STORY EXCERPT

“I don’t know what to do!” Cassidy covered her face with her hands, emotion clogging her throat. If she let Patrick and Matthew head out to find the other men, she risked losing them, too. But it was selfish of her to worry about being left alone when lives could be at stake. The forests covering the lower mountain ranges were dense, rarely traveled country. Her men were out there somewhere with only the clothes on their backs.

Patrick joined her and Matthew in the clearing. His features were set hard, his muscles taut. “There’s no decision for you to make, little one. Matthew’s too weak to fight. I’ll be going after them alone.”

“What?” She bolted to her feet, rushing over to him. “You can’t go!” Cassidy looked up at his face, her palms resting on his chest. The meager light filtering down from the forest canopy highlighted his red hair and blue eyes.

“I promise I’ll be back.”

“You don’t know that. Look what happened to Matthew. He was missing for a month.”

Patrick smirked, all confidence, and brushed the stray hairs from her forehead. “You don’t give me much credit. I’m capable of protecting myself.”

She savored his touch, the heat of his skin under her palms, and the aura of pure masculine strength he radiated. But as capable as he was, he was just a man. How could he compete with thousands of acres of forest and mountains, not to mention the man-killing wolves running rampant?

“I won’t let you go alone,” said Matthew, his voice deep and final.

“Brother, stay with Cassidy. You need to regain your strength. You’re skin and bones, and your mind is still weak.”

“Don’t even try it, Red. I’m not an invalid.”

She knew in her heart that she wanted the two men to stay with her in the cabin, love her, and ease her worries. But that was selfish. Garret, Evan, and Travis were out there in the great beyond fighting a battle that didn’t need to be fought. They needed to be informed that the Rockford miners weren’t responsible for Matthew’s disappearance. Garret had yet to lay eyes on his missing friend. She couldn’t wait for the reunion.

In her perfect world, all her men would be with her, but nothing seemed to go as planned in Climax.

“You’ll both go. But I’m coming with you.”

“No!” they said in unison.

She pulled away from Patrick and paced the small clearing. “I won’t sit here doing nothing, wondering if you’ll ever return. I’d be sick with worry until you came back. But I can’t just ignore the fact that the others are still out there somewhere.”

“Cassidy, it’s no Garden of Eden where they’re heading. It’s rough country, the likes you’ve never seen.” Matthew turned her around to face him. “It’s dangerous.” His green eyes pleaded with her to change her mind, but it was already set. They should know by now how determined she could get when she made a decision.

“You’ll both keep me safe,” she reassured. “We’ll find Garret, Evan, and Travis, tell them the truth, and then come home together.” Like a family. It may be wishful thinking to assume she’d get her happily ever after with all five men, but she wouldn’t give up her dream just yet. The two most stubborn were Patrick and Travis. They seemed resolute to keep their emotions behind tight guards, whereas the other three were more accepting of a long-term ménage relationship.

“No way!” Patrick frowned, but in her eyes, he only looked sexy as hell. He could never threaten her with a look or tone of voice, not after everything they’d done together. Even under the barrage of problems facing her, he still managed to spark her libido to life. “You’re too delicate for such a trip. It’s out of the question.” She raked her gaze over his body. He only wore some worn-out Wranglers, low on his hips. The dark tattoos running down the length of his arms combined with his size and strength created one badass visual. But she still planned to get her own way.

“He’s right,” said Matthew.

She took a breath and resumed her pacing. Cassidy didn’t want to tell them that she was actually terrified of being left alone in the cabin while they went in search of the other men. She had to appear strong, capable, and independent. Although she’d taken care of herself all her life, the recent events left her nerves ragged and a deep-seated fear of the nighttime forest in her psyche. Since the rest of the crew had to be found, it seemed the only logical resolution was for her to come along. As long as she had Patrick and Matthew by her sides, she’d feel safe and protected, no matter how grueling the journey may be.

“Fine.” She had to know when to play her hand, and right now was not the time. Both men were flustered, anxious, and determined to deny her. Maybe after spending the afternoon together, they’d have a change of heart. She was quickly learning each man’s weakness, what made them growl or pull her hair harder during lovemaking.

