by Jane Jamison
Jack pulled his horse closer to hers. Even from a distance, she could still feel the sexual heat wafting off him. She had to keep her gaze lowered. If she didn’t, she’d fling her body off her horse and knock him off his horse to the ground. Then she’d tear his clothes off, and have her way with him.
“You okay?”
“Most of me.” It was an impossible task not to look at him. “But my butt’s gone numb.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. That happens sometimes, especially when you’re not used to riding.”
“You okay?” asked Hank, who had pulled up on the other side of her.
“Is she all right?” And then there was Dade, pushing his cowboy hat back on his head as his horse plodded toward them.
She had to admit it was a nice feeling having their attention, but not when the attention was brought on by a throbbing butt. A throbbing clit, sure. But not her fat ass. “I’m fine. All I said was that I would like to take a break. There’s no need for you three to get concerned.”
“No problem, darlin’.” Dade gracefully swung his leg over his horse and landed on the ground with ease. “We can lead them to that tree over there.”
“Yeah,” added Hank. “Too bad we didn’t think about bringing a blanket.”
“We have a blanket.” Jack tugged on the end of his saddle blanket. “It probably won’t smell very nice, but at least your clothes won’t get grass stains on them.”
“Grass stains?” She smirked at him. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a man talk about grass stains.”
A look of embarrassment swept over Jack’s face. “Hey, don’t go cutting off my balls or anything. Our mom made sure us boys knew how to cook, sew, and clean.”
“‘Never rely on a woman to take care of you’. That’s what she used to say. Then she’d turn around and cook, clean, and sew for us and our dad.”
“So she didn’t practice what she preached?” She didn’t mean any disrespect to their mom. She hoped they understood that. Judging from their expressions, they seemed to get it.
“Maybe not,” added Jack, “but she liked taking care of us. Said we’d all end up dirty, sloppy, and hungry without her. Which was probably true.”
“Your house looked clean enough.” She’d half expected a mess, and while it wasn’t by any means spotless, there weren’t any piles of trash or stacks of empty beer cans.
“Thanks.” Jack dismounted, making it look easy, just as Dade had. He pulled the reins over his horse’s head, ready to lead him.
Hank swung his leg over the top of his mount’s head and landed on both feet. “Ready, Sunshine?”
“Sure.” Then her gaze went to the ground below her left foot. “I don’t remember it feeling so high before.” Was getting off harder than getting on?
They all had bemused smiles, but she didn’t let it bother her. At least, not too much. “Will someone tell me how I get down from up here?” She had an imagery of her swinging her leg over and gently lowering her body to the ground, but every time she looked down, she was certain that wasn’t going to happen. She could imagine what would really happen. She’d swing her leg over the horse, and then her foot would get hung in the stirrup and she’d fall ungracefully backward and land on her head with her ankle snapping in the process.
She frowned and checked the distance to the ground before gazing around. “Is there a tree stump or something I could use as a footstep? A little ladder?”
Jack gave the reins of his horse to Hank before coming to stand beside her left foot. “Just swing your leg over, babe. It’s not as hard as you think it is.”
“What if I get my foot caught in the stirrup?”
His expression told her it was a fanciful idea. “I’ve never seen anyone do that. It won’t happen.”
“There’s always a first time.”
He held out his arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll catch you.”
A cartoonish-like video quickly played out in her head. She’d swing her leg over, lose her grip on the saddle horn, and fall backward. As the other two men hefted her body up, she’d turn and see Jack, his mouth wide open, his eyes bulging, flattened against the ground. “Uh-uh. I’d smash you.”
“You’re not going to smash me. I’m strong enough to catch you. Don’t you trust me?”
No. Yes. “Of course I do. It’s me and the horse I don’t trust. What if she bolts while I’m getting off? Then what?”
Jack frowned and dragged in a breath. Hank and Dade watched, obviously doing their best not to laugh.
“Babe, are you planning on staying on top of that horse for the rest of your life?”
