Xander slammed his lips over hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, holding her head still until her thoughts scattered to the wind and there was only him. Logan eased his hold on her, but instead of retreating he slid his hands up her stomach to cup her breasts.
Then there was only them.
Much too soon, they pulled back, leaving her panting and leaning against them when her legs shook too hard to support her weight.
Logan’s caress turned soothing. “The connection between the pack and their grá grows over time. This is normal. Don’t fight it. Don’t fight us.”
Annora stiffened at his plea, and Xander tucked her against his chest, as if protecting her from the truth.
“Logan,” he growled. “Why don’t you set up the gaming system? We can show her some fighting styles, test her hand-eye coordination, and we’ll each take turns teaching her the games.”
Logan hesitated, his grip tightening on her before he finally relented. “Ten minutes.”
Then he was gone.
“Mason, go help him.” Camden ordered the big man away, so he was no longer hovering.
Mason looked like he wanted to protest until she nodded at him. “I need a few minutes.”
He didn’t look happy, eyeing the others suspiciously, then turned toward her. “Don’t leave. Don’t make me come after you.”
It was both a warning and a vow.
Whether she wanted it or not, he would protect her.
She should be terrified at his threat to hunt her down, but part of her relaxed with the knowledge that he would always have her back. He would always keep her safe…no matter what it cost him.
She had to make a choice…them and a new future or run forever.
She wanted more from her life.
She dreamed of being free, but nothing could have prepared her for meeting the guys.
And she desperately wanted them.
They were worth the risk.
Mason waited until she acknowledged his pledge, then smiled and headed off to the kitchen. “I’ll make popcorn.”
“Outside,” Camden snapped.
Xander didn’t move right away, his hold tightening as if to protect her. He gradually loosened his grip, then reached back with one hand and tore his shirt over his head. He grabbed her hair, tugging her head back. “You will keep your hands on me at all times. Understood?”
Her mouth went dry at his husky command, and she nodded mutely, her eyes widening in appreciation at the large expanse of his chest. His lips quirked at one corner when he noticed her reaction, and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Then he very deliberately slid his hands down her neck, trailing his fingers lightly cross her collarbone, then dragged his hand down her arm, before he boldly picked up her hand and placed it directly on his chest.
Her fingers automatically flexed on the heated flesh, and he inhaled deeply, his chest expanding under her touch as if eager for more. He turned slowly, which forced her hand to drag across his abs and over his hips, where it settled low on his back. The muscles along his spine flexed, and she watched him without shame, hypnotized by the rippling movements.
Camden muttered an exasperated curse under his breath as he followed them outside.
Once on the deck, Xander turned and tucked her up against his side, and she watched Camden close the glass doors. He kept his attention fixed on the simple task, not looking at her or Xander. Then he walked toward them, hands on his hips, his attention on the ground.
He came to an abrupt stop in front of her, the set of his shoulders clearly defeated as he ran his fingers through his hair. “Do you know why we’re the best at our jobs?”
“Hard work.” She didn’t have to ask. “You’ve trained your whole life for it.”
He shook his head, giving her a bitter smile. “It’s because we don’t have a life. None of us can function in the real world.” He tipped his head toward the living room. “Logan is an addict. Even now he can’t control his shakes. He moves from women to drugs to alcohol, or any combination thereof. Now he’s latched onto you.”
Annora shook her head, her stomach lurching at the thought, her eyes drawn to Logan against her will. She had noticed his frantic moments, his hyperactivity, then the way he crashed hard. “It’s his coping mechanism.”
But she didn’t want to be that to him.
She wanted to be more than his next fix.
Camden grunted, then glanced over at Mason as he and Logan laughed while they untangled the gaming system cords. “Mason is perfect…until he turns. He has no control over his beast. He’s all sweet protectiveness until his troll side takes control, and then he destroys everything he touches. You barely scratch a hundred pounds. Do you honestly think you would be able to handle more than four hundred pounds of unstoppable beast? He does his best to keep himself contained, but you push his buttons. He’s going to hurt you, and he’s never going to forgive himself for it.”
She bit her lip, unable to refute anything he said. “You don’t know that.”
But didn’t he know them better than any of the others? Better than she knew them after such a short time?
“Then you have Xander.” Camden turned to stare at the man who held her so close. “He was trained from birth to be a killer—that’s his position on the team. He loves the thrill of the hunt, the chase, and the ultimate rush of killing his prey. It’s been bred into him. When the mood hits and he has to blow off steam, he hooks up with any women he can find for an hour or two, someone he can just fuck any way he wants, then leave.”
Annora waited for Xander to protest, but he didn’t even move, didn’t tighten his arms around her, and she knew Camden spoke the truth. She wanted to turn away from Camden’s harsh condemnations, protest that the guys were different with her, but she knew absolutely nothing about how men worked. “Why are you telling me this?”
“And I’m worse than all of them.” His face twisted in disgust. “I hide behind these walls, hide behind my team because I literally cannot function in the real world.” He looked at his hands, self-loathing eating him alive, then looked down at where she was touching Xander. “You wanted to run when you discovered your touch hurts people, but I don’t even have that option. After the drugs wear off, you’ll be back to normal. We won’t. None of us will ever be normal.”
