by Treva Harte
He was damn tempted to jerk himself off as he watched Rome obey him. What could be sexier than seeing a man get ready for his cock? Especially this particular male. But he wanted to finish off inside Rome this time.
God, what a pretty ass. And it was presented to him without an argument, just the way he’d asked. That was prettier yet. The kid had positioned himself on the bed in front of the yellowed motel mirror. So Rome wanted to watch? Grey realized his fingers were shaking as he spread lube into that tight hole. God, he better not fuck up in front of an audience. He didn’t think it was possible, though. If this turned out half as good for Rome as it was for Grey right now ‑‑
Grey didn’t finish the thought. He couldn’t. He knew he couldn’t enter Rome immediately. Not if he wanted Rome begging for him. It would be over too fast. So he thrust one finger in and smiled, a tight grin, when Rome twitched against his hand. He used two fingers then, scissoring against Rome’s passageway and then three, grinding his palm against Rome’s ass.
Rome whimpered, a heart-felt wail, and abruptly stopped.
“What the fuck?” Grey’d meant to drag things out as long as he could, make Rome want it, remember it, crave it.
Crave him.
“I’m not ‑‑ ” Rome cut the words off as if they were strangling in his throat.
“You’re not what?”
Not interested? Shit. Grey almost whimpered himself.
“I’m not ‑‑ begging. I won’t. Not this time. Oh Jesus, Grey.” Rome backed against his hand. “Maybe I am. Just fucking do me.”
That was it. Screw foreplay. Grey had just enough control to enter slowly. Carefully. He needed care. How much experience could the kid have? He’d been a virgin when he came to Grey first, begging for what he hadn’t known.
Yeah, the kid remembered last time as well as Grey did. Rome had pleaded and wailed and, oh God, he’d been so sexy doing it…
It had almost been as sexy then as now and the feel of him as Grey entered that narrow little hole. Jesus, it clasped him already, ready to clamp down.
I want you. I want you to be the first. The only, for as long as you want me. Grey, you won’t be sorry.
He hit the tight muscle ringing the passage inside and paused.
“Grey!” Rome sounded lost, panicky.
If he stopped now, he’d die. Combust and die. But Grey couldn’t hurt this fallen angel lover of his. He’d go slower even if it killed him. Madre de Dios.
Hell. He hadn’t thought in Spanish for years. Not unless he was close to losing it. Slower. He had to go slower. Count to himself.
Uno.
“Yeah?”
Dos.
“It’s so good. I never knew it could be this…good.” Rome thrust back, the mirrored image showing his face contorted with lust. And when he impaled himself on Grey’s cock, his mouth went slack with satisfaction.
That was when Grey lost it. Lust hazed his sight. He knew friction against his cock, tight and perfect. Heat roared through his body. Howls. Pleasure. More than pleasure.
Grey’s teeth sunk hard into Rome’s neck, claiming him the way weres did. He could think about why he was making a claim later. Much later. Right now all he could think of was yielding flesh. He shook Rome’s neck and growled possessively, low in his throat.
“Oh God, Grey, I’m coming!”
Warm spunk flooded over Grey’s hands from where he was gripping his partner’s cock and stomach. Damn it, that was perfect ‑‑ his lover’s come flowing over his hands and then onto Rome’s body, seemingly forever. He heard Rome’s guttural sounds of pleasure as he shook underneath him and Grey got set to milk every last drop.
Rome bent and managed to lick Grey’s arm, the way a mate did to show submission. Trust. Love.
“Oh, fuck.”
Grey’s last remaining control snapped and his climax roared through him like a fireball, exploding through his body and into Rome’s.
* * * *
“Why not just artificial insemination?” Mia hoped she didn’t sound desperate.
“We thought of that ourselves.” Lin looked briefly at her mate. “We don’t know if it would work. But even if it did, weres mate and bond for a reason. Even if this isn’t quite ‑‑ usual ‑‑ you still need a strong male to protect you and the baby. Who feels some bond toward you. It’s dangerous out there for a pregnant were. Or one with a small child to care for.”
