Monroe, Marla - The Hired Hands' Dilemma [The Men of Space Station One #3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (10 page)

When he dropped the transport off and was picking up his horse, Danny and Andrew walked out to find out how Ashley was doing.”

“She’s doing well. She’s nervous about being home, though. I’m sure she’s scared of that thing coming back, or more like it.”

“We’ve been watching for them around here but haven’t seen any.”

“I’ve been thinking about it. They were in the dark in the cellar. Maybe they hunt at night and that one just got hungry and wasn’t going to wait around for dark,” Keeton suggested.

“I guess that is a possibility. I hadn’t thought about that,” Danny said. “Maybe we need to go out at night again a few nights with flashlights and see what we come up with.”

“I’ll come with you when you get ready.”

“You need to stick with your woman until she’s well. You haven’t even had time to have a honeymoon period.”

“Yeah, but calving season is starting up and you’re going to need the help riding the fences. Let me know when you’re going out and I’ll go with you.”

“Sure,” Danny said, with an odd expression on his face. “Um, are you not getting along with her?”

“We’re doing fine. I need to get back over there now. I’ll talk to you later.” Keeton saddled his horse and swung up in the saddle to head home.

He tipped his hat at Danny and took off at a trot, stopping only to open and close the gate. He needed to get back to Ashley and make sure she was okay. He didn’t like her being afraid inside her home. She should feel safe there if nowhere else.

Keeton hurried home and took care of the horse before walking back inside the house through the back door. He found Ashley reading at the table and Boyd cooking chili on the stove.

“It will be ready in another thirty minutes. It needs to simmer some.” Boyd stirred the concoction in the pot that Keeton hoped would be edible.

“Don’t worry, I followed Ashley’s instructions. It should be just fine.” Boyd gave Keeton a pained look.

“Hey, don’t give me that look. Who nearly burned down the bunkhouse, not once, but twice?” Keeton asked.

“Now, boys, don’t fight.” Ashley was grinning.

Keeton glanced at what book she was reading and was relieved that she was reading a gardening book. He wasn’t sure he was up to her discussing sex and ménage over dinner. Vegetables were fine with him. He could handle the gardening books just fine.

“Are we going to have sex tonight?” Ashley asked out of the blue.

Keeton nearly passed out. Boyd chuckled and shook his head at Keeton’s expression.

Chapter Eight

Ashley wasn’t sure why the men were acting like what she asked was so weird. It was a valid question. They’d been together, more or less, for nearly a week now, and hadn’t had sex. Oh, she’d had oral sex, and it had been absolutely wonderful, but it wasn’t true sex. She was still a virgin, for goodness’ sake, a married virgin at that.

“Um, Ashley, we’ll talk about that after dinner tonight,” Boyd told her.

Keeton had vacated the premises, saying he needed to wash up after dealing with the horses. He was avoiding the subject, is what he was doing. Ashley vowed she would have her answers right after dinner even if she had to pounce on them. Hmm, pouncing wasn’t all that bad of an idea.

After dinner, the men did the dishes, though she assured them she could stand on one leg and wash while they dried and put up. Since they insisted on doing it, she relaxed and let them.

As soon as they all went to the living room, she brought up the subject again.

“Ashley, baby. I don’t want to hurt your leg. The doctor said we had to be careful of it for a few days while it heals.” Boyd tried to reason with her.

“The doctor told me that I could have sex as long as I didn’t use my leg. I don’t think there are that many positions where I have to use my leg.” She crossed her arms and directed her attention at Keeton. Keeton seemed to wilt under her stare.

“Why won’t you have sex with me, Keeton?”

“Because you’re a virgin and I don’t do virgins. Boyd has to take your virginity first.”

“Then let me give you a blow job,” Ashley suggested with an innocent expression on her face.

Keeton nearly exploded. “That’s it. No more books for you.”

“We seem to have a dilemma here. I want sex and you won’t give it to me. Should I ask for someone who will?”

Both men gave an emphatic “No!”

Boyd sighed. “Baby, we’re worried about you. God knows we want you something fierce, but you’re hurt. Let’s wait until you’re well so we can take our time and make it special for you.”

“I don’t want to wait. I’m fine,” Ashley said.

“Fine,” Keeton said. “Boyd, you take care of her. Just be careful of her leg.”

“What if I can’t do it?” Boyd asked. “I mean you’re asking me to perform on demand here.”

“I have faith in you. You can do it.”

“If her leg looks okay, I’ll do it.” Boyd finally gave in.

Neither man had noticed that Ashley was crying until they looked up.

“What is it?” Boyd asked, kneeling in front of her.

“Just never mind. I don’t want you making love to me if you feel like you just
have
to do it. I’m not a charity case.”

“Aw, baby. It’s not like that. We’re just worried about you. We think you’re going too fast.”

“I don’t feel a part of you. I want to feel part of a family, and right now, I don’t feel a part of anything.”

“Hell, Ashley. You’re a big part of this family. Without you, there is no family. You bind us together.”

“But sex is the glue that binds, and we haven’t had sex,” she insisted.

