Surrendering to Summer

Whispering Mountain 2

Surrendering to Summer Summer Showers was excited about moving to Whispering Mountain for a better job and triple the pay. When her living situation changes, she is persuaded to move in with the Durden men temporarily. Staying with the men only makes her undeniable attraction grow stronger. She finds it difficult to suppress the desire growing inside of her. Dalton, Denver, and Dillon Durden knew they were in trouble the minute they invited Summer to stay with them. While all three men tried to fight their attraction to her, they found it difficult to stay away. Someone is lurking in Whispering Mountain and they won’t stop until they get what they have come for. Will the stranger rip their world apart or will the Durden men fight to protect everything they love and surrender to Summer? Genre: Interracial, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys Length: 48,712 words

SURRENDERING TO SUMMER Whispering Mountain 2

Kortny Alexander

MENAGE AMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

SURRENDERING TO SUMMER Copyright © 2011 by Kortny Alexander E-book ISBN: 1-61034-463-4 First E-book Publication: May 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Surrendering to Summer by Kortny Alexander from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

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

DEDICATION For Freda

SURRENDERING TO SUMMER Whispering Mountain 2 KORTNY ALEXANDER Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 Day 1 Dalton could not help but grin to himself as he watched Summer, also known as the thorn in his side, lean over the counter as she okayed the last of the home improvements with the contractor she had hired. He still had not gotten over the fact that he had invited her to stay at the house with him and his two brothers. What the hell was wrong with him? Having a woman that beautiful living under their roof was going to be too damned tempting. It had only been a month ago, at one of her sister’s family gatherings, Summer had announced that she had accepted a job offer and was moving to Whispering Mountain. Summer had been staying a few days at her sister’s house. Her sister Spring was newly married to one of Dalton’s cousins and had made it clear that the newlyweds were driving her insane. Dalton had the dumb idea of offering his home to her until the renovations at her house were completed. After meeting Summer, his brothers Denver and Dillon eagerly agreed. It was only going to be seven days. He would survive Summer and her many mood swings.

Surrendering to Summer

9

All right, he had to admit that when he had met her six months ago in Las Vegas with her sisters, things were instantaneous. First came the fire. He knew he had to have her. No qualms about it. Dalton was a lover of all women, but there was something about Summer that made his chest tighten. His cock was on immediate alert whenever she was around. He was never sure if it was the way her almond-colored skin seemed to have a constant glow or whether it was the delicate star-shaped flecks of hazel that shone in her eyes. Her lips were simply kissable. Irresistible. Everything about her was perfect to him. He held back the groan when he watched her smile and lick her lips as she talked. Dalton had it bad. The hunger that simmered just below the surface was difficult to ignore. It took every inch of his restraint to keep from stalking over to where Summer stood, yanking those tight jeans from her delectable body, and making her scream his name. He shook the thought away just as fast. This was just a few of the reasons why he could only be friends with Summer Showers. Then came the ice. Wanting her was a dangerous thing. Nothing good would come from it. He didn’t need a woman in his life. “Dalton?” His head jerked up at the sound of his name falling from Summer’s lips. Damn. He had been daydreaming and staring. Dalton moved towards Summer as he spoke. “Sorry, I was deep in thought. Are you just about finished?” He crossed the short distance of the kitchen doorway to the island. Summer smiled at Dalton. “Yeah, we are done. Just the floors and kitchen counters are left.” There was no way Dalton was going to let her out of his sight. It made sense for him to volunteer to accompany her to see the contractor. Summer knew the relationship she unofficially developed with Dalton ran hot and cold. As of noon that day they hadn’t had a disagreement, she didn’t have the urge to strangle him, nor had her breathing quickened at the sight of him. She never knew how her body would react to him. “Seven days, and I will

10

Kortny Alexander

be able to move into my new home.” Seven days, and I will be out of their house, she thought. Dalton came to stand in front of Summer as the contractor quietly excused himself. “Since you’re in such a good mood, let me take you to lunch before we head back to the ranch.” He was standing too close. It was getting hot in the kitchen and no one was cooking. Summer knew it was October and she did have on a short sleeved shirt, but somehow it seemed too hot standing next to Dalton. Dammit! She knew her crazed hormones would not be able to behave. The man was doing nothing but standing in front of her looking extremely yummy and delicious, and she was getting more aroused by the second. They needed to leave before she did something stupid like stare at his mouth a moment too long. “Lunch. Lunch would be good.” Summer tried to look away from those beautiful blues but failed miserably. She watched as Dalton quirked his lips at her, as if he knew that he was getting to her. “Stop grinning and feed me.” Summer slid past Dalton, careful not to rub any part of herself against him. Even though that’s all she wanted to do. A silly grin slowly curved Dalton’s lips. He watched as Summer’s eyes went through a few transitions. She was excited about the home improvements, but he noticed an instant change as he invaded her space. He had done that on purpose. He’d manage to see the desire and need in her eyes before she quickly masked it. He loved the smell of her soap. Sniffing her like a dog was a bit over the top, but invading her space to hopefully get a whiff of that sweet scent was the next best thing. She looked sexy in everything she wore, and he knew she would look even hotter as he peeled every item off of her. He loved that Summer was comfortable in her skin. And she seemed oblivious to the heads that turned when she entered a room. Today she wore the tight jeans and a short-sleeve T-shirt, her hair was a mass of dark black curls pulled into a loose ponytail, and she wore no makeup. It

Surrendering to Summer

11

was the simplest of styles and yet she still managed to make it look sexy. To Dalton, Summer was a natural beauty. He wanted to be buried so deep inside of her that he wouldn’t be able to think straight. “Stop looking at my ass, Dalton.” Summer all but glared at Dalton when she stopped and turned at the front door. He chuckled. “Not a moment’s peace with you, huh, Summer?” Dalton teased as he opened the door for her. He knew there was no point in denying that he was in fact staring at her ass. It was a sweet ass that he could not wait to spank. As much as he wanted to have this woman underneath him, begging for his touch, it would never come to pass. He and Summer together was a disaster waiting to happen. She was extremely headstrong and he was overbearing. In his opinion, that was not a good mix. **** Summer knew she was in trouble when she agreed to ride to her house with Dalton. It was hard enough just being around him. The man drove her crazy, and she was never sure if she wanted it to stop. There were moments when she wanted to kiss him, wrap her body around his, and feel those work-roughened hands caressing her naked body. Then there were moments when she wanted to strangle his ass and slap the crap out of him. Hell, Summer knew Dalton was an attractive man. You would have to be blind not to see it. When he wasn’t scowling at her, pointing out all of the things she didn’t know about running a horse ranch, those baby blues could melt her panties. He was tall, strong, and donned a muscular body. These were all the ingredients that proved Dalton obtained that body working hard on his ranch and not in a gym. He had a continuous five o’clock shadow no matter what time of the day and his butt always looked good in a pair of jeans. There wasn’t a woman in town that didn’t do a double or triple take

12

Kortny Alexander

when Dalton walked by. Summer had to admit that all the Durden men had that effect on women. It was a family trait. It would explain how her sister Spring met, fell in love, and married Dalton’s cousin after only one weekend together. Their love affair wasn’t that cut-and-dry, but it made an impression on Summer; she was a closet romantic. Coincidentally, that is how Summer met Dalton. But if Summer thought Dalton was killer on her senses, she was twice as screwed when she met Dalton’s two brothers Dillon and Denver. She still could not believe that she had agreed to stay with the three men while the contractor had his way with her home. This would be the tests of all tests. Three tall, hard-working, blue-eyed, sexy men who worked hard with their hands. Domineering, possessive, and intense sexual awareness stuck to them like their shadows. But Summer didn’t want to stay with her newlywed and pregnant sister Spring anymore. It was only seven days. What could possibly happen?

Surrendering to Summer

13

Chapter 2 “Denver, what are you doing here?” Summer asked as she slid into the booth at the local diner, Dalton right on her heels. “Mom and the dads had a craving for some of Grace’s peach pie and I told them I would run down and buy one when I took a lunch break. I didn’t expect to see the two of you here.” Denver nodded at his brother as they both sat down after Summer slid into the booth. Somehow, being around her caused him to wear a silly grin. It was a grin he was proud to wear. Summer thought she would be able to handle lunch with just one of the brothers, but now she had two of them in close proximity. Too close. Too overwhelming. She felt her nipples harden even more when she caught sight of Denver. As if in expectation, her body trembled and the thundering heat between her legs flooded with moisture. He was tall, strong, and muscular like Dalton, but Denver was built wide like a football player. The few times she had seen Denver without a shirt, those wide shoulders had made her body tremble. She could almost see the fingernail impressions she would leave when he took her. He didn’t look like he’d be a gentle lover and she would be happy to find out if that was in fact true. Then she would remember that her fantasies were just fantasies. She knew the men worked hard on their horse ranch and somehow it turned these men into mouth-watering eye candy. Sometimes it did irritate Summer when other women stared, but she tried to ignore it since neither man belonged to her. But damn if it wasn’t difficult to ignore.

14

Kortny Alexander

“It seems that the both of you have an audience.” Summer hated that she sounded insecure, but the truth was the truth. She pulled the menus from the holder and passed them out, diverting her eyes. She opened hers and practically hid behind it as she decided on what she wanted to eat. “Summer.” After a few moments, she looked over in Dalton’s direction. Once she did, he continued. “We are having lunch with you. Nothing else matters.” No smile from Dalton. He was simply stating a fact before turning back to his menu. “You know, you really suck at trying to make a woman feel confident, Dalton.” Denver chided his older brother and then turned to Summer. “It doesn’t matter if the women stare or not, Summer. We’ve lived in this town all of our lives. They are going to stare. We are having lunch with you. There’s no way in hell we would flirt with other women when we have a beautiful woman sitting right here.” Denver reached across the table and caressed her cheek. His smile widened as Summer blushed at his touch. “Grace is coming over to take our orders.” His hand was gone just as fast. She would swear she’d just had a mini-orgasm. The effect Denver had on her was unexplainable. It was odd that the mood had changed just that fast. Dalton had turned his switch off again and it was time to adjust. Sitting at the table with both men was mind-boggling. They were a paradox. Denver was trying to soothe her and her unstable ego and Dalton was being a cold jerk. All she needed was Dillon in attendance. He would have held her hands and said the right words. Nothing would have made him remove his hands from hers. He loved touching her even if it was just an accidental brushing of arms. Summer never knew how much a simple touch could make her crave one of these men.

Surrendering to Summer

15

She shook all thoughts away when she caught sight of Grace’s wonderful, welcoming smile. Summer loved eating at Grace’s Gathering Place. Grace made you feel like one of the family when you were there. She never forgot anything her customers shared with her. Whether she was asking about a particular doctor’s appointment or how your grandkids were. She made everyone feel special. She was feisty and seemed to have both her husbands wrapped around her fingers. Summer was still getting used to the fact that Grace was with two men. She was married, in a committed relationship, and had raised three children with two men. Summer had never witnessed relationships like this, never knew they existed, until her sister married Bo Durden. The matriarchs in the Durden family were married to at least two men. It seemed that Whispering Mountain was a welcoming melting pot of conventional relationships and what society deemed unconventional relationships. Being in this town also helped Summer feel less awkward about having feelings for all three of the men she was staying with. Although no one else knew how she felt. It was one thing to feel this way and another to share her feelings and not have them returned. She knew the brothers didn’t share their women like their fathers did with their mother, but she could not help the way she felt. Summer was immensely attracted to Dalton, Denver, and Dillon, and did not know what to do about it. Conversations like that were hard to begin when she talked with her sisters. She wasn’t certain she wanted to know where they stood on the subject. But Summer also realized that there was no need to go down the relationship road where the brothers were concerned. They did not date as far as she could tell. The men seemed to concentrate solely on the ranching business. And the harmless flirting they did with her was the only proof that the men knew she was female. Look, but don’t touch. She needed to stick with that motto.

16

Kortny Alexander

“Well, look at the three of you,” Grace said cheerfully. “Summer, I’m a little envious that you get to eat lunch with two handsome hunks.” Summer couldn’t help but laugh. Grace was in her late fifties and flirted nonstop. “I think your husbands heard you, Grace.” She tilted her head and caught one of Grace’s husbands standing at the counter, laughing in their direction. “We’ve learned to pay her no mind, Summer. She’s getting us back for waking up late and burning breakfast.” Sonny, one of Grace’s husbands, turned and went back into the kitchen. Completely ignoring her husband’s comment, Grace turned her attention back to the table. “Hmmm. One day, Summer, I will teach you some of my punishments. With the looks of these two, you will definitely need them. Now, what is everyone having?” Summer was dumbfounded by the remark. It sounded like Grace thought she was already involved with the brothers. It was impossible to cut in and correct her because Grace continued to talk and the men told Grace what they wanted for lunch. It would be pointless if she responded to the comment now. It was best to just act as if she never heard it. Summer realized as everyone waited for her to give her order that the men didn’t correct Grace either. Great. After giving her order, she turned her attention back to the brothers. “Did I hear you say that we were grilling out tonight?” Summer grinned ear to ear. She loved grilling out. Hell, she loved the outdoors, and they had been having warm weather lately. “Yeah,” Dalton answered. “I thought it would be good for you if we invited Bo and your sister over as well.” Summer cocked her head to the side and studied Dalton. For some reason, he seemed to be withdrawing from her. It wasn’t all that obvious but she could see it. She noticed everything about him. How in the world could one man be so moody? She shrugged off the thought. She would go crazy trying to figure him out.

Surrendering to Summer

17

“We thought with it being your first night at our house, we would do something nice for you, Summer. Dillon already hit the grocery store. And I’m sure our little sister Daisy will make an appearance.” Denver held her gaze for a moment too long that made her blush. “Letting me stay with you guys was way beyond considerate, Denver. But thank you all for thinking of me.” She reached out and touched each of their hands. It was a simple and innocent gesture. Only Dalton seemed to tense up under her touch. Yeah, that didn’t make her feel uncomfortable. That small rejection caused Summer to withdraw, reel the friendliness back in. She managed a small, nervous smile at Denver and then slowly removed her hands from both of theirs. She remained quiet during the rest of their lunch. Even Grace tried to pull a smile from her, but Summer just couldn’t manage one. What in the hell was wrong with her? She was fascinated with three men, three brothers. And yet one of them sent her more mixed signals than was necessary. How was she supposed to hold on to her sanity when he made her smile, made her nipples tingle, caused her to think of a future with them one moment? And the next moment, it was like a bucket of ice cold water being tossed on her head. She should have been used to this by now. Dalton usually left her head spinning. It wasn’t the best feeling in the world. It was like he got a kick out of screwing with her emotions. Denver, on the other hand, seemed to make no qualms about the fact that he was openly flirting with her. As much as she adored the attention, she was no longer comfortable sitting at the table with them. She was ready to go, so she quickly excused herself and went to the restroom. **** “What the hell’s wrong with you?” Denver wanted to kick his brother’s ass for being such a jerk. He was not sure what Dalton had done but he noticed the almost instant change in Summer’s smile

18

Kortny Alexander

when she touched them both. Just because he was a jackass didn’t mean he should direct it at Summer. Denver knew that he and Dillon would need to have a talk with Dalton soon. Dalton looked over at his brother with a surprise. “Huh? What are you talking about?” Denver sat up straighter. He couldn’t believe how his brother could be so naïve. “Are you serious? You didn’t notice how hurt Summer looked? That’s why she damned near ran from the table.” Denver was losing patience. He smacked his hand against the table. “What the hell is so interesting out on the street?” Dalton didn’t even react to his brother’s tantrum, nor did he answer any questions. “Denver, listen to me very carefully.” Dalton used his peripheral vision to keep an eye on the street while he spoke to his brother. “There’s a red Camaro parked four cars down, near the stop sign behind you. Nothing had occurred to me until Summer and I left her house today. It was parked on her street and there was a person inside. I could not see him very well to properly identify him, but there was definitely someone inside. Just like now. I have seen that car several times. It’s following me, I think.” “You know, I thought red was a stupid and obvious car to follow someone in the day I saw a red Camaro in my rearview mirror,” Denver added. The brothers eyes met, both filled with skepticism. “Denver, when we leave I want you to try and see if you can get close enough to get an ID on the guy and then contact the sheriff to let him know we both have someone following us around town.” Dalton realized Summer was walking back towards their table, so he hurriedly finished talking. “Let’s not discuss this with Summer. But we need to see if Denver has had the same thing happen to him.” “Agreed.” Both men plastered smiles on their faces and stood. They did not want to be in the diner any longer. Denver paid the check and grabbed his pie. He could not believe some nut was following them around

Surrendering to Summer

19

town. Didn’t the idiot know that their town was small and practically everyone knew each other? Whispering Mountain was a town that welcomed newcomers with open arms, but someone should have been paying attention to the red Camaro cruising through town.

20

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 3 Dillon was in their private office located inside of the home he shared with his brothers. He almost fell off his horse when Denver phoned him earlier asking about a red Camaro. As soon as he was able, he called it a day and left work early. Although he’d noticed a red Camaro, he had not paid much attention to it. But the fact remained he had seen the red Camaro a time or two. And that was not something they could overlook. Now, he and Dalton were waiting in the office for Denver to return. “The license plate was a no-go,” Denver said as he quietly walked into the office and closed the door behind him. He noticed Dalton was sitting behind his huge desk where he normally handled the paperwork and Dillon was leaning against the front of the desk with his arms folded. They both sat silently waiting for him to continue. “Anyway, I spoke with Connor—I mean Sheriff Stallings,” Denver huffed out. He had to constantly remind himself that although Connor was married to one of his cousins, he still needed to show him the respect he deserved. “He said he’d get the description out to his deputies and see what happens. He doesn’t want to scare the guy away, but he will definitely get a plate number. But, he did say that we should call his cell every time we see the car.” “Good job, Denver,” Dalton said as he stood. He liked the sheriff, and he was damn good at his job. “There is a perk to having a sheriff who’s a former black ops agent.” “Yeah, that’s great. I just wonder what the hell this guy wants.” Dillon added, causing both his brothers to stop and chew on that piece of information.

Surrendering to Summer

21

**** The lunch with Denver and Dalton had gone all but silent by the time they left. Denver had offered to let her ride with him, but she went back with Dalton. It was the most uncomfortable ride she had ever been on. They did not speak to each other the entire time. He seemed even more tense and brooding. She could only stare out the window and watch the beautiful scenery—blue skies, tall green trees, and mountains. All of the wonderful reasons why she loved living in Colorado. Summer realized the best thing for her to do in order to hold on to her sanity was to keep her distance from Dalton. She wouldn’t treat him as rudely as he treated her. But she would remain cautious. He confused her, tested her patience. She had done nothing to deserve the mood swings he sent her way. And yet he continued to defy all logic. Summer smiled the moment she heard her sister’s voice floating down the hallway as she headed towards her room. Seeing her sister Spring was a welcoming thought. Spring lived only three minutes away, but Summer didn’t like intruding on the newlyweds. But she missed the female bonding. “Hey, Summer!” Spring, in all of her best efforts, moved as quickly as possible to reach her sister. She was pregnant with twins and wasn’t as fast as she used to be. Summer grinned as she closed the distance. Her sister damned near glowed. She was even more beautiful pregnant. Summer always thought that she and her sisters were the perfect combination of their parents. And every time she saw one of her sisters, it brought tears to her eyes. Their parents had died a few years ago, and it was hard to cope with it at times. The love her sister Spring received from her doting husband shined like a bright beacon in her sister’s eyes. All four of the sisters shared the same hazel, star-shaped flecks that glowed around their

22

Kortny Alexander

pupils. The glow intensified depending on how they felt. “You look absolutely beautiful, Spring.” She hugged her sister tight. She missed the familiar face. When Spring reciprocated, it calmed Summer’s own conflicting emotions. Stepping back from the embrace, Summer gave her sister the once over. She had on a short-sleeved, flowing, rose-colored dress that stopped at her knees. And damn if her A cups weren’t pushing towards the C cup status. “Where’s your shadow? I’m surprised Bo let you out of his sights.” Spring laughed heartily as she plopped down on Summer’s massive bed. “He’s out on the patio with his cousins. The morons, I mean men, are arguing over what to put on the grill first.” “You’re bad, Spring,” Summer teased as she moved around her room, still getting herself dressed. She was going for casual. There was no point in intentionally trying to look sexy. She needed some comfortable clothes. She slid on a pair of khaki shorts that stopped midthigh and an orange long-sleeved T-shirt. No shoes were necessary. She wanted to feel the grass in her toes when she went outside. “I can’t believe how long your hair has gotten, Spring. I didn’t think it could grow any longer.” Spring stroked her hair unconsciously as she spoke. “I decided it was best to let my natural hair color grow back, but I also decided not to cut it anymore. It’s become a pain in the butt, but Bo loves it. He actually helps wash it. Enough about me.” Spring propped herself up near the headboard. “This is your official first night here with the three hunks. How has it been so far?” Crap. Summer knew that trying to avoid talking about the brothers was not going to work. All Spring would have to do is pull the pregnant card and throw guilt her way. She loved all three of her sisters, but they were a pain most of the time. All three were spoiled and usually got their way. Being the oldest sister, she’d had a hand in

Surrendering to Summer

23

spoiling them. So it was partially her fault. Summer grinned as she sat beside her sister on the bed. Spring picked up one of the two pictures on Summer’s nightstand. “Nice bedroom by the way. You’d think the men would have given you one of the smaller rooms in the house. This bed could sleep at least six to eight people easily.” Summer grinned as she looked at the picture her sister was holding. It was a picture of all four of them together smiling. Summer really loved all three of her sisters. “Trust me, sis, I put up a fight about it. My room sits in the center at the end of the hall. There was one other empty bedroom that was smaller but they all declined and said I needed the space.” Summer had thought it odd that they had placed her in this room, but she had stopped complaining. She loved it. It just seemed a little big for her. “Oh, did you know that Dillon made the bed and matching nightstands?” She could not help but to brag about that. Spring nodded with approval before caressing her protruding belly. A soft sigh escaped her lips. She placed the picture frame down and picked up the other. It was a picture of Dalton, Dillon, and Denver. “He said he did it in his downtime. Where the hell do they get downtime on a horse farm?” “I don’t know. But I’m glad that Bo has slowed down his traveling side of the business. His brothers are pulling more weight in the bull breeding and training business. I love having him home. He tries his best not to smother me. But once I got to the point where I couldn’t tie my own shoes, having him around wasn’t such a bad idea after all.” Summer couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of her sister. She was married to a wonderful, bull-headed man who loved her like she deserved to be loved. His family as well as his extended family were wonderful and welcoming. Now, her younger sister sat on her bed, five months pregnant and joyous as hell. Summer could only wonder

24

Kortny Alexander

how long it would be before she got to experience that level of happiness. She took the picture frame from her sister, took one last lingering glance and placed it back on her nightstand. “Well, I can tell you that I do not have any complaints when it comes to my living arrangements. I went and looked at my house, and the contractor is on schedule. He said he just may finish before the seventh day arrives.” Summer cut herself off when she heard the loud chatter coming from the men. They were coming back inside of the house. “I think we need to get to the kitchen. The men are back.” Summer helped her sister up and off of the bed. “Where did the beautiful flowers come from?” Spring asked as they walked out of her room. “Dillon.” One word was all that was needed. He had bought her lilies. They were her favorite flowers. Dillon was the romantic of the three. He had left her a card that welcomed her to their home. Summer loved the fact that all three men had similar features but were completely different when it came to the way they dealt with her. When they arrived in the kitchen, Summer felt almost abandoned when her sister walked right into the waiting arms of her husband. “Hey, minx, are you feeling okay?” he asked as he stroked her back. The interaction wouldn’t have been so odd if Summer had not been in the room with Dalton, Denver, or Dillon. Watching her sister being loved on by her husband was sweet and innocent. It’s what any woman would want. But she could see the longing in the eyes of the three brothers. They never talked about their futures, but the longing for what her sister had with her husband Bo was something that all three seemed to want. “I’m okay. Just dragging Summer out of her huge bedroom.” Summer saw the way Bo’s eyes cut to his three cousins as he looked past Spring. She did not understand the look but she definitely saw it.

Surrendering to Summer

25

“Huge, huh?” He arched a brow as he eyed his cousins thoroughly. “Yep. I’m jealous, Bo,” Spring teased as she grabbed his glass of apple juice from his hand and took a sip. “It’s really beautiful. Dillon made the furniture.” She cut her eyes to Dillon. “You have one heck of a talent, Dillon.” “Thanks, Spring.” Dillon blushed and tried to mask his embarrassment by coughing. Summer watched as all three of the brothers became twitchy. They scattered as coolly as they could around the kitchen, gathering ingredients, plates, and utensils to take outside to the patio. “Are we eating outside?” she asked no one in particular. “I thought it would be great to eat outdoors. It’s nice out tonight, and you can walk in the grass if you want.” Dalton walked out of the kitchen without another word. Summer was shocked that he had paid any attention to her little quirk. When she was staying at Spring’s house, the brothers visited her frequently before offering her a room at their own home. It was nice to know that they paid attention to the little things. When all three brothers converged back onto the patio, Bo finally spoke. “Whatever you are doing to my cousins, keep it up.” He smiled at Summer as he hugged Spring’s back to him. “I’m not doing anything, Bo.” Summer grabbed a water bottle and took a few swallows. She was getting confused and was not sure where this conversation was headed. “They barely talk to me.” He laughed then. “You two ladies don’t see what I see or know what I know. This will be interesting.” Could he be any more cryptic? “Oh boy, you have my husband talking in circles. He needs to eat, he’s delusional,” Spring teased as they headed for the back door.

