A Trick of the Moon

A Trick of the Moon

Melinda Barron

A Trick of the Moon Copyright © September 2009 by Melinda Barron All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions. ISBN 978-1-60737-473-2 Available in PDF, HTML, Microsoft Reader, and Mobi Editor: Maryam Salim Cover Artist: April Martinez Printed in the United States of America

Published by Loose Id LLC 870 Market St, Suite 1201 San Francisco CA 94102-2907 www.loose-id.com This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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About this Title Genre: BBW Multicultural Ménage Suspense BBW Maura Atwell has put away her attorney shoes to run her father's guest ranch while he recovers from a stroke. When what looks to be a Native American kiva is discovered on her father's land, she does what any good attorney would do: she has it investigated. Archeologist Declan Littlecreek has wanted Maura since they were in college. Knowing sex and friendship don't always mix, he kept things from getting too heavy. Now that Maura is asking for his help in exploring her new find he's all game: and he's ready to explore the attraction between them. Declan and his best friend, policeman Dario Fuentes, travel to the Full Moon Ranch to see what they can find. While the threesome explores the kiva, they also discover a passion that burns hot between the three of them, binding them together. Is the passion they feel just a Trick of the Moon, or will their romance carry over into life in the outside world? Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, ménage (m/f/m).

Chapter One “The Devil's Highway.” Dario Fuentes glanced out the window at the barren land surrounding them. “Are you sure you're not taking me to meet someone evil? This is Highway 666, you know.” “Not anymore. Technically it's now Highway 491. The name was changed several years ago.” Declan Littlecreek hazarded a glance away from the long stretch of highway and glanced at his friend. “You have been out of touch for a while if you didn't know about the name change. And you call yourself a New Mexican. We should have you deported to New York.” “I always thought 666 worked for this road, since it's more than a little desolate, like I imagine hell would be. What have we seen for the last twenty miles? Nothing but cactus, yucca, some snakes. I'm sure if I had a magnifying glass, I'd see a scorpion or two, or more. It may be 491 now, but it was 666 for many years. The mark of the beast, remember? What sort of woman are you taking me to?” “Trust me, Maura's not a devil. She's a true friend who needs some help.” Declan veered to the other side of the road to avoid hitting a snake as it slithered across the asphalt. “Besides, you're the one who said he was bored. Maybe you need a little trip to the dark side.” Dario tried not to laugh. “Lay this out for me once more.” “It's been more than once.” Declan readjusted his posture and took a sip from a fast-food cup, grimacing at the taste. “Maura and I went to school together, at UNM, but she grew up out here, near Shiprock. Her father owns a dude ranch, taking out hikers and rock climbers and the like. He suffered a stroke about six months ago, and Maura, being the dutiful, and only, daughter,

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took a sabbatical from her job as a lawyer to stay with him. He's well enough to be in a rehabilitation center in Albuquerque, and she's running the place on her own while he's gone.” There was a pregnant pause, and then Dario cleared his throat. “Tell me why she needs an archeologist and a cop.” “She didn't call for the cop, only the archeologist.” Declan glanced over at him. “You're here because I thought you might enjoy the ride. Remember, you said you were bored?” “Yeah, I remember that from the first time you brought it up, five seconds ago,” Dario said with a laugh. He glanced back out the window and took a long drag from his water bottle. Despite the fact it was a desert, this stretch of road was really pretty, if desolate. They hadn't seen but two cars in the last fifteen minutes, both of those heading toward Gallup, where the two of them had left more than an hour ago. “So, did you two”—Dario punched his fist out in front of him several times—“you know, ride the hobbyhorse together?” “No, unfortunately.” “How come?” Dario could practically see the wheels turning in Declan's mind as he contemplated his answer. He wondered if his friend was trying to give him the truth, or think up an answer that wouldn't bruise his ego. Maybe he'd tried and she'd turned him down. If so, that could make this trip very awkward. “It was never the right time, you know. The attraction is there, always has been. But things always seemed to get in the way.” “What kind of things?” Dario took another swig from his bottle. After Declan didn't answer, he snorted. “Turned you down flat, did she?” “No, she didn't.” Declan's grip on the wheel tightened. “It just never happened. Hey, I was…younger then.”

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“No love skills, huh?” Dario laughed at the angry noise that came from Declan's side of the SUV. “Maybe she'll appreciate the attentions of a handsome Hispanic cop rather than a… What the hell are you, anyway?” “Don't make me pull this car over.” Declan kept his gaze on the road. “I'm half-Irish, half-Native American, and you know it. I'm the best of two worlds, while you've only got one going for you.” They both laughed, and Declan grimaced as he took another sip from his cup. “We're stopping at the next available place; this is nasty.” “Way to change the subject. Did you bring me along to lighten the tension just in case you hit on her and it goes south?” “No, I didn't.” Declan glared at him. Dario studied his friend carefully, then waited for him to speak. When that didn't happen, he asked, “What sort of trouble are we looking at right now?” “Maura helps guide trail rides, and on the last one she took out toward some rock formation, one of her guests came across an opening in the ground. Maura said she didn't let him go down, but when she peered into it, it looked like a kiva. Check my directions, will ya? I don't think we turn until after Shiprock, but I want to make sure.” Dario took the sheet of paper Declan offered him. “After we go through Shiprock, turn right when you see the sign for Full Moon Ranch. It's about fifteen miles past that. Remind me again what a kiva is.” “An underground room used for religious gatherings or rituals.” “I see said the blind man.” Dario stretched out his legs. “If she's found ruins on her land, shouldn't she call the government? Stuff like that is protected under law, isn't it?” “Yes, it is. But she wants to see what she's got before she calls in someone who tells her it might be nothing.” Declan stayed quiet and Dario focused his gaze on him. “What else aren't you telling me?”

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Declan cleared his throat. “After she'd taken her charges back to the ranch, she went out on her own. She didn't have a ladder to go down inside, but she brought a bright flashlight with her. She said there were signs the structure was being used. It smelled like sage, and the ashes from the fire looked as if they were new.” “That's interesting. Who would be using it?” “That's the million-dollar question.” Declan tapped the brakes to slow down behind an ancient truck that crept along in front of them. Declan weaved into the other lane before pulling back behind it. “Can't see far enough ahead to tell if anyone's coming. I'll pass him after the next hill.” “If anyone's coming? There hasn't been a car coming the other way in quite some time. I'm sure we're fine.” “Better safe than sorry, as the old saying goes.” “That explains it.” They topped the hill and Declan pulled around the other vehicle. “Explains what?” “Why you and Maura never got together.” Declan's look conveyed his confusion. “It's the 'better safe than sorry' attitude,” Dario explained. “You had chances to be with her, didn't you?” “Well, yeah, but…” “It wasn't just perfect so you didn't go for it.” “I should have left you at home.” “Get pissed, but it's true. You have to have everything just perfect, and sometimes it's not like that. One of those times when the two of you were in school together, you should have grabbed her and laid one on her, and then you should have let nature take its course. Instead you thought it through and tried to decide which would be the best way to kiss her, or try to get her into bed. By the time you were done working through your logic, school was out,

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she had a job, you had a job and then bam—here she is, in the middle of the desert.” A strained silence filled the car. Dario could practically see the wheels turning inside Declan's mind as he thought of something to say. “Listen, you've been out of school for six years, and it's obvious you still think about her. And when she was in trouble, you were the first person she thought about. If the opportunity comes up this time, don't think. Do.” “Not all of us are like you, Dario. I don't fight drug lords, and I don't bed every woman I come across.” “Neither do I. Well, not the bedding part. I've had a few lady friends, yes, but I don't use women for sex, if that's what you're implying.” Dario held up his hand to stop Declan from answering. “I'm not implying anything.” Declan pointed to a sign on the side of the road. “Twelve miles to Shiprock.” “And he changes the subject again. Fine, just don't come crying to me when we're heading back to Albuquerque and things haven't worked out like you wanted them to.” “Gee, thanks Dad. If I want a lesson on how to kiss a woman, I'll be sure to let you know.” Declan turned toward him. “Can I borrow the car Saturday night?” “No, I'm using it, and if you don't cut the sarcasm, I'll ground you for the weekend.” They both chuckled. “Listen, I'm sorry. Obviously I know you're not an idiot in the sex department. There was that one night with Sharla.” “She was soft and warm, wasn't she? I think she enjoyed our little ménage as much as we did.” “I know she did,” Dario replied with a laugh. “But I'm not talking about pure sex, which that night was. If you truly feel something for this woman, you need to act on it. Time is fleeting, my friend.”

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Dario could almost feel Declan's dismay at his words. “Well, I hate to say it, but you're right. I should have acted on the feelings I have for her. Sucks that I didn't.” The ringing phone startled them both. “Remember when you could go into a car and get away from everything?” Declan put the earbud in and connected. As he spoke with whoever was on the other end, Dario turned his gaze to the landscape. Being away from undercover work was fantastic, and taking a trip into this picturesque countryside just added to the pleasure he'd felt since arriving in Albuquerque a week ago. He'd been undercover for so long that he'd forgotten what it felt like to be able to ride along and not think about keeping up his front, or trying to keep track of dates and buy times to pass on to Ward McGovern, his supervisor at the state police. He'd been on the last job for more than a year and he was thrilled they'd finally pulled him out. Faking his own death was never fun, but he'd done it twice now. Ward said they needed to be careful about where they assigned him next time. Too much chance of someone seeing “a dead man.” While he did that, though, he was happy to take this minivacation to Full Moon Ranch and help Declan investigate the mysterious kiva. Being with old friends like Declan was fun. He could kid him about his failure to hook up with a woman he obviously desired and know Declan would not take it too hard. Of course it had been quite some time since Dario himself had been with a woman, so he supposed he wasn't one to talk. He stayed away from the ladies involved with his drug-dealer targets. That could get too dangerous, too fast. It had been far too long since he'd had a woman. He wondered if Maura had a friend she could introduce him to, so that while she and Declan were hitting the hay, he could maybe do the same thing. A little harmless, casual sex would be very nice. As long as the lady knew that's what it was. But then again maybe there was nobody but cowboys

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around, and he would be stuck with Rosy Palm and her five sisters at night. That was a singularly unpleasant idea. They pulled into Shiprock and Dario looked around at the small town. He turned just as Declan clicked off his phone call. “Sorry. That was my assistant at the university asking about paperwork.” “Don't you just love work?” Dario pointed to a convenience store and Declan pulled in. “I thought this area was all reservation land. How does Maura's father own part of it?” “Not all of it is reservation land,” Declan replied as he opened his car door. “There is a BIA office here in town, if I remember right, but once we start heading east we travel off the rez. There are no hotels around this area, so Mr. Atwell does a booming business, or so Maura says.” They entered the store and loaded up on sodas and snacks. As they checked out, Declan laughed. “It's only about another forty-five-minute drive. Looks like we're stocking up to cross the Great Divide.” “Having too much food is never a bad thing,” Dario replied. “I'll have something to eat at night while I'm watching TV and you're getting laid. God, I hope she has a satellite dish. Or a sister?” He gave Declan a hopeful look, then frowned when his friend shook his head. “Great. I may be heading up to Cortez to stay if I get too bored.” They were back in the car when Declan's phone rang again. He greeted Maura with a hearty voice and Dario could hear her enthusiastic reply come through the line. They buckled up and Declan started back down the road. As he listened to one side of the conversation about things they might need from town before they left, Dario wondered if coming on this trip might make him the third wheel. He certainly hoped not, and once again said a silent prayer for a satellite dish.

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Maura Atwell hit the Off button on her phone and looked around the kitchen. She'd bought far too much when she'd been in town last time, preparing for Declan's visit. She'd known his friend was coming, but she still wondered if she'd overdone the purchasing, especially since he'd just told her they'd stocked up at the convenience store. Tonight's menu was Mexican food: fajitas, nachos, beans and rice, and she would be the chef. There was no food service at the Full Moon Ranch. Guests cooked in their own cabins and stocked their own cupboards. There were seven cabins, and every one of them was full. That meant Declan's friend, Dario, would be staying with them in the main house. Not that there wasn't enough room in the house. There was a room that was blocked off as an office. That was the room people registered in when they arrived. It contained the computer and all the other necessities of an office. Her father's bedroom was right next to the office. The living room, dining room, and kitchen separated that part of the house from the other three bedrooms and two bathrooms. One room was hers, and it had a connecting bathroom. The others would be used for Declan and Dario. She'd hoped to have Declan share her room, but she didn't want things to get awkward with his friend coming with him. It wouldn't be right to say, You stay in here and try not to focus on the noise if we happen to… Well, you know… She blushed at the thought of taking Declan to her bed, and of Dario listening to her cries of pleasure. She'd always been a little shy, and had hoped he would make a move at some point. But he hadn't done so, and she'd decided to use this time together to take the bull by the horns, so to speak. Then he'd called to say he was bringing a friend, a cop who was trained to notice things and could help him scout out the kiva and the surrounding area, maybe help to figure out what was happening out there. It would be great to have an extra set of eyes and hands for the investigation, if that's what this could be termed. She wasn't exactly sure what

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was happening in the valley. Coming across the kiva had been strange. It was a good thing horses were so sure-footed. One wrong move and one of the mounts might have tripped on the opening. Then she would have had a lawsuit on her hands from the guests she'd been with. Thinking about that made her think about her father's advice. She'd told him last night that Declan and Dario were on their way, and he'd approved of their coming. But he'd made one tiny suggestion that might change things in the “let's seduce Declan” department. Of course her father didn't know about Maura's long-standing crush on Declan, and she wasn't about to tell him. He had enough to deal with right now. The nurses at the rehabilitation clinic said he was progressing nicely. She expected him home in a few weeks, and if things went as planned she wanted to return to Albuquerque, and hopefully a relationship with Declan. Thinking about that made her wonder if now would be the time to try her seduction. Maybe she just needed to make this a time to get reacquainted, and they could try to start the relationship back in Albuquerque. Maybe he wasn't interested at all. During college it had seemed as if he were, but then he'd never made a move of any sort. Maybe it was all in her imagination that he was interested. Maybe he'd just wanted to be friends and she'd read too much into the slight touches that ended too quickly, or the times she was sure she'd found him watching her and he'd quickly looked away as she gazed his way. Maybe it was just transference on her part. She wanted him, so she imagined him wanting her. But then again when she'd called a few days ago, he'd been happy to hear from her. She couldn't have imagined that. He'd also made plans to come pretty quickly, which should count for something, shouldn't it? “Holy crap, Maura, you're a lawyer, not a professional wimp. Grow some backbone.” Her voice rang out in the empty kitchen and she straightened up, ran her hands down her sides. Declan and Dario would be here in a little bit

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and she needed to have something ready for them to drink after their long car ride. Sure, they'd stopped in Shiprock, but it was only polite to offer them tea or lemonade. It was too early in the day for beer, or at least she thought it was. She opened the refrigerator and glanced at the tea jar. After watching a cooking program on TV last night, she'd dumped the remnants of what had been in the jar and brewed new stuff, adding oranges, some cloves, and cinnamon. She'd tasted it earlier and decided the recipe made for some delicious tea. That was about all she had, though, and she didn't have enough lemons and sugar to make homemade lemonade. She hurried to the counter and pulled out a container of the powdered mix, then added it and the water quickly to glass jug, and subsequently dumped a bunch of ice cubes into it to help with the cooling process. She put it in the fridge and had just shut the door when there was the sound of a car pulling up out front. One thing about living in the country was the silence, and the ability to hear things far off. Was this Declan and Dario, or was it one of the hands? She listened closely as one car door opened and shut, and then another did the same. Two people. It was probably her guests. Her hands began to sweat and her heart went into overdrive. “You're a grown-up,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Act like a grown-up.” Her feet wouldn't move, though, and when she heard a knock on the front door she turned, praying she didn't trip over her appendages, which now felt like lead. She walked into the living room just as Declan pulled open the screen door and poked his head inside. “Hey, you!” The grin on his face made her stomach rumble with nerves. “Long time no see. Can we come in?” Oh please do, in more ways than one.

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Chapter Two “Yes, yes, get in here!” She prayed she didn't sound like a lovesick teenager. Heavens above, had he been this gorgeous just a few months ago? And then she remembered it wasn't a few months ago. It was more than a year ago. “How was your trip?” “Not bad,” Declan said. He put his arm around her and pulled her into a half hug, then wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her closer. The feel of his hard body against her made her body quicken even more. It went into total overdrive when she saw the man stepping in behind Declan. Two gorgeous men in her house? What had she done to deserve this? Whatever it was, she wanted to record it in her mind so she could do it again. Maura glanced at Declan. He looked just the same as he had the last time she'd seen him. His long, black hair ran to his waist. He usually kept it pulled back, but today it hung loose, framing his full face with its high cheekbones and prominent nose. His dark green eyes were the only facial feature he'd inherited from his Irish mother—well, that and his skin tone. It wasn't as dark as other Native Americans, and he told her that was the one thing that always told others he wasn't full-blooded Indian. The rest of his features came from his father, a Navajo she'd met more than once. Declan's parents were wonderful, and very open. The times she'd spent with them contained many happy memories of joking and laughter. Today, Declan wore faded jeans and a dark blue T-shirt that worked well with his caramel-colored skin. He pulled her into another hug and whispered, “It's so good to see you again.”

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“You too.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as he tightened his hold. Hopefully he hadn't noticed the way she'd been staring at him. She looked over her shoulder at the man who stood behind them. He was Hispanic and just as gorgeous as Declan. Like his friend, Dario wore jeans and a T-shirt. His black hair hung just below his shoulders and was wavy at the ends. He studied her carefully with his deep brown eyes and she wondered exactly what he was thinking. There was a slight glint to his gaze that could have been amusement, or just deep thought, as he seemed to be memorizing her face just like she was doing to his. Both men were tall, but Dario was much beefier than Declan, who had always told her his frame resembled that of his mother's side of the family, tall and lean. They both had muscles, though, wonderful muscles that stretched out the arms of their T-shirts. She mentally willed herself to stop acting like they both belonged on stage at an all-male revue. “Hi.” She tried to hide a grimace as she realized how lame that sounded. “Oh sorry.” Declan released her and stepped aside. “Maura Atwell, meet Dario Fuentes. We went to junior high and high school together.” “And now you're a cop?” “So they say,” Dario replied, winking at her. “It makes it legal for me to carry handcuffs and a gun.” “Oh, well I'll remember to behave myself while you're around.” She put her hands on her stomach, trying to soothe the butterflies without looking like that's what she was doing. He had handcuffs on him? That was interesting. “There are other loaded guns around, but they're all locked up.” “What a pity, locking up loaded guns.” Dario winked again and it wasn't hard to get his meaning. She blushed, but he kept talking and she hoped neither of the two gorgeous men standing with her noticed her red cheeks. “Don't worry; I won't shoot you. I might spank you if you're bad; you might keep that in mind.”

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What was that he said? Spank her? She shot an inquisitive gaze at Declan, who was grinning. “Dario, behave.” Declan pulled her close again. “To get back on target, our trip was fine. Although the last hour of it seemed to be more like six hours.” “Yeah, the road's long and barren. You want to bring in your stuff, or have something to drink? Are you hungry?” “Not yet,” Declan said, stepping around her. “We filled up on junk food just a little while ago. How long a ride is it to the site?” “About an hour and a half by horseback. Do you both ride?” The affirmatives from both of them were good to hear. “We can take an SUV out there, but it's a little bumpy that way. The horses provide a better ride.” “Car tires might obliterate evidence of someone else being there,” Dario said. “How many people have been there since you discovered it?” “Just me, or so I think. I advised the hands to avoid that area.” “Good,” Dario said. “The less traffic, the more chances of reconstructing what happened.” “Definitely.” Declan turned toward the door. “You want to go now? We can bring our stuff in when we get back.” “I want to go today, yes, but let's sit and talk for a few minutes first.” This part would be easy. She was good at tackling subjects like this, as long as she didn't piss Declan off in the long run. If she didn't word this just right, she would upset his sense of honor, and she didn't want to do that. They exchanged a look of confusion and she knew she'd already put her foot in it. She should have mentioned this to Declan during her phone call. “Let's sit down.” She sat on the middle of the couch, surprised when they sat on either side of her instead of taking a seat in one of the chairs. She had knees pressing into her own on either side and it provided a spark of fire that felt absolutely wonderful.

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“What's up?” Declan's voice was calm, and she hoped it stayed that way. “My father's a little concerned about not being here. Not that he doesn't trust me, but this is his land.” “Of course.” Declan's voice was cautious. “Your father's met me, though. He knows I'm not going to go loot the place, right? What is it he's worried about?” “He wants me to hire you.” Maura sat up straighter and went into lawyer mode. “It makes sense, if you think about it. If this does turn out to be something other than a modern model that someone built, then it will sound better to say, we had an archeologist come look at it rather than just my friend Declan.” “Hire me?” Declan focused his gaze on her. “I'm not here to make money. I'm here because you, my friend, wanted my help. If you think I came here wanting to get paid, then—” “I don't think that's what she said, Deck.” Maura was happy to hear Dario's voice interrupt Declan, who was none too happy about her suggestion. “And she's got a point. If this is something that has to be reported to the government, who better to write a report than an archeologist who's been hired to survey the site.” She shot Dario a grateful glance, then looked back at Declan, who seemed to be carefully considering what to say. That was Declan through and through, she knew. He never said anything without thinking about the consequences. “I'm still an archeologist, whether or not I'm paid,” Declan replied, anger riding the edge of his words. “To offer me money for a favor insults me.” “That's not what he meant,” Maura said, putting her hand on Declan's thigh. This wasn't a professional thing to do, but she hoped it would soothe him just a little. “He's afraid someone could come back and say we didn't follow procedure, that we messed things up. If you're his employee, then it's obvious that he took it seriously and had it investigated.”

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“I would investigate as a friend too.” “Yes, but a report signed by you as an employee has more weight than a report signed by a friend,” Dario said. “I see Mr. Atwell's point. As a cop I'd be more likely to believe a report from an employee rather than one of a friend. Sorry, buddy, but it's the way of the world.” Declan leaned back against the couch, pressing his leg harder into her own. “Employees lie, you know. It doesn't mean it's totally truthful.” “But it means it was more than just a handshake agreement.” Maura leaned back so she didn't have to turn to look at him. “My father trusts you, as do I. Implicitly. It's not you we're worried about, it's the others who might come after, if we discover we have something big here.” There was a long, pregnant pause, and then Declan nodded. “Fine. I'm your employee. When do we go to work, boss?” She smiled, happy as he returned it. “Thank you.” She turned to Dario. “And you too. Both of you will be employees while you're here.” “I don't know”—Dario lifted his eyebrows and tilted his head just a little— “how much are you offering?” Declan snorted out a laugh and Maura joined in. “My father suggested a hundred dollars a day, plus room and board.” “Oh no.” Declan stood and moved around the coffee table. “That's way too much. I'll go for twenty-five.” “Twenty-five?” Maura studied him carefully. “Way too low. Seventy-five.” “Fifty,” Dario put in. “That's in the middle.” “Done.” Declan nodded. “Do you want me to sign a contract, Ms. Lawyer?” “Yes.” Maura stood. “I've already prepared one. It's very simple and just says that you've been hired to examine the site and verify exactly what we have. I just need to change the money amount, and print off two now, for you and Dario.”

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“Well snap to it, boss.” Declan glanced around the room. “Where's the computer? We're burning daylight and I want to see the site today.” Maura headed toward the back end of the house. “You guys can bring in your gear while I'm printing. There are three bedrooms behind the kitchen. Mine is there, and you can choose between you from the other two.” She'd just entered the hallway when Dario's voice reached her ears. “Is there an archeological union we need to join? We want to be sure we're treated fairly, you know, make sure management doesn't take advantage of us.” Maura backed out of the hallway and glared at him. “I'm going to have difficulty with you, aren't I?” “Count on it,” Declan told her. “He's always been a troublemaker.” “It's part of my charm.” Dario held out his hands and she could tell he was trying to look as innocent as possible. It only made him look sexier. “Honestly.” “Right.” Maura glanced between the two of them. They were giving her sheepish grins that made her stomach flutter. “Maybe I need a boss's union, something to protect me from the both of you. No funny stuff.” She wagged her finger at them, then headed down the hallway. The deep male laughter that followed let her know Declan wasn't angry with her, which was good. It also let her know this time with them would be entertaining, even if she and Declan weren't alone to work toward a romantic relationship. At least they were together for a while, and that was a start.

***** Dario pulled his bag out of the back of the SUV. He put it on the ground and put his hand on Declan's shoulder as he tried to step around him. “You mean to tell me you never, ever even kissed that tasty little morsel?” “Watch it, Dario.” Declan dropped his bag, his fingers curling into fists. “Don't say things like that about her.”

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“What, that she's gorgeous? I'd be a fool not to notice. All those luscious curves and that blonde curly hair. And those eyes…” Dario shivered and licked his lips. “She's perfect and you let her get away. You're nuts.” “Don't try it. I swear I'll kick your ass.” Dario backed away from him. “I'm not trying to horn in, I'm just saying—” “Yeah, I know what you're saying, that you want to fuck her.” “I'm a man, which means I think about sex all the time, just like you do.” Dario took a step forward. “Don't get pissed because I said you have good taste.” Declan seemed to consider his words, then picked up his bag and headed toward the house. Dario fell into step beside him. “She reminds me of Sorcha, Diego's wife. She's one of those big, beautiful women that most men don't appreciate.” “Yes, she is,” Declan replied. “But I don't like knowing I have a rival.” “Shit.” Dario dropped his bag. “That's not what I said. Fuck, Declan, I'm sorry my cock went into want mode at the first sight of her. Can you blame me?” “No, I suppose not.” Declan turned to him. “She's done that to me for years.” Dario carefully considered his words. He didn't want to say anything that would add fuel to Declan's obvious distrust of him right now. “Okay, so I'll take the room farthest away from hers. Does that work for you?” “Yeah, it does.” Declan started to walk, then turned back around. “Sorry to be so paranoid, it's just—” “Don't worry about it.” Dario moved around him and walked up the steps to the porch that wrapped around the large ranch house. “I'll behave.” Once inside, he headed in the direction his new “boss” had indicated. Behaving himself around Maura would be difficult, but he would never do anything to damage his friendship with Declan. They'd been friends since they

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were in junior high school, when he came to Declan's rescue after bullies were making fun of a “half-breed with a stupid name.” They'd teamed up and kicked some ass, and become best friends in the process. There was no way he'd let a woman come between them, no matter how hard she made him. He stopped to examine the first room, done in a mixture of reds and blues, the large four-poster bed taking up much of the space. “This one looks good,” he said as Declan looked over his shoulder. “I imagine her room is at the end of the hall.” Declan walked past him to the other room. “Think again. This is hers, unless I'm mistaken.” Dario peered over Declan's shoulder, noticing the perfume bottles and makeup case on the dresser. The brass bed looked fit for a woman, covered in a wedding-ring quilt. “I bet this was her room as a kid,” Dario said. “Notice some of the posters are teenlike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Titanic. All stuff from when she was in high school.” “Yes, that's my room.” They turned toward her voice and Dario noticed the “tease me about my posters and die” look on her face. He put his hand in front of his mouth to hide a grin. He pushed past Declan and headed toward the room he'd already picked out. “This one's mine, then. Deck can take the other one.” “Thanks for making my decision for me,” his friend said as Dario disappeared inside his room, flopping his bag on the bed. He'd stayed in a lot of dumps while working undercover and this place was like Buckingham Palace to him. A large, comfy bed and a bathroom right down the hall. Add to that the beautiful woman right next door, and this place wasn't a palace; it was heaven. He shook his head to remove the image of Maura under him, groaning as he slipped in and out of her. He'd made a promise to Declan and he would keep

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it, no matter how blue his balls got. And from the tingling he was feeling, they might be midnight blue by the end of the night, when he could greet Rosy Palm. This might turn out to be a very long day.

