Desire Unleashed [Desire, Oklahoma 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Leah Brooke

  Jake smiled faintly. “And Hoyt’s. We all know that the reason you married me so fast was because you were carrying his child.”

  Nat gaped at him, struck by the hurt in his tone. “You knew I was pregnant! That’s how you talked me into marrying you, damn it!”

  “You’re right, love.” Jake sighed. “And I’ve never regretted it.”

  Gripping his hand, Nat shuddered. “Tell him not to come.”

  Shaking his head, Jake blew out a breath. “No, you’re going to have to face him, or this will always hang between us.”

  Lifting her chin, Nat nodded. “Fine. I’ll tell him. When’s he supposed to be here?”

  Jake smiled coldly. “Tonight.”

  “What?” Nat gasped, her heart racing—fear and excitement warring for supremacy.

  Jake smiled faintly. “I didn’t want to tell you until he was already on his way. I didn’t want you to worry about this until you had to.”

  Gripping her shoulders, he held her gaze. “He needs answers, Nat, and so do I. Just be honest about your feelings, and everything will work out—one way or another. I’m going to go check on a delivery at the store.”

  He gave her a long look, touching a finger to her lips when she would have objected. “I know you need some time alone to absorb all of this. I’ll be home in a couple of hours. If you need me before then, all you have to do is call.”

  Gripping his arm, she swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll always need you.”

  Jake smiled, but his eyes remained flat. “I’m betting everything that that’s true.”

  Chapter Two

  With a heavy heart, Nat watched Jake pull out of the driveway, turning away from the window when his car disappeared from view.

  Pacing the living room, she wrapped her arms around herself to fight off the chill, struggling to come to grips with all that had happened that morning.

  Drawing a shaky breath, she glanced at the clock on the wall, finding it hard to believe that it had only taken an hour for her world to be turned upside down.

  She lowered herself to the large, overstuffed chair, dropping her head in her hands. “Oh, Hoyt. Why do you have to come back? How the hell am I going to be able to look you in the face and tell you I don’t want you in my life?”

  Memories of his last visit came rushing back.

  Memories she wanted to forget.

  Memories she cherished.

  It had been over three years since she’d seen him.

  Hoyt liked to spend every holiday he could with Joe, and he’d been really looking forward to Christmas.

  After years of visits, Hoyt and Jake had already reestablished their friendship, and although a slight amount of tension lingered, they’d become closer than they’d been in years.

  Hoyt had worked hard to develop a close relationship with Joe, and over the years, the three of them had become even closer.

  She envied their ease with each other, because during Hoyt’s visits, she’d been a nervous wreck. As long as they were all together, she could hide it, but one night during Hoyt’s last visit, she found herself alone with him for the first time in years.

  Jake had gone to close his store for the night, and Joe had gone out to a holiday party with some friends.

  She’d been washing the dinner dishes, acutely aware of Hoyt’s gaze raking over her as he sat at the table sipping coffee.

  “Are you alone at night often?”

  Nervous already, she immediately became defensive. Whirling, she glared at him. “Of course not. Look, just because Jake has to go to the store at night—”

  “Easy, Natalie.” The snap of his voice cut her off more than his words, the ice in it unmistakable. “I’m not criticizing Jake. I’m just concerned about your protection.”

  Turning back to the sink, she went back to washing the plate, her shaking hands making it a struggle to hold on to it. “I’m fine. You have no right to be concerned.”

  “I have every fucking right to be concerned about you. You may not be my wife, but you’re the mother of my child.”

  Shaking even harder at the edge in his voice, Nat lowered the plate, afraid she would drop it. “There’s nothing for you to worry about. This is a safe town.”

  Before she even realized that he’d moved, she felt the heat from his body against her back.

  “You’re shaking. You have no reason to fear me. I’d die to protect you.”

  Fighting the hunger she had no right to feel, Nat picked up the plate again and attempted a laugh. “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “Liar.”

  To her relief, he moved away, going to the coffeepot to refill his cup before turning. Leaning back against the countertop, he sipped his coffee, staring at her for several long seconds, the tension in the room growing every moment. “Maybe I should teach you some self-defense.”

