Shelby stood painfully, slowly, the urge to wash herself growing. As she moved toward the bathroom, she stood on the guard’s pants. With a grimace, she reached down to grab them. As she threw them aside, something fell to the floor.
The security swipe card. This was how he’d accessed the room.
She stared at it for a long moment before picking it up. God, every movement hurt. Shuffling toward the bathroom, she ignored Cade and Connor as they argued. Opening one of the bathroom drawers, she hid the card and turned on the shower.
“Shelby? What are you doing?” She didn’t bother to turn and look at Cade as she watched the water pouring down the drain.
“I need to wash.”
“Shelby, look at me. Look at me.” He grabbed hold of her arm and she flinched away, whimpering as the movement hurt her whole body.
“Fuck! Are you scared of me? Want me to get Connor in here?”
She glanced up at him then. “I want to be on my own. I want to get clean.”
“Baby, we need to check your injuries, you could be seriously hurt.”
She shook her head.
“I promise I’ll run you a bath right afterward. But please, let me check you over.”
She wondered why he sounded so upset. Cade was always so steady, nothing phased him.
“Did you kill him?” She glanced down at his knuckles, noticing how bruised they were. “You should put ice on those.”
“The bastard’s still alive,” Cade spat out. “Connor’s taking care of him now. I promise he won’t ever get near you again. Baby, please, I know I let you down, I know you must hate me, but just let me take care of you right now.”
She frowned at him. “Why would I hate you?”
“Because I left you here, because I allowed you to be hurt, to be harmed when I should have kept you safe.”
“When we should have,” Connor interjected. She glanced over to find him standing in the doorway, his face filled with fury and self-reproach.
She shook her head. “Not your fault. I should have fought harder, been faster. Just never quite good enough. Slower than everyone else, not enough wolf blood. My fault.”
“No, no,” Cade said urgently. “Never your fault.”
“Not yours either. His fault.” She swayed, in exhaustion and pain.
“Shelby, let me help you,” Cade begged. “I need to check you over.”
She nodded, no longer able to fight them. Very gently, Cade picked her up into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.
Chapter Seven
Shelby leaned back against naked Cade’s chest, letting her body float in the water. Cade had helped her strip before assisting her into the tub. He’d then pulled off his clothes and joined her. The temperature was almost too hot and she knew Cade had to be overheated. But he made no complaint, just held her gently against him. She’d wanted the water scorching, to burn off the feel of that asshole’s hands from her skin, but Cade wouldn’t allow her to make the bath any hotter, saying she’d burn herself.
She didn’t care. She didn’t feel that she’d ever be clean again.
She reached for the soap for the third time and started scrubbing her skin again.
Cade grabbed her hand, holding her still. “You’re clean, baby.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t feel clean. I don’t think I’ll ever feel clean again.”
“Shh,” he whispered, holding her tighter, his arms trapping hers. “It’s just in your head.”
“I know that,” she said with frustration. “But I can’t help the way I feel. I can still feel him touching me, his hands against my skin, hurting me.” She couldn’t hold back a sob.
“He won’t ever touch you again,” Connor said, leaning against the doorway. “I promise you that.” He looked fierce. That look on someone else might have made her fearful, but she knew all that anger was on her behalf. He was furious that someone had hurt her.
He stepped forward, crouching down beside the bath. Reaching out, he pushed her damp hair off her face. His face darkened as he took in the bruise marring her cheek. It stung like hell, particularly when she moved her head too fast. Her whole body ached and she knew she was going to feel even worse tomorrow.
“You need some ice on this,” Connor said.
“She needs to change,” Cade added.
She knew she’d feel better if she changed into her wolf. She didn’t heal as fast as full-blood werewolves, but it would help the worst of the bruising. But she wasn’t feeling brave enough to leave the safety she’d found in Cade’s arms yet.
“I’m fine,” she insisted. “It doesn’t hurt that much.”
“Then you’re ready to get out of the bath?” Cade asked, loosening his hold on her.
“Sure,” she said with more bravado than she felt.
“Really?” Cade asked with disbelief.
“Yes.”
“Then you’re going to have to put the soap down, baby,” he told her gently, taking hold of her hand once again.
Shit, she hadn’t even realized she’d started washing her skin again. She clenched her fists until the soap squished between her fingers. Opening her fingers, she let the soap drop into the water.
“Come on, trouble. Time to get out.” Connor held out a hand to her.
“Where is he?” she asked. It was cowardly, but she wished she could just stay here. She felt safe in Cade’s arms.
Shit. This jerk would not have her running scared. She had to be stronger than this.
Shelby took in a shuddering breath, feeling herself shake.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow she’d be brave but right now she just wanted to hide away and let Cade and Connor watch over her, protect her.
“He’s being taken care of,” Connor replied.
“No one will ever hurt you again,” Cade added.
She stiffened. “You can’t promise that. Please don’t say it when you don’t mean it.” Because right now she needed to feel safe more than anything and if they promised her that she just might believe them.
Cade gently grasped hold of her chin, turning her face up so he could stare down into her eyes.
