Desire_Her Two Rivals

by Ally Miller

  It was moments like these that Linnea knew that she would eventually fall in love with the crown prince too. The princes were so different and yet she knew there was no way that she could only chose one of them. The thought was too much to bear. She followed Brendan toward his chambers, ready to have the comfortable feeling come over her once more. The way the brothers touched her made her forget about Laurelasa or if she was ever lonely in the first place.

  Chapter 7

  Six Months Later

  Linnea walked excited down the corridor of Hawkes’ Nest. She nearly tripped over the hem of her dress since she walked with such purpose. Not wanting to fall, she took the long train of the dress in her hands so she could walk faster.

  She found Brendan in the library, studying maps of the Family Hawke’s ever-growing empire. Every day that passed was one day closer to when he would inherit it. When he noticed her standing there, he stopped what he was doing and searched her face to see if she brought good news or bad.

  “I hope I haven’t interrupted you.”

  Brendan shook his head. “I was just trying busy myself. I knew you were seeing the doctor.”

  For the past few weeks Linnea had felt ill and when she wasn’t sleeping in her bedroom, she was vomiting everything that she tried to eat. Both princes had begged her to see the doctor and she finally agreed. The doctor had given her peace of mind, in fact, his prognosis had been the reason why she had a spring in her step.

  “Are you alright?” he pressed again.

  “I’m fantastic.” She grinned at him. “I’m not dying. I’m just pregnant.”

  When this strange arrangement started, she knew that she was going to be used to bring heirs to the dynasty. She hadn’t planned on enjoying sex so much. Linnea guessed she shouldn’t have been so surprised that they’d finally conceived. It was very rare that she did not spend the night in one of the prince’s bed. This was the longest time she’d slept in her own chamber since she arrived at her new home.

  Brendan closed the space between them and held her tightly. “This is incredible news. The Hawke dynasty will live on for another generation.” Brendan was more invested in the ancient tests of his ancestors than his younger brother and began to go on about how the higher power had a plan for everything and Linnea listened to him happily. It hadn’t take her long to be won over by the crown prince’s charm. She knew that he loved her wholeheartedly.

  Eventually, she left Brendan because there was one other person who needed to hear the news. She searched high and low for Carter before she finally resorted to walking around the top of castle where night kept their watch in the cold. Carter was standing on top of one of the towers looking apprehensive.

  “Carter?” she called to him.

  He looked surprised to see her. “Linnea what are you doing out of bed? It’s too cold for you to be out here.”

  He dashed over to her and guided her into the closest doorway and Linnea found herself both shocked and amused over his behavior. She knew that he lusted over her and in his strange sort of way loved her dearly, but she’d never seen him so worrisome or protective. She tried to hide her smile as she admitted that she liked it.

  “I went to the doctor,” she explained. “I wanted to find you and let you know before you heard it from someone else.” Carter looked like he knew what she was going to say, but waited for her to say it anyway. “I’m pregnant. The doctor thinks that’s why I’ve been so tired and sick to my stomach.”

  Carter’s face fell. “Oh…”

  Linnea knew why he looked like this. He was reminded of his mother. She was once shared by two brothers but eventually she picked only one. Even if he was the one to impregnate her, the child would be Brendan’s son or daughter by default. The tragedy of being the second born.

  “It will not change anything,” Linnea assured. “I still want to be with you just as I am with him. He’s not king yet and even when he is, who says that I have to only be with one of you?”

  Carter still looked disappointed. “Won’t it confuse your children?”

  Linnea studied him not sure of how to answer. “I’m still learning your customs. How did you learn about this?”

  “The day the hawk was placed on my arm, I was considered a man. I learned the truth of our kind. The rest was kept hidden or made to make a naive child forget.” Linnea could tell that he questioned the past more than his older brother did and that sometimes he wished things were more traditional.

  “Then we will do just the same.” she assured. “I will not give you up.”

