Besides, she didn’t believe in marriage—oh the ideal of it sounded lovely as hell, but she’d never seen one that lasted more than a handful of years. Her father had been on her ass the last couple years of his life, haranguing her at every opportunity, demanding a son-in-law, and grandbabies, so he could die in peace.
She’d been willing to do almost anything for the man, despite his irascibility. But not that. God, the argument echoed in her memory, so familiar she could hear it even now. “Ain’t natural a woman your age not having a man to take care of her.” Oh yeah, she loved that one. He a man, she a woman, and who the hell had been taking care of whom for more years that she cared to admit? Her standard line had almost become her mantra. Marriage was nothing more than a vow that could be faked, a promise that could be broken and a piece of paper easily shredded.
She’d never yearned for that particular version of the American Dream. Those desires—for hearth and home, husband and children—had never been in her. Maybe that had been God’s way of building her, so that when her years of caring for her father came to an end, she’d be free.
Free to do what?
Thoughts of her father brought back Kevin’s visit the evening before. She shivered, a chill skittering along her flesh. He’d been threatening her; that much seemed clear. How much did Kevin Marsh know? Did his having that knowledge pose a threat to her? The man was a worm, and she honestly didn’t know anyone who really liked him. If he only possessed the knowledge of what she’d done, it would be his word against hers. She felt pretty confident that she’d come out of that competition on top. But if he had some form of proof, then what?
She guided her horse down the slope, taking a trail that would lead to the stream and small stand of trees that grew there. The water helped keep the trees alive even in drought years, and the shade they provided allowed the grass to stay soft and supple through most of the summer.
When she’d been a child, she’d wanted to camp there, simply because it was one of the prettiest spots she’d ever seen. She’d not been allowed to, of course, not alone. Wild animals still roamed this part of Colorado. Maddy smiled. When she’d gotten older, the allure of those long ago fantasies had faded.
The older you got, the less you wanted to sleep on the hard, unforgiving ground.
Diamond whinnied, and Maddy directed her gaze ahead to see what had caught the attention of her horse. There, by the stand of trees, two horses stood, seeming alone. She recognized the mounts, of course. She imagined Chase and Lucas lazing about in the shade of the trees.
Last night, she’d felt certain one or the other of them would have tried to take over that confrontation with Kevin. But though she’d known they were both pissed with the man and likely would each have merrily punched his lights out, neither of them had made a move do to so.
Once that pain-in-the-ass had driven off, none of them had spoken of him again. And though they’d both had questions in their eyes, neither Lucas nor Chase had tried to slake their curiosity or pressed for details. Neither of them had done anything to press their advantage or throw their “maleness” in her face. They respected her right to be in charge of her own life.
She really didn’t know what to make of them or this relationship they were all having together, except for one thing: she wanted more.
When she was within a few feet of the stream, her lovers stepped out from the shade of the giant maple.
“We’ve been thinking,” Lucas said, and Maddy wondered about the devil in his smile.
“Should I be worried?” she asked.
“Likely,” he admitted. He looked at Chase for a moment then turned his attention back to her. The heat in his gaze as his eyes wandered over her immediately lit her fires.
“We both think that one of the ‘rules’ we should have is in this relationship of ours is balance.”
“Balance?”
“Yeah. You know, so that we’re all equal here.”
Since one of her lines in the metaphorical sand had always been keeping control of her life, and her ranch, she could understand that. If she didn’t want anyone tromping all over her individual sphere, she imagined they felt the same. Some women liked to get right in and change the man they had an affair with. She’d never understood that herself. Conversely, her main reason for not wanting a serious relationship was that from what she’d seen most of her life, once you let a man into your bed he thought he had the right to tell you what to do in and out of it. So the idea of balance appealed to her. “That seems more than fair to me,” she said.
“Well, good. Because what Chase and I thought is that since you’re the boss nine-to-five around here, you ought to give over in the off hours—when it’s just the three of us alone together, as lovers.”
