by Jane Jamison
Gage spotted the neat home just as they rounded a bend in the trail. “If we’re lucky, we’ll get some answers to those questions tonight.”
“Don’t push her. If she’s still riled up, it won’t take much to send her over the edge. I don’t want to get thrown off her porch with a bag full of food.”
They’d purchased enough ingredients to make two dinners. He hoped she’d have a grill where he could cook up steaks and sliced potatoes wrapped in foil. Panfrying a steak wasn’t the same as letting its juices drip into a fire. Still, in case she wasn’t a meat eater, they’d brought along the makings for spaghetti without meatballs. It was a sorry excuse for a spaghetti dinner by his way of thinking, but it was the only meal they could think of that didn’t have meat in it. They were better at wrangling cattle than they were at cooking.
“We won’t.”
“I like your confidence. I just hope it’s not just wishful thinking.” William gave his horse a kick. The bay jumped out in front of Gage’s dappled gray.
Together, they trotted up to the home then pulled to a stop. Neither one of them dismounted.
“Go on, William. Knock on the door and see if she’s home.”
“What’s the matter? Are you afraid to get too close?”
He’d never have admitted it, but he kind of was. “Nope. I just figured since you’re the one who needs to do the apologizing, I’d let you go and get it over with. If she kicks your ass off her porch, I’ll give her a try.”
“Coward.” Yet it was another few moments before William swung his leg over the saddle. He lifted his burlap bag filled with food and slung it over his shoulder like a hobo getting ready to hop a freight train.
Gage settled into his saddle and pushed his hat up. Either way it went down, it’d be a good show. William glanced back at him once before opening the screen door, then lifting a hand to knock. The red-frame door swung open. Eva Marie placed one hand on her hip, then grabbed hold of the screen door and slammed it shut.
“What are you two doing here?”
Damn, if there was a prettier sight in all the world, he didn’t know what it’d be. She wore a simple dress with a bunch of flowers on it. Her hair was tied back—he’d rectify that as soon as he could—and her feet were bare. She looked every inch the fresh-faced girl-next-door, the kind of girl he’d never found attractive before. But all that changed the moment her gaze jumped to his. No girl-next-door had ever had such a sultry expression on her face, one he doubted she was even aware of.
“Hey, Eva Marie. Gage and I thought we’d drop by and say hey.”
“Okay. Hey back. Now you can go.” She started to close the front door, but stopped when William opened the screen door again.
“Come on, Eva Marie. Cut me some slack, will ya? I know I screwed up yesterday, but I’m new. What new Dom’s not going to mess up?”
Beg, William. Get down on your knees and beg.
He held back from shouting at his brother to do anything he had to. Once they got inside her house, they’d get her to soften up.
She hesitated. That was enough to get his heart racing.
She’s already starting to come around. That’s got to mean something.
“So you rode all the way from the ranch just to say hey?”
Gage could imagine William sporting his grin and using his dimples to full advantage. If there was anything about his brother that women liked, it was his dimples. Damned if he knew why.
“Yeah. And to tell you again how sorry I am.” William added the touch of taking off his hat and placing it against his chest.
That-a-boy. Pull out all the stops.
“It’s okay. You don’t need to say you’re sorry. I was the one who was supposed to be teaching you.”
If he hadn’t known she’d give him hell for it, he would’ve shouted “victory.” Instead, he remained passive, keeping his expression neutral.
“So can we put it behind us and start over?”
Her mouth twisted to the side as though she were considering it. “I guess so.” She tipped her chin toward the bag. “What’s that? Please tell me you’re not like an old barn cat.”
“Not sure I get what you mean.”
Gage did. She had a good sense of humor.
“I had a cat who’d bring me dead mice and put them on the porch right where you’re standing.” Her face softened with her smile. “That’s not a dead rat, is it?”
“Hell no.” William jerked a thumb in his direction. “Gage and I thought we’d cook you dinner. As a way of thanks.”
Gage coughed to cover his laugh. But the incredulous look on her face was funny.
“You’re going to cook me dinner?”
If she’d tried to keep the humor out of her tone, she’d failed.
“Sure. Gage and I are good cooks.”
That was a lie and a half, but he wasn’t going to say so. The best they could do was to hope she didn’t cook any better than they did.
“Is that right?”
“Sure is.”
William was digging himself into a hole. Once she took a bite, she’d know. But by then it’d be too late.
“I don’t know.”
He dismounted, deciding it was time he got into the action. “How about we do the talking over a good, juicy steak? Do you have a grill?”
“Unless you’d rather have a meatless spaghetti dinner?” William pushed the screen door wide, making up her mind for her. “We didn’t know if you were a vegetarian or not.”
“Oh, trust me, boys. I eat meat.”
The seductive way she looked at first William, then him, almost made him stumble as he grabbed both the horse’s reins and looped them around the porch rails. It was wrong to think her words meant anything else, but being a man, his mind went there.
When she turned around and went back inside, he gave William a slap on the back for a job well done. “Let’s go, bro.”
“I’m right with you, man. Just don’t do anything to fuck this up.”
