by Kris Norris
She gave him a curt nod, though he sensed her doubt. Cullen turned to face Lucas, silently asking him if he was okay.
Lucas grunted. “Ask me after I’ve changed.”
“I can shift if you’d prefer.”
“Right, because your damn Kodiak is much calmer than my grizzly.” He gave Cullen a shove. “No way you’d be able to hold anything back if you shift in here. Not with my bear just as raw, and Hollis’ scent saturating the air.”
Hollis cleared her throat. “My scent is saturating the air?”
Lucas glanced at her. “Like I said. Just because we’re both men right now, doesn’t mean we don’t retain a heightened sense of smell, albeit not as good as when we’re in our animal form. But enough to smell that you’re nervous.” A hint of a smile lifted his lips. “And oddly, a bit aroused.”
Color flamed along her cheeks and down her neck before she released a slow breath. “I never said you boys weren’t handsome. And seeing you standing there, without your shirt… I’m still a woman beneath the clothes.”
“Let’s hope you still feel that way once you see that we’re more than just men beneath ours.”
Hollis’ eyes widened, but she remained quiet. Lucas groaned then stripped off the rest of his clothes, handing them to Cullen. Cullen placed them on a chair then took a moment to appreciate Lucas’ body. The firm flex of muscles under smooth skin. The dusting of hair along his chest, though it was the narrow patch leading down to his cock that held his attention. There was no mistaking the state of his mate’s arousal, the plum-shaped head swollen with need—the thin slit shiny with fluid. His bear growled in agreement, and Cullen wanted nothing more than to go to his knees. Take Lucas’ shaft in his mouth until the man spilled along his tongue.
A hand connected with his chest, knocking him back slightly. “Would you stop thinkin’ about that, or I won’t have any control left after, either.”
“Doing the best I can, mate.”
A strangled moan sounded off to his right, and Cullen glanced at Hollis. Her lips were pursed tight as she dragged her gaze up from Lucas’ groin. The blush on her cheeks deepened, the blue of her eyes nearly engulfed by the black. Cullen inhaled, rewarded with the sweet, earthy musk of her desire. She could distance herself all she wanted, but she couldn’t hide that they affected her physically.
Hollis arched her brow. “He’s your mate? That’s like being married, right?” She muttered under her breath when he held up his hand. “Fine. Questions after…” she waved at Lucas, “…he shifts.”
Cullen didn’t miss the hesitation in her voice, not that he could blame her. If their positions were reversed, he doubted he’d believe in shifters without concrete proof. He just prayed she’d hold true to her promise and not run off as soon as Lucas changed.
Lucas sighed then focused Hollis. “Ready?”
She nodded.
“I’ll try to slow it down a bit, otherwise you won’t really see anything at all.”
She stared at him, mouth pinched tight, then gave him another guarded nod.
Lucas took a deep breath then closed his eyes as his head bowed to his chest. There was a moment of utter silence before pops and creaks filled the void. The man shook, his limbs jerking at his sides as a ripple undulated down his body, distorting the perfect symmetry. Fur erupted along his skin, cascading outwards as he fell forward onto all fours. Paws hit the wooden floor in place of his hands, thick claws clicking against the slats. He shook his head, revealing a long snout and whiskers. The thin hairs twitched as he scented the air, a low growl vibrating around them.
His grizzly took a step forward, stopping when Cullen moved in front, blocking his way. The animal knocked him with his head, nearly sending Cullen onto his ass.
“Damn it, Lucas. How is it you manage to forget how strong you are every time you shift? I swear your bear has a twisted sense of humor.”
He gave the grizzly a shove, scratching behind his ears before turning to look at Hollis. Pupils blown wide, she stared at the creature, the back of her hand pressed to her mouth. She didn’t speak, just kept her gaze fixed on the bear.
“Hollis? You okay?”
She blinked a few times, finally managing to spare him a quick glance. Her chest heaved against her shirt, the ragged sound of her breath spurring him into action.
He crossed over to her, gently cupping her elbow. “Try to slow your breathing, sweetheart, or you’re going to pass out on us.”
