Pursuing Penelope

Incognito: Pursuing Penelope

By

Madison Layle & Anna Leigh Keaton This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Pursuing Penelope Copyright© 2008 Madison Layle & Anna Leigh Keaton ISBN: 978-1-60088-242-5

Cover Artist: Sable Grey Editor: Melanie Noto

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

Cobblestone Press, LLC www.cobblestone-press.com

Chapter One

Penelope Schwartz was in hell. Terror seized her muscles, and she tried to crawl away, to escape beneath the roiling smoke. It filled the space around her and scratched at her throat. Coughing, she struggled to escape the orange glow that licked its way along the walls and ceiling of the club called Incognito. The heat belching from the furious flames chased her through the unfamiliar maze. Disoriented, she struggled to find her way out of the building in which she’d entered only once before. When she’d darted inside tonight, she hadn’t paid much attention to the path she took. Her only focus, her only goal, had been to warn as many people as she could about the fire. Silently, she prayed everyone else had gotten out. Hoped she’d sounded the alarm in time. Anger had brought her here tonight. But, as much as she hated this place and blamed its owners for her husband’s demise, she didn’t wish death on anyone. She clawed her way along the floor. An explosion sounded somewhere upstairs, off to her right, startling a scream and several coughs from her. She frantically renewed her efforts to find an exit, but no matter which way she turned, billowy smoke blocked her. Though her lungs labored for air, she couldn’t breathe. She fought to stay conscious, fought for life-sustaining oxygen, fought… Maybe it was time to give up the fight, to forgive and let go of the pain of her past. Maybe this was fate’s plan—that she die in the same building where her husband collapsed not long ago. The price she must pay for her anger. The pictures of license plates she’d taken around back seemed so unimportant now. What did it matter who came here? How would knowing the names of club members change anything? It wouldn’t bring Randolph back. Wouldn’t fix her life that had spiraled out of control long before she escaped her family to run off with Randolph, thinking he was her knight in shining armor. Maybe this was better. Maybe it was best if she just stopped. Randolph was dead. She had no one else. Another cough racked her body. She fell to her side, and her eyelids drifted closed over her dry, scratchy eyes. Wait!What was that?

Blinking, eyes stinging, she opened them and peered into the smoke. A light. Through the gray clouds, a beam shone. A ray of hope? Or the light one sees at death? “Here!” she rasped, the sound rough and weak. She lifted her hand toward the light and felt, before blackness surrounded her, a cool, refreshing mist of… rain?

*****

Blake Thomas moved with caution through the burning building, aiming the nozzle to direct the spray of water. His best friend and roommate, Joseph Osceola, backed him up on the hose along with another firefighter. A second team pushed ahead of them along the opposite wall. They’d yet to reach the flames, most of which seemed to come from the back of the building, but it wouldn’t be long now. The smoke was thick. Maybe, if they could get the fire under control soon, they’d be able to salvage the structure. The walls groaned as if to protest. Normally, Blake enjoyed the adrenaline rush that came with battling blazes, but this one hit too close to home. His high-powered headlamp cut through the smoke enough to spotlight elaborate holiday and wedding decorations, which softened the more typical décor of his favorite fetish club. A damn shame. Judging by the crowd gathered outside when their fire trucks arrived, the place had been packed tonight. He just hoped everyone had made it out. Losing a friend or an acquaintance to fire wasn’t on his holiday wish list. He and Joseph had been invited to Kat and Dalton’s post-wedding celebration at the club, but had been forced to send their regrets since they were still on rotation at the firehouse, at least until later tonight. He’d never dreamed he’d come after all, and for the worst possible reason. A small explosion sounded overhead, off to their left…somewhere on the second floor. He glanced back at Joseph, who gave him a thumbs-up, then turned to the other crew. Reassured everyone was okay, he took a deep breath of oxygen and pushed farther into the room, watching the flames dance along the back wall. Some said fire was a living, breathing thing. He agreed. When angered, it could deliver a vicious blow. He had to watch out for flashovers, structural instability, and… His gaze settled on the bar— Shit! Another explosion. And another. Alcohol fires were a bitch to fight. He looked around, wondering if the owners kept their excess liquor stored nearby. The place was too close to sea level to have a wine cellar. Wasn’t it? “Back out,” came the order over their radios. “You guys, get the hell out of there.”

Blake took one more step forward despite the urgency of the order, and his foot collided with— “Shit! We’ve got a victim,” he said, his words reverberating through the microphone system in his mask. He signaled to Joseph, who looked around him, released the hose, and bent to check the female on the floor. When he rolled her over, Blake was struck for an instant by her innocent, fragile beauty. Joseph didn’t hesitate. He lifted her off the floor and headed for the exit. Blake and the other hose man retreated as well, getting out before the last team exited the building. Once outside, Blake wanted to follow Joseph over to the waiting ambulance, but he couldn’t. He had a job to do, so he refocused his attention on the flames shooting from the upper floor windows. The woman’s face remained ever-present in his mind, however. She was young, pretty, and… Damn, he hoped she lived.

*****

“Oxygen. She needs oxygen,” Joseph said to the paramedic as he laid the woman on the stretcher. He’d first thought she was dead; she’d been so limp and lifeless. But seconds after he carried her from the building into the cool night air, she’d started coughing. He yanked off his mask and helmet and stepped back to allow the paramedic space to work. Soot-smudged and teary-eyed, the girl turned to face him, her troubled gaze capturing his. Fuck!She looked so damn sad lying there, her long hair in disarray. His heart ached for her. Another explosion rocked the night, making everyone flinch. She sat bolt upright. Her gaze snapped to the burning building then back to him. He needed to get back to his team and fight the inferno, but the look on her face, so urgent and fearful, held him there. A tear slithered down her dirty cheek, an escape attempt that failed when the paramedic slid an oxygen mask in place and wiped the teardrop away. When the paramedic asked whether she hurt anywhere and checked for signs of broken bones, she shook her head and took steady breaths of oxygen. When he started to give her an IV, she pushed his hand away. “No,” she croaked. “Please, ma’am,” the paramedic said, but again she pushed his hand away and looked at Joseph. He stepped closer, and she pulled the mask down. “Did—” A series of coughs cut off her words.

The paramedic tried to replace the mask. “Ma’am, you need to keep this on.” She shoved him away. “Calm down,” Joseph said, removing his gloves to take her hand. He exchanged a glance with the frustrated paramedic. “Let’s hold off on the IV for now, okay?” Gently, he replaced her oxygen mask. “Just breathe and relax. You can talk later.” She shook her head, refused to lie back, and tried to speak through the mask. “Did everyone—?” Again she failed to complete the question, but he understood. “We believe so.” As worked up as she was, he didn’t want to tell her they wouldn’t know for certain whether everyone had gotten out until the fire was extinguished and they had a chance to sift through the debris. She appeared relieved, yet uneasy. “I tried…to warn—” He squeezed her hand and gave her a smile of reassurance. From the other side of the stretcher, the paramedic put a blood-pressure cuff around her upper arm and held a stethoscope to her chest. “I’m just going to check your vitals.” “That’s her,” a male voice said off to Joseph’s left. “Here’s her camera bag. She dropped it when I tried to stop her at the door.” Joseph turned to see a man wearing a club security uniform hand the bag to Detective Paul Baxter. Although they’d never formally met, Joseph recognized the detective. He’d seen him around the city whenever police officers and firefighters crossed paths. But he’d also seen him at Incognito a time or two. Tonight, Baxter was dressed more formally than usual, making it obvious he’d been at the club when the fire broke out. His badge was clipped on his belt, however, which testified he was now back on the clock. The detective approached them and held up the case. “Is this yours, ma’am?” The woman didn’t release her hold on Joseph’s hand. But since the paramedic had finished taking her blood pressure, she held out her other one to the cop, reaching for the bag. Baxter kept the bag just out of her reach. “Mind if I take a look inside?” The woman shrugged then nodded her permission. While the paramedic excused himself to check on others, Baxter set the case on the stretcher beside her and dug through its contents. After a moment, he looked up and slid the bag toward her. “Thank you, Miss…?” “Her name is Penelope Schwartz.” The answer came from Mistress Katriona and was said with an obvious amount of distraught venom. When Joseph looked at her, his heart went out to the co-owner and founder of Incognito. Her beautiful, strapless, ivory evening gown was ruined. Her hair was disheveled, and her makeup was smeared with

the evidence of a recent crying jag. “Mistress! Are you all right?” A young twenty-something man stopped next to Kat. His face was familiar, but Joseph couldn’t recall his name. Kat turned to him, accepting his offer of a handkerchief. “Thank you, Brian. I’m—” She looked at the club, and new tears welled in her eyes. “I’m alive.” Joseph followed her gaze back to the building. He started to move away, but Penelope gripped his hand harder, drawing his attention back to her. “I was afraid you hadn’t made it,” Brian said to Kat, his palm laid protectively on her bare shoulder. “When I heard they had to carry a woman out—” “I’d already gotten my wife out,” Dalton said as he stepped up and slipped an arm around his bride. Brian met the older man’s gaze and took a respectful step back. “Thank goodness,” he said, giving Joseph a glance. “Did…did everyone make it out of there?” “Carl and Carmen are working with the doormen and valets to find out,” Dalton said. “The Sinclairs and Montgomeries volunteered to stay and help them collect names of guests who escaped the blaze. Sean said he cleared the top floor. He’s now double-checking to ensure the entire staff is accounted for.” “If the fire marshal finds anything suspicious,” Baxter said, “we’ll need to interview everyone on those lists.” Dalton nodded. “I’ll have Carl get the names and addresses to you. He keeps backups of our membership records at his place.” He pulled Kat closer to his side and eyed Penelope, who’d remained quiet and observant, her mask still in place. “Sean told me security escorted her off the property earlier this evening. Obviously, she didn’t go far, and tonight’s the second time she’s barged into Incognito uninvited.” “I can find no evidence at this time to indicate she might have started the blaze,” Baxter said. “No! I—” Penelope’s outburst caused a new fit of coughing. She clung to Joseph’s hand and arm. He turned a hard look on those standing around them before settling his gaze on the detective. “How many arsonists do you know set fires only to risk their lives to save everyone inside?” “I’m not charging her with anything,” Baxter admitted. “Unless the evidence points to her guilt, and the cause of the blaze proves to be arson instead of a faulty electrical problem. Right now, the only thing I have on her is trespassing. The investigation is just getting started, but anyone who was on the property is a person of interest. Understand?” “Of course.” He couldn’t see her setting the fire. Admittedly, he didn’t know her, but her expression before had been so sincere. Her concern seemed real. He couldn’t suppress his protective instincts. “If someone did set the blaze, that person needs to be stopped before something worse happens. A lot of people could’ve been hurt or killed tonight.”

Joseph took a deep breath and gave a brief nod. The detective was right. “We’re just after the truth here,” Baxter added, his voice gentler. “I get it. I also think you should know that this woman would’ve died in that fire if we hadn’t stumbled over her and gotten her out of there.” “She was still inside?” Kat seemed overwhelmed by the news that someone had been left in the building. “She’s the woman you carried out?” Brian asked. Joseph nodded. “Her first question after coming to was to ask whether everyone was safe. She was concerned her warning hadn’t come in time.” Penelope squeezed his hand again, but he didn’t look at her. “I saw the flames,” she said through the mask. “I tried—” She coughed a few times and took several shallow, steady breaths before trying again. “I tried to tell ’em at the door.” “That’s why you barged in,” Dalton said, his words more a statement of new enlightenment than a question. Penelope nodded. “I’m sorry.” New tears welled in Kat’s eyes. “I didn’t know. I couldn’t—” She glanced at the blaze, which continued to rage. “It’s just all gone. Everything. My grandma’s house. The club…” Dalton hugged her close as the full impact of the night’s events overwhelmed her. She broke down, sobbing against his shoulder. “Shh, kitten. We can always rebuild. What’s important is no one was seriously hurt or killed.” “What about her?” the detective asked. “You want to press charges for trespassing?” Kat raised her head, glanced at Penelope, and gave a negative shake before hugging her husband again. “No. We’d rather find the party responsible for the fire,” Dalton said, not releasing his hold on Kat. “Once we know for certain that it is arson,” Joseph added, drawing the attention of everyone there. “Yes,” Dalton admitted. “When we know for sure.” He turned to the detective. “I’m going to take my wife home. You know how to reach us if we’re needed.” Blake’s voice came over Joseph’s two-way radio. “Joe, where are ya, buddy? I could really use your help.” Joseph keyed his mic. “On my way.” He gestured to another paramedic, then faced Penelope. “You’re safe now, and in good hands.” She held his gaze for a moment longer. “Penny,” she said, the mask muffling the word. “What?”

“My friends call me Penny.” “Okay, Penny.” He gave her a reassuring smile, then squeezed her hand before he let go and walked away.

Chapter Two

Blake pulled his pickup into the driveway outside Penelope’s house, turned off the headlights, and killed the engine. “This is a little weird, ya know?” he said to Joe, who sat in the passenger seat. “I know. It’s late.” Joe stared at the house. “Well, that, too. But I mean, after learning what we did about her from Carl.” Joe shook his head and sighed. “I just can’t get the look on her face out of my head. The way she clung to my hand as if I were the only friend she had in the world. She didn’t set that fire. I know it in my gut, and I’m worried about her. She refused any medical treatment. And with it as dark as it was—” He looked away. “Fuck, I don’t know. We probably shouldn’t have come, but—” “There’s something about the little lady that got under your skin,” he finished for his best friend. “I know. She’s so small and fragile looking.” “And she just lost her husband. What if she really is all alone? With the smoke inhalation she suffered...” He shook his head again, as if at a loss for why he felt the way he did. Blake understood. Joe had a heart as tender as any he’d ever known, and the tiny, porcelain widow had brought out every protective instinct the guy possessed. They’d gotten her address from Carl, along with the story of Penny climbing in through his office window a few weeks back and being detained by security when she entered the club proper. She’d been incensed to see the half-naked club attendees and the blatant sexual nature of the club. From what they’d gathered about her, she was about as prim and

uptight as they came. So what the hell had she been doing at the club tonight? What had possessed her to return when Kat and Dalton had been charitable enough to let her off the first time with only a warning? “Well, let’s get it over with,” he said, throwing open his door. They’d check to see if she was all right, then get out of there. She’d lost her husband less than three months ago. No way was he going to let his best buddy get his heart all tangled up with someone so recently widowed. That was just asking for trouble. Joe certainly didn’t need any more heartache in his life. He’d suffered enough. They walked up to the front door, and Joe pushed the doorbell. They heard it chime inside. After a full minute, Joe pushed it again. The lights were on in the foyer. He could see a crystal chandelier through the half-circle window over the door. After the third time Joe rang the doorbell, Blake could feel the tension coming off his friend. “Okay. Let’s take a look around the place.” Though what they might find was impossible to tell. The house was huge, and she could be on any of the three floors. They stepped off the porch and headed along the side of the house where more lights burned. Blake briefly glanced around the darker yard, hoping none of the neighbors would call 9-1-1 to report suspicious activity. Neither of them needed to get hauled in as peeping Toms. The window was high, but by stepping over the short hedgerow, they could see into what looked to be an expensively appointed living room. Inside, dwarfed by the massive ivory leather sofa, was Penny. In profile, she sat unmoving, her back straight, and her hands folded in her lap. Staring at the empty fireplace, she still wore the black long-sleeved shirt and slacks she’d had on at the fire. Her cheek was still smudged with soot, and her long, brindle-colored hair hung in limp, tangled tendrils over her shoulders. “She’s in shock,” Joe said, his voice rough. “We’ve got to get in there.” Blake agreed, although... “If she calls the cops on us, we’re fucked.” Joe wasn’t listening; he was already headed back toward the front door. Blake followed him without another comment. Once Joe got something in his head, there was no stopping him. That’s how they’d both wound up working for the fire department. At age seven, Joe had said he wanted to be a firefighter. So as soon as they graduated high school, they joined the volunteer department at the university. After they got their fire science degrees, they were both hired by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and after a decade there, decided a slower pace was what they wanted. That’s how they’d wound up here, back in their hometown. “We’re so getting arrested for this,” Blake muttered. “No, we won’t. If she tells us to get out, we’ll leave, but at least we’ll know she’s in her right mind.” Blake nodded. Joe was right. They needed to ensure she was physically okay. To their surprise, when Joe turned the knob, the door opened. Blake frowned. She must be out of it bad

if she left the door unlocked while she was home alone. “Hello?” Joe called as he stepped into the brightly lit, Italian tile-floored foyer. “Penny? It’s Joseph. The firefighter from earlier.” No answer. They made their way through the house, searching for the room in which they’d seen her from outside. This place cost more than what they would make, combined, in their lifetimes. Marble, tile, antiques... He was afraid he’d break something and wondered if he should remove his work boots in case he scuffed the floor. They stopped in the doorway to the living room, or lounge, or study, or whatever the hell the rich called it. They’d had been brought up in the upper half of the middle class, but he’d only been in houses on this side of town when responding to fires. “Hey, Penny,” Joe said in a soothing voice. “You okay?” He peered over Joe’s shoulder just as the little woman finally turned her head and acknowledged their presence. “Hi, Joseph.” Her tone was flat. Emotionless. Most alarming was the fact that she didn’t freak out when two men walked into her house in the middle of the night. Blake followed Joe into the room. Joe knelt on the floor in front of her and took her hands in his. “How you doin’, sweetheart?” She winced, and he looked down at her hand. She had a burn across the back of it, although it was minor. She tried to smile, but the gesture was rather tragic looking. Then her gaze caught on Blake. “Who’s he?” Joe tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Blake, my best friend. He’s the firefighter who found you. We wanted to make sure you were okay.” She shrugged. “Are you?” Blake asked, sitting down on the sofa next to her and reaching to take her pulse, even though he knew Joe was doing just that as he held her hands. Joe’s fingers lay over the pulse point on her wrist. She gave no reaction at all when Blake touched her neck. Any woman who had her faculties about her would have— shouldhave—been terrified. “I’m fine,” she said, but the words trembled. “Why are you sitting here in these smoky clothes, darlin’?” Blake asked. “I—” She looked down, as if noticing her attire for the first time, and turned the biggest, saddest doe eyes on him before she shrugged again. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.” Her pulse was slow and strong. Her skin was pale beneath the streaks of black, but not to the point of shock. Her lips were full and pink. Her pupils adjusted to the light as they should.

“What do you mean, you don’t know what you are supposed to do now?” Joe asked, pulling her attention back to him. She licked her lips once, her pink tongue barely peeking out. “I was supposed to die in that fire.” Her brow wrinkled slightly. “I was sure I was going to die. It was my punishment for the anger that’s filled me since Randolph’s death.” She shook her head. “After he died, the only thing that kept me going was to...to try to get rid of that horrible place so other wives wouldn’t lose their husbands to it.” Tears filled her eyes and flowed down her cheeks. “I wanted someone to pay for what happened to him. Anyone. But...that fire—” She choked on a sob. “Oh, God.” Joe pulled her against his shoulder and met Blake’s gaze over the top of her head. Her words were a bit too close to a confession to give either of them peace of mind. “Penny,” Joe said softly, his black eyes filled with pain. As if he already knew the answer to the question he had to ask. “Did you set that fire?” “No!” She shoved herself away from him, the tears coursing down her cheeks to make tracks in the soot. “No. Oh, no.” She sniffled and shook her head with fierce conviction. “But it’s my fault, isn’t it? I was getting what I thought I wanted. That’s why I was supposed to die in there. Because I’d wished bad things on them. All of them. And then it happened, and I realized…all those people...I didn’t know any of them. How could I hate them?” Blake grabbed a tissue from an ornate box on the end table and handed it to her. “Darlin’, if you didn’t set the fire, there’s no reason for you to feel guilty. It’s okay to be angry because your husband died.” She wiped her eyes, but more tears came. “What were you doing there, sweetheart?” Joe asked, still holding her one uninjured hand. “It all seems so stupid now. It doesn’t matter. None of it does.” “Tell us,” Blake urged softly. “Please.” She motioned to her black camera bag, which sat on the sofa next to her. “Taking pictures of the license plates of everyone there.” An act that was hardly illegal. A little strange, but not illegal. “Why?” Joe asked. She shrugged and met his gaze. “I thought other wives needed to know what their husbands were up to. To save them from the same fate I suffered.” She shook her head. “I found Randolph’s credit card receipts. He spent thousands there every year.” Her bottom lip trembled, and more tears fell from her eyes. “For years. ” Truth be known, there weren’t many husbands who used Incognito as a place to find lovers and cheat on their wives; at least, there weren’t any he knew about. The majority of the club’s clientele were upstanding citizens who were either single, like them, or brought their significant others to the club. But Blake doubted Penny would be willing to accept that fact just yet.

It was known around the club that Randolph Schwartz had dropped dead of a heart attack while in a voyeur room with Connie Monroe. Connie was a club stray, but she had her standards, and he seriously doubted she would have been with the man if she’d known he was married. “Where were you when you saw the fire?” Blake asked. She turned those eyes back on him. “In the back parking lot. I ran around front, tried to tell the security guards, but they wouldn’t listen. I think they’d been warned about me, since I climbed into the place through a window a few weeks ago to get a look inside.” Both he and Joe nodded. Security, according to Carl, had been told to keep her out, but to ignore her if she didn’t cause any problems. “How’d you get in, then?” he asked. “Through the front door. A guard tried to stop me—he grabbed my bag but missed me. All the windows were locked this time, except for one.” She shook her head slowly. “There was a lot of smoke. I tried to warn everyone to get out.” “You did good,” Joe said. “You saved a lot of lives tonight.” She tried to smile, but her lips wobbled, and it turned into a frown. “I never wanted—It wasn’t supposed to…” She dropped her gaze to her lap, where her fingers were laced with Joe’s. She tightened her grip on them. “It’s okay now,” Joe whispered. “You’re okay.” She nodded. He touched her cheek in a gentle gesture Blake had seen before. His buddy was getting in deep. He just hoped he could pull Joe out before he jumped in and drowned. Joe said, “Do you mind if we take your film to the police? Maybe there’s something on it that will help their case.” She shrugged. “It’s digital. You can take whatever you want. It doesn’t matter to me anymore.” “Come on,” Blake said as he stood. “You’ve got to get out of these clothes and clean up. How’s your chest feeling? Still tight from the smoke?” “A little. But I’m not coughing anymore.” Joe stood, still holding her hand. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you cleaned up and bandage that burn.” She stared at Joe then turned her gaze on Blake. Without a word of protest, she came to her feet. Again, very strange, Blake thought. Very submissive. She really should be telling them to leave. Or at the least, ask them to wait while she freshened up. Instead, still holding Joe’s hand, she led them up a sweeping staircase and into a massive bedroom.

With lace curtains and a floral-print quilt on the huge, four-poster bed, the room held a subtle, musky, feminine scent that screamed of the fact she no longer shared it with a husband. Had she done a complete makeover of it since he died? Penny led them directly into the master bath, and Blake’s eyes nearly bugged out at the elaborate setup. What he wouldn’t give for a bathroom like this. The tub was large enough to fit three or four adults, and the shower stall next to it had nine shower heads pointed toward the middle. The floor was pink marble, as was the dual-sink vanity. The color didn’t suit him, but damn, that tub would be nice after a long day of fighting fires. Joe finally let go of Penny’s hand, turned on the bath taps, and adjusted the water temperature. She stood to one side and watched without uttering a word. Blake turned toward the cabinets under the sink and checked through them until he found a bottle of bubble bath. He recognized the brand; he’d bought some for one of his girlfriends a few years ago. It didn’t come cheap. He splashed a bit into the water as the tub began filling. “Where’s your first aid kit?” Joe asked. Penny shrugged. “In Randolph’s bathroom, probably.” So, they had stayed in separate rooms. Interesting. Maybe there was a reason Randolph had strayed. “Where is it?” Blake asked. “The master suite across the hall.” “We’ll go look,” Joe said, “while you get out of those clothes and into the tub. But don’t put your burned hand in the water.” She nodded demurely, dropping her gaze and fiddling with the bottom edge of her shirt. Why the fuck would Randolph have to go to Incognito if he had such a submissive wife at home? Outside of that place, Blake hadn’t seen a sub so perfectly follow commands. Joe grabbed his arm and turned him toward the door. As Joe pushed open the door across the hallway, he said, “Something’s not right here.” “Tell me about it.” “She should be telling us to get lost. She should have been frightened when we barged into her house uninvited, especially at this hour.” Blake nodded as they crossed the bedroom. Its floor plan was the same as Penny’s, but the colors in it were more suited to masculine tastes. Dark wood, browns, and forest greens on the bed. The tiles in the bathroom were black marble. Blake opened the cabinet doors under the sink, and Joe popped open the mirrored cabinet. Blake quickly found a white box labeled with the red cross of a first aid kit, but he kept nosing around and frowned when he opened the last door to reveal a tiny bar fridge, similar to those in hotel rooms. He opened it and found a couple bottles of imported German beer and three vials of insulin.

Randolph must have been a diabetic. “I’ve got three kinds of blood pressure meds here,” Joe said from across the room. “And insulin syringes.” “To go with this insulin.” Blake held up a half-full bottle. “He’s also got pills for high cholesterol and oral diabetic meds. High doses of all of ’em.” “He was a ticking time bomb. No wonder he dropped dead if he got a little too excited with Connie.” Joe shuffled through some more bottles. “He’s got nitroglycerin in here, too, and blood thinners. He had a heart condition.” Blake raised his eyebrows. “See any Viagra? That would explain the heart attack if he mixed it with the nitro.” Joe shook his head. “No.” “Any guy that age on that many pills...there’s no way he was getting it up on his own. The blood pressure and diabetes would prevent that. Unless he was Superman.” Joe replaced all of the bottles as they had been, and Blake shut the fridge and cabinet doors. “I’ve got the first aid kit.” As they headed back through Randolph’s bedroom, Blake had the urge to go through his closets and everything else to learn more about the guy who’d been cheating on his wife. But he held himself in check. It wasn’t their place to snoop any more than they already had. “Maybe he had the bottle of Viagra on him,” Joe said. Blake nodded. That was possible.

