by Alta Hensley
Thinking of the brothers as I worked the dough, I wondered if the fire we’d once had, had simmered down. Was the chemistry I’d felt with each one nothing more than lust? Once they’d taken me, if only for a mere sample as with Rogan, had that been enough to satisfy any curiosity they might have had? Was I so gullible as to believe I’d been more than just a fuck? I was actually grateful the chores never seemed to end; telling myself the brothers’ sexual needs were substituted with exhaustion.
I knew that I never had a moment to spare. I had never worked so hard in my life, so by the time sunset fell, I should have been able to keep my eyes open barely long enough to undress and collapse into bed. So why did I find myself lying there, my body cradled by the softness of the sheets, the sweet scent of roses filling the air while I wished I was in the arms of an O’Shea brother, the aroma of pure maleness surrounding me as his cock, his mouth, his hands commanded my body?
I paused a moment, attempting to blow a stray ringlet off my forehead, but finally reached up and brushed it away with the back of my flour-coated hand, remembering how Rogan had tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before his head had lowered and his lips had pressed against mine. A soft moan escaped me, my body responding, remembering how it had felt like I was being claimed with nothing more than a kiss. Shaking the memory away, knowing it was just that, a memory, I lifted my shoulders up and down a few times. I might not be able to ease the sexual ache in my body, but at least I could attempt to loosen my muscles, tight from kneading dough.
“I warned you it was going to be hard work.”
I jumped at the sound of Rogan’s voice. My face flooded with heat as I turned to see he’d come into the kitchen. I wondered if he somehow knew my thoughts. His baseball cap rested on his head just enough to shield the depths of his eyes. Even without trying, he exuded sex appeal and my nipples tightened, pressed against the bodice of my dress.
“And I told you I wasn’t afraid of it.” I had no idea why he was here at this time of day without his brothers and didn’t know what to say. Suddenly, I had no idea how to even act. I felt like some shy teenager, so aware of his intense masculinity, but terrified he found me not worthy of his time. It was easier to turn my back and return my attention to bread making.
I heard his boots crossing the floor and then felt his presence behind me. Rogan placed one of his hands on each of my shoulders, and began to give a gentle massage. “I know how tired you are.” He continued to massage as he spoke, causing me to give a soft moan and revel in the delightful feeling. “I know I haven’t told you, but I couldn’t ask for more. You’ve been amazing these past few weeks. You truly are making this place a home. My brothers and I talk about it all the time. We couldn’t have done this without you.”
I turned to face him, my eyes searching his. They talked about me? Did that include discussions about what I’d done with two of his brothers? Did it truly matter? My question from before, the one asking if the fire between us had extinguished, had been answered. From the moment he’d arrived, spoken, touched me, all I wanted to do was to melt into his body.
Rogan took a deep breath and a large step backward. “I want to take you somewhere. Clean up and meet me outside in five minutes.”
“What about supper, your brothers and Alana?”
“My brothers decided to take Alana into town like she’s been begging them to do. They will eat supper there, and I decided to surprise you with a picnic. It’s the least I can do for all your hard work. You and Alana both need a break and our show of thanks.”
I stood there, not sure what to think. “A surprise?” I honestly couldn’t believe he had taken the time to plan it all out.
“Okay, let me put this in the fridge.” I quickly transferred the dough to a bowl.
“I’ve got it. Just go get cleaned up,” Rogan said, covering the bowl. When I returned downstairs, I found Rogan at the bottom of the stairs. “You clean up nicely.”
All I’d done was wash my face and hands, brush my hair, remove my apron, and yet I could feel myself flush at the compliment. It reminded me of that first day I’d come downstairs and he’d said I looked pretty. “Thank you.”
He just nodded and with a hand splayed at my lower back, led me outside where a horse the color of midnight was standing, the reins looped over the porch rail.
“We’re riding?” I asked.
“Yes, it’s a rather long hike,” Rogan said. “Come on. I’ll help you up.”
