Arctic Adventure (Men of Alaska Book 3) Page 9

  Phil grabbed her ass and squeezed the flesh. He loved her enthusiasm. Hell, he loved her curves and everything else about her. He smacked her ass when she slowed down a bit. Then someone grabbed his wrist, and it wasn’t playful.

  “No hitting,” Mick said.

  Tiff froze. “Easy. It wasn’t a hit.”

  “I was playing,” Phil said.

  Mick finally let go of Phil’s wrist. “I don’t think that’s a good line to play with.”

  “I’m not into pain or a serious spanking, but it didn’t hurt. It was a tap. Mick, please.” She craned her neck to kiss him.

  “Do we need a break?” Sean asked.

  Phil felt like he’d crossed a line for Mick, but it wasn’t meant to be even a spanking move. “I didn’t mean it like that, Mick.”

  “I just can’t stand that sound.” Mick hugged Tiff from behind. “If this is going to work, we can’t ever hurt each other. Physically especially. Saying something you don’t mean…you can take it back.”

  “Mick, we need to talk about this.” Tiff’s face told Phil how puzzled she was.

  “When we’re home, we can put all our quirks on the table. Do you want to fuck or fight now?” he asked.

  Phil watched Mick reach down and rub her clit.

  “Are you okay?” she asked him.

  “I’m fine. I just want to lay out the boundaries. We need the ground rules to evolve. With three cocks poking at you, we can’t let things get out of hand.” Mick’s other hand teased her breast.

  Phil reached up and covered Mick’s hand. “Sorry, won’t try that again. Now let’s get this girl off.”

  She started to ride again, and their cocks hardened instantly. When she resumed sucking Sean’s dick, she finally relaxed fully. The tension was there, but the passion and trust melted it away. No one else had reacted to the move. Phil knew Mick had some triggers from childhood, but that was one he’d never heard about. That little ass smack had been innocent and playful.

  Tiff leaned down and kissed Phil. “You’re perfect. It’s not us. I love you.”

  He nodded and swallowed Sean’s dick to get back in the swing of sex. She wasn’t at all bothered with the innocent smack, but group sex was complicated.

  Chapter Ten

  [Home for a few days and back in the routine, Tiffany felt much better. The group seemed to have gelled, but there was still some history to sort out. Deep down she knew that the answers didn’t matter as much as the honesty.

  After work, she tracked down her brother at his home.

  “What’s the deal?” she asked.

  “I like Phil. He’s fine.” Dave poured her a cup of coffee.

  “Good. Now what don’t I know about high school? Mick and Sean?” She folded her arms.

  He sighed. “Look, I’m fine with it. All of the family is fine with those guys. I mean, they’ll want to meet them, and Dad will love Phil most because he’s military, but whatever. The group thing is new.”

  “Mick?” she asked.

  Dave shook his head. “I know you want the truth, but if you’re really in love with those guys, they should tell you the truth.”

  “Did you keep Mick from asking me out?” she asked.

  “I didn’t tell him he couldn’t ask you out. I did point out that if you two didn’t work out, it might be weird if he hung out at the house so much. He was a friend, and his home life wasn’t great. Our place was paradise compared to his. That’s his stuff to tell you, but that’s my part.” He looked her in the eye.

  “Sean?” she asked.

  “His family is cool. We didn’t want you to not get out or go to dances. He was safer. Screwing with Mick, he was less likely to jump all over you.” Dave shrugged.

  Tiff rubbed her eyes. “Did you make him take me?”

  “Make him? No. Look, he knew about Mick’s home life, but his family wouldn’t let Mick practically live there. They had a lot of mouths to feed. With us, Dad barely noticed. There was food. We had enough clothes. I was a little bigger than Mick, and if I said I grew out of something, I got new stuff. Dad never paid attention to that level, or he knew about Mick’s home life and took him in, sort of. He never talked about it even to us. It’s not like we were decked out in fancy clothes or anything expensive,” Dave said.

  “You guys did a really good thing,” she said.

