by Leah Brooke
A muscle worked in his jaw, and Nat could see that it wasn’t the answer he’d expected. His eyes narrowed again, the anger and frustration in them giving her a small amount of satisfaction. “I want to know every damned thing about you. Is there something wrong that I don’t know about? I swear, Natalie, you’d better not try to hide anything from me!”
Nat raised a brow, allowing a small smile. “So you can keep things from me, but I can’t keep them from you? No, that doesn’t sound fair at all, and it certainly doesn’t sound like any kind of relationship I want to be part of. I think I’ll pass.” She started to close the door, jumping back in surprise when he hit it so hard that it slammed back against the wall.
“Damn it, Natalie!” Running a hand through his short hair, he closed the distance between them. “Fuck, Natalie, sometimes you piss me off. I won’t keep anything from you again, okay? Damn it. Don’t try to create obstacles. This is going to be hard enough for all of us. I did what I thought was best at the time. I won’t keep anything from you anymore, and you’d better not even think about trying to keep anything from me.”
He started to reach for her, the hunger and desperation in his eyes thrilling her, but he pulled his hands back at the last second as if not trusting himself.
With a sigh, he scrubbed a hand over his face. “We didn’t have that kind of relationship before. I want it now. I thought I’d made that clear.”
Confident that she’d made her point, she nodded. “As long as we understand each other. I want your promise that you won’t keep things from me. Jake kept the conversations he’d had with you from me because he didn’t want to worry me, and I ended up thinking that either he was having an affair, or he was dying and didn’t know how to tell me.”
Hoyt’s eyes widened. “Oh, Christ, Natalie. I’m sorry.”
Turning away, she put several feet of distance between them, the temptation to thrown herself into his arms almost irresistible. “I want the truth. If we’re not honest with each other, or I can’t trust you, then none of this is possible. I’m a strong woman, Hoyt, and I expect to be treated with respect. That includes being honest with me. Intimacy is a two-way street. So is trust.” She found herself holding her breath, glancing at him over her shoulder to see his reaction.
Hoyt stared into her eyes for several long seconds as the tension between them built. Finally, he inclined his head. “For you, I’ll try.” Smiling faintly, he leaned against the doorway. “If I fuck up again, just talk to me. Don’t throw things at my head and run away.”
Insulted, Nat lifted her chin. “I didn’t run away. I left before I gave in to the urge to smack you. Think about how you’d feel if I kept things from you because I didn’t want you to worry, or because I thought you couldn’t handle it.”
A muscle worked in his jaw. “It would piss me off.”
Nat nodded and turned away again, hoping he’d go and give her a few minutes to compose herself. “Good. I’m glad we got that settled. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Closing the distance between them, he took her hand in his and turned her to face him. “I don’t believe this. You’re scared to fight with me. You’re scared to lose that temper. Unbelievable.”
Nat gaped at him, and tried to shake off his hand. “I—what?”
“You heard me.” Pulling her toward him, he bent, pressing a shoulder to her belly, and lifted her over it so fast, it made her head spin. “We can’t have that, can we?” He strode down the hallway, carrying her as though she weighed nothing. “You don’t want me to hide anything, but you’re mad as hell. I can see it in your eyes. I’ve already told you that if you try to hide something from me because you think I can’t handle it, it’s going to piss me off.”
A hard slap landed on her ass. “You think I can’t handle that temper of yours, honey?”
It took several seconds before she recovered from the shock enough to struggle. “I’m not afraid to fight with you. Damn it, Hoyt. Put me down. Right now!”
He ignored her, overcoming her struggles with ease and carrying her to the family room. Bending at the waist, he lowered her to the sofa, standing directly in front of her so that the only way to escape would be to scramble away from him—the amusement and challenge in his eyes daring her to try.
She glared up at him, not about to give him the satisfaction of overpowering her—something that she knew would excite her even more.
“Problem?” Jake’s deep voice, filled with amusement, came from somewhere behind Hoyt.
