by Jan Springer
A sharp rap on the door made Callie scramble for her gun.
“Relax,” Luke soothed. “That’s Colter’s knock.”
A flitter of horror shifted through her face, and she reached up to smooth her tangled tresses.
“I must look awful.”
“You look beautiful after two straight days of getting fucked.”
She blushed sweetly, and Luke resisted the urge to kiss her.
Instead, he scrambled out of bed and slipped into his pants. Callie quickly followed suit.
“Hey! Anyone home? I’ve got news!” Colter’s excited voice came from the other side of the door.
“Are you ready?” he asked Callie, as she finished buttoning up her blouse.
She nodded, a pretty pink blush sweeping across her cheeks.
Luke smiled.
Although they hadn’t discussed it, he knew she’d been turned on when she’d seen Colter at the edge of the pond while Luke had made love to her ass.
After the fact, she was embarrassed. It was only natural.
But if they were going to go ahead with the Claiming, she would have to get used to his brothers seeing him making love to her, and he was going to have to get used to seeing his brothers making love to her, too.
She’d already decided on a Claiming. With her decision firmly in her heart, it would be easier for her to accept his brothers into their sexual life. He just hoped he could accept it, too.
A moment later, Luke unlocked the door.
Chapter Ten
When Colter walked into the cabin, Callie’s heartbeat sped up at the sight of the good-looking Outlaw man. Lean and muscular, he walked with a careful, confident grace, seemingly on edge, ready to fight…or maybe ready to fuck?
The powerful way his hungry gaze caressed her certain intimate parts made her tingle with a charming sexual awareness. Made her remember the other night in the pond when Luke’s swollen erection had slid into her ass while Colter stood by and watched the whole thing.
“Hi Callie,” he said, as he nodded politely to her, a gorgeous smile beamed across his lips. “You’re looking a whole lot better than the last time I saw you. Callie must be tending to your needs,” Colter said to Luke.
She noted the underlying meaning in his words, the sexual frustration in his voice. Perhaps even a touch of jealousy?
No. Not jealousy.
Envy.
“We’ve found out what the Barlows are up to. You aren’t going to like it,” Colter said.
Luke’s eyes narrowed with curiosity.
“They’ve agreed to drop all the charges against you if you agree not to tell Laurie about Tyler being alive…and you give them…your ranch.”
“No way!” Callie spat. “We have to tell Laurie sometime, and there’s no way we’re giving away our land. Luke didn’t do anything wrong. He simply went to visit the Barlows and got shot for his troubles. We’ll bring them to court for attempted murder and—”
Two sets of gorgeous Outlaw smiles were aimed at her. She trembled in sexual awareness.
Frustration at her reaction angered her.
“What?” she snapped.
“Anyone tell you that you’d make a fine lawyer?” Colter grinned.
She couldn’t stop the warmth from caressing her cheeks at his compliment.
Luke threw her a wink, and returned his attention to his brother.
“You heard the lady.” Luke replied.
Colter nodded. “Didn’t think you’d take the deal, but I thought I’d put it onto the table anyway. They said if you wanted to talk to them directly, they would be willing to make certain adjustments and that you’re welcome to go over and talk to them.”
Luke didn’t comment, but Callie could tell he was considering what Colter had said. Anger that he would even think about going over to the Barlows and discussing this farce almost made her explode.
However, she opted to remain silent.
She could talk sense into Luke about this newest development later.
“Something else you should know,” Colter continued. “The Barlows aren’t only interested buying up Ty’s and your land. They’re buying up parcels of land throughout the entire Rackety Valley as fast as they can get the money out of their bank accounts.”
“Any ideas as to why?” Luke asked.
Callie noted the muscles in Colter’s cheeks jump with tension. She got the feeling he was trying hard to contain his anger.
“Pleasure Palace, a legal bordello. They’re going into partnership with the US government, and bringing in some of the conscripted women from the War.”
Luke didn’t say anything and Colter continued, “With the government backing them, we don’t have much of a chance of protecting our pieces of property. They want your place and Tyler’s spread, plus the western quarter section of the main farm, which is a few hundred acres, and the land of a few close neighbors. They say if we don’t hand it over, they can expropriate it in the name of progress. They’re looking at the entire western part of Rackety Valley. Can’t say that I blame them. It’s an ideal location. Picturesque. Untouched by man. Not to mention hundreds of acres bordering the ocean. Inland it’s private…away from prying eyes.”
A lump of frustration clogged Callie’s throat.
The Barlows were powerful, rich and very influential in the court systems. They also owned the mortgages on their ranch and the Outlaw farm. Suddenly her earlier show of defiance, of going up against them in a court of law, made her realize why Colter and Luke had been smiling at her.
They’d thought her outburst amusing. Was it any wonder they hadn’t simply burst out laughing?
Maybe Colter was being kind to her for a reason. The intense way he’d looked at her when he’d first entered the cabin. His hungry gaze roaming all over her.
Mixed emotions coursed through her.
Fear.
Excitement.
Loss.
Tangled emotions, all fighting for recognition.
