STORY EXCERPT

River dreamt of bears, not surprising given the circumstances, but instead of being terrified, anxiety-driven memories, her dreams were filled with soft cuddles and gentle kisses. She remembered the feel of Boyd’s lips on hers, so silky smooth, and Gavin coming so close to touching her but pulling away playfully. She wondered, if she’d touched him, would he have kissed her? She stood in front of an open window looking out and seeing herself in Hugh’s arms. He held her as carefully as he had baby Emily. Instead of silly faces and baby talk, he looked at her as if he loved her, stroking her cheek with one finger. She looked so small in his embrace, curled up against his chest.

The sound of metal hitting the floor rocked River out of her dream. Was that a gunshot? She sat up and looked around, trying to make out what was going on around her. She heard a noise but couldn’t tell where it came from. Getting yanked out of such a deep sleep played havoc with her thoughts, and she had trouble discerning what was real and what was still dream. A thick blanket lay pooled in her lap. It must’ve been on top of her while she slept.

But I didn’t get a blanket…oh, no.

With her heart beating wildly in her chest, she leaned down, snagged her tennis shoes off the floor, and slipped her feet in them as she scanned the room. Any movement and she was running hell bent for leather in the opposite direction. To hell with any kind of subterfuge. She should’ve known better than to try to be sneaky. She sucked at it, which was why she always chose the hide-in-plain-view tactic.

Leaving the blanket behind, she tiptoed across the dais and down the two stairs to the floor. So far there wasn’t a single movement to alert her to anyone’s presence. The single light was still on, and the machinery hummed along as it did before. The only sign she hadn’t been alone was the blanket on her, but who would cover her and then leave her alone?

Not about to stick around and find out who might have found her, she made her way out the back hallway to the door. She slowly turned the handle and pushed, but the door didn’t budge. She put her weight against it, but there wasn’t a single millimeter of give to it. She looked out the glass and noticed something big had been braced against it. She was trying to figure out what the hell it was when it shifted and a beige-colored muzzle came into view. Holy shit! A fucking grizzly was stopping her from opening the door.

She turned around and ran for all she was worth. She made it two whole steps when she slammed into an incredibly broad chest. Big arms wrapped around her and hauled her up against a muscular form. She looked up expecting to see teeth, but instead Hugh smiled down at her. “Hello, River.” He stroked one finger down her cheek and jaw until it ended at her chin. He kept it there, not allowing her to look down. “Breaking and entering is a new one for you, isn’t it?”

“I might have entered, but I didn’t break anything that wasn’t already open.”

“No, you’re right, and considering how deep you were asleep I’d say you haven’t slept well in a while.”

“So,” she snapped and wriggled, trying to gain her freedom, which she knew was going to be impossible. Didn’t stop her from trying anyway.

Hugh tightened his grip on her, enough to restrict her movements but not hurt her. “River, stop it and talk to me.”

She could feel herself starting to panic. He must have sensed it because his grip loosened a touch but the intensity in his gaze never wavered. Where Boyd made her think of cuddling and she dreamed of petting Gavin, Hugh’s dominate nature tempted her to push her own boundaries. His eyes were black in the dim light but she could read his intentions as if he’d said them out loud. “Let me go.”

“Never.” He tilted his head and kissed her.

ADULT EXCERPT

The moment his heavy, hot hand came down on her ass cheek, she stilled. The shock of pain rushed through her system followed by warmth filling her pussy. Hugh smacked her ass again and then again.

Boyd leaned close and kissed her jaw. “Still want me to tell him to stop, River?”

Hugh smacked her ass and then ran his hand lightly over the skin. She felt more stroking along her legs and feet. She clenched as the sensation ran over the back of her knees. The strokes dipped down almost between her legs, but then his hand lifted away. She moaned at the denied stroke. A couple of chuckles drew her attention and sparked her temper, but before she could say anything Boyd kissed her again.

His satiny lips stroked over hers. He cupped the back of her head with one hand and kept the grip on her wrists with the other. His tongue invaded her mouth, plundering and making her want more but denying her. He pulled back slightly and pressed kisses to her ear, where he bit lightly on her lobe. “Tell me no, River. Say no and this all stops. Keep fighting this, I dare you.”

“Bite me,” River snapped automatically and heard another round of low chuckles. The sounds danced over her skin, raising all the tiny hairs.

“That’s not polite, River.” Hugh growled behind her, and his hand came down on her ass again, making her jump. She wouldn’t have described them as hits, more like taps, but they stung, and the heat built up and up until she was lifting her ass to meet his hand.

“That’s right,” Boyd whispered in her ear. “We can make you feel so good if you let us.” She felt Boyd run his hand down her neck and then over her collarbone, teasing the skin along the V-neck of her T-shirt.

The sensation of so many hands on her at once was overwhelming and exquisite at the same time. The intensity frightened her, but she craved it. Overwhelmed by the contradictions, she fought the strength of what was building inside her.

Hugh slapped her ass hard. The tips of his fingers smacked her pussy lips, and she began to tremble. She felt her legs being drawn open and fought against him. She wanted more, needed something she’d never found before, but the intensity of it frightened her. Denial was her only defense right now.

“That’s it, little kit. Make them earn it.” Boyd continued his encouragement in her ear. A dark voice fed a need she didn’t know lived inside her. “Don’t give in easily. Make those two work for it.”

Another smack to her ass made her skin burn. A rough hand caressed her fiery skin, soothing it before dipping down and stroking the outer lips of her pussy. She could feel her body shaking, reaching for something as she felt her cream being spread all over her pussy.

“She’s so wet,” Gavin growled. A large hand grabbed her ass cheeks and spread them apart, exposing her completely to the men behind her.

“Beautiful,” Hugh breathed, and she felt a wet finger circle her back opening.

River wrapped one arm around Boyd’s shoulders, her face buried in his neck, holding to her only anchor in this tumultuous storm of emotions. “I can’t, too much.”

“Yes, you will.”

“Let go, we’ll keep you safe.”

Hugh’s voice was a sharp demand whereas Boyd’s was a caress against her senses. She felt her body being stroked and explored. One of them painted a streak of cream down her leg and then followed it with his tongue. Fingers circled around the entrance to her pussy, keeping her balanced on a precipice.

“Both Gavin and Hugh can’t get enough of touching you. You like having four hands playing with your body and spanking your ass.” Boyd ran his tongue along the outer edge of her ear. “When they’re done, I’m going to get my face right up against that luscious pussy of yours and lick up all the delicious honey I can smell you spilling right now.”

Never had anyone ever done that to her. The amount of trust to allow someone so close to her pussy was something River had never been able to give anyone. Her experience with sex was contained to quick, fumbling fucks in the backseat of a car or at concerts. Emotionless, commitment-free events never satisfied her. This time she couldn’t separate her emotions if she wanted to. She felt more connected to these three men than she had anyone else in her lifetime. She trusted them already and that sent a bolt of shock through her muddled senses.

“When they make you come, kit”—Boyd’s voice was low and rumbled against her skin—“I want you to come hard for me, because when I get my mouth on you and taste all your creamy honey you’re going to scream again.”