Alpha Defenders: Mate (Siren Publishing Menage Amour)

by Lyzie Carlisle

“Yeah, we’d best finish here and head on over to the restaurant to get her,” Ry agreed. “We can have a late lunch at home after we pick her up.”

  They’d arrived at the rock hunting site after taking Keri to work and it was mid-afternoon now. “I’m also looking forward to spending more time with her today,” Jeff said. “I’m glad she agreed to spend tonight at our place. Maybe if she gets used to the idea of us being secret agents, she’ll think about living with us full time.”

  “That would be fantastic,” Ry agreed. “Ready to go.” He hauled up the bag of rocks, and they headed down the narrow path.

  “I’ll be glad when this gig is finished,” Jeff said. “I wonder why we didn’t hear or see that so-and-so rock hunter farther up the hill today? Makes me wonder what he’s up to.”

  “I feel the same way,” Ry agreed. “At least we didn’t have to deal with him today.”

  * * * *

  Wra smiled with the realization that he had outsmarted those two so-called rock hunters today. He’d watched them and listened to what they had to say, hoping to gain information that would benefit him. He’d forgone his disguise as the burly rock hunter in favor of lurking closer in order to overhear whatever they said to each other. The mountain goat disguise had worked perfectly as he’d hidden in the shadow of a full-grown juniper. Obviously from what they’d said just now, they had no idea he was keeping a close watch on them.

  Chapter Seven

  After they had taken the bags of rocks and minerals to the geologist that C.P.O. had hired to make tests on the minerals, they gave Keri a call to see if they could pick her up.

  “Hi, are you ready for us to come for you?” Jeff asked her.

  “Not yet. We’ve had a larger crowd than expected for late lunch, and they’ve asked me to stay a while longer. I’ll call you when I’m ready, okay?”

  “We’ll be waiting to hear from you. We’ll hold dinner for you,” Jeff said. “See you later.”

  “Sounds like they’re swamped,” Ry said as he turned down the highway toward Wolf’s Crossing and their house. “We should probably order something from Austin and Rex for dinner tonight. We could pick it up when we pick up Keri.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Jeff agreed. “You know, I’ve been thinking about that nasty guy who has been chasing everyone off the hillside he says he owns. So, you think he could be in on Wra’s schemes?”

  “You have a good point,” Ry agreed. “I think he could very well be involved with Wra,” Ry added. “Mark said that the nasty guy had threatened Brenda.”

  “It makes sense that Wra could have convinced him to work for him by enticing him with the promise of more wealth,” Jeff said. “We need to find out if there’s any news on whether that guy actually owns any land on the hillside, like he claims. I think we need to focus on him. He could lead us to more information about where Wra is hiding if he’s working with him, especially if both he and Wra are interested in the same minerals we’re looking for.”

  “Let’s check with headquarters in the morning,” Ry said.

  “If we hope to have a solid relationship with Keri, and convince her to live with us, I think we need to let her know more about our job and what dangers we face with it,” Jeff said.

  “I think you’re right,” Ry said. “Besides, it’s only fair to her. Even though we’re ready to ask her to live with us, it’s best to tell her more about our work.”

  When they reached their house, they freshened up and then called the bar and dance hall. Rex answered, and they ordered their dinner for the three of them.

  “Keri will be ready to leave by the time you get here to pick up your meal,” Rex said. “Did you guys know that Tom fell and injured his ankle in the cave this morning?”

  “No, we hadn’t heard,” Jeff said. “Is he all right?”

  “Yeah,” Rex said. “Mark said he wouldn’t agree to go to the doctor and he’s taking it easy at home.”

  “Glad he’s resting,” Jeff said. “We’ll be by in a little while.” He ended the call.

  “He was lucky,” Ry said.

  “Yeah, he was,” Jeff agreed. “Let’s drive over and pick up Keri and get our dinner.”

  They headed back to Heat Springs and the bar and dance hall. When they walked inside, they saw that Keri was ready. She picked up their dinner from the kitchen and they all three headed back to Jeff and Ry’s place.