  Carter pulled her close to him and after he kissed her intensely like he always did, he held her at arm's length and looked at her like he didn’t deserve her. “I love you, Linnea.”

  “I love you too,” she replied. “And I promise that I always will.”

  ***

  Linnea gave birth to a son nine months later and she learned to love yet another prince. This was in an entirely different way. Linnea never thought her life would turn out like this nearly a year ago when her father suggested that they meet the Family Hawke in ‘no man’s land’. The child had Family Hawke features, but his hair was red like his mother’s. She had managed to leave a lasting imprint on their clan as the child share her genes.

  Linnea ended up having three more children, all who were raised as the sons and daughters of Brendan. But she never knew for sure if he was the one to truly sire them all. She had kept her promise to Carter that she would not give him up and for most of her life as princess and eventually queen she still made love to him whenever she could.

  The abandoned chamber with the large bed was seldom used, but once every so often, maybe on a night they’d had too much to drink, or during a time when they felt it was time to try for another child, the three would return, giving into pleasure and fulfilling the wishes of their god.

  The Family Hawke fulfilled what was prophesied in the ancient texts and continue to ascend to greatness. Their empire was colossal, and their subjects were too many to count. Linnea couldn’t believe that she had once been a nineteen-year-old girl who knew nothing of the world. Now she and her family were limitless.

  THE END

  Bonus 6 of 30

  Emma’s Awakening

  Description

  Emma Miller has just turned 40 and on top of dealing with all that comes along with that, she lost her husband a year ago to cancer. Her stepson has decided to transfer to a nearby college to finish his last year while helping her out. As the two spend more time together in their grief, they find their connection is not simply familial. Things get even more heated when she meets another younger man in the neighborhood that makes her feel young again. The three soon begin to partake in a wild threesome romance that has Emma feeling things she never did in her youth.

  Chapter 1

  Emma Miller pushes her brown hair out of her sweaty face. She is doubling her workout time now that she’s 40. No saggy backside or fatty paunch for her. She is fighting the aging thing with all she’s got. Her hair falls in her face again, reminding her that she needs to have her highlights redone and to pull her hair back the next time she works out. She wipes off with a towel and heads for the shower. Jonas is coming by soon to mow the lawn and see if he can fix the leaky kitchen sink.

  Jonas Keller is Emma’s stepson. He is a great help to Emma since her husband, Jonas’ dad, died a year ago from cancer. Jonas is finishing his last year of college at home instead of away in Boston so he can help Emma with the house and selling off some of his dad’s properties. He is running his own lawn service until he gets his degree in sports medicine.

  Emma dresses in shorts and a tank top. Working two days a week from home has its advantages. She grabs her laptop, prepares to finish editing a boring book about investment banking, and spies Jonas outside. The book can wait. She steps out onto the wide porch and waves to a shirtless Jonas. Sweat rolls off his tan muscular chest down over his six-pack abs. At 22, Jonas is in peak condition and pushing aroun
d a mower keeps him that way. Emma notices her young neighbor peeking out her upstairs window. Emma doesn’t blame her. Jonas is really hot. Wow, where is that kind of thinking coming from? Emma’s too old for him, or maybe not she thinks.

  Jonas turns off the mower and jogs over to the porch. He notices how good Emma is looking. She certainly takes care of herself. Jonas realizes where his mind is wandering and mentally slaps himself. This is his stepmom, not some floozy that picks up guys at the bar. He gets himself under control and asks, “Mind if I grab a soda before I trim the hedges? I can look at that leak while I’m in the kitchen too.”

  Emma laughs and replies, “You know that you can have anything in this house that you want. No need to ask.” Jonas’ mind jumps right to the thought, does that offer include Emma? He tries to block out the idea as he follows Emma to the kitchen. She hands him an ice-cold bottle of soda. He rubs it across his forehead to cool down both his body and his thoughts.

