Jonas grumbles a bitter, “I hear you, I hear you.”
My stomach churns as I mull over all the new information gifted to us by the former insider. Unrest builds in me that the Lost River is guarded by a mage so powerful, our entire world couldn’t contain him.
Chapter Ten
Havan
I can’t eat until Sophie’s full. I don’t have it in me. I’ve never been such a sap before, but this mate bond is setting in deep. The weird part is that we haven’t even completed the mating ritual yet. It might be possible, even with her magic-muting, since mating is equally rooted in a magical exchange and in a physical bond. I wonder if shifter magic is strong enough to tear through whatever’s inside of her that turns off my animal persona.
I try not to get too hung up on the details, since I’m pretty sure sex can never happen between us. I give in to what my shifter genetics hand me and tear off a piece of my rabbit for her to eat.
She raises it to her mouth and then grimaces. “You haven’t touched a bite! Honeybear, aren’t you starving?”
Yes. “I’m fine. You’re still hungry. Eat until you’re full.”
She hands the leg back to me with a stern expression. “I cannot believe you think I’ll fall for that. You’re doing your shifter-mate thing. Eat.”
I grudgingly bite into my rabbit. It’s about a tenth of the food my body needs, but I don’t complain as I polish off the whole thing in a matter of minutes. I can’t remember the last time I complained, and I’m not about to start debasing myself in front of my woman.
Sophie passes me her extra trail mix. Before I can tell her she doesn’t need to baby me, she holds up her hand to push aside my ego. “You saved my life and kept Valor from broken bones. Trail mix is the least I can do, so just say, ‘Thank you, Sophie,’ and call it a day.”
“Thank you, Sophie.” Her name on my tongue makes me smile. She’s cute when she’s bossy. Though, the joke’s on me, because she thinks of something and I’m already moving to fetch it for her. She doesn’t need me to be peculiar, like Valor. She doesn’t need me to be the picture-perfect boyfriend, like Carrigan. When she leans into my side, I can tell she just needs me to be me, and that fact makes my insides swell with pride. If only Louis could see me now. I was never more than a donkey to him, but somehow this prized piece chose me. I’m not going to screw this up.
I wear boxers now, and I love the feel of the material. Way softer on my junk than jeans. Underwear was a waste before, what with how often I shifted and lost my clothes. Sophie brings me dignity, and I love her for it.
Jonas and Carrigan are quietly arguing on the other side of the fire, but the second I wince when my spine moves the wrong way, Cary’s up and crossing over to my other side. “Bed,” Cary rules. “Here. Let me help you up.”
“Careful of him twisting too much,” Sophie warns. “I’ve got his other arm. Easy, now.”
I grumble about them babying me, but I secretly don’t mind the fuss. It feels like I’m an old man and she’s my mate, helping me around the house when I’m stooped and gray. I smirk at the mental image of her wearing a shawl as they raise me to my feet. With the way she always keeps me guessing, I’m certain I’ll go gray first.
I do my best to put the soreness out of my mind, since pain isn’t worth whining about. I lean more heavily on Carrigan as they help me to the double-wide sleeping bag. It’s a great idea, and I’m thankful Cary thought of it. I’m dog tired, and the prospect of laying down sounds like the best thing in the world right about now.
“Hold on. Let’s get these off.” Then my Sophie does something so sweet, I’m too shocked to tell her not to bother. My honeycomb kneels down and unties my boots, sliding them off my feet, followed by socks too sweaty and dirty for a fine woman like her to have to touch. She folds them as if things like that matter, and then pulls open the sleeping bag at the edge for me to slide in. She doesn’t act disgusted by my hairy man feet, but smiles up at me in that coy way every guy wants to see when he’s invited into bed.
I go where she leads, grunting a few times when I have to bend as I get myself situated. I peel my shirt off, and before I can throw it on the grass, she folds it for me and lays it atop my pack.
