The Journal Keeper (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Leerene Evans

  “What happened?” Nikolas pressed.

  “We’ll talk once we get there,” Dorin assured him, turning toward the kitchen.

  They entered the warm room to find Rianne sitting at a small table, a bowl of soup and a cup of tea in front of her. She was stirring the soup absently, obviously not interested in eating it. She looked up when they came in and was instantly hurrying toward them.

  “You came,” Rianne said with a small smile.

  “I told you I would,” Dorin murmured, kissing her sweetly before handing her to Nikolas.

  As soon as she was in his arms, the big polar bear began to run his hands over her body, checking for any signs of injury. When he found none, he crushed her to his chest, his entire body trembling as he pressed his face into her neck.

  “I thought you’d been taken from us.” Nikolas groaned desperately.

  Rianne wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight as Nikolas fought against the demons that plagued him. The servants working in the kitchen politely looked away when Dorin glanced around the room, going about their chores as if the strongest warrior in the Guard were not close to tears at the thought of losing his mate.

  “Come sit with me,” Rianne urged, pulling him toward the table.

  Dorin followed behind, choosing to sit across from them rather than beside him. He watched as Nikolas clutched Rianne to him, her positioned in his lap as she turned back to her bowl of soup. Relief flowed through him as she began to eat, obviously content now that the three of them were together. One of Nikolas’s hands rested on her lower back while the other wrapped around her waist, effectively caging her in, but Dorin saw how happy she was at the close contact. They really had been neglecting her the past few days, and Dorin knew they couldn’t afford to do so again, no matter what danger lay out there. Nothing was worth making Rianne unhappy.

  “What happened to your hands?” Nikolas asked, lifting one of her bloody hands in his.

  “I punched a few of the guards.” Rianne shrugged, though a blush stole across her cheeks.

  “You what? Why would you punch my men?” Nikolas asked, his eyebrows lifted in surprise.

  “They wouldn’t let me through,” Rianne grumbled, setting down her bowl.

  “They aren’t supposed to,” Nikolas told her.

  Dorin could see they were about to get into an argument over whether or not Rianne should be kept inside their chambers and quickly stepped in.

  “Nik, we need to talk about keeping Rianne locked up,” Dorin said.

  “What are you talking about?” Nikolas frowned at him.

  “It’s not fair to leave her locked up in our rooms for days on end while we’re out searching for this traitor,” Dorin explained.

  “So you think we should just let her wander the castle and wait for this bastard to take her?” Nikolas growled, setting Rianne in the seat beside him and standing to face Dorin.

  “No, of course not. I’m saying we can’t expect her to stay in those rooms for days at a time. She needs to be able to get out, and if you’re unwilling to let the guards accompany her, we need to do it,” Dorin persisted.

  “I am not a dog,” Rianne bit out, glaring between the two of them.

  Both looked at her as though she was crazy, but she simply continued to glare at them from her seat.

  “I do not need one of you to take me outside to pee on a tree, nor do I need you to play fetch with me so I can get some exercise. I am a grown woman, damn it. I can look out for myself,” Rianne insisted, banging a fist on the table.

  “And how do you expect to protect yourself from a bullet?” Nikolas asked.

  “How do you expect to protect me from a bullet?” Rianne shot back.

  “By putting myself in front of you,” Nikolas told her with a slight snarl.

  Rianne’s jaw went slack, and she stared up at him in what Dorin recognized as uncensored terror.

  “You can’t do that!” Rianne shouted, jumping up from her seat.

  “I’ll do whatever I damn well want to,” Nikolas argued.

  “Damn it, no, you can’t! I will not let you die for me!” Rianne cried, beating her fists against his chest.

  Dorin quickly moved around the table, taking Rianne in his arms in an effort to calm her.

  “NO! You are not going to let this bastard kill you!” Rianne screamed at Nikolas.

  “I will if it means you’re safe,” Nikolas said calmly.

  “Nikolas,” Dorin snapped, knowing it was the wrong thing to say.

  Rianne went limp in his arms, staring up at Nikolas in a way that made the larger man’s face pale.

