The Badger City Gang [Bride Train 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (30 page)

Rusty held her shoulders, supporting her so she could take Zach in hand. She playfully nipped the side of his shaft. He tried to pull back, then gave in to her. She continued nipping all the way to his balls, guiding him along her cheek with her fist. She moved to the other side but this time, kissed him. Small kisses, all the way to the tip. Then she sucked him deep, just once. His salty taste lingered at the back of her tongue as she ringed his mushroom head.

She brought her chest closer to Rusty, arching her back to encourage Gideon to continue. He immediately pressed into her again, filling her as Zach did her mouth. With sensations bombarding her from every direction, she let Gideon and Rusty work out how best to satisfy her while she concentrated on the hot, hard, cock in her mouth.

“Oh, God, Kate,” said Zach. “I’m going to—”

He tried to pull out, but she wanted all of him, all of them, and refused to let go. She hummed and he erupted, flowing over her tongue. She held on until he peeled her fingers back and kissed her lips.

“Make her scream,” he said.

With both of her hands now free, Rusty released her shoulders to grip her hips. She wanted more than their slow, but delicious, in-and-out. Far more.

“Faster,” she ordered. “Harder.”

“Are you sure—”

“Dammit, Gideon, give the woman what she wants,” gasped Rusty.

He dug his fingers into her thighs and pressed Gideon’s cock deep into her. At the same time he lifted his hips, impaling her. For just a moment, she had both men deep inside. Every part of her felt alive, and then Gideon pulled almost out, cursing.

Growling, she clenched the sheets in her fists for leverage and slammed herself down on them. She ground her clit against Rusty’s pubic bone. It wasn’t enough. Someone’s hands went for her nipples. They pinched, twisting her strings even tighter.

Gideon exploded. The arousing pain of his roars and deep thrusts tipped her over. She screamed and convulsed. Rusty erupted under her, even louder than his cousin, prolonging her orgasm. She rode him, gasping to breathe, finally collapsing onto his chest.

Sometime later the buzzing in her head faded enough for her to hear the rasping breathing of others.

“What the hell was that?” The words seemed to come from far away.

“That, cousin, was one hell of an orgasm.”

This deep voice vibrated through her ribcage. She blew at the hair tickling her nose. When it didn’t stop itching she fluttered her eyelashes just enough to see. Reddish-blond curls. Rusty. Her brain swirled a bit more before the waves she felt made sense. She lay on Rusty. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed.

“I don’t know about you, but it was the best damn thing I’ve ever felt.” Gideon, looking as stunned as she felt, rubbed his brown hair, blinking. He shook his head and grinned.

“After that, Kate could use a soak in the hot springs.” Zach kissed her forehead. “Unless you’ve had enough riding for today?”

“Thank you for taking me in, Mrs. Johnston,” said Kate.

She tried to appear polite though she wanted to bolt from the room and run into the arms of Zach, Gideon, Rusty, or all three at once. In the last few days they hadn’t had a chance to repeat the magnificent evening, or take another soak in the hot springs, but she’d had a few hot and heavy cuddles.

If she’d known that Walt’s lady friend would sweep in and “rescue” her from the Running W, she would have done far more. She ached for their mouths, fingers, and cocks. This time she wanted to ride Zach and take Gideon in her mouth while Rusty filled her bottom. He wouldn’t hold back the way Gideon had. Zach would want to keep control, but all she had to do was squeeze him while deep inside and he lost all reason.

She couldn’t even inhale deeply due to the layers of clothing she wore. After living with the freedom of the Running W, loving three men, she felt stifled, in her body and her mind. She balanced a teacup and saucer on her knee, her back stiff and straight, her face and manner seemingly calm no matter what was going on inside her. It was how she’d been taught a proper lady should behave.

Ladies didn’t tell the truth. Not to each other, and certainly not to their husbands. They hid their hurts, desires, and whims. If they had enough money and their husband didn’t care, they also hid lovers.

Kate wanted to be truthful with her McInnes men. They listened to her as no man had. Even when they disagreed, they explained why. Sometimes she was right, and the fact that they accepted that, even if it took a while, helped her love them.

