by Leah Brooke
Erin had already fastened her jeans and rushed after Reese to the living room to check on William, relieved to find him still fast asleep.
“Stay back.” Reese yanked the door open, and for the first time, she realized that he expected trouble. “Who are you?”
Erin winced at his icy tone, stiffening at the knowledge that whoever had come to the door was a stranger to Reese. She tried to see around him, but his imposing figure blocked her view of whoever stood on their front porch.
“I’m here to see Erin Robinson. I understand she lives here.”
Reese’s broad shoulders stiffened, his hands clenching at his sides. “Erin Preston lives here. Who are you?”
“I’m Wes Cramer. Erin knows me well. I need to talk to her. Where is she?”
Wes? What the hell is he doing here?
Irritated and confused at Wes’s arrogance, Erin rushed forward.
Reese had always been the least violent of her husbands, but the look on his face was one she’d never seen before.
Touching his arm, she gave Reese a warning look, which he met with a dark look of his own. “It’s okay, Reese.” She turned, forcing a smile while inside she shook with nerves. “Hello, Wes. Come in. What can I do for you?”
Chapter Four
Reese envisioned throwing the city slicker out on his ass, but he wanted to hear what the bastard had to say about Nelson Stark before he did.
He also wanted to know why Wes Cramer had decided to visit Erin—to fly all the way from Texas—when he’d already called Erin to tell her about Nelson.
He had a feeling he wouldn’t like it. The way the other man looked at Erin already set his teeth on edge.
Confident that Jared and Duncan would want to hear what the other man had to say, too, Reese ignored his wife’s warning look and sent them a text to tell them about their visitor.
Following Erin and the attorney to the large kitchen, Reese watched the other man’s face, pleased to see that Cramer appeared decidedly uncomfortable.
The attorney’s look of disdain increased Reese’s dislike of him, and with a frown, he looked around the kitchen, wondering what the hell looked so unappealing.
With Boone and Chase’s help, they’d completely remodeled the kitchen to Erin’s specifications. He and his brothers had labored over the custom cabinets, which, he had to admit, looked stunning.
Erin kept the entire house spotless, but she didn’t mind the small amount of clutter that made it feel more like a home.
The unwelcome doubts about Erin’s move from a big city to a small town like Desire had him looking around the kitchen in a new light.
On the table close to Reese’s coffee cup lay one of William’s rattles, a container of baby wipes, a small stuffed bear that Erin had just washed, and a pair of his tiny socks.
The high chair stood in the corner, one of their niece’s dolls sitting in it until William could use it.
He saw nothing but a clean, inviting kitchen.
Home.
The home they’d made together.
What does Erin see?
He knew she’d lived a more sophisticated lifestyle before she’d arrived in Desire.
Does she miss it?
Does she miss being wined and dined by men like Wes Cramer?
Suddenly resenting the attorney’s attitude even more, Reese gestured toward the chair next to him. “Have a seat.”
Nodding and looking at Erin, his gaze raking over her even more voluptuous figure, Cramer took the seat across from him. “Erin, you have a kid?”
Erin’s eyes narrowed, a warning that clenched his and his brothers’ stomach—when it was directed at them.
Since it was directed at Cramer, Reese smiled and sat back with his arms crossed over his chest, prepared to enjoy the show.
Erin fisted a hand on her hip, the other plopping a cup of coffee in front of Cramer. “We have a son, and please keep your voice down so you don’t wake him.”
Cramer lifted his cup, eyeing Erin warily. “Sorry. I didn’t know. I’m surprised to see you’ve become so…domesticated.”
Erin’s eyes went wide. “Domesticated? I was a wild animal before? Just because I wasn’t as dainty as the women in the office—”
The back door suddenly opened, and Wes jolted, spilling coffee on the back of his hand. “Ow! Damn it!”
Erin actually snarled, glancing toward the living room, her voice a furious whisper. “Quiet, damn it! You’ll wake the baby.”
Everyone stilled, the silence in the kitchen broken by the unmistakable cry of William being woken from his nap.
