“Nice,” Nikki whispered before her hands dropped to her lap and sleep overtook her.
Alexander leaned back, smiling at Butler as he settled back against the headboard, a satisfied expression on his face. Their mate was proving to be a passionate woman even in her sleep. He knew she was going to be perfect for them.
“Be sure to check on her every hour throughout the night,” Doc told them. “She’ll be in pain for at least a day or two, but once you claim her she should heal quickly.”
Alexander looked down at the beautiful woman who lay in their triad bed. It had never been used before, its use waiting for the one woman who would complete his and Butler’s triad. Seeing Nikki lying so comfortably among the blankets, he knew a sense of rightness he had never expected to experience in his life. He was so intent on drinking in the sight of their mate, he barely registered that Doc had left the room.
Easing himself out from behind her, Butler leaned forward and carefully straightened the pillow beneath Nikki’s head, making sure that the covered ice pack remained snugly against her bruised face. He was unable to keep the growl from rumbling out of him as Nikki turned toward his hand and nuzzled contentedly against him. He froze all movement as she rubbed her scent against his arm, smiling at the natural way she was reacting to them both.
“Nikki, we’re going to take off your shoes and try to make you more comfortable,” Butler told her softly, waiting for her permission before moving.
“Okay,” she whispered, obviously fighting to pull herself from the lethargy of the concussion. “My head and my back hurt,” she told them quietly, moaning slightly as she tried to turn onto her side.
Alexander reached for her immediately, his large hands moving to her hips to halt her movement. Her soft curves under his touch caused a rush of desire to flash through him, and he cursed his cock for its instant reaction. He was ashamed that he couldn’t control his desire when their mate was obviously in pain. Looking to Butler, he grimaced at the shame he felt.
“I’m sorry,” he told his triad partner softly. “I can’t help how my body is reacting to her.”
Butler nodded and smiled at his best friend’s obvious discomfort. “I’m hard as steel too, Alex,” he admitted without embarrassment. “Her scent is intoxicating.”
Alex nodded and leaned forward to help Butler remove Nikki’s shoes. Very slowly, he helped turn her onto her side, careful to bend her leg and place a pillow between her knees to support her back as she rested. At her moan of pain he looked at Butler and couldn’t prevent the anguish from showing on his face.
“What should we do? I can’t stand that she’s in pain.”
Butler nodded and reached forward to gently pull the comforter and sheets from beneath her. Standing, he bent to untie his work boots and tug them from his feet. Alexander waited until Butler stripped down to his boxer briefs and climbed into bed beside Nikki. He supported her body against his, allowing Alex to release his hold on her to stand beside the bed and quickly stripped until he was also down to his boxer briefs before carefully climbing in beside her, settling against her back to support her body.
Nikki molded herself to him slowly, groaning in pain as her twisted back muscles protested the movement. Alexander reached around her, held her at her waist, and pulled her toward his body more securely. Butler slid closer to her, lining his body snugly against hers from neck to knee so that she couldn’t move and cause herself any more pain.
Butler’s left arm settled around her waist, supporting her lower back as Alexander moved closer still until his chest was flush against her back and his thighs framed her backside and legs. Very slowly, Alex pulled the ice pack from beneath Nikki’s head and dropped it to the floor behind him. He pulled her gently against him until her head was tucked under his chin and was flush against Butler’s neck. Alex settled his right arm around her, and he knew instant paradise as his hand found its home molded against her breast.
Butler carefully pulled the sheet and comforter over them all and settled himself into the cocoon they had created. He worried that they were crowding her but he couldn’t have moved away from her at that moment if his life had depended on in. Nikki’s soft sigh brought smiles to them both as they looked over the top of her head to look at each other.
“I like this,” Nikki mumbled, slowly snuggling against them. “Closer, please,” she whispered, her voice filled with need.
They obliged her gladly, leaning against her and surrounding her with their arms and legs until they were practically on top of her.
“Are we hurting you, darlin’?” Alex whispered, worried that they were suffocating her.
Instead of answering, Nikki reached out to take hold of their hands and brought them to her chest. “Stay with me,” she finally told them, her plea breaking their hearts at the want in her voice as she slowly slid into slumber.
“Forever,” Butler whispered, his heart filled with hope as he kissed her forehead gently.
Alexander kissed the top of her head and sighed contentedly. He was finally at peace and at home within their mate’s embrace.
And she is going to stay right where she is for the rest of our lives, damn it!
Butler chuckled, drawing Alex’s attention.
“Did you hear that?” Alex asked him quietly.
“It was like a soft whisper, but I heard it,” Butler told him, his voice filled with awe at this beginning miracle. “And I agree.” His eyes sparkled with happiness. “Damn it!”
Chapter 3
A soft knock on their bedroom door roused both men. Nikki lay oblivious to the intrusion, her soft body pliant and relaxed between them. It was amazing how well they had all slept despite the occasional interruptions during the night to give her more pain medication and check on how she was feeling.
