Carter, Beth D. - Lawless Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read online

  Scharlie quietly left the bedroom and went into the living room, closing the door behind her. She lit a lamp, sat at the table, and opened the letter. Two things fell out. One was a photograph. The other was a note in Harlow’s handwriting.

  She shook slightly as she read the short message from Harlow, a lump rising in her throat.

  Dearest Sister,

  I have a feeling this is the last time I will be writing to you. But I want to explain my life, and why I could never be forthcoming until now. When I left all those years ago, I drifted and ended up working for a man named Allen Pinkerton. Through the years I worked my way up within the Agency until my conscience forced me to disclose that I had killed a man. But let me tell you this, Sheriff Tanner never posted a warrant for my arrest. It was as if my one indiscretion had never happened.

  And so I devoted my life to atonement, catching bad men, Scharlie, and putting them in prison. Men like Breaux Cox. Enclosed is the evidence I’ve been working hard to find but cannot find a way to get it where it needs to go. It’s too important to trust to just anyone. Do this for me, Scharlie. Remember I love you.

  Tears slipped down her cheeks as she picked up the picture. The photo was of Breaux Cox, younger than when she had met him. The harsh lines around his mouth had not yet formed. He posed in a chair with money bags around him, all stamped with various names of banks. She saw one that said Union Bank of St. Louis and another that read Citizens Bank of Jefferson City.

  Obviously, Cox had been eager to immortalize his daring bank robbery escapades. And this was the real reason why he had killed Harlow. Harlow must have searched his personal belongings, finding this photograph, and then run to try to get it to the authorities. Why he didn’t hand it over to Cassidy and Garrett was a mystery one would never solve. Maybe he wanted to protect his partners. Maybe he didn’t have enough time. It broke her heart thinking that Harlow knew Cox would be gunning for him, that time was running out. So he sent her the evidence that Cassidy and Garrett were so desperately searching for, knowing they would come to her and tell her of his death.

  A noise outside caused her to jump to her feet. She extinguished the lamp. She clutched the photograph between her fingers, realizing that whoever was out there, and she strongly suspected it was Cox, the picture must remain safe.

  She ran over to the books she still had for the children, the ones she had ordered a long time ago, and placed the picture inside the third one. Even if something were to happen to her, the books would be found by someone.

  She went to the bedroom and eased open the door, seeing Cassidy and Garrett still sleeping. She eased open a dresser drawer and dug under the clothes until she felt her gun and then, giving the sleeping men one last loving look, closed the door. She took a kitchen chair and shoved it under the doorknob, trying to protect them and keep them safe. Maybe it was stupid of her, but now she knew why Cox wanted her, and if she could convince him she had already given the photograph over to authorities, maybe he would leave as suddenly as he had appeared.

  Scharlie checked that her gun was loaded before unbolting the front door and stepping out into the night.

  The air was cool, causing a little shiver to course over her skin. The moon provided enough light to see across the land. It was beautiful and would have been considered peaceful if the underlying feeling of menace didn’t stalk her. She knew Cox was out here, could feel his eyes on her. She walked off the porch, toward the tree line, her eyes darting toward every shadow.

  “I know you’re out here,” she called. “And I know you won’t kill me until you know what I did with the photograph.”

  Cox stepped out from behind a tree, out into the moonlight, and even though his face was mostly obscured by his hat, the new wound running down his left cheek stood out prominently. “So Harlow did send it to you,” he replied.

  “Yes. But I turned it over to the authorities.”

  He gave a nasty little laugh. “I don’t think you did. Otherwise those two men sleeping in your bed would have been recalled to Illinois.”

  “They’re not asleep, so if I don’t show up, they’ll come out here,” she bluffed, improvising. “Why don’t you just give up now?”

  She brought the gun up, but he was quicker. His two Colts were already cocked and staring her in the face before she had even finished raising hers.

  The night around her fell deathly silent, or else it was the blood draining from her head, making her feel dizzy. Whichever the case, Scharlie suddenly became very scared. She would never see Cassidy or Garrett again, never feel them around her.

