by Marla Monroe
Jessie just waved her hand. “So you haven’t said anything about the three of us being with two men?”
“We figured it would work better if we let you ask us questions when the guys weren’t around,” Ginger piped up.
“Oh, well.” River didn’t know what to ask. “I didn’t really think it was any of my business. You’re adults and no one is getting hurt, so it’s all good.”
Raven cocked her head and studied her. “Is it something you could see yourself doing?”
“Living with two men?” River asked. She was sure her face was beet red by now.
“Yeah. I mean Merrick and Cassius are more than interested in you. Would you be willing to live with both of them?” Jessie asked.
“I–I don’t know. We’re sort of in a tense situation right now. Once everything is settled and the adrenaline isn’t racing so much, they might not feel as strongly about it as they seem to right now. I’ll just see what happens before I think too hard on it,” she said.
The women just shook their heads. “We were the same way. Nothing we can say will change your mind, so we’ll just sit back and watch the show,” Raven said with a smirk. “I’m going to give you some pointers anyway. Just humor me.”
River nodded and listened as the other woman told her about life living with two men.
“Don’t even try to pit one against the other. The first time I did that to get my way, they ganged up on me. Needless to say I didn’t try that again. I couldn’t sit straight for days.”
“They hit you?” River was furious for the other woman.
They all three laughed. “No! They would never hurt me. They gave me so many orgasms that I forgot what I had wanted in the first place.”
River couldn’t help but grin at that since Merrick and Cassius had pretty much done the same thing to take her mind off of her nightmare the night before.
“It’s not your job to keep them both happy. It’s their job to take care of you and keep you happy. So don’t worry that you can’t possibly keep two men satisfied. Believe me, that’s not going to be a problem.”
“Oh, and don’t let them find out on their own if something happens to you or upsets you. It will only upset them worse and you don’t want them to shed someone’s blood if you can help it.” Ginger told her.
“What do you mean?” River was afraid to think what the guys would do to someone if she were hurt.
“Like if you go to town for something and someone harasses you. Tell them as soon as you get home, or better yet, call them on the way home. If they find out from someone else what happened, they’ll flip out worse than if you tell them and can calm them down. So maybe telling them over the phone isn’t a good idea.” Ginger shook her head. “And if you get hurt, let them know immediately. They tend to think the worse and will break the sound barrier to get to you if they find out from someone else.”
Raven chuckled. “Remember the time you banged your head jumping down from the ambulance that time? It didn’t knock you out or anything, but when the guys heard about it from someone else in passing, they nearly killed themselves and everyone around them trying to get to you,” Jessie said with a chuckle.
“Yeah, and she was out on a call when they got to the hospital to see about her,” Raven added. “That was a complete clusterfuck. Nope. Don’t want to do that again.”
“Wow! Your guys are really pretty high strung,” River said.
“Actually, they’re two of the most laid back men you’ll ever meet, but if I’m involved, all bets are off,” Ginger admitted. “It’s the same way with them and their men.”
“Don’t you find it a bit overwhelming? Maybe even a little claustrophobic?” she asked.
“Naw. They’re too cute for it to bother us. If they get too controlling or protective, we put our foot down and tell them in no uncertain terms to back the fuck off,” Raven explained.
“Okay.” She didn’t know what more to say to that.
“So how about you take a nice long soak in the tub with the Kindle while we start dinner. You’re supposed to be taking it easy, so no, you can’t help us cook. Besides, there are three of us as it is. There isn’t enough room for a fourth person in here. Take your time and enjoy it. Once the guys get back, you won’t have any time to yourself again until the next time they have to go somewhere,” Raven said with a wink.
River felt her face heat once again and cursed that she blushed so easily. The three women were blunt. Normally she liked that, but considering the situation and the fact that she was sleeping with two men, she really didn’t need the added help in that department.
“Thanks for all of your help and for spending time with me. I was worried what I was going to do with myself while they were gone,” she admitted.
“We’ve been there before,” Raven assured her. “If you have any questions about body-part placement, just ask. We’re experienced in that department, too.”
The three women burst out laughing and urged her toward the hall leading to the room she shared with the guys. Body part placement? Did she want to know? Maybe later.
Chapter Nine
Cassius took one look at the women standing around in the kitchen and resisted the urge to run. They were all three there talking with their River. No good could possibly come of it. He growled.
“See. I told you they growled at me when I got near them,” Ginger said pointing at him.
River looked up from the e-reader and frowned at him. He stalked toward her, carrying four bags in his hands. Her eyes widened as he approached her.
“Cassius? Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Bedroom. Now. We brought your things for you,” he said, waiting on her to get up.
“Better go soothe his ego. You’re obviously not pining away without him and you’re with the three of us. We’re the dreaded old ladies of the gang and are to be feared,” River said with a laugh.
“I don’t understand,” she began.
