Wrapped Up in Stripes

by Sarah Marsh

  The more she thought about it, the more her lioness insisted that she go for it, but Heidi wasn’t going to let her cat turn her into some hussy that jumped the first tigers that put their hands on her only a couple hours into her vacation. Her instincts were telling her she wanted more than just a momentary fling with these men, so surely it would be more sensible to get to know them a bit over dinner before she gave into her baser urges?

  “Why don’t you turn over now, baby, and we’ll do your front?” Wade murmured before Mason took his cue and quickly released the curtains of the cabana so that the gauzy material fell down, giving them a degree of privacy.

  She was a little relieved to see the drapes fall closed as she rolled over on the table, keeping the sheet in place. Heidi didn’t think she was ready for anyone else to see her reaction to these males as they touched her—at least not yet.

  Now that she could see them as they continued their massage, it was even more arousing than before. When Heidi met Mason’s gaze, the intensity and bald want she saw there took her breath away. He worked his way back up her legs, never breaking eye contact, and she couldn’t stop herself from moving her thighs farther apart, hoping his next stroke would go just a little higher to where she ached for his fingers to touch her.

  Mason teased her, letting his fingertips barely brush her wet folds under the sheet. His actions drew a gasp from her lips, and a small smile turned his face from serious to playful. Meanwhile, Wade’s talented hands had made their way up her arms and were now working on her shoulders. He, too, must have decided he wanted to play because every pass his warm hands made over her skin, he dipped lower, massaging the tops of her breasts. Her nipples were hard, aching points now, and she wished he would stop playing around and touch them. She couldn’t stay still under their hands.

  “Do you need more?” Wade whispered the words in her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

  “Yes,” she whispered and bit her lower lip, hoping they would give her what she needed so desperately.

  “May we remove the sheet?” Mason asked as his fingers had stalled high on her thighs, just under the edge of the barrier.

  She nibbled more on her lip, looking past them through the gauzy curtains. Heidi could hear the people just on the other side of the material, and she could see through it, though it was slightly obscured. It excited her to know that those around them would be hearing whatever happened between the three of them, seeing the hazy movement of their bodies. She smiled and nodded her response, her heartbeat racing as she watched Mason slowly draw down the sheet. Both men groaned when the hard peaks of her rosy nipples were uncovered.

  “You’re so perfect.” Wade brought one finger up to trace around her areola, causing a shiver to run down her body as his partner continued to pull down the sheet.

  When at last his final tug revealed her mound with its small strip of golden curls, Wade’s hands stopped abruptly and she heard his muffled curse.

  “Absolute perfection.” Mason sighed before his hands finally moved to the juncture of her thighs, as his thumbs slowly rubbed the skin at the top of her mound.

  Heidi felt beautiful beneath their gaze, the two of them roving over every exposed inch. Her chest rose and fell as her arousal grew to a staggering height from the anticipation of what was to come.

  Her eyes slid closed and she moaned when both of Wade’s hands came up to cup her breasts, then she felt his breath on her skin right before his mouth descended upon her own.

  Chapter Nine

  She tasted just as exquisite as Wade knew she would, and when his lips finally met hers, he knew she really was the one they’d been waiting for. His tiger was content to just bask in the warmth of her scent as the man took his time and explored his mate’s mouth thoroughly. Heidi moaned beneath him, and Wade assumed that Mason had continued his exploration down below as well.

  When he finally released her lips and drew back to look down her delightful body, Mason was teasing her once again by nibbling and licking the inside of her thighs.

  “Now that Wade has had his first taste, do I get mine as well?” His friend’s voice was low and laced with desire.

