The door to the suite opened, and she smiled as she saw Alex and Butler walk in, closing the door behind them. She openly ogled them as they made their way toward her.
“Hi,” she whispered, her voice breathy as she tried to pull her lust back under control.
“Hi, yourself,” Butler answered, grinning as he reached out to pull her into his arms. “You smell like Doc,” he said suddenly.
“Why do you smell like Doc?” Alex questioned as he leaned in and breathed in deeply against her shoulder.
“Because I hugged him.”
“You what?” Alex demanded. His voice was deep and angry, and his eyes flashed a golden color, showing that his wolf was demanding to be released.
Nikki pushed herself out of Butler’s arms and stood a foot away from both men. Her anger hit her instantly. “I hugged him,” she repeated, ignoring the warning growls that emanated from both men. “And don’t get all growly on me! I’m a hugger, and I’ll hug who I damn well please so back the hell off!”
“You will take a shower, woman, and get rid of his scent.” Alex’s voice was demanding as he stood before her. “You will carry no man’s scent except ours, Mate,” he told her, stepping toward her and taking her in his arms and holding her tightly against his chest.
Butler plastered himself against her back and rubbed his face against her hair. “And you will cease your hugging of other men,” he told her angrily.
Nikki twisted her body, breaking their hold and pushing herself out of their arms. Her light blue eyes flashed with barely controlled fury. She took two steps back and raised her hands to stop them from following her.
“Don’t touch me.”
Both men froze. Their anger and jealously were eating them up, and their wolves were demanding they finally claim her as their mate.
“You will not make me change who I am,” she insisted. “I hug people. Get over it.”
“Nikki,” Alex interrupted her. “You belong to us. No other man should ever touch you. And you should never touch any other man.”
Nikki snorted in disgust. “Are you kidding me? Geez, it’s not as if I had wild sex with the man!”
Both men growled and took a step toward her. She grabbed a pillow from the bed and lashed out at them without thinking, hitting both men square in the chest. The action stunned them into silence, and they looked at her in disbelief.
“I belong to myself. Get that through your thick skulls. I did not, nor will I ever, cheat. I am a one-man woman, well a two-man woman now, but that can certainly change. If you both want a relationship with me you need to trust me. You need to accept my nature. And my nature is to be a hugger. I hugged Drew. He was helpful in explaining facts about triad matings, and I feel like we’re already friends. I hugged him good-bye and thanked him for his help. I also hugged him because my heart broke for him because he was so sad. I wanted to comfort him. I would have hugged Carter, too, if he were still there with us. Deal with it. I will not apologize for caring about people. And I will not stop hugging people that I want to hug. Now leave me the hell alone before I hit you with something a little harder than a pillow because goodness knows you both deserve it.”
Both men looked at her silently, knowing deep down that she was right. They had overreacted. She had every right to get angry. The man in each of them knew they were wrong, but their inner wolves were snapping angrily at the frustration of knowing their mate would continue to touch other men—even if it was an innocent hug. It took all of their control to hold back their beasts and calm themselves. It would serve no purpose to lose control and risk losing the one woman who held their future happiness in her heart.
They saw the fire in Nikki’s beautiful blue eyes and knew she would fight them with everything she was to retain what was inherent to her nature. If they were to be honest with themselves, they knew they wouldn’t want her to be anything other than what she was. Nodding silently, they turned as one and left the room, closing the door behind them without a word.
“Boy, we really screwed up,” Alex said miserably as they walked down the stairs, away from the one person they wanted to be with.
“Well, not really,” Butler told him, laughing softly as he clapped him on the back.
Alex turned to him and looked at his triad partner as if he had lost his mind. “What the hell are you talking about? She’s so pissed at us we’ll never be able to get her to agree to our mating now.”
Butler smiled as he led them out through the back door of the ranch home. “She just admitted to us that she’s a two-man woman. That means she’s accepted us.”
Alex stopped and looked at him, a smile slowly crossing his face. “It does, doesn’t it,” he said softly, realizing that Butler was correct.
Butler nodded. “Yup, but she’s still pissed, and we have some serious apologizing to do.”
Alex turned and walked toward the single men’s cabin. They needed to check in with Lucian and Cole and see how Mitchell was doing. Most importantly, they would have to think about how to get back into Nikki’s good graces.
“I still don’t like that she hugged Doc,” Alex finally grumbled as they entered the large dormitory style cabin.
“Neither do I,” Butler agreed. “But we don’t want her to change for us. We love her just the way she is.”
* * * *
Nikki seethed silently as she sat on the bed. It had been nearly half an hour since the men had left the room, but she was still angry. She refused to change who she was just to appease their jealousy. They should trust her. They should know she would be faithful.
“Stupid jerks!” she muttered. “Stupid chauvinistic jerks!”
There was a light knock on the door, and she jumped to her feet, picking up two pillows. If they thought she was going to cave and just allow them back into the room without resolving this trust issue, they were going to soon learn that she was a force to be reckoned with!
As the door opened she hauled back and flung both pillows at it, catching the person smack in the face and chest. The muffled grunt of surprise escaped the person before the fluffy weapons dropped to the floor, revealing a surprised Laurie at the doorway entrance.
