by Ashley Shay
* * * *
When the door to the suite opened, Viper glanced up from the desk. He decided not to rail against Talon for not knocking. The frustrated minion looked like hell. It probably hadn’t been all that easy to make contact with their subject. “Did you find him?”
Talon nodded wearily. He shifted his shoulders, rubbing one of them and grimacing.
Viper tossed the pen on the desk. Damn, he got tired of writing checks. Why couldn’t everyone just get direct fucking deposit? “Shoulder problem?”
“Same old one,” Talon muttered.
“Ah yes.”
You shouldn’t have fucked with me about Raptor. Maybe your shoulder would be in tip-top shape if you hadn’t questioned me.
He didn’t say anything though. He understood about brotherhood and all that. Just because his own sibling was a bitch didn’t mean they all were. Talon and Raptor were probably very chummy and companionable. He’d heard that’s how twins were. Maybe someday he’d actually release Raptor. Now that would please Talon. The brothers could play happily ever after together. Yes, releasing him in the future as a bonus would be entertaining.
But not today. Today he needed everyone focused and on board with no distractions.
“So, tell me,” he said.
Talon shook his head and sighed, not in response to what he’d said, but clearly puzzled by something. Viper waited patiently because he was feeling a bit mellow tonight.
“I’ll never understand why some shifters prefer to live in the old ways. Harley is living out in some shack in the middle of the fucking desert. He’s got some kind of cactus farm or something. Says he sells the cactus and people actually eat it. It’s freaking weird. Anyway, it was a long way roundtrip.”
“I appreciate your trouble,” Viper said. Yes, maybe giving Raptor back would be good payment. He could afford to be generous every now and then, and Raptor wouldn’t survive much longer unable to shift. The beast psyche didn’t handle those drugs very well, and Raptor had been suitably punished. What a surprise it would be for Talon to discover his brother was alive and—
Talon twisted his shoulder again, and Viper’s thoughts were derailed by a loud pop. Talon smiled. “That feels so much better.”
“Glad you’re happy,” Viper muttered. “Did Harley agree to come? Or did you have to persuade him?”
“No persuasion necessary,” Talon said. “I got the impression he was a bit low on funds. Apparently he overestimated the cactus market.” Talon laughed. “Gotta say, though, I’ve no idea what he needs money for on his little dirt farm. He doesn’t even have a car.”
Viper didn’t give a damn, but he kept quiet. He pulled a notepad toward him. “So what’s the damage?”
“I offered ten grand,” Talon said. “He wanted twenty-five. I agreed to twenty because it seemed like a real bargain. You said you’d go fifty.”
Viper nodded and scribbled the figure down. He settled back in his chair. “We’re on a rather tight schedule here. When is he arriving?”
“The thing is…” Talon smiled and pulled a backpack off his undamaged shoulder. “He’s already arrived.” He reached inside, and when he lifted out his hand, Viper saw the scorpion standing on Talon’s palm, its back arched and its tail lifted.
“Settle down, moron,” Talon said. “It’s the boss.”
He leaned down and set the animal on the carpet. When the soft glow emanated from the creature, Viper lifted out of his seat to greet the tall, slender, naked man standing there.
Roger Harley stretched his arms up and twisted his body. His long dick swung side to side, and after a disgusted glance, Viper tried not to look at it again. He busied himself with papers on the desk and generously waited until the scorpion settled himself.
“What a long fucking ride. I thought I was going to suffocate in there.” His bald head gleamed red in the dim light of the suite.
Viper looked askance at Talon for leaving the scorpion in his backpack for the entire trip. Talon shrugged and then glared at the other shifter. “What did you want me to do? Carry you in my freaking beak? The backpack was hard enough.”
“We’ve been in this hotel for twenty minutes,” Harley said.
“I didn’t feel like company, okay? Just shut the fuck up.”
Viper raised a hand. “Enough.” He studied the scorpion shifter. “You need to get out of the desert. Every time I see you, you’re as red as your beast.”
