An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Challenge Protocol ISBN 9781419916014 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Challenge Protocol Copyright © 2008 Dawn Ryder Edited by Sue-Ellen Gower. Cover art by Syneca. Electronic book Publication March 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/) This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.
CHALLENGE PROTOCOL Dawn Ryder
Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Ghillie Gear: Clifford P. Musler Gucci: Gucci America, Inc. iPod: Apple, Inc. Lagavulin: United Distillers & Vintners (ER) Limited Distillers House Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Challenge Protocol
Chapter One “Don’t start, Cambria.” Cambria rolled her eyes at her friend. “So does that mean you’re actually going to take this assessment team breathing down your neck like you’ve done a lousy job instead of your boss taking his well-earned heat?” Mia tried to frown but she was too frustrated to pull off the expression completely. “It might turn out just fine.” Cambria swished her wine around the glass. “I’m not sure if I need to kick you or absorb some of your patience. If we could bottle that tolerance of yours, China Doll, we’d be set for life. Buddha has nothing on you.” Mia smiled so wide her eyes closed to slits. “See? My lousy boss is good for something. He’s made my spirit forgiving. Followers of Buddha spend years perfecting that trait. Thanks to Carl Burton, I’m on the fast track to mastering it.” Cambria lifted one eyebrow and aimed her best “get real” look at her friend. Mia was too sweet for her own good, and as a best friend it was Cambria’s duty to slap her into opening her eyes. Mia’s boss was a lazy pig who ran her like a sled dog and left her out in the snow once she’d pulled him to where he wanted to go. “If you mean he’s taught you humility, I agree. But you’re taking it to doormat level. That comment wasn’t supposed to make you happy.” Her friend’s mouth curved into a frown. Mia was perfect in every detail—petite, smooth complexion, straight teeth and a button nose. Her thighs actually fit into designer jeans and the little beaded harem-girl shoes on her feet were so tiny they looked cute. If she didn’t love the Asian chick, it would be nauseating. “It’s a good job.” Mia was trying to convince herself. Cambria had heard that tone before. “If I didn’t love you, I’d forget to point out that your boss has a good job. You have the scraps and you’re better than that. Worth a whole lot more. Being humble might be a Korean virtue but letting that jerk wipe his feet on you isn’t anything close to a virtue. It’s called being used. I know your parents have raised you to be traditional but that’s going to get you used out in the business world. You should be grateful you have a friend like me to point it out to you. Carl Burton is using you and he’s going to feed you to that assessment team. Keep being humble and you’ll get a pink slip instead of your boss.” Mia pushed her lower lip out into a pout. It was a dirty trick because Cambria had a soft spot for Mia’s lower pouty lip and she knew it.
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Rolling her eyes with annoyance, Cambria placed her wineglass down. “Fine. What do I know? I sure wouldn’t what to hear that your mother came down with terminal shame just because her daughter decided to stop putting up with Carl Burton’s crap.” Mia huffed. “My parents love where I work. They’re going to have a cow if I leave.” “You can’t mean to waste your days as a slave just because your family thinks the clientele of that gym is high caliber. Respecting your parents is great but we’re talking about your life too. What’s next? Are you really going to marry one of those ‘family approved’ men your mom keeps parading you past? Marrying and having to screw a guy you don’t love is taking respect a little far. But it might explain a few things, like why your mother sleeps in a twin bed and not with your father. Hell, she expects us to believe that she picked you out of the cabbage patch. Do you really want to follow her example? Sex can be a whole lot of fun.” Mia glared at her and pointed her finger across the table. “Don’t talk about my mother, Cammy. She’s my Achilles heel and I know it, but she changed my diapers. That places her on a pedestal in my book. And I don’t want to hear about my parents in the bedroom. Yuck! I told you, my mother is above earthly sin.” Mia pressed her hands flat over her ears as she stuck her tongue out in rebellion. Cambria smirked at her as she retrieved her wine. Offering her friend a shrug, she watched Mia eyeing her suspiciously before removing only one hand to make sure there was nothing further to nauseate her. Cambria shrugged. “Mia, sex isn’t any big secret. I don’t get your hang-up over it.” “I don’t have a hang-up about sex, as long as it’s me or you. We can discuss it.” Mia shuddered. “I just can’t talk about my mother that way.” “You can bet your father does. Or did. But you’re avoiding the subject of what you plan to do about this assessment team that’s showing up on Monday to shake you down.” Mia huffed but leaned across the table. “I only have two options.” Cambria waggled her eyebrows. Mia shook her head. “You’re a fire sign, Cambria, I think that’s why I spill my guts to you. Me, I’m all water and content to flow. But I hate it, so I come out with you so that you’ll heat me up.” “You wouldn’t have laid it in front of me if you weren’t ready to be kicked in the butt, China Doll. That’s what being a best friend is all about. I call you when I need to be reminded that letting my temper loose isn’t always the wisest choice to make.” Mia laughed. A soft, oh-so polite tinkle of amusement that she half covered with her hand. She suddenly sobered, her face setting into a mask of determination. “All right. I’m going to do it. Resign. I am not going to be there when that fancy assessment team shows up to start inspecting. Carl can take his own medicine.” Mia reached for her drink and took a huge swallow. She gasped as the liquor burned down her throat. But she smiled through her misty eyes. “I will, Cambria. You’re right, Carl’s a weasel. I can get a better job because I work hard.” “Hand the girl a prize.” 6
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It wasn’t that Cambria normally advised anyone to walk out of a job before they had another one lined up. But Mia was chained to a slave driver who was about to take credit for all the hours she poured into the job he should have been doing. It wasn’t so much an escape as an unveiling of her creep boss, Carl Burton. The parent company that owned the upscale gym Mia worked for had finally gotten tired of the books running in the red. An assessment team was scheduled to show up Monday morning to begin dissecting the inner workings of the place. Carl Burton, also known as The Weasel, had promptly called Mia and told her to handle it. The ass was going to feed her to the corporate sharks without one ounce of mercy for all the sweat she’d poured into trying to live up to his high expectations. Never mind the fact that she was doing his job, the one he was cashing the paycheck for while she earned half his salary. So now she’d gone and told Mia exactly what she thought of the whole mess. Her sweet friend was endowed with too much patience as far as she could see. Mind you, her own “no bullshit” style of action had gotten her into loads more trouble than any other woman in the place tonight. She was proud of that fact, had a reputation to build before the birthdays mounted up against her. They really were the best of friends because they balanced each other. “Life isn’t a dress rehearsal.” Mia nodded, too serious by far. Cambria rolled her eyes. “We need some fun. Is there anything male in here worthy of us? Anything even close to a hunk?” Mia smiled and shrugged. “If so, I haven’t seen it.” Cambria fluttered her eyelashes as she looked at the other people in the bar. Two tables away, a pair of guys had been eyeing them for half an hour, and while they were nice looking enough, she wasn’t into the half-shaved look. Both were sporting three-day beards as if it was a fashion statement. She had another word for it—shaggy. But it went nicely with their wrinkled button-down shirts and the way they slouched on their barstools. Or the ever-so delightful way one of them was chewing on his fingernails. Pathetic. She snorted softly as one waggled his eyebrows at her. Shooting him an uninterested glare, she watched him fumble his longneck beer bottle. Twit. She sure didn’t need a slob who couldn’t handle one obstacle between her affections and his pursuit. Or at least even rise to a little challenge. It was the typical problem she encountered when viewing the male population. They wanted females who were polished and poised and goddesses of perfection, but they could slump on a barstool and not even bother to shave off their whiskers. Not that she minded facial hair. Hell, a well trimmed beard on the right man was droolworthy. It was the unkempt look that turned her off. The double standard that just ruined her enjoyment.
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She often wondered what had happened to class. She noticed a real lack of it as she surveyed the room. There were more potbellies than brawn, more mercy cases than men willing to try to seduce her. Seduction…now there was a lost art. It might be sweet or mysterious or even overwhelming, but it sure wasn’t pathetic. Whatever happened to men? The kind who chased you a little? Evening was her only time to enjoy looking posh. She was sporting her latest classy outfit, and Mia was turned out in prime fashion as well. Saturday was their one night of escape from the reality of life not being fair. Both of them worked like the rest of the middle class. Not that she minded. Earning her way was a stroke to her ego. Every bit of trendy clothing she wore, she owned. Lifting a hand, she admired the new gold bracelet sparkling on her wrist. Jewelry was her weakness. She lived in a shoebox of a condo just to feed her need for real gold and precious gems. Nobody had it all, and a smart girl settled on a few goals and made those a priority. Her bath towels came from Wal-Mart, but her jewelry was pure gold and no vermeil in sight. There wasn’t a rhinestone in her collection, only Mother Nature’s best in gems. So she enjoyed her newest gold purchase and raised a toast to the end of Mia’s run as slave to Carl Burton. The man was a chauvinist pig. He ran Mia ragged. Being middle class didn’t have to include doubling as a doormat for any manager. The man didn’t own the company, just had his nose up the district manager’s rear end. Sure, everyone had a bad day sometimes, but Mia had a bad job. Today proved that. Carl leaving town while Mia got to front the fancy assessment team coming in. There was no information on the company, only a track record of places they’d been. They were business sharks who stripped down an office, wielding the ax to fit the projected budget. Of course Burton wouldn’t be there to offer up how many hours Mia clocked doing his personal errands. The bastard wasn’t going to be around when the assessment team added up who was the higher producer in the office. Nope, he was going to kick back and hide like the dog he was. But Mia was going to get the last word in, and Cambria was sure going to enjoy helping her. What made it all that much better was the sure fact that Carl would flip if he ever found out that she was helping Mia talk out her thoughts. She was going to enjoy knowing the bigot would have his ass in the fire for a change. Mia handled every disturbance, every temper tantrum while Carl hid behind his office door. He also enjoyed telling Mia how to run her life. Men like friendly women…that virginity thing is outdated… That black bitch is going to drag you down if you don’t wise up… Oh yes, the assessment sharks could feast on his lazy carcass with her blessing. Mia stopped in the parking lot. Her eyes fluttered as she chewed on her lower lip.
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“Maybe you should stop in and give me a hand cleaning out my desk.” Cambria grumbled under her breath. “Put on your big girl pants…” “I know, but I won’t chicken out if you’re there.” She pouted again, playing on Cambria’s soft side. “Come on, Cambria. It’s only for tomorrow morning and we’ll go to breakfast after. That way, you won’t have to call to see if I carried through.” “You know something, Mia? I’m only going to show up because your wimpiness stems from your respect for your family.” “I’m a water sign.” “Yeah, well don’t forget that steam is a form of water.” Mia smiled wide and bright. “You’re the best! That’s perfect…steam!” She hurried off, her high heels clicking on the concrete and her bottom swaying like a sailor’s dream. Cambria shook her head. Mia was her soft spot. But she had a mama too and understood the desire to not disappoint the woman who birthed you. Even if Mia’s family were smothering her, that didn’t mean disrespect was acceptable. So they’d just find a way to slip Mia out of her rotten job without her family discovering all the details. Even if Mia’s father believed that hard work built character, there was a limit and Mia had reached it. Personally, she would have poured a laxative into Carl Burton’s coffee a year ago.
***** “Bullshit.” Dack Tyden didn’t raise his voice. He rarely did. Control edged his tone as he glared at Robyn. “Fine, your lordship, but that means you need to return the deposit. And since the job at the gym is due to start Monday, don’t you think it’s just a little short notice to be pulling out of this assessment? It’s a one-week job.” Dack ground his teeth, letting them show, but Robyn only offered him an innocent look in return. There was a suspicious gleam in her eyes because she couldn’t quite mask her enjoyment of the frustration eating at him. “Corbett better die,” growled Dack, “because I’ll carve out his spleen if I do this job for his ass and he lives.” Damn the man for getting sick. Beck Corbett was on his shit list, ace sniper or not. Robyn frowned at him. “Don’t let that title of ‘Boss’ go to your head, Dack. You’ll pop the buttons off your fly.” She pointed a pen at him. “You want the job done right then I tell you when we’re short-handed. Beck is down sick, you and Logan are next up. And—” She brandished the pen at him. “You worked the lineup so you have only yourself to blame if you don’t like the fact that your name is next on my list.”
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Dack glared at her but Robyn only widened her eyes in a fake expression of innocent humor. She tossed a file onto his desk. “Don’t let the fact that two of my men love you make you think I won’t strangle you. I’m still a wild bachelor.” “You’re uncivilized, I’ll grant you that. It explains the grumpiness. Men who are surly don’t get laid.” “You only say that, because I haven’t shared any personal info with you recently.” “Please, be selfish. I’ve got two of my own to deal with. You’re on your own until you find a girl who will put up with you and Logan. I’m maxed out.” Robyn fluttered her eyelashes at him before returning her attention to her computer. She was a unique woman, a breed apart from most of the herd. Two of his men had run into her last year and the unorthodox living arrangements didn’t scare her off. She shared her life with Jace and Nash without remorse, content in the relationship in spite of the taboos that said good girls didn’t live with two men. Robyn did. Jace and Nash were members of his Special Forces team. Somewhere along the way the team had been sold out. His entire unit had been used as a pawn in a high-stakes game of international money laundering. Their personal information then handed over to a shadowy group of mercenaries called Black Watch. When he’d refused their offer to join up, he’d signed a death warrant for his entire squad. They knew too much and that made them a liability. It translated into being screwed. Screwed out of his career with a dishonorable discharge to ensure a good number of his fellow Special Operations buddies turned their backs on him. Screwed out of any hope of a normal life as the members of Black Watch he’d seen had tried to wipe him off the face of the earth before he fingered them for the rat-scum traitors they were. Never once had he ever contemplated that a piece of brass above him might sell him to the highest bidder. Sure, he expected that crap from terrorists but not officers who had put their time in and bled for their country. But he was now screwed out of rebuilding his life because there was a hit out on him and every member of his unit. When Black Watch asked you to join up, you threw in with them or ended up dead for knowing they asked you. Somewhere along the line, his unit had gained the reputation of being good enough to try to turn. But the loyalty of his men ran deep. Each one of them had turned in their tabs at his trial. Dack still grimaced at the memory but couldn’t shake the feeling of pride that rose up inside him. They were a team. Forged in battle and linked together now by the sheer need to survive. Black Watch was a group of well-funded mercenaries. They had toe tags picked out for each of them. His was right on top of the stack. So every member of his team had a partner he stuck close to. The odd survival technique accounted for Robyn’s unique union. She’d met Jace and Nash at the same
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time. He’d flipped out the night they brought her up to his mountain, but love didn’t ask for permission, it just sort of dropped onto you from above without any warning. At least that’s what Jace and Nash claimed. Dack didn’t know. There wasn’t anything even close to love in his life. Hell, he couldn’t even claim a girlfriend in the years since hiding for his life had become a necessity. Living with a hit notice out on you wasn’t simple. Dack and the rest of his men lay low for the most part. They ran an assessment company that was hired to invade an office and filter out the bullshit from the facts. They didn’t own any property in their birth names and every man on the team went to great lengths to avoid pictures. It was a covert lifestyle, one that scared most females. The computer age made it possible to run bank accounts from hundreds of miles away, cutting information off from any Black Watch members looking for them, or at least keep a few paces ahead of their snipers. New inductees to the mercenary group had to prove their loyalty with a service. Taking him or a few of his men out would satisfy that demand. Dack intended to make it an impossible kill, all the while tracking the movements of Black Watch and the son of a bitch who had sold him out. Someday, he’d mess up and Dack was going to be there to prove his innocence. Clearing his name wouldn’t change much though. Mercenaries held grudges for generations. His men would stick together until the day they died if they wanted to live much past a few months as civilians. Clearing their names wouldn’t change that. Jace and Nash were the luckiest S.O.B’s for finding a woman who dealt with it. Robyn loved the pair of them, shrugging off the rest of the world and its raised eyebrows. “Where’s the assignment?” Dack was still grinding his teeth as began reading through the file. “Twelve locations, executive gyms. Male clients only, and very expensive, I noticed. But there is a problem child, one location that is in the red.” Dack thumbed through the report as his other half, Logan, held up a hand for his own copy. Logan was paired up with him. They lived together as they tried to stay alive. Twin dishonorable discharges gave them comradeship. Logan had been his junior officer. Today, Logan was his partner. They went everywhere together. When off their mountaintop property, they didn’t sleep at the same time, didn’t shower unless the other one was keeping watch. If one of them got laid, the other was on guard duty. That necessity of life sort of put a dampener on romance. Sure, there were women who didn’t mind voyeurism, but it wasn’t the sort of thing that grew into a relationship. They split the onsite work. Each team took a turn being the men who reported to the client site. They fed the information to the men back on the mountain and Robyn. Workload studies and assessments could be done remotely, but interviews and observations were vital to success. And his team was among the best. They could shake a business down in five days and tell an owner exactly where money was hemorrhaging from. It didn’t make them many friends, but profit margins kept doors open for the employees who were doing an
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honest day’s work. Call him a bastard but he was also the man who could keep a company from filing bankruptcy and having to shut its doors. And if an employee couldn’t see the necessity of that when the quarterly reports were in the red, he didn’t give a damn what they thought about him. Life wasn’t fair. His sure as hell hadn’t been. “Fine. We’ll cover it.” Logan nodded, mild interest coloring his whisky brown eyes. “Tomorrow morning.” Robyn turned in her chair. “But the contract starts Monday.” Dack snickered at her. “Ever seen Monday morning traffic in Southern California? We won’t make it until lunchtime. Besides, it’s a gym, right? Open seven days a week. Might be interesting to show up a day early. See who has their pants down.” Dack grinned, catching a similar expression on Logan’s face. There were some things that leaving the service didn’t change. They both still enjoyed a good kill. Now that they were going, they both wanted to go for the throat first thing. It was a trait he shared with Logan, that first-kill attitude. It helped them deal with being partners. That didn’t mean they would fall in love with the same woman though. Far from it. But you needed to be alive before you could get to any romance. Logan helped him do that and he repaid the favor in kind. Not perfect but a lot better than dead.
***** Mia was flustered when she opened the door of the gym the next morning. Cambria hurried her inside while looking around the parking lot suspiciously. The private security men were not out at their post yet, but the door was still locked. Mia turned the keys and slipped them into her pocket. “Don’t tell me you’re losing your nerve,” said Cambria, rolling her eyes “I’m missing my morning to sleep in, in honor of being here as moral support.” Pointing a fingernail at the keys, Cambria waited to see what Mia would do. Mia shrugged. “Sorry, Cammy, I’m a little frazzled, but I am leaving this job.” She pulled the bunch of keys out of her blazer pocket and dumped them on the reception desk next to her workstation keyboard. She nodded her head with finality as she stared at the keys that were essential to her position. “I do hope you remembered to write up a little report for the assessment team? You know, outlining how many hours you put in? Pointing the way to the files they may want to see.” Color brightened Mia’s fair complexion as her lips pressed into a naughty smile. “Everything is under my logon information anyway. Carl never does the office spreadsheets. By the way, I’ve already got two interviews.” She displayed a bright expression of triumph. “And those came through this morning. On a Sunday. I posted my résumé last night online.”
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“See? I’ve been telling you to dump this jerk-off for a year. Half the companies that know you would snatch you up in a heartbeat.” Mia shrugged. “I know, but I hate that word ‘quit’.” Cambria moved down the hallway, admiring the polished wood flooring. The private gym was wall-to-wall luxury—tasteful interior decorating, thick fluffy towels in the shower room and a clientele that included celebrities. The problem was too much testosterone. The place was a female’s worst nightmare to work in. You could be twice as good as the guy above you and still end up with a third less pay as well as no respect. Mia had been bailing out this sinking boat for over a year, thinking that hard work would prevail in the end. As far as Cambria could see, Mia would give her last breath to her boss and he’d replace her the moment she was dead at his feet. “Did you change your system password?” Turning a wicked look on her friend, Cambria held up a finger. “You know, just so Carl can’t dial into the system and erase information.” “It’s my first task this morning.” Mia’s eyes rounded as she covered the smile that appeared on her lips. She hurried off towards her desk, leaving Cambria. She turned at the last second. “There’s a box in the solar. Could you get it?” “Make sure you change that password to something that can’t be cracked. Lots of numbers for letters.” “Great idea.” Cambria turned and walked towards the locker room that was called the solar. It was round, with arched windows running all around the outside edge. There were padded chairs and muted music, all cast in relaxing light. It was the only gym she’d ever been to where a relaxation room was part of the deal. Mia was constantly running cappuccinos and lattes to members as they stretched and warmed up. Running a finger over the elaborate wood molding that framed the windows, she marveled at the luxury of the place. Little wonder the clientele thought themselves superior to the rest of the world. They were arrogant pigs who made the staff suffer any time they were unhappy. If that’s what having money did to you, she would cheerfully remain “getting by”. The concept of seeing herself throwing a fit over a poor shine job on her shoes wasn’t a level she was willing to stoop to, even if she would love to have someone to do the cleaning. Mia’s box was sitting on a marble-topped table. “You’re sure not a member.” Cambria froze for a slim second. The voice was deep and ultra male, and she hesitated before turning around because she didn’t want to shatter the prickle of sensation it sent down her neck with a look at something less than perfect. The voice was stellar. The kind that lived in a girl’s dreams. “And you don’t work here either.”
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Words failed her momentarily. Dark hair went with that voice. The owner stood halfway inside the solar, another man on his heels. His shoulder span was impressive, telling her that beneath his tailored power suit was a torso worth displaying at swim season. His eyes watched her face, never dipping to look at her cleavage, and that impressed her. His self-discipline was tough, unless he was gay, which would be a crying shame with the body he had. It was made for a woman to play with. The only drawback was the fact that he wasn’t black, but even his fair skin didn’t look bad on him. Hell, he looked good enough to lick. “Which leads us,” he said, “to the question of why you’re in an all-male gym.” Switching her attention to his companion, Cambria ran her eyes over him too. Another yummy example of maleness. Boy, maybe she’d been a little too hard on Mia about getting free of the place. The view sure was impressive. “I’m just fetching a box. You may return to your elite testosterone company in but a moment.” She just couldn’t help raking the dark-haired one with her eyes. He stood so damn proud and commanding, the imp inside her refused to behave completely. Especially considering she was about to slide neatly out of the door and away from him forever. Part of her wanted to pull his tail, just to see what the tiger would do. “Why would you be removing a box, since you don’t work here?” He stepped closer and a little quiver shot through her. Cambria glared at him, detesting the emotional response. She did not get intimidated by large men. She worked her wiles on them, reducing them to putty. “I’d love to see what you’ve got.” The husky tone sent heat into her cheeks as Cambria turned to face the lighter-haired man. With a voice like that, it was too bad he was white. Her nipples tingled as she studied him. “My friend is clearing out. I’m just helping her.” “What kind of clearing out?” Suspicion laced his voice. She pointed towards the box. “Are you accusing me of something illegal?” A deep chuckle came from the darker-haired man. He stepped towards her, playing chicken with her nerve. Cambria held her ground, daring him to try her. He didn’t stop until he was a breath away from her. His suit jacket actually brushed her as he breathed. His eyes flickered with heat that excited her with its intensity. For a long moment, her breath froze in her throat. “Dack Tyden, ma’am, and nothing is leaving the premises until I’ve taken a look at it.” He leaned down, closing the distance between their faces, and the delicate skin of her lips came alive with anticipation. But she still held her position. It was almost a need to stand up to his intimidation tactics. There was a part of her that wanted to prove how much steel was in her spine, as though it mattered what he thought of her. The ultra polite “ma’am” had been nothing but a practiced label. Suspicion danced across his gaze and that made her want to stare him down.
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“Look in the box all you like. But you might want to find some evidence before issuing an accusation.” His dark eyes mocked her while sending out a blatant challenge that turned her knees to jelly. “Pardon me. I guess I was a little confused over just what sort of a girl would be walking around an all-male gym.” She placed her hands on her hips, the insinuation aggravating her. “Oh, this isn’t for sale.” She lifted her chin, her temper boiling. “Not now, not ever. Believe it or not, it takes more than a buff body to turn some women’s heads. But you’re exactly the sort of chauvinistic guy that I expect to find holding membership cards to this place.” “Box is clear, personal belongings,” the second man answered. He had a black Stetson hat on his head and he touched the brim of it when she pegged him with an annoyed glance. It wasn’t the first time some fancy white man had insinuated she was less than honest. That didn’t mean it made her any less mad. Carl Burton was a thief, one who stole Mia’s time without paying her fairly. She glared at the dark-haired one. Him thinking her a prostitute fried her temper. “You’re pathetically predictable. Think the black chick is stealing. I’ve never heard that before.” She didn’t yell, but kept her voice smooth and polished. He lifted an eyebrow. “Actually, it was because you’re a woman in an all-male gym and you’re not an employee. But I know gold when I see it. Those earrings tell me you’re not a petty thief into stealing some office supplies.” “Women work here.” And he sure did notice details. She really wished she didn’t find that so sexy. It was because a man who noticed what a woman was wearing well, he might notice a whole lot of details once they got naked. “I’m Dack Tyden. I’d remember your face if it had been among the employee photos.” “I believe you would.” Her voice had deepened into a sultry tone that gave away a little too much. His eyes shifted, returning to hers. A little ripple of awareness washed through her as she fought the urge to look away. His stare was too keen, looking right into her soul. As if he was looking for something, trying to peel her and get a look inside. Her mouth went dry as she recognized exactly what sort of man she was face to face with. “But that’s not too impressive considering the fact that there are only a dozen employees and only four of them females.” His lips twitched upward. The grin surprised him because he wiped it off his face a second later, frustration darkening his eyes. Cambria smiled at him, enjoying the little chink in his armor. Getting to a man like him was something she wished she had the opportunity to explore. The power suit gained her attention. It was smooth and expensive, no bargain warehouse model either. The jacket was tailored to his wide shoulders, conforming in to his lean waist. It had “professional” woven into it.
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“You must be the two assessment guys.” She failed to hide her disappointment. His lips pressed into a firm line as he heard it. “You prefer pampered gym patrons?” His eyes glittered with some emotion. “If you’ll cater to my whims, I’ll be happy to do the demanding.” A flicker of something crossed his face—it looked a lot like male interest. Her body shivered, hot need curling through her. It was a dangerous feeling because it only cheered her inner imp on further. “A very interesting idea. Not entirely original though I believe the idea of harem girls is a few thousand years old.” He frowned at her coy response. Cambria offered him an innocent look in return. Good Lord, the man was temptation incarnate. She wanted to trade veiled comments with him until one of them broke. Until he reached for her. The idea of waiting on him wove through her pride’s protests as she considered how tempting her body might be as she served him, taunting him with the same suggestive looks that he was aiming at her. “Some things are best the old-fashioned way.” He stepped towards her and she moved back without thinking. It was pure reaction to that large, male body closing the ground between them. His lips twitched again, but this time he allowed the grin to remain, teasing her with his victory. “I love history.” The second man broke into the moment and Cambria actually felt her cheeks heat with a blush. She’d forgotten him, actually tuned out everything but Dack. “I love particular cultures.” His eyebrow rose. “I can see you there as well, but I enjoy women who know their own strength.” Heat flickered through his eyes beneath the brim of his black Stetson. “I’m Logan Brackton, and you are?” Taking a shaky breath, she realized that she was going too far with the spark of attraction. Instant connections such as this were explosive. Her fingers were already blistered from the suggestive conversation. “I’m no one you’re going to run into again.” Regret coated her voice as she reached for Mia’s box. Logan watched her intently. “And just how did you come by the knowledge that we were assessing this location?” Walking past him, she picked up Mia’s box. “A friend of mine used to work here.” She felt their attention on her as she moved. That urge nagged her to remain but the sexual tension was getting far too thick for men she wasn’t going to see again. It was such a shame they’d met during one of those rare moments when she couldn’t follow up because of a best friend. Mia came before attraction, even the hot pulsing sort that was running through her blood. “Actually, boys, I’m not into playing slave girl for my keep. I have enough job skills to keep me employed above the doormat level.”
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Logan flashed a brilliant smile full of even teeth. “Now that’s a real pity, because I take really good care of my concubines. Play with them often too.” He looked as though he could back up the taunt. The blunt, sexual comment sent another ripple through her and the reason was that Dack wasn’t trying to elbow his buddy away from her. The pair seemed perfectly at ease baiting her…together. Her nipples tingled and tightened. Flames shot over her skin as she looked from one muscular body to the other. She had to be reading them wrong. “So you say, but what really matters in that game is what the woman thinks. It’s just too bad the majority of the male population doesn’t understand that little golden rule of the universe. You think it matters what you think, if you really want to know if you’re good to your concubine, you have to ask her opinion. I’m talking about the one she’d give to her best girlfriend. That’s the real truth on how good a man handles himself.” Logan reached for the brim of his hat and tugged it. “I stand ready to prove myself, ma’am.” “Ditto.” Dack let his gaze slip down her body and the blush heating her cheeks doubled. If the man took half the amount of time with his hands as he was with his eyes… A pair of heels tapped on the marble floor, breaking into her thoughts. “It’s been fun but I’ve got to run.” “Now that’s a disappointment.” Dack reached out, surprising her with how fast he moved. His hand cupped her chin, only the lightest of touches, but it sent a bolt of sensation through her. He tapped his thumb over her bottom lip, stroking the delicate skin for a mere second. “A real pity.” Giving them her back, she took a ragged breath before she smiled at Mia. Grabbing the box she swept her friend out the door along with her. “Oooh…ohhhh.” Mia covered her mouth with a hand as she squealed. “They showed up early.” Cambria shrugged, less at ease than she appeared. “Yeah, we’ll they’re the kind of guys who make a living out of catching folks with their pants down. Those suits say they’re good at it too. You’d better be ready to leave.” A shiver shook her again and she lost her amused expression. There was something intense about the pair. They sure did deliver a real jolt of electricity, something she couldn’t place her finger on. Amidst all her poise and confidence she’d lost the ability to control the way they got to her. The connection had struck with the fury of a typhoon, ripping into her with a force she wasn’t prepared for. Her nipples were still hard, and between her thighs her slit was moist with the first hint of fluid from her body. Arousal twisted softly through her, trying to talk her into finding a way to run into Dack and his friend again. That was a bad idea. Very bad. The sort of thing that would knock her world off balance. Sex was great. Hooking up with a hot guy was fun, but the sort of emotions 17
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Dack and Logan unleashed inside her with their comments was the kind she didn’t need complicating her life. It just might explode into the sort of mess that turned logical, strong women into pathetic doormats for great sex. Nope. She wasn’t going near them. They were Pandora’s box. She’d just have to find another man to play with who didn’t knock her sanity out of whack. But temptation had never called to her so strongly before. It followed her, ignoring her orders to drop it. Her mind wasn’t willing to drop Dack and Logan. It replayed the moments, teasing her as the miles separated her from them.
