by Sydney Lain
“How do you do that?” Gunner asked.
“I speed up and slow down my body. It’s like time stops for me. Demons are strong, but half-demons only inherit some of their powers. Some half-demons control the elements, but I control my body.” Viktor’s cock hardened and swelled. “I can stay stiff for hours. Think about it. My cock sliding in and out of you for a week without ever releasing.”
“Those words won’t work. You’d go crazy if you tried that.” No one could go that long balancing on the edge of passion, but if Viktor let his body come and instantly hardened again, then the half-demon could carry out his threat. He’d keep that to himself just in case Viktor hadn’t realized that.
Viktor turned him around. He leaned against the wall. His face flushed as he remembered the last time he’d been in this position.
“I promised you something. I had you up against the wall, my cock between your legs, and I never got inside of here.” He patted Gunner’s ass and then squeezed his right cheek. “I’m a man of my word.”
Viktor’s stiff cock pressed into him. The half-demon had fucked Shea hard and fast, and now it was his turn.
“Do you want my cock inside of you?” Viktor asked.
Shea had denied his needs until he was on the brink of insanity, but Gunner wasn’t like that.
He rubbed his cock so Viktor could see his hard shaft. “What do you think?” Apparently, he, too, couldn’t admit what he wanted.
“I think you’re dying to have me buried inside, spreading your hole open and having my way with you.”
Gunner rested his head on the tile. “I want your cock buried inside,” he admitted. He didn’t just want it but longed for it.
Two fingers sunk into him and he knew there would be no gentleness. He was turned around and Viktor went down on his knees. He tried to stop him. No one had ever sucked his cock. Someone like him didn’t deserve that intimacy. That was why he kept the other two men from doing it. He went down on them and they went down on each other, but he couldn’t let them do that to him. Now, Viktor sucked him like he was a scrumptious treat.
“You taste good,” Viktor said.
Sense returned and he tried to pull the half-demon up. “Stop. You shouldn’t do that to me.”
Viktor’s eyes glowed. He pulled away, but not before his tongue swirled around his tip. His fingers squeezed Gunner’s balls. “Why shouldn’t I make my mate feel good?”
“I was created for others. I shouldn’t seek out pleasure.” That was it. Sex had never been for him. He enjoyed it, but when someone fucked him, his pleasure hadn’t mattered.
Viktor continued to stretch him. He poured the lube over his cock. Gunner waited to be turned over and plowed into. That was how it worked, but Viktor was lifting him up. He’d never faced the man that was inside of him.
He waited for the frantic rutting, but Viktor slowly slid into him.
“What are you doing?” Gunner asked.
“I’m showing you love. This time your pleasure matters.” Viktor started to rock his hips.
Gunner held on to the half-demon’s shoulders as the cock sunk deep inside. It rubbed against his prostrate and he now understood why Shea screamed so loud. Viktor was larger than any man he’d ever had sex with, and that cock worked him to the brink of madness. When he needed more, Viktor picked up speed.
“Only your mates will ever see you like this,” Viktor said. “We’ll both suck your cock and give you a good hard fucking. You’ll love it as much as we do.”
Viktor’s hips rocked him harder. The pace continued. Viktor slammed into him. Gunner grabbed on to the half-demon’s shoulders and rode it out.
“Touch yourself,” Viktor commanded.
He obeyed. His back slid against the tile while his hand rubbed his cock. Nothing could compare to his mate’s love. He was starting to understand how it changed Viktor. His heart was opening, too. After a few hard thrusts, Viktor’s seed filled him as his own cock coated their stomachs.
They both gasped for air, but the half-demon kept him positioned against the shower wall.
“You deserve pleasure as much as we do,” Viktor said.
Gunner mentally thanked him for that, but he still didn’t believe it. He just wasn’t created for that.
Viktor helped him down. They washed each other. Neither of them was able to go a minute without touching. When Viktor switched off the water, he led Gunner to the sink.
“Wait here,” Viktor said.
Gunner caught his reflection in the mirror. Nothing had changed. He closed his eyes. That wasn’t true. His heart had opened.
