Demanding Satisfaction [Bride Train 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Reece Butler

  “We’re not happy about it either,” drawled Ranger.

  He leaned a shoulder against the wall, arms crossed. He was three inches taller and a lot stronger. With his attitude it would be close whether he or Josh won in a fight. Max would put his money on his brother, of course.

  “We don’t want Isaac to disappear again,” continued Ranger. “We have plans for him.” His hazel eyes seemed to glow from within. His smile was one found in nightmares.

  “The man Josh hauled off Sophie wants revenge,” said Ross quietly. “He boasted about ‘sticking it to that high-falutin’ whore.’ Abby’s jealous and is eager to put Sophie, or Queenie,” he corrected, “in her place. And that means selling her upstairs.”

  “One of us has to buy Queenie’s services,” said Sam.

  “I’ll do it,” said Josh, too quickly for Max’s peace of mind. “She knows me, but not in connection to you.” He smoothed back his ragged moustache with his finger and thumb. “She’s a great dancer.”

  “No,” said Max. Seven pairs of eyes trained on him. Josh looked surprised, but the other six seemed amused. Max ignored them and concentrated on his youngest brother.

  “You don’t look like you’ve got enough money to buy a nickel of whiskey, much less a woman,” said Max. “You’ve been drinking rotgut—”

  “And spilling it so I didn’t get poisoned,” Josh interrupted.

  “—and if you had gold, you’d have used it already.”

  “No one’ll say a thing in that joint if a rough-looking man pulled a poke out of his pocket,” said Sam. “Here.”

  Josh caught the leather bag Sam tossed at him. The two of them shared a look and the bottom dropped out of Max’s stomach. He knew his brothers and what they planned. Josh was a stranger in town, and he obviously wanted Sophie as much as Max and Sam did. As long as one of them protected her, it shouldn’t matter who. Josh wouldn’t touch her unless she wanted it. He and Sam already knew she had an itch. Josh had the method to scratch it without anyone knowing who she was. The look Josh shared with Sam suggested the two of them would take care of Sophie as much as they could.

  Max had an itch as well, but he’d learned not to even think of scratching it. Sophie would be safe. That was all that mattered.

  “You got a problem with that plan, big brother?” asked Josh softly.

  The mild tone didn’t fool Max. Josh had braced his legs and set his shoulders, ready to fight. It had been years since the two of them had gone fist to chin. Josh had gained a hard edge in that time. An edge, a couple of inches, and a few dozen pounds. All of it added up to Max not taking it further. At least not now, in front of others. Not only were there more important things on the table, fighting Josh wouldn’t solve a thing. Max gave in to the inevitable.

  “Do it,” he muttered.

  Josh nodded and slipped out of the room. The others, all but Sam, followed.

  “You got it bad,” said Sam after the door closed. He sat on the chair and balanced on the back legs. “That bad and you haven’t even seen Sophie’s charms.”

  “You think he’ll bed her?”

  Sam snorted a laugh instead of bothering to answer. Max scowled and gestured for Sam to answer the question. Sam slammed the chair flat. He leaned forward and set his elbows on his knees.

  “Josh will have to make a good show of hauling her away against her will. Once he gets her upstairs he’ll tell her who he is, and that we know about her plan. Then he’ll let her set the way. If she wants him, he won’t say no.” Sam raised an eyebrow. “Would you?”

  Max blew out his breath. “No, I’d take her up on her offer.”

  Sam stood up and opened the door. He turned back at the last moment, his eyes twinkling in mischief. “Didn’t Lily say Sophie was jealous of the other wives having three men in their beds?” His chuckles followed him down the hall.

  Chapter 16

  Josh blinked at the tips of Queenie’s hair sweeping her bottom as she walked. He’d wanted her even before that so-and-so put his hands on her. Dancing with her made him ache. Not just in the long-ignored shaft between his legs but deep in his heart. When she laughed with him, free and easy rather than with a simpering woman’s practiced tinkle, he’d lost whatever sense he might have once had.

  He watched her swirl her body sideways to avoid the grubby hands of a man well gone in drink. Josh’s fists curled and his heart pounded blood through his body as his need to protect her almost overwhelmed him. Part of that need, and blood, was reflected by the nine inches of flesh throbbing between his legs.