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Chapter Two “I take it back, Beck can live.” Dack had followed their unexpected company back through the lobby and stood watching her taillights as she waited at a red light. He enjoyed the edge of arousal pulsing through his blood. “I think you did an excellent job of pissing her off.” Logan offered him a smirk. “I ruffled her feathers but it wasn’t anger that made her edgy.” Dack shot Logan a grin. “Sorry to see that you couldn’t tell the difference.” “I noticed.” Logan’s voice held a trace of male enjoyment that made Dack shift his attention to his partner. An unexpected surge of possessiveness burned through him as he noted the glitter of interest on his comrade’s face. Logan lifted an eyebrow at him. “Get a grip, Dack. If she didn’t turn me on, you’d need to be a pal and put me out of my misery. That one was all woman.” A dry chuckle worked up his throat as Dack took the hit, acknowledging his own mistake. He and Logan shared a whole lot, and even when one of them managed to hook up with a female who wasn’t interested in double action, the other one witnessed the entire event. That turned on any red-blooded male. At least as far as the pair of them went. Moving around the lobby, he went behind the ornate reception desk to inspect it. Pissing people off was often a great way to cut to the truth real fast but he regretted being so heavy with her. A jolt of white-hot arousal went through him as he considered just how she’d puffed out her chest and shot his own attitude back at him. He wasn’t sorry, just sorry that they hadn’t been someplace more private. “Remind me to mention to Trace that he should track her down and hire her at the Play Yard. She handled me like a pro.” Logan chuckled. It wasn’t an amused sound but full of male anticipation. “If he does, I’m going to become a regular. But I think she just might think we were trying to hint that she’s selling flesh again.” The Play Yard was an upscale nightclub with an exclusive clientele. It drew its members from Special Forces and operatives. Although it wasn’t the sort of place that many non-invited guests imagined it to be. The place was designed to calm a man down, a nonthreatening environment, calm enough for the newly returned to adjust to civilian life. The woman that had just faced off with them had the brass to take on the clientele. It was the honest truth that he would love to watch her engage some of the more arrogant bastards who frequented the place, the ones who flaunted their submissive partners.
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“She’s not selling sex. You have to charm it out of that one.” Dack allowed himself to think about the fire in her eyes. It was a dangerous little deviation from his normal, isolated approach to people. Most women backed down from him, even his lovers. “She’d be a hit at the Play Yard.” The Play Yard needed confident females who could flirt with dangerous men and keep a handle on their own emotions. Playing with the flame, just enough to scorch your skin but not burn it. It wasn’t about sex. Somehow, Dack figured that she could tackle even the most dominating jerk and hand him his leash. It would sure be worth showing up to watch. Except that he was more interested in being the one attempting to handle her. He frowned as he considered the fact that he didn’t know her name. Picking up a pen, he scribbled down her license plate number before it faded from his memory. He snorted as he looked at the paper. Impulses were trouble when they came in connection with females. She wouldn’t thank him for tracking her down. Or would she? After she got done spitting, would she purr? His lips twitched up. Only if he stroked her just right. Temptation started chewing at him as he recalled every little detail about her. Her skin was light coffee, with just a touch of cream in it. Her hair wasn’t the tight curls that often came with black skin, but smooth and shiny. She’d had it arranged in a twist held at the back of her head by two polished wooden chopsticks. Elegant and classy, perfect to go with her solid confidence. She flat out turned him on. The license plate number in his hand taunted him with the possibility that he might get to try his hand at convincing her to become his lover. His cock twitched, thickening behind his fly as he contemplated how to corner a female like that. It wouldn’t be easy and that sent more heat towards his cock. “Well here’s another little surprise.” Dack lifted a single sheet of paper left in the laser printer tray. One neatly worded letter of resignation. After handing it across the marble desktop to Logan, he swept an eye over the remaining items on the desktop. Nothing personal remained. Even in a high-class environment such as this one, every employee brought hints of their personality. It was there in a magnet or picture or decorating item. The desk area was cleared out. What he wanted to know was why. Good employees didn’t leave bad companies, they left bad managers most of the time. Sitting down at the computer, he punched in his override code, something that was always in place before one of his teams hit a location. The managers and vice presidents never knew that their files had already been swept remotely. Mia Kerstin was organized and on top of every email in her files. Even, he noted, the ones that didn’t deserve her time. Such as the personal notes from her boss that ranged from dry-cleaning pick-ups to research for his kids’ school projects. She’d clearly planned to be gone before he and Logan arrived. 20
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Logan laid the paper down. “I think we may have found the smoking gun already.” “This job is looking less boring by the second.” Dack flipped through the new emails, his radar picking up the hints of a troubled office. There were always little hints that could be used to target the source of budget trouble. He was hired when it wasn’t as simple as lack of clients. This gym had plenty of money coming in each month; it should have been in the black. And then maybe he’d just have to tie up all the loose strings by finding Mia’s friend again. After all, he had a reputation of being the best and he couldn’t disappoint anyone. She’d dared him to try her, it had flickered through her eyes as she’d stood there refusing to back away from him. That was a challenge. He loved a challenge.
***** “That was perfect. I really owe you.” Mia was still nervous an hour later. Cambria offered her a smile as she raised a hand to get the waitress to bring them their bill. “Well, I’ve encouraged you to misbehave again. How nice to know that we haven’t slipped off the edge into old age yet. Don’t let your family send your brothers after me.” Mia took a last sip of coffee before swiping the check from the waitress’s hand. “I’m paying.” Lifting her hand, she showed her palm to Cambria. “Talk to the hand.” “You’re not black enough to pull that phrase off.” Mia shrugged. “And you’re way too black if you think you can intimidate this bill out of my hands just because I’m skin tone challenged.” Cambria grinned at her friend. “Well, it’s worked before.” “Not today.” Mia pulled a few bills out of her pocket book and stuck them in the vinyl folder the check was in. “But I’d better get home and send out emails. I’m not asking my parents for money.” Mia’s family had spare cash too. But it came with a string attached. Their darling girl wasn’t allowed to have a temper or even an opinion. Taking Burton’s crap was perfectly acceptable by their standards, because her position had been located in an exclusive establishment. Who cared if she had to shine shoes at her desk, as long as those loafers belonged to some high-profile name and wore Gucci. They could brag to their friends about the gold-star clientele their daughter worked among, never mind the fact that she was the hamster that scurried to appease each and every childish whim. Mia also wasn’t allowed to be friends with a black chick, at least not one who had grown up with a single mom and half siblings from several different fathers. They’d been tight since high school in spite of every attempt her parents had made to separate them. It was a funky sort of relationship, each of them entertaining the other with their differences. All in all, they were both bold women, even if Mia snuck her licks in like a ninja. Cambria loved her because she grounded her wilder side, acting as the safety rope that jerked her back before she went too far over the edge.
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They were cohorts in crime and partners in persevering among the mundane realities necessary for life. They were girlfriends, the best thing any woman ever had. “Wish me luck, I’m off to the Hudsten building first thing tomorrow morning for my first and hopefully last interview.” “Knock ’em dead, sister. I’ve got conference calls most of the day.” Reaching up, Cambria mimicked a collar choking her. Mia wrapped her arms around her in a hug, before scurrying towards her car. A touch of guilt landed on Cambria’s shoulders as she maneuvered through the traffic on the way home. It had actually been fun. Dack and Logan were a feast for the eyes of any red-blooded, male-appreciating woman. Which she definitely was. Hands down they were two of the finest examples of beefcake she’d spied in the last few weeks. Tall, immaculate and pure brawn. Mind you, she was guessing about the exact condition of their bodies. It was a real shame that she couldn’t follow up on them. If she’d met them anywhere else, her brain would be cheerfully trying to concoct a means of running into them again. Finding them together was like a double-scoop ice-cream cone on a hundred-andfive-degree afternoon. Sure, you thought about it, but it was going to drip all over your hand while you tried to control it. Two was too much. The idea turned her on though. Her nipples were tingling when she pulled into her garage. Climbing up the stairs sent a little zip of sensation through her as the folds of her slit rubbed against her clit. Need pulsed softly through her belly as she sat down to check her email. Sunday didn’t mean “no work day”. Half of the globe was already waking up to Monday morning. With her load of calls tomorrow, she’d be wise to spend a couple of hours dealing with her inbox today. Well, she had certainly gotten a fair amount of entertainment out of the morning. Now it was time to pay the bills. Logan and Dack…hmmm, it certainly had paid to get up early today.
***** Cambria Porcha Jones. Dack stared at her picture, his laptop displaying her driver’s license. Connections got him a lot of information that most people thought was private. She’d be pissed if she knew what he was about, but that didn’t normally bother him. His job was digging into personal files. He might even construct a lame excuse about needing to investigate her because she’d been on the property when he arrived. But that had nothing to do with it. Mia Kirsten and her abrupt resignation were in need of investigation but Cambria was a personal matter. He felt his cock twitch again. His brain was tumbling ideas around, smoothing out a plan to confound her once more.
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Oh it would be a confrontation. He was looking forward to that part. Actually looking forward to it. She’d hooked his attention like a fish, only he wasn’t going to be a simple catch. But the clash would be worthy of a good setup when he did engage her again. Fingering his phone, he moved through the interface looking for a number. With a last look at his laptop, he pressed the send key.
***** She didn’t get many calls from secured numbers. Cambria stared at her cell phone but shrugged and opened it. Her brother Remington had a habit of calling on secure lines. “Good evening.” “You picked up. Trusting girl.” A jolt of awareness speared through her. Her eyes narrowed as she forced herself to not answer too quickly. “Are you anyone I know?” A soft male chuckle was her response. Her lips twitched up, enjoying the moment a little too much. “Because I really detest telemarketers.” “You haven’t listened to my pitch yet.” Oh she’d heard it all right. His voice was layer upon layer of rich, dark male temptation. Heat flowed towards her breasts, the nipples rising into sharp points. “I could make it worth your time to listen, Cambria.” He used her name to place her on the defensive. A tiny shiver touched the nape of her neck as she heard the slightest change in his voice. Not only was the man sharp, he was dangerous. She didn’t know a lot of his type, only that he was a breed apart from the men she’d dated. Dack would come with a gun, she’d bet her new gold bracelet on it. “If you think learning my name is going to impress me…” “I’m correct.” All amusement had vanished from his tone. “Right now, your mind is racing in a circle, attempting to discover just how I got your number.” “Maybe, but that would mean that I think about you at all.” She shivered, pacing across her office. There was an addictive nature to sparing with him. That tail-tugging urge was growing with each parried verbal barb. “I’ve thought about you, happy to admit it.” Her teeth bit into her lower lip. It wasn’t indecision that made her nervous, it was the spike of heat that went through her pussy. Hard, deep and hot, passion was licking across her clit. No man had ever done that to her over the phone. Just the friction of her thighs brushing against each other made her want to climax. “I’d like to have a drink with you, Cambria.”
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Oh hell…his voice had dipped down into that dark, syrupy zone. She forced her brain to think before she did something completely impulsive. “Before you ride out of town, you mean?” “I don’t live here, if that’s what you’re asking.” And he didn’t sound as if he was interested in staying. “I’ll think about it.” Keeping her voice steady took way too much control but she still enjoyed the buzz of excitement. It was just too rare to not savor. Dack wasn’t boring, she had to hand that to him. But she wasn’t sure if she wanted to live with the fallout of having tasted him after he disappeared into the sunset. She hit the end key as a shaky breath rattled out of her throat. The man was potent. Possibly too potent. Dack clutched the phone in a tight fist. Arousal snaked through his cock, making it rock hard. Standing up, he adjusted the swollen flesh then tucked his phone into his shirt pocket. A little ripple of disappointment moved through him as he went looking for a fresh pot of coffee. He wanted a drink but it was his turn to be on watch so alcohol was out. He knew she wouldn’t be easy and she hadn’t been. The abrupt end of their conversation only added fuel to his growing enjoyment of the chase. His better judgment warned him to break it off but he just wasn’t willing to do it. Not this time. He was a little too hungry for true companionship. That woman raised his dick but also made him chuckle. It had just been too damn long since he tasted life.
***** Mia stepped out onto the pavement Monday morning with a smile decorating her lips. Her interview had gone so well, it was possible the lack of reference from her last employer wouldn’t become a factor. She hoped so anyway. Her cell phone buzzed and she plucked it out of her purse, opening it without checking the number. Her résumé was hot on the internet highway and she needed to get a job before facing her parents. “What the fuck did you think you were doing, Mia?” Mia almost snapped her cell phone shut but anger kept her holding the little device against her ear. Three years of bottled-up frustration was about to bust out of her mouth. “Quitting. I’m finished buffing shoes and warming up lattes.” “You stupid cunt! I could have replaced you any other week but not this one. So get your ass back to work.” Carl Burton yelled through the phone loud enough for the people standing near her to understand his profanity. One woman cut her a dirty glance before moving away. “You’re the manager. You get busy and cover your own duties for a change.” 24
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“Get your ass back to work, Mia!” Carl sneered on the other end of the line, “or I’ll lodge a complaint with the police department on your friend. She isn’t a member and she’s no employee of mine. That’s called trespassing.” “Threatening Cambria won’t change anything. She was there as my guest, and I’m still not working for you anymore. Be as nasty as you like, leopards don’t change their spots after all.” Carl snickered. “Oh, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’ll watch her get her black fanny locked up! You’ve seen me do it before. Our grounds are private property.” Her arm shook as she tightened her grip on the phone, refusing to back down. “You’ll just look like a fool when I tell the officers that I let Cambria in.” “Except that you quit. All I have to do is tell them you were trespassing, with the intent to cause financial ruin because you’re a disgruntled ex-employee. You’ll be able to spend quality time with your partner in crime behind bars.” “And you wonder why I quit.” Mia tried to control the impulse to panic. “You’re a pathetic excuse for a person.” “But I’m the man in control, sweetie.” He drew out his last words. “Now you are going to get your tight little ass back to work right now or I’m dialing the police. And I’ll tell them that I fired you on Friday.” He had to be bluffing. Mia bit into her lower lip as she debated the harsh concept of going to jail. A snicker came over the connection, stiffening her resolve. “You didn’t fire me, I quit! Call the cops on me and Cambria and I’ll tell those fancy suits who are evaluating you how many times I used the petty cash to pay your drycleaning bills. You won’t be the only one busting other people for intent to ruin.” “You’ll be an accessory to company theft if you do.” Carl’s voice had lost its mocking tone. “Yeah? Well maybe you better not send the cops anywhere near me or Cambria. We’ve both got big mouths.” “You’re women, that goes without saying.” Mia tightened her hand on the phone again because sweat was making her palm slick. “Whatever, I don’t have to listen to you anymore. I’m going to block your number. Have a good time finding somebody new to lick your shoes.” She punched the off button without listening to the stream of outrage her former boss was yelling at her. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on slowing her speeding heart. She’d gotten exactly what she wanted—Carl Burton in a roaring temper. She needed to enjoy the moment, not let him torment her into being afraid of him. “Guess Carl isn’t taking your resignation very well.” Mia jumped and found herself facing the two men she’d left standing in the solar. Confusion hit her in a thick haze, obliterating her thoughts as she tried to think of just why they’d appeared in front of her. “How did you find me?” 25
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Dack watched her with an unreadable expression. “Does it matter?” It didn’t. Mia pressed her lips into a hard line as she ordered her brain to stop panicking. “Well, you’re wasting your time. I don’t work for Carl anymore.” “Hmm, you might want to be careful about your next interview. The Hudsten Company sent a fax over asking about your employment record.” Mia’s eyes widened. She was still standing in front of the five-story Hudsten tower. The two men watched her like hawks, one on either side of her. She felt crowded, and horror flooded her as she thought about the conversation they’d just overheard. Logan didn’t look as if he had any mercy in him either. “How often did you pay personal expenses with petty cash?” Her cheeks heated and Dack’s attention shifted to her face for a second. “Look, I’m really sorry but you need to bug my ex-boss about that. And everything else. He’s the man who is bound to answer your questions.” “And if we’d rather hear your account of it?” Logan had moved closer, invading her space. Her heart sped right back up as she took a deep breath. “Sorry. I’m moving on. I promised a friend that I’d make a clean break and not hang onto any emotional baggage. If I talked to you, it would just be complaining. Since I’m not planning on returning, no constructive good can come from it.” Logan actually looked impressed by her refusal to budge. Mia wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t going to tell them anything that might drag her back towards a job that she was free of. “Cambria sounds like she gives good advice to her friends.” A little shiver raced down her spine as she heard Cambria’s name on Logan’s lips. Now they knew her name and it was because of her big mouth. Logan watched her intently, studying her face. “If I were hiring you to work for me, could we have that conversation?” “No.” The word passed her lips in a flash. The pair were too intense. They were currently freaking her out with their tactics—one talking while the other stood behind her. It was weird. “I’m only interviewing at companies I’ve screened.” A grin appeared on Logan’s face, the amused expression sending another chill down her back. “No problem.” She jumped as Dack spoke behind her. Turning around, she tipped her head back to look up into his face. He was standing two feet away and she got the idea that he did it on purpose to intimidate her with his greater height. He offered her a nod before stepping out of the way. “By the way, don’t worry about Carl. He can’t cause much legal trouble without us swearing a statement against you and your friend Cambria.” Dack walked behind her to join his friend. Flashing her a grin, he held out a white business card. “Tell Cambria that, or better yet, give her my number so I can tell her myself.”
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Her fingers closed around the card before she thought about what she was doing. They turned and left the second the paper was held in her grip. Lifting it up, Mia stared at the blank card. The only thing on it was a phone number. No name or address, not even a company logo. Only ten digits embossed on the paper in black ink. Hurrying around the corner to the parking lot where she’d left her car, she dialed her cell phone as she opened the driver’s door. “That rat did what?” Cambria heard her knuckles pop as she gripped her phone too tightly. “What are you doing answering his calls anyway?” “I didn’t check who was calling but, Cambria, he’s pissed and you know, I think he’s mad enough to do it. Call the cops on us.” There was a hint of fear in Mia’s voice that agitated Cambria. “So what? We’ll take him down with us if he tries it.” Cambria refused to worry about Carl Burton. The man was a wuss. He was hiding out right now to avoid facing an assessment of a place he managed. That was pure, yellow coward. “Ah, okay but there’s another thing you should know about.” Mia’s voice held a strange note that captured Cambria’s attention. A ripple of apprehension made its way through their cell phones as she listened to the recap of Dack and Logan tracking her down. Her nipples actually tingled and drew taut beneath her tee shirt as she licked her lower lip. Excitement jolted her as she looked out her office window at her driveway. There was nothing there, but the nape of her neck tingled as if there was somebody watching her. She scoffed at her own thoughts. “Whatever, I bet they were just trying to wring some information out of you. They’re paid to dig up dirt. Those power suits weren’t the bargain models.” “They know your name.” “Good.” Cambria stood up, unable to sit still. Her heart was speeding up as her thoughts raced and her mind offered up a pristine recollection of Dack and Logan. Both of them were too yummy for words. “It’s nice to know I have a reputation out there.” “Cambria, you are too cool. I’m freaking out here.” “I noticed.” Cambria coated her tone in ice to chill her friend out. “So a couple of hunks know my name. That won’t get them very far. Let them think about me all they want, it’ll be good for my ego. It’s over, Mia, or it will be as soon as you get another job. I’m more worried about your parents sending your brothers to hunt me down.” “I see your point.” “You do?” Mia scoffed on the other end of the line. “I know what sex is, Cambria. Those two want to get naked with you. My brothers, on the other hand, would only kick your ass for leading me away from the family values.” “Very perceptive, China Doll.”
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Cambria paced across her office then turned when she ran out of space and walked back towards the door. She relaxed her hand when she realized she was gripping the phone too tight. Her clit was pulsing again, excited by the mental idea that Dack and Logan were out there, thinking about her. Sometimes she was dumber than others. Her growing preoccupation with thoughts of the two men was torturing her with sexual tension she wasn’t going to escape easily. “The Hudsten Company already offered me a position, but I want to go to my other interview anyway,” Mia said. “Now that’s my girlfriend talking. Make sure you check the options.” Turning again, Cambria couldn’t stop her eyes from searching the driveway now that she was facing the window. She snorted softly in frustration. “Throw that card away. No looking back, remember?” “Yeah, you’re right. Catch you later.”
***** “Think she called her?” Logan hummed under his breath as his fingers lightly tapped away at a keyboard. “Was there any doubt?” Dack watched Mia as she sat contentedly in the parking garage, talking on her cell phone. He wanted Cambria to feel him circling her. They didn’t need Mia’s testimony to trap Carl Burton, at least not her verbal one. The woman had left a neat trail of data back in her computer. She was one hell of an employee, sharp and loyal. Carl Burton was an idiot for not sharing some of the wealth with her because now he’d lost his cushy position because he’d been too greedy. A smarter man would have made sure Mia had a reason to protect him. No…tracking Mia down was a personal errand. He wanted Cambria to know that he wasn’t disappearing. Dack straightened up and glanced around, assuring himself that no one was watching him at the moment. It was a habit that kept him alive. He didn’t care for the noise surrounding him, the traffic and bits of conversation that drifted into the parking area. They were half a level above where Mia had parked. She hadn’t even glanced up. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been so secure. It felt like an entire lifetime ago. His current life was a string of double-checking his blind side and making sure that he and Logan didn’t have someone on their tail. Alone, neither of them stood much of a chance. He should leave Cambria in her safe life, not mar it with his fingerprints. He frowned as heat surged through him. Sometimes a man just had to look through the bakery window even if he knew he couldn’t taste any of the temptations. That didn’t prevent him from enjoying the sweet scent of sugar icing as it drifted past his nose.
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Clasping a hard hand on Logan’s shoulder, Dack slipped the knot on his tie up. “Let’s get this job rolling.” Logan closed his laptop, a bitter look in his eyes. “Yeah, right on that one, Captain.” They slipped into the afternoon traffic, intent on ripping down the facades that Carl Burton had erected to fool them. Dack was looking forward to it this time, because after he got the job finished, he’d be free to play.
***** Cambria growled. It was too hot, in spite of the night air blowing across her bare skin. Her sheets bugged her because her skin was ultrasensitive. In short, the monkeys of mayhem were having way too much fun at her expense. She looked at her ceiling and didn’t even laugh at her own humor. She punched the pillow and kicked the bedding off her legs. The gauze drapes were blowing gently in the night breeze, her ceiling fan moving the air around nicely. But sleep was a mile away. Sitting up, she grimaced at the small reaction from her body. Sexual tension was a pain in the ass sometimes. Other times it made a night worth savoring. But tonight it gnawed at her, driving relaxation away from her bed. Real sleep was a distant mirage. At least she had a good reason. With a little sigh she let her mind return to the men she’d met. Oh, they were the gravy that turned dry biscuits into a heavenly dish. She wouldn’t have minded eating them up, at least once. Even if they were arrogant sods, she could still drool over the dangerous male animals they were. Dack Tyden… Lying back down, she felt her nipples tighten. They drew into hard points that begged for the feel of those hard hands. The way the man used his gaze was unfair to the female population. He’d made her sweat with that long rake down her body. Heat had flickered in his dark eyes, that flame of male appreciation that no man could hide or fake. A girl was a whole lot happier in life when she got around to understanding that attraction was either there or not. It wasn’t something either gender decided on, it was pure impulse. The kind that dropped you into hot water so fast, you never noticed the steam until you were knee deep. Oh yes, that described her dilemma tonight. She was hot and bothered for a man who wasn’t anywhere in her future. All that idea did was make him even more seductive. A ripple of sensation traveled from her taut nipples, across her belly to her clit. A little sigh left her lips as she took a moment to enjoy the rising arousal. Being alone with it certainly sucked, but it had been a really long dry spell since she’d gotten so turned on by any man. 29
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In this case two. Logan Brackton. Another yummy example of manhood. There was only a hint of boyish mayhem lurking in his eyes, but his pants had flattened out to show her a hard cock that was turning her on while she slept alone. As long as she was living in her fantasies, she might as well enjoy both of them. Her clit began to pulse with need. She felt her pussy heating up, the walls of her sheath feeling empty. It was terrible timing, but still a welcome feeling. Too many men had bored her recently. For a couple of weeks she’d worried that old age and menopause were stalking her early. Killing her sex drive right when she was confident enough to relax and enjoy sex without guilt. The next thing she knew she’d be playing bingo on Saturday afternoon instead of getting her makeup right for a night out on the town. Thirty-two was not out of the dating scene. Easing her thighs apart, she fingered her clit. Pleasure hit her pussy as she pressed on the little sensitive bud. Her nipples tightened further as she let her memory return to Logan. Hidden beneath his power suit was a set of shoulders that were rock hard. There was just something about a larger-framed man that turned her on. She loved mixing it up in bed but there was just something about having the hard weight of a musclepacked man pressing you down that drove the heat in her clit up. The idea made her hungry for more than her finger on her clit. Reaching for her nightstand, she pulled the little drawer open. Her small collection of adult toys was neat and clean. Cambria didn’t feel any shame over owning them. She was a single black female with a healthy sex drive. That left her two choices—settle for deadbeat bed partners when her body was craving release, or own a couple of tools that would ensure her the ability to choose a lover based on more than the lust of the moment. Her vibrator wasn’t too large and it had two speed settings. A dildo remained in the drawer as she lay back down, spreading her thighs. Turning it on to low, she teased her wet clit with the tip of it. Sensation shot up into her pussy, tightening it as her hips thrust up towards the vibrator. Her slit was already wet from her finger. After sliding the vibrator down to the opening of her pussy, she pulled it back to her clit to coat it with her juices. Logan’s and Dack’s images filled her mind as she pressed the slowly rotating tip against her clit. Pleasure bit into her belly, her pussy craving a taste from the toy. Perspiration appeared on her skin and she opened her mouth to draw larger breaths. She resisted the need to penetrate her body with the vibrator, pressing it against her clit as her need twisted and tightened. Sending the tip down through her slit once more, she gasped as it touched the opening to her body. The need was red-hot now, begging her to take the length deep. Tightening her grip on the handle, she sank it into her wet pussy, moaning as it stretched the tender skin of her channel. Her hips lifted as the vibration of the toy sent
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her into a frenzy. Climax neared as she pulled it free and plunged it back inside. Pleasure ripped through her, the vibrator shaking as she rode it through the waves of sensation. The climax took the edge off her need, but it didn’t satisfy the urge completely. Her bed was lonely. Pulling the toy from her body, she stood up and walked into her bathroom. The night air cooled her skin as she washed the vibrator, setting it on the counter. The full moon shone through the top of her window, above the three-quarters drape. The light bounced off the mirror, washing her in silver glitter. Her nipples were still hard. Frustration nipped at her thoughts as she considered how completely Dack and Logan had snared her attention. Oh, they were big trouble, but she was interested all right. Frowning as she placed the vibrator back in its hiding place, she lay down contemplating how to wipe the two men out of her mind. She needed to do it quickly because as much as she didn’t need a white man in her life, she sure as hell didn’t need two. Not that having them both was even an option. She sighed as she relaxed and her mind began to drift towards slumber. Yeah, a girl didn’t get two guys like that unless she was paying cash up front for the service or playing kinky games that weren’t going to be termed as any sort of valuable relationship. It wasn’t that she needed to have a promise of everlasting love along with her bedroom games, but she did like to draw the line at fucking complete strangers. A ménage à trois needed really solid friendships or good strong whisky, and Dack and Logan didn’t strike her as the sort who needed to share a girl between them. No, men like that thought about ménage in the “two females to one man” terms. She smiled in the dark as she considered what they’d think of her thoughts, both of them catering to her whims while she enjoyed being the only woman between their hard bodies. So not going to happen. But it was a very nice fantasy to fall asleep to.
***** Dack didn’t sleep. He listened to the slight sound of Logan rolling over in the bed before he walked on silent feet towards the front room of their suite. It was classy and modern, but he preferred his mountain home. In that respect he wasn’t all that different from a dozen businessmen sleeping on the floors below them. They were out earning a living—liking it wasn’t real important. Cambria floated right into his thoughts. His lips lifted into a grin as he allowed himself a few moments of enjoyment. She reminded him of the fire goddess Pele from the Tahitian islands. You never knew when she was going to cover you in a blanket of searing heat. She’d stunned him and that was rare. Women were predictable. A lot of
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the time they were disappointing along with that, wanting to cling and toss every little frustration onto the shoulders of their date. Cambria struck him as different from that model though. A burning sensation in his gut spoke up in her defense. Dack smiled now as he recalled the way she placed each foot in front of the other, so that she wiggled in a slow, sultry weave. It was planned, polished and executed perfectly. The woman knew her body and that was something that hooked his interest. She hadn’t flinched when he looked her over. In fact, he’d caught the faint hint of enjoyment lurking in her honey brown eyes. That was the sort of bait he had trouble ignoring. He’d always been a sucker for a challenge. From boot camp through officer training and on to special ops. Each had been unique in its stresses and tests. Some men folded but there was a section of the population like him who actually thrived on being on the edge. His cock hardened as he considered the information he had on her. She’d be completely pissed off if she knew, but all that certainty did was make the heat increase another few degrees. Would she run? Or spit at the tips of his boots? A chuckle escaped his lips as he contemplated what her eyes would look like if she turned around and caught him on her tail. It was a mighty powerful idea, one that sank its claws into him as his cock remained hard and aching. Sure he was used to a hard-on from time to time, but this one had a name on it. Instead of the normal sexual appetite being fed by his hormones, tonight he was hard because Cambria turned him on. She was a deadly combination of daring and feminine delight. The sort of candy he’d just discovered a craving for. Which meant he should forget her. That idea slipped right out of his mind. Checking the hallway, he picked up his cell phone, scrolling through the log for Trace Kocourek. Logan had been on to something that morning—Cambria would fit right in at the Play Yard. More interesting, it would give him a reason to look forward to Friday night this week. Too many days blended into weeks and months as he funneled all of his energy into surviving. He couldn’t recall the last female he’d thought about so much when she wasn’t pressed against him. He erased their contact information and their faces from his mind as he returned to the harsh reality of being a hunted man. Pressing the send button, he waited to see if Trace would pick up. “If your number’s scrambled, it better be someone good on the other end of this line.” Thick and gritty, Trace’s voice was as taunting as Dack recalled. “Depends on your definition of good.” There was a half laugh on the other end of the phone. “Well now, is this actually the man Dack on the line? I thought you were dead.” “Not tonight.” Trace chuckled. “What’s on your list?”
