by Zoey Marcel
Jill grinned. “They’re getting impatient.”
“They miss my awesomeness.” He pecked a featherlight kiss on her lips and brushed her soggy cheek. “Brenda will watch the kids and we’ll have a nice date together.”
She smiled before frowning. “Brenda? You asked Brenda to watch my girls?”
He grinned slowly. “What’s wrong with that?”
“She’s loudmouthed and crass. She’ll turn my girls into obnoxious hussies.”
“In two or three hours? She’s good with kids. They’ll be fine.”
Jill scowled. “I won’t be able to look at her without remembering that she slept with you before we got together.”
Neil shrugged. “Then I’ll drop the kids off with her so you don’t have to.”
“No. I don’t want you around that trampy barista. You shouldn’t have even been talking to her.”
“You talk to Judah. I don’t have a problem with that. It’s a small town, Jill. We’re going to bump into ex-flings, but it’s okay. It’s not like I have any plans to sleep with her ever again or anything.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’d better not.”
He kissed her hand and nuzzled it. “I won’t. You’re the only one, baby.”
“You’re the only one, too.” Her voice broke and the tears returned. She waved him off when he reached for her. “You’d better go. The girls are probably getting restless.”
“It’s going to be okay, Jill. We have each other.”
She offered him a broken smile and nodded before he left.
Neil looked back at the house before he got into the car, remembering the way he’d climbed up a ladder to pay Ben a surprise visit—a visit that had turned out hot and scrumptious.
He remembered walking into a store with the sheriff and grabbing his ass on one of the secluded aisles. Ben had smacked the back of his head for that, but he’d given Neil’s face a proper mauling once they were alone together.
He’d had both Ben and Jill there for a while. It had been heaven on earth for a few breathtaking weeks. Now it was gone.
* * * *
Titan, the Rottweiler, sat by the door, waiting for Ben to come home. The sight broke Jill’s heart. The German shepherd, Poseidon, and the Doberman, Zeus, had acted forlorn at first, but they seemed to be adjusting better than Titan.
“Titan, here girl,” Jill beckoned.
The dog looked at her and then refocused on the door with a pitiful whimper. The sound made Jill ache with sorrow as she walked over to the dog that had just lain down. She stroked the Rottweiler’s fur in silence before going and collapsing on the couch. That dog had never liked her anyway, unlike the other two. Titan had been extremely possessive of Ben.
To her surprise, the animal came over to her and rested her big, bulky head on Jill’s lap. She petted Titan slowly and rubbed behind her floppy ears. Zeus and Poseidon came into the living room and got up on the couch. Jill normally would have protested. City girls didn’t let big-ass dogs have dominion over the furniture, but she didn’t care anymore.
The memories she’d made with Ben echoed in every corner of the house. She could never sell it. The place meant too much to her, but she couldn’t stay.
* * * *
It was a long shot, but Jill didn’t believe in leaving any stone unturned. She called the number of her friend, Claudia Presley’s adopted daughter, Lorelei. Claudia had found her on her porch as a baby and raised Lorelei as her own. She didn’t know where the black-haired beauty had come from, but the child had been gifted.
Now Lorelei Presley was a grown woman and a witch. There was a time Jill would have shunned the idea of contacting a witch, even doubted their power, but that time had passed. She’d summon the devil himself if she thought he would help her get Ben back.
“Hello?” Lorelei answered.
“Hi, Lorelei, it’s Jill. Your mom gave me this number.”
“Mrs. Easton, hi. How have you been?”
They exchanged pleasantries, but Jill really wanted to get down to business. “Ben’s dead.”
The words stabbed her all over, forcing the air from her lungs. They were no less potent today than the day she’d first heard them.
“I’m so sorry.”
“I want him back,” Jill said quietly.
“You poor thing.”
“I want him back, Lorelei, no matter what.”