Cassidy walked away, returning to the cabin. She hoped they gave her a few minutes alone to collect her thoughts. So much had happened in her life recently, she didn’t know if she was coming or going. She’d just met Matthew after all the drama of trying to get him back, and he’d already managed to steal her heart. Was it because she felt she already knew him, anticipating his return? Garret had spoken so much about the missing miner, he’d become three-dimensional before she even met him. Or was there something stronger at work—like fate? Whatever it was, she now had five men she had to worry about.

ADULT EXCERPT

He drew a line down the front of her neck from chin to the edge of her shirt with one finger. The touch was slow and precise. She held her breath as he neared her breasts. Every part of her body ached for him.

“You’re tempting, little human. Too tempting.” He turned to look at Patrick, as if seeking permission. The other man had noticed them from where he crouched. He nodded once.

“It’s best to take care of her now, before we get started on our trip,” said Patrick, rising to his full height, forgetting the boxes of clothing. With both of them directing their attention to her, her body continued to heat at a rapid pace as if the sun bore down on her. Her breathing picked up because she knew what was in store for her.

“Aren’t you sore, Cassidy?” Matthew reached down and cupped her mound with his big, strong hand. She nearly gasped, but bit her lower lip instead. “Can you take more cock so soon?”

Fuck, yes! How could she not continue to be aroused with these men? They were her fantasy multiplied by five. Each one chiseled and hard-core. She still expected to wake up one morning and find herself in her old apartment, everything she experienced in Climax a dream. As crazy as her life had been since arriving, she’d do it all over again if it meant keeping her lovers.

She nodded, dropping her weight into his palm. God, she needed to be touched, fondled. Patrick joined them, making her feel even more small and feminine.

“She’s ripe.” Patrick made a sound of a man smelling something decadent. For her it would be double-chocolate cake. But she was the only thing in his sights. Could he actually tell her pussy was soaked, her nipples aching, and clit throbbing?

“Then we’ll take care of her,” said Matthew. His green eyes were heavy with lust. She loved seeing these big, tough men lose all control. Their passion was refreshing, so unlike the lackluster men in the city.

“Maybe you should sit this one out, brother. You must be weak.” Patrick had a strand of her hair between his fingers, examining it like a predator toying with its prey.

Matthew scoffed. “I can fuck our little wildcat all night if she needs it. For her I’m never too tired.” The men seemed to spur each other on with their words. They began to work as a team to undress her. Her shirt was pulled off over her head, leaving her bare-chested. Their beasts were emerging, and she welcomed their undomesticated sides. Sex with them was everything it should be—raw, sensual, dirty, and addicting. They ensured her pleasure long before they met their own.

Patrick measured the weight of one breast in his hand, grazing her beaded nipple with his thumb. “You have beautiful tits, Cassidy.”

She swallowed hard.

He leaned down and swiped his tongue over her nipple. The cool air against the moist flesh, combined with the eroticism, was too much. “Please,” she murmured.

“She begs,” said Matthew, humor in his voice.

“Should we indulge her?”

Matthew shook his head, which concerned her. If they played hard to get or suddenly decided they should head out immediately, she’d lose her mind. Her body demanded to be sated.

She reacted, reaching out to grab Matthew’s cock. He was impressively hard, which gave her hope that he planned to give her what she wanted. She needed to feel that rigid length of flesh fill her pussy full to overflowing, to erase that deep itch only a man’s cock could squelch. “Give it to me,” she demanded.

They both laughed. “Take her,” said Matthew.

Upon command, Patrick turned and gathered her arms behind her back like a prisoner. He lowered them to the ground until she was sitting in his lap. Matthew squatted in front of them and proceeded to tug off her jeans.

“What’re you doing?” she asked.

Neither man answered her. “Open your legs,” said Patrick, still holding her arms behind her back with one hand. The other had a mind of its own, massaging her breasts and teasing her nipples. The unrelenting stimulation brought her close to a precipice.

She complied with the request, perhaps a little too willingly. But she knew her men had some twisted games and fantasies in mind. If they planned to eventually involve their cocks penetrating her, she’d go along for the ride.