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Dack grinned, Trace knew him a little too well. If he was calling, it wasn’t just to chat. “An interesting proposition for you. I met a woman today who just might add a little class to your place.” Entrance to The Play Yard was by approval only. Cambria didn’t need to know that. Dack smiled as he considered getting her there without her knowing that he was setting the entire thing up. He was betting that she couldn’t ignore the invitation. “Cambria Porcha Jones.” He rattled off her address and driver’s license number as he heard Trace working a keyboard. “She’s been here before.” A low whistle came through the line. “Nice catch, Dack.” A ripple of annoyance went through him as he listened to Trace. Anyone who entered the Play Yard had a file complete with picture. He didn’t like the sound of male enjoyment coming across the line. “With who?” Trace chuckled at the snap in Dack’s voice. “Easy now, Dack, a woman like that isn’t likely to be waiting behind glass for you to get around to deflowering her.” “So I’m an emotional idiot for being pissy. Who’d she come in with?” More tapping on the keyboard came across the line. “Looks like your lucky day. She was logged in by a brother, Sergeant Jones, Army.” “Invite her back.” Being a guest didn’t give you the privilege to show up at the exclusive club anytime you wanted. Cambria had to wait for an invitation. “Friday night.” “I just might do that and put you on the ‘no enter’ list.” Dack grinned. “If your bouncer needs to try out his medical benefits, fine by me.” Trace clicked his tongue. “You’ve got the manners of a Marine.” “Friday.” Dack pressed his case, cutting through the personal chitchat. His thoughts were wrapped around getting what he wanted. “Deal. But you don’t show up, don’t worry about the honey. I’ll take real good care of her.” The line went dead. Dack smiled at the tactic that ensured Trace the parting shot. It didn’t matter much to him if Trace wanted to get a verbal jab in, as long as he got Cambria to the Play Yard. All in all, he had asked her. Just because she’d said no, didn’t mean the chase was over. It was just getting more interesting.
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Chapter Three Dack and Logan haunted her all night long. Cambria woke up with a neck ache and a snarl on her lips as she stomped down the stairs to her kitchen. Instead of starting a pot of coffee, she forced herself to put her jogging shoes on. She was still a pulsing little bundle of sexual tension. Her toys didn’t interest her, getting laid did. But only by the two men stalking her imagination. Life sucked sometimes. So did having a high sex drive. Taking off on her morning run, she admitted that the real problem was that most women weren’t honest enough to admit that they had a healthy sexual appetite. She wasn’t abnormal or a nymphomaniac, just willing to look at who she was. Her mama was to thank for that. The hippies had a few things going for them, and one of them was soul-searching. Maybe she didn’t approve of all her mother’s choices, but she’d learned one valuable lesson at her knee—always be true to your heart and you’ll live a happier life. Porcha Jones was a happy woman. Most of the fathers of her children were still her friends, and Cambia couldn’t recall ever hearing her mother acting jealous when they shifted in and out of her life. No, in fact, the second one of them tried to control her, Porcha transformed into an active volcano. Her body was her temple and she shared it with whom she pleased. Her children were her babies, and she had never lamented not walking down a church aisle. Porcha claimed that she never married because she had a wandering eye for the men, and she wasn’t a liar. Not in front of the Almighty, and not in His house. So Cambria had five half siblings, and her mother was happily unwed. Looping back around, Cambria lifted her knees higher. Sitting at a desk for large parts of the day demanded chair butt prevention exercises if she didn’t want to see her ass enlarging on a monthly basis. She hated running but it had its place in her life. A whole lot like her vibrator. Maybe she had developed a standard at her mother’s knee that just didn’t translate well into the modern world. It would explain her lack of lasting relationships. It wasn’t a diamond ring that she was longing for, just some sort of punch to her heart that she really felt. Someone she couldn’t ignore. She let herself back into her house and chucked her shoes into the corner of her bathroom as she peeled off her sweaty running clothes. After taking a quick shower in her downstairs bathroom, she tossed the dirty clothing in the washer before pouring a cup of coffee and heading up to her office. Her email account was full as she settled into another day. But the sexual tension was just lying quiet. It spiked up to remind her throughout the day that she wasn’t satisfied. Dack and Logan had somehow managed to touch off a 34
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reaction that was stirring through her, unsettling her poise. She might have become annoyed if it weren’t tweaking her curiosity. Her inner kitty was entertained by the spikes of awareness, enjoying the swirling sensations even if she had no idea how to burn any of it off. Her phone chimed again for the twentieth time around noon and she picked it up. “Good morning.” “Ms. Cambria Jones?” The male voice was soft but steely hard. “Yes.” “Trace Kocourek. We haven’t been introduced, however I know your brother Remington.” A tiny shiver went down her back. Cambria frowned as she listened to her brother’s name roll off the stranger’s tongue. Rem had an interesting list of people who knew him and not all of them were friendly. Her brother led a slightly dangerous life. She’d deduced that from the small bits of information he’d spilled while happily drinking whisky around her. “I’m also the owner of the Play Yard. I do hope you recall it.” A soft chuckle filled her office space. The Play Yard was dangerous waters, classthree rapids and not a calm spot outside the powder room. It wasn’t a biker bar with leather-clad hard-asses smashing each other over the head with longneck bottles. What it was, was a classy night club where the newly returned from service abroad sat about trying to recall how to live in a city again. “That lovely sound gives me hope that you do remember.” Cambria caught a faint hint of anticipation in Trace’s voice but she was a little too excited by being called to worry too much about his reasons for dialing her number. “Your club is very hard to forget.” “I try to make it that way.” There was a pause. “However, since your brother is deployed I would like to extend an invitation for you to join us Friday night. It’s been too long since your last visit.” “I’ll definitely think about it.” Trying to keep her excitement at bay, Cambria hid behind her polished business tone. “Good, I’ll place your name with my door personnel.” The line disconnected and she stared at her cell phone with its flashing “restricted number” label on the screen. Well, that sort of fit with her memory of the Play Yard. It wasn’t listed anywhere that she’d been able to find. The name of the owner was elusive to a common person like herself. But the place was there. She’d stepped inside it and seen the telephones, but still didn’t have a clue how to get the phone numbers. It was also by invitation only. Her half brother had taken her in a few times, claimed the place needed her brand of sass to give it color. What she’d anticipated as a semi-boring evening had instead been an adventure of high tension, watching and
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flirting. There were real men in the place, the type a girl was smart to keep on her toes around. She had to admit that it was tempting. The sexual tension twisting through her made the offer shimmer like new gold. A night of daring flirting with a room full of men really sounded good. But the Play Yard wasn’t the sort of establishment where she could let her guard down, even for a moment. A different sort of man belonged to a club such as that. She scoffed at her own warning. Hell, maybe she’d get lucky and find one who could take her mind off Dack and Logan. Besides, she had the perfect outfit hiding in the back of her closet. A purple corset she’d bought at a renaissance faire. The steel-boned contraption would fit the Play Yard perfectly. Fate could be kind, because it looked as if she’d just been handed a ticket away from her mental obsession with Dack and Logan. That had to be good, right?
***** “Carl Burton is a complete asshole.” Logan was disgusted. Dack rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked at his partner. They slept in shifts and Logan had been working at his laptop since Dack turned in for a few hours at three a.m. “This guy is a lazy son of a bitch. That assistant of his was earning her keep and then some.” Dack only nodded as he headed towards the coffee. Dropping in a sugar cube, he sipped and grimaced at the sweet taste. He liked his coffee black and strong. Thinking of Cambria most of the night had left a fog clouding his thoughts that he wanted gone. Fast. “She kept the customers happy too.” They dived into the details of the job, comparing notes as Cambria invaded his thoughts again. Dack frowned as his cock jerked, distracting him from what should have been his first priority. The job. Second priority should have been Black Watch and tracking down Intel on their movements. Women shouldn’t even make his list when there wasn’t one in the immediate area. His lips twitched up into a grin. Cambria didn’t strike him as the rule-following sort of girl. “Who’s that for?” Logan caught him smiling. Dack shrugged and refilled his mug, leaving the sugar on the counter this time. Raising an eyebrow at his partner, he grinned. “Cambria Porcha Jones.” “Yeah, I spent a few too many hours thinking about her last night too.” Logan offered him a waggle of his eyebrows. “Think she took us to bed last night too?” Logan chuckled at his own jest as Dack took a sip of his coffee. “Don’t know. But I wouldn’t complain if she did. Interesting little note on her—she’ll be getting an invitation to the Play Yard this week.” 36
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Logan lost his amused look. He stood up, rolling his shoulders. Dack noticed the flicker of interest in his eyes as hunger flashed across his face. “You think she’ll show up?” Dack felt his own appetite flare. “I do. Turns out she’d been there before—courtesy of a brother.” “Do tell.” Logan sat back down and pounded something on the keyboard. He used a little too much strength, betraying his level of interest in seeing Cambria again. Dack bit back the jealousy that tried to take root inside him. There was no point in getting defensive with Logan. If he wanted Cambria, Logan was going to be a part of the hunt. Logan looked up at him and offered him a smug look. “Guess we’d better get this job finished so we have an excuse to cut loose.” Determination glittered in his eyes as Dack fired it right back at him. There was a moment of tension as they both tried to stare the other down but it became lost when Logan lifted a hand and flipped him off. Dack snickered as he sat down in front of his own laptop. “Right back at you, Logan. Just remember, I had the foresight to call Trace.” “Well, I certainly appreciate you setting up a good date for me. You’re the best, pal.” Dack flipped him the bird as they both returned to concentrating on the job. Living together required a special blend of sarcasm and tolerance. A bitter taste entered his mouth as he considered just how the harsher side of his living arrangements would affect “their” date. But it didn’t quite overshadow the enjoyment of knowing Cambria might walk right into his trap. Dack didn’t entertain the thought that he’d be disappointed. That happened so much it wasn’t worth the brain time to think about it. For the moment he was going to indulge his whim and think about the look on her face when she found him and Logan waiting for her at the Play Yard.
***** “Carl got fired.” Cambria had to pull her cell phone away from her ear as Mia shouted with her glee. She frowned and gripped the phone. “Did you answer another one of his calls?” “You don’t have to growl at me, Cammy.” Mia sounded guilty. Cambria snarled softly. “He called me on my house phone. I don’t have a caller ID on it.” “That’s what answering machines are for, Mia.” Mia laughed on the other end of the line. “It was worth it. He was served by a peace officer!”
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“That’s what they do to criminals who call themselves managers.” Cambria took a moment to enjoy the glow of a job well done. Freeing Mia from “slavery” was a nice accomplishment, even if she did say so herself. “So, Cammy, I was wondering…” Mia’s voice dropped and she sounded even guiltier. Cambria stood up and paced across the floor as her suspicions ignited. “I did quit and I don’t want you to think that I’m backing out on a promise between us.” “Spill it, Mia.” “Well, they offered me the manager position. You know, Dack Tyden and his partner Logan. They were totally cool. Sent me a written proposal that is really great. If Carl was getting this much, he was more of a jerk than I thought.” “Depends.” Cambria clicked her tongue as she contemplated the turn of events. Had it really only been one work week? She looked at her laptop and confirmed that it was Friday afternoon, a mere six days since her introduction to Dack. The damn week had dragged on endlessly for her though. “Are you getting an assistant?” “Two. One for the solar and one for the front desk. Dack and Logan want me to make my first priority the books, not lattes.” “I guess I wouldn’t have to look over my shoulder for your brothers if you took it.” Mia laughed again, her happiness spilling through the phone. “So, you wouldn’t be mad if I took the offer?” Cambria shook off her mental toying with Dack and Logan. She had good prospects for the night. There was no lamenting allowed. “Mia, you so don’t need my permission.” She heard her friend scoff on the other end of the connection. “I’d only rag you endlessly, but that doesn’t make you beholden to me one little bit.” Mia laughed briefly but stopped as her mother’s voice piped up in the background. “Got to run. Family night.” “Enjoy.” Cambria snapped her cell phone shut and turned to walk back into her bathroom. The mirrored closet door in her bathroom reflected her from head to toe. And it was quite the look, in her opinion. Her corset laced firmly in place pushed her breasts up into display. The flare of the dress skirt teased her thighs as she turned to inspect the seams of her stockings running down her legs. Pantyhose just didn’t seem to couple well with a corset. Twisting around again, she tested the motion of the garter belt and hosiery. It was a deliciously naughty feeling, the top of her thighs brushing against each other as she moved. When she turned faster, there was a teasing glimpse of the lace edge of the belt and a peek at her
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bare thighs. Oh yes, it was an outfit tailored to promote gossip. Her mother would be amused, her brother would fume, and she just might get lucky enough to escape the memory of Dack and Logan while she enjoyed the unexpected invitation to the Play Yard. Even the forty-mile drive would be worth it. It was all interstate anyway. The local entertainment night spots weren’t in the same category as the Play Yard. Anticipation followed her down the stairs and into her car. Pulling out of the garage, she punched on her iPod and slid into the traffic flow. Feeling naughty had never fit her so well.
***** The door personnel at the Play Yard were huge. Cambria had to tip her head back for a chance to meet their eyes. At five-nine she wasn’t short, and she liked it that way. She wasn’t dainty by any definition, but she was feminine. “She’s clear.” Two little words and the two men parted to leave the entrance clear. Their eyes swept her again, with a marked difference this time. Now she was accepted, one of the “in” crowd, not a trespasser intent on prying open their private club. Her confidence swelled under the heat of their gazes. She offered them both a saucy smile before leaving them behind her with unhurried steps. The interior of the place was filled with music, although it was kept below the blaring level found in most nightclubs. The lighting was dim but you could see and there wasn’t a single dark corner in the place. It was decorated in purples and deep golds with a smattering of scarlet. Several pairs of eyes cut towards her as she moved across the carpet. It wasn’t any great interest in her—more of an investigation of her movements. There was an edgy tension about the men inhabiting the place but it was the kind that half excited you. That “flirting with danger” feeling that sort of enticed you to linger on the edge of a cliff. Sure, it might be unstable, but the view was amazing. Leaning up against the bar, she surveyed the impressive row of expensive bottles on display. Distinctive and diverse, there was no lack of impressive labels sitting on that shelf. However, since she was alone and therefore driving, her first drink was going to be her last. At least she had the option to make it a damn fine one. The barkeep watched her from behind an unreadable expression. He didn’t rush her towards a sale, just surveyed her, waiting for her to decide. A fine Scotch whisky caught her eye, and he reached for it as her lips curved up with approval. “Lagavulin, good choice.” A chill shot up her spine. Turning around, Cambria faced Dack as she blinked just to make sure she wasn’t conjuring him up from her nighttime fantasies. She found him
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three paces from her, steady, strong and very much in the flesh. His eyes were dark, the same black as his hair. “You can’t get that whisky year round. They run out halfway through the season.” Her drink was set on the bar near her hand. Dack raised two fingers and the barkeep turned two more glasses upright. “So nice to see you again, Cambria. Glad to see you liked our invitation.” She turned her head sharply as Logan’s voice came from behind her. He was leaning against the bar, a black Stetson tipped low over his face. He tossed a twenty onto the bar and the barkeep picked it up, leaving her money on the polished wood surface. “I’m sorry, did I somehow forget that I agreed to see you two tonight?” Her temper flickered to life as she cut a quick glace back at Dack. Taking a step away from the bar, she then turned so that she could see them both. Being pinned between them was oddly unsettling, as well as a little too exciting, considering she was ticked at them. “You’ve had plenty of time to think about it.” Dack lifted his drink and toasted her before taking a sip from the glass. “But I did arrange it. Trace is a friend of mine.” A husky chuckle escaped her throat as she reached for her drink. “You’ve got interesting friends.” “He does.” Logan touched the brim of his Stetson as his mouth twitched into a grin. “We both do.” The small relaxing of his face transformed his features into a playful expression for a moment. His eyes were lighter than Dack’s. There were still deep creases on either side of his eyes, betraying his serious nature. Her curiosity stirred as she thought about what made their lives so stressful. “So, are you two joined at the hip or something?” Looking over the rim of her glass at Dack, she noticed the moment of indecision cross his face. A lot like he was deciding just how much to say. “We’re partners.” “This isn’t a cop bar.” She knew that much. Rem had introduced her to a few friends of his and spilled a little information in her lap. Casting a look about, she noticed the same caliber of people tonight. No pork sausage in sight. These people were lean, mean and completely controlled as they sized each other up. The funny thing was, Dack and Logan looked like a perfect fit. “And you two don’t strike me as cops.” “Point for the lady.” Logan’s voice was full of enjoyment as he toasted her with his drink. “And the lady is noticing that neither of you are explaining the connection between you. If one of you is watching the other’s back, I can’t decide who’s riding shotgun.”
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“You’re correct about the Play Yard. It’s a lot of things, but not civilian. And we’re not cops.” Dack considered her and Logan inspected her with the same hard look. “We are a team, for the purpose of making it harder to knock one over because there is another set of eyes watching.” “That’s really military.” Logan shrugged. “You can take the man out of the uniform but not the team out of the man.” “If you see one of us, the other is nearby.” Dack looked as if he was waiting to see what she thought of that. “Well, some girls would consider that a real bonus.” She was one of them. Dack studied her. “Some would call it crowded.” Logan stepped up. “We’re wondering what you think about it.” Heat consumed her, she just couldn’t help it. “I think this conversation has gotten very heavy. It is our first date, after all, guys.” Logan frowned at her. “Now who’s avoiding the questions?” Lifting a hand up in surrender, Cambria had to give him that point. “Okay, let’s just say that an idea like that one takes a little consideration.” Dack suddenly grinned. The expression looked so good on him, she was mesmerized by it. “You should do that more often.” He was shocked by her comment but enjoyment sparkled in his eyes. “Guess you’ll have to stick around and make sure I do.” A little ripple of sensation traveled along the swells of her cleavage and towards her nipples. A slow wave of heat that awakened all the nerve endings and sent signals flooding into her brain. Inside her corset, her nipples tingled before tightening into hard buds. Her eyes dropped down his length, sweeping over the hard shoulders, across the taut belly and touching briefly on the set of his fly. She hid her look behind another sip from her glass. His buddy Logan was every bit as distracting. Heat spiraled down her spine to her belly where her clit throbbed for attention, and not the kind she’d been getting from her toys. It was hunger for flesh-on-flesh contact, the sort of desire she kept on a short leash most of the time. “Be careful what you ask for. I hear a lot of military men are looking for submissive girls. I’m nothing of the kind.” Logan stepped past her, his hand lightly brushing her upper arm. It was just the whisper of a touch. An encroachment. The sexual tension tightened even further, making her jumpy. “Well, I do appreciate you two boys setting me up. I see the compliment in it.” She felt cornered, even if it was a tad dramatic.
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Dack shook his head, still enjoying her sense of humor. “Most women wouldn’t.” “Hmm, well I’ve never been much on letting other people tell me who to like.” The both watched her, keeping an even distance between them as they moved towards her. She was forced to either fall back or let them get within touching range. Turning her back on them, she settled for selecting a plush couch to sit on. Logan slid into a chair nearby while Dack settled on another chair. Surprise filtered through her brain as she watched them ignore the space next to her on the sofa. Somehow, she didn’t see it as an oversight, more of a strategy move. Setting her drink on the small table in front of her, Cambria fluttered her eyelashes at them as she crossed her legs. “So, now what, boys? Are we just going to play intimidation games?” Logan shrugged as Dack considered her. He set his empty glass beside her own. “Well, our plan ran out when we surprised you.” “Do tell.” Logan chuckled at her dry tone. “You’re a hard woman to please.” “Too true. You’re not the first man to come up short.” Her words instantly took on a sexual meaning. Logan lost his teasing look as Dack’s lips pressed into a firm line. Cambria watched them both as she tried to decide how to deal with them. Flirting was an art she enjoyed, but this was the first time she hadn’t directed her interest at a single man. Not this intense sort of flirting anyway. Sure, there were times that you were just shooting the breeze in a group but that wasn’t what was going on tonight. There was an undercurrent feeding her hunger, driving the heat up a few more degrees every time she caught one of them tracing her cleavage or thigh with their eyes. Those subtle touches of the eyes that told you a man was thinking about undressing you, considering where to place his hand when he pulled you close. She was dangerously close to just saying “to hell with everything, let’s find a bedroom”. “Okay, boys, enough playtime. As much as I confess to enjoying it.” Standing up, Cambria intended to walk away from the disturbing mixture of signals, but what she ended up doing was walking right into Dack. His hands cupped her elbows, lightly but firmly, as she looked up into his face. “It isn’t intended as a game, Cambria. I wanted to see you, so I made it happen. Simple and direct.” There was a note of sincerity in his voice that captured her attention, that same questioning need that had her wondering about the creases around Logan’s eyes. The hands holding her elbows moved as he stroked her bare upper arms. Sensation crackled through her as a small gasp passed her lips. “I’m all for leaving right now, Cambria, but most girls would consider that sort of statement an assumption that they were easy.” His voice was low and he tilted his head slightly so that his words brushed her ear. “Nevertheless I’m very interested in discovering how far our reaction to each other goes. Logan is coming too.”
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He was challenging her, flat out throwing a gauntlet at her. Not at her feet but right at the center of her chest. Her clit throbbed as the energy twisted through her. His fingers moved on her arms again, stroking her skin as her nipples complained about the tight corset they were bound by. Logan chuckled next to her ear as she caught a whiff of his scent. Warm and male, his skin smelled good. Her hormones fired off as she felt the brush of his breath against her neck. The tender skin tingled, begging for a kiss. “That is, if you think you can handle it. “Touché.” She mimicked a thrust with a saber to his chest before she turned and sat back down. Dack felt his throat tighten as she took her time, the little skirt swishing across the back of her thighs, taunting him with a mere peek at the lace edge of her stockings. He’d never thought outdated underwear could be so hypnotic. On Cambria it was. Her confidence added to the allure though. Somehow he got the impression that he’d still be hard and aching if she was decked out head to toe in Muslim robes. All he’d have to do was get a look in her eyes. The fire in them was so promising, he’d risk stealing her from some sultan’s harem. “You two are unique, I’ll give you that.” Cambria considered them and their odd attachment to each other. Logan pulled a deck of cards out of his shirt pocket, flashing it at her. She chuckled as she watched him open the playing cards. Along with the slightly odd clientele, the Play Yard also tended to have entertainment that wasn’t what you might imagine going down inside an exclusive, members-only establishment. Glancing around, she noticed many of the tables were holding game boards, such as chess or backgammon. Logan tucked the box back into his pocket and leaned over the table to shuffle the cards. His fingers deftly handled the cards, flipping them and turning them like a pro. That was part of the charm of the place, the seemingly low-interest games. That was a lesson she’d learned well on her first visit—there was going to be nothing tame about the game. It was a test of composure and grit, a moment when her tiniest motion would be noted by attentive eyes. One game could feel like hours, while she fought the urge to wiggle or give away her telling little nervous gestures. It was half witness stand and half celebrity red carpet walk. No panty line went unnoticed, no veiled comment was missed. It turned her on even more. The competition was deadly, making her excitement stir up because there was part of her that wanted to rise to the challenge of competing against opponents who could very well win. She wasn’t giving up by any stretch of the imagination, only recognizing Dack and Logan for what they were—damn good. “What’s the game?” “Strip poker.” Logan’s eyes filled with humor as he tossed out his idea. Cambria clicked her tongue at him.
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“How predictable.” She uncrossed her legs, placing both feet on the floor. “And I somehow thought you two were worth my time.” Standing up, she ran her fingers down her corset. “Sorry, boys, I don’t have enough to take off.” “We were going to let you win.” Dack offered up his reason as he considered her. The intensity of his gaze made her slightly jumpy. His body looked poised, as if he was ready to spring out of the chair in one second flat. It fascinated her because it was so misplaced when you coupled it with his power suit. A little like seeing a muscle-bound soldier in his fatigues and a yellow running jacket. The top garment didn’t look like it fit. “Let me…? I also don’t do ‘kiss ass’ sessions because you want to get laid.” Logan captured her wrist, his fingers closing around her limb with a firm hold. He didn’t yank her down, but rose to this full height as he used the grip on her hand to keep her in place while he stepped towards her. Male interest filled his eyes but it wasn’t the sort of lust she’d seen before. It was somehow deeper, almost as though he appreciated her more. That might just be her own arousal directing her thoughts though, letting her see what she wanted because the idea of getting naked with them was burning her alive. “What’s wrong, Cambria? The tension getting too thick?” He smoothed his hand up her arm. Sensation lit out across her skin like a flame set to dry leaves. She shivered but enjoyed the acute sensation. Staring into Logan’s face, she indulged herself in a long moment of hunger. “Not at all, but I grew out of college dorm games a long time ago.” He chuckled as his gaze dropped to her lips. He lingered there for a moment before looking back into her eyes. “You can’t blame a guy for asking. It’s just my inner boy looking to get into trouble.” “Well that much I believe.” Taking a step back, she sat down and looked at Dack, expecting to find jealousy on his face. She didn’t. At least not the sort that she’d expected. Hunger blazed across the distance between them but not anger. Logan really wasn’t stepping on his toes. That was a level of trust most men never reached, unless they were lovers themselves. “Are you two a couple?” Mild surprise crossed Dack’s features. He shook his head too fast to be faking it. His lips twisted slightly with distaste before she looked at Logan to gauge his response. He shook his head as he picked up the deck of cards and gave them another shuffle. “Because you two sure have a tight connection. I’m not homophobic, you know.” Dack picked up his drink again. “I told you—partners. We watch each other’s backs. You can’t do that if you’re screwing each other.” “True, except most people would consider a bedroom a relatively safe place to lower their guard.” “We’re not most people.”
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Logan dealt the cards out as she chewed on Dack’s comment. He frowned after it slipped out of his mouth, almost as if he regretted giving her such a personal piece of information. Slipping her cards off the table, she looked at them. “I don’t fit into any mold either.” Slapping two cards back onto the glass, she stared at Dack, recognizing something in him that fit something inside herself. It went deeper than the sexual interest, she liked the guy. “Hit me.” His dark eyes probed hers as Logan tossed two new cards towards her hand. Dack’s lips twitched up slightly as he discarded three of his cards. “I noticed, which is sort of a problem. It tempted me to place a phone call that got you invited here tonight. You’d be better off clearing out and forgetting you ever met us.” “Warning your lady friends off like that must make for an interesting dating life.” She clicked her tongue as he looked at her cards. “Or is it a matter of making yourself a forbidden man. Catch the ones who just love to touch what they’ve been told is offlimits?” Logan flashed her a solid look. “You’ll have to make the call on that one.” “I guess I think there must be one hell of a story behind it.” “Call.” Dack’s voice was razor sharp as he stared at her. Leaning forward, she watched his gaze slip for a brief moment to her cleavage. Fanning her cards out, she left them on the table. He was avoiding her comment and that made her sad for the briefest moment. Even if your life was hard, there should still be that hope of happiness. “The cards are unfriendly to the lady tonight.” Logan’s voice had slipped into a Southern drawl. Dack placed his hand on the table, a smug look taking command of his face. He cut a look over at Logan who revealed a hand that beat hers but not his. The tension doubled as she bit into her lower lip. Standing up, she left her drink unfinished. “It’s been fun, boys.” They both stood up, making her label of “boys” seem foolishly inappropriate when they were both a good head taller than she. Their frames were wide with muscles on the shoulders that declared them fully grown men. She knew it. It was the driving force behind her fascination with them. But the stakes were rising too fast for her taste. Losing her wits wasn’t her style. She only shared her body with partners, men she considered friends. “You owe us a payout.” “Do tell?” Walking right past Dack, she stopped then turned. “What did you have in mind?” Dack took a step towards her. She had to force her feet to remain in place as the urge to wriggle backward tried to undermine her composure. “A date.” Dack sounded hungry as he spoke.
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Hands on her hips, she sent him a hard look. “A date is when you ask a woman to accompany you and you wait to see what she answers in the affirmative. It isn’t a trophy bestowed after winning.” “I never was one for playing by the rules.” Dack closed the distance between them, looking down at her in appreciation as she stood her ground. “I get a little distracted by the idea of wrapping my hands around the prize.” Cambria pushed Dack back. She didn’t use enough strength to really move him, it was more of a demand. His eyes flickered with disgruntlement for a moment as his jaw tightened but he stepped back. Offering him a smile, she took a quick look over at Logan to see what he was up to. They did function as a team all right, which meant she needed to keep an eye on both of them. “Tonight is your lucky night. After that little warning you tossed at me, I’ve come to a decision.” She lifted one finger and pointed it at Dack. His eyes flickered with emotion as she let her lips curve into a smile. “You, Dack Tyden and your partner Logan, need to learn how to play.” “Excuse me?” Logan look confused. “What do you mean by play?” Dack just looked frustrated. The man’s eyes told her he was very interested in playing with her—between the sheets. In all honesty, she was just as interested in adult playtime with him but the way he was trying to scare her off stirred up her determination. She wasn’t going to be just a hot night to him. Not even if she wanted it as much as he did. “Play. That thing people do that isn’t work.” Taking a few steps towards the door, Cambria turned and crooked a finger at them. “Come on, boys. Let’s find a real game.”
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Chapter Four “You’ve got to be joking.” Dack sounded dangerous. Cambria smiled like a pirate as she pulled the lace out of her corset and tossed it onto the passenger seat of her car. One reason she wore a full dress under the thing, was so that it was easy to remove it when she was done with tolerating the constricting garment. “Playing is an art form, something adult life sucks out of us. Come on, I’m going to reunite you with your inner child.” He growled at her. “I sent him to boarding school.” Lifting her hand, she kissed her palm and blew it towards him. “Too bad because I love to play. You know where the highway is, Dack. Don’t let me stop you with all my games.” He rolled his eyes, but couldn’t quite mask the little flicker of amusement. He looked surprised to find any sort of liking for the moment and that only made her want to drag him, kicking if necessary, into the “golf castle”. “Kids get homework. I sure hope there isn’t going to be a quiz tomorrow.” Logan added his own grumpy tone to the moment. “Hang around me and you can bet on it. I need to escape from reality so if you want to be tense you can follow your stuck-up buddy and just leave me here. My inner child is very demanding.” “You’re really going to play miniature golf?” Logan didn’t look as if he believed that she really would go in and play. Poking him in the chest with one perfect fingernail, Cambria rose onto her toes to bring their lips close. “Every last hole.” His eyes closed to slits, a slow grin tipping up the side of his mouth. “Bitch.” He muttered it so low, she almost missed it. “My inner child is a princess.” Stepping back, she turned in a circle. “And her majesty wishes to play.” It was ridiculous. Even more so when she considered the suit jackets both men stubbornly refused to leave behind in their four-wheel drives. That was a glaring bit of information all in itself. They were packing. She’d learned that from Rem. Hidden beneath those jackets were shoulder harnesses. The night air was warm enough to dot both their foreheads with a light coat of perspiration but they remained suited up.
