by Jane Jamison
“Really? You’re going to play that game? You lied by omission and you’re cheating me and a lot of other people out of our chance to make it. And I should talk to you why?”
He couldn’t disagree with her. Why should she talk to him? He’d done her and everyone else wrong. “I’m withdrawing from the contest.”
He’d known that was the only thing he could say that would get her to think. That and one other thing. “And I love you. That’s why you need to listen to me.”
“Tell her everything, Wyatt.” Stone lowered his voice too low for human ears to hear. “Tell her about Sheila.”
He couldn’t believe Stone would throw him under the bus like that. “Did you hear me, Rae? I love you. We love you.”
Her hard exterior broke apart long enough to see how badly he’d hurt her. Her agony hit him along with the burning desire to have her. If he didn’t hold her soon, he’d go out of his mind. He could only hope that he’d heal her pain with his touch.
“I heard you.”
It was more than he’d expected he’d get from her.
“Tell me why.”
Was she asking why he loved her? Or why he was withdrawing from the contest? “It doesn’t matter now. I’m not doing the competition on Saturday, so they can’t rig it for me to win.”
She threw down her purse and came at him. “I asked you to tell me why. Why do they want to rig it? And why you?”
“For the money, of course. That and to tie me to a contract with an unscrupulous manager. Once I win, I’m supposed to hand over the money and sign on the dotted line.”
Her eyebrows darted between her nose, and her eyes flashed with anger. She was more beautiful than he’d ever seen her.
“That doesn’t explain why they picked you. Or why you’d started to go along with it. Why don’t you tell everyone what they’re doing?”
“I can’t get into that.”
“Then I can’t listen to anything more you have to say.”
Stone raced past him and grabbed her arm. “You’re going to listen up and listen good.”
“Get your hands off me.”
Stone pulled her to him, crushing his mouth to hers. Wyatt’s first instinct was to rush over and get behind her while Stone kissed her. He yearned to fondle her firm round buttocks while he whispered how much she meant to him. He wanted to force her to her knees so she’d understand that she was theirs. He needed her to beg him to take her from behind. To hold her and never let her go no matter how much she screamed at him.
Instead, he stayed where he was, frustration mixing with his craving for her. Anger mixing with the pain he’d caused her.
She clutched Stone to her, taking a chunk of his hair and holding his lips to hers. Moaning, she leaned against him, urging Stone to do more to her, to take more of her.
Stone growled, the sound coming from deep inside him, and thrust her away. Her lips were plumped, kissed, and nibbled on. Her lipstick smeared. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. “Damn you. Don’t try and change the subject.”
“I’m not,” answered Stone. “I’m trying to tell you how we feel. How both Wyatt and I feel.”
Wyatt closed his eyes and fought against his wolf howling to claim his mate. He had no problem taking her, but not without her wanting him to do it. If Stone wanted her first, if she’d let him have her, then he’d stand by and let it happen.
“If you care for me, you’ll tell me.” She held her head high like a queen ready to do battle to save her king. But only if she deemed her king worthy of saving.
“Tell her, Wyatt, or I will.”
Stone held her arms as though keeping her away from him. But Wyatt knew better. His friend’s arms shook with the effort to keep from bringing her body back against his.
All at once, she sensed their inner turmoil and her anger was gone, replaced by the raw need to understand and accept. “Tell me. Please. I have to know. You’re killing me by holding back.”
“No. You have to trust me on this.”
She jerked out of Stone’s hold. “Tell me or I swear, I’ll never talk to either of you again.”
The vehemence of before, however, wasn’t there. That didn’t mean it hurt him any less to withhold the truth from her. Stone shot him a desperate look, silently asking him to tell her. Wyatt hated the position he’d put his friend in, yet he had no choice.
“He’s doing it for his sister.”
“What the hell?” Stone had no right to tell her. It was his burden to bear. Why had he opened his mouth when he knew Wyatt never wanted her to know? “Shut up, man.”
