Table Of ContentColters’ Woman
© 2006 Maya Banks
Holly Bardwell is running from her past mistakes…straight into the arms of the
Colter Brothers.
Adam, Ethan and Ryan aren’t looking for women. They’re looking for a woman.
One woman to share their lives and their beds. They don’t want a casual romp in the hay,
they want the woman who will complete them--and they’re losing hope of find her.
That is until Adam finds Holly lying in the snow just yards from their cabin. He
knows she’s different the minute he holds her in his arms. But before Adam gets his
hopes up, he knows he has to gauge his brothers’ reactions. Soon it’s evident that she’s
the one.
There are a few problems, however--convincing her she belongs with them and
keeping her safe from the man who wants her dead.
Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, ménage a
quatre, violence
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products
of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as
real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is
entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
2932 Ross Clark Circle, #384
Dothan, AL 36301
Colters’ Woman
Copyright © 2006 by Maya Banks
Cover by Anne Cain
ISBN: 1-59998-145-9
www.samhainpublishing.com
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied
in critical articles and reviews.
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: October 2006
Colters’ Woman
Maya Banks
Dedication
To Amy—for not thinking I’d completely lost my marbles. Well, you probably think,
but at least you didn’t SAY ;)
To TJ—for being thrilled for me even when I took my sweet time in being thrilled
for myself.
To Jess—for loving this book as much as I do and for being patient with all my
quirks.
Chapter One
Adam Colter drew his coat tighter around him and tugged his Stetson lower as he
stepped out into the snow. He started down the winding driveway to collect the mail, his
face numb from the biting wind.
Winter had set in, and already he was restless. The lodge was quiet, housing just him
and his two brothers until next hunting season when clients filled the bunkhouses. For ten
years, he had lived for the fall when he could guide hunters into the mountains. But now
he felt edgy. Unsatisfied.
He yanked open the mailbox and reached inside for the pile of envelopes. He turned
back to the house, thumbing through the junk mail when a flash of color caught his eyes.
He blinked, bringing the object into focus. There, huddled in the ditch, half covered with
snow, was a person.
Dropping the mail, he rushed over to the still form and knelt in the snow. Afraid of
what he would find, he grasped a small shoulder and flipped the person over. To his
shock, it was a woman. A beautiful woman.
He felt for a pulse, holding his breath until he felt the faint tremor in her neck. He
brushed snow from her face and smoothed her blonde hair from her forehead. How had
she gotten here?
Swinging her slight form into his arms, he stood up and strode rapidly back up the
drive. He stared worriedly into her pale face and felt his groin tighten. A sharp tingle
snaked up his spine, and he was besieged by unfamiliar emotions. Anger, possessiveness,
concern, and pure unadulterated lust.
His cock swelled in his jeans, and his grip around her tightened. He was assailed by
the nagging thought that she could be the one. He’d never reacted this strongly to a
woman, and certainly not to one he knew nothing about, but he also knew no matter his
reaction, his brothers might not be in agreement.
At any rate, he couldn’t leave her to freeze to death. He couldn’t concern himself
with what his brothers thought until he made sure she didn’t die on him.
As he shouldered his way inside, Ethan looked up from the couch where he was
reading. He dropped the book when he saw the woman in Adam’s arms.
“What the hell’s going on?” he demanded, standing up.
“I found her out in the ditch,” Adam murmured, examining his brother closely for his
reaction.
Ethan closed the distance between them and gazed down at the fragile looking
woman. “Is she alive?”
“What’s going on?” Ryan asked as he entered the living room. His expression was
guarded, a look that had become second nature since his discharge from the military. For
the first time in a long while, Adam felt a surge of hope. He’d give anything to be able to
draw Ryan out from the private hell he endured. If she was the one…
Adam turned his attention back to the woman in his arms. “I need to get her warmed
up. Go draw a hot bath while I get her out of her wet clothes,” he directed Ryan.
Ethan raised a brow. “You going to strip her in here?”
Adam shrugged. “I doubt modesty is an issue when you’re this close to freezing to
death.”
Ethan’s eyes darkened, and he moved closer to the woman. He studied her then
reached out his hand to touch her cheek. “She’s beautiful,” he said huskily.
When he looked back up at Adam, his eyes shone with a multitude of emotions.
Desire, tenderness and possessiveness. Adam felt a surge of triumph. Ethan felt it too.