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Packing, no doubt about it. That fact didn’t turn her off. Guns weren’t a major concern for her, not with men like these. Any woman who worried about them using a weapon on her wasn’t getting the whole picture. Military training included hands-on technique. Her brother had the same edginess now that he’d moved from regular Army into “I can’t talk about it” areas. It changed a man, hardened him, but it also seemed to make them appreciate the small details of life a little more too. Like their priorities were shaken up and straightened out. But that didn’t mean that Dack or Logan should be so worried about a little fun time. Pushing her car door closed, she aimed her best honey-coated smile at them. “What’s the matter, Dack? Miniature golf makes you nervous? Or can I take that tic in your cheek as a stroke to my ego, because of my overpowering effect on you?” “If I say yes, can we leave?” She chuckled at the hint of desperation in his voice. But she felt sort of sorry for him—sorry for the fact that life had somehow transformed him and Logan into men who looked at a miniature golf course as though it were a mine field. Shrugging, she offered both of her reluctant companions an honest look. “I don’t own my dates, not now and not ever, but I do play. If that’s not your game, well I’m sorry, but I don’t do high-tension relationships. Or quick sex with a stranger. I’ve grown out of impulsive bed-hopping. But there are plenty of girls who wouldn’t turn either of you down. Diamonds and Denim western dance club is three blocks east.” Stepping off the curb, Cambria headed towards the entrance of the Golf Castle. The air was filled with kid’s voices. She was tempted to turn her head and look back, but she just couldn’t pity them that way. Her heart gave a twinge as she kept going, passing sugar-buzzed teens on her way towards the arched entrance. “You’re a hard woman, Cambria.” Dack growled next to her ear as he reached past her to grasp the large iron ring that served as the door handle. He pulled back a large wooden door to revel the arcade. Looking over her other shoulder she caught the disgruntled expression decorating Logan’s face as they walked into the arcade. The noise level was deafening. A hard hand landed on her back, pushing her gently but firmly towards the back door that served as the entrance to the golf course. Logan shoved the door open, going through it. He shook his head as she reached up to pat his cheek. “You’ll live. I promise.” Dack didn’t look as if he believed her. At the cashier’s window she paid for a game. Her fingers shook slightly, drawing her gaze as she waited for the sales slip to be handed over for her signature. Her companions were good at pushing her emotional buttons, possibly too good at it. There was just a little tingle of fear racing along through her veins along with all the excitement. Fear that she couldn’t remain in control of herself. She admitted to avoiding situations where she wasn’t confident in her self-control.
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Turning around, she looked at Dack and Logan and knew without a doubt that she was in deep water. The only saving grace was the similar look of uncertainty in their eyes. All three of them were a whole lot alike, and maybe that was the reason they’d tolerated her dragging them to a miniature golf course when hunger brightened both their eyes. Sex was on their minds—hell it was on hers too. The only real stress point was the fact that she really didn’t know what to do with the odd number. Neither man was falling back. Logan and Dack seemed more comfortable side by side and that was a real surprise. By this point in the evening, most guys would be jockeying for position, trying to gain the upper hand. It felt almost as though they didn’t mind sharing her attention. That idea sent her body into a meltdown. Hastily turning around, she made a grab for the small golf clubs sitting in a rack near the door. Her fear was well founded, because the idea of a ménage à trois with them was enough to set fire to every shred of common sense she had. A hand landed on top of hers as one large male body pressed up against her back. She caught a whiff of his scent and knew it was Dack. He lingered for a long moment, imprisoning her between the rack and his body. “What’s bothering you, honey? You look a little distracted.” He homed in on her emotional unsteadiness like a shark did on fresh blood, his voice razor sharp as his fingers slipped over the sensitive skin of her inner wrist. “Be careful who you let see that, Cambria. Some men would take advantage.” He pressed closer for merely a second, but she felt the brush of his cock against her back. Heat licked over her skin, as her mind offered up a need that almost buckled her knees. He took the clubs from her distracted grip, handing one over his shoulder to Logan. Turning to stare at the other man, she bit into her lower lip as she found Logan watching them without a trace of anger. Jealousy brightened his eyes but it lacked the competitive nature she expected. Grabbing a club, she pointed it at them. “This is my kind of game so prepare to be slaughtered.” Her voice was slightly husky, betraying her level of arousal. Both her nipples showed through her thin dress as she moved towards the first hole. It should have been impossible to maintain the edgy sexual tension on a miniature golf course, but it surrounded all three of them, refusing to vaporize in the face of the ridiculous sight of the two men wearing suits, teeing off with clubs they had to bend over to use. Instead, she felt the tension double as it sunk its claws so deep. There was no hope of escaping it. Her own inner beast wanted them enough to tell the rest of the world to go to hell. Dack turned and pegged her with a knowing look. His eyes were full of need and determination as she stared straight back with equal expectation. One dark eyebrow rose. “So, let’s see what you’ve got, honey. The course is yours.”
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“That was sort of dirty.” Logan made his observation the moment Cambria passed through the ladies room door. Dack glared at him in response. “About as underhanded as her taking us miniature golfing,” Dack huffed, low and full of frustration. “And gloating in the face of our misery.” Logan shrugged. “I don’t know. Personally, I can’t recall when I enjoyed getting my ass kicked quite so much. I think being the target of her passion made up for the juvenile level of the activity.” Dack chuckled. “You’ve got a point. Cambria can hand me my butt anytime as long as she’s homed in on me.” The powder room door opened and the woman in question raised a black eyebrow at them both. “Oh my, it almost looks as if you two might, just possibly, be enjoying yourselves.” She moved forward, reaching out to run a finger across Dack’s forehead. “Better make sure it isn’t delusional fever.” “It’s a heated blood disorder, no doubt about it.” Dack caught her hand, his fingers slipping around until he cradled the center of her palm. Her teeth bit into her bottom lip as her attention shifted, with a jerk, back to sex. She wanted to get naked and let Dack touch every inch of her with his fingers. He tugged her forward, slipping an arm around her waist to hold her against his body as a group of teenagers passed behind her. The buzz around them dissipated as she locked stares with him, hypnotized by the promise flickering there. It made her mouth go dry as she anticipated his kiss. The horde of sugar-buzzed people around her suddenly pressed in on her space, agitating her. Dack’s body was too hard and hot to remain still against. She needed to move, needed to react in some fashion to the overabundance of impulses racing through her. Pressing her hands against his chest, she shivered as she felt the hard, corded muscles hidden beneath the suit jacket. Dack didn’t let her go. His eyes flickered with need as he refused to release her. His attention moved to her mouth and her breath stuck in her throat. He raised his eyes to hers again and she felt his chest rumble with deep amusement. As he leaned down, she felt his breath brush her ear. “You’re not the only one who knows how to win, Cambria.” He moved and captured her with his other arm, pressing her into contact with his lower body. Heat slapped her hard, making every inch of fabric she wore annoying. Her skin wanted to be free to feel his touch, not wrapped up in her dress. A soft kiss landed on her bare neck and she gasped, a low sound born from pure need. Her fingers took advantage of her imprisonment to smooth over his pectoral muscles, delighting in the strength built into the man. “Ready to meet me someplace private? I know I am.” One of his hands traveled down her back, skimming her spine as it went. The touch made her arch against him, and she hummed with enjoyment. He chuckled next to her ear once again. “I’d like to do that, someplace where you don’t need the dress.” Another kiss landed on her neck.
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“Someplace where I could get a closer look at the hard nipples pressing against my chest. Someplace…” “I get the idea,” she growled at him as his words sent her mind into a full meltdown. Lifting her thigh and indulging her need right there against a wall had never appealed to her before, but at the moment it taunted her with just how much she’d enjoy it. Fucking in front of the restroom was out of the question. Dack knew that. He was poking at her, herding her into a corner with his words. They’d been headed for the bedroom from the moment she turned around at the Play Yard and discovered his ambush, but he wanted her to break first. “Really, Cambria? I don’t think you have a full understanding of what I want to do to you. I assure you it isn’t as simple as jumping on top of you and screwing until we come.” He cupped her chin, raising it until their eyes met. “I want a whole lot more.” He pressed a kiss against her mouth. Hard and hot, it was only another teasing touch that didn’t delve as deep as she needed it to. He broke it off quickly as more teenagers entered the hallway, ending their privacy. Backing away from him, she found Logan only a step away, his eyes moving over them. His expression was tight with hunger and the fact that she felt like kissing him as well confused her. Nothing but trouble. The pair were temptation in the flesh, and she was just one woman who was failing to ignore it. “It’s been great fun, boys. I hope you enjoyed yourselves.” Offering them a smile, she indulged herself in one more look at both of them. “But I think I need to be getting on home now.”
***** She needed a drink. Actually, she needed a man, but since she’d left Dack and Logan, a good bottle of wine would have to fill in the gap. Hot arousal clung to her as she pulled her car into her garage. Cambria kicked off her stilettos as she opened her laundry room door from inside her garage. Picking them up, she sat them on her washing machine. Her little lace panties needed to go as well. They were wet and irritating now. She removed them, tossing them into the laundry basket. She took off her garter belt, carefully unsnapping each stocking to keep them from running. Better. The air was still warm and getting rid of most of her clothing felt nice. She walked into her kitchen, lifting a wineglass out of its place. Opening another cupboard, she found a bottle of wine and pulled it out. She kept her alcohol consumption strictly monitored, but tonight she was having a glass of wine alone. Possible consequences be damned.
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Boy, when she decided to play with fire, she sure did try to pick up an entire barbeque pit full of it. She frowned as she realized that neither Dack nor Logan had said goodnight to her. Not that she’d given them much of a choice in the matter but something still nagged at her about the easy way she’d ditched them. As far as teasing went, she’d been hitting them pretty hard. Maybe she was just disappointed they had been so easy to cut loose. She sighed as she rolled her neck to loosen the tense muscles. She’d gone looking for a high-stakes game and had managed to find exactly that. A smile decorated her lips as the memory of them showing up replayed across her mind. Yes sir, they were something else and that was for sure. A flicker from her patio almost stopped her heart. She looked through the kitchen window as the two candles on her tiny patio table began to burn. Soft yellow light washed over the frame of a man as he turned his attention towards her. She cussed low and deep as a shudder moved down her body. Dack hadn’t told her goodnight because the man wasn’t planning on being sent home so early. It was arrogant. Completely presumptuous too, but the excitement flowing through her veins couldn’t be masked by her irritation over his methods. He was watching her, half bathed in candlelight. She saw just a hint of a smug grin on his lips and that made her chuckle. The man was finally at ease. Flipping the lock on the back door, she stepped outside as he pulled it open for her. Her back terrace was decorated island style. She had two large wicker chairs with thick cushions near that tiny table. Two candle trees stood on either side to provide better lighting, but Dack left them unlit. The majority of the space was occupied by a large hammock. One large, flat surface hammock that was held steady in a steel frame. She had a patio cover above it that she’d placed palm mats over to complete her tropical island escape. Ferns and a small water fountain made it perfect in the summer air. She had the added bonus that her unit was an end one, so with the patio covered, it was also private. “You know, there are words for men who hang out in women’s backyards without asking. Stalker comes to mind.” “A very underappreciated group of people.” His voice was deep and husky. Relaxed now, and it reminded her of smooth brandy. “Think about it for a moment. A stalker is one hundred percent dedicated to his idol. With all these people getting upset over infidelity, you’d think the stalker would gain a little respect for their unwavering focus.” He pointed a finger at her. “You never have to worry about who a stalker is thinking about. He’s obsessing over you. Stalkers take devotion to the limit.” “Well, when you put it like that, I guess you’ve got a point.” His grin widened as she agreed with him. “Not that I’m getting in line to get one.” He moved, his body fluid and controlled in the night. He cast a look about before closing the distance between them. Her skin tingled as he came close enough for her to catch the scent of his skin. All humans had a scent and some men just smelled more
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manly than others. Cheesy or not, it was true. Dack smelled warm and strong. It set off various jolts of sensation inside her. He propped a hand on the side of her house, next to her face. His expression was hidden in shadow, since the candles were behind him. “Does that mean you want me to leave?” He didn’t give her the opportunity to answer. His mouth pressed down on top of hers in a kiss that almost burned her. It stole her breath and froze the air in her lungs. Sweet delight poured down her torso as his mouth pushed her lips apart. He slid one hand over the nape of her neck, firmly gripping the tender spot as he closed the remaining distance between them. Her hands landed on the side of his shoulders she’d spent a few too many hours thinking about. Sliding her fingers along the hard surface, she sighed as she found all the strength she’d fantasized about. He smoothed his hand down her neck and across her shoulder. He caught one of the thin straps holding her dress up with his fingers and pushed it off the edge of her shoulder. “You didn’t wait for me to answer that question.” She was teasing him. Dack heard it in her voice and it touched off a feeling he’d forgotten he had locked up inside him. A tender rush of warmth that melted clean through some of the thick calluses he’d grown over his emotions. Women chased him for his brawn or his dark aura. It had been a really long time since a female poked fun at him. “I told you, I like to win.” And he wasn’t backing away from her. She was warm and full of life. Pushing the other strap off her shoulder, he watched the way she confidently stood still as her dress slithered down her body to her ankles. There was no protest, real or faked, just a sure and steady stare from her dark eyes. She was magnificent, caramel skin from head to toe with dark nipples that were drawn into beads. Her mons was bare, the hair waxed away, allowing him to see her cleft. “You’re one hell of a woman, Cambria.” The tone of his voice was dark. She shivered as she watched him sweep her bare body. He did it slowly, taking the time to soak up every detail her dress had hidden from him. His face drew tight as he focused on her newly waxed mons. She stared at the raw look of hunger, her confidence soaking up the moment. “So glad that I meet with your approval.” His gaze returned to her face as she teased him. She kept her voice low, the water in the fountain helping to mask it. “Yeah, you meet with my approval all right. Not that I think that’s a good thing.” There was a hint of regret in his voice that bothered her. It reminded her of the look he and Logan had aimed at the miniature golf course. As though the place hid danger. “Really?” Reaching out, she stroked his cock. His body jumped and he sucked his breath in harshly as he glared at her. She pushed away from the wall and she stepped out of her dress. Moving a few steps towards the hammock, she smiled as she felt his gaze on her bottom. She turned her head and surveyed him as he watched her in the flickering glow of the candles. 53
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“You know, I think I already told you that I’m not the clingy type.” She turned so she faced him again, backing up as he followed her in spite of the tension she saw etched on his face. “In fact, it’s getting just a little insulting, the way you keep hinting at not wanting to be around me. Fine. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.” He chuckled softly. “I deserved that.” “You sure did.” Placing a hand in the center of his chest, she held him off as she locked gazes with him. “If you’re planning on getting close to me again, you’ll want to take that gun off now.” Her body didn’t care very much for her demand. She was hot and needy with arousal. Her flesh uncaring just how she went about getting close to him but she wanted him naked, like she was. No lowered zipper was going to be enough. “My gun doesn’t scare you?” He didn’t believe that, she heard it in his voice. She propped a hand on her hip and enjoyed the way his gaze flickered to her breasts for a moment before he mastered the impulse. “Hmmm…let me see. I’m standing here naked, anticipating sharing hot passionate sex with you.” She clicked her tongue a few times. “A gun sort of loses its menacing qualities when I consider that you could kill me with your hands just as dead. It would be cleaner and quieter too. Should I be worried about the gun or the hand holding it?” She fluttered her eyelashes. “I suppose a better question is whether or not I’m dealing with the fact that Logan is somewhere watching us.” He shrugged out of his coat. A dark shoulder harness was fashioned around his chest right where she’d suspected it would be. His eyes considered her for a moment, the expression on his face dark. ‘’He is. I wasn’t sure you’d remember.” “I haven’t been able to forget either of you, in spite of trying.” Her eyes traveled down to his erect cock. She didn’t think she’d ever wanted a man as much as she wanted Dack right now. Knowing the Logan was watching didn’t stop her from craving a taste of that cock. “He’ll want you too.” A little ripple of uncertainty rolled through her. Becoming nervous wasn’t her style but she couldn’t shake off the feeling when he pulled his shirt open to reveal a chest that was more than powerful. It was packed with heavy muscle, the kind you had to pump iron to get. This wasn’t just a matter of being strong, it was the result of heavy training. The gun, coupled with the way he moved, told her that it was the sort of training that men endured to become weapons. He levered his shoes off and moved towards her with his pants still on. A warm hand cupped the side of her face, raising her eyes away from the sculpted ridges of his chest. “You’re not going to lose your nerve on me, are you, honey? I’ve formed quite an image of you in my mind. I hope you plan to live up to it.”
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There was the hint of a drawl in his voice, some faint touch of the South that made him incredibly sexy. He leaned closer, an arm slipping around her waist to pull her against his body. She gasped when their skin met but aimed a solid look into his eyes. “In full living color.” Cambria almost didn’t recognize her voice, it was deep and husky. Full of anticipation. He touched a soft kiss against her chin and then two more along her jawline. His warm breath tickled her earlobe right before he bit it. Her hands clutched at his shoulders as the little bite zipped through her, touching off more need and heat. His body hair brushed her, teasing her bare skin with just how masculine he was. “I followed you home because I just can’t seem to ignore you.” She laughed softly and he raised his head to look at her. His face was once again hidden in shadow but it made him even more alluring. Right there, with the sound of the water and the brush of night air against her bare skin, the shadowy feature fit. “My mother would say that I’ve snared you with my flare for mischief.” “Ah, leading my inner child astray.” He aimed a frown at her that only made her smile wickedly. Reaching down, she stroked her hand over his cock and his face tightened with pleasure. “I didn’t exactly plan on liking you either, Dack. What are you so worried about?” She stroked his cock again. “We’ll practice safe sex and live to see the morning.” Her subtle teasing didn’t break through his tension this time. His eyes flashed with pain that was deeply rooted. His arms tightened around her, actually lifting her feet off the patio. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to forget you.” His voice was ragged. He laid her across the center of the hammock, taking command of the moment as he cupped both her breasts. Pleasure took control, rising above any thoughts or concerns. All she knew was that she couldn’t recall any man who felt so good when he was in contact with her. She arched up, pressing her breasts into his hands because it just felt so damn good. She was swept away by the currents of sensation. “You’re so damn amazing, Cambria. It can’t be real.” He bent over her body and captured a nipple between his lips, sucking it deep into his mouth as a cry escaped her lips. She reached for his head, sending her fingers through the short strands as he flicked his tongue over the tip of her breast. He sucked hard on that nipple as his fingers slid down her body, over her belly to her mons. He pushed her thigh up and away, spreading her open as he released her nipple. “Even if you’re nothing but a night creature that will dissolve with the dawn, I’m going to enjoy being your consort tonight.”
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He cupped her sex, dragging a sharp cry from her. He ground the heel of his palm against her clit, sending hungry need straight up into her belly. Her hips lifted towards the pressure as she gasped, needing more air to keep pace with her racing heart. He dropped to his knees, pressing her other thigh up so that his face hovered over her slit. He spread the folds of her sex away from her clit before leaning down to suck it. She cussed. Low and deep as his tongue began to play across her clit. He alternated between sucking the little center of nerve endings and flicking it with his tongue. Pleasure spiked through her, hard. So hard she bucked beneath his mouth, sending her hips towards his mouth as she clawed at the surface of the hammock. He grabbed her hips to hold them steady as he continued to suck on her clit. Need twisted through her, pulling her into a climax that refused to wait. It cracked over her like a whip, her spine arching as pleasure stole every thought from her head. She gasped and opened her eyes as he sent two thick fingers deep inside her. She lifted her eyelids to find his attention on her spread body. Hunger brightened his eyes as he worked those fingers in and out of her sheath. It served to keep her hunger burning. “I love your body, Cambria.” He withdrew his fingers as he moved his gaze up her nude frame until their eyes met. “I don’t know where you learned to be so confident, but it’s sexy as hell.” His finger-fucking awakened a renewed need inside her. The climax still rippling through her hadn’t fed the need to be full. Her pussy wanted to be satisfied as well. But him sucking her to climax did offer her the chance to play with his control in return. Sitting up, she pressed her hands flat on his pectorals. He inhaled as she curled her fingers into claws. “That’s right, baby, make me respect you. Let me feel your strength.” She raked her nails down his skin, slowly, very slowly as he tipped his head back and inhaled sharply. Thick corded muscles appeared along the column of his neck as she picked her hands up and repeated it. Her feet touched the stone of the patio beneath the hammock as she reached his waistband. She sent one hand further south, to stroke his cock through the fabric. She popped open the hook at the waistband with her other hand. The patio stone beneath her toes was still warm from the afternoon sun. Scooting off the hammock, she knelt in front of him and worked his zipper open. Gripping the top of his underwear, she tugged it down to bare his cock. The thick staff sprang up, standing firm as she wrapped her fingers around it. Excitement shot through her as she felt how hard and thick it was. Working her hand up its length, she grinned as she heard him cuss. It was the sort of profanity a man used when he was enjoying something immensely. All the romance experts tried to tell women they should demand sweet endearments but Cambria would take the cussing. It was blunt and honest. She liked men, not boys.
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Leaning forward, she licked the head, running her tongue all around the crown. A hand caught the back of her head, holding her captive as she opened her mouth to take his cock. “That’s right, baby, make me squirm.” She’d be happy to… She pulled away from him, then took more of his length when she returned. His cock was hot, and cum was already seeping from the eye on its head. She sucked harder, letting him push her head further down onto his length. Slipping her hand down to the base, she fingered his balls, teasing the sensitive flesh. A shudder shook his body. She resisted the urge to smile as she continued to keep her mouth tightly sealed around his cock. His hips thrust towards her mouth, working his erection in and out. The fingers on the back of her head tightened, pulling her hair slightly. He suddenly shivered and pulled his cock free. “Enough, baby. I want more than that.” He bent and scooped her off her knees before she recognized what he was doing. The amount of strength he had amazed her. It had been a long time since someone picked her up. His hand clasped the back of her neck as he bound her against his body. His eyes almost glowed in the dark as he leaned down next to her ear. “I want to get inside you. Sink my cock into that pussy and fuck.” His mouth landed on top of hers, preventing any response. Cambria kissed him back, opening her mouth as she twisted her hands around his neck. His words were blunt but they were the embodiment of the erotic dreams she’d been enduring all week. Being sucked off wasn’t enough for her either. Playing with her vibrator wasn’t appealing. She wanted full body contact and soon. His tongue thrust into her mouth before he broke off the kiss. Their breaths were rough as he released her neck to dig in one pocket. She caught the telltale sound of foil as he backed up far enough to don a condom. He dropped his open pants before reaching for her again. “Turn around for me, baby. I love your ass.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. He turned her around himself and clamped his hands on her hips. He pressed up against her, his larger body flush with her back. She felt small next to him. Need surged through her as his cock teased her slit, thrusting through the slick folds. His breath hit her ear as he smoothed his hands over the curve of her hips. “Bend over for me, baby.” He bit her ear and then licked the tiny bite. “Raise your bottom for me. Show me what you want.” Hot need surged through her. She was already leaning towards the hammock, her feet shifting apart before she thought about it. She wanted that thick cock inside her. Needed to be filled by it. She wouldn’t come with him behind her, but that didn’t make her hesitate. This wasn’t going to be over fast. She could feel it in the way he gripped her hips. He wanted to ride for a while and her body agreed wholeheartedly.
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“That’s my girl.” He smoothed a hand over one cheek of her bottom, stroking the skin as she quivered in need. He moved over to the other side, petting her ass for a long moment, teasing her with the possibility of just what he might do with her raised bottom. His fingers slipped between the cheeks and she gasped as he touched her back opening. “Does that sound mean you like a little anal play?” He leaned down, covering her back with his body once more so that his mouth was next to her ear. “Does it, baby? I could get into that.” “Do you just talk big or do you ever get around to making good on your words?” He cupped her jaw from behind, his thumb stroking over her lower lip. His breath rasped against her ear as he worked his cock against her slit once, twice more. “Hungry, baby?” She hissed at him and would have bucked him off her but he slid an arm around her waist, clamping her against his body. His chest rumbled with amusement as she snorted with frustration. “I can’t feed you properly if I don’t know what you like.” “Stop teasing me.” She kept her voice low but it was still a low growl. “And fuck you?” He pulled his cock back, but didn’t fit it against the opening of her body. “Maybe I want to savor the moment.” He thrust his length back through the folds of her sex, holding her firmly in place while his hard flesh stroked through hers. “I wanted to get between your thighs the second I saw you. Do you have any idea how sexy your ass is when you’re wearing those stilettos? My cock was so hard it hurt.” “I’d love to feel just how hard.” He chuckled at her attempt to bait him. “You can’t feel this?” A moan surfaced from her lips as he worked his erection back and forth again. He bit her neck as his hand grasped a handful of her hair. He held her face angled, so that her throat was exposed to his teeth. He licked the spot he’d bitten before closing his lips around it to suck. She wiggled as need tormented her. She was bent over his arm and it excited her further. There was so much raw male strength surrounding her, it drove her passion up another degree. “Don’t worry, baby, I’m hungry too.” His voice was rough now. He pulled his cock back and she felt the head lodge against the opening of her sheath. Her lower spine arched, raising her bottom for him. He pushed into her slowly, parting her pussy with a smooth thrust that made her groan. “Oh yeah, I’m going to enjoy this meal.” He released her hair and straightened up. He grasped both sides of her hips, his grip hard. “I’m going to gorge myself on you.” There was harsh promise in his voice. It touched off a firestorm of need that raced through her. He pulled out almost completely before thrusting hard. His cock speared into her pussy until she felt him flush against her bottom. Her body was full to bursting, his cock stretching her beyond what her vibrator did.
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She lost track of time as he began to make good on his promises. He held her hips as he set up a hard rhythm. His body slamming his cock deep, so fast that she heard the wet slap of their skin hitting when he lodged his length completely inside her. She whimpered as pleasure spiked up her spine each time he penetrated. Perspiration coated her skin and he gripped her hips harder as he hammered his cock into her. But she didn’t come. She sensed he wanted it that way. Her clit begged for just a little friction. She was so aroused, two plunges across the front of her sex and she’d explode into climax. Instead she cried out as he worked behind her, filling her pussy, withdrawing and slamming back inside her. She heard him panting as she gasped for more air to feed her speeding heart. Her hands clawed at the hammock, locking into it to keep herself from being pushed by his thrusts. It was a battle against need. She craved an orgasm to end her longings, but didn’t want to give up the hard presence of his cock stretching her pussy. Clamping her lips shut, she held back the demand to finish that threatened to escape her mouth. “Not enough…” he growled before pulling free. She hissed at his withdrawal, before she felt him turning her body. She fell back onto the surface of the hammock as he pushed her thighs wide. He thrust deep, his cock pressing down on her clit as he penetrated her. A harsh cry rose from her lips as her spine arched. Need and pleasure twisted together, yanking her towards a climax that was going to overwhelm her. He caught her hair and her eyelids rose. The look on his face was primitive, raw and full of demand, his teeth bared as he groaned. “Come on, baby, come with me.” It was the final straw. Climax burst through her as he plunged hard and deep between her thighs. She clawed at his arms while clamping her thighs around his hips. A snarl worked its way through his teeth. His cock slammed into her a few final times as pleasure jerked her around before dumping her in a gasping jumble of satisfied limbs. She didn’t think she could move, almost lost the battle to not pass out as her vision went black. Dragging in huge lungfuls of air, she felt her lover tremble against her thighs. His shoulders shook as he forced his body off hers. The night air brushed against her wet skin, drawing a shiver from her. Dack reached for one of her sunbathing towels and quickly cleaned the condom and his climax from his body. He tossed it aside before hooking an arm beneath her knees. He placed her on the hammock lengthwise, before it shook when he lowered his frame onto it. He pulled her against his body, pushing her head down onto his shoulder as it swung back and forth, rocking them. The sound of his heart filled her ear as they both lingered in the glow of satisfaction. It was the closest thing to perfection she’d ever experienced with a man. She let herself slip into a half sleep that was amazingly comfortable.
