Good Horses, Fast Cars and Real Men

Good Horses, Fast Cars and Real Men Nate, Brett and Matt Kelly desired one girl and one girl only until she disappeared from their lives, leaving a wake of shattered dreams. Fourteen years later, Jade Douglas returns a broken shell of a woman, hiding from the past, struggling to build a future on the dilapidated horse stud her father left her. The Kelly brothers see her return as the answer to their dreams. Jade sees them as a threat to the brittle, protective walls she has built around her. Nate is overbearing and protective but always her safe harbor. Darkly sensual Brett holds the key to her submission. Big Matty has a body to die for and a heart to live by. But are they enough to heal her? After false starts, emotional breakdowns, torrid erotic experiences, and a journey of sensual self-discovery, Jade finds her place in life amid good horses, fast cars, and real men. Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys Length: 89,604 words

GOOD HORSES, FAST CARS AND REAL MEN

Kaliana Cole

MENAGE AMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

GOOD HORSES, FAST CARS AND REAL MEN Copyright © 2011 by Kaliana Cole E-book ISBN: 1-61034-557-6 First E-book Publication: July 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Good Horses, Fast Cars and Real Men by Kaliana Cole from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Kaliana Cole’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Cole’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION This one’s for K.J. Some friends are like good knickers. They cover your ass when you really need it. You’re the best. And to all who read this story; thank you, and enjoy.

GOOD HORSES, FAST CARS AND REAL MEN KALIANA COLE Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 Jade Douglas lay back in the sturdy old two-seater and propped her boots on the veranda rail, tired muscles screaming a protest at the stretch through her hamstrings. The smooth velvet of Kenny Chesney coming softly from the stereo had her feeling decidedly mellow. Ten days and six hours, she told herself, looking at the clock marking six up on the wall. Not enough time for her body to have adapted to the grueling workload she forced upon it day after day. The scotch was going down smooth as the late April sun sinking below the rim of the valley set the icy eastern ridges on fire with its dying light. The mountain dusk took her breath away. It was fourteen long years since she had last called Wyoming home. The foothills ranch had fallen into disrepair, but she, too, had changed. For better or worse she was back. A lot more cynical, definitely older, and hopefully more than a little wiser. She knew she would be questioning the wiser part soon enough, it had been a long time since she had frozen her ass off for five months of the year. The corrals had been empty when she had arrived. Harry had been managing the place since God was an infant and was not up to much more than caretaking these days. Her father had died two years ago, and it had been a few years earlier that anyone had done anything

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more than basic husbandry with the horse herds the stud had once been renowned for. Now they were in some type of order. The colts, some of them full-grown stallions, were in the secure south paddock awaiting the vet. By this time tomorrow most would be geldings. The brood mares had all been evaluated, had their over grown foals weaned, and been returned to the hill paddock before rejoining later in the spring. The young stock had been put aside for the moment, all desperately in need of handling and breaking, although Jade had selected two exceptional three-year-old fillies to start on right away. Once educated, their sale would generate enough income to conduct some very necessary repairs around the farm. But for now she had her priorities in the forefront of her mind. Avoid the Kelly boys, find out what had happened to Toby, who should have arrived days ago, and avoid the Kelly boys. Actually, one fat horse going AWOL during transit wasn’t nearly as important as the other two. Nate, Brett, and Matthew Kelly had grown up on the neighboring property. Nate was three years older than Jade, Brett the same age, and Matty two years younger. They had all been inseparable growing up, but the scars of a hard childhood had left its mark on the boys. Their father had been an attractive, laughing, charming man—when he was sober. When drinking he could go from life of the party to a towering rage in a split second. “That Irish Kelly temper” people would say sagely when they heard Patrick had flown off the handle again. Their blind stupidity had made Jade’s teeth ache. They hadn’t huddled in the dark with the boys, Nate ignoring a black eye or cracked ribs while he tried to calm Brett down who would be seething in his own deep pit of rage, muttering incoherently about killing his own father. And sweet Matty would be acting like it was all a normal part of life, smiling through his tears when Nate would herd them through the Douglas’s front door when things got too rough at home.

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Things had gotten too rough for their mother, a sweet, beautiful lady who had been much taken with the handsome and charming Patrick Kelly. She had left when Matty was twelve, taking his little eight-year-old sister, Lizzie, with her, along with horrendous bruising, several broken bones, and an all but broken spirit. She had moved back to Kentucky where her family had closed ranks around them. But a bond had been formed between the four of them in those dark times, born of silence and necessity, one that neither time nor distance could sever. Isolated, even in within a rural area, they learned to depend on each other in a way the other kids, and some adults, could not comprehend. Nate and Jade had always had that instant sexual tension that sprung up whenever they were in proximity. Jade felt like she had spent her entire adolescent years trying to find a way into his bed, and she could guarantee Nate had spent the same amount of time resisting the temptation to cave to her advances. Jade had to admit most of those had all the subtlety of a thermonuclear weapon. Brett had always made her ready to fight either him or whoever was stupid enough to rile him up, but mostly him. Possessed of an unreasonable temper, inherited from his father, small things could set him into an overwhelming rage. He had never passed up a chance to rile her up, not happy unless she was wild with him. In retrospect, she figured the little shit was probably happy to have someone around who had worse self-control than he did. Every protective instinct in her had always sprung to the fore for Matthew. Even when he had topped six-four and towered over her by nearly a foot, anyone who picked on Matty Kelly had Jade Douglas to deal with, and that was a fact his brothers had ended up on the wrong side of more than once. Even as an overgrown kid, Matt’s chest and shoulders made the best place to lay a battered heart. Being held by him was like being engulfed in a warm cloud of solace, his big frame all give and no take.

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But that had all come to a screaming halt two days after her eighteenth birthday. Nightmares of flashing hooves, broken timber, blood, and pain still haunted her occasionally, testament to an event that nobody but her knew about, an event that would see the loss of the Kelly boy’s friendship and very likely the loss of her freedom, as in twenty-five to life. But Jade had shown her hometown a clean pair of heels four days after she turned eighteen. She had only run into the boys a few very uncomfortable times and had gone out of her way not to keep up with news of them. Jade drained her glass and looked down at the scarred old hound that had wandered in two days after she had arrived. Harry claimed to have never seen her before, but with his rheumy old eyes, the damn thing could have been living in his kitchen, and he wouldn’t have seen it. The old girl lifted a brow under the scrutiny. “Hungry?” Jade asked, wincing as she lowered her legs and stood. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.” Jade headed in to the kitchen and put kibble in the bowl by the door, watching in amazement as the dog inhaled the food. The hound had been with her over a week, and the poor thing still acted like every meal would be its last. Jade had been feeding her three times a day to try to put weight on her without risking bloat with large meals. When she had first arrived, Jade had thought her a Danedeerhound cross, but with a little weight on the old girl, there appeared to be something a little more substantial in her far from blue-blooded pedigree. She had contacted the local radio station, but so far, no one had put in a “lost” to match her “found.” Last night’s spaghetti took only a moment to nuke and not much longer to eat. Giving the remaining leftovers to the mutt, Jade took a quick shower, disdaining the pint-size bathtub in which she would have to contort herself like a pretzel to fit. Nothing would be better than to soak away the aches and pains in a deep bath full of salts,

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feeling them leech the tiredness away from her protesting muscles, but it was not to be. After slathering on moisturizer, throwing on track pants and an old sweatshirt, Jade called the old dog, grabbed a jacket, and headed out to have a quick check on the colts. Their securely fenced paddock backed on to the house yard. While the hound sniffed around and went about her business, Jade leaned against the top rail surveying the horseflesh in the gathering dusk. The bachelor herd was comprised of twenty-two colts and stallions. Tomorrow, she would have to match the ill-kept foaling records with the animals in front of her. The older ones had been branded at weaning and would be easier, but the last two years worth would be relying on Harry’s illegible notes, and thankfully, much better memory to ensure they were properly identified, branded, and registered. Curious creatures that they were, the colts began to drift over, the more daring ones extending their muzzles to sniff at her stationary form. Jade noted the bolder animals, and those who bossed at their neighbors, beginning to recognize individual traits that marked the different personalities. The ones with stud potential stood out clearly beneath her scrutiny, as did those who would make superb geldings and the few who may find themselves on a list of culls destined for anonymous sale at a public auction somewhere a long way from Miller’s Creek. A big blood bay pushed through the other colts to stand boldly before her, the younger colts scattering to his obvious dominance. Jade ran a practiced gaze eye over him. The back of her neck prickled as she realized that something special was standing before her. His conformation was outstanding. The magnificent animal possessed a deep chest, strong, flat bone through the legs, nice sloping shoulders, and was coupled-up well behind. An intelligent head and bold eye topped a well-arched neck that was admittedly a little heavy from being a stallion for some time. She estimated him to be around

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eight, a fact she would check tomorrow when there was enough light to see the brand on his shoulder. His age was a worrying factor, but much depended on his pedigree. If he had enough breeding to back up his impressive appearance, the big bay just may have a chance at keeping the crown jewels, providing his temperament was up to scratch. She began humming a tune, softly at first, gradually increasing in volume so as to not startle the big horse before her. The melody resolved itself into Chesney’s “Anything But Mine,” although distinctly off-key compared to the original she had been listening to earlier on the veranda. Moving slowly and smoothly, Jade managed to straighten without the stallion doing anything more than tossing his regal-looking head. As she began to sing louder about there being “so much that I long to do to you,” the horse came closer, his velvety muzzle poking at her face while she struggled not to laugh, all the time watching his eyes and ears warily for any sign that he meant to assert his dominance and take a chunk out of her. The bristles of his muzzle hair contrasted with the softest velvet on the sides as he played with a strand of damp hair that had escaped the rough bun she had piled her hair into. But to her wonder, he only sniffed at her before his attention was diverted by a whinny in the distance. He roared an answer as he galloped off into the gloom. Feeling a little unbalanced by the encounter, Jade whistled the old hound to her side and headed inside, deciding to turn in for the night. Tossing and turning fitfully, she slept in snatches before getting up at four a.m., when she figured that there would be no more sleep tonight.

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Chapter 2 Caffeine and more caffeine later, Jade was as ready to face the day as she was going to get. Leaving the old dog in the house yard, she headed out into the frosty morning mist. Steam was rising from beast and ground alike as she gave Harry a hand to throw some hay out and lure the colts into the handling yards. With the foaling books on hand, Jade sat on the fence with the old man and made some preliminary identifications while she waited for the vet. The quality of the young stock was gratifyingly high. Her purchase of the Irish sport horse sire “Dancer” before she had left had put a nice amount of substance into the eventers the stud was famous for. By the time the dust cloud heralded the arrival of the vet, at least half were positively identified, including her big bay friend from last night who turned out to be a seven-year-old by Dancer. Providing he didn’t overreact to the trauma of being vetted today, he would get a reprieve from gelding for this first round. A new and expensive four-wheel drive with “Miller’s Creek Veterinary Hospital” emblazoned on the side pulled up next to the undercover treatment area. The tall, brunette young woman stepping down from the driver’s seat was not who Jade had expected. Doc Johnson was short, round, and male. The young woman confidently stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Elly Johnson.” “How are you?” Jade accepted the hand readily. “I was expecting Doc.” Elly laughed. “Doc hasn’t been near a horse for years. He says he is too old to handle anything bigger than a cocker spaniel. Since I

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married his son two years ago, he quite happily handed all the callouts over to me.” She began hauling equipment out of the vehicle. Deciding to leave the interrogation for later, Jade assisted Elly, admiring her calm assurance. Looking around to see if Harry was in ear shot, the leggy brunette leaned in toward her. “I hope you don’t mind, but I have enlisted some help today. The last time I got called out here I had to try and stitch up a badly cut leg on a filly that had never had a hand on it. Harry wasn’t quite up to restraining her enough for sedation. One of the local men gives me a hand when I need a bit of muscle.” She looked up at Jade with a grin. “God knows he’s got plenty of that.” Smiling acquiescence, Jade privately wondered what musclebound fool she was going to have to put up with today. She pointedly ignored the cloud of dust approaching and set off to help Harry run the first batch of colts into the race. She was leaning through the rail to pull the slide gate shut behind the last horse when the first prickling awareness feathered down the back of her neck. Freezing instinctively, Jade tried to get her senses beyond the fevered drumming of her heartbeat to identify the threat. The shadow that loomed over her coincided with the large, callused, and decidedly male hand that closed over hers on the gate. “Let me get that for you, darlin’.” The low voice drawled seductively in her ear, so close she swore she could actually feel the deep rumble of his chest through her jacket. Pulse pounding, she turned to find herself caught between a rock and a hard place. Or in this case, between steel rails and the broad, well-muscled chest of Nate Kelly. While her scattered wits screamed at her “run, escape!” the traitorous, shameless hussy that was her body rolled out the welcome mat to the towering masculinity surrounding her. The same way it had since she had turned fourteen and known what her confusion meant.

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Nate gave her a cocky grin as she felt her body betray her. Moisture flooded her panties as her nipples hardened enough to poke an eye out. Jade knew the thin shirt over her bra was not up to the task of concealment even before the bastard cocked an eyebrow in admiration. “Jesus Christ, Nate! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Jade tried to hide her primal reaction behind the outburst as she jerked her jacket closed. She attempted to push past, only to find an arm blocking her path, one that wasn’t any more yielding that the steel rail at her back. “Nate!” she growled in warning. With a patronizing grin, he gripped her stubborn chin with his other hand and tilted it so she was looking straight into the smoky blue depths smoldering under the brim of his well-worn cowboy hat. “How about we start again, darlin’? I say ‘Why, Jade, it’s so good to see you after all this time.’ And you say ‘You, too, Nate. I’ve missed you so much.’ And if you won’t let me steal a kiss, you will at least let me hold you because I have sure missed you, darlin’.” Jade shook her head ruefully. The sweet-talking devil had always been able to circumvent her temper, either with a few lazy words or if that failed, sheer brute force. Being held by his arms had defused her anger since she was a child. She folded in against him as his arms came around her to hold her tight to his chest. Feeling as if she had finally come home, Jade inhaled his earthy, masculine scent through the heavy cotton of his work shirt as her hands came to rest on his taut sides. He had grown into the promise of the big, raw-boned youth he had been, and then some. Ropy, flat muscles of true physical strength wrapped his large frame, born of hard physical work. Not at all like the bulky, gym-bred physiques so popular where she had been living on the Californian coast. Nate slid one hand to tangle in the shoulder-length mass of her dark blonde hair, gently pressing her face closer into his chest. “It feels so right to hold you, Jade. Seeing you last time with your

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husband, it just about tore my heart out not being able to touch you.” He buried his face in her wealth of dark blonde hair. Jade pushed at his chest. Nate grudgingly allowed her to pull away, meeting her accusing gaze. “If I remember correctly, Nate Kelly, you wasted more than enough opportunities to touch me many years ago. A girl can only take so much rejection before she gives up for good. You were part of the dream I gave up when I left. I’m over it, Nate. I’m all grown up now.” “You sure are, darlin’.” He ran an appreciative glance down the length of her body. “Stop it, Nate! I’m not anyone’s ‘darlin’, let alone yours! If we have to work together today, I expect you to behave yourself!” He dropped the ever present, mocking grin and fixed her with a no-nonsense stare. “Okay, Jade, I’ll make you a deal: I will be a complete angel today, but when Elly heads home, you and I are going to talk. You can’t keep hiding from us forever.” Reluctantly, Jade assented, choosing to ignore the fact that he had said “us” not “me.” “Let’s get this done then.” She turned and left him to follow.

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Chapter 3 Nate Kelly felt like he had been gut punched. Jade, as a teenager, had been both the bane of his existence and a temptation he couldn’t risk succumbing to. Fourteen years had tempered her into the creature of his grown-up desire. Her body had ripened into a woman’s body, lush curves now covering the muscles that had frightened off more than one prospective suitor in her youth and so fascinated his brothers. Her hair was shorter and darker now, her lips slightly fuller, but the hazel green eyes still flashed with emerald fire when she was riled. Or horny, he amended with a grin. And she was so damn easy to read. He would play poker against her any day. He had seen the exact moment her body had creamed for him, and her self-loathing because of it. She had always been a slave to her hormones, but it appeared she had gained some control. He had been impressed just how quickly she had pulled her prickly armor around her. Stripping it from her would be a challenge to be enjoyed. Time was supposed to heal all wounds, but some took longer to scar over than others. The gaping hole she had left in the lives of all the Kelly brothers had been patched over but never filled. Matthew had drifted, lost, until he had decided on a whim to test for the Army. Discipline and structure had provided him with direction and purpose in his life. Nate had seen quite a few changes in his baby brother, but the wistful way he would stare over the ridge at Douglas Park whenever he was home on leave said that Jade was never far from his mind.

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Brett was a different story. He had left home as soon as the dust from Jade’s departure had settled. He had started up the battered, old Ford he used to drive and just left. He knew now that Brett had used that time to develop an iron-clad control over the volatile temper he had inherited from their father. He had returned six years later a different man and a fully qualified mechanic. He never touched alcohol, but neither of his brothers would have more than two beers for the same reason. Brett didn’t raise his voice or get flustered over anything now. Nate had thought that was unhealthy, that it would just lead to a greater blow up when it finally happened, and then Brett had introduced his older brother to his little secret. A secret that would shock Jade to the core. Nate wondered what kind of experience his little darlin’ had now. Her husband had seemed insipid and bland when he had met him a few years ago, insecure about Jade talking to an old friend. Not the sort of man who would have had her screaming out her pleasure every night. He gave a grin. She always had been an independent little wretch, the kind to beg forgiveness afterward rather than ask permission. She probably just took matters into her own hands. God knows he’d done enough of that himself over the years. He kept his eyes on the sway of her hips as she strode ahead with purposeful steps, admiring how each angry stride made an ass cheek peek out beneath her jacket. God, she had a great ass now. She probably hated it, but any red-blooded man would love it. She had the kind of body that was strong enough to take a pounding and give you enough to hang on to. He could imagine driving into her with two handfuls of her sweet ass giving him leverage or thrusting into her from behind with his handprints striping the well-rounded globes. He mentally shook himself. He would end up getting hurt today if he didn’t have his mind on the job. But he found himself matching his

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stride to hers with his head keeping time with the alternate flashes of ass. The Lord knew he’d have trouble not tripping over his halo today. No one but his grandma had ever accused him of being an angel.

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Chapter 4 They quickly worked out a routine. A horse was quietly pushed up into the confines of the crush where it was reassured with soothing voices and practiced hands as a general assessment was made. It was Jade’s decision as to whether the scalpel was called for. She was pleased to see that the new vet was confident and didn’t waste time. Nate proved all that muscle came in handy. After he gave Jade a hand up off the concrete floor for a second time, which was where a nice, little black colt had flung her when she tried to halter him in the confines of the crush, she decided to let Nate halter the rough ones. Nate had to know her pride was hurting just as much as her ass as she conceded her place. She had always been as independent as hell, and that hadn’t changed much. Jade silently fumed that she had let herself get soft living in the city. Nine colts were kept for potential stallion material, and two yearlings were left with balls in place to grow for another six months. All were wormed, and branded if need be. Two near identical sorrel colts had mane samples taken for DNA testing as a positive identification could not be made. The blood bay was in the last group to come through. His big frame quivered at the scent of blood and disinfectant as they hushed him into the crush. Nate gave him a wide berth as Elly readied a syringe. Jade hummed softly as she drew close to his shoulder. He barely flinched as she laid her hand on the arch of his neck, softly crooning the same song she had sung to him the night before.

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Elly tentatively offered the heavy sedative used for the operation, but Jade waved her away, gesturing for the tube of avomectin. Without any fuss she was able to squirt the worming paste high into his tongue, provoking a lot of head tossing and lip curling. Stepping back, she continued petting him in strong, rhythmic strokes. She talked nonsense to him, telling him what a big darling he was. “You’re not going to cut him?” Elly asked, quite surprised. “Nope, I think I might keep this one for myself. Once I get him going, he will be just the showcase Douglas Park needs to get it recognized again.” “Quite a challenge, taking on a seven-year-old stud that hasn’t had a hand on him since he was weaned.” She looked the big horse over critically. “He is a nice type and all, but you will be up against a hell of a lot of testosterone and more than a touch of arrogance, I would say.” Nate had a grin teasing his lips as he quipped, “Don’t worry, Elly, Jade can handle any amount of both of those.” Apparently, Nate’s halo could only go so long without slipping. It turned out that Elly knew when to ignore the big man, too. “What name do you want on his paperwork? He is registered as DP Executive, but he doesn’t look like an executive to me. Have you got a ‘devil’ yet?” “Nope, we’ll call him ‘Kenny,’” Jade replied, still running her hands all over the bay. Nate groaned theatrically. “That’s what that song was supposed to be. At least your taste in music has improved.” He turned toward the vet. “When she was thirteen, she was Bon Jovi all the way. She had Jon, Richie, and Tico. When she was fifteen, Alice, Axle, and Slash got added to the fold.” He swung around to give Jade one of his irresistible trademark grins. “But I never could explain Sam, who came along after them.”

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Jade decided to give him something to choke on. “Remember that bull rider you introduced me to over in Cheyenne that summer? Well, that big paint reminded me a lot of him—all gorgeous, icy blue eyes and cheeky as hell. Way too big for comfort, but one hell of a wild ride.” Jade managed to get it said without blushing, but the dark, possessive heat that flared in Nate’s eyes brought color of another sort to her cheeks. Subtle changes to his constant grin said clearly that there would be repercussions for her smart mouth, while Elly managed to smother a grin of her own. With feigned casualness, Jade opened the gates that would put Kenny in one of the day yards in front of the stables before turning the big horse loose. Since Elly had elected to work through instead of breaking for lunch, by three o’clock she was packed up to leave. All that remained was to run the horses in to their respective paddocks. The ones that had been gelded moved a lot more sedately than the others. They got it all accomplished with little effort. Within an hour all were fed, and Harry had tooted his horn as he rumbled on out the drive. Jade tried to ignore the eyes she could feel boring through her back as she unnecessarily checked on Kenny again. “You’re stalling.” The drawled accusation pulled her up before she could find something else to do. No one had ever accused Jade Douglas of being a coward. “You’re right.” She scuffed the toe of her boot against the ground before turning to face the man leaning nonchalantly against the side of the stable block. “I am. Let’s go get this over with.” She led the way up to the house.

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Chapter 5 The old dog didn’t shift from its position next to the empty bowl at the front door, but its long whip of a tail beat a steady tattoo on the weathered hardwood decking as she watched them approach. Nate leaned down to rub the hound’s floppy ears. “This is where you have been hiding, you old tart.” The fondness in his voice belied the words. “She’s yours?” Jade asked, not really as surprised as she should be. Fate always had been a manipulative bitch where Jade was concerned. “No, Gypsy is Matt’s. Leastwise that is who she is supposed to belong to. It’s a bit hard to explain that to her when he has only been home one month a year.” Jade filled the bowl with kibble. “She has been here more than a week. When did she go missing?” “Two weeks ago, I went for a drive up through the state forest with the dogs on the back. Gypsy decided to come, and I had all the chains on the pups, so I figured she would be all right, but as soon as I crossed Stoney Creek, the old girl let out a bugle and tore off the truck and into the scrub.” He shook his head ruefully. “She must have picked up a scent and decided to relive her youth. Matt hasn’t hunted her for years.” Nate nodded toward the rapidly emptying bowl. “I would say she got as far as here and decided the food was better. Not to mention the company,” he added with a grin, making Jade’s apprehension rise in anticipation of their conversation to come.

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“How about some lunch before we talk? It has been a long time since breakfast.” Jade held the front door open for Nate to follow, feeling dwarfed as he pulled off his low-crowned hat and stepped into the kitchen. “Sounds great.” He hung his hat on one of the solid, old ladder back chairs that matched the scarred and battered pine table in the kitchen. Making himself at home, he ducked through an open door to scrub his work-stained hands in the laundry. Jade had quickly done the same in the kitchen sink and then checked the meager supplies in the fridge. Ham, cheese, and tomato sandwiches it would be, but after squeezing the loaf of bread, she decided to toast them. “I’ve got tea, coffee, diet Coke, light beer, or water.” No way was she sharing her good single malt with anyone. Nate stretched his long frame out in one of the chairs, leaning back to watch with all the patience of a seasoned predator, just waiting for the right moment to strike. “I’ll have a beer, thanks. I think I have earned one today.” Jade put a frosted bottle on the table in front of him. “That you did, and thanks. I think Elly and I would have had a hard time of it without you today. Have you known her long?” Jade tried to sound casual as she fished for information. She had noticed a fair amount of familiarity between the two of them today. “You could say that Elly and I go way back. She might be married to Craig now, but she knows if she ever needs a hand with anything at all, I’m only a phone call away.” Jade quelled the pang of emotion before she could admit it was jealousy. That was one of Nate’s trademarks. When he broke up with a girl, they always stayed friends. She had heard he was even a godparent to two of his ex-girlfriends’ children. She put the toasted sandwiches on the table and grabbed a Coke for herself, trying unsuccessfully not to compare herself with the leggy, confident young woman she had met today.

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“I can see why you like her. She’s gorgeous.” Jade sat at the table trying to ignore the smile playing around the corners of his mobile lips. “Smart, too,” Nate added. Jade could feel the taint of jealousy, the visible taint if Nate’s little grin told true. “It’s a shame I’m not into incest.” Jade choked inelegantly, only just refraining from spraying Coke out her nose. He laughed as he reached behind him for a serviette off the counter, handing it to her with fondness blazing in his smile. “That was Elizabeth?” she got out between coughs. “Yep, my baby sister grew up and became a vet. She came down here to do a work placement with Doc Johnson about five years ago and fell in love with Craig. I guess there’s no accounting for taste.” He wrinkled his nose in mock disgust. A wash of nostalgia came over her. Craig Johnson was the same age as Nate and drop-dead gorgeous. Jade had wasted a dream or two over him before realizing that he was too much of a “good” boy to be good for anything but looking at. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, Jade. You could have had him back in high school if Brett and I hadn’t threatened to break every bone in his body if he so much as laid a fingertip on you.” He gave her an unrepentant grin. “Come to think of it, you can blame us for Johnny Peters and Mike Bowler, too.” “So what you are basically saying is that you didn’t want me, but no one else was allowed to have me either.” Jade rose from the table and cleared the plates, hoping he couldn’t see the hurt that still touched her after all those years. Adolescence was a cruel stage for some. For Jade it had been a time of feeling inadequate: not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not confident enough. She couldn’t help but think if just one of those boys had of told her she was pretty or kissed her behind the art block, she would have made a lot of different decisions in life, but that was half a lifetime ago. She had grown in a lot of ways since then.

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“I suppose you were responsible for Adam Jones, too?” she asked over her shoulder as she rinsed the plates. Nate had a chuckle. “No, you did that one all on your own. He told me he wasn’t going out with a girl who could beat him in an arm wrestle. So Matty beat him up for making you cry.” “I always did wonder about that black eye.” She turned back around. “Do you want another beer?” “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind another. How about we sit outside? The day’s too good to waste it being inside” Jade went into the bathroom to freshen up before facing Nate again. It would be so easy to forget and just enjoy everything he offered. But he had only ever showed signs of wanting her when she had belonged to someone else. She was her own woman now, but she had also learned to guard her heart. Chasing after things you couldn’t catch was for fools and dogs. She knew he had desired her before. An erection of the size he sported was a little hard to hide. She still remembered the first time she had felt it. She’d had Brett pinned to the ground and was proceeding to bash the living crap out of him over something he had said to provoke her. God knows what. It had never taken much where Brett was concerned. Nate had ripped her off him, near shouting at her for her to settle down as she had struggled wildly, calling him every name under the sun as he refused to let her get back at his brother. He had ended up taking her to the ground and trying to pin her by sitting on her waist with her hands pinned on each side of her head by his. But years of working with horses on the farm had leant her plenty of strength, and coupled with the towering rage she sported, she was able to use her legs as leverage and throw Nate off her. She had been scrambling back toward Brett when Nate had landed fair on top of her back and pinned her arms again. “Settle down.” He had growled in her ear, pressing her body into the grass beneath it. She had struggled to get out from under him, but

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all her effort achieved was to seat him more securely between her thighs. Surrender had never been a part of Jade’s vocabulary. It was the rough gravel in his desperate “For fuck’s sake, stop it!” that he had ground out against her temple that had her paying attention to the heat of him pressed against the length of her body. The bulge that had burned against her ass had grown and lengthened inexorably as she froze in wonder at the sensation. Experimentally, she had wiggled against it, glorying in the heartfelt “fuck” that had accompanied the involuntary thrust against the cleft of her denim-clad ass. She had all but felt him grit his teeth as he had yelled at his brother to get out of there, now. Her hopes of further exploration of this newfound development was short lived as he had let her go and stormed away, leaving her frustrated and confused. It was the first of many times that he had let her know that part of him wanted her, even though he had never acted upon the scorching heat between them. Jade splashed some water on her face to help drag her back to the present and dried herself before the mirror. She decided against running a brush through her hair. Nate had seen the streaky mess much worse than it was now. She poured herself a scotch on the way back out to the veranda. The Lord knew how much she needed something to fortify herself against the temptation waiting outside. Nate had made himself free with the iPod speaker in the corner and had one of her country playlists on. The one titled “Slow and Sweet,” unless she was mistaken. Gary Allan crooned away soulfully. He had turned the volume down so it was just a low, calming sound in the background. He had also taken up residence on the old two-seater settee with one arm along the back and his knee half propped on the seat so that he would crowd the only place left for her to sit. That was typical Nate. He had always been a master manipulator.

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Choosing to ignore his power play, Jade sat down in the proffered space, swirling the well-aged scotch around the pair of ice cubes and sending them tinkling against the glass. “I must have you worried if you have gone for the heavy liquor, darlin’.” Jade allowed herself a small smile. She had wondered how long it would take for the “darlins” to start flowing again. The slow drawl in which he always said it never failed to make a lick of pleasure crawl along her spine. “Yeah, I will admit I’m a little edgy.” “Why?” He flicked at her hair where his hand rested above her shoulder. “There is nothing you can say or do that will change the way I feel about you, and I would like to think that we have enough history between us that you could hear what I have to say with some degree of understanding.” The serious look in his eye was not one Jade was familiar with. “I guess you are right. I’ve got to let go of the grudge I have held for the last fifteen years or so.” She gave him a tremulous smile. “Fresh start?” she asked too brightly. He wasn’t that easily fooled. “Not quite, there are a few things I need to get off my chest first.” He rubbed his big hand down his face tiredly before reaching out to capture the stray lock he had been toying with earlier. Locking his gaze on the errant curl, he continued. “Since I heard you were back last week, I’ve laid awake at night wondering how to explain myself to you or wondering if I could stay away and not have to. “When Elly rang me last night and asked me to come and give her a hand, I thought I would use that as a chance to set things along the path I had decided they should go. I thought we could be friends and neighbors, and that’s it. Then I pulled that stupid stunt with the gate, and all my good intentions were shot to hell.” His eyes moved over to lock with hers. Jade’s heart nearly stopped at the raw need she saw. “I have never had anyone react to

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me the way you do, darlin’. It’s so damn beautiful it takes my breath away.” The magnetism in his gaze had her straining toward him, but he used his grip on her hair to hold her back. “Not yet, darlin’. Hear me out first, and then you can jump my bones to your heart’s content if you still have a mind to.” Jade blushed as she leaned back and tossed back her forgotten drink in one go. She was surprised it hadn’t vaporized in the heat that had flared up at his declaration. “Now as embarrassing as it might be for you to know, I know exactly how you felt about me when we were younger.” Jade choked back a laugh. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. I do not think I had even heard of subtlety back then. I think stripping off and throwing myself at you on my seventeenth birthday took care of any doubt you may have had along those lines.” “Yeah, that was a little forward, even for you.” Jade had made herself free with her father’s bourbon bottle on her seventeenth birthday. In her tipsy state she had decided to stage a seduction that Nate wouldn’t be able to shrug off. She had cornered him down by the stream and performed a strip tease, determined to show him that she was all grown up. He shook his head in amused memory. “Do you have any idea how much will power it took for me to walk away that night? Or how long it took me to get rid of the hard-on?” He sat back with a smile. “I must have pounded on that thing for a month. Every time I thought I had it beat, a picture of you naked and mad as hell would pop into my mind, and up it would come again.” They settled down in companionable silence for a few moments before Nate grabbed the bull by the horns. “The reason I never made a serious move on you was Brett and Matt. They loved you as much as I did, darlin’. With everything we went through together, I couldn’t do that to them. I didn’t protect them from the old man just to break their hearts over you.”

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Jade looked at him incredulously. “Brett? I knew Matty had a bit of a crush on me, but Brett? We couldn’t go five minutes without a referee to break up the fight!” “But you were always the first to fly into anyone who stirred him up. The tension between the two of you was amazing. I always wondered how the two of you survived puberty. It would have only taken one of you to grope somewhere they shouldn’t during one of your battles, and you two would have gone at it like jackrabbits in spring. “The point is, Jade, you were a part of all our lives, and we refused to let that come between us.” He gave her a wicked grin “And the only accommodation we could come up with then—well, an innocent like you were wouldn’t have even heard of a threesome, let alone a foursome. “You’re embarrassed. That’s so sweet.” “Not embarrassed. I’m impressed actually. I didn’t think the male mind would stretch quite that far at that age.” “Never underestimate the male mind when it comes to sex, darlin’.” “Okay, so I understand the past, but what has that got to do with us now?” “What it means, darlin’, is that it is only going to be a short time before Brett realizes I have been to see you, and Matty is due back any day, for good this time. That’s another complication. “What I’m telling you is that there is never going to be any jealousy between us where you are concerned. Basically, you want one, you get us all. Either singly or en masse, that’s up to you. Now, there is a chance Brett and you won’t find that spark. He is a hell of a lot more controlled now than what he used to be like, but don’t dismiss him out of hand because he used to be an unruly brat. “And as for Matt, I think you won’t have any trouble seeing him as all grown up now.” He looked at her carefully. “You are not going to pass out on me now, are you?”

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Jade knew her eyes were more than a little glassy. “Let me get this straight. I can finally have you, but if I do, Brett and Matty come as part of the package.” “That is basically it.” “I cannot believe this. I spent eight years tied to a man who got insecure if I even talked to another man, and you want me to fuck your brothers. I’m sorry, Nate, but the idea is going to take some wrapping my head around.” She stood and leaned against the rail, looking out across the valley. Nate rose to stand behind her, sheltering her within the curve of his big body as he leaned on the railing on either side of her. Jade could feel his heat soaking through her clothing even with the small distance he kept between them. “Take all the time you need, darlin’. We have all waited so long. A little longer won’t hurt that much” He stroked her hair back over her shoulder before laying his strong hands on them, gently kneading the tension there. Gradually, the tightness dissipated, and she relaxed back into the curve of his body. “No pressure?” Jade asked, eyes still closed, savoring the magic of his hands. “None at all, darlin” He leaned down to nuzzle against her neck where her head had lolled to the side. “That don’t mean I won’t try a little persuasion.” He kissed a line up her neck to her earlobe, playing his lips over the simple silver studs she wore. “Oh god, if you keep doing that I’m going to melt.” “That’s the idea,” he admitted huskily as he slid a hand to her waist, dragging his wicked mouth down to her shoulder, biting gently at the sweet spot where her shoulder met the column of her neck. Involuntarily, she arched up against his mouth, a small moan escaping her control. In answer Nate took a bigger bite, taking the muscle beneath the skin between his teeth and biting down harder until she gave up a moan of surrender.

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**** Nate licked an apology over a perfect rendering of his teeth marks marring her skin, hiding an anticipatory smile that would have done a tiger proud. It seemed his little darlin’ liked a little pain with her pleasure. He stood straighter, allowing her to turn in his arms. She reached up and caught the ultrafine hair at his nape that licked along his collar and pulled his head to within her reach. Nate reveled in the look of total abandonment on her face as he slowly yielded to her silent demands. This first deliberate kiss between them had been half their lifetime in the making. He was not going to let her rush him now. Their lips met softly, tasting and testing their fit. With a growl Nate gently licked into her mouth, catching her gasp of pleasure and returning her breath with a muttered curse as he felt her tongue came to stroke along his. Finesse flew out the window, along with most of his self-control as he fell into the kiss, their tongues dueling and teeth nipping as they sought to slake the hunger of years. The heat of her whiskey-flavored mouth had nothing on the fire burning through his soul. He clutched at the ragged remains of his self-control and held on for dear life. Her kiss was enough to send a man insane. She fell into it with total abandon, stoking the flames higher with her uninhibited passion. Swollen breasts were rasping against his chest even as the little vixen rubbed her mound against whatever purchase she could find on his lean, muscular thighs. It was the realization that she was driving herself toward orgasm that had the predatory male within him stepping up to take charge. There was no way she was getting an orgasm unless it was at his hand, and not before she decided to accept the Kelly brothers as a whole package.

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As good as it was, it was time to throw some ice on the proceedings. “Does this mean I should call Brett and tell him to come on over?” He felt a little smug that it took more than a few seconds for the meaning of his words to sink through the passion-drugged haze she floated in. “Huh, what? No!” “Just imagine it, darlin’. One of us could be going down on that greedy pussy of yours while the other kissed you and played with those neglected nipples.” Nate teased the stiff points with the back of his knuckles. He watched Jade’s head loll back as her body reacted to both the imagery he presented and his teasing caress. “Two cocks to pleasure you, four hands to touch you, and two tongues to do whatever you desire. We don’t scare easy, darlin’. Whatever your fantasy, we can make it happen.” He was more than a little disappointed to see her pull free of the sensual web he had spun. She moved away from him. “Go home, Nate.” “Sure, darlin’.” He stepped in closer once more. “Just one more thing.” He grabbed her hand in one of his and fisted the other in her mass of blonde hair, bringing her captured hand to rest along the ridge of his erect cock. “There is only one thing that makes me happy about leaving you in this state, darlin’. When I’m jerking this off tonight, thinking about all the things we could be doing right now,” he pressed her hand harder against his rampant flesh before kissing her palm, “I know you will be doing the same damn thing.” He kissed her hard, a real stamp of possession, before walking away. At the gate he whistled for the dog, but Gypsy merely cocked one eye before going back to sleep. He muttered something about a traitor as he fired up the truck and drove off, but a sight in the rearview mirror made him smile.

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Like a puppet with the strings cut, Jade sat down before she fell down.

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Chapter 6 The arrogant prick was right. That was the only coherent thought as she chased her pleasure mindlessly. Images flashed inside her head, Nate and a tall dark shadow, the heat of their bodies, the roughness of their hands. Skin like hot silk, hard bodies peppered with crisp hair, darkly whispered words of sin. Her fingers flicked over the slickness of her clit and pinched at her sharpened nipple as she reached for the pinnacle, needing more than she was able to do for herself. With a frustrated groan she reached into the bedside table for the vibrator she seldom used. The jelly-type dildo was a modest six inches and not too thick. She had been married when she bought it and had not wanted to make David feel inadequate. She hoped to hell the batteries were not dead flat. With a sigh she slid it home. Her copious natural lubrication providing no resistance as the latex phallus expanded muscles long neglected. Jade pushed it deep, loving the stretch she could feel all the way to her womb. Images of Nate over her filled her mind as she began to thrust the toy deep within, not bothering to turn on the vibrate function. The pads of two fingers circled the hard nub of her clit, faster and harder as the fantasy of being sandwiched between two men took hold. Every inch of her was covered by the heat of hard masculinity. She was helpless and vulnerable to their superior strength, loving every single second of their ruthless dominion.

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Her internal muscles clenched wildly as a stray thought crossed her mind: would they take her ass? After one painful and embarrassing experiment, David had thankfully ignored that part of her anatomy. But with Nate and his brothers embedded in her mind, the thought of two men had her willing to explore the possibilities. Her sphincter jerked in spasm, rebelling at the thought of being abused once more, but the seed of possibility had been sown. Jealousy had been her first reaction when she realized Nate had taken women with Brett before. His talk of not scaring easy had convinced her she wouldn’t be the first if she succumbed to their charm. But now, the thought of their experience was a definite turnon. They would know how to prepare a woman properly. Know exactly how to get her to that point where she would do anything just to reach her orgasm. They’d drive a woman to want to do anything to please them, and make her beg until pain and pleasure became indistinguishable. David had never understood her need for rough handling. She knew Nate would have no such qualms. His bite alone walked closer to the exquisite pleasure/pain line than she had previously experienced. The thought of him using his teeth down the length of her body had her clenching desperately around the latex invader. The first orgasm hit hard and fast so Jade ruthlessly drove her body on to another. She rode the white-hot wave of orgasm all the way to the shore before lying there soaking up the gentle, lapping tide of aftershocks. While not sated, she had at least taken the edge off enough to sleep. The trilling of her phone on the bedside table five minutes later was not all together unexpected. “Hey, darlin’.” Nate’s voice sounded as rich as the darkest chocolate and twice as fattening. “How are you going with it? Need a hand?”

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“Nope, all finished, thanks. You should have called ten minutes ago.” Jade managed to put a casualness she was not feeling into her reply. “So was I, darlin’, but that doesn’t mean I’m not up for round two.” “Sorry, already done that as well.” “Want me to come over and help you with thirds then?” Jade nearly laughed at his hopeful tone. “Not tonight. I need to get some sleep.” “Okay, darlin’, you win for now. You get your beauty sleep while I go and take a cold shower or two. I’ll come over on the weekend and see if I can be a little more persuading. ’Night, darlin’.” Jade groaned as she put the phone back on the table. That man’s voice ought to be illegal. Already, her traitorous body was singing for more. Yeah, he wouldn’t be the only one in a cold shower.

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Chapter 7 Three days later, Jade was just dragging her sore and sorry ass back into the house when the phone in her pocket started to ring. Looking at the caller ID in a hope to avoid problems of the Kelly variety, she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the veterinarian’s number. “Hey, Elly, how are you?” Her voice was genuinely cheerful at the prospect of talking to someone who wanted nothing but money from her. “Sorry, darlin’, it’s Nate. I need a favor.” Immediately suspicious, Jade couldn’t keep it out of her tone when she spoke. “Exactly what is this favor, Nate?” “It’s Matt. He just called me looking for a lift. The bus he was supposed to change on to down in Cheyenne had already left, and there won’t be another one until tomorrow. He hitched a ride as far as Sheridan. I’m helping Elly over at the Richards place and won’t be able to go for a couple of hours. I can’t get hold of Brett at all. Could you duck over and pick him up?” Jade chewed her lip in deliberation. Sheridan was only a fortyminute drive away. Matty waiting hours for one of his brothers just didn’t seem fair when she could be cleaned up and there in less than an hour. “Okay. I will go and get him. Where do I pick him up from?” Nate gave her directions, predictably to a bar. “No problem, I will just grab a quick shower and head over there.”

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“Mmm, wish I could help you with that.” The deep purr of Nate’s voice slid down Jade’s spine with a shiver. “Wear something nice for the boy. There’s not much chance for hanky-panky over where he’s been, and I know for a fact he hasn’t stopped for any on the way home. He always had a thing for your boobs, and now that you actually have some…” “Bye, Nate.” Jade overrode him emphatically before hanging up. One day the man might learn when to keep his mouth shut. Fifteen minutes later, though, she had a definite grin on her face as she sorted through her limited wardrobe for something just a little bit provocative to tease Matty with. She settled for a black bra with lace trim under a cool cotton white men’s dress shirt, which she tied at the waist, a pair of well-worn but well-fitted jeans and scuffed cowboy boots. A suede leather jacket topped it off. Glancing in the mirror, she undid another button on the shirt to better frame her cleavage before heading out the door with a bounce in her step. Matty had always had a bit of a crush on her when they were younger, and it had always done good things for her self-esteem to tease him just a little bit. God knew she could do with the boost right now. Not knowing how much in the way of luggage Matty would have, she got the old Ford pickup out of the garage instead of her car, which Gypsy took as a sign they were going for a drive to check on the horses. With a resigned sigh, Jade secured the old hound in the back where she could happily shoot the breeze before heading off toward Sheridan with more than a little anticipation in her heart. Forty minutes and three changes of radio stations later, she pulled up half a block down from the bar where Matty was waiting for her. Promising Gypsy she would only be a while, she made sure her water bowl was full and headed toward the crowded bar, where “thank god it’s Friday” was in full swing. The contrast between the cool dusk of spring and the warm, centrally heated comfort of the noisy bar was welcome. The thinness

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of her shirt beneath the open jacket was little barrier between the incessant wind and her pebbled skin. A typical workers’ bar, it was neither well lit nor extremely clean, but still, a relaxing and comfortable feeling permeated the establishment. Looking around trying to locate Matty without drawing the attention of any dim-witted, alcohol-fuelled, would-be Lotharios was a lot easier than it would be in a few hours when the alcohol consumption was higher. Matthew had been six-four when she had last seen him at eighteen and over two hundred and twenty pounds, with a thinning layer of puppy fat that had always made him seem like a big teddy bear created with the sole purpose of bringing comfort of those around him. A peaceful, loving nature and a contagious grin a mile wide had made him everybody’s friend, unless you happened to be on the other side of the fifty yard line. Even then you could guarantee he would still be grinning while he crushed you into the dust and gave you a hand back up afterward. A quick survey of the room showed he was not in the main bar. Seeing multiple doors leading off into a rabbit warren of smaller areas, Jade did the logical female thing and asked the barmaid where she could find a six foot plus, man-mountain with a big smile. After the young barmaid got over her wet-panty moment of recognition, she directed Jade through the door on the left to the pool room, where Jade had to deal with her own wet panty moment. Because leaning over the nearest pool table, lining up the black, was the best ass she had ever laid eyes on. It was tight as you like, big enough to get two full handfuls of, and had enough flesh to sink your teeth into. Jade had never liked scrawny asses on men, but the whole package there in front of her was not scrawny in any way. Big, wide shoulders stretched the white T-shirt that molded individual muscles as he lined up the shot, making his hard, tapered waist look a mile

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long as it tucked into low-riding jeans that cupped the glory of that ass. Long, muscular thighs bulged against the denim before it flared out over boots. Dragging her eyes back up the length of the sight before her, she realized her brain had not processed any sound since she walked into the room. Just how long had she been standing there gawking? The crack of the cue striking the white snapped her out of her drool fest. The man in front of her straightened up, and up, and up. He was at least six-six she decided as her jaw dropped, vaguely noticing that the black ball sunk into the far pocket with crisp precision. When she discerned his adversary was watching her with amusement, Jade resolutely picked up her jaw, resisted the urge to wipe her chin, and glanced around the crowded room for Matt. She spotted a pile of bags near an occupied table on the far side and headed in that direction, clenching her hands for control as she passed that magnificent ass and not allowing her eyes to stray from her own feet. She got three steps before her phone rang. Muttering a curse but glad for the distraction, she pulled it out of her jacket pocket. “Hello.” “Turn around.” Freezing, Jade turned slowly around. Gorgeous Ass was hunched back over the pool table, Mr. Amusement was still grinning at her from the other side, no one else was in sight. Her eyes flickered to the mirrored wall signs promoting long defunct beer brands. Holy shit! Gorgeous Ass had a phone tucked to his ear and a smile from ear to ear.

