Destined to Be Three

Sweet Serenity

Destined to Be Three Seeking change, Jaycee Dalton takes a huge gamble with a lifealtering game of Truth or Dare. Jaycee’s innocuous dare lands her on the doorstep of a mysterious fortune teller who throws her a curveball that shakes her to the core. The two loves of her life are coming for her. She wanted change, and she is about to get it. Grayson Blakemore and Cade McCoy have a love that most people only dream of, but they are missing one pivotal piece—Jaycee. Tired of living half lives, Gray and Cade concoct a scheme with her friends to win her back. Shamelessly exploiting the dare she is taking, Gray and Cade kidnap Jaycee and prove that love is more than just playing sexy games. When Jaycee discovers their devious plot, will she feel betrayed or will she turn the tables on them and play a game of her own? Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre Length: 53,834 words

DESTINED TO BE THREE Sweet Serenity

Mia Ashlinn

MENAGE AMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

DESTINED TO BE THREE Copyright © 2012 by Mia Ashlinn E-book ISBN: 1-61926-337-8 First E-book Publication: February 2012 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Destined to Be Three by Mia Ashlinn from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Mia Ashlinn’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Ashlinn’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION For my soul mate. You made a believer out of me.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Praise the bridge that carried you over.—George Colman My fellow Righteous Perverts, the support and love you have shown me surpasses even my greatest imagination. Thank you for all the good times, dirty thoughts, and hysterical laughter. You are the best! I want to extend a special thanks to Heather, Corinne, Tina, Dawn, Sheri, and Luna. Your friendships are a true blessing to me. Jinger Heaston, you created the perfect cover for my first book. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I want to thank my two wonderful Betas, Stormy and Tina. You have provided me with invaluable help, and I will forever be grateful to both of you. Last but not least, thank you to everyone at Siren Publishing. Without your help, this book wouldn’t be a reality.

DESTINED TO BE THREE Sweet Serenity MIA ASHLINN Copyright © 2012

Chapter 1 Jaycee Dalton fought the urge to cover her ears. The neighbor’s incessant arguing was yet another reason why their “girls’ night” sucked. Lately, all of their weekend get-togethers had been total duds. Three women congregating in her cramped apartment, doing nothing, and talking about nothing wasn’t exactly Jaycee’s idea of a good time. She wanted to do something exciting, have a little fun. Yeah, right, that was going to happen. It was getting late, anyway. Maybe they could come up with something better to do next weekend. If they come. Their weekly visits had turned into biweekly and sometimes monthly visits. Not that Jaycee faulted her friends. The drive from Serenity, Kansas, to her apartment in Paloma was long, but she wouldn’t risk going to them. Wondering about the actual time, Jaycee looked past Katie-Anne Blakemore’s perch on the countertop to the outdated stove clock. Squinting to see the time, Jaycee couldn’t believe her eyes. Nine thirty? Seriously? She reread the clock before groaning silently. This crappy night was never going to end. “Anyone up for a game of Truth or Dare?” Katie-Anne asked between sips of Chardonnay, not looking the least bit intoxicated.

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“Bitch,” Jaycee muttered, taking a swig of her too-warm beer. She really loved the girl, but damn it, sometimes life was unfair. Here she was, sitting cross-legged on her ass in the middle of her kitchen table with no makeup, wrinkled clothes, and helter-skelter hair. Meanwhile, Katie-Anne looked like a queen atop her throne. She was an outlandishly colorful, glitzy queen, but a royal nonetheless. A bleary-eyed Shannon Roberts raised her head from her prone position on the mismatched vinyl tiles, “Huh? Did I miss something?” Katie-Anne rolled her blue-green eyes, “Shannon, honey, wake up. We’re going to play a game.” “Gawd, you two play. I’m gonna sleep.” Shannon’s head fell back to the floor with a thud, her untamed red hair pooling around her and hiding her wire-rimmed glasses and pale face. Setting her wineglass on the counter, Katie-Anne jumped down from her perch with the stealth of a cat and exclaimed, “Come on, girlies! It’ll be fun.” Even through the alcohol-induced haze, Jaycee felt the urge to run. She still remembered the last time they’d played Truth or Dare ten years ago. They’d been teenagers at the time, and she’d gotten grounded for streaking through the middle of town in the morning sun. The sheriff should’ve arrested her seventeen-year-old self, but he’d been too busy laughing and pointing. The only person who’d ended up arrested had been Gray Blakemore, her ex-fiancé and KatieAnne’s older brother. He’d kneed the deputy in the nuts and then slugged the sheriff for ogling her. Jaycee’s heart clenched. She missed him and his best friend Cade McCoy. Not a single day passed that she didn’t think about them, didn’t yearn for them. Even now, she loved them. Damn those men. They’d fucked up her life. Shaking her head, Jaycee’s thoughts returned to the now-infamous game of Truth or Dare. Her dare had gone awry, but she’d gotten off easy. Shannon and Katie-Anne, however, hadn’t been so lucky.

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A nineteen-year-old Shannon had been dared to doll up and seduce the first man she’d seen. So, Shannon put on a tight-fitting dress and applied gobs of makeup. She styled her hair elaborately and bathed in her mother’s perfume before going into Serenity’s only bar at the time to fulfill her dare. Shannon, unfortunately, spotted Jaycee’s three older brothers when she entered the bar. Fearing a backlash from Katie-Anne, Shannon walked right up to Jared, Drew, and Randy with a come-hither smile and set about seducing the men she’d been in love with for years. Before that night, Shannon barely managed to string together an entire sentence in the triplets’ presence. That hadn’t been the case in the bar when she’d tried her hand at being a teenage Lolita. What a fucking catastrophe. Jaycee’s idiotic brothers gave Shannon a tonguelashing in front of the entire bar that ended with Shannon running away in tears. From that moment on, Shannon relegated herself to a lonely, miserable life where she refused to speak in front of Jaycee’s brothers—much to their chagrin. The damn morons were in love with her and had been for a long time, but they’d fucked up and were still paying for it. After their two debacles, the girls begged sixteen-year-old KatieAnne to not complete her dare. Did Katie-Anne listen? Hell no. She walked right up to the resident bad boys of Serenity, Kansas, and offered to pay them for their services, and she didn’t mean their mechanical skills. No one heard what Shane Jacobs and Landon Tolliver said to her when they escorted her out of the auto shop. One thing was known for sure. Their words changed Katie-Anne in a way she still refused to talk about. Katie-Anne was as bad as Shannon when it came to her men. Shannon avoided Jared, Drew, and Randy like a cowboy avoiding the hind end of his prized horse, while Katie-Anne antagonized hers at every turn.

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After that catastrophic day, the girls swore to never play Truth or Dare again. Until this evening, the game hadn’t even been mentioned. Jaycee slid across the table and stood up, the world swimming around her. When she regained her bearings, Jaycee demanded, “Have you lost your mind, Katie-Anne?” Katie-Anne ignored Jaycee pointedly. Hoping for reinforcements, Jaycee staggered across the room toward Shannon’s sleeping form. She nudged Shannon’s leg lightly with her socked foot. When Jaycee received no response, she kicked her. “Get up, dumbass, before she convinces me to play and then we’re all sunk.” Shannon jerked awake and lurched upright. “Huh? What?” Katie-Anne approached Jaycee from behind and said, “Oh, goodie. Shannon is up. Now, we can play.” Dazed, Shannon glanced from Katie-Anne to Jaycee then back again. “What game are we playing exactly? Do I even want to know?” Forcibly pushing Jaycee aside, Katie-Anne offered Shannon a hand. “Jaycee just agreed that we should play Truth or Dare, like when we were kids.” In the process of getting up, Shannon screeched, “Jaycee did what?” Her harsh cry startled Katie-Anne, who accidentally lost her grip on Shannon’s hand, causing Shannon to lose her balance and stumble backward. She landed on her ass in the floor. “Damn it, Katie-Anne.” “Me?” Katie-Anne inquired in a tone with equal parts disbelief and haughtiness. “You’re the one who squealed like some crazy cat in heat.” Shannon heaved herself upward without assistance. “What-thefuck-ever. I’m not playing! Drunk or not.” Jaycee followed Shannon toward the living area and plopped into her old, faithful recliner. “You can count me out, too.”

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Katie-Anne huffed and threw herself onto the couch beside Shannon. “You two are such wimps. Nothing bad will happen if we keep it simple.” Jaycee locked eyes with Shannon. “Simple?” She snorted loudly. “Yeah, right.” “I’m serious,” Katie-Anne retorted, flipping her long midnight hair over her shoulder. “We’ll stick to nonsexual dares. We don’t even have to include men in these dares.” This time, Shannon snorted. “What kind of fun is it if we can’t include sex or men? I’m not having sex with either of you.” She made a grand show of simulating thoughtful deliberation. “Kissing, I might consider.” Katie-Anne waved her hand disdainfully as if she were swatting some annoying fly. Jaycee hated when Katie-Anne transformed into a petulant, condescending brat because she wasn’t getting her way. “Shit. Bratty Katie has arrived,” Jaycee declared scornfully. Katie-Anne turned her head, glaring at Jaycee with arctic eyes. “Well, excuse me, but I am tired of being trapped in a rut. I think…” Katie-Anne swallowed before continuing on. “No. I hope a little game of Truth or Dare might pull the three of us out of our rut. It’s been ten years.” Jaycee was confused. What did Katie-Anne mean they were in a rut? Yeah, her life wasn’t what she’d hoped for, but she wasn’t unhappy. That was what mattered. Right? Apparently, Shannon agreed with Jaycee. “I’m not in a rut, thank you very much.” Shannon’s eyes widened, her face paling drastically. “Is something wrong, Katie-Anne?” she asked, her inner mama bear coming out of hibernation. Katie-Anne shrugged. “I’m restless, Shan. It’s like the three of us aren’t really living. You’re hiding from the world, and Jaycee is running from my brother and Cade. Then, there’s me. I live like a gypsy, and I’m tired of it. I just want to fucking live.”

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Shannon smiled brilliantly as though she’d found a way to derail this disaster-bound train. “Then fucking live, Katie-Anne. You don’t have to play a game with us to do it.” Jaycee would rather chew nails than admit it, but Katie-Anne had valid points. Jaycee ran from the unorthodox town she’d grown up in to get away from Gray and Cade. Shannon hid from everything and everybody, especially herself and Jaycee’s brothers, and Katie-Anne was like the wind. She blew in and out at her whims. None of them were where they wanted to be. Maybe they did need a little push to start their lives. Jaycee piped up, “I’m in,” before she changed her mind. Her two closest friends swung their heads around to stare at her. Katie-Anne’s eyes lit up in excitement and she grinned from ear to ear, while Shannon’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits, her face a mask of horror. Shannon cursed her way through the alphabet like they all did when they were pissed. Thinking more and more that Katie-Anne had a good idea after all, Jaycee said, “Shan—” Shannon threw her hand up and replied curtly, “No.” Jaycee knew Shannon would give in and so did Katie-Anne, if her celebratory dance was any indication. Shannon’s compliance was inevitable because no one was an easier target than her. “Come on, Shan,” Jaycee urged. “We’ll make up rules this time. It’ll work out, you’ll see.” Shannon gave no response. Shifting in the recliner, Jaycee said, “I know you’re worried, but we’re adults.” When Shannon’s lack of reaction continued, Jaycee turned to Katie-Anne. Katie-Anne patted Shannon’s hand. “It really will be all right. What do we have to lose?” Jaycee detected slight movement on Shannon’s lips. It looked as though she said everything.

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Shannon turned her head toward the opened window and stared at something off in the distance, sighing in defeat, “Fine. Whatever.” “Yay,” Katie-Anne cheered, clapping her hands exuberantly. When her excitement had waned, she asked, “What are the rules, my darlings?” How was Jaycee supposed to answer that? Katie-Anne blindsided them with her stupid idea, and, now, she expected them to make up the rules. No, Jaycee did not think so. “The hell if I know. You came up with the game. You come up with the rules.” Shannon nodded her head without looking at either of them. Katie-Anne shrugged negligently and agreed, “Whatever you think is best.” She scrunched her face. “Okay, let’s see. We’ll keep it simple. First, we each have to go one at a time. That way we can be there for each other’s dare—” “Wait,” Shannon cried anxiously, her head whipping back around. “Why do we need to be there for each other? You guys said this would be easy.” “Stop being a pessimist, Shan. We said we were going to be cautious, and I am.” Katie-Anne’s tone was as cool as a cucumber. Her rationale silenced Shannon’s concerns. “Good point. Okay, continue.” “Hmmm.” Katie-Anne paused, tapping her chin with her index finger. Sliding deeper into the chair that molded to her body perfectly after years of use, Jaycee closed her eyes and let her mind drift. Visions of Gray, Cade, and herself floated in front of her eyes. In some, they were together and, in others, they were apart. One after the next, the images sailed across her consciousness. She hadn’t realized how deeply she’d fallen into her personal fantasyland until something smacked her in the face. Her eyes snapped open, and she screamed.

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In between fits of giggles, Shannon informed her it was a pillow, and Katie-Anne wanted to know if she’d been visiting with her brother, Cade, or both of them. Jaycee grabbed the pillow from the floor and flung it. “Fuck you,” she snarled then flipped them the bird. Jaycee clamped her mouth shut when their laughter only amplified. Her father had always told her if she found herself in a hole, she’d better quit digging. After what seemed like an eternity, Katie-Anne finally gasped for breath. She grabbed her right side and stammered between huffs and puffs, “S–S–S–Shit, J. We’re trying to set boundaries for our game, and you’re over there moaning about God knows what. I know the whos, but I don’t want to know the whats.” Katie-Anne shuddered in revulsion. “There are some things I don’t need to know about my big brother.” Shannon grinned, her face taking on a sinister glow. “From what I hear, Katie-Anne, there are a lot of things you don’t want to know about your big brother.” Katie-Anne wrinkled her nose and shrieked, “Ewwww—” Without thought, Jaycee cut her off, demanding, “What the fuck are you talking about, Shannon?” She slapped her hand across her mouth the moment she realized her faux pas. A woman who doesn’t give a damn wouldn’t be ready to scratch out her best friend’s eyes over an offhand comment. Oops. Katie-Anne and Shannon watched Jaycee with rounded eyes and slack jaws. Jaycee knew she had less than two seconds to recover and repair. Schooling her features, she smiled with feigned sheepishness. “Sorry, it was a knee-jerk reaction.” Katie-Anne cocked her head to the side, looking so much like her brother it was downright scary, and arched one dark-colored eyebrow. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t have to. Jaycee heard the words she left unspoken. You are so full of shit.

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At the same time, Shannon dissected Jaycee with shrewd eyes, making her feel like a bug under a microscope. Jaycee knew those looks. Neither of them believed the bullshit she was peddling. She should’ve admitted to them long ago she’d been living life in a hell of her own making. The only reason she hadn’t was she knew they’d pull out all the stops to get her back into the arms of the men she loved. Well, the jig was up. She might as well lay everything on the table. It wasn’t like they could change anything, anyway. She’d walked out on Cade and Gray, they’d moved on, and that was the end of the story. Jaycee sighed in defeat and confessed, “Fine. How am I supposed to stop caring? I’ve loved them since I was four years old, and I don’t know how to quit.” Watching their faces, Jaycee was shocked to see the compassion filling their expressions. Shannon sighed. “Thank goodness, you’re finally coming clean.” Katie-Anne nodded her agreement. “J, you know we’re here for you. We’ve wanted you to come to us so badly, but we knew better than to approach you. We’re pretty partial to our heads.” Jaycee snickered softly. “You two are afraid of little ol’ me?” “When it comes to my brother and Cade, hell yeah I am. You’re one scary bitch when they’re involved,” Katie-Anne retorted with a devilish gleam in her eyes. “I would hate to be the woman who got between you and them. She’d have to be off her rocker.” Jaycee sat up, her spine as straight as an arrow and her head held high. She huffed indignantly, “I am above cattiness, Miss Blakemore.” Katie-Anne stared at her manicured nails disinterestedly. “I think I shall call bullshit on this one, my dear.” “Hey, J. Make sure you call one of us to help hide the body and the other to fabricate a rock-solid alibi,” Shannon advised her helpfully as if the situation was going to arise in the future.

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Jaycee’s hands went to her slender hips. “You bitches.” “Awww. Seriously,” Katie-Anne taunted cheerfully. “That cannot be all you’ve got.” Childishly, Jaycee stuck her tongue out at Katie-Anne, who returned the favor. As the only person acting like an adult in the room, Shannon quickly interceded. “Now, now, girls. Settle down. We were establishing the rules of the game before we got sidetracked, and I think we should get back to it.” Jaycee saluted Shannon playfully. “Yes, Mistress.” “I’m going to ignore that,” Shannon replied primly, crossing her right leg over her left as though she was on a job interview. “Now, Katie-Anne, please proceed.” “As stated before, we must go sequentially. The order will be determined by a game of chance. Rule number two, the dare must be completed within one month of its issued date. Rule number three, if one of us goes back on our challenge, then the other two will determine the appropriate reparation. Rule number four, none of us can talk to anyone about the game.” Katie-Anne stood up and walked over to Jaycee’s desk. She pulled out a sheet of blank paper, a pen, and a clipboard. “Are these okay?” Jaycee and Shannon mumbled their approvals. “Good.” Katie-Anne sat back down and jotted down the rules on the blank paper. “She would make us sign a damn contract,” Shannon remarked affectionately. Turning toward Shannon, Jaycee covered her mouth as if she were going to share a delicious secret and mock whispered, “Wonder if she is going to require blood this time.” Absorbed in her task, Katie-Anne didn’t pay any attention to them. Jaycee and Shannon laughed softly, waiting for Katie-Anne to finish. When she had finished, she signed the bottom of the paper

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before handing it to Shannon, who signed it as well, then passed it to Jaycee. After Jaycee signed the paper, Katie-Anne stood and took it out of her hand. “Now, we must complete the pact. You know what that means, girlies.” “Hell,” Shannon half said, half groaned as she got to her feet. “Is she serious?” Winking at Shannon, Jaycee got to her feet. “I think she is.” “I’m deadly serious,” Katie-Anne affirmed. “No loopholes for anyone. Come on, you wimps.” The three women stood in a close-knit circle, each of them extending their pinkies to the others. They tangled them together and sang,“’Cause I’ve got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away and I’ll be okay. I’m not big on social graces, think I’ll slip on down to the oasis. Oh, I’ve got friends in low places.” Reaching the last line of the verse, they screeched out the final note and held it for far too long. Jaycee knew dogs had to be barking somewhere in town, howling in harmony with their dying cat imitation. They turned to their right, each of them leaning forward and kissing the other’s hand. The covenant was complete. They were in this together, for better or for worse. **** Exactly six days later, Jaycee stood in her bedroom and gawked at the three objects Katie-Anne had tossed on her bed. “Are those…Wait, what are those for?” “Oh, Jaycee, I think it’s pretty self-explanatory.” Katie-Anne smirked. “Those babies are for our game of chance.” “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Shannon said in shock. “You want us to draw dildos instead of straws?”

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Katie-Anne nodded with a sly smile. “Yeah, I thought it would make things more interesting.” Jaycee snorted, picking up one of the sex toys and inspecting it. “Nice choice. Do I get to keep one?” Rolling her eyes, Katie-Anne asked, “What if those are used?” “Sure they are,” Jaycee replied sarcastically. “And pigs fly, too.” “I didn’t know that used was in your vocabulary, Katie-Anne,” Shannon teased, grabbing one of the other dildos and playing with it. “Kiss my ass,” Katie-Anne snapped, her cheeks flushing. She snatched up the last phallus from the bed. “Let’s just get on with this.” “Whoa,” Shannon said. “Who pissed in your Cheerios? We were kidding.” “It’s fine,” Katie-Anne retorted coldly, letting everyone in the room know that it wasn’t. “Okay, look underneath the balls. They are numbered.” Jaycee flipped her dildo upside down and cursed when she spotted the number one. “Son of a bitch.” “Looks like you’re up first, J,” Shannon announced smugly as she turned over her fake cock. “It figures. Katie-Anne comes up with the fucking game, and she gets to watch us suffer first.” Katie-Anne smiled, some of her sparkle returning. “Sucks to be you two.” “Bite me,” Shannon growled with a playful wink. “So, what are we going to dare Jaycee to do?” Jaycee closed her eyes and held her breath, waiting for KatieAnne to respond. “Jaycee Dalton, we dare you to have your fortune read by Shannon’s personal psychic,” Katie-Anne declared. Surprised, Jaycee’s eyes popped open. “That’s it? That’s my dare?” “Easy, huh?” Katie-Anne asked as she tossed her sex toy to Jaycee, who missed it. The dildo fell to the floor with a thunk.

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“Damn it,” Jaycee muttered, bending to pick up the man-made phallus. “Just my luck.” Shannon squatted down, snagging the silicone cock before Jaycee could, and handed it to her. “I have a feeling your luck is about to change, my friend.” I wouldn’t bet on it.

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Chapter 2 Jaycee dropped her blindfold to the floor and glanced around the dimly lit room. She took in all of the bizarre décor surrounding her. There were neon beaded curtains, lava lamps, scattered scarves, and a crystal ball on a pool-size antique table. “Guys, please explain to me why in the hell you dared me to come into this house of kooks.” Shannon smirked and made a sweeping motion with her hand that would rival Vanna White on her best day. “This is Destiny Isgood’s Psychic Parlor. She’s a fortune-teller.” Jaycee gritted her teeth. Well, thank you, Captain Obvious. Katie-Anne cleared her throat, visibly trying to hide her mirth but failing miserably. “Shannon simply adores Destiny. She’s a regular around this place.” Jaycee’s mom had always told her not to say anything when she had nothing nice to say. Remembering that sound piece of advice, she clamped her jaw shut and remained mute. Shannon nodded. “Destiny is absolutely amazing. You’re going to love her. I just know it.” She grinned widely and announced, “It’s a gut feeling.” Jaycee’s jaw dropped to the hideously colored carpet. Before she could gather her wits and respond, muffled titters came from KatieAnne’s general direction. Jaycee turned sharply and gave her friend a look that would flash freeze Lucifer himself. Jaycee shifted her attention back to Shannon. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

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Katie-Anne murmured something under her breath that sounded as though she agreed with Jaycee’s assessment, but her voice was too low for Jaycee to be certain. Circling Shannon like a predator with its prey, Jaycee watched for any signs of nervousness or unease. “Who the hell are you? You kind of look like my best friend, but I don’t think you are.” She stopped directly in front of Shannon, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “You’re up to something.” “Always,” Katie-Anne jumped in merrily. Jaycee forced herself to not acknowledge Katie-Anne. It would only encourage her. Shannon widened her eyes in an exceedingly pathetic attempt to appear innocent and shook her head. “No, I’m not.” Bullshit. Shannon needed to sell that garbage to some other poor, unsuspecting fool with a pea-size brain. “Shan—” Jaycee stopped short when a full-bodied woman stepped in the room. Destiny Isgood. The fortune-teller dressed exactly as Jaycee had expected. Decked out in outrageously loud-colored clothing, ostentatious jewelry, and a bedazzled turban, the strange woman was a psychic cliché fit for the big screen. Hollywood could make a killing. After her rude appraisal of Destiny, Jaycee glanced at Shannon then Katie-Anne. The little weasels had turned their faces away, making it impossible for her to see their expressions. Though, somehow, Jaycee knew her former allies-turned-adversaries were grinning like a couple of Cheshire cats. Destiny Isgood pointed at Jaycee, her golden bangles on her wrist clinking together. “You sit. We talk.” The woman’s brusque tone was unexpected. However, it was her Russian accent that snagged Jaycee’s attention. A red flag immediately went up. Two plus two wasn’t adding up to four. Jaycee hadn’t ever heard of a Russian psychic. She rapidly rummaged through her mind, trying to recall hearing of any psychics

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from Russia. When nothing and no one came to mind, she told herself she was being foolish. Obviously, Destiny Isgood is a psychic, and she is from Russia. Ergo, she is a Russian psychic. Jaycee giggled at the absurdity of her thoughts, startling the women in the room. Destiny didn’t seem amused. She looked stony, her face giving nothing away. A positively giddy Shannon turned back from the wall she’d been conspicuously inspecting for nonexistent cracks. “You should sit down for this.” Why would she need to sit down for this nonsense? Another flag went up in Jaycee’s mind. Katie-Anne seemed mesmerized by the dynamics in the room. Her eyes bounced from one woman to the next and then back again like a ping-pong ball. “Yeah, J, sit.” Jaycee didn’t lunge for Shannon or Katie-Anne right then and there. She managed to keep her temper in check. However, when they left this loony bin, they might not be so lucky. Taking a calming breath, Jaycee sat down in the plastic lawn chair facing the colossal table and waited for her “life-changing” reading. Destiny skirted around the other side and took the seat directly across from Jaycee’s. Not speaking, she stared at Jaycee with piercing eyes as dark as midnight on a moonless night. Jaycee fidgeted in the annoyingly rigid chair. What do you see, damn it? Finally, Destiny spoke aloud. “Your aura very dark. You sad and lonely.” Jaycee grimaced and muttered cynically, “Isn’t everyone?” Destiny took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A look of absolute focus crossed her face, and the temperature in the room dropped as if she were sucking the energy right out of it. Without opening her eyes, Destiny declared with conviction, “They coming. They save you.”

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In five impossibly short words, Destiny confirmed what she’d always suspected—they were coming for her. Gray and Cade hadn’t given up as she’d hoped, and this time she would lose. I can’t breathe. The crushing sensation in the middle of her chest made breathing nearly inexecutable, each breath being forced in and then out again. Her harsh-sounding breaths spread through the silent room. “Breathe, Jaycee,” Shannon ordered sharply, her voice barely audible above the buzzing in Jaycee’s ears. “You don’t know who she’s talking about,” Katie-Anne added without any confidence. She was clearly saying meaningless words because they sounded like the right thing to say. “Of course I do,” Jaycee snapped. “I told both of you they would come, and they are.” She lurched out of her chair and headed for the nearest exit. “Fuck it. I have to go.” Without a word or a backward glance, she ran. **** A full week had passed since her fateful visit to Destiny’s House of Horrors, and Jaycee was still running. She scampered through every aisle in the mini-mart, continually glancing over her shoulder like a damn escaped convict. This was insanity! She’d spent the last seven days hiding in her tiny apartment, only leaving for necessities. Even then, she’d waited until the middle of the night to skulk around town in a giant pair of sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a ratty T-shirt under overalls that were two sizes too big. Peering around the edge of the canned goods aisle, Jaycee sensed someone approaching her from behind. She quickly sped up and rounded the corner, hoping to avoid whoever it was. The distinct sound of the click-clack of high heels came barreling for her. Katie-Anne. In self-preservation, Jaycee scrambled around her cart and took off, running as fast as her short legs would allow. Her

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escape was short-lived. Katie-Anne launched herself onto Jaycee’s back and knocked her to the ground in an unladylike heap of body parts. “Shhhhaaaaaaannnnoonnnn,” Katie-Anne screeched. “I’ve got her!” Jaycee panted and squirmed, trying to elude her captor. “Get the hell off me before I kick your ass,” Jaycee threatened between grunts and groans. An inelegant snort came from behind Jaycee and Katie-Anne. Please kill me and put me out of my misery. “Looks like you’re doing a fine job defending yourself, my friend,” Shannon said sarcastically, walking up behind them. “Come on, Katie-Anne, get off her.” Pushing Katie-Anne aside, Shannon bent down and helped Jaycee up. “Much obliged.” Jaycee nodded her head in thanks then whirled around to face Katie-Anne with bloodthirsty eyes. “What the hell was that? Have you lost your fucking mind, Katie-Anne? We’re in the middle of a damn store! I’m going to kill—” She stopped midsentence when cold metal brushed against her wrist, followed by a soft click. Confused, Jaycee looked down at the handcuff snapped around her wrist. Her shock gave the two women the leverage they needed. Katie-Anne grabbed her other arm, thrusting it behind her back toward Shannon’s waiting hand so she could snap the handcuff around that wrist. “You bitches,” Jaycee sneered as they ushered her out of the store. “I hate you.” Katie-Anne and Shannon didn’t acknowledge her. They were too busy chatting merrily about rubbish and strolling through town as if it was perfectly normal to pull a handcuffed woman behind them. Then again, their behavior was perfectly normal, not to mention acceptable, in Serenity. No tongue-wagging or eyelash-batting for any sort of relationship in her hometown. People living in conventional

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relationships coexisted with people in not-so-conventional relationships, and ménages made up a large percentage of the town’s population. By the time they stepped into the parking lot at Buddy’s Bar and Grill, Jaycee had cursed her way through most of the alphabet. She’d reached T in the few minutes it had taken to trek across town. “You foul-smelling thundercunts!” And still, their prattling carried on without a break. When they hauled her past the clunker she’d named Sally, Jaycee dug in her feet. Disregarding her, they yanked her around the truck of her dreams. Jaycee wanted to stop and salute the luxurious, black Ford F-450, but that wasn’t going to happen. Her friend’s asses were on fire to get her into the bar and nothing would stop them, not even a drool-worthy truck. Arriving at the entrance to the bar, Shannon jerked open the door, and Katie-Anne shoved Jaycee inside. **** “When do you think she’s going to get here?” Cade asked Gray for the hundredth time since they’d arrived. Gray forced himself to breathe. No need to give away how anxious he was to see Jaycee. He’d fucked up three years ago, and he worried about the past getting ready to repeat itself. With Cade already about to jump out of his skin waiting for their woman to arrive in this pitiful excuse for a bar, Gray didn’t plan on giving him another reason to worry. “Gray.” Cade interrupted him. “Are you going to answer me?” Gray knew his first task—calm his best friend and lover. If they had a chance at success, it would be together. “Cade, she’ll be here soon,” Gray assured in a tone that comforted but still held enough authority to brook no argument. He held out his

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hand to Cade. Without hesitation, Cade clasped it and slid closer to him. Turning his head, Gray hid a smile. Affectionate by nature, Cade always latched onto any physical connection Gray gave him. Gray wished he could give Cade more, but he struggled with being openly affectionate. He could thank his parents for that. A child’s life is easily fucked up by parents like his. Watching their relationship spiral out of control had nearly ruined his relationship with Cade and Jaycee. His mother spent years feeding him bullshit about how free-spirited women like their Jaycee couldn’t handle the things he needed from her. He’d denied his nature and his love for Cade because of some misguided obsession with protecting Jaycee from something she never needed protection from in the first place. The front door of the bar swung open, and Gray leaned back so he could see but couldn’t be seen. He watched as his sister forced Jaycee inside. Gray held his breath, waiting to see if Jaycee noticed them and hoping she wouldn’t. He wanted to approach her, not the other way around. The element of surprise gave them the upper hand and, with her, they needed it. The little spitfire had one hell of a mean streak they didn’t want to deal with right now. Her eye-for-an-eye mentality was a real pain in the ass. In the past, Jaycee had loved to get her ass in the middle of a mess and expected him to bail her out every damn time. Then, when he got her home, he’d sit her down and lecture her within one inch of her life without doing what he wanted to do most, bend her over his knee and spank the luscious curve of her ass until it turned red. Cade would have been his wingman, counting each slap until he reached the magic number. Normally, Gray loved to make a woman’s ass blush, but not their Jaycee. She needed to be taught a lesson or two. By the time he

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finished with the little she-devil, her ass would be as red as the color of her dream car. He smiled indulgently, remembering the car she’d lusted after since the day she started driving, a 1968 Shelby Ford Mustang GT500 in candy-apple red. A couple of weeks before she’d left, he bought her one as a surprise and paid to have it tweaked to the exact specifications she fantasized about. He’d never even had the chance to tell her about the damn thing. Gray exhaled when Katie-Anne propelled Jaycee toward the counter. Their sweet, clumsy woman tripped and nearly fell before his sister righted her. As Jaycee stumbled her way across the bar, Gray couldn’t take his eyes off her. Their blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman was prettier now than she’d been three years ago. From her long, curly hair to her smooth, creamy skin, she took his breath away. Jaycee seemed smaller, but it could have been his imagination. Their height difference had always been substantial, but not as much as hers and Cade’s. His partner stood two inches taller than he did. What would it feel like with her petite body sandwiched between their much larger ones? Gray shouldn’t have allowed his mind to go there. His dick twitched and flared to life. Fuck. Shannon, who had followed the women inside, turned and winked at them. With a chuckle, Gray nodded his head and tipped his beer in Shannon’s direction. “I always knew I loved that girl,” Cade commented. Gray snorted. “Hell no, you didn’t. Do you have any clue how many times I’ve had to stop you from strangling the girl?” “Well, damn it, Gray. She shouldn’t drag J into so much shit.” Gray shook his head slowly, dropping his beer bottle to the tabletop. “It’s always the quiet ones.”

