by Lia Davis
“They’ll be other times when you’ll lose your mind until we can be together again.” He traced his fingers along her bare breasts, suppressing another growl as her nipples hardened. Reaching for the hem of his shirt, he tugged it over his head and tossed it aside.
She held out a shaky hand as she took in Grant’s bare chest. His sensitive hearing allowed him to experience her heart rate increase as the blood swooshed through her veins.
“You can touch me,” Grant encouraged as he took her hand and pressed it to his chest. The exact spot where his heart used to beat. That strange surge of electricity coursed through him, making him feel alive... human.
“You’re perfect.” She trailed her hand down his chest, swiping her fingers along his abs.
Grant glanced up as Max moved to the edge of the couch. His fangs were exposed and his eyes were full of desire.
“Join us,” Grant spoke to Max. “Please.”
Grant lost his focus when Cassie slipped out of her dress, leaving her in a tiny pair of black satin panties. Max’s desire increased, hitting Grant with a double dose of lust. He was aware of everything around him as Max and Cassie called to him.
“Take her,” Max instructed. “Make her yours as I have made you mine.”
Grant guided Cassie to lie back on the pillows Max had set up for this anticipated show. Grant wondered how long it took Max to decide that tonight would be the night. Cassie looked up at Grant, her wide, eager eyes bringing him in with each breath she drew.
Grant unbuckled his belt and undid the button on his pants before lowering himself onto Cassie. Her soft, hot skin pressed against his cold frame, but she didn’t seem to mind as he kissed her neck. Grazing his lips along her throat, he slipped his hand inside her panties. She arched and hitched a leg over his hip as he pushed his fingers inside her. Pressing his tongue along the pulsing vein on her neck, he stilled, taking a moment to concentrate. Max hadn’t fed from him the first night they were together. He had waited until Grant was ready. He could do the same for Cassie.
“Ahh...” she moaned when he squeezed her breast, taking it into his mouth.
Swirling his tongue around her nipple, he continued to please her with his fingers. Gliding them in and out of her wet heat as she rocked in time with him. The scent of her arousal drove him wild with lust. He licked a path between her breasts, going lower until he was between her legs. He could taste her this way.
“Grant,” she mumbled. “Please...”
“Is this what you want?” He bunched the sheer material of her panties and ripped them from her, causing her to gasp as Max let out a low roar. Grant sensed him move closer to them. He was no longer on the couch, but now on the floor behind them.
“Yes.” Cassie lifted her pelvis, offering herself to Grant as she stared over his shoulder, focusing on Max.
He leaned forward, licking her inner thigh, concentrating on the femoral artery. He scraped his fangs over it, contemplating sinking into it. He took a few unnecessary breaths, trying to get himself under control but his inner demon was winning. The urge to drink from her was more powerful than his growing desire for this incredible creature who had trusted him to care for her. All it would take was a quick pierce of her tender flesh, he thought as he pushed his fingers inside her opening.
“Focus.” Max’s voice was barely above a whisper. “If you bite her now she’ll fear you. She isn’t expecting it.”
“The urge is too strong.” He trailed his tongue along the vein as he fingered her. “I have to taste her.”
“There are other ways to taste her,” Max reminded him. “Right now she craves you. Look at her.”
Grant leered between her thighs to find her touching her breasts. She writhed on the floor waiting for him to claim her.
“She aches for you, Grant.” His cool breath caressed the nape of his neck. “Can’t you feel it?”
Grant trailed his lips up her thigh and to her sex.
“Mmm...” she quietly moaned when he spread her open, tasting her arousal. Her legs quivered as she moved her hips in sync with him. She dropped her hand to her side, gripping the blanket beneath her. “Oh!” She arched off the floor, thrusting her waist into his face. Gliding his hands under her backside, he squeezed her as he pushed his tongue deeper. Her legs tensed just before she spiraled into her climax, gripping his shoulders and letting go.
He didn’t give her much time to recover as he quickly removed the rest of his clothes at a speed only a vampire could possess. As she tried to catch her breath, he lowered himself onto her.
She opened her eyes and giggled. “Hi.”
“I need you.” He hitched her leg over his hip.
“I think I’ve always needed you.”
Without another word they were one. She held onto him as he slipped inside her, stilling for a moment to make sure she was okay. Kissing her softly, he spoke against her lips. “I’ll never leave you.”
As he made love to her, he was acutely aware that Max was inches from him taking in every word he said, feeling every emotion Grant emitted. It couldn’t be helped. Cassie called to him and Grant had no choice but to answer her plea.
The time went in slow motion as he thrust in and out of her, craving more with each second. She ran her hands down his back, caressing his hard form, exploring his muscles with her wispy touch. He responded by kissing her passionately, as he gently gripped her hips being careful not to apply too much of his inevitable strength.
Sitting back on his heels, he pulled her to sit in his lap never breaking their union. He could take her for hours but he had to be responsible. She’d need rest. Kissing her neck as he swirled his finger over her nipple, she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“I want to be closer.” She held him tight as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“I know.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I can’t get enough of you either.”
