Shay, Ashley and Hunter, Josie - The Lady Takes a Pride [The Shifters of Catamount, Texas 1] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Ashley Shay

  When she could open her eyes, she glanced between them. They each stared at her with a tenderness that brought a burn of tears to her eyes. She licked her lips nervously. “You…I…What just happened?”

  “You’re becoming our woman, Carly,” Tyler said quietly.

  “Would you like that?” Shane asked.

  “Please say yes,” Dusty whispered.

  Carly trembled with the thought of belonging to all these men. She could only imagine what her life would be like with these men attending to her every need and want. Yes, she wanted to be theirs. Forever.

  It’s a dream come true. More than that… It’s the fulfillment of every dream ever dreamed.

  Two weeks of fantasizing had led to this moment. It had been too much to hope they felt the same, but their words seem to say they had. She had a hard time finding her voice because of the emotions flooding her senses. Even as her mind screamed, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” her throat couldn’t seem to force the words out.

  “Darlin’?” Tyler said softly. He peered at her, his eyes glittering in the dim lights surrounding the pool. He smiled. “Would you like to be our woman, our mate?”

  “Yes, oh yes,” she breathed. “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. It sounds wonderful.” She gave them a brilliant smile. “Make me yours.”

  “It’s our turn now, Carly.” Tyler stood, lifting her into his arms. He passed her to Shane, who carried her into the pool.

  Easing into the silky water, Shane lowered her beneath the surface, splashing the cool liquid over her heated flesh and giving her a nice little cleanup. When he was finished, he supported her back and let her float. She waited patiently, wondering what the men had on their minds, enjoying the sight of Tyler and Dusty at the edge of the pool. Their golden skin practically glowed in the moonlight, and their cocks stood up proudly, thick and hard. They spoke for a few moments, and then Tyler dove into the pool, sending ripples of both cool water and cool anticipation throughout Carly’s body. Tyler swam toward them and began kissing her, pressing his lips over her heated face and down her throat until he came to her breasts. He kissed each hard tip as Shane ran his hands under her ass, his fingers sweeping lightly between the cheeks and causing shivers to race up and down her spine.

  “Do you want to belong to us?” Tyler asked in a whisper against her ear.

  “Oh God yes.” Carly realized her voice sounded desperate and needy. She didn’t care. Even though the cool water lapped her body, she burned with the need for their touch. She felt overwhelmed by lust as uncontrolled desire slammed through her, following the burning trail of their touch to drive deep into her pussy, causing it to pulse in hard spasms. She’d already come twice, and even that didn’t seem enough.

  She lay back in Shane’s arms, in the throes of some sort of cat scratch fever. “I want you to take me,” she murmured. “Now, please. I can’t wait.”

  “Something for Dusty first,” Tyler said.

  She glanced toward Dusty, who still stood on flagstones at the edge of the pool.

  “Definitely,” Carly said, licking her lips. “Something for Dusty first.”

  Shane released her, and she swam toward the edge of the pool. She hooked her arms over the edge and stared up at him, offering him her best sultry smile. She hoped it looked as good as it felt.

  “Well, cowboy, you in the mood for that sucking we talked about a few weeks ago?”

  Dusty didn’t hesitate. He dropped down and, straddling her, put his legs into the pool. She wrapped her arms around his hips, her fingers stroking across his buttocks. She gave a little tug, and he scooted closer. His balls lay against the wet flagstones. She traced the veins, feeling the warmth of his skin and the coarseness of the hair that grew there. His cock bobbed in front of her face, moving and twitching with each touch of her finger. Dusty groaned, a low sound that vibrated through his chest and came out as a half growl, half purr. She wanted to keep teasing him, but the sight of that cock was too much to take. She wanted to taste it.

  She wrapped her lips around the head, sucking it into her mouth. His cock had an earthy taste, and even though there was a slight bitterness, she’d never tasted anything so sweet. The way he lifted his hips toward her, encouraging her to take him deeper, gave her a sense of power she found intoxicating. She allowed him to push his cock farther into her mouth, and she closed her mouth, suctioning his flesh tighter and tighter as he moved. His thighs bunched and released under her hands, and his cock pulsed, the hot, rigid flesh pounding against her tongue and mouth.