Laughter burst out of her, and he flinched as if she’d slapped him. “Normal? I’ve spent most of my life buried hundreds of feet underground, locked away from the outside world. I’m terrified of being out in the open, terrified of basements, terrified of my own fucking shadow. And you think that’s normal? I will never be normal, no matter how hard I try.”
She tried to stem the resentment as she tore away from Xander and advanced on Camden. “I would give anything to have what you have with these guys, anything to have your family, something you seem happy to throw away so casually.” She swallowed hard, suddenly exhausted. She went to sit, but fell through the chair instead, smacking the deck hard enough to drag a sob out of her, and she leaned back with a bitter laugh.
“Fuck you and your normal.”
Xander leaned over the bench until his face hovered over hers. “I think you broke her.”
Instead of answering, Camden slowly lowered himself next to her, leaning his back against the bench to stare off into the trees. “You deserve more than a bunch of broken assholes.”
“I’ve been chasing normal my whole life. Maybe normal is overrated. My uncle has tried to break me my whole life. I’ve put myself back together too many times to count.” She turned her head to stare at his profile. “I can work with broken.”
Camden slowly turned toward her, a spark of hope igniting his bright green eyes.
Annora met his look, holding nothing back. “Teach me to survive in your world.” She turned to Xander. “Teach me to kill.” She looked through the windows at the others. “And maybe together we can escape our pasts and create a future where we make each other whole.”
And maybe even h
appy.
Camden rose to his feet, towering over her where she still lay stretched out on the deck, then reached down and held out a hand toward her. She hesitated for a second, then slipped her hand into his. He gritted his teeth, a muscle jumping in his jaw as pain slammed into him.
Matching pain stole along her spine, dug its claws deep until her bones ached, the darkness licking along her skin, rough like a cat’s tongue along her nerve endings.
Then Camden yanked her out from underneath the bench, twisting and sliding her until she was trapped beneath his splayed legs. “I hope you know what you’re doing. Whatever happens from here on out, we’re a team. You’re mine…ours. There will be no going back after tonight.”
She reached up, curling her other hand over his, the toxins in his skin muting the pain, leaving a delicious ache, the kind of release her body craved. “Mine.”
Without straining, he lifted her clear off the ground, startling a yelp out of her, until she was standing next to him. Xander rose, pausing at her other side, then held out his hand. She reached over and clasped his hand then lifted her chin.
Come hell or high water, they were in this together.
For the next few hours the guys took turns keeping her occupied. While three of the guys played against her, one sat behind her, teaching her how to control the remote, teaching her how to cheat. Popcorn was tossed everywhere, snack food was delivered, and the laughter and shouting went on for hours. Even the ferrets came down to watch and cheer her on to victory, running along the backs of the couches and chairs, tripping over wires to help her win.
Logan’s mask dropped away, Mason didn’t worry about his beast, Xander actually smiled, while Camden absently reached over to touch her every ten or so minutes, seeming completely amazed at the texture of her skin, content for the first time since they’d met. He didn’t laugh often, didn’t smile as much as the others, but there was a new brightness to his eyes that had been missing—a spark of life—and a glimmer of hope for the future.
* * *
Morning light streamed through the windows of the living room, but something else woke Mason. Splayed across his chest like he was her own personal pillow was Annora. His shirt had worked up, her hands having found a way beneath it as she snuggled up against him.
They were on the floor, while the rest of the guys were scattered around them. Xander had his hand on her ankle, Logan had his arm thrown across her thigh, while Camden’s fingers were tangled in her long hair.
His morning wood strained against his pants, eager to be inside her. Something had changed last night when they came in from their discussion, like a last puzzle piece had finally settled in place.
His beast was fascinated by the little slip of girl who rested against them so trustingly. The violence that was so much a part of him was calm for the first time since his beast tore into existence when he was a teenager.
He felt…content. Like he’d found the treasure his kind compulsively searched for their whole lives.
Mason.
Annora stretched against him, unintentionally rubbing against his dick, and a rumble of pleasure escaped. The little bit of pain when she first touched him only made him want her more…a kitten with claws. He’d swear he could actually feel her inside him, a spark of pure pleasure, and a groan rumbled deep in his chest.
She jerked her head up, blinking sleepily when her startled glance landed on him. The wildness in her eyes calmed at seeing him, and a soft smile crossed her face, sending his heart flipping over in his chest. Instead of acting embarrassed or disgusted at being caught sleeping on him, she reached up to touch his face, slipping her hands into his hair, accidently brushing her soft fingertips against the crown of his horns, and he clamped his hand down on her hips, not sure whether he was trying to pull her closer or hold her away.
Knowing she had to be aware of his erection, he froze, feeling heat sweep up his face. Fuck, he’d never wanted anything so much in his life.
A frown marred her face, and she pushed up on his chest to straddle him. “What did you say?”
The other guys began stirring, looking between the two of them.
