Reaching down, she palmed their bulges and smiled at the groans that left them as she squeezed them gently. Both men covered her hands with theirs and pressed her tightly against their erections. Meeka felt empowered. She felt desired. And she felt happy that her men wanted her so desperately.
“Please,” she whispered. “I want you both inside of me.”
“Reece,” Wade called to him quietly, his eyes changing to his normal gray color as he beseeched his partner. He wanted to love their woman. He wanted to claim their mate.
Reece shook his head sadly, his own eyes losing their golden glow as they returned to his light blue color that showed Wade every bit of sadness within him. “You know we can’t,” he said finally, his raspy voice just demonstrating another example of their flaws.
Wade nodded and looked down at the woman that they had no right to love or claim and bring into their private hell. Leaning down, he kissed Meeka’s lips lightly, smiling as she chased his mouth with her own.
“You need to sleep, baby,” he told her gently.
“But you two haven’t come,” Meeka protested, rubbing her hands gently over their erect shafts. “I want you to come. And I want you to be deep inside of me when you do.” Her voice was firm as was her hold on them. There was no way she was going to allow them to misunderstand her need or her desires.
We’re meant to be together, damn it! Why are they being so stubborn?
“That can’t happen, little one,” Reece told her gently, pulling her hand away from his cock and kissing her knuckles lightly.
“Why not?” Meeka demanded. “And don’t try to distract me with your sweetness, Reece. I’m not going to be swayed just because you’re adorable.”
Reece’s laughter was more of a croak, but he couldn’t help the rush of happiness that filled him at their woman’s words. “I’m not adorable, little one.”
“Listen. If I say you’re adorable then you’re adorable,” Meeka told him angrily. She turned to face Wade and saw him smiling down at her despite the sadness in his eyes. “You are, too, Wade. Adorable and sexy.”
“How about that, Reece?” Wade teased him. “I’m adorable and sexy. You’re just adorable.”
“You’re both sexy,” Meeka said immediately. “Don’t try to make him feel bad with your teasing, Wade Garner.”
“Yes, baby,” Wade answered immediately, grinning when she huffed in frustration.
“You’re a real pain, you know that, don’t you?” she told him quietly.
“Yes, baby. I know.”
Meeka looked at Wade and gave him her sternest look. “Not okay, Wade,” she told him.
Turning, she gave him her back as she snuggled tighter against Reece’s body. She leaned up and kissed his neck lightly, ignoring the way he tensed as she kissed the scars on his neck.
She hated that Alpha Randall had hurt him so cruelly. Randall had intentionally dipped his claws in silver in order to inflict the most damage with the most pain. He had caused irreparable damage to Reece’s throat and voice.
Reece thought about that night often just as Wade did. It was the night that had set them on a path of loneliness that would never change no matter how much they wished it could. And here was this gentle woman kissing his scars and loving him even though he knew in his heart that he couldn’t allow her to give them her love. Closing his eyes, he decided that he would bask in her gentleness for now. Tomorrow would be soon enough to go back to his life of isolation.
“You’re so sweet and sexy, Reece,” she mumbled against his neck, resting her head on his shoulder as she snuggled in, suddenly very tired. “I love you. And I love Wade.”
Reece opened his eyes in horror as he looked over the top of Meeka’s head to face his triad partner’s equally shocked expression. He froze at her words of love. He struggled to remain calm and tried to take deep, even breaths. To be the recipient of this beautiful woman’s love was a true miracle. One that they couldn’t accept.
“Wade,” Meeka called out sleepily.
“What, baby?” Wade answered from his spot mere inches from her. He was doing his best to remain calm but her declaration of love for them both had just settled deep within his heart and caused his ache for her to deepen.
“I need you to hold me, please,” she whispered.
Wade immediately scooted closer to her and pressed his chest against her back, successfully sandwiching her between them. “Better, Meeka?” he asked her as he nestled against her, brushing aside the long length of her silky black hair and kissing the back of her neck before settling comfortably behind her. He loved the way her body fit perfectly against his. He loved the way her sweet behind nestled tightly against his crotch. He rubbed his erection against her just once, growling at the pleasure he felt.
