It had really been nuts when she exited the bathroom yesterday after taking a long, hot shower, and he yelled at her for only wearing a towel and reprimanded her about getting sick. Meanwhile he blocked her access to her bedroom while he gave her the third degree and talked about consequences. Her breasts had felt full, her pussy ached with desire, and she wanted to head back into the shower to take an ice cold one to snap out of her daze.
Lauren came to the conclusion that there had to be something in the water or even airborne to make women even contemplate an attraction to more than one man at once. But here she was wondering, fantasizing about the five very dark, mysterious men who took her in.
She felt antsy, in need of an adrenaline rush or some sort of challenge. That was when she saw the men carrying long black duffel bags to the back of a black F-550 pickup. She knew there were guns in there. They had a stack of targets, too. What were they up to?
She walked over toward the closet and reached up to the box on the shelf to grab her gun. When her fingers hit emptiness, she felt the anger erupt within.
“Mace, you son of a bitch!” she exclaimed and stormed out of her bedroom.
Before she even made it to the bottom of the stairs there stood Mace. He was wearing black camo pants and a black long-sleeve compression shirt that showed off every ripple of muscle he had. He was like a G.I. Joe doll, and she felt her jaw nearly drop with lust.
She squinted her eyes at him and met him at the bottom of the stairs. She was one step higher than him and she still had to look up into his eyes. The men were all bigger than her by at least a foot.
She placed her hand palm out toward him.
“My gun.”
He didn’t even look at her hand. He held her gaze.
“It’s safe.”
“If it isn’t with me then it’s not safe. Give it back to me, Mace.”
He shook his head.
“It’s mine and you had no right to take it. I did as Galvin and you asked and I kept it in the box in the closet. You had no right to take it. What if someone broke in? I would have been unarmed and dead.”
“No one is breaking into our home. No one will even make it up the driveway or through the wooded area surrounding us without us knowing. We’re your protectors now, so get used to it.”
“No. I’m not standing here like some weak incapable woman who needs five retired SEALs to protect her. I’ve had it.”
She went to step past him when he grabbed her upper arm.
He held her gaze, his black eyes boring into hers.
“Harper said you were about ready to go crazy. We’re setting up our mock targets in the woods. We’ll let you participate if you promise to not shoot one of us.”
“Targets? Like a training setup?”
“Yes. There are twenty different locations and targets. It helps us stay sharp and keep our skills strong.”
“I’ll need my gun.”
“You’ll use what I give you.” He released her arm and headed toward the kitchen. When she got there only Orin was there.
“The others headed out. We’ll take Lauren with us. She’ll shadow you and then on her second sweep around she can go solo,” Orin said.
She looked at him and he eyed her over, his dark eyes lading on her breasts. She turned away, not wanting to show the effect he had on her. She realized that the V-neck shirt she wore did show off a bit of her abundant breasts. But considering that her clothing was limited and Mary shopped for her, she was stuck with some more revealing tops than she’d ever worn before.
“Let’s move,” Mace said and pulled a bag up off the counter and they headed out together.
When they caught up with Galvin, Harper, and Gus, she was surprised that they had their own training facility out there in the woods. She didn’t know why they brought the targets when they actually had a setup like the SWAT training facility at the shooting center in New York. They had targets of bad guys and civilians that popped out next to targets to throw the officer off. She had excelled in this category in the academy. She felt that rush of excitement and she couldn’t wait to try.
They all prepared their weapons and Lauren watched as each of the men went through the stations and then disappeared into the woods.
“I want you right behind me at all times. You get a trial run and then I’ll go through right behind you,” Mace told her as he checked his weapons.
“How many targets are there?” she asked.
“Twenty-five direct targets, sixteen trick targets and they’re never the same so you don’t know what’s going to pop out Bad guy or civilian.”
“Okay,” she said as they approached the start. To the right she could see Galvin come out of the last section and then Gus. Harper would be next and Orin was going in after her and Mace.
She felt Mace’s hand reach back and tap her hip.
“Right on me. I don’t want you in my line of fire or throwing off my groove,” he snapped at her.
She nodded her head. The man was mega serious. But how close did he expect her to get to him? He was filled with muscles. His arms pointed out in front of him as he gripped the Glock with two hands and began to fire upon the targets.
As they moved along she felt the rush, the feeling of wanting to be the one to hit the targets and shoot her gun. She felt the hand slap against her outer thigh.
“On me, Lauren. Not to the left or right. You’re fucking up my groove,” he yelled at her and she pressed closer. Had to place her hands on his hips to remain as close as it seemed he expected her to be. They moved along in sync. It was so strange how quickly she caught onto his movements and the way he only slightly twitched. He was a trained shooter, perhaps a killer. He didn’t shudder or shake. He had the same steadiness she was known to have and had been complimented on.
As they walked quickly up the rough terrain, he lowered down to the ground and she followed.