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“Fuck yeah. I wish Jared, Drew, and Randy would piss or get off the pot. That little girl’s going to be in for one hell of a ride when they do.” Cade lifted his beer bottle and drank half of its contents in one, long swallow. Gray snorted. “No more than they’ll be.” “True,” Cade agreed with a twinkle in his green eyes. “But the ride is always worth it.” They’d spent twenty-six years on a wild ride of their own with him constantly denying his needs. Gray still had no clue how both of them survived those years without one of them walking away. Knowing they loved each other, but holding back physically, constantly tormented them. He remembered hundreds of times when it physically hurt him to not reach for Cade. Jaycee walking away had pushed them together, not because they wanted someone to fuck around with but because they needed each other to survive. Their friendship and love for each other carried them through those bleak months before they physically turned to each other. “You know how much I love to ride,” Cade interrupted his thoughts. Gray chuckled. “Be good, Cade, or I’ll give you a red ass when we get home.” “Could we?” Cade asked with a lecherous grin. “I’m going to come up with a better punishment for you.” Cade wiggled his eyebrows. “Oh, please, do.” Gray ignored him, knowing exactly what Cade was up to. Mister Funny laughed his way through stressful situations. Continuing this kind of conversation inevitably led to trouble for both of them. Gray rubbed his callused thumb slowly in a circle on Cade’s palm and sat back, waiting.

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Chapter 3 Jaycee stumbled into the wobbly barstool at the counter with the help of Katie-Anne, nearly losing her balance as it teetered back and forth before settling into its proper upright position. “If I take the handcuffs off, are you going to bolt?” Katie-Anne asked with an evil grin. “I would really hate to have to chase your ass down again.” The hair on Jaycee’s arm stood up. If Katie-Anne chased her down, Jaycee imagined it wouldn’t be pretty this time. Pissing KatieAnne off always bit people in the ass, and Jaycee wasn’t in the mood to go down that road tonight. Jaycee shook her head emphatically. “No. I will keep my ass firmly in this seat.” “Good.” Katie-Anne pulled the keys to the handcuffs out of her pocket and removed them from Jaycee’s wrists. Rotating her wrists, Jaycee sighed, “Thanks.” “No problem,” Katie-Anne replied, hopping up on the barstool next to Jaycee. “Aw, damn, Katie-Anne,” Shannon fussed as she plopped down on the other side of Jaycee. “You’re such a spoilsport. Couldn’t we have left them on a little longer?” Jaycee harrumphed in annoyance, and Katie-Anne laughed softly. A smarmy-looking bartender approached them the moment their asses hit the seats. With a lewd wink, he jotted down their orders then disappeared.

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“J, what in the hell possessed you to move to this sorry town? Seriously.” Katie-Anne’s disgust-filled words were obnoxiously loud. It fit right in with the atmosphere in the bar. Humorously, Shannon whispered to Katie-Anne loud enough that Jaycee could hear, “Methinks she was trying to get away from your brother and his friend.” Katie-Anne’s contemptuous expression instantly transformed to one of delight. Mirth danced in her eyes as she leaned across Jaycee. She covered her mouth and mock whispered, “Oh, riggggghhhht. She was being a pussy.” Jaycee wadded up the gummy napkin in front of her and threw it in Katie-Anne’s unsuspecting face. She didn’t even want to think about what the goo on her hand was. Get rid of the evidence. Jaycee wiped her hand on her faded jeans. “I was not being a pussy,” she stated indignantly. Katie-Anne and Shannon’s laughter filled the air around Jaycee. She sat in stony silence, not giving them the satisfaction of any further rebuttals. In her life, she’d learned that being silent was often the best answer. Someone approached Jaycee from behind. Damn, she wasn’t in the mood for some cheesy pickup line in this seedy bar. She whirled around ready to tell someone off, but stopped short. Two sinfully good-looking men with dark hair and bedroom eyes stood side by side, their arrogance rolling off them in waves. The short, stocky man smiled at her with a smile that could melt the panties off of most grown women. He looked like a man who knew what a woman wanted and exactly how to give it to her. Turning, Jaycee sized up the taller man. He was quieter, far more serious. His face was harsher, and his eyes were harder. Single women dreamed of taming a man like him. It was too damn bad they left her ice-cube cold. The cowboy with the award-winning smile leaned toward her, pressing her back against the filthy counter. She ignored the

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discomfort, preparing to give him the tongue-lashing he deserved, when he spoke. “My name’s Tommy. This here’s Judd. I just thought you should know our names since you’re gonna be screaming ’em later.” Wow. Jaycee stared at him dumbfounded, unsure of what to say. It took her a moment to recover. Opening her mouth to blast them, she noticed two more men striding toward her, purpose filling their every step. Her heart raced, the blood pounding through her veins at a pace that rivaled a horse in the Kentucky Derby. She wasn’t sure what caused the spike in her heart rate. Was it seeing them for the first time in years? Was it that they were headed toward her? Or, was it the chill that shot down her spine, raising the hair on her arms? No way was she hanging around to find out. Jaycee gave the egotistical cowboy a shove before scooting around him and his cohort in crime. Then she made a break for the door. Before she took her fifth step, a large hand landed on her arm and wrenched her around, exerting enough pressure to maintain control without hurting. Cade. There hadn’t been any doubt that he would be the one to come after her. Of the two men, Cade was more dangerous to her, and they knew it. He knew exactly how to handle her. He snuck under her radar, pushed her into a corner, and then pounced. She preferred to deal with Gray. He was good at pissing her off, and she held her own when she was pissed. Fuck, this was really, really bad. “Dance with me, darlin’.” No, that couldn’t happen. Jaycee knew better than to go on that dance floor and step into his strong arms, press her body up against his, and sway to the music. Her head told her she shouldn’t let her arms snake up his chest and wind around his neck, and he mustn’t be

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allowed to lock his arms behind her waist so he could hold her close. But that wasn’t what her heart told her. Cade tipped Jaycee’s head back with his index finger. She looked up—and up—until her eyes reached his face. Involuntarily, she drank in his handsome features. She started with his tousled strawberryblond hair, lowering her gaze to his green eyes, prominent nose, and the dimples on each side of his mouth. She saved his sexy lips for last. Oh, how she loved those lips. When they’d been younger, she’d loved to stroke his bottom lip with her fingers. He always responded with a sly smile followed by a nip or a lick that left them wanting since they never followed through with a kiss. Without conscious thought, Jaycee brushed her index finger across his bottom lip as she’d done a million times before. When it dawned on her what she was doing, she recoiled and jerked her hand back. Cade’s face fell, but he quickly masked it with a smile. “Darlin’, that was not a request,” he informed her with a twinkle in his green eyes. He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the hardwood floor in the middle of the bar. She was pretty sure it wasn’t supposed to be an actual dance floor, but he obviously didn’t care. When he reached his destination, Cade stopped, and just as she had imagined, he pulled her close and started dancing. The lack of music didn’t intimidate him in the least. He swayed back and forth, leading her around in a circular motion. Cade didn’t speak, and neither did she. The contented feeling she’d always experienced in his or Gray’s presence filled her senses. She closed her eyes and relished this moment, knowing that when he stopped, he would go. Cade had Gray, just as he’d wanted. There was no room for her. Jaycee assured herself that leaving had been the right thing to do. Her last day with Gray and Cade proved that. Their searing kiss would be forever burned in her mind. Her two men kissing hadn’t inspired jealousy. Quite the opposite, it’d made her horny as hell—until she’d watched Gray return the kiss.

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They hadn’t realized she entered the house, and she hadn’t told them before she heard the groan tear its way out of Gray’s throat. He’d sounded like an animal calling to his long-lost mate, and Cade responded with a growl of his own. Standing in the doorway, Jaycee had watched as their kiss turned almost violent. They devoured each other as though they couldn’t get enough, as if they’d been starving for each other. It wasn’t a pretty, sweet kiss. This had been pure, animalistic lust. Jaycee’s chest tightened until she’d been left gasping for breath, and her mind filled with one, plaguing question. Why hadn’t she been kissed like that? Gray always held himself back. He never kissed her with the allconsuming passion she sensed deep inside, and Cade hadn’t kissed her at all. But with each other, they let go. That had been her moment of truth. Jaycee realized she couldn’t have every part of Gray, and she couldn’t have Cade at all. She refused to live the half-life her mother had where she loved two men but only had one. She wouldn’t spend her future crying herself to sleep at night while Gray turned to alcohol to dull his pain and Cade married a woman he hated. Watching her parents and Gray’s parents live like that was enough. The three of them didn’t need to repeat the past. Gray and Cade had no chance of keeping her, but they had a chance with each other. So she walked away and left her heart behind, praying her men would find their way to each other. Jaycee’s eyes snapped open when the first notes of her favorite song filled the acrid air. Scanning the room, she instantly found the source. Shannon leaned against the old jukebox in the corner, waving at her with a shit-eating grin. Jaycee scowled at her backstabbing friend and mouthed the words You’re going to pay. Shannon gave her a thumbs-up sign then waltzed off with an extra spring in her step.

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Jaycee knew she was making a fatal mistake, but snuggled into Cade’s embrace anyway. She relaxed for what seemed like the first time in an eternity, feeling safe and cherished in his big arms. Cade lowered his head until it rested on top of hers. Every breath he took fanned through her curly strands of hair, making her feel like she’d been shoved into an inferno. Her overheated body shuddered against his large frame, and she bit her lip to hold back a giggle. Only her men could make her shiver when she was on fire. Sighing quietly, Jaycee listened to the lyrics of “We Danced” by Brad Paisley. The country crooner sang, “And we danced. Out there on that empty hardwood floor. Chairs up and the lights turned way down low. Music played, we held each other close…” Jaycee wondered if Cade realized this was the scenario she’d dreamed about since the first time she’d heard this song. This setting was what movies were made of. All romances needed a scene with lovers on a dance floor in the soft, pale light, dancing to their perfect love song. Only, they weren’t lovers, the dance floor had some kind of icky coating, and the neon Come On In or Fuck Off sign was distractedly blinking at her. Okay, it wasn’t really the setting for a romantic movie, but she didn’t give a shit. This was her fantasy, not some director in Hollywood’s. Cade was in Jaycee’s arms, and they were dancing to her favorite song. She could have been anywhere, and it would be magical. Cade kissed the top of her hair. “I’ve missed you, Jaycee.” Tears sprang to Jaycee’s eyes, and she wanted to respond to his sweet words but couldn’t speak around the lump in her throat. Before she found her voice, Brad belted out the last line of the song, “Yeah, we danced,” followed by the final chords. Stepping away like a scalded cat, Jaycee wanted to scream out, Hallelujah! Cade smiled, knowingly, with a hint of derision. “Now was that so bad, darlin’?”

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Without waiting for her answer, Cade grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the bar counter. As they drew near, Jaycee saw Gray deeply entrenched in a heated conversation with Douchebag Cowboy Number One and Douchebag Cowboy Number Two. Katie-Anne and Shannon stood close by, egging on the men engaged in the pissing contest. Jaycee heard Number One inform Gray, “She ain’t got no ring or collar. That makes her fair game. I’m feeling mighty horny, and that little filly sure looks like she knows how to fuck a man every which way but loose.” The man never had a chance. Gray’s fist smashed into his face faster than the strike of a cornered snake. The asshole’s head snapped backward, and he groaned. Number Two stepped forward to defend his comrade, but Cade was quicker and a hell of a lot meaner. He grabbed the man by his collar, spun him around, and slammed him against the counter. Cade got in Number Two’s face and snarled, “You fucktard. Keep your hands off of him, or I guarantee you will regret it. I would love nothing more than to rip off your dick and shove it so far up your ass that you choke on it.” Number Two sputtered and spat a bunch of mumbo jumbo, but Cade ignored him as he watched Gray punch Number One again. He reared his arm back for a third hit when Jaycee launched herself at the idiots. “All of you are being immature assholes,” she scolded, elbowing her way into the center of the circle. She pointed at the bleeding cowboy and the restrained cowboy. “You two need to disappear. I don’t give a shit where you go. Just get away from us.” Turning and pointing at Cade, Jaycee ordered, “You, let the bastard go. They’re not going to pull anything. Even they’re not that dumb. “And you,” Jaycee informed Gray as she stalked him, going toeto-toe with him, poking her finger into his chest, “are going to let

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them go without any more bloodshed. Do not push me on this, buster.” Impatiently, Jaycee tapped her foot while waiting for their obedience. All four men stared at her with equal parts shock and indignation. Number One looked at Number Two and grumbled, “Hell, she ain’t worth it. No piece of ass is.” Then he stomped off angrily with his friend following behind. She hadn’t taken two breaths before Gray and Cade moved into her personal space, making her body temperature rise rapidly. Gray greeted her mockingly, “Hello, there, hellcat.” His lips twitched as he made a half-assed effort to hold back a grin that was sure to be condescending. “Asshole,” Jaycee replied as coldly as she could summon considering her cunt was going up in flames. She crossed her arms over her tight, throbbing nipples. There was no need to give Gray any more ammunition against her, her hormones included. Karma was one evil bitch, and she’d cursed Jaycee well. The more her pigheaded men fought her, the hotter she got. The need to surrender overrode her common sense. “No kiss for us?” Gray taunted. Calm down. She had to keep her cool. Otherwise, she would kill them or fuck them on the floor of this oh-so-lovely establishment. “I think that’s our cue to leave,” Katie-Anne said, looping her arm around Shannon’s elbow. Shannon whined, “But I want to stay. I was about to see if the bartender had a stash of popcorn behind the counter. This will be better than a movie.” Katie-Anne snickered, pulling Shannon away. “Come on, Shan, I’ll take you to see a real movie. I have a feeling a sister does not need to be present for this one.”

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As soon as they had gone, Jaycee, Gray, and Cade were enveloped by blessed stillness. She didn’t let that lull her into a false confidence, though. The explosion was coming. Cade, Mr. Impatience, conceded first. “Why don’t we go somewhere a bit more private and talk?” “No,” Jaycee cried with more volume than she’d intended. “Aw, come on, darlin’,” Cade griped. “We don’t want to air our dirty laundry in front of a bunch of strangers.” Theatrically, Jaycee pretended to survey the empty bar with her eyes. When she was confident her point had gotten across, she arched an eyebrow at Cade. “What strangers?” Gray watched their byplay emotionlessly, not joining in but not speaking or moving, either. She wanted to grab the trough at the end of the bar and pour all of the ice over his head. Then he wouldn’t be so damn stoic. “Fuck me,” Cade thundered. “Do you have to make everything so damn difficult?” “No thanks, Cade,” Jaycee thanked him with sarcasm dripping from each word. “If you need to be fucked, Gray’s your man.” She patted Cade’s broad chest, attempting to ignore the feel of his muscles under her hand. “It was a nice offer, though.” Gray finally lost his patience. “Goddamn it, that is enough,” he shouted. Cade and Jaycee didn’t question him. They shut up and waited for his next words. When he said nothing, they all stood together awkwardly. After several moments of very intense, unnerving silence, Gray spoke. “Jaycee, we are going to talk. It may not be today, but it will happen. If you want to leave right now, go for it. But, you need to get one thing through your thick skull. Leaving isn’t going to change a fucking thing. It’s temporary, sweetheart.” Not giving him a chance to change his mind, she did what she did best. She ran.

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Chapter 4 Cade still seethed two hours later, sitting with Gray in the nicest motel in Paloma, Kansas, which wasn’t saying much. “Shit, this is a dump,” he complained, picking up the already-used plastic cup someone had left behind and tossing it into the trash can across the room. Gray glowered at him. Defensively, Cade threw his hands up in surrender. “Just saying.” “Stop bullshitting me, Cade. You’re pissed at me for letting her go.” Gray angled his body back and reclined against the headboard impatiently. He folded his arms across his chest in obvious annoyance. “Just get it off your chest.” Cade pounded his fist on the table. “What the fuck were you thinking?” “Don’t hold back anything,” Gray directed dispassionately. Cade ignored Gray’s sardonic tone. “Don’t be a bastard, Gray. You let her go, again. Have you lost your mind?” “Do go on, Cade,” Gray encouraged, persuasively, in his too-calm voice. Cade knew he was so spanked when he finished his tantrum. Gray would make sure of that, but at the moment, it felt too damn good to stop. Cade figured if he was going to get punished, he might as well earn every smack. “Goddamn it, Gray. We’ve been here before. Don’t you dare fuck it up! I can’t lose her a second time.” “I am not fucking up a damn thing, Cade. If you would calm down for a minute, you would see that.”

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Cade lost it. “Don’t be a prick. I am not calm, and I won’t be calm until she is lying in bed between us. Why do you have to act like you don’t care? I know you love her. I was there the day she walked out and never came back.” He ran his hand through his thick hair in frustration. “Can’t you admit it’s killing you like its killing me? This is never going to work if you don’t let the past go and start opening up to us.” “Don’t you think I know that? Damn it, Cade. I lost her once because I couldn’t give her all of me. I have no intention of doing it again. But, it isn’t easy.” For as long as Cade had been with Gray, he’d never seen the man lay himself so bare. Maybe they were making progress, after all. Swamped with the need to be closer to Gray, Cade stood up and walked to the bed before sinking down next to him. It was hard to not reach out and touch him, but Cade knew Gray would not be receptive at this point. Cade would have to wait for Gray. It was too damn bad patience was not his forte. “We’re in this together, Gray. One for all and all for one. Or some bullshit like that.” Gray’s lips quirked. “Talk about being hypocritical. You want me to have some deep, emotional conversation, and you’re cracking jokes.” Cade winked overtly at Gray. “And you love me, asshole,” he reminded him. “Unfortunately, for me,” Gray teased with obvious affection. “Good. Now, can we jump to the portion of the evening where you fuck me? I’m horny.” Gray laughed, an honest-to-goodness laugh. “You always sucked at waiting for what you want.” “I just love to suck.” “Of that, I have no doubt.” Gray crooked his finger. “Come here.”

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Cade didn’t hesitate. He crawled toward Gray, reaching him straightaway since the bed was too small for two large men to keep their distance. Cade lay down next to Gray and waited. “I think that I said come here. Not lie next to me.” Gray’s impatience was palpable. “My apologies, sir,” Cade retorted, keeping his head lowered so Gray wouldn’t see the broad grin on this face. He felt like provoking Gray tonight. Gray tsked him. “What have I told you?” Cade remained mute and refused to raise his head. “I am Gray. You are Cade. Jaycee is Jaycee. We do not live the D/s lifestyle, and I will not answer to Sir or Master. Ever.” Cade barely held back a chuckle. He loved to torment Gray. When he finally reined in his expression, Cade lifted his head to meet Gray’s deliciously dark eyes. They always reminded him of chocolate ganache, soft and smooth. Gray’s eyes smoldered. He looked like a volcano moments before erupting, and Cade was the tourist standing at the bottom, admiring the view. He was about to get singed, and he couldn’t be happier about it. Cade’s cock hardened instinctively, knowing Gray was as hot for him as he was for Gray. From the time he’d had his first hard-on, his dick had never failed to respond instantaneously to Gray or Jaycee. The thought of Jaycee and Gray made his head nearly explode, his cock lengthening to epic proportions. All he wanted was to get his dick inside of Jaycee’s hot little cunt while Gray fucked him from behind, the harder, the better. Fuck. Gray would tan his hide if he came without any kind of foreplay. Stopping his train of thought, Cade wondered why that was a bad thing. “I like that expression on your face,” Gray commented, amusedly. “You’re thinking of being naughty. A naughty Cade is a very good thing. I get to reap the rewards, and then, I get to spank that fine ass

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for being naughty.” Gray leaned close enough that Cade felt his humid breath against his lips. “It’s a win-win situation for me.” Cade shivered as a cold chill raced down his spine. Gray’s velvety tongue glided across his bottom lip then his top lip before swiping his bottom lip again. Cade opened his mouth with a groan. Gray pounced, fusing their lips together. They didn’t close their eyes. They simply stared at each other, Cade’s green eyes to Gray’s brown ones. The intensity of their look sparked a fire between them, causing a temperature spike in the room. Cade’s skin heated, and a small bead of sweat formed on his forehead. He pressed his restless body closer to Gray. Gray attempted to invade Cade’s mouth, but he blocked him. Cade propelled his tongue forward, meeting Gray’s raiding tongue, and pushed it away. Gray wouldn’t have any of that. He growled and plundered both hands through Cade’s hair, stopping below his crown. Gray grabbed two fistfuls of hair and tugged, hard. A rush of exquisite pain radiated from Cade’s scalp. He gasped as Gray yanked with enough force that his only option was to break the kiss. Gray lowered his head to Cade’s right ear, never loosening his grip. “So, you want to play with the big boys, do you?” “Fuck yeah,” Cade answered with a guttural groan as Gray nipped his ear. The nip mixed with the stinging pain on his scalp generated a tidal wave of pleasure that crashed through his bloodstream and made a beeline for his already-engorged cock. “Then you better bring it,” Gray challenged cockily and crashed his mouth to Cade’s once again. Gray plunged his tongue into Cade’s mouth, asking no questions and giving no answers, just dueling tongues, clashing teeth, and a battle for submission. Cade had zero chance of escape—not that he wanted it. So he surrendered, giving himself over completely to Gray’s deep, devastating kiss.

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Kisses were compared to dancing, but this was no dance. This was pillaging and plundering without remorse. Gray took what he wanted, and damn the consequences. Gray let go of Cade’s hair without ever breaking their insanely intense kiss. He planted his sizable hands on each side of Cade’s broad shoulders. Cade wanted to protest, but stopped when Gray threw his leg over Cade’s body and pinned him to the bed. Even fully clothed, Cade felt Gray’s steely cock pressing against his lower abdomen. His own hard-as-a-rock dick was so close to Gray’s ass it tried to burst free of the confines of his jeans. He’d never been inside of Gray’s ass, but that was irrelevant to his dick. Sometimes, the need to fuck Gray was nearly unbearable. However, Cade loved Gray and would never push for something he knew Gray didn’t want. Gray raised his head and grinned sensually. He had an odd, fiendish gleam in his eyes that made Cade squirm. Cade hadn’t ever seen his lover like this. He was wild and untamed. His flushed face had hardened into granite. His once-brown eyes had transformed into pitch-black orbs. If this was any other man, Cade would turn and run. But this wasn’t another man. This was Gray. Adrenaline pumped through Cade, leaving his body quaking in need. Gray jerked upright and ripped off his shirt. Fuck. Cade had seen Gray without his shirt a million times, but it never failed to transfix Cade. His heart stopped. His mind shut down. The only thing in the world was Gray’s rocklike abs, every muscle and indention calling to him. Cade loved to explore every dent, dip, and groove with his tongue, leaving a wet trail behind. He was turned on by the thought of his saliva on Gray’s body. If that made him a Neanderthal, then let the chest pounding commence.

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Cade’s hands moved from the bed of their own volition, heading directly for Gray’s tanned, work-hardened stomach. He started at the bottom, gliding his hands over Gray’s abs slowly in what he hoped to be a torturous motion. If Gray’s sudden intake of air was any indication, he was doing fine. Cade continued his upward climb, slowing his hands to a crawl to increase Gray’s torment. Gray’s muscles contracted and bunched with every centimeter Cade covered. Cade reached Gray’s chest. The compulsion to pinch Gray’s nipples was irrepressible. Gray would murder him for pushing like this, but he didn’t give a damn. He was going to get all of Gray tonight. Cade guided his hands to Gray’s nipples and circled their outer edges. Gray’s nipples hardened and he groaned. Spurred on, Cade flicked each nipple lightly, one at a time, until Gray moaned. “Fuck,” Gray cursed. “You’re pushing me.” “Yeah. That’s the general idea,” Cade said as he grasped both nipples and squeezed. Gray bucked upward, his back arching as his hoarse shout filled the room. Damn, Cade saw the appeal of being the one holding the control. He didn’t want to give it up, but he wasn’t an imbecile. This was a temporary delight he should savor for as long as Gray allowed it. And Cade planned to revel in it—for now. Cade toyed with Gray’s nipples, rolling them between two fingers and giving them the occasional pinch. Cade knew he’d pushed Gray to his breaking point when Gray fell on him. Gray smashed his lips to Cade’s. The kiss was raw, hard, and punishing. Gray’s nips turned into bites, and Cade tasted a slight hint of copper against his taste buds. He knew that flavor and it inflamed him. He was bleeding—not a lot but enough to taste. Cade’s cock lengthened and pushed against his pants. He moaned, needing more than what Gray gave him.

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Gray wrenched his mouth away from Cade and ordered gruffly, “Get this fucking shirt off before I rip it off.” Cade felt the loss to his soul when Gray moved away from him and stood quickly. Following Gray’s example, Cade leaped off the bed on the opposite side of him. Both men savagely tore at their clothes, every stitch hitting the floor at the same time. The two nude men stared each other down, daring the other to admit defeat. They both knew Cade would cave first, but it was hot nonetheless. “Damn.” Cade half walked, half ran around the bed without waiting for Gray’s command. His aching cock bobbed with the steps he took, but he ignored the slight discomfort. His focus was on Gray and fucking. Cade dropped to his knees in front of Gray. He eyeballed Gray’s huge cock. The beauty was unmistakable. It was not as long as his own, but what it lacked in length, it more than made up for in girth. Gray’s shaft was covered in smooth skin which led to his purplish, mushroom-shaped head. One large, bulging blood vessel ran down the middle of Gray’s cock. The blood pulsing through the vein caused a slight twitch. Gray grasped the base of his cock with his large hand and aimed it at Cade. He stopped within licking distance of Cade’s alreadysalivating mouth and started to pump. His hand moved up and down the shaft, the skin bunching and sliding as he went. A drop of fluid seeped from his slit. Gray brushed his finger across the moisture and swiped it up. He extended his finger to Cade and smiled wickedly. “Feels so good. Want to taste?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He thrust his finger inside Cade’s mouth. Cade jerked backward and spat, “Bastard.” He was going to get a little revenge on Gray later. The tease was using his oral fixation against him. Cade loved to suck cock. It was one of his favorite pastimes, and Gray knew it. The contradiction of an unyielding shaft

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with soft, smooth skin fascinated Cade, and the tangy taste drove him mad. Eating pussy was Cade’s other favorite pastime. He couldn’t wait to get his mouth on Jaycee’s juicy cunt. Feasting on her pussy had fueled many dirty dreams even though he’d never gotten a sample. Cade’s mind flooded with fantasies about her cream while Gray’s cock dangled in front of his opened mouth like a steak in front of a starving dog. And that was it. Cade broke. His mouth executed a perfect dive for Gray’s cock, and he had Gray’s dick halfway down his throat before Gray could protest. Gray didn’t let it show if he’d been planning to object. He was too busy swearing, “Son of a bitch, Cade!” Cade’s chin hit Gray’s balls. Saliva pooled in his mouth and he swallowed. With a groan, Gray grabbed a fistful of Cade’s hair. The fear that Gray was going to stop him rode high, agitating him, but Gray never pulled his head back. Instead, he used his grip on Cade’s hair to hinder his movements, but did not push him away, just held him immobile. Gray hauled his cock backward until only the tip remained in Cade’s mouth. The next thing Cade knew, Gray plunged his cock back into Cade’s mouth as far and fast as he could. Cade relaxed his throat in hopes of taking a little bit more, but he couldn’t. Gray had already filled his mouth to capacity, his cock crowding every inch of Cade’s mouth. Cade loosened his jaw and let Gray take the lead. His lover held nothing back as he propelled his cock in and out of Cade’s mouth like a rabid sex machine. For once, Cade felt like the beast had been released. This is what Cade and Jaycee needed. They needed all of Gray.

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Chapter 5 Gray was lost in a swirl of emotion and passion, his control shot to hell. The walls of their shabby motel room seemed to be closing in on him, and the temperature kept climbing. Damn, Cade. There was no way to save either of them now. He hoped this night wouldn’t alter their bond. Gray would never survive losing him as he had Jaycee, not that he would survive losing her a second time. He needed both of them, no matter what it took. For some insane reason, they both wanted him. They wanted all of him and not just the good parts. It had taken him a long time to comprehend that was the reason Jaycee had walked away. She hadn’t feared him, or Cade, or even a ménage. She’d wanted all the things they’d wanted, but he’d been too damn scared to give. Well, fuck it, they were going to get all of him whether they liked the real him or not. Gray retreated then tunneled back into Cade’s mouth as soon as his cock hit the back of Cade’s throat. He didn’t fear for Cade. The look of sublime pleasure on his lover’s face was proof enough. Gray watched Cade’s glazed eyes. His man was lost. Cade fought a losing battle. He wanted to give pleasure, but he was drowning in his own. Not yet, Cade. Not yet. “Cade, flatten your tongue.” Gray barely recognized his own voice. The gravelly sound was foreign to him. “Mmmph.” Cade complied, flattening his tongue. “Now, lave the underside of my cock with your tongue,” Gray commanded in a smooth, even voice. He sounded much calmer than he was.

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“Mmmph.” Cade bathed Gray’s cock with his wet, velvety tongue. He massaged the throbbing shaft, rippling his tongue in a wavelike motion. Gray’s cock swelled. He was harder than he ever remembered being, the pain starting to override the pleasure. “Oh my God!” Gray yanked Cade’s hair forcefully and pulled him off of his cock. He was going to blow if Cade so much as breathed on his dick. His balls were already drawn up, begging for the release they had been robbed of. Gray couldn’t help the surge of pride when he looked at him. Cade sat back on his haunches with heavy-lidded eyes, gasping for breath. His cock was so hard it looked as if it could literally pound nails, and his lips looked as though they’d been well and truly fucked. Instead of feeling guilty, he felt feverish. He needed inside of Cade. Cade apparently knew what was about to happen. He had a devilish grin spread across his sexy face that made Gray’s throbbing cock jump. “I hope you plan on reaming my ass with the same ferocity. Although, I think that I could take it a little rougher. I am not going to break, big boy.” Gray groaned. “Then get the fucking lube.” Cade leaped off the dingy carpet and made haste for the closet. Gray breathed in and out, trying to calm his erratically beating heart. He didn’t want to have a coronary in the middle of fucking Cade. There was too much unfinished business between the two of them and Jaycee. Cade didn’t give him more than thirty seconds before he rushed back into the room with a bottle of lube in his hands. Gray wanted to laugh at his eager expression. Someone would think Cade was in line to ride his favorite roller coaster at the theme park. There was some truth to that analogy. Cade was about to get on the ride of his life. “Over there.” Gray pointed toward the table on the opposite side of the motel room. “Bend over with your legs spread shoulder-width apart. Arms locked behind your back.”

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Cade followed his instructions implicitly. He bent over the table with his broad chest lying flat against the solid surface, arms linked behind his back, and legs spread wide. The submissiveness of Cade’s pose was not lost on Gray. This strong man wanted to submit as badly as Gray needed to dominate. Gray stalked around the bed, his eyes never straying from Cade’s tight ass. It was lethal, just the right balance of firmness mixed with suppleness. He couldn’t wait to spread his cheeks and dive right in. Gray snatched up the bottle of lube. The pop of the lid as it opened sounded like a shot being fired in the still room, the only other sound being their heavy breathing. Gray tried to keep his animalistic urges in check long enough to get inside of Cade’s ass, but it was more difficult than he’d anticipated. Gray poured lube into his hand and reached for his painfully engorged cock, slathering it thoughtlessly. His mind was too far gone to be worrying about the correct way to lube his damn dick. Gray didn’t waste time closing the bottle. He dropped it on the carpet with a faint thud and walked behind Cade. Gray wanted to play with Cade so badly he could taste it, but it was impossible. They needed to fuck too badly. Both of them had reached the ends of their ropes. Separating Cade’s ass cheeks, Gray admired the perfectly shaped rosette as it contracted. Need overcame him, and he positioned the head of his cock at Cade’s back entrance. He grated out, “You wanted all of me, then by God, you will take all of me,” and then plunged into Cade’s ass ruthlessly until his unyielding cock was embedded to the hilt. Cade’s guttural bellow lit a fire in Gray as nothing ever had before. He grabbed Cade’s locked arms and exerted enough force that Cade’s back arched and his chest lifted off the table. Cade looked over his shoulder at Gray with loving, green eyes. “Not fucking hard enough. Harder, damn it.”

