by Amira Rain
"Done now?""Yes.""Well-"
"Is that who you were expecting I'd be when you brought me here? Some wilting tropical flower? Some droopy, fragile hibiscus just wilting away in the hot sun?"
"Just exactly how much have you had to drink tonight, Liz?"
"Right, because I must be intoxicated to call out the alpha of the community about anything."
"So, you haven't had anything to drink at all, then?"
"Please don't avoid my question. What were you expecting when you brought me here? Were you expecting some fragile, wilting flower?"
"I'm beginning to think that whatever I was expecting, I got a lot more than I bargained for. Which...isn't necessarily a bad thing at all. It's just...you're a different experience, Liz."
"'The Liz experience.' I'm a theme park now. We can sell tickets."
"So, you've had a full bottle of wine, then?"
"You underestimate me on every possible level."
"That may be the case. In fact, I'm beginning to think that might be true. However, regardless, it's my job not only as alpha of this community, but as a man who cares about you, quite deeply, as I'm beginning to realize, to protect you and keep you out of harm's way. And I intend to do that. Whether you like it or not."
He paused, and I found myself temporarily out of retorts.
"Nate and I are nearing your bungalow. We'll be at your front door in about a minute."
He hung up, and I set my phone on the kitchen counter, head spinning a bit, realizing that because I hadn't had much for dinner, the wine was having quite an effect on me. It was probably making me more upset with Eric than I might have been otherwise, that I knew, though at the same time, I wasn't really sorry. At that moment, buzzed as I was, I also was not apologetic about the probably bratty and immature tone I'd taken with him. My level of irritation wouldn't let me be sorry. My level of irritation made me feel as if he deserved a few more very sharp comments.
Deep in thought when he and Nate arrived, I jumped a mile when one of them, probably Eric, I assumed, knocked on the door. I took my time walking over to answer it, deciding along the way that maybe I wouldn't answer it right away. That was simply because I recalled that I'd basically told Eric that I'd be immune to all attempts to seduce me. And now, with more fluttering in my stomach, I was wondering just exactly how long I'd be able to back up my strong words.
I leaned against the doorframe and waited, wondering if there was any possible chance that Eric and Nate would just go away, sparing me from any additional stomach fluttering. Knowing Eric and knowing that he wasn't the type to give up easily, I should have known he'd definitely knock again, and within seconds, he did.
Somehow, I just knew it was him doing the knocking and not Nate. It wouldn't have been an alpha move at all to let one of his pack members knock. That was just not Eric.
He knocked yet again, a little louder this time, and I still didn't answer. Part of me was steadfastly determined not to let him seduce me, though another part of me knew I couldn't hold out, and didn't really want to hold out. But I was angry with him, and I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of giving in to him, despite that what was currently happening, him and Nate visiting me to share my bed at once, was what I'd fantasized about.
Eric knocked again and spoke loudly enough for me to hear him through the door. "Please let us in, Liz."
"Or else what? You'll huff and puff and blow my little house down?"
"Funny, but not exactly. We'll just let ourselves in through one of the at least dozen open windows around the house."
Knowing he could and would actually do just that, I reluctantly opened the door. "Hello, Nate. Eric, I believe we've already spoken enough tonight that a hello isn't even necessary. And besides, since I'm such a weak little flower, I think I should eschew your hello in favor of conserving my meager strength."
Eric's full lips twitched with something too closely resembling amusement for my taste, and I turned heel and began stalking through the foyer to the kitchen.
"The two of you may come in for a drink if you'd like, but after that, I'm going to bed. Alone."
They followed me into the kitchen, where, standing at the island, I poured scotch into two glasses and wordlessly gave one to each of them. Then I picked up my wineglass and took a sip, discreetly surveying them both over the rim. They were both dressed casually, in jeans and t-shirts, the outlines of their similarly chiseled chests visible through the thin fabric.
To my horror, I immediately thought about running a hand up and down each of their chests at the same time, and I forced myself to look away from them.
After draining at least half his scotch in one gulp, Eric used his glass to gesture to my slightly more than half-empty wine bottle on the island. "I'll admit that I underestimated your restraint when it comes to wine."
He was making fun of me. Or, at least, that was the only way I could see it at the time. He was making fun of the little speech I'd given on the phone.
Glaring at him, I curled my hand around the stem of my wineglass hard enough to break it. "Would you mind turning to face the wall while you finish your drink, Eric? I'm afraid I'm in no mood to see your face right now." Primarily because, with the golden glow from a small tabletop lamp on the island, it was too temptingly handsome.
With his perfectly-shaped mouth twitching with amusement again, he set his scotch glass on the island. "You don't want to see my face right now? Well, this can be easily arranged, even without me turning to face the wall. Nate, maybe if you could restrain the prisoner's hands for just a second."
Not liking the sound of that at all, I quickly turned my gaze to Nate. "Don't you dare do what he asks. Don't you dare go along with him. He thinks he can seduce me, even though I'm angry with him, but he is so...." I gave my head a quick shake, realizing that I'd been about to say hot. "Wrong."
