Lost Without Them (7 page)

“The timer has about ten minutes left, so you’ve got time.”

Cody turned to leave the kitchen. “Be right back.”

SAM REMAINED BEHIND, watching Keegan closely. Her gaze stayed on Cody as he left the kitchen, and he could see the shimmer of confusion and doubt.

“Cody told me about what happened earlier,” Sam said softly.

Keegan’s gaze shifted to his in surprise. After a brief pause, she rolled her eyes. “Do the two of you talk about everything?”

“Yeah, pretty much. We share everything from secrets, to clothes…to women.”

She crossed her arms over her chest as she took in a deep, almost shaky breath. “I see.”

“Are you okay?”

She looked at him through angry, narrowed eyes. That look was probably the most spark he’d seen in her, and he’d also never seen her look more beautiful. “What do you think, Sam? Stop asking me if I’m okay, when you know damn good and well that I’m not.”

“Keegan—”

“Don’t,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’m not angry at either of you. I wanted what happened today just as much as he did, but I’m just not sure it’s a good idea to be following through on that desire. None of us know who I am or why I’m here. For all I know, I could be…”

“Married?”

She shook her head sadly. “I don’t feel married.”

Sam walked over and leaned on the island. “What do you feel? It might make things easier if you talk about it.”

She put one hand on her hip, the other against the other side of the island across from Sam. “Yeah, or it might makes things more uncomfortable.”

“I’m not uncomfortable. Are you?”

“I’m weirded out. Does that count?”

Sam chuckled. “Yeah. That counts. Cody said you remembered something today.”

Keegan nodded and chewed on her bottom lip. “I told Cody that I felt like I knew you. He made a joke that maybe I was stalking you before I was attacked. I laughed it off as teasing, but the flash of an image I got was of you and Cody in a bar.”

Sam tilted his head. “What did it look like?”

“It was dim, lots of cigarette smoke, lots of wood paneling, plank floors. There was country music blaring. You and Cody were at a table talking when another man walked by and said something to you. He was tall, brown hair, maybe. It was too dim to tell for sure. You were both dressed as you are now.” She looked at Sam and grinned. “Maybe I was stalking you.”

“Or maybe you just noticed us across a crowded room. If it was the bar in town, maybe they remember seeing you.”

“Maybe.”

The timer went off, and she moved to take the casserole out of the oven. She placed it on the hot pad on the counter while Sam washed his hands. He recognized the casserole immediately.

“Texas hash,” he said with a smile. “I haven’t had that since Dad was alive.”

She gave him a look of relief. “I was afraid you wouldn’t like it.”

“Naw, I love it. So does Cody. If that tastes as good as it smells, I don’t think you have to worry about whether or not you’re a good cook.”

Keegan grabbed some plates from the cabinet and handed him one. “Since Cody isn’t back yet, you can be the taste tester.”

Sam took the plate and placed a heaping serving right in the middle while Keegan fixed drinks. He took a bite just as Cody walked into the room. “Ah, man,” Sam said with a smile. “This is good, Cody.”

Cody glanced at the dish and smiled.

* * * *

Dinner had passed with relative ease. The guys had even stayed to help her clean, which, truthfully, had been greatly appreciated. By the time she’d climbed into bed, her stitches were beginning to ache and pull.

Keegan settled farther under the sheets, hoping she wouldn’t have a repeat of last night. All through dinner, she couldn’t keep her mind off that afternoon with Cody. God, she’d been so close to letting go, so close to losing it and making a complete fool of herself.

But man, did she wish she had.

She could still feel his touch. His breath on her neck. His lips. Her nipples hardened beneath the cotton of Sam’s shirt, and she rubbed her palms across them to ease the ache. It didn’t do any good. It only made it worse.

Sighing, she dropped her hands and stared up at the ceiling. Sam’s scent clung to the shirt, and she sighed, wishing he were here. Wishing both of them were here.

She really needed to stop daydreaming and get some sleep. Hopefully tonight would be dream free. Closing her eyes, she ignored her body’s needs and forced herself to relax. She must’ve been more tired than she’d thought. Darkness enveloped her much faster than she’d expected. Unfortunately, it didn’t stay dark.

The nightmare began again.