“But… he’s huge and…” I didn’t want to appear to be a wuss, and say scary, but this was the biggest horse I’d ever seen.
“Kieran?” Rogan said, running his hand down the horse’s neck. “No, I’d say he is the average size for a good Irish stallion,” he countered and then grinned. “And, though his name means ‘Dark One’, it’s because of his color, not because he is evil. He’s as gentle as a lamb. I promise, you’ll be fine.”
Dark was right. The animal was the color of obsidian, a black so deep it had a hint of blue along his flanks. He was truly a magnificent example of horse flesh. Yet, that was part of the problem. “Um, I’ve never been on a horse before, and I’ve heard they know when their rider is… well, terrified. I’m not really sure if—”
“Well, get ready for your first experience,” he interrupted. “I love taking a woman’s virginity, especially one who is such a pretty witch,” he said.
I could only gape at him. Really? Of all I’d said, the only thing he picked up on was that this would be a first for me. I wasn’t sure how to respond until he grinned and chuckled.
“Ha, Ha, very funny,” I said, reaching out to punch him in his arm. “You Irish might call that blarney, but us witches just call it a cheesy pickup line.”
He shook his head as he reached out and pushed my hair over my shoulder, running his fingertip along my collarbone. “Why, Miss McKnight, I’m not sure what you are thinking about, but I was simply talking about treating you to your first ride… on a horse, that is.”
From the heat I felt flare in my face, the tightness of my nipples as they drew up into little pebbles, and the grin he gave me, I had no doubt he knew I was no longer thinking only about riding his horse, but about riding him as well.
He turned and put his boot in the stirrup, swinging his jean-clad leg over the saddle. Leaning down, he offered me his hand, his smile and his absolute confidence giving me the courage to place my hand in his. With little effort, he pulled me onto the horse and settled me in front of him. My heart skipped and fear paralyzed me as I desperately clung to the horse’s mane, trying my best to control my breathing.
With a kick of his boots, he guided the horse forward—the sudden motion causing me to squeal.
Rogan leaned forward to speak into my ear. “Relax. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You’re perfectly safe.”
His soothing voice sent shivers down my spine but did little to calm my anxiety. I looked down at the ground below. I felt so high and far from safe, but when his arm tightened around my waist, I swallowed my fear and pressed back solidly into Rogan’s chest. His warmth comforted me, his strong arms around me going a long way toward reassuring me I could trust his word.
“See, this isn’t so bad,” he said as he ran his palm up and down my arm.
“Piece of cake.” My voice trembled a bit, his touch fanning the embers in a fire I’d feared long gone.
“I can go faster if you like,” Rogan challenged.
“No! I like this pace just fine, thank you.”
Rogan laughed while tightening his grip around me even more.
The horse plodded along, and after a while, I began to ease the muscles in my body. My breathing calmed, and my heart seemed to beat in its regular rhythm again. Every time I adjusted my body, Rogan would squeeze tighter, enveloping me in security and safety. I could feel his breath against my ear, his heat against my back. I could also feel the bulge of his cock as it pressed against my bottom every time I wiggled. The feeling of being protected, guard
ed, and well… wanted, replaced any remnant of uneasiness.
“Maybe a little faster,” I said a few minutes later.
He chuckled, kicked his heels into the horse’s flanks, and I squealed as the horse began to trot. I was about to ask for him to stop when he kicked his feet once more. Instead of the jerky gait, the one that had me scared I’d bounce right out of the saddle, I felt like I was flying. It was amazing. I hadn’t even been paying attention to where we were going, but as we crested a hill and he slowed the horse when we began to climb yet another rise, I was seeing a part of the land I’d never seen before.
“Over there,” he said, pointing to the right, “is a natural hot spring I thought would be perfect to help ease your tired muscles.”
I turned my head so I could look up into his smoldering blue eyes. “Seriously? We have a hot spring?”