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Gray dragged his cock out of Cade’s tight rectum, pulling slow enough to torment the nerve endings. He left only the tip inside of Cade and snarled, “Cade McCoy, you’re mine.” The words had barely left his mouth before he pushed his cock back into Cade’s ass, forcing his way inside as the tight ring fought to keep him out. He grunted, pulled out, and slammed back inside of Cade ferociously. The more Cade’s ass fought him, the higher he flew. He pounded into Cade, not thinking of anything but pleasure. Gray closed his eyes. He lost the fight to keep them open. His other senses were too overwhelmed to care. He had to feel. That was all that mattered at the moment. Gray growled harshly like a wounded animal, and his body took total control. He was no longer Gray. He was pure, hot-blooded animal, fucking his mate, claiming him. He held Cade’s arms captive and gave himself the leverage he wanted. Gray used his death grip on Cade’s wrists to make sure he couldn’t move away from him, not even an inch. Cade wasn’t going to be allowed to control any aspect of their uninhibited fucking. Gray forced Cade to meet him thrust for violent thrust. Their sweaty bodies collided over and over, the sweat mingling between them. Cade’s throaty moans turned into one continual moan. There wasn’t any distinguishing one from the next. The only other noises inside of the room were flesh slapping against flesh and Gray’s harsh grunts and lusty groans. “Fuck, Cade,” Gray ground out between one thrust and the next. Maintaining his hold on Cade’s wrist in one hand, Gray moved the other hand to Cade’s stiff cock and stroked it furiously. “Damn it, come. Now!” That was apparently all Cade needed. His body convulsed as if struck by lightning, followed by a cry that could wake the dead. Gray felt the tingle in his balls a second before his body tensed and cum exploded from his cock, finding a haven in Cade’s hot ass.

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He drove his cock in one last time as far as their bodies would allow and held himself still. There was no movement, no noise save their rasping breaths for what seemed to be an eternity. Finally, Gray collapsed on top of Cade’s body. He’d never felt so close to another human being as he did at this very moment. Gray lifted his head high enough that he could kiss Cade’s shoulder. “Thank you.” To his amusement, Cade mumbled something unintelligibly. “I love you. You know that, right?” Gray felt uncomfortable showing his emotions, but Cade needed to hear what he felt in his heart. Gray knew Cade understood that he loved him even though he’d never said the words aloud. He’d made little innuendos and jokes, here and there, but never I love you. Three simple words, yet he’d withheld them, not uttering them once to the man he’d loved most. Cade had given him a precious gift, and he was going to give him one in return. Cade didn’t move or speak. Gray wasn’t even sure he’d heard him. Maybe Cade had fallen asleep. As he was about to repeat the words, Cade raised his head up and met his eyes. “I know how hard that was for you to say, but could you just kiss me?” And Gray did.

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Chapter 6 Three nights had passed since Jaycee laid eyes on Gray or Cade, and they had yet to hunt her down. Lying on her twin-size bed in her apartment, Jaycee sighed in relief. “Thank you, God.” The longer they gave her, the more time she had to reinforce her defenses. She was no fool. Gray and Cade would come for her. She was biding her time, praying for some miracle to save her from making the biggest mistake of her life. Jaycee closed her eyes and gave in to the memories of Gray and Cade, her ex-fiancé and their best friend, her soul mates. She remembered the two men who’d haunted her day and night since the day she’d driven out of the gates of the Blakemore-McCoy Equestrian Center. Opening her heart, and mind, she relived twenty-four years of love, friendship, and laughter that were as much a part of her as the oxygen in her blood. When she’d left, she had known that running was not the answer and that she could only run for so long. Apparently, her running was over. She was going to be caught, sooner rather than later. What the hell was wrong with her? If they were going to catch her, why should she make it easy for them? Holing up in her tiny apartment was asinine. They wanted her? Fine. Then they were going to damn well work for it. She refused to roll over like some sub awaiting her master’s orders. Oh, she so didn’t need that image in her head. She could see a woman, tied down, lying on her back naked while a wickedly hot man stood over her with all sorts of promises filling his eyes. She could

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hear the moans of the couple while they fucked, and she could smell the scent of sex lingering in the air. She yearned to be that woman. Her throbbing breasts called out for a wicked man’s mouth to torment the tender tips, and her pussy begged to be packed full of his huge cock. Why couldn’t she be that woman, even if only in her fantasies? The vision whirled and shifted in her mind. **** She was with Gray in their old bedroom, but they weren’t alone. Cade stood behind Gray, watching and waiting. He worked his massive cock with his broad hand, stroking himself from base to tip. Cade pleasured himself as much for her as himself. She’d spied on him for too many years to believe this was how he jerked off. Usually, his hands were more hurried, more frantic. This was too methodical. He looked as though he could stroke himself all day long. His slow, seamless rhythm tantalized her, and she grew damp in response. “Look at me, Jaycee Elizabeth,” Gray barked in undisguised displeasure from the side of the bed. “Not Cade.” She focused her eyes on the sinfully sexy man standing over her restrained body. Gray seemed to calm, his face smoothing out. “Jaycee, it has come to my attention that I misjudged your desires. If it is both of us you want, here we are. But, keep in mind the road goes both ways. We will both want you…often. We’ve given you plenty of time. What’s your decision?” “I want you, both of you,” she said simply. “Now fuck me.” Cade’s face darkened and he stepped forward, continuing to caress his steely shaft. Gray scowled at her, throwing his arm out to block Cade. “She’s topping from bottom, Cade. I think she needs to learn a lesson.”

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Cade’s sinister smile spoke volumes as he continued stroking his rigid cock. “I agree.” Her eyes dropped to Cade’s enormous shaft. A drop of pre-cum glistened on his slit, and her mouth watered for a taste. She licked her dry lips with a tiny tremble. Cade groaned, his cock elongating even further until it looked painful. She couldn’t help but feel satisfied he would suffer along with her. Mister Impatience was going to learn a lesson of his own. Gray smirked condescendingly. “You know, Jaycee, patience is a virtue. It’s about time you learned a new way of life.” She eyed Gray nervously, her heart skipping a beat. He looked more dangerous than ever before, and she had a feeling he planned to torture her in ways that went above and beyond pain. Her tremble turned into a full shudder. Gray dropped his hand from Cade’s naked chest and moved toward her. He grasped her throbbing nipple between two fingers and tweaked it, sending a jolt of surprise through her body. Reflexively, she jerked against her bindings with a squeak. Cade closed in on her from the other side. He slid the tips of his callused fingers up her leg, glided over her pussy, and stopped at her belly button. He dipped a finger into her navel, swirling it around in circles. She giggled as her tummy shook. “Hey! That tickles!” They ignored her. Gray lowered his head until he was a hair’s breadth away from her nipple then blew. Warm air floated across her tingling breasts, causing her ultrasensitive tips to tighten. Goose bumps raced across her heated skin, and she shivered but not from the cold, airconditioned room. Her body was on fire, and these two were the only ones who could put out the flames. She suspected that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Cade let his fingers walk down her lower abdomen to the tip of her wet pussy and halted.

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“Cade, please don’t stop,” she begged, looking into his green eyes. She felt color spreading through her cheeks in embarrassment. Cade winked at her then slipped his fingers between her labia. He went straight for her clit, massaging the swollen nub. She moaned as every nerve ending came to life and pleasure engulfed her. Gray licked her erect nipple lightly, brushing his velvety tongue across the turgid peaks. He taunted her with his butterfly touches, and she had to bite back the plea for mercy forming in her throat. She’d already begged to no avail, and she would be damned before she did it again. Teasingly, Cade drew his fingers up and down across her mound in vertical lines. Each time he paused above the lips of her pussy, giving her a little but not nearly enough. She writhed, crying out, “Please! I need more,” before she could suppress it. “Give her more,” Gray growled at Cade before he sucked her nipple into the humid heat of his mouth. He tugged gently, making her thrash and curse the ropes inhibiting her movements. Cade moved his hand lower to her entrance. He didn’t wait to slide his large finger inside her cunt and start to pump. Gray increased the pressure of his suckling until she grew restless. She continually squirmed and fought her restraints. Cade finger fucked her relentlessly, changing his speed and depth at will. He watched her face with a sly grin. “Just wait until it’s my cock, darlin’, not my finger. Think about how good it’s going to feel.” He clasped his thick shaft in his other hand with a groan. “Damn, I’m about to come just thinking about your tight pussy wrapped around my dick.” Gray released her nipple and pulled away. He unbuttoned his pants, lowered the zipper, and pushed them over his lean hips. His iron cock sprung free and drew her undivided attention. She admired his engorged flesh, wanting him to invade her cunt and fuck her until

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she was limp and sated. Knowing what she craved, her pussy fluttered with the need for something to fill it. Gray cleared his throat, and she forced herself to look at his face, knowing that was what he wanted. He peered at her, his glowing eyes warning her that the real torture was about to come, and it wouldn’t be her dealing it out this round. Without taking his eyes off her, he ordered gruffly, “Quit, Cade.” Immediately, Cade retreated, pulling his finger out of her drenched cunt. He brought his cream-coated finger to his sensual mouth and sucked on it. “Mmmm. You taste good, darlin’.” Her pussy quivered, calling out for Cade’s sexy mouth to descend between her legs and devour it. A surge of juices inundated her pussy, the moisture dripping between the cleft of her ass, drawing a whimper from her. “Cade, it’s time for our girl’s lesson,” Gray said ominously, taking his stiff cock in his sizable hand and stroking it. He continued to speak to Cade, but kept his eyes fixed on her. “I’m going to fuck you, and she’s going to watch. Maybe next time she won’t make such hasty demands.” **** Jaycee cursed. Even in her damn fantasies, she ended up unsatisfied. What she wouldn’t give for an orgasm that didn’t involve some batteries, a vibrator the color of a red caramelized apple, and a butt plug that matched. With a shake of her head, Jaycee tried to focus on the matters at hand, not the sex toys inches away in her nightstand. The orgasm might be only mildly satisfying, but she was desperate. She couldn’t take much more of the agonizing emptiness in her cunt. Since the night at the bar, Jaycee couldn’t seem to control herself. Every hormone in her body had flared to life, leaving her one giant ball of sexual frustration. She’d tried everything short of going back

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to the bar to pick up some random stranger for a night of meaningless fucking. The unsuspecting man would never know what hit him. She would suck him, fuck him, and send him on his merry way. So, it pissed Jaycee the hell off that she couldn’t do it. The thought of fucking any man who was not six foot two inches of sinful, sensual rancher, or six foot four inches of lighthearted, luscious cowboy made her feel dirty and not in a good way, either. Another man’s touch had always repulsed Jaycee. She’d been a virgin when she’d begun dating Gray. Lucky for her, he’d remedied that little situation quickly. Of course, she had known him for most of her life, and she had practically jumped him on their first date. Their chemistry was explosive, and she was helpless to resist the fire. Apparently, to him, she was resistible, though. She wanted to burn, and he wanted to simmer. Or, at least, that is what he wanted her to believe. Damn William and Isabelle Blakemore. If it weren’t for their poisonous marriage, Gray wouldn’t have been bound and determined to protect Jaycee from himself. His father had been an abusive Dom who forced his mother to be his submissive. William obsessively controlled Isabelle in vengeance for his own unhappiness, and she punished him for loving Jaycee’s mother. Before Jaycee’s birth, William and her mother had fallen passionately in love with each other, but she was already married to his best friend. They approached Jaycee’s father about sharing her, but he vehemently refused them, banishing William from their house and their lives. True to her vows and still in love with her husband, her mother stayed away from William and, a few years later, William’s family coerced him into a marriage with a business associate’s daughter. He despised Isabelle from the day they met until the day she killed him and then herself. And damn my father. His refusal to share his wife with William had started the whole sordid mess to begin with. Damn my mother, too. If Jaycee hadn’t been forced to watch her mother die a little

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inside every day, she might have stayed and fought harder for her men instead of running away from them. After his parents’ death, Gray had been convinced sweet little Jaycee could never handle one dominant man, let alone two. She wouldn’t like it hard and rough. No, of course not. After all, her favorite ice cream was vanilla. Jaycee snorted. If Gray only knew about her fantasies, he might be the offended one. Seriously, she’d been raised in the same town as him and Cade. Did he think a precocious girl like herself wouldn’t want to try ninety percent of the things that people talked about? Hell, she might have technically been a virgin when they’d started dating, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t experimented before. She chose to remain a virgin because she wanted to be with them for her first time. What would Gray think of her if he knew the plan she’d concocted the morning she caught Gray and Cade together? She had a bag of goodies to aid her in seducing both men in hand when she’d walked into the house. All of the items were picked strategically with each man in mind. For Gray, she had a ball gag, anal beads, nipple clamps, and one suede flogger. Cade’s items had been less extreme, but no less exciting. She’d gotten him a blindfold, some rope, and, her personal favorite, a strap-on. She had been looking forward to testing each and every item. Jaycee had hoped this would show both of them what she’d been telling them for months. It had been her last-ditch effort to save their relationship, but she’d never had the chance to pull out any of the toys. The bag was presently gathering dust under her bed. She couldn’t bear to get rid of them, especially the strap-on. The thought of having the chance to fuck Cade with a strap-on tantalized her. She wanted it almost as badly as she wanted Cade to

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fuck her, not that they had the chance. She’d wanted to desperately, but she wouldn’t betray Gray any more than Cade would. Hell, she was right back where she was three years ago—in the midst of an impossible situation. Jaycee sat up with more speed than finesse then surged to her feet and headed straight for the front door. She shoved her feet into her favorite sneakers, grabbed her key from the hook, and opened the door as quickly and quietly as she could manage. With a rapidly racing heart, Jaycee poked her head out to scan the hallway. Once satisfied no one lurked outside of her apartment, she dashed to her car as if the hounds of hell nipped at her heels. In the distance from her apartment to her car, Jaycee had stumbled twice. Both times she’d tripped over her own stupid feet. Jaycee threw herself into the front seat of her car, remembering why she never ran. She was about as graceful as a bull rider who’d ridden the roughest and toughest bull in the state of Kansas. She breathed out a sigh of relief when she closed her car door. Laying her forehead on the steering wheel, Jaycee closed her eyes in an attempt to calm herself. She had to get her emotions back in check before she could drive. To where? Jaycee had no idea, but she had to go the moment she regained control of her body and mind. After what seemed like forever, her hands stopped shaking violently and slowed to a fine tremor. With her anxiety lessening, she stuffed her key into the ignition and turned it. A chugga-chugga sound came from underneath the hood and then nothing. “Son of a bitch,” Jaycee cursed as a strong sense of déjà vu hit her, making her head spin. They were here. This childish, little stunt had Cade McCoy written all over it. He’d done it enough times in the past. With every instinct Jaycee possessed screaming in protest, she swung her head in the direction of the driver’s side window.

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Gray. Seeing him standing there caused a drastic spike in her heart rate. His lips were set in a determined line, jaw clenched, and his eyes glittered with purpose. Uh-oh. A loud thumping noise on the passenger-side window interrupted her gawking. She swung her head to the right. Cade. If Gray was determined, then Cade was enraged. Jaycee squirmed in her seat. A livid Cade was a sight to behold. His fiery temper and sharp tongue had many men on the ranch whispering, but she’d never had the pleasure of being exposed to the ruffian living inside of him. This new facet to Cade made her want to jump out of the car and beg him to punish her for her misdeeds—past, present, and future. Her pussy quivered at the thought. Maybe she should be scared instead of horny. Running wasn’t an option now. She would never get away. Hell, she couldn’t even escape the car without being tackled. You just had to go there. Images of them seizing her and forcing her to submit to their will surged to the forefront of her mind. White-hot lust flooded her bloodstream. She could feel liquid heat seeping from her slit, preparing her to be fucked. Oh, how she wanted to be fucked by them. She would take them fast and hard or soft and slow. She didn’t give a damn as long as they were fucking her. At this very moment, she didn’t even care which orifice they used—ass, pussy, or mouth. It was irrelevant. All she wanted was for them to ease the desperate demands that had infiltrated her body long before their return. The longing for the physical and emotional void to be filled crashed through her senses like an unforgiving wave at high tide, the current threatening to sweep her away. Her eyes pooled with tears, momentarily blinding her. “Darlin’, I wouldn’t waste those tears. You’ll be crying soon enough. I promise you that.”

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Cade’s smooth voice glided over her skin, surrounding her, enveloping her. An involuntary shiver raced down her spinal column. She could almost come to his voice alone. “Get out of the car, Jaycee Elizabeth Dalton,” Gray commanded in his deep-as-the-sea voice. The dominance, control, and power emanated from his words and oozed from his pores. They were in the air that surrounded him. Another rush of moisture inundated her pussy. This side of Gray was invincible, irrefutable. It was the only part of himself he’d never given her, and it was the part she needed the most. Too damn bad he hadn’t arrived before now—when it was three years too late.

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Chapter 7 Gray stood outside of the rattrap Jaycee called a car with the afternoon sun beating down on his back. What the hell was she thinking? This piece-of-shit car needed to be crushed and disposed of. Her red Ford Focus looked like someone had spilt a gigantic sangria over the roof and let it coat every external surface. Even worse, it looked like someone had kicked it in the ass one too many times. He prayed it wasn’t Jaycee who’d put all those dings and dents on the body of the car. Her car door creaked open, and Gray stepped back so their blonde goddess could emerge. “Well, hey, boys,” Jaycee drawled, her tone as smooth as melted butter. She strolled around the car door and slammed it behind her as if she had no cares in the world. “Long time, no see.” If Gray hadn’t already planned on paddling her ass, he would now. He hadn’t seen her or touched her in too damn long, and she had the gall to act as if he and Cade were two long-lost friends she’d run into at some fucking grocery store. After the bar scene, she should have known the two of them were no longer playing around. Neither he nor Cade would allow her to toy with them. This was serious, and there would be no more games. Gray clenched his fists so he wouldn’t feel compelled to flip her over his knee and spank her ass in the middle of a parking lot. Heaven help him if he did. He highly doubted her neighbors would turn a blind eye to that sort of behavior in public. Hell, they probably wouldn’t condone it in private, either. Since he had no desire to visit the county jail, he ought to keep his pants zipped.

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Breathing in slowly through his nose, Gray stalked over to where Jaycee reclined lazily on the front fender. “Sweetheart, listen real close.” Out of the corner of his eye, Gray saw Cade had followed his lead. They both towered over her petite body. When she made no acknowledgement of him or Cade, he leaned down until his face was a mere breath away from hers. He heard a tiny gasp escape her ruby-red lips. “Are you listening, sweetheart?” Jaycee nodded nervously. Before he said a word, he nipped her lower lip. “Good. We’re going to do this the easy way or the hard way.” “We’ll leave that up to you, darlin’,” Cade chimed in, acting more like his normal, charming self. Jaycee had to watch her step. When illtempered Cade transformed into jovial Cade at a moment’s notice, he was at his most dangerous. Gray ignored Cade and continued on, “You can sashay that cute little ass of yours over to my truck like a good little girl, get in, and buckle up. Or you can run as fast and as far as possible, but we will be right behind you. We’re not going to allow you to get away again.” Gray leaned in to kiss Jaycee’s soft lips while she mulled over her options. She parted her lips, and he swept inside as soon as their mouths touched. Their tongues met, tangling in a dance as old as time. Gray could barely control his breathing as he moved his body closer to hers. Nothing had changed between them even though time had passed. She still fit him perfectly. The way their bodies curved around each other felt right. Her sweetly curved breasts pillowed his solid chest, her taut stomach flawlessly matched his muscled abdomen, and her soft pussy molded to his hard cock. Closer. He had to get closer. Grabbing her hips, he yanked her forward roughly and held her tight to his body. She melted against him and moaned into his mouth.

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He deepened their kiss, unable to help himself. The subtle hint of chocolate on her tongue intoxicated him, drugging him and robbing him of his sanity. Jaycee wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her warmth. She rubbed her pussy against his denim-covered cock and whimpered. That was all it took for Gray. He didn’t give a fuck about her neighbors. They could put him in jail. He grasped her T-shirt with both hands and ripped it, splitting the shirt up the middle. Never breaking their scorching kiss, his hands roamed freely over her flat abdomen. Swiftly, he slid his hands upward, unable to wait any longer to touch the breasts he loved so much. Jaycee made no move to fight him. She relaxed, her lips softening against his, and sighed. Gray sought out her nipples with his thumbs, massaging the turgid nubs in small circles. Jaycee arched her back, her nipples pressing into his fingers. He would have smiled if his mouth wasn’t otherwise engaged. His woman was making demands of her own. Instead of giving in to her, Gray curled his arms around her waist, his hands traveling toward her enticing ass. He cupped the globes with both hands and kneaded the supple flesh. He ground his cock against her with the aid of his hands forcing her to remain still. Jaycee grunted in frustration and tried to squirm, but his hands held her captive. That didn’t deter her. She continued to fight him with gusto. He wanted for her to get frisky, the feistier, the better. Her hands left his neck, sliding down his chest. They stopped on his pectorals, his nipples landing in the middle of her palms. The little she-devil flattened her palms and massaged his nipples vigorously. “Motherfucker,” Gray shouted as he flung his head back and ended their kiss. “You little hellcat.” Grinning flirtatiously, Jaycee disagreed, “Naw, I’m not a motherfucker. I’m a Grayfucker.”

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Gray chuckled at her smart mouth. “Well, Grayfucker, you’re not doing a very good job. You haven’t fucked me yet.” “Give me a few minutes, buster,” Jaycee retorted saucily. “Some men are so fucking impatient.” Gray slapped her ass and said, “I see your language hasn’t improved much, sweetheart.” Jaycee stuck her tongue out playfully. Gray had forgotten how much fun it was to banter with Jaycee. The playfulness and the innuendos only drove their lust higher. “I can think of more pleasant things you could be doing with that pretty tongue of yours,” Gray retorted smugly. Jaycee’s seductive smile made his heart flip. Her smoldering eyes met his. “Big boy, you still have on pants. I cannot exactly suck your cock if it’s locked away in your jeans.” Gray’s dick strained in the already-confined space. He wondered if he should be thankful he was going commando or not. It was very easy access but uncomfortable as hell to have his naked cock pressing against the unyielding zipper. Gray reached for the button of his pants, but halted when he realized Cade watched them avidly. Cade was as voyeuristic as a person could be. So, Gray was about to give him one hell of a show. He unbuttoned his pants and pulled his zipper down with deliberate slowness. Cade groaned. “Shit, Gray, stop hogging the lady. It’s my turn.”

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Chapter 8 Standing outside in a nearly deserted parking lot with the sun at her back, Jaycee still managed to feel like someone had dashed a bucket of freezing cold water on her. The desire-filled fog cleared, and comprehension dawned. She was doing what she’d promised herself she would never do again—choosing one over the other. Panicking, Jaycee shoved Gray away from her with trembling hands. “Get off me, Gray. Please. Please, just get off me.” Disappointment flooded Jaycee when Gray stepped away. She’d wanted him to fight her, not accept her appeal. He made life so much easier when he pissed her off. Jaycee grabbed the remnants of her torn shirt and made an effort to cover her breasts as much as possible. It was futile, so she let it go and stood in the middle of the parking lot proudly with her shirt gaping and her breasts exposed to the heat of the sun. “What, sweetheart?” “Darlin’, what’s wrong?” They spoke to her at the exact same time. Since she didn’t know which one to look at, she wouldn’t look at either of them. Her eyes fell to the blisteringly hot asphalt underneath her sneakers. “Don’t you want me?” Jaycee could hear the hurt in Cade’s husky voice and wanted to smack him for being so obtuse. So she did. She whacked him on the side of his head, and it made her feel good, really good. “Of course I want you, dumbass. That’s not the problem.” Gray cleared his throat, distracting her. “Then I’m the problem? If it’s me, I’ll go.” He made a move to leave.

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Jaycee hit him, too. This time, she didn’t feel vindicated, though. She felt pissed. They hadn’t been back in her life a full week, and she was already being driven to violence. “Gray, you’re an asshole. You come here and dangle what I want in front of me then walk away as if you don’t give a damn. Well, fine. I don’t need you, and I don’t need him.” She pointed at Cade viciously. Jaycee turned on her heel and stalked back toward her apartment, muttering under her breath the whole way. Before she reached the steps leading to her apartment, someone grabbed her from behind. She shrieked and struggled to get away from the man holding her. “Oh, baby. You just made my fucking day,” Gray whispered gruffly in Jaycee’s ear. One of the hands at her waist journeyed up her rib cage, stopping at her breasts long enough to flick her already-hard nipple. Then, much to her chagrin, he continued upward, gliding over her neck, into the mass of curly hair. Jaycee was about to explode in anticipation. This Gray was unknown to her, but not entirely unfamiliar. He’d been lurking under the surface for years, and she was about to get her first real dose. She shuddered at the thought of what was to come. Gray caressed her hair and rubbed her scalp. Jaycee’s body went slack, the tension in her muscles disappeared in a flash, and her breathing slowed. She felt like her Jell-O legs might give out at any moment, but she didn’t worry. Her men were here, and they would take good care of her. Gray’s sweet, loving touch turned to painful pleasure. He seized her hair in a restrictive clutch, pulling her head back and exposing her neck. Cade appeared out of thin air. He was in front of her, his body so close their chests collided with every breath she took.

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Squeezed between these two men was more than Jaycee had ever dreamed. With Gray’s steely cock against her ass and Cade’s stiff cock against her crotch, she thought she would die from the pleasure. Jaycee’s cunt heated, and her juices boiled over. Moisture leaked from between her labia, dampening her panties and trickling down her leg. She bit back a scream as her hips involuntarily gyrated between their two hard, luscious bodies. Cade leaned down and kissed her neck, overwhelming her with emotion. It was so tender that her heart clenched. He made her feel so cherished, so adored. Cade brushed his lips back and forth in a torturous motion. As the chills skittered down her spine, Jaycee felt him lightly nip. She wanted to scream in frustration. He was teasing her, tormenting her. She growled, noisily, with aggression. She would love nothing more than to beg and plead but wouldn’t give Cade the gratification. Bite me. Bite me. Bite me hard. Jaycee longed for Cade to leave a mark. It might be a primitive desire, but she wanted the whole world to know she had been fucked by these men and fucked good. What she wasn’t prepared for was Gray’s mouth lowering to the other side of her neck. He yanked her hair and granted both men even better access. Instead of kissing her, though, Gray bit her. Cade didn’t give her body time to respond to Gray before he bit her, too. The delicious pain disappeared in a millisecond. Pleasure rushed over her, triggering another gush of moisture as her pussy spasmed. She moaned passionately. Cade chuckled. “Gray, I think we are going to need to gag her before everything is said and done.” Jaycee felt the surge of blood in her cheeks. “I love that shade of pink on your face, sweetheart, but it’s a rosecolored ass I want to see,” Gray informed her coolly as if he were telling her about the weather. “We’re ready,” Cade told Gray cryptically, talking over her head.

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Cade infuriated her. They both did. “She is right here, and she wants—” Her tirade came to a standstill when she realized her hands were bound. While she’d been distracted, he’d tied her wrists with what looked and felt like rope. Jaycee wiggled and tugged the rope, but it was to no avail. Damn the man. Cade knew how to tie it so that she couldn’t get away. “You will pay for this, Cade McCoy.” “I hope so, darlin’.” Cade paid more attention to the rope around her wrist than her. He inspected her binds, checking his handiwork. “I really hope so.” His smugness really rankled. She futilely fought her captors for freedom. Unmoved, the men stood their ground. “Fine,” Jaycee ground out as she gave up. Gray didn’t speak to her. He disregarded her completely, which only made her need for revenge escalate. This part of the plan had been his, not Cade’s. Cade intruded on Jaycee’s thoughts before she had a chance to plot all the best ways to murder Gray. “Okay, let’s go.” He grabbed her and hefted her over his shoulder, patting her ass as he set out for the truck. For the first time, Jaycee got a good look at Gray’s truck and cursed. Even upside down, she saw the black Ford F-450 from the bar. She should’ve known they would own her dream truck. Cade’s brisk gait ate up the distance faster than she anticipated. She pounded on his muscular legs with clenched fists, doing her best to ignore that her face was even with his flawlessly shaped, tight ass and failing miserably. She wanted to take a bite out of his ass just as she would a nice, big, juicy apple. She salivated at the prospect and grew hungry. Feed me, baby. A giggle bubbled up in the back of Jaycee’s throat, and she tried in vain to conceal it. Before she realized what was happening, she had

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stopped beating his ass to cover her mouth as hysterical laughter overcame her. Cade snarled, firmly swatting her ass. “Darlin’, there isn’t anything funny about this situation.” His brusque statement only heightened her amusement. “Oh yes, Cade. It’s very funny,” Jaycee managed between cackles. “Your ass reminds me of apples, and you know how much I adore apples.” Gray snorted audibly. Cade stopped dead in his tracks. “Gray, what in the hell is she talking about?” When he responded, Gray’s voice was filled with mirth. “Buddy, I think she is complimenting you, in her own twisted way.” Cade propelled himself forward at a near run, bouncing her up and down until she felt like an upside-down bobblehead. The truck door opened, and Cade flipped Jaycee right-side up. The blood rushed away from her head, leaving her feeling drunk and disoriented. Before she could regain her bearings, Cade shoved her into the truck. “Buckle her up,” Gray commanded from the driver’s side as he joined them inside the cab. Cade wrenched the lap belt out of its holder and across her lower abdomen roughly, leaning across her to reach the buckle. Jaycee used his position to her advantage, angling herself to where she could inhale his masculine scent. His signature spicy aroma danced in her nose. She closed her eyes with a sappy smile plastered on her face and let his yummy smell intoxicate her. “Just what we needed,” Gray commented, sounding extremely pissed off. Jaycee’s eyes snapped open as Cade cursed. “Fuck.” “Oh my God,” Jaycee yelped. Her three very burly, irritatingly overprotective brothers barreled toward them in their pickup truck at breakneck speed. This had disaster written all over it.

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“It’s okay, Gray,” Cade soothed. “They’re our friends. It’ll be fine.” “Yeah, right,” Gray replied sarcastically, reaching for something behind her. “Cade, I am not convinced Jared, Drew, or Randy are going to approve of us kidnapping their baby sister, friends or not.” “I’m going to untie you. Do not make me regret it.” Gray unknotted the rope and thrust a flannel shirt at her. “Put this on, sweetheart.” Jaycee grabbed the shirt and threw it on gratefully. No woman wanted her brothers to see her bare breasts. Her mind whirled, her heart raced, and her palms sweated. She wasn’t sure what she hoped would happen. Her mind screamed for her brothers to save her. Her body prayed that Gray and Cade could persuade them to not interfere. Her heart was trapped somewhere in between. “They would do the same thing with Shannon if they had half the chance.” Cade spoke, rationally and calmly, in an even tone. “All is fair in love and war, excluding a man’s sister,” Gray informed Cade wryly. Jaycee remained silent with her hands folded in her lap, not wanting to provoke or interfere. “I’m not worried. We can take them.” Cade sounded far too enthusiastic about the prospect of beating up her brothers. “Idiots,” she muttered under her breath, hoping neither man heard her. Jaycee’s hopes died when Gray shot her a truly sinister smile. “Sweetheart, you are going to pay for that comment later.” “A girl can dream,” she retorted tartly. Gray reached toward her, his thumb stroking her bottom lip and promised, “Not a dream, a fact.” Jaycee shrugged nonchalantly, as though she couldn’t care less if he punished her or not, but mentally she crossed her fingers and her toes. “Come on, Cade,” Gray instructed.

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Both men hopped out of the truck and slammed the doors behind them. Gray flung the door open only a second after it shut. “Sweetheart, you keep your ass glued to that seat. If you get out of this truck for any reason, you will pay dearly. Got me?” Crossing her arms indignantly, Jaycee nodded. Gray closed the door without slamming it this time. Jaycee wanted to laugh out loud. Did he really think she would sit in the truck like a good puppy? Was he going to bring her a freaking dog biscuit and pat her on the head when he came back? Seriously? The man had to be insane. When her chance came, she would be out of this truck in a flash. She wasn’t entirely certain what she would be doing, but she would do something. She unclipped the seat belt then slid over to the passenger side and grasped the door handle. She would know exactly what to do when the time arrived. For the moment, there was nothing left to do except wait.

