Chapter 4

Four

T hey were mavericks among deeply rooted traditional thinkers. How the hell Ashwood knew about them sharing Zahara baffled him. The Savages and the Ashwoods didn't exactly have the most peaceful past. The peace held between the two families was delicate so he and Riley had taken a lot of care to keep their relationship with Zahara out of the public eye.

Then how the fuck? Maybe she'd mentioned it to someone? He didn't know, but he knew Zahara was a very private person and Riley swore to Holden he didn't tell his father.

Then how?

But did it matter? The old man would not keep them from claiming their soul mate in the most primitive way. Putting a baby in her. They'd wasted the last two weeks waiting for the perfect time to tell her she wasn't leaving their mountain and now they may not get another chance to ravish her so completely she begged them to feed her greedy little pussy their milk.

Holden's blood pressure shot up to dangerous levels as he walked the lengths of the wooden floors of their cabin. It had been in the family for over a hundred years, and the home had seen its share of both happy times and problems. Funerals and weddings.

"You can't be in the same room with her without wanting to fuck her up against the wall, the couch, the kitchen table. That's your problem. She's bound to think she's just another toy. You don't see that as a problem? Maybe she thinks we're not serious about her."

Riley shook his head. "Not buying it. She knows she's more than just a wet pussy for us to fuck. But now that you mention it, I have an idea."

Riley's indifference worked Holden's nerves.

"See what I mean?" Holden stalked by Riley, his tone clipped. "She means more than a casual fuck to me, Riley."

"And what? You think I'm not eaten alive with the need to see her round with our babies? If that doesn't scream long-term, tell me what does. I'm all ears."

"You're all asshole," Holden growled.

"Yeah well, that's what makes us perfect for her. Two of a kind."

Holden grunted. "I can't breathe without smelling her perfume on me. I haven't had a clear damn thought in eleven months." He shook his head but it didn't help. Never did.

"The only thing that matters right now is to get her to stay. She thinks she's hurting us by staying and with school coming to a close, she has every reason to leave. Tonight's shitshow didn't help." Riley tossed various containers and bottles of water and juice that Zahara favored on the kitchen counter.

"Yeah, we might as well have packed her bags for her after everything dad said."

"It gets worse," Holden mumbled and immediately wanted to bite his tongue.

Riley leaned both hands against the counter, his face twisted with curiosity. "Really? What do you mean? How does it get worse?"

Damn it. He didn't want to mention this now. It would steer them off-topic and lead Riley to a dark place.

He knew what it meant to lose family. So did Zahara. But Riley didn't lose the father who'd rather beat him into submission than take the time to teach him. He had to see him day in and day out. If Holden told Riley the Ashwood Elder had come within five feet of Zahara, much less threatened to strike her while they were out rescuing those damn teenagers today, Riley would lose his shit. If it ate him alive, it would kill Riley. He needed him focused right now on how to solve the bigger problem, Zahara leaving them.

"Stop fucking around, man, spill it while you pass me the bread."

Holden pulled the bread from the cabinet and tossed it on the counter between them. "Never mind. We don't have the time right now."

Riley looked like he wanted to argue the point for a beat longer, but he finally nodded. "We'll find the time. But I agree. Later."

"We can't let her leave without knowing she belongs here with us, Riley."

"Agreed."

"She thinks she's a problem and I have a feeling it goes deeper than that. There's something bigger keeping her closed off from us. We need to make her feel safe and show her that she's our perfection."

Riley moved around the kitchen while they talked. "And now my father may have ruined it for us." The man who didn't share many words looked like he wanted to shout out his frustration. He got that.

"We'll handle him. But first, we have to make sure we don't lose her. I'd rather have plummeted down Death Gulch today than face a life without her."

There it was, that cold, calculating gleam to his eyes that said Riley wouldn't let their girl go without a fight.

"I know that look. It got us grounded for a month in grade school when we and Drake took on a whole pack of teenagers when they bullied our sister. Landed me with a summer-long gig shoveling muck down on the Grady farm. Nothing is worse than shoveling shit, man."

"Unless you're me. My dad busted my hide. Couldn't sit for the whole summer."

"That was messed up."

"But it turned out all good. Your sister was able to go to school and actually enjoy it." Riley brushed off his bleak past like a pesky fly.

