Shifted Illusions

by C. E. Black

  “You’re magnificent,” she whispered. I agreed with her sentiment and squawked. She laughed. “You too, Henri. Now, go on. I’ll be fine here.”

  But would she?

  Leo and I nodded at one another. He twisted around and transformed back into his human skin.

  “What are you doing?” Beth asked as he pulled his clothes back on. “Why aren’t you running?”

  Pants on, but not buttoned, he threw his shirt on and gave her a wink. “Because I’d rather warm up with you in front of the fire.” Beth squealed as Leo scooped her into his arms and jogged toward the cabin.

  Cuddling with Leo and Beth in front of the fire sounded like heaven, but Leo and Beth needed to have some time alone. And the air was calling my name.

  When I returned to my human form, I found my clothes folded neatly on the back porch, my phone still in the back pocket of my jeans. As I dressed, it rang, and I answered quickly when I noticed Teij’s number. We’d been waiting on this call.

  “Sir?”

  “Checking in,” he said.

  “It’s been quiet here. Do you have any news?”

  “Liz and Bear took a couple of mountain lions into custody yesterday. They were staking out the flower shop. They admitted to wanting Beth, but they’re not forthcoming on why. Sōm is with them now.”

  I hissed through my teeth. “They won’t last long then,” I said, meaning it. Sōm would have them singing like canaries before long. He was one scary dude.

  “We’re counting on it,” Teij replied. “We’re also in touch with the Division in Wyoming. They claimed they weren’t aware of Beth’s situation. But I hadn’t expected them to. They promised to look into James Olsen and see if they could find anything damning.”

  Teij hesitated, and I frowned. “You don’t trust them.”

  “No. I have no reason not to, but I don’t.”

  “I can come in—”

  “I have Alex on it, Hawk. If we hit any snags, you’ll be the first person we call, but you need this time away from the office. Update Leo. I’ll call if we find anything else.”

  I gritted my teeth, but replied, “Yes, sir,” and hung up. I’d become a little obsessed with finding Wolford after. Especially after almost losing Leo. All of us had. But a few overnights at the office and suddenly I’m not fit to work.

  I stared at the phone in my hand and loosened my grip before I crushed the thing to pieces. Teij had been right to pull me off the case. It hadn’t been a few overnights. In the weeks leading up to my ‘vacation,’ I’d only left the office once to clean out the spoiled food in my fridge. And if Beth and Leo hadn’t been keeping my mind off the job, I would have snuck into Headquarters or worked from home every chance I could find.

  At least I had my prototype to play with. I blinked a few times and focused on different objects on the deck. The contacts I’d developed had survived the transformation and hadn’t hindered my vision at all. I checked my earpiece to find it still in place.

  Pleased with my results, I sought Leo, hoping he would be a willing test subject. Inside the house, giggling led me to the laundry room, where I found both Leo and Beth loading wet clothes into the dryer. Or, Beth was trying to. Leo distracted her by sliding his hands up her rib cage and kissing the side of her neck.

  Smiling, I quietly leaned against the doorjamb while they played and took a moment to test my prototype. When I focused on Leo, I winked my right eye, activating the contacts. His file filled the screen, showing me everything the Division had on him. His identification, location, medical records, notes on performance… everything. Beth and Leo were clear behind the words written in blue. And the voice in my ear read the data without either of them hearing it.

  Content with the outcome, I shut it off by winking again and became engrossed with my two lovers. Their happiness was infectious, warming my heart. I wanted this for us so badly.

  “Hurry up,” he whispered in her ear.

  “I’d be finished by now if you would help.”

  “I am helping.” He cupped a breast and pinched the tip between his fingers. “See?”

  Beth laid her head back against his shoulder and groaned as he massaged her breast with one hand. The other slid down her stomach, pulling up her shirt as he went. When his fingers encountered skin, she twirled around and linked her arms behind his head. Leo slammed the dryer door shut and lifted her onto the machine. She wrapped her legs around his waist and gasped when he pressed the button to turn on the dryer.

  “How’s that for helping?” Leo smirked.

