Rowl crossed the threshold to the large bathroom and was immediately pressed against the wall. His crutches fell to the floor and his weight was supported by Joseph as he plundered Rowl’s mouth. He could feel Joseph’s desire pressing against his own. Rowl flexed his hips, desperate for more friction. Joseph’s tongue mapped his mouth thoroughly before releasing him.
“Let’s get you into the shower,” Joseph whispered before throwing Rowl’s arm over his shoulder and bracing his right side as they walked up to the long vanity.
As Rowl leaned on the countertop, he felt Joseph’s hands on the waistband of his track pants. He looked into Joseph’s shining blue eyes and saw a touch of reservation.
“What’s wrong?” Maybe he’s changed his mind. Oh, God, no.
“It’s…we’ve never…and I’m a little nervous.”
“Do you want me?”
“Yes, completely. Not one doubt.”
“Then take my pants off and we’ll figure this out together. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Joseph responded before giving him a soft kiss. Then he slowly lowered Rowl’s pants.
His hard cock sprung free and pointed accusingly at Joseph. His mate quickly shed his own clothing, revealing his tanned, muscled body and pressing it up against Rowl. Their naked bodies melded together and felt better than anything he could have ever imagined. He couldn’t help but moan at the feeling of Joseph’s hard body rubbing up against his own.
“That’s the sound I want to hear.” Karli’s voice came from the open doorway.
He and Joseph turned to look at their mate to find her standing in the doorway, wearing only a towel. Rowl’s wolf pushed even harder having his two mates so close, and all of them practically naked was taking him toward the edge of control.
“Baby, I want you in the shower with us, but I don’t think I have the restraint necessary to keep our promise to the alpha,” Joseph muttered, and all Rowl could do was nod in agreement. His voice had left him.
“Oh, I don’t plan on joining you two in the shower,” Karli explained as she walked up to their separate claw-footed bathtub. Her hips swayed with every step before she bent over provocatively and turned on the water. “But if you think I’m going to miss my mates lavishing each other with love, then you’re crazy.” She added some sort of soap to the water and it began to foam up. She then slid out of her towel, revealing her beautiful body, and stepped into the half-full tub.
Rowl loved this side of Karli. She was a strong, confident woman who knew what she wanted, and that was sexy as hell. He knew Joseph felt the same way. Joseph turned to look at Rowl, the heat in his eyes taking Rowl’s breath away.
“Can you hold yourself up braced on the vanity, babe?” Joseph asked.
“Yes,” Rowl confirmed, and Joseph went to his knees in front of him. Oh, God.
When Joseph wrapped his hand around Rowl’s hard cock, he was powerless to stop the moans that were now spilling out of his mouth. Rowl cried out when Joseph’s wet, warm mouth closed around Rowl’s cock. He held on tight to the counter while Joseph pumped as he sucked him down as far as he could. What he lacked in experience, he more than made up for with his passion. He looked up, and Rowl almost came on the spot. Joseph flicked his tongue around the sensitive head and dipped into his slit.
“Joseph, love. If you keep this up, I’m going to come,” Rowl warned.
His mate slowed his pace until he eventually released Rowl’s cock and licked the underside from root to tip. Rowl was lost in his passion and claimed Joseph’s lips in a searing kiss the moment he stood. The soft moan in the background confirmed they still had their other mate’s attention. Knowing they were being watched only increased Rowl’s excitement.
“I’ll start the water so it can warm up, babe.” Joseph checked to ensure Rowl was still balanced against the counter before turning around and walking into the large glass-encased shower.
Rowl looked over to see Karli watching him intently, a beautiful smile on her face. “I’m a blessed woman to have you two as my mates.”
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing,” Rowl replied as Joseph rejoined them. “I love the two of you more than I can explain.”
“We know how much you love us, and we feel the same way.” Joseph placed himself under Rowl’s right arm and helped him over to Karli.
