On My Own [Liberty, Wyoming 2] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Read online

  Chapter Thirteen

  Royce and Clay sat on either side of her in the truck. All three were quietly, intensely aware of each other and still felt the tremendous arousal that hadn’t diminished yet or even softened since they left the house.

  Isabel released a silent sigh of relief when they pulled into the Collins Ranch driveway. Royce and Clay’s place was large, but this was enormous. Everywhere she looked there were men and animals, usually horses. Nothing seemed to stand still here.

  “Mommy, Mommy.” Tommy shrieked as he flew out of the house. “Guess what. I rode a horse by myself today!”

  Clay helped her down from the truck. “Whaaatt?” she asked nervously. Her eyes ran over her son, looking for any injuries.

  “Yea, they took Callie and me to swimmed at the pond and—”

  Isabel’s heart stopped. “Swam, not swimmed,” she said automatically. “But you don’t know how to swim.”

  “I know, but Mom. They helped me.”

  Tommy stopped talking when Grant laid a solid hand on his shoulders. “Little man, you’re scaring your mom here.”

  Tommy looked wide-eyed up at Isabel. “Why?”

  “Can I tell her some and then you can tell her the rest?”

  Royce and Clay stood on either side of her. One had a hand on the back of her neck, and the other wrapped his arm around her waist. “I trust these men with my life, Isabel. I trust them with Tommy’s,” Royce said quietly in her ear.

  “But…” Her chest burned with anxiety.

  “No buts. You’re shaking, and I need you to calm down a bit and listen to Grant.” Royce spoke softly to her but with an edge of authority that always got her attention. It took a moment to bleed through the fear she was experiencing. “Good girl,” he said when she nodded.

  Grant cleared his throat. “Ma’am, I’m sorry if you thought at any time your son was in danger because I guarantee that will never happen when he’s in our care.” He heard a relieved breathless sigh even if she tried to hide it. “We let him ride a horse for a minute by himself with either Jake or me walking by his side with a hand on his leg the whole time. Each child rode with one of us to the pond. And we both had a child in our arms the whole time we swam. I can stand up in the middle of the pond it’s so shallow, but still at no time were they by themselves.”

  All the tension released from her body, making her feel slightly unsteady. Isabel cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, Mr. Collins.”

  “I’ve asked you to call me Grant.”

  Her heart stuttered a bit at the dominant edge to his words. Were they all like this? “Sorry, Grant. I know Tommy is safe here. I’m just not used to being away from him so much.”

  Grant nodded. “I totally get that. You have no reason to apologize.”

  They all turned as the door to the house opened, and an angry-looking Sara and Jake who held Callie in his arms came out.

  “What happened? Why are they mad?” Isabel asked nervously to Grant.

  Grant chuckled and shook his head. “Well, our sweet Sara is in trouble again. So, Frank there”—he indicated a man coming from the closest barn—“is coming to take Callie while we have a talk with Sara.”

  Isabel stiffened at the threat in Grant’s voice until she caught the look on his face when his gaze was on her. Her heart jerked, mostly in happiness that a woman who was fast becoming a good friend would find men like these who adored her.

  Isabel bit back a chuckle when Sara turned on Jake after watching Leroy take the little girl into the barn. Isabel could tell she was angry and could hear her anger even when Sara tried to whisper through her clenched teeth. Jake had crossed his arms and looked down at her with varying degrees of anger, amusement, and lust in his eyes.

  Isabel just about lost it when Grant shook his head and sighed dramatically. “She can’t help it. We think she was born to drive us crazy and has no ability to prevent herself from digging herself deeper, every single time.”

  Clay and Royce coughed to mask their chuckles, and Isabel slapped a hand over her mouth to hold back. She tried to act calm when they both headed their way.

  Isabel laughed when Sara pulled away from Jake’s grip and pushed both Grant and Clay aside with her shoulders before hugging Isabel. “I think they’re angry with you,” Isabel whispered.

  Sara snorted. “They haven’t seen anything yet.”