“Give over?” Hard to string two words together when her body had come awake under such heated stares.
“Well, it’s not fair to you, that you should be in charge of everything all the time. You need to cut yourself some slack here. No need for you to be in charge of anything when we’re alone like this. Is there?”
Maddy had to squeeze her inner muscles to rein in her arousal. Her nipples had begun to tighten, and an achy-empty feeling hummed between her legs, stretching up to the base of her belly.
“No,” she agreed, “there’s no need for me to be in charge of anything when we’re alone like this.”
Such an expression of satisfaction filled Lucas’ face that she found herself smiling. His next words wiped that smile from her face.
“Then get off that horse, woman, and strip.”
Chapter Six
“What did you just say?”
If Lucas didn’t know better, he would have been put off by Maddy’s tone. But he did know better. He wasn’t good at reading most people, but he’d come to know Maddy pretty well over the years.
“You heard me. Get off your horse and strip.”
“But the two of you are fully dressed.”
That was as close to a pout as he’d ever seen on her face and told him all he needed to know about her mood. She would be more than willing to play along. Lucas gave in to the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He made a show of looking down his front, then turning to give Chase the same perusal. “Why, so we are.”
Chase stepped forward and grabbed hold of her horse’s bridle. Maddy stared at him for another long minute. Then slowly, she swung her right leg over the saddle horn and dismounted.
She used to wear her hair long, and in a braid. But when she’d been eighteen, about a month after he’d hired on, she’d cut her hair short. He’d already had a few fantasies about that glorious blond hair at the time and had been disappointed that she’d shorn it.
I wonder if she’d grow it back, if we asked her to?
“Lose the hat first,” he said. He could see she was turned on. Hard to hide those pebbled nipples in that close fitting t-shirt she wore. But he saw hesitation in her eyes, and maybe just a hint of apprehension.
He could attest from very recent experience that a thread of apprehension during foreplay was not a bad thing at all.
Chase had taken Diamond over to where they’d tethered the other horses. But he’d returned, standing right behind Lucas.
“Someday I want her wearing boots and nothing else,” Chase murmured loud enough for them all to hear.
“That is an intriguing image,” Lucas agreed. “We’ll have to add it to that list. But for right now, those boots have to go.”
Maddy responded to being spoken about in the third person by raising one eyebrow. But she didn’t protest and he judged her willing to see just what he and Chase had in mind. She had a bit of trouble taking off the boots with nothing to balance against, but in short order she stood before them in sock feet.
The heat wave had broken early that morning, leaving the day warm, but not oppressively hot. A light breeze teased the leaves on the trees, and with the rippling of water in the stream formed the only sounds. No bawling cattle, no shouts of me
n broke the peace of this May afternoon.
They alone occupied this idyll, and Lucas knew their privacy was absolute.
Chase slipped his arms around Lucas from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder. “Can we get rid of the jeans next?” he asked, as he placed a kiss on Lucas’s neck.
“Sounds good,” Lucas agreed.
If the way Maddy’s nipples peaked harder was any indication, she didn’t mind the way this scene had begun to play out. He thought her fingers might just be shaking a little as she popped the snap on the denim, pulled the zipper down and peeled the jeans off.
“That really turns me on, t-shirt, undies and socks. Don’t know why. Lover, our woman is hot.”
Lucas could tell it did turn Chase on. The ridge of his erection pressed against Lucas’s ass. He felt his own grow in response. Maddy noticed. He saw the flicker in her eyes and could have sworn he could feel the heat of her arousal climbing to match theirs.
“Take your shirt off, Maddy.”
“You two are still fully dressed.”
Lucas wasn’t certain if that was a real protest, or not. Deciding to take things as far to the edge as she would allow, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Do as you’re told.”
He felt the tension in Chase, and could see it on Maddy. She would have no idea that this would be an important moment. Neither he nor Chase had any desire to dominate this strong, vital woman—well, except in sexy little games, like now. They were, however, determined to play out this scene, and others just like it that they’d discussed.