26

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 4 Whether Bo was teasing or delusional, she did not know what he was talking about. But the look he gave her was one of knowledge. Summer shook her head at him and went out the back door. She couldn’t help but wonder once again what the hell had she gotten herself into. The soft hum of an approaching four-wheeler grabbed Summer’s attention almost instantly as she stepped out onto the patio. Daisy. She was the younger sister of Dalton, Denver, and Dillon. As much as she loved having her sister there, it was good to have another single woman at the table. Summer waved at Daisy. Her brothers had already cornered her and began questioning her about a recent date she had gone on. Summer grinned and began walking towards one of the big shade trees only a few yards from the patio. Although it was late in the evening, the sun was slowly setting, causing a beautiful orange haze to peek over the mountaintops. She loved nights like these. This would be her first night here in the custom-built log home the brothers shared. She wished she could just fold herself into the arms of one of the brothers. She wished they looked at her like Bo looked at her sister. Hell, she had everything she had sought out to accomplish. She had a career she loved, a nice little nest egg saved up, a soonto-be new home with all the little perks she loved, sisters that loved her whom she loved in return. The one thing Summer wanted was a fulfilling love life. She sure as shit hadn’t gotten that from the last few relationships she had allowed herself to have. With the selfish lovers she oddly attracted, she had learned to accept the fact that she would

Surrendering to Summer

27

rarely get a chance to orgasm. Her hardened heart had developed from the lack of love she received in a relationship as well as the race of who could finish first in bed. That little race always resulted in her not finishing at all or eventually taking care of the problem herself. Now she had temporarily moved into a home where she was overwhelmed by three gorgeous, testosterone-oozing men. If she was forced to choose between the three she would be at a complete loss. There was no way in hell she would be able to make a decision like that. Six months ago that choice would have been easy. Dalton was the one she wanted. When she met him, nothing else existed. They fussed and fought with each other in Las Vegas as if it were foreplay. It turned her on whenever he had a smart remark to toss her way. She assumed that when she met his two brothers nothing would change her decision about Dalton. Instead, her heart, body, and soul adjusted. It made room for her to fall helplessly for all three men. They were all different. They treated her differently. Completely hidden by the huge tree trunk, Summer caught sight of Dillon when she peeked around the tree. The sight of the mountain tops in the distance was beautiful, but the sight of Dillon manning the grill, grinning, and talking to the other men was just too much to ignore. Apparently Daisy had cursed them out, reminded her brothers to mind their own business and went about visiting with Spring. It seemed that no one noticed she was missing. Dillon must have felt Summer staring at him because at that moment he turned and caught her gaze. The smile that he had on his face softened as he tilted his head and winked at her. Summer couldn’t help but feel her cheeks burn when she gave him a small wave and turned her head. What was she supposed to do? She was only a few feet from where the men stood and yet she felt so far away. Her sister and Daisy seemed to be getting along as they sat and talked about the twins and their due date. The men seemed to joke and laugh over the grill. But

28

Kortny Alexander

every few moments, when she turned to look in their direction, one of the three brothers caught her eye and smiled. They knew exactly where she was. Summer wouldn’t call what Dalton gave her a smile. It seemed almost like a strained grimace. What in the hell was wrong with him? She was never sure what was going on with Dalton. His grimace showed one thing, but when she looked into his eyes, she saw what he tried to hide from her. Summer saw the desire and longing in his eyes before he turned away. She always managed to see it before he pushed it away. Why did she have to fall for the difficult brother? Things would have been so simple if she had fallen for just the two. They definitely seemed less temperamental than Dalton. She turned back to stare at the setting sun. A deep sigh slipped past her lips. As much as she wanted Dalton, he always pulled back from her. She could only imagine the hot and wild nights she could have with all three of the brothers. She knew without a doubt they would make her orgasm over and over before they’d had their first one. They wouldn’t be selfish lovers. **** “What has our little wildfire so deep in thought that she didn’t even hear her name being called?” Denver asked as he caressed Summer’s cheek before tilting her head up to see into his sparkling blue eyes. His dick hardened from just touching her. Ever since he’d first laid eyes on Summer, she’d had this effect on him. Unlike his brother Dalton, Denver had decided to go with whatever this was he was feeling for Summer. He liked her. He needed her. He dreamt of her, and those dreams were demanding to become a reality. “I was just staring at the mountains. Enjoying the autumn weather.” Summer placed her hands on either side of Denver’s waist.

Surrendering to Summer

29

Denver moved closer to Summer. He could feel the heat of her body caressing his arms, chest, and thighs. He pushed his jean covered knee between her legs causing them to part. He leaned his face down until his lips hovered over her earlobe. He nipped at the tip as he whispered to her. “Summer. Damn. The things I want to…” Denver shook the thought away and started again. “Ah, God. Feel what you do to me Summer.” He pressed closer to her until their bodies were melded together. Slowly, he moved his hips back and forth, caressing the fire he could feel vibrating from the apex of her thighs. **** “Denver.” Summer was completely lost. She forgot everything and everyone around her. All she wanted to do was feel. This is was just another thing of which she had been deprived. The intimacy, the slow seduction. Summer and Denver’s arms traded places. She threaded her fingers through his sandy brown hair as she watched those baby blues grow darker, hungrier. Denver wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her firmly against him. “Please kiss me.” Summer didn’t even recognize the needy, shaky words flowing past her parted lips. Denver moved the last inches, covering her lips with his. His tongue slid right past her parted lips and found what it was in search of. He moaned into her mouth as Summer’s tongue teased his. Her knees weakened as he held onto her. His kiss was rough and hungry. It was as if he had been holding the urge to do just that for so long. Finally tearing his lips from hers, they panted, parted lips still gently touching one another. “You were just supposed to come over and bring her back to eat dinner.”

30

Kortny Alexander

Summer couldn’t manage to look startled at the sudden arrival of Dillon. She was still too dazed, drunk off of the sweetest kiss. Still too high off of the desire Denver brought out of her. She could still feel him rubbing his amazingly stiff erection against her even as his brother stood close to them. Without another thought, Summer reached out to Dillon and brought his lips to hers. He didn’t resist her. He just moved into the kiss as Denver slowly turned the front of her body in Dillon’s direction as he closed in behind her.

Surrendering to Summer

31

Chapter 5 Summer was pressed between two men who had managed to send her body blazing. Dillon had gone from being frustrated with watching his brother and Summer embracing to threading his own fingers through her hair. He cupped her head as his kiss intensified. He could feel her nails digging into his shoulders as he sipped at her mouth, slowly stealing kisses. Slowly torturing the woman he knew he would share with his brother. It was only a matter of time. Dillon watched as Denver slid behind her. For a moment, he envied his brother. He wanted to know what it felt like to caress his stiff cock against her backside. Dillon felt his control slipping when Summer closed her eyes and tilted her head to one side. It gave Denver full access to her smooth slender neck. His brother had cupped a breast in each hand and thumbed her nipples. From the guttural moans slipping from Summer’s lips, it seemed she enjoyed it. He watched her body convulse as Denver bit and sucked at her neck. He had to touch her. Dillon took his free hand and slid it down the front of her body. He paused to enjoy the feel of her stomach quiver. His hand continued to slide down until he hit the button on her shorts. With a flick of the wrist he managed to undo the button, slide the zipper down and slip his fingers between her panties. He covered her mouth quickly when her moans grew louder. “It’s okay, wildfire, lean into me. I’ve got you. Let Dillon make you feel good, baby.” Dillon was titillated at how trusting Summer was with them. Her carefree attitude was just the fire he needed. He watched as she tossed

32

Kortny Alexander

her head back onto Denver’s shoulder and cupped one arm around his neck. “You are so beautiful, Summer. Look at you. The stars in your eyes are glowing.” Dillon watched as his brother laid a gently kiss on her lips. He didn’t hide his pleasurable groan. “She is beautiful.” Dillon stroked her sensitive folds, enjoying the feel of her hot cream coating his fingers. Watching the way her body reacted to his touch was pleasure in itself. “Mmmm, you like that, don’t you, Summer?” He grinned at her when she broke her kiss from Denver. Her eyes were glazed over with the ecstasy he and his brother together had put there. “Look at those nipples. I can’t wait to taste them, Summer.” He pinched the stiff peak through her top as he continued to stroke her silken folds. Dillon wanted to take his time with Summer, but they were outdoors and people were sitting and waiting for them to join them for dinner. Nonetheless, he wanted to watch her come. He wanted to push her over the edge fast and hard. He slid two fingers into her slick sheath. She was wet and tight. Her body jerked at the intensity of it. “Damn, wildfire. You are so damned beautiful. Do Dillon’s fingers inside of you feel good, baby?” Denver groaned. “Answer me, baby. Tell us what you like.” Dillon saw how wild his brother’s eyes had become. It seemed as if Summer was having the same effect on his brother. He watched as her chest began to heave, her breathing turning erratic and her body quivering. “That. Oh, god. I like…Ah, Dillon. That.” Dillon was blown away at how sensitive her body was to their caresses. When he stroked her sweet spot her eyes lit up in surprise. “didn’t know that was there?” he teased. Making her scream, melt in his arms from the overwhelming pleasure were his goals at the moment. But he knew that wouldn’t happen. Her eyes kept darting

Surrendering to Summer

33

behind him. He could only assume she was worried about being caught. “Harder,” she whispered. “Bite me harder. Fuck me harder. Ah, mmmm.” Denver licked at her neck before biting as his wildfire asked. Dillon stroked her harder, held her waist, almost lifting her off of the ground with his deep strokes. “Come for Dillon, baby.” Denver purred as he stroked at one nipple then the other. “Come for us both.” She moaned harder as Dillon drove his fingers into her convulsing pussy. She thrust her hips as he pushed forward. “Dillon. Denver.” She was damn near breathless. “They…they can see us.” Denver leaned close to Summer’s ear. “No one can see us. This tree is huge, baby. But they will be able to hear you.” Denver let out a husky groan. “I love the way you are responding. Your body is on fire.” He leaned over until their lips were touching again. “Come for us, Summer.” Dillon stroked harder and faster. Alternating between applying pressure to her clit and diving deep into her pussy. “I want to feel it, Summer. Give me every bit of that sweet cream I know is waiting for me. I need it. Let me have it.” He leaned forward as Denver leaned back and kissed her lips gently. “We need it, Summer.” “Harder.” Her eyes focused on Dillon. It was all she could manage. She swallowed hard as his tempo increased. “Almost. Oh. Almost.” With her eyes glued to Dillon, she whispered, “Bite me, Denver.” The hungry growl from behind her was all that was needed. Denver bit her; Dillon pushed his fingers into her, keeping his pace steady. She had no time to warn them, but Dillon felt it. He pressed his mouth to hers as his brother bit her neck. Summer cried her orgasm into Dillon’s mouth. For long moments the two men held Summer, placing gentle kisses along her temple, eyes, lips, and neck. They were completely

34

Kortny Alexander

silent as all three worked at slowing their heart rates. After a few moments, her body calmed. Denver had already removed his mouth from her neck and Dillon slowly slid his fingers from her. The brothers helped get her clothes and hair back to the most presentable look possible as she continued to lean against Denver. “You are absolutely beautiful,” Denver whispered against her ear. “And you are ours now, Summer.” Dillon made it clear about the claim that had just been staked. **** Summer felt sated and boneless. She did not know it was possible to feel this fulfilled and not have a hard male inside of her. Two pairs of hands, two mouths, and sensual encouragement had her flying high. Too bad she had to come down off of that natural high and return to the dinner table with her sister, brother-in-law, Daisy, and a brooding Dalton. She wondered if they had overheard her. The way the jealousy burned from Dalton’s scalding gaze let her know that he at least had an idea of what they were doing. Crap. “I forgot how much you love sunsets. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Spring asked. The question caused Summer to ease a little bit. Neither her sister nor her husband had a clue that she had just melted on the other side of the huge tree. Daisy just smiled and began eating, but the way Dalton watched her unnerved her. Why hadn’t he joined them? Why didn’t she feel bad about what had just happened on the other side of the tree? Summer knew that what she had just shared with Dillon and Denver should have been wrong, but it didn’t feel wrong. It felt natural. She had just been with two men she was completely attracted to. Two men who should have been off-limits to her. Two men who seemed comfortable sharing a woman.

Surrendering to Summer

35

Summer shook the thought away. There was no way she would allow herself to think of the women they may have been with. For once she would have what she wanted. Even if she couldn’t have all three men, two would be enough. For now.

36

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 6 Day 2 When she woke up that morning, Summer came to the conclusion that she would do a little exploring. She decided to drive into town and wander into the different shops that lined the streets. Breakfast was first on the list. A smiled quickly formed when she stepped into Grace’s. “Hey, I see you just can’t stay away. I love it when we win over a new customer,” Grace teased as she watched Summer take a seat at the counter instead of a booth. “Good morning, Grace.” Summer looked around the diner, impressed at how many customers she recognized from the lunch rush the day before. It seemed that the diner was filled with devoted customers. “Some of these people were here when I came for lunch yesterday.” Grace grinned proudly. “Oh, it’s like this all the time. We are blessed to have the ability to keep customers coming back for more. They are very loyal.”She set a glass of water in from of Summer as well as a place setting. “You’re eating breakfast, right?” Summer laughed. She had a feeling that if she had told Grace no, she would have brought her something to eat anyway. “Yes, ma’am, I’m eating breakfast.” She gave Grace her order. Once Summer had finished eating her breakfast, Grace returned, a smile tugging at her lips. “So, I assume no one knows you’ve left the ranch?”

Surrendering to Summer

37

Summer almost choked on her water at that statement. Several thoughts flowed through her mind all at once. Why does everyone assume I need a damn keeper? As much as Summer wanted to be rude to Grace, she couldn’t. She knew people in this town were observant as hell, but Summer decided to play dumb and see where this conversation was going. “Where did that question come from, Grace?” Grace stood, hands on hips, grin growing even wider. “Oh, honey, I raised a couple of kids. Don’t play dumb with me. Even when you were staying with your sister, one of those Durden boys was shadowing and chauffeuring you everywhere. This is the first time I have seen you out by yourself. It’s a little surprising, that’s all.” Summer sat and thought about that for a moment. She hated to admit it but Grace was correct. Ever since she had moved to town, either Dalton, Denver, or Dillon had been with her when she left the house. She had not paid any attention to it. “No, the guys don’t know I’m gone. Didn’t think I needed to get permission to leave the house.” Summer was beginning to get agitated when the sound of the diner’s phone ringing cut off her thoughts. Summer watched as Sonny answered the phone. Although she tried to strain to hear over the bustling noise of the diner, she couldn’t tell what was said. She wasn’t sure why she was concerned about the phone call. She just was. She watched as Sonny nodded his head and looked in her direction, smiling. Grace’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Hmmm, seems like they finally caught up with you.” Grace teased as she looked back and forth from Sonny to Summer. “I’m surprised they didn’t burst into the diner, causing a scene.” Almost instantly, Summer’s head swung around in the direction of the entrance as if in anticipation. She had completely ignored Sonny and Grace exchanging words. Grace relayed the message that was given to Sonny. “Summer, that was Dalton on the phone. He said you need to turn on your cell

38

Kortny Alexander

phone, or the next time you leave the house without leaving a note, he is going to cause a big scene, no matter where you are.” Summer slowly shook her head. Those men constantly confused her. They wanted to keep tabs on her, treat her like she was important to them, but she knew she wasn’t. The intimate scene that had occurred the night before between her, Dillon and Denver was a mistake. She shouldn’t have let her guard down. It was like being intoxicated. Whenever she was around any or all of them, her willpower simply dissipated. She had to get a better grasp on her brain and her body. The emotional rollercoaster was never ending. It made it difficult to control her own feelings, so she did what she had always done. She suppressed them. Instead of commenting on Dalton’s message, Summer changed the topic as she stood to leave. “I’m going to do a little shopping before I head back to the house.” Grace nodded, respecting the subject change. “Sweetheart, do you have any close friends besides your sisters? A woman should always be in the company of a good friend when she’s shopping.” That statement caused Summer to squirm. Only recently Summer had learned that having friends could be a very dangerous thing. She had her reasons for accepting the new job in Whispering Mountain. A new start in a new place plus the obscene pay increase were bonuses she couldn’t pass up. Living closer to her happily pregnant sister was another added bonus. Finally, it was the perfect reason for cutting all ties with ex-friends. “Nah, I’m pretty solitary.” It was the best answer she could muster without telling a direct lie. Grace nodded but she looked like she was not completely sold on Summer’s story. She knew when a woman was keeping her secrets close. Grace mentally dismissed the topic. She hoped that the young woman would find someone to confide in. She watched as Summer waved her good-byes and paid her check.

Surrendering to Summer

39

“Summer, don’t forget to turn on your cell phone. This town doesn’t need three crazy, bull-headed men ripping our town apart looking for you.” Summer smirked but took her cell phone out of her purse. She might be just as stubborn as Dalton, Denver, and Dillon, but she wasn’t stupid. They’d do it. They would come searching for her, and she knew it would not be a pretty sight. She was so deep in thought as she left the diner, Summer was absolutely oblivious to the occupied red Camaro parked at the end of the street. **** Dillon stood on the porch watching as Summer went through the ritual of parking her car and shutting off the engine. He smiled to himself as he replayed the events of the night before. Touching her, kissing her, tasting her. It wasn’t enough for him. When the time was right, he would sit her down and make it clear that he wanted more than that from her. Last night was a warm-up. He wanted more. He wanted something real with her. He longed for a relationship and until he’d met her, he had given up on finding the woman perfect for him. She had on casual clothing and yet he’d never seen a woman look sexier. He felt his cock stir and he could not control the groan that erupted deep in his chest. When she finally noticed he was standing on the porch and staring at her, she smiled at him. “Hey beautiful. Do you need help?” he asked as he walked towards her. Summer didn’t have a chance to respond. She was pulled into Dillon’s arms and his mouth quickly covered hers. His kiss was tender and sweet. Her knees buckled as she gave in to his invading tongue.

40

Kortny Alexander

“Damn, woman,” Dillon said as he held on to her waist to steady her. “I was just going to give you a peck on the lips. I have no control around you.” Summer could only grin as she tried to form a coherent sentence. Dillon took her bags and locked her car. “Come on, wildfire, my brothers are waiting for us.” It was sudden, but Dillon saw her hesitate at his words. He placed his hand reassuringly on her lower back. “Don’t worry, you are not in trouble.” Summer stopped dead in her tracks and turned on Dillon. “What the hell do you mean I’m not in trouble?” She put her hands on her hips, ready for a fight. “I’m a grown woman and I can do what I want.” Dillon stood, smiling down at her. He knew she was feisty and didn’t like being bossed around, but things were happening around them. They wanted, no needed to keep her safe. “Summer, you need to quit jumping to conclusions and get in the house.” He hugged her to himself once more. “Stop being so haughty and let us take care of you a little. We just want you safe, sweetie. And if you look over your shoulder, you will see two more people eager to keep you safe.” When Summer turned around, she saw both men standing a few yards away on the porch. Thankfully, neither Dalton nor Denver looked angry. They looked calm. She mumbled a “sorry,” then allowed Dillon to guide her towards the porch. Once they were settled inside the living room, Dalton spoke up first. **** “Summer, I’ve activated the GPS system on your car. From now on, we will always know where you are.”

Surrendering to Summer

41

Somehow Summer had managed to react differently than from the way Dalton had expected. He could see how astonished she was but she remained calm. He knew that that was a bad sign. “Would you like to tell me how you were able to do that to my car and why?” she asked through gritted teeth. Dalton knew they were pushing her limits when it came to her patience. Nevertheless, he wasn’t backing down. It needed to be done. “It was necessary and an added precaution.” He continued before she could jump in. “Someone has been quietly following us around town.” He indicated to his brothers. “We don’t know who it is but we will find out soon enough. We just want to know you are safe when you sneak off.” Oh, yeah, he added that little piece just for her. He sure as shit didn’t like her wandering off without telling anyone where she was going. One of them should have been with her. Hell, she hadn’t even turned on her cell phone. “Tuck that lip back in, Summer,” Denver teased. “Come into the kitchen. We have dinner waiting for you.” The men filed in behind her. No one would apologize for being overprotective when it came to her. The night couldn’t get any worse.

42

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 7 Summer woke up sweating. She had placed several blankets on her bed before she had turned in for the night and now she was covered in sweat. She loved the weight of having several blankets on her but she didn’t expect this. Luckily for her she had slept naked. Summer grinned to herself and slipped from her bed in search of clean, dry linens in her closet. She hated to admit that she had an ulterior motive for sleeping naked. She’d hoped that either Denver or Dillon would have made his way to her bedroom. It was a trashy thought, but she couldn’t control her thoughts. It was wishful thinking on her part. She was almost certain one of them would have because she knew for damn certain Dalton would not. Still bothered by their take-charge attitude towards her safety, she was grateful that the rest of that night’s dinner was devoid of any real action. Dalton tossed funky looks at his brothers most of the night but he never said anything about it. He barely spoke two words to her the rest of the night. His actions had hurt Summer’s feelings but what could she do about it? As usual, Dalton ran hot and cold with her. She couldn’t help but wonder if he really knew what they were doing behind the tree the night before. It wasn’t as if Dalton was exceptionally sweet to her when they had met in Las Vegas, but his hot and cold treatment under his roof wasn’t a welcoming feeling. Summer tried to help with the clean up after dinner, but they would not allow her to clean anything. So Summer decided to take a

Surrendering to Summer

43

long, hot bath before going to bed. Now she was wide awake, sweaty and thirsty. After changing the sheets she took a quick, cool shower and slipped on a thin peach-colored camisole and matching boy shorts. It was two o’clock in the morning, and the house was completely quiet. Summer left her robe on the bed and tiptoed down the long hallway and into the kitchen for a glass of water. With only the glow of the moonlight, she stood staring out into the darkness of the backyard drinking from her water bottle when she caught the faint scent of him. Almost instantly her body began preparing itself in anticipation of his touch. Summer thought it odd that he had not made one sound and yet she could smell him. His scent was just as distinguishable as the other two men in the house. And every time one of their scents crept up on her, her body exploded. It craved with the need to be touched, caressed, and possessed by them. Summer continued to drink from her water bottle as if she did not know he was in the kitchen with her. The silence was killing her. His scent was clouding her senses. She didn’t know exactly where he was in the kitchen and she did not want to ruin the moment by turning around and seeking him out. After what seemed like the longest of moments, Summer felt his strong hands and arms encircle her waist pulling her body into his. Holy hell, her senses were in overdrive. She exhaled long and hard as she closed her eyes and laid her head against his chest. How many moments would she be able to have like this? She knew it was selfish to want all three men, and yet she did not give a damn. Being in Whispering Mountain, witnessing how all relationships were welcomed gave her confidence. She only had a week with these men. Who was she to ignore their attentions when they threw them her way? “Why are you up so late, sweetheart?” He took her water bottle out of her hand and placed it behind him on the nearest counter.

44

Kortny Alexander

While he waited for her to answer, he dipped his head and began placing soft kisses along her ear, jaw, and slowly down her neck. “Too many blankets on the bed.” She was breathless. How was she supposed to think straight when he kissed her like that? He was naked except for the cotton boxers she felt against her skin. The heat from his body engulfed hers. He squeezed her tight to him and she could feel how hard and excited he was to be pressed against her. She placed her hands on his, waiting for him to lead the way to whatever he had in mind. “Is that what inspired this thin scrap of material?” he teased as he stroked his big hands up and down her arms. “Turn around. I need that sweet mouth of yours, Summer.” Without hesitation, Summer turned around and faced Denver. **** He tipped her chin up so he could see her eyes glowing in the moonlight. He was drawn to this woman. There was nothing he could do that would keep him away from her. He had heard her when she turned on her shower and the thoughts of her wet flesh caused him to masturbate. After taking care of the need to come, he was still rock hard. Apparently his cock was smarter than he was tonight. He wanted her, needed to be buried deep inside of her. She was the only woman who could satisfy his need. It was almost a waiting game to see how long he could stay in his bedroom until she left the kitchen. The battle to stay away from her after masturbating was a no-win situation. Denver could wait no longer. He slid his boxer shorts back on and went in search of her. He found her instantly. The moonlight outlined her body. Damn if he couldn’t see straight through her scraps of thin peach cloths. Denver lowered his head kissed her parted lips slowly. Savoring this moment with her was important and he would not be rushed. The scent of her apple bodywash pushed his cock to grow harder. He

Surrendering to Summer

45

groaned into her mouth when she slipped her tongue past his lips. Denver held her body flush against his, standing to his full height. He knew her feet were no longer touching the floor. She was a tiny little thing compared to him, and he loved that feeling. He liked the idea of keeping her safe in his arms. Holding her, lifting her with just a kiss was the hottest thing he had ever felt. And through it all she never refused him. Breaking from the kiss, he lifted his lips and kissed her nose as she watched him. “I need you, Summer. Can I have you tonight?” Still holding her and not waiting for an answer, he took her mouth again. “I can’t think straight around you, baby.” He was drowning, drowning in those glowing star-shaped flecks in her eyes. “I’m yours, Denver.” She licked at his lips. He was going to burn her alive. Summer could feel her juices as they flooded past her folds, soaking her thin boy shorts and coating her thighs. She was in a trance. She couldn’t look away from his darkened blue eyes as he placed her back on her feet. He tucked a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear and cupped the side of her face. Summer leaned into the caress but continued to hold his gaze. “I don’t know if I can be gentle this first time.” He needed to be balls deep inside of her. There would hopefully be other times when he could take his time going slow and deep, but the way the scent of her arousal attacked him, his cock was on fire and ready to burst. Summer shook her head slightly as she spoke. “I don’t want you to hold back. Never hold back.” She was falling and it was impossible to stop the way she felt. He scooped her up in his arms and headed for his bedroom.

46

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 8 Denver lay Summer on his bed after closing his door behind him. He didn’t need any lights on, the moon was full and gave his bedroom just enough glow. He removed the only clothing he was wearing. When he slid the boxers off, his thick cock jutted out. The head of his cock was already glistening with his pre-cum. He stroked himself and watched Summer as she lay on his bed. She followed the movement of his hand as she writhed on the bed and licked her lips. “Look what you do to me, Summer. I’m so hard it’s almost painful.” He smiled at her as he climbed on the bed. “I can’t wait for foreplay, Denver. Not with you. Not now.” She writhed about, thrusting her hips in his direction. When Summer caught sight of his cock she felt her cream flow harder. He was thick, long, and perfect for her. As much as she wanted him in her mouth, as much as she wanted to taste him, she wanted him fucking her into submission first. Her body was on fire and the anticipation was killing her. He was only stroking his thick cock and staring at her body and she could feel her sheath convulsing; searching for his cock to hold on to. Denver lowered his head and licked and sucked at her nipples through the thin camisole. “Ahhh, these are the sweetest nipples, Summer.” She arched her back trying to get closer to his mouth again. “Suck them again.” Summer wasn’t sure if it was a groan or a growl but it didn’t matter. Denver ripped her camisole in half.

Surrendering to Summer

47

“That’s better, baby. Look at those pretty breasts.” He felt the precum damn near dripping from his cockhead. And so did Summer. “Summer, I can’t wait.” Summer blinked up at Denver. She was lost. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. “Touch me, Denver.” Over and over she thrust her hips up at him. Denver wrapped an arm around her waist to still her. He brushed his lips up against her tender folds. “Damn woman, you’re soaking wet.” He slid two fingers through the side of her panties. The scorching wet heat enveloped his fingers as he pushed inside of her. Denver soaked his fingers in her sweet cream and brought his fingers to his mouth to taste her. “Summer.” He closed his eyes for a moment as the flavor that was Summer exploded on his tongue. “I have to fuck you now.” He yanked her panties, ripping them. He placed his hands on either side of her head as he bent down to take her mouth. His kiss was rough and hungry. He kissed her harder, deeper when she moaned into his mouth. Denver knew she could taste herself on his tongue. She wrapped her arms around him as much as possible. He slid his cock up and down against her folds, coating it with her cream. Summer spread her legs wider. “Please, Denver. I can’t take it.” Denver moved, draping her legs over his forearms, then his biceps. He moved his hips back just a little, and then thrust himself into Summer. He knew his brothers would probably wake when she screamed out her pleasure as he entered her but he didn’t give a damn. He had the woman he wanted in his bed, naked beneath him. He watched as Summer closed her eyes and moaned. Her hips moved slightly as he stilled inside of her. Her pussy convulsed against and squeezed his cock. She was slowly fucking him, driving him insane. He loved the fact that she had taken all of him and had no intention of slowing down.