  Dusty threaded his fingers through her damp hair, cupping her head to guide himself deeper. She relaxed her muscles and let him drive farther, and with one final thrust, he exploded into her mouth, his cock beating rhythmically as the cum shot to the back of her throat. She swallowed every drop he gave her and continued to suck until his cock softened and Dusty fell back onto the flagstones with a groan of spent pleasure. Behind her, Shane and Tyler groaned as well.

  “I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Dusty murmured.

  Inwardly, she smiled, loving that she’d made him so happy. She caressed his thighs, running her hands through the wiry golden hair and around his hips. She dropped a kiss on the tip of his spent cock. He pulled himself back up and slid toward her, dropping into the pool in front of her. Smiling, he bent slowly toward her, so slowly she held her breath in anticipation. He took her lips in a passionate, soul-searching, toe-tingling kiss. When he pulled away, he said, “I’m never letting you go, darlin’. I hope you realize that.”

  “I hope you’re serious,” Carly said.

  “You’re damn right I’m serious.” He gave her another quick, hard kiss. “Now I’ve got to get out of here. My older brothers have plans for you.”

  He dove beneath the surface, swimming gracefully to the side of the pool. He climbed the ladder and, standing at the side of the pool, flung his hair back. Water droplets shot through the air, glistening in the moonlight. He stood naked for a moment, staring at her, his gaze scorching every inch of Carly’s exposed flesh.

  “Be right back.” Then he gave her a little wave and slipped, still naked, into the shadows.

  “Our turn,” Tyler said.

  Carly spun around in the water and smiled. “I’m all yours.”

  Tyler took a few steps toward her. “We want you for our own, Carly. Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  “Then you have to trust us,” Shane said. “Let us show you what it’s like to be loved by two men.”

  Shane ran his lips up the column of her throat while Tyler gave her heated kisses against her mouth. She clutched at his shoulders, trying to deepen the kisses, but he continued to tease her, driving her to madness. When Dusty returned, he tossed something toward Tyler and vanished as quickly as he’d appeared. She saw a small bottle of lube in Tyler’s hand.

  He gave her a grin. “Better safe than sorry.”

  Carly hadn’t thought about the mechanics of it. She was beyond the point of caring. All she wanted was relief from this aching need to belong to them.

  Shane pulled one of her legs up, locking it over his hip. He guided himself into her pussy and shoved, sheathing himself fully in her moisture. Tyler stroked something cool between her butt cheeks then slipped his finger gently into her anus. Shane continued to kiss her as Tyler’s finger entered then retreated several times. Though it probably should have hurt, she’d fallen so far into lust she barely noticed the discomfort. After several moments of preparation, Tyler positioned himself behind her, his hands on her hips.

  “Ready?” he asked. Carly didn’t know if he meant her, or Shane, but she nodded.

  She felt him position his cock against the seam of her buttocks. He pushed his hand between her and Shane, and his fingers found her clit, rubbing in tiny circles until she felt that familiar ache wind through her body again. As she fell over the precipice of her orgasm, a sharp burst of pressure made her gasp as she felt the tip of lubricated Tyler’s co
ck slide into virgin territory.

  She dropped her head forward onto Shane’s chest, concentrating on the blissful sensations rolling through her body and allowing herself time to acclimate to the feeling of fullness as Tyler pushed deeper inside her. Every nerve throbbed with intense pleasure as the men adjusted themselves, moving lightly until she gave the signal.

  “Move.” She couldn’t wait any longer, nor did she have the patience for going slow. A firestorm of need raced through her veins, and she felt wild, primal, almost feral. She could hear her blood singing in her veins, smell the musk of the men’s sweat like an aphrodisiac, and her body released a flood of moisture. They inhaled deeply, their jaws tense as they smelled her arousal and tried to control their movements.

  “Fuck me,” she begged. She had never used that term before during sex, but something new had been unleashed within her, and Carly felt a freedom she’d never known.

