by Vanessa Vale
“And who are you, young lady?”
The patronizing tone had me wanting to punch him in the nose.
Landon must have sensed that Maddie was going to leap across the desk and do that herself, for he put a hand out across her middle.
“Madison Thomas Bane. You took my father’s ranch away.”
He shrugged. “He refused to pay.”
“That was his right,” she countered.
“It was my right to take the property away when he couldn’t keep up with his debt.”
Maddie’s eyes narrowed. I had to wonder if she had a gun in her reticule, and if so, if it was loaded. Being a bank robber to take back what belonged to her and others was one thing. Cold blooded murder, another.
“We may be at an impasse on this, but there is something that you will do. That you will concede.”
“What is that?”
“You will drop all charges against the Black Widow.”
The man kept his gaze squarely on Maddie as he slowly rose to his feet. “Why would I do that?”
“Because otherwise I will expose you for what you are.”
“And what is that?”
“A thief. While I might have robbed your banks—”
“You!” he shouted.
Maddie folded her hands together in front of her, directly over her belly where I knew our baby to be growing. I took a step closer.
“—you used my thefts to steal the difference, claiming that I stole everything not in the safes.”
“You robbed me?” Rollins glanced at me, then Landon. Pointed.
“Arrest her!”
“We have yet to determine the party who committed a crime,” Landon said. “Please continue, Mrs. Bane.”
She didn’t even glance at Landon, her gaze squarely on Rollins. We’d been wrong to keep her from this moment. He’d ruined her, took her father away, his ranch, everything she knew. While we never would have met her if Rollins hadn’t destroyed everything she held dear, I didn’t wish that kind of heartache on her. Now, she’d have closure. If she could get out of this without being tossed into jail by the local sheriff.
“I stole exactly $2342 from you. That is the total sum of the money you offered to my father, Mr. Daley and Mr. Mitchell. Not a penny more.”
“They turned it down.”
Maddie sighed. “I’m not going to talk in circles with you. But I will tell these two US Marshals that you wired each of the branches after the robberies and had the money not in each of the safes brought here.”
“For safe keeping,” he countered.
“So you admit you have these funds?” I asked.
Rollins’ eyes flared slightly, realizing he was caught.
“I do.”
“Then why did you state it was all stolen?” Landon asked.
“The money doesn’t belong to you, Rollins,” I said. “It belongs to the account holders. While Mrs. Bane took money from you, she was righting a wrong. I’m sure even the sheriff will not charge her for a crime when you committed a more egregious one. One you just admitted to.”
I moved around Maddie to the open door, stuck my head out and beckoned the sheriff who’d been waiting. We’d stopped in at the jail on our way to the meeting, outlined the situation with the lawman and asked for his assistance.
He was the sheriff who married me and Maddie.
“I assume you heard everything?” I asked him.
Maddie had walked past the sheriff, stood before two US Marshals and an evil man who’d ruined her father when she was prepared to admit her guilt. She’d even broken out of handcuffs with the deepest of needs to do so. It showed her conscience was pointed in the proper direction, that she wasn’t a hardened criminal, that she wanted to see justice done. She wanted to let go of the past, find closure, so she could move on with her future. With us. With our baby.
Yet, with all that, she was sharp and cunning enough in her bargaining to put the blame where it belonged.
“I heard it all,” the sheriff said. “Ma’am, you admit to robbing the bank? Four of them?”
“I admit to withdrawing money that belonged to me and two other families.”
“Have you distributed the appropriate sums to the others?”
Maddie nodded. “I have.”
“Do you intend to rob any more banks?” he asked.
She placed a hand on her belly. While the action was innocuous enough, both Landon and I knew the reason for it. “No, sir. I’ve seen justice done.”
He looked at her with a clear, shrewd gaze. “Well, I haven’t.”
I was about to speak up when the sheriff continued. “Norman Rollins, you’re under arrest for theft and fraud.”
“What? How dare you?” He pointed at Maddie. “She’s the one who robbed me. In front of witnesses! Four times!”
“It sounds like you might need to change the security in your banks. Imagine, a woman besting you?”
His words poked fun at Rollins, but at Maddie’s expense. The sheriff looked down at her and winked and I knew then that he admired her for what she’d done. I mentally sighed, knowing Maddie wasn’t going to jail. I didn’t know if Rollins was going to stay there, but I had a suspicion the sheriff was going to make his life hell for the short term. And once the account holders heard of his perfidy, I doubted they’d keep their money within for long.
“Are we done here?” Landon asked. He looked to the sheriff, not Rollins.
“We are. It seems your marriage is going well, Bane.” The older man slapped Seth on the shoulder. “You’ve made quite a match.”
Rollins’ mouth fell open, looked to me, then Maddie. “You married her? A common thief?”
I grinned then, glanced down at my bride. “She stole my heart.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Maddie
I knew I was in trouble, but I didn’t care. I had to confront Mr. Rollins. I had to do it. I couldn’t go on not seeing his face when he learned I was the one who’d stolen from him—no, getting back what he’d taken. I wanted to hear his justification for his actions. I needed closure and my men had kept that from me.