Chapter Three

Penny sat in the bathtub with bubbles covering her up to her neck, trying to scrub the black from her face with one hand while she held the other over the edge to keep it dry. Joseph stopped in the doorway, and Blake bumped into his back. God, she was gorgeous. Her head was still dry and her hair was still tangled around her shoulders, the ends disappearing into the mountain of bubbles. He didn’t know why she hadn’t booted them out yet, but he wouldn’t deny he was glad she hadn’t. She needed someone to take care of her tonight, and he and Blake were the only men he trusted enough to see to her safety. She was too trusting. Her wide-eyed innocence kicked him right in the gut. Not to mention her obvious pain. He wanted to soothe it away, to take it upon himself. Free her of her burdens. Blake gave his shoulder a slight shove, which got his feet moving. “Let me,” he said as he knelt on the plush bathmat and took the cloth from her hand. Penny didn’t argue when he took it from her, didn’t utter a word when he dipped it into the water and then wrung it out so he could wash away the smudges and tear tracks on her cheeks. Blake set the first aid kit on the counter and popped it open. Joseph lifted Penny’s other hand from the water and took care to wash each finger to make sure all of the soot was gone and to check for any hidden wounds. She was lucky—damn lucky—her only injury was the small burn on her other hand and some smoke inhalation. He handed the cloth to Blake, who rinsed it in the sink. Then he, too, knelt next to the tub and carefully cleaned the burn. Penny hissed and squeezed her eyes shut. “Sorry, darlin’,” Blake said. “I’ve got to get it clean though, so there’s no infection.” She nodded. While Blake tended to her injury, Joseph went to the shower and found bottles of shampoo and conditioner mixed among tubes and containers of shower gel, cleansing scrub, and other stuff he couldn’t begin to figure out how to use. When he returned to the tub, Blake was wrapping Penny’s hand with gauze. “Feel okay?” he asked. “Yes. Thank you,” she said, her voice soft and a little husky. Joseph couldn’t tell if it was her natural voice, or if her throat was scratchy from the smoke. “Will you let me help you with your hair?” Joseph asked as he went back down onto his knees next to Blake.

She looked from him, to Blake, and back before nodding. He smiled. Those big, dark chocolate eyes of hers were enough to make him weak. Her husband was a fucking moron to have been messing around on her. Sure, Connie was a knockout, but this little lady was the sweetest, most innocent woman he’d ever come across. She had to be at least thirty years younger than her dead husband. What the hell had she seen in the guy? He glanced around the room and realized she’d probably been attracted to Randolph’s money. How many women went after the money? He moved up the tub toward her head as bitterness filled his mouth. He knew all too well that women picked money over character most of the time. All he’d ever wanted was someone who loved him for who he was, but never in his thirty-six years had he met a woman who didn’t care about his less-than-stellar family and his lowly income as a fireman. “Keep her hand dry,” he said to Blake. To Penny, he said, “I’ll hold your shoulders and help you get your hair wet, okay?” Without questioning him, she nodded. He frowned. Didn’t the woman realize he could drown her? Kill her and burglarize her house? Not that he would, but she didn’t know that. She didn’t know him at all. She scooted down in the tub and dunked her head, grabbing the edge with her good hand as Blake held her other arm. When she struggled to sit up, both he and Blake reached in and took her under the arms to haul her up. Her skin was slick, warm, and smooth under his palm. She came up sputtering and wiped her good hand down her face. The swells of her small breasts peeked out of the bubbles, and his body took a turn to the uncomfortable. Blake cast him a look he couldn’t quite decipher, but he saw the doubt on his friend’s face. He shrugged and squirted some of her flowery scented shampoo into his hand. Blake was right. They’d make sure she was okay, then beat feet and get the hell out of here. He, for one, was way the hell out of his league. Where was her family? Where were her rich society friends? Shouldn’t they be taking care of her? He lathered her hair and gently scrubbed her scalp. When she let out a soft moan of pleasure, his jeans grew too tight for comfort. Fuck. Why did he do this to himself? He wasn’t sorry they’d come to check on her, but why couldn’t he keep himself detached and be clinical, like Blake? Blake never let his heart—or even his dick—do his thinking for him. “Rinse,” Joseph said. When Blake’s gaze snapped to him, he realized his tone had hardened. Screw it. He didn’t need this. She dipped her head under the water, disappearing in the suds. He wiped away the bubbles so he could see her face, then used one hand to lift her head so she could breathe, while he swished the shampoo from her hair.

It felt great having those long, satin strands tangled around his fingers. It was too nice having this sweet little woman put her trust in him, even if only for a few moments. Her eyes were shut, and her full, pink lips were slightly parted. Her skin was the color of cream, perfect and smooth. He lifted her and grabbed the conditioner, more than eager to get this done. He had to get the hell out of here, and fast. He didn’t want to fantasize about those lips, that mouth, those big, innocent eyes. She wasn’t innocent, he reminded himself as he worked the goop into the ends of her hair. She’d married a rich old guy and probably counted down the days until his medical problems ended his life. Now she was a young, stinking rich widow who was well rid of the philanderer. Blake touched his arm and shook his head, his brows furrowed into a frown. Joseph forced the tension from his shoulders and concentrated on his task. No one knew him the way Blake did. They’d been friends since childhood. Blake was the only person in the world who knew the hell he’d gone through being the only half-breed Native American living in a predominately white, middle-class neighborhood. His mother had married a well-off white guy for his money after giving birth to Joseph. To this day, he had no idea who his real father was. “Okay,” he said to Penny. “You’re ready to rinse again.” She nodded, gripped the edge of the tub with her uninjured hand, and lay back, keeping her face above the water. Joseph carefully sloshed her hair and made sure all of the conditioner was out of it before slipping his hands under her shoulders and lifting her up. “All done.” She touched her hair then turned a bright smile on him, the first one he’d seen from her. Her dark eyes sparkled. Her teeth weren’t quite perfect; the top middle ones were a little crooked. But that only made her seem a little more real. A bit more...special. Joseph wanted to roll his eyes at his stupid thoughts. “Where’s your bathrobe or a nightgown or something?” She pointed to the door. Blake stood and closed it partway to find a long-sleeve, high-necked, floor-length white nightgown hanging on a hook behind it. God, he couldn’t believe this. It looked like something from Little House on the Prairie. Could all this be an act, or was Penny really this damn innocent? Maybe she was frigid, if she slept in something like that. Perhaps Dear Old Randy had a reason to stray. A small smirk curved the left side of Blake’s lips as he pulled the garment down. A soft rumble sounded in the silent room, and both he and Blake turned to stare at Penny. Her cheeks tinged pink, and she dropped her gaze to the water. “Was that your stomach?” Joseph asked. Still looking down, she nodded. Food.It was the perfect escape. “Okay. Do you think you can get out of the tub and get dressed on your own?” She didn’t look up, but she nodded.

Blake laid the gown on the counter, pulled a fluffy pink towel off the rack, and set it on the edge of the tub where it widened toward the taps. “Go ahead and get dressed, and we’ll scrounge up something for you to eat.” Her head jerked up. “No, really—thank you. It’s okay. I’ll get dressed and make you both some food if you’d like. It’s the least I can do.” Blake frowned, and Joseph did his best not to mimic the action. She’d just survived a fire, had sat for hours like a stone statue covered with soot, and now she wanted to make them dinner? She looked almost distressed that they’d slap together a sandwich for her. “Penny, you need to rest tonight,” Blake said. She gripped the edge of the tub with both hands and turned toward them, the big tub making her seem even tinier than she was. “But—” “Don’t argue,” Blake said, but his tone remained gentle. “Get dressed and get into bed.” “Yes, sir,” she said, dropping her gaze once again. Joseph couldn’t handle it any longer. He had to get the hell out of the steamy bathroom. Needed to be away from the little woman who twisted his insides into knots and made him want things he couldn’t have. What he wanted most was to wrap her up and keep her safe. To shelter and protect her. Claim her as his own. Without another word, he stalked out the door and headed for the kitchen. As he jerked open the side-by-side, stainless-steel fridge that wouldn’t even fit in their small kitchen, Blake sauntered in and asked, “What’s eating you? Besides a petite, sad-eyed lady, I mean.” “Fuck off.” The fridge was almost empty. All he saw was less than a half cup of milk in a half-gallon jug, a small block of cheddar cheese in a zipper bag, and a loaf of bread. Although, the door was filled with every condiment available. Mustards, sauces, and salad dressings. He checked the crisper drawers and found some cheap bologna. It didn’t make sense. Why didn’t she have any real food? The other drawer produced an almost used-up head of lettuce, a red bell pepper that had seen better days, and half a cucumber. He grabbed the bread, meat, cheese, and a bottle of plain, yellow mustard. “You’re supposed to be the nice one of the two of us,” Blake said as he leaned on the opposite side of the granite island where Joseph set out the sandwich makings. “You’re acting like a bear with a thorn in his foot.” Joseph threw Blake a scowl then rummaged through the drawers until he found a butter knife. As he scooped out mustard onto the bread, he looked up at his friend. “What’s with her, anyway? She’s not showing any physical signs of shock, so what’s her story? Why is she letting us do this? Fuck, she let us bathe her like a child. We could have killed her.” “You mean we could’ve drowned her, or raped her, and stolen all her antiques? Yeah, I thought of that, too.” Blake grabbed a slice of meat from the bag, made a face, then popped it into his mouth. “You’d

think somebody with this kind of dough would have something a bit more palatable, wouldn’t you?” Joseph ignored the question since he’d been thinking the same thing. “And what’s with the, ‘Yes, sir,’ bullshit? Did her husband train her? Or is she a natural submissive? Either way, why the hell was he hanging out at Incognito when he had her ...” He waved the knife toward the ceiling. “...at home? She’s demure, follows orders better than most subs at the club, and seemed truly shocked that we’d make her a goddamn sandwich when she’s had a worse day than we have.” Blake raised his eyebrows. “Well, you can ask her.” Joseph scowled and slapped the meat on the bread. “What’s the point? Let’s make sure she eats and then get the hell out of here.” He finished building the sandwich, tossed the extra food back into the refrigerator, and tore a paper towel off the roll to use to wrap the sandwich. Then he grabbed a coffee mug from a hook under one of the cabinets and filled it with ice and water from the door dispenser on the fridge. “Don’t let her get to you,” Blake said as Joseph followed him up the wide, marble tread staircase to the upper floor. “She’ll be fine. She just had a scare. She’s still mourning her husband.” Joseph stopped outside her bedroom door and dropped his voice. “That’s the other thing. There’s only one reason why someone with her looks and youth marries a guy old enough to be her father. And that shit makes me sick.” “Joe—” He didn’t want to hear it. Blake knew what he thought about gold-digging bitches. She might be a little churned up over her ordeal today, but he didn’t see any other explanation for her to have married someone like Randolph Schwartz. He went through the bedroom door just as Penny came out of the bathroom. “Holy fuck,” he muttered as he tried to look anywhere but at her. The nightgown was practically see-through with light spilling over her from behind. She was tiny, yes, but she had nice curves. And he knew just what her skin felt like, what she smelled like now that she’d bathed in rose-scented bubble bath and sweet honeysuckle shampoo. “Let’s get you into bed,” Blake said. He was always the reasonable one. The one who could look at a woman wearing a see-through nightgown and not get hard. Still holding the sandwich and mug of water, Joseph turned and stared out the window at the swimming pool that was probably bigger than their entire house. He might have a raging hard-on, but he wasn’t stupid. Blake had the right idea. Stay detached. He heard the bedspread rustle, and then Blake said, “All covered.” There was no mistaking the humor lacing his buddy’s words, and Joseph wanted to slug him. When he turned, he found Penny covered up to her chest with the flowery bedspread, propped up pretty as a queen against the solid oak headboard. Blake sat next to her, effectively pinning down the quilt on one side and pulling it tight over her middle, so he could see the soft swells of her breasts and the slight indention of her belly.

Joseph went to the other side of the bed and held out the sandwich. “It’s all I could find.” She took it and bit into it. A soft smile curved her lips as she chewed. After swallowing, she said, “Thank you. It’s very good.” “We should be going,” he said, praying she was as innocent as she seemed and didn’t notice the bulge behind his zipper. He set the cup of water on the nightstand. “You’ll be okay now?” he asked when he looked back at her. Her smile slowly slipped from her lips, and damn her—those big eyes filled with what could only be described as desperation. But she quickly looked down at the sandwich and nodded. “Yes. Thank you.” Her voice shook a bit. He looked at Blake, who stared at her as if he were trying to figure her out. Was she for real? And if not, what was her agenda? Blake stood. Penny never raised her eyes. Her bottom lip quivered, and she sniffled. Blake looked across the wide bed. Joseph shrugged. He didn’t know what to do. A tear slithered down her cheek. Joseph’s fucking heart broke in two. He licked his lips and tried to keep the words inside, but they popped out of his mouth anyway. “Do you need us to stay a while longer?” She shook her head. “Do you want us to stay?” Blake asked. After a slight hesitation, she gave a tiny nod. Fuck. “Eat your food,” Joseph said as he sat down on the edge of the bed and wiped away her tear with the back of his fingers. “You need your strength.” He should’ve fixed himself a drink; he damn sure needed some strength as well. She closed her eyes and leaned into the short caress. Maybe she just missed her husband. She probably wasn’t used to being alone in this big house. If she was so upset over Randolph’s infidelity, maybe she had loved him, at least a little. Blake stretched out on the other side of her and propped his hands behind his head. There was plenty of room for all three of them on the massive bed. He yawned and closed his eyes. Joseph bet he would be asleep in moments, the asshole, while he was still sitting here with his cock aching and his heart and brain at war over this woman he didn’t even know. Penny methodically ate her sandwich with bird-like bites. And when her tongue peeked out to swipe up a small spot of mustard from the corner of her lips, Joseph was glad he was already sitting down, or he might have passed out.

She didn’t seem bothered by the fact that two rather large men were in her bedroom—one asleep on the bed next to her, and the other watching her eat. She was one odd duck. A beautiful, intriguing, odd duck. Joseph almost chuckled at his thoughts, but he held them in check. Yet he couldn’t fault Blake for relaxing. He was exhausted. They’d battled the fire for several hours before the flames were extinguished. Normally he and Blake went home and passed out after a fire that size, but he’d wanted to check on Penny. After hearing Kat tell Detective Baxter that Carl kept client records, they’d stopped by his house for her address before heading back to the firehouse for a shower and change. By then, both of them were overdue to get off duty. She ate all but about a quarter of the sandwich before setting it on the nightstand and picking up the water. She took a few dainty sips then set it down next to her uneaten food. “All done?” Joseph asked. He supposed someone her size didn’t need a whole sandwich. She nodded and scooted down in the bed until her head rested on the pillows and the quilt covered her to her chin. “Thank you. You and Blake have been very kind to me tonight.” She glanced at Blake, whose breathing had deepened into sleep. “I shouldn’t have asked you to stay. It’s rather selfish of me. You must be as tired as your friend.” Her voice had softened with the effects of the smoke wearing off. It was as smooth and gentle as twenty-five year old whisky and slid over his skin like a piece of silk. “It’s okay,” he said even as his own eyelids drooped. The darkened bedroom, with only the glow from the bathroom for illumination, made him want to join them and stretch out on the soft bed himself. “And you didn’t exactly ask.” If she had, they would have had the hope of telling her no. Her lips turned down at the corners, and she dropped her gaze away from him. She looked at Blake again then back at him before scooting over until her side bumped Blake. “There’s plenty of room.” Her face turned pink again, a shade or two darker than normal, and she looked away. Oh, hell. Fuck it.Blake was out, and she didn’t want to be alone. So Joseph lay down beside her on his back atop the covers and folded his hands over his stomach. Even through the layers of blankets, he could feel her body heat. The scent of flowers came off of her. “We’ll wait until you’re asleep before we leave,” he said softly, his eyelids too heavy to keep open. Just as he drifted off, he felt the soft, warm weight of her head on his shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Chapter Four

Penny’s eyes popped open to find bright sunlight streaming through the lace curtains of her bedroom. For just a moment, the dream lingered, and she could almost feel Joseph’s hands on her flesh and Blake’s body pressed tightly against her back. Even though she was alone in the big bed, she could still smell them. Their scents lingered on her pillows. One was musky and the other, spicy. Both unique. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and wrapped her arms around herself. They’d held her for hours. Once they thought she’d fallen asleep, Blake had rolled over and wound his arm around her waist. Then Joseph had brought up his arm and snuggled her against his side. Oh, it had felt like heaven. To be held, cuddled, touched . It had been so very long since anyone had even laid a finger on her. Except for the occasional peck on the cheek, Randolph hadn’t touched her in more than five years. She had no friends, because she almost never left the house. But Blake and Joseph had touched her. They’d even washed her hair, her face, hands, and arms. They’d made her food and asked for nothing in return. Demanded nothing. Randolph. She should be mourning her husband. A good wife wouldn’t entertain thoughts of other men when her spouse had only been buried weeks earlier. But Randolph never had done anything for her the way those two men had last night. Never in her life had anyone ever pampered her. With regret, she sat up and looked around her bedroom. Nothing had changed. Only the slight indention in her spare pillows showed where their heads had lain and proved she hadn’t made it all up in her lonely mind. Was it wrong that she wished one of them would have touched her more? Was it bad that her body had heated to their innocent touches? That parts of her now tingled and dampened when they’d been dormant for so many years she’d almost forgotten they existed? Was it so wrong that those two wonderful men she didn’t even know had made her dream again? She frowned and headed for the kitchen. She needed coffee to think straight. Joseph and Blake were better than anything she could have ever dreamed. And a scary, strange part of her mind wondered what it would be like to be in her big bed with them, all cuddled up the way they had been last night, only without the layers of blankets and clothes separating their naked skin.

She shivered as she skipped down the stairs. For the first time since Randolph’s death, she felt almost normal. Ready to start living again. She hadn’t thought of anything but Incognito and Randolph’s betrayal and death for weeks and weeks. Today, she had other things to do. First, she wanted to call Randolph’s lawyer and find out how long she had to keep this monstrosity of a house. If she sold it, she could get herself a little cottage on the beach somewhere and have enough money to live off of for a while, especially when she combined it with his life insurance policy. She’d always wanted to live by the ocean, but Randolph had preferred to have a chlorinated swimming pool trimmed with imported stone instead of foamy, lapping waves and seaweed. She went into the kitchen and almost tripped over her own feet when the scents of sausage, eggs, and freshly-brewed coffee hit her nostrils. The house was empty, of that she was sure. But she smelled food. Breakfast she hadn’t prepared. A sheet of paper lay on the dark, granite island in the center of the massive kitchen. She picked it up and read:

Penny, Breakfast is in the oven, and coffee is in the pot. We thought you might want something with more sustenance than bologna and mustard for breakfast. We took the flash card from your camera and will turn it over to Detective Baxter this morning. Give us a call if you need anything.

It was signed by both Joseph and Blake, each with a distinctive, masculine scrawl. Their names were followed by two phone numbers. She sighed and pressed the note to her chest. If she were a different kind of woman, she would call. She’d ask them to come for supper so she could thank them properly. But why would they want anything to do with her? She was a cheating old man’s idiotic widow who got caught breaking into Incognito not once, but twice. A woman she was sure the police suspected of arson, especially after last night. Her shoulders slumped, and she leaned her elbows on the counter as the bad memories of the night before overshadowed all of the warm, soft emotions Joseph and Blake had brought out of her. They made me breakfast. How sweet was that? Granted, it wasn’t breakfast in bed, but… Heat burned her cheeks at the thought and the remembered realization that she’d actually drifted off to sleep with both men in her bed. Well, technically they were on her bed, not in it, but still… She never should have been so trusting. Yet there was just something about them, something so caring and kind. Sort of like Randolph had been…at first. No, that wasn’t right. He’d always been kind to her, but in the last few years his kindness was accompanied by a growing sense of…coldness? No. Indifference. Not even Randolph had been in her bed. On the rare occasions when they did sleep together, earlier in their

marriage, she had gone to him in his bedroom. And he never made me breakfast. Shaking off those thoughts, she refocused on the here and now. The past was over. She needed to get on with her life and figure out what she was going to do with herself now that she didn’t have anyone to wait on and take care of—not that her attention had meant anything to Randolph all of those years. If it had, he wouldn’t have cheated on her like he did. She crumpled into a chair and dropped her forehead onto the table, and her eyes welled with renewed tears. Why, Randolph? What did I do wrong?

*****

“I call,” Joseph heard Robbie say as he and Blake walked into the fire station’s living quarters. “What ya got?” “Two pair,” Dick replied, his poker face brightening into a sly grin. “Of sixes.” He scooped up his winnings—a pile of paper clips—as if it were a multi-million dollar pot. Robbie’s curse had Joseph, Blake, and three other fellow firefighters at the table chuckling. Dick was the eldest of the bunch, and the most experienced. He could’ve retired as early as last year, but the old bachelor was still as strong as an ox and lived for the camaraderie of the close-knit group. Stew and Tim graduated from the academy a few months before he and Blake did. The clean-shaven Robbie was the newest and youngest at the table. All were good, hard-working men. Colleagues and friends. Blake gave Robbie a pat on the shoulder. “Don’t sweat it, rookie,” he said. “It’s all part of the initiation. Dick swindles everyone out of paper clips when they first join the department. It’s an odd fetish, I know, but it keeps the old codger happy.” Robbie and the others laughed. Dick snorted in mock offense and took a swig of his soft drink. “Aren’t you guys supposed to be off the clock for the next few days?” Stew asked. Joseph responded with a nod. “Yep.” “So, why aren’t you out chasin’ skirts or something?” Tim asked. “What’re you doing back here?” Joseph didn’t want to admit they came to check in with Crocket on the arson investigation, so he supplied a half-truth. “Actually, we just stopped by to pick up some stuff I left here by mistake.” Dick gave him an acknowledging grunt and dealt the cards again. “You know, Joe, forgetfulness is the first sign on the road to becoming an old codger.” “Thanks for the warning,” Joseph said amid more good-natured ribbing as he made his way to his

locker. Blake stayed by the table. “Is Crocket in?” “Naw.” Dick shook his head. “He’s back at that arson fire, scrounging through the rubble for clues.” “Clues? Ha,” Stew joked. “I’m telling you, he’s hoping to salvage some freaky fetish toys from that place.” “No telling what he’ll unearth in the debris,” Tim said with a chuckle. “Fetish toys?” Robbie asked. While Tim explained what crews had discovered about the business hidden within the walls of the once stately mansion, Joseph glanced back just in time to catch Blake’s frown. Most of the guys didn’t know about his and Blake’s membership to Incognito. Dick had some suspicions, but he’d never pressed them for confirmation. Robbie was still too new to know anything. And since Tim, Stew, and even Crocket were happily married in very vanilla relationships, Joseph and Blake felt it was probably best they not find out. Harmless hazing was one thing, but some stuff in life was best left private. It looked as if they’d have to head to Incognito after all if they wanted to find out anything new about the investigation. Before he could say anything, though, a familiar feminine voice swept through the firehouse like a flashover. “Hello? Anyone here?” “Back here!” Dick called out before either Blake or Joseph could recover from their surprise. Penny…here? Yes, there she was, her pretty face popping into view through the doorway. The rest of her petite body soon followed. Joseph gave up all pretense of retrieving anything from his locker and retraced his steps. He almost collided with Blake, since his friend’s focus remained transfixed on Penelope. When her gaze landed on them, her face lit up with a bright white grin, her steps quickened, and the air grew scarce in the private realm of the fire station. “Hello, Joseph…Blake.” Despite the urge to stare at her dumbfounded, like a pubescent with his first crush, Joseph moved to intercept her. Blake shadowed him. “What are you doing here?” Blake asked. Dick stood and belted out a gruff, but appreciative, “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Joseph frowned, but didn’t turn away from the vision before him. She was even prettier than he recalled. Her hair was pulled back in a loose bun, but wisps had escaped it to frame her face, softening her already attractive appearance. She wore very little makeup, maybe a light touch of lip gloss and blush. Or were her cheeks naturally that rosy? She was dressed conservatively in a pastel cotton sundress and a lightweight, pale yellow sweater, the latter being a minor necessity in

Florida during the winter season. It damn sure wasn’t cold inside the firehouse. A bead of sweat slid down Joseph’s spine, and his favorite jeans became uncomfortable. He took a big, steadying breath and caught the scent of…chocolate? Penny’s grin diminished a fraction as she held up a platter he hadn’t even noticed before. “I brought you all some fresh-baked brownies.” Now that she mentioned it, he recognized the source of the delicious aroma. “Mmm,” the men chorused. Their chairs scraped the floor as they rose in unison and moved toward her. “I wanted to thank you,” she continued, her gaze colliding with his, “for saving me last night and—” Joseph placed his fingers over her shimmering lips to cut off whatever she’d been about to say. “Hold that thought.” He took her by the elbow. Blake took the tray from her hands and passed it to the others. “Dig in and enjoy, guys.” They pounced on the sweets while he and Blake escaped with the girl. Albeit, their departure didn’t go unnoticed. “Hey, where are y’all goin’?” Stew called out. “You just got here.” “Shut up and eat,” Joseph said without looking back. Once outside and away from his curious colleagues, he came to a stop and faced the widowed sub who’d plagued his most recent fantasies. “Now, what were you going to say?” Obviously startled by the sudden escort out of the building, she blinked and stared at him a second before answering. “I—I wanted to thank you for saving my life and checking on me.” She glanced at Blake. “It was very kind of you to…make me breakfast and all.” She uttered the last word with a shy drop of her gaze and a renewed blush to her cheeks. Her words were exactly what Joseph had suspected she would say, which is why he’d stopped her beforehand. The guys didn’t need to know he and Blake had spent the night in the home of a woman suspected of starting the blaze that had put many lives at risk, including their own. “I’m s-sorry.” Worry marred her delicate features. “Did I do something wrong?” “No,” he said quickly. “We’re just surprised…uh, happy to see you…happy to see you’re doing all right, that is.” He gave Blake a help me look. “How are you doing, Penny?” Blake drew her attention. “How’s your hand?” She glanced down at the small bandage. “It’s doing much better now. Thank you.” She turned her rich brown eyes back to Joseph. “I got your note. It was very sweet of you two to make me breakfast and handle that other matter…with the photos.” “Our pleasure,” Joseph murmured, uncertain about what to say or how to react. “Any time.” He wanted

to pull her into his arms and hug the stuffing out of her. He wanted to kiss those glossy lips until time ceased to pass. But that couldn’t happen. Not now, and damn sure not here. She smiled. “Really? Do you say that to all the women you rescue from burning buildings?” “Yeah. Huh?” He shook his head. Blake gave his shoulder a shove. “Don’t mind him. He didn’t get much sleep last night.” Blake tapped his own temple with a forefinger. “He’s still not fully awake yet.” Penny’s laugh was short and sweet, like the tinkling of a wind chime on a bright sunny day. Joseph frowned. He needed to… Hell, he didn’t know what he needed to do, only what he wanted to do. He gave her a smile and rolled his eyes in response to Blake’s remark. Her laughter returned, until Blake spoke again. “About that other matter —have you heard from anyone? Has anyone from the police department been by or tried to contact you this morning?” Her expression turned serious. “No, I haven’t. They haven’t. You gave them the photo card, right?” “Yes. First thing this morning.” “Did it contain anything?” “We don’t know,” Joseph said “We just handed it over to Paul, the detective you met.” “I hope it helps.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth; her brow furrowed. “How long do you think it’ll take? Before we hear something, I mean.” That was something Joseph had been asking himself since waking up this morning. Experience told him investigations took time, but that didn’t stop him from wanting resolution now, at least as far as it related to her guilt or innocence. Blake shrugged. “I imagine the photos are on a long list of evidence they’ll need to piece together. There were a lot of witnesses, and the place isn’t all that small. But you’ll probably hear something from them before we will.” “Okay.” She returned her gaze to him. “Thank you again. For everything.” She raised herself onto her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek, missing his lips by a hair. Without much thought, Joseph wrapped an arm around her tiny waist to hold her to him. Damn, she felt so good, made him so hard. He released her in a flash, hoping she hadn’t noticed his hard-on tucked in behind his zipper. Shit! She repeated the same gesture with Blake, wrapping her arms around the man’s neck. Joseph watched his friend’s eyes drift closed while a small smile played at his lips. Blake splayed his fingers at the small of her back and pressed her against him. Then he, too, seemed to come to his senses and released her with a tentative glance toward the fire station and its many windows.

