Kane, Samantha - Brothers in arms 7 (33 page)

Charles could almost see the cogs turning in Knightly’s head. He might be a rude bully, but he was a genius. There was no denying that. “I’ll get him there,” Charles promised.

“And you must bring Mrs. North too, Mr. Borden,” Mrs. Witherspoon added with a smile, pulling Knightly along. Ian Witherspoon stood behind them grinning. He was as polished as Knightly was rough. “We would love to get to know her better.”

Suddenly everyone was saying goodbye and they were ushered to the door before Charles was aware of what was happening. They hardly spoke as the footman hailed a hackney. Gideon eyed the horses critically.

“Just get in,” Charles told him in exasperation before he could start. “You can berate the hackney drivers tomorrow.” After he’d helped both Gideon and Sarah inside he asked, “Where are you staying?”

“Osborne’s,” Gideon told the driver.

“That’s where I’m staying,” Charles said in amazement.

Gideon shook his head. “Of course it is. It’s where you always stay in London.”

Before he could retort, Sarah grabbed his hand. “Oh, if only we were more private. I want to climb into your lap and eat you up. I missed you so much.”

“And that is why we are all staying at Osborne’s,” Gideon replied drily. “We shall be conveniently located for lap sitting and eating up.”

* * * * *

Sarah gasped as he slipped inside her. Gideon had to pause and breathe deeply for a moment. It was more amazing than he’d imagined. Charles was already filling her back passage, pressing against Gideon as he pushed fully into her. She moaned as he came to rest.

“Are you all right?” Charles asked in a rough voice. “You feel so bloody tight.”

Sarah nodded jerkily. She straddled Gideon, their position mirroring what they’d done less than a week ago when Gideon was the one between them. He’d loved that, loved being inside Sarah while Charles was inside him. But he loved this too. Knowing they were sharing Sarah in the most intimate way possible, truly being together, connected in such a basic way. One, where before they were three.

“Talk to me, Sarah,” Gideon growled. As wonderful as it felt, if she was uncomfortable they’d stop. They had a lifetime to work up to this. They didn’t have to 174

Love’s Fortress

rush into it tonight. But it felt right. There had been no hesitation on her part. She’d wanted them both inside and had told them so.

A tear slid down her cheek and Gideon cursed and started to pull out, but she shook her head. “No, Gideon. I’m crying because it feels so good to have you both this way.” She wrapped Charles’ arms around her and held tightly to his hands while she rested her cheek against his chest. She pressed down slightly and the movement pushed the tip of his cock against Charles’.

Charles shuddered and Gideon could feel it inside Sarah. He could feel Charles move inside her. He gasped at the shock and wonder of it.

“Promise you won’t leave us again, Charles,” she whispered. “I couldn’t bear it.”

“I came to London to buy a horse,” he said sheepishly.

Sarah’s eyes flew open. “What?”

Charles looked at Gideon apologetically over her shoulder. “There’s an Arabian here, another one from von Fechtig’s stables. I came to buy it for you.” He shook his head. “I never imagined you’d believe I’d left for good.” He frowned. “I’m not happy about it, actually. Did you really think I’d give this up?” He thrust into Sarah and she and Gideon caught their breath. “I’ll never willingly walk away from you two,” he vowed roughly. “You’ll have to kick me out.”

“I’ve tried that,” Gideon said with amusement. “It didn’t work.”

Charles pulled out and as he slid back in Gideon pulled out just as Charles had explained before they started. “Bloody hell,” Gideon growled. It felt so good he saw stars. The press of Charles’ prick sliding down his and then back up… Hell, he could feel the full lip of the head as it caught on his. He shuddered. “I’m not going to last.”

“You better,” Charles ground out in challenge. “You’ll hold out until Sarah comes.”

Sarah was shaking like a leaf. “I won’t either,” she said breathlessly. “To have you both inside me at the same time is the most wondrous thing I’ve ever felt.” She looked down at Gideon. “It’s like velvet and diamonds.” He smiled in understanding and then arched his neck as he and Charles passed inside her again.

