Surrounded [Running to Love 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Allyson Young

and often put people off with her no-nonsense attitude, but Jackie knew the real woman behind that outward persona. Ashley was capable of great emotion and had no trouble expressing it, albeit in private, and it took awhile. She also read people accurately and almost instantly, being insightful and sensitive. It probably came from growing up in a religious family where any deviation from the norm was seen as just that, deviant, so one tended to be very careful. Jackie’s family was pretty religious, too, but they loved their kids in a different way, not that she wanted to think about what her family would say about her being in a ménage, not yet.
    Ashley had the scars to prove her father’s intolerance, and she never spoke about her mother, that unprotective bitch. It was a miracle that Ash had risen above all of that and still had such a capacity for love and affection. Such a resilient woman. Jackie’s heart ached for Ashley and thought she had become a cop to protect herself, but primarily to help others, to protect the vulnerable. Ash wore her authority casually, just like ’Stair, and never abused it. Ash was watching her now, also probably reading her mind, and Jackie blessed the day she’d taken the job as dispatcher at the police station instead of becoming the teacher she had trained to be. Ashley had laid eyes on her, and it was the proverbial love at first sight.
    “I pulled a short shift to cover for somebody this afternoon, ’Stair, so I need to get going shortly. Can you entertain our girl?”
    Jackie shivered when his hold on her tightened. She marveled at Ashley’s trust in her and felt humbled by it. She also felt a tiny flicker of anxiety and tried to identify it, but it slipped away before she could get close.
    “I can definitely entertain her, Ash. I’ll save her ass though because you’ll want to be there for that.”
    Jackie’s pussy drenched. They were talking about her again as if she wasn’t there, and it made her freaking hot. Ashley knew it, too. She came to press a kiss on her lips and slipped her hand up Jackie’s thigh and between her legs, then slid two fingers up inside of her. Jackie gasped, and Ash pulled them out then licked her essence off, slowly and lasciviously, staring into Jackie’s eyes with intent.
    “I’ll look forward to it. I’ll just go get my clothes and clean up in the member room. See you at the house later?”
    Jackie nodded, even though the question wasn’t directed at her and felt Alistair nod over her head, his chin coming to rest on her hair. “We’ll come over as soon as I close for the night. Probably around midnight. There’s nothing booked that I remember, but a few folks will likely come in for drinks and to hang out. I’m going to have to hire someone to oversee things from time to time because I intend on showing off our little subbie. We’ll work it out.”
    Ash leaned in for another kiss, and Jackie tasted herself on her lips. She opened for her and closed her eyes tightly to better enjoy the moment. “Love you, sweetie. Later.”
    The door closed behind Ashley, and for a moment there was complete and utter silence except for the beating of her heart sounding in her temples. She had the absurd expectation that ’Stair would growl, “Alone at last, me pretty,” but of course he didn’t. It was ridiculous to think that he would wish Ashley gone, although there would probably be alone times with both of her lovers. They hadn’t talked about that. At least, they hadn’t included her in any such conversation! Part of her rebelled while another part trembled in anticipation of what they’d plan for her. There had also been something in Ash’s expression that troubled Jackie, pricked at her intuition.
    “Lose the shirt.”
    Okay, back to the present. She got off his lap and stood before him. She slowly worked at the buttons, fumbling with the reversed fastenings deliberately, easing each little round piece of plastic out of its