48

Kortny Alexander

His thrusts were slow and deep. She moaned louder every time he went just a little deeper. When he felt his cock kiss her womb, he felt her orgasm. It was swift and he could see the shock on her face. “Denver.” She stared up at him, caressing his lips with hers. “I’m coming.” “I know, wildfire. I feel it.” He kept his strokes at a steady pace of long and deep. “I feel your hot cream coating my dick and sliding down to my balls. You’re burning me alive, Summer.” The intensity of his strokes became rougher as he gripped her waist tighter. He wanted to climb inside of her body. He was already lost inside of her. The pleasurable sounds floating past her lips were an aphrodisiac all their own. “Harder, Denver. Oh, ahhh. Fuck me harder. Make me scream again.” Summer had no dominion over her body as she let all of her control slip away. Her body was exploding. Denver’s movements were possessive. He was plunging into her with such a ravenous force that she was sliding up the bed with each thrust until he reached around to hold her shoulders. “Don’t you run from me.” He growled out. “Never.” She smiled as the lust burned through her. She was so hot and sweaty. Denver was fucking her so hard now and holding her body in place that she could feel the pounding of his balls against her ass. He was touching her womb with every stroke. Her orgasm returned again with such power that she held on to his forearms. She could only scream out her orgasm this time. He was slamming into her and her orgasms were flowing back to back. Denver did not give her time to rest. He held her tight to him as he flipped over and Summer was now on top. Her body was still humming and her ears were burning that she barely heard Denver. “Fuck me, Summer. I want those sweet nipples in my mouth while you fuck me baby.” Denver loved the way she looked at him. Her

Surrendering to Summer

49

eyes were glazed over and she was sated. Sated and yet she wanted more. She was a greedy little wench and he loved it. Moving slowly up and down on his cock, Summer cupped her breast and licked at her nipples. “Is this what you want Denver?” Her voice was low and gravelly from the screaming, but she did not care. She was so turned on, and Denver’s eyes on her lit the atmosphere up another notch. “Ah, fuck yeah. Ride my dick. You’ve had a taste, now give me those damned nipples. I want them in my mouth when you make me come.” The way he talked to her only made her pussy quiver. “Denver.” She leaned forward and placed her hands on his chest. Denver grabbed both breasts and pushed them together. He began sucking on both nipples at the same time. Summer began moving at a fast pace. She reached behind herself and played with his tight sac as she moved. “That’s it, wildfire. Fuck! I’ve never come this fast.” His orgasm was creeping up on him fast. Summer kept moving and squeezing her sheath on every up stroke and slamming back down. After a few more strokes to his sac she removed her hand and fucked him. She tossed her head back and yelled again as she came, and Denver was right behind her. He came and moaned as he sucked on her nipples. Exhausted, Summer collapsed on his chest after he let go of her nipples. Her arms, her body were too weak to continue to hold her up. She felt the moment Denver’s arms draped lightly across her moist back. They were both wet with perspiration, but she didn’t care. They had ridden each other long, hard, and into submission. Denver slid from the bed in almost silent movements as he watched Summer sleep. He shook his head slightly, moved to his bathroom, and filled his bathtub with warm water. Moving just as silently back into his bedroom, he scooped up Summer, moved back into the bathroom, and climbed into the tub with her snug in his arms.

50

Kortny Alexander

With gentle strokes he cleansed her body. He reveled in the way she laid against his chest. She slept as if she didn’t have a care in the world. How could anyone sleep while being bathed? Denver could only grin. He would give anything to have more moments like these with Summer. He knew his younger brother Dillon was just as crazy about her. That was clear from the naughty acts they committed behind the tree with her. This was it. Denver knew he was falling for the wildfire that lay against his naked chest. He needed to talk with Dillon and figure out how to keep her in their life. If Dalton wanted to screw everything up with her then so be it. Hopefully, Summer would be willing to be in a relationship with him and Dillon.

Surrendering to Summer

51

Chapter 9 Day 3 Summer woke up to the sun shining through her wooden blinds. She realized she was no longer inside of Denver’s room but in her own bed. When she shifted the blanket on her bed, she could smell Denver’s soap on her body. He had apparently cleaned her up and placed her back in her own bed. She could not believe she had been that exhausted that she did not wake during the night. Why didn’t he want her sleeping in his bed? Was he having second thoughts about what had happened between them? Summer shook her head. She was not going to allow her crazy inner voice to rain on her wonderful night. A small smile touched her lips as she lay in her bed. She could not believe she had had sex with Denver. Amazing sex! Too bad she woke up alone. This would be the perfect time for her to feel dejected about waking up alone, but Summer knew all three men took their ranching business seriously. She was never quite sure what they did, how the ranching business functioned, but they woke up early, worked their asses off, and sometimes returned extremely exhausted. Yet, when she was staying with her sister, they all still had the stamina to come and visit her. Thinking about work, Summer sat upright in her bed. Although she was supposed to take this week off while getting situated in her new surroundings, she didn’t like sitting around. She wanted to go down to her new job and at least meet with her new assistant.

52

Kortny Alexander

She had learned early on that her assistant was not new to the company like Summer was. From what she had been told, Agnes James had been with the company since almost the beginning. She had volunteered to be Summer’s assistant. Summer needed to be productive. There was no way she could sit around the house and do nothing. She kicked the sheets back and moved to the bathroom for a shower. She wanted to get a look at her office. Maybe she needed to redecorate. Summer wasn’t comfortable bumming around the house all day when she could be at work making some sort or progress. When she turned on the shower, the scent of Denver’s soap whirled around her once again. As much as she wanted to go and seek out all three men, she knew she had things of her own to take care of. Maybe stopping by her home and visiting her pregnant sister would be added to her extremely short list of things to do. This time she remembered to leave a note and turn her cell phone one. **** Durden Real Estate Development was located on the corner of Main Street and Greenwood. The normal passerby would not realize that this modest two-story brick building in the historic downtown area of Whispering Mountain was a multi-million dollar firm. This was one of the hundreds of reasons why Summer admired the Durden family. Everything about them screamed easygoing and down-to-earth. From the thousands of acres of land the family owned and most lived on, to the way the two cousins of the family ran the real estate business dressed. The dress code was casual and they meant it. They liked their employees comfortable as possible to inspire their creativity. The Durdens believed in family, and they treated everyone like a member of theirs.

Surrendering to Summer

53

Summer had decided to wear a pair of khakis and a pale pink cotton button-down shirt. She let her hair hang down and wore no makeup. Casual. She opened the door and stepped into the small, quaint, and welcoming waiting area. The light-colored tile flooring brought out the deep cherry-red rectangular shaped desk the receptionist was sitting behind. There were several leather chairs and a leather sofa to keep visitors comfortable while they waited. She had every possible snack and appliance necessary to keep her and visitors happy. Everything about the reception area was neat and tidy. Summer grinned at the fresh faced brunette with the gleaming blue eyes. A Durden. But which one? The family was so freaking huge. “Good morning, Summer.” The young woman smiled at her like she had been expecting her. “I thought you weren’t due in for another week?” “Hello?” Summer had no clue which Durden woman this was. She knew it wasn’t one of her men’s sisters. There were six siblings in Dalton’s family, and Daisy was the only girl in that clan. Summer knew she had the lost look on her face. The young woman stood up, walked around the receptionist desk and stuck her hand out with a teasing smile on her face. She wore a red cotton dress that stopped just below her knees; simple and casual. “You have no clue who I am, do you?” Summer chuckled and shook her head. “Not a clue. You have too many cousins. There’s too many Durdens in this town.” “That’s very true. My parents, including my aunts and uncles, wanted loads of children. Anyway, I’m Maci. Remy and Kane’s sister.” She shook Summer’s hand as she watched the recognition cross her face. Remy and Kane ran the real estate development firm that Summer had joined. “You have a twin sister.” “Yep. She’s working at our casino in Las Vegas.”

54

Kortny Alexander

“I thought you were going there as well.” Summer remembered hearing the twins at a party discussing moving to Las Vegas together. Maci held on to Summer’s hand as she began walking towards the stairs. “I changed my mind after I started working here. The last receptionist married and moved away and I was filling in temporarily. I think I might want to stay here. My degree in architectural engineering is almost complete.” “Maci, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would you go to Las Vegas with an engineering degree?” The two women began climbing the stairs as they continued to chat like old friends. “I’m twenty-two and I was just following my sister. I hadn’t really found my niche and she has a degree in business. It has taken me a little longer to finish my degree. And after Kane offered me a temporary summer job here, I actually fell in love with the different aspects of the business. I mean, you’re a landscape engineer. I thought that was boring until I learned more about it and I researched some of your work. You have a wonderful eye, Summer.” Summer could only blush at the compliment. It was rare occasion when she received a compliment on her work. Most people complimented the architectural aspects of the job but not the landscaping. Most took the landscaping aspect of a building for granted. “Thank you, Maci. I’m glad you have found your passion.” “Oh, yeah. I love it.” Maci came to a stop in front of an older woman who was sitting behind a modest oak desk. “Summer, this is your all-around-superwoman assistant, Agnes James. Agnes, this is Summer Showers.” With introductions made, Maci made her way back to the staircase. “Nice to meet you, Agnes.” They shook hands. Agnes gave Summer a warm smile. Summer turned in the direction of the staircase. “Thanks, Maci.” “Anytime.”

Surrendering to Summer

55

Summer took a quick glance around and realized there were several other doors that had assistants manning the stations. She turned her attention back to the woman standing guard in front of her office. Agnes looked like a sweet woman who knew where all the bodies were buried. She was short and curvy with salt-and-pepper hair pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Her smooth peaches and cream complexion would fool anyone when it came to guessing her age. She wore a knee-length denim skirt with a green cotton shirt and an oversized belt. The look was chic yet casual. Summer liked her instantly. “I know I’m supposed to be at home enjoying my vacation before I start working but…” “You got bored.” Agnes grinned and gave Summer a sideways hug. “It happens to the best of us, sweetheart. Come on in and get a look at your office. I didn’t know what to do with it. I wasn’t sure of your tastes, so I thought I would leave the decorating to you.” Summer walked into her spacious office and gasped with surprise. It had already been decorated with a light, airy, and spacious feel to it. There was an antique white desk with matching bookshelves. An overstuffed burgundy leather chair sat behind the desk. Two leather burgundy chairs were placed in front of her desk. To the left of the desk, near the bank of windows, sat a matching antique white drafting table and more chairs. Summer glanced at the framed black-and-white art on her wall and smiled. It took her a moment to realize that they were pictures of her work from different locations. Her eyes darted to Agnes who was quietly standing near the door. “I love it, Agnes.” She walked over to her and hugged her once again. It was the nicest gesture anyone could have made. “I’m happy that you do. I put in a call to your sister Spring. She was a huge help.” Agnes hugged Summer back. Summer took a step back and glanced around her office again. “I cannot believe Bo left her alone to help you with this.” She knew Bo

56

Kortny Alexander

was overprotective of his wife. And now that she was pregnant with twins, he had gotten worse. “Honey, Bo doesn’t frighten me. I’ve been around this family since all of those kids were in diapers. After I reminded him of that, he was happy to help as well.” Summer couldn’t stop the laughter from slipping out. She liked Agnes. She seemed like a firm, take-charge woman. It was just what Summer needed. “Come on, Summer. Let me show you where the conference rooms are downstairs. That’s where Remy and Kane hold the showand-tell meetings with the clients. It gives them more space to move around in instead of using your personal office.” As Summer talked with Agnes, she was glad she had decided to go into the office. Although Remy and Kane were out for the day, Summer was able to meet with some of the other employees. She loved the instant approval she received from everyone she met. There was nothing more refreshing than walking into an office and being welcomed with opened arms. She knew without a doubt that by accepting the job, she had found her home. Now if she could only smooth out the disaster that was her personal life.

Surrendering to Summer

57

Chapter 10 Four hours had passed by when Summer finally climbed behind the wheel of her car. She had received separate calls from Dalton, Denver, and Dillon during that time span. Their behavior had begun to change almost overnight. It might have had something to do with the fact that she hadn’t asked any of them to go into town with her. This was only the second time since moving to Whispering Mountain she had traveled anywhere alone. Now they were kindly keeping tabs on her. As much as she wanted to yell at them for calling, she didn’t. They had all called to check on her and make sure she was doing okay. The fact that all three of them cared about her well-being was satisfying. She had relayed the same message to each of them. She was fine. Summer couldn’t understand what was with the sudden urge to become so protective. She’d try to get more out of them when she returned to the house. She hadn’t expected to stay as long as she had at her job, but she couldn’t stop herself from jumping in and looking over some of the projects that were already going on. She really loved her career. She had stayed so long that she had decided to pass on stopping by her house to check on the remodeling. Instead, she would go and see Spring before heading back to the house she temporarily shared with Dalton, Dillon, and Denver. Summer was so deep in thought as she guided her luxury car through the tight switchbacks of the winding road, unaware until the last moment that a car was swiftly closing the distance between them. A flash of red grabbed her attention. She eyed a speeding red car

58

Kortny Alexander

switching lanes, as if to pass her. It made her a little nervous and her palms began to sweat as she swerved her car just a bit but regained control. Unfortunately, her nerves were rattled. She slowed down. If this person had somewhere they needed to be, she was happy to let them pass. Except, as the red vehicle pulled alongside of her, an eerie feeling came over her. Summer could swear she felt other the driver staring in her direction. Although she was now frightened and creeped out, she couldn’t be sure of it because the windows were tinted pitch black. As if compelled, she turned in the direction of the red car. She was so rattled by the other driver she slowed down a little more. When she slowed down, so did the red car beside her. What the hell? Her heart was pounding in her chest as she pressed the accelerator, speeding up. The red car beside her did the same. She pressed the accelerator even harder. The red car matched her speed. Summer slammed on the brakes. So did the red car. Fuck! “Leave me the fuck alone!” she screamed, banging her fists on the steering wheel. Tears began pouring down her face. She’d gotten turned around on the winding road. She didn’t think she was far from the turn-off that would take her to the ranch. Summer pressed the accelerator. If this asshole was crazy enough to follow her to the ranch at least she would have the guys waiting for him. They would either shoot him, beat his ass, or both. Summer began to sweat. She felt her hands shake again as she reached in the cup holder for her cell phone. She didn’t look away from the road. She couldn’t. Not with this lunatic driver beside her. Just as she wrapped her fingers around her cell phone, the red car, still beside her, swerved in her direction. She dropped the phone, screamed, and jerked her steering wheel in the opposite direction. Her quick thinking just barely kept her car from getting sideswiped. Her

Surrendering to Summer

59

heart was pounding and she was scared to death. She dug her fingernails into the steering wheel. What’s wrong with this idiot? They appeared to be the only two cars on the road. Summer prayed the car would just pass her, but it didn’t. He was playing a dangerous game, and Summer didn’t want to participate. The asshole continued to ride beside her, adjusting his speed to hers. It took her a few moments, but Summer finally recognized the car as a red Camaro. Just as she picked up her cell phone that had fallen into her lap, the driver swerved in her direction once again. This time he didn’t pull back. He kept moving in her direction. To avoid a collision, Summer swerved, spinning out of control, until she skidded off the road and slammed into a ditch. “Shit! Shit! Oh god! Shit!” Summer was shaking all over. She could see the Camaro speeding off into the distance while she was stuck in a damn ditch. It took her a few moments to calm herself enough to find her cell phone. She didn’t want to make the call, but it would be a lot worse if she didn’t. It didn’t take long for the whir of sirens and squealing tires to disturb the eerie silence Summer had sat in. The longer she sat there, the more frightened she had become. She was so afraid that whoever was behind the wheel of that car would come back. But they never did. She could hear Dalton yelling. He was getting closer and he sounded absolutely pissed. “Why is she still in the car, sheriff?” Dalton yelled. Astonishment shone in his eyes. He could see skid marks that lit up the road like a path to Summer’s car. He had expected her to be sitting in the back of an ambulance, wrapped up, or even the sheriff’s squad car, not still sitting in her car looking scared and lost. “Denver. Dillon. Get your fucking brother under control before I lock his ass up,” Sheriff Stallings threatened. “Cousin or no cousin, I will do it. You know I will. Ask Daisy.”

60

Kortny Alexander

Dalton eyed both his brothers but calmed down just a little. They all knew how many times the sheriff had pulled Daisy out of a fight and locked her up for a couple of hours. It wasn’t an idle threat. “I told you, she won’t get out of the car. She’s shaking like a leaf. She’s afraid. I think she’s in shock. She’s soaked with sweat. She was out here alone for a short time, and I think it got to her.” The sheriff looked from one brother to the other and then to the other. “This was intentional. I have no doubts about that. This was a cowardly act and whoever is behind it better run like hell.” “Let me go over and talk to her. Maybe I can get her out of the damned car,” Dalton said as he began to walk towards the car. There wasn’t a mark or dent on the portion of the vehicle facing the road. Dalton could only imagine how the side that was stuck in the ditch looked. He looked around at all of the firemen and police. A passerby would have thought that this was vehicular homicide. They were all waiting for Summer to get out of the car so they could pull it out of the ditch. And she looked as if she was ready to camp out in her car. Dalton wasn’t having any of that. He was angry at himself for not protecting her better. He was angry that she hadn’t told the sheriff what had happened or given a description of the car. He had a shitty feeling that he knew what type of car it was. As he got closer to the car, he buried his anger. She was scared and still shaking. Luckily, her car door was open. He knelt down beside her. “Summer.” He stroked her cheek as she slowly turned and stared at him with tears silently running down her face. Fuck! Her skin was cold and clammy. “Come on, baby. Let us take you home.” He waited, watching as Summer simply stared at him, unresponsive. Her entire body was shaking, and he felt completely helpless. The only thing he knew for certain was that it would be best to sit and wait her out. He’d never seen her like this before.

Surrendering to Summer

61

Dalton heard his brothers come up behind him. Dillon touched her knee and Denver stroked her shoulder. “Let us take you home where you belong. You’re just a little shaken up.” Dalton paused for a few moments, and then continued. “Are you ready, baby?” He watched as she shook her head yes. That was all he needed. His brothers stepped back as Dalton stood, helped Summer from the car and scooped her up in his arms. She instantly buried her face in his shoulder. Denver grabbed her purse and cell phone as Dillon led the way back to their truck. Dalton knew they would have to do a better job of protecting her. This was unacceptable. His last thought was that whoever this was, he was going to fucking die. **** “Just got off the phone with Bo and Spring,” Denver said as he grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. He and his brothers had agreed to gather in the kitchen. “I reassured Spring that Summer was doing fine now that we got her home.” “Yeah, she’s fine now. We fed her, bathed her, and I tucked her into bed. She was just shaken up. I think if she hadn’t started talking by the end of the night I was going to call Piper and have her check Summer out,” Dillon added. Piper was the doctor in the family, Bo’s sister, and married to the sheriff. Dillon was grateful they didn’t have to call Piper. Summer had finally started talking and laughing and agreed that she needed to sleep, but not before she repeated everything that had occurred on the road earlier. Dalton walked into the kitchen. “I just got off the phone with the sheriff. I told him everything Summer told us. It seems whoever’s driving this red Camaro might have gotten away without a scratch. But we’re going to find that fucker. If he was a real man, he’d

62

Kortny Alexander

approach one of us face to face instead of scaring the hell out of Summer.” Dillon agreed with his brother, but things were not going to be easy with Summer. “Hmmm, I have just one thought. How do you intend on keeping Summer from leaving the house? You can’t ground a grown woman. She’d hit the roof if we demanded she stay home. Personally, I’m not in the mood to fight her. I don’t want Summer upset.” Dillon was the peacekeeper between the three of them. He wouldn’t dare command Summer to stay inside. She was an outdoor type of person. She’d defy them just because they told her she couldn’t do something. He was not in the mood for a battle. “You know what? I will give Daisy a call and see if she’d ask Summer to help her out with the horse lessons tomorrow. That should occupy Summer most of the day.” All three agreed with that suggestion. Hopefully Summer would agree with it as well.

Surrendering to Summer

63

Chapter 11 Day 4 Dalton watched on the monitors with smug satisfaction and conflicting irritation as Summer pranced her naked ass through his house. He was working from home today to keep an eye on her. He had heard her mention that her temporary stay with them was cramping her style but he had no idea she was talking about this. He knew the moment he met her six months ago he had to steer clear of her. But that was not going to happen for several reasons. Summer’s sister was now married to his cousin. Summer was given an offer she couldn’t refuse—a position with his family’s real estate development firm as their landscape engineer. Of course Summer accepted it, as long as she had time off to relocate to Whispering Mountain from Boulder. Dalton and his two brothers had offered her a place to stay while she found a house of her own in town. Everywhere he turned she was there. He smelled her applescented bodywash and lotion—it lingered throughout the house. Her skin, her body, looked good enough to eat. It resembled the color of almonds and it taunted Dalton in his dreams. And now he was looking at her completely nude, curvaceous body, and his cock had never been harder. “Dammit!” He groaned as he attempted to adjust his dick, unable to look away from the monitors; he was drawn to her. Sitting there, he had already decided he wouldn’t have babysitting duty again. He didn’t think he could take another day of being tortured by the nude sexy strides Summer made from her bedroom to the kitchen. The sun

64

Kortny Alexander

damn near gleamed off of her almond-colored skin while she was bopping to nonexistent music and drinking a glass of water. Dalton was getting pissed. Why? Oh, yeah, he knew the answer to that one. He was pissed because of his reaction to her. His body clearly failed him. Pissed because Summer was causing the reaction. He was an idiot about to make an idiot move and he couldn’t stop himself. He would cut her off on her way back to the bedroom. He would put a stop to this nude parading around that she seemed to love. Pushing away from the desk, he moved silently through the office. He knew it was wrong to take his frustrations out on Summer, but he could not continue to watch her naked body on screen and not be able to touch her. She had the most delectable mouth he had ever seen on a woman. The way she smiled whenever one of his brothers told her a joke was nerve-racking. Oh, yeah, he had it bad, and now he was about to ruin any chance of being close to her. “Why are you prancing that sweet naked little ass of yours around my house, Summer? Are you trying to entice one of my workers? Are you hoping that one of them or one of my brothers will catch a glimpse of you through one of the windows?” Dalton asked as he silently stepped up behind her. He mentally laughed when she screamed and stopped in her tracks just before she entered her bedroom. He felt her body tense and then slowly relax when she recognized his voice. He had snuck up on her on purpose. So close. He was too close to her and yet he couldn’t step away just yet. The heat flowing from her body stroked his stiff cock as if it was her hand. She was naked and fucking gorgeous. “Or are you doing what you do best, wildfire? Teasing the three of us, flashing us glimpses of your nipples and your cunt knowing we won’t touch you.” Dalton was completely delusional and he was pissing her off in the process. He didn’t care.

Surrendering to Summer

65

He knew how to maneuver through his home without being heard and he had succeeded when he surprised Summer. Traipsing through his house naked as a jaybird singing and dancing her way through the kitchen, blinds wide open, and she had the audacity to be frightened that he had walked up on her. He knew she thought she was alone. This would make her think twice about the nudity. For the past two days he had seen her walking around the house naked when she thought him and his brothers left to work the ranch. At least she thought the house was empty. Dalton stayed behind to do paperwork in his office but Summer didn’t notice nor did he tell her he was staying behind. She thought she had the house to herself. What would she have done if someone had stopped by unexpected? No one outside of his home was to see her naked. He was putting a stop to this nonsense. Dalton could smell her bath soap. Apples. She smelled sweet. Shit. He would bet his life she tasted sweet. Dalton stood behind her. Close, but not quite touching her body. He watched as she bowed her head and looked towards the floor as he spoke to her. Her breathing hitched and became shallow. She still didn’t move. “Summer.” He lowered his voice, leaning closer to the shell of her ear but not touching her body. “I asked you a question.” Dalton watched as if by reflex as Summer tilted her head to one side, allowing him access to her neck. Allowing the heated moisture of his breath to caress her neck. “I…” Summer cleared her scratchy throat, mouth suddenly dry, and began again. “I didn’t know anyone was home.” She clenched and released her hands at her side but she still didn’t move. “That’s not the point, Summer.” Dalton paused for a moment, closing his eyes tight. He had to calm himself down before he fucked Summer right here in the hallway. It was against his rules. She was against his rules. But she was so damned tempting. She looked so beautiful standing stark naked. Nothing hidden. She didn’t attempt to cover her body. He wanted to cup her ass, tease her

66

Kortny Alexander

clit until her folds became slick with her juices, suck on those sweet brown nipples, and watch her swallow his cock as no other woman has. He needed to stop. His thoughts were erratic and his dick could pound bricks. Damn, she was killer on his senses. “I–I’m sorry, Dalton,” she whispered. Her voice low and suddenly sensual. He could smell her arousal. Fuck! He wanted to taste all of her sweet cream. “Summer, please go into your room and put on some clothes. Don’t walk around my house naked like this again unless you want to get fucked. And I don’t mean in a for her pleasure type of way.” Dalton stalked off. He had to get out of there. Was she getting aroused by the sound of his voice? His proximity to her body? Heaven help him. He would bend her over where she stood if he didn’t walk away from her. He should have just stayed in his office and left her the fuck alone. **** As turned on as she had just been, Summer could feel the burn of the tears at the back of her eyes but she held them at bay. Dalton had the nerve to berate her as if she were a child. That was it? He had managed to turn her on with just a few words, get bitchy, and then leave. Conversation over when Dalton says it’s over? Summer was sick and tired of the hot and cold sides of Dalton Durden. In all her naked splendor, Summer turned around with hands on her hips and yelled his name. “Dalton!” That got his attention. The ferociousness in his eyes as he slowly turned to glare at her should have shaken her to the core, but it didn’t. He looked at her as if he was not used to someone yelling at him. Too damn bad! He looked

Surrendering to Summer

67

at her as if it was normal for a woman to stand naked in the hallway. What was wrong with him? Whatever! “Why should it matter what I wear in your house? You don’t pay any attention to me. You barely talk to me. And it’s not just your house. Dillon and Denver live here too. But only you seem to treat me like shit! Only you seem to treat me like it’s killing you to let me stay here a few days while they finish the additions to my house. Only you seem to act as if the sight of me disgusts you. The workers don’t even come on this side of the property and you know it. No, I’m not trying to entice them, and no, I’m not trying to entice you or your brothers. I like walking around naked and I thought I was alone. But it won’t happen again. As a matter of fact, I will become invisible when you are around.” Summer turned just as the first tear rolled down her face, stormed into her bedroom and slammed the door as hard as she could. Then she kicked it and screamed for good measure. What the hell had she gotten herself into? She was four days into a seven-day stay. Of all the places she could have stayed, she had to make her life a little more intriguing by taking the three men she should have stayed away from up on their offer. Summer still wasn’t completely sure why she had accepted their offer. She did love the fact that she had access to the horse farm. She loved to ride horses. And she became instant friends with their sister Daisy who gave equestrian lessons to children. Summer pushed away from the door when she finally heard the faint footsteps belonging to Dalton walking in the opposite direction of her bedroom. She breathed a sigh of relief as she got dressed. She had to get out of the house now that she knew Dalton was there. Dillon and Denver had obviously decided to pursue her. Things between the three of them were cut-and-dry. They wanted her and she wanted them. She had kissed and almost had sex outside while her sister sat a few yards away. Then she’d actually had sex with Denver and he had bathed her. No man had ever bathed her before. Even after

68

Kortny Alexander

the fiasco yesterday, Dillon had taken care of her needs. It was clear to her that Dalton would never make his intentions that simple. Summer knew she had problems when she met Dalton six months ago when she was in Las Vegas with her sisters. The moment she met him she wanted to have sex with him. She wanted to commit acts with him that you shouldn’t discuss in public. She wanted an all-night screaming fuck-fest with Dalton. His long, wavy dark brown hair had been highlighted by the sun, but she could not ignore the titillating gaze of his cobalt blue eyes. They burned her skin every time he looked at her. It was a slow burn every time he gazed at her. It started at her pussy and fanned out all over her body. And at that moment six months ago Summer treated Dalton like any crazed horny woman in denial would. Summer treated Dalton just like a junior high crush. She turned to mush on the inside and treated him just like crap on the outside. She ignored Dalton. Kept her distance. She was utterly attracted to him but she couldn’t miss the obvious contradiction he represented. Dalton was tall, sexy, bold, outspoken, and held a woman’s attention. He screamed ultimate sexual pleasure. But his eyes. They were windows to his soul and Summer could clearly see the loneliness that peeked across the edges. Summer was not sure what had happened to him but something or someone had definitely hurt him. There was a nagging reminder in the back of her head that told her that jumping Dalton’s bones would be a devastating mistake; for her and for him. She knew she was not the person to try and help cure him of his loneliness and hurt. She had her own deficiencies to work on. None of that brought her attraction to him to a standstill. It just made her work harder at keeping her body parts to herself. Tugging on jeans and a T-shirt, Summer decided she would go in search of Daisy and see if she wanted to have lunch together. Anything but sit in the house and be tortured by the sight of Dalton.

