Forrest, Dawn - Sweet Water Wedding: Sharing Shannon (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (27 page)

“It’s not just the sex, Shannon. I think you’re great and I like you.” He squeezed her hand in his and held it to his heart.

“I wasn’t looking for a relationship or love, but I’ve found it anyway. I feel confused because I also love Luke. That should mean that I don’t love either of you enough, but it isn’t that way at all. Instead I feel that my heart has grown to accommodate you both.”

James felt elated; this was what a woman who truly loved two men should feel. She didn’t get it yet, but she would.

“That’s as it should be, Shannon, like I told you on Look Out hill, there isn’t a finite supply of love, and you don’t have to rob Peter to pay Paul.”

“You are really okay with it? You haven’t had to share someone you loved before.”

“Sure I have, I love all my family don’t I? Okay, not sexually but it is just a different sort of love.”

“You have a silver tongue, you know that?”

“Yeah, but just to be sure let me show you again.”

* * * *

“We have an early start tomorrow. Luke will pick Shannon up early at about five thirty, unless you want to drop her off here at around six, Rachael? James asked as he piled some apple pie onto his plate.

Shannon reckoned he needed the extra calories after the wonderful afternoon they’d shared. They were all enjoying an impromptu dinner at the ranch. Mitch had swung by to visit Janet, and as Shannon and James hadn’t emerged until early evening, Joshua had asked Isabella to cook for three more people.

“I’ll do it, because then I can have Josh with breakfast. I mean breakfast with Josh.” Rachael said, flustered.

“You were probably right the first time,” muttered Shannon.

Rachael smirked at her. “Will you eat here or on the trail, James?”

“We’ll have a coffee and something to eat here first because it means we’ll carry less with us.” He turned to Shannon and smiled. “Of course we can call for food to be delivered to the camps but this way is more authentic, like it was in the old days. Unless someone is staying at a camp for a while we usually take all we need with us.”

“Sounds great, I’m looking forward to it.” Shannon grinned with excitement.

After dinner their men walked them to the Jeep. Joshua picked Rachael up in a hug and whispered something in her ear that caused her to give a little moan. James gave Shannon a light but sensual kiss on the lips and leaned his forehead close to hers.

“Get a good night’s sleep and I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow,” he advised softly.

The girls were quiet until they had driven clear of the yard, then the giggles started.

“Jesus, Rach, this whole place is—”

“Intense.” Rachael finished for her. “I know, but it’s wonderful. I’ve never been so—”

“Happy.” Shannon followed through. “I can tell. Wow, the guys here are—”

“Amazing!” they both laughed together.

“Sore wrist, Rach?” Shannon had noticed what looked like chafe marks on one of Rachael’s wrists.

“A little. God, that man takes me and makes me seven ways ‘til Sunday.” She sighed, looking wistful. “Variety is definitely the spice of life, and with two guys to keep you occupied, you aren’t going to be bored any time soon either.”

Shannon almost shrieked, “Oh Lordy, on their own they are potent, together they’ll be dynamite, I’ll explode!” Suddenly she grew quiet. “Actually the thought of it is a bit frightening to tell you the truth. Don’t you get at all scared of Joshua?”

“Terrified
and
excited. Thrilled I guess is the right word, but that’s because I trust him with my life and with my heart.”

“Rach, I’m in love with two men,” she snorted, “and yeah, even though it’s utter madness, it feels thrilling.” She suddenly sobered up. “I’m not sure that we can have a serious relationship though. The logistics aren’t good.” Already she knew that there would be serious heartache when she left.

“Just go with the flow, enjoy this holiday, and open your mind to the possibilities. Look, I won’t deny that I have more than a passing interest in getting you to stay here, but I wouldn’t put that above and before your happiness.”

“I know that, Rachael, you’re my best friend. It just all seems to have happened so fast. I’m waiting for the banana skin.” Shannon grimaced. “What about my work? My home? God I sound like such a Johnny Raincloud.”

“A home is where the heart is. You can work anywhere. You could start up a consultancy here. I’m not saying that there aren’t a few hurdles to jump, but I think that it would be worth it for James and Luke.”

Shannon nodded. “I’m passionate about my work, Rachael, like you are, but now, since meeting them, I want to make room in my life for love. There’s something about this place that makes me rethink my priorities.”

Rachael snorted. “Yeah, tell me about it.”

The girls decided to make it an early night, knowing that they had to get over to Sweet Water by six the next morning.

As Rachael went to her room she called up to Shannon, “Don’t forget to pack the most important things.”

“Sun-cream?”

Rachael laughed heartily. “Condoms and lube, although sun-cream might work if you forget the latter.”

“Rachael!” Shannon shrieked.

She tried not to think too much about why Rachael might think she needed lube. No way was she ready for that yet.

After she had packed very lightly, Shannon lay in bed and decided to call Luke to say goodnight. As she reached for her phone it rang. It was the man himself.

