Captured by Two Alphas [The Alpha Legend 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Tara Rose

  Nevada wanted to shoot pool, especially after he found out that Saffron had never done that either, but Landon suggested to Micah and Stephen that they give them a tour of the house first. Saffron was glad he’d done that because she’d been dying to ask questions about BDSM, but hadn’t wanted to be the one to bring up the subject. Maybe they’d tour the dungeon and then she could ask her questions?

  The entire house was beautiful. Most of it was decorated in a combination of Victorian and early twentieth-century, but there were more modern touches as well. Gleaming woodwork throughout caught Saffron’s eye, and she loved the rich, bold paint colors on the walls. The home had a lower level that was partly underground, and overlooked the slope behind the house that afforded the same view of the mountains as the bedroom in the home next door where she’d spent the afternoon with Landon and Nevada.

  “Would you like to see our little playroom?” asked Micah, gazing directly at Saffron.

  She swallowed and glanced at Nevada and Landon, not sure if it was all right to answer him.

  “It’s up to you,” said Nevada quietly.

  She nodded. “All right. Yes, I would like to see it.”

  Micah took a key from a chain around his neck and unlocked a metal door, then reached in and flipped a light switch. He waved her inside. “Let your eyes adjust to the light first. It’s soft.”

  She crossed the threshold and sniffed leather and coconut. The air was heavy in here, and she didn’t need to see far to know there were no windows. The room had an energy about it that made her think of naked, sweaty bodies in the throes of passion and pain combined, much the same way she’d felt earlier when the men had paddled her with the bath brush and played with her nipples and clit at the same time. Did that go on in this room?

  She took a few tentative steps inside, and then Nevada took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “There are a few stairs in front of you.”

  She glanced down, surprised she hadn’t noticed them before. As they descended, Saffron glanced around the room. The lighting was red and purple, casting an almost supernatural glow over everything, like she might see in an old gothic film. Equipment was scattered throughout the room, and even though she had never seen any of it before, it wasn’t too difficult to figure out that the various benches and tall crosses were for the purposes of positioning a body over or against them, so a person could be bound to the furniture in some way.

  “Let’s walk around the room,” said Stephen. “That way Landon and Saffron can ask questions if they like.”

  She gave Nevada’s hand another squeeze and then drew warmth and courage from Landon’s presence at her other side as well. She took a deep breath and glanced at Stephen and Micah. “How did you learn about all this?”

  “Our father has been in the lifestyle since he was in his twenties. We grew up with it, but of course we didn’t play until we were old enough to understand and respect it.”

  “We explained earlier to Saffron that this isn’t just about spanking or bondage,” said Nevada.

  They stopped in front of a bench with several thick leather pads, and rings attached to the metal along the sides and at the bottom. Saffron was able to imagine herself draped over it and bound to the bench with leather cuffs, like the one that had been around her left wrist in the cabin yesterday. Her clit began to throb, and her nipples felt like someone had placed something on them that vibrated constantly.

  “That’s right,” said Micah. “At its core, a BDSM lifestyle is about service and trust. It’s also a power exchange. A Dom protects and cherishes a submissive, and she in turn gives control over to his or her Dom.”

  “Is it always the woman who’s submissive?” asked Saffron.

  “In the human world, no. Among cat shifters, almost always.”

  “Do they relinquish all control?” Although just saying the words made her pussy wet, it also reminded her a bit of how she’d lived her life in her uncle’s home, where his word was law and there was no room for argument or negotiation. It didn’t seem that Nevada or Landon were looking for that kind of a commitment from her. Had she misinterpreted that?

  Stephen shook his head. “No, not at all. Everything is negotiable. That’s why we use safewords and honor limits.”

  “We’ve only begun to talk to Saffron about all of this,” said Landon. “And I’m not as familiar with it as Nevada is.”

  “That’s one of the reasons we asked you over,” said Micah. “Ask us anything you’d like to.”

  “What else is there to submit to besides…” She wasn’t sure if she should tell him what Landon and Nevada had done to her. “Um…besides spanking?”

  Micah grinned. “Impact play is only one tiny thing. Some subs don’t even like it, and not all Doms enjoy giving it. There’s a whole range of ways to serve a Dom, Saffron.”

  “It sounds fascinating.” They began to walk around again, and when she spotted a tall teakwood cabinet with intricate carvings on the door, she asked what was inside.

  “That’s our toy chest,” said Micah, opening the doors. Saffron’s jaw dropped open at the array of paddles, whips, cuffs, chains, and other things she couldn’t identify.

  Stephen walked up to it and took a multi-tailed whip off a hook. “This is deer hide. It’s a soft, beginner flogger. We just made it last week. No one has used it yet.” He handed it to Nevada, but his gaze was on Saffron’s face, watching her carefully as if gauging her reaction. “Maybe you’d like to try it out for us and let us know how it works?”

  Nevada took a step back and swung it a few times. It made a faint whistling noise that had Saffron biting back a moan as she imagined it striking her ass cheeks and her pussy. Would they do that for her if she asked them to? Flog her pussy, and even her nipples?