Yet here she sat with Emma Johnston, Walt’s lady friend. She had been scandalized to discover that Kate was living in an unmarried state on Walt’s ranch. Nothing would do but for Kate to move in with her. Walt owned the ranch, and therefore could dictate who lived on it. He wanted to keep his lady friend happy, so Kate had to move out. Walt insisted it was temporary, just until he could explain to Emma how things were in the valley. He told the men to be patient, but they were just as upset as she.

“I could hardly let an innocent woman live in disgrace on my dear friend’s ranch.”

“No, ma’am,” said Kate obediently. She nibbled on a macaroon, eyes down.

She could have stayed at the hotel with Sophie McLeod. That way she could have caught up on the local gossip. She’d given her statement to the law and they told her Casey had seen the same thing. The banker had a small gun hidden inside his coat. He’d pulled it out to shoot Rivers, but the quicker man had grabbed it and turned it on them. Jennet wasn’t sure who Rivers would have shot.

Though he’d seemed to be on good terms with Rivers, years earlier the man had seduced Jennet’s daughter. Though they told everyone she was going East to school, she’d been sent away to have a baby. She’d died in childbirth. Jennet had wanted a personal revenge, and put a widow-maker in his vest. He insisted he knew nothing of what Rivers had been involved in.

Casey and his brother were delighted with their new home. A couple of feet of floor with a wall between them and outside was more than they were used to.

Once the mules had pulled the wagon onto the road to town Walt informed her that this was part of his big plan to get her married. When the McInnes men realized what their life would be like without her, they’d sit up and take notice.

Kate told him that of course they’d miss her, but she didn’t know if they loved her. Walt nodded when she said she wouldn’t marry any of them unless they did. It was too late for her. She knew long ago that she loved them. Walt insisted his plan would prove to everyone whether they loved her or not. Zach was the most important, he said, as he was the leader.

She didn’t know if Emma Johnston was in on the plan.

“Show me your hands, girl.”

Though she knew what was coming, there was nothing Kate could do about it. She held out her tanned, callused fingers. As expected, Mrs. Johnston tut-tutted, but at least she didn’t condemn Kate for not having the soft, useless hands of an Eastern lady.

“I have some salve that will help with that cut,” she said. “Where did you get it?”

“I believe I was peeling potatoes,” replied Kate. “Either that or slicing cucumbers for pickles.”

“I suppose staying with me has upset your plans for putting up food for winter.”

“We’ll soon know if I’ll be on the ranch come winter.” Kate folded her hands in her lap.

“Do you want to be there?”

Kate kept her placid mask in place. “It’s up to Zach McInnes to ask, but I won’t marry him unless he proves he loves me.” Kate hoped the snort had come from the ugly pug dog snoring in the older woman’s lap.

“I was not aware you were the type of woman to let a man dictate your life.”

“Pardon me?”

Mrs. Johnston leaned back. She appraised Kate with shrewd eyes while sifting her fingers through the dog’s fur.

“Let me be blunt,” said the older woman drily. “You’ve been sharing a home with three men for the last few weeks. Do you really want to live the rest of your life with them? They’re deep in debt. You will become old before your time while you work long days. Your skin will be rough, your clothing plain, and your life hard. Do you want that for your future?”

It was something Kate had thought about since realizing she loved Zach’s caring arrogance, Rusty’s wildly wicked laugh, and Gideon’s sweet charm. She thought Gideon might be a bit infatuated with her just because she was there, that almost any woman would make him just as happy.

Rusty she wasn’t so sure about. Sometimes she didn’t know if he was speaking from his heart, or playing with hers. The way he looked at her changed from minute to minute. He’d be playful, his eyes shining with mischief, and then they’d send a message of such heat and need that her breasts and pussy would swell. It was most disconcerting.

And Zach? She was sure he had a heart, because it had been broken by his mother. Could he trust her not to do the same? She wasn’t sure whether he could ever allow someone to help him heal. He fought for control every minute. Only when he finally allowed himself to release, did she see the man inside the mask. She didn’t know if he realized he’d whispered he loved her more than once. She was sure he didn’t know she’d heard.

She’d pushed all three men and discovered they kept their temper, their humor, and even listened to her. She’d demanded they touch her body and make it sing, and it made them all the more eager for her. She loved them all, but even if they loved her, would they admit it?

