Claimed by the Mate, Volume 1 (15 page)

“Me, either,” Darnell said. “Especially the spiders.”

“For me, it's snakes.” Suni hugged herself, and the conversation took off.

Cherry grabbed her plate and carried it over to the bar to save anyone having to clear her stuff from the table. Christa and Steph followed suit and then went out the front door. Cherry followed them. “What?” She poked her sister's arm. “Not waiting for dessert?”

“It's later. They're going to have a campfire and we're having s'mores.”

Steph gave an exaggerated moan. “Marshmallows, graham crackers, and gourmet dark chocolate.” Fluttering her eyelashes, she added, “Be still, my heart.”

“That sounds like fun.” Cherry walked over and flopped down on a chair at one of the small tables. Of course, she really didn't know. During the summers when Christa and Steph went off to summer camp, Cherry's parents had made sure she attended fat camp. S'mores were most definitely not on the menu, but a weeklong course of intimidation and shame had been enough to ruin her appetite.

“Good.” Christa sat next to her. “Now that we have that out of the way, where were you all afternoon? We walked over to your cabin to return some of your books, and you were gone.”

“I didn't see them there. Did you leave them?”

“No, and you're avoiding the question.” Steph took a seat across from Cherry.

Surprisingly, Cherry didn't blush, but that was probably because she wasn't the least bit embarrassed over how she'd spent the afternoon. “I told you, I went with Cain to see the puppies.”

“For three hours?”

Three hours? How did they know she'd been gone that long? “I don't know how long I was gone, actually. Why? Did I miss something?”

“We walked over at one, again at two, and then stopped by just before three.” Christa had a look of grim determination that was a bit unsettling.

“I was with Cain.” Frowning, Cherry glanced from Christa to Steph and then back at her sister. “Why are you so concerned with where I was all afternoon? We went to see the puppies and spent about an hour watching them, and then we cooled off in the creek, and had wild and crazy sex the rest of the afternoon. I was home by a little after three and took a shower and a nap.”

She glanced from Christa to Steph and then back at her sister. Both of them had their mouths hanging open. Christa said, “Okay, Cherry. Would you repeat that, please?”

She almost laughed. Suddenly she was enjoying this conversation a lot more. “Uhm, you mean the part about watching the pups, the shower, the nap—”

Steph whispered with her jaw clenched and lips not moving, “The wild and crazy sex part.” She rolled her eyes and glared at Christa. “What is with your sister?”

Cherry flopped her head down on her folded arms and giggled until her sides ached. When she finally raised her head, Christa was staring at her.

“I thought you liked Brad? Why were you having sex with Cain?”

Her poor sister looked honestly perplexed, but Cherry didn't feel comfortable discussing Cain's and Brad's interest in her, or their personal relationship, so she shrugged. “Brad wasn't there and Cain was. And he's really hot and I am on vacation.”

Steph threw her hands in the air. “But you never do that sort of thing. Not ever!”

“Well, Steph, maybe it's time I did.” Cherry said it gently, but this was getting a bit old. She was older than both of them and maybe she was less experienced, but she wasn't an idiot. “Look, I'm having a wonderful time that will end in a few more days when I have to go back to the real world. Right now I'm enjoying the fantasy, okay? I don't think I should have to explain myself to anyone, especially when I'm on vacation, so please, stop worrying about me and just enjoy yourselves.”

Christa took her hand. “I'm sorry, Cherry, and you're right. It's just…” She took a deep breath. “I had just turned fifteen when that asshole uploaded those horrible pictures of you all over the Internet, and I've never forgotten the hell you went through. I almost lost you. I don't ever want anything like that to happen again.”

Cherry squeezed her sister's hand. “At least that's not a problem here—no Internet. I trust Cain, and I trust Brad, too. We've talked, I've gotten to know them, probably better than either of you know Ronan or Wils, and I'm having more fun than I've ever had in my life. Stop worrying. When the week ends, I go back to the day job, but with more than my share of incredible memories. I have both of you to thank for this amazing experience, so please, don't waste your vacation time worrying about me.”