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Chapter Five “You ever sleep out here?” The hammock swayed slowly. She lifted her head to listen for any ominous cracking sounds from the frame. A large hand pressed her head back onto Dack’s shoulder. “You’ve managed to make this into quite the urban getaway. That water masks the sounds of traffic pretty well.” She couldn’t help but enjoy the praise. “Welcome to my little island paradise.” She lifted her hand and spread it out in invitation. “Since running off to Tahiti every month isn’t in my budget, I transplanted a little slice of it.” “Good location too.” Now his voice dipped into that husky, Southern drawl again. She couldn’t help but enjoy the sexual humor. “Yeah, it’s private enough. I had to pay more for this unit because it was an end one.” She still wasn’t happy about the price, but tonight she sure was enjoying the benefits of it. The hammock continued to sway, taking both their weight. A wave of tenderness washed over her as Dack seemed perfectly at ease, his fingers stroking along her hip and upper thigh in lazy caresses. He didn’t seem in any hurry to get his pants on and ditch her. It was funny the way that made her feel valued. She’d always been the first one to state, loud and clear, that her opinion of her worth didn’t stem from any man. But Dack wanted to hold her and that touched her heart. Maybe it was silly, like fairytales and tulle dresses, but it still felt mighty damn fine. The candles were still burning, their golden light only taking the edge off the darkness. They flickered in the breeze, making the light dance over their skin. The wind rustled the leaves, adding to the illusion that they were completely alone, instead of in the middle of an urban jungle. Under the patio cover, they were both shrouded in shadow. His body keeping hers warm as the night grew cooler. “You didn’t answer me, do you sleep out here?” Dack sounded as though he liked the idea. Pushing her fingers through the hair on his chest, she hummed with enjoyment as the idea made her smile. “No. Sadly enough, I’m not quite that bold. Even though this is a good part of the city, we still have crime. My mama always taught me that half of not getting ripped off was being smart enough to not leave your stuff out in the open. That includes me.” “Sounds like your mother’s a smart woman.” “My mama’s the best.” “She raised one interesting daughter, I know that much.” 60
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Dack sounded so relaxed it almost made her sad. The reason it touched off pity inside her was because he seemed so ill at ease when he discovered himself kicking back. While life was often rough, it just wasn’t right that he expected to be on guard all the time. She frowned as she considered what he’d told her about that aspect of his life. “So, where’s Logan?” The arm draped over her tensed. The hammock swung gently back and forth as she lifted her head to look at her companion. “Is there a problem with me asking that question?” His face tightened back up, the moment of relaxation dissipating. “No.” He sounded just a little jealous and she enjoyed the sound. She liked Logan but Dack touched her a little deeper. “It sounds as though you’re the one having a problem with him.” She tried to push her body off his and sit up to see his face but he held her in place, refusing to release her. “Don’t make that mistake, baby. I told you up front that it was a package deal. You don’t have to let him touch you but it makes things a lot simpler.” “Are you telling me to sleep with him?” Dack didn’t answer for a long moment. His arm tightened around her, holding her against his chest. “No. I just know that it doesn’t work very well when only one of us has a date. That’s why I said it would be better if I left you alone. I should have.” The resignation in his voice irritated her. She wanted to stand up on his behalf and battle whatever demon kept him looking over his shoulder. “Let me loose, Dack, I’m getting seasick and I’ll throw up all over you if you keep playing the alpha male.” He frowned but released her. He sat up, following her off the hammock. Regret covered his face for a moment as he watched her. Moving over to where she’d left her dress, she took a deep breath before turning back around to face her lover. He’d told her. It was her fault for forgetting about Logan in the heat of the moment. Getting mad wasn’t fair, and besides, she had a personal rule that forbade her getting worked into a snit over any man. Dack was upsetting her balance. It made the idea of adding Logan to the mix sort of overwhelming. “Don’t frown, baby.” Dack’s voice was so relaxed she smiled in response to it. His dark eyes glittered as he stroked her cheek. “That’s better.” He rolled off the hammock, landing perfectly on his feet. “Okay. Sorry, you did tell me that. No problem.” She looked back to see Dack already back in his pants. Now that was sad. The man was the picture of perfection in the buff. He should have to stay that way, at least while he was in her island paradise anyway. 61
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“You’d be sort of odd if you didn’t have a problem with it.” She slipped her dress on, enjoying the frown that twisted his lips as the fabric slithered into place. “Most women get a little upset when they find out that someone has been watching them have sex.” His lips lifted into a wolfish grin. “I think you actually found it hot.” She got the idea that he said it bluntly on purpose. Almost as if he was intent on sealing the lid tight once again and hiding behind his tough “I’m a loner” shell. If she was pissed off at him, he could walk away easily, confident in the fact that she was having a hissy fit over something he’d disclosed before they got naked. Well, he didn’t know her very well. “What are you fishing for Dack? A horrified comment or an invitation for your partner to come join us?” A bark of laughter escaped his lips before he clamped his lips shut against it. “You surprise me, baby. I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who talks as plain as you do. Better watch it, I might decide to keep you.” “I’m not a kept woman.” Dack pegged her with a hard look. “You tempt me to do it anyway. Your temper is part of what I like best about you.” Her breath froze for a moment. He looked as if he meant it. Hard determination glittered in his eyes. “Your sense of humor stinks.” Reaching for the doorknob on her back door, she pushed it inward to avoid the topic. Tension was rippling down her spine again from just a conversation. She needed to get a grip. They’d had sex, her control should have returned. The scent of coffee filled her small kitchen. Well that wouldn’t be hard since her coffeemaker remained on the countertop because it was one of her best friends. Especially since meeting Dack and Logan. “This place is too small.” Cambria offered Logan a shrug as Dack followed her inside. Logan’s disgruntled tone amused her as she watched him sweep the tiny living room with a poorly disguised frown. “The deck is splendid.” Logan cleared his throat in response to her remark. He reached for the coffeepot and refilled his mug. “Are you inviting me out to check it out?” Propping a hand on her hip she eyed the man who had just witnessed her having sex. It wasn’t as disturbing as she’d thought it might be. A calm acceptance settled over her. “Are you planning on waiting patiently for an invitation? Now that’s the first real difference I’ve seen in you two.”
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Logan set his mug down. “There’s a few others, mark my word.” She scoffed at his comment. “That’s a Turkish blend of coffee. The real stuff. It sounds like you’ve had a lot of it already.” He lifted the mug to his lips and drew a long sip from it. He watched her over the rim, enjoyment sparkling in his eyes. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to find something to do with my energy.” His voice was full of suggestion. It sent a little ripple of anticipation through her even as it touched off a feeling of uncertainty. Turning her head, she looked at Dack but jealousy wasn’t staring back at her. There was only a hint of tension in his eyes. “By all means, plan away.” “Can I pour you a mug?” Logan’s voice was coated in mischief. Full-grown, aggressive-male kind of humor. Part of her was suspicious that they considered her a slut, but that wasn’t enough of a deterrent to keep excitement from rippling through her. There was a voice inside her that didn’t give a damn what they thought about her if they were willing to share her. The idea was just too damn tempting to discard, even for her pride. One crazy night wouldn’t taint her forever. But it sure would be a memory to treasure. Her phone rang and she jumped. So deep in her thoughts, the buzz shocked her. She grabbed it before looking at the caller identification label. “Oh, Cammy…I’m so glad you answered the phone.” Mia’s voice was coated in tears. It tore away everything but worry for her friend as Cambria listened. She rolled her eyes but couldn’t ignore the plea coming from her friend. She had a soft spot for Mia, no doubt about it. “Relax, China Doll, I’ll be right there. The cops can’t call your family. You’re legally an adult.” She hung the phone up before getting dragged into a longer conversation. With a huff she turned and grimaced at the two men she was choosing a friend over. Reality stank sometimes. “Problem?” Logan was all business. Every trace of teasing had vanished from his voice as the kitchen light flickered to life. Turning her head, she found Dack intent on her, his eyes serious. “I’ve got to go.” She had to force the words past her lips as disappointment ran through her. “Mia needs some help. Some jerk rearended her and took off.” “So why doesn’t she want her family called?” A little tingle of suspicion ran down her spine as she turned to look at Dack. He’d pulled that sliver of information out of her conversation like an expert. She swept him with a quick glance, hesitating for just a moment on the shoulder harness in plain sight since his jacket wasn’t hiding it. “Is she driving under the influence?” Logan asked the hard question. Turning her attention to him, she faced a tight mask that didn’t give her any hint as to what he was thinking.
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“No, I believe I said the word ‘cop’ in that conversation. She’d already be in cuffs if that were the case.” Her annoyance didn’t gain her anything. Two pairs of eyes remained intensely trained on her as Dack took a step closer to her, decreasing the space between him and Logan. Partners… That single word was mutating into a complex idea, riddled with sexual possibilities. She should brush it off now before it latched onto her. Get rid of them both and crush the possibility of the relationship growing into something she couldn’t control. She had major control issues. She knew it. The idea of being out of control scared her to bits. “Why doesn’t Mia want her family involved, Cambria? Why you?” Dack’s question invaded her personal space. She propped a hand on her hip as she glared at him. “Because she’s my friend. As far as I’m concerned, there doesn’t have to be any other reason.” She fanned her hand out between them both. “I would think that the two of you would grasp that concept more than the average Joe. Anyway, guys, I’ve got to take some clothing to that girl before she ends up in ICU from heart failure.” “Clothes? I thought you said she was in her car.” Dack actually caught her upper arm. He stepped up too close. She caught a whiff of his scent and it triggered a response that ran down her spine in a single moment. “You know something, Dack? My brother came back from some special training program with this exact, same annoying habit.” She gave her arm a jerk and planted her hand in the center of his chest. Shoving at the wall of muscle, she watched him debate whether or not to move. Dack suddenly offered her a knowing grin. “Okay, baby, but you’re not used to sharing personal information with your lovers either.” He stepped back. Frustration colored his face as he locked stares with her. There was a demand there that rubbed her pride. But he had a very good point, she was being as secretive as the pair of them. “Mia is from a very traditional Korean family. She worked under Carl Burton for years longer than I would have put up with his lazy ways because her family feels that quitting is a personal weakness. Don’t get me wrong, they love that girl but some of their expectations are high. Mia doesn’t want her mother to find out she owns a miniskirt or fuck-me pumps. Much less that she was wearing them at a nightclub.” Dack offer her a pleased nod. His lips settled into a smug grin. “A little harder than you think, isn’t it? Handing over that trust.” “You got me there.” But she wasn’t upset over it, just a little uneasy as she felt him easing closer to her emotionally. Maybe it had been too long since she’d let one of her lovers near her heart.
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“Every kid has to grow up at some point. Her mother will adjust like the rest of the parents in this world.” “That’s the thing about friends.” She shrugged. “You don’t get to choose all the little details about them. Mia’s family is conservative to the point of repression in my opinion. I’m still wondering just how her parents managed to have sex enough times to account for her and her siblings. Her father is very traditional and expects his daughter to sleep under his roof, a virgin until her wedding day.” Dack raised an eyebrow at her. “No joke. All of her brothers still live at home. Which brings us to Mia. I love that girl and feel it is my personal duty to introduce her to the rest of the world.” “So you lead her astray.” Logan was laughing at her now. His lips were sitting in a smug smile as he chuckled again. “That’s interesting. Not that I minded following you in those stilettos.” “We’ve been tight a long time, Mia and Me.” Offering Dack a resigned look, she moved into the doorway of the kitchen. “Got to run.” It was a little bit of a relief to have something pulling her away. Everything was too intense, too powerful. She didn’t know if the planets were in alignment or what other funky explanation there might be for it. Somehow, tonight, she’d run into a pair of men who just seemed to hold the ability to touch her deeper than she’d thought possible. She laughed softly at that idea. She’d always been the one leading Mia off the path of straight and narrow. Maybe it was just fate getting in a good swing at her for a change. Flipping the tables on her in the form of two delicious men tempting her with the forbidden. Like love. She’d sworn it off long ago about the time some jerk had turned out to have a wife hidden at home. Dack wouldn’t do that to her. Another frown marred her face as she dressed. She had no reason to believe in him so deeply. She could still like him a lot and not think such a thing about him but the emotion wiggled right past years of jaded experience to warm her heart. Dack had honor. She saw it in his eyes, it was just one of those things that no one could fake. Changing into culottes and a tank top, she placed her earrings and bracelet in her safe. Sealing the little door, she turned and went back down the stairs. Later, after she bailed Mia out, she was going to examine that idea of forbidden relationships of three people, that lasted and really were that happy-ever-after type. “She sure made it simple for us to walk away.” In spite of that, Dack didn’t feel like leaving. “Consider doing it and I’ll think about killing you myself.” Dack watched the way Logan eyed him. He was jealous. It was a feeling Dack knew from experience too. There was just no way for one of them to hook up without the other dealing with frustration. It was human nature to a certain degree.
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But Cambria was something different. Logan wasn’t just horny. Dack wasn’t sure about anything except that he wasn’t willing to clear out of her place and never look back. He should. Black Water eyes were always looking for him. Staying in one place too long left hints that could be used to track him and Logan. It might be a security camera at a bank or shopping center. Something most people didn’t think about, but the modern age included more video surveillance than most civilians suspected. It was watched over by military men and that ran the risk of Black Watch members being able to find him. Logan reached for his Stetson, tugging the brim low over his eyes. It was a habit he’d adopted since he turned his rank in. He shot a hard look across the kitchen. “I’m not done here.” Dack wasn’t either. The crazy idea of sharing Cambria never would have taken hold in either of their brains if Robyn hadn’t shown them that it could work. He guessed that it was easy to forget that humans, like all animals, had the ability to adapt encoded in their genes. That was something he and Logan knew well. Extreme situations often led to unorthodox methods and solutions. Such as sharing a woman. With Cambria’s sexual poise it shouldn’t be such a farfetched idea. Maybe what bothered him was the fact that he didn’t want to share. His cock gave a twitch as he shrugged into his jacket. A corner of his mouth lifted as he looked at Logan. That was the core of the problem. He, Dack Tyden, was actually feeling possessive. It socked him in the gut, sending a jolt of sensation up his body. But not all of it was bad. Nope. That part of him still left from when he viewed his life with hope found his jealousy a shining example of the possibility that he wasn’t as jaded as he tried to tell himself he was. It burned through the anger that had kept him warm for what felt like an eternity. It left him with a stupid grin on his lips and Cambria’s face swimming through his thoughts. You bet he’d be back.
***** Traffic wasn’t too bad and that left Cambria with plenty of time to think about Dack as she drove. She chewed on her lower lip, unable to decide what she thought about anything. That was a real jolt. Her life had been pressed into submission for the last few years, bending to her will as she climbed the career ladder. How did one man change that? Well, pair of men. That right there was cause for deliberations. But everything centered on Dack and the way he’d held her. The sex was tops but something had ripped through her heart as that hammock had swung. It had just been so tender. Something she hadn’t expected after the hard sex they’d shared. Inside him was a teddy bear and her inner princess had a love of teddy bears.
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As she turned the corner, Mia’s car came into sight. A tow truck was already hooking up chains to it. Her friend was pacing in quick little strides on the shoulder of the road as Cambria pulled up. “Thanks, Cambria, you’re the best.” “How did you sneak away from family night?” Her friend shrugged. “There’s a martial arts competition tomorrow for the studio kids, so everyone went to bed early because they have to be up before dawn.” Mia was a nightclub dream, dressed in a miniskirt that showed off her long legs and a halter top that displayed her flat belly. She looked in style and in shape. Her meek and mild manners covered up the third-degree black belt she’d earned alongside her brothers. The tight belly was a testimony to the hours she still spent training. But she was afraid to let her mother and father know that she liked to go dancing. Loved it in fact. Mia came alive on the dance floor. “What’s bothering you?” Cambria snapped her mind back to attention. Mia could read her face like a book. “Nothing, nothing at all.” Mia scoffed at her. “Good try, Cambria, but I know you. Your mind is turning something in circles.” Cambria rolled her eyes. “You are so annoying when you call my bluff.” “Remember that water can carve away stone.” Mia smiled at her. “You may be fire but I have my strengths.” Cambria laughed. “Come on, get in and I’ll drive you home.” “While you tell me all about it.” She probably would too. Mia had the ability to twist information out of her like squeezing an orange. Her friend climbed into the back seat and began changing. “My clothes are going to be way too big on you.” Mia scoffed as she pulled a sweatshirt over her head before tugging her halter top down. “I’d take a trash bag over my miniskirt. My family might ship me to North Korea if they saw me in this. But you’re avoiding the issue.” Cambria made a right turn to enter the freeway. “I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you.” Mia looked between the seats at the rear view mirror, her face pensive. “You sound like you’re falling in love.” “You can’t tell a thing like that from my voice.” Mia smiled slowly, her eyes closing to slits. “Remember who the water sign is. I know how to listen better than you.” There was another rustle of clothing before Mia finished her thought. “You can tell the difference in a person who’s in love. Better watch out my fire sign friend, I think you have met your match and don’t want to admit it.” “Love is a mighty serious word for someone I just met a few days ago.”
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“The connection is either there or it isn’t. Americans are mixed up about that. You don’t decide to fall in love, it grabs you and refuses to let you go. The only thing you get to decide is whether or not to let such a gift go. Don’t let your pride push you into making rash decisions. Listen to your heart, Cambria. Sometimes fate only sends you one true love.” But what did you do when it came with a partner? Cambria worried her lower lip. Her mother wouldn’t have one moment of indecision about it. She wouldn’t either, if it was just sex. That was the scary part. The way Dack and Logan were able to touch her heart. They did it without trying, just by being themselves. There was no controlling it, jerking her poise out from under her feet. “I’ll try, China Doll.”
***** Cambria pulled into her garage and rubbed her tired eyes before getting out of her car. She was beat. Dead-dog tired. Well, gee whiz, it was only three thirty in the morning. That accounted for the ache in her head. The weariness of her flesh was a whole different matter. Grabbing a shower in her downstairs bathroom, she hummed at the ache inside her passage. Playing with her vibrator just didn’t produce the same level of pleasure that flesh-to-flesh contact yielded. Of course, Dack had something to do with the overload of pleasure. She walked upstairs naked. The condo was dark, only her night lights flickering from selected light sockets. Living alone, she liked just a couple of lights in the hallways to keep it from being pitch black. If that was girlie, whatever. A yellow glow filled her bedroom. She noticed it more, because the night light in the hallway didn’t penetrate into the master suite. A lone candle was flickering on the nightstand next to her bed. A small glass lamp she didn’t own was placed over it to provide safety. Her bed was turned down. A single rose lay on her pillow. Her heart flopped and melted into a puddle. She instantly felt more alone than she ever had in her own bed. The memory of Dack holding her, stroking her skin in the hammock, illuminating how bleak sleeping alone was. She huffed as she leaned over and blew the candle out. She’d never noticed a lack before. Tonight shouldn’t be any different. Yeah, well it was. And Mia’s words echoed through her mind as she slipped into slumber.
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Chapter Six “I could kill the pair of you and justify it.” Robyn glared at Dack but made sure to turn her eyes towards Logan before he escaped her wrath. “Dack’s been known to have that effect on people.” Jace hooked her waist from behind and pulled her against his body in spite of her wriggling. “I’ll be happy to help you work off all that energy.” He spoke near her ear, keeping her pressed against his length. “Fine. Works for me.” She offered Dack a smile. “You deal with the rest of your assessment.” Dack watched Robyn clear out of his house but couldn’t quite work up any real annoyance with her. He was being a dick. The only thing that made his behavior remotely redeemable was Logan’s demeanor. Logan was currently being a fucking asshole. And he was being lenient with the title out of compassion. Maybe it was due to the hard-on in his shorts. Dack didn’t really care. He’d had more erections in the last twenty-four hours than a man his age should have to suffer while he was alone. A hard cock knocking around behind his fly was better suited to a fresh-faced kid who still thought getting it up was cool. He wasn’t amused. The reason was simple. He knew what he wanted to do with that hard-on. It wasn’t fucking annoying, it was the urge to fuck riding him hard. He wanted to get into his truck and break every speed limit between him and Cambria. The urge wasn’t just about pussy. Cambria was attached to his desire. Her expression, her in-your-face attitude and the sassy way she dared him to touch her. The way she felt lying across his body once they were both spent, that sweet moment when she’d enjoyed his arms around her haunted him most of all. Logan cussed as Robyn left. He hit his laptop harder than necessary and the screen flickered. He pushed his chair back and walked away from it. “I need some air.” Logan was gone a second later. Dack swiveled his chair around, placing his back to his own laptop. Work was the furthest thing from his mind. His entire living room plus dining room was their office. There was space for multiple laptops and Robyn’s desk was in the dining room. He didn’t need to go back into the city to finish up the assessment job. Everything could be emailed and faxed. That should have made him happy. His mountaintop cabin was the closest thing to secure that he knew. Between the men of his unit, they owned enough of the remote area to cut the traffic flow almost
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completely. Every now and again some lost skier would drive by, but it was rare, because the resorts were on the other side of the ridge. Robyn reminded him of how much fun she had driving the thirty miles to get food and other supplies. Dack grinned. Well, the remoteness allowed them to all live in relative peace. Here, he got a full night’s sleep and so did Logan. Instead of each team of men watching out for each other, the teams took turns on night watch. That allowed for them to have a somewhat normal lifestyle. It was a long way from Cambria’s Tahitian paradise… Beck Corbett’s face appeared in the kitchen window. His sniper cut him a quick, two-finger salute before he walked across the deck and the doorknob turned. “You look mighty healthy to me.” Beck shrugged, unrepentant. His blue eyes were focused intently, a normal state of being for Corbett. He was the team sniper. The only man who didn’t have a partner. He was a loner. It was just part of his nature. Trying to hook him up with a partner was a fate worse than death as far as Corbett went. “I wasn’t sick, I just wasn’t finished scouting.” That got Dack’s attention. Beck could dig in for days, waiting for his prey to cross his sight path. Beck reached into the vest he was wearing and pulled a large envelope out. His eyes actually sparkled but not with joy. Oh, no way in hell, not Beck. Pure satisfaction shone out of his eyes, the same sort of enjoyment Dack witnessed in him before he put on his ghillie suit and went out to set up a kill shot. “I found him. Got a picture of his face.” Beck wiggled the envelope. “Caught them in the act this time with face shots.” “You’re shitting me.” Dack was out of his chair, his fingers reaching for that envelope. His chair went smashing into the table his laptop was on but he didn’t even turn around. The laptop was nothing compared to what Intel might be inside the yellow envelope. True to his nature, Beck was silent as Dack ripped the envelope open and pulled the eight by ten photos from it. Dack drank in the details of the faces in those photos. Men he would never forget were displayed in living color, captured in the act of exchanging surface-to-air missiles. Turning one of the photographs, he scanned the weapon being sold a little closer, looking for identification markings on it. “It’s Soviet Union vintage.” That wasn’t surprising. A couple of decades after the collapse of the superpower, stockpiles of ammunition had a tendency to show up on the black market with frightening regularity. The new Russia didn’t have the resources or manpower to keep all its former military holdings secure. Even worse was the fact that hundreds of secret military posts were erased from existence when the Iron Curtain crumbled. The secret bases located in the provinces that broke away from the Soviet Union often didn’t know what was standing on their own ground. The military commanders who knew about the posts burned the documents and abandoned their stockpiles of weapons. 70
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Mercenary groups such as Black Water were selling off those weapons, as they searched for more. Pulling another photo into view, Dack felt a chill shoot down his spine. He’d spent five years with a dishonorable discharge when the man in the photo should have stood in his place at his trial. Raul Ramos was captured in living color selling arms. It was a beautiful shot that he’d waited a long time to see. Grouped together with the other pictures they had of the other men in the photos, it would complete a case that would shoot a hole in the one that had been brought against him and his men. “I’ve got a great video of it too.” Beck spoke in his ultralow tone again. He pressed all five fingertips to his lips and blew them out like a Cajun chef. “Brought a tear to my eye.” “Mine too.” Staring at the picture of Ramos, Dack felt every second of the last five years burn into him. He’d figured the man as a possible suspect. Ramos was on the short list of officers who would have had access to his personal information and service record. It took a traitor to work on the inside of the Special Forces, for groups like Black Watch to keep finding the best-trained men. But even having a short list didn’t make it easy to target in on the one man they needed. What was most important was catching their man with dirt on his hands. You just didn’t go pointing a finger at the brass. But it had also taken someone at his level to bury him in a fake case that had ended in his dishonorable discharge. He’d been lucky it hadn’t landed him in military prison. “I’ve got to find the money.” Beck shook his head. “Check the next frame.” Pulling up the next photo in the stack, Dack stared at the stack of gold bars pictured there. “Shit.” “My thoughts exactly.” Beck’s voice was laced with frustration. Gold. The one currency that was accepted worldwide and untraceable until you cashed it in. Even that wasn’t a guarantee that there would be a record of the transaction. Taken to the Middle East or Asia, gold could be liquidated without paper trails. Some of the richest men in the world traded for gold because it was an investment that could always be sold. Wars affected land and the resources on that land, but gold bars could be smuggled out on a refugee’s body, in a gas tank or a dozen other places no one thought to check. “But it’s still enough to fry his ass.” Beck was ready to kill. Dack knew the tone and had to admire his man’s restraint in not dropping Ramos instead of snapping his picture. Hell, he’d have been tempted himself. “Get everyone in here.” He flipped back through the shots, pausing on the closeup of Ramos. “We need to have a strategy session.”
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“You got it, Captain.” Yeah, he was going to get it. Five years of planning, tracking and detail analyzing was paying off. Every man in his unit shared the triumph because they’d all taken their turn in the effort to sniff out their prey. Beck knew that, respected it and that was the reason he hadn’t dropped Ramos when he’d had the chance. Every man in their unit had the right to share in that moment when the bastard was taken down. Cambria’s face floated right over his thoughts of revenge. A jolt of need cut through his heart as he just couldn’t resist thinking about being free enough to ask her to share his life. The emotion was slightly stunning. Maybe it was just the thought of the possibility that was making him so damn giddy but at the moment he didn’t give a rat’s ass. It felt damn good, and it had been too long since he’d felt as if his throat wasn’t being crushed. In fact, those stolen moments in Tahitian paradise had been the first time in a long time he’d felt so happy. Adding the pictures and Intel on Ramos to that night’s memory just might be more than he could control. Hope held an amazing hold over even a jaded man like him. It tantalized him with possibilities that he’d written off for dead. It was so potent he mentally staggered under the ideas assaulting him. All that mattered was the idea of meeting up with Cambria without the shadow of looming death lingering above his head. It was goddamn intoxicating.
***** Dack didn’t send her flowers. Cambria couldn’t help but smile as she opened the box that arrived Wednesday morning. Nope. Nothing girlie at all, unless you counted the fact that it was a stuffed animal. Well, reptile. When in the islands, you’d better keep an eye out for the saltwater crocs… Paradise has its hungry predators… She laughed out loud as she read his note again. “Good advice,” she spoke to the stuffed crocodile as she pulled it free of the box. There was a second note, lying beneath the stuffed toy. A different handwriting stared up at her as she lifted it and the small box beneath. It was personal lubricant. Heat flushed her face as she read the note. I noticed you were out. We can’t have that, not with all those delightful toys. But you are missing one very important one. Maybe I’ll fill in the blank next time I see you. Logan. Her mouth went dry. Both notes in the same box told her that Dack really didn’t have a problem with Logan hitting on her and Logan found the fact that she’d already
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screwed Dack just fine with him. Her head hurt as she tried to make sense of it. She distracted herself by reaching for the crocodile. She held it up, admiring the detail of the fabric creation. The back was all sewn into little bumps that looked reptilian. The belly was quilted to mimic the scaly underside of a crocodile. The four feet were finished off with vinyl claws too. It had a mouth full of teeth that was open, making it look as if it was smiling in anticipation of a meal. In spite of the fact that she’d grown out of stuffed animals twenty years ago, the thing wormed its way into her heart. It shouldn’t have. Dack was just a date. She rolled her eyes as she glanced out at her Tahitian paradise. She couldn’t look at the hammock without heat shooting across her skin. But the thing that kept chewing on her thoughts was the flare of excitement she had for Logan. She was half afraid that it was her childhood rising up to influence the pattern of her life. Wasn’t that what the experts warned? Such as children of abused mothers growing up to enter into abusive relationships too? So, her mother had been a free spirit, loving whom she would, when she wanted to. Okay, so that explained her fascination with Logan. But it didn’t account for the lack of jealousy in Dack. Maybe she was fixated on the idea of Logan just because it appeared that she could have both. Sort of like a buffet, you piled up your plate with food not because you were hungry, but because it wouldn’t cost you any more. You just couldn’t resist the urge to take what was right in front of your nose. Heat flickered through her now, touching off a tingle in her nipples. Gorging herself on both studs was definitely a dangerous idea. Her new crocodile served as a sign that Dack would return. She didn’t have any way to contact him. Even if she did know that he frequented the Play Yard, she wasn’t a member. Sitting in the parking lot waiting for him to appear wasn’t her style. “Like a stalker.” She laughed out loud. Picking up her new toy, she took it up the stairs to her bedroom. She’d make a good stalker… At the moment she had the obsession part down, that was for sure.
***** She was horny. Majorly in need of a good man. Well to be honest…Dack. Logan’s name whispered across her thoughts a second after Dack’s did. She couldn’t help herself. His note was stuck in her brain. She wanted to know what he thought she was missing in her sex toy collection. The possibilities paraded through her imagination, sparking a need that made her itch to get out of her clothing. Cambria huffed as she tossed her robe over the railing at the foot of her bed. Her night dress followed. She stretched, enjoying the air against her nude body. It was pathetic. She’d gone and lost her mind. Flopping onto her bed, she glanced at her
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bedside table but her toys didn’t interest her. The hunger gnawing at her wanted more than just release. She wanted the whole experience. The scent of Dack’s skin, his grip on her hips as her body was penetrated. A decade of sexual independence had somehow evaporated. One hot encounter had spoilt her taste for sleeping alone. She was just going to have to hope that it passed soon. Or Mia would have to kill her, like a good friend should. She’d do the same for her. A flash of orange light erupted in the doorframe of her bedroom. Her heart froze as a bolt of fear went through her. The light flickered again but this time she recognized it for what it was—a lighter being lit. The large frame illuminated for a second in yellow and orange cut through her terror. “The stalker has cornered his prey.” She struggled to breathe as she sprang off the bed. Her hand brushed the crocodile and she gripped its tail as her temper lit up brighter than a skyrocket. “And there is no one who can save your ass from my wrath!” There was a woof and a chuckle as she swung the stuffed toy at his head. His amusement enraged her because he’d scared her. She hated being afraid, especially in her own home. She growled as she dived towards him, croc swinging like a club. “Cam— Shit!” Dack stopped laughing when he stepped backward off the top step. His large body tumbled down the carpeted stairs as his feet hit the dry wall. Cambria followed him, beating whatever part of his body was in range with her makeshift club. “I’ll teach you to scare me.” She screamed like a warrior princess as she swung her crocodile a few more times. Dack rolled over a last time and dug his feet into the floor. He launched himself at her legs, tackling her like a linebacker. She struggled against his hold as her weapon went skidding across the floor. She snarled as she heard another distinct chuckle from the behemoth. “Get off me!” “Not a chance.” Dack couldn’t help but laugh. He was just enjoying himself too damn much. Gripping her wrists, he pushed them down onto the carpet as he gripped her thrashing body with his thighs. One of his eyes was swelling up from her attack as she heaved beneath him, trying to buck him off her body. “If there was ever a woman I could fall in love with, it’d be you, Cambria. You’re a fire goddess.” Cambria froze. But her lips still curled in a sneer. “That’s a dirty trick.” Dack leaned down, hovering over her lips. “What is? Scaring you? Invading your house?” His chest was hard and distracting. Her nipples hardened as they brushed against the solid muscle she wanted another taste of. Which was stupid. The man had just tried to kill her by scaring her to death. “What’s dirty, Cambria? Besides my ideas of what to do with you while you’re my captive.”
