Shotgun Bride [Tasty Treats 12] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Read online

  Matt marched straight up to Parker and in a low but serious tone asked, “How much is the contracted bride price for Ella with the Stevensons?”

  “Six hundred thousand credits.”

  Colton resisted the urge to curse out loud when he heard the exorbitant number. Matt didn’t even bat an eye.

  Then Owen corrected him. “That was only if she was a virgin. We started at 500 thousand credits.”

  Ella’s father gave him a dirty look. Owen didn’t seem to care.

  Matt outlined his proposal. “The fact is she’d be dead if it weren’t for us, so I figure that buys us a huge discount on the bride price. We’ll give you a fourth of what they offered post virginity. That’s 125 thousand credits.”

  “No. I want more. I want 500 thousand credits at the very least. You did take her virginity.”

  Matt shook his head. “That’s not the deal we’re making this morning. And the truth is, the only marriage that takes place today is one where Colton and I marry Ella. The other wedding you had planned is postponed until she’s tested for pregnancy. And you have to wait to get any more money. How about a third? We’ll go to 165 thousand credits. Take it or leave it.”

  He glanced at the Stevenson brothers. They didn’t look angry. Colton thought they looked a little constipated, but otherwise they remained silent. They didn’t seem to want to fight for her. Perhaps the “virginity” stipulation was the most important part of their offer.

  Colton was glad to have taken that aspect away from them. Especially since Ella didn’t want them.

  “Half,” her father said with a certain edge of desperation. He already owed some portion back to the Stevensons for the “down payment” they’d given him. He should be arrested for reckless endangerment, but Colton would settle for taking Ella away from his influence forever.

  “Done.” Matt sounded victorious.

  Colton sagged a little bit internally. Half equaled 250 thousand credits and the lion’s share of everything they had saved up for this venture. He was suddenly grateful that Matt was as committed to this legacy property plan as he was now. Ella had made the difference. And even at ten times what they’d planned on paying, she was worth it.

  As Matt reached out to shake Parker’s hand, Colton pushed out a breath he hadn’t realized he held. Ella was theirs. Finally something went right today. He paused for two seconds to enjoy it before heading toward the bedroom to fetch Ella and tell her the good news.

  Unfortunately, Ella was no longer on the bed. Or in the bedroom. Or in the bathroom. The window in the bathroom was wide open. Colton could see the first few of her footsteps in the mud headed in a straight line toward the barn. He heard one of the barn doors squeal like it was wide open.

  Shit.

  From the other room, Colton heard one of the Stevenson boys whoop. The front door barrier was pulled away and clattered to the floor, the door opened before Colton even exited the bedroom.

  They all crowded onto the front porch as Colton’s horse galloped by headed for Drakestone land with Ella planted firmly on his unsaddled back. She’d put the bit in the horse’s mouth and had reins but hadn’t taken the time to saddle him.

  “Where does she think she’s going?” Colton asked Matt in a whisper. The other four men walked into the yard and away from them. Matt patted his jacket pocket and sighed. “She must have the remote for the fence on Alex and Rafe’s property.”

  “Should we stop her?” Colton whispered.

  Matt shrugged. “She’ll be safe there. Maybe it will buy us more time.”

  They both stood and watched her get away.

  Until Otis pulled a sonic pistol from his belt and sighted her in. Matt dove off the porch to stop him just as he pulled the trigger. But he was too late.

  Fifty yards away, Ella stiffened and screamed. She then dropped the reins and toppled from the horse’s bare back. Matt got up from the ground and ran toward her limp, lifeless body.

  Colton raced to where Otis stood smirking. “Got her,” he said under his breath, standing up from where Matt had tackled him to the muddy ground.

  “You prick. You could have broken her neck.” The sound of bone crunching as Colton’s fist connected with Otis’s nose gave Matt lots of satisfaction even as he worried about Ella’s tumble to the ground.

  Chapter Nine

  Ella shuddered and seized the moment the sonic blast hit her. Unable to stay on the horse without use of her frozen limbs, she promptly fell from the horse, sailed through the air, and landed flat on her back.