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Chapter Three Declan eased up on the reins, dropping behind the other horses just a bit. Maura was in the lead, chatting amiably with Dario. She looked gorgeous in the saddle. But then again, she looked gorgeous anywhere. She's cut her hair short since they'd been out of school, and he liked it, although he preferred it longer. She still looked beautiful, though. Being out of the city and living in the country seemed to agree with her. Or maybe it was just the fact he was there that kept her smiling. Declan could only hope that was the case. Watching her laugh and joke with Dario right

now

made

him

remember

his

overblown

reaction

to

Dario's

pronouncement that Maura was delicious. He'd only been telling the truth, after all, and Declan had gone overboard, thinking that Dario was going to go after her. He knew Dario was much more adventurous and outgoing than he was about sex. Not that he hadn't had girlfriends, but Dario, Declan knew, participated in activities such as bondage and group sex that was more than a ménage. The most he'd ever done was a ménage à trois. There were other things he'd like to try, especially with Maura. That idea made Declan pull a little on the reins. The horse whinnied in protest and he loosened his grip. “You okay back there?” Maura turned a brilliant smile his way and he returned it. “I'm doing just fine.” Just imagining what it would be like to have sex with you, and then have Dario join in. “How much longer?”

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“About fifteen minutes or so. Your butt getting sore?” He chuckled lowly. “We've already been sitting in a car all morning long, and now we're in a saddle, so the obvious answer is yes. Plus I'm anxious to see the site.” He prodded his horse forward, pulling up next to Maura. “Dario, have you noticed anything out of the ordinary so far?” “Not a thing. You?” “Nope.” Declan cast his gaze over the landscape. The loose dirt was covered with sagebrush and a few cacti. The land was fairly flat, but in the distance he could see buttes and rock formations that provided the beautiful scenery this area was famous for. They'd already seen one rattlesnake and given it a wide berth as they passed by. It had barely seemed to notice them as it slithered through the dirt. “Is there a canyon around here?” “Yes, just up the way about another fifteen minutes past the kiva. Why do you ask?” Declan glanced at her. “Has the area been checked for cliff dwellings?” “I would imagine so,” Maura replied. “I didn't ask my father that question. I can call him tonight and ask.” “Cliff dwellings?” Dario glanced over at him. “I thought those were up at Mesa Verde.” “There are dwellings scattered all around,” Declan replied. “We don't really know what happened to the ancient Puebloans after they left their home. This is close enough that some of them might have ended up here.” “Are you talking about the Anasazi?” “The common term nowadays is ancient Puebloans,” Declan said. “But yes, that's the people I'm referring to.” “Tell us, Professor, about the ancient Puebloans,” Dario said. “I'm afraid I might have slept through one or two of my history classes.”

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“Huh. You mean you were awake for one or two of them and slept through the rest.” Declan shot his friend a look, happy that both he and Maura laughed. “Now class is in session, so pay attention, boys and girls. The ancient Puebloans were a race of people who lived in this area from around AD 100 to AD 1300. The times are not precise because there are no written records. There are just people like me who examine things and come to conclusions.” “A time cop,” Dario said. “How many of them lived around here?” “Again, there's not an exact number. We estimate thousands upon thousands, though. Some big sites have been found, like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon, which is not too far from here. But there might have been smaller settlements that have not been located yet. This area is not exactly well populated, you know. There's no telling what is yet to be found in the desert.” He gazed at Maura, who was looking at him in wonder. “You sound like you want to be the one to find it all.” “I think it would be cool,” he said. “I like exploring the ancient ruins.” She turned her horse north and he and Dario fell into step beside her again. “Do you mean to say this could be real?” “It's very possible, Maura.” Declan patted his horse. “The gathering areas and Chaco Canyon would be the largest settlements in this immediate area, but smaller cities were around. This area would be prime for ancient Puebloans.” Dario held up his hand. “Professor, if I may? I thought these people lived in cliffs. There doesn't seem to be a lot of them around here.” “They lived in cliffs at the end. We're not exactly sure why they went there, either. Things pop up everywhere.” The pensive look on Maura's face tore at Declan's heart. “What's wrong?” “I just wonder what drove them to the cliffs; to me it seems so dangerous. And what brought about their demise?”

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“Nobody really knows, Maura.” Declan tried not to show his confusion. This was something he'd always wondered about too. “There are many different theories, about drought or plague or famine. There's the idea that there were raiders from the south who came up from Mexico to trade and then things turned nasty. I don't think we'll ever really know for sure what happened, but it's fascinating to explore.” “They just disappeared…” Maura's voice trailed off. “It's so strange.” “Well, modern Puebloans are descendants of the ancient ones. Something big happened to them to diminish their numbers, but we're not exactly sure what.” Maura pulled up her horse and pointed to an area about one hundred feet away. “There it is. We marked it with the stick and yellow flag to make it easier to find again.” Declan dismounted, then hurried over to the area she'd pointed out. Excitement coursed through him as he neared. Studying ancient sites always made his blood flow faster, and knowing he could be the first archeologist here was a real rush. He dropped to his knees near the opening, then lay down, unmindful of the sharp weeds and plants sticking into his stomach. “Dario, bring me a flashlight!” His friend was beside him in seconds, handing over a powerful flashlight. Declan flicked it on, then cast its beam into the hole. His heart beat even faster as the light hit pieces of broken pottery that littered the floor. “Hot damn.” He jumped up and made for the pack on his horse. “Well?” Maura turned as he walked past her. “What do you think?” “It looks promising,” he said, as he grabbed the pack, then dropped it on the ground. He undid the ties and pulled out the item he was looking for. He'd made sure to put it right on top when he'd packed his tools. “What is that?”

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“Well, I'm going to drop a length of rope down inside to see if I can measure how deep the cavern is. Then I'm going to secure a rope ladder, with Dario's help, and go down inside to look around.” “Oh no, you're not going down there,” Maura said. “I think that's an incredibly bad idea.” “Why? Didn't you go down?” “No.” The look on her face said she thought he was a moron for asking. “I came alone to get a better look. I've kept people away since then.” “Of course you didn't go down by yourself. You're too smart for that. Plus you're not a trained archeologist. I am. I know what I'm doing.” He made to step around her, but she blocked his path. “Don't you think more study is needed before you just plop yourself down into a huge hole in the ground?” “No, what I think is that you hired me to do a job. Please don't question the way I do it.” Resignation came over her face and he slung the rope over his shoulder, then gently tipped her chin up, lightly touching his lips against her cheek. “Relax, I'll be fine.” He walked around her, dropping the rope at Dario's feet. The cop stood looking down into the opening. “It's not very deep, judging from what I can see, Deck. I'd say about eight, ten feet.” “That's about a normal height for them.” Declan began braiding his hair. “Do me a favor and scout the area for hardness, see if there's an area that's tough enough to support spikes to attach a rope ladder.” Dario nodded and started off. He turned a few feet away. “I saw you kissing the boss. If you get a raise and I don't, I'm going to file a grievance with somebody.” He moved off and Declan grinned as he finished his braid. He hadn't really kissed her, although he supposed from Dario's point of view it would have

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looked that way. He picked up the rope and turned to watch as Maura walked up. “Hold the flashlight for me?” “Sure, although I'm still not in love with this plan.” She took the flashlight. “Seems to me we need to study things more before jumping in feetfirst.” “Better than jumping in headfirst,” Declan replied. She didn't smile, and he sighed. “It's going to be fine, trust me. Just relax.” “This ground is pretty hard,” Dario said as he came up to them. “Unfortunately it's also very dry, which means I'm not sure about securing stakes. Of course that depends on how long they are too.” Declan nodded as he contemplated the size of the stakes. “About twentyfive inches probably,” he said. “But how thick are they?” Dario wiggled his brows. “I would have come better prepared, you know, with stakes that can get the job done right.” “Are you insinuating my stakes won't pass muster when the need arises?” Dario shrugged and Declan groaned. He looked at Maura, who turned away to hide the grin that had come up at the exchange. Before Declan could think of a decent reply, she was clearing her throat. “One of our trucks has a winch on it. We can drive it out here and secure the rope to it.” As much as he didn't want to admit it, Maura had the better idea. It was best to have something mechanical on site in case something went wrong while he was down there and Dario couldn't pull him out. “You're right,” Declan said, turning to walk back over to the entrance. “I'd say Dario could lower me and pull me back up, but I'm not sure he has the stamina to get the job done right. Sometimes bigger equipment isn't always better.” “Not a problem,” Dario retorted. “Give me something challenging to do and I'll worry about it. But lowering you down into the hole? Easy as pie.”

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“If you could bake.” Declan dropped the rope near the entrance and turned to Dario. Maura stepped in between them, and he inhaled her scent; it was intoxicating and it prevailed over everything, even over the sagebrush and horses. She used orange shampoo, and it stirred his senses. One quick look at Dario showed it did the same thing to him. His friend's eyelids looked heavy, and he was gazing down at Maura as if she were lunch. “If you two are done with your pissing contest, can we come to the conclusion we need to bring the truck out here?” “Yeah.” Declan swallowed a laugh. “But I still want to look.” He dropped to his knees and grabbed the rope, then tied a slipknot at the end. Then he attached a large bell to the knot, threading the hook through and making sure the latch caught. “It would be helpful if you gave me the beams from two flashlights down.” He indicated the horses. “Dario, there's at least one more in my pack, if you please.” Dario nodded and left; Maura dropped to her knees, then lay down on her stomach, sticking her head out enough to look through the opening. “Do you think this is old?” “Yes and no.” Declan mimicked her moves, his body touching hers. “I'd say this kiva is old, but someone in modern times excavated it and is using it for whatever purpose.” “Why do you say that?” Dario plopped down on Maura's other side and Declan noticed his body pressed tightly against hers. She didn't seem to mind being pressed between the two of them, though, so he didn't ask his friend to bring his flashlight over to Declan's other side, which would put him near the roof, and could prove dangerous. There was no telling how sturdy the structure was, or if the dirt ceiling was reinforced from the inside. One false move and someone would see the inside of the structure after falling through the top.

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“Over the years this room would have filled with dirt,” Declan replied. “Sometime in the not-too-distant past someone cleaned that dirt out, and because I don't see any piles of it anywhere around here, they also hauled it away.” “Which brings about the question of who did it and why.” Dario's voice had taken on what Declan called his “cop tone.” He was shining his light in the entrance to the kiva, studying the ground. “I'd love to get down there and see what's inside.” “Me first,” Declan said. “And not until we get the winch truck here, per the boss's orders.” Maura's satisfied nod made Declan wiggle his shoulder against hers. She smiled at him, the glow on her face an obvious sign she enjoyed the contact, or at least he hoped that's what it meant. She turned on her flashlight and aimed it toward the bottom. The light from both the instruments lit up the inside and Declan's breath caught. He hoped he was right in thinking that what he saw littering the bottom was pottery shards and not someone using the hole as a convenient place to throw their trash. It would support his theory about this being an actual ancient site. He lowered the rope over the side and began to feed it gently inside the opening. “Let's stay quiet and listen for the sound of the bell hitting the bottom. It will tinkle as it moves, but when it hits bottom it should make a nice heavy sound. Then we can mark the rope and draw it back up. The mark will help us estimate how deep the kiva is.” Their silence showed they understood. He lowered the rope slowly, the soft tinkling sound of the bell growing more distant. The three of them remained silent, and when he heard the tinkle of the bell and Dario say, “There,” he stopped his movements, then pulled a marker from his pocket and slid it across the rope.

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He pulled the rope up quickly, then handed one end to Dario. They both stood and pulled the rope between them as they backed away from each other. Maura turned onto her back, her gaze moving between the two of them. “We were right,” Dario said. “I'd guess it at eleven feet.” “About right.” Declan relaxed his grip on the rope at the same time Dario let his drop. The rope draped across Maura's stomach as she propped herself up on her elbows. “That's an interesting picture.” Dario's voice was deep, and Declan fought the urge to either agree with him or tell him to shut the hell up. “Don't get any ideas,” Maura said, as she ducked under the rope, then stood up. “I'm the boss, remember, and a comment like that could be construed as sexual harassment.” “Can an employee sexually harass the boss?” Dario began gathering up the rope. Declan let his end fall to the ground and walked toward Maura, who watched Dario carefully. “Oh yes,” she replied. “It could mean a dock in pay, or something equally bad, like going to bed without dinner.” “Hmm. How about going to bed and then getting dinner?” Dario licked his lips and Declan cleared his throat. He glanced at Maura, whose face had turned a nice shade of red. It spread under her shirt and her full breasts seemed to be moving faster. It was definitely a nice sight. He looked at Dario to see his friend's gaze fastened on the same spot Declan's had been just moments ago. “Behave, or I'll send you back to Albuquerque on the next bus.” Dario looked up at him and Declan gave him a look that he hoped conveyed the words, Keep your eyes off Maura's tits. “I don't think that's your call,” Dario retorted. “I'm still on the payroll, right boss?”

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They both looked at Maura, and Declan was happy to see she was still smiling, and still blushing. “I might dock both your pay for interoffice fighting if you don't straighten up. Besides, it's getting late in the day and we need to start back so we can make it to the Moon before the sun goes down totally. The area's pretty flat, but there's always the possibility of snakes or hungry coyotes coming out of nowhere.” “The trickster,” Declan said, as he took the rope from Dario and turned toward the horses. “Definitely something we don't want to meet up with.” Declan heard Maura and Dario shuffling behind him and he resisted the urge to turn and see how closely together they were as they walked. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to bring his handsome friend along with him. If he screwed up this chance to let Maura know how he felt about her, he'd kick himself for the rest of his life. That meant he needed to make a move quick, maybe even tonight. He just needed the right moment to give her more than a kiss on the cheek.

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Chapter Four Maura stepped into the kitchen and sniffed the air appreciatively. Declan had started the grill and the wonderful smell of charcoal filled the air. She'd had the meat for the fajitas marinating since last night. All she had to do was get it out of the refrigerator, drain it off, and take it to him to cook. The rice was almost done, and the beans had been in the pressure cooker for the last eight hours. Now she needed to take them out, mix in some spices, and mash them, and dinner would be ready. Her “employees” would have to make do with store-bought tortillas, since she hadn't made any homemade ones in quite some time. This afternoon had been very fulfilling. Declan had confirmed her suspicion that the kiva was old, although whoever was using it now might be damaging its historical value. She couldn't wrap her mind around why someone would use it. Kivas were places that had high religious value, true, but who around here still believed in the old ways? She had eight employees on the ranch, and all of them were native. But as far as she knew, all of them were Christian. They wouldn't be using a kiva to perform rituals. Or at least she didn't think they would. But then again, did you really know the people you worked with? You saw them for a few hours a day, and then they went about their regular lives. And unless you were good friends, their regular lives didn't generally include you. That gave them lots of hours during the day to be doing things that you had no clue about. Thinking about that made her remember Declan. In college, they'd been great friends, seeing each other every day, eating lunches together, and going

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to movies. After college their time together had lessened, until they saw each other a few times a week, and then it was once a month. Then it been even less than that. She'd missed him, and sometimes she called just to talk, but the relationship she'd always hoped would blossom hadn't sparked. Now she had a second chance, but there was one major problem. Dario. Declan bringing along a friend could mean one of two things, as far as she was concerned. He was either bringing him as a cop who could help him investigate the kiva and what was happening. Or he'd brought him as a shield, to keep Maura from hitting on him. She certainly hoped it wasn't the latter, because she'd thought about hitting on Declan for ages. Unfortunately things just hadn't worked out that way. Thinking about getting physical with Declan also made her think about Dario, which was another unexpected problem. He was just as gorgeous as her friend, and he stirred her senses. They both did. Maura closed her eyes and imagined herself between the two of them, two sets of lips on her shoulders and neck, two sets of hands roaming over her breasts and thighs, gently caressing her, tweaking her nipples and seeking out her clit, making her body writhe in passion. She wrapped her arms around herself, hugging her body close as she imagined the two of them making love to her. Their bodies would be hard and sweaty as they licked, kissed, caressed, and sucked. Declan would kiss her first, and then Dario would claim her lips while Declan's traced down her stomach, coming to rest in that sweet spot at the apex of her thighs, his tongue finding her clit and… “That's a lot of food.” Maura gasped and wheeled toward Dario, her face burning with excitement from her vision and embarrassment at being caught daydreaming about the two men who were now basically her employees. “Do you think?” She breathed in and out through her mouth, trying to get her breathing under control. She turned back to the counter, praying he didn't notice how flushed she was, and glanced at the four chicken breasts and three

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flank steaks. Last night she'd worried that she'd gone a tad overboard in marinating. She knew Declan was a big eater from their time in college. But she hadn't been sure about Dario. Now that she'd met him and learned that he was a large man, she was sure he had an appetite to match Declan's. “I figured you guys would be hungry.” She looked back to where Dario stood, studying her. His body was still damp from his shower, and a tight Tshirt clung to his chest and upper arms. “I'm always hungry,” Dario said, winking at her. His dark hair hung in wavy, wet ringlets around his face, emphasizing his expressive eyes and the deep grin that now rested on his face. “What about you, boss? Are you hungry?” Hungry for what? she wanted to ask. The tone of his voice made it sound as if he were asking if she was hungry for more than the food they were discussing. But she didn't want to go there. Not with Dario. She wanted Declan. Not Dario. “Of course.” She picked up a green pepper and an onion. “I still have some preparation to do. Why don't you take the meat out to Declan and see if he's ready to start grilling. Tell him I'll have the vegetables out in just a few minutes.” “You got it, skipper.” He leaned over to pick up the bags of meat, his body brushing against hers as he did. Electricity zinged through her and she tried to keep herself from responding. This wasn't what she had planned. She watched as Dario walked to the back door, letting it thump shut as he went through. The noise made her think of banging, as in being bent over the kitchen counter while Dario banged into her from behind. She closed her eyes and imagined Declan leaning against the doorjamb, watching her before he came over and lightly caressed her back.

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You look so beautiful, he'd whisper. You don't mind if we share, do you? Oh no, she didn't mind. This wasn't exactly what she'd had planned for this little excursion. But then again, plans changed, and lots of times those changes were for the better. “Maura! Bring the veggies.” Declan's voice rang out from the patio and sent shivers down her spine. “Cut it out,” she whispered to herself. “You're acting like you're a teenager and he's your date to the prom.” She quickly cleaned the green peppers, cut them in half, then dumped the seeds. She sliced the onions into rings, then piled them on a plate. After wrapping the tortillas in tinfoil, she went to the back porch, where Declan was putting the last of the meat on the grill. He looked good enough to eat as he stood there with the tongs in one hand and a bottle of hot sauce in the other. He liberally sprinkled the sauce on the meat, then turned to give her a wicked grin. “Nice and spicy, just like you like it!” He winked and her knees felt as if they would buckle out from under her. Oh yes, she liked it nice and spicy, in more ways than one. “You remembered. I'm flattered.” She put the plate with the veggies on the tray next to the grill, then stepped back, afraid she would give in to the desire to rip his clothes off if she stood too close. “Do we have everything we need?” “Looks that way.” Declan waved the tongs to indicate the grill and the table. “For the cooking, that is. Everything else is in the fridge?” “Yup. I'll bring it out after we're done.” She glanced at Dario, who was taking a swig from a beer bottle. “What do you think?” “I think I'm starved, and it all looks delicious.” He took another swig, then stretched out his legs in front of him. “So spill, I want the whole story.”

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“Story?” Maura frowned as she moved around Declan and put the foilwrapped tortillas on the outer edges of the grill so they could warm. “I don't know the story. That's why you're here, remember?” “I'm not talking about the kiva,” Dario said. “I'm talking about the two of you. How did you meet? I want the who, what, where, when, why, and how.” “Isn't that what a journalist asks?” Declan turned toward his friend. “I'm taking lessons from Sorcha, my sister-in-law. She's helping me to learn to get to the bottom of things. Think of this as practice.” Maura didn't want to be the first to go. Would Declan remember the first time they met, or the second, or even the third? The first time was burned in her brain, but if she recited that story and heard Declan say, Really, I don't remember that, she would just die of embarrassment. “We were in the library.” Relief flooded her as Declan waved the tongs in her direction. “Someone was reaching for a book on Shakespeare, and it just so happened to be the one I was looking for. She wouldn't let me take it either; she tore it right out of my hands.” “I had it first,” she replied, wrinkling her nose at him. “If you'd had it first, then you wouldn't have had to tear it out of my hands, would you? As I told you that night, I had it first. If I remember right, that was the meaning behind our second encounter, at the checkout desk downstairs.” Maura batted her eyes innocently. “Yes, and the clerk agreed with me, didn't she? Because I had the book.” She leaned closer to him. The air smelled of soap and shampoo, mixed with the spices coming from the grilling meat and veggies. She took the tongs from his hand and flipped the foil-wrapped tortillas so they wouldn't stay in one place too long and burn. “Yeah, that's what happens when you steal something. You have it in your possession.”

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“It was a library book. How did I steal it?” “You took it right out of…” Maura opened her mouth in astonishment, then started to talk right over him. “I did not. It was on the shelf and…” Dario snapped his fingers, and they both turned to him. “I didn't mean to open an argument that's obviously never been settled. If you fought during your first encounter, how did you get to be friends?” Declan turned the meat, and Maura laughed. “We met at a party a few nights later, where oddly enough, Declan was complaining to a friend of mine about a pushy woman who took the library book he needed for his term paper. Turns out we had the same class, just at different times. So I did the nice thing and invited him to my house the next afternoon, which was a Sunday, so we could share the book.” She gave Declan a meaningful glance. “Emphasis on the word 'share.' He came over to the apartment a few times after that, and we used it to get what we needed done. We even helped each other out on our papers, and thus was born our friendship.” “A friendship born out of thievery,” Dario said with an exaggerated sigh; the sound was one a man made when he was making fun of a woman telling a romantic story, and Maura narrowed her eyes at him. “It wasn't thievery,” she said. “Hey, I'm a cop, and if I'd been taking the report, I would have called it that. He had the book in his hot little hand, and you took it from him. Case closed.” Maura didn't want to tell him he was right. She'd always put forth the idea the book was on the shelf, when in actuality Declan had been reaching for it and had it in his grip as she'd taken it from him. At the time she remembered hoping the handsome man with the long hair would look her way. Instead he'd made a fuss about the book, and she'd kept it, to make up for the fact that he

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hadn't really noticed she was a woman, just a fellow English student competing for research material. That story made her remember that in all the years they'd known each other, Declan had not made one move toward her in a sexual manner. He'd had girlfriends, and she'd had boyfriends, and they'd talked about dates and breakups and other things that went along with relationships. But he'd never ever made a move to kiss her. Until this afternoon, when he'd kissed her cheek. He'd hugged her, but that wasn't sexual. His lack of movement in that direction let her know he wasn't interested in her sexually. The thought hurt her, and it was reinforced by the fact that he'd brought a friend along on this trip. No problem, she tried to convince herself. Sex does nothing but get in the way of friendships anyway. If we'd had sex, we probably still wouldn't be in touch, and she couldn't stand the thought of losing Declan as a friend, even if she didn't see as much of him as she wanted to. How many former lovers did she see? None, not on a social basis anyway. She may have seen a few around town in Albuquerque, but that was always an awkward situation. They'd nod at each other and act like they were making small talk, when in actuality they were all, including herself, trying to figure out the quickest way they could get away without sounding rude. What was it about physical intimacy that made people so uncomfortable? Her parents had taught her there was nothing wrong with it, yet she still found herself pulled into the “fuck and run” category that kept her from establishing a meaningful relationship. And as much as she wanted to connect with Declan, doing so would probably put a wedge between them that she couldn't live with. That meant it was a very good thing he'd brought Dario with him. This way there would be no sex, just three friends working to solve a little mystery. Declan put the vegetables on a plate and handed it to her. “The meat's almost ready. Will you cut these up, please?”

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Maura took the veggies to the table and cut them into strips, then checked to make sure they had everything else they needed. She needed to concentrate on food and not on the two gorgeous men on her patio, men whom she wouldn't be able to do anything more with than talk with. It could prove to be a long visit.

***** “No chick flicks.” Dario leaned back in his chair, lifting the front two legs off the patio floor. “I vote for a good action flick. Do you have any of those?” He tried not to stare at Maura as she stacked the dirty plates and made a pile of leftovers to feed to the two dogs, which sat patiently waiting at the edge of the concrete. They'd decided on movies tonight, and that was just fine with him. He hoped they would take his mind off the fact that he'd been rock hard for the last hour, ever since he'd pressed against Maura as he'd reached for the food. That had been a bad move. He'd been attracted to her the minute he'd walked through the door, but he hadn't planned to act on it, knowing how Declan felt about her. Feeling her body against his had only increased the attraction he felt, and made all the blood in his body rush to one spot, and tonight he couldn't think with his little head. The fact he'd have blue balls by the end of the night wasn't something he was looking forward to. Declan wasn't making a move toward her, which was a bad thing as far as Dario was concerned. His friend was shy in some respects, and maybe just a little afraid of rejection. Dario didn't think that would be a problem, though. From the way she laughed and joked with them as they'd exchanged words at the site, he didn't think she was the type to back down from sex. In fact he was sure she'd enjoy it, very much. But with Declan it was much more than that. Dario didn't want to do anything that might get in the way of his friend letting Maura know exactly how he felt.

