Growl for Her

by Jane Jamison

  She pushed out of Darion’s hold and faced David. And yet, although she tried to put on a brave front, her body still trembled. “I’m sorry I frightened you, but I couldn’t stick around and listen to you talk about having children.”

  He gripped her arms so hard, she let out a small cry. “Damn it, you’re the one for us. The connection is real and it doesn’t make mistakes. We want you and we’re going to have you one way or another.”

  “It doesn’t make—”

  His finger came within an inch of her nose. “Fuck, Kristal, if you tell me one more time that it doesn’t make sense, I’m going to turn you over my hide and spank your sore butt until you scream for mercy.”

  “Damn it, bro, back off. She needs to get steady on her feet. She just fell off a fucking horse.”

  She glared back at him. “No, let him, Darion.” She jabbed a finger into David’s chest. “Don’t you point at me, David Conroy. And don’t you tell me what I will and won’t do. I have my own plans and they don’t include having your babies.”

  “You’re the one we’ve waited for.” How better to tell her? And yet, she didn’t understand him.

  She closed her eyes, obviously trying to gather her emotions. When she opened them again, she turned to Darion. “I’m going back to the ranch and back to town. Don’t let him try and stop me.”

  She shot David a searing glance then stalked over to Buddy, who had come to a stop a few yards from the ditch. After a couple of failed attempts, she managed to pull herself into the saddle.

  “Damn it, David. Don’t you know when to shut the hell up?”

  “I guess not. Let’s go.” Swinging into his saddle, he urged his horse around the edge of the ditch. Kristal had already put Buddy into a fast walk. If she didn’t fall off again, she’d get home soon.

  Darion pulled up alongside him. “Look, bro, I know you’re upset. Probably more angry about her spill than anything else, but you’ve got to take it easy. By the time we make it back to the ranch, both of you will have had time to cool off.”

  “Don’t bet on it.” He put his horse into a trot.

  Chapter Six

  Kristal was fighting back the tears by the time they made it to the ranch. She slid off the horse, almost fell when her foot caught in the stirrup, but managed to jerk her foot free and land on her feet. Without bothering to hand off the reins, she hurried toward her car.

  “No, damn it.”

  Darion’s voice was low, mean, reminding her of the growl of a guard dog. His huge hand wrapped around her wrist. She tried to yank her arm away, but his grip was like a steel vise. He pulled her toward the house.

  “Darion, turn me loose.”

  “Not happening.” He stalked toward the house. “You need to listen. You need to understand what you’re giving up.”

  “Back off like you told David to.”

  “Nope. I gave it more thought and decided he was right.”

  “Damn it. Let me go!”

  He strode up the porch steps. She had no other option except to hurry to stay up with him. If she didn’t, she’d stumble and end up flat on her face.

  Darion slammed the front door open and tugged her over the threshold. Taking her by the arms, he put her back to him, forcing her to face the interior. “Take a good hard look. It’s not anything fancy, but it’s a nice home. A safe home. And it’ll make a great home for our family. At least until we get the new house built.”

  She’d assumed correctly. The inside of the house was as nicely maintained as the outside. Earth tones laid a subtle background for the splashes of red, white, and blue scattered over the huge sectional couch. Photographs, some black and white, dotted the walls. An open-concept kitchen covered the length of the back of the room. Stairs near the front door led to a catwalk running from one side of the house to the other. She could imagine children hurrying up and down the stairs and calling to each other from above.

  “It’s nice, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not staying. I have a job I like, not to mention friends and family.” And what else? Love? She didn’t have romance in her life. Was she throwing away her best chance for love? “Take your hands off me.”

  David came to stand beside them. “I thought you wanted me to take it easy on her.”

  “I was wrong.”

  “Damn it, Darion, let me go. This is kidnapping.”

  “The hell it is. It’s putting some sense in that hard head of yours. You’re not leaving until you see it all.” Darion tugged her into his arms.

