by Lana Dare
She stared at his lips, her nipples beading at the memory of how it felt to have his hot mouth on them.
Biting her lip at the memory, she straightened, inadvertently brushing her nipples against Hayes’s chest.
Unnerved by the glint of amusement and determination in his green eyes, she swallowed heavily, finding it hard to keep from staring at his lips.
“N–Not at all. When I dream, it’s about being on my own, where no one can tell me what to do and I answer only to myself. I like it.”
His lips moved, capturing her attention again, remembering how firm they’d felt when taking hers. She couldn’t forget how soft they’d been brushing over her temple and cheeks when he took her. She knew the heat of them and dreamt of feeling them moving over every part of her.
The kind of pleasure he could give just using his mouth should have been illegal—but she was glad that it wasn’t.
She couldn’t help wanting more.
With her mind swirling with sinful thoughts, she tore her gaze away from his lips to look into his eyes, startled by the indulgent laughter and expectation in them.
He seemed so different from the man he’d been in Kansas City that she sometimes wondered if she’d imagined the man he’d been before.
Belatedly realizing that he’d spoken, she swallowed heavily, her face burning.
“What did you say?”
With a gleam in his eyes she didn’t trust, Hayes ran a finger down the front of her shirt, pausing to tease a nipple.
“You seem distracted. I said that Wyatt and I are going to have to do something about that. You should be dreaming of being snuggled into a warm bed between us, where you’ll sleep every night for the rest of your life.”
He tapped her nipple, grinning when she cried out, a rare grin that made her heart skip a beat.
His smile fell, his eyes narrowing as he switched his attention to her other breast, this time ignoring her nipple entirely. Using one finger, he caressed the underside, making her nipple bead even tighter.
Fisting her hands at her sides to keep from reaching for him, she let out a shaky breath.
“I–I’m n–not interested. I w–want to b–be on m–my own.”
Bending low, he brushed her lips with his, sliding his hands up to cup both of her breasts, his thumbs stroking her nipples over her shirt.
“What do you want to do on your own that you can’t do living here and married to us?”
Dying for his kiss, to feel his incredible mouth against hers, she parted her lips in an automatic invitation she didn’t even intend to extend.
To her delight, he accepted immediately, using his lips to part hers even wider and sweeping his tongue inside.
Tasting coffee and sin she grabbed onto him, rising to her toes to get even closer.
Her head spun at the slide of his tongue over her teeth, her breath catching when he curled his tongue around hers, encouraging her to follow his into his mouth.
Surprised at her own daring, she pushed to get even closer.
She couldn’t get enough of him, wanting more, closer, harder.
Wicked. Sensual. Hot.
She didn’t know how something so sinful could feel so natural and right, almost as though she’d spent her life just waiting for this.
She hadn’t even known she could experience this kind of closeness with a man, a connection that included not only sex, but trust and respect.
At that moment, she wished with everything inside her that she didn’t have to leave.
When he wrapped his arms around her and drew her even closer, she could all but feel herself melting against him. When he started to lift his head, she moaned her distress, nearly climbing his body in an effort to keep his lips against hers.
Hayes took a shuddering breath and groaned, letting her know without words that he suffered the same way she did. He dipped his head again, taking her lips in a lingering kiss, one with a hint of desperation.
Lifting his head, he brushed his lips over her cheek, his breath warm against her ear.
“You belong here. With us. There’s nothing out there for you that you can’t find here with us.”
Savannah pushed against his flat stomach to put some distance between them, both surprised and disappointed that he allowed it.
“How about freedom?”
Wyatt closed in on her other side, taking her arm to pull her to him. Running his hands over her hair, he tilted her head back, searching her features.
“You’ll have a hell of a lot more freedom with us than you had with your uncle—just not enough to get into any trouble. You’ll be safe with us, Savannah, and we’ll do everything in our power to make sure you’re happy.”
Picking her up with hands at her bottom, he slid them to her thighs, silently urging her to wrap her legs around his waist.
Savannah rubbed against him, unable to stop herself, her breath catching when Hayes moved in behind her and nuzzled her neck.
Focusing on Wyatt’s eyes, she shook her head.
“What do you mean—just not enough freedom to get into trouble?”
Wyatt’s eyes narrowed.
“You’ll stay the hell away from other men, and you won’t do anything, anything, that would put you in a dangerous situation.”
Threading her fingers through his too-long hair, Savannah watched his mouth as he lowered it, holding her breath in anticipation of his kiss.
“I would never do either one of those things.” Just the thought of allowing another man to touch her made her sick to her stomach.
Wyatt paused, sliding one hand to her bottom again and the other behind her neck to pull her closer.
“Then there’s no reason not to marry us.”
* * * *
With Wyatt’s words still ringing in her ears, Savannah put aside the shirt she’d just finished mending and reached for another.
“You have a lot of mending to do on your own.”
Maggie shrugged.
“A lot of the men do their own, but I offered to help. Duke and his men do all the cooking, and cleaning the house takes very little effort. I’m lucky enough to have husbands who can afford to buy candles and soaps in town so I don’t have to make them. The real chore is the washing, but a few of the men help me with the water, especially now, so it isn’t that bad.”