“What?” Charles asked. He sounded almost grim as he spoke through clenched teeth. Gideon was glad to know he wasn’t the only one on the edge already.

“A fantasy,” Sarah gasped. “I fantasized about rolling around in black velvet dropping diamonds from my hands. It was the most decadent thing I’d ever thought of.

But this surpasses it.”

Charles pressed her forward so that she fell onto her hands beside Gideon’s shoulders. Gideon’s angle changed, and he could tell from Sarah’s groan that he was now pressing against her clitoris as Charles drove his prick more forcefully into her along Gideon’s. Damn if Charles wasn’t good at this. Gideon grinned. “Did you ask someone about this too?” he asked.

“Yes,” Charles growled. “If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right.”

175

Samantha Kane

Sarah couldn’t catch her breath. Her face was right over his and Gideon could see the rapture of her expression, her intense concentration. She had her eyes closed. He slid out and in, keeping pace with Charles, watching her growing excitement.

“Yes, Sarah,” he whispered. “Come for us, darling. Let me see it, feel it. And then we will come for you.”

She nodded. He saw her shoulders relax and her walls trembled around his cock.

Charles cursed. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she looked panicked. “Kiss me, Gideon,” she cried out.

He reached up and grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her down for a kiss that was rough and all-consuming. As soon as his tongue swiped into her mouth she gave a muffled cry and began to come. Her hands moved to grip his shoulders, her nails digging in, and she groaned as her pulsing sex squeezed him so tightly he couldn’t move.

“Sarah,” Charles groaned. His prick started to jerk in her behind and Gideon felt Charles’ release, felt the overwhelming heat blossom on the other side of the thin wall separating them.

He came. How could he not? The moment was tender, erotic, fulfilling. All the things he’d dreamed Sarah would bring to them. He broke their kiss with a gasp and buried his face in the curve of her neck, holding on tightly as he spilled inside her with Charles. He never wanted this moment to end. And it wouldn’t. He would have this forever now. His head dropped back on the bed behind him and Sarah collapsed on his chest.

When his tears fell he wasn’t ashamed. He lay there and felt the cool tracks of them on his temple. He felt a similar wetness on his chest where Sarah lay.

“What’s this?” Charles asked quietly. He moved and Sarah squirmed on top of Gideon. Then she sighed and let out a little hiccup. “Why are you both crying?” Charles whispered.

“I never thought to have this sort of happiness,” Sarah said tearfully. “To have not just one man but two love me so thoroughly. To belong to someone at last.”

“Yes,” Gideon said. “Yes. To belong to someone at last.”

Charles climbed from the bed and returned a moment later. He cleaned Sarah with a cloth and then climbed into bed beside them. He tucked a strand of Sarah’s hair behind her ear and then tweaked Gideon’s earlobe. “From the moment I met you, Sarah, I knew you were the one.” Gideon turned to look at him and Charles wiped a tear off his cheek with his thumb. “I knew that you would bring us together. That you would break through Gideon’s defenses at last and make everything work.”

Sarah slid off Gideon and he missed her warmth. But he couldn’t be upset as she climbed on Charles with a sob. Charles shushed her with laughter in his voice. “I knew the minute I saw Gideon that my life would never be the same. I had the same feeling when we met you.”

176

Love’s Fortress

Gideon nodded and soothed a hand down her back. “I
had
built up my defenses.

You’re right, Charles. I wasn’t letting you or anyone else in. But Sarah chipped away at that until I couldn’t resist anymore. And suddenly the gates were open and there was no turning back.”

“I want to go home,” Sarah sniffed. “I came to London. I did it. But I don’t like it here and I want to go home to the farm. Where we are strong together and we are building something. Something wonderful.” She looked at Gideon from the shelter of Charles’ arms. “You shall get a better leg and a new Arabian and then you are taking me home.”

“Yes,” Charles and Gideon said at the same time. All three of them laughed. “Yes,”

Gideon tried again. “We shall go home. You told me that our house was filled with love and I was at the center of it. But you are, Sarah, darling, and I want to watch you blossom there. I want to make a future there with you and Charles.”

