“You’ll never make it to Canada,” Cooper said, trying to stall. He didn’t know how much that tactic could help, but it was worth a shot.
“I guess that’s your answer.”
Cooper’s eyes widened and he held up a hand. “Wait!”
In that split second, only two things ran through his head. The first was Amanda. The second was Everett. He wished he’d had a chance to say goodbye to them.
A gunshot rent the air. Cooper flinched, expecting pain to sear through his body, only it didn’t. It took a moment to realize he was still alive, and relief slammed through him hard. Mock fell back with a stream of blood trickling from the bullet hole between his eyes. Shaking, Cooper sat up, looked over his shoulder. Everett stood in the doorway, his gun still aimed at where Mock once stood. Tears of relief gathered in Cooper’s eyes. He hated to cry but the powerful emotion couldn’t be released any other way. His best friend had saved him from dying.
“Holy shit, I’m glad you’re a good shot,” he managed to choke out.
“What are you talking about? I was aiming for his heart,” Everett replied deadpan.
Cooper gave a gruff chuckle. “Asshole.”
Everett smiled.
At that moment, a black SUV arrived. Marshall Fletcher got out from the driver’s side and stalked over to Everett.
“I see you got the fugitive,” Fletcher muttered. “We were supposed to bring him in alive, Apisi.”
Everett shrugged and put his gun back in his holster. “What was I supposed to do? Let him kill a civilian, who happens to be my best friend?”
Cooper gingerly got to his feet. He didn’t want to stare at Mock’s body, with the knowledge that a mere second later, it could have been his dead body everyone was looking at.
“I can assure you,” he directed to Fletcher. “I am relieved to be the one not dead.”
The work hands stumbled from the bunk house, all looking confused. As the other Federal Marshalls swarmed around, collecting evidence and taking pictures of the scene, Pete staggered from the other side of the barn.
“That’s okay,” he yelled out, waving a hand. “No need to worry. I’m perfectly fine.”
Cooper smiled.
* * * *
“Hurry,” Amanda urged, bouncing in the passenger seat of the cop car as it sped toward Cooper’s ranch. Her stomach churned as her mind kept flashing from Cooper to Everett, and the fact that one of them might be hurt. Or dead.
Suddenly denying herself either of them the past twelve years seemed stupid. She should have tracked Everett down. Forced him to talk about why he up and left. She should never have walked away from Cooper. Life was too short without her rancher and shadow wolf.
“Calm the hell down,” Sheriff McCoy grumbled. “Haith is going to be okay. Everyone is going to be just fine.”
“You don’t know that,” she snapped.
“I know Cooper is a smart boy,” he countered. “He wouldn’t risk his men or himself.”
“Not unless he was forced to.” She shook her head and took a deep breath, forcing the anxious tears to stay away. “I could lose him. I could lose both.”
“Both?”
“I love two men, Sheriff,” she admitted softly. “I always have.”
The sheriff didn’t comment, and for that she was glad. She didn’t feel like having to explain anything, from the past or where the future was headed. Not knowing was, perhaps, the worst thing in life.
As the car flew over the last ridge to Cooper’s house, its siren disturbing nature’s peace, she saw a swarm of Federal Marshalls crawling over the barn area. The sheriff’s vehicle zoomed up the gravel driveway, and in the middle stood Everett and Cooper. Alive. A tidal wave of relief rolled over her, and even before the car had come to a halt, she jumped out to run to them.
First she hugged Cooper, giving a silent prayer of thanks he was unhurt. Then she let go of him to embrace Everett. As she snuggled into his chest, she watched the Marshalls cover Mock’s body in a black tarp, thankful it was over. In that moment, everything seemed right in her world.
Chapter Seven
The approaching storm made the Federal Marshalls hurry to wrap up the case. Mock’s body was put into a black zip-up bag and driven out, seconds before the rain hit. Fletcher made Everett promise to come in for a formal statement before releasing him. Amanda waited on the porch with Cooper, unable to get over how she finally had her two men with her again. Nothing else mattered except that she understood what had happened all those years ago, and to make sure she held on to both of them for the rest of their lives. She wasn’t going to let Everett or Cooper go without putting up one helluva fight.
Cooper held the door open for her, and Everett followed. Once inside, the three of them stood in the living room staring at one another as if they were complete strangers thrown into a weird situation together.
“Why?” Cooper’s single word broke the awkward silence as he stared at Everett. “Tell her.”
Amanda couldn’t take her eyes off Everett, and he stared back at her like a dying man glimpsing heaven. The binding that had wrapped around her heart all those years ago, when he’d left, loosened just a little.
Everett cleared his throat.
“Amanda,” he said. Emotions clouded the clear tone in his voice. “Back then…I saw the love between you and Cooper.”
“I did love him but I loved you too—”
“And I’d believed your love for him exceeded what you’d had for me.”
Shock tore through her. “What?”
He took hold of her shoulders. “I couldn’t get in the way of that. So I left. So you two could be together.”
Amanda didn’t know whether she should’ve been angry or surprised that he’d thought he’d been making a sacrifice for her and his best friend.
“You stupid, stupid man,” she whispered.
