Sanctuary in Submission [Sanctuary, Montana 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Lara Valentine

  “I am, too, Aaron. I love them so very much.”

  * * * *

  “Martin, do you have a minute?”

  Aubrey watched her last pupil board the school bus and sighed in relief. It had been a long day. She loved being a teacher, introducing her students to Shakespeare and Robert Frost. It sometimes felt, however, like an exercise in futility. Herding one hundred and twenty-five adolescent minds in the same direction was about as easy as herding cats. Feral cats. Sometimes the only things her students seemed to care about were gossip, clothes, and the opposite sex.

  The principal smiled and ushered her into his office. “Is this about Mandy Carlson’s cell phone you confiscated? I told her it was against the rules to have phones in class, let alone texting. I gave it to her mother when she picked her up this afternoon.”

  Aubrey stifled a groan at the mention of Mandy’s mother. She was a typical helicopter parent, wanting to know what Mandy was doing at every moment, scheduling her down to the minute, and haranguing teachers about every assignment Mandy turned in.

  “It wasn’t, but thanks for taking that one for me. Mrs. Carlson isn’t the easiest parent to deal with sometimes.”

  Martin Barker chuckled and slid into his chair behind his desk. “You’re so diplomatic, Aubrey. The woman is a nightmare. She was here just last week because Mandy got a B in biology. Apparently, we didn’t appreciate the work Mrs. Carlson personally did on Mandy’s diorama.”

  “I was hoping I was wrong that she was doing Mandy’s schoolwork.”

  “You’re not. The amazing thing was she admitted it and didn’t seem to think anything was wrong with that. I’m sure Mrs. Carlson will do a fine job on Mandy’s research paper due next month. What author did she choose?”

  “F. Scott Fitzgerald. Apparently, The Great Gatsby is her favorite book.”

  “You might want to make some of the assignments for that in-class only.”

  “After hearing this, I will. Listen, the reason I needed to talk to you is this. It’s not a big deal, and I don’t want anyone to think it’s a big deal. But, I promised I would mention it to you. It’s just not anything I think anyone should worry about.”

  Martin leaned back with a smile. “So what you’re saying is it’s not a big deal?”

  She sounded like an idiot. “Yes. I’m not saying this very well. It seems that someone has been leaving gifts on my car here in the school parking lot and at my house.”

  Martin leaned forward. “Gifts? What kind of gifts?”

  “Flowers, perfume, fancy notebooks, stuff like that. I’m sure it’s just a student with a crush and it will pass, but I promised a friend I would tell you.”

  Martin picked up a pencil and wrote something down, looking pensive. “Have you called the police about this?”

  “No! Absolutely not. If it’s a student I don’t want him to get in trouble. It’s just a schoolboy crush, and if I ignore it, it will pass on its own.”

  “Good. It doesn’t sound like there’s reason to get the police involved in this.” He stroked his chin. “We have cameras in the parking lot. I can get school security to pull the footage and see who it is. If they still have it, of course.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. A nice, gentle discussion with him will probably put an end to this. You’ll talk to security then?”

  “I will. I’m glad you came to me, Aubrey. I’d hate to lose you. You’re one of our best teachers. I depend a great deal on you.”

  “Well, thank you.” Martin Barker wasn’t known for giving out many compliments.

  He shook his head. “Thank you. We’re lucky to have you.” He stood. “I don’t want to keep you, I heard you talking earlier in the teacher’s lounge, and I believe you have plans tonight.”

  “Wow, you know everything that’s going on around here don’t you? I do have plans but it’s just dinner. Good night, Martin.”

  “It’s my job to know everything. Have a good evening and I’ll see you tomorrow.” He put his hand on the door. “Listen, don’t worry about this. I’ll look into it and take care of everything.”

  “I appreciate it, Martin. I know this is outside your usual responsibilities.”

  “This school, its teachers, and its students are my responsibility. I take that very seriously.”

  She headed back to her classroom with a sense of relief. She was glad she’d told Martin. He would pull the footage, and then she could tell Aaron it was no big deal.

