“You haven’t told her?” Nikki asked Sarah.
Sarah shook her head. “I thought maybe it would be better to ease her into it.”
“Told me what?”
Nikki and Robyn exchanged glances. “Are you the slow peel or rip the bandage off kind of girl?” Robyn asked.
“I guess I’m the rip-it-off type.” Whatever it was they had to tell her sounded serious.
“Well,” Robyn continued, “first of all, you are already their mate.”
She frowned. “Like hell I am. I’m sick of—”
“Just hear me out, okay?”
Hope sighed but nodded. She was two seconds from telling the next person who called her that off. It was like the decision was already out of her hands to hear them tell it.
“The thing is, no matter how much you want to deny it, you’re their mate. That just means you’re the one fate has chosen for them. Nothing can change that.”
Hope laughed dryly. “I don’t believe that.”
“It’s true,” Sarah said. “You’re their mate whether you accept it or not. You have a bond that can’t be entirely broken, except by death. But you don’t have to stay with them. You can walk away and never see them again.”
Nikki smiled sadly. “Yes, you can do that, but just know it won’t be easy for any of you.”
She could have guessed that. Already she looked forward to seeing their faces and learning more about them and their home. And they were both so intent on being with her that she could see them being unhappy, at least for a little while. “I’m sure it will be hard to say goodbye, but they’ll find someone else. I mean, they won’t spend their entire lives alone, will they?” She found that the idea of them lonely bothered her, yet the thought of another woman in their bed actually made her stomach hurt a little.
Nikki reached for the wine and poured herself another glass. “Sure, they can be with someone else. They can even join with someone else, but they’ll never have as complete a relationship with her as they would have with you. And the first months apart will be the hardest. Since you’ve already…been together, you’ll burn for them and vice versa. Eventually, though, you’ll get used to being apart, but the three of you will always feel like something is missing.”
Great. So she was going to burn for the sexiest men she’d ever met and then go through life pining for them. She didn’t even want to ask what Nikki meant by burning. She was pretty sure it meant a lot of frustration and the frequent use of her vibrator. “Sure you’re not exaggerating a bit? Just to be a good sister?”
“She’s a good sister, but everything she said is true,” Mikayla said.
Sarah nodded. “My question is why are you so against it?”
“Why were you?” Hope tossed back. “Didn’t you say you made them chase you for months?”
“True. I was scared honestly. It was all so new. It took a while for me to accept that they were shifters, and then to accept that I would become one, too, if I agreed to let them claim me. It was weird and foreign, and I had to get used to the idea.”
“So why is it so difficult to understand that I might have the same issue? I mean, I’m not scared, exactly. It’s just that it’s all so fast. It’s like I met them, found out they were wolves, and bam! I’m just supposed to commit to spending my life here.”
“I do understand,” Sarah said. “It’s just that after all you’ve been through, I want you to be happy, sooner rather than later.”
“But she has to want it,” Robyn said.
Did she? Did she want it? A part of her was thrilled with the idea that Adam and Levi could fully commit to her so easily. A part of her wanted to believe that she could have a fairy tale type of love. But the other part said it was just crazy, that even thinking of staying there and becoming part of a wolf clan, a real life wolf clan, was insane. Sarah was doing it, but… “Alright, let’s talk about something else. Too much scrutiny on me. There must be something else juicy we can talk about.”
Hope knew there was a reason she already liked these woman. They launched into a discussion of Robyn’s recent sexual escapades that had them all roaring with laughter. Still, they’d given her even more to think about. She wouldn’t accept Adam and Levi just to avoid discomfort, but at least she felt a little better about being called their mate.
* * * *
Hope had a fun, relaxing time out there with her new friends, eating, joking, and catching some sun. Nikki had thoughtfully brought a homemade sunscreen for Hope, though she didn’t need it herself. Apparently, wolf shifter skin healed too quickly to worry about damage from the sun.