Savannah smiled. “Do you remember when I begged to help you and Esmeralda, but I didn’t know how to sew?” Smiling at the memory, she met Maggie’s gaze. “Esmeralda was horrified and said that I would need to know how to mend when I marry. The three of us would sit by the fire and talk for hours.”
Pausing, she frowned. “I didn’t realize how much I missed that until now.” She’d only remembered the long hours she’d spent sitting alone and mending her uncle’s clothing.
Maggie’s sad smile tugged at her heart.
“I miss Esmeralda so much, and I’ve missed you, too. I’m so glad you’re going to be here when the baby’s born. I hope you’ll stay afterward. Eb and Jeremiah say that Wyatt and Hayes are good men. He thinks they’ll convince you to stay. I’d hoped you would marry them.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
“Oh, Savannah, it would be so wonderful to have you here with me. Other women will be coming along—mail-order brides—but you and I have been friends forever. Please stay. Marry Wyatt and Hayes. They care for you so much.”
Savannah shook her head, trying to ignore the surge of delight at the reminder of how much Wyatt and Hayes professed to love her.
“Maggie, I don’t want to get married.” Looking away, she sighed. “I couldn’t stay here even if I wanted to, and it’s obvious Wyatt and Hayes belong here.” The fact that both Wyatt and Hayes seemed more comfortable than they’d been in Kansas City supported that.
With the ease of long practice, Savannah picked up another shirt and began mending the torn sleeve, hurriedly changing the subject.
“You know the only reason my uncle even allowed us to be friends is becaus
e he was afraid of Mr. Tyler and couldn’t figure out a way to put an end to it without offending him.”
Smiling to hide the hurt she could never quite shake, Savannah glanced at Maggie.
“After you left, I had no freedom at all. I like having it now. I can do whatever I want to do.”
Savannah kept her head down, afraid that the person in the world who knew her better than anyone would see too much.
“I’d been planning to leave for a long time. You know how much I hated him. After I took care of his chores and favors, I did everything I could to earn money. I took in sewing, cleaned stables, anything I could do to earn enough to leave.”
Dropping her sewing, she stared down at her hands.
“He was evil, Maggie. You never knew some of the things he did to me. Beatings that would take me days to recover from—”
She stopped abruptly and picked up her mending again, afraid she’d already revealed too much. Her hands shook so hard, she set the sewing aside. She wouldn’t be able to mend anything until she calmed down.
The memory of a terrible night, a memory never far from the surface, rose again, threatening to choke her. She didn’t want to think about what would have happened if Eb hadn’t come by and saved her.
Another vision rose, one of the night Wyatt and Hayes had taken her. They’d been so tender and loving, and she’d soaked it up like a sponge.
Since then, no matter how they touched her, she fell under their spell, making her wonder if her uncle had been right about her after all.
She’d spent her entire life fighting not to be like her mother. It unsettled her that if her mother were alive, she would be applauding the fact that Savannah had given herself to two men.
Her mother would be proud.
The thought sickened her.
Turning her head, she looked again at Maggie.
Glowing with health and happiness, Maggie stared at her in horror.
Savannah couldn’t help but smile, unable to imagine a woman more unlike her mother.
Maggie’s love for her husbands showed, and it was plain for anyone to see how much Eb and Jeremiah adored her.
Dropping the shirt she’d been working on, Maggie reached for her.
“Oh, Savannah! I didn’t know it was that bad. I knew he was hitting you, and I told Mr. Tyler. I’d hoped he’d stopped.”
Fighting back nausea, Savannah forced a smile. Not wanting Maggie to start crying again, Savannah came to her feet, stretching to ease the sore muscles in her shoulders.
“Don’t cry for me. All of that’s over now. I love being free, Maggie. I don’t want to give that up. I can do whatever I want to do, and I don’t have to answer to anyone.”
Frowning, Maggie sat back, rubbing her swollen abdomen, something Savannah noticed she did quite a bit.
“Jeremiah told me that you were almost attacked twice on your way here. If not for Wyatt and Hayes intervening, you could have been hurt, or even killed, Savannah. It’s not safe for you to be alone.”
Maggie’s eyes darkened in concern.
“I thought you were sweet on Wyatt and Hayes. Back in Kansas City, I heard them talking about kissing you. They’re very protective of you, Savannah, and talked to Eb and Jeremiah about you several times. They told them they wanted to marry you and that they couldn’t start their positions here as sheriffs until they got you here. They won’t stay if you don’t. They’ll follow you wherever you go.”
Savannah turned and moved away to hide her burning cheeks, not stopping until she got to the window. She stopped abruptly, her heart leaping to her throat at the sight of Wyatt crossing the yard.
She’d know his deceptively slow, long-legged stride anywhere.
To her shock, he stopped in his tracks and turned his head, lifting it in her direction as if somehow knowing she was there. His sharp eyes held hers, steady and warm, with an underlying possessiveness that felt more right than it should have.
She didn’t know what Maggie would think if she knew that she’d done far more with Wyatt and Hayes than kissing.