“Yes,” she said softly, reaching down and taking his hand to place it over the swell of her breast. “That’s better.”
“Yes. It is,” he agreed, cupping the softness of her full breast and rubbing his palm across her turgid nipple.
“Hold me tighter, Reece,” Meeka whispered as she tugged at his waist to draw him closer. “I don’t like you being so far away from me.”
“I’m here, little one,” Reece whispered, tightening his hold on her waist and breathing in the beautiful scent of her. “You can rest now. We’re not going anywhere.”
“Okay,” Meeka said on a yawn. “Both of you are mine, you know. You’re my mates. Mother Fate told me so, so don’t argue with me. I’m going to sleep now. Remember your promise.”
Reece nodded, looking over the top of their woman’s head to meet his triad partner’s gaze. “Remember our promise,” he told him quietly.
Wade closed his eyes as he nodded. He wished that he and Reece had never made that damn promise. It was a promise that had tortured both of them daily since the moment they had found Meeka and had scented that she was meant to be their mate. She was meant to be their woman, and Eric was meant to be their son.
As he tried to calm himself, he said the same prayer that he said every night before he fell asleep. He prayed to the Fates to help them find the way to mate with the woman who was meant to be theirs without killing her.
Meeka finally relaxed. She felt she was exactly where she was supposed to be as both men surrounded her as she lay in her bed. It wasn’t long before she finally fell into a calm and peaceful slumber. Her men were there to protect her and chase away all the evil that haunted her. How could she feel anything but wonderful when she was held so tenderly between them?
“Mommy!” Eric’s panicked voice called out.
Meeka startled awake, trying to untangle herself from the arms and legs that surrounded and covered her. As she bolted upright, her T-shirt fell to her waist and she attempted to climb from the bed. Both Reece and Wade were awake immediately.
“Meeka, I’ll get him,” Reece told her quickly, pressing her carefully back so that she lay next to Wade. He kissed her temple lightly before removing himself from the bed and going to the adjoining room to get Eric.
“Don’t worry, Meeka. Reece loves your little boy,” Wade told her gently as he pulled her closer to his body and snuggled her tightly against him. “I love him, too.”
Meeka couldn’t even speak. The fact that these powerful, caring men had such feelings for her son made her love them even more than she already did. She had denied her feelings long enough. Suzie had told her that when Meeka found her mates her feelings for them would happen quickly and grow with each passing moment. It was perfectly normal for her to form a deep attachment and love toward them in a very short time.
Suzie had been correct. She ached to be with Wade and Reece. She wanted to share her life with them and give them her love. She even thought about having more children with them. That was something she never thought she would ever want to do again with any man.
The light from Eric’s room illuminated her bedroom just enough for Meeka to see Reece walking back into the bedroom. He was holding Eric gently against his c
hest and rubbing his cheek across the top of Eric’s head. She couldn’t help but smile as she saw the big man showing such tenderness.
When Reece kissed Eric’s forehead before handing him carefully to Meeka, she nearly started to cry. She drew her son against her chest and rocked him slowly as she sat up against the headboard. When Reece leaned against Eric’s back and continued to rub his cheek against her little boy’s neck she couldn’t help but smile when she heard Eric’s soft giggles.
“Reece, you’re tickling me,” Eric said, turning to launch himself at Reece and wrapping his little arms around Reece’s neck and hugging him tightly.
When Eric grabbed onto Reece’s black hair and tugged on it possessively, Reece couldn’t help but growl and bite down on the little boy’s shoulder as a father wolf would play with his cub. He held him tightly as he prevented the little boy from moving away from him.
Eric giggled and hugged Reece tighter, pulling once again on his long hair as he laughed delightedly. “My hair is the same color as yours, Reece,” he said happily. “I like that my hair is the same color as yours.”
Wade leaned across Meeka and rubbed his cheek across Eric’s neck, kissing his shoulder firmly. “What about me, Eric?” Wade teased him. “I don’t have black hair like you and Reece. That’s not fair.”
