by Fel Fern
“He sees something in you, something that made him decide you’re worthwhile to keep. For a while, I couldn’t see past my anger. I wanted him for so long, so it hurt and pissed me off that it turned out he wanted you, but I’m starting to see why he desires you so much to risk fighting the only thing he values most in his world. His family.”
Charity swallowed, but she didn’t tear her gaze from him. Ferus found he liked that very much—her attention solely on him, on his words, never flinching or turning away.
“I can convince myself I like you only because I want to make it work. That I’m doing this for London’s selfish wants, but I’ll only be fooling myself.”
“What does he want?” Charity asked in a bare whisper. Her eyes were seeking Ferus, but he could see she was catching on fast. The truth unfurling in front of her eyes.
“You, me. Both of us.”
“He’s crazy,” Charity whispered. “Do you have any idea how fucked up that is? How inconceivable? Why would you go along with something like that?”
“Because he’s my sole reason for living. London took me off the streets, gave me life and purpose when I sought death. I wanted him for as long as I remembered, and he was the only thing I saw for a very long time. Until you came along.”
Ferus let her see the vulnerable truth in his eyes, something he’d never thought he’d reveal to anyone else but his alpha. His true self, unwavering and loyal, and faulty and blunt. More importantly, he let her graceful lioness approach his wolf, let the two beasts rub fur, shoulders, and heat. The bulge in his jeans grew more defined.
“I won’t lie to you, Charity. I don’t think I can pretend to want you because London wants you. Without knowing it yourself, you’ve made yourself desirable in my eyes.”
A new revelation took root inside him, unquestionable and excitingly real. Charity is the missing piece of the puzzle.
Images, unbidden and erotic, flowed through his mind. Charity’s slender frame, crushed but protectively cushioned by his and London’s bodies. Her soft body between them, her beautiful lips wrapped around his cock while London took her sweet pussy from behind.
“Jesus. This is either one elaborate sick game you wolves are playing, or it’s true,” Charity murmured, gasping when Ferus gripped her chin and looked deep into her eyes. Her lioness snarled. His wolf refused to back off.
“Look deep inside me, Charity. Tell me I’m lying.”
“You’re not,” she said weakly, not pushing him off. “If you’re so certain, then kiss me, Ferus. Words might contain poison, but the body and our beasts never lie.”
Ferus didn’t hesitate. He leaned close to her, careful of her injured leg, banded one arm around her delicate waist, and took her lips at the risk of London’s wrath.
Her heat flooded down his throat. He sucked, nibbled, dared to push his tongue between her lips, and she sweetly opened for him, letting him in, sucking down on his tongue. Holy fuck.
Unthinkingly, he tightened his hold against her, his erection painfully straining against his jeans. Their spiritual beasts approached each other, brushing their coats, purring, growling. A match had been lit inside him, eager to erupt into an inferno. Hunger moved him, and lust swayed him to do the inconceivable. A voice inside him spoke up, telling him he should pull back. He’d gotten his taste after all, but both man and wolf refused to take a step back, only a step forward.
Her hands found the hem of his shirt, and he mimicked the gesture. They pulled, tossing the useless pieces of fabric aside. The way her gaze crawled down his face to his chest and the genuine appreciation there, did little wonders for his control.
Charity licked her lips, and the obvious appreciation there made him hard. “Very nice.”
“You’ve seen nothing yet, sweetheart,” Ferus found himself saying, letting her see how much he wanted her.
His gaze roamed across the slender curve of her body, to the tempting swell of her breasts under her pink bra, and lower still, to the jeans sheathing her legs. Jeans he wanted to rip off. The sound of her laughter, pure and undistilled, made him groan.
They both didn’t hear the sound of the door opening, but they both jumped when it slammed shut. The air felt suddenly hot. It only took several strides for London to reach the bed and close a hand on Ferus’s bare shoulder. He didn’t shove me away or tear me apart. That’s a good sign isn’t it?
Seeing London’s furious expression, Ferus swallowed. Maybe not.