  “He was like a brother to me. Not so much to you, but it turned out okay. You get to live with him now.” Dave smiled.

  “We haven’t moved in yet. I have to talk this out. One more question. Why? Why was dad so overprotective? Why did you guys follow his lead so much? If he barely noticed Mick around all the time, he could’ve ignored me a little more.” Tiff had asked the question many times over the years, but this was the first time Dave hadn’t been evasive.

  He sighed. “Dad would kill me if I told you this.”

  “Dave, I’ve treated drug addicts, felons, and prostitutes. Stop playing dumb, like I’m a virgin who lives in a bubble.” She glared at him.

  He nodded. “I’m going to forget all of that once we’re done here. Okay. Dad was in the service, and there were more men than women. He saw some men get abused. Some women. Not every man could control himself and follow orders. Anyway, he hated those guys. There was one woman where he was stationed. He admired her. She was smart and quiet. Kept to herself. One night he found her beaten and all after… It was bad. He got her to the doctors and tried to get her to report the attack. He wanted to go after the guys himself. She wouldn’t tell.”

  Tiff’s stomach churned. “Wow.”

  “It’s not that women can’t defend themselves. Of course they can. But anyone that outnumbered. Anyone will lose the fight. Of course Dad being Dad, he knew women are more vulnerable. You developed early, and that’s when it really started. He told us boys that story in a lot more detail. To him, it was his job to protect her. Band of brothers and that crap. Brothers protect their sisters, and those women did as much work and sacrificed as much as the men did. It was such a good side of him that we couldn’t say no. We couldn’t stand the idea that that could happen. Especially not to you.” Dave shivered.

  Tiff frowned. “I can’t believe he put that on you guys. You were kids. That’s awful.”

  “We looked after each other too,” Dave said.

  “I know. But if something randomly happened to me, you guys would’ve felt guilty. Like you should’ve been there to watch me every second. Wow, it makes so much more sense now. Why didn’t he ever tell me that story?” Tiff asked.

  “He’s Dad. He’ll probably never believe you have sex, even when you have a kid.” Dave chuckled.

  “Kids? Wow. That’s going to be really weird.” Tiff hadn’t let herself think that far ahead.

  “Don’t worry about it. Go talk to the guys and clear all this up. I swear, you know everything that I do. Maybe Dad thought Mom talked to you or whatever. You know how he was. Not good with girlie things.” Dave sat back. “The group thing is really for you?”

  She grinned. “Yes. It somehow just works. And when you find the right girl, I get to make her life hell for a bit too.”

  He smiled. “I have no doubt, sis. Go on and interrogate your boyfriends.”

  That was the plan. She texted them to come by her place after work for dinner. Cooking for three felt very domestic, but she was used to more men in her family. If she did have kids, they had better be girls!

  * * * *

  Mick was the last to arrive, and they ate immediately. He’d gotten a text from Dave to just give her all the details, and he then wished him luck. The approval or acceptance was an odd feeling. Her family had always been his safe place, but he wasn’t really a part of it. This would change everything.

  “This is really good chili,” Phil said.

  “Thanks. There is plenty. I learned to cook for an army.” She smiled. “So are we going to get all the skeletons and secrets out so we can get serious?”

  “I thought we were serious.” Phil frowne
d.

  “Baggage.” Mick sighed.

  “Yeah, I forced Dave to tell me his side of things, but he wouldn’t divulge details about you two. Sean first.” She folded her arms.

  “Okay.” He looked surprised.

  “Did you take me to all those dances because you wanted to or because you felt sorry for me? Did my brothers put you up to it?” She brought out cookies for dessert.

  Sean looked at Mick. “Tiff, no one put me up to it. It never went beyond going as friends because it wasn’t that simple. Mick and I were together, but it wasn’t widely known. His family. He wanted to take you to some of the dances, but that would’ve set off red flags with your dad. I just made sure your brothers wouldn’t get pissed or block me from taking you.”

  “Okay. I know my family is messed up. But girls date. It’s not like it’s that weird to go to different dances with different guys. Having one guy take you to every dance in high school and then run off to the Arctic Circle, that’s weird.” She brewed coffee.

