by Lori King
Primal Surrender
The Surrender Series [3]
Lori King
*
Warning: For Mature Adult Audiences. Contains language and actions some may deem offensive. Sexually explicit content. M/F/M, graphic language, consensual BDSM, spanking, HEA. There is ‘No’ touching or titillation between siblings.
In book three of The Surrender Trilogy: Brothers Mack and Ryker Thompson know the pain of failure intimately having recently fallen from the heights of success. One a former football star, and the other a master at his artistic craft, they couldn’t be more different from each other. Mack hides behind anonymity in order to cover up his pain, while Ryker figures it doesn’t matter if the glass is half-full or half-empty as long as there’s a bartender refilling it all will be well. Broken and haunted by the mistakes of their past, neither expected to find a ray of sunshine in the clouds of their pity party.
Claudia Schmidt is the only daughter of a real estate tycoon that has a plan for turning the small town of Stone River into a suburb of Austin, Texas. When she is sent in to replace the project manager, and convince the town of the necessity of the project, she finds herself falling in love with the town, and the Thompson brothers.
Although ménage relationships aren’t foreign to Mack and Ryker, neither one intends on living one, so how can they decide who gets the girl? And what if the girl wants all or nothing? Welcome back to Stone River…
Primal Surrender
Surrender Trilogy
Book Three
by Lori King
© Copyright May 2014 JK Publishing, Inc.
ISBN # 9781311513823
All cover art and logo © Copyright May 2014 by JK Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Edited by Caroline Kirby
Artwork by Jess Buffett
Published by JK Publishing, Inc.
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Dedication
For my parents,
You taught me that family and love are more important than anything else,
thank you.
Acknowledgements:
Four very special ladies helped me creatively on this story:
Diana Merrit who helped create Cormac “Mack” Thompson last summer when I was writing Weekend Surrender.
Trixie Shellbomb who won the opportunity to help me create the character Ryker Thompson.
Rhoda Siller who suggested the name Saddle-Up Leatherworks.
And Trish Bowers who suggested the name Tan Your Hyde Leatherworks.
Thank you for your assistance, ladies!
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
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Books by Lori King
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Chapter One
“I just don’t get it. Why the hell would anyone want to share his wife with his brother?”
Mack Thompson grimaced at his brother, Ryker’s, rude question while watching the bride kiss each of her three grooms. Zoey Carson—now Keegan—was best friends with Rachel Brooks. The pair were two of the hottest women in town, and at one time Mack had considered asking Zoey out. But the Keegan brothers beat him to the punch, snapping her up before he had the chance. Just like the Brooks boys had captivated Rachel and put a baby in her belly and a ring on her finger in the blink of an eye. It seemed like everyone around them was finding their happily-ever-after, while Mack and Ryker were alone. Forced to endure each other’s company, while crammed into the tiny cabin on the east edge of Brooks Pastures horse ranch.
Mack surveyed the glowing bride in her white wedding gown. With her stunning blue eyes and long dark hair, she reminded him of a fairy princess. He had to admit she looked happier than he had ever seen her and the three grooms looked like love-struck puppy dogs. Even the stoic Tanner Keegan grinned from ear to ear as he moved to her side and tugged her against him. The sweet way she relaxed into his grip had Mack’s nuts tingling in his jeans, causing him to fidget in his seat.
He didn’t understand why anyone would want to share their woman either. It went against everything he knew, but he couldn’t deny their happiness. The contentment of his bosses and new friends with their relationships was remarkable. Just spending time with them left a ball of envy burning in his gut, but he would support them any way possible. No matter what his own feelings were.
“Because they all three love her. It wouldn’t have been fair to make her choose and leave two of them left with broken hearts,” Mack responded, thinking the argument was as logical as any.
Ryker shook his head in wonder. “I guess, I figured it shouldn’t have gotten to the point that she was in love with all three. If one of them called dibs the othe
r two should have backed off. That’s what you and I would do.”
Mack shrugged feeling the tag in the back of his gray Henley scratch across his back as he did. He hated dressing up. It seemed like a waste of time to put on clothes you didn’t like just to make someone else happy. He was a whole lot more comfortable in blue jeans, a t-shirt, and his black motorcycle boots. Tucking his heels underneath the rickety wooden chair he sat in, he tried to hide his too tight and too shiny dress shoes. He had purchased them for the Brooks wedding a year ago. That was the last time he put the whole getup on, and if he was lucky this would be the last time he had to do it for a long while.
