Foul Play [Merricks, Montana] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read online

  Chapter Eight

  Sarah followed James into the diner, her hand still clasped in his. He had held her hand since they had left the boutique and Sarah couldn’t say she minded. She had never had a man hold her hand and walk along the street with her like a couple, like he was proud to be there with her.

  It was just another way her men proved what gentlemen they were. They both used old-world courtesies whenever possible. Since she knew them, she had never had to open a door. They helped her in and out of the high truck they drove and stood when she walked into a room. Their mother must have trained them well.

  She would like to meet their mother. She must be a strong lady to raise two exceptionally mannered men, with such strong and dominating personalities. Sarah then wondered what their father was like. Was he dominant and gruff like Blake, or was he more laid-back like James? Did they look more like their mother or their father?

  Blake was already at a booth in the back of the diner as they made their way inside. He stood as they approached, and Sarah saw him send James a look when he noticed they were still holding hands.

  “Come sit. You must be starving after all that shopping.” Blake took her hand from James and pulled her into the booth to sit beside him. James slipped opposite her, passing her a menu as he did.

  “Thank you. I am getting a bit peckish.” Sarah glanced down at the menu. She really wanted a burger and fries, but she would probably choose a salad.

  “How was work?” James asked Blake as they, too, looked over the menu. “Much going on?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary. An abandoned car just outside of town that needed to be checked out, and Mrs. Hailbury lost her cat again.”

  Sarah sat back and listened to them talk about the adventures of old Mrs. Hailbury’s cat. It seemed that the cat had a daring streak and didn’t particularly like old Mrs. Hailbury.

  It wasn’t long before the waitress arrived to take their orders. She was a middle-aged woman who Blake introduced to her as one of the owners. Ethel and her husbands Frank and John had owned and run the diner for over ten years now and had the best pie in the state, Blake told her.

  Did he just say “husbands”? As in two? Sarah had read books about ménage relationships but never had actually met anyone who lived like that. Not that she was judging. She just didn’t realize people actually lived with more than one partner.

  They placed their drink orders, James ordering her an iced tea. He didn’t ask, just told the Ethel what she wanted. Sarah didn’t know whether to be offended or not. She had never had anyone to order for her before, so she wasn’t sure if she liked the choice taken out of her hands or was happy to let James decide for her. It was a conflicting emotion, and it was all over a beverage.

  Sarah decided to wait and see what he did about the food orders and chose to ask about Ethel’s husbands instead.

  “Did you just say Ethel has two husbands?” she squeaked out. She had to cough to hide her embarrassment and asked again in a louder voice.

  “Yes, baby. She is married to both Frank and John, who are brothers. They have been married for almost eleven years now. Why, does that upset you?” Blake had a dark scowl on his face and she knew she would have to tread carefully when answering.

  “No it doesn’t. I just didn’t know people lived in ménage relationships outside of wacky religious organizations.” She then asked “How is it even legal?”

  “Technically she is only married to John in the eyes of the law, but they held a commitment ceremony declaring their love and devotion to each other,” Blake answered.

  “In their eyes and the eyes of the town, all three are married,” James added.

  Their drinks arrived and Ethel took their food orders. Once again James gave her order, as well as his own. He ordered her a burger and fries, which she wanted anyway so she just went with it. She didn’t want to say anything and make a big deal out of nothing.

  “What are we doing when we finish here?” Sarah asked as she fiddled with her napkin. She then moved her knife and fork around on the table, straightening them and then moving them to the other side and straightening them again. She tended to rearrange things when she was nervous, and sitting with the two brothers was making her jittery.

  Blake placed his hand over hers, stilling her actions. She looked up at him and noticed the silly grin on his face. He knew what she was doing, so she quickly put her hands in her lap.

  “There is no need to be nervous, baby. I thought you would have started to get used to us by now,” Blake told her. James leaned back in his chair and placed an arm along the back in a lazy gesture.

  “Must be you. She was fine with me, brother,” he put in. Sarah could tell he was teasing, and his smug grin had her thinking about the kiss from earlier. She felt her face heat and her pussy dampen. Yes, that kiss was something else, all right. She wondered if that was even what he was talking about or if she was seeing something that wasn’t there.

  “It’s not you,” Sarah informed him. “I’m nervous around everybody.”

  What she said was mostly true. She was shy around most people, but the brothers were so damned big and sexy that they just sent her into overdrive. She wished she were confident and able to flirt with them without looking like a complete imbecile. But she knew if she even tried to say something flirty or daring, she would just stuff it up and they’d laugh at her.

  “Don’t worry, little darling. Blake doesn’t bite. Not unless you ask him to,” James said, which just made Sarah blush all the more.

  “I thought we could go riding this afternoon. I have a few things to wrap up at work and then I’m all yours.” Blake turned to her. “Did you get boots?”

  “Yes, at the same shop as the winter jacket,” she answered.

  Soon their food arrived and they all dug in. Sarah decided that she should try to make an effort at conversation, and so she asked them about their parents.