Lorelei was quiet on the other end. “You want me to use magic to try to bring him back from the dead?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to do that. There’s no guarantee that he would come back the way you’d expect. He could come back as a ghost or a zombie or an evil doppelganger. The only way to get him back for sure is to call upon something ancient and dark to use necromancy and bring him back the way he was. But that comes at a very high price.”
“I’ll pay it,” Jill said quickly. “I’ll do whatever I have to to get him back.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. The price differs depending on the entity you call up. If the being is especially malignant they could just kill or torture you or worse. If you’re lucky they’ll hear you out, but the payment they require will be great.”
“What do they usually ask for?”
“It depends on the spirit. They could ask for your life, your soul, money, sex, you name it. The sky’s the limit. The more desperate you are the more they demand from you.”
“I don’t care. I need him, Lorelei. It hurts so bad every day.” Jill took a deep breath. “Please.”
Lorelei sighed. “I’ll do some research and see what I can do. This is a serious thing you’re asking for. It could take months for me to figure out which spirit to contact and find a spell strong enough to protect you from them.”
Jill felt a tiny ember of hope flicker in her soul. “Take as long as you need. Thank you.”
* * * *
A year later – Malibu, California
Jill’s hands couldn’t stop shaking as she drove her girls home. This was it. Sink or swim. In a way moving back to her mansion in Malibu had been a good thing. Luxury distracted, though its fleeting pleasures were as hollow as her soul. She had no memories of Ben in this house, though all her memories of him elsewhere were always with her.
Neil had begged her not to move, but she’d needed to get away and had surprised them both when she’d asked to be left alone for a while. He’d left her alone for all of a week before flying to California to be with her. He reminded her of Ben, even though they were different. The trio had made memories together in and out of bed. Looking at Neil touched her, hurt her.
He’d eventually ended his visits of flying back and forth and moved to Malibu to be with her. She’d missed him and accepted his self-invitation to live with her. It was good for the girls to have a father figure and good for her to have an adult in the house to confide in.
She pulled into the driveway and parked, excited and scared about tonight. Lorelei had called her earlier with answers. At midnight the witch would create a temporary tear in the spirit world and invoke Samael, the death angel, to come and talk to Jill. It was either that or she’d have to die in order to see him, and that wasn’t an option.
Jill went into the house with her daughters, freezing when she saw the three men gathered around the island in the kitchen. Neil had gotten home earlier and Logan and Judah had apparently come for a visit. She hadn’t seen the latter two men since she’d moved out here, though she’d missed them.
Judah gave her one of his world-class smiles, flashing his pearly whites at her and triggering all her erogenous zones with his sinful silver-blue eyes. His short flaxen-blond hair was stylishly messy, and his five-o’clock shadow was asking to be caressed by her willing fingers.
Logan and Neil turned to look at her, cutting their conversation short.
“Jill,” Logan acknowledged with a warm smile.
Her stomach knotted like a giddy teenager, but her heart felt peaceful. “Logan. What are
you guys doing here?”
“They came for a visit,” Neil said happily. “I told them it would be okay now, that you’d be ready.”
She gulped. “Ready for what?”
Judah’s amorous eyes turned ardent. “I don’t think we need to spell it out for you, darlin’.”
Conflicting emotions and torn desires crept in. If she went through with her plans tonight and met with the death angel, she might get Ben back and he’d let her have Neil, but she’d lose Logan and Judah again.
But if she stayed with them, she would sacrifice her chance of ever seeing Ben again. Where was he? She’d always believed in an afterlife and she was certain she still did, but she’d been so confused this past year without him that she no longer knew what came after this, whether heaven or hell, or something else entirely.
Coral noticed Judah. “You’ve got cowboy boots.”
Judah grinned. “I sure do.”
His eyes widened when they fell on the little blonde girl. He had to know.
“Are you my cowboy Daddy?” Coral asked.
