Sheltering Reagan

by Avery Gale

  With the press of a few keys, Brandt easily tagged Kelsey’s phone. He’d be able to follow her for twenty-four hours before he needed to take the matter to a judge to continue monitoring her. Granted, he wasn’t exactly coloring inside the lines, but considering the bull shit happening in Washington, he wasn’t too worried. The news coming out of that swamp was making it more and more difficult to stomach television.

  He listened as she stumbled through her story. It was obvious she was reading from notes, which made him even more curious about what she was hiding. Brandt marveled at her claim a man she knew was a threat to a former coworker had called her but hadn’t known her name. How stupid does she think I am? He’d bet his interest in hell she’d hoped for a payday in return for information about Reagan’s location, but obviously, the man hadn’t been interested in shelling out any money. Considering his position in the Department of Corrections, he’d likely discovered who he was talking to and where she was within seconds of answering the call.

  It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the only reason she was calling him now was because she was worried the jerk was going to show up without coughing up any money. Since most of Rafe Newell’s stalking issues with Kelsey had been in San Francisco, Brandt had never spoken to her. But from everything he’d heard, the woman was a real piece of work.

  When she finally stopped stuttering through the bull shit story she’d been trying to feed him, Brandt opened his mouth to ask her the first of several obvious questions. Much to his frustration, all he heard was dead air. I fucking hate it when people hang up on me.

  Brandt sent a quick message to Phoenix asking for information about Kelsey Jones, including a full report on her financial status. Her call had tripped all his internal alarms, and as a former SEAL, he had been trained to never ignore his gut. Phoenix’s response flashed on his screen almost immediately and made Brandt smile.

  She’s a nut-job. San Francisco cops didn’t charge her because they’d been assured she was coming back here and would be your problem. If I get you the info, you have to promise to lock her up or send her packing.

  Brandt chuckled to himself at his brother’s response. Phoenix was considered the most even-keeled of the five Morgan brothers, so his terse reply was amusing. It wasn’t difficult to see who’d been up with baby last night. Phoenix’s wife, Aspen, had joined the Prairie Winds team and was currently on the other side of the world helping rescue a kidnapping victim, leaving her two husbands with a very vocal toddler. Little Athena Morgan was hell on wheels. She’d come crashing into the world a month early and had been running the show ever since. Like her Greek Goddess namesake, Athena manipulated her parents like chess pieces.

  Hearing the door open, Brandt turned to see his beautiful wife step into the room. Without bothering to greet him, she turned back to the door and flipped the lock in place. Letting the long trench coat she wore slip down her arms, she set it aside and turned. Fucking hell, the dress she was wearing was molded to her so perfectly it looked more like a second skin. Her nipples were drawn into tight little peaks, and when her gaze locked with his, it was blazing with desire.

  “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure, Minx?” Joelle’s eyes flashed with challenge, and Brandt smiled to himself. Bring it, sweetheart. I’m all about this game. She owned him in ways he couldn’t explain. Her love had pulled him out of a downward PTSD spiral that had terrified his own family. Brilliant, beautiful, and a heart as pure as any he’d ever known—and she was his.

  “I’ve missed you.” Brandt translated the words mentally—his wife was horney and she’d come to him. Perfect.

  “Have you now? What makes you think it’s okay to show up unannounced at my office dressed in a knit dress that someone painted on you? You’re not wearing anything under that tight dress are you, minx?”

  She was still standing across the room from him, but Brandt swore he saw her nipples draw up tighter and heard her soft gasp. He gave her a knowing smile when she shifted to rub her legs together. “It won’t work you know—you can slide those lovely thighs together all day long and it won’t relieve the ache. Your Masters are the only ones who can quench that need, minx.”

  The blush staining her cheeks sent a surge of blood to his cock. He’d never get tired of seeing the innocence in her eyes. He and Ryan had introduced her to ménage and been thrilled at how perfectly suited she was to their lifestyle. Their demanding jobs made sharing a wife the perfect solution. Now that Ryan’s duties at the hospital were expanding, he was working more, leaving Joelle home alone more than they’d like. But hopefully, that wouldn’t last much longer. The additional staff the health foundation hired would soon be in place. Brandt was grateful because he missed having her naked between them. Joelle’s response to double penetration ménage was something to behold.

