Seducing Their Wayfaring Souls [3xtasy Lake 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (5 page)

“Hi, Tara. You remember my husband, Jelani, and his brother, Marcario.”

“Yes, of course. Jessica, is everything okay? I mean if you have to cancel dinner then I understand.” Tara’s brain went into overdrive trying to think of all the conceivable situations that might crop up and what she could do to solve them. She would go back to the original plan of taking Zack to the bus down the street. Hopefully they were still open…

“Oh, no, I want you to come for dinner, but I need to explain something first.”

Zack ran out of his room at that moment. “Yeah, we’re going out now right! Hi, Mthith Bennett, did you know I have my own TV and I can thee the lake from my window? Do you know a monther liveth in there?”

“Hey, buddy.” Jelani smiled down at Zack. “I don’t think you met my brother Marcario earlier.”

Her son smiled widely, hero worship shining on his face. “Nice to meet you, Mthr Bennett.”

Marcario leaned down to shake Zack’s hand. “Do you know the creature in the lake’s named Blavet?”

“Really…”

Jessica touched Tara’s arm, drawing her attention from watching her son interact with the two men. “Tara, can I have a word with you?”

“Yes, of course.” She felt a twinge in her chest as Jessica led her a few feet into her room. Jelani and Marcario stayed in the doorway. Both of them had squatted down to Zack’s height and were listening to his animated discussion on
Transformers
and lake creatures.

“I forgot to mention something earlier. I don’t think it’s a big deal or you’re that kind of person, but my guys mentioned just because I’m used to it doesn’t mean everyone will be.”

Tara was trying to follow what Jessica was saying as well and think up answers to every question that plagued her. “Jessica, what is it?”

“I’m Mated to both Jelani and Marcario.”

“Mated?”

“Married, committed, forever and ever, that sort of thing.”

“Oh, that’s it?” Tara couldn’t help but chuckle at the relief on Jessica’s face. “I don’t care about that. Both of them seem like very sweet men and I’d never want anyone to feel uncomfortable around me. I’m a single mom and that has gained me a certain reputation with certain narrow-minded people, too.”

“Oh, forget about them.” Jessica gave her a quick hug. “You’ve found yourself right where you need to be. Ecstasy is the most accepting place in the world.”

“That’s nice to hear, but we’re only here until I find out about the car and then I have to keep going. I have a job in Manitoba waiting for me.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that before.” Jessica waved her hand. “Sometimes you think you need to be in one place and you end up somewhere else you never imagined or were too scared to believe.” She smiled over at the two men in the doorway. “Maybe we’ll find you a couple of your own.”

“Oh, no.” Tara shook her head. “I wasn’t good enough for one. I’d go insane trying to make more than one happy. My life is me and my little man. I want to do what’s best for him.”

“That sounds pretty lonely.”

Tara shrugged and pushed those exact feelings down deep inside of her. “Nah, I’m happy with the two of us.”

* * * *

The Bennetts had a beautiful home in the middle of the forest. Tara hadn’t been certain where they’d been headed when they pulled down a long driveway, framed by trees on either side. The inside of the house was completely open concept and there was a large deck off the back of the house. All the ecologically friendly equipment incorporated into the home design fascinated Tara. Jessica told her that her brother-in-law Vencel Solfalvi had developed it and that had been the practice house for his ideas. Jessica and her husbands had bought it off him when they’d come back to Ecstasy Lake to stay. Her sister-in-law, Mai, lived a couple minutes up the road with her two husbands and their children. Once Tara got over the surprise of Jessica’s multiple husbands, she learned they weren’t the only ones. Even Carol, who worked at the clinic, had three.

Zack was running around the backyard kicking a soccer ball around with Marcario and Jelani. The brothers were obviously playing terribly and making it all the more dramatic for her son. Marcario dove for a slow-moving ball and missed it completely, rolling over and lying flat on the ground as the ball finally moved through the goal posts they’d set up. Zack hollered and cheered and jumped around after scoring on them again. “I’m doing good, Mom!” He gave her two thumbs up and then ran over and held out his hand to help Marcario up off the ground.