He stalled, shooting his brother a “What? Me?” look. “Speak for yourself.”
* * * *
The dreams Eva Marie had last night had confirmed her conflicted feelings. Not once, but twice, she’d dreamed about them coming to her at the club, pulling her onto the main stage, and doing a scene with them. They stripped her of her clothes, demanding she put on a show for everyone. That wasn’t difficult to do. She did it at least once a week. But it was the next part that was different.
Once she finished pleasuring herself in front of the crowd, they came to her, making her kneel between them. She was hungry for them, ready to pleasure them, and took a cock in one hand and the other in her mouth, then switched back and forth until each man groaned whenever she left him for the other. Even in her dream, she could taste them. They tasted similar, but William was sweeter, as though his personality had seeped into his cum. She’d brought them to the rim of the cliff, then stopped.
They had her stand between them, their hands exploring her body, sliding over her skin like wind over the swells and valleys of land. She moaned, doing her best to stay on her feet. William lifted her off her feet and pulled her legs around his waist. Yet as soon as they pushed against her, their hard, long cocks ready to devour her, she came awake.
Once awake, she searched the room for them, knowing full well they weren’t there.
Did she wake up because she wasn’t ready to give herself to them? To make them the men she’d give her heart to for the rest of her life? Or was the reason simpler? As much as she was a part of the BDSM club on the ranch, was she afraid to take that final step? If she did, and they turned out to be the wrong ones for her, she could never get it back.
Did the dreams mean she wasn’t ready? Or that she shouldn’t give into the feelings overrunning her since meeting them?
They wanted her. A blind man could see it. Even if she hadn’t seen their hungry gazes at the pond, she would’ve known it from their eagerness to learn from her. And she wanted t
hem. There was no confusion on that score. The confusion was between her promise to remain a virgin until she found true love, and the need to quench her thirst for them. She had to make sure the possibility of true love was real and not just attraction.
Still, what if she gave in? She’d waited long enough. None of the girls her age were still virgins. Not even Pastor Nichols’s daughter Chastity. Maybe she was taking the whole save-it-for-marriage thing too far.
She’d been thinking about it all day. By the time the men arrived on her porch, she still hadn’t stopped the turmoil raging between her mind and her body.
She’d heard the sound of horses and had peeked out the window. When she’d seen them, she’d run to the front door, skidding to a stop at the last moment. She’d managed to pull herself together before opening the door, but once she’d gotten a good look into William’s dimples, she’d had to fight to keep from grinning ear to ear. It was a miracle she hadn’t jumped into his arms and begged him to take her.
But now that they were there? What would she do? Listen to her mind or her craving?
Gage and William Langham were bad news. At least for her. She didn’t need to get involved with two men who wanted to be Doms. Never mind that her heart raced every minute they were close to her. Never mind that she didn’t care anything about eating a meal with them. Her thoughts were centered on carnal ideas she shouldn’t be thinking about, at least not about anyone other than the true love, or loves, of her life. After their failed attempt at spanking, she figured she’d been given a sign. A sign that they weren’t right for her.
But as much as she tried to fight it, she realized having them knock on her door was the happiest moment she’d had since she’d stormed out of the private room. Wasn’t that a sign, too? It was one controlled mainly by emotions, but she wasn’t the type to disregard emotions. Taking things rationally, with a grain of salt, was a good plan, but listening to her heart counted, too.
She was acting like a schoolgirl with her first crush. Or was it more like a woman falling in love for the first time? Either way, her libido had taken off faster and harder than it ever had before.
They confused her. In one moment, they irritated her so much that she wanted to smack them over the head. Then, in the next, an almost overwhelming craving for them would hit her, making her want to tear their clothes off.
If she kept thinking about it, she’d go crazy. Better to go on her instincts. They’d never failed her. Yet.
She led them into a small kitchen barely big enough for the three of them. An equally small table took up what little space was left over. She’d never thought of the rental home as being too little until she had their two massive bulks in the room. As wide as their shoulders were, they could almost stand side by side and touch each wall.
Gage held up the bag he carried. “Then steaks it is?”
“Sounds good to me.” Among other things.
“Do you have a grill or should we panfry them?”
“There’s a grill out back, but I can’t say what shape it’s in. I haven’t bothered with it.”
William gazed out the window overlooking the backyard. “Looks pretty old and rusted out, but we can give it a go. Along with some potatoes, onions, and carrots wrapped up in foil.”
“Wow. You two do a lot of cooking?”
She got her answer from the way they glanced at each other. “I guess not.”
“We don’t have much call to.” William’s dimples made another grand appearance. “Which means, of course, you’re special. We don’t cook for just anyone, ya know.”
“I’m honored.”
“Maybe you should wait until after you’ve taken a bite first to say that,” warned Gage.
“It can’t be any worse than my cooking.”
Gage’s eyebrow shot up. “Wanna bet?”
William set his bag down on the table, then dug out the contents. “No bets, you two. Let’s keep this visit civil. Here, baby, you can keep the spaghetti for another time. Unless you want both.”
