STORY EXCERPT

Officer Tony Grandy slammed on the brakes of his Dodge Durango, throwing up gravel and dirt behind him. He wasn’t surprised to see the standard white pickup truck of the park rangers parked outside the crumbling old saloon in Hamilton. He knew Ranger Zachary Carlson would be somewhere near. It was two years ago today that two young women had vanished from the ghost town without a trace. Tony had been on duty when the 911 call had come in from one of the women. Miss Katarina Elizabeth Evans had reported her friend, Anna Lorraine Oakland, missing. The two women had been vacationing together when they stopped at the old town to do some research for a book Miss Evans was writing, according to friends. It had taken him twenty minutes to reach the scene after the victim disconnected her call, but by then it was too late.

There had been no sign of either woman. The only evidence they’d been there at all was the abandoned Ford Escape registered to Katarina Evans. That was also the first time he’d met Park Ranger Zach Carlson. He’d arrived on the scene just a scant two minutes behind Tony. The two men had searched all the buildings thoroughly, even hiking up the hill to search the old Silver Bell Mine and Belmont Mill. They’d found footprints that could have been a small woman, but no other clues. The women had just vanished without a trace.

The investigation had hit him hard, and Ranger Carlson even harder. He’d only been on the job about a month when he’d responded to the call. The two men had investigated together, off and on over the first year, learning a lot about the two women, but getting no closer to solving their disappearance. All that time spent together had brought the men together, not exactly friends, but closer in some ways. He’d never admit it to anyone, but he felt a strange pull to be closer to the shy ranger.

Tony threw the truck in park and cut the engine. Grabbing his hat, he unfolded his five-foot-eleven-inch frame out of the vehicle and stretched his arms over his head, rotating his neck back and forth. Slamming the door shut, he moved forward. There wasn’t much left of the old mining town. Two buildings were still standing, but he knew the local residents were petitioning to have the area razed. Nobody really considered it historical, mainly just an eyesore and danger to the children they couldn’t keep from exploring the so-called ghost town. The area had an unremarkable history as far as he was concerned. Its greatest claim to fame being the women’s disappearance. For six months after they disappeared, the news crews, psychics, and ghost chasers went over the area with a fine-tooth comb and didn’t find a thing.

“I had a feeling you’d be out here today.”

Tony turned around and smiled at Zach. “Where else would I be on our anniversary?”

Zach grimaced. “I’m not sure I wanna think of this as our anniversary, man. That’s pretty dismal.” He looked around at the mounds of wood and rock up and down the small dirt road.

“I can’t get this place out of my mind. I feel like it draws me here,” Tony said. “Like it’s waiting to give up its secrets. You just have to be here at the right time to understand everything.”

Zach’s eyes widened. “Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel. I think about those poor women and wonder whatever happened to them.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I mean, I know they’re probably dead, but it’s like I can’t rest until I know for sure.”

Tony pulled off his hat and smacked it against his leg, a cloud of dust drifting in the air around him. “You wanna get some lunch?”

“Sure, just let me…” Both men whirled around, drawing their guns, when a faint, feminine scream came from the old saloon.

“Tell me you heard that,” asked Tony.

“Oh, yeah, I heard it. It came from inside the building.” Zach motioned toward the saloon with the tip of his service revolver. “There ain’t no back door to this place, and the windows are all boarded up tight. We’ll have to go in from the front to check it out.”

“Should we call for backup?”

Zack frowned. “I’d rather not. I’m not anxious to explain what I’m doing out here if it’s all the same to you. I’d rather wait and see if there’s anything to report before I get anybody’s dander up.”

“Fine by me.” Tony moved closer to the building. “I’d just as soon not be the butt of a thousand ghost jokes. I’ll take point. Cover me best you can.” The two men moved slowly toward the open door of the old saloon. The sun was blistering hot, with hardly any breeze stirring the air. Tony could feel the sweat rolling down his back as he moved up the rickety steps. The foul stench of rotting wood was almost overwhelming as he cautiously peered inside the dark room, sweeping the interior with a quick glance. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he moved farther into the dismal building.

Inside was a heavy mildew smell and definite signs of critter infestation. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zach move through the door, slowly making his way around the room in the opposite direction. A soft crash, and a muffled voice, had both men turning toward the only door in the room. Tony knew, from their past investigation, the door led to an underground basement. When he reached the opening, he glanced down.

“When I get my hands on Timothy Canders, I’m gonna slap him silly.”

The feminine voice drifted up from the basement. Tony quickly moved back when footsteps sounded on the stairs.

“Is anybody there?” the girl called out. “It that you, Timothy?”

Tony glanced at Zach and then back at the open doorway. “Come up with your hands in clear sight. I’m a police officer.”

“Okay, I’m coming. It’s awfully dark. You wouldn’t happen to have a lamp, would you?”

Tony frowned. “No, but I’ve got a flashlight. I’m gonna shine it down the steps. You come straight up and keep your hands where I can see them.” He pulled the flashlight from his belt and moved closer to the open doorway. He had to choke back a laugh when he heard the girl muttering.

“What? Does he think I’m some kind of dangerous criminal? I can’t believe anybody would be afraid of me.”

Tony nodded toward Zach where he stood against the far wall, his gun pointed toward the basement door, and then moved to shine his light down the steps.