But Stone had that look on his face. The one he didn’t have often but when he did, it said he meant he wasn’t backing down. “I’m not going to lose her because you’re bullheaded. Besides, she has a right to know if she’s going to be with us.”
Rae’s hair blew in the wind, and her skin was luminescent under the moonlight. Her body was tense, her nipples erect, and he knew that as much as he never wanted her to see him in a bad light he could deny her nothing.
“What about your sister? What does she have to do with the competition?”
He told her then, letting the words he’d kept inside him tumble out. His heart opened, accepting her fully as his mate.
He told her about finding out that his sister had a fatal disease. He told her how he’d had his back to the wall, unable to pay for her treatment, the same treatment that had failed anyway. He told her how lost he’d been and how he’d done the only thing he could think to do. And how he was in debt with no way to repay the man he’d borrowed from. Then he told her about Jac rigging the contest.
Her expression changed as she listened, going from stern refusal to one of sympathy. When he’d finished, her eyes were cloudy with tears.
“Wyatt. Oh, my poor Wyatt.” She turned to Stone, accusation in her eyes. “You should’ve told me.”
“Don’t blame him. He didn’t know about them rigging the contest until after the fact.”
“What are you going to do about the money?”
Her concern touched his heart, but he couldn’t let her become a part of it. “I’ve got it figured out. With the help of my friends.”
Stone grumbled under his breath, but unless she’d suddenly developed a werewolf’s sensitive hearing, she couldn’t have heard him.
“I don’t have any money to speak of, but I could see what I could pull together to sell.” She fingered the locket she always wore around her neck. “And the car. Take the car back and use that money.”
He almost couldn’t speak. He’d known she had a good heart, but he hadn’t known how big it was. “It’s too late about the car.”
“But wait. I thought once my car was repaired…”
“Babe, your car was a goner. It’s not coming back.”
“And you knew that, didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “We wanted you to keep the Jetta. You need it.”
“But you need the money more than I need a car.”
She was tearing his heart out with her kindness. He and Stone had gotten lucky with her as their intended mate. “I’m telling you, babe, not to worry. I’ve got it handled. I wouldn’t want you to give up anything.”
“Are you sure?” Her hand closed around the locket. “Maybe I could—”
“No, babe. You can’t help. I’ll fix this. Trust me.”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I could stand it if anything happened to you. To either of you.”
Wyatt reached out his hand and waited until she’d put her palm in his. His gut told him it was the right time to ask the question he so desperately needed an answer to. “Do you love us, Rae? Or is what we’re feeling all wrong?”
“No. You’re not wrong. I love each of you.” She shook her head, a slight smile softening her words. “God knows why, but I do.”
“That’s a relief. You know. Since we love you, too.”
She bent over to pick up her purse, then slung it over her shoulder. “Then
prove it. Come inside.”
Rae led them inside, pulling Wyatt along with her as Stone came to her other side. She dropped her belongings on the floor and continued past the living room and down the short hallway. Once inside her bedroom, she waited for them to enter, then let go of his hand.
The room wasn’t anything special, decorated with inexpensive furniture from one of the big box stores, but it was clean and tidy. Lace curtains let some of the lights from outside blend into the room, and dust particles floated in the air like sprinkles of fairy dust. The bed, only a regular full size one, was covered in a white eyelet bedspread with colorful pillows strewn against the headboard. Pictures of Rae with family and friends dominated the one small dresser while the nightstand held a desk lamp and a book.
The room was like Rae. Unpretentious and genuine with a quiet beauty about it.
Crossing her arms, she undid the buttons of her waitress uniform and pulled the sleeves down her arms. The dress fell to the worn carpet.
Wyatt took her in, thrilled that she wore nothing underneath. He started to unbutton his shirt, but she stopped him and took over the job. Her soulful eyes met his and held, speaking to him when words were no longer necessary. Her hair fell in a long train of silk over the front and back of her shoulders, tempting him by pointing toward her taut brown nipples.
