Jack and Ethan went to the bedroom and quickly stripped and replaced the fitted sheet, then pulled the top sheet and blanket back into place. They fluffed her pillows and added a few from their own beds.
They helped her into the center of the bed, and she got comfortable on her back. Jack curled to her left side, and Ethan curled to her right, Jack’s forearm draped warmly under her breasts and Ethan’s across her waist. Adam somehow slid in alongside her legs, his head at her abdomen.
Grace giggled as she offered him a pillow, but he turned his cheek to her belly and kissed her there, saying he was perfectly content. Jack chuckled in amusement as he noticed Adam’s feet definitely hung off the end of the bed. She draped a long, sexy leg over his ribs, and Adam wrapped his arm around it like it was what he’d expected her to do.
* * * *
Grace was slowly aware of two gentle, warm mouths, each suckling a nipple, and the scratch of their morning whiskers. What assailed her next was the feel of Adam’s warm tongue lapping at her cunt. His gentle fingers parted her lips, and his tongue leisurely explored the entrance of her pussy before trailing up to her clit.
He murmured one word reverently. “Woman.”
The stunningly erotic effect of that moment made her careen in seconds toward orgasm as her body clenched at his tongue and his gentle exploratory fingers, which struck just the right chords in her responsive body. Her head fell back, and she moaned twice as the waves built and crested. She came as she rode the soft waves.
Ethan and Jack leaned forward and kissed away the tears that she hadn’t even realized were there as they rolled from her eyes onto her temples. She sobbed as her body shook with an aftershock. She reached down to cradle Adam’s cheek, and he nuzzled her hand.
Jack chuckled. “Now I understand why you were willing to sleep down there, rather than beside one of us. That was sweet to watch.”
Adam sat up slowly, stretching. “It was totally worth sleeping with my feet dangled off the end of the bed to be able to wake up and nuzzle against her. But we definitely need to order that bed…and two freestanding mirrors.”
“I second that motion.” Jack laughed with them.
While she got herself ready for work, the men made breakfast. She sat down slowly and with care at the table, and Adam poured her a cup of coffee. Ethan placed two ibuprofen in her palm then leaned down and kissed her. He tasted fresh like toothpaste and smelled like his shaving gel. It lingered in her nostrils after he sat in his chair.
Adam placed a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast in front of her and put the grape jam by her plate. All three laughed and cringed when she put a spoonful on her scrambled eggs to soften and melt as she stirred them a little.
Grace laughed and said, “This was the only way my mom could get me to eat eggs. It turns them green, see? You remember Green Eggs and Ham, don’t you? It’s still my favorite way to eat them, but I promise not to do that in public if we ever go out for breakfast.”
“Darlin’, if that’s how you like your eggs, then that’s how you’ll get them. Nobody else’s opinion matters to us but yours.”
“How bad was the flooding last night? You know, once we got home, I honestly didn’t pay attention to whether we got any more rain. I was consumed in other activities.” She smirked.
Her men chuckled a little, and Ethan told her, “According to the gauge, we got three more inches. I think we were all oblivious to the rain. I’ll take you to work again today, provided we can get through the low water crossings. I’ll be ready whenever you are, Gracie.”
Adam returned to the living room, dressed and ready to go on his service calls. She went to him as he reached for her, sliding his hands up and down her rib cage. She pulled him down so he could hear her whisper only for him as she caressed his cheek. Jack and Ethan gave them their space.
“Adam, I know you think Ethan is the sensitive one and that you miss a lot of the finer points about loving me. But I need you to know something really important, okay? You made me believe I was worthy of a real man’s love when you said those beautiful things to me the day of the funeral. You were the one to calm me when I saw Patricia make a move on Ethan and helped me to keep my sense of humor. You were the one who wanted to sleep entwined with my legs last night because you wanted to be close to me and to wake me this morning, giving me that beautiful orgasm. Soplease, baby, don’t think for a minute that you’re just the big, tough, strong guy to me. I won’t lie. I love that part of you. I love it when you pick me up, and I loved when you fucked me hard last night, but I love your tender heart, too.”