  The sexy, sweet smile that spread across Heidi’s flushed face as she looked back down at Mason almost stopped Wade’s heart. She was beautiful just as she was, but aroused, her lips swollen from his kisses—well, then she was simply the sexiest thing he’d ever seen in his life. Wade was willing to bet, however, that she’d be even more stunning when she came for them, and that was what he craved to see now. For a split second, his gaze met Mason’s, and he nodded at his partner to go ahead. They’d been friends so long now most of their communication needed no words. Mason would give their mate the satisfaction she needed right now, and then they could settle in to spend some time together. They were building a life with Heidi now, and though he suspected she wouldn’t turn them away from her body if they attempted to go farther, their mate deserved romance their first time together. Neither man would take her in a rushed joining in a cabana surrounded by strangers—there would always be time for that later, if their new mate were so inclined.

  “Please,” she whispered as Wade stepped back up to the head of the table and gently pulled her arms up above her head to restrain her. Her wide eyes and breathless gasp told him exactly what he was hoping to hear, that it turned her on even more.

  His mouth watered as he watched Mason’s lips descend to her glistening pussy. Wade could scent her desire from where he was standing, and he couldn’t wait to get a taste himself. He loved watching Heidi’s face at the first bold lick Mason made through her nether lips, the bliss he saw there was poetry. Her ample chest was heaving as she struggled to catch her breath and her muscles trembled under his hands. When Mason finally nudged up to wrap his lips around her swollen clit, she panted and groaned out their names—and when Mason sucked that little button hard into his mouth, she exploded in glorious pleasure, screaming out their names this time.

  ****

  Heidi could have sworn she was going to die from pleasure. Every single muscle in her body seized as she came hard under Mason’s talented lips. She’d never felt anything like that before. When Wade had gently pinned her hands up above her head, she was distracted momentarily, but when Mason’s tongue had finally touched her skin, everything zeroed in on how good it felt to have him licking her there. The entire massage had been an almost tortuous round of foreplay, so she wasn’t surprised when she came like a rocket ship as soon as those sinful lips wrapped around her clit and drew hard.

  Sweet baby Jesus. If that’s how good it was when just one of them went down on her—then how amazing would it be to find herself sandwiched in between them as their cocks worked in and out of her? It was her new goal in life to see that little fantasy through.

  Heidi opened her eyes and smiled, loving the looks of desire each man still had on their faces.

  “Now, for the main event.” She went for Wade’s belt as he was closest to her, and when he caught her hands in his, she was confused as she looked up at his face.

  “I think that’s all for now, baby,” he smiled a devilish grin that told her he knew exactly how baffled she was at his answer.

  “What? But you—I mean you guys are still…” She waved toward the thick erections currently tenting their pants.

  “And we will live, but our first time isn’t going to be out here on the patio in the middle of a party.” Mason rose to his feet and undid his shorts just enough to adjust himself so that his hard-on wasn’t so obvious. “It will be romantic and special, because that is what you deserve.”

  Romantic, and special … because that is what she deserved. Heidi had to blink quickly to stop the moisture that was threatening at her eyes. It was definitely the sweetest thing any man had ever said to her, and she was very touched. These two beautiful men, with their animal magnetism, could probably have any shifter female on this entire boat with a crook of their fingers—but they wanted her. Plain little curvy Hei
di Jennings from Blue Valley.

  Had her romantic karma finally come back to reward her? She sure hoped so. Heidi was so tired of watching what seemed like everyone else find a happy ending, while she remained terminally single—thank the Goddess that Julie was still single as well, because without her bestie there beside her, she didn’t know what she would do.

  “Are you alright, sweets?” Wade cupped her cheek with his large hand, gently wiping the single tear that had escaped away with his thumb.

  “Perfect.” She smiled up at him.

  “Yes, you are.” Mason grinned at the blush his words caused to climb up her cheeks, and he nudged Wade out of the way so that he could lean in for a kiss of his own.

  The way his soft lips moved against hers had a moan breaking free from her throat, and the small sound only seemed to urge him on. Mason kissed her like he was savoring every inch of her mouth, and when he finally pulled away to rest his forehead against hers, they were both panting once again.