She frowned, staring at Lucas, again. “I…I… Dear God.”
Cullen caught her as her legs buckled, easing her onto the bed. She tensed as Lucas lumbered over to them, his massive head level with hers.
“Shit.” Cullen shoved at the bear. “You might want to give her some space, mate. I’m pretty damn sure she’s never been this close to a grizzly, let alone the likes of you.”
Lucas’ bear tilted its head, looking as if it didn’t quite understand.
Cullen chuckled. “You’re not exactly small, and the last thing we need is to scare her.”
The animal snorted then turned.
“Wait.” Her voice barely rose above a whisper, but Cullen felt the weight of the single word hit him in the gut.
Hollis swallowed as Lucas swung back to face her, his snout dangerously close to her. She moistened her lips, tentatively reaching toward the animal. Cullen sighed at the noticeable shake of her hand before she glanced at him, finally stroking Lucas’ neck when Cullen nodded at her.
She gasped, allowing her fingers to fist around the fur. “The undercoat is so soft.”
Cullen nudged her. “What were you expectin’?”
“I…I…” She exhaled. “I don’t know. Not this. Lucas falling onto his knees, maybe crawlin’ around grunting, but definitely not this. I…”
Cullen palmed her back, smiling when she didn’t shy away from him. “I know it’s a lot to take in—”
“A lot to take in?” She scoffed at him. “I’m touching a bear that’s also a man. They lock people up for believing in this kind of stuff.” She released her grip on Lucas and pushed to her feet. “I need a moment. Some air, I…”
Cullen stood beside her, stopping her from attempting to dart past Lucas. “You promised you wouldn’t run.”
“I’m not running. I just… Christ, I just need some air. To process…” she waved at them again, “…this.” She looked at Lucas. “I’ll come back.”
She edged past the animal, as if she wasn’t quite sure how it’d react, then slipped out the door. The exterior one creaked then banged shut, the hollow echo of it followed by a swirl of cold air.
“Damn it!” Cullen raked his fingers through his hair, resisting the urge to throw any handy object across the room at the door.
A throaty growl sounded next to him as Lucas’ bear pawed at the floor. Cullen cursed, again, doing his best to move in front of his mate. The animal snorted, rising up on its hind legs as it sniffed the air. It roared this time, obviously angered at the diminishing strength of Hollis’ scent.
Cullen raised his hands in the hopes of calming the bear. “You’re not the only one who’s upset, but the last thing we need is to wake up the camp. It’s the middle of the night. Another roar, and Hollis’ reaction will be the least of our troubles. We’ll have a dozen armed men in here, looking to bag themselves a bear. So, you’d best shift back before your grizzly decides it doesn’t care.”
The animal snarled, falling back to its front feet before pacing away, despite the fact there wasn’t enough room for it to take more than a couple of steps. The small side table tipped over as it knocked into it, the loud bang resonating through the air.
“Lucas! I’m right here. Not going anywhere. But you can’t claim me wearing fur.”
The animal whimpered, the mournful sound tightening Cullen’s chest. His mate sounded lost, hurt, and Cullen wasn’t sure if he’d be enough to lessen the pain. To keep the human part of his mate whole. God knew he was barely holding on. Chances were, they’d have
to leave. Escape before either of them did something foolish and exposed their other halves to real danger.
More pops echoed through the room, and Cullen watched as Lucas misted into view, the bear simply fading into the man. His mate grunted, his muscles flexing from the obvious strain before he raised his head, his gaze locking on Cullen’s.
Cullen caught him when he sprang to his feet, looking as if he intended to run out the door after Hollis. “Easy.”
Lucas growled, though it wasn’t quite as deep or as menacing as his bear’s. “She left.”
Pain stole Cullen’s breath as the words hit him full force. “I know, but…you’re not in any shape to go after her.”
“Why the Hell not?”
“For starters, you’re naked.”
Lucas frowned then leaned against Cullen, allowing him to bridge most of his weight. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy to see that side of us, but… Shit! I didn’t think she’d leave. Not really.”
