STORY EXCERPT

“It’s this man I was with. Brendan Miller. He lives in Denver. I don’t know why, but I’m afraid of him.” She sucked in air as a tremble racked through her. “Really afraid.” Furtively, she looked around the room.

He would’ve sworn she’d blurted out the information without meaning to do so. “So who is Brendan? Your friend? A coworker?”

She frowned, once again obviously searching for an answer. “He’s my boyfriend.”

His fantasy broke apart. “Your boyfriend?” It hurt to say the word. Was their woman already taken? Was this Brendan guy only a boyfriend, or was he really more? He sensed that the word boyfriend wasn’t strong enough for what went on between them.

Shit.

“Your boyfriend?” repeated Lorry, concern etched in his face.

“I think so.” Her gaze went to the ceiling as though the answers were scrawled across the popcorn texture. “At least, he was for three months.” She brought her gaze to Cameron’s. “But I don’t remember loving him. I don’t remember even liking him. But he thought I did. Hell, I thought I did. But not really.” She groaned. “It’s all a big mess in my head. I don’t understand why I was with him.”

Shit.

Cameron caught Lorry’s attention and passed a silent message between them. Vampires didn’t have telepathy, but the two of them were close enough to be able to often interpret silent communication.

Lorry frowned and shook his head very slightly, telling Cameron that he knew what he was thinking, but was hoping it wasn’t true.

Cameron shot him another silent question. Is this Brendan person a vampire?

It wouldn’t have been the first time a vampire had used his compulsion powers over a woman. Then, afterward, the woman would be muddle-headed, trying to understand why she’d said and done things.

Again, the head shake.

Yeah, he’s probably right. There are other ways to convince someone to stay. How many women stay with men even after they know the men aren’t right for them?

“I’m so confused. The past three months seem like a blur.” She’d whispered the words then slid lower under the covers.

“Some relationships are tough.” Cameron leaned closer, hoping to comfort her more. “Listen, we all get into relationships that are wrong, but we don’t know it for a while. The thing that bothers me, though, is that you’re afraid of this guy. Why are you afraid of him?”

“Did he hurt you? Hit you?” added Lorry.

She took her time before answering. “No. I don’t remember him ever being mean. And he never hurt me.” She frowned then added, “Not physically.”

Not physically? Then emotionally? Mentally?

Yet he didn’t ask. “Then why are you afraid of him?” he asked again.

Her gaze met his, confusion dulling her eyes. “I don’t know. And that’s what scares me the most. I don’t know why anything happened between us. It’s like I wasn’t myself.”

“Do you think he drugged you?”

Cameron would’ve sworn the answer to Lorry’s question would’ve come fast. Instead, it took her a while to respond.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. A tear streamed down her cheek. “That’s why it’s so scary. I don’t know how, but I know he did something to me. But I don’t remember.” She searched his face. “Why can’t I remember?”

“Beats me,” answered Cameron.

“Stay here, Tracy, for as long as you need. In the meantime, we’ll take a look at your car.”

She drew in a hard breath. “Where am I?”

“You’re on the Low Range Ranch just outside the small town of Lost.”

“In Colorado?”

Shit. She doesn’t even know she’s still in Colorado.

“Yeah. In Colorado.”

“I’m so tired. I slept in my car last night. Or, at least, I tried to, but I kept waking up to all the strange sounds.”

She’d been so frightened that she’d slept in her car. Because of the asshole she was running from? Or was she broke?

“Well, you’ll rest better here. Do you have a suitcase we can fetch for you?” He wasn’t surprised when she shook her head. “A purse? A phone? Anything?”

Her eyelids dropped lower. “My purse and phone.” Her voice had gone softer. She would be asleep in another few moments. Still, she tried to sit up again then gave up and dropped back. “I can’t stay here. I don’t know you.”

“Don’t worry about that.” Cameron racked his brain for a good reason to keep her with them. “Besides, if you’re running from this man, what better place is there to hide out than on a ranch with two buff cowboy protectors?” He flexed, showing her his “guns.”

The weak smile she gave him was more than enough of a reward.

“We’ll get your purse and phone,” said Lorry. “You get some rest. You’re safe with us.”

“I know,” she mumbled, and then she was asleep again.

Cameron shot a grin at Lorry. “I know,” he mouthed, repeating what she’d said. That, along with the strong feelings he was having toward her, had to mean something. They had to mean a lot.

ADULT EXCERPT

“I’d say you’re what every man dreams of eating after a long, hard day of work.”

His words weren’t poetry, but they were sweet to her ears. “Yeah?” Sweet, hot words.

“Yeah.” Lorry moved to her side. He slipped his hand under the sundress. Rough, callused fingertips massaged her hardening nipple.