Holden scrubbed a hand over his two days' worth of stubble. He had a feeling what they were about to do would either be the best time of their lives or shit was about to hit the fan.

Holden pulled up a stool, popped the top to a beer and took a swig. "So, what's all this about?" he asked pointing at the food on the counter.

Riley smiled. "Glad you asked."

In the early hours of the next morning, they came to a stop behind Holden's borrowed truck parked outside of Zahara's apartment situated above Damon's bar and bakery. Ethan had tossed him a set of keys as soon as Zahara had peeled out. While she took the ten-minute trip back to town, they turned right and opted for the two-hour trip back to the Savage's back land to regroup.

Pools of soft light poured out of the large second-floor windows. "She must have stayed up all night."

Wafts of sweet, floury goodness made their stomachs rumble in unison as the hired baker, already hard at work, had fresh treats going in the oven.

"Or she's up early and ready to leave. We sit here any longer and I'm going to go fucking nuts."

"Cool it, man. Let's wait and see. Then we strike accordingly."

"You know we're not in the military, right?"

"Doesn't change the fact this is still a mission. If you ask me, the stakes are just as high." Holden turned to his friend and watched him curiously.

"There. She just killed the lights. Probably going to catch a cat nap before she slips away from us."

"Another half-hour then we go in?"

"Yep. Just in time for the sun to start its ascent and to have Zahara drowsy enough to not fight us."

"That came out so damn wrong."

"You know what I mean, don't be an ass. The more we stack this in our favor the better. We stick to the plan. Make her fall in love with this place, with us, to trust us with whatever it is that's bothering her and she won't want to leave."

"We're not stopping until she's ours, Holden."

"Agreed." Holden didn't wait to see if Riley followed. He would. Their desires for life and their future lay upstairs waiting for them.

Holden crossed the dimly lit street and let himself into Savage Fire and took the back stairs two at a time. He pulled a key from his pocket and a few seconds later they both stood inside Zahara's apartment. The delicate scent of lavender filled his nostrils as the rusty, old hinges creaked. He had meant to take care of that last week for her, but work kept them tied up from sunup to sundown with little time for much else.

That would change.

Soft light poured in from the front windows—the frilly white things she had pulled over the large panes did nothing for privacy. A single beam of sunlight caught on the glittery texture of something off to the side of the door.

Riley tossed his heavy weight into one of the chairs situated between him and Zahara.

"Fuck, man. Drake was right when he called. If this doesn't work, she's gone."

"He can't put off taking her where she wants to go," Holden confirmed, grimly.

Suitcase after suitcase lined the worn wooden floor by the door and told them both they were about to lose the only good thing either of them had. She made him ache like no other woman ever had. An ache only eased when she was close. He knew Riley felt the same, too.

Damn. Every last thing she owned was packed away, down to her toiletry bag she didn't go anywhere without. "Grab the luggage. I'll get the girl."

Anger worked through his veins. But not at Zahara. At themselves for not shutting Ashwood down before he got worked up and said all that shit to her in the first place. He worked his throat and throttled the groan that wanted to slip past his control from wanting the taste of her skin on his tongue and her body wrapped around him.

He let out a long sigh as he walked through the apartment, every inch as familiar to him as his own home. Plush carpet silenced his heavy steps.

A sound brought him up short. Soft moaning hit his ears as he walked through the small kitchen and hallway that led to Zahara's bedroom.

Holden bit back and curse. He twisted the knob and came to a dead stop.

Zahara. Naked, but for a red lacy scrap of something covering her ass and a strappy bra he'd like to see withstand the power of his teeth covered her hardened nipples from his view.

She lay sprawled over her bed dreaming.

He dragged in a lungful of air and was instantly, painfully harder than a steel rod. His cock throbbed in his pants and the heavy, sweet scent of her arousal touched every red blood cell in his veins.

He moved deeper into the room.

Twisting in the sheets were miles of tan legs and silky hair spread over the white cotton of her pillow. His gaze tracked her hands as she cupped her heavy breasts, fingers wrapped around her lace-covered nipples as she teased and tugged the hard tips.

The sight sent the fire in his soul into a wild blaze. His cock pulsed, cum leaking out to wet his boxers.

Need to take her between their large, muscled bodies and watch his friend sink his cock into her tight asshole as he sank into her silky pussy tore at him. Wake her with gentle lovemaking here or follow through with Riley's plan?