  He hauled stinking air into tight lungs and looked away from temptation. The other women either slunk around, beaten down in their body and soul or, like Abby, acted with bravado. He couldn’t help finding Queenie again. His low chuckle wasn’t heard past his lips. She held her head high and shoulders back as she returned the men’s stares. Most of them pulled their horns in and dropped their eyes. They were bullies, eager for a woman to cower before them.

  Sophie didn’t cower. But if Abby had her way, she’d force a brute on her to destroy her spirit. Josh would do anything to stop that.

  “Queenie! Where’s my drink?”

  She turned at the yell, twisting so fast her breasts almost erupted from her dress. Josh swore. These swine didn’t deserve to see those swells of perfect flesh. He watched her glide toward the demanding man. She gave him the bright practiced smile of a working woman. The man leered in return. He held up a coin and, when she handed over the bottle, he dropped it between her breasts.

  Josh looked for Abby rather than see what happened next. She wasn’t far, and had spotted the pair. Her eyes narrowed to vicious points. If he didn’t act now, it could be too late. He shoved to his feet and staggered his way to Abby’s side.

  “Fella at the door said to speak to ye.”

  Abby checked him over quickly, dismissed him, and looked back again at Sophie. Her lips curled down in a deep scowl.

  “How much gold do ye want fer that skirt in blue?”

  That got Abby’s attention. She gave him a closer look. He kept the fingers of his right hand curled as if hiding dirty fingernails. With his left he fiddled with the doeskin bag in his pocket. Abby set a fist on her hip and leaned her head back to see his face.

  “She’s new. Ain’t been touched yet, ’cept by some loose hands when dancin’. But you know that. Got a hankerin’ for her, do ye?”

  He leered, licking his lips in a vulgar manner. “She kin dance. Bet she’d be a handful in bed.” He turned to Abby with a knowing expression. “A man don’t wallop a woman while dancin’. He gets her alone to teach her to behave right.”

  “You gonna teach her?”

  “I got gold says I will.”

  Abby’s smile widened. “You like it rough?”

  He shrugged, smirking. “I like my woman knowin’ who’s boss. Seems like that one needs a man’s hand on her bare arse to start. Take her down a mite.”

  “Yer jest gonna spank her?”

  Josh put the full force of his determination into the look he gave Abby. Her eyes widened. “Nope.” He hardened his eyes. “I got lots of plans. Figger I’d need her for a week to get ’em all done. I want her to be mine. Day and night.”

  He could see Abby’s mind turning over, seeking a greater profit. She waved her hand around the room.

  “You see how busy it is. I need her workin’ tables when ye ain’t with her.”

  He scratched at his chin stubble, frowning as he thought it over. “Can’t fuck her day and night nohow. Gonna need time out for drinkin’ and all. She kin work tables. Long as she’s mine when I want.” He took Abby’s hand in his. He pinched the fleshy part between her finger and thumb in warning. “All mine, ye hear?”

  Abby gave an abrupt nod. Josh released her.

  “It’ll cost a lot fer Queenie to do more than dance. You don’t look like you got enough.”

  Josh pulled the leather bag out of his pocket and weighed it in his hand then tossed it up a few inch
es and caught it. He expected it was the money Lily Thatcher had paid to find Mr. Isaac. A decent grubstake for any man. He took another look at Sophie. A big man tugged her arm and leered at her breasts.

  “She won’t like bein’ taken upstairs,” said Abby with a satisfied smile.

  “Good. More she screams and fights, the better I like it.”

  Josh’s muscles tightened as he fought not to haul the man, now standing, off his woman. Abby couldn’t go against her boss no matter how much she wanted to get back at her. Josh knew about Ruby’s threat. If she hit someone…

  The man holding Sophie bent over and plastered his face on her lips. She did something with her knee which made the man grunt and double over. Satisfied that Sophie’d taken care of the issue, Josh looked at Abby.

  “Looks like she needs takin’ down a few pegs. You want this gold, or do I walk?”

  “Hammer will take the gold. And he’ll check it before her clothes come off.” Abby caught the eye of the bouncer and held out her hand to Josh. He gave over the bag. The mountain of a man nodded back. He would be easy to remember due to the large, round dent in his forehead.