  Chapter Four

  Riley pulled a third chair up to the table and helped Aubrey into it. They were having a night out the Bandit Bar, and it was as loud and raucous as usual. Cowboys whooping it up after a long day, music blaring from the jukebox, and the general din of patrons trying to be heard over the noise made him second-guess their decision to bring her here. It was hardly a place to romance a woman.

  The fact was Riley had never had to romance Aubrey. She’d been following them around like a puppy since she was a kid. It wouldn’t have taken a genius to figure out she had a mammoth-size crush on them. He and Noah were older and always thought Aubrey was cute but not dating material. When she had left for college, they’d been surprised to find themselves missing her company. Aubrey had a smile that could light up your world. She also had the temper of a rattlesnake when either of them pissed her off. She was smart as a whip and had a quirky sense of humor. They’d found themselves comparing other women to her, and the other women had come up short.

  Fast forward to Aubrey’s spring break, and they’d made their move, making sure every lonesome cowpoke in town knew she was their girl. Aubrey hadn’t seemed to mind, and they’d been dating ever since. Happily on his part, but unhappily on Aubrey’s part. He was going to have to turn that around right quick.

  Noah elbowed him. “I’m going to get us some drinks and place an order for dinner. Why don’t you dance with Aubrey?”

  Riley nodded, wanting nothing more than to wrap his arms around his sexy sub. She was in a good mood tonight, smiling and having fun. Not that getting her mad wasn’t fun, too. It most certainly was. Riley loved to get Aubrey angry as hell and then toss her into bed for some hot, raunchy sex. She was a devil between the sheets when she had a full head of steam. She liked the after-fight sex as much as he did.

  “Baby, let’s go out on the dance floor and show them how it’s done.”

  She giggled, her eyes lighting up. “Let’s do it.”

  Riley led her to the crowded dance floor and pulled her close, their bodies pressed together. He could do a pretty decent two-step, and Aubrey had true rhythm. Soon they were gliding across the floor, her right hand tucked into his back pocket, giving his ass an occasional squeeze when she didn’t think anyone would notice.

  The bar was hot, even at this time of the year, and the scent of her drifted up and wrapped around him, making his heart pound and his dick hard. He loved Aubrey with all his heart. He leaned over to whisper in her ear.

  “It’s getting hot out here, how about we sit the next one out?”

  The song ended as if on cue, and a slow one started. He was already moving to head toward the table but she tugged on his arm, her lower lip pouting.

  “I love this song. Just one more dance?”

  He couldn’t resist her plea. He let her pull him close so they could sway slowly to the music, her head pressed against his chest, his chin rubbing the top of her head. His eyes were closed, and he was oblivious to the other people in the bar when a large hand slapped him on the back.

  “Riley, buddy, I didn’t know you would be here tonight.”

  It was Larry Jackson, one of the hands from his family’s ranch. Larry was a hard drinking, hard playing, loudmouthed cowboy. It was by the grace of God, and more than a few strings pulled by Riley and Noah, that he didn’t spend every Saturday night in the sheriff’s drunk tank.

  He specifically hadn’t told Larry he was going to be here because tonight was about paying attention to Aubrey and showing her he had grown up. Larry, howe
ver, hadn’t received the memo.

  “Larry, I think you know my girl, Aubrey.”

  It was a small town, and Aubrey had met Larry in the past and hadn’t thought much of him but had been too polite to say anything out loud. Her expression had said it all. Tonight, her expression had gone from happy to sad in the blink of an eye. She thought he was going to abandon her for fun and games with Larry.

  “I do.” Larry waggled his eyebrows at Aubrey suggestively. “You’re a lucky man.” Larry leaned in closer to Riley as if to cut Aubrey from the conversation. “You can get a piece anytime. Tonight we’re getting a game in the back room. Come on.”

  Apparently, Larry thought he would abandon Aubrey also. Riley felt the shame churn in his gut. Everyone knew he had been disrespecting Aubrey. It didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t like the reflection of himself.

  He also didn’t like anyone talking about Aubrey that way. He put his arm around her and spoke into her ear.

  “Honey, why don’t you go join Noah? I’ll be there in a minute. I need to talk to Larry. Man to man.”