  “Don’t you ever touch me again,” Rianne whispered in a voice so grave, Dorin knew she meant it.

  “Rianne—” Nikolas started, but it was too late.

  Rianne ripped out of Dorin’s arms and stormed from the room, slamming the kitchen door behind her. Nikolas stared at the door as if waiting for her to walk back through and tell him she had been teasing.

  “Damn it, Nik, you really did it this time,” Dorin sighed wearily, sinking into a nearby chair.

  “Are you telling me you wouldn’t step in front of a bullet for her?” Nikolas asked with a glare.

  “Of course I would, but I would never tell her that,” Dorin scoffed.

  “Why not?” Nikolas pressed, obviously curious about his answer.

  “Just as we can’t imagine a life without her, she can no longer imagine a life without us. Imagine how you would feel if she stepped in front of a sword for you,” Dorin reasoned.

  “I would die,” Nikolas declared, his hands shaking at the thought.

  “That, my friend, is exactly how she feels,” Dorin said, patting Nikolas on the shoulder.

  Nikolas sat with his head in his hands for some time, coming to grips with the truth of the matter before he was able to look Dorin in the eye.

  “We need to go after her,” Nikolas said.

  “Probably,” Dorin agreed with a wry grin.

  The two rose from their seats and left the kitchen together. There was no need to speak as they made their way up to the rooms they shared with Rianne. They both understood what would happen once they arrived. It had been too long since they had made love to their mate and neither was willing to wait another moment longer.

  The two guards positioned outside their rooms nodded to them as they walked inside. Instantly, Dorin saw where Rianne was seated by the window, arms wrapped around her knees as she looked outside. His first thought was terror that she was making herself too easy a target. His second was that she looked absolutely gorgeous sitting in the slowly fading sun, the pale light creating a halo around her rich, brown hair, a robe the only thing covering her delicious skin. A low rumble came from his chest as he walked across the floor while Nikolas took care of the door. Rianne looked up as soon as the door snapped closed, her eyes instantly narrowing as they focused on him.

  “Go away, Dorin. I don’t want to see you,” Rianne grumbled, turning her head away from him.

  “Too bad, danalya. You’ll not get rid of us,” Dorin warned, slowly stalking forward.

  “Well, if you won’t leave, I will,” Rianne snapped, jumping from her place by the window and moving to march past him.

  His arm reached out in front of her and wrapped around her waist, pulling and twisting her against his chest. He held her captive there, despite her wriggling attempts to escape. Her arms were trapped underneath both of his, keeping her completely pinned against his chest.

  “Let me go!” Rianne shouted, fighting against him.

  “Never,” Dorin vowed, burying his face in her neck.

  Nikolas walked around them, his face hard as stone as he moved to stand in front of her. Dorin almost staggered back when she lifted her feet to kick at Nikolas, but the polar quickly grabbed her legs and together they wrestled her onto the bed, but she used the momentum to bounce back up, hands curled into claws as she attempted to fight her way through them.

  “Stop, Riann
e,” Nikolas commanded, grabbing her wrists to keep her still.

  “No! Let me go,” Rianne yelled, struggling against him.

  “CEASE!” Nikolas roared, instantly stilling her.

  It was then that Dorin noticed the tears filling her eyes. Nikolas noticed as well and quickly released her.

  “Rianne,” Dorin murmured, slowly moving to join her on the large bed.

  “It’s not fair. I hate you. I hate you,” Rianne sobbed, falling against his chest.

  “No, you don’t, danalya,” Dorin hushed, rocking her.

  “I do. You’ve made me feel this way. It’s all your fault,” Rianne accused.

  “It will be okay, Rianne. Nothing will happen to any of us. You don’t have to worry about Nikolas jumping in front of a bullet because the shooter isn’t going to get another chance. We’re all going to survive this and grow to be extremely old with lots of children and grandchildren,” Dorin promised her.

  Nikolas slid onto the other side of them, his hand hesitantly reaching out to stroke Rianne’s hair. With a muffled cry, Rianne launched out of Dorin’s arms and into Nikolas’s, clutching him tightly.

  “You can’t die,” Rianne insisted tearfully.