  Isabel giggled and clung to Sara for a moment. She straightened and smiled at the gleam in her friend’s eyes before she winked, only letting Isabel see.

  Sara released Isabel and took a step back, dodging both Grant’s and Jake’s hands.

  Isabel looked down and bit her lip hard to keep from laughing out loud when Grant sighed, and Jake growled at her. She was a little horrified when Sara kicked out at Jake when he reached for her. Isabel couldn’t hold back her laughter and shook her head when Jake just scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.

  Grant shook his head and turned. “I better get in there before Sara hurts Jake.”

  They laughed at the thought of that tiny woman hurting a man as large as Jake. It sounded so bad, but the twinkle of anticipation in his eyes made Isabel think he was pleased with Sara’s rebellion and looked forward to the fight on his hands.

  “I’ll see you all later. Bye, Tommy.”

  Tommy was crouched on the ground several feet away, watching a bug as it crawled across the cement. “Bye, Grant,” he said without looking up.

  Clay tugged Isabel toward the truck. “You feel okay now?”

  She looked up at Clay and smiled. “Yes. I just have to get used to this situation between us and release some of the fear I’ve had since this started. Tommy deserves this. He needs to play with other children, and sleep in the same bed every night, but mostly he needs the security of you two and this community. He’s too young to have to deal with my problem.”

  Clay’s head bent, and he placed a soft kiss on her lips. “It’s our problem now. Everything is going to be okay.”

  Isabel nodded, got into the truck with a lift from Clay, and moved over until she sat next to Royce. She smiled when Tommy scrambled in and sat next to her, talking about the day and everything he did. Clay got in next to Tommy and listened and smiled as the boy talked.

  Something in her heart twisted. She was just thinking how lucky Sara was to have men that adored her when she had the same thing in Royce and Clay. She needed to decide what was really holding her back from giving herself to them. Was it just Evan’s death? She didn’t think so anymore. It felt like a lifetime had passed since she lost him instead of not quite one year.

  Isabel knew it wasn’t because she thought about leaving. She had never felt safer than she did at this time. Tommy was happy and safe, and she had found love with not one but two men when she hadn’t thought she would ever be capable of it again.

  “Hey, Isabel. What’s got you so deep in thought?” Royce’s voice said gruffly next to her ear.

  She jumped a little, making him chuckle. Isabel paused. “Just how happy I am that Sara has those men. She deserves to be happy.”

  “And you? Do you deserve to be happy too?”

  Isabel looked toward Clay quickly and found him and Tommy in a discussion about fish, but Isabel got the impression he was paying very close attention to what his brother and she were saying. “I’m starting to think I do. I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact I am not to blame for this.”

  “How could you think that?” Royce’s voice turned disbelieving.

  “Because Evan’s brother, Allister, convinced me of it. Everything that man has done, all the people he killed, and for what? It has to be about the money. He made it sound like it was me he wanted, but I know he’s desperate for money for some reason and he needs me to get it.”

  “I’m glad you’re finally realizing none of this was your fault, and you have been a victim trying to protect her child. I’m so proud of you,” Royce said quietly and slipped his arm around her back and braced his chin on her he
ad while watching the road and taking in the sweet scent of his woman. “You did everything right, but now you have us to help you. This will be taken care of sooner rather than later.”

  Isabel leaned her head against Royce’s chest. “I hope so. I want to be able to talk to my friends. I miss Mora so much.”

  Clay spoke up. “Let’s get you guys home, and we’ll get supper started.”

  Isabel smiled at Clay over Tommy’s head. “That’s a great idea. How does spaghetti sound for supper tonight?” She chuckled when all three cheered.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Later after supper, Isabel had Tommy in the tub, laughing at his excitement of all the bubbles. They hadn’t been able to afford things like bubbles baths when they were on the run. Her son had to give up a lot in the last several months, and it never failed to bring on a guilt so deep it felt like a spike drove through her heart.

  Her mouth flattened. There was so much her son had missed out on because of Allister. She knew he wouldn’t stop until he was either rotting in jail or hell.