  Micah took several other things off a small shelf and handed them to Landon. “You can have these. They’re extras, and no one has used them, so they’re clean.” She wanted to ask what they were, but she was still mesmerized by watching Nevada throw the flogger. Where had he learned to do that?

  “I see you haven’t forgotten what we taught you last time you were here,” said Stephen.

  Nevada chuckled softly. “Yeah, considering I haven’t actually used one yet.”

  Stephen cut his gaze toward Saffron. “Looks like you may get to later.”

  His words finally cut through her fog of lust, and she blushed fiercely as the men chuckled. This was going to be an interesting night. As much as she was enjoying Micah and Stephen’s hospitality, she couldn’t wait to be alone again with Nevada and Landon.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  After the tour of the Jargonian home and dungeon, Saffron, Nevada, and Landon returned to the main level of the house and Saffron spotted a large, old book with intricate carvings on the leather cover. It was propped up on a small table tucked into a corner, as if it held a place of honor.

  “That’s a copy of the Alpha Legend.” She glanced up at Nevada, no longer wondering how he’d known what she was thinking or looking at. “Would you like to see it?”

  She nodded. Micah picked it up and led them into a parlor. She took a seat on the sofa he indicated, and then he and Nevada sat on either side of her, while Stephen and Landon sat across from them.

  “How much do you know about this?” asked Micah. Saffron told him what Nevada had explained to her.

  He opened it and began to turn the pages. They sounded so fragile, and Saffron tensed, waiting for one of them to tear. “Every time I read this I see something I missed before. The language is difficult to wade through at times because most of it was written centuries ago, but near the end are more modern writings and spells.”

  “Who does all this? I mean, someone must hand-copy this. These aren’t made on printing presses like most books I’ve seen.”

  “You’re right,” said Stephen. “They’re copied by hand.”

  Saffron would love to have hours and hours to herself so that she could go through the book at her own pace, but that was unl
ikely to happen.

  Micah pointed to a passage underneath a picture of a black leopard. “This is one of the stories that explains what you are, and why you’re so rare, especially on this continent.” She leaned closer and struggled to read all the words. Although it was English, some of the spellings were odd and the handwriting was so stylized that her eyes began to ache.

  “Come over and read it anytime you want while you, Nevada, and Landon are here,” said Stephen. “We’ve had this in our house our entire lives, and we still don’t know everything that’s in it.”

  “Thank you. That’s very generous of you.”

  Stephen stood. “Would anyone like to watch a movie?”

  They watched a couple of movies in a room that had furniture so comfortable Saffron briefly fell asleep twice. The second time, while Micah and Stephen were gone from the room to get fresh drinks for all of them, Landon actually reached over and gently rubbed her shoulder until she jerked awake. She’d never been so embarrassed. “I’m so sorry.”

  He smiled. “Please don’t be. You’ve had so much happen to you these past two days. And I doubt you slept enough last night. None of us did.”

  Nevada leaned close from her other side and whispered in her ear. “How about if we all get some decent rest tonight, and then we can try out the toys Micah and Stephen gave us when we’re refreshed tomorrow?”

  She gazed at him, unable to believe how kind he was at times. “You wouldn’t mind?”

  He cut his gaze to Landon for a second. “Of course not. It’s more fun when we’re not so tired.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You don’t have to thank us,” said Landon.

  “Yes, I do. For everything. For believing my story, for bringing me here to keep me safe, and for helping rid my village of the Rosens and my uncle.”

  Landon pulled her close and held her. “You did us a favor by showing up in the village, Saffron. We never would have known that some of the League of Exitium members were that close.”

  “It was fate,” said Nevada. “You were meant to find us.”

  She gazed into his dark eyes, wanting to believe it was more than that. She wanted to believe she’d been meant to find them both and be their mate. Did they feel the same way? Truly, in their hearts? Or were they all just fooling themselves, and when this was over, her time with them would also be finished?

  Saffron heard Drake and Emme’s voices in the hallway, and then they entered the room with Micah and Stephen. Nevada, Landon, and Saffron stood, and the men started talking about the jaguars who had been dispatched to Colorado, and what their plans were for tomorrow.

  Saffron tried to listen, but Emme took her aside. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m all right. It helps that all of you are so kind and generous. Thank you.”

  “We’re happy to do it. Do you need anything, Saffron?”

  “I don’t believe so. You have the house next door very well-stocked. Thank you.”

  Emme smiled indulgently. “I don’t mean that. I mean do you have all the herbs you need?”

  Saffron frowned. “I have some healing herbs from Topaz, my grandmother.” She didn’t know whether Nevada had told Emme and Drake about Topaz’s death.

  Emme lowered her voice. “But what about herbs to prevent pregnancy?”

  Saffron stared at her, unsure what to say. Topaz had told her about such herbs, but she didn’t know what they were, and she had no idea how to make them. “They’ve been using condoms.”

  Emme frowned. “Come into the other room for a minute. They could talk about this for hours.” Saffron followed Emme into a smaller parlor and took a seat on the sofa next to her. “Saffron, you’re a leopard and they’re cougars. You know it would be dangerous to try and carry a cub of the two species to term, right?”