Wes dabbed at his hand with a napkin, his eyes going wide. “Well excuse me! The damned coffee’s hot.”
Smiling at the identical looks of disgust from his brothers and their wife, Reese rose to his feet and went to the sink, turning on the cold water. “Run your hand under here.”
Keeping a wary eye on Jared and Duncan, Wes went to the sink. “I’m Wes Cramer, a friend of Erin’s.”
Duncan smiled, showing far too many teeth. “I’m Duncan, and that’s Jared. We’re Erin’s husbands.”
Wes’s jaw dropped, his look of stunned disbelief priceless as he turned to Reese. “I thought you were her husband.”
Enjoying himself, Reese grinned. “I am.”
Jared handed Wes a towel and started to wash his hands. “All three of us are married to Erin.” Once he finished, he took the towel from Wes and moved aside to make room for Duncan. “You got a problem with that?”
Erin came into the room just then, one of William’s baby blankets draped over her shoulder, concealing the baby at her breast. “Jared, behave. I thought it was odd, too, when I first came to town.”
Reese smiled at the sight of Jared moving to stand behind Erin and lifting the blanket from her shoulder to see their son. “How’s he been today?”
Erin smiled and leaned into Jared, who wrapped an arm around her to pull her closer. “He’s great. Once he eats again, he should go back down.”
Wes gaped at Erin. “You know, there’s a law against having more than one husband.”
Jared replaced the blanket, tucking it securely to make sure it didn’t fall. “Not in Desire. Besides, it’s really none of your business.”
Reese pushed his chair back and motioned for Erin to sit on his lap, sliding a hand under the blanket when she did to help support the baby.
Leaning into him, Erin eyed Wes. “What are you doing here, Wes?”
Good question. Reese closed his hand on Erin’s waist, frowning when Wes paused to check his phone before answering.
Looking up again, he gave Erin a smile that irritated the hell out of Reese. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I wanted to make sure Nelson hadn’t come to see you.”
Drying his hands, Duncan turned from the sink, his gaze whipping to Erin. “If he shows up, he’ll regret it.”
When Erin stiffened, her gaze flying to his, Duncan smiled reassuringly.
“Ace is looking into it. Lucas, Devlin, and Caleb are helping him. They’re checking hotels. Linc, Rafe, and the others are all on alert. They all know what Stark looks like, and if he shows his face around here, we’ll know about it.”
Wes smirked. “You’re all worried about nothing. Nelson has no reason to come here.”
Jared allowed a small smile, a smile that didn’t bode well for Wes. “We worry about our women. I’m sure that’s a strange concept for you.”
Wes rose and shook his head. “She should come back to Texas with me until we find him. I can make sure she’s safe.”
“If you don’t think he’ll come here, then why did you? And why should she have to go to Texas to be safe?” Reese once again revisited the image of tossing Wes out on his ass, but Erin started laughing.
“Wes, you’re out of your mind. I’m safer here than I would be anywhere else.” She looked down, running her finger over William’s cheek. “You don’t know the people in this town, and you certainly don’t know my husbands. Besides, Nelson
doesn’t scare me. He’s probably long gone with the money the authorities weren’t able to find.”
Reese stiffened when Erin lifted her gaze to Wes’s again, something in her assessing look twisting his gut.
There was more than she was telling them, the flash of fury in the attorney’s eyes convincing him that he was right.
Wes jumped to his feet. “Erin, you’re not thinking! You always were too damned headstrong.” He smiled, a shark’s smile that had Reese’s hand clenching into a fist and had both Duncan and Jared stepping forward. “Erin, I’m afraid I have to insist.”
Jared held out a hand when Duncan leapt forward. “We appreciate your warning about Nelson Stark. That’s the only reason I’m not throwing you out on your ass.”
Reese struggled to hold on to Erin, who’d already risen to her feet to confront Wes, but even holding the baby, his wife managed to shake him off.
