by Jess Buffett
The crack in Leontis’s voice broke her heart. Sage moved over, wrapping the other man up in the tightest embrace. “I’m so sorry. So fucking sorry,” he whispered over and over again.
When Leontis finally crumbled into Sage, Tessa didn’t hold back. Leaning in, she brought her arms up and around the pair. Tessa joined Sage in his soft murmurs of comfort. “I get it. I may never have had a Pride and may only be human, but I know what power your family has to hurt you.”
“But you both have a family now, don’t you see.” Sage pulled back to stare at them both. “Leontis, you have a home here now, so please don’t ever think about leaving. And Tessa, I know you have your siblings, but you have us too. We are your mates. We will do anything for you. You belong with us.”
Tessa momentarily lost her breath. She stood, needing her space, but the men followed her, their hands never leaving her. The conviction and adoration in the Alpha’s eyes leaving her speechless.
“Sage is right, honey. You’re ours. Stay with us.”
“Move in,” Sage blurted out.
Tessa jerked back, though Sage refused to let her go, keeping her left hand trapped against his chest. “What?”
The Alpha pinned her with his gaze. “Move in with us. There is plenty of room for you and the kids.”
“Sage, I ca—”
‘You’re our mate,” he repeated. “You belong here with us, in our home, in our bed.”
“Unless...you don’t want us,” Leontis whispered, his look of uncertainty crushed and yet infuriated her.
“That’s not fair. I’m human, guys. I may know all about shifters, but the rest of this,” she waved her free hand, encumbering all three of them. “All of this is just too much. Give the human chick a break, okay?”
She felt Sage’s laugh rumble through his chest under her palm. “Human chick?”
“Yes,” she said indignantly. “Plain old human.”
“Oh, honey,” Leontis’s voice was smooth as whiskey. “You are anything but plain.”
“Definitely not,” Sage agreed, pulling her down the hallway. Tessa felt helpless to stop them from ushering her into a large bedroom she could only assume was Sage’s. She took a moment, just a quick one to inspect the room. A large bed, larger than a king sat in the middle, grand and sturdy in its design. Warm tones of amber and jade colored walls and bedspread. So much masculinity encompassed in one place, it made her shiver. A light kiss to the side of her neck drew her attention to Sage as he walked her backwards, closer to the bed. “Tessa. You are smart, sexy, feisty, but will never be plain.”
Tessa moaned as his warm breath felt like a small, hot wind across her neck. His hands were massaging her sides, working their way up toward her breasts, and his lips were teasing her flesh so damn wickedly that she forgot why she had come in here in the first place. Her thighs tightened, thinking about the naughty things he could do to her—that they could both do to her.
“Joining us, Leontis?”
She heard a low growl as Sage pushed the hem of Tessa’s shirt up and over her head, groaning when his eyes landed on her breasts. She was nervous and excited all in one. Tessa had never dealt with another man in the equation before. Two of them. Could she really do this? Just the thought of both of them touching and kissing her made her shudder. She needed skin. Tessa pulled Sage’s shirt that was tucked in his waistband free, and then slid her hands under the soft material to feel the hot flesh beneath her fingers. The hunger began to build inside of her.
Even to her human nose, the scent of Sage infused her senses. It was male, hot and dark, captivating, as she trembled under his touch. His honey-brown eyes seemed to darken as he gave her the full weight of his stare. Sage was just as hungry as she was, his tiger so very close to the surface. Tessa could see it in his eyes, sense it in his touch, and taste it in the very air around her.
She fought for breath as she felt warm hands skim down the curve of her back and knew they didn’t belong to Sage. Her body was gearing up for the claiming these two men had promised her. She was ready, but terrified of the intensity she could feel pulsing through her like wicked licks of flames. When Leontis pressed his chest into her back, Tessa knew there was no stopping them.
Sage gripped her jaw, slipping his tongue inside her mouth, giving her slow, easy strokes. Her body tightened as Leontis’s hands moved to the waistband of her pants. It seemed they weren’t wasting any time. She groaned as her hands slid over Sage’s strong, wide shoulders feeling them flex with strength and power.