“Which would you choose, Kate? A safe, comfortable home? Or a wild, adventurous life?”

She was not her mother. The answer was simple.

“Mrs. Johnston, are you aware how I came to Tanner’s Ford? Some say the Bride Train was robbed, but I willingly jumped off the moving train with Zach McInnes. I landed on the back of a racing horse and rode, in a man’s saddle, for two days until we reached the Running W. I helped catch Orville Rivers, distracting him by pretending to be an innocent waif that Rusty and Gideon were intent on selling. I wore nothing but a thin cotton nightgown at the time.”

“How adventurous,” said Mrs. Johnston. She arched an elegant eyebrow, but Kate didn’t pick up disgust or horror coming from her.

“My mother chose what she thought was a safe, comfortable life. Instead, it was a horrid prison with fine clothing along with continual belittling, condescension, and threats.” Kate rose to her feet. “Thank you for your hospitality, but I’d rather return to the Running W and take my chances with the McInnes men. I don’t need Walt to force Zach to choose anything. I choose him, for my own reasons.”

“Sit down, Kate. Zach needs a bit of help to think things out. Men often do. Please, humor an old woman.”

While Kate perched on the edge of the chair Mrs. Johnston relaxed somewhat. She watched Kate but did nothing but run her fingers over her dog for a few minutes.

“First, please call me Emma. Walt and I would prefer if you stay for a few more hours. Zach, and perhaps the other two, will be visiting Walt here. You can watch, and listen to what they say when Walt tells them to choose.”

A door slammed, and Kate jumped. Heavy feet trod toward them. A far different Walt Chamberlain appeared in the doorway. He wore a clean, pressed suit, and his hair and beard were trimmed. He gazed at Emma Johnston with the same hot, eager look she saw on her men.

“Not now, Walter. We have a guest.”

“That’s not a guest. That’s my Katie,” said Walt. He strode across the room like a man half his age, swooped down on Emma and kissed her thoroughly. He pushed the dog off her lap in order to hold her closer. Kate, blushing, called the dog over and petted him as an excuse to look away.

“Now that’s how a man kisses his woman!” said Walt with gusto. Emma fanned her red face with a hand, gasping for air. “I got something to tell you, Katie. It’s about yer pa.”

Kate shot to her feet. “You found my father?”

Walt tilted his head in a wishy-washy motion. “Let’s just say I can tell you who he is now.”

“Does he live in Helena? Is that why you went there?”

Walt scratched his beard and turned away. He looked almost embarrassed. Kate looked from him, to Emma, and back. The older couple shared a look, one she did not like.

“What?” Kate gasped and dropped into her chair. “He’s dead, isn’t he,” she whispered.

“Tell her,” said Emma. “Put the poor girl out of her misery.”

“Bossy women,” muttered Walt. He stomped over to the sideboard and poured himself a glass of whiskey. “Man needs somethin’ strong at a time like this.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sakes!” Emma set both hands on her thighs and stood. “Let Kate see for herself. Both of you, follow me.”

“Where, you fool woman?”

“There’s a looking glass in my drawing room. And leave that bottle behind.”

Walt muttered into his beard but still gestured for her to follow Emma. Unable to think, she did as she was told. Emma brought them down a short hall and opened a door. Kate followed like an automaton. Emma gestured to a side wall where a large looking glass hung. She opened the drapes and sunlight filled the room.

“Stand side by side,” she ordered. When Walt didn’t move fast enough, she pushed him closer. “Now open your eyes and see!”

Kate noticed her face was white, her eyelids pink, and there were dark circles under her eyes. She looked at Walt’s face. He blinked quickly, as if fighting tears.

“Look at his eyes, Kate.”

She turned away from the mirror and faced the white-bearded man. He stood straighter than he’d done before. His smile was soft and shy. She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. There was something familiar…

“You look just like your mother, Katie,” whispered Walt. “But you’ve got your papa’s eyes.”

She could barely hear his words over the thrumming in her head.

“How—” She swallowed. “How would you know?”

“I’ve seen them in the mirror all my life. When I had the guts to face myself, that is.”

She shook her head, unable to understand his words.

“I loved your mama, and she loved me. But not enough. We had only a few nights together. Millie had you for twenty-one years. And now she sent me an adventurous daughter who I love with all my heart.”