“Don’t fashion us into self-sacrificing heroes,” Ezra warned. “We do keep a portion for ourselves.”
She arched a brow. “I’ve seen how you live, and it’s not in the custom of anyone who makes a profit.”
He shrugged dismissively.
Rhys moved to her and laced his fingers with her free hand. “Thank you for convincing Daniel and Iris to take their share of the loot. Sometimes, they refuse it outright.”
“Their pride is understandable,” Jessica said.
“And your heart is remarkable.” Tej bent down and kissed her cheek, his silken beard brushing against her skin and making her shiver.
At the same time, Rhys kissed her other cheek.
Jessica’s eyes drifted shut. Never had two men kissed her at the same time. Warmth was all around her, and strength, and softness. She could fall in any direction with the knowledge that someone would catch her.
Heat from their bodies filled her. Rhys wasn’t exceptionally tall, but he was taut with muscle, and Tej was broad and strapping. Beneath them both was a barely contained wildness that made her head spin and her heart beat faster. This was only a taste of what it could be like to have all of their ferocity focused on her, and God, if she didn’t crave more of it.
Another warm body pressed close behind her. Fingers gently tipped her head back, and lips trailed down the side of her neck.
They surrounded her now, Tej, Rhys. Ezra. Hands stroked over her. Gentle, probing touches glided along her arms, pressing against her midriff, and beneath the lapels of the coat she wore, to skate across her collarbone. There were lips on her neck, stroking over her mouth, tracing the curve of her ear. Three of them, three men with wolves lurking beneath their exteriors, all focused on her.
A bird cried out, piercing the quiet.
“That’s a nightjar,” Tej said lowly. “Dusk is coming.”
“Will all the stops we make be like the last?” she asked.
“They will,” Rhys said.
“They’re counting on you,” she murmured. “Much as I wish we could linger here, their needs supersede my own selfish desires.”
“We should go.” Reluctance was plain in Ezra’s voice.
“We should,” she agreed, but damn her for wishing the hours moved differently here, as if her own needs could change the fabric of time.
10
The number of farms between them and the coaching in was considerable. Jessica counted no fewer than five, as well as a potter’s shop, a weaver, and a washerwoman’s home. There was no shortage of people in need, and Ezra, Tej, and Rhys saw to them all.
Some of the people readily accepted the money. Others were reluctant, like Daniel and Iris. But they were all of them grateful, and they blessed the highwaymen for their charity.
Many curious looks shot her way. It seemed that, like Quentin, the people receiving aid were not used to anyone accompanying Tej, Rhys, and Ezra. How could she take it as anything but an expression of trust?
They walked along one of the paths that only Ezra, Rhys, and Tej seemed to see, until they emerged at the edge of the forest. A road ran past them, and, to Jessica’s surprise, they moved onto it. Up to this point, they’d kept to the woods, but now they walked down the lane. Just ahead was a small village of houses, shops, and a tiny church. Rather than go into the settlement itself, they approached a thatched-roof cottage at the village’s outermost perimeter.
“This will be our final stop before we reach the Doe and Dove,” Ezra explained, as they neared the cottage.
Something painful lodged itself in her chest. Once they arrived at the coaching inn, she’d purchase a seat on the mail coach and return to London, leaving behind the three wolves. Finding them again in the Essex wilderness would be nigh impossible. They were highwaymen, after all, and well-familiar with keeping themselves hidden. Unless they wanted her to find them.
What if she did come back and search for Ezra, Tej, and Rhys? What would she want from them, and they from her?
Every step forward only confused her more.
For the next few minutes, she didn’t need to consider what was next. Just this moment, here, in this place—whatever it was.
Several kitchen garden beds lined up trimly outside the cottage, but Jessica didn’t recognize any of the plants growing—they certainly didn’t look like cabbages and carrots. Near the beds, wooden racks were set up, from which hung bouquets of dried herbs. The chimney released fragrant smoke into the air. Unlike many of the farmhouses they had visited earlier, glass gleamed in the windows, behind which hung dimity curtains. Rather than tame violets and pansies, wildflowers of many colors filled window boxes.
Ezra tied the horse to the fence outside. An orange tabby cat dozed on the front step, and it opened its eyes to golden slits as they edged past, barely interested enough to move out of the way.