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Chapter 8 Holding her gaze, Matt put the phone in his pocket, the grin never wavering. Jade had only absently lowered the phone from her ear when he turned and swooped, plucking her up from the ground and swinging her around by her waist like a child, his grin threatening to split his face in two. After letting out that highly embarrassing “Eeep!” that only girls do, Jade could only smile back as he stopped spinning and just looked at her with good will shining from every pore of his body. Slightly disconcerted with her feet dangling two feet off the ground as if she weighed nothing, she placed her hands on the thick muscle of his shoulders. “Hell, Matty! What have they been feeding you? You have grown into a friggin’ giant!” He gathered her close, positioning his thick forearms under her ass to hold her securely. He burrowed his head into the base of Jade’s neck as he squeezed her tight. “Yeah, but I’m your giant.” He nuzzled closer, the regrowth of beard on his chin rasping against the upper slopes of her breasts. “Mmm, you smell so good.” Jade felt she deserved a medal for not wrapping her legs around his waist and grinding herself against him when his voice rumbled through her like thunder. The vibration played along every nerve ending, firing them into a sensory frenzy. This was not the Matty she used to tease. With this mouthwatering body and his natural charisma, this Matty could have any woman in the world at his beck and call. The lucky one who managed to snare him would be beating them away with a stick. He would have

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some young pretty thing on his arm in two seconds flat once they found out the soldier was back. That thought sobering her slightly, she pushed back in his arms so she could see his face, but while he let her move back, he wouldn’t lift his head. He let it fall forward so his forehead rested on Jade’s upper chest. It did not take a genius to figure out where he was looking. Managing to suppress a laugh at the predictability of men, Jade slipped her hand under his chin and tilted his chin up until his face was looking at her. It took a bit longer for his eyes to follow. “But that’s the best sight I have seen in forever,” he complained, his tone reminiscent of a two-year-old minus his favorite toy. The shit-eating grin kind of spoiled the effect, though. “Want to put me down now?” Jade asked with a wry grin, aware they had the attention of the whole room. “Nope. You feel too good.” His tone completely unrepentant, Matt held her tighter, leaning back to press her soft curves closer. “Everyone’s looking, Matt.” “Let ’em look. You still feel too good to put down.” “Matt! You’re embarrassing me!” “Why? Because I have got hold of you, or ’cause you’re enjoying it?” “Both,” Jade admitted with a squeak. With a grin he carried her to one of the low, wide seats in the corner and sat her cross-wise across his lap. Jade was beginning to feel like a rag doll as Matty just put her where he wanted with his amazing strength. “There, no one is looking at you now, and I can still hold you.” Jade swiveled around a little so she could see him and still be comfortable. “Do you think I am going to run away if you let me go?” she asked with amusement. Looking into his gray eyes, she saw a flicker of pain before he answered. “No, but indulge me, please, Jade. I have not touched a

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woman in nearly a year, and it has been twice as long since I just got to hold one, let alone one who means the world to me. Can you do that? Just sit there and let me hold you?” Jade gave him a solemn nod, leaning back into his supporting arm and resting her free hand against the solidness of his chest where his heart beat strongly under her palm. She couldn’t help but test the resilience of his muscles with her fingertips, kneading in like a cat testing its bed. “I can’t believe how big and solid you have ended up. How tall are you now?” His voice vibrated against her palm. “Six-seven.” “Jesus, no wonder I was getting altitude sickness when you lifted me up! And there’s no puppy fat left now. You shouldn’t feel cuddly, but you still feel comfortable.” Jade laid her head in against his shoulder. “I can’t believe you went into the forces. You don’t know how many bad dreams I had about you behind a firearm of any description.” Matt had always been totally useless with a rifle. Matty didn’t try to restrain his laugh as he gave her a gentle slap where his hand lay on her thigh. “Real funny, Jade. I had laser surgery on one of my eyes when I enlisted. Turns out I should have worn glasses the whole time.” “You would have looked cute in glasses,” she admitted. “It would have given Brett something else to tease me about,” he clarified. “And that would have given me another reason to belt him one.” “Like you needed any more reasons for that. How you two didn’t kill each other I have no idea. Brett has a permanent lump on the corner of his chin where you used to hit it.” He picked up her hand where it lay on his chest, his big hands making her strong work-worn hands look small and feminine. “And your knuckles are still scarred.” He ran his thumb over the faint lines marring the tanned skin of her hands.

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“If he hadn’t kept sticking it out, I wouldn’t have kept hitting it. It was just too easy a target when he stuck it out.” “Yeah, well, enough about Brett. I’ve got a beautiful woman on my lap, the prettiest pair of breasts I have ever had waved under my nose right here in front of me, and I’m as far from the Middle East as it is possible to get. My life is perfect.” He looked down at Jade with a satisfied smile. “It is so fucking good to be home, Jade. You have no idea how good.” Matt squeezed her closer. Jade let him hold her, grinning indulgently when he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her cleavage. “You know, you can still look at them on the way home. Someone else is waiting for you outside, and I don’t think she is going to like being kept waiting like this. If you can manage to let me go long enough to get out to the truck, you can hold me all the way home if you don’t make me run off the road.” “Can I drive?” His schoolboy enthusiasm had her biting back a laugh. “Got a license?” “Yeah, I just haven’t had a chance to use it very often. All the different vehicles I have been in for the last twelve years come with a driver. Brett sure as hell won’t let me drive his baby when I come home, and Nate’s always got to have his on hand for work, so until I buy one, I don’t get to drive.” His eyes lit up with hopeful excitement, Jade found it hard to believe that a soldier who has been to more countries than most airlines would be so excited at the simple pleasure of driving a car. “What did you bring?” “Just the old farm truck. I didn’t know how many bags you would have” “Mmm, bench seat and column shift,” he crooned. “Oh, baby, are you in some trouble on the way home!”

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He shifted Jade to stand between his spread thighs, resting his big hands lightly on her hips. “I’m not the only one who’s grown into themselves.” He gave her an appreciative squeeze. “You leave my fat alone thank you, Matthew Kelly!” Jade pulled away indignantly. Hurt dug deep with the little voice inside her head telling her that this man in front of her was way too much for the likes of her. Matt pulled her back to him, enfolding her in a bear hug. “Oh, honey, don’t take it like that. You’re a grown woman now with real curves, real nice curves,” he amended with a deliberate ogle of her exposed cleavage. “Now you have got some nice soft spots for a man to rest his head against. No one wants a bag of bones to come home to, Jade. We all want something to hold on to.” He patted her on the ass as he released her. “Come on, I’ll grab my bag, and we’ll get going. I’m kind of intrigued by who you have got waiting for me outside, and I just can’t get the possibilities of that bench seat out of my mind.” Matt gave her a diabolical waggle of his eyebrows as he said the last. Jade watched with wry amusement as the all-but-panting barmaid retrieved a carry bag from behind the bar and handed it to the giant with the roguish grin. “You might want to tone the charm down a bit, big guy, or she is going to have to change her panties,” Jade muttered teasingly. Matt gave the barmaid a wink before wrapping a hand around Jade to escort her out side. “I don’t think she is wearing any,” he whispered conspiratorially. Jade couldn’t help but slap his hard stomach in retaliation. “And you would know this because?” “Because the government, in all its wisdom, invested a lot of time and effort in teaching me to be observant. I like to practice this skill whenever I can.”

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His gray eyes sparkled with mirth as he looked down at the woman beside him. “It would be a crime to waste those taxpayer dollars you know.” “You’re incorrigible!” Shaking her head in mock exasperation, Jade led him up the dimly lit sidewalk to the battered old truck where Gypsy was having paroxysms of glee at the approach of her master. She stood back and watched the reunion, feeling her love for this big man, with an even bigger heart, grow anew. He had only been a boy when she left. Now, at thirty he had grown into the promise he had shown when she had last seen him twelve years ago and then some. Whatever he had been through as a soldier had left its mark in both the shadows that haunted his eyes and the hardness of his body. His face, too, was all planes and angles now. The strong jaw, high cheekbones, and slight cleft of Matt’s chin were enhanced by the twoday growth he sported. Jade restrained a shiver when she recalled the rasp of it against her exposed chest earlier. Don’t molest the boy! she reminded herself. The only problem was that he wasn’t a boy any longer. Definitely all man, she clarified as he leaned farther over the tub tray to ruffle Gypsy’s neck, giving her a perfect view once again of that gorgeous ass. “Are you checking out my ass, Jade Douglas?” So absorbed had she been in the view, she hadn’t noticed Matt look back over his shoulder. With her head cocked to the side for a better view, she couldn’t really deny the charge, so green eyes flashing, she decided to brazen it out. “Hell, yeah! Any woman with a heartbeat and binocular vision would be doing the same. That’s one fine ass, Matty.” “You can touch it. I won’t bite,” he quipped. Heat simmered beneath his teasing tone. “You can put your hands on me any place, any time, Jade. I would never turn you away.”

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Jade was a little taken back by the conviction in his voice—and titillated by his offer. David had not appreciated being touched anywhere outside the bedroom. “I bet you say that to all the girls,” she teased, fishing the keys out of her pocket. “Just the ones who let me drive their truck.” He stamped a kiss on her forehead while claiming the keys from her hand. He was all but bouncing in his skin as he unlocked the old pickup and opened the passenger door, giving Jade a pat on the ass as she climbed in. With a cheeky grin he vaulted over the bonnet and slid behind the wheel, looking like a kid in a candy store. “Nuh-huh.” He shook his head when she went to buckle into the seat against the door. “Get over here where I can reach you.” He patted the vinyl next to him, a good three foot from where Jade sat watching him with amusement. Feigning reluctance, she slid along the seat and buckled the oldstyle lap belt up. “That’s better.” The truck started with a rumble, the big 351 that powered it roaring with too much fuel being fed into it. “Ease up. You will blow the old beast up!” Jade cautioned and then let out a peal of laughter as he selected reverse instead of first and then bunny hopped in his panic to stop. “You sure you don’t want me to drive?” He found first and merged out into the light traffic. “No, I got it now.” Matt flashed her a grin as he turned out of town toward Miller’s Creek. “And I got you. Come here and lay down. I’ve got one spare hand, and you still feel too good to let go.” Acquiescing, Jade slipped off her jacket and let him maneuver her until she was lying on her back with her head resting against the hard muscle of his thigh, his big hand resting against her midriff as he hummed in contentment. “That’s much better. I could drive all night like this.”

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He gave Jade a naughty smile, “Of course it’s lucky there aren’t many trucks running tonight ’cause they would all be talking on the radios about the guy in the old Ford getting a head job.” “If you want me to stay here, you had better cut back on the teasing, Matty.” The planes of his face were made harsh by the dashboard lights. She caught the twinkle of his eye as he glanced down at her lying in his lap, the raw hunger of his gaze did not match his teasing tone. “And you had better be watching the road. I don’t want to end up in the ditch because you got distracted.” “I’ll keep my eyes on the road. I have everything I need right here at my fingertips.” He slid his hand into the knot holding her shirt together, the deftness of his fingers belying their size. Her midriff was exposed. He left only two buttons preserving her modesty. Jade unsuccessfully tried to restrain a shiver as his callused palm came to rest against her bare skin. “Fuck, Jade. You have no idea how good it feels to touch your skin. I can’t seem to get enough of it. It is like an addiction. The more I touch, the more I want.” He spread his hand and gently massaged the silken skin beneath it. Sucking in a breath, Jade tried for an even tone and failed, her voice dropping an octave with the effects of his touch. “It’s skin hunger, Matty. As babies we need touch to survive, even if they get everything else required to live, babies won’t thrive without human contact. When we get older, it can manifest as depression or a number of other complaints. It is not natural for you to go this long without human contact. It’s been a while since I had anyone to hold me, too, Matty.” Jade was feeling the need for a little comfort as well. Her body’s reaction to the man Matt had become overcame any lingering doubts, and there was the slightly twisted urge to pay Nate back for leaving her panting yesterday. “Touch me as much as you need to.” She gave him a wry grin. “I will try not to jump your bones.”

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“Well that kind of takes some of the fun out of it, but do try to restrain yourself. Nate would never forgive me if I got to you before he got a chance. He gave me a list of dos and don’ts as long as your arm.” Jade groaned, bristling with indignation, “So, tell me, did you two compare notes or something? Is there some kind of ‘let’s-get-Jadeinto-bed-so-all-three-of-us-can-have-a-go’ plan floating about?” Matt rubbed soothing circles against her skin as he answered. “It is not like that at all, honey. Fuck, we have known you and loved you our whole lives, Jade. As brothers we have survived because we looked out for each other. You have a piece of each of our souls. We are not going to destroy each other trying to get you for just one of us to hold. “Whether you want to or not, you belong to us, just as we belong to you. Hell, seeing the mess Nate made of his marriage, and I heard enough about yours, I hope you understand that there can be no other for any of us. It is completely up to you what we make of our lives. No one is going to push you into anything, but only you can make us into a family again, Jade. “Please just have a think about it. That’s all I ask.” He squeezed her ribs gently. “That’s enough deep and meaningful for one night. I’m home. I have a beautiful woman in my lap who thinks I have a cute butt. And I am absolutely certain she has the nicest breasts I have ever laid eyes on.” He dragged one callused thumb along the underside of Jade’s breast through the satin of her bra. “Undo that shirt and just let me play for a while. No sex. Just a bit of touch to make us both feel better.” Looking up at his shadowed face, emotion was peeking through the lighthearted expression he used as a shield. Jade’s hands rose hesitantly to undo the two buttons that held her shirt closed.

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She was gratified to feel the tremble in Matt’s big hand as she spread the fabric to reveal her black lace-clad breasts, and more than a little concerned by the sound of gravel peppering the under carriage of the vehicle. “Watch the road, Matt!” “Shit!” His muttered expletive made Jade giggle despite the danger of the moment. Another swerve later, and he had the truck back on the road. “I’ll watch the road now, but damn, what a sight.” He slipped his big hand up to cup a breast, kneading its fullness experimentally through the near-transparent fabric. Green eyes disappeared as her heavy lids slid closed with pleasure, only to spring back as a thumb flicked across a nipple, startling a gasp from her throat as his wicked thumb teased the nubbin to full arousal. “So responsive, big, hard nipples just begging to be touched.” Matt’s voice became rougher, fuelling the desire simmering in Jade’s loins. He subjected its twin to the same sweet torture. Jade writhed against the seat when his touch grew rougher, Matt rolling the furled bud firmly between finger and thumb. “To hell with what Nate wants. If you keep doing that I’m going to rape you right here in this car, Matt.” She tilted her head back farther into his lap as her back arched, rubbing her temple against the impressive bulge in his pants. “That feels so damn good.” Matt’s smile was pure male satisfaction as his hands continued to make her writhe. He sucked in a breath as she turned her face to nuzzle at his erection through the denim. He was so damn hard she was sure there would be a zipper print indelibly embedded on his cock. “So what did his royal highness say was and was not allowed?” She let the moist heat of her breath bathe his shaft through his jeans as she spoke. He had to clear his throat before he could talk. “Um, no intercourse, and I’m not allowed to make you come.”

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“They’re the only restrictions?” She nestled even closer going in search of the zipper tab with her teeth. He sucked in a breath as the zipper start to give. “No, your pants have got to stay on, too.” “He said nothing about yours?” The zipper was at half-mast now. “Nope, not a thing about mine,” he replied in a tight voice. She turned her head to look up at the big man towering over her, carnal thoughts flowing through her mind like single malt whiskey, strong, heady, and too damn satisfying to be any good for you. “How about you find somewhere to pull over then, and we will explore a few possibilities your big brother must have forgotten about.” Three seconds later the old Ford pulled to the shoulder in a cloud of dust. Matt wrenched it into park with little respect for the aged transmission. He lifted Jade’s head with a handful of dark blonde locks when her hot little tongue slipped between the teeth of his zipper to flick against his engorged shaft. “Not yet, honey. You are not wrapping those lovely lips around my dick until I have a taste of them. Come up here and kiss me, Jade. Show me what I’ve been missing all these years.” He turned toward her, leaning his back against the door for support as she climbed him like a tree. She licked her lips, the anticipation building as her hands kneaded into the deep muscle of his shoulders. Matt was having trouble looking anywhere but at her creamy breasts sitting in their lacy cups before him. Raw hunger built within her as she eyed his lips as if they were all that mattered. As if her life depended on tasting him. She leaned into him, hovering a breath away from his passive but willing mouth. Her tongue darted out and caressed his upper lip, a deliberate swipe that left her aching for more. His heavily hooded eyes dared her to continue. Matt obediently opened his mouth when

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her tongue begged entrance at the seam of his lips, stroking insistently for admittance. Jade let out a groan of pure need and pillaged his mouth. Never had Jade had a man let her do as she wished with his mouth. David had not been much of a kisser at the best of times. In the early years he had seen it as a prerequisite to the main event, to be rushed through in order to get laid. In later years, even those hurried kisses were dispensed with. Since David, the only one to kiss her had been Nate only a few days ago, and his masterly, domineering mouth had taken her free will, stamping his sexual dominance over her body with a power that had left her breathless. But this… this was a different pleasure. The receptive passivity of Matt’s mouth filled her with a sense of erotic power she had never known. He gifted her with the luxury to take what she wanted, to enjoy what she wanted without having the reins snatched out of her hands. The strength of his body, all those muscles beneath her palms, all that dormant strength, and still, he let her have her way with him. The big man took everything she offered, but still did not snatch control away from her. With a heady moan, she fell further into the kiss, relishing the sweet, masculine taste of Matthew’s submission. **** With hands gently stroking the woman on his lap, Matt laid back and enjoyed the closest thing to heaven he had ever experienced. Strong, shapely thighs straddled him, flexing in reaction when he ran his hands over their denim-clad length. Her hands caressed his body hungrily. To him those muscles had been a tool to maintain in order to do his job, but now he knew he would keep hitting the weights just for the satisfaction of knowing they turned Jade on.

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The evidence of her arousal perfumed the air and rubbed against the hardness of his stomach as he let her have the other thing he knew his brothers would not be able to give her. Control. Or at least the illusion of it. Brett was a straight-up control freak and Nate was a man who liked to have power in the bedroom, to know his woman would cede to his sexual dominance. Matt was used to being the biggest and strongest, but he cherished being able to give up control to a lover, to give them free rein to do what they would at their own speed. It had been so long since he had had a woman of any kind. Holding this woman who knew his tortured past and loved him anyway, who had been the subject of so many unfulfilled dreams, was a pleasure he had never expected to experience. To lie back and let her use his mouth and body for her own pleasure, to meet the thrust of her tongue with a lazy lick of his own, and to caress her slowly undulating body with his big, rough hands, was worth every bit of hardship he had lived through, both in childhood and the hellish sandbox of the Middle East. Pushing the past back, he decided to wind the little spitfire in his lap up tighter. He lifted one of her busy hands from his neck and led it toward the center of her arousal, stroking it back and forth at the low waistband of her jeans. “Play with yourself, Jade. He only said I couldn’t touch or get you off, he didn’t say anything about you doing it yourself. I want to see you come, baby.” **** The rumble of voice from his deep chest streaked through her body like a giant vibrator. Any thought of denying him dashed to the wicked demands he seduced her with. A man who could talk dirty, a rare specimen so far only encountered in torrid romance novels, was something that set Jade on fire.

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Her hand slid easily inside her jeans, her progress accompanied by Matt’s litany of sweet depravity. “That’s it, tell me how wet you are. I wish I could feel it, your pussy all slick and creaming for me.” He licked at Jade’s kiss swollen lips. “I want to taste it, baby. Let me have a taste. Let me lick your juices off your fingers. Please, Jade, I’m dying for a taste.” Hesitantly, slim fingers rose from where they had been rapidly circling her aching clit to paint across his bottom lip. With a groan of hunger, Matt grabbed her hand and sucked every drop of cream from her fingers. “Again, more,” he entreated, his hands sliding to remove the last barrier between his mouth and her luscious breasts. Jade complied. In her haste to feel the delicious suction of his mouth at her fingers again, she barely noticed her bra and shirt falling by the wayside. This time he led her hand to her breast, painting one nipple with the proof of her desire. Jade’s gasp nearly drowned out his groan of pure pleasure as he laved her ruched nipple with the flat of his tongue before pulling it into his mouth to draw deeply. He didn’t make that usual male mistake and only suck the nipple. No, he drew it back and worked the peak against the roof of his mouth with a worshiping tongue. Jade nearly came on the spot when the answering contraction of her womb ripped through her. Releasing the first sweetly tortured bud, he dragged the stubble of his beard across her chest to rasp around the other proud nipple, sending shivers down her spine as she worked desperately at the swollen knot of her clit. “More cream, Jade. Give me some more, honey.” Eager to feel the pull of his mouth again, she coated half of her breast with the syrup flowing from her body. “So good, baby! You taste so fucking good!” Jade felt the pressure building, each touch of his lips, each stroke of his tongue, every roughly whispered entreaty stoked the fire higher. “Hold me tight, Matty. I’m going to come!”

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Jade held his head tight with one arm as her fingers worked feverishly to drive herself over the edge. **** Matt found his face pressed against the delicate strength of her shoulder. Unable to resist a little show of dominance, he sealed his lips over that sensitive place where neck and shoulder meet and left his mark, sucking hard enough to draw blood to the surface, marring the smooth perfection of her skin. The little bite of pain threw her over the edge. Head back in a silent scream, she rode the waves of orgasm as it ripped through her, cupping her sex to prolong the ride. Matt lifted his head to watch her abandonment, committing every passion-filled nuance of expression to memory. Profound wonderment overcame him as he watched her take her pleasure, the absolute conviction that there was nothing so beautiful as a woman climaxing in his arms. He watched as she returned to herself, waiting to see a bit of discomfort as self-consciousness crept in. But instead a different type of hunger showed in her predatory gleam. She nipped at his lower lip. “Your turn, big guy. Just sit back and let me play.” Matty watched with anticipation as she kissed and nipped her way down his body, hooded eyes following every move while she unbuttoned his pants. The half-opened zipper gave way to the laws of physics as the pressure from his cock forced it down. Jade lifted him entirely from his confinement so that his halfdrawn-up balls rested atop the embrace of his open jeans. Her hands caressed his length. He loved the expert way she handled him. There were no tentative touches from this woman.

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“God, Matty!” she gasped appreciatively. “You’re gorgeous. Look how big you are in my hands.” Matt looked down to where her hands wrapped him. He knew himself to be just a little larger than average, mainly in girth, but used to seeing his cock held by his big beefy hands, he looked flatteringly large held in Jade’s eager, two-handed grip. She ran her thumbs in tight circles around the sweet spot just under the broad head, sliding one hand down to set his balls on fire as she spied the drop of pre-come gathering at his eye. When he watched her lick her lips, he knew what she had planned, but that still did not prepare him for the devastating lash of her tongue as she collected the nectar from his cock. **** Pure ambrosia. That was the only way to describe his taste. A salty tang to complement the clean masculine musk of his skin played across her tongue. Greedy for more, Jade wet her lips and drew him into the wet heat of her mouth, intoxicated by his heartfelt sounds of pleasure as she began to work his cock. His hands buried into her hair but did not try to control her movements in any way. “So good, Jade. Your mouth is so damn hot. Oh, do that again with your hand. I’m not gonna last long, baby. If you don’t want me to come in your mouth, you had better stop!” In answer, she took him to the back of her mouth, her gag reflex kicking in at his width. “Oh, fuck. Baby. I mean it. I’m gonna come.” The raw pleasure in Matt’s voice just made her more determined to take him deeper. She had never been able to deep throat, but with a little perseverance she had been able to swallow down on the head of David’s self-centered cock, but he’d had about half the width she was trying to manage now. Relaxing her throat and just enjoying the taste and texture of the magnificent organ in her mouth, she began to take him deeper, loving

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the sound of desperation that crept into his cries and moans. Matt held nothing back from her. He put his enjoyment out there for her pleasure, every labored breath and sexy sound. She loved it. She felt his cock nudge her throat and swallowed before she could gag. Her fingertips felt the cum boil in his balls before he stiffened. A tortured groan tore from his throat as he began to pulse against her tongue. Swallowing greedily, she coaxed every salty drop from his pleasure-wracked body, softly massaging his balls to prolong his pleasure as he spent the last of his essence in the hot depths of her willing mouth. With a final swipe of her tongue, Jade slowly lifted her head from his depleted body, snuggling in against the big hand that cupped half of her face. “You have no idea at the number of dreams you just made come true, Jadey.” Matt wiped a spot of moisture from the corner of her mouth. “I was hoping for a kiss on the way home, but that was way more than I bargained for.” His gaze locked on to the beard rash and bright-red love bite on the side of her neck. “Man, are we going to hear all about this when we get home. There is no hiding that hickey or your swollen lips,” he added with a satisfied grin. “Big brother is just going to have to suck it up and get over it.” Jade turned to check herself in the rearview mirror, flicking the overhead light on to better see in the rapidly darkening twilight. She hardly recognized the woman in the mirror. Swollen, full lips and passion-drugged eyes were complemented by hair that looked exactly what it was, styled by the grip of a lover’s hand. Freshly bedded was the term that came to mind, but that wasn’t entirely true. Though she had come, and come strongly at that, her body still ached to have a man deep inside her.

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Matt ran the back of his knuckles over her still-hardened nipple. “If you are going to sit there with the light on, you might want to put some clothes on. I can see some headlights coming our way.” He handed her the shirt and bra from where they decorated the steering wheel. Wiggling back off his lap, she watched unabashedly as he tried to tuck himself back into his jeans. Matt was one of those lucky men who made other guys jealous, a shower more than a grower. He was large even when flaccid, and his pants had worked down his hips when he had writhed under her ministrations. There was no way he could rearrange his wedding tackle to fit back in his pants without getting up. Jade watched enthralled. Finally, he gave up, and after the headlights had passed, he stepped out of the truck to straighten his clothing and get everything back inside. He reached into the back of the pickup before getting back behind the wheel. Jade had just finished tying her shirt. He straightened a twist in her bra strap before handing her the bottle of water he had retrieved from his bag. “I thought you might like a drink.” There was no mistaking the knowing satisfaction in both his voice and his grin. She took the proffered bottle with an eloquent smile of her own. He was just so damn pleased with himself. He looked like a child who had just found everything he had ever wanted under the tree at Christmas. A few swallows of water had her feeling a bit less like her throat had been glued shut. She had never known a man to have such a large volume of ejaculate, and she was sure some of it still coated her throat. After taking another drink, she recapped the bottle and offered it back. Much to her surprise, Matty took a long swig. Her ex-husband would never let her mouth near him once she had gone down on him, let alone drunk out of the same vessel afterward.

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Matt obviously had no such hang-ups as he pulled her to him and kissed her thoroughly before starting the car.

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Chapter 9 Jade settled under his arm as he pulled back onto the near-deserted blacktop. She leaned her head against the meaty slab of his chest, enjoying the play of muscle under her cheek as he caressed her hip soothingly. “So what are you going to do now that you’re out?” she asked, trying to move her mind from the carnal thoughts beginning to stir with proximity to his large body. “Financially, I don’t have to go back to work for a bit, so I am hoping to just bum around for a while. I want to give Nate a hand with the farm, help him build it up to what he wants it to be. “It will be good just to get up in the morning and have time to do what I want. I don’t care if I am out baling alfalfa before dawn or haulin’ hay in three feet of snow, I’m doing it because I want to.” He reflected on what he was trying to say. “For twelve years, I have followed rules and regulations. Eaten when I was told, slept when I could, worked out because I had to. It will be heaven to take charge of my own life. Enjoy the simple pleasures.” He held Jade closer. “Like driving the highway at night with my favorite girl in my arms.” “I can’t imagine what it would be like to live with your life that regimented. I can’t abide being told what to do.” Jade ignored his knowing snort. “When you run out of things to do at home, I’ve got more things to do than hours in the day. If you can remember how to ride, there will be plenty of young ones to work in the next month or so. Most of them are grown enough to lug your big frame around.”

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“I haven’t been on a horse for a few years now, but I still remember how to strap for you. If you’ve some quiet old plug for me to get on for a bit, I might get up to riding the rough ones, but I would much prefer to watch you ride them.” He gave a nostalgic smile and a rueful laugh. “I used to love watching you ride. I think that’s why I was never as good as Nate and Brett. They would be in there trying to outdo you on their old cowponies while I sat back and enjoyed the show.” Jade gave a bit of a laugh. “I haven’t been doing much either. If you can make it over, I think you will be spending most of your time picking me up out of the dust.” “I hope you still land on your ass when you fall. I’ll dust it off and kiss it better for you before you get back on.” “You’re incorrigible!” “Don’t go using big words around me. I’m just a dumb linebacker, remember? I will have to dust off my dictionary when I get home just to keep up with you.” “Bullshit, Matt. You have always been a lot smarter than you let on. I never brought that big dumb act then, and I won’t buy it now.” “Yeah, but pretty girls help you when they think you are too dumb to pass a subject on your own,” Matt admitted unashamedly. “But that never worked in the Army. Drill sergeants don’t care if you fall behind, and they don’t have nice boobs to perve on. Mine didn’t anyway.” “You really are a breast man, aren’t you?” Jade laughed. “Yep. I mean I love the rest, too, but nice boobs do it for me every time. Except for fake ones. They look okay, but they don’t give in your hand the same way, and I’ve always had this vision of sucking too hard and getting a face full of silicone. Scary shit!” He flicked a thumb over the side of Jade’s shirt-clad breast. “Yours are perfect.” “Are you sure they fixed your eyes? They are squishy and saggy and downright scary without a bra.”

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“No, they are soft and giving. They are mother’s breasts. I cannot think of a place I would prefer to lay my head.” She tightened involuntarily when he mentioned motherhood. “I didn’t know you had a child, Jade. I’m pretty sure Nate would have told me if he knew.” “I don’t want to talk about it.” Jade’s voice was flat and emotionless. “And I would prefer it if you kept it to yourself. They don’t need to know.” “I’m not going to tell them, honey. But they are not stupid. If there is one thing those two know their way around, it is a woman’s body in all its varieties.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “It doesn’t matter what happened or why. We will stand by you, Jade. After all the times you were there for us, all the mess you helped clean up, and all the times you patched us up, there is nothing we wouldn’t do for you, and we would never judge you.” “Unfortunately, it is not your judgment that counts.” Matthews’s phone trilled sharply, thankfully interrupting the conversation. After some very abrupt yes-no answers he put the phone down and turned into the lane leading to Douglas Park. “I thought I would drop you off and then come home,” Jade interjected. “That was Nate. He’s at your place. Harry called Elly about one of the colts. It’s fine, just a bit swollen. He said he would take me home from there, save you an extra trip.” They rode in silence up the lane to the farm. Lights were burning along the stable block where two extra vehicles waited. Jade recognized them as belonging to Nate and Elly. Rather than driving to the house, Matt pulled up next to the parked vehicles. He killed the lights and turned to Jade. “I once knew a girl who had two words emblazoned on her bedroom wall. It took me years to find out what they meant. I hope she still remembers herself. Desiderium Nusquam.”

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Jade froze as he kissed her briefly before stepping out of the vehicle. She had been doing a project for school and was asked to create a Latin motto for her philosophy After all the careful deliberation a hedonistic, hormonal sixteen-year-old could give it, she came up with Desiderium Nusquam—Regret Nothing. She couldn’t believe how naïve she had been then. She hadn’t learned then that the world was just waiting to bite you on the ass, and it had teeth. The noisy reunion taking place outside the truck snapped her out of her introspection. Nate and Matty met with much hand pumping and back slapping, too manly to hug. Elly was not spared Matt’s exuberant embrace and found herself twirled through the air. When he finally released her, Matt turned back to Jade. “I’m going to let Gypsy off for a run. You go and check your colt.” Jade noticed Nate give them a sharp glance as he picked up on their tension. She ignored him and followed Elly into the barn, where the young horse was stabled, awaiting his owner’s inspection. “…just a bit more swelling than usual,” Elly was saying. “I have given him a shot of penicillin, but what he needs is to move around a bit more. Perhaps you could put him back with the ones we didn’t geld to encourage him to exercise. There is no danger of him bleeding out, but he needs to move to promote better drainage. He should be fine, but if you are worried at all, give me a call in the morning.” She gave a happy grin. “If you will excuse me, there’s a big oaf outside I need to spend some time with before I go home.” Jade said goodnight and let herself into the stall to give the colt a once over. She agreed with Elly’s assessment completely. She opened the door to the day yard that adjoined the stable. Alone, without his paddock mates, the colt would give himself enough work pacing the fence until she could let him out with the

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others in daylight. She found Nate leaning over the stall, awaiting her return. “Grown up, hasn’t he?” She didn’t even try to pretend she didn’t know who he meant. “Definitely. He’s not a boy any longer. He is freaking huge! I always thought he would grow a bit more, but I didn’t expect this.” She smiled fondly. “He has still got the same big heart and infectious grin, though.” “Yeah, it’s good to know he wasn’t scarred as deep as the rest of us.” She knew her shirt had fallen back from her neck when his eyes widened and then filled with mirth. He reached out and tilted her head to the other side. “This side, I know they’re my teeth marks, but that side, I didn’t do that. Mmm, looks fresh, too. And one hell of a beard rash. Your lips look a bit puffy, as well. “Have you been molesting my baby brother?” He grinned unrepentantly as a blush stole up her cheeks. “We didn’t break any of your precious edicts.” Her chin lifted defiantly. “No? I bet you bent the hell out of them, though.” He stepped into the stall, crowding her against the half wall. “I bet, as soon as you found out what I said you couldn’t do, you went further than you would have. Tell me, darlin’, did you enjoy all those muscles? Did you strip that shirt off him? Have all that hard, bare skin under your hands?” Jade shook her head, mesmerized by the sensual heat emanating from him. “What, you didn’t like the muscles or didn’t pull his shirt off?” “The shirt, I left the shirt on.” She breathed, his physical proximity stealing her wits. “Did you let him play with your breasts? Has he seen them?” His body fell gently against hers as she nodded.

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“Did he get to touch them?” His deep voice sent shivers of awareness down her spine as she whispered affirmation. “Has he had them in his mouth, Jade? Matty will spend hours with his head buried in a woman’s breasts if she will let him. Did you let him have his way with your breasts, Jade?” Nate gathered her yes in his mouth as he bent to kiss her. He kissed her as if he would devour her from the lips down. Hungrily, deeply, desperately. He pulled away abruptly, leaving her senses reeling. “Did you finish him off in your hand, Jade? He doesn’t look like a man who has gone wanting. Did you show him some pity?” At the talk of pity, Jade found her backbone. She pushed upright, sending Nate back a pace. Now to put the arrogant prick in his place! “Actually, Nate, I went down on him.” She pushed past his shellshocked body and exited the stall. “And I loved every second of it.” **** Fuck! Nate felt his world rock around him. A maelstrom of emotions racked him. Lust, pure and simple, was the dominant one, along with envy. Matt had had the pleasure of her mouth before he had a chance. No, he had to admit that he had had many chances, but more was at stake than him finally getting to slake his lust on Jade Douglas’s willing body. He was pleased to find no trace of jealousy. The arrangement he had in mind had no room for jealousy, but a touch of healthy envy was a different story. Shaking his head in stunned disbelief, he went in search of his baby brother. And some details. Lots of details. He wanted a blow-by-blow recount, no part too small to leave out. He might be denying both himself and Jade a lot of pleasure for the

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sake of his brothers, but that didn’t mean he did not want to know everything. For the moment his right hand and living vicariously was all he had. And by the smug look the little vixen had given him with her parting shot, his little brother had enough hard-on fodder to keep him going for another night. In the back of his head, a little voice was celebrating. Two down, one to go.

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Chapter 10 Two down, one to go. Jade groaned as the thought struck her upon waking. Fuck! I need coffee before this shit! She told her brain to let it go, worried she would fry some synapses trying to think before being adequately fortified with caffeine. The clock said 5:35 a.m. Six hours of sleep was not nearly enough but better than she had been averaging. Pottering about uselessly, she eventually brewed some passable coffee and sat in front of the wood stove to drink it. That would have been a lot more pleasurable if she had remembered to bank it the night before. The kitchen was like an icebox. So she sat with Gypsy curled around her feet, who had refused to go home last night. Wrapping the big, fluffy robe tighter about her, she kept trying to ignore the recurring thought, two down, one to go. In the end it did no good. Pouring a second cup, she allowed herself to come to terms with a few simple facts. One, she had kissed, with carnal intent, two men in as many days. Two, she had enjoyed it. Immensely. Three, both men knew about the other and were in fact encouraging her. And finally, if she would only accept their brother as well, she could have them all in their entirety. No more neediness, no more sexual frustration. Someone to share her life with. There were only two problems. Too many secrets and Brett.

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Avoidance was defiantly the best course of action where he was concerned. If she could persist in steering clear of him, Nate and Matty would continue to tempt her. Their attentions were something she could really learn to enjoy, and if they didn’t come through, there was always her trusted vibrator. Note to self: stock up on batteries. But, on the other hand, it would be better to meet Brett on her own terms. Get the upper hand from the start. Yep, that would do it. She would engineer some excuse to get him out to fix something. Her Camaro! If he was like most mechanics, he would come in his greasy overalls at the thought of getting his hands on the ’69 muscle car. No, not her baby. She would have a fit if he laid a hand on it. The truck would have to do. She would break something simple on it and play dumb. Course of action decided, she got changed and went out to face the world, confident she was in control. That went well until just after lunch, a horse transport truck had picked up the two fillies to take to the breakers, and all the new geldings were checked over and doing fine. She had also spent a very productive few hours with Kenny in the round yard where he had soaked up every lesson like a sponge. Then came the message from Harry: Toby had been dropped off at the wrong property, and he was creating havoc on the Kelly place. Fuck! If there was one thing Toby was good at, it was engineering trouble. He liked to chase things, a lot. If they ignored him, he wandered off, but if they ran, it was on. He would chase and draft anything that was available: dogs, other horses, and men being his personal favorites. Strangely, he had never bothered a woman or child. He could also undo knots and gate latches with equal ease. She hooked the trailer up to the old Ford and headed over to the Kelly farm. Determinedly forcing back nightmares from the last time she had been on the property, Jade began to worry about what the

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lovable but very trying horse was up to. It could be damn near anything. She had lost count of the times she had gotten phone calls to extricate him from sticky situations. He had invited himself to a wedding party on the church grounds next door to his agistment paddock once, eaten the cake, and chased the groom. He was not popular that day, but the couple sure had a one of a kind wedding video. Toby also had a tendency to remove washing from lines he came across. He much preferred whites to colors. But he was the one who had kept her life bearable over the last few years, so she treasured him for the gem he was, flaws and all. Dust was billowing from the area behind the sprawling homestead. Jade pulled up a respectful distance from a fully restored, 1951, sunfire-yellow, stepside F-100 pickup. Wiping the drool from her chin, she circled the work of art slowly, the flawless finish reflecting every worshipful step. Her matt-black Camaro was meant to be driven, but this, this was meant to be drooled over. Every piece of chrome gleamed. Every panel was polished within an inch of its life. This wasn’t just someone’s pride and joy, this was their life. Reluctantly tearing herself away from the classic machine, Jade headed for the cloud of dust still rising steadily. Stepping through the wrought-iron house yard gate, she circled behind the house, noticing numerous improvements and changes that had taken place. There was a new outdoor entertainment area, complete with covered deck, built-in bar and barbeque, and a lacquered hardwood setting for eight. There also appeared to be some new rooms added to the back of the century-old building. A lot of the yards and out buildings she remembered were also gone. She was thankful the old round yard that used to be on the eastern side of the house no longer existed outside her nightmares.

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A tall, male figure leaned against the weathered stonework wall, not big enough for Matt and built more compactly than Nate. With that black Irish coloring, it had to be Brett. He was facing a chicken run of sorts, which at the moment happened to contain a lot of flying feathers, two yapping dogs, one rather portly palomino quarter horse, and what appeared to be one oversize Kelly brother halfway up a sapling that was struggling with the task. Trying to contain her amusement, Jade took a deep breath to fortify herself and stepped up next to Brett. “Sorry it took me so long to get here.” “Hey, stranger! Don’t worry about that. I haven’t seen anything this entertaining for years.” Brett turned with a smile. “You watch, every time Matt slips down the tree, that mad horse of yours ducks in and nips him on the ass. We should sell tickets to this.” “I’m so fucking glad you’re having fun, Brett!” Matt’s rather pissed off interjection from the tree came through loud and clear. “Jade, come and get this fucking horse.” Jade had never heard Matt curse in anger. Brett must have picked up on it, too. “Lady present, numbnuts. Watch your mouth.” “Sorry, I’m too busy watching my ass at the moment” was his pithy retort. Jade had to laugh. “I think I had better go save him.” “Can’t we leave him there just a little bit longer?” This new, lighter Brett was a creature she had never encountered before. He smiled down at her, the combination of black hair and bright blue eyes damn near stealing her breath. Had he always looked so striking, or had he grown into it with maturity? All she could remember with any clarity was the jut of his chin, but that, too, had changed. He no longer looked at her as if he was spoiling for a fight. His body language was relaxed and confident, open and friendly in a way she could not reconcile with the angry, highly strung youth she had known.

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Matty chose that moment to embarrass her. “Jade, remember how you said I had a cute ass? Well it’s not going to be there at all if you don’t hurry up!” “You told him he had a cute ass?” Jade felt the heat steal to her face as Brett turned back to her, a wide smile creasing his lean cheeks. Jade chose to ignore him. “I’ll just get that horse.” She could feel piercing blue eyes on her every step of the way. A shrill whistle brought the big horse straight to his mistress. She took hold of his head stall and rubbed his sweaty ears. “You big old fool. What were you chasing the chickens for, huh?” A loud crack had her turning in time to see the struggling tree come down with Matty still attached. She winced and turned back to the horse. Brett handed her a lead rope. “Actually, he wasn’t chasing the chickens. The pups were chasing the chickens. Matt was chasing the pups, and then this fella decided he liked the look of Matt.” Brett ran a practiced hand over Toby’s heavily crested neck. “He looks like he could do with the exercise. I didn’t know horses could get this fat.” “He’s just a good doer,” she defended Toby weakly. He really was getting too fat. “Hey, should we check on Matty?” He was still lying on the ground moaning. “No he’s just looking for some sympathy. He’ll be fine,” Brett assured her without even looking at his fallen brother. “The hens are a different story. It will be weeks before we get any eggs from those girls.” Jade looked worriedly at where the big man lay sprawled on the bare earth with the shattered sapling beside him, now not making any noise at all. “Here, hold Toby for a minute. I would never forgive myself if he really was hurt.” ****

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Brett took the lead and watched with amusement as Jade hurried over to where Matt lay. “And she called you a fool,” he muttered to the gelding, absently stroking the velvet of his nose. Resignedly, he waited while his brother feigned death, lying in wait for Jade to lean close enough. As expected, Matt toppled her to land full-length atop him. The girly squeal she emitted made Brett beam. The Jade he had known would have died before letting such a feminine noise escape her control. It made a man wonder what other sounds could be wrung from her. Matt soon had her laughing and shrieking as she halfheartedly tried to fight off the growling giant trying to maul her neck. Brett bit back a laugh when Jade caught his brother with a short right to his ribs that made him release her. The new, girly Jade still remembered a few old tricks. He was still grinning when she stalked back over, gathering her dignity as she went. “Can I say ‘I told you so,’ or will that just make you madder?” She gave a rueful grin. “Nah, I deserve that. You would think I’d learn, but I couldn’t leave him there without checking.” “He’s not a baby anymore, Jadey. He’s all grown up now.” His eyes dropped to flick over her nipples, aroused from her contact with Matt and pressing hard against her shirt, before locking onto the prominent love bite exposed where the top button had come undone in her wrestle with the big fool wandering in their direction. “But you don’t need me to tell you that.” Jade let out an exasperated sound. Taking the lead rope from Brett’s hand, she turned on her heel and led Toby toward the float, muttering darkly about the need for less Kelly men on this earth. Just as she reached the vehicle, the third brother turned up. “Great. Just fucking great.” Jade snarled, barely audible. Brett kept his smile to a minimum and followed.

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“Hey, darlin’. That a horse or a yellow hippo?” Nate gave Toby a light slap on the rump as he walked to her. Brett winced when he saw how long it took the fat to stop reverberating. She really needed to put that horse on a diet. “Leave him alone. He’s just solid,” Jade defended her horse. “Now that I have him home, he can get a bit more work. He will drop a bit of weight then.” Her nonchalance was clearly feigned as Nate kept coming toward her, not stopping until he put an arm around her and kissed her briefly but thoroughly. He plucked some twigs out of her hair with a raised eyebrow before he released her. The blush that rushed to her face wasn’t missed by any of them. She dropped the tailgate and told Toby to load up, throwing the lead over his wither. The big horse put himself on the float and waited patiently for her to close the tailgate. Big hands beat her to the job, lifting the heavy ramp effortlessly. “Thanks, Nate.” She turned to walk to the cab but apparently couldn’t resist feasting on the yellow eye candy parked beside the old farm truck. Brett walked up beside her, thumbs tucked into the belt loops on his jeans. “Nice, isn’t she? Want to come for a drive?” “She’s yours?” Jade asked excitedly, peering through the dark tint of the window to ogle the interior. “For another day, anyway.” Brett watched in amusement as Jade panted over his creation. He would much prefer her panting over him, but the machine would do. “The buyer comes to pick her up on Monday.” Two years of painstaking work had gone into seeing a rusted shell rescued from a forgotten barn become a show ’n’ shine contender. Hours spent after work meticulously stripping and rebuilding, thousands of dollars of parts, and every single one worthwhile as he enjoyed Jade’s delight. Jade looked down at her jeans, covered in dust from her tangle with Matt. “I can’t, Brett. I’m covered in dirt.”

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Disappointment was easy to detect in her voice. “And I have to get Toby home.” “I have got a drop sheet on the seat, and I am sure Nate or Matt can run the horse home for you. Better make it Nate. Numbnuts can’t drive for shit.” Ignoring Matt’s spluttered protest, Brett turned to his older brother. “Can you take the float home for us, Nate?” Nate’s grin was carefully contained. “Sure. What do you want me to do with the hippo when I get there?” Looking from one brother to the other, Jade hesitated. Brett could see she was torn between the compulsion to get in the classic at all costs and making sure Toby got home safely. Nate was the one who, as always, read her to perfection. “Go on. I can get him all settled in. Just tell me where you want him, and I will make sure it’s done. You go for a drive. Matt can drive my truck over after he changes his pants. He’s not going anywhere with me with his ass hanging out like that.” Jade’s laugh rang loud when Matt turned to give her a good look at the back of his worn jeans. One pocket had torn out, taking most of the underlying fabric with it, and the other was hanging down dejectedly. No undies for this soldier. Matt gave her a knowing grin and headed back to the house, putting a little more swing into his step than usual. Both brothers looked on in amusement as, mesmerized Jade watched Matt’s ass peek out with every step all the way to the front door, where he gave her a saucy wink before disappearing. It was Nate offering her a clean handkerchief from his pocket that had her gathering her scattered wits. “What do I want that for?” Nate gave her a mocking grin. “To wipe the drool off your chin, darlin’. Matty will be crowing for a week with the way you can’t keep your eyes off him.” Jade slapped his hand away, embarrassment heating her cheeks, and moved closer to Brett. Her voice held all the superiority of a

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grand lady giving instructions to a lowly lackey. “Put Toby in the yard closest to the house. There is a snap lock on the latch. Make sure you use it.” Brett didn’t bother to hide the smile that graced his face when Jade backed up enough that he was forced to put a hand on the small of her back to stop her from coming in contact with the polished paint work. He restrained a “yes” of success when he saw her react to his small touch with a tiny gasp and the instant pebbling of nipples. He knew Nate had not missed it either when his lips curled mockingly. Nate gave her a sardonic bow as Brett opened the passenger side door and guided her in with his hand still resting on her lower back. Brett’s self-control was firmly in place as he resisted the easy opportunity to caress her ass on the way in. Instead, closing the door softly, he gave Nate an enigmatic smile over the hood of the vehicle as he circled around to the driver’s seat, right where he liked to be.

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Chapter 11 Settling into the plush seat, Jade groaned, suffering a severe bout of vehicle envy. Even covered by the heavy cotton of the protective sheet, the luxury of butter-soft, full-grain leather embraced her fully. She fisted her hands to contain the need to run her fingertips over the gleaming walnut dash with its shining chrome instrument panel. The smell of beeswax polish and well-dressed leather was complemented by clean musky male with undertones of sandalwood as Brett slid behind the wheel. The engine started with a purr, the customized V8 rumbling to life. Brett was silent as he turned the car toward the drive and let it idle along so as not to raise the dust. “I can’t believe you are selling this. It’s a fucking work of art!” “Firstly, I always sell them. It’s getting them like this I enjoy, not showboating around in them. And secondly, ladies don’t swear.” Jade looked at him incredulously. “Come on, Brett, I always swear.” “Try to restrain yourself then, or I will stop restraining the need to put you over my knee when you do.” His statement was more menacing for the unemotional way in which he said it. Not a threat, merely a statement of fact. “You’re serious?” Jade was a little disconcerted by this turn of direction. “Completely. You cheapen yourself by using that kind of language. It demonstrates a lack of self-respect or a limited vocabulary. I happen to know that you received an excellent education. Use it.”

