by Jane Jamison
Eden grabbed her sister’s arm, holding her to the spot. “Mariah, it’s them.”
“Ow. You’re digging your nails into me.” She pulled her arm away. “It’s who?”
“My mates.” She didn’t want to sound overly excited, especially after seeing her sister’s initial reaction, but how could she keep her joy down? “I found them. Or rather they found me. I was just walking down the street, going to work, when they pulled over.”
“They’re your mates? Are you sure?”
Why wouldn’t Mariah believe her? “Don’t you think I’d know? I felt the bond between us. They didn’t even have to get out of their pickup before I felt it. They’re the ones, all right.”
She would’ve sworn she saw sadness flash over her sister’s face. But Mariah was a master at hiding her feelings when she wanted to. “Aren’t you happy for me?”
“Of course I am, sis.” Mariah squinted at her. “If it’s true.”
“I don’t get you. This isn’t anything I’d make up.”
Mariah chuckled and brushed a strand of hair away from her face as John had done. Her gesture, however, was anything but sweet. “Eden, you’re not very experienced with men. I wouldn’t want you to mistake infatuation for the connection. I mean, how often have you had men pay that much attention to you?”
Surprise and hurt swept over her. “It’s not like I’m ugly. I look just like you, remember? You certainly don’t have any problems hooking up.” She immediately regretted her choice of words. No matter how much her sister liked to party, she wasn’t promiscuous. Too many people had made assumptions she didn’t deserve.
“I didn’t say you were ugly. Of course, you’re not. But you do kind of keep the guys away.”
“Not really. Or at least I didn’t mean to. I just didn’t see the point. Why bother dating when I know a guy’s not my mate?”
“To have fun, sis. Most people date just to have fun.”
What was the point of arguing? They’d had the same discussion time and time again. “It doesn’t matter. They’re here now.”
“I know. I saw.” Mariah faced the small mirror on the opposite wall. “What do you want me to say? Congratulations?”
So she was definitely hurt now. Hurt and defensive.
“Actually, yes, I would. I realize you were hoping you’d find your mates first, but I can’t help what is. You can’t predict when the connection will strike.”
“Yeah, I know.” Mariah pressed her lips together as though she’d just applied lipstick, pouting. “I’m not worried about it.”
“I saw how you reacted.” She hadn’t meant to sound accusatory, but she couldn’t help feeling disappointed. Her sister should be happy for her. Instead, she was acting as though it wasn’t a big deal.
Acting is the right word. She’s acting as if it doesn’t bother her, but it does.
Mariah arched an eyebrow and leaned against her locker. “And how did I react, sis?”
She didn’t want to hurt her sister even if she was acting like a selfish brat. “Like you were hurt. Or jealous. Or angry.” She frowned and tried to catch the idea hiding in the corner of her mind. “Almost like someone who was seeing her boyfriends with another girl.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I am happy for you.” Mariah cast her gaze down, suddenly interested in straightening her skirt.
Then why can’t you look me in the eye?
“Are you sure? I mean, you’re the one who always talked about finding your men.”
Mariah blew out a scoff. “Oh, come on. That was stupid girl talk. I don’t really want to find my mates. Not yet. Are you kidding me? I’m not the settling down kind. Who wants to get saddled with a couple of men demanding all my attention? I’m having too much fun with a lot of great guys to think about giving it all up.”
“How many guys?” She knew her sister dated a lot, but never seriously. Still, didn’t she worry about what other people thought? What her future mates might think if they showed up?
“Okay, not that many. Damn, sis, is that what you think of me? That I’m some kind of slut?”
“Of course not. It’s just that you looked so hurt.”
“I was surprised, that’s all. And yeah, maybe a little embarrassed to see my sister throwing herself at a couple of strangers. I thought you had more class than that.”
Eden’s mouth dropped open. Why was Mariah being so mean? She had to be jealous and aching to find her own mates. Nothing else explained it.
“Roberta’s going to skin us alive if we don’t get to work.” Mariah checked her image one more time then stalked out of the room.
Mariah was upset. She just wasn’t showing it, trying to hide behind a mask of pretense. But she’d seen her face earlier and she couldn’t shake it from her memory.
She’d have to take it easy and be sure not to flaunt her good fortune, even unintentionally. If it meant saving her sister some heartache, she’d take her relationship with Ford and John slower.
As much as her body craved them, as much as her heart yearned for them to claim her, she’d think about her sister’s feelings. Surely, they’d understand. After all, they’d acknowledged their bond, so what was a little more time?
Waiting, however, was the last thing she wanted to do.
Shit.
* * * *
Asking to take a long break had earned Eden a lecture from Roberta, but it was worth it. She wanted to talk to Ford and John before they met later for their date. After a quick call to Lena, she’d confirmed her guess that they were still at the bed and breakfast.
Lena Fortan was one talkative lady. Eden managed to walk half the way to Lena’s place before she’d finally been able to end the call. As she’d expected, Lena was already at the front door.
“They’re in the room to the left at the top of the stairs.”
“Thanks.” Eden knew it was too much to hope for. She hadn’t gotten one step inside before Lena was at it again.