  “Did Rex tell you about Tom being hurt at the cave?” Keri asked them when they were all settled in their truck.

  “Yeah, he told us,” Jeff said. “We’re glad he’s doing all right.”

  “Yes, thank goodness,” she said.

  When they reached their home, they quickly set out plates and silverware for their dinner.

  “Does red wine sound good to you?” Ry asked Keri.

  “That will be perfect with the steaks,” Keri agreed. She put out the hot baked potatoes.

  Jeff set out their salad. “This looks delicious,” he said.

  They all helped themselves to their dinner. “Can we eat outside on the patio?” Keri asked.

  “Sure,” Jeff said. He opened the door for her, and she walked outside and put her plate on a table on the patio beside the swimming pool.

  Jeff and Ry followed her and put their plates on either side of hers. Ry held her chair for her, and they all three sat down at the table.

  “This is delicious,” Jeff said.

  “It’s all good,” Ry agreed.

  “Austin and Rex always serve great food at their restaurant,” Keri said. “You can count on that.”

  They all three concentrated on their dinner as the sun lowered in the west. Soon, they finished, and Ry and Jeff insisted Keri should sit beside the pool and enjoy the outdoors while they took the plates into the kitchen.

  “Do you feel like a swim?” Jeff asked her.

  “Sure, that would be fun,” she said, smiling at him. “I’ll go get my suit on.”

  Ry gave her a hand up from the recliner. “We’ll do the same. Meet you back out here.”

  It didn’t take her long to change out of her slacks and top and into the swimsuit that was hanging in the closet. She grabbed one of the soft terry cloth robes from the bathroom and headed back outside.

  Ry and Jeff were already there wearing cutoffs to swim in. They stepped down into the pool at the shallow end, and she followed them. She sat down on the steps and let the water slosh over her as Ry and Jeff floated and bobbed up and down in the shallow end near her. After a little bit they moved closer to her.

  “Come swim with us,” Ry said as he held out his hand to her.

  “How about a race to the deep end and back?” she challenged them.

  “Oh, that’s easy,” Jeff said. “What’s in it for the winner?”

  “A kiss,” she said and grinned at them.

  “Hmm, that might be a good place to start,” Jeff said with a teasing smile.

  She could see where this was going. She quickly stood up on the middle step and dove toward the deep end as fast as she could. She would give them a good run for what they wanted. She surfaced and took a big gulp of air and kept swimming as fast as possible. She knew she was losing when water splashed beside her and the motions of their big bodies swimming next to her almost swamped her. She could hardly get a breath of air with the water sloshing over her. She stopped and looked at them. “Hey, no fair!” she cried.

  They both stopped swimming and turned and grinned at her as they wiped the water from their faces. “All’s fair in our pool,” Jeff said.

  She swept her hands through the water and splashed them both. They grabbed her hands gently and pulled her close. Jeff pulled her against him with her back against his warm, broad, muscular chest.

  “Where’s that kiss?” he growled softly against her ear.

  She wiggled against him, trying to escape but only succeeded in noticing he was aroused, his cock hard and ready. She stilled.

  “I guess I get the kiss,” Ry said as he moved close t
o her. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. It was a sweet kiss, and his lips were cool from the water. He backed away but held on to her hand and then slipped his arm under hers.

  Jeff loosened his hold on her and moved to her side, keeping one arm around her back to help her stay up in the deep end. He lowered his head and kissed her gently on the cheek.

  Ry moved closer and slipped his arm around her other side. With their arms supporting her, they slowly dog-paddled back toward the shallow end. Jeff and Ry slowed about halfway there and moved around her so that Ry faced her and Jeff stopped behind her. The underwater lights had come on in the pool, and she could see that Ry was unfastening his cutoffs and slipping out of them. She noticed he was wearing a condom. He gathered the soaking wet clothing in his hands and tossed it onto the side of the pool. Slipping his hands around her waist he held her steady.

  “Would you like to play a little longer in the cool water?” he asked her.

  “Yes, that would be nice,” she said, already feeling aroused.