Surrendering to Summer

69

Chapter 12 It took people with a phenomenal vision to divide up the Durden land as they had. In Whispering Mountains, they owned over one thousand acres of land and Summer was staying on the property known as Constance’s Creek. It was named after Dalton’s mother. Summer could only imagine the love that all three of Dalton’s fathers felt for his mother. The men had named a body of water after a woman they loved and shared. She would do anything to have a love like that. So far Summer had not ventured off to the creek, but she was headed to the stables to look for Daisy. The walk from the house to the stables wasn’t too far. A walkway had been paved which made a scenic pathway through the sparse amount of trees that gave the house the necessary privacy. Apparently it was customary for offspring of the Durdens to build homes on the property if they wanted to. She loved the closeness they shared. Her parents had died a few years ago and it was just her and her three sisters. Being around a huge family was a comfort she welcomed. Summer tried to sort out of the comments Dalton had made to her in the hallway earlier as she walked the pathway to the stables. Not once in the three days she had been staying with them had she ever flashed her tits. And she wore panties…most of the time. How dare he say she had been walking around flashing her tits and cunt at them? Of course Denver and Dillon had seen, tasted, and touched her breasts. She did not flaunt anything intentionally. It was obvious that Dalton hadn’t known what had gone on between her and Denver. She didn’t care either way. And from what

70

Kortny Alexander

had transpired between her, Dillon, and Denver, there were no complaints from either man. It was just sourpuss Dalton. When she had utilized the hot tub, she wore a two-piece bathing suit. She wasn’t a complete slut. Although last night she had gone into the kitchen in just her panties and camisole, Summer had no intention of tempting anyone. They were all asleep. She enjoyed being naked. But only when she was alone. If she had known Dalton was home she would not have done such a thing. His behavior had been totally uncalled-for. Summer caught sight of a few workers in the distance as she made her way over the hill that brought them into her sights. She spotted Dillon right away. He was just as tall as Dalton with the same cobalt blue eyes but his build was slightly slimmer. Summer would know Dillon anywhere just by the sight of those dark brown curls touching his collar. He was talking to one of the workers and he looked agitated. Summer skirted around the side of a small storage building so he wouldn’t see her. She had not spotted Denver yet and that was probably for the best. She didn’t feel like talking to either of them at the moment. There was no need to look as if she was tattling on Dalton and causing a rift. She just needed Daisy. “I can only assume you are hiding from my brothers,” Daisy teased as Summer rounded the opposite corner of the building. Summer gasped at the surprise. “Daisy, you scared the crap out of me. I was looking for you actually. How did you know I was out here?” Summer had her hand pressed against her chest trying to calm herself. Daisy tapped her cell phone. “Dalton texted me, Dillon, and Denver. Told us to be on the lookout. He must have really stepped in it. Personally I wondered how long it would take you to run out of there screaming.” Daisy hooked an arm through Summer’s and began walking towards the stables. Summer knew why she had immediately taken to Daisy. Being the oldest of four girls, Daisy reminded Summer of one of her sisters.

Surrendering to Summer

71

Daisy was friendly and easy to talk to. She had the familiar brown hair as her brothers but her eyes were green like her mother’s. Daisy was the same height as Summer, five foot five, and she didn’t take crap from her brothers. Summer had heard that Daisy had even managed to get into a few fights at the bar in town that was owned by a few of her cousins, only to have the sheriff bring her home. Luckily for Daisy, the sheriff was married to another one of her cousins. The Durden family was huge. “Your brothers are not that bad, Daisy.” Was she crazy or delusional? Isn’t that why Summer was looking for Daisy in the first place? “Uh-huh.” She gave Summer a skeptical look. “I grew up with them. I know how they argue, fuss, and fight. They have this unhealthy habit of picking fights for kicks. I don’t know what Dalton did and I don’t think I really want to know just yet, but let’s run over to my house and fix some sandwiches. We can pack them up and have lunch over by Mom’s creek. It’s nice out and you look like you need a break.” “Damn, Daisy, am I that easy to read?” Summer smiled. She did need a break, a breather. And she wanted to see the creek. It wasn’t as if she was running from Dalton, but if she didn’t get away from him she would have lost her mind. How the hell was she going to survive the rest of the week with these men? “I will tell Wayne to get the horses ready for us and we will get moving.” **** The pair had ridden to the far western portion of the ranch until they reached the creek Daisy termed her favorite spot. Using a blanket Daisy had stashed in one of the saddle bags, they set up their lunch under an enormous shade tree. “So how is the redecoration going over at your new home?”

72

Kortny Alexander

Summer smiled with pride at the thought of the changes she had made to the quaint home she purchased in town. “Well, they have finished the painting and started on the cabinets and countertops.” She took a bite of her sandwich before she continued. “The carpet has been pulled up and they have begun laying the wood flooring I picked out. I’m excited.” “I can tell. That’s how I was when I decorated my home. I’m just glad you will be close enough for me to visit you. Have you gone over to Lily’s Lake to visit with your sister Spring?” Daisy asked as she finished her sandwich and opened a small bag of chips. Summer couldn’t help but grin when she thought of her sister. “No I haven’t visited with Spring just yet. Since she and Bo are expecting my first nephews, I’ve been letting her get some rest. They are newlyweds and it is nothing but a sex marathon over at their home. That’s why I had to get out of there in the first place. But I will get over there soon enough. Definitely before I move into my home.” Summer pulled two bottles of water out of the bag and handed one to Daisy. “I’m glad I will be close-by, Daisy. We can get into plenty of trouble together.” Daisy grinned; she knew that was all too true. “I am glad you’re out and about today. My parents were worried about you after the accident yesterday. They were determined to go over to Dalton’s and check for themselves to see if you were truly doing well.” Summer was shocked by that revelation but she appreciated it. “That was nice of them, Daisy. You have a very caring family. But yes, I am better. I called Spring when I first woke up. I knew she would be bothered by all of the action, and I can’t afford for her to upset those babies. I also called my other two sisters. I was just shocked and shaken up a bit.” Daisy smiled and gave Summer a hug. “You’re like a sister to me. I’m happy you’re no longer shaken up by the ordeal. I will make sure to tell my parents. They were just as concerned as I was.”

Surrendering to Summer

73

Summer could see the questioning look in Daisy’s eyes. If she wanted to know something, she was going to have to ask. “I have to change the subject for a moment.” Daisy grinned and continued. “I find it hilarious that my brothers walk around the ranch looking like lovesick puppies. They have been like that since the day you moved in. Why haven’t those little chickenshits asked you out?” Summer could only laugh at Daisy’s remarks. She wasn’t surprised at Daisy’s ability to get straight to the point. That was one of the many things she liked about the younger woman. “Okay.” Daisy nodded as silence floated through the room. “Let’s try another technique.” Now Summer was worried. Daisy wasn’t going to let up. She was going to get something out of her one way or another. “So, which one of my brothers has your stomach in knots?” That question caught Summer completely off guard. The smile that graced her lips could not be controlled. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Damn. She was completely dumbfounded. How the hell was she supposed to answer that question without looking every bit embarrassed as Daisy had just made her feel? It was a good thing that no one knew about the escapades she’d had with Denver and Dillon. Daisy tsked at Summer. “Oh, Summer. I’ve seen you when you are around them. I think it’s totally cute. But you can quit stalling. Which one are you interested in?” “Denver.” What was the point in stalling? Daisy nodded her head and smiled. “All the ladies love the linebacker.” “And Dillon.” Daisy arched a brow at that and smiled a little wider. “Ahhh, interesting. Ladies love the romantic type, too.” “And Dalton.” That was the last straw for Daisy. She fell back on her backside and burst out laughing. Once she was able to control her laughter she

74

Kortny Alexander

turned on her side and looked at Summer. “Summer, Summer, Summer. You are sooo screwed. Why does every woman love a crazy, dark, mood-swinging man? I should have known it was all three that you had the hots for.” Summer sat up straight and glared at Daisy. “You don’t approve?” Furrowing her brows, Daisy sat up quickly, smiling as she sidled up beside Summer, successfully easing the tension. Together they leaned against the tree trunk. “Of course I approve. I’m just shocked. Don’t take this the wrong way, but do you think all three have the hots for you?” That was difficult to answer. Summer knew she would never be able to choose and that is why she tried to control herself around them. She couldn’t risk having her feelings hurt by all three of them. Nor would she want to risk losing the friendship she had developed. That thought crossed her mind constantly and she still hadn’t come to a decent conclusion. “Daisy, I haven’t the faintest clue what they think or how they feel. But for me it is not just the hots for your brothers. I don’t know how it happened. The day I met Dalton, the feelings I felt for him, the instant attraction almost knocked me over. That has never happened to me before. After I came to Whispering Mountain, I fell for Dillon and Denver as well. I know your family is unconventional—you having three fathers who share your mom—but I don’t think that will be the ultimate outcome for me and your brothers.” “Do you think you can tough it out with my brothers for three more days?” Daisy asked thoughtfully. She was concerned for Summer’s feelings. They had bonded instantly and it was difficult to sit on the sidelines and watch her brothers ignore their attraction to Summer. She did not want to see her friend hurt. If Daisy only knew. Summer thought. Summer closed her eyes for a moment as she leaned against the tree. She had to think about that question. If she avoided Dalton and kept her hormones in check around all three men, she would be just

Surrendering to Summer

75

fine. Right? She really didn’t want to have to pack up her things and go stay somewhere else. She actually enjoyed the men’s company even if one was more irritating than the others. Things would be slightly different between her, Dillon and Denver. Summer knew this. She was worried about how they would act around each other after what had happened between them. Summer grinned at Daisy. “I think I will be okay. Why do you ask?” “Just keep in mind that I have an extra bed if you need it, but I don’t think my brothers would be happy if you left.” Daisy saw what Summer hadn’t. Her brothers were fascinated by Summer and she did not have a clue. She laughed. She could almost see it. “Hell Summer, I can see those three clowns trying to burst my door down to get to you.” Finishing the last of her water, Summer could only shake her head. She was not ready to share everything that had happened with Daisy. “I don’t understand them, Daisy. Dalton flips out on me, acts as if I am nothing more than an irritation. Dillon and Denver are great but don’t say too much.” Summer sat up straighter as a thought occurred to her. “Did some woman break their hearts?” she teased then sobered up. “That is the only explanation I can think of.” Daisy laughed at that. She wished she could tell Summer, but it was not her story to tell. “They don’t have girlfriends, Summer. They have not dated in a while. But if there’s more you want to know you are going to have to ask them.” The sounds of a truck approaching halted all other questions. Summer turned and eyed the huge black pickup truck that came to a stop near where they sat. She turned to see a grinning Daisy staring back at her. “What?” “Nothing.” Daisy shrugged as she continued to grin. “Your face lit up at the sight of my brother’s truck and you don’t even know which one is driving it. It’s sweet, that’s all.” Daisy began packing up their

76

Kortny Alexander

discarded trash as Denver stepped out of the truck. She knew it wouldn’t be long before one of her brothers came in search of Summer. Love was a great motivator. Even when the dumb ones did not recognize it.

Surrendering to Summer

77

Chapter 13 Denver shut off the engine as he stared at the woman sitting next to his sister. He had finally come to terms with the fact that he wanted Summer. He had done everything in his power to control how much she affected him and now he was ready to give in to what he really wanted. He was tired of holding back. He was ready to have a woman in his life, and when he met Summer, all other women failed to exist to him. Making love to her the night before was proof of that. Although, in the beginning, he and his brothers had agreed to stay away from her, he was kicking that agreement to the sidelines. Hell, he was not even sure why they had made that stupid agreement in the first place. He could not fight his feelings. If his brothers wanted to stay miserable and alone then so be it. But there was no way in hell he would let this beautiful woman pass him by. He wanted a relationship with her—with or without his brothers. Denver knew Dalton had to have shoved his foot in his mouth when he sent out that text message. Dalton was hot-headed and didn’t know how to restrain himself when it came to Summer. She affected him just the same. But she didn’t deserve the treatment she had received from Dalton. When Dalton told Denver what he had said to Summer, Denver ripped into his brother. Just because he had pent-up frustrations did not mean he should take it out on Summer. Hell, she’d been run off the damned road the day before and now Dalton was picking at her. Summer was theirs to protect, whether they all realized that or not. Denver knew he was not going to give her up. It took everything Denver had not to stumble as he slid out of the truck. He saw the way Summer looked at him. Both her mouth and

78

Kortny Alexander

eyes smiled at him. He wished he could have rushed over and embraced her, but he had to keep his cool. So his heart pounded on his chest instead. “Hey, ladies, whatcha up to?” Denver asked as he strolled over to where they sat, his eyes on Summer as he spoke. He enjoyed watching Summer’s grin growing slowly. Her smile was reassuring and possessive. He realized that he wasn’t looking his best, but Summer didn’t seem bothered by his ripped jeans or his unflattering button-down shirt. He had pulled his hat down low to block out the blazing rays from the sun. His annoying brown hair was sticking to his face and neck, dampened from working hard on the ranch. He was damn proud of his body. He had played college football, and after graduation, he had played a few years of professional football before he injured his knee. Somehow he’d held on to his linebacker body. From the scorching gaze Summer was giving him, she happily approved. Denver plopped down on the blanket, bent, and kissed Summer on the forehead before turning to a stunned Daisy. “You got any more food in that bag?” Daisy turned and looked at Summer, who was just as shocked. After Summer shrugged her shoulders, Daisy turned back to her brother. “You know I got you covered. I knew you were out this way mending fences with the men.” Daisy pulled out two sandwiches, a bag of chips, and three bottles of water. Denver dove into the sandwiches and bottled water. After a few bites he realized how quiet it was. “What?” He looked from Summer to Daisy and back to Summer. “You’ve never greeted me with a kiss before.” Summer felt her heartbeat speed up at the thought. How did a peck on the forehead make her toes tingle? With a simple shrug, Denver responded. “You needed a little comfort after the shitty way Dalton treated you.” And just like that, Denver went back to eating his food.

Surrendering to Summer

79

Summer turned to Daisy, feeling a little hurt. It was just a kiss to soothe her. What the hell was that about? She thought she had handled Dalton pretty well. She did not need a kiss to make her feel better. Summer needed the kiss because she thought he wanted to kiss her. For a moment, that little kiss made her feel as if she belonged to Denver. As if he had seen more than just the woman staying in their home temporarily. Daisy’s words pulled Summer from her thoughts. “Okay, guys, I have to get back. I have a few kids coming up soon. Keep the blanket.” Daisy smiled at Summer and then looked to her brother who was finishing up his lunch. “Give Summer a ride back in the truck. I will take her horse back with me.” Summer stared at Daisy as she walked away, but that sneaky woman wouldn’t look back at her. She was excited that Denver had sought her out. “Not a problem, sis. We will rest out here for a little longer and then head back. Thanks for lunch,” Denver responded cheerfully. “Yeah, Daisy, thanks for lunch.” Her words were dripping with sarcasm. Summer knew she would get Daisy back for this. “Have fun, kids. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Daisy teased as she scampered off. **** Denver tossed his hat to the side as he lay down on the blanket in a patch of shade. He had worked his ass off and was thankful when he and his men broke for lunch. When he had received the text message from Dalton, he knew his brother had fucked up, even without being told what he had done to Summer. He had immediately called Dalton and yelled at him for being such an ass. If it had not been for Daisy swooping Summer up for lunch, Denver would have left the men to work while he went in search of her. Dalton was never good at sweet-talking women, but he was

80

Kortny Alexander

screwing up royally with Summer. It was as if he was doing it on purpose. Denver and his two brothers had already had a talk and agreed to not pursue Summer before she had moved into their home. But Denver realized how quickly that suggestion had gone to hell quick, fast, and in a hurry. So what if she flaunted around the house naked. She did not know anyone was at home. Summer didn’t wear provocative clothing around them, but it was difficult to ignore every item of clothing that clung to her body like a second skin. They only had three more days with Summer, and then seeing her would be nearly impossible. Denver had decided that he was throwing caution to the wind. He wanted her, even if he had agreed not to pursue her. Why did he have to stay lonely because his brothers wanted to play it safe? At least Dalton did. He knew Summer liked him. Last night, he was damn certain she loved what he did to her. He was drawn to her. He wanted to taste her sweet plump lips again. Denver wanted to thread his fingers through her thick, dark, curly hair and pull, drawing her lips to his. He could almost hear the moans that would fall from her mouth. Daydreaming about touching her was no longer enough. He’d had his first taste of heaven the night before and nothing would keep him away from her. Denver turned his head in the direction of Summer and caught her staring at him with a soft, glazed-over look in her beautiful brown eyes. The golden star-shape flecks in her eyes seemed to glow. “Come here, Summer.” His voice was rough and his cock was pressing against the teeth of his zipper. Denver wanted to fuck her right here next to the creek. **** Summer looked at Denver sprawled out on the blanket, hot and dusty from mending fences. She had never seen a sexier sight than now. Most of the women she knew would not have gone near Denver

Surrendering to Summer

81

in the condition he was in at the moment. But she wasn’t most women. She pushed away from the tree and sidled up along side of him. She draped one leg across his thigh and laid her head on his bicep; never losing eye contact with those never-ending blue pools of his. Summer was not clear what was about to happen but she would not over think it. Denver leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. She loved the way his lips lingered against hers. It was as if he was waiting for her to make the next move. Her body tingled at the thought. She kissed him back. A passionate cloak engulfed her as Denver took the kiss deeper. He traced her lips with his tongue. Summer parted her lips and his tongue slid past and dove into that warm wet cavern that was her mouth. He tasted every inch of her mouth. Traced her teeth with his tongue before she began to suck on it. The moan that erupted from Denver was all the encouragement she needed. She rolled her body on top of his. “Baby, I’m still sweaty from working.” Denver protested. As if she didn’t know that already. It was just one more reason to fall head over heels for him. Summer wiped a small smudge from Denver’s neck as she stared at his lips before moving to look into his eyes. “I know that, Denver.” She placed a kiss on his ear before tugging on his earlobe with her teeth. Denver rolled his head to the side and moaned out her name. “Summer,” he whispered. Summer kissed along his jawline until she reached his lips. He turned into the kiss. “Shall I stop?” she teased. “Hell no.” He wrapped both hands around her and rubbed her against his jean covered cock. “Look what you do to me, woman.” “Mmmm.” Summer attacked Denver’s mouth. She kissed harder when he placed his hand behind her head to hold her in place. Neither

82

Kortny Alexander

was getting away. They sucked each other’s tongues and nibbled on each other’s lips until they felt the small vibrations between them. “Shit.” Denver moaned as he placed one final kiss on Summer’s lips. “I have to answer that, baby.” Summer grinned as she tried to roll off of Denver’s wide body but he held her in place and kept grinding against her as he pulled his cell phone free. “You stay right here, wildfire.” Denver eyed the phone and groaned at the sight of the caller’s name. Summer was close enough that she could hear the entire conversation. “What’s up, Dillon?” Denver huffed as he watched Summer. “Hey, bro, Daisy is back with the horse Summer rode. Have you seen her? Did she go back to the house?” Denver rolled his eyes and Summer grinned. She placed a quick kiss on his lips before he spoke. “No, she is sitting right here with me. I caught her and Daisy having lunch, but Daisy had to get back for her lessons.” There was a long silence on Dillon’s end. “Dillon?” “Yeah, I’m here. I’ll talk to you later.” He cut the call short before Denver had time to speak. Denver closed his phone and shrugged before pulling Summer down for another kiss. He knew Dillon was pissed because he was with Summer. “Come on, you little firecracker. I think Dillon is pissed at me because you and I were hanging out while he worked.” He waited until Summer rolled off of him and then he stood and helped her up. Summer tossed Denver’s hat on her head and folded the blanket. She wondered why Dillon acted odd and hung up on Denver. It couldn’t be because they were together. Summer brushed the thought to the side. Even while she was on their property, their level of concern never seemed to waiver.

Surrendering to Summer

83

“Hey, Denver,” Summer called after him as he went to open the truck door for her. “Yeah?” “If Dillon wants to know what we have been doing, tell him to ask me okay?” She climbed into the big-ass truck and flashed a sneaky smile at him. Denver leaned in and kissed her on the lips. “I do believe you are going to be trouble.” He closed the door and sauntered around to the driver’s side and climbed in. After starting the truck he turned to Summer. “Why do you want me to do that?” Summer shrugged her left shoulder. “I’m not sure what’s up with Dillon. I’m glad you guys get worried when I wander off on the property, but he has not staked a claim on me. He shouldn’t hang up on you when you tell him we are together. If he wants me, then he should come and get me.” Summer turned to look straight ahead. If these men wanted her, then they needed to make the first move. Simple as that. Feeling her up didn’t constitute staking a claim. “Well, damn, wildfire. I will keep that in mind when we go dancing tonight.” Denver knew he was slick tossing that in. He wouldn’t dare ask Summer to go out. She would just say no like she had done the last time he had asked. “I see you are finally learning.” She smiled and gave Denver a quick peck on the cheek. “I will be ready.”

84

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 14 “Where’s Summer?” Dalton asked as he stalked into the office and closed the door. Both of his brothers were stretched out in the leather chairs that faced the matching leather sofa. “She’s taking a nap,” Dillon answered. “Okay, good.” Dalton took a seat on the leather sofa so he could see both of his brothers. “I have news about that fucking red Camaro.” He noticed how both Dillon and Denver gave him their full attention after making that statement. “The sheriff found out it was stolen out of Boulder.” There was a long silence while the information sunk in. “Hold up.” Dalton sat up taller in his chair. “Summer just moved from Boulder.” “I know what you’re thinking. The same thought crossed my mind,” Dalton added, nodding in agreement. “Well, can someone connect the damned dots for me? That damn car has been following us, so who gives a shit if the car is from Boulder?” Dillon sarcastically asked. Dalton and Denver both made dramatically loud sighs. “It means that this could possibly be about Summer.” Dalton raked his fingers through his hair before continuing. “Nothing is for certain yet, but from everything that has been going on, we can all agree that we have only seen this red Camaro when we were with Summer. We hadn’t seen it before she moved to town. I honestly believe this person has set his sights on her. It’s possible this psycho followed her here from Boulder.”

Surrendering to Summer

85

“Sounds logical.” Denver nodded. “As messed up as that is, it definitely sounds logical. Considering she had never seen the car up until the moment it tried to run her off the road, she could have missed every sign that someone was stalking her back in Boulder. This shit is escalating fast.” “Shit!” Dillon and Denver growled out at the same time. “Dammit,” Dalton added. They were all in agreement. Someone was stalking Summer. “So how do you want to do this, Dalton? We have a ranch to run, but there’s no way I want her leaving the property alone. Not anymore.” Dillon was the most reserved but he wouldn’t put Summer’s life at risk no more than his brothers would. “No matter how long it takes to capture this man, we never let her out of our sights. We are going to have to tell her what’s been going on. If we don’t she will definitely put up a fight.” Dalton knew Summer would never go for any of this if they were not honest with her. She would want to know why they insisted on going everywhere with her again. “I’m not in the mood to fight with her. We’re going out dancing tonight, and I don’t want Summer nervous or frightened. We will tell her about this tomorrow.” “Agreed,” Dalton and Dillon said simultaneously. Dalton tried to keep his facial expression neutral. He had no idea Denver and Summer had made plans. He should put a stop to this before it turned into a disaster. That thought quickly disappeared when he saw the way Denver eyed him. His brother was ready for an argument and Dalton had a feeling he would lose this one. It wasn’t a can of worms Dalton was willing to open. When he cut his eyes to Dillon, he was unreadable. It looked as if Dillon was deep in thought or upset. Dalton wasn’t sure. Dillon wasn’t big on talking. If he wanted to get something off his chest, eventually he would. Until then, he kept everything bottled up.

86

Kortny Alexander

The house was filled with emotional stress. Keeping Summer safe was their main priority. Dalton had already spoken with his parents and also brought Bo up to date on what was going on. The more family members that knew what was going on, the better chance they would have of capturing this guy before he could do more damage.

Surrendering to Summer

87

Chapter 15 “Come on, cowboy, I’m ready to go,” Summer sang as she walked into the living room only to stop when she saw Dillon and Dalton staring at her, mouths open. They looked as if they had never seen her dressed up before. Summer knew the dance club they were going to was owned by a few of their cousins and that they also had a dress code. She wanted to look her best. Their relatives always made her feel welcomed no matter where she was. Summer had decided to wear an orange cotton dress that tied around the neck and cinched high on one thigh, loose just below the butt cheek and landing mid-thigh on the other. She knew the dress was sexy as hell and would turn heads. But the only heads she was interested in turning were the men living in the house with her. If Dillon and Dalton stared at her with their mouths open, she could not wait until Denver saw her. “You two should shut your mouths before something flies in there.” She couldn’t help but tease them—they would not stop staring at her. She felt like a piece of Godiva chocolate on display. She watched Dalton swallow hard, but didn’t speak. He actually looked pissed. What else was new? Dillon on the other hand looked at her as a sneaky grin slid across his lips. He was dressed as if he was going out as well. Was he going with them? She certainly hoped so. Dillon walked around the sofa to stand in front of Summer, grabbing a whiff of her apple-scented lotion. “You look absolutely gorgeous, Summer.” He clenched his hands at his sides as if fighting not to touch her.

88

Kortny Alexander

“Thanks, Dillon.” She wished he would have touched her. Damn she craved it. “Do you have plans to go out?” Summer turned when she heard Denver making his way towards them. Her stomach did flips as she watched him approach. He wore a dark grey polo shirt that made his eyes stand out and black jeans that cradled every inch of his thick thighs. He donned black boots and held his black hat in his hand. Damn. She turned back to Dillon and smiled. “Denver and I are going to Whisper’s if you decide to join us later.” She turned back to Denver. “Do you mind that I invited Dillon?” **** Denver grinned wide and shook his head. He and Dillon had had a talk earlier in the day. They cleared a few things between them. Denver had explained to Dillon that although he would not discuss what had gone on between he and Summer out by the creek, he would make it known that he wanted her. Dillon had told Denver he felt the same way about her. It was not a shocking revelation. But why had his brother seemed to back away from her? He’d told Dillon that if he wanted to be with Summer, then he needed to make her aware of it. He couldn’t go around kissing on her, touching her in the most intimate ways, and bringing her to orgasm only to ignore her afterward. Acting as if nothing had ever happened. Denver didn’t want Dillon treating Summer like crap as Dalton had. They had shared a woman or two in the past, but it had stopped. Denver had made it clear that he would not stand in Dillon’s way if Summer welcomed his advances, but before that he would need to express his interest in her. Dillon told his brother that when the time was right he would let Summer know how he felt. That time was soon coming. “Nope. Not at all. We are going dancing and you might wear me out, wildfire. I wouldn’t mind another partner. We may have to beat

Surrendering to Summer

89

the men off with a stick. You look hot as fire, woman.” He gave Dillon a slap on the shoulder. He knew Summer was ready to cut loose. Hell, he might need the backup, especially with that damned dress she was wearing. “I will see you there. I was stopping by to talk with the dads for a little while, then I will catch up with the two of you.” All three turned to look at Dalton who had stood quietly watching the interaction. “What about you, Dalton? You coming?” Denver asked. Dalton looked at his two brothers and then at Summer. “Thanks, but I don’t think I would be good company tonight. Make sure she puts on a damn jacket.” Dalton stormed past the trio, down the hall, and into the office. Once the office door shut Denver spoke first. “What the hell is going on with him?” “I don’t know and really don’t want to get into it tonight,” Dillon said. Summer looked back and forth between Dillon and Denver and smirked. “I’m ready to go, gentlemen.” She strolled off before either could stop her. They’d worry about Dalton another day. Tonight was a night to indulge in dancing and having a great time. They left Dalton to sulk in his office. **** Whisper’s was packed full of people. Summer gyrated and smiled as Denver guided her to the bar where his cousin Jackson was working. She knew that they sometimes helped out. Jackson worked in marketing, and yet he was flirting and grinning behind the bar, making drinks for women and grabbing beers for men. He was tall like the rest of the men in the Durden family. Jackson was a flirt and perfect for the job. The women fell over themselves when those ocean blue eyes landed on them.

