Promises of Mercy(Montana Promises-Book 1) (12 page)

He followed her inside. Stone had described her place as being neat but rather minimal. To him, it had more charm than he’d anticipated. What looked like child paintings were neatly framed on the wall and
made the place cozy.

He nodded toward a particularly vivid one to the left of the television. “Your artwork?”

“No.” She smiled, but her chin shook. The memory must have been bittersweet. “Regina Drake painted it. She was only eight when leukemia claimed her. Bravest little girl ever. These paintings help me stay grounded.”

“Nice.” He walked up to one of a bird flying in front of the sun. “I like this one. It’s happy.”

“Me, too.” Once more, she drew her gaze downward.

A painted rock sat on an end table. The brightly color
ed frog drew his eye.

“Holly Mitchell painted that.”

“Nice.” He loved how she seemed to cherish the ties she’d made with her patients, yet there was an awkwardness he wanted to wash away. “Got any of that coffee?”

Her shoulders rose and her eyes widened. She was such an innocent little thing.
Damn
. He enjoyed making love with an eager woman, but what would Amber be like? She was a tiger when it came to the care of her patients, but given her history, she might be shy in bed. The real question was whether she’d agree to be with him. Six hours ago she’d glared at him with an intensity that still bothered him.

He probably should walk out, but damn it, being with her was inevitable—at least if he had a say so. After what they shared tonight, they both deserved some happiness.

He followed her into the kitchen and leaned a hip against the counter. With incredible efficiency, she fixed a teapot for herself, filled up the coffeemaker with a blend from Starbucks, and then added the water.

“
Do you drink coffee?” He’d only seen her order tea.

“No, but
I keep it because Jamie and Ben like it.” Her breath hitched. “And now Stone.”

He hadn’t known
she was so close with those two. He’d spoken with Jamie during the Emma Luther investigation, and Ben Ford was one of the pharmaceutical technicians. “You see them often?”

“Yes. They come over all the time. The
four of us watch movies, eat popcorn, and on rare occasion, get drunk.”

“The four of you?” The missing person couldn’t have been Stone. The timing wasn’t right. A streak of jealousy raced up his spine.

“Chris and me.”

He relaxed back, hoping she hadn’t seen a change in his demeanor. “I’m sorry.”

“Me, too.” Tears shimmered on the brim of her eyelid. She looked so lost. So lonely.

Something inside him broke
, and he closed the gap between them. He gathered her in his arms, and when she didn’t stiffen, some other part of his anatomy did.

You’re a pig, Cade Carter
. She needs time to heal.

He couldn’t help it. No man could resist her. It was in his genes to give comfort.

No, it’s in your genes to right the wrong your father caused.

Well, Amber brought out his better side. Her slightly curly hair flowed around her delicate face and her eyes appeared almost too big. Add in a perfect mouth, small pointed breasts, and he didn’t want to stay away.

She leaned back and he let go. “Um, cream?” she asked.

“No. Black. Stone’s the cream man.” He smiled. “A real wuss.”

She opened her mouth. “No, he’s not.”

He laughed. Amber
poured him a cup and handed it to him. Once she fixed her tea, she led them back to the living room. So as not to make her uncomfortable, he sat in the chair opposite the sofa. Never before had he been at a loss for words.

Tell her about you and Stone
.

She sipped her tea. “Are the police going to do anything about protecting our patients?”

While he needed to discuss Stone, if her thoughts were focused on the case, he wanted to remove her concern. “I plan to set up a task force. There will be a few uniformed officers—probably one on each floor—but I want to have several people go undercover, too.”

She blew a breath over her tea. “That would be wonderful.”

For the next minute, they both seemed lost in thought. It was time to tell her. “Amber, we need to talk.”

Chapter Twelve

Amber
stilled. She had no idea what he wanted to discuss, but right now her mental acuity was shot. “Talk about what?” Her heart thudded. She didn’t like his serious tone.

“I want to discuss Stone and me. What we want. What we like.”

Oh, my God
.
He’s gay
.
Shit
. This couldn’t be happening again. First Rich, then Stone and Cade. No wonder Stone didn’t want to spend the night with her.

You’re a nurse. Nurses don’t jump to conclusions
. “What do you want?” She was pleased she’d managed to keep her voice steady. Inside, her stomach was flipping.

“First, let me ask you this. Do you like Stone? Really like him?”

Her pulse raced. “You know I do.” But did it matter about her needs if he was gay?

“I’m glad. You’ve lived in Rock Hard for a year. Are you aware of the large number of ménage relationships?”

Her heart pounded. “Yes.” Zoey had mentioned she’d been in one—sort of.

“Great, because
Stone and I like to…
share
.” He wove his fingers together, and this time he was the one with the slight tic around his eye.