  She landed half in a puddle of water. One side of her face was now drenched with muddy wetness along with half of her body. If she could have started crying, she would have, but the blast from a sonic gun disrupted everything and immobilized those struck with it. She was truly lucky to still be breathing. And she was also grateful not to be facedown in the puddle.

  Before long, Matt rushed to her side. He pulled her from the water and picked her up in his arms.

  “Where were you running to? We made an offer to marry you. Your father agreed. You weren’t running from us were you?”

  Ella couldn’t respond, and she wasn’t surprised that they’d made an offer. The shocking news was that her father had accepted it. That meant something was wrong. Her eyes were half open. She could barely blink unless she forced her lids to cooperate. Luckily, that was the first unfrozen part of her face to cooperate, her eyelids.

  She kept her focus on Matt’s strong jaw, willing him to read her mind. She needed to warn him that her father couldn’t be trusted. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to speak. She probably wouldn’t be able to for an hour.

  Matt carried her back to the cabin. The moment he crossed the threshold, her father said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Colton leaned over her, kissed her cheek, and gave her a smile. “Sorry you didn’t get away. Now you have to marry us.”

  Ella blinked. She wasn’t opposed to marrying them, but having her father also agree to it was suspect and likely a trap, and she wished she could move to warn them. Damn it.

  “Can we at least wait until the bride can move again?” Matt asked with a surly tone. Ella loved that he stood up for her. She tried to smile, but her face wouldn’t cooperate.

  “Why? What difference does it make?” her father asked. Ella knew by the tone of his voice that he was definitely up to something. He wanted this too much. “We’ll just change the grooms’ names on the digital contract, make the financial transfers from your accounts instead of theirs via the tablet I have here for this transaction, and it’ll be done.”

  Ella lowered her eyelids slowly. She kept them closed for a moment. When she opened them again, Matt and Colton both looked at her with expectant joy. They wanted to marry her. They’d made an offer for her. She tried to smile again, but her cheeks were numb. The only thing moving on her body so far, were her eyelids.

  “Do you want to marry us?” Matt asked her. “Blink once for yes. Twice for no.”

  She blinked once, wishing she could speak and that they’d ask her more questions. For example, “Is your father untrustworthy? Has he just tricked us in some way? And will we be sorry we ever took you out of a flooded basement?” The answer was a single blink to all three. Probably. She hoped they wouldn’t come to regret saving her life but worried all the same.

  Matt squeezed her in his arms. “I’ll get the paperwork set up then. Let’s do it.” He then handed her off to Colton.

  “I’ll go clean her up and get her into some dry clothes. You handle all the financial arrangements,” Colton whispered to Matt before carrying her through the bedroom to the bathroom.

  He held her balanced carefully on one knee, put the stopper into the tub’s drain, and started running hot water. A tear escaped one eye. She hadn’t ever expected to fall in love with the men she knew she’d have to marry.

  “I know you’re probably sick and tired of getting wet again,” he said and kissed the clean side of her forehead.


  He looked into her eyes so she blinked twice. Colton smiled. He then started unbuttoning her shirt. With some careful maneuvering, where Ella couldn’t help him at all, he got her undressed and into the warm tub.

  “Soaking in warm water is supposed to help alleviate the effects of a sonic blast. Do you feel better?”

  She blinked once, but it wasn’t because of the water. In trying to smile at him again, Ella felt one corner of her mouth quirk upward.

  Colton wiped the muddy side her face with a warm, soapy washcloth. “Wow. A smile for me? Awesome. Maybe the warm water is working after all.”

  “I wonder what would happen if my hand accidentally slipped between your legs?” Colton asked with a slightly devious grin. Ella could feel absolutely every single thing he did to her, she just couldn’t respond with movement.

  Her eyes widened when he slipped his finger between her pussy lips and stroked her clit. Even though she couldn’t move, it felt amazing. “The other rumor I heard about getting a sonic blast to the body is that having an orgasm helps loosen up your muscles faster. Think that’s true?” She would have shrugged and given him a wide grin if she could move.

