Their Runaway Mate

by Lori Whyte

He sighed. "I suppose we'll have to." Then his gaze landed on the chocolate cake. "Although perhaps we could save this for our own dinner."

  "That one is always a hit."

  "May I help package?"

  "Of course," she said. "I've just formed the loaves, so they still need to rise. Then I should probably call it a day."

  They worked in a comfortable silence. He wrapped the goods and she cleaned the kitchen. She'd even missed that. When the time was right, she slid the loaves into the oven. As she waited for the bread to bake, she dug through the other supplies and equipment, already planning what she would do next. She was elbow-deep in a cupboard when she heard footsteps coming down the hallway. She stood to greet the newcomer.

  "Ah, man, what is that smell?" Dillon's question preceded him by seconds. "Wow," he said as he looked around.

  Then he crossed the room to her and drew her into his arms. "I missed you."

  He kissed her before she realized his intent. She should have pushed him away—after all, Laughlin was standing just a few feet away—but she didn't. She leaned in to him and deepened their kiss.

  Dillon's scent mingled with the aroma from the baking, and Jasmine wanted to roll around in it, coat herself with it. Her body tingled, begging for more, but Laughlin cleared his throat.

  They broke the kiss slowly. Dillon's green eyes glowed. His breath was coming as hard and fast as hers.

  "We brought your bag and van," he said softly between panting breaths.

  "Thank you," she whispered.

  "Are the others still here?" Laughlin asked.

  Dillon broke eye contact with Jasmine to glance at the older man. "Yes. They wanted to find out Kylan's status before leaving."

  "Good," Laughlin said, then he left the room.

  Jasmine wiggled away from Dillon and pulled the loaf pans from the oven. She turned off the oven seconds before half a dozen very large and muscular men entered the kitchen. Dillon rested his hand on her back, as if to calm her as she faced the troop of dragon shifters. But as she studied the group, and the appreciative gleam in their eyes as they caught sight of her baking, anger and fear were noticeably absent. They all just seemed so… normal.

  "Help yourselves." Laughlin motioned to the table. "To anything but the chocolate cake."

  The men each grabbed a package and murmured their thanks.

  "I expect," Laughlin said as he eyed Jasmine, "there will be more available in the next day or two."

  She laughed. "Yes, probably."

  The men's eyes lit up and they dipped their heads in thanks as they shuffled out of the room. Laughlin joined them, filling them in on Kylan's condition as they walked.

  Then she was alone with Dillon again.

  "You are amazing," he said.

  And in that moment she did feel a little amazing. She'd just stood in a room full of dragons and hadn't flipped out. And she'd even promised to bake for them again.

  "Let's go upstairs and see if Kylan's awake yet. The doctor said he'd be healed when he woke, but refused to tell me how long he would be unconscious. He looked like he was almost mended, though, when we looked at his wounds."

  She hoped he was awake. She wanted to talk to them about her decision to give this situation a try.

  Chapter 12

  Dillon's blood was still rushing through his veins from the kiss he'd shared with Jasmine in the kitchen. He wanted her, and if he wasn't mistaken, she wanted him too. Him and Kylan. Just as it should be. But they needed to take their time. Ease into this next step with her.

  Her wide hips swayed in front of him, mesmerizing him as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. His fingers itched to feel her sweet cushioning curves again.

  "Beautiful," he murmured.

  "Hmm?" She stopped and turned toward him.

  With her two steps above him, her breasts were tantalizing close to his mouth. All he'd have to do was lean forward a little and—

  "Did you say something?"

  He stared into her eyes. His eyes were probably glowing—his dragon always showed when he was emotional—but she didn't seem bothered. "You are beautiful."

  She blushed and rolled her eyes. Then she continued up the steps.

  As they walked down the hall to the bedroom, Dillon's arousal heightened. There were so many things he'd like to do with her in that room, on that big bed… but not now. Not until Kylan was healthy. If things worked out and Jasmine mated with them, they needed to have started this relationship right, with all three of them.