  “Have I thanked you yet for this lovely decoration on my face?” he sneered.

  “I liked mine so much I thought you should have one,” she said in a quiet tone. She tried to bring some sass to the words, but she couldn’t manage it.

  Cox laughed, a harsh, grating sound of amusement. “Clever,” he replied. “We could have been so good together, Scharlie Thorn. Now, where is the photograph?”

  She didn’t answer. But her gun started to waver. The fear was starting to consume her.

  Cox cocked both guns. “Last chance, Scharlie, before I hurt you. Tell me where it—”

  “Cox!” shouted Cassidy from behind her.

  Scharlie almost went weak with relief. Cox kept one gun on her and turned the other onto Cassidy, locking them in a crazy triangle of sorts.

  “Where’s the other one?” Cox asked. “Come out, Webb! Or I shoot the pretty girl right now!”

  “You do, you’re dead,” Cassidy promised.

  Cox gave him a bitter smile. “Well then, I’d die knowing I destroyed your life.”

  Seconds ticked by. Scharlie felt sweat trickle down the sides of her face despite the cool night air blowing around them.

  And then she saw a big shadow cozy up to Cox as Garrett brought the rifle barrel flush against his temple.

  “Drop the guns,” Garrett ordered, his voice cold. “Nice and slowly.”

  The smile vanished from Cox’s face. “Goddamn Pinkerton agents! You think I couldn’t smell your fucking badges from the start? I’d sooner go to hell than have you take me to federal prison.”

  “That can be arranged,” Garrett told him.

  In the next heartbeat, everything shattered. Scharlie wasn’t sure what it was that told Cassidy that Cox was going fire his gun, but one minute she was standing, waiting for something to happen, and the next second, Cassidy was diving to the ground with his arms around her. They landed with a hard thud, the sound of guns firing all around.

  She heard a body fall next to her, and she opened her eyes and found herself staring into the cold, lifeless eyes of Breaux Cox. In the darkness, she couldn’t see the damage that Garrett’s rifle had caused, but a dark pool of blood was rapidly forming around him.

  Cassidy stood and pulled her up, out of the way of the blood. He pressed her face into his chest. “Don’t look,” he said softly.

  “Are you both okay?” Garrett demanded, walking over and examining them both.

  She felt Cassidy nod and closed her eyes in relief.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The next few days afforded no peace for Scharlie, Cassidy, and Garrett. Their supervisor arrived in the morning, bringing with him a federal marshal and several deputies. When Scharlie showed them the photograph of Breaux Cox sitting among his spoils of lawbreaking, Harlow Thorn was called a hero. Tears of happiness came to Scharlie’s eyes at hearing this.

  The town of Rock Ridge was in awe of being the focus of attention, and Scharlie was able to resume her duties as schoolteacher right away. Cassidy and Garrett were kept busy, as well, as they dealt with wrapping up the case.

  And then finally came the afternoon, after school had let out allowing Scharlie to head home for the weekend, that she saw Cassidy and Garrett sitting on her front porch. Each had his hat off, and they watched her bring the wagon around and secure it. Garrett rose and came to help her unhitch the horse.

  This was all done in silence. W
hile Garrett evaded her gaze, Cassidy’s light eyes did not miss one detail. Dread coursed through her body because she knew that they had something to say.

  Then she couldn’t put it off any longer. She lifted her skirts and made her way into the house, ignoring both of them. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, and she closed her eyes against the tears building.

  She was terrified they were going to say good-bye.

  Garrett entered first, followed by Cassidy. She could tell the difference by the way their boots struck against the floor. Scharlie took a deep breath, gathering her courage, and turned.

  “Scharlie—” Cassidy started to say, only to be interrupted by her.

  “Are you here to tell me you’re leaving?”

  They blinked at her before shooting each other a cautious look. “Is that what you want us to say?”

