Claimed by Three (21 page)

Teague drew his fingers through her hair. He knew she recognized the need for caution, but he didn’t know how long she’d cooperate with it. She’d begin to feel trapped. Most people would when time had passed, especially if no danger followed. He hoped they caught the person behind the vandalism and sabotage before it came to that.

“You should be safe. Your brother is here, as are his partners. There are also a few other men from the corps wandering around the festival. If anything does occur, there are plenty of people around to protect you.” Kassius eased back and stared at her.

“Are you able to leave your stand for a while? I thought you could walk around with us, and we can talk.” Teague let his gaze drop to Sephanie significantly before he glanced back at Kassius.

Kassius gave him a quizzical look but didn’t say anything about it. Teague was glad. He didn’t want their woman thinking of diversions or lies to placate them, although punishing her for the lies held definite appeal. Considering her fondness for a spanking, an excuse to warm her ass wasn’t necessary.

“Yes, I can spend some time with you and Sephanie.” Kassius stepped away to speak briefly to the other people managing the tent for the festival.

He returned a few moments later. They began walking through the row of tents again. Kassius fell in on one side of her and Berenger the other. Teague usually walked at their side, but sometimes in front of the group. Teague kept them moving in the right direction. When they drew near a group of people, he eased in ahead of them. He planned to discover what she did with her friends at the festival before they reached the contest section.

“Sephanie told us she and her friends start and end their day at the fair with the activities areas.” Teague glanced back at Sephanie with a wide smile.

“Yes, we do.” She nodded, but the narrow-eyed look she gave him showed her annoyance.

“You and your friends come here every year?” Kassius asked.

“We have since we were still in school.” She smiled easily at Kassius.

“If you plan on baiting her, why don’t you walk beside her?” Berenger stepped away from Sephanie. “You won’t be as likely to fall over someone or something.”

Teague wouldn’t refuse the offer to be near Sephanie, but he’d planned to draw the teasing out. He wouldn’t be able to provoke her easily this time.

“Bait her?” Kassius glanced over at him. “What are you doing, and why would you bait her?”

“After we first asked her about coming to the festival, she got this smile when she talked about watching the activities. Slow and sexy. Anyone would be able to tell her thoughts went to the erotic. She wouldn’t tell us what caused it.” Teague would find out what that smile was about if he had to pull it out of her right before she cried out her pleasure.

Kassius looked at her. “That is definitely interesting. What were you thinking about, baby?”

“The past.” She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “So it doesn’t matter.”

Teague chuckled. All right, she had a point. It was the past. It didn’t matter, but he still needed to know what brought that smile. Perhaps he could use the knowledge to give her that same look at some point.

“Maybe not, but I will discover the details.” Teague grinned at her.

“Why didn’t you tell us if it doesn’t matter?” Kassius raised an eyebrow.

She shook her head. “Okay, I’m probably saying too much here and it will do what I’m hoping to avoid, but I think telling you about it will limit what I get to see.”

Teague let the words sink in as he thought about why she’d think that. Berenger’s chuckle tugged his mind away from the problem. He looked at Berenger, who shook a finger at Sephanie. She laughed at him.

“Do you think we’ll let you remain in one place, ogling the contestants?” Berenger stopped and waited until they drew close enough that he could lift her chin to look into her eyes.

Ogling the contestants. Suddenly, he realized what she and her friends did. They watched the men who participated in the races, the feats of strength and the wrestling. He took a deep breath to control his initial reaction of “no.” She didn’t need to stand around looking at other men while they were with her.

“It would be something nice you could do for me.” She batted her lashes at Berenger.

“This year, you have three men to watch and ogle. We might stop by those places. We have friends who usually join the competition, but ogling and drooling are out.” Kassius gave her a stern look.

“I never drooled. I admired all the gorgeous muscles on display, as any other woman would do.” She tilted her head. “Aside from that, I don’t think I’ll be there long enough to take in all the beauty on display.”

Teague leaned in until they were nose to nose. “You are begging for a spanking.”

She smiled. “No, just admitting the truth. I like looking at them, but they’re no competition for you.”

“Oh, they aren’t?” Teague wondered if she was trying to appease him.

