by Lori King
“Umm…thank you I think. Can you let me go now? I need to grab my purse before we leave.” Shandi was proud of how strong her voice sounded.
“Just a second, I’m not quite done yet,” he said just before he captured her lips in a passion-filled kiss that had every nerve in her body vibrating with need. She opened for him as he took possession of her mouth, and before she knew it her hands were tangled in his long blond hair, holding him closer. The physical need in her body was stronger than she had ever felt in her life, and she shifted in his arms, rubbing her breasts against his hard chest.
In the back of her brain she registered the feeling of another hard chest pressing against her back, and another set of lips and hands wandering over her hips and neck. The now rough edge of Ryley’s touch was tempered by the seductive caress of Rafe’s hands, and she arched between them, overwhelmed with pleasure.
“Oh my God.” She moaned against Ryley’s lips as he slid his thick thigh between hers and his hands cupped her ass.
“Not quite, but you can call me that anytime, baby girl,” Ryley said against her throat with a chuckle, and reality came plunging down on Shandi. She shoved roughly against Ryley’s chest, twisting and squirming on his thigh in an attempt to get away from him. The movement only increased the friction on her pulsing clit, and she felt a new flood of moisture between her legs. She squeezed them together, only managing to pin his muscular leg even tighter against her.
“Shhh. Calm down, angel. We’ve got you, and we aren’t letting go. Just take the pleasure we can give you,” Rafe whispered into her ear, and she groaned again.
Her breath was coming in short pants, and her heart was racing. She could feel the heated flush covering her face and chest, as well as the awkward tightness of her bunched-up skirt around her hips. All that stood between her aching clit and Ryley’s muscular thigh were her lacey panties and his black denim jeans. With that thought she clenched her thighs even tighter around him, and he responded by digging his fingers into her ass.
A second later Rafe’s hands came around her body under her sweater and cupped her breasts, causing her to cry out with the ecstasy of his touch on her nipples. He pinched them through the lacey cups of her bra, and she moaned louder, rocking her hips against Ryley. Every forward thrust of her hips meant a responding backward motion right into Rafe’s rigid erection, and it was driving her insane.
“Please!” She cried out, and Ryley released one of her ass cheeks to reach up and tug her sweater up over her head. Trapped between two enormous men, with just her bra, panties, and bunched-up skirt on, she felt wanton, and desired. She couldn’t remember why she hadn’t wanted to do this anymore. It felt like she was ascending to heaven, and all they were doing was touching her.
The moment Ryley sucked one of her lace-covered nipples into his mouth she exploded, screaming out his name and writhing desperately on his leg. Pulses of orgasmic pleasure went through her like miniearthquakes, and she shivered violently in their arms. To their credit, they slowed the tempo of their kisses and strokes, bringing her back to reality slowly. Shandi kept her eyes squeezed tightly shut until Ryley let her slip down his thigh and stand on her own two feet.
When she looked up at them she gasped. Their eyes were glowing brightly, and they both looked a little like wild animals. Warning bells started going off in her head, but she still wasn’t steady enough to walk away from them yet.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” she asked. Rafe and Ryley exchanged a glance, and then looked back to her.
“It’s something that happens when we get particularly turned on,” Rafe said.
Ryley snorted a laugh. “Yeah, it only happens when we’re horny.” His tone was mocking, but his words made Shandi blush.
“I can’t believe…I’m not sure this is a good idea,” she said softly, staring at the floor. Tears filled her eyes, and her limbs were so weak from her orgasm that she nearly sank to the carpet under her feet. Before she could, strong arms were scooping her up, and she was promptly settled on Rafe’s lap in the small beige wingback next to her fireplace.
He tucked her head against his chest and began running his hand up and down her arms in a soothing manner. His free hand was wrapped tightly around her upper thigh, holding her in place on his lap.
“None of that now. I’m not going to let you regret anything that happens between us, Shandi,” he said in that low, rumbling voice that tripped her heart.
