“I’m sorry. It all happened so fast. I was trying to get in a safe place. Then I started a new job and an FBI man arrived to tell me Gregor knew where I had gone.”
“Humph,” her mom said. “I’m not accepting that excuse. I’m coming to see for myself that you are well. Where will you be, Atlanta or South Dakota?”
“I love the job and town where I am. I’m staying.”
Her father chuckled. “You’re full of surprises.”
“This isn’t funny, Jeff,” her mother snapped at her father.
“It’s over, honey. Relax.”
“I will after I see Dana.”
“We’ll get the camper ready and head your way tomorrow. Is there a place we can park it in that small town?”
“I have friends who own a large ranch. They’ll be glad to have you park there and stay with them.”
“Men friends?” her mother asked. Her voice sounding more curious then upset.
“Yes, Mom, very nice men friends.”
“We’ll see you soon,” her mom said and hung up the phone.
“How did your parents take the news about your kidnapping?” Chayton stood in the doorway. “Steel told me you were calling them.”
“Mom’s a little upset as you predicted. They’re heading this way tomorrow in their camper. I told them you all wouldn’t mind if they parked at the ranch and stayed in the house.”
“It’ll give them a chance to know us. We’ll invite my family and Steel’s to a barbecue. Everyone can get to know each other.”
“I didn’t tell them about threesomes. Mom was so upset I think she’d have fainted.”
Chayton walked toward her. “We’ll break the news to them gently.” He stopped in front of her. “It’s late, but I’d like to take you to the cabin for the night.”
“I’m agreeable, but you have to feed me first. I’m hungry.”
A broad smile covered his face. “Steel said you would want to eat. He’s got steaks on the grill and potatoes in the oven. Shall we join him and drink a glass of wine while he’s finishing dinner?”
Dana put her arm around his. “Lead the way, cowboy.”
* * * *
She enjoyed the night ride. A cool breeze blew across the prairie and the stars looked like diamonds in the velvet-black sky.
“This is fun.”
“It is if you know your way. Wind Chaser and I have made this trip a number of times. Otherwise you risk your horse stepping in a hole or some other problem.”
“What you’re saying is I shouldn’t try this on my own.”
“Right.”
This time the trip didn’t seem to take as long. Chayton took the horses and put them in the shelter. Dana went on inside. She pulled the edges of her sweater together.
She’d started campfires a few times, years ago. She knelt by the fireplace and took logs from the bucket at the side. Then she crumbled up lots of old newspaper stacked by the wood, put it in the fireplace and lit a match. Dana put her hands out toward the warmth of the fire. By the time the paper had burned, the logs had caught and were sending out more heat.
“Look at you. I’m sure glad you got that started. It’s cold out there.” He hugged Dana.
“Your body is cold. When does it get warmer here in South Dakota?”
“Soon, this is just a late cold blast. Tomorrow will be better. Sit by the fire. I’ll pour us a glass of wine.”
Dana stared into the fire wondering how she’d tell her folks about Chayton and Steel. Mom had an open mind and her dad wasn’t too bad, although he was more conventional than mom. Whatever her family thought, if she decided to marry Chayton and Steel, they’d have to accept her decision.
Chayton joined her on the floor with his back to the sofa. He handed her a glass of white wine. “You were deep in thought.”
“Hmm.” She sipped her wine. “This is my second glass tonight. I’m going to be thoroughly relaxed.”
“One of the reasons I wanted to come here tonight was to talk about what happened between us today.”
“You mean about receiving my messages?”
“Yes. What made you think about trying to reach me?”
“I don’t know. I think I read somewhere that certain people had the ability to hear calls for help. It was better than staying scared and trying nothing.”
“Certain members of our family have the gift of second sight, my grandfather, my mother, and me. It’s a skill that’s been passed down through generations. We’re not sure when or how it got started. But usually we only pick up details on close family members. Other times we can sense certain basic components. However, not the detailed information I heard from you today.”
“What does it mean?”
“When we made love the first time, I felt a strong bond form between us. I didn’t tell you. You weren’t ready to hear me.”
“No, it might have freaked me out initially. I was struggling with the idea of liking you and Steel.”
“Does the idea frighten you?”
Dana leaned her head back on the sofa cushion. Chayton sat quietly by her side. It was one of the many traits she liked about him. He had patience and a sense of self which enabled him to calmly handle any situation.
“I haven’t gone to sleep,” she said after several minutes.
“I know. I can feel the wheels inside your brain churning. Do you have other questions?”
She opened her eyes and soaked in the image of his ruggedly handsome face. The flickering fire etched his sculpted cheekbones and chiseled jaw in a golden light.
Dana reached behind his head and released his shiny, black hair. It fell to his shoulders. Her fingers slid through the silky strands and she pulled his face down to hers. “Your unique gift saved me and showed me the depth of our connection.” She looked into his grayish-silver eyes. “I’m falling in love with you and Steel.”
“I know.” He slid his hand along her neck and over her heart. “When you can place your hand on my heart and tell me you’ll marry us, I’ll know you have no doubts left. We can be patient.”
“You can. I’m not sure about Steel.”