Cullen tugged the man against him, hoping the gesture would ease the pain lacing Lucas’ words. Cullen hadn’t thought she’d leave, either. Though, they’d probably just been fooling themselves into believing she’d want to get involved with a couple of men who obviously didn’t fit in.
“I didn’t leave.”
They spun as Hollis’ voice sounded behind them. She stood in the doorway, hands fidgeting at her sides, her eyes wary. But it was the lack of obvious fear that grabbed his attention.
“I said, I needed some air. Leaving implies I wasn’t coming back.” She stepped inside the room, closing the door behind her.
Cullen snagged Lucas’ pants off the chair, shoving them at him. Lucas grunted but yanked them up, his focus still centered on Hollis. Cullen waited until his mate was halfway decent before looking at their girl. Their girl. That shouldn’t be his first thought. While the fact she’d returned gave him and his bear a glimmer of hope, they weren’t close to marking her as their mate.
Lucas moved past Cullen, padding his way across the room before stopping in front of her. Hollis looked up in order to maintain eye contact, and it didn’t take much for Cullen to picture Lucas’ hand cradling the back of her head, his mouth molded to hers.
Lucas glanced back at him then faced Hollis. “Hollis—”
“Wait.” She held up one hand. “You said I could ask you questions once I’d watched you…” She swallowed noisily then shook her head. “I think it’s time you told me the whole story, including how I seem to fit into it.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Hollis stared at Lucas, praying she’d composed herself enough that neither he nor Cullen would sense the nervous roll of her stomach. See the slight shake of her hands as she crossed her arms over her chest. But after everything she’d witnessed, she had little hope that they’d miss any reaction, regardless of how small it was.
Lucas frowned. “Are you okay?”
She nearly laughed at the thought. “Considerin’ what just happened, I’d say I’m handlin’ it all pretty well.”
“You’re scared.”
“Of course, I’m scared, Lucas.” She groaned then leaned against the door. “But it’s not what you think. I’m not afraid of you—that you’ll hurt me—it’s just… You’re a…shifter.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m even saying that. Until five minutes ago, I didn’t believe they actually existed. And it’s not as if you turn into something small, like a coyote. You’re a grizzly bear.”
Lucas’ mouth quirked. “You think I’m large, wait until you see Cullen’s Kodiak. He’s twice the size of my bear.”
Cullen grunted, walking over to give Lucas a swat on his shoulder. “You’re supposed to be putting her at ease, not making it worse.”
Hollis let her head fall back against the wood. “It’s fine. I just think I’m allowed to be nervous when I’m only beginning to understand. I came back. That should count for something.”
Lucas smiled. “It means more than you know.”
She gave him a small smile, grimacing when the simple movement sent a pulse of pain through her head. While interacting with them had pushed it into the background, now that the immediate tension had lessened, the steady throb in her cheek and lip had returned.
Lucas frowned and leaned in close, his upper body skimming hers. His gaze slid to her left side then back. “You’re in pain.”
The heat from his torso bled through her shirt to warm her skin, and she had to resist arching into him—running her hands along his chest, finally tasting his lips.
Lucas exhaled, fluttering the hair tangled around her face. “Be careful what you wish for, darlin’. Cullen and I aren’t exactly in full control, right now. You have no idea how hard it is not to kiss you.”
“What I’d like is for my head to stop pounding. My lip not to sting. Not to feel as if I’ve lost my… Wait. How did you know I was thinkin’ about kissing you?” She inhaled sharply. “Can you two read my mind?”
She groaned inwardly. If they were capable of knowing her thoughts, she had a lot more to be embarrassed about than wanting to kiss them. And if she started thinking about all the other things she’d like to do to them—had already pictured doing to them while they were in the same room—her body would betray her in other ways. Ways they’d already said they could sense.
“Damn.” Hollis let the door support more of her weight as her legs buckled slightly.
Lucas tsked her then bent low, scooping her up. He snorted at her irritated huff. “Please, we don’t need our enhanced senses to see you’re on the verge of passing out. And that was before you learned the truth.” He set her on the bed. “Do you still want to talk, or do I just tuck you under the sheets?”