  “Now, why don’t we find a table and relax with a few drinks? I think your friend is waiting for you on the other side of the curtains.” Mason placed one more quick peck on her lips before he took a step back and held out his hand to help her off of the massage table.

  “I can wait, really!” Julie’s voice rang out from just beyond the white material that separated them from the rest of the world, “Don’t let me rush you with … umm, whatever you guys are getting up to in there…”

  “Oh, my Goddess, Julie!” Heidi groaned and palmed her face in embarrassment. “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Definitely not long enough to hear you coming like a freight train!” her friend yelled back.

  Good grief. Someone was definitely getting boob-punched when they got back to their cabin this afternoon.

  Chapter Ten

  Mason was enjoying himself immensely. Not only had he and Wade found their mate and satisfied her, but here he was sitting in the warm sun, with her perfect little hand in his as they sipped at tropical drinks and laughed at the stories of Heidi’s childhood that her friend Julie couldn’t resist sharing.

  “…and Heidi just stood there in front of Mrs. Collins, the librarian, smiling the whole time, pretending to be engrossed by her book recommendations, while I tried to move the damned stubborn goat away from the classical literature section it had been trying to eat.” Julie was wiping the tears away as she tried to catch her breath from laughing so hard, “You should see how guilty she still looks whenever we run into the old bag downtown!”

  “Hey!” Heidi laughed and threw the cherry from her drink at her friend, who ducked. “I feel bad. Mrs. Collins still blames the missing books on the football team—she tried to get the entire lot of them expelled.”

  “Why exactly did you need to stash a goat in the school library?” Wade asked incredulously. He and Mason had spent most of their lives in the city and certainly didn’t have any livestock shenanigan stories like these two crazy females.

  “Heidi’s idiot older brother said we were too chicken to goat-nap the rival team’s mascot and stash it until the game was over that night.” Heidi’s friend’s smile slipped when she mentioned the brother, and Mason wondered what that was all about.

  “Damn, Hector freaked out when he realized we actually went through with it.” His mate’s sweet laugh was music to his ears. “I swear he wanted to tan our hides—but that was the last time he ever dared us to do anything.”

  “I can’t believe how much trouble you two got into growing up in such a small town like Blue Valley.” Mason shook his head as a server dropped off another round of frothy blended drinks and asked, “What the hell were we doing with our time, Wade?”

  “Getting drunk out by the boathouse at the country club pales in comparison to the adventures they’ve had, I’m afraid.” Wade toasted the two women, causing them to giggle furiously—Mason was afraid they were all more than a bit tipsy after enjoying the afternoon beside the pool.

  “Sure,” Julie snorted, “it was all fun and games until my Uncle Randy had to come and collect us in the Sheriff’s squad car. He had the silent treatment down like a master … Heidi could never make it ten minutes before she was spilling the beans and telling him everything.”

  “Lucky for us he was such a softie—he never told my dad even half of what he’d caught us doing.” Heidi added, “Good thing, or he would’ve never let me be friends with a hooligan like you, Julie.”

  The little wolf winked at her friend, “Papa Jennings loves me, and you know it.”

  “…only because he doesn’t know what happened to his favorite guitar.”

  Julie’s gasp was loud and her eyes went wide.

  “You wouldn’t…”

  “As long as you don’t make me do something we’ll both regret…”

  “You heifer!” Julie laughed as she threw her own drink garnish across the table, causing Heidi to squeal and try to evade the flying pineapple wedge. “Oh, well—there goes my reputation with the parents.”

  Mason loved seeing this side of Heidi. With her friend, she was carefree and comfortable, the nervousness he’d sensed when they’d first met melting away like the last of the daiquiri in the bottom of his glass. He noticed that she’d gotten a lot of sun on her face, and when she couldn’t stifle a little yawn, his instincts rallied at him to care for her, and Wade’s must have been doing the same.

  “We’ve been drinking in the sun for hours. I don’t know about you guys, but I sure could use a little nap before dinner.” Wade stretched and finished the rest of his drink.