  Giggling, Beth bit her lip, her green eyes scorching beneath lowered lashes. “I’ll take what I can get.”

  “Will you?” Leo tilted his head to capture her lips.

  The two pressed together, their hands clinging and grasping as their bodies writhed against one another. A fantasy come true. I’d dreamed of this many times over the last few days. And as much as I wanted to see it played out in reality, I yearned to join them.

  “What’s going on here?”

  Beth pulled away from Leo, giving me a shy smile as she said, “Nothing.”

  Leo chuckled. “Gonna act all innocent, are you? Someone ought to kiss that grin away.”

  I sauntered up to Beth. Leo stepped aside, and I took his place between her knees. Palms flat on the dryer, I caged her in. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and my pulse sped. I had this undeniable need to keep that look on her face for the rest of our lives.

  “Are you going to kiss me or not?” she sassed.

  I narrowed my eyes at her and leaned in slowly, inch by inch. It didn’t take long for her to become impatient.

  Eyes closed, lips parted, she tipped her head back and whispered, “Kiss me already, Henri.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I breathed against her lips. I brushed them once, twice, sucking on her bottom lip until she whimpered.

  “You’re so good at that,” she said when I pulled away.

  “Good at what?” I asked, nipping at her chin.

  “Driving me crazy.”

  “That makes two of us.” Leo groaned, sliding in behind me.

  I chuckled, then kissed Beth deeply.

  As I owned her lips, Leo slid his nose up the side of my neck. Taking my earlobe between his teeth, he tugged, and I groaned, the sharp sensation shooting straight to my cock.

  Beth sighed and wiggled to the edge of the dryer. She wrapped her legs around my waist, the vibration of the machine forcing her hot center against me. As Leo leaned in, his arousal pressed against my hip, and my eyes almost rolled back in my head from the dual sensation. But even more potent was when the shift made my cock hit the right spot between Beth’s legs. I gasped, opening my eyes to witness Beth giving Leo a hungry look over my shoulder.

  I licked my lips, doing it again when Beth followed the movement with the same hungry expression. “Bedroom?” I hissed the question, hoping like hell she said yes.

  But I’d been stupid. There was one obstacle still in our path.

  Leo pulled away, leaving my back ice cold. I held back a curse and took a deep breath. This wasn’t my battle, but I wanted to fight it with him. He needed to talk to Beth about the scars. His insecurities were just that, his. Beth loved him, or at least she was heading there. One glance at her expression gave her away.

  But none of it mattered if he wasn’t ready.

  I glanced over my shoulder and our eyes connected. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice full of regret.

  “You’re not ready. It’s okay,” Beth said, repeating what I’d just been thinking.

  Leo shook his head. “No, that’s not it… We need to talk. Believe me, I want nothing more than to make love with you. But there’s something I’ve been ashamed of for a long time.”

  Beth shook her head. “Leo—”

  “I don’t want to hide from you anymore,” he said, cutting her off. He held out a hand. “Come to the bedroom with me and let me show you.”

  22

  Beth

  Of course
, I took his hand. Whatever fear he wanted to confess, my love for him would never change.

  He left me standing at the end of the bed and stepped back, putting too much space between us. Henri grabbed my hand, but his supportive smile was all for Leo.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  Leo ran a finger over the raised skin on his cheek. “They aren’t my only scars.”

  “Your chest…”

  “Yes. But that’s not all.” He paused, and I stepped toward him, ready to offer comfort. “No, wait,” he held up a hand to stop me. “What you said outside, I appreciate it more than I can say, but I need to show you.”

  He slid off his t-shirt, and I sucked in a breath. He was so beautiful.

  “These don’t end here,” he warned as he ran his fingers over the raised skin on his abs.

  My eyes widened as his meaning became clear. “It won’t change how I feel, but I can see this is important to you. Show me, Leo. Show me your secret, the reason you can’t look at me without pain in your eyes. Then let me take it away.”

  Leo took a trembling breath, and with a shaky hand popped open the button of his jeans. The fear in his eyes as he removed the last of his clothing almost brought me to my knees.

  Taking a step closer to him, I placed a hand on his chest and tried showing him with my eyes how much I loved him.

