Paying Their Piper with Passion and Love [Loving in Silver 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (5 page)

Jace laughed. He evidently had a very good sense of humor. Merck found that sexy as hell. “So I’ve been told.” He showed Grayson the photo of Piper. “I’m looking for her. I found these photos taken of her when she was previously here in Silver. It seemed as good as any place to start looking.”

Grayson’s handsome face became stern, closed off. “Then you’re working for her father.”

“No, sir. I was fired as soon as it was discovered Miss Barrows had given me the slip. She made her escape in the middle of the night.”

“I’ve heard a few of the details of how her father kept her like a prisoner instead of a daughter.”

“I’m sure everything you’ve been told is true. I just want to reassure myself that she’s doing okay. I also want to ask her if she’d like to go out with me. I can do that, now that she’s no longer in my care.”

“Stand in line, buddy. I’ve been trying to get ahold of Piper for months.”

Grayson grinned and slapped the top of the truck. “This should be good. You two may want her, but Colt’s keeping her. Good luck with that. He’s meaner than a tromped on snake.” As he moved away, he added, “I won’t run your plates. No need to give Barrows any clues, though he’s likely going to figure out she’s in Silver sooner or later.”

“Later is fine with us,” Merck said, already angry with a man he didn’t know. Any reason that made a daughter run from her father was a reason to dislike the man. “See you later, Grayson. Why don’t you bring Roarke and Marley out this weekend? Russell is firing up the smoker. There should be enough meat in there to feed an army plus some.” The man wasn’t the ranch’s cook, but no one could outdo him at any kind of grilling. The man was an artiste.

“We’ll do that. Now my stomach’s going to be grumbling for days. Russell’s BBQ is the best. The invitation will help me overlook the fact that the tint on these windows is too dark.”

Grayson gave Jace a meaningful look, straightened, and then slapped the top of the truck again before walking away.

As Jace drove around the square Merck directed him to where he’d left his truck. “I don’t know if I want to get something to eat now or just go check out this bed you have for me.”

“I can take care of several of your issues. Just follow me.”

“Try to lose me, cowboy.”

Merck turned as he got out of the truck to look at the handsome, dangerous-looking man. He grinned broadly. “If you can lose a hundred pound woman you’re being paid a fortune to watch, I don’t know how good you’ll be at following me.”

A rough laugh escaped the man. “Let’s give a try, okay? Just go slow and put your hazard lights on.”

Grinning, Merck shook his head and closed the door, going to get into his truck. As he got in and started it up he took out his phone and made a call. By the time they were passing the small strip mall he turned into a packed parking lot. Jace pulled in behind him, waiting to see what was happening. A teenager in a red coat came running out with brown bags in his arms. He dumped them in the front of the truck and took the money Merck held out to him.

The kid looked at the money, grinning. “Thanks for the tip, Mr. Rushton!”

“Spend it wisely,” Merck advised, knowing it was probably going to be spent on a video game or a new snowboard. The teens in the area were really into strapping both feet to a board and hurtling themselves down rough slopes.

By the time they were driving up the long lane to his house, Merck’s cock was about as hard as it ever had been. He’d spent a fair amount of time fantasizing about Piper Barrows. Jerking off in the shower had become a regular ritual. He hadn’t been with a man or woman in months, which were quickly adding up to a year. There just hadn’t been anyone to interest him and hooking up just for the sake of getting his rocks off had lost its luster.

Parking his truck in front of the garage he grabbed the bags of food and beer and got out to wait for Jace to park beside him. They walked single file to the front door. Merck jumped when a strong hand grabbed and squeezed his ass. The pressure made his balls pull tight and his cock jump. If the man touched him again, he was going to explode.

“I have a feeling we’re going to be doing some damage to each other,” Jace predicted in a rough voice.

Jace’s heart was pounding in his chest as he followed the handsome cowboy into the kitchen of a house which had an instantly welcoming feel to it. The floor was made of heavy planks, probably cut from huge trees over a hundred years before, polished smooth by thousands of feet walking over them. One wall was covered in river rock. There was a wood cook stove against it and a modern counterpart across from it. The stainless refrigerator looked new, but if there was a dishwasher it was well hidden.

