If only

Chapter Fourteen

Nice to be home. In the short hallway to their home office, Galen stretched. His shoulders and neck ached as if he’d taken Vance on in a weight-lifting competition rather than spending a day doing paperwork at the field office. Being an agent wasn’t all car chases and gun battles as he’d dreamed as a child.

The older he got, the more grateful for that he was—no matter how many reports he had to fill out.

In the office, Glock was stretched out on the center table. Galen walked over to stroke him. The rumbling purr merged with the country-western crap that Vance loved. Least it was a female vocalist this time.

Vance looked up from his desk. “Hey.”

“Where’s Sally?”

“Just left. Her job hunting must not be going well, since she looked pretty miserable. Shut her laptop down and went out to swim.”

Galen set his briefcase down on his desk. The thought of the imp moving away didn’t sit well on his chest. Nonetheless… “She’ll find something pretty soon, I’m sure.”

“Right.”

Galen frowned at the gruff answer. He knew damned well Vance didn’t want her to leave. “You two have a fight?”

“Not with her. Figure I’ll be having one with you.” Vance sounded tired. Discouraged. “I got an e-mail.”

“Go on.”

“The safe house holding the Harvest Association manager burned last night. The manager didn’t survive; the marshals are dead as well.”

“Fuck.” Galen slammed his hand on the desk, welcoming the flare of pain.

Glock gave him an offended stare for his behavior and stalked out of the room.

“God fucking dammit to hell.” Arson. What a fucked-up way to die. A coldness grew in his belly as he took the logical next step. How soon before the Harvest Association extended their targets to those in the FBI—or their loved ones? “We need to let her go.”

Vance didn’t even pretend to misunderstand. In fact, he looked almost resigned to the argument. “You think she’d do better without us? What about the next asshole who uses her for a punching bag?”

The memory of her bloody face made Galen scowl. “We can’t keep her safe.”

“Since the other quadrants shut down, the Association’s hits have all been in New York.” Vance shook his head. “Our residence isn’t listed; phones are unlisted. No one knows she’s here except the Shadowlands members.”

“True.” The tightness in his chest receded. Maybe he was being hasty. After all, Sally’s desire to be needed could lead her into more danger than the remote chance the Association would notice her. He thrummed his fingertips on the desk as he thought. “No outings. Let’s keep her out of the public eye until this is over.”

Relief filled his partner’s face. “You’re going to be reasonable?”

“Sure wasn’t your logic that swayed me.” It was because he liked having her here as much as Vance did. It was because hearing about her job applications had sent his mood spiraling downward. It was because he wanted her.

Real soon he and Vance needed to think about the future. Before it was too late. But for now… “It’s been over a month since we had our first scene with Sally. I’ve been thinking about taking things to the next level.” He smiled suddenly. “It might be a way to coax out what she’s been hiding.”

Sally dived into the pool behind G and V’s house, hammered out a lap, another, and another. Breathless, she stopped at one end and tossed her tangled hair back. Despite the late afternoon sun, the rising wind cooled her wet shoulders.

Redolent with the fragrance of the lush green vegetation around the lake, the breeze this far inland held only a trace of the ocean. The slight scent of chlorine came from the water.

Chlorine was supposed to make a person feel clean, but she had a feeling she’d never feel clean again.

Three men had died. The Association manager…she didn’t know anything about him, but he’d chosen his destiny by dealing in human trafficking. His death was of his own making. But—God, those other men. Marshals, trying to protect the manager. Dead. A sob shook her chest, and she dived for the bottom of the pool.

Her fault.

And yet… If I hadn’t sent the New York cops information about the three managers, more women might have been enslaved. Might have died. I did the right thing. She’d been telling herself that since she’d checked on the manager they’d caught and found out about the fire. How long before she stopped feeling guilty?

To make it worse, she knew Galen or Vance could have been in that house. They’d talked about flying up to question that manager. And they’d be dead. She kicked to the surface and treaded water.

How could she bear it if they died? To be without them, never touch them again. Never hear Galen’s rare open laugh, feel him stroke her hair, reading her soul with his dark eyes. Never feel Vance’s hands as he rolled her over in the early morning and pushed inside her, taking her so slow, murmuring what he expected her to do.

How could she live without them?