She burned at the memory of what they’d done to her. Each time they touched her, it felt better than the time before, and she knew if she kept allowing it, there would come a time when she wouldn’t be able to walk away.
The thought that she could have them for the rest of her life became harder and harder to resist each day.
Still, she had no choice. If she stayed, it would ruin everything they were all trying to build here. If her uncle found her here, he would see to that.
With a sigh, she ran her finger down the cool glass and over the place she stared at Wyatt, as though by touching the glass, she could touch him. When he smiled, she realized what she’d done and dropped her hand.
“I can’t give them what they want from me.”
Maggie touched her shoulder, startling her.
“Eb and Jeremiah want to love me, protect me, take care of me, and in return, they want me to love them back and to look to them for safety and security. They can be hard, but this land calls for it. When we go to bed—God, they make me feel so good.”
Savannah turned away from the window.
“What did you mean about them making you feel good? Are you talking about…intimacy?”
She couldn’t believe she’d even asked the question.
Maggie’s giggle gave her all the answer she needed.
“Oh, Savannah. I haven’t had anyone to talk to about this. It’s incredible, and they seem to like it just as much as I do. We can’t get enough of each other. Esmeralda told me some things, but I never dreamed…”
Swallowing heavily, Savannah blinked back tears of relief.
“So, it’s not just loose women who enjoy being…intimate?”
Maggie laughed and hugged her.
“Not at all. Just wait until—”
Maggie must have felt Savannah stiffen because she stepped back, her eyes going wide.
“Oh, my God! You’ve already…are you expecting?”
Savannah’s face burned even hotter. “Of course not. Maggie, I—”
Maggie moved away and put her hands over her ears.
“No. Don’t tell me anything. If Eb and Jeremiah find out, they’ll force you to marry Wyatt and Hayes before you’re ready. If I know anything, Eb and Jeremiah will get it out of me. If they think I’m lying, they’ll spank me. As much as I like it, I don’t want to tell your secrets.”
Memories of being punched and kicked raced through Savannah’s mind, and she doubled over in remembered pain.
“Oh, God! They hit you? Pack. I’ll get the horses and we’ll get out of here as—”
Maggie caught her arm.
“Savannah! Stop it. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re damned right you’re not.”
Savannah whirled to see Jeremiah coming into the room, his eyes alight with anger.
“Jeremiah! Maggie, get back!”
Terrified, Savannah jumped in front of Maggie as instinct took over. Closing her eyes and putting her arms out on front of her, she braced for the blow that she knew would knock her off her feet.
After several long seconds of stunned silence, she opened her eyes to see Jeremiah staring at her in disbelief.
“Savannah? What is it, honey? You didn’t really think I would hit you, did you?”
His incredulous tone made her feel even more stupid. Of course Jeremiah wouldn’t hit her. They’d done their best to protect her when she’d needed it.
But—
Turning to meet Maggie’s stunned look, Savannah drew a shaky breath.
“They spank you?”
The sound of footsteps racing up the stairs had Savannah turning back toward the door, mortified to see Wyatt coming through it.
He took in the room at a glance before rushing toward her, his gaze sliding to Jeremiah’s.
“What the hell’s going on? I heard Savannah scream.”
Savannah grimaced and tried to avoid Wyatt, but as soon as
he reached her side, he pulled her against him, somehow holding her while placing his big body between hers and Jeremiah’s.
“Nothing’s wrong with me.” She hated to admit, even to herself, that she drew strength from Wyatt’s presence.
“It’s Maggie. Jeremiah and Eb hit her.”
“What?”
All three shouted simultaneously, Jeremiah and Wyatt turning to stare at Maggie.
Maggie stared at Savannah, her face bright red.
“Savannah, I didn’t say that. I said that they spanked me.”
To Savannah’s astonishment, Jeremiah burst out laughing and the tension drained from Wyatt, who seemed to be having a hard time keeping a straight face.
Furious and embarrassed, Savannah lifted her chin and glared at Wyatt. “I don’t appreciate having all of you laugh at me, and I certainly don’t think it’s funny to hit a woman.”
Wyatt curved an arm around her shoulder and led her from the room, his smile falling.
“You’re right. It’s not. Come with me, and maybe we can straighten this out.”
“You’d better not hit me.”
“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll show you what your friend was talking about, and then you and I can talk about how cruel it is.”
Running a hand over her back, he leaned close, whispering in her ear.
“Brace yourself, darlin’. This isn’t going to be like any spanking you’ve ever heard of.”
Chapter Four
“If you think I’m going to let you get away with spanking me, you’re crazy.”
Wyatt only smiled and finished bundling her into her coat and plopping her hat on her head before leading her outside.
His silence filled her with foreboding, leaving her in no doubt that he had every intention of turning her over his lap.
For a split second, she figured he wouldn’t dare do it, but almost as quickly remembered who she was dealing with.
She’d just have to figure out a way to stop him. Looking up at him, she hid a smile as an idea came to her. She’d threaten him with Eb. Fear of the big, fierce rancher and his brother had kept her uncle in check for years.
Sobering at the realization that even Eb and Jeremiah wouldn’t intimidate Wyatt, she started to panic.