Ten Mountain Men's Baby (Love by Numbers 9)

He snapped out of his trance. “I was just thinking.”

“About?”

“If it were possible.”

“If what were possible?”

“The sharing.”

“Oh, yeah. What were you saying? Like they share their wives?”

He shook his head. “Shaun’s the only one who’s married, I think, but he told me they share everything. I assume that means wives, girlfriends—everything.”

“Well then, there’s your answer.”

“How do you mean?”

“It is possible. If they’re doing it, that means it’s possible.”

He went back to gazing at his brothers. “I mean, I’ve heard of it before. I’d just never met anyone who.…”

“Shared?”

“Right. Who shared.” He mumbled, “They share everything.” He was speaking as if in a dream.

I gathered that it wasn’t only the sleep but something else. “And how do you feel about it?”

He looked at me, suddenly more serious. “Do you mean: could I share? Could I share my wife or my girlfriend?”

I chuckled. “That wasn’t exactly what I meant, but okay. Let’s go there.” I had no idea how he would respond, but I surprised myself by wishing that he would say he’d be fine with it. The idea hadn’t occurred to me though I knew I’d been stimulated by being around so many attractive men who each bore an uncanny resemblance to the other. It was all so dream-like. But now the door had been opened, and we were looking in. The dream of it started to become a real possibility.

He paused a moment as if giving the notion consideration. “You know,” he said, “I think I could share. I think I’d be fine with it, actually.”

I laid my head down again on his chest. I didn’t want him to see the spark of joy that I was sure flashed in my eyes.

He ran his hand over my back; the other hand patted me on the back of my head. “What do you think?” he said, his voice cracking with timidity.

“You mean: could I share?”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

I waited for him to elaborate. When he didn’t, I looked up at him.

“I mean, could you be shared.”

My heart quickened. I knew Ryker could feel it; I was lying so close to him, my body held tightly against his. I could feel his heartbeat, so presumably, he could also feel mine. It would have been impossible to hide my excitement. So, I didn’t.

I pulled myself up, my breasts brushing against his chest, my hardening nipples tracing the groves of his pecs. I kissed him lightly on the lips, wet them with my tongue, and kissed him again. I felt his erection pushing against my hip. I slid my hand down to undo his belt and unzip his pants. “Looks like someone needs a little room to move.”

I took the tip of his cock gently in my hand and helped it escape the confines of his boxers. Ryker leaned his head back and moaned with pleasure. I kissed him on the neck; the tip of my tongue traced a circle against his skin.

“They’re watching,” said Ryker.

I turned, and my eyes caught Ted’s. He smiled kindly, then averted his gaze. “Let them watch.” I kissed him again on the neck, then worked my way down to his chest.

I heard a “pop” that startled me. I looked around.

Miles abruptly stopped playing.

Lawson stood. “No panic,” he said, and he hurried out of the room.

“What’s going on?” I asked Gannon.

“Looks like the power’s gone out. It happens. Nothing to worry about.”

Out the window, the snow had piled on the sill, obscuring the view. All I could see was a sheet of white. I slipped out from under the blanket and got to my feet. Ryker reached for me, but I let his hand slide from my arm to grasp at the air.

“I’ll be right back,” I said to him.

Ryker also got to his feet.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” said Gannon. “We’ve got a fire. We’ve got blankets. No problem.”

Without Miles strumming away on the guitar, I became keenly aware of the wind whipping in a fury outside.

Ryker put an arm around me. “Are you all right?”

I glanced around the room. Miles and Lawson were smiling and joking. Will and Owen were talking casually to each other. Everyone was calm and carrying along as usual.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I was just startled. That’s all.”

Larson came back in, his jacket covered in snow. “The line’s down.”

Despite everyone repeating that everything was fine that there was nothing to worry about, I was feeling a bit concerned as Carson and Lawson hung blankets over the windows and Brock, and Owen brought in more blankets from the back rooms.

Will put his arm around me and gave me a side hug. “It will be like camping, except we’re inside with a nice warm fire.”

“And we’ve got plenty of Chandler punch,” Shaun added.

I stood by the fire, though I was plenty warm, and watched how each of the brothers went into action, bringing in pillows and blankets, candles and gas burners, and food and drink. They were organized and efficient like they had been through this kind of storm before. With the calm and sense of control, it was impossible to stay worried.