The Merry Widow of Tanner's Ford (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Reece Butler

  Simon was in the barn. Marci was still furious with him for bringing her near peak eight times before finally letting her come. It didn’t matter that the orgasm, when it finally happened, had rocked her world. Keeping her on edge for so long was a fiendish thing to do! And just thinking about it, something she couldn’t stop doing, kept her on the edge of needing more.

  “You might be a doctor, but I was married.”

  “You said Ted told you he’d had a vasectomy, so why would he use condoms?”

  Marci half-turned to face Nikki. “You remember that no-germ thing of his?”

  Ted would have been shocked to learn what she’d one with Simon. Shocked and disgusted. That she might do the same with another man—while the first helped—would have given him a coronary. The hairs on her forearms rose at the reminder. Lance was due to arrive. She pressed her thighs together.

  “Obsessive-compulsive,” said Nikki. She nicked one of the carrots and nibbled it as she stared.

  “What?” demanded Marci.

  “If you’d gone in the drugstore to buy condoms, someone would have passed on the rumor. I didn’t hear anything.”

  “I didn’t have to buy any. Simon had some already.”

  “Did you check their expiry dates?”

  Marci paused. She frowned at Nikki. “Condoms have expiry dates?”

  “Of course. If you use them after the date shown, they could fail. Why?”

  Marci’s free hand went to her lower belly. She swallowed hard. “Simon said he hadn’t been with a woman for years. There were lots of condoms in the drawer. I don’t know how long they’ve been there.”

  “Ah, that’s not a good thing.”

  Marci’s first steps were calm and dignified, but she was running by the third. The bedside drawer squealed as she hauled it open. They’d gone through a good number of the square packets but there were still a few left. She scrambled for one and held it up. Nikki snatched it out of her hand.

  “Best before March, nineteen eighty-four.” Nikki elbowed her aside and selected a different colored one from the drawer. “Nineteen eighty-three.” She held them up, one in each hand. “You’ve been using condoms which expired five years ago!”

  “How was I to know they expired? Ted always had one on when he entered my bedroom for sex. Last Friday night was the first time I opened one.” They stared at each other. Then Nikki suddenly laughed, tossed the condom packages over her shoulder, and hauled Marci in for a hug.

  “Well, sister dear, you might have kick-started our plan to have a family. You could be a mother in nine months.”

  “You’re joking!”

  “I don’t joke about life-or-death things, Marci.”

  Could she be pregnant? Her wildest dream come true? Only, she’d expected to have a husband first. Just one. Simon wanted to marry her, hoping she’d have a son eventually.

  “Simon will be absolutely thrilled if I’m pregnant!”

  Her happiness went cold. What if she was pregnant when Lance returned and she didn’t like him. Could she leave? Simon would never let her take his son away. He’d demand she give him her child. The courts usually sided with the mother, but this was Montana. The laws and judges might be skewed to keep ranches intact. Plus, the MacDougals were one of the founding families and had more relatives than she’d ever imagined. They had far more power than she did.

  “I can’t tell him.”

  “Because of his brother?”

  Marci nodded. “What if I don’t like Lance? I haven’t even seen a picture of him. His voice is wonderful on the phone and I don’t really care about looks, but—”

  “Would Simon tolerate a man who wasn’t polite to women?”

  “Ted was extremely polite to women,” said Marci grimly. “Outside the home.” She was not going to mention the whole obey thing to Nikki. Her big sister had already shown interest in being dominated and would not understand Marci’s reluctance. Or, reluctance tinged with arousing eagerness.

  “From what you’ve said, Simon gives you screaming orgasms every which way he can. He obviously cares for you, and he’s nothing like that bastard you married. Ted’s gone. Dump him from your mind.”

  Marci slumped onto the bed. “Simon said he loves me,” she whispered.

  “Oh, honey, that’s wonderful!” Nikki sat beside her. “Isn’t it?”

  Marci couldn’t keep anything from her sister. “If they don’t have a son within five years, born within a legal marriage, everything to do with the ranch passes on to some stranger in Texas.”

