Callie's Captors [Mountain Men of Montana 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (6 page)

“Naw. I went straight from my mom to the Deacons. They’re my family now.”

“I wish I’d had the same luck. I went through four foster homes before I turned eighteen.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

She disliked getting sympathy, but it didn’t bother her coming from Pete.

Pete ignored Raine. “Yep. When the Deacons took me in I gained two awesome parents. It was just too bad that I gained two sorry-ass brothers at the same time.”

Raine took a swipe and missed, then whirled around to face forward again. “Ha-ha. You should take that comedy routine on the road.”

They lapsed into a comfortable silence and continued on their trek to wherever they were taking her. She decided to try again. “So tell me about this place you’re taking me to. Do you have a landline phone? Or a satellite one? Can I use it once we get there? My cell’s dead and I couldn’t get any reception before anyway. I’d like to call a friend to pick me up.”

“We don’t have any phones.”

Was Blue serious? “None? As in no one in the whole place has a phone? You’re kidding.”

“Nope. We don’t have a lot of things like phones, televisions, or computers. We prefer to live a simple life without all those distractions.”

Holy shit, they’re taking me to a cult. A backward cult at that.
Oh, hell.

Should she try and make another attempt to flee? “How far did you say we had to go?”

“We’ll get there when we get there.”

She couldn’t help but take a jab at Blue. “Wow. That’s really deep, man.”

“Take it easy, baby.”

She whirled on Raine and shoved her finger against his chest. “Don’t call me baby. I hate it when men call me baby. Got it?”

“Sure. No problem. No need to poke me.” His light attitude put her at ease almost at once.

She blew out a breath and dropped her hands. “I’m sorry. It’s a thing with me.”

“Then what should I call you? Cute stuff? Or maybe Pussy Cheeks? Hey, how about Snuggle Butt?” He feigned a confused yet hopeful expression. Together the emotions were comical.

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. Who could stay angry when he put on such a funny face? “How about you use my actual name?”

Pete leaned on his brother’s shoulder. “Naw. That’s too formal. We need a term of endearment for you.”

“Ours.”

She pivoted to find Blue regarding them. “What?”

“We’ll call you ours. Because that’s what you’re going to be. Ours.”

At first, she was so flummoxed that she couldn’t respond. Was he serious? Or merely joining in the fun? “I’m not yours or anybody else’s.”

He shrugged then put his back to her. “Maybe not yet, but you will be.”

When she opened her mouth to ask Raine what Blue had meant, he shook his head and waved her on. Once again, Pete brought up the rear.

Ours.

What could he have meant other than what she feared he had? Was she being taken captive for them to use as they wished? Although the men were sexy as hell and every inch the wilderness men that filled her wet dreams, she wasn’t about to have sex against her will. Would they not only make her their sex slave but give her to other men for fun or profit? Would they make her clean and cook for them, adding insult to the ultimate injury?

She stumbled once and would’ve fallen if Raine hadn’t caught her and kept her upright. As soon as he touched her, her body awakened, betraying her with a yearning that had her breath coming out in quick pants. His mesmerizing gaze met hers, then slid lower to her chest and on to her feet.

“Are you hurt?”

She could’ve sworn he’d asked an altogether different question.
“Are you hot?”

“I’m sorry?”

He took his hand away, throwing her off-balance emotionally, and stared at the place where he’d held her. “I asked if you’re all right?”

“Oh. Uh, yeah. Are you?” She felt the pink rush of embarrassment in her cheeks. Why had she asked such a stupid question?

He chuckled and swept a strand of her hair out of her face. “Yeah, I’m good.” Then, dropping his tone lower, he added, “More than good.”

“Keep moving.”

At Blue’s urging, she put her back to the luscious body of Raine and found her gaze locked on the wide shoulders of Blue. His form didn’t bulge like a bodybuilder’s, but she could sense he had more strength, more power in his body than two of the barbell junkies ever could. He strode forward, his head moving side to side once in a while, scanning the forest. His graceful movements reminded her of a leopard or mountain lion.

No, nix that. He moves like a wolf. Like fluid, coiled energy ready to be released at a moment’s notice.

