“I think I need to get back.” She took his gnarled hand in hers. “I can’t thank you enough for showing me this.”
“It is I who needs to thank you. I wish there were more people like you who are willing to share.”
On that note, they headed down the narrow passageway. Thank goodness Professor Fran had no trouble remembering the way back. All the way down the mountain, she wondered what she was going to do with this newfound knowledge. To keep it to herself would be a shame, but for now, she wanted to ponder the ramifications.
She wasn’t sure of the lion law, but she wouldn’t be surprised if there might be laws against visiting wolf territory, let alone sharing knowledge. When they finally got back, the sun was setting. She was used to having the underground streetlights on all night long, but she could get used to seeing the sky turn colors and having the wind in her face.
When they got home, Henla met them at the door. “So how was it?”
“Amazing. This is something I’ll be telling my children and grandchildren about.” Her gaze shot to Henla’s belly, and she had to swallow the bit of jealousy.
Her friend seemed so happy and fulfilled, which pleased her to no end. The decision to move here couldn’t have been easy, yet it had been the right one.
Henla tugged on her arm. “Tomorrow morning when you leave, I’m going to walk back with you.” She winked. “With escorts of course.”
Nothing would please her more. “It’s not too dangerous with you being—”
“No. I’m not that far along. I want to tell my parents while I still can. I know Mom will go crazy when she finds out.”
“She’s going to go crazy like she did when Lara got pregnant.”
“I know. Now all we need is for Sella to start producing heirs.” Henla walked toward the kitchen. “I kept dinner warm for you.”
“Thank you. I am hungry.”
She couldn’t wait to get back and analyze all of what she’d learned. The trouble now was to decide what to do with the information. The last thing she needed was to cause another stir.
* * * *
Now back from visiting Henla, Madra stepped into her hot shower and let the water soothe her aching body. The walk to lion territory hadn’t seemed long as she and Henla talked the whole way. Her feet and back, however, were telling her that she needed to get out and exercise more.
When she returned home, there had been a message on her communicator from Brin asking if she might be able to come over tonight. He needed help with something.
Wanting to share her adventure with the men, she’d immediately responded she was free. After she rinsed the soap out of her hair and cleaned the sand off her body, she stepped out of the shower. He said he’d be home by six and that Larek would pick up groceries to make dinner.
She dried off and sorted through her clothes. Someday she’d have to go shopping and buy something new as her wardrobe was sorely lacking. There might be some sex involved in tonight’s impromptu date. She put on her best undies and prettiest top since she still wasn’t up for walking around Anterra half-naked. Running into students in the mall might cause some problems.
Putting on comfortable sandals, she gathered the book the old man had gifted her and headed out. On the way to the tram station, she passed a liquor store. Since they were buying the food for dinner, she thought it would be nice if she brought a bottle of wine.
She got out her card and touched the top corner to see how many credits she had. Her breath caught at the low balance, but at least there was enough to cover the wine. While she didn’t pick an expensive brand, she chose a red since she knew that was what her men liked.
Armed with her contribution, she hopped on the tram. Her energy seemed higher than usual, and she had to attribute it to seeing firsthand the ancient wolves. They truly were kings at one time.
Since her history degree included studying Earth, she found a lot of similarities between what had happened on Anterra and to the ancient Egyptians. Like the current wolves, the modern-day Egyptians no longer had the same level of wealth as they did thousands of years ago. Maybe that was the cost of change.
She was reliving her moment in the cavern so intently that she almost missed the stop. At the last second, she hustled and got off. Her pussy throbbed as she thought about their late-night adventure.
As she headed to the men’s home, the trees looked fuller and the flowers nicer, but she had to admit, being in wolf territory with its open skies had been a welcome change.
The men must have sensed her presence, as she didn’t even get to knock. Larek answered the door with a broad smile.
“Hello, princess.” He removed the bottle of wine from her hand, set it on the counter behind him, and then pulled her into an embrace.
She groaned when his strong chest pressed against hers, and his lips caught hers in a hungry kiss. He tasted like a tomato-based sauce, but that thought disappeared as his fingers massaged her ass and his cock pressed against her stomach.
He leaned back. “I have missed you.”
It had only been six days, but she had to admit it seemed like an eternity. “Me, too.”
“You look ready to burst. What’s going on?” He grabbed her hand and led her over to the table.
“I’ll tell you later.” She spotted Brin with his computer on his lap and his files displayed on the wall.
Larek turned her face toward him. “Ignore him. He’s in a wolf of a mood.”
“The trial’s getting to him?”
“It’s eating him alive.” He pulled out a chair and motioned she sit. “I’m about to serve dinner.”
She expected they’d sit and chat a bit and discuss the trial later. After that, she had other plans.
“Let’s get back to why you look so chipper.”
“I spent the last two days visiting Henla.”
Brin’s laptop snapped closed, and he got up. “You did what?” He rushed over to her.