She caressed his neck. “I didn’t want you to think I overlooked that part of you.” Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly. He slid his hands from her rib cage and around to the small of her back, pressing her to him as his hands slid down to palm her ass cheeks. She moaned and sighed and then said, “I’ll miss you.”
“Baby, I’m going to miss you, too. I hate to leave right now. I’d much rather spend this day with you, especially after last night. I’d just want to stay near you, not do anything, because you must be sore. I wish I could tuck you in my pocket and take you with me.” He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled.
“We’ll have this evening, Adam. That’s what I’ll look forward to, and I feel fine. Only a little sore, just a heightened awareness, knowing that you’ve been inside of me. Really, Adam, I see the doubt in your eyes, but you saw me this morning sit down at the table with no real problem. That’s all behind us now. I’m going to look forward to dancing with you tonight.”
“If you feel up to it. Why don’t you take a nap after you get home?”
“Are you going to nap with me? I love a good nap. Bet I’d like it even more if I could cuddle up with you.”
“Yeah, but the question is, would you get any sleep?” He gathered her in his arms and lifted her off her feet, and she squealed. She heard Jack and Ethan laugh quietly from the kitchen, probably watching.
Adam finally made it out the door, still obviously reluctant to leave, but he couldn’t keep those customers waiting. Jack promised to be there in the afternoon when she got home.
She walked Jack to the door as he said, “Ask one of the hands, and they should be able to tell you where I am. I want to show you the new foals now that you’ll feel more comfortable roaming around the place. The ranch is your home now, and you have free run of it. Plus, I’m sure Angel will be glad to see you again.”
He was out the door and down the drive a few minutes later. She sat down with Ethan and had another cup of coffee. They talked about the bed and what dimensions would help to solve their problem of four in the bed, although Adam hadn’t seemed to suffer too badly last night as the odd man. They decided that an increase of three feet in width and length would probably make things more comfortable. Ethan called Wesley and let him know they’d be over Saturday evening. He showed her a couple of websites that offered custom bed linens that could also make her canopy drape and the window treatments for the master suite, as well.
“Ethan, I need to know something. Will y’all expect me to withhold my affection for you when we are in a public setting, like at the grocery store, or restaurants, or the movies?”
Ethan seemed a little reluctant to broach that touchy subject. “We talked about it a bit before we asked you out. How would we treat you, which one of us would be allowed to show affection in public. Divine is a small city, and we have greater anonymity than Angel’s parents, but we’re all self-employed, including you soon. Unfortunately, that means caring about public opinion. Because you conduct yourself like a lady, there are only a few situations we need to be careful in. Bear in mind that we don’t have all the answers, okay? But I think you would agree that, outside The Dancing Pony, public displays of affection need to be limited to just Jack…”
“Meaning I can’t show affection to you and Adam?” She felt bereft at the thought.
“You’ve known Jack the longest. It would be all r
ight with me and Adam if you treated Jack as your boyfriend. Just try not to tease us too much with not being able to touch you. I know that there are other similar relationships in the area, but they all either maintain a roommate or marriage façade, like Angel’s parents. At The Pony, you acted like such a lady that no one really thought anything of it if they saw you kissing us during the evening. Most of the regulars who come there are decent people who mind their own business. We’ll deal with any situations that arise while we’re there. Ben feels the same way, by the way. He thinks you’re a peach.”
“Really? That’s sweet! So, in the grocery store?”
“You can hold Jack’s hand, act like his girlfriend, but you need to let us push the cart and do the heavy lifting. I know it’s a lot to get used to, but all of us are committed to making you happy, so we’re willing to be flexible. Let’s just be careful until things settle down.”
“I wouldn’t want to harm Jack or Adam’s business. Keeping it a secret is probably for the best, but at least the people closest to me—Charity, Rose, and Martha—have all been totally supportive. They adore you three.”
