“Are you certain it was before a party?” she asked cautiously.
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Lord Maximus looks rather sad.”
Luther chuckled.
“Stressed is more like it. He takes his position very seriously, as do Dante and I. Maximus just feels compelled to take on all the responsibility so that if something goes wrong, only he is to blame.”
“I noticed that about him and that he also does not like to be challenged.”
“He is the Royal Alpha.”
“He had no right to use his powers on Val.”
Instantly Luther turned her around to face him. He towered over her as he pulled her body against his own and stared into her eyes.
“Val was disrespectful and deserved the treatment.”
Charity tried to pull away but Luther wouldn’t let her.
“What exactly is your relationship with Val?” he questioned as he gave her waist a tug closer to his body. Her thighs parted, and she felt his erection against her belly.
She gasped in response to the burning inside of her.
“He is my boss,” she whispered, half out of breath.
His lips moved closer to her mouth, and her skin tingled with want.
“Your boss, not your lover?”
She was lost under his spell as she felt her chest heave up and down.
“Boss, not lover,” she whispered, and Luther pressed his mouth over hers then plunged his tongue inside. She sensed his relief that Val wasn’t her lover. The Alpha had been jealous. Interesting.
He kissed her wildly, and their tongues dueled for control of the kiss. He lifted her thigh higher against his waist then cupped her ass and caressed her bottom while he ravished her mouth.
It was wild and carnal. She could sense the mating musk filter through her body from her nostrils and from his touch.
He released her lips so they could catch their breath, but the seduction continued. She rubbed her hands along his solid muscular arms and shoulders as he lifted her rear onto the wide shelf to the right of the paintings and spread her thighs. His hands pushed under her sweater and cupped her breasts as his mouth sought out her lips again. The palm of his hand felt hard and demanding against her skin. Her nipples hardened in response to his possessive touch. She allowed him to control the kiss, and then their breathing grew rapid as they attempted to devour one another’s lips. She felt his strong, large hands pull and tug on her breasts, causing her to moan inside Luther’s mouth. He thrust his hips against her mound, the material a barrier against penetration. He let go of a breast and reached for her button on her jeans and the zipper. She pulled her mouth from his and panted for breath as she tried to stop his hands.
“No, wait, we can’t,” she begged.
He lifted her off the ledge and pulled her to him.
“Yes, we can. I locked the door. No one will bother us.” One hand pressed against her ass as he pressed his thigh between her legs parting them.
“No, it’s too much too soon.”
He pushed his other hand inside her jeans and against her hip bone.
“I need to feel you. Let me pleasure you, Charity. Your scent is too enticing for my wolf.”
He kissed her hard then pushed her pants down slowly.
Her body coiled up with anticipation of a more intimate touch. Her pussy throbbed with need as she absorbed the pressure of his hand against her hip bone before he pushed further with determination.
“Please,” she begged, and he cupped her mound then pressed a finger in between her wet folds.
Charity gasped.
* * * *
Luther never wanted anything more in his entire life. The taste of her lips, the feel of her body, and the scent of her cream drove him and his wolf wild with need. Her abundant breasts rubbed against his chest, and despite the material guarding them from his view, he could feel her hardened nipples.
He pressed his finger in and out of her as Charity moaned against his mouth.
He released her lips, lifted her sweater, and pushed aside her lace bra so he could taste her breast. Then he added a second finger, and Charity moaned as she thrust her pussy against his hand.
“You’re so wet for me, aren’t you, mate? All hot and moist just for me,” he whispered, feeling his own need deepen as his cock pressed hard against his zipper.
Charity moaned at his words as she gripped his arms in an attempt to allow his fingers better access to her cunt.
“That’s it, Charity. Damn, I want to taste your cream,” he stated then licked along the seam of her lips before plunging his tongue inside her mouth.
He felt her tighten up then explode against his fingers. He released her lips then bent quickly to tug on her nipple with his teeth. He looked up into her glossy, lust filled eyes without releasing the hardened bud from his teeth. He licked and sucked her breast as Charity moaned. Slowly he released her nipple then stood up straighter.
Luther pulled his fingers from her body and brought them to his lips. They locked gazes as he licked each digit slowly while he stared at Charity.
“Thank you, Charity. That was delicious,” he teased then pulled her into his arms and hugged her against him.
He caressed her bare backside with his hands then pressed a finger along the seam of her crevice.
Charity jumped but Luther hugged her tighter against him, using her backside to keep her where he wanted her.
“Now I’m afraid we need to go see Maximus. He’s been looking for you.”
She took a deep breath and held his gaze.
“Why?” she asked as he slowly released her so he could help her get dressed. She clasped the button on her jeans and allowed him to pull her into an embrace again.
“You have yet to give him your side of the story about Alexis’s near abduction. You were rude to him. He is the Alpha, and your behavior requires punishment.”
Charity pulled away from him and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“Punishment? Has he lost his mind?”