  Swallowing heavily against the thought of Hoyt touching her, she rinsed the plate and set it in the drying rack with hands that shook. “No, thanks. That won’t be necessary.”

  Hoyt’s slow smile held a hint of mischief that she hadn’t seen since they’d been lovers. “Scared to have me touch you? Don’t worry. I have no desire to poach on another man’s territory.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re safe—for now.”

  Turning to him again, Nat gritted her teeth. “Forever. Look, you arrogant—”

  “I see that temper’s only gotten worse over the years.” Hoyt clicked his tongue. “A sure sign that you’re in need of some attention.”

  “Why, you—”

  “Behave yourself, brat. Let’s talk about what you can do to protect yourself.”

  Nat smiled. “I can throw this plate at your head.”

  To her surprise, Hoyt grinned and nodded. “Very good. There are weapons everywhere, Natalie. You just have to be smart enough to recognize them—and have the courage to use them.”

  She couldn’t help but smile at that. “You think I won’t do it?”

  Hoyt’s lips twitched. “No. You won’t do it. You’re too afraid of how I’d retaliate.”

  She wanted to smack the cocky grin from his face, but she knew he wouldn’t let her get away with that either.

  Hoyt took another sip of his coffee, his eyes filled with amusement. “Your mind is your best weapon. You’ve already realized that throwing that plate at me would only get you into even more trouble.”

  Turning back, Nat shrugged and concentrated on keeping her hands from shaking as she washed another plate. “Maybe I just don’t feel like cleaning up the mess.”

  The heavy silence that followed stretched her nerves to the breaking point. Unable to stand it any longer, and trembling under his stare, she turned to him again.

  Whatever she’d been about to say died on her lips, her mind going blank at his long, searching look.

  His gaze sharpened, his expression thoughtful. “I’d wondered.”

  Clenching her jaw, Nat went back to washing dishes, hoping he couldn’t see how badly she shook. “Wondered what?”

  “If you’d gotten over me.”

  She had to swallow before speaking, her throat clogged with tears that she’d vowed never to shed. “I have.”

  “Liar.”

  Wiping her hands, Nat lifted her chin, fighting back tears. “You left.”

  Hoyt’s tender smile melted something inside her. “But, I always come back, and you know damned well that I’m never more than a phone call away. Joe calls me. Jake calls me. But, you never do. Not once.”

  Swallowing a sob, Nat shook her head, holding out a hand as she backed away from him. “Don’t. Don’t do this to me. Jake and I are happy. I love him. Don’t do this.”

  Hoyt’s eyes hardened, glittering with fury. “I would never do anything to hurt any of you.” Shaking his head, he set his cup aside. “Everyone has a weakness. You just have to find it. It seems you’ve found your weapon after all. I just needed to know. Tell Joe and Jake that I got called away.”

  Minutes later, he’d walked ou
t the door, and she hadn’t seen him since.

  In the months—the years—since then, she’d wondered if she’d ever see him again.

  He’s on his way.

  Too nervous to sit still, she shot to her feet, grabbed her keys and headed out the door.

  She needed to talk to her sister.

  * * * *

  Nat looked down at where her watch should be, grimacing when she realized she’d left the house in such a hurry that she’d forgotten it.

  Hoping that she wasn’t too late to catch Jesse before she left for work, Nat knocked on the front door of the house her sister shared with her two husbands.

  Two husbands.

  Shaking her head, she thought about the advice she’d given Jesse in the past, and how easy she’d assumed it would be to be shared by two men.

  Not many women ever got the chance to love and be loved by more than one, and the ones that she knew seemed deliriously happy.

  The thought of dealing with both Hoyt and Jake made her a nervous wreck.

  Maybe it would have been different if she’d started a relationship with both of them at the same time the way Jesse had.

  Everything would be on equal ground and everyone would have known what to expect from each other. Trying to juggle her marriage with Jake, and reestablish a relationship with Hoyt was more than she could handle.

  As soon as she saw Hoyt, she’d tell him, and put everything back to normal.