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“I am not sure what to be more concerned about, you dictating behavior to me or the fact that you are talking about spanking me.” She turned on the seat cover to face him fully, studying his profile as he drove onto the blacktop at the end of the drive. “Brett, I have had to watch every move I have made for the last ten years. I am not about to let someone who claims to be a friend tell me what I can and cannot do now that I finally have the freedom to be me. Take me as I am or not at all. I am sick of pandering to the whims of male pride.” “See, that’s the vocabulary I was talking about. And don’t worry about the spanking. I know you would enjoy it.” His blue eyes flashed. “I would make sure of it.” Jade sputtered as he turned down a little-used lane that she knew led to a swimming hole on Miller’s creek they had used as kids. “It’s a bit cold for a swim, Brett.” “I know. I just want somewhere quiet to talk to you where we won’t be disturbed.” He maneuvered the vehicle beside a budding willow that stretched over the chilled stream. “Come on,” he urged, stepping out of the beautiful classic. Brett sat down on the grassy bank with his back resting against the trunk of the willow, looking out across the waterhole where they had passed many summer afternoons as kids. Unsure, Jade approached to stand beside him. She took the hand he wordlessly extended and followed his mute request to sit beside him. She settled herself on the soft grass that grew beneath the protection of the old tree and waited for him to speak. He retained possession of her hand, placing it on his raised knee where he studied it, stroking the back absently. “You said you needed to be you after being what David wanted for so long. You are not the only one who needs a chance to be themselves, Jade.” He took a deep breath, turning her hand to study the other side. “Nate and Matthew want you so bad that I was tempted to go along just to make them happy. Don’t get me wrong, I want you, too.” He

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gave a small smile. “I always did. I just felt threatened by a girl who was stronger than me, tougher than me, one who could put me on my ass anytime she liked. I didn’t know how to deal with that, so I reacted the only way I knew—by lashing out. “But I have come to terms with who I am now, Jade. I am no longer the little brat with a chip on his shoulder daring everyone to try and knock it off. I am a grown man that knows who and what I want.” Jade was mesmerized by the heat in his eyes as he turned toward her. “You are the one I want, Jade, and I would be honored if you could find it in you to forget the past and give us a chance, but there are a few things that I will not compromise on. “I am a Dom, Jade. I like my sex rough and kinky, and my woman submissive. If the idea of being tied up, or spanked and blindfolded, and every orifice belonging to me to do as I wish does nothing for you, then we will never reach a working agreement. I insist on total control in the bedroom.” He ran his fingers over the back of her hand, paying special attention to the areas between each digit. “I have had other relationships fail because my needs were not being met, and others failed because we had nothing in common outside the bedroom. So I want you coming into this with your eyes wide open. Does the idea of a bit of kinky play disgust you, Jade, or is it something you would like to try?” Jade collected her thoughts as she strived to answer his honesty with some truthfulness of her own. How did she feel about his revelations? Wet and horny. That had been her first primal reaction to his admission of liking “rough, kinky sex,” but what if, like a lot of things, the fantasy was a lot different from reality? What if she said yes and then couldn’t handle what he wanted? Would they be trapped in an unsatisfying relationship for the sake of Matt and Nate? Deciding on complete honesty, she curbed her natural embarrassment at such intimate talk. Jade turned her hand in his loose

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grip and entwined their fingers so she would have something solid to ground her while she fought her aversion to non-physical intimacy. “In all honesty, Brett, the idea excites me, but never having done anything like that, I don’t know if the reality is going to match. I can’t say that I would like everything you want to do because I have no idea what you really want or if I would like it. I don’t know how to answer you any more truthfully than that.” His nostrils flared, and she prayed he hadn’t caught the subtle perfume of her arousal. “Let me give you some idea, then. If you were my woman, I would be in total control of your orgasm. You would not be allowed to come without permission no matter how many times I drove you right to the edge. Or I might make you come again and again until you collapsed with pure exhaustion. “And I would have to take your ass, Jade. Nothing confirms a woman’s submission like willingly bending over for her man. Have you ever been taken there, Jade?” His rapidly darkening voice paused, waiting for her response. She ducked her head before answering in barely more than a whisper. “Once. It hurt so much, Brett, I don’t know if I can do that for you.” “I am sorry you had a bad experience. I would love to get my hands on the bastard who did that to you, Jadey. Done right, anal sex is one of the purest pleasures you can ever experience. It is not to be rushed into, and it takes careful preparation. I am not going to lie to you, Jade. I have had countless lovers. I can make it something special. “Would you let me try to make it good for you, Jade? Come play with me tonight. Let me prove to you that you can trust me. No intercourse, just a chance to see if you enjoy my brand of loving. And that’s what it is, Jade. I have never had a woman sub to me that I felt as strongly about.” “Would you expect that kind of sex every time?” she asked in quiet tones.

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“Not all the time, but I would like to think you wouldn’t neglect my needs. But it’s all up to you. You can make all four of us deliriously happy, or you can leave three men living the half-life we have been living for so long now.” He turned to look straight in her hazel eyes, his face showing the need within him. “Will you try, Jade? Come over tonight with an open mind and see if I have anything to offer you.” Jade held his gaze, self-preservation warring with curiosity within. Curiosity won, spurred on by the lust licking along her spine. “What time?” “Come over about eight. The others will be into their Saturday night movie marathon by then.” He stood and raised her up beside him. “Come on, I will get you home before that overweight horse of yours escapes and gets up to anything else. Do you really have to lock his gate?” Grateful for the change in subject, Jade expounded on Toby’s exploits all the way back to Douglas Park. They pulled up next to the yard, thankfully still holding the palomino captive. “So why did you call him Toby?” Brett asked with a grin, knowing her penchant for naming them after her celebrity flavor of the moment. Jade stepped from the vehicle, giving him a wicked grin. “’Cause he was big, blond, and brash, and all I wanted to do when I saw him was throw a leg over him.” “I take it his last name’s Keith.” Brett laughed as he pulled away calling a reminder out the window. “Eight o’clock.”

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Chapter 12 By seven-thirty Brett had been over his play room several times to make sure everything was ready. He finally had an excuse to unwrap some of the toys he had purchased for the one who would be his woman. No other woman had been in his personal Valhalla. Completed six months ago, this room in the new extension was soundproofed and fully reinforced to allow for the subtle additions. Strategically placed eye hooks in the ceilings, walls, and floor made for numerous possibilities when it came to restraining his woman. It had all the aspects of his favorite playrooms in the D/s clubs he frequented over in Denver. For tonight, though, he would keep it simple. He had a few toys readied and some dummy restraints with panic snaps for Jade’s peace of mind. It wouldn’t do to frighten her early on. He had the opportunity to exploit the wildness he saw hiding beneath her controlled surface, to create and nurture a dark hunger that he would be only too happy to satisfy. The only difficulty he could foresee was her previous bad experience with anal sex. His goal tonight was to get her so fired up and needy that she would come with either his fingers or one of his toys impaling her sweet ass. Once she came to associate anal play with pleasure the possibilities were endless. He had a brief vision of her spread and impaled by all three of them but pushed it away mercilessly. He had to get her through tonight before any other possibilities were entertained.

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With the thought of his brothers, he checked the concealed camera. He had always liked to record sessions at the clubs for his own pleasure, but tonight, it would serve another purpose. Nate and Matt would be able to watch live feed from the comfort of the lounge room. The footage would be in high-definition color, complete with audio. He had spared no expense on his toys. With his brothers seeing everything firsthand, there would be no misunderstandings if Jade cried foul later. He did not record the session for a different reason. It would be a breach of the trust she afforded him in coming here to have a video of her around. He was deceiving Jade enough by letting his brothers even watch, the thought of any other man being privy to what happened in this room tonight was unthinkable. He glanced at the clock and took one last look around. Everything to his satisfaction, he left to await Jade in the kitchen. **** At around the same time, Jade had showered, shaved, and moisturized her body within an inch of its life. Her legs were smooth and silky, and she had shaved her pussy bare, save a small strip at the top that she could not bring herself to remove. The simple fact was that when she rode, the re-growth in that spot hurt like hell. Practicality sometimes got in the way of style. Standing in front of the mirror in her ice pink bra and matching panties, she sucked her stomach in and lifted her breasts. There, that nearly looked like a woman who deserved to be in one of the Kelly boy’s beds. With a sigh, she let her breath out and dropped her hands. They could take her the way she was or not at all. She had had enough of disparaging remarks about her body, first about her muscularity, and then her weight when she allowed the muscles to soften into feminine

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curves. Chin held high, she put on the silk slacks and blouse she had decided to wear, checking the fit around her ass. She frowned at the panty lines that crossed the twin globes of her ass and then removed the offenders, feeling a sense of feminine power as they slid to the floor. Looking forward to the look on Brett’s face when he realized she wasn’t wearing any panties, Jade grabbed the keys to the Camaro and walked out the door. Parking her car out of sight of the front door, Jade drew a deep breath before stepping out. She could do this. She was here for a good time. Here to try something different, to be naughty in a way she had never been before. The idea of surrendering responsibility for her pleasure to another was not something she had considered before. Well, the worst that could happen was that she was left high and dry, and God knew David had left her in that state before. That’s why vibrators were invented. She had done a quick bit of Internet research on Dom/sub relationships and had a basic understanding of the concept. She was particularly pleased to read about safe words and the fact that she could stop a scene at any time with only a word. The front door opened just as she went to knock. Brett gave her a welcoming smile as he ushered her inside. She could hear loud explosions and gunfire coming from the living room across the foyer. Clearly, Nate and Matt had begun their movie session, and it leaned heavily in the direction of violent action. Brett led her through the house, but they didn’t turn in the hall where she knew his bedroom lay. He led her on to a second hall that ran perpendicular to the first, the start of the new additions she had spotted earlier. He turned to the left and unlocked the door at the end of the hall but did not open it. “This is your last chance to turn back, Jade. Once you enter this room you are in my domain. What I say goes, and any hesitation or disobedience will be punished immediately.” His voice was as intense as the blue eyes he held her captive with.

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“What about a safe word?” Jade spluttered out, needing to know she would have ultimate control. “Been doing some reading, huh?” The serious planes of his lean face softened a little. “I do things a little different. I want to know before we get to your stopping point because if you give me a red light, it all stops. I walk away. That will mean one of two things. One, that I haven’t given you enough time to adjust or haven’t read you properly. That is why I insist on honest responses. Don’t pretend to like something you don’t and don’t deny any pleasure you feel, no matter the cause. “The only other reason you would give me a red light would be that your fear becomes greater than your trust in me. This is all about trust. You need to trust me to give you more pleasure than you could ever find on your own. So I will ask you where you are at or how are you doing, and you can tell me green, yellow, or red. Green means everything is fine. Yellow is for when you are not sure or when you need more time to adjust. I slow down or back off a little. Red, as I explained, means everything stops, all over, and I walk away. “The reason we use safe words rather than ‘stop’ or ‘enough’ is that most subs feel a need to fight or protest even though they really want the scene to continue. It allows the Dom to accurately tell the difference between a token protest and a definite ‘no.’ “So, Jadey,” The predatory gleam he flashed her made her pulse speed up and her womb clench in anticipation. “Want to come play?” She tried to gather some of that bravado she had once been renowned for. “You only live once.” “Good girl.” Brett held the door open into his private kingdom. Jade stepped into a different world. Mirrors took up one side of the large room, and recessed lighting gave the black tiled room an otherworldly feel. Esoteric apparatuses loomed menacingly in the darkened corners. Brett flicked a switch, and an area furnished with two poles about four feet apart and a small fur-like rug was illuminated.

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“Stand on the rug.” His voice sounded so different, authoritarian yet clinical, with a shadow of menace, so unlike the lighthearted Brett she had encountered today. Feeling decidedly self-conscious, Jade obeyed. “Take your clothes off. Start with your shoes.” Jade slid the flats from her feet, her toes curling in the deep pile of the rug. It felt like real fur. Her hands went to the small covered buttons on her blouse, trembling as she slid them out of the eyelets. Her gaze sought Brett as she went to slide the silk from her shoulders, but the light focused on her prevented her from seeing anything but his outline. Defiantly, she lifted her chin and let the slinky material fall to the floor. She hesitated at her pants. Damn her for not wearing panties. Brett interrupted, “I said no hesitating. Bra first.” His words held no warmth. Jade had thought there would be a little romance. She hadn’t expected to have to strip in an atmosphere with all the warmth of a doctor’s examination room. Face heating, she stripped off her remaining garments, her fast, jerky motions fueled by embarrassment. She stood with one arm across the front of her body, covering up the slight bulge of her stomach. “Arms by your sides.” He all but barked at her. Face flaming, she dropped her arm. Both hands fisted tight as she fought her need to run from the room. Just when she had decided Brett’s only purpose in bringing her here was her complete and total humiliation, he stepped into the light. The scorching heat emanating from his gaze set her on fire. He lifted her chin as he stepped closer, not allowing his fully clothed body to so much as brush her nudity. “Don’t hide your body from me, Jade. It belongs to me, even the bits you don’t like.”

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He ran his gaze down to rest on her breasts. She felt the heat follow and knew her blush extended all the way to her nipples. They drew tight under the caress of his eyes. “Every response belongs to me. Every sweet sound I can wring from you. Every gasp.” He lightly flicked her nipple to elicit exactly that response. “Have you ever screamed when you came, Jade?” She shook her head, still held captive by his gaze. His voice dropped intimately. “I bet I can make you scream.” Lifting his hand into the darkness above her head, he retrieved, as if by magic, a pair of silk-lined leather cuffs. Jade’s apprehension must have shown clearly. “These are dummy restraints, Jade. These clips here are panic snaps.” He showed her how they worked, placing his own wrist in the restraint and releasing it simply by pulling back on the slides that held the cuff on the chain. “But they are strong. They won’t come undone unless you deliberately release them. That will be the same as giving me a red light. Everything stops.” His eyebrows lifted in a definite “do you understand?” gesture. Jade nodded, not trusting her voice. Brett’s mobile lips curled in a hint of a victorious smile as he placed her wrists in the supple cuffs. He reached up and connected first one then the other wrist to the pillars at a height at which she would be comfortable. An automaticlocking device held the chain fast. **** Choosing a path that would not obstruct his brothers’ viewing pleasure, Brett turned on a harsh light above the bench where he had prepared his paraphernalia earlier. He watched Jade’s face in the

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mirror as she spied the items laid out on the table. Confusion, recognition, and a hint of anticipation warred with the fear on her face. Deliberately, he hesitated over the items, running his hand over a flogger, dragging a fingertip down a butt plug, giving the boys a chance to watch her emotion. That was his main satisfaction in introducing a new sub to the game, seeing them go from fear to ecstasy. To awaken the dormant need in them and foster it, make that need an all-consuming desire that destroyed the constraints society and their inhibitions placed upon them. With a wicked grin he picked up his favorite introductory whip, a short, supple riding crop with an oversized leather flapper at the end and a relatively thick, knobbed handle that was perfect for inserting in any orifice. He put a few weighted clamps in his pocket, and at the last moment, he also grabbed a two-foot spreader bar with cuffs attached. Sometimes the threat of an apparatus worked better than the item itself. Jade eyed the items in his hand warily as he walked toward her. “I am going to conduct a bit of an experiment, Jade, find out what pushes your buttons. You are to stand there with your legs nice and wide.” He nudged her feet farther apart with his boot. “Right there or this bar gets attached to your ankles so they have to stay apart.” Her feet were just over shoulder-width apart. Exposed and vulnerable, Jade fought to remain upright. He could see her gripping the posts so she did not accidently undo the cuffs. Brett touched the riding crop to her jaw, slowly running it down her neck and over her collarbone to circle her proud breasts. Gooseflesh sprung up in its wake. Around and around he teased her breast, only just brushing the rapidly contracting areola but not touching her aching nipple. Moving restlessly, she tried to bring her nipple into contact with the tantalizing suede flapper, closing her eyes as she blatantly chased the pleasure. Brett immediately stopped.

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“Eyes open, Jade. I want you to watch me at all times. If I do not want you to look, you will be blindfolded.” Jade’s eyes flew open. As soon as they did so he began caressing with the whip again, endlessly. Her breasts swelled and lifted to his touch. The blood-darkened nipples standing up for attention he would not bestow. Jade finally broke. “Touch them, Brett.” He brought the flapper down in two quick strikes to land squarely on each nipple. He watched hungrily as the sharp pain bloomed into acute pleasure faster than her brain could process it. “Ouch, fuck, Brett. That hurt.” She jerked in the chains. He rapidly bestowed another two fiery taps to her ass. “Swear again, love,” he whispered menacingly in her ear, stepping up hard against her, his denim-clad thighs deliberately trapping the heat of the sting against her ass. “I would love to lay one on that wet, little bud peaking out between those nice, smooth lips.” Jade gulped and swallowed back the retort he could see she so desperately wanted to make. “If you want something, you may ask nicely. I may or may not grant it. Demands will be punished, but by how wet your thighs are, I think you liked your punishment. Jadey likes it rough, doesn’t she?” He fisted his hand into her loose hair, fingers tight against her scalp as he demanded an answer. Her eyes fell shut as she arched into the small pain, but she quickly snapped them open, clearly remembering his edict. Her whispered “yes” was more of a gasp than a recognizable affirmation. “Good girl,” he crooned, releasing his grip and stepping back. He was ecstatic with how well Jade had taken her first dose of punishment. He had deliberately pushed her into making demands so he could give her a taste of erotic pain. “Ask me nicely, and your nipples can have some attention. They look so neglected, all swollen and hard.”

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“Please, Brett, please touch them.” Jade’s pleading fell sweetly on his ears. Fishing in his pocket, he retrieved two nipple clamps with beautiful, weighted beads attached. He rasped the suede of the whip end across one of her hardened peaks, watching as it tightened further. When he was sure it could grow no more, he struck with the clamp, making sure its firm grip held her nipple captive. “Breathe,” he whispered when she sucked in her breath as the pain hit her. He smiled when she threw back her head, riding out the pain as it flashed through her body, tweaking the release of endorphins and metamorphosing into heady pleasure. Before she came down completely, he gave her other nipple the same treatment. He was able to revel in the look of rapture on her face for a full minute before she remembered herself and opened her eyes. Green now dominated the hazel. He stalked around her, admiring the way the beads swayed with every breath. He ran the whip down the length of her spine, watching in the mirror as the resulting shiver caused the beads to swing and her body to writhe with the agonized pleasure the clamps bestowed. He had one more device in his pocket, a specialized clit clamp that took delicate precision to use. Too little pressure, and it fell off. Too much, and it caused too much pain or numbed the wearer out, making the ultimate pleasure impossible, but it would be the perfect tool to hold Jade’s attention while he worked on overcoming her fear of anal play. He knelt in front of her, giving the dangling beads decorating her breasts a gentle flick as he lowered himself to the rug. He ran the rounded knob on the end of the handle slowly up her inner thigh, watching the flicker of muscles play gently under her silken skin. With a feather-light touch he slid the handle the full length of her shaven slit, up one side and down the other, its leisurely progress aided by the natural lubrication with which her body readied itself.

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Jade gasped as he looped her entrance, muscles clenching uselessly as she hungered for something to fill the empty void within. Brett observed avidly as he let the knob press into her dripping opening before removing it again, teasing her relentlessly with the same press-and-retreat method he would later use to introduce her to the dark addiction of ass play. Finally, he allowed the handle to penetrate her fully, watching as her pussy greedily held it captive, the flex of her internal muscles evident in the way the protruding part moved rhythmically. With the whip seated deep inside her, he began to torment her thus far ignored clit, blowing on the glistening bud where it peeked from its protective hood. Her reaction was much stronger than he had bargained for as her cries escalated toward orgasm. No clamp for Jadey, he thought. She would come in one red-hot second. He backed off her clit, chuckling at her groan of disappointment. “I’m so close, Brett. I know I’m not allowed to come until you say, but I don’t know if I can stop it,” Jade pleaded, her breath coming in short pants. Brett rubbed soothing circles on her belly, settling her back from the edge. “Easy, love, you don’t get to come that easy,” he soothed. “When you come, it will be with two of my fingers buried deep in that lovely ass of yours.” He stroked down the cleft of her ass, ignoring the clench when he brushed over her dusky rosebud. His other hand began to play with the whip held in the silken grip of her sex as his deft fingers gathered her copious cream, spreading it back to coat the puckered opening. She stiffened despite his gentle touch. “What color are we at, Jade?” he asked, laying a gentle kiss against her heaving abdomen. “Yellow,” she finally panted as he removed the crop handle from her completely.

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He laid the pad of one finger against her clenched orifice and began to massage gently, stroking her softly. At the same time, he mirrored the sensation with the slickly coated whip at her wet and willing portal. “Just feel. Don’t think. Just feel and relax.” He finally felt the tight pucker relax under his ministrations. Standing up, he adjusted the bindings on her wrists, lowering them until she was forced to kneel on the softness of the rug. “That’s the way, love. Now keep your eyes open and on that mirror over there.” He placed a big hand on her back and pressed her forward so her ass was presented to him. Adjusting himself wryly, he challenged his wisdom in not sampling the feast laid out before him. But tonight was for Jade. By holding back, he was building her trust in him. He knelt behind her, his denim-clad knees ensuring her legs stayed nice and wide. He caressed length of her back, a settling touch to reassure her, to ground her before he began once more. Brett watched Jade’s pleasure in the mirror as he ran the handle the length of her folds before sinking it deep in her vagina. The light slap he laid across her ass when her eyes closed brought a new rush of moisture to soak his hand. Reveling in her heated response, he gave her a matching handprint on the other cheek, watching her eyes glaze as the erotic pain ran through her. He looked down in satisfaction at the renderings of his handprint on the creamy perfection of her buttocks. Her delicate skin showed his love marks so well. He turned his attention back to the opening nestled between her blushing ass cheeks and rested the pad of his thumb against it as he fucked the whip in and out of her slick channel with slow deliberation. He watched each impalement and wondered just how hot she would feel around the head of his cock. Pushing the thought behind the reinforced steel door of his selfcontrol, he allowed her to move in rhythm with his thrusts, the motions making the weighted beads swing on her nipple clamps.

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He marginally increased the pressure on her rosebud each time she rocked back against him. He was relieved to see the pink rim emerge as she relaxed into his touch, mewling in need, her face slack with passion as she struggled to watch in the mirror. Gathering more moisture from her slit, he lined one finger up with the now relaxed rear orifice, backing off on the depth of thrust he was giving the whip so she came back looking for more. She took him to the second knuckle before she froze, feeling his impalement of her forbidden hole. “Where are we at, Jade? Can you feel the stretch, that bit of burn? You are relaxed enough that I know there is no pain.” He flexed his buried finger a bit, bringing a gasp from her. “You can feel everything so much clearer in your ass. Every little movement.” He twisted his questing digit against her tight grip, the pressure ensuing in his fingertip enough to think she would burst the end of his cock clean off if he ever got it buried in the hot depths of her ass. He waited while Jade examined the sensation carefully. He knew the foreign invader wasn’t in fact causing her any pain. Eventually, she pushed back harder against him. “Greedy girl. I like that. Let me get you wetter, and we will see how much you can take.” He spread yet more fluid over her rear entrance, coating his fingers with her slickness in the process. He worked her up to fever pitch, stroking his finger deeper in the tight confines of her satiny channel, matching the motion with more force as he drove the knobby handle within her. She let out a groan of surrender as he worked a second finger in, her head lolling back as she fought to keep her eyes open. “You like that, Jade? Having both holes fucked at once? Imagine how good it’s going to be when you’re riding Nate’s fat cock, and I bend you over and work mine up your tight ass. So full. Stretched to the limit.

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“You have two of my fingers inside you now, but I think you can take three. You look so damn sexy taking my fingers, Jade. Nate and Matt would love watching this, seeing you all flushed with pleasure. Do you like the idea of them watching? Because they love to watch, Jade. We all do.” Jade’s desperate gasps turned into a whispered litany of “yes, yes, yes” as Brett’s torrid words found an answering chord inside her. The images he deliberately conjured made her burn hotter. Her eyes were obediently open, but Brett knew she was blind to all but the pleasure, so close to orgasm but not able to come without clitoral stimulation. Almost crying in her desperation to come, she begged him for relief, but Brett soaked up her pleading and looked for more. “If I told you Matt and Nate were watching right now, would that make you hotter? That they can see your lovely breasts with the clamps pinching the nipples so tight? “Well, they can, Jadey. Right now they are jerking off, watching my fingers disappear into your tight ass. They can see you push back for more. They know you’re a naughty girl. That you like to be spanked.” He trapped the whip end between his thighs so he could continue thrusting with it like an undersized phallus as he delivered a volley of stinging slaps to her ass cheeks. “Get ready, love. Here it comes. Scream my name for me.” He pinched her clit ruthlessly while he drove three thick fingers in her ass, all the way to the webbing and twisted. Jade screamed his name as her orgasm rocked her, stunning Brett with its magnitude and length as she shook helplessly in its grip. Her muscles clamped down brutally on both his fingers and the relative slenderness of the whip as her womb convulsed wildly. When she started to come down, he released the clamps, the blood flooding back into her tortured nipples triggering a second climax. Brett could only hope that, held in the throes of orgasm, Jade did not see the tears well in the eyes of the man holding her.

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He was transfixed by Jade’s surrender. Never had he had a neophyte submit to her pleasure with as much abandon. For it to be this particular woman blew his mind. He slid from her tight embrace and held her against him, laying a kiss against her back as the raw emotion of the moment threatened to swamp him. This is what he had spent countless years studying for. What he had built all the shields and control mechanisms for—a chance to show the woman who had seen him at his worst that he could master not only himself, but her too. He reached out and released her bindings before picking her up and carrying her all-but-limp form to the adjoining bathroom. He turned the faucet and soon had the tub filling with steaming water. Sitting down on the ledge surrounding the deep bath, he took the time to simply enjoy holding this woman in his arms. When she had come on long car trips with them as kids, Jade had always ended up sandwiched between Nate and him in the backseat. She had invariably fallen asleep on Nate’s shoulder before an hour had passed. But then she would gravitate to him, innocently nestling against him with a trust that belied her usual aggressive disdain. Those were the only times he knew real peace after his mother had left, holding Jade in his arms, her sleeping form pressed against him. He threw a handful of salts under the heavy stream of water, knowing she might be a little sore both from fighting the restraints and his not-so-gentle exploration of her body. When the tub filled, he lowered her gently into the warmth of the water. She stirred, turning limpid eyes to fix on his face. Her lips were rosy, the bottom one slightly bruised where she had bitten down on it trying to hold off her impending orgasm. He realized now that he had never kissed her. Never had he had those lips beneath his. Normally kissing was not a part of a scene for him. He was more likely to suck a woman’s clit than kiss her lips. But he felt as if he was denying himself another simple pleasure by not doing so now.

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He kissed her as she lay in the soothing embrace of the water. Sipping from her lips, not trying to evoke her passion again but to reassure with undemanding contact, he kissed her with more tenderness than he believed he possessed. Breaking away slowly, he took a washcloth and began to wash her down, leaving no place forgotten as she submitted to his undemanding touch. Brett was gratified that still floating in the surreal afterglow of surrender, Jade accepted his ministrations. He got her an old sweatshirt and track pants to wear so she would be comfortable and carried her out to the lounge room, where Nate wordlessly held out his hands for Brett’s precious burden. He handed Jade over with a sense of loss, but with a persistent erection still riding him hard he couldn’t give her the comfort she needed right now and still keep his sanity. Nate’s relaxed posture was a dead giveaway that he had already taken care of his own hard-on. More power to him, Brett decided and went to jerk off in the shower, knowing Matt was probably doing the same in his bathroom. The lad had always looked for seconds. **** Nate settled back with the woman in his arms. Jade could be prickly as hell when she was awake, but asleep, there was nothing sweeter. He knew they had to talk soon. If he had noticed the darker areolas and fine striations of stretch marks here and there on her breasts and hips, he would bet his life Brett had. Jade was keeping secrets. He wouldn’t go behind her back to find out, but when the time was right, he would use a lot of persuasion to urge her to tell. Whatever had happened, it was a burden she shouldn’t have to bear alone.

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Chapter 13 Jade awoke in her own bed the next morning with Nate quietly letting himself into the room. Dampness clung to the hair, teasing the collar of the cotton work shirt that draped his wide shoulders. She glanced around with a look of consternation. The dull light infiltrating the drawn curtains did not look like the first rays of dawn. She glanced at the clock to see it was after ten. Shit! The horses needed feeding. Her scramble to get out was cut short by Nate sitting on the bed, pinning the covers and effectively blocking her escape. “Horses are fed, and the stables are mucked out. It’s pissing down out there and cold enough to turn to sleet, so you don’t have to head out and start working.” He pressed her back onto the bed gently. “Just lay back and relax. You have been working yourself too hard, and God knows Brett wasn’t easy on you last night.” Jade flushed at the reminder, crimson stealing to her cheeks as she remembered what Brett had said about Nate and Matt watching her. Last night it had been a turn on, but in the cold light of day she felt self-conscious and more than a little embarrassed they had watched her enjoy Brett’s depravity. “In case you were wondering, I put your car back in the garage last night. It doesn’t look like the kind of thing you leave out in the weather.” “Thanks, Nate. I don’t remember much about getting home last night. It feels like I had too much to drink except that I don’t have a hangover.” She gave him a grateful smile. “I do remember you tucking me into bed, though.”

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Nate returned her smile. “Brett said things can become a little hazy when a sub lets go as much as you did. Don’t be embarrassed. It was beautiful to watch and incredibly sexy. “And as for me tucking you in, I haven’t been home yet. You seemed reluctant to let me go, so I got to hold you all night. Not quite the way I envisioned my first night in your bed, but kind of satisfying just the same. You are so much less demanding when you’re asleep. Very refreshing, really.” He adroitly dodged the pillow that was swung at his head. “Less violent, too.” Jade used the opportunity to duck out the other side of the bed. “If you want less violence, you had better find some coffee for me before I get out of the shower.” She went to make a queenly exit in the direction of the bathroom, but that was ruined when she stumbled on the long leg of the borrowed track pants hanging down over her foot. To Nate’s credit, he did wait until she departed, trailing the tattered remains of her dignity, before laughing. The seductive scent of freshly brewed coffee met her when she left the steaming bathroom, pinning her damp hair in a loose pile atop her head. Following her nose, she found Nate and Matt sitting on her worn-out old lounge watching the rain coming down in sheets outside. They each held steaming cups of her favorite Kenyan blend. Jade was relieved to see a third cup steaming on the battered coffee table. Wordlessly, she took the cup, savoring the heady aroma before taking her first sip, feeling the caffeine rush through her body waking nerve cells as it went. She was pleased to find it was her favorite mug, the black one that read, “WARNING! Talking to me before my first cup of coffee is bad for your health.” The boys must have taken it seriously because they let her savor her coffee in peace. She stood at the large picture window, watching the rain fall steadily. There was something mesmerizing about the sound of drops

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falling on a tin roof. Jade finished her first cup and went in search of another. Matty watched her with a hint of his usual smile; she guessed he found her morning caffeine reliance amusing. Nate was stoking up the old wood stove. Bacon was sizzling in a cast-iron skillet. “Feeling better?” “Yeah, I could do with another cup, though.” Nate took her mug from the two-handed grip she still had on it. “Go and sit with Matt. I’ll have to put on another lot.” He turned her around and gently swatted her on the ass, sending her back into the lounge room. Jade shot him a dangerous look, rubbing the light sting away. She was thoroughly disgusted with the way her libido woke up at the heavy pat. She had noticed she was a little tender in the shower, mainly her nipples, but her ass felt a little tender, too. Inside and out, she thought wryly. Matty was propped up in the corner of the old saddle leather sofa, leg half splayed across its length. He patted the area framed by his immense thighs. “Come and sit down. You look like you could use a cuddle.” “Just a cuddle? You’re not going to start slapping my ass, too?” Jade asked acidly. “Nah, doesn’t float my boat. I mean, if you really wanted me to, I could probably bring myself to do it.” He gave her a smile filled with the warmth of his natural good will. “But right now I just want another chance to hold you. Besides,” he added with a cheeky grin, “I’m still traumatized after being molested by your horse yesterday. Maybe I’m the one who needs the cuddle.” Jade could not hold back the warmth of affection she harbored for the big man, feeling the smile break over her. She let him snuggle her in against his hard body, laying her head just below his chest. His heart beat strong and true under her ear as she curled her legs into the much-loved old leather.

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Matt held her easily, absently running his thumb back and forth over the strip of bare skin exposed between the top of her track pants and where her shirt had ridden up. She couldn’t restrain a giggle as she felt his cock begin to stir under her stomach. Matt grinned ruefully. “Just ignore him, Jade. He has no manners at all.” Jade did try, but the sensation of feeling him lengthen and harden under the softness of her belly was downright thrilling, making appetites that had been well sated last night reappear, especially when she wouldn’t move enough to allow his erection to spring up and lay against his belly. It was forced to lay fully erect against his thigh. Every twitch brought an answering echo from her libido. She didn’t resist the impulse to grind her hipbone cruelly into the steel-hard cock beneath it. Matt’s breathing hitched, and the heartbeat that had been steadily intensifying under her ear began to pound in earnest. “That’s nasty,” he whispered. “Do it again.” Matt threw his head back and rode out the wave of exquisite agony as she complied. Jade squirmed up his body, careful not to free his cock from its trapped position until she could straddle him. Matt watched under hooded eyes and let her do as she wished, the sensation of his cock being pinned under her wriggling body clearly not worrying him. She leaned back and tugged his worn, old T-shirt from beneath her. “Take it off. I want to see what I missed last time.” Her voice was husky with the lust building within. Matt reached over his head, biceps flexing massively, and gripped the shirt at the collar. He stripped it off over his head, performing a crunch as he went, and flung it to land on the TV. He laid back, and Jade lapped up the sight as his hands came to rest on her gently writhing hips. Most of her common sense and about fifty points of IQ disappeared with Matt’s shirt. The man was phenomenal.

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Smooth, sculpted shoulders rippling with muscle led to a chest that looked like two huge slabs decorated with tiny brown nipples and a dusting of hair. His tanned skin stretched tight over the great expanse. Corrugated abs gave way to a line of fine dark hair that drew the eye from his perfectly formed belly button down to where it disappeared into his low-slung drawstring track pants. What should have been the focus of that heavenly path was trapped firmly beneath Jade’s ass. But what got Jade really hot was the ink that decorated one side of his oversized body. From the thick deltoid, down over his collarbone, across the meaty thickness of his right pec, and wrapped around the heavy lat-covered span of his broad ribs, was a tribal tattoo. Its bold black lines zigzagging and swirling across the canvas of his body, creating a work of art that Jade itched to get her hands on. The body and tat screamed “bad boy,” but she knew no man had a bigger heart than Matt Kelly. Ripe with anticipation, feeling like someone had just handed her an animated Michelangelo sculpture to desecrate, she splayed her hands on his broad chest. The heat and feel of his satiny skin ripped through her. Capturing her bottom lip between her teeth in concentration, Jade set about exploring the X-rated playground laid out before her. **** Matt soaked up every caress and squeeze of her soft hands. He watched her unadulterated pleasure as she explored the planes and contours of his body. The heady bliss of her touch thawed parts of him that had remained untouched for years. He could be himself with this woman. She did not want the warrior or the athlete. She just wanted him. She knew the horror of his past and had been a part of the good times. There was nothing to hide. He trusted her with his past and his future, and God knew she had

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held his heart since they were kids. He hoped someday she would bestow her trust on him. Movement in the doorway caught his attention. Nate pushed off from the door where he had been leaning for some time, if the tenting of his jeans was any indication, and walked toward them, ripping his shirt off on the way. Jade’s growl was frustration personified. Her hands went to her own shirt in an effort to get more skin to skin contact. But it was Nate’s hands that lifted the shirt from her body. Her cry of protest turned into a mewl of desire when his hands slid around to cup her breasts, thumbs rasping softly over her sensitive nipples. Nate knelt behind her and allowed her to lean back against his chest as her head fell back. Matt got a taste of her pleasure as nails scored his abdomen. He watched avidly as Nate unhooked her bra and slid it down her shoulders, exposing first, one swollen nipple and then the other. He had no doubts some of the swelling was from Brett’s ruthless treatment the night before. Because he had always had to watch his size and strength, Matt had never handled a woman’s body harshly, but he had seen Jade’s response for himself and knew nothing had been against her will. Matt watched with growing hunger as Nate teased her everhardening buds, rolling them beneath the flat of his callused hands or rubbing back and forth with his thumbs. When his hands stole up for a touch, Nate cupped her breasts, holding them captive for his brother’s caress. He noticed Nate’s lips moving against Jade’s ear but couldn’t make out the words, but with her pretty nipples begging for his touch under his fingers and his cock pressed hard against her ass, he just couldn’t find it in himself to care. ****

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“Look at him watch you, Jade. He wants you so badly. I bet he can taste your nipples against his tongue already.” Nate made sure his sinful tones caressed her ear. “The poor things look so tender. Matt would just love to kiss them better. I wouldn’t trust myself to put my teeth anywhere near them, but you can trust Matty. He would never hurt you.” He nipped her ear and rubbed his stubbled jaw against the tender skin below before mouthing her shoulder. “Me, I love to bite too much.” He bit down over his previous teeth marks, increasing the pressure until she groaned in surrender, her head lolling against his shoulder. Ignoring Matt’s protest, he picked Jade up and laid her on the thick rug on the floor, shouldering the coffee table out of the way. Dropping to his knees between her splayed legs, he caged her body with his. “If you are going to say stop, darlin’, I would appreciate it if you said it now.” Jade reached up in answer and grabbed a handful of his too-long hair, tugging him down for a kiss. Nate went to his elbows, letting her have some of his weight as he devoured her mouth, the flavor of coffee and toothpaste making for a luscious experience on his questing tongue. He delved her mouth until she arched against him, making demands of her own as her molten tongue challenged his for supremacy. He thrust his deep, trying to stamp his authority, but the little witch drew on it with alacrity, suckling rhythmically before caressing its length with her own in blatant mimicry of oral sex. His cock hardening painfully, Nate pulled away from her sinful mouth and sat up, fixing her with a knowingly wicked grin. He grabbed the elastic waist of her track pants and all but tore them from her body, taking her damp panties with them.

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Before she could protest, he dropped back down upon her, stealing the cry from her lips as the denim of his jeans impacted on the wet, shaved folds of her pussy. Dragging himself from her addictive mouth, he laid a stinging trail of kisses and bites down the column of her neck to her collarbone, where he found the pulse fluttering wildly at the base of her neck, and laved, feeling it jump under his tongue. Not trusting himself near her traumatized nipples, he laid a sucking kiss on the rise of each mound before continuing his journey southward through the valley between. Jade’s belly began to twitch and jerk beneath his lips as he moved inexorably closer to the wet heat that now bathed his chest. He smiled against the soft skin of her belly as Matt knelt at her side, his destination clear as he leaned over her heaving breasts. Little brother had done well to stay back as long as he had. **** Jade nearly came off the floor altogether as the wet heat of Matt’s mouth gently enveloped her nipple at the same time as Nate flicked the red-hot poker of his tongue up the full length of her slit. It was only when they sat up with identical grins of male smugness that she realized she had screamed. Nate gave her a wink before returning to his goal, slipping his hands up under her back to support her as his shoulders spread her wide. This time she was prepared for the devastating lash of his tongue. Matt came over her for his own kiss, lightly thumbing her nipple as he set his lips to hers. Jade set about eating him from the mouth down. Licking into every hidden recess of his mouth and nipping his lips hungrily, she strived to conquer his mouth, but Matt gave her no fight, ceding willingly to her determination. Finally, he rolled her nipple a little harder and used her gasp as an opportunity to return to his previous goal of her breasts that he just couldn’t get enough of. That was one fixation she sure as hell wasn’t

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going to complain about. Jade writhed under the twin pleasures of their mouths. All coherent thought and reason had long since departed as she reveled in the here and now. Nate’s lips, teeth, and tongue demanded her response, delving deeply into her core, laving her clit, tickling at her tender ass. He drove her closer to orgasm with his wicked caresses. Her hips arched into his touch as he began to add sucking little kisses right on her exposed clit. She threw her hands back over her head, looking for something to hold onto as she rode the pleasure bombarding her. She saw Matt’s eyes roll to look over her head a second before two strong hands caught hers. She looked up into piercing blue fires. Brett. He held her hands firmly as he bent to lay a kiss against her panting lips. “Morning, Jadey. Didn’t you get enough last night?” he asked teasingly, watching her enjoy the pleasure his brothers were lavishing upon her. Nate trapped her clit between his teeth and tongued it furiously. Picking up on the greater urgency in her cries, Matt rolled one nipple harder between his thumb and finger and drew more of her other breast into his mouth, treating it to more of the delicious suction that she loved. Brett pinned her wrists harder, bending to whisper in her ear. “Come for them, Jade. Scream it out. They want to hear you come.” Brett’s gravelly voice was the added stimulus that sent her barreling over the edge into orgasm. Jade threw back her head and screamed, beyond caring if anyone heard. The pleasure was so intense she had to let it out somehow. With her body pinned by the strength of three men, she could do no more than writhe as the tremors overtook her, bowing her back with the intensity. Vaguely, she was aware of Matt moving away and Nate lifting his weight off her momentarily, but the shock of feeling his nakedness

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against hers jolted her from her orgasmic stupor. He ran the naked head of his engorged cock up her sodden folds to rest the full length against her. His eyes caught and held hers. “Say yes, darlin’. Please don’t deny me now.” Denying him was the furthest thing from her mind, with aftershocks rippling through her sheath and the promise of his hefty cock lying so intimately against her. “Please, Nate, I need you now.” Her voice held all the desperation of her fevered body. Nate took her mouth as his cockhead slid into the tight grip of her willing body. The ripples were still coursing through her engorged flesh as he braced himself up on his arms. She followed his gaze down their bodies to where they joined. The contrast of his blood-darkened shaft impaling the pale perfection of her body was electrifying. He gave a shove, sliding half of his length into her depths. Her breath hitched at the erotic sight of her body taking his hungry cock. Jade bit her lip to restrain a cry. He was huge, his width stretching her wide, and she could tell from the gap between their bodies that she had not taken even near to all of him. She hooked her legs around his lean hips in an effort to take more. He slid in a couple more inches. “Relax, darlin’. I know you can take it.” He kissed her deeply, surging forward as he did. He was almost buried to the root when he looked down into Jade’s face. He began to rock, grinding his pelvis against her clit with every movement, gaining enough ground to get the last inch of his cock inside her. The thick root of him was so much wider than the rest. Jade began to really doubt her ability to take him. She strived to meet him, adapting to the monster forging within her. Every thrust took her breath as she was stretched to capacity. Each impalement rode that fine line between the ultimate pleasure and…Stop! That is too much! The quest for pleasure soon overcame

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her lingering fears. Meeting his thrusts in earnest, she grasped at his corded back, slick with sweat, and rolled her hips to meet him. Nate shifted position, lifting up on his knees and raising her to take the last thick inch of his thick-veined cock. Her cries at the added thickness turned into a low moan as he moved one hand so his thumb lay over her clit. The guttural sound felt like it had been ripped from her very soul, bubbling up from pleasure too great to contain. His thumb shimmied desperately, roughly, but Jade had gone beyond the need for a soft caress. She pushed into his forceful touch, determinedly taking every throbbing inch as the tingle in the base of her spine leaped into full-blown climax. She screamed his name as her nails painted her pleasure down his back, too far gone to realize blood followed in their wake. **** Nate had been desperately clinging to his self-control, trying to hold off his impending release long enough to keep the pressure on her G-spot, not wanting to cut her short. But the scratches down his back were one stimuli too many. With a roar he came, shooting so long and hard inside her he thought his balls were trying to crawl inside her, too. Feeling the spasms of her stretched sheath ripple around his oversensitized cock, he jerked, setting her off again. Finally the quake ceased. He collapsed half across her, trying to make sure he didn’t smother her as he struggled to regain his breath. He kept his eyes shut tight, holding back the same tears he had seen glistening in Brett’s eyes last night. The rush of emotion evoked by this one special woman was earth shattering. He had been fighting the need to sink himself inside her since she was sixteen. The need to give physicality to the bond that had always existed between them. Now, she was his. But not only his, he reminded himself, slipping out of her warm embrace.

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He lifted his head to see Matt sitting back on the lounge, naked and utterly shameless as he leaned back and stroked his shaft lazily, and Brett by the window, watching hungrily but still fully clothed. Picking up Jade’s discarded panties, he tenderly wiped his seed from her inner thighs and tender folds, pleased to see no blood was evident. He had forgotten everything he had ever learned about looking after his lover there at the end. Nothing had mattered but his own pleasure. He flexed his shoulder hesitantly. At least he hadn’t clawed her like that. It was a badge he would wear with pride, a sign of his woman’s favor. He picked her up and handed her to Matt. She didn’t open her eyes, but moved in closer when Matt turned her to straddle his lap. Nate smiled as she stirred, looking up at his little brother with the beginnings of renewed carnal interest in her hooded eyes. He was worried he had worn her out, but not only did she have stamina it seemed, but she had plenty of appetite, too.

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Chapter 14 Jade stirred against the heated flesh beneath her. The scent of sex rode heavy on the air. Matt held her naked body against him, stroking her back as she recovered from Nate’s lovemaking. Her mind was telling her she had had enough, but her touchstarved body was screaming for more, demanding she soak up all the pleasure she could take. Raising heavy lids, she tilted to look up into Matt’s turbulent and stormy eyes. The power of his hunger should have terrified her, but this was one brother she could hold her own with. She rose up, feeling the soft, old leather give sensuously beneath her knees as she went in search of Matt’s willing mouth. The weeping eye of his plum-size cockhead grazed her engorged clit with each slow undulation of her body as she leisurely explored his mouth. Matt only took a few minutes of her kiss before he broke. “Don’t tease me, babe. Let me inside. I’ll be good, Jade, so good. I’ll just sit back, and you can ride me.” He slid down farther so he was slouched down against the leather, forcing Jade to move back if she wanted the touch of his cock against her slick folds. “I’ll last as long as you want, babe. Just reach down and put me inside you. I want to see you take it. You looked so fucking beautiful taking Nate, but it’s my cock I want to see you take. I want to feel your wet heat all around me. Come on, babe, put it in,” he all but pleaded. Unable to deny Matty anything, Jade grasped his thick shaft, splaying her fingers wide. She followed his rapt gaze to where she gripped him, seeing the gap where her fingers wouldn’t quite meet.

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The eroticism of the sight brought a fresh gush of moisture from her pussy. She watched the big man’s face as she slowly lowered her body, using her hand to guide him in. Every ounce of pleasure, every scrap of anticipation, and every bit of need was there for her to see. Matty gave it all to her as she sunk down around him, her internal muscles quivering a protest at being stretched again so soon. She laid her hands on his beefy shoulders as she forced herself down, taking him all the way until she could feel his balls pressing sweetly against her ass. She ground herself against him, mashing her clit against his pubic bone as the shifting pressure of his cock inside her massaged the swollen, spongy tissue that cried out for his touch. Matt’s big hands flexed on her hips, gripping her tight as he threw back his head. “So good, Jade. You are so hot and tight around me. Ride me, sweetheart. Use me. Show me how you come. I’ve been dreaming about you playing with that sweet pussy since Friday night. I can see you this time. Show me how you work that clit.” Eyes locked hungrily on his face, Jade cupped her breast as she began to lift on the thick steel rod of his erection, taking her own sweet time as she began to ride him unhurriedly. Matt followed every move of her hand as she teased her nipple into even greater stiffness, rolling the tender tip and tugging on it gently. The walls of her pussy squeezed him every time she tugged on the sharpened peak, making him feel even larger inside her. Greedily, she watched his reaction as, with splayed fingers, she slowly pushed her hand down the center line of her undulating torso. She watched him avidly as she performed this intensely sensuous and personal act all for his pleasure. She could feel his thickness sliding past her fingertips as she cupped her sex. Gripping firmly, she leaned back just a little to direct the pressure of the shaft she impaled herself rhythmically upon. Moaning like a wanton, she decided the G-spot was no longer a myth perpetuated to make women feel inadequate.

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She arched back. The action lifted her dancing breasts, making him divert his attention from the fingers tickling at his shaft. He licked his lips hungrily. Jade smiled when he wouldn’t give up the view of her flickering fingers to sate his oral fixation. There was such thing as being too wet, she soon discovered as the pads of her fingers slipped and slid in the juices coating her engorged clit. She couldn’t obtain any purchase in the slick mess of her folds. She growled her frustration. “What’s wrong?” Matt’s deepened voice held desire to match the slack pleasure on his chiseled face. “Too wet.” She panted, her movements becoming less fluid in her desperation. “Wipe it all over me. Paint me with your cream.” Matt’s fingers dug harder into the flesh of her hips. Jade knew it was costing him to let her stay in control. Her liquid desire soon adorned his mouth-watering washboard abs and the magnificence of his immense chest. “Feed some to me, Jade. Don’t waste it all.” Matt begged, “I’ll hold you. Use both hands.” Jade was quick to use her left hand to indulge Matt with her taste. Now that she had some resistance, her dominant hand was busy creating the delicious friction that had been absent before. Coupled with the luscious sensation of his hot mouth suckling on the two fingers she pressed against his rapacious lips, the quick action on her clit was about to send her over. “Come with me, Matty. Let me have it all.” Her pitch rose as the pleasure escalated. Desperate not to go alone, Jade withdrew her clean fingers from the addictive wet suction of his mouth. She reached behind her and fondled the drawn-up balls she bounced against with every frantic downward stroke. His gasp of surprise and the ensuing moan sent her soaring toward orgasm.