“A future I have waited a very long time for,” Charles said quietly.

Gideon leaned over and kissed Charles’ shoulder. “Your wait is over,” he whispered. He could feel the twinkle in his eye. “My defenses are down and the gates are open,” he added with a heavy dose of innuendo.

Charles caught the back of his head and dragged him close while keeping the other arm wrapped around Sarah. “Good,” he whispered against Gideon’s lips. He softly kissed him. “Because I find that I really, really like being in the back, no matter who’s in the middle.”

Gideon laughed softly as Sarah exclaimed “Charles!” and hit him on the chest. Then she snuggled up to him. “I’ll let Gideon be in the middle next time, but then it’s my turn again.”

Both men laughed, but the look they exchanged was heated. “I agree,” Gideon murmured, and Charles nodded.

“And when we get home, it’s Charles’ turn,” Sarah said with a wicked smile at Gideon.

“I agree,” Gideon said again, staring at Charles.

“Absolutely,” Charles replied. “And about time.”

177

Samantha Kane

“I’m going to have a baby,” Sarah told Anne without preamble.

They were in the gazebo watching Charles and Gideon down in the paddock. They were arguing over a horse, of course. Gideon was too soft on them according to Charles, and Charles was too hard on them according to Gideon. She smiled. She didn’t mind the fighting. The making up was extremely enjoyable. Fights usually meant Gideon was in the middle. She liked that almost as much as Gideon.

“What?” Anne yelled in astonishment. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sarah turned from watching her men to smile at Anne. “That’s what I’m doing.”

“Have you told Gideon and Charles yet?” Anne asked, coming over to give Sarah a one-armed hug while bouncing little baby Bertie in the other.

Sarah shook her head. “No. I think Charles suspects, but Gideon has no idea.” She glanced over her shoulder as Gideon yelled loudly at Charles. She saw him pointing angrily to the barn and Charles glared back at him, hands on hips.

“Why?” Anne demanded. “You have to tell them.”

“I plan to,” she said. “Tonight.” She turned and put her hands on the railing as Gideon turned and waved. She waved back. He tugged on the lead of the horse he was training and resumed walking it around the paddock. He didn’t even need a cane now.

She was continually amazed at the mobility Derek Knightly’s prosthesis gave him. It was weighted perfectly to Gideon. He said it felt almost like his own leg. His gait was still ungainly, but he looked beautiful to Sarah.

“I am afraid that it is all too perfect,” she whispered.

Down in the paddock the grooms came and took the horses. Charles ran over and put one hand on the top rung as he vaulted over the fence. He started walking backward toward the gazebo, clearly taunting Gideon who calmly walked over and used the gate. Charles stopped and waited for him on the path and threw his arm around Gideon’s shoulders affectionately. They headed toward the ladies with a wave.

“I suppose because it is perfect,” Sarah mused. She hadn’t asked for a good day for a very long while. They came without asking now.

“Yes,” Anne agreed. “Yes, it is.” Anne laughed as they heard the duke hail Gideon and Charles as they walked past Sarah’s bench under the tree where he was reading a book, Mr. Haversham dozing beside him.

Sarah couldn’t wait for them. She turned and dashed down the stairs and ran to meet Gideon and Charles on the path, her arms flung wide.

The End

178

About the Author

Samantha has a Master’s Degree in History, and is a full-time writer and mother.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children.

Samantha welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her
author bio page at
www.ellorascave.com.

Tell Us What You Think

We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at

[email protected]
.

Also by
Samantha Kane

A Lady In Waiting

Brothers in Arms 1: The Courage to Love

Brothers in Arms 2: Love Under Siege

Brothers in Arms 3: Love’s Strategy

Brothers in Arms 4: At Love’s Command

Brothers in Arms 5: Retreat from Love

Brothers in Arms 6: Love in Exile

Cougar Challenge: Play it Again, Sam

Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile II
anthology

Hunters for Hire: Tomorrow

Islands