by Leah Brooke
Unnerved by his silence, she met his cold expression with one of her own. “What time is it? Have I slept long?” Her voice, husky with sleep, didn’t go much above a whisper, but he seemed to have heard her.
His eyes narrowed, his gaze raking over her and leaving a sizzling heat in its wake. “A few hours.”
He got to his feet looming over her, and she tried not to think about his cock being almost at eye level. Looking away, she disentangled her feet from the blanket and draped it over her shoulders hoping he’d take the hint and move away so she could get up. “Those pain pills really work.”
Quinn didn’t move. “You didn’t eat very much last night and only picked at your breakfast. Your lunch is ready. You’d better start eating. You need to get your strength back.”
Lifting her gaze to his, she fisted her hands in the edges of the blanket, annoyed that her nipples tingled. “And the sooner I get my strength back, the sooner I can get out of here.”
“Exactly.” Bending forward, he helped her to her feet. “How much pain are you in?”
Reluctantly accepting his help, Kendra straightened, thankful for the steady arm he wrapped around her when she wobbled. “I’m fine. Just a little sore.”
“You’re a liar.”
Wincing at his icy tone, Kendra smiled up at him. “Don’t worry. I won’t be a bother to you any longer than necessary.”
A muscle worked in his jaw. “You’re too damned pale. Why don’t you sit here and I’ll bring your lunch to you?”
Kendra shook her head, surprised at the masculine appreciation she saw in his eyes, and even more surprised at her reaction to it. The heat from his hand seemed to radiate throughout her body, making her feel flushed.
She lifted her chin, determined not to let him see how his touch affected her. “No. I want to move, and I have to go to the bathroom.”
How the hell could she be affected so strongly by all four of them?
She had to get the hell out of here as soon as she could.
* * * *
Quinn’s cock stirred at the glimpse of the upper curve of a creamy breast.
The top button of her pajama top had come undone while she’d slept, and another when she’d struggled to her feet, affording him a view that made his cock harden and press painfully against his zipper.
He’d seen her naked, hell, he’d parted the cheeks of her ass and taken her temperature rectally, but his focus had been on her injuries, and getting her warm.
He’d been scared, almost frantic, his stomach clenched the entire time Barrett stitched her cut, wincing every time the sharp needle went into her soft skin. He still couldn’t shake the horror he’d experienced as they’d all worked frantically to warm her, and get her to wake up.
He’d spent the night walking the floors, unable to sleep. He couldn’t stay away from her for long, and had gone into Barrett’s room repeatedly to check on her.
His stomach still clenched every time he thought about the way she’d looked in Barrett’s arms. His friend had held her protectively through the night, and it took every ounce of self-control Quinn possessed to walk away from her.
A light sleeper, his friend had woken each time he’d walked into the room, a look passing between them. One of understanding.
And of jealousy.
Barrett wanted her.
Someone who didn’t know him well might have been fooled by his attempt at distance, but Quinn saw the way Barrett’s eyes followed her.
With a hand at her back, Quinn guided her to the downstairs bathroom. Unable to stop looking down at her creamy skin and dark valley between, he clenched his jaw, struggling with the hunger for her that clawed at him.
“Button your top.”
Disgust with himself made his tone sharper than he’d intended, but his hands itched to touch her, and he hated the control she had over him. Inwardly wincing at the flash of hurt in her eyes, and the way her hands shook as she clumsily buttoned her top to her neck, Quinn gritted his teeth, taking his anger at himself out on her.
“If you want to get laid, baby, just say so. You don’t have to entice me. Just spread those thighs and I’ll fuck you senseless.”
Kendra jerked out of his hold, her eyes wide and glimmering with shock and hurt. Lifting her chin, she pushed him away. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to excite you. I didn’t unbutton the damned thing. It came undone while I was asleep. Get out of my way. I have to go to the bathroom.”
Despite her spunk, she swayed slightly, and he automatically reached out to steady her, cursing himself for antagonizing her. She was so small and defenseless, and every scratch and bruise on her pissed him off.
The hurt in her eyes pissed him off.
His attraction to her pissed him off.
Barrett’s attraction to her pissed him off.
Leaving her alone with Grant had pissed him off.
Hell, everything about the last twenty-four hours pissed him off!
He’d been angry through the night, sitting at the window and staring out at the darkness and knowing that Kendra lay curled in Barrett’s arms.
He’d been angry that Grant had gone to get her before he could get her himself, and furious at himself for imagining Kendra and Grant making love while he’d been out in the cold dealing with livestock.
Watching her walk away, he couldn’t help but admire her curvy frame even as he worried at her unsteady steps.
She had a sweet, fragileness about her that made him want to hold and protect her, and a temper that excited him.
The curiosity and feminine awareness shining in her eyes that made him want to sink into her.
He wanted to cuddle with her, for God’s sake!
She was driving him out of his mind.
Following her, he reached out to steady her when she stumbled over the marble transition at the bathroom doorway, gritting his teeth when she yanked away from him and fell back against the door frame.
Gripping her upper arms to steady her, he kept his hold gentle, but didn’t bother to hide his anger. “I’m not going to attack you, damn it.”
