I sighed. "When we lose someone we love, that shadow never passes from us. You either live forever in the dark, or you learn to turn on the light."
"Good analogy. Thank you."
"It's what my mom told me when my gran died."
"I didn't mean for that," said Gray. "I would never have found out who killed her."
"You found it out," I replied. "I just gave you the name."
"Without you, I would never have been able to avenge her. I would never have been able to reach this place. Thank you."
I didn't try to reject his thanks, it meant a lot to him to say it, it meant a lot to him that I knew how much it meant. "I'm not sure I ever thanked you - for saving me, for bringing me home."
He smiled. "'Home'. I'm glad you're calling it that."
I hadn't even thought about it, but yes, Heir’s House, for all that I had been there only a matter of days, had started to feel oddly like home. I didn't have an unhappy upbringing, but finding a home away from home had always been difficult. My mixed ancestry had made it hard to fit in anywhere. Who would have thought that I might find a place to fit in at the heart of werewolf society? But it was only temporary.
"Well, while I'm looking into the case, I guess it's good to have a base of operations that's right at the heart of the Kenai."
"Is that all it is?"
I could feel his eyes on me. I said nothing, but my blush probably answered his question.
"I've been a jerk to you since you arrived."
I shook my head. "You haven't."
"I have. I've tried to be. I wanted to be."
"Why?"
"Because I was attracted to you from the first moment I saw you. I haven't found another woman attractive since Yuko's death, and I tried everything I could to make you hate me, so that maybe I could hate you. Now..." He gazed at the rising sun. "Now, it's like a weight has been lifted. By you. And when I look at you, all I can see is this beautiful, brave woman. And all I want to do..."
His words tapered off as we fell into a soft, gentle kiss, the early morning sun bathing us in its glow.
Chapter 14
Kissing Gray was sweet and perfect and beautiful.
It swiftly kindled a fire in my body, making me hungry for more. But at the same time, I was very aware of what a raw moment this was for him. Saying goodbye to one girl did not necessarily mean immediately saying hello to the next. So, much as I wanted to run my hands all over the hard lines of his body, much as I wanted to straddle him right here on the roof, much as I wanted to slip my hand down his pants and see if the Kenai men were three for three, I held back.
Kissing was a big step for Gray, and it was one I was delighted to make with him. The softness of his lips on mine sent tremors of quiet bliss through me as his tongue slipped into my mouth and I sucked on it. I felt his hands starting to roam over me, down my sides to cup my hips, still light and tentative, but with definite purpose. Still, I held back, letting him take the lead, letting him decide if he was even ready for this. Though, I could not quite hide my own feelings on the matter, as I moaned into his mouth when his questing hands grazed my inner thighs.
I mewled and purred like a kitten as this slow, lovely treatment continued, always based around that never-ending kiss. Somehow, I made my way into Gray's lap, my back against his chest, my head cradled to his shoulder, twisted to meet his lips. Without really meaning to, I had begun to twist my hips as my arousal grew, unable to remain still against the feelings Gray was awaking in me.
It was the slowest and most delicious foreplay I had ever experienced, perhaps because I genuinely did not know if it would end in sex, and so eked every shred of pleasure from the lightest of Gray's touches. I would never have imagined that simple kissing could make me this hot, my panties already soaked through. I was now producing a constant stream of small, high noises into Gray's mouth, and my hips twitched and writhed against him. It was involuntary, but it soon produced results.
I purred with desire as I felt Gray's hardness rising against my backside, and tried desperately not to think about how good it would feel inside me. That might still be too much for Gray. But as I thought that, I felt Gray's hand on my belly, stroking downwards, slipping under the waistband of my pants, into my panties, and then--
"OH!" I couldn't suppress a cry as Gray's finger pushed into my slick entrance, and I bounced my hips, making his erection strain upwards in response.
Gray set about touching me with the same methodical diligence he had shown in kissing me. I squirmed in my seat as his delving finger explored me, then curled upward as he found what he was looking for, firing my G-spot into life.
I clutched at him frantically as he patiently waited for my convulsions to subside, before starting again.
Nothing would speed Gray up. He worked like a surgeon, delicate and focused, alternating attention between my clit and my G-spot, driving my body to distraction.
If at any point he had sped up, given in to my wordless demands, he could have put me over the edge in seconds flat, but those skilled fingers were dedicated to building me slowly to the point of no return.
I whimpered and gasped as I writhed against him, clawing at his arm while he teased out the most intense pleasure I could conceive. I had no idea what was stopping me from coming - each touch was electric frustration, stoking a fire in me hotter than I had ever known. I kissed at his face desperately, as if pleading for him to release me from this wonderful torture.
When the moment came, I don't think it was because Gray had done anything different, it was simply that my body couldn't take it anymore.
In my experience, the biggest orgasms balloon outwards, wracking your whole body, but not that. This one seemed to contract inwards, focused entirely on my center, like being pierced by a hot needle of pleasure. I felt I might burst into tears as the intensity shot through me. My clutching channel seemed to spasm in on itself, rippling with extremes of ecstasy as I whispered his name like a chant.
