Gina's Private Police Force [Men of Montana 3] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) (11 page)

Backing up just a bit, Jared sat Nathan on the counter. “What do you need help with?”

“Do you know where there is foil?”

“I don’t, but I’ll look for some,” he said, starting to open drawers. Finally finding some, he opened the container and pulled out enough to cover the baking dish. When he was finished, he took the dish and placed it in the hot oven.

Standing next to Nathan, she watched Jared move gracefully through the kitchen despite his muscular build. Not used to being around men like him and Connor in the city or even in Fargo, he was a walking piece of mouthwatering muscle. Beside the pleasing look of his body, which made her face blush and her pussy wet, his chiseled features were something to gaze upon. She was certain if he was nude he could be compared to the Greek gods of ancient times, though from what she had felt earlier, he was more prominent in the manhood department.

As silence filled the room, she looked up and found Jared watching her through hooded eyes, his bare arms crossing his bulging chest. “Must have been quite a thought,” he whispered gruffly.

The timbre in his voice raked against her nipples and pussy as if it were his hands. Her stomach jerked involuntarily at the reaction, leaving her panting as if she had come again though she hadn’t yet. She wanted to feel what Connor had done to her earlier. She couldn’t wait until later when both of them would touch her intimately, causing, she hoped, that same sensation she had before.

If she wasn’t careful, she was going to drown in their sexual ministrations and become their love slave, though that didn’t sound so bad. If they loved her as much as she cared for them, then perhaps they would be happy. If they loved Nathan and accepted him and loved him as their own, then she was going to be like one of those women in the books, content with her two men.

Never in her life had she thought she would be in a relationship such as this. What would her parents think? They would most likely be happy for her after the fiasco with Frank. But what if they worried because of Nathan? Now she wasn’t sure what to think.

Worrying her lower lip with her teeth, she stood looking blankly at the cabinets next to Jared, thoughts running rampant through her brain. Was she one to worry what others thought? The only ones she cared about were her parents and she had been in such a hurry to get away from them when she was seventeen, she ran straight into the arms of a despicable man. Yes, she had to worry about what they thought.

When large hands caressed her shoulders, she flinched and came back to reality. Shaking the thoughts from her head, she looked into his concern-riddled eyes. It amazed her how many emotions ran through those hazel orbs and how the color seemed to change with each one.

“Where were you, baby?”

“I–I was just thinking about what my parents would say about this arrangement. I hope they don’t cause trouble,” she answered, looking up into his eyes.

Jared pulled her into his arms. “First off, sugar, this is not an arrangement. This is a full-fledged relationship. Second of all, if they love you, they would want you to be happy.”

How she hoped he was right. Her biggest fear was losing Nathan. When she was moving around, suspicion consumed her with every person she met, thinking they would think she was an unfit mother. After the trouble she had with Frank, she had lost trust in people. She refused to get close to anyone, just letting a few people know about the little life she cherished so much.

It had nearly killed her early that morning when she was packing up the little belongings they had and placed them in her car, but after all the serious attention Connor and Jared had been showing her, she thought for sure they would turn against her if they found out what she had done. She was glad now that it had turned out differently but she still feared for Nathan. She was certain her men would do what they could to keep them both safe and with each other.

Gina was brought out of her deep thoughts when two words permeated her mind. “Mamma sad?”

A small laugh erupted from her, more for herself than Nathan as she turned to look at him. “No, sweetheart, Momma’s happy.”

Raising his arms, he wanted to be held but Jared reached for him before she could. Lifting him up as if he weighed a pound, Jared carried him over to the other counter and began opening drawers and cabinets, on a quest. Finding what he needed, he carried dishes with silverware piled on them in one hand and his little buddy in his other arm.

Going into the dining room, he set three plates down on the table and, after setting Nathan down on a chair, he gave the boy the silverware. With a view from where she stood, Gina watched the two work together. When Jared looked up at her with that smoldering look he could give, her heart seemed to melt even further. She knew her nipples were poking out the front of her shirt but what turned her on even more was the way he looked at them, licking his lips. Damn, she was going to have to get a new supply of panties for how often she was going to have to change them.

Needing to do something, she picked the box up that she had abandoned just a little while ago and reread the directions. She found a pot and set it on the stove then began a search for a measuring cup and other ingredients she needed to finish cooking the dinner.

It wasn’t just her heart content here. So was her soul. She vowed she was going make these men happy, not just in bed, but in every aspect of their lives. Tonight it would be by fixing a nice meal, which she missed doing since it was just her and Nathan.

Most nights it was mac ’n cheese along with hot dogs. Her food budget was very limited after she paid the rent, as was her clothing budget for herself. She made sure Nathan had the things he needed, which meant she had to go without most of the time.

Then a thought slammed into her psyche. What if they saw her as a charity case? Did they think she was using them or trying to mooch off of them? Did they feel sorry for her?

She jumped when a hand touched her lower back. Guiltily she turned then looked up to find Jared looking at her quizzically and then when he spoke she had to hang her head in shame.

“Whatever thoughts you were just having that put that panicked look on your face, you can just wipe them away,” he commanded lowly as not to frighten Nathan.

Glancing up she saw the flicker of emotion in his eyes before she lowered her eyes again. Keeping her voice strong and steady. She wasn’t going to whine like she had with Frank. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to be a charity case for you. I don’t want to be a burden.”

Jared stepped forward, crowding her body against the counter behind her, his hands going to each side of her, trapping her there. “Look at me,” his voice rasped sending electrical pulses to her pussy even though he was angry.

