Two In Hand Read online

  Her thoughts—and a lead foot on the accelerator—carried her over to Stockton Stock Company. She eased through the gate, the familiar sight of the horses and cattle in the field reminding her that nothing had changed. Sydney’s call probably meant nothing. James and Daniel traveled the rodeo circuit. No doubt they had friends they met after a long absence. She tried to ease the tension in her shoulders as she pulled to a stop.

  A blue truck with the vanity license plate RIDEEM sat in the driveway. The dirt on the fenders bespoke long hours on the road. The hat hanging in the back window, and the mud flaps with bucking bulls on them was evidence that a cowboy drove the truck. That cowboy wasn’t either one of the men she loved. Katie’s breath whooshed from her lungs.

  She left her purse in the car and opened the door, tucking the keys in her hip pocket. She might not be here very long. Marching up the stairs, her shoulders back, her head high, she vowed Daniel wouldn’t break her heart again. Not this time.

  She lifted her fist to knock.

  The white door swung open. A shirtless man, his brown hair still damp from the shower, stood there. He blinked a couple of times. A slow smile spread across his face.

  “You’re Katie, right? Good to finally meet you.”

  “Who are you?” A picture formed in Katie’s mind, one she didn’t like. The guys reuniting with someone at the rodeo, bringing him home. Her lips twisted down into a frown. “And how do you know me?”

  He opened the door. “I’m Luke. Nice to meet you.”

  She stepped inside, her stomach a jumble of knots. She sidled past him, not quite sure whether to bolt or stay. Katie shoved her hands into her pocket so she wouldn’t have to shake his hand. “How do you know who I am?” She repeated her question.

  Upstairs she heard rustling, and she stared at the stairway leading to where she presumed the bedrooms were. The creak of bed springs filled the silence. She glanced from Luke, to the noises, then back again.

  “James and I go way back. We hooked up when they were down in Texas.”

  “Hooked up?” Katie scowled. She stepped toward the door.

  Luke’s strong hand on her arm kept her from fleeing. “Look, the guys couldn’t talk about anything but you. I know what this looks like. I’d just finished dressing when I heard a car pull up. But I swear, I’m only here to test ride some of James’ broncs.” He stuck out a bare foot, and she noticed an elastic bandage on his ankle. “I fell off in Cheyenne. Need to get warmed up before I hit the circuit again, you know?”

  Katie stiffened. His story sounded plausible. “Yeah,” she muttered.

  “Look. Why don’t you go on upstairs? I bet Daniel and James would be happy to see you.” He started for the stairs.

  “No. That’s okay. I think I’ve seen enough.” Katie took a deep breath. “I don’t need to talk to them.”

  “I think you do.” Luke stopped so abruptly she nearly ran into him. “Look. I’ve sworn off anything on two legs, colts or fillies.” He winked at her. “I know what this looks like, but seriously those guys are into you. You were all they could talk about. They didn’t even hang out at the bar on Saturday night like we used to. So I think you ought to go upstairs and see for yourself.” Before she could protest, Luke headed for the stairs, leaving her no choice but to follow.

  She did, her heart hammering in her chest. She caught glimpses of a masculine décor as she passed, leather and wooden furniture, large western prints on the wall. Bold southwestern print rugs lined the wooden floor of the hallway in a hodgepodge. James stopped at the last door in the hallway and pushed it the rest of the way open.

  One bare foot stuck out from tangled sheets around James’ long, muscular legs. The blue sheet dipped low across his hip, almost baring his left buttock. His dark head leaned over the middle of Daniel’s very naked chest, the tenting sheet making it obvious what they were doing.

  Daniel grinned like he’d just won a competition. “Katie! Now we don’t have to call you. Come on in.”

  Luke pushed her across the threshold, his hand on her lower back. “Go on,” he said, low enough for her to hear. “I’m sure they’ll want to kiss and make up.”

  “For what?” James lifted his head. A glance over his shoulder had him tossing back the sheet, stopping when Luke cleared his throat.

  “I’ll be out in the barn. Maybe for a couple of hours. Take your time.” Luke backed away from the door.