  “Well, not much to tell. Mom was a rancher’s wife until dad retired, staying at home to raise us and look after the house. She didn’t mind though. She’s a real homebody, not happy unless she is feeding someone,” Blake told her as he ate his fries. “Dad looked after the ranch until he retired a couple of years ago, and James took over running it. They now both live in a small cabin just outside of town.”

  “I’m sure you’ll get to meet them soon enough. Mom and Dad still come over and check on us every couple of weeks,” James added. “Don’t think Dad was quite ready to give up the ranch when he did and is still having trouble letting go of the reins.”

  “I’d love to meet them.”

  “I’m sure they’d love to meet you, too. Now how about some of Ethel’s famous pie for dessert?” Blake gestured to Ethel, and she rushed over with three large pieces of apple pie. It smelt delicious, and Sarah dug in like she hadn’t just polished off a burger and fries.

  “We always order the same pie when we eat here,” James said. “Blake sometime orders a different flavor, but I always stick to apple.”

  “It’s really good. The best I’ve ever had,” Sarah said around a mouth full of pie. “Are there other ménage relationships around here, or are Ethel and her husbands the only ones?”

  Sarah told herself she was only curious. She wasn’t interested because of the feelings she had for the two brothers. It was ridiculous to think that one of the two would be interested in her, let alone both.

  “Yes, there are plenty. It’s one of the reasons people settle here. We are a tight community that looks after each other. We make sure if anyone upset our way of life, they are soon made to move on.”

  “That way ménage relationships are free to thrive and be themselves around town without any censure,” James added. Sarah finished her pie and placed her fork down on the table.

  “What do you mean by ‘our way of life?’ Your parents aren’t in a ménage.”

  “No, they aren’t. But we have aunties and uncles that are.” Blake turned to face her again and took both of her h
ands in his. She looked back at him curiously. Whatever he was about to tell her, he obviously thought that it might upset or shock her.

  “James and I fully intend to share a wife when the time comes.”

  As Sarah looked back at him she realized she wasn’t worried that they wanted to share a wife, but more by the fact that the wife they mentioned wasn’t her. Were they trying to tell her that they had a girlfriend, or was she reading more into it than she was supposed to?

  “I’m glad you told me. I don’t want to get in the way. If you want to bring a woman over, I can hide out in my room for the night.”

  “Sarah, baby, that’s not what we are saying. There is no other girl. We just wanted you to know that we have a future planned and that future includes sharing a wife.” James leant across the table to take her hand, pulling one from Blake’s. Sarah was now sitting with one brother each holding one of her hands.

  “We know the timing sucks, baby girl. But what we are trying to say is that we want to get to know you better, and that means you need to know what we intend from the start.”

  “We are both attracted to you, Sarah, and we hope that you are attracted to us, too. And possibly open to the idea of getting to know both of us better as well.” Blake squeezed her hand and pulled her closer. As he lowered his head toward hers, Sarah couldn’t help but feel that this was what she wanted.

  * * * *

  Blake’s lips touched Sarah’s lightly, and he nipped at hers before deepening the kiss. She opened her mouth on a moan, and he used her distraction to tangle his tongue with hers. Blake growled as she sucked his tongue and, grabbing her waist, he lifted her to straddle his thighs. It was a tight fit in the small booth, and he knew her butt must have been practically sitting on the table behind her.

  He continued to kiss her until he couldn’t take it any longer and if he didn’t stop, he’d come in his pants like an untried schoolboy. Lifting his mouth, he lay his forehead on hers and they both sat like that, panting for breath.

  Blake knew Sarah would be embarrassed by her passionate display in a very public place, but he didn’t care. The other men in Merricks would know he staked a claim, that Sarah was his and James’s woman, and would keep their distance. It was an unwritten rule in Merricks not to tread on another man’s territory. All the men would look out for Sarah’s welfare, but none would try to lure her from them.

  “We should get going, so you two can go for your ride before dinner.” James’s voice broke through Blake’s thoughts. Sarah was off his lap in a flash and heading for the doorway as if the fires of hell were chasing her. Blake let out a chuckle at her obvious discomfort and followed her out.

  He said a quick good-bye before heading back to the station. As he walked he thought about Sarah and their amazing kiss. No one had ever affected him like that, and he couldn’t wait to repeat the experience. Hopefully somewhere more private with a bed available, and maybe some ties and a blindfold.

  Sarah was definitely into them. Now they just had to convince her that they were the men for her. Despite the fact that she was hiding from a killer, they would woo her into loving them and she would stay in Merricks. They would live the rest of their lives keeping her well loved and happy, and in return she would let them tie her up and spank her round, peachy butt.

  She was submissive, Blake just knew it, and if he could get James to hold off on the strong stuff, then he knew they had a chance to introduce her to the lifestyle without scaring her away in the process.

  Blake rushed back to the station to finish his work. The quicker he got what he needed done, the quicker he could get back to Sarah. He was going to push her a bit on the ride and see how she reacted to his orders. If she responded as he thought she would, it would turn out to be a pleasant afternoon, and if she didn’t, well then it would be an even better afternoon. For him, anyway. He wouldn’t be the one riding home with a sore ass.