“It’s dangerous for any female alone with a baby, were or not. I’ve been there.” Leila put her hand on Mia’s shoulder. “I know this seems like we’re pushing you into something that isn’t at all usual, but we do care about you. We want you safe, Mia.”
“But you care about the pack more.” Mia couldn’t keep the bitterness from her words. Damn, that was why she should never say anything. Words were too dangerous.
“We care about you and both our packs. This way the two packs would be united with another bloodkin tie between us.”
Bloodkin. She had none left. At least none she would ever acknowledge. It was her bloodkin that had tried to destroy the two packs when she was a kid. Some packs would have turned her out or even killed her. But her pack had defended her, said she was one of their own and Dek’s pack had agreed.
How could she forget what she owed them?
“I ‑‑ I can’t handle Grey. He won’t want me anyhow. He doesn’t care about females.”
“He cares about his duty to the pack.”
“That’s not going to ‑‑ to make him get it up!” Mia saw the men hastily hide grins. “I’m female. He’s not interested.”
“I have a plan ‑‑ ” Leila began.
“So do I.” Mia swallowed and fought against years of obedience. She fought against breaking her promise to Rome to say nothing. Nothing about the night he ran to her for comfort. Nothing about their feelings. But this was too important. She rushed the words out. “Get me Rome. Grey and he have always had something between them. And…and…”
“What?”
“And I’ve always wanted Rome. For a while, he wanted me too. Get me Rome and he’ll get me Grey. This is one time when weres won’t have a problem with sharing.”
The rest of the room stared at her and she felt her cheeks heat.
Weres had no problems with sex. Almost any kind of sex. But asking for permission for a threesome from four alphas… Mia hid her face in her hands.
“Actually, my dear, that was my plan. You’re sharp, even though you’re so quiet.” Leila patted her on the head. “Grey’s orders are to fetch our lone wolf home. I expect Grey to be back here with Rome before we have time to blink.”
Chapter Two
Mia crawled into bed, exhausted. This bedroom was her refuge and had been so for years. It was the same room she’d had ever since the pack had made El Paso their home base five years ago. But she was different now ‑‑ or she was supposed to be. She was an adult and soon her whole life was going to be different. Grey would bring Rome back. Grey always did what he said. And then…and then…
Things would be different. So different. In a way she was grateful something was staying the same in the middle of such promised upheaval. Nothing in her room had changed. Here were the same high school posters, the same paint. And the frightened thoughts skittering inside made her feel like the same terrified teenager who used to cower from the rest of the pack and hide here alone.
The window was open, letting in a slight breeze and almost dispelling the heat that had built up during the day. Mia stripped and lay on top of the covers. The forecasters had said there might be a storm brewing, but that was probably wishful thinking on their part. It probably got dull saying nothing but heat and sun all day, every day. El Paso weather rarely changed.
It was almost the way it had been when Rome showed up that night. She’d been itchy and nervous then, with no real reason for it. Maybe she’d smelled trouble ahead.
“Let me in, Mia.”
“You know, when big bad wolves say that, you’re suppos
ed to lock the door. Then they blow you ‑‑ or at least your house.”
“Not funny.”
He hadn’t been in were form then. Not exactly. But she could sense the feral quality in his stance. Even if there hadn’t been The Change, something was different. He was different.
He smelled like sex.
He leaned against her window as if he might just come in whether she said yes or not. Because he knew it didn’t matter what she said. He knew what she wanted.
Mia swallowed and realized she was going to let him inside the bedroom window, even though it was a stupid idea. The wrong idea. A bad idea ‑‑ he wriggled through the open screen the second she unlatched it.
Something about Rome always made her act a little adolescent. Maybe it was because they had been adolescents together. But tonight she was acting wilder than she’d ever let herself. First the blowing remark and then letting him see her like this…
Maybe it was the full moon.
He leaned against the wall, saying nothing.