“I think a steak and a potato are enough.” She pulled out a drawer and grabbed the corkscrew. “But I won’t say no to some wine.”
“Got any glasses? Doesn’t matter if they’re wineglasses or not.”
“Sure.” She handed the corkscrew to him, then turned to the nearest cabinet to search for glasses, and hoped she’d find three that weren’t covered with water spots. She’d never been the homemaker type and she never would be.
William poured the wine, then waved at his brother. “Good thing I brought along some charcoal. Why don’t you run and fetch it out of the pack on my horse?”
She was sure Gage would come back with a “Go fetch it yourself” or “I’m not your damn dog” kind of retort, but instead, he only scowled and left the room.
“Let’s go outside. There’s a nice breeze going.” Staying inside wasn’t a good idea with the one bedroom right off the living room. The way she was feeling, the need for them coursing through her like a race boat through water, she wasn’t sure she’d resist taking them into her bed.
William picked up the large plate that Gage had stacked the steaks on and followed her outside. She grabbed a serving table, then put plates, utensils, napkins, and all three glasses of wine on top of it while William tucked the bottle in the crook of his arm.
Gage came around the side of the house carrying the sack of charcoal, then motioned for William to help him get the fire going. Settling onto the small picnic table, she enjoyed watching them as they worked together. Whether it was because they were brothers or because they worked the ranch together, they didn’t have to say much. Instead, a look or a gesture was enough. Before long, they had the coals heated and William was spearing each steak onto the grill.
“How do you like your steak?”
“Make it just past the mooing stage.”
“So if it gets up off the plate and walks away, it’s too raw?”
She grinned at Gage. So he did have a sense of humor. Did he keep it hidden so he wouldn’t compete with William’s obviously easygoing charm? “Yeah, but not by much.”
It had been a long time since she’d been able to afford a steak. Her meals consisted of discounted frozen meals made even less expensive by adding coupons. She saved most of her grocery money for treats like fresh fruits and vegetables that weren’t already growing in the garden she’d planted earlier. Working at the club meant she had plenty of money, but after growing up in a large family living on a working-class income, she’d learned how to pinch pennies. She got more joy out of saving a dollar than in spending it. But, even though a lot of people hinted that she was cheap, she wasn’t. Being thrifty and saving for her future didn’t mean she was cheap. One day she’d use that money to open her dress shop.
“A woman after my own heart.” William refilled both his and her glasses. Wielding a paring knife with sound proficiency, he cut the potatoes into chunks. “Got any salt and pepper? Maybe some melted butter?”
“Be right back.” She stood and headed back inside. Having a lot of men watch her bottom every day was no big deal, but having them watch her today made her stiffen as though she’d forgotten how to sway. Their opinion of her, from her hair to the way she walked, suddenly mattered more than she would’ve ever thought it could.
After melting a cup of butter in the microwave, she gathered up the black-and-white cow salt and pepper shakers and hurried back out to the men. Although she knew they weren’t going to up and leave her high and dry, she didn’t want to be away from them for long. The brief time she spent apart from them made her feel lonelier than she’d ever felt in her life.
Was that a good thing? Or was she letting herself get too involved, too fast?
So many questions bombarded her that she could do only one thing. She had to shove them out of her head and deal with them later.
The aroma of steaks drifted to her as soon as she opened the door. Whether they could cook or not, the meat was grilling up nicely. She poured t
he melted butter over the potatoes and let William add the salt and pepper before wrapping them in foil.
The steaks were done before the potatoes, but that was okay. She sat across from them at the picnic table, cut the first bite, and moaned as the flavor slid over her tongue. “I thought you said you couldn’t cook?”
Gage’s expression brightened, obviously happy that she liked her meat. “Steaks and spaghetti with sauce from a jar. That’s the extent of it. If you want anything more than that, then it’s best you get someone else to cook it.”
She put another piece of meat into her mouth. The second bite was as tasty as the first. “This is so good. I could eat your steak all my life and never want anything else.”
A foot bumped into hers under the table. The simple act gave her a thrill. She wondered which of them had tapped his foot against hers. When it happened again against her other foot, she swallowed a smile. Were both of them playing footsie with her?
“I think the potatoes are ready.” William slid off his side of the bench, grabbed a cloth hanging on the laundry line along the way, and was back in a minute with the spuds. He plopped the foil onto the table, then pulled back the edges.
“I’m going to gain five pounds from this meal alone. That’ll make another five pounds I need to drop.” She didn’t want to tell them she was one of those lucky people who could eat whatever they liked and not gain a pound. Most others, especially women, didn’t like hearing it. So she said what everyone expected a woman to say. Besides, it was a great way to fish for a compliment.
“You’re perfect the way you are.”
“Aw, shoot. You’re a sweet-talker, aren’t you, William?”
“I’ve been called worse.”
And a whole lot better, if she had her guess. “So you two aren’t from around here, are you?”
“What gave us away?”
Had Gage thickened his accent for her benefit? The sound was silk and Southern Comfort mixed together in a sexy slide. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the accent.” She gave Gage a pointed look. “And, of course, your gentlemanly manners.”