  Her eyes glittered with unshed tears, and it ripped at his heart. Her little chin lifted and she nodded. “I’ll do that.” She turned on her heel and headed for Noah. Riley turned back to Larry, getting into his personal space, nose to nose, man to jerk.

  “Listen to me and listen good. Don’t you ever, ever, refer to Aubrey Maxwell as a piece. Do you understand me? I’ll give you this one as a freebie, but the next time, you’ll be spitting out your teeth. When you see her, you refer to her as ma’am. Got it?”

  Larry acted surprised and put up his hands in surrender. “Got it, man. Relax, shit. I didn’t mean nothing by it. Aubrey’s a real sweet girl. I said you were a lucky man.” Larry slapped him on the back. “No hard feelings, okay? Let’s go on back and win some money. You’re the best card player we’ve got.”

  Larry was sucking up. Noah was the best card player. His analytic manner and infinite patience, not to mention a stone-cold poker face, put him over the top whenever he played. Riley shook his head.

  “Not tonight. Noah and I are on a date with Aubrey. Another time.”

  Larry’s lip curled. “Never thought of you as pussy whipped, Riley. Enjoy your tea and cookies.”

  Larry stomped to the back of the bar, leaving Riley standing alone on the dance floor. He sure as shit didn’t like being called pussy whipped. This being mature stuff could really suck sometimes. He joined Noah and Aubrey back at the table where they were working through a huge platter of hot wings. Aubrey had a tongue made of asbestos and liked to watch him and Noah sweat and choke from eating nuclear-hot foods.

  Noah gave him a shrewd look. “Where’s Larry?”

  Riley nodded toward the back room. “Headed to play poker.”

  Aubrey avoided his eyes. “Did they not invite you?”

  Riley took a long draw from his beer. “They did, actually. I said I was spending the evening with you.”

  That snagged her attention. She turned to him as if she didn’t believe what he was saying. After the way they’d treated her, he really couldn’t blame her.

  “Really? You don’t want to play?”

  “Didn’t say I didn’t want to play. I said I was spending the evening with you.”

  She stiffened, and he realized he had somehow fucked up. “So you’d rather play poker, but you’re here with me out of what? Obligation?” Her brown eyes were almost gray. “If you want to play poker, then just go.” She swung around to Noah. “What about you? Do you want to play poker?”

  Noah grabbed her hand. “Hell, no. I have no desire to play poker tonight. I want to be with you. You do, too, don’t you, bro?” Noah was giving him the evil eye.

  Riley nodded. “Fuck yeah. You’re not an obligation. I want to be here with you. Shit, Larry called me pussy whipped and I’m still sitting here with you.”

  Someone should hand him a shovel so he could dig himself a hole even deeper. Aubrey’s spine went ramrod straight, her lips pressed together tight. His woman was simmering. “Asshole. I told you he was an asshole. Pussy whipped, my Aunt Fanny. You are the least pussy whipped man in the county. Possibly the entire state of Montana. Pussy whipped…”

  Aubrey was muttering to herself as she slapped wings on a plate and shoved them in front of him. He had to swallow hard to keep from laughing, but she was just so damn cute when she was mad. Noah, however, had given him strict instructions not to piss her off tonight.

  “Technically, you never said Larry was an asshole. Although your general demeanor when any of our friends are around hints at your feelings.”

  “Well, I’m saying it now. Larry’s an asshole. Your friends are all single aren’t they?”

  Noah nodded. “Pretty much. Sam has a girlfriend out of town.”

  “The guys don’t want to be tied down,” Riley said. “They like having no one to answer to.”

  Aubrey rolled her eyes. “Wake the hell up. Your friends are saying that because they couldn’t get a lucky in a women’s prison with a handful of pardons, as the saying goes. They drink, smoke, have questionable hygiene, and think foreplay is for losers. The fact is that’s what your friends are.”

  Riley frowned. “What?”

  Aubrey placed her thumb and index finger on her forehead in the shape of an L. “Losers. There, I said it. I feel so much better now.” She started to dig into her wings with gusto.