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“What do you have other than chick flicks?” “Do I look like the chick-flick kinda girl?” She was standing near the table now, frowning down at him. “All women are the chick-flick kinda girl,” Dario retorted. “They may not admit it, but deep inside them they want the flowers, candy, and 'I love you; let's live happily ever after' speech at the end of the movie.” “Really?” She sat down in the chair next to him, focusing an intense gaze on him. “Did I expect it in Terminator? No. What about Mortal Kombat or Kill Bill?” “Which volume?” Dario grinned at her and was gratified to see a smile replace her earlier defensive look. “What about Bond?” “Bond? There's lots of love in Bond movies,” Declan put in, leaning his elbows on the table. “There's lots of sex in Bond movies, or at least the earlier ones,” Maura replied. “There's a difference between sex and love, as you well know.” Dario saw Declan open his mouth, then close it again without saying a word. “There's nothing wrong with sex,” Dario said. “Although, I might point out as per your earlier words, that this discussion could be termed as sexual harassment, skipper.” “We're off the clock,” Maura replied. “And why are you calling me skipper? Do I remind you of an overweight shipwrecked man wearing a blue shirt?” “No, you're the boss, the captain, the skipper.” Dario shrugged, then cocked his head just a little. “So we're off the clock, does that mean we're getting paid hourly, or are we salaried workers? I'm just asking because, after this gig ends, I'll have to fill out paperwork for unemployment benefits.” “Kiss my fanny,” Maura said, her words tinged with humor. Then, as if realizing what she'd said, her eyes widened and she grabbed the plates. “I made

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flan last night. Do you want some now, or should we wait until after the movie starts?” “I'm voting for Bond,” Declan said, and Dario nodded in agreement. They both ignored her suggestion about dessert. “Lots of action and other things to titillate us.” “You are so bad,” Maura replied. “It's a good thing for both of you it's afterhours.” She pointed to the living room. “There's a TV in there, although Dad's is not exactly state-of-the-art. He didn't even have a satellite dish until I came out here, and I'm afraid I never got a converter for the DTV thing, so it probably is not even getting a signal, since we only have one receiver and that's on my TV. The only DVD player in the house is hooked up to the digital TV in my bedroom, which is mounted on the wall. The only problem is there's only one place to sit in there.” “King or queen?” Declan stood and picked up a few of the serving dishes they'd used. He put them down, then took the plate of leftovers and headed over to where the dogs still sat waiting. He divided the contents between two bowls, and the dogs wagged their tails, then started to eat. Dario decided he was trying to be discreet without saying to Maura, Being on the bed is fine with me. “It's a queen-size bed.” “As long as you're in the middle, we'll be fine,” Dario said, standing and taking the empty plates from her. “I hope you got lots of pillows.” “Definitely.” Declan's agreement followed Dario as he went into the kitchen, then put the plates on the counter. Dario could hear their soft voices as they discussed something, but he wasn't exactly sure what it was. He thought it best to give them a little time alone. Then they'd watch a bit of the movie, and he'd excuse himself to try and relieve some of the tension that was building in his balls. Declan could take it from there. After all, they'd already be in her bed. It would be the perfect opportunity for his friend to make a move

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that could satisfy the both of them, even if it did leave Dario with nothing but his hand.

***** Maura wondered about her sanity. She'd told herself there would be no sex involved in this visit, yet here she was about to go to bed with two men. Not really go to bed with them, she supposed, just lie in bed. There was a difference, right? Yes, there was. But then why had she turned out all the lights and lit the candles that sat atop her dresser? It was to provide low lighting, she told herself, so they would feel like they were in a movie theater. If she told herself that enough, she might actually believe it. She thought about blowing out the candles and turning on the lamps on her nightstands. But she liked the candles and the glow they gave off. If one of them mentioned them, she would blow them out. Until then, they stayed. She picked up a pillow and tossed it to the bottom of the bed. It would be better to lie down with their heads toward the bottom; that way she could look at the event as a big slumber party, instead of them being in a position to sleep or to… “Don't go there, Maura; don't go there.” “Where?” Declan tossed another pillow next to the one she'd just thrown. “I brought the ones from my room. I think Dario's bringing his too.” Maura gave him a bright smile and nodded. He frowned and she tried to keep her smile plastered on her face. “Are you okay with this? We could sit on the floor. Or if you're tired, we'll let you go to sleep.” She laughed softly. “If you sat on the floor, it would be like sitting in the first row of a movie theater. Plus, it's not even nine o'clock. I may be a country girl now, but I'm not one of the 'early to bed, early to rise' type of girls. If I went to bed now, I'd be up at four a.m. Besides, since Dad went to Albuquerque, I

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spend most evenings by myself. I'm thrilled to have something to do, even if it is a movie I've seen before.” “Stick around after the main feature and there might be a floor show.” Dario put his pillows on the growing pile, then sat down on the bed and bounced. “Nice. Not too soft, not too firm. As Goldilocks would say, 'It's just right.'” “It's my bed from home. All my other stuff is in storage, well, except for the TV and DVD collection.” There was an awkward silence, and then Declan asked, “Where's the remote?” “On the nightstand.” She walked to the top of the bed, then watched as Dario stretched out on his stomach. His long, lean body sank into the mattress, and he bunched up the pillows, using them to keep his head lifted. Her gaze raked over his back, loitering on his firm butt. Damn, but that was fine. Neither of them had mentioned the candles or complained about the lighting, so she decided it was okay the way it was. “You getting in?” The humor in Declan's voice made her stomach clench. He'd noticed her staring. “Of course.” It almost seemed as if she were getting into the bed for the first time. She waddled to the middle, then leaned forward. Dario took that moment to look over his shoulder, and the shifting of the mattress made her lose her balance. She started to fall, gasping when Declan's hands clasped her hips. He was right behind her now, almost as if he were going to take her from behind. Her clit twitched at the contact, and she gasped again. Declan's hands tightened on her hips, and Dario's hand went to her waist, cupping her gently.

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Oh crap, this was a bad idea. Her body loved their touch, though, and she felt her nipples tighten against her tight shirt. She glanced at Dario, who was staring at her chest, his eyes widening in appreciation. This was definitely not a good idea. “Careful,” Declan said, lowering her gently. She came down on Dario's hand. He wiggled his finger, then pulled away at the same time Declan's hands left her hips. She felt strangely alone now, even though they were both there. Maybe if she asked again, they would touch her. Or she could fall again and they would catch her. “Bit clumsy,” she said, trying to laugh. “Who wants the remote?” “A woman offering a man a remote?” Declan stretched out next to her, pressing close. She was sandwiched between the two of them, and if she'd been a piece of cheese between two slices of bread, she thought she would melt from the heat she felt. Her hand sizzled from where Declan touched her as he grabbed the piece of plastic she clutched. “Don't mind if I do, even if it is a bit naive on your part. You know what they say about men and remotes.” “I changed my mind.” She stretched out her arm for it, but he held it out of reach. “Too late.” He pushed buttons at random, a frown marring his masculine features when nothing happened. “This says Power, but the TV's still off. What's the deal?” “Give it to me and I'll show you.” She tried, and once again failed, to grab it. “Children, please.” Dario offered his hand. “Give it to the man who just spent more than a year undercover with not much more than a satellite dish to satisfy his boredom.” Declan snorted, then handed him the remote. “Knock yourself out.” Within a few minutes Dario had turned on the TV and started the DVD. As the video played through the warnings and moved to the main menu, Maura

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studied Dario. What was it like, she wondered, to spend all that time away from family and friends, trying to catch the bad guys who made money off drugs? How exactly did one go about being undercover and not give themselves away? She'd just opened her mouth to ask when he turned to her. “I know what you want to ask, but just like a good spy, if I told you what it was like, I'd have to kill you.” He'd leaned close to her, his breath hot on her cheek. She'd turned onto her side and moved back just a little, butting into Declan. Dario scooted closer, and her body, already aroused from the proximity of two strong men, heated up even more. The familiar strains of music from the film filled the room, and Maura laughed nervously. “You're on my side of the bed.” “Your side is in the middle, remember? Besides, possession is nine-tenths of the law, as they say. Right now I possess this part. Right, Deck?” “Right, Dario.” Declan's voice was husky in her ear. She could feel the hard length of him pressed against her backside. The fact he had a hard-on sent waves of need through her. She wanted to look down and see if Dario was in the same state, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from his face, which bore a devilishly sexy smile at the moment. This is a bad idea. Just remember that before you do anything you'll regret later. “I'm a lawyer, remember? I can find my way around the possession argument. Now scoot over and let's watch the movie.” Before I forget myself and attack you both. “Spoilsport.” Dario moved, and Maura couldn't decide if it made her happy or frustrated. She didn't move away from Declan, though, and when he ran a finger down her thigh, she inhaled sharply. “Hey, remember that possession thing?” Declan's voice was deeper than she'd ever heard it. “Not that I'm complaining, but if you really want to watch the movie, you need to move too, or else we'll be in a little bit of trouble here.”

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“If you two want me to step out, I'll go.” Dario winked at her. “It's not as if I haven't seen this one, a lot.” She rolled back over and focused on the screen. “Sex was not included in our employment contract.” “We're off the clock,” Declan said, nudging her with his thigh. “Which means you're not the boss. I thought we'd covered that earlier in the night.” “I'm amending the contract to include off hours, because this is my home and—” “Ahem.” Dario waved his hands. “Do you mind? I hate people who talk through the movie. If you don't stop, I'm going to call the usher.” Maura and Declan laughed, the sound seeming to link them together. “Shows how long it's been since you've been to a theater,” Maura said. “There are no ushers anymore.” “Good thing I have a gun, then,” Dario said, narrowing his eyes just a bit. “Now behave, you two, or I'll pull it out.” “Is it loaded, or are you just making empty threats?” Maura tried not to laugh at her question, but Declan's chuckle of appreciation widened her grin. “It's always loaded,” Dario replied. “If you need me to prove it, I can.” “Enough.” Declan clapped his hands together to get their attention. “Let's watch the movie.” The room grew quiet, and they watched Bond interact with various women, spies, and superiors. After Bond had bedded his second woman of the film, Maura cleared her throat. “How many women did you leave in your wake, Dario?” He didn't look at her, and she turned to Declan, who also continued to watch the film. “Am I asking an 'I'd have to kill you' question?” For a moment she thought Dario wouldn't answer. And then he moved his shoulders just enough to make it look like a shrug. “This is fiction, remember? In real life I didn't take a different woman to my bed every night. I knew the

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dangers in doing that and usually just had a visit with Rosy Palm and her five sisters.” Maura blushed a little at the idea of Dario stroking his own cock. The image made her already warm pussy burn hotter, and she wiggled her hips a little, bumping against both her bedmates. She needed to change the subject, smooth it out just a little. “Yes, I guess you're right. Most men can't seduce woman after woman, satisfying one after another. And Bond only does it because a writer makes him—” “Are you questioning my ability to make a woman melt in my arms?” “No, Dario, that's not what I meant.” She turned a little, her eyes widening at the predatory look on his face. He glanced behind her at Declan, then fastened his gaze on her lips. She opened her mouth to try and dig herself out of the hole she was in. He claimed her lips so fast that she felt as if her heart had stopped beating. Behind her, Declan pressed himself against her, holding her tight as Dario plundered her mouth, his tongue searching out every space he could, spreading pleasure through her in wave after wave of pulsing power. “That might seduce a woman or two, don't you think?” Dario said as he finally released her. Oh yes, she thought it would. Her body felt as if she were floating on clouds. Her fingers tingled, and her nipples throbbed with the desire to be released and sucked, and since there were two of them, it could mean one for each hard bud. “I didn't mean—” “I can do that too, you know.” Declan put his hands on her chin, turning her head. He kissed her, and years of unrequited passion flooded through her, riding the wave of pleasure Dario had just started. Her body pulsed as Declan's tongue lapped at her and Dario's hands stroked her stomach, not touching her breasts or dipping lower to where her pussy clenched with need.

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This was definitely not what she had expected from watching a simple movie.

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Chapter Five “You know what I love about women who look like women, Deck?” Dario's hands were still exploring her stomach, his touch soft while Declan continued to nibble on her lower lip. Sensations roared through her body, but she wasn't quite sure how to react. Should she touch them or just continue to let them explore her? Declan's tongue played against her teeth before he pulled back gently. “What do you love about them, Dario?” As soon as the words were out, he claimed her lips again, deepening the kiss. It was as perfect as she'd always dreamed it would be, and she wanted to lose herself in it, to savor every moment so that after he was gone she could remember it, call it up, and make it feel as if it were happening right then, right there. “So soft, so beautiful, and so wonderfully female.” Dario lowered his lips to her stomach, kissing it through the fabric of her T-shirt. Maura gasped as Declan, who had started to place quick, soft kisses around her mouth and cheeks, murmured his agreement. Or she thought that's what he was doing. Frankly she didn't care, as long as he didn't stop kissing her. Dario's hands were under her shirt now, his touch almost like a tickle as he caressed her skin. “Look at her. Her breasts are moving up and down so quickly, calling attention to them, letting us know she likes it. They're so beautiful. Makes me hard.” “You're right; she's so beautiful. She always has been.” Declan's voice was low and throaty. “I've been hard all night. Actually, I've been that way since I first saw you today, Maura.” Her mouth dropped open in astonishment.

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“I've been hard since you called. Just the idea of seeing you again made me that way.” “Why…” She swallowed hard, then groaned as Dario's lips touched her belly button, his tongue tracking the small hole. Oh Lord, that felt fantastic. She shivered, then gazed into Declan's eyes again. “Why didn't you tell me you felt this way before now?” “Because I'm a big ol' chicken,” Declan said. “I was afraid of losing you, in any way.” Dario's lips left her stomach, and he sat back on his knees, looking down at them. “I guess I should go, leave you two alone for a while.” “No.” Maura and Declan said the word at the same time; then Maura glanced up at Declan, who was stroking her cheek. “We want you to stay.” Her gaze never left Declan's face. “Don't we?” “Yes.” Declan kissed her again. “Let's strum her body, Dario, and make her sing.” Dario sat back again and peeled his shirt from his body, then threw the material onto the floor. He and Declan exchanged a look before Declan mirrored his movements until they were both wearing nothing but jeans. She reached for her shirt, but they batted her hands away at the same time, each of them gripping the fabric and lifting it slowly up her body. “Let us,” Declan said, his words producing shivers up her spine. “No, I'll do it.” She sat up and reached for the shirt again. Dario grabbed her hands as Declan grasped the shirt. “You may be the boss in the field, but in the bedroom we're in charge, skipper.” His words shocked her a little, and she looked at Declan, whose slight nod let her know he agreed with Dario. This was something she hadn't expected, and she wasn't quite sure how to flow with it. She'd never just lain there before, and since she had two guys to play with now, she wanted to do exactly that.

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“But—” “Hush,” Declan said, leaning over and outlining her lower lip with his tongue. He pulled her shirt up, and she lifted her shoulders and head for him to pull it over. Dario let go of her hands, and the shirt came free. Declan tossed it over her shoulder, then traced his hand gently down her shoulder and over her breast. Dario's hand mirrored his movement on her other side, and Maura arched up into their touch, closing her eyes and savoring the feel of their strong hands. They cupped her breasts, their thumbs seeming to find her satin-clad nipples at the same time, stroking softly, teasing the hard buds into tightening more, the sweet sensation making her insides turn to mush. Maura shivered, undulating under their fingers as they teased and stroked her, their touch varying between light and airy to pinching her nipples, enough to make her soft moans turn into gasps of hard pleasure, something that brought about new sensations that made her want to beg for more. Begging wasn't what came out of her mouth, though. “Stop. This is… I…” “Shush”—Declan leaned over and kissed her again—“don't you want us to love you?” Good Lord yes, she did. “This is so…” Fast. Somehow she knew saying that word would make her feel like an idiot. After all, it wasn't really fast, since she'd known Declan for so long. But Dario? And to take both of them together? How had the movie turned into sex? Was it the fact it was Bond on the TV? Had watching the sexy superspy made her horny? Had she transferred feelings onto the two men with her? She dismissed the idea immediately; she'd wanted them both beforehand. It was being on the bed that had done it, the pressure of their bodies against hers and the smell of them, the clean scent from the shower mixing with the outdoor smell of the grill and the spicy food they'd cooked. “I'm just not sure.” Oh crap, that sounded stupid, too. Dario's hands immediately left her body, and she felt such a sense of loss that she groaned.

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“We'll stop, then,” he said. She saw him glance at Declan, who nodded, but whose hands were still on her body. He tickled her side, then stood. “Sorry if we went too quick.” “That's the problem,” she said, putting her hands over her eyes, hating the whine in her voice. “My brain is telling me this is too soon, but my body is screaming for more. I've never been with two men at once before, and I'm not sure my mind is ready for it.” “Maybe your brain needs convincing,” Declan said. He stretched beside her, and when Dario did the same, she knew she was lost. There was no way she could resist them. She'd been shocked when she'd done it the first time. Should she have? If she postponed it, would she feel any different tomorrow night? Would her mind still tell her she was doing the wrong thing? And if that happened, would she obey it? She sat up suddenly and cried out in frustration, then lay back down. Screw convincing her brain. She wanted to be fucked. Now. It had been far too long since she'd had sex, and she'd wanted Declan for too long, thought too many times about what he would feel like inside her. Now that she'd tasted his lips, she decided the rest of him would be just as perfect. And there was no way she was taking this double play down to a single. She wanted it all. Her words were breathy and light, and they sounded to her as if she were in a tunnel, echoing through the room. “Skipper says make me sing and play me perfectly so I hit all the right notes.” Declan's deep laugh washed over her as Dario's fingers went to the fastenings of her jeans. He expertly undid the button and pulled down the zipper, the sound of the metal teeth coming undone competing with their heavy breathing. Declan pushed away the loose jeans and grasped the waistband, working them over her hips, taking her panties with them. She closed her eyes and tried

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not to think of what two such perfect specimens of manhood would think about her oversize body naked. Then she remembered Dario's words, which Declan had echoed strongly. “She's so beautiful.” She melted into the mattress as they caressed her, their fingers soft and probing, gliding over her skin, making her tingle. They tweaked her nipples, and Maura clasped the sheet under her, pulling on it so hard, she worried she would rip it. They lowered their heads and licked, then blew on the wet nubs. She moved her head from side to side, fighting the urge to beg Declan to take her, to slide himself into her pussy, which was more than ready for him. They suckled and nibbled as their hands traced patterns on her stomach, drifting down to just above her mons, then stopping and coming back up. She spread her legs in invitation, hoping one of them would take the hint and let his fingers dip into her wet slit. Instead they continued to tease her nipples while their fingers traced over her stomach and down to her thighs, drawing small circles and figure eights, varying the pressure. “Please, someone…please.” Was that her voice? She tried to sit up, but they held her down. Declan's mouth moved from her breast to her mouth, his tongue plunged into her, claiming her, driving her passion even higher. “Please what?” He whispered the words into her mouth, his breath hot against her teeth and tongue. She looked up into his dark eyes, which seemed to be several shades darker than they usually were. The desire written plainly on his face made her feelings shoot even higher. “Please touch my pussy, my clit. I can't take much more. Please.” “You can take it.” Dario's voice seemed to come from another room, and when he leaned over and kissed her thigh, she arched off the bed again. Declan held her in place, kissing her again as he teased her nipples, moving between them slowly.

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Their combined touch made her feel as if she would spontaneously combust. Maybe it was best if they didn't touch her pussy; if they added that to the mix, she probably would burst into flames. Declan flicked his tongue over her lips, then placed light kisses down her body as he moved down to join Dario, who was doing the same thing to her thighs, his tongue sliding up and down the inside of each one, murmuring his approval at her taste. She tried to sit up again, but Dario moved up to the top of the bed, then put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back. “Listen, skipper, I meant it when I said stay down. I've got rope, and I'm not afraid to use it.” Maura gasped as Declan chuckled, then spread her slit and licked her clit. Her hips shot off the bed at the contact; an orgasm raced through her as Declan pulled the hard bud into his mouth and sucked, grazing his teeth over it as Maura thrashed about while Dario held her down. “Does that feel good? Yeah, let it soak through you, that's it.” Dario's voice was soft as Declan continued his sweet assault on her clit, holding it captive in his mouth, then letting it go and blowing out a burst of air on it, making her shiver with delight as he repeated the process. She felt an orgasm build again and wondered if she would continue to peak until she lost consciousness. It didn't seem fair, since they were both still wearing their jeans. She wanted to touch them, feel their hardness in her hand, squeeze them gently, and feel them pulse under her touch. “Stop! Please, enough.” She tried to roll away, but they kept her in place, Declan's tongue moved down her slit, sliding through her slick folds as he explored. Dario's mouth was back on her nipples, but his hands still held her in place. As much as she wanted to touch them, she found the forced immobility fascinating. It seemed to heighten what she was feeling, since she could concentrate only on their hands, their lips. The only problem was she wanted to add their cocks to the equation; and they didn't seem to be in any hurry to do so.

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Declan spread her legs and put his hands under her ass, lifting her up. Maura knew what was coming, and she gave herself over to him. “Yes, oh God yes.” His tongue slid inside her, and she inhaled sharply, her body seizing as he flicked his tongue against her inner walls, as if he were investigating uncharted lands. In a way she supposed he was, since this was the first time he'd touched her that way. “Please.” The word came out strangled, and she swallowed hard, hoping her next words were understandable. “I want to touch you…both of you.” “I suppose we can allow that.” Declan sat up and licked his lips. “What do you think, Dario?” “I don't know.” Dario also sat on his knees, his gaze raking over her body. “I rather like watching her squirm. Maybe I do need to go and get my rope.” “No!” Maura sat up. “I said touch, not tie.” She looked between them, amazed that they were exchanging a glance as if silently discussing the idea of rope. The looks on their faces told her they thought it was a good idea. “Excuse me. Boss, remember?” She pointed to her chest. “No rope.” “You're not the boss in here,” Declan said. “But we'll save the rope for another night.” She barely had time to register his words as her gaze flew to his hands, which were now undoing the buttons on his jeans. She glanced at Dario to see him doing the same thing. Neither of them seemed the least bit shy about undressing in front of the other man, and it made her wonder if they'd done it before. The memory of the pissing contest they'd had earlier today about “equipment” came to the forefront as they both stood, Dario to the right of her and Declan at the foot of the bed, both of them shucking their jeans as if it were an everyday event to get naked in front of each other.

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The idea of politely asking if they'd done this sort of thing before quickly flew out the window as she gazed at her two naked lovers. Declan's cock was long and slender, and Dario's was shorter and a little thicker. The varying sizes made her mouth salivate in need. She wanted to taste them both, see what each one felt like sliding in and out of her mouth; she wanted to lick them as they'd done to her nipples and Declan had done to her wet folds. She wiggled her finger at Declan, indicating he should move toward the top of the bed. In turn, he inclined his head and narrowed his eyes, shaking his head and then pointing to her pussy. “I'm still hungry.” He lowered his head, his tongue moving back into her slit as Dario lay down next to her, his cock out of reach of her hand. She tried to move toward it, but he gently pushed her back, raining kisses over her neck and breasts again. She wanted to complain that they were back where they'd started from and that she hadn't touched either of them, which she desperately wanted to do. But then again, being the center of attention of two gorgeous men wasn't a bad thing. It certainly had her body rocking to a tune that was not at the top of her hit list. “Declan.” He was stroking her clit with his tongue again, softly this time, not applying enough pressure to make her come, but enough to keep her skating on the edge, another orgasm just out of reach. It didn't hurt that Dario was now sucking her nipples again, first one, then the other, before holding her breasts together and trying to claim them both at the same time. Maura bucked and rolled as they played her, and then finally, when her orgasm almost hit, they stopped as Declan pulled away. She screamed, her voice rough. “Enough! Please, please, Declan, fuck me.”

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“Oh, I've waited half my life to hear those words,” he said, his breath raising goose bumps on her thigh. “Condom.” “In the drawer,” Maura said, panting. “I'd hoped this would happen, maybe not exactly this, but I'm certainly not complaining.” Declan was on his feet, pulling open the nightstand drawer. She watched him pull a condom out of the package, then toss one to Dario, who batted it aside. “I think I'll watch,” Dario said, stroking Maura's arm. “If that's all right with you.” She reached for his cock, gasping as he took her hand and led it to his length. She clasped her hand around him and squeezed gently as Declan settled himself above her, claiming her lips in a deep, searing kiss. He stole her breath again and again as he lifted her thighs, then pressed his hard cock into her opening. Maura sighed in pleasure, lifting her legs to take more of him, asking with her movements for him to hurry, to take her. But Declan didn't listen. As she gently stroked Dario's cock, Declan entered her, then left, before entering again, repeating the movement over and over, slowly feeding her small parts of him, his hard length stretching her, filling her completely. She wondered where he got his patience. If she'd been on top, she would have slammed herself down and ridden him for all he was worth. Finally inside her, he stroked her forehead, then gently kissed her again. “Oh, Maura.” He kissed her neck, his cock pulsing inside her. She clasped her free arm around his shoulder, then nibbled on his ear as she increased the pressure on Dario's cock. “Please,

Declan,

now.”

He

responded

immediately,

increasing

his

movements, sliding in and out of her wetness with a measured stroke, the tip of his cock hitting just the right spot inside her, making pleasure build yet again.

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Maura tried to time the movement of her hand on Dario's cock to Declan's thrusts. Dario moved his hips into her, helping her keep the pressure steady. He groaned out a “fuck yes,” and she felt a wet stream erupt onto her hand. As if on cue, Declan lifted to his knees, sliding Maura onto his thighs, and thrust into her faster and faster, his cock hitting deeper inside her. Dario's fingers found her clit and pinched. The hard sensation sent her soaring over the cliff yet again, tightening around Declan as he pistoned himself into her over and over. “Maura, oh…” Declan's body clenched, and she knew he was feeling the same pleasure she was, the same intense sensation that had grabbed her and wouldn't let go, one that she hoped Dario had experienced as well. Declan collapsed on top of her, his body shaking and effectively trapping Dario's hand between them. Dario chuckled and pulled free, then got up and walked to the bathroom. Maura heard water, then uttered a soft moan when she realized Declan was staring down into her eyes. “I can't believe I waited so long to experience something so utterly perfect.” Tears filled her eyes as she caressed his cheek with the palm of her hand. “I have to agree; it was perfect.” He kissed her gently, lingering over it, placing small, wet kisses around her mouth as she moaned her approval. Then he stood and stroked her thigh. “I'll be right back.” He went into the bathroom, passing Dario as he came out. She propped herself up on her elbows and smiled at the cop. “I hope you're not a cover hog.” “Not me,” he said, grinning. “But with the three of us, you never know what's going to happen. Those of us on the sides will pay the price, though. If my ass gets cold in the middle of the night, I might get testy.”