Her hand scooped the lace of her bra beneath her breast and she clutched her fingers around her berry-sized nipple. Her other hand slipped beneath the band of her panties and brushed against the bare, silken flesh between her thighs.

Zahara shuddered, gasping quietly into the quiet room.

Riley moved into the room silently and came to an abrupt stop next to him. "We have to go before the town wakes. We have to wake her which is a sin in itself."

He was right.

"Not yet." Holden's heart pounded. He moved to the side of the bed. Gently he took her hand, and Riley fell in opposite him, his lips brushing her cheeks with light kisses.

Riley leaned in, hungry for her exposed nipple and he moaned deeply as he took a hard peak into his mouth.

Holden slowly slipped his hand beneath hers and his cock strained for a taste of all the juicy wetness he found coating her pretty pink folds. His jaw twitched as he parted her folds, lightly caressing the pad of his finger over the knotted bud.

Her breathing increased, a beautiful pink shade coloring her cheeks. Her lips parted and holy fuck they had a beautiful goddess between them. All supple curves and sweet, tender body. Looking down at her he wanted nothing more than to roll her over, draw her ass into the air and pound into pussy until she screamed his name.

Between them Zahara dreamed, writhing with pleasure.

Riley gently released her nipple and moved close to her ear. "Zahara, baby girl, cum for us. Give us your sweet honey. Holden wants to feel all your hot girl-cum all over his fingers."

"Holden," she purred so softly his gaze jerked to her thinking she was awake only to find she still slept.

He'd never been so hard in his life. Watching her dreaming of them, coming for them. The memory seared into his brain. He'd never forget this. Her. How she wanted them even in her sleep.

Fuuuck.

It would be them who claimed her, marked her, made her their family. Protected between them. Safe and loved.

He worked her harder and faster teasing the tiny bead until he had her panting softly. She rocked her hips against his hand and just as the sun peeked so did she.

Her climax washed over his hand and Riley devoured her moans like the greedy man he was. They both were.

His cock nearly tore through the shorts he wore for the day's adventures. Not his usual attire, but right now they would be easy to strip off.

"Good girl," he cooed right before taking a mouth full of candy hard nipple for a quick taste.

Looking up he watched as her pretty, black lashes fluttered open.

"Good morning, baby girl. You're not trying to run away from us, are you?"

As Riley spoke, Holden raised his cum-coated fingers to his mouth and licked them clean as she looked on dreamily.

"Mmm." Her eyes drifted closed again, her lover's names slipping softly from her lips. Riley devoured each with a hungry kiss. What the hell was wrong with him? He couldn't stop himself from wanting her any more than he could stop breathing.

Slowly as the dream faded, Holden watched as blue eyes opened to look up at him and that was when he noticed the puffy redness. His heart stopped beating as he turned ice cold.

All it took was that one look for iron to wrap around his heart and cement their plan of seduction. He spared a glance at Riley and made sure he noticed what he saw.

The same determination crossed his best friend's face. As long as Zahara breathed, he never wanted another woman in his life. But before either of them could think about that, they had to make sure she knew there was truth behind them wanting her.

"Time to wake up, baby girl," Riley spoke up from the other side of the bed.

"What?" Her words were soft, featherlight as though she didn't have the strength to fight them. Something was wrong, and it had nothing to do with her leaving without saying goodbye. He knew it like he knew her.

"You're coming with us." Riley slipped her from bed.

"Here, put this on." Holden handed her a pair of shorts and a tank as Riley collected her sandals from the foot of the bed.

Holden helped her stand. Sliding the shorts up her warm bare thighs pushed his limits of control. When his fingers grazed the soft slope of her full breasts as he straightened her tank. He wanted another taste of her already. Something to hold him off for the long drive back to their property.

Instead, he ground his teeth and willed his dick to stop trying to bust out of his zipper.

Harsh, jagged breaths tore from him as uncontrolled fire burrowed deep in his chest. Thank God she didn't say anything, just sleepily followed their instructions. One soft note from her and he'd have her pinned to the wall and sink deep inside her, to hell with all their plans.

After they'd finally gotten her dressed, he bent, hooked an arm behind her knees and wound the other around her shoulders. He pulled her close.

