Lassoed

by Vanessa Vale

  I slammed on the brakes, the anti-lock kicking in with a grind and we skidded about fifty feet to a shaky stop. Sarah’s head whipped forward and our seatbelts caught us. We were diagonally in the road, but on the wrong side. It was obvious now the front left tire had blown, since the SUV dipped down in that direction.

  My heart was in my throat and I was sweating.

  “Is everyone okay?” I asked, glancing at Sarah, then turning to look in back. Penny, Kady and Cricket all nodded, but they looked scared as shit. Kady and Penny were leaning over the car seats, soothing the babies, although neither made a noise. I had a feeling they were just relieved they were fine.

  A vehicle pulled up and a man climbed out. I unclicked my seat belt, hopped out. Other than my soreness from the morning ride, I was fine. Shaky, but fine. The man was in his fifties, his pickup truck a dually. He was dressed for ranch life and had a rifle resting in a gun rack in the back window. He had salt and pepper hair, a full beard. I assured the guy we were all unhurt, but we took in the damage to the SUV.

  A late model truck slowed to a crawl, a car-crash looky-loo. I barely gave the driver a glance since the man who’d stopped to help was talking to me, but I did a double take. Had that been—

  “Let’s call the state patrol,” he said, snapping me out of my thoughts. The truck was gone and we were still with a flat in the middle of the road. The back end smashed. “You’ll also need a tow truck.”

  “There are five of us in the car,” I told him. “We all have cell phones, so we can make the calls.”

  Sarah climbed out and I heard one of the babies crying, then was silenced when she shut the door, most likely to keep the heat in.

  “Did you hit an icy patch?” he asked, walking over to the flat tire.

  It was cold, the snow falling. It wasn’t hard enough to stick, but the road was wet.

  “No. Or, I don’t think so. It wasn’t like I slid and caught the tire on something. It just blew.”

  He leaned down, studied the tire, then stood.

  “It’s shredded. Strange, because the tread is good.”

  “I called 9-1-1,” Sarah said. She’d put on a coat and handed one to me. I hadn’t even realized I was chilled until then. “I also called Archer. Cricket said he was working today.”

  Archer would know who to call, what to do. I didn’t know about jurisdiction between agencies, but I did know our men. They’d be here in full force soon enough.

  “Did someone—”

  “Cricket called Sam. They’ll be here soon.”

  I let out a breath, felt the adrenaline rush still. God, I was used to dealing with things like this on my own. I hadn’t had a tire blow before, or nearly gotten five women and two babies killed by driving off a cliff, but I’d been alone for a while. Knowing Sam and Ashe were coming made me realize in that moment that I always wanted them to come. To be there for me.

  10

  ASHE

  * * *

  When Sam’s cell rang, I’d expected it to be Natalie, to say they’d decided to spend the night in Bozeman, or were late returning because they’d had too much fun shopping.

  “It’s Cricket,” he said, frowning as he answered the call.

  A second later, I hadn’t expected the look on Sam’s face, or the way he’d stood up, knocked his chair over. We were at the diner on Main Street with Jamison and Boone and as Sam reacted, Jamison’s cell rang. He knew it wasn’t going to be good and put the phone to his ear. “Kitten,” he murmured, glancing at Boone.

  Sam looked to me and Boone as he hung up. “A tire blew. Cricket said they’re all fine, but they’re up on Culver Pass.”

  Shit. That pass was infamous for accidents. Bad ones where cars have slid through the guardrail and over the steep edge. The incline was enough where if something went over, it kept going until it hit bottom, hundreds of feet below. Brakes had gone out on the west side of the pass enough where a runaway truck lane had been built.

  The SUV they’d driven was big and had the latest safety features, but ice or snow, a runaway tanker truck or even an animal cutting across the road in front of them might be too much for it.

  “Why isn’t Natalie calling us?” I asked. Grabbing my phone, I called her, but she didn’t answer.

  Boone pulled out his wallet, tossed a bunch of money on the table without even counting it. We were out the door within seconds, Jamison still on the phone. All I could think about was Natalie and why she wasn’t picking up. I was reassured Cricket said they were all fine, but I doubted I’d be satisfied with that answer until I saw Natalie—all of them—myself. At least hear her voice.