“They’re something to watch. I don’t know them or if I’d like to know them. You three, I get to touch, kiss, and cuddle with. I know you’ll be there for me, and you hunger for me like I do you.” She put her hand on his chest.

“Okay, but at the first sign of drooling, I’m pulling you out of there.” Teague wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Oh good, I get to watch all day long.” She leaned into him and then glanced up. A wicked grin curved her lips.

“Maybe another time, baby. We can’t stay in one place too long. It would be inviting danger.” Kassius grinned.

“Yeah, ruining my fun gives you joy,” she said.

“Baby, we’ll show you fun when we get home.” Berenger’s gaze swept from head to toe but lingered on her breasts.

They continued walking through the tents. They didn’t stop to admire any of the wares. Teague wished he could let her have some normalcy and time doing things she enjoyed. He knew they wouldn’t be able to remain here long. She deserved some time to laugh and relax.

When they arrived at the activities area, he looked around the various sectioned-off spaces. None of them were crowded. In some cases, the contests were only beginning. The races, which ran at the same time every year, wouldn’t begin until tomorrow.

“Where do you want to go first?” Teague asked.

“Over there with Julie.” She pointed to a ring marked off for wrestling.

The official matches hadn’t started. Two men sparred inside the cordoned-off square. They were probably practicing for the matches later that night. Sephanie’s black-haired friend stood at the corner of the square and watched the two contestants grapple.

Julie turned as they approached. She smiled and stepped away from the divider to greet Sephanie. Seph rushed forward and hugged her friend.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” Julie said. She looked from Sephanie back to the ring. “They don’t mind you watching the men?”

“Oh, we’ve come to a no-drooling consideration, and we probably won’t be here that long.” Sephanie grinned.

“How long do you think that will hold?” Julie raised a brow and let her gaze sweep over all three men.

Teague met her blue eyes with a smile. It wasn’t the looking that immediately made him deny Sephanie. The thought that she might want one of those men infuriated him, causing his muscles to tense in readiness. Her explanation eased most of that, but still he knew himself enough to know he wouldn’t be able to stand there and watch her eyeing other men for long.

“I think they’ll want to go fairly soon, but I’m not sure which one will pull me away first. Next year, we’ll have to make time to come here together without men.” Sephanie shot a grin over her shoulder.

“Not happening, Seph. You probably won’t be in any kind of danger this time next year, but you aren’t coming here without us.” Kassius put a hand on her shoulder.

“See. Their good intentions will fade quickly. Let’s hope next year their control over their macho side is better.” Sephanie laughed.

“Teasing woman.” Kassius wrapped his arm around her. “You enjoy our macho side.”

“In the right setting, I love it.” She shrugged.

They stayed ringside for a while, watching the two men practice. Sephanie and Julie talked easily. Teague loved seeing Sephanie relaxed. It was a change from the tenseness he’d seen tightening her muscles in the past few days.

“Seph, I’m going to get you and Julie something to drink. I’ll be back soon.” Berenger stepped forward and brushed his fingers over her cheek.

She smiled and leaned into the touch. “That sounds good, Berenger. Thank you.”

He left. Teague stepped up to get closer to their woman. He grazed her fingers with his. Without hesitation, her fingers slipped over his palm and curled, holding on to him. She responded so openly to them. Her emotions were easy to read as they crossed her face. She cared for them. Knowing she felt something strong made her resistance to a more permanent connection frustrating.

“I think I see a little drool there. Maybe it’s time to investigate another match.” Kassius’s voice lowered but easily carried to Teague.

“I think you’re in the mood to go somewhere more active. If you do, that’s all right. No drool in sight. These particular men are a little lean for me, but the—” Her words came to an abrupt halt when Kassius’s hand settled over her mouth.

“Don’t push your luck, baby. We’re letting you watch. I don’t want to hear what you appreciate about them.” Kassius glared down at her.

Teague agreed with that. If possible, he’d keep every other male away from her, but it wasn’t exactly feasible. She wouldn’t go along with complete restriction to the vineyard. It would probably be the quickest way to lose her. He’d deal with his insecurities, because she belonged with them.

