“How do these people become parents?” She sighed.
“Too much booze and not enough condoms.” Sean chuckled.
Tiff was embarrassed, but the truth was clear. No matter where she went, her life would follow. Her nagging and caretaker nature wouldn’t change. Brothers. Patients. Men. Her friends. Alaska was huge, but they were one community, and she belonged to it. She wanted to help people.
All her life, she’d never really been alone. Now she had men who’d protect her, love her, and it wasn’t embarrassing like her brothers. She loved her men, and they all had every right to stand up for each other.
If it was going to really work, they needed all their dirty laundry out in the group so that it couldn’t hurt them anymore. Might as well, because it wouldn’t go away. Maybe not at Arctic Man, but once they were home. They had to get this all on the table.
* * * *
Mick couldn’t deny who he was. The trooper in charge agreed to hold the drunk guy until he sobered up, and he’d get a warning about the kids as well. Arctic Man was all about partying. Mick could be too strict, but there was no excuse for shoving and not protecting your kids.
It was all just hitting buttons he couldn’t unwire. His dad’s drinking and hitting. His mom drinking and taking pills. Mom zoned out, and Dad got angry. Mick understood Tiff missing her mom, but at least her mother had a good reason to be away. Taking care of family long distance was hard.
The next night, Mick was keeping an eye on the camp not far away. He’d tried to talk to Dave and found out what Tiff had quizzed him about. Dave insisted he didn’t give anything away. Tiff needed to know about his parents at some point. A pair of alcoholics. Mick had one drink now and then but nothing more. Dave saw how bad it was when Mick’s dad was home. Mick stayed over more than Mr. James ever knew. That family saved his life, and he’d never let Tiff down.
But he didn’t want her to think that’s why he wanted her. It was all weird and confusing. He and Sean. Her. Mick never believed it’d work. Happiness wasn’t real. He loved them all, so now they had to figure out how to keep it going without being derailed.
“You okay?” Sean asked as he sat down with a moose kabob and salad on his plate.
“Phil’s not drinking, is he?” Mick realized he’d ignored his own food and started to eat.
“No, trying all the food, but I think he had enough. You need to tell Tiff. She won’t think less of you because of your parents. I wish Dave would quit stirring up trouble.” Sean ate thoughtfully.
“Yeah. That’s pissing her off. The brothers need to get over it. We’re not going away or giving up. We’ll get back to normal in Sterling, and it’ll settle down. A vacation is meant to bring out all the extremes.” Mick shrugged.
“I know you don’t like being vulnerable. You’ve got skin of armor, but she’ll get through it. Tiff’ll be pissed if you don’t tell her the truth.” Sean shook his head.
“I know, but not here when we have a race and then a long trip home stuck in a car. In Sterling, we have our own space to cool off, and she has friends to talk things over with.” Mick sighed.
“Plus, there are people to back you up with facts. Dana’s mom tried to help your mom. She hasn’t said anything, I know that. But once Tiff knows, it might help to hear it from impartial observers,” Sean said.
“I don’t want her pity. I should’ve come back sooner. Not let my dad get to me,” Mick grumbled.
“It’s history. A little sympathy from her is better than being called a liar.” Sean grinned.
Mick couldn’t argue that point. Tiff was strong and independent. She wouldn’t put up with being kept in the dark or treated like she wasn’t fully in this.
Shouting from outside made everyone in the tent look. Phil glanced outside and frowned. He nodded to Mick and work mode kicked in. Mick and Phil charged out. A fistfight was in progress and people were cheering instead of breaking it up.
Phil grabbed the closest one and pinned him to the ground. Mick put a headlock on the big biker. The man didn’t go down as easily and thrashed. Mick held on tight and forced the man to his knees. The biker surged forward and tried to climb on a snow machine, pulling Mick into a collision with the vehicle as well. His knee caught the brunt of it, and he winced.
He pulled the biker back as two Troopers charged in and had the man hog-tied in a matter of minutes.
“Damn warm weather is making people fight and act up more,” complained one of the Troopers.
“Just another Arctic Man.” Mick laughed it off, but his knee throbbed.