Jill swallowed, hoping he wouldn’t be upset with her for keeping Coral a secret from him. “Yes, Coral, Judah is your Daddy.”
Judah closed his mouth and approached Coral slowly as if in awe. He knelt in front of her, completely speechless.
“I should have told you sooner,” Jill mumbled nervously.
“Yes, you should have,” Judah scolded, still looking at his daughter. “How old are you, sweetie?”
“Five,” Coral said shyly. “I’m Coral.”
Judah got a crooked grin and shook her chubby little hand. “I’m Daddy.”
She giggled. “Mommy loves you. Do you love her?”
Jill’s heart stuttered, worried that he’d since moved on without her and even more afraid that he still had feelings for her.
Judah smiled. “Yes, Coral, I love your Mommy very much.”
“Are you going to marry her?” Pasadena asked. “You might have to fight Neil for her.”
Neil laughed. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
Coral drew near Judah’s ear and whispered loudly. “I bet you’ll kick his butt.”
“Hey!” Neil teased. “Whether or not you get ice cream tonight depends on who you vote for.”
Coral’s eyes widened in concern before she walked over and hugged Neil. “I love you, Neil.”
“Uh-huh.”
Jill averted her eyes when Judah’s focus shifted to her. She could tell he was upset, but the magnetic pull of lust was dangerous. “Have you guys been down to the beach yet?”
“Not yet,” Logan replied. “We should head down there before we make you dinner. I haven’t been to the beach in forever.”
“You don’t have to make me dinner,” she protested. “I’ll make you dinner.”
Neil shook his head. “We want to cook for you. And by ‘we’ I mean them since I can’t cook.”
Logan walked toward Jill and dropped a sweet kiss on her forehead that made her eyes close with contentment. “Let us take care of you, pet.”
“I can show you guys the beach,” Pasadena offered.
“Much obliged, miss.” Logan smiled and followed her out the back door along with Neil and Coral.
Neil turned to face Judah. “Are you coming?”
Judah shook his head. “No. I think I’ll stay here.”
Jill cringed. That couldn’t be good. He was probably mad that she hadn’t told him he was a father. She’d figured it would be less complicated that way considering Pasadena was Ben’s child. She’d been born first. It had made sense not to tell either man back when she and Ben had been separated.
“You should go down to the beach, Judah,” Jill prodded in a feeble tone.
His eyes and voice were a sharp warning. “I’m staying here, Jill.”
She gulped hard and looked away, becoming deeply enthralled by the tomatoes someone had set out on the counter. They were a nice distraction from the hot, angry cowboy.
Neil headed out. “Do what you have to, bro. You have my permission.”
Jill spun around to gape at him. Who was he to pass her off to another man without asking? Still, he knew she’d loved Judah for years. He was probably just trying to be nice.
Neil grinned at her with what Ben used to call his “I’m a pervert” face. “May the force be with you, baby.”
“I’m going to smack you,” she threatened, enamored by his chuckle as he headed out the door.
She turned her back to Judah, honing in on the beefsteak tomatoes. “It was nice of you guys to come out here and visit us.”
“Cut the crap, Jill. Why didn’t you tell me I knocked you up years ago?”
“I didn’t figure you wanted kids.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.” He stormed toward her and made her face him. “I told you before I wanted to make a family with you.”
“I didn’t think you meant it.”
“You’re really pissing me off.” He jerked her chin up and glared at her. “I don’t want you keeping secrets from me or lying to me. You know damned well I’m in love with you. I made that very clear a number of times.”
She pried his loose grip off her face and turned back to the tomatoes. “I’m sure you’ve said that before to get in women’s pants.”
“Excuse me?” he growled, grabbing her.
She was desperate for a distraction. “Who put the tomatoes there?”
“Would you forget about those rotund bastards and pay attention to me? I’ve never told a woman I loved her until you. I might have been around the block a few times.” He gave her his signature crooked grin when she raised a skeptical brow at him. “Okay more than a few times. I ran lap after fucking lap around the block and a lot of the neighboring blocks.”