Each time they moved away from her to get the pills or draw back to look at her and talk to her, she whimpered in pain that they suspected was both physical and emotional. She wanted them beside her, close beside her, only becoming settled and content when they were nearly lying on top of her. And that pleased them both greatly.
“Come in,” Alex called out quietly.
The door opened and Doc Barrett and Martha came into the room. Neither man moved away from Nikki. They wanted her calm and content, and they knew if they moved even the slightest bit away from her she would rouse and search for them.
“I came to check on your mate,” Doc told them quietly.
Butler nodded and reached up to touch Nikki’s cheek softly. He smiled at the contented noise that escaped her immediately. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned forward to lightly kiss her lips.
“You’re going to have to examine her just like this, Doc,” Butler told him quietly. “She hurt her back when that bastard shoved her against the storefront, and she gets upset when we’re not surrounding her.”
Doc nodded and carefully reached out to touch Nikki’s wrist as it lay across Butler’s back. Her pulse was strong and steady, and Doc nodded his approval. Taking out the small pen light, he leaned forward and gently lifted her eyelid to shine the light to check her pupils.
“Was she lucid throughout the night?” Doc asked quietly, gently reaching behind her head to touch the lump that was still very evident on the back of her skull.
“She was,” Alex answered for both of them.
Doc breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.” He stepped back and looked down at the triad, weighing his words.
“What’s wrong, Doc?” Alex asked, his face showing the worry he was feeling. “Is she all right?”
“She would be better if the both of you would claim her,” Doc told them honestly. “Your bites will help her heal quicker.”
“Nikki needs to know everything about us before she can choose,” Butler answered firmly.
“I understand,” Doc answered reluctantly. “But it would be better for her if you claimed her soon.” He hesitated, thinking a moment about her injuries. “If her back is still bothering
Alex growled at the instant picture that flashed in his mind of the three of them naked while he and Butler massaged Nikki with oil. He saw the golden flash in Butler’s eyes and knew his partner was seeing the same picture in his mind.
“I’ll bring you some oils,” Martha told them, leaning forward to place two plastic containers on the bedside table. “Here’s the healing salve and the bath salts for after the claiming. Nikki will be more comfortable afterward once you use them.”
Alexander blushed slightly. Although the entire pack knew of the stress and discomfort the claiming would put on a newly mated woman, it was still embarrassing to him that his mother was the one to remind him of what he should do after he and Butler made love to Nikki together and claimed her. He nodded abruptly and growled at the amused expression on Butler’s face.
“Shut up, Butler,” he warned.
Butler had the nerve to laugh out loud. Martha chuckled and turned to follow Doc out of the room.
“I’ll get the oils,” Martha told them both, smiling widely as she opened the door and stood just outside the room. “Hunter and Clayton are downstairs talking to Julia and Laurie. When Nikki wakes up, the officers want to ask her some questions. Do you think she’ll be up to answering them?”
“Have them come up in about thirty minutes,” Alex told his mother. “If she’s awake, they can talk to her then.”
Martha nodded and turned to leave. “I’ll tell them they’ll have to make it quick. Nikki needs her rest, and you need to help her with that massage,” she told them as she left, closing the door quietly behind her.
Butler watched as the door shut behind Martha, then turned to look down at the beautiful woman who slept so soundly between them. The feel of her body snuggled up against both of them settled him and gave him a sense of peace and contentment so deep he was actually afraid to move and lose the contact with her. The way she fit nestled between him and Alex was like the last piece of a puzzle finally slipping into place and making them complete.
“I’ve never had such a good night’s sleep,” Alexander said quietly, looking over the top of Nikki’s head to look at Butler.
Butler smiled and reached up to touch Nikki’s shoulder. “She’s perfect for us,” he answered honestly, his voice low so as not to disturb the woman who slept peacefully between them. “The Fates knew what they were doing when they sent her to us.”
Alexander nodded and tightened his hold around Nikki’s waist, his hand gently caressing her breast through the soft material of her shirt. He couldn’t prevent the low growl that escaped him as he felt her nipple pebble beneath his palm. He knew he shouldn’t be taking such liberties with her while she was asleep, but the pure joy of holding her affected him in a way he never could have imagined.
“I don’t think I could have controlled my anger for much longer,” he admitted quietly. “I need her.”
Butler nodded and took his hand from Nikki’s shoulder to place it gently against her cheek. He smiled as she turned into his touch and rubbed against his palm. “She’ll calm us both,” he said with certainty. “We’ll never have to worry again. She’ll be here to make sure that we remain centered.”
Alexander leaned forward and inhaled deeply, Nikki’s scent calming him immediately. “She will,” he agreed. He kissed her neck slowly, loving the soft sounds she began to make at his touch.
Closing his eyes, he saw a vision that he could feel Butler shared with him. It was of Nikki standing on the back deck of the ranch home that the members of the pack shared. She was holding two babies against her chest, cradling them lovingly in her arms as their tiny heads rested trustingly against her shoulders. She was singing to them as she swayed her body gently from side to side. He saw himself and Butler coming up onto the deck and leaning down to kiss Nikki gently before kneeling beside her and tenderly kissing the tiny heads of the beautiful infants.