Chayton laid her on the rug. Then he lay beside her, and she turned to face him. He gazed at her hair, her eyes, and studied her mouth.
“You say so much with your expressive, delectable mouth. I know before you speak whether I’m going to like what you say or not.”
“And you are much too observant.” Dana moved on top of his hard-muscled body.
He rolled and she was under him. His hard cock rubbed against her abdomen. Chayton bit her earlobe and she shivered. Then he nipped at her lower lip before kissing her deeply and thoroughly. Her body got much hotter than from the fire. He raised his head. “You taste like tart wine and sweet chocolate.”
“I brought some of Steel’s candy with me. Would you like one?”
“I can take chocolate or leave it alone. It’s Steel’s craving, not mine.” He grinned at her. “You must agree with Steel about chocolate being a necessary food supplement.”
“I guess I do. What’s the thing you can’t live without?”
“A few weeks ago I’d have thought my horses. They’ve taken second place now and you’re number one.”
Chayton gently kissed her lips and all along her neck. When he got to her shoulders, he removed her blouse and bra. “Your skin is creamy and your nipples rosy as cherries in the firelight. His lips slid across her chest to where his hands cupped her breasts. He licked her nipples and watched as they tightened to buds. Then his teeth lightly grazed across them.
Dana placed her hand on his cock where it pulsated against his jeans. She rubbed up and down his thick length. He turned his attention from her breasts, and his eyes glowed with an inner fire.
“You have on all your clothes, no fair.” She popped open the front of his blue-plaid cowboy shirt exposing his well-defined abs. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders and all his skin shone with a golden light.
“I like brushing m
y fingers through your chest hair.” She followed the line of hair to his buckle. “This has to go.” Dana undid the silver buckle with a horse standing on his hind legs etched on it. She looked at Chayton.
“Did Steel do this for you?”
“He gave it to me as a gift when I graduated from college.”
“What did you give him?” Her lips curved into a wry smile.
“Why a horse, of course.”
They laughed and Chayton tickled her neck with kisses. Then he held her back and smiled into her eyes. “You’ve brought such joy into our lives.”
“When I’m working and on call every other weekend, you might think differently.”
“We’re busy, too. If you love someone, you work around their schedule. But I keep getting distracted from feasting on you.” Chayton nuzzled her abs, and then spread her legs wide. He kissed her inner leg all the way up to the top of her thigh. His tongue tantalized her inner thigh, and his late-night stubble brushed across her tender flesh.
Dana’s pussy clenched and moisture flowed out, wetting her pussy lips. She moaned and moved restlessly under him. “You’re teasing me. I want more.”
“In a minute, love. I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed.”
His tempestuous bombardment inflamed her body with heat and a yearning to feel his hard cock deep inside her hungry pussy.
When he spread her folds open revealing her most sensitive spot and licked across her clit, she thought her body would splinter into a thousand pieces of light. Still, he didn’t stop. He licked her juices all the way to her pussy opening and darted the tip of his tongue inside.
Her body throbbed with a deep yearning to be connected to this strong man. When he smiled and moved upward, she surprised him by sliding down and taking his cock deep in her mouth.
She tightened her lips on his hard shaft and moved her mouth along his length. He grasped her hair in his hands and groaned. Knowing she could arouse him as well as he did her sent a sense of satisfaction spiraling through her body. When she cupped his balls and sucked on his cock, she tasted his salty essence. His body had bowed and his cock pulsated.
Later, when they lay in the corner bed with their arms and legs tangled, Chayton frowned at her.
“You took me by surprise. I was so ready to explode and wanted to get inside your hot pussy.”
“Didn’t you enjoy what I did?”
“You know I did, but you didn’t get fulfilled.”
“Well, you’re rested. What are you waiting for?”
Chayton grinned. “I love you, sweetheart.” He kissed her. “Hand me the condom on the bedside table and straddle my body.”
She did and took the condom and rolled it slowly down his aroused cock. Then she put his cock at her pussy opening and slid down, taking him deeply inside her.
“Be still for just a minute. I want to absorb the delight of having your wet, hot pussy holding my cock tight.” His fingers brushed across her pebbled nipples, spiking her desire.
Then Chayton took hold of her hips and set the rhythm for her to move up and down. Her pussy walls massaged his cock, sending sparks of electricity shooting up her spine. Her movements quickened as she needed more and more contact with him.
His hands still held her breasts and caressed her nipples. As the tension built, her body arched. Chayton slipped his finger between her folds and rubbed her clit.
Her pussy began to ripple around his rock-hard cock and a wave of ecstasy flooded through her system. His hands clamped tighter on her hips as his cock throbbed in her pussy, sending her heart rate into double time and making her gasp for breath.
“Ah, honey, you are so sweet and feel so delectable around my cock.” Chayton kissed her and rolled to the side where his chest pumped rapidly up and down with his breaths. He kept his arm tight around her as they both gradually came down to earth.
Chayton pulled the blanket around their cooling bodies. “Sleep. You’re safe, and we’ll keep any further troubles at bay.”
As her eyes closed, Dana thought of her parents and hoped they’d fall under Chayton and Steel’s spell, too.
