Fighting for Hazel [The Men of Treasure Cove 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Rebecca Joyce

  It was some internal battle he was fighting.

  She got to her feet, stood by the bathroom door, and listened as he started the water. Still he didn’t say anything. Then, right before she was going to walk away, she heard him call out her name. It was the way he said it, as if he was pleading with her to take his pain away, that tugged at her heart.

  Hazel knew she might be the fucking Ice Princess of Treasure Cove, but she did have a damn heart, and it hurt sometimes, too. She knew she was taking a risk going into that bathroom, but she didn’t care anymore. She was tired of dodging them. She was tired of hurting Neil, and she was tired of evading the grumpy old bear behind the door. She and Steven would always have problems, but if they didn’t learn to talk them out, nothing would ever get resolved. At least that was what Kelly told her.

  She had been seeing the local therapist every Tuesday at three o’clock. She never needed a therapist before, but when she couldn’t get the Conner brothers out of her mind, she sought the help of the only person she knew to ask. It was weird at first, talking to their sister, but since there wasn’t any other therapist within a fifty-mile radius she was left with no choice.

  Kelly was good about the whole thing. She only stipulated that any sex talk should be omitted on the count that she was, after all, their baby sister. Hell, even Hazel was okay with that since she never had sex with them. However, with everything else, Kelly helped her to realize that just because people disagree, that didn’t mean they don’t feel. She told her that sometimes, some people feel so strongly that they have a hard time expressing their feelings, and she was betting that her brother Steven was that way. While Neil was genuinely kind and open, Steven was closed off. He refused to talk most of the time. He never showed any emotion where she was concerned, unless he was yelling at her.

  Taking a leap of faith, she entered the bathroom, and went with her gut and prayed she was making the right decision.

  It was a gamble. She knew that. Steven had been such a hotheaded man before. Whenever they were together, he would just brood and bark orders. She couldn’t get him to relax, and when they talked, well, it was more like arguing. He had so many issues with her being from the city, that a city girl just wasn’t cut out for country life. Apparently, one had to be bred in the country for her to understand what he was talking about. He never tried to explain what it was like to be a rancher. He would just smile and tell her not to worry her little pretty head about it.

  He was condescending, and she hated him for that. Whenever she talked about something she knew, well, he got all defensive and typically stormed away. He acted like a child most days, and a bastard on the others. But when she saw his face earlier, she realized that he was more than he let on. Behind that stubborn, condescending, piece-of-shit attitude was a man who felt more than he let others see. For that one moment, he opened his soul, and she got a glimpse of the real man that lay beneath.

  That was the man she wanted to know.

  She was interested in that man. She never expected him to walk into her bakery, and she never expected him to save her. Yet, through it all, he never left her side. He stuck with her and got her to safety. And other than his outburst when she was on the horse, he had been a different person. He was gentle, patient, and understanding. Instead of telling her what to do, he explained why she needed to do what he asked. He answered all of her questions and listened when she talked.

  He had changed.

  Steven was everything and more. Her silent hero had more emotion and desire within one of his fingers than she had in her whole body.

  How could she have been so wrong about him?

  Because you are a judgmental bitch who refuses to give anyone a chance.

  And that was the crux of the matter. She refused to trust anyone. For some reason she couldn’t let go of her past and move forward. Of course, she knew why. Living in limbo was safe for her, and for right now, she was okay with that. She didn’t have to make any major decisions and life continued to move forward. The only problem with that was her life was standing still. She watched over the last few years as friend after friend moved on and started new lives. While some were just beginning, others were adding to their family.

  She wanted what they had. She would give anything to hold a child in her arms and know that it was safe and loved. She dreamed of that day, but until she took a step forward and started to live again, she was going to be stuck in limbo-land for a very long time.

  Hazel looked about the small cabin once again and sighed. “I want to start living again.”

  “Sometimes, taking that first step is the hardest. Well, at least, that’s what Matthias told me,” Steven whispered as he leaned against the bathroom doorjamb.