Ethan grinned and kissed her forehead. “We can sit down and have a talk together this weekend and see how we all feel. For now, it can keep. But remember what I said about The Dancing Pony. You’re our date, okay? I feel like I’ve upset you.” He reached for her hand, and she leaned her forehead against his shoulder.
“You haven’t upset me, not really. I’m already pretty careful when we’re in public. I’m just afraid I’m going to unconsciously take your hand or Adam’s because I feel so comfortable with you. I don’t want to mess up.”
“You know what we all have in common? None of us wants to hurt the others. If you catch yourself and have to withdraw a gesture of affection, don’t feel like we take it as an emotional withdrawal. I’m more worried about the love that shines in your eyes than I am about you accidentally taking my hand at the checkout line in the grocery store.”
“Then you’ll have to blindfold me because I don’t see how I can hide it.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
She loved days like this when the shop hummed with activity. Filing the last order she’d just taken, Grace heard the door open and turned to help the next customer. It was Fred from Merritt’s Florist making a delivery. He set the large, heavy crystal vase containing one dozen blood-red, long-stemmed roses on the sales counter and smiled at her politely.
“These are for you, Miss Stuart.”
“Wow! Rose! Come look!” Martha shouted loudly, startling both Grace and Fred.
Grace sniffed them appreciatively as she removed the card from its clip. “They’re beautiful, Fred.”
“Who are they from?” Rose asked, almost bouncing on her toes.
“I’ll be right back.” Fred said as he turned to the front door.
“The card says they are from Ethan,” Grace said dreamily after glancing at it. There was a handwritten note as well.
“Why did Fred say he’s coming back?” Rose asked.
Martha peeked at the card. “I see his handwriting, Grace. What did Ethan write? Read it!”
“Y’all, it’s private!” Grace laughed, holding the card to her breast. “Did Fred say he was coming back?”
“Oh, my gosh!” Rose said in a stage whisper as another dozen long-stemmed roses moved past the front window.
Fred came inside bearing an arrangement of the most vivid yellow roses she’d ever seen, also in a heavy crystal vase. No expense had been spared on these arrangements. Fred set the yellow roses next to the red roses, still smiling sweetly. The women were shocked, awed into silence as Grace took the card and looked Fred in the eye.
The elderly man blushed and said, “I’ll be right back, Miss Stuart.”
Evidently unable to contain herself, Rose screamed. The poor man cringed as he turned for the door again. Grace had a feeling she was about to be the talk of the town.
“Dang, Rose! Who are they from, Grace?” Martha asked. This time she positioned herself so she might be able to read what was written on the card.
Grace opened the card carefully. “Adam,” she whispered. Her body hummed, and her heart pounded.
Another rose arrangement passed in front of the window. This one held a dozen long-stemmed roses in a deep shade of rosy pink in another heavy crystal vase. She felt beads of sweat forming on her brow. As Fred walked in, his face split in a wide, happy grin, but he glanced at Rose in anticipation of her next reaction.
“The gentleman said I was to tell you he picked each one of these pink roses himself so he knew we’d send the right color. All of the vases are Waterford Crystal, the best and largest we had, according to his request.”
“Who are they from?” Martha asked.
Rose gawked at her. “Like we don’t already know.” She practically snorted. “Open the card, missy.”
“These are from Jack.” Grace sniffled, misty-eyed. “I don’t have to open the card to know that.”
Fred added, “Mr. Warner also asked that you open his card last. Ladies, you have a great day. Y’all sure made mine.” He smiled as he left, shaking his head.
“I wonder why Jack felt the need to handpick those pink roses. Pink is pink, right?” Rose asked.
Grace was seeing black spots. “I think I need to sit down.” She went to her desk chair behind the counter.
“Get her some water, Rose. Here, honey, put your head between your knees,” Martha said, taking charge. She steadied Grace as she put her head down. “Slow, deep breaths, sweetie. I don’t want you to pass out and hit your head.”
Grace clutched the cards to her breasts, obeyed Martha, and breathed in slow and deep.