With his dark gray eyes twinkling, Eric snorted. "Well, if you're so sure you're not going to fall for my seduction, then what's the harm in indulging me? You said you didn't want to see my face anymore, so I'm trying to make that happen. Just let Nate take your hands for a moment, and then you can continue to resist my seduction all you want. All while not having to look at my face."
Irritated by the fact that Nate's eyes were now twinkling just as much as Eric's, I took a last sip of wine and set the glass on the counter. "Fine, Eric. The two of you can take my hands, my feet, whatever you want, so long as I don't have to look at your handsome face anymore." While a sudden touch of heat rose to my own face, I closed my eyes briefly, gritting my teeth. "Ugly. Your ugly face. That's what I meant to say."
He and Nate stifled chuckles, though not very well.
Seeming to be fighting a grin, Nate came around to my side of the island and gently but firmly pulled my hands behind my back. "I'm not exactly sure what Eric has in mind, but he is my alpha, so I have to do what he says. Sorry, Liz."
I snorted, trying to muster a glare. "I'm sure you are."
The feel of his touch on my bare skin instantly made my knees weak, as did the feeling of having my hands restrained, even gently. The heavenly, woodsy, clean scent emanating from his chest, which I was now catching a few whiffs of with him standing so close, wasn't exactly helping to strengthen my knees, either.
Pulling something from his back pocket, Eric came around to my other side. "Glad I happen to have one of these in my back pocket. And don't worry; it's fresh from the laundry. I haven't used it to mop sweat from my very unattractive brow yet. Had no idea how handy it would come in tonight to help spare you from the sight of my ugly face."
I saw that what he held in his hand was a red bandana, but soon I didn't see anything.
He quickly folded it a few times and blindfolded me with it, speaking in a low, husky voice while he tied the ends in a knot at the back of my head. "There. Nate and I will leave this on while we spend some time kissing you and touching you. Then, when we feel like you've been thoroughly kissed, we'll take it off before we leave, sin
ce you've made it crystal clear you're not going to fall for any seduction tonight."
Eric paused, and I felt a whisper of his warm breath on my earlobe, which made a slight shiver ripple through my body.
Pulling me close to his hard chest, he spoke again in a throaty growl. "Though, of course, feel free to change your mind."
*
With Nate still holding my hands behind my back, Eric immediately began kissing me, and my resolve to not be seduced lasted all of about a tenth of a second before I began kissing him back, reveling in the feel of his full lips against mine. When he soon intensified the kiss, parting my lips and plundering my mouth with his tongue, Nate released my hands and began exploring my body with his own hands, moving them from my hips to the gentle curve of my stomach to the fullness of my breasts.
There he stopped to circle my nipples with what felt like his thumbs through the thin material of my sundress and sheer bra, making me whimper with pleasure while still kissing Eric.
Before long, Eric broke our kiss, and I felt someone, I didn't even know who, lift my sundress up and over my head, guiding my arms up to do so. Once I was standing in just my sheer bra and lacy underwear, I heard nearly simultaneous low growls, then felt my bra being unfastened while also feeling my underwear being pulled down at the same time.
The feeling of being stripped naked, my body admired, while they could see every inch of me but I couldn't see them, excited me to the point that I could feel myself becoming drenched in slickness. Someone, I had no idea who, soon discovered this, probing my feminine lips apart with a fingertip and locating my most sensitive spot, which was aching and throbbing with need.
I cried out, moving my hips forward, encouraging whoever was touching me to continue, which they did, stroking me with slow, gentle movements. At the same time, I felt a mouth close around one of my nipples, and a tongue began slowly flicking across it, making me moan, the sound cut short by someone putting their mouth to mine and kissing me hungrily.
Soon I was lifted by strong arms and carried into my bedroom, kissed by either Eric or Nate the whole way. Then, I was put on my bed, and I heard Eric's deep voice.
"Don't touch that blindfold, Liz. You're still our prisoner, and your blindfold only comes off when we say so."
That was fine with me. All thoughts of not letting myself be seduced now completely forgotten, I was enjoying this new experience tremendously. The sound of a match being struck told me that a couple of fuchsia pink candles on my dresser were being lit, and the soft rustling of fabric told me that clothes were being lost. Naked and aching with anticipation, I hoped it wasn't going to take the two of them long to get fully undressed.
It didn't.
Soon Eric removed my blindfold, asking me if I wanted him and Nate to leave. "You did basically say earlier that any attempts to seduce you were going to be in vain, so...we definitely understand if you want us to leave you be right now."
Eric stood on one side of my bed, and Nate stood on the other. I surveyed Eric's naked form, feasting my eyes on his muscular thighs and large, rock-hard erection, before turning my attention to Nate. He was also fully erect, and his manhood was equally as long as Eric's, and maybe even a bit thicker. Which was saying a lot.
I exhaled a fluttery breath. "No. No, the both of you can stay. I take back whatever I said earlier. I take back anything and everything I said. Everything I ever said in my life."