  * * * *

  Saddled up and ready to go, Neil checked his leather bags, making sure he had his first-aid bag. He wasn’t entirely sure that Natalie wasn’t spouting mumbo jumbo, but just in case, he wanted to be prepared anyway. Steven may be a son of a bitch, but Neil refused to let his bastard of a brother die because he was too stupid to take care of himself. What Neil wanted to know was where in the hell Steven really was. Last he saw of his brother, he had cursed him and left the house. Neil just assumed he would have headed out to on the range to check the cattle. He did that a lot when he was in a pissy mood.

  Grabbing the reins, he walked his horse out of the barn. The night was chilly, and he could only imagine what it was going to be like up on the mountain pass. Looking over at Pear Peak, he could still see the fog cloud hovering over the pass. He knew it had to have been an avalanche of some kind. The pass’s overhangs were always bogged down heavily with snow this time of year. Since the temperatures never really warmed up until August up on the pass, the cool days and chilly nights kept the snow fresh. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was still snowing up there.

  Regardless, something had happened up there. Whether it was natural or not, he needed to check it out. Since the Double Deuce was the closet to Pear Peak, their family had taken it upon themselves to be the first responders when the whistle blew. All he had to do was follow the trail and check it out. Once he figured out what had happened, it was his job to call it in.

  Making sure he had the satellite phone, he checked the charge. He was not going up there with anything less than a full battery on that sucker. He could still remember when Braxton chewed his ass out five years ago when a massive avalanche buried the pass for close to four months. Neil had gone up to check how bad the pass was, but forgot to charge the damn phone. When he tried to call into the sheriff’s station, the damn phone beeped loudly, causing another small fall. He was lucky. He managed to get out of the way before being buried himself. Since then, he made damn sure the fucking phone was fully charged.

  Heading out, Neil didn’t know what he was going to find but, prepared for any contingency, checked his rifle one more time. Living this far out from society, he never knew what he would come across. His fathers had taught him and Steven that no matter where he went on the ranch, it was better to have everything he needed instead of being caught with his pants down around his ankles.

  Not that he ever had that happen to him, but Steven, well, he could attest to that one.

  The ride up the trail was a quiet one. The clear sky and the full moon lit the way. Neil loved this time of night. Looking out on the open range, he could see forever. It was peaceful. He had wanted on more than one occasion to bring Hazel out here. He wanted to show her what it was like to lay under the stars on a dreamy night, but mostly he wanted to make love to her.

  He wanted to lay her out in an open field and make love to her right before God himself. She was a stunning woman with a beautiful personality. She was feisty and resilient, and he wanted her to be his. He missed her.

  Neil had just passed the first marker when movement up ahead caught his eye. Pulling up on the reins, he reached for his rifle when someone yelled out, “Don’t shoot!”

  “Who’s out there?” he yelled back, p
ointing his gun in the direction of the voice.

  “I’m just a hiker. I was up the mountain when the snow went,” said a tall, lanky man. The stranger slowly moved out of the tree line. His tall frame reminded him of those marathon runners he would see on television. Neil noticed the man wore a backpack and loafers. Not the average hiking boots one would need for the Pear Peak trails. Instead of jeans, the man wore slacks and a leather jacket.

  If this man was a hiker, Neil would eat his leather saddle.

  “You’re lucky, mister. That pass can be dangerous at night. Which trail were you on?” he asked.

  “Trail three. I almost didn’t make it down. I was with two others when the snow fell, blocking the pass. I tried to get to them, but we got cut off,” the man said.

  “Uh-huh, I see,” Neil said quietly, as he slowly flipped the safety off his rifle. “Where were your friends when you last saw them?”

  “They were ahead of me when the snow collapsed. I was bringing up the rear.”

  “Well, I’ll see what I can do. If you follow the trail southeast, it will bring you to a town called Celestial.”