“I didn’t say anything.” He carefully lifted his hands off her, infinitely sad at the distance between them, his chest aching.
His eyes widened when she reached down and patted his chest and pure happiness burned in his chest.
Can you hear me?
She stopped dead, her eyes widening, and she popped off him like she’d seen a ghost. “What the fuck was that?”
But as soon as she was no longer touching him, the connection broke, and he slowly sat. Awe held him immobile as he stared up at her. Then he bowed his head. “My grá.”
Logan was on his feet in seconds, standing protectively in front of her. “What’s wrong?”
“She chose me.” Mason couldn’t stop the smile that broke across his face, unadulterated joy bursting in his chest. All the loneliness he’d suffered his whole life was suddenly worth it—it led him to her. “We’re mates.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Stop.” Camden growled, glaring at all of them until they fell silent. “Mason, clean up this mess. Logan, start breakfast. Xander and Annora go hit the showers. It’s Saturday, and we don’t have to report to the arena for two hours. We’ll discuss everything after breakfast when we’re all awake and have had time to clear our heads.”
Annora wanted to protest, demand answers, but the hard expression on Camden’s face brooked no arguments. She headed to her room, conscious of the others watching her, whispering behind her back. Xander cleared his throat as she moved toward the second set of stairs. When she turned, he brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. “The drugs wore off.”
He almost sounded sad about it. When she would’ve opened her mouth, he shook his head. “We’ll explain everything together. You have nothing to worry about. This is a good thing.”
He quickly dipped his head, brushing a kiss against her forehead, then turned and strode toward his room.
Coward.
He stopped dead, gripping the doorframe as if to hold himself back, then glanced at her over his shoulder. The heat in his eyes burned as he dragged his gaze over her body, stripping her bare. “Wear workout clothes. Then you can call me all the names you want.”
Her mouth dropped open when he strode into his room, closing the door behind him with a resounding snick. When he touched her, she could swear she felt him. He wanted to lift her up and fuck her against the wall. She saw a movie of it play in her head in exquisite detail.
She took a step to go after him—but the intense emotions began to fade.
The same thing happened when she touched Mason earlier. His emotions were different, but no less intense. He wanted her…there was no mistaking his erection…but his need went deeper than the physical. She felt him drowning, and her touch had steadied him.
As soon as she stopped touching them, the connection between them dampened, but she could still feel them in her chest, a warm glow from each of them. Every time she probed the spot, it would heat until she could sense them. Xander tasted like a sea breeze, while Mason was all fresh pine and a touch of copper. Camden was a little harder, the scent of exotic flowers and wild jungle just a hint in the air, the opposite of Logan’s bold scent of fresh snow and warm heat.
Every time she touched the small sparks, it was like they were standing right there with her. She could almost hear them in her head, could swear that if she reached out she could actually touch them. She hurried up to her room, staring blankly at the sea of bags Logan had delivered, then smiled and grabbed a pair of shorts and a tank top before jumping into the shower.
A spark in her chest burned suddenly, and she gasped when an image of Xander appeared in her head. He was completely naked, standing under the powerful spray of the shower, his head thrown back, the strong cords of his neck standing out, but what caught her attention was the way he braced one arm against the wall while he stroked his erecti
on with his other hand.
He moved violently, his hips flexing while he worked himself over from base to tip, and she watched in complete fascination while water cascaded down his hard body. She didn’t see the scars, didn’t see the killer, she only saw him.
She imagined her hands running down his chest, practically able to feel the heat of him under her palms. He moaned her name, his grip tightening, and she watched him pleasure himself. Heat flashed through her at knowing she affected him so powerfully. Seconds later, he groaned as he reached his release. Her knees weakened at the pure lust etched on his face...for her. She retreated, her body aching for his touch, and cursed her overactive imagination.
And nearly drowned when the shower spray hit her right in the face.
She sputtered, then shook her head at her foolishness, quickly finishing her shower before she did something foolish like touch herself. She toweled off and dressed quickly, wishing she could turn off the ache as easily. She curled her fingers into fists, letting her nails bite into her palms, the flash of pain easing the ache for a few seconds. But it wasn’t nearly enough.
She stomped into the kitchen to find Camden and Mason already waiting. Xander arrived only a few minutes later. She studied him closely, then froze when he turned and stilled when he caught her looking.
She bit her lip, quickly dropping her gaze, when a thump on the stairs and loud cursing caught her attention. A ferret was slinking down the staircase with a pair of jeans caught firmly in his mouth, while behind him was another ferret dragging his shirt. “Thieves!”
Logan charged after them, sopping wet, his hair dripping into his face. He didn’t see the third ferret make a grab for the towel Logan had haphazardly tied around his waist. The critter charged in the opposite direction, yanking the towel free.
Logan cursed again, stopping dead on the stairs, cupping himself, a puddle of water spreading beneath him.
She burst out laughing at the comical look of outrage on his face. She was laughing so hard, she had to lean against the counter. “The mighty hunter. Snookered by a ferret.” Another peal of laughter escaped her, and the guys snickered behind her.
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