by Dakota Dawn
“Whoa! Katarina. It’s me, Gaven. Calm down, honey.”
Gaven? She eased her foot down and savored the feel of his arms around her.
He turned her around and hugged her tightly. His scent calmed her frazzled nerves, and the strength of his body made her feel protected. In the background she heard the officers come out and start talking to someone. At the sound of Lunn’s voice, she melted into Gaven. She loved being near both men. Her need for them was growing more by the day.
“Are you all right?” he asked right before he loosened his grip and leaned back.
Katarina looked up into his delicious brown eyes and had to force herself not to stroke his body. He’s your boss, dum-dum. That cleared her mind—a little. “Yes. I just got spooked by a shadow. It’s silly now that I think about it.”
“It’s not silly. You just had your second breaking and entering. Anybody’s nerves would be on edge after that.”
One of the officers called Gaven over. To her sorrow, he released her and went to talk to them.
Lunn walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Your apartment is all clear, but the cops are going to need you to closely inventory your stuff. If this is the same person, he or she may be taking something you’re not aware of.”
His arms held her more tightly than Gaven’s had. She loved being held by both of them. She felt his arms loosening and took one last deep breath of his comforting scent before he released her. What did he want me to do? Oh yeah, see if anything was missing. “I’ll thoroughly look at my stuff tomorrow. Tonight I’m going to stay at a hotel. One with triple locks. Do you know any like that in town?”
Gaven had been headed their way and must have heard their conversation. “You’re not staying at a hotel. You can stay with me.”
Lunn was quick to respond. “Your place is too small. She can stay at my place. I was just about to offer her one of my guest rooms.”
Gaven ran his hand through his hair. “I want to be near her. What if this is more than just a random B&E?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment then said, “My place has plenty of room for all of us. You two can take the bedrooms closest to mine. That way we can both watch over her.”
Katarina’s heart thudded with excitement. Her living with Lunn and Gaven! It was like a dream come true. She didn’t really think she was in danger. She was just going through an unlucky spell, but if it helped her to get closer to them then she’d let them think what they wanted. Didn’t Branda and Rain just tell her she needed to be more aggressive to get these two strong men? Aggressive people jumped at any opportunity to get what they wanted.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I wouldn’t mind moving in with both of you. I’d feel much safer.” She made an effort to look innocent, but on the inside she was dancing. It looked like her luck was changing.
Lunn looked at Gaven. “She’s willing. How about you?”
He grinned at Lunn’s words. “Sure, I’m willing. The police are just finishing up. Why don’t you go on and take her to your house. I’ll go home and pack a bag then head over there myself.”
The white cat bounded out of the apartment and circled Katarina’s feet. “There you are. I thought you were gone. We’re going to have to work on you coming when I call you.” She stroked the cat’s fur and grinned when he purred. “You must be one lucky cat. I was just about to leave,” she said as she picked the cat up and kissed the top of his head. She looked into Lunn’s eyes and grinned. “Is it all right for my cat to come? He just came into my life yesterday, but I’m attached to him.”
Lunn petted the cat, and it purred. “Yeah, he can come.”
“Thanks, and thanks for letting me stay with you. I appreciate it.”
“Anything for you.” Lunn ran his hand down the cat’s back then said, “Let’s go home.”
Home with the two of them. It sounded right. She hoped one day soon they felt the same way.
Chapter Seven
Katarina felt like she was walking on clouds.
Wandering around the guest room, she ran her hand along the length of the queen bed and wished the guys were laid out on it—naked.
A sharp rap on the door had her jumping guiltily. “Come in.” A look at the cat proved he wasn’t interested in anything other than his pillow. Strange. Shouldn’t he be concerned or curious about their guest? Leave it to her to take in the laziest cat in the city.
Lunn opened the door and stepped inside. “If you need anything, I’ll be next door. Feel free to roam around the ground floor tomorrow. I have the alarm set, so please don’t open any of the doors that lead outside or any of the windows. With the possibility of you having a stalker, it’s better for you to stay inside anyway.”
Heat sped to her cheeks. She felt bad about dreaming of his naked body when his main concern at the moment was her safety. She also felt bad for letting him think she could have a stalker. Who would come after her? She wasn’t anyone special. Sure, she had some powers, but she sucked at using them, and most people didn’t even know she had them. That made her normal, right? Regular folks didn’t have stalkers, but they did have bad luck. Surely it was no more than that.
“Thank you. I won’t go out or open any windows.” She saw his eyes cut to her cheeks and knew they had to be pure red.
Gaven appeared in the doorway, startling her. She jumped then laughed. “Gaven, you spooked me. You are a very quiet walker. I’ll have to try and remember that.”
“Sorry. I was checking in on you. If you need anything I’ll be next door.” He smiled then brushed his light-blond hair out of his eyes. She always thought it was cute when he did that.
She couldn’t help it. She licked her lips and glanced at the bed longingly. If she wasn’t so shy around them and they weren’t so big, she’d throw them on the bed and explore every inch of their hard bodies.
Lunn cleared his throat. “Well. I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
Gaven walked over to her and hugged her. “I’m glad you’re all right. See you in the morning.” After releasing her, he turned and walked out of her new room.
