by Jane Jamison
“That is strange.”
“Yeah.” Her gaze jumped from one to the other. Although she started to say more, she stopped.
She wanted to talk about what she’d seen, about the odd shimmering of the air above her, maybe even that she’d seen the outline of a dragon. But she wouldn’t. No one who wanted to appear sane would.
“You’ll probably never know.” Not true, of course. They’d explain when they were ready to tell her what they were. “All that matters is that you weren’t hurt.”
“You’re right. I was dazed a bit, but it could’ve been a lot worse.”
“As long as you’re okay now.” Suddenly, he needed to hear it from her. To make sure she hadn’t gotten so much as a scratch.
“I’m good. Never better.”
Big Dell showed up again, carrying a huge platter of more hamburgers and fries. “Here you go. Eat up.” Marlee tried to wave her off, but Dell ignored her and set the platter in the middle of the table. “And when you’re ready to head out, I’ll get together four bags for you to take the rest with you.”
“Dell, we still have food on our plates. Are you trying to get me so fat I won’t be able to pull myself onto the fire engine?”
“Hush and just take them. Then give it to your brother. He could use some fattening up. Or take them to the guys at the station. Now no more complaining.”
“We’re happy to pay for them,” offered Adam.
“You said as much and thanks. But not when you’re with Marlee. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” agreed Adam.
“Ma’am was my mother.” Dell gave them all a hard look, excluding Marlee. “You just remember, you three. You hurt my girl in any way and I’ll roast your hide over a barbecue.”
Yeah. I like her. “You don’t have to worry about us, Dell.” Colter caught Marlee’s attention and held it. “We’re going to take very good care of her.”
He didn’t have to check with Ridge or Adam to know they agreed. They’d take care of her come hell or high water.
Chapter Six
Between Big Dell fawning over her, singing her praises, and the men treating her as though she was the most beautiful woman in the world, Marlee was feeling really good. Still, all good things had to come to an end, including her time with three sexy men.
Or does it?
She was off work for the day. After she dropped off the burgers and fries, she didn’t have anything else planned. Kyle was busy, and her other friends were at work. What was Kyle always telling her? To live a little? For once, she wanted to take him up on his idea.
The sun hit her as she exited Hamburger Heaven, giving her an idea. “Hey, guys, do you need to be anywhere?”
Ridge’s mysterious silver eyes twinkled with mischief. “Other than having a bagful of burgers to deliver, I’m free.”
“If he’s free, then I’m free,” added Adam. “The game I had lined up isn’t important. Besides, I need to give them a break and let someone else win for once.”
“What’d you have in mind?” Colter kept to her side, even when Adam tried to horn in and take his place.
“Well, I have a friend who’s always offering to let me take his boat out on Lake Houston. I’ve never done it because I’m not very skillful at handling such a big boat. Do any of you know how to drive a cruiser?”
“No problem.”
Ridge’s ready acceptance and confidence amused her. Not many people could handle a large boat. Most people were used to speedboats or even smaller fishing boats. “Are you sure? I’m talking about a really big boat.”
Ridge’s confidence didn’t waver. “I’m sure. How long is it?”
“It’s a cabin cruiser. I think it’s around thirty feet long.”
“Piece of cake for Ridge.” Adam slapped his friend on the back. “He’s captained yachts before.”
“Really? Wow. So you’re a yacht captain, too?”
“Not by profession.” Ridge pulled her away from the others. He wrapped both hands around her waist and tugged her close.
She couldn’t breathe. Not at first. Then at last, her body gave in to the need for oxygen, even as the rush of excitement stormed her. She was aware of Adam and Colter growing near and heard their animalistic complaints rumble out of their chests.
“I’ll call my friend. We can get the key at the boat office at the dock.”
Did she speak? It was hard as hell to think about anything, much less pay attention to what she was saying, with his hard cock pushed against her stomach. She forced her eyes to stay with his.