“Hello to you, too, Nikki!” Laurie said dryly, laughing as she faced her best friend. “It’s good to see you’re back to your old self.”
“Laurie!” Nikki squealed, rushing to her friend and embracing her, hugging her tightly as she spun her in a circle.
Laurie laughed with total enjoyment as Nikki squeezed her tightly against her. “You’re making me dizzy. Stop before I puke!”
Nikki stopped immediately and held her best friend at arm’s length. “I am so going to kick your ass. Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how worried we all were about you?”
Laurie was immediately contrite. “I know. I’m sorry. I had to go to Denver. Mia was in a car accident. Patrick ran her off the road.” Emotion choked her as she looked at her best friend. “He tried to kill her, Nikki.”
Nikki growled at the mention of Laurie’s ex. How she hated that man. He had done nothing but abuse and harass Laurie and her children Mia and Dean ever since she could remember. Nikki tried her best to protect them, but even she knew she couldn’t fight him. His obsession with Laurie bordered on insanity. She had no doubt in her mind that Patrick was a loose cannon. His threat to Laurie and her children was very real, and that concerned all of them.
Carefully guiding Laurie to the large couch, she waited for her to sit then sat beside her, holding her hand gently.
“Is Mia okay?” Nikki whispered worriedly.
“She’s injured from the accident, but she’s getting better. She and Dean will be here shortly. Jace and Jackson want them to live here with us. They want my kids to be their kids.”
Nikki’s opinion of Jace and Jackson just went up one thousand percent. “I think I like your mates,” she told Laurie honestly.
Laurie smiled, her eyes bright with happiness. “I do, too.” She laughed and brushed asi
de her worry, leaning back against the softness of the couch. “In fact, I love them. I’m going to stay here with them. I know I’ll be happy spending the rest of my life with them.”
Nikki smiled at her friend. It was as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She knew that Laurie had finally found the love she deserved. From what she had observed so far, she could tell that Jace and Jackson loved Laurie deeply and would protect her and her children from any threat that came their way.
“I think you’re right, Laurie,” she told her quietly. “You’ve made the right choice, honey. You were meant to be here with your men. From what I’ve learned about this pack’s triad matings over the last few days, I’ve come to realize that there is just no way to deny what’s destined to be.”
Laurie reached out and held Nikki’s hand tightly. “Have you realized that Alexander and Butler are meant for you?”
“Stubborn, chauvinistic idiots!” Nikki snapped immediately.
“But you love them,” Laurie said, laughing.
Nikki hesitated then leaned back against the back of the couch, all fight leaving her. “This is happening way too fast. I just can’t deal with it.”
Laurie’s eyes held compassion for her friend. “I know, honey. But don’t be afraid. When you’re part of a triad, the feelings come fast and hard. It’s okay to love them already.”
Nikki sighed heavily, rubbing her eyes tiredly. “I do love them, damn it,” she finally admitted. “But I can’t let them know it. They have to know that they can’t treat me like a mindless slave. I will not do what they say just because they demand it. They have to understand that I have a choice in all that I do and all that I feel.”
“They will, Nikki,” Laurie told her softly. “Don’t give up on them. I know they’ll make you happy.”
Nikki looked at her best friend, all insecurity and hope expressed in her eyes. “I hope so,” she whispered. “I really do hope so.” She stared off into space as she thought, all her worries nearly crushing her.
Laurie could see the sadness that was overwhelming her and felt the need to comfort her friend. She remembered feeling the same sense of panic and confusion at her strong feelings for Jace and Jackson.
“What are you thinking, honey?”
Nikki shrugged slowly, unable to say anything. “Nothing,” she mumbled softly.
“Nikki, tell me.” Nikki looked at her with such pain in her eyes that Laurie couldn’t help but reach out to hold her tightly in her arms. “What, honey?”
“What if they don’t really want me? What if they just want my money?”
“They don’t even know about your money,” Laurie said immediately. “Don’t let your fears about that stop you from having the love you deserve. They are nothing like your ex-husband just like Jace and Jackson are nothing like mine.”
Nikki was quiet, thinking about so many things. Her head was filled with a riot of emotions. She was worrying and hoping at the same time that she could truly trust Alex and Butler and really have a future with them.
“I have to get back to Jace and Jackson,” Laurie interrupted her thoughts. “I just wanted to come and tell you about the accident and that the kids are coming here. They should be here shortly. Think about staying here and making a life with your men. I know you’ll be happy, and I couldn’t bear it if you went away. Please give them a chance to love you, honey.”
Nikki nodded, reaching forward to hug Laurie to her tightly before letting her go. Laurie smiled and walked from the room, leaving Nikki alone with her thoughts.
She got up and walked toward the bathroom. She was absolutely not showering because Alex and Butler demanded that she wash Drew’s scent from her body. She was showering because she needed to relax under the warmth of the water. She told herself that over and over as she scrubbed herself clean. As she stood under the soothing warmth and allowed the water to wash away her worries, she admitted to herself that she was not a very good liar.
