The Heart of Falcon Ridge (The McLendon Family Saga, #1)

by D. L. Roan

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Three Weeks Later

  “Eh-ehm!” Nathan McLendon cleared his throat as Hazel reached for the salt shaker. She froze and scowled at her beloved Josiah as his hand shot out and seized it from her reach, passing it to Jake, who deposited it at the far end of the table in front of Grey.

  Gabby frowned, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. “I’m sorry, Hazel. I followed your recipe exactly.” Her fork fell to her plate and she dabbed at the corner of her mouth with her napkin, her appetite dwindling as she tasted the blandness of the cornbread stuffing she’d thought she’d perfected. “At least, I thought I did. I must have missed something.”

  “Nonsense, darlin’.” Hazel narrowed her eyes at Nathan and reached for the pepper instead. “It’s perfect. My taste buds haven’t been up to snuff since I got this darned summer cold. A little salt never hurt anything.”

  “Don’t even think about it,” Joe barked as she reached for the butter.

  Grey, Mason and Matt laughed in unison as they watched their formidable mother being railroaded by her three loving and understandably overbearing husbands.

  Hazel stood abruptly from her seat and all laughter ceased. She pointed at her husbands, shaking her finger as she spoke. “How many times does the doctor have to tell you? I did not have another episode. It was indigestion. Not a heart attack, for goodness sake.”

  With her head held high, she walked to the end of the table and snatched up the salt shaker, ignoring the protesting grunts and waving off the hands that reached to take it away from her. “And I’ll do you one better,” she said as she sat back down and dashed a few light shakes over her potato. “This keeps up and I’m telling Dr. Sands about your increasing trips to the john every night, Nathan.” She wrinkled her nose and pointed her fork at Nate. “See how you feel after the examination he gives you for that!”

  Mason choked on his gulp of tea and covered his mouth, nearly spewing it through his nose.

  “You don’t play fair, Hazel,” Daniel chuckled from his seat beside Matt

  Hazel took a bite of her butter-less potato and scowled up at Joe, making a dramatic scene as she swallowed the bland mouthful. Gabby couldn’t help but laugh as Joe reached over and cut a small strip of butter from the stick and brought it to her plate. Hazel smiled and patted his cheek, Jake grumbling beside him.

  “What? You think I’m stupid?” Joe said after he gave Hazel a quick peck on her cheek. “Don’t think she won’t add your name to that little chat with Dr. Sands. You’re crazy if you think I’m going through that over a pat of butter or a dash of salt.”

  Grey laughed as he watched his dads fuss over their mom. He leaned closer to Gabby and whispered in her ear. “I like your stuffing, baby.” She slapped his arm with her napkin at the naughty look he gave her. It didn’t deter him for a second. He leaned in closer this time, his lips grazing her earlobe, his warm breath caressing her neck as he spoke low enough that only she could hear him. “I like stuffing you full of my cock better, though.”

  Heat flushed through her veins. She was sure the entire table had heard him because, suddenly, all the chatter ended and every eye at the table was focused in her direction.

  Oh God. Did they hear that?

  She could have choked Grey at that very moment, but her plans went up in smoke as both Matt and Mason stood and walked to stand behind Grey. He turned his chair to face her and reached for her hands. What’s happening?

  “Grey?” She couldn’t make sense of his smirk or the worried looks on Matt and Mason’s faces as they watched something over her shoulder. She flinched when the front door slammed. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Con and Car running into the room chasing Con’s black puppy, who he’d aptly named Trouble.

  The rapidly growing puppy ran between Hazel and Josiah, underneath the table and jumped straight into Grey’s lap, diving for the leftover scraps on his plate. Thankfully, Grey grabbed him up before he’d snagged any treats for himself, then settled Car on his left knee with the puppy on his right.

  Mason sighed in relief. He reached down and adjusted Trouble’s collar so the small box attached to it, nestled between two red ribbons, was sitting in front for her to see. He gave Car a wink and lifted Con into his arms.

  Grey smiled when she glanced repeatedly between the box and him, and then up to Matt and Mason. “We thought about doing this in a more private, romantic setting, but no matter what we came up with we couldn’t find a better way to express what you mean to us; what we want to give you.”