“Then what are we waiting for?”
Adam tugged her away from Ridge. Holding firmly to her arm, he motioned toward the row of cars. “Head to the station and dump the grub. We’ll meet you there.”
“What about your burgers?” She’d insisted on splitting up the food.
“Don’t worry. We’ll make good use of them.” He had his face only inches from hers then drew back. “If I kiss you right now, we’ll never get to the water.”
She wouldn’t have minded one damn bit. “Okay.”
“Okay.” His chocolate eyes held all the promise a girl could ever want. “Get going.”
“Okay.” Her gaze shifted to the other two men. She wasn’t the type to notice when a man was attracted to her, but there was no way she could mistake their hunger. “I’ll give my friend a call and see you three at the station.”
She was surprised she could make her feet move. As it was, she made it only a few feet before she turned around and added, “He usually has swim suits for guests if you want to jump into the water.”
“We won’t need them.”
“You don’t like swimming, Colter?”
“I love it.”
She studied him, at first not realizing what he’d meant. Then, slowly, understanding came. They had no intention of using swimsuits. “Lake Houston is a family place.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Ridge worked his jaw back and forth, the tip of his tongue peeking out.
She pivoted slowly, unwilling to take her attention off them until she had to. Suddenly, she decided. She was going to go for it. For all three of them. “Okay. I won’t.”
She would be on a boat in the middle of the lake with three amazing men. All without swim trunks.
Should she be worried? After all, she didn’t know them. Yet she was a good judge of character and she sensed that they wouldn’t do anything she didn’t want them to do. Besides, now that she’d decided to take a leap of faith and have fun with three men, what wouldn’t she want them to do?
“Hell yeah,” she whispered as she slid behind the wheel.
* * * *
Marlee was impressed as Ridge handled the boat with ease. He looked as though he’d been born to it. Especially since it was his boat.
As soon as they’d picked her up from the station—amid a few jokes and curious glances from the rest of the crew—she’d told Ridge that her friend’s boat was out of commission. He’d merely smiled and told her it was no problem. His boat was ready to take out onto the water.
Ridge’s boat was amazing. He called it “a smaller cruiser,” but at forty-five feet it was the largest, most extravagant boat she’d ever been on. The pristine long, white boat glistened against the blue-green of the lake. The sun was fading fast, but she didn’t care. The lights on the boat twinkled, giving the deck an almost magical quality. Several berths were below as well as a small galley. The four of them had plenty of room to spare.
“Why didn’t you say you had a boat, Ridge?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “I wasn’t sure it wasn’t being used by a friend. Like your friend, I often let others borrow it. Seems a waste to have it sitting there with no one enjoying it.”
“Makes sense. Did you three eat all those burgers on the way to pick me up?” She’d left her small Honda in the station’s small parking lot.
“No.” Colter popped the top off the champagne bottle he’d retrieved from the galley. “We pa
ssed them out to a group of homeless people along the way.”
She wished she’d done the same. Instead, she’d tossed the bag onto the table in the station’s kitchen, telling everyone to help themselves. Taking the flute with the bubbly in it, she took a small sip. “I love champagne.”
“It suits you.”
“Maybe, but I could never afford it. Not on my pay.” She laughed, happy to once again have their complete attention. While Adam and Colter rarely took their eyes off her, Ridge kept glancing at her while maneuvering the boat into a cove. They made her feel as though they hung on her every word.
“Firefighters aren’t paid half what they’re worth.” Adam eased onto the seat beside her. He wrapped his arm around her. “Want to get naked?”
She sputtered her drink. “What?”
“We want you, Marlee. We’ve already told you as much.”
She would’ve sworn bits of red sparked in his eyes. “I, um…” Wasn’t this what she wanted? Why was she stumbling to answer? “Do you want to go skinny dipping?”
“Maybe later.” Adam pushed her hair aside and kissed her neck. “Let’s skip all the questions except for one. Do you want us, too?”