Jonas draws everyone’s eyes when he addresses Valor with only a minimal hint of aggression. “Want to collect more sticks for the fire with me? I’ve got questions about Elowen, and I’m guessing these three want a few minutes alone where you’re not staring at the little witch’s ass.” His eyes cut to us with a warning. “Not long, got it? When we get back, I don’t want to know what anyone’s orgasm noises sound like. We’re not good enough friends for that.”
Carrigan chuckles, smiling at his buddy for doing us a solid. I almost thank Jonas, but he’s such a tool, I can’t bring myself to say the words. Carrigan doesn’t wait for the two to leave, but tugs his shirt over his head and reaches for Sophie, kissing her so deeply, I feel like a chump for being so far away, laying down as I am. I crane my neck to watch her surprise, and then her quick fall as she lets herself get swept away by Carrigan. It’s an odd sensation, watching them from this angle as I lay flat on the ground in the sleeping bag. Carrigan peeks over her shoulder to confirm that Jonas and Valor are gone before he flips her shirt over her head and throws it atop mine.
When her stained teal lacy bra unhitches, the pain in my back isn’t even a thought in my brain. All the blood rushes to my groin, and suddenly my jeans are far too tight. Cary’s thumbs smooth over her nipples, and I can see them harden even in the dim firelight. Her soft noises of pleasure go straight to my cock, which is screaming to be set free.
I keep him chained up, though, because my girl is too sweet for a monster like me.
Carrigan reaches for the button on her jeans, but the zipper doesn’t move because she breaks the kiss with a suddenly stern look on her face. “Not a chance. You two have gotten me naked like a dozen times, but I haven’t seen anyone’s dick. It’s my turn. Pants off, Psychic.” She turns her frustration from Cary onto me. “Then I’m coming for you, Shifter.”
Jonas’ laughter makes my cock go limp. “Talk louder, little witch!” he calls, drawing out her scowl. “We’re not wandering that far. Can’t let Valor lose his conscience.”
She covers her big breasts, and I hate Jonas a little more.
Carrigan sniggers and holds up his hands. “Fine by me. I’ve got nothing to hide. Come here, Sophie Mae. Do what you want with me.”
The offer is exactly what I want to say to her, but I know I can’t. I need to give her more—so much more that when she sees me naked, she won’t run away.
I bite down on my lower lip when she moves back in for a kiss, her hands making quick work of tearing open Carrigan’s jeans and shoving any offending material down his thighs. When she kisses her way down his body, I can’t help but run my hand over the bulge in my jeans. I can see the whole thing from the side, including that Carrigan’s sporting a standard package that I’m sure any woman would be happy to ride. Sophie licks her lips before her tongue darts out and slathers over the tip.
I know Carrigan’s moans aren’t overdramatized because I imagine my girl’s tongue feels exactly that good. She holds onto the base and pumps him while her head bobs in a slow rhythm. It tells me she isn’t trying to rush a good thing. She’s taking her time with Cary, popping him from her lips every so often to run the flat of her tongue from root to tip. She’s done this before, and I instantly hate every man who knows what her tongue feels like.
My fingers dig into my thigh, willing everything in me to go still so I don’t touch myself. I don’t want to make a sticky mess all over the sleeping bag we share. My monster shouts that he wants to explode down her throat, but I explain to him yet again why we’re just not ready for that.
Carrigan kicks his jeans, boxer briefs, socks and shoes completely off. He takes in a deep drag of the crisp night air, and I can practically see the stress of the day rolling off his shoulders. When she grips his hips to bob back and
forth on his cock, I can’t help but watch in fascination. The noises he makes sound like incoherent begging, while her little muffled hums are almost smug. I grin at her pride over making him come apart at the seams. I’m fascinated by her breasts as they sway with her movements. They look heavy, and my palms itch to hold them.
It’s more work than I’d like to admit to sit up, but I can’t watch them anymore from this distance. I keep any grunting from the agony of my movements to myself as I crawl over to them and kneel behind my girl. It’s easy to reach around her curvy hips and tug her jeans down. She only loses her hold on Cary for a few seconds when I help her out of her pants, shoes, socks and underwear. She kisses me, and I have to push out the taste of Carrigan on her lips. It’s weird, for sure, but when she’s naked like this, her body takes center stage.
