by Maggie Walsh
“Then in the hospital, when I opened my eyes, you were both there. No one else was there. Tom wasn’t there. He was probably off hiding, afraid that his captain would find out he put me in the hospital again.” He stopped when Raith started to growl. His eyes went wide. Rory released Aaron’s hand and moved next to Raith’s chair and knelt down on the ground. He reached out and took Raith’s hand. “See, now that growl you just did was fucking hot. It sent a jolt up my spine and made me hard.” Raith smiled and then chuckled. “I feel safe with you. I feel safe with Aaron. Isn’t that a good thing?” Raith nodded and reached out and cupped his cheek. Rory leaned into the touch and closed his eyes and sighed. “I don’t want to be with you because you can protect me, although I do feel safe for the first time in my life when I’m with you. I want to be with you because I want you.”
Raith was amazed at the little human in front of him. To be able to be so open and honest was amazing to Raith. He wanted to get to know more about his mate. He wanted to know all of him. He needed to stop feeling sorry for himself and realize the gift that he had been given. His two mates were so honest with him and he needed to give that back to them. He needed to feel Rory in his arms again. He released Rory’s face and reached down and grabbed Rory under the arms and lifted him up, causing Rory to squeal out in surprise.
He lifted Rory onto his lap and Rory straddled him. Raith took his face in both his hands and brought Rory’s face down to his. Their lips were a hair apart as Raith looked deeply into Rory’s eyes. “You’re amazing, baby. Thank you for telling me all of that,” Raith whispered and then closed the distance. He brushed his lips against Rory’s and his little mate whimpered against his lips. Raith brushed their lips together again and nibbled on his plump bottom lip. He slid his tongue across the seam of Rory’s lips asking for entrance. Rory opened for him and Raith slowly slid inside his mate. Rory’s taste exploded across his tongue and Raith couldn’t hold in the moan that escaped. Rory was so sweet. He tasted like honeysuckle.
Raith moved a hand behind Rory’s head as he deepened the kiss. Rory placed his hands on Raith’s chest and Raith moaned again at the feel of his mate touching him. He slowly slid his tongue against Rory’s, and his mate met him thrust for thrust. Their tongues tangled together. Raith ran a hand down Rory’s neck. He continued the caress slowly south down his collarbone, his chest, slowly down his side and rested is on his hip, holding on tight. He slid his tongue from his mate’s mouth and slowly drew back from the kiss. He opened his eyes and smiled as he saw that Rory’s eyes were still closed, his slick, kiss-swollen lips still parted as he panted.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Raith whispered.
“Um…yeah,” he answered breathlessly as if in a trance. “Okay…uh-huh.”
Raith chuckled and lightly kissed his lips again. Raith rested both his hands on Rory’s hips as Rory opened his eyes. They looked deeply at one another and Rory gave him a shy smile.
“That was so hot,” Aaron said from where he still stood at the foot of the lounger. Raith shifted his gaze over Rory’s shoulder until his eyes locked with Aaron’s. “Come here, you.”
Aaron walked around to the side of the lounger and stopped next to Raith. Raith reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer. Aaron bent down and Raith kissed him on the lips. “Thank you, sweetheart,” Raith said and drew Aaron closer. He cupped the back of Aaron’s head and brought their lips together again. Aaron opened for him and Raith swept his tongue in. They kissed for a minute and then slowly separated. They opened their eyes and looked at each other smiling. “Join us. Hop on,” Raith said.
Aaron moved behind Rory, he lifted his leg and threw it over the other side, so he could straddle the lounger. He moved in tight behind Rory as he sat down on Raith’s legs. Raith pulled Rory closer against him so Rory could rest against his chest. Aaron shifted closer behind Rory and leaned against his back. He placed on hand on Rory’s hip and another onto Raith’s. Raith reached out and wrapped his arms around both of them and released a contented sigh.
* * * *
Jesse stood at the stove stirring the pot of gravy for the roast. Big strong hands touched his hips and slid around his waist as soft lips kissed the side of his neck. “Mmmm. Something smells good in here. And it’s not the roast,” Micah said against his neck and started to nibble Jesse’s ear. Jesse dropped his head back resting it on Micah’s shoulder, giving his mate better access to his neck. Micah flattened his palms out against Jesse’s stomach and slid a hand up his torso to his chest as he continued to lick and nibble Jesse’s neck. “You smell good enough to eat, baby.”