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Chapter 9 Gray marched away from the truck, fully aware that Jaycee wouldn’t remain there for long. He had to convince her brothers that this plan they’d hatched would work, pronto. Jaycee thought that she had him fooled, that her act had worked. Her naïveté astounded him sometimes. He knew that little girl better than he knew himself. With a squeal of tires, Jaycee’s brothers’ truck ground to halt a few feet away from Gray and Cade. Like the impatient bastards they were, all three jumped out of the truck before the dust and rocks could settle back down on the asphalt. Jaycee’s eldest brother, Jared, spoke first. “For both of your sakes, I hope we were misinformed about your little scheme to win back our sister. I would hate to maim, castrate, and dismember two friends.” “Hell, I wouldn’t hate to beat the shit out of them,” Randy interjected with a frown. “I would take great pleasure in it.” Drew glowered in menacing silence. Gray decided it would be best to ignore the two youngest of the triplets. Appealing to Jared was the most rational thing to do. “Jared, we want your sister back. Don’t make this any more difficult than it already is.” Jared’s jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. Gray knew that look. If he didn’t do something, fists were going to fly in the next few minutes. He was going to have to take a gamble. “What would you do if it was Shannon?” Gray expected the first punch to be thrown at this point in the strained verbal exchange. When no one attacked, he proceeded

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cautiously. “If Jaycee wasn’t your sister, would you be acting like this?” Gray paused and let those words sink in before going in for the kill. “See, I don’t think so. I think you would be in the thick of things, plotting and planning along with us, Katie-Anne, and Shannon. Hell, I figure you would be in the middle of this just to be near Shannon.” Drew and Randy’s eyes grew stormy. Both men wore identical expressions of rage mixed with fury and violence. All they waited for was Jared’s go-ahead, and they would attack with a vengeance. Despite his brothers’ feverishness, Jared hesitated. He watched Gray and Cade carefully with his eagle eyes, seeming to be mulling things over in his mind. Gray could practically hear the gears turning in Jared’s head. Gray held his breath, forcing himself to maintain eye contact when he wanted desperately to check on Jaycee. He knew now was not the time, but old habits died hard. “So, boys, what’s the verdict? Are we going to be girls and air out our secrets? Or are we going to rumble?” Cade asked playfully in a far-too-transparent attempt to diffuse some of the tension. Gray had the urge to send Cade a dirty look, but fought it off. There was already too much discord present in the situation. He didn’t need to add any more testosterone. Gray would make sure to discuss it with Cade at a later, more opportune time. “I have one question for you two. Why now? She’s been suffering and alone in this godforsaken town for three years. All of a sudden, you want her back and she’s supposed to fall at your fucking feet? I don’t think so. Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t kick your asses.” Before an appropriate response could form in Gray’s mind, Cade burst out, “You know why—” Gray tried to cut Cade off, but Drew beat him to it. “We want to hear it from him.” Drew pointed at Gray. “If he can admit what we all

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know, then we’ll be sure you two can win over Jaycee and make her happy. That’s all we want.” All eyes turned on Gray, making his head hurt. He knew he had one shot at giving them the answer they all apparently wanted, Cade included. Well, fine. “I fucked up. Okay? I didn’t give her what she needed because I couldn’t let go of my own shitty past. I drove her away then hid my head in the sand until I was suffocating without her. Cade and I need Jaycee. We’re not complete without her. Satisfied?” “Yeah, boys, are you satisfied?” Cade asked in overly exaggerated petulance. “I am getting awfully tired of this girlie shit. You’re making me want to take a leak out in the wide open, have a spitting contest, and chew some tobacco—in no particular order.” Cade shuddered theatrically. “Do you know how much I hate tobacco?” “Yep,” Randy agreed. “Very satisfied. The only way I would be more satisfied is if I had Shannon between my legs with my dick shoved down her throat.” Drew and Jared groaned at the same time, followed by cursing. Fuck and Goddamn it were distinctly heard by Gray, but he couldn’t determine which brother said what. Cade genuinely shuddered this time. “Did you have to go there, Randy? I mean, she’s…well, she’s Shannon. I don’t even want to think about you and Shannon. Or them”—Cade gestured toward Drew and Jared—“and Shannon.” Randy shrugged indifferently, answering, “Hell, you asked me. I just answered with the God’s honest truth.” Cade glared at Randy and taunted, “Do you want to have a friendly chat about Jaycee with Gray and me?” He stopped as if he was waiting for an answer but didn’t give anyone time to respond. “Nope, I didn’t think so.” Gray knew that he and Jared had to get everything back on track. Otherwise, Randy and Cade would be useless. They didn’t have much time before Jaycee would inevitably stick her nose into the situation.

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Gray directed a pointed look at Jared that conveyed his thoughts and placed his hand on Cade’s muscular back. “Boys, boys, boys.” Jared spoke slowly, shaking his head. “We have some plotting and planning to do before Jaycee jumps out of the truck and mows all of us over like she is dying to do. I can see her bouncing in her seat from here.” Jared pointed at the truck with a condescending smirk and waved. The five men crowded around in a huddle, bent their heads, and discussed plans for taking down one pint-size blonde beauty. **** The pint-size blonde beauty was about to spontaneously combust. Her brothers and her men were huddled up. She didn’t think that boded well for her. Obviously, Gray and Cade had won over her brothers. Damn men always stuck together. Well, fine. If they wanted to play five against one, Jaycee needed to get her ass over there and protect herself. The odds weren’t in her favor, but when had that ever stopped her? Jaycee got out of the truck, not shutting the door. If she could be quiet enough, she might be able to sneak up on them. She breathed and moved as stealthily as possible, making it more than halfway to the men without incident. She only had a few more steps, and she would have them. “Hey, Jaycee! Don’t forget your rent is due today,” Mrs. Ellis, her bitchy landlady, called out shrilly at the top of her lungs. Jaycee cringed. The obnoxious lady’s high-pitched reminder for the stupid rent money she had forgotten about was bad enough, but the five men who were now giving her their undivided attention was icing on the cake. Kill me now. Oh, yeah, karma is a bitch, and she had it out for Jaycee. “Thanks, Mrs. Ellis. I’ll get it to you tonight,” Jaycee said as calmly as she could. With three brothers and two male best friends,

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she’d learned long ago the only way to survive testosterone overload was to appear uncaring and unaffected. If they’d taught her anything, they’d taught her how to defend herself even when the odds were stacked against her. She waved at Mrs. Ellis and prayed the old biddy went back inside her apartment. When Mrs. Ellis did that very thing, Jaycee sighed. One down, five to go.

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Chapter 10 Jaycee approached the cluster of men next to the pickup truck with as much poise as she could summon considering her heart hammered heavily inside her chest cavity at a pace that made breathing strenuous. They didn’t need to know she was scared. The next few minutes would forever alter the course of Jaycee’s life. She was going to make a decision she wasn’t ready to make, guided by her heart and a cheesy-named pseudo-psychic’s prediction. If Jaycee went with Gray and Cade right now, she would seal her fate. She could tell herself a million times it would be temporary, but it wouldn’t be. She would never give them her body and turn away again. “Well, hi there, boys,” Jaycee greeted disrespectfully. “You look like you’re thinking awfully hard about something. I would hate for your tiny brains to go kaboom. It would be dreadfully messy to clean up, and I’m not in the mood to clean.” Five pairs of eyes narrowed on her. Three blue sets in irritation, one green set in suspicion, and a brown set in disapproval. Playing the innocent-girl card, she asked, “What? Was it something I said?” Cade snorted in patent disbelief then shook his head with a knowing chuckle. Jaycee wanted to stomp her feet. The damn man read her better than an open book. “Jaycee Elizabeth,” Gray said warningly as he crossed his arms. The triplets laughed—at her expense. Jaycee huffed and pushed her hair back out of her face so she could see the men without visual obstructions. As she watched, her

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brothers lazily sauntered over to her men, clapped each of them on the back, and spoke in hushed tones she couldn’t quite make out. “Hello! I am standing right here,” Jaycee spat with her hands fisted on her hips so that she could coldcock the one closest to her at a moment’s notice, if warranted. Her brothers treated her to another round of unrestrained laughter. “She’s all yours, my friends,” Jared told Gray and Cade as if she were some object her oldest brother handed down to them. “We wish you lots of luck. A word of advice…hide your ammunition.” Cade grinned with a cockiness reserved for the rich, the famous, and the fuckable. He had the look down pat. Of course, he did meet the rich and fuckable criteria. “Already done. We know our girl.” Gray glared at her, his eyes never straying. He managed a mumbled thanks to her brothers, who moved away and headed toward their truck. “Hey,” Jaycee hollered, “where do you think you’re going? I don’t really want to be left alone with Dumb and Dumber.” “I hope that I’m Dumber, because that will make me the pretty one,” Cade teased, his open face filled with merriment. Randy called out over his shoulder, “You’re in good hands, little sister. Call us in a few days. After—” He stopped talking when Drew smacked him on the back of the head. Drew scolded Randy, “You dumb bastard. There are some things a brother doesn’t need to know about his baby sister. I think her bedroom activities fall into that category.” “Double-crossing bastards!” Jaycee’s voice carried across the tiny parking lot, but her brothers gave no indication they’d heard her insult. They climbed into their truck and pulled out of the parking lot. And then there were two. Equal parts panic and outrage surged through her body. Her blood pounded in her temples and a wave of dizziness hit her, making her head swim.

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Gray spoke. “If I were you, I would get in the truck without another word. We all know you will go with us. Now, stop fighting us, damn it.” Looking down at the ground, Jaycee replied in a small voice, “I don’t know if I can.” The blood surged back into her cheeks, filling them with warmth. She imagined her cheeks were a rosy red. Gray’s voice softened audibly. “Sweetheart, all we want is to have some time with you. I promise we won’t do anything you don’t want us to. We would never hurt you.” “Yeah, darlin’, we love you,” Cade agreed. “The only time we will hurt you is when you beg us to. Then all bets are off.” Jaycee gasped and lifted her head in a flash. Cade hadn’t ever said he loved her before. She’d suspected he might have some feelings for her, but with no confirmation or denial, she’d assumed he wanted her body, but not her heart. Looking into his green eyes, Jaycee saw the truth. He loved her with his whole heart, just as he loved Gray. She’d watched Cade as he watched Gray for a very long time, witnessing the love that glowed eternally in his forest-colored eyes. He hadn’t ever looked at her like that, but now, she saw it. She couldn’t help but wonder if it had been there all along. Her eyes bounced from Cade’s to Gray’s. His eyes glowed with love. There was no jealousy or outrage, only devotion and acceptance. Could it be possible? Could she have them both? The only way to find out would be to hop in the truck and go back to Serenity with them. Could she take the risk? Being alone, unhappy, and reclusive wasn’t working. She hated the half-life she led, but it was easier than taking a chance on future heartbreak. Gray and Cade had the power to destroy her heart once again. Or, they had the ability to make her happier than she’d ever been before. Making a choice, Jaycee traipsed over to the truck without speaking, got inside, and buckled up. On the other side of the

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windshield, the two men had stunned expressions on their faces. Evidently, her arrogant men hadn’t been convinced they could take her down without a scuffle, tussle, and an all-out war. They had probably planned for some wrestling, wrangling, and kidnapping after their earlier encounter. Both recovered quickly, jogging toward her and the truck. Within minutes, they were on the highway that led back to the only place she’d ever belonged—Serenity. She struggled to not bounce in her seat, but it was no picnic. She loved her hometown, and she hadn’t been back there since leaving. It was going to be an agonizingly long ride. Cade broke the silence surrounding them, causing her to jump in her seat. “So, darlin’, what have you been up to for the past three years, two months, and twenty-three days?” Gray’s hands flexed on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as his skin stretched against the bones in his hands. Jaycee masked her shock that the men had kept up with the length of time she’d been gone, down to the day, as she had, and responded evasively. “Oh, you know. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.” “A little of this and that, huh?” Cade inquired in disbelief with a snicker. “That’s not what I’ve heard.” Jaycee shrugged negligently. “I’ve heard that you’ve been pining for me and Gray over there.” “Then why the hell did you ask me?” Jaycee demanded to know with no small amount of belligerence in her tone. Clearly, she was going to rise to the bait after all. This was going downhill, fast. Now Cade was the one to shrug indifferently. “I wanted to see if you would lie to us. The more trouble you get into, darlin’, the more fun we’re going to have with you and that mouthwatering body of yours.” “You wish,” Jaycee retorted tartly, pressing her legs together in response to Cade’s words. Both men chuckled darkly.

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“We know, sweetheart. There’s no point in wasting wishes on a safe bet,” Gray stated smugly. She wanted to smack Gray for the second time today, but that was no surprise. She wanted to punch him at least half the time she was around him. Man, she loved that about him. Ask her pussy. With Gray, it was his way or the highway. That is what had disturbed her so much about the fact he wouldn’t go all alpha on her. She’d known it wasn’t him. A man who was as in control as Gray couldn’t shut it off. It was too deeply ingrained. “What he said, darlin’,” Cade concurred as he slid as close as the seat belt would allow, draping his long arm around her shoulders. “I always did like a sure bet.” Jaycee rolled her eyes, but it was a farce. Her insides were melting like ice cream on a sweltering summer day. “Fuck it,” Cade said as he tore his seat belt out of the buckle. “I can’t take another minute.” And his lips claimed Jaycee’s for the first time. The kiss wasn’t what she had envisioned. She’d had this mental image of him playfully kissing her, teasing her. This was the kind of kiss she’d seen between the two of them. Only this time, Cade devoured her, not Gray. Jaycee’s body came alive, leaving her vibrating in need. She could feel her cunt softening, preparing to be filled with a huge, hard cock. More moisture flooded her until she was slippery and desperate for something to slide through the sensitive folds of skin. Without breaking their ravenous kiss, Jaycee unbuckled and moved closer to Cade. He pulled away, but it was only long enough to grab her leg and haul it over his lap so she could straddle him. Then, his lips attacked hers all over again, no holds barred. The wildness of his kiss set her ablaze, and she lost it. Her body took control of her. She had no more coherent thoughts, just instincts. Gray groaned from the driver’s side when she haphazardly unbuttoned her shirt with fumbling fingers.

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Pushing her hands aside, Cade used his long, nimble fingers to unfasten the remaining buttons. That was a major feat since he never ceased the seductive assault on her mouth. Her shirt was discarded along with the torn one. She grumbled a complaint when Cade pulled back, his eyes dropping to her naked chest. “My God, J, your breasts are the prettiest things I’ve ever seen.” His words had barely left his mouth before he latched onto one of her nipples, sucking so greedily that half of her breast disappeared into his mouth. His hands cupped her swollen breasts, one hand held her to his mouth, and the other tormented her bare, beaded nipple. Jaycee arched her back with a whimper. Needing to ease some of the pressure between her legs, she ground her wet cunt against his cock, and cursed the two layers of clothing separating them. “Damn, that’s hot,” Gray growled. Jaycee opened her eyes and looked to the driver’s side, eating up Gray’s gorgeous face and the palm rubbing his jean-encased cock. Cade switched to her other breast, sucking just as vigorously while she continued her erotic grind. The truck cab filled with the slurping sound of his mouth against her breast. When she thought he was going to pull away, he bit down on her nipple. “Bloody hell,” Jaycee cried out while her body bucked of its own free will. She wasn’t sure if it was from the pain or the pleasure. The two had united, and she couldn’t distinguish one without the other. “Fuck.” Gray hissed. “Are you trying to kill me over here? My dick is about to bust my goddamn zipper.” Jaycee wasn’t capable of speech. She was too overwhelmed, too lost in the pleasure. Cade grunted, but didn’t answer either. His mouth leaped from one breast to the other, biting down a second time. The maneuver reminded her of a lightning strike. It was ultrafast, came with no warning, and stopped her heart.

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“Oh God,” she moaned, long and low, as her head fell back, leaving her neck vulnerable. Cade wrenched his mouth away from her nipple. “Not God, darlin’, my name is Cade. You better not forget it, either. There are only two names you need to have on your mind when you’re fucking, and that is mine and Gray’s.” He leaned forward, nuzzling the base of her neck with his nose. A giggle burst from her lips. She was ticklish, and she could tell Cade was going to use that weakness to his advantage. Well, maybe not. The tickling ceased. His warm, slick tongue met the skin at the base of her neck, caressing and bathing the sensitive spot. Sensuously, his tongue drew a path from the base to the tip of her chin. The sweeping motion of his tongue evoked an earthshaking shudder from her intensely aroused body. Only one other man had this kind of effect on her, and that man was in the driver’s seat, watching them. Knowing he saw their every kiss, every caress, and every move propelled her higher. She wanted to give him a show that would drive him as insane with lust as Cade was driving her. The need to provoke action from Gray rode her hard. If she could push the right buttons, he might pull over and take matters into his own hands. She was desperate. Who fucked who, when, and where wouldn’t matter after this night. They were equal partners. However, Jaycee needed to consummate that partnership this first time in a way that showed them she loved them equally. “Cade, get her fucking jeans off. Make sure you remove the thong as well. Hell, rip it into shreds. She won’t need it any longer.” Jaycee’s hackles rose. “Maybe I no longer wear thongs. Did you think of that, buster?” Cade snickered. Gray looked away from the road and arched his eyebrow. “Sweetheart, you’ve worn them for as long as I remember. Hell, I

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knew you wore them long before I fucked you the first time. You bought them because we liked them. No need to deny it.” He turned his attention back to the road. “I don’t buy them for you or Cade.” Her indignation was crystal clear in her tone. “I like them, thank you very much. If I wore them for you two, I would highly doubt that I am wearing one at this very moment. I didn’t even know you were coming.” The lie rolled off her tongue with an ease that surprised her. “Want to make a bet with me, sweetheart?” Gray asked. Hesitantly, she nodded. “If you are wearing a thong, then Cade and I each get to choose one sexual favor that you must complete. No ifs, ands, or buts. If you are not wearing a thong, you get to be the one who chooses the favor.” Jaycee grinned hugely. She couldn’t lose. “I don’t know, Grayson Blakemore. Are you two going to make it worth my while?” “Shit, darlin’,” Cade cursed. “Poking the fire is going to get you burned.” He paused, a mischievous smile spread across his handsome face. “Wait. Why am I warning you? Poke away.” “I was hoping you and Gray would be the ones poking and prodding,” she audaciously replied with a wink. “Enough.” Gray’s stern voice sliced through their playful exchange, his patience having obviously run out. “Do you accept the bet or not? Either way, your pants are coming off in the next thirty seconds, so speak fast.” Jaycee shrugged, biting the inside of her cheek to hold back a giggle of delight. “Well, if you really want to take a gamble, I guess I’ll accept.”

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Chapter 11 Grinning boyishly, Cade unsnapped Jaycee’s pants and lowered the zipper, revealing her favorite blue thong. He turned his head to the driver’s side of the truck and informed Gray, “Mmmmmm, we win.” Jaycee mock pouted. “Oh. Poor, poor pitiful me. How will I ever survive?” Gray growled. “We will make you eat those words, sweetheart. Get the damn pants off.” She tsked Gray. “It’s awfully tight in here. Maybe I will wait until we get back to the ranch.” “I’ll bet it’s tight, darlin’,” Cade teased. The truck swerved to the right, propelling her and Cade sideways, before coming to a dead stop on the shoulder of the road. Gray gave her no forewarning. He grabbed her and hauled her across the leather seat of the truck, placing her head and upper body over his lap. “There. No more excuses for you.” Cade righted himself and swung her lower half across his lap in one smooth move. He reached for her pants and thong, tugging and shimmying them down her hips and legs until they were off her and in a heap on the floor of the truck with her shirts. Jaycee heard both men suck in a rough breath at precisely the same time. Knowing they’d spotted her ink, she closed her eyes, afraid to see their reactions. Her eyes remained closed for endless moments, until fingers skimmed her hip bone as soft as a butterfly’s wings. Opening her eyes reluctantly, she glanced first at Gray and then at Cade. To her surprise, neither of them looked at her face. Both gazes

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were focused intently on the heart she’d had permanently sketched onto her body. The design was a replica of the heart with their initials inside it they’d etched onto a tree on Gray’s property when they were only kids, years before they really understood the concept of what that symbol stood for. For the first time, she was sharing it with someone besides herself, and it unnerved her. They knew what the symbol was and understood the magnitude of what it meant. “How long?” Gray asked. The strain in his voice made her see the cocky, all-knowing man she had known and loved could be vulnerable, too. He could be uncertain and imperfect. If he could be that open, so could she. “A week after I left.” The tremble in her voice would have been far more embarrassing with anyone besides them. She’d never been one to open up, always locking everything inside. With Gray and Cade, it had been a never-ending battle. She wondered if she’d made a big mistake by not opening herself up completely. Laying the blame at Gray’s feet was beginning to seem unfair. She hadn’t confronted him with her feelings, hadn’t pushed him to see the truth with his own eyes. How could she fault him for things that she hadn’t been willing to do herself? This time she refused to make the same mistake. “Son of a bitch.” Cade’s curse sounded far too loud in the still quietude of the truck. “You’ve known all along, haven’t you? We’ve wasted all this time for nothing.” Jaycee looked Cade directly in the eyes without faltering and nodded. “Goddamn it, J,” Cade roared, his hands scrubbing his face in frustration. Gray still stared at her hip, his mouth opening and shutting occasionally. The fish look was adorable, making her smile even in the tense moment.

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“Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell us? Why did you leave?” Gray’s gentle tone compelled her to stick to her total honesty policy. “Was it because you couldn’t handle sharing or the fact that Cade and I are involved?” She wanted to explain, but she was stark-naked on top of two men whose cocks hadn’t abated by the gravity of their conversation. “Do we really have to go into this now? I have no clothes on, and both of you are horny. This can wait.” “No, Jaycee, it can’t.” Gray opposed her with such certainty that she didn’t have a chance in hell of changing his mind. She glanced over at Cade for help, but he shook his head in denial, too. “Fine,” she said with a huff. “Can I at least have something to cover with? I feel weird having a consequential conversation in the nude.” “No.” Gray refused adamantly. “We like you naked, darlin’,” Cade said predictably. “Whatever,” she said, rolling her eyes in aggravation. She took a couple of cleansing breaths before answering. “No, I have no problems with the sharing or the two of you together. When I walked into the house, I intended to seduce the two of you, knowing Gray was against it and Cade didn’t love me—” Cade cut Jaycee off with a snarl. “What the fuck?” “Cade,” Gray said with a tinge of warning, “give her a chance to explain it to us, and then we’ll have our say.” “Thank you, Gray,” she said gratefully with an apprehensive smile. “When I walked in the house, I heard the two of you yelling. So, I followed your voices to the den and listened to you argue about sharing me. When it got ugly, I stepped into the room to break you up, but neither of you heard me because you grabbed Gray and kissed him. It was a soul-shattering kiss between two men in love, and I couldn’t stand in the way of that.” Restlessly, she shifted. “Since Gray hadn’t been willing to share, I figured the two of you could have your happily ever after, even if I wasn’t a part of it. You know the rest.”

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No one spoke when she was done. They didn’t move. They didn’t even breathe. At long last, Gray cupped her face. “Answer the other question, sweetheart. Why didn’t you tell us?” Jaycee looked up at his confused face, making an effort to stare into his stunning brown eyes. “For the same reason you wouldn’t give me all of yourself—I was frightened. I couldn’t bear the thought of repeating our family’s mistakes. It was just better for everyone for me to remove myself from the equation.” **** A shocked silence filled the truck after Jaycee’s heart-wrenching revelation. It was as though no one knew what to say or do. Gray’s chest hurt as he watched tears well in her beautiful blue eyes before spilling over and running down her pale cheeks. He sucked in a long, agonizing breath and held himself back, giving Cade a chance to openly love Jaycee. He was no longer the only man who had a right to care for her. “Oh, darlin’,” Cade said on a sigh as he lowered Jaycee’s legs to the floorboard and reached for her. “Let me help you, Cade,” Gray murmured, gently lifting her head from his lap and guiding her into Cade’s big arms. Jaycee didn’t fight either of them, which said more than words ever could. For someone who hated weakness as much as she did, this was like a neon sign saying Help me. Console me. Love me. Gray cranked the truck and pulled out on the road as unobtrusively as possible. He drove for miles, alternating between watching the road and the people he loved. Cade held Jaycee in his arms protectively, rocking her back and forth. He continually kissed her and whispered loving words against her skin that Gray couldn’t hear, but he didn’t mind.

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Halfway home, Jaycee fell into a deep sleep and Cade followed not far behind. Two hours passed before Gray pulled into the driveway. He knew he was going to have to wake Cade but was reluctant. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen that particular look on Cade’s face. Grabbing a blanket from the backseat, Gray whispered to Cade, touching his shoulder lightly, “We’re home. Let’s attempt to get her in the house without waking her.” Cade’s green eyes opened sluggishly. The dazed, slumberous look was far too sexy for Gray’s body not to go on full alert. His cock stiffened, wanting things he couldn’t follow through with at the moment. “Huh?” Cade asked drowsily. The gravelly sound of his voice didn’t help the ache between Gray’s legs. A sleepy Cade was identical to a sexually sated Cade. “We need to get her inside,” Gray told Cade as he got out of the truck and walked around to the passenger side, opening the door quietly. “Let’s put her in our room. She needs to rest before tonight because she won’t be getting any sleep for a while. We have years to make up for.” Cade tucked the red-and-black fleece blanket around Jaycee loosely. Seeing the protective way Cade held her, the way he touched her sent Gray’s heart into overdrive, and it wasn’t lust driving it. It was the love most people dreamed of, but never felt. Gray helped Cade out of the truck, trying to keep from jostling Jaycee any more than was necessary, and hustled them inside. Taking two steps at a time, Gray climbed the stairs to their bedroom, wincing every time the boards squeaked. He kept glancing over his shoulder to see if Jaycee showed any signs of life, but she gave no indication at any point that her sleeping was being disturbed. With a sigh, Gray opened the door at the end of the room where he and Cade slept every night. A smile played on his lips as he

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glanced around the room Jaycee had decorated. The light blue paint she’d chosen reminded him of the dress she’d worn on her nineteenth birthday when he’d realized she was ready for the kind of relationship he’d wanted. “Where do you want her?” Cade whispered. Pointing toward the bed, Gray said, “Over there. You might want to strip off that flannel blanket when you put her under the covers.” That woke Cade up completely. “What? She’s naked.” “I know,” Gray said, turning down the covers. “Hell. I’m going to have to go jack off now,” Cade muttered grumpily as he laid her on the bed then turned around. Gray chuckled quietly. “You’ll survive.” A soft, sleepy voice came from behind them. “But I won’t.” They jerked their heads toward the bed where Jaycee had been resting. The siren was lying gloriously naked on her side with her head propped up by her hand. Her eyes were still slightly cloudy from her somnolent state, but were growing clearer by the second. “Thank God,” Cade exhaled, but made no move toward Jaycee. He rotated his head, looked at Gray, and waited. Gray focused his entire attention on Jaycee, his eyes boring into hers, looking for even one shred of reluctance. “Are you sure, Jaycee? You have to be positive.” Jaycee nodded. The certainty in those beautiful blue eyes of hers was undeniable. She had no doubts and neither did he or Cade. “Okay.” Gray could hear his voice off in the distance. It didn’t sound quite right to him, but he wasn’t going to waste time dwelling on it. Nodding to Cade, they went for their woman.

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Chapter 12 Waking up to Cade’s velvety voice telling Gray of his intent to masturbate was the final straw. The three of them were going to fuck in this bed, and they were going to do it now. As the two men dove for her, Jaycee fell to her back and giggled outrageously with the knowledge that she’d made the right decision. Both men were growling like sexy beasts as they landed on the bed, Gray on her left and Cade on her right. Without faltering, both men’s mouths descended. Gray took possession of her mouth, while Cade moved for her neck, nibbling and kissing his way toward her earlobe. Her eyes closed involuntarily as everything around her converged. This has to be a dream. Maybe she should pinch herself and see if she was really awake. It would save her a lot of disappointment when she woke up in the morning. Or, if this was an erotic dream, it would be an even better idea for her to touch a more intimate area, like her clitoris. There was no sleeping through that. Trying to not distract them or their deliciously busy mouths, she lowered her hand to her drenched pussy, delving two fingers between her pussy lips. With the amount of moisture there, her fingers slipped right in without any resistance. She sought her clit, but a firm hand clamped down on her wrist before she could even graze the sensitive nub. Both men immediately pulled away from her.

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Startled, her eyes snapped open, and she was met by Gray’s cold stare, which was only an inch away from her own face. “Did I give you permission to touch yourself, Jaycee?” Gray’s stern, harsh question puzzled her. He hadn’t used this tone on her before, nor had he cared if she stroked herself. Her mind told her that she might not really have understood what she was getting into. However, her body disagreed. Gray must have read her confusion, because he spoke again. “You wanted the whole man. Well, here he is, and he did not give you permission. Do I need to get the rope?” Jaycee trembled as she thought about the rope from earlier. Pinned by Gray’s dazzling brown eyes, she nearly missed his next words. “I had high hopes that our first time as a trio would be more loving. I had things to prove before I unleashed the darker parts of me. Don’t fucking push your luck.” Cade inhaled roughly. Choosing to ignore Cade, Jaycee ran her hands through the silky strands of Gray’s dark hair. “You have nothing to prove to us.” “Yeah, Gray,” Cade agreed. “We love you just the way you are.” Gray glanced at Cade, and talked directly to him. “I know that, Cade, but I do have something to prove to you.” He looked back down at her earnestly with his chocolate eyes pleading for her to understand. “And you, too.” She and Cade started to speak at precisely the same time, but Gray silenced them with a look before shifting away and leaving the bed. The loss of his body heat caused her to shiver, only partially because of the temperature drop in the air-conditioned bedroom. Lifting up, she slid to the side of the bed and planted her feet on the bamboo floor. Cade moved to her side, wrapping her in the fleece blanket once more. As soon as he’d settled her, he sat down beside her. “Let me finish. We all love each other. That isn’t in question.” Gray pivoted on his heel, facing them head-on. “You two are

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everything to me. I want to give you what you need and be what you need. The only way I know how to prove it is to show you.” She asked the only question she could come up with in her current state of confusion. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?” Cade stayed silent as he gawked at Gray with rounded eyes. “I will give you both the one thing that you want the most—me,” Gray stated simply. She and Cade exchanged a perplexed look. Neither of them could comprehend what his cryptic statement of intent meant, but, at the same time, they didn’t want to badger him with questions. Cade sent her a nonverbal message to remain quiet so Gray would have a chance to explain on his own. She dropped her eyes to the ground in a submissive move to let him know she had received his directive and would abide by it. Gray took a couple of steps, kneeled down in front of her, bringing himself close enough that he could take her hands in his larger one. The warmth of his skin was enough to send tingles of awareness up her arms. The feel of his callused hands against her own was so familiar, so calming. Yet, it still had the power to make her stomach quiver. “Sweetheart, you want us to be equals. I want to show you how good it will be. There is only one way I know how.” He paused and took a breath that someone would usually reserve for the moment before jumping into the deep end of a pool. “I will submit to you and Cade.” Both she and Cade objected fiercely, their horrified exclamations resounding around the room. There was no way they could do that to him. Gray moved to the side and knelt in front of Cade. He brushed the back of his hand across Cade’s cheek in a gentle, loving gesture. She detected a slight tremble in his hand but couldn’t be positive. All she knew for sure was the move was so sweet it brought moisture to her eyes.

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“Cade, I know what you want, what you’ve wanted for a while. I wasn’t ready to give it to you before, but I’m ready now.” Gray paused, emphasizing his next words. “I need to do this. I don’t want to have the kind of relationship where you both give while I take.” He smiled indulgently. “Don’t get me wrong, this won’t happen often. But there will be times when you need it, and I will always provide you two with what you need.” She was starting to see where he was going with this, and Cade’s flushed cheeks indicated he did, too. Cade was fighting an internal battle. She could see hope warring with doubt in his green eyes. There was conflict, but, mostly, there was denial. “Gray, I can’t ask you to do that. I just can’t,” Cade declined sadly without meeting Gray’s eyes once. Gray grabbed the underside of Cade’s chin. With a firm hand, he lifted Cade’s face, refusing to let him look away. Cade tried to avert his eyes, but Gray’s response was instantaneous. He tightened his hand, which had to be painful since his hold was already unyielding. “You’re not asking me. I’m offering.” The patient words were in direct contrast to Gray’s usually impatient demeanor. She would have to reward Gray later. Cade needed this. It was becoming quite obvious that so did Gray. He was going to have to persuade Cade, but she had faith that he could do it. She agreed with Gray. This was the one thing that would bring them a sense of absolute unity. No one would be more important than the other, and no one would love one more than the other. If she was honest with herself, she needed this as much as they did. Gray didn’t give Cade another chance to deny him. He kissed him. From the looks of it, he kissed him thoroughly. She couldn’t hold back a satisfied grin. Gray and Cade kissing made her heart sing and her pussy weep. Gray pulled away and ordered gruffly, “Fuck me, Cade. Fuck me like you mean it.”