He looked up and saw Butler watching him silently. They both leaned in closer to Nikki and held her against them tighter.
“Two,” Butler whispered in awe. “She’ll give us two.”
Alexander smiled despite his shock. “Two,” he echoed. “And they’ll be as beautiful as she is.”
Leaning forward he kissed Nikki’s neck lightly, smiling against the sweetness of her skin as she snuggled against him.
“Alex?” Nikki’s sleep-filled voice startled them both.
“Yes, Nikki,” he answered softly.
“Butler?” Nikki called out quietly, her voice still heavy with sleep.
“I’m here, sweetness,” Butler answered, taking her hand and drawing it to his lips to kiss the back of her hand lightly before placing it over his heart.
“I had a dream,” she told them, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Alex and Butler shared a smile, happy that the vision they had experienced had also been seen by Nikki. She didn’t understand it. She was confused by it. But she had shared it, and she was struggling to make her way through the mystery of it. Her forehead was creased in confusion as she was trying to figure out the reality of their situation as opposed to the vision she had just seen.
“It was a vision, Mate. We saw it, too,” Butler whispered against her forehead. “It showed us our future and the beautiful babies we will have.”
“It’s our future?” Nikki’s confused voice answered him as she reached out to hold Butler against her body even tighter.
“Yes, Mate,” Alex whispered, removing his hand from her breast and moving it to cover her belly possessively. “Our babies will be sleeping quietly within you very soon.”
Nikki smiled and melted against Alexander as his chest molded closer against her back. “I love being held by the both of you. I want to make love to you,” she whispered, sighing contentedly as they held her tightly. “Do you want to make love to me?”
Both men’s immediate growl of possession startled her awake. She blinked her eyes rapidly, unsure what had just happened. Everything was a jumbled mess of thoughts. Before she could question them, there was a knock on the bedroom door.
“Come in,” Butler called out before Nikki could protest.
She squeaked in embarrassment and buried her face into Butler’s neck as the bedroom door opened quickly. She hesitated a moment before turning her head carefully to see an older woman enter the room carrying several small glass bottles.
“Oh, good, you’re awake,” the woman spoke to her, setting the bottles down on the bedside table before she turned to face the trio.
Nikki blushed hotly as she realized she was sandwiched between Alexander and Butler, and this sweet looking woman was watching them with a smile on her face. How awful the situation must look to her. She tried to move out of the men’s embrace, but she groaned at the sudden flash of pain that tore through her back and head.
“Don’t move, honey,” the woman told her quickly, reaching out to touch her hand gently as it lay against Butler’s chest. “I brought you some oils with medicinal herbs in them. Alexander and Butler need to rub them into your back. It will help you immediately.”
“Thank you,” Nikki answered gratefully.
Nikki looked at the woman with trepidation. She realized that the woman’s gaze only held concern and not contempt or disgust that Nikki was in bed with two men. She was confused. Wasn’t this wrong? Should she be in bed with two men?
Holy hell!
Was she insane? Should she be in bed with Alexander and Butler? She didn’t even know them. Even though her body was screaming at her to shut up and enjoy the closeness, her head was telling her that she was doing something wrong.
Martha smiled despite her concern for the young woman, oblivious to the turmoil that was racing through Nikki. “There are two officers that have some questions for you about the incident at the mall. Do you feel up to talking to them?”
“Sure,” Nikki answered quietly. “If it will help Laurie get Patrick behind bars, I’ll talk to anyone I have to.” She tried to sit up but groaned in pain. Alex and Butler pulled her gently back into their embrace and stabilized her between them once again.
“It would be best if your men claim you soon.” Martha continued to talk softly as she stepped back and looked down at the adorable woman who was part of her son’s triad.
“Claim me?” Nikki questioned, trying to push through the fuzziness in her head. “I don’t understand,” she said quietly, reaching up to touch her forehead and rub it gently.
“I’ll send up the officers as soon as they finish talking to Laurie and Julia. I’ll be sure to tell them they have to keep it brief so you can rest. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.” Martha continued. “I know you’re a little confused because of your injury, Nikki, but don’t worry. We’re all here to help you.”
“Thank you,” Nikki whispered, blushing despite her determination to stay calm.
Martha nodded and smiled. “You’re very welcome, honey,” she told her sincerely before turning and leaving the room.
“Who is that?” Nikki whispered, her eyes following the older woman as she walked away and closed the door behind her.
“Her name is Martha. She’s my mother,” Alexander answered her, his voice gruff.
“What!” Nikki screeched, turning to face the big man who was plastered against her back, regretting her movement immediately. She moaned as pain ripped through her from her lower back to her shoulder.
Both men reached for her immediately, stilling her body as they supported her with their own bodies. Nikki tried to breathe through the sharp needles of agony that shot through her, closing her eyes as she felt dizzy with the intensity of the pain.
“Please don’t move, Mate,” Butler told her quickly.
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