* * * *
Nikki was cuddled under the blankets that covered their triad bed. She was physically exhausted, but it was her emotional state that was affecting her the most. She barely had any strength at all.
After going to the kitchen and eating the egg salad sandwich and macaroni salad that Martha had offered her, she had visited with her for about twenty minutes. She had wanted to make sure the older woman’s hand was fully healed. Once she had assured herself that Martha’s hand was as good as new, she had made her sit down at the kitchen table while she cleaned up after herself. Martha had made her laugh at her explanation of how her mates had taken care of her, making Nikki blush at the description of how they had spoiled Martha with love. It had been so nice to have been able to spend time with her.
Going back to the suite she had shared with Alex and Butler, she gave in to the exhaustion she was feeling. She needed the escape of sleep to give her tired mind a chance to rest. Even if she was only able to sleep for a little while, she would value the time to recoup and regenerate. She had some decisions to make.
She was not going to be forced into anything. She was going to choose what she wanted to do for the first time in her life. No one else’s opinions or needs would come before hers. She had to do what was right for her.
Try as she might, she couldn’t hold onto the intensity of her anger. She kept seeing Butler’s ice-blue eyes filled with compassion and desire. She saw the sweet expression on Alex’s face as he looked at her. Their memory of their kindness melted her anger. The way they had cherished her had broken the ice she had held around her heart for years. She was losing the battle of resistance. And it was all their fault. She grumbled to herself as her exhausted mind finally rested, and she slid into the healing oblivion of sleep.
* * * *
The feeling of the bed shifting on either side of her brought Nikki out of her slumber. She smelled them before she opened her eyes. Taking in a deep breath, she allowed their scents to fill her and satisfy a need in her that she couldn’t quite put into words. She just knew that waking up to these men and being filled by their scents and their love was exactly what she needed and wanted.
“How angry are you, honey?” Alex spoke softly against the left side of her face. He kissed her temple lightly before settling on the pillow close to her head.
“I’m pretty angry, Alex,” she whispered, not opening her eyes.
“Do you think we can convince you to forgive us?” Butler whispered against her right temple.
Nikki couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her lips. “Stop making me smile. I want to stay mad at you.”
Butler chuckled against her cheek, kissing her lightly. “I like when you get mad at us,” he whispered.
Nikki cracked an eye open, looking directly at Butler to see him smiling at her. “Now why in the hell would you like it when I get mad at you?” she asked him with exasperation. “I don’t like getting mad at you.”
“I don’t like it, either, baby,” Alex whispered against her ear, kissing just below her earlobe and biting down on her neck lightly. “I’m sorry for being jealous. We know you would never be unfaithful.”
“I never would, Alex,” she told him seriously, turning to face him, looking at him, and seeing the sorrow in his silver gray eyes. “How could I ever want anyone but you and Butler?”
She slowly faced Butler and saw the happiness her words had caused him. “Don’t be so smug. I’m still angry.”
“Good. Keep it that way,” Butler encouraged her. “We need you to let us know when we upset you. If you tell us, we can work together to fix whatever is wrong. If you walk away, you’ll take our hearts with you.”
Nikki didn’t know what to say to that. She knew deep in her heart that what Butler had just confessed was the absolute truth. She had a moment of panic as she realized that she really was the keeper of their hearts. How could she ever live with herself if she hurt these two wonderful men?
“What about you two?” she asked quietly. At their confused expr
essions she knew she had to explain. “If you don’t like the way I am and want me to leave, you need to tell me. If you think another woman would make you happy, I will step aside. I just want you to be honest with me.”
Their instant growls shut her up immediately. Their eyes flashed and glowed golden. She could feel their anger ramping up within them. Beneath their anger, she felt their pain and struggled to understand it.
Alex sat up beside her, looking down at her as he ran his right hand through his hair in frustration. He reached out and entwined the fingers of his left hand with hers and squeezed gently.
“Nikki, please listen to me,” he told her quietly, trying very hard to maintain his composure. “We don’t want any other woman. We want you. The three of us are triad mates. There is no other woman for us. Nothing and no one will ever come between us. Our lives are fated to exist together. We are destined to have a future together, and we would never hurt you or be unfaithful to you. Ever.”
Nikki looked up at him silently. She heard the honest emotions in his voice and saw the anguish in his eyes as he looked down at her. Butler’s movement beside her drew her attention. He sat up beside her silently, reaching out to draw the blankets down to her waist and resting his hand lightly on her hip.
“I know this is difficult for you to accept, Nikki,” he told her softly, rubbing his thumb soothingly against her hip, pushing up the T-shirt she wore so that his hand could caress her belly tenderly. “Try to understand that our relationship with you is something we’ve been waiting for our whole life. Everything about you is exactly what we need. You bring us such peace. I haven’t seen this big idiot so happy in a long time,” he added, nodding briefly at Alex.
“Hey!” Alex snapped, insulted.
“Tell me it’s not true,” Butler snapped right back at him. “Have you ever actually smiled on a regular basis before?”
Alex opened and closed his mouth several times, unable to form any words.
Babies for Nikki Page 16