“I won’t apologize for what I did,” I said as they led me down the boardwalk toward our hotel. Seth had his hand on my elbow, but Landon walked at my other side.
“We didn’t think you would,” Seth said, nodding to a man who passed us. “No one breaks out of handcuffs without strong intentions.”
“You kept me from closure,” I said, admitting the truth of my reasons for disobeying.
“We know.”
“Then why did you do it?”
“To keep you safe,” Landon admitted. “But seeing you before Rollins, you were spectacular, sweetheart.”
I stopped walking and looked up at them. “You’re not mad?”
“When you came into the room, I swear I lost five years off my life,” Seth said. “But it was obvious you needed to confront him. While I was petrified you’d be hurt, I’m sorry I kept you from that.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Landon added.
All my anger evaporated.
“But, we’re going to have a little talk about your criminal ways.” Landon looked stern, but I could see playfulness in his eyes. “Breaking out of handcuffs?”
“Is the bed in pieces?” Seth asked.
I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my chin. “It is in one piece.”
“Good.” Seth took my arm again and continued on, this time at a much faster pace. “Good, because we’re going to make good use of it. It’s time, sweetheart. Time to make you ours.”
“Together,” Landon added.
***
Landon
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do first now that we were alone in the privacy of our hotel room. Spank her, hug her, kiss her or fuck her. I’d faced hardened criminals. Murderers. But I had never been as scared as when Maddie came into Rollins’ office. My wife—my pregnant wife—was standing before a man who would stoop to lies and treachery. Deceit
. Maddie knew it better than most. Yet there she was, confronting, outright telling the bastard that she’d been the one to rob him.
It had been incredible to see. Our wife so bold, daring, proud. And so fucking hard headed.
And so I hugged her first. Fiercely. Then kissed her. Deeply. Then sat down on the bed, tugged her over my lap and spanked her. Soundly. Only when I felt my life back in control, that I knew Maddie was safe, protected and with me and Seth did I pull her up and tip her onto the bed.
Tears filled her eyes, but I hadn’t spanked her hard. Not only because she was carrying our child, but I wasn’t much of a spanker. Seth seemed to find it carnal. I just found the need to make her see that she’d been insane. Correct, but insane nonetheless.
I lay beside her, my body pressing into the side of hers, lifted up on my forearm. With my free hand, I swiped away her tears. “All right?”
She nodded. “You do love me.”
I frowned at her logic. “I spanked you, therefore I love you?”
She nodded.
I thought for a moment. “That’s probably true. I don’t just spank anyone. Hell, I haven’t anybody until now. Until you. So yes, I do love you. And if you do something half as reckless again, you’ll be over my knee.”
“I won’t. I’m done being a criminal.”
Seth sat down on the side of the bed. “Really? Care to explain how you got out of this?” He flicked the handcuffs that were still attached to the slat of the headboard, the side that was supposed to be attached to her wrist wide open.
She grinned. “You haven’t had many female criminals, have you?”
Seth stroked her cheek. “You’re our one and only.”
“I’ve learned a hairpin is quite useful.”
Seth stared at Maddie for a moment, then laughed.
“Do we need to restrain you for what we’re about to do or do you think you can remain abed?”
She pretended to think about it for a moment. “It depends on what you plan to do to me.”
“I plan to fuck your pussy,” Seth said.
I watched her green eyes flare with heat at his words. I turned her chin with my fingers so she looked at me. “While I fuck your ass. It’s time to make you ours, sweetheart.”
“Why now? I mean, you’ve been telling me no for so long.”
“Because we’re done catching criminals,” I replied. “We’re done with Rollins. The only thing in our future is you.”
I was done talking. Seth and I worked together and stripped Maddie bare in a matter of seconds, not that she resisted. Pushing her back on the bed, I grabbed an ankle, spread her wide, settled my shoulders between her parted thighs and put my mouth on her.
She was wet and I licked up all her sweet juices as I worked two fingers inside of her. We knew how to bring her to a swift and fierce climax and I didn’t delay. I wanted her to come at least once before we took her together, needed her body soft and open, relaxed and her mind a blur when we did so.
I loved knowing I could take her to the brink and over, that she gave herself to me so simply. She trusted me with her body. With her heart. It was time to show her she was the center of our world.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Seth
I never tired of seeing Maddie when she came. There were no inhibitions, nothing between us. She gave us everything. She took two hardened, jaded men and made them soft. Soft, at least, in all the right ways. We’d taken her roughly, using her body for not only her pleasure, but ours as well. We were bossy and dominant, controlling in the bedroom and she loved it. But for every time we told her what to do, she had the choice to tell us no. She held all the power among the three of us. She was the one that made us a family. Not only because she was having our baby, but she was the center of our world. Our wife.
And it was time to truly make her ours. As I looked at her, I stripped.
Her skin was flushed and damp with sweat, her breathing ragged. Her nipples were hard and when Landon lifted his head from her pussy, I could see she was slick and ready for us. I moved to the side of the bed, feet on the floor. Looking over my shoulder, I said, “Come on, sweetheart, climb on my cock.”
