by Reece Butler
“Don’t explain,” she replied quietly. “It was a wonderful night, Tommy. One I’ll always remember. No promises, remember?”
He pulled her to him. They’d talked in the night. Talked about stuff he never, ever told anyone. He even told her who he was. No one knew he was born Thomas James Jones, except Dorothy. His mother had named him. It was the only link he had with her. But, for security purposes, he’d had to become Tom White. Dorothy had told him a few things as well, about why she’d gotten divorced. Neither would speak of it to anyone else. Tom ran his hands over his face.
“I’m gonna disappear, Dorothy. That’s the way my job works. You won’t be able to get hold of me if anything happens.”
“I’m sure nothing will,” she replied. “I tried for years to get pregnant with my ex. One broken condom isn’t going to do anything but prove how vigorous a lover you are.”
She backed up. He reluctantly released her. Her eyes shone with unshed tears.
“Don’t cry, baby,” he murmured. “I want to stay longer, but my life doesn’t belong to me for the next two years. I can give you a ride after I pick up the doc, but then—”
“No.” She waved her hands at him. “No ride today. I want you to walk out of here and do what you have to. But I will hold you to that ride.” She lifted her chin. “When you’re free, you come back to me. We’ll take that ride together, James Thomas, and then we’ll see.”
He pulled her to him again. “I’ll come back if I can. But it won’t be less than two years, unless I’m injured.”
“I’ll be here,” she replied quietly. “Now go, before I fall apart.”
One last hug and he was out the door. He paused, getting a grip before facing the world. A heart-wrenching sob, quickly muffled, erupted on the other side of the door.
Her pain stabbed him right through the heart. He had to curl his fingers into fists to stop from turning and reaching for that doorknob. Finally he’d found a woman he could care about, one who liked him the way he was, and he was going to disappear for two years.
He’d leave instructions with Eric in case Dorothy got pregnant. He’d pass on the number of one of his Cayman Island bank accounts. Everything else would go to his sister when he died, but even if they got nothing from last night but memories, Dorothy deserved more than working long hours as a minimum-wage waitress.
She was his princess, and his reason to live through the next two years. He gave a savage curse in Urdu. Even if she had a child, their child, there was no method of sending a message to him. Just as well. If he knew he had a child he’d be too distracted to do his job.
Bad enough that he had a woman to come home to, one he cared about. The job was easier if he didn’t care if he lived or died. He rubbed the center of his chest. He’d never felt love before. It hurt like a son of a bitch.
No, it wasn’t love that hurt. It was finding it, and having to walk away.
Chapter Forty-Two
Eric grinned as Nikki, ass high, furiously pounded Matt’s back. Matt had gone first, to pass on the news that they were all safe while Tom went back for Eric and Nikki. The chopper had barely touched down when Matt had moved her a safe distance from the blades, tossed her over his shoulder, and headed for the house.
Eric wouldn’t be surprised if Nikki was laid across Matt’s lap in the next five minutes. And then she’d get dumped on the bed and both of them would show her the error of her ways. How long could they tantalize her, stopping her from coming, as punishment?
He pulled himself away from the future to deal with the present. Tom had that closed look Eric hadn’t seen for a while. He was likely getting psyched up for his next job.
“You can’t stay for the wedding?”
Tom shook his head. “They’ll already be asking about this bird.”
“You said you didn’t steal it.”
“I got signed orders.” Tom shrugged, unrepentant. “Too bad the general who signed them retired a while ago.”
“How long?”
“Six years, give or take a couple.”
“You kept those orders all the time you worked with me?”
“You never know when you’ll need something.” Tom cleared his throat. He dug in his flight suit and held out a slip of paper. “I want you to keep this in case.”
“In case what?”
“I took your advice and looked Dorothy up.”
“Dorothy? You mean Dot, the waitress?”
“Dorothy Sherman is more than a waitress.”
The fire in Tom’s eyes made Eric take a mental step back. He’d heard the man use that rapier-sharp tone before. It was often followed by violence.
