Her face was flushed, her heart pounding so loudly he was shocked he could hear it. She stared down into his eyes now that she was half over his body and holding on to his chest as she lifted up.
“Evan, I think we need to get up.”
He ran his hand from her ass to her lower back under her shirt and then back down again.
“I was getting real comfortable lying here with you in my arms.”
“So was I. That’s why we need to get up.” She lifted up and he gripped her hips.
She held on to his shoulders and looked down at him, her long blonde hair touching his shirt, too.
“One more kiss, sweetheart, and then I’ll drive you up to the farm.”
She hesitated at his demand and he should have thought it through, but he was just reacting naturally to her. He hoped he didn’t scare her. He was relieved when she smiled softly and then lowered slowly and kissed his lips. Once again, that kiss grew deeper and he rolled her to her back, cupped her cheeks, and kissed her until they were both breathless.
“Going slow is going to kill me.”
“It’s going to kill me, too. I’ve never felt like this before,” she admitted.
“Good, then don’t hold back and just let go and let us take care of everything, okay?” he asked her.
“Okay.”
He kissed her softly and then eased up off the couch. He reached for her hand and he pulled her up into his arms and immediately cupped her ass and pressed her close. “You have one hell of a body on you, beauty. One hell of a body.”
She blushed and then walked away to the counter.
“Let me just freshen up and we can head out.”
“Go right ahead. Your chariot awaits,” he teased, surprising himself and Lois as her cheeks blushed and she hurried to the other room.
His heart felt lighter and the worry was less. This was going to work out just fine. He was confident.
* * * *
Laverty caught sight of Evan’s truck as he pulled into the back of the main barn. He and Ford just got back from making some deliveries. And he was happy to see Lois was with him. They both walked over to the truck as Evan helped her down off the passenger seat and then held her hand.
“Good morning,” Laverty said and Lois smiled widely at him and Ford.
“Good morning.”
Ford stepped closer and gave her cheek a kiss hello. Laverty did next and she blushed, and then smiled. She wore a light little sweater despite how hot it was outside, and right now she pulled it close and looked at Evan. Evan placed his arm over her shoulder in a protective, caring manner.
“We were going to head to the store to see Mom and find out if Lois has other orders,” Evan told them.
“We’ll go with you. I heard from the dads that your cookies sold out again and the jelly ones were the first to go this time,” Laverty told her.
“Really? Oh, my God, what did your mom say?” she asked him as they headed down to the store.
“She was happy for you, but I think she had to give up the bags you set aside for her to taste. Apparently there was a little kid who really wanted some.”
“Oh, my God, that’s crazy.”
Laverty took her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles. “Sounds like you’ll be coming over to bake more cookies at our place,” he said and winked.
“I don’t want to take advantage of your help or take over your kitchen. If it’s too much—”
They all stopped walking. “No, baby, it’s not too much. We want you there. We want to be with you and help you to succeed. Okay?” Laverty told her firmly.
“Okay,” she said and he leaned closer and kissed her softly on the lips. She didn’t pull away and he was relieved.
* * * *
Ford stood there, waiting for his chance to kiss Lois and be close to her, but everyone was talking to her about the cookies and about the numerous orders she had. When Dora handed her the money she’d earned that day, Lois was excited.
“You’ll need to do some more shopping, right?” Laverty asked her.
“I do need more supplies and packaging,” she said.
“Well, I’ll make up more labels and bring them home with me later. When do you want to start?” Evan asked.
“I should give you some money for the printing supplies, Evan,” she said and then started to pull out some money but Evan covered her hand. “No, baby, I got this. You worry about baking your delicious cookies at our place.” She smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
Ford stepped closer and placed his hands on her shoulders from behind. She tightened up and he had a bad feeling in his gut, but he quickly pushed it out of his mind. “I’ll drive you into town for the supplies you need and then we can drop everything off at our house,” he said to her.
“Sounds like a plan. Then I can finish up what needs to be done for tomorrow so we can help Lois package and label the cookies,” Laverty added.
“Great. What a team you guys are,” Dora said and winked at Lois.
“I appreciate all the help and support. I really can’t believe how everyone likes the cookies I made,” Lois said. Ford slid his arm around her waist, kissed her shoulder, and then whispered into her ear, “Of course they like them. They’re delicious.” She tightened up again and he knew it was because she read into his words.
“So you’ll bake at our place tomorrow?” Laverty asked.
“Yup, it’s going to take me all day to get those orders done plus the regular orders for the store, too.”
“Don’t worry, we’re here to help you,” Evan said and gave her a wink.
Ford took her hand after they said good-bye to everyone and then headed out.
* * * *
Lois was feeling a little uneasy at first, being in the truck and then the supermarket in town with Ford. He was so mysterious looking, with his dark hair and dark eyes and that black Stetson he wore all the time. It was his day off from being the sheriff, but he still had that authoritative look and demeanor about him. When people saw him they said hello and they looked at her and smiled. He kept a hand at her lower back or on her shoulder in a possessive manner and she liked it. She was getting more and more comfortable with him staying so close to her.