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Declan was back now, gently running a warm, wet cloth between Maura's legs. She lay back and let him pamper her. Who cared about a wet spot? It was a wonderful reminder of what they'd just shared. Declan tossed the cloth into the bathroom, then came back and found the remote, and tossed it to Dario. Once the TV was off and the candles were extinguished, the three of them wiggled under the covers, settling so that Maura's back was to Dario's front, and Declan was facing her, a look of utter satisfaction making him seem more handsome than she thought possible. “Night,” Dario said, his voice sounding as if he were half-asleep already. Declan parted her thighs with his own, sliding one of hers on top of him, his hand gently caressing her bare skin. “Good night, Maura.” “Good night, Declan, and Dario, you too.” She got no response behind her, which meant he was probably already asleep. Declan kissed her again, and she gladly opened her mouth to accept him, thinking she could never, ever tire of the sensations spreading through her. “See you in the morning,” Declan said, as he laid his head on the pillow and continued to stroke her side. The last thing she remembered before sleep took her was the soft feel of his hand and the smile of deep contentment that had seemed to settle permanently on his face.

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Chapter Six “Maura.” The sound of her name filtered through her brain, as if it were being sifted through fog. She shifted slightly, smiling as strong hands caressed her skin. Um, yummy, a hand on her thigh, one on her stomach, another on her shoulder, and—four hands? The fog seemed to lift. What the hell? Four hands. Declan and Dario and last night and… “Maura!” She sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest. The men around her shifted, neither of them seemed to be awake. Her gaze focused on the end of the bed, where Bear Hill stood. Her father's horse wrangler wore a deep frown on his face, one that held more than a little bit of anger. “What are you doing in here, Bear?” She blinked several times, trying to get her brain to focus. “I could ask you the same thing.” Bear's deep voice was now mixed with more than anger. It held disgust, which pissed her off royally. “This is my bedroom. Get out.” Next to her, Dario stirred and whispered, “What's going on?” “Someone is where he shouldn't be,” she answered, gazing over at Declan, who now sat up next to her. He was studying the huge man at the end of the bed, and Maura could tell he would spring into action if it became necessary to protect her. They both would. “Who are you?” Declan put his hand on her thigh and squeezed gently. She got the message he was sending: it'll be fine; we're here. “And what are you doing in here?”

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“I'm Wesley Hill, and I work here.” He gazed between the three of them. “It's barely seven in the morning, but when I pulled in and noticed all the doors and windows were open, and that the Farmer family was waiting patiently to check out and not getting an answer to the bell ringing, I became concerned. I didn't expect to find an orgy.” “I didn't hear the bell,” Maura said, glancing around. What would be the best way to stand up without exposing herself to her father's friend and worker? “I took care of it,” Bear replied. “Who are these two?” His take-charge attitude wormed its way under her skin. His use of the word “orgy” was now settling into her brain. No matter what he was seeing, “these two” were none of his business. Well, maybe not. Bear was one of her father's best friends, and she knew as soon as he thought it was a decent time to call, he would be phoning Charlie Atwell and informing him he'd just found Maura in bed with two men. And they were all naked, so it was very obvious what had happened. Oh crap, how had this happened? “These two are friends of mine,” she said quickly, before either of them could reply. Dario was now sitting up on her other side, his body rigid as if ready to spring into action. “So it seems.” Bear's sarcasm didn't sit well with her. “What I do with my personal life is none of your business.” “In your father's house?” This time he sneered at her. “How could you? And with a Mexican and a half-breed?” “No!” Maura screamed the word as Dario launched himself at Bear, who moved backward just in time to keep from being tackled. Dario landed on his feet, his hand balled into a fist, one she was happy to see he didn't throw. “You've got three seconds.” Dario's words were full of venom. “Get out.”

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“Gladly.” Bear glared at her and then calmly walked out the door, slamming it behind him. Maura fell back onto the bed, slapping the palm of her hand against her forehead. “Shit! We left everything open? How did we do that?” “Because we didn't expect what happened,” Declan said. He sprawled out next to her and pulled her close to him. He put his arm around her head and stroked her stomach. “I'm so sorry.” “No, I'm sorry. I didn't know Bear was such a racist. And he's Indian. How could he say those things?” Dario sat down facing her, unashamed in his naked state. He stroked her thigh and shook his head. “I thought you were a lawyer. Surely you've met enough people to know racism isn't limited to one race of people.” Maura chuckled to try and relieve the tension in her body. “Yes, but I've known him all my life. I never thought he would be so…hateful.” “He was in shock,” Declan said. “If he saw you growing up, then he was stunned to find you in an adult situation, which confirmed your adulthood, but pissed him off. His protective nature kicked in. He did look like he wanted to kick our asses.” There was a long silence. Both men continued to stroke her sheet-clad body. Declan finally broke the silence. “It's all right, you know. I've heard that particular term before, and I'm sure Dario has too.” Maura barely managed a nod. “What Bear said wasn't right, and I don't regret what happened, no matter what's taken place this morning. I hope you both believe that.” The smiles they gave her made her stomach clench in desire. If Bear hadn't come along, they could be having wake-up sex, stroking and kissing and caressing until the three of them shuddered in ecstasy. But that wouldn't happen now, unfortunately.

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She needed to make things right, go and talk with the wrangler, take charge of the situation. “I need to go chat with him, keep him from calling my dad. He's stronger than he was after the stroke, true, but I don't want to think about what hearing about his daughter's ménage could do to his recovery.” Declan placed a gentle kiss on her lips, then stood. “Can we run two showers at once and have enough hot water?” Maura nodded. “After I've talked to Bear, I'll shower; then we'll make a plan for the day.” She waited until they were gone, then located jeans, a bra, and a T-shirt. She threw the clothes on, then went through the house, moving toward the office. The sound of running water followed in her wake. She hadn't told them to, but hopefully when they were done, Declan and Dario would make themselves at home in the kitchen. Bear was in the office, shuffling papers. He had one hand on the registration book, as if he was checking it against the printouts from the computer. She cleared her throat, but he didn't look up at her. “Don't worry. I'm not going to call your father. I have more respect for him than that. Of course, you obviously don't, so I'm only going to say this once. Get them out. They better not still be here tonight.” Her mouth dropped open and stayed that way. How dare he think he had the authority to tell her what to do! This was her father's business, and in the papers that were drawn up, she was in charge if he was incapacitated, which he definitely was at the moment. “Who is here and not here is none of your business as far as I'm concerned. I've hired Declan and Dario to—” “Hired?” He slammed his hand on the counter, and she jumped just a little. Now he was looking at her, or more to the point, glaring at her. “Is this some sort of new fringe-benefit program for employees? Work for one day, then screw the boss?”

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Rage boiled through her as she stepped closer to the counter. “Don't you dare talk to me like that. You may not like what I do, but it's none of your business. I don't have to explain myself to you or to anyone. Right now this is my home, and while you may not like it, I have the right to do as I please.” “You wouldn't have done it if your daddy was here.” His eyes were narrow slits now. “You'd have to explain yourself to him.” “No, I wouldn't. I'm an adult, not a child. But I would have taken one of the cabins, out of respect for my father, if he had been here. I will talk to my father about things as I see fit. Stay out of it.” Bear snorted, then slammed the registration book closed. “Fine. I won't tell Charlie his little girl's a slut.” “Get out, Bear.” Now her hand was balled up into a fist, just like Dario's had been earlier. She had never seen Bear like this, and it was definitely a side of him she didn't like. “Are you firing me?” He laughed in disbelief. “That's rich. You don't have the authority to fire me.” “No, I'm not firing you. But right now, I don't want to see your face.” She turned toward the door, then wheeled back around. “But if you ever say anything so hateful to my friends again, I will fire you, because while my dad's out, I'm in charge.” For a moment she thought Bear would cuss her out. Then he turned without saying another word and slammed through the outer door, the sound of his boots hitting the deck echoing back into the office. She walked behind the counter and sank into the chair behind the desk. Her hands were shaking, and she wasn't quite sure what to do next. There was no doubt that Bear would say something to her father. He might not do it right now, but somewhere along the line he'd mention to Charlie that he'd found his daughter in bed, naked, surrounded by two men.

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The thought of her father learning about her sex life wasn't a pleasant one. He knew she wasn't sweet and innocent. She'd had two steady boyfriends in her life, and she'd brought both of them home to meet her father. He'd told her they could share a room, but she could tell when he'd said it that he didn't like the idea. She'd refrained at that time, out of respect for him. Plus, she'd been younger. She was in her early thirties now, and things were different. Having a lover stay in her room probably wouldn't bother her father as much now as it would have then. But having two? That might be a different story. How would he react after Bear made his announcement, no matter when it was? Better that she tell him herself than let him find out from someone else. Hey Dad, while you're learning to tie your shoes again, I'm having a grand time in my bedroom with two guys. Yeah, the ones I hired to check out the kiva, so technically I'm screwing around with the employees. The thought of it sounded dirty and wrong. Damn Bear for putting that thought in her head. She should run after him and kick him in the ass, remind him he was an employee, not her father and not her moral compass. “Maura?” She looked up to find Declan in the doorway. His wet hair hung over his shoulders, and his T-shirt and jeans clung to his body, making her want a repeat of last night, no matter the consequences. “Are you okay?” “Fine.” She ran her hands down her thighs, then glanced around. “I have a little paperwork I probably need to do. I should also check the answering machine and Web site for reservations. Have you eaten?” His chuckle warmed her insides. “Dario's making huevos rancheros. He's a pretty good cook, actually. It'll keep us filled for a while. Plus he and I were going to pack food for the trip to the kiva, if that's okay with you, boss.” His teasing tone lightened her mood even more. “Yes, that's fine. Let me check things here real quick; then I'll come and eat. I'll shower while you two pack the food.”

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“That's a pity,” he said, his tone turning sensual. “I was going to offer to wash your back, even if it meant me taking another shower.” “Watch it, buster, or I'll dock your pay.” She tried to sound stern, but it was hard when his words made her feel all tingly inside. “You can go and get the truck too. It's the green one parked by the barn. It's hard to miss, since it has a winch on it. Don't let Bear give you any crap about using it.” “Don't worry, I can handle myself.” Declan held out his hand, and she took it. He pulled her close to him and kissed her, his touch soft and sensual. She felt as if she would melt right on the spot as he pulled her into a hug. “Now, let's go eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starved, and I'm sure the eggs are ready by now.” They walked to the kitchen arm in arm to find Dario placing a tray of biscuits in the center of the table. “It's about time you got here,” he said, putting on a falsetto voice. “I slave all morning long and you two are off playing.” He put his forearm over his forehead and sighed in exaggeration. “Nobody appreciates what I do. It makes me want to cry.” He sniffled, then peeked out at Maura, who burst into laughter. “You missed your calling. You should have been an actor.” She crossed the room and kissed him. “I hope this food's good.” “It's fantastic, skipper. My cooking skills are pretty good. All those years spent alone working undercover meant I had to cook or eat fast food twentyfour/seven. Trust me, you're going to love this.” He kissed her back, nibbling on her lower lip. Maura had no doubt he was right, but she wasn't sure which she would love more, his cooking or the kisses. Somehow she figured it was the latter, and that was just fine with her.

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Chapter Seven Declan took a deep breath, working to control the excitement that threatened to overtake him. This wasn't the first time he'd been inside a kiva used by the ancient ones, but it was the first time that he was the primary archeologist on-site. Even if this was not being done for the university or for publication, this was an ancient ruin, and he was the first to explore it. The idea made his body sing almost as much as making love with Maura last night. Almost but not quite as much. Holding her in his arms, feeling her wet folds tighten around him as she came, was the culmination of a long-lived fantasy. The reality of it was better than the dream, though. Ten times better. His cock hardened at the memory, and then Dario's voice drifted down from above. “Hey, what do you see?” Declan's feet were on the last rung of the rope ladder, hanging above the ground. He took the flashlight he'd stuffed in the pack around his waist and pulled it out, then turned it on. Three pillars ran from floor to ceiling, the wood smooth and free of markings. “It's round, and it looks like we don't have to worry about footprints.” “Round footprints? What the hell does that mean?” Dario laughed, the sound without humor. Declan stepped down from the ladder, shining his light around the room. There were no pieces of furniture, but in one area there were several pieces of pottery. They looked fairly new, and he examined the floor again, making sure he'd seen what he thought he had. “Declan!”

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“What?” He glanced up to see Dario's head sticking into the kiva opening. “Tell us what you see. We're dying of curiosity up here.” “The room is round, and the last person here used a rake to destroy any footprints that might have been left in their wake. That means it's being used. If you guys want to come down, go ahead. Just don't touch the walls when you get here. And send down my bag first.” The bag came down, attached to a rope; inside was a small stepladder, two more flashlights, various brushes and small tools, and a digital camera. He opened it up, then took out the camera before heading toward the pottery, stepping lightly. A soft grunt alerted him he would soon have company. He turned to watch Maura descend the ladder, taking the rungs slowly and carefully. He walked back over to help her, then put his free arm around her hips and held her closely. Once she was on the ground he didn't let go; instead he caressed her side, then pinched her rear. She pushed at him gently. “Behave.” “It's hard with you around. And I do mean that literally.” Warmth suffused him when she put her hand on his chest. From the ladder, Dario's voice drifted down to them. “I'm coming.” Dario landed next to them, and Declan took a step away from Maura. “We, me included, need to remember this place was used for religious ceremonies. We need to show respect down here.” “Gotcha,” Dario whispered. “There's not much down here, is there?” Declan pointed his flashlight toward the pottery. “It's new.” He walked toward it and crouched down when he was beside it. “How do you know?” Maura came up behind him, and Dario stood just to the right, adding a beam from his flashlight to illuminate the pottery. “Full of corn,” Dario said. “Is that an offering to the gods?” “Yes,” Declan replied, pointing at the small, intricately carved doll that rested near the pottery. It was thin and bent over as if dancing, a horn

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extending from its mouth and tendrils of hair sticking straight up from its head. A large, erect phallus extended from between its legs. “This is a kachina, and this is your lesson for the day, boys and girls, or boy and girl, to be more accurate. Do you know what this carving is and what it represents?” Dario held up his hand, and Declan nodded at him. “Um, teacher, I know what a kachina is, and I'm sure Maura does too. This is an offering, and that kachina represents a god.” “You're right, Dario. Sorry to treat you two as if you didn't grow up here. I'm using my memorized lecture notes.” Declan stood and slapped dust away from his jeans. “Kachinas represent different gods and spirits. This one is Kokopelli, a—” “Fertility god.” Maura took a step backward. “I think I might go back up top if someone is seeking to make babies down here.” The men both laughed as she continued to back up. “This one's a pretty early representation. The later ones omit the penis. Is there someone who works for the Full Moon who's newly married and wanting a baby?” Declan stood and shone his flashlight around the kiva again. “Not that I know of.” She pointed at the carving. “Since this has a penis, does that mean it's not one you could buy at a tourist trap?” “Yes, that's what it means,” Declan said. “Someone carved this, and they did a fantastic job of it. The work is exquisite.” He itched to pick it up, examine it. But its presence here changed the scene. This was an archeological site, true, but it was also being used for religious purposes. He wouldn't touch the items and destroy what someone had obviously set up with painstaking accuracy if this was being used for religious purposes. Since he couldn't touch, he did the next best thing. He leaned over and snapped a few photos, checking the memory card when he was done to make sure he'd captured the photos like he wanted.

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“Any of your workers follow the ancient ways?” Dario stepped up next to Maura, holding the flashlight to illuminate the both of them. “Again, not that I know of.” She shrugged. “But if they do, that's their business. Declan, do you think this kiva is new?” “No. I truly believe it's been here for centuries. But it's been taken care of, which means it has great significance for someone around here. We need to figure out who's doing it, ask them about the structure, and how they found out about it.” Declan looked around again, fighting the urge to take soil samples and run his light over the walls, see if there were traces of drawings left anywhere. The walls looked to be empty, which was a little strange. Once he got started he wouldn't want to stop, and he needed to take things slowly. Despite the fact they were underground and in a tight, enclosed space, Declan's spirit soared as he examined the kiva. This was one of the most magnificent things he'd ever seen, and he wanted to go interview everyone within a hundred-mile radius, see if they would tell him anything, see if he could find someone who was still practicing the old ways. If they were using the kiva, there was every chance they had artifacts that had been passed down from generation to generation. Getting the chance to look at those artifacts would be amazing. But they had to be cautious about it. If they got too heavy-handed, they would piss someone off or send them running and not be able to get anything out of them at all. “What do we do next?” Dario's voice interrupted his musings. “Camp out,” Declan said, turning toward them. Maura put her hands on her hips, and Declan wet his lips. Her legs were slightly spread, and thinking about the tasty treat that was inside her was probably something he shouldn't be doing in this space. “It's the middle of the afternoon,” she said. “If that's a veiled reference to going to bed, it's not working.”

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Both men chuckled, and then Declan crossed to her and pulled her into his arms. “Tempting, but we'll save it for later. Let's eat lunch, and we can discuss what I want to do later tonight.” Dario patted her on the butt, and Declan added a pat, just for good measure. She jumped playfully, then took hold of the ladder and put her foot on the first rung. Declan saw what was happening before Maura realized it. The ladder moved more than it should have, swaying almost as if it were in the wind. She grabbed hold of a rung and started to climb. Her weight pulled on what was obviously a now-unsecured ladder, and the apparatus began falling down, coiling down from the ceiling. He moved behind her, grabbing her around the waist as the rope ladder fell into the kiva, effectively trapping them inside the ancient structure.

She landed on top of him as they tumbled onto the floor, Declan effectively breaking her fall. His deep grunt from the impact made her body tense. “Declan!” Her voice sounded as if it were far away, and she turned to see her rescuer under her, his face frozen in pain. “Declan! Are you all right?” “Fine.” The word came out on a wheeze, and Dario's strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her upright. She clasped them tightly. Dario set her aside, then knelt down next to Declan. “Don't move.” Dario's hands were on his shoulders. “You might have broken something.” “No, I don't think so.” Declan sat up and Maura watched, trying to see as much as she could in the darkened space. Declan had dropped his flashlight, and the beam was now illuminating the far part of the kiva. She walked toward the area slowly, turning the beam on the two men. Dario was running his hands up and down Declan's arms and legs, checking for breaks.

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“Did you hit your head?” The cop's cool, in-control voice let her know he was totally in charge of the situation. There was not one whit of the fear and nervousness she felt right now. “No, I'm fine.” Declan pushed his hands away, then glanced at Maura. “What about you?” “Right as rain,” she said softly. “Except for the fact we're stuck down here.” “No.” Dario stood and lifted his arm above his head. “All it will take is Declan getting on my shoulders, and we're out. It's not that deep. They didn't want to leave us here, just scare us.” His words made Maura's stomach roil. “They?” “Whoever undid the ladder,” Declan said. “Trust me, Dario and I both checked it to make sure it was secure. There's no way it came loose on its own after supporting the three of us as we climbed down. Someone really doesn't want us here.” “But why?” Maura shone the light up into the opening. There was no movement from above, no sign that anyone was out there. But of course she'd not heard anyone earlier. She'd been too interested in looking around. “This is my fault,” Declan said, pushing himself into a standing position. She went to him and placed her free arm on his bicep. “Maybe you should sit for a little while.” She wanted to kiss him, but somehow she didn't think this was the right place and time. “And this isn't your fault.” “Yes, it is. The three of us shouldn't have come down at one time.” The look of self-loathing on his face made her want to smack him. “I broke a cardinal rule of exploring. Not everyone goes into a place at one time.” Dario snorted out a laugh. “Yeah, one of us could have been up top, and whoever loosened the ladder could have hit somebody over the head to complete his mission. Trust me when I say that I have no doubt they would

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have done it. If they want to keep people away, they won't stop at much to see that it's done.” “Well, this does frighten me a little. I don't like being caught in a hole with no way out.” “Relax, Maura. We'll get out, with no problem. We need to let Declan catch his breath first, though.” “Yeah, nothing like having a two-hundred-pound woman land on top of you.” “I don't appreciate your sarcasm,” Declan said. “And you can be on top of me any day, in any place, at any time.” She watched him consider his words. “Well, maybe not here, because of the whole sacred-site aspect, but once we get up top, then yeah, here works.” “You're sweet,” she said, stroking his cheek. “You're sweeter.” Declan kissed the tip of her nose, and she laughed. Dario cleared his throat. “You're right, she is. And if you're feeling well enough to trade compliments, then we need to kick it into gear and get the hell out. Deck, you weigh less than I do. I'll put you on my shoulders. If you can stand and reach the top, then you can pull yourself out and reattach the ladder. If you can't do it, then we'll trade places and see how that works.” “Sounds like a plan. Let's do it.” He stepped around Maura and picked up his camera, dusting it off. “Is it damaged?” He played with the settings before responding. “The fall might have jarred it, but the pictures on here are okay. I don't know if it will take photos again, though. We'll have to test it later.” He put the camera in the bag, and then Maura lifted her hand, holding the flashlight. “Excuse me? I have a question about the plan you two are so gung ho about. What happens if you both fall?”

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“Oh ye of little faith,” Declan replied. “Ever ride on someone's shoulders when you were a kid playing in the pool?” “Yeah, and if you miss your target and fall, you have the water to cushion you,” she said. “You don't have that here, or have you missed that little tidbit?” “I'm not going to fall,” Declan said. “Trust me.” Dario flexed his muscles. “And me. This is going to work just fine.” The two men huddled together for a few minutes before walking to the area near the opening. Dario faced the wall and crouched down. Declan threw his legs over his shoulder, then put his hands on the wall as Dario stood, his hands clasped on Declan's thighs. He wobbled a little, and Maura put out her hands as if to steady him, even though she was nowhere near close enough, or strong enough, to do anything if they toppled to the ground. If that happened, they'd be up the proverbial creek until someone came to investigate the truck that was sitting alone in the middle of the desert. “Be careful.” She whispered the words as they stood there. She figured Dario was adjusting to the extra weight. She shone the light up them, happy to see that Dario was right. Declan was mere feet away from the top. If he could lift himself up without sending Dario tumbling, he could grab the top and, hopefully, pull himself out. They took a few more wobbly steps, then leaned back against the wall. “Sweetie, pull the stepladder out of my pack,” Declan said, looking back at her. “Put it near the opening, and then when I start to stand, you can help steadying me by putting your hands on my butt. Can you do that?” “Oh yeah, you get to have your butt played with and I get to do all the work,” Dario said, strain evident in his voice. “This sucks.” “I'll play with your butt later,” Maura replied, setting the stepladder right next to the light ring formed by the opening. “Right now let's get this show on the road.”

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Dario took several steps until he was in the middle of the ring; then he transferred his hands from Declan's thighs to his feet. “On the count of three. One, two…” He grunted and pushed. “Three.” Maura put her hands on Declan's ass, pushing him up as he lifted. She felt him strain, then felt Dario push harder as Declan's body lifted into the air. “I got it! Keep pushing.” She moved her hands to his thighs, competing for space with Dario's as they maneuvered to keep their friend aloft. They moved and pushed, almost as if they were dancing under him, both of them grunting with the exertion of keeping Declan in the air. The sound of rock and dirt falling through the opening increased as Declan obviously fought to get a grip up top. She glanced up and could see his elbows were outside, and he was using them to try and get out. The strain on his body was evident, and Dario gave him one final push with a heavy groan before he disappeared through the opening, one leg going up, the other following soon afterward. “Holy shit,” Dario said, bending over. “That was fun. Let's not do it again.” His breath was heavy, and Maura stepped down from the ladder, putting her hand on his back. “Are you okay?” “Peachy, and you?” He grinned up at her, a devilish look that made her laugh. Declan's head appeared in the opening. He lowered down a hook attached to a piece of wood. “Secure this to the ladder, and I'll pull it up. Then we've got to eat, because I don't know about you two, but I'm starved.” Maura did as he asked, and watched as the ladder disappeared through the hole. She waited a few minutes, then sighed in relief as it lowered back down. “We're good to go. And don't forget my bag.”

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“Boy, he's bossy,” Dario said, picking up the bag. He folded up the stepladder and put it inside, then secured the pack over his shoulder. “You need to remind him you're in charge, skipper.” She gave him a condescending look. “Like that would work. I wasn't too keen on the plan for getting us out, but I was overruled, wasn't I?” “We're out, aren't we?” Dario grabbed the ladder before jerking his head toward it. “You first.” “Why, so if I fall, I can land on you this time? Why don't I go last? That way you are free from being slammed to the ground if I happen to take a tumble again.” The look on Dario's face made her take a step back. “Boss or no boss, if I had time, and we were in someplace different, I'd spank you for that remark. Now, get up there before I change my mind and do it anyway.” “Yes, sir.” She took a deep breath, then closed her eyes to forget the feel of the ladder slipping from up top, as it had just minutes ago. She'd climbed up two rungs and it was obvious it wasn't going to fall this time. By the time she got to the third, she jolted as Dario swatted her ass. Hard. She turned to stare at him, her mouth open in shock. “Hey.” “You'd better move before I take aim again.” He put a hand on the ladder. “I don't like ladies putting themselves down, especially ones that I like. That's something you needed to remember.” Maura started up the ladder again, his words echoing in her mind. Declan took her hand as she reached the top. She lifted her head to the sun, happy to be aboveground again. Then she jumped as Declan's hand came down on her ass. “Hey! You two need to remember who's the boss here.” Dario popped through the opening as if he were walking on air. He swung Declan's pack off his shoulder.

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“Some bosses need lessons from their workers, right, Declan?” “That's right. You can dock our pay for the swats you got just now, but when we're off the clock later, we'll finish what we just started.” They moved in unison toward the truck, and Maura stood in place, unable to move from the astonishment that had taken hold of her. Did they mean they planned to spank her, together? Surely not. But then again, maybe so. With these two, you never knew.

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Chapter Eight “Tell me again what you want to do.” Maura took a sip from her bottle of tea, her gaze never leaving Declan, who had wolfed down two sandwiches and was now starting on his third. It was a good thing she'd packed a lot of food. She'd done so thinking they might be out here for lunch and dinner. But watching the way Declan and Dario were devouring the contents of the cooler let her know she'd only packed enough for lunch. “I'm going to set up a camp,” Declan said, after swallowing his last bite. He pointed to an area just beyond the truck. “Right over there.” “And you're going to do…what?” How could the two of them be so calm after being trapped in an underground hole by persons unknown? “I'm going to survey the site,” he said, giving her a look that indicated she should have known that. “I'll check and see if there's any other traces of archeological interest. The kiva indicates there would be other things around, because either this was used by a small village, or it was a meeting place. Since it's so small, I'm guessing a village or just a few people. There are some larger sites that have been excavated that were used as a gathering place. Chaco Canyon is the main one, of course, and then there is Mesa Verde. Little is really known about the ancient ones. We can say that…” Declan closed his mouth and glanced between her and Dario. “I'm doing it again, aren't I?” Maura laughed, then nodded. “You're passionate about your work. That's good to know. But don't you think staying out here at night might be dangerous, considering what just happened?”