She understood Cissy's concern—her little sister had been as traumatized as Cherry by that bastard's actions and she'd had to deal with the fallout all through high school, but it was time for both of them to heal and move past it. Cherry was tired of feeling like a victim and even more fed up with acting like one. She wasn't about to waste any of this unbelievable week worrying. Not about anything.

Chapter 14

They'd all gathered on the deck as the sun went down—Ronan and Wils with Christa and Steph, Trak with Suni and Fred. Darnell sat in Evan's lap sharing a Long Island Iced Tea that Brad had mixed for her and Evan had convinced her was such a strong drink it really should be shared.

Cain and Brad had become Cherry's personal bookends, one on either side of her, never intrusive, yet a sexy and highly entertaining presence. The guys were relaxing this evening while a couple of men she'd not met built a fire in the pit near the swimming pool and got a good bed of coals going.

“I hope you like s'mores.” Brad had his arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

“Doesn't everyone?”

She knew from the look in his eyes he'd easily caught her noncommittal answer.

“Most everyone, but what about you?”

What was the point of lying? Shrugging, she said, “I don't know. I've never tasted one.”

His eyes went wide. “Cherry, every little kid's had s'mores.”

She was really getting tired of being questioned over everything. First her sister and sex and now Brad and s'mores. Of course, until this week she would have backed down and done anything at all not to make a scene, but she was learning that it felt good to stand up for herself, even if she might offend the person currently questioning her life.

Of course, she didn't mean to sound quite so antagonistic, but she'd missed out on so damned much growing up as the fat kid in the family. “Not every little kid's parents sent them off to fat camp when the other kids were eating s'mores at summer camp, so, no, Brad. I have never had a s'more.”

Then she felt bad because he looked so sad at her answer.

He cupped her cheek in his warm palm and gently kissed her lips. “I'm sorry, Cherry,” he said. “I really am, and I may be out of line, but your parents did a job on you. Little kids should be allowed to be just that—little kids. Some are fat, some are skinny, and they should grow up the way they're meant to be.”

“Yeah, well a lot of little kids don't grow up with status-conscious parents concerned how their child might look while swimming at the club. My appearance was important to them and they worked really hard to make it important to me, too.”

Then Christa chimed in, totally shocking her. “Yeah, Cherry, except I agree with Brad. Mom and Dad were totally wrong the way they badgered you about your weight. You got Dad's bones—he has a heavier frame and so do you. I've told you for years, you're not fat. You're bigger than me because I'm built like Mom and you take after Dad, so quit picking on Brad.”

“Christa!” Cherry laughed, but she glared at her sister and then put the evil eye on Brad, and Cain, too, even though he hadn't said a word. “Look, everyone, get over it. Whatever my body is, it is most definitely not skinny like you and Steph, or the other women here. I've tried to lose and it always comes right back, stops where I am now, and I'm okay with it.”

“Well, you're eating s'mores tonight.” Brad kissed her quiet.

“I agree you're eating s'mores, but you're not fat. You're sexy as hell.” Cain leered at her, and then he leaned close and whispered in her ear, “I know what's under that slinky dress and she's all woman. I plan to get my hands on her later tonight.”

Cherry blushed.

Brad whispered in her other ear, “So do I. Enjoy the s'mores. Cain and I are going to help you work the calories off later.”

She was sure even the soles of her feet were red.

The s'mores were absolutely delicious. She ate three of them—one from Brad, another from Cain, and one she cooked all by herself.

*   *   *

Cherry stuck around with Brad and Cain after everyone else had gone to their respective cabins. She almost laughed when Steph hooked up with Wils and Christa with Ronan and the four of them took the trail that led to Christa's cabin. Cherry had made a point of not asking the details of their evenings, which she hoped might insulate her from giving out details of her night, though she was definitely curious to know if anything went on between Christa and Steph.

That would be a not-so-unexpected development. Cherry had had her suspicions, but it was Steph's and Christa's business to share, not hers to speculate. She was still grinning when Trak, Suni, and Fred took off and laughing hysterically when Evan tossed a giggling Darnell over his shoulder with a disgruntled laugh and carried her off to bed. To sleep, he said.

