Crave

by Serena Simpson

  “If we meet again, I will kill you.” I wasn’t one for warnings, and I knew this one would go unheeded.

  “Did she ever tell you how they caught him?”

  My breath caught in my throat. I knew he was talking about Leta. He was the one who was following her. Why was he telling me this?

  “Her capture used to live stream her rapes. Now, do you understand that they are just food? Prey to be hunted down. He never thought the militia on this planet would be able to catch him. It took them years. I was there the night, they raided the house they found her in.

  “She was skin and bones and open sores. He stayed on too long that night. I was sure he intended to kill her. To put her out of her misery, but he needed to see her ganged raped one more time. I was happy to oblige. Her fear is so beautiful.”

  The roar that left my mouth was filled with pain. The female in his arms was in front of him. I would kill them both. He had to die.

  It was Noah that stopped me. The pain I felt must have overwhelmed him. I felt when he fell and then his cry begging me to stand down.

  “I always thought Yenizen’s were brighter than your average alien. You can save one of us or kill the other.” He tossed the female off the side of the building.

  I dove over the edge. I kept saying life over death. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake. They called the paramedics for her. She was going to be okay. I could have stayed. Instead, I blended into the background and went to find my mates.

  They were standing outside by the car waiting for me.

  “Let’s go.”

  No one spoke until we reached the city limits.

  “It was fuckin’ Naresh.” My lips curled at Noah’s voice.

  “Yeah, it was him.”

  “Was it the same person who was following me?” Leta asked.

  “It was. Leta your capture invited him to the basement before.” I told her.

  “He was one of the ones who raped me.” She didn’t deny what happened, and my heart broke again.

  I wondered if we would ever know everything that happened to her in those six years. No. There was no way she could revisit every bit of wrong done to her. Her mind, my mind had to forget some things in order to live life.

  “You hate him,” She said to me.

  “I love you.” I met her unbelieving eyes for a minute before I focused on the road.

  “You’re strong,” I told her. “You’re also caring. I watch you with Noah. How when you want to yell, you back off and take a deep breath. When that woman tried to go for him the other day, you put yourself in front of him. When I slipped into a nightmare, you risked your life to bring me out of it.” I told her.

  “I like how your eyes get wide when we watch movies you’ve never seen,” Noah told her. “You were so brave last night when you touched me. Your tongue peeking out between your teeth as you listened to every word Cole said because you wanted to get it right. I know I’ll learn more about you, but I’m falling for what I know. Trust me, Leta, I don’t fall fast.”

  I wanted to laugh when Noah said that, but I knew that Leta and I were a special case in his life.

  I slowed down when we passed through the barrier surrounding Aran’s land, the created land.

  “Noah, was that house there the last time we came past?”

  There had been several plots for sale, but none of them had a house. I was sure of that. This house was slick; it was modern made of stone and marble. It was a masterpiece in design with an ageless grace to it that would stand the test of time.

  “I don’t remember, but it’s beautiful,” Noah said.

  “I could be happy living there,” Leta told us.

  I nodded in agreement. Aran’s place wasn’t that far away. His door was open when we got to it.

  “Hello,” I called out.

  “In the kitchen Cole,” Rena answered.

  The kitchen was packed when we walked in. Rena was there with Damon and Nicolas.

  “My doctors?” Leta gasped.

  “You’re late,” They told her.

  “Follow us,” Nicolas said. “I have an office downstairs… no, let’s take you to the den. I don’t like how your heart rate picked up when I said downstairs. Damon and I want to examine you.”

  Ryan ran in and threw himself at me.

  “Cole, I thought you forgot me!”

  “I could never forget you. The case will be over soon, and I’ll be coming for you.”

  “Hi, Ryan.”

  “Hi, Noah. Will you be living with us?”

  “I will.”

  Ryan moved away from me. Probably remembering he didn’t need anyone. He took a seat at the table.