  Letting his gaze slide down her lush body like a heated caress, Brandt wanted to fist pump at her response. A shudder worked its way to the surface of her eyes, their pupils dilated until nothing but a narrow ring of their brilliant green remained. And those candy pink nipples that always tasted so sweet? They were tight points that threatened to poke through the loosely woven knit fabric of her dress. Stunning. Horney. Mine.

  “Strip.” Living up to her nickname, the little minx taunted him by slowly slipping the boots from her feet before pulling the dress over her head. Just as he’d suspected, she hadn’t worn a stitch of clothing underneath. She’d lost the weight she’d gained while pregnant, but their child had left her mark on her mama’s gorgeous body. Brandt and Ryan both relished each of those fading stretchmarks; they were proof of the gift she’d given them.

  Turning his chair, he crooked his finger, calling her to stand between his spread legs. “You are so fucking beautiful. You take my breath away.” When she dropped her eyes, he refused to let her hide in shame. “No, minx. Look at me. Ry and I are going to keep telling you until you believe every word. Your body has changed, but we both feel blessed by those changes. If anything, we want you more now than we did before, and I’d have sworn to you that wouldn’t be possible.”

  Skimming his hands up her outer thighs, Brand followed the path north until they spanned her narrow waist, his thumbs resting over her taut abdomen. “It’s hard to believe there was a beautiful baby in here not so long ago. No one has ever given me a more precious gift.”

  “You and Master Ryan gave me the gift to begin with. I just nurtured the seed.” Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back. “Your acceptance of the changes in my body make me love you even more. You’re very good for my self-esteem.” Her words hit him right in the center of his chest—his heart skipped a beat at their sincerity. Maybe we’re starting to get through to her.

  “We’ll never lie to you. We promised you that in the beginning. That isn’t the way you treat people you love and respect.” He and Ryan had both sworn to always tell her the truth, no matter how difficult. If they were going to demand transparency from her, they needed to do the same. That’s not to say they didn’t occasionally tell her they wouldn’t answer a question. Some things submissives needed to experience without any time to mentally prepare. And with a sub as smart as theirs, it was even more necessary.

  Moving his hands up until they covered her rounded breasts, Brandt caught both nipples between his fingers and gave them a long, slow pinch. Her knees wobbled and caught the scent of her sweet cream. “Such a good girl. Are you wet for me, minx?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Fuck, the woman was so perfect there were times he still couldn’t believe she was theirs. Moving his fingers slowly down to the cream coating her pussy lips, he was thrilled to see her legs already sliding farther apart. Slipping the calloused tips of his fingers between the soaking wet folds, Brandt pressed his lips against her quivering stomach. “Fuck, you are drenched, minx. You have no idea how much it turns me on to know your body is ready for me.”

  When he finally slipped his fingers into her sheath, zeroing in on her swe
et spot, Joelle’s knees started to shake, making him chuckle. “Not yet, minx.” Regretfully, he pulled his fingers free and licked them clean. Watching heat flame in her eyes as she observed him savor the tangy flavor of her arousal. “Over my knees, minx. I’m going to give you a spanking we’re both going to enjoy.”

  Without hesitation, Joelle draped herself over his lap. She loved erotic spankings, the edge of pain ramping her body up quickly. She’d obviously missed the intimacy of being over his and Ryan’s knees—something they’d denied her since learning she was pregnant. After she’d given birth, Ryan had insisted her body needed time to heal, so this was the first time in over a year Brandt had gotten to feel her lying over his thighs pressing against his raging hard-on. The position was perfect, but definitely a mixed blessing. Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, I’ve missed this. The first heated caress took her by surprise; her shriek made him grin. “If you don’t want everyone in the office to know what’s happening, you’d better hold it down, minx.” He spread the next swats over her curved cheeks, loving the blush chasing his warm hand.

