Tangled in Divine [Divine Creek Ranch 14] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Heather Rainier

  The girl mouthed an apology, and Lucy cut her off. “Don’t tell me you’re sorry. You owe Chris—and Gwen—an apology. I slip outside for two minutes and you start causing trouble. Here in Divine, when a man tells you he’s taken, you damn sure better believe it.” She turned to Grace and added, “Sorry, Grace. She’s my coworker’s sister. This is entirely my fault. I allowed to her come with us. She’s leaving in just a minute.”

  The girl gave Gwen a once-over, her cheeks going bright red with embarrassment, and anger, judging by the heat in her eyes. “I’m sorry. My mistake. I didn’t ‘get’ how things work around here and thought he was fair game.” To Chris, she simply said, “Sorry,” and seemed to mean it more that time.

  Patrick Owen sidled carefully up behind Lucy and stroked her shoulder, obviously trying to smooth things over. “Hey, little tiger. Let’s get you something cold to drink, all right?”

  Lucy nodded and allowed him to pull her toward one of the coolers where he put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently as he pulled out a Coke for her. Lucy smiled up at him as he opened it for her.

  The hair-twiddling brunette glanced at the three of them again, then at Grace, and shrugged before slinking back to her group of friends.

  Grace let out a deep sigh and said, “Bless her heart. It’s not a party if there isn’t at least one disturbance, right?” She eyed the three of them with satisfaction. “Judging by the looks of things, it all turned out just fine. You three headed home now?” The assumption in her eyes was so obvious it was comical.

  Before Gwen could say anything else, Julián nodded, then glanced at Chris, who also quickly nodded and said, “Yes, ma’am, Grace. We enjoyed ourselves but it’s getting late.”

  Gwen looked at her watch. It’s only nine o’clock! She opened her mouth to speak but it was Grace who cut her off.

  “My, my, you’re right, aren’t you? And Gwen has to be exhausted.” She hugged Julián and Chris and then wrapped her arms around Gwen and whispered, “Seize the day, baby.”

  They said their good-byes, and got hugs from Teresa, Angel, and Joaquin. Just as she prepared to put on her coat, Michael Martinez came to her, reaching up for a hug. “Bye, pretty cowboy lady.” When she bent down to hug him, he tilted his head and whispered, “You okay?” He was so much like his fathers it was uncanny.

  Am I? This is all happening so fast. Looking back at her men, she caught a hint of vulnerability in Chris’s gaze, but certainty in Julián’s expression. Whatever happened, she knew she was in good hands. “Everything’s perfect, sweet little mister cowboy man. You need to get some rest too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “’Kay. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas.”

  Still squatting down, she smiled when Eleazar patted her shoulder as though he’d been waiting his turn.

  With her hands outstretched, Gwen said, “See you tomorrow, Eleazar?”

  “Uh-huh, Gwen-baby,” he replied enthusiastically and wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her. She kissed the top of his head, enjoying his sweet toddler scent. When she released him, he puckered up just as Teresa called his name, gently communicating her silent message with a raised eyebrow. He grinned, nodded and then turned Gwen’s face so he could lightly kiss her cheek instead of her lips which he’d been aiming for.

  To reaffirm Teresa’s message, Gwen whispered, “I like your gentlemanly manners, Eleazar.”

  Teresa had told her earlier that Eleazar was likely following in his fathers’ affectionate footsteps and they were teaching him to respect the boundaries of others, especially the ladies. He hugged her one more time and then ran off to play.

  Julián helped her with her coat and the two of them walked her out to his truck. Without a word, Chris opened the passenger door and then lifted her effortlessly into the front passenger seat. That was the second time she’d been lifted in a man’s arms and the sensation was unnerving. Even more unnerving was the thought that she could easily get used to it.

  After closing her door, he climbed into the seat directly behind her. She sensed his massive presence as he went through the motions of buckling up while Julián climbed into the driver’s seat. Surrounded by them in the truck, she felt small and vulnerable. She’d had her occasional hookups over the years while on the road but leaving with two men who both made it clear they wanted her was a first for her.

