Page 26 of Seducing Serena

Caroline’s smile widened and this time, it was she who did the hugging.

* * *

“Tori is ready to be pulled up,” Quincy called, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

Ford moved to the blue rope tied to Derek’s truck and felt like he was helping as Derek eased his truck forward. When they reached the point where the rope split to the two ends of the basket, he yelled for Derek to stop. Then he and Noah lifted the metal basket over the edge and onto the grass. Lawson and Quincy joined them and together the four men carried the basket to where an ambulance was parked and waiting.

After moving the injured woman to the gurney and sliding it into the ambulance, Quincy stayed with Tori while they returned to the hole to repeat the process with the second woman.

Once both Littles were out of the hole and under the doctor’s care, Ford and Noah returned to their places at the edge of the hole. Leaning as far as they could, they watched their woman as the golf cart pulled her out.

Ford didn’t take an easy breath until Serena walked over the edge of the hole. Grabbing her, he lifted her into his arms and hurried to the crest of the hill just as the earth rumbled. Turning back, he watched as the ground where they had been standing just moments before disappeared and the hole grew even larger.

“What the fuck did you just do?” Serena yelled at him once he set her down. “You were supposed to stay away from the edge and be safe, not endanger yourself by standing on unstable ground without a safety line.”

Ford shrugged in silent response. At that moment, he could not speak, could not explain his actions, and didn’t feel the least bit of regret at his spontaneous, unsafe action. At least not until a large hand popped the back of his head.

“If we were at work, you’d be on a week’s suspension for that,” Noah yelled at him.

Ford looked at Noah as if he’d grown another head. “And guess who’d be suspended right along with me? Where’syoursafety gear?”

The bigger man shrugged then shoved him aside so he could pull Serena into a bearhug of his own. Ford allowed it, knowing that his partner needed to know their woman was safe and unharmed.

They ended up having to cut Serena out of the rope harness when they could not untie the knots, but she was soon free. They climbed into the back seat of the cart and allowed Lawson to drive them back to the resort’s main building through the deepening twilight.

As he snuggled Serena on his lap, Ford decided the three of them needed to talk to Derek again. They needed to find a way to tie Serena to them forever. He wouldn’t be able to live with anything less than having both Noah and Serena tied to him permanently.

“Thank you,” Lawson said as they climbed from the cart at the front door of the resort. “I’m not sure it would have gone as easily without your help. Miss Serena, I apologize for doubting your abilities.”

“You’re very welcome,” Serena said with a smile. “But please don’t need us again for the next few days, okay?”

Lawson chuckled before he said, “I’ll see what I can do.”

CHAPTER15

The adrenaline that had surged through her while she’d been in the sinkhole rescuing the two young women had mostly flowed away by the time they climbed out of the golf cart. All she wanted was a long, hot shower, something to eat, and to cuddle with her men for the rest of the night.

Tomorrow she would demand they visit the Dungeon where she would confess the lie that was sitting in her belly like a red-hot stone. While everything had turned out all right, the guilt of lying still bothered her. She knew a good spanking would help her release the guilt and cool down the burning knot.

The crowd in the lobby that began to cheer when she and her men walked in stunned her. She hadn’t known there were that many people visiting the Ranch, but then began to recognize that not only were guests present, but also residents, and staff. It seemed like everyone had gathered to celebrate their return.

Sadie Hawkins was standing at the front of the crowd and stepped forward. “You’re a hero!” she stated before throwing herself at Serena and hugging her tight.

Serena wanted to argue, to declare that she’d just done what was needed at the time but couldn’t find the words. For her to diminish the rescue when it could have turned out so much worse was the last thing these people needed.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she hugged Sadie back.

Once the woman stepped back, another stepped forward and then there was a line of people who wanted to hug her. Looking at Ford and Noah she saw they were receiving the same treatment. With a mental shrug, she gave in and allowed herself to be hugged dozens of times. When the last person stepped away, she yawned widely. The rescue and this overwhelming show of love had drained the last of the earlier adrenaline spike from her.

She looked at Ford and he immediately moved to pull her close to his side, giving her the physical support she needed.

“Thank you all,” Noah said, stepping around to her other side. “We don’t often get such a welcome and appreciate it more than you could know. Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to get cleaned up and have some dinner before we all collapse.”

The crowd slowly dispersed, leaving them standing with Sadie, who didn’t seem as Little as she had just moments before.

“What kind of dinner would you like?” she asked. “I’ll have it fixed and brought to your room if you don’t feel like going to one of the restaurants.”

Serena looked at Ford and Noah, and they watched her as if she were going to explode at any moment. When they didn’t answer for her, she finally said, “I’d really love a grilled-cheese sandwich and some tomato soup, if that’s not too much trouble?”

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