Dammit, you weren’t supposed to fall in love with them, you stupid, stupid girl. Talk about a pitiful cliché. Silly submissive falls in love with the Dominant she’s working with.

And in Sally’s case? Oh yeah, I fell for two of them.

She turned over, lying in the water facedown in a dead man’s float. On the bottom of the pool, the shadows of the nearby trees wavered and danced. The dying rays of the sun brushed over her back—although she didn’t think she’d ever be warm again.

“Sally.” Despite being muffled by water, the word still summoned her attention. Of course, it would. Hell, even laughing, Galen radiated authority.

She came upright, treading water. “Sir?”

“Take a shower and wait for us in the dungeon.”

Her breathing almost stopped. A scene? Everything in her thrilled at the idea of being totally at their command and the focus of their intense attention.

But…her feelings were a mess. She didn’t want them to know how she felt. Galen would pitch her out if he realized she was emotionally attached. God, what would—

“Did you happen to hear what I said?”

Shit. “Yes, Sir. Shower and wait. Right away, Sir. Please forgive me, Sir. It won’t happen again, Sir.”

A snort. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, pet.”

As he strolled back into the house, she was already scrambling out of the pool.

VANCE SAUNTERED DOWN the overgrown dirt path to the cabana.

Because of Sally, they’d abandoned working on the game room and had been fixing this one up instead. It was going to make a hell of a nice dungeon.

He—and his apprentice—had painted the walls and ceiling. A king-size bed had replaced the twin beds. Some of the equipment had already arrived and would be tested out tonight.

About fifteen minutes ago, the back door had slammed as Sally headed for the cabana. Hopefully she’d spent that time in anticipation of what would come. He grinned. With the little brown-eyed submissive, any assumption was liable to be wrong.

In fact, Galen had removed his toy bag from the cabana—just in case.

Vance opened the door. To his surprise, she was dutifully kneeling naked in the center of the room. Her posture was perfect: hands open on thighs, back arched slightly to display her breasts, eyes down. From the way her hair fluffed over her shoulders and curled down her back, he knew she’d taken the time to wash and blow it dry.

She might drive him crazy sometimes, but she never neglected to prepare her body for his pleasure.

He flipped the switch to turn on the music, and the sound of Enigma filled the room. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

A visible tremor shook her.

“Open your legs farther for me, please.”

She shifted position, spreading her thighs apart as he went down on one knee in front of her. Her pussy already glistened in the bright lights. Yes, she’d been anticipating the scene.

As he cupped his hand over her crotch, he leaned forward to whisper, “Galen and I are going to take our pleasure tonight—and if you’re very, very good, we’ll see that you’re rewarded for your patience. Very well rewarded.”

He heard her gulp. “Yes, Sir. I’ll be good.”

“You won’t get the chance not to be.” He moved his fingers through her plump folds, teasing her clit with his thumb. Her inner thigh muscles flexed and tightened. From the silky smoothness of her skin, she’d applied lotion. The scent wafted up, making him think of sunlit honey. Smiling, he moved back, sucking on his fingers, enjoying the first taste of what the evening would hold.

She stayed impressively still, only her heightened breathing and pink cheeks showing her anticipation.

“I’m going to warm you up a bit before Galen arrives; then we’ll start.” He stroked her hair, silky and bouncy, like her personality. “First, all the lab tests came back clean. Apart from anal sex, we won’t use protection.” And he was looking forward to having no barrier between his cock and her tight, wet pussy.

He continued, “Tonight, anything you haven’t marked as a hard limit might be used. You have your safe word. Use yellow if you’re getting overwhelmed. Otherwise, we’re going to do what we want.”

Her eyes were no longer down. She stared up at him, practically begging him to continue. A submissive’s wish was to be pushed until she knew to the depths of her soul that she’d given up all control. Tonight, that’s what she’d know.

He lifted her to her feet, molding her against him, taking a slow, drugging kiss. Her lips were soft and sweet, her tongue teasing.

Curling his fingers under her round ass, he pulled her closer, and her long hair silkily drifted over his arms. Nice.

With a smile, he pulled the set of nipple clamps from his jeans pocket. “Let’s see what these look like on you.”

Her nipples were the smoothest, softest skin on her body and a dusky pink that reddened quickly as he tightened the first screw. He could see her decision not to complain. Her facial and throat muscles turned rigid as she fought the pain.

