She stepped back. She couldn’t bear it if he touched her now.
“It hadn’t occurred to me you’d need to. It’s too soon; we’ve barely had any time together. It’s an insult to ask me to accept another man in our bed this soon after our first mating and during my breeding cycle.” She turned her back on Justice, not wanting him to see the tears brimming in her eyes. Damn him.
He took a hold of her shoulders and turned her to face him. “My decision is irrevocable. It’s not one I made lightly. As my mate, you must welcome my sec. Show me your unquestioned belief in me as your future supreme alpha to do what’s best for all of us.”
“I didn’t take the supreme alpha to my bed. I took a man who I thought at least cared enough to consider my feelings and consult me about something this important to us as a couple.” She stared stonily up at him.
“It’s because I care that I’ve done this. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you. I’ve chosen a man who will protect you as I would, with his last breath. I chose a man who has affection for you, which you reciprocate. You insult us both by your rejection. Accept his vow of commitment. I’ll have your vow of allegiance also, Drew.” Justice stepped back and waited for her decision.
Drew walked over to her and took her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. The understanding in them, tinged with the glint of bad-boy sexiness in his eyes, melted some of her anger.
“Would it be so bad, Saffa?” He hugged her comfortingly. This was Drew, her friend. Maybe she’d read one too many romance novels. There was no place for misplaced sentiment in their lives. She relaxed against him.
“I pledge my life and the strength of my pack as your mate’s sec, to keep you safe, Saffa Ambervane.” Drew turned to Justice. “With fang and claw I’ll meet your enemies in battle.”
Drew shed his clothes, shifted into a wolf and lowered his head in an act of submission. An alpha, bowing to his future supreme alpha, not by force but by choice. He bared his neck, the final show of his trust and commitment to Justice.
Justice swung his gaze over to her. She let out a shaky breath and shrugged off her robe. She’d do as he asked, but to show she was still pissed, she took the form of a cheetah, not the wolf as expected, and bowed.
Justice shed his clothes and assumed a lupine physique, his presence dominating the loft. Saffa took several steps back as a show of respect.
Lifting his head, Justice sent out his howl recognizing Drew’s pledge The varying cadence of the cry couldn’t be mistaken by anyone who heard it. Justice had taken a powerful were as his sec, adding to his influence. His pack mates inhabiting the building howled their own vows to their future leader.
Justice butted her side and she climbed up onto the bed. Saffa positioned herself with her back to him. She wasn’t ready to make nice just yet.
Of course, he ignored her and curled his body around hers. Drew took his place beside her, settled down and promptly fell asleep, or at least pretended to.
Saffa lay there for a long time listening to her men breathe. Well, hell, things were getting more and more complex by the minute. Too restless to sleep, she tried to slip from the bed but the men moved to crowd her, keeping her wedged between them.
Irritated, she wiggled but neither man budged. As always, her body began to crave Justice’s, but with Drew here with them it was hard not to be drawn to him too. She stretched out into her true form, and to her annoyance her bed mates mimicked her actions. Sandwiched between the two bodies, Saffa gulped. It was going to be a long night. She wasn’t uncomfortable, but the intimacy of the bodies pressed against hers made her restless.
Stubbornly, she tamped down her emerging arousal and willed herself to sleep.
***
Waves of sensation rippled through Saffa, pulling her from a deep sleep into a state of blissful awareness. Hands slid leisurely over her body. Her butt was caressed by Justice’s familiar callused palms, her torso skimmed by another skillful pair of hands.
Justice’s warm lips caressed the nape of her neck while one of her nipples was suckled on hungrily by Drew. The muscled bulk of the pair of bodies enveloped her in an erotically charged heat which aroused her to a needful mass.
She stiffened when Drew released the bud he teased and lifted his head to look directly into her eyes.
“I’m not ready for this,” she whispered.
“We’re doing this to familiarize you to our touch.” The deep rumble of Justice’s voice against her shoulder vibrated through her.