She turns back to Carrigan and slips his dick between her lips again, this time drawing out an audible cry from him. There’s so much more to look at, now that she’s naked and on her knees in the middle of the woods. I’m kneeling behind her, and my hands don’t waste another second. She deserves better than calloused fingers, but she doesn’t complain when I reach around and slip one between her folds. She’s silkier than anything I’ve ever touched, and so wet, I actually wonder if it might be possible for just the tip of my cock to slide in. The tip wouldn’t hurt her.
I push the thought out of my head, and my monster swears at me for being a coward.
Mate. Mate! my bear yells, especially when the swell of her ass grinds against me.
I ignore him, like I always try to do, and work my girl until she’s short of breath, mewling into Carrigan’s cock. Her precise movements meant to tease him are sloppy now, and I love her for it. I think Cary loves me for it, too, because when his hand touches down on her hair, he lifts it to purposefully touch my head, as well. I have no idea what to do with that, but as this is Carrigan’s grand moment, I don’t deny him whatever he needs to get there.
“Betcha I can make you come before you make Cary come,” I tease her. Just to prove my point, I flick her clit to send a cry of need through her entire body that echoes up through Carrigan when she moans around his length.
Mate. Mate. Mate!
She jerks against me, but it’s Cary who lets out a strangled shout when she takes my challenge and yanks Cary forward by the hips. I groan when she takes his cock all the way down her greedy throat. I can’t help myself. My free hand reaches around and cups her under the chin, feeling Cary trembling inside of her. This drives her into a frenzy, and she bucks against my fingers. I dip into her heat and let her ride my hand into the sunset. I love that I get to be the one who makes my sweet girl turn wild.
Carrigan’s covered in goosebumps, every muscle tensed as he tries to fight off his climax so the moment never ends. His cries have turned to barely-coherent mumbling. “Oh, Sophie! Oh, just like that. I can’t… So intense! I need you, Sophie Mae. I love you. I love you. I love you.” Then I think he’s trying to say her name again, but he’s gasping too much to work out both syllables.
I take it upon myself to finish him off by finishing her off, rubbing the small button that makes her ignite like a rocket. Her nose touches his pelvis while she howls through her orgasm, and Carrigan doesn’t have a prayer of holding out a second longer. His muscles contract in time with her spasms around my finger, and the two share a long, guttural release that lasts nearly a minute.
When he falls from her lips, she slumps in my embrace. I slide my finger from her and shove it straight in my mouth, tasting my prize for a job well done. She whimpers softly at the simplest touch. I lean back on my haunches to give my knees a break, and for the life of me, I have no idea how I got so lucky. She’s limp and naked in my arms, her eyes lidded with a lust hangover that I gave her.
Carrigan kisses her puffy lips before he stumbles to the sleeping bag and tucks himself inside, his legs rubbery. I stand my girl up and lightly swat her perfect backside, sending her to go lay down.
When she pauses halfway there and turns to me, my heart catches at the sight of her fully naked and unashamed under the glow from the light of the moon and the flickering fire. “You coming?” she asks me, her hair mussed and lips swollen.
“Be there in a second.”
“Okay.” Then she turns away and tosses over her shoulder, “Take your pants off and come lay down with us.”
I swallow hard, knowing that’s the only thing I’ll ever deny her.
Chapter Eleven
Hagan
My back is killing me, but it’s nothing to the agony of my aching balls. I suck on my fingers, preparing myself to get up so I can join them and hopefully sleep off my hard-on. I love the taste of her, and wish my back wasn’t being such a baby about every little movement. I want her riding my face, but she looks fairly boneless as she collapses in the sleeping bag beside Carrigan. His arm drapes lazily over her, and for a second, I think I’m off the hook because it looks like they’ve fallen asleep.
