged his hip to draw him closer. In an instant, Seth’s penis slid into her wet passage. Hay probed her first with his fingers, and then the head of his cock nudged her open.
Like before, Seth pushed in, urging her onto Hay’s penis. Hay did the same until they filled her completely and fell into a rhythm.
She felt each thrust, felt where they met, deep inside her. Unthinking, she came, and came again. Hay made a rough sound and kissed her shoulder, sucking hard. She tossed her head mindlessly. Seth bent his head to take her nipple and suckle. They breathed hard. Sweat made their skin slick and filled her nostrils with the scent of man mixed with sex, a heady combination.
“Harder,” she said. “Faster.”
“The lady wants us to do better by her,” Hay said.
“And here we were tryin’ to be gentle,” Seth answered.
“Not gentle,” Regan managed to get out. On the verge of another climax, forming a thought was too difficult.
“Be prepared,” Hay warned. He pulled her arms over her head and secured them with one of his big hands. With each thrust he kneaded her butt cheeks. Impossibly, he seemed to thicken inside her. Seth raised his leg, lifting her leg in the process. With the extra space, he stroked the thin patch of skin between their entrances.
“Goddamn, Seth,” Hay ground out. “I can’t last with you doing that.
“Come with me,” Regan murmured. Or maybe she only thought it. Whichever, she splintered into a million pieces. Nothing had ever felt like this. She’d never imagined anything could. For long moments she knew nothing while the world spun in crazy circles. The men made noises, and all the rocking of the bed stopped. For a while the world was at peace. She was sated and filled with warmth. Hay released her hands. One she wrapped around Seth’s head, smoothing his hair. The other she reached back and stroked Hay’s hip.
“I don’t think I can keep my eyes open another minute. I feel so good.”
“Hmm.” Hay snuggled and kissed her neck.
“Go right ahead,” Seth mumbled. “You wore me out, woman. I might just take a little nap myself.”
“Just for a minute,” she said.
Early-morning sunlight streamed through the window when she next opened her eyes. Hay leaned over her, barely awake, based on his expression. He licked her nipple and teased her lower lips until she felt herself wet against his fingers. Slowly he eased into her, building speed and power as their arousal rose.
“Oh, yes. Hay, yes.” She reached for Seth and found his erect penis within touch. He flexed his hips, filling her palm. Her strokes grew more insistent along with her wild reaction to Hay’s thrusts.
Before long, Seth shot his seed into her hand. Hay grunted and pumped harder. On the edge of reason, Regan let go, squeezing him with her vaginal muscles until he, too, came.
Breathing hard, he lowered his head to her breasts, nuzzling and kissing the tender skin in the valley between them. When he rolled off her and then wrapped his arm around her shoulders to tug her closer, Seth draped his arm over her stomach. She fell back into a deep sleep that lasted until late morning.
Chapter Fifteen
One more look in the mirror showed the same pale reflection Regan saw five minutes ago. Just yesterday morning she’d been preparing for her wedding in this same room. She’d thought they had the world in their hands then. She thought their privacy and the feeling of euphoria would last longer than a day. Then Barker showed up at the pond. Before she had time to adjust to the idea—the pleasure, the joy—of loving and being loved by Seth and Hay, that world had fallen apart. Damn that man!
“Are you sure you want to do this, Regan?” Seth asked.
“I’m sure I don’t want to. But I think we should face the town and get it over with, don’t you?”
“He won’t have said anything,” Hay said. “The man is a coward. Seth put the fear of God in him.”
Seth shrugged. “I tried.”
“But what if he did tell? If that happened, the sooner we face them down the better.” She frowned. “Am I wrong?”
The men looked at each other. The way they stared, she could almost believe they communicated telepathically.
“Believe me, I’d much rather go back to our big, beautiful bed for the rest of the day,” she offered, half hoping they could talk her out of the trip.
“I
vote for that,” Seth said cheerfully. He started unbuttoning his shirt. Hay stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
“Regan’s right. Barker’s head was bleeding. You can bet he told his wife what happened. She would have told someone else, and they would have passed it on. Right now, we’re perverted, and Regan is a whore. The longer we let them keep that image in mind, the harder it will be to rid them of it.”
“Well, hell.” Seth buttoned up again. “Let’s go and get this over with, then.”
