by Em Ashcroft
He was right. The audaciousness of the move took her breath away. Many magazines had gained new life by going online, but under Chelsea, Style had disdained the practice. Chelsea had called it vulgar and refused to allow its development.
“So we need this shoot to go well. We’ll be putting it out a lot earlier than people think.”
CJ headed toward them, grim-faced. With Gary yelling instructions to Bianca, and Susie and her people lounging against the fence, making remarks about the horse and its rider, Rachel had lost track of where he was. Here was the answer.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You should drink more.” He shoved a bottle of water into her hand. She forced a wan smile.
Is this bastard bothering you?
She froze with shock. He’d spoken into her mind. He’d never done that before. She thought the answer, wondering if it would reach him. He’s my boss. He’s fine. He’s never made an inappropriate move yet.
Hmm. Okay, but let me know if you need me. I won’t be far away. And you’re staying here tonight, understand?
Joy mingled with her anger at his commands. No I won’t. I have a job to do.
Hmm. He said nothing more, not that way anyhow. He thrust another bottle toward Mason. “Drink. We don’t need you fainting with dehydration. I’ve put a crate of cold water in the refrigerator in the lodge. Help yourselves. And the hands will fill the coolers when they have time.”
“Thanks,” Mason said, equally gruffly. Rachel stood between them, like the bone they were tussling over.
CJ glared at Mason then at her. He spun on his heel and strode away.
* * * *
Sometimes “not happy” would describe the way CJ was feeling. He could take that, but when he added “unsettled” and “jealous” to the mix, that made him extremely disgruntled. CJ hated feeling disgruntled. He’d made himself a good life here, and he wanted it to continue as long as possible. Unsettled worked for him, too. Fuck, could he really do this?
Modern women needed their freedom, but surely not at the expense of their safety? He couldn’t be sure any more. Where he came from, women were commodities. He’d never accepted that, had always looked out for them. .
The instinct that had driven him then drove him now. When he saw Rachel with Mason McCall, he wanted to rip the man limb from limb. The Scot got in her face far too much, took too much for granted. He didn’t doubt that he’d told Rachel to go back to the hotel that night.
When he strode back to the house and let himself in, he found Sam in the kitchen, a beer bottle in his hand. Without being asked, he handed one to CJ. CJ dragged off his hat and hung it on the peg by the door, took the beer with thanks, popped the top with his thumb, and took a deep drink. He opened his throat and let it pour down, the cold liquid taking the edge off his mood. But so did his breed partner, waiting for him here.
“I felt your mood. We’re getting too close,” Sam said with a grin.
“We’re getting too fucking touchy-feely,” CJ growled, putting his empty bottle on the counter.
“Nah. I felt your mood because I feel it, too.” Sam sipped his beer, but an empty one stood next to CJ’s, so he must be on his second. “She’s something else, isn’t she?”
CJ didn’t need telling who he meant. “She is. I want her too fucking much. And I need to make sure she’s safe.”
“Is this instinct or reason?” Sam said.
“Both.”
“Yeah.” Sam rubbed his nose. “The cars didn’t break down on their own. They’ve been towed away, by the way. The guys left us two of the ranch vehicles, both checked over. I made sure the garage was locked up tight.”
“Good. We could have died. What gets me is the lack of concern the saboteur had for us. What did he want?”
“He?”
CJ shrugged. “Let’s call him ‘he’ until we know different.” His instincts told him a woman wouldn’t do this. Not that a woman didn’t know engines, but she’d try something else first. No, he just didn’t want to believe a woman was doing this. But Sam didn’t seem overly concerned. They didn’t know the first thing about this person, and that unsettled him more than anything else. “Do we talk to Chris?”
Sam shook his head. “If it carries on, then yes we call the police chief. But the fewer people who know right now, the better. It wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t kids. Somebody had broken into the tool chest to get the things they needed, so it wasn’t premeditated.”
“And it wasn’t the garage. Those guys carry their own stuff.”