“Well, I’d better go. Enjoy the brownies.” She waved and headed for her car. They were still standing in the same spot when her vehicle disappeared around the corner. Dick wandered outside. “That the girl you pulled from the fire last night?” he asked, coming to a stop next to them. Blake said, “Uh huh.” Joseph just nodded, his gaze still on the empty street. “She’s a pretty little thing. For a suspected arsonist, that is.” He put his beefy palms on both men’s shoulders. “You two might want to remember that last part before her beauty snares you into a trap you can’t escape from.” “Fuck,” they muttered in unison. Dick chuckled. “Now, that kind of thinking can only lead to trouble.”

Chapter Five

Blake set the truck’s brake and stared at the charred remains of what had once been a spectacular mansion, a club where he and his friends had gathered for drinks, conversation, and safe, sensual pleasures. “It’s a damn shame,” Joe said from the passenger seat. “Yeah. It’s hard to believe someone would want to torch the place.” “I know. Crockett confirmed evidence of arson, which is why he’s out here again.” Joe unclipped his seatbelt. “I just hope he finds what he needs to clear Penny and find the real culprit.”

Blake glanced at Joe then put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. Joe gave voice to the same thing he’d been thinking since he’d hugged the woman that morning. She’d felt so right in his arms, with that slight tremble in her body and the soft sigh only he had heard. But was she for real? Or was she clever enough to pull off a ruse like— No. He was a Dom experienced enough to recognize the signs of a natural submissive. She couldn’t possibly do what had been needed to burn down the fetish club. And if she hated everything the club stood for, why pretend to be a sub? It didn’t make sense. There had to be another explanation for her actions. “You don’t buy the speculation that the club was having a hard time financially, do you?” he asked Joe. His friend scoffed at the idea. “Are you kidding? Did you see all of the folks there last night? The place was packed. And with Kat marrying that big-wig from New York…no way is the club in need of an insurance claim. Besides, that’s not Kat’s style.” “You’re right, especially last night.” It would’ve been too dangerous to pull such a stunt with so many people there. If they’d needed the insurance money, it would’ve made more sense to torch the place on a Monday when no one was there who might get hurt. “I’m just trying to come up with a reason why it happened, you know?” “Yeah.” Joe paused, his serious gaze settling once more on the scorched brick shell of the building. “You think they’ll rebuild?” Blake looked around, smiled, and pointed off to his right. “Yep, I think so. Isn’t that Garrett Storm?” Blake grinned at the sight of the architect and developer standing next to Carl, the club owners’ second-in-command. Then he got out of the truck, pocketed his keys, and followed Joe, who was already headed in their direction. “We can try to save as much of the original stone exterior as possible,” Garrett was saying, “and rebuild the weakened parts to match. But the insides will have to be gutted. There’s just too much smoke and water damage for us to salvage it.” “How soon can work begin?” Carl wanted to know. He held a clipboard with notes scribbled all over it. “As soon as the investigators give the okay.” He held up a roll of blue prints. “These will help.” Carl turned toward them. “Hello, Masters Blake and Joseph.” “Just Blake and Joe, for now, Carl.” Blake shook the man’s hand. Club formality didn’t seem right in the bright light of day, especially standing beside the club’s remains. Carl nodded. “How may I help you?” They both shook hands with Garrett before Joe answered, “We’re looking for Stephan Crockett, the arson investigator.” “And Detective Baxter, if he’s here,” Blake added.

“Certainly. They’re both inside. If you’ll wait here, I’ll go get them.” Without waiting on them to answer, Carl headed for the building, leaving Storm to entertain them. Joe questioned Garrett on the plans for rebuilding the club. “We’ll do our best to remain true to the original architecture, but Dalton and Kat want to upgrade some things. We’re still working out the particulars, but work should begin soon.” The large man seemed to be studying the structure as if he were envisioning it in the future, like some masterpiece of art. “Barring any hold-ups with the investigation, that is. The insurance company wants the owners cleared of all suspicion before they pay up.” “That’s typical,” Blake said, although he doubted Kat and Dalton appreciated being considered suspects. Garrett glanced at him. “Yeah. Apparently, a building full of eyewitnesses isn’t enough of an alibi.” The three men walked toward the building, the seashells from the parking area crunching underfoot. Baxter exited the front doorway, followed by Crockett and Carl. “Where are Kat and Dalton?” Joe asked. “They were here, but Dalton took Kat home,” Carl said. “The sight of the place like this…” He let his words drop off and motioned toward the rubble. “That’s understandable,” Blake said. “I’m sorry we couldn’t have done more.” “You saved what you could, and no one was killed. That’s damn good, if you ask me. The rest can be rebuilt.” Joe and Blake greeted Crockett and the detective before Blake asked, “We were wondering how the investigation’s going. Do you have any suspects?” “Too many, at the moment,” Detective Baxter said. Crockett took off his dirty gloves and rubbed his neck. His boots and clothes were smudged with soot. The detective’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me.” He held up a finger, flipped open his phone, and stepped a short distance away to take the call. “You know I can’t really comment on an on-going investigation,” Crockett said. “I know. I just—” “If you don’t need me anymore,” Carl interrupted, “Garrett and I will continue our inspection of the walls and foundation.” Crockett nodded and raised a hand in farewell as the two men walked away. “Come on, sir,” Blake said once the pair was out of earshot. “We’re not gonna do anything to

jeopardize the case. We want to see you solve it as much as anyone.” Crockett glanced at the detective who was still talking on his phone. “The evidence indicates a simple source. No sophisticated incendiary device. Nothing like that. And the arsonist got lucky.” “What do you mean?” Joe asked. “The burn pattern shows the fire began in one of the back rooms, an office with a lot of combustibles. But we’re not talking about someone knowledgeable about fires. A window was left open, which fed the fire until it spread to the rest of the building.” The detective returned and held up his phone. “Do you guys recognize this man? I met him near the ambulance that night, but I don’t recall his name.” Joe and Blake looked at the picture on the phone’s tiny screen. It appeared to be a young man crawling through a window. “Hey, is that—?” Blake asked. Paul nodded. “It’s one of the photos taken by Mrs. Schwartz. A zoom-in close-up of the background in one of the pictures on her flash card. Do you recognize him?” “Yes,” Joe said. “I remember him. What was his name? Brett. No—Brian, I think it was. Carl can probably tell you more about him.” The detective looked up and waved Carl over. “Carl, come here a minute.” He walked over with Garrett. The detective showed him the picture. “What can you tell me about this guy?” “That’s Brian Meadows. He’s been a club member for about…I’m not sure. A few years, I’d say. He’s a stray voyeur, mostly.” Garrett leaned in for a closer look. “Ah, yeah. That’s the kid with a crush on Kat.” Blake glanced at Joe then back to Garrett. “A crush?” Baxter asked. Garrett nodded. “Yes,” Carl said. “He has a thing for Katriona. She’s put him in his place a few times. Ever since Kat and Dalton’s engagement, he’s become a bit of a nuisance. Whenever he’s around, he’s never far from Kat. At one point, he even sneaked into her office when she was there alone. Scared the crap out of her.” It didn’t take Blake long to realize everyone else was thinking the same thing he was. The kid had motive.

*****

“We could call her.” Joseph stared out the passenger window of Blake’s truck as they wound through the high-income residential area near Penelope’s house. “Mmm hmm.” “Wanna use my cell?” Blake unclipped his phone from his belt and held it out, but he didn’t turn to take it. He knew Blake was intentionally needling him, and he didn’t want his friend to know just how much turmoil swirled through his brain and heart. The smart thing to do would be to call Penny and let her know the investigators now have an actual suspect. Someone with motive, who’d been caught on camera— hercamera—acting suspicious. The dumb thing to do would be to bring her dinner from his favorite Italian restaurant. But a bag filled with cartons of shrimp Alfredo, linguini pesto, and parmesan chicken already sat on the bench seat between him and Blake. The scent of garlic and oregano made his mouth water, even as his stomach curled with uncertainty. He liked Penny. He wanted to wrap her up, keep her safe, and take away that deep sadness behind her eyes. To make her world a happy, loving place where philandering husbands didn’t exist. The way she’d looked at him with such innocence and trust made him feel responsible for her. Too bad he didn’t trust that innocence. Didn’t trust that she wouldn’t crush him in the end. “She lost her husband only a couple months ago,” Blake said, the teasing gone from his voice. “I know.” “You said yourself she probably only married him for his money.” “I know .” Joseph fisted his hands on his thighs. “I felt it, too, you know,” Blake said, his voice barely audible over his old pickup’s noisy V-8 engine. Joseph stared at his best friend. Blake never felt anything. He hadn’t gotten his heart tangled up with a woman in over a decade. He’d learned his lesson the first and only time they’d found one who accepted them both. But she’d soon started playing them against one another. Getting off on seeing them argue and even come to blows—until they realized her dirty little game. But true dating, which led to matters of the heart, they kept to themselves. Blake didn’t involve his heart with any woman. Joseph hadn’t been as smart. He’d gotten his heart trampled more often than he cared to admit. Yet he longed for a love match. As mushy and sentimental as it seemed, he wanted a happily ever after. A home and children and a woman who looked at him...well, the way Penny looked at him.

Blake pulled the pickup into Penny’s driveway, killed the engine, and sighed. “Look, I don’t know what to think about her. I know she brings out every fucking protective instinct I possess. Maybe it’s because she’s so damn little. I know part of it is those big brown eyes that look at us as if we hold the key to the world.” Joseph nodded in agreement. “She does seem so lost. Alone.” Blake turned. “And you know how that feels, don’t you, buddy?” Joseph couldn’t deny it—not to Blake. He’d spent most of his life lost and alone. If it hadn’t been for Blake’s friendship, he wasn’t sure where he’d be right now. Blake had been his champion when kids at school bullied him because he wasn’t white. Blake had stuck up for him, protected the scrawny little Indian boy he’d been then. With a chuckle, he rubbed his hand over his face. “I’m still acting like that wimpy little Indian kid, huh? The one who was scared shitless? And this time, it’s because of an itty bitty woman.” He shook his head. “God, I’m fucking pathetic.” “No, you’re not.” Blake punched him in the arm. “You’re a sucker for the underdog because you’ve been there. You’ve just gotten hurt too many times.” “What’s your excuse?” “I have an incurable hero complex?” He chuckled. “Oh, wait—that’s why I joined the fire department.” He shoved his door open and stepped out of the truck. Joseph laughed, grabbed the bag of food, and joined him in the driveway. “No. You joined the fire department because I dragged you to the academy kicking and screaming. Besides, if you hadn’t done that, your dad would’ve made you enlist in the Marines.” They headed up the mansion’s wide front steps. “Yeah,” Blake said as Joseph reached for the doorbell. “That would’ve been a bitch. At least working for the department, I can be a hero and get laid on a regular basis.” “Marines don’t get laid?” Joseph lifted his brows. “Not if they—”Blake broke off when the heavy door swung open to reveal Penny wearing a fluffy pink sweat suit. Her hair was in a pony tail, and her tiny feet were bare. She had a smudge of dirt on her pert little nose. Her big dark eyes lit up, and a grin curved her lips, revealing those not-so-perfect, yet completely adorable front teeth. “Hi, guys.” “Hello, Penny.” Joseph held up the brown paper sack. “We brought dinner.” Her lips parted in surprise, and her eyes widened. “You did?” “Have you eaten?” Blake asked. She shook her head and dropped her gaze to the floor. Joseph frowned at Blake and noticed a matching expression on his face.

What was her game?

Chapter Six

Penny stared at the floor and prayed the tears wouldn’t fall. Her eyes burned, and her nose itched. They had brought her dinner. Her heart thudded, and she locked her fingers together so her shaking wouldn’t show. It wasn’t proper for a lady to let anyone know her emotions. Especially tears. Men hated tears. She swallowed to make sure the lump was gone from her throat before she stepped aside and said, “Please, come in.” Both men wore black boots with thick soles that made soft thuds on the tile floor of the foyer. There was something very sexy about them. Their faded jeans were nice, too. They looked very comfortable, and showed off the men’s beautiful legs. Joseph’s were a bit longer—since he was taller than Blake—and leaner. Blake was more stocky and muscular. Thick. They both towered over her. When she decided her emotions were masked, she looked up at them and smiled. “Did you have a pleasant day?” Though they looked nothing alike, she admired their differences. Joseph had smooth, caramel skin, black eyes, shoulder-length hair, and a shadow of whiskers on his strong, square chin. Blake wore his dirty blond hair short, and had bright hazel eyes. He was clean-shaven, with an almost boyish appearance, but his eyes showed age and wisdom. Coincidentally, their mannerisms were similar. They both tilted their heads to the right and looked at her with matching expressions of confusion, as if she’d lost her mind. Perhaps she had. Randolph had schooled her over the years on how to speak to his friends and colleagues. Yet these two men weren’t from Randolph’s world. They were unlike anyone she’d ever met. They’d taken care of her the other night, making sure she felt safe. Neither one had left her side, at least not until she fell asleep. They didn’t work in office buildings or drive hundred-thousand dollar cars.

They were the type of people with whom she’d grown up. She frowned. Well, not exactly. They were like the people from her hometown outside her strict religious sect. Hard working, blue collar, middle-class guys. She wasn’t sure she knew how to talk to those people. Sometimes, she believed Randolph had brainwashed her as completely as her own parents had. “Are you moving?” Blake asked, breaking the awkward silence. She glanced at the packed cardboard boxes stacked against the wall then back at the two men. “Yes. Or at least, I hope so.” “Are you moving closer to your family?” Joseph asked. “No!” She didn’t mean to shout the word, but there was no way she’d ever go back to her parents or…that life. “I mean, I don’t have any. Family, that is.” Her cheeks burned, and she looked away. She hated lying, but it was better than having to tell them the truth about certain things. They glanced at each other. “If you’d like,” she said once she’d regained control, “you can take the food into the dining room. I’ll go change for supper.” “Why don’t we just eat in the kitchen?” Blake asked with a gentle smile, which made his eyes sparkle. He tapped the tip of her nose with his fingertip. “No need to get fancied up. It’s just takeout.” Dumbfounded, she nodded. Dressing for dinner was another of Randolph’s mandates, especially when they had guests. She didn’t care where she ate when she was alone, but she still felt the urge to clean up now that Joseph and Blake had come. Why were they here? She wasn’t bold enough to ask. She was just glad they were, whatever the reason. She led them into the kitchen and went to the pantry to retrieve her stepstool so she could reach the plates. Joseph set the bag of food on the round table in the breakfast nook, then took the stool from her hands and set it back inside the pantry, catching her off guard. “I’ll get the dishes. Just point the way,” he said when he turned toward her. She smiled up at him. As hard as she tried to serve them, to cater to their needs, they seemed determined not to allow it. Why was that? The men in her family had always been…different. They worked hard in the fields, but inside their homes, their wives took care of them. Even with Randolph, it had been the same. Joseph smiled. He was very handsome. She hadn’t been this close to a Native American man in all of her life. She liked his neck—the way his Adam’s apple bobbed when he spoke. The rich color of his skin. She wanted to lick it. To see if he tasted as spicy as he smelled. “Penny—the dishes?”

With a gasp, she looked away and pointed at the cupboard over the counter where she stored the everyday plates and bowls. Her cheeks burned. She shouldn’t be thinking about tasting these men. She closed her eyes to get herself back on track. They were gentleman who wanted to make sure she was all right. That was all. Nothing more. Just because she’d been having very naughty thoughts about both of them ever since earlier, when she’d been so forward as to kiss them on the cheek— “What’s wrong, Penny?” Blake stepped closer and laid a big, warm hand on her shoulder. She melted. Even that innocent touch was welcome. It had been so long since... She wanted to turn to him and ask him to hold her the way he had at the firehouse. Only this time, she didn’t want him to let her go. Blake’s scent was musky and smooth. But then another scent mixed with it, and she knew Joseph stood in front of her, even though she had closed her eyes and couldn’t see him. His smell was spicy and rich. Sandalwood and cinnamon. Heat radiated off their bodies into her. A finger touched her chin and gently tipped back her head. She kept her eyes shut as her mind ran into the dark, dangerous, forbidden territory where her fantasies went the other night when they both lay with her in bed. “Look at me, sweetheart,” Joseph said, his voice low and silky smooth. A shiver ran down her arms. She didn’t want to open her eyes, to see him looking at her as if she’d gone mental. She didn’t want to break the lovely spell their touch wove with her imagination. What was so wrong with staying in this fantasy just a little longer? “Open your eyes,” Blake whispered. His body moved closer to hers, until his chest brushed her shoulder blades. “We need to see those lovely eyes.” Joseph trailed his finger over her chin, along her jaw, up to her ear, and then smoothed his rough palm over her cheek. It was the gentlest, sweetest caress she could ever remember experiencing. She leaned into his hand and, afraid they’d disappear, slowly opened her eyes. They hadn’t. Joseph stood in front of her, so tall and dark, his black eyes searching her face, as if looking deep into her soul. Did he know how bad she was? Did he know her secret desires? Would they repulse him? Blake’s hand coasted from her shoulder, to her elbow, to her hand. He wrapped his fingers around hers then took hold of her other hand in the same way, threading their fingers together. He pulled her arms behind her back. She gasped as the motion thrust her chest out and against Joseph’s. Her eyelids grew heavy, and her breathing sped up. Her cheeks felt as if they were on fire from embarrassment, but she could do nothing to hide from them. From Joseph’s deep, penetrating stare and Blake’s touch. The aroma of herbs and spices mingled with their masculine scents, but food was the last thing on her mind. “Do you know what we are, Penelope?” Blake’s voice was a soft, gravelly seduction in her ear. “F-firefighters?” she asked.

The corner of Joseph’s lips twitched, as if he were suppressing a smile. “Yes, sweetheart. But we are also members of Incognito.” Her lips parted in surprise. Alarm stirred in her stomach. Were they here to punish her? Joseph’s gaze never wavered. “You said you’ve sneaked into the club. What did you see?” What she’d seen had both horrified and tantalized her. Though disgust was what she’d expressed when she’d been caught. “Nakedness.” “Anything else?” Joseph raised his left eyebrow, and this time the slight curve on his sensual lips spread into a real smile. The light caress of Blake’s thumbs along the undersides of her wrists was a distraction, but she focused on Joseph’s words and the feel of his big palm against her cheek. “Sex,” she whispered. “You saw sex?” “Yes. A man with two women.” She remembered it so clearly. He lay on his back on a padded table. One woman had knelt over his face; the other, over his groin. Both had been writhing and moaning with pleasure. “What did you think when you saw that?” Blake asked. She’d wished she’d experienced such pleasure, enough to make her moan that loudly. Yet rather than admitting the truth, she licked her lips and shrugged. “I’d never seen anything like it before. I was...surprised.” “And tantalized?” Joseph asked softly as he leaned down closer to her, until his warm breath bathed her cheek. She wanted to shake her head in denial, but she knew Joseph would see her lie. “Did it excite you?” Blake asked. She nodded. “Did you ever wonder what it would be like to be one of those women?” Joseph asked. She nodded again. Blake ran his hands up her arms to her elbows and pulled them back farther, thrusting her chest harder against Joseph. “What was it that excited you the most?” “The freedom,” she admitted, not realizing the truth until the word escaped her lips. Joseph raised his hand to her neck and caressed her thundering pulse point. “Freedom?” She licked her lips, afraid to voice her true feelings. Afraid...she was always afraid. She’d lived in fear her entire life. If she couldn’t be honest with Joseph and Blake, who then? Who would listen to her? She

had no one else. “It’s okay,” Blake said, his thumbs caressing the insides of her elbows. His grip was tight, yet not painful. She liked it. A lot. Loved being sandwiched between these two big, strong, virile men. “We’re not here to judge you. We need to know you, though. To know what’s in your mind. If you don’t tell us, we’ll have to leave.” No. She didn’t want them to go. “They just seemed so uninhibited,” she rushed to say. “They were free to explore sexual excesses without worrying about what others around them thought or did. I mean, I saw them. They were in a room full of people, and no one batted an eyelash at them.” “Do you want to be uninhibited, Penny?” Joseph asked. “Do you want to explore sexual excess?” Yes, her mind screamed. She’d been jealous of those in the club, not that she’d admit it. She knew it was selfish to want such things, but she wanted to writhe and moan with pleasure. Just once in her life. She wanted Joseph and Blake to make her do those things, so she didn’t have to feel guilty later, but she couldn’t ask. No, she didn’t dare. “What do you do there?” she asked, instead of answering his question. Joseph lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. “We share. We dominate. We control. We pleasure.” Breath rushed out of her lungs, and tingles zinged through her body at the soft caress of his mouth and the words he uttered. “You share?” she asked, her body trembling. She ached for a deeper kiss. A kiss like none she’d ever experienced. Deep and carnal—like in the movies. She wanted Joseph’s tongue in her mouth. “Two men,” Blake said in her ear before his lips closed over her lobe. She yelped at the enticing sensation. “One woman.” Joseph speared his tongue into her mouth, sliding it past her teeth to rub against hers. Her knees gave out. Joseph’s strong arms surrounded her, steadying her, pulling her against his hard body, against the solid evidence of his arousal, even as Blake pressed against her back and held her arms pinned and immobile. Two men. Two men. Joseph and Blake. And her. She wanted to be their one woman. Control me. Share me. Dominate me. Pleasure me. Please! “Do you want two men, Penny?” Blake whispered while Joseph’s tongue teased hers. “Do you want us to share your body and make it ours?” She whimpered. “Will you let us control and dominate you? Will you do what we ask, when we ask it?” Anything!

She had no problem doing what they wanted, especially considering what they asked for. She’d obediently followed her father’s dictates until Randolph, and she’d obeyed her husband for years, done everything he requested of her. Yet he’d never made her feel the way these men did with their whispered words and soul-searing kisses. “Will you accept us into your body? Will you let us see to your pleasure?” She ripped her mouth from Joseph’s. It was wrong to want this, wrong to want them, but… “Yes,” she said on a pant as she dropped her head forward against Joseph’s chest. She didn’t give a damn that it was wrong. “Please. Yes.”

Chapter Seven

“Five years ago,” she murmured, her eyes still closed, answering Blake’s curious question about when she’d last had sex. She didn’t seem surprised by her answer, but he damn sure was. Blake met Joe’s eyes over the top of Penelope’s head and saw the need—the hunger—in his best friend’s face, which had to mirror his own. Five years without a man. Half a decade without her husband’s intimate touch. No wonder her body shook. Her excitement was so palpable—her arousal, unmasked. She’d given them permission to take her. To use her. But he doubted she truly knew what they wanted

long term. Was it too soon to tell her? Would she understand the depth of their need? He doubted it. But they’d cross that bridge when they came to it. For now, they’d give her a few orgasms and take care of her physical needs, even sate themselves in her beautiful body. What would come beyond that? They’d have to wait and see. Joe gave a slight nod, and Blake knew they shared the same thoughts. They’d known each other long enough to be able to read each other, especially when it came to women. Blake nodded in return, stepped back, and lifted Penny into his arms. She gave a little yelp and wrapped her arms around his neck. She was such a tiny thing and weighed almost nothing. “You’re sure you want us to touch you, to fuck you?” he asked, using that word on purpose. He didn’t want there to be any question about whether or not she understood what they intended to do. He carried her through the house to the stairs that would take them up to her lavish bedroom. Her lips parted slightly, and her eyes widened. “Is that what you want?” He stopped walking. If she’d misinterpreted anything they’d said... Slowly, her mouth formed the word, and she whispered, “Fuck,” as if she’d never uttered such a filthy thing before. Blake forced himself not to laugh. “Yes, darlin’. We want to fuck you. To sink our cocks into your tight little cunt and make you scream with ecstasy.” Her face turned bright red, but she never broke eye contact. He had to give her credit for that. “But not before,” Joe said, “we taste every part of you.” She gasped. Then she did glance away, but only to look over his shoulder at Joe, who stood behind him. Blake didn’t move. She had yet to answer the question. “Are you sure it’s what you want?” he asked, drawing her gaze back to him. “Our mouths on your body? Our cocks inside you, fucking you hard, making you scream?” Slowly, she nodded. Then she swallowed, hard. “Yes.” The word was little more than a whisper. “I want…all of that.” Her little body vibrated in his arms. There was no denying she was aroused. He grinned. “You have to say it, darlin’. Say you want us to fuck you.” She glanced at Joe then back at him. Her cheeks were so red he was surprised they didn’t burst into flames. But her eye contact was direct, and she showed no sign of fear or unease. Only excitement. “I want you to...” Her voice started out strong, but dropped to a barely audible whisper. She leaned in close to his ear. “...fuck me.” He chuckled and headed up the stairs two at a time. With such a sweet request, he couldn’t wait.