  Jeff let go of her, and she could hear him moving in the water. He threw his cutoffs onto the side of the pool just as Ry had done. Then his hands slipped around her ribs and held her steady. Ry edged her bikini bottoms down her hips, lifted her knees up as Jeff supported her body from behind her, and eased her bikini off her legs. He let go of her legs, and Jeff held her up with one hand and forearm beneath her hips. She felt Jeff fiddling with the fastenings of her bikini top with his other hand, and he slipped it off her and tossed it onto the side of the pool with the rest of her swimsuit.

  Ry moved closer to her and held her hips. “Wrap your legs around my hips, babe.”

  She did as Ry asked while Jeff held her up gently and securely with his hands under her arms. Ry’s rock-hard cock slipped between her thighs, and the bulbous head teased her pussy. She inhaled deeply with the sweet ache of arousal he gave her.

  Jeff supported her from behind as she slipped her arms around Ry’s shoulders and held on. Jeff moved close against her back, and she could feel his hard cock, covered by a smooth condom, nudge between her butt cheeks. Jeff’s hands cupped her breasts, and he gently flicked her nipples. She gasped at the pleasure as heated aches tantalized her.

  Ry positioned his hard cock at the opening of her channel and slowly slid inside. “God, that feels so good, babe,” he said.

  “Come inside me all the way,” she said. “I need you deep inside me, Ry.”

  He pushed deeper, and she felt so full. He leaned down and took her lips with his in a hot devouring kiss. She moaned at the overpowering sensations as he tangled his tongue with hers and stroked every surface of her mouth. She caressed his tongue with hers and wanted more. She couldn’t get enough of him, and she felt even more aroused as he moved his thick, hard cock deep inside her, building her need with those long, slow caresses and making her moan with pleasure.

  Jeff held her close against his hard, muscular torso as he caressed her breasts, first one and then the other. The head of his cock pressed against her tight hole, and when he moved his hips he teased that sensitive rim. Her need built as their touches and the hot, sexual aches they created combined with the heated feeling in her pussy, which Ry stoked with his big hard cock. He moved slowly out and back in, the friction along her inner walls increasing her arousal. Jeff flicked her nipples and took them in his fingers and squeezed. The zinging spark plunged through her body to the aching flesh along her crack and deep in her pussy. Her orgasm slammed into her, and she bucked with the force of it.

  Her hard contractions rocked her as Ry and Jeff reached their climaxes at the same time. She heard their deep growls of pleasure as their cocks jerked with their pulsing ejaculations. The friction of their contractions against her flesh brought her even more pleasure, her own body continuing to pulse with her orgasm.

  Slowly their bodies eased and relaxed. Ry’s softened cock slid from her pussy as he pulled gently from her. Jeff’s relaxed cock slipped from between her butt cheeks. Every movement they made caressed her sensitive, swollen flesh.

  “That was amazing,” she said, her voice sounding weak to her after the incredible sex they shared with her.

  “You’re amazing, babe,” Ry said. “Thank you.” He kissed her lips, and she kissed him back.

  “I loved that,” Jeff said from behind her, his breath warming the side of her face as he hugged her. “Thank you, hon.”

  “You guys are the best. Thank you,” she said, completely relaxed with their arms around her.

  “Do you want to join us and rinse off in my bathroom?” Jeff asked her.

  “Yes, that’s fine,” she agreed.

  They took the steps out of the pool together, and Jeff kept his arm around her as Ry crossed the patio to gather up their wet clothing. He followed her and Jeff down the hall to Jeff’s bedroom and into the bathroom. After dropping their wet clothing in one of the two sinks, Ry stood beside her as Jeff turned on the water in the shower and adjusted the temperature.

  “The water’s just right,” Jeff said.

  He held out a hand to Keri and helped her into the shower before he and Ry followed. It didn’t take them long to rinse off. When they’d finished, Jeff turned off the water and helped her out of the shower. He grabbed a soft white bathrobe and helped her into it before handing one to Ry and taking one for himself.