“Mmmm. Thank you, love.” Jesse moaned.
“How about we call Xavier in to finish dinner and you and I go up to our room and spend some quiet alone time?” Micah asked. His hand slid up under the hem of Jesse’s shirt and slid up to his peaked nipple. Micah tugged on the ring pierced in Jesse’s nipple, causing Jesse to moan out. Micah slid his other hand down to cup Jesse’s hard cock. He gently squeezed at the same time he tugged on Jesse’s piercing again. Jesse’s body spasmed against Micah as a loud moan ripped from his lips.
“Micah,” Jesse said breathlessly as he started to pump his hips into Micah’s hand. Micah gentle bit the side of Jesse’s neck and he cried out again. “Oh God, Micah.”
“Must you two do this in here?” a deep voice said from behind them as the back door opened. Jesse stiffened in Micah’s arms as Micah growled in frustration. But he didn’t remove his hands from Jesse’s body. “My house. I’ll do what I damn well please, when I damn well please and where I damn well please.”
“You would think a man of your stature could control himself better,” Ryland said as he sat at the counter.
“And you would think that anyone would discreetly leave the room if they walked in on a private moment,” Micah growled out.
“It is a main room in the house where anyone could walk in at any time. Not really the place for private moments,” Ryland said in an annoyed voice.
Micah gently released Jesse and kissed his neck. Then he swung around to face the fae king. “And you are a guest in my home and on my lands. You don’t get to have an opinion on what I do,” Micah said angrily.
“What’s going on here, guys?” Raith asked from the doorway as he and his mates entered.
“Our guest is overstepping his boundaries. I am reminding him that this is my house and I will do what I damn well please in it.” Micah growled as his eyes started to shift.
Raith pushed his mates back out the door and closed it on them. He turned and approached Micah slowly, his hands up, palms out. “Micah, brother, come on. Let’s not go overboard here,” Raith spoke softly.
“How are you even a leader if you can’t even control your emotions?” Ryland asked with a smirk. Micah’s teeth ripped from his gums and his eyes glowed yellow.
“Shit! Really?” Raith glared at Ryland. “You don’t poke a pissed-off wolf with a stick, man. It’s never a good thing.”
Jesse stared at Ryland as he slowly stepped forward. His eyes narrowed at the fae king as he stepped next to Micah. Micah immediately grabbed Jesse around the waist and held him tight. “You’re goading him on purpose. Why?” Jesse asked annoyed.
The king met Jesse’s gaze. “I was just wondering how he was going to lead this fight if he can’t control himself. All he’s doing is proving that I’m right,” Ryland answered.
“No, all you’re proving is that you’re a dick,” Jesse spat. Ryland flinched from Jesse’s remark. “I don’t care who the hell you are. Don’t you ever fuck with my mate or you’ll find yourself at the bottom of the ocean trapped in a box.”
Ryland looked at Jesse with admiration. “Although you are fierce for a human, you are just that, a human. You wouldn’t be able to overpower me,” Ryland said with a smirk and a mischievous glint in his eye.
Jesse gave him an evil smile. “Wanna bet?” Jesse’s gaze flicked over Ryland’s shoulder.
Ryland sucked in a qui
ck breath and froze, his eyes wide open, as he sat their immobile.
Taylor stepped around to Ryland’s side. His hand was on Ryland’s shoulder. He looked into the king’s eyes and smiled sweetly. “I believe my Alpha mate said something about the ocean in a box. As he wishes,” Taylor said sweetly and Ryland disappeared. He vanished from the kitchen. Taylor wiped his hands together and turned. “God, I’m hungry. Is dinner ready yet?” he asked Jesse. Micah, Jesse, and Raith stared at him in shock with their mouths open. “What?”
“Sweet baby.” Gabriel said and walked over to Taylor. “Where did you send Ryland?”
“To the bottom of the ocean,” he said matter-of-factly and shrugged a shoulder. “In a box.”
“What have you done?” Dare growled as he stepped closer.
Gabriel shifted to his wolf and stood in front of Taylor. Micah and Raith started to growl.
