STORY EXCERPT

“There’s one other thing,” Daniel said, his bland demeanour giving way to a far lighter expression. Even some of his old spirit returned to his eyes, Jonny noticed, wondering what was coming next. “The horse stud.”

“We’ll keep that going.”

“Oh, I know you will. It isn’t that. It’s more that I have a new member of staff whose welfare is important to me.”

“What’s her name?” Harry asked, rolling his eyes at his brothers.

“Steffi Darwin. She’s English and came over with the new stallion.”

“Why?” Jonny asked.

“Her uncle and aunt owned the horse and she was brought up by them after her own parents died in an accident. She threw herself wholeheartedly into her uncle’s breeding program and actually helped deliver Marius. It was a breech birth and they almost lost him.” Daniel lifted his bony shoulders. “She’s had a special relationship with the stallion ever since and I figured it would make the journey across the pond less stressful for the horse if she travelled with him.”

“Why did she sell the horse if she’s so attached to him?”

“Her aunt died some years ago. Her uncle went more recently and his son inherited. The business wasn’t going well and he needed to sell the stallion to pay death duties.”

“Why take a stallion from a stud that wasn’t performing?” Harry asked.

“Nothing wrong with the stallion, just the son’s business acumen.”

“Ah, I see.” Jonny rubbed the back of his neck. “Why is this Steffi creature still here?”

“She kinda fits,” Daniel said, smiling. “When I got sick, she was a tower of strength. She did all sorts of stuff for me without asking, and now she acts as my PA. She’s highly efficient and has made herself indispensable. Truth to tell, I’m inordinately fond of her. She’s the daughter I never had.”

Jonny’s bullshit antennae sprang to attention. He ground his jaw, mindful of the fact that he and his brothers were constant targets for fortune seekers, as was Daniel. Could this Brit have taken advantage of Daniel’s condition? He always was a sucker for a pretty face and Jonny didn’t need to ask if Steffi Darwin qualified in that respect.

“What do you want us to do about her?” he asked, careful not to let the true nature of his thoughts show. Daniel had always been able to read him like a best seller.

“The poor child is devastated about my condition.” I’ll just bet she is! “She’s probably also worried that she’ll be parted from Marius when I’m no longer around.”

“You want us to keep her on?” Brad asked.

“You must make up your own minds about that. All I’m asking you to do right now is to show her a good time while you’re here.”

“Come again,” said three voices in unison.

“I want to see her have some fun before I turn my toes up,” Daniel said calmly. “She’s barely set foot off Porlock since she arrived two years ago and that can’t be healthy.”

“Why?” Brad asked. “If she’s young, presumably she wants to meet other young people.”

“She’s twenty-eight so you would think so, but the reason she’s sticking around here is Marius. We’ve had a number of cancellations.”

“He’s not up to the job, to coin a phrase?” Brad asked.

“Oh, he is. It’s early days, but all the mares he’s covered so far have produced perfect foals.”

Harry shrugged. “Then why the cancellations?”

“No idea. Steffi took it personally and was determined to find out. I don’t know how far she got because I got sick and her priorities changed.”

“And you want us to make her feel better about herself?” Harry asked. “Surely that’s a matter for her to decide.”

“No, Harry, it’s up to you three to turn on the charm.” He paused, fixing each of them with a determined expression. “Is that too much to ask?”

“Not at all,” Jonny answered for them all. “What exactly do you want us to do with her?”

Daniel chuckled. “I don’t think you need any advice from me in that respect. I’ve seen the press coverage of your various romantic entanglements.”

Brad gulped. “You want us to…er, date her?”

“Call it what you like.” He grinned at his sons. “You look as though you’ve just been condemned to a life of servitude. Has it occurred to you that you might actually have some fun yourselves? Steffi has a few hang-ups. You might enjoy the challenge of liberating her from them.”

Jonny and Brad looked at one another, both probably wondering if their father knew of their predilection for sharing women whenever they happened to be together. It wouldn’t surprise him if he did. Daniel didn’t make suggestions without considering all the angles first. Jonny doubted whether his illness had yet blunted his intelligence to the extent that he’d broken that habit. The question was, did he know that all three of them were also sexual Dominants? If so, was that what he really wanted for his precious Steffi? Beware what you wish for, Daniel. We’re big, bad, and dangerous, and we hunt as a pack.

