In Time to Love

by Gloria Martin

  “All this time I spent running around and ordering the pride around in anger and frankly…jealousy. I couldn’t stand the thought of some other shifter having you. But all of that was blinding me to what was actually happening. When I let all those feelings go I was led right to you,” he simply shrugged and Nora felt her chest swell with emotion.

  “Alright then, um…I don’t know about you guys but…I’m still up for that drink,” she said and slowly moved towards the kitchen. Safir chuckled while Weston simply watched her, his eyes a bit predatory. She suddenly felt as if she had to catch her breath. Her sandwich contents were still pushed back on the kitchen island, where Weston had her up on not very long ago. She put all that stuff away and grabbed the bottle of tequila she spotted in the back of the fridge, followed by three glasses.

  “Shots?” she said when she turned around and found them both in the kitchen with her.

  “Sure, we could all use it,” Weston said. Nora poured everyone a double shot and then two more of those in succession. It didn’t take very long for her to get tipsy, but it took nearly half the full bottle of tequila to affect both Weston and Safir.

  “Take another shot Nora,” Safir poked her in the side and she giggled as she flinched away from him.

  “I can’t, if I do I won’t be attractive drunk, I’ll get really sloppy,” she said, making Weston laugh.

  “You’re right actually, I remember that Memorial Day party we went to, it wasn’t the best,” Safir said and she giggled again.

  “I have to say I’m not that used to giggly Nora, more like intense, sexy without trying Nora,” Weston said and Safir snorted.

  “The sexy part is all the time, yeah, but she’s normally fun-loving,” Safir told him.

  “You know guys I’m right here,” she said lazily.

  “We know…” Weston said, he moved behind her, pulling her against his chest just as Safir simultaneously pressed against her from the front. Nora’s breath caught in her throat when she felt Weston’s lips on her nape. She tilted her head so he could have more access and met Safir’s kiss in the process. He licked almost hungrily into her mouth and pressed his hips flush against hers. She felt his erection and squirmed against him. Weston pressed tighter against her as well and she gasped when she felt his hardness against her back.

  Safir pulled away from her slightly and Weston scooped her up into his arms. Before she knew it they all were in her bedroom and Weston was lowering her onto the bed. He climbed up next to her and bent down to kiss her while Safir pulled off her pants and trailed kisses along her calves. Nora felt all hot and wrapped up in lust, she wanted both of them with an odd fierceness that took her by surprise.

  Weston pulled off her shirt and unhooked her bra with ease while Safir slid her panties off. She felt as if she would combust with their lips on her. Weston slid down to her breasts while he kneaded them in his hands, and Safir’s lips inched closer to her inner thighs. By the time Weston pulled one of her nipples into his mouth, Safir’s lips reached her sensitive folds, his tongue delved in to slide against her clitoris.

  “Oh my god…” Nora gasped, out of breath from panting so much. She couldn’t lie still, pleasure was coursing through her with every beat of her heart and it was racing. It wasn’t long before she was shooting off into a mind-shattering orgasm. She swore she saw colors explode around her as her body was rocked with wave after wave of intense pleasure. She hadn’t even come down from her orgasm yet before Safir was nudging her legs farther apart and sliding into her. She cried out as he filled her up, her back arching to meet his thrusts. She was only a little distracted by Weston then, he had taken off his clothes and was beautifully naked next to her on the bed. He kissed her once before offering her his impressive erection. She took it into her hand and soon had him in her mouth. When another orgasm hit her Weston and Safir switched positions. They went at it until Nora was little more than a puddle on the mattress, passed out and completely sated.

  *****

  Nora woke to the sounds of Safir and Weston talking. They were speaking in low voices and on either side of her. She stretched, feeling like her body had the best internal massage ever, and opened her eyes. Tan and golden eyes met hers and both had tender expressions, though Safir smiled and Weston simply caressed her jaw.

  “Good morning sleepyhead,” Safir said, his smile growing.

  “Morning…” she said, feeling all of a sudden shy. Though she really shouldn’t after the night they had before.

  “How do you feel?” Weston asked her, humor in his voice.

  “Really good,” she said with a chuckle.

  “No hangover?” he asked, seeming impressed.

  “No…I think the orgasms kept me from having one maybe…if that’s possible,” she joked.

  “So Weston and I were just talking…” Safir said and she glanced at him curiously.

  “We came up with a way to successfully merge the prides. It’s kind of a necessity now…I’m like Safir, not letting you go,” Weston told her. Nora’s chest filled with warmth and hope as she smiled at him. She really did have feelings for Weston and wouldn’t want him out of her life either.

  “So what are you going to do to merge the prides,” she asked.

  “First we’re going to talk to the neighboring wolves to get them to agree to extend the duration of our sanctuary here. Then slowly, but steadily integrate my guys into Lion’s Bay. They’d move into town just like any human, then only when everyone is settled will we merge the shifters into one pride…Safir staying its leader and me taking position as his second,” Weston explained.

  “That sounds perfect,” Nora said happily. “Have you told the other lions yet?” she asked them and they shook their heads.

  “First we’ll get our sanctuary here extended then get everyone together to tell them what’s going on…” Safir said.