Eric turned to face Wade and reached out to grab for Wade’s light brown hair. “You and me have the same eyes,” Eric told him firmly.
“Well, yours are more hazel and mine are more gray,” Wade explained calmly, seeing the way Eric’s face scrunched up in thought.
“I think we look the same,” Eric insisted.
“I think you do, too,” Meeka offered. “Both of you have beautiful eyes.”
Wade looked at Meeka and saw the sincerity of her words as she smiled at him and winked. Happiness filled him at the thought that Eric looked like both him and Reece. It was as it should be. Eric was their son. It was how they both felt deep within their hearts despite their promise to each other that they couldn’t claim this wonderful woman and this amazing boy as theirs. He said a silent prayer to the Fates to help him know what to do. He wanted them both so much. He knew that Reece did, too.
Wade lunged forward and kissed Eric’s back repeatedly, traveling up to his neck and gently biting down on it. Eric was their pup. There was no denying it. He would have to have a talk with Reece later. They had to figure this out. They were meant to be a family, and he was determined to have it happen.
Eric’s giggles increased and he squirmed in Reece’s arms until he was turned and gripping both men’s hair firmly in his little fists. He pulled at them with all his strength, loving when they both smiled at him.
“I got you both,” Eric squealed, tugging both men closer and kissing each man’s cheek before looking at his mother and laughing. “Look, Mommy! I have our wolves.”
Meeka laughed and leaned forward to wrap her arms around her son and tug on the two men’s arms to hug them tightly. “I have all of you,” she told her son, laughing when Eric rubbed his check against hers before turning and doing the same thing to both Reece and Wade. “What’re you doing, honey?”
“I need to smell like you and Reece and Wade,” Eric said, continuing to rub his face against all three of them.
“Why?” Meeka asked, her voice soft as she smiled at her happy boy.
“So everyone will know you’re mine,” Eric explained, shrugging.
Meeka looked up at Reece and Wade. “Is that what he’s doing?” she asked them. “Is it a wolf thing?”
Reece remained silent but Wade nodded, smiling sadly as he thought about what could never be. “It is something we do instinctually, Meeka,” he explained quietly. “We have a need to cover our mate and our children with our scent.”
Meeka smiled softly at Wade’s admission. “You think of Eric as your child?” she whispered.
She watched silently as Reece reached up and ran his hand lightly over Eric’s tousled black curls. His actions tugged at her heart. When Wade reached up and did the same, she closed her eyes and said a prayer of thanks that these two men showed honest love for her little boy. There was nothing that she wanted more than to have Reece and Wade be Eric’s fathers.
Growls suddenly filled the bedroom. Meeka’s eyes flew open as she felt Reece pull away and Wade tug her and Eric into his arms and drag them to the far side of the huge bed. As Wade held them protectively against his chest, she watched in horror as Reece’s body contorted in pain and his body was thrown into a series of convulsions that made him fall from the bed to writhe helplessly on the floor.
“Wade, help him,” Meeka begged.
“I can’t,” Wade said sadly. “He just has to go through the process.”
“What process?”
Before Wade could answer, Reece’s body transformed into his wolf, shredding his jeans in the process. His large body twisted in pain and slammed against the bed as a haze of blue energy surrounded him. His face elongated, and his snout pushed over the top of the bed, his jaws opening and snapping closed repeatedly as the wolf fought to get closer to Meeka and Eric.
Wade reached out with his left hand and grabbed for the wolf’s head and held it down to pin it to the mattress. His strength was tested as the large, black wolf twisted and snapped at him, but Wade refused to let go and put either Meeka or Eric at risk.
Before Meeka knew what was happening, Eric scrambled out of her arms and lunged for the restrained wolf’s head. He lifted his hands and gently petted the wolf’s snout over and over again.
“It’s okay, wolf. Don’t be afraid. Wade won’t hurt you. Mommy won’t hurt you. I won’t hurt you.”
Meeka leaned forward and joined her hand with her son’s as he caressed Reece’s wolf. “Don’t be upset, Reece,” she told him gently. “We love you. We’re not afraid of you. We know you love us.”