Merrick stepped up with two more bags. He looped the plastic handles over his fingers and pulled River’s chair back from the table. Cassius watched as she scrambled to turn off the reader and close the cover as his brother picked her up in his arms. Her squeal of surprise was funny, but he didn’t laugh. Instead he glared at the women who watched with obvious amusement. No doubt they’d be filling River’s head with all sorts of bad ideas.
“Merrick. Put me down. I can walk,” she said.
“You weren’t walking when Cassius told you to go to the bedroom,” he said.
Cassius smiled at the astonished expression on their woman’s pretty face. He loved knowing that they could growl and carry on without actually scaring her. She was more surprised than anything. Oh, and there was that frown and the edge of temper he knew would come out.
“I’m not some puppy you can order around, Merrick. I don’t follow orders. Try asking me nicely and I’ll think about it,” she told him.
Merrick’s soft chuckle should have warned her, but she didn’t know them very well yet. They’d change that. Their only problem was that until she was healed up, they couldn’t press things too much. Accidently hurting her and causing her even a little pain wasn’t acceptable.
“I’d be careful of what you say, kitten. I’d hate for you to regret it later,” Merrick said in a soft voice.
Cassius stopped outside their room as Merrick reached out and opened the door, bumping it wide with the toe of one boot. He followed his brother into the room and closed the door with a kick before dropping the bags he held on the bed. Merrick settled River in the chair at the foot of the bed and moved it closer to the bed so she could see.
“Okay, we think we got everything on your list and managed to avoid both lace and the dreaded pink. Let’s see what you think,” Merrick said, pulling a bag closer.
She blinked slowly at them, obviously still processing the promise Merrick had made in the hall before they’d entered the bedroom. She looked completely confused and utterly adorable. He grinned.
“Check the bag, sweetness. Be sure we didn’t miss anything on your list,” Cassius urged her.
She reached for the bag and looked inside. They’d picked up everything on her list and then some. She pulled out a bottle of bath salts and smiled. They’d enjoyed sampling the different scents until they could agree on one they both liked. He couldn’t wait to smell it on her.
“Thanks. I think you got everything. What about clothes?” she asked, appearing a little surprised.
Cassius took the bag from her lap and watched as Merrick handed her another bag. She grinned and pulled out a pair of soft cotton panties in neon green. She pulled out a second pair with motorcycles on them. The sight of her eyes twinkling in amusement settled him again.
“Are they sized right?” Merrick asked.
She checked them and nodded. “Thanks. But what about bras?”
“You can’t wear them yet anyway. We’ll worry about them once you’re able to tolerate them again,” Cassius told her.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I have a feeling you’re not too upset that I can’t wear one yet.”
“I’m not complaining, if that’s what you mean,” he said with a smirk.
She just shook her head. Merrick grinned at him. Then he handed River another bag. By the time she’d gone through all of the clothes they’d bought her, she looked tired and a little glassy eyed. It worried him.
“You guys bought way too much. I’ll pay you back if you’ll just tell me what I owe you. I have money and access to my accounts now,” she said.
Merrick frowned and crossed his arms, his feet planted wide apart. “No. You’re not paying us back. We bought things for you to wear because we wanted to. Deal with it.”
To his surprise, River just swallowed and nodded. Then she swallowed again and he noticed tears in her eyes. His brother saw them as well.
“Hell, kitten. I’m not mad. Just hurt that you wanted to pay us back for something we wanted to do for you. We like getting you things and can’t wait to see you wear what we bought for you.”
“It’s just that no one has ever been so nice to me before. Raven, Jessie, and Ginger have been great and now you and Cassius are giving me an entire wardrobe of new things. It’s hard to accept,” she said with a sniff.
Cassius knelt in front of her and set the last bag of clothes on the floor. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her lightly. Then he took her mouth with his, intent on showing her how much she meant to him. When he slowly pulled back, it was to find his brother smoothing her hair down with his hand. There was a look of worry on his tense face. He was sure he looked the same way. Neither one of them wanted to hurt her or scare her.
“Are you okay, sweetness?” he asked softly.
She nodded but didn’t look up to meet his gaze. He glared up at his brother. What had happened? He thought she would be giddy at getting new clothes. Instead she was almost crying over them. Women! He sighed and picked her up until he could sit in the chair with her on his lap.
“I’ll put away her things,” Merrick said in a gruff voice.
“Wait!” River said, looking up. “I’ll do it in a minute. I want to.”
Merrick’s face scrunched up in obvious confusion, looking in his direction. Cassius couldn’t help him there. He was just as confused. Finally his brother just shrugged.
“I’m going to take a shower before dinner. The girls looked like they had it about ready,” he said.
“We’re having meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I gave them the recipe for my homemade rolls, but they wouldn’t let me do anything to help,” River said with a smile.
Merrick grinned back. “Homemade, huh? Sounds good. I’ll be quick.”
* * * *
“Time for bed, kitten. You’re asleep in your chair,” Merrick said with a smile.
“I don’t understand it. I haven’t done anything all day except rest. I feel like a slouch not helping with anything.” River frowned even as a yawn took her.