“Oh, God,” Tessa groaned when Leontis’s hands squeezed the rounded curve of her flesh as her pants slowly lowered.
“I love the taste of your skin,” Sage said as he kissed his way down to the swell of her breast.
Tessa arched her back, her pussy clenching and her clit throbbing at the sensual way both her mates were touching her.
“Get undressed, Leontis,” Sage ordered as he took the tip of her nipple into his mouth, laving the sensitive flesh with his tongue as he pulled her closer.
Leontis finished removing her pants, leaving Tessa standing there in her panties and bra. She felt vulnerable, exposed to these men as Sage began to walk her backward. Tessa licked her lips, panting hard as she felt the erotic heat washing over her flesh.
These two were going to make her combust, their combined desire and domination driving her higher.
Tessa wasn’t sure if she would survive. An all-consuming need was taking over, and she didn’t care anymore if she drowned in the two men. Sage laid her down as Leontis crawled in on the other side, entirely naked, his thick, dark cock protruding from his groin.
“You are sexy as hell,” Leontis said with a guttural growl as he leaned down and took Tessa’s lips.
She writhed under searching hands as Leontis’s tongue delved deep into her mouth, devouring her. Reality began to recede as Leontis kissed her like his life depended on it and Sage sucked her nipple back into his mouth. Her breathing became shallow when Leontis grabbed her hand and guided it toward his cock. The shaft felt like forged steel under her fingers as she curled them around his heated flesh. She wondered what it would feel like to have Leontis buried deep inside of her, claiming her, fucking her until she screamed her release.
“You’re so wet,” Sage said as he slipped his fingers between the folds of her pussy, capturing the small bud between his fingers.
Her hips hitched as his fingers played, drawing out more juices as Sage explored between her legs. Wicked, driving hunger rose to the forefront of her senses as Leontis pulled back and stared down at her with his golden, cat-like eyes. A chill raced up her spine when Sage kissed her intimately between her thighs, his digits never leaving her. She could feel the rioting pleasure rising inside of her.
Leontis cupped her chin, turning her toward him as the head of his erection pressed against her lips. His fingers opened her mouth until he slid home with a guttural cry. “Suck me, baby.”
Her tongue caressed him with slow and unsure strokes as she tasted the hot, spicy essence of her mate in her mouth. A low, sexy growl filled the room as he held her head in place, pumping with measured thrusts. He was so big, yet so careful.
Arching her back, Tessa cried around Leontis’s shaft as her body splintered into thousands of tiny, pleasure-filled shards as her orgasm swept through her. Sage held on to her hips as he surged up and over her, his mouth coming to rest on the junction between her neck and shoulder. Before she could understand what was happening, sharp teeth pierced her skin, igniting another orgasm. Claimed. He had claimed her. Sage continued to hold her until her body could only jerk and shudder, his teeth and fingers slipping from her. She cried in protest when Leontis pulled his shaft free as well, but the protest didn’t last long when Sage appeared at her side, his cock in his hand, moving closer to her mouth.
“My turn, sweetheart.” His lashes lowered, becoming heavy with sexuality. His lips were fuller, his face sang with pleasure, tight with needs that he was looking for Tessa
to provide.
Her lips parted as she took Sage’s cock into her mouth, suckling the head as she felt Leontis move between her legs. Tessa’s stomach clenched and her pussy throbbed at the thought of mating with Leontis. He was about to claim her as well, and damn, there was no way she wanted him to stop.
*****
Leontis’s cock was so sensitive it was almost unbearable. After the orgasm he had received at the hands of Sage, Leontis hadn’t thought he’d be ready again so soon, but there was something about both of them that had Leontis hard and wanting again. Spreading Tessa’s legs as his fingers caressed her silky thighs his fingers played at the entrance to her pussy before he grabbed his painfully hard cock and pressed the head to her wet entrance, preparing to claim her.
Sage gave a long moan, his face contorted in pure ecstasy as Leontis lifted Tessa’s hips and thrust forward. He froze as she strangled him, so tight he could barely stand it.
Spanning his hand over her belly, Leontis took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as his muscles felt like they were at their breaking point. But he wasn’t going to move until her body relaxed.