"What's wrong? Is someone hurt? Why aren't you guys talking to me?"

Rolling to a quick stop, Holden brought her gaze around to his. "Look at me, baby. Trust us."

She stared up at him with her beautiful wide eyes before she turned to Riley, lips parted. He looked at her and ignored the questions burning behind her beautiful lashes. Bright blue shifted until her pupils nearly swallowed the last shaft of color. "I... I can't."

Her face flushed with a red so deep it looked scarlet. A growl unfurled up the back of his throat as she dropped her eyes and moved to lower her legs.

Yeah. Nope. Not gonna happen. The second her pinky toe hit the floor, she wouldn't stop running. He knew it like he knew there was no other way to get through her stubbornness other than sticking to their plan.

He sighed. "Sorry, baby. Didn't mean for that to sound like a question. My bad."

Her eyes widened.

"No going back now." He winked at her and smiled when she mumbled under her breath.

"You can take your high-handed macho alpha King Kong ways and use them on someone else. I have a flight to catch and I'm due at Drake's plane in..." she glanced over his shoulder at the alarm clock by the bed, "now, as a matter of fact. Put me down."

His little minx was a very bad liar.

"And if I don't."

"I'll scream."

"Hard to do that when you have your mouth full of Riley's cock."

"Holden, don't do this to me," she whispered. "Don't make this harder."

He dragged her closer to his chest and tightened his hold. The slight shiver that ran through her feed into him.

Damn it.

"Thought you knew better than to run. Sounds like you need to be punished for your crimes."

"And we have the perfect punishment in mind," Riley added from the doorway all smiles.

Her eyes widened with a hint of fear and danced between them, but beneath all the ‘I can'ts' and talk about flights, he could still smell her arousal and taste her cum on his lips from moments ago.

The devil on his shoulder whispered for him to toss her on the bed and convince her of how wrong she was and that she belonged to them. And to make her thighs wetter than even her wet dream. Riley's eyes darkened as he read Holden's hesitation. Zahara's hands shook as she pressed them against his chest. Holden's lips brushed hers and the throaty moan he lifted from her was pure adrenaline to his heart.

She pulled back but not before moaning into his kiss. "I know that trick, Holden Savage. Don't even think about it."

She wiggled in his arms and his smile broadened. "You're not doing much to dissuade me, baby."

She tried not to smile but the dimples in her cheeks appeared, shadows playing in the small dips at the corner of her lips.

"Then plan B it is," Riley added as he opened the bedroom door wide for them.

Holden heaved her weight over his shoulder and laughed when she squeaked.

"Shh. You'll wake Damon across the hall and we all know the bear he can be before coffee."

With their treasure loaded in his arms, Riley took over and pointed the truck in the direction of home.

Zahara did that shimmy thing with her hips in his lap and in the shorts she had on he knew she didn't miss the hard length of his cock pressed up against that tight little ass of hers.

She crossed her arms, shoving the sweet swells of her breasts high.

"Kidnap me. Fine. But this doesn't change anything."

A pretty scowl scrunched her face up into a frown. Little minx. It was hard not to turn her over and spank her hot ass right that second.

"I get back into town and Drake has to take me where I want to go."

Riley swung his arm over the back and she leaned into him. Consciously or unconsciously she knew she was safe with them.

"We'll drive you back to Fairbanks ourselves and see to it you hitch the next ride to Houston if that's what you want. But for now, give us one day?" Holden stared at Zahara's sweet countenance as she considered their request. At least he hoped she was mulling it over. Lately, her face took on a blank expression when faced with a decision, her only tell came from the way she fiddled with the tips of her hair.

A mix of fury worked deep in the set of her shoulders though her eyes gleamed with curiosity and pure stubbornness clutched her mouth in a tight, straight line. He could practically reach out and touch her stubborn streak it stretched so damn wide. A smile pushed to show itself but he worked his composure, not wanting to tease her into demanding they turn the truck around right now.

"Don't think I'm going to change my mind in one day." She held up a single digit to drive her point home and then crossed her arms over her breasts, the cotton pulling tight to reveal the dip of her cleavage and hard tips poking against the thin barrier of clothing.

"Everything will work out, baby. You'll see."

That was Riley. Always optimistic.

"One," she repeated. "That's all you have. One day."

That one word from her sweet lips was all he needed to hear.