  It was sudden and unexpected, but it was also sexy as hell. Pressing her palms against his chest told her how futile it was to try and get free.

  “Get ready for that tour.” He stood in the middle of the large living room. “This is where we’ll hang out. If you want, we’ll get you the biggest television they make. We’ll make love in front of the fireplace then snuggle together on the couch.”

  His tone was still gruff, but that didn’t mean her eyes didn’t fill up with tears. “We’ll?”

  “Yeah. The three of us. David and I both have the connection with you.” His hard look hit her. “Whether you believe it or not.”

  She couldn’t have spoken even if she’d found the right words. Instead, she lowered her gaze—right to the bulge in his jeans.

  Oh, hell.

  He scooped her up and carried her into the kitchen. Although most of the appliances and finishes were older, everything was clean and polished. The counter space was generous, giving three cooks enough room to make dinner.

  “This is the kitchen.”

  “I kind of figured it was.”

  “Quiet.” He turned around in a circle. “If it’s not the way you like it, don’t worry. You can design the kitchen for the new house. Anything you want is yours.”

  She nodded, starting to see the vision he was laying out for her. Could she make a life with them? But what about her career? David stood off to the side, his mesmerizing light blue eyes watching, a slight curve of his lips showing how much Darion’s “tour” entertained him.

  A pang of remorse twisted her stomach. She did love them. As much as she tried to dismiss the idea, to chalk it up to lust, the truth came back every time. Did she love her job as much? Did she want to choose her career over them?

  “Please, Darion, put me down.”

  Maybe it was the way she said it. Maybe he’d finally blown off enough steam. For whatever reason, he set her down. Both he and his brother watched her, expectant, ready for what they hoped she’d say.

  “I want to show you the upstairs.” Darion’s tone grew softer. “The bedroom. Our bedroom.”

  She closed her eyes, wanting so much to say yes. But she couldn’t. Not yet. “I’m going home.”

  The anger returned, not only in Darion, but in David as well. Their eyes lightened with bits of amber.

  “I knew it. Your eyes do change.”

  “Never mind that.” A low growl rumbled out of David. “Kristal, you are ours. Mine.”

  He spoke of possession. Although part of her rebelled at the idea, another side of her wanted him to say it again. To have two men want her as much as they did was overwhelming and—she searched for the correct word—empowering. “I am not yours.”

  “The connection says you are,” murmured Darion.

  As though his words had summoned it, the attraction, the connection, whatever it was, burst into high speed. Suddenly, all she could think of was their hands on her skin, their mouths at her breasts, their cocks filling her from front and back. Yet she wouldn’t throw herself at them. Let them prove to her how much they wanted her.

  “Fuck the connection.” She saw the surprise in their eyes, the amber growing more prominent. “Fuck you.” She almost smiled, please with their stunned reactions.

  They lunged at her. For a brief moment, she would’ve sworn she was being attacked by two large animals. Were those fangs? Did their eyes flash, highlighting the amber color even more?

  Together, they threw her on top of t
he kitchen counter. The sound of material ripping came and went with her shirt. Rough hands yanked on her jeans, bringing them off her along with her panties and shoes. Her bra was gone, torn from her with a quick jerk.

  David had his shirt off and held it in his mouth as he worked his jeans and boots off. Darion, already naked, his barrel-chest flexing, his stomach muscles rippling, jumped on top of the counter like a cat springing on top of a high shelf.

  He pulled her on top of him, sliding his body under hers. His hard cock made a trail from the middle of her spine to her ass crack. Her back pressed against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her and settled her on his lap. His huge hands covered her breasts, his thumbs massaging her nipples until they couldn’t get any harder.

  A coolness struck her. Where or how he’d found some kind of lubrication, she didn’t know. She didn’t have time to wonder as he plunged his cock deep inside her butt hole. He stretched her, splitting her apart, making room for his enormous shaft.