  “I was staying in Treasure Cove. How far is that from here?” the stranger asked, looking back from where he came.

  Neil didn’t know who this man was, but he was clearly lying. There was no trail three that led up to the pass. There was only one trail. In addition, nobody in his or her right mind would hike up to Pear Peak in the middle of the night. It was too dangerous. This man was hiding something, and Neil did not like the look of him.

  He was no hiker.

  “You’re staying at the Treasured Bed Motel?” Neil asked.

  “Yeah, you know it?”

  “Sure. It should only take you about an hour or two going that away,” Neil said, pointing to the southwest, toward Treasure Cove. “The others in your party, were they male, too?”

  “No, there was a female in our group. I can go with you and help,” the stranger offered. Something in the man’s eyes told Neil there was no way this man was going anywhere with him.

  “You better head back. I need to get up there.”

  “Can’t you give me a lift back to town? It’s dark out here.”

  Fucking city slickers. “No, just go back the way you came. You won’t miss the town. From there, you should be able to find your way back to the motel,” Neil said, turning the reins and giving his horse a small nudge. He needed to get up to the pass and make sure no one was there. Mainly he needed to make sure his brother wasn’t up there hurt.

  Moon Goddess’s words were bugging the crap out of him, and now this fucker was only fueling his suspicions.

  The moment his back was turned, Neil heard a familiar click.

  Fuck!

  Slowly turning his horse, the stranger stood before him with a gun pointed at him.

  “Sorry about this, cowboy, but I am afraid I am going to need your horse. Now be a good ole’ boy and get off the pony.”

  “No.”

  “Are you stupid or just plain ignorant? I’m not giving you a choice here. Get off the fucking horse.”

  “No.”

  Before the stranger could move a step toward him, Neil kicked his horse hard in the flanks, making the animal rear up. The sheer power of the horse shocked the stranger, and he stumbled, giving Neil the time he needed. Before the stranger could get to his feet, Neil had already disappeared into the thick forest, putting a good distance between him and the gun, which was surely pointed at his back.

  Something was terribly wrong, and he now knew what Moon Goddess told him was true. Steven was hurt somewhere up on this mountain. Neil needed to find his brother quick before that asshole caught up to him.

  * * * *

  “How are your legs?” Steven asked, sitting on the bed next to her. She was so damn beautiful, sometimes it hurt to look at her. When she smiled at him, she made him feel like he was the only man in the world. Steven didn’t know what would happen when they got off this mountain, but for right now, she was with him, and that was all that mattered.

  “They’re fine,” she whispered.

  “A little stretching and massaging can sometimes ease the tension. I’m a great masseuse.”

  Hazel sighed a sexy, breathy little sigh, which went straight to his cock. Without hesitation, she turned over onto her stomach. Her towel now on the floor, she was naked, lying on a bed, waiting for him to put his hands on her.

  Leaning forward, Steven whispered, “I think you’re going to like this.”

  “Make it good. Make me forget everything.”

  “Your wish is my command.” Steven removed his towel and began.

  Rubbing his hands together to warm them, he started by running his hands slowly up her back and toward her shoulders. He lightly squeezed across the back of her neck and upper shoulders, just to loosen her up a bit. Slowly he kneaded the muscles around her spinal column, moving downward, taking his own sweet time. With each strong stroke, he could feel her body relax, giving in to him, relinquishing control. When he had stepped out of the bathroom, she looked tense and unsure, worried almost. He wanted her happy again. He wanted the woman he saw in the shower. He wanted the real Hazel who gave everything in her and expected nothing in return. For those few moments, he saw the real woman beneath the hard exterior she portrayed.

  That was the woman he wanted to know more about.

  His hands moved to the bottom of her back. Firmly they made their way around the hourglass curve of her waist. Her ass, the most perfect, heart-shaped ass he had ever seen, was so creamy and soft. He couldn’t wait to sink his cock into it, and he held onto her luscious globes.