The conversation frequently turned to sex and hot men, though they also talked about normal things like careers, hope for the future, and family. Much to her surprise, she even learned that Robyn liked to knit. As saucy as the woman was, it was hard to believe.
When the talk turned to Sarah and her upcoming hydan, which sounded a lot like a honeymoon, they had to talk her sister out of leaving right away to go find her men. Jackson and Wes had taken the day off from work, and Sarah feigned worry over whether they were bored and lonely without her.
* * * *
Nikki got to her feet, laughing. “Let’s go get wet. Might help Sarah cool off a bit.”
The water was cold at first, but the sun was hot enough that the chill actually felt good. It didn’t take long before Mikayla splashed Nikki and Nikki splashed Sarah and Sarah splashed Hope. Soon there was water flying everywhere amid squeals and shrieks.
One minute, laughter split the air, and the next, silence fell. Before Hope could turn around to see what the other women were staring at, she was lifted off her feet. Adam. He pulled her, screaming and squealing, into his arms and landed a kiss sexy enough to curl her toes.
“I knew he couldn’t follow the rules,” Amber said.
Nikki gave a mock sigh. “C’mon, big brother, set a good example.”
When Adam finally set her down, Hope was not only breathless but also shaky on her feet. He put his arm around her, helping her keep her balance. “Sorry, ladies. I couldn’t help myself.”
“Well, try harder.” Mikayla splashed at him.
“We brought gifts,” he said, pointing toward the shore where Levi, Luke, Mason, Wes, and Jackson all stood in some variation of shorts and swim trunks. Bare-chested and muscled as they were, they looked like they belonged in a swimwear calendar. “Dinner, and more wine, of course.”
Robyn shook her head, staring at the men as they laid down blankets and started emptying the basket. “All I can say is…damn.”
She had that right.
* * * *
It had been a long day, and Adam was still tired from last night’s responsibilities. There’d been a ruckus out at the northern border, which happened to be in former Lycan territory. He’d shifted to run all the way there. Under normal circumstances, the men his father had guarding the border would have handled it, but Adam had requested to be personally alerted to anything out of the ordinary while Hope’s attackers remained at large. If he’d had a piece of their clothing, he’d have been able to set a group to track them, but no such luck. All he’d been able to do was put out feelers in River’s Bend and in town, thinking someone would eventually spot the newcomers and send up an alert.
They’d be fools to try to sneak into River’s Bend. If it was just the two of them, they had no prayer of making it back out in one piece. The problem was, a niggling concern had him thinking they might not be alone. As the ruthless alpha Ulric made his way across the country, packs either succumbed to him, joining him and making his pack even stronger, or they ran. Many who ran wandered toward River’s Bend.
At first, the clan had thought to offer anyone who ran a place in River’s Bend, but they’d learn the hard way that not wanting to join Ulric didn’t necessarily make a shifter a worthy candidate for inclusion. They’d had some thefts and the near-rape of one of their women before they’d decided to step up their security dramatically. And the next to
wn over from Silver Spring, the one Hope had driven into on that rainy night, had become a catchall for some of the worst characters. It was a gang of such criminals he’d encountered at the northern border the previous night. They’d been looking for trouble but had been easy enough to run off.
The growing frequency of these sorts of problems, however, had him thinking more seriously about their aging alphas. Zion had won his last challenge, but not without coming dangerously close to death himself. Grey, Luke’s and Mason’s father, wasn’t in any better shape to win against a young challenger than Zion was. He did want to be alpha someday, but it seemed the change of leadership might be necessary sooner than he’d expected.
The sun was going down, and Adam stretched and yawned, looking over at Hope. He’d broken the no-men rule by showing up there, but he hadn’t been able to help himself. But he’d managed to wait hours to do it. Damn if she wasn’t the sexiest woman he’d ever seen. And he was just as attracted to her sweet nature. Levi said she’d been worried about him. Hearing that had kept a goofy grin on his face half the day.