  Mason stroked her hair. “We want to give you the world, sweetheart. Our world.” He stooped down onto one knee in front of her and took her other hand in his, careful of her still healing shoulder. “Our name, our family, our love. We want you to be a mother to our children and the love of our lives. Our wife and lover and friend, forever.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes as she glanced up at Matt, seeing both trepidation and excitement flickering in his usually more playful expression. “What he said.” Matt pointed at Mason, his cheeks reddening as his expression turned to pleading. “You know me, darlin’. I get all tongue tied when I’m with you like this. I say the first thing that pops into my head.” His eyes darted between Con and Car, then to his parents and Daniel. “And I’m confident that some of those things aren’t ‘G’ rated. So, the less I talk right now the better.”

  Nathan chuckled behind them. The sound of Hazel’s light slap followed.

  Can this be real? Could she be so lucky?

  “Will you marry us?” Con asked as Car opened the lid on the tiny box that Trouble wore. Car squinted and squirmed away as Trouble snuck in a slobbery kiss for his efforts.

  Gabby swiped at the first tear that ran down her cheek. She tried to focus on the ring, but she couldn’t stop the flood that poured from her eyes. She didn’t need to see it to know that it was beautiful, like the family they were giving her.

  Her head bobbed as she struggled to get the only word that existed in her vocabulary in that moment past her lips. “Yes.” Yes to everything.

  “Yes!” Matt rushed between her and Grey and plucked her from her chair. “Oh, darlin, I’m sorry.” He eased her down when she winced a little at the pressure on her shoulder. “I just can’t not touch you right now. I love you so much.”

  Mason and Grey leaned in, both claiming a corner of her mouth in a chaste kiss, but Grey lingered and whispered in her ear. “I can’t wait to get you beneath me.”

  She barely contained a squeal when Grey slipped the ring onto her finger. He clapped his brothers on the shoulder before pulling them into a congratulatory man-hug. Wiping away more stray tears, she focused on the three sparkling diamonds in her ring, representing the three loves of her life.

  She’d barely had time to appreciate it before she was pulled into a series of hugs and kisses from Daniel and Joe, Nate and Jake. Gabby squealed when Hazel pulled her into her arms, her own tears of joy falling down her plump cheeks.

  “Welcome to our family, Gabby.” Hazel hugged her a little tighter before standing back and pinning her with a stern look. “If you ever need help with these hellions, or ever just feel the need to escape the testosterone for a while, you let me know. I’ve had to come up with all kinds of ways to keep my sanity over the years. I’ll gladly share my experience and wisdom with you.”

  Gabby laughed and nodded, but was saved from responding by a gentle tug on her hand. She looked down and saw Car and Con peering up at her. “Can we call you momma now, instead of Miss Claira?” Con asked, his brows creasing in concentration.

  “It’s Gabby,” Car whispered to Con with his hand cupped around his twin’s ear.

  “Miss Gabby, sorry. Ow!” He hissed as Car nudged him with his shoulder. “I was trying to remember.”

  Gabby froze and looked to Grey. He mouthed the words I love you from across the room. That was the only answer she needed. She nodded at Con and pulled both boys into a hug. “You can if that’s what you want. I�

�d love to be your mom.”

  “Yes!” Car shouted and pumped his little fist into the air. “Daddy Grey! She said we could!” Gabby’s heart squeezed in her chest a little. The relationship between Car and Grey had improved over the last few weeks. She’d taken a chance and talked to them about the differences she’d noticed in the way they treated Con, and how it was affecting Car. They’d listened to her. Really listened.

  The boys ran back to their dads and Con grabbed Trouble from Grey’s arms. “I have to take him out for his treats now. Daddy Mason said it’s important to give him his reward right after he did a good job.” He ruffled Trouble’s head. “And he done it just like we practiced didn’t he, Daddy Mason?”

  Gabby gasped. “So that explains where the dining room chairs disappeared to this week and why you and Grey kept sneaking off into the barn. And all the red ribbon I found in the bottom drawer when I went to grab a pair of your sweats the other day.”