Hoyt smiled and moved to the side, dropping to the sofa next to her. “She just lectured me about honesty, and then when I accused her of being afraid to fight with me, she denied it. An obvious lie. Look at her eyes. She’s mad as hell, but she’s trying to pretend that nothing’s wrong.”
Laying his arm across the back of the sofa, he ran his fingers over her hair, a habit he’d had when they’d been lovers. “Or she doesn’t care enough to fight with me. Either way, I don’t like it. If she doesn’t care enough, I need to walk away now. If she’s trying to hide her feelings, she has to learn right from the beginning that I won’t tolerate it.”
Stiffening at the feel of his hard, hot body pressed against hers from shoulder to knee, Nat turned to glare at Hoyt. “If I didn’t care about you, the three of us wouldn’t be in this predicament, now would we? Jerk.”
Jake lowered himself into the overstuffed chair close to the side of the sofa where Hoyt sat. “You want to explain yourself, honey?”
Gritting her teeth, she lifted her chin, wondering what it was about a domineering, arrogant man that sent her pulse racing. “There’s no point in arguing about something that none of us can fix. He was wrong and he knows it. We’ve already discussed it. End of story.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed, a warning flickering in them that excited her even more. “Discussed it how?”
Aware of Hoyt’s steady look, Nat shrugged. “He says that he considers us his family, but then doesn’t let us know when he gets shot. I told him that if that’s the way he wants it, that’s fine—as long as that’s what he’s willing to accept in return. If he doesn’t want to tell me things that might worry me, I won’t tell him things that might worry him. He got the message.” Moving away from Hoyt, she curled up on the end of the sofa and reached for the remote. “There’s nothing else to say.”
* * * *
Hoyt wanted to shake her.
Seriously considering how much satisfaction yanking her pants to her knees and turning her over his knee would give him, he grabbed the remote and tossed it aside, not even attempting to hide his anger. “Don’t make the mistake of trying to shut me out. I told you that I wouldn’t keep things from you anymore, but that fake nonchalance pisses me off.”
She gave him another one of those fake smiles that made his hand itch to connect with her well-padded bottom. “Too bad.”
Hoyt leaned back to study her, not missing her nervousness that showed itself in her inability to keep her hands or feet still, or the arousal that beaded her nipples and gave her a slightly dazed look. “I told you that I want a different kind of relationship with you now. You’re aroused, nervous, and mad as hell, but seemed determined to hide it from me.”
He spared a glance at Jake before focusing on her again. “I can’t go back and change the past, but I can promise you that I won’t keep things from you in the future. I can sure as hell promise that I won’t let you keep things from me.”
Too restless to sit still, he got to his feet, hoping that by opening up to her a little, she would open up to him. “I’m sure I’m going to fuck up.” Turning to her with his hands on his hips, Hoyt allowed a small smile, knowing that it would take time to build the trust he needed from her. “You and I are going to both have expectations and demands from each other. We’ve got a lot of things to work out together, and I’m not about to let you shut me out, or treat me like a guest. We need everything out in the open.”
Jake inclined his head. “I agree.”
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br /> Natalie stiffened and turned her head, her eyes narrowing, the suspicion in them making his cock stir. “What kind of demands are you talking about?”
Pleased to have her full attention, he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh, there’s going to be quite a few, but we’ll start with communication. Hoyt settled back, delighting in the flare of desire in her eyes. “Do you think you’re going to get away with running away from me whenever you’re pissed off? If you’ve got something to say, say it, and don’t try to keep me at arm’s length. I never would have taken you for a coward, Natalie.”
Her eyes widened and glittered with fury. “Kiss my ass, Hoyt.”
Hoyt’s cock jumped, his heart pounding furiously with anticipation as he reached for her. Gripping her wrists, he hauled her over his lap and delivered several sharp slaps to her well-rounded ass, the Dominant inside him thrilling at her cry of outrage. Using a forearm across her back to hold her in place, he grinned at her curses even as she lifted her ass in invitation.