She clenched around him as her breathing turned to panting. Grasping his biceps, she kissed his neck, working her way to his jaw. He took her face between his hands and kissed her.
“Grant.” She shuddered hard as she let go. Her warm release coated his length as he pushed into her tight sex.
Resting her on the pillows, he lifted up onto his forearms as he stared into her eyes, concentrating on their connection. Now that he had bonded with her in such an intimate way there was no turning back.
“God.” He closed his eyes, tossed his head back and let out a primal growl as he came inside her. Collapsing onto her, he rolled her to her side so they could face one another. He caressed her cheek, kissing her gently. “Are you okay?”
“I’ve never been better.” Her eyes were filled with happiness. “I wish I could express how much being here, being with you means to me.”
“I understand completely.” She didn’t have to explain anything. “The life you knew before me is over. You’ll never experience that pain again. I promise.”
Max had left through the patio doors a few moments before. Grant hadn’t sensed anything but approval from his partner, but it hadn’t been easy for Max. Grant would find a way to make this work for all three of them.
Chapter 7
After another hour of making love, Grant carried Cassie upstairs and helped her get ready for bed. He always knew what she needed. His attentive nature was addictive. She’d never experienced such compassion.
“Tonight was...” The heat burned her cheeks. “Really good.”
“I hope it was better than good.” He pulled the comforter over her and kissed her forehead. The coldness of his touch wasn’t as biting as it was a few days ago. Now when his flesh connected with hers it was warm. Everything about him made her temperature rise.
“You’re going to make me tired now, aren’t you?”
“I can assist you with falling asleep.” He brushed his fingers along her cheek. “There’s a peacefulness to you when you sleep. I have a feeling you’ve never slept so soundly before.”
“Fr
om an early age I learned to sleep with one eye open it seemed.” When had she ever had such peace of mind? Never. “I’m safe here. I’ve never had this kind of security. It’s hard to sleep when you have to constantly be aware of your surroundings.”
“I’m glad you finally found that security.” When he stared into her eyes, hers got heavier. “You’ll always be safe with me.”
“How do you get me to sleep?”
“I have many talents.” His sexy lips curved into the most inviting smile. “I’m good at reading people. Of course, it’s strongest with Max. I know what he needs and when he needs it even if he won’t always admit I know.”
“You love him so much.” She tried not to sound envious, but when Max and Grant looked at one another it was as if nothing else existed. Not even her. “I can tell.”
“I do.”
“What happened between us tonight, will it cause a problem?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll handle Max.” He ran his thumb over her lips before kissing her. “Now you need to rest.”
“Can I tell you something before you put me to sleep?” She pressed her lips to his, making the kiss last longer.
“Anything.”
“It might sound silly.”
“Tell me anyway.” He settled in next to her, pulling her into his chest. “I want to know everything about you.”
“When I was a kid I moved around a lot. More than I wanted to. Some places were great. Those were the places I would pray that I could stay in, but they didn’t work out.” It wasn’t often she talked about her past. She tried to push it down so far that it would never come back to haunt her thoughts, but being there with Max and Grant had forced some memories to the surface. “When I was really young, maybe five or six, I had this dream.” Even now she could recall the colors, bright and real, and the way the images cooled her skin, but left her feeling warm and secure. Kind of like when she was with Grant. Now she realized why he was so familiar to her. “It was vivid. The surroundings, the sensations but not the figures in it.” She stopped for a moment, remembering how she’d have this dream when her life seemed to be at its lowest point.
“Hey.” Grant rubbed her arm. “If you’d rather just sleep you can tell me tomorrow.”
“No.” She needed to continue. “This dream, it was the very first one I can remember. I haven’t thought about it in years because I assumed it had failed me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Two faceless people would come to me when I was sad or depressed with my living situation. I wanted a home more than anything when I was young.”
“We all want to belong.”
“Exactly.” She nodded. “These people, maybe they weren’t even people, wouldn’t show up often but they were recurring. They usually came when I was about to be sent back to the group home because my foster time was up or a trial family had changed their mind.”
“People would change their mind?”
“All the time.” That was the worst. At least in a foster setting she knew it wasn’t permanent, but when she would go to a potential family, one that she really wanted to work out that was the hardest. “It only happened to me a few times. The last time was when I was fifteen. Come to think of it, that was the last time I dreamt of my angels.”
“Angels?”
“The two faceless people in my dreams,” she continued. “They would always bring me such comfort when I needed them.”
“What happened that last time?” He shifted onto his side so he could face her. “When you were fifteen?”
“I never went to another foster home again. I was placed in a group home where I stayed until I aged out of the system.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She reached up and pressed her palm to his cheek, wishing he didn’t seem so conflicted. “Being here means everything to me even if Max isn’t ready to embrace me.”
“He will.” He promised. “There’s no other way.”
