Now it was Carlysle who had to fight back a tear. Such graciousness in their liege-lord was overwhelming. No man was to blame for a battle lost. Certainly a wall was stronger than a palisade, but no one would have thought Lord Jeffrey would attack the demesne. It had been well run, well cared for, with a strong lord. It hadn’t been an obvious target at all. And no one could have guessed Lord Jeffrey wouldn’t actually rule the land and care for the peasants after it became his. Yet Lord Rhys had graciously accepted the blame, as a true leader did, and even more wondrously shared his good fortune with them all. Carlysle’s breath caught in his throat. His land was his again and would make a good dowry for Ava and Ysabel. His personhood was restored. He was no longer a slave, but a freed man, a peasant with land and status.
Lord Rhys sat down again to great clapping and cheering. Everyone stomped their feet and clapped their hands and shouted in joy. It had been a huge effort, but they’d achieved it.
Lady Elinor turned to Albin, Byram, Carlysle, and Garnet. “Warrick, as firstborn, will inherit the stronghold. Wymer, my second son, will inherit this demesne. You have all cared for the demesne so well, we wish you to stay here and continue to run it until Wymer is older. The boys will need to learn to fight as well as to rule, but as soon as he is old enough to understand, Wymer will begin spending time at the demesne, to learn about his people and property. You four will guide and direct him in this while he is here. The demesne will ever be your home.”
Carlyle gasped. They were not being released? They were to stay on here forever? Now he was truly overcome. It’d never occurred to him they’d be granted such a gift. He’d assumed Byram and Garnet would go back into service at the stronghold, and he’d work his land.
“Thank you, Lady Elinor,” he whispered.
Garnet kissed Lady Elinor’s hand, and Lady Elinor touched her hair. “Garnet, you have done so much for us all. Your skills here are evident, too. You deserve this position.”
Byram stood and bowed. “My lord, my lady, thank you,” he said simply.
“Lady, I’ll serve you with every breath I draw,” added Albin.
Chapter Six
The guests had returned to the stronghold, and the people were celebrating their joy throughout the demesne. Albin, Byram, and Carlysle were determined to develop more security for the demesne though, both from masterless men and as protection from a poor harvest. Garnet had told them about Lady Elinor’s attempts at keeping small animals that don’t eat too much, or that eat bugs and worms, and Carlysle was thinking it might be possible to keep a supply of worms for chickens and ducks to eat, which would then provide the people with meat. As a plan it would need a lot more work, but they had all winter to think it through.
“The ducks could swim on the fishpond and eat the bugs in the water, too,” said Garnet.
“But first we need to work out how to change a swamp into a fishpond,” said Byram.
“I’ve got a few thoughts about that. I just need time to test out a few ideas,” said Albin.
Eventually they all retired to their rooms. Ava and Ysabel were sound asleep in their little room. Garnet noticed that the little one no longer sucked her thumb. That was a good sign. She was happy, well fed, and growing so big now.
Garnet closed the door to their room and stepped back into the larger room she shared with Byram and Carlysle. She loved these men so much. They’d worked so hard, but they’d achieved everything they set out to do. Men with less character and determination would never have succeeded. In fact, without Carlysle, many more people would have died of starvation, and without Byram’s skills, starvation would still be a threat for the future. Yet together the men had overcome enormous obstacles and created a haven of safety and plenty for the people.
But it wasn’t just what they’d done. That was simply a demonstration of their character. They were men of honor and uprightness. Men who genuinely cared about people. Men worthy of her love and devotion. And she did love them, both of them, more than she could ever have dreamed. They’d made her so happy and fulfilled.
Garnet took her good dress off and folded it carefully, placing it in the chest at the foot of the bed. She dropped her shift to the floor then sat on the bed and waited for the men to arrive. They didn’t take long, coming through the door only a short time later, still talking about fishponds.
As they undressed, she said, “Let me pleasure you tonight. I want to be the one giving instead of receiving this time.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting,” said Byram.
“I like that plan,” added Carlysle.
Taking a hint from Carlysle, Garnet began by sitting at their feet, sucking first Carlysle’s big toe, then Byram’s. She treated them as if they were tiny cocks, sucking them into her mouth then gently scraping her teeth along them, before switching from Byram to Carlysle and back again.
She moved up their bodies a little and took their hands, sucking their thumbs and smallest fingers into her mouth in the same way as she’d done with their toes. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see their cocks standing up out of their nests of curls, Byram’s hair a darker brown than Carlysle’s despite Carlysle’s skin being darker than Byram’s.
Deciding she’d teased them enough for the moment, Garnet slid across their hips and sucked Byram’s cock deep into her mouth. She held the shaft and played with his balls, totally controlling him with her touch. Next she moved to Carlysle. She flicked the tip of her tongue into the slit of his cock, tasting his seed, before sucking him deep and rolling his balls in her cupped palm. Back and forth she went, sucking first one cock then the other, licking along the shafts, grazing the heads with her teeth, nibbling on the sensitive flesh, and even pulling their balls into her mouth. Finally she swallowed Byram right down her throat and pressed her finger into his ass just the way she knew he particularly enjoyed, and his seed shot into her throat. Quickly she released him a little way as the rest of his seed spurted into her mouth.
When she’d swallowed the very last drop of his essence, she kissed him, letting him taste himself on her mouth. Then she turned to Carlysle, only to find herself dropped onto her back, her legs flipped over his shoulders, and his cock driving deep inside her.
When a woman sucked a man’s cock, she was the most powerful creature in the world. He was helpless in her hands, relying on her to deliver him pleasure. That was an incredibly arousing thought for her as well as for him. Under the law, a woman may have few rights, but when she took her man to bed, he was bread dough in her hands, to be molded to her will.
But Garnet didn’t need to beg her men for anything. They gave her everything she could ever want or need, and more besides. She just wanted to pleasure them as they had pleasured her.
Carlysle was swiving her fiercely, slamming his cock so deep and hard she knew she’d burst into joy at any moment. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders, holding him tightly, just as the pleasure struck, lighting a fire inside her that burned from her belly right through her body. Garnet gripped his cock with her internal muscles and dug her nails into his shoulders even harder. Carlysle groaned, and as her belly clenched and released around his cock, his seed burst inside her, the heat of him driving her excitement ever higher.
Byram leaned over and kissed her, his essence still on both their mouths, and then they both kissed Carlysle, uniting the three of them once again into what they were. A family, totally devoted to each other.
Byram pulled the fur up over them all, and the two men pressed their bodies against Garnet.
“It’ll be wonderful to watch Wymer grow up and learn to take control of his demesne. We are truly fortunate to have a part in his growth and development,” said Garnet.
“And Ava and Ysabel. Ava has the potential to rise high, and little Ysabel may surprise everyone yet,” added Carlysle.
“No man could ask more than this—a family to love, and to love me, and a worthwhile duty to perform,” added Byram.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (ghosts, vampires, fairies, and werewolves), and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance, so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men; two women/one man…Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily ever after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.
Also by Berengaria Brown
Ménage Amour: Freedom Be Damned 1: Enslaved
Ménage Amour: Freedom Be Damned 2: Freed
Ménage Amour: Elinor’s Stronghold 1: Pillaging Elinor’s Castle
Ménage Amour: Elinor’s Stronghold 2:
Defending Rhyannon’s Inheritance
Available at
BOOKSTRAND.COM
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Restoring Garnet's Heart [Elinor's Stronghold 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 7