Viktor handed him a pile of clothes.
Days had passed since they wore clothes. He preferred the natural look. Why hide Viktor’s perfection?
“I’ll start breakfast. When you’re done getting dressed, come find me,” Viktor said.
When the door closed, Gunner took in a deep breath. Everything was different. He wanted his mates, but was he entitled to them?
Chapter Eight
Shea sat up. This time he knew he was in Viktor’s house and had spent hours having sex. The mating bond weaved around him, leaving him full and content. His wolf curled into the warmth of the bond.
Shea groaned. “Now you’re satisfied.” Why couldn’t the beast just want a little attention? Nope, the animal wanted to be claimed. Well, he did too, but Shea had been planning to fight that. No matter how hard his cock got, he’d been going to lock his knees together, but like all of his life plans, this one failed too.
“Thanks,” he said to the wolf. He pictured it waving its tail like it was swatting away an annoying bug, which didn’t help his mood.
He moved to the edge of the bed. Every muscle ached. Marks from kisses lingered on his skin. Soon they’d be gone as the wolf healed him. He rested his head on his knees. He’d been a sex fiend, throwing himself at Viktor and Gunner. They didn’t have time to blink before Shea started humping. One minute he gave off “don’t touch me” vibes, and the next minute he was on fire. He was no better than the animal living inside of him.
The wolf slept inside. Damn the beast, but he couldn’t blame him. At least, not completely. Time to move on and face his mates, but now what? He hated the morning after.
Deep down, he wanted to get dirty. The urges left him on edge. He snapped at people like a snarling dog. The need for sex was almost impossible to resist, but he managed to stay single and celibate. Nothing ended a relationship faster than a misplaced claw through the chest or a chunk of flesh missing from the poor sap’s neck. When he got angry, he was dangerous and he got angry a lot.
Viktor and Gunner could handle the tantrums, the fits of rage. Even with claws drawn, Viktor pinned him face down on the bed. Gunner never complained about the blood trickling down his back. They handled him like a professional trainer and the wolf liked that. It wanted a master. Shea cringed. If it were up to the mangy beast, he’d end up across one of his mate’s knee, relishing the feel of hands on his sore ass. At least it was difficult to be mortified and angry at the same time.
Somewhere between lying on his back and sitting on his knees with his ass in the air, Shea had stopped running and embraced the situation. This house didn’t imprison him. He was free to come and go as he pleased, but he stayed like he’d come home.
Days of sex left him craving more. Nothing had satisfied the hunger that gnawed away at all his inhibitions. He was like a thirsty man that traveled miles through the desert with no water to quench the thirst.
He groaned. Now he had to face Gunner and Viktor. He could almost imagine his first words. Hey guys, thanks for fucking me. He rolled his eyes. That wouldn’t work. Hey guys, thanks for the amazing time. Nope. That sounded like a good-bye. Okay, his imagination wasn’t that good. Some things couldn’t be planned. He’d just pretend nothing had happened. They wouldn’t let him get away with that. But it was okay. He wouldn’t have to lead the conversation. Shea reacted to situations far better than initiating them.
; With his next course of action planned out, Shea crawled out of bed. The wolf was taking his time healing him. What good was the beast if it didn’t do its job? Muscles protested with each step. Slowly he walked to the bathroom, cursing the animal with each stiff step.
The wolf lingered beneath the surface. It growled at his mental lashing. Shea reached out to his wolf. The animal gave him a snarl and then pretended he wasn’t there. That hurt. People ignored him all the time, but for the wolf inside of him to do it was just wrong. They were one, but very different. He ignored the animal, but it was his life. Who wouldn’t ignore the situation? One day he was human and the next a wolf shifter, so he pretended to be a human with an anger problem, not a nonhuman shifter.
He grabbed the pile of clothes folded on the dresser. Knowing that his mates took care of him warmed him up.
The shower felt amazing. It rained down on his super-sensitive skin. After he washed off all remnants of sex that clung to him, he shut off the water, grabbed a towel, and patted his skin dry before letting the towel fall to the tile.