She hadn’t expected that reaction. “I had a bear shifter escort me.” She assumed he’d been worried about her safety.
His shoulders relaxed. “You could have asked one of us if you needed to go there.”
Interesting that he was focused not on why she wanted to go but how she got there. “You were busy.” Besides, she believed they might try to dissuade her, despite being interested in her desire to rewrite history.
He pulled up a chair. “I trust you went to find more answers.” This time his eyes sparkled.
“And answers I got.”
Larek placed a fabulous-smelling casserole on the table. Piles of steaming vegetables were topped with a tomato sauce. “Salad coming up.”
She wanted to wait until both men were seated before she told them about her new find. “I brought some wine.”
Brin jumped up. “I’ll pour.”
Once both were ready to eat, she inhaled. “I got to see a tomb of an ancient wolf king.”
For the next forty-five minutes, she told them about her decision to get more proof, as Brin would say, about the discovery.
He held up his glass. “I can see you are really excited about this. What do you plan to do with this new information?”
She was happy he didn’t ask if she planned on changing her mind about her teaching, though that question had started to surface. “I’m not sure. I’m going to sit on it for a while.”
He nodded. “That’s always wise.”
When they added nothing more, she nodded to the display on the wall. “I’m guessing from your message that the trial isn’t going as well as you wanted?”
“No. After dinner I’d like your help.”
She never could repay these wonderful men for all they’d done for her. “Any time.”
Once they finished eating the fabulous meal, Larek pushed back his chair. “Why don’t you try to help our friend here while I bring out the dessert? I hope you like carina cake.”
She grinned. “It’s one of my favorites. How did you know?” Lion shifters migh
t be telepathic, but she knew they couldn’t read minds. Bear shifters, however, were a different story.
He shrugged. “I might have been walking by a shoe store and happened to mention I was picking up some groceries and someone told me about it.”
She’d have to remember to give Rein a hug.
When she turned to go into the living room, she met Brin’s hard chest. “Oh.”
“I never properly greeted you.”
His kiss was swift, hard, and full of passion, but it was how his thumbs were rubbing the sides of her breasts that jacked up her heartbeat. Automatically, she reached around his neck and pressed her breasts against his naked chest. Men should be required to keep covered as it made concentrating around these two too damned hard.
His lids closed for a moment then eased open before he broke off the kiss. “Maybe we can continue this later.”
She’d love that. “We’ll see.” There was no reason to act too easy.
Brin grabbed her hand and brought her to the computer display. Files were everywhere. “Let me explain what I have.”
“How can you keep track of anything?”
Larek chuckled from the kitchen.
Brin narrowed his brows. “I can.”
“Okay. Tell me what you know.” Though if he didn’t put the information at least in chronological order, she’d never be able to keep the facts straight.
Brin started to detail how the two janitors were doing their usual cleaning job when they noticed the water wasn’t draining. She held up her hand. “Do you mind if I organize this stuff?”
He laughed. “Sure. Go ahead.”
Madra stared at the display, trying to figure out the best method. She began by moving around a few files, drawing lines down the screen to delineate between the phone records, references, financial evidence, and other pertinent information.
The clink of plates made her turn around. Larek had placed the cake on the table. “Keep going. The dessert can wait.”
She was on a roll. Moving the files to different areas helped create a picture in her mind. “Why did you get phone records for Salin?”
“Salin is the owner. I wanted to be thorough, that’s all, but you can see I’ve highlighted a few calls.”
“Who are they to?”
“A guy named Acrin. He specializes in stolen gems. The authorities have been trying to tie Acrin to illegal activities for years, but they’ve never caught him.”
“What’s the significance?” She had an idea but wanted to see what Brin thought.
“I’m not sure. It seemed odd to me that someone who runs such a prestigious gem company would be dealing with a guy like Acrin.”
“Hmm.”
For the next half hour, she sifted through the evidence, sorting through the information and asking a ton of questions. Her stomach grumbled. “I’m taking a cake break.”
By now, Larek had finished cleaning up and had joined them. Both of their plates were clean. As she ate the divine creation, the men allowed her to think in peace. When she put the dish down, she returned to the wall.
She tapped the screen. “I have a question. The janitors always wash the floor on Friday, but this time, they cleaned on Thursday.”
“They’d got permission to get that day off a few weeks before. It was their son’s birthday.”
“They asked before the gems were stolen?”
“Yes.”
“When the owner happened to come into the main factory after hours, I bet he didn’t know those two would be there.”
Brin got up and moved next to her. “I imagine that’s true.”
She had an idea. “Walk me through what happened after the janitor removed the drain cover.”
“Wendric stuck his hand down the drain to see if he could unclog it. That’s when he ran into the pouch.”
“So he lifted it up and probably wondered what it was.”
“Sure.”
“Then what?”
