So, she was running from a man she didn’t want, and it sounded as though he’d made her a dishonorable offer.I relaxed, although I still wished the man in question was in front of me, so I could teach him a lesson about how to treat a woman.William and I exchanged looks.
“We’ll keep you safe,” William said reassuringly.He was better at sweet talking than me.“You’ll be completely safe as our wife.”
Sassy’s head tipped back, and she peeked at me from underneath her bonnet.I nodded firmly.
“However much power he has back east, he doesn’t have any here.You don’t have to marry us, though.We can keep you safe, regardless.”
I wasn’t going to let any woman go unprotected.William glared at me, but then his expression softened, and he nodded, squeezing her hand as he realized what I meant.
“Clive’s right.You don’t have to marry us unless you truly want to.”
“I want to,” she said hurriedly.“I-I want to be a wife.And I find you, both of you, very, um, handsome.”She blushed a very charming color of pink.
William preened at her words.I couldn’t help but straighten up a touch myself.She was attracted to us.What man wouldn’t enjoy hearing that?
“Well, then, let’s get to the church, sweetheart,” William said, lifting her hand to his lips, giving it a kiss before he bent down to take her luggage from her.She only had the one case, which he hefted easily.
Placing my hand on the small of her back, I felt a slight tremble run through her as William and I flanked her, guiding her off the platform toward the church where the preacher would be waiting.
Sassy
Please, oh please, don’t let this be a mistake.
That was the only thought running through my mind as I pledged to love, honor, and obey my husbands.Any doubts that they were jesting about both of them marrying me fled once we were standing in front of the preacher, who immediately told them both to take my hands.It was a strange custom, but perhaps a very good one for my circumstances.
Two husbands to protect me.
Two husbands to please.
Fortunately, I was well versed in pleasing more than one man a day.
Two husbands to protect me.
I still felt a touch of guilt about misrepresenting what Lord Carmichael had wanted from me, but when William had made the suggestion, I had gratefully latched onto it.Running from an unwanted marriage sounded much better than running from a man who thought he owned me because he’d paid my debts to the brothel where I’d worked.
“I now pronounce you husbands and wife,” the preacher said, pulling me out of my thoughts and back to the ceremony, binding me to Clive and William.“You may kiss the bride.”
William turned to face me, pulling me into his arms for a kiss.It started sweetly, a gentle press of his lips against mine, and my heart fluttered in my chest as a warm wave of arousal washed over me.My nipples tingled, hardening against his broad chest as his hands pressed against my back.The kiss deepened, his tongue sliding into my mouth, coaxing a response from me, and I sighed against his lips, melting against him.
Then the kiss was over, and William spun me back around to face Clive.My senses already humming, I gasped as Clive took hold of me and claimed my mouth.That was what it was—not a kiss, but a statement.Unlike William, Clive wasn’t gentle, but my body responded all the same.The contrast between the two of them aroused me even more.
I felt the heat of William’s body against my back, pressing into me, and I whimpered as Clive’s tongue invaded my mouth, his hand on the back of my neck, holding me in place.When he let me go, I was breathless and panting.Between the two of them, my body was stirred up in a manner no man had ever achieved before.Oh my… what had I gotten myself into?
“Let’s head to the hotel,” Clive said, hand settling on the small of my back again as William’s fingers closed around mine.“We can have dinner before we got upstairs for the night.”
“If that’s alright, Sassy?”William asked, his blue eyes glinting with hope.
My legs felt a little unsteady as they guided me forward, William stooping to pick up my suitcase again with his free hand.
“That’s… that’s fine,” I managed to say through lips still tingling from the impact of their kisses.
“Good luck!”The preacher called as we exited the church.I appreciated the sentiment—I had a feeling I was going to need it.
3
William
Dinner passed quickly.Sassy had been a bit overcome by our kisses, but she’d recovered by the time we reached the hotel.She wanted to know all about the ranch and what we expected from her as a wife.As usual, I did most of the talking with Clive interjecting here and there.