  The bedroom door swung open, slamming against the wall and shuddering on its hinges. Kylan charged through the opening naked. His dark hair stood out in wild disarray, framing his intense face. His blue eyes burned like molten glass. His hands were clenched in fists so tight that his knuckles were turning white.

  He trembled when he saw Jasmine. He crossed to her and dragged her roughly against his body. His mouth claimed hers in a desperate fierce kiss. Dillon tensed, worried about Jasmine's reaction to being seized by a possessive, reckless shifter.

  When Kylan drew back, he stared into her eyes. "When I woke and you weren't there…"

  She gently cradled his cheek against her palm. "I'm here. I'm safe."

  Relief flowed over Dillon. She didn't panic. She didn't fight. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Kylan’s bared waist and rested her head on his chest as though she was equally happy to see him. Her hands trailed over his body, tracing the locations of his injuries. Nothing remained of the injuries that could have been fatal. She kissed the spot where he'd sustained the deepest gouge. Kylan inhaled sharply. He combed his fingers through her hair, but didn't brush her away impatiently, as he would have any other person. He gave her this moment to acknowledge his good health.

  "Are you sure you are okay?" she asked.

  "I wouldn't be awake if I wasn't healed."

  "Yes, that's what Korwyn said… but I just can't believe how quickly it happened." She placed another light kiss on his chest, then reached around and hugged him closely again.

  Kylan then looked at Dillon. "How long?"

  "You were out for a day."

  Kylan cursed, but his hand remained gentle as it caressed Jasmine's back. "Have there been more attacks?"

  Dillon shook his head. "I've doubled the guards and the flight patrols, but things are quiet."

  "Good." Kylan nodded quickly. He inhaled sharply and an unexpected smile broke over his face. "Have you been baking again?"

  At Jasmine's laughter, Kylan visibly relaxed.

  "Of course," she said. "Now, let's get you dressed. Then we'll go downstairs and get something to eat. You must be starving."

  "I think we all are." Kylan glanced at Dillon, who nodded, then back at Jasmine. He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, which was still glistening from his kiss. "But not for food."

  Jasmine's tongue darted out and trailed along Kylan's thumb. "You taste pretty good."

  Dillon groaned. Watching Kylan and Jasmine together for the last few minutes had been bad enough, but seeing Jasmine lick his partner punched through his crumbling resolve to take things slowly with her. He moved in behind her and nuzzled her neck.

  "Are you sure?" he whispered. "You never really answered us in the cabin."

  She leaned against him and tilted her head to the side to expose her creamy flesh to him. "I'm sure. I want to try this."

  Kylan grabbed her, swinging her into his arms, and carried her into the bedroom. She squealed, but she didn't protest. Dillon stripped his clothes as he followed them and shut the door. They would show her, reassure her, that they were perfect for her.

  ***

  Desire flooded Jasmine, making her body quiver. Kylan set her down with surprising gentleness after the thrilling way he'd hauled her into the room. She rested her hands on the expanse of his bare chest, which was taking on an iridescent quality similar to what his dragon looked like. The distinctive pattern of scales covered his skin, but he was still very much in his human form… Very much the
Kylan that she wanted in her arms and between her thighs.

  "Are you transitioning?"

  "When we are with our mate—our potential mate," he amended, "our dragon side surfaces, but we won't shift."

  His eyes glowed like the finest cut sapphires. She ignored the way he stumbled over the word potential. She knew he and Dillon viewed her as their mate, but that didn't worry her. They would never force her.

  "Does it frighten you?"

  His voice was deeper than she'd ever heard it before. She'd done that to him, just like she'd brought forth his dragon. She trailed her fingers along his collarbone. He still felt the same beneath her touch: hard, strong, warm. The scale pattern was like a tattoo.

  "No. I told you. I am not afraid of you."

  "Good," Dillon said as he pressed against her back.

  "I want to see you too." She turned to face Dillon. Somewhere between the hallway and here, he'd lost his clothing. Although she had never seen him without his shirt until now, she could easily identify the dragon quality on his skin.

  "You want me…" she whispered, "both of you." It was a heady realization.