“Listen to me, Shelby, because I mean every word of this, I promise that no one will harm you again. This was our fault, we didn’t see to your protection. That will never happen again.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she told him. “You couldn’t guess what he was going to do. You’re not responsible for his actions. You had to go, it’s your job. You thought I was safe. It’s his fault, not yours.”
Connor ran his fingers through her hair and she turned to look at him.
“You mean more to us than anything else, than any job.” His intense gaze held hers as he stared at her.
“What are you saying?” she whispered.
“He’s saying that you’re ours and never again will we put anything ahead of you. Your safety, your happiness, your needs, they come first,” Cade told her. “This cannot happen again, I couldn’t survive it. When I came in and saw him hurting you…” He trailed off, shuddering.
Shelby turned in the bath, ignoring the pain that shot through her body. She knelt between his legs and cupped his cheeks. Fear filled his eyes and she realized she wasn’t the only one deeply affected by what had happened.
“I couldn’t stand it if you guys blamed yourself.” She glanced over at Connor. “You can’t put me first, I’m the enemy, remember?”
“No.” Connor leaned in and kissed her. “You’re ours.”
Her breath caught in her throat and she shook her head wordlessly. She was attracted to them, wanted them, but was this a trick to get her to talk? She felt so unsure, so confused.
“Don’t think about it right now, trouble.” Connor stood and held out his hands, she took them, letting him help her stand. Shelby climbed out of the bath, shivering slightly.
Connor grabbed a towel and gently dried her as Cade stood and dried himself off with far less care.
Connor grabbed another towel and wrappe
d it around her before picking her up.
“Connor, I can walk,” she protested as he carried her into the bedroom.
“But I want to carry you,” he replied. “I need to. I need you close to me right now.” He glanced down at her. “Unless you’d rather be on your own?”
“No,” she said quickly. “No.”
He kissed her forehead. “Do you want to move into another bedroom?”
She shook her head, wincing again. “No, no, I’ll be all right here. As long as the two of you are here.”
“We’re not going anywhere. Cade, grab her a T-shirt, will you?” Connor set her on the bed and went to move away, she grabbed his hand.
“Hold me,” she whispered.
He sat down beside her, drawing her onto his lap. “Always.”
Connor held her as Cade brought over one of his T-shirts and slipped it gently over her head. He then sat beside them, his hand resting on her thigh.
“I can still feel him touching me,” she said. “When will that stop?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart,” Connor told her.
“Will you touch me? Both of you?”
Cade stilled. “We are touching you.”
She hesitated for a moment then turned so she could see them both. “No, I mean, will you make love to me and replace his touch with yours?”
“Shelby, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Connor said. “You need to rest and heal. I wish you’d change, it would help the bruising.”
“No. What I need is to replace his touch with something positive, something beautiful. I want the two of you, I want you to take me, make me forget.”
Cade cupped her uninjured cheek. “We might hurt you. I can’t allow that. Even if you weren’t hurt, you’ve never had sex, darlin’. There’s going to be some pain.”
“I know, but I want you both. Please, Cade and Connor, make love to me. That’s what you were waiting for, wasn’t it?” she said, reminding them of what they’d told her.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Connor looked down at her.
“You’ll do exactly as we say. You’ll let us do all the work and if at any stage you’re in pain or afraid, you will tell us and we’ll stop, understand?”
“I understand.” Her body stirred at the command in his voice.
Cade helped her remove the T-shirt then she lay on her back on the bed and watched as Connor undressed. Cade took off the towel he’d wrapped around his waist, revealing his thick erection. She licked her lips and reached for his cock as he knelt on the bed beside her. Grasping it, she pumped it firmly.
Cade groaned, stilling for a moment as he panted heavily.
“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath before reaching for her hand and pulling it away.
“Hey,” she pouted, trying to wriggle her hand free.
“Uh-uh, I didn’t give you permission to touch me.” He lowered her hand to the bed. “Keep your hands on the mattress. Move them and we’ll stop touching you.”
She wrinkled her nose, sighing heavily. But she kept her hands to herself. She needed them to touch her so she would do what she was told.
For now.
“Are you okay lying on your back?” Connor asked with concern as he climbed onto the bed on her other side.
She nodded. She was in pain, but it wasn’t unbearable and she wasn’t about to tell them and risk them stopping.
They stared at her for a long and she looked up at them longingly.
“Please,” she said, “all I can feel is his touch, his hands on me. I need to erase that. Well, I know I can’t erase it, but I need to feel something good. Right now, if I close my eyes I’m just going to see him, smell him. Please help me.”
“Shh.” Connor placed a finger on her mouth. “We’ll help you, trouble. Spread your legs for me, let me see you.”
He moved down to the bottom of the bed while Cade tugged her gently up until she was sitting then slipped in behind her. He pulled her back against him. She settled in against his chest with a sigh, opening her legs slowly.
“Beautiful,” Connor said, running his hands up her thighs. “Cade is going to make sure you stay nice and still for me, sweetheart.”
She whimpered as he lay between her thighs and parted the lips of her pussy. He stared at her for a long moment, taking her in before leaning in and licking from her entrance to her clit.
“Ohh,” she sighed, relaxing a little.
