Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas Book 9)

by Laylah Roberts

“Don’t do it, Flick,” Mia warned. “Do. Not. Do. It.”

  Flick pouted.

  “Maybe you should, uh, try to sound him out first,” Thea suggested, feeling sorry for Flick.

  “Hmm, good plan. But how?” Flick asked.

  “Perhaps Thea could ask at dinner how everyone feels about women proposing?” Mia suggested.

  “Yes!” Flick cheered. “That’s a great idea. Please, Thea.”

  She wrinkled her nose at Mia. She should say no, but it was nearly impossible to refuse Flick. “Okay, I’ll try. But before dinner I really have to go talk with Ace and Keir.”

  With her problem solved, well, temporarily, Flick let her go. Thea wandered through the big house, which had a happy, lived-in feel, until she got to the living room where she’d left the boys. She paused in the doorway, watching with surprise as Jardin sat with Keir looking at something on Keir’s tablet. While Ace and Carrick played some kind of video game.

  They’d obviously finished their meeting with Alec and West.

  “Hey, Thea!” Ace cheered. “This place is so cool! And they have Kingdom Hearts III!”

  “I take it that’s a good thing,” Thea said dryly.

  “It’s the best!”

  “Well, I’ve got it at home too,” Carrick told him. “Along with NBA2K20.”

  “Awesome.” Ace gave him a look of hero worship. “Hey, Thea, can I go play at Carrick’s house when we get home.”

  “Don’t be a dork, Ace,” Keir said condescendingly. “Carrick is Thea’s boyfriend. He doesn’t want to have a playdate with you. Besides, we’re not going back home, are we?”

  “Do you want to?” she asked. “And don’t call your brother a dork.”

  Keir shrugged but there was something vulnerable in his gaze that told her this was more important than he was letting on.

  “It’s okay if you want to,” she said gently.

  “I miss home. I mean, I like it here,” Ace said. “But I have friends back home. Not that dipshit, Arthur, though.”

  “Ace,” she reprimanded. “Don’t call people dipshits.”

  “Even if they are,” Jardin added.

  She glared at Jardin. He just shrugged unrepentantly.

  “Can we go home?” Keir asked. “I mean, is it safe?”

  “Jardin’s brother is going to make it so that we can,” she told him gently. “We’ll have to stay here until he does that, though.”

  Keir gave Jardin a surprised look.

  “So, you’re both Thea’s boyfriends?” Ace asked, getting to the heart of things.

  “They are. That okay?” She was tense, waiting for their answer.

  “I think it’s cool,” Ace said. Keir just shrugged. That was as good as she was going to get from him.

  “When we go home, where are we gonna live?” Keir asked.

  “You’ll all move in with me,” Jardin said before she could reply. “My family home has the best security. Once things are settled, we can talk about our own home. I live with my brothers and sister.”

  “Can we play video games?” Ace asked.

  “Of course.”

  “Will we have our own rooms?” Keir inquired.

  “Yes,” Jardin affirmed.

  Both boys seemed happy at that. Well, that went easier than she’d thought it would be.

  26

  Thea thought she might be in shock.

  She probably looked like a fish out of water as she sat at the huge dining room table. It could easily seat twenty, but somehow it seemed like there were twice as many people in there. The Malones were loud, expressive, and blunt.

  And hilarious.

  For so long, it had just been her and the boys. When their dad wasn’t around, things were quiet. This was the opposite. Food flew around the table. She was sandwiched between Carrick and Jardin with Keir next to Jardin and Ace on Carrick’s other side. Alec Malone sat at the head of the table with Mia to his left. West at the other end with Flick next to him.

  She saw that both men filled their women’s plates first before taking food for themselves. Then she noticed Jardin and Carrick doing the same. They helped the boys with their food then made her plate up. When Carrick went to add another spoonful of mashed potatoes, she had to cover her plate with her hand to get him to stop.

  He scowled at her. “You need more.”

  “I don’t need more.”

  Jardin turned and gave her a firm look. “You’ll eat more, Thea.”

  “I can’t eat that much. My plate is too full as it is.”