He waited while she looked at him, then Chase. Finally she crossed her arms in front of herself, grabbing the hem of the shirt in both hands. She had it up and off in a heartbeat.
“Now who would ever expect that under that no-nonsense ranchers’ wardrobe, and covering that serious-as-a-heart-attack body there would be come-in-your-pants sexy silk and lace?”
Lucas laughed at Chase’s characterizations, delighted that Maddy not only smiled, but looked pleased. “Socks now, woman.”
It only took her a moment to slide those off.
“How do you feel right now, Maddy?”
“More than half naked.”
When Lucas tilted his head to the side, she got the message that he wanted more than that. “I’m horny. Very horny. I want you guys naked so I can look at those gorgeous cocks. Touch them. Taste them.”
Oh, she was good. Before Lucas could say anything, Chase thrust his hips against him, his denim-covered rod promising delights, and said, “Now, darlin’, we appreciate the dirty talk. But don’t you go rushing us, here. We have all afternoon. No need to be in such a hurry.”
Maddy’s eyes betrayed her laughter. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
“No, indeed,” Lucas agreed. “So as a reward for your efforts, you have our permission to take off your bra.”
Her gaze met and held his as she reached behind, unhooked the fastener, then dropped the lacy garment to the grass.
“You have pretty breasts,” Lucas said, allowing his eyes to roam at will. “Plump, just slightly more than a handful. They taste sweet, too, and when I have your nipple in my mouth, when I feel it swell and harden, I feel ten feet tall. When I suck on your breast, do you feel it pulling at your pussy, does it make you wet?”
“Yes.” The single word came out strangled, and Lucas knew he’d aroused her.
“Good job,” Chase said. Turning his head he placed another light kiss on Lucas’ neck. Then he turned his attention back to Maddy. “Show us.”
Uncertainty danced across her face, but only for a moment. She dropped her panties to the ground, then spread her legs slightly.
“Turn around and bend over.”
Color washed her face, but she did as he asked.
“You’re wet now, woman. Your body is getting ready for us, isn’t it? Your hot tunnel is getting ready for us to fuck you, isn’t it?” Chase’s voice had dropped a notch and Lucas could feel his erection had grown. The tiny spasm that convulsed Maddy’s feminine folds said she definitely felt exactly that way.
“Yes.”
“Good. Now come here.”
* * * *
Maddy didn’t know if her legs would continue to hold her. Arousal sang through her body, weakening her knees. Lucas’ erection tented the front of his jeans, and oh how she wanted to wrap her hands and lips around it. Both he and Chase looked at her as if she was the most beautiful, most desirable woman in the entire world. She’d never before been so aware of her power as a woman as she was right at that moment. She freely obeyed every command, but she gave up nothing.
When she stopped walking bare inches separated her from her men. Lucas reached out and gently stroked the underside of her left breast. The heat from his touch shot out to every part of her body.
“So soft. So pretty. We have a surprise for you. Do you trust us?”
Trust wasn’t a commodity she’d had much use for most of her life. She’d always held people at arm’s length. Even her father, whom she’d loved beyond reason had, at times, abused that gift. A woman used to being on her own, she always stood on her own two feet, shouldering every burden and chore alone. In some ways, the concept of trusting someone else ran counter to her instincts.
And yet.
A bond had already formed between the three of them. And of the three of them, these men had extended incredible trust to her already. Here she stood in the great outdoors in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, naked before them like some sort of ceremonial offering. Their eyes promised glorious rewards, and she’d already had a taste of what they could do to her. Did she trust them with her body?
“Yes. Yes, I trust you.”
“Good.”
Chase stepped back allowing Lucas to take her hand and lead her around to the other side of the large maple.
“What in the world?” Her eyes couldn’t at first make sense of the sight.
“It’s a hammock.”