  Emma keeps herself busy removing everything from under the sink so that Jonas can fix the leak in the pipe. As she bends over, Jonas holds back a moan. He can’t help but admire her tight butt. Jonas needs to get a grip. He doesn’t know when his feelings for Emma began changing, but it’s getting out of control. He didn’t used to look at her as a woman, just as the person his dad married shortly before Jonas graduated high school. Seeing her almost daily for the last year, working beside her while caring for the yard, and holding her as she cries over the loss of his dad is bringing on urges he never imagined as possible.

  The phone rings and Emma leaves the room to answer it. She is glad for the disruption. The tension between her and Jonas is ridiculous. She remembers when they could relax and make silly jokes, watch action movies together and talk about anything. Now it seems they need to watch every word they say. Emma regrets the day she first noticed Jonah as a man instead of a boy. She wishes they could go back in time.

  Emma hangs up the phone and hears the snapping of the hedge clippers. Jonah is back to work in the yard. That’s good. It’s time for Emma to get her mind out of the gutter and back to work. A boring book to edit is just the thing to get her mind off of tan muscular chests and six-pack abs.

  The girl next door stops spying and saunters out of the house in a bikini. She throws a towel over a lounge chair and jumps into the pool. After swimming only one lap, she slowly walks up the steps out of the water, making sure Jonas is watching. Her bikini clings to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. She makes it clear that she wants Jonas’ attention.

  Jonas is finishing the hedges when the girl motions him to her yard. Jonas figures why not and saunters over to say hello. She offers him a beer. He turns it down, but asks if she minds if he cools off in the pool. She jumps in with him.

  Emma looks out the window and sees her young neighbor running her fingers down Jonas’s chest. A wave of jealousy comes over Emma, freezing her in place. How she wishes to be that young again, carefree, and with a firm body that takes no effort to maintain. She misses having a man look at her the way Jonas is looking at the girl next door. Maybe it’s time to start dating again. She can join one of those on-line services. No, that seems too desperate. She calls an old friend and makes plans to go with her to a singles bar.

  She hears the unmistakable sound of metal tools hitting metal pipes and realizes Jonas is back in the kitchen working on the sink. It’s best that she stays away and leaves him alone. She looks at her computer but can’t see a thing for her tears. She is so lonely that it hurts.

  Jonas is done with the sink. He puts everything back under it for Emma. He calls out to let her know he is done, but she doesn’t answer. He assumes she is too involved in her work to hear him. He leaves a note to tell her the sink is fixed and remind her that they are meeting someone on Saturday who wants to buy the last condo his father owned.

  Chapter 2

  Emma is dressing for a night out at the singles bar. She is nervous and unsure if this is a good idea, but she has to do something about her restlessness. The tight little dress she puts on first makes her feel like she’s trying too hard. She settles on jean leggings that show off her hard-earned backside, a silky red tank and heels. Her newly highlighted hair is shiny and bouncy as it brushes her shoulders. The doorbell rings, announcing the arrival of her friend. It’s time to go. “Lord help me,” Emma mutters as she opens the door.

  The bar is crowded and loud with dimmed lighting. Music is blasting through the speakers making everyone have to lean in closely to each other to be heard. She guesses this is their strategy to bring couples together just as the dim lighting is used to hide wrinkles and blemishes. She realizes that she is analyzing the bar instead of relaxing. So, she takes a deep breath and puts a smile on her face. Within a matter of seconds, a man is by her side offering to buy her a drink. Since her friend is on the dance floor, she accepts the drink hoping for a good conversation. The man is tall and lanky, with green eyes and a touch of gray at the temples. She guesses that he is close to her age. Surely, they have something in common to discuss. Then to her horror he opens his mouth and says, “Those are nice jeans. Do you think I can get in them?” Emma groans and replies, “Not in this lifetime.” She turns away to watch her friend on the dance floor.

  As the evening progresses, Emma decides this is a huge mistake. Her toes are stomped on repeatedly on the dance floor, cheesy come-on lines are giving her a headache and she is drinking far too much. Her friend, however, has spent the entire evening with one man and she signals to Emma that she will be leaving with him. Emma quickly calls a cab. She is more than ready to call it a night.