  “Oh, my Goddess, yes,” Heidi agreed, “a nap sounds divine. I think I’m a little drunk.”

  “Well, then why don’t you two ladies go have a nap, and then we’ll pick you up for dinner, Heidi, at say, 6:00?” Mason suggested. “Of course, Julie, you’re more than welcome to join us.”

  “That’s nice of you, Mason,” Julie smiled as she stood, “but I think I’ll just grab something quick and go see a show.”

  “Cabin 210 right?” Wade stepped close to give Heidi a quick kiss, which Mason could tell flustered her a little.

  “Yup, okay, see you later, then.” She blushed and smiled when Mason kissed her as well before the two giggling women turned to leave the patio. Both Mason and Wade watched the sway of Heidi’s luscious backside through the sheer wrap she wore over her red bikini.

  “Damn, we are lucky bastards,” Wade murmured.

  “Yes, we are,” Mason agreed. “Now let’s go see if we can’t find this cheetah. The sooner we get to the bottom of this wristband scam, the sooner we can concentrate on claiming our mate.”

  ****

  “We passed the events desk in the foyer earlier. Let’s start there and see if they can tell us where to find her,” Wade suggested as they made their way back inside. After meeting Heidi, the truth was that he couldn’t care less whether they found out who was stealing from the company or not—he just wanted to move on with claiming her and starting their new life together. He’d never felt such an all-consuming need to spend time with a female before. Everything else seemed to pale in comparison.

  When they arrived at the events desk, a perky little brunette with a beaming smile was ready to help them, but he could tell from her scent that she was most likely a wolf shifter, and therefore not the female they were looking for. He had to stifle a smile as Mason turned on the tiger charm that had gotten many a female to lower her guard.

  “Hello, dove. We’re hoping that you can help us with a little something.” Marcy—so her name tag identified her—looked Mason up and down like she was measuring him for a suit.

  “Of course.” Her smile widened even more as she licked her lips and leaned across the counter, giving both men a clear view straight down her ample cleavage. “What can I do for you?”

  “We were told to ask for Serena,” Wade chimed in, playing his part perfectly, acting as though he was taking full advantage of the free show she was giving. After all, no
thing turned a woman’s attitude to one of suspicion quicker than a seemingly straight male who didn’t get distracted by boobs. “That she could hook us up with one of those fancy wristband deals. Do you know what we’re talking about?”

  “Of course,” her voice lowered as she ate up the attention they were giving her, “let me just give Serena a call and see if she can pop in and speak with you.”

  They tried to look casual as they wandered a short way from her desk, pretending to look at the posters and event schedules posted on the walls, but still close enough that they could overhear her conversation.

  “Serena … there’s two super hotties here at the desk asking for you, looking for wristbands.” She spoke quietly into the phone, her eyes darting back up to check them out. “Should I call Rafe, or do you want to handle them yourself?”

  Interesting. So now they had at least two names of people involved in the scam. Wade couldn’t keep himself from looking back at the female when she growled low in a predatory manner in response to what Serena must have asked her on the other end of the phone. Yeesh, he felt violated as she leered at them both.

  “Oh, no … these two are definitely worth your time.” Her voice was grating on his tiger—it was nothing like the sweet, dulcet tones of his mate's soothing voice. “I’d do them right here on the desk if given the opportunity.”

  That last bit was said loudly enough that he knew she’d meant them to hear her, and when both he and Mason looked over towards her, she winked at them.

  In the past, Wade certainly hadn’t had any issues with a sexually forward female—quite the opposite actually. But now, her lewd behavior came across as tacky, and his tiger began to get irritated.

  They had a mate—how dare this female try to seduce them? His tiger didn’t like games. The only thing his beast wanted now, was to go back and find Heidi. Wade had to rein himself in so Marcy wouldn’t sense the aggression that was beginning to bubble up inside of him.