by Zoey Marcel
* * * *
Doc wrote Patrick a check and sent him on his way. He looked forward to having the younger man work alongside him at the ranch. Hopefully he’d be able to keep his lustful glances in check. Then, too, Patrick had a way of looking at him sometimes with big, adoring cow eyes that the others wouldn’t miss.
He walked into Jade’s room and froze when he found her packing her suitcase. “You’re leaving?”
She nodded, looking about as miserable as he felt. “Yeah. I can’t stay. I’m really sorry.”
Moisture flooded her comely blue eyes and she refused to look at him as she loaded her pack.
“I want you to stay,” he said quietly, praying to God that she would.
“You don’t need me. The others can help you cross off your list.”
“I don’t want you as a human pen, Jade. I want you for you.”
Her eyes hooded and her head drooped. “I know, but I feel guilty.”
“What happened to Bane wasn’t your fault.”
“I hurt him,” she whispered tearfully. “It would feel wrong to fall back into bed with you guys so quickly after his death. I can’t stay.”
“Son of a bitch, this don’t look good,” Sawyer exclaimed from beside Doc. “Unpack that suitcase, woman.”
She shook her head belligerently and kept packing.
“If you weren’t so damned depressed, I’d paddle your fanny for defying me,” Sawyer told her.
“Lord knows I deserve it,” she muttered, seeming disgusted with herself.
Doc tried to swallow his saliva, but he still couldn’t. He hadn’t eaten breakfast this morning because he couldn’t get it down. After many startling attempts he managed to swallow about half a cup of water before his throat seemed to close up again and he couldn’t drink anymore. The end was close, and seeing Jade walk out on them made the pain that much worse.
Then again he knew she loved him, and after the hell she’d gone through of losing Bane maybe it was better that she leave before she got hurt again by his own death.
Kellan shoved past them and nearly hyperventilated when he saw Jade. “Baby, no! Don’t go. I won’t let you.”
“I have to, Kellan. I’m sorry, but I never should have stayed.”
“Bane gave you permission,” Kellan said through clenched teeth. He had his fists balled at his sides like an angry little man. Well, not little. He was Doc’s height. And Doc would never consider himself little.
“But it wasn’t what he wanted,” she protested, wiping away the tears that likely blurred her vision. “I was selfish. I should have said no to you guys and respected what he really wanted instead of indulging all my playgirl wishes. Maybe Stetson was right. I am a slut.”
“Never say Stetson was right, angel face,” Sawyer said sternly. “It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
“You need us, honey,” Kellan insisted, shadowing her steps around the room as she packed. “If only for protection, you need us.”
“Brutus is dead, Kellan. He died with Bane in the explosion,” she reminded him. “Or he got destroyed, or whatever it’s called when cyborgs bite the dust. There isn’t a threat anymore. I’m free to go wherever I choose.”
“That’s what you think,” Sawyer contradicted as he approached her. He took hold of her arm, and Jade looked like she wanted to cry on his shoulder and let him hold her for a spell. “You do exciting things to my body and—”
“So did the women in your past,” she snorted with a slight roll of her eyes.
“Let me finish,” Sawyer snapped, and she shut her trap. He ran his hands up and down her plump, enticing arms as he spoke to her. “You do sweet things to my soul, woman. Things no other woman has done to me before. The kind of things that answer the question of why I’m here. I know now, Jade. When I’m with you, I know. I know exactly where I’m supposed to be and who I’m supposed to be with. Don’t take that away from me.”
Jade wept through lidded eyes and her head bowed.
“Stay with us, damn you,” Kellan barked.
Doc grinned. “The classy version, eh there, Kell?”
Kellan snickered. “Well hey, after Sawyer’s fancy speech there wasn’t much I could say. Thanks for stealing my thunder, you Southern bastard.”
Sawyer smirked and glanced down into Jade’s eyes when he raised her chin with his finger. “We’ll respect your wishes if you choose to leave, but that don’t mean we won’t follow you.”
“Like a bunch of hungry zombies,” Kellan added. “How’s that?”
