Her Heart's Desire (2 page)

 

 

Ten minutes later Cade was still staring at his coffee cup.
Fine, my ass.
Sara was hiding something. His gut instinct hadn't failed him yet, and right now his insides were twisted in a knot.

Not too long ago he had come home early from work with a hard-on from hell. Mental images of Sara spread out on the bed with his head between her legs had him behaving like a Neanderthal. He needed to fuck his wife. He remembered storming through the downstairs with only one thing on his mind. He had been about to explode when soft moans floated from the bedroom upstairs. He had taken the stairs two at a time only to come to an abrupt halt outside the bedroom door. Sara was splayed on the bed, pleasuring herself, and that erotic vision would invade his thoughts at the most inopportune times. He had been so mesmerized by her delicate fingers pumping in and out of her pussy that he almost didn't hear her call his name. Lust had pierced through his belly and filled his dick. His pants were wrapped around his ankles when she pulled at her nipples and came again, only this time she had called out Reese's name. Stunned, Cade just stood there for several minutes before he pulled up his pants with shaking hands and backed slowly away from the room. Was it possible she now wanted Reese as well?

Overwhelmed by what he had heard, he had gone into the kitchen, grabbed a beer, and flopped on the couch. That's where Sara had found him. He had been prepared to talk to her, find out what her true feelings were, but then his mother called with the news about his father's death.

Any conversation between the two had been put on hold.

Cade shook his head and idly stirred his coffee.

Sara had readily agreed with Cade that his mother shouldn't be by herself during this time of grief. So Renee Dalton had been their guest up until a week ago. Sara had welcomed her with open arms and had been a very attentive daughter-in-law while he and Reese had made the funeral arrangements, placed their childhood home on the market, and attempted to convince their mother that she wasn't a burden. But Renee had been adamant that she would not infringe on either of her sons' privacy and was happy to live the rest of her life in a retirement home with other people her own age. She was getting stronger every day, and he and Reese made sure to call and check on her regularly.

As for Sara…well, he had secretly held onto the hope that she would willingly submit to being the woman he and Reese had always dreamed of sharing. Maybe they still had a shot at being a family…if he could only convince her that their situation was much different than what her mother's had been.

The shrill ring of the phone jerked him back to the present. Setting down his cup, Cade went into the living room and checked the caller ID. Great. He was not in the mood to speak to Sara's aunt right now. The woman rubbed him the wrong way from the moment they had met, and in all the years he'd known her those feelings hadn't changed. Sara was very fond of her aunt, but Cade couldn't shake the feeling that the woman may have had a hand in keeping Sara's mother away. He shook his head vigorously. He was always suspicious of people's motives. Must be the lawyer in him, but if he didn't answer the phone she'd be over in a flash.

“Hello.”

“Oh, Cade, I thought you'd be at work by now.”

I bet you did.
Cade rubbed the spot between his eyes. Helen was a manipulator. She played with Sara's head when he wasn't around, only Sara couldn't see it, or she simply refused to. Piling on the guilt was another quality the old bat wasn't afraid to use. He had held his temper until one Sunday afternoon. Coming over and badgering him to join the church had been the last straw. Cade bluntly told the woman to take her religious views elsewhere. He'd pray to his maker on his own time. Since that day, he had fallen way below Helen Martin's standards. Not that he had been high up on the list before. His notorious high school sex frolics had placed him at the bottom years ago.

Cade counted to ten and asked as nicely as he could without sounding like a bastard, “What can I do for you?”

A long, drawn-out sigh reached his ears and made the fine hairs on the back of his neck bristle. What the hell was it about this woman that bugged him? A strict upbringing with a wooden spoon applied to his backside had taught him and Reese to respect their elders, but all he wanted to do was smack the woman upside the head.

“I want to speak to Sara.”

Sorry, but that ain't happening.
“She went to the grocery store. I fell last week so I've been home.” Shit, he hadn't meant to tell her that much. Now that he opened the door she was going to move right on in.