He quickly loosened the clamp. “Let’s do this again.” He lifted her chin, giving her a firm look. “I know some submissives think their Doms are God—but I’m not. I can’t read your mind.” Thank God, she had such expressive body language. “You need to tell me if something starts to hurt.” He grinned. “Then I’ll decide whether I want you to take it anyway. Is that clear?”

For a second, she pouted. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good.” He tightened the screw slowly. Waiting. Nothing came from her, so he cleared his throat. Fuck, but he wanted to kill her father when he saw her struggle to force herself to speak.

“That hurts,” she whispered.

“Good. Very, very good.” Vance hugged her, feeling how her heart pounded against his chest. But she’d done it. “Next one.” He attached the right clamp, and this time, she managed to speak without prompting.

He stepped back to admire his work for a moment. The shiny metal clamps were beautiful against her reddening nipples. Very nice. Next time, he’d add a chain between them. “Now, take my shirt off, imp.”

She made a pretty ritual of disrobing him, button after button, pressing velvet-lipped kisses to his chest. Her hand blazed a trail downward, her mouth following, until she pushed his jeans down. He stepped out of them, and before he could move, she closed her lips around him. Fuck. The sweetheart had a mouth that was made for sin.

She released his cock and pushed his legs apart. Curious, he went along with her unspoken request. She cupped his balls, dipped her head, and kissed down his groin to his testicles. Licking and nuzzling. The sensation of wetness on his overheated skin was disconcerting, and he had to smother a groan when she sucked one ball, then the other into her mouth, tonguing them.

Almost too much.

Time to stop. With what he considered a superb amount of control, he tugged on her hair to get her to release him before pulling her to her feet. “Thank you, Sally.” He shook his head. “Tomorrow morning, I expect more of that.”

Her eyes lit with her delight—and the knowledge she’d pleased him.

“Now let’s get you ready for some action.”

She had the most beautiful brown eyes he’d ever seen, filled with a shimmering excitement and trust, and he struggled against his own urges. Fuck, but he wanted to bury himself in her as deep as possible. Instead he kissed her again, enjoying the feeling of her heated skin against his. There was an almost palpable vibration of need growing in them both.

When Galen walked in, Vance gave him a rueful smile. Yeah, he was behind their mapped-out schedule.

His partner grinned. But Galen had never resented making adjustments for unexpected twists in a scene.

Vance nudged Sally forward. “Help Galen out of his clothes too, sweetie.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Galen’s clothes soon dropped to the floor. Color crept into his face as Sally treated him to her talented mouth.

With a guttural growl, Galen pulled her away from his dick and motioned to the red leather-covered spanking horse, which had been delivered the day before. It was the one she’d lusted after in the catalog. “Let’s break this in, pet.”

She actually bounced up and down with anticipation.

He’d never known a submissive who brought so much joy to a session. Grinning, Vance lifted her onto the sawhorse, positioning her stomach-down so her knees and forearms rested on the lower padded areas.

He took a moment to adjust her breasts on each side of the narrow top, flicking the nipple clamps to hear her suck a breath in. Mmmhmm. He strapped her down, watching her eyes dilate as she tested the growing restrictions to movement.

While Vance worked, Galen idly fondled her ass and pussy, smiling at her increasingly urgent squirming.

“Let’s put a stop to that.” Vance tightened a strap over her low back, ensuring that her sweet, round ass would be nicely immobile as well as poke out invitingly from the end of the bench. “Can you move, Sally?”

She managed to lift her head and tried to wiggle. “No, Sir.”

“Good. Now listen, Sally; you aren’t permitted to come.” He grinned as her face scrunched adorably. “That’s right. Don’t disappoint me, sweetheart.”

Vance’s chest squeezed at her immediate answer: “I won’t.”

Fuck, how did she keep making him want her more? “Good girl. You sing out if you’re getting close, and we’ll back off. Clear?”

She actually looked relieved. “Yes, Sir. Thank you.”

“All right then.” As they’d discussed earlier, Vance took a place at her head.

Without warning her, Galen positioned his cock and thrust into her cunt, fast and hard.

She gasped, her back trying to arch.

Taking advantage of her open mouth, Vance slid his dick in. She sucked on it immediately, and the sensation of her hot, wet tongue swirling around the tip almost sent him over.