“Honey, would you like me to put together a romantic dinner? After all, it’s not every day a girl finds her true loves.”
As irritating as Lena could be with her inquisitive nature, no one could deny that the woman had her best interests at heart. Besides, all cat shifters were curious by nature.
“No, thanks. I just stopped by to talk. No big deal.” Yet she couldn’t hold back the good news. “We’re going out later.”
“Ooh, wonderful. Does Mariah know? Have you called your folks?”
Lena had already asked those questions during their phone call. “Yes to Mariah and no to my folks. I’ll call them tomorrow.”
She started up the stairs, wanting to get away before Lena started in with more questions. At the top of the stairs, she turned and hurried to the first door on the left. Her hand was in the air, ready to knock when the door opened.
“Hey, darlin’. Good to see you.”
She didn’t have time to speak before John reached out and tugged her inside. Ford took her by the other hand and pulled her farther into the room. Before she knew it, she was lying on top of one of the twin beds.
“We didn’t know you were coming, but I’m damn sure glad you did.” Ford started unbuttoning his shirt.
John came to the other side of the bed and tugged the T-shirt over his head. He tossed it to the floor.
No woman had ever wanted a man as much as she wanted each of them. Yet she knew if she didn’t speak her piece right then she’d never get it out. That or forget all about it.
She scrambled to the head of the bed and pushed to her feet. Leaning against the headboard, she put out a hand. “No. Stop right there.”
“Why, darlin’? We’ve given you all the time we can handle.”
“We need to talk.”
“Aw, shit. This can’t be good.” Ford tilted his head, his gaze searing into hers. Heat flared in the unblinking eyes. “Don’t tell me you don’t want us. Hell, we just met. What could we have done to screw it up already?”
Damn, but they were m
agnificent. She couldn’t wait to see them in their white tiger bodies. They’d be larger than most and more commanding.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, but I want to talk to you about my sister.”
“Your sister?” Ford had worked his way down his shirt. Little by little, he revealed the dark hair spreading horizontally then downward in a line leading straight to the part she ached to see. Thankfully, she’d already gotten to feel how long and hard his cock was, but seeing was believing.
“Her name’s Mariah and she saw us on the street earlier.”
“Then what’s left to tell her, darlin’? She’s got to know you’ve found your mates.” John pulled at his buckle then yanked his belt free. “Unless you kiss guys on the street all the time.”
“Oh, sure. I’ll kiss any man who calls out my name. Not. Stop getting undressed.” She was finding it harder and harder to think.
“Why, baby? Don’t tell us we’re not going to make love. Because we are. You understand that, right?”
Ford shrugged off his shirt. His shoulders spread wide then his body tapered downward to a lean, hard waist. If she’d been an artist, she couldn’t have sculpted a better physique.
She hadn’t planned on it, but a part of her had known they’d wind up in bed from the first moment she’d decided to visit them. Had wanting to help Mariah only been an excuse for her to show up and let them take her? “I have to tell you about my sister.”
“If you’re going to ask if one of us will mate her, then the answer has to be no. We’re one woman men.” John put his knee on the bed and tried to grab her.
She pushed back against the headboard as far as she could go and let out a squeak. If he’d really wanted to catch her, he could have. “No. Although if you have a couple of friends who are still looking for their mates, you could tell them about her. Who knows? Maybe they’ll be the ones.”
“Then what’s going on, baby?” Ford shoved his jeans down.
His cock jumped to attention and pointed directly at her. If it had been a sword, she would’ve gladly committed hari-kari on it.
“I want us to take it slower.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Ford glanced down at his shaft. “It’s a little late for that.”
She giggled. They were witty with just the right amount of humor. “I mean, I don’t think we should let what happened earlier happen again. At least, for a while.”
“What? Kissing is bad?” Ford crept onto the bed, showing the gracefulness that was a part of his inner tiger.
Her body tingled, her pussy wept. The unseen bond that had brought them together was alive and thriving. She moaned, aching to quench her thirst for them. And she would. But it would have to wait.
“Kissing isn’t bad except in public.”
“I’m as lost as Ford.” John licked his lips. “I can smell your arousal. Come here, darlin’, and let me lick you.”
He undid his jeans, pushed them to his ankles, and then stepped out of them. Like his friend, he was well endowed and everything a woman prayed for. How did they expect her to think with their cocks ready for action?
Her knees weakened and, if she hadn’t been holding onto the headboard, she would’ve fallen. Oh, yes. Please, please lick me. Better yet. Bite me.
At least, that’s what she wanted to say. Instead, miraculously, she kept to the plan. “No more kissing in public. She saw us and it upset her.”
“I get it. You don’t want to rub your happiness in your sister’s face.” Ford’s eyes gained more amber. “Let me guess. She’s your older sister.”
By two minutes.
“Yes.” What was the harm in letting them think Mariah was older?
“We knew you had a good heart,” added an almost-salivating John.
“And how would you know that? Was it in my kiss?” Now that she’d gotten out what she’d wanted to tell them, she could start loosening up.