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Turning her hand to reach more of his fuzz-covered sac, she let out a gasp of her own when the knuckle of her thumb grazed against the tender bud of her anus. The explosion the accidental touch triggered staggered her. Spine arching, she felt her pussy grip Matthew’s thickness as he forged high inside her. All illusions of control were shot to hell as he thrust upward, using his vast strength to force her hips to meet each desperate stroke. Pummeling her as he erupted, his scalding seed spewed forth endlessly. The resulting increases in fluid made the exquisite agony of her fist-like grip on his exploding cock so much sweeter. His roar of release was muted as he buried his head against her heaving breasts, holding her tight as he rode out his own explosion. The contractions were still rippling through their conjoined flesh when she was ripped from his tender hold. Jade was shocked to find herself kneeling on the floor between Matt’s wide spread legs. His cry of dismay over their early separation quickly died as Brett grabbed a rough fistful of her hopelessly tangled hair and speared her face toward Matt’s slickly shining cock. “Lick it clean for him, Jadey. Good girls always clean up after themselves.” She felt the tip of Brett’s cock brand her pussy with its blistering heat a split second before he rammed home. He sunk all the way with a single thrust. The rough rasp of denim and steel told her he hadn’t removed his jeans. The erotic thrill of being naked while he remained dressed added to the bombardment of her overwrought senses. Her body arched to the violent pounding as she licked the sinful taste of their combined juices from Matt’s rapidly re-engorging member. Feeling wanton and wild, she yielded to Brett’s mastery. ****

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Brett took her without mercy. He set a forceful, rapid pace that he knew he could sustain for as long as it took. He laid a perfect handprint on each of the blushing globes of her ass, reveling in the way her pale skin retained the mark. He watched her hungrily lave at Matt’s cock. She had appetites they had barely begun to tap. There was no doubt in his mind that she was the perfect woman for them. It was her they needed to convince. Ravenously, he dropped his eyes to the tight pucker exposed between the cheeks he spread wide with his hands. He felt her push back harder against him as the hole was stretched with the separation. He had seen the immediate reaction to her inadvertent touch earlier. Anal play could become so addictive that some subs got to the stage where they just could not come without something in their ass. Keeping up his brutal rhythm, he scratched upward at her asshole with the tip of her thumb. She groaned around the thickness of the cock she was greedily consuming. He gathered some of the juices spilling forth from her accommodating sheath and made sure she was well lubricated. Ruthlessly, he shoved his thick thumb into her ass. When she stiffened in protest, he waited for her to relax before pulsing his invading digit in time with the thick member forging within her. Jade went wild. Bucking her hips to meet every stroke, she attacked Matt with renewed frenzy, swallowing him gluttonously while she tongued and suckled at his balls and shaft with equal voracity. The savagery of her onslaught was in direct proportion to Brett’s offensive upon her willing flesh. She loved the rougher treatment. He was sure Matty had never dreamed of having a woman lick his dick after sex. Sure, he would have seen it in cheap pornos, but fuck! The reality was staggering. Matt clearly wasn’t bothering to hold back his burgeoning orgasm, and Jade wasn’t far off, by the escalating pitch of her cockmuffled cries. The downright insatiable way she threw herself back upon the twin impalement of thumb and cock had his own release

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well within reach. Brett’s savage smile was more of a grimace as he tilted her hips farther forward so the slap of his balls would strike her clit squarely with each hammering. He blinked back a bit of surprise as the squeezing of his thumb became like the pressure of a vise, her scream was but a muffled gurgle as she convulsively swallowed his brother’s spume. He hadn’t expected her to come that easily. Knowing she was at the end of her endurance, Brett allowed his ironclad control to lift, spurting deep within her as her own orgasm still fluttered around his cock. Groaning with the strength of his release, he let himself enjoy her warm, wet embrace as he held her hips steady when she would have collapsed. **** Total and utter exhaustion. Boneless satiation. Feelings rather than thoughts were all Jade was capable of. Oblivion was hovering tantalizingly just out of reach. A riot of sensation and emotion welled up, building an alien landscape of feelings and warmth. Chaotic. Earth shattering and soul-destroying. Desperately, Jade searched within for the fortitude to take hold of herself as unfamiliar sensations warred inside. Panic broke free and ruled supreme. She tore herself away from the men still caressing her body, stunning them with her actions. She snatched up the old quilt that was over the arm of the lounge. Holding it to the front of her panicstricken body, Jade screamed wildly, “Out! Get out! Go!” Tears streamed down her face as her panic ruled, and she ran from the room. ****

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Nate watched her departing figure with disbelief. The incredulous looks he was getting from his brothers mirrored his own feelings. Jade rushed into the bathroom, and he heard the slide of the bolt as she locked herself in. Shit! This wasn’t the way he had imagined celebrating their longoverdue consummation. He got some clothes on and sat in one of the old ladder-back chairs at the kitchen table. Head buried in his hands as he tried to understand what had just happened. Brett and Matty had redressed. His youngest brother looked like a victim of shellshock, eyes wide and unfocused, pain written in every slumped and huddled inch of his large frame. Brett had closed down, a kind of suppressed fury painting his features, his posture stiff and as unyielding as his face. He turned to face Nate. “Find out what happened, Nate. Find out what is the matter with Jadey, or by God, I will.” He clapped a hand on the shoulder of his younger brother. “Come on, Matt, I will take you home.” The pain-filled shell of the youngest Kelly went where he was directed. Nate watched them leave. He had no idea of how to fix something when he didn’t know what was broke. He figured he would treat it like any other disaster. You ride out the storm the best you can, and then you pick up the pieces. He just hoped to hell there wouldn’t be too many parts to try to put back together this time.

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Chapter 15 Jade huddled like a small, broken creature in the bottom of the shower, the hot spray burning her body but not doing anything for the ice-filled void in her psyche. She had thought she was past this. She had thought she was whole again. But the dreaded numbness was back. Her independence over the past eighteen months and the planned return to the ranch had given her a sense of purpose, a reason to rejoin the living. But the icy void had remained, not harsh or acute, just a weight that she had become inured to. Overwhelmed by the attention of the Kelly brothers, replete and free from conscious thought, the icy façade had cracked. To suddenly feel, after so many years of a numbness that became superficial sentiment at best, had sent her emotions into complete breakdown. She couldn’t risk opening herself up to the threat of such overload again. Sending the Kelly’s far away from her was the only answer. Letting them in, only to lose them when her secrets came out, would be the end of her. Eventually, the water went cold, the chattering of her teeth forcing her to uncoil from the fetal position and drag her body from the shower. Wrapping a towel around her, she went straight to her bedroom, climbing into the bed and burrowing under the heavy blankets, unmindful of her soaking, tangled hair. She drew the pillow Nate had slept on to her chest, burying her face in his lingering scent and letting her tears fall where they would. She welcomed oblivion with open arms.

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**** Nate Kelly sat at the kitchen table, still trying to wrap his head around this morning’s events. Jade had loved it, that he was sure of. At no time had she shown any reticence. She had accepted him wholly, even pushing herself to take the thickest part of him that he forced upon no woman. She had taken Matt with an eagerness that was all the more poignant for the tenderness between them. And Brett. He had been watching Brett carefully, making sure his dominance stayed under control. But Jade had surprised him, backing up to his brother for more, even as she brought Matty to a second climax with her willing mouth. But then it had all gone wrong. Her last orgasm had peaked and she had been up, screaming like a mad woman for them to get out. He had expected a little shyness, maybe a little embarrassment. Her reaction was not even a case of buyer’s remorse. The only time he had seen her act so unreasonable was if someone or something threatened one of her horses or one of them. He had once seen her take on a pair of wild dogs trying to maul one of her foals armed with nothing but a stick, screaming her defiance as she threw every curse and abuse in her vocabulary at them. He had been coming back from an afternoon rabbit shoot and fired the old twelve-gauge, scaring the big dogs off. Jade had been eleven. At sixteen she had gotten herself suspended from school. He had no longer been there, but he had heard about it in vivid detail. The incident had begun with one of the seniors winding Brett up. That had been a satisfying but unchallenging past time for a few of the mentally deficient ones, goading and then watching Brett Kelly go right off the Richter. Jade had come around the corner in time to see one of the seniors give Matty a push, who had stepped in to settle his brother’s rage. The

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poor, unsuspecting seniors had thought it was the Kelly boys they had to watch, not their self-appointed guardian. Jade had gone through them like a whirlwind, leaving pain and destruction in her path. The half a dozen culprits were on the ground bleeding in a matter of a minute. Legend says there is still a stain on the carpet outside the principal’s office where Jade had sat watching her knuckles bleed, waiting for the poor man to sort out all the stories that were flying. Onlookers’ versions had clashed with that of the eighteen-year-old testosterone freaks who couldn’t admit they had been soundly thrashed by a sixteen-year-old girl. Never had she sprung to her own defense, it was all water off a duck’s back. It would be totally out of character for her to have reacted the way she did this morning for her benefit. If there was no self-preservation involved, it meant that once again she was protecting them. But from what? Did something in her past jeopardize their potential relationship? He knew she held secrets, some of older vintage than others. Her pregnancy was a new one. Whatever had occurred there would mark Jade for life, no matter what had happened. If a mother no longer had a child to hold, for any reason, there would be scars. Deep and wide and never forgotten. But he knew there were bigger secrets than that in Jade’s past. The cursory investigation into his father’s death had ruled it accidental. The coroner and the local police agreed that his untimely death was inflicted by the horse he had been breaking at the time. Patrick Kelly’s skull had been cracked by a hoof. The horse had broken the top rail on the seven-foot-high round yard and escaped. He and his brothers had been at his cousins in town when it had occurred, returning to find their father’s lifeless body.

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Nate had seen more in that twenty minutes waiting for the ambulance and police to arrive than the investigation had ever revealed. Firstly, the rail was broken inward, not outward. And the hair imbedded atop it was white and chestnut, not black. Secondly, the hoof print visible under Patrick’s hair bore the telltale signs of nail heads. The hoof that had struck him had been shod. The two-year-old he had been working on when the boys had driven out that morning was not. Nate had carefully wiped the gate latch before grabbing it as he would to open the gate and obscured some clear tracks of a shod horse with his own boot. Brett’s eyes had locked with his, and he knew that he, too, had read the signs. Brett left him to do what needed doing and went to comfort Matty. The thing was, Matt hadn’t looked half as broken that September day as he had looked this morning when Brett had steered him out through the door. He knew without a doubt that Jade had been involved with the death of his father in some way. Jade had disappeared two days later, and he had found her big red hunter, Axle, wandering in the state forest a week later. He’d had healing scrapes on both front cannons. The big horse had always been more like a dog than a horse, jealous if Jade paid too much attention to one of them and refusing to let anyone else ride him. Jade had once come off him at a local oneday event, sustaining concussion when he had slipped on the wet course. Axle had stood over her and not allowed the paramedics to touch her. Only Matt who had been strapping for her that day had been able to remove him from Jade’s side. He could only speculate what had driven Axle to break into the yard. The horse had to have smashed his way into the yard, for he knew Jade would have never risked injuring the eventer by jumping such a height.

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He suspected his father had had his hands on Jade or had been threatening her in some way. Axle would have turned the world inside out to come to his mistress’s defense and stopped at nothing to protect her. A just end for a cruel man. The creaking of the old inner-springs alerted Nate to the fact that Jade had gone straight to bed. He got up and gave the long-forgotten bacon to Gypsy, lying at the front door. The lack of tail thump told him the grizzled hound was more than aware of the tension within the old farm house. He went to the bathroom and cleaned himself up, the face in the mirror looking ten years older than it had this morning. He noticed the water trail leading to Jade’s bedroom door and grabbed a towel. His knuckles rapped softly on the doorframe. No response, but that was better than “go to hell.” Taking the lack of answer for permission enough, Nate stepped into the room. The tear-streaked face buried into the pillow he had used last night broke his heart. Dripping wet hair soaked the other pillow. He had suspected she hadn’t dried it when he saw the floor. Her eyes were closed, but her breathing was fitful even in sleep. Nate sat down behind her and wrapped the towel around the mass of water-darkened locks. There was absolutely no response to his touch. Her mind had forced her body to rest the only way it could, by shutting of the power. Her near-catatonic state would last for however long it took for her body to recover from the after-effects of adrenalin overload. Coupled with physical and mental exhaustion, it would be hours before she woke. Nate ran his fingers along a stray tress. The rough texture was a dead giveaway that she had wet but not washed her hair. He restrained a grim kind of smile when he thought about the mess it would be in when she woke. Tomorrow was going to be a bad hair day of epic proportions if he left it the way it was.

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He got up to rummage through the bathroom, secure in the knowledge that a brass band could parade through the house and not wake her. He found a paddle brush and a spray bottle of leave-in conditioner. Thus armed, he returned to the bedroom to do battle with her unruly hair. Separating the tresses into manageable lots, he got to work. He grinned to think of what anyone would make of big, tough Nate Kelly playing lady’s maid. But at least it kept his hands busy. Even after the wet hair had become a shiny, silken mass, he continued to run the brush through. His touch had calmed her, her breaths deep and even, and her muscles no longer ticked and twitched. Nate noticed the chill growing in the room. Reluctantly, he tore himself away from her hair and went to see to the stove. The weather outside had turned colder, sleet blowing in against the windows. Winter was having one last hurrah before ceding to spring. He lit the cold fireplace in the lounge room, having to steer his mind clear of the tableau that had played out in there only a few hours earlier. He set the room to rights, replacing the coffee table and picking up Jade’s discarded clothing. He popped them in the hamper before checking back in on Jade. Seeing she still slept peacefully, he rummaged around in the kitchen, finding enough bits and pieces to knock up a beef and vegetable stew. The carrots and celery were a little flexible but not limp enough to discard. Comfort food would be what Jade needed when she woke, and he would make enough to last her a few days. He suspected she hadn’t been eating properly either. That, coupled with her intense workload, would not be helping her state of health. If she kicked him out when she woke up, at least she would have some decent food for a few days. ****

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Jade woke slowly. Sleep fell away reluctantly. The sweet ache of sex rode her body as she stretched languorously. Her mind replayed the pleasure. Flashes of large, rough hands, crisp hair surrounding silken, tight, hot skin flickered in her mind. The salty tang of masculine lust. Bulging muscles under greedy feminine fingernails. Then the crash. Like seeing an accident and being unable to look away, her breakdown played over and over. How was she ever going to face them again? Not in this lifetime, if she could help it. Opening her eyes, she found it was full dark. The house was quiet, but she wasn’t certain of being alone. She dressed warmly. The smell of warm, wholesome food wafted in through the door, the kind of food that could sit on the stove all day and just taste better and better. Cautiously, she peeked around the door. Seeing no one, she crept silently to the end of the hall, avoiding the squeaky floorboard halfway along. A quick look in the kitchen showed it was empty. The big stew pot simmered at the side of the stove. The wood baskets were full, and a note sat under the salt shaker on the scarred pine of the kitchen table. Her hand trembled as she picked it up. Hey, darlin’, I hope you are feeling better when you get up. Taken care of the horses for you, no need to go out in the cold. Dinner is on the stove. Please talk to me, Jade. We need to know what we have done wrong, and what we can do to help you. You have no reason to hold your secrets close when there are others willing to share the burden. It doesn’t matter what happened, we will stand by you. I am going home to pick up whatever is left of the other two; they were pretty shattered when they left this morning. I guess that is what

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happens when you think you finally have everything you have ever wanted and it all falls apart. Give me a call if you need me tonight, for anything. I will see you tomorrow. I love you, darlin’. Nate. Fuck. What had she done to them? Her own pain she could bear, but their pain, especially Matty’s, was another story. A scratch at the door brought her out of her shock. Gypsy was a welcome distraction. Jade let her in, watching as she curled her steadily filling out frame in front of the fireplace. Eyes of liquid amber watched her every move as she served herself some dinner, grizzled muzzle resting on oversized, wire-haired paws. If only all love was as unconditional as that of the big-hearted hound. The richly flavored stew revived Jade’s meager appetite. She ate two steaming bowls before putting the rest away. The rain was beginning to let up outside, and the wind was no longer buffeting the windows. She hoped tomorrow would be clear. She wanted to spend the time on Kenny’s education. She didn’t want to think about Nate’s promised visit or having to find some excuse for her irrational behavior. He wanted to know her secrets, did he? Jade had no desire to see the look of disgust on his face when he was told that she was responsible for ending two lives and was damaged and weak. Deciding to be proactive with her depression, she searched through the mess of her toiletry bag for her antidepressants. She had always felt like she had left her libido in the doctor’s office when they prescribed the drugs for her. The antidepressants made orgasm, if she could be persuaded to even think about sex, damn near unachievable,

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even by her own hand. She shrugged. What good was a libido when she had no one to share it with? The tablets were a few years old but still in date. Ignoring the niggling doubt about self-medicating, Jade tossed one back, putting the rest on her bedside table before going to bed. This time sleep was soft and gentle, a warm, lapping tide rather than a tsunami of oblivion drowning her with its power.

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Chapter 16 Jade passed the next week Kelly-free. Nate hadn’t come to see her the next day as he had promised, but the lock she put on the gate could have had something to do with that. She put all of her time and energy into Kenny. The big stallion was now working beautifully on the lunge and had just progressed to long-reining, his poise and head carriage a sight to behold. His cadence and smooth transitions made Jade ache to get on him. To have all that power beneath her would be a heady rush, but getting on that much power before it was ready to be harnessed would be foolish, not to mention potentially painful. Kenny’s attitude was the main thing that kept Jade spending more time with him than she usually devoted to starting a young horse. He was a people horse. He whinnied not when she went to feed him, but when she carried a headstall to catch him. After being introduced to the gentle snaffle bit, he picked it up eagerly from her hand with his rubbery lips. When in the round yard or arena, his whole attention was on her. Horses could whinny or Harry could come to the fence to talk, and the big horse would resolutely ignore such distractions, black-tipped ears and dark, liquid eyes fixed firmly on the woman who had become the center of his world. One who was not happy with this devotion of Jade’s time was Toby. Jade had spent the best part of Monday morning covered in grease and oil as she and Harry worked to get the old mechanical walker back into working order. The center pivot, six-bay machine resembled

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an oversize rotary clothesline. Six long arms turned within a containing fence, a circle approximately twelve meters in diameter. A horse was tied to an arm and the machine could be adjusted from a steady walk up to a brisk trot as it circled around. The arm behind both kept the horse in front from lagging on its lead and allowed another horse to be tied. Six horses could be exercised at one time. Jade had found it useful back when she was competing, when there were so many horses and only one of her. It let her spend her time actually schooling rather than warming up and cooling down. But at the moment the only animal using the machine was one overweight palomino. Toby was not impressed. Twice a day Jade put him in the walker. Ten minutes at a medium walk, five at a steady trot, and then fifteen back at a walk. By the time he finished this gentle regime, he was a lather of sweat, his flanks heaving, and wore a “you have got to be kidding” look on his face. The second time Jade had led him toward his personal torture device he had planted himself stubbornly until she had physically dragged him to it and had looked everywhere but at the woman, telegraphing his disdain loud and clear. Jade had assured him it was for his own good, but his disbelief was more than evident in every dismissive gesture as he soundly ignored her. He did enjoy the sandroll afterward, though. He wallowed like an overweight sow, grunting his pleasure as he rolled in the sand. By the end of the week, Jade was feeling the effects of the medication. She was more balanced, tears no longer welling when something went wrong, and more energetic. Her appetite had all but disappeared. She forced herself to eat at meal times, knowing she needed the fuel but feeling as though it were unnecessary. She’d had to freeze Nate’s stew into small portions as she knew it would only go to waste. There was no way she would eat all that in a week.

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As she had predicted, her libido simply vanished. She had taken the batteries out of her vibrator so they wouldn’t corrode. She would want it again sometime, but not any day soon. Thoughts of the Kelly’s only brought a generalized warmth. Even the thought of Matt’s rockhard body and gorgeous ass didn’t get her juices flowing. Intellectually, she knew they were still as delectable and drool-worthy as ever, but her body no longer reacted. One afternoon the following week, Jade decided this was a good thing as she watched Matt Kelly run along the fence line on the western boundary. He vaulted over the slip rails and loped down the hill toward the stable complex. Jade had been taking Toby to the walker for his afternoon session when she had spotted his large figure. For a big man he ran fluidly, not with the lumbering style his size would suggest. His long strides ate up the ground, and in no time he was pulling up before her, sweat runnels adorning the impressive musculature of his bare chest. His T-shirt was hanging, tucked into the waistband of the skimpy jogging shorts he wore. Jade leaned on Toby, folding her arms on his broad back, keeping the horse between them. “Hi, Matt.” Her voice was quiet and soft. Hurt and pain were discernable in the gray eyes that his grin of greeting did not quite reach. “Hey, Jade. Thought I would come over and see if you need another set of hands over here. I’m driving Nate crazy being at home under his feet all the time.” Feeling a pang of guilt at having put that look in his eyes, but also a small thrill that she could face the glory of his revealed body and not lose umpteen points of IQ, Jade thought about the offer. She really did need some help around the place, but she couldn’t afford to put someone on at the moment. Matt was good with horses, not the rider both his brothers were, but he was great on the ground. His steady hands and quiet nature, backed up by his colossal strength, would make him perfect to help with all the halter breaking that needed doing.

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“I can’t afford to pay you much, Matt.” She was honest, straight up. “Jade, I don’t want your money. I haven’t spent anything other than living expenses since I joined up, and they have been minimal. Believe me, my bank balance is pretty healthy. I just want something to do, and if I can help a friend while I’m at it, so much the better.” A ghost of his usual smile appeared. “Besides, if I don’t start doing something, I’m going to pile on the weight. I’ve only been home a little over a week, and I have already put on five pounds.” Jade ran her eyes over him appraisingly, appreciating the view, despite the lack of arousal it usually inspired. “Dunno where,” she muttered. She gave up her visual search for the phantom five pounds. “So that’s why you didn’t use the phone.” “Well, I did need the run, but mostly, I didn’t think you would answer the phone when you saw the number.” He lowered his head, scuffing the toe of his runner in the dirt. The little-boy gesture tore at her heart. “I am really sorry about the other morning, Matt. I never meant to hurt you.” She took a deep breath, chewing at the inside of her mouth before continuing. “I have a few issues I need to work through. I can’t be the woman you all want me to be. Can you accept that, Matt? I couldn’t work with you if you are expecting to land in my bed at the end of the day.” “I just want to help you, Jade. You have given me more than I ever imagined. You take as long as you need to sort yourself out. No one is going to pressure you, and if either of those idiot alpha brothers of mine tries to, let me know. I have been after an excuse to take them both down for years.” She could see the harder man he had become. “What time tomorrow do you want me here? I will bring the fourwheeler over the back way so you don’t have to unlock the gate until you feel like receiving visitors.” He gave a bit of a grin. “Nate got the message loud and clear there. He came home in one hell of a huff for the last week.”

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“At least he took the hint.” Jade arched her eyebrows meaningfully. “Well, the way I figured, you hadn’t wired up the slip rails or put a big sign up saying ‘Fuck off’ or ‘Trespassers will be shot,’ so I took my chances. Also, I thought I might have half a chance of getting you to listen if I distracted you with my body.” He flexed that magnificent chest. Jade nodded in appreciation and gave a small laugh. “Put a shirt on, big guy, and come over tomorrow about eight-thirty.” She stepped back from Toby. “If you can behave yourself, I can really use the help. But if you can’t be professional, Matt, I would prefer to do it all alone.” She walked away with Toby waddling along behind, leaving Matt standing in the yard. **** By the time she heard the ATV at a quarter past eight the next morning she had brought in the first batch of young ones to teach to lead. Young ones was a wide term. Some of them were six-year-olds. She was getting the heavy webbing headstalls out of the tack room when Matt pulled up beside the barn. He stepped off the bike wearing faded, old Wranglers that fit his butt like a comfortable second skin and a T-shirt emblazoned with the name of the local bar. She whispered a prayer of thanks to the god of modern medicine as she took in the sight of six foot seven of virile male in a battered old cowboy hat and boots. All that bounty before her, and she was able to think and talk coherently. Hallelujah! Jade was able to focus on his face when she bid Matt good morning. She was somewhat taken aback by the distance in his greeting and his polite inquiry about where to start. She pointed him toward a five-year-old mare she had drafted into one of the working yards.

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Without further words he selected a halter and heavy lead before grabbing a lariat and catching pole. Matt did things a little different to Jade, but he still managed a great result with as little stress as possible. Jade didn’t use a rope, preferring to halter the touchy ones in the confines of the crush as they had for vetting. She already had a fouryear-old black colt waiting in the crush for her attention. Colts were much easier to work with, in Jade’s opinion. Curious and bold, they wanted to interact. This made teaching them easier and more enjoyable. She found geldings a bit boring, and as for fillies, two moody females together was a recipe for disaster. Jade could train them if she had to but much preferred the males to work with. She took a brief look over the fence when she heard Matt start to sing Springsteen’s “I’m on fire,” just the first verse, on constant repeat. He had the pretty chestnut circling him freely as she adjusted to the rope loosely adorning her neck. A snort brought her back to her own charge. Not paying attention was a quick way to get hurt around large animals. She haltered the horse slowly and smoothly, hands flowing and her voice calming as she adjusted the headstall for an ideal fit. The black took it in his stride, nostrils flared and ears pricked but not moving away or panicking. His calm disposition reinforced her decision not to geld him. She let him out, and he was soon circling on the lead in a mirror of Matt’s mare. Ten minutes later he had slowed to a walk. Jade stepped in front of him, and her body position caused him to stop. She immediately stopped and stepped back one step, removing the pressure her body position had placed upon him, hence introducing him to her reward system. Pressure and release. It didn’t take any more than fifteen minutes to have him walking at her shoulder, responding to the slightest shift of her body. Satisfied, she picked up a pole and began the desensitization process, rubbing him down until he stood calmly while even his legs were rubbed.

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Knowing that the time was right, she dropped the pole and laid her hand on the black’s sweaty hide. She started the process again from the wither, talking nonsense as she used smooth, rhythmical motions while she used her hand, confident in the knowledge that his first reaction would not be to try and kick her head off. Within one hour of first catching the previously unhandled animal, it could be calmly led around the yard and accepted her touch all over. Before the end of the stallion’s tolerance level was reached, Jade called an end to the lesson, swapping the twelve-foot working lead for a thicker one half the length that she would leave on for the horse to learn more about pressure and release as he stepped on and off the trailing rope. She gave him a final rub around the ears before she let him into a smaller enclosure to free up the bigger yard for the next horse. Jade looked over to the other pen where Matt had the chestnut mare following him around like a dog, the lead rope over her wither. She shook her head and smiled at the look of total adoration in the mare’s expressive eyes as she followed obediently, even eagerly. Matt responded to Jade’s smile with a nod before turning back to the mare. A touch of envy crept over Jade as she watched the horse soak up the attention his big hands lavished upon her. Groaning with self-disgust, she turned back toward the rail where she had all the equipment laid out. She picked up a second heavy headstall and headed back toward the pen of colts, setting her sights on a liver-chestnut four-year-old this time, his wavy mane frosted with silver. She took a deep breath and started the process all over again. **** By lunchtime, Jade had the second horse leading and a third started, its behavior, so far, indicating she may have been a little hasty in letting this one stay a colt. She mentally shrugged. It was easy to

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take the balls out of them but damned impossible to put them back. As colts usually sold for a good five grand more than geldings due to stud potential, Jade always liked to leave them entire unless they were not stallion material. She firmly believed in breeding only to improve quality. Breeding for the sake of breeding was detrimental to both the quality of horse produced and the reputation of the breeder. With that in mind, Jade would only allow the very best of her colts to be sold intact. A Douglas Park stallion would pass inspection with flying colors because Jade’s own criteria were so much tougher than any horse society or breed registry ever was. She had a brief look at the colt that was still reacting as violently as the first time he stood on the rope, fighting the pressure with wild head swings before being forced to stagger backward by his own action. Jade mentally shrugged. If he wanted to fight himself, that was fine with her. Her arms ached just looking at the pressure the bay was putting on the rope. Leaving the horse to learn the lesson the hard way, Jade walked over to where Matt was finishing up with his second filly. He had the seal-point brown wrapped around his little finger as his deep quiet voice crooned to her, “Tell me now baby is he good to you…” He was presently leaning over her back, using his superior height to put his weight on her back without giving up a safe and secure purchase on the ground. If Jade had attempted that, her legs would have been sticking out two feet off the ground. The mare accepted his weight with nothing but a small lift of her head, before turning around to rest soulful eyes trustingly on upper part of the man that had appeared on the opposite side of where he stood. There was just something about Matt that evoked trust. An innate goodness that permeated his very being. She had thought he may have lost that special quality as he had grown into adulthood, but she saw it had developed even more.

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Animals invariably relied on instincts, and they all came to trust Matt, going out of their way to please him. It truly was a delight to watch him work, and Jade had forgotten the look of contentment and pleasure that graced his open countenance when an animal gave him their trust. Jade swallowed back the pure emotion that threatened to choke her. She waited until he lifted his weight from the filly before speaking softly over the litany of “hey, little girl…” that was beginning once more. “She is going beautifully. Are you ready for lunch?” Matt smiled as the mare closed her eyes and lowered her head in pleasure as he rubbed his knuckles back and forth on the soft velvet below her eye. “She’s a real darling, this one. Just a big softy.” He gave her a final rub before getting one of the drag ropes from the rail. “I’ll just put her away, and then I would love some lunch. I’m starving.” Jade held back a smile as she headed toward the house, glad she had rang through a grocery order yesterday for Harry to pick up. The amount of food males could put away never ceased to amaze her, and with the size of the big lug about to descend on her kitchen, he would probably eat her out of house and home in a week. She had put an oxtail casserole in a slow oven first thing that morning, and the smell of braised meat and rich sauce greeted her when she opened the door. She hadn’t had the country dish in years but had dug the recipe out of an old scrapbook that had lived in the kitchen since she was a little girl, the yellowing paper clippings and magazine cutouts still legible despite the passage of time. It had belonged to the mother she had never known. After washing up in the laundry, she pulled the dish from the oven. Rich with haricot beans, tomatoes, and vegetables, the meat was falling off the bone. Matty walked in just as she placed the pot on the trivet that stood in the middle of the old table.

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“I think I just died and went to heaven. That smells unbelievable.” Matt breathed deep as he stepped inside. Jade couldn’t help but smile as he quickly stepped into the laundry to clean up. She found cooking a pleasure with an appreciative audience. She placed the pitcher of ice water on the table next to the glasses and grabbed a loaf of fresh bread along with the butter dish before sitting down. Matt helped himself to a bowl and sat down opposite, filling the bowl to capacity at the same time as his ass hit the chair. Jade watched in amazement as he wolfed down three bowls and half a loaf of bread before she had finished her first. He was not in any way a messy eater, but he all but inhaled his food. He had the good grace to look embarrassed as he noticed Jade had not finished her first bowl. She raised an eyebrow. “Hungry?” “Sorry about that. I can’t get out of the habit of eating fast. Meals could be few and far apart when we were out on patrol, so we learned to bolt it down when we had a chance.” He smiled sheepishly. “I guess I should make myself slow down now.” “Either that or I will have to start treating you like that dog of yours and limit what you eat at one time.” Jade stood and scraped what was left of her lunch into the bowl for Gypsy. She saw Matt frown at the amount she had eaten before he helped himself to another glass of water and went to sit in the sunny warmth of the veranda. Jade wondered if she could avoid him altogether but decided it would be the height of rudeness when he had been nothing but professional so far. She quickly cleared the table and grabbed a drink of her own before following him out. “So what are your plans for the young stock?” he questioned her before she sat down on the settee, grateful he had sprawled out on the wooden steps, soaking up the warmth.

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“I was hoping to hold a sale in a few months. That should give me a chance to get them all prepped and sorted. There are about thirtyfive. Of those a few are culls. There’s a few nice fillies I will keep to replace some of the old brood mares, and I’m keeping Kenny. So I will have about twenty-five to offer for auction. I am going to contact the bloodstock agent over in Cheyenne that we always used to arrange the sale and publicity.” “Twenty-five? That’s pretty ambitious. More than you and me can handle that’s for sure.” Matt appeared taken aback by the workload Jade was embracing. “I have got two fillies at the breakers now. Richard assures me he will have them sold before he has even backed them, so there will be a bit more cash around to hopefully put a few local kids on to prep for the sale.” “I am sure Elly or Nate can help you there. They know who can do the job and who needs the work,” he added. In a small rural community like Miller’s Creek, there were always people who could really do with some extra income. He took another drink. “Who’s Kenny?” Jade smiled. “Come and meet him if you have finished. I was going to gear him up anyway.” **** Matt put his glass on the table next to the front door and followed her around to the stable block. He was amused to see the fat palomino deliberately hide behind the tree in his pen as they passed. “Not so full of himself now, is he?” Jade laughed. “No he’s not. He thinks he is going back on the walker, but he still has a couple of hours before I inflict that on him. Toby is not at all impressed with his new fitness regime.” A big whinny sounded ahead, and a massive warmblood stallion came cantering up to the gate, his mahogany hide glistening under the

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spring sunshine. “This is Kenny,” Jade announced, getting his headstall from the peg near the gate. Matt watched as the big horse all but haltered himself, shoving his nose straight in and lowering his head for Jade to do up the buckle. Matt noticed how small and fragile Jade looked next to the big stallion. “He’s a big bastard. Have you measured him yet?” He saw that his wither cleared Jade’s head by a good few inches. “I haven’t put the stick on him, but I think he is just over seventeen hands, he might just scrape seventeen-two.” She caressed the animal’s glossy neck before leading him through the gate. Kenny gave Matt a quick glance and then turned his attention back to the woman who had become the center of his world. Matt felt like he had been summarily dismissed as unimportant. He could see where the horses focus lay and couldn’t blame him. He, too, was a helpless slave where Jade was concerned. This whole “being professional” thing was going to be the death of him. He had been dying to hold her since the moment he saw her this morning, and as much as he had enjoyed gentling those fillies to his touch, it was Jade he ached to lay his hands on. The only thing was that he no longer seemed to have the same effect on Jade that he had previously enjoyed. Even yesterday, when he had taken pains to show up looking like every woman’s idea of a wet dream, she hadn’t reacted. Oh, she had appreciated the view, but the heat hadn’t been in her eyes. There was a distance there now between them. He would gladly give up what had happened between them to resurrect the instant attraction he had inspired in her only a week ago. Well, not gladly, but he would consider it. He followed Jade to the big barn that housed the all-weather training complex, jealousy nudging at him as he noticed the big horse butting against her for the attention she freely gave it.

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She had an old stock saddle readied on the round yard fence, along with the rawhide bridle fitted with the sweet iron snaffle she used for mouthing. Matt leaned against the fence and watched her brush Kenny down before saddling. He leaned into every stroke of the stiff brush, arching his muscular neck into her touch. Matt could easily identify with the animal. It wasn’t that long ago that he’d had her hands kneading into his muscles. The horse was experiencing heaven, and he knew it. He coughed to clear his throat. “How long ago did you start on this one?” Jade slipped the bridle on Kenny to give him the bit to play with while she was saddling him. “About ten days ago.” She picked up the saddle cloth and casually flipped it onto his broad back, not sneaking it on at all. Kenny didn’t budge. “He is going to be one special horse. I would love to keep him all to myself, but this horse is going places I can’t take him. After I finish his preliminary training I’ll see if Veronica wants to take him on.” Matt raised his eyebrows in surprise. Veronica Teal was a worldclass eventer and two-time Olympian and one of Jade’s oldest friends. If she thought this horse was going to be up to that standard, Matt believed her. She was seldom wrong in judging horseflesh. The only problem he could see was the big horse’s devotion to her. He had the makings of a one-rider horse already. Once again, Matt couldn’t blame the animal. Kenny barely reacted to the saddle being lowered to his back for the first time, merely turning his head to look as it touched his off side. “Where are you up to with him?” Matt kept his voice nice and mellow, not wanting to distract Jade or the horse. “He has been lunged and driven. This is his first time with the saddle. All going well I should be on him tomorrow.” She stepped around to straighten the girth on the other side, keeping her hands in contact with the animal the whole time. “If I can resist getting on him

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today,” she added with a smile. Matt could tell she was eager to feel the stallion beneath her. She girthed Kenny up gently but firmly, walking him around a lap before tightening it further. She put the reins over his head and looped them behind the kneepads, placing the stirrup irons over them to hold them secure. Kenny immediately lowered his head and arched his neck at the minimal pressure. The action brought a pleased smile and words of praise from his mistress. Jade sent him around the yard a few times at a walk before pushing him into a trot. He moved freely. His easy movement and lack of tail-jamming indicated he was accepting of this new development. Matt watched closely as Jade asked him for a canter. This was the usual time horses would sneak in a buck, the loping gait being the easiest to kick out in. But Kenny broke into the canter with straightforward ease and elegance. The cadence of his well-suspended hooves striking the sand of the round yard had Jade all but dancing in anticipation. In the end it proved too much for her. “Matt, can you come and hold him while I grab my hat and vest from the tack room? Kenny and I are going to go for a bit of a ride.” Matt shook his head as he complied with her request. He had seen her look of excitement and knew nothing would keep her off that horse. The only thing he could do was hope for the best and pick her up if it all went wrong. Kenny did his best to ignore the big man holding him, but Matt was having none of it as he explained a few home truths about his love for the woman about to climb up in that saddle. He was detailing possible repercussions of harming her when Jade returned. “What was that about a new floor rug?” she asked quizzically. “I was just explaining to your friend Kenny here that he will make a wonderful floor rug if he lets anything happen to you.” Kenny noisily blew air through his nose and looked away.

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“I don’t think that had much impact.” Jade smiled at the big horse’s antics, giving Matty a grin as she adjusted the fit of the protective vest. “Can you hold him and give me a leg up at the same time, or will I have to get a mounting block?” Matt could only smile. He could lift her and another two just like her, but all he said was “I think I can manage.” Jade gathered her reins up short and bent her left leg at the knee. Matt held the near-side rein firmly against the heavy neck of the stallion, arm braced so he could hold him secure if he objected to being mounted. With the other hand he grasped Jade’s offered leg just above the ankle. He raised her slowly, effortlessly holding her in place as she got Kenny used to having her up above him before she gave him some of her weight. Matt’s senses were all poised for action, every muscle ready to jerk Jade out of danger if something went wrong, but the stallion barely tightened a muscle as she leaned her whole weight across the saddle. Slowly, she slid her leg to the other side, careful not to startle him by brushing his rump on the way. In what seemed like hours but in fact was less than a minute, Jade was securely ensconced in the saddle. Matt stood, still holding the rein at Kenny’s shoulder, the other hand resting on Jade’s tense knee. He kept up a litany of praise to the big horse, both to reassure him and so that Kenny wasn’t surprised by the noise if Jade had to say something to him. She rubbed the heavy neck before her and shifted her weight in the saddle to gauge his reaction, but Kenny remained true to form. He could see her apprehension as she asked Matt to lead him forward. He gave her knee a gentle squeeze before complying. The stallion moved hesitantly at first but soon adjusted to her negligible weight. The big horse weighed the best part of thirteen hundred pounds and he carried only a tenth of that. He was soon comfortable enough

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that Jade got Matt to let him go. He released the rein but stayed beside as Jade began to use the reins to guide Kenny around the yard. With each lap he moved farther away until he was standing in the middle while Jade rode solo along the outer edge. The slightly nervous glint didn’t disguise the pure pleasure she derived from riding the big stallion. Matt watched with pride and admiration as she stopped and turned her mount. Kenny obeyed her commands with an alacrity that gave testament to the working relationship Jade had developed with the bay. He moved freely into a trot at her voice command. The whole basis of her training philosophy was consistency and continuity, one stage flowing seamlessly into the next. Matt waited until she had halted again before exiting the yard. His help was not needed anymore. She circled a few more times before asking Matt to let her out into the full-size arena adjoining the round yard. He opened the gate slowly, watching for any hint that the horse would bolt at the offer of apparent freedom. Kenny ignored Matt’s scrutiny and walked confidently out the gate at his rider’s direction. Matt could only watch with a sense of awe as Jade worked the big bay around the area, putting him through balanced figure-eights that he should not have been capable of for weeks. Finally, Jade brought him to a halt in front of Matt. “I think you have made another conquest. He looks just as smitten as the rest of us now.” Matt rubbed Kenny’s broad forehead, smearing the sweat droplets that now decorated it. Jade ignored his remark. “Can you hold him while I get off? I don’t think he will move, but I would hate for him to learn any bad habits.” Matt once again took a rein, but it proved unnecessary. Kenny standing patiently as his rider lowered herself to the ground.

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Knees a little weak, Jade took her helmet off and gave the sweaty horse a hug of genuine appreciation, and then gave Matt one, also. “Thank you, too, Matt.” He resisted the urge to pull her closer, instead dropping a chaste kiss on her forehead. “You’re welcome, Jadey. Anytime.” **** Jade released Matt and stepped back, noting the pain in the big man’s eyes before he hid it behind a shadow of his usual grin. “I’ll leave you with your new man here. There are two ladies in the yards waiting for my company.” She watched as he walked back toward the corrals. Jade took a deep breath, her sorrow at Matt’s pain not enough to dampen the elation she felt at having finally ridden Kenny. She hadn’t felt as alive for years. The feeling was all consuming without being overwhelming. A natural high she could easily become addicted to. She stifled a laugh as she led Kenny to the wash bay. My new replacement for sex!

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Chapter 17 Over the next few weeks Jade spent every moment she could riding Kenny. Matt watched with increasing alarm as she rode farther and harder each day, introducing the horse to jumping as flat work lost its challenge. The horse proved as fearless as his rider, boldly taking every obstacle in his path. Matt worried every time she went out of sight. Her weight loss concerned him, too. She continued to pick at her food at lunch, eating barely enough to keep her going. She appeared healthy enough, but her behavior increasingly concerned him. He ended up talking to Nate about it. Nate had still not seen Jade as the gate had remained locked. He had listened as Matt listed her symptoms: risk-taking behavior, weight loss, and change in personality and behavior. If Matt hadn’t known of Jade’s no-tolerance attitude to drugs, he would have wondered if she was using. But he did think Nate had a good point when he told him to play detective and have a look around the house for clues, namely the bathroom and bedroom. The next day Matt told Jade he was ducking up to the house for a drink and quickly snooped through his target areas, writing down the names of three lots of medication he found. That night he gave it to Nate. **** Nate grinned at the first one, amused at his brother’s ignorance when it came to women’s issues. “You can cross the first one off. It’s

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for period pain, and unless hers lasts for damn near a month, that ain’t it.” He tapped the paper thoughtfully. “These other two I’m not sure of. Start up the computer, and we’ll have a look.” The second turned out to be a high-dose iron supplement. Common enough for women with heavy menstrual flows, he thought. It was the third that gave Nate pause. An anti-depressant. He quickly typed in “side effects” next to the name and sat back and blinked. Loss of appetite, loss of libido, delayed orgasm or inability to orgasm, headaches, nausea, anxiety. The list went on. He clicked a few links and came across an article that he had to read twice. The drug Jade was taking was recalled twelve months ago and replaced with a more effective version with fewer and less severe side effects. What was she doing still taking the nasty original? He moved back from the screen so Matt could read it, too. Brett walked in while he was reading, still in his work gear, so Nate filled him in on the situation. Matt pushed himself back from the monitor. “This is such a relief! I mean, I know it is bad that Jade is taking this shit, but that’s why she isn’t panting over my chest anymore. I haven’t been game to take my shirt off.” He gave a beatific smile. “It’s not my fault the motor won’t run. There’s just no fuel in the tank.” Brett beat Nate to smacking him up the back of the head. “Numbnuts.” Brett sat down in the other chair, resting his forearms on his knees. He studied the grease left in the creases of his knuckles as gave his opinion. “If we confront Jade with this, she is going to be wild, first, about us being there and then about us snooping.” He turned to Matt. “Where did you find them?” “On her bedside table.” He gave a little chuckle. “Right above the drawer where she keeps her vibrator. That husband of hers must have been a real pencil-dick because that thing is tiny.”

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“Mmm, can’t think of a way to just accidentally stumble onto those then. Not with us being persona non grata in that room at the moment.” “We could stage one of those things they do with drug addicts. What are they called? Interventions?” Matt spoke up. Nate laughed at the suggestion. “Jade would hand us our balls on a platter and send us packing with our asses peppered with buckshot.” He rubbed at the beard stubble on his cheek thoughtfully. “I think I may have an answer, but it means bringing Elly in on this.” He quickly outlined his plan. **** The two fillies did not come home from the Breaker. Both sold for a handsome price, and Jade was able to employ three locals to help with the sale preparation. Luke and Dean Peters were identical twins: redheaded farming boys from a big family, just out of school and keen to work. While not expert horsemen by any means, they were eager and kind. And those were two qualities that Jade felt overcame any lack of knowledge. Anna Millard was a heavy-set, middle-aged widow who had worked enough thoroughbred studs to manage a small performance horse sale like the Douglas Park one with her eyes shut. She was just the steadying influence the two boys needed and had a wicked sense of humor. When Jade made introductions, Anna looked Matt up and down before turning to Jade with a wink. “Damn, girl! If I’d known you had eye candy like that out here, I’d have been knocking your gate down weeks ago.” She turned back to Matt, bold as brass. “Where have you been hiding, gorgeous? Not in Miller’s Creek, that’s for certain.” Matt turned bright red as Jade gave her his family genealogy.

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“Nate and Brett’s little brother, huh? Well they’re fine lookin’ men, too, but there’s so much more of you, sweet.” If Matt had been blushing before, he was positively burning up then. After that, Matt did his best to avoid Anna, which only made her tease him worse when she did come across him. One Thursday afternoon, Jade was bored. Oh, there was plenty to do but not anything that really took her fancy. She had ridden Kenny hard that morning, so using him as a distraction was out of the question. With her libido safely on ice, distractions of the Kelly variety held little appeal either. She looked around until her eyes fell on the roller door that hid the Camaro. She hadn’t had the car out for a real drive since she got here. She left Anna in charge of the twins and let Matt know she was heading off for the afternoon. If there were any problems, they could call her. She quickly changed out of her smelly riding clothes and grabbed the keys, her blood starting to heat in anticipation of a few deserted straights that could be found around the area. The first one was a good mile long, just far enough from the farm for the engine to be properly warmed up. It was also free from any traffic. Jade put the pedal to the metal and let the horses run, all two hundred and ninety of them. The car was rated zero to sixty in seven point four. Jade didn’t do it that quick, but she pushed it hard enough to feel the effects of inertia as the roar of the big 302 V8 hummed through her body. Her heartbeat pounded as the horses found their stride, the muscle car doing what it was born to do. Run. Hair streaming back from the open window, she felt herself come alive. She yelled like a mad woman. A primal celebration of life. **** That was the view Nate and Brett as they rounded the corner onto the straight in Nate’s old Ford. “What the fuck?” Brett’s head

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whipped around to get a better look at the flat black coupe that streaked past. “A Camaro! Who the fuck owns one of those in Miller’s Creek?” Nate’s lips quirked in an obvious effort not to smile at the “fuck” that had slipped out. “That, Brett, was Ms. Douglas out for an afternoon drive.” Brett blinked heavily as he decided whether to be pissed about the way she was driving or the fact that she had a Camaro and a Z28 at that. “I’m gonna kill her. Get me home, Nate. I’m gonna find her, and then I’m gonna teach her never to drive like that again.” Nate raised his eyebrows, clearly amused that it took Jade risking life and limb to get his blood up these days. “How are you going to find her?” Nate asked, sounding genuinely curious as to what he had planned. “I’ll call Steve and make sure he is at home first, and then I’m getting on Kermit and heading out. If she is looking for places to speed, I know them all.” He already had his phone out calling the local one-man police station. Steve was firmly entrenched in paperwork all afternoon and wouldn’t be able to meet them at the bar for a drink. Brett briefly wondered what he would have done if he had said yes. Nate pulled up outside the house yard, and Brett headed straight into the locked garage he housed his babies in. The Ford was now gone, but the green monstrosity know as Kermit sat waiting. Brett turned the key and pulled on the leather jacket that hung over the seat of the cycle. He threw a leg over the Kawasaki ZX and donned the black helmet that matched his jacket. He kicked the stand and rode out on one of the fastest production bikes ever made. He tracked Jade down in twenty minutes without once exceeding the speed limit. He found her on a two-mile stretch of road heading out toward the Powder Basin. She had just punched the gas when he entered the strait behind her. Seeing that the road was

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free of traffic and knowing the local highway patrol was otherwise occupied, Brett dropped down lower on Kermit and hit the throttle. The pulse of the high-performance engine throbbed beneath him as he quickly caught the speeding Camaro. He leaned the bike and quickly overtook, noting the shock on Jade’s face as he flashed past. He had taken her completely by surprise. She had been looking for oncoming traffic, not watching her tail. He slipped in front of her black machine and eased back, gradually decelerating so she was forced to slow behind him. He hoped she slowed anyway. His plans did not include becoming a hood ornament today. **** Jade watched the madman on the bike with trepidation. He seemed to be trying to pull her over, and this was no police cycle. He pointed to a wide piece of shoulder, slowing even further. Jade wound the window almost closed and locked the door. If whoever this was made any threatening moves, she would just drive away. She pulled into the loose gravel beside the road that he indicated, watching the professional way the cyclist handled the powerful machine as he brought it to rest. Unable to see the face of the rider, she was forced to read body language. In this case it wasn’t hard. Every jerky movement and stiff posture screamed “pissed!” He marched to her door, his long-legged stride eating up the distance. Apprehension built as he stopped at her door, legs aggressively parted. He reached up black-gloved hands to slap up the visor before removing his helmet. The knot of dread that formed at the flash of brightest azure she glimpsed in the open visor solidified as tousled hair like ebony silk spilled from the helmet.