  "Without a doubt." Dillon's finger slipped down the V in her shirt to the top button. "Now we want to see you too."

  She nodded. Her heartbeat boomed through her as two sets of hands began undressing her slowly. A button was undone, followed by a leisurely exploratory caress of the newly exposed skin. The zipper on her pants was slid down, then a finger brushed under the waistband along the elastic of her underwear.

  When her shirt hung open over her chest, Dillon bent and spread hot, wet, open-mouthed kisses from her neck to her belly button. She clutched at his silken hair, holding him close as she trembled in their arms.

  "You taste so sweet," Dillon said. His hot breath fanned across her skin.

  Kylan nudged her pants down. He lifted one of her feet, pulling the garment out of the way. Then he did the same with the other. He traced small curling patterns up the backs of her legs, until her knees threatened to give way.

  When Dillon straightened, she let her arms drop to her sides. He slipped her shirt from her shoulders and it slid to the floor. His emerald green eyes held hers for a moment, then he let his gaze slide down her body. The only clothes she wore were her bra and panties. The abundance of her curves, from her double D's to the wide swell of her hips, was there for the viewing.

  She shifted. Her hands twitched. The desire to cover her bulges and dimples from them was compelling, but they needed to know who she was as much as she needed to know them. It wouldn't work if they hid from one another. But their beautiful muscular bodies were perfection, and hers was… not.

  She watched his face, and he didn't frown. If anything, his breathing was coming faster, as if he was enjoying her body. The air, ripe with her dragons' mingled scents of earth and mist, wrapped around her. Embracing her. Exciting her.

  "Gorgeous," he whispered. Then he looked over her shoulder to Kylan. "Here, let Kylan see how beautiful you are."

  Kylan joined Dillon in front of her. Her skin tingled under their perusal. She let her own gaze slip down Dillon's body. Then his erection, one of the largest she'd ever seen, bobbed out from his body, hard and ready. She licked her bottom lip, then turned to Kylan, who was equally well-endowed. He was aroused too; a drop of moisture glistened from his tip.

  She throbbed with want by just looking at them. Her panties grew wetter. Her lovers both inhaled through their mouths. Dillon groaned and stepped closer to her. Kylan wrapped his hand around his length and stroked himself.

  "You want us, little one, don't you?" Kylan's voice was rough and unsteady.

  Emboldened by their obvious desire for her, she reached around her back and unclasped her bra. Then she pushed her undies down.

  Their eyes feasted on her newly exposed flesh. She crawled onto the bed, into the middle of the mattress. They watched her, but didn't rush to join her.

  "Are you coming?"

  "Not before you do." Kylan grinned as he moved to the foot of the bed. The double-entendre in her question was unintentional, but she loved the promise in Kylan's words.

  "Oh yeah." Kylan grabbed her ankles and pulled her toward him. Then he spread her legs. They didn't need their heightened senses to smell her, the whole room seemed infused with the fragrance of her arousal, but Kylan inhaled deeply anyway, then he grunted. "You are wet, aren't you? Wet for us."

  Dillon stretched out beside her and placed his hand on her breast. Her sharp intake of breath made him smile. He brushed his thumb over her hardened nipple and she arched against his touch. She wanted more. She wanted it all.

  "I'm going to suck on this." He flicked her nipple. "While Kylan sucks on this." Dillon pushed his hand down along her sex, slipping easily over her wet folds. She gasped at the sweet invasion of his fingers. He stroked her leisurely and she started to quiver. "If you don't like what we're doing, tell us and we'll stop."

  "Don't stop." She grabbed his hand to hold him there. She was so turned on, it probably wouldn't take more than a few strokes—

  He pulled his hand free, easily escaping her grasp. He licked his glistening fingers as though her wetness was his favorite ice cream flavor. She whimpered.

  Kylan's hands brushed the inside of her thighs then. She looked down to find him leaning over her, his face a mere inch from her sex. "I love the smell of you and I know you are going to taste just as delicious. Do you want me to taste you?"

  She nodded.

  "In words, little one. Tell me what you want."

  Jasmine took a deep breath, then the words tumbled out. "I want your tongue on me."