  “You can have her for the rest of the week,” said Abby. “Do whatever you like. Use her hard. I know someone who can show her how to behave, if ye want.”

  “I don’t want another man’s cock—”

  Abby put a finger on Josh’s lips. “Mr. Isaac won’t fuck her. But he does have a way to make a whore realize her place.”

  Josh frowned as if he had to think about it. “Might take ye up on that. But I’m gonna do some taming of her first.”

  Hammer held Sophie’s arm in one hand, the man she’d kneed in the other. Both struggled to get loose. Josh waded through the crowd betting on what would happen next. Hammer shoved the bully at his friends. He turned Sophie to face Josh.

  Before she could recognize him Josh bent and hauled her over his shoulder. She screamed and fought, but he held her legs tight so she couldn’t kick. She walloped his lower back and arse with her fists, but that didn’t hurt much at all. Not compared to the hard, eager cock fighting to get out of his pants. Grinning men moved back as he headed toward the stairs.

  “Hey, how come you git ’er?” yelled one of the groaning man’s buddies.

  “He paid,” said the bouncer. For a big man, his voice was surprisingly high.

  “No! I’m a dancer!” screamed Sophie.

  “And ye’ll be dancin’ fer me all night,” yelled Josh just as loud. He smacked her bottom with his hand. She shrieked and struggled. The men roared with laughter.

  “Help!” She tried to wiggle around to see who carried her. Josh smacked her upraised bottom again. Her shriek nearly punctured his eardrums.

  “You jest settle down a mite while I carry ye up them stairs,” he said. “Then ye can scream all ye like.”

  He suddenly realized he was enjoying himself. He’d wanted to kiss Sophie from the moment he saw her. Wanted to put his hands on her breasts, to suck her nipples deep into his mouth, and then lick her pussy until she screamed.

  Sam said she wanted a man or three in her bed, and had already started with him. Josh would be her second Gibson. He’d be careful with her, but if she wanted hot sex, she’d get plenty.

  “Ye’d best stop kickin’,” he roared. “Don’t want ye to bang yer head or nothin’. I want ye awake and kickin’.”

  “Ain’t her haid ye bang,” called someone from the saloon. He smacked his fleshy lips. “If’n ye run out of steam, jest call. I’ll take over fer ye.”

  “I got a couple years’ worth of steam to get out first, old man.”

  Sophie was still fighting and screaming as he headed down the hall. Abby had scurried ahead. She opened a door on the right and gestured for them to go in. Josh noted the door was solid, but he could put his foot through it if he had to.

  “Make sure you get yer money’s worth,” said Abby as they passed. “But I want her on the floor servin’ tomorrow.”

  “Abby!” screamed Sophie. “You can’t do this! Ruby said—”

  “Ruby said you’d be sent upstairs if ye hit another guest,” said Abby with a snarl. “He’s your man fer the rest of the week. When ye ain’t whorin’, ye’ll be servin’ downstairs.” She turned to Josh. “Don’t fergit to bar the door, ’less ye want comp’ny.”

  She slammed it behind her. Josh set Sophie on her feet, turned his back, and quickly barred the door. When he faced her, she gasped.

  “You!” Her mouth moved, but nothing else came out but sputters.

  Josh grinned and winked. “Said I’d be first in line if you want more than a dance.” He wondered if the color on her face would be the same when she was flushed with an orgasm or two.

  “I came here to dance, not to…” Her hands fluttered as she tried to find words. “Didn’t my kicking and screaming mean something to you?”

  “You’re safe now,” he said quietly.

  She trembled, but held her head high. “Safe?” Her sharp, sarcastic laugh ended abruptly. “I came to Miss Ruby’s to dance, to make enough money so I could go home. You threw me over your shoulder and brought me here. How am I safe?”

  “My name’s Josh.”

  “You already told me.” She tossed her dark hair like the mane of a high-stepping filly. “But your name doesn’t matter.”

  “Josh Gibson.” She blinked, staring at him. “Max and Sam are my older brothers. I take after our mother’s coloring. As for this”—he grabbed his beard and long hair—“soon as we’re finished with this job I’m cutting my hair, shaving my face, and I’ll never, ever wear dirty clothes again.”