  “They won’t hurt you,” I told Leta.

  She nodded and followed them.

  “I know they won’t hurt her, but I’m going to follow I have a few questions to ask.” I nodded as he followed her.

  “Cole do you want to see my room?” Ryan came to stand next to me.

  “Yes.” I followed him through the house until we came to a set of stairs. He walked to the second floor and opened the door to a room at the end of the hallway.

  It was done in blues with swatches of gray on the wall.

  “I like blue, and the gray is for Storm, so she will feel at home.”

  A smile tugged at my lips. Before Noah, I didn’t know how to smile. Before Leta, I didn’t know that compassion, and love went hand in hand. Before Ryan, I didn’t know I had room in my heart for anyone else.

  “I like it.”

  “They got me these sheets.”

  I had to walk over to the bed to appreciate what I was seeing. On the sheets and on the blanket were created and Yenizen signs of safety.

  I sat on the edge of the bed.

  “Do you know what these means?” I asked tracing the Yenizen design.

  “It means that you and all the created in the house will protect me.”

  “You’re not scared of us?” I don’t know why I thought he wouldn’t figure out that we were aliens. He looked up at me with the bluest eyes. His dark hair looked longer than the last time I’d seen it.

  He shook his head. “I’m scared of human’s like Mr. Anders.”

  I should have dragged out his death.

  “Aran’s right. We will protect you.”

  “Do you really want me to live with you?”

  “Yes, we’re going to be a family.”

  “Families hurt you.”

  “Not ours.”

  He nodded as if it were that simple. I was sure he wasn’t convinced, but we would show him one day at a time. This was a start, me in his private space without hurting him.

  “Are you ready to go down?”

  “Thank you.”

  “Ryan, what are you thanking me for?”

  “For wanting me.” He ran out the room.

  This was the part where the child owned your heart. I was owned by two males and a female. I’ve never been freer in my life. Aran was sitting at the top of the steps when I walked out. I took a seat next to him. We sat in silence for a while.

  “How did you know?” I finally asked him.

  “I didn’t. Picking a mate isn’t an exact science, not even for the created. I took a chance on Rena because I couldn’t live without her.”

  My hand was rubbing my chest. I could feel Noah when I rubbed, and l longed to feel Leta. Aran was right; I couldn’t live without them.

  He stood, and I followed him downstairs.

  Leta and Noah joined us.

  “I got a clean bill of health. I also met someone named Dante.” Leta said.

  “Dante! You better be stopping in.” Rena said.

  There was laughter in the room that didn’t come from any of us. We stayed through dinner playing games and laughing.

  *~*~*~*

  “I like them,” Leta said. “I loved Ryan.”

  She was rubbing her eyes like she was about to cry. She was sitting in the front seat. I was driving, and Noah was in the back seat.
Her shoulders started to shake.

  “Why are you crying?”

  I pulled to the side of the road when her muffled tears turned into a waterfall. I pulled her close and kissed her before telling her to go to the back. Noah pulled her into his arms.

  “Tell us what’s wrong?”

  I waited patiently.

  “Ryan reminded me of my brother.”

  “You have a brother?” It wasn’t in any of the notes I had on her.

  “Half-brother He died with my dad. He was two years older than me. I miss him.”

  She started crying harder.

  “I don’t know why I’m thinking about him. They almost institutionalized me when they found me because I kept insisting he was alive.”

  “Why did you think he was alive?” Noah asked her.

  “I almost escaped. It was before HE put the collar on me. When HE caught me, HE brought my brother in and told me if I ever escaped my brother would die. I believed him. I told the people who set me free about my brother. They thought I was delusional.”

  She buried her head in Noah’s chest and cried until she fell asleep.