  Nikki blanched. “Is that legal?”

  Marci shrugged. “Simon says so. The same happens if the ranch fails. They can’t sell it, but have to pass it on to these distant cousins they’ve never met, and walk away.”

  “With nothing?”

  Marci nodded. “All that matters is that the MacDougal Clan keep the land. The individual people don’t matter.”

  “That’s downright feudal!” Nikki stomped across the room, and then back. “And you’re okay with this?”

  “What I think about a contract written back in the eighteen hundreds doesn’t matter.” She flopped backward and stared at the ceiling. “I’m not going to jump into marriage again. When I make a promise, I keep it.” She shifted her eyes to Nikki. “I love this place. There’s mountains and sky and horses, and…” She pressed her lips together until she could talk again.

  “Imagine living with people whose roots run so deep they’ll never disappear. Look around this room, Nikki. There’s photographs, furniture, books, handmade lace doilies…all of it loved for years and years. Five generations of MacDougals have lived here. I could be carrying the sixth. My baby would have everything we didn’t. Fathers, a mom who didn’t have to work fourteen hours a day cleaning other people’s houses, cousins, and fresh air. I want my children to know they belong somewhere, and that after they’re gone, a part of them will remain.”

  Tears welled as she looked at her sister. “Nik, there’s nothing left of Mom. We scattered her ashes in the warm ocean just like she wanted. All we have is each other.”

  Marci’s tears flowed. Nikki sank beside her and took her hand. They sat there for a few moments, mourning.

  “You want to love Simon, and want your children to grow up here, but are afraid,” said Nikki quietly. “Even though he’s nothing like Ted, you doubt yourself. What if you change your mind when you see what he’s really like, as with Ted.”

  Marci nodded as she wiped her tears away. “Mom did what she could to raise us, but neither of our fathers did more than provide sperm and a cheap ring before running away. I’ve seen Simon at his worst, and I don’t think he’ll change. I want to believe Simon loves me, and that I love him, but how will I know he wants me, rather than my baby, if he knows I’m pregnant?”

  “According to the textbooks you can’t be sure for a couple of months, but some women have symptoms almost from the moment of conception. Are your breasts tender and swollen? Do you feel more emotional?”

  Marci broke out in a shaky laugh. “For God’s sake, Nikki, of course I do! Just thinking about Simon playing with my breasts makes them swell. I’ve just buried what was left of my husband, a man who did his damnedest to kill me. I’m now living with a man who half the time I want to bean over the head with a soup ladle and the rest of the time want to haul into bed. Yes, I’m emotional!”

  “Is Simon the type of man to spank a woman?”

  “God, no! Nikki, where do you get your ideas?”

  “Is Lance?” Nikki shot her an amused glance.

  Heat flared up Marci’s face and between her legs. She sat up primly, knees together. It was not a question she was going to answer. Mostly because she didn’t know what she felt about someone taking her in hand, literally. And yet…

  “I want husbands who have strong personalities, because I’m the same,” said Marci. “But Simon would never let anyone, including his brother, do something I really didn’t want.”

  Nikki thought for
a moment. “What if they knew you wanted it, but you were embarrassed and refused to believe them? Would they do what you really wanted, or what you said you wanted?

  Marci looked away, but she couldn’t hide much from her sister.

  “Ha!” Nikki sat up, crowing. “I’m right! And I bet Lance will try a bit of hot fun with you. You’re worried that you’ll like it. That’s why you’re afraid of him coming home! You want to be man-handled, to fight and be shown who’s boss. You’re eager to get a red bottom and then a well-filled pussy!”

  “Am not! “

  “Are so!” Nikki grabbed a pillow, laughing as she crowed, whacked Marci with it. “I bet you’ll talk back to Lance on purpose, forcing him to spank you. And when he does, you’ll fight and scream, loving every minute.”

  “Not true!” Furious that Nikki had seen through her, Marci rolled off the bed, a pillow in her hands. She whacked Nikki’s ribs as hard as she could. “I do not want to be spanked by Lance MacDougal!”