  Sam fished out his keys. All four of us climbed into his big truck and he pulled out into traffic. It was almost impossible to go only twenty-five through town when I wanted him to floor it.

  Shit. Shit!

  Natalie’s smile, the feel of her skin, the sound of her laughter filled my head. I loved her. We’d only just found her and I wanted her forever, not have her taken away from me within a week.

  The other women, too. If something happened to them—

  I turned off the radio so we could listen to Jamison’s side of the conversation and so I could try Natalie again. He’d gotten confirmation that no one was hurt, the babies were perfectly fine. That had eased all our minds, but I could only imagine how Riley and Cord were panicking, but Penny had said they were talking with Kady, too. The tire blew on a turn and the car stopped on the wrong side of the road. A passerby had stopped to help, had put his hazards on and laid out flares.

  “Ask Penny why Natalie’s not answering her phone.”

  After a few seconds, Jamison said, “She’s out of the SUV talking with a guy who stopped to help.”

  The panic that was like a vise around my heart loosened just a little. Just having him talk with Penny made me feel a little better. She was fine. Scared, but unhurt. Locke was fine. She was our connection right now since Natalie was busy and the other women were most likely talking with their men. She’d tell us if something changed, if any one of the women or Cecily somehow became injured. Sometimes a wound became apparent after the adrenaline wore off.

  Mine hadn’t. I wouldn’t feel better until I saw all of them, had Natalie in my arms. Hell, I wouldn’t feel better until I had her home, naked, so I could look over every inch of her. Then fuck her. Hard, so I knew she was with me, well. Fucking whole.

  I tried her cell one more time, then tossed mine on the center console.

  I glanced at Sam, knew he was thinking the same thing, that we wanted to hear her voice, to just be there, but I didn’t want to distract him. His jaw was clenched, his grip tight on the steering wheel.

  Once we were past town limits, Sam gunned the engine. We knew the sheriffs in town and from what we heard via Penny, they were on the way as well. Archer, especially, since he was working today.

  Jamison passed the phone to Boone. As an ER doctor, he asked pointed questions about seatbelts, bruises, loss of consciousness, airbags and other things I’d never considered. But since he’d waited until after Jamison talked, I had to guess it was more for his peace of mind than lifesaving. But then I remembered that Cricket was a nurse. She was smart and had a level head on her shoulders. She wouldn’t have been calling Sam if she had to give first aid.

  It took only twenty minutes to get to the women, not thirty like it should. We pulled onto the shoulder and I hopped out before the car was in park. There were two state patrol cars as well as a sheriff’s SUV, which I assumed was Archer’s. Red and blue lights flashed. There was a lot of manpower for a blown tire, but we were on the curvy pass and I had to assume it was going to snow harder up here as soon as the sun went down and the temperature dropped. No one wanted another accident.

  The SUV was just as Cricket had said, facing the wrong way and on the wrong side of the road. I could see the blown tire from a distance. The back end was smashed in as if it had scraped along the guardrail.

  Then I saw Natalie talking with A
rcher. My heart lurched, then settled. Fuck yes. There she was.

  I all but ran to her, Sam a few steps behind since he’d had to turn off the truck. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jamison heading toward the SUV. Penny flung open the door and jumped into his arms. Boone went past them and leaned into the truck, most likely to check on Locke.

  Natalie turned, saw us, and walked toward us. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks pale and her chin lifted. But as soon as we got within ten feet, it started to wobble.

  Hell.

  She looked whole, but when I pulled her in for a hug, felt her soft, strong body, breathed her in, I knew the truth of it.

  “Fuck, sweetheart. You scared the shit out of me.”

  “Me, too.” Sam stood beside us, ran his hand over her hair.

  “Yeah, well, I scared the shit out of me, too,” she added, then burst into tears.