  “You will,” Jardin said stubbornly.

  “I won’t.”

  Jardin opened his mouth, but Tanner gave a whoop of glee from across the table. “You tell him, Thea! Don’t let him boss you around.”

  Jardin scowled across at his youngest cousin, who grinned back unrepentantly.

  Thea blushed. How could she have forgotten her audience?

  “You want, Thea, we’ll get rid of him for the night,” Butch offered.

  “Raid needs to practice his knots,” Maddox said. “Jardin would make the perfect practice dummy to use. I mean dummy in the nicest possible way, of course.”

  She stiffened. Had they just offered to hog tie Jardin? She looked over at Jardin, who appeared exasperated. Then she looked at Carrick on her other side, who was grinning.

  Obviously, it was all a joke.

  “No hog tying anyone and leaving them outside,” Mia stated firmly.

  They all groaned except for West, Alec, and Jaret.

  “Mia, you’re no fun. One night won’t kill him,” Butch wheedled.

  Mia gave him a firm look. “No. Leave Jardin alone.”

  “It’s no fair,” Tanner said. “Ever since Mia came along, we all have to be nice to Jardin.”

  “That’s because I’m her favorite,” Jardin drawled, surprising her.

  And by the looks everyone gave him, he’d surprised them too.

  “He is,” Mia agreed with a grin. Her eyes twinkled. “The rest of you should really work harder to be my favorite.”

  “I’m your favorite,” Alec stated firmly.

  “Of course you are,” Mia replied, leaning over to kiss him. “But after you, it’s Jardin.”

  Jardin gave them all a smug smile. Then he turned to Thea. “Eat.”

  She blinked at him then looked over at the boys. Ace was busy eating and chatting with Jaret. While West was nodding at something Keir was saying. Happiness flooded her at the sight. She knew they were missing good, stable male influences. And they were lapping up the attention now.

  “Eat,” Jardin whispered in her ear. “Or you’ll sit on Carrick’s lap while I feed you.”

  She shivered, knowing the threat was real and if they’d been on their own, she might well have enjoyed that.

  Jardin gave her a knowing look. But she picked up her fork. It was way more food than she could eat, and she’d normally stick to salad or veggies, but it was so good half the plate was gone before she realized it. She sat back, her tummy full. It seemed the Malones took eating seriously as most of the food was already gone.

  Mia was a miracle worker, feeding this group every night.

  “So, does this mean you’re gonna help us with our problem, Jardin?” Raid demanded.

  Jardin sighed. “This isn’t my specialty.”

  “But you know someone who could help?” Butch asked.

  Jardin nodded. “I’ll make some calls.”

  As Thea looked around, she saw Flick staring at her. She waggled her eyebrows up and down.

  What? She didn’t speak eyebrow.

  Oh. She wanted Thea to ask that question. Shit. Why had she said she’d do that?

  “Thea, can we go play Kingdom Hearts?” Ace asked.

  “Take your plates into the kitchen first,” she said.

  Mia made to stand and collect the plates, but Alec gave her a firm look. “Mia, sit. Rest. Tanner and Raid are on clean-up.”

  The two men got up without a word and started picking u
p plates.

  After the boys left, she looked over at Maddox. “What did you do with the tracker?”

  He grinned. “I made sure it went on a nice bus ride to Oklahoma.”

  “And my car?”

  “Afraid we had to get rid of it,” Jardin told her. “We couldn’t take the risk that there was a tracker on it.”

  She called bullshit on that. She narrowed her gaze at him. “You had my car destroyed?”

  “It wasn’t safe.”

  “Jardin!”

  He just gave her a calm look. “Did you seriously think I would allow you to drive around in something unsafe?”

  She rubbed her forehead. Okay, she guessed her car situation was the least of her worries right now. Tackle one thing at a time, Thea.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll get you something much safer,” Carrick told her.

  “I don’t want you guys buying me things.” Especially something as big as a car.

  “Why not?” Jardin asked. “If the situation was reversed and we needed something that you could easily give us wouldn’t you do the same thing?”

  Well. Crap.