“Sara should have told me.”

And there was that demanding tone of voice irritating him once again. Along with wanting to know every little detail of their marriage, she'd always find fault in whatever Sara did. She may have been around when Sara had been growing up, but Helen Martin really needed to get a life.

“I'm fine. It's just a sprained wrist. I fell down the porch steps last week. It was my fault for not watching where I was going.”

“I'll be right over.”

“No,” Cade shouted into the mouthpiece and winced. “I mean, don't bother.” Well hell, that sounded even worse.

“Excuse me?”

“We're fine. Sara has everything under control. There's no need for you to worry.” Poking her nose where it didn't belong was more like it.

“What if she needs help with lifting something heavy? You are obviously in no shape to offer assistance.”

Cade tensed. “Reese can handle the heavy lifting if it's needed.”

“Oh, yes, your brother,” she replied, her tone dripping with disdain. “You two are very close.”

Cade looked up at the ceiling as if searching for patience. He didn't find any. “Look, Ms. Martin, let's lay it on the line. I know you dislike me and aren't happy about the fact that I married your niece.”

“Dislike isn't a word I'd use, Mr. Dalton. I detest you. You and your brother's sexual exploits are legendary in this town. You two may have done most of your atrocious behavior in California, but you left quite a mark here before leaving. My niece married you without my blessing.”

“And that just pisses you off, doesn't it?”

“Mr. Dalton!”

Cade bit back a few choice words. Out of respect for Sara he'd keep his opinions to himself, but nowhere in that little speech did Helen add that the women had been willing and no one had gotten hurt. “There's no need for you to come over. I'll let Sara know you called.”

“Well, I suppose that's it then.” It was more of a statement than a question, and Cade could almost see her nostrils flaring. Helen Martin never did like to be told what to do. He bit out a terse “goodbye” and hung up without waiting for a response.

He ran a hand through his hair. Caroline Martin had hurt her daughter badly. Her sister-in-law had stepped in, and between her and her brother, they managed to raise a beautiful and kind-hearted young woman. Cade had no clue how that had happened and he wasn't about to try and figure it out. Right now his sole focus was on what exactly his wife was hiding. He'd handle Helen Martin in due time.

He went back into the kitchen and poured himself another cup of coffee only to slam the cup down with a bang. Damn! Only six months into the marriage and she was already hiding her feelings from him.

Not too long ago he and Reese had given up trying to find a woman willing to share their lives and had tossed around the idea of delving into the BDSM lifestyle. Cade was a natural Dominant. There had been plenty of women in California, but no matter how hard they had tried not one was able to hold a candle to Sara. She held a special place in their hearts.

They had both caught glimpses of her during their holiday visits, and she had gone from being the girl next door to the woman of their dreams. Maybe a woman with two husbands was outside the norm, but life was to be lived and not spent worrying about what other people thought. Only Sara didn't want two husbands, and he wasn't about to push her into a lifestyle she didn't want. He had been willing to do anything for her as long as she agreed to marry him. What could have possibly been a wonderful life had been ruined by people's ignorance and her mother's betrayal.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Head of the Household was a far cry from BDSM, but it still involved a degree of discipline and submission. It was time to dish out some well-deserved punishment. Cade's finger hovered over the speed dial on his cell. He needed to deal with her disobedience now before it really got out of hand. Since his injury he had entertained an idea on how to deliver a punishment, but a twinge of doubt had always held him back. Now he was ready to put that plan into action but still found himself praying he was doing the right thing. If he was wrong, he could possibly end up losing the most important person in his life.

 

 

Sara turned into the parking lot of the Grab ‘n' Go and shut off the engine. She rested her forehead on the steering wheel. Maybe if she banged her head against it a few times it might give her an answer. What in the world was she going to do? Cade had been right. There was something weighing heavily on her mind, and she didn't have the nerve to tell him because it involved his brother.