Share
. She sank back into the sofa. Thank goodness it wasn’t what she first thought, but the idea of the same woman appealing to both Stone and Cade seemed unlikely. In the beginning, Cade had been distant and Stone had been so kind. She hadn’t thought the two could even be friends, let alone like the same person.

Say something.

“You do?” She didn’t know why she needed to repeat what he’d just stated.

“Yes. Does that bother you?”

Why was he gazing at her so intently? What if she said it didn’t bother her? Would he think she was a slut? Stone probably had told him how she’d begged him to make love to her. Cade would know his roommate had turned her down. Her ego couldn’t take two rejections. Not now.

“No, though you should know, I’m not that kind of woman.”
Then why is your heart racing?

He stood, moved in front of her, and held out his hand. “Come here, Amber.”

She didn’t want to obey, but she couldn’t help it. Placing her hand in his, she let him pull her to a stand. His crystal blue eyes penetrated her deeply. Conflict collided. Part of her wanted to feel Cade’s strength and warmth inside her. He had such a strong direction in life and seemed to know what he wanted. And she’d like for him to guide her there. But was it wrong to want him when she had such affection for Stone? Did it matter since they shared?

Cade seemed to believe it was okay, but could she handle both men? Her insides contracted and spasmed. Her body seemed to betray her mind.
Is this what you want?

God, she was so confused.

Amber had never been good with any man, let alone two. The stronger he appeared, the weaker she became. With her patients, she was aggressive, firm, helpful. But when it came time to care for her own needs, she faltered. Her friends said it was her mother’s fault, but she knew better. She just needed more strength.

With the way his gaze
bored into her, he did seem to want her. She swallowed hard. “If you and Stone share, tell me exactly how that works.” Her comment wasn’t just to stall. She wanted to know.

The corner of his lip
s lifted. “How do you think it works?” He moved closer. His hips and lips were inches from her.

Her insides clenched with what she could only identify as lust. He was much taller than she was, forcing her to look up.

“I know what a ménage is by definition, but I’m not sure how you deal with it. Do you ever get jealous of one another?”

“Only if Stone monopolizes the woman too much. But the details aren’t important right now.” He cupped her face. Panic and excitement rushed through her. “Rest assured we will never do anything to make you uncomfortable, though we might push your boundaries a little every once in a while.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond. After the devastating blow from Rich, this past year had been one of soul cleansing—figuring out who she was and how to best achieve her goals. While she’d dated a few men in Rock Hard, she hadn’t slept with any of them. It hadn’t felt right. When Stone had given her so much comfort, she’d been drawn to him. And now she wanted Cade.

He
leaned closer. “Resistance is futile, sugar. I can tell by your eyes you want me.” His hand reached up and brushed a thumb across a distended nipple poking through her shirt.

Even though the logical side of her told her to pull back, she couldn’t. She liked being in his arms, liked being the center of his attention. Her pulse soared and her mouth turned dry. When he told her they shared, Cade had basically removed her only excuse—her feelings for Stone. Still. She had reservations. “Shouldn’t we ask Stone?”

“By all means, but he’s not here. Be assured the two of us have discussed this.”

When?
A few hours ago, he didn’t even like her, thought her a murderer, but she didn’t question him because she wanted to believe what he said was true.

Cade placed his hands on her waist and moved her backward until her knees hit the sofa. Time and the tea had sobered her—but Cade had confused her all over again.

She dropped onto the cushion and looked up at him. “I don’t do casual very well.” That came out wrong. “I mean, I’m not the type who sleeps with a man—or two—unless I think there is hope for something more.”

He sat next to her, their thighs touching, and her heart raced. He lowered his head
, and when she thought he might kiss her, her tongue darted out in anticipation of tasting him. That was what she really needed.

In one smooth move, he lifted her hips and dragged her onto his lap. His arm supported her back as he leaned over and kissed her. Thoroughly, sweetly, wonderfully. He was hungry, but then so was she, and as much as she wanted to dart in and devour him, Cade was in command. The thought made her even wetter—made her forget everything except him.

As his tongue slickened her closed lips, his hard cock pressed up against her bottom. “Let me in, sugar.”

She opened for him. Her tongue reached out to make contact, but he dove in first. The brush was slow and sensual and unyielding. From the way his breath sped up, he needed her as much as she needed him. That heady knowledge gave her the confidence to caress his face. He groaned as soon as her fingers stroked his cheek.

He pulled back, his lips slack, his eyes dreamy. “I want you.”

She stilled and sat up. This was the moment of truth. “I can’t.” She blurted out the refusal without thinking.

“Sugar?” The devastation in his voice tore at her.

“Be with two men that is.” At least she didn’t think she could be with both at the same time. Her traitorous pussy contracted.