She stood up but stayed inside the tub, soap sliding down her curvy body, and Rowl’s hands ached to touch her. When he got close enough, Karli wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply before doing the same with Joseph.
“Now let’s get in that shower. I can’t wait to get you all wet and soapy,” Joseph crooned, his eyes shining with a mixture of his natural blue and luminescence of his wolf.
So sexy.
Karli slid back into the soapy water while he and Joseph walked into the shower. The steam from the hot water rose in small clouds, surrounding them in a warm embrace. Rowl was able to lean against the wet wall and brace himself by holding onto the built-in shelves on either tiled wall. Joseph ran his strong hands up Rowl’s chest as if memorizing him by touch. A trail of heat followed in their wake as he leaned into Joseph’s caress.
“I love you so much, Rowl. I never dreamed we could have this. That the three of us could share ourselves completely. I’ll be forever thankful that you were brave enough for the both of us to show me how you felt.”
Before Rowl could answer, Joseph claimed his mouth possessively, his tongue diving deep, taking complete control. Control Rowl was more than willing to relinquish to his mate. Their wet bodies pressed close, sliding against each other and heightening his arousal. There wasn’t a spot Joseph’s hands hadn’t touched, leaving Rowl mindless with desire.
Joseph wrapped his hand around both Rowl’s and his own hard cock, bringing the two together and pumping them slowly. Rowl couldn’t help but moan as Joseph began sucking up marks on his neck and shoulder, marking him as his.
Rowl turned his head to look at his other mate and found her watching them from the bathtub intently, with the tips of her canines peeking out from under her top lip. One of her hands cupped her firm breast while the other disappeared under the soapy water. Rowl could only imagine what she was doing with her other hand, and the thought of it had him flexing his hips faster into Joseph’s hand.
“Look at our mate. She wants you as much as I do,” Joseph groaned in Rowl’s ear. “Babe, I’ve wanted you for so long, but I always thought that was impossible. Now that I have you, I want all of you.”
Joseph began to pump their cocks faster and slid his free hand down Rowl’s side and around to squeeze his ass cheek. Rowl’s body was shaking with excitement as Joseph’s finger circled his hole, and that was all it took to send him over the edge. He shouted his release as his balls pulled up tight and he came all over Joseph’s hand and cock. That began a chain reaction. He felt Joseph tense seconds before he came, and the deep moan echoing from the tub confirmed Karli’s pleasure.
Gasping for breath, Rowl opened his eyes, unsure when he’d closed them, to find Joseph staring at him with hooded eyes. His canines had extended below his bottom lip just as Rowl’s had. Thankfully they’d had enough control not to bite each other. That would have to wait until after their bonding ceremony.
“Stunning,” Karli moaned. “The two of you together are stunning.”
“Imagine the three of us, love,” Joseph responded, before releasing Rowl’s softening cock and reaching for the soap. “Let’s get cleaned up, sweetheart.”
“Love the two of you,” Rowl rasped, leaning forward for another kiss from his lover.
“Can I have one of those?” Karli asked as she walked into the large shower. She stopped under one of the three showerheads to wash away the bubbles that clung to her body before coming to stand at Rowl’s side. Rowl didn’t dare release the hold he had on the shelves, though he wanted to wrap his arms around her. Thankfully she seemed to understand and stood on her tiptoes to kiss both him and Joseph.
&
nbsp; “Are you sure this is a good idea? The three of us naked together?” Joseph asked, and Rowl had to agree this was risky. The three of them couldn’t mate fully until after the ceremony.
“Well, now that we’ve taken the edge off, I think we should be able to spend a few moments washing each other without getting out of hand.” Karli winked as she took the soap out of Joseph’s hand and began to lather it up on Rowl’s chest. “Now, if you help Rowl to stand up, I’ll begin to wash his gorgeous body.” He couldn’t help but blush at the attention he was being given. Rowl knew his mates were giving him extra care, and he loved them for it. But he’d be back on his feet in no time; he swore it.