When he reached her bedroom, he set her on her feet by the bed and flipped on the small lamp with a pink shade on the nightstand. “Take off your clothes.” She stared up at him with those big brown eyes. He didn’t repeat the command, just held her gaze and waited. Joe stepped up next to him so they stood shoulder to shoulder. “Go on, sweetheart. Do as you’re told.” Blake wondered just how far they could push her, and how much her husband had trained her before he’d stopped bedding her. The biggest question of all was if he’d stopped sleeping with her because he was no longer physically capable, or because he didn’t want to. How any man could turn away from this little, submissive beauty was beyond Blake’s comprehension. Slowly, she reached for the hem of her sweatshirt. Then she pulled it up and over her head. It took all his training as a Dom not to let his lust take control. She was perfect. Her bare breasts were not too small, not too large. They were pretty and pert. Her nipples were a dusky pink, and they were tight, pointing at him. Her waist was so slim he could probably span it with his hands. Blake heard the rustle of clothes beside him, and looked over to see Joe stripping. The poor guy almost landed on his face as he tried getting out of his pants with his boots still on. Damn, he hoped Joe didn’t get hurt this time. He prayed his friend would keep his heart shielded and see tonight with Penny as he did their nights at Incognito. Sure, they were introducing a supposed novice to the joys of ménage, but it wasn’t as if it was the first time they’d made this journey. And tonight’s events did nothing to guarantee them a future together with the woman before them. One cautious step at a time. “Pants,” Joe said, glancing up at Penny from unlacing his boots. “Take them off.” Penny’s gaze was firmly planted on Joe, which didn’t surprise Blake. Women loved his naturally darker skin tone and long, lean muscles. Especially white women. He figured it had something to do with human nature’s attraction to the forbidden. Even though mixed-race relationships, like those with Native American half-breeds, weren’t looked down upon anymore, some inborn ancestral memory made it so. Joe played into their hands by keeping his hair a little longer than he should, which made him look dangerous. Blake grinned and jerked his shirt over his head as Penny pushed her sweatpants down her legs. Over the years, Blake had gotten a good portion of his women because of his friendship with Joe. It was a damn good thing they liked to share, or their friendship would have ended ages ago. “Underwear,” Blake said to Penny when she paused in front of them. Without much hesitation, she hooked her thumbs into her panties and pushed them down, then stepped out of them. Holy hell, she was gorgeous. Flaring out from that tiny waist was a set of beautiful hips and slightly muscled, shapely legs. Blake kicked off his boots after he’d untied them, reached into his jeans, dragged out a strip of three

rubbers, and tossed them on the nightstand behind Penny. He and Joe finished undressing, their clothes landing in a pile on the floor. Her eyes widened when she glanced down at his cock, which was only partially erect. She stood with her hands together in front of her pussy, her legs pressed together. Blake wanted to chuckle at the picture of wanton innocence she portrayed—poised like a shy virgin, yet staring at a nude man. Joe, fully naked, climbed onto the bed and gained her attention. He rearranged a few pillows against the headboard, leaned back against them, then spread his legs and patted the bed between them. “Hop up here, sweetheart.” His cock was long and hard, and Blake knew the effort it would take for Joe to get through the next half hour or so without coming. It was probably why he was letting Blake have the first taste. Joe’s control where this little lady was concerned wasn’t very strong. They’d done this position once before with a novice. Binding without actual ties. Blake nodded his approval. It would be a good introduction for her. She’d be free enough to break their holds, but would still experience the sensation of being trapped, bound, open to them. Penny hesitantly climbed up onto the big bed to kneel between Joe’s legs. Her bottom was so perfect and round, Blake couldn’t stop himself from leaning over and taking a little nip of one cheek. Penny yelped and leaped into Joe’s arms. Joe chuckled and held her against his chest a moment before turning her and settling her back against his chest. “Try to relax.” He wrapped his hands around her thighs and spread her legs wide, placing her feet on the outside of his calves, opening her for Blake’s view. She was pretty and pink, already glistening with juices. Her triangle of dark hair surrounding that perfect pussy added to its allure. Blake’s cock surged to fullness, even as he commanded his body to chill out. They had a while before either of them could sink into that sweet haven. Penny’s breathing sped up, and she closed her eyes. The blush from her cheeks spread down her neck, across her breasts. “That’s it, sweetheart,” Joe murmured. “Let him look at you.” He took her by the wrists and put her hands flat on the bed outside of his hips. “Don’t move from this position unless we tell you to, understand?” Penny nodded. Her eyes remained closed, but she didn’t attempt to close her legs. Joe reached over her shoulders and cupped her breasts in his big, dark hands. She gasped and arched her back, pressing harder against his palms. Joe looked up at Blake and nodded. It was time. She was more than ready. Blake climbed onto the bed between their spread legs. “Open your eyes, Penny. I want you to see who’s touching you.” Her eyes slowly fluttered open, and she met his gaze. “You like how Joe’s caressing you?” She nodded.

“Do you like being open for us to see?” She bit her bottom lip. Joe pinched her right nipple, and she hissed. “Answer me,” Blake said. She dropped her gaze to one side, away from him. “Yes,” she whispered. Blake realized she was embarrassed by her own wants and needs, her innate sensuality. It had been so long since they’d dealt with a woman outside of Incognito, he’d forgotten that not all twenty-first century women were liberated. “It’s okay,” he said, releasing the commanding tone from his voice. “There’s no shame in it, darlin’. Here, with us, you have your freedom. You can express your sexuality, and we’ll never judge you.” She looked at him, and that soft sadness was in her eyes again. “Thank you.” Joe’s hands stilled their massaging motion, and Blake glanced at him. Fuck, Joe had that look. His heart wasn’t shielded. That soft little thanks from Penny had ripped down the wall surrounding it. Not much Blake could do for his buddy now. They had a woman who needed them. He leaned in, not quite touching his mouth to hers. “I didn’t get a kiss yet.” Her lips curled in a slight smile. “Open for me, little darlin’.” Her lips parted, and he swept his tongue into her mouth. She tasted like coffee and chocolate. When her tongue pressed against his, caressed his, he closed his eyes and sank into the kiss. She moaned and touched his arms. He pulled away. Joe captured her hands before they rose to embrace Blake’s neck and pressed them against the mattress. “No moving.” “But—” “And no talking,” Blake said, “unless we ask you a question.” Her brow furrowed into a sweet little frown. “Why?” “Because that’s the way we like it. We want you open. Submissive, obeying us. It turns us on to have you give us that control.” She stared up into his eyes for a few long moments, and Blake waited. He could practically see the

cranks turning in her mind. “ Giveyou control,” she whispered. He nodded. “That’s the way it works, darlin’. We give a command, but it’s your choice whether to follow it. We want to pleasure you. We also want you willing— wanting—to give us what will make us happy, too. Your permission is implied by your act of obedience. If you move, we stop. That’s your choice, but our responsibility.” She licked her lips, and the sight of that sweet little tongue made his balls ache. Penny couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was her choice. When had control over anything in her life been her choice? She couldn’t think of one time. Not once had she been given a choice, when a decision hadn’t been made for her, taken from her in one way or another. Yet here, in her own bed with two big, strong men who could take whatever they wanted from her with ease…instead of taking, demanding, ordering her, they were asking for her permission? They wanted it. But it was her choice to give it. It was the easiest decision she’d ever made. As embarrassed as she was to be spread out like this before Blake with Joseph’s big, long, hard penis pressed into her back, she’d never wanted anything more than she wanted to know what they would do to her if she gave them what they asked for. She turned her head and looked up at Joe. He tipped his head and met her gaze. “We’ll never hurt you or demean you,” he said, his voice low and gentle. “If you dislike something we do, you simply raise your hands off the mattress, and we stop. One word from you, sweetheart, and we stop.” She believed him. If they’d wanted to hurt her, they could have done it long before now. She turned back to Blake and, without a word, gave permission with a simple nod. Blake’s grin was big and bright. His eyes sparkled. “Thank you, Penelope,” he said, sounding too formal for a man sitting naked in front of her nude body. Joseph kissed her temple in a sweet gesture of thanks that made her heart ache. She didn’t have long to think about it, though, because Blake leaned over again, this time toward her chest. She looked down in time to see Joe adjust his long, dark fingers on her breasts, squeezing one of her nipples between two fingers and cupping the other for his friend. Blake closed his mouth over her left one and sucked it into his mouth. The air whooshed out of her lungs on a tortured moan, and it seemed that every muscle in her body clenched. Joseph held her tight against his chest and stomach so she couldn’t move, and she gripped the bedspread to keep from reaching for Blake. He switched to her other nipple, sucking it hard, and Joe plucked the damp one. The sight of those long fingers touching her as only she’d touched herself made her both embarrassed and elated. She’d fantasized about a man doing just this to her. Blake’s hands, a little rough and hot enough to burn, slid up her spread thighs, over her hips, to her waist. He suckled her breast at the same time he drew invisible little circles against her pelvis with his thumbs. She leaned her head forward, since she hadn’t been told she couldn’t move it, and buried her face in

Blake’s hair. He smelled of fresh air and that sweet musk he wore. He released her nipple with a little pop of suction and attacked her mouth. His teeth nipped her bottom lip before his tongue thrust deep inside. Joseph pinched her nipples hard enough to almost hurt, but Blake swallowed her whimper of protest, and the pain turned quickly to pleasure. What she needed was to press her thighs together to curb the ache that throbbed there. She wondered if either of them would touch her there, but instinct told her not to ask. This was so different from anything she’d ever experienced. It was fierce and hot. It made her burn. Her insides sizzled. She didn’t want to do anything that might make them stop. Blake pulled his mouth from hers and nibbled a moist path along her neck, her shoulder. Her fingers grew stiff from the tight grip she held on the comforter. She refused to move even though everything inside of her demanded it. She wanted to touch him—them. She wanted to lay her hands over Joe’s and press his palms harder against her chest. Wanted to dig her fingers into Blake’s hair and hold him to her. She wanted to pull Blake against her front the way Joseph was against her back. Blake’s mouth traveled lower, over her collarbone, and downward. He licked her right nipple then her left, leaving her panting for more because he moved on too quickly. His teeth and tongue nipped and licked a trail over her ribs while Joseph palmed and played with her breasts, but she needed more. She squirmed, what little she could and still keep her hands and feet flat on the bed. Blake dipped his talented tongue into her bellybutton, and her hips rose off the bed at the strange, glorious sensation it evoked. He pressed her back to the bed with those big hands on her waist and repeated the motion with is tongue. She whimpered and threw her head back against Joseph’s chest, her eyelids squeezed shut. “Please,” she said, though she wasn’t exactly sure what she begged for. They stopped, and her eyes snapped open. “Please, what? Do you want us to quit?” Joe asked softly in her ear. She quickly shook her head, aware now of what she’d done wrong. She bit her lip to prevent any more words from escaping. After another suspended moment, while she feared they’d leave, Joseph’s hands returned to slide along her sides and up to knead her breasts again. “Shh. Just feel…” She closed her eyes and sighed with relief, but opened them again when the bed jostled as Blake moved. He didn’t go far, though. He flattened onto his stomach and lowered his head between her thighs. She stopped breathing. Blake’s face was just inches from her pussy. She could feel his soft, heated puffs of breath on her tender flesh. Was he going to put his mouth there? Randolph had never— Joseph’s hands left her breasts and coasted down over her belly, making her muscles tighten. She watched in wonder as those beautiful, dark fingers lowered between her thighs and tangled in her pubic hair.

She trembled in anticipation, her pussy clenching, seeking, needing. Then those fingers slipped between her hot, slick folds. She panted and moaned at the amazing sensation of heat and electricity that zinged through her at his light touch. The tip of his index finger skimmed once over her clitoris, making her jump in surprise. “Shh,” Joseph whispered in her ear. “Damn, sweetheart, that’s a gorgeous cunt.” The way she lay, the angle at which her body was slightly curled, Joseph would have the same view she had of her pussy. He thought it was gorgeous? That thought both amused and shocked her. “Oh, yeah, it is,” Blake said from between her legs. “Open her up for me, buddy. Let me get a taste.” She blinked and bit her lip. Joseph’s middle finger dipped inside her in one quick swipe that made her groan and buck her hips, although she could barely move with both men’s hands holding her steady. Then he spread her pussy lips wide, exposing every nook and cranny of her most private part to Blake. He wasted no time. He leaned forward and swiped his tongue over her in an action that mimicked Joseph’s finger. Penny cried out at the shock of it. Not a word, but an incoherent sound of pleasure and passion. The softness of Blake’s tongue, the smoothness of his lips and chin… Mmm. The way Joseph circled her clit with that slick middle finger and how his whiskers lightly grazed against her temple. All combined to cause electrical currents to zip through her. Sensual heat and unfathomable need curled her toes and fingers inward. She closed her eyes because the view was too much. Seeing Blake’s blond head between her thighs, Joseph’s dark hands against her belly... She couldn’t take it. A sheen of perspiration slicked her where she rested against Joseph. His penis was so hard, long, and hot against her back, and she welcomed the desire that made her want to beg him to enter her. She envisioned what that dark skin would look like as it sank into her pale pink pussy. Blake’s tongue vanished the same instant two of Joseph’s thick fingers slid inside of her. Then Blake stunned her with a firm nip of his hard teeth along her inner thigh. She screamed and bucked against their hold. She had to move; the bolt of pleasure they’d caused was too much. The bedspread ripped up from the mattress as her muscles tensed. She gripped it so tightly her fingers ached. “Let go,” Joseph murmured while his fingers continued to stroke her most intimate of places. “Don’t fight it. We’re here. You’re safe.” Those fingers pumped faster. Blake’s teeth abraded her tender flesh, accompanied by his warm breath and moist tongue. His nips and nibbles added to the sizzling heat that crashed in on her. She gritted her teeth and squealed, fighting the urge to plead for more.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Joseph’s fingers, wet and slick from her pussy, leaped back to her breasts. He pinched and tugged and twisted them. Blake’s fingers and mouth replaced Joseph’s in a move that shoved her arousal higher, closer to the peak she sensed but had never crossed. “Come now. Let Blake taste your creamy bliss.” Joseph’s words did something to her, as if something inside her snapped. Live wires of current pulsed through her core to her extremities. “Mmm.” Blake murmured the deep-throated sound just before he drew hard on her clit, while his fingers wiggled deep into her channel. She screamed, and every muscle in her body shuddered. Pure ecstasy crashed through her, over her, a pleasure she’d never known. She collapsed against Joseph, panting and weak. But she didn’t have a moment to catch her breath. Big hands closed around her ankles and dragged her down the bed until her head rested against Joseph’s groin. The bedspread slid a bit, but their weight prevented it from moving too far. She had to let go, so she forced her fingers to uncurl, to splay her hands palms-down without lifting them too far off the bed. Joseph grabbed them and weaved their fingers together. She opened her eyes and looked up to see him watching her. He smiled. “Hey, beautiful.” She returned the smile, and dared to say a soft, “Hi.” He released her hands and cupped her face. “Blake’s going to fuck you now.” She thought she had been fucked, but she shifted her gaze to see Blake rolling one of the condoms from the nightstand onto his penis. He was so big, she worried his penetration might hurt. He was much bigger than Randolph—they both were. And it had been so long since… Blake lifted her legs from their limp position on the bed, and Joseph grabbed them behind the knees, pulling them up nearly to her shoulders, spreading her wide once again. She reached out for purchase and finally clung to Joseph’s legs. “New rules,” Blake said as the tip of his penis teased her oversensitive pussy lips. “If you can’t take it, you say the word Liberty . Got it?” She nodded, though she didn’t understand why she couldn’t just yell stop. Then all thought fled. He entered her. Hard and deep and fast. She cried out at the invasion, and he paused, buried deep within her, and waited. His expression was so serious. The vein in his neck stood out, and he gritted his teeth. He was using all his strength to hold still, to let her adjust to him, she realized. “More,” she whispered, a bit nervous that he might quit because she spoke aloud. But she wanted it all.

Everything they wanted to do to her. And she wanted them to know it. She never wanted tonight to end. He pulled back and thrust into her again. And then again and again, picking up speed and depth each time. She made noises she’d never made before. Moans, groans, whimpers. It hurt a little, but it was a good pain. She wanted it to go on forever. Blake’s fierce, passionate expression added to her excitement, the thrill of giving herself to these men who were so much younger than her husband had been, closer to her own age. They were so big, virile, and strong. They had the power to crush her like a bug, yet they were giving her the most incredible pleasure she’d ever experienced. Blake growled, threw back his head, and grabbed her legs in a tight grip. “I...can’t...” Joseph’s fingers were back between her legs so fast it caught her off guard. He rubbed her clit with a furious motion while Blake pummeled her core. She screeched as another zing of that incredible electricity zapped her. “That’s it, Penny,” Joseph said. “Feel it.” She did. She did! Her heart raced, her lungs labored for air, and her muscles strained. Then he pinched her clit, and she screamed, thrashing her head against Joseph’s thighs, her fingers biting into his calves. With a loud growl, Blake froze. Her pussy pulsed around him, and he came. A calm warmth settled into the pit of her stomach, and she delighted in the sensation of…sated euphoria. A bead of sweat fell from his forehead onto her chest. His handsome face was so filled with concentration, and that was the most wonderful sight. His shoulders slumped as his own orgasm passed, and he released her legs. They flopped to the bed as if they were made of jelly. Planting his hands on either side of Joseph’s thighs, Blake leaned down and placed the softest, sweetest kiss on her lips. “You’re amazing,” he murmured then rolled to the side and sprawled out on the bed. Joseph’s hands rested on her shoulders. When she looked up at him, his dark eyes shined with wicked delight. A shiver of anticipation raced down her sides the moment she heard his husky voice. “My turn.”

Chapter Eight

Joseph slid his hands beneath her shoulders to help her sit up. With Blake collapsed on the bed next to him, he opted for a bit more room by sliding off the bed and onto his feet. He touched Penny’s hip. “Turn around. Stay on your knees and back toward me. A little more. That’s it.” He guided her into position and marveled at how she obeyed him without a word. He still didn’t know what had made her husband venture away from the marriage bed for the voyeur rooms of Incognito. She seemed like the perfect little sub. But none of that mattered to him now. He rubbed her soft ass, separating her cheeks. Her pink pussy was moist. The tiny rosette of her ass was a temptation he’d savor another time. What mattered most now was that she was here before him, ready, willing, and waiting. She turned to look at him over her shoulder, and he realized he’d drawn out the suspense long enough. After sheathing his cock in a condom, he slid his hand along her spine, giving her a gentle push until she turned and dropped onto her elbows. He smiled when he saw her fist the bedding, as if seeking something with which to anchor herself. Instead of shoving into her as she no doubt expected him to do, he lightly rubbed the head of his cock along her moist slit. Back and forth, back and forth, until she squirmed, her body silently begging for more. Only then did he tighten his grip on her hips and slide his length into her pussy, slow and shallow at first. He ground his teeth against the urge to rush. He didn’t want it to end too soon. He’d rather it never end, but since that was impossible, he’d strive to make it last as long as possible. All the better to enjoy every single thrust into her body, the collisions of his flesh with hers, the slick tightness that surrounded his cock. Each stroke was exquisite. Each built off the previous one, drove his pleasure higher—and hers as well, he hoped. She relaxed into his rhythm, her face buried in the bedding, as he maintained a steady, unhurried pace. He caressed the sleek perfection of her back, the full curves of her bottom. Blake removed the spent condom from his semi-erect cock, rolled onto his side, and watched them, his gaze briefly colliding with Joseph’s. He placed his hand on Penny’s head and weaved his fingers into her disheveled hair. She lifted a bit and turned her face toward Blake. Perfect timing. Joseph slammed into her with an abrupt, fierce thrust. Her cry was sudden, brief, and sounded so damn good, he pulled back and repeated the stroke. Her fingers clawed at the bedspread. “That’s it, darlin’,” Blake said, his hand still tangled in her wavy tresses. “Ride her, buddy.” Joseph grunted on the next plunge, his cock driving deep into her welcoming core. He bucked into her again, and again, until his climax grew imminent. “Yesss!”

She felt so fucking good. The friction was addictive, her damp heat, perfection. Her inner muscles clenched around his cock, and he couldn’t hold back a groan. Caught in a maelstrom of arousal, he swatted her on the ass just as his balls drew up tight. She screamed and launched herself damn near off the bed. Before he knew it, his cock was out of her, though his cum spewed into the condom, and Blake grunted from a collision with her elbow as she scrambled over him in her dash for freedom. She yelled, “Liberty,” before falling to the floor and erupting in a sudden fit of tears. “Whoa,” burst from Joseph’s lips. He collapsed forward onto his hands, his head bowed, and his chest heaving. His pulse had yet to settle to a calm pace. His limbs were weaker than wet noodles, and his mind had not yet grasped what in the hell had just occurred. He removed the condom, closed his eyes, and dragged in a harsh breath of much-needed air before searching the room for Penny. He found her curled in a fetal position on the floor, her back against the wall. Holy fuck! He hadn’t struck her that damn hard. He turned a baffled glance toward Blake who seemed to be as surprised and confused by her reaction as he was. Blake slid off the bed. Joseph walked around it and knelt beside him in front of Penny. Afraid to touch her, he kept his voice low and gentle. “Sweetheart? Are you all right?” She sniffled, and her body trembled. He was lost. “Damn, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to— I’d never in a million years—” She raised her face to him, her wet lashes waving when she blinked several times as if to clear her vision. Then she shocked the shit out of him again by falling forward into his arms and clinging to his neck. He fell on his bare butt and sat holding her on his lap while she cried on his shoulder. “Shh,” he said as he caressed the back of her head and hugged her close. “Shh. I’ve got you. Don’t cry.” Blake sat beside him with his hand on her back, moving it up and down in a slow, soothing motion. They didn’t speak, though questions tumbled through his mind, and he was pretty sure the same ones captivated Blake’s thoughts. Eventually her crying faded, and still he held her for countless, silent minutes. When he heard her soft snore, he met Blake’s gaze and nodded. His friend helped him to his feet, with her still in his arms. He gently placed her in bed and tucked her in before stepping out of the room into the bathroom. Blake followed him. “What the hell…?” Joseph said, unsure how to put it all into words. “That woman does not react well to spankings.” “You think?” Joseph leaned against the counter and glanced at the closed door. “I swear, man. I didn’t hit her that hard.”

“I know, but maybe someone in her past did.” “Whoa.” Joseph shot his gaze back to Blake. “Her husband?” “Maybe.” Blake shrugged and sat on the toilet, its lid down. “But I get the feeling it’s the reason he strayed at Incognito. Think about it. He was with Connie when he died. Who else at Incognito likes a hard swat on the ass more than Connie?” “You have a point. So, it had to be someone earlier, before she got married. A phobia she developed during childhood, maybe?” Blake nodded. “That, or he got too rough with her and eventually decided to take his fetish for discipline outside the marriage bed.” Just then the bathroom door opened, and Penny appeared. Blake stood, and they both faced her. “Oh. I’m sorry. I—” She stepped back and began to close the door. Joseph stopped her. “Penny, we need to talk.” He placed an arm around her, walked her to the bed, and pulled back the covers. Without him saying a thing, she climbed into bed and scooted toward the middle, so he got in beside her. Blake went around to the other side. Once they were in place, Joseph propped himself up on one elbow and took one of her hands in his. He let the silence stretch while he thumbed her hand. Then in a soft whisper, he asked, “You want to explain why you got so upset?” She refused to meet his gaze or even glance in Blake’s direction. Her chest rose as she took a steady breath, but her bottom lip trembled. “My father was a very strict man with—” She lifted his hand and turned it over as if she meant to read his palm. “He had large, hard, leathery hands.” Her fingertips lightly brushed his palm until she interlaced their fingers. “It—the sound, the sting—it frightens me. I remember…” She shuddered and let the words fade. Blake slid his hand up and down her other arm in a slow caress of comfort. “What do you remember?” he murmured when she didn’t continue. She responded with a shrug and a slight shake of her head. “It doesn’t matter. That’s not my life anymore.” “No, it’s not.” Joseph lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a brief kiss to her skin. “You’re here. You’re safe, and we would never do anything to intentionally harm you. You’ve got to believe that.” Her gaze collided with his. “Oh, I do.” She glanced at Blake. “You rescued me…from the fire. You’ve both been so kind and caring and…” Her cheeks turned rosy. Damn, he loved her shy submissiveness, her innocent nature that made her blush at the cutest times. “Shit,” Blake muttered, drawing Joseph’s attention and Penny’s frown. He glanced from Joseph to her and back again. “We came here to bring you dinner and tell you about the fire investigation, and…well,

we sort of got sidetracked.” He flashed her a bemused smile. Penny turned a questioning look toward him. So, he explained, “That’s right. We came here to tell you they discovered some evidence in one of the pictures you took at Incognito. In the background, a guy is climbing through a window to the room where the fire began. The cops believe he’s the arsonist.” “Really?” Her eyes lit up at the news. Blake added, “Turns out it’s a guy with a thing for the club’s founder. They suspect he was ticked over Katriona’s recent marriage. The fire broke out during their wedding reception. It wasn’t just a Christmas party, so it makes sense in a demented, stalker sort of way.” “The good news is…you’re in the clear,” Joseph said. “That’s wonderful!” She threw her arms around his neck before pulling away, her cheeks even rosier than before. “I mean, it’s not great that he did what he did when he did it, or even why he did it, but—” Joseph cut off her prattle with a kiss. He knew what she meant, but he couldn’t help himself. She was so damn adorable, he had to taste her. He laid her down and positioned one arm like a pillow for her head. With his other hand, he caressed the smooth curve of her waist while he made the kiss linger. When he released her mouth, her eyes opened in a dreamy, half-lidded stare. Randolph was a damn fool to have left this precious gem home alone. Joseph liked to give a good spanking as much as the next master, but there were still plenty of other ways to command and pleasure a sub like her that could empower a Dom without swats to the backside. One phobia didn’t justify straying, at least not in his book. “Tell me about your husband. Did Randolph ever spank you?” he asked with a soft brush of his lips over hers. If the man had beaten her and caused this phobia, he might dig him up just to kill the bastard all over again. She whispered against his mouth, “He popped me on the butt once, in the kitchen, shortly after we married. I…” “You what?” He gave her a slight nip on the bottom lip. “I panicked and dropped the service platter. Food went everywhere. He didn’t mean anything by it. He wasn’t angry. It was just a playful swat, I know, but I couldn’t help it. I sobbed.” He pulled back to see her eyelids had drifted closed. “After that,” she continued, “he never raised a hand to me again.” Joseph glanced at Blake, who fingered a lock of her hair. “But you were involved in a D/s relationship with him?” he asked. She opened her eyes. Her gaze shifted to Blake. She blinked. “I don’t understand what you mean.” “D/s…Domination and submission. He was your Dom, right?” She blinked again, the confusion evident. “My Dom? He was my husband.”