She closed her eyes and groaned. Reese was hot. He had it all. Muscular build, handsome face and a square jaw that appeared as if it had been carved with a meticulous hand. The tattoo embellished on one of his bulging biceps gave the impression of a badass, but the teasing sparkle in his deep blue eyes contradicted such a disposition.

He was a lawyer also, but a suit and tie wasn't his thing. His long blond hair was usually tied back with a piece of leather, and the closest he had come to looking professional was a pair of dress slacks and button-down shirt. Both Cade and Reese were tall and wide shouldered with slim waists and long legs. Where Cade was dark in both appearance and personality Reese was light and easygoing. The two brothers complimented each other and had supposedly melted plenty of female panties during their years in high school. She had been well aware of the gossip about their sexcapades, but that's all she had thought it had been…gossip.

But then years later when she saw the Dalton boys walking into the restaurant where she worked with a blonde sandwiched between them her heart had plummeted. Her aunt had been right. The two people who had protected her from nasty gossip so long ago turned out to be exactly like the men who had convinced her mother to leave a husband and small child behind. Sara knew deep down that it was wrong to take out her bitterness on Cade and Reese. As a young girl, they had been her protectors, as an adult, her childhood adoration had turned into desire. She wanted Cade as her friend, her lover, and the person she'd spend the rest of her life with.

Sara had been pleased to learn that Cade returned her feelings. He gave her whatever she needed. She had bared her soul to him one night, telling him that she wanted to be disciplined by a man, but a Dominate-submissive relationship wasn't her style. Whips and handcuffs weren't in her comfort zone. She was a very independent woman but craved a man's firm hand on her backside. Just the thought of being turned over his lap sent her pulse racing. Why she hadn't a clue. Perhaps it had something to do with her childhood and the lack of discipline in her life. Cade had suggested a Head of the Household agreement. The HOH took care of the financial responsibilities and was the disciplinarian. Sara readily agreed. She'd had enough of responsibility to last her a lifetime. Now all she had to do was stop analyzing every thought that popped into her head and let Cade take care of things.

Life had been going along just fine until Cade fell and hurt his wrist. Reese would stop by once in a while, but now he was constantly dropping in and out of the house. Although Sara appreciated his concern for Cade, she couldn't take the frequency of his visits anymore. She finally admitted to herself that she wanted Reese as well as Cade.

Was it morally acceptable to love two men? Lord knows her Aunt Helen would have a stroke. The woman spouted words from the Bible constantly. She even tried to sway Cade into her way of thinking, but he had set her straight on numerous occasions.

Sara blew out a breath. No matter how much her aunt preached about the sins of the flesh, the thought of being sandwiched between two hotties like Cade and Reese was overwhelming. Reese's relaxed manner and sense of humor was hot, and Cade's authoritative, take-charge attitude sweetened the pot. Cade expressed his love in many small ways. All he wanted in return was her love and honesty. She was never ever to lie to him. The consequences would be dire.

He didn't mind that she worked at the Grab ‘n' Go convenience store. He understood her need to earn her own money. It might not be much, but she felt as if she was contributing something to the household. Cade had shown her time and time again that her happiness was all that mattered to him. She had a wonderful, caring husband to come home to, so why was she blowing it all to hell? She shook her head. She had to talk to someone before she exploded.

Sara grabbed her purse and keys and hurried inside the store. She nodded at the blonde behind the counter. “Hey, Stacy, where's Jen?”

“She called in sick,” Stacy replied. “I didn't have classes today so I'm covering both shifts.”

Sara nodded and headed toward the cereal aisle where she found the new manager, Melanie Horan, chatting with her husband Jack while she bounced their baby boy on her hip. The woman's stunning blue eyes lit up. “Hey, Sara. What are you doing here on your day off?”

“I need more cereal. I swear since Cade's been home I can't keep a full box in the house.” She tickled Jack Jr.'s chubby cheeks. Delightful giggles filled the air. The little boy's blue eyes widened as big as saucers and he kicked out with his feet. She laughed. “He's such a delightful little boy.”