Fear that Luke might not be able to handle her being with his brothers. Loss at an old way of life—of one man and one woman living happily ever after.
And excitement, too.
She needed to face reality. Times had changed, and the Claiming Law could be just what she needed to protect herself from the government labs.
“It’s been two days, Callie,” Colter broke into her tumultuous thoughts. “Is Luke well enough to travel?”
She wanted to tell Luke’s brother that if Luke was well enough to fuck her senseless for two days then he was well enough to travel.
She nodded.
“Then get your stuff. We’re going home.”
Colter didn’t give them too much time to pack, telling them that the Barlows had sent out a search party for their brother early this morning, and it wouldn’t be too long before they came here asking questions.
He gave them a few minutes.
Just enough time for Luke and herself to pack those sex toys he’d bought for their honeymoon, along with a couple of changes of clothing.
A tight knot formed in her throat at having to say goodbye to her little ranch hideout.
She brushed away her tears of sorrow as she headed to the door.
Clearly, it was too dangerous to stay here any longer. Both she and Luke needed the protection of the Outlaw clan.
The walk to the washed-out bridge to where Mac sat in a pick up truck waiting. The ride back to the Outlaw farm was quiet, yet anxious.
Both Luke and Mac held onto their guns, their bodies tense, while Colter drove.
They were taking a huge chance traveling on the road. Although it was private, Outlaw land, anyone could be lurking around ready to strike.
When Callie saw the mellow yellow lights splashing cheerfully from the living room window of the farm, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that she was here, surrounded by Outlaw men, she could actually allow herself to think of other things besides keeping herself from being caught and claimed.
Now she had other worries.
She understood why Luke hadn’t told Colter he wouldn’t go and see the Barlows.
He was actually considering giving up their ranch.
She was beginning to realize why, too.
The Barlows were powerful men. They could buy judges. They could also eliminate the one-month waiting period for them…if Luke gave them what they wanted.
* * * * *
“We’re going to have to keep a tight lid that she’s here,” Luke said after he’d left Callie in his bedroom. “A government scientist is looking for her.”
“How was she able to escape? I hear those places are so secure not even a mouse could get in.”
“I don’t know how. I haven’t asked her yet.”
It was true. They hadn’t even discussed how she’d broken out of the labs. They hadn’t even spoken about the Barlow killing. Or talked any more about this Blakely scientist who’d taken her eggs. Over the past two days, they’d been living in a wonderful fantasy world thinking only of pleasing each other. Now that he thought about it, it had been their honeymoon. Reality totally forgotten.
Unfortunately, reality was staring him straight in the face tonight.
Luke stood and headed for the closest night-darkened window, and looked outside. The full moon had slipped behind the dark ominous clouds making him jittery at the idea that anyone could be lurking around out there. All a group of men had to do was go to the law, tell them the Outlaws were harboring an unclaimed woman and the cops would be searching every square inch of Outlaw land.
“I’m surprised she was able to stay in hiding for so long over at our place without a government team searching the area,” Cade said. “Surely they knew she lived in the valley?”
Cade was right. The government must have records that Callie came from Rackety Valley. And what Mac had said earlier about the security at the labs being airtight. They wouldn’t let Callie simply walk out of there or make it easy for her to leave. Maybe Blakely had felt sorry for her and decided to let her go? Or maybe something else was going on here?
But what?
Quite frankly, he didn’t want to know. She was here, and as far as he was concerned, she was staying here.
Keeping Callie safe was top priority.
“If she’s not claimed, there’s no way we can protect her, and by the hints you were dropping in the cabin the other day, we figure you both have discussed this?” Colter asked.
“We have,” Luke agreed.
“And she’s agreed to being claimed by all four of us?”
Again, Luke nodded.
“What’s your take on this, Luke?” Cade asked.
Luke glanced back at his brothers who sat side by side on the sofa watching him closely. He knew they wouldn’t agree to a Claiming unless he was absolutely sure.
“Luke could take her to Canada,” Mac offered quickly, noting Luke’s hesitation.
“Canada’s adopted the Claiming Law, too,” Cade said quietly.
“You could take her away like Jude did with Cate. Go on the run. We could get another boat,” Colter offered.
“I’m through running. Luke and I already discussed it.”
Luke and his brothers whirled around to find Callie standing at the hallway. She’d changed into a sexy, frilly, white nightgown. A virtual see-through gown he’d purchased years ago for their honeymoon, but had totally forgotten in the bottom of the drawer in his room here at the farm.
Obviously, Callie hadn’t wasted any time making herself at home here.
From beside him he heard Mac and Cade’s aroused inhalations. Colter swore softly.
Luke swallowed against the dryness in his mouth as he made out the lush outlines of her breasts pressed against the thin lingerie. He didn’t miss the pretty pink color of her hard nipples or darker pink of her areolas, nor did he miss the dark outline of her pussy hair.
Beneath the restraint of his jeans, his cock hardened like a piece of molten steel.
She looked directly at him.
“I’ve already expressed to Luke my wishes of all of you claiming me. So what I’m asking is for an answer from all four of you. Will you claim me? If you say yes, I’d like to be claimed as soon as possible.”