CJ nodded. That was true. “I talked to the foremen today, and they’re keeping their eyes open.”
CJ didn’t like bringing someone into the mess, even if it was another shape-shifter. He didn’t want people pouring in, taking his ranch apart. It didn’t work for him, and it never would. If they could sort this out in house, then he’d bring in the law. “I took pictures.”
Sam laughed, the sound running off the walls. “Joining the twenty-first century, are we? You’ll be learning how to spell forensics next.”
CJ walked across the kitchen and aimed an open-handed cuff at him, but Sam caught his hand, still grinning. “Keep that for the people who deserve it, buddy.”
“Sure.” He dropped his hand. “So where are we with this?”
“In what way?”
No way of saying it in a roundabout way. “Sharing women.”
“Ah, that. I’m cool with it. But I only want one woman right now.”
“Me, too.” And wasn’t that the hell of it? Finally, they’d managed to share a bed with a woman, and it was the one they should have taken last year. Maybe then, in the scandal that ensued, she might have agreed to leave her job and give them a tryout. “Fuck.”
“Give me a clue, CJ. What are you thinking?”
He appreciated that Sam didn’t casually root through his head. His breed partner understood CJ’s need for privacy. “Can we be falling for her?”
“Already there, buddy. Already there. But I need time. I don’t know if this is our first time and she’s incredibly hot, or if she’s our one and only.”
CJ was very much afraid that this time he’d leaped well past his breed partner. Already he cared for her more than he’d cared for any woman in a long time. He wanted the chance to get to know her, but that depended on her coming here. He couldn’t live in the city again, just couldn’t. Not even for a breedmate.
Whoa!
He hadn’t realized he’d said it aloud until Sam said, “What?”
“I just thought the word in relation to Rachel.”
“Yeah,” said Sam, scratching his ear. “Fuck of a thing, ain’t it? The two words seem to go together. She’s a potential breedmate, isn’t she?”
“Everybody is.”
“Most are.” Sam walked across the room. “Sure, most of them are physically capable now. But Rachel is the first woman we’ve shared.”
CJ gave in. “She’s the only one I can imagine sharing with you. In the same bed at the same time.”
Sam opened the back door, letting in the heat of the day. “Yeah. Fuck of a thing, that, ain’t it?”
Chapter Eight
As he watched Kevin, the kid’s ineffectualness struck Sam again. He couldn’t be more than twenty, all angles, bones, goatee, and Adam’s apple, and he ran after Gary like an acolyte after a wizard. He changed lenses, swapped cameras, loaded memory sticks into a small laptop, and worked on his job. When Sam took a quick look into the cabin he’d occupied, he found nothing unusual. This guy certainly knew his cameras, though. When he returned to the clearing, to find the crew setting up a new shot by the corral, he watched Kevin pull a knife out of his pocket, one of those million-tools-in-one things, and trim a stray shred of plastic from a filter so it would fit better. Kevin had the tools to do the job to the cars, too, and yet the saboteur had broken into the tool chest to get what he needed.
The day dragged on. Rachel ran around Bianca for most of it, and Sam seethed. Why should she do this whe
n she didn’t need to? He’d like to drop the model a hint, but he didn’t get near her until later. The other assistant, Dana, had an easy time in comparison. She ran and fetched for Susie, who thanked her sweetly every time and sent her for more things. For much of the afternoon they sat together giggling, their comments not quiet enough, so everyone overheard. Susie was having great fun riling Bianca, who, as a result, took it out on Rachel.
Sam cared for Trip, groomed him himself when they’d finished with him. He went to the feed bin to give him a bit extra, but a noise disturbed him. Growling, he investigated. The shuffling continued. Sam partially shifted, uncaring which parts of him changed shape, as long as his clothes remained intact. He had claws now and tiger eyes, the better to spot movement. He developed his ears so they became more directional, probably appearing more tiger than human.
Sneaking around the bin, he saw the flick of a tail. Fucking rats, he hated them. With a roar of fury, he pursued, swiping one claw out, but he missed the little bastard by a fraction of an inch.
