Brenda and Lacy looked up the hill as they heard some voices. The rescue people were coming down the path with Jeff on a stretcher. They moved out of the way to give them all the room they needed. Austin and Rex joined them.
“Where’s Mark?” Brenda asked, concerned that he didn’t come down with the others.
Austin turned to her. “He wanted to take another good look at the area where Jeff fell. He’s suspicious that it was a set up and wants to see if there was anything unusual that caused Jeff to fall.”
As they watched the rescue people quickly settle Jeff in the rescue truck, Ry got in to ride with him to the hospital. The other friends of Austin and Rex headed to their vehicles and left. Trey and Derek joined Lacy.
“He looked badly bruised,” Brenda said to Tom.
“Yeah, he took a bad fall,” Tom said. “I hope he’ll be all right.”
“We all feel the same,” Brenda said. She didn’t think it was a good idea that Mark was inside the cave by himself. “I’m going up to the cave to wait for Mark and make sure nothing else happens.”
“We’ll go with you,” Austin said.
“We’ll stay here with Lacy and Tom,” Derek said. “If you need us for anything, let us know.”
“I will,” Austin said.
Brenda turned and followed Austin and Rex up the path. She didn’t hear any sounds as they crossed the larger cave floor and headed toward the smaller cave that led deeper into the depths of the hill. She used the flashlight she’d brought with her to see where she put her feet. Austin and Rex stopped just inside the smaller cave and waited a moment. She listened for any sounds and heard the faint echo of what sounded like a small rock falling and rolling in the distance below them.
“That must be Mark,” she said.
“Yeah, let’s join him. Mark,” Austin called out.
“I’m down here,” Mark called back. “I’m checking this area where Jeff fell.”
“We’ll join you,” Rex told him. “Brenda is with us.”
“Watch your step,” Mark said, and then he was quiet.
Brenda flashed her light around the cave walls before she took another step. She was surprised that it was opening into a large room. The formations around the room were huge and fantastic looking. Water dripped down the sides of the rocks, making them glisten in the beam of light. She glanced back down at the narrow path and continued walking. She didn’t want to slow their progress to join Mark.
Finally she could see him a little way ahead. He was looking at the base of one of the larger boulders on the side of the path where it dropped away steeply down a rubble-covered slope to a rock-covered landing below. She could see it with the beam of her flashlight. She pointed the beam back at Mark as they continued to make their way down to him.
A loud growl echoed through the huge cavern. “What was that?” she asked Austin and Rex.
“I don’t know, but it sounded big,” Austin said. “Rex, keep Brenda with you if I’m needed to help Mark.”
Brenda couldn’t imagine what was going to happen. She kept her light on Mark. He was staring up the path in the distance toward the edge of the huge room. She directed her light in that direction. Suddenly a large, tan-colored animal made a short lunge in Mark’s direction. “Mark!” she cried.
“Stay with Rex,” Austin said. “I’ll help Mark.” He handed his flashlight to Rex.
She pointed her beam back at Mark at the sound of another ear-shattering roar, more like a scream. As she watched, Mark began to change shape. In an instant, his human form switched to a huge wolf. His clothes lay in a heap at his feet. She gasped at the startling transformation. He was a tall, beautiful, silver and white wolf. The fur on his neck stood up as he faced whatever came toward him. She directed her light up the path to show him and help him in the only way she could. That monstrous animal was running down the path toward him. She moved her light beam back to Mark. Another animal joined Mark and stood at his side. It was a black panther.
“Oh my God,” she exclaimed. “There’s a black panther beside Mark.”
“That’s Austin,” Rex said, standing close behind her.
She pointed her flashlight toward the roar of the animal beyond them. It was close enough down the path that she could tell it was a mountain lion. “Is that real or a shape-shifter?” she asked Rex, her voice shaking.
“I’m pretty sure it’s a shape-shifter,” Rex said.
“We can’t let them get hurt,” she protested.
“They’re good at this. If they’re hurt, they’ll heal fast.”
That didn’t reassure her. “How can I help?” she demanded.
“By staying right here with me,” Rex said. “If they need help, I can shift and fight. You stay put if I’m needed.”
She couldn’t take her eyes from what was happening down below. The mountain lion charged Mark and Austin. Mark lunged toward the lion and closed his large wolf’s jaws around the thick throat. Austin leaped onto the lion’s back and held on with his huge clawed paws. The lion tried to free itself from their hold. It hit at Mark, shaking its body wildly to try to throw Austin from its back. But Mark and Austin held on to it. The animal fought even more furiously. The howls were deafening and echoed through the cave. She worried that Mark and Austin could be injured or, worse, killed.
The overwhelming scene below and the dampness of the cave threatened to suffocate her. Desperate to help them, she shook all over. “Rex,” she said.
“They’ve almost got him,” Rex said.
She watched, waiting forever it seemed. It was all she could do to control her panic. The noise of the shape-shifters’ growls was almost deafening in the echoing cavern. The mountain lion gave another loud scream and a harder shake of its body. Mark and Austin both lost their holds on it. The animal raced up the path toward the darkness on the far end.