“What did you two do, toss a coin to see who went first?” Her tone earned her a heavy sigh from Drew.
“She’s not ready, Justice. You shouldn’t press her.” He pulled away from them but Justice stopped him.
“Saffa.” The soft admonishment made her drop her eyes. “Let us pleasure you.”
What the hell was Justice up to? She could very easily conceive Drew’s cub. He nipped her sharply. She arched forward, gasping when the dusting of hair on her mons brushed a hard protuberance. Drew’s erection. Justice’s arousal pressed just as insistently against her back.
She was a lot of things, but a saint wasn’t one of them. The evidence of how excited they were started a series of undulating pulses within her sheath. Moisture seeped down into her cleft, preparing her.
Her breathing became labored. The scent of her arousal permeated the room. The men closed their eyes and dragged in air like a pair of tomcats inhaling catnip. Their caresses turned feverish, and she writhed under their hands. Justice and Drew’s absorption with her made her feel powerfully feminine.
Justice pushed her onto her back, and both men licked their way down her body. The raspy surface of their tongues raised goose bumps all over her body, sensitizing her to every touch. Each swipe scorched, kindling a fiery, rapacious craving in her. Hands, she wasn’t sure whose, ran up the ultra sensitive skin on her inner thighs. The intensity of their touch stoked the inferno inside her, and she burned.
Saffa squirmed. “Justice?” she pleaded huskily.
“Yes, baby.” He rose above her and dropped a kiss onto her lips.
“I need.” She didn’t know what she needed. This went beyond the point of needing release.
“I know, let go, savor the experience. Your pleasure is all we want.” Justice slanted his mouth across hers. The greed in his kiss matched hers, deep and fervent.
Drew licked his way up to the apex of her thighs and parted her nether lips. His hot breath flowed over her exposed flesh. He lapped her, sliding his tongue over the moist tissues. Finally, he sunk it into the hidden core of her. Her sharp cry was lost in Justice’s mouth. He held her close as Drew pleasured her. Saffa’s breasts pressed to Justice’s chest, and she wrapped her arms around him.
With her hips cradled in his palms, Drew flicked her clit before he suckled on it with a pulsing rhythm that had her coming in waves of ecstasy. Her nails scored Justice’s back, and she came.
“She’s delicious.” Drew fell back on his haunches, his cock proudly erect between his thighs.
“Yeah, she is.” Justice looked at her, searching for some sign of how she felt. Saffa reached up and kissed him. She wanted him badly. Even though she’d gotten a swift, sweet release, her needs expanded to encompass both men.
Saffa eased out of Justice’s arms. Sitting up, she reached for both men and they crawled over to nestle her between them. Their kisses over her neck tightened everything in her again. They cupped her breasts, tweaking her nipples with the tips of their thumbs and forefingers.
Imagining the weight of Drew’s cock on her tongue and the bulk of Justice’s filling her at the same time made her breath hitch in her throat.
Leaning down, she licked the tip of Drew’s shaft as she settled between his thighs. He shuddered under her when she took his tumescence eagerly into her mouth. She lapped the crown of his rod several times, triggering guttural groans from him.
Justice sank two fingers into her sheath. Slick with her fluids, they glided smoothly over h
er tissues. She lifted her hips to give him easier access, and he took full advantage of her invitation. Positioning himself behind her, he slid the head of his cock over the length of the crease between her legs. Her opening pulsed, impatient for the moment he’d slide into her.
The steely lance sank into her. Justice’s pistoning movements behind her were measured, set to a pace she found most gratifying.
Drew bucked under her and come jetted down her throat. Saffa lapped up every drop. The hard grip on her hips, followed by Justice’s final inward plunge a moment before he coated her channel with his semen, sent her over the edge.
Pure bliss overloaded her senses, and she embraced the sweet oblivion.
***
Drew looked down at Saffa and Justice’s entwined bodies. He’d do everything in his power to spare his friends the pain he felt when he’d lost Christa. Justice was taking on the thankless job of the supreme alpha, and some of the responsibilities would spill over onto Saffa’s slender shoulders.