ADULT EXCERPT

“Sam was universally popular. All the women loved him, including me. If he couldn’t show me what it was all about, what makes you think you can?”

“Not me,” Jonny said. “Us.”

She appeared astounded. “What, all three of you?”

“Scared?” Harry asked, a hint of a challenge in his tone.

“I just don’t want to waste your time.” She sighed. “I’m a hopeless case.”

“Are you prepared to shed your inhibitions and do whatever we tell you to?”

Steffi paused, considering Jonny’s request. At least she hadn’t turned him down flat, which was an encouraging sign.

“What things?”

“You don’t get to choose,” Brad told her. “You have to place your complete trust in us.” His voice softened. “You know we’ll never harm you or do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

She nodded, not taking issue with that statement. “Why not?” She summoned up a brittle smile that didn’t come close to meeting her eyes. “I have a feeling that not many people prove you guys wrong. It might do you good to learn that you don’t actually walk on water.”

Jonny stood up, reached for her hand, and this time she allowed him to take it. A frisson of awareness shot through his body as his fingers closed about her palm. He suspected from the way her hand jerked in his that she experienced something similar.

“Still convinced you’re right?” he asked, innocently elevating one brow.

Her lustreless gaze fuelled his determination. “I know I am,” she said listlessly.

“Then how come your pussy’s sopping wet?”

She gasped. “How did you—”

Jonny chuckled. “I didn’t, not for sure, but you just confirmed it.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

Jonny wrapped an arm round her slim waist and pulled her against him. “And your nipples,” he added. “They’re rock hard. Don’t tell me that doesn’t give you a thrill.”

“Oh, all right then, it feels nice.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Does that fuel your ego enough?”

“Nice!” Harry roared with laughter. “You do realize that you’ve just terminally insulted my big brother? He doesn’t do anything as mediocre as nice.”

Steffi shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips, like she was starting to enjoy herself. Perhaps it had even occurred to her that she was the one in control here. Some of the tension left her body, and she relaxed against him.

“Just telling it like it is,” she said with a sweet smile.

Jonny growled, dropped his head, and kissed that smile clean off her lips. The moment she started to respond, Jonny broke the kiss, sat down again, and pulled her onto his lap. Harry and Brad were still on the sofa and lifted her legs to rest over their thighs. Brad removed her shoes and massaged the soles of her feet. She closed her eyes and groaned. In the centre, Harry had responsibility for her thighs and ran a hand gently along their inner surface through the fabric of her pants.

Without the need for words, the guys did what they did best, arousing her without removing her clothes or touching a single erogenous zone. She needed to be totally confident and then take them off herself. It was a big task, but the possibility of failure didn’t cross their minds.

Brad’s hands worked their way up her calves. Harry’s crept tantalizingly closer to Steffi’s pussy.

“For someone who’s frigid,” Jonny said, his voice a soft, persuasive purr, “you seem to react positively to being touched.”

Steffi opened her eyes. “There’re three of you. It makes me feel—”

“Liberated?” Harry suggested.

“Perhaps.”

“Never lie to us,” Jonny said, reaching down to gently tap her thigh. “If we ask you how something feels, don’t think about it first. Just tell us.”

“Your thighs are damp,” Harry told her. “You’ll wreck your nice pants at this rate.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Seems a shame,” Jonny said. “You ready to take them off for us?”

“You want me to undress myself?” She made it sound like a death sentence.

“Absolutely.”

She shook her head against his chest. “I’m not sure that I can.”

“Why?” Harry asked. “Something to be ashamed of?”

“I’m not used to being naked in front of more than one man at once.”

“Does the idea excite you?” Jonny asked.

“Well, I—”

“Don’t stop to think about it,” Jonny said in a tone of firm authority when she hesitated. “Find the freedom to say what’s inside your head. We need to know what you’re feeling.”

“I feel excitement, but that’s nothing new. Sam could get me excited.”

“But didn’t deliver,” Brad said, scowling. “You won’t have that problem with us.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“We’re sure,” said three voices together.

Their total conviction either reassured or annoyed her, Jonny wasn’t sure which. Either way, it had the desired effect. She levered herself from Jonny’s lap and stood up. Without looking at them, she pulled the top over her head and unfastened her pants, allowing them to slip down her legs. Finally, clad just in pretty pink underwear, she lifted her gaze to theirs.

“See,” she said defensively. “There’s nothing special about me.”

“Says who?” Brad demanded.