“He’s such a sweet boy, Tara.” Jessica passed her a glass of sangria. “You’re so lucky. I can’t wait to start a family, too.”

“It’s the hardest job there is, but I wouldn’t change my decisions for anything in the world.” Tara looked out over the quilt of colours painting the trees around them.

“His father?” Jessica asked softly.

“Uninterested in either of us five minutes after the deed was done.” Tara sipped at her wine and tried not to think of the soul-crushing moment when she realized she’d been so very wrong about someone. At the time she had been sure fate had brought them together. She’d managed to get out of the house and go to a beach party with some friends. He’d appeared out of nowhere and asked her to dance. She’d thought he was the most fascinating man she’d ever met. They had ended up in a corner away from everyone and had talked about anything and everything. He’d made her feel like the most desirable woman in the world, so when he started kissing her she’d figured this was meant to be. Her romantic heart had latched on to the idea of him being her soul mate and they were destined to be together. The sex was phenomenal. Even if she hadn’t had anything to compare it to, she knew it couldn’t get better. He obviously didn’t think so, because after she fell asleep in his arms he left. She woke up alone on a beach in the middle of the night, alone and devastated.

Her father had backhanded her the moment she walked in the door, accusing her of doing all sorts of terrible things. She denied it all of course, but three months later she realized one night really had changed the direction of her life.

“I’m sorry.” Jessica’s soft voice pulled her back to the present.

“Not your fault. I was the naive one, but I have my Zach so it was a fair trade. I can’t believe all the colours in the trees around here. You must be into photography or painting with all this inspiration available.” The setting sun created a wash of golden light in the sky, creating a beautiful backdrop for the explosion of colour in the trees.

Thankfully, Jessica took Tara’s gentle hint and changed the subject. There were things in her life too painful to talk about and she’d rather they stay in the past.

“Jelani’s the shutter addict out of the three of us. I swear the man never goes on a walk without at least one camera with him. Tomorrow, I’ll take you both for a drive and show you the best places to see the changing leaves. This is the most beautiful place on the earth. The time frame is so short, then all the leaves fall off and we get covered by snow again.”

“That sounds nice, but if my car’s okay, then I’ll probably end up on my way by then.” She rubbed the heel of her hand against the back of her neck. The ache that had started there earlier was nagging her again.

“Are you all right, Tara? Maybe Jelani should’ve sent you for X-rays.” Jessica looked like she was about to call her husband over, but Tara shook her head.

“No, I’m fine. It aches a bit, but it’s to be expected.” Tara was terrified the accident had caused more damaged than she originally thought. If that was the case how was she going to work and support her little guy?

“How about I call my friend, River? She’s going to school to be a massage therapist and is in her second year. She might be able to give you a bit of relief, or at least she’ll know some ideas of what will help.”

“No really, I’ll be okay, Jessica.”

“You’re used to doing everything on your own, aren’t you?”

Jessica’s comment was much too close to the truth for Tara’s liking. Tara had done everything on her own for as long as she could remember. First it was taking care of her parents and the dozens of things they did for their church and now it was her and Zack. “We all have to take care of ourselves, Jessica. No one’s going to do it for us.”

“Okay, I’m going to stop asking you then.” Jessica patted her arm and smiled at her.

“Thank you.” Tara mentally sighed. She didn’t want to owe anyone more than she already did. She needed to get back on her feet and headed in her original direction as soon as possible. She had a plan and there’d been all sorts of diversions already.

Jessica pulled a cell phone out of her pocket and made a call. “Hey, River! Got a second?”

“Jessica? What are you doing?”