Raising her eyes slowly to his, the fire she saw within the depths told her she had really pissed him off. Fighting back the tears, she squared her shoulders and waited for him. When the front door opened and then closed, she didn’t let it become a distraction.

Heavy boots sounded on the floor as they entered the kitchen and then stopped abruptly. A feminine shriek followed the motion though Gina was afraid to look to see who was with him. Wanting to stand up for herself, she wasn’t going to cower from Jared or Connor, so she kept her eyes on the hazel ones before her.

It didn’t take an idiot to know Connor was upset when he spoke. “What the hell is going on here?”

Connor was surprised at the tension resonating from the kitchen when he stepped in. He had expected to find a warm family scene waiting for him, but instead was surprised to see Jared standing toe-to-toe with their woman, trapping her against the counter. Gina looked frustrated but was holding her own against his deputy.

“Angela,” he said, not bothering to look around. “Find Nathan and keep him occupied for a little bit, please.”

His sister moved to do his bidding quickly, roaming through the living room first and then the dining room. Her cries of joy indicated she had found him in the dining room. Moving swiftly he went and closed the pocket door between the two rooms and then went to stand next to Jared.

“She still doubts us,” Jared said, his gaze upon her never wavering.

Sighing, Connor gripped her chin gently and moved her head to look at him. “Is that true, Gina?”

He saw the doubt within her blue eyes that lay amidst the unshed tears. Irritation bustled within him that after all the time they had spent reassuring her that they cared for her and would protect her, that she would still doubt them.

“Well?” the irritation appeared in his voice.

Pride swelled in his chest that she would stand up to them as boldly as she was after the abuse she went through with her ex-husband, but she had to understand they wouldn’t stand for her doubting them. They had laid all their cards on the table up front and expected nothing less from her.

Taking a deep breath, Gina said, “I’m sorry. I’ve been on my own for so long, going without to make sure Nathan had what he needed, that I don’t want to be a burden to you guys. I also don’t want to be a charity case.”

Connor saw pride mirrored in her eyes as she stood up to the two of them, but she had to understand they loved her. They loved every part of her, not just her body, but her soul as well as the surprise from her loins they had discovered just earlier that day.

Yes, the emotions had grown quickly, but once they had started, they were sucked in and knew they wouldn’t be leaving her. They wanted to make sure she was treated like the woman she was and to erase the past that had hurt her so much. Apparently her husband had not just physically abused her, but had verbally and mentally abused her also, destroying her trust in anyone. She had been on the run because of that lack of trust and they would make sure she didn’t have to run again.

“Jared, take her to the bedroom,” he commanded. “We are going to settle this once and for all. Let me speak to Angela for a moment and then I’ll be right in. You know how to prepare her.”

The panic in her eyes was unmistakable as he released her chin and Jared took one of her hands gently. He watched as his partner pulled her along behind him as he exited the room and headed down the hall toward the bedroom. He was proud that Gina followed behind him without questioning them or fighting them.

Going to the dining room, he found Angela was showing little Nathan how to set the silverware out on the table. He had set out all the forks at one plate, the spoons at another, and the knives at the third plate. Connor had to chuckle.

“Hey, sis, we really need to have some private time with Gina. I hate to impose on you…”

Angela’s face was practically glowing as she looked up at him. “It’s no problem, Connor. I think Nathan and I are going to get along just fine. I have that bag of toys I brought in and we’ll get started on opening those up.”

“Thanks. Try to keep him down at this part of the house, please.”

The pale face of his sister flushed bright red at the request, knowing what was going to happen. Nodding in agreement, she picked up Nathan and carried him into the living room. As Connor walked through the kitchen into the hallway, he heard the TV go on and channels being changed, finally stopping at a cartoon.

Making his way down to the master bedroom, he stopped at the doorway to take in the sight. With a flick of his wrist, he tapped the door causing it to swing shut behind him and Gina to flinch at the sound.

Sitting on the foot of the bed, her head bowed and her hands folded in her lap, she looked like a child anticipating a punishment. Her mouth was pouting as her chest rose and fell quickly with her breathing. Visible shivers ran through her body as she waited for them to address her.

Jared was pacing along the side of the bed watching her, his hands in his front pockets. Connor could see the anger in his face, his jaw clenched. When he heard the door close, he stopped at the foot of the bed and waited.

Taking the several steps to stand before her, he hesitated. Keeping up the united front, Jared came to stand next to him. Connor could imagine how intimidating they must look like to her, two muscular men, one in his sheriff’s uniform and the other wearing only jeans.

“Gina, look at me!” Connor demanded, keeping his voice low.

With calculation and trepidation, her head rose, her eyes meeting his. Tears shimmered within them, which caused his heart to ache, but if there was to be any chance of a future together, they had to do this.

Being on her own for so long with a youngster, especially after the ordeal they had both been through, they had to pull her out of the self-reliant mode she had sunk so deeply into. They had to make her understand they cared deeply for her, both of them. That she could come to them with any problems she had whether it be friendship, love, protection, or even money.

On many occasions since agreeing to become partners in a relationship with Gina, they had already discussed between them that they would provide for her. Now that they knew about Nathan, he was included in their responsibilities. They would work equally in this relationship as a provider, lover, husband, and father. Now, they had to work together to get her to trust them.

“I would like to know why, after what we spoke of earlier today, you would all of a sudden assume you were a burden to us, or that we would see you as a charity case? Did Jared say or do anything to make you feel this way?”