STORY EXCERPT

Holly Rose Bethune kept her head down and her focus on her computer screen. She needed to complete the order for new books that she’d been working on for the last half hour. She’d heard the door to the library open, of course, and knew she was no longer alone in the building. It was too early for her student assistant to report for duty. Whoever had arrived was likely a patron. She’d be the epitome of professional welcome in just a few more moments. But she was close to being done, and wanted to finish up before this darned document she was working on timed out. Again.

In the short time that she’d been the librarian here in Lusty, Texas, Holly had come to appreciate the patience and politeness of the library’s patrons. She wasn’t at all surprised by the change in atmosphere between back home, and here, either.

Even in the heart of Georgia, folks in big cities tended to be a bit less polite than they once were. But small towns, especially Southern small towns, bless them all, were still bastions of good manners, easygoing attitudes, and patience.

Even a strange little town called Lusty.

When she’d been offered this position, both Miz Benedict and Miz Kendall had been very frank and forthcoming about how this town was different than most. Of course at first Holly had been shocked right down to her pretty pink, virginal toes. She considered herself an intelligent, well-informed and forward-thinking woman despite her lack of personal sexual experience. She also believed in the true meaning of freedom. Folks ought to have the right to live their lives how they wanted to live them, and love who they loved. Her only codicil to that definition of freedom was that a body didn’t have the right to cause harm to others while exercising his or her own personal freedoms.

Loving and living in a polyamorous marriage hurt no one, and was no one’s business but the folks in the relationship.

Holly was no hypocrite, and after the initial shock of learning about the alternate lifestyle being practiced in Lusty wore off, she did what any dedicated bookworm and all-around nerd would do. She researched the history of ménage marriages.

It was very refreshing to her that here in Lusty the ratio in those ménage marriages was one woman for two, or even three men. Yes, it was very refreshing, and the fact that life in Lusty came so close to her own very secret and nearly not even self-acknowledged fantasy was entirely beside the point.

No, not a fantasy, not at all. Just something I like to read about is all. There are no sexual fantasies here. Nope, not a one.

Holly reined in her wandering thoughts, and clicked “enter,” just as she sensed someone come up to her desk.

“Excuse me.”

“Good morning! I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. May I help you?” Holly spoke automatically before she even looked up. She gave thanks her mouth didn’t hang open when she finally laid eyes on the two men who stood before her. She tried to swallow but discovered a sudden dryness and hoped all her spit hadn’t already leaked out her mouth in the form of drool.

The men who stood staring at her simply stole her breath. Holly had never felt anything like the fluttery, exciting sensation that seemed to be riding a runaway roller coaster all around her tummy.

They weren’t brothers, of that she was fairly certain. One man had light blond hair that had obviously been kissed by the sun. He sported a spate of freckles that decorated his flesh, visible through his tan. They danced down his neck and disappeared beneath his shirt collar. His eyes were the light blue of an early springtime sky, and seemed focused on her as if she was the only thing in the world.

The other man had hair of rich, dark chestnut, eyes of a fathomless obsidian, and the devil’s own smile resting on his lips. He met her gaze and that smile widened slightly, sending a twinkling light to his eyes.

Holly understood in a heartbeat what was making everything inside her go all wobbly. These were the same two men she’d seen for the first time the night before at Nancy Jessop’s engagement party. At the time she’d chalked her reaction to them up to a surfeit of romance in the air. The same thing tended to happen at weddings, too—at least it did at the many weddings she’d attended, and to other people, although never to her personally.

That reaction had never happened to her before last night.

The blond man smiled a smile that slid like thick molasses across his tasty-looking lips. I wonder if those lips of his taste as dark and as sweet as molasses.

Holly blinked, the uncharacteristic thought shocking her, but exciting her, too.

“Yes, ma’am. Good morning. I’m Alan Wilson, and this is my best friend, Duncan Moore. We work for Chase and Brian Benedict out on the Benedict North Ranch. We’d like to get library cards, please.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“We need to see you.” Alan said nothing more. He simply eased her hands away, and then slid the thin straps down her arms.

“You have the most beautiful breasts I’ve ever seen.” Alan reached out and gently ran the back of his hand under her right breast. Such a simple touch, really, but its effect left “simple” far behind.

Holly’s breath caught as Alan continued the subtle caress. She could feel her nipples drawing tighter, and understood for the first time how her body did that as a means of showing her arousal.