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“Try it and sing soprano.” She snapped her teeth at him. Her temper was rapidly mutating into desire. It was so intense she wanted to claw at him. There was too much energy inside her and she needed to release it. “Tsk, tsk, my dear.” He leaned down again, rubbing his chest across her hard nipples. Need surged through her so hard, she gasped as it slammed into her belly. “And here I took the time to stalk you. Maybe I don’t want to let you go.” He leaned down and the moonlight coming through her front window bathed his face in silver light. Hunger held his features tight. “Maybe I want to feast on my catch.” He pressed a hard kiss onto her mouth, sealing her next snarl inside her mouth. It was hard and demanding. His lips forcing hers to part as his tongue stabbed deep into her mouth, stroking her tongue. But the hard kiss tossed fuel onto the fire licking along her body. She sent her tongue up towards his, stroking the velvet length and teasing it. He released her hands and she grabbed the front of his shirt to hold him next to her. His head turned to keep their mouths tightly pressed against each other, their tongues stabbing and tangling. “I’m going to have you right here.” His voice was rough with need. He didn’t wait for any response. He pushed back onto his haunches and shoved his hand into his right pocket. She heard the crinkle of the condom packet before he pulled it into view. Her tore it open and lowered his fly in an instant. It felt like an eternity though. Her body ached, her pussy felt empty. Hunger ruled her, flooding every cell as she watched his cock spring into sight, hard and swollen. She licked her lower lip as he sheathed it. His attention homed in on her face for a moment. “Spread your thighs for me, baby.” His voice was husky and demanding, and she shivered at the command. Because that’s what it was, a solid order. Her calves were between his spread knees and she was pulling them up before she thought about it…about anything except the fact that her body was as hungry for him as he was for her. Thinking wasn’t on her list of things to do. Getting that cock into her was. But she savored the look on his face as she bent her knees and slowly raised her feet up into the air. “That’s it, baby, tease me.” He sounded dangerous but that drove her excitement up another notch. Her back arched and she clawed at the carpet while separating her legs. He didn’t wait for her ankles to touch the floor. “God, you’re a sight, Cambria.” He reached forward, gently stroking the soft skin on the front of her pubic mound. “Smooth as a baby.” His eyes almost glowed as his fingers stroked over her slit. She jerked as excitement made her skin ultrasensitive. He smoothed his hands along both her thighs, pressing her legs into a wide straddle split that left her sex on display. His hand returned to the folds between her thighs, his fingers dipping into her vagina. 75
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Sweet need rose up towards her belly as he teased the opening. She caught the faint sound of wet flesh as he penetrated her with a long finger. “Sweet and wet. Excitement’s a double-edged sword, isn’t it, baby? Part of you is pissed at me for letting myself in, but your sweet little sheath is wet and hungry because I’m here.” A soft growl was her only warning as he covered her again, pressing his cock against the opening of her pussy. His fingers spread out along her jawline as the moonlight glittered off his eyes. “Tell me to take you.” He lowered enough of his weight onto her body to pin her in place. “Tell your stalker that your body is his for the taking.” His lips curled back from his teeth as he hovered over her face, the head of his cock tormenting her with how hard it was. He kept it pressed against the opening to her sheath, tempting her to bend to his whim. “If you’re not man enough to take me, get off me.” She spoke in her best Southern voice, narrowing her eyes as she taunted him. “What good is a stalker who won’t ravish me? I can get laid by any old guy.” He chuckled. “I’d sure hate to disappoint you, baby.” He thrust forward, his cock filling her vagina. She cried out as pleasure spiked through her. She was already on the edge of climax and that made her mad. She didn’t want it to come yet. Not yet. “I feel the same way.” Dack growled softly against her ear as he pulled his length free. His body flexed as he plunged deep into her again. “But it’s been forever since I was inside you. You’re under my skin.” He didn’t sound as if he liked that very much. He bucked and thrust hard. Wrapping her thighs around his hips, she lifted her body for his next thrust. Her pussy was tightening around his cock. He ground the next thrust hard against her clit and she yelled out loud as climax ripped through her. He bucked and rammed his length between her thighs, riding her through the explosion of pleasure. She ripped tufts of carpet from the floor as her spine arched so high, she heard the bones crack. “That’s right baby, scream.” His last few thrusts pushed her across the floor. His hand fisted in her hair as he grunted and came, his lower body pistoning her pussy a few last times. He collapsed onto his elbows, just a faction of an inch before too much of his body weight would be resting on her. His clothed body was scratchy against her bare skin. Her lungs worked at a frantic pace that didn’t allow for a voiced protest. She could only lie there, gasping as sensation rippled in waves up and down her body. But her eyes flew open as she detected the scent of brewing coffee. “Coffee.” Shoving at his chest, she pushed at him until he moved. A disgruntled groan came from him as he shoved back onto his haunches to glare at her.
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“It’s no closer than the hammock, same distance. What’s the matter, baby? I know you think he’s hot. I heard you flirting with him.” Her eyes went wide as she listened to the sultry tone. Dack wasn’t jealous, not even a tiny bit. The kitchen light flickered on, spilling out into the front room. Cambria ordered herself not to cross her arms over her breasts. She refused to act like she felt exposed, even if she was completely unnerved. “You know the deal, Cambria. If one of us is here, so is the other.” Logan sounded too smug. He needed to be assured that she wasn’t going to jump to his demands. It was a point of honor. “Knowing it doesn’t ensure that I like it.” Logan remained in the doorway, his gaze lingering on her as hunger burned in his eyes. Dack raised his zipper, the tiny sound making her jump. “We can work on that part. In fact, I’m really looking forward to it.” “Maybe I’m not.” Logan moved a little further into the room, his eyes slipping over her breasts. “I am.” Dack stood up and held out a hand for her, completely uncaring that she was nude or that they’d just given his buddy a live sex show. He curled his hand around hers, pulling her up and against his body when she would have stepped away from him. A hard hand captured her jaw. Their gazes locked, and there was no burning rage in his eyes, nothing that would indicate that he had any problem at all with Logan seeing her nude. “I’m not fucking Logan. He’s not into voyeurism. We are partners. Our lives linked. Any other man even looks at you and I think I’d gut him like a fish. Logan is different.” “That does not mean I’m into ménages.” He smiled at her. His fingers stroked her face, gently, softly, so tenderly. All the while his arm was a solid steel band clamping her in place against his body. That meant that her bare bottom was on display to Logan, but thinking about that fact backfired on her. A ripple of heat crossed her skin. Some sort of insane enjoyment of the moment when she held both men’s attention. Her eyelids fluttered shut as she savored the sensation of his fingers against her skin. He leaned down, pressing a kiss against her neck. “You are thinking about it. I see it in your eyes, so does he.” A shiver raced down her spine as Dack softened his voice. It poured over her like warm honey. “I wasn’t kidding, Cambria, I think I’m falling for you. Let’s not be dishonest with each other.” He tightened his grip on the nape of her neck when she would have jerked away from his hold. He bit her earlobe as he massaged the tightening muscles of her neck. “I see the hunger in your eyes and his. As long as we’re honest, no one will get hurt.”
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“That is so…um…well, let’s just say that you’re first man I’ve met who thinks that way.” It sure was exciting too. This time the flare of heat was so hot, it melted through her protests. Cast in moonlight, the scent of men and coffee combined into something that felt really perfect. She hadn’t let anyone tell her how to run her sex life before, and tonight she wasn’t in the mood to start worrying about what anyone, outside of the three of them, thought about a ménage à trois. “Think about it.” His voice was full of authority and hunger against her ear. “Lust is a prelude to affection, baby. I just beat him to the first kiss.” Dack kissed her hard and without mercy. He held her neck and angled his head to fit his mouth against hers. She didn’t wanted to give in to it, didn’t want to get lost in the sweet sensation flowing from his kiss. He was being pushy, and her pride didn’t like pushy men. But it was a lost cause. There was too much heat flowing through them, between all three of them. She swore she could feel Logan watching, his gaze slipping down her back to her bare bottom. His cock would be hard and aching from listening to her and Dack. She shivered as she considered relieving it for him. Indulging her body, and letting it become Logan’s to touch as well. Dack was right about one thing, she did think Logan was hot. You just couldn’t turn off the natural sex drive. If he was going to be around all the time, things were going to get hotter, you could bet on it. A pair of hands clasped each side of her bottom. She jerked slightly as Dack broke off their kiss. He continued to hold her neck steady as Logan massaged her ass checks. She caught a hint of his scent and it sent a zip of excitement through her. Dack’s eyes were steady and strong as he watched her. “I could just tell you that this is the way it is but I need you to understand, Cambria. There can’t be a future if you can’t handle the reality of my life. Tell me that you’re not hot with the idea of being the one woman we both strive to please.” Her lips parted with a gasp as his words painted a vivid picture of her being satisfied, really satisfied, for the first time in any relationship. Logan slid his hands around her hips, gripping them as he brought his lower body into contact with her bottom. His cock was hard. It pressed against her through his pants, offering her another round of passion. He leaned down, his lips brushing her neck. “Tell me to go away, if you dare.” Logan’s hands firmly gripped her hips, sandwiching her between their hard bodies. It made for sensory overload, the temptation flooding her thought process. But the tender way they stood still, holding her, waiting for her to welcome them was what really buckled her knees. Mia’s words rose up to remind her… No one chooses who they love… She melted against Dack as her bottom lifted slightly for Logan. Between them everything was perfect. She didn’t give a damn about what was outside their union.
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Chapter Seven Buffet… She couldn’t ignore the need to take what was so close to her hands. Dack smiled at her as she leaned back against Logan, letting his body take her weight. His hands slid up her belly to her breasts. He cupped each globe, his fingers smoothing over their surface. Logan leaned over her shoulder and kissed her neck. He hovered for a moment over the spot before sinking his teeth into her skin. A hard jolt of need raced down from the little nip as Dack backed away from them. His eyes remained on her though, watching as Logan fingered her nipples, rolling their hard tips before pinching them. “That’s it, baby, enjoy yourself.” Dack frowned at her but there was a glitter of enjoyment in his eyes too. His gaze moved down her length to her breasts and Logan’s hands on them. His voice was thick with hunger. She blew her breath out in a low groan that betrayed just how much she was enjoying the moment. Logan knew how to handle a woman’s breasts all right. His hands worked around the soft globes, holding each one in a grip that wasn’t too hard. He’d tease her nipples for a moment before leaving them to play with the soft skin covering the rest of each breast. Dack grinned at her. “I think you’re in good hands, baby. As much as I’d like to join you, I’ve got to take my turn riding shotgun.” “You’ve got that right.” Logan didn’t sound amused any longer. There was an edge of need in his tone. Dack pressed his lips into a hard line before he moved off towards the kitchen. Uncertainty held her in its grip for a long moment. She hovered in doubt as Logan stroked her belly with a large warm hand. “I found your toys.” Logan’s voice was soft as silk. He smoothed a single hand down to her mons as he sent the other hand up to her throat. “It’s a nice and neat little collection but you’re missing one thing.” “And what’s that?” She sounded breathless. It surprised her but she was hovering in anticipation, wondering what he was getting at. “A butt plug.” His fingers dove between the folds of her slit as he rasped out his word against her ear. A harsh sound left her lips. Anal penetration was something she only gave out to a man who impressed her. It was something she couldn’t quite put into words. A gut feeling that was either there or it wasn’t. The pair of them inspired it. Along with that went a surge of energy. There was nothing tender about it. Shoving her elbow backward, she struggled out of his
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distracted hold. Lifting her chin, she stood proudly in front of him. Proud of her nude state. Even the sight of his large frame didn’t impact her with even a tiny shiver of intimidation. She was full of her own power, supremely confident in her ability to handle him. “I get sick of men begging for anal sex…” Logan caught her before she finished telling him off. His arms clamped around her body, imprisoning her arms against her sides as he turned her away from him again. A little ripple of apprehension did make its way through her thoughts as she felt his shoulders so far above her own. Held against him, it was impossible to miss how much larger he was than her. She got the idea that he wanted her facing away from him, unable to see his next move. It was dark and dangerous but the hint of dominance was exciting. Heat spread across her skin as his fingers began to stroke her bare body, teasing and worshiping a millimeter of her naked skin at a time. He didn’t rush the exploration. Need tightened across her skin as she waited for those fingers to move lower. The first touch on the top of her pubic mound made her groan once again, a deep raspy sound that had more in common with a lion than a human. He chuckled, his lips teasing one of her earlobes with a small bite. “The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of being the man to wield a plug over you.” One of his hands cupped her bare mons, a fingertip teasing her slit. His breath rasped next to her ear as he squeezed tighter. She wiggled as he applied pressure against her clit. “I’ll be the man who takes control of penetrating your bottom. When you need it, there will be no little drawer to open with a toy to satisfy your craving. You’ll have to wait for me to take care of you.” His voice was cut with demand. It was arrogant but the hardness of it sent a shaft of hot desire through her. “You’re one arrogant bastard.” He laughed, maintaining his hold on her body as he bent her slightly forward. The hard shape of his erection pressed against her bottom. “I am that. But I noticed that you didn’t tell me to let you go. Is that because it excites you, baby? The thought of me taking your ass?” “Demanding it, you mean.” He thrust against her as she hissed. His voice was thick with heat and need. The fingertip in her slit, moving up and down, teased her clit. He bit her ear once more as he growled. “I thought you said you were sick of men begging for it.” “I guess I wouldn’t need a plug if you managed to back up any of your badass talking. Makes me wonder why you’re offering to get me one. Is a sex toy the closest you can come to delivering satisfaction?” She sent her elbow back towards his body, aiming for his ribs, but he clamped his arms around her once again. Male amusement teased her ear as he hugged her tightly, letting her feel his strength. It turned her on. That was the honest truth.
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“I got you one so that I could stretch you. Don’t worry, baby, I’ll take care of feeding your need with the real thing right after I’ve made sure you’re ready to take my cock.” She shivered, a response that rippled over her frame as her lower lip went dry in anticipation. Goddamn, she was in trouble. “I felt that.” He pressed down on top of her clit, sending a jolt of pleasure up into her belly. “In fact, I’m just as excited by the idea of slipping the plug I bought into your ass. Fitting it just right into your body, so that you’ll take my cock completely.” Anal sex was something only a small group of men ever did right. A whole hell of a lot of the male population wanted it, whined for it, but there was a minority who understood how to wield the idea of it over a woman. Heating her up with teasing, sometimes taunting foreplay until she craved it. He bit her neck and released her. She stumbled but caught herself and flipped around. As soon as she faced him, she realized that was exactly what he wanted. His eyes swept her body in a slow glance that sent blood surging through her. She couldn’t resist the urge to drop her gaze to his crotch to get a look at what he’d promised her a taste of. A thick bulge was pressing his pants out, tempting her with just how good it would feel tunneling into her bottom. Her bottom lip was suddenly dry as she felt the idea burn through her mind. “My feelings exactly.” His eyes followed the tip of her tongue as he spoke in a thick tone. Stepping closer, Logan bent his head to angle his lips just right for a kiss. Before he could, Cambria let her nipples brush against his chest while she stroked her fingers over the bulge of his cock. He breathed in harshly then cupped the back of her neck and pressed his mouth to hers. It was a hard kiss but not rushed. His lips pressed hers wide as he held her neck in an iron grip that stopped just short of hurting her. She didn’t mind. The rough edge fit with Logan. His tongue thrust down into her mouth, stroking over hers before he lifted his head. His hand remained in place, keeping her a prisoner. “Stroke my cock again.” His voice was low and hard. His eyes glittered as his grip remained firm. Excitement flared through her as she ran her hand over his length once more, this time cupping her fingers around it. His eyes narrowed to slits as his mouth pressed into a firm line. “Take your pants off.” His eyes opened back up as she let her demand fill his ear. A soft chuckle shook his chest as the fingers on the back of her neck softened and massaged for a moment. “First things first.”
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Releasing her neck, he gripped her wrist and used it to pull her arm across her body. That fast, she was facing away from him and instantly on the defensive. His larger body pressed up against hers, moving her towards one of the padded armchairs. He bent her over the back of the chair, his feet hooking her ankle and moving her foot to spread her thighs. She gasped because she just couldn’t help it. Need and excitement pulsed through her, along with the sharp realization of his superior strength. He clasped her wrists, holding them as he bent over her, his body molding along hers while he pushed her hands onto the seat of the chair. “I need to keep my pants on or I’ll lose the battle to keep my cock out of your ass.” He bit her ear as his words penetrated her brain. His voice was dark and dangerous and right next to her ear. He released her wrists to draw his clawed hands up her arms to her shoulders. Sensation spiked through her as he smoothed his hands back to her wrists and repeated it once again. His warm breath grazed her ear as he moved her ankle a few more inches. “Don’t move.” He drew his fingers all the way up her arms and over her shoulders this time. His body moved away from her back as he worked his fingers into the muscles, massaging them and sending goose bumps over every inch of her skin. He continued to work his fingers down her spine and over the back of her hips. A soft moan of appreciation left her lips. She heard him laugh softly as he worked her lower back. “Is the massage a reward for staying where you put me?” “No.” His hands stroked up her spine to her neck and back down, setting loose a jolt of sensation. “I told you that I enjoy playing with my toys.” She scoffed at him but drew in a hard breath when his finger went down her spine and right between the cheeks of her bottom. He didn’t stop until he was teasing the back opening of her body. One fingertip, spreading her own juices around the skin. It became ultrasensitive with just that small amount of moisture. Tiny nerve endings shooting electrical pulses into her nervous system. A hard shiver shook her body as he pressed his other hand flat against her hips, holding them down on the top of the chair as he pressed his finger tip into her. “There’s another one of those telltale ripples. Telling me how much you’re enjoying being handled by me. Taken by me.” There was a dark note of triumph in his voice. Her nipples tightened as he moved the finger around in a circle, stroking the skin inside her back passage. He leaned over her, covering her back with his chest. Warm breath teased her ear as he nuzzled against her neck for a moment. “Are you excited, Cambria? Is the idea burning a hole inside your imagination?” He withdrew his finger and straightened up. She lost all contact with him and turned her head. A soft word of profanity left her lips as she watched him tear his shirt off. His chest was sculpted to perfection, ridges of hard muscles covering him from collarbones to waist. Turning, she couldn’t resist running her fingers over him. His 82
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chest was lightly covered in hair and his nipples were small and flat. Leaning over, she licked one of them as she let her hand wander down to his hidden erection. Warm hands captured her wrists and pulled them both up to her chin. “You’re getting distracted, baby. This is my playtime and you’re my toy.” “Is that so?” He growled softly at her. Once again, he turned her. Draping her body over the back of the chair, he placed her hands on the seat of the chair then pushed her hips forward until her belly was flush with the back of the chair. There was a soft thunk from the end table next to the chair and she looked over to see a tube of lubricant resting on it. Logan’s hand stretched out again, this time placing a thick anal plug next to the tube. Her mouth went dry as she looked at it. Thick and wide, it sent a flare of heat through her. Logan stroked her back again, before putting a condom on the table top as well. He grabbed the tube, carrying it out of sight behind her. She heard the snap of the lid as it was popped open behind her. Little nips of need prickled through her as Logan stroked his hand downward across one cheek, then she felt the slick glide of the lubricant touch her skin. She watched him pick up the toy and apply a thick coat of lubricant to it before setting the tube down. Her eyes were glued to it in fascination as heat filled her pussy. In spite of the sex she’d shared with Dack, she was hungry once again. The darker edge that Logan demanded from her fueled another round of need. Her clit was throbbing softly as she felt the tip of the plug touch her back entrance. A moan passed her lips as Logan swirled it around the tight opening, easing the muscles to relax. The lubricant made the plastic slide easily against her skin. Her lower back arched towards him and she heard him laugh softly. “Hell, baby, my cock feels hard enough to come just by watching you taking the plug.” He pressed the plug forward. Her bottom smarted as it invaded the tight hole, but sensation shot through her as he pulled it back, twisting it twice before thrusting it back into her bottom. “Oh yes, baby, your ass was made for fucking. Made for me to play with.” His voice was thick and almost unrecognizable. It had a dark edge to it that sent a shiver up her spine. He pressed a hand down on top of her hips to hold her in position as the plug was pushed all the way inside her. The puckered muscles around the entrance gripped it. Logan massaged both sides of her bottom as he left the plug inside her for her body to grow accustomed to. “Now you can suck my cock.” There was hard demand in his voice and a second later she heard his belt buckle unlatch. It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse, simply because he’d ordered her to do it. But there was another urge, wriggling past her temper, telling her to reduce him to her toy by sucking his cock until he lost control. “Be careful what you wish for, Logan.” 83
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Cambria turned and groaned softly as the plug sent a shiver of sensation through her ass. It wasn’t enough. She craved the hard action of fucking and knew that true satisfaction wasn’t going to be hers until Logan bent her back over the chair. But she was going to drive him insane first. Kneeling in front of him, she parted his unbuttoned fly. His cock sprang into sight and she hummed with delight. Hard and long, it was also thick enough to make her pussy quiver. Teasing it with her fingers, she ran her hands all around the crown and over the staff as she listened for his breathing to tell her how aroused he was. Logan watched her, hunger shimmering in his eyes. A hard hand cupped the back of her head urging her towards his swollen flesh. “Suck me, baby. I want to see what you can do with that tongue.” He was laying down orders again. But that knowledge wasn’t enough to deter her. Leaning forward, she licked the crown all the way around before letting him push her open mouth down on his cock. His pre-cum was salty as she teased the eye with her tongue. His hips thrust forward and she relaxed as more of his length entered her mouth. The hands in her hair tightened and she heard him groan. Pulling her head up, she plunged back down, her fingers working the length she couldn’t take. The plug in her bottom moved as she shifted, shooting little needles of need through her ass. She sucked harder as her clit flickered with heat. Need made her bold, making her motions faster. “No!” Logan growled the word at her as he pulled her head away from his cock. She felt his body tremble as the moonlight glittered off his wet length. “I’m going to come in your ass, Cambria.” He leaned over and hooked an arm around her waist. In one second he’d lifted her right off her knees and clasped her tightly against his body. His cock was hard and hot against her stomach, making her shiver. His lips hovered over hers as his harsh breathing began to slow. “In your ass.” He pressed a hard kiss against her lips to seal his order. His tongue thrust deep into her mouth as his fingers gripped the handle of the plug. Their tongues tangled as he twisted the plug, wiggling it inside her body. A hard shiver shook her as need flickered across every inch of her. Logan broke the kiss, his mouth curving into a wide smirk. “Ah, another little quiver of delight.” Triumph filled his voice as he turned her around. She was already leaning over the chair before he got around to pushing her down this time. There was the crinkle of the condom package being ripped open. Logan grasped the handle of the plug and eased it free of her bottom. A hard moan left her lips as the smooth plastic slid out. The motion touched off a storm of sensation that wiped everything from her thoughts except being stretched on his thick cock. It was full-blown need now. The kind that could drive her crazy while she enjoyed every second of mindless indulgence. Logan applied more of the lubricant to her ass before she felt the head of his cock press against the puckered opening. His hands clasped each hip, holding her in place as
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he leaned towards her. Her hands clawed at the cushion of the chair as the tissues parted and the head of his cock entered her. It was almost too much, the skin smarting as it was expanded around his thick girth. A harsh cry filled the room, but Cambria wasn’t even sure who it came from— Logan or herself. Perspiration covered her skin as the hands gripping her hips tightened. He began working his cock forward with short thrusts, never removing the head from her body. The motion and stretching drew a desperate moan from her as the walls of her pussy were pressed together by the cock in her ass. “That’s right, baby. I want your ass and I’m taking it.” Cambria hissed at him. Aggression tingled along her body as he pressed deeper, easily sliding in and out of her now. His hands held her in place as he fucked. She wanted to claw at him, but he kept her pressed against the top of the chair. “I’ll fuck it anytime I want.” Sharp and needy, his voice was a command. She hissed at him but couldn’t work up any self-discipline and move away. She wanted his cock inside her, craved the motion of it gliding in and out of her ass. It sent bolts of hard sensation through her, heating her clit up until she was hanging on the edge of climax but unable to get there without some friction across her clit. “Make me come, Logan!” His body slapped against hers, the chair shaking as he worked against her bottom. He leaned down, pressing his cock deep inside her to whisper against her ear. “I thought you’d never ask.” The husky tone made her snarl. Turning her head she snapped at him, searching for an outlet for the tension and need roaring through her. He chuckled at her attempt to wound him, renewing his thrusts, increasing in speed as she heard his respiration speed up. Lifting her bottom, she worked it back against his thrust. One of his hands slipped across her belly to the wet folds of her slit. A harsh gasp escaped his mouth as he fingered her clit. He thrust fast and deep into her ass as he rubbed the little nerve center equally as hard. Satisfaction burst through her, wrenching her away from thought. There was nothing but sensation and pleasure. Logan snorted and cussed as he buried his length deep inside her. She felt the jerk of his cock as it began pumping hot seed. He collapsed halfway on top of her, bracing his hands next to hers as he gasped for breath, his heart hammering away against her back. A soft kiss landed on her neck and then another on her shoulder. His hands lifted from the seat, smoothing up her arms as he stroked her skin. There was a moment without contact as he withdrew from her and removed the condom. But he wrapped her tightly against his chest and held her, even when she tried to wriggle away. There was more tender concern in the moment than she’d anticipated. After all, she’d just had both guys in the space on one night. She really wasn’t sure what she expected to happen, but being held wasn’t it. She wasn’t normally so happy to be proven wrong. “I need to play with you more often.”
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Logan’s voice was tender but smug. He released her to reach for his clothing, driving home that fact that he and Dack didn’t feel comfortable in her condo. A little flicker of apprehension rippled through her as she considered the sort of trouble that would keep them from relaxing behind the locked front door. Looking past Logan, her muscles went tense as she caught sight of Dack in the doorway. Heat covered his face and hers as well because he’d been watching the entire time. Logan reached out and captured her chin in his hand, bringing her attention back to him. “We’re not going to fight over you.” He let her chin go and she looked back at Dack and then back at Logan. “And we’re partners. You don’t get one without the other.” “But not at the same time?” She was obsessed with the idea now that she’d tasted them both. It just might lead her to ruin but she couldn’t seem to banish it from her mind. “Not here,” Dack answered. She lifted her eyes to look at him. She caught the same desire flickering in his eyes. “Not secure enough.” Excitement raced through her. Dark need bubbled up from that part of her personality that enjoyed strength. It was a part of her that was in direct conflict with her control issues. She wanted to run her own life but needed a man who took control of her sometimes. It was the thing about Logan and Dack that made them irresistible. She suddenly understood women who hung onto bad boyfriends a little better. No woman chose who or what turned her on. You could reason yourself to death but it wouldn’t change what sent your clit throbbing. “I need a shower.” Turning on her heel, Cambria strode up her stairs without any concern over her naked state. To tell the truth, she was enjoying being nude, loving the fact that two men were watching her and only her. For the moment, she just enjoyed the soft pulse of need Logan’s words inspired. Need and logic bumped against each other inside her brain as she flipped on the water and let the soap carry Dack’s and Logan’s scent off her skin. She’d only turned on the closet light because the darkness fit her mood. Moonlight sparkled off the tile floor of her bathroom and made the water glitter on her skin. The long day caught up with her as she finished her shower. A sharp headache was centered behind her eyes as she grabbed a towel and pulled it across her wet skin. A shadowy figure was leaning against the doorjamb. In the dim light, Dack almost looked like a phantom. What surprised her were his bare feet and shirtless torso. He looked more relaxed than she had ever seen him. “You should wear that attitude more often, Dack. It looks good on you.” A few wrinkles appeared on his forehead as he listened to her. But he straightened up and rolled his shoulders. “You did warn me that you were a demanding woman.” Cambria laughed softly. Brushing past him, she trailed her fingers over one tight pectoral. “Stress can kill you.” 86
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“So can letting your guard down.” Looking over her shoulder at him, she lifted a knee and climbed onto her bed. His gaze followed her as she lay back among her pillows. Patting the one next to hers, she offered him a smile full of invitation. “Since Logan’s downstairs, buzzed out on caffeine, why don’t you relax a little.” A genuine smile appeared on his face. Not the kind he’d flashed her when he was horny and cornering her. This one was tender, and it left a slice across her heart. “Yeah, it’s Logan’s watch. Even If I did take pity on him and give him some recess time with you.” There was the rasp of his zipper before he stepped out of his pants and laid them over the foot of her bed. The moonlight washed over the hard cut of his frame, illuminating the brawn that she’d really only felt. Even now it was shadowy, adding to the mystery that surrounded him. There was a hint of danger in him that really should have turned her away, but she was mesmerized by the few glimpses she’d had of the man when he was relaxed. “But he’s not going away.” The bed rocked as Dack sat down. His words were ultrasoft. He kept his back to her, waiting for her to make some sort of comment. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the wide expanse of well-defined shoulder muscles, lightly dusted in dark body hair. Reaching out, she raked one set of fingernails down his spine. He turned so fast, the bed shook violently. He somehow imprisoned her wrist as he landed in the middle of the bed while he pulled her down into the middle of the mattress with him. Half his body weight pressed down onto her as she heard a low grumble cross his lips. “Don’t. Sneak. Up. On. Me.” His growling tone didn’t impress her. Neither did the angry look on his face. “Then don’t turn your back and hide from my opinion about Logan. I don’t like chickens.” The grip on her wrist opened. He traced her face with tender strokes from the same hand that had just yanked her halfway across her bed. Tiny ripples of enjoyment moved down her neck and across her chest. “You’re the first person who has turned me into one.” He frowned “I normally don’t give a crap what people think about me.” His voice was so low she almost didn’t make out all the words. Lifting her hand, she smoothed the wrinkles marring his forehead. The moment touched her deeply because it was an admission. “That I believe.” “Good.” He didn’t sound relieved. His voice was edged in that hard, commanding tone again. “Not that I’m going to be content with not knowing why for very much longer.” He caught her hand and turned her wrist up. The moonlight reflected off his teeth as he opened his mouth and bit the tender skin. A hard jolt of desire went through her as he closed his lips around the spot and sucked.
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“Be careful what you ask for, Cambria. I just might tell you so that I have an excuse to keep you.” Her response died as he leaned down to capture a nipple with his mouth. She arched up off the bed to press her breast against his lips. The sheets were cool, but she wanted to be pressed against his warm skin. The desire wasn’t white-hot, as it had been an hour ago. Now it was a steady need that flowed through her veins, intoxicating her. She wanted to keep sipping the fine wine, letting it carry her away into sweet bliss. Her hands roamed over his shoulders as their legs tangled. There was a hard brush of his erection against her hip and she let her hand drift down until she clasped the hard flesh. A soft, male groan brushed past her ear as she stroked his cock, her fingers teasing it from crown to base and then back again. A soft kiss landed on her neck before Dack sat up, reaching for his pants. She felt the brush of cool night air against her skin, noticing the lack of his heat. Maybe if she wasn’t so tired, she’d have chastised herself for being so conscious of him beside her. But at the moment she didn’t much care. She listened for the sound of the condom wrapping being ripped open, waited impatiently for him to don the protection and return. She craved his embrace, his scent filling her senses. “Soft and easy this time, baby.” A firm hand on her hip pushed her onto her side as he lay down behind her. “I just want to be back inside you.” His voice was low and gruff, as though he didn’t like admitting needing anything. Pressing her bottom towards him, she sighed as his cock pressed into her. She understood him, better than he knew. Independence was a safety zone she didn’t like leaving either. “Don’t worry so much, lover. There’s no one here but us.” A hard arm held her against his body as the bed rocked with his thrusts. He cupped a breast as he worked his cock in and out of her. There was no racing need to climax this time, just a deep enjoyment of the intimacy. She lost track of time, until he grunted next to her ear. Rising above her, he pressed her flat onto her back before lowering his body, trapping her with his upper torso. His hips worked in a faster pace, his length pressing against her clit now. His mouth captured hers in a hard kiss that pressed her jaw wide. Need tightened through her sheath as she strained towards him. Pleasure burst upward into her body, shaking her as she tore her lips free of his kiss. A harsh cry filled her bedroom as he rose up, his hands fisting in the sheet beneath her. He drove hard and fast into her, his breath coming in harsh pants. Lifting her hands she drew her fingernails down his chest. He cussed low and deep as his cock jerked inside her. His face was harsh as climax ran through him. As it faded, he suddenly looked more tired than she’d ever seen him. Smoothing her hands over the skin she’d clawed, she felt the tremor shaking his body. “Let’s get some sleep.” He left her for a moment, disappearing into her bathroom. She listened to the soft sounds of the sink running before turning over, too tired to search for the bedding. A
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longing for him to stay coated her, but she held the words back. There had never been any promise of tender cuddling, only fulfillment of the desire they sparked off each other. She was a big girl and that meant…well…it meant that she had to be strong, even if her bed felt as cold as an igloo without him next to her. She closed her eyes, refusing to watch him leave. She wasn’t strong enough to watch his frame clearing the doorway. “Hey, wait for me.” The mattress shifted as his body joined hers. He flipped a quilt over her as he slid up next to her, pulling her flush against him. A soft kiss landed on her neck, before he tucked her head under his chin. His chest expanded with a deep breath as her eyelids fluttered open. Amazement filled her, but it was far overshadowed by tender enjoyment. Her feet were clamped between his calves as he held her tightly against his body. It was sweet and totally unrealistic, but she just enjoyed it so much. Her mind drifted off into slumber as she listened to her lover’s breathing as he held her.