When he placed his arm around her waist when she was standing still, looking at the shelves of products in the store, she felt his muscles and the hard cords of his body against her. It aroused her but also made her wonder what he was capable of.
“I like being able to hold you in my arms and kiss you when I want to,” he said to her and when she turned around to look up into his eyes, he cupped her cheek and kissed her lips softly. When he released her lips, she shyly lowered her eyes and went back to pulling items off the shelves in the store.
As they headed out twenty minutes later, they bumped into some more people he knew.
“Sandman, I’d like you to meet Lois Willow.”
Lois was shocked at the size of the man. She thought Ford was big and tall, but this guy was even bigger. She reached out to shake his hand and he gave her a wink and a smile.
“It’s nice to meet you. I take it you’re off today, Sheriff,” he said and then looked at Lois with a huge smile. She felt her cheeks warm. Ford held her around the waist and nodded.
“Got the day off and was helping Lois get her baking supplies.”
“Oh, man, what are you baking?” Sandman asked and Ford told him about her cookies and selling them at the farm.
“No way, I can’t believe this. Wait until I tell Grace. She was in there the other day and wanted to get some for us, but they were sold out. She was there this morning and the jelly-filled ones were gone, too. You’re the one who makes them?” Sandman asked and she couldn’t believe how proud she felt.
“Yes, sir.”
“I think Grace put in a special order with your mom, Ford.”
“Oh, she must be on my list then.”
“If it makes it easier, I’ll stop by your place to
pick them up when you’re done?” he said to her.
“Well, she’ll be baking them at our place. We have a bigger kitchen than the cottage she and her sister live in.” Sandman squinted.
“Wait, you’re Valentina’s sister. Damn, I don’t know why I hadn’t put that together sooner. I’ve had like three hours’ sleep in the last week.”
“What’s going on?” Ford asked.
“Just this case and some connections nearby.”
“Do you need any assistance?” Ford asked and she couldn’t help but find him to be so sexy as the sheriff of the town. She noticed how a lot of women looked at him and snarled at her because he was holding Lois’s hand and giving her his full attention.
“I don’t think so, but I’ll keep you posted. It’s a government situation as of right now. I may need to contact some of our friends in Dallas, but I’ll see.”
“Well, why don’t I give you a call when Lois has your order done and then you can stop by? Maybe bring the guys and Grace to meet Lois and we can have some beers and sit by the fire?”
“That sounds great. Hopefully I can get away for a couple of hours. Thanks again, and see you later, Lois,” he said to her and she said good-bye and watched him walk away.
Ford explained to her about his position as an investigator and a little bit about Grace, the woman he and his brothers married.
“How does that work? The whole married thing?” she asked before she thought better.
“Forget I asked that. It doesn’t matter,” she said and started walking. He gripped her hand and pulled her back and then placed his arms around her waist, holding her in place.
“You ask any questions you want to. We want you to feel comfortable and know that this is real. Okay?” he asked. She nodded her head.
“Good.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips softly until they heard someone clear her throat. He pulled back and he nodded toward an older woman. “Afternoon, Miss Landers.’
“Sheriff,” she said, sounding like she was scolding him for kissing Lois in public. Lois chuckled and so did Ford.
He took her hand and led her back to the truck.
“So, the way it works is that legally you’re married to one of us, but we are all married and committed to you. The paperwork is just a formality, but our commitment doesn’t need an approval or documentation.”
She looked around the town as they headed out in the truck.
She could see all the multiple relationships and knew the town was filled with ménage couples.
“But is it really equal, or could the ones who don’t have that marriage certificate change their minds and move on one day? What makes them stay and commit to share the woman?” she asked.
“Honey, they want to be in the relationship. All the men involved make the commitment to love their woman and provide for her always. There are rarely cases where the relationships fall apart.”
“What about abuse? I mean if one of the men abuses the woman or hurts her, do the others stand by him? Or what if they’re all abusive or she wants to leave because she’s scared? Then what?”
He reached over and pulled her closer. She slid along the seat and wound up against his side. Ford placed his palm between her legs and against her thigh. near her knee.
“Salvation is a very special town in case you haven’t realized that yet. As the sheriff, it’s my job to make sure that all the women and children are protected. When a man or group of men want to claim guardianship and responsibility of a woman, it’s my job to ensure that the woman wants them, too, that they will be a good fit and truly love her as she loves them. It’s a big responsibility, yet fate seems to make it all work out just fine. Kind of like the first time I met you. There was something about you that caused a reaction in me, and then to learn that same sensation happened to my brothers just validated that you would be ours.”
“What did you feel, Ford? What was it that you noticed first?” she asked him, placing her hand on his chest and then caressing his shoulder. He squeezed her thigh and ran it up a little farther, making her belly quiver and her pussy spasm with desire. She was getting more and more comfortable with the men and their hands touching her and how good it felt.