Galen was working her up, his left hand under her pelvis to tease her clit as his right hand prepped her anus with lube and fingers. By the time he finished, she’d be in a real state of need.

But on this rare occasion, they’d come before she would.

So Vance concentrated on his own pleasure.

Fuck, but he appreciated how Sally focused on him, trying to make it perfect for him.

“Heads-up,” Galen warned, and Vance pulled out and stepped back.

Galen rolled on a condom and pressed his cock to her tiny asshole. As he slowly worked his way in, Sally gritted her teeth…and Vance was grateful for the warning.

“In,” Galen said.

“All right.” Vance smiled down at their little sub. Flushed, sweat at her temples, eyes a little wild. “Open up, sweetheart. If you can finish me off in the next three minutes, Galen won’t feel the need to spank your ass.”

She tried. She really did, but despite her sucking and licking, Vance managed to hold out long enough for her to collect a half-dozen swats on her ass.

However, if he’d had to last any longer, his heart might have given out. She was astonishingly good at using her mouth.

With a low groan, he gripped her hair and came so intensely that the floor seemed to shake. She swallowed fast, and each contraction of her throat muscles made his dick spasm again. “Thank you, Sally,” he murmured. Her little tongue swirled around his cock as he gave a few more, purely indulgent thrusts. She was truly a sweetheart.

As Galen fucked her asshole, slowly increasing his pace, Vance moved to her side so he could tease her breasts. Her nipples were a dark red now, and when he flicked the clamps and ran his fingers around the edges, she kept trying to wiggle.

“Oh, I’m so close…” Her whine was absolutely beautiful.

Pulling his hand away from her clit, Galen stopped with his cock buried deep in her ass.

Vance stepped back as well…and grinned as she panted, fighting back her orgasm.

“That’s a very good girl,” Galen murmured, running his hands up and down her sides. After a minute, he started thrusting again, and Sally groaned as he sped up.

Vance pressed down on her back to increase her feeling of being restrained as his partner finished off with a low growl. Vance could see the contentment on Sally’s face—not from having come, but from having pleased Galen.

Vance stroked her hair. She fit with the two of them. Like with a construction set, two upright pieces might be tied together, but they’d fall. A three-dimensional one formed a stable tripod.

He and Galen needed her…and she needed them. “You did very, very well, sweetheart,” Vance said softly, meeting her gaze. “You were wonderful.”

HAPPINESS FILLED SALLY at his words, even as she closed her eyes, trying not to pant. God, she was so turned on that she might die. When Galen had been thrusting into her ass, she’d gotten way too close to coming. And he must have known, since he’d never returned to playing with her clit…which still pulsed with seething tension.

Vance started unstrapping her.

Galen returned from the bathroom and went down on one knee beside her right shoulder. She turned her head to look at him, wary of the amusement in his eyes. “Time to get these off, pet.”

These what? She stiffened when his fingers touched her breast. Loosened a clamp. Removed it.

Blood rushed back into the abused tissues with a long, flaring pain, which poured right down to her core, turning into hot, hot need. “Sadist,” she whispered around a moan.

“A bit of a one, ayuh.” Grinning, he rubbed her nipple gently.

Only, he really wasn’t. Not compared to Master Sam. After giving her an unhurried, wonderful kiss, he walked around and removed the other clamp. The pulse of pain made her toes curl, yet somehow felt as if someone was rubbing her clit, upping her arousal almost unbearably. Dammit, weren’t they ever going to let her come?

And yet, despite her painful need, it felt…right…to leave everything in their hands. She just had to do what they said. Take what they gave her.

God, she loved that yielding feeling.

“Here we go, sweetheart.” Vance lifted her off the sawhorse, dropped her on the king-size bed, and rolled her onto her back.

He didn’t do anything else. No kisses, no touching, no sex.

Want sex. She looked up at him, trying to beg silently.

“You know I’m a sucker for puppy-dog eyes,” he murmured, lying down beside her, “but you still have to tell us what you want. If you want to continue, say it, imp.”

Say it, say it, say it. She was so sick of hearing that. How could he be so mean to her? I want… Her eyes filled as she tried to say the words. Why was it harder when she was so…so needy?

He made a sound low in his throat and pulled her on top of him, hugging her closely. “Just ask, Sally. You know I want to give you what you need.”