  What am I doing?

  Julián caught her eye as he started the truck and smiled at her reassuringly but said nothing. He clasped her hand in his on the center console and drove away from the Divine Creek Ranch.

  The tension was palpable in the truck and she was acutely aware of how quiet Chris was. Grace and Teresa had both claimed that he looked at her like a man who’d fallen in love at first sight. Was that why he’d sat there in the drive-thru, staring at her?

  He’s being quiet because he’s afraid of screwing things up! He doesn’t know what to say…or how to say it. That’s why he was so quiet when we were sitting together on the couch. He’s paralyzed. Why?

  Acting on a hunch, she turned in her seat and he leaned toward her when he saw her movement.

  “Can I ask you something, Chris?”

  “Sure,” he replied, his face hidden in shadow. The hesitation in his voice made her heart ache.

  “When that girl sat in your lap, you didn’t immediately make her move. You said you didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”

  “Yeah, pretty much.”

  “Do you know what it’s like to be embarrassed in a social setting like that?”

  “Yes, in more ways than you can imagine. If you knew my family you’d understand how that’s possible.”

  He didn’t offer any other reply so she forged on. She wanted him to know she understood and she wasn’t trying to make him feel worse. “You said Grace tried to matchmake for you. What happened?”

  “Grace set me up with a girl she used to work with at Stigall’s. She had issues with…my size…and my personality.”

  Damn!

  “What happened?”

  “I thought we did okay on the first date, though she seemed to cringe a lot when I talked. She was pretty timid but I liked her well enough to ask her out on a second date, which she agreed to. At the end of the evening, I didn’t ask to come inside her house or anything, but I didn’t think I was out of line hoping that she might let me kiss her good night.” He leaned close enough that she felt him brush against her seat. “Darlin’, just so you know, I hate talking about this sh—stuff. It’s embarrassing.”

  She reached back and encountered his solid shoulder, which she patted in understanding. “What did she do?”

  He sighed, sounding reluctant to go on. “When I made my move, on her front porch, she cowered from me, with fear in her eyes, like she thought I was about to attack her. I backed off, she apologized, and ran into her house and slammed the door. She cancelled our second date by calling Grace and asking her to call me. So, while I didn’t want that gal in my lap tonight, I know how it feels to be rejected, both publicly and privately. I’m not doing that to anyone if I can avoid it. She got up and left on her own but I wished she’d done it a whole lot sooner. I hope you understand.”

  “I think I do, Chris. What about your family?”

  “I’m the baby of the family. I have eleven older brothers and public humiliation was their idea of showing familial affection.” She had a hard time picturing Chris as the baby of the family, as big and intimidating as he was.

  “Eleven brothers?”

  “Yes, and three older sisters who make my brothers look like pussycats. I had to learn how to defend myself and watch my own back at a young age. Once I was big enough to defend myself, they no longer bullied me, but by then the die was already cast. Teasing and picking is our family relationship default—that and being loud and obnoxious.” He settled back in his seat and let out what sounded like a relieved breath. At least she hoped that was the case.

  Julián turned onto a grave
l drive and slowed as they passed under a steel pipe entry that displayed “Cook Ranch” in bold capitals along the crossbeam.

  Julián squeezed her hand. “Not to change the subject, but Wilbur Wilson said that he’d like to meet with you day after tomorrow. Sound okay?”

  “Sounds perfect. Thank you for setting it up. Where do you stay?” she asked as Josh Turner began crooning on the radio. Oh boy, talk about a sexy mood setter!

  Julián pointed to a smaller house that was set apart from the main ranch house, close to the barn. It looked like a simple single-family dwelling. “That’s the foreman’s place. We both live there.” He turned his sultry gaze on her. “We want you to stay there with us tonight.”

  A hungry tension grew inside her as “I Wouldn’t Be a Man” played softly on the radio. She’d needed those answers from Chris and the certainty was growing inside her that they were moving forward with whatever it was that was developing between them. She wanted them. Both of them. Only one other point needed to be discussed first. Well, two actually.