Cade reached around and cupped her breasts, tweaking her nipples with his fingers. Soft rivulets of need flowed through her, pooling in her stomach. Connor slipped two fingers through her wetness as he flicked her clit with tongue.
It was a slow build, languorous and sweet. Connor pulled his fingers from her pussy, replacing them with his thumb. He reached down between her bottom cheeks, ringing her opening before slipping the tip of one finger inside her.
She groaned.
“Do you like that, darlin’?” Cade whispered in her ear. “Do you like having Connor’s finger in your ass?”
“Yes,” she groaned.
“Cade, throw me the lube and a condom.”
Cade reached over and opened a bedside drawer, pulling out a tube of lube and a condom.
“We’re going to go nice and slow, baby,” Connor told her. He lay back between her legs, pressing one of his well-lubed fingers to her asshole once more as he flicked her clit with his tongue.
Cade kissed down her neck, sending shivers of delight through her. He cupped her breasts, feeling their weight.
Connor moved his finger in and out of her ass, adding a second finger, stretching her. She felt full but it didn’t hurt, instead adding to her pleasure.
Cade ran his hands over her body. “You come as often and as many times as you need to, baby, don’t hold back.”
Three heartbeats later, need rolled over her, spinning her higher and higher. She closed her eyes, crying out as she crashed into ecstasy.
“Good girl, so beautiful,” Cade whispered in her ear between laying kisses on her skin.
“Just stay relaxed, sweetheart,” Connor said.
How could she not? She was still floating with pleasure.
Connor moved slowly and steadily, filling her bottom with a third finger. Heat filled her body as her nerve endings came to life.
“How you doing, darlin’?” Cade asked.
“Feels so good. I feel alive. I need one of you inside me. Now.” She wanted to be totally filled, to be surrounded by them.
“Your wish is my command,” Connor said with a grin, rising up to position himself over her. He rested his weight on his arms as he kissed her deeply.
“Hmm, I like the sound of that,” she replied.
“Don’t get used to it,” Cade warned her. “We like having you tied and at our mercy.”
“But tonight is about you,” Connor added. “Help her roll over,” he directed at Cade. “I want her on her hands and knees.”
They positioned her how they wanted her, with Cade’s cock in easy reach of her mouth. Shelby leaned in and took a long lick.
Cade groaned as she lapped at him like he was a lollipop. Connor grasped her hips.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this, baby?” Connor asked.
“Yes, please, take me.”
“Okay, there’s going to be some pain. Hold on to Cade. If it hurts too much, you yell out stop, understand?”
She nodded.
“Words, trouble, I need to hear you,” Connor told her firmly.
“Yes, I understand. Now fuck me, damn it.”
“Ooh, demanding brat, that deserves a spanking,” Cade told her.
“Promises, promises,” she taunted, knowing she was safe. They wouldn’t dare spank her right now.
“Relax and hold on to Cade.”
Cade ran his hands through her hair and she leaned down and hugged him around the waist. Connor entered her slowly. There was an initial tightness, it was uncomfortable, but not painful. Then he pushed insid
e her, past her tight barrier. She grunted at the sharp pain and both men stilled.
“Shelby?” Connor asked, his voice worried.
“Just stay still for a moment, okay?” she asked breathlessly.
“Anything you need, baby. Just say the word.”
She took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to relax. “I’m ready now.”
“Hmm, I don’t think so,” Cade murmured. Reaching beneath her to cup her breasts, he pinched her nipples, rolling them between his fingers and thumbs.
Connor reached one hand around and flicked her clit. Back and forth. Shelby panted as arousal soon overtook the pain. She wriggled, trying to force more of Connor inside her.
“Stay still,” he growled.
“I want more. I want all of you,” she demanded.
He moved slowly forward, it was torturous. Now that the initial pain was over, she wanted more, all of him.
“Faster,” she ordered.
“No,” Connor countered, his voice breathless. “I’m not going to risk hurting you.”
“You’re not,” she told him, frustrated. She attempted to move her hips, to grind herself back on him. But he held her firmly, not allowing any movement that he didn’t intend to happen.
“Suck on Cade’s cock, trouble, before that mouth runs away on you and I forget you’re already injured and spank that ass.”
She leaned up and took the tip of Cade’s cock into her mouth. He ran his hands through her hair, looking down at her with shining eyes.
“Feels so good, sweetheart. Suck me in, take me deep.”
She took him as far as she could. Connor continued to enter her inch by agonizing inch, until he was fully embedded inside her.
He paused, panting. “Christ, I feel like a teenager, I swear I’m about to blow.”
Cade chuckled. “That good, huh?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe, brother. She’s sucking me in, bathing me in her heat. I’m not going to last long.”
Cade gathered her hair in his fist, turning her head slightly to one side. “Hear that, darlin’? You’ve got Connor ready to blow from just one thrust.”
She smiled and pulled back. “As long as he takes me with him when he goes.”
Cade guided his cock back into her mouth as Connor moved, pulling back then thrusting forward, in and out, driving her insane until small sounds of want spilled from her lips, smothered by Cade’s thick shaft.
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