  “Want to try it?” He stroked her clit once more. A small moan sounded from her throat, surprising even her that she could make any noise.

  “I think that moan means yes.” He rubbed her clit and looked deeply into her eyes. “Want me to stop?”

  Ella blinked twice.

  “Excellent.” He continued stroking her as he watched her face. The sublime grin never faded. He stopped rubbing only long enough to insert two fingers into her pussy. He then continued to stroke her with his thumb while moving his fingers in and out of her tight core. The warm water cascaded inside her pussy with each thrust of his fingers, adding a different layer of enjoyment.

  “You sure are tight,” he murmured. Her eyes had drifted shut to enjoy his fingers but now opened slowly. She grinned lightly. Her face was unfreezing. She still couldn’t speak, but another moan sounded as he sped the strokes to her clit.

  “I love the sounds you make.” With his free hand, Colton then reached out to pinch one nipple. A streak of lust went straight from nipple to clit. Her nerves certainly weren’t frozen. Not at all. Ripples of pleasure coursed all through her body as he stroked and pinched and rubbed and squeezed. Ella teetered on the edge of a massive orgasm. She wanted it. She was so close.

  Colton lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her, his tongue licking between her lips touching the tip of hers. She licked him back with the barest of movements. He grunted in her mouth. Then the stimulation from his fingers registered in conjunction with his kiss. Suddenly Ella released, sailing hard and fast over the edge of oblivion.

  Another moan, longer and louder emerged from her throat as wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure raced outward from her core to her limbs. Every nerve ending was on fire with blissful release.

  Colton stopped stroking her sensitive clit and shoved his fingers deeply into her pussy as if to enjoy the first serious muscle movement in her body. Her pussy walls squeezed his fingers after the most incredible climax she’d experienced thus far.

  Before long, her muscles slowly loosened and started working again. Voice was always the last to return, but at least she could finish cleaning up and giving herself a bath.

  She shooed Colton out of the bathroom after he brought her a change of clothing from the bedroom.

  Falling from the galloping horse hadn’t broken any bones. However, her backside sported a small bruise. Perhaps she’d landed on a rock.

  As all her muscles returned to full function, Ella suddenly felt a twinge in her lower belly. A sigh escaped her lips. “No. No. No. Not now,” she said to herself.

  Frowning, she checked in a panic, realizing with sudden and heartfelt sadness that even Matt and Colton’s concerted efforts had failed. Or perhaps the sonic blast and fall from the horse had hurt her worse than she’d initially thought.

  Regardless, Ella knew for certain that she was not currently pregnant.

  * * * *

  Matt used the electronic tablet Parker supplied to access his and Colton’s various financial interests. He combined several accounts into one that he used to pay the large bride price Ella’s father demanded. He was feeling rather excited about the prospect of getting married today.

  Ella made the difference. He’d fallen in love with her, sap that he was, and didn’t mind paying the higher price to acquire a bride he truly wanted with all his heart.

  He also used the tablet to privately access his computer at work to do several other lawyerly things, setting in motion other thoughts he had regarding his and Colton’s future. Even Parker and the Stevensons shifting around like ants were crawling up their pants didn’t make Matt go any faster. He took his sweet time initiating a number of queries on his, Colton’s, and Ella’s behalf.

  One of the many things he did was contact the bank holding Colton’s trust fund. He wanted to let them know about the pending nuptials and also he forwarded them a copy of Ella’s bride certificate to ensure they knew about the very favorable conception percentage.

  That would help with the loan paperwork when they petitioned for funds to get the ranch going. Which he also initiated. They had an automated response message for approval. With her certificate being well above seventy percent he expected an immediate authorization. They’d probably deposit the “loan” funds before they’d finalized the wedding. Matt was feeling hopeful for the first time since waking up to a shotgun in his face.