London snarled at him. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Isn’t this what you wanted? Both of us?” Charity defiantly threw back. London turned his gaze on her, and she looked a little unsettled, crossing her arms over her breasts.
“You’re sorely mistaken, love,” London crooned, releasing Ferus’s shoulder.
“Why am I mistaken?” Charity demanded. Ferus still couldn’t speak.
“I’m not mad because I found you two sneaking about,” London went on, his calm and amiable tone more frightening than his angry one.
“Then why?” Ferus finally asked, wary when London’s amber eyes fastened on him, moving to the bulge in his jeans.
Then his bastard alpha smiled, looking far too smug, and Ferus had a feeling Charity and he had fallen into a trap. Had it always been London’s intention for sparks to fly between Charity and he?
“I’m pissed you both started off without me,” London said, letting the disappointment show in his eyes and tone.
“You fucking bastard,” Charity muttered, no doubt coming to the same realization as he did. Before she reached for her discarded clothes, London grabbed her wrists.
“Don’t run again, Charity. I know you’re confused and terrified, but why fight when this feels so right?” London asked softly.
She twitched, but didn’t pull away from him. “Why? I spent all my life, knowing my place, knowing I was no lion’s ideal mate, but you two—”
London cut her off, kissing her hard and rough. “Bullshit. Useless drivel. Right here, between us is where you belong, kitten. Forget the past, we’re your future.”
She stopped fighting him and watching them kiss, Ferus expected jealousy to ram its ugly head, but it didn’t. He only groaned as London settled beside her more comfortably, hand pulling down the cup of her bra to fondle her tits.
Ferus carefully parted her legs, making sure he wouldn’t disturb her healing leg.
“What are you two doing?” Charity asked uncertainly, but didn’t stop Ferus when his hands found the button of her jeans.
“Showing you how real men treat their mates,” London answered for both of them, capturing her lips with his mouth again.
Ferus slid her jeans down her hips, glancing up occasionally to see if she looked discomforted, but Charity looked distracted by London’s hands and mouth. Well. Soon enough she had to split her attention on both of them. Ferus knelt between her legs, lowered his head, and pulled down her panties, unveiling her tempting smooth and pink folds.
Before London, he’d always known he was bisexual. After London, he suspected he’d gone over to the all-male team, but after Charity, he had a feeling he’d been badly mistaken. He licked and lapped at the wet curve of her pussy lips, teasing her, delighted when she curled her fingers into his hair. Ferus trained his gaze at the vision above him as he nipped and sucked, enjoying the sight of London and Charity, while he gauged her reaction.
“Good with his mouth, isn’t he?” London said, parting from her lips.
“Amazing,” Charity managed.
Ferus would’ve grinned if he could, but he only stabbed his tongue into her waiting hole, hungry for the taste of her. She buckled above him, but London kept her firmly in place, leaving a trail of kisses and bites down the column of her throat.
Ferus dragged his tongue upward, toward her clit. He closed his mouth over the swollen nub, hearing her cry out above him. Keeping one hand firmly on her uninjured leg, he made lazy circles with her tongue on her nub while he pushed two fingers in
to her sopping cunt.
“Oh God,” Charity murmured above him.
Wanting to push her to the edge, Ferus continued finger fucking her, sucking her.
“Are you close, sweetheart?” London asked, but she only managed a mew. “Then come for us. We want to hear your sweet voice.”
Ferus used the slight edge of his teeth to bite down, and felt her entire body shudder. She came hard against his mouth, and Ferus licked every bit of her cream with relish. He settled beside her on the other side of the bed, and realized he liked watching the expression of bliss that settled on her beautiful face. This position, with Charity between them, was perfect he realized.
“Thank you,” she whispered after to both of them, gaze shifting to Ferus’s erection and then to London. “It’s only right I return you both the favor.”
“No, you’re injured.” London kissed her gently on the left cheek and Ferus did the same on her right. “We can wait.”
Charity looked skeptical. “Doesn’t look like it to me.”