  I placed my lips on the scars over his heart, holding still when he flinched. “I love you,” I whispered, tilting my head back and offering him my lips.

  His chin trembled, and I kissed it until he dipped down to take my mouth. The kiss was scorching, desperate. I ran my nails across his cheek, dragging them softly down his neck and over his shoulders. As they skated over his chest, he shivered, urging me on.

  “Do you like my nails on you?” I asked him.

  “You have no idea how good it feels.”

  When I reached his cock, I gripped him tightly, and he hissed. As I pumped him slowly, he pressed his forehead to mine. His gaze held mine, his jaw taut. “You really want this?” he asked desperately.

  I cupped him in my palm and dragged my nails lightly over the raised skin at the base of his cock. He had a lot of scarring, and I understood why he would be self-conscious, anyone would be, but it did nothing to diminish how much I wanted him. In truth, I was more curious than ever to feel him inside me. And he needed to hear that.

  “You’re one of the sexiest men I’ve ever met, Leo. I want you more than I can put into words. Make love to me, Leo. Please,” I begged.

  His breath hitched as he chuckled. “I’ve never been one to deny a lady. Hawk, help me get her out of these clothes.”

  “With pleasure.”

  They took their time undressing me, skimming their hands over every inch of exposed skin. “Do you know what you do to me?” Leo’s teeth grazed my ear. “Feel me,” he demanded.

  I gripped his cock, stroking him with both hands, and he shuddered. I turned my head to find Hawk had stood back to watch us with hungry eyes. And still fully clothed.

  “Tell me what Henri does to you,” I said to Leo.

  His hands paused on their journey over the curve of my ass, his gaze searching. “You really want to know?”

  “Oh, yes,” I nodded enthusiastically as erotic thoughts swarmed my mind.

  Lips twitching, he glanced at Henri and whispered in my ear, “He makes me hard as a fucking rock, and I can’t wait to get my eyes on his cock. But he’s wearing too damn many clothes.”

  “We should really do something about that,” I said.

  His fingers slipped easily between my slick folds, and I gasped. “Mmm… I also need to do something about this.”

  I swallowed a groan and shook my head. “I want to watch the two of you first.”

  “If that’s what you want, I’m happy to oblige.”

  Henri pulled off his black t-shirt giving Leo and me an eyeful of hard, lean muscle. I trailed my fingers across Hawk’s chest as I circled him, his hooded gaze following until I stood behind him. Holding his shoulders, I placed kisses up and down his spine while peeking around him to watch Leo.

  He gave Henri a devilish grin. “You heard the lady. She wants to watch. Are you down with that?”

  Henri gripped Leo by the hips and tugged him closer. “Tell me what you want me to do?”

  “I’ll show you instead.” The kiss between them was deep and seeking, the sight causing my belly to clench with need. The two of them fit together so perfectly, and I couldn’t wait until I had my chance to join them.

  Leo spun Henri around and placed a tender kiss at the base of his neck. His hand slid down the hawk shifter’s belly as he spoke in his ear. “I like to be in charge,” he said as he unfastened Henri’s pants. “Are you okay with that?”

  “More than okay, Leo. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” Henri twisted his head back and captured Leo’s lips. Leo tugged Henri’s cock free, and my entire body trembled as I watched him stroke Henri from base to tip.

  Weak-kneed, I sat on the bed and slid back against the headboard.

  “Are we boring you already, kitten?” Leo asked.

  “Just enjoying the show.”

  “Do you hear that, Hawk? She likes watching me jerk you off. I think she’ll enjoy seeing my cock in your mouth.”

  My eyes dropped to Leo’s thick, rigid length, imagining my own lips wrapped around it. What would he taste like?

  “Is that what you want, Beth?”

  I blinked up at Henri and bit my lip as I nodded.

  Leo grabbed a pillow and threw it on the floor where he wanted Henri to kneel. “This gives her the best view,” he said.

  He was right. Henri stripped the rest of his clothes off and went to his knees in front of Leo, and I could see everything. Including the ravenous look on Henri’s face as he gripped Leo’s cock and pumped him slowly before leaning forward to lick the tip.