  Moments later, Katie heard his boots on the stairs. She remained rooted in place, the obvious wrong leaps she’d made haunting her. Just like she thought, Luke had been a rodeo buddy they hadn’t seen for a while. He wasn’t sleeping with them. No illicit affairs had happened. She dropped her purse, the strength suddenly draining out of her.

  “You didn’t think that Luke and us were doing anything did you?” Daniel asked.

  Katie pressed her lips together and gave a slow, sad nod. She stared at her shoes, wishing somehow to take back this moment. Maybe stay at home a little longer and call or something. “I’m sorry I doubted you,” she said. “I’ll just go.”

  “Oh, Katie. Get over here and we’ll show you how much we love you,” Daniel patted a bare spot on the bed.

  She hesitated. Seeing Daniel there, James draped against his chest brought home the fact that these guys had a relationship. And yet they still wanted her. Even after she’d made a horrible fool out of herself.

  “Hey, remember what I told you. We want you.” James scooted into a seated position next to Daniel. “There’s no one else for us. Daniel and I have had each other for many years, and, now, we have you. We would have went to your place last night, but by the time we unloaded the stock and gear we collapsed into bed.”

  Downstairs, the front door closed, leaving the trio alone in the house. Katie took a step forward, then another, drawn to the men like a horse to hay. She needed them. Like sustenance, as a part of her life, for better for worse and all that jazz, oh how she needed them. She moved toward the bed, almost running. She halted before she flung herself onto the mattress. “I thought—oh hell, forget what I thought.”

  She whipped her shirt over her head, letting it sail behind her to land somewhere on the floor. Her bra came undone and her jeans slid down her hips. Kicking off her shoes, and pulling off her socks, she waited until she was completely naked and then crawled to the sliver of space between the two men.

  Daniel smoothed his hand along her thigh. His hand stilled. “You don’t have anything to worry about with us. You know that don’t you?”

  “Yeah.” Sitting here between the two men, Katie knew the truth. She loved them. She didn’t need Luke, or anyone else for that matter, to tell her any different. Turning to James, she trailed her fingers along his jaw, bringing his lips to hers. She kissed him first, sharing with him the emotions welling deep inside.

  And she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

  “Lay back,” she whispered against Daniel’s lips. He complied, and she quickly straddled him.

  “I like this,” James chuckled.

  “I bet.” Katie sealed her intentions with another kiss, her lips moving across Daniel’s. She poured her hopes, her dreams, even her fears into the subtle pressures of her mouth against his. To think, she’d thought the men didn’t want her anymore. She might have laughed, except Daniel reached around and rubbed her rear. She nestled against him, his hard cock trapped against her.

  Her wetness eased the way for his shaft to slide against her, parting her folds with its width and making the head bump against her clitoris. She pulled her mouth from his and moaned, nibbling down the corded length of his neck, to his broad, flat chest. His nipples taunted her, drawn into tight beads and she drew one in her mouth. Oh yes, she’d make him squirm the same way he’d done to her.

  While she concentrated on Daniel, James moved to the foot of the bed. He settled himself behind her, his big hands spanning her waist.

  “You must like that position,” she whispered to him as she paused in laving Daniel’s flat
abs.

  “Mmm. Mmm.” James agreed. He drew his fingers down the length of her spine. “Nothing turns me on more than a sexy back.” He nipped the nape of her neck. “And yours is one of the sexiest that I’ve seen.”

  She arched toward his mouth, letting him know that he hit every erogenous zone from the nape of her neck down to the base of her spine. Beneath her, Daniel cupped her breasts, brushing his thumbs over her nipples. She seated herself closer to his cock, already wet enough to slide him inside her. She reached down, cupping his base, then rose just enough so his tip slid inside.

  “Wait,” Daniel said, his voice little more than a ragged groan. “We need—”

  Katie silenced him with a kiss, fully sheathing him inside her slick channel. “We’re good,” she whispered against his lips and then she kissed him once more. She moved, lifting herself so he almost slipped free and sliding back down again.