“I’m so embarrassed. I can’t believe I let that happen,” she said tightly. She kept her eyes clenched shut, but she could feel Ryley as he moved to kneel next to the chair. His chest was pressed against her knees where they dangled over the arm of the chair, and she let him take her hand in his. He kissed her fingertips individually, and when he finished he kissed her open palm, his tongue darting out to lick it seductively. Her eyes shot open, and she stared into a pair of amused eyes that had returned to their original blue color. From this close distance she could really see the flecks of bright green in them, and she returned his smile.
“There she is, there’s that fire I saw. Damn, baby girl, I love those purple eyes,” Ryley said with a groan.
She giggled like a teenager at his relaxed, playful words. “You’re crazy.”
Rafe chuckled underneath her, and Ryley winked. “Damn right. I have to admit I’m a little crazy about a hot, redheaded, purple-eyed siren that teaches tiny heathens to tie their shoes and spell their names.”
“Trust me, I am not a siren of any sort,” she said with a roll of her eyes. She pulled her head away from where it was cushioned against Rafe’s collarbone and turned to look at him.
He lifted his eyebrows at her, and she smiled a little as he asked, “Did you miss us, angel?”
Laughing loudly, she pushed herself away from his lap and stood. She adjusted her clothing and looked around for her lost sweater. Seeing it on the floor a few feet away, she moved to grab it, only to freeze when she heard their simultaneous groans of discomfort. Holding the shirt in front of her bra-covered breasts, she turned back to look at the brothers in confusion.
“What?”
“Do that again, baby girl,” Ryley said, the corner of his mouth turning up in a cocky grin. “Turn around and bend over.”
His meaning sunk in, and she blushed hotly. “Stop it. I can’t believe you’re checking out my ass while I’m trying to retrieve my modesty.”
“Who needs modesty? I think I would rather you drop the shirt, and I’ll take mine off, too. Then we’ll be back on equal footing.” Ryley quirked his eyebrow at her and laughed when she ended up staring at his chest, imagining what it might look like without his black T-shirt covering it.
Taking a shaky breath, she huffed at him. “No thank you. You promised to take me out, and I’m not letting you out of it,” she said quickly, turning her back and pulling the sweater over her head. Hearing the two men chuckling, she darted into the bathroom to clean up her hair and reapply her lip gloss.
Standing there staring into her own violet eyes, she was surprised to see the sexy vixen staring back at her. There was a fire in their purple depths that reached all the way into her belly, and her pink cheeks looked perfectly pleasured. Grimacing as she felt her sticky panties shift against her still sensitive pussy lips, she decided she had better make a quick change. Exiting the bathroom through the opposite door that led directly into her bedroom, she quickly swapped the soaking-wet lace for a dry pair before going back to the living room.
The Whetstone brothers were waiting for her with smiles, and Rafe took her hand in his to lead her from her apartment. Behind them Ryley made sure to lock the door, and followed the two of them to the elevator.
As the elevator doors whooshed shut, she couldn’t resist watching the two large men. Rafe stood close to her with her hand in his, and their fingers threaded together. Ryley, however, leaned casually against the opposite wall, watching her through hooded eyes. It was unnerving that he was so blatant about his desire for her. She had
never thought of herself as a desirable woman, especially not in the last few years, but she couldn’t lie to herself about what she saw in his eyes.
Chapter 8
She was even more beautiful today than she had been the day he met her. How was that possible? Ryley watched her fidget under his searching gaze, while he worked through his own frazzled thoughts. When the apartment door opened, and he got a whiff of her arousal, it had shut down his brain. What was he thinking, making out with her like a damn teenager? Making her come on his leg, without even giving her the benefit of foreplay, was the most immature thing he could remember doing.
Ryley was a ladies’ man. He took pride in knowing that he had a reputation for never leaving a woman unsatisfied, and although he couldn’t deny the flushed look of satisfaction on her cheeks, he also knew it wasn’t enough for her. He wanted nothing more than to drag her back up to her apartment and spend the rest of the night making love to her, even claiming her. That particular thought sent his wolf into a tizzy. He was butting against him hard with the need to claim his mate who stood so close.
Ry, you have to cut it out right now!
