by Joyee Flynn
“Confused? Happy I found my mates but not sure what fate was thinking by one being a fairy and the other being a vampire? Exhausted and hungry as well.”
“All understandable,” he said before turning to my mates. “I’m Avery Donovan, these are my mates, Ty and Cord. Welcome to our home.”
“Why are you whispering?” Imogen asked as he shook my brother’s hand. Once again, I was an idiot.
“We have three daughters who are sleeping.” The love in my baby brother’s eyes at simply mentioning his children warmed my heart. He deserved that happiness a hundred times over.
“For now.” Ty chuckled as everyone exchanged hellos. “They’ll be up probably in an hour for their morning feeding.”
I glanced at my watch. “Their feeding is at six in the morning? Wow, I’m not sure how you guys do it.”
“With lots of love and patience.” Cord snickered. “You guys just want to crash, and we’ll get you unloaded and everything tomorrow?”
“Yeah, that sounds great,” I answered when Imogen and Aaron nodded, looking as tired as I felt.
We got settled in, and my heart broke when Aaron went to one guestroom and Imogen and I to another. He said he understood and we could deal with it after some sleep, but I saw the pain in his eyes. I didn’t like it. We needed to figure this all out and fast.
* * * *
After a whole five hours of sleep, I was up again…and overheating. My body was on fire with need to claim my mates, but I needed to give them more time until we knew what we were doing. Like if Aaron would try to eat Imogen. Silly little things like that.
I scurried out of bed and into the guest bathroom down the hall. I practically threw myself into the shower and blasted the cold water. When I realized I was standing there in my boxer briefs and T-shirt, I tore them off and moaned. The spray was freezing, and I swear I could almost see the steam rising from my skin as it cooled down.
“Sasha?” Avery called out as he knocked on the door. Like all close family would do when worried, he didn’t wait for me to answer before coming in. By then I was on all fours on the tile, panting as if I’d run a marathon. Holy shit!
“I remember your memories when you didn’t claim your mates right away, but I had no idea it would be like this.” I felt the tears burn in my eyes as he knelt down in front of me and nodded.
“Blows big time, doesn’t it?” He pushed my wet hair out of my eyes. I saw the concern and indecision. I’d bet he was dying to let my mates know I was hurting so they’d come help me.
“Why does fate do this to us? I don’t understand any of this. Yesterday I was upset about mom and dads having to leave the farm and the Hunters taking over our lives in a way. Now I just don’t know which way is up anymore, Avery.”
“I have a theory why, but I can’t give you any definite answers, Sasha.”
“Okay, I’ll take a theory right now.” I snickered. Right then I’d take just about anything because my brain was just fried from the past twenty-four hours.
“Having three in a relationship is harder than two and most people would automatically run if given the choice. Fate takes away the choice with dire consequences because fate knows what’s best when we don’t.”
I thought about it for a moment, and it made sense. I didn’t really like it, but it was logical. “But why a fairy and a vampire? They’re like oil and water from what I know now. Why do that to all of us?”
“I have a theory on that one, too,” Imogen whispered from the doorway. I turned to look at him so quickly that my world almost went black with how ill and faint I felt from overheating.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” I grabbed my head as if that would stop my feeling dizzy. It didn’t, but it was just instinct to hold something that hurts.
“You should have,” he said angrily as his eyes flashed violet. “You say I’m your mate but don’t come to me when you’re in pain and need help. That’s not how we treat our keepers, Sasha.”
“You’re right,” I agreed immediately and shook my head. “I wasn’t thinking other than you have enough on your mind, and I didn’t want you to let me claim you out of pity. I won’t force you into anything.”
“You stupid, stupid man,” he sighed and joined us in the shower stall. Avery was slowly backing away but then stopped.
“What’s your theory, Imogen?” Avery’s tone was gentle as if he knew it would be hard for my mate to answer.
“My parents were killed by vampires,” he answered and swallowed loudly. Oh this just got better and fucking better! “And I’m a prince of the fae. I’ve been on the side of going to war with the vampires so that we may live on this plane freely without worry of them attacking us. If they’re gone, so is the threat.”
