Sanctuary (New Reality Series, Book One) (11 page)

Noah ran his palms over her belly to her thighs. He gripped them and draped her legs over his shoulders. Sliding his hands beneath her ass, he lifted her to his mouth.

Grace cried out as he laved the soft, wet folds of her pussy and ran his tongue around her clit. Pressure built within her. An inferno stoked with each touch. He used his tongue, his lips, his teeth to push her closer and closer to the edge. He moved one hand forward and slid a long finger, then another, inside her.

She couldn’t grasp a single coherent thought. Everything was centered on Noah and what he was doing to her. How he was making her feel. He thrust harder and faster as he sucked her clit between his lips and pulled hard. She screamed as the orgasm washed over her, wave after relentless wave of heat and sensation.

He lifted her legs from his shoulders and made his way up her body, kissing, licking and nipping. As he braced himself above her, she reached between them and wrapped her fingers around his erection.

“I have this insane need for you and Ethan. Will it ever ease up?”

“I fucking hope not,” he gasped as she stroked his length.

She hummed with pleasure, sliding the velvety tip across her clit to position him at her slick entrance. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips as she guided him home. Noah began to tremble when he was fully seated within her. He dropped his sweat-damp forehead against hers, and his ragged breath mingled with hers. Grace ran her hands down his back, over his firm ass and back up to his shoulders.

He pulled out and drove back into her roughly. Grace sucked air through clenched teeth as pressure built again, layer by layer, inside her core then she cried out as her pussy spasmed around Noah. She tumbled into her release, fell into heated bliss, and still wanted to beg for more. Would she ever get enough?

He slammed into her again and again, reaching down to grasp her hips. His fingers tightened as he held her captive to his pounding strokes, his grip punishing. Suddenly, his body tensed, his cock jerking deep inside her as he came, murmuring her name as he emptied.

Minutes later, she enjoyed the view as he stood beside the bed and stretched his arms over his head.

“Come take a bath with me,” he said suddenly, grasping her hand and pulling her to sit on the edge of the mattress. “The sun’s shining, we’re all alone… And if the water’s a bit cold, we’ll find ways to keep each other warm.”

“Hmmm.” She pursed her lips as she stood, running her palms up his chest, then grinned broadly “Just let me grab some clothes.”

“Nuh huh.” He shook his head and, taking one of her hands, started leading her to the door.

“Noah!” She laughed and dug her heels when he flung the door open. “It’s one thing to strip down and skinnydip in the river. It’s quite another to streak bare-assed through the yard to get there.

“There’s no difference. Besides,” he leaned in until their noses nearly touch, “you didn’t have a problem with bare asses when Ethan was fucking you against the bunkhouse.”

Before she could say anything, he winked, and the room went topsy-turvy as he hoisted her over his shoulder. She squirmed as he strode through the cabin and outside.

“Noah,” she exclaimed. “There’s a child here now!”

“There is,” he agreed cheerfully, “and while I agree with the general rule of no streaking, they’re going to be checking all the traps and doing some gun safety stuff Ethan is practically giddy about.” He stopped on the grassy bank and set her on her feet. “They’ll be gone for hours, Gracie. Promise.”

“Hours? Are you sure?”

“Hours,” he drawled and held his hand out, palm open and facing up. “Come, have some fun with me, Gracie. There’s too damn little of it in the world these days.”

Without hesitation, she placed her palm in his. Noah pulled her to him roughly and grinned.

“I
really
like fun, but the naked variety…? God, I love that.” He lowered his head and began to sloppily kiss his way long her neck.

Squeals of laughter floated on the air, danced along the river.

Chapter Six

“Hey, buddy.” Grace mussed Drew’s light brown hair. “Are you headed into town with Ethan and Noah?”

“No. I want to finish this book,” he said, turning his attention right back to the pages.

“I’ll let the guys know.”

She walked outside to the men who waited in the pickup truck. “Drew’s staying here,” she called out.

“Okay. See you in a few hours.” Ethan gave her a quick salute from behind the wheel.