  “Oh, yes, you do. And you want him to tie you up, all spread-eagled so he can taste every part of you.” Whack!

  She couldn’t deny that, after what Simon had done.

  “Oh yeah? I bet you’re the one who wants that!” Whack!

  “Yep. And I bet you want one of them to take you doggie style while you’re sucking his brother’s cock!” Whack! Nikki gathered up the end of the pillow more firmly in her hand and took aim. “You’re going to do that with Simon and Lance, aren’t you?”

  “Not tonight.” Both women halted mid-swing at the deep, authoritative growl of an amused male. “But she will. Very soon.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Marci whirled around, heart pounding from the fun fight and surprise arrival. A man who vaguely resembled Simon stood just inside the doorway. There was a family resemblance, but this man, in addition to the hawk nose and high cheekbones, was many shades darker with black hair. He set his feet shoulder width apart, crossed his massive arms, and assessed her, like a predator deciding what part of his prey to eat first.

  Lance MacDougal had arrived.

  A series of familiar thumps and Simon stomped into the room beside Lance. His hot blue eyes shot to her aroused breasts. She raised the pillow, clutching it as if to hide the evidence.

  Nikki nudged her hard in the shoulder. Marci gasped and inhaled, only now realizing she’d held her breath. Could they tell that her panties were wet? Simon had seen her taut nipples. Though they were now hidden by the pillow she clutched like a shield, Lance’s amused glance, and his satisfied nod at Simon, suggested he knew she was aroused.

  Her pussy thrummed, vibrating in need. Simon was a strong man, no doubt about it. But Lance took over the room merely by being there. He commanded respect by his bearing, his ease with the mantle of authority, and she suspected, looking at his size, by his physical ability to do whatever he damn well wanted.

  Ted had tried to made her feel weak, and she’d always felt unprotected. Simon would die protecting her and their children. But Lance wouldn’t die. He would protect her and their children from every danger, even herself. He would gently but securely hold her as she fought and struggled, knowing she needed to fight before giving in to her desires. Then he’d do to her exactly what he wanted. Even more, he would know it was also what she wanted.

  Simon was all man, complete in himself. But Lance had that extra something that drew her like a moth toward a flame, sensing danger but knowing she needed it to live. If it shortened her life, at least she would have embraced her life with passion.

  She wanted that passion, but like everything worthwhile, it came at a cost, which would be acknowledging Lance’s control of her. Now that she’d seen him in the flesh, there was a good chance she could accept his control. But only if her name was cleared and she married into the MacDougal family. One thing she would make clear first was that her value was equal to Simon and to Lance.

  Equal, but different.

  They had Bannock and Highland Scot chiefs as ancestors. Her mother might have had peasant roots, but her father was of Spanish nobility. Though he was a coward who lied and then ran from his responsibility, he had the blood of Conquistadors in his veins.

  So did she.

  Marci tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. Waves of power flowed from Lance’s direct gaze. She could almost feel tendrils of energy caressing her, inside and out. Erotic tendrils which aroused and inflamed.

  It didn’t matter whether he put on a business suit, the MacDougal Clan kilt, deer-hide garments, or those well-worn jeans, boots, and washed-out striped shirt. Every pore of him radiated the fact he was a warrior, and would rule over all he surveyed, including her.

  Only seconds had passed since Lance stepped in the room, yet Marci’s world had shifted. She wanted Simon at her side, and would accept this man as their shield. She tossed the pillow aside and straightened up, facing him with determination and pride.

  Lance glanced briefly at Nikki, dismissed her, then stared directly into Marci’s eyes. She’d planned to put on a more flattering top, a clean skirt, and tidy her hair but it was too late. So be it. He would have to take her as she was. From the way his eyes caressed her, he’d take her any way he liked, no matter what.

  “Marci Meshevski, I’d like you to meet my twin brother, Lance MacDougal,” said Simon formally. “Lance, this is my woman. I told you she was something special.”

  “Your woman? Says who?” demanded Marci.