“It was your gorgeous blue eyes and the fear and sadness that I saw in them. It was how Kenny clung to you and you held that sweater so tight against your chest. It made me want to show you that you didn’t need to be scared and that I was there to help you. I didn’t think of which single men in town would be right for you or be your guardians—I thought that I wanted to be there for you and Kenny. That was a first for me.”
She laid her head against his shoulder as he continued to drive, and she thought about his words.
“You’re the sheriff and a good-looking older man. Your brothers are, too. I can see how other women look at you in town and react to you, to them on the farm. Why would you want someone like me?” she asked him.
She felt his hand slide back and forth between her legs and pull her closer to him.
“Because you’re beautiful and sexy, and you make me want to possess you and protect you in every way. The only thing I ask in return is that you care back. That you let down your guard with us and learn to accept our care, our love, and learn to love us, too.”
Tears stung her eyes as she squeezed his arm tightly and snuggled up closer against him. When she felt his hand move farther up her inner thigh, she panicked as the heat, the realization that these men made her want to be theirs in every way, consumed her every thought. By the time he pulled the truck up into his driveway and turned off the engine, she could hardly move. His palm was so hot against her skin and his finger stroked under the material of her shorts, higher and higher. He turned slightly and whispered to her.
“Look at me, beautiful,” he said and she tilted up, turned slightly in the seat to reach his lips, and she kissed him. He stroked his tongue into hers and they dueled slowly, sensually. When his fingers brushed her groin and then her panties, she pulled from his lips only for him to hold her firmly.
“Don’t pull away. I want you to get used to my touch. To know that I will never harm you but will be gentle and loving. I want to kiss every inch of you, baby, and make you come in my arms and beg for more of me.”
“Oh, God, Ford.”
“You don’t know what love is. You don’t know the right way a man takes a woman and makes her his possession, his treasure, his everything, but damn, you’re going to know. My brothers and I are going to love every inch of you. We’re going to take away every bad memory and touch your ex ever placed upon you.” He stroked her panties against her pussy and she parted her lips and felt her breathing increase. Back and forth, he swiped his fingers over her sensitive mound as he held her gaze, his dark eyes filled with lust, control, and a power she wanted to suck into her body and have.
“We’re going to unload this truck and head inside. Spend the afternoon just being together and learning more and more about one another. But first I need a little more of this.”
He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her deeply. She lifted up and hugged his shoulders as he explored her hips and ass with his hands and pressed her close. She’d never felt so amazing and so comfortable that she thought she could actually let Ford make love to her. Thank God someone else pulled up into the driveway.
* * * *
Laverty and Evan got out of their truck and Evan couldn’t help but smile. As they pulled the truck into the driveway, they saw Lois and Ford kissing. It gave him hope that things were progressing nicely and perhaps they could enjoy the day with her as well.
As they got to Ford’s truck, Lois was opening up the back door and lifting up a box of baking supplies.
“Hey, I got that,” Evan said and took it from her.
“Oh, thank you, Evan.” He winked at her.
“Any time, doll. How was the trip to town?” he asked her.
“Fun,’ she said and held Ford’s gaze. Ford looked her over and Laverty took her hand
and brought it to his lips. “I missed you,” he said and kissed her knuckles.
“Seriously?” she asked. He grabbed her around the waist and tapped her rear as he directed her into their house. “Seriously,” he scolded and Evan and Ford chuckled. Lois blushed.
The moment they got into the house, Evan had a funny feeling. Something wasn’t right. One glance at Ford and Laverty and they knew it, too. Then they heard the sound of something crashing onto the floor. Lois gasped. “What was that?” she asked.
“Evan, take Lois outside to see the gardens while Laverty and I take care of something,” Ford said and brushed by her. She and Evan heard the sounds again.
“What is it? Is that Ghost? Is he okay?” she asked.
“Come on, Lois, let them take care of things.”
“Wait. Is he having one of those episodes?” she asked, shocking him. He squinted his eyes at her.
“We talked about it yesterday. I shared what happened to me when he shared what happened to him and about the nightmares.”
“Let them handle it. You can talk to him later,” Evan said to her. She shook her head.
“No, let’s go see what we can do.” She pulled away from Evan and headed down the hallway. Before he could really stop her they heard the yelling and Ford and Laverty trying to calm Ghost down.
As she got to the door, she froze in place and covered her mouth. Ford was trying to get Ghost to wake up, but he was thrashing on the bed. He was only wearing a pair of compression shorts. His lamp was on the floor and the sheets were all over the place.
“Shit, he won’t come out of it. He can’t hear us,” Laverty stated.
Now Evan walked in there, too, and he could tell by one look from Ford and Laverty that they were pissed off. “She shouldn’t be here. He won’t be happy about this,” Ford said.
Ghost was tossing and turning, his face scrunched up like he was in pain. They called to him, but he didn’t answer.
“Ghost. Ghost.” She said his name and his face changed like he could hear her. Ford and Laverty stepped back. She tried to come closer, but Ford grabbed her arm. “Not too close, baby. When he’s stuck in this, he doesn’t always know what he’s striking.”
The American Soldier Collection 17: Love a Woman Right (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 10