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Chapter Eight He should leave. Dack stared at Cambia and couldn’t do it. He was almost relieved to discover such an emotion inside his jaded self. After smoothing the covers over her puckered nipples, he rubbed a hand over his burning eyes before turning towards the door. A brief glance at the clock told him it was five in the morning. Logan would need some down time by now. The scent of coffee drew his interest as he dressed in his discarded clothing. Checking his gun, he tucked it back into his harness before entering the kitchen in search of a mug. A basketball game was playing on the television, the volume turned way down. Logan stretched as he stood up, his back popping in the quiet room. “That coffee is as mean as she warned it was. It must pack one hundred percent caffeine.” “Glad to hear it.” Logan considered him for a moment, waiting for him to make a decision. Dack filled a mug with coffee and took a long sip before he faced the matter at hand. There was another thing that Cambria did to him, she disrupted his priorities. “I think she’s got a guest room upstairs with thick curtains.” Logan shrugged. “You’re welcome to try it out and tell me how the bed is.” Dack smirked at his partner. It was just a guy sort of thing to do, competing over a woman. Even if they were sharing her, there was still room for bullshit teasing. “Guess you’ll have to work on your charm. Because Cambria snuggled up to me nice and sweet. I believe she tried to take your head off with a right cross.” “I think we need to invite her up to the mountain.” Dack frowned but Logan wasn’t impressed with his disapproval. His junior officer stared right back at him, and said, “I think she’ll enjoy it.” “I think Jace and Nash will laugh their asses off at us.” Logan shrugged. “Do you care enough to walk away? I don’t. I think they’ll have more sympathy than you give them credit for.” Logan didn’t wait for a reply. He disappeared around the corner. There was one faint creak from the staircase. Lifting the mug again, Dack remained where he was. He didn’t pretend to understand why he was so intent on remaining in her home, only that it felt incredibly right. He wanted to be there when Cambria woke up, wanted to make sure that she knew he wasn’t just showing up for sex. That would have been simpler, safer, but it actually hurt to think about doing it. But more importantly, he wanted to take her home. That wonderful thing that Jace and Nash had discovered in Robyn was
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calling to him. Was it love? He didn’t know because he’d never been in love but he knew for sure that it was more than lust. So he raised the mug again and moved towards the refrigerator to see what she had on hand for a hungry man.
***** She woke up with Logan in her bed. It was the sort of surprise that could kill a girl. His shirt was hanging off the foot rail, along with the Stetson she’d come to expect on his head. His feet were bare, telling her that his boots had to be somewhere on the floor. He was stretched out on his back, with only his pants on. The soft fabric lay over his groin, teasing her with a hint of his cock. Even in sleep, the organ was still large enough to push his pants up. Her eyes moved up to his chest. Dark hair ran over his pectoral muscles and down across his abdomen. His hands were pressed against his sides as his lungs inflated in a slow rhythm. He was there for a reason. She got the message clear enough. Thirty feet away was a guest room but he wasn’t in that bed. No, he was in hers. She couldn’t help but smile. Maybe she was crazy but it felt like a compliment that he was intent on invading her bed. It had to be one of the cockiest things she’d ever experienced, though even that didn’t detract from her enjoyment of it. It didn’t make sense but it sure did feel good. A little twinge of pity went through her again for the pair of them. She sort of felt guilty for the facts that drove them to stick so close to each other because those harsh realities were making it possible for her to have both of them. Except she was assuming there was going to be a continuing relationship. She didn’t like the dread that crept into her heart as she considered that. It burned away the remaining slumber from her brain, leaving her wide awake. A quick glance at the clock told her it was six in the morning. Moving slowly towards the edge, she slipped off the mattress as she kept one eye on him. She smiled with triumph as she managed to shrug into her robe without waking Logan. Chalk one point up for the black chick—maybe she wasn’t some highly trained, ultra soldier, but she could move like a cat when she wanted to. The scent of coffee was strong as she descended the stairs. Tying her robe, she looked around before moving into the kitchen. The gun Dack liked to wear sprang to mind as she peered through the kitchen doorframe. He was watching her, his eyes trained on the opening. His face was a mask of calm focus. “Can’t sleep?” His voice was low and masked. As if he was nervous and waiting to see what her mood was. Well that seemed fair enough, considering she was thinking about him.
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Shrugging, she moved into the kitchen. He had only the range light on. A half-full mug was near his hand and a laptop open on her counter. His shoulder harness was missing though. But the gun was placed beside the mug. It looked dangerous sitting there on her white kitchen countertop. “I was thinking about you.” A crease appeared between his eyebrows. “Is that so?” Sighing, she reached for a clean mug. “It’s too early for your evade-and-guess attitude.” Shooting him a hard glance she dropped a sugar cube into her coffee. “And there is not enough caffeine in my system. Since this is a condition of your life, Dack, it would help if you colored in a few details.” She filled the mug with dark coffee while her words sunk in. “Who’s gunning for you?” He contemplated her for a long moment, his eyes hooded and his expression giving nothing away. Cambria didn’t back down, she simply looked back at him, her face a mask of acceptance. “A pair of guys who carry guns around and appear happy to share one woman needs a little explanation. I’m not saying no but I am asking what the story is.” Her chest actually tightened as she spoke because she was drawing a line. But she had to do it. Even Dack wasn’t going to turn her into a milksop of a girlfriend who let her man keep her in the dark. Heartache hell be damned, she was going to find out before she lost her heart completely. “How much do you know about your brother’s life?’ Shooting him a glare, Cambria walked across the kitchen. “Enough to listen when he talks and not ask questions. But no one chooses family. Lovers are optional. When they come with guns, I ask questions.” A brief flicker of jealousy crossed his face before he offered her a nod of approval. “Smart girl.” Cambria frowned at his choice of words. Dack laughed at her disgruntled expression. “That’s part of my problem with you, Cambria. You’re just so damned spunky.” “Maybe, but I’m not dazzled enough by your charm to forget that you haven’t started coloring in those details yet.” His face lost its boyish gleam. She stared at the stark difference, actually angry that someone had affected him so intimately. They needed shooting. She knew that much. Inside him was a man who could be tender and caring. No one should have to give that up. “Okay, baby…let’s see if you can deal with this…” Her eyes widened as she listened to his voice. Black Watch…Raul Ramos…it all swirled around her kitchen and it fit together too well. Dack finished and the kitchen echoed with silence as she absorbed the unfairness of it all. “That stinks.”
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Dack was hiding behind his expressionless mask. His eyes focused on her as if he was waiting for her to pound a gavel and pronounce a penalty sentence. When she didn’t add anything else, he suddenly smiled like a boy on Christmas morning. He moved, closing the space between them to grab her in a body hug that lifted her right off the floor. “I swear you intoxicate me, Cambria!” He turned around in a circle before letting her slip down his body. “You can beat me with a crocodile anytime, so long as you don’t lose your sense of humor.” “You deserved that ass beating.” She shoved at his chest but he didn’t release her “The next time you show up, you will call me or I’ll bash your skull in with something harder.” He grinned at her. A self-confident, smug male, asshole of an expression that hit her like a set of fingernails being dragged across a blackboard. But she couldn’t stay mad for very long. There was a hint of need in his eyes that drew her attention. A glitter of hope that he aimed at her now that she hadn’t let her eyes well up with tears of fright. “I’ll clear my men, Cambria, but that won’t change Logan’s place in my life.” “Yeah, I get that.” Vengeance was tougher to avoid than anything else. Dack and Logan had a better chance of slipping under the radar if they let their dishonorable discharge stand. “You do?” Cambria offered him a raised eyebrow. “Oh Dack, my dear boy. Open your eyes. I’m a black chick who was raised among the poor. That brings with it the gangbangers. I understand retribution. It doesn’t matter that you’ve been screwed over, you finger them and you’ll be wearing a mark for a long time.” “That’s not a race issue, Cambria. Last time I checked, I was a white guy.” “Nobody’s perfect.” She smiled at him, giving him a flash of teeth. He stepped forward, hooking an arm around her waist. His body was hard and warm and just so comfortable that it sent tears into her eyes. She wasn’t afraid of him. What scared her, down to her pedicured toenails, was the way she melted every time he touched her. She wasn’t in control of it. Any ability to do so had vanished sometime during those moments they’d lain in her hammock. He pushed her chin up until their eyes fused. “So you understand, honey. I want you to come home with me, but think about it, because I swear to God I won’t let you go very easily.” “You do and I’ll be happy to catch her.” Logan’s voice didn’t even sound sleepy. It was cut with a sharp note of possessiveness. Dack didn’t even flinch at his partner’s sudden appearance. Cambria considered the hard look in Logan’s eyes. “I thought it was your turn to sleep?”
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“I got lonely.” Heat flickered through his eyes. “You need to understand my demands, Cambria.” “Is that so?” Logan didn’t even blink in the face of her pique. “That’s right. See I didn’t get any cuddle time. Now that’s just plain unfair because I watched you cozy up to this bastard over here. You want me to feel unloved?” It was ridiculous. But so damn sweet she wanted to melt into a jellyfish that would do anything they asked of her. “Well, I’m not going to start sleeping eighteen hours a day.” “I guess you’ll just have to come home with us.” Dack’s voice as low but she still heard the determination in it. “We don’t sleep in shifts on the mountain.” A ripple of heat went through her, but a creak from the front door grabbed both their attention. Dack’s body moved like a leather whip. He pulled her around him as he grasped the gun lying on the countertop. Logan was already around the far side of the living room with his own gun held in a steady hand. “Cambria? I smell the coffee so I know you’re up.” The deep brass tone echoed through her house because Remington used every ounce of his army training to bellow. “That’s my brother!” There was a thunk from the outer room as her voice reached Rem. Fear tingled along her skin as she imagined the horrible possibility of a gun battle in her condo. It wasn’t that far-out an idea either. “I’ve got company, Rem.” Reaching for Dack’s arm, she gripped the hard muscle. “He’s got a key, Dack.” There was a momentary flicker of indecision in his eyes before the gun was tucked in the back of his waistband. Her brother’s head came around the doorframe a second later, but only one eye as Rem remained behind the wall while he investigated just what was going on in the kitchen. Her brother snickered under his breath before filling the doorway. His teeth flashed at her as Dack hooked an arm around her. “Sorry, Sis.” Remington wasn’t sorry. Nope. Enjoyment danced in his caramel eyes as he stepped into the kitchen. But his smirk faded as his gaze settled onto Dack. A serious expression crossed over her brother’s face. The teasing sibling vanished in a second, to be replaced with the sort of hard scrutiny she’d come to expect from Dack and Logan. Tension tightened instantly as Rem caught sight of Logan. “Would the lot of you relax?” Stepping away from Dack, Cambria shot him a hard look when he frowned at her. “It’s too early in the morning for cock fighting.” Rem nodded and looked between Logan and Dack again. “Didn’t realize which group you were keeping company with, Sis.” There was a warning edging her brother’s voice. Propping a hand on her hip, Cambria glared at his overprotective attitude. 94
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“I didn’t know that I was expected to clear my social schedule through you, dear Brother.” Rem cocked his head to one side in the face of her temper. “This is Dack and that’s Logan.” Half turning, Cambria looked at Dack. “My brother Remington.” None of the men offered a hand to the other. They continued to glare at each other, rubbing her temper raw. She was sort of used to Dack and Logan being on the defensive but Remington was another matter altogether. Her brother was not going to transform into a heavy. Not when it came to her love life. “Don’t make me call Mom, Rem.” That hit a soft spot. Her brother narrowed his eyes before opening a cabinet to grab a coffee mug. “You always play dirty, Cambria. Why didn’t Mom have more boys anyway? I’ve been outnumbered my entire life.” “Is that why you ran away to the Army? To immerse yourself in a male-dominated environment?” Rem flashed her an arrogant smirk. “Nope. I did it because they let me play with guns.” Cambria laughed. Their mother had a strict policy on guns. Touch one and she was going to make your life a living hell. It had been a necessary ban in their house, considering half the kids Rem had gone to high school with had already spent at least one night behind bars before their senior prom. She pointed a polished fingernail at him. “So don’t tempt me to rat you out because you’re acting like a turkey in my house.” Rem lost his easy demeanor. His face went blank, in that same sort of way that Dack and Logan had of masking their emotions. “Do you know what you’re playing with, Cambria?” “She knows because I told her.” Dack broke his silence, his voice low and edged with authority. Rem’s face flickered with a hint of reaction before her brother controlled it. He glared at Dack before nodding slowly. “Then I guess we don’t have a problem.” Her brother shot a determined look at Dack. “Right now, that is.” “Rem.” Dack captured her waist and pulled her back against his body. He locked a hard arm around her waist, keeping her there as she hissed at him. “Relax, honey. I’d do the same if it was my sister. Your brother is just doing his family job.” “What you three are doing is cock fighting in my house.” Wrenching out of his hold, Cambria fumed at them all. Dack shifted his gaze to her, his eyes filled with determination. “Relax, honey. Why don’t you go pack that overnight bag so we can get going? You don’t want to waste your three-day weekend.” Ohhh…she should tell him to go to hell.
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She hadn’t agreed to go anywhere with him and Logan. Only Dack knew that. He was testing her, challenging her to follow him up to his mountain where he and Logan felt safe enough to explore their relationship. She wanted to go, but not just because of the heat filling her blood. It was more than that. She wanted to spend time with the real them, not the always-watching-over-their-shoulder personalities who were standing in her kitchen. “All right, I’ll do that.” He wanted to grin like an idiot. Dack kept his lips in an even line as he listened to Cambria climb the stairs. Even the suspicious glare coming from her brother didn’t really put much of a dent in his elation. “Just make sure you take care of my sister.” The promise of retribution shone in Rem’s eyes. Dack stared directly at it, unwavering, because he agreed with the man. Cambria was worth his best effort. He’d stand up for his own sister if she was hanging out with someone like him. She was insane. There was no point in debating it. Cambria grabbed a duffle bag and tossed things into it without much thought or care. Pulling the zipper closed, she walked out of her room and stopped long enough to pack her laptop. An annoying bubble of happiness was sitting in her throat as she secured her computer, a giddy sort of elation that had her rolling her eyes. Cambria, power queen of the corporate world, should have been above falling love…but she wasn’t. “Oh girl, Mia is going to laugh her ass off at you.” Yeah? Well, so be it. Just like her mother, she wasn’t a liar. The tender emotions were there, beating inside her chest. It didn’t mean anything was settled or that she was going to avoid heartache hell or that she wouldn’t try to kill the pair of them before the weekend was over. But that didn’t change the fact that she would carry them both in her heart, whatever way it all ended up. Descending the stairs, she steadied her nerves. For the first time in her adult life, she feared rejection. If Dack and Logan left her, it would sting. Dack was waiting for her. His eyes were shimmering with as much emotion as she felt twisting through her insides. He rubbed his chin with a nervous hand before reaching for her bag. “Come on, baby, let’s get out of this city.” Yeah. She liked the idea of that.
*****
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The drive was a long one. The city dropped away behind them an hour before they reached Dack and Logan’s home. As they pulled into the driveway, Cambria couldn’t help but enjoy the greenery. Everywhere you looked there was something green—trees, bushes and smaller trees. The air even smelled better. A large A-frame cabin rose up from the mountainside. A security fence slid closed behind their vehicles as she marveled at the man who stepped out of Dack’s truck. He was more at ease than she’d ever seen him, the lines of worry missing from his forehead. His eyes flickered with enjoyment as he held out a hand to her. “Tour’s starting now.” He didn’t think he’d ever been so nervous. Dack watched Cambria, trying to gauge her reaction. “Stop rubbing your jaw.” She turned knowing eyes towards him. “I’d think you’d know your own nervous tells a little better than that.” Being caught with his hand on his chin made him snort. A naughty little smile of enjoyment curved her lips as she winked at him. “Your home is lovely, Dack.” There was a note of true appreciation in her voice that set off a jolt of heat. “Well, you haven’t been introduced to the rough edges yet.” His gut tightened back up as he waited for Logan to rustle up some of the men. To say that he needed Cambria to accept his lifestyle was an understatement. “Ah, the rest of your group.” Cambria kept her eyes on the door as four men entered. There were all hard cut like Dack and Logan, their eyes sweeping her and the room before they relaxed their guard. “That’s Jace and Nash—you’ll meet their wife Robyn later.” Casting her attention back to the men watching her, Cambria found herself in the middle of a watching game. The men in question stared at her. She could feel Dack’s and Logan’s eyes burning into her back. In front of her Dack’s men surveyed the scene, waiting to see what she would say. “Robyn sounds like one lucky lady, to have you both.” Jace flashed her a smile. “I like her.” He aimed his comment at Dack. “Besides, any woman who can put up with you is good in my book.” He tossed Dack a two-finger salute before turning and leaving with Nash on his tail. “This is Reese and Gavin. Since they’re single you’ll see them a little more.” The two men surveyed her carefully, and Cambria realized that the introduction was really for them. Dack’s mountaintop home was secured tight and she was the outsider. She thought about it for two whole seconds before she shoved it out of her
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mind. She really didn’t care. Dack and Logan were here and that’s what mattered. The rest were just the things she’d get used to. “Where’s the other one?” Cambria turned around to stare at another man. This one was lanky and lean, the kind of leanness you saw in an extreme athlete. His eyes were smoky gray, and they were the most piercing things she’d ever seen. He stared at her before asking another question. “What happened to your friend, corset lady?” “That’s Beck, team sniper.” Logan waggled his eyebrows at her. “Which accounts for his nosy personality.” Beck turned his head slowly, his face still lacking any emotion. “I would have tagged them both.” Cambria snorted. “Good luck. Mia isn’t as sweet as she looks.” Those piercing eyes returned to her as a single corner of his mouth lifted. “Don’t tease me, darling.” “Beck’s busy now.” Dack stepped up and hooked an arm around her waist. “Like you said, Captain, I’m busy.” The second Beck cleared the doorway, Cambria jabbed a finger into Dack’s ribs. His body jerked, but he didn’t jump away from her. He captured her hand and twisted it, locking up her arm. The smirk on his lips irritated the hell out of her. Lifting one leg, she stopped as it tapped the soft underside of his crotch. She was free a second later. “That was a nauseating display of machismo.” “I loved every second of it.” There was a smugness in his tone that should have irritated her. Instead she shook her head, amused by the public display of ownership. She shrugged and Logan chuckled at them both. “So, boys, what’s on the schedule?” Dack lost his frown and grinned like a boy. “My kind of fun.”
***** Dack’s idea of amusement was dirty. I-need-a-shower-right-now, kind of filth. Her feet were killing her by the time they made it back to the cabin. The sun setting beat them home, and the temperature dropped simultaneously with it. Cambria was shivering and coated in mud from head to toe. “I see the boys took you sliding.” Looking up from a computer desk in the living room of Dack’s house was a darkhaired woman. The entire living room was an office, confirming that Dack really didn’t have a life.
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“You must be Robyn.” Dack and Logan had halted on the front step to shower off some of the mud covering them, with the garden hose. Cambria had turned her nose up at the idea of being hit with cold water under the night sky. She’d mop up her own muddy footprints first. “I guess it’s true what they say, inside every man is a little boy.” Robyn’s eyes swept her as a silvery giggle escaped her lips. “Yeah, well remind me to swat their naughty tails.” Her voice didn’t carry any real threat. She might be a mess but it had been fun. Up on the opposite side of the ridge was a lake. At some point, someone had dug long slides in the soft earth. Dack and his men had strung up a pulley system to get buckets of lake water to the top of the run. They’d dump a few loads of water into the slide, turning it to slick mud, before jumping into it and careening down into the lake. Robyn stood up, waving her hands in front of her. “They’re all yours, honey. I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to see another woman in my life.” “I bet.” The other woman laughed before waving goodbye and leaving. Cambria felt a prickle of heat cross her face. Robyn was vanishing because she knew that Dack and Logan were hot on her heels. Living with a pair of men herself, she knew exactly what was going to happen after the mud was washed away. It was almost silly, the way her cheeks flamed. Moving towards the bedroom, she felt even more heat lick across her cheeks as she passed the large bed. Dack had transformed since setting foot on his property. Those few glimpses she’d spied of him relaxed didn’t prepare her for the full unveiling. The afternoon had been fun. That rubbed at her temper—no one should be able to affect anyone so deeply as to take that part of life away. Raul Ramos was a bastard. For the first time in her life she hated someone she’d never met. The emotion bubbled up inside her. The man had stolen something very precious from the men she loved. It made her sick. Cambria stopped and stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. “Oh Lord, girl…you’re in it now.” But the sight of her mud-covered face made her laugh. Dirt was swirled through her hair. It coated almost every inch of her skin and it was caked to the pair of shorts and tee shirt she was wearing. There was probably mud in places where mud just didn’t belong. But all the sight of her filthy body did was reinforce how much she enjoyed Dack and Logan. There wasn’t another pair of guys she could imagine playing with and then sharing passion with so completely. She was still in it deep though.
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In the shower, her mind turned it over and over but there was just no way to really think clearly about Dack or Logan. Bundle them together and she was lost. But just maybe that was all right. Yeah, it really was all right. After all, there was one thing that she’d learned from her mother and that was to savor love. Reaching for the soap, she started cleaning the mud off her skin because the night was young and she intended to get on with savoring Dack and Logan.
***** He was sweating. But Dack still smiled. A nervous little quiver raced through his body. Even the chilled water coming from the hose wasn’t enough to cool his cock down. The thing stubbornly stood at attention. The idea that Cambria was in his house flowed through his bloodstream, intoxicating him. He’d been ignoring his hard-on all afternoon because his heart had been captivated by the sight of her playing. “I know how you feel.” Logan’s voice was too low. Dack knew the tone. It was the same one the man used when they were fighting for their lives. He was serious and focused, the only difference was the target in question. In this case it was Cambria. “Yeah.” They stared at each other for a long moment, each adjusting to the natural instinct to fight over her. But the tension eased as there was a snap and crunch of gravel. Robyn walked down the front steps, ignoring them on her way to the cabin she shared with Jace and Nash. There was a happy lift to her shoulders and a smile on her face as she headed home for the evening. It wasn’t impossible. Dack felt that idea wash over him as he reached out to turn the hose off. They were both buck naked, their clothing tossed over the railing to drip-dry. The night air felt good against his skin. Clothing sounded like torture at the moment. He wanted to be pressed against Cambria, their skin sliding together as he sank his cock back inside her. “I’m going to bed early.” Logan announced his plan as he wiped the water off his head. He looked at the soap bar they kept on the railing for cleaning up after sliding and frowned. “We need to change the setup a little around here since we’ve got women here now.” Dack nodded as he began climbing the steps that led to the front door of his cabin. Most of his men didn’t give a rat’s ass over showering in the open. Robyn just didn’t watch. “I guess we know what we’re doing tomorrow morning.” He didn’t mind the work detail. In fact, it set a smile on his lips as he anticipated changing his mountaintop home to accommodate Cambria. He wanted to keep her. Use every possible way his mind could contrive to intertwine their lives so that she’d forget where they separated.
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The scent of food hit him as he opened the door and stepped into his office living room. There was a pop and sizzle from the kitchen along with music. It shocked him, because it had been a really long time since he’d turned the radio on. In fact he couldn’t recall the last time. “I’ve died and somehow made it to heaven. My mother will never believe I escaped hell.” Logan crossed himself before hurrying across the floor to cast puppy-dog eyes at Cambria. Sweet, going-to-drive-him-insane, Cambria. Wearing only a lace bra, matching thong and fuck-me pumps. Her body was rotating and swaying to the rhythm of some blues tune as she tended something frying in a large skillet. “Your spice collection stinks.” She purred her criticism as she rotated her hips around like a Tahitian native dancer. “I’ll fix that,” Logan answered as he reached for one of the two longneck beers that were waiting on the breakfast bar. Cambria turned her head and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “So sweet of you, baby.” She dished up two plates, serving them on the bar that connected with the kitchen. She eyed her two guests as they tucked into her cooking. The music kept her moving as Dack and Logan cleared their plates in a hurry. A naughty smile decorated her lips as she turned around to let them watch her wriggling backside. “Anyone craving dessert?” She pegged them with a long stare before sweeping Dack with her gaze. “Absolutely.” His voice had slipped into that Southern drawl again. “So sweet of you, to say you enjoy my cooking, baby.” He stood up, moving around into the kitchen. Cambria felt her body heat up as she looked at his cock again. Every inch of him was perfection. Hard and ultra-male. It was far more enticing than dinner. Dack moved with determination, his fingers brushing across her lower back until they found the clasp of her bra. With a snap, he separated the hooks and dragged it down her arms. He cupped each mound in his hands. Lifting her chin, she sighed as sensation raced through her. “There’s plenty of dessert right here.” Leaning over, he captured one hard nipple between his lips. Sucking it deep into his mouth, the tip of his tongue flickered across it as he cupped the rest of the breast, keeping it steady for his greedy mouth. “Hmm, just the way I like it.” He hooked an arm under her knees and swung her up against his chest. The hallway passed in a blur as Dack carried her to the large bed she’d blushed over. Logan followed them into the room, sending her into a firestorm of need. “Are you both staying?” She needed to know. Maybe it was because she’d thought about it so much, but the idea made her dizzy with anticipation.
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Dack placed her in the middle of the bed, his lips hovering an inch above her own. “That’s right, baby. Both of us. Think you can handle it?” Challenge coated his voice as the bed rocked with Logan’s body weight. Her second lover stroked her back, letting his fingers fan out over her shoulder blades. Reaching for Dack’s cock, she curled her fingers around the swollen length. He sucked in a harsh breath as their eyes remained locked together. “Bring…it…on.” She rose onto her knees to accept his challenge, pressing her body against his while Logan bumped up against her back. Keeping a hold of Dack’s cock, she worked her hand up and down it while his hands captured the back of her head. Tilting his head, he pressed his mouth tightly against hers, kissing her hard. He pressed her jaw open with the force of his kiss, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. Logan’s hands slipped around her body to cup each breast. There was a second cock behind her, bumping up against her bottom. Even though her clit burned with need, she felt the unmistakable need coming from her bottom to be penetrated as well. She didn’t bother to think about anything. Hunger and heat swirled through her as Dack broke their kiss. Pushing his chest away, she leaned down, and in the moment when he was trying to figure out what she was attempting to do. Cambria opened her mouth and sucked the head of his cock between her lips before he knew what was coming. “Oh Christ, Cambria. I’ll come in your mouth.” Releasing him, she leaned her head to the side to look at him. Her fingers kept working up and down his length. “Can’t a girl get a full meal in this place? I didn’t come here for a little blowjob appetizer. Guess I should have packed my toys.” Dismissing him, she opened her mouth and took his cock back inside, teasing it with her tongue. A gasp broke through her lips as Logan hooked her thighs and separated them. He placed her on her knees, but spread them wide. The bed rocked as he flipped over onto his back, placing his head between her open thighs. “I’m all the plaything you need, baby.” She gasped and lost her grip on Dack’s length as Logan cupped both sides of her ass and pulled her down onto his mouth. The tip of his tongue found her slit, licking a path from her pussy opening to her clit. Pleasure spiked through her as his lips closed around her clit. “You seem to have lost your focus, baby.” Dack’s voice was gently mocking as he cupped the back of her neck. With gentle pressure, he urged her mouth back onto his cock. “We’ll see who loses the battle and comes first.” She growled around the head of his cock as she became determined to outlast him. The firm pressure around her clit was going to make that a hard goal to achieve. Opening her mouth, she renewed her attention on the hard flesh in her hands, licking the underside of the head as she worked the staff with her hands. Between her spread thighs, Logan steadily drove her insane with teasing flicks of his tongue over her clit. 102
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He didn’t rush her towards climax. It wouldn’t have been too hard to apply enough pressure to make her come. Instead he played with her. Teasing her clit first with the tip of his tongue and then lapping her with the flat portion. Sweat dotted her forehead as she resisted the urge to clamp his head between her thighs to increase the pressure. Pulling her head up, she gasped for a few deep breaths to steady her racing heart before sucking Dack’s cock back between her lips. He gasped above her, distracting her for a slim second. Logan left her clit and drew his tongue through the center of her slit, triggering a rush of need through her pussy. She was acutely conscious of how empty her sheath was. The tender opening begging for the touch of that velvet tip long before he arrived. A ragged groan made it past the cock in her mouth as Logan thrust his tongue up into her body. Need so strong, it sent a shiver along her legs, bit into her. But Dack shuddered as the sound waves rippled over his cock. She let another groan escape her throat as Logan continued to taunt her with the tip of his tongue. The hand on the back of her head gripped tighter as she dipped down to encase more of Dack’s length inside her mouth, her fingers working it faster. “That’s right, baby. Take me.” Dack’s voice was harsh and dangerous as his cock jerked in her mouth. His hips began small, tightly controlled thrusts towards her face as his cock began to pump hot seed into her mouth. She sucked harder, pulling it from his body as she listened to his harsh groans. The hand in her hair shook slightly as it began massaging her neck once his climax passed. “I haven’t come that fast since I was twenty.” He sounded almost angry that she’d succeeded in reducing him to ejaculation so fast. Raising her head, she stroked his cock a few last times before shivering as Logan renewed his assault on her spread slit. His tongue speared up into her pussy, tormenting her with a hint of what she craved. But it wasn’t nearly thick enough or long enough to pleasure her completely. Instead she whimpered, yearning for more but enjoying the stabbing, velvet penetration. The grip on her bottom released and a moment later, Logan flipped her onto her back in the center of the bed. Pushing her thighs wide, he looked up her body to lock stares with her. “Best part of being a team, means no one gets the jump on one of us, without the other dishing out payback in kind.” He thrust two thick fingers into her pussy as his eyes shimmered with determination. Dack pressed her shoulders back flat onto the mattress when she tried to sit up. She heard the faint, wet sound of her pussy being worked, as Logan smiled at her. “Now I’m going to eat your cream up, baby.” A hard shiver racked her body as he trailed his finger up her slit to her clit. The little button was pulsing with need, burning with desperation to be stroked hard enough to release the tension. Dack reached down to cup one of her breasts, adding the soft pinch of a nipple to the stimulation Logan applied to her clit. Her eyes closed tight as sensation began to rule her every thought. Her spine arched as she offered her hips to Logan. His hand slid back through her slick folds to her pussy, entering her body in
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quick thrusts. She worked her hips in time with his fingers, delight rising up into her belly. “That’s it, baby, work my fingers. Fuck them.” Hard demand coated his voice but she didn’t care. She needed to move. Needed to fall into the rhythm that would feed the need clawing away at her insides. Another pinch on her nipple and she cried out in desperation, unable to keep the sound sealed behind her lips. “Now give me your cream to eat.” Her growled softly, directly over her clit so that his breath grazed across the overstimulated nerve endings. Her belly quivered as another cry left her lips. She was gasping for every breath, pressing her lower body against his fingers, fucking his hand. His lips closed around her clit and she came. The climax was hard, biting into her and twisting her like a wet towel. It raced up into her pussy, the sheath contracting around his fingers as she strained upward, off the bed. “That’s a good girl.” She snarled at his mocking tone, baring her teeth at his smirking face. The look in his eyes was stone hard. Determination glittered there, promising her a hard ride from his unsatisfied cock. He liked it that way though. She witnessed that fact in his eyes. His fingers were still inside her body, just resting for the moment as he locked stares with her. Removing his fingers from her body, he pushed back onto his haunches, his cock springing up swollen and stiff with demand. “Now, I’m going to take you.” As much as she detested the arrogant tone of his voice, she craved his touch as well as Dack’s. In a fashion, she wasn’t complete without both of them. “I agree.” Dack turned her head, his eyes glossy with emotion. Her heart filled in that moment as he leaned down to kiss her. It wasn’t hard. He pressed his mouth against hers in a soft merging of lips that send a warm flow of contentment through her. The bed moved as Logan stood up and Dack raised his head. Heat filled his eyes as he stroked her cheek. “I don’t give a damn how politically incorrect it is. Watching Logan eat you out turns me on.” She shivered in response as her eyes traveled away from his face to his cock. It stood at attention, swollen and promising. He gripped her shoulder and pushed her over onto her belly. Cupping her chin, Dack raised her up until she was perched on all fours. Dack’s eyes flickered with hard determination. “This time, I’m going to enjoy a long fuck inside your sweet pussy before I let you take command of me again.” “We’ll just see about that.” Dack laughed at her. He followed her into the center of the bed, flopping onto his back so that he could get beneath her body and cup her breasts. “I love your tits.” Working his fingers around the twin globes, he stretched his neck up to suck one nipple.