Dare held up his hands. “You don’t realize what you have done, young one. Bring him back safely or the consequences will be more than you could ever imagine,” Dare said gently.
Taylor sighed in fake annoyance and rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He started to inspect his nails. “But he better not mess with my Alpha again,” Taylor said with a warning. He closed his eyes and suddenly Ryland appeared back in his seat. He was soaking wet and panting for air.
“So, Jess, do you think I can make up a small tray for Gabriel and me tonight? I’m feeling frisky.”
Ryland looked at him in wide-eyed shock. “You…sent me…bottom…ocean.”
Taylor shrugged his shoulder. “I know.” Taylor walked to the stove and lifted the spoon from the pot. He brought it to his lips and blew on it, then put the spoon in his mouth, tasting the heavenly concoction. “Mmmmm, you’ve outdone yourself, Jesse.” He placed the spoon in the sink and turned. Everyone just stared at him. Ryland was now breathing slower while Dare rubbed his back.
Taylor walked back over to Ryland and stopped in front of him. “Stop messing with Micah and Jesse. People will start to think you’re jealous. And never mess with one of these wolves’ mates in any way. They all get pissed. It’s not good,” Taylor said as he patted Ryland on the shoulder. “It’s your own fault. You tried to tell the man what to do in his own home and then pissed on his leadership skills. Really? He’s a thousand times better leader than you, because he knows how to behave when he’s a guest in someone’s home. He knows how to respect people. Maybe you should take some lessons from him.” Taylor finished and then turned to Gabriel. He pet his head. “So, big boy? What do you say I ride your wolf up to our room and then you shift back and I ride your cock for the rest of the night? Or until one of us goes blind from the pleasure,” Taylor said with a smirk. Gabriel shook his massive wolf head and huffed. “Oh don’t roll your eyes at me, Gabriel Angel, or I won’t suck your.”
He got cut off when Gabriel bent his head low slid his head in between Taylor’s legs and lifted him up. Taylor grabbed onto Gabriel’s fur tight as he squealed out. Gabriel padded out of the room with Taylor on his back. “Woo-hoo! Ride ‘em, cowboy! Wait maybe that should be wolfboy…” Taylor’s voice drifted away as Gabriel got further from the kitchen.
Laughing, Micah looked at Ryland. “You okay?” he asked.
“He actually put me in a cardboard box at the bottom of the ocean,” Ryland said in shock. “He syphoned my powers and used them against me.”
“What?” Dare gasped in shock. “How is that possible?
“He is the guardian, remember?” He looked at Micah. “I’ve never seen or heard anything like this in all my four thousand years. I never believed that the guardian story was true, but now I completely believe.”
Jesse’s eyes went wide and his mouth dropped. “Four thousand years? Holy shit,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry, Micah. I was out of line. Your beautiful mate here was correct. I was trying to goad you. When I walked in and found you two…” He made a gesture with his hands toward the stove. “You know…I was shocked at the public display.”
“Apology accepted. But one thing you should know about wolves, we love public displays of sex,” Micah said with a smile.
Jesse looked at him in shock. “You do?”
Micah looked at him. “Yes, baby, we do. It shows our dominance and who our partner or mate belongs to. It shows the rest of the pack to not sniff around what is ours.”
“But, we have never…” Jesse stopped.
“Of course not, baby. One, I don’t need to show our pack who you belong to. They all know to stay away from you. Two, I don’t need to show dominance over you. You are my mate, my partner, my equal. And most importantly, I don’t want anyone else seeing my man’s beautiful body. That’s for my eyes only.” Micah smiled and kissed Jesse’s lips. He turned to Ryland. “But if I want to touch my mate and give him pleasure in the kitchen then I will.” Ryland nodded at him.
“Okay, well this was interesting. I’m going to go back outside and bring my mates in and then I’m taking them upstairs. Jesse?” Raith said and looked at Jesse.
Jesse smiled and pointed to the table where a food tray was already set up. “All ready. But if you want me to warm it up for you now?” Jesse asked.
Raith smiled at Jesse. “No thanks. This is great. Thanks, Jess.” He walked over to the back door and opened it. Aaron and Rory walked in looking nervous. “It’s okay now. Come on, let’s go up to our room and get to know each other better as we eat.” Raith grabbed the tray and led his mates out of the kitchen.