Jack wrapped his arm around Melanie's shoulders. “Of course he is, look who he has for a mother.” Jack Jr. reached for his dad.

Mel's cheeks turned red at the compliment as she handed the wiggling baby over to her husband. “Are you saying I'm delightful?” Jack flashed a grin and she patted his jaw adoringly. “You weren't saying that when I was in the hospital giving birth.”

Jack's expression grew somber. “No, I didn't, did I? I apologize, but I had to keep my mouth clamped shut otherwise the entire hospital would have heard me screaming. You just about crushed my hand with each contraction.”

Sara poked his arm, wincing when she came up against hard muscle. “Wuss.”

Mel ran her gaze over her baby from the top of his dark head to his little sneaker clad feet. “Yes, the pain was intense, but worth it.” She tickled the exposed skin of his belly and was rewarded with another shriek of giggles.

Sara grinned at the couple. Jack was a retired state trooper and one hot, sexy guy. Melanie was a sweetheart and fast becoming a good friend. Lord knew she could use one right now.

Jack kissed Melanie then lifted his son's shirt and planted a loud smooch on his belly. More giggles. “Come on, sport. Mommy needs to get back to work. Let's go agitate the guys at the barracks for a while then we'll head home and start supper.” He swung Jack Jr. up in the air and set him on top of his shoulders. “Tell that clumsy husband of yours to give me a holler if he needs any help.”

“I will, Mr. Mom.”

Jack arched a brow mock-sternly, but Sara knew better than to be scared. Jack dressed in ratty jeans and a cotton t-shirt was a far cry from what he had looked like in uniform. Jack Horan had frightened her near to death the first time he walked into the store in his state trooper regalia. Stern and foreboding. Melanie had been the one to put that smile on his face and the permanent sparkle in his green eyes. Sara loved living next door to Mel and Jack Horan. They were wonderful neighbors and all-around good people.

As soon as Jack was gone Sara whispered fiercely to Mel. “If I don't talk to someone I'm going to disintegrate into a pile of ashes.”

Mel chuckled. “Come on, it can't be that bad.”

Sara pursed her lips and cocked her head.

“Okay, I take that back. My inventory is finished. I just need to send in the order for Wednesday.” She went up to the counter. “Stacy, if you need me I'll be in the office.” She waved to Sara. “Grab a cup of coffee and come on back.”

Sara sat in the small office and studied her friend's face. “You look and sound so happy. I don't know how you handle this manager's job. The six weeks you were out on maternity leave I couldn't wait until you came back. Figuring out schedules, calling in orders, and handling annoyed customers drove me crazy.” She pointed at the pile of lottery tickets on the desk. “Not to mention the lottery.”

Mel grimaced. “I don't mind the job, but this lottery can be a pain in the ass at times. I counted these dratted things three times and got three different totals. I thought if I stepped away for a while and finished the inventory I might be able to straighten it out. It's really not so bad though. I admit I can't wait to get home to my boys, but working here keeps me busy. This way I don't dwell on my depression.”

Sara was thoughtful for a moment. “No one would believe you had depression just by looking at you.” She swallowed the rest of her drink and threw the Styrofoam cup into the trash.

Mel shrugged her shoulders. “Well, I do and it's not going away so I have to deal with it.” She took a sip of coffee and set the cup down on her desk. “Now, what's got you so upset?”

Sara propped her elbows on her knees and cupped her chin in her hands. “Do you enjoy the sex act?”

Mel's brows shot up in surprise. “What?”

“Geez, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you something so personal. We haven't known each other that long.”

“No, that's okay.” Mel chuckled. “It's kinda nice to have another woman closer to my age to talk to. Those younger girls have me beat. They could probably teach me a few things.” She tapped her chin. “My first husband was always quick during sex. There was hardly any foreplay. I knew there had to be something more between a man and a woman.” She snorted. “I made the mistake of asking my mother once and she got all up in my face and told me it was my duty to be available whenever my husband needed relief. Mike worked all day and it was my job to see that he was comfortable. It didn't matter that I had been working at the time. After I was diagnosed with depression he stayed away from me altogether.”