Rafe’s voice was loud in Ryley’s head, but Ryley snapped back at his order.
My wolf needs her, damn it.
I know, but you have to keep yourself under control. You can’t rape her in the elevator, and then expect her to want to love you forever.
It won’t be rape. I can make her want me. I can have her panting…
Something on Ryley’s face must have changed, because Shandi suddenly held her breath. It was nearly silent, and if not for their wolves’ keen sense of hearing the two brothers my not have noticed.
“Your eyes are glowing again,” she whispered, taking a small step backward. Rafe’s arm went around her waist, and Ryley growled low in his throat at the scent of her fear.
“I can smell you. You’re aroused, and slightly scared of me,” he said softly, trying hard to stay in control.
She frowned at him in confusion. “How?”
Rafe sighed heavily at her side and shook his head. “This is not a conversation for this particular moment. Ryley, get your shit together, man. We’re taking Shandi out tonight, nothing more.”
“I’m trying.” Ryley groaned, and he clenched his eyes shut, trying to coax his wolf to calm down.
“Are you telling me that you’re having a hard time not having sex with me?” Shandi asked. Her violet eyes darkened a shade, and her lips formed a small O of surprise when he nodded slightly. “Hmm…well, that’s one way to make a girl feel good.”
Her lips quirked up in a small half smile, and Ryley burst out laughing, as all of the tension in the elevator drained away and the bell dinged. He moved quickly to her side and pulled her into his arms. Instead of ravishing her, though, he kissed the tip of her nose and stared into her eyes. “Thanks, baby girl.”
“You’re welcome, but make note, I’m not agreeing to have sex with you, Mr. Whetstone,” she said with a hard look.
“Is that your teacher tone?” Ryley asked as they started to walk toward Rafe’s truck.
“Yep, and it usually scares the heck out of my students. Does it work on you?” she asked with a laugh.
“Nope, it just gets me hornier. I start thinking about you, and your desk, and your classroom. We could play naughty student…” He winked at her, and she blushed, shushing him as he helped her climb up into Rafe’s large black Ford Explorer. She had a naughty side that she was hiding behind this curtain of innocence, and it left him intrigued, and frustrated as hell.
“No more, Ry, stop teasing her,” Rafe warned, as he settled into the driver’s seat next to Shandi. Ryley was on her other side, and made the interior of the SUV significantly cozier.
“He’s fine, Rafe, it doesn’t bother me. He knows the score. I have been honest with both of you. I don’t want a relationship right now. I’m actually really surprised at myself for agreeing to come on this date,” she said with a small frown.
“You never know, you might succumb to my animal magnetism,” Ryley said with a wiggle of his eyebrows, and she laughed.
“Never say never, right?” Shandi responded. “So where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” The two brothers spoke simultaneously, and then exchanged a glance over her head.
Are you sure about this, Rafe?
Nope, but if we want to build a life with her we have to be real. This is us. She’ll either like it or she won’t.
You’re right, but I’m not used to losing control with women. Usually they are begging me to screw them by now.
All in good time, Ry.
“I don’t like surprises,” she said with an irritated tone. Really, Ryley thought to himself, who doesn’t like surprises?
“You’ll like this one, I promise,” Rafe said. “So tell us, how did you end up teaching kindergarten?”
Shandi smiled widely at Rafe’s change of subject, and settled back into her seat to answer the question. “I’ve always loved kids, and teaching just kind of came naturally to me. I originally planned to teach older students, you know like fourth and fifth grade, but the school needed a kindergarten teacher, and I needed a job. I love my students, and I work with my best friends Jen and Lily.”
“The two from the bar?”
She nodded. “Yep. Jen and I went to college together, and when we started at the school we met Lily and we all just clicked. I’ve been teaching there for almost three years now. What about you guys? How did you end up becoming firefighters?”
“I wanted to do something important with my life, so I signed up for the Marines after high school. Owen, Cash, and Liam were already in at the time, and Ryley followed me in. When we all got out we wanted a job that gave us an adrenaline rush. We work in twenty-four hour shifts, so that leaves us with time for pac—I mean, uh, family business,” Rafe explained. Ryley met his eyes nervously. They weren’t quite ready to tell Shandi their secret yet. Would she catch the mistake?
