Monroe, Marla - Their Bartered Bride [Men of the Border Lands 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (18 page)

“I love you, Leigh.”

Leigh’s mouth dropped open. She hadn’t expected that.

“You do?” She stared at him, trying to determine if he really meant it, or if he was saying it because she was hurt. She wished she could remember how close they actually were. She could almost grasp it. Then it was gone.

“Yes, I really do. I’ve loved you for a long time, but fought it. I’m not fighting it anymore.” Joel bent forward and kissed her again. “Get well, baby. I want to show you how much I love you.”

Leigh felt the heat rise in her neck and face, and it wasn’t from a fever, either. Joel chuckled and ran the back of his finger across her cheek before standing up.

“I’m going to take a shower. I’m too nasty to come to bed.” Joel disappeared into the bathroom.

Several seconds later, the shower turned on. Leigh imagined him naked in the shower and suddenly she remembered a time with them there. Heat suffused her body at the thought of him plunging inside of her over and over again. She lost her breath for a minute.

“Leigh? You okay?” Jonathan asked, turning her in his lap so he could see her face.

“Yeah, I was remembering something. It was something intimate. We were intimate, weren’t we?” she asked.

“Yeah, we made love all the time. We’re wild for you, Leigh.”

She felt the heat climb back up her face at that. Why couldn’t she remember something so important?

“Leigh, we love you, baby.” Jonathan kissed the top of her head. “Now lean back and relax until Joel gets out of the shower.”

Leigh must have dozed because the next thing she knew, Joel was climbing into bed completely nude. She was too shocked to avert her eyes. Besides, she’d seen all of him before. Jonathan eased her back into the center of the bed and stood up to remove his clothes. She couldn’t help but watch as he pulled off first his shirt, then his jeans. He didn’t wear underwear.

“Scoot over a little bit, baby. I want to give you plenty of room so I don’t hurt you in the night.” Jonathan slid beneath the covers.

“If I keep my arms above the covers, I should be okay. I’m cold. I need you closer.” Leigh needed the contact for some reason. Maybe she was still a little scared.

Joel scooted closer to her as well. He laid a hand on her shoulder and leaned in and kissed her cheek. Jonathan kissed her other cheek and all three of them finally settled down to sleep.

* * * *

Three days later, Leigh managed to talk the men into letting her sit up on the couch downstairs for a while. She was sick of the bed and getting testy about it. Joel grinned when she was finally settled on the couch.

“So, are you happier now?” he asked.

“Yes, thanks. I was really sick of that bed. There are only so many positions I could get in that were comfortable. Here I can sit up with a nice, cushiony back behind me.”

“I’ll bring you some tea, baby.” Jonathan walked through to the kitchen.

“Joel?”

“Yeah, baby?” He stopped fluffing the blanket they had draped over her.

“What about the wolves? Are they still attacking the cows?” It had taken Leigh a lot of working up to ask about them.

“They aren’t attacking them right now, but we see them most nights. Don’t worry, Leigh. We aren’t going to let them near you again. There’s no way we will leave you alone, even with Ronnie.” Joel knelt by the couch and rubbed her cheek with his knuckle. “I’d die if anything happened to you, baby.”

“Do you know how Ronnie is?” she asked, uncomfortable with his declaration when she wasn’t sure how she felt about him and Jonathan.

“No, we haven’t seen Brice or Garrett to ask. We are thinking about one of us going over to see how they are, but neither one of us wants to leave you right now. It’s bad enough one of us having to see to the herd every day.” Joel kissed her hand where it wasn’t bandaged.

Jonathan returned with her glass of tea. “How do you feel now?”

Leigh laughed. “I’m feeling the same as when you asked me a while ago, silly.” She smiled up at him and took the glass of tea.

“It’s my turn to see about the herd. I’ll see you later, baby.” He bent over and kissed her on the lips. It was a lingering kiss.

Leigh licked her lips when he had turned away to talk to Joel about the cows. She picked up the book they had found for her and started to read.

“I’m going to be working in the office and try to catch up our breeding records. If you need anything, holler. I’m leaving the door open.”

“I’ll be fine, Joel. Don’t you need a coat on back there?” She had the fireplace, but he wouldn’t have anything in the back part of the house.

“I’ve got on two shirts. I’ll be fine.” He ran his finger down her nose and then kissed the top of her head.

Leigh wasn’t sure how long she read, but sometime later there was a knock at the door. She froze. Who could it be? She started to holler for Joel, but evidently he had heard, because he jogged into the living room.

“Be quiet, Leigh, until I know who it is.”

Leigh only nodded and sank further into the couch cushions.

Joel took one last look at her before opening the door just enough to see who it was. He placed his body in front of the opening so no one could see into the room. Leigh listened to see if she knew them.

“Hey, Joel. We wanted to come and check on Leigh. Ronnie is having a fit to see her. We need to keep her calm as possible. She’s pregnant. Can we come in?” Garrett’s voice carried into the room.

Leigh smiled. Ronnie was okay if she was outside waiting to come in. She almost yelled out for Joel to let them in, but remembered he had said to be quiet. She didn’t want to upset him, so she didn’t.