“Talk. Definitely talk.” She palmed her head. “Though, I wouldn’t say no to a shot or two of whiskey if you have any. Might ease my head a bit.”
Lucas frowned, glancing at her left side before heading for the door. He slipped into the darkness beyond, returning a few moments later with a bottle and three glasses. He dragged a chair close to the bed as Cullen sat down beside her, the mattress dipping against his weight. The glasses clinked together as Lucas poured them each a drink, handing them out. Hollis whispered her thanks, swallowing the offering in a single gulp. The liquid burned a path down her throat, warming her chest. She relaxed, smiling when he refilled the glass.
Lucas took a swig of his, arching his brow at her. “Better?”
She nodded. “Now that I’m calmer, we can get back to the part where you seem to be able to read my mind. And where you two are mates.”
Cullen chuckled. “Glad you’re starting with the simple questions.”
“I have a feeling nothing is simple where you two gentlemen are concerned. Least of all why I have this unexplained…pull toward you. The fact there’re two of you should have be enough for me to keep my distance, but I just can’t seem to get either of you off my mind, which makes even less sense now that I know you’re involved.”
Both men smiled as the obvious tension in the room eased, though she wasn’t quite sure why. Lord knew her heart still felt as if it was thrashing against her ribs. Though, she wasn’t convinced it was from apprehension, not with Lucas’ chest still bare, his muscles flexing with every small movement. She dampened her lips, wondering when it had gotten warmer in the small room, when Cullen nudged her.
“You’re not the only one who wants to run your hands all over his body, but we promised we’d answer your questions. To start, no, we can’t read your mind in the way you’re probably thinkin’. It’s more sensing your feelings, though, sometimes, it’s like hearing you scream your ideas at us. But, for now, that’s only when we’re close.”
“For now?”
The muscle in his jaw clenched. “Under the right circumstances, the ability strengthens over time.”
“Are you saying you’ll be able to sense everyone’s thoughts from farther away?”
Cullen glanced at Lucas, again, then sighed. “Not everyone’s. The connecti
on is primarily between mates, though we can pick up on another shifter’s thoughts if they’re unable to shield them.”
Hollis furrowed her brow. “But…how are you able to read mine, then? I’m not a shifter, and you’ve already said that Lucas is your mate.”
Cullen reached for her, taking one of her hands in his. “Lucas is my mate, but he’s not my only one.”
She frowned, wondering what he was hinting at, when the answer clicked into place. She inhaled, staring from Lucas back to Cullen. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Heat billowed up from her legs, and for a moment, she thought she might pass out.
Cullen tightened his hold on her hand, using his other to cup her shoulder. “Easy, sweetheart. Try to breathe.”
She snapped her head toward him, ignoring the slight tilt of the scenery before drawing in a few choppy breaths. “Breathe?” She pulled her hand free then stood, pacing a few shaky steps away before turning. “This is crazy. Obviously, I must have passed out in the street, and this is all a dream.”
Both men stood, though judging by the way their muscles strained, she knew they were working hard not to march over to her and shake some sense into her. Not that a part of her would mind. Just thinking about them touching her, running their hands along her body…
She grunted, giving herself a mental shake. Now wasn’t the time to be drifting into those kinds of thoughts. Not when part of the frantic beating of her heart was from just trying to get a grasp on what, exactly, was happening, and how she was going to deal with it.
Lucas tilted his head, his lips quirking. “We realize we’ve thrown a lot at you, all at once—”
“A lot? I’ve spent the past few weeks trying to figure out why I feel the way I do, only to believe you were both just lyin’ to me. Now, you’re standing here telling me I’m your mate. That we’re all mates. There’re three of us, or do you have more mates that I’m unaware of?”
“It’s not like that.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Shifters are different when it comes to love. We can have sex with anyone we choose, but our hearts are drawn to certain people. Sometimes, there’s only one, but often, there’re two. Whether it’s to help reduce the number of people that know about our secret or just the nature of our kind, I don’t know. All I know is that I recognized Cullen was mine the moment I shook the man’s hand. But as sure as we were, we also knew there was a part missing. Someone missing. Then, we met you, and everything changed.”