Keegan stood outside. The full moon highlighted the snow-covered ground. She could see for miles across the mountains, hear the wolves howling in the distance. She tensed at the sound. Two wolves moved in front of her as though to stand guard, ever ready, ever watchful.

She touched the head of one. His black-and-gray fur was soft between her fingers, but she knew the strength held tightly checked within his muscular frame could easily overpower her.

“They’re close,” she whispered.

“We are not alone,”
he answered in her mind.

She turned to see the others, about twenty in all, standing with her. She spotted Sam and Cody, and every inch of her body tensed. “You can’t be here,” she shouted.

Sam turned to look at her. From the corner of her eye, she saw the black wolf lunge forward. Keegan screamed and took off at a run, determined to get between Sam and the wolf. Someone grabbed her from behind, stopping her.

Sam turned toward the wolf and raised his gun. A shot was fired, but he wasn’t fast enough. Blood splattered from the wolf and covered Sam just as the wolf lurched forward, knocking Sam to the ground with a menacing growl.

“
Sam!
”

* * * *

“Sam!” Keegan screamed as she sat up in bed.

Sweat covered her skin. Every inch of her body trembled in fear and sadness. Tears streamed down her face, and she raised her hand to wipe them away. More followed as sob after sob racked her body. She kept seeing it. Over and over in her mind, she saw Sam mauled by that massive, black beast.

Why? Why did she keep seeing this? Why did it scare her so much?

Her door burst open, and both Sam and Cody rushed in. She looked up at them in surprise. At least this time, she was covered.

As she stared at Sam, she had an overwhelming sense of relief that he was okay. She jumped from the bed and threw herself into Sam’s arms. Sobs made her shake from head to toe as she buried her face in his neck and held on tight.

Sam tensed in shock, then slowly wrapped his arms around her back. Cody moved in behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, softly massaging them.

“Keegan, what happened?” Sam asked.

“I saw them kill you,” she sobbed.

“Saw who kill me?”

She shuddered. “Those wolves.”

“I’m fine,” he whispered and tightened his arms around her. “Keegan, listen to me.”

He tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t loosen her hold. She knew it was stupid and unreasonable. She knew she shouldn’t care this much, but she did. She knew it shouldn’t be real, but something deep down told her it was. Something deep down gave her the feeling that something very bad was going to happen, and it would be all her fault.

“It was so real,” she whispered.

“It was just a dream, Keegan,” Cody said as he placed a kiss on the back of her head.

“No,” Keegan argued. “It was more than a dream.”

Sam grabbed her arms and began to pull them from his neck. “Keegan…baby, look at me.”

She turned tear-filled eyes to his, and her lower lip began to quiver.

“You’re somehow mixing me up with what happened to you. That’s all this is.”

She shook her head. “No. I’m there. I see it happen, and I can’t stop it. It tears you apart.”

“Keegan,” Sam said as he took her hands and put them on his chest. “I’m right here, see? I’m in one piece.”

Keegan noticed his bare chest for the first time. His skin was smooth and warm, his muscles hard and firm. He was tan from working shirtless in the sun. A scar ran across his right pec, and Keegan traced it.

“See?” Sam asked in a strained voice.

Her gaze moved to his, and she could see the desire darkening his brown eyes. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him right now. Should she do what her body wanted? Would it be wrong to take them both to her bed when she didn’t know what tomorrow would bring?

She just didn’t want to be alone. Not tonight. Maybe not ever.

“Please stay with me,” she whispered.

Sam frowned. “Keegan.” He swallowed before continuing. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

“I don’t want to be alone.”

“You just had a nightmare, baby. That’s all.”

Cody rubbed his palms up and down her arms. Sam still continued to hold her left hand against his chest. His fingers were warm as they closed around hers. Every swipe of Cody’s touch sent a warm sensation of awareness to her core.

She was determined to get them to stay, even if she had to seduce them. To hell with what she’d said this afternoon. She wanted them. Why fight it? Why deny it? She needed this, and she would have it, come hell or high water.

Standing on her tiptoes, she slanted her mouth over Sam’s. He tensed at first, but she didn’t give up. She nipped at his lower lip, encouraging him to open his mouth for her. When he did, she pushed her tongue inside, hoping to entice him to play. It didn’t take long.

