Chapter 9

9

Melissa

“ I ’ve never seen ranchers take their cattle out in the winter,” I say, riding my darling Isabella next to Colton’s Apex.

Ethan and Mitch circle the herd with their horses, dogs running around to keep the cattle in check. We’re in the southern pasture, with the partially frozen creek acting as fence of sorts, keeping the animals from wandering off.

“Some ranchers leave them out to pasture all winter, but we like to keep ours sheltered so the grass can have a chance to grow back. Luckily, we’re blessed with a bit of good weather today. Temperatures just a smidge above freezing,” Colton says, smiling as he watches his brothers wrangling and laughing when one of the calves tries to explore the snow away from the herd. “We figured we’d get the big girls moving a bit before they’re mostly confined for the next few months.”

“You keep your animals happy.”

He nods once. “It’s the right thing to do. I know most people don’t agree with our approach, but we’re able to up the prices within a reasonable range and nobody ever bats an eye. Hell, if anything, our orders double in the spring.”

“Was it always like this?” I ask.

“Nah, my brothers and I implemented this practice when we took over. Our father ran the ranch the old-fashioned way. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, but the competition was slowly crushing us. Ethan’s the one who suggested we figure out ways to keep our cows happy. It sounded silly at first.”

“But then it started to make sense.”

“Mmm.” He gives me a long, curious look. “You like it here, don’t you?”

“I love it,” I quickly reply. “It’s beautiful. The air is fresh and clean. I’m surrounded by good people. What’s not to like?”

Colton flashes a cool smile. “Would you go back to Lincoln after you finish your sentence?”

That’s a good question.

I have an answer, but I don’t think I’m ready to say it out loud. I don’t think I’m ready to admit it either. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an aversion to drastic changes in my life. Yet coming here was precisely that.

“I think I’ll answer that another day, if you don’t mind,” I tell Colton.

“That’s alright. There’s no rush. We’d like to have you here for as long as possible, though. I figured you should know.”

“You would, huh?” I ask, thinking about the permanent position here when my time is served.

He steers Apex closer to Isabella. Our horses get along great, occasionally nudging one another in a playful manner. Isabella isn’t as fast as Apex, so when we’re racing across the pasture, I noticed Colton’s horse doesn’t dart ahead like he normally would when he’s up against Cosmos or Elias. Apex actually slows down a little so my mare can keep up, and it’s the sweetest thing.

“I know the paperwork has been put in for you to work here after your sentence is over, but you could always choose another path,” Colton says, his gaze softening as it searches my face. “But wouldn’t you agree that there’s something between us? I don’t want it to have an expiration date.”

“Neither do I, but isn’t it complicated? I mean, how would it work in the long run?”

“You’ve thought about it,” he smiles broadly.

My face burns pink. “Well, yeah.”

“That’s sweet. Thing is… if you want something to work, you figure out a way to make it work, right?”

“I’m sure that applies to a car engine or a pie recipe, but not a relationship between four people, for Pete’s sake,” I shoot back, almost laughing as I shake my head. “This is crazy, Colton. I never imagined I’d be involved in something like this.”

“Neither did I. Yet here we are,” he says.

“Yeah. Here we are,” I sigh deeply.

I can see the southern gate about a hundred yards away. Beyond it, a road stretches, connecting the ranch to the outside world, above it is an endless stretch of blue sky.

But a truck that pulls up to the gate is what catches my attention. The uniformed man who gets out of the truck is unfamiliar to me, but I can’t see much from this position. He’s steady in his movements, looking over the entire southern pasture as he gets closer to the gate.

“Colton follows my gaze. “Probably a prospector.”

“A prospector?”

“Yeah, everybody wants to buy this land from us,” he says with a heavy sigh. “Once a week, sometimes even twice during the summer months, people stop by. A few of them keep coming back, surveying the land. It’s almost ridiculous. Though I get it.”

“Prime real estate, right?”

Colton nods once. “For developers, for industrial farming, yeah. But it would destroy the ecosystem here. It would throw the other ranchers in the pit, as well. One of the reasons why the big industries haven’t breached these parts of Nebraska is because we, the ranchers, have stuck together.”

“Passing the lands down through generations?”

“Yeah. We’ll do the same, you know,” he replies, and I look at him. The hint of a smile stretching across his lips fills me with a peculiar, sweet warmth. A promise that has yet to find words. “Our children will inherit this land. And these plains and these hills will remain clean. Green. Like nature intended.”

“You’re brave, I’ll give you that,” I say, glancing back at the man by the gate.

“Why brave?”

“Most people would take the money. I suppose you’ve been offered well above the market value. Or am I wrong?”

“You’re not wrong,” Colton chuckles.

Somewhere behind us, I hear Ethan and Mitch are shouting, laughing. The cattle moo as their hooves thunder and crunch in the hardening snow. The dogs are yipping and barking.