  “Topaz mentioned that a time or two.”

  “Tell me more about her.”

  Saffron told Emme what she’d told Nevada and Landon about Topaz, and then the woman patted her arm in a gesture that was so maternal and kind, Saffron almost started to cry. It was so good to have another woman around to talk to. “Humans are always trying to pair cats in the wild—non-shifter cats—with other species. The results are spotty and the cubs usually don’t live. It’s no different in the shape-shifter world. If you stay with them, you will most likely never bear their children.”

  Saffron had already known that, on some level. But what she hadn’t fully considered until now was how dangerous it could be for her and the cub if she were to become pregnant.

  “Condoms aren’t foolproof protection. Wait here. I’ll give you some of the herbal mixture that I have. Tomorrow, come by the house when you have a moment, and I’ll teach you how to make it. If you take it in the dosage prescribed, it will not harm you.”

  “Thank you, Emme.”

  She patted Saffron’s arm again. “I’m happy to do it. I’ve never seen Nevada look this happy, and he’s been coming here with his mother since he was a young teen. You’re good for him.”

  Saffron smiled broadly and her entire body felt warm and tingly at Emme’s words. She left for just a few moments, and when she returned she handed Saffron a large brown bottle with a cap that looked like a small plastic cup. There was a line drawn around it. “Take one capful up to the black line every morning and you won’t become pregnant. And they won’t need to use condoms, but wait until you’ve taken this every day for a week first before they stop using them.”

  Would they be here that long? “Thank you.”

  Emme rose and Saffron followed her back into the room where, as she’d predicted, the men were still talking about the League of Exitium. Emme motioned Nevada over and explained to him what he’d just given Saffron. Nevada’s eyes clouded over when Emme mentioned how dangerous it would be for her to become pregnant, but he didn’t say anything other than to thank Emme.

  When Nevada and Saffron returned to join the group, he thanked Micah and Stephen for their hospitality. Landon and Saffron did the same, and then the three said good night to Drake and Emme as well. Saffron was sorry to see the evening end, but she was very tired. It was time to get some serious sleep.

  Saffron waited until they were back inside the other house before she spoke. “Are you upset about the herbal mixture?”

  Nevada shook his head. “No, of course not.” He told Landon what Emme had said to him.

  She had to ask, even though she didn’t want to. “Are you upset at the realization that I can never bear either of you cubs?”

  Nevada took the bottle from her and placed it on a table in the foyer, and then he pulled her close and looked into her eyes with tenderness. “Not upset. Disappointed, although I already knew it would be dangerous and most likely not possible.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “Please, Saffron. You have nothing to apologize for. I’m so happy you’re with us. I really am. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but for right now, all I want is to be with you.”

  He released her embrace so that Landon could hold her, and his look was equally as tender and loving as Nevada’s had been. “I feel the same way, Saffron. What’s important right now is that we’re safe, and the people who would hunt me and Mancie, and hurt you, are found and dealt with. After that, we’ll figure this out. And for right now, for as long as we can, I’m going to enjoy being with you.”

  She wrapped her arms around Landon and held him for a long time, and then the three went upstairs to get some sleep.

  * * * *

  When Saffron woke, it was nearly noon, and Landon and Nevada had just awoken as well. They all laughed at how late they slept, and decided to spend a lazy day doing nothing. It had clouded up overnight and there were flurries forecast for later that day. They each took a shower alone because Landon told Saffron that if he got into the shower with her again, he’d have to fuck her, and he was so sore he could barely walk.

  Nevada said the same thing, and then she finally confessed t
o both men that there wasn’t a spot on her body that didn’t ache. “But despite that,” she said, “if you two said let’s go, I would still fuck you both.”

  Nevada laughed and gave her a warm hug. “I love it when you talk that way. And thank you for saying so. But let’s all take a day off and recover.”

  She took her herbal mixture as Emme had instructed, wincing at the bitter taste. Too bad. She’d just have to get used to it. It was too much of a risk otherwise, and she couldn’t take a chance like that. Saffron was surprised that she wasn’t more upset at the possibility of spending her life with two men to whom she could never bear children.

  Then again, she was assuming a lot here. The men were infatuated with her right now, but that didn’t mean they’d want to spend their lives with her. They might change their minds once all this was over. Surely Nevada would want children to carry on his family’s traditions. And Landon might want a human wife, since he identified much more closely with humans than shape-shifters. She couldn’t let her mind wander down that road too far, or she’d end up with a broken heart.

  After they ate, they sat in front of the expanse of windows at the back of the house and watched the flurries swirl lazily in the breeze. Saffron had always loved the first snowfall of the season. It marked the beginning of wearing snowshoes to go outside and warm, toasty fires in the fireplace in her room, where she and Topaz would sit and talk, read, or sew.

  “What are you thinking right now?” asked Nevada.

  “Why?”

  “Because you look wistful.”

  “I’m thinking of Topaz. We both loved snow. On really cold days or when the snow was too deep to walk in, we’d sit by the fire in my room for hours. I was so content at those times.”

  “Have you ever gone outside in the snow in your leopard form?”