  In the meantime, she had to calm down, and hoped that a visit with her sister would help her.

  She looked up as the door swung open, unexpected tears blurring her vision at the sight of Clay filling the doorway. She tried to speak, but the lump in her throat prevented it, nearly choking her.

  His welcoming smile fell, his eyes sharpening. “Hi, honey.” He reached for her, wrapping a hand around her upper arm and gently pulling her inside. “You okay?” His tenderness nearly undid her.

  Nodding briskly, Nat tried to smile, but the look of concern in Clay’s eyes told her she hadn’t quite pulled it off. “I’m fine. I need to talk to Jesse. Is she still here?”

  Frowning, Clay nodded. “Of course. It’s still early. We were just having a second cup of coffee.”

  Finding it hard to believe that it could be early when so much had already happened that day, Nat allowed Clay to pull her into the living room. Looking up at him, Nat narrowed her eyes at the knowledge glittering in his. “You know, don’t you?”

  Clay dropped a kiss on her hair, running a hand over it as he turned her and guided her toward the kitchen. “Jake needed someone he could trust to talk to, just like you do right now.” Stopping her with a hand on her arm, he turned her to face him, smiling encouragingly. “Jake loves you very much, and he’s been in hell, wondering how all of this will affect you, and your marriage.”

  Nat’s stomach clenched. “Did he tell you everything?”

  Clay grinned and turned her back toward the kitchen again, smiling at the sound of Jesse’s giggle coming from that direction. “How would I know that, if I don’t know what everything is? You’re really rattled today, aren’t you, honey? Talk to your sister. Rio and I will get out of your way.”

  Lifting her chin, he smiled, a smile full of encouragement. “I’m here for you. If you need me, just call. If you need a night alone with Jesse, we’ll clear out.”

  Nat sniffed. “If I need you to beat the hell out of someone, will you do that, too?”

  Clay smiled and kissed her hair. “Of course. Come on. Have some coffee and talk to your sister. You’ll feel better.”

  As they walked through the doorway, Rio whispered something in Jesse’s ear, something that made Jesse giggle again, a sound that Jesse made often since marrying Clay and Rio.

  Jesse was happy, and it showed.

  Being married to two men worked for Jesse, but watching her sister, Nat realized with a sinking heart that she could never be so relaxed with Jake and Hoyt.

  It would never work.

  Never.

  Trying not to imagine herself in the position Jesse was in now, Nat paused, fisting her hands at her sides, wincing in pain when her keys dug into her palm.

  Sitting on Rio’s lap, Jesse giggled again, leaning into his wide chest as Rio smiled down at her and cuddled her close. Her hand looked small and delicate in Rio’s much larger one as he lifted it to his lips and pressed a kiss against her palm, his eyes lit with delight and a desire that never seemed to fade. Jesse hadn’t noticed Nat standing inside the doorway yet, her attention centered solely on Rio, the intimacy surrounding them making Nat feel like a voyeur.

  Instead of making a sarcastic remark the way she usually did, such as telling them that they ought to get a room, Nat turned her head, curious to see how Clay reacted to Jesse and Rio’s display of affection.

  Clay watched his brother and wife with an indulgent smile, his eyes glittering with love and satisfaction, his relaxed demeanor evident as he leaned back against the counter and sipped his coffee.

  “Don’t you ever get jealous?”

  Clay blinked in surprise as Rio and Jesse both looked up and whipped their heads around to look at her. “Sometimes. Not enough to risk losing her.”

  Retrieving a cup from the cupboard, he went to the coffeepot, glancing at Nat over his shoulder as he poured. He smiled faintly, the knowing look in his eyes telling her that he understood why she asked. “I’m sure Rio does, too. It’s only natural. But, I know Jesse loves me just as much as she loves Rio. I get a lot of pleasure from seeing my wife and brother happy. So does Rio. You’ve seen it often enough in this town to know it can work.”

  Rio’s welcoming smile fell as he studied her features, his eyes narrowing with concern. “Good morning, honey. Are you okay?”

  Forcing a smile, Nat nodded. “I’m fine.”