“Mack, Ryker, thank you guys so much for coming. I know it’s Christmas Eve, so it means a lot that you were willing to come spend it with us.” Zoey’s warm sapphire gaze encompassed the two brothers and they both rose to accept a hug from her.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world. I had to see another coup against the male population of Texas with my own eyes.” Ryker’s smart mouth was going to be the death of him. Mack shot him a nasty glare over Zoey’s head.
“Oh no, this wasn’t some sort of hostile takeover, they begged me to marry them. On bended knee, no less!” Zoey said with a laugh.
Ryker’s smile widened, “Yes, but what did you do to bring them to their knees, sunshine? Because something tells me you used a few of your feminine wiles on them.”
“Ignore him, Zoey. He’s just jaded and jealous of your happiness. While I am just happy you softened up Tanner’s mean temper a little bit,” Mack said, hoping to shift the pretty bride away from his brother’s negativity.
Mack didn’t blame Ryk for his depression. It just irked him. Lately it had been getting harder and harder to let his brother’s vile mouth spew without shoving a fist into his teeth to knock the arrogance out of him. Ryker Thompson had been a starting running back for three different pro football teams in the ten years since college. For years his life seemed damn near perfect, until he reinjured his shoulder and it put him out of the game for good. At first, the doctors thought surgery and physical therapy might get him back on the field. After the surgery their prognosis changed. The torn ligaments and muscles wouldn’t ever be up to the physical pressure of football tackles, so his team cut him loose.
As if that blow wasn’t bad enough emotionally, after surgery, Ryk found out his female business manager had seduced his male accountant and the two had left him high and dry. They disappeared with all the money he had. As a result, he had a mansion and three sports cars he couldn’t pay for. The ongoing search for the pair by authorities hadn’t turned up much yet. They had boarded a plane for the Cayman’s and vanished. He had to make the tough decision to sell his home and vehicles, so he would have money to live on. Moving in with Mack while he recovered from surgery became a necessity. For the last four months the two brothers had been stepping on each other’s toes as Ryk tried to figure out what to do next.
“Well I can’t say that was easy!” Zoey giggled as her eyes sought out her husband. It was like their souls connected when their eyes met, and Mack felt like a pervert for viewing the intimacy first hand. “But, he was worth it. Are you guys staying for dinner?”
Before Mack could respond, Ryk shook his head, “No. My shoulder’s bothering me, so we’re going to head out.”
The flash of disappointment on Zoey’s face sent rage rushing through his chest. Mack had to force his fists into his pockets to keep from teaching his little brother some respect. Ryker’s sullen nastiness boiled down to jealousy, but it was sure getting old.
“Thank you for the invite, Zoey, but I had better get the old man home. I don’t want him to keel over on me. Congratulations on your big day. You look beautiful.” Mack pressed a kiss to her cheek, and she gave him a warm smile.
“Thank you, Mack. And thank you again for helping with the ranch while we go to Cabo next weekend. I’m sure the new ranch hands could have managed, but Tanner will feel better knowing you’re supervising.” As if his name summoned him, Tanner stepped up behind his wife, and bent low to nuzzle her neck.
“She’s right. It does make it easier for me to leave. You know I haven’t been on a vacation since I took over the ranch?” Tanner looked thoughtful, “I’m looking forward to seeing my new wife in a bikini.”
Zoey snorted, “Like you haven’t seen that before? We live in Texas not Canada. I wear a bikini every time we go camping.”
“Yeah, but now you’re our wife,” Dalton appeared on her other side and captured her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss. “We don’t have to apologize for our lecherous thoughts about you anymore.”
“You know I don’t recall you ever apologizing for them before, Mr. Keegan,” Zoey answered. Her head fell back against Tanner’s shoulder, and she laced her fingers through Dalton’s. They were the picture of happiness, so beautiful it was painful to look at.
Ryker’s anxious fidgeting drew Mack’s attention and he rushed to say his goodbyes and herd his brother home. He wasn’t going to chance Ryk saying anything that would spoil the Keegan family’s joy. From the stories Mack had heard, those four deserved every beautiful moment they could get.