“No.” Yet her tone was meek.
“Then you have to dismount. Besides, I thought you wanted to take a break.”
The shade under the tree was inviting. And if assholes could talk, hers would be screaming for mercy. “Okay. Fine. Just don’t let me crush you.” She’d rather end up hanging upside down with a twisted ankle than breaking his back.
“Don’t you worry none.”
Notice that he didn’t add “pretty little lady.”
She paused, giving herself time to try to steady her nerves. Then, ready or not, she put her weight on the foot in the stirrup then swung her leg over the horse’s rump.
Just as her foot caught in the stirrup and she started to fall backward, she thought, I told you so.
But Jack came through on his promise. He caught her, one arm going against her back to support her as he grabbed her leg and jerked her foot free from the stirrup. Her heart stopped, waiting for the moment when she’d hit the ground, squashing Jack, but the ground stayed blissfully away.
Her heart soon caught up with the missing heartbeats, thundering loudly in her ears. For a moment, she still wasn’t sure she wouldn’t keep falling and crush poor Jack, but then it hit her. She was on her feet.
Better yet, Jack still had his arm around her.
Slowly, she turned to face him and found her palms flat against his magnificent hero chest. She gazed up into his silver-like gray eyes. “You caught me,” she whispered.
“I said I would, didn’t I?”
“Yeah. You did.” Slowly, her heart came back into the correct speed, but another part of her whipped into high gear. As the heat between her legs raced outward through her body, she licked her lips in anticipation.
“Okay, you two. Let’s get over to the tree.”
At first, Jack hesitated to react to Hank’s voice and hope blossomed. He didn’t turn her loose, and the sparkle in his eye said moving was the last thing he wanted to do. Then concern overtook that sparkle.
“Yeah. You face is flushed. Let’s get you in the shade.”
Flushed? Who cares?
But the moment was gone as Jack took the reins of his horse then slid her horse’s reins over its head and offered them to her. “Let’s go, babe.”
* * * *
Time lost all meaning as the day continued. They sat under the tree and, with the slight breeze blowing over them, were cool even as the day heated up.
“Is the blanket too scratchy?” asked Dade.
Sunshine rested her back against the tree, the bark biting into her back a little, but she didn’t mind. In that position, she had the men surrounding her, and for a while, she thought of herself as a modern-day Scarlett O’Hara. Whatever was happening to her was unknown, but whatever it was, she didn’t mind it one bit. It was nice to have three sexy-as-hell men watching her, talking to her, listening to her talk about her life as though nothing was more fascinating. Yet it was their lives that were fascinating.
“You guys met in college, and then Dade moved in with you two after you all graduated? Wow. Not that’s a close-knit friendship.” Would Walter move with her? Especially if she moved somewhere other than a big city? Somewhere like Lost, Colorado?
She smiled as Hank told her about their antics in college, but it was really the fantasy of living with them that had her smiling. Although she was a city girl at heart, she could learn to adjust. He
ll, she might even like living in the country. After all, if she was with them, she wouldn’t care where they lived.
Could I live in a cabin by a lake? Sure. In a tent in the woods? You bet. On top of a snowy mountain? They’d keep me warm.
The stories continued as they spoke of serious matters. They talked about Hank’s parents, how they’d adopted Jack—albeit not officially—after his parents had died in a car crash and how the loss was still with them, still showing on their faces and in their eyes. Losing their parents had taken a toll on them, but the loss of Hank’s father in such a tragic way was even harder.
She talked about her life, suddenly realizing that the life she’d left behind hadn’t been much of a life. Without thinking before she spoke, she acknowledged to herself as well as to them that she wanted a family, a man she could love and who would love her in spite of her flaws. And children. She’d barely thought about having children before, but sitting under the tree on a bright sunny day, she knew she wanted a child, maybe more.