Cassie had fallen asleep over an hour ago. Max sensed it in her breathing, heard it in her heart rate. Seeing Grant with her wasn’t as tormenting as he thought it would be. It was highly erotic to observe him in that situation. As much as he wanted to participate he needed to allow Grant that first time with her. He had to let them bond. He couldn’t deny Grant the experience of being with his human.
“She’s asleep,” Grant said as he came into their bedroom. “She’s so peaceful here.”
“We’re no angels,” Max reminded him.
“To her we are.”
Max clenched his fist by his side, but didn’t say anything. The tension in his jaw should have been enough for Grant to back off, but he didn’t. Grant couldn’t stay quiet if he was going to make this situation between the three of them work. Max knew that before Grant even spoke.
“You need to be more receptive to this whole thing. You heard her.” He motioned toward Cassie’s room. “She has never belonged anywhere before. You knew when we started whatever this is there would be no turning back. I will not, I cannot abandon her any more than you could abandon me.”
“Well, at least you’ve finally admitted what she is to you.”
“It doesn’t diminish what you are to me.” Grant reached for Max’s hand. “Nothing ever could. I want you to believe that.”
“I wish what happened tonight would have proven to you how receptive I am to the situation. One doesn’t easily watch the love of his life make love to another especially when he knows it’s not just a onetime deal.”
“You’re just as much a part of this as I am. I’m tired, Max and that’s not an easy task for a vampire. I can’t keep doing this.”
“I don’t need your reassurance.”
“I don’t know how to ease this despair for you, and please don’t insult me by telling me you’re fine with everything because you know I can feel it all.”
“I’m thirsty.” Max sighed when he thought about drinking from an actual human. “I don’t want to keep discussing this. I can’t control the outcome.”
“That’s what bothers you. A control freak without the control.”
“I’ve agreed to let this play out. Please let that be enough.”
“For me it is enough, for Cassie it’s everything, but it’s you that I worry about.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Max kissed Grant’s cheek. “Just give me the time I need to adjust. Let this be the last discussion of this.”
“For now, but as a vampire with the curse of longevity, I reserve the right to revisit this.”
“When I choose.” Max’s delicious lips formed a smile, breaking the tension in his expression.
“Control freak.”
“But you love me anyway.”
“Always.”
“Good.”
“We should leave the house tonight,” Max suggested. “It’s been too long since we’ve fed from a live person.”
Grant stared at the ceiling, focusing on Cassie’s breathing. Max understood the desperation. He didn’t like the idea of being away from the human either and he hadn’t made love to her. “It will be difficult to leave her especially now that you’ve connected on such an intimate level, but your instincts will kick in soon. You will drink from her and no matter what she says, she may not be ready to see you like that.”
“I don’t think we should both leave her.”
Max hated seeing Grant this conflicted. The balance in their content home was off and for two creatures of habit it was hard to exist like this.
Max had to accept that Grant had bonded with Cassie. It was far too soon for him to leave her. Once he fed from her there would be no turning back. “We can drink from the reserve again tonight. I’ll have it replenished tomorrow.”
“No.” Grant took Max’s hand. “You should feed from a human tonight. It’s not fair to keep you here.”
“I’m here because of you.” Max assured him. “I don’t want to be away from you.”
“Thank
you.” The relief in Grant’s worried eyes diminished. “I need you.”
“I’m here.” He wrapped his arms around him, basking in the knowledge that Grant still needed him. “I’ll always be here.”
Grant had been a loyal, loving companion for a very long time. If not for him, Max would have self-destructed long ago. They would get through this. Max would have to find a way if he wanted to survive.
“Thank you for keeping me at bay when I was with her. If you weren’t there I would have...”
“I don’t believe that’s true,” Max said. “You had a moment of weakness. All vampires do. The first night we were together it took every ounce of my control and then some not to feed from you.”
“What made you stop?”
“We weren’t ready for that, and my desire to have you with me for all of eternity made me a patient man.”
“I would have gladly let you drink from me that night.”
“That’s how I know you’re mine.”
Chapter 8
The brisk evening air danced along Cassie’s skin, giving her a chill, but the quiet surroundings kept her outside. As she gazed up at the moon she noted it would be full on Halloween. Strolling the grounds, she took in the night’s beauty. When had she ever been so relaxed? There had never been a home or a special place where she was comfortable. She’d only been in their home a short time and she couldn’t really explain what was happening. As odd as it was to be in the presence of two vampires, she was certain this was where she was meant to be.
She sat on the stone bench that overlooked the river in the distance. The house was secluded but sat high enough to provide a spectacular view of the city. The cobblestone property was lined with gorgeous oak trees taller than she’d ever seen. Had she ever taken the time to experience such beauty?
“It’s cold out here.” Max stepped from the shadows, startling her.
“Oh!” She got up from the bench and backed away from him. She had said he didn’t scare her but that wasn’t entirely true.
Never breaking his gaze from hers, he removed his suit jacket. “It’s not like I need this.”