  He wasn’t going to tell her the only one who’d be able to hear her was his new deputy, Lee Barber. There was a shared wall and a small Jack and Jill bathroom between their offices. Brandt smiled to himself. Lee was a sexual Dominant and member of Mountain Mastery, so he’d know exactly what was going on.

  And right on cue, Brandt’s phone chimed. The incoming message from Lee flashed on the screen. Fuck you, boss. How am I supposed to work with that going on next door? Heading out on patrol. Brandt grinned, but didn’t respond to the message. He wasn’t about to interrupt a scene with the gorgeous woman lying over his lap to text.

  He could feel her soaking the leg of his uniform pants and grinned to himself knowing he’d have to change before leaving for the day. Brandt landed one last swat before pushing his fingers into her and whispering the words she was unconsciously waiting to hear. “Come for me, minx.” Her body reacted before he’d even finished speaking. Joelle’s vaginal muscles clamped down tight, milking his fingers as they tried to pull him deeper into her sheath.

  Lifting her, Brandt laid her over the desk and took a steadying breath. “I’m going to fuck you, minx. This is going to be hard and fast.”

  “Yes. Please. Sir.” Her voice was strained, and he wasn’t about to let her down.

  “We’ll do slow and sweet later. Right now, I need you too damned bad to hold back.” He had his pants open, and his unsheathed cock at her opening by the time he stopped speaking. With one flex of his hips, Brandt buried himself balls deep and cursed. “Fucking hell, your pussy is still flexing from your climax. You’re stealing every last shred of my control. Hold on.”

  Long, hard strokes at a brutal pace sent them both over the edge in record time. It was over too soon, but each time the head of his cock connected with her cervix, he felt her spasm around him. The intensity of his release made his knees buckle. Falling over her, Brandt was grateful he’d managed most of his weight on his forearms.

  “Fuck me. You undo me every time, minx. But this? This was soul-stealing.” He’d taken her without protection, but the Neanderthal in him wanted to roar and beat his chest. Deep inside, he was certain he’d just given her another child to nurture, and he could hardly wait to find out if he was right.

  “I promise to move as soon as I can trust my legs, minx.”

  “No hurry. I’m done in. I may just spend the night right here. The door’s locked so we’ll call it good.”

  “Not happening, my love. I promised you slow and sweet, and I intend to deliver as soon as we deliver our little princess to the ranch.” His sister in law, Coral, was having an overnight party for all the kids and Ryan was working late, so it was going to be his first evening alone with his wife in several weeks. He intended to enjoy it!

  Chapter Eleven

  “Wake up, sleepyhead. We’re home.” Rafe had opened her door and leaned down beside Reagan, hoping to minimize any startle reflex. Sudden movements would cause discomfort for a couple of days, so he planned to wake her slowly. “Open those gorgeous brown eyes for me, Peach. I’d carry you inside but you wouldn’t enjoy the pressure on your back and legs.” It could rip open several of the deeper wounds, but he didn’t see any reason to be quite that graphic.

  She blinked her eyes and gave him a lopsided grin. “I wouldn’t want you to undo all Dr. Newell’s fancy repair work. He’s a famous plastic surgeon, you know. I’m very swank to have been his patient.” He wanted to laugh out loud at her faux awe. Damn, he was pleased she was showing him a glimpse of the real woman behind the stoic mask she’d maintained with the hospital staff. Ryan had even tried shuffling the nursing staff so her attendants were more her age, but it hadn’t mattered. Reagan had been unfailingly polite, but she’d kept everyone at arm’s length.

  Before her eyelids could, once again, flutter closed, Rafe took her small hand and pulled her slowly to her feet. His cock stirred at the feeling of his much larger hand wrapped around her slender fingers. She blinked at him a few times as if trying to bring him into focus, and he grinned when little frown lines appeared between her brows. “It’s not a good idea to frown at your Master, Peach.”

  “Then stand still. You keep weaving around, and I can’t get a bead on you.”

  “You make it sound as if you’re going to shoot me.”