  “Let’s get you out, honey, before you turn into a prune.” Isabel stood him up in the tub as the water drained, slowly wiping him dry, and was startled when muscular arms came around her.

  “No, Isabel. I’ll pick him up,” Royce said behind her and effortlessly picked her son up and walked him down the hallway to the room they gave him.

  Isabel walked in behind them to pull Tommy’s pajamas and underwear out. “I still can’t believe you guys did this so quickly.” She couldn’t get over the fact the men had decorated Tommy’s room that rivaled any wishes he might have ever had about it. The walls were painted a light blue, and a large colorful carpet was on the wood floor in the center of the room. The wooden bed was small and close to the floor. He had a nightstand, a sturdy shelf, and a dresser. Books, toy trucks, tractors and blocks were packed on the shelves. There was also a wooden chest at the end of his bed full of other toys.

  The generosity and love these men gave her son astounded her. They acted like he was already theirs. Isabel blinked back the tears that stung her eyes before turning back to the others. This just cemented her love for them. Everything they did was for her and Tommy’s benefit. They showed how much they cared in so many ways.

  In a day or two, the men were planning on taking Tommy into the store to pick out pictures and posters for his walls, putting his stamp on it. The only thing that bothered her was the room was down the hall from hers. They had slept together for the last year, except when she was in the mental hospital, and she didn’t know how he would take it.

  She watched and smiled as Royce dressed Tommy and chuckled when he tried to evade Royce’s hands that continued to tickle him. After he was finally dressed, Tommy ran to the shelves and picked out a book before running back to his bed.

  Isabel bent to cover him up.

  “Mommy, can Royce read to me tonight?”

  Isabel froze for a brief moment before looking toward Royce to make sure it was okay.

  He nodded. “If it’s okay with you?”

  “I think it’s okay.” Conflicted feelings collided together. She was happy that they were bonding because Tommy needed a male influence in his life, but sad that her son was asking for someone besides her. She was already sleeping in a separate bedroom. In her head, she knew it was unreasonable, but she’d had his full attention for so many months it was hard to let go.

  Royce watched the emotions race across her face as he sat beside Tommy against the headboard. One of his long legs spread out on the side of the bed, and his other was bent with his foot on the floor. His massive size made the child’s bed look even smaller.

  “Hey, Isabel. Clay’s in the living room waiting for us to watch a movie. Why don’t you go and sit with him and tell him to start it and I’ll be out in a minute?”

  Isabel bent and combed her fingers through Tommy’s hair before placing a kiss at the top of his head. “Night, sweetheart. Now if you need me, you remember which room is mine, right?”

  “Yeah, Mommy. I’m big now, so I can sleep by myself.”

  “Okay, honey. Night.”

  Isabel smiled one more time at Royce before walking out the door and making her way to where Clay sat on the large leather couch.

  “Come sit here.” He frowned and patted the cushion next to him. After she was seated, he turned toward her and rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

  Isabel jerked, startled. She didn’t know how she felt about both men always reading her so well. “Nothing.”

  Clay pulled her over to sit on his lap and smiled at the yelp she made at the abrupt move. “Don’t ever lie to us.” He tightened his grip on the back of her neck to hold her still. “And we will know when it happens. You’re very easy to read.”

  Isabel stiffened. “And what if I don’t want to talk about whatever is bothering me?” The sly and steely grim smile that crossed his face made a shiver skate down her spine as well as hot liquid gather in her panties.

  Clay raised one eyebrow. “Well, sweetheart. There are several ways to get you to talk. Do you want me to name them and describe how they work?”

  Panting breaths broke through her lips as she first nodded and then stiffened and shook her head.

  Clay chuckled then speared his fingers into her loose hair, tilted her head back so he could see her eyes better, and inhaled her arousal. “Are you sure?” His voice was low and cajoling.

  Isabel cleared her throat, disgruntled at his arrogance but turned on by his slightly threatening tone. “Ye—” She took a breath and tried again. “Yes. I’m sure.”

  “Okay then.” He laid a hard kiss on her lips. “Now tell me what’s wrong.”