  Tyler began pumping her ass with steady, hard strokes that pushed her onto Shane’s cock as he thrust forward to meet them. The combined assault on her pleasure centers had Carly ready to faint with the sensation.

  Behind her, Tyler was breathing hard, his body tense and on the verge of release. In front of her, Shane had thrown back his head, his throat bared to her gaze. She pressed her lips to the pulse beating under his skin, loving the feel of his heart’s hard, pounding beat. She had a desire to lick, to nip, to bite, but she drew back, afraid of ruining their perfect moment by being too aggressive their first time. Rivulets of sweat trickled down his chest as his corded muscles bunched and responded to the impending climax. She watched him, furiously kissing his face, his lips, loving that she could be the cause of his desire.

  “Come now,” Tyler ordered.

  Those two words sent her into a tailspin. She jerked in Shane’s arms, her hips bucking wildly. Her pussy clutched Shane’s cock, the muscles milking him until he groaned with the pain of release, and she groaned along with him, riding the waves of ecstasy that coursed through her body. Tyler came violently, his hips bucking against her, and he released his fluids, bathing her in warmth.

  Tyler swept her damp hair over her shoulder and pressed his mouth against the back of her neck. His lips were warm, heady, and the tenderness of his kiss was almost too much to bear. He brushed his cheek against her hair, murmuring soft words she could barely understand.

  “How do you feel?” Tyler asked.

  Carly leaned her head back against his chest. “Amazing. Positively amazing.”

  “I’d have to agree,” Shane murmured against her hair.

  Carly shivered, though whether it resulted from the cool water or the kisses to her shoulders she didn’t know. Tyler rubbed his hands over her arms.

  “You’re getting goose bumps. We should take this party inside, don’t you think?”

  Her heart fluttered in her chest. More loving? How had she gotten so lucky? “I’d love that. But first a warm shower. Last one inside has to lock up.”

  The men laughed as she dove under the water, swimming for the ladder. She gripped the metal railing and hauled herself up, and when she burst to the surface, she fell back into the pool, nearly choking on the water that flooded her mouth. She flailed and sputtered and nearly went under again until strong hands gripped her waist and set her on her feet. She’d forgotten she was in three feet of water. That might have been because of the two cougars staring at her from the edge of the pool.

  She took a couple awkward steps backward then glanced toward Tyler and Shane. Both men lounged near the side of the pool, their arms hooked over the edge.

  “W–what are those animals d–doing here?” she stuttered.

  Tyler smiled. “They live here.”

  She stared at him incredulously then let her gaze drift toward the large, tawny animals who stared at her with green eyes that glittered in the dim light. “You keep cougars for pets?”

  Tyler shook his head and laughed. “No, I’m afraid my brothers would make terrible pets.”

  “Your b–brothers?” Carly felt like she’d missed something very important. She tried to wrap her mind around his words, but she couldn’t understand a thing he said, and she began to tremble because something prickled at her thoughts, something too strange to contemplate.

  The earthy smell.

  The growls.

  The glittering eyes.

  And even as she stared at the two large beautiful animals before her, she saw that one of them had damp fur. She imagined if she got closer, she might actually smell chlorine. Oh no, it couldn’t be…This wasn’t a romance novel. This wasn’t a fairy tale. This was real life, and things like these…these shifters did not exist.

  Shane waded toward her and slipped an arm around her shoulders. He tucked her against his side. She lifted her face to him, praying he would have a logical explanation for the things tumbling through her mind. “The one on the left is Dusty.”

  “Yes, of course, it’s Dusty…” she murmured then shook her head violently. “No, no, that’s not possible.”

  “And the one on the right is Cougar,” Tyler said. “Can’t you see his scowl?”

  In response, the cougar on the right gave a soft rumble. Tyler offered her a smile, as though that explained everything.

  She shook her head again. “No, no, that’s not possible.” They seemed to be the only words she was capable of saying.

  Her mind rebelling and her head swimming, the last thing she heard before she slipped from Shane’s arm and sank below the surface was Tyler saying, “I think that went better than expected, don’t you?”