  “Tell me you don’t want us.” David stood at the end of the counter. He grabbed hold of her legs and pulled her forward, his brother helping to slide her close to the edge. “Tell me now.”

  “I don’t want you. Either of you.”

  She felt Darion stiffen. He groaned a tortured sound and started to ease out of her. The last thing she wanted was for him to take his cock away.

  “No. Damn it. I’m lying.” Grabbing hold of David’s hair, she jerked him forward until his cock brushed against her pussy entrance. “I want both of you. Right now, damn it. Fuck me.”

  A change swept over David. Relief eased his expression, followed by a fierce determination that clenched his jaw. He wrapped her legs around him then brought her other hand to his hair. Tunneling his fingers through her hair, he bent her head back and snarled.

  Like a wild beast.

  She blinked. It wouldn’t have surprised her to see the spirit of an animal lurking behind his amber-flecked eyes.

  Her wonderment, even the tinge of fear lurking behind it, was lost when he plunged his cock inside her pussy. She cried out as the sting of his thrust ripped into her. But the pain quickly washed away with his next thrust.

  Her body was aflame with need. A need only they could assuage. She was a passenger on their ride, a servant to their sexual wishes. Pounding after pounding slid her back and forth over the warm counter top. Her body trembled, her mind spun as they took her, two men claiming one woman as their own.

  The connection was real. If she hadn’t fully believed it before, she did now.

  Soft uhs punctuated the air. Sweaty flesh met sweaty flesh as they came together, parted, then came together again and again.

  Their hands skimmed over her, roughly squeezing, pinching, twisting, only to gently caress her in the next moment. Darion nibbled on her shoulder, biting enough to give pain, but not for long. David put a hand between her legs, finding her throbbing clit and making it ache harder.

  “Fuck the connection,” she murmured.

  The men chuckled. David slid his tongue along her cheek. “Yeah. Fuck the connection.”

  With the tumultuous emotions and sensations coursing through her, she was sure the tip of his tongue finding the corner of her mouth was what finally pushed her over the edge. The climax erupted, storming through her like a conquering army. She cried out, calling their names, as the world tilted and her mind lost hold of everything except the turmoil thundering out of her.

  Darion’s orgasm broke free a moment after he lifted her up enough for him to slide out from under her. David held on, spreading her legs wider, before plunging into her one last time. His hot cum flooded her pussy, mixing with her cream.

  She clung to David, using his body to bring her back down. Her shudders became his. Her panting melted into his. She closed her eyes and let herself drift away, content in his arms.

  “Hey, you two. Are you still alive?”

  She felt the rumble of David’s chuckle before she heard it. He pulled her off the counter, keeping her against him as she slid down his body. The world felt too solid under her feet. She wasn’t ready to come back down to earth.

  “If not, then we died by orgasm. I can’t think of a better way to go.” David cupped her cheek and pressed a sweet kiss to her cheek.

  “Stay with us, Kristal.”

  She ached to tell Darion she would. At last, she gave in, listening to her heart instead of her head. “Okay.”

  “Yes?” David peered at her, his surprise on his face. “You will?”

  Yet the logic she’d lived by would only be pushed aside for a short time.

  “Tonight.” She pulled away to get her clothes. “I’m talking about tonight. Only tonight.”

  “After this? Come on, baby.”

  Darion slapped his hand against his brother’s chest. “We’ll take it. But don’t think we’re not going to try and talk you into staying for good.”

  “For good?” Had they really meant a lifetime together? If they had, did it change anything?

  “Haven’t we said so already? We’re in this for the long haul, baby. You’d better hurry up and get that through your hard head.”

  There David was, back at it. Trying to force her hand. She needed time to think. Time to sort out feelings from common sense.

  “Like I said. I’ll stay. For tonight.”

  * * * *

  “I’m doing the best I can, Harold.”

  “What have you got? Just the fucking video? That’s not enough for me to keep paying your way in—” He went silent, grasping for the name of the town. “Wherever the hell you are.”