Jade smiled.
Sawyer chuckled. “You ain’t got it, horse face.”
“Well, crap,” Kellan grumbled.
“Just sleep on it tonight.” Doc came over and smoothed his hand up her back under her shirt. He slowly unhooked her bra, smiling at the way her breath caught.
“He’s right, hot stuff,” Sawyer agreed, brushing away her tears with his thumb. “One more night ain’t gonna kill you.”
“It might,” she whispered sadly.
Doc rolled up the hem of her shirt and was about to lift it up over her head when she locked her arms down against her body.
“I’m not a complete bitch.” She choked on a tiny sob.
“Nobody said you were,” Kellan told her, appearing confused.
“This isn’t what Bane would want,” she protested.
“Did he tell you to leave us before he died?” Sawyer asked.
She shook her head and sniffled. “No, the exact opposite actually. He told me to stay with you guys. He said he forgave me for claiming you.”
“Well, there you have it,” Sawyer said, cupping her cheek with his palm, “the good soldier’s blessing.”
“So he told you to stay with us and you want to leave?” Kellan asked. “That’s going against his orders again.”
“I didn’t think of it like that.” She heaved a sigh. “I’ll stay for one more day, but then I’m going. I have to get away if only for a little while. Please try to understand.”
Doc kissed her nape, making her shiver. “Very well, dear, but we expect you to come back to us after your brief period of solitude.”
“I didn’t say it would be brief.”
“Well, it’d better be brief, or we’ll come after you,” Sawyer informed her.
“I’ll come back to you guys. Just give me some space.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sawyer drew her into himself and kissed her.
* * * *
Sawyer slanted his mouth over Jade’s, kissing her long and deeply. He didn’t want her to go. They wouldn’t let her. Somehow they’d find a way to convince her that she was meant for all of them and they’d get her to stay.
He relished her happy little moan and the way her arms felt wrapping around his neck as she moved into his body and poured herself into the lingering kiss. He heard the rustling of fabric and figured clothes were coming off.
She’d asked for space and now they were undressing her, but her fingers fumbled to get his fly open, so her answer was loud and clear. She wanted this as much as they did. They were all naked within a matter of seconds.
“Can we just keep it outside the body this time?” she asked gently. “Can we just rub and hold each other and come that way? I want to feel like I’m cuddling while we do it.”
“Your wish is our command.” Kellan kissed her hand like a gentleman.
Sawyer flashed her a sassy half smile. “Don’t give her any ideas. Don’t ever forget who’s really in charge, missy.”
“Sure, Sawyer,” Jade teased before the light left her eyes again. Her countenance betrayed her despair. She’d been right about the cuddling part. She needed consolation and empathy right now more than rough, wild sex.
They led her to the bed and laid her on her back. The full-size bed really was too small. It would be better if they were in Stetson’s king-size bed. The scandalized look on his face would be a hoot, but it was probably best to just keep it in Jade’s room right now to avoid a confrontation with S
talin.
They touched her all over with their hands and made love to her with their mouths. Her breathy sounds of pleasure were exhilarating to hear. The way she bucked and writhed when Kellan went down on her was beautiful to watch.
Sawyer played with her hair and caressed her belly, content with watching her. Oddly enough he wanted to snuggle right now even more than he wanted to have sex with her. Well, his turgid dick was quick on the draw with its rebuttal.
Jade cried out and came in Kellan’s doting mouth, going limp on the way down. Her face radiated with the afterglow as she panted and smiled with misty eyes.
“Everybody up for a second. Not you, cupcake.” Sawyer tugged her arm when she started to rise. “I’ve got an idea. Lie down on me, woman.”
He lay on his back and she lowered her body onto his, groaning softly at the illicit contact. He couldn’t help moaning either.
“Now one of you lie down on top of her, but don’t go in her ass,” Sawyer instructed.
Kellan gave him a quizzical smile. “What are you up to?”
“You’ll see. You want a hand job or to take her crack?”
“Hand job, but I’ll grab some lube real quick.” Kellan bounced up and dashed out of the room.
