Their Independent Bride [The Men of Space Station One #6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Marla Monroe

a temperature.”
    “No, I’m okay. I heard something, though, at the front door, and it startled me, I guess.”
    “What did you hear?” Steven asked.
    “It sounded like a scratching noise. I wasn’t sure at first, but then when I listened, I heard it fairly well.”
    Steven and Greg walked over to the front door and opened it. They were gone for several long seconds. Then they returned, closing the door behind them. Their faces were grim when they were once again in her line of vision.
    “What? What did you find?”
    “There are small scratch marks about two feet up on the door and there are a couple of prints in the yard. The grass obscured most of them. I would say it’s about the size of a small dog.” Greg settled his hands on his hips. “I don’t like this. We don’t know if it will attack or if it’s just curious.”
    “Either way, I don’t want to leave Janet here alone during the day.” Steven looked down at her.
    “I’ll be okay. I know how to act around animals. You don’t move and you don’t under any circumstances run. If I have to, I ease toward the house and walk inside as fast as I can once I’m there.”
    “Regardless, I don’t like it.” Greg shook his head. “We’ll talk to the others when they come tonight and see if they’ve seen anything around that looked like that.”
    “Did you see anything around the garden or the shed with your supplies?”
    “No, love. We didn’t notice any tracks or movement around the supplies. Whatever it is, it concentrated on the house. I suppose it knows that we are here.” Steven rested his hand on the back of the couch.
    They spent the rest of the morning going over various plans and ideas on what to do about the creature and leaving Janet during the day taking care of the garden. She made sure they had their conversation where she could participate. They grudgingly remained in the living room so she could hear. It was obvious they were bending to compromise, though. Still, once it was all over, they were no closer to a decision on what to do than when they had started.
    “I have to take care of the garden, or we don’t eat. You’ve got to work on the house because it is your job and why you were selected.”
    “There has to be something we can do to keep you safe. We’ll talk it over with the others,” Greg said.
    Lunch was a silent affair for the most part. Each of them was lost in their thoughts. She was sure they were concentrating on what they could do to keep her safe. She was thinking about sex. She’d never thought so much about it before Greg and Steven. It just went to show that she hadn’t been with the right men in the past. Considering that she called all the shots said what type of men she had gone after—wimps.
    Now she was attracted to two dominant males who rocked her world when it came to fucking. They were gods as far as she was concerned. If she could just get past their expectations that she would obey them unequivocally. So far, they had bent to a certain degree to meet her halfway. She would hold up her side of the bargain, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t argue her point.
    “What are you contemplating over there?” Greg looked a bit wary.
    “Trying to come up with a workable solution and falling short.” She sighed.
    “You don’t need to worry so much about it. Let us do the worrying, baby.”
    “If I let you do all the worrying, you’ll end up with an ulcer and I’ll end up in a padded room surrounded with pillows and silk like some harem girl.”
    “Hmmm, I like that image.” Steven smiled.
    She rolled her eyes and stared hard at her foot still propped up on the pillow at the foot of the couch. It still looked an appalling shade of purple around her ankle, but it hadn’t spread to her foot. With the swelling down, she should be able to get on a pair of her looser shoes. Maybe even a sandal.
    “I think we could all use a nap.” Greg started to pick her up.
    “Wait. Can we try and take it