When it was over, I collapsed back against him, limp as a rag doll. He kissed me and I kissed him back. No words needed to be said, but I rolled my hips against him and felt his swollen cock respond with a twitch.
Without shifting our position more than we had to, I managed to pull my pants down around my thighs while Gray unzipped. I backed up and felt his cock, now naked against my bare ass cheeks, the heat radiating from it.
He forced his straining erection down, guided me into position, and then pushed slowly, inexorably into me. I heard him sigh as his throbbing organ entered my wet heat. Lost in my own pleasure though I was, I couldn't help wondering what he might be feeling now.
I turned my eyes to the horizon. It was still early and the city was still waking up and making its way to work as Gray and I began to move against each other on that isolated rooftop.
I could feel him deeply buried inside me, but as I started to ride him, Gray drew me back. I went where he led me, lying back against his chest, just appreciating the feeling of fullness, and the simple knowledge that it was Gray inside me.
Parting his legs a little so I slipped between his thighs, he took hold of my hips and began to gently push and pull me back and forth along the length of his engorged shaft. It was as slow and methodical as before, but this time, he wasn’t going to make me wait. With one hand he sought out my clit and, with nimble fingers, he worked me into a frenzy of need and I came again, my channel gripping and releasing his thick cock in frantic spasms.
For the next half hour - I think, time ceased to have any meaning up there - Gray brought me to climax after climax. With the application of his talented fingers and the drag of his thick cock inside me, he took my body to the pinnacle again and again, but always held back himself.
At first, I thought he was simply showing off his impressive stamina, or perhaps was just a very generous lover, but the longer we continued, and the more difficult it obviously became for Gray to hold back, the more I realized that there was a deeper reason.
As he started at me again, I looked up at his face. Behind the cheeks flushed with effort and the heavy breathing, behind the glazed look of concentration, I saw a look of almost fear in his eyes.
"Gray." I touched his cheek and he looked down to me. "It's okay. And it's time."
I thought for a moment he might stop…pull away. But instead, he kissed me, and thrust forward once more, lurching within me. I knew when the mental block gave way as a groan ripped from his chest and he finally let go, pumping faster, the even strokes becoming wilder, deeper, harder.
“Yes,” I muttered against his mouth. “Yes.”
He hammered into me, his heavy cock swelling to the point of almost pain, and then bellowed my name as he plunged forward to the hilt one last time, cock spurting inside of me in a hot rush.
The feel of it pushed me over the top one last time and I clung to Gray, shuddering with pleasure. I had had more powerful orgasms that morning, but this, the one shared with Gray, was the most deeply satisfying.
We stayed like that a long while, curled up together on that rooftop as we traded kisses once more. Finally, he looked down at me.
"Thank you."
There was nothing else to say and nothing I could add to it. Yuko had passed from his life. I had not replaced her, I was simply next. Which made me no more important, but also, not necessarily less.
Hand in hand, we left the roof and walked back down the stairs. We were both tired, but also exhilarated, and with no desire to go to sleep. We went straight down to the kitchen, where Tanner was already cooking and, a rare sight at this time of the morning, Hudson was at the table. They both looked up as we entered.
Tanner smiled at the sight.
"Welcome to the family."
Chapter 15
When breakfast was over, I went back to my room to shower.
My room.
I had thought it automatically, and I guess if I had been staying in a hotel, I would have called it 'my room', as well. It didn't have to mean anything.
But damn it, it did.
I was increasingly thinking of it as 'my room', just as I was thinking of Heir’s House as my home, as Gray had pointed out. It all tied in with what Tanner had said when I walked into the kitchen.
'Welcome to the family.'
I'd smiled when he said it and I had been glad to hear it, but the more I thought about it... Did I want to be part of a werewolf family? And a family like the Kenai, at that? I liked the guys very much, in fact - why pussyfoot around it - I was fast falling in love with them. But there was so much more to consider.
Physically, we were obviously compatible, and we all enjoyed each other's company, but how long did that last when the novelty wore off? How long could it last?
In my experience, relationships did not last long, not when I was involved. Besides, for how long could one woman be enough for these three males?
If I was a werewolf, then the fact of them taking other mates, as well as me, would have been normal, but I was three-quarters human and that part of me did not want to share. Which was pretty selfish, seeing that I was asking them to share but the heart wants what it wants. Gray obviously had a track record of monogamy but could he ever love me as he had loved Yuko?
Hudson had said he was looking for 'his Yuko', but how long would he stick to that when the sexually precocious werewolf was confined to one woman whom he had to share?
And, as for Tanner, he was an alpha male, who would one day, in all likelihood, be Pack Leader of the Kenai, that made him the most eligible of werewolf bachelors, expected to take many mates to secure his line. Why would a male like that content himself with a single part-wolf?
It was a lot to think about as I showered, and thinking about it probably would have taken up the rest of my day had I not come out to find a message on my phone. It was from Kenai King, informing me of an event that night at the Kenai Pack Lodge that I would be attending, in case of further attempts on his life. The man had yet to master the word 'please' but I would have wanted to be there, either way. That said, circumstances had changed recently and I had some decisions to make.