“What the hell do you mean you insist? Why do you want me to come with you? First you say that Nelson made threats against me and that you wanted to make sure he wasn’t here. Then you say he won’t show up, but you want me to go with you. Is there something going on that you’re not telling me about?”
Reese shared a look with his brothers, knowing his wife’s tone well. Not wanting her to get so upset, he reached for her with the intention of taking her to the bedroom while Jared and Duncan got rid of their guest. “Erin, baby—”
Wes’s face reddened, appearing slightly panicked. “Of course not! Erin look—”
“No! You look!” Moving closer, she poked Cramer in the chest. “Like Jared said, we appreciate the news about Nelson, but I don’t appreciate your attempt to boss me around.”
“Erin, I—”
Ruthlessly cutting him off again, Erin got in Wes’s face. “I told you that I’m safe here. I also told you that if Nelson decides to show up, which I seriously doubt, I can handle him. He’s a damned accountant, Wes. I helped take him down. What the hell makes you think I can’t handle a damned accountant?”
Wes reached out to grip her shoulders. “You don’t know the things he wrote and said while he was in prison!”
Reese had had enough, and because he was standing closest, beat his brothers to the attorney. “Get your fucking hands off my wife, or I’ll break them off at the wrist.”
Chapter Five
Still fuming after Wes’s visit, Erin turned from settling the baby and glared at her husbands. “I was handling him.”
She’d taken the opportunity to text John Ritten when she’d gone to get William, notifying him that Wes Cramer had come to Desire.
Confident that the FBI would find and follow him when he left town, Erin allowed herself to relax.
Stirring the sauce on the stove, Jared turned slightly and inclined his head, his eyes still dark with anger. “Yes, you were. Beautifully, too.”
Glancing up at him, Erin checked to see if the water for the spaghetti had started boiling, wondering how she could confide in him while he was in such a mood. “Then why did you and your brothers have to interfere? The three of you treat me like I’m incapable of handling things. I understood it while I was pregnant, but I’ve always managed to take care of myself, Jared. I took care of Rachel, too.”
Setting the spoon aside, Jared turned and leaned back against the counter, regarding her steadily. “And you think I’ve forgotten all that?”
Erin knew Jared never forgot anything. She also knew his tone well enough that a chill of alarm went through her. “Then why the hell did you get all caveman with Wes? I’ve been handling men like him for twenty years.” Standing in front of him with her hands on her hips, she looked into his eyes, hoping to make him understand.
Hoping he wouldn’t see through her to the secret she still kept.
“I’m not weak. I’m not defenseless. I hate when you act as if you think I am.”
Jared ran a fingertip down her jaw to her neck, his gaze holding hers. “Did you really expect us to stand by and watch another man touch you in anger?” An arrogant brow went up. “Do you really think we would stand by while another man talked to you as if he had some say over you? As is he was responsible for you?”
Shaking his head, Jared took her hand in his, lifting it to his chest. “Sorry, sweetheart. None of us are gonna stand by for that.”
“You stood there while Reese literally threw him out the front door!”
She fought for anger, still amused at the look of shock on Wes’s face when he landed on his ass.
Jared’s eyes narrowed, but his lips twitched. “I did not. I held the door open for him.”
Reaching into the refrigerator for the iced tea she’d made that morning, Erin pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “I’m just glad Reese didn’t hurt him. He wanted to. So did Duncan.”
Jared retrieved a glass from the cupboard and set it on the counter in front of her. “Your lawyer friend pissed them off.”
After pouring herself a glass of tea, Erin moved to the back door to look out. “They’ve been chopping wood ever since.”
Despite the cool breeze, both Duncan and Reese were naked from the waist up, the sight of their glistening muscles bunching and shifting as they worked holding her attention.
“It’ll be winter soon, and they had to find a way to work off all that anger.” Jared’s hands slid to her waist, and pulling her back against him, he pressed his cock against her lower back. “I plan to work mine off in another way.”
Shivering in delight at the feel of his body pressed against hers and his warm breath against her ear, Erin moaned softly and leaned back against him. “Do you? I’m intrigued. Why don’t you tell me about it?”