  Frowning, Jesse slid from Rio’s lap and went to Nat, looking from Clay to her sister and back again. “What’s going on? Something’s wrong. What is it?”

  Clay straightened and set his cup aside. “Rio and I have some things to do. We won’t be back for a couple of hours.”

  Nat watched as Clay and Rio both took the time to kiss Jesse’s hair and run a hand down her back, both men meeting her questioning look with a faint smile.

  Clay patted Jesse’s ass. “Talk to your sister. Call my cell if you need something.”

  Dropping into one of the kitchen chairs, Nat ignored Jesse’s searching look as she watched Clay and Rio leave, folding her hands in front of her, only to unclasp them and start drumming them on the table.

  She just couldn’t seem to calm down.

  Hoyt was on his way.

  Dear God.

  Wondering what it would be like to have Hoyt love her the way Jake did, and what it would be like to live with both men—sleep between them every night, Nat stared unseeingly at the wall.

  She could imagine Jake looking at her with lust and tender indulgence in his eyes as Hoyt’s hands came around her from behind. She could almost feel Hoyt’s hard heat at her back, the firm body she’d known, a body that had gotten even harder with muscle.

  Jake running his fist up and down the length of his cock.

  Hoyt tugging her nipples under Jake’s dark, watchful gaze.

  “Nat? You okay? You look flushed.”

  Wincing at the sound of her wedding ring tapping against the wooden table, Nat jolted when Jesse placed a cup of coffee in front of her. “I’m fine. Thanks.” Wrapping her hands around the cup to hide the fact that they shook, Nat shifted restlessly in her seat, the strength of her arousal stunning her.

  Jesse pulled a chair closer and dropped into it, frowning as she ran a hand down Nat’s arm. “Okay, spill it. What happened? Did you and Jake finally talk? You look shaken.”

  Blowing out a breath, she braced her elbows on the table, closing her eyes and shoving her hands into her hair. “Yes. We talked. We sure as hell did. Jesus, Jesse. You’re not going to believe this.”

  Lifting her head, she met h
er sister’s gaze, forcing a smile, while inside the combination of excitement and fear made her stomach flutter. “I still don’t believe it.”

  Gripping her arm, Jesse leaned forward. “What is it, damn it? Tell me!”

  Nat nodded and patted Jesse’s arm. “I will, but you’re going to have to be patient with me.” She blew out a breath, startled once again by the sting of tears. “For this to make any sense, I have to start at the beginning.” Smiling, she shook her head. “Now I know how Jake felt when he told me.” Sitting back, Jesse nodded and folded her arms across her chest, clearly impatient. “Okay. I’ll be as patient as I can be, but I have to tell you, you’re scaring the hell out of me, Nat.”

  Smiling, Nat patted Jesse’s hand again before pulling her cup of coffee closer. “I felt the same way when Jake started to tell me, but I promise, there’s nothing to be afraid of. We’ll be okay.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, hoping it would help settle her.

  It didn’t.

  “Do you remember the guy I used to date in high school? Probably not. You were too young to notice, and I kept him away from the house because of Dad. I kept him from both of you. I didn’t want you to get attached to him, and I didn’t.”

  Jesse frowned, uncrossing her arms to lean forward. “I thought you dated Jake.”

  Overwhelmed at the rush of memories, Nat shook her head, not looking her sister in the eye. “No. Jake and I didn’t date. Ever. I’m talking about someone I dated in high school and into college. Hoyt Campbell. He was a couple of years ahead of me. He’s the same age as Jake. They were best friends. Very close. You rarely saw one without the other.”

  She’d always wondered if things would have been different if she’d met Jake first.

  Staring down into her coffee, Nat sighed, struggling to focus on talking to her sister instead of fantasizing about what it would be like to have the kind of relationship her sister had. “Hoyt worked as a mechanic in his father’s garage. He hated it.”

  Remembering how miserable Hoyt had been at that time, Nat grimaced. “He and his dad never got along, and it was just the two of them. His mom died in a car accident when he was seven.” Glancing at Jesse, Nat forced a smile. “He’d lost his mom early, just like we did, and I think that’s part of what connected us at first.”