He could convince anyone of anything given enough time. Zahara didn't stand a chance against them. She was theirs. If she wanted Houston then they wanted Houston. It seemed pretty easy. But he could see how happy Savage Ridge made their woman. He doubted some jam-packed city gave her the freedom he'd seen her enjoy here.

He liked to play the odds, true, but he leaned toward the realistic side of thinking. She could turn them both down. What if she truly didn't want them? He'd swallow his pride because her happiness meant more to him than his own, but it would hurt like hell. He'd live with that if he had to. But damn it, she was going to have one day with them and no interruptions.

Savage Ridge faded in the rearview mirror. The next couple of hours passed in silence and he was content letting her switch between his lap and Riley's.

Before long Riley veered the truck off from the main highway and hit a no-name dirt road for a couple of miles before getting to their house. Switchback turns led them through narrow passages, along trails that didn't look like much more than half-assed guesstimates they were headed the right way until Riley finally stopped and threw the truck in park.

The little nook they had in mind was completely off the beaten path. Located on the far reaches of the Savage property, only the brothers knew about this particular secret hideaway.

Zahara leaned forward, curiosity lighting a spark in her eyes. "Where are we?" The last thirty minutes of their ride she had stirred from her slumber and sat quietly between them and watched the mountainous countryside pass by. Her eyes taking in everything in the comfortable silence.

The way her hands rested—one on his lap and one on Riley's—had him rock fucking hard and he didn't care if she saw or not. From the looks of it, Riley didn't fare any better.

Riley had brought the truck to a stop at the edge of the woods where the road came to an abrupt dead end.

Zahara thrust the truck door open and crawled over Holden, her attention on something the second Riley cut the engine. "Oh my God. This is beautiful."

They watched as their girl slowly let her muscles relax. Arms outstretched, she soaked in the rays of morning light. For the first time in his life, he grew jealous of the sunshine stroking her face, her raven locks, and delicate shoulders. Before long he would have that braid of hers loose, the long strands wrapped around his hand as he and Riley worked her body.

He and Riley leaned on the hood of the truck as they watched Zahara run into the large field of wildflowers that swayed in the mountain breeze. Fireweed with a splash of yarrow here and there. Lupin mostly.

"First stage complete." Holden turned to Riley, who raised a brow in question. "We're a third of the way there."

"Let's hope she likes the rest of our plan."

Holden snagged the blanket, the basket of food they prepared, and towels from the back of the truck.

Riley lowered his voice so Zahara wouldn't overhear as she approached, her hands full of a massive bouquet. "I can't get the image of her having a wet dream about us from my head."

Holden nodded, his attention on Zahara.

"I should be mad at both of you for your macho bull crap." She pulled up short of them, just out of their reach. The last time she hesitated, he understood. But out here, no prying eyes. He would have to stop her from robbing them of her delicious heat.

Anger tinted her cheeks a pretty pink and reached into her eyes until they shone like sapphire jewels. Rosy lips pursed in contemplation. Holden fought the grin that worked his lips into a smile.

Every cell in his body told him to push her patience and get her riled up enough to tell them why she thought leaving without saying goodbye was a good idea. Fuck that. Why she thought she would be leaving in the first place.

But logic pulled back his tendencies and slowed him to a walk. He'd get his answers later when she was weak and pinned between him and Riley.

"I should have known you two would be up to something. Esmeralda said as much and Remy warned me to bolt my door the second she got off the phone with Drake."

"Why didn't you?"

Zahara took a step back and turned to walk down the path carved between tall pines and oaks on either side. "Good question, Ashwood. I guess I wanted to see what you would do. So now that you have me out here where there are no prying eyes, what plans do you have in mind?"

His jaw twitched. Her chest fell and rose heavily. That pretty flush deepened. He pushed up from the truck and grabbed her around the waist pulling her soft, supple body against his harder one. The second she felt his massive hard-on she bit her lip, her eyes darting to his.

Riley moved in behind her, pressing her deeper into Holden's embrace.

"We're going to fuck you, claim you, my sweet little teacher."

She twisted to face Riley, bringing her hands to Holden's chest. Her own heaving with heavy shuddering breaths.

"And then if you're a good girl, we're going to mark our mountain bride with our hot cum inside your sweet honey-dripping pussy."