“Hi, honey, how ya’ doin’?” His low drawl sounded tender.

Even over the phone his rich, baritone voice was a slow, smooth sensual caress of her auditory senses. She closed her eyes and let the feeling flow through her. She had been a little worried that she wouldn’t feel the same way about him after having slept with James, but that simply wasn’t the case. On hearing his voice the tension slipped away like a heavy cloak falling to the floor.

“Luke,” she breathed softly. Somehow that single word conveyed a quiet confidence of possession, and desire. She still wanted him. “I’m feeling better than fine. I’ve had a lovely day but I’m in bed now, we’ve an early start tomorrow. I was just about to call you to say goodnight.”

“Did James tire you out, honey?” He chuckled.

So that’s the way it was. She felt her face heat up and was glad that he couldn’t see her.

“Has James given you an in-depth debrief?” she asked, unsure how she felt about that.

“Not a complete
blow
-by-
blow
account, but we talk about what concerns us both, and what concerns us most is you.”

“Oh. Well if you want to know, we had a great time.”

“I do want to know, honey…in detail.”

“Maybe we should just show you.” It was a risky statement but she felt secure. She was only flirting on the phone; it was the ultimate safe sex.

“Shannon, careful with your teasing, honey, you’re pulling a tiger by the tail.” He sounded amused but also a little dark and edgy—irresistible.

She gave a husky, short laugh. “Pulling something else between his legs I think.”

He groaned. “I’ll be uncomfortable all night. You’ll pay for that, darlin’. What are you wearing?”

A pair of beige baggy boxers and an old T-shirt…not likely! It’s time for some improvisation.

“I was just getting undressed. I’m wearing my black lace thong and matching bra, why?” Oh, she was going to hell with that whopper. She had to repress the giggle that bubbled near the surface.

Luke groaned. “Lie on your bed and take your bra off. Put your phone’s speaker on. Touch yourself, Shannon. Pluck your nipples.”

She threw off the T-shirt and lay on the bed. With her phone on the pillow next to her she did as he instructed.

“Okay. Oh, that feels nice.” It really did

“Pinch them harder, Shannon.” He sounded strained.

She increased the pressure of her thumbs and index fingers and gasped.

“Move your right hand inside your panties and finger your pussy. Is it wet?”

She delved into her boxers.

“Yes.” She was slick and getting wetter by the second.

“Move the scrap of material aside and describe your cunt.”

Oh God.
She pushed the boxers down to her ankles with one hand.

“My curls have droplets of moisture. My labia are very red and swollen.” She was so turned on that her breathing became shallower and her voice trembled. “My finger is coated with thick, slick, cream.”

“Use that finger to strum your clit.” His words dripped with desire. “Tomorrow it’ll be my hand there, my tongue pressing against your little bud, teasing back the hood, sucking and licking you to oblivion.”

Her breathing sped up as she rubbed herself faster. “Luke, I’m going to come soon.”

“Stop!” His voice was harsh and commanding.

She froze, shocked “What?”

“Don’t you dare come, O’Reilly. Not without me. Take your hand out of your panties, now.”

“But—”

“Do it!”

Fucking hell, this was a different side to the man. If he kept it up she might just reach a climax without touching herself. She held still, bound by just his vocal chords.

“Promise me that you’ll not touch yourself.”

I must not tell lies, I must not tell lies.
“Okay,” she said hesitantly. There was a lot of leeway and room to maneuver in that promise.

“Promise that you won’t have an orgasm until I say so.”

Oh, rotten heck.
“I promise,” she said reluctantly. She yanked her boxers up.

“I have to trust your word, Shannon, don’t let me down. I’ll see you tomorrow morning at Sweet Water.

She grumbled “Luke, I—”

“You’ll do what I say and stop pouting.”

How did he know? She retracted her bottom lip.

His voice softened. “I sympathize with you, honey. We’ll both be frustrated and uncomfortable tonight.”

“Uncomfortable? I’ll be in agony, you meanie.”

She meant it. Even though James had thoroughly sated her, Luke had fanned the embers of her passion until they were ready to burst into flame again. Her pussy was in need of his big cock or at the very least a little clutching climax, but no, the bastard was denying her.

He chuckled, “I’ll scratch that itch for you good and proper tomorrow. Goodnight, sweet dreams, darlin’.” He disconnected the call.

“Ahhh, curse you!”

Even so, horny as hell, she followed his command and didn’t finish what they’d started… and that annoyed her even more.

Chapter 17

After a light breakfast at the Sweet Water ranch house, Shannon had packed her few things into what little space was left in the saddlebags and said goodbye to Joshua and Rachael. They had trotted away, side by side with her in the middle—no surprise there—leaving behind the ranch buildings, roads, and Rachael waving. A shaggy long legged mutt, aptly named Rug, was accompanying them and seemed to have no problem keeping up.