“I said I wasn’t going to ask you anymore, so I’m going to find out the information. That way I’ll have it when you change your mind. We take care of each other in this town.” Jessica grinned at her and then focused on her conversation. “River, do you know what we can do for someone who might have strained their neck in an accident…yeah, her name’s Tara.”

Tara didn’t know what to say. She wanted to protest Jessica’s going out of her way, but the information would come in handy. She would have to figure out a way to repay their kindness.

The low rumble of a large motorcycle caught her attention and made her heart skip a beat. She took a quick swallow of her drink, hoping it would calm her a bit.
Don’t be such a ninny, it might not be him.
But she hoped it was. Lars had made her feel…safe and wonderful. She wasn’t about to jump into bed with him.
As much as I would love to.
She’d learned a lesson the hard way, but she couldn’t resist the intense draw she felt to him when he was near. Perhaps it was because he got her and Zack out of the car after the accident. She read something somewhere about rescuer worship or something.

It didn’t stop her hands from trembling or her heart from fluttering in anticipation of seeing him again. She heard someone walking down the path along the edge of the house, but the man who turned the corner wasn’t Lars.

“Hey, guys, looks like a great soccer game you have going on.”

“Hey, Cris! Want to give us a hand?” Jelani asked. “This little guy’s kicking our butts.”

Cris wasn’t looking at the men. He stood there staring at her. Tara felt as though her world had tilted on its axis and the entire universe stopped moving. His eyes were a dark brown almost like dark chocolate. A hunter-green bandana held his hair back from his face, but some refused to be contained and curled around the edges close to his face. He looked exactly the same as he had seven years before and her heart skipped a beat the same way it had the first time she’d seen him.

“You!” Her body ached to feel his hands on her skin and a deep heat radiated up from between her legs in memory. Thoughts she’d refused to remember over the years rushed into her head, the feel of his teeth on her skin, the brush of his rough cheek against her inner thigh. The way he’d growled “mine” into her ear as he pressed his cock into her.

A small, high-pitched laugh washed away all those heated thoughts. She glanced at Zack and then back at the man who could take him away from her. He could destroy her life and leave her more alone than she’d ever felt. She had to get out of here and fast.

Cris learned long ago there were things in life you couldn’t avoid. It was set in stone as decisions Fate made and you went along with them. He’d fucked with Fate once before and paid the price. He’d lost his Mate. The one person in the world meant for him, and he hadn’t realized what kind of treasure she was until it’d been too late.

When he rounded the corner of the Bennetts’ place he’d wanted to check on the woman who’d been in the accident earlier that day and let her know about her car. What he had never expected was Fate granting him a second chance. The setting sun made the tips of her hair glow like embers around her heart-shaped face. It had been longer six years ago. He remembered the satin curls that corkscrewed around his fingers. She was thinner than he remembered and she looked tired. The creature inside of him snarled. He should’ve killed the drunk for threatening the life of his Mate instead of calling the police.

“Tara!” He didn’t even remember moving when he gathered her up into his arms. Wonder and excitement rushed through him like a cyclone. His primitive side recognized her scent and howled in his head. It took all his restraint not to echo the sound to the sky. “I’ve been looking for you for years.”

Tara stared up at him with wide eyes and something akin to horror in her expression. The acrid scent of panic flooded his senses. He expected shock, but the fear confused him and his animal. She gripped his arms, but her body was rigid and he was willing to bet if he let her go she would’ve taken off running.
Why’s she afraid of me?

“Mom!”

“Holy shit.” Jelani looked back and forth between the little boy and Cris repeatedly. Cris didn’t have to ask what his problem was. He could see the resemblance. It was like looking at a picture of himself thirty years before.

“I think we better take this inside.” Marcario stepped between Cris and Tara to lead them in the house. Cris snarled at Marcario for trying to separate him from her.

Jessica wrapped an arm around Tara and led them into the house while Marcario and Jelani blocked the doorway. Marcario set his jaw and crossed his arms over his chest.