She turned her flashlight beam back to Mark and Austin. They stood side by side watching the big cat run away for a second. Suddenly they raced after the monster.
“Rex!” she cried.
“Keep your light on them!” Rex ordered.
She did as he directed, dismayed as she watched the man she loved race up the path after that mountain lion. “How long can they keep their animal shapes?” She worried they would change back to their human form and be at a disadvantage.
“As long as they need to,” Rex said.
That relieved her mind a bit. She continued to watch them, keeping her light on their backs. They reached the top of the path on the far side of the cavernous room and they stopped. Both stood still, and finally they turned back toward her and Rex. She kept the light just ahead of them so it didn’t blind them. They trotted back to where the fight had started. Stopping where their clothes were left, they changed back to their human forms.
Brenda directed her light on their clothing so they could see what they were doing. She began to relax, feeling a little relieved that they were putting on their clothes. “They’re finished with the fight?” she asked Rex.
“Yeah, they’re done. The other shape-shifter has had enough.”
Mark and Austin ran back along the path while she and Rex kept revealing the path to them with their flashlights. She noticed that Mark had turned his flashlight on, as well.
At last, they joined her and Rex. Mark embraced her with a big hug.
“My God, I’m so glad you’re safe,” she told him as he continued to hug her and she hugged him tight. “Are you hurt? Do you need to take care of cuts? We watched the fight, and it looked terrible.”
“I’m good, babe. How about you, Austin?”
“I’m doing fine. Whoever that was, he couldn’t shake me loose to get hold of me.”
“What now?” Brenda asked. “Are we going home?”
“Yeah,” Mark said. “That scared me when I saw you in the cavern earlier, even though I saw Austin and Rex with you. I’m so glad you’re all right, as well. I need to make a report to my headquarters. Rex, Austin, what did you think a
bout that shape-shifter? Ever seen him around here before?”
“Nope,” Austin said.
“I haven’t either,” Rex added.
“Let’s go find Tom,” Mark said. “Anyone else outside who might have noticed anything unusual?”
“Lacy is here, and Trey and Derek are waiting with her,” Brenda said. She shivered, still affected by what she’d just seen.
“Are you all right, babe?” Mark asked her, a concerned look in his eyes. “You’re shaking.”
“I’ve never been in a cavern like this one before. It’s really damp and humid in here, plus I’ve never seen shape-shifters change, or fight, before I watched you take on that mountain lion. That was a little frightening to watch.” She raised her eyebrows at him.
“Sorry, babe. What did you think about it, though?”
Just like a man, she thought. “I thought it was extremely frightening and amazing.” She grinned at him.
“That’s my girl,” he said and hugged her close, lowering his face close to hers to kiss her cheek. They left the cave and started down the path to the vehicles parked below.
“You guys all right?” Tom asked them as they joined the group at his truck.
“Yeah, we’re all right,” Mark told him.
“Austin and Rex, are you all right?” Lacy asked.
“I’m fine,” Austin said.
“Rex stayed by my side while Mark and Austin fought with a giant mountain lion,” Brenda told them. “It was amazing and scary to watch. I’m glad Rex was there with me.”
“Did you all see anything unusual going on out here?” Mark asked them. “Did you happen to see a big mountain lion going inside or hanging around out here?”
They all indicated they hadn’t.
“Thank you all for backing us up,” Mark said, sounding sincerely grateful.
“Anytime,” Austin said.
“That goes for us, as well,” Trey said.
“Whenever you need us, just let us know,” Derek said.
“Have you heard any news on Jeff’s condition?” Mark asked.
“I got a call from Ry and their girlfriend who works for Austin and Rex,” Tom said. “They said that Jeff is being taken care of at the hospital and the doctor reported he’ll be all right, but they want to keep him there for a little while before they let him go home tonight.”
“That sounds encouraging,” Austin said.
“Let’s call it a day.” Mark looked down at Brenda. “We’ll follow you to our house, babe.”
“Good, I’m ready,” she said. She could hardly wait to relax with them at their home. She gave Lacy a hug. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“Anytime,” Lacy said and smiled at her.
They all headed for their vehicles and home.
Chapter Eleven
After Brenda reached Mark and Tom’s place, she pulled into the driveway and waited for them. Mark drove their truck into the garage and indicated she should do the same. She parked her car beside their big truck. Mark opened her car door, and they all three entered the house together from the garage.
“I could use a big glass of fruit juice,” Mark said.
“That sounds good to me, as well,” Brenda said. “Can I get it for you?”
Mark and Tom took chairs at the island in the kitchen. “Help yourself,” Tom said and smiled at her.
Brenda took the big container of fruit juice from the fridge and poured them each a tall glass. She joined them at the island as Mark was getting ready to make a call.
Mark looked at Tom. “Did you see that prospector around there today while we were there?”
“Come to think of it, I saw him wandering around the base of the hill looking at rocks and rock formations. I lost track of him when he headed north around the base of the hill.”
“Was he there where you could see him when they were taking Jeff out of the cave?”
“As a matter of fact, he was.”
“I wonder if he’s our mountain lion shape-shifter?”
“I think that could be a possibility,” Tom said. “He’s real hard to get along with, and doesn’t want us on that hill.”