She knew his dark mood would add an edge to their lovemaking, one that already sizzled in the air.
After turning off both burners, Jared slid his hands under her shirt to cup her breasts, massaging gently. “I plan to put it to a more productive use, one that might also satisfy my fury at seeing another man’s hands on you.”
Erin giggled, still amazed that the confident men she’d married could still be so jealous when it came to her. “He only touched my arms, Jared.” It had pissed her off because she’d been holding the baby, but she knew that her husbands would be only angrier if they knew.
Sliding his hands to her back, he rubbed slightly before unhooking her bra. “That’s why he left with his hands.” Pulling her back against him, he cupped her breasts again, his callused palms lightly caressing her nipples. “You sore, baby?”
Closing her eyes, Erin leaned back against his shoulder. “Hmm. Just a little. That feels good.”
Jared pressed his lips against her hair. “You always say that. I don’t want to hurt you, baby.” Burying his face against her neck, he groaned. “Sometimes I look at you and can’t believe you’re mine. I’d be lost without you. I never stop wanting you.”
Extremely moved, Erin turned her head to look up at him over her shoulder, forgetting what she’d intended to say the moment his lips touched hers.
Swallowing her moan, he turned her in his arms, deepening his kiss, and he bent, gathered her against him, and swept her off her feet.
Lost in his kiss, she slid a hand through his hair, feeling as if she were floating as he carried her from the kitchen, through the living room, and down the hall to the master bedroom.
The feminine side of her reveled in the feel of his hard body against hers, the deliciously secure feeling of being held by a strong man, something she’d never known until meeting them.
Heat spread through her with a familiarity that made the hunger even more intense.
Breaking off their kiss, Erin panted, struggling to catch her breath. “The stove.”
“Off.” Jared lowered her to the bed and quickly began stripping her out of her clothes in a flurry of activity, his anger and possessiveness making the passion even stronger when he covered her mouth with his again.
Dizzy and breathless by the time he broke off his kiss, Erin tried to cli
ng to him, but he’d already begun to work his way down her body. “Jared!”
His lips moved over her breasts before trailing lower to her abdomen. “Mine, Erin.”
Erin’s breath caught at Jared’s firm hold on her thighs, anticipation making her heart beat faster. “Yes. Yours. Take me.”
“Don’t be in such a hurry. I want more. I want your surrender.” Flipping her to her belly, he lifted her to her knees, parting her folds and flicking his tongue over her clit.
The steady rhythm, one he’d learned would drive her wild, ignited the heat in her clit, making it throb with an overwhelming intensity that had her struggling to close her thighs.
“Uh-uh. Not a fucking chance.” Jared’s hands firmed on her thighs, his attention to her clit unrelenting.
Rising to his knees, Jared pushed her thighs wider, pressing a hand at the center of her upper back to urge her lower, pushing her ass higher into the air.
Then he did something he rarely did.
He slapped her ass. “You belong here. With us.”
Stunned, Erin tried to turn. “Of course, Jared. I—”
“Quiet.” He slapped her ass again before scraping his teeth over the cheek of her ass he’d just struck while he pushed a finger inside her. “Do you think your fucking city slicker could take care of you the way we do? Do you think he could give you the pleasure we do?”
Fearing that she would wake the baby again, Erin bit her lip to hold back her cries of pleasure at the feel of his finger moving inside her.
Squeezing her eyes closed and arching her back, she rocked her hips in an effort to make him move faster, the way he pressed at a sensitive spot inside her driving her wild. “Jared!”
Instead of giving her the pleasure she craved as he usually did, he withdrew his finger and slapped her ass. “Do you?”
Her clit ached, her insides clenching at emptiness. With a strangled cry, she pushed against the fingers now caressing her clit. “What? No! Oh God, Jared. I don’t want to wake the baby.”
She’d die if they had to stop now.
Still caressing her clit, Jared leaned forward, pressing his lip to her shoulder as he reached into the drawer of the nightstand. “Duncan and Reese came in. They’ll take care of William while I take care of you.”