  I picked up the phone and called Angel.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Leta

  Time felt like it was standing still. I knew better; I could feel the eyes following me whenever we left the motel room. Cole was sure that it was Markovic and Robertson watching me. He and Noah agreed that we didn’t want to tip them off. I could feel fuckin’ Naresh breathing down my neck. Now that I knew he wanted me, I could feel him crawling over my body like a bug that was so microscopic small you ended up hitting your skin or scratching it trying to get rid of the offending creature.

  Cole and Noah were both confident that they would protect me. Cole’s confidence was easy. It was a part of him, no need to brag. He would simply do what needed to be done. Noah’s confidence had a little more swagger, but it was justified. He knew how to fight, and he would die for me. They both would. That was the stuff dreams were made of, and my dreams were coming true.

  Then what was bothering me? It was the fact that nothing ever goes according to plan. Cole told me how other groups had tried to stop the ritual murder that happened four times a year. They all failed. What would make this time any different? This wasn’t his first murder or even his first year. He had more than a decade under his belt. When all you know is killing, who can catch you?

  I hated this feeling, but I kept dwelling on it to take my mind off the one thing I wanted. More of Noah and Cole. We kissed, tasted, and touched. Last night, I learned what Cole tasted like when he came. Yummy! But there had been no penetration. If someone had asked me a month ago if I would willingly allow a man into my body, I would have laughed myself silly. Now I was willing to beg for it. They wouldn’t just take from me. I had to be willing to give of myself.

  Cole was so careful with me looking for triggers. Noah treated me like I might be a princess. Sometimes he acted like I was Elsa. I needed him to know I was the grown and liberated version not the before version.

  “Deep thoughts?” Noah was sitting in the chair looking at me.

  “Not that deep. I’m wondering when we are going to go a little deeper.”

  Cole was sitting on the bed staring at me while Noah laughed knowing that the pun was intended.

  “How deep do you want to go?” Noah leaned against the table stretching his legs out. The bulge in his pants was visible.

  I looked over at Cole whose eyes were fixed on that bulge. I licked my lips remembering how he tasted last night. I had to have him. No, I had to have them. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but I knew what was going to happen tonight because I was tired of living in fear.

  Fuckin’ Naresh might come for me. What he will find is a woman who learned to embrace life. Look at me world, I was going to live, and I really don’t care what you think.

  I was sitting on the bed that I no longer slept in. I stood and peeled the socks off my feet. Great Leta that will make them want to tackle you and make sweet love. Hmm, I think I can do without the grabbing.

  “I love those sexy feet.” Cole was smiling at me before he winked.

  My hand flew to my chest. I wasn’t expecting it from Cole. I threw him a seductive smile and then burst into laughter. I didn’t know what I looked like probably a drunk cat. I laughed louder thinking of a drunk cat.

  “Cole leave her alone so she can take off something besides a sock,” Noah told him throwing a kiss.

  “Enjoy the show, mate.”

  Noah relaxed again, and I went for the button on my jeans. My hand trembled just a little as I undid the zipper. I was placing a lot of faith in Cole and Noah. I was placing more faith in myself and my ability to be more than what happened to me.

  My hands sat on the waistband of my jeans before I pushed them down. My T-shirt hit me under the globes of my ass. It said, survivor. Cole and Noah were looking at me. I didn’t have to raise my head to see them; I could feel their eyes on me. This was what I should have experienced nine years ago. I can’t undo the past, but I could decide my future.

  I reached down for the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head. I was wearing a pair of pink panties and a matching bra. I walked over to the chair Noah was sitting in and took his hand tugging him to his feet. I went to my toes, and he leaned down to kiss me. I was caught up in the feel of his tongue and his scent.

  “Take your shirt off.” He tugged it off smiling at me.

  I kissed the scar on his chest once again thankful for whoever saved him. My fingers worked his belt. They weren’t trembling I knew what I wanted. I undid his button and zipper. I looked at him from under my eyelashes then took his jeans off. I left his boxers; I took his hand and walked us over to the bed where Cole was sitting.

