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Cupping her head in my hands, I leaned down and settled my mouth on hers. Since she’d already been kissed once and she was quite warmed up to the concept, I wasn’t tentative. I couldn’t, not after seeing her stand up to an angry man in a saloon singlehandedly. Not after looking at her pretty face, learning of her prickly demeanor, hearing her colorful vocabulary. Everything about her intrigued me and I wanted to sink into it, into her.
In kissing, as it seemed in other things, Piper wasn’t tentative either. Her tongue readily met mine and the kiss became carnal fast. My blood heated, my cock swelled, my need for her came on like a steam train without any brakes. I didn’t move my hands from her face, afraid I’d back her up into the dark corner of the stall and rip the dress from her body. That would come, but not until we were at Lane’s house in Jasper. Tonight.
For now, I could learn something about her that words wouldn’t. My hands roved over her body, feeling the soft curves of her through her dress. Her narrow waist, her rounded hips, then upwards to feel the slight ridges of her ribs and then higher still to cup her full breasts.
She gasped as I held her in my palms. I felt her corset, the stiffness of it supporting and lifting her up, but I could feel how heavy and lush her breasts were, even sense the hard buds of her nipples. All at once, I felt her body give over, softening and relaxing, forcing me to tighten my hold and keep her from falling to the hard packed ground.
My cock pulsed and pressed painfully against the front of my pants. It wanted out. It would be easy to do, to spin her about and press her up against the wall. Lane would help me lift the hem of her dress, find the slit in her drawers. He’d rip open the buttons on her dress and play with her nipples as I fucked her, tore through her maidenhead and made her mine.
She would let me, too. Based on the way she’d behaved in the saloon, she had no fear and it would serve her well when she was with us. We were demanding men and it would go easier for her if she was easily aroused. Wanted it. Wanted us. And thank fuck, she did.
A horse whinnied in a nearby stall, making me remember exactly where we were. I would not take my wife—my wife!—in the back stall of a Pueblo livery the first time. No. She deserved better than that and I wanted her somewhere I wouldn’t have to let her up. For days. I doubted I’d get my fill of her for a long time. Neither would Lane. I was sure of it.
After reluctantly lifting my hands from her breasts, I stroked my knuckles down her cheek, then stepped back. Her eyes were open now, her gaze unfocused. I reached down and adjusted myself.
Lane chuffed out a laugh. “Riding’s going to be hell with a cock stand.”
As a doctor, I knew we’d survive and that there was only one cure. We could both take hold of our cocks and release the pent-up seed, but that’s not what we wanted. We wanted it all deep inside Piper, marking her as ours.
She blew out a breath. “Yes, I see what you mean. Attraction isn’t a concern.”
With that, I took hold of her hand and tugged her out of the stable before either of us changed our mind.
CHAPTER FOUR
Piper
We rode up to a large house on the outskirts of Jasper as the sun began to set. Actually, being in the mountains, the sun had set behind the western slopes long before, but the sky was only now quickly turning from dark blue to black. I’d never been in the mountains before and never knew twilight could last for hours. Heck, I hadn’t even seen them until this morning when the stage pulled into Pueblo. The beauty and ruggedness of them was incredible. There was even snow still in spots above where the trees stopped. It was nothing like the flat plains of Kansas, where there was nothing to see but waving grass and sky.
This was where Lane lived? This picturesque town nestled in the valley between steep walls of rock and pines? And the house… so very big. My parents’ house was small, and with six children even smaller. I had my own room, being the only girl, while the boys shared the two others. My parents had moved to a small room behind the kitchen when I was born, but they’d passed when I was two. No one complained of the tight confines, for my brothers and I had known nothing else. Lane’s house, though, told of his wealth by size alone. He had not mentioned having money and dressed simply like everyone else in Pueblo in just sturdy pants, boots and a shirt. Spur was the one who seemed more thoughtful in his attire.
Our journey up from Pueblo was quiet, the men allowing me my thoughts, and I was thankful for it. My mind was so muddled. Not only did I feel guilty for taking on a dead woman’s role, I was deceiving two men into believing I was their intended, men who seemed decent sorts. Unbelievably handsome, too.
How in the world had I ended up married to two men? When I’d spoken with Patricia in the stage before she died, she’d said nothing about two husbands. She would have mentioned that, surely. And while it had been hot in the stage and I’d lost focus on some of her prattling, I wouldn’t have forgotten that little tidbit.
My brothers would certainly be finding a cold trail. Piper Dare had disappeared somewhere in eastern Colorado. Even if they followed the path of the stage to Pueblo, Piper Dare had never arrived. Only Patricia Strong and I was certainly not her. But Spur and Lane thought so.
And my thoughts returned to them, a dizzy circle. One thing I was sure of was the attraction between us. We were like oil and water, arguing one minute and kissing the next. And the kiss! No, kisses. The men sure knew what they were doing while I did not.
As Lane saw to the horses, Spur filled a copper tub set out on the back porch with water from the pump. One bucket was on the stove in the kitchen, and once hot, he added it into the tub with the others.
I sat on a rocking chair and watched his efforts, his shirt sleeves rolled up. It was pitch black and only the soft glow of lanterns from the kitchen and two he had hung from the porch lit the area, including the nearby pump. I was perfectly capable of hauling water myself, but Spur would have none of it. And so I rocked and stared at where I knew the base of the mountain to be. Lane came around the corner and joined us before Spur’s chore was half done.
“That was quick,” Spur commented, tipping another bucket and emptying it with a loud splash.
“Johnny Picket saw us ride into town. Before we left, I arranged for him to take care of the animals and he’s been watching for us. I think he’s eager for some coin.”
“Wants to butter up the mine owner, most likely,” Spur replied.
“You mentioned you own a mine. Is it nearby?” I asked.
“I do. For now at least. It is across town,” Lane replied, pointing further along the base of the mountain. “The Pirate’s Lair.”
I laughed. “I didn’t realize they had names.”
He offered me an easy smile. “They all do.”
“And the story behind yours?” I asked, watching as Spur worked the pump. His arm and back muscles shifted and bulged as he did so. While the air was cooler, sweat dotted his skin and his shirt clung to him.
