Page 57 of Tethered

Austin gets out of the car, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and what looks like a bottle of Scotch. “Wasn’t sure what to bring.”

“You didn’t have to bring anything.”

He walks over to me and kisses my cheek. “I wanted to. Especially as I invited myself.” Shepard grunts at that, drawing Austin’s attention. “Sheriff. How’s the prisoner?”

“Back home for now.”

“The justice system works in mysterious ways.”

“Not sure you’re the right man to comment on it.”

“On the contrary. In my line of work, people know if they fuck up, there are consequences. Porter threatened violence against Calliope today, and he’s already back home with his feet up. Does he have to attack her for the charges to stick? One of thosecall me back if he kills youbecause I can definitely arrest him thenkind of things?”

“Funny. I don’t write the laws, I enforce them.”

“And I just pick up the pieces of the people who got fucked over by the system that chewed them up and spat them out.”

“Hey guys, if you want to have a whose dick is bigger competition, you go right ahead. I’m going to head inside and eat with Riggs, who, in case you were wondering, has the biggest.” I huff and stomp away. Okay, it was more like a flounce, but good god, what is it with men?

I walk into the kitchen and head straight for Riggs. He wipes his hands before opening his arms up to me.

“What’s up?”

“Men.”

“Ah, I take it Shepard and Austin are bonding.”

“You would be correct.”

“And they’ve managed to annoy you before they’ve even gotten through the door?”

“You would be correct again.”

“Damn, these guys make me look good.”

I elbow him with a huff, making him laugh.

“You’re gonna have to let them work it out. They’re never gonna have the easiest of relationships. If it weren’t for you, they’d likely stay far apart. That should say a lot about how they feel about you.”

“Ugh, can’t you just let me pout for a minute?”

“Nope, because this bottom lip sticks out and then all I can think about is my cock gliding over it before it hits the back of your throat.”

“Don’t mind us,” Shepard says from behind me, making me jump. Riggs drags his thumb across my lip, not fazed at all.

“Oh, I don’t mind,” Riggs mumbles, not taking his eye off me.

I bite my lip, feeling my cheeks heat. I take a step back, not wanting to get caught in his snare. The man makes me lose my mind, and I don’t think serving me up on the table is an option. Though when I turn and face Austin and Shepard, I’m not so sure. The testosterone in this room is thick enough for me to eat with a spoon, and if I’d bothered to put panties on, I’m sure they’d be soaked by now.

I cough to clear my throat. “Shall we eat?”

“I’m fucking starving,” Austin says, but the way he’s looking at me makes me think he’s not talking about food.

“Lasagna will be ready in about forty-five minutes. I say we open those bottles Austin is carrying and sit out on the deck out back.”

“Okay,” I nod, wiping my sweaty palms on my dress, hating that I feel flustered all of a sudden. Having them all this close and me their sole focus is enough to fry anyone’s brain. “That’s good. That’s great. I’m gonna meet you out there. I need to go to the place and do the thing.” I point, much to Riggs’s amusement.

“Is that right?”