They spoke of inconsequential things, too. Her favorite color. Their favorite meals. Kat and how they’d found her meowing away, stuck in a tree during a lightning storm. The fact that they’d gone through a storm to help the tiny animal had touched her heart.
Soon enough, however, talk gave way to companionable silence. Together, they enjoyed the sunlight, the breeze, the musical sounds of the birds in the tree above them, and even the pitiful bellowing of the cows.
At last, it was Hank who broke the quiet. “So tell us what you think, sugar.”
She tilted her head to the side in question even as she thought she could get used to being called “sugar” as well as “babe” and “darlin.’” They weren’t names of derision and without respect. Instead, they were pet names, affectionate names meant for her. At least, from now on they would be. But had they called other women by the pet names? A flash of jealousy followed by sorrow struck her.
“You okay, babe?”
She shook off the odd feeling. “I’m fine. Better than fine.”
“So? Do you like the ranch?” asked Hank for the second time.
“I do. I really do.”
“You don’t have to sound so surprised.” Jack grinned, letting her off the hook.
“I’m sorry. But it is kind of a surprise. I’m a big-city girl. I mean I love my home, but being this close to nature is amazing.” The cows had grown steadily closer as though they, too, wanted to be in on the fun.
She jumped when a cold nose was pressed against her shoulder. The sweet dark eyes of the cow stared at her as though asking her to pet it. She did, finding out that the animal liked getting scratched behind the ears. “But maybe not this close.”
“Go on, girl. Get on back to your friends,” urged Dade as he waved his hands in front of the cow’s face.
The animal plodded away as though reluctant to leave Sunshine. She laughed at the waddle of the cow.
Sunshine turned back to find that the men had moved closer. The look in their eyes took her breath away. “Uh, guys, is everything okay?”
Chapter Five
Dade couldn’t stand it a second longer. He wanted Sunshine so bad that he could taste it. Yet, somehow, he’d managed to hold back. At least until she turned around to watch the cow meander back to the herd. When she’d done that and shown her sweet, round ass to him, he’d finally lost it.
Lust roared to life, and after one look at friends, he knew they felt the same way. They gave each other a look then focused on her ass again. When she turned around, there was no holding him back.
Dade grabbed hold of her ankles and yanked her toward him. She was a big woman—thank you!—but he was a vampire and easily moved her. A small sound escaped her as he put her on her back then crawled over her.
Dade searched for fear in her mesmerizing blue eyes and found none. Still, neither he nor his friends were the type of men who would take a woman against her will. “Tell us to stop.”
She blinked, obviously thrown. “What?”
“If you don’t want us tearing your clothes off, then tell us to stop before we get started. Once we get sight of your luscious body, we might not be able to hold back. We are, after all, only men.”
“Don’t say that. Only bullshit men say that. You can control yourselves, if you have to.”
He lifted a little farther away from her. He sensed that the other men were taken aback, too. Felt them ease back, too.
“Are you telling us to stop?”
She slipped her hands along his chest then up to take hold of his shoulders. “Now why the hell would I do that? But don’t pretend you couldn’t stop if I told you to.”
“Got it. But, damn, don’t tell us to stop, okay?”
“No problem. Take me, baby.”
Relief flooded Dade. “Sure thing, darlin’.”
They fell on her, ready and more than willing to remove her clothes for her. As Hank and he tugged her shirt over her head and tossed it aside, he saw a flash of emotion cross her face.
Was it insecurity?
Shame about her body?
He ached to think that she would have doubts about how hot she was. He started to say so then decided it would be better to show her.
Her bra was gone in the next moment. Straightening up, he kept his gaze on her bountiful breasts, being careful to take in every inch of her creamy skin. Her areolas were perfect, her nipples taut and ready for his mouth. Her breasts were heavy, full and begging to be held.
Hank groaned as he took a breast in his hand, letting it bounce as he handled it from beneath the plump curve. More than a handful would not be wasted on them.