Doc winked at Sawyer and straddled Jade’s legs. “I like the way you think. You have a lovely ass crack, darlin’.”
“Um, thanks. This is kind of weird and sexy…and weird,” she said.
Sawyer kissed her head and gave her a light squeeze. “You’ll get nice and worked up when we get going. You’ll see.”
“I got it.” Kellan lathered his cock with lube and then handed Doc the tube.
“Thank you, Kell.” Doc squirted some lubricant into his palm, and Sawyer assumed he worked it into Jade’s butt crack.
Sawyer took the tube and squeezed some lube into his hand. He tapped Jade’s arm so she sat up for him. He smeared the lubricant in her creamy folds and then smothered his shaft with the stuff. “You know if you stay on that pill we won’t have to buy special cookies anymore.”
She looked at him curiously. “Is special cookies code for condoms?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded and capped the tube, tossing it onto the nightstand. “We used that code originally when little britches started getting into the hanky-panky good stuff. That way the puritan wouldn’t know Kellan was a bad boy.”
Doc snickered. “I think he’s figured it out by now.”
“Yeah, it was only a matter of time,” Kellan agreed. “You guys ready?”
“Definitely,” Jade told them with a charming smile.
Kellan chuckled. “No playing hard to get, huh?”
“Nope. Do me now.”
Sawyer chuckled. “I see you’re overstepping your bounds, missy. Lucky for you we’re in generous moods.”
He situated her so their genitals were aligned.
“Oh Sawyer, your cock feels so hot and stiff.” She purred and rubbed her pussy against it.
Sawyer’s breath hitched at the silky, wet heat massaging his hard, aching flesh. He gripped her hips to still her. “Hold it there, woman. Let Doc get into position first.”
Sawyer pulled her against his chest, clutching her tighter when she sighed against his skin and rubbed his nipple with her thumb.
Doc divided her fine-looking butt cheeks and wedged his cock between the crevice. It looked like a tight squeeze in light of his thick girth, but he made out all right.
Kellan lay on his side with his feet near the headboard. “You think you can grope me while they rub on you?”
“I’ll try.” She palmed his erection and worked him with slow, sensual strokes. “I can only use one hand in this position.”
“That’s fine. Show me what you’re made of.” He blew her a kiss and rested his head in his left hand from what Sawyer could see.
“Go ahead, angel. Rub against us. We’ll rock with you, but you start,” Sawyer murmured into her ear.
Jade shivered and kissed his chin before gently rocking her body against them. Her cleft spread and partly sandwiched his shaft like a bun as she ground against his meaty cock, conjuring a riot of sensations inside of him.
Doc humped her from behind, sliding his penis back and forth in her primed crack.
Her breathing changed as she seemed to slip away and fall deeper under their spell, judging by her glazed look of passion.
She jerked Kellan’s prick as best she could while they ground against her body, but it looked a bit awkward for her.
The friction of her sopping pussy rubbing like mad against Sawyer’s boner set off sparks in his dick and created a blaze of heat and electricity in his loins. Her pitiful whimpers only spiked his lust to greater heights. She came first, and her vagina wept all over his shaft.
Sawyer climaxed after her and ejaculated all over her warm, soft belly. Her defeated groan of surrender thrilled him.
Now she cuddled with him and seemed to focus her energy on bringing Kellan to orgasm. She got him off and he shot off like Old Faithful in her hand.
Doc took a bit longer, and the way he huffed and coughed made Sawyer nervous. He hadn’t seen Doc eat today, but maybe he had and Sawyer just missed it. Doc couldn’t afford to skip meals. He was losing weight too fast and he seemed paler and weaker each day.
Doc’s arms wobbled like a baby chick trying out his twiggy legs for the first time. His arms gave out and he collapsed on Jade without coming. He grunted and shook as if trying to keep from coughing on her.
“Son of a bitch, Doc, you sound like hell.” Sawyer was worried about him.
“You look like shit, too,” Kellan informed him.
Doc sounded amused in between hacking as he got off Jade. “What flattering chums I have.”