Her body over his. She felt her pussy leak and her breasts tingle some more. This was turning into some erotic adventure instead of a training exercise.
“Up,” he ordered and she jumped up along with him and they continued with him shooting, ducking, crouching down with her on him like white on rice.
By the time they came to the end, she was out of breath and so was Mace.
Orin chuckled as he called out his time.
“Fuck. I got her on me the entire way. It doesn’t count,” Mace complained.
“You drew the straw. You should have gotten through that faster,” Gus teased.
Mace complained.
“My turn now right?” she said, feeling ready to try their obstacle course of targets and surprises.
“Here.” Galvin handed her two weapons. She checked each one, placing the second one on her hip in the holster holder Orin gave her and the other one she held.
Mace was right behind her.
“I can do it. I know where to go.”
He held her gaze.
“Oh you’re going to do it with me right behind you, like you were behind me. No way am I taking a chance that you’ll get through this faster and beat me.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t even know the route like you do.”
“You’re quick. Your file shows how resourceful you are. Now move,” he ordered. She glanced at the others and they watched her. Orin held the stopwatch. The second she began he started the time.
It was difficult to concentrate with Mace on her heels and his hand on her hip. Her heart was racing, her belly tight, and when she got to the part where they had to drop, she hadn’t expected Mace to cover her entire body with his own. She shot out the targets, but then she didn’t move. Neither did Mace. Slowly she rolled to the side partially, and there he was staring at her.
“Giving up?” he asked.
“Never.” She shifted up and he jumped up with her. She couldn’t help but to wonder if he was trying to slow her up so she wouldn’t time well. She didn’t really care. There were too many emotions and fe
elings happening here. She shot the next three targets and then pressed against the tree trunk. That’s when she felt the hands on her hips and his body pressed up against hers. He sniffed her hair.
“Almost done. You’re doing great.”
She swallowed hard, and then felt his hand slide along her waist to her back.
“You’re an excellent shooter. I hadn’t expected this.”
“Me being decent at shooting?” she asked, holding his gaze.
He pressed her up against the tree.
“That, and more,” he said. He stared down into her eyes. She felt the power of that stare across her needy lips and to her core and then he kissed her.
* * * *
Mace didn’t know what came over him. He hadn’t been instantly and strongly attracted like this to a woman before. Having Lauren pressed against him while he proceeded to get through the obstacle course was torture. But then doing the same to her as she went through it was wild. He wanted to touch her, feel her, and kiss her lips. And now that he was doing just that, he wanted even more.
She was kissing him back, and her acceptance to the mutual attraction made him explore her body further. His hand slid under the hem of her T-shirt. So badly he wanted to head straight for a breast. They looked so full and large in the shirt he had admired her since she came downstairs back at the house.
But this felt different. He cared about her. He wanted to know more about Lauren. To learn everything he could and that had him hesitating to cup her breast and see how far they could go right here in the woods against this tree. He would never look at this obstacle course the same way again.
He pulled from her lips at the sound of throats clearing and Lauren’s grip on his arms.
He pulled her tighter and covered her with his body in an instant defensive manner. It didn’t go unnoticed by his team as they each stood there watching them. His heart pounded inside of his chest and he wondered what their reaction might be to finding him and Lauren like this. He was ready to fight and to defend this attraction and this desire to have Lauren, when he read through those tight expressions and saw in their eyes the hunger he felt inside.
“Oh God. We…I. Shit, this is crazy,” Lauren said and tried to pull away from him. But like some possessive wild animal who was desperate to hold onto this valuable prize he acquired in the midst of the woods, he held her tighter.
“Don’t move,” he said a little too firmly. She shot him a look. That tough, New York cop look Lauren had given them a time or two over the last several days.
“I mean, it’s okay. This situation, I mean. Don’t pull away from me as if this shouldn’t happen.”
“It shouldn’t have happened.”
He reached up and cupped her cheek. She glanced away from him, seeming stunned by his show of affection and care for her. It was instant, natural, and he could see himself getting used to caring for her even more. She appeared to be taken aback by the expressions on the others’ faces as they all gathered around her.
“Yes, it should have. We’ve all been pussyfooting around this attraction for days now. It started with Harper weeks ago, and then with each of us the more time we all spent with you.”
“Did you plan this? This excursion into the woods where you purposely press against me while I’m trying to get through the obstacle course.”
“No,” Mace said.
“We all needed to get out of the house. To let go and just get lost in something so natural and calming as this obstacle course,” Orin told her.
Mace moved his hand away from her cheek and to her waist. He pulled her close and led her away from the tree and closer to the others.
“I don’t think this is such a great idea. Me getting involved with all of you, like this,” she said and her cheeks turned a nice shade of red.
Galvin stepped closer. He looked her over and ran his hand up and down her arm.
“You’re a beautiful, capable, independent woman. We get that. This is a very dangerous, scary time in your life. We get that, too, but this attraction we’re all feeling is something none of us are used to.”