Dade tore off his shirt and worked hard to get his jeans off. One glance at Jack, however, sent his friend a silent request. Laughing, Jack grabbed hold of his foot and jerked Dade’s boots off then followed those with Dade’s jeans.
There’s nothing like teamwork, thought Dade.
Thanks to Jack’s assistance, he was able to help Hank yank her jeans and shoes off. Even her old-fashioned “granny” panties couldn’t make her less desirable.
But there it was again. That look in her eyes that held shame and embarrassment.
He could not, would not let that look stay there. Instead, he jerked her toward him. She gasped as he positioned her legs around his waist. His cock, more than primed and ready, wet her pubic hairs.
“Stop it, darlin’.”
Hank fondled one breast while Jack took the other in hand. They waited, if not patiently, for Dade to speak his piece.
“You’re fuckin’ beautiful, and it kills me that you don’t know it.”
Her gaze jumped away but came back fast. “No, I’m not.”
Hank took her by the chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You are. And Dade’s right. It’s a damn shame that you don’t know it.”
“Don’t you get it, babe?” Jack continued to fondle her breast then put his mouth to it before tugging on it and letting go with a satisfying pop. “Every inch of you, every ounce you weigh is perfection. You’re amazing, a fuckin’ goddess. Believe it.”
“You’re just saying that,” she whispered.
Dade shook his head, determined to make her understand. On their knees, they edged closer still. “No, we’re not. Would we have to say that to fuck you?”
She shook her head in return. “No.” Yet now her voice was stronger, more confident.
“Trust me. We aren’t saying it to get into your pants.” Wrapping his hand around his cock, he positioned it at her pussy folds. “We want you, Sunshine. Not only because of your hot body but because of your mind, your heart, hell, even the fact that you’re afraid to get off a damn horse.”
“Damn straight,” added Jack. “You’re the whole package.”
“You’re perfect for us in every way.”
She smiled, warming his heart. “I am, aren’t I?”
He laughed, loving that she could make him laugh so easily. “Yeah. But don’t take our word for it. Let us pro
ve it to you.” Meeting her gaze, he entered her. Try as he might, he pushed his cock in slowly, but once he felt her pussy surround his length, he was a lost man. He closed his eyes and moaned then began rocking back and forth, captivated by the friction of sexual heat.
She really is perfect in every way.
“Help me out, man.”
But Dade kept his eyes closed. No way in hell would he let either Hank or Jack interrupt him. If it were possible, he’d keep his cock inside her pussy for the rest of his life. She was tight, oh-so tight, and he was beyond thinking now.
Sensation after sensation whipped through him. He’d had lots of women, but none of them compared to Sunshine. Even her name was perfect. His hand found her clit and began to rub, her juices flowing over his fingers. She whimpered, and he refused to believe her whimper was for the other two men. As far as he was concerned, they no longer existed.
She moved, someone lifting her, but he never turned her loose. He shifted position, moving forward but always keeping her legs wrapped around his waist. A thrust there, a shove there. A magical kind of tension tightened his shoulders. His balls drew up, and he gritted, fighting back the all-too-soon explosion.
If he’d had any doubt that Heaven existed, he no longer doubted. Heaven was Sunshine.
* * * *
Sunshine was in Heaven. Suddenly, the dream she hadn’t known she wanted was there. Not only did one man lust after her but three men did.
But she wouldn’t let their pretty words seduce her. She wouldn’t let their tender and not-so-tender caresses convince her. She wasn’t a fool, after all. They wanted her sex, and that was a great thing, but they wouldn’t want her heart.
Still, keeping it safe was a difficult thing to do.
Dade’s cock filled her completely. She hadn’t been too surprised when he’d taken hold of her and thrust his cock inside her. And although she’d had time enough to see how large his cock was, equaled only by the size of his friends’ cocks, she still wasn’t prepared for how large his cock felt. She worked her hips, shoving against him, helping him to drive farther back in her pussy. Her stomach jiggled, but she pushed away the feeling of body shame that threatened to take her.