Having her over his lap satisfied a need inside him, her struggles intensifying his pleasure. Holding her firmly, he glanced at Jake as he ran a hand over Natalie’s ass, knowing that it would keep the heat in and spread it. “You have to push it, don’t you? That’s twice that you’ve told me to kiss your ass. Trying to find out how much I’m going to tolerate, baby?”
Thankful that she couldn’t see his hands tremble, he reached under her and unfastened her jeans, yanking them down to her knees and exposing her soft, luscious ass. “Beautiful.”
When Natalie screamed Jake’s name, Hoyt glanced up at him, surprised to see the lust in Jake’s eyes. “Damn it, Jake, are you going to let him do this to me?”
Jake shared a look of understanding with Hoyt before meeting Natalie’s gaze. “Yes. You belong to him now, too, and you have to admit, you’ve brought this on yourself.”
“Hoyt! You son of a bitch! How dare you?” Wiggling on his lap, Natalie kicked her feet, stilling when Hoyt bent and touched his lips to her warm ass.
Heaven.
Moving his lips over her smooth, scented skin, he slid a hand between her thighs to press at her slit, delighted to find her hot and wet. “You’ll find that I dare quite a bit when it comes to you. You told me to kiss your ass, didn’t you, honey?”
“Bastard!” She started wiggling again, only to stop with a gasp as her wiggling moved her slit against his hand.
Unable to resist, he pressed a finger against her clit and began stroking. “What’s the matter, baby? Bite off more than you can chew?”
Twisting, Natalie looked at Jake. “Aren’t you going to do something?”
With a smile, Jake squatted next to her hip, reaching out to run a hand over her pink ass. “I don’t know what you’re getting so indignant about. You told Hoyt to kiss your ass and he did. Do you think I would have let you get away with running away from an argument, or putting up with you telling me to kiss your ass without doing something about it? Hoyt’s got to handle your temper and your defiance. Looks like he’s making a good start.”
* * * *
Nat gritted her teeth, mortified that another rush of moisture escaped to coat Hoyt’s fingers. “That’s different.”
Oh, God. She was going to come!
Jake chuckled, a low sound filled with wicked intention that she recognized well. “It won’t be from now on. You have two men in your life, and you’re going to have to learn how to deal with Hoyt, too.”
Hoyt slid his finger over her clit again, sending another wave of exquisite pleasure through her that she struggled to hide. “I don’t have a hell of a lot of patience with walking on eggshells. You tell me to kiss your ass, Natalie, and I’m going to assume you mean it literally. You get sassy, and I’m going to assume you’re in need of some attention. Are we clear?”
Turned on by his uncompromising manner, Nat clenched her jaw, fisting her hands at her sides as he moved his finger again.
The combination of his attitude, the heat from his slaps, and the slow strokes of his finger over her clit had warning tingles sizzling in her clit and driving her wild.
She felt so exposed, and for the first time in her life, could feel the gaze of two men on her naked flesh.
She couldn’t believe Hoyt had actually spanked her, and realized that she’d grossly underestimated him.
It made her wonder just how deep his dominant nature ran.
Sucking in a breath when his finger moved again, she squeezed her eyes closed, fighting with every ounce of willpower she possessed to keep from coming.
Every slow, deliberate glide of his finger over her clit threatened her control, forcing her to keep her head down so he couldn’t see her face.
If she came now, especially in front of Jake, it would embarrass the hell out of her, and Hoyt would become even more arrogant.
God, it felt so good.
The forearm against her back slid lower, and another sharp slap landed. “I asked if we were clear.”
That cold steel in his tone did things to her that made her insides flutter and had her lifting her ass for more. “I’m not one of your men.”
Hoyt laughed, obviously enjoying himself. “No, you’re not.” His finger slipped into her pussy. “You’re my woman, something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.” Moving his finger of his other hand slowly up and down the crease of her ass, he loosened his hold, his tone deepening. “Jake, what was she like when you took her ass for the first time?”