  She sighed, giving in. “Okay, but nothing too expensive.”

  Oh, Thea. You are fighting a losing battle.

  Flick gave her another look. Shoot.

  “So, um . . .” Shit. What if Jardin and Carrick thought she was going to ask them to marry her?

  Mia took pity on her. “Flick, Thea and I thought we’d watch a chick flick tonight. There’s this new one about a woman who asks her boyfriend to marry her and he says no.”

  Alec grunted. “As he should. A man should ask a woman.”

  “Don’t you think that’s awfully old-fashioned?” Mia prodded.

  “Nope. If you’d asked me, I’d have put you over my knee.”

  “West?” Thea managed to ask the gruff man, who’d barely spoken a word during dinner.

  “Agree with Alec. Man’s job.”

  Flick looked crestfallen, and Thea’s heart reached out to her. She saw Jardin watching Flick as well.

  “Sometimes, a man just wants to wait for the perfect moment. We’re not always romantic. We don’t always see what’s right in front of us. But when we find that woman who is a part of our soul, we will do whatever it takes to keep her.”

  Flick gave Jardin a small smile at his words. West turned to stare down at her thoughtfully.

  Maybe he got the message.

  Thea pulled her pajamas on in the bathroom. She couldn’t believe how huge this house was. Probably a good thing with how many Malone brothers there were. Even though most of them lived out in the bunk house. Ace and Keir were already fast asleep in one of the bedrooms.

  All the Malones treated the boys, and her, like they were family. And they teased Jardin mercilessly. But he’d given back as good as he got. And not one of them found their relationship odd. Or looked twice at them. But then, it did seem to be almost the norm in Haven.

  She walked into the bedroom and slammed to a stop as she saw the two of them lying on the bed, kissing.

  Holy. Shit.

  Jardin pulled back and looked over at her. “Shut and lock the door then strip and get your cute butt over here.”

  She cleared her throat, her clit throbbing already in anticipation.

  “Maybe I should sleep with the boys,” she said.

  Both men froze and the look Jardin gave her was enough to have her heart racing. Oh, Lord, he didn’t want to hear that.

  “And why would that be?” he asked calmly.

  “In case they need me. They’re in a strange place, and I—”

  “They know which room we’re in,” Jardin told her. “I also pointed out West and Alec’s rooms to them. If they need one of us, they can find us.”

  “They’ll likely sleep like the dead,” Carrick added. “But if makes you feel better, I’ll check on them in the night.”

  “I couldn’t ask you to—”

  A growl escaped Carrick, something she was more familiar with coming from Jardin. “You’re not asking, I’m offering. Now I’m telling you. Let us help you for a change.”

  Her mouth dropped open as she closed the door. “Help me for a change? You’re always helping me.”

  Carrick frowned. “You barely let us help. You try to do everything yourself. That’s going to change. It’s not just you anymore, Thea. You’ve got us now. Let us carry the load.”

  Tears entered her eyes and she blinked, looking away. “That’s going to take some getting used to. I’ve never had someone want to help me.”

  “You do now,” Carrick told her warmly. “And we’re not going to let you get away with trying to do it all yourself.”

  She gave a short nod.

  “After all, that’s what you do for someone you love,” Carrick told her.

  She gasped at him. “Did you just . . . are you saying . . .”

  “I love you, Thea,” Carrick said.

  “I love you as well,” Jardin added.

  Tears dripped down her face. “I love you guys too.”

  Carrick grinned at her while Jardin gave her an arrogant nod. These two men, along with Keir and Ace, were everything to her.

  Jardin sighed long and loud. “Go get her, Carrick.”

  “No, wait! I’m coming. I’m coming.”

  She walked over to the huge bed.

  “You’re forgetting something,” Jardin reminded her. “That’s five.”

  “Five! You can’t spank me.”

  “I can’t? Hmm, I feel sure that I can,” he countered.

  “I’m not breaking a rule.”

  “You’re not obeying your Doms when they tell you to get naked and into bed. Actually, that’s worth ten.”

  “You can’t spank me here. What if someone hears?” she asked, horrified.