“But the money is worthless when you’ve got all of this laid out at your feet,” Colton adds, a beam of pride emanating from his blue eyes and his voice at the same time. “Money can’t beat this view nor the bounty the land offers.”

I nod in agreement. “I’m no rancher myself but know enough to recognize the value of this place. You’ve got rolling hills and strips of plains in between, you’ve got woodlands and the creek running through… I’ll bet it’s as green as emeralds in the summer.”

“We have a small lake, too,” Colton replies.

“Oh. I didn’t see it. I thought you gave me the full tour.”

“You’ll see it in the spring. It’s far on the north side and surrounded by thick woods. You haven’t seen the whole thing because it’s about 1,500 acres.”

“Whoa, that’s a lot.”

“It is. But you have plenty of time to explore the entire property, that I can promise you.”

And I believe the promise as much as I believe the kindness with which it’s intended. If there’s one thing I’m able to say for sure, it’s that Colton and his brothers really do want me here.

The intimacy of our relationship could either boost the whole thing or jeopardize it, though. I don’t know what to make of it. I want it to work. The way I feel about them demands it. But life has a way of kicking me in the gut when I least expect it.

“He’s leaving,” I mumble, watching the man by the gate return to his truck.

“May he have a blessed day,” Colton chuckles, then gently nudges his horse with his heels to get him moving. “Come on, I’ll teach you how to use Isabella to keep the cattle close to one another.”

Come evening, my thighs hurt.

The muscles are sore, and the inner sides are slightly chafed even though I had on the thickest pair of jeans I own. Then again, we were out riding for hours, and I’m not used to being in the saddle for that long. Isabella loved it almost as much as she loved the bucketful of apples she got as a reward. And speaking of rewards, the guys were spoiled rotten with a veritable feast, as well.

“That was the biggest roast I’ve ever laid eyes on,” Darla says after dinner, her dessert plate almost licked clean.

I join the table with a plate of my own. “Honestly, I outdid myself with the meat,” I say, my fork slicing through the apple pie I made for dessert as though it’s made of butter. “Oh, this is insanely tender. I’m loving that oven more and more.”

“You used Marty’s butter for the dough, didn’t you?” Darla asks, half-smiling.

“How’d you know?”

“His is the best butter in the county. That’s why the pie came out the way it did,” she says. “Beats any store-bought butter by a mile. I asked him to send us a few boxes last week, and I’m glad to see you’re putting it to good use.”

Sammy is already upstairs, probably dozing off in his chair by the window while trying to finish a Cormac McCarthy novel. The boys have also signed out for the evening, so I’m left with Colton, Ethan, Mitch, and Darla for the remainder of this dinner—not that I mind. Sometimes it’s nice to serve fast and then get a moment for myself to enjoy what I cooked.

Colton’s thigh brushes against mine under the table.

I give him a shy smile. “Darla’s right. The butter from Marty is exceptional.”

“It’s why his ranch is going so well. We call it the Butter Ranch,” Colton says.

“The Butter Ranch,” I laugh lightly.

“He supplies the entire county,” Darla chimes in. “The man feeds his cows with some kind of magic. I don’t know what it is, but that butter, dang it. Ours come close, but not like his.”

“Happy cows, I’m guessing,” I say.

Ethan scoffs. “I’m not going to serenade the cattle with my guitar, if that’s what y’all were thinking.”

“You’d make their ears bleed. Relax. Karaoke Keegan,” Mitch chuckles.

“You play the guitar?” I ask Ethan, while the others laugh.

He offers a timid shrug. “A little. I’m no Elvis Presley, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“He’s tone deaf, but we support him,” Mitch is relentless, but Ethan doesn’t mind. This is their usual banter, and it is drenched in brotherly love. There are moments when I think I never would’ve gotten in trouble with Jake if I’d had a sibling to keep me on the straight and narrow. A pang of regret lingers in the pit of my stomach.

“So, Melissa, tell us,” Darla says after a while, pouring herself a glass of scotch. “Cooking’s your thing, right? Your calling?”

“Yeah, pretty much. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” I reply, savoring the pie filling’s ensemble of tastes and spices. That nutmeg kicks in right when it’s supposed to, and the cloves are subtle enough to give it its own personality. “I’ve always dreamed of having my own restaurant.”

That gets everyone’s attention. All eyes are on me, and I can feel my cheeks warming under the amber-tinted ceiling light. Outside, it’s frosted and quiet. All around us, sparkling shades of red, green, and gold decorate almost every surface—Darla decided to buy more Christmas-themed decorations, putting them up herself last night while everyone else was asleep. She’s either restless about her medical tests or she’s really getting into the holiday spirit.

“Your own restaurant,” Mitch says. “That’s ambitious.”

“It’s not impossible,” I reply with a slight shudder.