Jill wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes. “Oh good, make sure you didn’t miss anyone.”
He smirked before his expression turned mildly repentant. “Sorry. But the point is you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved or ever will love.”
The declaration moved and saddened her. Words she could build dreams on would be unfulfilled hope after she met with the Grim Reaper tonight. She couldn’t have both Judah and Ben, though she desperately wanted to.
“I love you, too,” she murmured. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Coral. I figured it would be less complicated that way.”
“That’s fine, Jill, but I still have to punish you for not telling me about her.”
She snickered. “You’re not punishing me, cowboy.”
“You can either take your spanking like a good girl, or I’ll give you something worse.”
“You’re joking.”
His face became serious. “I never kid about discipline. What will it be, darlin’?”
She snorted. “You can’t just show up in my house and spank my ass.”
“That’s exactly what I’m gonna do, and you’re gonna submit to it like a good girl.” He stepped closer, pressing his aroused crotch into her belly. “Unbuckle my belt, baby.”
Did he want to have sex instead? She unfastened his belt, thrilling at the sensual jingle.
His tone dropped to a hush. “Pull it out of the loops and double it up.”
Her eyes widened, realizing his intentions. “What?”
“Don’t question me, Jill. Just do what I say. I’m going to spank your ass and pussy with my belt until they’re as red as those tomatoes you keep obsessing over.” When she hesitated, he added “If you don’t, I will. You’re not getting out of this.”
Jill lost her breath and became weak in the knees as she eased the belt out of his pants loops.
“Good girl. Now fold it over. That’s it.”
She shivered and heated over his titillating whisper. His hushed words seduced the moisture from her pussy.
“Turn around.”
She turned her back to him, trapped between the counter and his hard, rugged body.
“Lift your dress.”
&nbs
p; She felt tiny tremors of apprehension and bawdy awareness circulate through her as she raised the hem of her dress, exposing the yellow lace panties that matched her pale-yellow sundress. His rough fingers dipped into the waistband and stroked her skin just before she felt a violent tug. A ripping sound filled the room as he tore the panties off her.
The sexy cowboy was going down. Nobody ripped her expensive panties and walked away from the scene. “You jerk, you ripped my underwear!”
She spun around to pop him a good one, but the quick thinker grabbed her wrist before she could deck him. The preventative measure irked her and nudged a soft spot in her. Ben had grabbed her arm before when she tried to hit him. Sweet times.
Judah spun her around and shoved her down against the counter. “I don’t think I’ll let you hit the father of your child, baby. Hold your dress up. If you let it fall, I’ll spank you that much harder.”
Ben had made a similar erotic threat in an elevator once. Her heart smiled and ached simultaneously.
“Hold still, darlin’.”
Jill yelped and jolted. In her effort to grab the counter for support she let her dress fall.
“Jill, look where your dress is.”
She cringed and gathered the hem up again.
“It was down by your thighs, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, so?” She wanted to laugh at her sass, but the harsh retaliation of the belt slapped all traces of smart-ass humor out the window.
“Don’t get smart with me, woman. Your punishment can always get worse.”
The threat was as startling as it was arousing. “Right. Let me know when you’re done.”
And the sass was back, but not for long. The punishing leather lashed at her rump repeatedly, hitting different places each time. Her skin warmed before the belt swiftly set fire to it. The stings felt like vindictive mosquitoes out for blood.
“Okay! I’m sorry. I should have told you about Coral.”
“I’m glad you finally see that. Turn around.”
Jill slowly turned to face him, letting her dress fall to a few inches above her knees.
“I didn’t tell you to let go of your dress, Jill.”
Electricity sizzled through her veins as she bared her waxed cunt to him, thrilling at the brazen lust in his eyes. A wild gasp sprinted from her when he cupped her bare pussy, melting her gaze with his.