“I like the desert,” Harley said. “But I don’t mind getting to the city every now and then.” He glanced around, his eyes going to the bar. “Nice digs.” He walked around for a moment, stretching his lean muscles, then dropped down onto the leather couch. His skinny hands traced the soft texture.
Viper made a face. He’d have to wipe that sofa down after everyone left. God knew what sort of germs the man would leave behind.
“Don’t get too comfy,” he said dryly. He pulled open a drawer and pulled a thousand dollars out of his cash box. He counted out ten one hundred dollar bills. Harley watched him greedily. “I’ve set you up in a suite on the fifth floor. There are some clothes behind you on the table, along with the key card.”
“Cool.” Harley leapt to his feet, twisting toward the table. Scorpion shifters were so creepy with their erratic movements. The man pulled on his jeans and shrugged into a T-shirt. “No shoes? You know how I hate the feel of grass.”
Viper rolled his eyes. “Everything else is in your suite. These are just so you don’t get arrested before you get on the elevator.”
“Oh, yeah, sure.”
“You can relax tonight. I don’t even care if you want to go out and enjoy the city a bit, but you better be on top of your game tomorrow for the drop or—”
Harley crossed the room in three long strides and palmed the money off the desk. “No worries, boss. My game is never off.”
“Talon’s told you everything you need to know?” Viper asked.
Harley nodded. “But I don’t need to know anything. Just give me a picture of the target tomorrow night and point me in the right direction. This will be the best twenty grand you ever spent.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Have a good evening, Mr. Harley.”
He lowered his head and wrote another check.
Chapter Nineteen
In the quiet twilight of the patio, Tyler hugged a sleeping Suzie closer to his chest and saw Lucia lumber to her feet. She began to stack pizza boxes on top of one another. The poor woman looked tired and still so very sad. He was ready to pass Suzie off to Dusty when Carly put her hand over Lucia’s and squeezed. “Sit down, Lucia. Rosa and I will clean up in a little while.”
“Oh, no, Señorita Carly. I can clean. Es mi trabajo. My work.”
Carly stood up and shook her head. “And it is my work to take care of you, mi amiga.”
Tyler smiled with pride to hear his alpha female take such gentle control of the situation. He caught Shane’s glance and saw his beta was just as impressed and touched.
Lucia’s eyes filled with tears. “Such a good lady. Do you know, Ty, what a good lady you have?”
“We do, Lucia,” he said gently.
Carly gave him a smile then wrapped her arm around Lucia’s shoulders. “Let’s get you to bed, Lucia. This has been a horrible day, and it’s time to put it in the past where it belongs.”
“Sí, Carlita. I will go to bed. Tomorrow will be better, no?”
“It has to be,” Carly murmured.
As he watched Carly lead the older woman into the house, he was aware Rosa had risen to her feet. She and Dusty cleaned up quickly, carrying all the kitchenware inside while Shane took care of the trash. Cougar stared into space, seemingly unaware of everything going on around him.
“What’s on your mind?” Tyler asked.
“Too many things to talk about before bed.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Damn I need some sleep.”
“Go on up. There’s nothing else we can do today.”
Cougar glanced
up and seemed to be reading the sky for a moment. “Today is over. It’s after midnight.”
Tyler brushed the hair away from Suzie forehead. “That explains the zonked-out kit in my arms.”
“No,” Cougar said, “Carly explains the zonked-out kit in your arms.”
Tyler glanced toward the French doors, watching Carly supervise Rosa and Dusty. What a woman she was. “How did she do it, do you think?”
“Tame a kitten? Or tame the snake?”
Tyler laughed. “A little of both I guess.” He glanced at Cougar. His brother’s eyes were locked on their mate. “When are you going to let her tame you?” he asked quietly.
Cougar shifted his gaze and gave him a stare. His square jaw clenched, and for a moment, Tyler thought he wouldn’t answer. When he did, his voice was very soft, almost a whisper in the quiet night. “When she lets me tame her.”