“Oh, no, not at all. It’s impressive,” Mitch replies. “If you aim high, you have better chances of getting there or at least as close to that goal as possible.”

“As opposed to settling for scraps,” Ethan adds.

Colton gives me a curious smile. “What kind of cuisine would your dream restaurant have, Melissa? Italian? American?”

“Actually, a fusion between French and Italian,” I reply with a smile. “It’s like the best of both worlds for me. The buttery French sophistication mingled with the Mediterranean simplicity of the Italians. And I’d have a separate menu just for the desserts.”

“Let me guess. Butter everywhere,” Darla shoots back. “I know a guy for that.”

“I’ll definitely want to meet Marty at some point,” I say. “I really am curious about how he makes that incredible butter happen.” I pause to finish my pie, my mouth experiencing a culinary orgasm in the span of a few moments.

“I think it has something to do with the churning process,” Colton says. “The last time I went over to Marty’s a few years back, he was thrilled about some new churning machinery he’d gotten straight from an up-and-coming manufacturer. The guy was from California, but he was trying to break into the Midwestern market.”

“Now that you mention it, I’m pretty sure that’s when Marty’s butter really started picking up,” Mitch nods in agreement. “We should pay him another visit and take Melissa with us.”

“Wouldn’t that qualify as industrial espionage?” I ask.

“Do you plan on making a better butter than Marty’s?” Colton raises a skeptical brow.

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“Then it’s not industrial espionage.”

“I’m glad that’s settled,” Darla grumbles and gets up to clear the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I need a couple of hours to sit down and let this dinner work its way through me before I hit the sack.”

“Oh, don’t worry about this, I’ll do it,” I try to intervene, but she gently nudges me back into my seat.

“You will not. For all the goodness you’ve filled our stomachs with, the least I can do is throw some dishes in the dishwasher. Relax and pour yourself a glass of scotch, honey. Rest.”

“Thank you.”

The guys rise and help Darla as she stacks the plates on top of one another, then they carry them over to the dishwasher. Darla methodically slides everything into the bottom rack before she adds the cutlery and a detergent capsule.

“All clear. I’ll see y’all tomorrow,” she says, one foot already out of the kitchen.

“Darla, hold on,” Colton says, stopping her in her tracks. “You didn’t tell us how your doctor visits went this week? Any closer to a diagnosis?”

Darla lets a heavy sigh roll from her chest. “Not really. They suspect a combination of causes now. Hormonal, a viral infection. I got a new treatment to try for the next couple of weeks. Let’s hope this one doesn’t make me break out in hives. Last month was hell.”

“You’ll tell us if you need anything, right?” Mitch asks.

“I sure will, kiddo,” she smiles and walks out.

A minute pours by in a thick, pressing kind of silence. We’re alone, now. The four of us, burning for one another, desire secretly sizzling between us. It’s been such a busy and tiring day that this is literally the first moment I’ve actually gotten to simply sit down and enjoy the dessert I made.

“Darla’s right,” I mutter and pour myself a shot of scotch. I down it in one gulp, neat and fiery as it burns my throat, instantly spreading the sweetest, most comforting heat through my whole body. “Actually, let me get a second one.”

I manage to even pour a third before Colton chuckles and takes the bottle away.

“That’s enough for you, young lady,” he says.

“I’m nervous.”

Mitch smiles, leaning close enough for me to catch a whiff of his enticing cologne. “What are you nervous about?”

“Being alone with us,” Ethan says, leaning back in his seat. Meanwhile, his boot nudges mine under the table.

“Well, yeah,” I mumble. “I think I’m allowed to feel that way.”

“Just as we’re allowed to help you unwind so you stop feeling that way,” Colton says, then pulls me into a kiss.

My defenses are immediately obliterated. Hell, I never stood a chance. I receive him with nothing but delight and raw hunger. Mitch’s voice tickles my ear, his lips brushing my cheek. My body temperature spikes as I slowly turn to focus on him. His dark eyes drill holes into my soul, and I surrender without so much as a modicum of protest. I don’t want to resist.

“Let’s take this upstairs.”

We go to my bedroom. Tonight, however, the anticipation of what is to come makes me shake with excitement before my clothes find the floor. Colton takes me in his arms while Ethan and Mitch casually remove their sweaters and jeans. Candles burn by the window, but only the pitch black of night awaits beyond the frosted glass. Ice flowers creep around the corners, while the central heating system makes my room feel cozy and warm.

“You’re still nervous,” Colton says, planting soft kisses all over my face.

Mitch comes closer, and I find myself staring at his magnificent, naked body. Ropes of toned muscle stretch across his torso, his shoulders broad and his hips narrow, perfectly sculpted, pulling my gaze farther down to his insanely strong thighs and twitching erection. Oh, Lord, he’s just as big and just as hard and just as eager to take me, and all I can do is lick my lips as I look up at him.