Karli reached out and grabbed the washcloth and began to run the soap and cloth over the rest of his body. Joseph gathered Rowl into his arms and he buried his face in Joseph’s neck. Karli’s soft hands roamed all over his body in gentle caresses that had him getting hard all over again. He flicked his tongue out and tasted Joseph’s slightly salty skin, causing his mate to arch his neck to the side as if begging for more. Rowl was happy to comply.
He ran his tongue over the hot skin of Joseph’s neck before he began sucking up dark marks. Rowl continued to mark him as Karli switched her attention to Joseph and began washing him as well. All too soon, he was being angled under the hot stream of water and forced to rinse off, when all he wanted to do was put Karli between them and continue exploring.
Karli quickly washed, rinsed off, and exited the shower. Rowl lifted his right arm over Joseph’s shoulder, and slowly they walked out of the shower to find their mate waiting with towels.
“Thank you,” Rowl muttered as he ran a towel down the front of his body. He knew his mates had done all of this for him to take his mind off his leg and to strengthen their bond.
Tenderly, they dried one another before making their way to their bedroom. Joseph led Rowl over to his side of the bed and he pulled himself in. Karli crawled in beside him and under the blankets while Joseph took up position on her other side. Both men stayed above the blankets, lowering the temptation to take this further than simply resting.
They curled up together, arms weaved, holding one another close.
For a moment, he could pretend all was right with the world, even though he knew nothing would ever be the same again.
Chapter Six
Karli sat on her front porch alone for the first time in days. Joseph and Rowl had gone to the training fields. Considering they hadn’t found Rowl’s attacker, neither wanted to leave him alone. Rowl was forced to use his crutches, but he’d gotten more confident over the last couple days and was getting around much easier now. The doc had taught them exercises to help Rowl regain the strength in his right leg, and they’d been doing them twice a day. So far, there hadn’t been any marked improvement, but they would never give up.
Laura, Lisa, and Gabrielle had come by for a visit earlier. Gabrielle had taken over chaperoning duties for Laura and Alpha Dedric’s visits since the shooting, and the two would-be mates had been growing closer. Karli was happy for her friend and hoped everything worked out with the brave alpha.
Karli had been told that the king would be on his way by the end of the week to perform their bonding ceremony, which was scheduled for Sunday. The pack had taken over preparations for the celebration as a gift to the three of them, leaving Karli with time to finish decorating their home. She didn’t know when or if Joseph and Rowl would receive their own territory, so she carried on as if they would be staying in Black Ridge.
The late afternoon sunlight was now pouring onto the front porch, and Karli basked in its warmth. She thought about her mates, which immediately brought a smile to her face. They hadn’t become intimate again since the shower, all three not wanting to risk getting carried away and fully mating. The sight of her men together in the shower, exploring each other, was the most sensual thing she’d ever seen or imagined. Their hands tentatively touching, their lips and tongues tasting and investigating one another’s muscled bodies. She couldn’t wait until they were finally allowed to make their union complete with their mating bite that would blend their life forces. Mated wolves have a more in-depth knowledge and sense of each other after the bite. Some have even been able to communicate telepathically with their mates. She wished for that.
The smell of rotting meat brought her out of her happy thoughts, making her pop her eyes open and scan the area. She knew she was being watched but couldn’t find the cause. The smell was getting worse, so she stood and moved to the railing to look farther down the road. Nothing. She was about to sit back down, when she heard whining coming from behind the house.
Karli walked down the front steps and rounded the house, heading for the backyard. She feared an animal or shifter might be hurt and in need of help. The smell got progressively worse the closer she got to the back until eventually she had to place a hand over her nose and breathe through her mouth.