Her pussy heated up as her nipples pebbled and she had to jerk her attention away. But that didn’t keep her mind from going down another road of taboo.

If Raine had wanted to take things further when he’d lain on top of her, would she have let him? Would she have gone along with him? Her pulse quickened as her heart pounded in her chest. Sweat that had nothing to do with their fast trek beaded on her forehead and slickened her palms. She would’ve spread her legs for him if he’d taken the knife from her then kept her flat on her back. Her blood boiled inside her thinking about how his cock had felt pushed up next to her pussy. She’d inhaled his scent, a strange aroma that made her want him even more. Her tits had rubbed against his chest and an ache had spread through her. An ache that she’d would’ve voiced if the situation had been different.

She groaned then inhaled and found his scent again, along with his brothers’. Raine and Blue had a similar musky fragrance mixed with sweat and an indefinable wild aroma. Pete had a wild edge to his as well, but his scent was different, spicier than his brothers.

Although Pete was adopted, they acted like brothers. She could see the familiarity between them in the way they communicated, sometimes speaking in fragments while other times all it took was a look. Were they talking about her? Were they as attracted to her as she was to them?

What is wrong with me?

She shouldn’t be thinking in those kinds of terms about any of her captors. But she couldn’t help it. They hadn’t treated her badly other than tying her up. But even now she sensed that they didn’t mean her any real harm. They were right. Running off in the middle of the night even in an area she was familiar with was just asking for trouble. But in the woods she didn’t know well and in a part of them that she’d never seen before? That was just plain stupid.

They came into a camp almost before she was aware that they’d broken through the underbrush and into a clearing. She stopped, stunned to see tents, huts, cabins, and even a few teepees circling a large area where other people gathered around campfires. The grass was a dark green, greener than she remembered any grass being, while wildflowers of every possible color swayed in a breeze she didn’t feel. The scene reminded her of a mix between a Native American tribe and modern-day hippies. The women wore long gowns with moccasin-style shoes while the men wore slacks or jeans, most without a shirt, and a range of footwear from the same shoes the women wore to rough cowboy boots. A few older children dashed around the encampment then stopped to stare at her before returning to their laugh-filled fun.

“Good. You told them we were bringing her back.”

Raine nodded at Pete’s question. “Isn’t it obvious?”

She scanned the area again, but couldn’t tell how it was obvious. Pete, however, must’ve seen the question in her eyes.

“We don’t usually wear clothes. Just when we have a newcomer to the group.”

Great. They took me to a nudist colony. Well, at least they had enough courtesy to put clothes on for me.

“What is this place?”

“Home.”

Pete gestured to those around them. “Stay put and keep to yourself. At least until we say otherwise.”

“That sounds ominous.”

Raine’s grin was forced. “Yeah. It is. A little. Just do as Pete said.”

The brothers moved away to greet two men. One was an older man with white hair and a white beard. He held himself in a regal stance even though he leaned on a cane as he listened to Blue. The other was tiny, barely standing over three feet, and yet he didn’t have the characteristics of a little person. Instead, he reminded her of the elves in her favorite childhood books with his red hair, fair skin, and large feet.

“What the hell am I going to do? I’ve been abducted and forced deep into the woods. Not at all what I’d planned on when I started this trip,” she muttered.

Blue glanced back as though he’d heard her even though she was sure she’d spoken too softly. Did he have sensitive hearing like her?

She darted her gaze away from his and studied the people around her. They were of different ethnicities, sizes, and ages, but they all appeared to have one thing in common. Their faces were filled with joy.

What the heck is going on here? How can everyone be so damn happy? Unless they’re all drinking the Kool-Aid.

Was everything as idyllic as it seemed? Or were they brainwashed to the bone?

“That’s not possible.”

She jerked back to see the older man glaring at her. The protest that she hadn’t chosen to come was on her lips, but Pete shot her a warning look. Deciding that it was safer to follow their rules for now, she pressed her lips together and tried to act like fear wasn’t taking a hard hold on her.