The sound of the door unlocking caught their attention. Immediately, as the door opened, Charity took a retreating step backward and into the shelf. Maximus and Dante entered the room, closing the door behind them.
“I thought you locked that?” she asked, annoyed that her voice shook.
Luther smiled. “The Alpha has access to every room.”
* * * *
Maximus smelled her scent the moment he opened the door. His brother had succeeded in breaking down her defenses with seduction. He didn’t need his help to control their mate. Charity needed to learn her place in the pack and what responsibilities she would have as their mate.
“I had asked Alexis to have you meet me in the office,” Maximus stated as he took position a few feet in front of her.
“I was too busy,” she replied.
Maximus clenched his teeth and stared at her.
“When an Alpha summons you, you come immediately.”
“I was taking care of Val. His sickness was your fault.”
Maximus grabbed her wrist and moved closer to her. He stared down at her defiant facial expression and felt conflicted.
“Part of me wants to throw you over my knee and discipline you for your actions.”
“For my actions? What have I done wrong to deserve such an extreme punishment?”
“You consistently defy my orders and my command. You placed yourself and another Alpha’s mate in danger by not calling us immediately and going out on your own without guards.”
“I handled things fine without your guards. You do not own me, Maximus. I will not tolerate such demands from you or your brothers.”
Immediately Maximus pressed her body against the wall behind her.
“That’s where you are wrong, mate.” He caged her in then covered her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss. He lost his control at her outburst. The smell of her arousal at his demands and the scent of her cream when he stated that he would punish her
sent his wolf into action.
He couldn’t seem to get enough of her taste, her scent, or the feel of her in his arms The possibility that she could have been abducted or killed, sent rage through his entire being.
He ran his hand up and under her sweater, finding a breast and cupping as much as his hand could hold. She whimpered against his mouth, and he used his other hand to lift her up so she could straddle his hips. He used the wall behind her as leverage. He felt crazed with desire as he tore his lips from her mouth so they could catch their breath then licked along her shoulder and neck. He nibbled at her skin, and her arousal wafted through the air.
“Please, Maximus,” she panted.
“You belong to us. We are your Alphas, and we will protect you,” Maximus replied then released her breast to grab her face between his hands and hold her gaze.
She looked just as hungry with desire as he felt.
“You are our mate. We will not allow the disrespect or the recalcitrant behavior any more. After the hunt we will discuss this further.”
Maximus cupped Charity’s cheek and held her gaze again.
“You will learn to control that temper, Charity.”
Luther moved next to her and clasped her hand, bringing it to his lips. Before he kissed it, he stared at her.
“Our mate has a lot to learn about the ways of the wolf.” He kissed her hand.
“I think a good ass spanking may be inevitable, brothers,” Dante added, taking a step closer to their mate.
They watched Charity’s chest rise and fall as she attempted to control her breathing.
Dante rubbed a hand along her hip to her backside then squeezed.
She stirred under their gazes. They sniffed the air, and all three wolves smirked.
“I think our mate might even like a good spanking,” Luther teased, but then someone knocked on the door again, interrupting them.
“We’ll discuss this more tonight after the hunt.” Maximus then rubbed his thumb against her chin before kissing her softly.
Chapter 8
The Alphas remained in meetings, trying to figure out who was after Zagoran and his mate. They were making connections to some of the attacks throughout the state.
“Some of our investigators said that the two men were rogue wolves. They don’t belong to any particular pack,” Delta stated.
“Charity connected some of our investigators with one of her main operators at Caliber. He was really helpful. I think we might get some leads from him by tonight,” Dante added to the conversation.
“Really? That woman, Charity, seems more apt at running Caliber than that man, Val, who is the owner,” Delta said with a smile.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if it turned out that she actually runs the company. That happens a lot when you are the owner’s personal assistant. Personally, it doesn’t matter to me. She saved my mate,” Zagoran stated.
“Well, we might as well call it a wrap on this meeting for now. There’s not much more we can do. I am looking forward to the run and releasing some of this extra stress. My wolf has been antsy for weeks now,” Dante confessed, and everyone agreed as Maximus rose and ended the meeting.
* * * *
“I can’t wait to see Charity. It’s outrageous how much I feel lost without her nearby. Do you think she will come willingly tonight?” Luther asked his brothers as they walked down the hallway.
“She has no choice but to come to us when we call,” Maximus replied straight-faced.
“You were a little tough on her today in the library,” Luther added.
Maximus stopped in mid stride.
“I was tough? I am an Alpha, just like you are, Dante. No woman, no mate of mine, will interfere in my leadership. If we allow her too much control, she won’t learn her place as Alpha female, never mind as royalty.”
“All I’m saying is that you could be a little less abrupt. She was concerned about you. She saw your picture in the library and saw sadness in your expression,” Luther offered.
“Sadness?” he questioned, his eyebrows furrowed in surprise.