“Am I missing something here?” Ryan asked as he returned to the living room.
“Is the water drawn?” Adam asked.
Ryan nodded and Adam strode past him. “Ethan will explain,” he said briskly.
Adam walked into his bedroom and gently laid her on his bed. She didn’t even have
a coat on. He frowned as he began to peel her wet sweater off. She was soaked through.
As he pulled the sweater over her head, he sucked in his breath. The skimpy bra she
wore didn’t do much to cover her breasts. The second thing he noticed was a large bruise
that marred her porcelain skin. It covered an area the size of his hand. And he had large
hands.
Had she been in some kind of accident? Is that why she was lying in the ditch?
He set to work pulling the damp jeans from her legs. As he rolled the material down
her legs, his eyes were drawn to the dark curls clearly outlined against her underwear. So,
she wasn’t a natural blonde.
Suffering only a tiny moment of guilt, he peeled the scrap of silk down her legs, then
unhooked her bra, leaving her completely naked beneath his gaze. He didn’t think it
possible that he could get any harder.
Every nerve ending in his body was on full alert. All it would take was one touch and
he’d explode.
He cursed vehemently and worked to keep his raging hormones in balance. She was
unconscious and injured, and all he could think about was plunging his cock so deep
within her that he’d become a permanent part of her.
With shaking hands, he examined her limbs for any sign of a break. Her skin was
cold, but she showed no sign of frostbite. The bath shouldn’t do her any harm.
With great care, he picked her naked body up and walked out of the bedroom and
into the huge bathroom he shared with his brothers. It was the size of a bedroom, with
two showers and a huge Jacuzzi tub. The counter that lined one side of the wall had four
sinks. A testament to their knowledge that one day one woman would share their lives.
The tub was full, and he leaned over to ease her into the warm water. She let out a
small moan but didn’t open her eyes. He held her so she wouldn’t slip down further.
He turned when he heard the door open. Ryan stood there, his eyes hooded.
“Ethan says she’s the one.”
Adam nodded, not knowing what else to say. He knew Ryan would have to make up
his own mind.
Ryan’s gaze swept over the woman but he didn’t move forward. “I’ll wait until
you’re through. I wouldn’t want her to awaken with both of us here. It might scare her.”
“I won’t be long,” Adam said, trying to interpret the shadows in Ryan’s eyes. “Do
me a favor and put her clothes in the dryer.”
Ryan shrugged and backed from the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind him.
Adam returned his attention to his charge just in time to see her eyes flutter open.
Soft brown eyes stared at him in shock and confusion. Then fear.
* * *
The first thing Holly became aware of was delicious warmth. After being cold for so
long, she was certain she’d died and gone to heaven. Or maybe it was hell judging by the
temperature.
Then she opened her eyes and quickly decided it had to be heaven because the devil
couldn’t possibly look as good as the man bending over her.
After staring at him for a moment, she realized she was naked. In a tub. With a
gorgeous stranger looking at her, completely unabashed by her nudity. Maybe instead of
drooling she ought to be afraid.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” the man said in a soothing tone as he backed a few
inches away from the tub. “I found you in the snow.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and drew up her knees, trying to cover as much
of her body as possible. “Where am I?” she asked, hating how shaky her voice sounded.
“Three Brothers Hunting Lodge,” he replied. “Are you hurting anywhere?”
She clutched her chest tighter and shook her head. “Where are my clothes?”
“In the dryer. I’ll give you a shirt to put on until they finish.”
Despite the warmth of the water, chill bumps raced over her body, her nipples
tightening against her arms. The man was positively sinful. His dark hair was cut short,
and he had shoulders that would barely fit through a doorway. He was built bigger than a
linebacker.
He stood, giving her a good look at his long legs encased in tight jeans. She nearly
groaned aloud when she saw scuffed cowboy boots sticking out from under his pant legs.
She’d always been a sucker for a man in cowboy boots.
She gasped as he bent over and plucked her from the water. Before she could protest,
he wrapped a huge towel around her and strode from the bathroom. She stifled her
reprimand as he deposited her on a king-size bed. She gathered the ends of the towel and
held them tightly around her.
He turned his back to her momentarily and disappeared into the closet. Seconds later,
he returned with a flannel shirt and a pair of sweats.
“They’re much too big for you, but they’ll do until your clothes are dry.”
He held them out to her, his gaze caressing her face. She should be afraid. She was in
a strange man’s house. Naked as the day she was born. And yet she didn’t feel threatened
by him.