“Sure. Leigh has been worried about Ronnie. Bring her on in.”

Much to Leigh’s delight, Joel stepped aside to let them in. She heard Garrett call back for Brice to bring Ronnie in. A few seconds later, Brice and Ronnie walked into the room. Ronnie squealed and ran to her. She started to kneel on the floor in front of her but Joel immediately stopped her.

“Wait. I’ll get you a chair. You don’t need to be on the cold floor.” He disappeared into the kitchen and was right back with a kitchen chair.

“Thanks, man,” Brice said.

Garrett and Brice nodded toward the front door, obviously wanting Joel to follow them.

“Baby, we’re going into the office. If you need anything, just call out. Okay?”

“I will.” Leigh smiled at him.

The three men walked into the front hall and out of hearing range.

“I’m so glad to see you, Ronnie. I’ve been so worried about you. How are your arms?” Leigh asked.

The other woman had on long sleeves. She had carefully taken off her coat with Garrett’s help and laid it on the opposite end of the couch.

“I’m doing fine. My arms are almost healed. I didn’t have as many cuts or bites, and they weren’t as deep as yours were. You saved my life, Leigh. I will never be able to thank you enough.” Ronnie reached out and laid a hand on Leigh’s hand that wasn’t all scratched up.

“How are you really?” Ronnie asked.

“I’m really doing fine. My arms hurt a little bit now and then when I do something. My belly doesn’t hurt unless I move too quickly. Mostly, everything pulls. They took the stitches out the other day, and that about made me sick.”

“Don’t I know what you mean? It’s the weird feeling of something pulling in your skin. It doesn’t really hurt.”

“Right. So you told the men about your baby. What did they say?” Leigh asked.

“They were quiet at first, like they were in shock. Then they were worried about me. Now they seem to be excited. I was worried at first that they weren’t happy, but they keep assuring me they are.” Ronnie rubbed her belly. “I don’t even have a baby bump yet.”

“You’ll be showing before you know it. Give it time. Soon you will be complaining about not being able to see your feet.”

Ronnie’s face grew serious. “Do you dream about the wolves?” she asked.

“No, thank goodness. I was worried I would. Do you?”

“Yes. I woke up one night beating on poor Garrett. He almost never got me calmed down. I wish they would get rid of them so I’ll feel safe again.” Ronnie picked at her warm-ups.

“Joel and Jonathan said they are going to form another hunting party once I’m healed up. They promised me they wouldn’t leave me alone without one of them there with me. They’re going to need more men to do it.” Leigh shivered. “I’ll worry to death until they get back.”

“I know what you mean. My men said about the same thing. Brice has been talking to some of our neighbors on the other side about helping. They all are having trouble and seem like they want to help.”

“Good. I don’t want just three of them out there all alone. There are so many wolves, and they are smart. Who would have ever thought they would come after us? And to jump through the window…” Leigh grew quiet, remembering.

“Don’t think about it anymore. Let’s talk about something more cheerful. I want to have a late-spring party with all our neighbors. We need to meet them all. You never know when you might need help with something.” Ronnie was animated talking about it.

“Right. You’re going to have a baby. You’ll need help with your garden, and when the baby comes.”

“Oh, Lord. I haven’t even thought that far in advance. But you’re right.” Ronnie grew thoughtful.

About that time the men returned. They were still talking when they walked in. Leigh heard something about
other men
and
getting together
.

“Ronnie? It’s time to go, honey. You need to rest, and I’m sure Leigh does, too.” Garrett walked over and helped her stand up.

“We haven’t gotten to talk very long,” she complained with a pout.

“We’ll bring you over again later,” Brice assured her.

Joel smiled. “You’re welcome anytime you want to drop by. Either Jonathan or me will be here.”

“We’ll be in touch later once we have finalized plans,” Brice said.

“We’re in. Just let us know when.” Joel saw them out the door.

When he returned, Leigh stopped him from going into the kitchen.

“Joel. Are you going to hunt the wolves again?”

He hesitated then sighed. “Yeah, baby. We’ve got to get rid of them, or at least thin them out. They’re too dangerous in such a large group to leave out there.”

“I know you have to, but I don’t want just three of you to go out there. You need more men.” Leigh watched his face for any sign that he was going to lie to her.

“Don’t worry, baby. Brice and Garrett have contacted more men, and we’re going to have at least six of us out there. Two men are going to stay behind with the women. You’re going to stay with the rest of them. I’m not sure who’s going to stay with you, but you won’t be alone. I promise.” He knelt on the floor in front of her despite the kitchen chair right there.

Joel picked up her hand and carefully placed tiny kisses all along it and up to where her sleeve covered her. Then he cupped her head between his hands and drew her down for a kiss. He licked at her lips and she opened, welcoming him into her mouth. He caressed her mouth with his tongue then ran it alongside hers before pulling away. He kissed the corners of her mouth and her eyelids before standing back up.

Leigh looked up at him and smiled. Her breasts were taut and sensitive against her shirt. Her pussy wept with juices all from a kiss. She realized that she wanted him. She drew in a deep breath and reached out and traced his rock-hard cock with her hand. She couldn’t believe that she was being so bold, but it seemed right.