by Avery Gale
Kit was sure there had to be at least one other conversation taking place in the room aside from what her mom was sharing because the air between Trev and Jameson was practically crackling. There had been several times she felt they were communicating telepathically and this looked like it was definitely one of those moments. Then, there were her mother’s strange words. Kit listened but she was having trouble tracking everything that was taking place in the room and her fingers felt like they were almost tingling. What the hell is that about? Wait, what did my mom just say? Damn it, Kit, focus for God’s sake. It was as if she knew her men’s parents. Her men? Oh Lord, where had that thought come from? Yes indeed Alice…you have fallen through that damned looking glass again.
Listening as her mother described the details of the night Jameson and Trev’s parents were killed was like listening as someone described one of the seven levels of hell. Kit remembered how terribly injured her mother had been when her grandmother had finally brought her back to their home. She also remembered how frustrated her father had been with both his wife and mother-in-law for not sharing more details of the “incident” with them.
As she recalled, her dad had drawn a line in the sand after that incident. He’d told her mother that she needed to consider her obligations to her own family as well as those she felt for the magical community. Kit had been helping her grandmother clean her mother’s wounds when he’d spoken the words and she remembered her mother’s response had surprised her. Her mom had locked her gaze on Kit as she’d whispered, “Richard, it was for Kathleen, it was all for her.”
Suddenly the room was spinning and Kit felt like she couldn’t catch her breath, even though she could hear herself gasping it didn’t seem like any of the oxygen was actually making it into her lungs. And there was that damned tingling in her fingers again. When had it gotten so hot in this room? And if someone would just make things stop spinning maybe she could get up and go outside. When she tried to stand everything seemed to tip to the left just before darkness closed in on her from all directions swamping her.
Trev had felt the anxiety coming off Kit in waves and had called her name several times without getting a response. When she tried to get to her feet, he knew she was in trouble because her breathing was so fast and shallow he was sure she must be feeling as if she wasn’t getting any air at all. Then when her eyes had rolled back a split second before she collapsed he was grateful he’d already started picking her up. She’d been muttering something about “her men” but Trev hadn’t been able to make it out.
When her entire body went lax in his arms he curled her further into his chest and started making his way out of the room. “Jameson, please make sure Kit’s family is comfortable and then come on upstairs as quickly as possible. We need to take care of our mate. Tristan and our security team can handle things for a while.”
Trev wasn’t that surprised when Kit’s grandmother stepped out of the door behind him. When she touched his arm, he felt an arc of electricity and somehow knew in that instant she had read him like a book. He was relieved at her warm smile. She stood on her tiptoes and leaned over to brush a soft kiss over Kit’s forehead. “She is so beautiful…inside and out. She always has been. She and her grandfather were so very close and I know she has missed him terribly. I’m so glad she has you and your brother now. But make no mistake, Trevlon, she is in great danger. Your mating will fulfill a prophecy that many fear.”
There were a hundred questions going through his mind and Trev knew this woman would likely give him much more honest and straightforward answers than he or Jameson would get from her daughter, but this wasn’t the time for the discussion. “Ruby, my brother and I thank you for coming, and we’ll both enjoy speaking with you as soon as we have some time with Kit. Her safety is our first priority and that also includes making sure she is well cared for.” Smiling into her age-worn face, Trev saw a flash of sadness that spoke volumes about how much she obviously missed her recently deceased husband. The misty memory lingered in her eyes just a moment before he was once again warmed by her smile.
“By all means, please,” she spoke softly as she stepped aside and gestured for him to proceed.
He nodded and started to step away, but stopped and leaned down and kissed her deeply lined forehead and whispered, “It’s very easy to see why Kit is so special. She obviously has had some wonderful role models. We’ll speak again soon. Please let our pack members make you comfortable in our home.”
Making his way down the hall, he felt Kit’s fingers stroking his chin. When he looked down into her emerald eyes, he smiled at her and felt her soul linking itself even stronger to his own. If he hadn’t been a shifter, he might have missed her softly spoken words, “Thank you.” He’d always considered their enhanced hearing an advantage, but not until Kit, had he understood the true depth of the gift. Being able to make out her sweet words would always fill a special part of his heart.
Trev didn’t know exactly what she was thanking him for, so he just smiled and said “You are welcome, baby.” He suspected it was for the kindness he’d shown her grandmother. But in truth it didn’t matter, if she was happy, that was all that concerned him. She didn’t know it yet, but she would soon—there wasn’t anything he and his brother wouldn’t do for her. He didn’t care about a prophecy. Right now he wasn’t interested in anything but this moment and the woman nestled securely in his arms.
Entering their suite, Trev was pleased to see the housekeepers they employed had already been in and had left everything in pristine order. Employing the younger members of the pack was a tradition their fathers had started, and Jameson and Trev had been happy to continue. It not only allowed the young people to learn the value of a good work ethic and money management, but it also allowed the pack Alphas opportunities to get to know their members individually. Their fathers had always said it was easier to mentor and lead people you actually knew.