His laughter echoed across the land. “Yup. Just like we have a woodshed.”
And with that single word, I felt heat instantly surge through me as memories of the woodshed flashed across my mind in full force. The strapping, the feel of Derrick’s fingers between my thighs, his amusement and pleasure at finding me sopping wet. His forbidding me to come and my body betraying me by exploding when he pushed his thumb into my ass… and the indescribable sensation when moments later he’d pushed his cock into a place I’d never even imagined being used for pleasure… and while it had hurt, burned, I couldn’t deny that the pain had morphed into pleasure beyond any I’d ever experienced before. Only to discover that pleasure repeated in Cal’s bed, under his tongue, his lips, his fingers, and his cock. Both men had me begging, pleading, soaring.
“You all right?”
Rogan’s question jerked me back to the present. “Oh, yes, I’m fine. A hot spring. That sounds heavenly.”
We entered a grove of trees, and I could see the tendrils of steam seeping from between cracks in a wall of huge boulders. After dismounting, Rogan reached up, his hands around my waist, lifting me from the saddle. True, I hadn’t mounted or dismounted by myself, but I felt a ridiculous sense of pride I’d not only ridden a horse, I hadn’t fallen off! I smiled, thinking that I was really becoming quite the pioneer woman.
Rogan splayed his fingers against my lower back and led me around the boulders. “Wow, this is incredible,” I said. Behind the shelter of the boulders was a pool. I could hear the water sliding over rocks worn smooth with the passage of time and feel the heat even from feet away. Lush ferns grew along the bank. Ireland was a beautiful country, and this was another slice of indescribable splendor, unspoiled by the hand of man.
“Go ahead and get in. I’ll go set up our picnic.” With a twinkle in his eye, he smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t peek.”
I looked from the water to him, my heart beating a bit faster. “Wait. You aren’t going to join me?”
“Well, since we don’t have suits, I thought I would give you your privacy and let you have it to yourself.”
Seriously? I’d felt his cock pressing against me during our ride. He was being a gentleman, but I wasn’t interested in chivalry at the moment. I’d asked, but he evidently needed more than a verbal invitation. After slipping out of my shoes, I kept my attention on him as I reached for the buttons of my dress, undoing several to loosen it enough to peel off my shoulders. I watched his gaze drop down my body and the denim of his jeans was unable to hide the movement of his cock as it thickened against his thigh when I lowered the dress beneath my breasts, only then releasing it to puddle at my feet. Unclasping my bra, I slid it off, revealing my nipples were already hard, wondering if he could tell they were throbbing. Slowly sliding my fingertips into the waistband of my panties, I eased them down, taking my time until I finally stepped out of them. I bit back a grin as I watched him swallow hard when I twirled the scrap of pink lace on my fingertip before allowing it to drop to the ground.
Totally nude, I finally turned and took the few steps to the edge of the water. Extending my leg, pointing my toes like a prima ballerina, I lowered my foot until it was an inch above the surface, suddenly pulling it back and giving my entire body a shimmy.
The sound of his groan had me smiling before I turned back to him. “That’s a lot of steam. How hot is the water?” I asked.
“Huh?”
I just barely managed not to giggle as I tossed my hair, looking back over my shoulder. “It’s bubbling. How hot is it?”
He cleared his throat and then gave his head a little shake as if to clear it. “The steam is more visible because it’s contained within this circle and the air is colder,” Rogan said. “I promise you’re not going to get burned.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, biting my lip.
He managed a smile. “Trust me. I brought you here to relax, not boil you for supper.”
“I don’t know. I seem to recall being threatened and kidnapped. I was told to fear for my life.” I locked my eyes onto his, using the last bit of ammo in my arsenal. “Then again, words are easy to say. Maybe the truth of the matter is I have nothing to fear? That the villains in the story really aren’t bad at all?”
“Don’t delude yourself,” he said, giving a pause before he shook his head. “You have surprised me, Monet. I had no idea how much of an effect you’d have on me.” Rogan started removing his clothes, and it was my turn to watch.