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“I carry a gun, remember?” Dario's words made her wince. “I don't like the idea that a gun might be needed.” Dario leaned closer, and she inhaled the strong scent of man that drifted off him. It reminded her of him touching her last night, of them both touching her, and sent a jolt of desire straight to her clit, which tingled in response. “Do you like the idea of camping out with us better?” She laughed nervously, trying to fight back the desire to jump them both. This was about work, not pleasure. “Yeah, that's a fascinating idea. But I can't stay gone from the office all day. I'll have to go back and forth and check on things.” “That's why you hired us,” Declan replied. “You don't have to stay, but we do. Of course we'd like to go back once a day to shower. Or else you might not be able to stand being around us.” Oh she could stand it, all right. Being around them wouldn't be any problem at all. “Do you have a tent and other supplies?” “I came fully prepared,” Declan said. “I have a tent, air mattress, sleeping bags, cooking stove, and anything else you might need to survive out here for a while. We'll go back now and pack up some food. Then Dario and I can bring my SUV back out here while you do office work.” Something akin to sorrow wrapped around her at the idea of the two of them being out here working while she was at the house. She knew it was the right thing to do, though. She had paperwork she needed to get done, and if she let it pile up while she sat out here and watched the two of them, things could get ugly in the office. It was best to act normally while the two of them did what she hired them for. “I can bring dinner out later.” “She's sexy and she cooks. Be still my heart.” Dario thudded his hand against his chest, and Maura flushed. She'd never thought of herself as sexy

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before. Even the men she'd dated had never used that term. Maybe it was why she'd never dated anyone for long. “Perfect.” Declan stood and began stuffing trash into a sack. “Let's get this show on the road. I'm itching to see what else I can find out here.”

***** Dario bent down near a yucca plant, running his fingers through the loose soil. Underneath the fine layer of dirt, the ground was hard, and he could make out the faint outline of a footprint. Not that it would do much good. This was Charlie Atwell's land, true, but he let his guests roam free. There was no telling how long this print had been here or who it came from. Trying to gather samples to compare it to would be useless, since guests came and went. That, added to the time factor, made the print useless. He'd checked around where the truck was parked this morning and found nothing, only prints from the boots Declan wore, and the sneakers both he and Maura were wearing. The person who had undone the ladder should have left a clue somewhere. Instead they'd slipped in and out without leaving so much as a smudge in the dirt. Since he didn't have a fingerprint kit on him, he couldn't check for that. And convincing his boss to run the prints would be a tough trick to pull. Ward would complain about using state money on a private job, and one where a crime hadn't been committed. He'd tell Dario he needed to hurry up and finish his vacation so he could put him back to work. It was too bad the person using the kiva had raked the floor. If they hadn't, he could get a print off that, but he'd be back to the problem of finding a sample to compare it to. He couldn't compel people to let him look at the bottom of their shoes. It was a moot point, anyway, since the person, or persons, had cleaned up after themselves. The way he saw it, they did it for one of two reasons: to cover their tracks or to leave the area as clean as possible out of respect for the god to whom they had been praying.

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Going back to question Maura's workers could provide some information. He could see if one of them practiced the old ways, as Declan called it. If they were all Christians, it probably wasn't one of them leaving the offering. He would need to tread carefully while asking people about religion. They tended to get a bit testy. Not that he blamed them, but knowing would help him narrow down the suspects, which would bring them closer to an answer for Maura. Thinking about the pretty blonde made his cock stir. He closed his eyes and remembered the feel of her hand on his cock, her stroke firm yet gentle as she jerked him off. He wanted to feel her tongue on him, licking him from toe to head. Then he wanted to flip her onto her knees, slap her ass hard as he pounded into her pussy. Declan's fingers would be on her clit, making her come as they had last night. He groaned softly at the idea, surprised to hear Declan call his name. “What the hell are you doing?” “Thinking about last night,” he answered truthfully. He stood up, stretched his back, and walked toward where his friend sat cross-legged running fingers along a ridge in the dirt. “Did you find something?” “I thought I might have found the outline of a wall, but now that I've got my fingers in deeper, I think I'm wrong; it's just a little groove in the dirt.” Declan clapped his hand together, sending clouds of dust drifting into the air. “You thinking about last night, huh? I've been thinking about it too.” Dario clicked his teeth together. “Are you pissed I butted in?” “Surprisingly enough, no. I thought I would be, but it was…natural.” Declan sounded more than a little surprised. “Right time, right place, huh? I was a little worried. I know how you feel about her.”

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He watched Declan consider his words and was very surprised by his friend's grin, which was much like that of a kid in love for the first time. “There was nothing wrong with what happened. She loved it, and so did we.” Dario was happy to hear him say that. His friendship with Declan meant the world to him, and if he'd done anything to damage it, it would crush him. “I'm glad you feel that way. But maybe we should set up another tent for tonight in case the two of you want to be alone.” Declan shook his head. “I think we should let Maura make the decision.” Dario plopped down next to him. “And how do you propose to ask her? 'Hey, sweets, do you want another ménage tonight?' She may not take that too kindly. Although, I have to admit I'm surprised she hasn't brought it up today.” “We've been busy. Plus, she's a lawyer, a professional woman who handles things that come her way. I'm sure if she had a problem with it, she would have let me know.” Declan glanced down to where his finger still traced a line in the dirt. “Or at least I think she would have.” Dario picked up a few round pebbles, then tossed them back to the ground one by one. “I thought she would have mentioned the rude awakening we got, at least. That guy was an ass. But…” “But what?” Declan stopped playing in the soil, fastening his gaze on Dario. “It was a little over the top, don't you think?” Dario stretched out his legs and leaned back on his elbows. The dirt bit into him, but he didn't care. He'd always loved the outdoors, just as much as Declan did. He just didn't have a job playing in it. “I've been thinking about it all day long. He wanted to piss us off, see if he could run us off. I have to ask myself why.” They exchanged a long glance, and then Declan reached into his bag, took out a long, slender tool. “I see the cop is doing his job. Want to borrow this to go interrogate the guy?”

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“Tempting…but no.” Dario stood and began examining the area again. “Do you think I'm wrong?” “No.” Declan's voice drifted to him as he walked farther away. “Now that I'm thinking about it, you're probably right. Why would he use racial slurs, especially when Maura said it wasn't like him?” Dario went to the tent, retrieved a plastic chair from inside. He set it next to Declan, then made himself at home. “He knows why we're here, and he doesn't want us here. I'd like to talk with him, just for a little while.” “After your reaction this morning, he would probably think you would try to kick his ass.” “Good.” Dario laced his fingers together, placing them on top of his stomach as he lay back. “Hey, I have a question. You take this chair out on dig sites you have to hike to? It seems to me it would be a little too big for a long trek.” Declan laughed, then stood. “You're right, it's not one I normally bring with me. But it does stay in the back of the SUV in case I need it. I didn't bring that much equipment, really, because I wasn't sure what I would find.” He strode toward the SUV, then pulled open the door. Declan picked up the camera and examined every piece of it before turning it on. The sound of its whir filled the area, and Declan depressed the shutter, the click audible. “Good, it still works. Hopefully nothing inside was jarred by the fall.” Dario walked up to him and took the camera from Declan's hands. “We should try it out. Tonight, before it gets too dark.” He glanced at his friend, happy to see from the grin on his face that he immediately got his meaning. “That's a great idea, Dario. We'll use it to prove to Ms. Atwell just how beautiful she really is.”

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Chapter Nine Maura gripped the wheel as the truck bounced over the rugged landscape. It was a good thing she'd placed the food in the cooler. The large plastic container was wedged into the front seat. The ride seemed much bumpier right now than it had earlier. That was probably because she was going much too fast. She needed to slow down. It wasn't as if the guys wouldn't be there. There was no cell-phone reception in this area, so she hadn't been able to call them this afternoon to see how things were going. Instead she'd worked at her desk, made cabin assignments for next week's visitors, and ran credit cards for deposits on lodgings. Then she'd gone out to check and make sure everything was all right with the workers. No one treated her differently than they usually did, which meant, she hoped, that Bear had kept his mouth shut about what he'd seen that morning. She hadn't seen him since their run-in, and she wondered exactly where he was. She'd asked a few people, but no one had seemed to know. They'd all just said he'd worked that morning, then said he was taking off. Several of them told her he'd given no indication when he would be back. That made her question where he was. Bear had a house right near the Full Moon. He'd bought the land from her father some years ago and built a very nice house. He lived there with his wife and three of his five sons. The two who weren't living at home were at school in Albuquerque, enrolled in summer courses at the university.

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She could go and ask his wife, Nita, where he had gone, but that would raise questions about why she was asking. She never went to Bear's house. In fact, she could count on one hand the number of times she'd been there. If there was a social gathering during holiday time, he and his family came to her father's house. While she'd been working that afternoon, she'd pondered who would have pulled the stunt with the rope ladder that morning. The only person she kept coming back to was Bear. His reaction to finding her in bed with Declan and Dario this morning had been strong. He'd said he'd wanted them out. Then came the ladder incident. Now he had left. But where had he gone? She needed to share her suspicions with Declan and Dario, see what they thought. Or had they just brushed off the incident, thinking it was nothing. They hadn't been concerned at the time, or so it seemed. Thinking about this morning made her wonder what they'd found today. Had Declan found other evidence that perhaps this area had been inhabited all those years ago when the ancient Puebloans had lived in this area? And if he had, what would it do to her father's land? She needed to do some research, see what would happen if this site did turn out to be important. Could the land be confiscated by the government or by the reservation? Those were questions she didn't know the answers to, but she needed to find out. Maybe Declan would know. Thinking about her old friend and new lover made her insides heat. Her nipples tingled with excitement as she thought about him caressing her, about how he'd felt inside her, thrusting hard, pulsing with need and the desire to fill her. And then there was Dario, his handsome face flushed with excitement as she stroked him to orgasm. She remembered the feel of his length in her hand, how he filled her and she stretched around him.

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How had this happened? How was it she now had two lovers instead of one? An even bigger question, she knew, was why did it seem so natural? She'd had friends who had participated in ménages or explored their sexuality to the point of having sex with another woman, but she'd never been like that. Yet last night she'd asked them both to stay. Would they repeat it tonight? Would they bring it up, or did she have to? This was uncharted territory for her, and she wasn't exactly sure how to proceed. A few bumps later she saw Declan's SUV sitting next to a large blue tent. She didn't see either of them, but as she drew closer she noticed a ring of stones placed over where the kiva was, marking the structure from the outside. Seeing it made her wonder if there were other structures like it in the area. If there were, they hadn't been cleared out. Or at least she didn't think they had. Declan would have spent the afternoon looking for them, and if he'd found something, he would have marked it the same way he had the kiva, she was sure of it. She pulled the truck up next to Declan's and put it in park. No one came to greet her, and she wondered if they were off wandering the valleys, looking for things that might have been left by those who came before them. Leaving the cooler in the cab seemed like a good idea, since she wasn't sure where they were. It was fairly heavy, and she didn't relish the idea of carrying it to the tent. Better to let the men handle it. She reached for the door handle, and a face appeared in the driver's-side window. Dario peered in at her, his expression serious. Concern raced through her. Had something happened to Declan? No, it couldn't be. They might not have cell reception out here in the middle of nowhere, but they still had a car. They could have come to the house if something had been wrong. “Roll down the window.” His voice sounded muffled through the glass, but she obeyed his order. “Is something wrong? I thought…”

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“Can I see your license, ma'am?” “Excuse me?” She burst into laughter. “Did I park too close to Declan? Or did I break some other driving law on my way here?” He took a small step away and put his hands on his hips. His legs were slightly apart, and she imagined him in a dark blue cop's uniform, the utility belt strapped around his waist, the tight material stretched over his muscles. Her already hard nipples tightened even more, and her clit, as if remembering his touch from the night before, began to throb. “Your license. Now.” “I don't have it with me.” She put her hands on the wheel and gripped it tight. It was either that or reach through the window and try to pull him inside and beg him to take her. “You know that's against the law, don't you?” Dario stared at her for a few long moments, and then he reached for the door handle. “Step out of the car, please, ma'am.” Where was Declan? Was this some sort of game Dario wanted to play with her on his own? Or was he just fooling around, trying to get her to laugh. She hadn't exactly been in a great mood when they'd left the house. Maybe this was his way of lightening things up. The car door opened slowly, and she exited the vehicle, stepping toward the front where he indicated she should stand. “Are you going to arrest me, Officer? Or just try to scare me? I know you're supposed to have your license with you at all times, but I forgot my purse. Sue me.” Maura crossed her arms over her chest. “Of course this is private property. You have absolutely no jurisdiction here.” He stepped closer, and she put her hands out to her sides, pushing them against the truck to keep herself steady. His body pressed hard against hers, and she could feel the rigid outline of his cock against her belly.

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“You'll think jurisdiction when I'm done with you. You were a bad girl this morning, talking about being too big. Shame on you.” His hot breath, which smelled vaguely of a sugary soft drink, caressed her cheek, and her body quivered as he ran a hand up her side. “It's time for your lesson, and it starts with you taking your clothes off. Slowly.” “Excuse me?” She was sure he could hear the sound of her heart, going rap-a-tat-tat in her chest, the rhythm almost as loud as the bass in a teenager's car. “You heard me.” He didn't move away from her but kept his body firmly pressed against hers, her breasts flattened against her chest. “I can see I'm going to have trouble with you. Maybe I need to make sure a record is kept of this little incident, just to cover my own ass.” Maura gasped in pretend outrage. “Are you suggesting I would lie about something that happened here?” “You're a lawyer, aren't you?” She pushed against his shoulder. “Creep.” She tried to wiggle out from under his arms, but all it did was put her body into more contact with him. Not that it was a bad thing. He felt delicious against her. “Let me go.” “I don't think so. Don't make me pull out my handcuffs.” He put his lips right against her ear. “I'm going to move away, and you're going to undress. Is that clear?” Oh yes, it was very clear, and it was very exciting. She had only two real questions. First, where was Declan? And second, should she pretend to fight, or should she just play along? What would they expect from her? Declan was obviously waiting somewhere in the wings for his part to start. But where was he? She thought back to what Dario said about making a record. Declan was somewhere, with the camera. The thought made her stomach clench. She wasn't too thrilled with the idea of recording this little

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tryst on camera. But obviously they were. Maybe she could talk them into changing up the rules a little. “How about if we—” “No!” Dario stepped away from her and turned her expertly so that her front was against the car. Her already hard nipples felt as if they would burst. Oh crap, she liked this, liked the force he was using, even if he was just playacting. What did that say about her? Did she want him to dominate her, and did she want Declan to capture it on film? The clink of cold metal against a wrist brought her mind back from its wanderings. He'd cuffed the other one expertly before she could object. The feelings inside her turned up a notch, and she wasn't sure if it was excitement or fear. After all, she'd only known this man a day. True, he was Declan's friend, and she'd known Declan for years. But Declan was nowhere to be seen at the present time. Was he inside the tent, looking out? Or was he farther away? “Dario, I—” “It's Officer Fuentes to you.” He patted her behind. “Do you have any weapons on you? Anything I need to know about before I search you?” Yeah, hard nipples and a wet pussy, but you'll probably find that out soon enough. “No.” “We'll see about that.” He took hold of the chain between the cuffs and gently tugged. “Come with me.” He took her to the other side of the truck, the one that faced the tent. From inside it she saw a slight movement, answering her question about where Declan was. He stepped out seconds later, camera in hand. “I suppose you're the one who's going to capture this for posterity.” She wanted to point at the camera, but since her hands were bound, there was no way she could. Instead she inclined her head. “That's good. It will help me in court after I file suit against you two. I'll be going for the big bucks.”

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She chuckled evilly, and when they joined in, she stopped, gazing at first one and then the other. “What's so funny?” “You, winning a suit against us,” Dario retorted. “You were the one who was breaking the law. Now, let's see what you've got hidden under those clothes.” “Wait. Let's make sure we get the whole thing on film.” Dario stepped back, and Declan aimed the camera. She sneered at him, working hard to fight the smile that threatened to overtake her mouth. The click of the shutter made her nerve endings jump: a mixture of trepidation and excitement. She had no idea what they had planned; she was at their mercy. But she would give them a run for their money, in a playful sort of way. “Got her, Officer Littlecreek?” “Yes, sir, I do.” Maura snorted out a laugh. “Officer? Of what?” “Watch it, prisoner,” Dario whispered in her ear. “I have the authority to control the amount of punishment you get for your little offense. You'd better be nice, or it may get ugly.” Before she could answer, he whirled her around and grabbed the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head and back over her bound arms. She felt him wrap the material around her wrists, gasping as the shutter clicked and clicked and clicked. “Beautiful,” Declan said, stepping toward her. He had the camera aimed right at her breasts, the shutter releasing every few seconds. “High-powered equipment. Works wonders.” He waved the camera at her, and she scoffed. “It's a good thing something around here has some oomph behind it.” A flush came over his face, and Maura laughed. He recovered just as quickly as he'd faltered, though. “You won't be questioning anyone's oomph by

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the end of the evening.” Declan lifted one eyebrow, and Maura's heart seemed to stop. She had a feeling he was very right. Dario's fingers went to the clasp of her bra, and she tried to move away. He wrapped one arm around her waist and held her close as he used one hand to expertly flip the hooks in back, releasing the material that kept her breasts bound together. They jiggled as he clasped the material and lifted it over her breasts; his hands found her nipples and rolled each one between a thumb and forefinger. She couldn't stop the groan of pleasure that escaped her mouth, and when the shutter clicked again, she threw back her head, wondering how Declan was viewing what was happening, wondering if he was enjoying the sight of her breasts being played with as much as she was savoring the sensations. Dario tightened his grip, the slight pain shooting through her body, centering in her clit. Her nipples began to throb, and she whimpered as he released them. The sharp pull of the blood rushing back was cut off as he repeated his hold, waiting until she groaned again before letting go and then increasing the pressure. “Please, please, I can't…can't…” “Oh yes you can.” The pressure increased. “I think she likes it, Deck. What do you think?” “I think she loves it.” Dario released one nipple, and Declan's soft tongue moved over it at a snail's pace. The wet surface soothed the tortured nub, the feeling turning highly erotic as Declan licked, blowing on it gently after each pass while Dario continued his sweet torment of the other. Dario held her up, his arm tight around her stomach. She was moving her hips now, her jean-clad pelvis searching for a hard cock.

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“I think someone wants to fuck.” Declan aimed the camera down and released the shutter, then laughed lowly. “Her hips are moving so fast, the picture's blurry.” “Much too soon for that,” Dario whispered. “After all, someone questioned our oomph. And we can't be proved oomphless, can we?” Maura laughed at his quip, writhing in his arms, rubbing her bottom against his hard cock. “Please, I'll never question it again, I swear. Someone, please, take me.” “No.” They said the word in unison, and Maura's mouth flopped open in surprise. It had been so perfect that she wondered if they had practiced it together. “But…” She inhaled sharply as Dario's fingers went to her waistband, undid the button, and then pulled down the zipper. “Yes, oh please, yes.” She ground herself against him again, her head hanging down as she moved. She was vaguely aware of the sound of Declan snapping photos, but frankly she didn't care. She had a hard cock behind her, and she wanted it inside her. Right now. Maura banged her hips against Dario, delighting in the deep groan that escaped his throat. “Stop it, skipper.” She did it again, swallowing a laugh as his hands worked her jeans and panties down her hips. The sound of the shutter releasing was gone, and she wondered what Declan was doing. She was too caught up in what Dario was doing to look up, though. Her jeans were now around her knees. He turned her toward the car, then pulled them down to her ankles. “Lean against the hood and spread your legs.” She gladly obeyed Dario's command, anticipating the feel of his hard cock pressed against her wet opening at any moment. Instead she gasped as he clasped a buttock in each hand, pulling them apart and jiggling them.

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“Stop it!” She tried to stand, but it was hard with her hands bound behind her, her shirt strengthening the bond, and her jeans nestled around her feet. Dario released one buttock and slapped it sharply. “Naughty girl.” He slapped it again, and Maura thought the pressure the slap placed on her clit would make her come, right then and there. A third slap made her knees feel as if they would buckle, and she was grateful for the vehicle in front of her, which kept her from sinking to the ground. “Dario!” “Yes, skipper?” She turned her head toward him. “If you're going to call me that, then you need to obey me as your boss. Cut it out.” Declan's deep chuckle made her glance his way. He still had the camera lifted to his face, and it occurred to her that it probably had the capability that many digital cameras had these days: video. Heat suffused her body as Dario slapped her ass again. “Stop it!” Then she giggled, thinking about the video that was being recorded, wondering what she looked like being spanked. She was sure she would find out soon enough. “Sorry, Maura, but I'm unable to comply with that request,” Dario said. He slapped her ass again several more times. It occurred to her that Dario had done this before. He knew just how to time his swats to provide delicious impact and not make the sting turn into pain that would be unpleasant. She relaxed, wondering what Declan was thinking as he watched Dario redden her bottom. He was silent, but she could feel his presence, standing just off to the side. Was he still filming them, or had he stopped to watch? And if he had stopped to watch, what else was he doing? Pleasuring himself as Dario continued to smack her ass? As if he could hear what she thought, Dario gave her one final swat, his hand staying on her ass, moving down to where her swollen, wet lips waited for his touch.

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Pleasure overtook her as his fingers gently probed, making her hips sway as he delved deeper into her, his thumb sliding inside her as his fingers tickled and teased, heading for her clit, but not quite making it there as he slowly moved in and out. “You're driving me insane.” “Good.” Was that Dario or Declan who had said that? She wasn't quite sure if it had come from right behind her or off to the left. But then again maybe Declan had moved; she wasn't really paying attention, she was ashamed to say. Right now all she knew was an orgasm was building in her body, and she wanted the dam to burst. Now. “Please.” The whimper left her mouth without her even knowing she was speaking. It was followed by a second one, and as Dario's fingers continued to stroke her, strong fingers joined them, rubbing gently on her clit for a few moments before gathering it between thumb and forefinger and pinching gently. Her orgasm seemed to rain down on her, covering her entire body, making every inch of her tingle as both of their hands continued to dance over her tender skin. She stomped her feet and tried to pull away from her bonds, stilling only after Dario stroked her back and whispered, “Shush, you'll hurt yourself. Calm down, calm down.” The intensity of this orgasm far surpassed what she'd felt last night. Her chest heaved as she felt Dario fumble with the shirt and heard the clink of the handcuffs being unfastened. She was almost sorry to see them go. She knew being bound was part of the reason her climax had been so strong. It was a new experience for her, and one that she hoped to repeat in the future. They were both helping her strip out of her clothes now. She glanced around, surprised to see the sun was almost totally down and the moon was snaking over the flat horizon, ready to take its place in the sky. “We missed dinner,” she whispered, sighing deeply as lips moved over her again, Dario nibbling on her neck and Declan claiming her lips.

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“We'll eat later,” Declan said, placing little kisses around her mouth. “We're not done with you yet.” She thought they would walk toward the tent. Instead they veered off to the left of it, and she was surprised to see a blanket stretched out over an air mattress, the edges held in place by tent stakes. Several pillows were arranged at the top, and she laughed. “Either you're expecting guests and have set up an extra bedroom, or we're sleeping outside tonight.” “There will be very little sleeping right now,” Declan said. “We've set up the tent for that purpose. But we thought we'd take advantage of you—er, nature— out here.” His words made her tingle. They'd been talking about her, and last night, obviously. They'd clearly enjoyed themselves as much as she had, or they wouldn't have prepared for a repeat performance. Declan gently propelled her toward the mattress. She lay down, then flipped onto her back so she could watch them both undress. The waning sunlight provided just enough illumination for her to see their hard cocks spring free from their jeans. The sight made her body tremble, and she lay back and closed her eyes, anticipating their touch. She arched into them as one hand caressed her stomach and the other stroked her breast, and yet another went straight between her thighs, gently probing her carefully trimmed curls. “Can I play this time?” She kept her eyes closed, the pillows scattering as she lifted her arms above her head, savoring her lovers' caresses. Maybe she wouldn't touch them. She could get used to this feeling, of having them stroke her as if worshipping her body. It made her feel special and wanted. But then again, maybe she'd let them control enough of the situation so far. Maybe it was time for her to play the boss card, even if this wasn't an employee/employer situation. She sat up suddenly, startling them both.

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“On your backs.” She sat on her knees at the end of the mattress and turned toward them. She noticed they hadn't moved, and she gave them what she hoped was a very stern look. “I said, on your backs. Now.” “Yes, ma'am,” Declan said, complying instantly. Dario, on the other hand, continued to stare. She could tell he wasn't used to being told what to do in a sexual situation. The look in his eyes told her he was considering telling her that wasn't going to happen. His dark eyes softened just a bit. He gave her a smile, then lay down, leaving enough space between himself and Declan so she could crawl between them. She looked between them, careful to keep her hands to herself, letting her gaze drift down their bodies. “I'm not sure I can make a choice.” She moved her hands over their cocks, hovering just above them. If they moved up, the tips of their hard rods would probably touch her, but both of them remained absolutely still, their gazes focused on her face. From their silence, she knew they were not going to give her a push in any direction, giving her absolute authority over what happened next. She licked her lips in anticipation, then grasped both their cocks at once and slid her hands up and down. Their sharp gasps of pleasure emboldened her, and she tightened her grasp, moving her hand just a little faster, not enough to bring them to climax, but enough to bring them right to the edge, or so she hoped. She stroked Declan while she explored Dario's cock, lightly running her thumb over the slit before trailing her fingers down and tickling his balls. She fought back a smile when she noticed Dario's eyes were squeezed shut and he was trying as hard as he could, she thought, to stay in place, to let her continue to have the control. His breathing was ragged, and his reaction was exquisite. The expression on his face darkened, and she thought he would push her away and take control. She shifted her attention to Declan, grasping Dario's cock as she had his friend's just moments ago.