“I’m going to call headquarters and let them know what’s going on here,” Mark said. “If we could prove that the prospector is one bad dude, we could have him arrested by the local sheriff.”
Brenda was amazed at how much her world had changed in the last couple days. She sipped her fruit drink and listened to Mark’s call while they all three sat at the island.
When he finished his call, he drank his glass of fruit juice and sat quietly.
She had a feeling he was thinking through everything that had happened and everything he knew about the shape-shifters in this area.
He looked at her and smiled, his dark brown eyes warm.
“I could use a shower,” he said. “How about a group shower in my bathroom this time?”
“Sounds good to me,” she said and finished her drink.
“I’m game,” Tom said and grinned at her.
She was anxious to see what condition Mark’s body was in after that fight. She had a feeling he had some cuts and scratches he was hiding under his clothing.
They all left the kitchen and headed for Mark’s bedroom. He put his arm round her. He was comfortably warm against her, and he felt so good. Tom walked with them and joined them in Mark’s bathroom. They all three stripped and Mark turned on the water in the shower while Brenda and Tom finished taking their clothes off and adding them to the pile on the floor that Mark had started. She made a mental note to see that all of the clothing they’d worn in the cave this afternoon would get washed before any of it was worn again.
Finally, the water was adjusted to the right temperature and Mark urged her to step into the shower first. He and Tom followed and stood on either side of her. She faced Mark because she wanted to look him over for cuts and scratches. He didn’t have many as far as she could tell, and most of those were on his upper arms and shoulders.
“How did you keep from getting badly clawed by that mountain lion?” she asked him.
“Well, I had him by the throat, which put him at a disadvantage, but we shape-shifters also heal fast. Most of the minor scratches are already healed.” He turned around in a circle so she could see his entire body.
Mark’s wet, sculpted backside was a sight that made her ache with heat. Forcing her attention back to his health, she looked for cuts and scratches. “I see some faint reddish lines on your upper arms,” she told him.
“I think that’s about the only place that shape-shifter got me.”
“I’m so relieved,” she said, relaxing as much as possible at the moment.
“Nothing could keep me from making love to you, babe,” he said.
“I agree with that,” Tom said.
The water was streaming over the front of their bodies, and they looked sleek and so sexy, every muscle and contour outlined by light and shadow. She put her hands on their chests and felt every hard muscle all the way down their torsos. They both inhaled swiftly when she brushed her fingertips across their cocks, which pointed upward looking ready to pleasure her.
Mark sat down on the seat in the corner of his end of the shower and pulled her close to him. He pressed his warm, firm lips to the flesh of her belly and worked his way all over that sensitive skin, finally delving his tongue inside her belly button.
She couldn’t help chuckling. “That tickles.” She smiled down at him and met his gaze as he looked up at her and smiled.
“You taste so good, babe.”
Tom held her hips in his big hands and stroked up and down her thighs. He placed kisses down her spine. She shivered at his touches.
“Your skin is like velvet, hon,” Tom said.
She hummed with their caresses. She took the soap and lathered her hands with it. Smoothing her soapy palms up and down Mark’s arms ever so lightly, she hoped she helped the healing, even if she could hardly see the lines where the cuts had been. The
n she bent and smoothed her hands over the muscles of his chest and shoulders. He cupped her breasts while she did so and tantalized her nipples. She inhaled swiftly with the sensations, heat diving to her pussy. When the hot aches eased, she bent and washed his lower body and legs.
He moaned with pleasure. “Your hands feel so good, babe.”
“Tom’s turn now,” she said. He sat down in the other corner seat. Soaping her hands again, she skimmed her fingers lightly over his muscular arms, not wanting to hurt his healing right arm.
“You can’t hurt or injure me, hon,” he said. “We heal fast, and my arm is feeling almost perfect again.”
“What about your ankle?” she asked him.
“It’s almost healed, as well, just a little sore to walk on still, but not bad at all.”
“I’m glad,” she said and smiled at him. He looked up at her with those dark green eyes, still smiling. She smoothed her hands over every part of him she could reach until he was growling with the pleasure.
Mark stood and put his big hands around her waist. One hand slid down her belly to her mound and caressed her there. She inhaled swiftly as he delved between her folds and circled her clit.
“Oh God, Mark.” She panted, trying to control her body’s reactions. She didn’t want to climax yet. Tom cupped her butt cheeks and slid his fingers between, caressing the sensitive flesh of her tight hole.
“How about we take this to my bed,” Mark said, his deep baritone voice soft and inviting.
“That sounds perfect,” she said. As she stepped from the shower, Mark followed behind her and grabbed a terry cloth robe for her from the hook at the side of the shower. He tossed one to Tom and took one for himself. Wrapped in their soft, velvety robes, they left the bathroom.
She followed Mark into his big bedroom and waited for him to suggest how he wanted their lovemaking to go this evening. When he didn’t say anything, she turned toward him. He met her gaze and smiled.
“Babe, you decide how you want to make love with us tonight,” he said.
“Oh! I hadn’t thought about it. I was waiting for you to tell me.” His consideration gave her a happy feeling.
Alpha Defenders: Heat (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 8