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“Fuck.” She knew Brett read her lips when his eyes narrowed, intensifying the beam of blue fire that spilled from them. He tapped on the glass imperiously with one black-gloved knuckle. Jade winced as she slowly lowered the window. Brett Kelly was not exactly her first choice of people to catch her out blowing off a little steam. She braced herself to weather his tirade. **** Brett watched the window lower, trying to get a handle on the fear that had held him in its grip since he had seen her driving like a woman possessed half an hour ago. That terror for her safety had manifested into a need to pound some sense into her. The problem was he didn’t know if he wanted to put her over his knee and spank her or hold her tight and celebrate the fact that she was still alive. He was a member of the local fire and rescue brigade and had seen too many speed-related crashes, too many of them fatalities. The idea of finding Jade wrapped around a tree or coming off second best in a bout with Bambi made his blood freeze in his veins. He looked into the face of the woman he cared too damn much for, and the tongue-lashing he was about to give her froze in his throat. She looked so alive. The barrier she lived behind was gone. He could all but see the blood circulating beneath the fineness of her skin. The healthy flush rivaled that which he had seen on her in climax. Her eyes held her excitement more than her expression that said she was braced for his temper should allow. He swallowed back the “What the fuck do you think you were doing?” that was just wanting so badly to burst forth. “You! Follow me.” He turned on his heel, headed back to the Ninja, threw a leg over, and started it up.

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**** Bewildered, Jade followed. She had a little voice telling her to run, that he was only taking her somewhere else because the side of the road afforded too many possible witnesses to the berating he planned on. But it was better to get it out of the way now. The prick knew where she lived. He rode for about twenty minutes, taking a lot of side roads that led them clear to the other side of Miller’s Creek. It wasn’t until she saw the derelict control tower that she realized where Brett had led her. It was the old air force base, long since abandoned. Acres of concrete and tarmac were zealously protected by an aged chain link and razor wire fence. Brett stopped the cycle in the main entrance. She saw him fish around in his pocket and then lean toward the gate. The next thing she knew, he was ushering her inside. He locked the gate behind them and then escorted Jade to one of the open hangers. He parked the bike and dismounted. Jade looked around nervously as he stripped off his protective gear. There was definitely no one here to hear her scream. She stepped out of the car when Brett made no move to come to her. He was sitting comfortably sideways on the machine with a leg cocked over the fuel tank, arms crossed and an indecipherable look upon his face as he watched her approach. He looked so damn sexy sitting on the bike with his blue eyes smoldering. Jade felt a tightening low within her, despite the chemical suppression. Either he was just that damn hot or the adrenaline high she was riding had circumvented the effects of her medication. She put a bit of a swing into her step, hoping to distract him from his anger. She stopped right in front of him, feeling the heat radiating out from the cycle through her jeans. He made no move to reach for her as she had expected, instead lifting an eyebrow as if waiting to hear the excuses fly. Jade offered none. “Sorry about that.”

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“What, driving like a maniac or getting caught?” Damn, he really did know her too well! She gave him what she hoped was a winning grin. “Both?” “Hmm, you don’t sound real sure there.” He tilted his head back. Jade’s fist clenched involuntarily as his chin jutted out but there was no belligerence in the action, only a kind of amused indulgence that took some of the heat from his piercing blue orbs. One side of his mouth curled up when he saw her hand. “I’m just itching to put you over my knee right now and teach you never to drive like that again, Jade. You lift a hand at me, and you will find yourself there quicker than you can blink.” Her fist uncurled immediately. “That’s better.” The other side of his mouth curled up to match the first. The man really was devastatingly handsome. “The next time you feel an urge to shake the cobwebs out of the old girl, give me a call. This place is all mine now. I lease it off the government for brake testing, speed calibrations, things like that.” He nodded down toward the runway, drawing Jade’s eyes to the wide stretch of tarmac heading off into the distance. She eyed it hungrily. “You can use it anytime you want. Just give me a call so I can let you in and keep an eye on you. It isn’t safe to drive like a demon without anyone watching.” Jade was in shock. He’d brought her here to indulge her bad habit, not chastise her for it? **** Brett smiled wide when he saw her disbelief. “Go on before I change my mind.” He grinned at her hesitancy. “Unless you would prefer to be over my lap?” Jade bolted. He watched her carefully to make sure she used her seatbelt, but she reached for it before she touched the key in the ignition. Only

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reckless, not stupid then. He grinned in appreciation as she fishtailed on the smooth concrete of the hangar on her way out, keeping the front straight and the accelerator down. It appeared Jade not only had an awesome car, she knew how to drive it, too. He settled back to watch her have a little fun, adjusting the cock that screamed for freedom behind his fly. The damn thing had been hard as steel since Nate had told him it was Jade who drove the speeding Camaro. His dick hadn’t shared the worrying concerns of his mind. Two return sprints on the runway and twenty minutes of throwing it into corners later, Jade pulled back up next to the monstrous green cycle. Brett’s breath caught in his throat as she stepped out of the vehicle. He had thought she looked alive before, but now, now she looked positively radiant. Excitement flashed from the eyes that burned with emerald fire. Her smile was bright enough to light up a stadium. And her skin held that freshly fucked and looking for more glow. She ran a hand through her wind-styled hair, and it was all Brett could do not to throw her down and take her on the cold hard floor of the hangar. He folded his arms tighter in an effort to control the near overpowering urge. “God, that was good.” The carnal inflections of her exclamation did little for the state of his cock as his body strived to pump more blood into the raging monster. At this rate he would pass out from lack of blood supply to the brain in no time. “Glad you enjoyed yourself. You were quicker than I thought, though.” “She gets a little thirsty when you drive her hard. Running out of fuel between here and town would be a tad embarrassing.” He nodded toward the car that sat ticking as it cooled. “May I?”

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Jade walked back and popped the hood. Brett followed, praying she didn’t notice the bulge distorting the fit of his jeans. “How did you end up with something like this?” “I bought it to celebrate my divorce. It is all I have to show for eight years of matrimony, but worth every cent.” Brett kept quiet. He knew she should have had something else to show for it, but until she was ready to talk about it, he was not going to push. With practiced care he raised the hood, exposing the hot engine. Clean, with very few spots of dark oil stains around the seals, the engine was well cared for and looked mostly original. He knew Jade was waiting for his opinion. “302, Twin Holley’s, four-barrel carby. Nearly all original. Very nice.” He raised his head and gave her a grin. “Anytime she needs a tune up, bring her in. I would love to get my hands on her.” “I just bet you would.” Jade eyed the bulge in his jeans meaningfully, a mocking grin playing at her mouth. “No, honey, that’s all for you. The notion of having your ass blushing under my hand again has me all fired up. You have no idea just how much I want to teach you a lesson over my knee right now.” Jade stepped back, color staining her cheeks at his declaration. If Brett had seen any signs of arousal, she would have been there now, spitting and cursing as he laid a few good ones on the perfect globes of her ass. But her nipples refused to poke out at him, and the sweet smell of her arousal did not perfume the air. He now knew some of Matt’s chagrin at her lack of reaction, but at least he knew there was a physiological reason for it and not just a lack of interest on her part. The sooner they put Nate’s plan into action, the better. He closed the hood and walked back to the bike, settling himself upon it as he started to put on the protective gear. ****

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Jade watched him pull on the gloves, watching his face close down and become hard. She could feel him drawing away. He turned to look straight at her, holding his helmet ready. “You need to let us in, Jade. We would do anything for you, help you through anything. You just have to let us in.” Jade felt the remnants of her enjoyment slide from her face. “I don’t know if I can, Brett,” she said softly, hurt welling up inside at the thought of the pain she was causing the three brothers at the moment. Brett slipped the helmet on. “You could start by unlocking the gate.” He slid the visor down, and the bike roared to life. Jade followed slowly, the high of her adrenaline rush replaced with the emptiness she had come to hate. The only bad thing about chasing the high was the crash afterward. There was no one to hold you through the afterglow like a sexual high, just a cold empty darkness that crept back into your soul, creating a barrier of emotional distance too great to scale. Jade fueled up and returned home. She left the gate unlocked.

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Chapter 18 Two days later Jade gave them an opportunity to put the plan into effect. She called Elly to come and geld two of the colts that did not have the temperament or trainability for stud material. The only time the vet had available was immediately before lunch. Nate accompanied Elly as he usually did on large animal call-outs, and courtesy dictated that Jade ask them to stay for lunch. Elly was fascinated with the old house that she vaguely remembered from her childhood and asked Jade to show her around. She did a credible job of exclaiming over the ten-foot beaten copper ceilings, which were different in each room. She did not like her part to play in this drama but could see its necessity. In Jade’s bedroom, where the ceiling was festooned with oldfashioned cabbage roses, Elly lingered, exclaiming her delight, backing up until her leg brushed the bedside table, knocking it over. Apologizing profusely, she started picking up things, contrary to Jade’s reassurance not to worry. She stopped when she held the box of antidepressants in her hand. She turned to meet Jade’s embarrassed gaze. “You are not taking these, are you?” Her question caused Jade to blush deeper, snatching the box from Elly’s hand. “That’s none of your business.” “I am sorry, Jade. It’s just that those were taken off the market over a year ago. I had a friend who used to be on them, and she hasn’t looked back since they put her on the new medication.” Elly made full eye contact with Jade, who was very uncomfortable under the scrutiny. “You need to go and see a doctor, Jade. This stuff is downright nasty. Have you been taking it long?”

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“I was on it years ago. I had a little relapse when, um, a few weeks ago and didn’t have time to go to the doctor. They always used to put me on the same stuff, so I just started on a box I had left over. Pretty dumb when I think about it. But it was the best idea I had at the time. I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.” “Why do I think those idiot brothers of mine had something to do with that?” Jade laughed humorlessly. “Because you are a smart woman.” “Not half a fucking brain between them,” Elly acknowledged, shaking her head. “I see the way they look at you, Jade. There is no question that they love you, but they just don’t have a frigging clue. They need to treat you right, not overwhelm you by coming on strong.” Jade blinked. “Um, so you know about them all, um…” “Wanting you?” Elly finished for her kindly. “Yes, I do. You are the only thing those brothers of mine have agreed upon in their whole lives. I know it is not a normal situation, but they didn’t exactly have a normal upbringing. The only thing they had besides each other was you. “When you left, the life just went out of them. The townsfolk thought they were mourning Patrick, but it was the empty space on the pew next to your father they looked at. They just fell apart, Jade. “Brett left straight after the funeral, and Matty started getting in trouble at school. Thank god he signed up. I would hate to think of the kind of trouble he would have gotten in otherwise. And Nate just closed down. Oh, he got married and that, but it didn’t have a chance in hell of working when you took his heart with you when you left.” She took Jade’s hands in both of hers. “There is a chance here for you all to be happy, but first, you have to heal yourself. Go to your doctor. Don’t hold anything back. And let the boys help you. They might be brainless fools at times, but you mean the world to them. Trust them, Jade. They are not going to let you drive them away.”

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Elly gave her hands a squeeze before releasing them. “We had better get out there before Anna molests one of them. Nate can handle her, but Matty looked pretty uncomfortable with the way she kept ogling his ass.” Jade grinned. “I really can’t blame her there.” Elly pulled a face. “Uck, that’s my brother you are talking about. Have a bit of care.” They laughed and headed out to find Anna had Matt cornered, with Nate all but rolling around on the floor in mirth. Sharing a grin, they walked straight past, leaving them to their own devices. **** Jade got an appointment for the very next day and the lecture on self-medicating she knew she deserved. Dr. Shelly Green had read right through Jade’s file that had been sourced from her former GP, heavy blinks punctuating her perusal. She had then proceeded to question her thoroughly and deeply, leaving no stone unturned. Only after Jade had been completely candid and open with her did she do a physical. Jade was impressed with the doctors competence and communication skills. Her last GP had only asked a few cursory questions before handing over a script. The young female doctor finished by asking about her present support network, who she had to lean on and talk to. Jade hedged by saying that she had someone, but Shelly told her straight that unless there was someone who knew her past, that she could talk to about everything when the need arose to let it out, she could forget about getting better. She gave her a script for new medication and said she wanted to see Jade in two weeks. Jade headed home via the pharmacy.

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The next week was a revelation to Jade as her body cleared itself of the affecting drug, and the effects of its replacement began to be felt. She began to smile over simple pleasures again. She no longer had to jump so high or ride so fast to get a buzz. And her libido began to stir, albeit a little lazily, but active once more. **** Nate came over to drop Matt off one Thursday morning so he wouldn’t have to ride the ATV in the rain, and stopped for coffee. Jade found herself enjoying his company. The heat he couldn’t hide in his eyes stirred, answering echoes within her as they sat on the veranda watching the rain fall. Matt had given them a dirty look before heading out into the rain, looking like a veritable giant in the bulk of his oilskin slicker. “I am so glad Matt is here. Otherwise it would be me going out there getting wet.” Jade took a warming sip of the rich brew. “He is glad he is here, too, darlin’. I don’t know what he would have done if you hadn’t let him help. He was pretty broken up when you sent him away. There is nothing he wouldn’t do to be near you Jade.” She looked down into the dark beverage, searching for words to use, finding that now she could talk about it. Not all of it, but some of it. “I don’t quite know how to explain things to you, Nate, but I am going to try.” She looked out into the gray day shrouded by rain. It was easier to talk when she couldn’t see his eyes. As it was, she could feel their gentle touch. “For the last eight years or so I have just existed, not truly lived. I went through the motions, but nothing felt real. I mean there were good times and some real bad times, but it was as if I felt them second-hand. I know now that it was a symptom of depression.

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“I have suffered with it on and off for years, more or less since I left. This is pretty personal, but you have earned the right to hear it. In the beginning I could feel it happening, like a dark fog creeping over me. The only way I would get past it was chasing a high, usually driving like an idiot. Sex worked, too, but David didn’t have much time for me, and if he rejected me, I ended up worse. “The funny thing was that it wasn’t the sex. It was the physical contact I really wanted. I went and got help, but the drugs shut down my libido so completely. It was like flicking a switch. David would complain about going from feast to famine, and I would go off the medication. And then the vicious cycle would begin again. “I had something pretty terrible happen back a few years ago.” She stopped, willing back the tears that threatened to spill. “Your child?” Nate questioned gently. Tears escaped, rolling hot and free down her cheeks, but she found she was able to talk. “Christopher was eleven months old. I was having trouble coping with motherhood, my marriage, and trying to get back to work. I asked David to take Chris for a drive to give me ten minutes peace and quiet.” Her voice broke as her guilt threatened to overwhelm her. Nate put his arm around her shoulders but did not turn her to him, offering his support without undermining her tenuous control. “There was an accident. A drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into the back of David’s car. Chris was killed instantly. “That was three years ago. You’d think I would be able to talk about it now, but I can’t, Nate.” She sniffed, trying to control her tears. “Oh, darlin’.” He gathered her close and just held her, his voice thick with tears of his own. No one had held her while she wept out her anguish that something so important had been ripped away from her. Not David who had been caught up in his own grief. Not her so-called friends

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who had not known what to say and as such had offered their condolences and kept clear of her. They say time heals all wounds, but deep wounds require help to mend. The chemical bandage that had been slapped on when hers had become infected had delayed the healing process. Jade felt more peace letting her tears run free in Nate’s comforting embrace than two years of therapy and medication had ever inspired. Nate let her cry, rocking her in that comforting way loved ones do when they feel useless to do anything else. She knew Nate didn’t know what to say, but he offered her all he had: the strength of his body and the silence of understanding. Jade found it was enough. Eventually, the storm of her weeping passed. She lay limp in the circle of his arms, head back, propped against his chest. She found she was able to continue, all emotion wrung from her for the moment. “That morning when we, um…” “Made love?” he gently supplied, surprising her with his choice of words. “Um, yeah. Well, for the first time in forever, I could feel again. Things felt like they were happening to me instead of someone else. It scared me, Nate. I wasn’t used to feeling like that. It was too real. Too raw. I panicked. I am sorry I hurt all of you like that, but I just wasn’t ready for that.” Nate rested his chin on top of her head. “Do you think you ever will be?” His tone was tender, not the accusatory inflection she was expecting. “I hope I will be one day. I have a great doctor, and I am getting the help I need to get better. She said talking about what happened would help to move through the grieving process, and she was right. I have never talked to anyone about Chris who didn’t know about it already, but as painful as it was, I feel better for it.” “You can talk to me about anything, darlin’. Anytime, give me a call, and I’ll be there.” He kissed the top of her head before resting his chin back on it. Jade held on to the arm wrapped around her and just

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soaked up his touch, his warmth. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her, but a small niggling voice told her that she still had secrets to keep. Ruthlessly, she quashed it, living in the moment and really too emotionally beat to care. She didn’t know how long she sat there, but eventually, that third cup of coffee kicked in, and her bladder told her she had to get up. Nate let her go reluctantly as she pulled away. Jade relieved herself and repaired some of the ravages to her face with a cool cloth. She was glad Nate hadn’t been able to see her face when she looked at the blotchy mess in the mirror. She never cried prettily. Her eyes and nose got red and swollen, and the blotches were unbelievable. But a cold wet cloth and some eye drops could work wonders. When she went back out, Nate was standing, running the brim of his battered hat through his hands as he stared out into the rain. He looked back at the sound of her tread behind him. Jade was taken aback by the tenderness she saw in the soft blue of his eyes as they locked and held hers. “I have to go help Elly this morning. Would you like to come over for dinner and a movie tonight?” He must have seen the suspicion that crept into her eyes. “Just dinner and a movie. Nothing else,” he assured her. “I’d like that.” He extended his arm to offer a hug before he left. Jade stepped in, sliding her hands under the parted front of his denim jacket and burying her face in his chest. He held her close. She marveled at the feel of his gentle hands resting on her back and the warmth of his chest beneath her cheek. With one last squeeze, he released her and stepped out into the rain. Jade stood watching for a long time after he drove out of sight, lost in thought and warmed by hope.

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Chapter 19 By the time the Camaro pulled up outside the Kelly residence Nate knew Jade would never have guessed the panic that had gone on within for the last hour and a half. He had filled his brothers in on Jade’s fragile state of affairs, and the slim hope burgeoning at the possibility of resurrecting a relationship with Jade now spurred them on to extremes. Matt had been running around with the vacuum and washing dishes that were stacked haphazardly in the sink. Brett had done some last-minute grocery shopping and was busy in the kitchen, and Nate had spent the time going through the DVD cabinet, making sure nothing inappropriate was in there when he asked her to choose tonight’s movie. He decided it would be particularly uncomfortable if one of Brett’s club scenes found its way on the screen in full HD, especially if it was one of the rare ones that he had taken part in. **** The aroma that sprung from the front door bowled Jade over, her stomach rumbling as the tempting smells of garlic, seafood, and succulent beef assaulted her senses. Nate looked down at the growling offender before giving her a grin. “Maybe Brett should have bought the whole cow instead of half,” he teased, ushering her inside. She walked though to the kitchen, marveling at the remodeled and modernized room. Stainless steel fridge and top-of-the-line gas appliances graced the black marble and solid timber kitchen. It was a

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kitchen for a serious cook. There was not a microwave to be seen. “Very nice. Whose domain is this?” she asked. Brett turned from where he was flipping steaks on the cast-iron hotplate. “Mine.” He gave her a welcoming smile. “How do you like your steak?” “Still bleeding, if it’s not too late.” “Blue or rare?” She saw the wrinkle of disgust on Matt’s face at the offered choices as he entered the kitchen carrying a feather duster. “Better make it rare. I think Matt would be sick if I ate blue steak in front of him.” “Okay, I’ll make it rare-rare.” Jade was watching Matt dust a plant stand in the corner “That’s a naughty grin if ever I saw one. What’s going through that pretty little head of yours, Jadey?” Brett asked with a smile. She grinned harder. “I was just thinking that Cinderella here would look much better doing that in a French maid outfit.” Matt turned with a smile of his own. “The whole outfit or just the frilly little apron?” “I was thinking only the frilly little apron,” she answered truthfully, admiring how his ass twitched with each swipe of the duster. Nate set the table and pulled Jade’s chair out for her, gesturing grandly as he did so. She gave him an overly gracious nod as she sat, playing along. Jade was astonished at the meal Brett laid before her, surf and turf with seasoned pan fried potato chips and a simple salad. The steak was a scotch fillet, cooked to perfection, or in Jade’s case “uncooked” to perfection. Scallops, shrimp, and calamari swam in a delicate garlic cream sauce that adorned the grass-fed beef. Jade was in heaven. She might have had her appetite back, but the size of her stomach restricted what she could actually eat. She left half the salad and nearly all the chips, but she ate every trace of seafood and most of the

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steak. She poked forlornly at that last piece of beef but just could not find the room to put it. Brett looked on in amusement as she harassed that last piece of steak. He finally took pity on it and reached across with his fork, stabbing it and popping it in his own mouth, grinning as he chewed. Jade threw him a token protest but could only smile in return. When they finished, Nate ushered her through to the living room, directing her to the DVD cabinet beside the huge flat-screen TV. While she made her choice, he made himself comfortable on the lounge, relaxing as she poked through the vast collection. Finally, she picked one, an oldie but a good one. But anything with a shirtless Matthew McConaughey in it was a good one to Jade’s way of thinking. Nate groaned as Sahara lit up the screen. He grinned at the protesting look Jade shot him and held out his hand. She accepted it and crawled up onto the lounge with him, letting him gather her to his side. She found a comfortable position, but it was too comfortable. Even with the sound of Matt and Brett arguing goodnaturedly while they washed up, her eyes started to close. Nate grinned down at her. “Had a big feed, and now you need a nap, huh?” Jade smiled ruefully. “Sorry. Today took a bit more out of me than I thought.” “Hey, it doesn’t matter. Slide down and have a sleep. I’ll wake you up later.” Jade snuggled down on the comfortable lounge, her head resting on Nate’s lap. He stroked the hair back from her temple. She could feel the gentle touch of his gaze against her cheek. Brett came in before Jade fell asleep. He gently lifted her legs before sliding onto the other end of the lounge, resting his hand on her knee. Jade was too full and tired to complain. When Matt came in, however, he made Jade smile. “This just isn’t fair. I’m out there doing all the work, and they get an end each.”

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Jade smiled at the complaint in his voice and patted the floor in front of the sofa where she lay. “Come and sit here. You can be my teddy bear while I sleep.” She didn’t have to ask him twice. She put her arm over his shoulder, her palm coming to rest on the swell of his chest. She snuggled in contentment, falling into a dreamless sleep warmed by the heat of the men surrounding her, the latent power of Nate’s thigh under her head, the comforting weight of his and Brett’s hands resting upon her, and the strong steady beat of Matt’s big heart under her palm. Comfort just didn’t get any better than that. Jade woke once, much later, when Brett slipped out from under her legs, but the reassuring weight of a quilt being spread over her and Nate’s soothing touch soon had her slumbering soundly once more. The gentle kiss Matt laid on her cheek blended with the dream of floating in a warm cocoon. She woke as the first soft light of dawn was streaking the eastern sky. It took her a few minutes for her to get her bearings. Waking with a human pillow beneath her head was a novel experience. She realized she still lay on Nate, but Brett and Matt were nowhere to be seen. She tried to extricate herself without waking him, but he was already awake. “Morning, darlin’.” His greeting was quiet and stained with sleep as he brushed her hair back from her face. “Hey.” Jade found her voice was no better, husky and dry from lack of use. “You should have woke me up.” She rolled to look up at him looming over her, knowing she would be a frightful mess after a night sleeping on the lounge. He, however, looked as rugged and handsome as ever, albeit a little tired. His eyes were soft and heavy as he gently pushed the unruly hair back from her face. “You needed the sleep.” His thumb grazed the dark circles that had developed under her eyes in recent weeks. “Besides, I like being your pillow.” “You look like you didn’t get much sleep.”

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“I can catch up today. I don’t have much planned unless Elly calls.” “I need to go home.” Jade stretched, curling her toes and working the kinks out of her back and shoulders. Sleeping with an underwire bra on was not a recommended practice, she decided, straightening the offender before relaxing back against Nate’s thigh, just too damn comfortable to move. **** Nate’s battered heart filled with warm satisfaction as Jade made no move to actually exit the lounge. It seemed she was as loathe to give up her warm position as he was to have her leave it. However, Jade had animals relying on her for their breakfast. With a lazy smile at the sleep-tousled woman in his lap, he stretched himself, knowing they couldn’t stay this way forever. He was careful to keep his persistent morning erection from coming into contact with her, though. He had promised her a pressure-free time. It wouldn’t do to let her know just how much his chivalry was costing him. “Coffee?” he asked, knowing her weakness. “Mmm, real stuff or instant?” “Real. It’s not as good as yours, but it’s not bad.” He gave her a cheeky grin. “What do you think we are, complete philistines?” “The thought did cross my mind,” she teased back. “And I would love a cup before I go.” He lifted her head with one big hand while he slid out before propping it on one of the cushions he had been sitting against. “You stay there. Coffee will be ready in five.” ****

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Jade watched him walk from the room with an indolent smile. While not as big or beefy as Matt, Nate still had one hell of a fine ass. Getting her hands on that body was an excellent inducement to resuming a physical relationship with the man. But she wasn’t ready quite yet. As she wallowed in his scent on the lounge, though, she knew it would not take a great deal of persuasion for her to cave to his wants. Especially with the sweet, caring man that was peeking through the sex-on-legs, arrogant facade. This Nate was the one who had sprung up when help was needed. The same one who had gone to the pharmacy to buy tampons for her when she had been stuck at home with the chicken pox with only her father and Harry. The one who had soaked up her tears when one of her horses had to be destroyed when it broke a leg. But while it might be different circumstances now, she was still healing her wounds, and Nate would always try to be there when she hurt. Whether she wanted him to be or not. The only times he had not been there, she still had not recovered from. She sat up when she heard him coming with the promised brew, taking the offered cup gratefully. One day, she promised herself, she would overcome her caffeine dependence, but taking a sip of the smooth blend, she decided that day would not be today. Brett came through the door, fully dressed for work. “Sleeping beauty awakes!” He came to drop a kiss on her cheek. “Can’t stay. I have to get to work. Ring me if you want to go for a drive later.” He headed out the door. Nate had a funny little smile on his face when she accepted Brett’s kiss. She gave him curious eyes but didn’t give voice to her question. She hadn’t yet had enough coffee to stir herself that far. Jade finished the coffee and reluctantly rose from her cocoon of warmth. She used the bathroom in the hall and did her best to tidy the mess the night had made of her hair. She repaired the damage the best she could with only her fingers for a comb and splashed cold water on her face in an effort to wake herself enough to get home in one piece.

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What she didn’t expect when she headed back up the hall was to run smack into the naked chest of the youngest Kelly brother. Not just naked chest, but naked body, she amended as his slack genitalia pressed into her stomach. The man was as nude as the day he was born. Matt gave her a “sorry, babe” as he steadied her, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He kissed the top of her head before he stepped to the side to let her pass. Blinking in astonishment, Jade slipped past, unable to resist looking over her shoulder as he continued on to the bathroom, completely at ease with his state of undress. The man was an oversized work of art. The ink decorating his body once again left Jade breathless as her gaze lingered on the perfectly proportioned span of his torso, that undeniably edible ass, and the long, cleanly muscled length of leg. He looked like a Greek god. A smile quirked Jade’s lips at the thought. He was a lot better endowed that any statue she had ever seen. They would have to put an 18+ sign on the Accademia if the model used for “David” was hung like Matt. The flush must have clung to her cheeks as she entered the kitchen where Nate was rinsing their cups. He raised his eyebrows questioningly when he saw her color, and her face went from flushed to a full-throttle blush. “What happened?” he asked, clearly amused at her discomfort. “I, um, ran into Matt.” Nate grinned in understanding. “I take it he is running around the house butt-naked again?” Jade’s embarrassment grew. “Yeah. Does he make a habit of that?” “All the time. The big bastard is completely comfortable with his nudity, so he expects the rest of us to be okay with it, too. I see he took you by surprise. Did he behave himself?” “He was a perfect gentleman. He was just so, so naked,” Jade tried to explain her shock.

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“Yeah, there are better sights in the morning. I know that from experience.” “There are?” Jade’s mouth flew into gear before she saddled her brains. She slapped a hand over her mouth, unable to believe she had actually voiced that thought in such an eager tone. Nate had a chuckle at her discomposure. “You had better go home and feed your animals before your mouth gets you in any deeper. I might start to get a complex. I’m the one who sat with you all night, and you ogle my little brother.” His smile held a quality that said he was fishing for compliments. “Believe me, if you had appeared as naked as him, I’d be ogling you, too. Now give me a kiss. I’ve got to go.” “Demanding little wretch, aren’t you?” He wiped his hands on the dishtowel as he came toward her. He lifted her easily to the marble bench top, grinning at her quickly suppressed squeal of protest. He stood between her knees before she could bring them together, the depth of her seat on the bench stopping her from feeling the evidence of his desire. He dropped his hands from her waist to rest on the swell of her hips. “I think you should give me a kiss.” His laughing eyes were made level with hers by way of her elevated perch. Jade grinned knowingly and reached out to get a good handful of the super-fine hair licking at his collar, feeling the heat of his skin against her fist. She pulled him closer, pressing a small kiss at the corner of his mouth where it curled up endearingly. “That’s it? That’s all I get after sitting with you all night?” His provocative smile dared her to correct her deliberate mistake. She brought him back within reach and began to lay a line of soft little kisses against the smiling seam of his lips, from one side to the other, managing to keep them playful but chaste. As much as her awakening body was telling her to use her tongue mercilessly, Jade held herself in check. Nate had been a total gentleman last night. Shoving her tongue down his throat and then going home wouldn’t be

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playing fair. She had never teased this man without intentions of following through, and she didn’t plan on starting now. Nate must have sensed her decision not to maul him because he pulled away, happiness playing around his face as he stepped back and patted her thigh. “Go home, wretch. I’ll see you later.”

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Chapter 20 The day flew by for Jade. She worked Kenny, this time putting Matt on an unenthusiastic Toby to go out for a hack with her. They headed into the state forest. Jade marveled at the way the trails had overgrown in the last fourteen years. Most of the bridle paths she had used were no longer passable. Only deer paths remained. Toby coped with the exercise, his fitness level much improved due to the time spent on the walker. Jade had held back a giggle at the sight of Matt aboard the hefty quarter horse. He made the large animal look like a pony under his extreme height. Matt’s feet were level with the palomino’s knees. Although the sturdy animal carried him easily, Toby made his disgust known eloquently, rolling his eyes and swishing his tail as Matt mounted him. They had also gotten the last of the young stock handled that morning. Now that they were all taught to lead, every one destined for the sale could be prepared in earnest. Jade, Matt, or Anna handled the animals until they knew they could be trusted to the enthusiastic care of Luke and Dean. They were groomed daily, fed special rations designed to get them looking their best, and exercised with long walks and lunging in the arena. When offered for sale in six weeks, the horses would be at their physical peak. After an enjoyable lunch spent bantering with Matt and Anna, during which she was pleased to see the twins losing some of their innate shyness, Jade gave Brett a call. He arranged to meet her at the old airfield later that afternoon. She also called Elly to inquire about the quality of farriers available in the area, the one she had favored

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years ago being long since retired. Jade had done the first basic trim herself, with Matt assisting, to accustom the young horses to the experience and fix any major problems, but it was time for a professional to look them over. Elly gave her two names, letting her know that both came from over near Buffalo but serviced the area regularly. They were also on par skill-wise, so Jade decided the way she always had. “So, which one has the best ass?” Elly had choked on her laughter before asking why. “If you are stuck holding horses all day with an ass in your face, it may as well be a good one. If it’s not me, it will be Anna holding them, and she appreciates a nice view as much as the next woman.” Elly had laughed before telling her to call Phil Burton. Jade doubted he could compete with the quality of male butts in her life at the moment, but if it was passable, he would give Anna someone to hassle instead of Matt. Matt was still scared of the older woman. With a couple of hours to kill before she had to leave to meet Brett, Jade went to check up on the fillies in the “girls’ barn,” as Matt had christened it. She found Matt there showing the two youngsters how to pick up the hind foot of a fractious horse without risking life and limb. She stayed back watching him, finding his winning way with animals extended to people as well. He taught both boys how to keep a hand on the hip so they could feel the slightest twitch the animal made, as all ligaments that controlled the potentially dangerous limb ran through the nexus beneath their palm. Both Luke and Dean accomplished it admirably. Matt would make a wonderful father, Jade thought as she watched him teach the lads. A wave of sadness washing over her that that was something she couldn’t give him. He deserved someone who would give him the chance to be a father. Complications during Christopher’s birth had meant that she was not to have any more children. A tubal ligation had ensured it.

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She was feeling the regret when Matt noticed her at the door. He left the boys to finish up with the filly, coming over with concern showing in both his face and his tender tone. “Hey, what’s the matter, Jade?” She lowered her head to look at the shavings that had escaped under the stall door. “Nothing anyone can do anything about,” she replied matter-of-factly. She tried to smile, but she knew it fell far short of convincing. Matt looked at her carefully. “Come on, let’s go for a walk.” He let himself out of the stall and hailed Anna down the aisle. He asked if she could supervise the twins until he got back. The perceptive woman took one look at the unusually fragile appearance of her employer and glanced sharply at the big man who dwarfed her. “Sure thing, sweet cheeks. You take as long as you need.” As soon as they cleared the building, Matt took Jade’s hand in his much larger one. He led her around to an alcove created where two buildings met. He straddled the bench built in the corner and drew Jade down to sit before him and fixed her with gentle eyes. “Now, what has got you all troubled? I hate seeing you upset, Jade. You know that.” She looked out over the broodmares grazing in the distance, trying to gather thoughts and words. She knew Matt would not give up until she gave him a satisfactory answer, and she knew full well he could tell when she lied. That only left truth. “The thing is, Matt, I just realized that a relationship for us, all of us, is not going to work longterm. I was becoming so sure that I could handle what you have to offer, and then it all got shot down in flames.” “Why? What happened?” True worry creased his brow as he searched her face. “All three of you deserve to have more than I can offer, Matt. I was watching you with the twins. You would make such a wonderful father. I can’t give you that, Matt. You need to find someone who can

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give you the family you deserve.” Tears broke free, spilling silently down her cheeks. “Don’t cry, honey.” He gathered her close, letting her shed her tears on his broad chest. “That’s not something you have to worry about. You’re all upset over nothing.” “But…” “Shh.” He put a fingertip against her lips to stop the words. “I’m going to tell you something that Nate has been stressing over since you told him about losing Christopher. You see, he thought you would want more children. The problem is that even before you left years ago, we all made a decision. “We’re farmers, Jade. We know all about genetics and inheritance. Our father was defective, and our grandfather before him. It wasn’t learned behavior but an innate part of them. We carry a gene for violence we did not want to pass along for any child to have to deal with. “We have all had vasectomies, Jade. Not one of us will risk bringing a child into this world to deal with what Brett has gone through, battling the rages that consumed him. “He has spent so long bringing the monster under control. His whole life is about maintaining control. He has mastered it because he doesn’t touch alcohol or drugs, and he lets that monster out to play on a very short lead occasionally. He gives it a small taste of power in a setting where there are rules to follow, and that keeps them both happy.” Jade realized he was talking about the domination and submission scene. “So it’s not just a personal kink that drives him in that area.” She had stopped crying and was just leaning against his chest, absorbing comfort from the embrace of his body. “That is right. Being a Dom is what keeps Brett sane. He manages to restrict it to actual scenes for the most part, but there are some who get off on total control in all areas. They live, eat, and breathe the D/s lifestyle.”

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“I couldn’t do that.” Jade sniffed, burrowing against the soft worn cotton of his work shirt. “You don’t need to tell any of us, Jade.” He gave her a squeeze, his voice holding the edges of amusement. “We know how much of an independent little shit you are, and we wouldn’t have you any other way.” He kissed the top of her head reassuringly. “We just ask that you don’t do anything stupid. If Brett catches you speeding on an open road the way he did the other week, he will put you over his knee and paddle your ass. And if I see you putting a newly broken horse over four-foot slip rails like I seen you do to Kenny a few weeks ago, I might feel the need to do the same.” “Really?” Jade’s tone was dry and mocking. She knew there was no way in hell Matt would ever lay a hand upon her in anger. “Well, no, I wouldn’t. But I would tell Nate, and I guarantee he wouldn’t have any such qualms about it.” He cupped her face in his big hand and turned it to look into her eyes. “So, we are clear on this? You now know you were upset over nothing?” Jade nodded but couldn’t help but say what she felt. “I understand, but I can’t help but think that you deserve a chance to have children.” “I don’t mind spending time with them occasionally, but I’m a bit like you Jade. I much prefer to work with animals. They don’t cry, and you don’t have to worry about cussing around them.” He gave her a grin. “How do you go with Brett’s ‘no cussing’ rule?” “We have had a few words about it,” Jade replied airily. “Don’t give in to him completely. He will walk all over you if you let him. Besides, he kind of enjoys the challenge. But you already know that.” There was a definite gleam in soft slate of his eyes as he apprised her of his brother’s nature. He smiled down at Jade, held securely in his arms. “Does this mean that you want to be our woman, Jade? Am I allowed to touch you again?” He feathered his thumb against the softness of her cheek, as if unsure of his reception.

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“I want to try. Not at work,” she hastily corrected him before he acted on the desire she saw in his eyes. “And please don’t rush me. I still need a little time to get used to this whole idea. Let’s say we are at the dating stage. I want to spend time with each of you, but I don’t want to be flung into the middle of group sex, if you know what I mean.” “We can do that. You can spend time with each of us, but I just want to make sure my time excludes work. It is just not fair if I’m not allowed to touch, and that is all the time I get.” Jade smiled at his sulky tone. “I have no intention of cutting back your time. I have certain ideas for this lovely, big body of yours.” She ran her hands up his impressive arms to rest on his big shoulders. “It’s all yours, anytime you want it,” he assured her with a smile, heat emanating from his eyes. She took a deep breath. The man truly had no idea just how much he affected her. Even under the sway of libido-numbing antidepressants, her body reacted to him. She went up onto her knees, drawing his head in to rest on her shoulder. Her affection for the bighearted man knew no bounds as she held him close, breathing in the scent that was uniquely him. He didn’t let her hold him for too long. “None of that at work now. The boss might get cranky,” he teased. “And if she doesn’t, Anna sure wouldn’t let me live it down if she caught you molesting me.” “Tell her to wait in line,” Jade quipped, getting to her feet. “You tell her. I stay away from her as much as possible. She scares me.” Jade laughed at his admission. “She only does it because she gets a rise out of you. Ignore her or play along, and she will leave you alone.” “I don’t think playing along is a good idea. She might take me seriously, and you’re not here all the time to protect me.”

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“Just try, Matt,” she advised, glancing at her watch. “I have got to go and meet Brett. I’ll see you later.” “Yeah, you have fun, Jade. I’ve got to head down to Casper this afternoon, so I might not be here when you get back.” “Okay.” She gave him a smile before heading toward the garage. Knowing about their vasectomies took a big weight off her shoulders in considering a possible relationship with the Kellys. One more barrier gone that she had perceived too big to overcome. Besides for her insecurity that she had had trouble keeping one man satisfied, let alone three, only one problem remained, one secret that could destroy any happiness they could find with each other. One she hoped she could keep. **** Brett was waiting at the gate to the airfield when she arrived, leaning against the door of a cheap, imported sedan emblazoned with “Miller’s Creek Mechanics.” A loaner Jade surmised. He looked better than ever with his coveralls tied at the waist and wearing a navy T-shirt in the unusually warm afternoon sun. She spun the tires on the way through the gate and set out to have some fun. Jade had a ball. Her jubilation at having overcome a major obstacle to her happiness with the Kelly boys spread to her driving as she drove the powerful vehicle for the pure pleasure of it. This time she was not chasing the adrenaline high but just enjoying the sheer thrill. The car responded to her every move, sliding when she wanted and cornering like it was on rails when she didn’t. **** Brett made his way over to the hangar where he had waited before and sat on the bonnet of the piece of junk he was driving. He watched her throw the car into a corner, grinning in appreciation of her skill as

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she effortlessly controlled the four-wheel drift, feathering the wheel before punching the accelerator for the straight. He settled in to watch the show. He couldn’t help but smile as she pulled the car up in front of him. She looked like she had enjoyed every second of that. She stepped out of the vehicle and walked toward him, her euphoria plain to see. “That was so much fun!” she exclaimed. “Thank you.” Her exhilaration still bubbled over even though she gave him a smile of pure gratitude. “I like that look on your face, Jadey.” Unadulterated carnality poured forth as he captured her gaze with his. “Just how grateful are you?” He watched Jade’s body react to the heat in his voice, her walk becoming more alluring as she closed the remaining distance between them. “I am real grateful, Brett,” she assured him with a smile of her own, coming to stand between his spread legs. The naughty, little grin caused Brett to catch his breath. Apparently, Jade had decided to pursue what they had to offer after all. He knew he should stop her and talk it through, but she held him spellbound as she reached out, trailing a finger down the stubble on his jaw. The offending digit continued southward to tangle in the crisp hair visible above the T-shirt he wore before continuing its journey across the taut muscles of his chest and down his lean stomach, making the muscles ripple beneath the stretchy cotton as he drew in his breath. The little vixen ran her knuckle down the bulge covered by both his jeans and the grease-stained coveralls. “Hmm, looks like somebody really wants to know just how grateful I am.” ****

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She unconsciously licked her lips. “What are you going to do about it? Tease me? Or do what you really want?” Brett’s voice was darkly seductive, an invitation to sin. In answer Jade untied the sleeves that held the coveralls at his waist and jerked the remaining press studs opened. She noticed the white-knuckled grip he had on the edge of the hood and grinned. Stripping him of his hard-won control would be so damn rewarding. She didn’t plan to give up until those hands were on her head, making her take what she freely offered. Holding his darkening gaze, she sunk to her knees, her fingers nimbly releasing the button and ruthlessly jerking down the zipper. Her eyes darted to what she revealed before glancing back up to let him see the hunger building in her emerald eyes. Foregoing underwear might be a family trait, but the long, downright elegant cock she had revealed was so different to that of his brothers. He did not have Nate’s monstrous size or Matt’s solidness, but a graceful arching length adorned with a single branching vein that swept upward like brush strokes from master. She traced its path reverently. Her fingers could meet around his girth comfortably, but he was by no means small. Her mouth watered in anticipation as she fixed her eyes on the smoldering blue ones watching her darkly. She darted her tongue out for a taste, curling it around the sensitive head and swiping it over the slit that wept its salty tears of joy. His musk hit her senses like lightning, arousal sweeping through her with devastating swiftness. She wanted nothing more than to take him deep into her mouth and draw upon the addictive taste of him, but she had promised herself to make him lose his precious control. Taking firm hold of that thought, she resisted the urge and lifted his heavy testicles from the grip of his jeans. They were full and round but not yet drawn up tight. Brett had apparently mastered his body along with the rest.

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Jade took his self-discipline as a direct challenge and set to work, tonguing the heavy balls in their sac and pulling them into her mouth with warm, wet suction. Her tongue found the miniscule scar on each side that she would have overlooked if it had not been for Matt telling her of the operation they had each undergone. If Brett noted her interest in the telltale scars, he did not comment. His eyes did narrow menacingly as she let her teeth scrape his sac. Jade grinned impishly before licking an apology over the area. His balls were now tighter, but she still had not caused him to react. She laid a wet trail of sucking kisses up the length of his shaft, drawing inexorably closer to the sweet spot just beneath the head. She flicked her tongue over the ridge of his frenulum, noting the escalating color staining his face as he fought to hold onto his control, but he remained stoic. With challenge shining in her eyes, she welcomed him into the hot depths of her mouth, her tongue exploring the mushroom-shaped head, but not letting her lips form a seal. By starving him of the delicious suction, she hoped to get him to react. It worked. “Suck it,” he growled, knowing she dared him. His fingers had nearly left impressions in the bonnet he sat on. She raised her eyebrows in mock misunderstanding and continued to tease him in the soft hold of her mouth. Finally, he cracked. He snatched a fistful of hair and twisted it in his cruel grip, forcing her to take more of his length. Jade moaned her surrender to his mastery. He made her take just a little bit more than she was comfortable with, not pushing her to gagging, just the threat of it. She relaxed into it, loving his commanding air as he promised her retribution. “Suck it hard, Jadey. If you had been good, I would have made you come. You could have been screaming your orgasm out with my finger planted high in your ass, just the way we know you love it.

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“Instead, I’m going to make you swallow every bit of my come and lick me clean, and I’m going to leave you in this state. I can smell you, Jade. I know just how much you want to come. Next time you think to tease me, you will remember this time.” He tangled the other hand beside the first. “That’s it, Jade. Watch me watch you. Know I’m going to watch you swallow, going to watch you lick your lips trying to get that last little bit of my seed.” He thrust deeper, touching her throat with every thrust, his rough grip forcing her to meet every one, though she did so gladly. So caught up in the erotic web he spun, she tried to take him deeper, her gag reflex long forgotten as she strived to swallow down on him. “Oh, do that again.” Brett entreated when her throat convulsed around the sensitive head of his dick. Jade struggled to do it again, taking several attempts before getting it, her throat objecting that nothing that big should be swallowed in one piece. “Good girl,” Brett praised her. “I’m gonna come now, Jadey. Swallow it. Swallow it all.” She held his gaze as she felt the blistering jets against the back of her throat. Her mouth eagerly milked every last drop as he spent within her hot, wet mouth. The accidental scrape of teeth spurred on the length of his orgasm. Without being told, Jade licked him clean. Only when every last drop of his come was gone did she lift her head. Brett’s eyes tracked her pink little tongue as it swept her lips. He reached down and cupped her chin, his thumb collecting a bead of moisture. “Missed a bit.” She grabbed his hand and sucked his thumb clean. “You are so bad,” he teased, lifting her to her feet before tucking himself back in. “But even that is not going to get you off this afternoon.” He turned her toward the Camaro and swatted her on the ass. “Go home and think about what you did wrong. I won’t tolerate topping from the bottom, Jade.”

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Jade stormed off toward the waiting vehicle feeling the wetness between her legs as her folds slid deliciously against each other with every step. Brett came to stand at the window as she buckled the seatbelt, adjusting his clothing casually. “No playing with yourself either,” he cautioned with a grin. Jade was unable to resist getting the last word in. “Why would I when I’ve got both of your brothers to keep me satisfied?” The last thing she saw when she drove away was Brett digging his phone out of his pocket. Fuck. Apparently, he meant to put an end to her idea, too. It didn’t matter much to her. She knew she had a much tighter hold on Matt than any threat his brother could come up with.

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Chapter 21 It was Nate who sat on her front veranda when she pulled up, dressed for town rather than work. The knowing grin he just couldn’t hide was evidence enough that Brett had called him. “Don’t you fucking start!” Jade snarled as she made her way straight past him for the liquor cabinet. She tossed a shot straight back and poured another before turning around to face the large man propped in her doorway. “Where’s Matt?” she asked, knowing she could rely on him to put out the fire Brett had started. “Gone to town. Why? What do you need him for?” His grin told her that he knew exactly why she needed his undemanding younger brother. She tossed back the other shot. “Oh, you’re just as bad as Brett.” She stormed passed and headed for the shower. A cool one. She had the water on full force and was stripped off before Nate made it to the bathroom. Jade pulled her hair into a rough bun to keep it dry and stepped under the lukewarm water. She lathered herself roughly, completely overlooking the fact that she was naked in front of Nate. “Do you have any idea what it is like to be this damn horny when I haven’t had the slightest interest in sex for weeks?” She bent and lathered her legs. The water should have been vaporizing as it cascaded over the fevered flesh between them. “I don’t even know if I can come. These fucking tablets are better than the others, but I’m still not sure if I am only going to end up more frustrated.” She finished washing and just stood under the tepid water, waiting for her arousal to cool.

