Adam was her friend. They saw each other often after she went to work in command central, but rarely discussed anything personal. “It’s a little much to take in, but yeah. They’re good men.”
“I’ve known Taber for years and he’s a standup guy. If Thorben’s half the man as Taber then you’re truly blessed by fate. Not to mention you’re a special woman and deserve a good mate…or two.” Adam chuckled. “They will treat you like a queen.”
“Thanks Adam, I wish you an amazing mate to complement you in every way.” She honestly meant it. Adam would make a woman very happy if he could only find the woman he was destined to be with.
“Are you packed and ready to go?” Taber came up next to her, placing his hand high on her back.
Thorben slipped up to her other side and placed his hand low on her back. A sense of security wrapped her like a soft, warm blanket. She savored the moment. She tried to remember the last time she was so cared for and the only time she remembered was as a child during a particularly nasty storm, curled into her father’s arms. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
Taber stepped away to pick up their bags, but the moment his hand left her, longing shot through her like fire. Need swept over her, buckling her knees. Thorben’s arm, tight around her waist, kept her upright. She dipped closer to his body.
Her hand went to his chest with the thought of pushing away from him, but as contact was made, longing replaced distance. She wanted him like her next breath. Forgetting about everyone surrounding them, she clawed at his shirt, trying to unbutton it, but failing miserably.
“Taber, touch her!” Somewhere in the distance Kallie heard Ava’s faint command.
As if being propelled by another force, Kallie pressed her lips to Thorben’s, frantically diving her tongue into his warm mouth.
A hand timidly touched her shoulder and she collapsed to the floor, drawing Thorben with her. Taber bent, his hand still firmly on her shoulder.
“What just happened?” Her voice sounded strange and unlike her own.
“The mating desire. You haven’t confirmed Thorben as your mate yet and until you do, you’ll suffer.” Ava explained. “Taber’s touch will only hold the desire off for so long. I suspect with what you’ve displayed just now, you only have a couple hours until it’s uncontrollable.”
The room cleared, and relieved she was no longer putting on some kind of show for the family, Kallie leaned against Thorben. “A few hours, can we get back to the compound in time?”
“It’s risky, but if we can’t control it, we’ll be in trouble in the helicopter.”
Taber was right. There wasn’t enough room in the helicopter if the mating desire became overwhelming. What choice did they have but to stay where they were?
“Why not go back to the cabins? It will be private. I can take the plane if Adam and Korbin can’t stay. As soon as this passes we’ll fly to the compound.” Thorben snuggled his chin into her shoulder, nuzzling her hair.
Taber seemed to consider their options before nodding. “Mom, can you ask Adam to come in?”
“Sure son. Don’t break the contact. I’m not sure what will happen if you do and it might not be something you can stop again.” Ava tapped her son’s shoulder and then left to fetch Adam.
“Kallie, do you think you can stand? We’ll try to get you to the sofa.” When she shook her head, Taber sat next to them, sliding his other arm around her. “We can be at the cabins within the hour.”
When she glanced up at him, concern filled his eyes. She knew he was feeling her pain as the mating desire continued to bubble like boiling water just below the surface. It was suppressed, but just barely. Soon it would be upon her and there would be no way to ignore it. She longed to say something to ease Taber’s concern, but fighting the desire was too much effort. Lying against Thorben, she was completely drained.
Adam stepped into the living room. “Ava said you needed me.”
“We have to go back to the cabins. Kallie’s mating desire with Thorben won’t last long enough to get us back to the compound. I’d like you and Korbin there for protection, but if you wish to return back to the compound I can get my brothers.”
“No Taber, we’re at your disposal until I have to follow a lead on Robin. I’ll let the Elders know so they don’t expect us this evening.” Adam pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “The cabins are almost an hour from here, will she make it?”
“That far yes, but we’ll need to be airborne in the next fifteen minutes. We want her away from here before John gets back. My father will find out if he means Kallie any harm or if he got wrapped up in it because of his friendship with Travis.” He smiled at Kallie, before turning back to Adam. “We’ll bring her to the helicopter. You and Korbin meet us there in ten minutes.”
A moan escaped her lips, as another wave of longing hit her. Unlike before the waves were gentler, but still took everything in her to not start grinding her body into Thorben’s.
“Make it five minutes. We’re running out of time.” Taber squeezed Kallie’s shoulder. “Come on Kitty, hold on a little bit longer.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kallie’s head fell against Taber’s chest as he carried her to the same cabin they shared before. Thorben walked beside them, close enough to keep his hand in hers. He wanted to carry her, but they all knew they might not make it to the cabin if he did. “Hurry,” she cried out as another wave hit her. She squeezed Thorben’s hand and her back arched. Her resolve was almost gone and when that happened, they’d be in trouble.
Minutes seemed to be hours until they finally reach a bedroom. Taber laid her in the center of the bed, both men careful to remain in contact with her. They glanced toward each other before turning their sparkling green eyes back to her.
“Naked! I need you now!” She squirmed on the bed.
“I’ll leave you two.” Taber released her hand and pain coursed through her.