  “I’ll stay tonight. With both of you. I’d appreciate you using condoms for the time being.” Julián nodded and even though she didn’t want to bring it up, Gwen said, “Guys, you need to know that I’m leaving in March. I can’t stay permanently in Divine. My dad’s friend Roger plans to purchase the property and my horse and I need one more winning year so I can buy them back. I’ve always had this dream…”

  Julián stroked her hand and Chris leaned far enough forward that his big hand cupped her shoulder comfortingly. She closed her eyes, hoping they understood. In no way did this feel like a nameless one-night stand, but she had to treat it as such, for the sake of her heart.

  Julián pressed his lips to her knuckles as the truck rolled to a stop in front of the house. “We understand how important it is to you to meet that obligation. We both have commitments of our own in this area for the next couple of years. We want you to have your dream too. Training horses and riders is what you were born to do. But I want you so much it’s painful. I need you.” He turned to look at the man sitting behind her, leaving the opening for him. Silence.

  Gwen covered Chris’s work-hardened hand with her own. Her throat trembled with need and emotion. “And you, Chris?”

  By the barest fraction, he tightened his gentle grip on her shoulder. “Yes, but only if you’re sure.”

  Chapter Eight

  “I’m sure,” she whispered, her heart throbbing in a sensuous rhythm. Imagining making love with both of them caused heat like a blast furnace to blaze inside her. Chris’s hand slipped from her shoulder and he got out of the truck and then reached for her door.

  Julián kissed her knuckles and chuckled. “Prepare for your spanking, then, baby.” Gwen took a deep, shuddering breath, wondering how exactly she prepared for her spanking, beyond what her hormone-charged body was already doing.

  He slid her hand over his thigh to the thick ridge trapped in his jeans and groaned in enjoyment when she caressed him boldly. Her cunt clenched in anticipation of him finally sliding that big cock into her. She was still fully dressed but her panties were soaked by the time Chris had her door open.

  He reached under her knees and behind her back, lifting her without even waiting for word from her.

  “I can walk, you know,” she replied playfully. Not that I want to at the moment. “It’s a ways to the front door.”

  “I like carrying you. And that’s just a few steps.”

  “Are you planning to carry me a lot while I’m here?”

  A wide, devilish grin split his face and the look in his eyes, the return of his teasing twinkle, made her happy. “Every chance I get, darlin’.”

  Julián came around the front of the vehicle and said, “It’s cold out here. Let’s get her inside and get her all warmed up.”

  “Some parts more than others,” she murmured.

  Chris squeezed her. “I heard that.” He followed Julián in through the front door but didn’t set her down.

  Julián flipped the lights on and she giggled. “Bachelor heaven.”

  There was a flat-screen television that had to be at least eighty inches wide hanging on the wall in the living room. There was a half-empty bag of Cheetos on the coffee table next to a bowl with unpopped popcorn kernels littering the bottom of it. Beer and Coke cans sat on the end tables.

  “Sorry about the mess. We were watching football last night.”

  Julián didn’t pause to pick up the mess. He stalked through the living room to a hallway as Chris followed, still carrying her in his arms. He pressed his lips against the side of her head and breathed deep. She was eternally grateful she’d had time for a shower and shampoo before they’d gone to Grace’s. She didn’t want to take time for one now.

  She looked around the masculine décor of the room they entered, and asked, “Whose bedroom is this?”

  Julián switched on the second lamp on the other side of the bed and said, “This is Chris’s room. He got the king-size bed since he’s taller than me by an inch or two.”

  Chris chuckled. “Bigger too. And I tend to move around in bed a lot.” Julián muttered something good-naturedly, but she couldn’t understand what he said as he stepped across the hall to what must’ve been the bathroom.

  She giggled as Chris set her on her feet. “Oh yeah?” He was doing what he did, kidding, but she could see the barest trace of uncertainty in his expression, as if he was bracing for her to change her mind. Time to nip that notion in the bud. “I think I’d like to judge for myself,” she murmured, reaching up to trace her fingers through the thick curly black hair at his nape.

