Monroe, Marla - Love Between the Hired Hands [The Men of Space Station One #4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (10 page)

“That, you did, honey. That you did.” Clint patted her on the ass.

Chapter Eight

As soon as Elissa had finished cleaning up the breakfast dishes, she headed for the garden. She knew nothing would have grown yet, but wanted to check it out just the same. It wasn’t until she got out there in the middle looking around that she remembered to watch for animals. She froze and turned all the way around in place to assure there were no beasties watching her. Relieved to find none, she decided to go back inside anyway.

About the time she made it to the door, a noise caught her attention. It sounded like something snorting. She turned around, and standing where she had been not five seconds earlier was one of the ugliest doglike creature she had ever seen. It didn’t look anything like the photo the men had shown her. This thing looked more like a cross between a huge rat and a small dog. It had a long, thin tail and a mouth full of saliva dripping from his teeth.

She froze, unsure what to do. She was merely a few steps from inside, but she was scared to make any movements. It watched her with its black beady eyes that were red rimmed. When it didn’t make a move toward her, Elissa decided to take the chance and moved her hand to the doorknob. The animal growled in a hissing snort. She quickly turned the knob and almost fell into the kitchen, slamming the door behind her.

Her heart fluttered in her throat as she fought to catch her breath. She hurried to the window, but the beast wasn’t there anymore. She looked down at the porch and nearly screamed. It was standing back on its haunches looking at the door. Elissa quickly locked the door and ran to the office to get the digital camera only to find that they had taken it with them. She hurried back to see that the creature had disappeared.

“Good riddance, you mangy beast.” She sighed and scrubbed her hands in the sink.

She decided to try and sketch the thing so she could tell the men about it when they got home that night. She found a pad and pencils in the office and sat about drawing the creature, adding descriptions because she knew her picture wasn’t very lifelike. It was the best she could do.

It was then that she remembered the radio and realized she had forgotten to take it with her. She cursed her stupidity and knew the men would be angry that she hadn’t remembered it. Should she call them and tell them about the thing now or wait until they got home? She settled on when they got home. She didn’t plan on going outside again the rest of that day.

Around five that afternoon, Elissa started dinner and hoped the men would make it in by six. They would be hot and dirty and need showers before eating a meal. She had kept the radio near her the rest of the day and debated on calling to ask what time they thought they would be in. She didn’t want to be a nag. Finally, she vetoed the idea and figured the meal would be fine even if they were late.

At a quarter after six, she heard their heavy tread on the back porch. She hurried to unlock the door before they tried the knob.

“Hey, baby,” Gray said and bent over to give her a kiss.

Clint did the same. They were both dirty and removed their boots at the back door. Elissa appreciated that since she had just mopped the floors.

“How was your first day out on the job?” she asked.

“Tough, but good,” Clint said. “I missed being active. We’ve been cooped up on that shuttle for six months and gotten out of shape.

“Speak for yourself, man. I’m still in good shape.” Gray flexed an arm muscle.

Elissa laughed and shook her head. “Go shower and change. Dinner is just about ready.”

They both hurried from the room. She could hear them climbing the stairs at a fast pace. She figured they were both hungry. Their dinner of sandwiches wouldn’t have lasted long considering they had an extra hour of work time. She was still trying to get used to the extra hour in the day.

They talked all during dinner about their day and what they’d accomplished. When she began clearing the table, Clint asked about her day.

“Um, I pretty much stayed inside.” She still didn’t want to tell them about the creature, but knew she had to. “I saw something when I went out and checked the garden, though.”

“What was that?” Gray handed her his plate and utensils.

“I don’t really know what it was, but it was ugly. I made a drawing of it and put it in the office for you. I was going to take a picture, but you took the camera with you. Besides, it was gone when I got back to the window.

“You saw a creature?” Gray asked in a quiet voice.

“Um, yeah, of some kind. It didn’t look like the dog thing you showed me yesterday. It looked like a cross between a large rat and a small dog. It had a mouth full of teeth.” She shivered despite her attempts not to appear upset.

“You were outside when you saw it?” Clint asked.

“Yeah, I had just stepped up on the porch when I heard something. When I turned around, it was in the garden looking at me. I did what you said and froze. I didn’t move a muscle thinking it would go away, but it kept watching me.”

“What did you do?” Gray asked.

“I stood there for what seemed like forever and finally decided to take a chance and go inside. I quickly turned the knob and ran in the house, shutting the door behind me. It made the weirdest hissing snort I’ve ever heard.”

“What did you do after that?” Clint asked.

“I looked out the window and the thing was on the porch sitting back on its legs like a kangaroo does. I locked the door and ran for the camera.”

“Why didn’t you call us on the radio?” Gray still hadn’t raised his voice. His face showed nothing of what he was feeling.

“I figured it was gone and there was nothing you could have done. If I’d had trouble, I would have called. I was inside and the doors were all locked.”

“You call us next time, Elissa,” Gray said.

“Okay, I will.” She would make damn sure she had that radio with her at all times from then on.