“Dot’s a lovely woman, Tom. I take it you two got along?”
“One of the condoms broke.”
“Oh, shit.” Eric took a closer look. Tom looked haunted, not upset. “You’d like a child with her.”
“Yeah, but not now.” He swatted the legs of his pilot jumpsuit. “I signed my life away for two years. I want to get to know Dorothy better, but I can’t. Not yet.”
“You love her.”
“I just met her last night.”
“Sometimes love’s got nothing to do with time. Matt took one look at Nikki and he was a goner. Sounds like you’re the same. So, you love her.”
Tom jammed his eyes shut. That one action showed more honest emotion than Eric knew the man possessed.
“Too damn much,” Tom muttered. “Look. Those are the numbers to access one of my Cayman Island bank accounts. If anything happens, if Dorothy needs help, hell, if she wants to buy the Roadhouse!” His gray eyes settled on Eric’s face. “Give her what she needs, Eric. She won’t ask. And if she is pregnant with my kid, then,” he dropped his head for a moment. When he looked up his eyes were bright. “Then give her everything. If I can come back after, I will.”
Eric shook his head. “There’s no ‘if’ to it, man. You’ll be back in two years or I’ll chase you into hell.” He slammed his fist into Tom’s shoulder. For once, the man was too stunned to retaliate. Or perhaps he believed he deserved it. “Promise me you will come back. Even if you’re injured. Even if your face is burned or you only have one leg, or…just come back, man. No matter what.”
“What if she doesn’t want me like that?”
“Then she doesn’t deserve you.”
“I’m just a dick-wad bastard from a dusty Texas shit hole. I’m not worth spit.”
Eric shook his head. “That might’ve been what your daddy told you, but he was talking about himself. You couldn’t help where you were born, or what your father did to you. But you chose a different path. I expect the United States government spent a hell of a lot of money teaching you how to stay alive. So do it, dammit!”
Tom looked around the ranch, though Eric doubted he saw much beyond his own misery.
“You think a Texas scrub rancher would fit in here?”
“Whoever you are, the answer is yes, you’d make a damn good addition to our town.” He lightly punched Tom again. This time he got it returned, with interest. “Even if you’ve got thin Southern blood,” added Eric.
“I’d put up with the cold for Dorothy.”
“Then you’d better come back. Now go take her on that ride.”
Tom shook his head. “She said she’d wait until I came back to her. That she’d hold me to my promise.”
“Told you she was a smart woman.”
Five minutes later Tom was gone, along with his death-defying rescue machine.
Eric now knew what it was like to ride shotgun in a helicopter. Like falling down the stairs and breaking a leg, it was not a memory he cared to savor.
Nikki, on the other hand, was worth savoring. He found himself hurrying toward the stairs to the deck. When he pulled open the sliding door to the master bedroom he found Nikki, her white ass covered with large pink handprints, riding Matt’s cock. Eric shucked his clothes and went for the lube.
* * * *
Matt glared up at the woman he l
oved with every beat of his heart. Staying home while Eric went after Nikki had been hard, but Eric had to get over his fear. Once Tom returned, though, he couldn’t stand not going after her.
He sure hoped Nikki already knew how much he loved her. Last night he’d shown her he was not some easygoing wuss. He’d taken his woman hard, and she’d loved every minute. This morning’s session proved he meant business. After her initial shock when she found herself hanging over his shoulder, she’d settled right in. Not without complaint, of course. They’d had a few tussles before she realized he was serious. After a bit he said his hand was sore from swatting her hot ass so she’d better give him the ride of his life.
“You try another stunt like that, scaring the heck out of me, and I won’t just spank you, I won’t let you come for a week!”
“Try and stop me, cowboy,” she said, returning his glare. “I’m in control of this cock.” She squeezed him to prove it.
Eric’s dry chuckle came from the foot of the bed. “It’s two to one, Nikki. I don’t think you have a hope in hell of controlling anyone’s cock.”