He stared at her with pointed brows as if he couldn’t figure out where she was headed. “Salin came in and asked what he was doing with the gems.”
“Aha!”
His eyes widened. “You want to know how Salin knew what was in the sack if Wendric hadn’t opened it up yet?”
“Yes.”
“You are brilliant.” Brin picked her up and spun her around.
Larek clapped his hands once. “I don’t get it.”
Brin grabbed her hand and led her back to the sofa. “Something about that guy has been bugging me. He was too quick to point a finger at his trusted employees. He knew they’d clean the floor on Friday, so he thought he’d be safe if he retrieved the gems on Thursday.”
“I hate to play devil’s advocate,” Larek said, “but why would he steal his own gems?”
“For insurance,” they said together.
She and Brin looked at each other and smiled.
“I thought he was rich.”
Brin tapped his screen. “I thought so, too. That’s why I had his financials pulled. Seems his profits have been declining over the years.”
She leaned forward. “He’s probably been stealing for that long.”
Brin grinned. “I say this calls for a celebration.”
Larek jumped up and brought what was left of the wine. He portioned out the remainder into their three glasses.
Brin held up his glass. “To organization. And to Madra’s quick mind.”
She wasn’t sure about that. Brin and Larek downed their wine in one gulp.
Brin stood and held out his palms. She prayed this meant they’d do some celebrating in style. She grabbed hold and let him pull her to a stand.
“I think I’d like to show my appreciation in another room.” Brin winked.
She batted her eyes in an exaggerated fashion. “Do tell what you have in mind. I hope it has something to do with naked bodies and lots of hot sex.”
“You have no idea.”
Chapter Eleven
Brin scooped her up in his arms. The man sure did have a thing for carrying her, but she wasn’t going to complain. Being lifted made her feel like a princess, all light and special.
She snuggled against his chest. “So what do you have in mind?”
He kissed the top of her head. “Something you’ll like.” He nudged open the door and set her down.
“I think since I helped you with your case I get to choose.”
“Is that so? What do you think, Larek?”
He moved behind her and cupped her breasts. Her body sizzled from the attention. He lifted one then the other as if to weigh them to see if they were equal. She hoped they passed inspection.
“I think it depends on what she has in mind.” He nuzzled her neck, and she got all warm inside.
Several ideas flashed before her. One involved Brin’s cock in her ass, and another was licking them until they almost came.
“How about if I blindfold you two and see which one can last the longest while I suck on you both?”
Brin stepped near. “How about we blindfold you and see how long you can last?”
She didn’t get a chance to answer before Larek scooped her up. “Get the rope, Brin.”
“Rope?”
Brin looked over his shoulder as he pulled open the dresser drawer. “You have a wicked mind and an even more wicked tongue. We need to control you.”
She laughed. “That’s not fair.”
He winked. “It is when it comes to loving you.”
“Wait!”
They both stopped. “What is it, babe?”
The idea was stupendous. “Before you begin to torment me, would you mind bringing in the leftover cake and a knife?”
Larek’s lips pinched together. “You that hungry?”
“Maybe.”
He glanced up at Brin. “You okay with that?”
“She did help me. I don’t want her stomach grumbling and distracting her.”
Larek turned and jogged out. Now she needed to get naked
before he returned. “You want to help me out of this blouse and skirt?” She toed off her sandals.
As he approached, Brin exemplified the predator he was inside. Before he took off her top, he dragged his thumbs down the sides of her breasts, pebbling her nipples. She inhaled to get more of his touch. If Larek didn’t hurry, she wasn’t sure she’d have the patience to carry out her plan. Brin moved closer and her breath caught. Keeping his gaze on her eyes, he undid each button, pressing on her tits every time he moved downward. Finally, he got her blouse open and lowered the material ever so slowly down her shoulders. Before he let go of the material, he dipped his head and took one nipple in his mouth.
“That’s not the plan.”
He stepped back and held up his hands. “You have a plan? I thought you wanted another piece of cake.”
“I do, but the dessert’s not for eating.” At least she wouldn’t be doing the eating.
“I’ll give you one minute to tell me what this is about or I’m going to ravish you right now.”
Larek came in with the cake and she blew out a breath. “I want both of you to sit on the bed.”
When they didn’t move, she smiled. “Please?”
Larek placed the dessert and knife on the dresser and did as she asked. Brin followed suit, though from the way he was grumbling, he didn’t like being interrupted. She’d never done a strip tease before, and she prayed these two would enjoy it.
With a quick tug she stepped out of her skirt. Turning her back to them, she wiggled her ass.
“Come here, babe. We can help you get out of those panties.”
She looked around. “Don’t you move. When I’m ready to get naked, I will.” They had less patience than she did.
She moved to the dresser, but before she set her idea into action, she glanced behind her to make sure the men were still obeying. From the way they were glancing at each other, those two were having a silent conversation about her.
Hard and Easy [High-Country Shifters 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 10