She snatched his hand back to ease the pain, but this time it didn’t help. “It’s not like before. We’ve held off for too long. I need you both.”
Thorben wasted no time stripping off his clothes. She suspected his own yearning had stripped his control away too. Naked, he crawled onto the bed next to her and tugged her shirt up over her head. It hung from the arm where Taber still held her hand. Thorben pushed her bra to the side as his lips feverishly claimed her nipple. His other hand went to her jeans, unbuttoning them and pushing them down her legs with them went her last shred of her sanity.
“Taber, please…”
Taber removed his own clothes, only letting go of her hand when he had to. She wasn’t sure, and at that moment didn’t care, if Taber stripped because he wanted her or because his own yearning had become too much for him. She reached out, her hand landing firmly on his chest, needing to feel him against her. He slid on the bed, lifting her up so he was behind her, and tilted her head allowing him to claim her mouth. His shaft prodded her back. She wanted to turn and take it, but he trapped her against him, holding her still.
Thorben fingers slipped between her legs and teased her bundle of nerves, dragging pleasure from her over sensitized system, in hard, hot waves. She moaned around Taber’s unrelenting kiss. She was captive between their bodies. Thorben’s fingers thrusted into her as his thumb continued to wring more pleasure from her core.
Taber’s teeth grazed her lower lip and he pulled back enough to let her cries of frustrations escape.
“I need one of you inside me. Please…” They stopped and she thought they were going to ignore her demands, but Thorben quickly slipped on top of her, angling between her spread thighs, and drove into her with one powerful thrust. He gave her no time to catch her breath before he began rocking in and out.
Taber scooted from behind and knelt before her, the hard length of him jutting toward her. Without invitation, she took him into her mouth, working her way to the base. She used her hand to cup the end of the hard shaft, moving her mouth up and down the length, slowly at the tip.
Taber groaned and reached to cup the back of her head. He allowed her to set the pace.
Trapped in pace with Thorben’s thrusts, she fought to find the perfect tempo to allow them to work together. Their rhythm quickly synced and she moaned, knowing they were being pleasured as one, rocking together in perfect harmony, as her ecstasy began to overwhelm her. Digging her nails into the back of Taber’s thighs, she held on to him as every pump sent pulses exploding through her. She came apart at the seams, her inner muscles clenching Thorben as he continued to drive his shaft into her.
Ecstasy engulfed her. Taber cried out his release. She writhed beneath Thorben, swallowing Taber’s juices, before another wild climax spiraled through her.
Thorben cried out as he slammed home a final time before he collapsed to the side, their legs still entangled. Taber leaned against the back of the bed, his eyes closed.
She tugged his hand, too exhausted to speak. He scooted down on the bed and her breathing slowly returned to normal. She cuddled against both bears, contented.
Who’d have thought I’d end up happily snuggling with two bears.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kallie roused in a daze of satisfaction, aware of the weight of her mates huddled on her sides. She was exhausted. Since arriving at the cabin their bouts of lovemaking were only interrupted when one went in search of food. Longing to burrow back to sleep, but knowing the clan needed them at the compound, forced her up.
“What is it, mate?” Thorben rubbed his face against her hair, marking her with his scent.
“I don’t want this to end, but we have to return to the compound. The Elders are waiting.” Will things change when we’re surrounded by my clan?
“There’s more.” Taber prodded. “You’re worried about something else. I can feel your anxiety like a lead weight in my stomach.”
When she remained silent, Thorben added. “I feel it as well. What is it? Whatever it is, we’ll do our best to relieve your worry.”
If only it was that easy. “I just want you to be happy at the compound.”
“You don’t get it, do you Kal?” Taber propped up on his elbow, staring down at her. “You’re all we want. It doesn’t matter where we are, as long as you’re with us.”
Those were the words she wanted to hear, but the nagging doubt her father drilled into her for so many years continued to creep inside her insecurities. “There was another reason I never wanted to mate. I didn’t want to be tied to someone because of hormones, or because we’d produce children to keep our lines alive. I want someone to love me for me, not because of the chemical reaction our bodies create.”
Thorben dragged his fingers slowly up her naked stomach, gazing at her intently. “The mating desire only brings people together, it doesn’t produce love. I believe mates would eventually find each other even if our bodies didn’t go through the mating desire, because we’re destined to be together.”
“I agree.” Taber added. “Look at shifters that mate with humans, their first child has a fifty-fifty chance of being a shifter and from there the odds go down with each child. That has nothing to do with keeping the shifter genes alive. The mating desire is the same as what humans have with love at first sight, except stronger.”
“Humans can get their relationships wrong, where we don’t. We have to search for the one we’re meant to be with, but once we find our mate, we’re united until death. What could be better than spending your life with the one you’re destined to be with?” Thorben used the tip of his finger to tilt her head toward him, bringing her face inches from his.
“When you put it that way, nothing.” She pressed her lips against his, this time not out of desire, but because he said the right thing—what she needed to hear.
When their lips broke, Taber’s hand went under her jaw and drew her toward him. “We love you for who you are, not because of desire. Never doubt that.” His lips covered hers before she could say anything. “I told you before and I’ll tell you every day. I love you Kallie. You’re my mate and you complete me.”