“Holy shit,” Aaron gasped. Well goodie, now the whole gang was here. “The vampires don’t know about that.”
“Go run and tell them then,” Imogen snarled as he put his arm around me, getting his expensive-looking clothes wet.
“I would never betray my mate’s confidence even if he doesn’t trust me,” Aaron said firmly as if trying to hold back his anger. “I’m sorry for what happened to your parents, Imogen. I truly am, more than you’ll ever know. But I am not the vampire who killed them. I’ve never hurt a fairy or any paranormal before. There are bad vamps just like any other species. We are not all like that though, and I think you should remember that before judging my character.”
“Damn,” Imogen whispered after Aaron stormed out of the room.
“I’ll start breakfast. You guys have to be famished.” Avery got up and grabbed a towel as he reached the door so he could dry off. “But claim each other first because it will only get worse, Sasha.”
“Imogen hasn’t—”
“Imogen has agreed to be yours,” my mate said tenderly as he helped me to my feet. “I was yours from the moment you found me in that alley, Sasha. Claim me and ease your suffering. I’m not leaving and will apologize to Aaron. He’s right, and we’ll come to some understanding. There is no reason to delay this any longer. We have a bed after all now.”
“Thank you,” I replied as my teeth chattered. My fairy turned off the water, grabbed me the other towel, and dried me off. Avery had slipped away when we’d been talking.
He’d been listening though because there was a bottle of lube on the bed we’d been using that wasn’t there when I got up. Subtle.
“He’s a good brother.” Imogen giggled as he closed the door behind us and shucked his clothes. “Are you ready to bind our souls for eternity?”
“Oh yeah,” I moaned as I got my first look at his completely naked body. Hot damn! My best wet dream in a small package. I was also shocked and relieved that all his bites and wounds had healed. His skin wasn’t quite so pale now, and I saw he actually had a nice tan. And suddenly the need to claim my mate and overheated skin was back. I pounced on him, knocking him back on the bed he’d been standing by.
“Feisty,” he moaned as our dicks came into contact. “How does this work?”
I let the shift flow over me, so I was in my half-tiger half-man form. “I fuck you like this and then bite you to claim you as mine.”
“You’re all growly and your cock grew,” Imogen whimpered and shivered with lust. “Will you always bite me during sex? Because it’s not my thing but for you I might make it be.”
“Only when I go into heat and need to reclaim you,” I purred and ran my claws gently down his sides. “My cat needs to remind you who you belong to when the lunar cycle sends us into heat.”
“It’s so weird how you talk about your cat like it’s a different person,” he whispered as his eyebrows drew together in confusion. “Isn’t it just all you?”
“I have qualities of man and a tiger. It’s all me, but sometimes it’s like I have split personalities. My tiger comes out when I need to protect my family or my mates. It just feels right to respect that part of me enough to say ‘us’ or ‘we’ at times.”
“Strange to me but
I understand the line of thought,” he replied and then smiled wickedly. “Both of you have permission to fuck me any time you want.”
“Well thank you, my adorable, sexy fairy.” I growled as I rolled him over and saw his tight butt. I did love it. And I got a better view in daylight of his wings. “Will I be able to lean over your wings without hurting you? We claim our mates like this as a submission thing.”
“Yes, you won’t hurt me,” he moaned and raised his ass up to my groin. “Slam that huge cock into me.”
“Dirty fairy.” I chuckled as I pulled the cheeks of his ass apart. I gave him a quick swipe with my rough tongue, which made him cry out in pleasure before I did just as he asked. And the strangest thing happened. His wings started to flutter. “Do they always do that?”
“When I’m turned on or flying,” he mumbled. Imogen blushed so hard I saw it creep up his neck even though I couldn’t see his face.
“It’s hot.” He glanced at me over his shoulder and the look on his face clearly said he wasn’t buying it. I growled and started pounding into him. “I don’t lie. I think it’s sexy.”