A tear splattered on his chest as she heard her father whispering, like the echoes in a cave. “…always asking for things you don’t need.”

As a tremor shook her, Galen sat down beside her shoulder and turned her to his intent gaze. “Who are you hearing, Sally?”

“Father.”

“Ah. That’s a good baby girl for telling me,” he said. His thumb stroked her cheek.

Vance tightened his arms, and his heart was steady and sure under her ear. “He sure didn’t like you asking for things. What exactly did he say, pet? You’re hearing it—tell us now.”

She whispered his words, “‘Stupid, selfish girl. Always asking for stuff. Who will you kill this time, huh?’”

“He really is a son of a bitch,” Vance muttered. The words rumbled through the solid wall of muscle under her cheek. “Accidents happen, sweetheart,” Vance said, somehow shaking her without moving. “You aren’t in charge of the universe. And if you start playing the ‘if only’ game, you’ll never win. Listen: If only Sally hadn’t asked for a dress. If only your father had been generous enough to give you nice clothes so you didn’t need more. If only your mother had been paying more attention. If only the tires hadn’t been bald.”

She blinked. “How did you know about the tires?”

“Just guessed. He sounds like a tight-fisted bastard.”

Something inside her relaxed. Not much, but a little. They didn’t blame her. And Vance was still holding her.

Galen’s eyes were steady. Honest. “You are a beautiful, intelligent, sweet woman, Sally. If your father can’t see that, it’s his failing, because everyone else can. Wherever your mother is, I’m sure she’s very, very proud of you.”

Tears spilled over and ran down her face. “I-I…” The look on Galen’s hard face was more than affection, and the warmth emanating from him surrounded her heart. She rose up enough to look down at Vance, and his eyes held the same…caring.

Not love. Mustn’t love them.

I love them. She licked her lips, trying to find the words.

And Galen slid off the bed.

Moment lost. Her arms gave out, dropping her back down on Vance. With a sigh, she rubbed her cheek against the springy hair on his chest.

He didn’t speak, simply stroked her back, his hands sure and strong and comforting. Whatever happened in the world, this man would be as steady as the cliffs over the ocean, shedding the fury of a storm as if it were nothing.

Galen reappeared with a glass of water. “Sit up for a minute, pet.” He lifted her off Vance, helped her sit, and curled her fingers around the glass.

She sipped slowly, feeling more herself. Damn them for being so darned persistent with their emotion probing.

Behind her, Vance sat up, putting one hand behind her back. He reached around with his other hand to play with her breasts.

Her sore nipples peaked immediately, sending a buzz of hunger straight to her clit. She wiggled and pushed his hand away.

Galen gripped her chin. “What are you doing?”

Oh God. Her bones turned to pudding under his level, merciless gaze. “Sorry, Sir.”

“Good answer,” Vance said and took advantage of her immobility by using both hands, cupping her breasts, warming them for a moment, kneading gently before pinching her nipples, sending her remorselessly back into need.

Galen didn’t release her, simply held her gaze, a slight smile on his face. And the intensity of his attention, the way he secured her with both physical and invisible bonds for his partner’s pleasure was the most erotic sensation she’d ever felt.

When Vance ran his hand down her stomach, she knew she was even wetter than she had been before. Her back arched the second he touched her throbbing, swollen clit.

A tiny touch. Another. God, if—

He removed his hand.

She made a sound.

“That’s right. You have to ask us to continue, remember? Otherwise, we’ll go watch television,” Galen said gently, but she heard the unrelenting tone. They’d hold her and comfort her…yet make her do what they wanted.

“C’mon, sweetie. Let’s hear it.” Vance’s chest pressed against her from behind, his voice a grumble in her ear.

“I need—”No, not like that. “Will you—” Her father’s voice echoed inside her.

“My voice. Vance’s voice.” Galen squeezed her chin, the bite of pain snapping the ties of the past. “That’s all you hear. Clear?”

“Yes, Sir,” came out automatically, but the past had gone. Maybe all that homework had helped because once she started, the words came readily enough. “Can we continue? Please?”

Galen actually smiled at her, his deep voice rich with approval. “Very, very good, Sally.”

And Vance echoed his words in a sweet stereo effect.

