“Not all fantasies appear sexual, at least not on the surface,” Joseph said as a distinctly aroused whimper filled the air. “I’m told by my chef friend there that cooked the correct way, pasta is extremely silky and a sensual feast as well as a culinary one. I trust his opinion and his ability to know his own mind.”
Violet looked back and smiled, thinking it appropriate that a chef would appreciate the sensuality of the food he evidently loved preparing if he was willing to cavort with a companion in a vat of it.
He led the way to one end of the deck and guided her to a short set of stairs. “Bunches of white flowers, like the ones in your hair, will mark your path. Off you go, little nymph.”
“What do I—”
Joseph remained straight-faced as he nodded again at the path, his arms crossed over his broad chest. “You’ll know what to do when the time is right.”
The stairs led down to a stretch of soft Bermuda grass that narrowed into a rock-lined path leading to the woods beyond the mansion. The canvas pack bobbed on her shoulders. When she looked back, Joseph was no longer in sight.
Chapter Eight
Lucas frowned when he heard a scream and the sound of pounding feet on the turf. He and Josh looked at each other as they stood ready at the brushy, camouflaging curve in the path. She wouldn’t know they were there until she was right on top of them.
“Sure hope she’s not pissed,” Josh whispered as she drew near, four men hot on her bare heels.
“At least not at us,” Lucas said, swallowing his laughter as he peeked out and got a look at her pretty face, flushed with exertion and eyes wild with fear.
They braced themselves, and he and Josh stepped on the path as the rising Doppler effect of her shriek signaled her close proximity. In her agitated state, she didn’t recognize them, and her eyes rounded and her shriek transformed into a yelp as they caught her in their arms. She fought like a fish, and they nearly dropped her before she flung her hair from her face, gaped up at them, and then windmilled her legs trying to get footing as her pursuers caught up with them.
The four other men, all dressed in plaid and stocking caps for their brief part in the scene, grinned as they spotted them with their blonde nymph captured securely.
The lumberjack in the front elbowed the others, maintaining his character, and bellowed, “She’s ours. We spotted her first.” He firmed his bearded jaw, his eyes glittering challenge that Lucas nearly took for the real thing.
Had the man enjoyed the chase?
Maybe they should’ve been the ones to pursue her. They’d wanted her on edge, and Joseph had suggested strangers chasing her would accomplish that goal. The lumberjack shot him a wink and then flexed his forearms and fisted his hands, appearing ready to fight over her.
Violet’s gaze ping-ponged between them, and Lucas could practically hear the wheels turning in her head as she caught up to the game. A breath huffed from her as Josh bracketed her waist with his forearm, keeping her off her feet.
“Sorry, mates, but we snared this little nymph. She’s been teasing us for weeks, and we mean to exact punishment for her many misdeeds.”
Lucas muffled a snort when Violet gasped, turned her fierce gaze on his brother, and then fought harder to free herself, pumping her legs as if she already had traction on the soft Bermuda beneath her feet. He hadn’t wanted her to injure her feet, but Joseph had been right to keep her barefoot, as it meant she had to stay on the path leading to them, rather than veering into the prickly brush.
“No. She’s tormented us for weeks, and we mean to have her. She wanted us to catch her!” the other lumberjack insisted, reaching out to grab her.
Violet clutched at Josh’s forearm and shook her head. “I did not! I want you to go away! You’re chopping down my trees. This is my forest, and you must leave, you—you big oaf!”
Josh seemed impressed she’d managed all that before fighting him some more. He looked at the group of men in challenge and said, “We’ll fight you for her. Whoever is left standing gets to sample her charms.”
“My charms! Oh no you won’t! Release me, you—you barbarian, you monsters!” She bit her lip, obviously struggling for appropriate names to call them. She was a fast study.
Lucas nodded and then chuckled salaciously. “And the rest of you can watch as we fuck her, after we best you.”
Violet halted for a split second, obviously taking that little bit of information in, gold locks hanging around her shoulders in disarray, panting and flushed with exertion. He also noted the way she bit her lip and her hips rotated as if trying to appease arousal.
Josh lowered her feet to the grass to get a better hold on her. She struggled and broke free. “Catch her!”