  She groaned. “Oh, for God’s sake, Cassidy, I thought we were past the tiptoeing around subjects.”

  “We’re here to ask if you would allow us to stay with you,” Garrett replied.

  Her breath caught in her chest. She shot a look back and forth between them. “You mean it? You’ll stay with me?”

  “We love you,” he replied, then took a step closer. “I love you. I want to protect you, grow old with you. Have babies with you.”

  “Me too,” Cassidy said in gruff tone. “I realize it’s an unconventional life, but I get the impression that your friends and neighbors wouldn’t raise too much of a ruckus.”

  “You can marry one of us. That way, any children we have together will be legit,” Garrett offered.

  She was speechless for a moment as the conversation sunk in. Happiness flooded her.

  “Then I guess I’ll marry you,” she said to Garrett.

  She saw Cassidy stiffen.

  “Because it’ll be much easier explaining a Chinese baby if you’re my husband rather than why my husband’s baby looks like his best friend,” she quipped, continuing. “And besides, I wouldn’t want to tie Cassidy down to such a rigid, conventional life.”

  He frowned at her. “I never said such a thing!”

  She laughed and threw her arms around both men. “I love you both so much that I never want to be without you.”

  There was a brief moment as they hugged her back, and then Cassidy lifted her up into his arms. He strode to the bedroom rapidly.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, a bit breathless.

  “This is a celebration,” Cassidy explained, looking over at Garrett. “Isn’t that right? You two just got engaged.”

  Scharlie shook her head. “No, Cassidy. That’s not what I meant.” She wiggled in his arms until he set her on her feet. She placed her hands on her hips and glanced between them. “If the three of us are going into this partnership, then there’s going to be a change.”

  Garrett cocked an eyebrow while Cassidy narrowed his gaze.

  “We love together,” she said. “I realize there will be times when there’ll be private moments, but if we do this, right now, it’ll be all of us. Can you do that?”

  She realized the challenge she was giving him. Though he had relinquished control before, it was his trust she was after now. His trust meant everything. The three of them had to be complete before they could begin to fully share their love.

  And then he started undressing before her and Garrett. Layer by layer he took off his clothes, dropping them as he maintained eye contact with her.

  “I can strip away everything, Scharlie,” he said. “Can you? You’ll be taken in every place a woman can be taken. In your cunt, in your ass, in your mouth. You’ll be everything we need you to be.”

  Fire erupted inside, making her legs quiver and chill bumps appear on her skin. She turned to look at Garrett, who glanced at them back and forth.

  “Garrett?” she asked.

  He walked over to her and began unhooking the buttons on her shirt. And as his fingers deftly divested her of clothing, his mouth possessed hers.

  Cassidy moved in behind her, helping Garrett. His lips nuzzled her neck, biting gently at the tender skin. She let go to the sensation of both men worshiping her body. In minutes, her clothes were off and she stood gloriously naked between them. She felt Cassidy’s nakedness against her own, his skin smooth and warm, but Garrett was still fully dressed.

  She started tugging at his shirt, needing to feel him against her, skin to skin. All three of them together with nothing between them, all the barriers stripped away.

  He took the hint and broke the kiss to strip. Cassidy used the opportunity to swing her up in his arms and take her to the bed, depositing her gently. He dipped his head to kiss her neck, slowly making his way to her breasts. Scharlie’s breath became shallow as she waited, anticipating. He took his time, licking the skin, taking little nibbles, kissing the few moles she had on her chest. And then finally, he reached her breasts, taking a nipple into his mouth to roll it around and suck until the tip was turgid. Back and forth he went from each peak until she was thrashing under him, moaning her frustration. As much as she was enjoying the attention, Scharlie desperately needed him other places.

  But then a different set of hands touched her. Garrett’s fingertips traveled upward on her leg, starting at her ankles and trailing higher until he reached the apex of her thighs. He nudged them apart and found her core, dripping and swollen from excitement.

  “You’re so fucking wet,” Garrett murmured, dipping one finger into her channel.