Merck took his coat and hung it up on a peg beside his just inside the back door. Then he went back to the bags on the counter, obviously to keep himself busy. It was a sign of nervousness, if Jace was reading him right.

When the hot cowboy began opening cupboards and paper bags, Jace took decisive action. Moving swiftly across the room, he pressed himself against Merck’s back. He slid his hands along the man’s leather belt, following the path until his hands met over a large oval buckle. Merck froze, waiting. Jace nuzzled his ear then nipped the lobe.

“Do you really want what’s in those bags more than you want me?”

“No. But you’re going to need your strength.”

Jace chuckled, kissing warm skin as Merck leaned back into him, his head on his shoulder. It was so damned sexy he could feel his blood heat with the fire of lust.

“Take me to this bed you have for me. We’ll take a break later to build up our energy.”

Jace liked the fact that Merck took him by the hand to lead him from the kitchen.

They walked side by side down a long hallway. The floors here were made of the same planks as in the kitchen, but there was a long runner down the center in a somewhat modern, geometric pattern in shades of cream and brown. Wall sconces at intervals provided a warm, pleasant glow. There was nothing gloomy.

“Sure is a big place,” he observed as they passed several doors. “Are there many rooms upstairs?”

“There’re five bedrooms, three baths, and a laundry room.”

They finally came close to the end of the hall when Merck stopped and opened a door. They walked in and he sucked in his breath.

“Oh, honey, this is beautiful!”

Not quite masculine, it wasn’t feminine, either. It was for a man who loved the softer things in life and didn’t mind giving them to himself. The bedspread covering the huge bed was a deep burgundy with stylized gold, Oriental dragons on it. There was a bank of coordinating pillows in various sizes, gold velvet bolsters in front. There was a pair of heavy, brown leather chairs placed near the fireplace, each with a matching ottoman.

Jace admired the antique lanterns on the mantle, as well as the clock with its hand-painted glass front. As if it appreciated his admiration the clock chimed the hour. The walls were sparsely decorated, only three oil paintings of wilderness landscapes, one on each wall. Gold satin-like drapes covered the two windows.

“Thanks,” Merck said, smiling as Jace turned to him. “I figured it could go either way. I suppose when I get married my wife or wives will want to change it.”

“Whoa there, hot stuff! Wives? Are you into polygamy?” Jace was shocked and it showed. The cock which had been begging to get out of his jeans wilted considerably.

Wives? Marriage?

Merck shook his head, his smile widening. “Well,
I’m
not. I’m not crazy enough to take on two or more women by myself. But I suppose I’ll be like my fathers. One or two of my brothers and me will probably marry a couple of women. Maybe three.” Broad shoulders lifted. “There are all kinds of family groups in and around Silver. I personally have three fathers, all brothers, married to two women, my mothers.”

It was a lot to take in. Jace stared at him. Then he got to thinking about it. If there was really something to this fiery attraction to Merck, something that could last more than a few nights together, would it be possible for them to share a woman? That woman would be Piper Barrows, of course. They both wanted her. Neither of them had hidden that fact. And they wanted each other.

Being bisexual had proven kinda rough once he was an adult and experimenting sexually. He enjoyed being with women as much as he did men. It was one of the reasons he had shied away from committing himself to one person. There were times when he just didn’t feel whole, as if something was missing from his life. If he had chosen to live a straight, monogamous life, then he would have been cheating the other half of his sexual being. The same with if he had chosen to commit himself to a man. Neither relationship would have given him the fulfillment he would want in life.

But now there was a chance he could be complete. Jace’s heart beat heavily with hope as he looked at Merck. The instant attraction he had felt in the town’s square was quickly turning into something much bigger, something far more tangible.

“Is it really that easy?”