  James reached around her, his fingers caressing her mons, then lower so he could stroke her and his lover. He moved with her, his cock nestled against her buttocks, as she made love to Daniel.

  Katie drew a deep breath. So good, but she wanted more. “James.” She straightened and turned her head to look over her shoulder. “I want you inside me.”

  Beneath her, Daniel stiffened.

  James went still. “You sure?” He nudged her with his erection. “If you’re not used to it—”

  Katie pressed a finger against his lips to quiet him. “I’m sure. Please.”

  ~* * *~

  Her soft “please” proved to be his undoing.

  “Okay,” James found himself agreeing as he moved to the night stand and grabbed a bottle of lube. His balls ached with the promise of being inside Katie’s hot, tight little body. He stopped for a moment at the foot of the bed, the sight greeting him taking his breath away.

  Katie straddled Daniel, taking him into her. He watched his lover’s thick rod disappear inside Katie’s body, knew what it felt like to be sheathed in the tight glove of her body. Her soft moans mingled with Daniel’s panting breaths. Daniel’s big hands played across Katie’s breasts, and James thought he’d never seen anything quite as gorgeous as his two lovers.

  The bed creaked beneath his weight as he returned to his position behind her. Gently, he poured lube on his fingers and then applied it to Katie’s tender skin. The tip of his finger pressed against her and then dipped inside. Any fears he might have had about changing her mind evaporated. Katie pushed against him, taking him deeper.

  James added a second finger, working deeper, stretching her in preparation. The trust it took for her to do this, humbled and awed him. In his entire life, he’d never met another woman like her. And now, he knew why Daniel had fallen in love with her twice.

  Resting the tip of his cock against her, he drew a shuddering breath. “Ready?” He nibbled on her neck.

  Katie nudged him. “Yes,” she panted.

  “Relax.” He pressed forward, slowly, surely, testing her the way he’d done to Daniel their first time together.

  He sensed her capitulation, the tight ring of muscles easing enough for him to slip inside. The instant her heat enveloped him, the same warmth flooded his heart. He loved her. As he insinuated himself into her body, she did the same thing to his emotions, and by the time he fully seated himself inside her, he loved her as much as he loved Daniel.

  Through the barrier separating them, Daniel’s cock slid against his. Together…all of them. And Katie was the reason why. She had joined their souls, just as she’d taken them inside her body.

  Her muscles tightened around him. Daniel groaned. Katie cried out. And James held her while she came, his arms tight around her, his cock buried in her body. He cupped her breasts, Daniel’s fingers covering his. Over her shoulder, he locked gazes with Daniel.

  His lover smiled. A quick nod and Daniel began to move again. James followed shortly there after, wanting to protect this woman, to cherish her. Daniel’s moans grew harsher, his thrusts deeper. James smiled at the fact his lover was so close to coming.

  With a ragged cry, Daniel reached climax. James held Katie, hardly moving while his lover spent himself into her. Though they didn’t all come together, this was the way it should be…Katie first, then either him or Daniel.

  Urgency built within James. He knew that with a few more thrusts, maybe not even that, and he’d come too. He steeled himself, trying to keep his need under control so he could simply remain inside Katie for a moment longer,. Not yet. Not until both of them made it.

  Katie started to move again. Inside her, Daniel’s cock hardened with a swiftness that James felt.

  “I love you,” James whispered in Katie’s ear. “Daniel too.”

  She moaned and leaned against him, her back flush against his chest. His hands moved lower, through her trimmed hair to find her pussy. He stroked her clit, reaching down to touch Daniel’s wet shaft.

  Katie stilled. She bent forward, pressing a kiss to Daniel’s lips, then straightening, and reseating the men inside her, before looking over her shoulder and kissing James. “I love you guys too. That’s why I couldn’t believe that Luke was anything more than a friend. Now, please, make love to me. Finish this.” She punctuated her words with a thrust.

  “Always.” The word became his mantra as he thrust into her, the momentary pause just enough to keep his ardor from overwhelming his common sense. He pumped carefully, aware of Katie’s untested state. She moved with him, the two of them locked in a dance to which Daniel could only watch. Daniel’s thick cock still filled her; James brushed against it through her body. His fingers circled the root of his lover’s shaft, tightening to stave off another orgasm.