Blake shook his head. “No, I mean… Did you ever role-play, maybe call Randolph master ?” This time, she shook her head. “Never. Oh, wait. I did call him sir . You know…yes, sir. No, sir. Things like that, out of respect for him as my husband. Is that what you mean?” “He was much older than you,” Joseph said, verbalizing some of his thoughts. A more mature man and an experienced Dom to boot. It was obvious she hadn’t been trained in the art of BDSM. She was unfamiliar with the terminology, even though she had the mannerisms of a sub down pat. Randolph could’ve easily taken advantage of this impressionable, naïve young lady. A tickle of uncertainty pricked his conscience. Was that what he and Blake were doing? Working their way into her life and bed, so soon after the death of her husband? “Our age difference didn’t matter.” Her expression grew serious, and she became a bit defensive. “He helped me, and I took care of him.” “You did what he asked?” He kept his tone gentle, more inquisitive. “Of course. It was my duty as his wife. I respected him.” Joseph noticed she didn’t admit to loving him, but he didn’t bring that up. From what he’d gathered, her submissive nature was so deeply ingrained in who she was that she didn’t role-play. She didn’t act submissive—she was submissive. Blake wondered aloud, “But did he fulfill his duties to take care of all your needs? Did he respect you?” She turned toward him, and her tongue peeked out to moisten her bottom lip. Her voice was soft when she said, “Yes. I know he cheated on me with women at the club, and I don’t condone what he did, but he was good to me. He gave me a home, clothes, food. He provided for my needs.” Her words drifted off. She sighed and closed her eyes—he suspected she did it to fight back tears. If his suspicions were correct, Master Randy met his basic obligations as a Dom or a husband, but didn’t go beyond that. He gave her a roof over her head, food on the table, and met her other daily needs, but failed to give her what she desired—the physical and emotional love she deserved. He hated that his questions, their questions, had brought her to tears, so he bent and kissed the tip of her nose. Her eyelids popped open. He gave her a smile and murmured, “No more talk of the past. No more spankings. I promise. Okay?” She returned the smile with a grateful one of her own, and his heart melted. He kissed her lips, a chaste touch, before planting more kisses along her chin, jaw, and neck. “I want you.” She whimpered in response to his whisper and arched her back, making him realize that Blake had begun suckling her breast. He knew she suspected he meant that he wanted to fuck her right here, right now. That he wanted her body, and he did, but his simple statement meant so much more.

He wanted her trust, her devotion to him as her master. He wanted her to want to be with him and Blake, to willingly give herself over into their care, not just for tonight, but… Fuck! He’d fallen hard. He wanted her to be theirs…now and forever. “I want you so badly.” He nipped her earlobe. “But I won’t take what isn’t given. I’m a Dom, sweetheart. We both are. I know you may not understand exactly what that means, but the simple explanation is that we like to dominate our lover.” He licked the outer shell of her tiny ear and heard her moan. “I want to dominate you, but only if you’re willing, only if you want to submit yourself to experience the kind of pleasure we can provide.” He had to be sure she wanted this, wanted him. She had to know, too, that it wasn’t all take and no give. He didn’t expect her to take care of him like some lowly servant. He expected her obedience, yes, but not at the expense of his own desire to care for her. The Dom in him needed to take care of his sub, giving her all she would need and desire. He ran his hand over her midsection, cupped her breast, and thumbed her nipple, which he found hard and beaded from arousal. Blake slid a hand between her thighs, and she bent her legs, tenting the sheets. His guttural growl of approval was enough for Joseph to know that he had found her moist and ready. Blake continued to lave the peak of her other breast. She squeezed her eyelids shut and turned her face away to allow Joseph greater access to her neck. He sucked on her soft skin, felt the pulse at the base of her neck speed up, and murmured, “I want to feel your sweet, submissive mouth on my dick.” Her response was immediate and pleasantly surprising. She squirmed free of them and the sheets. He rolled onto his back just in time to have her kneel forward and grip his cock in one hand. She tossed a brief glance his way, her eyes alive with excitement, and he held his breath until those sexy lips opened and surrounded him. The change in position put her on all fours, turned perpendicular to him. Her mouth coaxed a moan from deep in his chest. She was so fucking eager to please. Blake moved in behind her, his hands spanning her small waist, his fingers pressing into her delicate flesh. Her head bobbed up and down on Joseph’s cock with inexperienced enthusiasm. He was forced to spear his fingers into her hair to slow her down. His gaze collided with Blake’s, and they exchanged an understanding glance. She was theirs for the taking, a natural submissive ripe for the plucking, but they’d have to give her their all. She wasn’t experienced enough to play the game without getting hurt. It was too real for her. It would have to be the same for them. With an abrupt nod, Blake entered her pussy with a solid, deep thrust. His eyes closed, and his mouth opened in silence. She squealed around Joseph’s cock, the vibrations from the sound a bittersweet sensation that rocked him to the core. “Don’t stop,” Blake said when her head stilled. “Keep sucking that cock, or I’ll stop, too.”

Her hands splayed over Joseph’s abdomen and thigh. Her lips closed more tightly around him, and she increased the blissful suction. He lifted his hips in a silent plea for more. “That’s it. You’re ours now, darlin’,” Blake said, grinding his hips against her buttocks. “Ours to command. Ours to pleasure.” He slammed his cock into her pussy with several swift strokes and let loose a hissed, “Yesss. You feel so good.” Joseph couldn’t agree more. Her mouth, her tongue—the combination was pure ecstasy. With his hand still entangled in her hair, he guided her head into a rhythm that would prolong his pleasure. Ours to treasure. Ours— The gentle scrape of her teeth over his cock interrupted all thought. “Fuck!” He was going to come. Any second. Uncertain whether or not she was ready to swallow his semen, he tugged on her hair to make her stop, but she circled his cock head with a swirl of the tongue and sucked him back into the warm depths of her mouth. Simultaneously, he felt the curious touch of her fingers on his ball sac. “I’m gonna come,” he warned. She didn’t release him. She kept on sucking him. Blake continued to fuck her. He bent over her body and grabbed hold of her breasts while his hips kept up a furious pace. Joseph groaned. His balls drew up tight. With both hands, he held her head in place and let go. His cum jetted into her mouth, his release so strong his body shook from the impact. She gave a slight yelp at the first spurt, but drank every drop and continued to lick him clean until he’d softened. Joseph didn’t witness Blake’s climax, though he realized he must have reached it already when he saw him release Penny and plop sideways on the bed. Penny curled up on her side, her head on his abdomen and her back facing him. He wanted to see her face, to read her expression, but the soft stroke of her hand up and down his thigh told him all was right with her world. And with his own. He caressed her head, her hair, and said, “Our sweet little sub.”

Chapter Nine

Our sweet little sub. Penny hummed a sprite tune as she made her way around the kitchen in preparation of dinner. Joseph’s words made her smile. Over the past few days, the two men had taught her more about herself, about the world of D/s relationships than she could possibly have learned from a textbook, not that there were such books available. Were there? She chuckled and sprinkled some oregano into the pot. After a few stirs with a large spoon, she left the stew on the stove to simmer and checked the dinner rolls in the oven. Joseph and Blake explained to her how there were essentially three stages of submission: pet, slut, or slave. Sluts were…well, sluts, who slept with anyone. She frowned at the thought. She might have slept with Joseph and Blake out of wedlock, but that didn’t make her a floozy. And as much as she wanted to please the two men in her life, she couldn’t see her obeying a command to have sex with anyone other than them. Slaves were easy for her to understand. They obeyed their masters unconditionally and had no control over their lives at all. She could relate to that, considering the environment in which she’d been raised. Her mothers and siblings had all obeyed the dictates of her polygamous father, even going so far as to help prepare her to do the same. Except she’d run away instead, with Randolph’s help. A pet seemed an unlikely title to accept. She wasn’t an animal who mindlessly followed a set of commands just to earn a reward of food or praise. But the way her lovers described it, it held much more appeal for her than she’d first thought possible. She carried a stack of china plates and silverware over to the table and set them out, taking every precaution to ensure they were just right. Pets were submissive men or women who chose their owners and willingly handed over control to Doms whom they trusted to care for all their needs. It was similar to her idea of a wife’s duties to her husband. She had agreed to be Randolph’s wife, had vowed to love, honor, and obey him, and then trusted him to take care of her and provide for her. Although she hadn’t exchanged wedding vows with Joseph or Blake, she felt that in many ways she’d already taken steps in a similar direction with her commitment to be their sub. Of course, she had no ring or what they called a collar to prove such a commitment was in place, but that didn’t bother her…too much.

She was just grateful to them for being so forthright about what they wanted, what would please them. Randolph had never been so open about his emotions, and therefore uncertainty had often weighed heavily upon her. But that was gone now with Blake and Joseph. They’d proven to be very patient, were willing to answer her questions, and were open to trial and error. Whistling, she went back to the stove to check the meal. Everything had to be perfect tonight, their last night together before the men had to return to the firehouse to man their next shift. They’d be unavailable, except for a few phone calls, they said, for the next seventy-two hours. She went into the formal dining room and pulled a pair of silver candle sticks from the sideboard, and two long, white tapers from another drawer. They’d have supper in the breakfast nook, overlooking the garden sprinkled with fairy lights instead of in the stuffy dining room. She’d never liked it, but Randolph had insisted they eat in it every night. Actually, what she preferred, and what she did when her husband had been away on business trips, was to take her supper outside on the patio. But it was December and a bit chilly for that. She set the tapers in the holders and positioned them just so in the center of the table, then went into the kitchen to find the matches. The scent of the succulent, thick stew filled the downstairs, and her mouth watered. She was starving. The clock over the stove read six o’clock. The men would arrive at any moment. A giddy thrill went through her—one she’d experienced often over the past few days whenever they touched her, looked at her with lust in their eyes, or even if she simply thought of them. She couldn’t get enough of them, and the most pleasant surprise of all was that they seemed to feel the same way about her. Finding the box of matches in a drawer, she went back to the table and lit the candles, then went to the wall button and lowered the track lights to a pleasantly dim glow. Beautiful . She stood there, watching the reflection of the dancing candle flames in the bay window. A change had come over her in the past few days. Both inside and out. As she stared at her reflection, which was softened by the low lights, she tipped her head and tried to pinpoint just what it was. She’d stopped wearing the clothes Randolph had insisted she don. Gone were the long, flowing, floral skirts and prim, high-collared blouses. She’d grown up wearing those things, detested them, and never understood why Randolph preferred her to wear them. Woolen slacks and linen in the winter when it was colder. She’d often thought, even at age twenty-seven, that she looked like a little old lady. This morning, after the men had left to take care of errands they needed to get done before they went back to work tomorrow, she’d gone on a little shopping spree. Tonight she wore a short-sleeved blouse made of a flowing, soft purple material that caressed her skin and made her think of Joseph’s beautiful hands. Her skirt was fitted, made of a soft material called micro suede, and ended a few inches above her knees. It was naughty. She’d wanted a pair of high heels, but found that she wasn’t steady enough. So for tonight, she’d opted to go barefoot. Her pussy clenched as she remembered how Blake had commented on her cute little feet then proceeded to suck her big toe into his mouth, giving her a thrill she’d never known possible. They’d shown her so much, taught her about erogenous zones on her body and theirs. She never would have imagined that the slight dip at the small of her back was a place that, when kissed just the right way, could make her writhe in ecstasy.

The biggest change was inside of her, though. She now understood safe words, and Blake had explained why he chose the word liberty for her. She’d told them the first night that what she’d seen at Incognito was freedom . They’d given it to her—the first time in her life she’d ever had a choice. And her choice was Joseph and Blake. She swallowed hard and ran her palms down the front of her skirt. She hoped they liked her outfit. But even if they didn’t, she did. She’d made the choice. The doorbell rang, startling her. They’re here. She did one last visual check of the table, the crystal and china gleaming in the candlelight, and the wine bottle waiting to be opened. She glanced at the pot on the stove then hurried through the house to the foyer. Her heart fluttered, and a grin spread across her face as she pulled the door open. Her breath caught in her throat. They’d dressed for her, too. Blake wore black slacks and a black silk shirt that made his eyes sparkle. Joseph wore tan slacks and a white dress shirt open at the collar, revealing a tempting V of his smooth, dark skin. Her mouth went dry. They were both so...gorgeous. “Hey there, beautiful,” Joseph said, his voice low and filled with seduction. “Hi,” was all she could manage. “You look hot,” Blake said, stepping forward. Before she could blink, he gathered her in his arms and melded his mouth over hers. She moaned as his tongue sank into her and his warm hand closed over her butt, lifting her slightly, aligning her body just so against his. Blake set her to her feet, but held her tight against him as he buried his face against her neck. His lips brushed her skin as he whispered, “Your new perfume…” He breathed deeply, and she shivered. “It makes me want to take a bite.” He skimmed his teeth over a sensitive spot just below her ear. She whimpered, and her knees went weak. As the haze of lust overtook her, Joseph cleared his throat. Then she was in his arms with his mouth on hers, his tongue stroking hers, and those big, gentle hands holding her tightly against him, stroking her back, her hip, her bottom. They were so different in taste and texture, yet both made her burn with need. Joseph growled and broke the kiss. Panting, he stared down into her eyes, and she was sure she could drown in the depth of his. “Blake’s right. You smell like candy.” A slow grin spread across her lips. She’d also purchased a body spray at the mall called Cotton Candy Dreams. She’d never in her life worn perfume, and the light, sweet scent, along with its name, had captured her imagination. It made her think about the sensation of floating on pink clouds, which overcame her after Joseph and Blake gave her the most incredible orgasms of her life.

“Dinner ready?” For just a moment, she wasn’t sure what Joseph meant. Then it dawned on her, and she chuckled. She slowly pulled away from him, although she was loathe to break contact. “Yes, it is. Come into the kitchen.” Joseph slid his hand down her arm, laced his fingers with hers, and brought them to his lips. She watched his black eyes as he kissed her pinky then sucked it into his mouth. Her pussy pulsed, and it took all her willpower to stifle her moan. “Man, I’m starved,” Blake complained, breaking the intense spell Joseph’s gaze held over her. “Can we eat before you seduce the woman?” Joseph smiled, his white teeth beautiful against his dark skin. “Dinner, then...” He waggled his eyebrows. Penny laughed and turned away but didn’t let go of Joseph’s hand. In fact, she reached over and took Blake’s, too. “Come on, you two. I made an old family recipe that’s sure to fill you up and...satisfy...you.” The sounds of their combined chuckles sent a thrill skittering down her spine. Their slightly rough hands—Joseph’s, with his long, tapered fingers, and Blake’s beefier ones—in hers made her feel safe. Cherished. Loved? She was in love. Maybe for the first time in her life. These two men had set her free, and tonight only proved it more. They didn’t condemn her choices in clothing—instead Joseph had said she was beautiful. They liked her choices. They let her have them. And when they were all in bed together, they showed her how much they cared for her. Even when she’d had her small meltdown over the inadvertent spanking. They did care for her, she was sure. But they lived in a different world than she did. They admitted to having done this often with other women. Was she just someone else for them to... Incognito. She led them to the table and forced a smile through her suddenly troubled thoughts. “Please, have a seat. I’ll get supper.” “Penny?” Joseph said, his voice filled with concern. “Are you okay?” She nodded. “Yes. I’m glad you’re here.” That was the truth, at least. Turning away, she went around the counter and began ladling stew into the china tureen. Joseph and Blake were part of Incognito. From the tidbits they’d shared with her about the club, it was a place for people like them to go to fulfill their needs. They found willing women to submit to them there. She supposed that was what Randolph had been doing. She obviously hadn’t fulfilled his needs. What if she wasn’t giving Blake and Joseph what they needed, either? What if they— Stop it. Stop it.

She pulled the freshly made yeast rolls from the oven. They were a perfect, golden brown and made a hollow sound when she lightly tapped their tops with her fingernail. She put them in a small basket lined with a white linen cloth. If Joseph and Blake decided to move on, go back to Incognito because she couldn’t give them what they needed, it was okay. She didn’t need a man any longer. She didn’t need protection. She had the money Randolph had left her in his will, along with his more than substantial life insurance money. Once she sold the mansion and moved somewhere smaller, she would have even more in the bank. She didn’t need a man—or men—to care for her. Though she’d miss them like mad, she’d be fine. She could always get a puppy. She’d always wanted one, but Randolph had been allergic. Yes. That was what she would do. She would get a puppy and a little cottage on the beach. Everything would be wonderful. She grinned. Joseph stood up and came toward her. “What put that sweet little smile on your lips?” He picked up the soup tureen. “I’m going to get a puppy.” She grabbed the rolls and followed Joseph to the table. “Oh?” Blake poured three glasses of the wine. She went back to the refrigerator and pulled out the glass serving bowl of tossed salad she’d made earlier, then returned to the table. “That’s right,” she said rather defiantly. “I want a golden retriever.” “We know a guy who breeds them.” Joseph held her seat for her. She smiled up at him before sitting between them. “You do?” “Sure,” Blake said. “He’s a retired firefighter. He and his wife have a few acres out in the country. We could take you out to his place after we get off rotation.” Her heart melted, and she sighed. “Thank you.” She looked from Blake to Joseph. “Thank you both.” They both grinned at her. Joseph leaned over and kissed her cheek before he sat down. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. Anything else you need?” He reached for the salad bowl. “Yeah,” she said as Joseph used those long, gorgeous hands to dish some food onto her plate with the salad servers. She kept it to herself that what she needed was them, forever. No one had ever served her before, but they seemed to enjoy it. That first night, after they’d loved her senseless, they’d fed her the yummy Italian food they’d brought. In bed. With their fingers. “What do you need?” Blake asked, setting a roll he’d just buttered onto her bread plate. “Oh.” She’d almost forgotten what she wanted to ask. “Do either of you know a good realtor? I want to get rid of this monstrosity.” She glanced around the breakfast nook, one of the few places besides her bedroom she felt comfortable in the mansion. “We’ve got the guy who sold us our place,” Joseph said. “Want us to give him a call for you?” He put salad in his own bowl then passed the dish to Blake.

She was about to say yes, but stopped. “Actually,” she said, sitting up a bit straighter and reaching for her fork. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to call him myself.” She waited for one of them to chide her and tell her they’d do it, that she needn’t worry her little head about matters better left to men. “Sure,” Blake said as he loaded his bowl full of the salad. “I’ve got his card at home. I’ll give you a call tomorrow and give you his number.” A small smile tugged at her lips as she speared a cherry tomato with her fork. Joseph’s hand appeared in her line of vision. He cupped her chin and lifted her head so she was forced to meet his gaze. “I was offering to help, sweetheart, not take over.” He winked. “Remember, you’re always allowed to say no.” Her smile turned into a full-fledged grin, and her cheeks heated with the thrill of his touch, the sincerity in his eyes, and the naughty thoughts that raced through her mind when she looked at his full, sensual lips. “Thank you.” He smiled. “You’re welcome. Now eat, because I want to get a better taste of you as soon as we’re done.” Penny dug into her food without wasting another second.

Chapter Ten

“And then…” Blake held her on the edge of her seat with anticipation. “Joseph comes charging out the house just as the propane tank exploded. He was tossed five feet into the air, but he landed on his back, cradling a litter of three tiny kittens and the mother who had her claws dug into him so deep, they went right through his turnout suit.” She turned wide eyes on Joseph. “You actually found that little girl’s kittens?”

He grinned, looking a little embarrassed as he fiddled with his fork. “Yeah, I did. And I got suspended for a week without pay because the chief was so pissed I went against orders.” “Oh, but you made that little girl so happy, didn’t you?” “He did,” Blake confirmed. “The stupid bastard was touted as a hero in the newspapers for going back into a raging inferno to get some cats.” “He’s jealous,” Joseph said with a wink, which made Penny laugh. Dinner had passed in a blur of stories about their work, growing up in this town, their families, their college experiences. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a pleasant evening of conversation—probably never. After their first year of marriage, Randolph barely spoke to her about anything other than what was necessary. What’s for dinner? We’re having guests over tomorrow night, so prepare a meal for six, and wear that brown dress I like. Never was there laughter and poking fun. She stood. “I’ll get dessert.” When she reached for their empty plates, they both picked them up and held them out of her reach. “You get dessert. We’ll clear the table,” Blake said as the two men stood, like sentinels on either side of her. She looked up at Blake then Joseph, but they didn’t seem to notice. They were busy gathering empty dishes and glasses from the table. With a sigh of contentment, she went to the fridge and pulled out the chocolate mousse pie she’d made. It was another of her mother’s recipes she cherished. Out of all the people she’d left behind a decade earlier, she missed her mother the most. But the last she heard, after her father died, Rose Lee and her father’s other wives had remarried...to her uncle. With Randolph gone, she’d probably never know what happened to her family. He’d kept her apprised over the years, since his brother was part of the obscure religious sect in which she’d been brought up. Now, all contact with that other world was severed. In many ways, though, she was glad of it. She grabbed a knife and server from a drawer, sidled between the men, and took it to the table. “I was thinking of making Irish coffee to go with the pie. What do you think?” she asked as she came back into the kitchen for the dessert plates she’d left on the counter. “Mmm,” Blake said while he rinsed plates in the sink. “Sounds tasty.” Joseph covered the left over salad with plastic wrap. “Yeah, that should go great with the pie.” They made themselves at home in her kitchen, and she liked it. She doubted Randolph would have even been able to find the plastic wrap, let alone know how to use it properly. With a smile on her face and her heart so full she thought it might burst, she went to the coffee maker. “When we get off rotation, how about we take you out on a proper date?” Blake asked, bumping his hip against her in a teasing motion as he reached around her to grab the dishcloth hanging from the oven door.

Carefully measuring out the coffee scoops, she frowned. “A proper date?” “Yeah, you know.” Joseph grabbed the glass carafe from the coffeemaker and filled it with water. “You, us, dinner in a nice restaurant, and maybe a movie. Or we could go dancing. We haven’t done that in a while.” She stepped aside to let him pour the water into the machine. He put the carafe on the burner and flipped it on. “So, what do you think?” She’d never been on a date. Ever. She hadn’t been inside a movie theater since she was a kid. Randolph said it was a waste of money, and if she wanted to see a movie, she could wait until it was on cable. She’d never been dancing. Dancing wasn’t allowed in her religion. Not that she believed in that religion any longer. She wasn’t sure what she believed anymore. But the teachings of the cult seemed so...wrong in many ways. “Penny?” Blake touched her chin. Turning her head, she looked up into his beautiful blue eyes. “I’d like that.” “What were you thinking about that made you frown?” Joseph asked. She licked her lips. They always seemed to know when her thoughts wandered into the darker, murky waters of her past. “I’ve—” She sighed. She sounded so pathetic. She wasn’t so sheltered she didn’t know what the outside world did. She’d just never experienced it. “I’ve never been on a date.” Both men stared at her for a long moment. Then Joseph opened his arms, and she moved against him, wrapping her arms around him. He held her snug against his body, and Blake stroked her hair. “We’re gonna change that, darlin’,” Blake said softly. “If there’s anything you want to do, you tell us, okay? Anywhere you want to go. Any experience you’ve never had.” “Anything at all.” Joseph kissed her forehead. With a smile against Joseph’s chest, she nodded. She’d dreamed of so many things. She wanted to go to Disney World, she wanted to swim in the ocean, and she wanted to walk on the beach with them and hold their hands. She wanted to make love on a beach with them at sunset. She wanted... everything with them. The chime of the doorbell cut into the quiet moment, and she frowned. “Are you expecting company?” Blake asked. She pulled back from Joseph and shook her head. “No. Only you.” Joseph cupped her cheek in that loving way that made her melt. “Go answer your door, and we’ll finish the dishes.” He glanced over her shoulder. “The coffee should be done by the time you get back. Maybe we’ll have dessert in bed? How does that sound?”