“Thank you,” Regan murmured.
Seth snapped his head up. “Darlin’, anythin’ you want, I will do if it’s in my power. You know that.”
“I know, love.” She fit her favorite hat atop her hair and pinned it in place. “Let’s get this over with,” she added on a sigh. They filed outside where the wagon sat ready to go, thanks to Mark.
“Thank you, Mark.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am. And don’t worry about anything here. Amy and I will have dinner ready when you and the misters get home.”
“That will be lovely. You’ll share it with us, of course.”
Amy shared a shy smile. “That would be lovely, thank you.”
Hay and Seth shared a look. “Y’all aren’t servants, you know,” Seth said to Mark. “We’ll be workin’ together.”
“We appreciate that you’ve offered us a place to live and work where we won’t be judged.”
Hay clapped Mark’s shoulder. “No one has the right to judge any of us for the people we love.” He stepped forward to help Regan into the wagon.
Regan hoped her idea would work. If not, well, being outcasts would be difficult, but they would find a way to survive without the town’s society. The devil himself would not make her give up her men. She’d rather die. With a start, she realized she had never felt that way about Davey. They were not a match made in heaven, but because of Davey she had found her way to the paradise she now held dear—the opportunity of life with Seth and Hay. She would always be grateful to him for that.
With Seth on one side and Hay on the other, she set her mind for the expected battle ahead.
* * * *
Seth believed the trip into town was a mistake from the beginning, but when he saw the sideways looks the townswomen gave Regan and the disapproving yet envious looks the men shot him and Hay, he knew it.
“He told, didn’t he?”
He sensed Regan’s disappointment.
“Someone did, it seems,” Hay agreed. “Don’t worry. We’ll win them over,” he said with what sounded like forced cheerfulness. “Eventually.”
“This was a big mistake after all,” she said.
Seth’s heart sank. She might have said that she knew facing the town would be hard if anyone found out. She might even have believed it. But the look of disappointment on her face now said all she wouldn’t. This would be too hard on her. She regretted marrying him, or rather, them. Now she’d want out.
“Do you regret our arrangement?” he asked her.
She snapped around to stare, openmouthed. “What? Why would you ask me that?”
Hay pulled up the wagon in front of the grocer’s. Scratching his ear, he quirked a smile at Seth.
Seth squirmed. “Well, because of this.” He spread his hand, indicating the townspeople’s expressions.
“Do you really think I care so much for them?” she sputtered. “Seth, I love you and Hay. Get it through your head. Our happiness means everything to me. They”—she nodded toward Mrs. Barker who just happened by—“mean nothing to me except in as much as they will cause us inconvenience.” She heaved a sigh. “I will never regret loving you and Hay. Never. Do you understand?”
Seth filled with pride. What a woman they’d married. “Yes, ma’am.”
Her smile brightened the day. She leaned up to kiss him then turned and kissed Hay. “Regan, no need to poke the bear with a stick,” Seth mumbled.
“The bear can go to hell,” Regan replied cheerfully.
Hay helped her from the wagon. Seth jumped down from the opposite side. “Dang woman,” he muttered. “Common sense is an easy thing to use, but no. She has to make her point.”
“What are you saying, Seth?” she called out.
“Nothin’, darlin’.” He followed Hay and Regan into the store.
“I believe with Mark and Amy, we’ll need additional supplies,” she said, and started picking up items and putting them on the counter.
“So it’s true,” Mrs. Williams said. “You are living in sin.” In the past, Mrs. Williams had been nothing but cordial.
“If you mean that I am properly married to Mr. Pratt, you are correct.” Mrs. Williams sniffed in Seth’s direction. “And if you mean that I also consider Mr. Lawrence to be my husband, you are also correct.”
Mrs. Williams gasped. “I never!”
Regan smiled. “Well, then you don’t know what you’re missing.”
Hay reached in his jacket pocket and withdrew several bills from his money clip. “Will you accept the money of sinners or not?”
The woman’s eyes brightened as she fixed on the offered money. “Mr. Williams isn’t here, and I can’t turn down business without his say, so I reckon I got to.”
“I thought so,” muttered Seth. He hated hypocrisy. “I’ll wait outside.”
