Van, Becca - Coming Home (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (5 page)

While she was here?
Did that mean they were eventually going to get rid of her? Well, maybe she would just leave before they had the chance to ask her to leave.

“Dinner’s on the stove. I’m tired. I’ll see you in the morning. Night,” Bella said as she walked around the three men and entered the house, leaving them to stand staring after her.

Chapter Four

Bella had spent a restless night, her mind a mass of worries she had no idea how to solve. She had finally come to the conclusion she would learn what she needed to survive, because she had no idea how long she would be trapped in this world. She would learn to ride and shoot. She had every intention of being able to tack up a horse and mount up, in case she ever needed to head on out by herself. She knew that time would come, and she wanted to be prepared. She felt in her gut that her time here was limited but still wanted to know how to look after herself.

Bella was up and about just as the sun began its ascent in the east. She set out the ingredients she needed to make pancakes, as well as strawberry and blackberry jam. She was just placing the last batch onto the griddle when she heard three sets of feet heading down the hall.

“Something smells good, honey,” Marcus purred from behind her.

Bella was surprised when Marcus wrapped his arms around her from behind and gave her a gentle squeeze then placed a kiss on her head.

“Bella, you don’t have to cook for us all the time. You must have spent hours in the kitchen yesterday. We appreciated coming home to a cooked meal and the time and effort you put into all the food you made, but we don’t want you wearing yourself out,” Clint said.

“You think making a few pies is going to wear me out? For the love of…I used to work ten-hour days as a cook and waitress in a popular café that was always filled to capacity. Besides, I was bored out of my brain. I can’t stand sitting around doing nothing. I’m used to being busy.”

“Well, my stomach is very appreciative of your boredom, sweetheart. Thanks for our supper last night and for all the other goodies you made,” Marcus said.

“I’m going to stay here and teach you how to shoot this morning, and then this afternoon I’ll teach you how to tack up and begin your riding lessons,” Adam said. “Tomorrow Marcus will spend the day teaching you, and the day after will be Clint’s turn.”

“I appreciate you all taking the time out for me. Thanks.”

“You don’t have to thank us, Bella. We will feel much more comfortable knowing you can defend yourself, once we have to leave you alone again,” Marcus said as he loaded his plate with pancakes.

* * * *

Clint looked to Adam and Marcus, who both nodded their heads surreptitiously at him. He and his brothers had spent a few hours in the kitchen talking over how they could get through Bella’s defenses. He knew she was the woman of their dreams. They had always been attracted to the same women, but since the few women in the area had always been snapped up before they had even had a chance to begin courting, they’d never really had the opportunity to share a woman. They’d decided that’s what they all wanted a few years back when they had each watched one particular woman being married to a friend on the neighboring ranch. They had seen their friend’s woman from a distance and had been about to approach her, but before they’d had the chance, Rob Sinclair had swept her up into his arms, literally, and carried her away. They’d later found out the two had just become betrothed. They always seemed to be days too late.

Well, they had a woman under their own roof now, and there was no way in hell they were letting her get away from them without a fight. She drew them to her like moths to a flame. Now all they had to do was convince Bella she wanted them as much as, if not more than, they wanted her.

Clint had suggested they each spend time alone with her, using the excuse of teaching her what she would need to know to survive in the rugged wilderness of Texas. They were killing two birds with one stone. They would be teaching their woman skills she needed to defend herself and also getting to spend some time alone with her. They wanted to learn everything they could about Bella. She was such a contradiction of personalities. She was shy but feisty, independent but naive, yet they could see wisdom and pain hidden in the depths of her soul. She was made for them. Now all they had to do was convince Bella she was safe with them, safe to give her body and heart over to them and know she would never come to any harm.

* * * *

After breakfast was over and Marcus and Clint left, Bella collected the dishes and placed them in a sink full of warm, soapy water. She began to wash the dishes but froze, her hands in the sink, as Adam wrapped his muscular arms around her waist. She always felt so small and feminine when they were close to her, and she liked the feeling a little too much.