ANGER SMOLDERED IN Galen’s gut. Next time he met Sally’s father, he’d give the bastard a few lessons in how to treat a daughter. And then he’d hand him over to Vance, who had just as much rage. But this wasn’t the time.

Right now, Sally was trembling with anticipation, flushed and beautiful, and Galen wanted to take her that extra step further into submission. She was ready.

He glanced at Vance. “My requirements are that she lay on her back, ass on a pillow, legs out of my way. Otherwise she’s all yours.”

His partner grinned, studying the bed and Sally, obviously formulating his plan for restraints.

The imp’s eyes were wide.

He ran his finger down her cheek. “This might be uncomfortable, but if it really hurts, I’ll stop.”

The questions—and worry—in her eyes added spice to the scene.

After clipping her wrist cuffs to ropes on the sturdy iron headboard, Vance took a minute to suck her nipples until they stood up, distended and dark red.

Her pleasingly round ass was already squirming. By God, she responded beautifully.

While Vance worked the restraints, Galen checked his fingernails—already clipped as short as possible—washed his hands, and donned a long surgical glove on his left hand.

Vance had put a wide leather belt around her waist and with rope, secured each knee to the belt at her sides. “Ready for you, pard.”

Ass high, knees up and out, arms restrained. “Perfect.” He looked at Sally. “Your safe word is red. But for this, I will be talking to you. No will be the same as yellow. I’ll stop and check how you’re doing. Clear?”

He was sadist enough to enjoy the way apprehension creased her forehead.

After propping a pump-action bottle of lube against her hip, Galen settled himself on one elbow perpendicular to her position.

Slowly he explored her entrance before inserting a finger. Her cunt clenched down on him, making him smile. He pulled out and teased her clit until she squirmed. Two fingers. Play for a bit. Three fingers.

Vance was caressing her breasts, kissing her mouth, her neck.

And within minutes, she was wiggling and close to begging.

Four fingers. He’d done four with her in the past, pressing in far enough to feel the stretch, to hear her worried squeak. This time, he worked her for a while. In, out, play with the clit. He stretched her with each set, adding more lube. The musky scent of her arousal was heady, and he was already growing erect again.

Raised on one elbow, stretched beside her, Vance teased his favorite bits between kissing her.

After covering the glove on his left hand and wrist with even more lube, Galen stroked her clit, taking her to the edge. And this time, when he worked his fingers into her cunt, he kept going, folding his thumb inside his fingers to make a duckbill shape.

“Galen!” Her head jerked up as she felt the press of his hand. She stared at him, panic starting to fill her face.

“Give her a pillow so she can watch,” he told Vance. Once her head was propped up, he looked at her. “Do you trust me, Sally?”

“Yes.” The instant answer warmed his heart.

“I’m going to fist you—put my hand inside you. Can you trust me to do that without hurting you—not more than you can take?”

Her gaze went right to his free hand and his face, showing her disbelief. And a shudder went through her. “I can stop you?”

“Ayuh, pet. You can call a stop at any time.”

She blew out a breath and said dubiously, “I’ll try.”

“Brave baby girl.” Galen smiled at her and met Vance’s gaze.

Vance reached down, his hand settling over her engorged clit.

FISTING. OH GOD, why hadn’t she put fisting on her list of hard limits? Sally wondered. Vance’s touch on her overly sensitive clit made her clench around Galen’s fingers, and she gasped.

“Breathe, pet,” Galen murmured, pressing forward, stopping, pressing in again. “This is the toughest part—”

It hurt, didn’t feel good at all. His knuckles were hard. Huge. “You won’t fit.”

His grin flashed white in his tanned face. “Women’s bodies are designed to stretch. My hand will fit.” He tilted his head at Vance. “His might not.”

She moaned as the pain increased.

“Easy, baby girl. I’ll go slow,” Galen said as he pulled back slightly.

Vance took another kiss, teasing her lips, whispering how well she was doing. Between kisses, he’d run a finger around her clit, rubbing firmly on one side, on the other, then up and over the hood.

Within minutes, in spite of the pressure from Galen’s advancing hand, she felt the tendrils of nerves gathering, working toward an orgasm.

“Sally,” Galen said. “I want you to tighten your cunt and hold.” He waited until she did. “Now take a big breath. Exhale and relax everything. Push out if you can.”