Jake sighed and came to kneel beside her, smiling down at her as he ran a hand over her back. The heat in his eyes told her that he remembered that night as well as she did and even now, replayed it in his mind. “It took a long time to work up to that. Didn’t it, baby? She was scared, but I could tell that she enjoyed the attention there. I sat right where you’re sitting now, with her draped over my lap the way she’s draped over yours.”
Jake’s lips twitched. “She’d been daring me for days, saying and doing things to piss me off, and to see how far she could push me. I could see that she enjoyed it, so I let it go for several days, curious to see how far she’d go.”
Nat blinked up at him. She hadn’t known that he’d figured out what she’d been doing. Snorting inelegantly, she shook her head. “I did no such thing.”
Hoyt’s finger pushed deeper into her pussy as he pressed a threatening thumb against her puckered opening, the threat sending a thrill of alarm through her. “She’s quite a liar, isn’t she?”
Jake patted her ass cheek as Hoyt withdrew his finger from her pussy and started to stroke her clit again. “She gets that way, and temperamental when she needs attention. I’m afraid over the last few months, I’ve been distracted, and haven’t given her the attention she needs from me.”
Nat inwardly cringed at the apology in his eyes, and tried to get up, but both Jake and Hoyt tightened their hands on her back. “That’s bullshit. I didn’t need that kind of attention. I just knew that something was wrong and you wouldn’t tell me. Oh, God!” Sucking in a breath as Hoyt pressed his finger deep into her pussy again, Nat tightened her hands into fists on the carpet, her pulse tripping as Jake pulled her jeans and panties off and tossed them aside. “And I don’t lie.”
Brushing his finger over her forbidden opening, Hoyt groaned. “Damn, her ass is gorgeous. She’s squirming like crazy and I’m only touching her. I’ll bet she goes wild when she’s breached.”
Jake slid a hand over Nat’s hair as he stood. “I’ll get the lube and you can see for yourself.”
Nat stilled, shaking by the intense rush of arousal. “What?”
Jake frowned down at her, his eyes gleaming. “You got yourself into this.”
Pressing his arm at her back, Hoyt spread his fingers over her bottom and parted her cheeks wide, exposing her puckered opening. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve imagined having you this way?”
His touch, more confident than it had been in the past, thrilled her, her ass and pussy clen
ching as sensation layered over sensation. “I know it’ll take time, but I’ll have your trust.”
Jake came into the room and knelt beside her, handing the tube of lube to Hoyt. “That ass is mine, and I can share it as I choose.”
Stunned by Jake’s steely tone, colder and firmer than she’d heard in months, Nat gasped at the surge of heat and whipped her head around to stare at him. “Jake!”
A dark brow went up, his eyes moving over her, gleaming with pride and possessiveness. “You gave yourself to me a long time ago, my little sub. That ass is mine. I own it, which means that I can share it. Just because I haven’t in the past, doesn’t mean that I can’t. You want to use your safe word?” Reaching out, he cupped her breast, unerringly finding her nipple. “You’ve never used it before. You gonna use it now?”
The lust and ownership in his dark eyes made them appear lit from within. His obvious excitement fueled her own, and she realized that this was a fantasy of his that she’d never been able to fulfill in the past.
How could she deny him, or herself the pleasure?
Determined to make his fantasy come to life, she arched, pushing her breast more firmly into his hand. “Not a chance. I never go back on my word.” Smiling, she threw her head back with a moan at the light pinch to her nipple. “I gave myself to you.” Turning her head, she looked into his eyes. “I trust you. Completely. With everything.”
Jake smiled. “Good girl. Now, spread those legs wider and let Hoyt lube that ass so he can explore it. Don’t resist him. I’m going to be watching, and I won’t be happy if you resist him. I brought your punishment plug as well, so Hoyt can see how beautifully that ass stretches. I hope he gives you the spanking you deserve.”
Her puckered opening tingled with awareness, her pulse racing. Moisture trickled down her inner thighs even as she spread them, something Hoyt would notice right away.
She hadn’t been so excited in a long time, forced by her own needs and her love of Jake to turn herself over to a man she wanted so badly she ached with it.