Free Day, Xondra - Menage on the Prairie (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Xondra Day Page B

went blank. She went to speak and nothing came out. There were no words to explain the shock that had overtaken her. She opened the front door and stepped out onto the front porch, the humid night air sweeping over her. She gripped the railing, feeling like she might be sick, her stomach churning, her heart racing. Did he really mean what he had just revealed to her?
    In less than a minute, her world came crashing down, and when she felt Joe’s hand come to rest upon her right shoulder, that’s when she lost it.
    “You two were together? Intimately?” Her voice broke saying the words, a look of confusion plastered across her face.
    “Kate, I never meant to entwine you into this.”
    “Well, what were you thinking when you placed that ad for a wife? If it hadn’t been me, it would have been some other poor, unsuspecting woman. And how is that fair, Joe? Do you think that’s fair to lead a woman into this hotbed of … immorality?” She winced at the last word, memories of her father and his thoughts regarding her own indiscretions came flooding back. She wasn’t in much of a position to judge, but darn it, she felt like a fool. A fool who had rushed into something that was beyond her realm of understanding.
    Anger coursed through her veins like fire. How dare he do this to her?
    “No, it wasn’t, and I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry for everything I’ve done, but I needed a wife.”
    “You needed a wife,” she scoffed at him, shaking her head. “Much like you need common sense I suppose, because that, Joe, you definitely lack.”
    “People.” He tossed both hands into the air. “They were talking, about me and Ryan. There were rumors and well, I figured having a female here might help alleviate the situation.”
    “A token wife? Well, that makes me feel so much better. At least I served a purpose other than cooking and cleaning.”
    “Kate.” He stepped forward toward her.
    “I’d advise you to keep your distance from me at this time.” Her gander was up and she did not, under any circumstance, husband or not, want this man near her any more than he already was.
    “So let me see if I have this right. You placed an ad, I responded and came here.”
    He nodded.
    “Were you thinking about anyone else besides yourself when you were hatching this plan?” Goodness gracious, the man was so self-centered.
    “I just thought it would be better for all of us involved.”
    “But that’s where you’re wrong. It may have been better for you, but what about me and, land sakes, what about Ryan? Where was he to stand in all of this? I now understand why he’s run off. You practically drove him away from here, his home.”
    “You’re right. Everything you say is right, and I hate myself for it.” Joe ran down the steps out into the darkness.
    She didn’t call after him. If he had been expecting her to, then he was plum out of luck.
    Kate wasn’t naive to the ways of the world. She knew that men like Joe and Ryan existed. Of course it was never talked about openly in polite society. She’d heard her father once or twice reference to a couple of men he felt were rather flighty. And once when she had asked her mother what it had meant she was told to stop asking silly questions and to mind her manners. In the end, she figured it out on her own.

    * * * *

    Winter’s tongue amazed Ryan. The man had talent, he’d give him that much credit. And to think such a mild-mannered, clean-cut man was practically a wildcat in bed. The irony amused him.
    Of one thing he was certain: Ryan wanted this man naked . N ow!
    “Let me see you,” he said, his right hand caressing Winter’s cheek.
    Winter withdrew Ryan’s cock from his mouth and grinned. “This sure is something. I could suck it all night long.”
    “You’ll get your chance, but right now I want you naked next to me. I have some exploration of my own I’d like to do.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Ryan looked on eagerly as Winter first shed his shirt. When he slipped