She almost laughed at the absurdity. Most men terrified her. And with good reason.
So why wasn’t she screaming the house down? Why was she laying there staring at him
like she’d love nothing more than to strip him down to those cowboy boots? She should
be making a mad dash out the door.
Instead, she curled her fingers around the shirt he offered, flushing madly when his
hand touched hers briefly. Fire lit his eyes and burned a trail down her flesh as his gaze
raked up and down her body.
“I’ll leave you to dress,” he said. “When you’re done, come on out to the living room
and warm up by the fire.”
“T-thank you,” she stammered.
As soon as he left the room, she scrambled up, shedding the towel and yanking on
the shirt. It hung to her knees, the sleeves dwarfing her arms. She rolled up each one so
her hands were free.
She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled on the sweats. When she stood, they fell to
her ankles. Hiking them back up, she pulled at the drawstring, trying to make the
monstrous pants stay up. They promptly fell back down, and she growled in irritation.
Well, he’d seen her in a lot less. At least the shirt covered most of her. Hopefully her
clothing would be dry soon.
She snuck a glance in the mirror over the dresser and winced at her appearance. Her
hair was a mess, and the dye job was awful. It certainly hadn’t achieved the desired effect
of altering her appearance.
Straightening her shirt, she pulled it as far down her legs as she could and hesitantly
walked out of the bedroom door. She moved down the hallway, looking left and right. At
the end, she stopped and stared in embarrassment into the living room.
Three men, not just one, stared at back at her. Three gorgeous, hulking men. And
here she stood in nothing more than a shirt. She started to retreat, but the man who had
bathed her crossed the room and caught her elbow.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m Adam, by the way.” He led her further into the living room
despite her reluctance. “These two are my brothers, Ryan and Ethan.”
She eyed them nervously and hung back, hoping Adam’s body would shield her
from view. “You didn’t say anything about brothers.”
“I told you the name of the ranch,” he said in amusement.
He reached behind him and squeezed her hand in his. “Don’t worry, baby. No one’s
going to hurt you.”
She shivered. Not from fear, but from the sex appeal in his voice. How could a
complete stranger make her feel so safe? She licked her lips. “I’m Holly,” she said in just
above a whisper.
One of the two brothers rose from the couch and walked over to her, reaching behind
Adam and gently pulling her forward. “Come over by the fire and get warm.” His husky
voice filtered over her like fine chocolate.
Oh Lord, she must be dreaming. “Which one are you?” she asked, hesitating for a
moment.
“I’m Ethan.” He smiled broadly at her. He tugged slightly on her hand, and she
allowed him to lead her closer to the fire.
Ethan was as large as Adam. The only difference between them was their eyes. Both
had dark hair. Almost black. But Adam had green eyes and Ethan’s were a warm brown,
while Ryan sported dark blue eyes.
Ryan was slightly smaller in build than his
brothers and his hair was a lighter brown, but where his brothers’ hair was short, Ryan’s
hung below his ears, just brushing the tops of his shoulders. He had a wild, haunted look,
the kind of man a woman instinctively wanted to try to tame. He looked to be the
youngest, but Holly wasn’t certain. They were all pretty close in age, though Adam had
to be the oldest.
Ethan coaxed her into an armchair next to the fire, and she drew her legs underneath
her. She stretched her hands to the fire, letting the warmth seep into her body.
She was nervous as a cat in a dog kennel. All of them were staring at her. She could
feel them. Had they all seen her naked? Was that why they were looking at her with such
intensity?
Adam walked over to stand by the fire. “What happened to you, Holly? Why were
you lying in the ditch? You weren’t even dressed for the weather.”
She tensed, unsure of how to answer. Her mind raced to come up with a plausible
excuse. “My car broke down further down the mountain. I got out to find help. I must
have fallen. I don’t really remember.”
Most of it was the truth. Actually, all of it was, but she wasn’t going to go into any
more detail than she had to.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Ryan spoke up for the first time. He looked closely
at her as if trying to peel her secrets right out of her head. He was quieter than the other
two and more serious looking by far.
“I’m fine. Really.” She looked up at Adam. “Will my clothes be dry soon? I should
be going.”
Ryan surged to his feet. Ethan tensed, and Adam’s expression darkened.
“I don’t think you should be going anywhere in this weather,” Adam said firmly.
