Free Shades of Ménage : A Dystopian Romance Ménage & Post Catastrophic Romance Ménage Boxed Set Series - Ultimate Four-Book Collection by Jan Springer Page B

stomach plummeted.
    “ The rings? I need the rings to make this official,” the preacher replied quickly.
    Oh, thank you, God. No rings. No marriage.
    “ I have them right here,” came Luke’s quick reply.
    To her horror, he slid the gun barrel inside the collar of his T-shirt and pulled out a chain necklace. Dog tags tinkled and behind them were two glittering gold rings.
    Their wedding rings!
    He still had them. Even after all this time.
    The preacher hurried over to him and helped remove the chain necklace and subsequently the rings. A quick blessing over them and both Luke and the preacher were waving at her to come closer.
    Callie swallowed hard.
    This is not happening !
    The idea of escaping rushed through her mind. She doubted Luke would shoot her. Doubted if the preacher could catch her.
    It was as if Luke knew exactly what she thought for he pointed the gun at the preacher who whimpered his distress.
    “ Please, Callie. I don’t want to die. I have to christen a baby tomorrow. Please, don’t let Mr. Outlaw shoot me. And I still have to visit with the Barlows and their new wife the day after. They always offer such tasty food.”
    Luke stiffened at the mention of the Barlow brothers and she wondered what pitiful soul those evil boys had captured for their wife.
    “ Get over here, Callie,” Luke commanded. Red-hot anger flashed bright in his eyes.
    In the time she’d known him before everything had fallen apart, she’d rarely seen him angry. His calmness had been one of the many things that had attracted her to him. But the anger contorting his face frightened her. Something was seriously wrong and unwanted compassion overwhelmed her.
    She did as he said. On rather wobbly legs, she walked over to the bed.
    “ Sit beside me.”
    She sat down, the mattress sagging beneath her. Even though the guns he held in his hands made her uneasy, she enjoyed the waves of sexual heat cascading through her at being near him.
    “ Please,” the preacher said quickly. “Hold out your hand, Mr. Outlaw. Callie, please place the ring on his finger.”
    Callie’s eyes drew to the magnificent muscles that strained against Luke’s shirtsleeves as he deposited one of the guns on the other side of him and lifted his free hand, wiggling his fingers in anticipation.
    She took the larger ring from the preacher, trying hard to ignore the pleading look in his eyes for her to go along with this farce of a marriage.
    This is crazy !
    Yet Luke’s nearness intoxicated her and she couldn’t resist sliding the gold ring onto his finger.
    “ And now you, Mr. Outlaw.”
    Luke’s face broke into a big smile allowing those cute little laughter lines around his mouth to blossom.
    Something erotic and exciting sizzled to life deep inside her and she held out her left hand.
    Without hesitation, he slid the ring onto her finger.
    Oh, dear. A perfect fit.
    The instant the ring slipped onto her finger, she saw the tension leave Luke’s face.
    “ With this ring, I thee wed,” Luke slurred as he thankfully placed the remaining gun onto the bed.
    The flash of lust in his eyes made Callie shiver with a pleasure she’d thought long dead.
    The preacher broke in, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
    Silence split the air.
    Callie held her breath awaiting Luke’s next move. An odd tingle swept through her at actually being married to him. It had happened so fast, her head was spinning.
    Her breath caught in her lungs as he moved closer. She smelled the whiskey on his breath. It was the first time in her life that she actually thought of whiskey-scented breath as smelling nice. She had to be crazy thinking these thoughts, especially with her mother having been a violent alcoholic.
    His full lips parted.
    She whimpered with pleasure the instant his hot seductive mouth claimed hers.
    His lips were moist and rough with an erotic desperation. His hands came up to cup both sides of her head, his long fingers spearing through