She watched them start down the narrow, winding dirt road that led to the highway and thought about how much had changed since Chloe and Drew had arrived two weeks ago. Some changes were simple structure items that needed to be in place like regular meals and bedtimes. The cabin tended to be noisier…in a good way with a lot of laughter filling the walls.

But she couldn’t help waiting for the other shoe to drop with Noah and Ethan. Still, when they talked about anything with the camp—preparing for the coming winter, needing something—they never said “we” or “our”, but used “you” when talking to Grace and “she” in conversation between themselves.

Pressing a hand to her sour stomach, she made her way back into the cabin. It honestly made her sick to think about their leaving. What she felt for Ethan and Noah was stronger than she could have ever imagined that first night, staring down the barrel of her gun at them. She’d come to depend on them for much more than what they did around the camp or for her in bed. Though, that was certainly a perk.

She paused just inside the cabin and looked around. Drew lounged on the chair next to the window, nose still buried in a book. Chloe sat at the table paging through one of the many books on gardening she’d found on the shelves.

While the thought of Ethan and Noah moving on upset her, this right here—two
more
strangers who had wiggled their way into her heart—soothed that hurt. It didn’t take it away but made it manageable. And, for that alone, she’d do anything for them.

“Grace, can you show me again how to make that cornbread?” Chloe looked at her hopefully. “You don’t have to, but Drew really liked it, and—”

“I’d be happy to. I think it’d go perfectly with the ham and beans we’re having for dinner. “You start gathering the ingredients.” She walked to the cook stove to add more wood.

Drew,” she waited until he pulled himself away from his story to look at her, “did you gather the eggs this morning?”

“Awww, I did it last night,’ he whined.

Callie lifted her head from where she lay by his feet and growled. Then, she moved quickly to the front door and started scratching at the wood.

“Twice a day,” she reminded him. “And we agreed that would be your job. Take Callie out when you go.”

“Fine.” He set the book on the table beneath the window and peered out. “Hey, there’s some guy out there, coming up from the river.”

Grace dropped the log she’d been about to feed into the fire. “Get away from the window!” She crossed the room and yanked him back from the glass. “Damn it, when I tell you to move, move!”

“Geez.” He rubbed his arm where she’d grabbed him. “You don’t even know if it’s a bad guy.”

“And we don’t know that it’s not,” Chloe pointed out taking his hand and pulling him farther toward the center of the cabin. “Do you see anything?”

Grace crouched down, moved closer to the window and looked out. “Just what Drew saw,” she said after a minute. “Just the one man.”

“See, he
might
be nice,” Drew said, with a pout. “Just lost or something.”

“He’s got a gun.” She backed away from the window before rising. Immediately, she went to the gun cabinet tucked beneath the loft stairs.

“Well, we’ve got a lot of them,” Drew pointed as she opened the cabinet. “They might be looking for food and stuff. Like you guys were when you found us. You just automatically think he’s a bad guy.”

She checked and loaded a handgun then tucked it in the waistband of her jeans before grabbing her rifle. “I’m not assuming anything,” she insisted as she loaded the firearm. “But I’m also not taking any chances. Chloe, take him into my room. Lock the door, stay away from the windows, and do not come out until I tell you to.”

“But—”

Chloe clapped a hand over Drew’s mouth and nodded. “Be careful,” she whispered as she pulled her brother to the bedroom.

Grace pocketed some extra rounds and took a deep breath. She hadn’t lied to Drew—she wasn’t assuming anything—but she did
not
have a good feeling about this.

“Callie,” she murmured when she approached the door, “with me.”

She turned the knob then, using the barrel of the gun, pushed the door open.

“Oh, hello there,” the man exclaimed cheerfully the moment she stepped onto the porch.

Grace didn’t respond. She simply widened her stance and waited. She noticed, however, he’d hidden his gun behind his back.

“I’m sorry if I startled you, miss. I’m just traveling through and I saw the smoke from your chimney and came to check it out.” He gave her a broad smile. “I can’t tell you how nice it is to see a friendly face.”

“You can keep on moving, sir,” she said coldly.

“Not so friendly, I see.” He ran a hand through his messy brown hair.

“Move it along, and get off my land.” Grace tightened her grip on the rifle and prayed he would just listen.