She grinned as flashes of all the naughty things she could do with that chocolate pie ran through her mind. She loved Irish cream, too. She’d love licking it off their hard bodies. Joseph laughed as if he’d read her thoughts. The doorbell chimed yet again, and he kissed her nose. “Go on.” She practically skipped through the living room into the front hall foyer where she grabbed the doorknob and pulled open the door. Her heart stalled in her chest. Her mouth dropped open. Fear, hatred, and panic speared through her. “Eli.” “Hello, Penelope.” She gripped the doorknob like a lifeline. She’d never thought she’d ever see him again. He hadn’t changed one bit, not in all of the years since she’d last seen him. He was still short and stocky, with mud brown hair and eyes. Eyes that leered at her. Eyes that made her shiver with disgust. Eyes of the man to whom her father had once promised her. “May I come in?” She shook her head. “Now, Penelope, is this the proper way to greet a guest?” Her stomach tightened into a knot, and her dinner threatened to return. That tone... It was the one her father had always used on her. A tenor of admonishment and disappointment. One that stated he was in control, in charge, and she should be on her knees begging for his favors. For a bit of kindness. Never again. “This is my home, you’re not an invited guest, and you’re not welcome here.” “Penelope.” She shook her head and tried for a bravado she didn’t feel at all. “Say your piece and leave.” “You’re a woman without a caregiver now, Penelope. I’ve come to take you back where you belong.” He took a step over the threshold, and she backed away from the door, crossing her arms over her middle. She hadn’t expected this, hadn’t realized the folks back home would find out… He might’ve learned of Randolph’s death from her brother-in-law, but that didn’t mean she belonged with him. She had the urge to cower from him, but she wouldn’t let herself. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” “Penelope.” She wanted to scream at him to stop saying her name that way. “You need your family. They’ve missed you. I’ve missed you.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t need anything from you people. I’m not going back. Please leave.” His face changed, turned red, and contorted with rage. He grabbed her arm. “You belong to me, and damn it, woman, you’re going to pay up. I waited ten long years for that bastard to die. And I’m not waiting—” “Get your hands off of her.” The menace in Joseph’s voice flooded Penny with relief. Eli let go of her arm and took a step back. Then another as both Joseph and Blake came toward them, shoulder-to-shoulder, like a moving brick wall. “Who are you? This is none of your concern,” Eli said, obstinate as ever. “This is between me and what’s mine.” “I’m not—” she began, only to have Eli cut her off. “Your rebellious adventure at my expense has gone on long enough. Your family wants you back, and I’m here to take you home.” Fear struck like a lightning bolt through her veins. Unable to speak, she shook her head and turned to Blake and Joseph for help. She didn’t dare think of what might happen to her if Eli took her back. Neither Blake nor Joseph glanced in her direction. They just moved across the wide foyer with anger in their eyes directed at Eli. “Penny doesn’t seem to agree with you,” Blake said, his voice strangely conversational. Calm even. She would be fooled if she didn’t see the threat in his eyes. The two men stopped directly in front of Eli, towering over him. “She’s a woman. She ain’t got no say. Only reason her daddy let her stay with that old man is because he paid for her. She was promised to me. My bride, but Randolph stole her from me. She’s mine, he’s gone, and I mean to have her.” “Out,” Joseph said. “Now,” Blake added. They crowded around Eli, blocking her view of him. “This ain’t over, Penelope. It ain’t!” “Step foot anywhere near her,” Blake said. “And you’ll have to answer to us,” Joseph finished. He put his palm flat against the shorter man’s chest and pushed. Eli stumbled back and bumped into the still open door. “She’s mine by rights. Her daddy said so.” “The little fucker’s an idiot,” Blake muttered as he grabbed Eli by the shoulder and spun him around, then gave him another shove to send him through the door. Joseph slammed it. Blake turned the deadbolt.

A shiver coursed through Penny as the two men turned toward her. She swallowed, hard. Now they knew her husband had bought her. They’d heard the disgrace of her existence. She ducked her head as tears stung her eyes. Shame swamped her. She wasn’t the wealthy widow alone in a big mansion who’d grown up like an heiress amid riches and privilege. She couldn’t fool them anymore, not since her past had knocked on her door and caused her fortress—the façade of dignity Randolph had built around her—to crumble. She’d never wanted them to know about her past, that she was a phony. Not all of it, and definitely not like this. But when two pairs of big, strong arms closed around her, and she was snuggled against Blake’s chest while Joseph’s body warmed her back, she couldn’t hold in the tears anymore. “Shh, darlin’,” Blake whispered. “He’s gone now.” “Hush, sweetheart. He can’t hurt you.” When she realized their words were ones of comfort instead of accusation, she lifted her head and looked up into Blake’s face. She had to blink the tears from her eyes to clear her vision. He swept his thumbs over her cheeks to wipe away the moisture, and his eyes were filled with worry and tenderness. “It’s true,” she whispered. “What is?” Joseph asked. “Randolph...” She closed her eyes and ducked her head, unable to look into Blake’s eyes as she said the words. “Everything Eli said. It’s all true. Randolph did pay my father…for me.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “Randolph bought me, but he did it for me. He saved me from having to marry that man.” A finger lifted her chin. Soft lips brushed hers. “Okay,” Blake whispered against her mouth. “I think it’s time we talked.” Her eyelids fluttered open, and she looked into his eyes. She didn’t see disgust there, only an unusual gentleness that no one other than these two men had ever shown her. Randolph had looked kindly on her in the beginning, but his eyes never held the wealth of emotions that Joseph’s and Blake’s did. She slowly nodded. “You should probably know.” Especially if their relationship was to continue. She’d never been good at keeping secrets. After a glance out the window, presumably to ensure Eli was indeed gone, Blake took her hand, and Joseph wrapped his fingers around the other. They walked her into the kitchen, back to the breakfast nook, and Joseph held out her chair for her. “I’ll get the coffee,” Joseph said. “Where’s the Irish cream?” She swallowed the lump in her throat. She wasn’t sure she could even stomach her favorite drink right now. “In the bar in the den.” Blake kissed her forehead. “Stay here, darlin’.” Then he walked out of the kitchen.

She reached for the pie. The least she could do was dish up their desserts. Joseph brought three mugs of steaming coffee to the table and sat down in his seat. She handed him a plate with a thick slice of pie on it, then set one in front of Blake’s chair. “Penny,” Joseph said softly. He laid his hand over hers which held the knife. She looked up at him, snared by the tenderness in his fathomless eyes. “Whatever you have to tell us, it’s okay. We won’t judge you. We just need to know what’s going on so we can help you if we can.” Everyone judged. Once they heard about her past... But then again, at least she need not worry about one aspect of her past. How was what they did with her that much different than a polygamist marriage? Other than the fact that they weren’t married, of course. Which, in itself, was wrong as far as society deemed. But then, she wasn’t sure why it was so bad. In many ways, Blake and Joseph treated her far better than her own husband ever had. Their relationship, though it was only days old, was one of give and take. They might not be financially supporting her, as Randolph had, but they’d done everything else to make sure she was cared for in other ways. From the bath they gave her the night they met, to bringing her supper, to...chasing away Eli and comforting her when she needed it. How many times had she lain in her bed, alone and crying because she was so lonely, even when her husband was right across the hall? Randolph never knew when she was upset, or never acknowledged it if he did, yet one look from either Joseph or Blake, and they seemed to see right into her heart. “I’m afraid you’ll think badly of me if I tell you...everything.” Blake came back into the room carrying a bottle of Irish cream, and sat down in his seat. “Darlin’,” he said as he opened the alcohol and put a dollop in each of their coffee mugs, “it’s up to you to tell us, but we’d really like to know. For a relationship to be true and healthy, it must be open and honest, not filled with secrets.” He was right. Hadn’t she learned from Randolph’s dishonesty that keeping secrets was painful? He’d hidden his membership at the fetish club from her, along with his secret rendezvous with women there, and the discovery had almost destroyed her. “We’re not going to judge you for anything, least of all things that were beyond your control.” She licked her lips and reached for her drink. She sipped the hot liquid, enjoying the tiny burn as the alcohol slid down her throat in a warm trail. “I was born into a tiny polygamous cult called the Pioneers. Farmers, hunters, gatherers.” She looked at Joseph, and then at Blake before taking another sip. “By fourteen, I was being groomed to be a good, obedient wife. At fifteen, I was promised to my cousin, Eli. On my sixteenth birthday, I was to marry him and become his fourth wife.”

Chapter Eleven

Blake kept his expression blank. Married at sixteen. To be a fourth wife. Groomed to be obedient. What kind of fucking religion did that to a girl in this day and age in America? He and Joe had lived in the D/s lifestyle for more than a decade, first dabbling in it in college, then delving in it with both feet as they grew older and became more experienced. They’d had plenty of vanilla relationships with women over the years, but they’d found their true happiness in sharing a woman who willingly submitted to them. The words Penny had just used to describe her life were anything but consensual. They were…incestuous. “Go on.” Joe reached over and took her hand. Blake settled into his seat, lifted his coffee, and tried to hide his rage. “How did you wind up with Randolph?” She took a slow, steadying breath. “Well, I suppose I should start at the beginning and tell you about the Pioneers.” After taking one more sip, she set her coffee mug aside and folded both hands around Joe’s, as if using him as an anchor. Blake wanted to reach out to her, too, but didn’t want to disturb her thoughts, so he waited for her to go on. “Randolph’s brother, Lloyd, founded the Pioneers about thirty-three years ago. Along with thirty adults and a whole bunch of children, they sold all their possessions and bought five hundred acres of farmland in the middle of Nebraska. “They practice polygamy, with the women outnumbering the men almost four-to-one. The men are the caretakers of the family. They do the manual labor and farming. They hunt in the fall. The women do...” She shrugged. “Well, they do women’s work. They cook, clean, teach, and raise the children. We were very isolated from the small town nearby.”

“You seem well educated,” Blake commented before taking another sip of his spiked drink. She nodded. “A couple of the women were teachers. But most of my learning came by way of books I wasn’t supposed to read. The women and children attended the farmer’s market every summer and fall to sell vegetables, milk, butter, and baked goods we grew and made. There was a woman there who sold old books.” Penny bit her lip and dropped her gaze to the pie in front of her. “I stole some money from the cash box and bought a book, then hid it until we got home. Then I hid it in the barn under a pile of hay. It was Robinson Crusoe . I couldn’t get enough of it, read it over and over until the next market. I brought it back, and that old woman let me trade it in for another and another. I had a new book every week all summer. I was fourteen.” She looked up. “I read about grand adventures and places I’d never heard of before. And I learned that the way we lived wasn’t normal. Not in the late twentieth century.” Joe nodded. “Your family kept you sheltered so you’d never find out what you were missing.” “Yes.” She swallowed. “My father wouldn’t allow us to have a phone or television. I didn’t see a computer until I moved in with Randolph, and I still don’t know how to properly use one.” “Damn,” Blake murmured. “I’ve heard of the communes from back in the seventies, and the sect that had a run-in with the FBI a few years back, but I never realized people still lived like that. At least not here in the U.S.A.” Joe asked, “So all of the kids are brought up isolated like that?” She shrugged. “The boys have a bit more freedom, but not much. From the time a girl has her first menstrual cycle, she’s taught the proper ways of a lady—silent servitude, mostly—by the older women, usually her mother and her father’s sister wives. I had five of these women in my life. Girls are expected to learn how to be the perfect wife.” “And if they weren’t perfect?” Blake asked. She looked at him, sadness in her eyes. “They were punished.” “And the children?” She nodded. “The man is the...the one in charge. If you disobey, you’re disciplined. Sometimes with a hand, other times with a belt or switch…a razor strap. Whatever is close at hand. The severity depends on the man.” She shook her head. “That’s why you didn’t do anything wrong, learned to keep your mouth shut and did what you were instructed, regardless of what you were told to do.” “So, you were supposed to marry this Eli guy,” Joe prompted when she fell silent for a long moment. “Yes. A girl’s fifteenth birthday is her coming out. Like a cotillion type thing.” She scowled. “You’re dressed up all fancy, and there’s a big party, supposedly in your honor. But what really goes on is that you’re paraded in front of all the adult males, and they...” She stopped and gritted her teeth, her jaw flexing. Blake’s stomach turned. “What did they do?”

“Nothing too terrible, I suppose.” She turned her gaze toward the window across from her. “There was a bit of touching by the men, nothing too obscene.” A cold, dry laugh came out of her. “My mother said they were checking to see if I had good child-bearing hips. Whether my breasts could nourish a baby.” Blake saw red. How dare they treat a child that way! He fisted his hands on his thighs. “Then what?” “The men make the arrangements. A week after my coming out, my father announced that I would marry Eli. Girls are married off on their sixteenth birthdays. Although we’re cousins, Eli is ten years older than me and was already married to three other women—women I’d often seen covered in bruises. I was terrified. Though my father punished us often, and with a heavy hand, he never left permanent marks. His was usually open-handed spankings on our bare buttocks. It was an awful form of humiliation more than true, long-lasting pain. But Eli beat his wives.” “How did you wind up with Randolph?” Joe asked. She sighed and seemed to shake herself from her dark memories. “My sixteenth birthday was quickly approaching. I was planning an escape. When we went into market, I was going to just...disappear. For that entire year, I’d been stashing money in hiding places around the farm. I had a little over one hundred dollars. I figured it was enough to get me far enough away so they wouldn’t find me. Then, two weeks before the day I planned to leave, Randolph came to the farm to visit his brother who had fallen ill. “Randolph wasn’t a member of our cult, didn’t seem to approve of a lot of things, but he loved his brother. The day before market, when I planned to escape, I went to my hiding places to gather the money, and he caught me. Instead of turning me in to my father as I expected, he told me he was leaving the next day and would take me with him.” She shrugged. “I don’t think he approved of cousins marrying cousins. We had that in common, but for me, his offer was what I’d dreamed of. Having someone save me from that place and a fate and future that terrified me.” “But you were only sixteen. He married you?” She shook her head. “Not right away. He couldn’t, because I was underage. The wedding didn’t happen until later. But my father did find us. He showed up here and tried to make me return with him. He was furious because I’d disgraced him and Eli. He threatened to have Randolph arrested for kidnapping, but Randolph countered him by promising to tell authorities about the polygamy and abuse that went on in the cult.” She paused, fidgeted in her chair, and lowered her voice. “That’s when Randolph offered my father a large sum of money if he’d leave and never return. My father took the money.” She swallowed so hard it was audible in the silence. Blake sat forward in his chair and propped his forearms on the table in front of him. “You didn’t want to tell us this because you didn’t want us to know that Randolph paid off your father?” She nodded, her gaze low. “My father sold me.” “And you didn’t want us to know about the cult you were raised in.” He couldn’t blame her for that in the least. It wasn’t anything to brag about, although he now saw her as an even stronger woman than he’d first thought, considering what she’d been through. She was a survivor, which impressed the hell out of him. She shrugged. “I was ashamed of the plans my father had for me, of how he looked upon me as if I

were nothing more than a commodity, someone without feelings and wishes and dreams of my own.” “Why did you drop your eyes when you talked about taking money and buying a book?” She glanced at Joe then back at him. “Because stealing is wrong.” God, he’d never known anyone sweeter or more innocent. His heart constricted. “Do you steal now?” “No.” She frowned at him. “Never, since I came to live with Randolph.” He winked at her. “Then I think you’re forgiven, don’t you?” “I stole the money I stashed too, though.” Joe shook his head, drawing her attention. “Sweetheart, you were just trying to save yourself, to survive. There’s no shame in that. You do what you need to do when your life’s on the line.” She stared at Joe for a long moment then let out another long, slow sigh. “I’ve never looked at it that way, although I did want— need—to get away from there. I knew what was expected of me, that I should be grateful Eli chose me for his new bride, but the thought of becoming his wife was…horrible.” “Yet,” Blake said softly, “you’re a natural submissive to us. You’re comfortable with giving over your trust to us.” She turned her big, dark eyes on him, licked her lips, and nodded. “Because you don’t try to control my will. You’re gentle and kind.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Joe’s slow, wicked grin. “Gentle, darlin’?” Her cheeks turned red, and she looked down. “You bathed me and stayed with me when I was...when I needed it. You...you gave me that safe word, and when I used it, you weren’t...you didn’t...” She looked up again, first turning her gaze toward Joe, and then back on Blake. “I like the way you want to control me, and the way you let me be free to...express myself. I’ve never been given choices before. Not when I lived with my father, and not even with Randolph. My husband dictated how I should dress, and expected me to behave like the proper wife—not much different from the teachings of my mother and her sister wives. But at least he didn’t beat me. Neither do you. You are gentle…to me.” Blake cupped her cheek in his palm. “You’re a grown woman, capable of making your own decisions, and we want you to be whatever you want to be. Only during intimacy do we want command of you…to ensure your pleasure as well as our own. Only then, darlin’.” “You don’t want a slave,” she whispered. He grinned, glad she’d caught on to all of the things they’d tried to explain over the past few days. He’d at first assumed her constant attempts to do things for them was her way of acting like the proper hostess, but he’d soon realized she was behaving the way her husband had trained her and expected her to behave for so long. Neither he nor Joseph wanted her to serve them in such a manner.

“No,” he said. “We don’t want a slave. We want a willing pet who will cherish us as much as we cherish her— you.” Penny closed her eyes and leaned into Blake’s light caress. At the same time, Joseph squeezed her hand. She knew now, without a doubt, that these two would never hurt her, never force her into anything she didn’t want to do. They wanted to...free her...to make her own decisions. She opened her eyes and looked into Blake’s. “I want to be your pet.” I want you to love me . But she kept the last thought to herself. She wasn’t the needy girl she’d been when she’d begged Randolph for his love. She would never beg for affection again. Blake and Joseph showed her they cared for her, and that would have to be enough for now. If they came to love her, it would be of their own will, just as she’d given herself to them. “Ah, darlin’,” Blake whispered. “Those are the sweetest words we’ve ever heard.” Joseph stood and released her hands, startling her. She gazed up at him as he cleared the table. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to them doing what she’d always considered to be women’s chores. She frowned. “You didn’t eat your dessert.” Joseph’s grin was teasing and a little wicked. “Don’t worry. I plan on having dessert.” He glanced at Blake, and something passed between them, which made Blake grin, too. He pulled his hand away from her. “Stand up and strip, darlin’.” Her mouth dropped open. Her eyes widened. Strip? Here? In the kitchen? “Let’s see if you’re ready for what we want from you.” After that, Blake didn’t say anything more; he simply waited, while Joe carried the dishes and desserts to the kitchen counter. Slowly, she pushed her chair back and stood. She’d taken off her clothes at their request several times in the last few days, but this seemed rather...strange. “Shouldn’t we go upstairs?” She fiddled with the top button of her blouse. Blake didn’t answer her. He just raised one eyebrow and leaned back in his chair, crossing his beefy arms over his chest. A thrill went through her at the look he gave her. It was dark and dangerous. She flipped the top button from its hole, then the next and the next. Joseph completely cleared the table, took a wet dishcloth and wiped it down, then dried it. She shrugged out of her blouse and laid it over the back of her chair. “Fuck, that’s pretty,” Joseph said as he looked her over. She’d bought new underwear that morning, too. A dark purple lace bra that lifted her breasts just so. His approval spurred her on, and she reached behind her to unzip her skirt. It fell to the floor around her bare feet.

“Nice,” Blake commented. “Turn around.” Heat infused her cheeks. The only panties that matched the bra were of the G-string variety, something she’d never worn before. She knew what she looked like from the back, but she turned for them anyway, showing them her bare behind. Joseph grunted. “As sexy as that is...take ’em off. We want you naked.” Then he went back into the kitchen and rummaged through some drawers. Keeping her back to Blake, and facing the kitchen, she reached behind her, unhooked the bra’s clasp, and dropped it over the chair with her blouse. Then she slipped her thumbs into the waistband of her panties and pushed them down. She bent forward to pick up her skirt and panties off the floor when Blake’s big, callused hand closed over one butt cheek. She held her breath and closed her eyes as sizzling heat speared through her. “You’ve got the finest ass I’ve ever seen.” Blake squeezed her bottom. “Or touched.” He skimmed his fingers along the crease of her bottom, down between her legs, just teasing her pussy lips. She shivered and gripped the seat of her chair to keep from falling on her face. She felt so naughty, standing naked in the kitchen of all places, with two men who were fully dressed. So naughty and so sexy. He dipped one finger between her labia and flicked her clit. With a whimper, she forced herself not to move. The torment was too good. She didn’t want him to stop, but he did. “You’re already wet, darlin’. Are you turned on?” Oh, yes.After a nod, she wrapped her fingers around her skirt and panties and moved them to the chair with her other clothes. “I am.” Joseph stood in front of her with two clean dishcloths in his hand. “Turn around, sweetheart. Tonight we’re going to delve a little deeper into our world.” She turned without question. One cloth he tossed to Blake, who caught it and stepped in front of her. “We’re going to blindfold you and bind your hands.” Joseph’s arms came around her shoulders, and she saw that he’d rolled one of the cloths to form a blindfold. “Are you all right with that?” He gripped the cloth between both hands, obviously waiting for her to decide. She swallowed, hard. “You can still use your safe word at any time,” Blake said as he rolled the other cloth in the same manner. “And with the exception of your wrists, you’ll have free movement if you need it, but we’d like for you to follow our instructions without protest.”

“Okay,” she said on a shaky breath, amazed they shared their desires, their likes so readily, rather than make demands and force her to comply. “That’s our good little pet,” Joseph murmured as he brought the towel up and wrapped it around her head, covering her eyes. A tiny bit of fear spiked through her as the world went black, but she trusted these two men. Knew they’d only do things to her she enjoyed, things that would make her burn with the lust that had been buried deep within her for...forever. “Hold out your hands, wrists together.” She did as Blake instructed and felt the terrycloth towel wrap around her wrists. While Blake bound her hands, Joseph’s palms settled on her bare shoulders, and the heat from them made her melt. Relax. “You’re such a good little pet,” he whispered in her ear right before he nipped a sensitive spot on her neck. Goose bumps popped out on her arms, and she groaned. Her pussy clenched. Blake gave one final tug on the ties around her wrists. “Okay?” Blake asked, slipping his fingers between her wrists as if checking the tightness. The makeshift cuffs were tight, but the binds weren’t so constricting that they hurt her or cut off her circulation. She nodded. “Yes, sir.” “Mmm,” Joseph said against her neck, his soft lips teasing her flesh. “Say that again.” His low voice vibrated through her, his arms encircled her, and his hands closed over her breasts. “Yes, sir,” she whispered. “Such a good little pet.” Blake’s fingers brushed the backs of her bound hands before they dropped to her waist, sliding downward over her hips. “Do you think you could call us Master?” Could she? Though they’d mentioned it before as a typical name used during role-playing, she wondered whether the title meant something beyond mere sex games. Joseph still teased her nipples, and she tried to envision his long, dark fingers as they plucked at the tight, pink buds. Blake ran his hands down to her knees then up the inside of her thighs, but stopped short of where she needed his touch. “It’s okay if you don’t want to or don’t think you can. Sir will suffice.” She’d called her husband sir, but this pair did so much more for her, gave her so much pleasure and freedom…and the confidence to be herself. She spread her legs a fraction wider in silent invitation to Blake’s unmoving hands. She could do this. She wanted to do it. “Yes…Master.”

Joseph’s nip at her nape was sharper, and she sucked in a startled breath. Oh! That bite sent excited goose bumps rippling across her skin. “Mmm,” he said. “That sounds wonderful. Say it again.” “Yes, Master.” His tongue licked her earlobe. His teeth gave it a tug. His hot breath bathed her skin in warm caresses. “Again,” he whispered. “Yes, Master.” She angled her head away from him to provide him with greater access. Joseph pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. His hands cupped and kneaded her breasts. Blake’s fingers drew circles on her inner thighs. If they continued to do what they were doing, she’d call them anything they wanted. “Are you ready for us to have dessert?” Blake asked. She nodded and grinned. She loved it when they licked and suckled her pussy. It was her favorite. She moved her feet farther apart. Joseph’s hands disappeared from her breasts, and his heat left her back. But she only had an instant to wonder before one of them lifted her into his arms and gently set her on the cold, oak tabletop. “Lie back,” Blake said as she was guided into position on her back. The contrast of her warm skin against the cool, hard wood sucked the breath out of her lungs. “It’ll warm in a minute,” Joseph said. His voice gave away his position; he was off to one side near her head. “Meanwhile, keep your arms up here for me.” His hand closed over her right forearm, and he lifted her bound hands over her head until they hung off the edge of the table above her. “Just like that. Since we aren’t going to tie you down this time, we expect you to follow our command to keep your arms overhead and not move them. If you do, we’ll stop whatever we’re doing.” He ran his palms along her arm, shoulder, and collarbone, before circling her breasts with light, teasing touches. “Yes, Master.” Blake’s hands closed around her ankles, which hung off the other end of the table. “Bend your knees, darlin’. Let us see that pretty pink cunt of yours.” Her cheeks heated at his words, but she did as instructed, bringing her feet up flat onto the table. Blake pressed her knees apart, and she adjusted for him. “Oh, yeah,” Blake said. “So gorgeous.” A finger stroked over her pussy lips, and she bucked at the touch. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been so sensitive before. So sensitized. “Don’t move,” Joseph said, his tone serious, filled with authority. Much to her surprise, both men moved away from her and the table. She could hear their footsteps on the kitchen floor tiles, their heavy work boots echoing slightly.