Chapter Fourteen
Dana’s parents arrived on Thursday. They called from the diner.
“We’re here,” her mom said. “When is your lunchtime?”
“I can join you in about thirty minutes. I have one more patient to see, and I’ll walk over.”
“We saw your office building when we drove in.”
“It’s not as fancy or as big as the one in Atlanta, but the people are great and I’m enjoying my work. I see a little of everything. See you soon, and we can talk more.”
When she hung up, Dana called Steel. “Mom and Dad are here. Can you join us for lunch in about thirty minutes?”
“Sure can, darlin’. I’ll meet you at the office. We can walk over together.”
“Thanks, I’ve got to go.” She shut off her phone and went in the next exam room. For a second before she entered the room, a chill ran down her back. She glanced at the name and settled herself before opening the door. If this didn’t stop, she’d have to see the counselor that others had suggested to her.
Steel arrived as her last patient for the morning left. He grinned at her. “Nervous?”
“A bit. But it’ll be good to see them.” She walked back to the receptionist desk. “When’s my next appointment?”
“Not until two. You can take your time. Have a good visit with your folks.”
“I will.” Dana took Steel’s hand. “I’m ready.”
Her parents sat in a booth by the window. They waved as she and Steel walked by on their way to the door. The waitress took them right over.
Dana introduced her parents to Steel. “This is my mother, Clara Wynters, and my father, Jeff. Mom and Dad, this is Steel Randolph. He and Chayton Kane own the ranch I told you about, and Steel will lead you out there after we eat.”
“I appreciate your generosity, Steel,” her father said. “We don’t want to put you out. If we can hook up to your electricity, we can stay in the camper.”
“No way, sir. We have plenty of bedrooms. Dana’s going to stay with us, too. My mother would give me a dressing-down if she saw you living in the camper.”
“Then if you insist, we’ll be pleased to join you in your home.”
“Tomorrow evening my family and Chayton’s will come for dinner. We’re going to have a cookout. I hope you like barbecue.”
“You’re making me hungry already,” Dana’s dad said.
“It’ll be nice to meet your families. So many young people live far away from their parents.” Her mom glanced at Dana. “Until Dana’s move, all our children lived within a hundred miles.”
“Mom, wait until you meet more of the people and see where I work. Then you’ll understand why I want to stay here.”
Her mother glanced at Steel. “I suspect there are other reasons, too.”
Dana was never so glad to have the waitress interrupt them.
* * * *
Steel saw a strong resemblance between Dana and her mom. They talked about general, safe topics during the meal. But when everyone finished eating, Dana’s mom began to ask questions.
“I don’t understand why you didn’t tell us about the man stalking you before it got so serious.” Her mother frowned at Dana.
“The police wouldn’t help me. If I involved you all, you might have been in danger. My friend, Angie, helped me escape, and if it hadn’t been for an alert FBI man, she’d have been kidnapped and forced to tell where I’d gone.”
“My goodness, I don’t understand the police ignoring your request for help.”
“Addison Gregor was rich and paid many influential people and some of the police to protect his business.”
“You’ll see his name in the paper and on the news soon,” Steel said. “He ran a large organization peddling arms and information to our enemies.”
“I’m glad you killed him,” Dana’s mother said. “I’d never normally want to se
e someone die, but there is evil that won’t stop until they’re destroyed.”
“Mom, you shock me.”
“When my children are in danger, I become the Mama Tigress.”
Steel laughed. “Remind me to never get you angry.”
Her dad grinned and said, “She’s the sweetest woman around unless someone messes with her children or me.”
Steel saw Dana glance at her watch. “You need to go back to the office.”
“I hate to leave, but it’s almost time for my first afternoon patient.”
“I’ll lead your mom and dad out to the ranch and see them settled. Join us whenever you can.”
When they walked out of the restaurant, Dana pointed to where she had an apartment. “It’s tiny. Staying with Steel and Chayton will give us plenty of room, and you can get to know them better.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing your ranch,” her dad said to Steel.
“Do you and your wife ride, Mr. Wynters?”
“We do. Please call us Jeff and Clara.”
“My folks would be upset to hear me being so casual. I’ll stick to Mr. and Mrs. Wynters.”
“This boy’s had a good upbringing,” Mrs. Wynters said.
Dana grinned and winked at Steel from where she stood behind her parents. “I have to go. Steel, take good care of them for me.”
Steel pulled her to him and kissed her. “I will.” He walked to the camper with the Wynters. “I’ll be driving the big, black truck parked three spaces over. Follow me. It isn’t too far out of town.”
“When we get there, I’d like to know what your relationship is with my daughter.” Mrs. Wynters had raised her eyebrows.
“Maybe it’d be better to ask her, madam.”
“We will,” Mr. Wynters said. “Lead us to your home.”
Steel kept the camper in sight as he drove to the ranch. Her parents were smart and observant. He’d call Dana after they got to the ranch and warn her to be ready for questions.
If she didn’t tell them the truth, he and Chayton would have their answer about her marrying them. She might be falling in love, but not agree to the type of marriage they wanted.
Captivating Cowboys [Triple Dare County, South Dakota 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 12