  Jardin grinned, shifting position so he was leaning against the headboard. All that delicious skin was on display as well as his firm, thick cock. Lord help her. “Do you seriously think you’re the first woman to get a spanking in this house?”

  Carrick chuckled. “Not even close.”

  Carrick swung his legs over the bed and stood. And she was struck dumb once more. How was her brain supposed to function with these two around?

  Shit.

  He strode to the door and locked it. Then to her shock, he picked her up and swung her onto the bed. Jardin immediately pinned her down, straddling her body and reaching for her pajama top. “Let’s get this off.”

  She held her arms up to help him because really, she didn’t want to put up too much of a fuss and have them completely back off, now did she?

  “Such pretty breasts,” he crooned. “What do you think, Carrick?”

  “I think they look lonely.” Carrick laid next to her then leaned in to suck one nipple into his mouth. Jardin moved to lay on her other side, taking her other nipple in his mouth. They suckled on her, their hands roaming her body. Carrick’s hand slid down her tummy and under the waistband of her pajama bottoms, while Jardin’s hand crept up her thigh.

  She whimpered. She was stuck between them, held by them, tortured.

  And she never wanted to leave.

  Jardin sat up then grabbed the waist band of her pajama bottoms. “Let’s add some lingerie to the shopping list. A red, silky nightgown.”

  “One of those teddy things that will show off her breasts,” Carrick added.

  “Yes. We also need some toys for her. Too bad I didn’t bring my play bag with me.”

  “It was an oversight,” Carrick agreed. “We could be stretching her ass.”

  “I’ll have a play while I’m spanking it.”

  Her heart raced as they talked about her like she wasn’t even there. But every word seemed to set her desire soaring.

  “Tonight, you can take my ass instead,” Jardin said almost casually as he placed her pajama pants and panties on the floor, leaving her bare to their gaze. Carrick stiffened beside her. And when she glanced over at him, his face was filled with hu
nger as he stared at Jardin.

  “My fucking pleasure.”

  Jardin smiled then leaned over her to kiss Carrick. She groaned. They were killing her. Jardin drew back to wink down at her. “But first we need to take care of our naughty girl. I’m thinking since she’s so worried about making noise while I punish her that you should help her out.”

  What did that mean?

  “Happy to,” Carrick murmured while leaning down to kiss her.

  How would they punish her while she was on her back? Then Jardin grabbed her legs, pushing them back against her chest. Her knees were bent, her ass on display.

  Oh, hell no.

  She wrenched her mouth away from Carrick’s. Although that wasn’t easy.

  “Jardin, you can’t!”

  “What? I can’t spank you? I think you’ll find I can. What were we up to? Fifteen?”

  “Sounds right,” Carrick agreed.

  “Not like this!” Jardin was already staring down at her ass, his gaze greedy.

  “Why not?” Jardin asked.

  “Because . . . because you can see everything!”

  “But I want to see everything. No part of you should be hidden from us, should be forbidden to us. Understand? Carrick, take her legs so I can explore.”

  Her face went so red she probably looked like a tomato as Carrick wrapped one arm under her knees, pressing them to her chest while Jardin lay on the bed and kissed his way along her ass. He ran a finger down her slit between the two cheeks, pressing the tip inside her asshole.

  “Now, this is very, very pretty.” He sat up and she breathed a sigh of relief. But he simply stood and turned to the bedside drawer and rummaged inside it, pulling out a small bottle of lube and an anal plug still in its packaging.

  “What . . . how . . . why is there lube and an anal plug in the bedside drawer?” she asked.

  “Because my cousins are assholes. They’re always sticking crap in these drawers. I’m the only one who ever stays in this room. I’ve found ben-wa balls, anal beads, cock rings, even a strap-on once.”

  She gaped at him, but he grinned at her. “Can’t say I’m upset about it now. Have you ever had anal sex, Thea?”

  She bit her lip and nodded.

  “Did you like it?” Carrick asked.

  She nodded again.

  “That’s good,” Jardin said with satisfaction as he unwrapped the plug and coated it in lube. “We’ll stretch you a bit first though, before we both take you.”