“Yeah. And because Lena and a few others have been telling us all about you.” Ford lunged at her, leaping higher than a human male could have.
She tried to jump away, but he snagged her leg at the same time John took hold of her other one. They had her on her back again.
Their hungry eyes raked over her. Her skin heated up as they skimmed their hands over her clothes.
“What’d they say?”
“They said you’re kindhearted. That your sister is the selfish one and you give in to her too much.” John tugged on the first button of her uniform.
“Really?” Of course, it wouldn’t have taken much asking for them to learn about her relationship with Mariah. Most people picked up on their personality differences as soon as her sister opened her mouth.
“Lena said you bought food and gave it to the Harvester family over in Crosston when the father had a ranching accident and broke his leg.” Ford’s hand sneaked under the hem of her skirt.
“And that you even babysat some kids for a few new mothers so they could have a Saturday off,” added John.
“I never told anyone in Twisted. How’d she find out?” Not that she really cared. How could she when they were busy undoing her buttons and slipping their hands under her clothes?
“Word gets around in small towns.” John nuzzled her neck. “It only takes one bite, you know.”
“One bite for what?” As if she didn’t know.
“One bite for us to claim you.” The amber in John’s eyes flared to life. He tugged the material apart and let his attention drop to her cleavage.
They didn’t need to turn her, but they could still bite her to claim her as their mate. It wasn’t necessary, but a lot of male shifters liked to leave a mark on their mates.
The thought of one or both of them sinking their fangs into her skin, of leaving a special mark that would tell everyone else she was taken, sent her heart racing. Taken with the power of their attraction, breath whooshed out of her. But, for Mariah’s sake, she had to be strong.
“Not today.” She rested her palms on their shoulders. “But soon. I promise.”
Ford slicked his tongue from one side of his mouth to the other. “Good.”
“Tell me about you.”
John groaned. “Now?”
She liked teasing them. Better yet, she’d be teasing herself at the same time. “I need to know more before we do this.”
Her resolve faltered. What if she could be with her men without Mariah finding out? If so, where was the harm? She’d keep them from biting her so her sister wouldn’t see evidence of their being together.
Ford used his tongue on her this time, sliding it along her collar bone. “Why? It won’t change anything. We can always talk later.”
When the man was right, he was right. It wasn’t as though they’d say anything to change her mind. They were her mates even if they came from a different planet.
She sucked in a breath as Ford’s fingers found their way along her inner thigh, then up to sneak under the lace of her panties. He kept his gaze on her, a sly smile on his face, as he pushed first one, then the second finger between her folds. Barely touching her clit drove her wild. She bucked and squirmed. He pushed her skirt out of the way and moved in between her legs.
“Easy, baby.”
Slowly, teasing her, Ford pressed kisses along her thigh and moved his way toward her pussy. She reached her arms above her head and grabbed hold of the slats in the headboard.
John finished undoing the buttons on her dress. He kissed her lightly on her chest before pushing the material aside and placing a kiss on her breast. Shoving her dress wide open, he eased beside her onto his elbows to hover over her. His black eyes had lightened, the pupils growing larger with lust.
She shivered, loving the light caresses that she knew would lead to harder, more forceful touches. “No claiming bites.”
“Not yet anyway.” Ford’s answer was muffled with his mouth pressed against her pussy. His tongue added to the pleasurable torment his fingers gave her. Whipping his tongue around her clit, he drove his
fingers into her sheath again and again.
She mewled, her mind losing hold of anything else as Ford sucked on her clit and caught it between his teeth. John’s mouth was his instrument of delight. Matching his friend’s nibbles, John added his own to her nipple then sucked it in and released it with a satisfying pop.
They didn’t take her dress off. Instead, they simply shoved her clothes out of the way. Her shoes came off with her digging in her heels, trying to get away without actually getting away.
She moaned, loving how they used their hands, their mouths, and their tongues. Their bodies were powerful machines covered in flesh that only she knew how to use. Ford’s mountainous shoulders rubbed against her inner legs, his hot flesh searing into hers. His head bobbed up and down as he licked her like a cat drinking a bowl of cream.
John fondled her nipples, massaging one as his tongue flattened over the other. The muscles in his arms and chest flexed, giving her chills at such a manly sight. She’d always been a sucker for a man with a broad chest.
John skimmed his mouth over the rise of her breast and along her neck. “Who do you want to fuck first?” he whispered.
“First?”
“Yeah. Who fucks you first?”
She clutched a handful of his hair, saw him wince, and liked that she’d given him a little pain. She wouldn’t mind getting a little pain in return.
“Why can’t I have you both at the same time?” With all her emotions scrambled and the whirlwind sensations going on inside her, she was surprised she could still speak a complete sentence.
“I like the way our mate thinks.” John dropped to her side and slid in behind her.
Ford grumbled a momentary complaint then repositioned himself, putting one of her legs over his shoulder. He came back to her pussy, spread her lips again, and went back to sucking her juices.
John slapped her butt cheek and bit down lightly on her shoulder. She looked back, reaching for him, and captured his mouth with hers. He patted her bottom again, a little harder, sending a quick slice of pain across her flesh.