“Don’t be afraid of me, darlin’. I’d never hurt you,” Adam whispered against the top of her head. She was so tense it was a wonder her spine didn’t snap. “Whose pants and shirt are you wearing today, Bella?”

“Yours,” Bella replied then swallowed audibly.

“Hmm, I thought I recognized them. You look really sexy in my clothes, darlin’, but we are going to have to take you into Big Lake soon so you can get some of your own clothes. Is that my old belt you’re wearing, too?”

“Yes. Clint gave them to me last night. Why? Do you need it?” Bella snapped.

“No, darlin’, it’s yours for as long as you need it. I should let you go so we can finish up in here and get started on your lessons, but I love the feel of you in my arms. I just don’t want to let you go, Bella.”

“Well, you have to,” Bella replied, trying to shrug Adam off of her.

It didn’t work, of course. He just kept on hugging her, until her muscles were too tired to hold herself so stiffly. She didn’t even realize she’d begun to relax and was leaning back into his embrace until she had done it. Adam placed a kiss on her temple, and then he moved to her side and picked up a dish towel. He began drying the dishes as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened at all.

Once the dishes were done and everything was back in its rightful place, Adam led Bella outside around the back of the barn. He set up some small logs of wood on the top of an old tree stump that was being used as a wood-chopping block. He pulled out the gun he had holstered in his gun belt and walked back to where Bella was standing. He came to a stop next to her, picked up her right hand, and placed the gun in her hand.

“This is a Colt Army Revolver. It has six chambers and, if not held correctly, can pack quite a kick. I want you to just get used to the weight of it in your hand, and when you’re ready, I want you to aim down the barrel at the wood and gently squeeze the trigger. I’ll steady you,” Adam said as he walked around behind Bella.

She could feel the heat emanating from his big body. She nearly jumped when he placed his large hands down upon her shoulders, searing her through her borrowed shirt. She took a deep, steadying breath, raised her arm, tried to sight down the gun barrel, and pulled the trigger. The noise was deafening, and it kicked like a mule. It flung her arm up, and she nearly lost her grip on the gun. It reverberated against her eardrums, drowning out all surrounding sounds, including Adam’s voice. All she could hear was a loud, high-pitched squeal until finally her ears began to work again.

“Can you hear me yet, darlin’?” Adam asked, his arms now once more around her waist, his big body plastered to the length of her back. He continued on when she nodded. “You did good, Bella. You just need to take a bit more time sighting your target, and you need to squeeze the trigger slowly. Are you ready to try again?”

Bella nodded once more, too afraid to speak in case her voice came out as a croak or too high pitched. Adam’s hard cock was nestled against her ass, and she had to concentrate real hard to keep from pushing her hips back and wiggling against his crotch. The temptation was nearly more than she could stand. She felt Adam slide his arm from where he’d placed it around her waist, and then his hand was moving down the limb in which she held the gun. He helped raise her arm again, leaning in low, his stubbled cheek up against hers as he helped her sight the small block of wood.

“Can you see the little indent in the top of the barrel near the tip?” he asked.

“Y–yes,” Bella squeaked.

“I put that little nick there so it would help me aim. Line that nick up with the wood and squeeze the trigger nice and slow,” Adam stated.

Bella could hardly comprehend what Adam was saying, let alone get her body to obey her brain’s commands. The feel of Adam’s slightly stubbled cheek up against hers and his big body surrounding her made her panties wet. She couldn’t breathe properly. She was panting, and she could feel her body trembling. She just hoped Adam thought she was more afraid of the gun, because she didn’t want him knowing how his body affected her.

“Calm down, darlin’. I won’t let you get hurt,” Adam rumbled in a deep voice. “Now sight the wood, take a deep breath, and squeeze the trigger.”