Maybe they’d had enough girl talk for one day. He tore his eyes from Hope to glance over to Levi. “Ready to head out?” Dinner and a swim had been a good way to end the day, but he was tired and ready to sink himself into their mate, if she’d have him.
“I was born ready.” Levi jumped up, and Luke and Mason were only too eager to follow suit.
It took only minutes to round up their women and say their good-byes. Sarah claimed extreme fatigue and the need to lie down and rest, winking at Adam. He nodded back at her in thanks. Hope wouldn’t lack time with her sister in the days leading up to Sarah’s joining, and Adam needed her just then.
* * * *
Hope didn’t quite know how to handle this. She’d slept with Levi against her better judgment. Was she going to sleep with Adam, too? There was no doubt that she wanted to. From the time they’d shown up at the pond, she’d fought to keep her mind off the way they’d made her feel, both of them fucking her on the crazy night that started all of this. And she’d been in a state of hyper-alertness, feeling just on the edge of yelling, “Take me right here, right now,” all damned day.
“We could get some dessert and watch a movie in the rec room,” Levi said.
“I can’t imagine either of you watching TV.” TV watching just seemed too mundane for what they were.
Adam yawned. Clearly his night out was catching up to him. “Yeah, we don’t watch much, but we catch a movie here and there and...sports.”
They stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading up to her second floor guestroom, apparently waiting for her answer. “What kind of movies do you like?” she asked.
“Action,” they answered in unison.
Levi grinned. “Also those comedies where humans get themselves into ridiculous situations and then make everything worse trying to fix them.”
“Not chick flicks?” she teased. Actually, she could go for a comedy or an action movie, if it was a good one, but she was willing to bet Adam would fall asleep if they sat in front of a TV too long.
They groaned, and Hope laughed. It was the reaction she’d expected.
“We’re not big on those...” Levi said.
“But we’ll suffer through one for you,” Adam finished.
Hope smiled. Was this an act or were they really this great? She’d have to take them up on that offer and find out, but not tonight. “I have a better idea.”
Adam stifled another yawn. “Whatever you want.”
Why not? she’d asked herself over and over again. Why couldn’t she just relax and see where things went? It felt good to just have fun for a change. “Take me to bed.”
Her words seemed to snap Adam back to alertness, and before she knew it, he’d lifted her in his arms and bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time, with Levi right behind them.
“Adam, wait. Just wait a second.” She pushed against his chest, trying to slow his movement toward her room.
“What’s wrong?” He did stop, but didn’t put her down.
She needed to be put down to say her peace. “I need you to…Adam, put me down. We need to talk.”
She could tell he didn’t want to, but he did set her on her feet. Levi came to stand beside him, and she suddenly felt small and fragile standing there with both huge men staring down at her.
Adam reached out and stroked his big hand over her hair, pushing errant strands off her forehead. “Hope, I need to take you to bed. Need to. Tell us what’s wrong. I can’t wait much longer.”
Maybe, Hope thought, the best thing to do was just blurt it out. “Last night…” She hesitated, not even sure why it was so hard to say. “Last night, Levi and I had sex while you were gone.”
“We made love,” Levi corrected her.
She glanced at Levi briefly before turning her gaze back on Adam, looking for signs that what she’d said had hurt him. “Levi said you wouldn’t be upset, but I didn’t want to sleep with you without putting it out there.”
Adam looked at her, one eyebrow raised. Damn him, he looked so sexy that way. “You thought I’d be angry?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “Or…hurt.”
Levi shook his head. “I told her you would expect us to enjoy each other, and you’d do the same if I was away. I guess she didn’t believe me.”
“It’s not that I didn’t believe you. It’s just that I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings. And I don’t want to cause problems between you two. You’re so close…”
“Let’s show her we know how to share, Levi.”
Hope swallowed, her heart speeding up and her nipples hardening at his words. Adam took a step closer and Levi circled around behind her, their body heat warming her before they even touched her. Her clit throbbed in anticipation, but she held up a hand to stop them.