* * * *
Carly stared in wonder at Suzie for a few moments. After only a few weeks, she couldn’t imagine her life without the little girl in it. Suzie was everything she’d ever dreamed of in a daughter, and she imagined as head female, mated to the alpha, Suzie was technically, if not legally, her daughter now. Her heart tripped in happiness anytime it crossed her mind.
My daughter.
She tiptoed out of Suzie’s room, closing the door behind her, and stopped to say good night to Tomcat 8, standing stoically in the hallway.
“Thank you for everything you did today, and for being so understanding about Tomás.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am. The place is home to me, and everyone in it is family.”
“It is like that, isn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a small smile. “Good night, ma’am.”
She strolled down the hallway, and when she rounded the corner, she saw Rosa leaning against the wall, talking to her own guard. Her back was turned, but it was obvious from her posture her new friend was more than interested in Tomcat 6.
Good choice. He’s a wonderful specimen. Positively yummy.
She put her hand on the doorknob and heard a heavy sigh. She peeked around the corner to see Cougar coming up the hallway, nearing his bedroom. When he’d reached his door, he froze as though he’d heard a noise, but when she saw his nostrils flare, she knew he’d smelled her. She wasn’t surprised. Their cougars all seemed able to scent her.
She took a few steps down the hallway toward him, and he lifted his eyes, peering at her through a sweep of tawny hair. His green eyes flared bright in the dim light of the hall.
“Isn’t everyone waiting for you?” he asked quietly.
“Yes, I imagine they are.”
“Don’t keep them waiting on my account,” he said with a growl. He twisted the doorknob, and she put her hand over his.
“If you won’t join us,” she whispered, “at least kiss me good night.”
He twisted toward her so suddenly she nearly fell. His arms shot out, and he gripped her shoulders, dragging her to him with an inexorable force she couldn’t have resisted even if her mind hadn’t shut down at his first touch. His mouth devoured hers in a crushing, brutal kiss that tore through her mouth and sent raging waves of erotic pleasure through every nerve ending of her body. He pushed his tongue between her lips, and it swept through, attacking the soft flesh, running along her teeth and dancing with her own tongue. His arms tightened on her shoulders, drawing her closer and closer until she couldn’t draw a breath.
Trembling, her body yearned upward to his, and her hips smashed against his, searching for that hard part of him that could ease her ache. She moaned and let her body tell her what it wanted. She surrendered everything she was, willingly, completely and wholeheartedly to the desires of his beast.
He groaned, a terrible, animalistic sound of pain and heartache, and just as suddenly as he’d taken her in his arms, he tore his mouth away from hers, and she was free. She nearly stumbled, but he caught her arm gently and tugged her forward. Then he took a step back. For one tiny moment, she felt bereft, adrift, lonely, and confused. But then her heart nearly burst with happiness. She pressed her lips together, loving the sensation of him against her lips and the taste of him in her mouth.
He twisted the doorknob and took a deep breath. “Good night, Carly.”
“Good night, Cougar.”
He disappeared into his room, and the silence of the hallway was broken only by Rosa’s soft whispers around the corner and the thunderous beat of Carly’s heart.
She smiled and bounced on her toes. She practically skipped down the hallway to her room, where four men waited to rock her world.
Soon it would be five. Patience was a virtue, and she’d perfected it. She’d heard everything worth having was worth the wait. She thought Cougar was worth waiting for a long, long time.
In the meantime, she couldn’t keep the others waiting. Besides, her body was humming with arousal, and she needed her mates to put out the fire. Who knew the Texas heat could be this much fun?
Chapter Twenty
Her lips still tingling from Cougar’s kiss and her pussy primed for sexual play, Carly headed toward her bedroom. She felt light and carefree. That tiny interlude with the youngest brother had given her hope. The promise of a future with him thrummed through her veins with the hot blood surging through her body. This was her life now—a heightened sense of sensuality, an overpowering well of love, and a body that just would not stop.
She opened the door to her bedroom to find three cougars and a coyote waiting for her. The combined scent of their pheromones nearly drove her wild with need. Each of the men looked at her with a mixture of desire, love, and raw animal lust etched on his face.