“Come here.” Sage snagged the back of Leontis’s neck, pulling him over for a kiss. But it wasn’t a simple kiss. Sage’s tongue delved into Leontis’s mouth, taking possession. It almost felt as if Sage was branding him with his claim. Leontis’s fingers moved to Tessa’s inner thighs, smoothing the skin as he felt her slowly relaxing. “Move inside of her,” Sage said into Leontis’s mouth, “because I’m about to fuck you to within an inch of your life, handsome.”
Sage took possession of his mouth once more. Leontis’s pulse raced at the Alpha’s promise. He broke the kiss and gazed down at Tessa. Her eyes were closed as she sucked Sage’s cock deeper into her mouth. The sight had Leontis moving a bit faster, hissing at the tight feel of her pussy around his cock, scared he would hurt her.
Tessa opened her eyes and turned her gaze on him. Leontis sucked in a breath as he saw the big brown irises filled with sensual heat. Pushing her legs back a little further, Leontis glanced down and watched his cock disappear inside of her body, feeling the licks of fire running along his groin as he took her. The sight of his thick ebony prick spearing into her creamy white folds had him groaning.
Dropping to one arm, Leontis got an up-close view of what Tessa was doing to Sage. The sight was erotic as hell. He leaned closer, licking at Sage’s shaft when Tessa pulled back some. They were both sampling the man as Leontis curled his hips, propelling inside of her tight, wet pussy.
“Fuck!” Sage shouted as his hand landed on Leontis’s head. “Dammit.” Leontis tried to follow Sage’s cock when the man pulled away, but the guy had moved too far. “You two are going to be the death of me.”
Leontis looked down when Tessa cupped his face and turned his head. “He has no idea, does he?”
He couldn’t help the smile that pulled at his lips. “Not a clue, but I’m sure we can teach him.”
“As long as you two remember who’s in charge,” Sage said as he moved in behind Leontis.
They both shared a look of amusement. Oh, they would have fun with their Alpha.
Leontis captured Tessa’s lips, their tongues dueling when Leontis felt Sage’s fingers slide over his arse. It was an automatic reflex when Leontis slowed his thrusts, feeling nervous as hell as Sage’s finger slid over his hole.
“Relax,” Sage said as he leaned forward and kissed both cheeks. “How long has it been?”
Pulling from Tessa’s lips, Leontis peered up at Sage. “A long time...I don’t even remember.”
Given his size and the strength of his animal, most men assumed he preferred to top, going so far as to actually argue with him when he said he didn’t want to. After a while, Leontis had stopped trying to convince them, and just went with it. But he was never fully satisfied.
Leontis groaned when he felt Sage’s wet tongue suddenly slide over his arsehole. Never before had he felt anything so damn good.
“Well, you are about to be claimed, handsome.”
Tessa lifted her legs, wrapping them around Leontis’s waist as she gazed up at him. “Are you okay?”
He smiled and kissed her on the lips. “Better than okay, my mate.”
“Not your mate yet, but I’m hoping you plan to rectify that.”
Oh hell. Leontis felt his cock pulsing at her offer. There was nothing he wanted more, though claiming Sage would come in as a tie.
Tessa tangled her fingers in his hair as her legs shook around him…and then Leontis felt Sage’s finger enter him. He moaned as Tessa pulled him down and captured his lips. She tightened her legs around him as Leontis broke the kiss and took a nipple into his mouth. He was lost in the sensations burning through his body. His cock was buried deep as he pumped hard, while Sage used more than one finger to stretch him, getting him ready. He couldn’t stand it. He needed Sage’s steel shaft to fill him, to fuck him into oblivion—anything but this slow torture, driving him to the brink.
Just as he was about to beg, the blunt head of Sage’s cock was pressed against his opening. Leontis stilled, laving at Tessa’s nipple, gently biting it as Sage inched his way in. Tessa’s pussy tightened around his cock, bringing him to the brink of the abyss.
“Damn you’re tight, Leontis,” Sage said with a low growl.