Someone called. “Is there anybody in there?” Rachel.
Swiftly, Sam returned to human, the tingling that sometimes accompanied a fast shape-shift forcing him to shake his head and flex his hands. Then he straightened. “It’s only me, honey.”
“Don’t call me that!”
Sam extended his senses, but he felt nobody else close. She was due a tease. “Why not, sweetness?”
He reached for her and drew her close. His body eased. Watching her had made him want to drag her off to the nearest cabin and soothe her. Now that she was in his arms, he wanted something else. Badly. His cock rose hard and violently, making him gasp with the intensity of feeling that surged through his veins.
“You taste like honey.” Bringing his mouth down on hers, he plundered, taking everything he wanted.
She reached up to him, stood on the tips of her toes, and gave as good as she got. That was his woman. He wasn’t ready to allow anything else, although something told him he was fighting a losing battle.
He found the bottom of her T-shirt and made hay, pulling it out of the way so he could get to her bare flesh. His hat tumbled from his head when she forked her fingers into his hair, caressing his scalp in the most distracting way. Her back was slippery with sweat. It was a hot day. She was a hot woman. Turning them, he pressed her against the wall behind them, lifting her and pressing his cock against her pussy. Fuck, he’d been going nuts today watching her, remembering how they’d started the day. Growling low, he pressed harder against her to keep her in place, pulled one hand free, and extended his claws.
She gasped into his mouth, but he wouldn’t let her go. Still devouring her, he sliced her bra open, careful not to touch her skin with his razor-sharp claws, and attacked her jeans. It didn’t take him long. Her panties were disposed of with one careful slice. Then he retracted his claws and released her mouth.
She gasped. “What have you done?”
“Fuck, honey, you are so gorgeous, and I want you so much.” Why prevaricate?
He would have cut out his cock, but one of them needed some clothing left. In the part of his mind that remained sane, the very small part, he turned to the task of unfastening his button and unzipping his fly. “Legs around my waist,” he said. “I need you now.”
“Sam!”
He paused, his cock grazing her pussy, rubbing along it, collecting her abundant juices. “What, honey?” That word again. Even as he said it, his arousal went higher.
“Nothing,” she said on a sigh.
He pushed against her, her beautifully wet flesh giving way, accepting him, embracing him.
She looped her arms around his shoulders and smiled down at him. “In case you were wondering, I’m on the pill.”
Oh, fuck. He must be completely gone not to have thought of that. “Okay.” He held her then lowered her gently so he was embedded inside her. He couldn’t be sorry, not now. “You’re exquisite, Rachel. You know that?”
Her laugh vibrated through him, making him shudder in response. “Nobody ever called me that before. Exquisite.” She rolled the word around her tongue. “Oh yes, and the other point. They’ve gone to the lodge for a break, so there’s nobody around.”
“They can sell tickets for all I care.” Slowly, in order to prolong the sensation, he withdrew then drove back into her. Deep, deep inside until her pussy made contact with his groin. Briefly he considered shaving, so he could feel that gorgeous, luscious flesh skin to skin, and then he dismissed the idea. He’d itch for weeks. How did women do it? However they did, he was glad of it because he loved her bareness. It made her completely open to him, no hiding place for either of them. He eased back, urging her to lean against the wall. Her heels flexed against the small of his back, and he sighed. “Will you look at that?”
Together they gazed down at the place where they joined. His pubic hair, darker than that on his head, more brown than red, nestled against her skin. Her pussy, its darker pink opening glistening, gaped, full of a cock. His cock, to be precise. He filled her to the root. When he moved, her juices welled up. He groaned and carefully moved so he could touch. Her clit was hard, and when he touched it, she bit her lip. Although he wanted her to yell to her heart’s content, that would bring someone running, so instead, he leaned forward and kissed her.
They set up a rhythm, that vision of him in her remaining before him. Watching her as he fucked her made him want his breed partner here, to share the experience, but he wouldn’t last that long. He licked into her mouth, tasting her, and driving them both higher.