Bella did what Adam said. The recoil on her arm wasn’t as bad since she knew what to expect this time, but the booming noise was still just as deafening. She lowered her arm, took a couple of steps back, and turned to face Adam.

“I don’t like guns very much,” Bella yelled, knowing she was doing it but unable to help it since her ears were still ringing.

Adam gave her a smile, took her hand in his, and led her to the wood. “You got it that time, darlin’.”

Bella squinted to where Adam was pointing, and sure enough, she could see the end of the bullet where it had embedded in the thick wood. She gave a squeal of delight and flung herself into Adam’s arms without any thought.

Adam caught her in his arms and picked her up so Bella was face-to-face with him. His grin was every bit as sexy as Marcus’s, but he had slight dimples on each cheek, and his blue eyes twinkled down at her, making her feel hot yet shivery all over. God, he was so damn sexy.

The atmosphere between them thickened. She saw the muscles in Adam’s body tense and his smile changed to a sultry, heated stare. Bella was aware of every inch of his body. His large hands were beneath the cheeks of her ass, supporting her body against his. Her arms were around his neck, her legs around his waist, and her crotch was aligned with his very big, hard cock. She felt her body softening, weeping out copious amounts of juice. She was so turned on by him she was in danger of coming from just one touch. She slowly unwound her legs and wiggled to get down. She gave a sigh of relief when he let her go.

“I think we should start on the horse-riding lessons. We can always come back to the gun later,” Bella said in a voice devoid of emotion. She turned away and headed to the barn doors.

Bella nearly collided with David. He looked like he was in a hurry to be somewhere, so she stepped to the side, allowing him room to pass. She saw his heated stare slide over her body and felt a frisson of unease tingle up her spine, but she kept right on going. She looked at the few horses still in their stalls and wondered which one would be hers to use while she was here. She had no idea about horses and didn’t like the thought of being so far off the ground. She did know the difference between a stallion and a colt, however, and knew the big black horse hanging its head over the stall door was probably Adam’s mount. It was huge, just like its owner.

“This here is Satan. He and I have been partners for the last three years. Haven’t we, boy?” Adam crooned to the big black horse. “Now, if you’ll step this way, I’ll show you the mare I thought would be more appropriate for you.

“This is Star. I know, not a very original name, but you can see why we named her that from the white patch on her forelock. She’s a gentle soul, just right for a beginner. Ain’t ya, lady? Now, this here is Star’s tack. This is the bridle. You just place it over her head like so, make sure the bit’s over her tongue, and buckle up.” Adam talked quietly as he showed Bella how to tack up Star.

He opened the door to the horse’s stall and led her out into the middle of the barn. He dropped the reins on the ground. He led Bella over to a wooden shelf, which held a blanket and saddle. He verbally instructed Bella how to tack up and watched intently as she followed his instructions.

“Are you sure you’ve never done this before, darlin’? You do that as if it’s second nature to you,” Adam said encouragingly.

“Nope. I’ve never been around horses in my life.”

“Well, I wouldn’t know it. Okay, let’s lead her out, and I’ll show you where there’s an old tree stump you can use to mount up.”

Bella followed Adam out into the bright autumn sunshine. She breathed deeply, feeling an affinity with the man, land, and horse. She had never felt so at peace before, and wondered what she would do if she had the chance to go back home.

Adam stopped her and Star next to a wide tree stump, took Star’s reins from her, and held the horse steady.

“Okay, now, you always mount a horse from the left. It’s an unwritten law, so don’t be trying to mount from the right. Star would balk if you did. Grab hold of the saddle horn, lift your left leg, and place your foot in the stirrup, then pull yourself up and swing your right leg over.”

Bella did what Adam said and found herself sitting on top of Star’s back in the saddle. She grinned down at Adam nervously, not sure if she really liked being so high up but loving the feel of the horse between her legs. Star was going to be her freedom. She was determined to learn to ride so she would be able to accompany her men out once in a while, or just go for a ride whenever the desire took hold.