Stone stood nearby, his hands thrust into his pockets, an attempt to keep from touching her. He’d taken his cue from her and wouldn’t undress until she told him to.
Her gaze dropped to his waist as she tugged his shirt out of his jeans then pushed it away from his shoulders. She skimmed her fingers along his arms as she helped the shirt to the floor, burning a heated path along his flesh.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips in the hollow in the middle of his chest and he gasped. How could such a light touch send such crazy tremors through him? And yet he knew the answer. It was because the kiss had come from her.
“Rae.” Her name was like a song on his lips.
“Shh.” She shook her hair, letting her hair sway over her shoulders. Her hands drifted to his belt buckle, tugged it open, then slowly pulled the belt out of the loops. The tips of her nipples brushed his stomach, and he had to fight back the need to crush her body to his.
His inner wolf sprang to life, pacing as it urged him to give it freedom. If he did, the wolf side of him would take over, destroying the tenderness between them. It would push her to the floor and fuck her from behind without a word of love in her ear. He wouldn’t let that happen. Not now. The wolf side of him could come out in rough play, but not when his human part needed to express his love for her more.
Once she had his zipper down, he hooked his thumbs in his jeans and shoved them to the floor. Bending over put his face close to her smooth mons, and he had to force his gaze away or he would’ve forgotten about getting his boots off. He straightened up, his cock erect and skimming her stomach as it twitched to its full length.
She moved away then pointed at the bed. “Lie down.”
The part of him that was wolf snarled, hating that she, the female, was giving him orders. But the man side of him loved it. They would teach her how to submit to them, but for now, he wanted to see how she’d play this out. For now, he’d do as she ordered.
He got onto his back and put his hand behind his head. She gave him a smile that promised more to come, then turned to Stone.
Stone already had his boots off and stood tall, his hands clenched at his sides. She got onto her tiptoes, her naked body stretching upward so she could run her fingers through his hair and bring her mouth to his.
Her body was beyond anything he’d hope for with breasts that were full and yet perky. Her curves led downward over rounded buttocks that made his palms itch to feel them, then on to legs that were shapely and powerful. To have her legs wrapped around him would make his day, hell, his life complete.
She tugged Stone’s T-shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Just as she’d done with him, she admonished Stone, ordering him to keep his hands off her. Instead, she laid her face against his chest and ran her hands over his torso, up to his shoulders to caress his neck, then down along his arms.
What she was doing to Stone was the perfect mix of torture and pleasure. Wyatt admired his friend’s ability to keep his hands from her.
She took Stone’s jeans to his ankles then lifted her head to bring her face close to his cock. Stone moaned and reached out to snake his fingers into her hair, but she took his wrists and put his arms to his side.
Wyatt lifted onto his elbow, his breathing coming at a quicker clip as she took his friend’s cock into her mouth. Stone leaned his head back, his eyes closed, and let out another moan as his jaw grew slack.
Wyatt’s cock throbbed, and he took it in hand, his pre-cum wetting his palm. Her body moved back and forth as she pumped Stone’s cock, then slid one hand between his legs to cup his balls. Stone fisted his hands, but kept them at his side, proving once again that he had more will power than Wyatt could ever dream of having. Wyatt began working his hand in the same rhythm of her body.
His inner beast leapt toward the surface again, demanding that he get off the bed and go to her backside. Wyatt gritted his teeth and shoved it back down. She wanted control of their time, and he’d give it to her. Turning his wolf loose would only cause trouble, and she wasn’t ready to see that other side of them.
When she sat back on her heels and gazed up at Stone, he was sure Stone was about to lose not only his wad, but command over his own wolf. And yet his friend remained still.
She stood then pivoted toward him. The expression on her face along with the wetness around her lips and the clouded lust in her eyes almost brought his climax to a head. His balls tightened, the blood pulsing in his cock, alive and greedy. He watched, his fingers tingling to touch her as she swayed toward the bed, then crawled on top of him.