Leontis kissed his way back up Tessa’s chest, sucking at her neck when Sage started to move. Something inside him shattered. The feeling was something he had never experienced before and Leontis knew this wouldn’t be the last time. Not when his body was being set on fire.
“God, Leontis,” Tessa said breathlessly. “Fuck me harder.”
Leontis began to move faster, feeling the dual sensation on his cock and in his arse.
Unable to control himself, Leontis felt his teeth drop and didn’t hesitate to sink them into the soft spot between Tessa’s neck and shoulder. The sweet taste of his mate’s blood filled his sense, the filling of completion with her sending him spiraling.
He was brought out of his stunned state as Sage slammed into him, reminding Leontis that he was being thoroughly fucked. He glanced down at Tessa to see her eyes locked intently on him. Sliding his arm under Tessa’s shoulder, Leontis began to move fast and deep inside of her, watching as she became unglued in his arms. Her back arched as she cried out, her pussy flexing and gripping his cock tight as her orgasm swept through her.
“You are so breathtaking,” Leontis whispered as Sage matched his pace, Leontis’s need reaching a pinnacle.
With a flurry of hard and fasts thrusts, Sage froze behind him, roaring out his release as he leaned forward, striking his canines into Leontis’s shoulder—claiming him—marking him. The build-up exploded inside of him, sending him over the edge as he shouted, his seed spurting inside Tessa as his movements became uncoordinated. Leontis was boneless as Sage pulled free, slipping to one side of Tessa. Leontis pulled his flaccid cock from Tessa and then dropped down onto her other side.
They lay there, tangled up in a pile. Leontis couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face. Damn this was good. He bent his head, nuzzling his nose into the crook of Tessa’s neck wanting to scent her, smell his and Sage’s claiming of her. Dragging in a breath, Leontis’s whole frame froze. What the hell?
Sage must have sensed something was wrong and he propped himself up on an elbow. “Leontis. What is it?”
He met his mate’s eyes with worry. “She smells different.”
Beneath them Tessa laughed. “Sorry, I don’t exactly smell like roses right now, guys, but we kind of worked up a sweat just then.”
Leontis looked down at her and shook his head as Sage leaned down to sniff at her neck. “That’s not what I meant.”
The Alpha’s head shot up, eyes wide. “You’re right. She does smell different.”
“Oh for God’s sake, would someone tell me what’s going on? Different? How?”
Leontis shared a look with Sage and could tell the other man had no idea
either.
Dammit. Things could never be easy, could they?
Chapter Eight
“Oh for God’s sake, would someone tell me what’s going on? Different? How?”
Tessa saw the look her new mates shared with one another, which just pissed her off more. She wanted answers, dammit.
When neither of them spoke, a vague memory of a conversation with Ella flittered through her mind. A time when her friend had been revealing small details about her culture. Scents were unique, Tessa knew that. The same from birth, only a few things could change a person’s scent. Illness, mating, and pregnancy.
“Well, you did just claim me, right? So of course my scent would change.” At the hesitant look they gave her, Tessa’s pulse picked up. “You did claim me, didn’t you? I mean, the whole biting…”
She brought her hands up too either side of her neck, covering where her men had bitten her.
“Yes, we did, honey.” Sage looked like he was holding something back. “It’s just...that’s not what smells different.”
Oh shit!
“Wait, what? I’m not pregnant, am I?” Tessa all but shrieked.
The men’s eyes widened almost comically.
“No. Not yet,” Leontis said.
Tessa chose to ignore the not yet comment in favor of trying to lower her heart rate. “Okay, well, then what is it? Should we be worried?”
Sage’s shrugged. “Honestly, I have no idea. It’s like your base scent has changed.”
“Yeah, still have no idea what that means,” she drawled.
Sage seemed to struggle to find the words. “It’s like...all scent changes are different, but they are more like an add-on. Your base scent is still there, but from our mating you also smell like us. You smell like you, but more.”
She nodded thinking that made a weird kind of sense.
“As Sage said though...this is different,” Leontis added.
Tessa narrowed her eyes on them. “I’m really starting to hate that word. Can you at least tell me how it has altered, even if we don’t know why?”