She pulled Kassius’s palm off her mouth. “All right, but are you ready to go somewhere else?”

“We can move after Berenger gets back.” Teague looked over his shoulder. It shouldn’t have taken long to get a couple drinks and return. What was holding him up?

“Where would you like to go next? Is there something you watch while you’re here?” She turned to get a glimpse of Kassius behind her.

“How about we go over and watch the start of the strength trials?” Kassius hugged her against him.

“Where did he go for these drinks?” Sephanie tried to lean to the side and look behind them, but Kassius held her against him.

“Probably the next row. He should be back by now.” Kassius glanced at Teague.

“I’ll go see what’s delaying him.” Teague got the message. He released her hand and took a step away from them.

“We’ll go see.” Sephanie elbowed Kassius in the stomach.

Kassius’s breath whooshed from him. She slipped from his loosened hold. Teague clamped his lips shut to stop himself from laughing. He wouldn’t argue with her. She might enjoy being tied up and ordered what to do during sex, but outside of that time, she had a definite bossy streak.

“Let’s go find him, then. You can yell at him if you want when we discover what distracted him.” Teague held out his hand.

She nodded, and her palm settled against his. He tightened his fingers around hers and tugged her toward the path between the tents where he thought Berenger had gone.

“I’m going as well.” Kassius walked up beside them.

“We’ll be back soon,” Seph called over her shoulder to Julie.

“I’ll be here.” Julie’s voice reached them.

They walked into the small corridor between two tents. As they came out of it, Teague looked left and right. He didn’t know which stall Berenger had chosen. There should be one close either way. He looked for a tall black-haired man. At first he didn’t see anyone resembling Berenger.

Then he saw a dark-haired man near a light purple stall. He was edging away from a blonde woman. Even with the woman halfway turned toward them, Teague easily recognized her. Lillie Malone. She glanced their way. Teague didn’t know if she saw them, but she crept closer to Berenger.

Chapter Nineteen

Teague peered over at Sephanie. He hoped she hadn’t noticed Lillie and Berenger. He could steer her in another direction and give Berenger time to walk away from Lillie. But he was too late. Her eyes narrowed, and her hand fell away from his.

Damn. He felt anger and fear rising in him. Berenger should have gotten away from Lillie. Teague didn’t know how Sephanie would react to seeing Berenger with that woman.

Sephanie stalked ahead of them. Her body was stiff. It went tighter the moment Lillie threw her arms around Berenger and planted her lips on his. Berenger dropped the two cups he held. His hands planted at Lillie’s shoulders, but he obviously hesitated to shove her away from him.

Sephanie showed no such reluctance. She strode the last few steps between them, grabbed Lillie’s shoulder, and pulled her away from Berenger. Lillie stumbled back. When she faced Sephanie, a smile crossed Lillie’s face.

“Oh, hello. Berenger and I were just…talking.” Lillie slanted a sly glance at Berenger as if they shared some secret.

“Please, I’m not stupid or that reactive. What you did was assault a man, nothing more.” Sephanie shook her head. “I know how it looks and feels while he’s holding someone. What happened with you wasn’t close.”

“You’d love to tell yourself that, but after what you saw, I don’t think you’ll ever be able to trust them. Anytime they’re not with you, you’ll always wonder if they’re with me.” Lillie put a hand on her hip. “They want me.”

“No, we don’t want you.” Teague frowned. They’d never given her any indication they wanted her in their lives.

“Did your daddy tell you that? From what I saw, the only thing on Berenger’s mind was getting you off him.” Sephanie eased between Lillie and Berenger.

Neither Lillie nor Sephanie acknowledged that he’d spoken. Teague looked from one to the other. Maybe they were so focused on each other that nothing else penetrated.

“They will be mine.” Lillie stamped her foot.

“Unfortunately, sweetheart, a relationship isn’t something your daddy can buy you. Why don’t you take your crazy little self off?” Sephanie made a shooing motion with her hands. “And Lillie, I will be watching for more of your pranks. Careful, or you’ll get caught.”

Lillie gasped. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you go around spreading rumors about me and my daddy will make sure you’re thrown in jail.”