He gave a twisted, self-deprecating type of smile. “I’m sorry. God, am I ever fucking sorry.”
Perhaps the one thing she did know was that life was too short to hold grudges. She stroked his cheek. “I wish you had come and talked to me, to us, before you made such a decision. I loved the both of you equally. Still do.” She wrapped her arms around him. She needed to hold her men, feel them, make sure they were really all right and let them know all was forgiven.
“Me too,” he murmured into the crook of her neck. “I wish I could go back in time and change everything.”
Cooper laid a hand on each of their backs. “We can’t go back in time, but we can move forward.”
Everett pulled back and looked at Cooper. “I would like that.”
“Amanda?” Cooper asked.
She looked between each of them. “I want that too, but I can’t, not if either of you walk away again. I wouldn’t be able to handle that.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Everett said. “I let you go once. I can’t walk away again.”
Everett placed his hand behind her neck and pulled her close. Amanda rested her hands on his chest, and she could feel his heat burning through his shirt, his muscles rippling with every breath he took. Cooper moved in behind her, effectively sandwiching her between the two rock-hard bodies. Feeling them against her rendered her senseless and before she could gather her wits to process what was happening, Everett’s mouth swooped down and covered hers.
As he probed the secret places of her mouth with his tongue, an electrical current charged through her body. His lips were voracious, taking everything she had to give and demanding even more. Need pumped hot and heavy through her blood.
“Amanda,” he moaned as he broke the kiss to lick his way down her neck. “Lean against Cooper. Let him hold you up while I make you come.”
The words sent her up on flames. She wiggled until Cooper clamped his hands around her hips to hold her still. Everett claimed her lips again, sliding his tongue into her mouth to dance with hers, the rhythm of the kiss mimicking his hips. His hard cock rooted against the very spot where she crav
ed him to be. They both seemed to sense what she needed, because while his hands cupped then rubbed her breasts them through her shirt, Cooper unzipped her pants so he could slide inside and under her panties.
As soon as he touched her clit, she just about jumped out of her skin, moaning.
“You are so fucking sexy,” Cooper murmured in her ear, his voice heavy with need. “You’ve always been so sexy.”
“And ours,” Everett said. “Right, sweetheart? You’re ours.”
“Let’s take this into the bedroom, shall we?” Cooper suggested.
With a smile, she took their hands and led them upstairs, into the master bedroom. Clothes melted away, discarded in haste along the steps and onto the floor. Amanda could barely believe what was about to happen. A dream come true, one she’d never thought to experience again.
A faint whiff of horse lingered on Cooper’s skin. Everett smelled of sweat and sun. The scents swirled around in a dizzying burst that heated her blood and had her senses swimming. As Cooper slid a finger into her, Everett pinched her nipples. She bucked her hips, seeking something and going crazy when the men continued their ruthless assault on her senses. They teased her, revving her up little by little until she could no longer contain her climax. She exploded, riding Cooper’s fingers as Everett swallowed up her passionate cry of release.
“That’s it,” he breathed against her mouth. “Come for us, baby. Give us your cream.”
She humped Cooper’s hand, milking her orgasm until she slumped, exhausted. As she slowly filtered back to reality, Cooper removed his hand from between her thighs but kept his hard body pressed against her back. Everett gave one last swipe with his fingers against her nipples before cupping her face to give her one last light kiss.
“Holy crap,” she said, panting.
“Just wait,” Cooper told her as he brought his fingers up and licked them. That was when she realized he was licking her.
“We’re going to take you together,” Everett added.
Her eyes widened. She knew what he meant and a sliver of fear shot through her. Would it hurt? She’d read about anal sex but had never had the thought that she wanted to actually do it. Now, it seemed, the decision had been taken out of her hands.
Everett rubbed feathery strokes along her slit. Pressing inward, he bent one finger to rub along the back wall of her pussy while his thumb found her clit and played with it. In and out he used his fingers to heighten her pleasure. Suddenly, he withdrew and ran one hand over the curve of her bottom, down the back of her thighs then up between them, to touch her intimately. His thumb circled around her hole, then pressed in, just a little. His finger, slick with her own juices, easily slid past her tight rosette. Not enough to hurt, but the pressure he applied made her squirm. The invasion burned, yet as her body adjusted, desire blossomed. It surprised her and she moaned for more. Using the wetness from her pussy, he pressed a finger into her anus. She vaguely realized that he was preparing her, opening her up for his penetration.
“You’re so fucking hot,” Everett groaned. “So wet. Feel how wet she is, Cooper.”
Cooper teased down her stomach and slid through her curls. When he found her slit he let his middle finger dive into her warmth. Both men teased her, playing her body like a musical instrument. Slowly, they rotated until Cooper was in front of her. He dropped to his knees to kiss her belly button and licked his way south until he reached the apex of her thighs. He nudged them apart and a second later he was licking her and sucking on her clit. He pushed one finger into her then began thrusting, back and forth, hitting her G-spot and driving her out of her mind.
“So wet,” Cooper replied. “I want to fuck this pussy. Would you like that, Amanda? Would you like my cock buried in your tight little cunt while Everett discovers the delights of your ass?”