Her breathing sped. She wondered how long they intended to leave her here like this. Where did they go? Had they left? Was this some kind of test? Would they leave the house and see if she stayed here all night? Would she stay here all night? If she did, and she passed their test, she knew the reward would be— “Yipe!” Something cold and slick slid down her sternum. A low chuckle—Blake’s?—made her shiver. The scent of chocolate wafted to her, and she realized he’d dropped a dollop of the pudding pie filling over her. Another cold blob hit her belly, making her suck in her stomach, and then a hand—Joseph’s?—smeared the sticky goop around her belly button. More cold, slick fingers circled her nipples, followed by a smear to the inside of each thigh. She trembled in anticipation. Another finger, covered in chocolate, skimmed across her lips. Whose? She didn’t know and didn’t care. She held still, though, didn’t lick it off even as her mouth watered. If she opened her lips, would he dip that finger inside? No, she couldn’t. Joseph had told her not to move. But… She took a deep breath and savored the aroma of deep, rich chocolate. Mmm . Chocolate pudding was her downfall, her favorite dessert of all time. But never had she imagined doing anything like this with it. “Very good, our little obedient pet,” Blake murmured right by her ear, his breath against her cheek like Joseph’s had been before. “You didn’t lick it off. You make me very happy.” At the same time Blake’s mouth closed over hers, another cold, slick finger slid through her pussy lips, and she yelped again, but the sound was swallowed by the man making love to her mouth. Joseph was between her legs. Oh, heavens . His mouth was on her clit, and she cried out as he swirled his tongue, moaned against her skin, and fingered her pussy. Blake drank in her cry before breaking the kiss to blaze an erotic trail over her jaw, down her neck, licking and sucking the chocolate from her skin. When his lips closed over a nipple, she arched her back to press against him. Simultaneously, Joseph moved away from her core to lap up the chilly pudding on her thighs, hips, and belly. When his tongue dipped into her navel, she flexed her hips, rising for him. She wanted his mouth back where it would make her come, but both he and Blake continued to tease her without mercy. Never quite touching, licking, nipping where she needed it most. “ Please,” she cried. In an instant, both men moved away from her. She whimpered at the loss of their touch, their tongues. “Please what?” Blake demanded from a position off to her left. His voice was husky, his breathing a bit labored.

“Please let me come,” she said softly, unsure if she were breaking a rule by begging them. “No,” they said in unison.

Chapter Twelve

“You will not come until we command it.” Joseph’s voice was as rough as Blake’s, and that made her burn even hotter. They enjoyed her torment as much as it aggrieved her. “A good little pet knows her place,” Blake said, “and that her masters want to pleasure her as much as receive pleasure from her. When she’s bound and blindfolded, she is bound by our will.” She swallowed hard, unsure what to think of that. She liked the idea of them wanting to pleasure her; she just wished they’d hurry. Then again, they’d proven that taking one’s time could be positively delicious. It was obvious they had a plan and they would, only at times of intimacy, demand her compliance. If her pleasure was their goal, the least she could do was be patient…and compliant. “If you have a problem with that,” Joseph said, “say your safe word, and we’ll stop everything. Let you up so you can get redressed.” She shook her head back and forth on the hard wood of the table. She didn’t want them to stop, didn’t need her clothes. She wanted to know how far they’d go, what they’d do to her, for her. In her heart, she knew the reward for obedience would be much greater. “Do you wish to use your safe word?” Blake asked. “No, Master,” she answered without pause.

Blake’s big hand closed over her shoulder. “Good. Now, what you must learn is to curb your own impatient needs and desires. Trust us to meet those needs in our own time.” A warm, wet cloth swiped over her chest and belly, and she couldn’t tell if Joseph or Blake was the one cleaning the stickiness from her skin. Then another warm cloth slipped between her thighs, and she moaned as it swept over her ultra sensitive pussy. “A good pet wants to please her masters. Do you want to please us, Penny?” Blake asked. “Yes, Master.” “You may ask for what you wish,” Joseph said, his voice coming from the other side of her. “But it doesn’t mean we’ll give in and fulfill it every time. Sometimes we might prefer something else. Or we might want to delay it, which often proves to be more enjoyable for all of us in the long run. Do you understand?” “Yes, Master.” She wished she could see them. Their voices told her they weren’t upset, but she loved looking into their eyes. “Now, we’re going to try something else. You let us know if you like it.” She stiffened and turned her face in the direction of Joseph’s voice. What were they going to do? A drip of something hot and smooth hit the upper swell of her chest, and she gasped at the odd sensation. Then a cool breath blew over her, and the substance cooled. What was that? Another drop to her other breast, a second cool breath, then the strange, hardening sensation, and the faint fragrance of…candles? “You like that?” Blake asked. “It’s...different.” Joseph chuckled. “Different good?” She nodded, and another drip landed right on her left nipple. It stung a bit, but then the sting spread into a pleasurable throb which moved down her body to her core. She moaned as that cool breath breezed across her flesh once more. The thin drops of candle wax solidified. One of the men moved away. She heard his footsteps, and a chair scraped along the floor. But the other continued with the small drops of hot wax. The scent of the vanilla candle wafted up from her skin. She felt a bit dizzy and tried to relax, but each hot dribble made her flinch—the location of the next drop a much anticipated surprise. Then the heat that spread from the spot would radiate through her, making her body sizzle with unfulfilled need. A sharp nip on her inner thigh caught her off guard, and she jerked with a soft cry. “Surprise, sweetheart,” Joseph murmured with a sexy chuckle. His hands closed around her ankles, anchoring her feet to the table, and she would have laughed with him if Blake hadn’t chosen that moment to dribble hot wax right into her navel. She sucked in her tummy, and her legs trembled.

Another nip to her thigh from Joseph. Blake’s cool breath over her heated, tormented skin. Oh, my…ohh. Their titillation went on and on until she gripped the edge of the table above her head to keep herself from thrashing. The sensations were odd, yet wonderful. Her breathing grew hard and raspy. When she bucked her hips at a particularly hard nip from Joseph, a hand pressed down on her abdomen to keep her movement to a minimum. Still, they continued with their sensual torture. Just when she didn’t think she could take any more, Joseph flicked a fingertip over her clit. She screamed, “Yes, please!” All her muscles clenched, but it wasn’t enough to send her over the edge. Blake closed his mouth over her nipple, which was a unique experience with the wax covering her. She arched her back and thrust deeper into his mouth, and he sucked hard, the wax coming off with the motion. He released her breast for a split second before returning to suckle her bare skin. Long fingers entered her pussy, deep into her core, and she gritted her teeth to keep her scream of pleasure inside. She wiggled a bit, a move of encouragement, but she couldn’t move much because of the large hand holding her still. Was it Blake or Joseph? What did that matter? It didn’t. Not at all so long as they continued doing what they were doing. Blake moved from one breast to latch on to the other and knead the first with one hand. His grip wasn’t gentle so much as it was urgent. He nipped the pebbled tip with his teeth. “Yes,” she hissed. Then Joseph’s fingers pulled out and skimmed down the sensitive flesh of her labia, all the way to her anus, where he lightly rubbed the opening. Her breath stalled in her throat. Her heart thumped harder. Part of her knew she should be mortified someone touched her there, but the other part of her—the bigger part of her—couldn’t get enough. Curiosity raged in her mind. How would it feel to have him— Joseph pressed through the tight ring of muscles and entered her anus with his fingertip. She bit her lip so hard to keep from crying out her plea for completion that she tasted the metallic tang of blood. Joseph’s finger slid farther inside. At the same time, he licked her pussy, sucked her clitoris into his mouth, and Blake tormented her nipple with his tongue. Her orgasm crashed into her with the force of a tsunami, and she shouted. Even the hand—she assumed it was Blake’s—that held her down couldn’t prevent her from raising her hips against Joseph’s face. His tongue remained there to sooth her throbbing core, his finger slowly flexing within her anus, and Blake continued to lave her nipples between whispers of sweet encouragements in his deep, raspy voice. The sensations kept pounding her until she went limp, sated and out of breath. The pie had been delicious, but nothing compared to the taste of Penny. When her hips settled onto the table once more, Blake released her left nipple with a muted pop and surprised her with a full, very

thorough kiss. He thrust his tongue past her startled lips to lay claim to her mouth. He knew she’d had an orgasm already, despite being told not to. He couldn’t blame her since they were working hard to ignite such reactions. The odds of greater impact were also heightened with the loss of some senses, such as her sight. So, although they should punish her for disobedience, they could work on that lesson another time. One step at a time, he thought. She’d already taken that step and proven her submission in other ways by allowing them to bind her wrists. He could be patient with the rest. So could Joe, at least in some matters. Joe didn’t seem ready to stop feasting on her pussy or finger-fucking her cute little ass. And he damn sure didn’t want to stop her from enjoying their touch, their kisses, and everything they had to offer her. Not for the sake of a punishment that could be enforced later. After they’d all reached climax. Besides, she made the sweetest damn sounds when she came. And she kissed him back with such enthusiasm. Her tongue swirled around his, and she moaned into his mouth, which made his cock harder, his need to have her more urgent. Rearing back, he said, “Joe.” That was all it took. His best friend knew that tone well enough that he reacted fast. He glanced up and moved out of the way. Blake didn’t hesitate. He opened his pants and shoved his clothes out of his way, while telling Joe, “Turn her over.” She let loose a yelp as Joe rolled her over and pulled on her legs until they hung off the table. It took her a second to gain her footing, but she lost it again when Blake nudged her feet farther apart. He didn’t want her to have control, not when he held onto it himself by a single thread. With a firm grip on her hips, he positioned his cock and drove in deep with one powerful thrust. Her warmth surrounded him with a tight, addictive grip. He had to pause or risk erupting prematurely from the sheer pleasure of their union. Damn, she felt so good, so perfect. Joe ran a hand along her spine, a calm gesture that did nothing for Blake’s own raging heartbeat. “That’s our precious pet,” he was saying like a soft mantra. Joe was right. She was precious. A unique treasure they’d been so lucky to find. He withdrew an inch or two and pressed into her again, his rhythm slow and steady at first. He’d make her come again, make her reach that pinnacle with him buried inside her. He wanted to give her that and so much more. More of himself, his body, his heart. Stunned by the revelation, he paused a second before he could resume. When he did move, he did so with renewed determination. He wanted her to come, to know she did so because he’d caused it—had given her so much pleasure she had no other choice. He wanted her love. His little pet who’d escaped from one prison only to live in a gilded cage, a young woman with a remarkable sensuality repressed for years because of foolish old men and society’s dictates. He’d worried about Joe falling too hard too fast, but he couldn’t blame him now when he’d done the same.

He bucked into her pussy, wishing with every impact of their bodies that they’d never have to part. He increased his pace. With her arms still stretched overhead, she splayed her fingers on the table as if she needed to find a solid foundation to hang onto. There were those sounds, the sweet utterances she made when overwhelmed by arousal. He fucked her harder. Joe used both hands to caress the delicate curve of her back, a slow, gentle contrast to his more volatile thrusts. “So soft. So beautiful.” So perfect, Blake added in silence. With one hand, he guided her hips and hung on. With the other, he reached around between her legs to pluck her clit. “So ready, aren’t you, pet?” Joe said as he dipped his fingers along the crack of her ass and then between them. Blake didn’t stop his strokes. His cock continued its steady fuck despite the slight brush of Joe’s fingers, which moved along her pussy lips. Blake ground his teeth at the sensations and pistoned faster into her willing body. Joe pulled back and, in sync with Blake’s next stroke, pushed a moistened finger into her asshole. She cried out, and Blake wanted to do the same when the muscles of her pussy tightened in response. Instead, he said, “More.” He shoved in harder, as deep as he could. “Oh, fuck, more.” He gave her clit rapid flicks with his finger, and her head reared up. Her thighs trembled. She slapped her bound hands on the table. Then Joe pushed a second finger inside her and wiggled both of them in her ass, the pressure evident against Blake’s cock, despite the thin membrane separating Joe’s fingers from his erection. Blake groaned. His cock throbbed, and his balls drew up tight. He grabbed her hips with both hands and pulled her flush against him, his cock buried deep, his body pinning Joe’s hand between them. He tossed his head back and gave in to the orgasm that ricocheted through his system. While his cock pulsed deep inside her, his fingers bit into her flesh, and his vision spotted. When the last of his semen seeped into her womb, and once he’d caught his breath, he pulled out of her cunt and collapsed his bare ass onto a nearby chair. He didn’t bother with his pants and underwear tangled about his calves. He worked on calming his overactive heart. A glance at Joe told him his buddy had a fragile hold on his own lustful control. Penny lay along one edge of the table like the sated sub she was. Joe had yet to pull his fingers from her ass, and she whimpered weakly with each push he made. As he worked a third past her anus, Blake saw her squirm with mild discomfort, so he got up, pulled his pants to mid-thigh with one hand, and shuffled to the pantry in search of something that would safely work as an anal lubricant. After finding what he needed, he carried the bottle back to the table. Without a word, he dribbled the liquid onto her skin and watched it slither into the crack of her ass. Penny wiggled her butt and lifted her head in curiosity. Joseph nodded to him, flashed a brief smile, and twisted his slick fingers into her tight, puckered opening. He set the bottle aside, used a new dishtowel to wipe off his cock, and righted his clothes. As he approached the table again, he heard Joseph ask, “Have you ever been fucked in the ass, sweetheart?” She chose to toss her head about in a negative shake instead of speaking, and he wondered whether she

could even talk at the moment. He stood by Joe’s side, his gaze fixed on their bound sub. She hadn’t closed her legs after he pulled out, not that she could now with Joseph in his place. Her nails clawed at the table, but she kept her bound arms extended overhead. And her butt lifted and dropped, up and down, in a subtle dance to the draw of Joe’s fingers. Her pale skin displayed a pink blush where Blake had gripped her before. He gave in to the urge to stroke the faint marks, until Joe pulled his fingers out of her asshole and reached for his fly. His zipper shredded the silence, and she reared her head again, her nervousness palpable. Blake soothed a hand along her spine and muttered, “You’ll be fine, pet. Settle down.” Joe shoved his pants and underwear down in one fell swoop then moved into position and grabbed the bottle to lube his hard cock. Blake ran a palm over her hair, and she dropped her forehead back to the table. “That’s it, darlin’. Just rest. Everything will be all right.” He scraped his short nails lightly over her skin, from shoulder blades to her cute butt, and heard her sigh. “You’ll do fine. I know you will.” He glanced up, met Joe’s gaze, and put both hands on each of her ass cheeks. Leaning sideways across the middle of her back, he pinned her body to the table and pulled her cheeks apart to expose her anus. “Hold still, now. Let me have a look at this fine ass that’s ours to enjoy.” Joe set one palm flat on the small of her back and touched the tip of his cock to her tiny hole. Blake adjusted his grip, held her open, and watched Joe give a slight nudge, then another. Then he reached beneath her to grab her thighs and pushed forward with enough force that her sphincter gave way and his cock head entered her ass. “Good, girl. Relax…let him in.” Blake kept his voice low, his tone one of encouragement. Joe pressed in about one inch, and Blake added, “Damn, your ass looks so hot. I bet you feel even better.” She panted. Joe grunted his approval, but his expression was one of pained control. Blake knew his friend didn’t want to hurt her, yet he needed to be inside her. She whimpered, so Blake lifted his weight off her back while he continued to hold her open for Joe. “You’re doing great.” Another inch disappeared inside. Joe began shallow strokes to allow her body time to become accustomed to his girth. Each nudge pressed him farther inside, and the lubrication helped. “So fucking sweet,” he said when Joe had his entire length buried in her rectum. “Fuck, yes,” Joe hissed on a sharp breath. “How ya doin’, darlin’?” Blake let go of her butt and raised up to look at her. She turned her face toward him, flipping her hair out of the way, not that it helped her see since she was still blindfolded. But it did enable him to see most of her face. Her breaths were quick, unsteady. Excited. Her face was flushed.

Joe didn’t move while they awaited her answer. “Come on. Talk to us. You okay?” Blake asked. “Yes…Master.” “How do you feel?” “Full,” she uttered between abrupt pants. Her answer made them chuckle. Joe pulled back a little and pushed in again, which caused her to moan. “You feel amazing to me,” he said with a second pump of his hips. Her fingers flared, fisted. Her head reared. “Do ya realize how you affect us...how much you please us?” Blake asked, well aware of the return of his own erection. Seeing her bent over and ready for anything pushed him to the limits of his endurance. If he could fuck her to orgasm for the rest of his life, it wouldn’t be near long enough for him to sate himself with her. He motioned for Joe to back up, and Joe did it without warning her. He clung to her thighs, which kept him buried in her ass, and took a few steps backward. “Ack!” The sudden movement startled her, and she turned her head this way and that, her arms reaching for purchase on the smooth tabletop. The presence of Joe’s cock in her ass and his longer legs forced her to stand on her tiptoes. The only part of her that remained on the table was her arms, so he reached beneath her to tweak a nipple. She squealed and flinched. He pulled up a chair, reopened his fly, and pulled out his semi-erect cock before cupping her face and turning her toward him. “Bend your arms and put your bound wrists on the back of your head.” He moved enough to allow her to follow his instructions then gripped her chin and tilted her head back. “Open those luscious lips, darlin’.” The instant she obeyed, he pushed his cock inside her mouth and petted her head. She grunted and slurped a bit around his hardening flesh. A bead of perspiration trickled down Joe’s temple, and he realized his friend had held back as long as possible. With a firm grip on her head and shoulders, he sat on the edge of the chair, which forced her to drop her head lower than her hips. Joe’s eyes closed at the change in angle. When he reopened them, Blake gave him a single nod. Joe pulled back and thrust deep with more force than before. Her scream vibrated around Blake’s cock. He found himself groaning with pleasure along with her and Joe. Her tongue flicked the underside of his dick, the suction exquisite. Joe rocked his cock into her ass, thus rocking her mouth on Blake’s dick. As the pace increased, Joe reached around to toy with her clit. It was all she needed; her orgasm shook her to the core enough that

he felt it. Her reaction surrounded him with more tantalizing vibrations. “That’s so good,” he said on a moan. With gritted teeth, Joe bucked harder into her tight little hole, and she became more vocal, even though Blake’s dick muffled the sounds. “You feel that, darlin’?” He knew she did because he saw the moment her knees gave way. Joe tightened his grip on her hips, held her up, and continued to fuck her ass. Blake supported her upper body with his own cock in her mouth and a firm grip on her chest. Both plump breasts filled his palms. He squeezed and pulled on them in time with their strokes. They left no part of her untouched, controlled everything she felt, tasted, and did. Everything she experienced. The realization was empowering—her obvious enjoyment, arousing. Joe couldn’t last any longer. Blake saw him drive in to the hilt and lift his face toward the ceiling as he shot his load of cum into her stretched rectum. The sight of his friend sating himself inside their pet—such an amiable, delightful sub—ignited his own rapture. He held her head cradled between his large palms and came in her mouth.

Chapter Thirteen

Penny awakened with a smile on her face. She stretched and yawned before planting it in a nearby pillow. With a deep inhale, she caught the masculine scent that lingered from Joseph’s presence in her bed. Dragging the pillow with her, she rolled over to do the same with the one Blake had used. The men were gone now. Both had left before sunup and gone back to the firehouse, ready to fight a blaze or save a life.

They saw their job as just that—a job. Something they did for the pay and the thrill of battle. She’d listened to Blake describe fire as if it were a worthy foe enough to know they viewed an out-of-control blaze as a battle worth fighting. She saw them as heroes. They’d not only rescued her from the Incognito blaze, but they’d saved her from a life without focus, a life without purpose. Never mind that they’d also gotten rid of her unwanted visitor from the past. She flung off the covers and practically floated into the bathroom. Ever since Randolph died, her large home had felt so hollow. Lifeless. Much like she was. But with the arrival of her masters, it didn’t seem quite so overwhelming and lonely. Grabbing her toothbrush and toothpaste, she brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth with mouthwash. Since she was nude, she didn’t have to undress before she showered. She still intended to sell the place, even if she’d miss her large bathroom and luxurious whirlpool tub. In fact, she was expecting the realtor to stop by this morning to discuss listing the property. After her shower, she chose a light, sleeveless blouse and a pair of loose-fitting slacks. A simple belt completed her ensemble. She dried her hair and started to pull it back in a demure bun, but at the last second decided against it and left it loose. Free. A glance at the clock on her bedside table warned her that the realtor would be there within the half hour, so she headed for the kitchen to scarf down a small breakfast. She’d just stepped off the bottom stair when the doorbell rang. The realtor was early. With a small frown for her missed meal, Penny checked her appearance one last time before opening the door. Eli barged inside. “No!” She scrambled back several steps, leaving the front door ajar. “Get out.” “Your pit bulls aren’t here to stop me this time, Penelope,” he said as he stalked her into the living room and around the couch. “I warned you it wasn’t over. Now, you’re gonna come with me nice and easy like, or we can do this the hard way.” She picked up a vase and threw it at him. He dodged it and launched himself at her. She ran from the room. He tackled her from behind, and she fell on the hard tile. “No! I won’t—” She rolled over to kick at him, but he straddled her waist and captured her wrists. Then he slapped her across the face. The pain shocked her and stopped her struggle. She knew the longer she fought him, the more violent he would become. Panting, she let the tears flow. “That’s more like it,” he said, climbing off her and pulling her to her feet. “Do it again, and I’ll spank your

ass so hard you won’t be able to sit for a month.” The threat alone made her tremble, which seemed to please him. “Now, get moving.” He gave her a shove. Her thoughts scattered as she tried to decide whether delaying him until the realtor arrived would help or just endanger another person. “I…I have to get my purse.” “What for?” “I have money in the bank—” “Get it, but hurry. And don’t try anything.” She kept her gaze lowered, her voice soft and fearful, which wasn’t a difficult task at all. If she could just find a way to get to her cell phone in her purse, maybe she could— “I said, get moving.” “It…it’s upstairs. In my bedroom.” He gestured to the staircase and stayed right behind her all the way upstairs. Terror seized her when she spied the bed, and she prayed he wouldn’t risk doing anything to her in her own home. Fortunately, he didn’t, but the second she grabbed her purse, he gripped her arm. “Now, let’s go.” His fingers hurt as he dragged her back downstairs, but they didn’t head outside. He surprised her by slamming the front door and locking it without letting her go. Then he looked at her. “You got keys in that purse?” She nodded. “Give them to me.” With shaking fingers, she dug for her keys. Quickly, so he wouldn’t yank the purse away from her and foil her hopes of using her cell phone at some point. When she handed over the keys, he asked, “Which way to the garage?” She looked toward the kitchen. He grabbed her arm again and headed in that direction. Once they were in the garage, he scared the shit out of her by popping the trunk of her Mercedes Benz and ordering her to get inside. When she hesitated, he grabbed her by the back of the neck and shoved her inside. Surrounded by pitch blackness, she banged on the trunk lid only to hear him threaten to gag her if she

didn’t stop. Seconds later, the garage door rolled up, the car’s engine revved to life, and it began to move. With trembling fingers, she opened her purse, praying her cell was inside and not on the charger.

*****

“That’s great news,” Joseph said. “I’ll be sure to tell her. Thanks for calling to let me know. Yeah, we’ll be there. Okay. Bye.” He flipped his cell phone closed and faced Blake across the table, who raised a brow in silent question. “Detective Baxter. He called to let us know that Brian confessed. The case is officially closed.” Blake grinned and lifted his mug of coffee. “That’s good to hear.” “He asked if we planned to attend the ground-breaking ceremonies at Incognito.” “Wouldn’t miss it. I think we ought to take—” He stopped when Joseph’s cell phone rang again. His heart expanded when he checked the caller ID. “It’s Penny.” God, she was amazing. It had been so hard for them to pull away from her that morning to head here to the firehouse. The next few days were going to be the longest they’d spent on duty in ages. He couldn’t wait to get back to her, to get her back into his arms. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said in greeting after he hit the Talk button. “Jo—Joseph,” she said, her voice tight and filled with terror. His throat tightened, and his gaze snapped to Blake’s. “What is it, Penny?” “Eli.” She gasped a couple of times, as if she tried to keep from weeping. “Eli...he...” “Slow down, sweetheart. Take a deep breath.” He covered the phone with his hand and whispered to Blake, “Call Baxter.” Then to Penny, he said, “Where are you?” A sob slipped out of her, but it was muffled and soft. His heart nearly tore in two. “In the trunk of my car,” she said in a loud whisper. “He says he’s taking me ho—home.” That fucking bastard had stuffed her in the trunk? He’d kill the asshole. Clenching his teeth, he controlled his rage. “Okay, sweetheart. Stay on the phone with me. We’re calling the police.” Blake had the phone to his ear and spoke to Paul Baxter. When he paused, Joseph related what Penny had just said. “Get the make, model, and license plate number. They’ll be on the lookout for it,” Blake said.

Unable to sit still, Joseph surged to his feet and paced the length of the long kitchen table. “Listen, Penny,” he said when he heard her sob. “Shh. You’re all right. We’re gonna find you.” “I-I know.” Even though she was obviously terrified, she trusted them to help her. That calmed a bit of his anxiety. “What’s the make and model of your car?” “It’s a M-Mercedes C230W,” she said around shallow gasps. “Silver.” She sniffled. “A two-door.” He related the information to Blake. “That’s good, sweetheart.” Blake rattled off the information then Penny’s cell phone number. “What’s goin’ on in here?” Dick asked as he sauntered into the kitchen and went to the fridge. “Damn cell phones. Doesn’t anyone—?” Joseph put up his hand to stop Dick from speaking. “The police are going to trace your cell phone. You have GPS on it?” “I—I don’t know,” she whispered. “Randolph got it for me.” Dick stepped in front of him to stop his pacing and looked at him with a worried frown. “Okay, sweetheart. We’ll figure it out. Just stay on the line.” Blake spoke to Baxter, and Joseph pinched the bridge of his nose. His chest hurt, like a spike through his heart. She sounded so scared, and he felt hopeless to do anything standing here. “What’s going on?” Dick asked. “Hold on, Penny. I’m here, but I have to talk to someone.” “Okay,” she whispered. He kept the phone at his ear so he could hear her, but covered the mouthpiece. “We’re gonna have to leave,” he said to Dick. “Emergency. We’ll explain later.” There was too much to detail right then. They had to get on the road so they could get to Penny as soon as they had her location. God help that little fucker if she was hurt. Dick glanced at Blake, who was still talking to the detective, and nodded. His gaze swung back to Joseph. “We’ll cover for you.” Blake’s chair scraped on the floor, and he dug his keys out of his pocket. “Let’s go,” he said to Joseph. They jogged out to Blake’s truck, each with a phone to his ear. Just as Joseph slammed the door, Penny whimpered. “What’s wrong?” he demanded, unable to keep the worry from his tone.