  “…but?” Nora heard the slight waver without him voicing it.

  “But I just want to make sure you’re okay with our both wanting you as mate…we wouldn’t be able to have a human marriage. And…we’d essentially be sharing you,” he pointed out. Nora smirked and shrugged a little.

  “That’s alright with me, as long as you’re both in my life as in more than friends. As long as we have some kind of commitment bonding us together,” she said.

  “Of course, we can make vows in front of the pride once it’s merged,” Weston suggested.

  “It’d be the perfect way to start our union officially,” Safir said thoughtfully.

  “I like it,” Nora said with a smile.

  “Great, now let’s shower and get something to eat,” Safir suggested. Nora held her arms out then.

  “I think you’ll have to carry me, I doubt my legs are still working,” she said and Weston laughed almost dangerously.

  “Oh Nora, Nora, Nora…are you going to be in for a treat,” he chuckled, making her crack up. He kissed her on the cheek and Safir gave her a light peck on the lips.

  “Come on, we need our Nora up and running,” he said and Weston pulled her up.

  “So technically…are you guys my concubines?” she asked curiously, only mostly joking.

  “Depends on your definition, sure we’ll draw baths for you and feed you, no problem. But in bed you’re being dominated, no doubt about it,” Safir said, grinning at her.

  Nora thought getting ready the morning after marathon sex with just Safir was a process, but getting ready the morning after with both Weston and Safir…that was an entirely different deal. But strange as it was Nora couldn’t be happier, literally. Weston and Safir oddly balanced each other out and fit two sides of her like puzzle pieces.

  “So…your summer is turning out to be pretty eventful huh?” Safir asked her while they ae a quick breakfast.

  “Yeah actually…I don’t think I can share with my class what I did this summer though. I might have to make something up…say I went to Seattle or something,” she said.

  “This is going to be a little wei
rd at first, but I think it’ll work,” he said and Nora glanced over at Weston who was grabbing orange juice from the fridge.

  “Well you were a little weird when we first met, but it worked out,” she said and heard Weston chuckle. Safir smiled ruefully at her, but pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Same with Weston…” she added and he simply laughed.

  “Our shifters will be fine, as long as they’re with their own…and you know we’d be the largest lion pride in the north,” West pointed out.

  “We’re stronger unified,” Safir said, stating the obvious though it was so true. Nora smiled to herself, she was excited about the rest of the summer, only a little scared, but so looking forward to what was ahead.

  THE END

  Bonus Story 21 of 40

  Making the Cut

  Vienna Rhett stepped out onto the ice early Monday morning, watching the Zamboni as it bounced down the ramp and out the door. The tiny ice rink’s sound system was still shot, so Vienna was forced to clip her micro MP3 player inside her costume to practice. She threaded the plug of her earbuds through her tight braid and plugged it in, hoping that her first axel wouldn’t send them flying.

  She stretched her arms over her head and behind her, glancing down at her well-worn skates to make sure they were tied tight. The ice was like glass, freshly shaved and watered. There was nothing Vienna liked better than being the first to hit the ice.

  Pushing play, she got into place and waited for the music to start. Vienna flowed through her program with ease, sticking all her landings and pushing herself to go beyond the minimum requirements. If a double was required, she threw in a triple. She followed her triple toe loop with an immediate triple Salchow.

  The music played on, and Vienna swayed gracefully to the piece. Her final movement was a spin series that started with the layback and ended with an elegant sit spin that she’d perfected the week before. As she prepared for the movement, she smiled broadly.

  The World Championships qualifier was at the end of the week, and Vienna had never felt so ready for anything in her life. If she could skate half as well at the competition as she did on her home ice, she’d make it in with no problem.

  She swung into her layback spin, reaching back and grabbing the blade of one skate behind her head to up the difficulty level. A flash of red sped by her, startling her and making her lose her balance. She stumbled out of the spin and face-planted on the ice roughly.

  Vienna sat up, looking around the rink and trying to find the culprit. A man in jeans and a loose red hockey jersey was skating around the edge of the ice, practicing his foot work while chasing a puck and tearing up her fresh ice.

  “Hey!” she shouted, still pulling herself from the ice and groaning at her skinned knee.

  The man turned, skating backwards and looking at her without a hint of remorse for what he’d done. He continued around the rink’s edge, twisting and spinning in little hops, his clunky skates chipping the ice up and ruining her smooth surface.

  Vienna’s face colored and she stood, skating so that she met him halfway around the rink.

  “I’m talking to you,” she shouted.

  “Yes?”

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Practicing. What does it look like?”

  “It looks like you’re tearing up my ice.”

  “Your ice?” He laughed, blue eyes twinkling merrily, “This is a public rink. This ice belongs to no one.”

  “I rented this time slot and for the next two hours. That door was supposed to be locked.”

  “It was locked. But everyone who lives in Chehalis knows that all it needs is a good yank and it opens right up.”

  His smile was wide and friendly. Sandy blond hair peeked out from beneath his helmet. Vienna could see that he thought he was quite charming.

  “That doesn’t make it alright. I rented this time and you need to leave. You’re ruining my ice. And you knocked me over.”