“Here, sweetie, drink up.” Rose swept in with a glass of water like a mother hen fussing over a chick.
They pulled up chairs to hers as she sat up. “How do you feel?” Martha asked. “Don’t get up yet. Give the blood a chance to circulate back to your brain first.”
“Those men are so in love with you, honey. I take it you had a nice evening last night?” Rose smiled conspiratorially.
Grace blushed. “Yes, we did have a nice evening. I’m so in love with them, my heart aches with it. Thank you, Martha, Rose, for not judging me for loving three men. They are so sweet and so good to me.”
Martha patted Grace’s shoulder and sagely said, “In this life, honey, you have to take true love and hold on to it for dear life, even when it doesn’t come in the usual ways. If three men loved me like they obviously love you, and I loved them in return the way you obviously do, I would frickin’ go for it.”
“Martha, did you just say ‘frickin’’?” Grace laughed.
Martha grinned and rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying, is all. Go for it, honey.”
“Yeah! Seize the day, sweetie! Beautiful, hot cowboys are in love with you! Ride ‘em, cowgirl!” Rose whooped.
Martha turned to give her a shocked and disgusted look.
“Oooh!” Rose gasped when she realized what she’d said, turning five shades of red. “Why that particular shade of pink?” Rose asked once she’d recovered. She tilted her head in curiosity. Grace put her hands to her flaming cheeks and said nothing, but her thoughts were almost singing.Because it reminds him of my pink pussy! Her cheeks tingled with heat.
“Let’s leave Grace alone to read her cards, Rose. It’s none of our business,” Martha said, shooing the curious Rose from the room.
Grace drank from the glass of water and opened Ethan’s card first. He’d written it in his own hand.
For the woman I adore—
Red, because the heart that beats in my chest beats for you.
Red, for the love in your wantonly innocent invitation.
Red, for the sweet yet seductive words that flowed from your lips.
Red, for the blood and the pain that is in the past.
Red, for the pounding of my heart when I think of a future with you.
Your Ethan
She la
id his card on the desk and looked at the red roses. His note was sexy and straight from his heart, just like him. The phone rang in the back room. She heard Martha answer it. Grace laid her hand gently on the card. The love that flowed in those sweet words was like an arrow straight into her heart.
She wiped the tears as she opened Adam’s card next, also written in his own hand.
For you, Grace,
The flower I love the best in the entire world. The roses are nice, but they can’t compare to your beautiful face, your beautiful heart, or the love that shines in your eyes. Thank you for seeing my true heart. I loved you the moment I first saw you, my angel. You are my true heart.
Love, Adam
His true heart. She pressed her lips to the note and wiped her eyes again. She heard the overhead door open and assumed UPS must be here. Martha and Rose talked with the driver, quietly. Grace undid the seal on Jack’s card. His script was economical and to the point, just like her Jack.
Darling,
I think I got pretty close on that shade of pink, don’t you?
Look up and say yes.
Love, Jack
Confused, she looked at the back of the card. There was nothing else written on it. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she read it again and heard a sound from the door. She looked up and expected it to be Rose or Martha checking on her.
It was Jack. And Ethan. And Adam. Their hearts in their eyes, tender smiles on their faces. Her eyes overflowed with tears, and she noticed their chins wobbled a little, too. Martha and Rose were doing their best to peek around them since there was no point trying to see over their tall shoulders. The ladies were grinning from ear to ear.
Her men came to stand before her, and her heart pounded as she looked up into their sweet faces.
Jack knelt down in front of her, on one knee, and reached out to wipe away a tear. “Darlin’? Marry me?”
A sob wrenched from her throat.
Adam knelt at Jack’s side. “Baby? Marry me?” Adam took her hand and pressed it to his cheek, love glowing in the green depths of his eyes.
The Divine Creek Ranch Collection, Volume 1 [Book 1 - Divine Grace, Book 2 - Her Gentle Giant, Book 3 - Heavenly Angel] (Siren Everlasting Collection) Page 34