“Okay,” he squeaked as I thrust into him hard enough to move him up the bed. I grabbed onto his hips tightly and held him to me, half pulling him back onto my dick as I fucked him into the mattress. “So good!”
“It gets better.” I picked up the pace, not telling him why it got better. I wanted the mating knot to be a surprise. Imogen screamed as I leaned over him and grabbed his cock. “Come for me, baby.”
“Too amazing,” he panted, gasping for air. “Don’t want it to end yet.”
“Pledge yourself to me forever, Imogen,” I whispered in his ear and ran my teeth over his neck. He shuddered at the contact and tilted his neck to give me more room. I think someone was into biting more than he wanted to admit.
“I give you my heart, soul, and very being, Sasha Donovan. Now and forever, a bond death may not even break.” It sounded very formal, and I assumed it was the binding he mentioned. We were both close, and I didn’t want to wait any longer. I sank my teeth into his neck where it met his shoulder.
My mate cried out my name and came all over my hand and the bed. His ass massaged my cock, and I moaned around his flesh. I followed him right over, lifting my head and roaring out my release as I kept thrusting into his hole.
“Surprise,” I purred when we started to come down from our orgasms and the mating knot came out and latched on to his prostate.
“Good surprise.” He moaned loudly as I swerved his hips, drawing out his pleasure. He climaxed again, screaming loudly. I liked the sound coming from my mate. “How come that didn’t happen before?”
“It happens with mates after they’ve been claimed. It’s fate’s way of telling us we got it right.”
“Yeah, fate,” Imogen slurred and then went limp in my arms. I couldn’t help but feel a little bit of pride that I’d fucked my mate and given him so much pleasure that he passed out. I licked the bite closed as I rolled us onto our sides, holding him close to me. When the knot receded, I didn’t want to pull out of him. I wanted this moment to last forever.
Right then, at that moment, everything made sense. There was no outside world and drama, simply my spent mate in my arms after mind-blowing sex. And I was scared he wouldn’t stay in my arms. I knew without a doubt I would do everything in my power always to keep Imogen safe and happy and with me.
I just hoped I was strong enough to be able to.
Chapter 4
“How are you feeling?” Aaron asked as I entered the kitchen a little while later. He wouldn’t meet my eyes, and my heart sank. I was so excited about claiming Imogen that I didn’t think how it would affect Aaron when he heard us.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered and moved to kneel in front of him. “I’m an ass. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“You claimed your mate.” He shrugged but looked so lost it tore me up inside. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I still have one mate to claim, if he’ll have me.” His head turned so fast toward me I was surprised he didn’t pop a disc. “I’m sorry we didn’t get the meeting we wanted or to acknowledge we were mates yet.”
He stared at me a moment before giving me a soft smile. Aaron slid his hand in mine and shook it. “I’m Aaron Loman, nice to finally meet you.”
“Sasha Donovan, and the pleasure is all mine,” I purred and raised his hand to my lips. I was rethinking my decision to get dressed after cleaning Imogen up and tucking him into bed. Because I wanted to fuck Aaron on the table right then and clothes would be in the way. Though I was glad I shifted back since I planned on touching Aaron all over and didn’t want to risk my claws.
“Avery and his mates took the girls to do some secret errand and give us some privacy. They said they’d be back in a few hours.”
“That should give us enough time to get biblically acquainted.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him and leered suggestively.
“Maybe we should talk first,” Aaron said quietly, but the bulge in his pajama bottoms said something else.
“Imogen wants to talk to you and apologize. We’ll figure this out, Aaron.” I tugged on his arm and pulled him into a firm embrace. I needed to feel him in every sense of the word and make his sadness go away so much it hurt.
“You met him first,” Aaron whispered, implying if things went bad, I’d get rid of him instead of Imogen.
“I’ve known you longer, and I’m not giving either of you up.” Before he could answer, I pulled his head down to mine and kissed him with everything I had. Aaron moaned and slid to the floor with me, wrapping himself around me. “We can be happy, Aaron. I know we all can.”