Then Duncan reached out and cupped her left breast. Holly looked down. She didn’t overflow his hand, but filled it nicely.

“You’re so soft here, sweetheart.” Duncan’s tone held reverence.

Holly shivered. She became aware of a tiny trickle between her thighs. Before she’d thought about it, her inner muscles clenched. Almost as if my body is trying to stop that small leak. But the result of those muscles contracting wasn’t a noticeable stopping of her feminine juices. It was a surge of arousal. Holly bit down on her lip, stifling a moan.

Alan shook his head, and used one finger of his other hand to rub her bottom lip. “Let us hear you, honey. We want to know that we’re pleasing you. Does this feel good? Do you want more?”

Holly had never felt like this—achy and needy and excited and yes, a little scared. She licked her bottom lip, brushing Alan’s finger with her tongue. His gaze seemed to burn hotter, and he inhaled sharply.

“Yes. It feels…it feels like more.”

“Good.” Alan ran his finger over her bottom lip one more time. Then he took his finger off her and smiled at her. It was one of the nicest smile’s she’d ever seen on anyone. He looked over at Duncan and nodded.

Duncan moved in closer and cupped the side of her face, urging her to look at him. “Let’s see how good we can make you feel. And, Holly? Anytime you want to stop, just say so, sweetheart. You’re in control here. Okay?”

She nodded to let him know she understood the words he’d said, even though she sure as heck didn’t feel in control. But that was all right. One of the things she’d loved about so many of the books she’d read was the way the heroes would do what needed doing, when it needed to be done.

Duncan leaned into her, wrapped his arm around her, and settled his mouth on hers. Holly closed her eyes and let herself fall into his kiss. She loved the taste, the way his mouth slid against hers in a soft and sultry rhythm. When he stroked his tongue against her closed lips she opened, and welcomed that part of him inside her body. Duncan drank from her, his tiny little sips drawing her arousal higher, whetting her appetite for more.

She thought for one moment that the world tilted, but when she felt the angle of his kiss change, when she felt the soft blanket beneath her, she understood he’d laid her down again.

He lifted his head and looked down at her. The passion in his eyes excited her, and when he flicked his glance down, when she knew he was looking at her naked breasts, the hunger in his expression answered any concerns she’d had about being inadequate.

“Your nipples look as pretty as summer berries.” Duncan’s right arm curved above her head and his fingers stroked her hair. He used his left hand to cup each breast in turn. He stroked her nipples with his thumb and finger, tugging slightly. Every time he did that, Holly felt a tingling excitement racing through her body, ending between her legs.

I thought the authors were being poetic, but there really is a nerve that seems to run from my nipples to my clit.

The thought alone made her roll her hips.

Duncan smiled. “So far, so good?”

He expected her to be able to answer a question with words? In a sentence? The only answer she could give him was an inarticulate moan. She had no idea what she’d just said to him, but judging by the way his smile turned sexy and he licked his lips, he understood her just fine.

“Okay, sweetheart. One more little appetizer. I’m eager to find out how you taste.”

How she tasted? He’d already tasted her when he’d kissed… “Mmm, oh, yes. Duncan!”

Wet and warm and wonderful, Duncan’s tongue stroked her nipple, and then his lips latched on and he suckled strongly, drawing her nipple into his mouth. Heat and arousal exploded, and Holly cried out as she arched her back. Her hands grabbed hold of his head and she pressed him closer, demanding more in the only way she knew how.

When he raised his head, a sound of disappointment bubbled out of her—replaced seconds later with a sound of hunger as Alan tasted her other nipple.

“Oh, oh, oh!” Holly could have sworn that fireworks were igniting all over her body. The shimmering need, the electric shock-like pleasure prickled all over her. She rocked her hips as if that action alone would ease the ache and give her that something…that something that was beckoning her forward just out of reach.

“My God, you’re so responsive.” Alan placed sweet kisses on her face, and then slipped his arm around her. “And you taste better than good.” He returned his mouth to her breast, and lapped and suckled until she thought she might go insane.

“Oh please, oh please! I need…” She knew, intellectually what it was she needed, but she had no idea how to get there.

Alan raised his lips, his gaze immediately skirting over her head—looking, she knew, at Duncan.

“It’s all right, Holly,” Duncan said. He moved in closer. “We’re going to take care of you.”