The clothes were too big, but better than the naked alternative. Just when he pulled up his pants, his nose picked up a delicious aroma. He sniffed again. Sausage. His legs followed the smell. He walked out the door and headed toward the stairs. Then his stomach growled. The smell of bacon nearly had him jumping down the flight of stairs. His mouth watered.
He continued to follow the delicious scent and knew he was on the right path when he heard meat sizzling and pans bumping together. Voices came through the door, but he couldn’t make out the words. Shea peeked into a kitchen that would make any chef salivate. Two ovens were built into the cabinet, on the counter two stovetops complete with grills, a large refrigerator and endless countertop space. Gunner stood next to the coffee pot. He lifted it and started to pour the dark liquid into heavy white mugs. Shea blinked. Gunner’s relaxed face wasn’t a figment of his imagination. For weeks he had followed the hunter and never saw that content expression. Viktor dished out scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon onto white ceramic plates. Gunner and Viktor’s eyes locked as their arms rubbed together when they passed by each other. The room chilled and Shea froze.
“Stop hiding in the doorway,” Viktor said. “Come in here, Shea.”
Viktor ordered him like a dog, or in his case a wolf, but the anger stayed buried under a layer of ice.
“I like it here,” Shea said. If he went closer and discovered that he didn’t fit in their world, what would happen?
“You’re hovering outside the door,” Gunner said.
Shea nodded. “It’s nice out here. Safe.”
Gunner arched an eyebrow, another new expression. Had Viktor already seen it? He turned toward the half-demon, who shrugged.
Gunner put down the mugs. Slowly, like a cat about to pounce on a mouse, he walked to him. “Let’s stop playing this game.”
Game? That word resonated within him and fear trickled through him. His mind fixated on it because it made sense. He was the penniless player in Monopoly with his silver boot stuck in jail while the other two went on to win the game together.
“Game,” Shea repeated. “Am I the loser?” He wasn’t expecting an answer or even for Gunner to understand him. They wouldn’t tell him that he was the third wheel. They might not even know, but he did.
“You two look good together.” Shea forced a smile. Viktor was rich and Gunner was strong. Together, they’d conquer the world. Shea wouldn’t be the flea-ridden mutt nipping at their heels.
Both of them were at his side. Viktor pulled him to the stove.
“How many plates are on the counter?”
Why did it matter? He was about to pull away, but Viktor’s eyes kept his feet in place. He turned to look at the counter.
“Three,” Shea said. “Are you expecting someone?”
Gunner pointed toward the coffee pot. “How many mugs did I fill?”
“Three,” Shea said.
Viktor tugged on his hair. “Your hair is brighter after being washed, but the shower did nothing for your mind. I should bend you over the table and show you the truth.”
“Viktor, talk to him,” Gunner said.
“I’d rather show him,” Viktor said, but a silent conversation happened between them and Viktor loosened his hold.
Shea blinked. Their banter didn’t help his breaking heart. They had connected and he was still outside looking in.
“Fine. We’ll talk over breakfast.” Viktor dragged him toward the table. “Sit down. I’ll get your plate.” Viktor headed for the plates. He piled on the eggs, bacon, sausage and potatoes. “After two days of sex, you need to eat.”
Two days? Time moved awkwardly. He hadn’t realized how long he’d demanded their attention.
“A gentleman doesn’t talk about his conquests.” His cheeks flushed at the news. For two days, he begged for sex. Could this morning get any worse? Was it still morning?
“Look at me,” Gunner ordered. The hunter usually didn’t command him like Viktor, but that tone would make the half-demon proud. Shea obeyed. “You’re not a conquest. We came down to make breakfast for the three of us.”
Shea nodded. Gunner never lied to him. Could he believe this? He closed his eyes. Why didn’t he just sneak out the door? He prayed for the ground to open up and swallow him whole. He’d take an earthquake or an erupting volcano. Only a natural disaster would give him a chance to escape the chaos. When he reached South America, he’d stop running. The wolf would enjoy the run and he’d let it have some fun as long as those furry legs headed south.
“For the last two days, we weren’t gentlemen.” The half-demon sighed. “You aren’t a conquest, mate.”