  “What?”

  The column of her throat moved as she swallowed. Her breasts rose and fell with each deep breath, tantalizing him. He hunched over a bit to reduce his menace and, hopefully, her fear.

  “I know who you are and why you’re here, Mrs. McLeod. Ross warned us Abby wanted you beaten and raped. You giving that idiot your knee gave her the excuse. If I didn’t buy you, she’d have sold you to the highest bidder. And then the next, and the next.”

  Sophie’s eyes widened. Her face turned pale, but she didn’t speak. He softened his voice.

  “I’m a Pinkerton agent, ma’am, just like my brothers. Officially we’re here investigating others, but we want to stop this Mr. Isaac.” He let her see a hint of his smile. “Max thinks you’re a fool for pulling this stunt, but it looks like it might work.”

  “But…how?” She tilted her head, frowning.

  “Lily gave Max a bag of gold dust. Abby has it now. That means no one else will touch you.”

  He let his eyes drift over her, appreciating what she couldn’t hide. Her nostrils flared. That, along with another flush, wide eyes, and open, panting mouth, proved she might be as eager as he to use that bed for more than sleeping.

  “You belong to me.” He whispered the words, both threat and promise. “Day and night, for the rest of the week. Whatever I want.”

  She swallowed hard, and then lifted her chin. “You won’t hurt me,” she said. Josh watched her nostrils flare above parted lips.

  “I have no intention of hurting you, Sophie.” He curled his fingers into fists to keep from reaching for her. “In fact, I plan to do the opposite. But no one else can know if your plan is to work.”

  Sophie worried her bottom lip with her top teeth. He stared, wanting to kiss those lips, and the ones below her belly.

  “How can I find Mr. Isaac if I’m stuck in here with you?”

  He tore his attention back to her words.

  “Abby said I was to tell her if you didn’t cooperate. She can’t wait to call in Mr. Isaac to teach you a lesson.”

  Sophie swayed, grabbing a chair to keep erect. The bolt of fear that crossed her face lasted only a second before she tightened her grip and locked her knees.

  “You won’t be alone with him, Sophie. There’s three of us Gibsons, as well as your friends from Tanner’s Ford. We’re all working to stop Isaac. Permanently
.”

  It took a moment, but his words finally got through. She sank into the upholstered chair she’d been gripping and slumped forward. Her dress gaped, but unfortunately her long hair covered what he was sure would be a very nice view. His cock throbbed, reminding him of what Abby, and a room full of men, expected him to do. After all her screams, they’d been silent too long.

  He had a beautiful, half-dressed woman in a room that contained a bed with the covers pulled back, ready for use. Though Sophie was no whore, he’d bought the rights to her body. A body that had brought his own alive when he held her as they danced. Working as a Pinkerton agent demanded sacrifices. He grinned to himself. Tonight he’d have to sacrifice the chance to sleep to make sure Sophie’s plan worked. It was about time he got the best part of an assignment!

  He shucked his coat, set a foot on a stool, and bent over to untie his boots. Sophie watched, face blank, as he lined them up against the wall where he wouldn’t trip over them. He hauled his shirt from his pants and started on the buttons.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. Her throaty whisper sent shockwaves to his tight ballocks.

  “Can’t you tell?”

  Her tongue flicked out and touched her upper lip. He wanted that tongue touching him instead.

  “You, ah, want to sleep?”

  He slipped his shirt, or to be correct, Sam’s shirt, off and tossed it away. Her eyes widened and her mouth went into an “O” as she stared at his chest. He did the same, noticing that her breasts had swollen a fair bit since he set her on her feet. Swollen so much that he was sure a nipple was about to escape.

  “Not yet, Queenie.” He used the word on purpose, telling her they were on the job. “You’re not a whore in any sense of the word, but the men out there expect certain things to happen. If I leave this room as hard and needy as I am now, they’ll know something’s not right. They know that I like you, so a bit of quiet while we talk things over isn’t going to make them too suspicious. But if you aren’t screaming and fighting me in the next few minutes, Abby and the others are going to wonder why.”