90

Kortny Alexander

“Well, well, look at you, Ms. Summer Showers. Don’t you look delicious tonight,” Jackson said as he nodded at his cousin Denver. Summer felt the burn of her cheeks. When Jackson complimented her, two men beside her turned to stare and nodded approvingly. “Thanks, Jackson but don’t get Denver riled up.” She laughed as Denver wrapped an arm possessively around her waist and pulled her in front of him so that she was pressed between the bar and the front of Denver’s body. “Sorry, cousin. Hey, where are Dillon and Dalton?” he asked. “Dillon will be here shortly. And Dalton…” Denver shrugged. “Mr. Moody Ass is back at the house.” Jackson flashed a knowing grin. “Ahhh, fighting it the whole way, huh?” Like the rest of the family, they knew Dalton was crazy about Summer and that he fought his feelings for her. “You know it.” Denver shook his head at that knowledge. “What are you two drinking?” Jackson asked with a laugh. Summer turned to Denver and smiled. She planned on having a great time tonight. She turned back to Jackson. “Two tequila bombers.” Jackson nodded and walked away. “You sure you can handle that, baby?” Denver asked as he kissed her neck. Summer closed her eyes and nodded. She could probably drink him under the table, but she would never let Denver know that. After they drank their drinks, Summer grabbed Denver by the hand and led the way to the dance floor. She had waited all day to get up close to Denver again. They danced impossibly close to each other even though the songs were upbeat. Summer pressed her back against Denver’s chest and wrapped her hands around the hands that were holding her waist. She laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes as they swayed to the music. She loved the way he smelled. The scent of his soap wrapped around her senses and refused to let go.

Surrendering to Summer

91

Denver leaned over and licked her ear before he spoke. “Do you know how jealous every man in here is? Baby, you look so damn gorgeous.” Denver squeezed her hips before turning her to face him just as a slow song began. Summer caressed her hand on his cheek. She stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips across Denver’s lips. “I’ve seen the women eyeing you, Denver. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Denver stroked her hair, loving the fact that she left it down. Her hair had a slight curl, and he played with one before he brushed it behind her ear. “Whether you realize it or not, you’ve already got me, Summer. I won’t stray.” That little revelation surprised Summer, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she looked away and blushed at the thought that one of the brothers had proclaimed how he felt for her. Finally. The pair decided to take a break from dancing. Summer and Denver went back to the bar and each had another tequila bomber and quickly returned to the dance floor. Summer was completely enamored by Denver on the dance floor. Denver bent down until they were nose to nose and whispered in her ear. “Someone else wants your attention, baby.” She had completely forgotten about Dillon until Denver turned her around so that her back was once again pressed against his chest. She could not suppress the happiness that shined through. Dillon looked just as sexy as Denver. He had changed shirts. He had on all black and a black hat to match. Every woman he passed tried to get him to dance with them, but he ignored them all. He smiled at Summer and she smiled back. His focus was solely on her. Denver held firm to her hips as he pressed his hard cock against her back and spoke in her ear again. “Do you want him to join us, baby, or do you want him to walk away?” Summer could tell there was no jealousy in Denver’s question. She wanted them both. The only way to find out if Denver would be bothered by the request was to ask. “Can I have you both, Denver?”

92

Kortny Alexander

She heard the deep groan in his throat. Her question had left them endless possibilities. “Summer, you can have whatever you want. Invite Dillon over baby.” She felt as if her desire for both men lit her body up like an electric volt. She was drunk from it, or was that the tequila bombers? It didn’t matter. She wanted both men. She wanted them both to dance with her and didn’t care who saw. Summer crooked a finger at Dillon, who was standing only an arm’s length away as if he was waiting for an invitation. Dillon grinned as he walked into Summer’s arms and joined in. “You look beautiful, baby.” He bent and kissed her on the cheek. His eyes locked with his brother and they both smiled. Everything was okay. Dillon knew that his brother wanted Summer just as much as he did. She had one arm around Dillon and one on Denver. Summer smiled up at Dillon. “Thanks. You don’t look too bad either.” After a few moments, Denver leaned over. “I’m going to the restroom. Don’t be mean to Dillon, wildfire.” Denver thought it was only fair that he give Dillon a little time with Summer. He would go hang out at the bar and talk to Jackson for a little bit. Denver was so close to Summer’s face that when she turned to respond, his mouth was right near hers. She brushed her lips against his and whispered, “Hurry up.” Denver kissed her back and left the floor. For a moment, Summer had forgotten Dillon. Shit. Would he be angry because she kissed Denver? She slowly turned to look at Dillon and found a smirk on his lips. “It’s okay, Summer.” Dillon stroked her cheek and she leaned into it. “Would you let me do the same? Would you allow me to kiss those pretty lips of yours?”

Surrendering to Summer

93

Holy hell. Could she really get what she wanted? Well, two-thirds of what she wanted. Dillon was not upset that she had kissed Denver. He actually looked pleased. One step at a time. “Yes.” One word was all she could get out of her mouth. Dillon swooped in and sucked the last breath out of her. He had to wrap his hands around her to steady her. The kiss was not deep and probing, but breathtaking nonetheless. His lips were so soft against hers. They swayed to the music as Dillon broke the kiss and pulled Summer in close to his body. This night was turning out better than Summer could have ever imagined.

94

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 16 “I think we should leave.” Summer looked up from her bottle of water with a puzzled look on her face. She thought the three of them had been having a good time. They had taken another much needed break and were now standing in a semidark and secluded corner. “Why? What’s wrong, Denver?” She felt comforted when Dillon wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. Denver leaned in close, for their ears only. “I need you, Summer. I have to have you now, and I don’t know how much longer I can control myself in public. Watching you with Dillon, looking at the sway of your ass in that dress. Baby, you are too damned tempting.” The admission caused Summer to suck in a deep breath. She didn’t know things were moving along this fast even after the things that had transpired between the three of them. She figured they would go out dancing, kissing, and some innocent touching at the most. But to hear Denver admit how much he wanted her was too much for her to resist. What about Dillon? Could she have them both tonight? “Denver?” Her voice was shaky and nervous. Still close to her, Denver cradled Summer’s face as Dillon pressed his body tight to her back, covering her completely. “Tell us what you need, Summer.” “I want…” She paused as she settled into Dillon’s arms and thought about what she wanted to say. After a few moments she tried again. “I need both of you. Can I have you both?” Summer was surprised at the raw need she heard in her own voice.

Surrendering to Summer

95

The simultaneous sensations overwhelmed Summer as Dillon licked and nibbled at her neck and Denver took hold of her mouth. The loud music drowned out her moans. She rubbed her ass against Dillon’s cock as she caressed Denver’s hard dick in front of her. She didn’t need to silence the music to know that both men enjoyed what she did to them and what they did to her. “You can have anything you want, Summer. I would never tell you no,” Dillon said as he teased her earlobe. He allowed one hand to slide down Summer’s rib cage, caressing the side of her breast and hip. He made his way to the back of her dress and slid his hand underneath it. He cupped her ass and chuckled when she pressed against it. “You like that, don’t you, baby?” Summer responded by taking her free hand and grabbing a handful of Dillon’s hair. “Hmmm, I thought you might.” Dillon slid his fingers between her legs and felt the heat pulsating from her wet pussy and caressed. “Do you like that, Summer?” Summer broke from her heated kiss with Denver to answer breathlessly. “Yes.” Dillon leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her lips when she turned her face to the side. “Good girl.” He slid his fingers past her lace panties and dipped two fingers into her pussy. Summer’s head fell forward on Denver’s chest as she slowly pressed down on Dillon’s fingers as they pumped in and out of her pussy. She rose up to look at Denver. “We have to leave. Now.” Denver grinned as she tried to focus on his face. The look he gave her made her feel beautiful. It warmed her to know she was capable of causing that type of gaze. There was also hunger in his eyes. She could only wonder if he would wait until they returned to the house before taking her. Denver’s voice was husky as he spoke. “Okay, baby, we are leaving.”

96

Kortny Alexander

She watched as Denver had to tap Dillon on the shoulder. Dillon had been busy filling her with his amazing fingers. “Hey, our girl is ready to go.” Dillon flashed his brother a knowing grin and nodded. He removed his fingers from her slick sheath and adjusted Summer’s dress. “Let’s go.” Summer did not know if she floated across the crowded dance club or if her men guided her across the room. She could not believe that she had just been felt up in a darkened corner in the club. She had become blinded by her desire for both Denver and Dillon. Hell, if they had not stopped the simultaneous groping of her body, she would have easily fucked one of them inside of the club. Now she felt the proof of just how turned on she was by both men, and it was exciting. Summer knew she wanted all three brothers, but it looked as if she would have to learn to live with just having the two of them. Would she be satisfied with two-thirds of a whole heart? It would not matter what she really thought about the situation. If Dalton did not want her she would not force the issue. It hurt like hell to watch him reject their invitation to go dancing with them. But what was she supposed to do? Summer knew without a doubt she would not throw herself at Dalton. If he did not want her she would happily back off. She had two of the men she wanted and she would gladly shower them with attention. As hurt as she was by Dalton’s blatant rejections of her, she would embrace this night and more if they allowed her. She felt her stomach do flip-flops as they made their way to the entrance of the dance club. Wanting something and finally getting it, damn near tasting it, were two different things. Dillon and Denver both wanted her and she knew it without a doubt. The moment Dillon slid his fingers inside of her she thought she would lose it right then and there. Denver teased and tortured every one of her senses as he kissed her on the mouth and held her face gently in his hands.

Surrendering to Summer

97

Would they take her when they got back to the house? She didn’t think she would be able to wait that long. Would she really consider herself a tramp if she fucked both men tonight? Standing a little taller and smiling to herself, Summer came to a concrete conclusion. Whatever happened tonight with Denver and Dillon, she would be able to look at herself in the morning. She was mature enough to acknowledge what she wanted and she wanted Denver and Dillon Durden tonight before she lost her nerve. After Summer climbed into the big black pickup truck, Denver climbed in behind her. Causing Summer to move to the center of the bucket seats. She was confused as she stared at him. Why the hell was Denver on the passenger side of his truck if he drove them there? As if he heard her thoughts, Denver spoke. “Dillon caught a ride into town, and since we both drank, he is going to do the driving.” The opening of the driver’s side door jerked Summer’s attention in that direction. She felt her body blaze as Dillon climbed in beside her. He looked as if he would eat her alive right there in the parking lot. “Are you okay, Summer?” Dillon asked as he started the truck. “Uh-huh.” She wasn’t much for conversation at the moment. She was too busy trying to figure out how to continue what they had begun in the dance club. Her core was on fire and her belly was doing flip-flops. She was nervous, and yet she was anxious to touch one or both men. As they began their silent drive back to the house, Summer slid her hand onto Denver’s lap. She felt him tense up for a second before he relaxed under her touch. It was good to know that he was just as nervous as she was. “Doesn’t look like you are going to wait until we get home,” Denver said as he moved closer to her. “I can’t.” Before she could lose her courage, Summer moved until she was sitting directly on Denver’s lap. His cock was stiff against her

98

Kortny Alexander

already soaked panties. “Move closer to Dillon. We can’t leave him out,” she whispered against Denver’s lips as a grin formed on his. “You better not.” Dillon’s voice was so low she barely heard it through the silence of the truck. Summer felt Dillon place a hand on her bare thigh as Denver undid the ties around her neck that held her dress together. The moment her breasts fell free, Dillon’s hand moved to caress one as he drove with the other. “Beautiful,” Denver whispered as he cupped the other breast and kissed her lips. His kiss was just as passionate and invasive as she had hoped. Denver kissed her as if he was kissing her for both himself and Dillon. All Summer could do was moan and enjoy the dual caresses as she ground against Denver’s jean-covered cock. “Now. Please, Denver. I can’t wait any longer.” Summer began moving faster against his cock as her free hand went in search of Dillon’s cock. “Don’t make our girl wait, Denver. Give her what she needs,” Dillon said as he tried his best to maneuver the truck while being groped by Summer. He was beginning to move against her hand, trying to find a little relief as he drove. “Lean back against the dashboard, baby.” Denver groaned when Summer did as instructed. He smiled wide when he realized his brother still held on to her breast. Denver yanked at the flimsy panties until they ripped on either side. He tossed them over his shoulder to the backseat. “Dillon, doesn’t our girl smell sweet?” Keeping his eyes on the road, Dillon moved his hand slowly down Summer’s body until he reached her soaking wet folds. He pressed a finger deep inside her and brought it to his mouth and tasted it. “She tastes just as sweet as she smells.” He stole a quick look at her. “Damn, you are gorgeous, Summer.” Summer moved up close and quickly brushed her lips against Dillon. “You’re next.” The intensity of what was about to take place

Surrendering to Summer

99

had her trembling, yet she remained confident in what she wanted. She turned to look at Denver. “Pants down, now.” Both men chuckled low and deep as Denver made quick movements to unfasten his jeans and push them down. He slid a condom on and patted his thigh. “Come here, baby.” Denver helped guide Summer down on him. She put both of her hands on his shoulders, bracing herself as she worked him into her tight sex. “Dammit, wildfire. You’re tight as hell,” Denver said through gritted teeth. As much as he wanted to slam into her, he held on to his patience. He didn’t want to hurt Summer because he was too eager to be inside of her. Summer didn’t wait to acclimate herself to the thick cock pushed inside of her. She began to rise and fall as Denver held her by the waist. He said nothing. He just stared into her eyes as she did the same. Everything around them disappeared as Summer moved faster. She felt the flutters in her stomach just before they spread throughout her body. Her orgasm built up fast and was barreling full speed ahead. In a few swift movements, Summer had pulled the dress over her head and tossed it to the side. “That’s my little wildfire. Fuck me.” Denver crooned as he held on for dear life. Summer rocked up and down on his cock and he could only sit and watch as her eyes glazed over and her lips parted on a moan. He realized that talking dirty to her revved her up more. “Ride me, Summer. You’re so damn wet. You’re gonna make me come.” Summer’s entire body was on fire as her orgasm took her over. She whispered Denver’s name over and over as she came. She felt Denver grasp her waist tighter as he took four more powerful thrusts and came as well. He yelled her name and kissed her roughly as they both began to come down. She felt a small trickle of sweat flow down her back as she laid her head on Denver’s shoulders. It wasn’t until that moment that Summer realized how quiet the cab of the truck was. There was no movement to indicate they were

100

Kortny Alexander

traveling, no hum of an engine, no music, no nothing. Dillon. Summer looked to her right and saw every drop of lust in Dillon’s eyes. She could not deny him even if she tried. “It’s my turn, baby,” Dillon said as he reached for Summer. Denver and Dillon shifted to their right so Dillon was no longer limited by the steering wheel. Once free, he pulled Summer to his naked lap. He had already pulled his jeans down, stripped away his shirt, and had sheathed his cock. Dillon was ready and waiting for his Summer. As Summer sat with Dillon’s cock pressed between their stomachs she couldn’t help but realize she didn’t know where they were. She figured they must have made it back to the house, but the surroundings were too dark. “Where are we?” she asked as she watched Denver get out of the truck only to walk around and get in on the driver’s side. “We are on the private access road that leads to the house,” Dillon answered as he brushed her hair back from her face. “I need your kisses, Summer.” She could only grin as she moved forward to kiss Dillon. He was always a touch gentler than his two brothers. He had needs just like any other man, but he was also romantic and tender. Tonight, Summer didn’t think he would be so tender. She knew she wasn’t going to be. Summer licked his lips and Dillon instantly parted them. Neither was in the mood to take it slow. Summer slid her tongue past his lips and Dillon sucked on her tongue. He sucked just hard enough to make her groan and rub her already soaking pussy against his thighs. She gripped his shoulders and pressed her naked breasts to his bare chest. Feeling the sparse hair on his chest caused her to fall against Dillon with a groan. Dillon lifted her body completely off of his and guided her down onto his cock, slow and steady. He would not stop until he was fully seated inside of her. He had to move once her greedy pussy began squeezing him.

Surrendering to Summer

101

“Oh, damn, Summer. Baby, you’re killing me. I’m not going to last if you keep squeezing me with that sweet pussy of yours.” “I can’t help it, Dillon.” She moaned as she began moving up and down on his cock. “You feel so good.” Summer moved faster as Dillon grabbed a handful of her hair and tugged. He wanted to control the movements even if he would not last. Dillon held her firm with one hand around her waist and lowered his head to suck a nipple firmly into his mouth. He fucked Summer harder, pistoned in and out of her when he heard her moans turn into cries of delight. “I want you to come for me, Summer.” Dillon slid his fingers down until they reached her clit. “You feel that, baby? Come for me, Summer, while I fuck your pussy.” Summer jerked forcefully when she felt the flames flow through her from head to toe. “Dillon,” she whispered. Their orgasms hit them simultaneously. When Dillon felt their bodies calm from the orgasms, he couldn’t control what slipped past his lips. “You belong to me now, Summer. You’re mine, baby.” It wasn’t a selfish declaration, just the truth. Before she could speak, Denver leaned over and stroked her cheek. “You’re mine, too, Summer.” He started the engine as Dillon helped her get herself back in order. “You belong to both of us,” Dillon added as he helped her with the ties of her dress. Summer smiled at their admissions. Then a thought occurred to her. “Do you both belong to me?” She was afraid of their answer. She wouldn’t be able to handle their rejection, too. “Yes,” Dillon answered without hesitation. Denver turned her to face him and kissed her on the lips. “I’m yours. We are both yours, Summer. You never need to ask again.” Summer couldn’t control the warmth and joy that flowed through her body. Not only had two of the most sexy men in town proclaimed

102

Kortny Alexander

themselves hers, she had just had some of the most delicious sex she’d had in years. She had just fucked Dillon and Denver back to back. The logistics of wanting three men had been difficult to wrap her head around. She was with two of the three men she wanted and not once had she mapped out how she would have sex with them. The next time they did this, she would have to be more creative. If there was a next time. What would Dalton do when he found out about this? She knew it was useless to wonder about the ifs. Dalton would definitely find out. Summer couldn’t decide whether to avoid him or let the brothers handle it. As much as she wished Dalton had been a part of this, he had made it abundantly clear that he didn’t want her. There was no point in walking around like a wounded puppy. She had less than four days left at their house, and she would enjoy her time with Dillon and Denver. Once she moved into her new home, they would be able to continue their relationship without worrying about sourpuss Dalton. Maybe he would find someone to grab his attention. Since it was clear that he had no interest in Summer. Summer became more nervous as the headlights on the truck flashed on the house. The lights were all out. Dalton was probably asleep. Summer was grateful. She didn’t want him to see her with the just-got-fucked look on her face. Maybe tomorrow he would be in a better mood.

Surrendering to Summer

103

Chapter 17 Day 5 Dalton slammed the truck door with such a powerful thrust that he didn’t realize the windows shook. He could not believe what he had found in the back seat of Denver’s truck. What in the hell was wrong with his brother? It wasn’t as if he had gone looking for trouble. He had left a file folder in the back seat of the vehicle. Dalton did not expect any surprises when he retrieved the folder. They had agreed to stay away from her. He should have known that his brothers would not be able to stay away from the beautiful brown goddess that was living under their roof. Shit, he would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit he had heard Summer and Denver damn near banging the headboard to pieces the other night. It had been the middle of the night, but her cries of passion woke him up, and then the banging soon followed. They all knew Dillon slept like the dead, but Dalton did not. He’d heard every bit of it. Dalton had lain in bed stroking his aching cock as he listened to the creaking of Denver’s bed and the sweet sounds of Summer crying out for more. He didn’t witness the rough lovemaking, but he knew she was definitely a wildfire. He wanted her. He wanted to spread her thighs and lick at her folds until her cream slid down and touched his tongue. He could only imagine how sweet she would taste. Did she taste just like heaven? Or damn near close to it? He wanted her more than his next breath. But he could not have her because he would only hurt her. He had nothing left inside of him to

104

Kortny Alexander

give. He saw in Summer’s eyes the future that he couldn’t possibly hand her. He was a miserable bastard, and yet somewhere under all of that miserable shit, Dalton burned for Summer. The anger and jealousy burning deep inside of him boiled to the surface. He wasn’t jealous of his brothers, he was jealous of what they had with Summer, what he wished he was a part of. Something finally occurred to him. Dillon did not drive last night, which meant… Oh, hell yeah! He was ready to beat the shit out of them even more now. Slamming the front door shut, he made a haughty beeline for the kitchen where he knew his brothers were gathered. Nothing else mattered, just the confrontation he was itching to have before the sun had even come up. Dalton stomped into the kitchen and eyed his brothers. He couldn’t believe the gall they had, acting like nothing had happened. Hell, he would not have been able to pry himself from her bed. The thought of being cuddled up close to her sensuous naked body had his mind reeling. Did they sleep with her in her bed? he thought. “You wanna explain this, you little fuckers?” Dalton tossed the lace panties onto the counter where Denver and Dillon were seated on the barstools. Dillon immediately slammed his glass of orange juice on the counter and shoved his chair back. The stunned look on his face said it all. It had been a while since he had been in a fight, but he was ready. Denver did not even acknowledge Dalton. He took another sip of his coffee and gently sat the mug back on the counter. Slowly, he raised his head until his eyes met Dalton’s and spoke. “The moment you returned home from Vegas, she was all you could talk about. You were absolutely fascinated by her. You complained at how she annoyed you and in that same breath you went on and on about her beauty, brains, and independence.” Denver paused for a moment before continuing on. “Once we realized her

Surrendering to Summer

105

sister Spring was married to our cousin, you were nonchalant about the fact that she would be around the ranch more often. Neither Dillon nor I were stupid enough not to notice the attraction.” Denver shook his head and stood up. “I’m not doing this.” “You’re not doing what?” Dalton huffed out. “Fucking her? You fucked her in your truck last night.” Dalton raked his fingers through his hair several times before he spoke, pinning him with his glare. “What the hell is wrong with you, Denver?” Dillon spoke up then. “Shouldn’t you be bitching at both of us, Dalton?” Dalton’s gaze snapped to Dillon. He knew his younger brother regretted opening his mouth. The look on Dillon’s face was apologetic but it didn’t slow Dalton’s rage. “I know you both did. I’m not stupid. What I want to know is why? What happened to our agreement?” Dalton walked further into the kitchen, closer to the wall near the back door, placing him in between his brothers but out of reach. He could almost feel the possessive vibe flowing from both of his brothers. Dillon grabbed his coffee mug and took a sip. It was the strongest thing he could have this early in the morning. “She is not Stacey,” he mumbled. “Crap.” Denver hissed as realization finally hit him. Dalton wanted to snarl he was so pissed off. “It’s not about Stacey.” Denver whirled around, knocking over his chair. “The hell it’s not!” He took two steps in Dalton’s direction. “What? We’re supposed to be miserable because you fell for that scheming bitch and we didn’t?” Totally ignoring his brother’s statement, Dalton continued on. “I just can’t believe you two had sex with her in your truck. You guys didn’t have the decency to wait until you got her home and into the bed?” Dalton wanted to fight, but he was trying his best to keep his

106

Kortny Alexander

distance. He would not be able to take on both of his brothers at the same time. And he sure as shit didn’t want to fight in their kitchen. “You treat her like shit! You don’t want her, so why is this any of your business?” Dillon yelled as he tossed a coffee cup filled with steaming hot coffee at Dalton. “I’m tired of pussyfooting around you! If you want to be miserable, then you can do it by your damn lonesome. Hell, we finally find a woman we are all attracted to. She’s smart, beautiful and independent. She’s everything I want. I know she’s everything Denver wants. But you, you want to turn tail and run. Fuck. You. Dalton! Dalton ducked just in time as the coffee cup crashed into the wall behind him. He couldn’t believe what his brothers had done. They had agreed to stay away from Summer. “That’s not the point, Dillon. We made an agreement.” “Fuck you and your stupid-ass agreements, Dalton. You wanna sit in this house and act like a monk, then you go right ahead and do that.” Denver took a deep breath before speaking again. “Dalton, you overstepped the boundaries big time. Why the hell were you snooping around in my truck anyway?” “I was not snooping, Denver. I couldn’t find one of my vendor folders. The last place I had it was in your truck. We’d had lunch together and I had sat in the back. I placed the folder in the pocket on the back of the passenger seat. How the hell was I supposed to know that you had sex with Summer in the truck last night? Both of you.” He shut his eyes and shook his head almost violently before stopping. “The least you could have done was picked up her panties.” Dillon and Denver flanked Dalton on either side as Dillon spoke. “Don’t make what we did sound cheap. You know how I feel about Summer.” “And I haven’t made my feelings for her a secret. She knows,” Denver replied. “We both told her last night.” “Look, we all agreed to never go down this road again.” Dalton tried to get them to see reason.

Surrendering to Summer

107

“There is no we here, Dalton. You’ve made it abundantly clear to Summer that you don’t like her. You don’t want a relationship with her. As much as you damn near swooned over her after meeting her, look how you treat her now that she’s under our roof. This was your damned idea in the first place. You suggested she stay with us.” Dillon shook his head at Dalton, but stood his ground. “I won’t let you come between us. If you want to be bitter and alone, that’s your choice. I may be the youngest but you don’t make decisions for me when it comes to who I love.” Dillon was silent for a few moments. His head lowered before he jerked it back up and cut his eyes over to Dalton. “You are afraid. You’re afraid, and now you’re pushing her away as hard and as fast as you can.” “Dammit, Dillon.” Dalton was losing this fight and he knew it. They needed to calm down before they woke Summer up. “I think we need to lower our voices before we wake Summer up.” “Too late for that.” All three of the men turned at the sound of Summer’s voice. She stood silently propped against the doorframe, glowering at the three of them. **** At first, Summer was not sure what had pulled her from her deep sleep. It probably was a deep sleep at some point, but the low rumble coming from downstairs had floated up the stairs, through her closed door, and underneath her covers and shoved her awake. She rolled over and sat up. The two warm bodies were missing from her bed. “What the hell is going on?” she mumbled to herself as she crawled out of the warm bed and shuffled to the bathroom. When Summer opened the bathroom door and padded back towards her dresser, she heard the crash of dishes. Her feet moved before she realized she was running. Summer yanked her bedroom door open and ran as fast as her feet could carry her. She almost slid

108

Kortny Alexander

past the kitchen when she jerked to a stop. Summer quickly realized that the yelling was coming from all three brothers. She stood unnoticed in the entrance to the kitchen. What she saw and heard left her speechless. Summer had never seen Dillon so upset. This was a completely different side of him. What the hell had she walked in on? Watching how hostile they were with each other, Summer was afraid to move forward and attempt to break the argument up. After she had stood there for a few long moments, everything became clear. Shit, shit, shit! Summer knew what was going on. She was the center of an argument that seemed to have divided the brothers. Both Denver and Dillon started towards her, anger and possessiveness in their eyes. Dillon spoke first. “Sorry we woke you, baby.” Dillon pressed his lips to her forehead and pulled her into a warm hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist, smiled up at him, and then shut her eyes momentarily at the feel of Denver’s hand stroking her hair. When she stepped back, she kissed Dillon gently on the lips and then turned to Denver. “Sorry, wildfire. Guess our conversation got kinda heated.” Denver kissed her on the cheek. Both men watched her reactions intensely while intentionally blocking her view of Dalton. She moved, pushing between them, causing the men to part so she could see Dalton. His eyes were full of regret, loneliness, and quite possibly defeat. It was as if he wanted to be a part of their trio. After what she had overheard, she wasn’t sure if Dalton knew what he wanted. “I have one question for the three of you. I want an honest answer,” she said as she moved to the middle of the room. As she did so, she eyed her lace panties lying on the counter by a glass of orange juice. Holy hell! She had a very clear idea of what had started the argument. “What is your question, Summer?”