  Mason flushed and pulled her into his arms. “Well, yes, but actually, the ribbons were for later,” he smirked. She read the flash of lust in his blue eyes.

  “Oh,” she said, heat pooling in her belly and sinking all the way to her toes.

  “And that’s our cue,” Jake laughed and turned toward the door. “Car, Con, come on boys. You’re staying with us tonight.”

  Gabby blushed as the twins ran past her and followed Jake to the front door. “No, you don’t have to do that. We’re not...”

  Hazel giggled and took her hand, patting it affectionately as she looked beyond her to her sons. “Believe me. You’ll have your hands full tonight.”

  “But...” Gabby looked past her to see Joe and Nate waiting behind her, too embarrassed to look them in the eyes.

  “Daniel, you’re welcome to join us for a beer,” Joe offered. “There’s a good football game on tonight.”

  “Thanks,” Daniel said, stopping to give Gabby a kiss on her cheek. “But I still have one more load of my things to move in to Cade’s place tonight. Maybe next time.”

  “I’m glad you decided to stay,” Gabby said, giving Daniel’s arm a tender squeeze. “It was nice of Cade to offer you a room. You’ll be so close.”

  “Me too,” he said and gave her a quick hug. “Congratulations, by the way. Happy looks good on you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Say hello to Cade for me when he gets back from Butte,” Hazel told Daniel.

  “I will. And we’ll be over for Sunday dinner.” Daniel gathered his jacket and followed Joe to the front door.

  Hazel turned back to Gabby and her smile fell as she glanced over Gabby’s shoulder. Her eyebrow arched as her gaze traveled back to Gabby. The seriousness in her expression had Gabby’s immediate attention. “Darlin’, you’d better run.”

  Gabriella looked over her shoulder to see her three men closing in on her, their primal lust evident in their expression. Excitement flashed like lightning through her veins and her head snapped back to Hazel. What was she supposed to do?

  The corner of Hazel’s mouth quirked up into a crooked grin and she nodded. “Run.”

  A cacophony of laughs and shuffling chairs followed Gabby as she fled down the long hall and bolted up the stairs, unsure of where she was going or why she was running. She wanted them to catch her.

  She giggled as she ran through the open doorway of Grey’s bedroom, now the bedroom they all shared. She darted toward the closet, but changed her mind at the last second opting for the far side of the bed instead. That last minute change cost her. She squealed as a pair of strong, tanned arms locked around her waist and dragged her back toward the foot of the king-sized bed.

  “I’ve got you now, darlin’.”

  Matt. She loved his playfulness and the way he made everything he did mean more with his devious, playful smile. She squealed again as she bounced on the bed. Several pairs of hands descended on her, removing every stitch of her clothing within mere seconds.

  Grey released a growl as he cupped the back of her knees, dragging her to the edge of the bed, his naked and stiff cock already probing her wet, throbbing entrance. The image of his ruggedly handsome face was replaced by the boyish grin on Mason’s mouth as he bent over her and took her lips in a primal kiss that made every other thought fly right out of her head. She cried out into Mason’s mouth as Grey’s cock slipped inside her to the hilt, filling her to the brim with blinding desire.

  Gabby gasped for breath when a sharp, white pain sliced through her nipple then warmed when Matt lapped at his bite with his tongue.

  “Uhhh,” Grey filled her over and over, nudging her womb with each thrust, and then he was gone. She moaned as her channel clenched at the emptiness.

  “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I need these beautiful legs wrapped around me for a minute. Ahhh...” Mason sighed as he took Grey’s place and filled her. “Sweet Jesus, forever wouldn’t be long enough to get my fill of you.” His hands clenched her thighs and traveled up to her hips. Grasping her bottom, he lifted her hips off the bed and pushed deeper inside.

  A familiar current prickled at the base of his spine and knew he wouldn’t last another two seconds. He closed his eyes and tried to think of mix ratios for bovine vaccinations. Anything that would stop his balls from drawing up any further, but it didn’t help. He couldn’t lose it this soon. They had other plans for their lover tonight.

  Matt released her nipple and licked a salty path to her bellybutton. Mason pulled out and grabbed the base of his cock, holding himself back.