  Scharlie’s hips bucked. “Please,” she gasped. “More.”

  In response, Cassidy pulled back from her breasts to straddle her chest and bring his cock eye level. Scharlie eyed it, licking her lips. He grabbed his penis and guided it to her mouth, nudging her lips a little until she opened to suck him in. He flexed his hips, burying himself deep into her mouth, touching the back of her throat.

  She eagerly sucked in deep, swirling her tongue around the hard shaft in her mouth, pulling back some and plunging forward. Cassidy held onto the back of her head, guiding her, in and out, up and down.

  Garrett moved his fingers out of her swollen cunt, angled her hips, and started licking her slit. For several moments, all that could be heard in the room was slurping and moans of pleasure.

  The dynamic changed again when Cassidy withdrew his dick and Garrett pulled back from her dripping pussy. She groaned in protest, but then fell silent as the men turned her. Garrett lay on his side, facing her. Cassidy lay down tight behind her.

  “You know what comes next?” Garrett murmured, taking small nibbles around her mouth.

  She didn’t answer, only lifted one of her legs to drape over his. He held his cock with one hand and pulled her hips in with another. He thrust, pushing into her, making her gasp at the exquisite bliss at having him seated fully within her.

  He moved her up and down on his cock, touching her all over in his excitement. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on as his fingers started touching between her thighs, sweeping over her clit. Her arousal intensified as his fingers found her sweet spot and rubbed it in time with his thrusts. Higher and higher she flew, wound tighter than any clock.

  “That’s it,” Garrett whispered in her ear. “Let go, Scharlie. Come for me.”

  She shattered, breaking apart in a thousand pieces. As she soared, she felt Cassidy behind her lapping up her cream and smearing it around her puckered back hole.

  “Hold on, Scharlie,” Cassidy whispered into her ear. “You wanted us to love together, then your wish is our command.”

  She was still high on her climax and did not quite understand his words until she felt his cock edge into her from behind. She tensed because she realized that Garrett was still seated in her pussy.

  “How?” she asked in a startled gasp.

  “Hold on,” Garrett muttered.

  He shifted out of her enough for Cassidy’s cock to slide in. Her climax had softened her muscles enough for his penetration to not hurt, although it was a tight squeeze as he kept p
ushing, going deeper. Scharlie forced herself to relax, breathing shallowly until Cassidy seated himself firmly inside her.

  “Oh my god,” Cassidy groaned, his head briefly bending to touch hers.

  And then they moved like a well-oiled machine. As Garrett slid in, Cassidy would pull out, and then vice versa. They went slow, allowing her to get used to the feel of them impaling her at one time. Where one ended, the other began, over and over, their increase happening very slowly.

  “You’re so tight,” Garrett breathed. “So good. So fucking good.”

  Speed built up as the alternated between filling her ass, then pussy, and then back again. Every thrust was in rapid succession to the previous.

  Scharlie’s orgasm rippled over her suddenly, taking her completely by surprise. She lost control, bucking wildly between the two men and throwing their rhythm off as her body broke apart in rapture and stars danced behind her closed eyelids.

  “That’s it,” Cassidy muttered. “Come for us, Scharlie. Oh, fuck, oh fuck!”

  Cassidy’s breath blew out harshly as he grabbed her hips and erupted inside her. She could feel his cock jerk as his hot cream sputtered deep.

  Garrett had held still through both orgasms, but as Cassidy’s began to subside, he suddenly started thrusting again, faster and harder than before, now that he didn’t have to go in tandem.

  “Garrett!” Scharlie gasped, her hips meeting his thrusts.

  Cassidy had pulled from her body, and now he reached around her to play with her sensitive nipples, pulling on them and pinching them. The little stabs of pain only heightened the pleasure of Garrett hitting so far inside her.

  And then he grunted as every one of his muscles contracted while his climax broke over him, Spurt after spurt filled her, and Scharlie wrapped her arms around his big, sweaty body.