Lunn followed, and she desperately wanted to call them back. Instead, she called out, “Good night.” She looked at her watch and noticed that it was three in the morning.
Going to her suitcase, she pulled out her nightshirt and headed for her bathroom. Lunn had remodeled the house beautifully in mostly cream and raisin tones. All the bedrooms also had their own bathroom, thank goodness. She didn’t think she could share with them and not attack them.
Mmm…If she’d been good at the witch thing, she could easily cast a spell that would strip them and lay them out on the bed for her to enjoy. That was something she should work on. Even if it took her ten years to figure out, it would be worth it.
Living here was going to be hard on her libido and heart. Slipping out of her clothes, she quickly took a shower and then pulled on her nightshirt. When she walked into the bedroom she didn’t hear any noise. Dropping onto the bed, she let herself fall back. As she stared at the ceiling she wished they were in bed with her. The cat jumped on the bed, and she stroked its fur. “At least I have you. Tomorrow I’ve got to figure out a name for you.”
* * * *
Lunn watched Katarina walk into the house at 1:00 am the next night. He had just gotten home himself a few minutes ago. His club no longer held any appeal. Tomorrow he was going to quietly sell his half to his partner. Since he was a silent partner, the members wouldn’t notice any difference.
She looked beat. He patted the couch next to him, and she smiled then walked over and plopped down beside him. “Rough night?”
She shook her head. “Just long. Where’s Gaven?”
“In bed. He likes to go to bed early when he has to open the pub. Give me your foot. I’ll rub it.” He motioned for her to comply and wondered if she would. She looked nervously at him then flipped her shoes off. To his surprise she brought her right foot all the way to her nose and sniffed.
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br /> She looked at him and smiled. “Smells fine. I couldn’t let you touch my foot if it stank.”
Holding back a laugh, he said, “I appreciate your thoughtfulness and your limberness.” Reaching out, he took her foot and started kneading it. She sighed loudly and closed her violet eyes. A mere look into those eyes made him want to tie her up and make love to her all night long. A smile twitched his lips when she slowly slid down until her head rested on the overstuffed arm of the leather couch. His dick jumped when he remembered how flexible she’d shown herself to be. In the blink of an eye she had moved her foot to her nose. No warming up necessary. She would be a lot of fun to play with. All he had to do was talk her and Gaven into it.
“That feels heavenly. You have great hands.” Her voice was soft and drowsy.
He worked up to her calf and gently massaged it. The soft texture of her skin was arousing. She mumbled something then totally relaxed. Working his hands down her smooth flesh, he looked at her foot as he kneaded it. Cute red-colored toenails drew his attention. One day he’d tie her up and kiss her pretty painted toes.
A loud snore rose from her, and then the sound faded to cute breathy puffs. The sight caused him to chuckle. He picked up her other foot and rubbed it for a few minutes, loving the feel of her silky skin. Every so often she would moan then go back to her light snoring.
As his hands continued to knead her lower leg, he flashed back to that morning, their first morning together. She’d come down to the kitchen and dropped into a chair. Her eyes had held a drowsy, sexy look, and her skin had been beautifully flushed. Coffee and a muffin had livened her up. He would have loved to watch her for a few hours, but once she’d realized it was two in the afternoon, she’d scrambled out of the kitchen throwing a “Thanks for the breakfast. It was delicious” over her shoulder as she raced up the stairs and into her room. Within thirty minutes she’d left for work.
Lunn had enjoyed serving her a light breakfast. The sight of her in a soft nightshirt showing her delicate knees and curvy calves had stirred his desire for her, and touched something deep in his chest.
A loud snore came from her causing him to chuckle again. He lightly squeezed her calf once more and she groaned then sank deeper into the couch. Deciding to take her to her room, he put her foot down and moved to pick her up. Sliding his arms under her upper back and knees, he lifted her easily. She was such a delicate thing. A delicate thing he wanted badly. Her scent tantalized and tormented him. What he wouldn’t give to be able to take her to his bed and hold her all night long. In time he’d do it. He could be very patient when he had to be.
After entering her room, he bent over the bed and jerked the covers back then laid her down. Her hands clutched his shirt, and he waited patiently for her to release him. She pulled closer to him then sniffed his shirt. A smile curled her lush lips, and her fingers relaxed.
As he started inching back, she mumbled, “Lunn…Gaven…” A small, sexy grin curved her mouth upward. Cute.
She said something he couldn’t understand, and then she whispered, “Love them.”
Shock slammed into his chest. Swallowing hard, he quietly left the room. Could she really love them? Both of them? Or had she just been talking in her sleep? He walked back the living room and poured himself a drink. As he drank it he realized that the thought of her loving them pleased him a lot. Usually the L-word would have had him running away at top speed, but not this time.
Taking another drink, Lunn decided to watch her more closely and read his own body’s signs when she was around. Something about her still seemed familiar to him. His mind replayed watching her in his home and at the pub. The pub. It hit him as hard and fast as a lightning bolt.