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Nate walked over and shut the water off. He ignored her protests and bundled her in a towel and picked her up, walking like a man with a destination in mind. “Where are we going?” “To find out the answer to your question.” He tossed her onto the bed as soon as he cleared her door. She rolled off the bed and came up spitting mad, towel clutched to her chest. “What question?” “Whether you can come or not.” **** Standing in front of her only escape, he began to methodically strip off his clothes, undressing as he normally did. He didn’t take his eyes off Jade, wanting to see if her assertion this morning was true or if his youngest brother had set the bar too high in terms of body development. His hat and shirt lay on the floor when he toed his boots and peeled his socks off. Anger became replaced with fascination on Jade’s face as he watched her gaze follow his hands reaching for the buckle of his belt. He undid the button-fly Levis with a practiced roll of his wrist, undoing them all in one smooth motion. He dropped the jeans to the floor and stepped out of them. He smiled at the double blink she did at his exposed cock. He wasn’t even hard yet. He ran a deliberately slow hand down the length of it, captivated by the expression on Jade’s face as it began to lengthen and swell. He cupped his balls, tugging at them as he saw her capture her gasp by biting down on her bottom lip. He saw a healthy dose of fear strike her as his cock began to defy gravity. “Come over here, Jade.” Lust had lowered his already deep voice. “Don’t be scared. I would never hurt you, and you have already taken it once,” he reassured her.

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She walked toward him, shaking her head. “You’re lucky I didn’t see it first that time. I would still be running,” she said. Nate knew it was not entirely in jest. Jade came to rest in front of him, her eyes sweeping the length of his exposed body before coming back to rest on his cock. She placed her hands on his warm flanks. His muscles leaped under her gentle touch. “Are you going to tease me, too, Nate?” she asked softly. “Not today, darlin’,” he assured her. He leaned down to kiss her. Her lips were as heady as the liquor she tasted of. The towel was forgotten between them, held up by the press of their bodies. Nate soaked up the lushness of her mouth, the way she drew softly on his tongue when it breached her lips. He speared one big hand into her hair and let down her hasty bun. Her hair was warm, the delicate scent of her shampoo still detectable above the aggressive vanilla of her bodywash. He groaned and lifted her into his arms, not breaking the kiss until he lowered her onto the bed. She arched her back for him when he grabbed the towel and tugged. He tossed it to land on the floor. Her smile was a warm welcome as she put her hand out in invitation. An invitation he had no intention of refusing. He lowered himself onto her naked body, the sensation of hot flesh on flesh taking both their breaths. With a grin of pure pleasure, he reclaimed her mouth, their tongues lazily stroking as they tasted one another. There was no urgency about his touch, no pressure to respond, just a mutual hunger they gently fed. Nate rolled to the side, propping his head on his elbow so he could touch her body and not give up the sweet taste of her lips. His hand gently kneaded at the mounds of her breasts before teasing their peaks to greater heights. He slid his hand down over the silken softness of her stomach to play in the curls that had regrown since last he’d touched this wet-and-ready dream. He cupped her mound to acclimate her to his touch before sliding his fingers into her wet labia. When she didn’t involuntarily jump, he

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knew his soothing touch had worked. He explored gently, spreading her moisture to ease his way. He took his time, loving the small sounds she made as he discovered her sweet spots. She loved having her opening rimmed softly and when he put a finger on each side of her clit and rubbed up and down. He had watched her working herself on Matt and knew she liked a firm, circular motion to come, but he wanted to find out what else would get her going. Her cry when he slipped one finger inside her was greedily captured by his mouth as he felt the gentle ripple of her internal muscles clench down on him. He searched within her, gauging her response by the way she moved into his touch. When he pressed against the spongy front wall of her passage, she ground her hips against his hand. He obliged her by adding another long finger and applying more pressure. Her gasps turned into moans and breathy little cries. Nate knew she hovered somewhere near the brink. He strived to drive her higher and watch her cry out her pleasure. Seeing her come was more important than his next breath. He watched her hand creep down toward her clit, determined to push herself over the edge, but Nate stopped her with his impassioned plea. “Let me, please, Jade. We’re in no hurry. I won’t give up if you are a little slow. However long it takes, I’ll keep going.” Jade’s hand fell to her side, trusting in Nate to give her the pleasure she so desperately sought. He kept the heavenly upward pressure inside her going as his thumb began to stroke steadily at the root of her clit. Jade’s head fell back under the dual pleasures. Nate realized the loss of her whiskey-flavored mouth was not as great a tragedy as he first thought as he watched the pleasure take over her. Her eyes fell shut, and the sensual slackness of her face made him feel he could fly. It was such heady power to be able to bring this much pleasure to another!

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He rotated his thumb in the slick juices upon the button of her desire, his cock feeding on every breathy moan he wrung from her. He could have kept her on the edge forever, but he became too eager to see her fly. “Come for me, darlin’. I want to see you let go.” He intensified the attention he lavished upon her clit and felt her come undone beneath his touch. She gasped his name as the orgasm rocked her. Primal male satisfaction blazed within as he watched her fly, riding the intensity of the explosion. She came down slowly. Nate’s hand cupped her quivering sex, making sure she received her pleasure in full. Her “wow” drew a purely masculine smile from him. She reached for him, encouraging him to blanket her, but he wasn’t finished yet. He rolled her onto her stomach, running his hand hungrily over the smooth skin of her back to rest on the rise of her ass. “I have only played with half of you yet, darlin’. This is the first chance I have had to explore this lovely body of yours. Slow down. Let me have some fun.” He nipped her ass, making her squeal in surprise. He swept her hair to the side, exposing the column of her neck. He laid a wet kiss against her neck and then grazed her with his teeth. Her moan of acquiescence was all the permission he needed to start using his teeth. He bit down until she stiffened in protest. “Too hard?” he asked, licking an apology over the print of his strong teeth. “Just a little. You like to bite, huh?” “I just love the feel of your skin between my teeth and the frantic little noises you make when I bite down. Tell me it’s too much if I go too hard.” He began to kiss and bite his way across the top of her shoulders, noticing she relaxed into it and took more pressure each time he sank his teeth into her willing flesh. He left a trail of teeth prints across her shoulders that would definitely leave their mark for a day or two. He

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was gentler as he moved down her torso, stopping well before she asked for mercy, the skin more delicate the lower he got. Her ass was a different story. He had been dying to get his teeth into that for a lifetime. He kneaded deeply into the fleshy resilience, separating the globes and exposing her hidden entrance. He gave it a tickle, delighting in her squirm before lowering his head to one round cheek with a grin. If she squirmed over that, she would be climbing the wall later. He sunk his teeth into the flesh, reading the signs of her body as he gradually bit down, feeling the silken tissue give to his teeth, wanting it to last forever. She took more than he predicted, not gasping out a breathless “too much” until his teeth had nearly met in her flesh. He pulled back immediately, checking his mark with satisfaction. While he hadn’t broken the skin, color already crept into her ivory skin. She would wear this mark for more than a day or two. He gave her a matching one on the other cheek for no other reason than his own satisfaction. Knowing his predilection for biting was getting a little out of hand, he changed directions, the smell of her desire drawing him like a magnet. He grabbed a pillow and shoved it under her hips, ignoring her sounds of protest as he moved her body where he would. He smiled at the sight before him. Her lower body rose like an offering to him, bearing his mark on both cheeks. He knelt between her legs, spreading them farther with his knees. His large hands each gripped a hemisphere, spreading them to make way for his rapacious mouth. He licked at the fragrant honey dripping from her opening, his nose brushing her little rosebud, causing her to wiggle in discomfort even as she widened her legs begging for more of his tongue. Nate grinned over her squirm once more. He decided to let her know he had no inhibitions when it came to her pleasure. She froze at the first touch of his tongue. Her head flying up in surprise as her ass

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clenched. He smiled against her lush cheek at her protest. “Nate.” She hissed, censure imbuing his name. “You can’t do that.” How little she knew him. “Relax, darlin’. It’s just another part of you. Let yourself enjoy it. One day I would love to see you take my cock in this sweet little ass of yours, but that’s a long way off. I just want to bring you pleasure today, find out what really gets you going.” Jade lowered her head, but it took longer for her to unclench the muscles of her ass. He watched in satisfaction as she loosened up once more before lowering his head to tease at her feminine opening, her body welcoming the more traditional onslaught. Knowing there were pleasures she had yet to learn made Nate happier than he cared to admit to and more determined that she give herself to him without reservations. He knew he was too big to expect her to take him anally without a hell of a lot of preparation, but she could learn to associate the area with pleasure. Brett had begun the process admirably, but she was still anxious about anything touching her anus. He laved at her perineum, tasting the juices that had spilled from her earlier. This time when he felt the change in texture, she stiffened but did not clench her cheeks to bar him access. He kissed gently at her tight pucker until, with a sweet groan of capitulation, she relaxed and let him have his way. Her moan of surrender sent his cock surging to even greater dimensions, his very blood throbbing as more inundated the engorged organ. He watched as she writhed, riding the decadent caress. He could damn near see the lazy coils of pleasure traveling her spine when he rimmed her with his tongue. Her blatant acceptance as he broadened her horizons to the pleasures just waiting for her to reach out and take them had his balls trying to tunnel up into his body. Lifting his head, he jerked her to her knees, loathe to having her out of reach of his questing mouth even for the few seconds it took to

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position her. He rolled to his back and slid beneath her, every part of her now accessible. He swiped his tongue from her rosy pucker to the top of her honeyed slit. So inflamed was the little pearl of her pleasure that he could feel it like a marble against the flat of his tongue. He separated her swollen folds to see it peeking from its hood and couldn’t resist laying a sucking little kiss right on top of the engorged bud. The strong sensation sent her bucking over his face and crying out at the deliberately intense sensation. He let her settle before he renewed his campaign. Lips, tongue even teeth, albeit gently, treated her to every bit of pleasure he could pile upon her. No part of her went untouched as he heaped his attention upon all of her. But Nate’s apparently superhuman control found its limit. He was going to feel the hot spill of seed on his own stomach if he didn’t get inside her right now. He slid from beneath her with a curse. Grasping the base of his cock hard to force back his imminent release, he tugged his balls back down ruthlessly from where they were trying to climb up his spine. He lay there for a few seconds trying to get his wayward body back under control. **** Jade looked over her shoulder, transfixed at the sight of Nate laying there gathering his self-control. Only his big, workstrengthened hands could make the erection he gripped look normal size. Hungry to feel the stretch his size exacted, she crawled toward him with her eyes fixed firmly on the bounty awaiting her. All instinct for self-preservation was washed away by the rampant desire he had kindled raging inside her. He opened his eyes to reveal the conflagration burning within the molten blue depths, thick lashes framing the need that blazed there. The high color that stained his cheeks mottled across his wide chest,

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leading Jade’s hungry gaze to small sharp nipples that were as hard as her own. Nate laid his hands beside his head and let her have her way with him. Jade wasted no time in straddling him, feeling the brand of his cock searing her folds as she rested upon its length, her weeping pussy bathing the unyielding thickness with its welcome. She ran her hands hungrily across the expanse of smooth muscle before her, delighting in the ripple of visible strength her touch inspired. Not as bulky as his youngest brother, Nate’s mouth-watering physique nonetheless spoke of steely strength and overwhelming power. Someday, she hoped to have a chance to explore every inch of the feast laid out before her, but seeing a need that rivaled her own she knew today was not that day. Jade slid herself against the rampant heat beneath her, but the look of pained pleasure on his passionstained face had her showing him mercy. She held onto the belief that it was only for his benefit that she rose up and took him in hand, right up until she lined his broad head up with her willing portal. When she fed the first thick inches into herself and her head lolled back at the erotic stretch, she admitted the truth to herself—she was a selfish bitch who wanted it all, and she wanted it now. Her move to impale herself greedily was cut short by the workroughened hands that gripped her hips. “Slowly, darlin’. Don’t hurt yourself.” Nate’s voice was rougher than she had ever heard it as he gritted his teeth. He made her take him in increments, not letting her go deeper until she was moving freely on the part she had already engulfed. Jade was frantic with the need to feel him hard against her cervix. She had long since reached the level of arousal that transmuted what would normally be painful into bittersweet pleasure. She wanted the pain so badly, to feel him driving all that length relentlessly into her, battering her internally with his own need. His slow-controlled entry was

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making her frenzied with desire. She growled her frustration at him, but the knowing grin he gave her was tempered by his own need. When he tugged her down toward him, she expended some of her frustration in his kiss. Her body widened, heated to the point where it was relentless in its quest for pleasure. He grinned beneath her mouth, and she bit him for his trouble. She, too, had teeth. Jade molested his mouth with the same enthusiasm with which she ground her hips down against his harsh grip on her hips. She could feel the bite of his fingers into her flesh as he held her back from her goal. The fresh tang of herself she could taste on his tongue drove her higher as the memory of the pleasure he had bestowed upon her caused her womb to contract involuntarily. Jade discovered she was not above begging. “Please, Nate, let me go. I’ll be careful, I promise. I just want to feel you all the way,” she whispered her entreaty against his lips, her breath choppy with need. He brought her grinding to a halt with the simple expedient of superior strength. “You want it all?” He taunted sensually, his dark tone causing a shudder to wrack through her body. She nodded her affirmation against his stubble-covered cheek, but he was having no shyness from her now. “Sit up,” he ordered, holding her hips prisoner in his harsh grip while she complied. “Take me then, but slowly. I want to watch your face.” His hands sliding lower gave her some freedom to move, but not so much that he wouldn’t be able to stop her if she tried to take him in one go. She watched his hungry eyes shift between the carnal pleasure she wore on her flushed face, and the sight of his blood-darkened cock speared inside her as she slowly came down his length, giving a little wriggle to seat him more comfortably. She felt his head tuck against her cervix and nearly stopped, this position giving her little room to shift the pressure elsewhere. She captured her bottom lip between her sharp little teeth as she inexorably bore down upon him. She saw him startle beneath her

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when her ass brushed his balls, and his eyes widened with heated disbelief. She had taken him all. A thrill of purely feminine satisfaction rippled through her as she smiled down at him in triumph. She held his gaze as she began to ride him with slow leisurely movements, loving the effect she was having upon him and his hunger for more. She threw her head back and rode him purposefully. It brought a grimace to her face every time she took him all the way, but that did not stop her from doing it again and again. She tempted Nate too far. He rolled them to their sides, collecting her top knee in the crook of his arm and grinding into her mercilessly, the thick root of his cock mashing her engorged clit with every stroke. Her ravenous hands touched every bit of him she could reach. One wrapped in the hair at his nape, while the other scrabbled for purchase on the sweat-slicked muscles of his back. The prick of nails as she arched in his arms sent him over the edge. His strangled roar of release blended sweetly with his name spilling from her lips as climax shook her. He held her tight against him as their bodies struggled to get enough oxygen, riding the aftershocks of pleasure that ripped through them unpredictably. Eventually, her heart ceased to feel like the organ was trying to beat its way out of her chest, and their breathing slowed. Jade opened heavy eyes to find blue ones looking back at her. She felt no desire to look away, the self-consciousness that had plagued her all her life was nowhere to be seen. Surfeit and exhausted, she lay there and looked into the eyes of the man she had loved forever. His wide mouth turned up in a grin. “I think we answered that question.” His words dripped with masculine pride. Jade couldn’t help but answer with a grin of her own. “That’s for sure. Took a little longer, but so worth the wait.” She ran her finger down the stubbled line of his jaw. “I can’t believe you’re actually in my bed after what Brett said this afternoon.

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I was so sure I was going without if I couldn’t find Matty. I knew I could get him to give in, but I didn’t expect it of you.” Nate’s grin grew wider. “All Brett told me was to get rid of Matt and keep you away from your vibrator. I don’t think he would agree with my methods, though.” “I have no complaints.” “I bet you don’t, wench.” The happiness he radiated warmed her all the way to her bones. He moved his hips back, sliding his softening member from its wet haven, causing her to shiver at the slippery sensation. “How does another shower sound?” “I’m too lazy to move.” She rolled indolently to her back, stretching sinuously. The feel of fluid spilling onto her thigh had her smiling ruefully. “But I think I need one.” She took his proffered hand and let him lead her to the shower, a blush staining her cheeks as the runnel continued clear down to her knees. Nate noticed as he helped her to step into the pint-size tub that was her shower base. “Now that is impressive.” He raised his eyebrows at the pearlescent trail running down her thigh. Their shower was playful and teasing, both too sated to look for more just then. Jade found herself at ease with Nate, not covering up her flaws or embarrassed by his casual nakedness. They washed each other in a mutual journey of discovery and intimacy. Nate took a razor to her curls, only leaving the strip at the front Jade insisted on when she threatened him with dire consequences. **** Nate followed the unashamedly naked woman back to her room in search of clothes. He knew she would have words to say to him if she could see the condition of her back and ass. His teeth marks were blatantly obvious on the creamy skin, the ones on her ass rendered with such crisp precision they could be used for dental molds.

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That would give those two idiots something to look at, he thought smugly. Brett would be livid with envy that he hadn’t marked her first while Matt would go out of his way to sooth the bruises, having never understood the need most woman have for a bit of rough play in the bedroom. Jade was a lucky woman in that way if she ever realized it. She had a full spectrum of lovers to keep her happy. From Brett’s hardcore dominance to Matt’s loving submission with him sitting in the middle, they should be able to meet her every desire. He prayed she would let them.

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Chapter 22 Jade awoke on Saturday morning alone but with a smile of pure satisfaction that she couldn’t get rid of. Nate Kelly was all hers. How many times had she dreamed of that in her youth? How many regrets had she pushed aside over the years that she had never known him intimately? Well, now she had and the experience had exceeded all expectations. She laughed at her naivety that she ever thought she could have handled him as an untried virgin. The cocky bull rider she had given her innocence to had been unknowing of her virgin status, taking her brazen behavior for experience and had damn near torn her asunder. She knew that all the teeth gritting in the world wouldn’t have gotten her through that experience with Nate. Even after bearing a child she struggled to cope with his size. The thought of trying to take that monster as a virgin was ludicrous. She ached pleasantly as she made her way to the shower, not needing one for cleanliness, just to soothe the small discomforts that told her she had been thoroughly loved by Nate Kelly. She couldn’t work out why her back and ass stung under the powerful spray but shrugged it off, her euphoria too great to worry about such trivialities. After breakfast she went out to go through an abbreviated version of the weekday routine. Anna and the twins only came in for a couple of hours in the morning to feed the horses and muck out stalls. Matt usually stuck around. The horses were turned out in companionable lots to graze the day away in various paddocks. That afternoon Jade needed only to bring them in and feed them.

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Anna and the Peters’ boys headed on out the door at around eleven. The moment they were out of sight, Matt acted on the impulse she knew had been riding him all morning, sweeping her up into his arms and kissing Jade soundly. “Work time’s over, boss lady. Now it’s time to play.” He put her back down with a very commanding “stay there” and ducked into the shed he usually parked the ATV in. Jade had been in the stalls feeding when Matt had come in today, so she had no idea what he was doing. He came back toward her carrying a sturdily wrapped package, excitement clear to see on his open face. “Open it,” he urged, handing it over. Puzzled but unable to deny his contagious enthusiasm, Jade tore into the package. She held up a black leather jacket, heavily tapered, with distinct patches at the elbows and shoulders. She turned it around and saw “Born to ride” tastefully embroidered in silver script across the shoulders. Why was he giving her a biker jacket? There was no way on God’s green earth that she was getting on that green monstrosity of Brett’s. “Put it on,” he urged, glee evident in his eager smile. She shrugged it on, unable to disappoint him yet. The buttery soft leather fit her as if tailor-made. She couldn’t string him along any further. “I am not getting on Kermit, Matt.” To her wonder his smile never wavered. If anything, it grew. “Could you imagine me on that thing? I probably weigh more than it.” She doubted that, but she could see his point. His bulk would be a touch out of place on the powerful but compact Kawasaki. “Well, I don’t need this to get on the four-wheeler with you,” she countered. “No, but you will for this.” He took her hand and pulled her around the corner into the shed. Jade’s jaw dropped open. A brand spanking new Harley Davidson Fat Boy sat in the spot where he normally parked the ATV. He stood back and watched her astonishment as she ran fingers over the gleaming machine. “This is one badass bike,” she said reverently.

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“Tell me you’ll come for a ride with me,” he urged. Remembering his less-than-stellar performance behind the wheel, she had to ask if he could ride it. He was quite indignant when he informed her that a motorcycle had been his only means of transportation when he was off base and more than a little affronted that she would think he would risk hurting her. Jade soothed him with a word and a kiss before ducking into the house to get changed. When she returned, it was to find Matt dressed in his own leather jacket and dark sunglasses. He was holding two black helmets and looking like an open invitation to sin…repeatedly. He had pulled the big bike out into the open, and it was purring, the deep bass reverberating through Jade’s spine. He helped her on with the helmet and swung over the bike. If she thought he looked like sin before, on the sleek black machine he was sex-incarnate. The ultimate bad boy. Jade suppressed a shiver of anticipation as she slid on behind him, the skimpy pad she sat on not substantial enough to be called a seat. She found the foot pegs and wiggled closer, her only purchase on the bike gained through her grip on the big man in front of her. She clasped his hips with her inner thighs, their position dictated by the raised position of her precarious perch, and splayed her hands on his flanks. If worse come to worst, she had no qualms about wrapping both sets of limbs around him to stay on. He started off slow, letting her get accustomed to the lean of the bike as he swerved gently on the way down the drive. After stiffening up for the first few, Jade started to relax her hips and move naturally with the machine as it cornered. Heading out through her open gate, he turned the bike southward and gave it some throttle. Jade took a tighter grip on him, sliding her hands under the open leather jacket to rest on the thick slabs of his sides, her touch muted only by one thin layer of cotton. She smiled as he felt the wind in her face and the warmth of the man in front of her. Life just didn’t get any better than this.

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Half an hour later, Jade found she had relaxed on the bike and wished for a bit of her former anxiety back. Without her fear she was more than aware of the big man to which she clung. The heat of his skin and the resilience of the flesh beneath her palms were not diminished by his T-shirt. Her crotch was as snug against the top of his ass as the sheer width of his body would allow, and the purr of the motor was running through her like a giant vibrator. She swore that if she could have gotten close enough to rub the seam of her jeans against her clit she would have lost count of the orgasms by now. By the time Matt pulled up at a roadside tavern, Jade was in no less a needy state than she had been yesterday when Brett had sent her on her way. He reversed the big bike into the lot and switched it off. Jade undid her helmet and removed it as soon as Matt reached for his. She shook her hair loose and unzipped her jacket as Matt spoke to her over his shoulder. “How did you enjoy that?” In answer she rose up and leaned in against him, kissing him the way she had been dying to for the last hour. He pulled away with a big smile. “That much, really? We gotta do this more often.” He hung his helmet on the handle bar and draped his jacket over the tank. Jade swung off the bike and followed suit, letting the unseasonably warm afternoon sun kiss her bare arms as she revealed the tank top she was wearing. Matt sucked in his breath in appreciation of its snug fit before his eyes locked onto the bumps that distorted the close fit of the top like little thumbs pressed against the inside of her shirt. “You really did like the ride, didn’t you?” Jade noted the direction of his gaze and smiled sinfully. “You have no idea how much,” she assured him as she pressed her thighs together, feeling the moisture that had built between them. She saw his nostrils flare at her motion, her meaning being well and truly taken. “Come on, we’ll have lunch here. I think I will need to keep my strength up around you.”

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Lunch was a relaxed affair. Jade feeling pride mingling with the amusement she got when the waitress hovered around their table, constantly making sure Matt’s water glass was full and asking if there was anything else she could get for him. The big oaf appeared oblivious to the girl’s attentions as he kept his focus solely on Jade. Jade couldn’t resist giving the girl an arch little “it’s all mine and not yours” smile when the waitress deigned to actually acknowledge her. It was amusing as hell to have a skinny young thing nearly half her age jealous of her lover. “Lover.” God, she liked that word. With the plans she had for him, he would be fitting that bill this afternoon. By the time he got her home, he would be lucky if she didn’t do him in the dust where he stopped. Her smile must have been out-and-out predatory because he nearly missed his mouth with the next forkful of steak. Jade chuckled at his discomfiture. Her power over this big man was downright intoxicating. Eventually, Matt scraped up the last lick of cream from the monstrous desert he had ordered. Jade had forgone sweets, anticipating a different sort later. The slice of cheesecake on his plate was at least twice the size of other orders she had seen go out and covered with lashings of thick cream. His enthralled waitress was clearly looking after him. Jade had loved the death look the girl had shot her when she had accepted the taste he offered her off his spoon. She had only accepted it just to piss her off. Jade decided she was definitely turning into a first-class bitch. God, she loved it! Leaving a healthy tip for the waitress, Matt went out to wait at the bike for Jade who had gone to the restrooms. She came out a few minutes later. The smile on her lips was all for him as she walked right up and leaned into him, raising her chin in invitation. He lowered his head to her and let her kiss him as she would. Jade managed to refrain from making a public spectacle and limited herself to licking into his willing mouth briefly before pulling

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away with a smile. He truly would let her have him anytime, anyplace. She donned her helmet and jacket with the power of her femininity warming her soul. It was so long since she had felt like a desirable woman. Nate had let her know unequivocally that he wanted her yesterday, but Matt’s raw acceptance and hunger for her took her self-esteem to a whole new level. The hour ride back to the farm was made longer by Matt seeking the scenic route, chasing those curvy roads that cyclists love so much. He approached Douglas Park from the opposite direction from which they left. When Matt would have turned in, she gestured him past before directing him down the same path that Brett had taken her down a month ago. Matt pulled the bad-boy toy up next to the willow that now had the lush green frosting of growth and kicked the stand, remaining on the bike. He pulled his helmet off and greeted her with the same sentiment she had given his brother. “It’s a bit early for a swim, isn’t it?” He looked at the river flowing swiftly with the snowmelt from the mountains before glancing back at the woman who had climbed off his bike. “I mean, I’m game if you are, but cold water is not conducive to a good time.” “I wasn’t looking for a swim, just somewhere that one of your brothers is not going to stick their noses in. I’ve got a plan or two that I wouldn’t appreciate being interrupted.” Those plans were carnal in nature and grand in scope, and she didn’t hold any of that back from her smile. “What if I have a plan of my own?” “I’m open to suggestions,” she assured him, sensual smile tugging at her lips. “I have this brand-new bike that is just begging to be christened. Ever done it on a Harley?” His smile was temptation itself when he leaned back and patted the area framed by his denim-clad thighs.

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“That I haven’t,” Jade admitted, definitely intrigued by the idea as she worked out the mechanics. “Looks to me like I would have to be naked. No half measures would work.” “Is that a problem?” Matt teased, shrugging out of his jacket. “No, as long as I get you out of that shirt.” He stripped off the shirt that had been the bane of Jade’s existence in one quick motion. “That better?” he asked with a grin. Jade was beyond answering. He sat there on that cycle looking like an advertisement for wet dreams. The quintessential bad boy. Huge, sculpted upper body with sinful tribal ink, badass shades, lowslung, well-worn denim encasing his lower body, and one hell of a hefty bulge lovingly outlined by the faithful material. If Jade’s panties were damp before, she needed a mop and bucket now. **** God, he loved that look on her face! He could actually see when her libido nudged cognitive function away and took the reins. It was so sweet to see her looking at him with no other thought than to get in his pants. He’d had years of being made to feel like a freak because of his size or that he should have a sticker slapped on him reading “for entertainment purposes only” because the women that chased him never took him seriously. It was like they would have preferred he come with batteries so they could but him back in the cupboard when they were finished with him. To have a woman he loved and respected look at him this way was the answer to all his dreams. Whenever he was around her, he felt complete, whether it was mucking out stalls or having a beer at the end of the day, he just wanted to be with her. That he affected her this way was just icing on the cake. “You gonna stand there and look all day or get out of your clothes?” He folded his arms and leaned back, taunting her just a little.

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Jade tore her gaze from where his biceps flexed massively and stripped with more haste than finesse. She stalked over to him and threw her leg over the tank to straddle the big machine backward, being careful to keep her bare skin away from heated metal as she placed her thighs over his. She stripped the dark glasses from him and tossed them to land atop his jacket. He didn’t give the expensive shades a second thought as his gaze roamed her exposed body, from the hard-nippled breasts swaying gently with every move to the slick, curl-free folds exposed, their plump pink petals glistening in the sunlight. He ran his big hands up her silken thighs to cup her ass and lifted her until her thighs wrapped his waist, her wetness pressed against the hard muscle of his washboard stomach. The sensuous way she rubbed against him was gentle compared to the hand she placed at the back of his neck to jerk him closer for her kiss. If he’d had hair long enough to grab, it would have been torn out by the roots. He held her easily, one hand beneath her ass encouraging her slow grind against him, while the other he splayed between her shoulder blades, holding her close. She kissed him deeply, with purely carnal intent, as if she was slowly fucking his mouth with her tongue. He drew on it gently every time it passed her lips, encouraging her deeper and glorying in the sounds of untainted need that sprang from her throat. Eventually, Jade had to come up for more air than she could draw in while pillaging his willing mouth. Matt seized the opportunity to indulge his oral fixation. He tipped her backward, holding her secure with his hand behind her back. The sight of her draped over the front of the big machine held him spellbound. He knew he would never be able to throw a leg over the fucking cycle again without seeing Jade arched naked over the tank, kiss inflamed lips and swollen breasts begging for his mouth. Eyes fixed firmly on his goal, he lowered his head.

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Jade cried out at the first touch of wet heat as his mouth engulfed her breast. He kept his mouth both voracious and generous as he rolled, laved, and sucked at the engorged peak. Jade crossed her ankles in the small of his back and tried to rub her sodden folds on the slick skin of his stomach. It was an exercise in futility if her frustrated growls were any indication. As soon as Matt felt her take a firm grip on his body, he brought his hand into play. With her strong thighs he didn’t need to support her ass. He used his hand to tease her other nipple and to plump it for his mouth. He saw her watching as he was just about to take it with his mouth. Her eyes were slits of emerald fire between midnight lashes. Instead of going for the mouthful he yearned to have, he teased it with his tongue. He poked and prodded with the tip and laved with the rough flat. Jade wouldn’t take much of his teasing, her slim hand going to the back of his head. “Suck it. Suck it hard,” she demanded breathlessly as she tried to force his mouth to take her. One side of his mouth kicked up to let her know he had gotten exactly the response he was looking for, and then he struck. His mouth took as much of her plump breast as he could fit and drew hard, his grip on both mounds bordering on rough. Jade called his name as she ground against him frantically and rode the tremors of the small climax that tore through her, a mouth-watering appetizer that left him hungry for more. Matt lifted his head triumphantly. He absolutely loved having this woman come apart in his arms. Her hands groped at the fastener of his jeans, her need too great for fine motor skills. He brushed them away and accomplished the task one-handed, freeing his thick cock. He guided Jade down on him, but she was having none of his slow pace. She began working his cock before she even settled on the full length, going zero to sixty in two seconds flat. Her hands scrabbled at his back and shoulders as she found a fast and furious rhythm.

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Matt could only watch in awe as she rode his cock, praying that he lasted long enough to see her fly first. She bit and kissed wherever she could reach: his chest, the side of his thick neck, and his jaw. How he loved to feel her teeth scrape along his jaw! He made to slip a hand between them to hurry her along. No way in hell was he going to last one more minute, but her hand beat him to it. The bump and slide of her fingers between them had him gritting his teeth for control. One minute? He would be lucky to last ten fucking seconds! Her cry of completion was the sweetest sound he had ever heard as he lost the fight, jamming her down on his cock and grinding out his orgasm within her. He could feel her writhe and twitch all over as she found her pleasure, her pussy milking him for all he had. Pure nirvana. He held her close with both arms as they came back down to earth. The scent of sex mingling with new leather and cooling steel wafted around them. The man who could bottle that scent would make a fortune. It was olfactory Viagra. He knew his mouth was lifted in one very satisfied grin when Jade opened her eyes. “Damn, that’s one hell of a way to christen a bike.” He was still slightly breathless from their exertions. “I think I’ll trade it in every week just to get a chance to do that again.” “You don’t have to go to that much trouble, big guy. Just ask, and I’ll be there.” She reassured him, one very satisfied smile on her lips. She gave a little wiggle, wrinkling her nose when the fluid oozed between their still-joined bodies. “This ain’t going to be pretty, though. There’s one hell of a mess down here.” She glanced down, Matt following her gaze. “It doesn’t matter how we do this. It is going to end up all over this lovely bike or your equally lovely jeans,” Jade informed him wryly. “Nope, I’ve got a better idea.” Matt grinned wickedly as he pulled his boots off one at a time on the floorboards of the bike. Getting his socks off was awkward, but he managed it admirably. “Wrap your legs and hold on tight,” he warned before sliding back

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and getting his leg over the tank without sending both of them to the ground. Pleased as all hell with himself, he stood up, Jade clinging like a limpet, his semi-hard cock still within her. A bend and a shimmy and he was able to step out of his jeans. Jade spotted his look of mischief as he started walking. “No! No, Matt, don’t you fucking dare!” He made no reply, just grinned harder as he walked right in to the water, his mouth opening wide as the shock of cold water wrapped around his legs. Jade only had time to mutter a resigned “Oh fuck!” before Matt threw them both into the frigid water of the river. **** The glacial temperature of the water took both of their breaths away. Jade came up spluttering, swinging wildly at the man who had wisely disengaged whilst underwater, though with the shrivelinducing cold, perhaps it wasn’t by choice. It was so damn hard to be angry with Matt Kelly. That shit-eating grin just took the heat right out of Jade’s pique. She swam for the shore, the mind-numbing cold feeling like it went all the way to her bones. She heard Matt mutter a curse and was glad the cold had got to him, too. She looked around for something to dry herself and spotted his T-shirt. If the big oaf wanted to throw her in the water, he could sacrifice it for the privilege. Teeth chattering hard enough to rattle them from her jaw, Jade did her best to blot up the icy droplets that decorated her pebbled skin. The sound of water streaming off a large body had her turning to admire the view. Just because he was presently in trouble did not mean she couldn’t feast her eyes on one large wet male. And what a view it was! Muscles that stopped just short of that overdone, muscle-freak line were made even more defined by the close fit of his skin, pulled taut by the cold. His package just looked

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normal size. If Jade hadn’t seen him in all his glory, she would think the cold hadn’t affected him at all. But what arrested Jade was the look on his face. The ever-present grin was gone. Real concern filled his gray eyes and pulled the smile lines from his habitual expression taut. “What?” Jade queried, wondering what had him so alarmed. “Turn around.” Jade complied, still at a loss as to the source of his concern. She felt him approach, the heat he normally radiated only marginally dimmed by the plunge into icy water. His fingers skimmed her back as he swept her sodden mass of hair over her shoulder. “Your back! It’s a fucking mess, Jade.” “Oh, that.” It clicked that he was looking at the marks Nate had left on her yesterday. She hadn’t been able to see them all in the small bathroom mirror, but what she had seen was pretty impressive. “Yeah, Nate and I got a little carried away yesterday.” “Carried away? There is not one square inch of your back that doesn’t have teeth marks on it, and those two on your ass are fucking purple, Jade!” Matt turned her to face him. “If he hurt you, Jade, I’m going to fucking kill him. It is just not right to hurt you like that.” His face filled with rage and indignation made Jade be very careful about restraining her smile. She moved to stand against him, laying her hands on the wide expanse of his chest, warming her chilled body with his body heat. “It’s okay, Matt. Nate didn’t do anything that I didn’t want him to. Sometimes I like a bit of pain. We just kept going for a bit long is all.” “I could never do that, Jade. Brett and Nate can, but I can’t give you what you need, if that is what you want.” He shook his head, his open face so easy to read. He was devastated he couldn’t be everything for her.

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Jade blinked her eyes at the absurdity of the situation. Six foot seven of god-like male and he was insecure about holding her affections? He needed his ego stroked? Too bizarre for words. “Matty, I love being with you. There is not a single thing about you that I would change. As much as I love that idiot oldest brother of yours, all that dominant-alpha-macho-bullshit wears a bit thin at times. That goes for that other idiot, too. Don’t even start me on Mr. Control Freak. “You let me do what I want at my pace. Do you have any idea how much of a turn-on it is to have this great big, hulk of a man who could break me in two if he wanted, but would do nothing but play with my boobs for hours if that is what I wanted? That you would never hurt me is what gives me the confidence to take control, Matt. “You have grown into a gorgeous man, Matt, but the best part of you has not changed a bit. You still have the biggest heart of anyone I know.” Jade laid a kiss on his chest where she could feel the pound of the mighty organ beneath her lips. Matt folded her in his arms and held her tight. “So I’m all worried about nothing then?” “Sure are, big guy.” Jade leaned back to give him a smile. “The only thing you should be worried about is the repercussions of throwing me in that river.” The smile that stretched his lips said he wasn’t too worried. He helped dry her with his T-shirt and did his best to blot himself dry with the then wet material. Getting jeans on to wet clammy legs was an adventure in itself. Denim just refused to slide against either of their skin. Eventually, they were as dressed as they were getting and heading back home. Matt had his jacket zipped up tight over his bare chest beneath. They quickly stabled and fed the horses when they arrived, Kenny highly disappointed that he was getting a feed instead of being taken out for a ride. Toby was very happy to go with just dinner.

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What Jade didn’t expect when she got up to the house was to find Nate sitting on the front veranda waiting. He had taken up Jade’s preferred spot, boots crossed on the railing and all. A big bag sat at his feet. The aroma promised takeout Chinese. “I thought you two might need to recharge the batteries.” His brows rose over Jade’s wet, straggly hair, and he ignored the look of pending violence on his little brother. “Had a little adventure, did we?” Jade shared a grin with Matt, his face returning to its usual form. “Yeah, a swim seemed like a good idea at the time.” “A swim? You had better head into the shower and warm up then. There’s not any water here about that isn’t full of snow melt.” Matt made to follow. “You,” Nate fixed Matt with a glare, “you can stay here and explain to me what you were doing letting her go in freezing water…” She walked away hearing something about her catching her death of cold. Jade left them to it knowing Matt had some words to say to his brother about his dental fixation. He would hold back while she was in earshot. It took a while for the warmth to seep right through to her bones. If Matt was lucky, there would be enough hot water left for a quick shower. A real quick one. She came out to find them amicably setting the table. Jade would never understand how men could do that. Go at each other like a pair of bighorn rams one minute and be best buddies five minutes later. They couldn’t hold a grudge for shit. Women, on the other hand, had perfected the art. The smell of food brought her mind to the present. “That smells so good! I’m starving.” Jade sat in her usual spot where Nate had started piling Mongolian lamb high on the plate. He gave her a wink. “A swim will do that to you.” The smile that accompanied it said he had found out all the juicy details of the “swim.”

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Matt just started attacking the food with his usual gusto, unconcerned with his brother’s teasing. Nate must have loaned him a shirt because it was more than a little snug, albeit dry. The meal was full of discussions of Matt’s new cycle, flirting around the edges of propriety as Matt was a little too forward with details of her approval of the machine. It appeared these two kept nothing from each other where she was concerned. As disconcerting as it was for her partiality for leather-clad bad-boys to be the topic of dinner conversation, the complete acceptance and lack of jealousy Nate and Matt displayed was downright refreshing. She had enough trouble dealing with her own hang-ups about having more than one lover without dealing with their issues, too. Matt offered to do the dishes while Jade and Nate took up residence on the couch. A flick through the TV channels found nothing of real interest. They settled on an old western that made up in bullets fired for its lack of acting ability. It was already half way through. Matt came in just as they were getting comfortable, wedging his big frame on the other side of Jade. She wiggled around, trying to get comfortable. Her old lounge just wasn’t as big as theirs. Matt solved the problem by picking her up and draping her across both of them. Her upper body lay across Nate’s lap while Matt took possession of the lower. She was surprised to find she was actually comfortable. Her hip fitted into the gap between them and their big bodies made the best pillow that was ever invented. They made no move to touch her other than to rest their hands on her, Matt’s draped over her flannel pajama clad legs and Nate’s arm folded under her breasts. They were engrossed in the flying bullets, galloping horses, and poor acting. Jade, on the other hand, was more than a little affected by the touch of their hands and the feel of their bodies under hers. She’d had more sex in the last two days than in the previous two years, and she still wanted more.

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There was no denying the need that was building in her. Her skin was sensitizing, every touch and scrape of the soft material that covered her was magnified tenfold. She could feel the lips of her pussy plump and fill, their folds increasingly slick as her arousal built. She tortured herself by remaining still when all she wanted to do was writhe, to feel sensation against her skin and the sultry slide of slick flesh between her legs. By the time the ending credits started rolling, Jade was beside herself with need. She had succumbed to the primal urge to move and was rubbing her thighs together, small, controlled movements she doubted even Matt would notice, let alone Nate way up the other end. **** The satisfaction Nate felt at her extreme arousal was all that held him back from caving to the shouted demands of his raging erection. He was proud of Matt’s ability to withstand the call of her body. The perfume of her arousal was strong enough from where he sat, let alone directly above the ripening feast writhing in his brother’s lap. The fact that Jade was driven to such heights by just their proximity boded well for their envisioned future. Now, they just had to see if she was willing to fight for what she wanted. Or at least ask for it. Jade’s need was as plain as the nose on his face, but Nate wanted her to ask them to bring her relief. Nothing was worse for a relationship than a lack of communication. They might be good at perceiving a woman’s needs, but they were not mind readers. A lot of future problems could be avoided if she learned to state her wishes. Jade rolled to her back and stretched provocatively, thrusting her breasts toward Nate and rubbing her legs against Matt’s torso. Nate chose to misinterpret the gesture. “Tired, little girl?” he asked, deftly avoiding the breasts she was trying to press into him. “You should go to bed. Matt and I can show ourselves out.”

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He hoped she hadn’t seen the incredulous look Matt had shot him. It was too much to ask that the big lug guard his expression at that statement. “I don’t want you to,” Jade said softly, a coy smile playing at her lips as she had another stretch. “Don’t want to go to bed, or don’t want us to let ourselves out?” Nate was determined to make her admit that she wanted both of them, preferably now. “Well, I want to go to bed, but I would prefer that you were in it,” Jade admitted, her face heating. “And what about Matt? Are you going to send him home in the cold?” He watched her look up and see the hurt that flashed in the eyes of the big man. No, she couldn’t ever send Matt away. “The bed isn’t that big. It will be a cozy fit.” “If you want us in there, Jade, we’ll make room. It’s your call. Do you want us both tonight?” Nate looked straight at her, blue eyes boring into hers. He wanted no mistake that this is what she wanted. **** Jade looked from one brother to the other, her libido screaming at her that there were no bad choices here, just degrees of fucking spectacular. Her body wanted what they offered. Craved it. But it was something else to actually give voice to the fact that she wanted two men at one time. But need sent any sense of decorum and all her inhibitions out the proverbial window. “Please, Nate. I need you both tonight.” She reached up and seized his hair, dragging him down for her kiss, reveling in his sinful, masculine flavor. She put all the conviction into that kiss that her tremulous voice didn’t hold. Pulling away from Nate, she sat up and reached for Matt. He met her

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willingly halfway. His taste was different, his own unique tang overpowering the faint taste of the Chinese they had shared. She felt Nate’s hands on her as Matt stood with her in his arms, lifting her effortlessly. So consumed was she by the touch of the two big men that she didn’t realize they had taken her to the bedroom until she felt the soft mattress beneath her. They stripped and followed her down, flanking her. Their big, callused hands and wet, willing mouths never ceased their caresses as they stripped her pajamas from her. The two brothers shared a triumphant smile, but Jade could take no umbrage. This was what they wanted. What they had dreamed of. Only one thing would make the experience more complete, but Brett was picking up a new wreck for restoration out of state. Jade couldn’t restrain a slightly vindictive smile. Missing out might make him think twice about leaving her hanging again. Thoughts of Brett could not distract her from the gratifyingly intense attentions of the two men who joined her on the bed. Matt had wasted no time in laying claim to her diamond-pointed breasts, suckling greedily as his hand caressed her quivering stomach. Nate shouldered him aside. “Don’t be greedy. You really have to learn to share.” Jade could hear the amusement in Nate’s deep voice. Matt ceded, restricting his attentions to the nearest dusky-topped mound. Jade nearly passed out from the bombardment of instant pleasure as Nate took possession of her other breast. She cracked her eyelids, caught up in the unadulterated decadence of two dark heads suckling at her. The visual impact was nearly more overpowering than the wicked sensation. Her hands held their heads tight. She took a handful of the silky hair at Nate’s nape while the other could only grasp emptily at Matt’s near shaven scalp. The difference in texture was yet one more tactile treat for her ravenous senses.

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The breathy entreaties and heartfelt moans they pulled from her when they drew deep upon her heaving breasts only spurred them on. Wicked demands ghosted through her head. Only the heated approval in their passion-heavy gazes kept her from dying in shame when she heard her thoughts actually echo back from the ceiling, whispered out loud.“Oh, god, yes! Deeper. Suck me harder.” They kept lavishing attention upon her until her whispered entreaties became a litany of “fuck me. Someone please fuck me.” As one they moved a hand to her sodden cleft, Matt playing fingertips about, gently strumming her clit. Nate went lower, once again proving he had no boundaries as he slid his thumb deep inside her aching pussy while the pads of his fingers massaged her rosette in an insidious caress. Jade tensed at his proprietary handling of her forbidden area, but the memory of yesterday’s foray into the taboo had her relaxing into his touch. Her own arousal precluded any physical barrier as he slipped easily within, her desperate clenching no obstruction to his well-lubricated digit. Her groan of submission had both brothers gritting their teeth. The sound ripped from the deepest, most primal part of her. She gripped desperately at the twin invaders, nearly coming undone when Matt matched the sweet torturous strokes at her clit to Nate rubbing his thumb in circles. The deep internal massage was like nothing she had ever felt before. Then with a grin of pure evil, he started to move his finger in counterpoint, effectively manipulating the nerve rich outer reaches of her back passage. Her eyes rolled back in her head as the first wave of orgasm swamped her, but neither man took much notice, intent on driving her higher, further, faster. Jade screamed as it all culminated in one huge spasm that all but tore her body apart with the pleasure. Limp and shell shocked, Jade could only lie there as her world tried to right itself.

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The first thing that came into focus was Matt’s worried face, his lips were moving, but Jade wasn’t hearing anything but the beat of her own heart. “Are you okay?” Distantly, his voice reached her. “Nate, why won’t she answer me?” Nate smiled like a beatific Lucifer as he stretched out alongside her inert form. “Because that last one near blew the top of her head off. She isn’t used to this much pleasure yet, are you, darlin’?” Jade could only blink in reply, a lazy sated smile firmly in place. “How would you like some more? We’ll go gentle on you, but we are going to explode if we don’t get inside you soon.” In answer Jade rolled and hooked a leg over his lean hip, intent on rolling him atop her, but Nate had other ideas. “Give Matt what he wants first.” He kissed her neck and nuzzled her ear, whispering a sultry “then I won’t have to be so careful” as he nipped threateningly at her earlobe. Jade squealed as she pulled away from the low growl that accompanied the snap of strong white teeth. She turned to find Matt naked and more than willing. He welcomed the leg she threw over his hip, gripping her thigh to bring her into alignment with the thick, blunt head of his erection. Nate snugged himself up close to her back. She felt a moment of uncontaminated fear when he touched the wide tip of his monstrous cock to her quivering asshole, but he just slid back and forth in the slick cream that had pooled in the crease of her ass. The awareness of having so much skin against her was overwhelming, so much warm male skin. Jade thought she had died and gone to heaven. Matt sliding deep inside her had her snapping her attention to him. Gray eyes stormy, his gaze hungrily devoured her as he began to give long deep strokes that nudged the end of her. The position of her leg gave him greater depth, and he buried himself to the root with every thrust. Another orgasm had seemed like impossibility only a minute ago, but as Nate brought both hands around to pluck at her distended

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nipples and Matt ground against her clit every time he sheathed that lovely thick cock inside her, Jade contemplated just that. After the previous explosion she was happy just to let the boys have a little fun. She knew she would derive a different sort of pleasure from being the vessel of their lusts, but this wasn’t going to be the time for her to be a passive receptacle. The sensation of being sandwiched between the two fit right up there with cheesecake, chocolate, and speeding. It was so damn good it had to be bad for you or outlawed. Chances were, it was illegal. But the morality police were not camped outside her bedroom window right now, so she lost herself in the feel of their bodies, the driving heat of their swollen cocks, and the touch of callused hands. This time the orgasm was long and slow and went on forever, its gentle intensity exactly what she needed after the devastation of the last explosion. **** Matt felt her milking his cock as her internal muscles fluttered around him. He lost any control he may have maintained when she dug her fingernails into the thick muscle atop his shoulders and bit down on his collarbone. The pleasure-pain caused his balls to climb up into his body, sending his seed hurtling up his cock and into her molten depths. He now had half an idea why Jade’s back looked the way it did. If Jade was to keep sinking her teeth into him like that he wouldn’t have wanted to stop either. As much as he wanted to hold her through the aftermath, he knew Nate must have been dying to get inside her. He slid his still-hard cock from her warm embrace and went to turn her toward his big brother, but Nate was quite happy to have her just the way she was.