When she clenched around him, his hand felt huge, huge. She hauled in a breath, held it, gave a powerful exhalation and let herself go limp, inside and out.

As his hand pushed inward, she gritted her teeth against the pain, yanking at her restraint, holding back the “no” that threatened to burst free.

“In,” Galen murmured.

She was panting in little gasps. The pain was gone, but the feeling—oh God, the feeling. She was terrifyingly full.

Head up, not moving, Galen was studying her, his black gaze moving over her face, her shoulders, her hands.

As Vance moved his fingers, light and slow, over her clit, he was doing the same. His lips curved up. “Look at you, filled with his fist.”

She’d never felt anything this overwhelmingly intimate. Never felt quite so vulnerable. Galen’s hand filled her completely; he could hurt her badly. And yet, she knew he’d never do anything to really hurt her. The trust in him was bone-deep—went deeper than his hand.

He was smiling too. “I didn’t know if you’d be able to do this, even though I’d been working toward it.”

Her mouth fell open. He had, hadn’t he? Sneaky bastard.

“Tell me what you feel, Sally,” Galen said.

“I— Strange. A little scared. Full. Very full.” Neither Dom moved. Just waited. She tried harder. How could she express the…intimacy? “It feels as if there’s a…a tie between us, all of us,” she said, looking at Vance. “Even more than I can say.” She shook her head.

Galen nodded, understanding in his face. “I feel it too, baby girl.”

Vance leaned up to kiss her, so very, very sweetly and she knew she could never have relaxed enough to permit this without his presence. “Yes.”

She pulled in a breath. Okay.

Galen smiled. “I’m going to move, pet. You tell me if it’s too much.”

The hugeness that was his hand opened slightly, growing even bigger, moving ever so slowly up toward her cervix, and down.

And suddenly she felt each little caress of Vance’s slick fingers on her clit. With every movement of Galen’s hand and the stretching of her center, more and more sensations poured into her with sheer sparkling brilliance. Like a star being born inside her, everything began to whirl and coalesce, turning into a hot, hot core as her entire body tightened around Galen’s fist, as her world inside her and around her utterly exploded. The nova of pleasure expanded outward, filling her universe, shaking her body until her bones dissolved. “Aaahhhh!”

On and on and on.

As she moaned, as her eyes started to focus, Galen opened his hand inside her, and she went over again in long, sweetly terrifying spasms of pleasure.

And again.

He’d wait long enough for her to settle—then move his fist, just an inch or two, and she’d come hard, devastatingly hard. Like nothing else. Sweat rolled off her forehead, between her breasts. Her breathing came in harsh gasps; her heart was slamming inside her rib cage like a rocket with no controls.

“The next time you come, I’m going to pull out, pet,” Galen said, the crinkles around his eyes showing his enjoyment.

Vance was chuckling. He slid his hand back to her clit and licked her breast even as Galen turned his hand completely over inside her.

The rush of the orgasm was huge, screamingly huge. “Ooooh, noooo.” As her hips tried to buck, Vance ruthlessly pressed down on her mound, keeping her flat and in place. The roaring sun at her core shot flares of sensation streaming through her and filled the air around her with sparkling lights. Oh God, oh God, oh God.

As she went limp, Galen pulled out slowly. She felt a flash of pain as his knuckles passed through; then she was empty inside.

He rose off the bed, leaving her feeling like a deflated, exhausted balloon.

Vance moved up beside her, kissing her, slow and sweet, his arm over her keeping her from disappearing into the foggy air around her.

Hands cleaned, Galen removed the restraints on her wrists and helped her lower her aching arms so she could hold on to Vance. He released her legs and removed the belt. When he stretched out on her other side, she was pinned between the two Doms.

My Doms.

Vance ran his fingertips over her damp cheek. “Sweetheart?”

She looked up into his concerned blue eyes and whispered, “I love you.”

His expression changed to a stunned pleasure.

Turning her head just a few inches, she stared into Galen’s smoldering gaze. “I love you.”

And his eyes softened in a way she’d never seen before.

The bond between all of them was as real and alive as the blood moving through her veins. As alive as her beating heart. As she snuggled down, fading away and into darkness, she’d never felt so accepted.

So loved.

Their hands stroked over her, petting her. Loving her, even if they hadn’t said anything.