Chuckling, Eric got into bed beside me, rolled on top of me, and hiked my legs up on his shoulders before positioning the head of his beyond-stiffened member at my slick entrance. "Well, all right. If you say so. We'll stay then. And you and I can show Nate how it's done."
He slid into me with one fast, powerful thrust, making me gasp with pleasure at the sensation of being completely filled, and so quickly. With the candlelight revealing his green eyes as extremely glassy, Nate got into bed beside us, his gaze darting from my face to the action that was happening a little lower.
Wanting to increase my pleasure while Eric began thrusting into my depths with exquisite slowness, I moved a hand between my legs and began stroking my most sensitive spot with two fingertips, watching Nate's face to see his reaction, which was everything I'd hoped for and more.
With his eyes widening, he rolled onto his back and took his thick shaft in his hand, groaning. Watching him touch himself only intensified my own pleasure, and I moaned while Eric accelerated the pace of his thrusting, driving himself deeper and deeper inside of me.
It wasn't long before the feel of my own touch, combined with the sensation of Eric's deep, powerful thrusting, sent me over the edge. I cried out, grinding my head back into the pillows, while every muscle in my body seemed to tense and release, and stars appeared to streak across my eyes. At the same time, Eric reached his climax as well and filled me with the warmth of his masculine essence, groaning.
Once completely spent, he rested his body on mine for all of about two seconds before Nate practically pushed him off of me, growling, which I thought was a pretty bold move for a pack member to pull on an alpha. It was a move that instantly made me hungry again, eager for more.
With his breathing coming as a series of fast, ragged gasps, Nate rolled me onto my stomach, pulled me up onto all fours, and then penetrated me so quickly that I gasped even louder than I had when Eric had done the same. I was soon lost in a world of pure pleasure, moving my hips back to meet Nate's thrusts. I saw stars again when Eric rejoined us in bed again and began playing with my bouncing breasts, lightly squeezing them and rubbing his fingertips across my stiffened nipples.
I climaxed twice more that night, for a total of four releases, the most I'd ever experienced in one lovemaking session in my entire life. After the fourth one, I collapsed into Eric and Nate's strong arms, more than thoroughly satisfied.
Beginning to slowly stroke my long, light brown hair, Eric moved his mouth to my ear and spoke in a husky whisper. "Goodnight, gorgeous Liz. Believe it or not, I don't think you're a fragile, wilting flower. I just want to keep you safe. Sweet dreams."
Under the soothing touch of his hand running over my hair, I fell asleep almost instantly.
To my extreme disappointment, when I awoke the next morning, both Eric and Nate were gone. Deciding to doze a little longer, I rolled over, curling up with part of the blanket that held both their masculine, woodsy scents.
I didn't see either of them all that day, or the next. I realized I wasn't angry at Eric anymore; I just missed him. I missed Nate, too, equally.
However, although I wasn't lash-out-level angry at Eric anymore, I still wasn't happy with his decision, or about the fact that he hadn't really heard me out before making it. I understood why he didn't want me to take on Gabriel, the bear Form, by myself; I knew he just wanted to keep me safe. Some of the words he'd said during our recent night of passion had convinced me of that. I still thought he should at least consider what I'd proposed, though.
At the council meeting, apparently all the council members had different ideas about what plan of action would be best to take out Gabriel. Eric had spoken with the leader of the dragon shifters, who told him that the dragons might be able to offer help in the somewhat near future, once they had their own problems with enemies resolved; so Eric thought it best to wait for the dragons' help and play defense with Gabriel in the meantime.
Some of the council members had agreed with this, and some hadn't. Still others had different ideas entirely. In the end, since Eric had the final say, everyone had to be content to wait things out and see if the dragons would ultimately help.
While I realized Eric was in a tough spot and didn't want to lead his men into a battle where they might all be slaughtered after being paralyzed with Gabriel's eye spell, I didn't think waiting for the dragons was the answer. After all, they seemed to have plenty of their own troubles, and I figured it was entirely possible that their help might come too late.
I knew Eric realized this, too, which only increased my frustration ab
out him not letting me try to take out Gabriel with my gun. I resolved to try to talk to Eric about the situation one last time. That is, if I ever saw him again. He and Nate were needed so often in the jungle that I felt like I might never see either of them again.
Early in the afternoon of the third day since our shared night of intimacy, I finally saw them both when they stopped by my bungalow upon returning from a surveillance mission near the lake. I led them inside by the hands, so thrilled to see them both that I was sure I was grinning ear-to-ear. They both seemed pretty pleased to see me, too, each of them giving me such long, lingering kisses I was left nearly breathless.
Guessing correctly that they hadn't slept much the night before, on account of running patrols, I offered to make them some coffee, which they gladly accepted. A short while later, the three of us sat on bar stools around the island in the kitchen with steaming mugs of freshly-brewed java. I asked them how things had gone that day, and if Gabriel had been trying to attack.