  “Oh, heaven’s no. Why would I shoot someone who gives earth shattering orgasms on the fly? All those fast food joints are going to have to go a long way to top your to-go service.”

  Rafe couldn’t hold back his laughter as they walked into the house. When he stopped, she glanced up at him in question. Damn, he loved that befuddled expression. He dropped her hand and released the last remaining button of the dress she was wearing, enjoying her quick inhalation. “I want to see you. More often than not, I’ll want you naked when we are alone.” He used his fingers to lift her face to his before continuing. “You know Masters love to show off their submissives at the club, too. I’m going to love showing you off, Peach.”

  He saw a myriad of emotions in her eyes. But the one he was going to deal with first was the shadow of shame. “Be very careful, Reagan. I’ll take offense at anything negative you say about yourself. Be sure…be very sure you’re prepared to go down that path before you speak.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and he could practically hear the wheels spinning in her mind, but she remained silent. Good enough for now.

  Slipping the garment from her shoulders, he smoothed his palms down her ribs and hummed when her nipples tightened into tight points. “You are gorgeous, Peach. I can hardly wait to share our second scene.”

  “Second? Scene?” There was that confused look he was coming to love.

  Giving her nipples a quick squeeze to center her attention, he nodded. “Don’t doubt for a minute what you experienced on our way here was a scene. I gave commands. You obeyed. And you were rewarded with the release your body was craving and needed to shut down that quick mind of yours and get a few minutes rest.” The surprise was easy to see in her expression. “Scenes don’t have to be elaborate productions, Peach.”

  “But how will I know if it’s a scene? What if we’re talking and you decide to start a scene? I might not realize it….and I’ll mess up. I’ve seen how that works out for subs at the club…and it’s never good. You have to know I’ll mess up…I’m always misjudging people.”

  Jesus, she was sliding into a full-blown panic attack simply because she was worried about making a mistake. She hadn’t said anything about being afraid of punishments. She was solely focused on her fear of displeasing him.

  “Stop. Hell, baby, take a breath.” Once she seemed to have come back a step or two from the edge, he led her to the living room. Sitting in one of the oversized recliners, he settled her on his lap and pulled her into his arms. He didn’t want to have this conversation in the bedroom because he felt strongly about making sure that space was reserved for sleep and sex—and not necessar
ily in that order.

  “First of all, rest assured I’ll never hold you responsible for a rule you didn’t know. They call it training for a reason, Peach. This lifestyle can be complicated, but it’s just like everything else. You’ll learn it one step at a time. I know you already understand the importance of following orders.” Nate and Taz included the basics of BDSM play in their employee training program. “And, you’re already familiar with the club’s safe words since it’s an important part of every employee’s orientation, so we’ll use the same stoplight system here. If we keep it consistent, you won’t have to think about where you are and what word you should use.”

  Her breathing was slowly returning to normal, and the pulse at the base of her neck was no longer racing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose it. It’s just that, well, I don’t like to make mistakes. When you mess up, people stop loving…I mean, they stop liking you. And then you have to move on and…”

  Rafe put his finger over her lips, silencing her. He wasn’t about to let her finish, because that line of thinking had no place between them.

  “Stop. That’s not the way it works, Peach. Not at Mountain Mastery and certainly not with me.” He could see the doubt in her eyes and realized he needed to find another approach. It was abundantly clear she’d never had anyone she could depend on past the first mistake. He couldn’t even imagine what that would be like to have people in his life who bailed at the first sign of trouble.

  “Do you abandon your friends the first time they make a mistake?” Her thunderous expression almost made him laugh. Here was a woman who was fiercely loyal to the people she valued. Knowing she’d be equally faithful to a lover sent heat coursing through his veins.

  “No, of course not.”

  “But you think I would?” Her eyes widened before they dropped to where her hands were twisting in her lap. “Look at me, Peach.” Her face slowly lifted back to his, and he saw the sheen of tears in her eyes. “I’m loyal to my friends, too, Reagan. I’ll be even more devoted to the woman who entrusts me with her body. I’ll cherish that gift, baby. But I also understand trust is built over time.”