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She explored Declan just as she had Dario. His reaction, however, was much different than his friend's. Where Dario had fought to stay still, Declan seemed to sink into the mattress, taking great pleasure in allowing himself to be played with. There was a look of utter calm about him, as if he could lay there forever and let her play to her heart's content. The differences between the two of them were apparent, but they didn't surprise her one bit. Declan had always been strong, but he'd also been willing to let others take the reins in planning parties or deciding plans for the evening. She couldn't see Dario doing that. He would have to have control of everything, no matter what. For the next few moments she allowed herself to bask in the sensation of stroking two hard cocks, and then she leaned over and ran her tongue down Declan's length, from the tip of his cock to his balls. He'd barely had time to groan out his pleasure and lift his hips before she transferred her tongue to Dario, doing exactly the same thing before closing her mouth around him. “Oh fuck.” Dario's strangled words revved up her pleasure. She tightened her mouth, sucking him in deeper. She remembered the way they'd teased her last night, bringing her right to the edge before backing off. Dario's hips started to buck, and she let him go, flicking her tongue over the head of his dick before moving over to swallow Declan. “Tease.” Dario grunted. “Get back…” His hands were on his cock, and she tried to bat them away, but he caught her wrist, holding it tight. She sucked hard on Declan, lifting her gaze up to his face. He looked down at her, an expression of pure bliss written all over him. She released him from her mouth, sliding her tongue over his length before looking over at Dario. She wanted to feel both of them, open herself up to Declan and Dario at the same time. She licked Declan's cock, glancing over to where Dario watched her intently, a look of pure lust clouding his features. “Fuck me.” The words had barely left her mouth when Dario was on his knees, reaching beside him. She smiled as she saw him grab a condom

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package; then she turned her attention back to Declan, kneeling over him and taking as much as she could of his length into her mouth. “Oh yeah, baby,” Declan said, his hand stroking her hair. “You have no idea how good that feels.” His cock pulsed in her hand as she grasped the base of it, teasing the head with her mouth. “I have some idea.” Dario was behind her now, using his legs to urge her to spread wide for him. She did as he asked, taking several shallow breaths as he caressed her hips, then placed the head of his cock at her opening. “Say it one more time, skipper.” Dario's words wrapped around her body as she wrapped her lips around Declan. “Oh, fuck me, please.” She thrust her hips back, taking him into her. She sucked Declan harder as Dario thrust inside her, filling her with one hard stroke that threatened to send her body toppling over the edge when he hit just the right spot. He pulled out and pushed back, filling her and then leaving for a few seconds. She moved in rhythm with him, taking as much of Declan as she could, going up on him as Dario was leaving her, and then sucking him back down while Dario slipped inside. Intense feelings flooded her, and she wanted it to last forever. Her bottom lifted, and she took him in deeper. His hands found her clit and stroked, his fingers searching for just the right spot. They located it quickly, and when her orgasm started, then spread through her, she tightened her hold on both of them. Hot jets of cum hit the back of her throat, and Declan's guttural cry of “oh, Maura, baby” heightened her pleasure. She sucked him deeper, not wanting to let go and lessen his pleasure, and when she knew his pleasure had abated, she let him go, gasping for air as Dario pounded into her from behind.

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She laid her head on Declan's stomach as he stroked her, his touch gentle and sweet. “You have no idea how beautiful you look right now,” Declan said. “Does it feel good, him fucking you?” “Yes.” “Tell me about it,” Declan said, his fingers wrapping around strands of her hair. “Describe it.” New sensations rushed through her. What should she say? And would what she said about one of her lovers upset the other? The idea of describing what she was feeling was daunting, and she wasn't sure it was something she could do. “Tell me what it feels like,” Declan repeated. “I want to know.” “I feel…full.” She gasped as Dario increased his thrusts. “Goes…deep inside. So good.” “Tell me what I tasted like.” She laughed, rubbing her cheek against his stomach. She could tell from Dario's faster movements that he was about to release. Maybe hearing this would send him flying. “Salty yet sweet.” She licked Declan's stomach, starting to get into the spirit of things. “To feel you—oh, inside my mouth and—more, please—Dario in my pussy was… Oh, I…” “Fuck!” Dario screamed the word; his body seemed to crawl up hers, his hips moving as rapidly as a jackhammer. Declan grasped her shoulders, and she felt his cock stir under her. Then Dario collapsed, leaving her so quickly, she felt as if part of her were missing. Maura stayed where she was, cradled on Declan's stomach, one of his legs wrapped around her, holding her close as his hands continued to stroke her shoulders and back. From beside her, Dario reached out, stroked her hand.

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She moved until she was between them, nestled in their arms: Dario at her back and Declan at her front. “I thought we were moving inside,” she said, even though it was obvious to her the two of them would soon be asleep. “Later,” Declan said. She laughed softly as their even breathing seemed to caress her body. Maura looked up at the stars, noticing the moon directly above them now. She closed her eyes, seeking to record every feeling she'd had tonight, every touch, kiss, and stroke of their cocks. It was something she never wanted to forget, for as long as she lived.

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Chapter Ten Maura checked the computer screen, then turned to the couple standing at the counter. She gave them a warm smile, feeling it all the way down to her belly. She felt that way a lot, lately. For five days now, to be exact. Ever since Declan and Dario had appeared at the Full Moon. “We have you in cabin three, Mr. Harrison, from today until next Saturday. There are towels, blankets, and pillows in the cabin. And of course there are cooking utensils, plates, cups, and anything you would need of that nature. Anything extra in the way of furnishings you might require, just come and see me here. If we don't have it, we'll see about getting it for you. If you want to book a trail ride or ask a guide to take you and your family on a hike, I can arrange that for you also.” “Sounds good.” Mr. Harrison's East Coast accent made her smile. She loved introducing people to this area that she loved so much. “We've never been in this part of the country before, and my kids are looking forward to a trail ride. Can I schedule that for tomorrow?” “You certainly can.” Maura pulled out the book, her smile staying in place as Bear opened the door and walked inside. His smile wasn't nearly as bright as hers, but he was still polite to the newcomers, telling them his son Mikey would lead them on the ride tomorrow, take them out to the bluffs, and then show them some Indian ruins. Maura watched the two men talk about the region, and when he was ready to leave, Mr. Harrison shook both their hands, telling them once again how happy he was to be there. Bear turned to her as their guest left. “It's payday.”

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“Yes, I know that.” She went behind the desk and took envelopes out of the drawer. She handed Bear his, then riffled through them until she found Mikey's. “Here you go.” “Thought you might have been too busy with your friends to remember.” The sarcasm in his voice made her smile falter just a little. But then she thought about those two friends, about being in their arms, making love with them, or just talking, laughing, and joking, and she shrugged. “Sorry to disappoint, Bear, but I remembered my duties. Would you like to hand these out, or shall I?” “I'll do it.” He took the envelopes and sifted through them. “If those two are workers, how come theirs aren't in here? And how long you gonna let them waste your father's money?” “Excuse me?” It was best if she tried to keep her cool. Blowing up at Bear would serve no purpose. “You know what I mean. Those two in the desert. Exactly what the hell are they doing out there?” For the first few days after he'd discovered her in bed with Declan and Dario, he wouldn't even speak to her. Now he spoke, but from the tone of his voice it was obvious he wasn't happy about it. The question he asked seemed strange, because she knew Bear and everyone else at the Full Moon knew exactly what Declan and Dario were doing. She'd heard two of the hands discussing it the other day at the stables as she'd retrieved a horse to ride out to the kiva. They were speculating about other ruins or artifacts that might be found. The gist of their conversation had been wondering if they could find something they could sell to a collector, to make a little extra money. But Bear didn't seem to be worried about using the site to make money. He was just worried about what Declan and Dario were doing. Was he trying to

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trip her up, see how she would answer him? Maybe she could learn his real reasons if she pissed him off. “They're not part of the actual resort staff, so you don't have to worry about it. I'm their immediate supervisor.” “You just brought them out for your little campouts, huh?” His words proved he knew what was happening out there. Why did this bother him? Unless…the idea came to her so fast that the words were out of her mouth before she could think about it. “Actually, we're going into Durango tomorrow. We're going to go to Mesa Verde and just relax a little.” She couldn't read the emotion that flickered across his face so quickly. Was he happy they were going to be gone? Or was he angry that she was going out to play instead of staying to work? “When were you going to tell me I needed to watch the office?” “You haven't exactly made yourself available to me recently.” This time she could interpret his look. She shouldn't be blaming him for the rift that had developed between them. It was all her fault: well, hers, Declan's, and Dario's fault. “Is there a problem?” “Not at all. Stay gone as long as you like.” He banged out the door, and she stared after him, wondering exactly what she should do next. It was almost time for the office to close, and no one was expected for a late check-in, unless the couple scheduled to come tomorrow showed up early. If that happened, Bear's number was on the door for them to call. She had everything packed up for them to cook hamburgers at the site tonight. What would the guys think of her impromptu trip? Would they also think it would be good for them to vacate the site for a while? There had to be a way for them to set up something so they would know if someone had come to the kiva while they were gone. It wouldn't show what they'd done, but a trip wire,

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or some other similar device, would show someone had been there. Maybe from there Dario could figure out who it was. It was a huge long shot, but it might go toward helping them find their kiva user. Thinking about him brought a hitch to her breath. She hadn't talked to him in three days, but the last time he'd sounded as if nothing had even happened to him. The therapy was obviously working wonders, and he was supposed to be home in a few weeks. She wanted this taken care of before he returned, wanted to be able to give him some answers so he wouldn't have to worry about things. It would be absolutely perfect if she could lay a solution on the table, tell him the site needed to be excavated by professional archeologists and that nothing was happening there to cause problems. But first she had to figure out exactly what was happening. And what would happen between herself, Declan, and Dario when this was all over? Right now everything was wonderful. They acted like one big happy family, cooking together, talking together, and eventually crawling into the tent or staying out under the stars to make love together. But when they left the Full Moon and went back to their normal lives, would things be different? Of course they would. Society wouldn't look kindly on a woman who had two lovers. She couldn't marry both of them, couldn't have any kind of legal relationship with the two of them. She'd have to pick one or the other. How would she do that? She'd known Declan far longer and had thought of him in a romantic way for almost all that time. But that didn't change the fact she now had feelings for Dario too. It wasn't supposed to be this way, was it? In real life, a man and a woman fell in love, they got married and stayed that way, had kids, lived together, faced life together, died together. She picked up a pencil and started doodling on a sheet of paper, as she always did while pondering a case she'd just taken. That wasn't “real” life. That was the way people wanted life to be, but in reality, things changed. People fell

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in love, got married, and then sometimes got divorced after finding someone else whom they fell in love with. Why couldn't she pick her own reality? Why couldn't she fall in love with two men and want to have them both in her life? The lawyer in her sat up straighter, ready to argue points, the first one being her father. He wouldn't take kindly to her living with two men. He would consider her a freak, and she was sure his reaction would mirror Bear's on the morning he'd found her in bed with Declan and Dario. She might be able to talk him into a semiacceptance, and he might treat both men with a sort of restrained pleasantness, but she was sure that deep down he would always frown upon her relationship, and that would hurt. Then there were her bosses and coworkers. She'd taken her hiatus from her firm with the caveat that she would be reinstated if there was still a position open when she came back. She'd talked to her bosses just last week, informing them that her father was on the road to recovery and doing much better than they'd all expected. Would they want her if she lived with two men? They were a fairly conservative bunch. Having two lovers wouldn't fit their mold, she was sure. Her friends were something else to consider, but not as much as her bosses. Most of her friends worked in the legal profession. Only one had called her in the time she'd been at the Full Moon. Sylvia Martinez was a paralegal, and she was, without a doubt, Maura's best friend. The last time she'd talked to her was right before the men arrived. Things had been crazy since then, and she'd neglected her phone calls. She picked up the phone then dialed, getting Sylvia's voice mail. She left a brief message saying she would be out of touch for a while but would get back to her after she returned to Albuquerque. As she hung up she realized that, while she'd been thinking of family, friends, and coworkers, she hadn't thought about the most important part of this equation: Declan and Dario. They hadn't discussed making things

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permanent. No one had said a word about relationships. Their time together had been great, and the sex was magnificent. But not once had any of them mentioned what would happen on their return to Albuquerque. Dario had his job, which took him to different places in the state. Declan traveled to various dig sites when he wasn't lecturing at the university. And she had her work, or at least she hoped she did, which kept her at home but busy. Perhaps she was overthinking things. It wouldn't be the first time she'd done it. In fact, she was notorious for doing it. It was why she and Declan had never gotten together, despite the obvious attraction. What she needed to do was talk to them. “Hey, guys, I've had a great time and thought maybe we should continue it. What do you think?” Oh yeah, that sounds real mature. Don't overdo it, just let it flow as it will, and if it doesn't work out, then it wasn't meant to be. A glance at the clock showed it was just after five. She shut down the computer and went to the kitchen, then loaded up the food in the cooler. She put other things she thought they might need in the truck, then went around to make sure the doors were all locked. Dinner, a little stargazing, and then some sweet loving at the hands of two gorgeous men. What more could a girl ask for?

***** Dario stopped and took a deep swig from his water bottle. Declan had gone walking a few hours ago, saying he would be gone for quite some time. Dario figured he was looking for other signs of a civilization here, something he might have missed with his other treks. With Deck gone and no one to talk to, he'd quickly become bored. A walk had revealed nothing of value he could use to help identify who'd been using the kiva. His failure to find any kind of evidence was frustrating to him. He helped put away major drug dealers, and he couldn't find a shred of

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proof that someone had even been here. Well, there had been the offerings they'd left behind, but that wouldn't help him identify a suspect. The sound of an engine filled the otherwise-still air. Was Maura here? He started to walk back to the site, then stopped. No, it was too early in the day for her to come out. The engine he was hearing belonged to a motorcycle, not a truck. Dario stopped and listened. Had someone seen Declan leave the site, then decided it would be empty? That would be a very amateurish mistake to make, since it was obvious there were two of them out here. But if their visitor was nervous about his use of the kiva being discovered, he might not have been thinking and decided to act on the fact Declan was gone. Dario moved toward the camp slowly, knowing that if he ran, even in this dirt, the sound would carry in the vast desert. As he neared the site, he saw exactly what he'd expected to see: a motorcycle, more of a dirt bike, really, propped up next to the kiva opening. Whoever had come calling was obviously inside, either adding something to the shrine or taking it all away. He approached cautiously, not wanting to raise the alarm. The main objective here was to identify the unknown kiva user, and he'd been given the opportunity to do just that. He stopped on the outskirts of the camp and looked around. There was no movement, and he strode silently across the camp, using the tent as a barricade to stop and look around again. Definitely time for a trip to the kiva opening. Dario was just about to move beside the tent flap, when it opened. He turned his head and looked down, then grunted in surprise as a hand wrapped around his ankle and pulled. He toppled forward onto his chest, landing with a loud groan. The heavy weight of a man landed on his back, pushing him deeper into the ground. Dario tilted his weight, and the person on top of him shifted.

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“Son of a bitch.” Dario threw a punch over his shoulder. A grunt of pain came from his unknown assailant. He tried to move again, but before he could turn his head, something came down over it, turning everything to black. “Motherfucker!” Dario threw all his weight back, and the person on top of him rolled to one side. Dario stood, then pulled the object from his head. He looked at the pillowcase he held before tossing it aside. Dario lunged for the legs of the young Indian male who was now running toward the bike. He caught a pant leg and pulled, but the worn material ripped, sending Dario flying onto his stomach yet again. The youth kicked out, connecting with Dario's hand. Sharp pain spread up his arm, and he grasped his palm, rubbing his thumb against it to try and relieve the pain. “Damn it!” He held his throbbing hand, then looked up to where the man straddled the bike. “Stop! I just want to talk.” The bike engine roared to life, and the driver spun the tires, kicking up clouds of dust as he roared off. “Son of a… Crap that hurt.” He stared after the retreating bike, mentally kicking himself in the ass for not thinking his visitor could be going through the tent. How could he have let something like this happen? He turned toward the tent, ducked inside, and looked around. The fact the youth had time to snatch a pillowcase and devise a plan on how to use it let Dario know he'd been less than quiet as he'd approached. Either that or the boy had supernatural senses that allowed him to see people even when they weren't close by. A quick survey of the surroundings showed nothing to be missing, or at least he didn't think anything was. He cussed himself as he realized he hadn't gotten a good look at the boy's face. While working a beat, he'd been pissed at people who had witnessed crimes and could say no more than, “A tall white male.”

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Now all he could say was a Native American youth, between the ages of sixteen and twenty, maybe twenty-two. A hell of a lot of good that description would do him around these parts.

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Chapter Eleven “We don't have to go all the way to Mesa Verde.” Maura ran her hand down her jean legs, keeping her gaze trained on the road. “Do you think this will flush out Bear or whoever is using the kiva?” She sighed heavily, then giggled like a schoolgirl as Declan put his strong arm around her shoulder, turned her head, and kissed her, capturing her lower lip between his teeth and nibbling. Beside her, Dario whispered the words “not fair” before tightening his grip on the wheel and clearing his throat as if to get their attention. “I think this is a great idea, skipper. The only time our friend came around was when he thought everyone was gone. I think it will work this time too, and we'll get some new information.” She mumbled a yes, her concentration half on what he was saying, half on his lips, then pushed slightly against Declan's chest. As much as she loved kissing him, doing it in a car going seventy miles per hour didn't exactly seem like a great idea. “We should be concerned about what happened today. This may not be the best time to leave.” “Relax,” Declan said, taking one last nibble on her lip. “We've got it all set up, remember?” Oh yes, she remembered. Upon arrival at the campsite, which was now called the Half Moon Ranch, she'd been informed, the men were ready to eat. They had a fire blazing, and it hadn't taken long for Dario to fix their dinner.

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She's explained about the going-out-of-town remark, and both of them had been quiet, at first. Then they'd said it might help them to draw out the mysterious kiva user. Declan had told them about a motion-activated video camera that could be set up inside the kiva. “We'll have to do a little camouflage to make it blend in, but it's a very hightech piece of equipment. It will work in low light, and it will definitely give us a good picture of the visitor.” Both men had then spent the next hours of available light setting up the camera inside the kiva, hopefully hiding it enough so that someone who came down wouldn't see it. She knew it had been hard work for them, since they'd hauled down dirt and other items to use. Afterward, they'd all bundled into the tent where they'd talked about what they would possibly find when they got back. “I'm still voting for Bear,” Declan had said. “That wasn't Bear I fought,” Dario had replied. “That was a kid, and he got the better of me, damn it.” “Bear's anger over us being out here could have to do with the fact we're on the payroll and boinking the boss. Maybe he hired someone to search the campground.” Declan had started to kiss her then, and Maura had tried to push him away, intent on continuing their conversation. But Declan had been too fast, putting her on her back. The two of them had ganged up on her, tickling and kissing her. She'd been surprised they'd all settled into one wonderful heap with her in the middle. It didn't take long for the men to fall asleep, and for the first time since they'd arrived, they hadn't made love. She'd missed the physical contact, but she'd also loved the emotions that she felt with the two of them wrapped around her, arms and legs intertwined, soft snores from the two of them making her smile as she'd stared up at the moon through the open flap of the tent.

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Lying in their arms had been perfect, and it brought back to mind the discussion she'd had with herself that afternoon, about their relationship. Whether at the kiva site or at her father's house, she wanted to know if what she was feeling would transfer out to the real world, or if it was just a trick of the moon. This trip, she realized, would help her decide just that. Seeing how they reacted to each other around others could be an eye-opener. Mesa Verde was busy during the summer season, and she'd been lucky enough to find a hotel in Cortez. She would have preferred to stay in a tent at the park, but all the campgrounds there were full. It took them a little less than an hour to reach Cortez. They'd checked into the hotel, and now, as they were driving up the narrow, curvy road that led to Mesa Verde, Maura checked her watch and chuckled. “You've got a lead foot, don't you, Officer Fuentes?” “You want to give me a ticket? Or maybe you think it's your turn to perform a strip search.” He stuck his tongue out and wiggled it back and forth. Warmth spread through Maura's body, settling in her clit. She wanted to tell him to pull over and make good on the promise of his tongue, but the road was narrow and heavily traveled. Maura's eyebrows raised in mock chagrin. “I'm sure I've already seen all you have to offer.” He didn't take his eyes off the road, but the sound of his voice swept over her, and she felt as if he were looking her up and down, licking his lips in anticipation. “I'll let you play with my nightstick.” Declan's laughter punctuated Dario's statement. “Cut it out, you two. I have a strong desire to visit some ruins while we're here. You can wait for sex later.” The sound of Dario's snort almost made Maura produce one of her own. “You want to visit ruins? I'm sure you know as much about this place as the people working here. How many times have you visited Mesa Verde?”

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“Lots.” “Me too,” Maura said, looking out over the valley as the SUV continued to wind its way up the road. “But that doesn't stop me from loving it more every time I come. Look at it. It's magnificent.” “I have to admit, you're right,” Dario said. “I should have made Declan drive so I could sightsee more. It is definitely one hell of a ride.” The car grew quiet as they all admired their surroundings. Now, as she sat snuggled between Dario and Declan, she wanted to bring up exactly what seemed to be happening between them; but she was afraid if she did, she would ruin the atmosphere. Maybe later, back in the hotel room, she could bring it up. But how did you do that? So, are we just going to be fuck buddies, or is there something else going on here? I think something's building, but if it's not, tell me now so I can stop thinking that way. I don't want a huge letdown back home. “Pull into this area.” Declan was pointing to a parking lot off to the righthand side of the road. “I'll take the wheel and drive us around, and then we'll take a guided tour with a ranger.” Dario pulled the SUV into the lot, putting it into park. “Do we need a guide with you around?” “Yes,” Declan replied. “The guides know far more than I do.” Once he was behind the wheel, he started to talk about the area, how the ancient Publoeans had mostly lived on top of the cliffs until the later part of their lives at the park. At that time they'd made their homes on the cliff sides. As he talked, Maura's mind wandered to what life would have been like for these ancient people. The landscape was beautiful, true, but living out here without the modern amenities people were so used to would have been tough. She couldn't imagine

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climbing up and down ladders to get to houses, gathering places, or kivas. They all did it, young and old alike. Thinking about them made her wonder again about the kiva on her father's land. They were trying to figure out who was using it now, but just the fact that it existed made it special, no matter what was happening in the present time. No, she corrected herself, that wasn't true. If someone was using the kiva for evil purposes, trying to draw on the energy that would possibly surround the place where rituals had taken place, then that could change things, make them very bad. She had a strong belief in spiritual energy, and if it was being tapped for evil, it needed to be stopped. She was still pondering what they would do after they discovered the kiva's secrets when she realized the car was stopped and both men were staring at her. “What?” “You looked so lost in thought,” Declan said. “Care to share?” “I'm just wondering about the people who lived here. It's just so inspiring.” Dario squeezed her knee, and she felt a different sort of inspiration shoot through her. She wished once again they'd been able to secure a campsite here, so they could enjoy the full effect of the park that evening. But then again she'd be thrilled to get back to the hotel room, hopefully soak in the hot tub and enjoy dinner prepared by someone in a restaurant. It had been a long time since she'd been pampered by being away from work at the Full Moon, and she was looking forward to it. They exited the car and started toward the area where the ranger would begin the tour. Numerous people already milled about, waiting to get an upclose and personal look at the cliff dwellings. As they neared the crowd, she was surprised to have Declan take one of her hands and Dario the other. They both squeezed gently, and she thought

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they would drop them. But they didn't, holding her close as they discussed the tour they were about to take. The close contact, in full view of everyone who would be going with them on the hike, answered one of the questions she'd been pondering for the last few days. She felt something, yes, and they did too. She noticed one woman giving her a strange look, and Maura just grinned at her. The woman returned a halfhearted smile, then turned back to the people she was with. Within moments her group was glancing their way, but trying to look as if they were looking at the scenery. Eat your heart out, she wanted to say as the ranger called them to order and started to talk about the ancient ones and how they survived in this area for so many years. The group started along the path and her lovers kept hold of her hands, making her feel warm and loved. At the steep or narrow areas they helped her, even though she'd walked these paths before, and really didn't need it. She wanted it, though, wanted the contact with them in a public setting. She read their continued hand-holding and gentle touches as a statement that they didn't care what others thought. They wanted to be close to her, and if someone noticed or questioned the fact two men were holding her hands, they didn't care. They were a threesome, at the Full Moon, and here, at Mesa Verde. As they started up the first ladder, with Declan in front of her and Dario behind her, she thought about being in between them and staying that way. She needed to find an inroad to the conversation, feel them out and see what their feelings were on the matter. Hand-holding was nice, but who really knew what people were thinking? The guide was saying there were no known writings left by the ancient ones, only pottery, baskets, and the like. One of their fellow tourists asked the guide if it was true the tribes practiced cannibalism. Before she could answer him, Declan spoke up, saying evidence on the subject was spotty at best.

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The forceful way he stepped forward and addressed the man reminded Maura of how passionate he was about his chosen profession. As the two men argued the subject, the guide turned to another woman to answer her question. Declan's voice rose, indicating he was becoming agitated. Beside her, Dario squeezed her hand, then leaned over and kissed her gently. “I'm going to go rescue our boy. He can get a bit carried away sometimes when it comes to archaeology.” Maura watched him walk to the two men and clap Declan on the shoulder, the movement strong and forceful, and, she was sure, meant to deliver the message he needed to calm down. She turned and looked out over the valley below them: green trees and sandstone rocks carved with doorways and windows, all of it lit up by a bright afternoon sun. The scenery was beautiful, and behind her, Declan and Dario were laughing as they approached. They each put a hand on either of her hips, and she thought nothing in the world could ever be so perfect.

***** “Lord, that feels so good.” Maura leaned back on the pillow and closed her eyes, savoring the feel of Declan's hands as they massaged the balls of her feet…her very sore feet. They'd taken not one but two tours that afternoon, visiting the Balcony House and the Cliff Palace, walking up and down trails and ladders to see the intricately carved places where the Indians had lived. Each one she went into fascinated her more, and even though she'd been on the tours several times, she didn't regret going on them again. She had to duck to get into the dwellings, and once inside she'd wondered about the small stature of the people who had lived here. Now, however, she worried only about herself, and her aching limbs. “I'm so out of shape,” she said as Declan moved to the other foot. Dario was beside her, his hands tracing lines up and down her arms. “It was hard,” he said as his fingers moved over her stomach.