Darnell's Long Island Iced Tea had just about knocked her out. “I had no idea she was such a lightweight,” he said. “If she asks for one tomorrow night, Brad, cut back on the booze.”

Cherry watched Evan hauling Darnell back to her cabin and wondered if she should be worried. “Is Evan okay? I mean, she's definitely not sober. He wouldn't…”

She left the thought hanging.

“Darnell's safe with Evan. He's a truly gentle and honorable guy.” Brad hugged Cherry close. “There's no one here we wouldn't trust with any guest who stays with us. Darnell will be fine. Of course, I'm only referring to her physical safety,” he added, laughing. “No guarantees on how her head feels when she wakes up. Those drinks are potent, but she said she had to have it.”

Cain bounded up the steps. He'd gone back to the pit to put dirt over the coals and make sure the fire was entirely out. “Actually, Evan told me he's planning to stay the night to make sure she's okay, that she didn't have enough alcohol to be sick. He'll keep an eye on her.”

“Part of the Feral Passions full-service package?” Cherry shot Cain a quick grin.

He laughed. “No one beats our customer service. We can handle any emergency, and our guests always leave satisfied.”

“They do, eh? You can promise that? Absolute satisfaction, never a disappointed client?”

“Oh, yeah. For you, sweetheart, only the best.” Cain slipped his arms around her waist. Brad paused as he passed behind her and hugged her from the back. She felt his lips nuzzling that sensitive spot behind her ear, Cain's beard tickling her jaw. Their powerful bodies were pure heat, blanketing her in bone, muscle, and warm, wonderful male, and all her synapses fired at once.

She didn't even try to hide the low, slow moan that escaped her lips. She was so ready for tonight. After her shower and nap, and then as she'd moved around more, the soreness from this afternoon had faded and now, with the campfire extinguished and the last of the guests departed, with her men blanketing her front and rear, her own fires were burning, the heat growing, her awareness of Brad and Cain and what the night promised expanding exponentially.

Brad slipped a tote bag over his shoulder and held her left hand and Cain grabbed her right as they walked across the parking lot to the trail that led to her cabin. They turned her loose along the narrow trail but kept her between them as they walked single file along the pathway. There was a slight breeze this evening and the fairy lights danced among the branches.

Cherry felt like dancing right along with them. When they reached her cabin, Cain held the door and she stepped inside. Both men followed her, and Brad pulled a chilled bottle of champagne out of his tote bag.

“What's that for?” Cherry reached into the cupboard and pulled out three champagne flutes. “What are we celebrating?”

“We're celebrating you, Cheraza.” Cain pulled her into his arms for a kiss that lasted until Brad pulled the cork out of the bottle. The loud
pop
made her jump.

“Nervous, much?” She waved her fingers in front of her face, but it wasn't so much nerves as it was outright arousal. She wasn't certain she was quite ready to admit the truth—not to herself or either of the guys.

She wanted these men. Both of them, though she wasn't all that sure about the logistics. Two men at once? One at a time? And if so, in what order? Even she didn't know which of the two she wanted the most.

She wanted them both!

Brad poured champagne into each of the glasses. Cain held his glass up and stared at the bubbles for a moment. “To you, Ms. Cheraza DuBois. To new experiences—hopefully to be shared with the two of us.”

Cherry was trying to wrap her brain around Cain's toast when Brad tapped the rim of his glass to hers.

“Cain told you we've been together for a long time,” he said. “I don't now how much he said about our search for the perfect woman to complete what we've always felt was an incomplete triad. We have never met a woman before who fit so precisely the image we've always held on to and had hope for. Not until you. I hope you'll give us a chance.”

She looked from one man to the other—both so different and yet so attractive. Brad was solid and muscular without an ounce of fat, his hair neatly trimmed and his beard little more than a dark shadow that merely outlined his strong jaw and emphasized the sexy curve of his lips. He looked the part of the successful young architect, and she could see him working in an office in the city, neatly attired in a suit or equally well dressed in chinos and a casual shirt.