Page 28 of Cowboy Triplets Next Door

“I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I feel like a new woman now. I can go out and…have fun…without worrying about anyone else freaking out over the status of my hymen.” I licked my lips. “Honestly, you guys set me free. I’m having a really good time now. No more calling it quits after a quick hand job in the front seat of a guy’s truck, you know? I’ve been promoted to the back seat.”

Gray’s face was a shade of red I’d never seen on him before. His eyes were dangerously narrowed and I could see the way his jaw muscle was working as he ground his teeth together. “Stop talking.”

A smart woman might’ve. My father had always told me that if I ever lacked book smarts, I more than made up for it in tenacity. Of course, he told me that after taking me back out of school so I could help on the ranch. Either way, I just kept my smile in place and reached into my shirt to adjust my boobs. It wasn’t a move I would’ve ever done in a million years in front of them before things went off the rails. I took joy in seeing their eyes all drop to my chest as I did it, though.

“If you’ll let me out, Owen, I think I want to get to know that soldier.” I bit my lip as I looked over his shoulder. “I always have loved a man in uniform.”

Owen slid out of the booth and stepped out of my way so easily that I thought maybe my teasing wasn’t actually bothering them. I was debating what I was going to say to the soldier, who I definitely didn’t want to hit on, when Owen’s arms wrapped around me from behind and picked me up like I weighed nothing. He held me against his chest and walked out of the diner with me dangling in his grip. To say I was mortified would be an understatement.

Once we were on the street, I fought back. I wiggled and tried to twist myself out of his grip, but it was useless. He carried me around to the side of the diner and spun me around so he could press me against the brick wall as he leaned down and glared at me.

“You’re playing with fire, Bumble B.” His bared teeth and dark scowl might’ve scared other people but I liked it.

I wanted him to rake his teeth over my neck and mark me. I wanted— Shit. I cut my thoughts off and dragged in a ragged breath that made my chest brush against his. I forced myself to focus as I met his hard gaze. “Do you think it’s okay to tell a woman that sleeping with her was a mistake and then act like some possessive boyfriend?”

He pushed off the wall and took a few steps away from me. He rubbed his hand over his mouth and looked away. “No. I’m not—”

Gray stepped into my line of vision and leaned down so when he spoke to me, I was the only one who heard. “You don’t understand how badly I want to bend you over and spank your ass raw. You’re being a brat. We’re trying to do the right thing and you’re pushing us to a breaking point.”

“You don’t have to be around me. If you’re so worried about being pushed to your breaking point, get away from me. I’m not begging any of you to hang out.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m actively finding new people to fill my time. You three are the ones not letting me out of your sights.”

“Are we just supposed to step back and watch you sleep around? We started whatever this is in you and we feel responsible for you. It would be wrong of us to set you loose on the world and just watch as you catch something or get knocked up.” Gray’s jaw worked and I could see his mind working. “I just mean that you’re our responsibility. That’s all.”

If I’d been mad before, I was absolutely livid then. I stretched up on my tip toes so I could whisper into his ear. “Where was that sense of responsibility when Owen came inside me?”

His head snapped back like he’d been punched.

“Let’s clear one thing up. I’m not your problem. You guys took care of an issue I had and that’s all. Go back to whatever you did before and forget about it. I already have.” I wanted to hurt them as much as they’d hurt me. “It’s not a big deal. You took my virginity. So, what? It could’ve been anyone. And now I see that it should’ve been.”

Gray grabbed my face in both hands and slammed his mouth down on mine. It was as unexpected as it was rough. He bit my bottom lip and then stroked his tongue into my mouth like he had every right. My back hit the brick wall behind me again and my head bumped against it but all of my senses were focused on Gray’s mouth. It was impossible to not kiss him back. My blood boiled and all my anger shifted into arousal. Our teeth bumped at the sound of a car alarm going off in the distance but I grabbed the front of Gray’s shirt and held on.

When Gray started to pull away, I sank my teeth into his lip, punishing him for what I knew he was going to do. It could’ve been a game show. A Hellstone brother did something to my body. Would they A.) tell me it was a mistake, B.) mention responsibility, or C.) act angry because they’d touched me?

Instead of doing those things, Gray dragged his mouth to my ear and bit it before harshly whispering at me. “You chose us for a fucking reason. Maybe like the fact that you’d let me fuck you right here in the middle of town because you’re so hot for us. You think I can’t see the way you press your thighs together when you speak to us? I can smell your pussy dripping for us. You waited for a man who lit you on fire and you got that. Stop pretending like you’d ever let any of these other men touch you, B. We both know you only come for us.”

I stammered. That I hadn’t expected.

“We’re trying to protect you and you’re being a pain in the ass about it. Do you understand how ruined your body would be if we all fucked you like we’d planned on? You’d never recover and you’d never find a man who could make you feel like that again. Stop toying with us or you’re going to find yourself in the middle of three men who want to fuck you so hard your screams wake the neighbors. Play nice, Bumble B. I mean it. There’s only so far you can push us.”

I swallowed and stared up at his hard face as he straightened. My body wanted me to push them and see what being ruined felt like. My brain told me to run. I opened my mouth to say something and found myself pinned to the wall again, with two of Gray’s thick fingers stroking over my tongue. I closed my lips around his fingers as he slid them in and out, my body winning the fight.

“It’s too bad you aren’t older and less innocent. We could’ve had a lot of fun.”

It was that line that pushed me too far. I smacked his fingers out of my mouth and shoved him away from me. He didn’t budge, but I did. I slipped away from him and shoved my hand in my pocket to find my truck keys. As soon as the cold metal was in my hand, I turned back to them. They were all standing there, watching me like a pack of starving wolves. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end but I stiffened my shoulders and glared at them.

“The next one of you who touches me is going to regret it. Fuck you and your do-good act. Let’s not pretend like you give a shit about me. Let’s just go back to how things were and forget this ever happened. Stay away from me and I’ll stay away from you.”

CHAPTER 24

Gray

The breakfast table was bustling as usual. I’d hoped the constant buzz of my brothers and ranch hands running their mouths would distract me from my thoughts of Billie but I had no such luck. No matter what, she was on my mind and I was about ready to scream.

“No, man.” Jamison laughed loudly and waved his breakfast burrito in the air. “That redhead we met at the bar? She opened her purse and there were dozens of little bottles of lube. I didn’t know whether to be excited or intimidated.”

Ty snorted. “We all saw you slip away with her.”

“Well, yeah. I’m not one to back down from a challenge.” I felt his eyes turn on me. “Not like my brothers here.”

---