“Well I’m not used to it either. I just don’t think I can look at this fairly and with an open mind right now, when I’m having trust issues, and most importantly, while there’s a good chance I’m going to die.”
Mace clenched his teeth and Galvin became serious.
He moved his hand from her arm to her shoulder and Mace released her to Galvin.
“We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”
She stepped away from him and Galvin looked at Mace. Mace could tell that Galvin was on edge just like he was feeling.
* * * *
Lauren stepped away from them. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at the five men around her. They were all such handsome, capable men. She had been trying to act tough, and not in need of any preferential treatment as they embarked on the obstacle course. With Mace so close she hadn’t even thought about the fact she hadn’t fired her gun since that night when Frankie was killed.
But now, as she stepped from his embrace and from their close proximity, she was feeling a bit frazzled.
“Lauren?” Harper called her name. She shot her head up to look at him. She shook her head as he reached for her.
“I want to head back,” was all she said and then turned and started walking away. But as she passed by the others, Gus took her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles.
“I’ll take you back. We can start on dinner while the others gather the stuff.” She nodded her head and they walked along the path. He didn’t let go of her hand, and she didn’t pull away.
* * * *
“What the hell happened?” Galvin asked Mace as they began to disassemble some of the removable parts to the obstacle course.
“I don’t know, Galvin. I was annoyed having her out here and living in the house these last few days. Yet, I liked it.. I like the scent of a woman’s perfume, her perfume and shampoo. I was just trying to show her the course and before I knew it I was demanding that she stay extremely close and she did it. When it was her turn I stuck to her and it became too difficult to resist. One thing led to another and you guys showed up.”
“She’s something else isn’t she? And I don’t just mean her good looks, and her fucking body either. I mean everything about her. The scent of her hair, the attitude, and the toughness and intelligence she has. She’s a lot like us but she’s all alone. She doesn’t have a team to back her up and it looks like her partner may have been up to no good,” Harper told them.
“I’m still confirming the details but it seems that way. Figures we all have an attraction to the same woman and she’s in a heap of trouble,” Orin added.
“She’s marked for death. That’s more than just a heap of trouble. We’ve looked into this gang. They locate her and...”
Mace reached down and grabbed the large duffel bag of firearms he’d just loaded up.
“We’ve got some things to discuss. But before this goes any further, we’re claiming guardianship of her around Pearl. I’ve already spoken with Wyatt. Tonight, after Lauren heads to bed, we’re going to make a final decision and commitment to what exactly we want here,” Galvin said and grabbed the other bag. Orin and Harper followed.
“I want to make Lauren ours. But if we’re not all on board with this, and willing to share her and make this commitment, then I’m going to ask that the person or people step down and stay clear. She’s been hurt enough and has gone through a traumatic time. She doesn’t need her heart broken, too,” Harper told them and they all agreed as they packed up the truck and headed back to the ranch.
Chapter 12
Lauren hadn’t said a word to any of the men. Just small talk since the other day on the obstacle course. They all exchanged a few gentle touches, some quick kisses on the cheek, and even a seductive kiss to her neck by Mace as he greeted her before her run. She wanted to resist the pull to entertain the attractio
n she felt. But each time she pulled back her heart seemed to tug from deep within.
Throw in all the emotions and turmoil she felt about her job, the danger she was in, and the fact that she might die, Lauren was a total mess and hiding it.
She started stretching out and thinking about the men, and how much she enjoyed their displays of affection. It was funny how Galvin and Mace held back the most, yet it was Mace who kissed her neck so tenderly and gently this morning. It shocked her and made her let her guard down a little further. If they were trying to break her resolve slowly they were succeeding. They left her feeling needy for more. Perhaps they were trying to ease her into considering the ménage relationship. But every time she thought that, and then considered just letting go, the fear gripped her tight. She had a hit out on her. She was being hunted. She was most likely going to die.
“I’ll be going with you today.” She jerked around, so deep in thought she hadn’t even heard Gus approach. Gus held her gaze and immediately looked concerned. He must have read her expression. She quickly looked away and he began stretching and eyeing her over. She shrugged her shoulders.
“Okay, if you must.”
“How about because I want to spend time with you?”
“Gus.”
He held his hand up for her to go no further.
“Just forget I’m even there and do your thing. I’ll keep up,” he teased and winked.
She gave a small smile then took a deep breath and began to jog toward the woods.
She jogged ahead of Gus and he gave her space at first. But as they went over rougher terrain and she nearly slipped, he pulled up closer and even grabbed a hold of her to keep her from falling a few times.
“So were you seeing anyone in New York?” Gus asked her as they jogged along the path.
“No. How about you? You guys date a lot?” she countered and wondered why the idea of them being with other women upset her. She felt that bit of sting to her chest and turmoil in her belly. Had she already become so attracted to them that she was jealous?”
Badge of Honor [The Town of Pearl 9] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 12