“Let’s see how your leg is and after your bath, how you’re feeling. Then we’ll go from there, okay?” Boyd seemed to be trying hard.

“I’m ready for my bath now.” She sniffed and waited for one of them to carry her upstairs.

Keeton picked her up and carried her upstairs to the bedroom. He stood her up on one leg and began to undress her. She didn’t protest or help, and he knew she was truly upset. He soon had her clothes off of her, and carried her to the bathroom, where he sat her on the closed toilet lid while he prepared her bathwater.

Once he had it like he wanted it, he picked her up and sat her in the tub, making sure her wounded leg stayed out of the water. He fixed a towel to lay it on the edge of the tub so it wouldn’t be uncomfortable on the hard porcelain.

“Do you need help bathing?” he asked.

“No, I can manage. Are you going to bathe my leg? He said to bathe it with soap and water, but make sure to dry it really well.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that, but I want to wait until you’re out of the tub for that. I don’t want to contaminate your bathwater.”

Ashley nodded. “I hadn’t thought about that. Okay.” She began to bathe.

“I’ll be outside in the bedroom if you need me. Just call out.” Keeton stood up and retreated to the safety of the bedroom.

* * * *

Even sick and hurt, he wanted her with a vengeance. Her sexy body turned him on and she had almost been begging for sex earlier. The man in him wanted to comply, but the realist in him knew he wasn’t the one to introduce her to sex when it would hurt her the first time. Right then, he wanted to suck her pretty nipples and nip at them until she moaned. His cock was rock hard and in desperate need of release. There was no way he would keep from taking her in the state he was in. He needed some relief before bed.

Some thirty minutes later, Ashley called out she was ready. Keeton walked into the bathroom and carefully lifted her out of the tub to stand her on one foot while he dried her off. Then he sat her up on the counter with her leg over the sink and grabbed a new cloth to clean it. He pulled off the dressing and winced. It hadn’t drained, thank goodness, but it looked sore as hell.

“Go ahead. I know it’s going to hurt some. I can handle it.”

“I wish you didn’t have to, baby.”

He swallowed and turned the water on and adjusted it to warm. He soaped up the wet cloth and gently scrubbed the area until it was a rosy red. Then he rinsed it with the running water until it glistened. He turned off the water and grabbed a fresh towel to pat it dry. Once he felt like he’d dried it well enough, he picked her up to take her to bed.

“We’ll let it air-dry for a while, then put the dressing back on. How about that?” he asked.

“That’s good.”

“I’m going to clean up the mess. I’ll be in the bathroom if you need me.” Keeton retreated to clean up the bathroom. He rolled all the towels up to wash.

“I’m going downstairs to wash these. We’ll put the dressing back on when I come back up.”

“Would you bring a book back when you come?” she asked.

“Sure, baby.”

He escaped downstairs with his load and found Boyd sitting in the living room staring at the empty fireplace.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing. Just thinking. How does her leg look?” he asked.

“Looks okay. It’s not draining. I bathed it and dried it off. It’s air-drying now. Why don’t you take a book up to her, and you can put on the dressing. I’m going to wash these towels.”

“I’m not doing it without you there, Keeton.”

“I know. I’ll be back up in a few minutes. At least get her started.”

Boyd nodded and picked up one of the gardening books to take to her. He disappeared up the stairs and Keeton heard the bedroom door open and shut again. He sighed and headed for the washroom.

* * * *

Ashley fought to control her tears. She felt so alone right then. She needed another woman to talk to. The men were a lost cause. They didn’t understand her need to feel wanted. Not just as a friend, but as a woman. With her leg like it was, she felt decidedly unwanted.

Boyd walked in with a book for her. He smiled and handed it to her.

“Keeton said you asked for one. Can I look at your leg?”

“Sure.” She lifted off the cover.

“It looks much better than it did yesterday. Let’s put the dressing on it now.” He pulled out the bag the nurse had provided and covered the wound with a nonstick pad and taped it down.

“Is that too tight?” he asked, looking concerned.

“No, it’s fine. Thanks. I’ll be glad when I don’t have to wear it anymore, though. It’s itchy.”

“I’m sure it is. It won’t be long, though, the way it’s healing.” Boyd bent down and kissed her.

She savored the kiss because he didn’t pull away. Instead, he licked her lips then sucked on her lower lip. She opened her mouth for him and he plunged his tongue inside, sparring with hers. When he tickled the roof of her mouth, she retaliated by nipping at his tongue. Boyd pumped it in and out of her mouth. He cupped her face with his hands.

One hand left her face and began to play with her nipples. She shivered and he ended the kiss to suck on her other nipple. He licked and sucked, then nipped at it until she was moaning. Then he pinched her other nipple. When he let go, she whimpered as if wanting more.

Boyd moved down her body, licking here and nipping there until she was wiggling under the assault. He was extra careful not to bump her leg. When he reached her pelvis, he sucked and nipped at her hip joints, making sure to leave a mark. Then he reached her pussy and licked a long line up her slit. She moaned and tilted her pelvis for more.