Chapter Sixteen
Monet
This was the first time I’d seen him in all his glory, and his body did not disappoint. Muscled, lean, and mouthwatering, Rogan looked like a Greek god. But when he peeled down his briefs, he took my breath away. I had serious doubts I’d ever be able to take him inside my body. And testing that theory was suddenly all I could think about.
“Monet?”
“Hmmm?”
I jerked my head up to see him grinning and holding out his hand. “I asked if you were ready?”
“Definitely,” I said, knowing I was ready for so much more than stepping into the water. Our fingers entwined, we entered the spring together, and I moaned. “Oh my God, this is amazing,” I moved farther into the pool beside him.
“Aww, this is exactly what my body needed,” he sighed as he released my hand and lowered himself.
I tried to conceal my smile. I couldn’t help but have images of what my body really wanted and needed from Rogan.
He looked up at me, an eyebrow cocked and a grin on his lips. “What are you doing still standing there, and what are you smiling about?”
My smile grew larger as I shrugged in response, words totally escaping me. I felt a tug and realized he’d taken my hand again, pulling me down to sit beside him. I groaned again as the liquid covered my body.
Rogan ran his wet hand through his hair, slicking it back. “I think we’re going to have to make a habit of this.”
He moved his body closer, and just the brush of his leg against mine increased the heat surrounding me. If I got much hotter, I’d definitely be boiling over.
“I know we’ve been away a lot, but hopefully that will die down soon. We’ve got the land in pretty good shape, and we wanted to make sure we were set up for winter—”
“You don’t need to make excuses. I know how busy you’ve been. But…”
“But what?” His hands encircled my waist, positioning my body so that he could move up behind me. Strong fingers began to massage my neck and shoulders. His hands were hard but gentle at the same time. The rubbing turned my body to jelly, but I still couldn’t relax totally. Regardless of my response, my need, I had to know.
“Are you sure you all aren’t avoiding me? Ever since you kissed me that day… and that night with Derrick and then Cal, you all seem to dodge me every chance you get. Do you think I’m a total whore?”
Rogan stopped massaging and when I looked over my shoulder, I saw him raking his fingers through his hair again. “Hell no. I don’t think you are a whore at all. None of us do. My brothers and I have an understanding. We’ve had long conversations about this as we tend to the fields or
chop wood.”
So, that was one question answered… they did discuss me. Each man knew what I’d done with his brothers. Still, knowing they spoke together didn’t totally ease my mind. “What… what sort of understanding?”
“We understand we all feel the same. Our expectations of you will be loyalty, but loyalty to us all. Not just one of us. It may not be ordinary, but we don’t give a fuck. We are all attracted to you in ways that can’t be explained, and we aren’t going to try and argue the fact or deny each of us has feelings for you.”
No longer able to look at him, I looked down at my hands, noticing my fingers were already beginning to prune a bit. “You all want me? I thought you all hated me.”
“Of course not. We wouldn’t trust you with Alana if we hated you.”
“And it doesn’t bother you? Knowing I’ve had sex with your brothers?” I wasn’t sure why I was pushing the issue. I didn’t want to hurt any of them. And I wasn’t sure what all this meant. Did they all want me as theirs?
Before he answered, he moved me again, turning me until I was facing him, straddling his lap. He lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look at him.
“It doesn’t bother me at all. And you can relax. By conversations, I didn’t mean we sit around and discuss the details of our time with you. We’re not some horny teenagers who feel the need to brag about their sexual conquests in the locker room. Just know that when I’m around you, sex is damn near the only thing I can think about, and I’m sure it is the same with them. I want you. I hunger for you like I’ve never done with any woman before.” His smoldering eyes locked with mine. “But there are things about me, my expectations, my demands, that you don’t know. And if you truly did, I’m pretty sure you’d be rethinking that little strip tease you treated me to.”