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Pleasure moved across her skin as Logan’s hands cupped each of her hips. He placed a hard kiss against her neck as she felt the thrust of his cock against her bottom. The head of it was already slick, telling her that he donned a lubricated condom. “I’m going to fuck your ass again.” Logan’s words were low and primal, touching off a hard jolt of need. Her pussy was still unsatisfied, her first climax only releasing the tension in her clit. She craved penetration and hard male flesh stretching her completely. She wanted to be full. “Talk…talk…talk.” She gasped when Logan bit her, a sharp little pain zipping down to fuel the fire burning in her bottom. But she wasn’t impressed by his reprimand. Tossing her head, she rotated her bottom, pressing it against his cock. “You’re worse than an old woman with all your gabbing.” A hard smack landed on her bottom. She gasped and snarled, bringing her hands up to push them both away from her. “No one spanks me!” Dack grabbed her arms as he sat up and pulled her across his thighs in response. “You need to remember who your true masters are, baby.” “You two are full of shit!” She cussed as Logan hooked an arm around her hips and delivered another slap to her ass. She sucked in a hard breath as the sharp sting raced into her bottom, flaring up the need eating her. The hard bodies holding her prisoner turned up the heat, triggering some primitive enjoyment that was lurking deep inside her brain. “Oh now, was that a ripple of enjoyment?” Logan was smirking behind her. She could hear it in his voice. “I must admit, I love smacking this ass. Almost as much as I enjoy sinking my cock into it.” His hand descended half a dozen times, raining fire across her skin and need inside her belly. A moan pushed past her lips in spite of her pride’s attempt to contain it. Logan smacked her ass in response. “That’s right, baby. You hate it but your body loves the way I take it.” Another pair of smacks drew a whimper from her as the need for penetration became so pressing she wasn’t sure her heart could take the strain of waiting much longer. “Get on with the fucking—if you’ve got the cock for it, that is!” “We’ve got all the cock you need.” Dack snarled at her as he released her and reached for a condom. At the same time, she felt the smooth glide of lubricant against her bottom. Logan pressed the tube right against her back entrance and squeezed the slick gel into her ass. She shivered as sensation tore through her. The edge of domination made her even more needy. Almost as if she couldn’t give up anal sex to any man who didn’t prove himself to her first. It wasn’t something she thought about, it was something she felt in her gut. Logan thrust two thick fingers into her bottom and she groaned as it triggered a rush of sensation that raised gooseflesh along her arms and legs. She trembled, her knees slipping as she fought to maintain her balance. 105
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“That’s it, isn’t it?” He pumped his fingers in and out of her ass, making sure the gel was completely spread over the tender skin. “No it isn’t. I want a whole lot more.” Her voice was husky with the demand. Dack cupped her chin and stared into her eyes. “So ask him to fuck you.” She snarled at him instead. “If you’re not man enough to take it, forget it.” She meant it too. “Begging is for submissives. I’m not that kind of girl.” Logan grasped her hips and pressed the head of his cock against her back entrance. “No, you’re not. That’s what I love about you.” He pressed forward, his thick erection stretching her. He was almost too much for her to take, the skin smarting as it was separated by his cock. But her belly twisted with excitement as she took a deep breath, forcing her body to relax. “That’s right, baby, you can take it.” Logan’s voice sounded strained as he pulled back. His fingers tightened on her hips as he pushed smoothly back into her, the gel easing the way. This time his length lodged deep inside her and she heard a rattled breath shake his body. He cussed low and deep next to her ear as he remained deep inside her bottom, allowing her to adjust to his invasion. The tension eased, transforming into enjoyment. A second later the bed rocked as Logan began taking her. His hands held her steady as he worked his length in and out of her ass. Pleasure ripped through her with each deep thrust, her pussy begging for the same treatment. Dack suddenly lifted her shoulders and knelt in front of her. He pushed forward, until his cock teased the opening to her pussy. A thin wail filled the room as Dack began pressing his cock into her from the front. Logan pulled out as Dack entered her. Her breath felt frozen in her lungs with her pussy full and her ass empty. And then they reversed it. Dack withdrawing as Logan thrust deep. She arched back, lifting her bottom for the penetration of her ass. When Logan began pulling out, she curled her lower body forward to accept the hard invasion of Dack’s cock. This time, the hard flesh slid against her clit, triggering another jolt of pleasure. Time stood still as they worked together, both cocks using her body. But it was only a waiting game. She couldn’t keep to the slow pace and neither could her partners. Logan lifted her up and impaled her on Dack as he dropped her thighs around his. Her arms clasped Dack’s neck as Logan began fucking her with her pussy still full with Dack’s flesh. Each one of Logan’s thrusts pushed her clit up and down on the hard cock in front of her. Need twisted and tightened as Logan fucked her harder and faster. He suddenly gasped and shook as pleasure erupted throughout his body. He pressed his length deep as she felt a tremor shake his huge body. “My turn.” Dack growled as he withdrew from her pussy and pulled her away from Logan, before standing up and taking her weight completely as he turned and pressed her back against the wall. His hips began pumping, thrusting hard against her. 106
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Pleasure speared through her within minutes as she clawed at his shoulders and squeezed him between her thighs. The orgasm slammed into her brain, making everything dark as she felt the jerk and pulse of the cock inside her. Dack growled as pleasure took command of him, his chest flattening her breasts as he used his strength to press her tightly against the wall. She wasn’t even sure how she ended up back in the bed. They were a tangle of limbs and low pants. Pleasure raining down over her skin like a shower of sparks. She was content to linger in the afterglow as long as her partners remained nearby.
***** Dack rubbed a hand over her shoulder sometime later, his fingers smoothing along her skin as she lay with her head pillowed on his chest. “I think that was actually the most perfect sex I’ve ever had.” Cambria felt like purring. Oh the sex had been terrific but the cuddling was supreme. “Sorry, guys, but see my mama taught me that perfection isn’t so easy to achieve.” “Is that so?” Dack sounded sleepy and relaxed as she toyed with some of his chest hair. “That’s right.” As she gently pinched his nipple, she let her other hand slip along Logan’s thigh, enjoying the firm muscle there. “Perfection takes dedication and lots of practice. My mama says that’s something that the younger generation just doesn’t grasp. She thinks we want everything too fast, and real perfection just can’t be rushed.” Dack gripped her chin and raised her eyes to met his. “Don’t you worry, baby, I have the highest respect for your mother. I’ll be happy to work on the sex, over and over until we get it perfected.” Logan raised his head, a wicked grin decorating his lips. “It’s going to take a lot of time, but count me in.” “I love a challenge.” Dack’s eyes flickered with heat before he pressed her head down onto his chest. One large hand stroking the side of her head. Logan nuzzled up behind her as she let the sound of both their heartbeats carry her into slumber. It was better than an island paradise because this one was the real thing. Besides, she loved a challenge. Dack and Logan were just about the purest definition of that word there was. That was what made it perfect. Love was about finding soul mates. Tonight, she was sleeping with both of hers.
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Chapter Nine The phone buzzed, and Dack picked it up before his eyes were completely open. Cambria shifted but didn’t wake up completely. There was movement from the other side of the bed as Logan watched him. “Tyden.” There was no pleasant greeting. At three in the morning, the call was business. Easing his arm out from beneath Cambria’s head, he turned to leave the bed. “So you want to play with me?” The voice was a blast of icy wind from his past. Every muscle drew taut as hate blazed a path through his mind. “Raul Ramos.” Dack growled the name in a deadly voice as he stood up. Logan moved, leaving the bed as he heard the name. There was heavy laughter on the other end of the phone. “That’s right, asswipe. You should have stayed buried. Now I’m going to introduce you to the price of resurfacing. There’s things worse than death. You should have remembered that.” The line went dead and Dack cussed. Checking the phone, it flashed an unknown label at him. Ramos knew what he was doing. He’d kept the call short enough to ensure that Dack didn’t get a lock on his location. Frustration made him clench his teeth hard enough to make his jaw ache. “What did the bastard want?” Dack didn’t get the chance to answer Logan. Cambria’s cell phone began ringing from the bedroom, making Logan turn around as he made a grab for it before she woke up. He didn’t make it. Cambria was flipping her phone open as she rubbed her eyes with the other hand. “Yes?” “Put Dack on the line.” Rem snarled at her in a tone she didn’t know her brother could use. “What?” Two nights of debauchery were taking their toll because her brain did not want to clear the slumber away. “Why do you want to talk to Dack?” She didn’t get to hear her brother’s answer because Dack plucked her phone out of her grip. “This is Dack.” Her mind shook off the last traces of sleep as she watched Dack’s face. Fury was etched into every tense line as he gripped her phone so tight, she anticipated hearing the plastic crack at any second.
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“What is going on?” Dack’s eyes cut over to her and she shivered at the hard look in them. He listened to her brother for thirty of the longest seconds of her life. Tension tightened inside her chest as she watched rage, really hate-fueled rage, cover his face. “Keep your ass down and moving.” Dack’s voice was full of command. He issued his words into the phone like a general on the battlefield. A chill went down her spine as she rose to her knees. “What is going on at my house?” This time, she made sure her tone of voice made it clear that she wasn’t going to be ignored. She put her hand out. “Give me that phone.” Dack shut it instead. “Hey, that was my phone call.” “But it was meant for us.” Dack was furious. Cambria sat back on her knees as she recognized the edge he was on. It wasn’t something you played with. He was dangerously tight, seething with true rage. The killing kind that made her stop talking for a moment while she waited for him to give her the details. “Your house is gone, Cambria.” Logan cussed under his breath as Dack considered her shocked expression. “It’s burning like a Roman candle.” “But Rem’s all right?” She couldn’t remain in such a docile position and jumped to her feet. “He’s all right?” Her voice rose as she demanded confirmation. “He’ll heal up.” Cambria cussed. She didn’t much care what either man thought about her dirty mouth. Her brain was frantically trying to sift through the surprise of the moment and grasp at enough details to formulate a plan of action. But the hard reality was, there was very little to do. A three-hour drive separated her from her condo. If it was burning, there was nothing she could do. She hated being helpless but she couldn’t even dial the emergency services because she was in the wrong county. “Guess my insurance holder will be cutting me a check.” Her sarcasm gained her questioning look from both men. Logan was stepping into his pants as she held her hand out for her cell phone. Dack kept it tightly gripped in his hand. “You can’t call Rem right now.” “Why not? He called me.” Dack frowned at her. “No, he called me, Cambria.” Propping her hands on her hips, she glared at the stubborn attitude Dack was wearing. “Fine, and now I want to call my brother.” “Later.” One word, coated in steel. Dack refused to give her the phone, tossing it to Logan so that he could grab his pants off the foot of the bed. “Oh, you are so not going to turn into a jerk on me, Dack Tyden.” He grabbed her chin and aimed a hard stare into her eyes. “This is not about you, Cambria. Raul Ramos took out your condo in an attempt to punish me by killing you.”
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Shock held the breath in her lungs frozen for a split second. The word “kill” bounced around inside her skull as she tried to grasp the fact that someone had actually meant to murder her. Dack softened his grip as he watched her horrified eyes. “Thank God your brother is trained, baby. He made it down a burning hallway and out the second-story window of your bedroom. Give him time to make a clean getaway. He’ll be in touch when he’s in a clear spot to place a call.” There was a hint of irony in his voice. Yeah, Rem would be in touch, she’d bet on that one. But it wouldn’t be to chew any fat with her. Her brother would be gunning for Dack and Logan for putting her in danger. A quiver raced down her spine as her stomach knotted up. She felt almost sick as she tried to imagine herself escaping a burning house. “Wow. Wait a minute.” Her mind began racing as she thought about the fiery death trap she’d escaped. “Would that bastard know about Mia? You met us together.” Logan’s forehead creased as Dack rubbed his chin in thought. “I don’t know, baby. But you’ve got a point. He had to be watching us, to target you.” Dack and Logan left the room, flipping on lights in the outer living room. Scrambling off the bed, she ran into the bathroom to where her duffle bag was sitting. She heard the front door open as she pulled a pair of sweatpants on and yanked a tee shirt over her head. She didn’t bother with a bra, but left the bathroom as she was still pulling it over her breasts. Gavin and Reese were standing near Logan. They both wore thick jackets that they unbuttoned as they stood inside the warmer house. Automatic rifles were slung over their shoulders and knit hats covered their heads. She understood why both Logan and Dack had been in bed with her. The night patrol put them at ease. Silence descended the instant she appeared. “Oh, not even. I’m part of this. Is that clear?” Every pair of eyes went to Dack. Turning her demanding look on him, Cambria felt the tension triple. “I mean that, Dack. I’ll walk off this mountain right after I put my shoes on if I’m not part of everything. You aren’t going to shelter me. I’m only staying if I’m part of the team.” He didn’t like her challenging him. But there was a spark of appreciation for her courage in his eyes. Cambria stood up to the hard glare, refusing to buckle. “You’re in.” Dack turned back to look at Reese. “Wake up Nigel and Kane.” “And the other girl?” Beck’s soft question came from behind her. Cambria jerked around to stare at the sniper. The sight of him shocked even her. He was wearing the forest. Whatever kind of fabric was stretched over his body, it had bark, pine needles and rocks imbedded in it. There was thick black makeup all around his eyes and covering his hands. A hood, with more bark and pine needles, was hanging from his belt. A wicked-looking gun was cradled across his chest like a baby. “We’re too far away to help her. I’ll make a call.”
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“Why don’t I make that call? Mia’s my friend.” “You said she lived with her parents.” Cambria frowned. “She does.” Dack angled his head as he looked at her. “Do you think her parents can deal with this kind of a threat?” Her heart froze as she considered what might be breathing down her sweet friend’s neck. She doubted there was a gun in Mia’s house or that the family would even believe that there were scum out there looking for their daughter. It was possible that her father would dismiss the entire thing. “I doubt it.” She sounded miserable as her stomach knotted with tension. “Her father will most likely think that his martial arts training is all the protection Mia needs.” “How much training does he have?” Cambria winced as she considered Mia’s family. “They own a chain of martial arts studios. All her brothers live under the family roof and they are deadly. I wouldn’t want to meet her father in a well-lit alley.” “So, it’s unlikely that he’ll take any suggestion of getting her out of sight?” Cambria simply shook her head. Dack shook his head. “There isn’t time for convincing her, Cambria.” He turned and picked up a phone. A firm hand landed on her shoulder as she watched. Beck leaned down to keep his words private. “Being on the team means compromise. Sometimes you have to let someone else take the mission because they have a better chance of success.” “Would this guy really go after Mia?” The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she contemplated what her friend was about to face. The solution might be as bad as the problem as far as Mia saw it. Beck’s gray eyes never faltered even when she turned to glare at him. “He tried to take you out. He must have been trailing Dack and Logan for the last week to discover your details.” “And I drove Mia home.” She didn’t want to believe there was a danger because it was just so unrealistic in a normal person’s life. Casting a look over Beck and his sniper outfit, she felt her stomach knot up. It could happen. Rem was proof of that. “Poor Mia. She’s not going to do so well.” A hint of emotion crossed Beck’s face. Cambria shrugged. “She comes from sort of a protected background. If you know what I mean.” “You mean she’s a sheltered virgin.” “Bluntly put, but yes.” A soft chuckle came from Beck as she looked back at Dack to see him snapping his phone shut. He commanded the men around him skillfully and calmly. There wasn’t
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any hint of nervousness or uncertainty. Every man in the room looked unsurprised by the current life-threatening events. That stunk. It made her mad enough to hate.
***** Sipping at her third cup of coffee, Cambria leaned over the porch railing to watch the sunrise. Staring at the horizon as it turned pink, her stomach tightened as she considered the fact that Raul Ramos had intended for her to never see this morning. Of course, the scumbag didn’t have it in for her personally, he was striking at Dack. That only pissed her off even further. Taking another sip of coffee, she frowned at the taste, missing her exotic coffee, but she smiled as she savored the fact that she could taste and long for her favorite things this morning. Raul Ramos could just rot. Her cell phone was in the front pocket of a shirt she’d commandeered from Dack’s closet. Men’s clothing was a lot more practical than women’s. The chest pocket would ensure that she heard the first ring loud and clear. Scanning the forest, she searched for any sign of movement. If Beck was out there, she couldn’t spot him. “I’m sorry.” Dack’s voice sounded tired. His hands appeared on either side of her. His fingers so tight on the rail, they turned white. “I guess I was a little hard on you guys at the golf castle.” She heard his stiff intake of breath as his knuckles popped. “That was a dirty stunt taking us there.” His voice was low and menacing. “Yes it was. But it was still fun and good for you both.” Turning around, she leaned back over the railing so that she could make eye contact with him. Creases lined his eyes, and reaching up, she smoothed one with a fingertip. As she stared at Dack, her heart ached at the look on his face. It was as if he was building a wall between them as she watched. “Cut it out, Dack. You told me the story before I agreed to come up here.” “If you’d stayed at home, you’d be dead.” The finality of his words sent another chill down her spine. Cambria shook it off. “Because of me.” The torment in his tone ripped her heart open. Her temper exploded at the same time because she just didn’t know how to be meek. Her style was all “charge forward with your guns firing”. She hooked her hand into his shirt. Tightening her fingers, she pulled him down towards her. “That’s bullshit! I don’t ever want to hear you talking like you don’t deserve love.”
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His cheek twitched and then he reached behind her, hooking her body with one arm and pulling her against him. He hid his expression against her hair, but she felt the quivers running up and down his body. Tipping her head up, she made sure her words would reach his ear. “Don’t you dare let that bastard take anything away from you that you refuse to give him. I swear I’ll beat your ass if you build a wall between us. I will find a hard crocodile to use next time too.” His arms tightened so much she couldn’t breathe for a moment. But she enjoyed it so much, her heart ached with it. “You’ve got a unique brand of charm, Cambria.” He tried to muffle his words in her hair but she heard the relief in his tone. “Good thing too, because you don’t fit into any mold. You really need someone like me who can think outside the box.” Confidence filled her as she felt his heart beating against her chest. This man was hers. They fit together better and better every time they touched. That was irreplaceable and golden. Only a fool let the details of life break something like their connection up. She wasn’t any fool. Dack released her, his hand cupping her chin in a firm hand. “That’s a fact.” “Just remember that I’m a fire sign as Mia likes to remind me. There’s nothing docile about me.” Dack was silent for a long moment, his eyes locked with hers. “I love you, but I’m not an easy man to love.” Three little words had never sounded as though they took so much effort to speak. Dack was actually pale when he finished, his lips pressed into a hard line as he watched her face. “Well, Mia’s parents love to tell her what a troublemaker I am. Destined to land in difficult relationships because I’m not modest enough.” “Remind me to call Trace back and tell him to ravish Mia. As a personal favor from me to her.” “Mia’s at the Play Yard?” Her voice rose and cracked. “A personal guest of the owner, Trace Kocourek. Very private accommodations.” Cambria narrowed her eyes at him. “If that friend of yours upsets Mia, I’ll wax your chest. Just because I love you doesn’t mean you get to bug my friend.” “She’s alive and safe. The bugging part is unavoidable. Trace can keep her alive, I trust him to do the job.” Cambria glared at him, but Dack crossed his arms over his chest. He reached up and rubbed his jaw, betraying his uncertainty. Cambria narrowed her eyes and he cussed softly as he moved his hand back to his side. “Look at it this way. Since you’re not around, Trace can see to the chore of helping Mia escape her closeted world.”
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“Now that’s something I’d love to see.” Logan’s voice was as playful as normal and far too damn cheerful for daybreak. Dack turned to look at his partner. “Mia is a sweetheart.” Cambria made sure she glared at both men to ensure that they understood how she wanted her friend handled. “Which is why she’s keeping company with Trace. I doubt she could kill a mouse, much less an assassin.” Dack had resumed his hard, commanding tone of voice. “I’m taking that son of a bitch to military court, Cambria. I’ve got the evidence to prove my innocence and Logan’s. Ramos will do anything to stop me. Until that hearing, Mia has to have someone looking out for her.” “You’re right, I know, but you’re also completely irritating because you’re so right.” Splitting her disgruntled glare between the two of them, she huffed with frustration over Mia’s plight. The poor little china doll was about to be taken out of her glass showcase. “But I’m not heartless. If there was another way, I’d take it. There isn’t.” Dack let his voice drop down into a more personable tone, leaving the commanding one off. “Life is annoyingly unfair today.” Logan chuckled at them both. “I think my heart is melting in the presence of such a tender exhibition.” Cambria fluttered her eyelashes at him. Logan had a unique ability to pull her tail and she wouldn’t trade it for anything. “I guess I’ll just have to endure you, for the sake of my tender feelings for you two.” Logan rubbed his palms together and licked his lips. “I’ll do my best to make you suffer daily. Nothing better than being in a position to take complete advantage of such a yummy package like you.” Shaking her head, she moved forward, sending a mock punch into Logan’s midsection. He buckled over but pressed a kiss against her mouth as their heads got closer. Dack’s warm hands smoothed over her back as she ended up between them. Oh yeah…now this was a buffet she was going to spend the rest of her days enjoying.
***** Six weeks later Camp Pendleton One golden star twinkled on the shoulders of the man sitting in the judge’s seat. His eyebrows were salt and peppered with gray but his eyes were still as sharp as a young man’s. The courtroom was so still you could hear the papers as he turned them, studying the photo entered as evidence. The man had already listened to an entire day of evidence. Cambria bit into her lower lip as she tried to appear calm and collected. She was actually a seething bundle 114
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of resentment that wanted to burst into action to right the injustices of the world. At least the part that concerned Dack and Logan, that was. Her men stood at attention, waiting for one man to make a judgment that would either seal their fate or free them from shame. Either way, life wouldn’t change very much except for the personal satisfaction factor. That was worth every ounce of sweat that had gone into preparing for the court battle to remove Dack’s and his men’s dishonorable discharges. The fact that a new chapter in his personal battle to stay alive would open, didn’t matter. He was an officer and it was time the honor was restored to his name and his men. The officer presiding over the courtroom lifted his head to stare at Dack and Logan. His eyes were sharp as he began to speck. “Captain Tyden and Lieutenant Brackton. I find in favor of your petition. It is the judgment of this court that your record be cleared and full rank reinstated. It is also the finding of this court that charges will be issued against Colonel Ramos along with his accomplices, to be named at a later date.” He banged his gavel against the desk a single time, the sound bouncing off the walls of the room because it was dead silent. The words echoed through his skull. He had trouble believing he was hearing them in the flesh because he’d dreamed of it so many times. The judge cleared his throat, a large amount of emotion coming from a practiced military man. “And I would like to personally add my apologies. You and your unit served this country valiantly. You are to be commended. Back pay will be extended.” Dack clicked his heels together as he heard his men snap to attention behind him. With a precise turn, he walked out of the court room. So many lives had been changed in the place, it practically radiated from the dry wall. Cambria and Robyn stood up and followed them. Jace and Nash tossed Robyn into the air between them, swinging her around in circles as she laughed. Cambria couldn’t maintain her dignified expression as she moved towards Dack. She ran one polished fingernail across his chest as her lips twitched with happiness. “Hmmm…you do look good in uniform, honey.” “That so? Sorry to say, I’m about to resign my commission.” Reaching for her hips, he cupped them in a firm grip. “Right after we get married.” She jerked, but a flicker of emotion crossed her face. She couldn’t mask the delight that entered her eyes even as she tossed her head in refusal. “That’s my condition for you being on the team.” His voice was hard again but his eyes were full of need. He leaned down, keeping her prisoner with his hands on her hips. “If I end up dead in the next few weeks because Ramos is gunning for revenge, you are going to collect every cent owed to me. Got that, baby?”
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She shivered as she considered the fact that Raul Ramos and Black Watch now had another reason to come looking for him and Logan. Knocking her knuckles against his chest, she glared up into his eyes. “I look awful in black. It clashes with my skin, so you’d better plan to remain among the living.” “We’re going to the base chapel right now.” His eyes glowed and her heart twisted. She just couldn’t say no. Knocking him with her fist once more she swallowed the lump in her throat. “You’ve reduced me to an emotional fool.” His lips curved. “I love you too. But you’re the one who intoxicated me the first time we met. My inner child needs you to be his best friend.” Someone cleared their throat, loud and obnoxiously. With a groan, Cambria turned to face the only man she knew who would be so annoying. Rem smirked at her, completely unrepentant. A long scab ran across his forehead from his brush with death. He flashed her a smile before offering his hand to Dack. “Congratulations.” She stood back and watched them shake hands. Both men were symbols of dignity and honor in their uniforms. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she watched the rest of Dack’s men gather in close. They closed ranks around them as Dack placed her hand on his forearm and escorted her to their wedding. The ceremony was simple but perfect. She hadn’t grown up dreaming of a fairytale dress. The thing that had kept her dreams lit was the idea of love. The kind that surrounded you so completely, you forgot that loneliness even existed. It was just a shame that she couldn’t exchange vows with both of the men she loved. Logan stood to her left, refusing to take the step back that the chaplain asked him to. That was what she called love.
***** “What the hell is going on?” It was too damn early in the morning for noise. Rolling over, Cambria glared at the clock and cussed as the bedroom wall shook. Jumping out of bed, she grabbed a pair of sweatpants and tugged them on along with a tee shirt before yanking the balcony door open. “Who wants to die?” Logan turned around, a tool belt buckled across his lean hips. “Don’t tell me you were sleeping?” “Jackass, you were lying beside me most of the night. Keeping me awake.” He shrugged, flashing her a smug grin as Dack and Rem came around the side of the cabin, a large wooden beam balanced on their shoulders.
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“Hey, Sis. I brought you a wedding present.” They dropped their load as Rem pointed at the beam. “This is from your new husband. I’m just the delivery boy.” “You bought me a beam?” Dack grinned like a boy on Christmas morning. “I’m building you another paradise.” “Only this one will be enclosed to keep it warm.” Logan wiggled his eyebrows. A smile covered her face as she met the wicked grin on her husband’s face. “Well, I guess I’ll just feel right at home.” “That’s the idea.” Her husband’s voice touched off a tiny shiver of apprehension. “Nothing like a hammock.” Kane rounded the cabin next and she squinted at the charcoaled item in his grip. A squeal escaped her lips as she moved out of his way. Climbing the stairs up to the deck, he let his load down with a heavy thunk. “Finding that wasn’t easy.” Her safe. Kneeling, she worked the dial, listening for the tumblers to release. The door opened smoothly, in spite of the condition of the outer surface. Her passport and documents were all there, looking perfect. But what made her squeal again was her jewelry. Safe and sound, exactly as the fire safe company had promised. Not a single melted earring. The black soot clinging to the exterior sent a shiver down her spine. The contents of the safe were the only things that had survived. Dack climbed the stairs and knelt next to the open door. He nodded approval at the condition of the contents. “Ah, dare I ask about Mia?” she said. Dack’s face went blank. Suspicion ran through her as she glared at his military, “I’m not telling you nothing” expression. “Dack…!” “Paradise won’t build itself.” He ran back down the steps like a dog. Leaning over the rail, she aimed her disapproving look at Logan, who promptly left around the side of the cabin, Rem hightailing it behind him. “Dack…” Her husband turned a mocking grin towards her. “Don’t worry, honey, I think she’s holding her own. Trace sounded mighty frustrated when he checked in with me.” With an arrogant slant to his lips he turned and disappeared around the cabin. Oh, China Doll… You’re in trouble now. A smile lifted her lips as she laughed. It just might be what Mia needed. As she’d recently discovered, love was worth some frustration. She watched Dack and Logan
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carry more beams around the side of the house and her heart melted at the sight of them doing something just to make her happy. Yes, love was worth it. No doubt about it. But she’d just let Mia discover that truth for herself.
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Also by Dawn Ryder Hawk’s Prey Hidden Urges Improper Lessons Improper Longings Improper Pursuits Janus’ Conquest Outside Protocol Reaching Back Talon’s Trophy Tempting a Lady
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