Her humorless laugh pissed him off even more. Pushing his hands away, she walked into the bathroom, turning and leaning heavily against the door. “I know. You’ve made your dislike of me pretty obvious. Message received. I’ll be out of your house as soon as possible.”
With a sneer, she straightened and shut the door in his face, leaving him standing on the other side, his hands fisted at his sides.
The hurt in her eyes made him feel like an ass, but his reaction to it settled something inside him, his decision inevitable.
Staring at the bathroom door like an idiot, he smiled, a slow smile that would probably appear predatory to anyone who saw it.
Kendra wouldn’t be going anywhere.
* * * *
When Kendra got to the kitchen, she stopped abruptly, surprised to find all four men standing around the island, apparently waiting for her.
She slid a glance at the table to see that none of them had even touched their food.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hold you up. You don’t have to wait for me.”
Grant pushed his way forward. “Don’t be ridiculous. Sit here.”
“Thanks.” Kendra looked down at a plate piled high with pot roast, potatoes, and carrots. Smiling, she looked back over her shoulder at Grant. “It looks delicious and smells incredible, but I hope you don’t think I can eat all of this.”
Surprised by his scowl, she followed his gaze to see that Barrett slid into the seat on her right before Grant could sit there.
Barrett blithely ignored him, digging into his food.
Hiding a smile, she watched Mason shove Quinn aside and drop into the seat on her left before Grant could reach it.
Grinning at Grant, Mason shook out his napkin. “Sit down, Grant.”
With a snarl, Grant went around the table to sit next to Quinn. “We’re gonna have to take turns or something.”
Quinn broke his b
iscuit in half and glanced at Grant. “That sounds like a good idea. I’ll stay here with her this afternoon.”
Kendra sighed, her heart racing at the thought of being alone with Quinn. “Nobody has to stay here with me. I’m fine. As a matter of fact, I was thinking about going outside today to get a little fresh air. I’d love to see the ranch.”
“Why?” Quinn stilled, his eyes narrowed.
Surprised by his reaction, she looked at Mason, Grant, and Barrett to see that all three of them also looked at her with eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I don’t know. Because it’s a beautiful place. Because I wanted to see what you do here. Because I wanted to get out of the house a little. I don’t understand what the problem is.”
“No.” Barrett shook his head and resumed eating. “You could fall in the snow and pull those stitches. It’s better if you stay inside for a few days.”
Kendra poked at a carrot. “Look, I know you think I’m fragile, but I can assure you that I’m not. You’ve known me for less than twenty-four hours. You’ve seen me unconscious and knocked out on pain medicine. I am not the person you’ve seen so far, and my days of taking orders are over.”
Quinn straightened. “Feeling brave today, are you?”
Barrett shot Quinn a warning look. “That’s enough, Quinn. We’re supposed to be taking care of her, not upsetting her.”
Kendra smiled, lacing her fingers together over her plate. “He’s not upsetting me. I think Quinn and I understand each other well enough. He wants me and it pisses him off.”
A pregnant silence fell over the table, such a complete silence that Kendra could hear the clock on the wall ticking.
With a slow smile, Quinn leaned forward, the male interest in his eyes sharpening. “Back atcha, baby. You want me, too, and don’t seem to like it any better. Or, didn’t you think I saw the way your nipples got hard when you woke up and saw me standing there. Did you think I didn’t notice the little catch in your breath when I touched you, or the way you arched toward me before you could stop yourself? You wanted me to unbutton the rest of those buttons and bare your breasts. You wanted my hands on you. My mouth on you.”
His voice lowered, the soft seductive quality to it making her heart race faster. “Tell me those panties aren’t wet. Hiding yourself with that blanket won’t help. I know your nipples are beaded, and so do Barrett, Mason, and Grant. You want it, baby. You want me to spread those soft thighs and sink my cock deep inside you.”
Sitting back, Kendra fisted her hands on the blanket, pressing her thighs together at the insistent ache that made her clit swell and her pussy release even more of her juices. “You’re an asshole.”
Quinn sat back, his smile so decadent she almost came on the spot. “Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you don’t want me to fuck you.”
Kendra opened her mouth to deny it, snapping it shut again when he lifted a finger.
Raising a brow, he reached for his glass. “If you deny it, I’m just going to have to yank those pajama pants to your knees so that we can all feel how wet you are, and prove you a liar.”
The thought of having her slit exposed and having all of them running her fingers through her slit sent a wave of heat through her, setting off a string of mini-orgasms that left her trembling and out of breath. “You son of a bitch!”
With a cold smile, Quinn inclined his head. “That I am. But, I’m not wrong.”
Mason, Grant, and Barrett stared at her as if they’d never seen her before, the hunger and masculine interest in their eyes making her squirm.
Mason set his fork on his plate and leaned toward her. “She’s aroused now, very aroused. You were soaking wet when I was giving you that rubdown, weren’t you, honey?”
Grant’s eyes narrowed. “When I was changing her into her pajamas, I accidentally touched her nipple. She jolted and lowered her hands so I could see her. She arched for me, too, like she wanted me to touch her. I had a hell of a hard time resisting.”