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Nate nudged his shoulder to get him to lie back down before lifting Jade’s sensuously writhing form higher against his big body, crooking one of her legs over Matt’s abdomen. Matt did not let his brother down. As Nate had loaned his hands to his possession of Jade, he now gave his. He rolled a nipple nice and firmly, just the way she liked it. His other hand held her passiondrugged face up to his kiss. He took her mouth with more aggression than he had showed any woman, nipping her lips and delving deeply with his velvet tongue. Jade had gone beyond the need for gentle, and the big man did his best to meet it, rhythmically clenching his fist against her scalp. The pinch and pull of hair would be another sensation to buffet her hyperaware body. **** Nate watched her dance against his brother and could hold back no more. He placed one knee between hers and slid into her still convulsing pussy. He was able to slip in nearly all the way with little effort, his way being well prepared by Matt’s vigorous efforts. To take her this way without the worry of hurting her was a sweet selfindulgence. He forged within her depths, feeling the pliant walls grip him as he sunk farther within. The position did not allow the last few inches of the engorged flesh to penetrate her dripping cavern, so he was able to relinquish control. Thrusting hard and fast, he pounded against her ass, feeling her lift to meet his demands. Jade writhed and bucked beneath him. Nate watched her quest for pleasure superseding conscious thought as she became a slave to the sensations they heaped upon her. Every muscle in her body tightened as she pushed against their twin holds. He could feel her striving to get even closer to the thick flesh he pounded into her. The incoherent but blatantly hungry cries muffled by Matt’s mouth spurred him to action.

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He lifted her knee higher and slid in those last two inches. Matt captured her cry of surprise as her breath was stolen from her. Slipping firmly into pleasure-seeking mode, Jade’s body welcomed the battering it received, endorphins flooding her system as pain and pleasure became one. She backed up harder and harder, encouraging Nate to loosen his final measure of control and let chaos reign. **** She was beyond screaming when the pleasure took her. The extreme arch of her back looked like the precursor to some grand mal seizure as her neck lolled to her shoulder. Matt watched in awe as her tortured expression became one that could only be called replete. Peaceful, satiated, and somewhat unconscious, she collapsed against his chest even as Nate found his release. “Shit, Nate. You fucked her unconscious!” “That took both of us,” he replied, slipping from her. “Imagine what it’s going to do to her when Brett is here as well. Poor darlin’ just isn’t used to this much pleasure.” He headed into the bathroom to get a cloth and towel. He gently wiped her clean, noticing there was still no response. “We are definitely going to have to work on her tolerance to sex,” he said with a grin. Matt returned the smile. “Yeah, more sex. That’s the answer. I swear we shouldn’t let her out of bed ever again. She would soon learn to take all we can give her.” Nate slid back into the bed, tucking his body close against the sleeping woman. “You try dictating that to her, and we will all have a fight on our hands. We just have to make it so that she doesn’t want to leave.” He kissed her shoulder before laying his head on the pillow that carried her scent. “I love her, Matt. Losing her is not an option.” Sleep crept up with its seductive spell. With the earthy smell of sex and the feel of warm woman in their arms, they went willingly.

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Chapter 23 Jade awoke on Sunday morning cocooned in the warmth of two sleeping male bodies. A nagging sense of unease ruffled at the back of her neck. Warily, she lifted her head from where it rested against Matt’s shoulder. The two of them had ended up face down. Jade was betting her pillow was warmer than his. Oh, fuck! Brett was standing in the doorway. One hip cocked, arms crossed as he leaned against the door jamb. The look on his face was indecipherable as he shook his head slowly at the tableau before him. Jade’s eyes opened in shock at seeing him there. Then she felt a stab of guilt that he had been left out. She hadn’t planned it that way, but Brett was the one she knew she would have to work on building a relationship with. The antagonism of their past was not a good basis to base their future upon. He crooked a finger at her arrogantly. The sardonic twist to his mouth promised there would be repercussions if she did not comply. The heat in his eyes made other promises. Naked, she crawled from between the sleeping men, being careful not to disturb them. Brett did not lift his sapphire gaze from her, using it to draw her in until she stood in front of him, close enough for their bodies to touch if they breathed deeply. He raked his eyes down her body. Her nipples pebbled under his gaze as she stood unashamedly before him. Eyes limpid and drowsy, Jade let him look his fill. He grabbed her robe from where it hung on the door and handed it to her wordlessly. Jade shrugged into the thick polar fleece. Brett bent and picked up a bag Jade hadn’t noticed beside him on the floor and

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led her silently from the room. As he directed her past the kitchen table she saw a note written in big block letters and underlined aggressively. “FAIR IS FAIR. TIME TO SHARE, ASSHOLES.” Jade shot him a worried look but was pleased to see a smile hovering around the corners of his mouth. She went to speak, but he laid a fingertip on her lips to stop her. His simple touch sent sparks of electricity skating along her sleepy nerves. She nodded her head in silent understanding and let him lead her out the front door. The little loaner was waiting for them. Only after bundling her in and starting the engine did Brett speak. “Did you have fun last night?” His tone was flat and unemotional. Jade’s guilt flared. “I’m sorry, Brett. I didn’t mean it to happen.” “Sorry about what? You had fun, and by the look of those two sleeping it off in your bed, I would say they had fun, too. What is the problem?” “But you weren’t there.” “So? There are going to be times like that. We can’t all be there for you all the time.” “But it doesn’t feel right to leave you out,” she tried to explain. “I bet that thought didn’t even cross your mind last night.” A touch of knowing amusement shaded his dark tone. “Well, no, it didn’t, but that doesn’t make it right.” “Of course it is all right, Jadey. I have got you all day to myself and damned if I am going to give those two bozos a second thought. This whole relationship has to be based on trust. Jealousy has no place, and neither does guilt.” He gave her a wicked grin. “We are all here for your pleasure, so lap it up and enjoy it. Some of us just make you work a bit harder for that pleasure than others.” That little quip had Jade remembering the way he had left her hanging the other day. “So were you cranky with Nate the other day

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when he finished what you wouldn’t?” Besides for wanting to stir him up over that little episode, she was genuinely curious as to how the dynamics worked between the three brothers. He did grin over that. “Not cranky, no. But I will be a little more specific about what means he is to employ in keeping you away from that damned vibrator, though. I thought Matt was the easy target for you, but Nate is a bloody pushover, too. I bet you didn’t even have to ask, did you?” “Nope,” she confirmed smugly. “No self-control whatsoever,” he disparaged his eldest brother fondly. “And yours is just perfect, is it?” “Always,” he bantered back. “You know that is a challenge no red-blooded woman could resist, don’t you?” “Believe me, sweetheart, by the end of today you will be very glad of my self-control.” He shot her a sinful smile full of promise. “If I were you, I would be more worried about my ass instead of trying to challenge the man who is going to be taking it today.” Jade swallowed back a lump of fear even as her body heated at his torrid warning. He must have seen her pale. “It’s all about trust, Jade. That’s what it all comes down to. If you don’t trust me, this is not going to work. Any of it.” He concentrated on negotiating the potholes in the drive to his house. “I am not going to do anything that will hurt you more than you want to be hurt. I saw the marks on your back, Jade. Nate went further than I would have on your ass. Those bites had to have hurt, yet you lined up for two of them. You can call me off with a word. You hold all the power, but I won’t let you get away with not giving this a fair go, Jade.” He pulled up in front of the house, killing the engine before turning to face Jade. He looked straight at her, and she felt the devastating impact of his cobalt gaze. “I love you, Jade, but I won’t

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go through life without trust. Will you trust me to make this good for you?” She nodded solemnly, held transfixed by his piercing eyes. “You won’t rush me?” she queried worriedly. “Honey, I’ve got all day. By the time either of those idiots work out how to start any of the vehicles on that place, it will be dark, and you will be sleeping the sleep of the righteous.” “More like the exhausted. What did you do to the vehicles?” she asked suspiciously, concerned about her Camaro. “Don’t worry, I only put nice little rubber caps over each spark plug. They can wind them over for as long as they like, and they won’t fire.” Jade laughed at his wicked ingenuity. Brett scooted around to open her door. “First things first, you need a shower and breakfast.” He wrinkled his nose comically. “I can smell those two on you, and believe me, honey, I much prefer your scent to theirs.” “Have you got some clothes in there for me?” Jade nodded to the bag Brett carried. “Yeah, but you only get access to them if you are a really good girl,” he warned, placing a hand at her back to escort her inside. After a shower and some sustenance Jade was feeling a little more alert, probably due to the industrial-strength coffee she had poured down her throat. Brett wasn’t a coffee drinker. She was sure he had put at least twice as much grind in the machine than was required to make one cup. After breakfast she went to clean her teeth, butterflies returning when Brett met her in the hall on the way out. She was pleasantly surprised when he led her to his bedroom and not the playroom. A quick glance at the bedside table proved that he had merely moved some of his paraphernalia to another setting. Her butterflies began to feel like jumbo jets doing barrel rolls in free fall. He sat on the black comforter atop the bed. It seemed his

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black color scheme continued here, too. He pointed to the space between his spread knees. “Come here.” A shiver went down Jade’s spine at the rough timbre of his voice. She took the three steps that placed her where he wanted her and stood her ground, not leaning against him like the wanton creature his voice incited her to be. He deliberately pulled the sash undone that held her robe closed. A small push on each shoulder, and it lay pooled on the ground at her feet. His gaze leisurely traveled the length of her body. “Turn around,” he ordered in that same husky tone. Jade presented her back to him, her flesh reacting to his gaze as if it had actual weight. Gooseflesh followed in the wake of his eyes. He traced the marks and bruises Nate had left upon her with the tip of one long finger. Joining the dots like some R-rated dot-to-dot, he made his way to the bites that marred the twin globes of her ass. “Damn, these bruises are deep!” She could here no censure in his voice. Admiration was more like it. “They must have hurt more than a bit, Jadey. Did you feel it, or where you too lost in the endorphin haze to notice?” “Oh, I felt it,” she assured him, “but I had gotten to the point where it was all good.” “Let’s hope we can find that point today,” he murmured, turning her back to face him. He grinned up at her, the look just slightly feral. She couldn’t resist. She dipped her head and tasted his mouth, her tongue seeking admittance. She groaned at the taste of cinnamon that lingered in his mouth and sank her tongue deeper. It took a moment or two to realize he wasn’t kissing her back. She pulled back and nibbled at his lip. “What is the matter? Aren’t I allowed to kiss you? Am I supposed to beg for permission first? You have to tell me what the protocol is here, babe. All I know is that I want your mouth.” She had punctuated each question with a stinging nip to his lower lip. When she pulled back far enough to see the red mottling his

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cheeks, she realized she had been in error. What looked like real rage rippled along the tight line of his jaw. “Brett?” She didn’t even see him move. One moment she was bent over him trying to induce him to play a little tonsil tennis with her, and the next she was flat on her back, wrists securely cuffed to the wroughtiron bed head. Brett was standing at the foot of the bed, running his hands through his hair desperately. **** Fuck! He cursed himself. He had nearly let the little wench steal his control away, and it had only taken a kiss. One he hadn’t even participated in, for fuck’s sake! He had to get back the upper hand and now before he did something that would hurt them both. He turned back to see her licking his taste from her lips, sliding upright, so she reclined against the bed head, her hands sliding easily along the rail to which they were cuffed. “What’s the matter, Brett? Can’t you handle a little kiss?” she said mockingly. The little witch knew damn well she had caused him to react. The bulge in his pants said louder than words that it was not rage that colored his face. “If you want to put that pretty mouth to work, Jade, I suggest you start here.” He jerked down his fly even as his shirt went sailing. Jade’s eyes flew to his cock, and she licked her lips unconsciously. “That’s it, sweetheart, get them good and wet for me. I know how talented you are with that mouth of yours. Think of it as a reprieve. The better job you do here, the longer I am going to be able to go before I start pounding on that ass of yours.” And the more chance he would have of lasting more than five seconds when he tucked his cock into her untried ass, but he wouldn’t admit that out loud. It was bad enough that she knew she had made him react. If she ever had a

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clue of exactly how strongly she challenged his hard-won control, she would own him lock stock and barrel. He dropped his jeans to the ground and walked toward her, his cock leading the way. Choosing to ignore the irony of that, he knelt on the bed, her eyes staying hungrily on the throbbing member that bobbed in time with his heart beat. He straddled her torso, loving the hunger on her face. Taking his cock in hand, he teased her with it, letting the mushroomed head stroke the wet velvet of her lips before pulling back out of reach, watching her flickering tongue endeavor to reach him. He enjoyed teasing her immensely, but the little wench had a few tricks of her own. Instead of chasing him with her tongue in an exercise in futility, she began to blow on his retreating head. Her breath bathed him in inviting warmth when he was close and contrasting cold as her expelled air traveled over the wet streaks her tongue had left on his sensitive cockhead. With a groan he gave in before she begged for it. Her smile before she took him deep told him the little vixen was well aware of the fact. He forgot to care about that as the sultry wet cavern of her mouth paid him homage. Last time when she was trying to be good, she was great, but this time she was being bad, and she was unfuckingbelievable. Vibrations tickled and pleasured as she moaned her approval at the tang of his pre-cum spreading against her tongue. She eagerly took him to where he fisted his cock. He wasn’t game to relinquish this measure of control least he do something stupid like spear his whole length down her throat. She licked and sucked voraciously, combining lips, tongue, and sweet pull of her mouth in a glorious but short trip to ecstasy. Brett tried to pull away to prolong the time he spent fucking the addictive depths of her mouth, but the graze of teeth on the flared ridge said she wouldn’t tolerate that.

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Too far gone to worry about her topping from the bottom this time, he poured his load down her throat, staying with her as she sucked him dry. The sultry grin she gave him as she licked her lips told him she was quite cognizant of her transgression, daring him to do something about it. “Awfully cocky for someone who is all tied up at my mercy, aren’t you, wench?” “I don’t know about cocky, but I am awfully horny.” She rubbed her thighs together, drawing Brett’s attention to the moisture that flooded her folds. “Are you just? Let’s see how long that lasts then.” He swung off her and flipped her onto her front. He laid two good smacks on her ass, mindful of the bruises that marked them. She only writhed, pushing her groin against the coverlet. “Oh, Jadey is being a bad girl. Well, sweetheart, let’s put something up that ass and see just how much wiggle you have got in you then.” He reached for the tube of lube and a nice-size ass tickler. The flexible butt-plug was smoother-shaped than usual. Great for neophytes and a nice fit, the flare at the base narrower than usual so it could be fucked in and out like a dildo but still stay in place when inserted all the way. Jade looked over her shoulder as he lubed the toy, a little concern now shading her teasing smile. “Got you worried yet, Jadey?” He made sure his smile was menacing as he approached. He slipped a pillow under her hips and positioned her legs to give him greatest access, each bent up and out like a frog. Jade was completely vulnerable in the position, but the pillow underneath gave her something to press her swollen clit against. Brett knew she wouldn’t resist the temptation when she thought it was against his wishes. He gave her ass a swat as he positioned himself between her legs, seeing her press into the pillow beneath. He knew damn well what she was doing, but it was just fine with him. He wanted her to associate pleasure with ass play, and if she wanted to work that angle

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herself, it only furthered his plans. If she thought to get herself off that way however, it was a different story. He placed the well-greased toy within easy reach and gripped her cheeks, separating them further to stretch her tiny rosette wide. He grinned wolfishly at her gasp. He couldn’t wait to hear the sounds she made when he worked the tickler inside her. He couldn’t even think about sinking his cock in her yet. He wanted this to be all about feeding her demons and growing the dark hungers he had noticed within her. His own would have to wait their turn. He ignored her gasp as he slicked her with the cold lube. He used one hand to deep-massage a cheek while he rubbed her dusky hole, the rhythmical massage encouraging her to move both against his finger and the pillow. She fell into his tempo, adding a little sideways twist that no doubt added more friction to her neglected clit. She clenched hard when he slid his finger through the first ring of resistance, the reaction causing him to smile. “Trying to keep me out, baby? I don’t think so. You can squeeze as hard as you like, and I can just go deeper.” He demonstrated, withdrawing to collect more lube and sinking the digit to the webbing. “It will feel better for you if you breathe out and relax. But me? I like a close fit, sweetheart. You can tighten down on me all you like.” He picked up the toy and lined it up with her ass, pleased to see the rim of pink that told him she had relaxed enough for this. For all his verbal bravado, he had no plans of causing her pain. He watched her sphincter tighten as he pressed the toy against her star, but then she followed his advice and breathed out, and the toy slipped in easily. He fucked it back and forward, adding more lube until it moved freely, watching avidly as her ass swallowed the glittery pink latex. When the widest point popped through, she collapsed with a groan, her hips carrying on their sultry grind. Unable to keep his hands off, Brett gripped the wide base and shifted it back and forward within her.

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**** Jade groaned incoherently as the widest point worked against the sensitive entrance. The feeling was one of the greatest excess, selfindulgent and decadent. Her newfound inner-hedonist reveled in the forbidden pleasure. The pleasure escalated when Brett laid a series of fiery taps on her ass, causing her to clench on the latex invader. The sensation so great that she began clenching down repeatedly, orgasm growing closer and larger with each rhythmic contraction. “No!” she screamed as Brett ripped it from her body, leaving her clenching emptily on nothing. “You don’t get to come until I get my cock inside your ass, Jade. Are you ready for that?” His tone said he was waiting for her denial. “God, yes! Let me have it, Brett. I had no idea it could feel that good.” **** Brett dropped the toy in shock. “You aren’t ready yet, baby. Let me stretch you some more. I don’t want to hurt you.” He managed to rub her reddened cheeks soothingly when his cock wanted nothing more than to take her up on her naïve offer. “No, please try. I’ll tell you if it hurts too much. I need you inside me now.” She writhed on the pillow, keeping up the tantalizing pressure on her tortured bud. Unable to resist her impassioned pleas, Brett nudged in behind her, copiously lubing his shaft. He splayed his hand across her ass so that his thumb tucked into her slick back entrance. He held himself back, thinking she would beg off when it came to the crunch. When he lined up the thickly flared head with her entrance, he took a big breath, watching her body for signs of rejection as he used his fist to tuck his cockhead in against the pink-centered star.

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**** Jade felt the intimidating breadth of the thick erection press for entrance. Oh god! Had she bit off more than she could chew? So much thicker than the plug he had used! She had a moment of panic as the pressure turned into a white-hot burn, but then the head slipped in, and the mental litany of “no, fuck, no” became an audible groan of “oh, fuck yes!” **** Brett nearly lost control at her blatant acceptance. Her ass clenched around him, as if she was unable to prevent tightening to feel the burn. He reached forward and released her wrists from their restraints. He expected those fingers to dive straight for her clit but they dropped to the mattress beside her head. He lifted her to her knees but her upper body stayed flush with the coverlet. Jade in this most submissive of poses was the sexiest thing he had ever laid eyes on. He withdrew nearly all the way back out and forged in again, watching her take half his length. He wanted more, so much more, but not until he was certain of her pleasure. He took her right hand and led it to rest over her mound, fingers touching the slickened skin of the hot meat impaling her. “Feel that, Jade? I’m inside you, babe. My cock is in your ass. Do you like that, sweetheart? I don’t want to hurt you, so you set the pace. Give that clit a good rub and only take what you can. You look so fucking beautiful.” Involuntarily, he forged a little deeper. ****

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Jade groaned and began to work her clit as she slid slowly off the length of heated steel in her ass. The sensation of his prominent corona dragging over her inner ring was frighteningly erotic. She reversed the direction, taking him back in, feeling the pressure grow against her tailbone, until, to both their astonishment, she held him all. His balls brushed her swollen folds, making her writhe on his length. It was Brett’s turn to curse. “Fuck! Jade, go easy, honey. I’m not going to last if you keep that up.” He jerked against her, an involuntary thrust that sent shards of pleasure spiking her all over. “Oh god yes! Do that, Brett. Let me have it. It feels so fucking good.” Jade’s whole world evolved around the cock impaling her ass and the finger she swirled on her clit. Mindless to all else, she begged him to take her. **** Brett began easily, but Jade was having none of it. She met him thrust for thrust, groaning like a dying woman as he stoked the cataclysm building within her. Brett was awed at her total acceptance of him as he began to use her ass as hard as he ever had used any woman. Her groans became a wail as she grew closer to orgasm. Sweat beaded on his brow as he fought not to give into her tightfisted passage until she came first. He lowered down against her back and reached beneath her. Being careful not to interrupt her frantic manipulation of her clit, he slid his thumb inside her dripping passage, feeling the thrust of his cock on the other side of the thin membrane. Brett felt her ass grab him as tight as his own fist as she screamed incoherently into the mattress, the wild clenching of her orgasm inducing his own release. He spewed forth endlessly, deep in the haven of her ass. ****

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Jade felt every twitch and spout. Never before had she felt a man’s orgasm as keenly as she felt Brett’s right then. Even above the unbelievably powerful climax that engulfed her, she was aware of his pleasure. The sensation of being totally surrounded by the heat of his skin against her back, his cock forging in her most private place, and the familiar invasion of her pussy was completely overwhelming. Intensely earth-shattering. She lay trembling beneath him when it was over, shivers wracking her, despite his warmth at her back. He slipped from her well-used body and held her close. Still, her shivering persisted. He rubbed her back and soothed her, calming her with his touch, but she couldn’t stop trembling. “I don’t know what is wrong with me,” Jade whispered as another bout overcame her. “Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart. It is such a big deal for you to trust me that much. It may take a while to come to terms with it. Just lay here and let me hold you. It doesn’t matter if you cry. You have to let it out somehow.” After she settled, Brett ran them a bath. Jade had never felt so cherished as when he held her in that big tub, whispering how proud he was of her. Afterward, they made love more conventionally, Jade glorying in his hard dominance as he pinned her wrists and thrust deep inside her, his whole body massaging hers. Later that afternoon, Jade encouraged him to take her ass again. After protesting weakly that it was too soon after her first, he succumbed. His last words before he breached her ass once more were “Oh, God! I’ve created a monster!” ****

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Dusk had fallen when they arrived back at Douglas Park to find all the vehicles functioning once more. Nate just sat on the settee and grinned at the confused look on Brett’s face. “If you wanted some time alone with her, you only had to say. There was no need for nasty little notes or vehicular sabotage.” Nate swung his eyes between the couple who had walked up on the veranda. “I take it all went well?” Jade’s instant blush, and Brett’s self-satisfied grin were all the reply he needed. “Come here, darlin’.” He extended his hand to her, drawing her into his lap. He noticed she winced slightly as she settled herself. He turned his gaze to rest on his brother. “If I were you, I would go and save that Harley before Matt tries anything else to fix it. Otherwise that little brother of yours is going to pound you into the earth.” “Harley? I didn’t touch any Harley,” Brett replied, obviously confused. “Well, go and save it from him anyway. I doubt he could even change a tire on my truck, let alone know his way around a machine like that.” Brett headed off to find Matt. “So, little darlin’”—Nate fixed Jade with his clear blue eyes, concern, causing a tightness around them—“are you okay, not too sore?” It seemed that he knew what had transpired. Apparently, nothing was sacred around here. “I’m fine, Nate,” she assured him, “A little tender and tired but fine.” “That’s so good to hear,” he whispered, pulling her to lie against the muscle of his chest. “I was worried for you. I didn’t even tell Matt because he would have headed over there to rescue you.” Jade smiled. “He wanted to tear you apart yesterday over the marks on my back.” “Tell me about it. It took me the whole time you were in the shower to convince him not to. I think he is beginning to see that women don’t want sweet and nice all the time, though. That there is

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nothing wrong with a little down and dirty.” He kissed her forehead. “How did you like the little sample you got today?” Jade blushed, clearly searching for words she could utter without going up in flames of mortification. “Um, it was good.” She kept her eyes focused downward. “Okay good or so-damn-good-I-can’t-wait-to-go-back-for-seconds good?” “I already did that,” she admitted, hiding a grin. “Oh darlin’, don’t tease me like that. I’m trying to be good here, and you saying things like that is making me hard.” “I am not teasing,” she said it quietly, but Nate heard it over the blood rushing through his body. “Really? So your ass is no longer off limits then?” “No, but that monster of yours is not getting anywhere near me until I can take Matt. I don’t mind a bit of pain, but that would be so far out of my comfort zone it wouldn’t be funny.” “Don’t worry, darlin’. I would never force it on you. Just the fact that you are entertaining the idea makes my day. Good luck with Matt, though. I think we had better stock up on toys to stretch you for me because that lad would die before he caused you any pain. I would say he has never taken a woman that way before.” “Really?” Nate chuckled at her intrigued tone. “You are a wicked, wicked woman, darlin’. But if you want to break him in, you will have to convince him you enjoy it first.” “How?” “Letting him see Brett take you would probably work, but maybe I’m just projecting because that, darlin’, is a sight I would die to see.” He delighted in the lust that curled through her eyes. Even thoroughly loved by Brett today and no doubt sorer than she was letting on, Jade responded to the heat in his voice. “Maybe…”

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“No, darlin’.” He cut her off. “Not tonight. You need time to recover, and anticipation only makes it better. I don’t think we are doing anything on Friday night. Can you wait until then?” “Go a whole week without?” He chuckled at her incredulous tone. “I doubt you can keep Matt away from you that long, and I have no intentions of not paying you a visit between now and then. I just meant that only one of us will be here at a time. No wild orgy for Jade until Friday. Can you handle that, darlin’?” “I’ll try,” she said wryly before continuing in a more serious vein. “I don’t know what is wrong with me. The more I get, the more I want. I am turning in to a bloody nympho.” “Believe me. We are not going to complain. You have a lot of lost time to make up for. We all do. Life is for living, Jade. It ain’t no spectator sport.” **** Jade nodded in understanding. She was sick of being an onlooker, too. She felt Nate tense and saw Matt storming toward the house. Brett followed casually, rubbing his jaw and working it back and forth experimentally. “I think Brett just told him what he did to you.” “Did with me,” Jade corrected. “Well, make sure you make that distinction clear to the big bastard about to tear you out of my arms because I don’t need a sore jaw, too.” As predicted, Jade found herself snatched from her comfy perch and enfolded in a big bear hug. “Oh, baby, are you okay? Did he hurt you?” He pressed her close, kissing at the top of her head. “I’m gonna kill him.” Jade had to grab his face in both hands to make him focus on her denials rather than his rage over her imagined abuse. “Matty! Matt,

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look at me!” She made sure he was looking straight at her, turmoil seething in his gray eyes. “I am fine, Matt. Really. Do you really think I would let anyone do anything to me that I didn’t want? I’m no one’s doormat. Nobody gets any part of me that I am not willing to give, Matt. Nobody.” He settled down a little, his breathing steadying as Jade reassured him with calm eyes. “So I probably shouldn’t have hit him then?” “Brett gives everyone that urge now and then. He probably deserves it for something else anyway,” she assured him with a shrug. “What was wrong with your bike?” Matt flushed and looked down. Brett answered from where he was leaning against the veranda post, a wide smile creasing his face despite the swelling he still rubbed on his jaw. “Numbnuts forgot he turned the fuel off yesterday.” Jade couldn’t help smiling at Matt’s hangdog expression. That night she slept between the warm bodies of Matt and Brett. Nate had begged off, telling her quietly that didn’t trust a portion of his anatomy to abide by the rules he had set for the night, a portion that grew larger every time he thought of their planned activities for Friday night. His confessed anticipation only added to hers.

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Chapter 24 The week flew by for Jade. Another check-up with the doctor was extremely encouraging. Shelly felt that six months would be long enough chemical treatment due to the progress Jade was making. In another month she planned to drop to a lower dosage. “No more delayed orgasms,” Shelly had promised. Jade had managed to keep her face under control at that promise. If they were delayed orgasms she was getting now, she would be able to count them in double digits when the drugs were out of her system. When Shelly had questioned Jade about her support network this time, she had been able to answer that ninety-nine percent of her secrets were now a burden shared. That nagging one percent still gave Jade nightmares of waking up to find the Kelly’s gone from her life. On the farm front, the sale horses were progressing nicely. Most had been introduced to free jumping in the arena and were showing some phenomenal natural ability. Jade had decided against breaking any of the sale horses due to time constraints. Instead she worked on Kenny while Matt devoted his time to the two four-year-old mares she was keeping to replace some old brood mares. Dancer had been brought up to the stallion barn after wintering in the creek paddock, ready for another busy breeding season. Rather than have outside mares visiting this year, he was to spend a few days at the breeding center for semen collections. This year all foals by him other than Douglas Park foals would be a product of A.I. The blood-stock agent commissioned for the sale had preparations well under control. Advertising, cataloguing, and catering were all

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taken care of. He was encouraging Jade to put on an exhibition with Kenny and hold an auction for a service to the promising young stallion. While uncomfortable with riding in front of a crowd after so long, she could see the financial benefits of showcasing Kenny’s potential before he hit open competition. A trip to the A.I. center was in order for him, too. The new farrier, Phil Burton, came three days in a row to catch up on all the trimming that needed taking care of, as well as shoeing Kenny and Matt’s two girls. He was a godsend as far as Matt was concerned because Anna never took her eyes off the strong, steelhaired fifty-year-old. Jade laughed to find the older woman at a loss for words when she had been joking about, wondering out loud if that body really could do what it looked like and go all night. Phil’s quiet but heated response had been, “There’s only one way to find out.” Nate had stayed on Monday night, and Jade had finally got a chance to do what she had always wanted and explored his big, lean body at her leisure. From head to toe, her hands, lips, and tongue had mapped the contours: the hard plains and deep ridges of his chest and stomach, the smooth, sculpted topography of his wedge-shaped back, his long, lean legs and powerful arms. She charted all of it for her pleasure. The size of his cock presented a challenge Jade couldn’t resist. She had lapped and laved at it before stretching her lips wide around the fat head and giving it all she had. She couldn’t take him deep and was glad he didn’t mind a scrape of teeth, but he praised her efforts, his deep voice rough and jagged as he egged her on, telling her exactly what she was doing to him. His tortured groan when he came had Jade squeezing her legs tight together as she swallowed his seed. She was thankful he was a firm believer in fair play. As soon as he caught his breath, he descended on her. His lips and tongue attacked her clit while he worked the ass tickler, kindly supplied by Brett, into her tight back entrance.

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With what they had planned for Friday, they were going to take every opportunity to make sure she was ready. They wanted Matt to see nothing but pleasure on her face when Brett worked his cock up her ass in front of him. He had pushed three orgasms from her before she cried off, too sensitive to continue. Rather than waning, they grew in intensity, the butt plug driving her crazy as she clenched upon it, unable to control her wild reaction to having something in her ass. It was a sensation that couldn’t be ignored or assimilated, one that demanded she react. Jade knew it was the one thing she would never get used to, its effect too profound, snatching her control away, turning her into a creature of pure need. Tuesday was Matt’s night. It was a night of laid-back loving. He massaged all the tight knots from her back and shoulders before kissing every waning bruise Nate had left on her. He played and suckled at her breasts for what felt like eternity, in no hurry to do any more than that. His generous mouth was unadulterated heaven as Jade ran curious but lazy hands over the well-developed muscles of his shoulders and arms. The build-up of arousal a nice simmering need rather than a boiling maelstrom as she moaned and sighed under his tender ministrations. When he finally did slide into her welcoming depths, it was a sensual revelation to Jade. Never before had she had the big man over her. She had been so overwhelmed by his immense body but felt so sheltered, so protected. She gloried in the rock-hard muscle that corded his vast frame as he braced himself on his elbows, supporting the majority of his weight but staying skin to skin. The difference in height meant that her face was buried at the base of his neck. His sweet, musky scent filled her senses, and the salty tang of fresh sweat danced upon her palette. He kept up a slow glide and retreat that raked his root against her clit as he gave a small extra thrust at the top of each stroke. Rather

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than demand her reaction, he coaxed it from her with patience and finesse. When she did come, it was as sweet and long as their loving had been. Matt had followed suit straight after, his very male groan of completion vibrating through his big body to be absorbed by hers. Jade slept the sleep of the dead that night, entwined with the warm body that took up most of her bed. Brett turned up on Wednesday, and his night could not have been any greater a contrast. He had arrived with a duffle bag full of surprises, including a larger ass tickler, a new, larger dildo, and a set of vibrating nipple clamps. He had given her an evil grin as he tore them out of their packaging and prepared the toys. Only when they were all readied and sitting on the bedside table had he put his hands on her. By then anticipation had done much of his work for him, her folds slick and her breasts aching for his less-than-gentle touch. Half an hour later she had been reduced to begging, her tortured nipples sending wave after wave of ripples cascading through her womb. The smooth latex invading her ass was bigger, her desperate clamping actually shifting it within her, causing her to do it again and again, intensifying the feeling of depraved pleasure it inflicted. Brett had merely clipped on the clamps and lubed the plug, holding it in place while she had fucked it into her own ass at his torrid direction. He had then just sat back and watched the show after cuffing her to the bed head. She had worked herself into such a state that he would only have to look at her clit, and she would come. When her pleading had fallen so sweetly on his ears, he denied her for an extra few minutes just to listen to her beg. He had then picked up the vibrator that was a match for his own respectable size, letting her see him run it around his balls until she fairly drooled for the feeling of impalement. When he positioned himself behind her, she expected to feel the plastic cock drive into her fraught pussy, but it was hot, satin-skinned man meat that split her wide. The feel of the double penetration made her senses reel as his thrusting jostled the ass tickler deep inside her. She didn’t need the

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vibrating cockhead he pressed against her clit to make her come. She had already started to go over when he did. Brett had held still for her orgasm and then resumed a steady thrust, making sure he pushed against her back wall with every stroke. He waited until she was mewling in need once more before tearing the plug from her desperate grip. Her cry of protest cut short when he’d pulled out of her pussy and drove straight into her vacant ass. He’d reveled in the escalation of cries as he had began forging back and forth inside her snug grip. Pulling her upright, he had teased her with the plastic phallus, not letting the vibrations play against her clit but giving her enough to stay teetering on the edge. Only when he plunged the dildo into her desire-soaked channel did he allow her to come, the vibrations reaching him through the thin membrane enough to shake his tenuous self-control. He spent in the clenching grip of her ass, her body milking him to the last drop. Jade couldn’t wait for Friday night. **** She slept alone the next night, the older brothers conspiring to keep Matt away, too, telling him only that Jade would be coming over the next night. Nate helped Brett to make some alterations to his playroom, setting up the super-king-size bed that pulled down from the wall and clearing the apparatus that littered it. By the time they finished, it looked like a very Goth bedroom for an extremely large person. When they had Jade this time, it would be in comfort. All day Friday, she was restless, anticipation building as the day drew on. Matt was puzzled at the smile she just couldn’t hide as well as the blush that kept springing up. He knew she was coming over for dinner that night, but that was it. If he could have known what was going through her head, he would have been the one blushing. ****

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Jade had showered, shaved, and moisturized a whole hour before she was due to be at the Kelly farm. She was actually wearing a skirt, a little flirty number that fell in flattering lines to above the knee. She thanked god for fake tan when she saw how anemic-looking her legs had become from wearing long pants all the time. She called Anna to take care of the next morning’s work, who had assured her that she and the twins would manage just fine. When Jade arrived half an hour early, Matt was pleasantly surprised while Nate and Brett just gave her a knowing grin. Dinner was nice and light, a warm Thai chicken salad with plenty of roasted sweet kumara throughout. The variety of dishes Brett could make astounded Jade. It was a long way from the chicken-fried steak, venison stews, and peach cobblers she had grown up with, and the quality as good as she had ever enjoyed at any Californian restaurant. Matt had just cleared the table and headed out to help Brett wash up when Nate beckoned to her, crooking a finger as he pushed back a little from the head of the table. He sat her up on the solid oak in front of him, running appreciative hands up her smooth shaven legs to rest under her skirt, thumbs teasing the soft skin of her sensitive inner thighs. “Are you ready to shock the big guy tonight, darlin’?” “God, yes!” she replied. “It is all I have thought about all bloody day.” “Good, I was hoping you were looking forward to it. Brett and I have a plan of sorts. Just go along with us and be yourself, and everything should work out just fine.” He gave her a grin. “Just know I won’t leave you hanging no matter how much it looks like it is going to happen.” “I don’t think I really want to know, Nate. There is only one thing you and Brett have to remember, and that is that payback is a bitch, and she comes with interest.”

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“I wouldn’t have it any other way, darlin.” The smile he gave her made her insides melt. Jade leaned forward to kiss him, laying a teasing caress against the smiling curve of his lips, only when she licked at the seam did he give in and return it. He pulled back with a wicked glint in his eye. “I think it’s time for dessert.” He spilled her back against the table, supporting her back with his strong hands so she didn’t hit her head. Her girly “eep” of surprise was nearly drowned out by his desperate curse when he flipped her skirt up. Jade’s smile had a distinctly feminine twist to it as she rose up on her elbows. She wasn’t wearing any panties. Nate’s shock didn’t last long. He gave her a wide-eyed look of appreciation before burying his head between her legs, intent on torment rather than her fulfillment. **** Brett heard the little telltale sound that indicated Nate had began phase one of their little plan for the night. God, he loved the sounds she made! Matt had his head down stacking plates in the cupboard and hadn’t heard it. Brett managed to keep his voice even as he asked him to go and see if Jade and Nate wanted dessert. He kept an eye on Matt as he stuck his head around the corner. The big lug nearly tripped over. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water before he managed to say, “I think Nate’s already having dessert, and Jade is so not thinking about food right now.” With a puzzled look Brett came to stand next to his brother. Even expecting it, the sight sent the majority of his blood supply southbound. Jade lay back on the table facing them, propped on her elbows with such a look of abandonment on her ardor-drugged face. Slits of

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emerald could barely be glimpsed between the thick black lashes surrounding them, and her lips were slick, her little pink tongue visible in the part between. Her knees were drawn up high and wide, feet resting on the tabletop, but what should have been the focus of that seductive pose was hidden by the dark-haired head of their eldest brother. Brett let the dishtowel fall to the floor when he saw she in fact watched them, not the face that lovingly tasted her folds. He knew Matt spotted it, too, when he groaned before starting for the table. With a grin Brett followed, making for the opposite side of the table. Matt’s hands went for the buttons on the front of her blouse while Brett deftly undid her bra one-handed. He winked at her look of surprise. Practice did make perfect. Within thirty seconds they had her stripped bare but for the decorative strip around her waist that her skirt had become. Brett spared a smile for the predictability of his younger brother, who fell upon her bared breasts like a starving man. Jade’s eyes fluttered in response, and Brett found he couldn’t pass up a chance to sample her lips. Kissing her while the other two worked upon her body was an interesting experience. Half the time she ate at him hungrily, and the other half she lay there passive, solely absorbed in what was being inflicted upon her a bit lower down. He made a game of nipping at her every time she forgot his mouth, competing with the others to hold her attention. **** Jade was at a loss, struggling to process all the separate sensations, not yet that far gone in her lust that all had become one. Gradually, she came to realize that while Matt played at her breasts in earnest, the other two but toyed with her. Nate spending more time nuzzling than licking and Brett was doing his best to send her crazy,

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waiting until she really started to enjoy Matt’s ministrations before demanding her notice with sharp teeth and a knowing chuckle. The knowledge that they were playing their younger brother as well as her gave her the fortitude to not fall under their spell completely. She knew that later she would have no choice, but for now, she held part of herself back. Brett must have noticed her newfound control because he crooned his approval in her ear. She felt Nate smile against her inner thigh as she relaxed into his touch rather than straining toward it. **** Matt remained oblivious to the byplay happening around him, feeling only the firm, malleable flesh beneath his hands and mouth and the hand that held his head close, stroking through the shortcropped hair. It was Brett thumping him on the shoulder that had him realizing that he was the only one still partaking of the feast. “Let’s find a bed.” Nate drawled laconically. “There’s no shortage of them, and this table can’t be comfortable.” **** It was Brett who picked her up to carry her, taking the opportunity to whisper in her ear. “You are doing so good, baby. I am so glad you have found a bit of control, but it is time to let it go now. We have to show Matt how much you love this if you want a chance to see if you can take him.” He ignored Matt’s protest as they passed the bedrooms, heading into the second hall. “How does the idea of having me and Nate at the same time strike you? Too much, or are you that hungry for it?” Jade groaned at the imagery he presented, the thought of being that stretched, that full. “I’ll take that as a yes, but we will go slow,

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sweetheart. Just let us love you, and you can have Matt just the way you want him. Remember, we have all night.” He opened the door, the bed area already illuminated by soft lighting. Jade’s eyes were not the only ones that flew open at the change in the inky hued room. Matt was definitely surprised, too. Right across to the crisp-sheeted bed, Brett carried her before he stood her up and slipped the skirt down to pool around her ankles. He handed her onto the high bed before reaching for his own clothes. Jade sat and watched unabashed as the three very different men stripped: Matt’s beefy brawn, Brett’s compact musculature, and Nate’s rangy strength. All so different and yet so damn good to look at. Just the sight of them had her pussy weeping in welcome. Nate made the bed first, propping himself up on the pillows, his big cock laying against the trail of hair that led down his belly, but not yet completely hard. Jade couldn’t resist giving it a help along, running her hot little tongue from his balls to the fat tip. Nate growled and gave her a predatory smile that would do a tiger proud. She rose up on her knees and kissed him deeply, his tongue snaking out to stroke and duel with hers. She felt other hands touch her. She didn’t have to look to know it was Brett who had gone straight for her ass, kneading and squeezing at the firm globes. Nate gave her one last kiss and turned her to face Matt, his little brother needing no urging to take up where he had left off. He turned his attention to her nape and shoulders, kissing and nipping, threatening but not biting down. Jade soaked up the attention like a sponge, pushing Matt back and climbing aboard his wide torso to have her way with his mouth. Brett wouldn’t let her work herself against the corrugated abs beneath her, instead sneaking a hand under to quickly ratchet her desire into the vicinity of boiling point. Jade forgot to breathe, and her eyes rolled back in her head when she felt the now-familiar touch of the plug at her ass.

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**** Matt watched in bewilderment as she nearly passed out from pleasure atop him. It was only when he saw both Brett and Nate’s attention locked firmly on her ass did he suspect what was happening. He almost protested until Jade’s near-silent whisper “more. Give me more” reached his ears. Thinking they must be teasing her pussy with a toy of some sort he slid his hand underneath, feeling her wet, slick folds. He encountered the latex rather more rearward than he had anticipated, feeling her ring stretched around a well-lubricated, flexible plug that was being fucked slowly into her body. It was her hand that slid atop his much larger one, her fingers that guided his to slide into her warm, wet passage. Matt slipped two long, thick fingers inside her, the way made tighter by the toy gradually filling her rear. He could gauge its progress by both the feel of it through her thin rear wall and the look of ecstasy that filled her slack face. She kept her hand atop his, encouraging the heel of his palm in a slow grind against her clit. He laid back and watched her desire build, feeling everything his brothers were doing to her. **** Jade hadn’t needed Brett’s warning to let go of her paltry control. There was no way in hell she could hold back in any way once something breached her ass. Remembering that he had told her they had all night, she relaxed into their attentions, keeping her movements to a slow sensual sway rather than the frantic bucking ass play brought upon her. She was here for the long haul tonight. Nate had promised her she wouldn’t go without, and she planned on remembering every last touch of their callused hands and hard bodies. The slow advancement of the larger plug took away her free will. She was lost in the decadent pleasure of the impalement and Matty’s

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sweet grip. Her mound completely engulfed by the heat of his hand, she could only dance slowly through the flames of pleasure. The masculine chuckle should have warned her, but it went unheeded. Even the thrum of a motor didn’t lift her clear of the passion haze, but Brett claimed her attention unequivocally. He touched the head of a vibrator to the wide base of the plug and turned it up. Jade’s throaty groan was echoed by the big man whose fingers she clamped down upon, as was her cry of dismay when he switched it off. Again and again, Brett taunted them with the pulsing pleasure. Jade could take it no more. She thrust Matt’s hand away and backed up in search of his stout cock, giving a gasp when she felt its red-hot tip brand her folds. Before the big man could process what she was about she was attempting to stuff his wide, blunt cockhead past the obstruction caused by the toy in her ass. Her cries of frustration went unheeded by Matt. He held her immobile, still poised at her dripping gate. “Stop Jade. You will hurt yourself.” He reached around to grip the base of the toy, clearly intent on pulling it free. But that small adjustment as he put pressure on it was enough to let Jade slip down upon him. His hand fell away as her wet heat engulfed him. “Oh, fuck! Jade! So fucking tight!” His guttural cries drove Jade on, taking his cock deeper with every downward move as she bounced on its thick width. Never had she felt so full! The pressure against her tailbone increased as he sank deeper, sending waves of pleasure surging along her spine and sliding her eyes shut. Hands smoothing along her back both soothed and inflamed her as Brett and Nate whispered praise and torrid words, telling her how good it was going to be when it was their cocks stretching her. She felt Matt’s balls press against the base of the plug and stopped in wonder. She had taken him all the way! She managed to focus on his blood-darkened face. His normally cheerful countenance was curled in a rictus that looked like agony.

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His eyes were shut tight and his mouth twisted. Jade froze. Hurting this big-hearted man was not her plan for this evening. “Matt, are you okay? Talk to me, baby. I don’t want to hurt you.” She made to slide off him, but his big hands trapped her hips. “Don’t move! If you move, I am gonna come right now. So tight!” Jade couldn’t help but writhe a little against his grip. Feeling the plug shift as his cock jostled for position made her do it again. “Oh, fuck! Make her come. I’m not going to last.” Two sets of hands reached for her. Nate slid a hand between their bodies to finger her cream-drenched clit while Brett touched the humming dildo to the plug once more. Jade went wild. Bucking and twisting, she rode Matt hard. His cries of ecstasy bordered on agony when she squeezed even tighter as orgasm took her. In a heartbeat he joined her. The ultra-tight grip coupled with the vibrations coming from her ass leaving him no say in the matter. Three sets of hands held her as she came back down to earth. When her breathing came under control, her anticipation soared. This was only the appetizer. What could possibly be better than this? Brett lifted her from Matt’s body, giving her a tender wipe before tossing the towel over Matt’s slick and shiny groin. He held her back against his kneeling form, her head falling to rest on his shoulder as he ran his hands over her ardor-reddened breasts, kindling the flames of lust once more. Nate came to kneel in front of her, kissing her deeply, demanding her response. When she felt the hot brand of his cock against her thigh, her reply became more primal as her hunger leapt ahead. She tried to maneuver so that the tip of it grazed her folds, but the men chuckled knowingly and held her still, knowing restraining her would only add to the conflagration. She growled her frustration against Nate’s mouth. He wisely moved out of range of her sharp teeth, sliding down to maul her breasts. Brett made way for his older brother slipping his hands down

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to grip her hips, giving him leverage to thrust gently against the plug in her ass. Her arousal grew as they denied her the very thing she wanted: hard cock to fill the void inside her. Her senses screamed for more even as they struggled with the current overload. Her skin lapped up the touch of hot, hard male at her back. Her cheek and breasts felt the sandpapery kiss of stubbled jaws. Big strong hands held her immobile for their pleasure. The scent of clean, aroused male tickled her nose, and scorching words of wicked deeds teased her ears. She could still taste Nate’s kiss upon her tongue. “Fuck me. Please fuck me” became her whispered mantra. “Do you think she really wants it, Nate?” Other than the steely erection pressed against her ass, the only indication of Brett’s arousal was a drop in pitch. If she had of been capable of coherent thought, Jade would have cursed him for his self-control. Nate gave a chuckle against her breasts. “I don’t know. She sure does beg prettily, though.” “Let’s see if she can do as she is told. If she can, we’ll give her what she really wants. If not, she can keep begging. We have got all night.” Nate stretched out on the bed when Matt moved aside. Jade could feel the concern in his eyes as he watched closely. She was torn between the urge to reassure him and the need to feel what Brett had promised her. Need won. Matt would have to see for himself. Brett lowered Jade over Nate’s massive erection. She growled at only being able to slide as far as the fist Nate had wrapped around the monster. Brett chuckled and pushed her forward to lie on Nate’s chest. “Now don’t move. Stay exactly as you are. Don’t you dare fuck yourself on his dick.” He slapped her lightly on the ass when she made to wriggle. Her moan of pure pleasure at the contact left no doubt that she enjoyed it. “Do you want some more of that, Jadey?” Her wiggle made Brett chuckle. He laid a series of light slaps on both cheeks. The plug

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shifted inside her as she clenched at the fiery contact. “Now be still. I have to get this out.” His long fingers grasped the base of the plug. Jade clenched against the pressure, struggling to hold the toy within her. But the strength of his hands when coupled with the copious lubricant he had spread on the plug was too much. It slipped from her tight clasp despite her desperate grip. “Want it back, sweetheart?” He fed it back in, playing its widest point through her tightest. He took her heartfelt groan as affirmative and continued to stretch her opening in preparation for his cock. Jade felt her womb clench in sympathy when Nate cursed and shut his eyes as the sensation rippled through to him. The shifting pressure along the thin elastic membrane separating the toy in Brett’s practiced hand and the swollen thickness of Nate’s cock was nearly too much for her, too. Matt’s surprise was clear to see when she pushed back against the toy, not just accepting the wicked pleasure but actively looking for more. He ran a finger in wonder where her ass stretched wide around the swelling in the toy. Jade hoped he could actually feel her ripple of response. This was the most decadent, purely erotic feeling, being the subject of their passion, the object of their desire. An all-consuming fire that burned hotter by the second. **** “Here.” Brett gave Matt the toy, encouraging him to play while he slicked the length of his long shaft with plenty of lubricant. Matt was a fast learner. In only a matter of a minute, he had added his own little variation that made her beg for more—a twist that rotated the tickler as it stretched her. By the sounds Jade was making, Brett would have to remember it. He loved all the sounds she made, but this one was particularly sweet.