“Jack's totally different, isn't he?”

Melanie smiled. “Oh yeah. I love sex with Jack. I love everything about Jack. He's very attentive. He makes sure that I'm satisfied. A big difference between the two men, that's for sure.”

Sara rolled her eyes. “My aunt told me that sex is only for procreation. She also said women weren't supposed to enjoy it. I admit the guys in the past proved her right about the enjoyment part, but Cade is so good. I feel wild and sexy when I'm with him.”

“There's nothing wrong with liking sex, Sara. Is this what you wanted to talk about?”

“Not really.”

“Then what else is bothering you?”

“Since Cade hurt his wrist, Reese has been coming over to the house more than ever and it has to stop.” There she'd said it.

Mel arched a brow in surprise. “Reese seems like a nice guy. He's always pleasant when he comes into the store.” She chuckled. “Stacy admits she drools whenever she sees him. With that long blond hair he looks like Thor. I swear that girl keeps tabs on all the hot guys that come in here.” She frowned. “What's up? I was under the impression the two of you were pretty close.”

Sara's shoulders drooped. The problem was she wanted to get closer. “We get along fine. Before Cade and I were married he had suggested a threesome with Reese, I was so angry I refused to speak to him for a while. He knew how much the gossip about my mother hurt me emotionally.” She sighed. “He was so contrite, sending flowers every day even though I wouldn't take his calls. Finally, I couldn't ignore him any longer and we went out on a date. He had made a mistake and swore he wouldn't make it again.”

Cade had taken her to dinner and they ended up dancing the night away. They had a glorious time, but during the drive home Cade had become quiet. He parked the car and before Sara could ask him what was wrong he jumped from behind the wheel and rounded her side. She was pulled from her seat and marched none too gently to the front door of her house. Once inside, he had made it clear that he intended to punish her for refusing his calls. In one fluid motion he had her over one knee. That had been the very first spanking she had ever gotten in her life, and although she couldn't sit comfortably for the next two days, Cade Dalton had awakened a need in her she never knew existed.

“Okay, you fell in love and all is well, so what does Reese have to do with anything?” Mel asked.

Sara broke away from her musings. “No, all is not well. I think I'm falling in love with Reese too. This is my brother-in-law we're talking about. Isn't that sick? I truly hate my mother for choosing to be with two men and now I want the exact same thing. I put Cade through hell. I made him miserable until he swore he wouldn't push me into a threesome and now it's what I want.”

“Just tell him what you told me,” Mel said softly. “I'm sure he'll understand.”

“He's been through so much these past few weeks. I know I should be honest with him, but I'm too nervous. Things were a lot simpler before Cade fell. Now Reese is constantly around helping out. I adore him, but every time I see him I want to jump his bones. I want both men.” She stood up and paced the small office. “I can't go on this way. I'm downright bitchy to Reese, and Cade is always asking what's wrong. I keep sidestepping the issue. He's been patient with me so far, but I know it's not going to last for long.” She sat back down. “It's been twenty-one years since my mom left. Cade suggested that I ask Aunt Helen if she knows where mom is and find out firsthand why she left instead of listening to all of the gossip.”

“Sounds like good advice to me. Did you ask your aunt?”

“Yeah. She claims she doesn't know, but Cade's convinced she's lying. Cade wouldn't have a problem finding my mom if I asked him to. It'd just be quicker if Aunt Helen told me.”

“Cade's right,” Mel replied. “Sometimes it's best to listen to the other side of the story, although I can't imagine a mother wanting to abandon her child.” Mel blew out a breath. “As for you, you need to stop trying so hard to please everyone else and focus on doing what you want to do. Talk to Cade about your feelings for Reese.” She paused for a moment. “Would this be a one-time thing?”