ADULT EXCERPT

“I’m gonna be the one who takes your virginity here,” Zach moaned. He pressed the tip of one finger against her anus. She moaned when he prodded the dark hole, working his finger in and out of the small, pink pucker, stretching her and making the tiny nerve endings scream at this new sensation. “But we’ll have to save this for later. Come on and turn over so Tony can get at that pretty pussy.” Zach scooted away, letting Eva roll back on the bed.

Her legs parted as Tony placed both knees inside hers, and she felt his thick, hard shaft bump against her leg. She trembled when he pushed her thighs further apart and settled between them. He ran a hand tenderly over her head, smoothing her hair. “You don’t have to be afraid, Eva. I won’t hurt you. If you’ve changed your mind, all you have to do is say stop.”

“He’s right, darlin’. Just say the word and we’ll back off.” Zach licked a line down her jaw. “You’re so damn beautiful.”

Tony ran his hand up her leg to the area between her thighs. “Sunshine, you’re so wet for us.” He looked up at Zach as his fingers played in the hair covering the entrance to her body. “This fine pelt of blonde curls is practically dripping.”

“That’s because our lady wants us.” Zach reached out and tweaked Eva’s nipple.

* * * *

Tony stroked her wet pussy with a finger before he pushed it inside her core. He smiled when she instinctively spread her legs wider, giving him better access. The walls of her pussy closed around his finger, and a fresh surge of cream erupted from her pussy, coating his hand.

“Damn,” Zach groaned. “I can smell her pussy from here.” He leaned over and took Eva’s breast in his mouth.

Tony’s finger searched for the bundle of nerves at the top of her slit. “I’m gonna run my tongue along her pretty pink slit and lap up every bit of the cream I find.”

“You’d better be saving me some.” Zach looked at Tony and grinned. “Actually, I think I’ll just make my own.” His mouth moved to cover her neglected breast.

Tony used his shoulders to hold Eva open when she tried to squeeze her thighs together. Using his thumb, he pulled back the hood covering her clit and flicked it with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth. Reveling in her flavor, he sucked on her button, biting it gently. The taste of her caused his erect cock to harden even more.

Eva’s hips bucked, causing Tony to throw an arm over her hips, anchoring her to the bed.

“You must be doing something she likes,” Zach groaned. “Her nails are embedded in my arm.”

“God, I’m sorry.” Eva gasped.

“Never be sorry for what you feel, darlin’.” Zach moved up and licked her neck. “It’s time, Tony.”

Tony crawled up her body for a kiss, stroking his tongue along her lower lip. When she opened her mouth, he tilted his head to deepen the kiss.

“Oh, my God. I can taste myself.” Eva groaned, licking her lips.

“Let me see.” Zach leaned forward, but instead of kissing Eva, he pressed his open mouth over Tony’s. His tongue licked across Tony’s lips once. “Yes,” he growled. “The taste of the two of you together will have me coming before I’m ready.”

Tony froze for a moment, wondering if the feel of another man’s lips would put an end to his erection. Amazingly, he had to struggle to keep from coming. “Eva, are you sure, honey?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I want you. I want both of you. Please, I need you.”

When Tony eased his powerful body completely down over hers, she didn’t protest at all. “I want you so badly, Eva.” She ran her hands over his back and buttocks as he urged her to wrap her legs around his waist. He lowered one hand to test her slick folds. “You’re as ready as you’re ever gonna be, baby.”

“Zach, grab me a condom from the drawer beside you.”

Zach turned, pulled open the table drawer, and grabbed a string of condoms. He tore one off with his teeth and handed it to Tony.

“What is that?” asked Eva in a breathless voice.

Zach ran his hand over her head. “It’s a condom, darlin’. It protects you from getting pregnant, among other things.”

She rose up enough to watch Tony as he rolled the condom on. “Mama told me about such things, but I’d never seen it.” She peered closer. “Goodness, it just wraps a man up like Sunday leftovers.”

Tony froze, gazed up at Zach, and then the two of them burst out laughing.

“Oh, no,” cried Eva. “Don’t let me ruin the mood.”

Tony snorted. “Nothing short of a nuclear strike could ruin my mood. You still willing, baby?”

“Yes,” she gasped. “Please.”

Tony moved back between her wet thighs and placed the sheathed crown of his erection against her tight pussy. He guided the head in, pushing it just inside. “I’m gonna take this nice and slow, honey. You tell me if I do anything you don’t like.” When Eva pushed her pelvis toward him, he flexed his hips to sink his hard cock in a little deeper.

“Yes,” Eva cried. “That’s it. I want more.”

Tony watched Zach cover Eva’s lips in a kiss. With several small, firm pushes, he slid into her, sheathing himself until he felt the natural barrier of her body. Struggling to control his breath, he paused. “Get ready, sunshine. It’s gonna hurt a little, and then it’ll get all better.”

“Go ahead. I’m ready.”

Tony glanced at Zach, who nodded and gave him a smile. He pulled her legs up around his hips and sighed when she wrapped her legs around him, locking her feet in the small of his back. Holding his breath, Tony lunged forward. He stopped at once when he felt the barrier in her body give and lifted his head. He searched her wide, dazed eyes and flinched when they filled with tears.

“Oh,” she sobbed, pushing against his chest.

“I’m so sorry, Eva.” Tony reached up to cup the side of her face. “There won’t be any more pain now, nothing but pleasure is in your future.”