“So it’s not just because you wanted to be a hero?” she teased, and both men sighed with relief.
Ryley couldn’t resist teasing her back. “Well, there’s also the fact that women can’t resist a man in uniform. This way we have several uniforms to choose from. We’ll play dress up later and you can pick your favorite,” he said with a wink, and she laughed.
“Wow, you’re something else, huh?” she replied to Ryley, and then turned to Rafe. “Is he always like this?”
Rafe nodded. “Yep. He can’t help himself.”
Ryley draped his arm around her shoulders, and tugged her against his side. “I can’t help my own awesomeness, but I will share some of it with you. If you beg me nicely…”
Her laugh vibrated through him, and his cock thickened. Her beautiful purple eyes flashed with amusement, and her cheeks were a light pink color. She looked beautiful, and happy. He liked seeing her happy.
“I’ll keep that in mind, big guy. So I take it you guys have a close family?” she asked, ignoring Ryley’s hand as it stroked her bare arm. She really had the softest skin he had ever touched. It was like brushed silk, and her scent was making his balls ache.
Ryley nodded. “Yeah. Besides Rafe there is another brother, Liam, and we have a younger sister, Whitney.”
“Which one of you three brothers is the oldest?”
“Liam is thirty-two, and then me, I’m thirty-one, and then Ryley is twenty-nine. Whitney is twenty-seven,” Rafe answered.
Ryley was surprised she seemed so interested when she said she didn’t want a relationship with them. Of course, her words didn’t mimic the reactions of her body, so if he had to guess she really did want something with them. She just hadn’t admitted it to herself yet.
“Your mom must have had her hands full when all of you were little!” she said.
“Actually, Rafe and I were adopted by our parents Victoria and Henley Gray when I was eight,” Rafe said quietly, and Shandi looked guilty.
“I’m sorry
, I didn’t know,” she said, and Ryley grabbed her hand, drawing her attention.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Victoria and Henley are great parents, and we had a good childhood. Now, we’re almost to our destination. Tell me, do you prefer corn dogs or cotton candy?” Ryley asked playfully. He didn’t want to talk about the adoption, or their parents. It just stirred up feelings for him that were better left alone.
Shandi didn’t have a chance to answer before they were pulling into the fair parking lot. Instead she started laughing. “The fair? You brought me to the state fair? That’s priceless!”
Ryley helped Shandi down out of the truck, but kept ahold of her hand as they walked toward the entrance. Rafe was on her other side with his hand on the small of her back, guiding her movement. “You’re not disappointed? We’re not really the type for a romantic candlelit dinner—” Ryley said, but the pure joy on her face cut him off.
“Disappointed? Hell no! I’m dying to get on that tilt-a-whirl. Come on, big guy. I bet you’re a screamer!” She started walking faster, and the two brothers exchanged another look, laughing.
She’s perfect.
Ryley ignored Rafe’s thoughts, even though they mirrored his own. This was almost too good to be true, and Ryley had always believed that if it sounded too good to be true, it probably was. As Rafe stood with Shandi at the ticket booth paying for their tickets, Ryley assessed her.
She was bouncing on the balls of her feet with enthusiasm, and her eyes were glittering. It amazed him that bringing her to the state fair could make her so happy. She was like two different people. The cautious, scared young woman who had been hurt by a past lover, and the vivacious, dirty, sexy siren that made his blood boil with just a smile. He was slightly apprehensive, because he knew in his heart that he was falling for both facets, and when they were paired together they made one hell of a perfect mate for him and his brother.
The moment that Rafe had their tickets in his fist, Shandi was grabbing ahold of his elbow and dragging him through the turnstiles. She hadn’t been to a fair in at least five years, and the sights and smells brought back memories of her childhood. She laughed when a carnie yelled out challenges and encouragement as they walked past his game booth, and she smiled when a young boy took his cotton candy from his mom and happily got himself sticky with it. It was the perfect place for her, and she was floored that the Whetstone brothers would think of it.