She turned her glare at him, arching her back in the process. It thrust her wonderful breasts higher. He took one in each hand, wrapping his thumb around the large brown ring marking her nipples. Eric, naked, held up the lube and grinned at her. She slowed her rhythm.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
Staring right at her, taunting her, Eric flicked open the top with his thumb. She tightened her muscles around Matt’s cock. He hissed at the sweet pressure. Eric walked closer, holding the tube up high as a warning. Matt slid his hands over Nikki’s curves until he grasped her waist. She was not going to escape.
“What am I doing?” repeated Eric. He climbed on the bed, placing his knees either side of Matt’s thighs, right behind Nikki. He poured some lube on his fingers. “Whatever I want, pet, just like I said. Now bend forward and show me that sweet little asshole.”
She shook her head, fast, like a child refusing mashed turnip.
“Yes.” Eric sounded like their father when he meant business.
Matt slid his hands up to her back and pulled gently. She turned her pout on him. It didn’t match the gleam in her eyes.
“Matt, I don’t want—”
“Yes, you do,” he replied, interrupting her complaint.
She placed her palms on his chest and tried to push back. He could see her muscles flex, and knew it was a token gesture. She jerked, again gripping his cock. Matt figured Eric had inserted a finger in her. She closed her eyes and moaned. Eric silently explained, holding up two fingers using the hand holding the lube.
Since Nikki, enjoying Eric’s fingers, wasn’t fighting to sit up anymore, Matt went back to her amazing breasts. He could play with them for hours. Eric kept working, stretching her, as Matt kept her nipples from getting lonely. When Eric gave the nod, Matt pulled her shoulders until she lay over him like a rug. More lube, then the snap of the tube closing, and Eric’s broad fingers clenched her left cheek.
“Lift up, then push out,” he ordered.
She released Matt’s cock by sliding herself forward. That brought her breasts near his mouth, so he pressed his lips over a taut nipple. She arched her ass, presenting herself to Eric. Matt had to get her a butt plug and some toys. That way she could still get the sensation of two men after Eric left town.
“You like that, baby?” demanded Eric.
“Oh, yes,” she replied, her words more groan than anything. “I want all of you.”
“You’ll get what I want to give you,” replied Eric gutturally.
Matt had a hard time staying still with Nikki clenching his cock when he was deep inside her. Nothing he’d done as an eager kid had prepared him for the difference between sex and loving. One was fun, the other was part of forever.
Eric puffed like an old steam locomotive, his face red. Sweat beaded his forehead and upper lip. Matt was in the same shape, as his orgasm was building no matter how hard he tried to control it. Nikki was going to get what she wanted, very soon.
Eric grimaced, so Matt figured he’d finally entered Nikki to the hilt. He began slowly pulling out. Halfway, he gave Matt a quick nod. Mat encouraged Nikki to sit up. Doing so filled her pussy with his cock. This time, he was the one groaning.
They set up a rhythm, in and out, slow and controlled. Only it wasn’t controlled at all. It was all Matt could do not to pick her up and slam her down on his cock, again and again, until they both screamed. But, though sweat ran off both their faces, neither he nor Eric would give in first. Part of being a man was having control over your body. No matter that Nikki’s breasts tantalized his mouth, that her knees gripped his hips, or that her hot channel squeezed him like a dream, he would not come first.
“Can’t you speed up?” she demanded. “I need to come!”
“What did I tell you.” demanded Eric harshly. “How I want, when I want, what I want!”
“Then you’d better want to come pretty damn soon, Eric Frost, or I’m going to take matters into my own hands!”
Matt was deep inside her at that point. She clenched his cock with those amazing internal muscles of hers. He fought the white wire of heat running from his ass, between his legs to his balls, then inside her to the end of his cock. It throbbed, needing release. But he held on, letting it build even higher.
Eric finally began moving faster, holding her hips with his fingers and filling her deep. Matt provided the counterpoint, pressing his heels and shoulders into the mattress while making Nikki ride him.
It was a contest of wills as to which man would hold out longer. Eric had control, able to move in and out as he chose. Matt, though he could hold Nikki and move her when he wanted, could not control when and how hard she clamped down on him.