“Doc, are you okay?” Jade looked and sounded as worried as the rest of them as she sat up, still straddling Sawyer. She placed her hands on Doc’s cheeks, looking like she might cry again. “God, you feel like ice. Are you okay?”
“I’m peachy, darlin’.” He brushed his lips with his hand, but Sawyer noticed the spittle seemed red and Doc sounded like he had a mouthful. “I’m just tired. There’s no need to fret.”
He grabbed a tissue and wiped his mouth.
Stetson’s voice boomed, and Sawyer saw that the crab stood in the doorway. “What the fuck is going on in here?”
Jade let out a cute little scream and turned, covering her breasts. “Get out of my room!”
“It’s my house. What the fuck did you do, Sawyer?” Stetson shouted.
Kellan looked like he was in trouble. “Ah shit.”
Sawyer rolled his eyes. “We’re all adults here.”
He saw the look of fury Stetson cast at Doc and the devastation that arose in Doc’s eyes in return. Stetson stormed out of the room.
“Well, I’m officially screwed now,” Kellan complained as he got up and dressed.
Doc pulled his clothes on quicker than any of them. The regret on his face and the sense of exhaustion that married it suggested that he was tired of fighting. He looked like a man who wanted to give up. A man who’d lost his reason.
Chapter Thirteen
Jade scrambled to get her clothes on. She never wanted the evil tyrant to see her naked, and she could only imagine what Doc must be going through right now. Stetson looked like he’d blow a gasket. She heard yelling from the other room and recognized the dick’s raised voice.
Sawyer hurried out there, but she saw Kellan tiptoe toward the front door when she joined them.
“Kellan Brooks, you get your ass back here!” Stetson bellowed, making the poor guy cringe. His deadly brown eyes darted back to Doc, but there might have been another emotion looming in there. Whatever it was it was strangled by wrath. “How long have you been stabbing me in the back and sharing women with my baby brother?”
Kellan rolled his eyes. “For shit’s sake, I’m not a kid anymore.”
“Shut up,” Stetson growled. “How long, Doc?”
Doc looked weary and ho
peless just then. “Several years.”
Stetson averted his eyes and dug his nails into his scalp. His features were pulled taut with fury. “You goddamned traitor. All those times I bitched to you about Sawyer having threesomes with my brother and you stood there and agreed with me. And you were doing the same damned thing the whole fucking time!”
Jade cringed and shuddered at the rage on Stetson’s face. His infuriated yell scared her. Anger could be sexy in the right man, but this was terrifying.
“I’m sorry,” Doc said quietly.
Sawyer rolled his eyes. “Don’t be sorry, Doc. You didn’t do nothing wrong.”
“You.” Stetson threw a fatal glare at him. “You perverted son of a bitch! I never should have taken you in!”
“Well, nobody asked you to,” Sawyer retorted. “And I’m getting mighty sick of being blamed for the sins of my parents.”
“You’re a goddamned replica of them!” Stetson shot back. “You’ve got the same worthless motherfucking genes as them! You’re a lecherous waste, and you always will be!”
Jade gaped at Stetson in horror, unable to believe what she just heard. When her eyes darted to Sawyer she was cut by the flicker of hurt there before he raised his defensive shields.
“I don’t have to take any more of this bullshit.” Sawyer shook his head in anger and headed toward the hall. “You’ve wanted me gone since day one. Well, guess what, cowboy. I’m gone.”
“It’s about fucking time!” Stetson bellowed after him. “Kellan, get back here!”
“If you’re angry with me, then take it out on me, not them,” Doc told him.
Kellan slipped out the front door.
“I trusted you.” Stetson’s broken murmur betrayed anguish through the bitter mask of disgust and resentment.
“I’m sorry.” Doc’s eyes closed briefly. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“I’m not hurt,” Stetson growled, but his tone cracked.
“Yeah, you are,” Doc whispered.
Stetson’s dark eyes flashed with rage, and it alarmed Jade when she thought she saw the irises change to a different color. When she blinked again they looked brown from where she stood.