  Though deep inside she thrilled at Simon’s pride in her, she automatically bristled at the suggestion of ownership. That was something for her to bestow, not Simon to offer.

  “Let me correct that,” said Simon.

  “Dang right!” said Marci defiantly.

  “What I should have said was, Marci is our woman. Mine to provide for—”

  “And mine to protect and control.” Lance’s words came out in a growl.

  “I don’t think so!” She automatically responded with equal determination.

  “I know so,” Lance replied with complete confidence.

  His arrogant assumption that she would need protection, and that she’d let him control her, both aroused and infuriated her. She’d let Ted, a man who deserved no respect, steamroller her into a doormat. When she finally stood up to Ted, the night he tried to kill her, he’d crumbled.

  Would Lance crumble? Without thinking of the consequences she bent over and snatched her pillow. She got a good grip and rushed forward. Simon was the one laughing at her, so he was the one she attacked. She thumped him hard in the stomach. She couldn’t reach much higher. Simon, caught by her attack, gave a surprised oof and clutched his gut. Clenching her teeth in a victorious grin, she wound up for another blow. She raised her arms, pillowcase clenched in her fists, and started to swing.

  A band of iron wrapped around her ribs just under her breasts and lifted her off the floor. A hand yanked the pillow away. She struggled to escape, flailing with feet and arms. She elbowed the man holding her. Instead of releasing her, he gave a small grunt.

  “My woman needs a lesson in manners. Calm yourself, or face the consequences.”

  The low, controlled voice in her ear sent shivers down her spine. If sounds had color and texture, his would be thick black velvet. The expensive silk type, not the cotton. He wasn’t threatening her. He was stating a fact. Worse, he sounded amused by her attempts to escape.

  “I’m not your woman and this isn’t funny!” she hollered as she fought harder to escape. “Put me down!”

  “Stop resisting my control.”

  “No!”

  “Yes.”

  She grabbed the brown arm holding her against a warm, broad chest. She curled her fingers around his wrist but couldn’t budge it at all. Her chest tightened toward panic. He was strong enough to hold her like that all day. She could attack him all she liked and he’d still keep her close. She was trapped, unable to breathe. Suddenly she was thirteen, grabbed by a man who’d been hanging around the trailer park. He
stank of old sweat, rancid breath, and cheap booze. She’d tried to escape but he’d trapped her with his arm around her ribcage. He’d hauled her backward into the woods. She’d screamed for Nikki. Her big sister had run over, screaming even louder, and smashed him in the knee with a thick stick. He’d dropped her and they’d run home, hand in hand.

  She’d never felt safe again. She thought Ted would protect her, but he was also a monster, only of the mind rather than the body.

  She’d never told anyone about her fear.

  Marci exploded in terror, flailing to get free. She tried to scream but couldn’t inhale. Stars exploded behind her eyes as her panic increased. Then the tight band around her ribs loosened. Her feet touched the floor. She hauled air into her lungs. There was no stench here, no woods. But there was a man holding her. She couldn’t stop shaking as she fought to breathe.

  “Shh, you’re safe, little one.” A calm voice whispered the words near her ear. “Let it go and the panic will fade. I’ll protect you. No one will ever hurt you again. Never.”

  His words eased her terror, but he still didn’t release her. She shivered, muscles tight. Her bottom lip quivered. Nikki must have tried to rush to her defense as she was held the same way by Simon. Both stared at her in concern. But she needed comfort from the only person who’d ever protected her.

  “Nikki?” she whispered.

  “Let me go,” demanded Nikki. “My baby sister needs me!”

  “No, she doesn’t,” replied Simon. “She needs Lance. I know you want to help, but Marci is our responsibility now. We’ll work it out, together.”

  Nikki struggled but Simon had wrestled with cattle and horses all his life. He could hold one woman his size. Marci realized Simon was right. She was a grown woman and no longer needed her sister at her side. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen tonight, but neither man would harm her.

  “It’s all right,” whispered Marci. She forced her lips to curve up at the edges. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”