She had to answer truthfully. Cupping Adam’s neck, she kept his lips to her skin. “Yeah. I do.” What he was doing felt too good for her to stop it. She wanted more. More from all of them.
“Good.” Colter dropped to his knees in front of her, his palms skimming along her thighs then back up, bringing up goose bumps.
The motor cut off as Ridge eased the boat farther into the cove. Downing a glass of champagne, he started unbuttoning his shirt. “We’ve going to have you, Marlee. You know it as well as we do.”
Again, she answered with the truth. “Yeah. I do.”
Adam slid his finger under the strap of her sundress. He barely touched her, but it was enough to give her a massive surge of desire.
Colter continued to unbutton his shirt. He drew in a long sniff. “I can smell your heat.”
Another kind of heat slid its way into her cheeks. “You can?” And yet, couldn’t she feel the sexual tension in the air around her? She mimicked him, drawing in a long, slow breath. Their scents were unique as though they contained something more, something special that no other men had.
“We sure as hell can.” Ridge shouldered off his shirt and let it drop to his heels.
She could’ve played coy, but what was the point? She ached for their touches. Yearned to feel their tongues and teeth on her skin. Why the hell shouldn’t she enjoy herself?
Adam slipped the other strap off. Her dress fell lower, exposing the swell of her breasts. “You’re perfect. Just perfect.”
“No, I’m not.” At Ridge’s hard look, she added, “But I’m damn close.” Confidence was sexy, right? Even if it was only feigned confidence?
Colter slipped off his shirt, his broad shoulders flexing. Like his friends, he was tanned and toned, every inch of him solid. They were massive men, men who looked as if they could lift a tree and toss it away with no effort. His fingertips disappeared under the hem of her dress.
Marlee sucked in a breath and almost dropped her champagne flute. The night air grew steamier. Glancing around, she couldn’t find any other boats near them.
I can do this. I want to do this. I’m going to do this.
Biting her lower lip, she placed her hand on top of Adam’s hard crotch. He’s so big. So firm.
“Go on, girl.”
With fumbling hands, she undid the top of his jeans. He shucked his shirt, revealing dark blond hair running from one pec to the other then down to lead the way for her hand. She heard his zipper and eased her hand between the flaps of his jeans.
No underwear.
She let out a breath of relief filled with anticipation then jolted when Colter’s hands found their way between her legs. He feathered his fingers over the seam of her pussy lips.
“Easy, babe. We’re in control. Trust me. We’ll do right by you.” Colter caught the hem of her dress between his teeth and brought it toward her waist. The corners of his mouth lifted just enough to tell her how much he liked what he saw. Bending over, he snagged her lacy undies in his mouth, stilling her heart as he tore them away. “No need for underwear. In fact, never wear them again.”
“He’s right.” Ridge toed off his shoes then undid his jeans and let them join his shirt. His body was steel and flesh combined into one amazing form. His cock, long and curved at the end, pointed at her, teasing her to taste the glistening wetness on the tip.
Adam shoved his jeans off then bent over her. His mouth hovered a few inches away from hers, tempting her, as he took hold of her dress and pulled it up. She held up her arms, losing sight of him as he took her dress off and tossed it aside.
His hungry gaze dropped to her breasts. “Your tits are amazing.”
Colter spread her legs. Giving her a wickedly steamy look, he bent down and shoved his face between her thighs.
She sucked in a quick breath as his mouth crushed against her pussy. “Oh God.”
“Not God, but definitely Heaven,” whispered Adam. Cupping one breast, he took the other nipple into his mouth, catching it between his teeth.
Pain stabbed into her, but it soon morphed into something more pleasurable. His teeth gave way to his tongue as he flicked it over and over, around and around, matching the twists he gave to her other nipple.
Colter went to town on her pussy, lapping at her juices as he snaked a hand over her ass and fondled her butt cheek. His tongue was faster than she’d have imagined any tongue could be, whipping over her clit then plunging into her sheath. She closed her eyes, unable to do anything more than clutch Adam’s hair with one hand and Colter’s with the other.