“Then I guess I’d better feed you two.” She’d spoken so low she wasn’t certain she’d spoken out loud. Was she ready to get involved with them? Yet, she felt as though they’d been together for years. The way she felt toward them was nothing like what she’d felt for Brendan. This was so much better. Honest. Safe. Wonderful.

“I am still hungry.” Cameron’s attention dropped to her lips. “Feed me, darlin’.”

His mouth against hers sent shockwaves through her. Although she’d always believed that weak knees were a romantic notion, she knew instantly that she’d been wrong. If they hadn’t kept her upright, their hands skimming over her body, slipping in and out from below the thin material of the sundress, she would’ve slowly sunk to the floor. Instead with her tongue entangled with Cameron’s, she felt her body being lifted. Suddenly, a hand was between her legs.

Oh, my. Please, yes.

Yet, these men didn’t need permission. All they needed was her acceptance.

Her skirt was spread out around her as her bare bottom met the cool countertop. Needing air, she broke the kiss away and leaned her head back, giving Cameron easier access to her neck. His nibbles soon changed to soft bites.

Lorry’s hands explored her bottom, pushing under her to fondle her asshole. Excitement and fear zipped through her. She’d heard about the act before, of course, but to actually think that it might happen to her was intriguing. Exciting. And, yes, a little scary. Would it hurt? Would the pain turn to pleasure as she’d read it would? She was eager to find out.

Cameron eased back, a wild gleam in his eyes that sent her heart into an even faster race. Taking hold of the skirt, he lifted the sundress up and off of her. The cool air in the kitchen struck her bare breasts.

“You are the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.”

She would’ve chalked Cameron’s words up to simple flattery, but there was no mistaking the look in his eyes. He meant every word he’d said.

“Damn straight, man. I could stare at her all night long.”

Lorry shared the same hungry, sincere glimmer of lust. He cupped her breast then bent to cover her nipple with his mouth.

She gripped his shoulder then slid her hand into his thick hair and clutched it, determined to keep him at her breast. As Lorry tugged on her nipple, capturing it between his teeth, she once again met Cameron’s eyes.

“Do you trust us, darlin’?” He began to undo his jeans while kicking off his boots.

She answered with a single nod and tugged at his shirt, jerking the snaps and exposing his muscular chest. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of in a man and more.

“Then hold on and come with me.”

Lorry protested as Cameron picked her up. She wrapped her arms around Cameron’s neck, her legs around his waist as he carried her, his gaze never leaving hers. His strong muscles played under her fingertips as he shoved his jeans down. He sat down at the kitchen table, settled her on his lap. His cock pushed at her pussy.

She swallowed. Was this the day she’d dreamed of? Would she lose her virginity to not one, but two men?

His cock was oh-so warm against her heated pussy. She’d always wondered if she’d know what to do, but the woman she was needed no instruction. Pushing against him, she urged him to do what men did to women.

“Fuck me,” she said.

His eyes widened, his gaze jumping once to Lorry, who was busily undressing, then back. “He’ll want to take you from behind.”

Was it a question or a warning? She nodded again. “I know.”

“It’ll hurt.”

Having his cock between her legs and not having it inside her pussy hurt in a different way. “I know. It’s okay. I trust you. And I trust him, too.”

He put his hand to her breast, his gaze still locked to hers, and began massaging her nipple. “You’re everything we want. You know that, right?”

She hadn’t expected to hear words that were so endearing, so loyal, so needy. Yet upon hearing them, she realized how very much she’d always longed to hear them. “I do now. Please.” She wiggled against his cock and saw his grimace. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

“Not in a bad way, darlin’. Never in a bad way.” He spread his legs then put his mouth to her tit. His groan was seconded by her own.

“Ease forward, sweet ’ums. If you’re sure, that is.”

Maybe she wasn’t sure about the act, but she was sure about them. Instinctively trusting them, she said, “I’m sure.”

Cameron lifted her slightly as he leaned back, extending his spread legs and positioning her again on top of him. As he did, Lorry pushed against her back, silently getting her to lean forward.

Then, with one hand cupping her breast and the other cupping her waist, Cameron shoved upward, pushing his cock inside her pussy.

The sensation was nothing like she’d thought it would be. Pain came first, and she almost rebelled against his intrusion. Yet, seconds later, a rush of need, of long-waiting lust pulsed through her. She let out a small cry, her hands sliding under his opened shirt. Her fingernails dug into his flesh, hard, deep, bringing bright spots of blood to the surface, yet neither he nor she cared.

His eyes widened. “Tracy?”

She closed her eyes, silently silencing his question. He knew. He had to know.