“Your land?” He threw his head back and laughed. “The world’s changed. A piece of paper stating ownership doesn’t mean a damned thing anymore.”

“I’m not exactly waving a piece of paper in your face, now am I?”

A blur in her periphery caught her attention, and another man—shorter than the first with dirty blond hair and a crooked grin— came into view from around the corner of the cabin. Gun in hand trained on her. When she shifted her gaze back, a sob threatened to choke her. Yet another man stood beside the first, and both were armed and aimed at her.

“You present a beautifully
fierce
picture, but three against one?” The first man shrugged. “I win.”

She knew there was no way she could take all three out. Her mind raced. What the hell was she going to do?

“Slowly, set the rifle down,” he ordered.

“And that one tucked at your back,” the man to her right added.

“Good spot, man. Go search the cabin. Let’s find out if we’re alone.” The first man, obviously the leader of sorts to the trio, lifted a brow. “Your guns aren’t on the ground.”

Grace held his gaze as she squatted to lay the rifle at her feet.

“Slowly,” he warned as she reached behind her for the other firearm.

Chloe stepped beside Grace as she straightened. Glancing back, Grace saw the gun trained on Chloe’s back but there was no sign of Drew. Her heart thundered, and her breathing quickened. She hadn’t heard a shot or struggle of any kind…

“Jake, why don’t you take these lovely ladies and put them in there,” he pointed to the shed, “while we have a look around.”

Once inside the small space, Grace grabbed Chloe’s arms. “Where’s Drew?” she whispered.

“We saw the other guy walk past the bedroom window with a gun. I waited until he was out of sight then helped Drew climb out. I told him to run.” Her voice caught in her throat. “To run toward town and find Ethan and Noah. And tell them what was happening.”

Even as worry and fear clutched her insides ruthlessly, Grace gave the young woman tight hug. “That was quick thinking, honey. Good job.”

She released her and started quietly rummaging through the things in the shed.

“What are you doing?” Chloe sat on the ground and wrapped her arms around Callie, who licked her face in response.

“Just seeing what we have to work with,” she murmured.

“Hey, Jake, wait until you see the amount of food there is in there. Shit, this place is freaking heaven. Food, guns, tools…”

“Don’t forget the women,” Jake added suggestively.

“Oh God,” Chloe whimpered.

“Don’t worry, honey.” Grace smiled as she pulled a pair of gardening sheers from a bucket of tools. “I have a plan…sort of.”

* * * *

Noah handed the armful of quilts to Ethan, who stood in the truck’s bed rearranging things. They’d already cleaned out any food or tools they could find, and were gathering clothing, bedding, anything that could be of use over the long Midwestern winter. Speaking of…

“Hey, you haven’t said anything lately about hitting the road, heading farther northwest like we’d planned.”

Ethan frowned at him. “And?”

“Well, I figure if that is the plan, we need to decide when to head out.” He grabbed the bags of clothing he’d pulled from the house and tossed them into the truck. “I’d like to be settled before the hard snow hits, and while it’s a gorgeous fall day today, winter’s fast coming.”

“Don’t for a minute think I don’t know what you’re doing?”

Noah smiled innocently. “And what’s that, baby?”

“You want me to say I don’t want to leave. That we should stay here with Grace. And Chloe and Drew.”

“Hmm.” Noah continued to load the clothing, saying nothing, but his lips curved slightly.

“Yeah, I see the smirk. I know what you want. What I don’t get,” Ethan mumbled as he worked, “is why you just don’t come out and say. You want to stay, tell me, for fuck’s sake. There’s no need for—”

“Noah! Ethan! Help! Noah! Ethan!”

Ethan vaulted out of the truck and was running for the road before Noah registered it was Drew’s voice yelling their names. He raced after Ethan, who was now crouched in front of a panting, shaking Drew.

“Men…guns…” He breathed in a gulp of air and lifted teary eyes to Noah’s face. “Chloe…Chloe said run…and get you.”

Noah’s heart stopped. “How many men were there?”

Drew shook his head. “I wasn’t supposed to look. Chloe said.” His voice broke.

“It’s okay,” Ethan assured. “We’ll figure it out.” He started to rise but Drew grabbed his arm.