By the time she realized she was being stalked, it was too late to turn back. Karli spun around and found herself face to face with a dyr. Its fangs dripped with saliva as it bared its multitude of teeth at her. The dyr stood blocking her retreat from the backyard and into the house. The stench was overpowering and began to make her gag the closer it got. Its short, stubby legs were deceiving; they could outrun a grown wolf, so there’d be no chance of her getting away. The dyr’s body was covered in long, matted hair; its muzzle protruded from its flat hairy face, and its eyes flashed red. It stood as tall as her shoulders and its body rippled with muscle. Karli began to back away from it and deeper into the forest. Dyrs roamed in the northernmost territories and tended to stay away from populated areas, which only brought up more questions. Why was a dyr this far south in the middle of Black Ridge territory?
It began advancing on her, head lowered, teeth bared. Karli brought her wolf close to the surface and howled for help as she began to gather the electricity from the air into herself. Clouds formed in the sky above her, readying to be called upon. Answering howls could be heard heading her way, but at the rate the beast was stalking toward her, they wouldn’t make it in time.
It crouched low, preparing to attack. Karli’s hands began to glow and sparks flew between her fingers.
“Okay, big fella, you want to do this, then bring it on.” She had no idea why she was talking to the dyr, but it made her feel better. “I’m going to barbeque your ass.”
Karli brought her hands out in front of her, and with her omega powers, she summoned a bolt of lightning, which cracked through the air and struck the ground a few feet from the beast. She didn’t want to kill it if she didn’t have to. After all, it was only an animal following its instincts. If she could scare him off or hold him at bay until someone arrived, perhaps they could restrain the dyr and return it to the northern territories.
But the beast didn’t take the hint. It continued to paw the earth and advance on her. Karli backpedaled even faster as it leapt at her. She brought down one bolt after another, some hitting the mark while others the beast managed to avoid. Any normal animal would have run in the other direction. Something wasn’t right. The smell of burnt flesh and hair filled the area, and the earth was scorched black from her lightning strikes. But the dyr kept coming.
Karli had enough of this. She raised her hands to the sky, summoned multiple lightning bolts, and struck the dyr with all of them at once. The move would leave her weakened, but at this point, she had no other choice. She struck with everything she had dead center on its chest. The beast roared and crashed to the ground. Karli breathed a sigh of relief as she felt her body sag with exhaustion. She stood with her hands on her knees, gasping for air, when a group of wolves came running into the forest behind her house.
Joseph and Rowl came to her in their wolf forms. Rowl stood on three legs, but he’d been equally as fast in reaching her as everyone else. She was so happy for him; she knew how much it meant to him to be able to protect her and perform his duties. Her mates stood by her side as the remaini
ng wolves surrounded the smoking body of the dyr. Karli felt herself weakening even further and clutched onto Rowl’s fur coat to remain standing. He braced her, and Joseph shifted back into his human form just as she collapsed into his arms.
Joseph lifted her against his chest. She hadn’t realized she’d used that much power. Once she was mated, she’d gain strength, and would even be able to draw more power from their bond when necessary. But that did little to help her now. Alpha Aldric, Lothar, and Ceva ran up to them, weapons in hand, ready to battle.
“What the hell happened? And is that a dyr?” the alpha bellowed as he walked up to the beast.
Karli couldn’t care less what happened at this point. She needed to lie down in a quiet room, because her head was pounding.
“Yes, Alpha, it’s a dyr, and it attacked our mate. She bravely fought it and is weakened by the battle. We must take her inside the house and make sure she is comfortable before I go for Doc,” Joseph explained before turning and heading for the back door of their home, Rowl right by their side.
“How are you feeling, love?” Joseph asked.
“Weak and my head hurts.”
“I’ll get Doc as soon as I get you in bed.”
Joseph carried her through the back door, around the living room, and into their bedroom. When he laid her on the bed, Rowl jumped up beside her and shifted back into his human form.
“Baby, are you hurt?” Rowl asked as his hands roamed over her body, looking for injury.
“Not hurt, love. I drained myself fighting it. I need to rest.”
Rowl gathered her into his strong arms and she settled her aching head on his chest. “Rest, mate. I will watch over you,” he comforted, and Karli could feel herself drifting off.
Karli's Resolve (The Black Ridge Wolf Pack Book 3) Page 7