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“Yeah, that's why neither of you is complaining about being tired.” “We're tired,” Declan said. “We're just wanting to concentrate on you. Maybe we should take a shower.” “Is the stall big enough for three?” Before the words were out of his mouth, Dario had jumped up from the bed and moved toward the bathroom. His “barely big enough for one” seemed to echo and came at the same time there was a knock at the door. “Got it.” The cop hurried from the bathroom, grabbing his wallet from the dresser as he passed. “No.” Maura sat up. “I should pay, since this trip can be considered a business expense. There's cash in my wallet.” She'd used the company credit card to pay for the gas and room, and she'd wanted to keep all the expenses on one card. Since she'd forgotten to give the number to the restaurant while ordering, she wanted to use her cash and no one else's. She wasn't exactly sure how her father would feel about this trip, but she was sure that, in the long run, she would be able to convince him that it was done for the business. Hopefully. Dario ignored her, though, pulling open the door and taking two large brown bags from the young man who tried not to look like he was looking over Dario's shoulder to see who else was in the room. Dario shut the door and set the bags on the bed. “A Chinese feast for three.” They sat cross-legged on the bed and dug into the food quickly, passing around plates and cardboard boxes. The discussion focused on favorite restaurants in Albuquerque, and Maura knew this was an opportunity to bring up the future, see if they wanted to continue their tryst once they were home. She didn't do it, though. Each time she thought she would bring the idea up, she filled her chopsticks and stuck the food into her mouth. It was the

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innate fear of rejection that kept her from talking. People were different when they were around others, and although today had been fine, she didn't know how it would go later. Beside her, Dario put his plate on the bed and rubbed his stomach. “Too much food.” Yet he dug into a bag and pulled out six cellophane-wrapped fortune cookies. “Guess we ordered enough that they thought there were more people here.” He tossed two of the cookies to her, another two to Declan, and placed two on the bed before him. “In college, we always added the words 'in bed' after reading the fortune,” Maura said, picking up her first one. “That could be interesting,” Dario said. “Let's try that.” Dario opened his first cookie, clearing his voice before reading. “Life will help you along the way, in bed.” “What does that mean?” Dario held up his hands. “Even without the 'in bed' part, how can life help you along the way?” “It's a fortune cookie, Fuentes; they don't come with instructions.” Declan picked up his first one, then read. “Seeking instruction will make things easier for you, in bed.” Maura and Dario dissolved into laughter. “Hey, I don't need help in bed,” Declan said, waving the little slip of paper around. “I'm so good, I can give lessons.” “Teach a class on how to have great sex?” Dario popped a piece of cookie into his mouth and spoke around it. “That could prove interesting. Could you teach while you were…tied up?” “Trying to keep me from playing?” Declan stretched out on the bed. “On the contrary, I think it might prove interesting to tie you to a chair, then let you tell me what to do to our pretty little boss. Would you like to watch

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me fuck her? I would have to follow your lead while your hard cock strains to be touched?” This time the room grew deathly silent, until Declan whispered, “Fuck yeah.” Maura's breath hitched as she thought about Dario's proposal. It made her wonder about their relationship and if they had ever touched each other in the past. The intense look they were sharing said there had been something, and she wanted to ask. But now wasn't the time. “Does this mean the boss becomes the plaything?” “Yeah,” Declan said. They both glanced at her, and she already felt naked and very aroused. Declan licked his lips, and her nipples hardened in response. Then he stood and threw away empty cartons. Dario took the ones that still held food and put them in the small refrigerator, then took one of the chairs away from the table and set it next to the bed. “Have a seat, but take off your belt first.” Declan pulled the leather from its loops, then sat down in the chair. Maura watched with rapt attention as Dario wrapped first Declan's, then his own belt around Declan, binding him to the arms of the chair. The cop's hands went to Declan's waist, the image making her throat tighten. He undid the jeans slowly, sliding the zipper down leisurely, keeping his gaze locked on his friend's. She again wondered if they were more than just friends and they hadn't told her yet. But frankly, at this point in time, she didn't care. The scene playing out in front of her was fascinating. Dario gripped Declan's jeans, and the other man lifted his hips. The cop moved the material down, and Declan's cock popped up, hard and ready for action. Dario traced it with his finger. Maura inhaled sharply, resisting the urge to tell him to suck it. She'd like to see that. When Declan groaned in delight, Dario moved his hands back to

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the jeans, pulling the material down to Declan's ankles. Then he stood and moved toward the bed. She couldn't tear her eyes off Declan, the tip of his cock glistening with his desire. Dario stepped behind her and grasped her hips, pulling her backside into contact with his jean-clad body. She could feel his hard dick pressing against her. “What should I do first, teacher?” “Undress her, but do it little by little. Squeeze her tits; kiss her neck. She likes that.” Dario's hands went immediately to her breasts, pressing them against her; he filled his palms with them until Maura moaned; then he sought out her nipples, finding them easily and pinching. She groaned, wanting to yell at him to undress her, like he'd been told to do. Before she could utter a word, though, Declan muttered her name. “You will remain silent except for groans and moans, do you understand? I'm the boss right now, not you. If you can't remain quiet, I'm sure there's something we can find to gag you. Nod to answer me.” She followed his instructions, soft gasps of pleasure escaping her mouth as Dario lifted her T-shirt over her head, then unclasped her bra. He pushed the straps off her shoulders, wrapped his arms around her, and once again captured her breasts in his palms. She let the bra fall to the floor, savoring Declan's deep groan of satisfaction as he watched Dario massage her. Declan's gaze burned into her as Dario again pinched her nipples, the feeling more intense this time, making her whimper in a mixture of pain and pleasure. “Tell me how it feels, Maura.” Declan's command sent shivers down her spine. “Hurts, but feels good too.” And it did feel oh so good. The sharp pinches spread through her body. “Yes, I can tell. Dario, get her naked. Now. I want to see her pussy.”

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Dario moved in front of her, his fingers making quick work of her button and zipper, stripping her with expert hands. After she was naked, he stepped up next to her and ran his finger over her stomach before letting his fingers dip between her legs. “Spread them,” Declan ordered. “Give him access to that beautiful pussy.” She could see Declan straining against the belts that held his arms in place. He wanted to touch her, she could tell, and it made her feel more desired than ever. Dario's fingers slid into her curls, then parted her lips, finding her clit with the first stroke. He knelt behind her and kissed her thighs and buttocks. “Look, Deck. She's so wet, so ready to be fucked.” She tilted her head back and groaned loudly. “Don't come, Maura, not yet.” Declan's power over her, even though he wasn't touching her, seemed strange, but she wanted to obey him. “Dario, stroke her hard and fast, make her wiggle in pleasure, make it hard for her to follow my demand that she hold back.” “Gladly.” His lips continued to play with her buttocks and lower back as his hands explored her pussy. Her knees felt as if they would crumble out from under her, and it was hard to stay in place. She kept her gaze on Declan, who was watching Dario's hands as they stroked and caressed her pussy, bringing her closer to the edge with each movement. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on not coming, letting the feelings of pleasure soak into her body, making her fingers and toes tingle. Dario varied his touch, pressing hard before pulling away and lightly touching her, and then pressing hard again, making her gasp. “That's it.” Declan's praise broke her concentration; her eyes flew open and glanced down to where his cock stood straight up from his lap. “Do you want my dick?” “Yes.”

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“Do you want Dario's dick too?” “Yes, yes, I want them both. Please.” “I like to hear you beg.” Dario's breath tickled her lower back. She shivered in his arms, but he wrapped his arms around her stomach, keeping her from falling. “Me too.” Declan was looking at her like she was a buffet and he hadn't eaten for weeks. He licked his lips, then pulled on his bonds. “Let's see if we can make her beg more. Dario, suck her tits.” Dario moved around her, standing up and kissing her, his tongue sliding into her mouth, flicking around the inside, making her sizzle. He dropped his head to her breast, putting a hand on her ass and pulling her close. She closed her eyes to savor the warmth that spread through her. He sucked her in deep, his teeth nibbling on her nipple. She put her hands in his hair, then wrapped her fingers into it and tugged gently. “Latch onto that nipple, Dario; pull it out so I can see you suck her.” “Oh God.” Maura felt as if her bones had turned to jelly as Dario followed instructions, pulling on her nipple, baring his teeth so that Declan could see her captive nub. Maura bucked her hips, wanting to feel a cock inside her as Dario dropped one nipple and attached his mouth to the other, giving it the same sweet handling and making her hips move even more. “I need to fuck, please.” The plea was soft, but she knew they'd heard her. “You have no idea how it turns me on to watch Dario touch you, to suck you. I love seeing you wiggle as his hands slide over your body. The only thing I'd like more would be to see his dick sliding in and out of you. What about you, Dario? Are you ready to fuck our sweet boss?” “Not to sound too cocky, but I've been ready. So yeah, I think fucking the skipper is a great idea.”

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“Me too.” Declan flexed his hips, and his cock moved. Maura closed her eyes, trying to keep her composure. This was taking too long, much too long. “Let him fuck me, please.” It felt so weird to say that, asking one man to allow another to fuck her while he watched. Weird, and wonderfully erotic. “Where would you like him to fuck you?” For a few moments the question confused her, and then his meaning dawned on her like someone had flipped a light switch. She gazed at Declan, who continued to stare at her. Dario's fingers were back in her pussy, stroking slowly, spreading wetness around her folds and making her already aroused body tighten even more. She thrust her backside at him, hoping he would understand what she wanted without her having to say it. How had they known? Was she giving off some sort of signal that said, I like to take it in my ass? “It's all right to tell us,” Declan said. “If you don't want it, just say so. But if you like it…?” Well, that answered her question. Obviously they thought she might like it, but they weren't exactly sure. But she was. “In my ass.” The words slipped out before she could stop them. She loved taking it that way but had only ever had one lover do it, a college boyfriend who had introduced her to the sinful pleasure. She'd been reluctant at first, but the more it had happened, the more she'd enjoyed it, then started to crave it. It wasn't something she had told her few lovers, though. “Yes, in your ass.” Declan rolled his hips again, his cock bobbing. She ached to lean over and take him in her mouth, suck him hard while Dario pounded into her ass from behind. The man in question was standing again, his lips trailing over her shoulders as his wet fingers played with her breasts. “Let us hear it, beg for it.” “Yes, yes, yes!” Her voice rose with each word. One hand stayed on her breast, stroking and pulling on her nipple. The other moved to her pussy, sliding into her wetness and teasing her clit, rubbing back and forth as her

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hips rotated to try and increase the pressure. “Fuck me in the ass, Dario. Oh please, do it. Do it now.” “I can't wait to watch his cock sliding in and out of your ass.” The demanding tone was back in Declan's voice. Maura's body hummed with pleasure, and she wondered how much more she could take. This was beyond foreplay; this was teasing, and it was driving her insane. “Dario, place the pillows in the middle of the bed. Maura, straddle them so you can rub your pussy against them while he fucks your tight little ass.” Maura was grateful they'd brought their own pillows. She watched as Dario piled two of them lengthwise on the bed. Afterward, he slapped her ass. She turned around and growled at him, producing a laugh from the both of them. “Up you go, skipper.” Dario slapped her ass again and then started to undo his jeans. Maura stood in place, watching his actions with bated breath. When he was naked, she grasped his shaft, tightening her grip as moans of pleasure escaped his mouth. He was thicker than the only man she'd ever taken this way, but she was more than ready to feel him inside her. She settled onto the pillows, straddling them as Declan had instructed. The soft down pressed into her pussy, and Dario caressed her behind, then slapped it again. “Fuck me, please.” “Oh yeah.” Dario's hands were caressing her now. Nothing mattered but the soft feel of his hands and the idea that she was about to have a hard cock inside her. She closed her eyes, willing herself to relax and not wiggle too much, not look too eager. There was a rip that she thought was a condom package, and then a pop as if the cap had been flipped open on something. Lotion, she thought, or some sort of lubricant they'd brought with them. “That's it, slick her up.” Declan's voice sounded as if he would shoot off at any minute. There were fingers on her backside now, slowly rubbing creamy

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lotion into her opening. She ground herself against the pillows as a finger slipped inside. She was close, so close. Another finger slipped inside, then another, filling her and making her gasp with pleasure. It felt so wonderful. “She's ready.” Oh yes, I'm ready, Dario. Take me now. There was a dip on the bed, then soft hands spread her cheeks again. A cock pressed against her anus, she closed her eyes and relaxed. He pressed down, and she pushed back slightly, taking the head of his dick into her. “That's it, Deck, fuck that sweet ass.” Her eyes flew open, and she looked over her shoulder. Dario stood next to the bed, stroking his cock. Behind her, a cock slid farther and farther into her ass. She looked behind her to see Declan, his eyes closed, his face radiating satisfaction. “You…you…tricked… Oh yeah, more.” She undulated against the pillows, the joy of Declan's cock sliding into her sending her over the edge. Her body seized as her orgasm slammed into her. Dario stroked her hair as Declan moved his hands in circles on her hips, not moving, his cock buried deep in her ass. “That's it, baby, yeah, so beautiful. Come again for us.” Declan leaned over and kissed her, then lifted her hips just enough for Dario's fingers to slide between her and the pillow. He found her clit and started to stroke as Declan started to move, thrusting in and out of her backside in a sweet rhythm that made her wonder how she'd ever lived without him inside her. She came again and was barely coming down as a third climax burst inside her, making her body feel limp and spent. She collapsed against the bed, her gaze focusing on Dario's cock. He knelt next to her on the bed, stroking himself furiously as his free fingers continued to play with her. She wanted to ask him to stop, tell him she'd had enough, but her mouth wouldn't work. After a few long moments, she touched Dario's hand, hoping he understood that her clit had experienced enough stimulation. The sensation

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was good, but it was, in truth, starting to ache. His hand moved away, and she moaned in appreciation. Behind her, Declan's movements had slowed, but he still provided her with exquisite bliss. He pulled to the opening, letting himself pop out before pushing back inside, moving all the way in before repeating the motion. It felt absolutely amazing, spreading warmth through her yet again. She didn't think she could climax again, but she could enjoy the feeling, and she could, maybe, give a little joy while she was experiencing it. “Declan, so good,” she whispered. “Dario, I…” She glanced at his cock and licked her lips. “Suck you.” “I thought you'd never ask,” he said, his words tinged with laugher. “The sex boss is falling down on the job.” “Do it.” Declan groaned, stopping his movements. “Suck him deep, baby.” Dario sat in front of her, sliding down onto the bed so that his cock was in front of her mouth. She gave him a few hard pulls, savoring the cock in her mouth and the one in her ass at the same time. It seemed to thrill Declan too. He increased his tempo, and moments later she heard his loud cry of pleasure as his cock stayed buried deep inside her. “Oh…” Declan drew the word out, leaning over to nibble on her earlobe. “Oh, baby, I've never… Better than… Oh…” His praise made her realize another climax was near. She concentrated on what she was doing, sucking Dario as deep as she could. She pulled back, wondering how many more times she could do that, surprised to see Declan's hand move to Dario's cock and wrap around the root. He pumped him hard as Maura sucked him back in, her mouth going down to Declan's hand and licking as she continued to devour Dario. Dario obviously enjoyed the pull of his friend's hand, along with the pressure of Maura's mouth. His groans were deep, and he tangled his hands in Maura's hair, tugging gently as she lifted up and down.

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“Fuck yeah,” he said. “Oh, so good. I'm going to come, fill…you.” Maura lifted her mouth long enough to say, “Yes,” then fell back to her task. Moments later, warm, salty liquid filled her mouth as the combination of Declan's hand and Maura's mouth brought Dario to climax. “Fuck!” He pounded his fist against the wall behind them. Maura took as much of his cum as she could, then lifted up, letting the rest of it hit her shoulder as Declan pumped him as hard as he could. “Enough.” Dario pushed at Declan's hand, and Maura's body shook as Declan lifted off her and she slid onto the side of the bed. “I'm pretty sure we've pissed off whoever's in the room next to us,” Dario said, his breathing heavy. “That was so…” “Yeah,” Maura said. “It was.” “Absolutely.” Declan walked to the bathroom, and Maura turned her head to watch him. She cut her gaze to Dario, who lay with his head on the pillow, eyes closed. She wanted to talk with them, wanted to bring up what she'd been thinking about all day. But now wasn't the time, she supposed. She just wondered exactly when the right time would be.

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Chapter Twelve “We need to talk.” The sounds of the shower filtered through the room. Dario still lay on the bed. Declan sat in his chair. In response to his friend's words, he sat up straighter. “About what?” Dario snorted out a laugh. “You know about what, and surprisingly enough it's not about you jacking my dick. I rather enjoyed that. It's about the boss lady.” The room grew silent, and Declan looked at the door to the bathroom, wondering when Maura would come out. Dario finally said, “I want to know if you're going to tell me it's been fun, but it's time for you to take her on your own, that I need to gracefully butt out?” Silence again filled the air, and finally, Declan cleared his throat. “No, that's not what I think needs to be said. We're good together, the three of us. Don't you think?” Declan sensed Dario's gaze on him, and he turned his head, giving his friend a smile. “You don't agree with me?” “Oh no, I agree. It's a weird thing to have happen. I've never found a woman whom I thought I could live with for the rest of my life, and I have to admit that Maura could be the one. But I wanted to tamp the idea down, since I know how you feel about her.”

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“To say I'm confused is an understatement,” Declan said. “We fell into it so easily, and I have to say I've never, ever, grabbed another man's dick. But it seemed right and…” “Yeah, it did.” Dario leaned forward. “We're missing someone for this conversation to be whole. It's not fair to Maura for us to talk about it without her around. Don't you think?” Guilt rushed through Declan. “Yeah, I do. I just wanted to make sure that you knew the road I wanted to take. You're my best friend, Dario, and you have been since junior high. Think about that, and about what's happened this week. I don't want to do something that's going to come between you and me, or between me and Maura.” “Did I hear my name?” Her voice seemed to wash over him like a cool summer rain. He smiled as he watched her come out of the bathroom, a towel held close to her chest, hanging down to barely cover the sweet V between her legs. “The towels here suck.” “Then let it drop, baby. I know I'd love to see your luscious curves.” Declan shook his head but smiled at Dario's words. His friend was an incredible flirt, a skill he'd never been able to adopt. “We were just talking about you.” He looked at her before glancing at Dario. “Oh really? Planning your next seduction?” Before he could answer, she held up her hand. “I want to know about the last one. At one point you were tied to a chair, and the next minute you were…um…” She cleared her throat. “Sticking his prick in your ass?” Dario held up his hand. “That was my fault. I didn't fasten one of the belts, so he could get out if he wanted to.” “I see.” She moved toward the bed they were going to sleep in, then dropped the towel and slipped between the covers. “Are we going to talk, or are the two of you going to shower?”

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“Let's talk first,” Declan said. “Dario and I were just discussing how good the three of us were together.” He saw her breasts rise as if she'd drawn in an unusual amount of breath and was holding it inside her. Was that a bad sign or a good sign? “I agree. It wasn't a trick of the moon.” “What?” He stood and walked to the bed, sitting down on the end. Dario moved from the other bed and sat down opposite him. “What do you mean?” “I thought it was just because of where we were, you know, at the Full Moon, isolated out in the country. I worried that after we moved into the real world things would fall apart. I was wrong.” “Silly girl,” Dario said, winking. “You need a spanking.” Maura covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking with laughter. “You like to spank, don't you?” “I love it.” Dario turned to Declan. “That's my job in our little trio. The spanker. She's the spankee, unless you think you might need one too.” “Forget it,” Declan said, holding up his hand. “Maura can take that job. I'll hold her down, if need be. Or just watch.” They both glanced at her as she said, “Excuse me. If this is going to be a trio, then things will be decided by all three of us, not just two. And I'm not so sure about this spanking thing.” “You loved it when I slapped your ass tonight,” Dario said, as he got up on his knees, then inched toward her. “And you loved it when I spanked you the other night too. Admit it.” Declan leaned over his elbow and watched the two of them as Maura put up her hands to playfully ward Dario off. He grabbed her hands, and they struggled, falling onto the bed, both of them laughing. He watched them wrestle for a few minutes, his cock actually stirring despite the fact he was dog tired from their earlier lovemaking. Best to put a stop to this before they got going again and forgot what they were talking about.

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“Hey, you two, the topic of conversation?” Dario turned to him as he pinned Maura's arms above her head. “That usually means what you're talking about, right?” “Cut it out,” Declan replied. “I want to make sure we all know this was no trick of the moon, whether we're talking about the Full Moon, the Half Moon, or the true moon, being the big, round ball in the sky at night. What we're feeling, all three of us, is the real thing.” “It is for me,” Dario said. “The big question is where do we go from here? I suppose that's the topic you want to focus on.” “That's right.” Declan got up, then lay down behind Maura, sliding his body against hers. She was still damp from the shower, and it felt wonderful to feel her slippery skin pressed against him. Dario lay down in front, effectively making a Maura sandwich. “Where do we go from here?” “Are we supposed to have an answer?” She turned as much as she could, putting her head on the mattress and dividing her gaze between the two of them. “I'm still at the Full Moon until Dad gets back, and truthfully, right now I'm still your boss.” “What, you worried we were fucking you to get a bonus?” “Dario.” Declan reached over Maura and pushed at his friend. “That was tacky.” “One of my traits, sometimes good, sometimes bad.” He leaned over and kissed her shoulder. “Sorry.” For a minute, Declan thought she would tell him to get lost. The Maura he knew always stood up for herself if she was upset, and she seemed that way right now. After a few moments, though, she puckered her lips and then gave him an air kiss. “You're forgiven. This time.” Dario inclined his head. “I'll remember that. But I'm still the main spanker.”

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“We'll see.” Maura looked back at Declan, and he savored the look she gave him. There was surprise there, and it was obvious to him that she'd expected what they had together to stop after their work with the kiva was done. It hurt to think she thought so little of him, but then again he hadn't given her any reason to think he felt otherwise, so he needed to take a big part of that blame. But there was also love there, and as she looked back at Dario, the look didn't change. “I don't mind saying this scares me, more than just a little.” Even though she expressed nervousness, her voice sounded sure, and Declan loved that about her. “It's hard enough to have a relationship between two people, much less with three. We need to make sure that we're all ready for that.” Declan pulled her closer to him, and Dario moved in too. The arousal he'd felt moments ago started to stir again. “People are never really ready, Maura.” Behind her, Dario nodded. “If they were, the divorce rate would be much lower than it is right now. We need to go into this knowing that there will be tough times, but we want each other enough to work at it, to keep it going, and to get past our differences and any problems that might pop up.” Declan's eyes widened. He'd never once heard Dario speak about relationships in that manner. Most of the time he'd only talked about the women in his life in terms of sex. “Well spoken.” Dario placed his cheek on Maura's, then let his hand move to Declan's arm. The sense of belonging was strong for Declan, and he knew the others felt it too. “What happens now?” Maura snuggled between them. “My dad is expected back in two weeks, but who knows if he'll want me to stay. And I owe him that.” “Understandable,” Declan said. “I'm gone from home sometimes, and so is Dario.”

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“I'm wanting assignments closer to home,” Dario put in. “The last one kept me near the border for far too long. I'm ready for some stability.” “I gave up my apartment,” Maura said softly. “I'd thought about buying at one point, but something always held me back.” “We'll find a place for the three of us.” Declan ran his hand over her hip, caressing her thigh before moving back up. “We don't have to rush into things and buy yet, but we can find a place to live and to grow together.” “But what about—” Declan put his finger against her mouth. “Enough. If we let you, you'd ask 'what happens when' questions all night long. We take it a few steps at a time, and if there's a problem, we discuss it. Agreed?” They both looked at him, and it was Dario who first said, “Agreed,” followed by Maura's whispered, “It sounds too perfect to be true.” “Nothing's perfect,” Declan said. “But we'll work hard to make sure that it's damn close to it.” They lay together, their arms wrapped around each other; the silence seemed to be keeping them closer instead of driving a wedge between them. It was Dario who sat up first. Declan watched him stand and stretch, then head toward the bathroom. “If you're lucky, Deck, I might leave you some hot water. If not, you'll learn to jump toward the shower first.” The door shut, and Declan lay still, his arms around Maura. “I might need a cold shower after being this close to you.” She gave him a saucy look that made his stomach tighten in anticipation. “Maybe we can work something out after Dario is back, and you won't need a cold shower.” “Don't tease me.” He kissed her gently. “Never. Well, maybe sometimes, but this isn't one of them. Trust me.”

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Chapter Thirteen Maura felt as if the world had dawned anew. Not that things were different physically. She was in a car, headed toward the home she'd always known. But she was sitting between two men. Her men. She'd woken up nestled between Dario and Declan, just as she had for the past week. But today it was different. Today they were a couple. She mentally gave herself a head slap, not a couple, a trio. They were together. They'd spent last night making love, again, and then spent hours discussing sex, food, cooking, sex, entertainment choices, and sex. They'd also talked about housing, and areas they thought would be the best place to start their new life. They'd decided to try for a place in the country. Dario had said he knew people who had property for rent, or for possible sale sometime in the future. They'd all decide that renting was the best possible option, for now. There were too many things to work out about buying that they didn't want to deal with right now. The plans for now were simple. They would go back to the Full Moon, check the camera to see if any images had been recorded, and then travel to Albuquerque. She was sure Bear would be thrilled to get rid of her for another few days. While they were in Albuquerque they could meet with her father, and she could introduce him to Dario. He'd already met Declan, years ago, and had always been impressed with her friend. She was sure he would feel the same way about Dario, although she was reluctant to tell him about her starting a relationship with two men. Since his stroke, his health had been fragile, although it was getting much better. There was a large part of her that worried that if he disagreed with her

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choice, it could send him backward in his recovery, and that would lead to terrible guilt: guilt she wasn't sure she could ever live with. They'd discussed it last night, and both men had soothed her fears, going so far as to tell her that, if she thought it necessary, they would wait to disclose the extent of their connection. They hadn't made a decision about it, saying it would be best to wait and see what happened when they went to visit her dad in rehab. They were about five miles away from the turnoff for the Full Moon, and she cleared her throat. The ride had been fairly silent until now. She wanted to continue their discussion from last night, which had been short. “We need to finish our talk,” she said. “You tired us out last night,” Dario replied. “And we're still recovering.” In answer she put her hands in their crotches, running her fingers up and down cocks that seemed semihard to her. “You don't seem too tired,” she said, shooting both of them an amused grin. “Watch it, skipper.” Maura wanted to ask him what she was supposed to watch, but Declan interrupted. “As much fun as it would be to park, I'm eager to get back to the Half Moon, see if the camera recorded anything. Don't you two agree?” There was a long silence, and then Dario cleared his throat. “Archaeology over sex? That's an interesting turn of events.” “I'm wanting to solve a mystery,” Declan said. “I'm not talking about taking archaeology over sex, just postponing it for a little while. Plus we'll be back in our tent, unless one night in a bed has spoiled the boss and she wants to stay at the house.” “No, I'll take the tent.” She definitely wanted the tent, which would be away from everyone. They were going to face things together, but she really had

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no desire to have another run-in with Bear. “You shouldn't get too excited about the camera. It may be good equipment, but it's very dark down there.” Neither of them said anything, and she focused her gaze on Declan. “What am I missing?” “We didn't exactly leave the camera in the kiva.” Declan's voice was tight, and she wondered exactly what they were hiding. “We left it in the truck that was parked near the tent.” Her heart dropped. “My truck? So if someone saw something and tried to steal it, they'd break into my truck. No wonder you didn't tell me. When exactly did you do this?” “Before we left yesterday,” Dario replied. “You were still sleeping, and we talked about it after we woke up.” “Thanks for telling the boss.” She shot them both glares. “What prompted the change?” “We decided the camera was easily spotted in the kiva,” Declan said, his voice matter-of-fact. “We did what we thought was necessary.” “I see.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “You're fired, both of you.” “I like being fired,” Declan said. “Means we can file for unemployment.” “After we have sex”—Dario pointed to a road that seemed to lead nowhere—“let's try in there. After that, we'll find the nearest unemployment office.” “Bzzz…wrong answer. You're fired after we check on the camera.” The two men laughed. “You can't make a qualification like that.” Declan squeezed her knee. “We're either fired, or we're not. Make up your mind.” “Fine, you're not, but I'm thinking this means the two of you need to be spanked for lying to me.” Dario turned the SUV onto the Full Moon road. “I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed a corporal-punishment clause in my employment contract.”