“You okay?” Phil helped him up.
“Sure. Just hit my knee on the damn snow machine.” He headed back to the tent and hid the limp. “I’ll walk it off after I eat.”
“You’ll let me look at it now,” Tiff corrected as he entered the tent.
“Fine. I eat, you play doctor.” He winked at her. Having a woman fuss over him wasn’t a normal thing, but he decided to get used to it. Enjoy it.
Chapter Nine
“You can’t drive with that knee,” Tiff said firmly.
“I have to.” Mick tried to stand. He could walk with a slight limp.
“No, you can’t. You need all your limbs to be functioning at top level to drive a snow machine at that speed and hand off a tow rope. You’re no good for at least a week. No snow machines.” She shook her head.
Phil held up his hand. “I’ll drive.”
“No,” the other three answered in unison.
“I’m not that bad,” Phil said.
Sean hugged Phil. “It’s not about good or bad. You have to be able to read the snow in any condition. I pulled number five, which is good, but still.”
“I’ll do it. Phil, keep alternating ice and hot on his knee. I’ll get in my snow gear.” Tiff went to the back of the camper. She didn’t want to encourage Sean, but he wanted to do this so much she had to support him.
“I don’t want you out there,” Mick said.
She glared at him. “Sean is the one with pins in his ankle. I ran two practice rounds with him. This is no different. It’s not like it’s a race with a hundred skiers out there at once.”
“I know. I love you,” Mick said.
She grinned. “You don’t love Sean?”
Mick laughed. “I love you both, but he’s always been an extreme-sports freak. You know better. I love all of you.”
“What pain meds did you put him on?” Phil asked her.
“Just some naproxen sodium. If it’s still a problem when we get home, we’ll get it scanned first and take him to the doctor.” She got dressed. “Let’s go, Sean.”
“Hang on,” Mick said.
“Oh, right. I love you guys too.” She kissed Mick, Phil, and then Sean. “Now quit being all mushy and get your head in the race, guys.”
The thrill of getting Mick to admit his feelings was great, but she wasn’t going to make any mistakes. They’d celebrate later and enjoy the sex. Truthfully, she didn’t care how they placed in the race, just that they made it out safely.
* * * *
The weather was good, and the crowd was crazy. Tiff tuned it out as she set up to wait for Sean. Her stomach knotted hoping he didn’t have trouble with his life. Her eyes fixed on the white section, and his blue helmet finally appeared. His speed was good, and she took off to match pace and get him the rope. There was a bit of a wobble in his stance, and she could tell he was fighting off pain.
The hand off went fine, even if his hand shook a bit. As much as she wanted to keep her eye on him, she focused on the road ahead. The course was fairly decent, but there was a black blob ahead.
What the hell was that?
People were screaming more, but the wind and helmet muffled things. Flexible material used for a fence marked the course, but parts could blow down, and dumb people could wander on the field.
Finally the blob came into focus.
A lost snow machiner was heading in her direction.
Shit!
> She shifted her trajectory to try to avoid the idiot without messing up Sean’s ride. A head-on collision would be hideous. She sped up, hoping the other driver would notice her dominance of the course.
Zooming diagonally away from the problem, she dodged the accident, and cheers went up.
Finally, security came up from the side and stopped the intruder.
Cursing in relief, she picked up more speed and angled the machine to slingshot Sean up the other hill with maximum momentum.
When her part was done, the stress wasn’t over. Event coordinators would berate the idiot, but her mind was back on her man.
She needed to see Sean finish the race safely. Speeding around to the finish line, the excitement had her shaking. He crossed the finish line at fifty-eight miles per hour, and people cheered. He was upright and safe, which was all she cared about. No doubt he’d be limping worse for a day or two, but this was a personal victory for him.
It took a little time for him to slow down, but she picked him up and drove back to where their fans were waiting. Dave was there cheering with Sean’s family, Mick, and Phil. Sean’s smile was huge. He’d run the race. Tiff didn’t care where he ranked, he had fulfilled that masculine need of conquering his demons. She understood the setback of his injury, but hopefully this wouldn’t become a habit.