“The car’s stopping,” she said in a whisper filled with fear. Then her voice dropped so low he could barely hear it when Blake started the pickup’s rumbling engine. “Oh, God, Joseph.” He heard her phone drop. “They’ve got a triangulation on her cell,” Blake said. “She’s in the north end of town.” “She dropped the phone.” He held his breath and plugged his other ear, desperately trying to hear something. Anything. Was that a car door slamming? He wanted to call out to Penny, but was afraid the bastard would hear, especially if she was hiding the phone. Then he heard noise, as if the phone were being fumbled. “Joseph?” “Yeah, sweetheart. I’m here.” “He got out of the car. I heard him walk away. I can get out, I think, if I get the back seat pushed forward. It folds down. Should I? I’m scared. I’m so scared. I don’t want to go back with him. I can’t.” “Shh, sweetie. Calm down. If you can find the latch for the seat, go ahead and try it. But be careful. He might be watching the car.” “Uh huh.” “Ocean Park and Eighteenth,” Blake said. “Baxter’s almost there.” “Hang tight, Penny,” Joseph said, forcing a sense of calm into his voice. “Detective Paul Baxter—you met him at Incognito—is on his way. The police are on their way.” Another whimper. “I can’t feel anything to release the seat.” Her voice was so strained it ripped a hole in his heart. “I can’t move it. Please,” she cried. “It’s so dark.” A sob. “And so tight, I can barely move.” “Penny, sweetheart, we’re coming. It’s okay. We’ll be there in just a couple minutes. We know where you are. The police—” Penny’s yelp stopped his heart. Then she cried, “No!” and the line went dead. He flipped his phone closed and shouted at Blake to go faster. “He knows she has a phone,” Blake said into the cell, his teeth gritted. The truck tires squealed as he took the last turn onto Ocean Park. Just three blocks to go. “There,” Joseph shouted when he spotted the silver Mercedes sitting at the far end of a parking lot in front of a mini-mart. Paul had his weapon trained on Eli, who stood with his hands raised, his back to the car’s open truck. Blake slammed the truck into park, and they were out of the cab in a flash. Blake didn’t even slow as he barreled into Eli, taking him to the ground, the sound of fist hitting flesh unmistakable. Joseph ignored Paul’s shout, sprinted to the back of the car, and looked down to see Penny lying on her side, her arms folded over her head.

“Sweetheart, we’re here. Everything’s okay now.” He was afraid to touch her, although he needed to—if only to know that she was okay. Slowly, she lowered her arms and looked up at him. Her right cheek was red, the splotch quickly darkening into a bruise. Joseph’s gut twisted into a hard ball. “Okay. Blake! That’s enough,” he heard Baxter say, and glanced over to see the detective standing over Blake and the bloodied creep. Joseph wanted to get in a few punches of his own, but he needed to take care of Penny. The asshole was well in hand. He turned his attention back to Penny and held out his hand to her. “Come on, sweets. Let me help you out of there.” She held out her arms to him, and he lifted her from the trunk. She clung to his shoulders, buried her face against his neck. “I knew you’d save me. I knew it.” Her tiny body shook. He turned to carry her to Blake’s truck. “I’m gonna need her for questioning,” the detective said as he clicked handcuffs on the kidnapper. Eli’s lip and nose bled, and he had a gash on his cheek. Blake shook his hand and flexed his fingers. It had been at least a decade since he’d been in a fistfight. “We’ll be in the truck,” Joseph told Baxter. He carried Penny to the pickup and set her on the bench seat. “Where are you hurt, sweetheart?” She finally pulled away from him, her big dark eyes filled with unshed tears. “He only hit me once,” she said, her voice rough as she touched her bruised cheek. He clenched his jaw and pressed his lips tight. “I’m okay,” she said. A tear escaped her lashes and slithered down her cheek. He nodded and touched her hair, her shoulders, reassuring himself that she was unharmed. Car doors slammed, and he looked over to see Baxter putting Eli in the back of his unmarked SUV. Then the detective came toward the pickup. “Need a couple minutes with her, then you can take her home.” Joseph nodded. “Answer the detective’s questions, sweetheart. We’ll be right over there.” He tipped his head toward Blake, who stood off to the side, his back to them. “Okay,” Penny whispered with a forced smile, which was as fake as could be. Her hands shook where they rested on her lap. Joseph pulled himself away and went to Blake. “Hey,” he said, carefully approaching his best friend. He knew Blake was on an adrenaline high and was still rather volatile. “We have to let her go,” Blake said, his voice tight, gravelly. “She needs to make it on her own for a

while.” Joseph rebelled at the thought. He opened his mouth to argue, but he saw the sense of it. She’d never been on her own; she’d always been under someone’s control. Hadn’t he thought the same thing earlier? Now that Blake had verbalized his doubts too, how could he argue? Blake swiped his hand through his hair then gazed at his scraped knuckles. “Break anything?” Joseph asked in lieu of discussing Penny for the moment. “Hopefully, his nose. How is she?” “He hit her.” “Fuck.” Blake dropped into a squat, and Joseph knew his adrenaline rush waned. Blake wrapped his arms over his head in much the same way Penny had inside the trunk. Joseph laid his hand on his buddy’s shoulder and let out a slow sigh. “You’re right. We have to let her go.” Fuck, the words hurt. “What do you mean, let her go?” Joseph turned to see Penny standing right behind them. Blake surged to his feet. “What do you mean?” she demanded. Paul Baxter headed toward his SUV, his questioning obviously done. “Penny,” Blake said, his voice low and controlled, but Joseph knew just how badly he hurt. He knew, because he did, too. “Answer me.” “You need some time on your own, sweetheart,” he said, pushing aside his own heartache. “You’ve lived such a sheltered life, first under your father’s fist, and then Randolph’s dictates. And we…we came into the picture when you were most vulnerable. Now Eli tried to force you to go somewhere against your will. You need some time to find yourself, time to live your own life by your terms, your way. So you can decide for yourself what you want to do for the rest of your life and who you want to spend that life with.” Her little fists landed on her hips, and she glared at him with such fierce intensity he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss the stubbornness from her lips. “It’s for your own good, darlin’,” Blake said. “You can’t commit to the kind of relationship we want until you’re sure of what’s best for you.” “And you know what’s best for me, is that it?” “Yeah, we do. You want to go from one dominant master to two more?” Blake practically shouted, his control gone.

Joseph cringed, wondering just how Penny would deal with Blake’s fury. But the little woman stepped forward, until she was so close to Blake’s chest she had to tip her head all the way back to look up into his face. “You’re full if it.” She thumped Blake on the chest with her finger. “You make me fall in love with you—the first time I’ve ever been in love with anyone—and now you’re running away?” Oh, shit. “Penny—” “And you,” she said, whipping around to face Joseph. “You agree with Blake? You think the two of you can just tell me to go away and live by myself for a while? When is long enough? Who decides that? You? ” “Sweetheart—” “Don’t you ‘sweetheart’ me.” She flung her hands in the air. “I can’t believe this. If you don’t want me—” Her voice hitched. “Then be men enough to admit it. Don’t tell me you’re dumping me for my own good.” Her gaze moved between the two of them. “My whole life, everyone’s made my decisions for me.” Tears made her eyes shine. “I finally make one for myself, and you—” She clamped her mouth shut and folded her arms over her middle. She was right. Joseph looked at Blake and saw the indecision warring in his friend’s eyes. They were making her decisions for her, because they feared taking advantage of her submissive nature. Because they thought they knew what was best for her. But only she could say for sure. “What do you want?” Joseph asked. She looked him in the eye. “You.” Then she looked at Blake. “And you. Forever.”

Chapter Fourteen

Nine days later...

Penny ran her hands down her thighs, over her black silk skirt, wiping her damp palms as Joseph steered his black Explorer into the full parking lot in front of Incognito’s burned-out shell. From next to her in the back seat, Blake reached out and took one of her cold, clammy hands into his big warm one. “Everything’s going to be all right, darlin’.” She looked up into his eyes and was comforted by him, as always. She nodded and gripped his fingers, hard. Joseph parked at the end of a row of cars and shut off the engine, then turned to look at them. “He’s right, sweetheart.” He gave her one of his gentle grins, his white teeth flashing against his dark skin, which glowed in the light of the setting sun. His black hair shone with bits of gold. “You’re ours now, and where we go, you go. If you’re not welcome here, then neither are we.” She licked her lips. “It’s just...the last time...” She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. “Things were so different then. I wouldn’t blame Katriona and Dalton if they never want to see my face again.” Joseph reached over the back of his seat and cupped her cheek. “Ah, Penny. Mistakes happen. Everyone involved knows it was all a misunderstanding.” She stared into his black eyes. These past days had been the best of her life, having Blake and Joseph all to herself—except when they were at work. They’d invited her to move into their home with them, and she loved the little bungalow that was just a stone’s throw from a stretch of private beach. They’d fulfilled every sexual fantasy she’d ever had and many more of which she’d never even dreamed. And they’d made her dreams of a happy home a reality. She trusted them. Completely. If they said that coming to the Incognito ground breaking ceremony was a good thing for her, then she would make them proud and keep her chin up, no matter how nervous—no, terrified—she might be. “Okay,” she whispered. Blake squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek. “We love you.” Her heart melted every time she heard it. From the moment she’d told them that all she wanted was them, forever, they’d never withheld their affection, and they told her countless times a day how much they loved her. “I love you, too,” she said to Blake. Then she turned to Joseph. “You, too.” Joseph chuckled. “Come on, then, or we’ll miss it.” Blake helped her out, and when Joseph came around the front of the truck and took her other hand, she laced her fingers together with those of both of her men. “Just...don’t let go of me, okay?” Both of them squeezed her hands. “Never,” Blake said.

“Not ever,” Joseph concurred. They headed toward the throng of people standing in front of the burned out building. The slight scent of charcoal still permeated the air and wafted to her on the cool, ocean breeze. The sun sank lower, making their shadows long as they walked up the crushed seashell driveway. It wasn’t as white and pristine as it had been the first time she’d been here. Piles of rubble stood off to one side, and the lawn had been torn up by heavy trucks. There was a lot of work needed for them to rebuild, but she’d learned from Blake and Joseph that Katriona and Dalton were determined to get the club back up and running as soon as possible. They’d explained that there weren’t many places for people like them to feel comfortable...and safe. As they stopped at the edge of the crowd, Dalton and Kat climbed the steps to the front of the old mansion, hand in hand, and turned to face everyone. A cheer went up, startling her. Blake let out a piercing whistle, which made her grin. As Dalton began to speak, to thank everyone for coming, Penny thought about this place, and about her late husband. What had he found here? What had he done at Incognito that he’d needed to keep such a secret from her? She’d offered her body to him on many occasions over the years, yet he hadn’t touched her. She’d thought herself repulsive in some way, yet Blake and Joseph let her know with every moment of every day they thought her the most beautiful woman in the world. As if sensing her thoughts about them, both of them moved closer and put their arms around her, surrounding her on both sides by their warmth. She wrapped her arms around their waists, under their suit jackets, and clung to their strong bodies. They were both so handsome. And totally hers. Another cheer went up, and Penny tried to pull her thoughts back to Dalton and what he was saying, but it was difficult. The people around her were all well dressed in eveningwear. Beautiful gowns and suits...almost as formal as they had been the night of the fire. It was obvious this celebration, which was to include an outside gathering behind the mansion with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, was almost as big a deal as Katriona and Dalton’s wedding celebration was supposed to have been. “We hope to have the grand opening May first,” Dalton announced. “I hope you’ll all join us then for the newly remodeled, bigger and better Incognito!” The clapping and cheering was almost deafening this time. Katriona and Dalton came down the steps, and Katriona picked up a shovel, placed her foot on it, and gouged it into the churned up lawn, a big grin on her beautiful face. “Please join us under the canopy by the cottages for champagne and finger food,” Dalton said. Blake gave Penny a little squeeze. “You have a big smile on your face.” “Katriona looks so happy. So different than she did that night.” Joseph pulled his arm away from her and lifted her chin so she would look him in the face. “You weren’t

responsible for anything bad that happened that night.” “I know. But I was so—” “You were hurt and angry. It’s okay. You had every right to be.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “This is a new beginning. For Kat and Dalton, and you...and us.” “Especially us,” Blake said, wrapping both arms around her from behind and kissing her ear. “And when Incognito reopens, and we bring you here to show you all there is...” Joseph winked. “...you’ll understand.” A blush warmed her cheeks. Even though the thought was a tiny bit terrifying, it was way more tantalizing. After spending the last week and a half in their bed, she couldn’t imagine there was anything more for her to experience, but they’d promised her there was. “I’m glad you all could make it.” When Joseph turned away from her, she saw that Katriona and Dalton stood near them. Both smiled at her, and she dropped her gaze. “Mistress Katriona, Master Dalton,” she said dutifully, as Blake and Joseph had taught her. “My goodness,” Kat said, giving her a low, throaty chuckle. “I would have never guessed.” Both Blake and Joseph laughed. “Kat, Dalton,” Blake said, his voice formal, yet his arm was still around Penny’s waist. “This is Penny, and she’s ours.” Her cheeks flamed with heat, but she couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips. It sounded so good. She was theirs. “May I?” Dalton asked. She didn’t look up to see what he was asking, or whom he’d asked, until a finger touched her chin to lift her gaze and she stared up at the tall, dark man who’d called the cops on her before. “Penny,” Dalton said, his voice soft, a smile in his eyes. “You are welcome at Incognito any time. Thank you for what you did the night of the fire.” Katriona wrapped her arm through her husband’s. “Yes, thank you, Penny. You saved many lives that night. We’re forever indebted to you. We’re sorry for the earlier misunderstanding. Welcome to Incognito.” Penny’s heart nearly burst with their acceptance. “Thank you,” she whispered. Dalton grinned. “Come on, or all the champagne will be gone before we get there.” As a group, they headed around the back of the mansion to a piece of lawn that had been left undisturbed. Lanterns hung from tree limbs giving off a warm glow to the area. The sun was gone, and the moon rose as a magnificent white orb over the ocean. Joseph and Blake snagged glasses of wine from a passing waiter, and Penny took the glass Blake offered her.

She couldn’t tear her gaze from the sparkling water down a narrow pathway from where they stood. Blake and Joseph paused near her; she could hear their low, gentle voices flowing on the breeze. Her heart swelled until she thought it would burst. She was loved, accepted. Wanted. Maybe even needed . “Come with us,” Joseph whispered in her ear. She didn’t know how long she’d been standing on the edge of the lawn, but the moon had risen high. She took Joseph’s proffered hand and followed him down the path toward the beach with Blake following close behind carrying a bottle of champagne. She still held her glass in her free hand. They stepped off the well-worn path onto the soft sand, and she stumbled a bit in her new high heeled pumps. Joseph caught her with a laugh and lifted her into his arms. She clung to his neck and rested her cheek against his shoulder. The full moon lit up the beach and made the sand sparkle. The water practically glowed. She sighed and listened to the gentle surf lap at the shore. “Here’s good,” Blake said, and Joseph stopped walking to set her gently on her feet, but he didn’t let go of her. He kept his arms around her. She gazed up into his black eyes. “Tonight, we make you ours,” Joseph said. “Ours forever, if you’ll accept us.” She opened her mouth to say she thought they’d already been through this, but he laid a finger over her lips. “No talking until we tell you to speak.” She nodded. A soft pop had her looking over her shoulder at Blake, who’d opened the champagne. He stepped up to them, filled the two glasses he held, and handed them to Joseph before taking hers from her fingers to fill it. Then he set the bottle in the sand so it didn’t tip over and gave her back her glass. Next, he moved to stand beside Joseph so they were shoulder-to-shoulder in front of her. “You came into our lives unexpected,” he said, his voice low and gravelly in the way that made tingles rush through her body and tightened her core with excitement. “And you stole our hearts.” She smiled. “We’re not perfect,” Joseph said. “We’ve...had a lot of failures where women are concerned, and it took a very strong woman to make us see that love is possible. That what we’d dreamed of for years could happen. That we could find one woman who fulfilled all of our desires, both physically and emotionally.” Her cheeks warmed at the praise. “We love you, Penelope,” Blake whispered. He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a long, thin box. “Will you be ours forever?”

It wasn’t a ring box he held, but she didn’t hesitate in answering. “I’m yours forever. I have been since you...” She couldn’t stop her smile. “Since you bathed me after the fire and held me while I slept.” “Ah, sweetheart,” Joseph said, his voice thick. Blake popped open the box to reveal a thick herringbone chain that sparkled in the moonlight. The latch was a tiny padlock with a glittering diamond in its center. “Will you wear our collar, Penny?” Blake asked. “To show the world you belong to us?” Her throat too tight to speak, she could only nod. They’d explained collaring to her before the Eli incident. Back then, she’d never thought she’d ever wear one—never thought they’d want her that deeply, with that much commitment. Blake pulled the chain from the velvet box and loosened his tie before opening the top two buttons of his shirt. He wore a chain of his own and on the end, she saw when he pulled it from inside his shirt, was a tiny key. He popped open the lock with it. She turned her gaze to Joseph. “You have one, too?” He smiled and nodded. Since his hands were busy holding their champagne glasses, he just touched his thumb to the center of his chest. “We’ll always wear them, just as you wear yours. If anything ever happens, and you—” He swallowed hard. “If you want out, all it takes is your safe word.” She shook her head. “Never,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I never want to be without you two.” “Turn around,” Blake said, his voice stronger now. She did as she was told, and he settled the cool silver against her bare skin. He pulled her hair from beneath it, secured the lock, and then turned it so the lock lay at the base of her neck. His mouth was warm and moist against the side of her neck. “Thank you.” She shivered as goose bumps raced down her arms. Blake turned her around to face them again. Joseph grinned and handed Blake one of the two glasses he held, then lifted his out in front of them. “To finding happily ever after.” “Amen,” Blake said. The tinkle of clinking crystal seemed so fitting in that moment, and when the sweet bubbles burst on her tongue, she sighed. “Now,” Blake said, taking her glass from her after she’d taken a few more sips. “Strip, woman.” Her eyes widened at his stern command. She glanced up the beach a ways, then back up the trail to where the Incognito party still went on. She knew no one could see them here in the darkness, but the thrill of it went through her like a lightning bolt.

“Yes, Master.” She reached for the buttons on her blouse. Blake set their glasses in the sand, and Joseph did the same with his. She looked down to focus on her task when the rasp of a zipper brought her head back up. Blake dropped his pants to his ankles as Joseph stepped to the side and pulled something out of the bushes. A...blanket? A giggle burst from her when he flipped it out to reveal an oversized beach towel. “Silence, pet,” Joseph commanded, but humor laced his voice. She shimmied out of her blouse, unzipped her skirt, and let it fall around her feet while Joseph laid the towel over the soft sand. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” Blake said, reaching out to cup her breast the instant she released her front bra clasp. She hummed as his slightly rough thumb flicked her nipple. “On your knees.” She dropped down and homed in on Blake’s semi-erect penis, sucking it into her mouth without needing to be told. He loved it when she gave him head, and she couldn’t get enough of his musky, warm flavor. Within the short span of a few hard sucks, he was rock hard. She took him to the back of her throat. “Stop,” he said on a groan and pulled back. “Shit, woman, you’re going to make me come too soon.” She licked her lips and stared at his gorgeous cock as it shone in the moonlight. He stepped back and sat on the towel. “Come here, darlin’.” He held out his arms to her. When she went to kick off her heels, Joseph stopped her. “Leave them on.” She grinned and went to Blake. He’d opened his shirt, and his chest was bare. So gorgeous, she wanted to sink her teeth into his pecs. He moved her into position over him, her pussy settling over his rock-solid cock as it lay long and thick over his abdomen. Another zipper rasped, and she would have turned to look at Joseph, but Blake pulled her down and kissed her hard, his tongue delving deep into her mouth. Her pussy clenched, and she rocked her hips, sliding her already slick core along his shaft. He groaned into her mouth, and she clung to his shoulders. She loved him so much. Both of them. The sex only got better and better each time she was with them, and she had a feeling tonight would be extra special—whatever they had in mind. Blake’s hands were in her hair, mussing the coif she’d taken a half hour to pin into place just the right way. She didn’t really care, though, because his fingers massaged her scalp, tipping her head to the side so he could get deeper penetration into her mouth. Warm hands with long fingers closed over her butt cheeks, and she moaned into Blake’s mouth. When Joseph’s hot mouth kissed her shoulder, she shivered in delight.

Blake broke the kiss, and they pulled apart panting for breath. But she didn’t have long to suck in oxygen before Joseph turned her head and caught her lips. He kissed her with a slow thoroughness that made her melt. He was more tamed than Blake, gentler. The contrast aroused her to the point she couldn’t think. Then Blake’s fingers were between their bodies, stroking her pussy with those blunt fingers. She bucked and gripped Joseph’s arm to steady herself against the onslaught of sensations rioting through her body. “So fucking wet,” Blake murmured as he delved two fingers into her and curved them up, hitting her sweet spot. She squealed into Joseph’s mouth. Joseph pinched her right nipple with a little more pain than tenderness, and he deepened the kiss, stroking his tongue over hers. While his one hand tortured her sensitive nipples, his other skimmed down her back to probe her anus. Oh... She loved it when he did that. Loved it when they filled her down there with their fingers. They knew just how to touch, when to press, when to withdraw. She pumped her hips in time to their deep strokes. Joseph slid another finger into her backside, while a third joined the two Blake already had in her pussy. So full. So delightfully full. Joseph broke the kiss and nipped that super sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. She cried out and rode their hands hard, so close to coming. So close... They stopped moving. She whimpered. “Not yet, love,” Joseph whispered against the flesh of her neck. “Not yet. Tonight you take us both. Tonight, we claim you fully.” The thrill went through her so fast and hard, she had to clench her muscles and force herself not to come. They were going to make love to her...together. Both of their beautiful cocks inside her at the same time. “Do you want that?” Blake asked, his fingers still buried in her pussy, his other hand cupping one breast. Joseph flicked her other nipple and wiggled his fingers in her ass. “Yes. Yesss... Please, Masters. Make me yours.” Blake pulled his hands from her, lifted her, and brought her down onto his cock in one hard thrust. With Joseph’s fingers still in her rear, she thought she’d burst. “Don’t come yet,” Blake said, his voice so low it scraped over her nerves like velvet. “Not until we allow it, or you’ll be punished.” She whimpered. Their form of punishment was pure torture. They said, since they would never spank her again, they needed something that would be equally difficult for her. They’d cuffed her ankles and wrists to their bed and kept her on a sexual edge for several hours—kept her from coming for an eternity—in punishment for taking her own pleasure and letting herself orgasm before they gave her permission. She didn’t want punishment tonight. She wanted everything they had to give.

“Yes, Master,” she said dutifully, even as her inner muscles tightened around Blake’s cock. “Lean forward, sweetheart,” Joseph said, pressing against her shoulder blade with his free hand. “Hands on either side of Blake’s head.” She maneuvered into position as instructed. “Okay, darlin’. Ride me nice and slow.” She rose up until he was almost out of her then sank down slowly, tightening her pussy around him. “Ahh,” he said on a sigh. “That’s it, darlin’. Just like that.” She repeated the motion again and again. A third finger joined Joseph’s first two, stretching her more and more. Though she’d taken his cock before, and she loved it, with Blake in her pussy, even Joseph’s fingers seemed to stretch her to the limit. Heat infused her body though the air was cool and damp from the ocean breeze. She stared into Blake’s eyes as she rode him the way he’d told her to, slow and easy. But her orgasm built fast, and soon she fought it back with everything she had. “I-I don’t…” She squeezed her eyes shut and used all her willpower not to come. That’s when Joseph withdrew his fingers and pressed his long cock into her ass. She screamed and shuddered, forcing herself not to come, not to let herself fly as her body begged her to do. “Oh, fuck!” Joseph grunted as he withdrew and surged home again. There was no pain, only pleasure so intense tears sprang from her eyes. Her men. Her lovers. Hers, forever. Both men moved then—Blake, lifting his hips up and shoving his cock so deep, and Joseph, pumping into her anus like a piston. Joseph grabbed her breasts and tugged on her nipples. Blake’s fingers delved between their bodies and found her clit. “Now!” the men shouted in unison. Penny screamed again and came so hard she thought she’d die. Lights exploded behind her eyelids. Sizzling heat raced through her body. She collapsed on Blake’s chest as he stiffened. He gripped her shoulders and came with a low growl. Joseph’s hands tightened around her breasts and two hard strokes later, he shouted as his hot cum filled her. In one smooth motion, they all rolled to one side with her sandwiched between their two big, hard bodies, slicked with sweat. The scent of sex filled the air, mingling with the fresh, salty sea air.

A sob she didn’t realize was coming slipped free. “Please,” she whispered against Blake’s chest as she laid her hand over Joseph’s on her breast. “Please. Don’t ever let me go.” “Ahh, darlin’,” Blake whispered. Then he kissed the tip of her nose. “Never,” Joseph said against her ear, his warm breath a caress. “Never.”

Author Bio

Anna Leigh has been reading and penning romances for as long as she can remember. After she met and married her very own real-life hero, romance took on a whole new meaning. She now knows married life can sizzle and romance can be erotic—even in her own home. Madison Layle avoided her childhood chores on the family farm by curling up with books and disappearing into other worlds of fantasy, adventure, and romance. With maturity came the love of her own real-life hero (a.k.a. “my darling hubby”), and a real understanding of why her parents locked their bedroom door. Madison and Anna Leigh first met online through a critique group, a meeting which sparked a strong friendship and a fun partnership. Together, their writing has taken on a spicier flavor, so while their hubbies are off at work, they let their imaginations soar.... You can visit Madison and Anna at their Web sites:www.madisonlayle.com ,www.annaleighkeaton.com , or check out all the exciting happenings at Incognito at:www.incognitoseries.com .