Surrendering to Summer

109

She was surprised that it was Dalton who had spoken first. A smirk touched her lips and just as quickly it was gone. “Was this heated argument about me?” She knew the answer, but she still wanted to hear it from the men. A round of hushed curses filled the room. That was answer enough. Summer turned to Denver and Dillon. She needed to nip this in the bud right now. She would not be the cause of these brothers fighting any more than necessary. She’d leave before she allowed that to happen. First, she had to have a talk with the most difficult male in the room. “Can the two of you leave us alone for a while? Dalton and I need to have a talk.” Scowling at his brother, Denver looked Summer in her eyes. “Are you sure about this?” Taking a slow turn around the room, getting an eyeful of each man present, Summer came back to Denver and smiled sweetly. “You two go to work.” She walked up to Dillon and kissed him on the lips again. “Dalton would never hurt me physically.” She knew that was the truth but her feelings, her heart, he could trample over and not look back. But she needed to have it out with him. She walked over to Denver next and kissed him on the lips as well. “I need to talk to Dalton and I don’t want you two around. If I need you I know where to find you.” Dillon cleared his throat and smirked at Summer. “Don’t you wanna go up to your room and put some pants on?” Summer looked down. She was in such a rush to get to the kitchen that she had not bothered to worry about what she was wearing. She had on an oversized green T-shirt that stopped mid-thigh. Summer shrugged her shoulders and placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not leaving the kitchen and I’m not putting on pants. What I have on is fine. He’s seen me in less. Now please leave us alone. We will talk later, I promise.”

110

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 18 “Who’s Stacey?” “Shit.” Dalton should have known she had been standing at the door much longer than they had realized. Clearly, Summer wasn’t holding back. She was not going to ease into this conversation at all. “Have a seat, Summer.” He motioned to one of the bar stools. Summer climbed up onto the oversized island counter. She eyed Dalton as he went to the refrigerator. He grinned at her choice of seating. “Are you hungry?” He poured her a glass of apple juice. He knew it was her favorite. She shook her head no in response to his question. “Thanks.” She accepted the juice and took a few sips. Summer gently placed the glass on the counter beside her and waited. He was stalling. He didn’t want to discuss one of the biggest mistakes of his life, but Summer looked as if she could wait him out. Considering she was the oldest of four sisters, he knew she had an abundant amount of patience. She’d put up with all of his mood swings. If Summer was anything like him, and he was positive she was, waiting a person out was as easy as breathing. After Dalton placed the apple juice carton back inside of the refrigerator, he folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the opposite counter facing Summer. Damned if he wanted to get into this conversation with her, but from the way she was patiently waiting, he couldn’t deny her even if he wanted to. After a few deep breaths, he began. “Stacey was a woman we were all involved with at one point. It didn’t take long before Dillon and Denver realized she was not what

Surrendering to Summer

111

they wanted. They liked her enough but they didn’t love her, weren’t fascinated by her like I was. At least I thought I was.” Dalton admired the way Summer had drawn her knees up, pulling her T-shirt over them completely. He had her full attention. He continued on. “I was blind to everything around me when it came to Stacey. She was beautiful and smart. When I asked her to move in, she quit her job and devoted all of her time to me. That wasn’t what I intended for her to do, but I said nothing. I thought it was great, but my brothers kept trying to get me to open my eyes to what she was doing. I didn’t, couldn’t.” He had to pause at the thoughts flooding his memory. Anger was starting to brew, but he needed to calm himself in order to get through this. For the way he had treated her, Summer deserved an explanation. “Although my brothers and I had hoped to meet a woman and have a relationship like our fathers had with our mother, it didn’t always turn out that way. Sometimes people don’t click. But it didn’t matter to me. I wanted Stacey even if my brothers had warned me that she was bad news. If that wasn’t enough, I should have really paid attention to the fact that none of my parents liked her.” Dalton huffed again as he shoved his hands into his jean pockets. He truly hated this. But watching Summer sitting quietly on the counter listening to him, no sign of judgment in her eyes, it gave him the courage to continue on. “Once a week, our mom would come to the house and straighten up and make a grocery list for us whether we wanted her to or not. Stacey didn’t do much of anything whether it was helping out on the ranch or inside of the house. That day my mother overheard Stacey on the telephone with a friend of hers bragging how she was about to ‘reel me in for the kill.’ From what my mother had overheard, Stacey was going to lie and say she was pregnant in order to get me to marry her. She swooned on the phone over how she’d be ‘rolling in the dough.’”

112

Kortny Alexander

He shoved his fingers through his hair and stared at Summer. She just sat with her arms wrapped around her cloth-covered knees, eyes somber as she patiently waited for him to continue. He could see her eyes begin to water. “She did not love me. I regretted not listening to my brothers. But what I didn’t do was have a big showdown with her. She realized her mistake when I came home and told her our relationship was over. My brothers and I packed her shit up and dropped her off at her parents’ house, since that’s where she had been living before she moved in here with us. I thought I loved her, but I didn’t. It still hurt my heart. I was trying to make something happen, have what my parents have. And out of the three of us, I was the only one who couldn’t see the truth. I couldn’t see her for what she truly was.” Dalton closed his eyes and shook his head at the stupidity of it all. “Dalton.” His name was uttered so softly it surprised him. When he looked up, Summer had moved, her legs were hanging down over the edge of the counter, slightly parted. Her hands were at her sides. “I’m not Stacey.” Her first tear fell, but she didn’t break eye contact with him. Ah, God, he hated to see her cry. All of the pain and foolish feelings that he had kept bottled up for so long rushed to the surface. He finally realized that harboring all of those ill feelings towards Stacey had kept him from seeing something pure. The most pure thing in his life was sitting in front of him, crying for him for what he had gone through with another woman. His brothers were already in love with her. He saw it in their eyes. Shit, they wanted to fight him because of her. There wasn’t a woman on earth who had caused them to behave like that. Dalton knew that their reactions towards him were out of protection for her. Protective and possessive. He would not have expected anything less when it was for a woman they loved.

Surrendering to Summer

113

He loved her. He realized it, recognized it now. He loved Summer just as his brothers did. And she loved them. Loved him. Even though he didn’t deserve it. “Dalton, I’m not Stacey.” Her silent tears would be the death of him. He walked towards her, stepping between her thighs. Gently wiping the tears from her face with the pad of his thumb, he cupped her chin with the other hand so that their eyes were level with each other. “I know that now.” He hugged her to him and stroked her hair. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Summer.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and tried to pull away from her, but her legs were faster than he was. Summer locked her legs around Dalton’s waist. She was not about to let him go—not now. “Don’t make me let you go, Dalton,” she mumbled into his chest. Dalton hugged her tighter and gave a deep chuckle. “I’m not that stupid, Summer. I’m not letting you go.” He pulled back but didn’t step out of their embrace and watched her watching him. What a dumbass he had been. Summer gently covered his lips with hers. He was surprised to hear the relieved sigh coming from his mouth. His entire body relaxed as she pulled him closer to her once again. He was hers, dammit. All three of them belonged to her. She knew it. Dillon and Denver knew it. It just took him a little longer to realize it. He just had to let go of his past issues, see past the hurt someone else had dished out. Once Dalton was able to let those issues go he saw his future sitting in front of him. Quickly, the kiss evolved from slow and gentle to hunger, desperation, and flat-out need. Dalton tore his lips from hers, bunched her shirt up on both sides of her body and yanked it up and over her head, tossing it to the floor. The stunned look on her face was more intoxicating than he had ever imagined.

114

Kortny Alexander

“My God, you are beautiful.” He eyed her from head to toe. Her hair was still tousled from sleep, her cheeks were flushed, and the hazel-flecked stars in her eyes were damn near glowing. Her chest was heaving, her nipples stiff. When Dalton’s eyes reached her belly he couldn’t believe what he saw. “Where are your panties?” Summer smirked and arched a brow. “Dalton.” She leaned close and brushed her lips against his. “Are we going to talk about my nonexistent panties or—” Her words were cut off when Dalton pushed his tongue between her lips. Mutual moans erupted from both of them. Dalton swiped his tongue around, seeking, searching until he found what he was searching for. It was as if he couldn’t get enough of her. The taste of Summer was explosive, and he had to have more. He could feel her fingers clawing at him, trying to get him out of his shirt. How had he stayed away from her for so long? Her body felt perfect in his arms. He had found what he had been searching for. Stupidity is what had kept him from having this. He mentally acknowledged that fact and let it go. He had her now, and that was the most important thing. When he broke their kiss, their gazes locked. It was as if a silent conversation was going on in the kitchen between the two of them. All of the pent-up tension and wasted time dissipated. Without speaking one word, Dalton tugged the snug T-shirt over his head and tossed it. When he looked down, Summer was already wrangling with his belt. He smiled and watched as her rough tugs jerked his hips back and forth. She opened the belt, unfastened the button, and unzipped his jeans. “Take them off,” she huffed out. Since the day she first laid eyes on him, she had been waiting for this moment. Her patience had finally dissolved. Dalton chuckled low and heartily. “Your name suits you.” He shoved his jeans down, toeing off his boots just before kicking his

Surrendering to Summer

115

jeans completely off. “Come here, wildfire.” He pulled her in close as she wrapped her legs around him once again. Dalton brushed the head of his cock against Summer’s already soaked folds and groaned with exquisite delight. He paused and looked up at her. It had taken every bit of willpower not to instantly slam into soaked heat. But now as she watched him, willing him to enter her, he was rethinking that idea. “Dalton.” She inched forward, pushing the head of his cock inside of her. “Please.” Her arms were draped over his shoulders as she pleaded with him to enter her. The willpower drifted away as her voice enveloped his cock like a silken vise as she spoke to him. Dalton placed an arm around her waist firmly as he slammed into her. He tossed his head back as he yelled, “Fuck!” He drowned out Summer’s screams, which wasn’t easy to do. When she began to claw at his back he moved his hips. Being inside of her was the only place he ever wanted to be. With every stroke, her sheath seemed to suction him back in. She tightened on him every time he pressed forward. He was lost. There was nothing or no one better than Summer. It was absolute bliss. Dalton was revved up once Summer’s body began to tremble in his strong embrace. He wanted to feel her writhing in his arms. His pace quickened. There was nothing elegant about their first time together. He knew without a doubt that there would be more chances to make love to Summer. At this particular moment, he needed to be balls-deep inside of her. He wanted to feel every inch of her. His body was a lightening rod of emotions, fire, lust, and love. If he could climb inside he would. It was his first time with her and he’d lost all control. They simultaneously screamed out their orgasms as he continued to fuck her on the kitchen counter. It was as if he couldn’t stop thrusting inside of her and she went right along with it. Finally, Summer lay her forehead against Dalton’s chest. “I want more.”

116

Kortny Alexander

Yep, she would be the death of him. Dalton grinned. Her words were only a whisper but it was also an order. “Hold on to me, wildfire. We need a bed.” He lifted her from the counter, his semihard dick still inside of her. Dalton didn’t want to break the contact he had with her. He loved the way she felt and wanted to enjoy every minute he could.

Surrendering to Summer

117

Chapter 19 Dalton turned on the shower after he sat Summer down on her bed. He loved her bedroom. It had been made for the woman they would marry. When he and his brothers had first decided on the plans for their home, they knew they wanted their woman to have the biggest room in the house. It had to be special, just like the woman that would own the hearts of the three men. Stacey was never allowed in this particular room. She had been placed in a room down the hall. Dalton knew that should have been another clue, but he ignored all the signs. Now, as he leaned against the frame of the bathroom door, he looked at the naked woman smiling back at him. Neither Dalton nor his brothers gave it a second thought when they placed Summer’s bags in this particular room when she first arrived. It had been built just for her—for the woman who would claim them all. Each male had placed his own special touch inside of the room. It would be her sanctuary. Dillon had built most of the furniture. Denver had carved delicate infinity designs into the crown molding and designed the floor plans. And Dalton had designed the bathroom. The special room was only to be shared with the woman that they would call theirs. And there she sat on the bed smiling at him, expecting nothing from him, needing nothing from him. **** When Dalton scooped her up in his arms she mentally wrapped her body in his warmth. Summer was now a happy little clam. As

118

Kortny Alexander

infuriating as Dalton had been, she was delighted she had waited him out. He had been worth it. This moment had been worth it. She had the opportunity to take all of his nakedness in as he placed her on her feet in the shower. Dalton’s body wasn’t slender and toned like Dillon, nor was it as thick and wide as Denver. He was somewhere in between. All three men were perfect to her in their own special ways. She had only been in their company a short time, and yet she couldn’t imagine moving forward without them. Summer grinned when Dalton grabbed a hair clip and clipped her hair up on top of her head. He poured body wash into his hands and began to bathe her. Summer was on cloud nine as she watched and felt those massive, work-roughened hands sliding all over her body. She moaned as she leaned back against the wall and watched him work. Summer admired how the muscles in his chest flexed as he moved. His chest wasn’t full of hair but it was just enough that it called to her already-tingling fingers. She wanted to touch him, kiss him. Anything that had to do with feeling his flesh against hers. But for some reason she felt as if he needed this time, to be in control. He wanted to wash her. He hadn’t asked, he just did it. Summer realized that as Dalton washed her body it wasn’t about sexual contact. He washed her breasts, taking his time to cup each one. He made his way down to her belly and then lower to her heated core. He cleaned every inch of her. Even sliding his soapy hands between her legs and cleaning between her cheeks. Dalton went as far as to kneel down and clean her feet. Summer quietly gave him what he wanted. He wanted to take care of her. Once he was finished, he quickly cleaned himself. Now they both smelled like apples. Summer slowly opened her eyes when she heard the water being turned off. That had been the most relaxing shower she had ever had. It was also the first time a man had showered with her. When she realized Dalton was watching her, she smiled but still said nothing.

Surrendering to Summer

119

Something electric was happening between them and she didn’t want to risk words smashing the current. She watched as Dalton stepped out of the shower, water sliding down his muscular back and over his taut ass. When he turned back around, he held out a fluffy cerulean-blue towel. “Come here, baby.” As she walked to him she couldn’t believe how the towel made his blue eyes shine. The sharp inhalation surprised her as she felt him wrap the towel and his arms firmly around her. He kissed her lips slowly and sensually as he held her body to his. His hand slid up her neck, fondling her hair as he unclipped it. Dalton’s hands seemed to get lost in her hair. His fingers were gently cradling and massaging her scalp. The tender movements caused her lips to part as she sighed deeply. She adored being touched by this man. One simple touch could bring her to her knees. When Dalton took a step back from her, Summer wasn’t sure what would happen next, so she waited. It took only moments for her to figure out what was coming next. He took his time drying her body. Once he was finished, he scooped her up in his arms and walked back into the bedroom and placed her gently on the bed. “Move up top, Summer.” As she moved backwards, he crawled up on the bed in front of her. “Right now, in this room with just the two of us, you are mine.” Summer’s eyes grew wide as he put a growling emphasis on the word “mine.” She knew they were possessive, but his actions were heating her body up. She was beyond turned on that he was staking his claim on her. Spreading her legs, Dalton crawled right between them. She lay back on the pillow as he remained propped up on his forearms. Summer squirmed as he watched her closely. Those shiny blue eyes of his seemed to open the door to her soul. He stroked her cheek with his the pad of his thumb as he spoke. “You have the tiniest cocoa-colored freckles. I never noticed it before. But I’ve never been this close to your face before.” He nibbled at her

120

Kortny Alexander

lower lip just before sucking on it. “I could stay like this all day. Looking at you.” “You like my freckles?” She grinned. She’d always hated them even if they weren’t noticeable. “Baby, I love your freckles. They’re a part of you, how could I not?” Okay, now she was mush. Dalton had a completely different side to him, and she was elated to see it. “Kiss me.” Her voice had turned husky and sensual. She wanted Dalton to do something, anything. Dalton brushed his lips over hers, slow and teasingly. He licked the seam of her lips and she quickly acquiesced, parting her lips as she sucked in a breath. The closeness she was experiencing with Dalton was unexpected and extremely titillating at the same time. He slid his tongue between her lips and tangled with hers. Their mutual groans were low and only grew louder as he began sucking on her tongue. Summer threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged lightly. With every pull of her tongue, her core burned hotter. She couldn’t believe she was ready to orgasm from kissing. Dalton was clearly more attuned to her body than she’d ever imagined. Without breaking their kiss, he positioned himself so his dick was brushing up against her slickened folds. He didn’t try to enter her. He just groaned as she rocked back and forth, bringing herself to orgasm. “Wildfire, we are not leaving this room until you have several more orgasms.” He grinned as he sat back on his haunches. “What happens if…if I have more than several?” She was still a little breathless, but the teasing was just foreplay. Dalton grinned as he surprised her with a tug of her hips. This is what he had been missing. This is what he wanted to have for the rest of his life. Summer and her beautiful smile. She lit their house up with her wonderful smile.

Surrendering to Summer

121

For the next few hours, Dalton and Summer stayed in the bedroom making love and cuddling. They had repeated those two steps over and over until they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms. **** A few hours later, Summer had finally opened her eyes. She was alone, but there was a note on the pillow beside her when she rolled over. A goofy smirk formed on her lips as she read the note. You have been cordially invited to dinner in the dining room at 7 p.m. Dalton, Denver, & Dillon Summer looked at the clock on her nightstand. It was five thirty. She could not believe she had truly been fucked into exhaustion. Her body was a little stiff, but she was an overjoyed woman. As she lay there reading the note over and over, she recalled Dalton had fed her lunch at some point during the day, but now she was totally famished. She slid from the bed and decided she first needed to take a bath. After taking a long, hot, steamy bath, Summer had concluded that she would wear a dress to dinner. The men had not expressed what they wanted her to wear, but she wanted to look beautiful for all three of them. Summer surmised that she would pick a dress that was airy, fun, and designed to drop her men’s jaws. She wore a satin python-print halter dress with a split up the center that stopped mid-thigh. It flared every time she moved. Summer knew the dress she had chosen to wear to dinner would command attention. In her opinion, it was a celebration of sorts. Nothing was official, but she had a feeling things between her and her men could only get better. But as much as she wanted to do the “happy dance,” she still

122

Kortny Alexander

needed to hear the guys verbalize how they felt about their new situation and where they would like for it to go. After tying the last knot on the delicate dress, she piled her hair up high on her head, only allowing a few tendrils to fall. By the time she had finished and took one last look at herself in the full-length mirror, it was five minutes to seven. She left her room with a feeling of warmth and a belonging cloaking her body. The delicious aroma wafted down the hall and hit her right on the nose. The food from the kitchen smelled delicious. Summer walked into the kitchen only to be stopped in her tracks. She was surprised to find three massive men standing, blocking her view of the dining room table she’d yet to see them use. There they stood, silent, sucking all of the oxygen from the room, commanding all of her attention. They were all dressed similarly. Dalton was wearing black slacks, a casual black Henley shirt, and black dress shoes. Denver was wearing black slacks, a black buttondown shirt with the cuffs rolled up his thick forearms, and black dress shoes. Dillon wore black slacks, a black silk button-down dress shirt, and black dress shoes. Their matching blue eyes gleaming in the light as they eyed her from head to toe. She had to restrain herself. Dalton, Denver, and Dillon looked so sexy standing in the kitchen, dressed in all black and their eyes glowing with lustful desire. Summer was grinning and damn near drooling when her stomach made the most animalistic sounds she had ever heard. She was instantly embarrassed and surprised. “Damn, wildfire, did your stomach just let out a roar?” Denver teased. “I think we need to feed our woman.” Dillon smiled back at her. Summer thought it odd that none of the men moved in her direction. As a matter of fact, they stood as if their feet were glued to the floor. “You guys look great.” She hoped this would get them moving towards the dinner table, but it didn’t. They just blushed at her

Surrendering to Summer

123

compliment. Clearly, they were not used to the genuine attention she was giving them. “What’s going on, guys? Why are you all staring at me?” Dalton, Denver, and Dillon all exchanged glances with each other. Dillon was the first to speak after the long silence. “Baby, you look absolutely gorgeous in that dress.” Denver broke in before she could speak. “Yeah. Wow, woman. Shit. I mean…damn.” The guys broke out in laughter at Denver’s failure to form sentences. Summer could feel her cheeks burning at the affection she was receiving from them. She had received compliments from men before, but coming from the three of these men felt different. It affected her, making her heart flutter. She was about to open her mouth when Dalton spoke up. “Do you realize that even when I first met you in Las Vegas, seeing you dressed up to go out with your sisters, you’ve never looked more beautiful than at this moment?” When Dalton saw Summer’s eyes begin to water he moved towards her and took her by the hand. “Now, don’t you start crying. We’ve cooked you a great dinner.” Summer felt when Denver and Dillon walked up to the both of them. Dillon took her other free hand and Denver pressed up against her back. She closed her eyes momentarily and sent up a silent thankyou. This is what she had wanted, longed for. Unfortunately, her stomach interrupted the tender moment. On a laugh, Denver spoke into her ear. “Come on, wildfire, your dinner is getting cold.” When Summer looked up, she could see the dinner table. She literally gasped at the sight before her. The guys had added the two table extenders, which turned their quaint little dinner table into an area fit for a king. It was decked out with a red linen table cloth and matching napkins and place mats. The guys had pulled out their “real” dishes. Hell, she didn’t know they owned anything other than paper plates.

124

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 20 “I may be a little biased because I’m totally starving, but this spread looks delicious. Who cooked all of this?” She looked around at all of the food. Any other woman would have looked at the table and been unimpressed with what she saw. Sure, the menu consisted of lasagna, salad, breadsticks, lemonade, and even a cake. But Summer saw it for what it truly was. The lasagna was not store-bought. It was layered just how she liked it without ricotta cheese. The salad was Caesar, the breadsticks were fresh, the lemonade was freshly squeezed, and the cake had cream cheese icing, which meant the cake was yellow. Every item on the table was Summer’s favorite food. As her eyes went over the table several more times, her chest began to hurt and she could not breathe. While she had slept, those three magnificent men she was staying with had taken the time to find out more about her. She knew who they must have called. “Spring,” Dillon said as he pulled out her chair. “She helped us a lot.” “This is wonderful. Oh my goodness. I’m starving.” She took her seat as she watched Denver pour her a glass of lemonade and Dalton begin piling food onto her plate. All four were engaged in light, humorous conversations as Summer went for round two. She had never been ashamed to eat in front of others and she sure as shit was not going to start now. Dalton had admitted that after they had spoken with Spring, they had put in a call to their mother for additional help. She had come by

Surrendering to Summer

125

to help them prepare the meal Summer was now devouring. Once they had finally stuffed themselves, Denver sliced the cake and gave Summer a piece to keep her busy as all three men began clearing the table. The lack of clanging dishes in the kitchen is what caught Summer’s attention moments later. When Summer turned around she saw Dalton, Denver, and Dillon huddled by the dishwasher chatting in a hushed huddle. She turned back around to her slice of cake with a slow grin touching her lips. What were they up to? she thought. Summer didn’t know how long she had been deep in thought until she heard her name being called. When she looked up, the men had formed a semi-circle behind her. She stood up and turned around. “What’s going on, guys?” she asked. “We just wanted to let you know that this special dinner was to celebrate finally finding our woman…if you will have us,” Dalton said as he watched her reaction to his words. Without uttering a word, she walked up to Dillon, stood on tiptoe and kissed him passionately. Next, she moved over to Denver and his shit-eating grin. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him just as passionately as she had kissed Dillon. Lastly, she came to stand in front of Dalton, who no longer looked as if he were brooding when he stared at her. That knowledge alone made her heart swell. Once again, she stood on tiptoe and kissed Dalton. It was a slow, passionate kiss that quickly turned into something more when Dalton slid his hands around her waist. While Dalton held Summer’s body flush against his, Summer dropped her hands down to her sides and placed her palms out, as if reaching for the two other brothers. It took them only seconds to catch the hint. Dillon and Denver each took an arm and began placing soft kisses on her forearms and shoulders. The multiple caresses sent her mind reeling. This is what she had craved ever since she had decided she

126

Kortny Alexander

wanted all three of these men in her life. Their skillful touches and gentle kisses were causing her knees to buckle. “Okay, guys, we’ve got to slow this train down. We still have a movie to watch. This is a date, Summer,” Dillon teased as he nibbled on her ear. He could only grin when Dalton held her tight to keep from melting on the floor. “Come on, wildfire.” They all filed into the den to watch the movie they had bought especially for this night. “This better not be some sappy movie,” Summer teased the guys as she plopped down onto the oversized sofa. “Oh no, sweetness, we’ve got you covered.” When Denver flashed the DVD case her way, she could not help but laugh loud and hard. She looked over to Dalton, who was now sitting next to her. “You really do pay attention, don’t you?” Denver placed the action-packed movie into the player as Dillon went around securing the house. “I remember everything you have ever said to me, Summer.” Dalton smiled as she snuggled closer to him, laying her head against his chest. Summer remembered how she and Dalton had been hot and cold with each other when they had first met in Las Vegas. Even when he was determined to distract her while his cousin pursued her sister, they had managed to have some decent conversations. In one of those conversations, she had mentioned her love of action movies as well as suspense and scary movies. She grinned at the memory. Dillon came to settle on the opposite side of her, and Denver comfortably reclined on the floor in front of her. Summer stretched out on the two men on the sofa as she tunneled her fingers into Denver’s hair. That’s how she remained even after she had fallen asleep. ****

Surrendering to Summer

127

Butterfly kisses. Sweet and soft. That is what pulled Dillon out of his warm slumber. His smile was lazy as he opened his eyes and found Summer straddling him. She was naked and, clearly, so was he. He remembered that they had undressed her and placed a T-shirt on her body before tucking her into the sheets. And he knew without a doubt that all three of them had slept in their underwear. But now his wildfire was sitting on top of him, glowing as the rising sun slithered through the wooden blinds and kissed her almondcolored skin. No words were spoken as she held his gaze and slid her body down onto his already hard dick. Her descent was slow and easy. Savoring this moment was important for both of them. From experience, Summer knew that all three men were wellendowed. So taking her time was necessary. Once she had Dillon fully seated inside of her, she heard her men on either side of them shuffle and turn to their sides to watch. Both Dalton and Denver’s blue eyes were filled with arousal and desire, and the urge to take her was shown clearly on their lovelorn faces. She turned her focus back to Dillon. She began rocking back and forth as Dillon cupped and caressed her breasts. Tossing her head back, she quickly began moving faster. It didn’t take long before her orgasm was teetering on the edge. Dillon pulled her forward, pressing their bodies together. He took her mouth, kissing her roughly as his tongue slid past her lips. Dillon gripped her hips firmly as he began moving faster, thrusting his cock deeper. The orgasm spread, fanning throughout her body. She closed her eyes, enjoying the fireworks. Dillon wasted no time in flipping her over so that she was now underneath him. “Open up, sweetness.” Denver’s voice was deep and husky as he slid another pillow under her head, caressing her cheek to get her to turn in his direction. He had removed his underwear and was now on his knees beside Summer’s head.