“One more thing.” It was all she could do to continue talking, when they looked ready to fall on her like starving animals and she so richly wanted to be their meal. “This…tonight…the time that I’m here. None of this…not the kisses, not the sex, none of it is going to change how I feel. I need you to understand, really understand that this is only temporary. After my sister’s joining, I’m going back to my normal, sane life.”
They both growled, causing her to jump in surprise. Adam’s expression darkened. “We’ll see.” He deftly reached between her legs and under her bikini bottoms to cup her wet heat. “Now...bed.”
Had he really heard a word she’d said? Why was she allowing Levi to open her guestroom door and lead her inside? Adam clearly didn’t get it, and she had her doubts about Levi. Why did she turn to Adam the moment the door closed, spreading her legs to allow him better access and leaning back against Levi’s chest for support?
“You don’t ever have to worry about jealousy between us, Hope. We’ve been sharing since we were pups. It’s like this, I know how badly Levi needs to feel your breasts in his hands.” Adam reached up, abandoning her pussy and making her whimper at the loss. He pulled her bikini top down, watching her breasts spill out of it.
Levi took her bare breasts in his big hands, kneading them. “And I know how badly Adam wants to taste your pussy since he didn’t get to last night.” He used his knee to nudge her legs further apart.
Adam dropped to his knees in front of her. “I know Levi will want to taste you, too, so after I make you come, I’ll make sure he gets his turn.” He spoke with his lips just a hair away from her pussy, and Hope couldn’t keep still. She could hardly wait.
Levi kissed the back of her neck, shifting his hands to tweak her nipples. “And I know Adam wants to bury his cock inside you and fuck you until you shake and scream in his arms. But, we both want that, so just as the last tremors of the orgasm he gives you subside, I’ll bury myself inside you and fuck you until you come all over again, screaming my name this time.”
The first touch of Adam’s tongue on her pussy made her jump and moan, but Levi held her tightly, stea
dying her when she thought her knees would buckle. Adam licked her slit, tongued all around her entrance and then lapped at her already throbbing clit.
Levi continued talking, speaking into her ear and letting her feel the hardness of his cock from behind. “I need to feel your gorgeous lips wrapped around my dick, and I know Adam wants to feel your tongue loving his balls. And soon, when you’re ready, we’ll both take you at the same time. Adam deep in your pussy and me right here.” He pushed a finger between her ass cheeks and circled her anus, rubbing her there. “We know how to share, baby. All you have to do is relax and let us.”
Hope could manage no argument. Adam’s tongue did amazing things to her pussy, lapping wetly against it, then circling her clit again and again. She moaned and arched her back, overcome with the sensations they provoked as they simultaneously touched her. Her mind replayed their words again and again, and as Adam pushed two fingers inside her pussy and Levi inserted what felt like just the tip of one of his fingers in her ass, she wondered what it would feel like to have them both pushing into her at the same time. The image ramped up her desire until Adam hit an incredibly sensitive spot inside her pussy, bringing her to the brink and then fastening his tongue and lips on her clit to push her over it. Her climax washed over her like a tidal wave, tearing Adam’s name from her throat and leaving Levi to support her fully as she lost her ability to stand.
* * * *
The taste of his mate’s pussy intoxicated and energized him. He no longer felt tired or cared about anything other than feeling her velvety walls clutching at his cock. He met Levi’s eyes and the man understood him perfectly.
“Baby, get on your hands and knees,” Levi said, sitting on the edge of the bed and guiding her between his knees.
She was flushed, smelling of arousal and release, and Adam held himself tightly in check while she complied, only hesitating for a second. He wanted to push into her and ride her fast and hard, but at the same time, he wanted to make love to her slow and easy. It was crazy, but she both brought out his tender side and made him want to rut like an animal.
Claiming Hope [Wolves of River's Bend 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 14