  Mick knew she was keeping busy. “It’s my fault. All of it.”

  “No, it’s not,” Sean cut in. “I knew I needed to explore. Hike and ski. Snowboard and traipse around the state. I needed to wander a bit. Mick wanted to go to the Academy.”

  “And no one wanted me along?” she asked.

  “You don’t seem to like traveling or living out of an RV that much,” Phil said.

  Sean nodded. “You can hunt and hike. You could survive with the best of them, but you don’t like sleeping on the ground or not having a stove. I went places there was no radio or cell service. Nothing.”

  “I wouldn’t have liked that.” She turned her glare to Mick.

  He sighed. “I was over at your house more than you knew. My dad was drunk when he was home. My mom took pills and drank. Said she was depressed all the time. They didn’t care where I was, but when I was home…my father was an angry drunk.”

  “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I never heard anything about them.”

  “I think people felt sorry for my mom. She made it sound like she protected me. But she didn’t. Your dad had seen some bruises on me. Told me I could stay over sometimes. I got more from your family than I ever did my own. I never thought of you like a sister, and I couldn’t have asked you out or done anything then or risk my welcome there.” He pulled her close.

  “One big fight and what then?” Phil asked.

  “Exactly. Mick would lose his safe place,” Sean said.

  “And I didn’t want anyone to think it was weird. Or anything had happened. I had to make something of myself and put some distance between me and my family. I wanted to take you to Anchorage and it be just us going to college or something. Sean would be in to visit, but it was too soon. Your family would’ve overreacted then.” He relaxed when she started to stroke his hair.

  “They overreact all the time. I was an adult. Dave told me why they’re so overprotective. I think my dad will like my having three men looking after me.” She kissed him. “But ground rules. No getting drunk. No hitting each other, ever. That includes slapping, even during sex when it’s just playful. I’m not bothered by it, but Mick has triggers from his abuse, and we’re not going to set him off.”

  Mick hugged Tiff. “I can control myself. It was just being in the middle of sex, I didn’t expect it. It wasn’t Phil’s fault.”

  “I won’t do it again. It was just playful. And I won’t get drunk again. Not like at Arctic Man. Not ever. One or two here and there. My family is messed up, but alcohol isn’t their issue.” Phil shrugged.

  “I hope your family comes around at some point. But this is a weird setup.” Sean leaned over and kissed Phil.

  “I’ve got family to spare and so does Sean. Phil and Mick, you’re welcome to them.” Tiff sat in Mick’s lap.

  “Family is not what I’m thinking about now.” He tugged off her shirt.

  Tiff led the way to her bedroom, shedding more clothes along the way. The men followed her. Mick felt at home in this house. Three more bedrooms upstairs and a big living area and kitchen, he knew this was going to be their home.

  “Room for all of us here.” Mick stripped down to nothing.

  She climbed on the king-size bed hand carved by one of her brothers. Without hesitation, she dug condoms and lube packets out of her nightstand. “Yes, but I can get Derrick to make a double queen. That’s what most ménage groups use to fit everyone. This can go upstairs in a guestroom if you guys want to move in.”

  “She read my mind.” Sean sprawled naked on the bed.

  Phil removed his clothing and stood next to the bed as Mick and Tiff sat on it. “So if we’re a family, does that mean kids and everything?”

  Tiff blushed. “Well, if we want them, we can’t wait too horribly long. Sometimes it takes time.”

  “You’re only thirty-three.” Mick tickled her.

  Phil leaned in and kissed Mick and massaged Tiff’s hip.

  “I’m not sure how long it’ll take to get pregnant. Plus, you can’t have just one.” She crawled up by Sean.

  “What’s wrong with one?” Mick hated being an only child but wanted to tease her.

  “You practically were adopted into my family. You wanted brothers. No. One kid with four parents is weird.” She fell back in the pillows.

  “Your two younger brothers are twins. Maybe you’ll have twins?” Mick grabbed her knees and spread her legs.