128

Kortny Alexander

Dillon sat on his haunches as he continued to fuck her. He had draped her legs over his arms and was moving in slow, controlled strokes. When Summer turned her head to face Denver, she felt the gentle caress of work roughened hands on her sensitive breasts, thumbing her nipples. She smiled because she knew who it was. Dalton. As he took a nipple into his mouth, she took Denver’s cock into hers. Her body was a melting pot of sensations. The moans that erupted from her were overwhelming. She wasn’t sure if the feel of Denver’s cock in her mouth was the cause, or Dillon’s deep continued strokes inside of her soaked pussy, or the fact that Dalton was nibbling on her nipples, sucking, tugging, and suckling. One thing Summer knew for certain was the fact that another orgasm was moving in fast, and she didn’t think it was smart to have Denver’s cock in her mouth when it hit. Apparently Denver must have realized the same thing. He slid his dick out of her mouth and bent down to kiss her as her orgasm crashed into her body. Summer arched off of the bed, Dillon moved faster, setting his orgasm free as well. Dalton was suckling her harder. She found her fingers tunneling into Dalton’s hair, pulling him closer as she held Dillon’s gaze. She’d lost track of Denver. Summer screamed out her orgasm as Dalton loosened his hold on her nipple. As he slid away, she felt Dillon’s strokes slow, coming to a stop. As she tried to catch her breath, she saw Denver come into view. Dillon leaned forward once again and kissed her lips gently this time. “You are so beautiful, Summer. I love you.” He whispered the words against her lips. Before Dillon could rise up, Summer yanked him back down with the biggest grin on her face. “I love you, too.” The words rang out and her heart raced faster than it had only moments earlier. She could see that the words rang true in Dillon’s eyes. It was an unexpected revelation but she wouldn’t have changed that moment for anything in the world. Dillon

Surrendering to Summer

129

smiled down at her and pressed his lips to hers once again before moving away. “Are you ready for me, wildfire?” Denver teased as he moved up closer to her, settling between her legs. “Are we going to chat, Denver, or are we going to have sex?” Oh yeah, she could dish it out just as well as he could. All three of her relationships with the men were slightly different. Her relationship with Dillon was sensual at times, more romantic. Denver was a rule breaker. He could manage to talk shit while having sex with her, and she loved every bit of it. Dalton. Now, that was still undetermined. Denver looped his arms around her legs, yanking her to him. She let out a squeal as his blue eyes gleamed at her. He lined his swollen cock up to her soaked core. She couldn’t help nibbling on her lower lip as she watched his every move. The moment Denver pressed the head of his cock to her slick folds, Summer moaned and opened her legs wider. “Damn, wildfire, I can feel your heat engulfing my cock.” He hissed out as he pressed on. “Our girl is beautiful,” Dalton said as he moved in beside her once again and kissed her neck, pushing her hair out of her face. “I couldn’t agree more,” Dillon said as he lay on the opposite side of her. He brushed his hand across her stomach, watching her stomach tremble. He trailed his fingertips up her torso until he found a nipple. He began tracing and teasing it as Denver pressed on. Dalton went for her lips. Drawing her eyes to his as he kissed her. He sucked on her tongue before letting it free. He nipped at her lips as she felt Denver surge inside of her. “Ahhh!” Summer cried out as Denver remained still after filling her completely. “Move your ass, cowboy!” She wanted it slow and gentle with Denver, but that just never seemed to happen. She wanted him barreling inside of her. She had to feel every inch of his thick

130

Kortny Alexander

cock exploring her body as fast as possible. At that moment, she couldn’t handle slow and easy with him. Denver smirked at her command. “Yes, ma’am.” That was all it took for Denver to get his ass in gear. He loved how Summer could be sexy and wanton and playful all at the same time. He wanted sex with her to be fun as well as fulfilling and they had yet to run out of those elements. Denver wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her off the bed as he began moving at a fierce pace. This was the animalistc side of Denver she had quickly grown to love. He was rough and wild. Sex with him could be damn near brutal and yet she never felt safer. She held on tight to his wide shoulders. With every deep, pain-stakingly deep, thrust he gave, she pushed back against him with the delicious adrenaline rush that had taken over. “Fuck, Summer. I’m coming already.” Summer watched Denver’s eyes darken as his pace increased again. Her arms were out to her sides gripping both Dalton and Dillon’s hands. “You’d better move it, cowboy. I’m going to beat you to…the…finish…Ahh, God! Finish line!” Summer lost her grip on Dillon and Dalton and gripped the sheets instead. Denver kept his erratic pace as he fell forward, catching himself on his forearms that were planted on either side of her face. “Is t–that all you got, wildfire?” His voice was only a whisper as he came inside of her. She grinned as he tried to refrain from laughing when she wrapped her legs around him and came one last time. Summer dug her fingers into his hair and bit his lip. As they finally came to a stop, she was surprised when Denver whispered his love for her against her ear. “I love you more than you will ever know. Never forget that.” He caressed the side of her face as he stared at her. “Denver.” She was not going to cry. Or so she told herself. “You’re mine. Always. I love you.”

Surrendering to Summer

131

Chapter 21 When Denver finally peeled them apart, she felt the hot compress of a washcloth being pressed to her overworked folds. “Oh my gosh, that feels great.” She looked up and noticed that it was Dalton who had pressed the hot cloth against her. “Dalton?” He rolled her onto her side, her back pressed against his chest, compress still in place. “Yes, wildfire?” “I want all three of you inside of me at the same time.” She had been waiting and hoping that would happen this morning, but none of the men made a move in that direction. The closest she had gotten was Denver’s cock in her mouth as Dillon fucked her. She wanted them all. She needed that connection. But the round of hushed curses in the room made her aware that she had caught all three men off guard. She lay pressed against Dalton as Denver and Dillon both came to sit on the bed in front of her. But they didn’t speak. They were actually looking over her shoulder at Dalton. “Baby, that’s something that we have to prepare you for. It will happen soon but not today. We have to buy you a few things first,” Dalton responded as he massaged the length of her body as she continued to lie on her side. Summer nodded her understanding. She removed the cloth from between her legs and gave it to Dillon, who tossed it to the floor. She reached between her body until she touched Dalton’s and found exactly what she was searching for. His quick intake of breath only encouraged her.

132

Kortny Alexander

“I want you inside of me, please.” She stroked Dalton slowly from behind. She couldn’t end this moment and not have had Dalton as well. She wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Summer, are you sure?” Dalton asked. He didn’t make a move. He remained motionless. “Yes, Dalton, I’m sure.” She let go of his dick and lifted her leg slightly. Dalton caught the hint and grabbed her leg. He slid his dick between her legs until it rested up against her tender folds. Summer arched her body just enough that she now had the head of Dalton’s cock slipping between her folds and embracing the heat from within her. “Damn, you feel so good. So soft and sweet.” Dalton bit her shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her waist. He knew one of his brothers was helping him because Summer’s leg was still raised. Dalton moved his hips slow at first. Enjoying the way her sheath gripped his cock with every thrust. Once Summer pressed her head further onto his shoulders, he found his rhythm. One hand moved down to her sweet sensitive pearl below and gently circled and teased it. The other hand found its way to her breasts. He was able to hold her in place as he moved faster. She was pushing her bottom against him as he rocked forward. The sensations sent a trail of fire up and down his spine. He felt her first orgasm hit them both. He needed another one from her. What started off as slow and sensual turned into a hungry fire he could no longer control. Dalton growled in her ear, “I’m going to roll you on your stomach.” “Okay.” That was all she could muster. She was breathless and riding the wave Dalton had sent her way. As Dalton rolled, still fully seated inside of her, his brother dropped her leg and moved away, giving Dalton the space he needed. He was going to come fast. He lay on top of her, hugging her body tight. Dalton knew he was too heavy, so he lifted slightly, bringing

Surrendering to Summer

133

her hips with him. In moments, they were coming together. Summer was writhing underneath him, pulling him deeper. He rolled them back onto their sides as he kept her flush against him. Their bodies were drenched in sweat. He felt her tremble as a chill went through her body. One of his brothers covered them both. He could hear someone running a bath. Dalton brushed her hair back and spoke against her ear. “I can’t promise that I will never do something stupid, but I will try. I will never hurt you again, Summer. You own my heart, baby. I love you.” He kissed her neck as she once again snuggled closer to him. Summer grinned. All three men had expressed their love for her, and it was all she could do to keep from crying. She hadn’t expected the declarations of love from any of them, but she would proudly accept them. She watched as Dillon sat on the edge of the bed and caressed her thigh through the sheets, which meant Denver was running the bath. “I love you, Dalton. You were worth the fight. All three of you are worth it. You’re all mine. And I proudly acknowledge that I belong to all three of you.” She was getting tired. The workout she’d just had was wearing on her. Her body was beginning to ache and she could barely keep her eyes open. A thought occurred to her at that exact moment and she burst out laughing. “What’s funny?” Dalton asked as he moved to pick her up. Summer curled in his arms like a lazy cat. “I was laughing because it seems that every time I’ve had sex with any of you, I get really sleepy.” She heard laughter erupt from all three men as she closed her eyes. Summer knew she would be taken care of, so falling asleep in Dalton’s arms wasn’t an issue. She faintly heard the muffled agreements as she felt the warm water covering her body.

134

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 22 Day 6 It was no surprise to Summer when she woke up alone. She’d wakened the men very early and had sex with all three of them, but she knew they had work to do on the ranch. She had not expected them to continue missing work to be with her nor did she mind the time alone. The house was huge and peaceful. She could explore the home and make a few calls to check on things at the office. Stretching as she kicked the covers off of her, Summer grinned when she saw a large sheet of yellow paper stuck to the lamp shade. It was a short note from Dalton letting her know that they would be gone most of the day and she was to relax and enjoy her day. She lay in the bed for a little while longer until she heard dishes clanging in the kitchen. Moving as fast as possible, Summer threw on a T-shirt and sweatpants and left the bedroom. She came to a quick halt when she spotted an older woman straightening up the kitchen. She smiled and tsked when she locked eyes with her men’s mother. “Ms. Constance, I cannot believe you’re still coming over and cleaning up their house.” Summer knew their mother still tried to take care of all of her children regardless of their age. Constance placed the coffee cups on the counter and walked over to Summer, taking her by the hand and leading her to a bar stool. “Sit down, sweetheart and I will cook you a little breakfast.” Summer rotated around and gently placed Constance near the barstool instead. “I won’t allow you to do that, Ms. Constance. You

Surrendering to Summer

135

sit and chat with me while I cook us both something to eat.” When Summer noticed Constance about to put up a fight, she cut in as she walked towards the refrigerator. “I’m not taking no for answer. Let me take care of you.” Constance took her seat proudly. “I will sit here and let you cook on one condition.” Summer turned around and grinned as she placed her hands on her hips. Constance Durden was feisty. “Yes, ma’am. What’s the condition?” “You call me Connie or Mom.” Constance shook her head. “I’m sure you were warned that I could be pushy.” Summer felt her cheeks burn from the embarrassment. Being called pushy was putting it mildly. Constance laughed. “By the look on your face I know my sons were more creative with their descriptions of me. I’m just thankful you walked into their life, Summer. “So am I.” As Summer moved about the kitchen, gathering ingredients for a western omelet, she enjoyed Connie’s company. The woman joked and teased about all of her children. Summer could see the resemblance they all shared with their mother. Except Connie had green eyes. “So how did you like meeting Agnes?” Summer placed a plate in front of Connie along with a glass of apple juice. Turning to retrieve her own plate, she finally answered. “I really like Agnes. She’d already had my office decorated, which was impressive.” The women sat next to each other and talked. They talked even as Summer took control and cleaned the kitchen. Summer was not about to sit on her rear and watch her men’s mother clean up after her. Connie was a woman you took care of, and that’s just what Summer did. “Do you love my boys, Summer?”

136

Kortny Alexander

Whenever she thought of any of her men, her heart fluttered. Summer propped a hip against the counter and stared out at the panoramic view of the mountains. Somewhere out there her men were hard at work. Her eyes floated around the kitchen until they made contact with Connie’s gaze. Wow, she knows, Summer thought. She should have known nothing would get by Connie. She may have had three husbands of her own to wrangle, but she kept up with her children and apparently the women and men in their lives. “Yes, ma’am, I love Dalton, Denver, and Dillon.” Connie stood and walked over to Summer. She hugged Summer and gave her a pat on the cheek. “I figured as much. You’re perfect for them. I think you and your sisters are beautiful and smart. Your parents definitely raised four wonderful women.” She hugged Summer. “Now walk me out back to the golf cart. I better get home before my men get their briefs in a knot because they can’t find me.” Summer stood on the patio watching Connie drive away in the golf cart. She knew that the walk from her own home to her sons’ would not have been possible. Her husbands had bought her the cart so she could pitter around the grounds without any problems. The ringing of the telephone grabbed Summer’s attention. She moved quickly because she knew it wouldn’t be long before it went to voicemail. It could have been one of her men looking for her since her cell phone was turned off and charging. “Hello?” “Good morning, Summer, this is Agnes. I apologize for calling while you are still on vacation, but Remy and Kane have an interested party, and they’ve made it clear they will only do business if you are part of the team. Remy and Kane need you to come into the office as quickly as possible. There’s going to be a conference call the minute you arrive.” “Wow, Agnes that was a mouthful,” Summer teased. “That won’t be a problem for me. I will go get ready and be there within the hour.” Summer headed for the bedroom, taking the cordless phone with her.

Surrendering to Summer

137

“I will let Remy and Kane know. See you soon.” Summer was familiar with requests like these, but unfortunately, she was not allowed the complete creative freedom Remy and Kane had agreed to give her. When she decided to accept Remy and Kane’s offer, she never would have guessed her pay increase would triple along with her growth potential. Walking into her closet, Summer grabbed a pair of black slacks and an orange, long-sleeved silk blouse. She picked up a pair of low black heels and laid it all on her bed. She quickly showered and dressed. She combed her long black hair into a ponytail. Once she was satisfied with her overall appearance, she grabbed her purse and left the home. The drive into town wasn’t far. She made it in record time. Maci was behind the receptionist desk when Summer walked into the building. “Good morning, Summer.” Maci’s smile was warm and welcoming as usual. “Hey, Maci. Where are your brothers?” “First conference room on the left.” “Thanks.” Summer began walking towards the conference rooms but stopped. “I need to fix me a cup of tea. Do you have any Chai Rooibos?” Maci smiled, feigning hurt. “Please. The question is what don’t I have. Go on in and I will bring it to you in a few minutes.” “Thanks, Maci.” Summer smiled, showing her gratitude. When she turned, Agnes was standing outside the conference room waiting for her. Agnes’ appearance wasn’t meant to rush Summer but to go into the conference with her. Remy and Kane’s assistants were attending the meeting as well. This was going to be one hell of an experience. ****

138

Kortny Alexander

“Looks like I’m going to Atlanta, Agnes,” Summer said as she and Agnes looked over the faxed contracts inside of the conference room. Remy and Kane where flying out in a few days after they had their drawings completed, but Summer needed to get a firsthand look at the site. That’s how her creativity worked. Their newly acquired clients were happy to pay her extra for flying down earlier than everyone else. They wanted her to have whatever she needed to get the job done. Summer had learned that Remy and Kane had been working with the clients for a few weeks, but once they found out Summer had been added to their roster, they wanted to renegotiate their contract. The new deal would give the Durden Real Estate Development more money, and that motivated everyone to move on the project quickly. “I’ve already notified the pilot to ready the family jet. You need to gather your things and meet him at the small airport strip in two hours. Here’s the pilot’s cell phone number just in case you need to contact him.” Agnes slid a business card over to Summer as she began gathering the items Summer would need for her trip. “The clients have arranged for you to be picked up at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.” Agnes stood up and left the conference room only to return with a fax in hand. “They faxed over your hotel reservations. I’ve prepared the necessary paperwork. And your camera case is over in the corner.” Summer definitely admired Agnes. She’d thought of everything, staying one step ahead of the game plan. Summer could not have asked for a better assistant. Now, she had to run back to the house and grab a bag… Her thoughts were interrupted when Maci walked into the conference room. “Hey, Maci, what’s up?” “Your contractor is here to see you.” “Show him in. We’re just wrapping things up. I’m sure he won’t take long.”

Surrendering to Summer

139

Summer watched as Bagley Ames strolled into the conference room. He had a single key on a key chain dangling from his fingers and a pleasant smile on his face. “Hey, Bagley.” Summer stood and shook his hand. “Good morning, ladies. Summer, your home is complete and ready for you to move into. I was going to leave you a voicemail at the ranch, but I knew you would be happy to have the key in your hands. I was on my way over there when I passed your car outside.” He placed the key in her hand. “I thought you would appreciate the job being completed a little earlier than projected.” Bagley smiled proudly at a job he knew he’d done well. Summer was stunned into silence. Had she truly forgotten about her own home? The one she had specifically bought to live in, alone? She couldn’t ponder those thoughts, she didn’t have the time. She had a bag to pack and a flight to catch. She would worry about her personal life later. Her clients were waiting for her in Atlanta. She thanked Bagley for the wonderful work she knew he was capable of, accepted her key with a silly smile, and watched him leave. Summer turned back to Agnes and continued gathering everything she would need to take with her from the office. In no time, she was back on the road and headed to the ranch to pack a bag. Summer had gathered most of her clothing and packed all of her toiletries from her bathroom. She didn’t know how long she would be gone and wanted to have everything she needed without doing any unnecessary shopping. Within forty-five minutes, she was packed and leaving the house. Since she still had time to kill before she had to be at the airport, Summer decided to make a quick trip to her house. She had to see the finished product before she left on her business trip.

140

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 23 “Have either of you seen Summer?” Dalton asked as he stumbled into the kitchen. She’d been on his mind all damned day and now he needed to have her underneath him all damned night. But the dumbfounded look he received from both of his brothers stopped him in his tracks. “What?” Denver plopped down on one of the barstools. “She left us, man.” He didn’t know how else to say it. He thought things were going great, just getting started. And now this. Dalton remained calm. Maybe he had misunderstood. “What do you mean she’s left us?” “Just what he said, Dalton,” Dillon answered instead with a twinge of anger in his voice. “We came in a little before you did and Denver went into Summer’s room to surprise her, and she wasn’t there. He looked in the bathroom and that’s when he saw that all her things were gone.” “I began to panic because I knew I was not going crazy, so I checked her closet. Only a couple of pieces of clothing are still hanging in the closet. Her suitcase is gone and so is all of her underwear. She took everything she’d had here.” Dalton stumbled a bit as he headed for the dinner table. He sat down slowly as he kept his eyes glued to where his brothers sat. This was not a game. He could see the obvious anger and sadness on his brothers faces. What could they have done to make her leave without a word? They were just getting started.

Surrendering to Summer

141

“When we couldn’t find her here in the house, I called down to mom’s house, and she told me that she had eaten breakfast with Summer and things seemed fine,” Dillon added. Dalton stood and suddenly slammed the chair to the floor. Anger had quickly formed, flooded to a boiling point, and now there was no turning back. “What the fuck happened?” He began pacing the kitchen floor from one end to the other. There were no logical answers to why she would have left like a thief in the night. He knew the relationship between all four of them had progressed pretty fast, but sometimes love had a habit of sneaking up on you and biting you in the ass. There was no controlling it. And now she was what? Running scared? Sure they had not sat down and worked out the dynamics of their new relationship but damn, she couldn’t wait a few fucking hours until they returned to sort things out? “Did we move this along too fast? Misread her? What?” Dalton knew he was ranting, but there was no other way to figure this situation out. Summer was gone. She didn’t leave a note. She didn’t say good-bye. What the hell were they supposed to do? That was all they had talked about when they were out in the field checking the perimeters. They had talked about asking Summer to stay with them and maybe rent her house out. They wanted a future with her and now that entire idea was down the damn drain. **** Denver remained seated, but he had worked on controlling the anger and disappointment he was feeling. He was crazy in love with Summer and there was nothing he would not do to keep her happy. How would he function without her here to enjoy the love all three of them would provide for her? He’d just gotten the one thing he didn’t think the three of them together would ever accomplish. They had finally found their woman and no sooner had they professed their love to her, she went running. This was utter bullshit!

142

Kortny Alexander

“I don’t understand why she just couldn’t talk to us before taking off. I’m at a loss for words here.” Denver wanted to scream, throw chairs like his brother, but he just didn’t have it in him. “I don’t think we misunderstood, misread, or misinterpreted anything. She didn’t want us.” Denver knew just how his little brother felt. His brain was scattered and could not handle the revelation he had come up with. There was no other explanation. They were tasting happiness for the first time and now it had been snatched from them. How were they going to handle this? That room at the end of the hallway was hers. All hers. No one had ever stayed in there. They had never shared another woman in that room. It was designed for the woman they would marry and have a family with. And now the woman they had fallen for did not want any of them. Denver held his head in his hands. He was getting a migraine. He needed a shower and some damn sleep. Sitting here in the kitchen watching the pain eat at his brothers was not helping matters at all.

Surrendering to Summer

143

Chapter 24 Summer opened her eyes and squinted the moment she blinked. Her vision was blurry and her head was pounding. It felt as if she’d been struck in the head with a two-by-four. “Dammit,” she mumbled. Her mouth was dry. “What the hell is going on?” She tried to look around, but the room was almost black. She couldn’t see anything clearly as her eyes began to focus, just dark outlines of what she assumed was furniture. She tried to move but nothing happened. “What the hell?” She wiggled some more, ignoring the pain in her head. “Why am I tied….to a chair?” Panic struck instantly. Her heart raced, she began to cry because she was frightened, and she continued to struggle with the ropes that were snugly wrapped around her body. The ropes were tied too tight. She tried rocking side to side hoping this would loosen the bindings. That idea was quickly smashed. The ropes were not budging. Someone had tied them extremely tight. She tried to focus on her surroundings. Summer had no clue as to why her head was pounding, why she was tied to a chair, or where she was. The last thing she remembered was walking into her home, excited to see the finished job. She took a few steps into her kitchen and then everything went black. A door on the opposite side of the room opened and a shadowy figure entered quietly. “I see you’re finally awake.” Summer looked in the direction of the voice. She knew that voice. “K–Karen?”

144

Kortny Alexander

With a sickening giggle, she answered, “Yep, it’s me.” Karen turned on the lights and stood staring down at Summer. It took a moment for Summer’s eyes to adjust to the light. When her eyes finally focused, Summer realized she was in her own bedroom in her new house. Thoughts were overwhelming Summer. Karen looked almost the same as when Summer had last seen her. Psychotic. Karen’s long, red, wiry hair had been jaggedly cut just below her earlobes. Her green eyes were rimmed with red, clearly bloodshot. She had dark circles around her eyes and she looked as if she hadn’t eaten in a few weeks. What the hell was Karen doing in Whispering Mountain? Why had she tied her up? How the hell had Karen found her and gotten access to her house? “How did you find me? Karen, why are we inside my house? How did you get in here?” Karen tsked. “So many questions. I can’t believe you moved and didn’t tell me good-bye. We are best friends, Summer.” Karen walked up close to Summer and knelt in front of her. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. Oh God! Summer knew Karen was crazy, but this crossed over into darker territory. She’d met Karen Sepanski when she had worked at Darvittson Architectural Firm. Summer and Karen had become fast friends. It took months before Summer realized that Karen had been sabotaging her dates. Anytime Summer mentioned plans with anyone other than her sisters, Karen would flip out. She would show up wherever Summer was. Summer feared Karen was stalking her but she refused to report it in hopes Karen would come to her senses. It didn’t take long for Summer to figure out Karen had become obsessed with her. The firm they had both worked for had fired Karen. Her erratic behavior had begun to make everyone uncomfortable, and her excellent work habits had fallen into nonexistence. Her sole focus had become Summer. This caused the president of the firm to ban her from the premises. It was around that

Surrendering to Summer

145

same time that Remy and Kane had offered Summer the job in Whispering Mountain. When Karen placed a shaky hand on Summer’s lap, Summer twitched, trying to move away. “What’s wrong?” Karen asked, looking hurt by the movement. “I just wanted you to know that I would never hurt you. I thought you knew that.” Summer shook her head. “Karen, why are we in my house?” Karen stood and placed her hands on her hips. “You didn’t say good-bye, silly. One afternoon, I drove by your house back in Boulder and I saw the real estate agent locking up. Apparently she had just shown the house to potential buyers. Anyway, I asked her how to contact you. I was a neighbor and tended to get your mail on occasion.” Summer was stunned at how easily it had been for Karen to locate her. She’d put a call in to that dumb-ass real estate agent if she got out of this in one piece. “So I drove up here as fast as I could. I figured you would need my help getting settled into your new home.” Karen began to pace the room. “It didn’t take me long to find you in this small town.” Summer was getting nervous. She could see the agitation clear on Karen’s face. The woman was twisting her fingers and pacing faster and faster. Summer had to think of something. She needed to get free of the ropes. She had to escape this crazy woman. “I can’t get onto the property where you’re staying.” She stopped fast and turned to Summer. “I mean, what the heck, we are friends. I wanted to visit my friend. But instead I was stuck waiting for you to leave, which you rarely did.” A thought occurred to Summer. How the hell had Karen been following her and she didn’t notice it? What did she want from her? She was grateful Karen hadn’t tried to hurt her men or sabotage her relationship she was just beginning with them. “Karen, why haven’t I seen you around town?”

146

Kortny Alexander

She began pacing once again. “Oh, I don’t know. It’s probably because I bought a new car. I had plenty of money saved after I was fired, so I treated myself to a new fancy sports car.” Summer could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. “Your car wouldn’t happen to be a red Camaro?” Karen turned around with the most genuine smile on her face. “Yes! That’s my new car.” This bitch really is crazy! Summer thought. “Karen, why did you try and run me off the road the other day?” Karen knelt in front of Summer once again. “Summer, I wasn’t trying to run you off the road. I was trying to get your attention.” Oh that crazy bitch had my attention. I could have died! She thought. “Summer, don’t look at me like that. I came to help you get settled in. Just you and me. I even helped the contractor. I stayed here last night hanging up more of your pictures. I’ve unpacked just about everything. I wanted to surprise you when you came home. I didn’t expect you so soon. You surprised me. I–I’m sorry for knocking you out and tying you up. I didn’t know what else to do.” As much as her inner voice was screaming to kill Karen, Summer controlled her facial expressions. There was no point in letting Karen know she wanted to kick her ass. Instead, she remained calm. She had to think clearly because Karen was definitely delusional. Summer had learned a lot from her sister May. She’d taught her how to handle people with mental issues. Summer slowed her breathing to a normal pace as she thought of a game plan. “Karen.” She waited until Karen looked up at her. “Thank you for that wonderful gesture. I don’t think I have any other friends who would stay in my home and finish decorating it for me. I wish I could hug you.” Her sister May was a pro at reverse psychology. Frankly, May had taught Summer how to get away from lunatics. Summer just hoped this worked. She knew it had when Karen looked at her with requited affection.

