Nobody's Prey [Liberty Springs Wyoming 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “That would be a first.” Colt’s mutter came through loud and clear. Connie chose to ignore it.

  She looked up the steep ravine, slightly surprised when she could barely see the vehicles parked fifty yards away. The weather was moving in fast. “Come on. Let’s get out of here before we all get stuck on the mountain.” She got three steps up the snowy path before she lost her footing and landed flat on her ass. Riding boots were not made for walking in the snow.

  Colt held out his big hand. She nearly refused his help automatically, but he lifted his dark brows and his eyes fairly gleamed. “You can take the hand, or I can throw you over my shoulder and carry you up. It’s your call.”

  She glanced at Beau, but she was getting no help there. In fact, he looked amused as hell at her predicament. Swallowing her pride, she reached out and took Colt’s hand, doing her best to ignore the frisson of pure energy his touch sent shooting up her arm. He lifted her easily to her feet but would not relinquish his hold. She decided to put up with it when she realized that without it she’d only end up back on her ass.

  Only when they reached the trucks did he release it, and she was certain he meant for his forefinger to caress her palm as he did so. The simple touch sent fireworks off in her loins. “Thank you, Colt.”

  “Gracious and all? It’s a shame that sarcasm from you is so deeply ingrained that I can’t tell whether you mean it or not.”

  “I do. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Connie.” The smile that warmed his face tugged at her softer side. She really was hard on them, but if she gave them an inch, they’d take a mile. “You drive safe. We’ll be right behind you.”

  The heater didn’t take too long to defog the windshield and warm her through. She got a mile up the track before she first started to have doubts. The well-worn path had all but disappeared, and visibility had lessened.

  Her UHF radio crackled to life. “I hope you can see more than we can, CJ, ’cause we can’t see shit. We might have to sit this one out.”

  Panic assaulted her. Not at being stranded but at who she would be stranded with. They were only half a mile from one of the hunting cabins that was stocked with emergency supplies all year round, but the idea of being stuck in a one-room cabin, no matter how well-stocked, with the three Prestons for any length of time was panic worthy. She didn’t even want to think how long it might take this storm to blow over. “I’m gonna keep on, Beau. If we can make the main road, we’ll be fine.”

  “I think you’re mad, but we’re right behind you.”

  The third time she lost the road, Connie was forced to admit defeat after ten minutes of spinning wheels and over-revving the engine. Her Ford had bellied out on the gutter and was going nowhere, and she could barely see three feet in the near-whiteout conditions.

  “Come and get in here. We’ll try and make the cabin.”

  Beau couldn’t hear the mouthful of abuse she threw at the crackling radio, but it did make her feel a little better. She whacked the steering wheel in a fit of temper before drawing a deep breath and reaching for the door handle. There was no good in looking around the cab. She had nothing to take but the clothes she was wearing. The rest of her things were in the vehicles that should now be back safely at the Lazy J.

  Beau hopped out and held the passenger door open, and she slid inside. The interior of Colt’s dual cab was warm and smelled like men spiced with leather and horses.

  Josh gave her a grin from where he sat in the back amid their bags and gear. She’d bet her ass they had clean clothes to wear. “I give you ten points for trying, Con, but that truck ain’t going nowhere without some serious help.”

  “I didn’t see you volunteering to push.”

  “Some of us know a lost cause when they see it.”

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Connie was forced to turn her attention forward when Beau slid back in beside her, effectively wedging her between him and Colt.

  Colt wisely didn’t comment, but Connie could see his jaw clenching as he held in some I-told-you-so smart-ass remark. He surprised her by putting the truck in reverse instead of first.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I sure as hell ain’t gettin’ my truck stuck like yours, sweetheart. At the cabin it’s dry, warm, and there’s plenty of food and firewood. The radio there can reach town, and you can make sure everyone got home all right. It’s better than four of us sittin’ in some drift waiting for the weather to break with no food and in serious need of a bath after a few days in the saddle.”