  I took Cole’s hand; he followed me until he was standing. Without me telling him, he took his shirt off. His hands gripped my waist and lifted me. I wrapped my legs around him to kiss him. His arms made me feel safe. Noah came behind me pressing his chest against my back. I could live forever and be happy if I was loved by these two.

  “Pants,” I whispered in Cole’s ear. He set me down. His pants hit the floor before I could blink. Now my men were only wearing boxers. I stroked them both through their boxers.

  I crawled on the bed looking over my shoulder. “Make love to me.”

  They were on the bed. Noah's chest was pressed against my breasts; Cole was behind me. His chest was heating up my back. Noah took my lips in a deep kiss teasing moans of need from me. I could feel my eyes wanting to close as his tongue stroked mine. Cole started at the base of my spine. He licked me then blew his warm breath caressing me causing me to shiver. His fingers soothed the marks that caused me so much pain, and now he was showing me that I could still feel pleasure.

  Noah took one of my nipples into his mouth. It tightened up sending rivers of pleasure to my clit, to my pussy. The wetness I felt at the beginning was turning into a stream.

  Cole’s hands were on my ass caressing me. I felt his finger slide down my crack to touch my rosette. It took everything I had not to flinch. Not to remember the forced invasions I experienced. His finger disappeared. He picked up on my nervousness.

  “Cole,” I cried out feeling guilty.

  “Shh, we have forever.” His voice was in my ear making me shake from the sound of it. He teased my neck sucking hard. I knew he was leaving his mark on me because I was his. I was theirs.

  They laid me on my back. Cole reached for my other nipple sucking it into his mouth. Together they sucked and nipped. My hips were thrusting up as pleasure went through my stomach moving outward.

  Their hands trailed down my chest and stomach. Their tongues licked, and teeth nipped where their hands caressed. Each time they touched me my skin got a little more sensitive. My hands went to their hair massaging their scalps until they were too far down for me to touch them. Lust rolled through my body followed by a softer emotion. Love? It was the emotion I wanted
to find when I was younger. It was the one emotion I gave up. I replaced it with hate. Now I could feel it unfurling in my chest. It wasn’t the mouths that were taking me higher or the fingers that were caressing my slit and playing with my clit.

  It was the way they looked at me with adoration and hunger to hear what I have to say. It's the way they treat me like I’m an equal. It’s the way they love me that freed me to be able to love them.

  Noah took his talented tongue and mouth and began to eat me.

  “Cole?” Noah looked up at him. I could see the need in his face.

  Cole reached over taking a condom out of the drawer next to the bed. Noah took off his boxers before rolling the condom over his stiff cock.

  Cole stood up and pulled the pillows off the other bed.

  “Lift up, baby.”

  Pressing my feet on the bed, I lifted my hips. He slid the pillows under me.

  “Noah enter our baby then stop. You don’t get to move.”

  Damn, please.

  “Cole.” He almost whined. Cole reached out and swatted at his ass. Noah’s dick leaked pre-come as he inhaled a gasp. I was so wet I was gushing. His mouth came back to my pussy. Licking and nipping. Cole was kneeling behind him watching every movement. One finger entered followed by another. My hips thrust up desperately trying to get him deeper.

  “I need more Noah.”

  “I know, love.” He moved between my legs. His weight felt good paired with the warmth of his body. I looked up to see him take his dick in his hand while his other hand stroked my slit teasing me.

  “What do you want, Leta?” Noah asked me.

  “I want you deep in me. Please, Noah.” He leaned over and kissed me. His tongue overwhelmed me stroking until I couldn’t think straight. His dick entered me. In the back of my mind was the thought I should panic. I couldn’t the invasion felt so good. My pussy clung to him weeping as I begged him for more. He pushed slowly in until he bottomed out.

  My breath was coming in gasps as I moved my hips trying to get him to move. He lay on top of me panting, but not moving. I looked up at Cole, who was totally naked. His dick was in one hand as the other hand caressed it.