  Isabel rolled her eyes. She was too tired to fight with him about this, and she knew he wouldn’t let it go until he got what he wanted. “It’s a few things that are bothering me, and I can’t come up with solutions to any of my questions, which makes me feel like I have no control. Part of it is Tommy being so far away from me for the first time in so long. I don’t know how he’ll do. Another part is deciding what my next course of action is.”

  “Action?” A frown developed on his brow. He had the feeling he wasn’t going to like this.

  “For my situation.”

  “That’s something we are going to talk over as soon as Royce gets here. But know this, Royce and I will take care of it. We don’t want you to worry about it.”

  Her breath sputtered out of her mouth, and she turned to face him. “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “First off, watch your tone of voice.”

  “My tone of voice?” Her lips curled, and disbelief laced her words.

  Before either of them could say anything, a large hot body was pressed against her back. “What seems to be the problem here?” Royce asked in a soft voice close to her ear.

  There was a moment of silence when Clay looked at his brother then back at Isabel. “Well, brother, it seems our woman here thinks she’s going to deal with her situation.”

  Royce’s eyebrows shot up. “By herself?”

  “The way she was talking it sounded like she was thinking that way…”

  Isabel threw her arms out dramatically. “Hey, here I am. Sitting right next to you on the couch, so please stop talking about me like I’m not here.”

  Both men looked at each other over her head. Clay scowled. Royce smiled at her back.

  Royce pulled her back against his chest and burrowed his nose against her neck. “You know you’re not going to do a damn thing, right?”

  Isabel tried pulling herself from Royce’s hands only to huff when he wouldn’t let go. “You guys need to realize you can’t control me.” She frowned a first at Clay and then over her shoulder at Royce when they both stayed silent. “Does your silence mean you agree?”

  Clay’s hand cupped her chin and raised her head. He bit back a chuckle at her frown. “Hell no. You’ll do exactly what we tell you to do.”

  Isabel snorted, lif
ted her chin, and crossed her arms over her chest. “I guess it’s good to have dreams.”

  Both men froze. They both wore twin expressions of both outrage and humor. Clay raised his gaze to his brother’s.

  One of Royce’s hands slid up to cup her breast, and the other one lowered to cover her mound through her jeans. “Do you want to repeat that, Isabel?” He pressed harder on her pussy when she opened her mouth. “If I were you, I would really think hard about your next comment because I’m at the edge of wanting to pull these jeans off you and suck all your sweet cream, and when that’s gone, my brother and I will make sure you make more for us. Or we could just smack your ass until it’s a bright pink.”

  Isabel’s eyes widened as her body jolted and filled with need, as hot lava ran through her system. Oh god. She knew she should feel outraged or something at the threat of a spanking, but it just turned her on more.

  “Jesus Christ, woman. If you don’t want to be stripped and between us, wipe that look off your face.”

  Royce would have laughed at his brother’s painfully frustrated voice and expression if he weren’t ready to burst also.

  Isabel pushed away from them and stood abruptly at his warning. She knew if she didn’t, they would fulfill their threat, and she knew she didn’t have the strength to fight it tonight. “I think I’ll go to bed, so I’ll see you guys in the morning.” She didn’t wait for them to answer when she walked briskly out of the room toward the master bedroom.

  Isabel closed the door behind her and turned the lock. Not because she was afraid of them, but because she was worried about what she’d do if she saw them right now. She was too close to giving them, and herself, everything they wanted. She needed the dark hours of the night to build up her strength to hold them off a little while longer. Why? She wasn’t quite sure anymore.

  She leaned against the cool wood of the door and looked around at her bedroom. The room was easily twice the size of the little apartment she was renting from Carol. The headboard was a cushioned one in a cream color and looked like the perfect place to lean against at night while reading. The bed itself was massive and would easily hold the two large men and herself. The two wooden dressers were large and looked very heavy. There was also a seating arrangement, a large loveseat, and a chair all in the same cream color as the headboard. There was a nightstand on both sides of the bed and built-in shelves in the seating area.