The heat from her crotch scorched over his length. She didn’t let him enter her, and instead, put her hands on either side of his head. Her breasts hung directly above his head, offering him their pleasure. He slicked his tongue over the ripe bud of one, then drew it in with his teeth. Her hair teased his cheeks as he whipped his tongue over her nipple and sucked harder. Yet when he brought his hands up to take her shoulders and keep her there, she pushed them away.
He wondered if she planned on treating him to a sexual delight or torturing him until he screamed for mercy. Either way was fine with him.
Her gaze met his for only a second, then dropped to his mouth. She gave a lick across her upper lip, then eased her body higher and higher until, at last, he understood. He slipped down the bed, then wrapped his arms around her legs and brought her pussy to his mouth.
She was every tasty dish he’d ever feasted on, every smooth drop of whiskey he’d ever drunk, and every drop of lifesaving water he’d ever consumed. He buried his face against her and inhaled, committing her scent and her flavor to his memory. She rocked her pelvis, urging him to lick, to suck, to nibble at her clit. Until now, she hadn’t made many sounds, but once he stabbed his tongue into her pussy, she began to moan and whimper.
The creak of the bed signaled Stone joining them. She whipped her head to the side and looked at him.
“Play with my ass.”
Wyatt felt her jump when Stone brought his fingers to her ass to do her bidding, then closed his eyes and concentrated on taking his gratification while giving her the pleasure she deserved. The sounds of his sucking and licking mixed with her mewls of delight and the soft words of endearment Stone spoke.
Her body trembled as the flood of cream poured over his tongue and around his mouth. Stone had gotten closer so he could rub his cock against her leg as he pumped his fingers into her asshole.
She cried out, then tensed as yet another climax took her. “Now.”
Pushing back, she slipped her body down his, took hold of his cock, and positioned it at her sweet pussy. Her eyes flashed as she flattened her palms against his
chest and let him lift her up then slam her down on top of him. He almost lost his seed when his cock entered her, driving deep within her hot cave, encased by her tight vaginal wall.
Stone pushed the hair away from her neck, and kissed her shoulder. He leaned his torso over her back, his arm still moving as he worked her dark hole, preparing her for his entry.
For a moment, their eyes met. Stone’s wolf was close, urging him to shift and bring out his fangs to sink into her flesh. His eyes flashed with tiny spears of amber. Wyatt shook his head, an almost imperceptible warning only his friend would catch. Stone closed his eyes and groaned, agony and delight mixed in his voice.
Her breasts swung back and forth with his cock’s plunder, and Wyatt rejoiced as he caught one then the other nipple between his teeth then released it only to do it all over again. She was his woman and would soon be the counterpart to his wolf.
His craving for her had been restrained before, but now that he was inside her, he couldn’t hold back any longer. Silently, he promised her he’d last much longer next time. That was a promise he’d do his best to keep, but when simply looking at her made him want to come, holding on with his cock inside her was a monumental feat.
He cupped her breasts and pushed down on her hips. Stone growled, but released her, giving over to Wyatt’s demand. With her sitting on top of him, he slammed his cock harder against her, going deeper than before. She threw back her head and screamed, clutching her hands over his.
He was a goner the second her hands touched his. Somehow that felt more intimate than his cock inside her pussy. Closing his eyes, he let the orgasm go, his hips grinding against hers, shooting his seed into her welcoming pussy.
By the time Wyatt opened his eyes, Stone was already pulling her off him.
Stone threw her to her back, and instead of taking her from behind as Wyatt thought he would do, he spread her legs and kissed his way upward, and pressed a kiss to her lips.
The kiss, so tender, so sincere, seemed as intimate as any kiss to her pussy would’ve been.
Stone glanced sideways at Wyatt. The tips of his fangs showed over his lips.