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“That makes two of us,” Declan said. “I'm thinking she's lying, but we'll let it pass, for now.” As usual, Dario drove much too fast over the bumpy road. As they neared the ranch house, Maura wondered if they should stop in and check to make sure things were going fine. She was about to make the suggestion, but her cell phone rang. She pulled it out and checked the ID. “It's someone from the Full Moon. Talk about timing.” A quick flip and she said hello, and then her stomach flopped to the ground.

***** Maura's hand shook as she reached for the doorknob on the Full Moon office door. It stilled a little as Declan put his hand on top of hers and squeezed. Behind her, Dario stroked her back. “Relax,” Declan said. “This is good news.” Was it? She wasn't exactly sure it was good news, but then again it might be. Hearing her father's voice on the phone had shocked her, and all sorts of things had gone through the mind. She hoped his being home meant he was done with rehab and was home for good; but she'd also thought that maybe he'd suffered a setback and the people at the rehab center had sent him home, saying there was nothing more they could do for him. He hadn't sounded bad, though. His voice had been strong, and he'd seemed happy when he'd asked where she was, then told her to stop by the office before going out to the kiva. “Why didn't he tell me he was coming home?” Was her voice shaking? She needed to get a hold on that before she talked to her dad. He wouldn't be happy if she sounded upset. “He wanted to surprise you,” Dario said, pushing slightly on her back. “Open the door and go inside. It's hot out here, always is when you're around.”

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Leave it to him to make a joke, she thought as she turned the knob. Then she realized she was smiling and her hands were not shaking as much as they had been just moments ago. Part of it was Declan's strong touch. The other was Dario's jocular mood. It was definitely making things better. She walked into the office to find it empty. Voices drifted in from the front end of the house: Bear's voice—and he sounded like he was happy—and her father's. She closed her eyes and let the sound drift over her. He sounded strong and cheerful, like the father she remembered before the stroke. It took all her willpower to not bolt to the other room, to see him sitting there, waiting for her. Instead she walked slowly, almost afraid that it would all prove to be a dream. As she stepped into the main room, she saw that it wasn't. Her father sat in the chair, laughing at something Bear had just said. A huge grin spread over his face as their gazes met. He stood and held out his arms, and this time she didn't hold back. She practically ran across the room, then threw her arms around his neck. Too soon she realized this might be too much for him. She pulled back slightly, then put her hands on his shoulders. “Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?” “Because I wanted it to be a surprise. I told Bear, but I asked him to keep it quiet.” He looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Declan, good to see you again. You must be Dario.” “I am.” Dario stepped forward and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.” “And you. I hope you two have been taking care of my girl.” There was a soft snort from Bear, but Maura didn't think her father had caught it. He was busy shaking Declan's hand. “Did you three have fun on your vacation?” “Minivacation,” Maura said. “We went to check out actual ruins, to see how they measured up to what we had.”

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“Bullshit.” Her father winked at her. “You were never any good at lying, little girl.” “I've gotten better as I grew up,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. She'd shifted her gaze to Bear, though, glaring at him, wondering exactly what he'd told her father. The old ranch hand stood, and the looks he gave her two lovers were much less hostile than the ones he'd given them before. “I came here to talk with your father about the kiva. I'm the one who's been keeping it clean. My son and his wife are the ones who left the kachina, in hopes of pleasing the gods enough to bless them with a child.” The bottom dropped from Maura's stomach. “Why couldn't you have told me that?” “Why should I have, so you could let friends use their tools to go in there and tear things up, open it to the public? That kiva has been around for years. My great-great-grandfather found it and cleaned it out. He restored it, then passed the task to his son, who passed it to his son, who passed it to me. We've kept it clean, and holy, as it should be.” She understood exactly what he was saying, but she still didn't know why he didn't tell her that. “So, instead of trusting me to understand what you were doing, you lied to me, you insulted my friends, and you tried to leave us stranded in the middle of your kiva, is that it?” “I was hoping to drive you away.” She was happy Bear had the smarts to appear embarrassed, otherwise she might have to slap him upside the head. He looked at Declan and Dario. “I do apologize for what I said to you. It was wrong, but when I realized that you three were examining the kiva, I knew I had to try and stop you, and then…” His voice trailed off, and Maura felt as if she would die on the spot. He was about to say that he'd found the three of them in bed together. She was happy he caught himself before blurting the news out to her father, and thrilled that he obviously hadn't said anything to her father before now.

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“You're not the man I fought with at the site,” Dario said. “No offense, but he was much younger than you are. You didn't do any of it, did you? You're taking the blame for someone else.” Bear's face dropped, and Maura felt pity for him. “That was my son Mikey. He'd taken an offering down there with the kachina doll, because the mother of a friend is having a baby, and she's had troubles with pregnancies in the past. He wanted to see if praying to the god Kokopelli would help. He's also the one who loosened the ladder.” Maura wasn't sure quite what to say. Bear's reasons sounded reasonable, but that didn't change the fact someone had attacked Dario, even if he had taken it in stride. “He wants to apologize.” Bear cleared his throat in obvious nervousness. “I hope you won't file charges against him, since you're a cop and all.” “No need,” Dario replied, and Maura felt a rush of warmth. “As my mother would say when I got into fights as a kid, if no one's dead, just push the issue aside. That's what I'm doing.” “Thank you.” Bear's relief was obvious. “What about my camera and equipment,” Declan asked. “We were on our way to check it before you called.” Concern spread over Bear's features. “Camera?” “Yes,” Declan said. “We set up a motion-activated camera, to see what would happen yesterday. Has it been damaged?” “No.” Bear looked at her father. “We didn't know it was there. We went down and took all the offerings, then tried to cover our tracks. You'll see it all on film, I guess.” “There's nothing to worry about there. Bear and I have been discussing the kiva.” Her father sat down in his chair and indicated the others should sit down. Maura moved to the couch and sat down with Declan and Dario on either side of her.

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Bear sat back down, and Maura noticed that he didn't look straight at the three of them, keeping his face turned toward her father. He was an indication of how some people would treat them, after they realized they were more than just friends sharing a house. Did she care? Not really. It hurt a little, considering how long she'd known Bear, but in the long run, the only person whose opinion she cared about was now sitting in his favorite chair, looking healthy and hearty, something that warmed her heart. Declan's voice pulled her out of her musings. “May I ask what you've decided about the kiva, Mr. Atwell?” “Declan, call me Charlie; you too, Dario.” He gave them both very serious looks, and Maura felt the same way she did when her date had come to pick her up for prom. Her father had looked Zack Golden up and down before nodding his assent that they could leave. She wondered if they would pass the same way Zack had. After a few long moments, he took a deep breath. “I've decided to leave it just like it is, with no excavations or studies.” “But, sir, I—” Her father, a stony stare on his face, held up his hand, and Declan stopped talking. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, and your love for the ancient ways, but this is my land, and after listening to Bear talk about how he'd kept it the same in honor of his ancestors, I couldn't help but agree with him. There are lots of sites to explore, like Mesa Verde, that archeologists can learn from.” “If I may interject here?” Declan didn't start to talk again until her father nodded, and she appreciated his respect. She knew her father would too. “You never know what you're going to learn from a site until you explore it, sir. It may just seem like one small kiva, but there could be an entire village buried out there and we just don't know about it. To leave it hidden is—” “My decision.” Maura knew that tone. There was no way her father was going to change his mind, no matter what Declan said. “When I'm gone, Maura might change that decision. But for now, my mind is made up.”

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Bear stood very suddenly, and Dario and Declan rose too. Her father's friend nodded at the three of them, then put his hand on Charlie's shoulder. “It's good to have you back, boss.” After he left, her father frowned at her. “Something wrong here?” The men sat down next to her again, and she felt the warmth of their bodies, the strength they passed between them all. “Workwise, no. Things went just perfectly, and I'm thrilled that you're home. Are you well enough for me to give up the reins?” “I am. It's time for you to get back to your own life.” His grin made her laugh. “You're fired. And I do mean all three of you.” “Wait a minute,” Dario said, frowning. “I thought Maura was our boss. She's the only one who can fire us, right?” Maura knew Dario enough to know he was joking, despite the fact he sounded very serious. She was happy to see her father noticed the same thing. He narrowed his eyes at Dario, then burst into laughter. “Watch it, kid. Cop or no cop, and stroke or no stroke, I think I can take you.” “Bring it on,” Dario said, returning his grin. Maura wanted to lean over and lay a huge kiss on his mouth. He was treating her father exactly how she knew he would want to be treated: without kid gloves. Her father was a joker and loved people. Knowing he was bonding with Dario would hopefully make the news she was about to deliver go easier. “I guess you need to call your office, Maura, and tell them you'll be back.” Her father leaned back in his chair. “Plus you'll have to find a new place to live.” She cleared her throat. This was her opportunity, and it was best to take it while she could. “Dad, there's something I want to tell you. The three of us”—she pointed to each of her lovers—“are going to live together.”

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The slight uplifting of his brows showed her father's consternation. “Okay. Well, you're a grown woman, and if you want two roommates, that's your decision.” “They're more than roommates.” She spoke the words softly. “The three of us are together.” The

uplifted

brows

shifted

together.

“As

in

boyfriend,

girlfriend,

and…boyfriend?” “Yes.” It was Declan who provided the answer. “I see.” He held up a finger when Maura opened her mouth to speak. “Give me a minute.” This was one time Maura wished she could read minds. Her father sat in his chair, looking between the three of them. His face showed no anger, but it didn't show any happiness either. It was blank, and for the life of her, she couldn't figure out what he was thinking. Time seemed to drag on. Declan took one of her hand and squeezed it ever so gently. She returned the hold, one hand drifting down to Dario's knee. He covered it with his own, and they sat and waited for Charlie Atwell to speak again. When he finally opened his mouth, she expected him to say that wasn't acceptable to him. “Sweetie, I love you.” Maura thought she was going to cry. Could she go against her father for the men whom she wanted to be with? She loved Declan; she had for years. And feelings for Dario were building with every second she spent with him. This was what she wanted, and she wanted her father's approval. But from the words he'd just spoken, she didn't think that would happen. “There's one thing I've learned from this stroke, and that's the fact that life turns on a dime. One minute I was fine, the next I was on the floor. I'm lucky that it wasn't worse than it was, and it could have been. I had a great life with your mother, and I loved her very much.”

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This was the part, she thought, where he said it wasn't natural for a woman and two men to be together. Here it came. “If you feel this is what you want, then I want you to do it. I want you to be happy. I won't say that I'm thrilled with the idea, but I'm willing to try and learn to accept it.” Tears filled her eyes, and she jumped up and crossed to her father, who stood as she approached. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him close. He seemed so much thinner than before, yet he still had strength left in him. She felt it as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “I love you, Daddy.” “I love you too, sweetie. Be happy.” She felt the change in the air as Dario and Declan stood. She moved to her father's side, then watched as he shook both men's hands. “Listen, you two. I may be old, and a little feeble, but believe me that if you hurt my little girl, I'll kick both your asses.” Maura thought both Dario and Declan would burst into laughter. Instead they nodded. “We would expect no less,” Declan replied. “And we would never do anything to hurt her.” “Never,” Dario put in. “I may be the newbie here, but I feel the same way. She's wormed her way into my heart, just like she did Declan's years ago. We'll be good to her; we promise.” “I'll hold you to that.” Her father hugged her shoulders. “Now, what's for lunch? I'm starved. And before you say anything, yes, I've got a special diet. I'm thinking of hiring Mrs. Dove, from in town, to cook for me. I'm afraid if I did it myself, I would revert back to my old eating habits. She'll keep me on track.” Maura hid a smile. Mrs. Dove was a widow who had run a café in town for a long time. Her father loved her cooking, and she knew they got along by the way they teased each other when they met. Maybe things would work out for her dad, and Mrs. Dove would turn into more than a cook.

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“I'll cook,” she said. “And then we'll go out to the site and recover everything. We'll stay for a few days, Dad, if that's okay with you.” “I would hope so.” Her father turned toward the kitchen. “I have a few questions to put to these young men. Lots of questions.” The looks on Dario's and Declan's faces made her laugh. Both of them seemed a little concerned about the questions. They glanced at each other before turning back to her. “Come on. You're big boys.” She resisted the urge to reach out and grasp their crotches. “I'm sure Dad won't ask anything that will be too hard for you to answer, unless he asks for references. You do have references, don't you?” “You can tell him we gave you multiple orgasms last night.” Dario's eyes twinkled. “Will that be reference enough?” “It is for me, darling, but I don't think it will fly with him.” The men both sighed; then Declan indicated she should enter the kitchen first. “I'm not worried about this. Not at all, not one whit, not one iota, not one—” “We get the point,” she interrupted. “Just be honest, that's all he asks.” “That's what I'm afraid of,” Dario said, falling into step behind her. “I can face a criminal with a gun, but a father asking about me being with his daughter scares the crap out of me.” She stood in the doorway and let the two of them pass her. Then she watched as her father opened the refrigerator and the three of them started to talk about food. She thought about leaving them alone, then decided it would be better to stay so she could be a part of things. After all, that's what it was about, being part of a family. And hers was standing in the kitchen, right now.

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Chapter Fourteen “Hey, that's my toe!” Declan's cry was more from anger than pain. Maura stood at the door, ready to hold it open when they were near. “Oh quit being a big baby. Don't blame me that you can't hold up your end, Deck. Moving furniture is a two-man job, you know.” Maura wanted to tell them to knock it off and stop acting like children. The desk was the last piece of new furniture to move into the house, and she wanted to have time to place it in her office and have a few hours left before they had to meet her father and Mrs. Dove for dinner in town. If they timed it just right, they could spend some time making love. They'd been careful picking their house, which was located off I-25, making sure to choose something that had lots of space so they could all claim their own little corner. The desk they were moving in was part of hers. She'd started back to work a few months ago, and things were picking up. She needed some place to sit and work at night. Things were different now than they had been when she'd worked at the firm. She'd always stayed at the office to work instead of going home to an empty house. Now, at the stroke of five, she wanted to hurry out the door. Not that there would always be someone there. School had started, and Declan was teaching three classes at the university, which meant he sometimes stayed over. Dario was working an undercover gig in Santa Fe. It was an easy job, he'd said, but it also kept him out late sometimes.

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But Maura didn't care. She still wanted to be home before they got there, wanted to see them coming through the door and giving her a smile and a kiss. As far as she was concerned, things were one hundred times better than she'd ever thought they would be. She'd expected opposition from friends and from family members. Her father was more accepting now than he had been, and didn't even bat an eye when he'd introduced “his daughter's boyfriends” to Mrs. Dove. Her eyebrows had risen a bit, but she hadn't said anything bad. Dario's family thought it was terrific, and had pulled her right into the family. Declan's had been a little more reserved, and she was pretty sure his mother chose to ignore the fact that the three of them slept in the same room, introducing them as “roommates” when she was forced to. They were coming up on their six-month anniversary, and she wanted to plan something special, but she wasn't sure what to do. Neither of her men had mentioned it, even though it was just days away. Had they forgotten, or did they just not think it was important enough to mention? She held open the door and listened to them bicker as they moved the desk down the hallway and into the room she'd claimed for her office. Listening to them trade jabs made her laugh. During the last six months, the three of them had become closer and closer, and she knew her decision to stay with them was right. She went into the office to find them placing the desk exactly where she'd said she wanted it. “You're not going to say you want it moved, are you?” Declan crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. “No, it's perfect.” She gave him a quick kiss. “Thank you very much.” “Hey.” Dario stepped up, waving his hands. “What about me?” “What about you?” She leaned over and kissed him too. “Thank you.”

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“Better.” He smacked her on the ass and walked toward the doorway. She was quite used to him slapping her ass by now. In fact, she rather enjoyed it. A lot. “Where are you going? We've got a few hours until we have to be at the restaurant. I thought we could…” She wiggled her eyebrows, and Declan pulled her closer while Dario stopped in the doorway, an intrigued look on his face. “We could…what? Go on, finish your sentence.” This was getting to be one of the favorite parts of their lovemaking to her, the kidding beforehand. “You know.” “I know what?” He looked at Declan. “Do you know what she's talking about?” “I haven't got a clue.” Declan let her go, twirled her around, and pulled her back into his chest. He ground his groin against her behind, and she groaned. “Tell us.” “That's right, skipper, be the boss. Tell us what you want.” She cocked her head and tried to look stern. “As the boss, I say it's time to fuck.” “We had other plans for this afternoon,” Declan said, nuzzling her neck. “While you were out this morning, buying furniture, we were here, taking care of business.” “What sort of business?” Declan threw his hands in the air and shook his head. “I'm so disappointed. And they say it's men who forget anniversaries.” Maura tried to pull out of Declan's arms. “I didn't forget.” “You haven't mentioned it.” Declan was still kissing her neck, and his words spread hot air around the wetness he left, making her shiver. “I knew it was our six-month anniversary. I thought you two forgot, because you didn't say anything.”

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“Fine.” Dario took her hand and led her out of the room. Declan took the other, and the chain went down the hallway. They passed through the living room and headed out to the deck. She saw it as Dario pulled open the sliding glass door. “A hot tub?” Visions of the three of them making love, their hands sliding over each other's bodies as her two men filled her, made her blood boil. “It was delivered this morning,” Declan said. “The water should be warm by now, but we thought we'd wait until after dinner tonight to break it in.” “Like hell.” She let go of their hands, crossed to the tub, then ran her fingers through the hot water. “It seats six,” Dario said. “Which means we're going to have to use different positions to break in all the seats.” “Well, then, let's get started.” Maura turned to them and began taking off her clothes. “Take off your clothes. Now.” “Yes, ma'am,” they said in unison. “Definitely good to be the boss.” Maura finished undressing, then swung her legs into the water. She sat down on the first seat, then watched as her lovers, both of them wonderfully hard, climbed in after her. She moved to the far end of the tub, watching as they entered the hot water and waded toward her. Her fingers seemed to move of their own volition, dipping down between her legs and gently stroking her curls. Just watching them made her wet, made her clit pulse with anticipation. “What's on the menu? Tell us what you want.” Dario reached out and cupped her breast, squeezing it gently. Declan massaged her other breast and she groaned and pushed her finger against her clit. “I want to feel you both inside me.” The words seemed to float out of her mouth as they pushed away her hand; Declan's fingers stroked her clit, and Dario's slipped inside her, sliding in and out slowly.

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She tilted her head back, lying against the padded edge, and let them stroke her, her body tingling from their touch as the warm, bubbly water swirled around her. She felt weightless and free as each of their mouths captured a nipple, sucking it in deep. Tongues slid around her hardened nubs, making her tingle with need. Maura arched into their touch, marveling that they worked so perfectly together to make her sizzle with pleasure. She was right on the edge, ready to sail over it, when they stopped. “You're so…mean.” Her breath came in short, shallow gasps as they lifted her to sit on the side, then spread her legs. Dario stroked her clit, then moved out of the tub, standing at the edge to spread her slit. “You know you love it,” Dario whispered. “Up and down, up and down, the more times we bring you close to peak, then stop, the harder your orgasm is.” Yes, she knew it was true, but it still drove her insane while it was happening. The end was perfect, but the buildup made her want to scream. Declan's tongue gently stroked her folds, swirling around her clit before going back down. Her body quivered with need as Dario pressed his chest into her back, his lips teasing her neck and earlobe, nibbling gently, kissing her skin as Declan continued his sweet assault. Her hips began to roll as Declan's tongue moved faster, sliding around her folds until she thought she would die from the pleasure. Please, please don't let them stop this time. Please! Declan sucked her clit into his mouth, bit it gently, and she tensed, her body waiting for just a little more pressure before sliding over the edge. He released her and slid his fingers into her, and she cried out, frustration seeping into her. “Make me come!” Frustration caused her body to tense up, and she reached for Declan's head, determined to push it back between her thighs. Dario, however, grabbed her upper arms and held her tight.

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“Not yet.” He put his face in her hair and breathed deeply, his deep inhale and subsequent growl of pleasure making her shiver. “How does she taste, Deck?” “Delicious,” Declan said, nipping at her thigh. “Would you like some?” “Why, yes, I would.” They manipulated her so perfectly that she hardly knew it was happening. Within seconds she was on her back, lying across the edge, one leg in the water, the other out. Dario wasted no time in fulfilling his goal. His tongue dived into her, seeming to follow the same path Declan had taken, her sensitive flesh throbbing under his touch. He teased her clit as Declan sucked in first one nipple, then the other. It was almost like sensation overload, and she wondered if her body would burst into flames when they actually allowed her to climax. Declan moved down to her hips so he and Dario could trade places, one of them sucking and licking her, then moving back so the other could do the same. She wasn't sure whose lips were on her clit when she finally came, pleasure coursing through her like water over a rapid. “Declan! Dario! Yes, oh yes!” There were hands on either side of her, holding her steady as the bliss consumed every part of her body. And then they lifted her, placing their lips on her gently. “Fuck me,” she murmured, stroking both their arms. Her body felt like jelly, but she didn't want to stop, not with the prospect of having them both inside her, of the three of them joined together. “I'm begging you. I need you both. Please.” Declan sat on the largest seat in the tub, crooking his finger at her. “Come here, you.” She went gladly, thrilled at what lay ahead. She straddled him and took him inside her easily, grasping the sides of the tub as she slowly took his length inside her.

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“What a gorgeous sight,” Dario said. He nibbled at her shoulder. “Can I play too?” “Oh yes.” She looked back at him as she continued to move up and down. “Fuck me.” It took a few minutes for him to find the right position. She could tell from the way he grasped her that his feet were sliding out from under him several times. They all laughed softly, and when he finally pressed against her anus, she sighed in pleasure. Having the both of them inside her, skin to skin, was the most perfect thing she'd ever experienced. He pushed gently, and she bore down, groaning with pleasure as the head of his cock slipped inside her. Several moments later she was full, Declan's cock pulsing in her pussy and Dario's doing the same in her ass. It seemed to get better every time it happened. They held still for a few long moments, their bodies seeming to meld together, and then they began to thrust, Declan's hips moving up and down as Dario's did the same, one cock sliding out of her as the other one went in. Maura closed her eyes and savored the sensations, knowing they could feel each other through the small barrier in her body, savoring the feel of their excitement as it grew. Declan hit her sweet spot with each thrust, and as Dario's muttered “fuck, yeah” reached her ear, she came, squeezing the both of them tightly. Hot, warm liquid flooded her insides. Dario pressed against her back, then placed his hands beside hers on the railing. “It's a little slippery back here,” he said, a teasing lilt to his voice. “In more ways than one.” “Let's go to the bedroom,” she replied. Dario didn't move, and she settled herself against Declan's chest. “Not yet,” Dario said. “There is nowhere else I want to be. I can feel you both, and it's so incredible.”

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Pleasure that topped the physical sense made her shiver. “You're so right, it is.” “Definitely,” Declan put in. “Our own little ranch. What shall we call it?” “How about 'A Trick of the Moon'?” Dario stood, and she felt empty without him inside her. Declan slipped out, and the three of them sat down, the water swirling around them, her body nestled between them. “Trick?” “You thought it was a trick, what we were feeling,” Dario said. “I think we've proved it wasn't, and the name will remind us of that little fact.” “Not as much as the love we feel for each other.” Declan's voice sounded sleepy. “But I think it's a great name.” “Sounds good,” Maura said. Being cuddled between them made her feel warm and needed. She could tell by their deep, even breaths that both of them were close to sleep. She stood and turned toward them. “Wake up, you two, I'm not done with you yet. We still have several hours before dinner, and I think there are one or two rooms we haven't christened yet. My goal is to do all of them before Monday.” “It's good to have a goal,” Dario replied. “It's good to be the boss,” Maura said, sharply. “Up and at it, both of you.” “You're going to wear us out,” Declan said, standing. She looked down to where his cock was already starting to respond. She traced a finger down his length, wiggling her brows when it twitched under her touch. “Don't worry. I have a great health plan if you can't take it, and a wonderful benefits package if you can. Which will it be?” “I love me some benefits.” Dario bolted over the side, holding out his hand. “Let's have a demonstration, skipper.” She walked into the house, wondering which room to head for. Truthfully, she thought they'd already made love in every room, but she was willing to try

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them all again and again; as long as her lovers were with her and they experienced it all together, the world was perfect, no matter what.

Other Loose Id(R) Titles by Melinda Barron Amethyst Eyes Desert Surrender Garnet Strength Graceful Mischief Graceful Submission Undercover Submission The TALES OF THE MAGICIAN Series The Captive One The Lost One The TYGERS Series Sweet Vibrations Sweet Perfection Sweet Silence Sweet Awakening Sweet Redemption

Melinda Barron Melinda Barron loves to explore Egyptian tombs and temples, discover Mayan ruins, play in castles towers, and explore new cities and countries. She generally does it all from the comfort of her home by opening a book. Melinda is the fourth of five children born to an Army officer and his wife. A longtime newspaper journalist, Melinda has loved to read and write from an early age. Now she lives in the Texas Panhandle with two cats, Amelia and Pippin, and enough books to, according to her brother, open her own library. In addition to reading and writing Melinda enjoys travel, cross-stitching, watching movies and spending time with her friends and family.