  She hated to admit he was right. She knew her crew would have reached the Lazy J safely. She’d sent them home the moment the first flake had fallen. Danny had been dragged away from his fiancée to drive the truck home hauling the horse trailer. Cody had been more than happy to climb in with the big ex-Ranger for the trip home. She didn’t trust any of the new hands to haul that precious cargo. The thought of them being safely at home didn’t help her personal anxiety. No one there could save her from only God knows how many days stuck with Beau and the twins.

  The cabin wasn’t visible from the road. Only the thick stand of evergreens it nestled behind betrayed its presence. Colt nosed the truck beneath the blue-green branches beginning to bow with their capping of white and cut the engine. The tension in the truck was thick enough to cut with a knife. Colt slid out into the cold. As he turned his collar up, his eyes sparkled. “Suck it up, cupcake. There’s no need to look so worried. We ain’t gonna jump you.”

  Josh huffed as he climbed out and grabbed a few bags. “Speak for yourself.”

  Beau’s enigmatic grin galvanized her to action. She shoved his shoulder none too gently to hurry him up on his way out the door. “Keep these two under control, would you? They’re hard enough to take at the best of times. I don’t know if we’ll survive being confined together.”

  “We’ll do okay.” His lips lifted in a lazy grin, and mischief shined in his light-gray eyes, “Hey, Colt. Make sure you leave the gun in the truck. I won’t have to worry about Connie shooting either of you then.”

  “You’re so funny!” Connie rolled her eyes. “That was sarcasm, Beau. Now get out of my way.”

  It was freakin’ freezing outside after being sandwiched between hot bodies in the truck, and she discovered her leather-soled riding boots had gained no more grip since her last effort trying to walk on snow. She caught hold of the open door before she went ass up. A quick look around proved only the elder Preston had seen her predicament. Colt and Josh were disappearing through the falling snow in the direction of the cabin.

  Beau held his hand out.

  “You gonna threaten to haul me over your shoulder, too?”

  “Hell, we’d both end up on the ground, Con.” He lifted his hand a little higher. “Come on. You know you want to.” There was more than a hint of seriousness in his eyes that didn’t match his teasing tone. His palm was warm and dry, but the first contact sent electricity skating up her arm. Beau’s eyes widened slightly, and she knew the phenomenon had been mutual, but instead of letting her pull away, he meshed his fingers with hers and lifted her hand to his mouth. The brush of his lips was barely more than a whisper against the back of her knuckles. “Damn! I haven’t had that happen since I was a kid.” His slow smile sent blood pounding through her pussy.

  “Static electricity.” Connie tried to shrug it off.

  His jaw rippled, and he shut the door behind her with way too much force. “I’m sick of this shit.”

  He crowded her in against the closed door, his body as unyielding as the pickup truck behind her. He knocked her hat back, and his hand came up to cup her cheek, making her gasp. Her pulse thundered through her veins as his head descended, Beau’s very nearness stealing her wits. He brushed a kiss over her top lip, and his barely audible groan sang through her. The sound was hunger personified and awoke an instant echo from deep within her.

  His second kiss was just as gentle but deeper, with the barest hint of open mouth. Her re
action pulsed through her body. It was like an hour of foreplay jammed into one simple kiss. Her womb fluttered and tightened as if on the edge of orgasm.

  He lifted away slowly. The same wonder she felt was reflected in his eyes momentarily as he ran his thumb over her bottom lip.

  “Pass that off as static, sweetheart.” He stalked away, leaving her standing against the truck.

  Connie rolled her lips in between her teeth, capturing the feel of his kiss still clinging to them.

  Static?

  More like high-voltage power lines. Never had a simple kiss caused her such arousal. She turned and rested her forehead on the truck, willing her fevered flesh to cool.

  Had he just been proving a point, or was there more to it?

  Besides some gentle teasing, Beau had never shown the carnal interest in her that the twins were so free with. Josh and Colt were natural-born flirts, so their attentions never bothered her much, but Beau never played the field. There’d been long-term girlfriends over the years, though none of the relationships had lasted more than twelve months or so.