She panted, the images turning her on so much. “Will it hurt?” she asked.
“It’ll burn, but in such a good way, baby,” Everett told her. “Relax and trust us.”
“I do,” she said. “I love you both so much.”
Everett kissed the back of her neck and eased away so they could reposition her. Cooper settled on the bed, his legs spread, and Everett helped her sit on his lap, straddling him.
She opened her eyes and locked gazes with Cooper as he lifted her hips and brought her down onto his cock.
He began to slowly move her, letting her find her center and ride him.
Behind her, Everett slid a finger back into her ass. Amanda halted and stiffened, not sure if she liked the feeling of having both holes filled. As she adjusted to the odd sensation, he edged in another finger, widening her, and the burning thrust took her breath away.
“Oh!” she groaned. “It burns!”
“Relax, baby,” Everett murmured in her ear. “I have to stretch you. I don’t want to hurt you.”
He manipulated her body and she found herself pulled upward, sandwiched between both men. Everett angled his cock against her ass and pushed in. She gasped at how both men filled her.
“Holy hell,” Cooper moaned. “You’re so damn tight, baby!”
The burning returned and Amanda held her breath, not sure if she enjoyed the new sensation. But just as she thought she wanted to stop, Cooper pulled out of her a little to give Everett more room, and he pushed in all the way. Amanda gasped, unable to believe the feeling of being totally consumed. It was amazing, beyond words. Beyond anything she had imagined.
Everett’s breath tickled the back of her neck as he held her hips still.
“That’s it, baby,” he said. “You’re so fucking beautiful, sandwiched between us.”
“She’s so tight,” Cooper said. “She’s gripping my cock like a vise.”
Amanda moaned. “Please, do something. Move! Fuck me! Please!”
Everett’s hips bucked and Cooper followed the rhythm. They moved as one, so in tune with each other. She bounced between them, her hands resting on Cooper’s shoulders. Sweat rolled off their bodies, breaths mingled together. No words were spoken and they didn’t need them.
They moved in tandem, as one went in the other pulled out. Moans echoed through the room as they spiraled together. The spring recoiled and she was launched into a kaleidoscope of sensation.
“Not gonna last,” Cooper muttered from behind her. “Oh shit, oh shit! Fuck!”
Everett shouted as he followed them both, feeling his cock jerk deep inside as his hot essence filled her.
She collapsed next to Cooper and his arms folded around her panting body. Everett wrapped his arms around her front and they rested together, sated, as their heartbeats returned to normal.
“I love you,” she murmured. “Both of you. I want this for the rest of my life.”
“Me too,” Cooper said.
Epilogue
Amanda sat on the verandah, watching the sun rise on the eastern horizon. For the first time in a long time, she felt whole. Content. The pieces of her fractured world put back together in such an unexpected way. A day ago she’d been merely existing, and now she was blissfully happy.
The screen door opened and Everett stepped out, a cup of steaming coffee in both hands. He handed her one.
“Still take it black?”
She nodded and took the mug. “Thank you.”
He sat down next to her. For several moments, they simply watched the day dawn.
“I was wrong to leave all those years ago without talking to both of you,” Everett said in a low tone.
“Yes, you were,” she replied.
He sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Did you apologize to Cooper?”
“Yeah.” He rubbed his jaw. “His right hook told me he forgave me.”
She chuckled.
He held out his hand to her. “I’m not going anywhere, Amanda. Never again. My soul is here. With you and Cooper, and with this land.”
She took his hand. “You’re willing to walk away from your career?”
“Fletcher had mentioned that we
need a shadow wolf patrolling this area. Maybe I’ll look into that. If not…” He shrugged. “The only regret I have in life is leaving you two behind. This may not be a conventional path to life, but damned if I’m going to ignore what my heart is telling me to do. Not anymore.”
Cooper came outside, smiling. It had been a long time since she’d seen him so happy.
“You could start working with horses, Amanda,” Cooper said. “Just like you always wanted to do. We could build this ranch into something great.”
“The three of us,” she replied, smiling, happy to feel like her life was getting back on track again now that she was with her loves.
She held out her other hand to Cooper and he took hold, uniting them.
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Along Came Merrie
Beth D. Carter
Excerpt
Chapter One
Merrie eased up on the gas when she finally accepted the truth. She was lost. Miles from nowhere, she looked down at her gas tank light flickering dangerously low. She dug around on the passenger seat until she found her phone then illuminated it to check her bars.
Of course. Dead.
Story of her life—dead end jobs, dead end future. She’d been taking care of herself since before she should’ve and the only job she’d been able to get at age fifteen was working on a dairy farm. It was nice but it didn’t pay all that much, and she’d gotten tired of her ass being grabbed each time she came by with the coffee carafe. The idea of moving to Cheyenne had sounded good at the time but now—lost in the middle of Wyoming—somehow it didn’t seem all that smart. Why was it that none of the roads had marker signs?
She’d gotten turned around at that last pit stop—that’s what had happened. Too many roads branched out for the truckers and she’d become confused about which road she’d been on. She was always doing stupid things like that. How hard was it to follow a road?
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