  Daniel groaned, words not necessary as the three of them moved in tandem. Sweaty limbs and husky sighs entwined. Emotion swelled inside him. He’d said the words, loved her, and loved Daniel. And he gave himself over to the pressure building inside. He shouted, his release powerful as he spilled himself inside her. His right hand tightened on her hips, his left hand stilling against her side.

  Katie’s mewling cries escalated as she came once more. Daniel followed her shortly thereafter, and the three of them toppled to the bed.

  James smoothed his hand along Katie’s brown hair. He peppered kisses across her shoulders and neck as she snuggled against Daniel.

  “You meant it?” she asked finally. “You love me?” She reached out a hand and traced her fingers through the whorls of hair on Daniel’s chest. “You too?” she asked him.

  The enthusiasm in her voice matched his and James grinned against her skin. “I do love you. I probably have from the first moment Daniel mentioned meeting you again.” He kissed her shoulder. “You’re a strong, powerful, woman and I can’t imagine my life without you.” He glanced at Daniel. “How about you?”

  Daniel grinned a thousand-watt smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever stopped loving you, Katie. It just took me a few years to figure out what I wanted.” He reached up and cupped her cheek. “I’m glad you waited for me.”

  “Me too,” Katie replied.

  Chapter Twelve

  Katie pulled back from Daniel’s kiss, aware of the powerful words just exchanged between them. She stretched and sat up, her nakedness not really bothering her.

  “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m hungry. And I think I have an apology to make.” In the barn, Luke probably thought she was crazy for storming over here like this.

  “An apology?” Daniel stood and offered his hand to Katie.

  She took it, noticing a bathroom through an open door. “May I?”

  “Sure. Want company?”

  “Why not?” Katie joked as Daniel joined her in crossing the bedroom, James following behind.

  “So, why do you need to apologize?” Daniel asked as he adjusted the water on the shower.

  Katie admired the view—the man and the enormous shower stall. A bench ran along the back, and there were two shower heads, one at each end.

  “Hey, when we
come back from a rodeo it’s nice to relax and unwind.” James tossed three towels over a bar that looked like it was also a warmer. He set a bottle of bath gel on one of the shelves built into the shower surround. “Hope this is okay. Daniel thought it was your brand.”

  “Perfect.” She grinned, thinking of the guys picking out the right shower gel and making sure everything was okay for her.

  “Ladies first,” Daniel announced.

  Katie stepped beneath the spray, the massaging shower heads heavenly against her skin. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back. Yeah, she totally could get used to this. The tiny stall in her bathroom at home way didn’t compare. She grinned, trying not to quickly sober as she thought of housing arrangements.

  “I was kind of bitchy with Luke. Syndey saw you guys together at the rodeo and my mind ran away with me.” She reached for the poof James offered her and started to lather her arms until James took it from her and bathed her back. James knew exactly how to wash her back, applying pressure near her shoulders and the back of her neck where she kept all her tension. Daniel had poured a generous amount of the bath gel in his palms and soaped her front. Oh yeah, she could totally get used to this but she tried to focus. “I knew that it wasn’t anything…”

  Daniel chuckled. “Don’t worry about Luke. He’s just here to ride some horses. Besides, last I heard he wasn’t dating anyone of any sex.” Daniel leaned down and gave a stage whisper. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

  James laughed. “You don’t know Luke, but trust me, I wouldn’t worry about him at all. Come on. Let’s get you dried off. You guys made me work up an appetite.”

  Surprisingly, they didn’t take long to get out of the shower and get dressed. Soon, Daniel stood at the stove frying up bacon and eggs, while James chopped fruit for a salad.

  Both men assured her that they didn’t need her help, and she sat at the table, watching them. She felt a little awkward, mostly because it had been a while since anyone had cooked for her. Daniel set the plate before her, the aroma making her mouth water. “So, what do you want to do now?” he asked, motioning for James to sit.