  “I won’t,” Nikolas whispered into her hair.

  “Promise,” Rianne demanded.

  “I promise, capora,” Nikolas sighed, rubbing his cheeks against the top of her head.

  “You, too,” Rianne muttered, looking back at Dorin.

  “I promise, Rianne,” Dorin vowed, laying a hand on her bent knee.

  He watched as she snuggled farther into Nikolas’s hold, laying her head on his shoulder. Her exhaustion was palpable, and Dorin realized just what kind of effect the journal and her isolation had had on her in the past week. He would need to talk to Carme about how Rianne had handled having her freedom restricted, knowing the fox would have seen more changes than he and Nikolas. The thought brought home to him just how distant he and Nikolas had become over the past week that neither one could say how Rianne had been handling the changes around the castle. He shouldn’t have to go to Carme. He should know how his mate felt at all times, should know her inside and out. He realized he and Nikolas would need to change their priorities if they wanted to make their mate happy.

  “Come here, danalya,” Dorin requested softly, holding out his arms for her.

  She turned and crawled into his lap, leaving her feet settled across Nikolas’s thighs. Dorin laid them down, with Rianne tucked against his chest, his arms wrapped around her. Gently placing her feet on the bed, Nikolas moved to settled behind her, throwing his own arm across her waist so that Dorin felt Nikolas’s skin brush across his. The warmth of their bond seemed to become a physical thing, wrapping around them as their own little safe haven. They were all connected in the moment, and Dorin knew they couldn’t wait any longer to consummate the bond completely.

  Without a word, knowing his actions would be accepted, Dorin lowered his lips to Rianne’s, taking possession of her mouth in a passionate kiss. She responded to him immediately, her hands moving from his chest to tangle in his hair in order to pull her body closer to his. A soft whimper escaped her and traveled straight to his already hardening cock. His hands moved down, briefly cutting off Nikolas’s contact with their mate, to grip her hips and rock her body against his prominent erection. He felt Nikolas’s hands travel up her torso between their bodies to cup her breasts, squeezing the soft flesh and pinching the swollen nipples.

  Together, they worked her body to their own desires, moving her between them as easily as if they’d done it a hundred times before. With a few tugs, her robe came open, and Nikolas pulled it from her, tossing it haphazardly to the floor. The feel of her naked skin beneath his hands was enough to send his entire body reeling, his blood pounding in his ears. Unable to help himself, Dorin shifted down until her breasts were right in front of his face, suckling one until she cried out. The sound was muffled, and Dorin briefly lifted his head to find Nikolas occupying their mate’s lips, his tongue teasing across the swollen petals. He couldn’t tear his eyes away as he began to gently lick around the taut bud of her nipple, making her hands fist in his hair. While one of Nikolas’s hands remained cupped around a breast, offering the delicious morsel to Dorin, his other slipped down until he slid his fingers between her legs. She instantly opened for him, hooking a leg over Nikolas’s hip as he continued to torture her tight pussy.

  “Watch, capora,” Nikolas demanded, drawing both Dorin and Rianne’s attention to where his fingers disappeared inside her.

  Rianne moaned desperately, pushing against his fingers in an attempt to bring herself to climax. Dorin found it impossible to tear his eyes away from the performance Nikolas put on, watching as he spread her lower lips to show off the swollen tip of her clitoris. Mouth watering in anticipation, Dorin again moved down the bed, holding Rianne’s leg where it was over Nikolas's hip and joined his friend’s finger in bringing their mate pleasure.

  “Oh, God! Yes!” Rianne screamed at the first flick of his tongue, coming apart in their arms.

  Groaning at the taste, he greedily licked at the juices flooding his mouth, making sure to gather every delicious drop. Rianne’s dark blue eyes held him captive as she watched him dine on her delectable pussy.

  The polar quickly drew her attention away, turning her face until he could capture her lips, possessing her completely as Dorin feasted between her legs. Already he could feel her body responding to them, preparing for another orgasm. Dorin brought her right to the edge before backing off, only to bring her closer the next time. He played with her, enjoying the soft noises she made against Nikolas’s mouth. Eventually though, it became too much, and he knew they couldn’t wait much longer.

