Chasing Harmony (The Others Book 1)

by Sabrina Rue

  Ryker closed and locked the door with a smile. He sat in a heavily padded leather chair to watch their interaction.

  Setting her on her feet, Jax returned to his knees and pulled her sweat-soaked shorts and panties away. Pressing his face to her folds, he inhaled the results of hours of fighting.

  Were males were incredibly primal. Females of every species found them a little gross sometimes.

  Then he swiped her legs out from under her and gave an amused Wolf huff at her expression of surprise as he straddled her on the floor.

  When he pulled her sport bra over her head, his growl turned aggressive. Bending over her, he nipped her chin and her own Wolf rose to bite him back.

  Lifting her hands, she settled them over the closure of his pants and didn’t look away from his eyes as she unbuttoned and unzipped them.

  “We already fought, Jax. I’ve been wet and ready for you for hours.” Reaching inside the opening, she stroked the length of his cock in her fist. “Take your reward.”

  Flipping into a push-up position over her body, he huffed again and she chuckled. “Let’s get these off.”

  Shoving his pants as far as she could with her hands, she used her feet to push them the rest of the way off his legs.

  Rocking her hips against him, she brushed her slick skin along the underside of his cock.

  His growls increased in volume and ferocity. Her Wolf snapped her teeth at him before pushing him up enough for her to move. Rolling to her stomach, she lifted her ass and rubbed it against his groin.

  Jax took the time to unbind her hair, raking his hand through it. Lowering his weight, he licked up her neck.

  At her ear, he grumbled, “No foreplay, Alpha?”

  “Three hours of foreplay isn’t enough?” she asked innocently. “Nothing makes me hotter than battle, Jax. Let’s skip to the good stuff. I submit. This is the part where you fuck me.”

  He stroked his cock along the cleft of her ass. “I’m certain there’s no female among our kind less likely to submit.”

  Looking at him over her shoulder, she said, “No, I mean it. Seriously. I’m all submissive and stuff. Swear.”

  His brown eyes glowed as he grinned, his canines bright white and dangerous. “I’m not sure what to do with you.”

  Ryker said from the other side of the room, “I told you…”

  “I have an idea…” Harmony dug her claws into Jax’s thigh and he snarled. She growled violently, “Fuck me. Then fuck me some more. That’s what both of you can do with me when I’m not kicking ass or making other women cry. How does that sound? Fuck me or fight me.”

  Then she braced herself, pulled from his hold, made it off the floor, and almost reached the bathroom before he spun her and slammed her against the wall.

  Grinding his body up and down hers, she couldn’t stop growling. He lifted her roughly and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Notching his cock at her pussy, he lunged forward and buried himself to the balls in a single thrust.

  Releasing a long sigh, she leaned her head against the wall. “Yes, gods yes. Give me what I want.”

  “Greedy little Wolf,” he murmured as he shafted hard and deep into her body.

  She opened her eyes and whispered, “A very greedy Wolf, Jax.” She stroked her hands through his wet blonde hair and cupped his cheeks. “Will you help me keep her calm?”

  He nodded slowly.

  Gripping the back of his neck, she pulled him to her mouth and ate at his lips. He groaned and she swallowed the sound before breaking the kiss.

  “She likes being petted and played with, enjoys long runs and hot soaks.” She kissed him again and drank down the flavor of him as he tried to drive her through the wall.

  Leaning back with a gasp, she said, “But what my Wolf loves most is a fairly recent discovery. Who knew a girl like me would crave cock?”

  Releasing a snarl, he fucked her harder.

  She kissed and licked her way over his skin, soaking up the pleasure he delivered. Then she sank her canines into the thick muscle of his shoulder.

  Jax threw them to the floor with his cock still driving deep. “I wonder if years of fucking will tame you even a little, Alpha. Will you keep us on our toes for the next hundred years or mellow with age?”

  Licking over the wound she made, she shrugged. “All signs point to crazy but I think you like a little crazy, Jax.”