“Yes, but I’m only telling you what I know. She wasn’t anywhere near the water, Charlton.” Blue stood straight and tall, but she could see an underlying uneasiness in the way he shifted back and forth on his feet. The fact that the white-haired man called Charlton made him nervous was apparent.

“But it was The Time of Coming,” added Raine. “That much we know. And remember what Jerry said about the odd sensation he felt when he chased her? Could another portal be open? One in the forest?”

Who’s Jerry? I didn’t see a man there.

Charlton kept quiet as his smaller friend shook his head vigorously. “Anything is possible in The Hidden. But let’s hope not. Still, even if that’s true, she shouldn’t have been able to enter on her own.”

“And yet she did. Jerry wasn’t touching her when she came through. She led him inside then fell into the pit The Cursed dug. She’s lucky they abandoned the trap a while ago.”

Came through what? And what is a Cursed?

“Which, again, isn’t possible.” Raine rubbed the back of his neck.

“Unless she’s one of us.” Pete brought her closer to Charlton, then gave her a quick, comforting smile before shifting his attention back to the group.

“That, at least, would make sense.” Charlton studied Blue, his own eyes a deeper shade than Blue’s. “Do you feel anything about her?”

What is he supposed to feel? Damn it all, why don’t they let me in on their discussion?

She had to refrain from demanding answers. If she did, she knew one of the men would end up hauling her away. She might never get any answers if she made them angry.

Charlton leaned on his cane, but she got the impression that he didn’t really need the crutch. His body was fit and possessed a strength not shown in brawn. “Let’s not discuss this anymore outside. I’ll call the other members of The Council and we’ll come to a decision. Meet us in the cabin once you have her settled in your tent.”

“Our tent?”

“Yes, Blue. Yours. Who else’s home should she stay in?” The stern expression on Charlton’s face softened. He patted Blue on the shoulder. “I doubt you’ll find her too much of a hardship.”

“Fine. If that’s what you think is best.”

Pete edged closer to Charlton and said something she couldn’t hear. Charlton’s hard look returned and his piercing blue eyes landed on her again. He gave Pete a curt nod then spun around and strode away. The small man started to speak then clamped his mouth closed and twirled around to scurry after Charlton.

Blue took one look at her, nodded at Pete who took the backpack from Raine, then motioned for Raine to follow him as he walked in a different direction—away from her.

Pete stood for a moment then waved her over to him. She tried not to hurry, but she did feel more comfortable closer to him. Yet halfway there, she slammed to a stop and gaped at the animal at the edge of the tree line. The buck that had chased her dropped his head then shook his mighty antlers before springing back into the forest.

“That’s him! That’s the buck that chased me.” She pointed, uncaring if she made a scene and drew everyone’s attention. “Did you see him?”

Pete took her arm and pulled her along with him, slinging her pack over his shoulder. “Yeah, I saw him. That’s Jerry.”

“Jerry? He has a name?” She craned her neck back trying to find him and almost fell. Pete kept her on her feet as he pushed through the opening of a large tent, bringing her along with him.

The tent was huge and unlike any tent she’d ever seen except in the movies. Gloriously colored quilts lay everywhere while candles rested on wooden platforms. A hole in the top of the tent let out the smoke that would come from the fire pit directly below it. It was like a sheik’s tent and all that was needed was the beautiful harem women.

Is that what I’m supposed to be?

“Jerry isn’t a pet. He’s our friend.”

“O-kay.” Lots of people considered their pets their friends and even part of the family, but a buck? “But your friend chased me into a hole.”

“He didn’t mean to.” Pete released her arm then dropped her backpack.

“Oh, well, then, that’s good to know. Listen, I don’t know what this place is, but I know it’s not where I want to be.”

“I wish it was.”

Had she heard him right? “What did you say?”

Pete ducked his head then brought it back to give her the most incredible look she’d ever had. The heat in his eyes could’ve melted her on the spot and her pussy clenched as that heat shot out of him and into her. He was smoldering inside for her and had ignited a flame in her. The need, however, was tinged with another element, one born of the yearning she’d sensed earlier. He wanted her body, but he wanted more than that.