  Gwen pulled Chris down for a kiss as she slid her other hand down his chest to his groin. He brushed his lips against hers, his touch seeking, before he stroked her bottom lip and joined his mouth to hers. The girth of him filled her hand as she caressed the enormous steel pole in his jeans.

  Holy shit! Santa brought me a pony!

  She purposely looked into his eyes as she stroked his impressive length, her cunt tingling in anticipation. “Perfect.”

  The relief in his expression made her heart ache as he kissed her again. Had he been rejected for his manhood too? She would need patience to fit that big cock inside her, but she was taking every inch to prove that he had nothing to worry about or to be ashamed of. He was perfect.

  Delicious warmth pressed against her as Julián closed in behind her and pulled her hair back from her shoulder to kiss to her throat. He slid a hand between her and Chris to stroke her belly before his fingertips ventured to the waistband of her jeans. She gasped as he slid his hand straight down and fingered aside the crotch of her lace panties.

  “You don’t waste any time, do you, Julián?” she panted excitedly.

  In a husky drawl, he replied, “I’ve waited a long time for you, Gwen.” He raked his teeth over her shoulder, creating a flurry of hot tingles that danced over her flesh and centered in her clit. She cried out as his fingers invaded the slick cream coating her cunt.

  “You’re soaked and ready for us, aren’t you, Gwen? So fucking hot and ready.”

  “Yes! Oh yes!” She arched against him as he teased her aching, hot lips. As he kept up his finger play, she felt the beginnings of her climax but he chose that moment to withdraw, leaving her empty and unsatisfied. She ground back against his hardened cock, trying to stimulate herself to orgasm, but Julián gripped her hips with a negative grunt.

  “Don’t stop! Julián, please!”

  Frustration and desire made her mind hum as she sagged against Chris, and waited for Julián’s next move. Just like that, she was putty in their hands. Chris’s scent, a mixture of his soap and his own masculine essence filled her nostrils as she pressed her face against his thickly muscled chest. She realized they were whispering to each other right about the time they stopped and Julián stepped away from her.

  Chris stroked her jaw and kissed her as Julián pulled her shirt out of her jeans and stroked her flesh as he sl
id it upward, sending tickling shivers racing over her torso.

  Julián whispered, “I’ve been looking forward to this all day, woman. To feel your silky skin and to have my hands on this lush, gorgeous ass of yours.” He gripped her hips for a second before sliding his hands down to cup and squeeze her butt cheeks.

  Her cunt pulsed and ached with rapacious need as he continued pushing the shirt up before Chris took over and removed it, breaking their kiss for only a moment before reconnecting.

  He tasted of minty chewing gum and his own natural flavor and she pressed her lips against his, wanting more of him. He groaned softly as she pressed her breasts against him and his hands trembled as he fought the hooks that held the blue lace bra together at her back. There were several of them, because her breasts were abundant and she needed the support, but he eventually got her free of it.

  Julián growled as he had similar challenges with the fly of her jeans and jerked her hips back from Chris where she kept rubbing against him. He finally got the button and zipper undone and she moaned again when his hot hands slid inside the denim confines and pushed them down.

  “My boots,” she murmured against Chris’s lips.

  Julián chuckled as he moved to the bed. “I like them right where they are for now. That way our little filly is nicely hobbled and at our mercy.”

  She pulled her lips from Chris’s and peered dazedly at Julián who had taken his position at the end of Chris’s bed, his shirt now gone. His bare, black-furred chest and rippling abs were lit by the lamp light. She fantasized about running her fingers through all that sexy, manly hair and then his words registered.

  “Oh, shit.”

  Julián patted his denim-covered lap and chuckled. “Don’t worry. I think you’ll enjoy it more than not.”

  She pooched out her lip in protest but her pussy clenched in anticipation. “I’m not so bad I need a spanking, am I?”

  Julián smiled but determination was in his eyes. “Bad? Never, baby. Never. But you took off without letting anyone know your destination. You never checked in with any of us. You camped all by yourself in a very unsafe place. You made truck repairs on the side of the road.”