“To feel and to be loved,” Steven whispered and she immediately locked gazes with him. It was as if he totally understood and perhaps had even felt so desperate himself. But could that be true? Could such a strong soldier and doctor feel as inadequate and desperate for affection as she had felt?
“Yes, baby, I went through the same thing. I was looking for love and affection and to wipe out the bad memories of the war in all the wrong places. I allowed Jess to take advantage of me. I sort of knew it all along but thought at least I wasn’t alone at night, when the memories were at their worst.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. She reached out and caressed Steven’s cheek and he turned his face softly against it.
“At night is when I’m most afraid.”
Mason caressed her hair then leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Not anymore. We have one another and no more bad memories, no more d
esperate searches for something that isn’t there. We’re one now, Sally. You and Steven can let go and give up that fear and desperation, because what we have is real.”
“I second that.” Sally squeezed Mason’s hand then reached for Steven.
Sally hugged him tight until the dogs started whining.
They chuckled as the three of them looked at the five dogs now gathered around their legs.
“What?” Mason asked, and Toby barked. Sally jumped, but then she smiled.
“I think they want some hugs from you, Sally.” Steven helped her down off the island. Sally knelt down on the floor and began to gently pet each dog until they surrounded her, licking her and making her laugh. The sound of her laughter filled the room and Mason suddenly started thinking about things he never had before, like having a wife, maybe having kids and raising a family. He swallowed hard as he looked at Sally. He would give his life to protect hers.
* * * *
Sally stood up from the couch after having her weekly talk with Alexa and the girls. All seemed quiet on the home front, and Garret and Keiffer weren’t doing anything suspicious. She was starting to think that heading back to Delite was a good idea. She couldn’t keep Steven and Mason from their work. It just wasn’t fair. She walked toward the back door in the kitchen and watched as Steven and Mason did their daily training with the Rottweilers.
She never thought that she would adjust so well to being around dogs. She realized that these five Rottweilers were special and so were the two men standing outside with them. She clutched the sweater tighter against her chest as she watched Mason go through the motions of training. He was very commanding and strong. Before getting intimate with him, she had seen Mason as confident, secure, strong, and kind of rough around the edges. When he showed jealousy a few days ago when they discussed Virgo and Dale, she was shocked by his intense reaction. How could a man so big, filled with muscles and abilities she knew nothing about, be so easily upset about another man hugging her? It showed a side of him she hadn’t known. He was gentle with her and touched her every opportunity he would get. Whether brushing his hand across her waist, moving a stray hair from her cheek, or kissing every inch of her skin before and after they made love. He made her feel cherished and desirable. She felt her belly clench. This was so passionate. She took a deep breath and watched Steven as he sat back and allowed Mason to take the lead. Steven was petting Toby, the sweet dog who had become Sally’s shadow.
She smiled as she absorbed the relaxed expression on Steven’s face. He looked content. It was almost how Steven looked when he came inside of her. He was at peace and truly happy. She noticed that before they made love, or as he tried to seduce her a little, he seemed almost strong willed and on edge. It was almost as if he was afraid to give her his all. Not that she was a pro at reading people. God knew she thought Garret was a nice guy. She snorted and shook her head. It was just a gut feeling, like Steven had been holding back a little. She knew he cared for her. He told her that he loved her, and then he shared his story about Jess, the woman who hurt him. That tore Sally up inside. No wonder he seemed hesitant with her. Now, he let his love show. She realized that he was taking as big of a chance as she had taken by trusting them and allowing them to become part of her life.
She took a deep breath as she recalled their desire to make love to her together. She was scared out of her mind about the anal sex, even though in the last few days both men had made certain to “prepare” her, as they described it. It was so naughty and erotic, it actually made her pussy ache and her nipples harden just thinking about the act right now. Perhaps, that was what all three of them needed to seal their relationship? Maybe the certainty that the three of them were truly one and that she wasn’t going to leave them and that they weren’t going to leave her. Just like Mason, perhaps Steven, the confident, well-educated, sophisticated man had a bit of insecurity when it came to love.
She slowly opened the door in an attempt to sneak up on Steven. His back was toward her and just as she opened the door Toby turned his head. She placed her finger over her lips, as if the dog would understand that she was going to sneak up on Steven, and amazingly, Toby remained quiet. She tiptoed and the dog’s tail wagged profusely.
As she reached out to surprise Steven, he turned abruptly, grabbed her around her waist, and hoisted her over his lap. She of course squealed which set all the dogs off and running toward her and Steven.
“Nein! Sitz!” she yelled with her palm raised up and all five dogs stopped then sat. “Braver Hund,” she told them then smiled.
“How the hell did you do that?” Mason asked as he approached. She was still lying over Steven’s lap, her ass falling between the gap of his thighs.
She shrugged her shoulders.
“What did you think you were going to do, sneaking up on me like that?” Steven asked as he dipped her lower. She laughed as she held on to him then readjusted her body so that she now straddled his waist.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders then moved her face closer to his.
“I wanted to kiss you.” She covered his mouth and kissed him softly. He wrapped his arms around her as she heard Mason commanding the dogs to head inside. Steven rose with her in his arms and she moved her lips off of him. He caressed her ass, and the fire began to build hotter inside of her.
“I want you, Steven. You and Mason right now,” she told him as she held his gaze. She could have sworn that his hazel eyes sparkled as he smiled then turned toward the house. She knew that Mason had heard her.
In a flash, they were in the house and heading upstairs to the bedroom.
Steven lowered her to her feet but then placed his hands against her cheeks and stared down into her eyes.
“You are so beautiful and perfect.”
The tone of his words and the feel of his masculine hands against her cheeks aroused every sensory organ in her body.