* * * *
CJ jerked his head around and clutched his groin as his cock reared up painfully. A picture shot into his mind, one he hadn’t asked for. Sam had contacted him involuntarily. He was fucking Rachel. Her head was thrown back against the rough wood of what looked like the stable, at the back where they kept the food bin. Shit, the last time he’d seen Sam, his breed partner had been putting Trip back in his stall.
The lucky bastard.
Cover, he needed cover. The small shed would do. It was run-down and rickety, not used for anything these days except for the horses to find shelter if they wanted. Around the back nobody would see him. Thank fuck they and their intrusive cameras were in the lodge. They wouldn’t be able to see him from the windows.
CJ fumbled with his fly but managed to get the button and zipper undone, so he could grasp his cock. The vision had taken him by surprise with its vividness and intensity of feeling. He had no choice but to be a part of this.
Sam’s cock tunneled into her pussy, and he had his fingers on her clit, pulling and tweaking it then pressing it to bring her all the sensation he could. CJ must be seeing this from Sam’s eyes. Rachel’s clothes were in shreds. Had she been hurt? No, it wasn’t that. Sam had ripped them off her. CJ felt Sam’s desperation, his need to have her, to roam his hands over her and feel the lush curves of her body.
And she felt so good. It was as if CJ was plunging his dick into her, her juices hot around him, bathing him in intensity and delight. Shreds of sensation drifted to him, but he was there himself now, working deep inside her, speeding up until they thumped against the wall in a rhythm any passerby would recognize. He heard faint cries and knew them for hers. Even though Sam was kissing her, she was screaming. He was moaning, wilder and pounding harder. CJ would never make it to the stable in time. He had no chance.
A gush of fluid spurted from his cock, and CJ sighed, his release arcing into the bright sunshine, glistening as it fell on to the grass and was lost. He leaned against the shed, panting, regaining his senses.
Was this what happened when they shared a woman? Why the fuck hadn’t they done this before? Did Sam know he’d opened his mind to his breed partner? He needed to talk to him, to warn him. This ranch was packed with shape-shifters. Anybody could have picked up that vision.
As he tucked himself away, he realized he was wrong. Nobody could. That vision had come deep into his mind, in a place he’d
been only dimly aware of before. Somehow, Rachel had opened up the communication level all breed partners shared. Sam and CJ had never used it, but they were using it now.
By the time he got to the house, Sam had smuggled her inside and taken her in the shower. Condom in hand, CJ joined them there, stripping as he went. He strode inside, grabbed her and kissed her. “You do know I was there too?” he asked.
“I didn’t see you, partner,” Sam said. “I felt you, though.”
Rachel turned, eyes wide with shock, and stared at him. “I felt something. I wished you were there with us. How can that happen? I’m not psychic. I know I can reply to you, but I didn’t know I could do that, start something.”
Laughing, CJ kissed her. “When a trio are this close, they can do anything. You wanted me, so I came. I saw what he did, and baby, now it’s my turn.”
Sam laughed and relinquished her to CJ. “I’d better get back. They’ll guess if we all disappear at regular intervals. Enjoy yourselves, you two.”
Rachel half turned as Sam left the shower stall but then, much to CJ’s relief, came back to him.
“I want you, Rachel. You’re an armful of joy.”
“Oh!” She flushed. “Nobody has said anything that nice to me before.”
“Get used to it,” he warned her. Grabbing the condom he’d brought in with him, he shelled it and unrolled it over his cock. “Come here. I stood behind that rickety old shed, and I came. For you, and you weren’t there. We’re gonna make up for that right now.”
Pushing her against the tiled wall, the same as Sam had done in the stable, he lifted her so she could open her legs. He took a moment to admire the sight of her pussy, all rosy and wet, before he opened it with one finger and thumb and tunneled his way inside.
Oh yeah. That was what he needed. “I am turning into a sex maniac for you, baby.” He snatched another kiss. “You’ve started something here, you know that?”