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She groaned long and loud as a quick and uncontrollable response tore through her cunt. Both of them glanced at her knowingly. “Oops, sorry. I didn’t mean to distract you.” “That would be a first,” Cade teased her playfully. Then a thought struck her. “Shit!” Her curse startled both men, who turned to face her fully. “I don’t have my goody bag!” The look of relief on their faces didn’t make sense to her. What was going on? Then, the lightbulb went on in her head. “You have my bag. How in the hell did you guys get it?” Grinning like a fool, Cade said, “Oh, Katie-Anne was very helpful in obtaining these treasures.” He stood up and moved around Gray, traveling to the corner of the room nearest to the master closet, his steps far too springy for her piqued temper. She saw the bag before he snatched it up gleefully, dangling it from his fingertips. “What I want to know is what the fuck you were doing with all of those?” Gray bolted completely upright, his backbone as straight as a rod. He indicated the pink plastic bag with an irate thumb gesture over his shoulder, the possessiveness palpable in his tone. It pissed her off to think about the fact they were judging her about her sexual exploits when they weren’t exactly choirboys. Wiggling her eyebrows, she asked, “What do you think?” She interjected her words with a bit of patronization, knowing damn well they wouldn’t take kindly to being talked down to. She knew she’d scored one point when Cade’s grin disappeared and he cursed more times than she could count. “Jaycee Elizabeth, we don’t want to hear about the men you have fucked since you left,” Gray informed her venomously, practically growling at her. Picking up the nearest object to her, which happened to be a pillow from the bed, she flung it at Gray’s head. “You big dodo! I haven’t been with anyone! I bought them for you guys. Don’t you remember me telling you I was going to seduce you? These”—she

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interrupted her rant to air quote—“treasures, as Cade called them, were going to be used to entice you into my damn bed!” Grabbing two more pillows, she flung them in both men’s general direction, making them duck for cover. “Stop it, Jaycee, or there will be consequences to your childish actions,” Gray warned her with an evil grin marring his face. The ominous warning did nothing to stop her as she picked up the last and largest pillow, flinging it directly at Gray. She hit him squarely in the chest. Point two! “Now you’ve done it.” Cade’s remark barely registered when she saw Gray stalking toward her, his face a mask of unadulterated fury. Uh-oh. Maybe she’d pushed him a little too far.

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Chapter 13 Waiting for the prowling man to pounce on her, she decided to go for broke. If she was going to hell, she might as well enjoy the trip. Opening her legs as wide as she could, she revealed her glistening pussy to the men. Gray wasn’t deterred, not even looking down, but Cade was another story. His eyes zeroed in on her cunt. With a lick of his lush lips, he dropped the bag to the floor with a thump. He joined in the hunt, but instead of heading for her, he went to the right. The air whooshed out of her chest when something—no, someone—behind her grabbed her around the waist and yanked her backward across the bed, taking the comforter along with her. Her back hit the bed, hands manacled and pulled over her head, before her fight-or-flight response could kick in. Looking up into Cade’s angry face, she realized Gray wasn’t the only one going ballistic. She didn’t get to look at him long before his lips slammed against hers painfully, punishingly. The kiss started out awkward on her part because of their inverse positioning, but that lasted for about a millisecond before Cade’s expertise overpowered her mouth, leaving her no room for ineptitude. Declaring war on her mouth, he vengefully attacked her lips, torturing her tongue. The realization of why he kissed her like a man bent on punishing his lover was like an arrow through her heart. She’d hurt him, and he was lashing out at her the only way he could right now. With that knowledge, she let him take out all of the pain her careless words had caused on her mouth, using her tongue to soothe him as best she could. Stubbornly, he wouldn’t allow her to comfort him, so she gave in, letting him take over and dominate the kiss.

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She nearly jumped out of her skin when Gray’s mouth closed around her big toe, sucking it into the humidity of his mouth. As ticklish as she was, it surprised her to find the sensation didn’t stir her ticklishness, just aroused her. The carnal feel of the warm softness against the sensitive skin of her toe was electrifying. A small moan escaped her mouth, only to be swallowed by Cade, who refused to slow down his onslaught on her mouth. Gray released her toe from his mouth only to kiss the top of each and every toe. When he had completed his sensually stimulating task, he kissed the inside of her anklebone gently before pulling away swiftly. “Sweetheart, just because I plan to submit to you both fully doesn’t mean I am going to roll over and play dead.” She heard Gray’s words and wanted to respond, but Cade’s lips held her spellbound. He was like a drug paralyzing her body. Between his strong hands holding her wrists captive and his mouth firmly fused with hers, she was deliciously trapped. Gray’s mouth continued upward, heading to the place she wanted it most. He kissed and licked, nipped and sucked. By the time he reached her knee, she was quivering with need and seriously considering biting Cade’s tongue. She needed for him to give her a moment. Between Cade and Gray, she was compelled to cry out, to beg for Gray to speed up and Cade to move somewhere lower. She wanted Gray sucking her throbbing clitoris and Cade biting her achy nipples. The thought of that sent a rush of desire racing down her spine, causing shiver after shiver to erupt. Gray bent her leg and pushed it upward to make room for his mouth. He stimulated the erogenous zone on the back of her knee with teeny nips, soothing each time with a lash of his tongue. “We agreed that we would all be equals and that we would give each other what they need. Well, Jaycee, you need to be taught a lesson about teasing and tormenting us. Right, Cade?”

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The kiss ceased at once and Cade agreed enthusiastically, “Yeah, Gray. She has to learn for every action, there is a reaction. We should throw the book at her.” Cade leaned forward, without releasing her hands, bringing his shirt-covered chest to eye level. He bathed one nipple, taunting her, denying her the gratification of more than that. Then, the other received the same attention. “You cockmonkeys,” she exclaimed viciously. “Stop it! If you want to fuck, fuck. If you don’t, get the hell off of me.” A chuckle rumbled in Cade’s chest, causing vibrations against her face. “I think someone’s vocabulary has improved after all. Don’t you think, Gray?” It really chapped her ass that Cade ignored three-quarters of her proclamation, focusing on the insult. At least Gray would rise to the occasion. Gray resumed the path upward, murmuring an Mmmmm against her skin, until he was a mere breath away from her pussy. He stopped. “I have a much better idea for teaching our Jaycee a lesson. If she wants to be a cock-teasing pain in the ass, we’ll return the favor.” Damn, he didn’t acknowledge it either. What was wrong with them? “I love the pain-in-the-ass part, Gray,” Cade said gleefully. Her heart sped up, galloping like a wild stallion set free in an open field after years of captivity, aggressive and out of control. “Cade, I think the rope and gag should do it.” Her heart stopped at Gray’s words. How a racing heart could stop instantly, she didn’t know. But it did. “You can let go of her hands. She won’t move them, will you, sweetheart?” She wasn’t so sure of that. Okay, she knew that she wasn’t going to behave. Mr. I’m Not Going To Play Dead was about to meet Mrs. I’m Not Going To Play Dead.

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Cade released her hands, kissing the palm of each one, and was gone. Pretending to be a good girl, she lay on the bed like some docile dog. Since Gray wasn’t making any move to kiss or touch her, she determined it was time to unleash her rabid Doberman. A puff of toasty air against her pussy lips stopped her in her tracks, restarted her heart, and sent her into a downward spiral into an electrified delirium. “Sweetheart, did you think I am dim enough to believe you would do as I say without a fight?” She heard a distant chuckle at Gray’s words from the general direction of where the bag had fallen earlier. “I’m beginning to think she’s the dense one.” Cade’s words grew in volume as he approached the bed, skirting around it. “She is oblivious to the fact that we know her better than she knows herself.” “Ha! You think you know me so well, do you? Well, watch—” A lick of Gray’s tongue to her blood-filled clitoris instantaneously stopped her words and devised action. Her body jolted, pushing her pussy upward, toward Gray’s face. Gray, being Gray, anticipated her actions and pulled back so she only met with thin air. Grunting in frustration, she felt one hand clamp down on each ankle, pressing them into the bed so tightly she had no movement at all. She tried to push and pull, kick and tug. But it was useless. Her movements were completely hindered by Gray’s large hands. She felt Cade’s breath at her ear, surprising her temporarily. “Darlin’, are you going to play nice and let me tie your wrists to the bedposts? Or are you planning to challenge me?” He licked the shell of her ear, slowly and surely. “For your sake, I think you should make nice. For mine, I say challenge away.” Cade left her on the bed, moving toward the bedposts with the rope, presumably to let her think before she acted. Watching him, she saw him looping the rope from her bag around each post. He was methodical, concentrating on his task, and it made her horny. Who would have thought watching a man tie knots would be so fucking sexy?

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Another burst of air against her pussy snagged her attention. “Jaycee, my love, you are taking too long to decide,” Gray admonished, raising his head from his position between her legs, with a lecherous grin that made her feel uneasy. “I think you could use a little incentive.” **** Standing by, Cade watched as Gray’s head descended to the vee between Jaycee’s legs, vanishing from sight. Slurping sounds and Jaycee’s mewls of ecstasy promptly followed, making him want to abandon what he was doing and join in the festivities. Gray was the only thing deterring him. He would tear him a new one if they let Jaycee get away from them. And, for once, this wouldn’t be a good thing. Jaycee would come back. He had no doubt about that. However, she would push them as far as she could before giving in, as she had always planned. Generally, it was fun to play games with her, but he didn’t want for her to push Gray too far. Yes, it was selfish, but now that Gray had given him the go-ahead, Cade didn’t want him to have any opportunity to change his mind. Cade finished the final knot and moved back to his spot at Jaycee’s head. He looked down into her powder-blue eyes and, amazingly, their eyes met despite the distraction of Gray feasting on her pussy with complete abandon. Jaycee had always been able to connect to him in a way others hadn’t been able to, and he was going to shamelessly use that to his advantage. If he could make her see how significant topping was for him, she’d be the first one to aid him. Focusing on revealing his thoughts and emotions to her through his eyes, he gazed at her. God, he hoped this worked. Her eyes latched onto his and didn’t let go, probing and measuring.

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With all of her love for him sparkling in her eyes and a heartstopping smile that would be forever imprinted in his mind, she raised her hands to him in a show of surrender. The relief that coursed through his veins nearly brought him to his knees. When Cade severed their eye contact, he noticed that Gray’s head had made a reappearance at some point during his and Jaycee’s silent communication. At what point, Cade had no idea, and he wasn’t going to ask either. He had no desire to know how much Gray had seen. He and Gray shared a secretive smile, each one sending a message of thankfulness to the other, solidifying their unity. Then, they set about tying their woman up, Gray at her feet and Cade at her head. When they were done, Gray stepped back and began removing his clothes. Cade mirrored his actions. Within moments, both he and Gray were naked, their cocks standing proudly erect against the hard muscles of their abdomens. Cade could see the evidence of Gray’s arousal gleaming from the tip of his cock. It called to him, urging him forward like a magnet drawn to iron. Each step he took increased the yearning in the pit of his stomach. His mouth watered, and his hands itched. All of his focus was lost on the massive cock hanging between Gray’s legs. He couldn’t even look into his lover’s knowing gaze. Dropping to the ground in front of Gray ungracefully, Cade didn’t wait for him to give permission. He licked the pre-cum, the salty taste exploding onto his taste buds, making his mouth water greedily for more, but Gray would have none of that. Bending down, he hauled Cade upright to a standing position. Gray grinned wickedly. “Not right now, Cade. We need to teach Miss Jaycee our lesson first. Then you have my express permission to do whatever you want to my body. By the time you’re done, I’ll probably beg for more.” Gray ran his hands down Cade’s chest and abs until he reached his long cock, encircling it with one hand and cupping his balls with the

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other. The squeeze Gray gave him caused his hips to surge forward as if they had a mind of their own, pressing more of his dick into Gray’s palm. He wasn’t surprised to hear Jaycee curse. She had been quietly watching their byplay since they had tied her up. Ignoring her, Cade whispered sultrily to Gray, “I plan to make sure that you do a hell of a lot more than just beg,” before merging their lips together. Jaycee’s essence still clung to Gray’s lips like a silk glove, provoking a guttural groan from Cade. She tasted better than he ever could have imagined. With both worlds colliding, Cade’s thoughts fragmented, half his mind lost in Gray’s kiss and the other half desperate for the heaven that lay between Jaycee’s legs. Gray broke the kiss with a chuckle. “I do believe I lost you. She tastes good, doesn’t she?” “Hell yeah,” he replied enthusiastically. “I can’t wait to get my head between those mighty-fine thighs. I’ve waited for too damn long for a taste of Jaycee’s pussy.” Smirking, Gray crossed his arms, causing the massive muscles in his arms to flex intimidatingly. “Yeah, what kind of friend dreams of tasting the pussy of his best friend’s fiancée?” He mock scowled at Gray before responding, “The kind that was in love with his best friend’s future bride. And, the kind of man that fantasized about his best friend.” “Yeah, yeah. We love each other. We want each other. Blah, blah, blah. Horny woman over here who desires a little attention if you two are done with the talking.” Rubbernecking, both he and Gray glared at the impatient imp tied spread-eagle on the bed. “Cade,” Gray said through gritted teeth, “lesson time. Now.” He nodded even though he knew Gray wasn’t looking at him, his eyes trained on the same woman who held Cade bewitched. “I get her pussy.”

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“I’m taking her mouth.” Gray’s words were clipped as he crawled onto the bed with Jaycee. No more fantasies for me, Cade thought as he plunged headfirst into her saturated cunt.

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Chapter 14 Gray could feel the excitement building in their bedroom, growing into a palpable entity looming over them, binding them even further. He didn’t know how much longer they would be able to hold off. Straddling her chest, Gray lifted her head tenderly toward his awaiting cock. She opened her seductive lips as wide as she could, luring him in with that act alone. His cock strained toward her mouth like it remembered the bliss that awaited him between her luscious lips. With his patience wearing thinner by the minute, he guided his cock inside. Starting with slow, shallow thrusts, he gave her time to adjust to his size. It wouldn’t be very beneficial if he wore out her mouth before she got it on Cade’s dick. He wanted Cade to have the chance to enjoy every luscious inch of Jaycee, from her mouth to her pussy to her ass. Thoughts of fucking her asshole infiltrated his mind, causing him to nearly come in her mouth. He’d never fucked her in the ass. No matter how much he’d desired it when they were together, he wouldn’t give in. If he’d touched her ass with any part of his body, he wouldn’t have been able to maintain his control. He would have ridden her tight asshole with such recklessness she wouldn’t have been able to sit for a week. Fucking a woman’s ass did it for him. The thought of total surrender was his breaking point. Now he realized relinquishing her body and her mind did the things for Jaycee that taking those things did for him.

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Jaycee’s sucking grew bolder, letting him know she was ready for more. Glancing down, he checked her gorgeous face for any signs of distress and said, “Breathe, sweetheart.” As soon as she took a breath, he drove his cock inside her wet mouth before pulling himself back out and driving home once again. “Gray, her pussy is nirvana.” Gray wanted to laugh at the awe in Cade’s voice, but he was too busy trying to hold back his cum. With each suck, she drove him closer to insanity. So intent upon not blowing inside of Jaycee’s mouth, he didn’t notice a ridiculously sexy man moving in behind him until a damp finger caressed the back of his neck. “Cade,” Gray said in a half moan, half plea without breaking his smooth strokes into Jaycee’s mouth. He closed his eyes, letting the ecstasy run loose in his system. When Cade’s fingers trailed down his spine gradually, with confidence that showed Cade knew what he wanted and he was going to get it, Gray thrust deep into Jaycee’s mouth, deeper than he’d intended to. But instead of freaking out, Jaycee groaned encouragingly around his cock, urging him on. He let go of her head and grabbed a handful of her blonde locks, twisting it around his hand. He held her immobile and rammed his cock into her mouth as far as humanly possible without choking her. His control did not last long. He lost it the moment Cade’s finger reached the small of his back but didn’t pause, continuing its descent. Gray’s ass responded, surprising him. He had known he wanted to be fucked by Cade, but he hadn’t been prepared for the rush of need that ripped through his core, drawing his balls up, preparing him for the orgasm to end all orgasms. Pulling out of Jaycee’s mouth in the nick of time, Gray caught his breath. Not that Cade let him have long before he dribbled lube between Gray’s cheeks then brushed his finger across Gray’s rosette, just light enough to be noticed.

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“God, Cade, whatever you’re doing, do it again,” Jaycee directed. “You should have seen the look on his face.” Cade’s finger ceased its provocative movements. “I think it’s a good thing I didn’t gag Jaycee after all,” Cade commented smugly. “She might be quite helpful.” His finger resumed its actions, evolving from faint brushes to a more generous circular motion around the border of his puckered hole, moving inward by the second. Gray felt his anus quiver eagerly for Cade’s thick digit to penetrate his rectum. “Fuck,” he snarled as Cade’s finger pressed against the opening, exerting enough pressure to fit the tip of his finger inside of him. The burning radiating from his anus was all consuming. He needed more than a measly finger. He wanted to feel the fire only Cade’s cock could start. “Cade, damn it, more. Give me more.” Cade gave him more, all right. He pushed his entire finger into Gray’s ass, passing the sphincter with minimal resistance. The burning intensified inside of Gray, driving his cock toward Jaycee’s mouth once again. “Suck, Jaycee.” Without hesitation, she welcomed him inside of her mouth. This time, Gray couldn’t give her any time to accommodate. He was too far gone. All he had left to give was one relentless plunge after another of his cock into her hot mouth. Cade slipped another finger past Gray’s sphincter, adding one more after that. With three of Cade’s fingers in his ass and his cock down Jaycee’s throat, he roared, “No!” Everyone froze, the temperature in the room dropping drastically. Realizing what the problem was, he clarified, “I didn’t mean that I don’t want to continue. I meant not like this.” When the tension drained from the room, Gray instructed, “Cade, untie her. We do this together.” Releasing Gray’s cock with a pop, Jaycee pouted playfully. “But, dear, I haven’t been tied up very long.” Gray could swear he heard Cade roll his eyes as he withdrew his finger from Gray’s ass and rolled off the bed.

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“You talk like this is a one-shot deal, sweetheart,” he said, his annoyance shining through. “If you don’t want forever, I suggest you leave now. We’re no quick fuck you can walk out on first thing in the morning.” With clear eyes and a more-than-a-little-mischievous smile, she retorted, “I think that’s supposed to be my line, sugarlips.” He backed off the bed. Like Cade, Gray had a job to do. In his opinion, his job wasn’t nearly as entertaining as Cade’s. While Cade untied their very nude woman, he would be searching for the essentials—condoms, lube, and a couple of washcloths. Heading to the en suite bathroom, Gray wanted to curse. He didn’t like to waste precious time searching for condoms he had no desire to use. It felt so wrong to have any sort of barrier between the three of them, but he wasn’t going to push Jaycee any more than he already had. Getting her home and in their bed had been strenuous enough. He wasn’t about to ask her to make any life-altering decisions yet. The cold marble tiles underneath his bare feet did nothing to cool his ardor. Instead it made him want to hurry back to Cade and Jaycee so they could warm them. That thought led to other thoughts which led to naughty thoughts and then naughtier thoughts. Shit. Why the hell had they put the condoms in the damn bathroom? They should have put them in the bedside table like everyone else. He jerked the drawer open, snatched the newly bought condoms inside, and darted out of the room impatiently. The sight that greeted him brought him up short, shutting down the area of his brain that governed physical mobility. Jaycee was on all fours on the bed, facing away from him, which gave him a prime view of her saturated pussy shimmering in the light, and the forbidden entrance that he wanted to fuck so bad it was gnawing a hole in his gut. From his position, he couldn’t see what she was doing to Cade, but from the euphoric look on his face, Gray could guess.

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Cade opened his glassy eyes languorously, revealing the transformation of his forest-green eyes to a deeper, more intense shade. The only time Cade’s eyes changed was right before he came. “Damn, Jaycee, right there,” Cade told her before grabbing the back of her head aggressively, forcing her to maintain her position. “God!” When Cade’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, Gray knew he had to stop them before Cade erupted and his cum flooded Jaycee’s mouth. He cleared his throat loudly, but Jaycee didn’t slow down. She increased her tempo, her head bobbing more zealously than before. The little hellion was trying to get Cade off. What she didn’t know was Cade’s turnaround time was less than a minute. Sneaking up on her, Gray snatched her from behind and pulled her away from Cade and his erection. He flipped her over on her back in the middle of the bed then crawled on top of her. “Now, Jaycee, you don’t seem to have learned your lesson. I think we are going to have to remedy that. Later.” “Much later,” she agreed breathlessly. “I think it might take an awfully long time to teach me anything.” Cade snickered from the rear of Gray, having moved behind him without anyone’s awareness. “That is the understatement of the century.” She stuck her pretty pink tongue out at Cade, which only increased his merriment, cracking him completely up. His laughter gained momentum and volume. Ignoring Cade and Jaycee’s banter, he had one word to say to Jaycee. “Forever.” Her smile faded, not in sadness but in solemnity. With serious eyes, she said the word they longed to hear. “Forever.” Cade heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank God.” Gray couldn’t help himself. He kissed her reverently, his hands cupping her cheeks. “Jaycee Elizabeth Dalton, I love you,” he

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informed her, reaching for the foil packet he’d dropped onto the bed earlier. A pop from behind Gray alerted him that Cade was preparing as well. Mentally, he pictured Cade lubing himself up, gliding his hand up and down his shaft. Gray’s ass contracted, apparently in its own form of preparation for the cock about to invade it. Jaycee’s eyes had followed his movements and locked onto the unopened condom wrapper thoughtfully. Shaking her head, she said, “No. No condoms. I want lots of little Grays and Cades running around this house, wreaking havoc.” She smiled mockingly. “If we could throw in a couple of mini-me’s, that would be great, too.” “Are you sure, Jaycee?” Gray wanted assurance that she was 150 percent positive. Once they had unprotected sex, there was no going back. “I don’t want you to do this if you’re not ready. We can wait.” Cade mumbled, “Speak for yourself.” She raised her hand, cupping his cheek tenderly. “No, we’ve waited too long as it is.” Grabbing his cock that had been nestled against her dripping pussy, Gray aligned the head with the opening of her cunt. Her cream had coated his cock generously, so he had no reason to wait before sinking into her sheath. Gray ached to fill her up with one hard thrust, but understood that he needed to take it slow since it had been a while since she’d been with him. Gritting his teeth, he pushed forward, gradually feeding her cunt with his thick, unyielding cock one inch at a time. “Oh,” Jaycee gasped. Gray paused, giving her time to adjust. “No! Don’t stop Gray,” Jaycee cried. “I’m okay.” He resumed his movements, using small, sure strokes. Despite her tight pussy’s resistance, he managed to impale her with half his cock. Even with her juices aiding him, her cunt clamped down, trying to hinder his presence inside of her passageway.

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Gray paused and wiped away the sweat beading on his forehead. Taking one deep breath after another, he desperately attempted to regain some semblance of control so he could continue taking his sweet time. Like always, Cade sensed his need and came up behind him, pressing kisses to Gray’s neck, shoulders, and spine with a soothing calmness that had the intended effect. Jaycee writhed below him, begging him, “Gray, please. Please. Please. I can’t take this anymore. God, I need you.” Fighting his body’s instincts to ram his cock into her, he held strong. No way would he allow Jaycee’s impatience to precipitate pain instead of pleasure. “Gray,” she keened noisily, “damn you, fuck me! Fuck me now, or so help me—” Her hands grasped one ass cheek per hand, her nails piercing his skin, and utilized them as leverage to impale herself on his cock. Her passionate cry of exaltation was enough to drive any man to madness. And so the frenzy began. His cock took over, thrusting in and out of her pussy with such impetuousness that he lost it. He was no longer Gray, and she was not Jaycee. He was a man with his woman, with only one goal—conquer. “Fuck!” Cade’s voice broke through his pleasure-filled haze, making his dick pause mid-thrust. “Gray, slow down. I need to get inside of you. Lean forward.” Gray had no option but to obey since Cade used his strong hand to position him the way he wanted. Nervous energy swamped Gray. He wanted to feel Cade’s steely cock invading his virginal ass, but it was terrifying. Letting someone in so completely, so submissively, frightened him, but this was Cade. He loved him and trusted him. Jaycee grabbed his ass cheeks again, holding them apart so that Cade would have easy access. When Gray looked down at Jaycee, she smiled with acceptance. His fears of her disgust floated away in that

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one precious, unforgettable moment. She mouthed, “I love you,” to him, completing this perfect moment for him. He shuddered violently when he felt Cade’s cock against his back entrance. Grunting, Cade penetrated his ass with great caution. The sensation of Cade’s cock spearing his ass wasn’t something he could have prepared for. It was a painful pleasure that scorched him physically yet warmed him emotionally. Gray’s instincts kicked in when Cade’s cock met resistance, bearing down to help Cade breach the defiant muscle fibers. Once Cade had cleared it, he resumed his torturously slow progression. If this was the needy frustration Jaycee had felt, he identified with her. “Cade, fuck me. Stop with this bullshit. Just fuck me.” Without altering his movements, Cade glibly informed him with a bit too much conceit, “I am fucking you, Gray.” Turning his head, he glared at Cade ferociously. “You know what I mean. If you don’t fuck me now, so help me—” The irony of his use of the same words Jaycee had tried to use on him earlier was too much for her. She laughed. “Welcome to my world, honey.” Her laughter caused her vaginal walls to tighten around his cock, which in turn, caused his ass to tense. Simultaneous groans burst free from Gray’s and Cade’s mouths. Apparently, Cade had reached his breaking point. He stuffed the remaining inches of his cock into Gray’s ass in one forceful thrust. Words were inadequate, so no one spoke or moved. They savored the perfection of the moment. It was Cade who broke the spell. “I can’t hold back, Gray.” With his warning, Cade showed how he couldn’t hold anything back. He plunged inside of Gray brutally, his momentum driving Gray further into Jaycee’s cunt. Three moans rang out in harmonious accord in sheer contradiction with their harsh, savage fucking. Each feral stroke of Cade’s cock inside of his ass was more unrestrained than the last.

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Jaycee was just as untamed, raising her ass off the bed to meet him thrust for thrust, her screams of ecstasy overshadowing his and Cade’s grunts and groans. He stared down at her and saw her for what felt like the first time. With her stormy eyes, puffy lips, and hair askew, he had never seen her look more beautiful. Adjusting his angle of entry into her pussy ever so slightly, he ground his pubic bone against her distended clitoris. Cade adapted to the change without a break in his stride. Letting go of her hold on his ass, Jaycee’s hands dropped onto the bed, fisting the comforter. Her back arched, smashing the front of their bodies together, soft, flat abdomen to hard, muscled abdomen, exquisitely sculpted, palm-size, soft-as-silk breasts to chiseled pectorals, nipple to pointy nipple, woman to man, Jaycee to Gray. “Goddamn it, Jaycee. Come,” Cade ordered through clenched teeth, his sweat dripping onto Gray’s back. “He won’t come without you. I won’t without him. You won’t without both of us.” Cade panted laboriously. “I vote you first.” Not giving her a chance to argue, Gray rubbed his pubic bone back and forth across her clitoris with enough friction to send her over the edge. He knew that he had achieved his goal when her eyes dilated right before her body jerked spasmodically. He had no chance to stop the tide of pleasure sweeping him away. With Jaycee’s pussy convulsing around his cock and Cade hammering his ass with a single-minded ferocity, Gray was propelled into a euphoric haze where time ceased to exist, where nothing mattered but the ecstasy raging in his body. Driving his cock into her one last time, his body stiffened, and he poured his cum into her. Her pussy milked him, sucking in every drop of his cum. With a growl, Cade rammed home one last time. His body tensed, and he detonated, his cum erupting inside of Gray’s ass. Just like Jaycee, Gray could feel his ass greedily sucking in Cade’s cum.

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Collapsing to a heap of body parts on their cushy bed, Cade said with immense satisfaction, “Damn. That was hot.” “I second that,” Gray answered with a slur, his exhaustion making itself known. His eyes closed, too tired to remain open. As he drifted off, he could hear Jaycee’s sassy words. “Mmmmm. When did we become a democracy?” Cade hooted, but Gray couldn’t respond. He was already asleep. For the first time in years, Gray slept contentedly.

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Chapter 15 A deafening roar ripped Cade out of a very raunchy dream where he was reliving all the delicious acts from yesterday. The crash that followed signaled trouble. Uh-oh. It sounded like big trouble. Dragging his exhausted ass out of bed was challenging until he heard what sounded eerily like a fist striking the wall, cracking open the drywall. Cade reached the kitchen and scanned the room, looking for the source of the wrathful ruckus. It was exactly as he thought—a hole in the wall. But he hadn’t counted on the busted window. That must have been the crashing noise. Curiously, he walked over to the broken window and looked through the hole. There was a beat-up toaster lying on the front porch. That’s not good. Cade whirled around, his eyes immediately seeking and finding the dejected man in the chair. Gray stared at the floor, unaware that anyone had even entered the room. Cade had only seen Gray look this forlorn one time before. “She’s gone?” A bleary-eyed Gray nodded his head without meeting Cade’s eyes. He kept gazing at the kitchen tiles. “She’ll be back,” he told Gray with confidence. There was no doubt in his mind that she hadn’t left them again. After yesterday, he knew she was as bound to them as they were to her. That got Gray’s attention, his head snapping up and glaring at Cade. “How the hell do you know that?” Moving to the chair next to Gray, he plopped down in the seat. “Gray, she wouldn’t repeat past mistakes. Our girl is smarter than

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that. She knows better, and so do you. You’re just scared and lashing out.” A little hope sparked in Gray’s eyes. “She did it before.” “Yeah, she did,” Cade agreed, “but circumstances were different. She thought that she’d been doing what was best for us. That’s not the case now. Think about it. Do you honestly think Jaycee would have given us her body? Told us how much she loved us? And needed us? Made a commitment to us?” Playing with the saltshaker, he really tried to calm his annoyance with Gray’s thick head before he blew up and made a stressful situation worse. “Hell no.” He could see Gray deliberating his words, the wheels turning and churning in his mind. Going in for the kill, Cade offered, “Do you want me to call her, Gray?” To his astonishment, Gray shook his head. “No. I have to trust her.” “You’re right. But it’s hard, isn’t it?” Gray blew out a gust of air that he’d obviously been holding in for some time. “Yeah.” Cade dropped the shaker on the table. It wobbled around before falling over. Reaching for Gray’s hand, he grasped it and squeezed reassuringly. “She loves us, Gray. We have to have faith in her. She’s probably running around with Katie-Anne and Shannon, corrupting everyone in sight.” Gray’s lips twitched, a smile bursting through all the gloom that had been choking him and congesting the room. Cade relaxed in his chair, the tension draining out of his body. Disaster averted. ****

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Across town, a gleaming candy-apple-red 1968 Shelby Ford Mustang GT500 pulled into the parking lot of Lou’s Café. A jubilant woman with a beautiful beaming smile was behind the wheel. Life couldn’t get better than this. She had a ridiculously awesome car, two men in love with her, and breakfast with her best friends. How did she ever get so lucky? As soon as she shut off the car, she bounded out of it with more spirit than any high school cheerleader. Scanning the lot, she found her friends on the end farthest away from her. Unable to hold in her excitement, she dashed toward them, throwing her hands around them enthusiastically when she reached them. Both women squeaked in surprise. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Shannon chuckled knowingly, with a smidgeon of selfsatisfaction. “Methinks someone got some last night.” “Ewwww,” Katie-Anne exclaimed, vocalizing supreme disgust. “That is my brother she fucked.” She shuddered with revulsion. “Gross!” Jaycee rolled her eyes. “And so? If Shannon would give in to the inevitable, she would fuck my brothers. And then she would share all the gory details. I can accept that, just as you can accept all my gossip about Gray and Cade. It’s in the best friend code.” Putting her hands on her hips, Shannon growled in displeasure. “I’m not going to fuck your brothers, Jaycee!” Jaycee and Katie-Anne snorted, both of them mumbling words of disbelief. Katie-Anne huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “The only reason that you can talk about your brothers with Shannon is because you’re a pervert.” Shannon and Jaycee barked laughs that could, in all probability, be heard for miles. Holding her side, gasping for air between horselaughs, Jaycee teased, “Pot, meet Kettle.”

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Katie-Anne spun around and walked away from them, heading for the café’s door in a snit. With her long, dark hair billowing behind her, she flipped them the bird over her shoulder. “Fuck you. You bitches suck.” “That’s what we were trying to tell you,” Shannon called out between one of her laughs. Throwing her arm around Shannon, Jaycee said, “Come on, Shan. She’ll be over it before we sit down at our regular booth.” With a nod, Shannon inquired with a wiggle of her eyebrows, “So, Jaycee. Were they as good as you thought they’d be? Well, I know that you have fucked Gray before, but what about Cade? What about both of them together? Give me something here. I have to live vicariously since I will more than likely die a virgin.” “You wouldn’t be a virgin if you crooked your finger at Jared, Drew, or Randy. Hell, they would fuck you where you stood, then slap a ring on you.” On an afterthought, she added, “Then we would really be sisters, like I plan to be with Katie-Anne one day.” “No.” Shannon shook her head sadly, her eyes misting over. “They let me know exactly what they thought of me years ago, and even if they hadn’t, it wouldn’t have worked anyway.” Even on cloud nine, Shannon could piss her off. Her excuses were utter crap, and Jaycee was going to give her a piece of her mind. “Damn it, Shannon. When are you going to let that incident go? They were half-crazed, thinking their woman was planning to use them as boy toys. The first time you approach them and you are dressed like a femme fatale intent on getting her cherry popped. If the tables were reversed, how would you feel?” Shannon opened her mouth to spew some lame lie, so Jaycee cut her off. “Don’t you dare lie. You would have chewed them each a new asshole after you castrated them with the nearest sharp, rusty object, minus the anesthesia.” Clamping her mouth shut, Shannon opened the café door for Jaycee.