“What?” Merck sounded distracted, perhaps because Jace was peeling off the dark-blue Henley thermal shirt he was wearing. Amber-colored eyes devoured him, sweeping over his bared torso. “What was the question?”

“Is it that easy sharing a woman or women?” he repeated, a smile tugging at his mouth.

Broad shoulders lifted, but the golden eyes never moved far from his mid-section. “It is here. And it’s how it’s been in Silver for more than a hundred years. The men who founded this town did so in order to make it a place for people like them, where they could be themselves without bigotry and hatred.” He frowned. “Even though many of them had been strictly gay, they married women so they could have heirs for the great fortunes they were building. Some had male partners as well. And that’s how the unique society in Silver was created. It’s not perfect, but the sense of freedom here is remarkable. If you stay around long enough, you’ll see that for yourself.”

“Very daring for the time.” Jace reached for the man standing nervously beside the bed. “Right at this moment I can’t see any reason to go running from Silver. I want to see this town of yours, meet its people.”

“We can do that tomorrow,” Merck said absently as Jace shoved his hands under the man’s shirt, pushing it up and off. He tossed it to the floor with his. “Oh, fuck yes!” Merck hissed when Jace leaned down to latch onto a pebbled nipple and began to alternate between sucking and nipping the rigid flesh. When he thought the first was properly loved, he moved to the second, lavishing the same sweet attention upon it until strong hands were gripping his shoulders and Merck was reduced to begging. “Please, Jace. I can’t take much more.”

Releasing the nipple reluctantly, Jace straightened to see that the man did look close to losing it completely. The handsome features were strained, the eyes the darkest amber he had ever seen. Without breaking their eye contact, Jace finished undressing Merck and urged him back onto the bed. “That’s it, sweetheart. Just let me take care of you. I promise you won’t want for anything by the time I’ve finished.” He removed the rest of his own clothes then reached to pull open the drawer in the nightstand. “Ah, here we go.”

He grabbed the lube and a condom, though he wasn’t close to ready for them yet. Merck was going to learn very fast that Jace wasn’t into taking what he wanted as fast as he could get it. No, he loved to savor the love act between two people. One never knew when it would be for real and he didn’t want the first time to be less than memorable. Pushing Merck’s broad shoulders back into the bank of luxurious pillows, he wished he had a camera. The man was hot, sexy, and stunningly beautiful, though Jace doubted the cowboy would want to hear such soft things. Then again, the room said a whole lot about Merck’s nature.

“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered huskily, stretching out beside him. He nuzzled Merck’s neck and felt the man’s pulse pounding against his lips. “So beautiful lying here, as beautiful as any man I’ve ever seen.” His hand slid over tight, washboard abs, then lower, tracing the sensitive groove between groin and thigh. “Nice,” he said, discovering that below the nicely trimmed dark curls at the man’s groin, everything beyond was waxed and wonderfully soft. Pointedly ignoring the rigid length of flesh thrusting boldly, his fingers explored the silky smooth ball sac, stroking the orbs within. “Spread your legs, sweetheart. I want to love on you a little more.”

Merck made a choking sound as he spread his legs. Jace moved between them, bumping them with his shoulders, and then sliding his arms beneath. It took little effort to lift the man’s tempting parts to his mouth, which was all but watering in anticipation. The man’s musky scent teased his nostrils as he lowered his mouth to the silky smooth sac.

They both groaned in unison as Jace began licking and sucking. This was another thing he loved. It was the little things he loved doing the most to and with a lover. All of it combined allowed for wondrous things to happen. It was something he actively sought. After seeing so many horrific things while fighting in foreign lands, he needed this with another human being. He needed the good things. And he would do everything within his power to give pleasure rather than pain.

Strong fingers slid over his short hair. There wasn’t enough length for Merck to get hold of and Jace absently thought he would have to let his hair grow a little longer, if he was lucky enough to form a lasting relationship with this special man. Yeah, he liked it a little rough. He placed a kiss in the center of the man’s sac, smiling as it began to draw up tight to his body. It wouldn’t be long now and Merck would be losing it completely.