  Kristal cringed at his harsh tone. Harold Gisk was pushy and demanding, but he wasn’t the type to yell at his employees. Now he wasn’t holding back any longer. She couldn’t blame the guy. After giving her a few more days’ leeway, he had to be getting fed up with her inability to find the story.

  “It’s called Twisted.” Not that she’d seen much of the town lately. Or done any real work toward solving the mystery of the video. Instead of staying only one night after their sexual play in the kitchen, she’d ended up spending another couple of days and nights at the ranch. The days had been filled with more riding—slow and careful riding—along with learning how a ranch was run. She’d met a few of their neighbors and had shared a picnic with the Asher brothers and their woman Kylie Honeyton.

  “I don’t give a crap what it’s called. Get your ass back to Dallas.”

  “Give me a couple more days.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Harold, let me stay on two more days. I’ll go without pay. Besides, I don’t have any expenses.” Not since she’d moved out to the ranch. “If I don’t get the story by then, I’ll come back.” If anything could sway him, it would be the bottom line. Harold was always complaining about keeping costs within the station’s budget.

  “You’ll work without pay?”

  She had him. “Yes. From this point on, the station won’t be out a dime.”

  Her stomach tightened as a movement outside the bedroom window caught her attention. David and Darion had pulled up to the front of Lena’s and were getting out of their pickup.

  She’d come back to pick up what few personal items were still at Lena’s bed and breakfast after promising to stay another couple of days at the ranch. “For the remainder of her stay in town” was what she’d told David and Darion. But was she only putting off her inevitable departure? She’d let herself get immersed in their dream of a future together, knowing all-too well she’d have to return to Dallas.

  The fantasy life she’d been living the past few days would have to come to an end sooner than later.

  Her stomach ached even more.

  “No pay at all?”

  “No. I won’t claim it as sick or vacation days, either.”

  “Well…”

  A well from Harold was as good as a yes. “Thanks, Harold. I promise I won’t let you down.” She ended the call before he could change his
mind and walked over to the window.

  The fun times were over. She was a reporter after a news story. The love she felt for the Conroy men would have to wait.

  She’d go back to the place where the video was taken. It was a long shot, but it was all she had. If the tiger didn’t show up in the next few nights, she’d have to give in and let the story go. But if it did, then she’d get back to Dallas, put her story together, and air it.

  And then what? Should she stay in Dallas and give up two great men? Should she choose her career over the possibility of a lifetime of love? Were David and Darion for real? When they spoke of a future, could it really last forever? Or would the years fade their so-called connection?

  For now, she shoved the questions away. There was time enough later to worry about her future.

  David’s deep laughter drifted up from downstairs. Darion’s voice boomed with the same excitement coursing through her. As much as she wanted to run to them, she couldn’t help thinking she might be making a mistake. The longer she stayed with them, the harder it would be to leave.

  It’ll be all right. It has to be.

  She was having the time of her life. But once she’d gotten the story, she’d know it was time to go back to her real life. Until then, what was the harm in having a little more fun while she worked?

  Oh, the lies I tell myself.

  She checked her reflection and fluffed her hair, ready to see the men again.

  * * * *

  “Did you talk to Boyd’s father again?” Darion couldn’t resist asking David yet again.

  David shot him a hard look as he’d done every time he’d asked. “I did. Not that it did any more good than the first two times. And before you ask, yes, a group representing the pride has talked to both Boyd and his father. The kid’s headstrong and hell bent on shifting whenever he wants.”

  “It’s typical, I guess. A young headstrong kid turns eighteen and thinks he knows it all.”

  “Being young doesn’t excuse him from breaking pride rules. The rules are there for a reason. The faster he gets it through his head, the better it’ll be for him. If he keeps shifting whenever he wants, in broad daylight no less, then the pride’s going to have no other option except to come down on him hard. I’d hate to see him get into trouble.”