She shocked the hell out of Ferus by unzipping his jeans and pulling out his cock. Charity did the same to London. “Maybe I can help can get you two get off.”
“But—” Seeing Charity lower her beautiful head and her lips closing over London’s shaft, Ferus’s objection died in his throat. Not leaving him in the cold, she began fisting his prick, her hand methodically moving up and down. Fuck. He didn’t think he could stand upright for long.
London grinned at him over Charity’s head. “If you aren’t going to use those lips, then give them to me.”
Ferus leaned over, his sigh crushed by the onslaught of London’s mouth. Tongues, teeth, and lips tangled. London deepened the kiss, shoving his tongue down his throat. Ferus eagerly latched on to his lips, sucking hard. Between his legs, his cock continued to thicken with need.
God. He couldn’t wait for Charity to heal, so London and he could teach her just what a treasure her body was. Fuck. Thinking about Charity riding him while London pounded his back nearly made the pressure inside him spill over.
London parted from him, breathing deeply, his eyes bleeding to wolflike amber. “Charity, I’m coming,” he said with panting breaths, but Charity didn’t pull away. Ferus had been treated to the gorgeous sight of her swallowing every drop of London’s cum.
“Christ,” he muttered, his own orgasm spilling out of him.
Charity paused, turning to him and allotting him the same gift, her warm mouth closing gracefully over his softening length, sucking every bit of his load. Ferus collapsed beside her on the bed, still feeling overwhelmed by what just happened. When Charity gathered his head in her lap and began spearing fingers into his hair, he didn’t complain.
This is what heaven feels like, huh. Fuck, I should have done this long ago.
London disappeared into the bathroom, and Ferus heard the water being turned on in the tub. He reappeared again, looking ridiculous with two bubble bath bottles in his hand. “Cherry or lemon?”
Ferus grunted when Charity stopped stroking his hair. “When did you get those?”
“I got some sound advice from my brother Max that women sometimes like to be pampered, especially when they’re hurt and in need of some tender loving care.”
Ferus snorted.
“Your brother is a wise man,” Charity agreed. “Hold on a second. Are you implying you’re going to what? Help bathe me?”
Ferus raised his head, frowning at Charity. “You refuse?”
“I just didn’t expect it, but I’m not refusing. Being cared for and tended by two gorgeous men?” Charity scoffed. “Only an idiot would refuse.”
“Good answer.” Ferus stood, and before Charity could say otherwise, he easily hefted her in his arms, still being careful of her leg. She yelped in surprise, winding her arms around his neck. Ferus kissed her cheek. “Good kitten.”
“You didn’t exactly give me a choice,” she mumbled as he led her to the bathroom.
“Damn. You’re a lucky man, Ferus. Charity obviously has a soft spot for you if she let you carry her,” London complained.
The tub looked tempting, filled with bubbles and smelling like cherries. There was a bathing stool where Charity could sit and another to hold up her leg. Fuck. Ferus wished the three of them could fit in it.
“I like you just fine, London, but Ferus is just sweeter,” Charity pointed out.
“You should get a bigger bath,” Ferus told London. “And a larger bed while you’re at it.”
“Already ordered one,” London said, grinning back at him.
Chapter Five
Six weeks later
“Hey, that’s the last of my chocolate cake,” Ferus grumbled.
Charity’s laughter sounded like music to London’s ears. “Well, that’s for stealing a handful of my fries when you thought I wasn’t looking.”
“Haven’t you heard of sharing, woman?” Ferus demanded.
“When it comes to chocolate cake, it’s open warfare.”
Watching Charity and Ferus bicker never failed to make London smile from his corner of the table. After being holed up in his room for six weeks, Charity wanted to go out after the doctor declared her leg fully healed. Worry of her attempting an escape had no longer been in London’s mind. Something had shifted when London walked in on Ferus and Charity kissing.
No. Not shifted, but changed for the better, London mused.