  “How about we all relax together in here,” he suggested.

  “I’d like that,” she said, smiling at him.

  Jeff put his hand at the small of her back and walked into his bedroom with her, and Ry followed them. Jeff waited for her to climb onto his spacious bed before he joined her.

  “Would you like a glass of wine?” Ry asked them as he stood by the bedroom door.

  “Yes, that sounds good,” she said.

  “Count me in,” Jeff said.

  Ry left the room, heading for the kitchen. She plumped a couple of pillows behind her, and Jeff did the same for himself. She had just finished arranging the pillows for Ry when he returned with their drinks. He handed one to her and one to Jeff and walked around to the other side of the bed and put his drink on the end table before settling beside her.

  Jeff raised his glass of wine toward her. “To a great relationship with each other,” he said.

  “I like that,” she said and touched her glass to his and to Ry’s and then took a sip just like they did at the same time.

  “I agree wholeheartedly,” Ry said.

  “We want you to know”—Jeff paused and met her gaze—“that we want to ask you to live with us.”

  Ry nodded in agreement as she turned and met his eyes. “We would both be thrilled if you would accept our invitation,” he said softly.

  “But we also believe it’s only fair to you that you know more about our jobs before you say yes or no,” Jeff said. “What do you think, hon?”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” she said. “I appreciate so much that you want to tell me more.”

  Jeff and Ry took her hands in theirs. They glanced at each other.

  “I’ll go first,” Jeff said, “and if I leave anything out, Ry, or you want to add anything, just jump in.”

  “Okay,” Ry agreed and gave Keri’s hand a little squeeze.

  “We’ve told you a little about our work previously, but now we need to tell you how our work affected a previous relationship we had with one of the women who worked as an agent with us. She broke off with us when she couldn’t handle the mental stress of being manhandled by one of the bad guys the three of us had been assigned to build a case against. We were supposed to take them down and send them to prison for a long term.”

  Jeff paused for a moment, looking down at Keri’s hand and rubbing his thumb across the top before he continued. “Her experience on the job for C.P.O., trying to find and bring down the bad dude, had ended up badly when the nasty guy got hold of her and knocked her around before Ry and I found out where she was and rescued her. She told me and Ry that she never
wanted to be put in a situation like that ever again. She was so badly shaken she believed she’d lost her courage to face such bad people again.” Jeff paused.

  “We didn’t blame her at all for her decision,” Ry added.

  Keri squeezed Jeff’s hand. “I can understand how that would affect her badly,” Keri said, keeping her voice soft as she looked from Ry to Jeff.

  “As a result,” Jeff said, “not only did Ry and I feel guilty and responsible for her traumatic, devastating experience with that nasty bastard, but we also lost the woman we had come to care for so much. She left the agency and Ry and me and told us she was going away and maybe she’d run into us sometime in the future after she got herself together again.”

  “We haven’t heard anything from her since then,” Ry added.

  Jeff shook his head. “She’d told us that she didn’t know where she was going or when she’d be back, if ever.”

  “We almost quit C.P.O. ourselves as a result,” Ry added, meeting Keri’s gaze. “We believed that we hadn’t done enough to protect her. But the head guys at C.P.O. encouraged us to stay and finally convinced us that we could do more good work for other people if we continued to work with the organization.”

  Jeff looked at her. “Even so, we can’t abide anyone being abusive to anyone, especially men or women beating up on innocents. Something else we need to tell you,” he paused a moment and then continued. “In the past, we’ve had sex with women to get information we needed, when that was the only option, or to get inside a criminal ring in order to get evidence needed to arrest the criminals. But we were careful and used condoms, and we’ve had regular checkups, and we’re clean.”

  Keri felt overwhelmed by all they’d just told her. She’d had a vague idea previously about what they did, but what they’d just told her really made it more real to her. “I need to think over all of this. I guess I didn’t realize exactly how serious and dangerous your jobs can be. I admire you both for doing what you do and putting yourselves in serious danger to help others. I’m just not sure I can deal with the dangers to you and the problems that go along with your work.”