Reece’s wolf began to calm, his beautiful blue eyes watching Meeka and Eric as they carefully caressed his head. The soft whines that escaped him tugged at Meeka’s heart. Reece was in so much pain. She could feel it deep in her soul.
“Reece. Please come back to us,” she whispered. “We need you to hold us.”
The wolf’s eyes closed and he chuffed softly. There was a shimmer of blue energy that surrounded him for just a second before the miraculous change from wolf to man occurred. Before Meeka could stop him, Eric launched himself into Reece’s arms and kissed his cheek.
“You’re a very big wolf, Reece,” Eric said with wonder. “I love your wolf.”
Reece held Eric tightly against his chest, rubbing his back lightly as he stood slowly. “Thank you, Eric.” He kissed the top of Eric’s head then eased him out of his arms and back onto the bed to sit within Meeka’s arms.
“How’re you doing, Reece?” Wade asked quietly.
“I’m fine,” Reece answered, his mouth set in a grim smile. He turned his attention to Meeka and shook his head. “Now you know why I can’t allow our mating to happen, Meeka.” Turning he walked out of the bedroom.
“What just happened?” Meeka asked, looking at Wade in frustration. “We can’t let Reece leave. He needs us.”
Wade nodded. Reaching out, he gathered Meeka and Eric within his arms. “There’s nothing we can do for him,” he said sadly. “He’s had to live with his lack of control over his wolf since Randall attacked us fifteen years ago. We both have, Meeka. I’m not as bad off as Reece is, but I have struggled to contain my wolf. When he’s set free, I can’t control the anger or the violence within him.”
Meeka’s heart broke for Reece as she realized just how much he had suffered over the years. Suzie had told her that there was nothing more important to the members of the pack than the magic that called their wolves forth that allowed them to run free. Reece had been denied that control over his magic.
“Is that why you and Reece won’t try to be with me and form a triad?” she asked calmly.
“We can’t take the chance that you’ll be hurt,” Wade explaine
d sadly. “I’m sorry, Meeka. As much as we would both love to claim you as ours, we can’t be your mates. We can’t take the chance that our wolves will hurt our mate and our children.”
Meeka felt the pain and sadness that filled Wade as he kissed her temple before leaning forward and kissing Eric’s cheek. She watched in silence as Wade climbed out of the bed and walked over to the chair to retrieve their clothes and belts. Picking up his and Reece’s boots, he turned and left the bedroom.
“Mommy, are Wade and Reece coming back?” Eric asked softly.
“I don’t know, honey,” Meeka told her son honestly. “I just don’t know.”
Chapter 5
Meeka parked in front of the small building at the edge of the Circle Three Ranch, thankful for the car that Nikki had let her borrow to get back and forth to work each day. Since Nikki was pregnant with twins, there was no way she could even fit behind the wheel of the small sports car, let alone be able to climb out from the low carriage. Meeka smiled sadly as she thought about the many women who now were mated and living under the protection of Alpha Jace Beckett on Beckett’s pack land. Every one of them was happy. And every one of them was at some stage of their pregnancy or had recently delivered their baby. She wasn’t ashamed to admit that she was more than a little jealous of all of them.
The way their men cherished them was deep, in-your-gut beautiful. Meeka ached with the need to be loved in the same way. She felt the pain of loss every moment she was away from Wade and Reece. She wanted them to touch her and love her and make babies with her. But they wanted nothing to do with her. Since that beautiful night when she had brought them to her bedroom, had felt their tender touches, and had told them that she wanted them, she had been ignored by both men. What was even worse was that they avoided her. They went out of their way to make sure that her path did not cross theirs. It was heartbreaking.
She barely had been able to hold herself together and go to work every day at the small boutique at the local mall even though she enjoyed working there. It was good to have an income, even if it was such a small one. Just knowing that she had been able to purchase clothes for her son and contribute to his care within the pack was more than she could have ever hoped for.
Meeka's Reluctant Mates [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 6