Shea’s feet looked more interesting than usual.
“Come on. We don’t bite. Well, not that much,” Viktor teased.
Shea shrugged. “I don’t mind biting.” He took a deep breath. “You were having a good time without me.” What was he saying? Soon he’d be throwing his body to the ground begging for more attention.
“You’re jealous.” Viktor’s mouth hung open.
“I’m not jealous.” The first sign that someone was lying was his inability to stare into a person’s eyes. Staring at his feet, Shea looked like a kicked puppy, so he looked at the ceiling. It was nicely painted with expensive light fixtures, which was not important during this conversation.
Gunner pushed back Shea’s dirty blond hair. There was gentleness to the touch that forced Shea to focus on the strong man that lacked Viktor’s arrogance, but radiated strength. Shea’s fingers rubbed Gunner’s hand. He gave him a small smile and squeezed.
Viktor stayed by the counter. “We heard the shower. That’s why Gunner poured three cups of coffee and I made three plates of food. We want you to join us.” After a long pause, Viktor continued, “The food is getting cold.” Viktor placed the plates on the table, while Gunner brought over the coffee.
Viktor sat next to him and Gunner sat across from them. Shea bent his knee so that his right foot rested on the seat of the chair. His stomach growled. He picked up the fork and started to shove the food into his mouth.
Eating had his complete attention. He ignored the situation and the eyes that watched him focus on the plate of gooey eggs, crisp sausage, and crunchy bacon. He chewed, swallowed, opened, and piled more food inside. How long had it been since his last real meal? He couldn’t remember, but it was easy to get lost eating a plate full of food.
“Slow down,” Gunner said.
He continued to eat like the plate would be snatched from him before he was able to finish it. Shea didn’t stop until the last bit of food was gone.
“Still hungry?” Viktor asked. “There’s more on the stove.”
Both men watched as he headed to the stove, not for food but for space. His head bowed a little in shame. He was a wolf, not a pig.
“I like a man with an appetite,” Viktor said.
“Bullshit,” Shea said without thinking. He groaned. Viktor was tr
ying, but the real problem wasn’t his appetite. He didn’t belong. “Sorry. I don’t like cursing at the table. My dad had a colorful vocabulary, but he couldn’t use those words at dinner. Mom was scary. She made the rules and enforced them.”
“You take after her,” Gunner said.
“You’re strong-willed,” Viktor added.
“I haven’t had a meal with someone in a long time. I’m acting like an animal,” Shea said.
“Don’t,” Viktor warned. “You’re not an animal.”
“Yes, I am. I have these urges. It takes everything I have to stop from acting on them.”
“I’ve seen these urges. I’m not complaining. The last two days were amazing.”
Gunner rolled his eyes and Shea almost laughed. He never expected someone so serious to do something like that.
“What kind of urges?” Gunner asked.
“If someone makes me angry, I want to rip out his throat,” Shea paused to look directly at Viktor, the man that almost sent him into a destructive rage. “When it rains, I want to strip and shift, so I can feel the wet pavement under my paws. When I see the moon, doesn’t matter if it’s on posters, billboards, commercials, I want to howl.”
“Sounds hot,” Viktor said. “Howling at the moon.”
That was the last thing he expected to hear. This time he chewed his food and savored the taste.
“How did you become a shifter?” Gunner asked. “I thought nonhumans were born, not created.”
Gunner’s face held a mixture of sadness and regret. It wasn’t a big deal. There were a lot of things he didn’t know. “Don’t feel bad. You knew about nonhumans. I found out when a wolf shifter attacked me. He bit into my shoulder and ripped open my chest. When I woke up blood covered my clothes, but the wounds were gone. Later I felt the animal inside.”
“Who attacked you?” Viktor asked.
There was something sinister in his tone. He owed Henry nothing. “My brother turned me. He likes being a wolf shifter. It was a gift. One that I didn’t want.” Henry thought he knew what was best for Shea. Turning into a four-legged hairy wolf was every man’s dream, right? Well, not his. Henry didn’t ask or probably care.