Gray nodded and walked out of the kitchen without saying another word. Clint hugged her and followed him. She figured they were going to the office to look at her drawing and fill out their journals. She sighed, relaxing now that telling them was over. She hadn’t realized how keyed up she’d been all day waiting for them to come home so she could relate what had happened. Still, Gray’s quiet attitude worried her. There was something going on in his head, and she wasn’t sure she would like whatever it was.

* * * *

“Look at this thing, Clint. I’ve never seen anything like it in the booklets or in the notes from Cam and Phillip. One more fucking thing to have to worry about on this planet. This place is too dangerous for women.” Gray slammed down the drawing pad.

“She did good, Gray. She didn’t run. She’s smart and won’t make a mistake around them.”

“That fucking won’t do her any good when she’s on her way to or from Lacy’s in the next few weeks. If she runs across anything out in the middle of that field, she’s had it. She can’t stand there forever. And what’s to stop the thing from attacking anyway?” Gray paced the width of the office.

“Calm down, Gray. You’re going to scare Elissa if she sees you like this.”

“I fucking want her afraid, Clint. I want her to be sure she takes these things very seriously.”

“And I think she did today. She did exactly what we told her to.” Clint crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair he was sitting in.

“Fuck! I’m going to be so busy worrying about her I won’t be able to concentrate on work.” Gray finally stopped pacing and dropped into a chair. He ran a hand through his hair and huffed out a breath.

“Let’s hurry up with our journals and see about our wife. I’m sure she was very scared and didn’t want to worry us by showing it. Then you didn’t give her any support that she’d followed directions. She deserves our attention.

“Hell, you’re right. I was just so scared when I heard she’d been that close to one. I couldn’t think straight.”

Clint nodded and grabbed his journal to write about their day’s activities. They hadn’t seen anything while they’d been working, so there was nothing to download to the printer from the camera.

Gray watched his friend writing and knew he needed to get his over with as well, but couldn’t get past how close Elissa had been to getting seriously hurt or even killed. He shuddered and finally grabbed his book. He hurried through the day’s events this time and didn’t feel guilty about it one bit. One day wasn’t going to hurt, and besides, there was nothing to report other than that they moved irrigation pipes around all day.

As soon as he finished, he studied the picture again. She wasn’t much of an artist, but the descriptions were picture enough. The thing wasn’t the dog creature from their photo. He dropped the book on the desk and rubbed his chest. It gave him a funny feeling to think of her so close to the thing.

“Okay, I’m finished. You ready for bed?” Clint asked.

“Yeah. I need to hold Elissa.”

“I know what you mean.”

They walked out of the office to find Elissa curled up on the couch dozing with another baby book in her lap. Gray took the book from her and set it on the end table before lifting her into his arms and carrying her upstairs. She stirred, but didn’t wake up all the way. Instead, she nuzzled his neck and sighed. It stirred something deep inside of him.

When he made it to the bedroom, he settled her on the bed. She’d already had her bath since she had on her sleeping clothes. He grinned. She wouldn’t be sleeping in them, though. He stripped and crawled in next to her. As soon as Clint had undressed, they pulled her sleeping shirt off of her and then her panties. She huffed out a breath, but didn’t fight them on it.

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Clint whispered next to her ear.

She opened one eye and looked up at them. “I was asleep, and I did have on clothes.”

“You don’t need them in bed. We’ll keep you warm,” Gray told her. He lay down next to her, propping his head on his hand so he could look at her. “Baby, you did well today. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything earlier, but honest to goodness, it scared me to death to think of you so close to that thing.”

“I’m okay, Gray. I was scared, too. When I saw it sit up on its haunches like that by the door, I was afraid it was going to open it and come in.” She ran a finger down his chest and curled it in his chest hair.

“We’re going to get you a gun and teach you how to use it as soon as we can, baby. I don’t want you vulnerable like that.” Gray caught her hand in his and gently squeezed it.

“We’ll walk you over to Lacy’s in the morning. Then you make sure you come home well before sunset,” Clint said, drawing her attention to where he lay in a similar position.

Gray watched her pluck at Clint’s chest hairs and chuckled when the other man winced. She giggled then covered her mouth with her hand.

“Yeah, I’ll teach you to laugh at me,” Clint said with a growl and started tickling her.

She tried to burrow into Gray’s body to get away from him, but there was still too much of her available for Clint to reach.

“Please, Gray. Make him stop. Please.” She drew out the word in a pleading squeal.

“Okay, Clint. That’s enough.” He laughed at the look of desperation on her face.

“Well, if I can’t tickle her. I’m going to fuck her,” Clint said and settled his hand between her legs. “Fuck, she’s wet already.”

“I was horny when I was playing with your chest hair, but you tickled it out of me now.” Elissa pouted.

“Oh, I’m sure we can stir you up again.” Gray trailed a finger around her nipple.

Clint fingered her pussy while licking her belly. Gray wasn’t sure what was getting to her the most, but she began to moan.