Ethan nodded. “There’s no reason you can’t stay here until you’re feeling better.
Ryan and I will go look for your car and tow it here if we need to.”
Uncertainty made her hesitate. Logically, she should get the hell out while the
getting was good, but she felt safe here, and she was tired of running.
She looked down at her hands and tried to control the shaking. She was so damn
tired, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten.
Adam knelt beside the chair and cupped her chin in his large hand. “You don’t have
to go anywhere, baby. You can stay right here. We’ll take care of you.”
If she’d thought she couldn’t become more aroused, she’d been dead wrong. Though
he voiced the offer in gentle tones, she didn’t miss the command. He wanted her to stay.
“I…I don’t know.” She closed her eyes, a wave of dizziness swamping her. She
struggled to open them again, but the room swirled around her. Then it went dark.
Chapter Two
With a muffled curse, Adam caught Holly’s head as it fell forward. He quickly
pulled her from the chair and cradled her in his arms. She was clearly exhausted and
probably hungry to boot if her thinness was any indication.
“I’ll put her in my room,” he said as he walked toward the hall.
“Ryan and I’ll go look for her car,” Ethan said.
Adam placed her on the bed and pulled back the covers. She moaned softly, an
expression of pain crossing her face, but she didn’t open her eyes.
A pulse beat in his temple and he gritted his teeth. She was running from something.
Or someone. She was skittish as a newborn colt, and she had so many secrets in her eyes
it was hard to tell the color at times.
The bruise on her ribs bothered him. It could be from a fall, but he doubted it. It
didn’t look recent. He fingered a strand of her hair, noticing the unevenness of the color.
He’d bet money she was a brunette. The same color as the curls between her legs.
With tenderness he hadn’t displayed in a long time, he tucked the covers around her
neck and walked quietly out. He needed a cold shower to calm his raging hard-on, but he
opted to walk out into the cold and wait for Ethan and Ryan to return.
A half hour later, they drove up in the Land Rover. Adam walked to meet them.
“What did you find?”
“Nothing,” Ethan replied.
Adam raised a brow. So the angel had lied. Was she not thinking clearly or had she
honestly not thought they would find out?
“How is she?” Ryan asked.
“Sleeping,” Adam replied. “She needs to eat.”
Ethan looked troubled. A feeling Adam could relate to. That they had found their
woman was nothing short of amazing. But it appeared she came with trouble.
Ryan shifted uncomfortably. “I never thought we’d find her. And now that we have,
all I can think about is what if she doesn’t want to stay? I felt it too. I know she’s the one.
Pop always said we’d know, but I thought it was bullshit until now.”
“I know,” Ethan said quietly. “I felt it too.”
“She’s hiding something,” Adam said. “She has a bruise the size of my fist on her
ribcage, and I don’t like to imagine how it got there. And she’s not a natural blonde. She
did a poor job dying it. A sign she was probably in a hurry.”
“You think someone’s after her?” Ethan demanded, his face darkening.
Ryan clenched his fists. “Who could want to hurt such a little thing?”
“I don’t know, but one thing’s for damn certain. We can’t let her leave no matter
what we have to do,” Adam said grimly.
“Who’s going to approach her first?” Ryan asked.
Adam paused. “I will,” he finally said. “It’s the way it’s done. It’s my responsibility.
You two will help by making her feel as comfortable as possible. We’re going to have to
ease into this or I’m afraid she might bolt.”
“Go easy with her, Adam,” Ethan warned.
Adam glared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ethan didn’t back down. “You know exactly what I mean. You dominate. It’s your
nature. You’re going to have to curb that with her. I don’t think she’s going to offer her
trust on a silver platter.”
Though Ethan’s words irritated him, Adam knew he was right. He was the authority
figure in his personal and professional life, and he was used to getting his way. In his
mind, Holly was theirs whether she accepted it right now or not.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said dryly. “Now if we’re done here, I’m going to go
check on her. Why don’t you and Ryan see about supper?”
Adam slipped back inside the bedroom to see Holly still sleeping soundly. After
kicking off his boots, he pulled the covers back and gingerly settled down beside her. To
his surprise, she let out a sigh of satisfaction and snuggled against him.
Her breasts rubbed erotically against his chest, and his cock swelled against her
thighs. As she moved against him, her shirt rode up over her hips, exposing her luscious
ass. Unable to help it, he smoothed his hand over her naked hip, pulling the shirt higher to
her waist.