  Hazel was perfect in so many ways for him, and she was also the biggest pain in the ass. But right now, none of that mattered. He didn’t care about the past. The past did not matter. She mattered, and she was with him.

  Moving down her body, he settled himself between her legs. “Just relax, baby, and let me take care of you. I’ll make you feel so good, I promise.”

  She sighed lightly.

  With one hand on each of her legs, Steven worked consciously, digging deep with his thumbs. With each stroke, she relaxed even more. Her eyes closed, and her body sank into the mattress. She didn’t notice that he inched closer and closer, unhurriedly spreading her legs further apart. Sitting on his knees, Steven was mere inches from her heavenly paradise.

  His hands moved from her calves to her thighs, gently caressing each under his secure grasp. “Better?” he asked, already knowing the answer. He could see her calm written on her face. She was enjoying her massage.

  “Oh God, yes.” She moaned. “Please don’t stop.”

  “Never, baby. I’ll never stop.”

  Without another word, he showed her what he could really do. He learned many things at the Pleasure Cave. Most he thought were ridiculous, like the massage class Matthias insisted he take. At the time, Steven thought it was a waste, but watching Hazel beneath his fingers, he realized that Matthias was right. Touch was sensual. He could stick his fingers in her cunt or ass all day long, but it meant nothing. But to touch her, to let her whole body feel how much he cared for her, without any sexual arousal, well, that was seduction in itself.

  Squeezing and rubbing, his hands moved closer and closer to her pussy.

  Steven grinned.

  He may have understood what Matthias meant by sensual massage, but he was also no dummy. He knew what he wanted. He already had a taste. The woman of his dreams lay willingly beneath him, allowing him to worship her body, and he was not going to stop until he consumed her.

  Inch by inch, he moved slowly upward. His thumbs nonchalantly touched her pussy’s mound and slid all the way up to her ass. Her pleasurable moan was music to his ears. Steven kept silent as he continued his seduction. Her body language screamed for him to touch her more. Her breathing increased. Her chest heaved, and her body quivered. She was aroused.

  Steven slid his right hand underneath her body, skillfully and eagerly
cupping her pussy. His touch danced across her warmth as she raised her hips off the bed, reaching for his hand, asking for more without speaking. He obliged. His fingers stroked tenderly at her swollen clit, pressing it directly against her pubic bone. The pressure was more than she could take as her head arched backward. With his free hand, he grabbed a handful of her flaming red hair, wrapped it around his hand, and pulled it back even further. Rubbing her clit, he increased his speed. With each passing moment, he could feel her damp pussy getting wetter and wetter as her juices coated his hand. All he could think about was burying his tongue deep into her hot channel as far as he could. He wanted her writhing beneath him, her legs wrapped around his head, as he drank from her cunt.

  Her hips began a dance against his fingers each time he furiously stroked her clit. Her legs shook in anticipation of release. Steven kept his weight on top of her, not letting her up until he got what he wanted.

  “Oh God, Steven, I’m coming!” she screamed as he rubbed out her gratifying and intense orgasm.

  “Oh yes, more!” she yelled as her hand reached underneath to meet his. Before he could pull his hand away, she laced her fingers with his and squeezed. Something within him snapped. The intimacy of the moment was not lost on him.

  Steven had been with his fair share of women before Hazel. Hell, he prided himself on those conquests. However, something about the woman before him and the way she was looking at him had him wishing that he hadn’t been so amorous before.

  He felt dirty, not worthy of her.

  Suddenly unsure of himself, he slowly pulled his hand away.

  “Steven?”

  “I’m sorry, Hazel. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Why?”

  Why? Because he was a selfish bastard. He took what he wanted and didn’t give a damn about what others thought. He had been that way for years. Hell, his own brother didn’t even like him anymore. To make matters worse, Steven hated himself. He hated the man he had become. He thought by spending time and learning from Matthias that he could change, but apparently not. She trusted him with just a simple massage, and he went and turned it into something dirty. He was a fucking bastard.