Page 24 of Seducing Serena

She nodded. She could tell he was itching to take over but would allow her to take point while he and Noah provided backup and whatever assistance she might need.

Lawson tried his walkie-talkie, but there was no response when he called for Derek. Noah and Ford pulled out their cell phones and offered them, but the man was already pulling out his own.

She was surprised there was cell signal this far from the main Ranch building but didn’t question it. Instead, she returned to the ridge just as more of the ground around the hole disappeared and the black hole nearly doubled in size.

Cupping her hands around her mouth, she screamed, “Tori, Caroline, can you hear me?”

“Hello? We’re down here! We can’t get out!” a voice called back from the hole.

“Are either of you hurt?” Serena moved down the hill, only stopping when Noah grabbed her arm and pulled her back several steps.

“I hurt my ankle when the ground gave way,” the girl responded. “Tori hit her head and she won’t wake up. Can you get us out please?”

“We’re working on it, honey. Stay still and we’ll get you out as soon as we can.”

Serena turned to Noah and stepped into his chest, wrapping her arms around his middle. “I’m scared,” she whispered, not wanting anyone else to hear her confession.

He brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re doing great,” he assured her. “Stay strong and you’re right, you are best suited for this rescue. Just know that we’re here to back you up. And thank you for not slugging the security chief.”

“I bet if you or Ford had said the same thing he would have just nodded and let you take charge,” Serena said, her tone slightly bitter.

“It’s only because you’re too pretty to be a tough-as-nails fireman,” Noah teased gently, causing her to wiggle out of his arms.

Stepping back, she slammed her hands on her hips. “That’s because I’m not a fireman. I am a highly trained firefighter slash paramedic.”

“You are. And you’re going to put that knowledge and experience to use getting those Littles out of that hole. Let’s get the crew briefed and figure out how we’re going to attack this.” Noah said before brushing a kiss on her cheek.

* * *

It took longer to prepare for the rescue than Noah felt comfortable with. Especially since there was an unconscious woman waiting to be pulled out of the hole, which had grown to now be about twenty feet across.

Finally, he finished securing one end of the long, red silk rope Derek had brought them to the largest golf cart in the field. A few feet away, Ford was tying the other end of the rope around their woman in a harness that went between her legs and over her shoulders. They had moved the golf cart so it was within twenty feet of the hole. There was more than enough rope to allow Serena to descend into the hole and get to the women without taking it off the harness.

Once finished, he waited until Ford stepped back and Serena tested the rope to make sure all the knots remained secure.

“Are you sure you’re going to be able to grip with your right hand?” Ford asked.

“Yes, it feels a lot better now. Besides, I’ve got a job to do and I’m going to do it,” she said, looking from Ford to him.

Noah walked to her and pulled her into a long, strong hug. “We know you will. I love you, sugar. Be careful and come back to us safe.”

Ford moved closer and they opened their hug for him to join them in another of their triangular hugs. “I love you, too, honey. So very much.”

Serena looked up at them and tightened her arms around his waist. “I love you two, too. And I cannot wait until we finally get to play in the Dungeon so you can tie me to a spanking bench and show me how much you love me.”

“Well, shit,” Noah reached down and adjusted his suddenly erect cock.

“Yeah,” Ford said as he did the same thing.

Serena giggled as she released them and stepped back. “Think about that while I’m down there.”

Noah didn’t have a response to her cheekiness, so he picked up the rope and made sure there were no knots or kinks in it. He also checked the clip holding a backpack that contained items Serena might need once she reached the trapped women. Two ranch hands were sitting in the cart, adding weight so it would not move when she descended. He then went to stand beside Ford as they watched Serena stare down into the hole.

“You’ll be fine, sugar,” Noah said, “Just remember your training.”

Serena nodded and began her descent, not looking in their direction, which he totally understood. He’d been in her position and her focus needed to be on the job at hand, not the two men who loved her.

Grabbing Ford’s hand, Noah hoped the touch of his lover and life partner would keep him grounded instead of feeling like he was freefalling into the hole with their woman. At the same time, he kept his gaze glued to the deep-red rope that lay on a brown horse blanket that covered the sharp cut edge of the sinkhole.

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