  Blake was smiling as he walked into the station. April gave him a funny look, which had him smiling all the more. A rare occasion indeed, but Sarah did that to him. She had lit up his world in a few days, and he felt a little piece of his armor chink away, leaving a hole that could only be filled by Sarah.

  Chapter Nine

  Sarah nervously plodded along behind Blake on her mare. The brothers had informed her that she was a gentle mare, but she was still up very high and she had ridden very little over the years. Her name was Belle and she was a beautiful chestnut color with white socks on three of her legs. Sarah had fallen in love with the horse the instant she saw her.

  Blake looked so natural on his stallion. It was easy to tell that he was a cowboy at heart. His horse was a big black stallion named George. Sarah had expected Satan or Devil, but no, he was named after one of their grandfathers who used to raise horses on this very farm. Blake had chosen the name to honor his grandfather. It was the first horse that he had bred and trained himself, and he wanted the name to mean something.

  Sarah thought it was a lovely story and showed her a little about Blake’s personality. He was sentimental when it came to people he cared about. The more she learnt about the brothers the more she liked, and that scared her almost as much as being on this horse.

  They both had told her that they were interested in a relationship with her and not just one, but both of them. What Sarah couldn’t understand was why? No one had ever shown the slightest bit of attraction toward her. Now two of the hottest men she had ever laid eyes on had told her they wanted to get to know her better, and she was just left confused. Horny, but confused.

  She really didn’t need this emotional turmoil on top of everything else she was going through. A psycho that had murdered her best friend was chasing her, and one day she would have to go back home. Where would that leave her? It would leave her brokenhearted and alone, that’s where. Maybe she should just tell them that it wasn’t possible and she wasn’t interested. It would be better for her in the long run.

  Not that she thought that they would believe her. Not after the way she had reacted to kissing them both. She was putty in their hands, and they knew it. Maybe that was why they were interested. She was here and convenient, and they wouldn’t have to try too hard.

  “What has you so deep in thought, baby?” Blake’s voice interrupted her musings. She looked at him, riding alongside of her. He was so good-looking, wearing his Stetson perched low on his forehead. She could just see his chocolate eyes peeking from below the rim.

  “I was just thinking about everything,” she replied. She shifted her butt in the saddle to get comfortable. They hadn’t been riding long and already it was starting to ache. “Jenny, Angelo, Alex. My life back home. You and James. Everything.”

  “This ride was supposed to help you take your mind from your troubles.”

  “I don’t think anything will achieve that.” Sarah hoped that Blake couldn’t hear the pain in her voice.

  “I think I know something that will help,” Blake told her as he moved his horse closer to hers. “Do you trust me?”

  “Of course I trust you. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. On the horse, I mean.”

  Sarah gasped as Blake leant toward her and, wrapping an arm around her waist, plucked her from her horse and onto his. Her ass landed in his lap with a thud, but Sarah was too shocked at his strength to be embarrassed. He had just lifted her with one hand and didn’t even struggle with effort.

  “Bring your leg over, so you’re straddling the horse, baby.”

  Sarah did as he asked and was now sitting with her butt pressed onto his groin and the back of her legs flush with the top of his. She could feel his erection pressing into her, and it was not small.

  Sarah tried to shift forward in the saddle and place some room between them. Blake was having none of that, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her back toward him. When he didn’t take his arm away, Sarah relaxed against him and tried to enjoy the ride.

  As they rode farther and farther across the property, Blake poin
ted out to her the different landmarks that made up their ranch. Riding on Blake’s lap certainly took her mind off her troubles, but focused it on her current situation.

  She was so turned on by Blake she could hardly think straight. Sarah didn’t think she had taken in a thing that he had shown her. Something about the cows that they raised and a water system that pumped water around the ranch to where they needed it most.

  Sarah slowly started to relax little by little and was able to take in the sights around her. Their land really was beautiful, and they were lucky to be able to grow up in such an amazing environment.

  * * * *

  Blake could feel Sarah starting to relax in his arms. He kept up his talk about the ranch, knowing she wasn’t really listening, but the more he talked the more she was relaxing. His voice was low and even, just like when he was approaching one of his more skittish horses.

  Her body slowly slumped onto his, and he knew it was time to move onto the second part of his plan. He had always intended to get Sarah onto the same horse as him. The fact that she was nervous about riding and was thinking so hard about the case was just the excuse he needed.

  He could tell she was shocked when he had pulled her from her horse and onto his. She really wasn’t that heavy, and he had been working on the ranch for years. Working the land had a way of building muscle, and he had plenty of them. Once he had decided to join the police force his workout had moved to the gym, but he still kept his body conditioned for hard work.

  Now he was going to push her just enough and see how she responded. It wouldn’t be long before the sick bastard trying to kill her would be far from her mind and her thoughts focused on more pleasurable things.

  Blake slowly started to remove his arm from around her waist. He let his fingers caress her stomach as he moved his hand to her side and then ran them down her leg. He repeated the move, running his hand along her side, down her leg, to her knee and back. Every time he did, he got closer and closer to her pussy and breasts.