He eventually conceded to Ferus’s suggestion the three of them go out on a simple lunch date. It paid off, too, seeing how much Charity loosened up and enjoyed herself. Fuck those who gave them strange looks. No doubt two Scavos wolves and a Vivaldi lioness out on a Saturday afternoon date, eating lunch in a restaurant like normal mortals was a hard concept to grasp, but London didn’t care.
It felt good, simply to be with the two people who’d become important to him over such a short time span, and he intended to keep it that way. Besides, they all needed some time off.
“You’re oddly quiet,” Charity commented, setting her contemplative gaze on him.
“I’m just enjoying the sight of the two of you.” London lifted her hand from the table and kissed her fingers. The color on her cheeks filled him with pleasure.
“You make it sound like we’re children,” Ferus muttered. “Anyway, are we getting the bill soon? I’ve enough of these idiots gawping at us.”
Charity shrugged. London called for the check. “Maybe they’re jealous,” Charity pointed out. “I mean, two handsome werewolves on my left and right, how lucky can one girl be?”
“You sell yourself short, sweetheart,” Ferus said.
“We still have some shopping to do. Didn’t you say you need new clothes?” London asked. They left the restaurant, and he noted with some satisfaction that Charity didn’t push his hand away when he clasped hers.
“You don’t have to do this all for me. I’m already happy to be out,” Charity said, resting her head against the curve of Ferus’s shoulder to her right.
London kissed her cheek. “We want to.”
Ferus groaned. “Better accept his offer. Shopping with London is inevitable. The man will keep hounding you.”
London glared at Ferus. Charity only laughed. “All right, then.”
Watching Charity pick clothes, London idly wondered how long their ideal reality could last. All three of them weren’t blind or idealistic.
His pack might disapprove of him taking a lioness shifter as one of his mates, but they would eventually accept and get used to it. Max had accepted Charity’s standing in his life, but getting Conner’s acceptance and approval was still far off. London’s own family was the least of his concerns.
London didn’t want to spoil the day by telling Charity her father had suddenly taken interest in her affairs again. No doubt the bastard knew about their odd relationship and intended to use the knowledge for his self-gain. He just needed to keep a careful eye on Charity. Even now, he didn’t tell her he had his wolves tailing them from the shado
ws. Hopefully, he’d done all he could to keep them safe.
London knew the peace and happiness they had now tethered was on a fine edge. It could be yanked from under them without warning, and London no longer thought he could stand up from such a fall if that happened. Watching Charity and Ferus made his heart ache. If he were to lose just one of them…fuck. He hoped not.
* * * *
Charity eyed the short sexy black little number London handed over to her. The Gentleman certainly had excellent taste, because not only did he know her exact measurements, the dress fitted each of her curves like a second skin. Glimpsing the price tag nearly gave her a heart attack.
What use was getting a dress this expensive when she was 100 percent certain London and Ferus would only rip it off her?
“Is everything all right in there, Miss Vivaldi?” asked the shopkeeper.
“Give me a few minutes, please,” she answered back.
“Of course, miss. Do let me know if you need anything else,” the woman amiably said, and Charity felt her retreat.
No doubt the shop assistants knew their identities since London was one of House Scavos’s alphas and Charity was from a rival family, but they didn’t remark on it. Charity guessed dangling enough money ensured confidentiality and the shop assistants seemed to all know London by sight. Just how often did that man shop? Judging by the immaculate suits and his well-organized enormous closet, it was obviously often.
Charity wasn’t used to being treated like a princess, or for that matter, buying her clothes at high-end boutiques. She’d known her place all her life, and the last thing Raquel would do was hand her anything he believed she didn’t earn.
It felt nice, she decided, to feel pampered once in a while, although the two men seemed determined to overdo it. Ferus hadn’t been lying when he mentioned London took shopping more seriously than his duties for House Scavos.
She leaned her forehead against the cool mirror, closed her eyes, and savored the image of the two men, one on either side of her front and back, possessively holding her, leaving no air to breathe as flesh, hands, and mouths collided.