  After more than half an hour, Matt finally put the tablet on the kitchen table to finalize the transaction. He ignored the pain low in his gut signaling his utter distaste for the way men and women went about getting married in this day and age.

  A few seconds later, Colton emerged from the bedroom. “She can’t talk yet but can mostly move around. She’s getting dressed, slowly.”

  Matt nodded. Another brief streak of angry pain filled his midsection at the memory of Ella falling from the horse and being unable to stop Otis from shooting her. He thought of several lawyerly things he could do to respond to that vile act, especially if she’d been hurt as a result. But a quick med-scan had revealed she had no broken bones or internal bleeding, so no obvious suit could be filed. Too bad the device wasn’t sensitive enough to determine pregnancy at this early date. But Matt was ever hopeful it was only a matter of time.

  Ella’s father hovered and danced around the kitchen table. “Let’s put our marks on this here contract and crack open the keg.”

  He put his thumbprint on the appropriate place, and the tablet emitted a beep of acceptance. He then used the attached stylus to sign his name with a flourish. Parker held out the stylus to Matt. The eager expression on Parker’s face made Matt almost wary, but he figured the man just wanted his money. Ella’s father seemingly held little interest in his daughter’s safety and well-being. The man acted eager to sign her away from his care.

  Matt put his thumb on the square next to the signature block. Once it beeped acceptance, he signed his name and held out the stylus to Colton.

  His brother didn’t waste any time. Seconds later, with another beep sounding Colton’s thumbprint acceptance and signature, the document was finalized. With Ella’s official signature already included with the initial contract, Colton’s third signature made her legally their bride, even though she wasn’t yet in the room.

  Ella’s father said, “Let’s tap this here keg and drink up!”

  “Not yet.” The preacher spoke up in a loud voice for the first time since he’d arrived. He held his hands up over his head to get everyone’s attention and in an overloud voice said, “Wait a minute now, we can’t celebrate just yet. We still have the wedding to do. I have a quick service designed as originally requested. Bring out the bride to be, and we’ll officiate the marriage ceremony.”

  Ella’s father looked disappointed. He licked his lips and stared at the keg in the corner of the kitchen near the sink,
like a kid eyeing gift-wrapped packages under the tree on Christmas Eve.

  Colton took a step in the direction of the bedroom, but the door opened suddenly. Framed in the doorway, Ella leaned to one side, clutching the doorknob with one hand and a small bunch of fresh flowers at her side in the other. Matt recognized the blooms from the bedroom dresser’s vase. She wore a simple, satiny, light blue dress. One he’d seen in the wardrobe earlier. She looked beautiful, and even more so when he noticed her bare toes peeking out beneath the long skirt. She looked much like a fairy princess ready to frolic and dance in the nearest meadow with the gentle forest animals.

  She took several careful steps into the main part of the cabin. Her blonde hair was tucked behind her ears but left loose and flowing down her back. She was their beautiful barefoot bride.

  “Did someone call for a bride?” she asked quietly, looking up into Colton’s face first before turning her gaze to Matt.

  He grinned and walked over to her, too.

  “I see you found something better to wear than the jeans and shirt I selected. Good for you. You’re beautiful. Ready to get married?”

  “Have you already signed the contract?” she asked in a very low tone.

  Matt and Colton both nodded at the same time.

  “The wedding ceremony is just a formality then,” she added and put her gaze on the floor between the three of them. “We’re already joined together in matrimony.” Her tone of voice was so sad, Matt wondered what was going on.

  Colton took her free hand. “Don’t you want to be married to us, Ella?”

  “It’s not that.” Her head lifted. She sniffed and Matt saw a single tear trail down one cheek.

  “What is it then?” Matt asked. He slipped an arm around her waist. He hadn’t said the official words yet that he would love her in sickness and in health for richer or poorer and hoped like hell she didn’t know how low their current financial accounts were to illustrate the “poorer” part of the vow.

  Her eyes squeezed shut. Her face pointed to the floor again. “I’m not carrying your child,” she whispered in a voice so low Matt barely understood her words.