  “Not going to lie. It keeps things interesting.” Leaning back on his heels, he watched her body take his cock as he stroked his fingers over her clit. “You’re so good at taking all kinds of poundings.”

  “Test me…” she dared him with a moan as the climax mowed her down and made her cup her breasts in her palms. “Gods...”

  “Harmony. Take what you deserve.” He circled his fingers over her clit and maintained brutal thrusts as deep as he could push himself. “Feeling you come is fucking heaven.”

  Meeting his eyes as she tried to speak, she asked, “Do Secondary Mates knot their female?”

  His eyes went wide and he stumbled in his rhythm. “I…don’t know.”

  “I hope you do. I want you to lock your cock inside me so every drop of your come stays right where it belongs.” Rubbing her palm over his forearm where he gripped her hip, she whispered, “Let’s find out together, Jax.”

  He dropped his head back on his shoulders and gave voice to a howl that made her insides tighten.

  Pulling out, he flipped her over roughly and yanked her up on her hands and knees. Shoving his cock inside her to the root, he sat back on his heels and kissed along her shoulder.

  “You’re a powerful female. Worthy of the two strongest males in your Pack. Take all of me.”

  Biting deep into the shoulder opposite Ryker’s Mark, his fingers stroked over her trembling folds as he drove into her from behind.

  She dropped her head against his shoulder as he shoved her forcefully over the crest of climax and growled against her flesh.

  A small thread of blood flowed over her breast as he joined her, the center of his cock swelling, locking him inside her body as she accepted her birthright. He licked the wound and held her hard enough to hurt as he buried his face in her hair.

  Two male Weres, the strongest in their Pack, possibly North America, bound to her until they stopped breathing.

  Committed to her place in Pack, respectful of her power, and oh-so-good to her pussy.

  Heat wasn’t going to mean shit now.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  An unclear amount of time later, Harmony came out of her fabulous sexual daze and stretched in Jax’s arms.

  They were still on the floor and he was casually licking her shoulder where he’d left his Mark.

  The knot in his cock was finally starting to return to normal. When it released her and his length slipped from her body, she turned in his arms.

  His brown eyes were warm as he rolled her to her back and kissed her while he hugged her painfully tight. Breaking the kiss, he gently licked along her jaw.

  “You’re not cleaning my entire body like this, Jax.” He heard the smile in her voice and pulled back to look at her.

  “I like the way you taste.”

  “Thank you.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “How do you feel?”

  “Included.” The word made Harmony’s heart tighten. “I never thought I’d be included.”

  “Do you have family?”

  He shook his head. “Only Ryker and the Pack.”

  Holding the back of his neck, she lifted to rub her face against his. “Now you have me and I’m going to have a ton of kids between the two of you. Family, Jax. Your very own.”

  “I’m so happy you’re here. Not having you close made Ryker feral. So much pain and need, until he couldn’t think, couldn’t function, would barely eat or sleep.”

  He shrugged one shoulder. “For me, it was deep, aching sadness.” Stroking his fingers over her cheek, he added, “You’re more than I dreamed you would be.”

  For
a long moment, she played his words over in her mind. Then she kissed him gently as she held him with her entire body. Against his lips, she whispered, “I am slain.”

  Ryker crouched beside them and ran his palm over her hair. “You look gorgeous, Harmony.”

  “That’s a lie and you’re a good man to tell it.” Grinning, she gave Jax a final kiss and let the two of them lift her to her feet. “I need to shower and I need food. A lot of food.”

  Running her eyes down Ryker’s body, she asked, “Will you get me dirty again after I fill my belly?”

  Gripping the hair at the base of her neck, he tilted her head back and stared at her with glowing eyes. “We’re going to fill more than your belly, Mate.”

  He swallowed her moans while Jax wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her still as he played over her clit with the tips of his fingers.

  Her stomach growled loudly and she cursed the Were need for almost constant sustenance.

  Ryker pulled back to look at her. “Food and then filling…”

  “Mm hmm.” She kissed him again and turned to kiss Jax. “Shower with me. No touching until after I eat. I’m crazy hungry. Not kidding.”