"Obviously, we'll be there," Tanner acknowledged, "but will we be there with you?"
"I say yes," grinned Hudson. "Just for the look on the old man's face, it'd be worth doing."
"It would completely undermine Lana," pointed out Gray. "Our father is a vengeful man, who would not be best pleased to see her coming in with three people he suspects of trying to kill him."
"And you're telling me you wouldn't want to see that look on his face?"
"Of course, I would, but that's not the point."
"None of it's the point," Tanner interrupted. "All that matters is what Lana wants." He turned to me. "Sorry."
"That's okay," I shrugged. "And, actually, you're wrong. What matters is how it effects the case."
"The case?"
"You're right," I continued. "Me coming in with you guys is going to send King's blood pressure to the point where the assassin may not have to bother and I may need a bodyguard of my own to get me through the evening..."
"You've got three," said Gray.
"But," I went on, "the important thing is; what effect might it have on the real killer?"
The three brothers all looked thoughtful.
The event tonight was a lunar eclipse, a huge deal in werewolf lore, and one of the very rare events at which packs put aside their enmity and all got together in one room. Theoretically, they took it in turns to host, in reality, the Kenai usually strong-armed their way into that prestigious position. It afforded a rare opportunity for me to gauge the reactions of the Pack Leaders to each other, all in the same room, and gave me the chance to push their buttons and see what happened.
"The question is," I concluded, "what way of me arriving - of us arriving - is most likely to get some sort of reaction?"
"If we go in together, then it'll get a reaction from father," pointed out Hudson.
"You're just not letting that go, are you?" muttered Gray.
After reflection, we reluctantly decided that, while going in together might provoke a useful reaction from the other Pack Leaders - and a hilarious one from King - it might also make them less likely to act. Whoever was behind the assassination attempt had to believe that they could pin the blame on the brothers. Better we went in separately so they felt safe.
In the same dress I had worn last time, I went to the Kenai Pack Lodge, and I arrived early.
"Miss Malone." I was met by King himself. "Glad to see you here alone, I have been hearing some unwelcome rumors."
"I hope you don't listen to rumor," I said, knowing very well that he did.
"And I hope you don't think you can fuck with me," growled King. "More to the point, I hope you don't think you can fuck my sons. One of them is trying to kill me."
"Of course."
I wanted to tell him that he was wrong, to tell him about the evidence I had, but suddenly that evidence didn't seem to amount to very much. Tonight was my chance. It seemed unlikely there would be an attempt with all the Leaders in the room, but if I could see something that might give me a lead, then I would be one step closer to saving King and removing the guys from suspicion.
"Given there are only three suspects," King went on with acid in his voice, "you're taking your sweet time about figuring out who is responsible. Are you any closer?"
I shook my head. "Whoever hired the assassin left no trail. I'm working on the idea that the assassin came from outside Kenai territory, possibly there's a link to another pack. Some sort of deal been done."
This seemed to satisfy King, who was happy to believe that he was important enough for more than one person to want him dead.
"You'll keep your eyes open?"
"Damn right."
King grinned. "I like you. If I were a younger man, that dress would already be on my floor. Part-wolf or not."
"Hard
to believe someone is trying to kill you," I commented.
But King's grin just broadened.
The party was larger than the last one I had attended, but a lot less fun was being had. As each pack retinue arrived, it was like someone had poured ice down the pants of the party spirit. Arctic Venus arrived with all the style I would have expected, making an entrance, smiling thinly at King before sweeping past him, her well-dressed entourage on her heels.
Half an hour later, not wanting to do something as polite as be on time, Hokkai Jack turned up with his people, looking as if they had come from a Game of Thrones costume party. One-Eyed Jack did not even acknowledge the other Pack Leaders as he entered. The most important arrivals, as far as I was concerned, were Tanner, Gray and Hudson - who were late, I would guess, because of Hudson. They were as well-attired as before and their clothes seemed all the more beautiful to me, now I knew what lay under them.
I tried not to let my eyes linger on them, but made eye contact with Tanner - they would be keeping a close watch on proceedings, as well. I sought out Venus and Jack to see if they had reacted to the heirs’ arrival, but Venus seemed not to care and Jack not to have noticed. MacKenzie Sean and his pack were the last to arrive, the MacKenzie not believing in such frivolities as clocks. They had put on clothes for the occasion but stuck with their rough, 'straight out of the wilderness' look, which...
I froze, not quite believing what I saw. There, amongst the MacKenzie retinue, was one of the men who had attacked me, the one who had foolishly taken off his mask. Surely, he would not have been dumb enough to come here? And yet, the more I looked, the more sure I was that it was the same man. At the very least, it warranted a word with him.
I strode towards the MacKenzie. But as I moved, the man looked my way and a look of horrified recognition shot across his face. He didn't try to make excuses or claim it hadn't been him, he just turned to the door and ran.
I broke out into a sprint, following him.
"Tanner!" If the man changed form, then I would never be able to keep pace with him. I needed help.
Her Werewolf Harem Page 11