“What?” She fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest as he looked her over. He was the one who had trespassed into her private room, not caring if she was dressed or not.
After that first long, assessing look, he smiled. A knowing smile. That gaze and that grin were so charged that it made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. If she’d thought she smelled sex when he was outside, the scent was doubly strong now.
Damn it, that just wasn’t right. This was Rome. He might act superior to her, but among weres, they were equal. Equally low. He was an omega, just like she was ‑‑ at the bottom in the pack ranks. An omega didn’t demand sex. An omega probably shouldn’t even think about sex unless someone in the pack said to.
Even so, Rome smelled like sex and ‑‑ beer. Mia’s nose wrinkled.
“Are you drunk, Rome?”
“Not enough, baby.”
She would have left then, although it was her room and she was naked, but she realized there was something else Rome smelled like. Sex and alcohol and tears.
Oh no. It couldn’t be. Rome was tough and macho. She might be tempted ‑‑ had always been a little tempted ‑‑ by the virile Rome. She’d always been able to resist that Rome. But this Rome? She’d always been a sucker for the injured.
Mia put her hand on Rome’s shoulder, and he flinched, just slightly.
Definitely there had been tears.
“Who hurt you, Rome? What’s wrong?”
“No one. Nothing.”
“Stop being so manly for a minute. You came here for a reason. If you aren’t going to talk, why bother?”
“What makes you think I came here to talk? And fuck it if I’m too manly for you.” He looked down at the floor. “Maybe that was Grey’s problem. I’m too manly. Or not enough.”
His laugh sounded like a sob and, as if he realized it, Rome cut it off in the middle and took a deep breath instead.
“Grey?”
“I don’t want to talk about Grey. I don’t give a damn about Grey right now.”
“I don’t think that’s true, Rome. I’ve always known how much you worshipped him.” Mia could never figure out what anyone saw in that silent, rather menacing beta, but then he probably saw even less in her. He never even talked to her. Everyone knew he didn’t give a damn about women.
Rome went back to staring at her, as intensely as before. “That’s bull. I never worshipped anyone. Except ‑‑ well ‑‑ look at you, all stripped down and built like a goddess. I could worship you.”
He might be avoiding the issue but it worked. Mia knew she was blushing. She liked to ignore her looks since they meant nothing. Omegas didn’t mate. Omegas only had sex if the higher ups in the pack demanded it of them, but that wasn’t an issue in this pack. Her looks didn’t matter to anyone. In fact, lately she’d almost forgotten what she looked like ‑‑ which might be why she was here, defenseless in front of a hungry were who was definitely noticing her appearance.
“I look like a woman. What of it?”
Sex. The smell of sex strengthened. Mia licked her lips and tried to ease the dryness in her throat.
“What of it? Jesus, Mia, you’ve got breasts like a porno star’s, except they’re real.” Rome came closer and Mia stiffened. He didn’t touch. But the way he looked made her as itchy as if he had. “And your ass. That is one fine ass.” He stopped and whispered, “I even like those big, big eyes of yours, staring at me like I’m going to gobble you up.”
The big, bad wolf had definitely arrived tonight. Mia took a step backward and tried to rally. “You have the hots for Grey. I’m sorry if you two had a fight, but why run to me?”
She’d known. Rome might have fooled non-were girls ‑‑ and fooled around with them, too. But any were knew what Rome wanted as soon as he got in the room with Grey. The awareness of the older man’s presence, the scent of arousal. It was very clear.
Rome didn’t flinch this time. Instead he ran his tongue over his teeth, as if he were preparing for a meal. “What of it? I’m not some one-team fan. I definitely like women. And, Mia, you’re right. You look like a real woman.”
She’d always been a bit ashamed of how she’d developed. Her human change as an adult was almost as dramatic as her were change and sometimes even more bewildering. After all, a buxom blonde wasn’t what she was like inside. She’d been scrawny as a kid, almost as thin as a boy. That suited her better.
