Night Is Darkest by Jayne Rylon (books recommended by bts .TXT) 📕

On impulse, she fished under the pile of pillows they’d left in their wake earlier. She snagged Rob’s gun then tossed it on top of her other sundry items. The rich scent of sex wafted up from the sheets, causing a flash of desire to spread as she remembered the beautiful display of Mason and Tyler’s passion.

“Are you ready, Lace?” Mason leaned one hip against the jamb. He had a backpack slung over one shoulder. His arms folded across his chest, legs crossed in his usual pose. Her heart skipped a beat.

Oh, yeah.

“Uh. Yes. I’m good.” She stumbled while trying not to swallow her tongue.

He met her halfway across the room to take her medium-sized bag in one hand. When he bent toward her, she put a restraining hand on his chest then swooped in for a ferocious kiss. From far away she heard their suitcases hit the floor as she lost herself in the hot depths of his mouth.

Tyler shouted from the bottom of the stairs, “Let’s get a move on. They have an available cabin but the front desk closes for check-in at midnight.”

Lacey broke away, panting.

“What was that for?” Mason studied her. Even in the dim lighting she could see his eyes burn.

“Because I felt like it.” She shrugged, then sauntered from the room.

When Tyler saw her flushed cheeks and mussed hair, he groaned. “Why do I always miss the good stuff?”

“Just remember you promised me a skinny dip when we get there.” Lacey patted his cheek then walked out the door, trying to ignore the twinge of sadness at leaving their little house cold and empty.

Chapter Fifteen

Darkness shrouded the mountainside as they wove their way up the steep, twisted road but, even in the chilly night air, Lacey could see hints of the beauty surrounding them. For her, it felt natural to be out and about when the rest of the world slept. Though there were times, like now, that she wished she lived in a world of sunshine and color. At least, if she timed her sleep schedule right, she had most of the morning and early afternoon to herself.

The tires of the all-wheel-drive truck rumbled as they crossed a wood-plank bridge spanning a rocky ravine and the spring water that bounced off boulders as it tumbled over the streambed. The serpentine course of the narrow drive as it stair-stepped up the cliff face allowed them clear visibility to the lower reaches.

No one could follow them unnoticed here.

Mason tapped the brakes as a doe and two fawns bolted across the rural landscape.

“Would you crack the window, Tyler?”

“You were shivering a minute ago. Do you have a fever?”

She regretted the worry that had his hand darting out to test her forehead. “It’s not that. I just wanted to smell the fresh air.”

Mason dialed the heat up a notch while Tyler rolled his window down an inch or two. She inhaled until her lungs puffed out her chest then released the breath by degrees. “It’s perfect.”

“I’ve always wanted to come here.” Ty smiled at her. “Mason and I thought about it more than once but we agreed to save it for a special occasion. I’m glad we waited for you.”

Lacey rested a hand on each man’s thigh and squeezed. “I couldn’t have survived the last week without both of you. I love you.”

“If you two are finished with the sappy bullshit, you could help me spot the main lodge on the right.” Mason’s gruff interruption couldn’t mask his emotion though he pointed to the GPS, which flashed as they neared their destination.

She patted his knee. “It’s okay, Mason. I know you love us, too.”

“’Til death and all that. I just don’t feel the need to discuss it on the hour like you two.”

“Every person I’ve ever loved has been stolen from me, Mason. I won’t waste a minute of our time together. So you’ll just have to learn to cope with our smothering.”

Tyler chuckled when Mason huffed. Though no cars shared the road for miles, he still obeyed the traffic laws by engaging his blinker when he turned in beneath the carved wooden arch proclaiming Mountain Springs Lodge. The elevation had climbed until they reached this perch on the summit. Patches of snow littered the grounds as though it were December instead of October.

When Ty opened his door, they slid out and stretched after the two-hour drive. They’d made it with less than ten minutes to spare. She would have loved to stare up at the sapphire sky, counting the brilliant sparkling stars, but Mason grabbed for her hand to draw her toward the door.

“Come on, doll. You don’t need to catch cold.”

If she’d thought the landscape beautiful, the rustic splendor of the lodge blew her mind. Geared up for fall, the russet and gold accents highlighted the thick oak beam construction and natural wood floors of the huge open space. Stone fireplaces flanked the sitting areas arranged around woven area rugs. Tasteful décor including photographs of trout, fly fishing gear, horse tackle and antique riffles rounded out the ambiance.

She followed Mason’s stare to the braided whips hanging with the bridles and shivered.

“Don’t worry, doll.” He turned to stroke her hair. “No one will ever abuse you with one of those again.”

Lacey considered chickening out but gulped, then forced herself to admit what she’d really been thinking. “You misunderstood, Mason. I saw the look in your eyes. I wondered what you’d do to me if we had this place all to ourselves right now. Would you tie me up on the bear rug by the fire and teach me what it could be like to experience sensual pain at the hands of someone who loves you?”

“Holy shit.” Tyler darted toward the bathroom. “I gotta take care of something. Be back in a minute.”

Mason braced his palms on her shoulders. She brought her hands up to cup his elbows.