Matt began counting seconds. Each one was a victory. He was ready to give in when Eric bellowed like a bull elk in full rut. Nikki rose to meet him, slamming her bottom back as he pulled her to him. Her shriek erupted as she clamped down so hard on Matt’s cock that he knew he could do nothing but let ’er rip.
Eric pulled out and moved, freeing Matt’s legs. He bent his knees and slammed his hips up to meet Nikki’s wild grunts. He was almost there when she shivered and grabbed him again. He let go of his control, releasing wave after wave of hot pulses. They met violently with every one as she clamped against him.
Finally, they slowed. Nikki slumped across his chest. They both gasped for air. He could barely breathe even without her weight, but he didn’t care. He could die right now and be totally happy.
He’d pleasured the woman he loved. All he needed was her to return that love.
Chapter Forty-Three
Hours later, still damp from a triple-body shower, Nikki curled on her side, sandwiched between two men. Her pussy and breasts were still swollen from all the orgasms they’d given her. Her bottom was just a bit sore, from both the spanks and the stretching. The tingle reminded her of how good it had felt to take both eager men as they all pleasured each other. The stereo snores, quiet but telling, proved the men had enjoyed themselves at least as much.
Eric, so much larger, lay behind her, his finally flaccid cock nestled against her bottom. His upper hand cupped her lower breast as if it belonged there. Though Matt had his back to her, the cowboy’s right hand possessively gripped her thigh.
It had taken a lot to knock them out, but she could conclusively say that a woman could survive a dozen orgasms. She wasn’t sure who she could say it to, other than Marci, but she now knew it was true. The men who’d called her an ice bitch just didn’t have what it took to satisfy a real woman.
Eric and Matt did. In spades.
The hand on her breast twitched. Fingers curled to tweak a nipple. The cock resting between her thighs rose to the occasion, nudging its head against her swollen pussy lips.
“Oh, God, Eric,” she moaned, keeping her voice low so as not to wake Matt. “Not again!”
His chuckle rumb
led through her. The hand on her thigh clenched, and then released. Matt groaned and rolled over to face her. She glanced down. His cock was struggling to rise as well.
“You two are walking advertisements for why women have a thing about cowboys.”
“Didn’t I say to get the best, you’d better go West?” asked Matt. He patted her possessively. “Easterners aren’t enough man for a woman like you.” He lifted his head enough to wink at her. “I like a woman whose chin rests on my shoulder.”
“It won’t when I’m wearing three-inch heels,” she warned.
“Then I’ll be able to see right down your cleavage. I can’t wait to show you off at the Climax Roadhouse.”
“I want her to leave boot prints in the ceiling,” said Eric, sounding far too pleased with himself. “Think you can top that?”
“I don’t need to do that fancy swing dancing. We’ll show them the best two-step in town.” Matt slid his hand around her. “Best if my name’s on the marriage certificate. Eric’s away a lot and if something happens—”
“Marriage certificate?”
Her blood went cold. She swatted hands away until she could escape to stand beside the bed. Both men stared at her breasts with interest, so she grabbed Eric’s thick robe to hide their view of her. She blinked, fighting tears of fury.
This was exactly what she’d been afraid of. Let them care about her, and then they wanted to possess her. Nuh-uh. Not this doctor. She’d never thought any man would want her, and had lived her life accordingly. She’d spent most of her life working to attain exactly what she had now.
No man, or men, would take her career away from her.
It was unfortunate that Matt rarely left town, and therefore had little chance of finding a wife. He had even less chance of finding one who’d accept his brother, as well. Eric travelled the world, so would see lots of women. But while there were a lot more female engineers these days, they weren’t likely to be found in the dangerous places where he worked.
She was in Climax, and likely to stay there. She wanted companionship and great sex. She did not want to be someone’s wife, catering to the needs of one man, much less two. To Matt and Eric she was a convenient, sexually responsive female. That did not mean they wanted her.