  Connie had always wondered why. Beau was a great-looking guy, especially when he smiled. He had impeccable manners, natural charm, and knew what fork to use in public. His body was trim and taut despite knocking on forty’s doorstep, and no one ever had a bad word to say about him.

  The twins, on the other hand, thrived on mischief. A lot of women could attest to their sexual prowess, but not one had ever held their hearts. They were thirty-three, just a year older than her, and they still acted like they were twenty-one.

  “Whatcha do to Beau?” Colt spoke from right behind her. He hadn’t made a single sound in his approach. The twins were quiet bastards when they wanted to be.

  Connie released the lips that were still preserving the sensory memory of Beau’s kiss from between her teeth and turned around. Snow clung to Colt’s big frame, and one fat flake had blown under his hat and alighted on his ebony lashes. Concern tempered his usual sexy grin. “Nothing much.”

  His dark gaze locked on her lips once more rolling between her teeth, and Connie fought a blush. She couldn’t help it. Beau’s kiss still burned her senses.

  “If you say so, Con, but let’s get you out of the snow before you freeze that fine ass off. Your nose is starting to turn blue.”

  She’d been oblivious to the cold, but Colt’s reminder made her realize she was shivering and her fingers were numb. He held out his hand, and she took it without argument. There were no internal fireworks at his touch, just a comfortable spreading warmth.

  “Lord, woman, you’re freezing! Come here.” He didn’t give Connie much say in the matter. He pulled her close, snugged her in beneath his arm, and held her tight against him as he headed toward the cabin. “You’re like an ice block. Josh was lighting the fire first thing, so there’ll be hot water in no time. A bath will warm you up.”

  Colt’s big body pressed to hers was doing that quick enough, even with the heavy jackets that separated them. Nerve endings Beau had roused surged to life once more, sensitizing her skin and making her blood feel thick and hot as it coursed through her body. There was no way in hell she would be able to resist if any of the brothers tried for more than a kiss when she was in this state.

  Other than that of the two young cowboys she’d taken to her bed for one night of pleasure, Jake’s touch was the only one she’d known. He’d been a gentle and tender lover. What the Prestons promised was anything but.

  Colt and Josh were active members of the Kat, and the promise of mastery hovered around Beau like dust over a cattle drive. Every fantasy she’d ever had about Beau, waking or sleeping, involved him pinning her, holding her captive, and stealing her free will as he took her deep and hard. A vivid image of his hand roughly gripping her hair as he exposed her neck for the scrape of teeth stole her breath and made her miss a step. Colt caught her easily and swept her up into his arms.

  “What’s wrong with you, CJ? You’re normally like a cat on your feet.” He smiled down at her, a dimple gracing his right cheek. “Not that I’m complaining. Normally, a man would be taking his life in his own hands picking you up like this.”

  “These are smooth-soled boots and the snow’s slippery,” Connie gritted through her teeth, trying to quell the arousal spike making her clit throb. “I can walk, Colt.”

  “But I just love the feel of your hands on me.” His wicked grin made her realize her hand was wrapped around the back of his neck for purchase. She hastily shifted it to his jacked-covered shoulder, but the feel of his warm skin clung to her hand. “Don’t start struggling now. We’re here.” He placed her down on the wooden porch boards. A knowing smile lit his face when he had to steady her. “Damn! There just may be a flesh-and-blood woman underneath all that barbed wire. Get inside and warm up while I cool off.”

  Connie lifted her brows in query. Colt parted his jacket and looked down wryly. The bulge distorting the fit of his saddle-worn jeans pooled more warmth in her lower belly.

  “Don’t bother blushing. I know you’re wetter than the Powder River in flood right now.” His black eyes burned with carnal mischief, pulling her in. “We’ve got at least two days up here, Con. We could scratch that itch for you better than those boys you’ve been bedding ever dreamed of. We’ve got no boundaries, baby. We can take you places you ain’t never been before.”

  “And join the long list of the ‘Twins’ Conquests’? I don’t think so.” Connie pulled away and turned, breaking free of his sensual spell.