  “You fought a full-blooded male Were for three solid hours, Harmony,” Ryker said laughingly. “You’re still standing, glowing, and sexy as fuck.”

  “Good point. I deserve steak…and some of those cinnamon apples. Mm…your mom’s lemon cake.” Stepping into the shower, she worked quickly to wash herself from head to toe. “Thank the gods for our metabolisms.”

  She gave Jax a quick kiss when she was done and raced across the bedroom to dress. Wearing another pair of fitness shorts and a t-shirt, she peeked into the hall.

  She caught the eye of one of the young women who took care of the huge house. “Can you please get Jax fresh pants and whatnot?” The girl smiled and turned to go when Harmony said, “Conveniently forget his shirt for me, will you?”

  Giggling, she nodded. “Absolutely, Alpha.”

  Closing the door, she grinned up at Ryker. “If your mom and sister didn’t live in this house, both of you would be nekkid.”

  Jax walked out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. “Someone is bringing you clothes. You should move your stuff here so you have it handy.”

  He stilled and glanced at Ryker before frowning. “I…don’t understand.”

  “I need more access. If you’re all the way across the house, I have to walk all the way there.” She huffed. “Being here, snuggled up in a Pack pile, I can have what I want nearby.”

  The friends shared an expression of confusion.

  Hands on her hips, she reined in her temper. “I imagine you’ve shared dozens of acquiescent females between you during your long friendship. I bet after everyone was sated and exhausted, all parties slept where they fell.”

  Tilting her head, she asked, “Do I not deserve the same? Or is it your plan to swoop in, drop your seed, and give me an affectionate kiss on the forehead on your way out?”

  Clearing his throat, Jax said carefully, “Alpha, that’s not the way things are usually done…at your level.”

  “Ah. So, because I’m an Alpha, I can do without the things so many nameless women received from both of you without a thought? You’re to be my stud then?” she asked sharply.

  His bewilderment was acute in the air. “I don’t…”

  “Because if you act as a stud, that makes me a goddamn bitch in Heat that you are meant to get children on when the time is right without any of the daily interactions.”

  “No, Alpha…”

  “Harmony. My fucking name is Harmony when we’re in this room and you’re thirty minutes past knotting me.” She glared at Ryker. “Your thoughts, Alpha?”

  “Uh, give me just a second…”

  “You have no opinion, Ryker?”

  “I’m not sure exactly what we’re talking about,” he said carefully. She crossed her arms and waited. “You’re kind of complicated in some ways, Mate.”

  “I’m aware.” She gestured in a circle between them. “You were thinking. Don’t let me interrupt.”

  “Al…” She narrowed her eyes at Jax. “Harmony. From what I know, most Mates…”

  “Let me stop you right there, Jax. Do I act like most Mates to you?” He shook his head. “Is there anything about me that would lead you to believe I give a single fuck what anyone thinks about who I am or what I do?”

  He approached her slowly and she held his gaze without blinking. Reaching out, he stroked his fingers through her hair. Ryker appeared on her other side.

  Jax murmured, “Tell me what you want, Harmony.”

  “I did. Neither of you are listening.”

  They stared at her and Ryker said, “You want us both to sleep with you.” His forehead wrinkled in confusion. “There’s more. You require very little emotionally and you’re being strangely adamant about this. Tell me why, Mate.”

  Huffing, she walked to the door when there was a tap on it and took Jax’s clothes from the young woman.

  “Would you mind very much asking Redbird to send something, anything edible this direction? I am starving and I’m liable to kill them both any second if I don’t get food.”

  “Right away, Alpha.” The girl jogged away and Harmony tossed Jax his clothes.

  Stripping away the towel, she took a moment to appreciate how fucking gorgeous he was. He pulled on boxer briefs and pants but appeared confused when there wasn’t a shirt.

  Voice dripping honey, Harmony asked, “Did she forget to bring you something?”