Sam growled deep in his chest and met her passion with a hunger of his own—a hunger that nearly sent her to her knees. Wow, he could kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held tight and gave as good as she got.

Behind her, she sensed Cody pull away. Letting go of Sam with one arm, she reached blindly behind her and grasped Cody’s wrist. She took his hand and put it over her breast.

Cody didn’t hesitate. He moved quickly in behind her and wrapped his other arm around her as well. Both hands fondled her breasts, and she moaned into Sam’s kiss as lust swam through her veins, giving her an incredible rush.

“Keegan, are you sure about this?” Cody asked as he leaned in to kiss her neck.

She broke the kiss with Sam long enough to answer. “Yes.”

She’d never been surer about anything. After the last two days of coming close and not finding release, if she didn’t get one of them inside her soon, she’d scream.

Sam’s hands slid lower and cupped her ass, giving it a hard squeeze as he pulled her closer. She could feel the hard ridge of his cock as it pressed into her stomach. She wiggled against it, hoping to let him know just how badly she needed him, wanted him.

“Cody,” Sam growled breathlessly against Keegan’s mouth. “We need condoms.”

“Hurry,” Keegan pleaded as she pushed her hand into Sam’s pajama pants and wrapped her fingers around his cock.

He was huge—so big, in fact, her middle finger wouldn’t touch her thumb as she tightened her fingers around him.

Sam groaned and grabbed her hand, removing it as Cody quickly left the room for condoms. “I swear to God, woman, if you don’t slow down, I’ll fuck you without a damn condom. I won’t be able to wait for one.”

He gave her a little shove toward the bed. Keegan smiled slightly at just how excited he was, how hot he was for her. He could take her right now, without any more foreplay, and she wouldn’t mind. Matter of fact, she wished he would.

She could tell she was wet. She could feel it between her legs. She knew she was ready for him. Ready and willing. More than willing.

Hoping to push him even further, Keegan grabbed the edges of her shirt and lifted it over her head. Sam growled low in his throat at the sight of her naked. His gaze raked over her body, making her hot all over. Or hotter, if it were possible. She was already so hot she felt like she was on fire.

Sam brought his gaze back to hers as he lowered his pants, letting them fall to the floor around his ankles. His cock was long and thick, the head purple and moist. She licked her lips, wanting to taste the precum that dotted the tip.

Cody walked in and stood next to Sam, naked. He was just as big as Sam, their bodies almost identical. Sam was just a smidge taller than Cody, his cock just a bit longer.

Keegan’s flesh flared even hotter at the image of two naked, gorgeous cowboys ready to please her, to grant her every wish and desire.

Cody turned sideways and slid a condom over Sam’s cock. Keegan’s mouth dropped open at the sight of Cody’s hand on Sam’s shaft. It was so hot, so incredibly wicked to see them touch one another.

“Do that again,” Keegan whispered.

Cody and Sam glanced at one another before Cody put his hand back on Sam’s cock and stroked it back down as though sliding the condom in place. Keegan swallowed at just how sexy that was. It was even sexier the second time around.

“Do you do that often?” she asked breathlessly as Sam stalked her backward toward the bed.

“We’ve been sharing women a long time,” Sam murmured. “When two guys share like we do, you sometimes can’t help but touch. When we do, it’s not sexual. It’s just a side effect of close proximity.”

“Maybe so.” She sighed as Sam pushed her to the bed, where she landed on her back with a soft bounce. “But it’s still hot as hell.”

Sam grinned as he climbed over her. “I’ll remember that. Lift those beautiful legs around my waist, Keegan. Foreplay’s over.”

She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he entered her in one deep, hard thrust. Keegan squealed as the stretching sensation sent tingles all the way to her womb.

“Ah yes,” she hissed as he began to move immediately.

Her hips lifted off the bed, meeting his thrusts, forcing him deeper inside her. She wanted it faster, harder. She wanted him to make her come, but Sam seemed content to take it slow, despite his haste to get inside her.

“Sam,” she pleaded. “Harder.”

Instead of picking up the pace, he slowed it down. Keegan groaned and tried to use her feet to force his hips forward. Sam chuckled as he leaned down to capture her lips with his. The kiss was deep and dominating, silencing her cries of frustration and making her moan for other reasons entirely.