He pulled on his clothes and let himself out of the loft. Tying the Lunedares to the Ambervanes placed his pack on the Redmavens’ hit list. He’d send out the call for his extended family to head for their home den. His uncle would act in his stead until Justice’s ascension. In the meantime, he’d be guarding Saffa to free Justice to deal with the Redmavens.
His involvement in their lives forced him look past his grief for the first time in four years, giving him a purpose. He owed them so much.
Chapter Seven
“Drew seems almost back to normal, doesn’t he?” Aimee asked Saffa, hopeful wistfulness in her voice as she watched her brother laugh along with the other men crowded around the TV.
“Oh, yeah I’d say he’s, uhmm…himself again,” Saffa stuttered. She really didn’t want to explain to Aimee how she knew Drew was doing better. She was still a little dazed by the fact she’d slept with two men and how comfortable she was with it. She did a quick head count and added rare roast beef to the platter.
“I don’t know. He still drinks too much,” Aimee groused. “I wish he’d see a therapist.”
“He’ll be fine,” Justice interjected as he walked up and curved his broad hand around Saffa’s neck. Justice’s thumb swept over the singular spot on her neck setting her aflutter. Her sheath clenched in unison with the movement of his thumb.
He tilted his head toward their guests. “How much longer will this go on?” he asked against her ear, his breath coming out in soft puffs, each one a hot caress.
“I’ll go and see if anybody wants some of this salad.” Aimee smirked at her and skipped away bearing the bowl of unwanted greens.
Saffa gulped and fought for words. “I could kick everybody out, but they’d know why.” Turning to face him, she reached up and pressed a kiss on his mouth. God, his mouth was luscious. He had a slightly fuller lower lip that she loved to nip.
“And that’s a problem, why?” His eyes were narrowed into golden slits, hot with desire and wanting.
“Not a problem, but this is probably our last get-together. I’m packed and ready to head home.” She slid her arms around his torso and rested her head on his chest.
The scent of him had everything female and fertile pulsating inside her. For the next week she’d be at the peak of her fertility. Her grandmother had always told her she’d know, but she’d never fully understood what she’d meant. Some inner instinct made her acutely aware of her ova’s readiness to be fertilized.
Saffa’d bet Aimee her entire handbag collection, even her prized Bottega Veneta hobo, she’d be carrying Justice’s babe soon.
She leaned in and bit his lip, swiping it with the tip of her tongue.
Justice stiffened in her embrace, his focus elsewhere. Following the direction of his gaze, she turned to see Rick and another man standing in her doorway. The expressions on their faces were grim. A fearful shiver of presentiment ran down her spine.
“Stay here.” Justice released her gently.
“No way.” She held on to his hand and followed him as he made his way though the crowd.
Her eyes widened when she recognized the man with Rick. Oh, shit, it had hit the fan. Royal Sinclair’s ebony skin gleamed in the artificial light. The anger in his pale eyes burned eerily like coals waiting for the right fuel to ignite them into flames. He was way out of his territory. He lived far below the Mason-Dixon Line. It would take a lot for him to travel north in the dead of winter.
“Justice, Royal,” Rick introduced briefly.
“This is merely a courtesy call. The Redmavens have taken my teenaged sister. Since I’ll be spilling blood in your backyard, I thought you should know.” He dipped his head, making his locks fly like an offended lion.
“She was taken unlawfully, reason enough for you to retaliate. The Ambervanes are at your disposal.”
Royal nodded. Justice’s unquestioned acceptance of his allegation banked the fire in his eyes.
“Your arrival has moved up our planned raid on an unsanctioned Redmaven birthing den by a day.”
Justice turned to Rick. “We’ll need to get Royal caught up with our plan of attack. Are the men in position?”
“Ready and waiting for the word to start moving out.”