But Rome’s gaze was hot and carnal and admired the shape she was now. At that moment Mia wasn’t ashamed of what she’d become. She deliberately straightened her shoulders and lifted her breasts. For the first time in forever she looked right back at a man, giving him a direct challenge back.
He was an omega, just like she was. But Romulous Kinkaid didn’t let that stop him from being bold. Why should it stop her?
She turned off the nagging little voice that was ready to remind her why. The pulsing of her body kicked up a notch with every second that Rome kept looking at her and drowned out the old, scared Mia.
“How much do you like women, Rome?”
She’d wondered about him before. When the most gorgeous were west of the Mississippi lived as close as Rome did, you wondered. He hadn’t ever acknowledged her in particular. Not at high school, even when they were the only weres there. He might have looked her over then sometimes, she thought. Mia couldn’t imagine why.
It wasn’t just that they’d come from different were packs, even though the packs were friendlier than most. But they also had little in common except being were. Rome had been a grade behind her but she’d envied his assurance. Mia had always been afraid she might betray who she really was among the non-were. Not so Rome. There was no cowering for him. She’d faded into the hallways while Rome swaggered down them, oozing attitude and daring anyone to stop him.
No one did. No one dared. She didn’t want to now.
“You want me to show you how much I like you, Mia?” His smile was as lethally assured as it had been when he was on the football team.
“You know, no one would ever take you for an Omega.”
“That’s because I’m not. I’m a lone wolf.”
“My God!” Mia raised her hand to her lips to hide the gasp. “When did this happen?”
That was a life every pack member knew to avoid at all costs. The life of a lone wolf was dangerous, often violent, and usually all too short. It’s what her brother had to become when he’d been punished and exiled. No one had heard of him again.
“Tonight. As of tonight I don’t belong to anyone.” Rome didn’t look afraid, but she saw the pulse hammer in his throat. She could sense the emotions roiling inside him.
Fear? Regret? Desire? All of that and more. Rome had feelings all right, just waiting to leap out if someone wanted to let them free.
What about belonging to me?
Mia bit her tongue, the need to ask that very wrong question was so great. Then she yelped at the pain of the bite. Her teeth were lengthening, s
harpening ‑‑ she was close to The Change. Dear Lord, Rome was exciting her enough to make her turn were.
“What about being with me?” That was Rome’s voice, almost echoing her thoughts. “For tonight?”
That was almost, but not quite what she’d been thinking.
Rome kissed her and she forgot everything else. She put her arms around him. “Close enough. Staying with you tonight sounds…fine.”
When he bit into the sinews at her neck and shoulder, she growled.
She was the one who ripped his shirt off. After that she wasn’t quite sure how the rest of his clothes were shucked, but he was naked and hot and urgent against her skin and she didn’t care about anything more except having him inside her.
A sudden, unexpected breeze blew through the room, letting the wind brush against their bodies. She shivered and spread her thighs.
“You’re beautiful, Mia.”
“You’re saying that because you want to have sex,” Mia said the words accusingly, but she knew it didn’t matter. Even though she hadn’t changed form in front of him, she was achingly aware of being were right now. She didn’t care why he’d said those words. He didn’t have to say anything. She wanted sex, too. More than anything else in the world. He’d managed that when he first showed up at her window.
“I want to have sex and you’re beautiful. Jesus God, who wouldn’t want to have sex with a goddess?” His voice softened. “Who wouldn’t want to have sex with you?”
She almost cried. How had he known the right words? Those were the ones that made her reach over, take his thick cock and guide him home.
They were both trembling. Hot and sweet. Not as fast as she’d thought would happen. Not as fierce. Slow and tender and gentle. As if they both cared. As if they both had forever and ever.
His hands skimmed over her skin. She nuzzled against the softness of his throat. And he edged in slowly, slowly, filling her. Gentling her as he took possession of her body.
“Ah, Mia.”
Rome claimed her and she surrendered. He kissed her tears away ‑‑ the ones of joy and the ones of hurt, because even though he was gentle, she was a virgin.