“You didn’t have the best time,” Mick said as she checked his knee.
“I don’t care. Sean didn’t crash and hurt himself. We’re all fine, except for your knee.” She kissed him. “There are younger men. Sean can’t hope to beat them all.”
“You’re right.” Sean grabbed a beer. “I think that was my last real competition. I might take people snowboarding or skiing or something. Tourist crap, but I’m actually over the competition thing. The rush isn’t the same anymore.”
“You’re growing up,” Tiff said.
“I want to try snowboarding. I’ve skied but never boarded,” Phil said.
“I’ll be sore tomorrow.” Sean collapsed on a couch in the tent and propped his bad leg up.
“I’ll take you snowboarding, but promise to be careful. No drinking tonight.” Tiff prepped an ice pack.
“Nah, we’re adults. I don’t need to get drunk again. One or two now and then is good.” Phil smiled at Mick.
Tiff looked at Dave. “Dave, why don’t you take Phil snowboarding tomorrow? You’re better than I am, and you can get to know him. I can nurse Mick over here.”
Phil went a little pale but nodded. “That’d be great.”
Dave smiled. “You’re right. I know the other two. I’m assuming Phil is good enough for my sister because Mick and Sean are. Maybe I shouldn’t be so easy.”
Tiff smiled as she applied an ice pack to Sean’s ankle. She’d get the whole stories out of the other two. Maybe tomorrow or when they got home, but if Dave got to know Phil it might smooth over things a lot. She didn’t need a bumpy ride with her family. Ménage would be new in the James family tree, but it was right for her.
* * * *
Hungover but cheering crowds waited for the announcement of the winners and ranks. Sean’s leg ached like hell. Tiff was right, he’d be limping and should’ve alternated ice and heat all night. He would never bounce back like he used to.
Still, he’d done it. He’d raced in something impressive and completed it. His family was cheering and chanting his name. His time wasn’t the best, he already knew he hadn’t come in first. The pride and support made him feel like a winner, though. Tiff hugged him on one side, and Phil sort of held him up on the other. Mick’s knee was mostly better, so he paced as though he’d argue if he didn’t like the results.
“Promise me this isn’t going to be a regular thing. The competition part. I know I’ll never be able to keep you from sports and nature,” Tiff said softly in his ear.
He inhaled deeply. The ache in his ankle made him nod. “I needed to know I could. Winning isn’t everything. I had to conquer the injury.”
She nodded and kissed him. He saw the admiration in her eyes. The love. To her, he was a winner. That meant more than any ranking.
He heard his name.
“Sixth! You were sixth! That’s awesome!” Phil cheered and jumped.
“Not bad,” Mick said. “You’d have done better if I drove.”
Tiff snorted. “Really? Doesn’t matter because he’s retiring from competition. So you missed your chance.”
Mick shrugged. “Good. I don’t want to compete. I was just being supportive.”
“Not competitive? Please.” She rolled her eyes.
Phil laughed. “I’m going to get snowboarding lessons.”
“You’d break your neck in that race. Do the sports for fun, but no more risking your necks. Please,” Tiff said.
“Fine,” Phil said.
The crowd cheered as the first-place rider was announced. Things returned to normal quickly, partying and fun all around.
Sean accepted the backslaps and high fives from his cousins. He was their champion, and he’d proven that he’d fully recovered from that crash. It’d been a low point for him, and now he’d risen from the ashes. He had to go out on a success, and doing it with Tiff made it even better.
“Let’s get back to the family tent and have some lunch!” Sean didn’t need the sea of people to care about him. He had his family, and that’s all that mattered.
* * * *
Phil went out with Dave the next day. He’d skied plenty, but snowboarding was a bit different. After a few runs, Phil got the hang of it. He liked skiing better, but the snowboarding angle felt like skateboarding. Dave went down a couple times next to Phil, and he wondered if they were going to talk or just race?
Dave made it the bottom first. Phil took off his goggles and freed his boots. He picked up his board and joined Dave to one side of the hill.
“So I hear you’re a great big brother,” Phil said.