  “Do you want more?” Henri asked, looking up at Leo under lowered lashes.

  Leo speared his fingers through Henri’s hair and gave the strands a tug. “Don’t tease me, Hawk. Put my cock in your mouth and suck it hard.”

  Henri took Leo deep, and when he pulled back, I could see his teeth graze the base of Leo’s cock.

  Leo sucked in a breath through his teeth, and his hips bucked. “Tell me you like it.”

  “I fucking love it,” Henri growled before sucking Leo down again. He cupped Leo’s balls and bobbed his head, Leo’s groan spurring him on. Leo’s body was tense, his jaw tight as he watched his cock slide in and out of Henri’s mouth. I could practically feel the orgasm racing up his spine, and my breathing quickened along with his.

  “I want to cum inside you,” he murmured, as though revealing his deepest darkest secret.

  Henri stood up slowly, kissing up Leo’s belly and chest. When he reached his chin, he stood up straight and stared into Leo’s eyes. “I want it.”

  “Have you ever done this?” Leo asked.

  “No.”

  Leo brushed his fingers over Henri’s cheek. “Do you trust me?”

  “Always.”

  Leo went to the nightstand and pulled a bottle of lube and a box of condoms from the drawer. He saw me watching and winked. “I have an idea. Hawk, Beth is looking lonely over there. I think that sweet pussy of hers needs to be licked.”

  “On it.” Hawk climbed onto the bed, clasped my ankle, and pulled. I slid down the bed, giggling. Once I was under him, he kissed me on the nose and smiled. “Hello, gorgeous.”

  “Hi,” I smiled back shyly. I wanted to talk dirty to him like Leo had done, but inexperienced me didn’t know what to say.

  Though Henri was busy pressing kisses along my neck, he managed to notice my dilemma. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m… I wanted to ask…”

  He traced a nipple with his tongue and looked up at me. “Just say what you’re thinking, Beth.”

  Say what I was thinking… I could do that. “How did Leo taste?”

  He s
lid back up my body until we were face to face. His lips brushed mine, then his tongue thrust into my mouth, and I groaned. I could taste Leo’s spicy flavor, and it only made me hotter.

  “Like that,” he whispered against my mouth. “Now, I have a job to do. Stay there.”

  “Yes, sir,” I giggled.

  Grinning, he slid down the bed and fit himself between my legs. He slid a finger down my folds, and I shivered.

  “So wet already. Did you enjoy watching us, Beth?”

  “Mmm-hmm,” I whimpered as he circled my clit with his thumb.

  “God damn, she’s soaked,” Leo growled. “I have to taste this.”

  There was barely enough room for both of them, but as he slid in next to Henri, they spread my knees wide.

  “Fuck, she’s beautiful,” Leo murmured before sucking my clit into his mouth. I cried out as Henri slid a finger inside of me, followed by a second. Henri joined Leo, and the two of them sucked and licked, their tongues dueling over who would get my clit, taking turns flicking the bundle of nerves.

  Henri’s fingers pumped into me faster and harder, and the little ball of tension that started in my stomach exploded. As my hips jerked, two large hands held me down as I screamed my release.

  “That was so fucking hot,” Leo said, giving my sensitive lips one last lick. “Hawk, we might need to change things up. I have to be inside her now.”

  “I’m with you, man.” Henri came up to lie beside me, his hand going to my breast. “We totally neglected these beauties.” He leaned over and sucked a nipple into his mouth while his fingers twisted the other.

  I gasped and wrapped my legs around Leo’s hips as he shifted into place between my legs. “Please,” I begged him. “I want to feel you inside me, Leo.”

  “I’m almost there, kitten,” he said as he slid a condom on. “Hold on.”

  The head of his cock pressed at my entrance, but tight from my recent orgasm, my body wasn’t making it easy for him. As I relaxed, he slid inside, and I couldn’t contain my gasp. He was so thick and hard, exactly what I needed. And the scars at the base of his cock rubbed against my entrance every time he pulled out. The sensation made me quiver with pleasure.