Setting Kit gently on her feet near the sofa, he brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek and just looked at her for long seconds. He’d been stunned by her beauty the first moment he’d seen her, and even though he’d been physically drawn to many women over the years, it pleased him the attraction he felt for Kit seemed to be growing not weakening. “Baby, I’m sorry we didn’t shut that down sooner. Jameson and I should have sensed your distress earlier, and I apologize that we let it get so far gone.”
The puzzled look on her face told him she didn’t yet understand the depth of what matings meant and he wasn’t sure exactly how to explain it. He had always been better with actions—while words were more Jameson’s strong suit. “Baby, as your mates it will be our job to take care of you and that means a lot of things to us. One of those is seeing to your emotional well-being. We should have detected how stressed you were and intervened on your behalf.”
Kit felt like her brain was finally starting to fire on most of its cylinders again, because she couldn’t decide whether to be outraged at his audacity or touched by his sentiment. “But…it’s my job to make sure I’m okay. I am an adult and have been taking care of myself for a very long time, Trev. I don’t need a keeper…well, not most of the time anyway.” She tried to take some of the sting out of her words because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings and she had a suspicion that was exactly where she’d been headed.
“I’m not trying to be ungrateful, Trev, but I want you to know that what happened downstairs was in no way your fault. And well, you see…oh my, I should wait until Jameson is here to speak of this.” Just as she’d spoken the words the door of the bedroom burst open. Kit turned, expecting to see Jameson, but was nearly steamrolled by Libby.
“Holy fucking shit. Did you know your parents are here and your grandmother, too? She’s a kick, by the way, and she promised to get me a pair of those sneakers. And they said your apartment blew up, did you know that? Geez, are your parents in the mafia or something because no offense, but your mother has a major stick up her ass. And your dad has this suave, silent but
deadly gentlemen thing going that is to die for. I’ll bet he was a hottie in his day.” Libby was in fine form and her brilliant blue eyes were practically dancing. Kit couldn’t help but laugh because everything she had just spit out in her five second outburst had been on-point. People tended to grossly underestimate Libby because of her appearance. Just the fact she was tiny and blonde, people tended to assume she was a stereotypical blonde when nothing could be further from the truth.
Libby Wells, only thirty-two years old, was already a fully tenured professor at NYU with PhDs in both chemistry and neuroscience. She had published so many articles that Kit’s eyes had glazed over looking at the framed copies of the covers from various professional journals on the wall in her office one afternoon. The woman was positively brilliant and her mind and her mouth both moved at the speed of light.
Kit had met Libby her first day of teaching Romantic Literature at the university and despite their hugely divergent areas of interest, they’d become fast friends. “Well as usual my friend, you have nailed each of those people dead center. You’re remarkable at that by the way, just in case I haven’t mentioned it a thousand and one times.” She grinned at her friend and then continued, “I did hear about my apartment, but my main concern has been Dusty. But I got a message from his mom a bit ago and she assures me he is fine and looking forward to our next park play date so I’ll just have to trust that for now. And there seems to be some reason to believe I might be in danger, so I’ll be staying here for this week. And thank you in advance for bringing me so many things and my laptop because as of now those are my sole possessions.”
She’d tried to smile as she said the words, but her eyes had filled with tears all on their own. Libby had taken one look at her and quickly stepped forward to wrap her arms around her. “Oh, girlfriend, it’ll be okay. Damn, I’m not saying it doesn’t suck, because it sucks big green donkey dicks actually, but you’re safe here.” She pulled Kit down to whisper in her ear, “And spending the week with those two hunks that are hovering around you like they plan to devour you can’t be a real hardship.”
Wiping her tears, Kit thanked Libby yet again before Charlie escorted her from the room. The young man had smiled over his shoulder at his bosses and then just shook his head as if he didn’t have any real idea how to deal with the pint-sized dynamo. Welcome to NYU’s world, Charlie.
Chapter Fourteen
Jameson had watched the interaction between Kit and her friend and it had taken every ounce of self-control he’d been able to muster to keep from pulling her into his own arms when he’d seen her beautiful green eyes swimming in tears. He was glad he’d waited because the women seemed to have had a calming effect on each other and he knew how important friendship was, even though his twin had always fulfilled that role in his own life.
“Kitten, come here.” Jameson stood just a few feet from Kit, but he was going to start subtly introducing her to the ways of pack life as well as their expectations as her mates and Doms. She only hesitated for the briefest of seconds before she closed the gap between them. Her slender feet were still bare and the bubble-gum pink polish on her tiny toes was going to be the death of his control. When she was standing so close, he could feel her body’s heat searing into his lower abdomen he ran his fingers through her hair and just studied her for long seconds. “Are you alright, my love?”
“Yes, I’m fine, really. It’s just been, well…it’s been kind of a challenging end of the week. And I seem to be battling things on several fronts and…” Jameson could feel the frustration radiating off her and he appreciated that she hadn’t tried to lie to him. “Well, you know, there are so many things to think about and hearing all of that stuff my mom was saying and putting that together with what I remember about the night and then there is this crazy thing between us.” He saw her take a couple of deep breaths and he was determined to wait her out. He knew she hadn’t finished what she started to say and he wanted her to get it off her chest.