Barrett studied her features, saying nothing.
Mortified, Kendra crossed her arms over her chest. “That doesn’t mean a thing. It’s probably just a reaction to the pain medication. You’re all very compelling men. Just because I’m a little needy, doesn’t mean I have to act on it.”
“Scared?” Quinn’s deep voice held a challenge in it she desperately wanted to accept.
Kendra shrugged and reached for her fork again, determined to resist temptation. “I’m a grown woman and don’t have to give into my urges. Sleeping with all of you would be stupid and pointless.”
Mason grinned. “And a hell of a lot of fun. Let’s just see how long you can resist.”
Grant stabbed a potato. “As long as you understand that it’s not a tradeoff for anything.”
Surprised at that, Kendra frowned. “A tradeoff for what?”
Quinn waved a hand. “Never mind. When I take you, you’re not going to be thinking about anything else, anyway.”
Figuring they assumed she’d want some kind of commitment if she had sex with them, Kendra shrugged. “If I have sex with you—which I’m not planning to do—it’ll be because I want to, not because I’m expecting anything from you.”
“Good.” Quinn picked up his fork again. “If you want to go outside this afternoon, I’ll make a deal with you.”
Suspicious, Kendra eyed him warily. “What kind of deal?”
Reaching for a biscuit, Quinn smiled faintly. “I’ll take you outside today if you tell us what you meant by that comment about not taking orders from anyone anymore.”
Shrugging, she started to eat again. “It’s no big secret. I used to live with my sister and brother-in-law. Karen got pregnant in her first year of college, and so I lived with her and Jerry to take care of the house and the baby while they finished school and got their careers started. I worked for them for room and board and a few dollars of spending money until they got settled. I had to do things the way they wanted things done, and couldn’t go out and look for another job because they needed me for my nephew.”
Barrett touched her arm. “And when your nephew was old enough, you went out to find work with no experience and no training?”
Kendra forced a smile. “Don’t make me out to be a martyr. I’m not. I enjoyed every minute I got to spend with my nephew.”
Especially since she couldn’t see him anymore.
Looking at Quinn, she smiled. “You thought it was a man, didn’t you. Sorry, no time for them, especially with a baby twenty-four seven. Sorry to disappoint you. I expect you to keep your word about going out today.”
Quinn regarded her steadily. “I have a feeling there’s more to that story that you’re not telling me, but I’ll get it out of you eventually. We’ll take a walk outside for a little while, as long as you stay close.” He let his gaze lower to the valley between her breasts. “You know I always keep my word. That’s why you didn’t bother to lie when I threatened to prove you a liar.”
Chapter Five
Wearing a pair of Quinn’s soft sweatpants that had been rolled up several times and one of his long sweatshirts that came almost to her knees, her boots and her coat, Kendra walked across the yard next to him. “Holy hell, it’s cold!”
“I told you how damned cold it would be. We’re going to have to do something about getting you something warmer to wear.”
“I won’t be here long enough for that.” Lifting her face to the sun, she gasped at the beauty in front of her. “I can understand why you’d want to live here. It’s beautiful.”
“We plan to stay here, too.”
Frowning at his tone, Kendra turned to face him. “Of course you do.” Unable to read anything in his expression, she turned back to look at the mountains. “Do you ever climb them?”
With a hand on her back, Quinn urged her forward. “Never for fun. I know those mountains like the back of my hand. We’ve had to track people who got lost, and after a while, you just learn your way around them.”
Kendra stared into the distanc
e. “Where did the plane crash?”
Tightening the arm he held around her, Quinn bent until his cheek touched hers and pointed into the distance. “Over there. If you look hard, you can see movement.”
Her pulse tripped at his nearness, leaving her breathless. “That must have taken forever to get there.”
Quinn’s hold tightened as he straightened. “Almost two hours. Then we looked around the wreckage for close to an hour before we found you. It was still snowing and you were covered with it.”
“How did you know someone was there?”
Quinn shrugged. “We didn’t. We had a hunch, and we were pretty sure the suitcase that we found didn’t belong to the pilot. If it hadn’t been for your moan, we probably wouldn’t have found you.”
The mention of Sam had tears stinging her eyes. “Thanks for not giving up.”
“You’re welcome.” To her surprise, he bent and touched his lips to her hair.
It seemed to surprise him as much as it surprised her.
In an effort to change the subject, Kendra smiled up at him. “Are you good at tracking?”
Grinning, he nodded once. “I’m the best.”
Shaking her head, she stared up at him, marveling at the change in his expression.
He seemed more relaxed now than she’d ever seen him, and his smile transformed his features from hard and cold to ruggedly handsome.
Transfixed, she smiled. “You’re conceited, too.”
“It’s not conceit when you speak the truth. It’s just confidence in your own abilities.” His smile fell. “You keep whipping your head around. What the hell are you looking for?”
Embarrassed to have been caught, Kendra pulled the collar of her coat higher. “For Mason, Barrett, and Grant. I’m surprised that they’re not out here.”
Quinn shrugged, his expression hard and cool once again. “They’re probably still gathering strays. My guess is that at least one of them is close by.”