Damn woman. Damn town, thinkin’ they know everythin'. They should be proud to have a woman of Regan’s stature and beauty and intelligence in their midst. Instead, they're a bunch of damn judgmental hypocrites.
He leaned against the building, watching the life of Cold Springs as it moved around him. Two men approached the store. Seth moved his feet to allow them by.
“The stage arrived at noon.” The taller man wore glasses that made him look priggish.
“And so did the—”
The first man slugged the shorter man’s arm and he shut up for a few seconds. Then, “We’re going to do it, though, right?” His face was marred with scars from smallpox.
“I’m cogitating on it.” They went into the store, and Seth heard nothing more.
He frowned. “I'm cogitating on it.” Where had he heard that before? It sounded like a ten-dollar phrase Hay would use, but he didn’t recollect when or why Hay might have said it. Doesn’t sound like somethin’ the Bard wrote, so likely as not, Hay didn’t say it.
Straining to remember, he barely noticed when the men left the store again, the short man holding a chaw of tobacco.
“The shipment should be in the bank by one,” the prig said. “We’ll move then.”
The shorter one laughed. “Guess you’re finished cogitatin’, huh?”
The word bank reminded Seth of the dream he had had on the trail from Washington back to the farm.
“Well I’ll be damned.” Seth sauntered back into the store.
Regan had filled Hay’s arms with things she selected off the shelves. Serving as pack mule didn’t seem to excite him much. “Hay, what do you think? Would Cold Springs appreciate bein’ rescued by a couple of sinners like us, or not?”
Hay glanced from Seth to Mrs. Williams who regarded them with curiosity.
“I suppose they would prefer to be rescued by anyone capable. What in hell are you talking about?”
“Put that stuff down and follow me.”
“Sweetheart, can you handle this? Seth has an errand for us.”
Regan smiled. “Of course. Where shall we meet?”
Seth checked the clock case against the back wall. Ten minutes to one. “This shouldn’t take long. We’ll meet you back here a little after at one, okay?”
“Fine. See you then.” She blew them a kiss and turned to continue shopping.
The men were outdoors before Hay spoke. “What’s going on?”
“I think two cowpokes are going to rob the bank.”
Hay brightened. “Truly? Who?”
“A tall guy with glasses and a short shit with a pockmarked face. They plan to do it at one o’clock.”
“I won’t a
sk how you know all this.”
Seth chuckled. “I dreamed it.”
“Seth, for God’s sake, I said I wouldn’t ask, so don’t go making something up. Do you have a plan?”
“Get ourselves to the bank, wait until they show up, and stop ’em.”
“Oh, sure. As simple as that.”
* * * *
Hay never understood how Seth knew the things he knew. He just accepted it. This story was strange, though. He felt a little foolish waiting for two phantom men to walk in and rob the Cold Springs bank, but much as he loved pleasing Regan, he had endured shopping about as long as he could. Any break was a good break.
His shoulder braced against an interior pillar near the side wall of the bank. From there he could see anyone entering the bank but wouldn’t be noticed himself. His pocket watch said two minutes before one.
The door opened. A tall man with glasses entered with a shorter man following. They huddled by the door and then pulled kerchiefs over their faces. Drawing nice-looking Colts, the tall one called out, “Everyone get down and you won’t get hurt.”
The shorter one strode to the teller windows. Hay shook his head. Those stupid sons of bitches had no idea of the hell about to rain down on them.
Hay moved from behind the pillar to place his pistol at the back of the tall man’s head. He had only to pull back the hammer and the man let him reach around to take the gun. At the same time, Seth stepped behind the shorter man.
“I’d rethink your plans if I were you, mister,” he said.
Hay looked at the frantic teller. “Run and get the sheriff.” She couldn’t move fast enough. The short guy made to turn around. “I wouldn’t do that.” Seth cocked his gun. Everyone stood as though posed until the sheriff hustled through the door.
“Guess you shoulda cogitated a little while longer,” Seth said as the men were led out by the sheriff and deputies.
He holstered his pistol and said, “That’s done. Let’s get back to Regan.”
Just like we catch bank robbers every day. “Yes, I’m ready to get home.”
The bank manager rushed in. “I want to thank you two. I, uh, I didn’t want to believe the rumors about Mrs. Stone, and now I don’t know what to say.”
Regan [The Sisters O'Ryan 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13