  Riley looked at Noah in amazement. Aubrey had always been careful to never say anything bad about their poker buddies. It appeared the gloves were off. His stomach growled, and he picked up a wing and bit into it hungrily. It was sweet and spicy, but he felt the heat build on his tongue until his nose started to run and sweat popped out on his forehead.

  “Damn, woman, what did you order this time? I didn’t think Bandit’s wings could get any hotter, but these will eat a hole in our stomach lining.”

  Aubrey snickered. “Don’t be such a pussy. Noah ordered them, and it’s good for you. Keeps you from getting sick. How do you think I stay so healthy when I teach a bunch of germ-ridden adolescents five days a week?”

  That made two people who had called him a pussy tonight. If one more person did it, he was going to deck somebody. Not Aubrey, of course, but some poor, unsuspecting bastard. “I think germs are scared to death of you. That’s what I think.” He shook the wing at his brother. “How could you?”

  Noah shrugged. “All I did was tell them to make Aubrey’s favorite. How was I to know the cook had concocted something hotter than hell just for her? Don’t eat them. Our dinners should be out any time now. I ordered you the club sandwich.”

  Aubrey poked him in the ribs. “Don’t be so grumpy. I promise to make it up to you. Later.”

  He pushed the plate of wings away from him. “How?”

  She waved her hand. “The usual way, so stop pouting because your friends don’t think you’re fun anymore.”

  That was exactly what he’d been thinking, and he wasn’t very proud of it.

  Noah grinned. “I guess our friends don’t want to be around grown-ups. Doesn’t say much for them, does it?”

  Luckily, Riley didn’t get a chance to answer. The waitress placed their food in front of him, and he bit into his sandwich instead of biting Noah’s head off. Aubrey patted his hand, her expression soft.

  “Thank you.”

  He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “For what, babe?”

  “I’ve been giving you a hard time tonight, but thank you. You know, for not leaving me tonight. I know you wanted to.”

  The shame that he’d felt earlier reared its ugly head. He was a total asshole. “No way, babe. I wasn’t even tempted to play cards tonight. I want to spend the evening with you. I mean it.”

  He really, truly meant it. He didn’t wanted to play cards tonight.

  Aubrey looked like she wanted to cry with happiness, but instead she put her napkin in her lap and picked up her fork. “Good. I want to be with you tonight. Maybe we can watc
h a movie after dinner.”

  “Dibs.” Both he and Noah spoke in unison. Aubrey sighed, making a put-upon sound.

  “I’m afraid to ask. What will we be watching tonight?”

  He and Noah high-fived across the table, big grins on their faces.

  “I feel the need. The need for speed,” Riley crowed.

  “I guess that’s a thumbs-down for Magic Mike and two votes for Top Gun. For the thousandth time. Don’t you guys ever get tired of that movie?”

  “Nope. It’s a good movie,” Noah answered. “Don’t you like it?”

  “I did the first couple hundred times we saw it. I can quote dialogue from the movie. I don’t think I should be able to do that.”

  “I’m not watching a male stripper movie. Save that for when you’re with your girlfriends,” Riley grumbled. “Top Gun is an American classic.”

  Noah put down his hamburger. “You’re right, honey. We’ve seen Top Gun hundreds of times. It’s your turn to pick the movie. We’ll watch anything you like.”

  Riley was about to qualify that statement when his brother’s boot connected with Riley’s shin, knocking the words right out of his mouth. He bit back a curse word and smiled through the throbbing of his knee.

  “Sure, babe. Anything you want.”

  Aubrey looked surprised and unsure, as if they were going to change their minds any minute.

  Great, another reason to feel like crap about how they’d treated her. Apparently, they’d been self-absorbed, too.

  “You two always outvote me.” She kept looking at them, back and forth. “I’m not sure what I want to watch.”

  “This is one of the things we’re going to change. We’re not going to gang up on you and get our way all the time. You think about what you want to watch. You don’t have to know this minute. We can do anything you want tonight.”

  Her eyes lit up, and she started bouncing in her chair. “Can we go for a moonlight ride? Please?”

  The very last thing Riley wanted to do after a long day in the saddle was get back on a horse, not to mention it was fucking cold out. But this was Aubrey and he hadn’t been doing right by her at all.