Surrendering to Summer

147

Karen smiled. She hugged Summer tightly. Summer squirmed. “I wish I could hug you back. I really do.” She hoped this worked. Summer knew it would take a while before anyone knew she was missing. She could only imagine what was going through the minds of Dalton, Dillon, and Denver. That’s if they’d come home early. Summer didn’t know what time it was or how long she’d been unconscious. The men would surely search the town. They’d have to see her car in her driveway. Hope. That was the feeling slowly creeping inside of her. She had to hope that the men would be looking for her. If nothing else, Agnes would have called looking for her when she didn’t arrive for her flight to Atlanta. Summer knew someone would be looking for her if they hadn’t already begun to do so. **** “Open the door!” Dalton heard the banging on the front door, but he could only guess at who’d be crazy enough to do it. Whoever it was, he was angry and impatient. Dalton was grateful that someone had pulled him out of his dazed mood. He couldn’t believe they had sat around for over an hour, stunned at the thought of Summer leaving them instead of getting up off their asses to go look for her. Dalton stalked across the living room and yanked the front door open. “What the hell do you—” Dalton held on to the door tighter. Everything else seemed to have stopped. “Connor? What’s going on?” Dalton could feel the chills slowly crawling up his neck. He stepped aside, allowing the sheriff to enter his home. When he shut the door and turned around, he found his brothers standing on the other side of the room. They must have felt it too. Summer. “When’s the last time any of you talked to Summer?” Connor asked, making eye contact with all three men one at a time.

148

Kortny Alexander

Dalton, Dillon and Denver exchanged looks. Dalton was ashamed to admit that they hadn’t tried looking for her. She’d left without a word. There was something nagging at Dalton. Why would Connor be at their house demanding to know when they had last spoken to her? “Connor, I don’t know if it’s any of your business, but Summer packed up her belongings and left us earlier today.” Dalton felt like a failure. His eyes were pinned to the floor when he spoke. Connor burst out with nervous laughter. “I can’t believe how stupid the three of you really are.” He put his hand up before anyone could interrupt. “Hang on a sec. Summer didn’t pack up and leave you idiots. She’s missing.” “What the hell do you mean she’s missing?” Denver asked. Connor managed to yell louder than the thunderous voices filling the home. “Look, I can’t answer your questions if all three of you are yelling at the top of your lungs.” He waited for the men to calm down. Once they were down to a dull rumble, he continued. “Look, I know she was due to fly out on the family jet two hours ago. When she didn’t show, the pilot called Agnes. Agnes tried her cell phone but it went straight to voicemail. She’d called here several times without success. She finally gave up and called me. Hell, I even tried calling and kept getting your voicemail. That’s why I came right over.” Dillon spoke up first. “Wait, what do you mean Agnes called?” He walked over to the kitchen and picked up the receiver, nodded, and returned. “There’s nothing wrong with our phone.” Denver stood silently for a moment. “Dammit!” All eyes turned on him. “I turned the ringers off, sending it to voicemail so Summer could sleep in. What? Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like I knew she’d end up missing.” Dalton shook his head. He knew he would have done the same thing if he had thought of it. “All right, Connor, where do we start?” “First off, we know she’s not here on the property. I’ve already made the calls.” Connor shook his head. “It’s not like she has a lot of places to go. An adult woman just doesn’t disappear in our town.”

Surrendering to Summer

149

All four heads nodded in silent agreement. The room was quiet for a few long moments. All four of the men were lost in their own thoughts. “Ho-ly shit!” Dillon had broken the silence. “Connor, when was the last time anyone has seen that damned red Camaro?” “Dammit!” Connor shouted as he grabbed his walkie-talkie, quickly reaching dispatch. He spoke in rapid jargon and almost instantly received a response. The brothers stood listening to the dispatchers voice responding in the walkie-talkie. Their movements were quick. Dalton grabbed his keys and tactical knives, sliding them into hidden pockets of his pants as Dillon and Dalton grabbed two loaded shotguns and handheld guns. They’d heard the red Camaro had just been spotted outside of Summer’s home. One of the deputies decided to cruise by her home after finding out that Bagley Ames had given Summer her key right before she left the office. When Connor eyed the three brothers he could only grin. “Let’s go get your woman.”

150

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 25 Summer calmly watched as Karen pulled out a small pocket knife and began cutting at the ropes. As much as Summer wanted to flinch as the cold, dull side of the blade grazed against her skin, she didn’t move a muscle. She didn’t want to give Karen a reason to change her mind. Summer mentally sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to keep her composed until she was free of the ropes. “Ah, there you go,” Karen exclaimed happily. She briskly massaged Summer’s arms, trying to ease some of the discomfort. Summer didn’t waste time. After Karen stood, so did she. Summer waited a few moments, wiggling her arms and legs. She watched as Karen grinned, as if this was all a friendly joke. Like hitting her over the head, kidnapping her, and tying her up weren’t serious penalties. Summer balled one of her fists, swinging hard, connecting with Karen’s nose. “Bitch!” Karen screamed as she grabbed at her nose and stumbling backwards towards the door. “I can’t believe—ahhh!” Summer wasn’t retreating, nor was she waiting to give Karen an opportunity to harm her any further. Taking a few quick strides, closing the distance, Summer kicked Karen in the chest. She was glad she was still wearing her tennis shoes. She watched as Karen spun against the doorframe, falling onto the floor in the hallway. Summer knew she should run, but she wasn’t letting this woman, a person she had trusted, get away without beating her ass first. When Summer walked over Karen, a hand wrapped around her ankle, tripping Summer. She went tumbling to the floor beside Karen.

Surrendering to Summer

151

As Summer tried to get her bearings, Karen rolled on top of her, slapping Summer several times. “Summer, what are you doing? I untied you. Why are you attacking me?” The stunned face staring down at Summer was almost laughable. “You’re nuts, you know that?” Summer shoved a hand in Karen’s face, pushing her off of her. Fighting it out with Karen wasn’t going so well for her. When Karen hit the floor once again, Summer ran for the stairs. She knew getting out of the house was the best decision. She knew Karen had gotten to her feet and was hot on her heels. Summer held on to the banister, leaping, taking three steps at a time. Right as she hit the bottom step, Karen was on her once again. “I’ve got you now, bitch!” Karen had gotten a handful of Summer’s hair, pushing her hard into the closet door. “You want to fight, I’ll give you a fight. Some friend you turned out to be.” The move had pushed Summer in the opposite direction of the front door, only a few steps from freedom. The move had also slammed Summer’s nose into the door, stunning her. Blood trickled down Summer’s lips. Karen had grabbed one of her arms and pinned it to her back. “Ahhh!” Summer yelled out. Karen had her pinned between the door and her frail body. Summer did the only thing she could. She jerked her head back, hitting Karen in the face. When Karen stumbled back, Summer turned and reacted quickly as three things happened all at once. Summer slammed Karen into the door with so much force it knocked her unconscious, and she straddled Karen’s back and looked up, startled, when her front door was kicked in. Pistols and shotguns were aimed at Summer as she sat winded on Karen’s back, too tired to speak. Without a word, she knew help had finally arrived. The four smug grins oddly relieved her.

152

Kortny Alexander

“Looks like we weren’t needed, fellas,” Connor teased as they lowered and secured their weapons. “Only one intruder, Summer?” Summer nodded slowly as she wiped at her bleeding nose. “Get your woman taken care of while we handle…the criminal.” Dalton moved first, gently helping Summer to her feet. While she stood wobbling in Dalton’s arms, Dillon checked her body for other injuries as Denver cleaned her face. “Ummm, sweetheart, where did you learn to fight like that?” Denver teased when he finally got a look at the red-headed woman. “Damn, remind me never to piss you off,” Dalton added. “You did good, wildfire,” Dillon said as he offered her a glass of water. They’d sat her down on the sofa, waiting for the sheriff to make his way over to them so Summer could give her statement. “My sister May. She has a couple of guys who live next door to her. They taught all four of us self-defense moves.” Summer laughed softly when she saw Dalton’s eyes grow wide. “Summer…what else did they teach you? I can see your shoe print on that woman’s shirt.” Dalton was stunned, proud, and a little afraid. Summer arched a brow as she snuggled up to Dillon. “Oh I can’t give away all of my secrets. Just remember two things, I can fight, and I’m no novice when it comes to guns.” Denver lips twitched as he watched her. “That’s our kinda girl.” “You know you’re not moving in here, right?” Dillon asked. Summer turned and looked up at him. “Why is that?” As scattered as she felt, the butterflies in her stomach began to flutter. Dillon caressed her hair. “You’re ours, wildfire, and we are never letting you out of our sight again. You can rent the house out, but you are permanently moving into your new home with us.” “What Dillon is trying to say is we need you in our life. When we thought you’d left us, we couldn’t function. I was a mess and so were my brothers. Do you think you can try and make a life with us?” Dalton added.

Surrendering to Summer

153

Denver finished with, “We want forever with you.” She was slightly traumatized and elated all at the same time. “I’ve officially stayed in your home for five days. In that time, I’ve been stalked, run off the road, kidnapped, and had to fight for my freedom. I’ve also been loved and cared for better than I have in my entire life.” She couldn’t hold back the tears that had begun to fall down her cheeks. “I can’t imagine being with anyone else.” Summer let the tears fall as all three men crowded her. She didn’t mind at all. She felt loved and protected. Even as the adrenaline still pumped through her body, she could already imagine the joyous life she could have with Dalton, Denver, and Dillon Durden. She couldn’t wait to give her statement and finally go home with the three most important men in her life. **** When they’d finally returned home, comforted in the knowledge that Karen had been arrested, Summer had eaten with her sister and brother-in-law while Dalton, Dillon, and Denver all but disappeared into other parts of the home. Summer had no clue what was going on, but every time she tried to leave the kitchen, her sister would beg her to sit and talk with her a little longer. She couldn’t believe how swiftly she recovered from the ordeal with Karen. She could only assume that because the entire ordeal had occurred over only a few hours, she wasn’t traumatized. She was grateful that if the incident ever came back to haunt her, she would have three brave men to protect her. Summer promised herself she would not dwell on what had transpired between her and Karen. She had to move on and hope that Karen received the treatment she so desperately needed. After what seemed like hours, her sister finally took her husband and left. Summer was ecstatic to be alone in the house with Dillon, Denver, and Dalton. She decided to seek them out. She heard muffled

154

Kortny Alexander

sounds coming from her bedroom. When she pushed opened her door, she was floored by what she saw. The soft scent of flowers filled the room. This beautiful act could only have come from men in love. There were vases filled with lilies and pink, red, and white roses all over the room. Summer slowly scanned the entire room as her eyes watered from the strong emotions filling her. She stopped when her eyes landed on Dillon. He looked freshly showered with low-hung jeans and a snug T-shirt and bare feet. “Hey, sweetheart!” Summer all but squealed as she closed the distance between her and Dillon. Her smile was a mile wide. She didn’t get another word past her lips. Dillon cupped her face and kissed her rough and passionately. It was as if he had not seen her in weeks instead of only a few hours. When he finally pulled their lips apart, he grinned wickedly. “Damn, woman. You look beautiful.” He shook his head in admiration, turned her in the direction of Denver, and smacked her bottom. She let out a deep, gut-wrenching, sensual groan. Summer quickly took the hint. She was slightly dizzy from the kiss Dillon had laid on her, but her feet slowly moved in the direction of Denver. Denver cocked his head and smirked at her. “Wildfire, you are walking funny.” Yeah, she knew that, but she didn’t give an explanation. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” Summer loved the way he looked at her. He was freshly showered and dressed similarly to Dillon. For some odd reason, seeing them barefoot turned her on more than expected. She could not believe how fast her heart was beating at the sight of both men in her hotel room. When Denver cupped her bottom, she tossed her head back hard and groaned loud again. The parting of her lips was all Denver needed. He took that invitation, slid his tongue right past her plump lips and found heaven. He controlled every deep, probing stroke of their kiss. It was a sweetness he had missed and craved.

Surrendering to Summer

155

Summer was balancing on the tips of her toes, trying not to collapse to the floor in the process. She had quickly learned that kissing Denver, Dillon, or Dalton had the ability to bring her to her knees. Denver forced himself to let go of Summer. She still had one other brother to greet. When she was once again steady on her feet, he turned her around and faced Dalton, who was standing in front of her bed. His feet were bare, and his hair was slightly damp. The warm smell of soap tingled her nose. He had recently showered. Summer couldn’t read his expression. He was not brooding but he sure as hell wasn’t smiling like his brothers. The way he was watching her made her apprehensive about moving in his direction. “Dalton?” The only reaction she received was an arched eyebrow. She also noticed how Dillon and Denver slowly made their way to stand on either side of their brother. Something was wrong. “Dalton?” She remained frozen in her spot, eyes watching him with trepidation. “You are in so much trouble, baby.” Dalton smirked, arms folded over his massive chest. He loved the way she began to nibble on her bottom lip. He could almost see her mind boggling, trying to figure out what was going on. “What are you talking about?” She was completely lost. “You had us so damned scared. We thought you left us. Instead, you were battling it out with a crazy woman.” Now she was confused. How in the hell could they have thought she would have left them? “Didn’t you check the voicemail? I called and left a message right before the plane took off.” Did one of them accidentally delete her message? She glanced at each of the men but there was nothing to go on. Their expressions were blank. She watched Dalton as he exchanged looks with his brothers. She loved them but she was becoming aware they had thick heads. A

156

Kortny Alexander

skeptical smile curved her lips. They hadn’t checked the voicemail. They were absolute idiots. “We saw the blinking light, but….” He shook his head, embarrassed by the admission. “We could have saved some time if we’d bothered to check the damn thing.” “I’m just glad you guys are here.” She was oddly calm about all that had transpired with Karen. The look Dalton gave her warmed her from head to toe. She’d never get tired of this. “Come here, wildfire.” His voice was low and husky as he uttered the words. Summer perked up when she heard the name they had affectionately called her. She moved so fast, catching Dalton by surprise when she jumped into his arms. This is what she had missed after being apart for only a few hours. She missed the smoldering looks, gentle touches, and their voices filling the room. Tonight was hers to enjoy. She couldn’t wait until they saw the surprise she had in store for them. Summer traced Dalton’s lips with the tip of her tongue, pleased at how he let her have her moment. She began kissing him slowly, but she was eager. Her kiss evolved into something resembling hunger and need. Summer could hear the guttural moans and realized they were coming from her. As she was kissing Dalton, he had cupped her bottom, lifting her until she wrapped her legs around him. She felt hands on her instantly. She welcomed the caresses. “Please take my clothes off.” She was damn near whimpering when she tore her lips from Dalton’s. Dalton turned around and laid her on the bed. He climbed on the bed beside her as Denver undressed her lower half and Dillon worked on the top portion. Summer allowed the pleasure she felt to flow freely. She felt special and cared for as her men undressed her and the other kissed her until she was seeing stars.

Surrendering to Summer

157

“Oh, baby. Shit! I knew it!” Denver hissed out as he removed Summer’s panties. “Somebody’s been shopping at the naughty store.” He began kissing up her thigh. “What’s going on down there Denver?” Dillon asked as he removed the last of her clothing—her bra. Dillon lowered his head and sucked a nipple into his mouth as Dalton teased and sucked at the other one. “Our little wildfire has a nice little butt plug,” Denver teased as he spread her legs. Dillon and Dalton both let her nipples go with a pop and looked at her. Their grins were naughty. Summer smiled. “What was I supposed to do while I was away from you?” She refused to have to wait forever to have all of them inside of her. Summer had a goal, and tonight she was going to get it. “Damn sure glad you’re my naughty woman,” Dillon said as he brushed his lips against hers. “Can’t wish for anything better than that,” Dalton said, agreeing as he went back to work on Summer’s nipples. “Ummm, hmmm.” Denver had just found another form of heaven as his tongue laved at her folds. Denver used his thumbs to spread her apart. He had to get to her sweet cream. Surprised, Summer thrust her hips at Denver. That was all he needed to get his blood boiling. “So beautiful,” he murmured against her folds. He alternated between dipping his tongue deep inside of her pussy and sucking, tugging on her clit. It took only moments for Denver to push her over the edge into orgasmic bliss. He caressed her thighs as her body calmed. There was definitely more to come. “I want inside of you now.” Dalton growled against her ear. He slid down the length of her body as his brothers moved to either side of her. He was going to be selfish for a moment. There was no way he could wait any longer.

158

Kortny Alexander

“Are you going to take the plug out?” Summer was nervous at what his answer would be. She wanted him to take it out, but at the same time she was curious as to how it would feel. Dalton picked Summer up, moving her to the center of the bed. He grinned up at her. “No, baby, I’m not going to take it out just yet. You’re going to be so damned tight.” He began stroking his cock up and down her slick folds. “Please, Dalton.” She tried to angle her body so he would slide right into her, but Dalton was too fast. He liked the way she looked at him. His heart was filled with love. “Okay, wildfire, no more teasing.” Slowly and carefully, Dalton began pressing inside of her. The head of his cock slipped through and they both moaned. As Dalton began pressing inside of her slowly and carefully, she couldn’t hold back the whimpers. He was driving her wild with wanton desire. Summer tried to move her hips, making him move faster. “Easy, baby.” He held her waist firmly, stopping all of her movements. “Let me set the pace.” She nodded. Dalton began rocking slowly pushing his cock in further with each inward motion. He gritted his teeth, trying not to come. When he was fully seated inside of her he watched as Summer’s eyes glazed over, so filled with desire it saturated the room. Dalton could almost feel the stinging emotion filling his body as he drove inside of her over and over. “Dammit, wildfire!” He leaned forward, covering her body with his as he stroked deep inside of her. He could feel the plug brushing up against his cock. It sent him reeling. Moving faster, Dalton sipped at Summer’s lips. The sips turned into nibbles, which progressed into biting. Summer dug her nails into his arms, pulling him further inside her. “Holy hell! More, Dalton.”

Surrendering to Summer

159

Dalton moved even faster, slamming into her. “I love you,” he whispered against her ear. “I love you more.” He tried not to laugh as he felt her walls tighten around his hardened length. She was a feisty woman, always trying to get the last word. He would let her have it. There was no use fussing with her when she was coming all over his dick. Within a few strokes he was coming right behind her. They laid clung together for long moments as they slowed their breathing. Dalton finally moved, not shocked to find his brothers waiting with warm cloths to clean Summer up. He moved to the bathroom and let her have her time with Denver and Dillon.

160

Kortny Alexander

Chapter 26 “Are you okay?” Dillon asked as he brushed her hair out of her face. Summer couldn’t speak because Denver was cleaning her up down below. She was still a little sensitive, but the feathery touches made her giggle. The giggles quickly died when he rolled her to her side and worked the plug out of her. “Why did Denver take my plug out?” she asked, looking at Dillon. “Denver and I are going to take you together. Is that okay?” Dillon asked as he positioned himself beside her. They were now both on their sides, fingertips dancing up and down her arm and shoulder. Summer swallowed hard. This is what she wanted. They wouldn’t harm her in any way. They would take care of her. She trusted all three of her men. A slow smile formed on her face. “Okay, I’m ready.” Denver came to lay behind her, pressing his body firmly to her backside. “I want you to relax, wildfire.” His thick fingers found a nipple. She leaned her head further into the pillow, becoming damn near boneless. “That’s it. Just enjoy how we make you feel. I promise you will enjoy it,” Dillon said just before he covered her mouth with his. As he kissed her, he raised her leg, making room for Denver to get closer. Denver was already sheathed and lubed. He eased his cock up to Summer’s bottom, pressing gently. Summer moaned and tried to cry out with pleasure, but Dillon was occupying her mouth. Denver was diligent, and he pushed the tip of his cock past her tight bundle of

Surrendering to Summer

161

nerves. When he was fully seated inside of her, Summer didn’t hold back. “Dillon…oh my…I can’t breathe.” It felt as if he had filled her entire body from head to toe. There was a slight burn and then…then Summer felt a wonderful sensation when Denver moved ever so slowly. “Mmmm.” She grabbed Dillon and kissed him with the passion that seemed to overwhelm her at the moment. “I need you both. Now.” She felt like she was on fire. Her body moved, writhing on its own accord. She was ready to come. “Denver is going to move so you can climb on top of me. Okay?” Summer could only nod. She felt so giddy, restraining the goofy grin that was dying to break through. When Denver pulled out of her she felt the loss immediately. She didn’t like that feeling, so she moved as swiftly as possible. She climbed on top of Dillon and instantly began riding him hard. “Fuck!” he cried out. Dillon tried to slow her movements but Summer was a woman with a purpose. “I gotta come now.” She huffed out. She had never experienced a need like this before. Damn those men did wonders to her body. “I p– promise I will come again.” Her blood was pumping furiously when she locked eyes with Dillon. There was a devious and naughty look in his eyes. He held onto her waist to keep her from falling when her orgasm crashed into her. He pulled her down to him so that she was lying on his chest. She knew they were not going to give her body time to slow down. Denver moved into position behind Summer and smoothly slid into her bottom. She dug her nails into the sheets and moaned louder, even pushing back on Denver. She was so out of control and she was loving every minute of it. She was living up to the nickname they had given her. She was definitely their wildfire. “You guys need to move. I’m going to come again!” She was ecstatic. Lost in the pleasure that they were giving her. Dillon covered

162

Kortny Alexander

her mouth with his and she once again cried out her orgasm into his mouth. Screaming and yelling in the hotel would cause someone to report the noise. She felt full and satisfied, but she wanted more. Summer was no longer in control of own body. Between Dillon and Denver thrusting in and out of her in intervals, she didn’t have to do anything but lay there and enjoy the delectable satisfaction they were both giving to her. There was just one thing missing. “Turn your head this way, Summer.” She turned to her left and she was breathless. Dalton was kneeling on the bed with his thick hard length right in front of her. She didn’t need any further encouragement. He was close enough to her mouth that all she had to do was open up. Dalton rocked his hips back and forth with ease. He reached over and stroked her cheek as she stared lovingly at him. This is what his wildfire had wanted and he was going to make damn sure they gave her everything she wanted. He could see how blissfully happy she was now that she had all three of them inside of her at the same time. “I’m going…I’m going...” Dillon spoke into her ear, tugging at the lobe with his teeth. “So am I,” Denver added as he pressed kisses along her spine. Dalton slid his cock out of her mouth. Brushing her hair back so he could see her beautiful face. He placed a kiss on her lips and moved out of the way. Summer smiled, enjoying every pounding stroke as the pushed her over into orgasmic bliss one more time. She felt Dillon and then Denver falling over that same cliff right behind her. Summer lay on Dillon, completely useless. She was sated and loved. Denver moved first. He scooped Summer off of Dillon and headed straight for the bathroom. Dillon followed behind them. To her surprise, Dalton was seated next to a filled bathtub.

Surrendering to Summer

163

Denver helped Summer into the bathtub and then stepped into the already running shower. Summer loved how they all took care of her and each other. This was love, and she never wanted to be without it again. Freshly showered, Denver came to sit next to Dalton on the side of the bathtub. Dillon placed her to one side so he could look at her. “What’s going on?” Summer thought it was a little awkward for such serious glances. “Baby, we have a question to ask you,” Dillon said as his thumb caressed her cheek. Summer took long inquisitive glances at each one of them. What the heck was going on? “All right. Ask away.” She sat, waiting patiently as Dalton and Denver placed three baby-blue jewelry boxes next to each other alongside the bathtub. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes immediately watered up. She looked from Dalton, to Denver, and finally to Dillon. They were all looking at her, smiling adoringly. What they had wasn’t just about sex. The look in their eyes made that abundantly clear. She was speechless. “I love you, baby. I’ll never love another like I love you. Never forget it,” Dillon said as he brushed his lips against hers. Denver lowered himself until he was face to face with Summer. “You’ve had my heart since day one. I love you, Summer.” She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Dillon had cuddled her close to his body and Denver leaned in and kissed her. She didn’t know if she could handle much more. When Denver moved back, she caught Dalton’s adoring gaze. “You’ve put up with my shit since the moment we met.” Summer, Denver, and Dillon all burst out laughing. Dalton joined in, but once the laughter died down, he continued. “I love you, Summer. I know this is fast, and after we ask our question, you can take your time. But know that I love you and I can’t live without you in my life.”

164

Kortny Alexander

All right, she was a complete blubbering mess. She was crying her eyes out. And she was still speechless. “We’ve rendered our girl speechless.” Denver grinned. “Okay, baby, are you ready for our questions?” Summer cried and nodded. Dammit, what was wrong with her? She wanted a relationship with them. She didn’t want to move into her home. She loved the room they’d built, designed, and decorated just for her. Summer cleaned her face off with a dry towel. She didn’t want to miss a moment of this. Dillon dried his hands and picked up the first box. “This is for now.” Summer thought she’d die right there in the bathtub. She gasped at the heart shaped diamond earrings in a platinum setting. Her eyes watered again. “Oh my gosh,” she whispered. “They are so beautiful.” She reached out and traced each earring with her fingertips. She looked up at each man in the room and cried. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” Dalton reached out and wiped her tears. “Two more boxes to go.” Summer nodded and waited. “This is for later.” Denver opened the next baby-blue jewelry box. It was a bracelet designed with hearts and diamonds in a platinum setting. “Absolutely gorgeous,” she managed to say between hiccups. The tears were rolling and she no longer tried to stop them. This was way more than she had ever expected. She traced the bracelet with her fingertips and her hand began to shake slightly. “Last box, baby,” Dillon whispered against her ear. Although they were in the huge bathroom, Summer couldn’t have thought of a better place to do this. It was so unexpected. Dalton opened the last box and she gasped. “This is forever.” It was a heart-shaped diamond surrounded by round diamonds in a platinum setting. “Summer, will you marry me?” all three men asked in unison.

Surrendering to Summer

165

Summer cried and shook her head. She could not catch her breath. This was the most perfect moment and she couldn’t have asked for better men. While she fought for her freedom and won it, her men had been searching for her. They had burst through the door prepared to fight for the woman they loved. Now all three men stood nervously before her, waiting for her response. She had everything she wanted—three men who loved her more than she could have ever hoped for. Her body warmed with joy and fulfillment. There was no other answer but, “Yes.” “Let’s get our baby out of this water before it gets cold.” Summer knew she would never get tired of these men. She wanted to scream and dance with joy, but she would have to wait until her legs actually worked. She couldn’t wait to begin her life with them.

THE END HTTP://KORTNYALEXANDER.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR I'm an addict for books. I love to read. Trust me when I say you don't want to be around when I'm reading a series. I forget to eat, forget to feed the kids, forget doctor's appointments...It can get ugly. I live in Georgia with my two extremely cool sons. They are not as addicted to reading but they are not too far behind. They both are writers as well. They rubbed off on me. In all seriousness, it started off as a simple email to one of my favorite authors. I was instantly hooked on this vampire series and emailed the author, kindly demanding to know when the next book would be coming out. She emailed me back and told me I would have to hold on until next year. So the next email I sent, I teased that I guess I'd better start drawing my own conclusions and writing my own version to keep me busy until then. She told me that would be an interesting idea. The next morning it was as if a flood gate was opened. Story ideas bombarded me until I started writing them down. It's been a non-stop fun journey every since. Thanks to love I receive from my two very, very patient sons, my awesome brother and my wonderful mother I have been able to write to my heart's content. I love them and I love what I do! I hope you will pick up one of my books and join me on an erotic fun-filled adventure.

Also by Kortny Alexander Siren Classic: Whispering Mountain 1: Give Me More

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com