  “It wouldn’t just be us, Con. Beau’s always wanted you.”

  Connie’s hand froze on the doorknob, Colt’s casual-sounding admission knocking the wind out of her. That kiss may have cut just as deep both ways.

  “Hell! Don’t tell me you didn’t know either. You two are as bad as each other.” He stepped closer, leaning against the doorframe. His big hand was gentle as he turned her chin to face him. “Jake’s gone, Connie. You both let his ghost hold you back from happiness when there is nothing that Jake would want more than to see you two happy.

  “Live life while it’s here, Connie. You know better than most how fleeting it can be.”

  “That’s pretty deep and meaningful, Colt. Maybe there’s more to you than I thought.”

  “And maybe I just wanna get laid.” His smile was temptation itself as he leaned down and kissed her temple. “Go on, get inside. That water should be hot by now.”

  Connie let herself into the hunting cabin with a heavy mind, kicking her blasted boots off just inside. When she looked up, her eyes opened wide. The cabin had been refitted since she’d last stepped inside its door. She’d heard the twins had updated all four cabins as their second sideline had grown, but this was not what she had expected.

  Colt and Josh had made a name for themselves as unrivalled hunting guides and outfitters. They didn’t do deer or elk, only bear and mountain lion. They claimed there was no pride in hunting things that couldn’t hunt back, unless it was for food. Josh had a small pack of blue-tick hounds for the cat hunts while there was nobody better on bear than Colt. City slickers paid a small fortune to hunt with either of the Preston twins.

  The cabin, however, didn’t fit with the hunting-lodge theme. Polished timber floors gave way to rich pile carpet around the massive four-poster bed. The whole feel was sensual, with contrasting materials and textures that made her want to run her hand over everything. Rather than the mountain-made, rustic armchairs that had once graced it, a full leather chaise sat before the crackling hearth. A new doorway now stood where the old hip tub had hung. Steam emerged as Josh stepped out holding a towel at his waist with droplets of water clinging to his permanently tanned torso.

  “Like the refit?”

  “It’s not what I expected,” Connie admitted, trying to keep her eyes off his heavily muscled chest.

  “We decided to diversify a little. I only have four cat hunts a year, and they’re in winter, and the bow-hunting season for bear is just six weeks, s
o this place sits empty most of the year.

  “Cal and Conner asked if we would be interested in going into business with them and the Marshalls, so we fitted two of the cabins out for comfort, and they’ll hopefully make us a bit of money.”

  “You haven’t had anyone in it yet?”

  “No. The final fittings and décor only arrived last week.”

  “Décor?” Connie quirked her brows with a teasing smile.

  “Hey, I spent two days with an interior designer fighting tooth and nail to keep the place functional as a hunting cabin and still allow enough luxury for the Kat’s guests. Something was bound to rub off.” He cocked his head toward the door he’d just come though. “I’d give you the grand tour, but Beau’s just jumped in the shower.”

  Connie lifted the lid on an ornate sweets jar sitting on the coffee table. It was full of assorted rubbers. She raised her brows in question.

  “Just doin’ our bit to promote the safe-sex message, Con. They’re stashed in every place you can think of.” He glanced around. “Where’s Colt?”

  “He shouldn’t be long. He said something about cooling off.”

  “Dunno why he’s bothering. That’s a permanent state around you, Connie.” He let go of the towel and it went nowhere, held up by his erection.

  Connie averted her whole head. She sure as shit didn’t trust her gaze to do what it was told. Her face heated as she lifted her chin. “Two days of this?”

  “At least, sweetheart. Think you’ll survive it?”

  “Oh, I will, Josh. The question is whether you and Colt will.”

  “How come you don’t pick on Beau?”

  “That would be because Beau doesn’t spend every waking moment working out how to piss me off or trying to get in my pants.”

  “You could be in for quite a surprise there, sweetheart.” Josh padded barefoot to where their bags were lined up against the wall.

  Connie was left at a loss for words at the sight of his bare behind. And he thought she had a fine ass? His was certifiably world-class.