“Is all you people do is have sex around here?” Dare asked annoyed.
Micah and Jesse exchanged a look and burst out laughing.
Chapter 10
Raith and his mates talked and got to know each other more as they sat on the floor at the coffee table in their room and ate their dinner. They told each other stories of their lives growing up and how they each got to where they were now. Raith was fascinated listening to stories of how each of his mates was raised. He felt bad for Aaron and how he had always been made to feel second to his big brother Storm. How he was jealous over Storm’s relationship with his best friend Seth. He felt like Seth stole his brother and best friend away from him and that’s why he always gave Seth a hard time. Plus, he enjoyed making the tiger angry. It was entertaining for him. Raith laughed at the deviousness that was hidden in his mate. He couldn’t wait to meet Seth someday so he could witness it for himself. His mate was a genius and quick witted, there was no way this Seth guy would pull one over on his sexy mate.
And then there was Rory. His heart swelled with happiness to learn that Rory grew up in a very loving home with parents who doted on him. He was glad that neither of his mates had suffered like so many of them when they came out of the closet and were tossed away like yesterday's trash. He couldn’t understand how parents could just turn their backs on their own children, like his own mom. These amazing creatures that the gods entrusted them with, to care for, to raise and love. Then after spending their whole lives with this love, to be suddenly ripped out from under them. How a parent could just turn to hatred and fling it at their child, which they loved since birth, at the drop of a hat was so confusing.
Raith was brought out of his thoughts when he felt a warm hand run up his thigh. He blinked and looked down to find Aaron caressing him. He looked up and met his mate’s golden eyes.
“Everything okay?” Aaron asked smiling.
Raith gave him a smile back and clasped their hands together. “Everything is great, sweetheart,” Raith said and brought Aaron’s hand to his lips and kissed the palm softly.
“Where did you go? Your mind seemed a thousand miles away,” Aaron asked.
“I was just thinking how happy it makes me to know that you were both brought up with both your parents, in loving homes. I know you had some issues because of Storm being the next leader of the pride but…” Raith stopped when Aaron cut him off.
“It’s okay, and yes, you’re right. I did grow up in a loving home. But it’s time to put all
that hurt behind me now and concentrate on the now and the future. A future with my two amazing mates.” Aaron gave them each a smile.
Raith kissed him on the cheek and pulled back. “Don’t put too much away. I still want to watch as you give this Seth guy a hard time. It sounds very entertaining,” Raith said with a smirk. Rory smiled and nodded his head enthusiastically.
Aaron laughed. “Deal. Plus I don’t think I can stop messing with Seth know even if I wanted to. I so enjoy it too much.” They all laughed for a few minutes, but then Rory got very quiet.
Raith noticed that Rory suddenly stopped laughing and got quiet. “Hey, sweetie? What’s wrong?” Raith asked in concern.
Rory shrugged a shoulder and continued to look down at his hands. Raith exchanged a look with Aaron and then they both shifted around the table until they were each on one side of Rory. “What is it, cutie?” Aaron asked and cupped Rory’s cheek. Rory shyly looked up at him from under his long thick lashes.
“I just suddenly felt alone. I never had brothers or sister and I never really had any friends until Roman came along. Then suddenly I was back to having no one, until Tom took me in. Even living with Tom, I always felt alone.” He shrugged his shoulders and looked down again.
Raith’s heart broke at the pain that was coming from his mate. He would make sure he never felt like that again. For the rest of their lives his mates would feel loved. He cupped Rory’s chin and gently lifted his face until Rory looked at him. “I promise that from now on you will never feel lonely or unloved again. Neither of you. I will always show you how I feel about you. I will make sure that you both know how much I love you every day.” Raith spoke tenderly.
Rory’s breath hitched and his eyes wide and started to glisten at Raith’s words.
“You love me?” Rory asked in shock.
Raith kissed him chastely. “I know we haven’t been together for that long, but yes Rory. I can’t help it. You crawled into my heart so quickly. I knew that day at the hospital when you looked at me with those big beautiful brown eyes of yours that you already owned my heart, as Aaron does.”