“C’mere, mate,” Tyler growled, and his urgency sent a shiver of something otherworldly through the rest of the shifters. Carly wondered if they sensed his feelings, felt his needs, and heightened their own desires through him. She had yet to really analyze the power of the alpha.
She questioned how she would handle all the power these men held between them, and with a flash of insight, she understood her own influence. She was the catalyst to keep them together, to keep them a family unit of love and brotherhood. Without that, their beasts might go rogue and into the wild like so many males of different species. That’s what Cougar had been trying to tell her about power. She yielded as much power as Tyler, only in a very different sense. As alpha female, she was needed in the mix to keep the pride, and the community, in a state of well-being.
Carly headed for Tyler with her arms outstretched. Her heart swelled as she watched the flash of love spark in his eyes along with his desire. He met her halfway across the room and enveloped her into his arms, holding her tightly and resting his chin on the top of her head for a moment before dropping his face for a kiss.
The kiss swelled with emotion, answering the questions in Carly’s heart that made tears burn in her eyes. She clung tighter to Tyler and pushed into his body, offering herself as a shield between him and the duties of being alpha. She offered him sanctuary and a safe place within the confines of her heart. He responded to the invitation by lifting her up in his arms and letting her feet dangle as he kissed her, on and on, until they were both starved for air.
When he set her back on the floor, he untied the halter of her dress and scooted the straps off her shoulders, letting the dress fall to the floor in a shimmering heap of color to pool around her ankles like a tiny green sea.
Gabe stepped up to Carly and knelt in front of her, gently brushing her legs apart as she stood in the midst of the cool green summer fabric. Without a word, he hooked his fingers in the cotton thong she wore and tugged it down her legs. Carly thought back to earlier that day when he’d done the same thing. She’d made love to him for the first time then, and already, sex with Gabe felt natural, right, as though she’d been made to be part of his life. He began tracing her legs, the hardened calluses on his hands scraping over her tender skin making her shiver. Vaguely, she wondered how a man who worked in an offi
ce all day had such calluses but decided it didn’t matter. He was all man and all hers. He kneaded her thigh muscles gently as he pulled her legs farther apart.
Carly loved the wild feel of his rough hands against her tender, soft skin. The textures melded together to form an erotic combination of sensations that shot tiny needles of desire into the core of her pussy.
She took a stand and widened her legs, making sure Gabe had room to bury his face in her pussy. That’s what she wanted. She wanted him to suck her clit and tongue her until she flooded him with her orgasm. They’d been in such a hurry that afternoon they’d skipped that part and gone directly to the fucking. She wasn’t complaining, not by a long shot, but now, tonight, she wanted to experience everything.
As he knelt in front of her, Carly put her hands on his head and guided him to the core where her need intensified as each moment passed. If someone didn’t take care of her soon, she’d be a quivering mess, and probably a bit frustrated. She really wanted to come.
* * * *
Dusty watched as Gabe buried his face between Carly’s legs, and his cock jerked like a marionette on a string without any willpower of his own. He reached down to soothe the aching burn as he watched Carly abandon herself to Gabe’s ministrations. She shut her eyes and surrendered to him, letting his mouth pleasure her as she gave in to the sensual enjoyment of her mates watching her be led to an orgasm.
Unable to keep from touching her, Dusty stepped behind Carly and placed his hands around her body to cover her breasts. His hands found the tiny nubs and rolled them between his fingers and thumbs, causing her to melt back against him in an onslaught of pleasure.
“You make me so fucking hard, baby,” he whispered in her ear. “I love to see you come.” She trembled at his words, and Dusty knew she was almost there. He made sure to let Gabe have his space. Carly moaned and would have sunk to the floor if Dusty hadn’t held her up by cupping his hands under her breasts. He caressed each one, stroking his thumbs across the taut nipples while Gabe brought her toward a shuddering climax. She fell back against Dusty, her head hitting his shoulder, and her soft sighs filled the room as her hips bucked against Gabe’s mouth.