  Emma awakens to the ringing of her phone and the bright sun in her eyes. She picks up the phone and says, “What is it? It’s too early for telemarketers.” She holds her aching head in her hands as laughter comes over the line.

  Jonas continues laughing as he says, “First of all, I’m not a telemarketer and second, it’s almost noon. You sound like you have a hangover. That truly sucks, because we have to meet a potential buyer at the condo in thirty minutes. May I suggest coffee and a hot shower?” Instead of replying, Emma hangs up.

  A quick shower, coffee and aspirin allow Emma to get dressed in a simple summer dress and sandals. She hurriedly swipes mascara and lipstick on, then heads out the door. The bright sun causes her to put on sunglasses for her still bloodshot eyes. Jonas and the buyer are impatiently waiting as she arrives ten minutes late. She apologizes profusely and unlocks the condo door.

  This condo is an investment property that Emma’s late husband bought shortly before his death. There are several such properties that Emma and Jonas have decided to sell. Their lives are simply too busy to deal with renters and the upkeep of the properties. They wander through the condo allowing the potential buyer to admire the upgrades. Jonas points out the open concept and granite countertops while frowning at Emma’s unusual silence. Happily, the man agrees to the list price and is ready to sign a contract.

  After the buyer is gone, Jonas confronts Emma, “What happened to you? I was just kidding when I said it sounded like you had a hangover. But it’s looking like I may have been right on the money. Did you have a date or just tie one on alone?”

  Emma grudgingly explains her night out. She is embarrassed to let Jonas know she is looking for a man. Jonas can’t believe his ears. Emma at a bar, no way! He is willing to bet money that she can find a man at safer places. He figures she just doesn’t realize that men notice her wherever she goes. He assures her, “Emma, you don’t need to hang out in singles bars. They’re dangerous and kind of disgusting. Just walk across the college campus and you’ll have young guys groveling at your feet for just a smile.” Emma doubts that, but the idea is intriguing. Jonas continues, “Let’s get something to eat. It will make you feel better.”

  It turns out that Jonas is correct. A little food, some more caffeine and a seat in the sun at an outside cafe and Emma almost feels human again. Thank goodness, some of the old easiness of hanging out wi
th Jonas is back. That is until he lights up a cigarette. Emma freaks, grabs the cigarette, and shouts, “What the hell are you doing? Are you crazy? Your dad died of throat cancer! You can’t do this. I refuse to lose you too.” Emma is crying now and Jonas is ashamed of himself for upsetting her.

  Jonas tries to soothe Emma by explaining, “I picked up smoking in college. I have been trying to quit since dad got sick. I only smoke once in a while now, but it’s so hard to completely stop. I’m sorry for doing it in front of you.”

  Emma begs, “Please let me help you. You have to stop. Promise me you will get the patches or something.” Jonas promises and throws his pack of cigarettes in the trash. If it means that much to Emma, he is willing to try harder.

  When Jonas leaves, Emma’s sense of loneliness returns. She decides that she needs a companion. On the way home, Emma makes a stop at the animal shelter. The dogs jump at the windows and bark as she passes each room. One little puppy cowers in a corner. Emma feels a tug at her heart. He needs her as much as she needs him. The tiny puppy is coming home with her.

  Chapter 3

  Emma steps into some flip flops, grabs the dog leash and runs to pick up Patches before he potties on the wood floor again. The new puppy is keeping Emma on her toes. House training a dog is much harder than she thought. At least she isn’t sitting around feeling sorry for herself. She runs down the steps and sets the puppy in the grass. As she stoops to hook the leash onto Patches collar, the puppy runs off barking. Emma gives chase, terrified the puppy will run into the busy street. Patches thinks this is a fun game and continues to bounce just out of Emma’s reach. Just when Emma can’t run anymore, a large male hand scoops up the puppy. A deep voice asks, “Does this belong to you?”