She looked up at me from her comfortable position on the bed, none too eager to move. Obviously, she wasn’t aware how we were going to do this. Landon, with a smile on his face, helped our wilted wife up and so she straddled me.
Understanding dawned as her eyes showed no confusion, only heat. She bit her lip as she boldly pushed up on her knees and hovered above my cock. Circling her hips, she slid her slick folds over me, coating me. She was playing now.
“Imp,” I said, then took hold of her hips and pushed her down, my cock filling her in one long, fabulous slide. I groaned the whole way down and when she sat fully upon me, her green gaze met mine.
“You belong to us, wife.”
She gave a little nod. “I do.”
“Me. Landon. You’re ours.”
“Yes,” she confirmed.
Landon moved from the bed, came around behind Maddie, took off his clothes. He’d already pulled the small jar of lubricant from his bag and began to liberally coat his cock. With his slick fingers, he stepped up and touched her virgin ass. Her eyes widened and I knew he was preparing her.
I didn’t stop fucking her, just let Landon get her ready. There was no way I was holding still as he did so.
When her eyes fell closed and little moans escaped, I knew he was working a finger, probably two deep inside her. I could feel the press of them through the thin membrane of flesh that separated us. She was being fucked by both of us, but Landon needed his cock buried deep so we could claim her properly.
“I’m going to come,” she murmured, then whimpered when Landon slipped his fingers from her.
“Not until I’m inside, sweetheart. When you’ve got both of our cocks nice and deep, then you can come all you want.”
I moved my hands from her hips so Landon could take my place. He didn’t delay, only bent his knees and pressed in. I knew the moment he did so for a touch of panic filled her eyes. I kissed Maddie then, taking her mind off of Landon breaching her ass with his cock for the first time.
All the while I kissed her, I held still deep within, listened to Landon’s words of praise.
His voice was tight, as if he was holding himself back. Good girl. Push back. Yes, I’m in. You feel so good. You’re fucking both your men. You’re perfect, Maddie.
She was perfect and I lifted my head to tell her so. The fear was gone, her eyes blurry with desire. I grinned. “Like that?” I was struggling to remain still as Landon sank further and further into her ass.
“Yes,” she breathed.
“We’re never letting you go, sweetheart. We claim you. Every inch of you.”
Landon gave me a curt nod, and I began to move, began to fuck our wife. Together.
***
Maddie
Oh my. I was so full. Seth was deep inside my pussy and Landon had taken my ass. They were so big. God, I never knew I could be so filled, but I was. There was nothing between us. I felt Seth’s chest pressing against my breasts, Landon brushing against my back each time he moved.
“I’m going to—I can’t hold back,” I breathed.
“Come, sweetheart,” Landon murmured.
They were fucking me gently. I knew the difference between wild abandon and gentle claiming. They were being cautious, protective of me. But I didn’t want that. I wanted it all. I wanted my men truly making me theirs.
“Don’t hold back,” I said. “Please, I can’t come if you’re like this.”
“Like what?” Seth asked. His voice was ragged and he lifted his hips in small jerks, but it was still gentle.
“Tamed. Careful. I need more. I need all of you.”
Both men stilled for a moment.
“I’m the one who connects us together and I’m the one who says what I can take, what I want you to give me.” I lifted a hand, stroked Seth’s face. “Nothing between us.
I want it all.”
Reaching back, I hooked my hand behind Landon’s neck.
“I want you.”
They began to move then, fucking me in an alternating motion, but their strokes were surer, deeper and with a wild abandon I was used to from them.
“Yes!” I cried. This was what I needed. This was what I’d been missing. Being with my men, making them complete. Making us complete.
I came then, on a breathy cry. The pleasure was so sharp, so intense that I let it swamp me, sink me down and lift me up knowing Seth and Landon were there to keep me together. To keep me safe.
Seth thrust deep, held still as he groaned. I felt his hot seed filling me. Landon moved in and out three times, then slammed up into me. The hardest stroke yet and he came.
“You don’t need handcuffs anymore,” I murmured when I could form words. My head rested on Seth’s shoulder. I felt Landon’s hand stroking up and down my sweaty back. Marriage to these men was more than I’d ever imagined. I had doting, affectionate, passionate husbands. I had a home. I had the revenge I needed. I even had the child we’d all desired. Soon. I even had their hearts. And they had mine.
“Oh?” Seth asked.
“I can escape handcuffs, but I’ll never escape this.”
GET A FREE BOOK!
Join my mailing list to be the first to know of new releases, free books, special prices and other author giveaways.
Plus a FREE BOOK for signing up!
Freeromanceread.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vanessa Vale is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 30 books, sexy romance novels, including her popular Bridgewater historical romance series and hot contemporary romances featuring unapologetic bad boys who don't just fall in love, they fall hard. When she's not writing, Vanessa savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. While she's not as skilled at social media as her kids, she loves to interact with readers.