  Chapter Ten

  Carly opened her eyes to find three of the four Lucas brothers gathered around her, looking down at her with amused concern. She rolled her head from side to side, noticing she was back in her own room and under the silky covers of her bed with the sheet firmly in place around her.

  “We tucked you in,” Dusty explained. He smiled at her before glancing toward someone else.

  She scooted up a bit, propping herself on some pillows, and found that Cougar stood at the end of the bed, the farthest away from her. He had a thoughtful look on his face but not his normal sullen distance. Carly wondered what he’d been thinking as he watched all of them loving her. Had he deliberately chosen not to participate, or had he avoided them for another reason? She wanted to reach out and draw him closer to her, within the circle of his brothers. Instead, she looked up at Tyler.

  “How are you feelin’?” Tyler reached across the bed to run the back of his hand down her cheek.

  Carly experimented with a long, languorous stretch and found she was pleasantly sore. “I feel amazingly well.” She smiled up at him and received three smiles in return. “And blissfully happy.”

  Then she remembered…

  No, that wasn’t possible. She’d been swimming, climbing the ladder with the promise of a lusty sexcapade, and seen…

  Oh God, I couldn’t possibly have seen that.

  Frantically, she glanced from Tyler to Shane to Dusty and finally to Cougar. Looking into the depths of those serious green eyes forced her to accept the truth.

  She’d been introduced to a pair of cougars. Dusty and Cougar were…shifters.

  “So, books I’ve read…the fiction I’ve read…” Carly’s heart slammed in her chest, and she swallowed. “It’s all true?”

  “Can’t say it’s all true,” Tyler said, “but I imagine a fair amount is. Most stories have a basis in fact.”

  Carly shifted her eyes back to Cougar. He hadn’t said a word, and he hadn’t taken his eyes off her. The other three gazed at her with reassurance, but Cougar looked like he wanted to eat her alive. In fact, she could have sworn she heard a soft rumble.

  “You’re all…” Her gaze swept each one again as she wondered how she could possibly be saying these words aloud. “You’re all cougars, or mountain lions, or whatever?”

  “Cougars.” The voice from the foot of the bed took her by surprise. Cougar clenched his jaw as though
more words might escape without his permission.

  “Aren’t mountain lions and cougars the same thing?” she asked tentatively.

  “They are,” Shane said with a nod, “but we prefer cougar.” He settled down at the foot of the bed. He reached out to touch her through the covers. “You’re ours now, Carly. Don’t be afraid. We’ll protect you with our lives. We would never hurt you.”

  Tyler stroked her hair and leaned down to place a chaste kiss on her lips. “You’re so beautiful, Carly. So perfect. You’re our mate. The queen of our pride.”

  “Pride?” Carly’s voice squeaked. “Like a pride of lions? Who—who’s in this pride?”

  “You, and Suzie of course, and the four of us…” Dusty looked at his brothers. “And Gabriel Laughton.”

  “Marshal Laughton?” Carly lurched up. The sudden movement made her woozy. She knew there was nothing to be afraid of. She should be able to maintain her composure here—after all, she knew these men, these shifters—but she couldn’t hide the panic. Two weeks ago, she hadn’t even had one man in her life. Now she had five? And one of them was Gabriel Laughton? That was ridiculous. He worked for the government in Justice, for crying out loud. He’d placed her here. Surely he wouldn’t have put her in a place filled with mountain lions…cougars.

  “That’s not possible,” she said. “Marshal Laughton is my—”

  She clapped a hand over her mouth, remembering that the marshal had told her not to disclose she was under witness protection, not even to her employers.

  “Your handler,” Tyler finished.

  She swallowed hard, nearly choking in shock. How would they know that? Had she muttered something while she was coming out of her faint? She’d never fainted before. She had no idea if that was possible. Her mind whirled as she contemplated calling the marshal and explaining how she’d already screwed everything up. He would kill her.

  “You know about that?” she asked quietly.

  “Yes,” Tyler said. “We’ve been taking in Justice’s clients here at Cattail for decades, recently for Gabe and, before that, for other handlers. Some are humans. Some are shifters. Most of the humans eventually move on when Justice feels the danger is passed, but the shifters generally stick around and move into Catamount to start new lives there.”