Flower! She was Flower from Rico’s. They called her “violet eyes.” No wonder the electricity between all of them was so hot. It had been building for seven years. He and Gaven had been watching her for a long time, and obviously she had been watching them as well. Lunn couldn’t hold back the smile that curled his lips.
He looked up the stairs. This was something he’d be keeping from Gaven for a little bit. The last thing he needed was Gaven freaking out. The poor guy didn’t trust a woman to love him enough to stay with him forever.
If he was correct, they were both falling in love with a woman who had already fallen in love with them. An eternity with her and Gaven sounded good to him. Mind racing, he started plotting ways to test her and get them all together.
* * * *
Katarina stretched and then made herself go get her clothes out of the dryer. At least the washer and dryer were on the second floor with them. This house was designed to be lived in. She could appreciate that. Turning away from the rerun she’d been watching on TV, she grabbed her basket and retrieved her clothes.
Back in her room she dumped her clothes and started folding them. As she folded a pair of her favorite shorts, she remembered the way her guys’ eyes always followed her when she wore them. Her guys. She wished it were true. Living with them for the last two weeks was a combination of misery and bliss. A shiver raced up her spine as she thought about how Lunn had been watching her so closely lately.
A bloom of heat hit her core as she remembered the look of lust in his dark-blue eyes. He didn’t even try to hide it. She wished she could be that brave and bold. She had tried to take Rain and Branda’s advice, but she just wasn’t strong enough to do it. The most she’d done was wear shorter shorts and take her birth control pills in front of them. Sadly, flirting was something she didn’t seem to have a knack for. If she did, now would have been the time to use it. She was living with two hot men that she loved, and she just couldn’t come on to them. Oh, how she longed to be different.
Her cat jumped on the bed and knocked over her stack of folded clothes. “Look what you’ve done, Boris.” She eyed the cat and huffed out a frustrated breath when he gave her an I don’t think so look. Every time she came up with a name for him, he looked at her like that. It was creepy and cool at the same time. It was like he was waiting for her to guess his real name. As she straightened the stack of clothes, an idea popped into her head.
After picking the cat up, she closed her eyes and squinched her face. “Reveal to me this cat’s name.” A slight tingle raced up her spine and circled her head. The name “Volker” appeared clearly in her mind.
“Volker.” She said the name out loud as she turned the cat so she could see its face.
“Congratulations. You finally figured it out,” Volker said with a touch of sarcasm.
She squealed and jumped back, dropping the cat at the same time. “Did I make you do that?”
He rolled his eyes dramatically and twitched his whiskers. “It took you long enough. I’ve been waiting for you say my name for weeks. When you said my name out loud, it cleared your mind and allowed you to understand me. Concetta sent me to help you become the witch she knows you can be.”
“Who is Concetta?”
“A good witch. She blessed the Cortino family because of a kind deed done by Ettore Cortino. Gaven is close to the Cortino family and has the same pure heart they have. Your connection to Gaven and your kind soul have drawn her attention to you.”
“A good witch. Can I meet her sometime? Can you change shapes? Are you a witch?” Now that her shock was over, she wanted to know everything.
“I’m not a witch. I’m just what my name means, guardian of people.”
“As a cat?” she blurted doubtfully. What could a cat do?
“Not hardly. I’m an immortal warrior.” At her raised brow, he added, “Laban, one of the Elders, took offence when I told him to go to hell. He’s a rude and demanding fellow. He deserved it.”
She stared at him as confusion enveloped her. “Who are the Elders?”
“A group of magical beings. Most of them are ancient witches. Laban thought I was cute and wanted me to suck him off. I refused. In retaliation, he took away most of my powers and turned me into a pussycat.”
“Forever?”
“No. He doesn’t have that much power. My sentence is one hundred years. Seventy of those have already passed. The other Elders couldn’t revoke my sentence, but they did make sure I only work for good witches.” He paused for a moment and then swished his tail. “Just because I’m bisexual doesn’t mean I want every man and woman I see. Obviously, he didn’t understand that.”
“If I could, I’d cast a spell to free you. I can’t do that, can I?” she asked. It would be wonderful if she could.
“No, but it’s nice of you to think of it. Back to your other question. I don’t know if you’ll ever meet Concetta. She’s a private sort. Maybe one day she’ll reveal herself to you. My job is to help you as much as I can.”
“Can you teach me spells?” She was in fierce need of a teacher.
“No. I’m a warrior, not a witch, remember?” he reminded her and raised a brow sardonically.
Yeah, a sarcastic one, she thought to herself. “What good are you to me then?” His sarcasm was rubbing off on her.
“My job is to do whatever Concetta wants me to do. Right now she wants me to babysit you and guide you when I can. You’re not the first witch I’ve been around, you know.”
“Why are you so testy? It’s not my fault you smarted off and got turned into a cat.” She watched him plop down on the edge of the bed with his front legs and head hanging over the side of the mattress. He looked so dejected. She felt sorry for him.
“The neighbor’s cat is in heat, and her scent is driving me crazy. This is part of my punishment from that asshole. I’m a picky lover, you see. As a cat, I’m forced to bang any cat in heat.”
“That’s awful. Are you sure there’s nothing I can do for you?”