  He lowered his mouth to her quivering sex at the exact moment that Dillon drew her nipple between his lips. She shuddered under their hot kisses.

  Kylan's tongue danced over her swollen outer folds, then he pushed between them. His hands pressed against her knees, opening her wider to him and his explorations. He hummed against her, and the subtle vibration sent pleasure shooting over her.

  She dug her fingernails into the bedding. It wouldn't be long now. She was so—

  Dillon pulled on her nipples sharply, and a jolt of electricity arced through her. Kylan groaned and lifted his head. His fingers waltzed up the tender flesh of her thigh to her weeping sex. Then he pressed his long thick fingers inside her with an agonizingly slow thrust. Her breaths came on short, gasping whimpers.

  "Now, do that again," he said.

  And Dillon did, just as Kylan sucked on her hardened clit. She cried out in pleasure as she thrashed against them. They held her down and kept sucking at her, leaving her no choice but to abandon herself to them.

  Kylan's fingers moved faster inside her, deeper. His tongue flicked over her harder, wilder. Then Dillon moved up to cover her lips with his. His hands pinched and tugged at her nipples as he filled her panting mouth with his thick tongue.

  Intense pleasure exploded over her and she grabbed Dillon, drawing her fingernails across his smooth back. Wave after wave of tremors coursed over her until finally she collapsed to the bed in a sweaty, panting mess.

  Dillon dropped a kiss to her forehead, and Kylan pressed kisses against the inside of her thigh as he drew his fingers out of her with a slick pop.

  "Did that feel good?" Dillon brushed aside the hairs that were plastered to her sweaty forehead.

  "God, yes." She'd never experienced anything like that, and she wasn't sure she could go back to regular sex ever again.

  Kylan climbed up beside her. His eyes twinkled when he gazed down at her. "I want to see you come like that over and over again."

  He pressed his lips softly over hers. He tasted and smelled like her, but under it all there were still the earthy notes that were uniquely Kylan.

  The men settled down on either side of her as their breathing slowed.

  What? That was it? What happened to their need to ravish her? Did dragons do sex differently?

  "Um…" Was she really going to ask this? She had to know.
"What about…?"

  Dillon propped himself up and looked at her. His eyes still glowed. "What?"

  "Is something wrong? Don't you want to… you know… have sex?" She bit her lip and waited for his answer.

  "Nothing is wrong. We thought you'd want to take it slow." He glanced at Kylan, who nodded. "We didn't want to overwhelm you all at once."

  She let out the breath she'd been holding. "Oh, I think I can handle it."

  Chapter 13

  Jasmine reached for them. She found Dillon's hip with one hand and Kylan's with her other. Then she pulled them closer until their bodies were pressed against hers. Their erections were rigid against her.

  Kylan nipped at her earlobe, then licked the shell of her ear, filling her senses with the sound of his mouth on her flesh. "You can back out anytime."

  Like hell she could. She was burning with anticipation. Sure, she'd had an incredible orgasm, but she wanted these sexy men buried deep inside her. She turned her head to him and brushed her tongue over his lips. He opened and she thrust inside. He cupped the back of her head and held her in place as he took over the kiss. He drew in her lip and tugged it gently with his teeth before sucking on it lightly. Then he licked along her top lip. She moaned and gave herself over to his expert teasing.

  Dillon rolled her so she was facing Kylan. He wrapped his arm around her belly and pulled her back against him until his hard thick cock was nestled between her bum cheeks. Then his hand glided down, over the hills and valleys of her stomach. He stopped when he reached the triangle of her sex. His fingers combed through the tight curls… Teasing, gently tugging, caressing. He was so close to where she still throbbed from her release, but he didn't move to touch her slippery folds. His strong fingers pressed down, closer… but deftly evaded her thrumming clit. With each brush and push of his hand, new want spiraled through her.

  She slid her leg over Kylan's and hooked it around his hips. She pulled him closer. He obliged by sliding his hips toward hers. He stopped when his ready cock met her wet heat. Her body quivered. She tilted her hips toward him, eager to accept all that he could give her.