  I cupped her head, pulled her in tight. Leaning down, I kissed the top of her head and just held her. All around us, things were happening. Boone carried Locke in his car seat toward Sam’s truck. Sutton’s SUV pulled up with another right behind. He, Lee, Riley and Cord piled out of the first, Wilder and King from the second. None looked happy, their eyes taking in the scene, searching for their woman. I knew the urgent feeling.

  Boone pointed toward the SUV and they headed that way, long legs eating up the distance. I could see the women within, most likely staying warm and out of the way. And Kady with Cecily. Jamison had his arm wrapped around Penny and followed Boone. A tow truck pulled up, the engine rumbling, diesel fumes filling the crisp air. A state patrol officer waved him closer.

  So much was going on, but all I cared about was Natalie. The guys were all here and could take care of their own women.

  When her crying jag tapered off, she pulled back, wiped her face. “Sorry, I guess the adrenaline bled off.”

  Sam pushed her hand away and wiped the tears himself, then took her from me. Hugged her. “That must have been scary. Pretty amazing driving.”

  She laughed. “My stepfather taught me how to drive. Forced me to learn how to handle the snow, bad weather and rough conditions. At the time, I hated every second of it, but I guess I need to call and thank him.”

  Archer came over and looked from Natalie to me. I nodded, telling him she was doing okay. He didn’t look too happy. His hands went to his hips. “You said the tire just blew out, Natalie?”

  She nodded, then pointed. “Over there, just before the turn.”

  I could see skid marks on the road behind the SUV, saw where she’d been aiming when she turned into oncoming lanes. I could see there was nothing beyond the guardrail, that if they’d gone over, they’d all be dead.

  Archer’s jaw clenched and he held something up.

  I frowned. “What the fuck is that?”

  It was a small piece of dark metal with three spikes. A weird triangle.

  “A caltrop. A tire spike.”

  Natalie took it from Archer. It was small enough to fit in her palm.

  “Careful. They’re really sharp,” he warned. “I found it down by where you said your tire blew,” he added, pointing around the bend.

  “What?” Sam all but shouted. He stepped away, went around in a circle, rubbed the back of his neck. “Are you saying that was in the road?”

  Archer took it back from Natalie, shrugged. “I only found the one and it was on the shoulder. It could have been there for a while. Who the fuck knows.”

  “That isn’t a teenage prank,” I added, pointing at the spike. Cops used it to stop car chases.

  Natalie stilled. Her breath puffed out in little clouds. “I didn’t see anything and I was focusing really hard on the road, too. It was snowing like this.” She glanced up at the gray sky, the light flakes. “Not too hard, but lower down it was raining. Being from Boston, I know how to drive in bad weather, but I’ve never driven such a big SUV. God, that thing was really hard to stop.”

  Archer gave her a reassuring smile. “You did good. Real good.”

  “She’s been out in the cold for a while. Can we get the ladies out of here?” I had no interest in remaining a second longer than necessary. Archer knew where to find all the women if he needed to question them. Hell, he had one of them in his bed. elThe state patrol could handle the tow truck. As for the SUV, I didn’t give a shit about it. I doubted the other men did either.

  “Definitely. Why don’t we all catch up tomorrow at the main house?” Archer asked. His radio squawked. “I think we’re going to all need some quiet time with our women.”

  I glanced at Sam, who nodded and shook Archer’s hand.

  I readily agreed, then took Natalie’s hand, walked to Sam’s truck. The guys were carrying the last of the shopping bags and coats from the damaged SUV, loading them in the back of Wilder’s ride. The women and babies were tucked into the three vehicles. We were all free to go. I had no interest in seeing this section of road ever again.

  Sam pushed up the center console and I helped Natalie in so she sat between us in the front. I didn’t want her any further away and I secured her seatbelt myself. In the backseat were Penny and Boone, the car seat between them. Penny was looking down at Locke, smiling as she gave him a pacifier. Boone nodded and Sam didn’t wait any longer.

  We drove back to town. I held Natalie’s hand the whole way. I didn’t think I would ever let go.