As they headed back to the top, Dave laughed. “She thinks I follow her everywhere. I don’t want anyone taking advantage.”
“I’d never hurt her.” Phil adjusted his grip on his board. He was nervous. Everyone else had a long history. “I love her as much as the others.”
“You’re not just in it for the other men?” Dave asked.
Phil shook his head. “I dated girls in high school. Then I found a guy who was into me and discovered that side of things. Being bi isn’t easy. Not where I’m from, plus my religious family. I did the military thing to get away, and when I was done with that, thought Alaska would be fun. Met Mick and Sean, and it all fell into place. I met her, you know. Before she knew I was with them. We were working a car crash. We flirted, and I got her number. Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe it’s coincidence. She liked me for me, but we’ve gotten to know each other for real now. Not like knowing each other all of our lives but…”
“Less baggage.” Dave nodded. “It’s cool. You hurt her, my brothers and I will tie you up naked on Kodiak Island and slather you in honey as the bears are coming out of hibernation.”
Phil froze.
“Gotcha.” Dave slapped Phil on the back. “If you step out of line, Mick will go ballistic.”
“If you trust them, why did you give them a hard time at the beginning?” Phil asked.
Dave shrugged. “It took them long enough to get their asses back here. She’s not getting younger. Sowing your wild oats and making your mark is one thing, but she deserves better.”
“I think we’re all good now.” Phil hoped that was true.
“Better be. I’m not moving out of Sterling. I’ll know if you guys screw up. Well, I’ve had enough for one day. Have a safe drive back. We’re headed out tonight.” Dave shook Phil’s hand and headed toward his own RV.
Phil walked back to the camper and stored the board. He stripped off his snow gear and wondered. Mick’s family life was horrid growing up. Sean had told Phil about it more than Mick, but Phil had made a big mistake drinking too much. One or two was one thing, but getting drunk
had pissed Mick off. He hadn’t said Phil couldn’t or shouldn’t ever, but the next day, Phil realized that Mick had been upset being around a drunk.
Hopping in the shower, Phil wondered where everyone else was. Still, he needed to warm up and get the sweat off. Phil didn’t have to drink to enjoy life. Sex was enough of a rush now. They were learning about each other, but he felt bad about them keeping the details from Tiff. Maybe she’d heard about Mick’s family, maybe not. But Mick had been adamant about not scaring her off with the story right away.
When he climbed out of the shower and toweled off, Phil knew that he wasn’t alone anymore. He could smell something delicious and hear chatting.
“Hey, we got dinner for you,” Tiff called.
“Thanks.” He slipped on boxers and dug into food.
“How was it?” Tiff asked.
He shrugged. “He’s okay with me. I like skiing better, but I got the hang of snowboarding. I’ll never be Sean. But I’m looking forward to getting back to Sterling and spring weather.”
“Me too.” Mick tossed his trash and collected the others.
Phil finished his food last and wiped up. “Are we headed home tonight?”
“Tomorrow morning. It’s better to start fresh. We’ll sleep here and clean out the camper. But we should pack up.” Sean checked compartments.
“Mostly we’re living out of suitcases. The minifridge is barebones now. Won’t take long,” Tiff said.
Phil walked by, and Tiff pulled him down into a hug. “Thanks for putting up with my brother. I’m glad he wasn’t too rough on you.”
“He trusts these guys. He knows you're safe and wants you to be happy.” Phil kissed her.
Sean stripped down and joined the kiss. Phil laughed.
“What?” Sean asked. “One more time to get the camper rocking.”
Mick undressed, and the men tugged off Tiff’s clothing. Phil took his time and ate her pussy while she teased and sucked the other two cocks in the camper. Hard as hell, Phil stretched out on the couch and put on a condom.
Without hesitation, Tiff rode Phil’s cock and leaned forward. Mick lubed her ass and Phil gasped when he felt the pressure of Mick’s cock filling her ass. Sean slid his dick in Phil’s mouth and kissed Tiff. She licked her way down Sean’s body and helped Phil with the blow job. Her wet pussy rocked faster and harder on the two cocks.
Arctic Adventure (Men of Alaska Book 3) Page 8