As if not to be outdone by his twin, Thorben kissed her shoulder. “My heart belongs to you and only you. I love you with every ounce of my being, Kallie.”
She turned to him, raising her arm so she could run her fingers across the stumble that marred his face. Thorben was her quiet mate, more laid-back and willing to follow Taber’s lead, and the more emotional of the two. He wore his heart on his sleeve and eagerly gave it to her for safekeeping. “I love you both more than I could have believed possible.” She let her hand fall from his face. “I fought this mating from the beginning, but you two restored a part of me I didn’t even know was missing. I’m whole again, and after…my past, I never thought I’d feel this way again.”
Traveling back to the compound drained Kallie of any further energy she had left. All she wanted to do was to crawl into bed and sleep. She’d prefer with both men beside her, but Taber had to report to the Elders to find out where things stood.
Raja was waiting for them at the landing strip. “Welcome back. Thorben it’s good to see you again.”
“Thank you, Raja, same to you. Anything I can do to help please let me know. I’d like to keep my mate safe as well as do my part to keep your clan safe.” Thorben shook Raja’s outstretched hand.
“Appreciated. For now focus on Kallie.” Raja slipped his hand into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a key. He glanced at Kallie. “I need to bring Taber up to date on a few things and then he’ll be along, if that’s okay with you, Kallie?”
“Don’t keep him too long.” She teased.
“I’ll do my best.” Raja held out the key. “You’d probably like some privacy after all you’ve been through, and with two mates to protect you, we thought cabin twelve at the far end of the compound would be suitable.”
She loved that section of the compound. It was close to the creek. “Thank you.” She smiled and accepted the key.
“It’s perfect timing for building. Our crew can get started on a new cabin. If you want to sit down with Ryan, he’s the head of the construction team, and go over floor plans. They assure me a cabin of your choice can be completed within two months.”
“Thank you, Raja.” Happiness erupted in the pit of her stomach. A place I can truly call home.
“Go with Thorben and get some rest. I’ll be there soon.” Taber leaned down, his lips covering hers. When he pulled away she saw a twinge of jealousy in his eyes, but this time it wasn’t aimed at Thorben. She knew Taber wanted to join her and Thorben at the cabin.
She rose onto her tippy toes and kissed him again. “I love you.” With those three little words the discomfort eased from his eyes.
“I love you, too.” He shot Thorben a quick look and nodded.
“She’ll be fine. I’ll see she gets some rest.” Thorben waved to Taber as he walked away leaving her alone with Thorben. “Where to my mate?”
“This way.” She led the way, with Korbin on their heels carrying the last few bags. She only carried her small overnight bag, while both of her men had additional bags since they wouldn’t be returning to live in Nome. The thought of their belongings in those bags warmed her heart, reminding her she was stuck with them. Not that I want to get rid of them anyway.
Opening the door to the cabin, she was overwhelmed by the space. After living in the studio for so long she wasn’t sure what she’d do with all this space. She stepped inside so the men could get out of the chilly air. She soaked in the beauty. A large cream sectional stretched in front of a fireplace, and acted as a divider to the kitchen. It was very open and airy. The creamy brown walls added character and color to the place, and drew out the warm tones of the hardwood.
She tossed her bag next to the table by the door and made her way into the kitchen. Warm honey color wood cabinets highlighted the gold of the granite countertop.
Kallie froze. She didn’t cook! What would she do with a kitchen that looks like it came out of a magazine? Shit! How could she feed tw
o hungry bears when she couldn’t even make toast without burning it? She had already experience their hunger for food, as well as in bed—more than once.
“Taber and I both cook.” She turned to find Thorben leaning against the bar area with amusement clear on his face.
“What?” She pretended to not know what he was talking about.
“You’re staring at the kitchen with fear.” He teased. “Taber already told me you don’t know how to cook, but don’t worry, Mom made sure all her boys could cook. Heck, I can even sew, well at least sew a button on. Mom wanted us to be able to help our mates with whatever they needed. She always said, the home responsibilities shouldn’t just fall on the woman, she’s got to rear the children.”
She raised an eyebrow. “She didn’t believe men should help raise the children?”
“Oh no, Mom would have killed Dad if he tried. She believed it was her responsibility to raise us, and then he would turn us into men. He took over when we were teenagers, teaching us how to build a cabin, furniture, hunt, and everything else a man should know. But when it came to discipline we were always more afraid of Mom.”
“Your mom might reconsider me as a mate for her oldest boys if she knew what a crappy mate I’m going to be.”
“Hey now.” He stepped away from the bar and walked to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her to his body. “It’s no one’s place to judge, plus I couldn’t have asked for a better mate. You have the courage to face danger head on when so many hide from it.”
“Courage? I think you’re talking about someone else. I have none of that.”
He pulled back from her and gazed into her eyes. “You have more courage than any woman I’ve ever known. When you knew there was a traitor in our family, what did you do? You faced it by going to the cabins with Taber and stood your ground.”
Alaskan Tigers Box Set 1 Page 41