  Mick licked his way up her lush thighs until he reached her slit. He took his time and aroused her with touch. She moaned, and he looked up. Sean was kissing her, and Phil was teasing her nipples.

  She whispered something to Phil, and he shifted so she could suck his cock. Phil’s hand pulled on Mick’s hard dick.

  “You just want a suck fest? Really?” Sean asked.

  “I want a marathon all night, so pace yourselves.” She shifted and nudged Phil. They made room for Sean in the middle, and the soft moans and teasing fingers took their time.

  Epilogue

  A month later it was properly spring, and Tiffany had never been happier. Up north there would still be snow but not normally in Sterling. Then again, Alaska weather changed in the blink of an eye.

  On a girl’s night, where all the men were at the docks for a boat launch, Tiff was thrilled to host her friends again.

  “They’re all moved in?” Bethany asked.

  “Yes. Sean is doing the nature tours and some hunting parties with tourists. He connected with Gretchen’s Matt so if people want a walking tour after the plane one or whatever. Cross promoting and working together.” Tiff was glad Sean wasn’t doing hunting parties solo. Outsiders could be so careless at times.

  “I hear Phil is a shark on the water.” Melody sipped her Merlot.

  “Hasn’t hit a whale, that’s for sure. He’s now full time on fishing patrol. Mick said Phil can steer a boat in any weather over anything. Which is good because he really doesn’t have the feel for a snow machine.” She laughed.

  “For a new guy, he is fitting in well,” Dana admitted.

  “True. I’m worried he’ll overdo it in the summer with so much sunlight. I’ll have to think of something to keep him in bed and resting.” Tiff grinned.

  “He’s got a few hot things to do there.” Bethany winked.

  “Aren’t you having any wine?” Dana asked.

  Tiff shook her head. “Nah. I don’t feel like it.”

  “What about Mick?” Mel asked.

  Tiff shrugged. “Mick is Mick. I finally got him to tell me the full story. You think there are no secrets in a small town, but his family. I mean, his house was out there a ways from town, but he never let on. He never said anything about his parents being so…”

  “Awful. My mother said his mother adopted then returned a puppy thirty years ago, but that’s when she started worrying. Watching.” Dana ran her fingers through her hair nervously.

  “Why did they return the puppy?” Gretchen asked.

  “Mrs. Butler said
her husband and the puppy didn’t get along. And the puppy had some marks on it. She wanted to call the cops. Mick was too young to have done it, but my dad said they’d blame it on the kid and maybe the puppy had nipped him. They were full of excuses. Mom said your family was the best thing that ever happened to him, Tiff.” Dana sighed. “I wish she’d have told me all of this years ago.”

  “Me too, but it wouldn’t have mattered. Mick had to recover. I wish my dad and brothers would’ve beaten the shit out of Mick’s dad.” Tiff sipped her coffee.

  “Then they’d have ended up in jail. That’s the sort of crap he pulled on people who tried to stand up to him. Thankfully, he was away a lot, and the liquor killed him.” Dana got up. “Coffee sounds good. I’m going to get a cup. Anyone need anything?”

  Everyone shook their heads no.

  “I know this is off topic but…what happened to the puppy?” Gretchen asked.

  Dana smiled. “My mom brought it home. The dog already trusted her, so there was less stress than trying more families. That dog guarded my mother. One time a bear startled her, that dog barked and growled until my dad came with spray.”

  “That’s a good thing, at least. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring the evening down. Mick can talk about it now. It makes sense when you have all the information, but it wouldn’t have changed anything. He had to become a man he could respect and get out of the shadow of his family before he could make a new family.” Tiff grinned. “They’re making it up to me.”

  “Family? Jumping into a ménage and planning a baby already?” Mel asked.

  Tiff’s face went hot. “I’m not planning anything. My family is good with the relationship. Sean’s family is great. Phil’s family is homophobic and outsiders, so we’ll just ignore that until someone comes around from his side. But if I do get pregnant, it’d better damn well be a girl!”