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Entering Lou’s as if she owned the place, Jaycee waltzed in with an overly dramatic swagger to infuriate Shannon. Shannon’s sneakers stomping on the black-and-white checkered floor was a good indication that she was doing that. On autopilot, Jaycee made her way to their colossal booth in the back, weaving around all the tables without exerting effort as if it had only been a few days since she had eaten here instead of a few years. She passed so many of her friends as she went, amazed to see who’d settled down with who. The high school librarian sat with the four Jones brothers, holding one of the men’s hands while snuggled up to another and visibly flirting with the two sitting across from her. The town’s nurse, Janet, lounged on Dr. Murphy’s lap, wearing a beautiful collar around her neck. Max and John, two of her high school friends, whispered about something between laughs and kisses in a corner booth. Jaycee sighed, realizing how much she’d missed living in a place where a person loved who they loved without worrying about what the other people thought. No one gossiped about anyone else’s relationship because, for the most part, everyone lived in some sort of unconventional relationship. By the time Jaycee reached their table, her face hurt from smiling so much, but her heart was soaring. Falling onto the cushy bench, Jaycee bounced up and down. The red upholstery was old and worn from many years of use, but the comfort it brought was as much for her soul as it was her body. “Mmmmm…I missed you, red bench,” she said, rubbing her hand back and forth across the vinyl in a loving caress. When neither of her friends made a snide comment, she glanced at them, finally noticing that both women weren’t aware of her existence. They were glaring at a table across the café filled with five massive men, three of which were her brothers, and two of their mechanic friends.

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The five men seemed to be studiously ignoring them, but from Jaycee’s position, she could see all of their eyes darting toward them every few seconds. Men were seriously stupid sometimes. Why couldn’t they get their act together? If she could work everything out with Gray and Cade, her friends could have the same happily ever after with their men. “Hmmmm.” Shannon and Katie-Anne had their dares coming very soon. She ought to use them wisely and nudge everyone along. “Earth to Shannon. Earth to Katie-Anne. What are you looking at?” Jaycee asked with way more volume than necessary, playing dumb as if she didn’t already know the answer. When they didn’t respond, Jaycee decided to mess with them. Pointing at the men’s table, she exclaimed, “Hey! Look, it’s my brothers.” Waving enthusiastically, she yelled, “Hey guys!” Katie-Anne and Shannon cursed, glancing away from the men quickly, their eyes scrambling to find something to look at before settling on the jukebox. All of the men looked over at her, smiled warmly, and waved at her before each of them glowered at their respective ladies. Without any verbal acknowledgment, the men went back to talking and eating their breakfasts. “I think that I want to hear a song. What do you think, KatieAnne?” Shannon’s voice was supposed to be nonchalant, but she could hear the tremble in her sultry voice. “Sounds fun. I think that I want to hear ‘Bitch’ by Meredith Brooks,” Katie-Anne said, her manicured fingers rapping against the countertop rhythmically to the beat of the song currently playing. Jaycee’s hand shot across the table like a bullet, smacking KatieAnne on the hand with more momentum than intended. She realized her mistake when her friend’s hand made a thwack against the table, causing Katie-Anne to yelp, which in turn snagged the attention of both Shane and Landon. They assessed Katie-Anne before turning a

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thunderous scowl on Jaycee. Raising her hands in mock surrender, she stuck her tongue out at them. Never looking away from the jukebox, Shannon countered with a demonic grin, “No. I want to hear ‘Better Than Revenge’ by Taylor Swift. Some people forget that I can be a vindictive bitch when crossed.” Most people would be shaking in their boots at the expression Shannon plastered on her face, but Jaycee wasn’t most people. Instead, she laughed loudly. Three-quarters of the people inside the café peered at her as though she had gone mental. Pretending not to notice all the attention centered on her, Jaycee stopped laughing and squealed, “God, I missed you!” Katie-Anne said coolly, “You just saw us a few days ago, Jaycee,” in her most blasé tone. But the head-bopping to Cyndi Lauper’s hit song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and the smile she fought contradicted her words. “Does this mean you’re back for good?” Shannon asked enthusiastically. How should she answer that loaded question? She knew what she wanted and what the men wanted, but nothing had been decided yet. They needed to have a serious talk—ASAP. Shrugging, Jaycee replied, “I think so, but we have some stuff to work out first.” “What exactly do you need to work out with them?” Katie-Anne asked incredulously, gaping at her. “You came home with them. I think that says it all.” Shannon leaned forward, her face creased in concern. “I’m sure Jaycee has a good reason. Is everything okay?” Before Jaycee could answer, a young waitress strolled up to their table with a bright smile, introduced herself as Nikki, and took their orders.

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When their server had gone, Jaycee took a deep breath and explained, “We haven’t had time to make any plans for the future. It’s no big deal.” Shannon sighed. “Crap. We did all that work for nothing?” Jaycee felt her brow furrow in confusion at Shannon’s remark. “Did what work?” When Shannon refused to elaborate, Jaycee swiveled her head to the right and pinned Katie-Anne with a stare. Katie-Anne grimaced and angled her head away from Jaycee, looking everywhere but at her. Next to Katie-Anne, Shannon groaned and laid her head on her folded arms on the tabletop. She wouldn’t look at Jaycee, either. A sick feeling of dread churned inside Jaycee’s stomach, and the room seemed to shrink around her. She slid out of the booth, intent on reaching the bathroom before she vomited on Lou’s floor. Not paying any attention to anything other than the panic coursing through her veins, Jaycee ran headfirst into another person, jarring her out of her terror-stricken trance. She heard an excuse me from a very familiar voice, a Russian-accented voice. Shaking her head as if that action would clear her muddled mind, Jaycee took a good, hard, long look at the woman she’d run into. Wearing khakis with a simple white button-up blouse, the woman had on no jewelry or adornments. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight chignon, and she had applied only minimal makeup which enhanced her green eyes. Destiny Isgood? Her outward appearance was the polar opposite to the one Jaycee had seen at the psychic parlor, but that didn’t change the fact that this was the mysterious fortune-teller. Contacts and wigs could do astounding things for a disguise, but there were certain things that couldn’t be faked. And this Destiny was the real thing. Jaycee wanted to know what the hell was going on. And she wanted to know it five minutes ago. “What the hell are you doing here, Destiny?” The words flew out of her mouth, not allowing time for censoring or consideration. “And

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why the hell do I get the feeling that my dearest friends are involved?” Complete silence filled the café. The hustle and bustle had died down before she even finished her sentence. Now, thirty sets of curious eyes were fixed on her. From the corner, a small voice asked the person next to her, “Why’s that lady calling Svetlana by a different name? Who’s Destiny, Mommy? I thought that was a word. It was in my book.” The woman shushed her daughter, but no one paid any mind to them. Jaycee glared daggers at Svetlana, who stared right back at her, not seeming the least bit fazed by her or her intimidation tactics. Changing her strategy, Jaycee crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. Hours or minutes or seconds passed, and nothing happened. She and Svetlana maintained their staring contest while the people surrounding them kept an eye on them, ogling and twiddling their thumbs. Jaycee had no clue what they expected to see. At long last, she heard footsteps from behind them. A hand clamped down onto her elbow firmly and spun her around. “Come on, Jaycee. I’ll explain everything to you,” Katie-Anne said in resignation. “Well, I think that I want to hear this particular conversation, Katie-Anne,” Shane declared as he and Landon entered the picture. “Me, too,” Jared said stiffly as he, Drew, and Randy walked up behind Shane and Landon. Jaycee noticed how her brothers moved to stand as close to Shannon as humanly possible without attaching themselves to her body. Predictably, Shannon also noticed and moved two steps back, bumping into one of the empty tables. A frown from all three of her brothers let her know Shannon’s not-so-subtle movements hadn’t gone unnoticed.

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“Fine,” Jaycee snapped. Taking two steps before she realized that Svetlana wasn’t coming with them, Jaycee reached for the woman’s arm and yanked. “You. Come. With. Us.” Svetlana followed a baffled Jaycee without a complaint.

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Chapter 16 Letting Katie-Anne guide her back to their table, Jaycee kept a fixed grip on Svetlana. No way was she letting her get away. If anyone would be honest with her, it would be Svetlana. Ducking into the booth, Jaycee noticed that no one sat beside her. Shannon, Katie-Anne, Shane, Landon, and Svetlana sat down on the opposing side, while Jared, Drew, and Randy stood by, hovering over Shannon protectively. She decided this must be how a criminal felt standing in front of the firing squad. Her heart flew, ears buzzed, head spun, and palms sweated. Trying her damndest not to show her distress, Jaycee folded her hands on the table and took a deep breath. “So, what is up? Svetlana is obviously not Destiny Isgood. You two”—she stopped speaking to point at Katie-Anne and Shannon—“are shifty-eyed and look guilty as hell.” Pointing at each of the men, she continued, “The five of you are standing protectively over my friends, which means that you’re planning to protect them from me. Please tell me what is going on.” Since no one seemed to be ready to share, Jaycee looked beseechingly at Svetlana, willing her to share the truth. “Svetlana, please. I need to know the truth.” Svetlana smiled at her warmly, startling Jaycee, who hadn’t known the woman was even capable of showing any sort of emotion. “Yes, you right. You deserve truth. You friends, Gray and Cade, approach me to be psychic. They want me to tell you stuff I told you so you prepare and think before boys come for you. Gray and Cade want you back and hope this help.” Svetlana revealed her emotional turmoil to Jaycee through moist sky-blue eyes that were pleading for

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her forgiveness and understanding. “Please no be mad at boys. They desperate for you. They do anything.” The relief overwhelmed her, making her want to shout to the world I am loved and in love! But she held off. She wanted to hear the whole story first. Switching her attention to Katie-Anne and Shannon, Jaycee inquired, more serene than she was earlier, “So, what was the rest of the plan? I’m assuming that there was more.” Shannon nodded, not speaking or moving. She looked more like a statue than a real living, breathing person. Jared, Drew, and Randy’s nearness was to blame for that. If Katie-Anne’s stiffness was any indication, she wasn’t much better off. But at least she seemed ready to reveal their plan. “The game of Truth or Dare wasn’t a setup, I promise,” Katie-Anne swore. “But, I did use it for my own purposes.” “Okay,” Jaycee prompted politely. “Go on.” Katie-Anne sighed. “A few days after we made our pact, I walked in on Gray and Cade trying to concoct a plan to win you back. They were struggling so they asked for my help, and the idea presented itself. I felt like it was destiny.” She shrugged with a sheepish smile. “I broke the rules and told them about our game. Then we spent the afternoon brainstorming. They decided if you had time to think and fret about them before they arrived, then you would be an easier target. That way they could swoop in and seduce you back into their arms.” Katie-Anne’s gaze met Jaycee’s head-on, her eyes sad. “I had to help them.” She glanced down at the table as though she was struggling to keep her emotions in check. “Since you left, they’ve been messed up. Two men who love each other as much as my brother and Cade should be living blissfully, but they couldn’t. They needed you. Gray tried to act uncaring, but he was hurting. Poor Cade wasn’t any better. The only thing that kept him going was he’d never intended for the separation to be permanent. That is why all of your

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stuff is exactly as you left it. Cade wouldn’t allow anyone to change it—not even Gray.” Katie-Anne looked back up at Jaycee with watery eyes. “They’re my family. I couldn’t stand by and watch them living like that anymore.” Jaycee’s heart ached for her men. She never should have left them. “Why weren’t we approached to help, Katie-Anne? You know we would have wanted to. But instead of being a part of the operation, we were told by the triplets over breakfast this morning,” Shane informed Katie-Anne with a frown. “Yeah, Shannon,” Jared said, talking over Shane, his voice booming in bad temper. “Why didn’t anyone ask us? She is our sister, and they are our friends. We had to find out by accident and go hauling ass 150 miles to stop Gray and Cade because we wanted to protect our damn sister. If you had told us, it would have saved everyone a headache!” Jaycee could see the smoke coming from Shannon’s ears, and she caught a glimpse of the moment that her redheaded friend’s temper went off. For the first time in ten years, Shannon snapped back, “Because, asshole, you and your damn mirror images would have done exactly what you did—stuck your noses where they don’t fucking belong.” She pushed her glasses up higher on her nose and glared at Jared. “Don’t pretend that you three wouldn’t have gone to save her like some idiotic Rambo wannabes. I know better than that.” “You think you know us, do you, munchkin?” Drew asked in an unnervingly calm and collected voice. “I’m thoroughly impressed since you’ve run from us every goddamn time we’ve come near you. Well, that ends now.” He swept Shannon into his arms, cradling her like a baby. A shell-shocked Shannon stared up at Drew with her hazel eyes, not speaking, but not fighting, either. He must have taken that as a good sign because he transformed from glacial and detached to warm

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and adoring, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. “There. That’s better.” Giving a curt nod to everyone sitting at the table, and a sly smile to his brothers, Drew strode away with Shannon, leaving the café. With an exuberant Hell yeah, Randy chased after Drew and Shannon while Jared hustled over to the counter to presumably pay their bill. “Looks like I’m not the only one getting laid tonight,” Jaycee said with a wiggle of her eyebrows. “Katie-Anne, we need to get you a fuck buddy. After all, third time is a charm.” Smiling wickedly, Jaycee asked, “Any prospects in your precious little black book?” Shane and Landon squirmed in their seats, looking at her murderously. She bet the two of them would have mouth sores tomorrow from biting their tongues. Pointedly staring at the two men, Jaycee remarked to Katie-Anne, “Don’t worry, my friend, we can find some hot, horny men for you. Aren’t Brett, Ethan, and Sam staying with you and Shannon?” Sitting back in her seat with a smug smile, Jaycee waited for all hell to break loose. And she wasn’t disappointed. Two men’s loud curses split the air in the booth, and an I’m going to fucking kill her from Jared at the counter. Uh-oh. I need a volume button. A red-faced Jared wheeled around, stalking back toward their table. Shane and Landon turned on Katie-Anne, bombarding her with questions and loading her with a lecture. She glared at Jaycee knowingly with homicidal eyes before turning to her men and giving them a piece of her mind. “I’m going to kill her.” Jared’s grumbling came into earshot. “Of all the harebrained things she could do! She lets three fucking men she doesn’t know stay with her in that tiny-ass apartment. If she wants three damn men, then she’s going to have them. But, goddamn it, it’s

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going to be us and not some pansy-ass losers that like to hang out with Katie-Anne.” If Katie-Anne hadn’t been in the midst of a heated argument with Shane and Landon, she probably would have kicked him in the balls for that comment. But she was too busy making hand gestures, shaking her head, and cursing. As soon as Jared reached the table, Jaycee handed him Shannon’s purse. “Big brother, go home. You wanted her, so get her. Love her. Fuck her. I don’t give a shit, but you better make each other happy. I love you all too much for any other alternatives.” Smiling at her brother, Jaycee shooed him away like a pesky mouse but remembered there was one thing her brothers needed to know. Shannon would probably never forgive her, but it was better to be safe than sorry. “Hey, Jared,” Jaycee said as quietly as possible. Her brother analyzed her face, and realized that what she said didn’t need to be shared with everyone, and leaned in close. “You might want to make sure you boys lube up real good. A girl’s first time isn’t always easy.” As she watched, her unflappable big brother became flummoxed, his face losing every drop of color. From his wide eyes to his mouth hanging agape, he was thoroughly unhinged. It was delightful. Jared had never provided this much entertainment for her. She would have given just about anything to have a camera to capture this priceless moment on film and preserve it for a lifetime. “My God,” Jared murmured, the shock and awe equally proportioned in his hushed tone. “A virgin? Shannon’s a virgin?” She grabbed her big brother and kissed his cheek with a loud smack. “Hopefully not for much longer. Get ’em, tiger. Or should I say tigers?” Jared’s eyes bugged out of his head when the cobwebs cleared, apparently mortified that his sister would tell him to fuck her best friend with their other two brothers. “I am going to pretend that you

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did not say that to me, Jaycee Elizabeth,” her brother informed her frostily. Unable to stop herself, she snorted. “Oh, of course, Jared. How silly of me? I forgot that I’m as pure as the driven snow. Your sister isn’t shared by two men, just like you don’t share with Drew and Randy. Please, spare me the dramatics.” Not wanting to give him the chance to give her one of his stupid, obligatory big-brother lectures, she threatened him with the one thing that would send him running for the hills. “If you don’t leave this very minute, I will share every lurid detail of last night’s sexual exploits between me and—” He disappeared before she could finish her bluff, and it was definitely a bluff. Talking about fucking Gray and Cade with any of her brothers was nothing short of repulsive. Her stomach heaved at the mere prospect. “You two have no authority over me or my life. Leave. Me. Alone.” The steel in Katie-Anne’s statement wasn’t all that unusual. However, the defeat behind it was. Searching her best friend’s face, Jaycee couldn’t miss the strain behind the straight line of her mouth and the tears she valiantly held back. “Back off, guys,” Jaycee said defensively on her friend’s behalf. “Jaycee, it’s okay. They were leaving, weren’t you?” Katie-Anne asked pointedly, as if she was giving them the option, but Jaycee could tell it was no question. She was telling them to leave. Katie-Anne regally slid out of the booth with her head held high, every bit of emotion that Jaycee had caught a glimpse of wiped away. She didn’t speak to them, just stood there, waiting for them to walk away like they had so many times before. With a grunt, Shane slid out of the booth, followed by Landon. Neither made a move for her, showing with their actions how well they knew her. For two men who acted as if they didn’t care for a woman, they understood what she needed.

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A grim-faced Landon stared at Katie-Anne as if she was the only person in the world. “This isn’t over, kitten. Not by a long shot. I’ve made mistakes, but starting today, that is going to change.” With a nod, he and Shane sauntered away, receding from sight without glancing back. An unstable Katie-Anne collapsed onto the booth seat with an Ooph. “They right.” Startled, Jaycee and Katie-Anne looked at the woman they’d forgotten about in the insanity of the last few minutes. Svetlana sat plastered against the wall with her eyes closed as if she was no longer with them, as if she was seeing something no one else could. “You must face past before paving way for future. This not over.” Cocking her head to the side, Katie-Anne’s wide eyes studied Svetlana with perplexity. “Excuse me?” Knowing eyes popped open. “You hear me, my dear. I go.” Katie-Anne scooted out of the booth, but this time she was moving out of Svetlana’s way. In a daze, she stumbled, nearly falling, but Svetlana caught her before she completely lost her balance. “Thanks,” Katie-Anne stammered, red-faced. A curt nod came from Svetlana, who moved away from them slowly with a slight limp that Jaycee hadn’t noticed before. She called out cryptically, over her shoulder, like an afterthought, “You want change, destiny give change. Tell friend to beware green car. She be back soon. She upset.” Before the heavy door had even slammed behind Svetlana, a woman with a head full of frizzy ginger-colored hair, wire-rimmed glasses, and tear-stained cheeks appeared in the doorway. She and Katie-Anne bolted from their seats with a squeal. “Shannon!” Neither of them paid any heed to the people they bumped into or pushed out of the way. It was terribly rude, but their only thought was for Shannon.

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Reaching her at the very same time, they threw their arms around her. Shannon let out a pitiful moan, but Jaycee wasn’t sure if it was because they were squeezing her too hard or if it was whatever was causing her emotional distress. “Are you okay, Shan?” Katie-Anne asked in concern. The sobs that wracked Shannon’s body were her only answer. Stroking her hair, Jaycee said softly, “Here, let’s sit down.” Jaycee maneuvered them into the nearest open booth as unobtrusively as possible and resumed stroking Shannon’s hair. “What the hell did they do to you? I am going to kick their asses from here to kingdom come!” The threat rolled off her tongue, disregarding the fact that she was talking about her brothers and not some random assholes on the street. The three peas in a pod stuck together. Shannon shook her head, causing her hair to tickle the palm of Jaycee’s hand. “Not them. Me.” Unsteadily, Shannon’s head fell back against the back of the booth, and she wiped her nose with the toolong sleeves of a baggy button-up shirt. Only Shannon would wear winter clothes in the summer. “Of course it was you,” a whiny voice said from behind them. The voice was very familiar. Leila.

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Chapter 17 Two snide laughs followed behind their mortal enemy’s words, drowning out all the noises in the café. Clenching her fists painfully tight behind her back, Jaycee smeared a fake friendly smile on her face and twisted to lay eyes on Leila and Mary for the first time in not nearly enough years. Bitchily, Jaycee hoped that Leila had lost some of the outward beauty that housed the heinous bitch inside. But she had no such luck. The impeccably dressed woman in her out-of-place designer dress and stilettos still had the lustrous mahogany hair that most beauty queens would kill for and the smoky eyes that lens companies attempted to mimic but could never quite capture. Her porcelain complexion and soft features were accented with the right amount of makeup. The beauty mark that Jaycee had come to despise was still perfectly in place on her right cheek, next to the delicately shaped lips that were the door to the demon inside. Her graceful cheeks and dainty nose only added to Leila’s ethereal beauty. How such an angelic-looking woman could be the devil personified, Jaycee would never know. Mary was another story. She had morphed into what was supposed to be a mirror image of Leila but was a dreadfully sorry excuse for a twin. Her hair had been dyed the same shade of mahogany as Leila’s, but whoever had done the job was an amateur. There was no luster or shine. Mary’s contacts converted her sapphire eyes into a shade that didn’t really match her olive complexion. A copious amount of makeup and a drawn-on beauty mark only accentuated the harsh angles of her face. Unlike Leila’s designer threads and ridiculously expensive stilettos, Mary had on cheap

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knockoffs, which would be fine if the designs weren’t so distasteful and shabbily made. Jaycee decided Mary’s new look was creepy. Their newest addition stood with them. Jaycee managed to contain her mirth at the sight of the woman. She looked more like the butt of a joke than an actual person. From the top of her big, boofy 1980s hairstyle, to the makeup that she probably had to use a chisel to remove, to the over-the-top, mismatched rainbow-colored clothing, she was more clown than anything. “Well, hi, girls. Long time, no see.” Gritting her teeth, Jaycee was as nice as she was capable of being when Leila and Mary were close by. “Who’s the fresh meat? I’m so glad that you two finally found a friend to play with. Three is a mighty lucky number.” “I’ll bet,” Leila sneered spitefully. “Did you finally manage to get between Gray and Cade? Those two sure know how to fuck a girl. I bet they made you come almost as many times as they made me.” Jaycee had grown tired of this argument long before she left. Seriously, when would Leila get it through her thick skull that just because two men fucked you when they were drunk as skunks, it did not make them your personal property? “Leila, they haven’t fucked you in years. Besides, I had the ring—not you. I think that says it all.” With her eyes flaring wildly, Leila slapped the table and moved into Jaycee’s personal space. Her sickly sweet breath made Jaycee want to gag. She would never touch mint again. “Yeah, you had the ring. Key word—had. Until those men have wedding bands around their ring fingers, and you have the name Blakemore behind yours, they are fair game. And I, for one, intend to do whatever is necessary to keep them away from a whore like you. I think Leila Blakemore sounds much better than Jaycee Blakemore. Don’t you agree, girls?” Out of the corner of her eyes, Jaycee saw Leila’s two miscreant sidekicks bob their heads enthusiastically, babbling their assent with more words than were necessary.

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Jaycee smoothed out her face, appearing uncaring even though her insides boiled with the need to rip the bitch to shreds in the most painful, monstrous way possible. She leaned away from her enemy with a wrinkled nose, dramatically fanning her hand in front of her nose like someone who had been exposed to a foul odor. “Seriously, Leila, how many mints did you use to camouflage the stench that usually comes out of your trap? I think a bag might be overkill.” “Nah, Jaycee,” Katie-Anne disagreed. “She needs at least a bag to cover it. Personally, I can smell some funk all the way over here.” She reached for her purse and pulled out a peppermint from the local drive-in before offering it to Leila, “Here’s another. If I were you, I would see if Lou has a couple more for you behind the counter. He usually keeps some back there for people with bad breath.” A sniffling Shannon recharged and rebooted. But in place of her normally antisocial personality came the fighter within. “So that is what reeks around here? I figured that Lou had taken to cooking possum again. Yuck.” Leila jerked away as if burned, a lethal scowl set on her face. Boy, if looks could kill, Jaycee would shove a mirror into Leila’s face, cross her fingers, and hope the bitch would die. “You whores,” Mary shrieked like a banshee. Forcing a chuckle, Jaycee started to speak, but was quickly cut off by Shannon, who said, “I think that Leila already called Jaycee that, Mary. You might want to consider purchasing a thesaurus before making yourself look like an imbecile.” Katie-Anne reached back into her purse and pulled out her smartphone. She quickly punched in something on the keyboard and handed it to Mary. “Here, Mary. That is a free online dictionary and thesaurus. I took the liberty of searching for imbecile since you probably are unfamiliar with the term. It generally means stupid, silly, idiotic, and half-wit. Well, you get the general idea. You really should jot down the website’s address for the future.”

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Miss No-Name spoke for the first time. The woman’s blood pressure appeared to be up, but it was hard to judge with all that makeup and Botox. Her face was probably scarlet colored if someone could actually see it. “Are you calling Mary stupid?” Jaycee shook her head, laughing hard. “No. We were saying that Mary is stupid, silly, idiotic, and a half-wit.” When the woman stepped forward confrontationally as though she planned to assault them, Leila stopped her with an arm across the woman’s clearly augmented breasts. The triple-D breasts didn’t budge or squish, corroborating Jaycee’s theory. Leila sniffed, “We’re through here. I have grown tired of their drivel.” The evilness receded from Leila’s face, making her appear as sweet and fresh as a daisy. “Jaycee, darling, I wanted to let you know that you have some friendly competition. It’s no fun for me to win without you putting forth your best effort. That way, when I win, you can’t be one of those sore losers who claims to have lost by default. Ta-ta, ladies.” Waving her hand in a faux friendly gesture, her mask slipped and her face darkened with hatred. “I’m sure we will be meeting again soon. Small towns make it impossible to avoid the trash.” They moved to the next table over, taking the cloud of awfulsmelling perfume with them. Finally able to breathe again without the offensive fragrance polluting the air around them, Jaycee muttered, “Not if we see you first.” “Well, that was pleasant.” Katie-Anne’s voice was filled with more irritation than rage. “Damn it,” Shannon piped in, her annoyance showing as well. “I wanted to fight them.” Jaycee rolled her eyes in amused exasperation. “You wouldn’t hurt a fly, Shannon.” “I would have to disagree with you on that, J,” Shannon countered, her voice more sinister than Jaycee had ever heard it.

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“Girls, girls.” Katie-Anne broke them up with a choppy wave of her hand in front of their faces as if she was breaking some sort of mystical spell. “We have more important issues than those skanks. What happened, Shannon?” Her mouth shutting with a snap that had to be uncomfortable, Shannon shook her head erratically and definitively. Shannon obviously wasn’t going to talk to them. As stubborn as she could be, she might never talk. “So, where were we before all this bullshit?” Katie-Anne asked with too much nonchalance to be authentic, but thankfully no one called her on it. “Oh! I remember. We were talking about the plan. I came up with the idea that we should exploit your dare to start the ball rolling. The whole psychic thing was Cade’s idea. He remembered your long-lost love for karma and wanted to show you, in his own comical way, that karma isn’t the bitch you believe her to be, that destiny has great plans for you three.” “Whoa, Katie-Anne. Did Cade choose to name the psychic Destiny Isgood?” Jaycee knew the answer, but she wanted it confirmed before she tormented Cade. He was so adorably predictable. Only he would make up a cheesy name like that. Looking back, she should have known better. Shannon laughed. “Of course, Jaycee. Who else would name a psychic Destiny Isgood besides Cade McCoy?” The absurdity overwhelmed Katie-Anne and Jaycee, who joined Shannon in her peals of laughter at Cade’s expense. If only he were here, the three of them could razz him ruthlessly. Jaycee would take any excuse to torment her lover, especially if he fucked her as punishment. Mentally, she snorted at that half-baked concept. If her men disciplined her for getting into trouble, she might get inventive on how to maximize her penalties. Fortunately, she had two men to discipline her. Cade might need to be topped by Gray, but he wouldn’t let her top him. It was their hierarchy, and she was pleased with the current standings because

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other than fucking Cade in the ass with a strap-on once in a while, she had no desire to be a dominating force in the bedroom. Outside the bedroom, she was Jaycee and they were Cade and Gray, but once that door closed, she was theirs in any way they wanted her. She hadn’t noticed that she’d quit laughing, and so had KatieAnne and Shannon, who watched her expectantly. “What?” Jaycee demanded to know, throwing her hands up in the air in irritation. “I was thinking.” “Of that I have no doubt, J,” Katie-Anne said sarcastically, but something was off with her words. Jaycee sensed anxiety from her friend, could see the fear in her exotic turquoise eyes. “Ask me, Katie-Anne. I’ll tell you what you want to know,” Jaycee encouraged. Katie-Anne sat up straight, squaring her shoulders. “Fine, damn it, are you mad at us or not, Jaycee?” A slow smile spread across Jaycee’s face, and she shook her head. “Of course not! You’re the best friends a girl could ever have!” Relief flittered across both of their faces. However, Katie-Anne’s reaction ran far deeper. Air rushed from her lungs, her whole body deflating like a contracted rubber band. “See, Katie-Anne?” Shannon tapped Katie-Anne’s nose with her index finger childishly. “I told you she would forgive us as long as she got some action in the process. That means I win.” Jaycee chortled. “What did you bet this time?” Katie-Anne’s face grew severe, almost grave. A sliver of tension slid down Jaycee’s spine. “If she won, she would be your maid of honor. If I won, I would be your MOH after tons of groveling and bribery.” Aghast, Jaycee wanted to curse at both of the dolts she called friends. “You two took the liberty upon yourself to bet who would be my maid of honor?” Pushing back her blonde curls in agitation, she reached for the mustard and ketchup bottles. A food fight might teach them a few things. Thinking better of it, Jaycee put the bottles back.

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“If I were to get married, I wouldn’t choose between the two of you. I never was a very decisive girl.” Shannon rolled her eyes and grabbed a napkin out of its holder. She crumpled the paper then flung it at Jaycee’s head. Unsurprisingly, she hit Jaycee squarely on the side of her head. Stupid high school softball star. “No shit, Sherlock.” The only person at the table who didn’t seem to be enjoying herself was Katie-Anne, who remained subdued. She had the faraway look of a person deep in thought, someone who was calculating the national debt. “Damn. Earth to Katie-Anne.” Shannon balled up another napkin and tossed it at Katie-Anne’s face. With a blink, she dodged the projectile object and resumed living in the present. “Fuck you, Shannon. I’m thinking here,” Katie-Anne chided. “Oh, Katie-Anne, baby. You couldn’t handle a woman like me.” Katie-Anne frowned at Shannon’s teasing. “So, if we can’t bet for our role in Jaycee’s wedding, what can we bet for?” Deep contemplation settled on both of their faces while Jaycee watched close by, waiting for another idiotic idea to hit them right between the eyes. The Eureka! look crossed Shannon’s face first. “I know what we can bet,” Shannon declared with far too much boldness for Jaycee’s comfort. Fearing everyone’s safety, Jaycee interceded, “No! No more bets. We have something much more significant. I need to get a little revenge, my lovelies.” Their intrigue overrode their thirst for the settlement of a trivial bet, and they waited for the details with wide eyes and nefarious grins. “Gray and Cade need a taste of their own medicine. Just because I’m not mad doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t sweat a little for playing with me.”