  “I wouldn’t have been that close to you if you’d been in the center where figure skaters belong.”

  “I rented the ice! The entire thing! I belong wherever my program takes me. This isn’t open skate at the mall. I’m a serious competitor and I’m preparing for a competition.”

  “Me too,” he said. He held out his hand and offered it for her to shake.

  “My name is Ethan Hayes. It’s nice to meet you, Miss…”

  “I’m not here to make friends. Now please leave.”

  “No. I won’t be leaving.”

  “Why the heck not?”

  Vienna was starting to get angry.

  Ethan shrugged.

  “Because I don’t have a ride. My friend dropped me off and left. He won’t be back for at least an hour.”

  “Great. So you’re incapable of leaving a locked door alone and you’re too irresponsible to own your own car at your age? You’re just a big bowl of wonderful, aren’t you?”

  Vienna smiled. He was wasting her time, but she was enjoying herself now. This guy Ethan was a loser, plain and simple. She’d put him in his place and send him running home, crying for his mother. That would teach him to butt into her practice time.

  “It’s my car. My buddy was in a wreck and I told him he could use my car to get groceries. I’m super responsible. I even have a full time job and everything.”

  When he smiled this time, Vienna had to fight the urge to slap the grin off of his face. He was irritating, meeting her anger with a careless smile that showed no regard for the time that he was wasting. She didn’t have time to play with some hockey hopeful that would never make the pros. He was destined to waste the rest of his life going after a dream he would never achieve. Vienna didn’t have time for that, and heaven knew she didn’t have the patience.

  “Look, it’s nice that you have a car.”

  “Not a nice car like you though. Is the Jaguar yours?”

  “Of course it’s mine. Do you see anyone else here? No what I was saying was-”

  “Aren’t you going to tell me your name?”

  “Quit interrupting me. What’s wrong with you? Do you always act this way?”

  “No,” he smiled again. “I’m usually much worse. But I like to tone it down for pretty ladies such as yourself.”

  Vienna rolled her eyes.

  “Gag me.”

  “I could,” he winked.

  “Oh dear lord what is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing that a kiss from you couldn’t fix.”

  He laughed as he skated away, ignoring her as she cursed his back. He continued his practice as if he hadn’t a care in the world, completely ignoring the fact that the rink was paid for, for the next two hours.

  Vienna threw her hands up, grumbling to herself as she skated off the ice. She was going to have a word with the manager and make sure this Ethan Hayes was banned for life. If he couldn’t be considerate and share the ice, then he had no business being there anyway.

  Satisfied that she would get another time allotted and eager to ice her knee, she pulled on her tennis shoes and grabbed her cellphone out of her purse. She’d be back tomorrow.

  *****

  It was before six the next morning when Vienna parked her silver Jaguar in the lot. She was happy to see that only Dave the Zamboni driver’s car was around. She had no intention of a repeat of the day before and dealing with the oafish Ethan Hayes. Sure, he was sexy and he had a handsome smile that would melt even the most stoic woman. But his personality had driven Vienna to the brink of insanity in mere minutes. Arrogant, rude and self-serving, he wasn’t the type of guy Vienna would consider spending a week with, let alone the rest of her life. Maybe there were women out there that thought he was charming, but Vienna was not one of them.

  Dave had finished the ice before she’d pulled up and she could see him in the crow’s nest, sipping on his morning coffee. She held up a hand in greeting and he waved back.

  Vienna warmed up, earbuds already shoved in her ears, her playlists drowning everything
around her out so she could focus. She’d run out of the house in a hurry, eager to get to the rink before it opened at eight. She’d left her long, chocolate locks loose, springy curls radiating from her face wildly. Her Irish mother’s side had given her dark brown locks a reddish glow and dark green eyes. It had also cursed her with a splash of freckles across her nose that she’d been trying to hide for most of her life. When she hit her twenties, she decided that they weren’t all that bad and stopped trying to cover them up. Someone had even told her that they were cute. She wasn’t sure that she would go that far, but they were a part of her, and she decided to embrace them a few years back.

  The manager had promised to deal with Ethan and had applied her money to another private session later in the week. Then he’d thrown in this morning to sweeten the pot. As obnoxious as Ethan had been, he’d actually been great in the long run. For the price of one two-hour block, Vienna now had four uninterrupted hours this week and another early morning opportunity next week right before the competition.

  Warmed up and ready to go, Vienna ran through her long program first. The cold wind flowed through her hair as she flew around the rink, sticking her landings with ease and flowing effortlessly from one jump to the next.

  Her smile was huge when she nailed the last spin and came to a stop at exactly the same moment as the music.

  “Nailed it!” she said.

  “Yes you did,” someone answered back from the stands, clapping loudly.

  Vienna looked up and couldn’t believe her eyes. Ethan Hayes was walking onto the ice in his sneakers, cellphone in hand, the biggest grin yet on his face.

  “You!” she ground out.

  “Yes, it’s me. I would say hi, but I never got your name.”

  Vienna crossed her arms.

  “Are you completely clueless or do you really have no idea when you’re not welcome?”

  “I’m not on the ice, am I?”

  “Well, no,” Vienna stuttered.