  “I guess so…”

  “That’s terrible. Whatever shall I do? Now I’ll be forced to watch you move around shirtless. Oh, the horror.”

  Turning on her heel, Harmony walked to the small table set up under the large picture window. Dropping into a chair, she looked out at the expanse of wooded land behind the house.

  She idly hoped someone brought her a roll, an apple, a fucking cracker soon because she was losing patience with the male Weres in her space.

  To be fair, she’d never had much patience with males to begin with.

  Ryker took the chair beside her. “Tell me what’s really going through your head, Mate.”

  Taking the chair on her other side, Jax was quiet.

  “Gregor was part of my life from day one. He was my father’s best friend. When Dad found my mother, realized who she was to him, and charmed her away from her human family, the first person he introduced was his Second.”

  Tapping her fingers on the table, she didn’t look at either of them. “My father felt the biological imperative but he remained aggressively territorial when it came to Gregor’s role in my mother’s life. She became a ragdoll between them despite knowing Gregor was deeply in love with her and she with him.”

  “You, your sister, and Caleb were Slade’s offspring,” Ryker said quietly.

  “They’d been Mated for a quarter of a century by the time she had Hope and me. Not because she couldn’t have children, not because she didn’t want children, but because my father wanted to reach certain milestones before he allowed her to conceive.”

  “Twenty-five years?” Ryker’s voice was shocked, dismayed.

  “I adored my father and I’m grateful for the skills he gave me.” She rubbed her temples firmly. “He was brilliant but oddly blind when it came to the emotions of others.”

  Looking at Ryker, she said, “When he learned of our contract, Gregor advised me to have a child with my Mate the first year and another with my Secondary immediately after. He told me my mother spent too long between one man who refused to give her what she wanted most and another who couldn’t until he did.”

  “Harmony…”

  “She finally had us, her twin girls. Five years later, she had Caleb.” Leaning forward, she told Ryker, “Where my mother waited twenty-five years to have her first child, her Secondary Mate waited an additional decade for one of his own.”

  Closing his eyes, Ryker murmured, “It
manufactured jealousy and contempt that led to an uprising the moment your mother wasn’t around to see him do it.”

  “Hope and I look like Mom. Caleb was the spitting image of Dad. Phoebe was a reflection of Gregor. An uncommonly beautiful child.” She inhaled carefully.

  “His only offspring, a little girl with the woman he loved, and she preferred my father. Dad played games almost constantly to train us from very small. Gregor was an excellent fighter but he didn’t obsess the way my father did.”

  Pulling her feet up on the chair, she wrapped her arms around her knees. “When everything happened, I understood why he exiled me. I was dangerous, the most like Dad, the one who could have claimed the Pack myself. I even understood exiling Caleb. He was the male heir and with me protecting him, nothing would have stopped him when he came of age.”

  Closing her eyes, she whispered, “I didn’t understand Hope. She was exactly like my mother. I didn’t understand Phoebe, his only child, his blood daughter.”

  “I’m sorry, Mate.”

  “After today, I understand. I still hate him. I’ll rip out his throat for what he did but I’d be a fool if I didn’t acknowledge the role my own father played in driving him insane with jealousy, frustration, and concealed rage.”

  Ryker rubbed her back. “Harmony…”

  “Jax will love me, Ryker. He will love me as you will love me and I love him as I love you. It’s the way of our kind, it’s the backbone of the biological bond we share.”

  “He already loves you, Harmony,” Ryker told her gently. “I already love you. That won’t change.”

  “If we keep Jax on the fringe, if we treat him as if he’s truly secondary, it will cause anger and resentment. First with the Wolf, then with the man. It will happen slowly enough that it’ll be hard to spot for years.”

  She reminded him, “My father and Gregor were as close as brothers before my mother landed between them. She spent four decades trying to keep the peace while having to keep her love for each of them separate.”

  Shaking her head, she said firmly, “That will not be me. That will not be my life. That will not be how I live with you, with Jax. We’ll live as one or I’ll deny you both.”