  “Are you ready, darlin?” Matt peered up into her chocolate eyes and fell right off the cliff. He didn’t think he could fall any further in love with this woman, but he’d just proven himself stupid. He had a feeling he would be in a freefall for the rest of his natural life and that was fine by him. “Are you ready to take us all?”

  “She’s ready,” Grey answered for her. He crawled onto the opposite side of the bed and tossed a bottle of lube up toward the headboard.

  “I don’t know,” Matt said as he inched lower, his tongue twirling a playful path down the crease in her thigh next to her pussy. “I better take a taste test to make sure. Oh yeah...” he breathed her in, his nostrils flaring wide. “Now this is heaven, darlin’.”

  She arched against the bed as Matt stroked her slit from end to end and then settled around her clit, his tongue twirling circle after circle with the right pressure. “Matt!” Her hands reached for something, anything. Her fingers threaded into his hair, pushing and pulling him, wanting more but not sure if she could handle more. She needed to come, but she wanted them inside her. All of them. Soon. Now. “Matt, please.”

  “Enough.” Matt ignored Grey’s husky command. His tongue slowed to a torturous crawl, lapping her with feather-light strokes and then blew a warm stream of air over her sensitive skin.

  When Matt finally released her, Grey’s solid arms lifted her from the side of the bed and slide her toward the headboard. “Careful, baby. I don’t want you to hurt your shoulder.”

  She wasn’t worried about her shoulder. If he hadn’t mentioned it she wouldn’t have given it a single thought. The pillows were soft behind her, but she wasn’t allowed to lie there long enough to sink into them.

  Matt moved to the head of the bed and propped against the headboard next to her. She reached for him as he helped her straddle his hips and settled her onto his lap, the ruddy head of his hardened cock touching his bellybutton in front of her.

  “Ride me, darlin’, while Grey gets you ready for him.” Matt fisted his cock, drawing his palm up and over the head, the blue in his eyes deepening to midnight swirls. She lifted up onto her knees and watched as he guided himself to her opening.

  The walls of her pussy clamped around his thick shaft, drawing out a long, deep groan from both of them. Her sensitive breasts ached for his touch. As if Matt had heard her wish, he covered them with his palms and teased her nipples with his thumbs.

  He curled up to meet her, seizing her lips, pushing his cock even deeper before he dipped his head and wrapped his tongue around one stiff nipple. He grazed the tip with his teeth, sending a flood of warmth through her core, further easing his entry.

  “That’s it, baby. Let him love you.” Grey pumped his own cock as he nuzzled her neck, licking and feeding from the creamy skin beneath her ear. “Lean forward so I can get you ready. Just like we did before.”

  With a hand on her shoulder, he gentled her back down onto Matt’s chest, trailing his fingers down her spine to her luscious ass. Over the last few weeks, as they both healed from their wounds, they’d begun to play with different size plugs, gradually preparing her to take his cock. The time was finally here. He could almost feel her tight heat sucking him inside.

  With a lubed finger, he swirled and probed her ass, the sound of the air hissing between her teeth sending him to the edge of his sanity. “I think Mason needs a little attention, baby,” he said to distract himself as much as her.

  Her fingers splayed on Matt’s chest, a slick sheen of sweat erupting beneath her palms. She pushed up a little and turned into the palm Mason held to her cheek. “Mmm, I want to taste you.”

  She licked her lips as Mason guided his heavy cock to her mouth, a pearly drop leaking from the tip she couldn’t wait to taste. “Oh,” she said around the head of Mason’s shaft as Matt’s cock jerked inside her. She took Mason deeper into her mouth, sending a pulsing throb through her that made her clench around Grey’s probing finger.

  “That’s it, darlin’. Suck him hard.” Matt clenched his teeth against the pressure building in his balls. They were drawn up so tight it hurt, but he wasn’t about to complain. Seeing her swollen lips wrapped around Mason made every nerve from his head to his toes reroute to his dick. “How we doin’, Grey? She feels so goddamn good I don’t think I’m gonna last much longer.”

  “Almost there, brother.” Grey slowly slid his fingers from her ass and positioned the head of his cock to her well lubed and stretched star. “Relax, baby, and push back against me.”

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