When she opened her eyes, she found Ridge next to her, his glittering gaze sweeping over her body, enjoying what his cousin and his friend were doing. He palmed his cock, slowly stroking his length.
“Do you like what they’re doing to you, baby?”
“Yes. Oh yes.”
“Tell Colter to suck you harder.”
She’d do anything, say anything, as long as they didn’t stop. “Suck me harder, Colter.”
Colter obeyed her, making her feel powerful.
“Tell Adam to use his teeth more. And to pull your tit. I want to see it stretched.”
“Adam, pull my tit.” Pain hit her again as he hollowed his mouth around her nipple and sucked.
“That’s good.” Ridge grabbed a hunk of her hair, giving her a different kind of pain to enjoy. He studied her face. “Do you like it rough, Marlee?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then let’s find out.” He crushed his mouth to hers, his tongue plunging into her mouth.
She kissed him back, trying to give as good as she got. Her breath hitched in her throat, but she’d pass out from lack of air before she ended the kiss. His tongue took control of her mouth, tasting every curve, playing with her tongue.
Her body was alive as it had never been before. The heat of a fire was never as hot. Her body was scorched from the inside out as though they’d ignited a flame deep inside her that would never burn out.
She bucked as Colter captured her clit and sucked.
She moaned as Adam tortured her tits with his teeth and fingers.
She grew wetter as Ridge claimed her mouth with his.
If it had been within her power, she would’ve stayed there, floating blissfully in the water, forever. When Ridge ended the kiss, she cried out, feeling alone and lost.
“If you’re going to stop us, it better be now.” Colter’s voice had dropped, his expression intense, his eyes burning with desire, hot enough to have bits of red flaring in them.
Or was that her imagination again?
“Who says I want to stop you?” She gave them a sultry smile. “Do your best, guys.”
“Stand up, girl.”
She wasn’t sure she could. Not with her legs feeling as weak as they did.
&nb
sp; Adam and Colter helped her onto her feet. The coolness of the night air should’ve chilled her. Yet, the boat seemed to be cocooned in a bubble of warmth. How it was possible, she wasn’t sure. She only knew that it was.
She was naked, turned on, and needing relief. “Please.”
“Please what, baby?” Ridge stood behind her. He traveled his fingertips along her shoulder. “Please fuck you?” Gripping down hard, he yanked her against him. His cock pressed against the small of her back, the hardness mimicking the hard knot inside her belly.
“Yes, please fuck me,” she whispered.
“Not yet, babe.” Colter set his hands on her shoulders. “Down.”
She went to her knees. Blinking, she wondered at the bright spots of red dotting the air around her. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Was she so turned on that she was hallucinating?
They encircled her, Colter in front with Adam and Ridge moving to the sides. She was trapped, yet she couldn’t help but feel she wasn’t the prey but the predator. If she wanted them, they would be hers.
“Here.” Colter bent and took her hand in his. He wrapped it around his cock. “Now.”
She didn’t question him. Hell, she was almost afraid to speak. What if she did, and it broke the spell? Adam pulled her hair behind her shoulders as she took Colter’s cock in her mouth.
She’d never understood how giving a man head could be satisfying to a woman. Nothing she’d ever experienced before had been anything near pleasurable. Yet with Colter, it was different. He tasted wonderful, a mix of musky flavors tinged with a sweetness. She pulled him in then slid her mouth slowly back to the tip.
He moaned and cupped his balls. His palm rested under her jaw, helping to guide her.
Adam took her other hand and wrapped her fingers around his cock. She gripped it, tight enough to give him a little pain. He groaned, saying something she didn’t understand. Slowly at first, she pumped him, running her hand along the smooth, loose skin. Once his pre-cum slickened his skin, she increased the speed, tightening her hold on him.