  Abandoning his position, he stood from the bed and stripped, all the while watching as Nikolas stroked across Rianne’s skin, making her squirm in anticipation.

  “Your turn,” Dorin croaked as he came back to the bed.

  With a defeated grumble, Nikolas gave Rianne over to Dorin, and he quickly got to work positioning her where they would need her. Lying on his back, he lifted her up until she straddled his waist, her wet pussy leaking all over his throbbing cock.

  “Put me inside, Rianne,” Dorin instructed, his voice trembling from his need to hold back.

  With shaking limbs, Rianne raised herself up onto her knees before reaching down to grasp his dick and place it at her entrance. So slowly he thought he might explode, she lowered herself down until he filled her completely. As soon as she was seated, he began to guide her, bouncing her on him and thrusting up to meet her. Her cries of pleasure echoed around the room and the soft heat of her made Dorin grit his teeth against a climax he wasn’t quite ready for.

  “Stop,” Nikolas’s rough voice commanded from behind her.

  Despite everything in him screaming for completion, Dorin held Rianne still and tried to ignore the way she wiggled atop him. Nikolas appeared over her shoulder, the container of lubricant in his hand. He watched Rianne’s face as Nikolas prepared her, could feel his fingers pumping into the entrance to her ass. Rianne’s face twisted into a grimace, her breath escaping her in a rush.

  “Just breathe through it, danalya,” Dorin coached, trying to ignore his own pleasure while they sought hers.

  “Gods, you’re tight. You need to relax, Rianne,” Nikolas insisted.

  “I’m trying,” Rianne hissed, her eyes squeezed tight.

  Knowing she needed a distraction, Dorin reached between them and gently pinched her clit, causing her entire cunt to clench and her eyes to pop open in surprise. She gasped and moved against him, effectively escaping Nikolas’s probing fingers until she moved back, and he entered her again. She gave a soft whimper when he added another finger, stretching her in preparation for his cock. Her teeth captured her bottom lip as Nikolas continued to work her, his fingers brushing against Dorin through the thin layer of skin separating them. With every thrust of his fingers, Rianne became tighter, drivin
g him absolutely insane.

  “Please tell me she’s almost ready,” Dorin pleaded with Nikolas, gritting his teeth as yet another finger was added.

  “Holy shit,” Rianne moaned, completely ignoring him as she tried to breathe.

  He ran his fingers through her hair in an attempt to soothe her, bringing her head down on his shoulder. She clutched him tightly as Dorin watched Nikolas work his fingers inside her. The polar was completely fixated on his work, applying lubricant excessively to help him stretch her. Watching Nikolas prep her proved to be incredibly erotic, and Dorin had to look away to keep from shooting his seed early. Instead, he worked on relaxing their mate as much as possible, running his hands across her soft skin and murmuring sweet nonsense words in her ear.

  Eventually her body relaxed enough for Nikolas to stretch her to the point where she could take his cock. He felt the polar withdraw from Rianne just before he felt Nikolas begin to slide in his thick erection.

  “Push back on me, capora,” Nikolas instructed, sweat running down his face as he patiently worked his way inside.

  Taking a deep breath, Rianne did as he said, moving back until Nikolas pushed through the initial resistance with a quick jerk. She cried out against Dorin’s chest but didn’t move as they murmured softly, reassuring her with their bodies. Her entire body trembled between them, but she didn’t demand that Nikolas remove himself.

  “Okay. Okay, I’m ready,” Rianne whispered, lifting her head enough for Dorin to see her face full of passionate hunger.

  Without another word, Nikolas began working his way deeper inside of her, and Dorin groaned at the feel of her pussy tightening around his cock. He began to mentally recite the names of royal families in an attempt to distract himself, but Rianne quickly banished any hopes he had of holding onto his control when she moved against him. Nikolas growled in victory as he sank fully inside her, combining the three of them in as intimate a way as possible.

  “Oh,” Rianne sighed, her eyelids half closed in desirous wonder.

  “Damn it, Nikolas. Move,” Dorin practically gasped, unable to wait any longer.