I’m quiet as I approach, but my honeycomb pries open her eyes and frowns. “I thought we agreed you didn’t need pants.”
“Get some sleep,” I insist, hoping to pacify her.
At this, she sits up, her eyebrows furrowed. Her bare breasts are so distracting that I almost forget my reasons for abstaining. “What’s wrong? Why don’t you want me to see you naked?”
I run my hand over my face, gearing up to reveal a portion of the truth. “Because everyone in Twin Rivers has seen me naked, and for once, I don’t want to be the butt of a joke. Not with you.”
Her nose scrunches, and it’s so cute, I almost give her everything she wants.
Almost.
“Okay, walk me through it. Why would you be a joke to me?”
I harrumph, crossing my arms and tucking my hands under my armpits. I tower over her, standing over the sleeping bag as I am, but she’s never minded that I’m too big for pretty much every social situation. “Do you really not know why they call me ‘Donkey’?”
“Because you’re stubborn, right?”
Carrigan’s words come out deflated with sleepiness, but I cringe that he’s just loud enough for her to hear. “Hagan’s well-endowed, Sophie Mae. He’s nervous you’re going to take one look at him and get spooked.”
Her eyebrows shoot up into her forehead as her gaze zeroes in on my crotch. My monster twitches at the attention, and I know at this point, I’ll be stiff until morning. “I promise I won’t. Please, honeybear. Come lay down with us. Don’t you want to lay down with me?”
She blinks up at me and I’m a goner. “Fine. I’ll take off my jeans, but I’m keeping my boxers. Best I can do.” And it truly is. I don’t care if it’s weird. I need her to look at me like I’m amazing, not like I might hurt her if I get too near.
I’m not graceful as I lay down on her other side. My back aches so badly, it won’t let me roll onto my side to scoop her to me. Her hand ghosts over my chest, playing with the tufts of hair as if my body is hers to toy with. I guess it kind of is, for the most part, so I close my eyes and let her light touch wash over me, calming my nerves and deepening my inhales. The smell of the fire mixes with her scent, and my mouth waters.
I know where she’s aiming before she gets there, sneaky as she’s trying to be. I tense up, catching her wrist in warning. “Sophie,” I growl.
She presses her body into my side, her breasts teasing my bicep and chest while her fingers dance along the band of my underwear. “It won’t be too much for me. Can’t I at least hold it for a little bit? One day, when you’re ready, we’ll make love and it’ll be amazing.”
“No,” Carrigan and I both reply with grave finality. She jerks away from me, so I have to explain. “You and I can’t ever make love, honeycomb. I’m a shifter, and you’re… There are three of us. This won’t work if I mate with you.”
I know my words hurt her, and I kick myself for never really learning tact.
She props herself up on her arm to look at me. “What are you t
alking about? Do you want to have sex with me?”
I cover my face with my hands and groan into my palms, unsure how we ended up having this conversation in the first place. “You’re killing me, honeycomb. Of course I want to have sex with you, but it’s complicated. Shifters can have casual sex, no problem—but once we find our mate, nothing’s casual anymore. If we have sex, there’s no way I could watch you with Cary. I’m fine with it now, but if my animal takes over, he won’t see the logic in sharing. You’d be mine, and Cary would be dead for touching you.” I’m scaring her already; I can feel it. But instead of backpedaling, I dig in deeper, putting all my cards out on the table. “Plus, it’s counter-intuitive for a shifter to hurt his mate. And trust me, I would hurt you if we had sex. I’m bigger than women can handle. I’ve never actually ever… I mean, I got the first couple inches in a few times, but it was too much, so it was over before it started. I wouldn’t be able to have sex with you because I know it would hurt you. End of story.”
At this, Carrigan sits up, and I want to punch him for putting blunt words to my insecurity. “Are you telling me that you’re a virgin?”
“Are you telling me that you want to sleep alone in the woods right now?” I counter, angry that somehow I’ve ended up being the joke, despite my best efforts.
Savage Possessed: A Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy Adventure (Twin Rivers Possession Book 2) Page 6