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“Pull it right out,” he ordered his younger brother, who stared in wonderment at her dusky hole wrapped around the slow-dancing toy. As soon as Matt obeyed, he took his cock in hand and lined up the widely flared head with her pink-centered opening, gaping slightly where the toy had been so suddenly ripped from her. “Are you ready for me, Jadey? Are you ready to feel both of us inside you?” His voice was rough with need as he asked for her affirmation. “God, yes! Don’t tease me, Brett. Let me have it.” Her breathy plea was ground out against Nate’s collarbone. **** Matt’s gaze was an added stimulus. Jade could actually feel its weight as her body gave to the mushroom-shaped head pressing so commandingly against her. She felt the comforting stroke of his hand as he ran it along her flank, eliciting a shudder. Matt’s body, too, reacted. His slack member surged to life once more before her gaze. Jade bit down on Nate’s shoulder as Brett forged past her tight entrance. She heard a catch in his breath but other than his cock throbbing even harder within her, he did not react. He ran his hands over her back, giving comfort as she struggled to adapt to the two cocks that now filled her body beyond her wildest imagination. Jade was lost in the sensation. The burn of pain at Brett’s entrance morphing into the darkest of pleasure as her every breath caused splinters of rapture to radiate from her overly full channels. She lifted her teeth from where they had embedded in Nate’s firm flesh. She licked an apology, tasting the sharp metallic tang of blood. “You okay, darlin’?” Nate whispered against her ear. “Are we right to move?” She hadn’t noticed that both men trembled in their effort not to pillage her hot, tight recesses. She managed to nod, knowing she was incapable of speech. The devastation of their movement within her made her weak, able only to

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take the pleasure they heaped upon her. They found a rhythm that had them shafting inside her alternatively. Brett pushed her up off Nate’s thickness as he drove in her ass, and Nate forced her back down with his grip on her hips as Brett withdrew. With little clitoral stimulation, Jade’s climb was slow toward orgasm, but her need grew exponentially. She nearly cried when after only a few minutes, Brett cursed and pounded hard against her, causing Nate to do the same. Nate held back some of his length, but they forged together, both filling her at the same time. Jade felt the hot spill of Brett’s seed within her and cried out in disappointment. Her frustration was magnified when, with a curse, Nate stiffened beneath her. His ejaculation was lost in the hot wet depths of her pussy, but there was no mistaking his groan of completion. “More. I need more.” She pounded her fist on Nate’s chest, but he only groaned as Brett slid from the tight clasp of her ass. She slipped her hand down to play with her clit but found she couldn’t come with her ass vacant, the empty void screaming to be filled. Nate gave her a wry grin and lifted her off. “You are beating a dead horse there, darlin’.” His cock curled into a slick, semi-soft mess on his stomach. “Go to Matt. He might have something a bit harder for you.” With a groan of frustration, she turned to find Matt kneeling, his solid cock once more firm and ripe. “Please, Matt.” She didn’t have to ask twice. He kissed her deeply as she hooked a leg over his hip, trying to impale her hungry pussy on his length. He went to blanket her, but she turned, backing up to him, needing him in a position of real dominance tonight. He slipped into her eager sheath and began stroking hard. She reveled in it. There was no need for care after what she had just enjoyed. Jade groaned as she fingered her clit, it just wasn’t enough. Matt stilled when she lunged forward, pulling herself from his cock. “Did I hurt you, baby?”

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Jade shook her head and slid her hand beneath her gripping his girth. She left him to watch as she lined him up with her well prepared ass and pushed back, intent on swallowing his blunt head, slick with her juices. Jade had one moment to wonder if she had overestimated her capacity, when the burn hit as she was stretched further than ever before, but she bore down and worked her clit harder until he popped through the vise of her opening. But unlike with Brett, the burn did not go away completely, the heavenly discomfort making her work his length in short, sharp pulses, her groans and cries escalating as her climax grew closer. Her incessant tempo demanded a reply. She felt him stiffen for only a second before he gave in and matched her demands. “Oh, fuck! Honey, you’re so damn tight. Feels like a hot silk fist.” The rough passion of his voice sent her higher, made her work him even harder. “So fucking sexy, honey. This looks so fucking sexy.” Jade teetered on the edge, needing something more to send her over. Brett must have read her mind as he pressed the length of molded plastic into her hand. He had already switched the vibrator on. She ceased her frenzied ride for the whole three seconds it took to insert the dildo. Then she lost all control, pushing back blindly as the explosion ripped through her with total devastation. Matt let loose a muted roar that sounded as if it had been ripped from some place deep inside him. Jade felt the hot quake of his eruption as he spurted long and hard inside her, as if it had been ten years since his last release instead of ten minutes. Jade collapsed forward, the toy falling limply from her fingers, her body quaking with the enormity of the experience. Matt withdrew gently from her tender rear before lying atop her, his head resting between her shoulder blades. His big body sheltered her and absorbed the now-familiar shudders that racked her periodically. Jade found herself unable to concentrate on anything but the big man upon her. His chest rested on the cheeks of her ass, and his

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heartbeat reverberated through her, particularly through the part he had just vacated. It was both a comfort and a delicious reminder of what they had just shared. She felt bodies move off the bed but paid them little mind, her sphere of interest not reaching any further than the warm flesh and beating heart that surrounded her. Sometime later, Matt stirred from her body, and a new set of hands lifted her. She knew without opening her eyes that it was Nate who carried her so tenderly. Running water and steam announced their entry into the adjoining bathroom. Nate handed her to Brett who already sat in the steaming water. “How did you like that, baby?” Brett asked quietly. Jade just smiled and snuggled closer to his chest, burying her head in the bend of his neck. The warm water was a soothing balm against her well-used body, the salts soaking the ache from sore muscles. She floated from one set of arms to another as the brothers took turns to hold her in the huge tub but didn’t stop caressing her when they passed her on. Never had she felt so safe, so cosseted as she did in the arms of her men. If someone had told her even two weeks ago that she would be able to be stark naked in a tub with three gorgeous men and not run, she would have told them they were mad. But to be naked with these three just felt so damn right. Because they didn’t care about the faint stretch marks on her hips or the fact that she no longer had the perky breasts of a teenager, neither did she. Their hands and eyes told her they thought she was beautiful, and she believed them. If fate had saddled her with three hot studs with vision problems, so much the better. They stayed until the water began to cool, and then Brett left her with the other two for drying after economically toweling down his own body and slipping a pair of silk boxers on. When she reentered the black-themed room, it was to see a splash of startling white. Brett was smoothing fresh sheets onto the gigantic bed.

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Slipping between crisp new sheets, surrounded by the heat of not one, but three men was her own private utopia—a perfect state of being that wrapped around her as she slept. No ills plagued her slumber that night. No nightmares or tortured dreams. Everything she needed was right there with her.

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Chapter 25 Jade spent every second night at the Kelly Ranch over the next few weeks. They were heavenly nights of carnal bliss and the untold comfort of sleeping between warm male bodies. Only two things plagued her. The nightmares had returned with a vengeance. Nearly every night she woke streaked with sweat as flashes of splintering wood, raised hands, and striking hooves beset her. It had gotten to the point where the brothers took turns sleeping so that they could rouse her as soon as she began to twitch in her sleep, the precursor to her episodes. She couldn’t tell them what it was about, even when Nate fixed his steely gaze upon her. She just couldn’t bear to see their faces when she told them the truth. That was the one thing that held her back from doing what they begged and moving in with them permanently. They had already suggested allowing Anna to live in the Douglas Park house as a full-time employee and caretaker. Using the old lane way between the properties, the stables were less than a mile from the Kelly homestead. It did make perfect sense, but Jade wouldn’t hear of it until after the sale. In fact she stayed at Douglas Park for the entire week leading up to auction day. With less than a week to the auction, preparations had been stepped up, and Jade was feeling the lack of sleep her nightmares were causing. Shelly refused to prescribe anything, saying she had issues that still needed resolving. Jade knew that full fucking well, thank you very much, she would have just loved one night that she

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didn’t wake in a sweat or be woken up before it had her in a full grip. The lack of sleep fueled her anxiety over her other problem. No matter how much she wanted to, or how often she tried, she just couldn’t take Nate the way she took his brothers. He had no greater girth than Matt. It shouldn’t have been a problem. But every time she lined him up with her puckered entrance, her sphincter clamped down, locking in a way that made it impossible to admit so much as a fingertip without blinding pain. Even if she took Matt directly before, the big man pounding her mercilessly—this time she had created the monster—Nate couldn’t slide in when he pulled out. It drove her crazy, and the more she tried, the worse it got. Nate was understanding about the situation, surmising it was self-preservation kicking in. Brett had tried to talk to her. He was convinced it was something else. He knew she held no fear of Nate’s impressive endowment. He saw nothing but hunger as she tried to take him. No, according to Brett, anal sex was all about trust. He had tried to get to the root of the problem, asking her what it was she was holding back. But Jade had been unable to offer an excuse and unwilling to share the one secret that remained. She knew it held her back from enjoying the one brother who had been so close to her all along. In the end Brett had given up, leaving her to sort it out for herself. **** The day of the auction dawned clear and crisp before settling into a perfect early summer day. It was all hands on deck with both Brett and Nate joining the crew to keep things running smoothly. The young stock was auctioned first, the charged atmosphere giving even the quietest ones cause to prance and dance. Butterflies the size of eagles swooped in Jade’s stomach.

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Jade came out of the ring leading their first offering, a yearling black colt, her face white as she told Matt, waiting in the wings with their next lot, the final price. Matt’s face creased in a huge grin. She had gotten double the reserve. On and on the sale went. By the time the last horse, a five-yearold Dancer mare, had faced the auctioneer, Jade felt as if she needed to be pinched. This couldn’t be real. Every single horse had beaten its reserve by a good fifty percent, exceeding her wildest expectations. The twins strutted proudly as they held their charges for the new owners to have a final look over before heading for the refreshment tent. Jade collapsed into the arms of her men, nearly sobbing with relief and excitement. Anna cleared her throat when she stuck her head into the empty stall they occupied. “Hate to interrupt, but they will be ready to do the service auction in half an hour. You had better get Kenny ready.” Jade gave her a soggy but appreciative smile; she didn’t think the woman would blink an eyelid if she had walked in on them in a fullblooded orgy. Matt was the one who got them organized, sending Brett to check on the clients in the catering tent and Nate to help Jade get both Kenny and herself ready for the performance. He went to help Anna and the twins manage the throng admiring both their purchases and the ones they had been unable to afford. Jade found saddling Kenny to be a settling experience. Going through motions she performed on a daily basis was a tonic for her nerves. Kenny was just Kenny. He soundly ignored all else, fixating on Jade. Nate laughed when she told him Veronica Teal would be watching to see if she would take him into her string of competition horses. Jade was defensive. “Don’t you think he can make it to open competition?” “Oh, I know he can. It is just that he won’t do it with anyone but you on him. He is just like us, darlin’, completely spoiled for anyone else.”

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Jade ignored his teasing tone, knowing he said it not entirely in jest. She accepted a leg up into the saddle and warmed the big horse up. **** Nate sat back to watch the perfect harmony between mount and rider. It was a true partnership they had developed. He had always had good ranch and working horses, but he knew this was something special. She had began teaching Kenny lateral work only days ago, and already, he was yielding softly to her leg as she went through suppling exercises, performing renvers and travers as she worked him around the arena, moving his haunches in or out on command. Such trust she both gave and received. If only she would give him the same. He decided today was the day to do something about it. He would let her get the sale out of the way first, and then they would settle things once and for all. Kenny entered the arena oblivious to the crowd that lined it, his mahogany hide glistening under the lights. Jade put him through his paces, exhibiting the beginnings of fluid extension at the trot and floating collection at the canter. Controlled power radiated from the horse as she put him over the three jumps set along the back wall. Grace and strength dripped from every elegant line of his form as he soared over the obstacles. When he finished, Jade walked him around on a loose rein, letting him stretch his neck out and proving he had a calm head to go with his impressive form and presence. The silent crowd swelled into applause. Jade nodded gratefully, but Kenny treated them with his usual disdain. The auction proceeded vigorously, prospective breeders out bidding each other to be the first to have a foal by the promising young sire. Jade’s face was white with shock when Veronica herself

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paid six thousand dollars for the privilege. Three hours later, the clients had departed, and the cleanup crew was busy tidying up. Jade had waved the agent off when he wanted to go over the figures. Nate could see there was no way she could concentrate for that right now. He found her where she leaned against Kenny’s yard. He would not be departing for Veronica’s in the morning with the filly she had bought. The big horse had refused to let her set a foot in the stirrup. Veronica would have to console herself with his fullblooded sister and the foal she could now breed. For better or worse Jade was stuck with the big stallion. “There won’t be any tears, anyway,” Nate observed, leaning on the fence next to her. “I wouldn’t have cried. Veronica only lives a couple of hours away.” “I was talking about the horse.” Jade shook her head at Nate’s teasing, giving him a smile before looking back at the horse. “I still can’t believe the prices we got today. Even when there were Douglas Park horses on every eventing course in the country, we didn’t draw this much interest.” “Two of the first colts by Dancer have gone on to become worldclass dressage horses, though. People are chasing the quality now, and they have the money to pay for it. Me, I don’t see the point in training a horse to prance and dance. I bet this big bastard would be absolutely useless at cutting or roping.” “Horses for courses, Nate. You know that.” “How is that fat pally looking now? I haven’t seen him for a couple of weeks.” “Come on, I had better go and see him anyway. He has been ignored in all the excitement today anyway.” Jade turned to head over to Toby’s yard. Nate fell into step beside her. It just felt right to mesh fingers when their hands brushed. “So will you move in with us now, darlin’? The sale is over, and I hate the idea of spending even one night away from you. I know Brett

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and Matt feel the same way. Hell, Matt is probably worse. He is even more infatuated now than he was at sixteen.” Jade stopped next to Toby, who had his head over the fence. She stroked his muzzle as she gathered her thoughts and searched for words. Nate leaned against the rail and watched her carefully, knowing she was going to find some excuse not to commit herself fully to the men who loved her. She looked so damn tired. These nightmares were taking their toll on everyone. Just this morning he had heard her whisper one word as the tossing and turning started, “Axle.” He knew full well what her nightmares were over, but she wouldn’t trust them enough to speak of it. “I need my independence, Nate. I can’t play housewife for all of you. I have my own life to live, my own ranch to run. I have got big plans for the Park, Nate. I want it to be all it could have become if I had stayed. You would come to resent the time I spend with the horses. I know how that goes, Nate. It just wouldn’t work.” “Is that the best you can come up with, darlin’? I was expecting something at least believable.” He gave her a mocking grin as he snatched a rope headstall off the rail and climbed the fence into Toby’s yard. “You know we would never even try to stop you from doing what you love. Your independence and that mile-wide stubborn streak of yours is something we cherish. “Could you imagine any of us with some meek little flower girl who would let us walk all over her? And if we wanted someone to look after the house, we would have hired a housekeeper by now. You are the only one for us, Jade.” He slipped the halter onto the palomino’s head and fashioned reins from the lead, throwing it over his neck and tying it off on the halter. With one hand resting on the broad wither, he swung effortlessly up onto the golden back. He laid his long legs on the solid animal, and Toby sprung away. Nate put him through a rollback to

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each side and slid him to his haunches in front of a very surprised Jade. **** Toby moved like that for nobody, not even her. Nate leaned down and undid the double-latched gate, guiding the obedient horse through. “Does he double?” Jade looked up in surprise, noting the decidedly mulish cast to Nate’s features. She had forgotten the man could be even more stubborn than she when he wanted. “Um, yeah, I think so.” “Good. Give me your hand.” His no-nonsense tone told her he wouldn’t take no for an answer. She raised her hand tentatively, her “why?” turning into a squeal as she was plucked from the ground and thrown up behind the man who already sat astride the wide-backed animal. With no warning he put Toby to heel and set him off at a lope, Jade scrambled to find purchase at Nate’s taut waist. She couldn’t see where they were going to anticipate the turns, forced to trust her balance and the rather frosty man in front of her. Two gates later he stopped at the sliprails, and Jade got her first inkling of where he was taking her. “The car would have been quicker if you wanted to take me home, Nate,” she teased in hope of finding out what he was up to, but he remained silently stoic as he replaced the rails. Instead of heading toward the house, he headed southward down the ridgeline that led to the back section of the Kelly ranch. Jade was well and truly puzzled now and more than a little concerned by the silence. She wasn’t above a little molestation to get her information either, but her attempt to snake her hand down to rub against his crotch was forestalled by his much larger hand, which placed hers

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back on his waist. Out of options, she continued on quietly, curious to see where he was taking her. He stopped by the gate into a lush paddock of alfalfa, throwing a leg over Toby’s neck and sliding to the ground. He turned and lifted Jade down, mulish expression still firmly in place. The lead was dropped to the ground, leaving the palomino to graze as he grabbed Jade’s hand and led her through the gate, seemingly oblivious to the gathering thunderheads building up in the west. Ignoring her questions and the names she was calling him, he headed for a strip of willows growing along the stream that cut the alluvial plain. Jade gave up on asking him what was going on, and abuse appeared to have no effect either. Fighting Nate physically was out of the question. This brother had always been stronger than her. So once she discarded the idea of throwing a tantrum like a two-year-old child on the grounds of dignity, she walked calmly beside him, pretending they were going for an afternoon stroll. **** Nate quirked his lips when she stepped up to his side. She amused him so much. That stubborn, antagonistic little hoyden she used to be wasn’t hiding too far under the grown-up exterior she now sported. He loved all of her: the filthy temper, the twisted sense of humor, even the quiet reserve that sprung up from time to time. And God knew he loved the sensual hedonist they had discovered lurking within. But she needed to trust them with the same unwavering conviction they gave her. Until everything was in the open, that just wouldn’t happen. He spotted four legs under one of the willows and steered Jade for the old tree. Whistling softly, he parted the leafy veil formed by the graceful weeping canes and ushered Jade through, not knowing how she would react.

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Nate watched as Jade stopped and all color fled her face when she recognized the horse standing beneath the tree. His eyes were a little rheumy, and the hair around his muzzle was streaked with gray, but Axle stood nickering his welcome before her. With a cry, she flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his glossy shoulder. Hot tears spilled over his chestnut hide as sobs shook her whole body. Nate felt her pain as if it were his own. He had been prepared for a few tears, not this storm of emotion. He felt as if his heart had been ripped from his body as he watched her painful catharsis. He went to stand behind her, sheltering her body with his own as if he could absorb some of her pain in some kind of emotional osmosis. He could only hold her until the storm passed, rubbing the horse’s neck who was both the catalyst of this maelstrom and the balm that could heal her soul. Rain began to fall on the world outside their leafy grotto. A few drops leaked through and left dark spots along Axle’s sleek back. A few sniffles still racked Jade’s body, but the worst had passed. “Why, Nate? How?” her tear dampened voice demanded. “When we found Dad, I knew something had happened. The rails were the wrong way, the horse was shod, and it just didn’t make sense. Then you disappeared before the funeral. I had my suspicions, and Brett knew, too. Then I found Axle here wandering along the back boundary, skin off him everywhere. He had hit something pretty hard. What happened, Jade? I know it wasn’t your fault. I just need to know what happened.” Jade took a deep breath, visibly trying to bring her voice under control while she absently stroked the pattern her tears had left on the big horses shoulder. “I rode over to see if one of you wanted to go for a ride. I didn’t know you had gone to town. Pat was in the round yard with a little black gelding. I don’t know what happened to set him off. The horse might have had a kick at him, but he went right off the rails, flogging the poor thing like he meant to kill it.

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“I know it was stupid, but I jumped off and went in to try and stop him. I just couldn’t watch him beat it like that. I managed to grab the whip off him, but he grabbed hold of me. Told me that I needed to learn a lesson. Told me he was man enough to do what his sons wouldn’t. “He slapped me and threw me on the ground. He ripped my shirt open. The next thing I knew Axle was in there. There was timber flying, and I covered my head. When I looked up, Patrick was dead, but Axle kept striking at him. I dragged him out of the yard and rode like hell. I was so scared, Nate.” Her voice broke as it became too much for her. “I thought they would lock me up. I thought I would never see you again.” Nate folded her in his arms. “Shh, darlin’. It’s all right. Nothing is going to happen like that. All that guilt you have been carrying around over nothing. If this horse hadn’t have killed him, I would have when I found out what he tried to do to you. He was a cruel bastard, and the world is a much better place without him in it. I am just so glad you were on Axle that day.” He felt Jade relax in against him, accepting the comfort he offered. “How did you end up with him?” “When you sent that letter to your dad asking him to sell your horses and send you the money, he came and saw us. Told us he had sold the rest but he couldn’t bring himself to sell Axle. I always wondered if he knew what had happened and he was leaving the choice up to us. “Matt and I went and got him, and he has lived here ever since. I used to ride him a couple of times a week. Now, I just get on him every now and then and walk the boundary. He doesn’t look too bad for an old boy of twenty-five, does he?” Nate went to run a hand down the wide blaze, but Axle pinned his ears back and showed his teeth. “What’s this about, you stupid old fool? Jade comes back, and you forget who feeds you, huh?”

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Jade gave a weak smile and patted his neck. “He is just jealous,” she defended Axle. “Tell me about it. That’s why I left Toby outside. He savages any other horse I ride.” The rain began to come down in earnest, and the temperature plummeted. Nate led her to the lea side of the willow, putting his back against the tree and sitting down. He drew Jade down to sit between his legs, her back warmed by his chest. It didn’t take long for her breathing to even out, the choppiness replaced by the deep regular breaths of sleep. He looked down at Jade sleeping softly against him. What a burden to have carried for this long! The guilt weighing her down as the fears and worries of the eighteen-year-old she had been found purchase and grew in the fertile ground of her guilt-ridden psyche for all these years. Looking back now, even she would be able to see that she had no fault in the matter, save, perhaps, for caring too much. She wasn’t responsible for the depraved actions of the man who had sired him or that of the courageous horse that stood beside them in this shelter from the storm. All of these years of suffering for an event that was in no way her fault. Hindsight may show her the error of her misguided reasoning, but the problem with hindsight is that it is just that. Nothing can change the past. But perhaps now they could build a future now. He could feel the bulge of the small box in his hip pocket. Later, when Matt and Brett were there, it might be time. He had been carrying it around since the jeweler over in Buffalo had called a few days ago to say he had completed their custom design. He despaired of the time ever being right, but now that last of the evils perpetrated by his father were out in the open, they had a chance at life and love. ****

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Dusk was falling when Jade opened her eyes. The storm had passed, leaving that fresh new scent behind. She stirred slowly, leaning to the side so that she could look up at Nate. The softness she saw in his eyes removed all her doubts. No judgment clouded his gaze. No censure or disappointment. Nothing but love was conveyed in the way he looked down upon her. Her bruised and battered heart soaked it up like desert rain. Why had she ever doubted this man? He was her soul, had always been. He would sooner cut off his right arm than hurt her in any way. “I love you, Nate.” Her voice was soft and timid, but the words carried the conviction in her heart. “I love you, too, darlin’. I always have.” He bent and kissed her gently, lingeringly. “But I am not the only one. Let’s get back to the house. Brett and Matt will be getting worried.” Hand in hand, they walked back to the gate where they had left Toby. Surprisingly, he was still where they left him tucked in beneath some cottonwoods. “I can’t believe he is still here!” Jade exclaimed. “If I had tied him there, he would have undone the knot and hightailed for home.” “The problem with him is that he is as stubborn as his owner. By tying him you present him with a challenge too great to ignore. Leave him free, and he will always be there when you need him.” “That takes a lot of trust.” Jade knew he spoke of more than the damp, golden horse he lifted her on. “If you haven’t got trust, you haven’t got anything, Jade.” He swung up behind her this time, his long stretch of thigh bracketing hers. “But how did you know he would stay there?” she asked, putting both hands on the arm he draped around her waist. “I didn’t, but if you don’t take the risk, you never know.” “So you think I should take the risk with you guys?”

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“There is no risk involved there, darlin’. None at all.” He squeezed her tighter. “You have already had our hearts for years. Now you just get the bodies to go with them.” Jade giggled at the imagery that presented. “Say you will come and live with us Jade. We don’t want to put you in a cage or control you. We just want to share our lives with you.” “Don’t lie to me, Nate. I saw that cage in Brett’s room.” “I am trying to be serious here, and you start joking. I know you do that when you are trying to avoid answering something. It won’t work with me, darlin’. I know you too damn well.” “That could be a problem, you know. If I can’t pull the wool over your eyes from time to time, I will go crazy.” “That is okay. I’ll pretend not to notice every now and then.” “So you will humor me once in a while?” “I prefer to think of it as indulging your need to know that you are smarter than us,” he replied, letting them through the slip rails. She could hear the grin in his voice. “If you were Matt, I would hit you for that, but you know full well how smart you are, so I will just pretend I didn’t hear it.” Jade was enjoying the light repartee. “So will you come and live with us, darlin’?” Nate’s heart was in it this time as his voice rumbled next to her ear. She could no longer delay what was becoming inevitable. “If you can put up with me being moody, messy, and demanding, I would love to live with you.” Nate sighed softly. Jade could hear the relief in the small sound. “You forgot bed-hogging, sheet-stealing, pushy, cantankerous, ouch, violent…” He trailed off as she elbowed him in the ribs. He nibbled at her ear before continuing, his voice dropping with each added word. “Beautiful, gorgeous, sexy.” She collapsed back against him, his sinful voice stealing the starch from her backbone. It took her by surprise when Nate slid off, and she

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realized they were back at the stables. Nate lifted her down, holding her while she got her legs under her. His smile said louder than words that he loved the way he affected her. He pinned her against the now-dry palomino. With the length of his body cradled tenderly against hers, he kissed her slowly, sweetly. Jade felt precious, cherished, as he held her with one big hand cradling the side of her face. He lifted away slowly, rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip. He gave her a tender but promising smile. “Go and have a shower. I’ll put Toby away and then we can go home.” Jade felt like she was already home in his arms with the solid heat of the horse at her back, but she ran her tongue over the lip he had just deserted and nodded, heading for the house.

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Chapter 26 When Jade walked into the house, she stopped dead. Something just didn’t feel right. Little things were missing. Her stereo, all the framed photos. She walked through to the bedroom and found the closet bare. A change of clothes was laid out on the bed, and that was it. She checked her bedside dresser. Even her vibrator was gone. The bathroom held a similar picture: soap in the shower, one lousy washcloth and towel. The cabinet was bare. Apparently, the two younger Kelly boys had been pretty certain she was going to move in with them. Either that or there was a burglar around with really bad taste. With a smile she stepped into the shower, making sure her hair didn’t get wet. The little shits hadn’t even left her any shampoo or conditioner. **** Nate was waiting in the kitchen when she finished. He ran his eyes over the outfit the boys had left for her and smiled. Matt had obviously chosen it. The stretchy purple top had a deep scoop that showed the high, chocolate-colored, lace bra beneath. Clearly the bra was not designed to be worn with such a low neckline. The light floral skirt was one he had seen before. It was mainly orange. He noticed Jade looking around the front door. “What are you looking for?” He did his best to keep a straight face. In the future he or Brett would pick Jade’s clothing when necessary. A lady’s maid Matt wasn’t.

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“Shoes. Do you think either of those miscreants left me any, or am I supposed to wear long, muddy riding boots with this?” She gestured to her not-so-coordinated attire. “The boots would probably match the bra, but that would be about it. How about I carry you instead?” “You will hurt your back,” she admonished. “How are we getting there anyway? It looks like they took your truck.” He held up a set of keys. “These were in the middle of the table.” “That means I’m driving.” She put her hand out for the keys to her Camaro. Before she could object he swept her up in his arms. “I can carry you anywhere, darlin’. You could never be too heavy for me.” She wiggled for him to put her down. “Okay, you asked for it. I tried to do it the gentle way, but you have given me no choice.” She gave a squeal when he heaved her up over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Her wiggle of protest was cut short when he slapped her ass, so accessible in that position. He pulled the door shut and headed for the shed where the Camaro was kept. He nearly missed a step when she decided his ass was in a fine position, too. Her hands found a way into his back pockets and squeezed. “You are in so much trouble tonight, darlin’,” he promised her as his cock began to take notice of the proceedings. He opened the door and dumped her into the driver’s seat, being careful not to bang her head on the way. He thought it would be prudent not to give her the keys until he was safely in the passenger seat. She drove over in record time, not speeding but not wasting a second either. When they arrived, the roller door to Brett’s garage was wide open, the lights on welcomingly. She parked in the space next to where Matt’s Harley sat beside Kermit. “I feel privileged,” she said with a smile. “You should. He won’t let my truck in here.” Nate managed to keep a straight face. His truck was as old as the mountains and had more dents than he could count.

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“He might be scared that you will give it another ding, maybe on one of his toys this time.” “Maybe, darlin’, I should get a new one so that we can christen it.” He gave her a wicked grin, watching her blush. “It has got to be more comfortable than a Harley.” They were still arguing good-naturedly about Nate’s proclivity for bumping into stationary objects when they reached the front porch. This time she had acquiesced to being carried with a little more dignity. Matt and Brett met them at the door, bumbling over each other in an effort to get out the door first. “We want…” “I want…” They glared at each other before Matt nodded, giving Brett the goahead to speak first. “We…” He glared at Matt, “would like to carry you in.” “Guys, I have been here how many times?” she asked, clearly amused at their antics. “Humor them, darlin’. They have probably been working on this all afternoon,” Nate whispered in her ear. “Yes, but this time you are here to stay.” Matt was oblivious to his eldest brother’s whisperings, a wide smile gracing his face. **** “Okay!” Giving in was probably the easiest course of action, Jade decided as both men stepped up to take a piece of her to carry over the threshold. The first thing Jade saw when they carried her into the house was her parents’ wedding photo hanging prominently in the open kitchendining area. One of her jumping bareback on Axle hung on the opposite wall. Nate jarred her from her study of the changes in the Kelly house.

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“I’ve got to grab a quick shower, darlin’. See if you can keep these two out of trouble for a few minutes.” She could feel his smile against her skin as he kissed her temple. Brett looked her up and down. “That’s the last time numbnuts gets to pick something out for you to wear.” He couldn’t hide his grin as he turned to his brother. “Are you sure you are not colorblind?” “I wasn’t thinking about the color, I was more concerned about the fit.” He sat his big hand on Jade’s waist where it wrapped halfway around, making her feel tiny. His gaze was fixed firmly on her breasts encased in chocolate lace, most of which was visible with the low scoop of the neckline. “Mmm, looks like chocolate over cream, but I can’t quite see the cherries on top.” He craned his head in an effort to see further beneath the stretchy fabric, but the shirt clung faithfully. Brett slipped his arm around her shoulders, giving his brother a disgusted shake of his head. “She probably hasn’t eaten since breakfast, and you want to stand here ogling her boobs.” He looked down at the woman between them. “Did you have any lunch, Jadey?” She shook her head. “I was too wired. It would have given the butterflies something to swoop through.” “Oh, honey, it has been such a big day for you. First, the sale, and I bet seeing Axle after all this time wasn’t easy.” He caught the sharp look she gave him. “It’s okay, Jadey. We both know pretty much what happened, Nate can fill us in later. There is no need for you to go through it again. Come on, I cooked something special for you.” “Thanks, Brett. I am not sure if I can do it justice. I am not very hungry.” “That’s okay, honey. Just have a taste.” He held the chair out for her at the tastefully set table. A single lavender rose sat in a crystal bud vase. The rose came from one of the old rose bushes growing along the sheltered southern side of the house. She knew they had been their mother’s pride and joy.

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Nate made it out of the shower just as Brett was putting plates on the table. A beautiful, crispy-skinned salmon fillet was served with a mascarpone dill topping. Baby salad greens with tiny tomatoes rounded the dish out. Jade groaned in appreciation as the first bite of seared salmon hit her tongue. Her taste buds went into orgasm at the flavors bombarding them. All three men gave her an amused look at the sound. “What?” “That’s exactly the sound you make when…” “Matt!” Nate cut him short. “Let her enjoy her dinner in peace.”A smile played around his lips as he applied himself to the meal in front of him. Jade hoped her blush didn’t show. Matt was right. It was exactly the sound she made when one of them slid inside her. Brett had a right to that smug look on his face. She noticed that the others shifted in their seats as well, proving they truly did love the involuntary sounds that embarrassed the hell out of her. The dessert Jade said she could not possibly eat a bite of turned out to be a pecan pie, courtesy of Anna. Brett served it with a dollop of the heaviest cream Jade had ever seen. For someone who was full, she did pretty well, clearing her plate and chasing the last traces of cream with as much gusto as any of the men. The three Kelly brothers shared a look. Jade felt anticipation build in the air when Matt cleared the table. Nate rose first and put his hand out for Jade’s. Curiosity tingled along her spine as she gave him her hand. He led her from the room with Matt and Brett following close behind, down the hall and toward Brett’s dungeon. At the door he stopped. “This is your room, Jade. It is completely up to you if we are in here with you or in our own beds. You have the right to refuse us or tell us you want some time to yourself. There is no pressure now, nor will there ever be, for you to share this room with us. It is all up to you, darlin’.” He opened the door, stepping back to let Jade in first. He hit the lights as she stepped over the threshold. Jade stopped with a gasp.

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Black walls were now white, contrasting with the black-marbled tile. A huge, deep pile rug in hues of cream and ivory took up much of the floor. Built-in closets graced the once-mirrored wall, albeit with mirrored doors. The humungous bed was quilted with an ivory coverlet. Bedside tables now flanked its wide head. Jade looked around in amazement. The closet slid open to reveal her clothing, all neatly sorted and stored. A quick look in the bathroom showed her toiletries laid out neatly. The only sign of its previous use were the eyehooks in the ceiling here and there. Brett saw the direction of her gaze. “Just in case you get bored, Jadey,” he assured her with a grin. Jade was at a loss for words. “I can’t believe you have done all this for me.” She turned to the men, going first to Brett who had sacrificed his playroom to give her a place of her own. She held him tight, kissing him chastely but emotionally. Matty got the same treatment next. When she turned to Nate, he was holding out a small box. “Marry me, Jade.” She could see his heart was in her hands as he laid it all on the line for her. She turned to the two men standing at her back in confusion. Brett’s smile was gentle, the cobalt blue softened with warmth. “You can only marry one of us, honey. We know you are saying yes to all of us, but the small-minded world will only see Jade Douglas marrying that Kelly boy she used to follow around. They’ll feel sorry that you can’t get rid of those pesky younger brothers who just won’t leave home.” She turned back to Nate, biting her lip as tears of pure emotion threatened. Hope blazed in his eyes. “Yes.” Her voice was soft, but all three brothers heard, swooping on her as Nate slid the ring on her finger. It was a puzzle ring. Three bands of platinum snaked and twisted but were not joined in any way but by the marquise-cut emerald that

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held them together. It was stunningly beautiful but not what she had expected. Most engagement rings were diamonds and gold. “Platinum is stronger than any gold, darlin’, and that stone matches your eyes when they are on fire,” Nate provided, reading her mind with ease. She looked at her finger. One strong band for each of the men before her and her to hold them together, nothing could be more perfect. She arched her body against Nate, draping her arms around his neck. “How about we find some of that fire right now?” He lifted her with a smile, his lips finding hers as he carried her across to the bed. Three pairs of hands eased the clothing from her body, lips and trailing hands following in its wake. They worshiped her body from head to toe, working as a welloiled machine to see that no part of her went neglected. Matt even dragged himself away from her breasts to lay gentle kisses on the arch of her foot. Nate buried his head between her thighs, tongue lapping lazily in long swipes. In no particular hurry, the other two took a breast each. Jade knew who was on which breast from their technique. Matt was all deep sucks, his greedy mouth drawing as much of her breast into his mouth as he could. Brett was a tease—a tease with teeth. He rolled and flicked at her nipple until it stood to rigid attention before nipping it between sharp teeth, walking the line of pain closely but never crossing it. She relaxed into their touch, absorbing the pleasure like rain on parched earth. There was no need to rush. They had taught her that delayed pleasure was even stronger than the instant gratification she had always chased. She ran her hands over hot male skin, caressing bunching muscles and stubble kissed cheeks. These three men had the softest hair she had ever felt, like spun silk. Even Matt, who kept it military short,

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was soft and silky. It was an intriguing contrast with the crispness of their chest hair. Through heavy lashes she watched her hand slide over Matt’s heavily muscled shoulder. Her fingers played over the tribal tattoo that decorated that side of his mouth-watering body. The contrast of her pale hand against the dark ink was electrifying, a visual feast. Her eyes were drawn to the other side where blazing blue fire burned into them as teeth closed menacingly over her ruched nipple. She watched him hungrily, knowing Brett would never hurt her any more than she wanted to be hurt. He lifted his head and kissed a line up her neck to nibble at her ear. “What do you want tonight, sweet?” Jade knew what she wanted. She just hoped she was ready for it now. “I want Nate, but I don’t know if I can.” “Leave it to me,” he breathed, nipping along her neck. She heard the bedside table drawer slide but paid it no mind. Brett kissed his way down her body where he supplanted Nate at her molten core. The eldest brother crawled to her head, his blue gaze showing its love of the look of total pleasure on her face. She reached for him, bringing his prodigious organ within reach of her flickering tongue. She began to fellate him, as lazily and unhurriedly as he had gone down on her. Not in pursuit of orgasm but for the enjoyment of the act. She restrained a gasp when she felt a slick coldness against her ass. Apparently, Brett had retrieved some lube from the drawer. By the smile she glimpsed, he knew exactly how cold it was, too. The icy shock was quickly forgotten as he placed his pursed lips over her clit and began to work the lube into her ass. He only sucked enough to keep her steadily building as he massaged both thumbs into her star, stretching and relaxing the muscles. She fought not to squeeze down and trap the tantalizing digits, knowing that the more he stretched her, the more chance she had of finally conquering Nate’s great endowment.

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Nate’s hands caressed her face, pushing the hair back from her face as she made love to his cock. Her tongue, lips, and teeth all caressed his length. She noticed his gaze was drawn to the ring nestled on her finger where her hand wrapped him. His satisfaction was a sight to behold. Jade felt like a final piece was in place. Her love for him was truly complete. She poked her tongue into the little slit that gave up its salty tang once more before pulling back. Brett had her as ready as she had ever been. “I want you, Nate, now, please.” Brett moved away as Nate positioned himself in the cradle of her hips, coming back to reclaim the breast that his greedy little brother had commandeered. Jade surprised Nate, drawing her knees up high and reaching down to clasp him. He had clearly expected her to lead him into the willing portal of her dripping pussy, but he found himself rather more rearward than that. “You don’t have to,” he assured her, his eyes telling her he did not want another failure to mar this special night. “I want to.” Her eyes slid shut as she concentrated on introducing his wide head to the well-lubed rim beneath it. Millimeter by millimeter she fed it in, feeling every miniscule increment of progress as she stretched around him. Brett made it easier for her, sliding a hand down to tweak her clit as Matt rolled both nipples between his fingers. All eyes male eyes were locked on the feminine hand feeding the big, blood-darkened cock into her tight hole. This time there was no blinding pain to make her pull away. Onward he slid, the head passing through the tightest part smoothly. Jade took a deep breath to relax the muscles as they wanted to clamp down and enjoy the burn of impalement. He slid in farther. Her eyes lifted to see Nate looking at her in what could only be described as awe. He gave a small movement, a gentle retreat and advance. Jade’s head rolled as all the pleasures bombarded her senses. Encouraged, Nate kept up the gliding motion as her body welcomed him at its own pace, not forcing anything. Her hand stole

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down to supplant Brett’s. Brett gave way to her greater experience, once again reclaiming her breast. Jade lifted her body into Nate’s rhythm, meeting him as her fingers drove her on to climax, feeling the contractions in her womb as the fingers at her nipples bordered on cruel. This was what she had wanted. To give herself without reserve to the man who meant so much to her, who had always meant so much to her. He was holding too much back from her. She needed him to be as crazy as her for her to come. His steely restraint just wasn’t doing it. “Harder, Nate. You feel so good. I just need a bit more.” Her voice was breathy and raw as she entreated him to let loose his control. Eyes of steely blue watched her carefully as he started to thrust in earnest, not making her take the lot but giving her what he would hard and fast. Her cries rose as she raced toward orgasm. Nate forged faster and harder. She could feel her rim tug at him as he withdrew nearly all the way with each stroke. “You feel so damn tight around me, darlin, grabbing me like a fist. I can’t wait to feel you come. Come for me, Jade. Let me feel your ass squeeze me.” The rough gravel of his impassioned plea was all the catalyst she needed. Screaming his name, she felt the tsunami take her. The burn each contraction evoked extended her orgasm further and further as she felt the hot pulsing of his seed deep within her. His cries blended with hers, creating a symphony of pleasure before it lulled to broken breaths as they struggled to get air into oxygen-depleted bodies. Nate collapsed atop her, slowly withdrawing his spent cock from the tight embrace of her ass. She writhed beneath him at the sensation. He kissed her softly, deeply. “Thank you so much, darlin’. That was something very special.” His eyes held all the conviction of his words. He lifted from her body, two sets of arms coming to hold her as he headed to the bathroom.

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“I am so proud of you, baby girl,” Brett whispered in her ear. She turned to face him where he lay on the pillow next to her, a lazy smile curled her lips. “That was amazing. I wish I had done it weeks ago.” You weren’t ready then, Jade. You were still holding back from us. Now that everything is out in the open, that last barrier fell away.” Nate returned, running a warm cloth between her legs. Jade tensed at the intimate act but did not pull away. Taking care of her was just what they did. Matt nuzzled her neck, looking for attention, too. She splayed a hand at the back of his head and brought his lips to hers. With an indolent tongue, she made his mouth hers, feeling the need build anew. She caressed what she could reach of his big body before pushing on his shoulder imperiously. He rolled obediently onto his back. Jade knelt at his side and leaned over him, hungry for the seductive allure of his gently eager mouth. But his mouth could not hold her attention long with all that muscled body beneath her. Hungry hands and lips explored his neck and shoulders before zeroing in on the wide expanse of his well-developed chest. She felt Brett’s hands stroking her back and ass as she leaned over to lick at a small male nipple. She rose up on her knees to give him better access, but he continued to caress her heated flesh with no apparent hurry to reach any more responsive places. She wiggled her ass at him provocatively and got it smacked for her trouble. She groaned at the heat his slap inspired, drawing a gasp from Matt as she bit down involuntarily on his small erect nipple. She quickly made amends with her tongue. Nate came to sit on the other side of Matt, pushing her hair out of the way so he could watch her mouth at work. She let him see the love she felt for these brothers of his. She followed the heavenly path sketched by the line of soft hair that led southward, pausing to nip at each well-defined ripple she

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passed. She moved away from Brett’s taunting touch to kneel between the youngest Kelly’s hair-sprinkled thighs. Brett retaliated by reaching over and running a hand down the crack of her ass, not stopping until two fingers lay over her clit. He gave it a sharp tap, sending splinters of pleasure radiating from his small mistreatment. Jade turned her attention to the man before her. She reached up and drew hungry hands from his shoulder to his knees, caressing as much of his satin-covered muscles as the span of her hands allowed. He didn’t bother to restrain a cry of pure need as she reversed her hands, running them up his inner thighs to frame his hefty package. Giving him the smile women have been giving men since the Garden of Eden, she lowered her head. Her hot wet mouth engulfed him. He watched through heavy lids as she drew up and down on his cock. Her lips stretched wide as she took his full girth, her tongue flickering wickedly. Nate’s hand held her hair out of the way so they could both enjoy the view. **** Brett slipped in behind her, armed with her favorite ass tickler. After taking Nate it would feel small, but he knew she wasn’t up to taking him anally after that, nor would she come without something in her ass. He held the base against his abdomen where it protruded, looking like some misshapen, glittering, second phallus. If there was one thing Jade enjoyed more than anal sex, it was double penetration. He lined each of them up with her openings, rocking forward until he could feel her hot fluids bathe the head of his cock. He used a second hand to spread her cheeks wide, wanting to see her pink-rimmed ass stretch around the toy. He pushed until she just opened around it and then withdrew. Again and again he repeated it, giving her just a little more each time. By the time he got to the widest point of the toy, she was growling her need around the meat of Matt’s cock and thrusting her ass back at

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him. With a cruel smile he jerked the plug from her body just before it sunk home. “For God’s sake, fuck me!” Brett laid a good slap across her ass for the language infraction and then rammed the toy home. Her cries obtained the frantic pitch anal penetration always inspired in her before being muffled by a thick, ripe cock. He began to thrust hard into her pussy, making sure he pounded against the base of the plug at the top of each stroke. He noticed she drove her mouth down over Matt at the same pace he set. He went harder, knowing he could outlast his brother. He wanted her lips free to scream his name when she came. **** Matt gave up his seed with a muted roar, feeling her suck every last drop of his essence from his pleasure-wracked body. She licked and laved at him as he softened marginally. Then her eyes all but glazed over, and her head dropped to the bed between his legs. He looked down the line of her back with a grin. Brett was sure enjoying himself. **** Brett touched the tip of the vibrating rubber cock against the base of the plug and watched her collapse as he felt the vibrations tickle along his dick as they were transferred through the thin membrane into her vagina. Her moans became a keening as she reached the last of her endurance. Taking pity on her, he reached under, unerringly laying the tip on her cream-drenched clit. He ratcheted up the control and pressed harder, the forceful vibrations ripping her orgasm from her protesting body.

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Jade screamed with the force of the explosion—not his name but a full-throated scream. The sound sent Brett over the edge to join her, pumping hard in an intensely selfish stroke that plunged him hard against her cervix. The ensuing pain made her come again. **** Thoroughly spent, Jade collapsed against Matt’s body, her head against his stomach, and his softening cock cradled by her breasts. Soothing hands brought her back down to earth. Brett sliding his cock from her slickness and tugging the plug from her orgasm-tightened body did not even elicit a response, nor did the sensation of being cleaned once more. With Matt as her pillow and Nate and Brett cocooning her on either side, Jade fell into a dreamless sleep.

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Chapter 27 They all helped Anna move into Douglas Park the following day. She showed no surprise or censure but had a few words of wisdom when she spotted the ring. “You be happy, all of you. Don’t let the sun go down on an argument, and never forget to say I love you. You only get to live once, so don’t let anyone tell you how to live it. “Oh, I know I am just full of worn-out old clichés, but there’s some wisdom in those ones, you lot. If anyone finds out about your little arrangement and has something nasty to say about it, just remember, sweetheart, they’re jealous. “Now I must go and find that man. How would you feel about having a live-in farrier here at the Park?” With a wink, Anna strolled off saucily. Jade leaned back into the bodies of the men at her back, letting their strength infuse her. She looked out across the green valley at the horses grazing peacefully under the clear Wyoming sky. Those horses were the heart of the vision of a successful Douglas Park that she had invested a lot of hopes and dreams in. She knew it was going to be a long, hard road to see it come to fruition, but Jade took a deep breath of mountain air and lifted her chin. With these men at her side, she could take on anything. She turned in the collective circle of their arms. “Let’s go home.”

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kaliana Cole is an Aussie girl who simply loves writing. She plunked herself in front of the pc when temporarily unemployed and hasn’t looked back. She lives with her two exceedingly feral boys and long time, long suffering partner in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains where her time is divided between being good ( mother, lover, neighbor, cleaner and cook) and being bad (writing raunchy romance and naughty ménage stories, and dreaming up scenarios for upcoming works). Any time not taken up by this latest love is devoted to her horses, which all seem to have become fatter and naughtier since their owner started writing. Good Horses, Fast Cars and Real Men is her debut novel. She can be contacted at [email protected] .

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