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Chapter 18 Cade sat in his office, going over the lineage of a stallion, when his cell phone jingled. Curious as to who would call his private number, he snatched it from the desk and hit the talk button. “Cade McCoy.” A breathy, feminine voice came across the line. “Hello, Cade. It’s Leila.” Fuck. Damn. Shit. Hell. He didn’t want to talk to Leila. He despised the woman who’d nearly ruined their friendship with Jaycee eleven years ago. After a fight with Jaycee, he and Gray had gone on the bender to end them all. Between their jealousy of her jackass boyfriend and their impatience wearing thinner by the second, they had to blow off some steam. Unfortunately for them, Leila preyed upon their weakness, waiting until they were too far drunk to realize the trouble they were getting into. That night was still hazy to him, but the morning after wasn’t something he was likely to forget, no matter how much he wanted to. In typical fashion, Jaycee had opened the door and entered the bedroom without knocking. Her feet hadn’t made it two steps past the threshold before she caught them red-handed with Leila. The devastation of what she’d been forced to see drained away her inner glow, extinguishing the light that was such a part of her. The memory of her agonized expression still made him cringe. Not waiting for an explanation, or not wanting one, she had escaped with tears tracking down her face. He and Gray had chased

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her, barefoot and naked, but hadn’t been able to catch her. Almost two weeks passed before they were allowed close enough to her to explain and defend themselves. And, even then, it was on her terms. She’d appeared on their doorstep at dawn, wanting answers, and they’d given them to her. “Cade? Hon, are you there?” The duplicitous woman was trying to sound sultry, but she grated on him worse than when Jaycee clawed a chalkboard. “I’m not your hon, Leila. What do you want?” His combative tone did nothing to hide his contempt for her. She huffed. “Oh, well, I won’t bother you about Jaycee. Talk to you—” He stepped into the trap undeterred by the knowledge that he would live to regret it. This woman only bothered him when there was something in it for her. “No! What about Jaycee? Is she okay? What the fuck did you do to her?” A bogus gasp came from her. “Oh, it’s more what the fuck she is going to do to you and Gray.” He rolled his eyes even though she couldn’t see, huffing his own disgruntlement at her wasting his time with unsubstantiated bullshit. She was nothing but a pain-in-the-ass troublemaker. “She isn’t going to do anything to us.” “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, baby,” she said with enough superiority that he became curious. Cade growled. “Just tell me whatever it is you think you know.” “Oh, honey, it is what I know. Jaycee has a plan to get even with you and Gray for playing her. What do you think about that?” The cat was out of the bag. Goddamn it. **** Even after spending most of last night fucking his lovers raw, Gray’s cock remained hard and full. Breakfast with Cade had only

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made things worse. He’d been under control until Cade wrapped his perfectly shaped lips around his bottle of orange juice, swallowing down all of its contents. Gray’s thoughts flew straight to Cade’s mouth enveloping his cock and sucking him dry. A fantasy formed in his mind. **** Sitting back in his chair, Gray watched Cade stand up and skirt around the kitchen table before kneeling at his feet. Cade smiled up at him naughtily and said, “Breakfast time.” Cade unsnapped Gray’s jeans then lowered the zipper and parted the material. With a lick of his lips, Cade pulled Gray’s engorged cock out of his pants and guided it to his mouth. He sucked the head of Gray’s dick inside, twirling his tongue around it. Gray groaned as Cade’s teeth grazed the sensitive skin. “I thought you were hungry, damn it.” Cade smiled around Gray’s cock and nodded his head. “Well, so am I,” Gray ground out in frustration. He pushed his painfully hard cock all the way into Cade’s sweltering mouth slowly, inch by fucking inch, until the head pressed against the soft spot at the back of his throat. Gray grabbed Cade’s head in a firm grip, denying him any movement. He pulled out of Cade’s wet mouth then slid back in. Cade cupped Gray’s balls and rolled them in one hand while his other hand dropped between his own legs to palm his jean-covered cock. He moaned around Gray’s dick, the vibrations driving Gray closer to the edge. Blood pounded through Gray’s veins, racing through his body and heading straight for his throbbing cock. His hips turned into pistons, allowing him to plunge faster and deeper, his thrusts becoming more forceful. He face fucked his lover ruthlessly until his dick swelled,

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nearly doubling in size. A tingle ran down his spine and his balls drew up, ready for an explosive release. “Oh, hell,” Jaycee gasped from the doorway with a mischievous smile. She dropped a bag of groceries on the tile and sauntered toward them, her hips swaying seductively with each step she took. Jaycee touched Gray’s bicep, coasting her hand up his arm to his shoulder. She moved in behind his chair and leaned down, kissing the side of his neck sweetly. She slid her hands over his shoulders and down the front of his chest, kneading his muscles as she went. Nibbling Gray’s flesh, Jaycee made a pathway to his ear. “It’s fucking hot to watch Cade suck your cock. It makes me so damn horny,” she whispered sultrily, pausing long enough to lick the shell of his ear with her soft tongue. “If one of you touched my pussy right now, I would come fast and hard—like Cade is about to make you.” Gray groaned and gripped Cade’s reddish-colored hair tightly in his fist, using the strands to angle his head back. His hips surged forward burying his cock deep inside Cade’s mouth and he came with a shout as his body jerked. His cum burst from his dick, flooding Cade’s sexy mouth. Cade closed his forest-green eyes and licked his lips. “Mmmm.” Blowing in Gray’s ear, Jaycee murmured, “He loves your cum, Gray. It tastes so fucking good.” She grasped the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. “I love the way it feels in my mouth.” Gray turned his head and kissed Jaycee quickly but hungrily. Ripping his defiant lips from hers, he growled, “You’re so spanked.” Jaycee grinned wickedly and said, “You’re so fucked.” Gray shook his head in amusement, pulling his softened cock from Cade’s mouth. He bent over and kissed Cade, tasting the mixture of his cum with the natural flavor of Cade’s mouth. He covered Cade’s hand with his own, grinding the palm against the hard ridge of Cade’s cock. “Fuck.” Cade hissed and shuddered as he orgasmed, his cum wetting the front of his jeans.

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Jaycee strolled around the chair, glancing at Gray’s alreadyrebounding cock then the damp spot on Cade’s jeans. “My turn, boys,” she purred and stripped off her clothes. Gray and Cade got to their feet, tearing at their clothes until they were naked and aroused. A very nude, very sexy Jaycee swept all the cups and plates on the table onto the floor then crawled on top of it. Turning, she faced them and opened her legs. “See how wet I am for you two?” She sighed, dipping her finger into her cunt then pulling it right back out. She held her hand up where they could see her wet finger perfectly. “Jaycee Elizabeth,” Gray growled, advancing on her. Cade moved around the other side and climbed onto the table behind her. He brushed her hair aside, his lips descending to the curve of her neck. Pressing small kisses to her skin, Cade’s arms snaked around her chest, and he palmed her breasts. She arched her back with a moan. “Cade.” Gray closed in on her, capturing her wrist and pulling it toward his awaiting mouth. Without taking his eyes off her face, he licked her juices off her finger, one swipe at a time. She whimpered, her eyes locked to his lips. “Gray.” “We’re hungry, sweetheart,” Gray told her, watching as her eyes widened. “Feed us.” Instead of letting her ask, he led her hand between her gorgeous legs and placed it on her pussy. “Fuck yourself,” he ordered gruffly. “We want you for dessert.” Cade lifted up, looking over her shoulder, without releasing her breasts from his hands. “I love dessert, darlin’.” Jaycee leaned back into Cade with a sigh and shoved two fingers inside her saturated cunt. Thrusting her hand in and out, she finger fucked herself urgently. Within seconds, her body tightened up and her eyes closed, concentration etched on her face.

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“Stop,” Gray commanded gutturally. Immediately, she stopped and opened her eyes slowly, revealing the lusty blue depths. “I was so fucking close, Gray.” “Just a minute, sweetheart,” Gray whispered soothingly. “Give me your hand.” She held her hand out to him, and he clasped it with a smile, moving it to her shoulder. He and Cade lowered their mouths, each of them sucking one finger inside. At the same time, Gray plunged three fingers inside her slick pussy. Jaycee screamed. **** A raging Cade stormed into the barn, interrupting his fantasy. “Grayson Allen Blakemore,” Cade yelled. “Where the fucking hell are you?” Dropping the bale of hay, Gray wiped away the sweat trickling down the side of his face from his afternoon exertion and his sizzling fantasy. “Over here!” A wild-eyed Cade rounded the corner, barreling into Gray as he left the stall. They scrambled around, barely managing to remain upright. “Good God, Cade. What the hell is wrong with you? Have you lost your fucking mind?” “Oh no, I haven’t. However, I cannot say the same for our little lady.” Bloody hell. **** With all her plans in place and a bounce in her step, Jaycee sauntered into Gray and Cade’s house as though she owned it. “Gray! Cade! Where are you?” She walked down the hallway, peering into

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the rooms as she passed. “I got some delicious news from Destiny! Get those fine asses down here! This very second.” Hearing the sound of footsteps stomping down the stairs behind her, Jaycee made her way into the kitchen and opened the fridge. She pulled out a soda, popped the lid, and sucked it down in a couple of gulps while she waited for the slowpokes to join her. She tossed her can into the trash can on the other side of the room. Score! For the first time since entering the kitchen, she really looked around. Immediately she noticed three very odd things. There was glass underneath a now-broken window, a dented toaster on the table, and a fist-size hole in the wall. Oh, shit. Cade was through the door first, crossing the room and sweeping her into his arms in a couple of long strides. He kissed her thoroughly, leaving her breathless. When he pulled away, she thought he was done. But he wasn’t. Cade hefted her up onto the countertop, spread her legs, and pressed his cock against her. Other than two layers of jeans, they had no barriers. Today, she didn’t want anything to hinder them, so she had chosen to forgo her treasured thongs. The thought of Cade’s cock so close to her pussy had her tingling, ready for more. His hands cupped her ass, pulling her cunt toward his bulging cock. Using those large, masterful hands, he ground her crotch against his. Wantonly, she twisted, hoping he would increase the pressure of his erotic massage. “Cade, please. More, I need more.” Needing increased traction, her hands sought his nicely molded ass. The firm yet soft flesh would make the perfect place to grab onto and hold on for dear life. She managed to wind her arms around his waist before Gray walked up behind them and halted their descent. He grasped each hand and guided them to Cade’s lean hips with a look that told her to keep them glued to that spot. Letting go of her hands,

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he mimicked her hold on Cade by latching onto her hips in the same general area. Gray used his body as a press. Shifting his weight forward, he pushed Cade toward Jaycee, but used his hands to pull Jaycee toward Cade, smashing all their bodies together tightly. Watching Gray avidly, she saw him drop his head to the left of Cade’s thick neck and place an affectionate kiss. Cade’s erection swelled, causing an immediate reaction from her body. Lust swamped her, her juices saturating the fabric at the crotch of her pants. Instead of being embarrassed, she desperately hoped that Cade could feel the moisture, could feel how much she desired them. Gray kissed Cade on his neck again, but this kiss had evolved. No longer loving, this was carnality at its finest. He opened his mouth wide, his tongue emerging from the dark cave where it had been hiding. Using the flat of his tongue, Gray licked Cade’s neck as though he was tasting his skin, making Jaycee think of someone eating an ice-cream cone on a sizzling summer day. God, it was getting hot in here. She was probably going to need that ice cream when they were through with her. A shudder ran through Cade’s body, the movement a jolt to her body as his cock bumped her pussy. Gray’s tongue continued to sample on Cade’s skin, moving upward to his ear and taking the sensitive lobe into his mouth. With a vigorous suck and a light nip, Gray whispered sensuously, “She wants more, Cade. Give her more.” As soon as the provocative words crossed his lips, Gray’s hands manipulated the movement of Cade’s hips, swiveling and gyrating, the motion giving her too much of the traction she’d previously craved, scraping and rasping the fabric against her pussy. “No more! Please, stop. I can’t take it!” Gray whispered into Cade’s ear, “I think our lady is telling us how to fuck her. We can’t have that. Give her more.”

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The movements grew more severe, more frantic. They were trying to drive her mad and doing a damn fine job. Throwing her head back, she moaned fervently. Cade used her lusty action to lean forward and trace small circles from the hollow at the base of her neck to the tip of her chin. The sound of little kisses against skin told her that Gray hadn’t stopped his oral torment on Cade. Hearing a rap at the front door, they all froze. Shit. Shit. Shit. She’d forgotten about the plan in the passion of the moment. Apparently, Ethan wasn’t one to be forgotten. He was reminding her of his presence. The impatient pain-in-the-ever-lovingass man had probably gotten tired of waiting in the barn, where she’d been hiding him. Cade reacted faster than she or Gray, demanding, “Who the fuck could be bothering us right now?” “Just a minute,” she called out as loud-voiced as she could over the lump in her throat. “I’ll get rid of whoever it is,” Gray said darkly. Hoping to stop the madness that gripped the men in the room, she intervened, “Oh, no! I forgot all about Ethan. He’s a friend of KatieAnne’s that I invited over for dinner.” Gray pinned her with a stare that had her squirming nervously. “Why the hell would you invite a friend of Katie-Anne’s over?” “Well, it’s a long story,” she said evasively, her heart pounding against her rib cage. Gray released her, removing his weight from Cade so that they weren’t delightfully crushed against each other. “Cade, go let in this Nathan person. It seems like I need to have a quick talk with Jaycee.” Cade followed Gray’s order, walking out of the room quickly and quietly. “Ethan,” she stressed, “is important to me. He’s going to be to you and Cade, too.”

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Gray arched his eyebrows, commanding her to continue her explanation without having to talk. The fact that he wasn’t talking was rather horrifying. When Gray reached peak levels of anger, he didn’t speak. He enlisted his body language to communicate. A sense of foreboding settled over her chest, heavily bearing down on her. “I called Destiny Isgood, this psychic that I know, to thank her for something. She had a prediction for me. Well, for us.” Jaycee rambled and stammered from her nervousness. “She, um, said that our trio wasn’t going to be a trio for much longer. According to her, we were, um, meant to be a quad. Katie-Anne’s friend, Ethan, fit the description she gave me, and he is a new person that, uh, entered my life. I thought that he could come over and get to know the three of us.” From his stormy eyes to his thunderous expression, she could tell this wasn’t going to be pretty. Cade charged into the kitchen, the clunk of his boots against the tiles the only sound in the room. He stopped abruptly next to Gray. “What’s the story with Ethan?” “She thinks that the four of us are all going to fall madly, passionately in love and live happily ever after.” Gray spat the words like a person expelling something vile from their mouth. “She does, does she?” Cade asked, clapping Gray on the back with the look of a horny man. His voice dropped a couple octaves, sounding erotic. “Well, she did a fucking fine job picking that cowboy.” Sucking in a breath, Jaycee looked around frantically for an object to beat Cade with. The motherfucker was interested in Ethan. She was going to thump him so hard he would forget his own name, and Ethan’s right along with it. Gray eyed Cade curiously, his eyes running from the top of his reddish hair down to his crotch. The hard-on straining for freedom caught his eye, and he paused. “Hmmmm, I think that I want to meet this Ethan.”

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Now he fucking remembered Ethan’s name. Her frantic search for a weapon resumed. If she was going to beat on Cade, she might as well whack Gray, too. “I’ve never known you to get hot by another man, Cade. Maybe this psychic is right.” Neither man acknowledged her. They left her sitting on the kitchen counter, confused and fit to be tied.

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Chapter 19 Gray was on the warpath. He stalked down the hallway that led to their living room furiously, cursing under his breath. The little menace was really going to go through with her plan. Well, she had another thing coming. If she wanted to play, he and Cade were going to play, too. And they would win. Then they would show her exactly who her bosses were. Entering the living room, Gray saw the man Jaycee was using in her twisted game. Cade was right. This man was good-looking, if he was into the pretty-boy look. He would really hate to have to rearrange his face. It would be a shame for the man to have to suffer through several plastic surgeries to have his face repaired. The man stood up, his cockiness evident in the way he held himself, the way he moved. “Hi. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you from Jaycee.” He extended his hand first to Cade, who shook it with a sinful smile. Then, he reached for Gray. Even though he was trying to play along, he really didn’t want to touch this asshole. Staring at his hand, Gray debated whether it was really worth it to play this silly game when he would much prefer teaching her a lesson with a couple of firm hands and two hard cocks. If he thought for one second that his method would teach her a lesson, he would throw her over his shoulder and run for the steps, but he knew better. The only way to show her was to trap her in her own little game. Grabbing Ethan’s hand, Gray shook it, feigning interest in the man. Gray forced his lids to lower like a man with sex on his mind. Using thoughts of Cade and Jaycee to arouse him, his cock stiffened.

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Jaycee finally joined them. He couldn’t see her from where he was standing, but he could feel it. Ethan noticed her, too. Gray saw his eyes light up. If Cade hadn’t grabbed his hand, Gray would have slugged the asshole who had the nerve to come into their house and stare at their woman with lust-filled eyes. Cade guided Gray to the couch with their linked hands. He pulled Gray into a sitting position on the sofa next to him then slung his arm over the back. Ethan walked over to the love seat and sank down comfortably. “Come on over here, J,” he said with a pat on the cushion. An involuntary growl formed at the back of Gray’s throat. Cade, who had anticipated his action, covertly hit him in the back of the head with his palm. Trying to cover his faux pas, Gray coughed. Jaycee sat down by Ethan on the love seat, sitting closer than was appropriate for a taken woman, but Gray managed to maintain his cool. He didn’t even bat an eyelash at them when Ethan put his arm around Jaycee and she smiled up at the larger man with wanton desire flaring in her blue eyes. She better be thinking about him and Cade, or she was going to regret that look later. “So,” Jaycee started, fidgeting in her seat. Maybe he wasn’t hiding his hostility as well as he’d hoped. “Here we are.” “This is mighty awkward,” Ethan stated bluntly. “Jaycee told me all about the psychic woman, but I’m not sold on this whole arrangement. Don’t get me wrong here. I’m all for fucking the three of you, but I have two partners myself. I just don’t know if I can fuck without them. It wouldn’t be right.” Gray wanted to pump his fist in the air. Their Jaycee would never allow five men to fuck her, not even in a faraway fantasy land. She wasn’t going to participate in a game with this set of rules. He was sure of it. Gray’s jaw hit the floor when Jaycee giggled delightedly at Ethan’s suggestion, saying, “The more, the merrier, Ethan.”

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Cade’s hand clamped down on his neck like a mama cat grasping her kitten’s scruff, calling for his submission. He moved closer to Gray and whispered in his ear, “She’s playing with you. Look, she is watching you, not pretty boy.” Glancing at Jaycee, he saw that Cade was right. She wasn’t paying any attention to Ethan. Her attention was fully on him and Cade. Her eyes shifted back and forth between the two of them, observing their every move. Cade leaned back against the couch, lounging like a man without a care in the world. He propped up his right leg on his left knee. “I think that sounds like a fine idea myself. What about you, Gray?” Gray could feel the tension coiling inside of him, desperately wanting to be released. Instead of caving to its demands, he nodded. “Yeah. Call them up, Ethan. We can fuck as soon as they get here.” With a naughty know-it-all smirk, Ethan shook his head. “No need. They’re in the car outside, waiting for the cue.” Jaycee’s eyes bugged out of her head, and she blurted out, “What?” Her impassioned outburst made Gray want to laugh. She was already losing ground. He decided to push her a little closer to her breaking point. “Get them in here. I’m horny as hell. What about you, my love?” Gray asked, turning the tables on her, silently daring her to lie to him. “I, um,” she stuttered with pink cheeks, “I d–don’t know about this.” Ethan spoke to her softly, taking her hands into his and pressing a kiss to the back of each hand. “Come on, J. You can do this. We would never hurt you.” Jaycee’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her breaths coming out in ragged gasps. Gray could see real fear in her blue eyes as they darted to his face. She might have brought this upon herself, but no one messed with their woman. This asshole was going to die right now. Jumping out of his seat before Cade could stop him, Gray lunged for Jaycee. He grabbed her around the waist with unyielding hands

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and yanked her off the couch so fast that her only response was an Eep! Handing her to Cade, he turned back to Ethan. With all of his hatred for this man surging through him, bloodlust consumed him, and he attacked. **** Cade held Jaycee with steadfast arms, allowing no room for escape. She fought him like a madwoman, but he managed to hold on to her. If she wanted to play emotional games with him and Gray, she had to deal with consequences. Sounds of fists against flesh could be heard from across the room. Gray was punching Ethan in his face and stomach. Hell, he even kicked him in the groin once. Ethan fought back with a vengeance, blocking and defending himself but never once throwing an offensive punch. Cade felt Jaycee’s energy waning in his arms, her movements becoming weaker by the moment. As the fight drained out of Jaycee, he could hear her pitiful sniffles. Her almost-inaudible hiccupping sobs broke his heart. Even as furious as he was, he couldn’t bear her pain. He’d wanted her to take responsibility for her juvenile actions, not cry the way she had when she was hurt as a small child. Maybe his and Ethan’s plan hadn’t been such a good one. Gray was fighting Cade’s accomplice, and Jaycee was crying. If he’d shared their scheme with Gray, they’d have all been saved from this spectacle. Looking helplessly at Gray, Cade was relieved to see that he’d quit fighting the other man when he’d heard Jaycee whimper. Gray and Ethan still circled each other, but neither man touched the other. Finally, Gray said in a detached, frigid tone, “Get the fuck out of my house. If you so much as look at her again, I will castrate you and

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feed your dick to the pigs. They aren’t very picky about what they eat.” Looking right through a roughed-up Ethan, Gray walked over to them. Cade handed Jaycee to Gray, who scooped her up and started for the stairs. He called over his shoulder, “Come on, Cade. We have things to do.” Ethan limped to the door, turned around, and mouthed to Cade, “You owe me.” Grinning at his new friend, Cade whispered, “Thanks.” Ethan gave him a thumbs-up sign before slipping out the door. Following his lovers upstairs, Cade could barely breathe, each breath more erratic than the last. His throat felt as if it was closing off, trying to strangle him. The trip to their room was far shorter than he ever remembered it being before. When Gray paused outside their bedroom, Cade stopped. His mind knew that Gray wanted assistance with the door, but his feet were attached to the ground, his arms like lead. They didn’t want to cooperate no matter how hard he tried. Gray seemed to sense Cade’s nervousness and didn’t push him. Instead, Gray waited patiently, holding Jaycee close to his broad chest. Finally getting a hold of himself, Cade used a clammy hand to twist the doorknob and push it open. He stepped to the side, letting Gray carry Jaycee forward until she could see the inside of the bedroom. Her sharply indrawn breath was exactly what he’d dreamed of since he was a boy, but the curse that followed wasn’t.

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Chapter 20 Jaycee couldn’t tear her eyes away from the items on the king-size bed that dominated the room. The scene they’d set for her was painfully familiar yet unequivocally different. Like stepping into a time machine, she was thrust back to the day that Gray had proposed to her. **** “Gray,” she sang out from the bottom of the staircase with enough volume for her voice to be heard throughout the upstairs. Receiving no answer, she danced up the stairs, her bare feet barely skimming the hardwood. She wandered down the hallway leisurely, stopping often to look at all of the pictures of her, Gray, and Cade through the years. Each time she paused, she would run her fingers lovingly over the image inside of the wooden frames. Noticing their bedroom door ajar, she passed up the last two pictures. With a nudge, the door swung open, revealing the scene that women dreamed of their entire life. Gray stood with his back to her, staring out the window. When he heard her, he spun around. She wanted to focus on him, to memorize what his face looked like at this very moment, but her eyes were riveted on the bed. The comforter had been pulled down to the bottom of the bed and neatly folded. In the middle of the mattress, on snowy-white sheets, were three objects. The first, and largest, item was a framed photo of her and Gray on their first date at the county fair. After hours of sitting in

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the bleachers, watching livestock activities in the pouring rain, they looked like drowned rats. But they were happy rats. She couldn’t hold back a smile, remembering that dreary day in early September. In front of the photo was a blue square box with the lid opened to reveal a mind-blowing pear-shaped diamond—not too large, not too small—in a platinum setting. Gray might have been able to afford the world, but he’d recognized what she would want in an engagement ring. A girl like her didn’t need a ring that would sink her to the bottom of the ocean if she fell in. It was a symbol to her, not a bauble to be admired for its grandeur and measurements. Last, but not necessarily least, there was a scrap of paper with “Will You Marry Me?” scrawled on it in Gray’s messy handwriting. Gray cleared his throat, diverting her attention from the bed. When she found him, he was kneeling a few feet from her with a brilliant smile that she knew she would look back on for years to come with a giddy heart. “I love you, Jaycee Elizabeth Dalton. I could give you a million pretty words and never be able to capture the feelings in my soul. I could give you a million more words as to why we should spend our lives together and never be able to give you enough reasons to compare to what will come. So, love, I will give you the most traditional words and hope that they are enough to show you what I want for the rest of our days. Sweetheart, will you marry me?” With tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, she nodded excitedly. Gray launched himself at her, kissing her with so much enthusiasm that she couldn’t help but laugh against his warm lips. He pulled back. “You shouldn’t laugh at the man who is kissing you.” “No, but I should laugh at you whenever I want, and right now, I want to.” He shook his head indulgently and lowered his head to take her lips with his once again.

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The moment was nearly perfect. It was almost everything she had dreamed of. If only Cade was here with them, holding her and kissing Gray, too. She wouldn’t feel a pang of pain in the vicinity of her heart. There wouldn’t be a little voice in the back of her head telling her that no matter how amazing this moment was, it wasn’t complete. That nothing was going to be right until the day that Cade stood with Gray and asked her to marry him. **** She was sucked out of the time machine as fast as she had been thrown in. The scene around her hadn’t changed while she was gone. The bed was still covered with probably a hundred or more photographs. The snapshots were of everything imaginable from being precious babies to adorable children and awkward teenagers to fully grown adults. They were all there. Pictures of Jaycee, Gray, and Cade alone were scattered amongst pictures of all of them together. She could see photos of her and Cade mingled with photos of her and Gray, and they had mixed in images of the two men together, as well. One picture stood out against all the others. An upright framed photo of their tree was the focal point of the picture collage. In front of the photo frame, they had placed a blue square box with a ring. This ring wasn’t like the first one. It was no less beautiful but far more meaningful. The pear-shaped jewel was still the focal point of the ring. However, on each side of the largest diamond were three smaller princess-cut diamonds. Just as before, there was a piece of paper with the four most famous words that any woman could ever see. Only, her men had altered it to suit their purposes. “Will you marry us?” was written in black ink with a red overlay. She recognized Gray’s haphazard handwriting in black, while Cade’s neater writing was superimposed in red. Against her better judgment, and her will, her mouth curved upward at their emphasis on us.

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Tamping down her smile, she jumped out of Gray’s arms and spun around to face them with an evil eye and a scowl. “You have got to be fucking kidding me!” Jaycee stalked across the room, reached into her pocket, and tossed two men’s rings onto the high-thread-count sheets. The wedding bands she’d bought for them that afternoon landed on top of the pile of scattered pictures with a bounce. Both men were comically staggered, gaping at the rings. Placing her hands on her hips, she waited to see who recovered quicker so she would know who to give hell to first for stealing her thunder. Gray won when he pointed to the rings and blurted out, “What the fuck are those things?” “What do they look like, Mister Smarty Pants?” Her sarcasm didn’t go unnoticed by Gray, who glowered at her. Cade was still thunderstruck with his mouth hanging open. If he didn’t watch out, a bug would fly right in it. “Those fucking things are wedding bands for you two!” “Well, no shit, Jaycee,” Gray countered, his teeth clenched so tightly that Jaycee could see the tic in his jaw muscle. “I meant what are you doing with them?” “I think it is more important to discuss all of this.” She waved her hand around the room with more animosity than gaiety, making her movements seem choppy and uncoordinated. “No,” Cade stated firmly. “Gray asked you what the meaning of those rings are, and you are going to answer him before we discuss anything else.” Debating whether or not to answer nicely or fight them tooth and nail took less time than it did to blink an eye. When Cade used that tone with her, she had no chance of escape. Mister Lighthearted had a dominant streak a mile wide that she hadn’t been privy to before, a streak that made her wet and horny. Right now, those were not two things she wanted to be.

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“Fine.” Her eyes made contact with her pink-tipped toenails. She pretended to inspect them so she could mumble her explanation without seeing their reaction. If all men felt this nervous when they proposed, it was a wonder that anyone got married. “I figured that if we were equals, then I didn’t have to wait for you boneheads to get your act together and ask me to marry you. I was going to ask you.” She sighed softly. “I just didn’t want to be separated again. Last time was hell, and I didn’t want to go back there. Okay?” Appearing from nowhere, a work-roughened hand tipped her face up with a finger to her chin. The calluses on his hand wouldn’t feel good against soft skin to most women, but it did to her. It reminded her of his hands on her body. Having capable hands on her was overwhelmingly erotic. She wanted a man who knew what she needed and who gave it to her ten times over. Cade’s finger lifted her chin until her face was at an angle that she had to meet his eyes. Her eyes clashed with his green ones. She could see the sincerity and the love shining like a beacon in the darkness. There was a hint of regret there, too. “Darlin’, we weren’t going to let you go. You know better than that.” Her chin wobbled, and her eyes moistened, but she needed to stay clearheaded. In a few minutes, she could become a giant bumbling mass of emotional woman. She would become one, she knew, but not yet. Gray closed in on them with the soft eyes of a man looking at something precious to him. “My love, you’re not going anywhere. If you try to leave again, we will follow you to the ends of the earth and drag your ass back home where you belong.” She believed him. They weren’t meant to be apart. The last years had been no more than a blip in their lives, a learning experience that would have a profound effect on them and their future. She would never be able to say that she was grateful for their time apart. However, there were life lessons to be learned and many of the most

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important ones were taught the hard way, the way that would be nearly impossible to forget. Blinking rapidly, she attempted to stop the tears that were coming. She wouldn’t be able to hold them off much longer. Gray tapped Cade on the shoulder. Both men kneeled at her feet, each taking one hand in theirs. Her battle to contain her tears was lost, and they spilled out of her eyes, trekking down her face like rain on a windowpane. Cade was the first to speak the words that would be carved in her heart deeper than their initials in the tree. “Darlin’, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. You’re my best friend, my heart, and my soul. Now, you’re my woman, and Gray is my man. So, Jaycee, will you marry us?” A squeeze from her other hand had her turning toward Gray, but she still held on to Cade’s hand, not allowing the physical connection to be severed. This was about all of them together. “Jaycee Elizabeth Dalton, I know that I have made mistakes in the past, and I know that I’ve been wrong, but that has changed.” Gray paused as though he was processing his thoughts and choosing his words carefully. She wanted so badly to stop him, to help him or something. Not because she didn’t love a mushy Gray, but because Gray didn’t like being sentimental or emotional. She saw his Adam’s apple working as he swallowed in apparent nervousness. With a quick breath, Gray continued his speech. “No, I’ve changed. I’ve learned a million lessons that make me a better man for you and for Cade. Not a perfect man, but you wouldn’t want that for me any more than I would for you. The past few years have taught me that there are so many things that I don’t want, and only a few that I do. I don’t want a life without you or Cade, and I don’t want to miss out on marriage and kids. I don’t want to miss growing old with the two of you, and I don’t want to be laid to rest without each of you by

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my side. All I want is you, Jaycee.” Gray pivoted his head toward Cade and said, “And you, Cade. Forever.” Instead of immediately turning back to Jaycee, Gray spoke to Cade. “You’ve been with me every step of the way since the day your mom brought you to the ranch twenty-nine years ago. I know that I don’t tell you often enough how I feel, but I want you to know that I love you, and I don’t want to spend a day without you by my side. Will you marry me and Jaycee?” Saying Cade was stunned was an understatement. He stared at Gray with a blank expression. It was as if Gray spoke to him in French when all he understood was English. Jaycee thought it was adorable and had to fight the urge to hug him for being so damn cute. Gray chuckled, lightening the seriousness in the room. Since Cade was speechless, Gray pivoted his head back to her, giving her his undivided attention. “Jaycee, sweetheart, I love you. Will you marry me and Cade?” Wiping her tears with the back of her hands, she told the men exactly what they wanted to hear. “I love you both so much. Yes, I will marry you!” Her excited squeal had the power to wake a person six feet under the ground and, apparently, Cade, who looked from Gray to Jaycee then from Jaycee back to Gray, and said, “Hell yeah, I want to marry you both so I can fuck you anytime and anywhere I want to.” Gray rolled his eyes. “Only you, Cade.” Jaycee realized something while Gray was teasing Cade. No one had proposed to Gray. They both had proposed to her. Gray had proposed to Cade. But Gray was the odd man out. Not allowing that, she pulled both men to their feet, kissed each one of them soundly, and fell to her knees. Gray was disconcerted, his brow furrowed and his lips turned down in a slight frown. She wasn’t sure if it was because he was confused or because he understood what she was up to and

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disapproved. Her caveman probably didn’t like this, but he would have to deal. “Cade McCoy, I haven’t really been able to say all of the things that I’ve felt for you through the years. For this reason or that, I never felt it was fair to any of us for me to share these feelings when we weren’t free to be together. I couldn’t tell you how much more I wanted from you or how much you mattered to me or how grateful I was to have a man like you in my life. I have years of pent-up emotions that I felt the need to hide. Now that I can tell you freely and clearly, I want to spend the rest of our lives together so I can tell you as often as I want how much I love you. Will you marry me?” Cade nodded solemnly, but there was a distinct twinkle in his eyes. “Grayson Allen Blakemore—” “Hey!” Cade interrupted her proposal, and she really wanted to smack him until he said, “You can’t propose to Gray without me.” The petulance in his tone was thoroughly amusing. His personality was making itself known, which meant the romantic moments were about to conclude and someone was getting naked. Cade got down beside her, close enough that their shoulders were touching. “Okay, Jaycee. You go first. Then I’ll take my turn. I’m awfully good at that.” She elbowed him in the side. If he didn’t stop, she was going to have to take him in hand. “Grayson Allen Blakemore, you’re my first, my last, and everything in between. We have taken more than one wrong turn, but we always manage to find our way back to one another. Even after all this time, we couldn’t be kept apart. It’s like a cosmic force draws us to each other. As long as you are you and I am me, I will keep coming back. Every single time. No matter how near or how far, I’m yours. Just like I’m Cade’s. We are, and always have been, destined to be three. In my heart and mind, I know the answer to this question, but I

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still want the chance to ask. Gray, will you please do me the honor of becoming one of my husbands?” “Yes.” His answer was simple and to the point, but it still had the power to make her feel as though she was flying high in the sky, as if she could run a marathon in her socks, and as though she could dance on air—all at the same time. “I love you, Gray,” Cade said. “I really do, but I can’t take much more of this sappiness. Maybe we can continue this later, when we are basking in the afterglow, but it’s too much right now. We’ve already covered all our bases. We love each other. We lust after each other. We want a happily ever after. I am going to ask you this as nicely as possible in my current condition, and please don’t take long in answering.” Cade smirked, the smart-ass. “Will you marry me and the sexy woman next to me?” All three of them burst into laughter, and she knew this time they had gotten it right.