The hammock had been strung up at about waist height between two branches of one of the sturdy old trees. A white bed sheet covered the netting. As they drew closer, she could see four ropes dangling, two each from either side at the top and bottom of the thing.
Before she could ask what they planned, Chase scooped her up in his arms and laid her on the hammock—cross-ways. The device supported her from the top edge of her ass to her neck.
Lucas immediately appeared at her head. Gasping, she understood the presence of the dangling ropes. In moments her wrists and ankles had been tied to the hammock, and she lay spread-eagle and swinging slightly.
A wave of vulnerability swept her, and the urge to cover herself found her pulling slightly on the ropes.
“We won’t hurt you,” Lucas promised.
Of course they wouldn’t. How could she explain to them that she didn’t fear for her safety or well-being, she just felt…exposed? It would sound silly, because they’d both not only seen her naked a few times now, but she doubted there was even one inch of her flesh they hadn’t touched.
“This will hold you, baby,” Chase added.
And then they began. Gently, Chase ran his hands along the length of her legs, slowly caressing with a touch so light he could have been using a feather. At the same time, Lucas stroked her arms, petting her as she’d seen him pet his gelding. Relaxation settled upon her, everywhere their hands brushed. Her muscles let go, just let go of tension she’d not fully even realized she’d carried. Nature helped, the gentle breeze dancing between her legs, playing across her nipples, so that relaxation began to edge, ever so subtly, into arousal.
The stroke of the breeze against her dewy folds became the brush of fingers. Back and forth, in a rhythm slow and sure, Chase tantalized her woman-flesh and Lucas echoed the touch against her beaded nipples. Both breasts were cupped and squeezed, both nipples captured and pinched at the same time two long, strong fingers entered her.
Maddy closed her eyes and cried out, the spike in arousal so fierce, she lifted he
r hips into it.
“Now there’s an invitation if I ever saw one,” Chase whispered, his voice soft, the words puffing warm breath against her intimate flesh. Then he placed his mouth on her.
“Oh, God!” The swirl of tongue and the glide of lips, wet and hot and bold raced her heart and heated her blood.
“Don’t come, darlin,” Lucas whispered in her ear then tasted her ear with his tongue.
“Please.” She didn’t care if she begged, the sensation of Chase’s mouth on her, of being splayed and played obliterated her thoughts, her will, until she wanted only to come.
“Not just yet. Here, darlin’” Lucas turned her head just slightly to the right, and when he fastened his lips on hers, she returned the kiss with everything in her, opening her mouth wide, sucking his tongue, stroking it with hers.
“That’s it,” he praised, and she opened her eyes to watch him straighten up.
She whimpered and didn’t care. As he popped the button and opened the zipper on his pants, she opened her mouth, wanting nothing more than to feel the heat and strength of him between her lips.
“Look how eager you are for my lover’s cock. He tastes good, doesn’t he, Maddy? So hot and salty and male.”
Chase had taken his mouth from her but still stroked her drenched pussy with his fingers. His words enflamed her. She was eager, not just for Lucas’ cock but for his as well.
Lucas approached her head, and Maddy settled her lips on his flesh, sucking strongly until she had him inside her mouth, the flavor of him going straight to her womb. The sound of another zipper drew her gaze to the man now standing between her legs and sliding a condom into place.
Chase stepped forward, and Maddy lifted her hips to his penetration.
They used the motion of the hammock, gently rocking back and forth to aid their loving of her and Maddy thought she would explode with the joy of it, the sheer beauty and the thrill of it. Nothing mattered but this, nothing existed but this.
Who would have thought she’d experience such freedom, essentially having no control? She had given them this, thinking as the ropes tightened around her wrists and ankles that she gave them a gift, but instead she was the beneficiary. The arousal swirled and moved inside her, a beautiful tingly and light feeling that became, in and of itself, the most wondrous pleasure she’d ever experienced. For long moments they communed, she and the arousal that bathed her. And then, just a little, it changed.
Special Cowboy Menage Collection Page 6