“You guys know so much more about how this works and I was interested in learning, and sex with you is so amazing, but now it seems like we don’t really have any options. Honestly, I don’t want you to be with me because you have to fulfill some damned prophecy. Geez, you might have gotten to know me and decided I was just too much of a ‘Do it yourself, handy-man special’ you know? And maybe you didn’t want a woman with so much baggage and that some little furry piece of fluff without a crazy-assed witch—literally—for a mother would be a lot easier to deal with.”
This time when she stopped talking Jameson decided he’d let it go on long enough. He smiled down at her, “Kitten, I want you to know I’m very proud of you and your honesty is a testament to the fact Trev and I have already started building a level of trust among the three of us and that is exactly as we want it to be. Now, I should address each of those points individually—especially those pertaining to you being someone we’d feel a need to fix, but quite frankly, I’m not sure I’d get through that particular point without paddling your sweet ass. So, let’s just cut to the chase and say we would never mate with someone just because we were told it fulfilled some sort of prophecy. No, sweet kitten, you were ours the minute I started down the stairs at the club and knew my brother’s and my mate was in the room. Walking up behind you as you stood at the bar and then seeing into your soul when you turned into my chest was a defining point in my life I will never forget.”
Trev had stepped up behind Kit and was rubbing his hands lightly up and down her slender arms. They’d dressed her in a next to nothing dress to take her downstairs because they had planned to keep their hands on her the entire time and didn’t want anything to keep them from touching her bare skin. However, when things had gone from sugar to shit he had wished she’d had on something she would have felt more confident in. Jameson saw Trev lean down and then heard him whisper, “Baby, you are so amazing. I know you don’t understand how perfect you are, but my brother and I will be happy to spend the rest of our lives proving it to you each and every day.”
Jameson placed his finger over her lips when she started to speak. “Kitten, if you are getting ready to disagree with anything my brother just said, let me caution you that remarks that take aim at the incredible person you are will be dealt with quickly and harshly. Do you understand?” He knew he was pushing her, but he also knew Kit was an extremely bright woman who had already admitted an interest in their lifestyle, so he wasn’t as worried as he might have been with someone who hadn’t ever given Dominance and submission any consideration.
When Kit nodded her head, Jameson continued, “Now, do you still want to say what you started to say earlier? Or would you like to reconsider your words?”
He didn’t even try to hide his smile when she just shook her head no and quietly conceded, “I think I should probably reconsider. I’m sorry, I’m just a bit overwhelmed and horny and well…that is probably not the best combination of emotions for making decisions.”
Jameson smiled, “I’m betting that was awfully hard for you to admit because I can see how much your independence means to you. So before we go any further I want you to know, Trev and I have no intention of taking away anything that you value. Now, that doesn’t mean we’ll be willing to stand idly by and let someone hurt you. Nor will be willing to stand aside and let you put yourself in danger—physical or emotional danger, kitten. We won’t distinguish between types of danger and our reactions will be quick and decisive. It’s important you know that. We are protective and possessive, and you are ours.”
When he’d finished talking he crashed his mouth over hers. He’d decided the time for words had passed and it was now time to show her exactly how they felt. The hot, smooth texture of her satiny lips sliding against his was enough to make him moan his need into her mouth. It was as if that small infusion of sound lit a fire inside of his sweet mate because she seemed to come to life in that instant. Kit was trying to crawl up him as if he were a tree and she was seeking the sweetest, ripest f
ruit that she believed was hiding at the top.
Coming up for air was a necessary, but unwanted separation. Jameson took just enough time to draw in much needed oxygen before moving his mouth back down to caress the pulse point at the side of Kit’s slender neck. “Your pulse is racing, kitten. Tell me what your body is saying to you. Listen with your heart, not that brilliant mind Trev and I admire so much. Do you want us as much as we want you?” Jameson could hear the gruffness in his voice, the barely leashed need to claim and conquer.
“I want you more than I even know words to explain. You both set everything in me on fire, yet I’m terrified of the claiming. I have never wanted to belong to anyone before so the depth of the desire I feel now is frightening.” Again Jameson was caught off guard by the crystal clear honesty of Kit’s answer. Dealing with women who frequented their club throughout the years had obviously left him more jaded than he’d known because honesty should have been his expectation with his mate, but it wasn’t.
Trev had never stopped touching Kit and even though they weren’t actually speaking through their mind-link, Jameson was able to tap into his twin’s emotions and could feel the love he had for Kit racing through his heart and mind just as it was his own. Trev leaned even closer as he spoke, “Baby, claiming is going to bring about changes for you that it doesn’t for most mates, so we understand your hesitance. But we want you to know there has never been a day that you haven’t belonged to us. Just because we hadn’t yet found you, doesn’t mean we didn’t already love you. We have been searching for you for a very long time.”
When Trev’s voice pushed into Jameson’s mind, gone was the passion fueled timber of a lover. In place was the beast pushing to bite and claim. ‘I have to run tonight or I’m going to claim her with or without her consent and I don’t want to do that. I haven’t run since we met her and the coming full moon is pressing down upon me like a ton of rock.’