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Chapter 21 “Yes, Cade. I’ll marry you,” Gray said with a laugh, and then it appeared as though a thought had occurred to him. His laughter died away, his face filling with ill humor. Uh-oh. She could tell he’d just remembered what she’d done downstairs. “Cade and I voted for tonight to be candles and roses, Jaycee, but after a stolen car and your little stunt with Ethan, I have changed my vote. I cast my ballot for punishing our little hellcat. What about you, Cade?” Serious uh-oh. “Whoa!” She sounded like a referee at a sporting event. If she had on stripes and a whistle around her neck, she would be set. “I did not steal the damn car. It’s mine.” “Not yet it wasn’t,” Gray contradicted with a dark scowl marring his flawless face. She jumped to her feet furiously. “I didn’t know that I was stealing it, asshole.” Cade tsked her and said, “Language, language, young lady.” Jaycee wanted to ignore him. She really did, but she couldn’t resist responding. With a blasé shrug, she replied, “It’s a talent.” Gray advanced on her, moving with the speed of a pissed-off cheetah. “How in the hell did you not know you were stealing it? The car was a gift we hadn’t given you yet. You didn’t even wake us up to ask.” He stopped, his face going darker than before if that was possible, and redirected his line of questioning. “Why didn’t you tell us you were leaving in the first place?”

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Well, hell. Trying to keep a level head, she counted to ten before she answered, “I didn’t want to wake you guys. You both looked so peaceful, and I know how difficult sleep is for you, Gray.” Cade groaned as he stood up. “Not a good answer, darlin’.” “Do you think we enjoyed waking up to find you gone?” Gray asked, covering the rest of the distance between them but didn’t touch her. She wasn’t sure if it was a rhetorical question or not so she kept her lips zipped. “I threw a damn toaster through the kitchen window.” I’m dead meat. “Don’t forget the hole in the wall, Gray,” Cade pointed out with a far-too-amused chuckle. Are you fucking insane? Shut up! “I’m sorry,” Jaycee apologized, rubbing Gray’s big, strong chest. Gray looked through her as if she wasn’t in the room and spoke over her, “What’s your vote, Cade?” “Hey,” she yelled and poked Gray in the shoulder. “I’m right here. And I’m still confused as to when we became a fucking democracy.” A grin that would lead a nun into sin and make any woman on the planet spread her legs appeared on Cade’s face. If she had even one self-preservation instinct when it came to them, she would run. Instead, she arched her back enough to point her hard nipples in his direction and smiled at him challengingly. Cade lowered his eyes to the pointy nubs and cursed. Without looking away from her chest, he responded to Gray. “Yeah. I vote for spanking and butt plugs. By butt plugs, I mean our dicks. Those are the best kind.” Lifting his eyes slowly and sensually to her face, he told her, “No silicone for you tonight. You see, darlin’, we didn’t get to fuck that virginal asshole of yours last time. After tonight, we will stuff a plug up your ass whenever and wherever we want. Clenching your muscles to keep the plug in place will drive you mad. There is something magical about knowing your woman is crazy with lust out around the town and can’t do a damn thing about it.” He grinned

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wickedly. “I’m thinking we should take you on a nice, leisurely romantic dinner and a carriage ride with the largest butt plug we have. I’ve even got one in mind.” “We win,” Gray stated, reaching for the hem of his T-shirt and pulling it over his head. The sight of his ripped muscles gave her pause. Her eyes traveled over his brawny chest, moving to the lines on his hardened abs. Damn, she wished he would lose his pants so she could savor every yummy inch of him. A tease of that body wasn’t nearly enough for her. In any other case, she would have jumped on him, but she wasn’t about to go down without a fight. Mentally, she wiped the drool off her chin. “I didn’t get a vote on becoming a democracy, nor did I get one now.” “Wouldn’t have mattered,” Cade said on a mumble as he reached for his belt buckle. Damn it, she didn’t want to stand here and argue. The things she did want would give them too much satisfaction. She would rather cut off her nose to spite her face than give in too easily. They were right, and they would win in the end, but she was going to hold out as long as humanly possible. Good luck with that. Gray stopped undressing. “Okay. If we’re going to be fair, you get a vote.” His ability to be ridiculously reasonable made her want to stomp her feet and throw things. “Cade’s right, damn it. It doesn’t matter. It’ll always be two to one.” “Damn straight.” Cade’s arrogance was awfully brazen for a halfnaked man in the direct vicinity of her in a fit of temper. Make that a naked man, she thought as he dropped his last piece of clothing to the floor. Keeping one eye on the naked man and one on the placating one, she started removing her clothing as well.

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“Now, sweetheart, we will always look out for your best interests,” Gray told her as he resumed his striptease. He unbuttoned his pants, sliding the zipper down before pulling his erect cock out with one hand. No underwear for her men. Removing her oversize T-shirt, she said, “Sure you will,” with false sweetness that made her teeth ache. Cade walked over to Gray and helped him push his faded jeans over his hips and down his long legs. Stepping out of the fabric puddle at his feet, Gray was naked with every glorious, fine inch of him on display. Her eyes focused on the two men circling each other like bulls, making undressing herself nearly impossible. Her hands fumbled at the snap on her jeans and the zipper stuck. Gray grabbed Cade around the back of his neck, pulling him close until their faces met. They were nose to nose, close enough to kiss, but they made no move. Both of them looked into each other’s eyes, communicating without words, giving her enough time to remove the last of her clothing. By the time her jeans fell away, their mouths were meshed in a scorching kiss. She could feel the heat sparking between them several feet away. Watching them, fulfilling her voyeuristic tendencies, she couldn’t resist the urge to touch herself. She moved to the chair by the window and lowered herself into it. Ever so lightly, her fingertips trailed across her collarbone, tickling her and teasing her. She drew a pathway down the valley between her breasts with swirls and twirls, then up the side of one swollen mound, seeking her nipple. Using the tip of her polished nails, she grazed her hardened nipple without giving it the sensual gratification of a true touch. The peak stiffened further, straining toward her finger for a more substantial touch—which she denied. Gray tore his mouth away from Cade’s, panting harshly. None too gently, he pushed Cade to his knees. No instruction was needed for Cade, who grasped the thick stalk of Gray’s cock in his hand and

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licked the head, his tongue probing the slit. With a groan that sounded far more painful than pleasurable, Gray’s head flew backward, ecstasy etched in every line on his face. Her hand didn’t linger at her breasts. It forged downward languidly from her rib cage, to the flat muscles of her abdomen, and onward to her belly button. She let her hand roam lower and lower still. Reaching her destination, she ran a lone fingertip down the outside of one pussy lip, turned, and ran back up the other side. Having been waxed recently, the skin had a luxurious silky feel. The smoothness was only enhanced by the moisture seeping from her own slit. As she repeated the action, her finger drew closer to the soft tissue inside her pussy with each sweep. Unlike last time, the men were too lost in their passion for each other to stop her wandering hand. Damn, this is better than porn, and I can watch it whenever I want. She shuddered. Maybe they’ll make a few videos of their own. A second shudder tore through her body. Gray’s eyes burned with ardor as he stared down at Cade. The muscles in his neck stood out severely, illustrating that his impatience was growing to a peak magnitude. She saw his restraint break. He shoved his cock into Cade’s mouth in one masterful stroke. “Good God, Cade!” With hollowed cheeks, Cade began voraciously sucking. Gray’s cock disappeared and reappeared rhythmically. Greedily, Gray propelled his cock forward, crowding Cade’s mouth, meeting it halfway. The muscles in his ass flexed with each plunge. “Fuck, yeah, Cade. Suck it.” He perched his hands on top of Cade’s head, not hindering yet not facilitating, just resting there. “Like that. Oh, fuck yeah. Just. Like. That.” Cade, on the other hand, wasn’t resting at all. He seemed to be energized as he bobbed his head up and down. Sucking like a madman, he was moaning against Gray’s cock in succession. She never would have thought anyone could enjoy a blow job like her

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Cade was. He was consumed with his actions, not because he was thinking or worrying, but because he was spellbound by the eroticism. She couldn’t take it anymore. Her clit swelled, begging for attention, and she refused to deny herself any longer. The solo finger burrowed inside, going straight to her clitoris without a hesitation. She wasn’t gentle, couldn’t be gentle. The need to mimic the demanding nature of the men overwhelmed her. She rubbed her clitoris in circles, methodically. But she bore down with enough force to give her the strong sensations she desired. The impact bordered painful. Her clitoris was tender and throbbing, but she was inflamed and out of control. Cade’s wet sucking sounds and Gray’s grunts spurred her on. Without taking her eyes off them, she jammed three fingers inside her cunt. Gray looked up, staring into her eyes intently as if he could sense every ounce of pleasure inside of her body. She was hypnotized by the intensity of the moment. Removing her fingers from her pussy, she sauntered across the space between them, swaying her hips dramatically. “Stop.” Gray’s gravelly order stopped her, partly because it was an order and partly because she was shocked by his tone. “Taste it.” “What?” she asked, her eyes going wide because she had a feeling where this was going. “Lick your fingers, sweetheart.” She shook her head vehemently. “No way.” Gray fisted Cade’s hair, pulling him off of his cock. “Yes. Suck those delicate fingers in your mouth. Taste your pussy.” He swiveled Cade around so that he could watch. The rapture in their eyes drove her to do something she had never considered before. With a trembling hand, she sucked one finger into her mouth. Her essence exploded across her taste buds. The flavor was unique, definitely not what she expected. The mixture of salty and sour, sweet and savory was a one-of-a-kind combination.

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The men’s reaction was more than she could have hoped for. Amidst moans and groans, she licked all three fingers clean. By the time she was through, she decided this was way too much fun. If they gave her this kind of reception for licking her own juices, she would be more than happy to repeat herself. “Holy mother of God,” Cade exclaimed salaciously then strode over to the bed. He yanked the blue-flowered comforter off the bed along with the photos, frames, and jewelry. Everything landed in a jumble on the floor. Jaycee smiled seductively. Knowing she had this kind of impact on them made her feel a sense of power beyond imagination. Stalking forward, Gray grabbed her, picked her up easily, and threw her on the bed. He followed her down, laying himself out over her body. “Jaycee, you are one fucking hot tease, but that isn’t going to get you out of the hot water. I’m warning you to not ever pull a stunt like earlier again. Do you understand me?” Nodding, she waited to find out what her punishment would be. She saw Cade over Gray’s shoulder as he came up behind them. “My vote is ten swats, Gray.” Her pussy wept. She wanted to shout Oh, yes, Cade. Pretty, pretty please. But she held her tongue. Gray, who had watched her expression, said to Cade, “I think someone likes that idea. Make it fifteen.” With a huge smirk, she reminded them cheekily, “Don’t forget the stolen car.” “Twenty,” Gray growled before he rolled over onto his back and sat up, pulling her with him. Scooting to the edge of the bed, he laid her over his knees. Gray’s hand massaged her left ass cheek, testing the malleability and the firmness. His hand glided over her supple cheek, cupping the bottom of one cheek, then the other. Wham.

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“Ouch,” she yelped in agony. The burning and stinging wasn’t pleasurable—at all. She wanted to know who the hell thought this felt good. Before she finished her thought, Gray’s hand rubbed her sore cheek soothingly. The discomfort morphed into the sweetest pleasure. The burning became warmth and the stinging shifted to tingling. Thwack. Her back arched, and she cried out as his hand landed on the opposing cheek. This blow was no less severe, but she held strong through the bite with knowledge of the euphoria that would follow. Gray gave her no warning, no soothing, just another slap to the same cheek, surprising her. Her body’s response to this painful pleasure was everything she’d anticipated, but a whole lot more. The rush of fluid from her cunt was a prime example of that. By the fourth strike, her ass was meeting his hand. The smacks that followed increased her arousal, making her lose all sense of reality. She cried and begged, writhed and arched. All she cared about was the emptiness in her pussy. The physical ache where his hand was spanking her had moved to the back of her mind. Gray stopped. Letting out the air she didn’t know she’d been holding, she cried out in protest, “Gray, please. Please don’t stop.” “I think she likes it,” Gray said smugly, pushing open her legs and swiping his finger between her labia. She knew that he would find an abundant amount of juice, but she didn’t give a flying fig. If it convinced him to continue with this sinfully satisfying torture, then she hoped his finger drowned in her juices. “Oh yeah. She loves it. Go hard on her, Cade.” Gray lifted her off of him and switched places with Cade, who chuckled with an intimidating darkness. Cade gave her no adjustment time, no breathing room. His hand came down with more sharpness and strength than even Gray’s had. She wasn’t sure if it was that he was going harder on her or if it felt that way after Gray’s treatment of her ass.

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Instead of fighting him, though, like most people, she screamed, “Motherfucker!” Breathing through her nostrils, she pleaded with Cade, “Do it again. Please. Please, Cade. Just please. I need it. Harder.” Cade indulged her, his hand an instrument of diabolical, decadent torment. Crack. Wow, that one packed a wallop. “Oh,” she moaned uninhibitedly, her eyes closing. “Fuck.” “Somebody’s mouth seems to be offending me. I think I am going to shut her up.” Her eyes snapped open to find Gray’s colossal cock in front of her lips. He rubbed her lips with the head, a drop of pre-cum forming. She licked the salty substance, relishing the musky flavor that belonged only to Gray. As he pushed his cock into her mouth as far as she could handle, Cade struck again. She nearly bit Gray’s cock. Afraid that she had hurt him, she looked at his face, seeking any signs of injury. Instead of pain, she saw the lust-filled gratification, the bliss. He roared, “Cade, hurry the fuck up. She is going to make me come before we fuck her, goddamn it.” Cade’s blows were closer together, coming faster. He gave her no sympathy and no compassion, just pure, cold ruthlessness. By the time he was done, she was a mass of hormones with no shred of humanity. Rearing back, she challenged, “Fuck me or die, you horny bastards.” “I’ll show you horny, darlin’,” Cade threatened. His intended effect was lost on her as her cunt convulsed and gushed more moisture. Gray’s cock vanished from her mouth, but she had no chance to complain when he yanked her off of Cade’s lap. He stood her up on wobbly feet, giving her only a second to acclimate. “Bend over, Jaycee. We have to get your ass ready for Cade’s cock. I’m going to fuck that pretty pussy while Cade takes your ass.”

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“Excuse me?” Cade inquired with more politeness than she was capable of in the middle of foreplay. “Aren’t you fucking her ass first?” She heard a manly slap, but couldn’t see anything from her position. So, she bent over as she had been told to, not wanting to waste energy being nosy. Gray’s voice washed over her. “Nope. I got to fuck her pussy and mouth first. You get dibs on that delectable ass.” Cade grunted, but otherwise didn’t respond. The lid of the lube snapping open caused her ass to clench with longing. A squirt followed the snapping sound. Then, she felt a set of hands on the throbbing globes of her ass. She recognized Gray’s callused hands and sighed. He pulled her cheeks apart, revealing her forbidden hole. “Her asshole is magnificent. Huh, Cade?” Cade agreed, “It’s perfect.” “Come on, boys. Stop discussing my asshole.” A cool, lubricated finger drifted across her back entrance, skimming it, causing her ass to contract a second time. “Beautiful,” Gray complimented appreciatively. Cade played with her anus, rimming her and stimulating all the nerve endings bundled there in a startling way. She could feel a frenzy forming. Her heart palpitated frantically, taking her breath away. The heavy pitter-patter of her heart pounded against her rib cage, nearly alarming her. Could a heart literally jump out of the chest cavity? The feeling of his rugged hands and the thoughts of the taboo act she was about to give in to with total surrender and submission made her wonder if it all wouldn’t be too much for her to handle. Damned if she wouldn’t try, though. Gray’s full, masculine hands opened her wider, and Cade’s large digit pressed inside the tight passage. It was sure and confident. He didn’t ask for more than she was ready for, but neither did he relent. Gradually, he forged ahead with smooth rocking motions.

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Frustration mounted within her. Cade treated her as if she had never had anything shoved up her ass. She wasn’t completely untouched, so she wasn’t exactly unfamiliar with the basics. However, if she was completely honest, his finger was nothing like her chilly, sleek plug. He was not hot and not cold. He was just right. The lube had warmed to the same temperature as his body, creating a contrast in texture. The frictionless lubricant distinctly differed from the rugged resistance of his finger. The rougher texture tantalized the nerves in her anus, inducing a sensory experience she had never been aware of. Burning was ever present, but this wasn’t the means to an end like her butt plug. This was Cade and Gray. She wanted to go up in smoke. Tired of his delicate treatment, she relaxed her muscles and pushed back with all her might until his entire finger was inside of her ass. If he repeated this much more, she would expire far before he worked that monster cock inside her ass. “Hey, cowboy,” Jaycee called out with a wiggle of her hips, “I may not have been fucked in the ass, but every girl has, or needs, a butt plug. Been there, done that.” Her flippancy earned her a grumble and a grunt. “Cade, I don’t want this. I want your cock. No stretch. No prep. Just a little lube and all of you.” “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, darlin’.” Cade wasn’t going to be swayed easily, but neither would Gray be. “You have a finger shoved up my ass, and you want to argue with me.” Gray jumped in before Cade could respond. “Jaycee, you don’t know how much larger we are than a little plug.” She pivoted her head around and arched her eyebrow at Gray. “I think I have an idea of the difference.” “Smart-ass,” Cade growled, wiggling his finger in her ass which evoked a small moan from her.

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“I’ve been waiting for far too long to have your cocks in my ass, and I am not going to be patient while you prepare me for something I’m already prepared for, damn it.” She could see Gray deliberating, deciding what was best. If he would agree, Cade would fall in line. “Gray, trust me. This is what I want.” That swayed him, and he nodded to Cade. “Do it.” Gray crawled onto the bed and situated himself on his back next to where Jaycee’s arms were planted. Reaching for her, he hauled her on top of his body. “We’ve waited, too, sweetheart. If this is what you want, you’re going to have to take us both.” She controlled her reaction. Instead of answering him, she gingerly brushed her lips across his in a tender, poignant show of emotion. “We’ve all waited, honey.” Using her knees, she lifted up so that Gray could position himself. Feeling his steely cock at the entrance to her dripping wet cunt, she lowered herself onto his thick shaft, sinking until his balls were against her ass. At the base of her spine, she felt Cade’s fingers creeping up her back, tickling her. Falling forward so that Cade had room, she reached for Gray’s hand, locking their fingers together. The lid to the lube popped again and was immediately closed. Cade guided his cock to the entrance of her ass, rimming her hole once more to lube her liberally. He nudged her opening with the head of his cock. Forcing herself to breathe, she tried valiantly to remain calm and relaxed, not wanting to tense her muscles. Gray watched her closely, his dark eyes never wavering. “Kiss me, Jaycee.” “My pleasure,” she purred and dropped her head. Her forehead bumped into his, but neither complained. They remained motionless. His breath was on her lips, her breath on his. With a whispered, “I love you, Gray,” she kissed him with her eyes wide open. He watched her as she watched him, and their kiss went on.

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Somewhere in the back of her mind, she could hear Cade coaxing her, “You’re so fucking tight, darlin’. Come on, just a little more.” Cade used her distraction to his favor, advancing further into her ass. As he breached her sphincter, the burning turned into scalding, and she jerked back. “Whoa!” Maybe they were right and this was going too far, too quick. Both men froze. Closing her eyes, she inhaled and exhaled slowly, focusing on relaxing the tense muscles in her anus. “I’m almost in, J. Do you want me to stop?” Cade’s caring offer touched her heart, renewing her desire to please him and Gray. Gray squeezed her hands comfortingly, making her heart turn over in joy despite her physical distress. “Jaycee?” “No. I’m okay, guys. Just needed a second.” With a kiss to her shoulder, Cade pushed in those last couple of inches and held himself still, letting her adjust. “My God, Gray. She’s like a vise around my dick.” “She wants you two to fuck her.” The need to move rode her hard. Her body had gotten tired of waiting. Instinctively, she squirmed with fierce desperation, her hips undulating. “Goddamn it, Jaycee,” Gray growled, pulling his hands away from hers. He braced his hands on her waist, digging into her skin, in an effort to halt her movements. She fought him for freedom. “Fuuuuuck. Don’t do that!” Cade snarled, his hands taking a hold of her hips in his own attempt to control her body’s bold call for their loving. “Jaycee, damn it. Stop.” Declaring war on them, she bucked, twisted, shimmied, and undulated a second time. Gray, who had closed his eyes to get himself together, quivered. His eyes snapped open with the look of a cornered wild animal. “Cade.” Nothing more had to be said. Their bodies knew what to do. Cade pushed, Gray pulled. Gray pushed, Cade pulled. They worked her body, perfectly in sync with each other.

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She arched her back as far as Cade’s body allowed, her head falling onto his shoulder. Neither man stopped their thrusting hips, each plunge driving them deeper into her body until she thought that she wouldn’t be able to take any more of them. Their cocks seemed to have grown ten inches inside of her. Gray lifted his head, taking her breast in his mouth ravenously. His mouth practically swallowed her breast. His tongue toyed with her nipple, up and down, side to side, around and around. The arch of her neck was exposed to Cade’s mouth. He dropped his head to nuzzle her. As if they couldn’t control themselves, his lips latched onto the side of her neck and sucked in her flesh. She could already feel a mark forming. “Gray. Cade…” She chanted their names so many times that she lost count. Gray freed her heavy, throbbing breast with one last lash to her distended nipple. “Jaycee. Need you. So much.” His words were distinctly separated between each raspy pant. “Mmmmm.” Cade released her flesh. “You. Fucking. Beautiful. So. Damn. Good.” He punctuated each word with a caress to her neck, alternating between kisses, nuzzles, and nibbles. Cade’s sweat dripped on her already-perspiring back. Rivulets of sweat ran off every surface of her body. But she wasn’t the only one. Gray was covered in sweat that glistened when the light hit it at the right angle. She could tell they were getting as close as she was to cataclysmic bliss. Their half-crazed hedonistic assault to her pussy and ass escalated. It was deranged, yet so fucking hot. Jaycee gasped in surprise when Cade grabbed her hair and wrenched her head to the side, his mouth capturing hers in a dominating kiss. Opening her mouth to his submissively, he dove inside, giving nothing and taking everything.

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An unforgiving, hellacious bite to her nipple triggered her orgasm. She bucked between her two men, tearing her mouth from Cade’s and letting loose a scream so loud her voice cracked. Before she could come down from her orgasmic high, Gray reached between their bodies and stroked her painfully engorged clit, propelling her into a second orgasm. She shuddered as ecstasy raced through her cunt, the walls contracting and spasming wildly. Gray grabbed her hips securely in his strong hands, and Cade positioned his large hands atop Gray’s. They held on to her, and each other, as their bodies seized, and they poured their hot cum into her body with synchronized groans. Cade rolled to the side, bringing her and Gray along for the ride. With rapidly rising chests and wheezy breaths sounding all around, they crushed her in between their sticky, fevered bodies. She cuddled up close to both of them and finally let her exhaustion take over. Time passed, but it went unnoticed by the three people in the bed who were basking in the afterglow of a first-class fucking. There was no need for talking. Words were inadequate, anyway. Each of them embraced the unparalleled moment, appreciating destiny’s triumph over adversity. Jaycee no longer believed that karma was the bane of her existence. She was a beloved mentor, a teacher of life, love, and faith. Though Jaycee may not always agree with what was destined to be, she had figured out that destiny was never wrong. Using her as a guide, Jaycee would lead the life she’d always been meant to. Sending a silent thanks to her newfound ally, she luxuriated in the touch of the two men designed by destiny just for her.

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Chapter 22 “My brother wants you to what?” Ever the skeptic, Katie-Anne questioned Jaycee, Gray, and Cade’s intentions. Shannon scolded her, “It’s none of your business, Katie-Anne. Leave it be.” Bustling around the kitchen, Jaycee prepared a breakfast fit for a palace of royals. The whole gang was getting together to celebrate their forthcoming marriage. Instead of waiting to announce it to the entire group, Jaycee had spilled the beans as soon as Shannon opened her back door. She might have been better off to wait to make the announcement when everyone was around. Katie-Anne wouldn’t have been as likely to pump her for answers in a room of ten people, especially when two of them would be Shane and Landon. “That is where you are wrong, Shan. It is my business. He’s my brother, and she’s my friend. I want to know why the hell he wants his woman to marry Cade.” Opening the fridge door, Jaycee ducked her head inside and pretended to look for eggs. She shuffled through all the items in the fridge despite the fact that the eggs were in their tray where they always were. She didn’t speak—no explanations, no denials. Silence was her best defense, and she would adhere to it. A barefoot Katie-Anne snuck up on her. “You do know that the eggs are in the door, right?” Shannon snickered. “Yeah, J. Aren’t you nippy? A fridge is, like, the worst possible place to hide.”

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Grabbing the egg carton, Jaycee slammed the door violently. “Oh! I forgot to tell you guys about Leila,” she blurted out, trying her damndest to change the subject. “From what I hear, she received a giant tub of peppermints with a card that might have said ‘Revenge is sweet, and so are these. Enjoy!’ I have no clue who they could have been from.” “I’ll bet you don’t,” Shannon said sarcastically. “Stop dodging the damn subject. You’re annoying me,” KatieAnne bitched as she re-opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. She shut the door, moved back to the table, and lowered herself into a chair. “If you tell me what I want, I’ll leave you alone.” I might as well tell the wench. She isn’t going to shut up until I do. “Whatever.” Jaycee laid the eggs on the counter gently then opened the lid. “Gray has a plan. He’s going to file the paperwork to legally change Cade’s last name to Blakemore. Then, I am going to marry Cade.” Cracking the eggs was a tough task on any given day for a klutz like her, but today was even worse. She wasted too much time picking shells from the egg whites and yolks. Frustrated by Katie-Anne’s meddling and intrusive line of questioning, Jaycee defended their intentions. “Gray is convinced that if I marry him, Cade will feel like I belong to Gray more than him. He says that, in equality, there will be compromises and concessions. This is his.” Mentally cursing the eggshells, Jaycee whirled around to face them. “In the past, I was with Gray and not Cade. It ended up tearing us apart. We’ve wasted three years of our lives that we can’t get back, and we want to learn from our mistakes. If this is what it takes, so be it. It’s not like some scrap of paper is going to define my marriage to Gray and Cade. Only we can do that.” Shannon clapped enthusiastically. “Bravo! Bravo! That Gray is a smart cookie.”

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“I think that he is a moron.” Katie-Anne insulted Gray, which pissed Jaycee off. Ready to give her friend an earful, Jaycee was distracted by Gray strutting into the room. Somebody had gotten some this morning, and it wasn’t her. Stupid breakfast. She’d had to leave her men in bed early this morning, knowing good and well that they would get to play while she worked herself to the bone. What did they say about all work and no play? Only in this case, it was more like all work and no play makes Jaycee a horny girl. Gray grabbed her around her waist, pulling her against his body and planting a seductive kiss on her that made her desperate for her playtime. His hands dropped to her derriere, kneading the fleshy curve of her ass and pressing her crotch tight against his thick, rigid cock. “Get a fucking room,” Katie-Anne groused in typical whiny-babysister mode. Shannon snorted. “I think they have a fucking room. It’s upstairs, and I am willing to lay money on the table that it smells like earlymorning sex.” “Gross,” Katie-Anne bitched sullenly. Dragging his lips away from hers, Gray warned them, “Stay out of our bedroom. Cade is sleeping.” Giggles erupted from Shannon. Sarcastically, she taunted Gray, needling him. “Oh, I can imagine.” Gray glared at Shannon, frowning in censure. “I cannot wait until the day Jared, Drew, and Randy break and bridle you and your sharp tongue.” The back door flung open unexpectedly, making Jaycee jump when it smacked into the wall resonantly. Her brothers filed in. “Who are we breaking and bridling?” Jared inquired blandly. Shannon lurched from her chair, knocking it to the floor with a crash. “I’m going to go set the table in the dining room, J.” And then she fled.

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Randy was the only one of her brothers who watched her go. His puppy-dog eyes followed her flight until she could no longer be seen. Whatever had happened between the four of them, her brothers had obviously given up even though it was killing them. Each of them was despondent and obviously fatigued. Their eyes had lost their shine, the color flat and dull. Dark circles and stress lines marred their faces. “It’ll work out,” she told them, but even she could hear the worry in her voice. With palpable disbelief, Drew denied, “No, I don’t think it will. I’m sick and tired of this bullshit. Waiting and hoping is exhausting, and I can’t do it anymore. I won’t do it.” Her brother spoke to himself more than them. She didn’t stop him when he barreled out the door in the opposite direction of where Shannon had disappeared. He yelled over his shoulder, “Call me when breakfast is ready.” Randy stared at his boots, not speaking. She had a feeling this was harder on him than either of their brothers. He hadn’t given up. She could see it in his stiff posture, but he was trapped between his brothers and their woman. The tension in the room could be cut with a butcher knife. In blissful ignorance, Cade strolled into the room, followed by Shane and Landon, who stopped next to Katie-Anne, each placing a hand on the back of her chair. Katie-Anne went stiff, her movements halted, and yet her breathing increased so drastically that her chest was rising and falling erratically. “Look who I found.” Heading for the fridge with single-minded determination, Cade kissed Jaycee and Gray chastely on his way. Even in his distracted state, Cade had the milk out of the fridge and poured into a glass in the time it took for most people to turn on a faucet. Drinking a glass of milk in a couple of chugs, Cade abruptly became aware of the strain in the room. His eyes bounced from one person to the next, searching for the source of contention. In

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stereotypical fashion, Cade joked, “You people look like someone rained on your fucking parade.” Some of the tension drained, and Gray asked, “Why don’t we go outside, boys? There is a foal out in the pasture I want you to see.” The men took off with a shuffle and scuffle of work boots, leaving her and Katie-Anne alone. “Are you as concerned as I am?” Katie-Anne asked quietly. Wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, Jaycee sat next to KatieAnne. “I’m really worried about her. She’s hiding something big.” Katie-Anne agreed with a nod. “I know.” Jaycee stared off into space, searching for help and answers. She grasped for anything that could give Shannon and her brothers the chance to find the kind of fulfillment only a person’s soul mates can bring. “I don’t know what to do for any of them. She’s unintentionally destroying all of their lives. My brothers will never be happy without her, and she won’t be without them. They’re her destiny, and I have a feeling she doesn’t have much longer before fate will step in. Like Drew, I think even fate is getting tired of waiting on her.” “That’s true, J.” Katie-Anne playfully punched Jaycee in the shoulder. “Look at you. You’re getting your own happily ever after. Lady Luck has to be on your side.” Smiling wistfully, she refuted Katie-Anne. “No. Not Lady Luck. It was destiny. Destiny’s on my side, and she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.”

THE END WWW.MIAASHLINN.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mia Ashlinn lives in East Tennessee in a charming house by a creek, only miles from the Smoky Mountain National Park. When not writing, Mia splits her time between reading and culinary pursuits. Prolific from a young age, Mia has read an exorbitant number of books. Mia’s reading interests cover a wide range, from romance to mystery and once even to a phone book, though she found it a little wordy for her tastes. Mia fantasized about writing when she read her first romance novel at age ten. Unfortunately, life continually got in the way. Her daughter’s entry into school presented the perfect opportunity to follow her dreams. With the support of her husband, Mia began the adventure of writing which culminated in the acceptance of her first manuscript with Siren Publishing. Mia believes that grown-ups deserve their own fairy-tale romances with the happily ever after of their dreams. Her recipe for a fairy tale includes handsome heroes willing to share the heart of a captivating heroine all set in an unorthodox Kansas town. Mia sprinkles in a smidgeon of humor, a dash of romance, and a whole mess of naughtiness. What she serves up is a decadent treat she hopes her readers will devour. Mia Ashlinn is happily married to a wonderful, loving man who has inspired her in more ways than he could ever know. He has given her the world in one very sassy drama queen who is the light of her life.

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com