“You’re recovering, honey,” Raven said. “Don’t worry about it. When you’re well enough to do something, we’ll let you help then. Just get well now.”
She smiled at the other woman. “Thanks. I really appreciate everything you guys are doing for me.”
Another yawn had her covering her mouth with one hand as Merrick and Cassius helped her stand up. She saw the look on Cassius’s face and quickly put her arm out.
“I can walk. No more carrying me. I’ll never get my strength back if you keep doing that,” she complained.
Merrick grinned at her. “He likes carrying you. It means he gets to feel your big breasts jiggling against his chest as he walks.”
Everyone still in the room burst out laughing as River turned and glared up at the other man. He didn’t look the least bit chagrined that he’d been exposed. She wanted to laugh at the proud expression that covered his face. She didn’t dare though. It would only encourage him.
“Come on, you two. Time for bed.” Merrick ushered them toward the bedroom.
“But it’s still early,” she complained.
“We’ll talk for a while until you fall asleep,” Merrick said.
“Talk? Really? I can’t see the two of you talking if we’re in bed,” she said with a smirk right before she yawned again.
Cassius chuckled. “Bet we can talk longer than you can stay awake.”
River narrowed her eyes up at him. “Men don’t know how to just talk if they’re in bed. It’s either screw or snore. That’s it.”
Merrick pushed the door open for them then closed it behind them. Cassius set her down on the bed. Amusement filled his face as he started taking off his shirt. River’s gaze poured over him, loving the sight of hard muscles and the dusting of dark hair that pointed straight to his already engorged cock that seemed to be fighting to get out of his jeans.
“See something you like?” he asked.
She licked her lips and smiled up at him. His eyes immediately darkened with lust. It thrilled her that he could go from teasing to tempting in less than a second. That was the kind of speed she liked.
“What am I?” Merrick growled on the other side of the bed. “Invisible or something?”
River laughed and turned her head to stare at the other man as he shucked his jeans, revealing that he’d gone commando. His thick cock jutted out from beneath his stomach in all its glory. She studied the amazing dragon tattooed on his shoulder and down his arm with one wing spreading out over his chest. She knew the other one fell over his back. His massive chest tapered down to narrow hips and there her attention fell into the gutter. The sight of him standing there with his legs slightly apart took her breath.
“I like what I see. I just can’t decide who to attack first,” she said.
“No attacking for you, kitten,” Merrick said, striding around the bed. “You’re recovering and might hurt your ribs. We’ll let you attack us all you want once you’re well again.”
River’s gaze followed his bobbing dick as he walked. Both he and his brother were well endowed with big balls as well as impressive cocks. Just imagining those inside of her had her pussy weeping with need. She needed to figure out a way to entice them to fuck her.
“She’s got that gleam in her eye,” Cassius said in a warning tone.
“What are you thinking, River?” Merrick asked, cocking his head at her.
“Nothing. Just wishing we were already in bed. I’m too tired to get undressed,” she said, her voice all innocent sounding. At least to her.
Merrick snorted. “You don’t have to pretend you’re too tired to get us to undress you. We love getting you out of your clothes.”
They descended on her like hungry wolves, divesting her of her clothes faster than she would have thought possible considering how careful they were being not to hurt her. She laughed when Cassius dove onto the bed next to her and moved her to the head of the bed where Merrick had the covers already pulled back.
They settled h
er between them, both of them completely nude, and turned to face her. She noticed that both men appeared slightly more serious now. She frowned.
“What is it?”
“We wanted to talk a while about your trip. We thought it might help you remember if you go over it with us from the beginning,” Merrick explained. “No pressure to remember anything, just pretend you’re telling a friend about your trip.”
She sighed and nodded. It was a good idea. They needed to get some answers, and the sooner she regained her memory, the sooner everything would be fine again.
“I’d been planning the trip for about three months and was able to move it up by nearly two months. I was thrilled, because I knew that every day I wasn’t there taking pictures, thousands of animals, plants, and insects were being killed. Deforestation is slowly destroying the Amazon rainforest. Most of the damage is from human settlement. Farms were established using the slash-and-burn method, but the soils in the Amazon are only productive for a short period of time, so they were always moving and starting over, clearing more and more land every few years.” River paused and realized she was lecturing and sighed. “Sorry. I get all worked up over it.”
“That’s okay. It’s interesting. Go on,” Cassius said.
He really appeared to be interested, so River continued. “I wanted to capture the effects on the people there, how their lives where changing. More and more of their habitat was being destroyed and they have to move deeper into the forest to continue as they always have been or adapt to a more westernized way of life.”
River remembered how excited she’d been at boarding the plane bound for South America. She’d had all kinds of expectations. Where had they gone wrong?
“When I got to Macapa in Brazil, there were a lot of rumors about people disappearing in the jungle. There are a lot of cruises and such that travel up and down the Amazon. Even Carnival has a line of trips that explore the river system. It seemed that passengers had disappeared off the ships at different ports.”
“Didn’t that bother you?” Merrick asked.