It was only a few minutes before Mack was parking his big blue Dodge Ram in front of the foreman’s cabin on Brooks Pastures land. Ryk was out of the vehicle and pushing through the front door before Mack had a chance to even shove his keys in his pocket. Annoyance rippled through him. This was getting ridiculous.
Ryk spent ninety percent of his time sitting in the house on his laptop looking at sports reports or watching football. His moping was getting redundant and Mack was over it. Seeing him be so callous toward Zoey’s blissful happiness was the last straw.
Slamming the door open, he stood between Ryk and the oversized television, feet braced, and arms crossed. “What the hell is your problem?”
Ryker sputtered for a minute. He cursed at him for blocking his view of yet another sports recap about some game that happened weeks ago, but Mack refused to budge.
“Ryk, it’s Christmas Eve, and it’s Zoey’s wedding day. You couldn’t even summon up a little decency to congratulate her like a normal human being. What the fuck is your problem?”
Fury broke over Ryker’s face and he launched himself out of the easy chair tackling Mack to the ground. Pain burned through Mack’s jaw when Ryk’s fist planted into it. He didn’t hesitate to take the swings he had been itching for earlier. Rolling on the living room floor, the two exchanged punches, jabs, and kicks until they were both in pain and out of breath. Their anger forced out of them via their fists. Glaring at his brother in silence, Mack pressed the hem of his shirt to his split lip and waited.
“I don’t want to be happy for anyone. I don’t want anyone to be happy at all. I’m not happy. Why the hell should they get to live in some sort of group sex utopia, while I’m stuck jerking off in the shower and sharing a one bedroom shack with my older brother?” The words dripped off Ryk’s tongue like acid, burning through Mack’s heart. Ryk was clearly more affected by his situation than even his brother had realized.
“Fuck, Ryk. Wishing everyone else a shitty life just because you’ve had some hurdles—”
“Hurdles? Is that what it’s called? Fuck that! I was a star, damn it. I made more money in ten years than you will ever see in a lifetime, and it’s all gone. Gone because of one stupid shift to the left when I should have gone right. Gone because I trusted a fucking woman to handle my business. Instead of being professional, her pussy stole every penny I’ve got, and any chance I had at a decent future.” Ryker shoved to his feet and stomped toward the kitchen. Mack was a little slower to rise, feeling the pull in his left side that indicated he had a bruised rib. Ryk didn’t look much better, his nose was already swollen to twice its normal size, and blood speckled his shirt. They didn’t fight often, but when they did it was usually bloody.
“You know what? You are a selfish asswipe. It was their wedding day, fuckwad. You can’t see past your own p
roblems for two hours so they could enjoy their special day. I get it. You’ve lost everything, but you still have the use of your shoulder. Those two thieves will get caught—”
“And I’ll get my money back? Yeah, right. Let me explain how the real world works, big brother, even if the law catches up to them, my money is long gone. I’m flat broke, and I can’t even go back to the job I love and start over.” Ryker slammed two bags of ice on the counter. Mack gave him a begrudging nod of thanks when he slid one across to him.
“So you can’t play ball, big fucking deal. You have a hell of a lot more talent than you give yourself credit for. You trusted the wrong person to handle your money, but you had money to begin with because you have a good head for business. Everyone screws up, Ryk, stop acting like a girl. Man up or pack your shit because I won’t risk you poisoning the people I care about with your nasty attitude.”
Ryker glared at him, but Mack refused to back down. “You can’t tell me you’re happy with your life. Two years ago you were Cormac Thompson, owner and operator of Saddle-Up Leather. One of the biggest and best leather working businesses in Texas. Now you’re just, Mack the farmhand. Can you say you’re content being the foreman on a horse ranch now?”
“No.” Mack shook his head, “No, I’m not happy with that. I want more for my life, but I can’t change what happened in the past. I didn’t have your head for business, and I managed to run mine into the ground when everyone lost their shit in the recession. I fought like hell to keep it together for almost four years before I let the business go under. I’m lucky to have friends like Parker Brooks and his brothers who were willing to lend me a hand and give me a job.”
“As a ranch hand,” Ryker sneered, and Mack had to work to control his temper.