“I trust you.” In a flash, he pulled off his bottoms, turned away from me, and presented me his ass. “Claim me, Sasha. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”
“There’s something I have to ask first,” I said slowly as I pulled off my shirt. I wasn’t sure how to phrase what I wanted to say.
“This isn’t about Logan or wanting to be loved. It isn’t even about being lonely,” he replied firmly as he looked at me over his shoulder. “It’s about us. I love talking to you more than I think I ever have anyone in my life. There’s obviously chemistry between us, too. I want you, Sasha, not just anyone.”
“Thank you.” I kissed his shoulder and practically shredded my jeans in my rush to get them off. I lined up my cock and realized something. “Shit. Imogen’s magic automatically prepares him. I almost forgot and didn’t stretch or slick you up.”
“I’m actually stretched,” Aaron said sheepishly as he hung his head. “I was playing with myself while you just were going at it.” I felt a feral grin cross my lips at his admission. “How could I not? You guys were loud, and it sounded fucking hot. I fucked myself with a dildo, so I didn’t run in there and beg to join you.”
“You like toys?” I groaned and frantically glanced around the kitchen for something to use as slick. I had to squeeze the base of my cock, so I didn’t blow before we got started. The visual he was giving me was just too much.
“Sometimes,” he whimpered as I ran my hands over the firm globes of his ass. I quickly reached behind me and opened the fridge, groaning what I saw what we needed.
“Would you let me use toys on you, Aaron?” I purred as I pulled out some caramel sauce to top coffee treats or ice cream.
“Yes,” he hissed and spread his legs further as I licked his tight puckered hole. While he was distracted, I slicked up my cock and then poured some onto his crack. “Cold!”
“I’ll warm you up,” I growled as I rubbed my dick over it and set the sauce on the ground. My mate moaned and squirmed under me, but he had been right, he was stretched.
“Please, Sasha, make me yours,” he begged as he lowered his shoulders to the floor. I wasn’t going to ignore such a request. “Fuck me hard.” Nor that one.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” I said gently and pushed inside of him. His back bowed as he cried
out in delight. Aaron wasn’t that much shorter than me, maybe a few inches, so we were the right height for what I wanted. I leaned over him, wrapping my arm around his chest and pulled us both up to our knees. “Oh fuck you’re tight.”
“No, you’re just huge!” His whole body shivered as he moved his hands over my arm that was holding him.
“It’s about to get better,” I whispered in his ear and nipped his lobe. I shifted into my half-and-half form and he screamed as my cock expanded him even further. “Too much?”
“No! Fuck me,” Aaron yelled and slammed his hips back against mine. He met me thrust for thrust as I pounded into his ass, my arm wrapped around him while my other hand held his right hip. “Never been like this, Sasha.” I knew he was telling the truth because he wasn’t the type to lie. But he was also letting me know to settle my fears. He’d been with Logan so long that I was nervous I would be his rebound guy.
“Just as good as Imogen but different, too,” I replied, unwilling to lie.
“Want to be as good for you as he is,” he panted and then tilted his neck so his head was resting back on my shoulder. “Claim me. Please, Sasha!”
I moved my hand from his hip and started stroking his cock, but he beat me to it. I intertwined our fingers, and we moved together in every way possible. I struck fast, biting him as I slammed into his ass.
“Yes,” he cried out and shot all over our joined hands and the floor. “Oh fuck! Come inside me, my mate. Fill me!”
I grunted as my orgasm sideswiped me with his seductive words. He reached back and held onto my hip as I kept thrusting into him. I lifted my head and hollered out in pleasure as I felt our souls tie together as our bodies were.
“Mine,” I snarled as the mating knot came out and latched onto him.
“This is better than I imagined,” he moaned and came all over our hands again. I’d told Aaron about the knot in one of our many conversations. It’s not like we’d really been flirting and it just kind of came out when we talked. But now I knew why. Part of me had known he was my mate and would be experiencing it. “Falling…”