  11

  NATALIE

  * * *

  I startled, gasped and my eyes flew open. For a second, I didn’t know where I was, taking in the dark room, trying to figure out how my bedroom window ended up on the wrong wall, that the door to the bathroom was on my right. Then it came to me. I wasn’t in Boston in my apartment. I was in Sam’s bedroom. Montana.

  He was curled around me, his front to my back, an arm flung over my waist. I felt his even breathing at my neck, his bottom arm my pillow. I was safe. Warm. Cozy. Even so, my mind wouldn’t let me settle into deep sleep. They’d brought me home, fed me, showered with me, fucked me. It hadn’t been gentle, but frantic. I wasn’t even sure how or why they’d waited past getting through the front door before they were on me. But they had. And they’d been on me for two hours, taking me more than once. They’d been hard and ready for me, but even after coming, they still had needed to sink into me, touch me, kiss me, just as much as I’d wanted them. To know I was alive, to feel the pleasure that came with being together. It had finally soothed me, put me to sleep.

  But now I was awake once again. The clock on the bedside table said four. I could hear the rain outside the window and knew dawn was a long way off. I felt their cum between my legs, so much of it, still slick and sticky as it slipped from me. I ached deep inside; they weren’t small men. I smiled to myself, one of pure feminine satisfaction. I had two lovers who were voracious, eager and very talented in pleasuring me. Just me. They were gorgeous and no doubt women flung themselves at them all the time, and yet they wanted me. Sam was holding me now, Ashe in the guest room asleep.

  “You okay?” Sam murmured, his voice rough with sleep. He stirred, slid his hand up and down my arm.

  “You’re a light sleeper,” I replied.

  He kissed the back of my neck. “Not used to having a woman in my bed.”

  I gave a small laugh. “I can’t believe that.”

  “I’m not a monk, sweetheart, but you’re the first woman who’s ever been in my bed.”

  I stilled, thought of what he said.

  “You mean—”

  “You’re the first woman I’ve ever brought home. The first I’ve ever wanted here. I love holding you like this.”

  “What about Ashe?” I had no idea about being with two men on a relationship level. Sex with two guys, it was pretty obvious what they wanted. But when we weren’t fucking, were they jealous of each other? Did Ashe feel left out by being in the other room?

  “I’m sure he loves holding you, too.” He kissed my nape again. Gently. “You’re ours, Natalie. I think we’ve made that clear. We want
you. We want you in our beds. For the long haul. We haven’t talked about you going back east, but you have to know we want you to stay. And if you do, you get both of us. If you’ll have us, that is.”

  “I…earlier on the pass, I knew you’d come, that I just had to wait for you to show up and everything would be better. That I wouldn’t have to deal with that alone.”

  He slid back, turned me so I was on my back and he loomed over me, propped up on his elbow.

  “Ah, sweetheart.” He leaned down, kissed my lips. Once. Twice. His fingers moved to my hair, brushed it back, again and again, soothing. I knew him to be tender. Sweet, even, but he’d never been like this. The blown tire had really made us all sensitive and vulnerable.

  “You might go off on your own, but we’ll always find you,” he murmured.

  I felt it, knew it to be true. They were investigators after all. And it felt good. Sooooo good, as if, well, as if I were precious. That I was wanted. Needed, even. My heart was full.

  “As for Ashe? He’ll have to speak for himself, but you’re his, too. But you can be his and be with me, like this. Sometimes you’ll be with him. And sometimes, like earlier, we’ll be with you together.”

  I didn’t say anything, just considered his words. We hadn’t talked about me staying. We hadn’t talked about my job or my life back in Boston. I had yet to decide, so I’d just kept quiet. Being here, being in Sam’s arms, in Ashe’s too, like earlier on the side of that miserable road, was incredible. I’d fallen for them. Hard and fast. But did that mean I could leave my life in Boston behind? It wasn’t like I’d had too much time to think about it. And right now, I didn’t want to.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “What, exactly?” I asked. Staying in Montana? The accident? Being with two men? How I’d fallen for them? And we hadn’t even mentioned what brought us together in the first place. Aiden Steele’s inheritance.

  “Anything.” The feel of his touch was comforting. “What woke you? Did you have a nightmare?”