“I’ve never done this before,” I whisper. “All three of you?”

“It’s alright,” he says, gently cupping my face. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

He and Ethan undress me, one button at a time, while Colton gets rid of his clothes and watches as his brothers peel away at my layers until I’m left naked and wanting, quivering as liquid heat trickles down the insides of my thighs.

I reach up and put my arms around Mitch’s neck. We kiss and let our hands roam everywhere while Colton and Ethan take their sweet time touching me, exploring me with their lips and their fingertips. I melt against Mitch’s rock-hard pecks, his cock throbbing against my womb as Colton spreads my legs and lets his tongue slide through my wet folds, fingers digging into my butt cheeks at the same time.

“Oh!” I gasp, and Mitch suckles on my lower lip while Colton licks me into a trembling frenzy. Ethan’s hands slip around the front, kneading my breasts as my head falls back, and Mitch brings his hand between us until he finds my clit.

Colton licks my entrance with burning enthusiasm.

Mitch flicks my swollen nub, teasing and adding tension to my core.

Ethan pinches my nipples, tighter and tighter until I squirm.

I lose myself and disappear somewhere in the dark pools of Mitch’s eyes as he pushes me over the edge. I come shaking, arousal flowing freely as my pussy clenches in its tempestuous release. Mitch keeps flicking my clit, pressing and rubbing and destroying my senses altogether.

“That’s it, baby, come for me,” he says, his voice hot and harsh.

Colton’s fingers slide in, pumping in and out of me until I come a second time, quickly after the first. I cry out, gushing like a fountain and holding on to Mitch for dear life while Colton bites my ass cheek and Ethan kisses me. Hungry. Desperate. Needing so much more.

“Oh, God,” I manage, unable to stand.

They guide me to the bed, and as soon as I lie on my back, Mitch is on top of me, pinning me into the mattress with his full body weight. Colton and Ethan climb up, kneeling to my left and right, their sturdy, veiny, delicious-looking cocks mere inches from my lips. I surrender to my instincts, my most primal desire, and I reach for them. My fingers lock tightly around the base of their thick shafts.

“That’s a good girl,” Colton hisses as I take him in my mouth first. I lick and suckle on the bulging head, tasting the precum before I do the same to Ethan.

“Fucking hell,” Ethan groans, and I feel a vein pulsating along his length and against my tongue. A twitch of longing travels through my body and makes my hips rise as Mitch spreads my legs.

With a mouthful of Ethan, tears of joy stream down my cheeks as Mitch enters me, stretching my pussy into the wildest madness of passion and complete surrender. Slowly but surely, a rhythm is established. The pace heightens with every thrust.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the honor to share,” Mitch says, watching me suck Colton’s cock while simultaneously stroking Ethan’s.

I’m so wet, so primed for this.

It’s insane, but I don’t want it to end.

Mitch fucks me harder and deeper, my moans reverberating across the room. He spears me with his full, thick length, over and over, thumb teasing my tender clit again.

“Oh, fuck, this is perfect!” I cry out as a third orgasm blows through me. “Harder, baby, please… HARDER!”

I’ve lost my mind.

Mitch happily obliges, ramming into me until he, too, comes. His heat fills me, and I feel his essence melting into my body, his thrusts downright savage as my breasts bounce under his lustful eyes.

“My turn,” Ethan says.

Mitch smiles like a lazy tomcat and lies on the bed beside me, watching as Ethan takes his turn and starts pounding me into oblivion. I keep one hand on Mitch’s face, lovingly caressing him while my other hand is firmly fondling Colton’s hard balls while he slides down my throat.

“Fuck,” Ethan growls as he, too, comes inside me.

My pussy is overly sensitive with every thrust, and I feel his climax rippling through me. Mitch nibbles on the side of my neck as Ethan pulls out and Colton takes his place.

Colton throws my knees over his shoulders and slaps my ass, pounding me into the mattress until I’m close to passing out.

“Don’t stop,” I gasp, my hand instinctively nestled between my legs.

I coax myself into a fourth climax, losing complete touch with reality as I clench Colton’s cock tightly with my pussy. I feel the stream of his cum shooting deeply into me, I hear the sound of skin slapping skin as he lets go of himself.

Colton grunts in pure ecstasy, loose and out of his mind as he pumps me full of his seed.

“I don’t want this to end,” I hear myself whisper.

A thin, silky layer of sweat covers my naked body. I’m tender and blushing. Sparkling and glowing, naked and surrounded by three of the most incredible, most dashing men I’ve ever had the fortune of crossing paths with. And tonight, they’re mine.

The power is in my hands.

“It won’t end until you end it,” Mitch says.

And I carry his words with me into the milky shimmer of a most wonderful afterglow. Christmas may only be a few weeks away, but I already feel like I’ve been shot straight to the top of the nice list, because this is the best gift I could’ve hoped for.