Justice turned to Saffa. “Tell Aimee to spread the word. The compound is going on lockdown. After it’s done, join us, please.” He motioned for the fore fighters to join them. They immediately dropped their relaxed demeanor and appeared as the predators they were. An uneasiness washed over the room as her guests looked at them questioningly.
“Stay with Saffa, then escort her to the conference room when she’s free to come up.” he ordered.
“But—” One of the men began to protest.
Justice bared his teeth. “It wasn’t a request, Ben.” With one last squeeze of her hand, he turned and strode away with Rick and Royal in tow.
Saffa turned to her guests. The weres in the room were tense, and the humans avidly curious. “Just a family emergency,” she reassured her guests before turning to Aimee. “Let’s subtly ease everybody out. I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I can.” It took only half an hour to shepherd their guests through the door.
Saffa walked briskly down the hallway as the elevator doors slid open. Justice wasn’t only going to retrieve the girl. He was going to finally destroy the den.
An atrocity had been committed, and as a future alpha he couldn’t let it slide.
The men in the room were bent over the set of building plans.
Rick explained their strategy to Royal. “They added state-of-the-art cameras at all four corners, which gives them a three-sixty view of the perimeter. If we take the cameras out, we’d swarm them before they know what hit them.”
Justice rocked back on his heels. “The timing is convenient, isn’t it? Royal easily tracked his sister to our territory. It’s almost like a trail of crumbs was laid down for him to follow. They’d know we’d come to his aid. But it doesn’t change anything.” The other men nodded in agreement. “It has to be done the were way. Silently and with no quarter given,” Justice solemnly intoned.
“I could take care of the cameras,” Saffa volunteered.
“How?” Rick asked eagerly.
“I could go in as a large bird.” She bit her lower lip when she saw Justice shake his head.
“I thought it was hard for you to maintain avian form.” Justice turned to face Saffa, concern in his eyes.
“I’ll gorge on protein drinks and caffeine. It’s like rocket fuel to my system.” She desperately wanted to make a contribution.
Justice shook his head. “No, I want you and Aimee safely back here when this thing goes down.” And there it was—the stubborn thrust of his chin. He needed to be persuaded.
“How else are you going to disable the cameras, Just? I’ll be in and out of there in under five minutes.” She waited and watched him fight with himself, hoping he’d trust her with this.
“In and out in five minutes? I don’t
want you to overtax yourself.”
“I won’t. I promise. I’ll change back as soon as my part is done.”
He pulled the street plans to the center of the table. “I want the first wave of men to enter the building from the roof, to see to the safety of any women and children there. When the upper floors are secure, we’ll work our way down. The second wave will come up from the bottom to prevent anyone from escaping.”
“How the hell will we be able to do this? Sprout wings?” Royal asked sarcastically.
“The plan is to leap onto the roof from these buildings.” He tapped two buildings adjacent to their target. “Once the women are rescued, an explosives team will move in and lay the charges. There should be enough time for us to clear out.” Rick nodded and rolled up the blueprints.
Justice shifted his attention over to Royal. “Call the rest of your men. We need to familiarize ourselves with their scent. It would be a pity if we took out their throats by mistake.”
Royal’s lips twisted deprecatingly “How did you know?”
“It’s what I’d have done, and I figured you weren’t leaving without her so you brought your own men. Though you might’ve mentioned them as an act of good faith. How many men do you have waiting in the wings?”
“Fifty fore fighters.”
Justice laughed. “You brought enough men to kick some serious ass but not enough to seem threatening.”
“I don’t know you any more than you know me. For all I knew you could be in league with those assholes who took my baby sister.” Royal took out his cell and held it up.
Justice shrugged and nodded, his consent to call in the Sinclair pack. “I need a few words with my mate, alone.” People filed out of the room at his request.
He took her by the shoulders. “I don’t want you to take any chances.”
“I won’t.” And she wouldn’t. Their whole future lay ahead of them, and she’d never do anything to jeopardize it.
Her Chosen Wolf: The Were Chronicles, Book 1 Page 6