He smoothed the hair out of her face. “I can tell your passions run deep. That you’re the type of woman who needs to be loved by two men.” With her in his arms, he stood.

“What are you doing?”

“Showing you who you really are inside.”

She should stop him, but when he looked down at her with such intensity, it was like bolts of electricity had charged through her body. Other than the sound of his booted heels smacking against the hallway in a hard, even rhythm,
only the blood pounding in her ears registered. She didn’t remember telling him which door was her bedroom, but suddenly he set her on her feet in front of her bed. He’d even managed to flick the wall switch on his way in.

Cade stepped back and ran a lingering gaze over her body. Tingles pricked her skin and she shifted her weight.

“You like it when I look at you, don’t you?”

The thought of him seeing her naked made her even hotter. “It’s uncomfortable.” Disconcerting even, yet exciting at the same time.

He stepped toward her. It had been a long time since she’d been with a real man. She figured he wanted her naked, so she raised her hands to undo the first button on her shirt.

“Sugar.”

The strong command stilled her, and she had to swallow past the lump in her throat. “Yes?” She almost didn’t want to ask.

“I want to be the one to take off your clothes. One piece at a time. I want you to think about what will happen when I have you naked. Vulnerable. Open.”

More spasms rippled between her legs. Never before had she been this excited. Keeping his gaze on her, he pushed the top button through the hole, and his fingers brushed her skin, nearly burning her. When he’d made it halfway down her shirt, she couldn’t take it anymore and reached out to undo his belt buckle. This slow undressing had pushed her too hard.

The second her fingers yanked on the leather strap, it was as if she’d dropped a match onto a pool of accelerant.

“Jesus, Amber. What you do to me.”

His mouth descended and he demanded entrance. She yielded and let his tongue dip and take her. The man tasted divine. Their breaths collided as she ripped off the belt and fumbled with his button and zipper.
Come on, come on.

This was taking too long. She stepped back. “Please, Cade.” She kicked off her shoes and tore off her pants. To her delight, he worked faster than she did.

Was she being hasty? Maybe. But after years of not being wanted, she needed Cade, needed his hard cock.

What seemed like a lifetime later, they were naked, and she soaked him in.
Wow
.  The man was huge. And hard. His vein pulsed from balls to tip. Reality dawned. He’d never fit.

“So beautiful.” His gaze lingered over her small breasts then traveled downward until he stopped at her naked pussy. “I like.” His grin spread wide.

Keeping his gaze on her, he squatted next to his pants and extracted his wallet. When he located the condom, he tore open the package and slipped the rubber on.

Looking regal, he rose and hovered
over her. Every one of her senses shot to high alert.

Cade leaned over and dragged kisses down her neck. “I like the way you smell.” His voice came out husky and full of promise. He reached around her, drew one of her hands forward, and placed it on his dick. “Can you see how much I desire you?”

“Yes.” It was almost too good to be true.

Don’t question it.

With one hand on her breast and the other hand squeezing her rear, he walked her backward. When his cock pressed against her belly, she placed her arms around his neck and kissed him. He moaned in her mouth and her body lit up.

As soon as her rear bumped against the closed door, he dragged her legs open with his foot
, and a torrent of sparks shot between her thighs. Dear God what the man did to her. He’d been an ass, so why was she even here with him?
Because he turns you on
. Deep down, Cade Carter was a good man, but was that enough?

Shut up and take what you want.

Before she had the chance to pull his lips near again, he dropped to his knees and inhaled. “I want to drink in your sweet nectar.”

Now, she was the one to moan. He didn’t give her the chance
to even anticipate the swipe. When his tongue swirled and dipped into her opening, her pulse soared as streaks of pleasure bombarded her. She clamped her hands on his head and dug her fingers into his scalp. When he slid a finger into her, she gasped and rose on her toes. “Cade! Now.”

As if he’d been waiting for her request, he stood and kissed her hard, his thumbs brushing her nipples. He grabbed her ass and lifted her. “Wrap your legs around me.”

Yes!
She did as he asked, crossing her ankles to secure her. To keep from falling backward, she slid her hands under his arms and latched onto his muscular back. She kissed him, exploring his mouth with all the pent up desire she’d suppressed for too long.

He guided his cock between them and dragged his hands down to her waist. The moment his long shaft breached her opening
and slid in an inch, her eyes widened.
Holy fuck
. She was wet, and the slick condom helped, but he was really wide. His girth stretched her to the max.

“Breathe, sugar.”

He then captured her mouth again. Their tongues dueled and parried, and lust catapulted over the edge. She sank down onto him taking his entire cock inside. She tossed all objections away, and said what was in her heart. “Fuck me hard.”

“My pleasure.”