“Maybe she’s just in tune to your emotions and your character as a good mate should be,” Dante added.
“Well, I know one thing for sure. Her body is in tune to our touch. She’s never been with a man before, and we will be her first and only. The thought that no other has ever or will ever make love to her drives my wolf wild with possessiveness.” They both looked at Luther and agreed.
“Let’s prepare for the hunt. Tonight we’ll take full possession of what is ours,” Maximus replied and then continued to walk away from the meeting room.
* * * *
Charity had taken a long, hot bath and tried to get the Alphas out of her mind. It was becoming difficult to be apart from them. Their touch had such an effect on her body that even now, after a long, hot bath, just the thought of their touch made every erogenous zone hum with desire. At this rate, she was liable to jump them herself. The thought made her cheeks warm.
The hunt was tonight, and she still wasn’t certain which form the spirits would want her to take. Sometimes it was annoying to have to wait for their command. Other times, when she just allowed herself to react without their provocation, things turned out the way they were supposed to. Kind of like today with Luther in the library. As a princess she was supposed to act with discretion and not give into selfish desires. But she couldn’t resist temptation or the hungry feeling that seemed to deepen in the presence of the Alphas. She was beginning to believe that they were indeed meant to be her mates. It made sense after all. They were royalty and she was a princess. She couldn’t help but wonder if she were meant to take on the form of a feast for the brothers. The thought brought on a surge of heat through her body. They had only been separated for a couple of hours, yet she couldn’t stop thinking about them.
She was still a bit angry at Maximus for hypnotizing Val. The poor man was nauseated even after she used some of her powers to calm his sickness. He had continued to pretend serious illness to the Alphas and the other guests to not attract questions or attention. It gave Val more time to investigate the incident at the café in the beginning of the week and also the connection to the random attacks. Maximus proved that his reputation as an authoritative and powerful Alpha was warranted. His ability to hypnotize in an instant was bestowed upon him by the Goddesses. They had yet to feel that he overused that privileged power or that he abused it. However, seeing that Val had experienced it firsthand bothered Charity. His temper was a bit questionable in her book. However, she did provoke him at the meeting and forget her role as assistant. That being said, his form of punishment for her would make any sane woman act out on purpose. The way he grabbed her around the waist, lifted her easily onto the table, and then kissed her breathless was invigorating. Then of course, she provoked Maximus again in the library today. His threat of punishment both angered her and made her body warm with desire for his command. It was insane. She was a leader, not a follower. How could a relationship with such demanding Alpha males work out?
Brushing her hair as she watched her reflection in the vanity mirror, she couldn’t help but desire the brothers’ touch again. It was amazing, but she felt a connection. Praying to the spirits for some kind of sign or indication that she was to continue the love affair with the triplets had caused the spirits to act. They had condoned the attraction, and it appeared that they wanted her to be their mate. The brothers had professed the same information. This came as a complete surprise to Charity. She recalled the Goddess Bethany’s words.
“The spirits have answered your prayers, my princess. It seems that through the years your assignment as protector to the Venificus royal family was in part to secure your mating. It has been proven by the three brothers’ actions, words, and inner desires that they have chosen you to stand beside them as ruler. You will need the combined strength of their love for you and your love for them to fight the battles set before you. Embrace the time together with them. Yo
u will be challenged by their unique, strong, and determined personalities as well as their need to control and possess all of you. Do not be afraid. Follow your heart for you have the ultimate power of sensing emotion, desire, and true intent. You will know what to do.”
She thought she would spend eternity alone. As the Chosen One, she had too much responsibility and allegiance to protect both this realm and all others when the spirits called upon her. How could she possibly be allowed to fall in love?
The words caused an ache in her belly and a knot in her throat. The tears filled her eyes, and instantly she thought of her mother.
To lose her parents as a baby was the beginning of a lonely path set up for her by the gods. Rationalizing their intentions led her to believe it was all to make her stronger. The fight against Devlon and her escape through the use of her unknown powers at the time was all part of her destiny. Through the heartache, the pain of not having her blood family to aid her or to simply love her, Charity developed a wall of protection around her heart.
Here she was, capable and willing to offer goodness and love to those souls she knew and sensed were forthright, yet she had no one to love her back. There had been no one to hold her and make her feel protected instead of being the protector. That was until meeting the triplet Alphas. They had truly touched her heart and her soul.
She thought that she was destined to fight the battle of all time and to be alone with her gifts, her powers, and her dedication to the gods. She had been wrong, and now she was seeing the bigger picture here. She thought about Maximus, Luther, and Dante and felt the tightness in her chest and the deep emotion in her heart.
Could it be that she was already in love with them?
The knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and she wondered who it could be.
“Celeste, how are you?” Charity asked, motioning for the older woman to enter the room.
Dwyer, Dixie Lynn - Were Love Conquers All [Were Trilogy 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 11