* * * * *
Callie had expected Luke to explode when she said she wanted to be claimed. During their last conversation, he hadn’t come right out and said he was totally comfortable with the idea, so perhaps she really should have kept quiet. But time was of the essence. Besides, if Luke didn’t want to share her with his brothers, she would respect his wishes and bow out.
To her surprise, he didn’t protest. As a matter of fact, he’d reacted totally opposite of her expectations.
Instead of anger shining in his eyes, she saw love. And pride.
Not to mention an extremely large bulge tenting his pants.
The lusty way the other three Outlaw brothers were staring at her made her shiver with both excitement and fear. Fear that maybe she was doing the wrong thing in giving in to the Claiming Law. Excitement that Luke seemed more confident in their relationship than she’d thought he would be.
“Luke?” Colter said in a strangled voice.
Colter didn’t take his hot gaze off her, but Callie could sense he as well as his brothers would only agree if Luke agreed.
“I’m sure only if you’re sure, Callie. This is your last chance. Do you want the four of us to claim you?” Luke whispered.
For one split second, she wasn’t sure. The urge to change her mind almost won. But that was fear speaking, not reality.
The only way she would be protected as a woman and as an escaped lab rat were for these four sexy, testosterone-ripe men to take her sexually.
Had Luke had told them what she’d done? Had he told them how naïve she’d been in walking into the government labs in her innocent dreams of saving mankind? She’d strolled straight into the lab like some innocent sacrificial lamb.
It was as if Luke sensed her turmoil. As if he knew there could be no lies between her future husbands and herself.
“Go into the bedroom,” he said quietly. “I’ll tell them everything. They can decide based on the facts.”
She nodded numbly.
Ignoring the puzzled expressions on the brothers’ faces, she slipped down the hallway and back to their bedroom.
In the living room, Luke explained to his brothers what she’d done and what Blakely had done to her.
* * * * *
“She was young and innocent,” Luke finished.
“She was stupid,” Colter snapped. His eyes blazed with red-hot anger. “Just like she was stupid to trust me out at your place by lowering her weapon. She’s still too trusting, Luke. You could lose her all over if she puts her trust into the wrong person.”
“Like you did, Colter?” Luke said gently.
His brother flinched, but by the angry expression on Colter’s face, his brother knew what he was talking about.
“She’s not you, okay?” Luke continued. “You showed her a valuable lesson by turning on her the way you did. She won’t easily forget. Just like you won’t easily trust another person, am I right?”
“Shut up, Luke,” Colter warned.
“That’s why you frightened her that day, isn’t it? Because you knew she trusted you. You don’t want her to end up hurt like you were because you trusted someone.”
The muscles in Colter’s jaws twitched angrily, and Luke noticed Cade and Mac edge up on either side of their brother, ready to grab him in case he started swinging like he’d done after Ashley, a conscripted woman he’d fallen in love with one weekend during the Wars overseas, had left him high and dry.
For a minute, Luke thought Colter might start swinging his fists now, but the tension visibly dissolved and his shoulders slumped.
“So, sue me for trying to harden her. She’s just too damn trusting, Luke.”
“It’s one of the reasons I love her and why you care so much for her. Do y
ou really want her to change and become bitter and angry?”
Like you? The last two words were left unspoken, but Luke knew Colter got his message by the way his brother frowned.
“Fine. I’ll go to the government office tomorrow morning and get the Claiming papers. At least then we can get the ball rolling.”
“No, I’ve got another idea. I’ll explain it to you tomorrow. First, I’ve got to talk to Callie about it.”
His brothers nodded.
He wasn’t through explaining to his brothers.
When he told them what Blakely had done to Callie in the lab, his brothers looked fit to kill the scientist, but in the end, all of them reassured Luke he could count on them to help him protect Callie and if that meant claiming her then so be it.
To his surprise, having their agreement eased his mind, and it was as if the world had lifted off his shoulders. Making his evening farewells, he headed to their bedroom.
And to Callie.
* * * * *
“Are you scared?” Luke whispered, as he gently nibbled on her earlobe. He’d come to bed and found her trembling uncontrollably. Trembling because she’d actually voiced out loud in front of the Outlaw brothers that she was willing to allow them to lay claim to her.
“Terrified,” she admitted, loving the heated warmth of his cock as he slid slowly into her drenched vagina from behind.
“Are you sure about what we discussed about the deal with the Barlows?”
Her heart said no.
But she knew there was no other way.
She nodded.
“Do you think the Barlows will take to blackmail?”
“They don’t have much choice. They only have three brothers left now. If word got back to the government that the fourth husband is gone…there is a chance they could lose Laurie to another group of men. We’ll tell the Barlows we know about a certain accidental shooting and that we know where their brother’s body is buried. If they don’t agree to our terms then I’ll tell them we’ll go to the government.”
“What if the Barlows call your bluff? I mean all they have to do is find the grave, and then we’ve got nothing.”
“Colter and I will move the body tomorrow to a place on Ty’s land where no one will find it.”