by Unknown
Nope she was going to remain cool, aloof. No emotion. Because if she did she’d see red--whether she wanted to or not--and go into her version of ‘Hulk’ mode.
Shane came back in with a pair of pants and without a word Jessiah was getting dressed. She sat up, not bothering to pretend to still be asleep and threw on her pair of boots. As much as she would’ve liked to not have to witness the next hour or so, she knew they would not allow her to remain where she was.
“Sorry, I need to go...” Micah cut Shane off.
“Whatever, let’s just get this over with before another one of your toys calls.” She ignored Jessiah throw a punch to Shane’s chest and Shane’s swaying.
The ride had Micah in sorts. Her nervous movements were off the chart. But the instant they pulled up to a small ranch house, her anxiety turned to anger. She exited the Suburban on the other side--where Shane was not opening the door for her--and said, “I was awoken for this?”
Jessiah and Shane exchanged glances, both without a clue as to what she was referring to. She all but stomped to the door which was opened by... you guessed it. Another blond! With grey-green eyes and all. Micah turned to look at Shane. For the first time it wasn’t in appreciation. “No variety for you... like at all, huh?” she turned around, “Predictable.” She began heading to the SUV when she heard the door close and felt the blond throw her arms around Shane. Her growl reverberated around them. Sidestepping Jessiah’s hand she didn’t look at him but said, “Trust me; it’s better that I am not in there. Then someone will make it out alive.”
She was glad that he didn’t push the subject, but not glad that she felt them both enter the house and the door close behind them.
Her anger was quickly increasing to rage. And for someone like Micah, rage was not an emotion others lived to tell the tale about. Instead of leaning on the SUV as she had planned, she walked around the side and sat on a dilapidated bench. She wasn’t alone for long.
“You hate my aunt, huh?” a young male voice said from the side of her.
“I don’t know your aunt. So hate... no not quite.” She kept her eyes up at the sky.
“But you don’t like her around Shane,” he said thoughtfully. “He’s your Mate.”
“That’s the claim,” she looked at him. He was tall, in that in between stage where he wasn’t a boy but also not quite mature just yet. He was handsome, had dirty blond hair and light green eyes. “You’re pretty astute for a fifteen year old.”
He chuckled a bit. “Not so much astute, just been here before.”
“Hmm,” Micah said understanding.
They were silent for a bit. “Shane’s not a bad male. He was always nice to me when he came around.”
Maybe astute wasn’t the right word as Micah didn’t want to be having this conversation. Regardless of whether she accepted their Claiming, her beasts were awake and in predatory mode. She was a hairsbreadth away from painting that house bloody. Then she sensed another presence. “Go inside for a minute, see if you aunt needs anything...”
“Jacob,” he said.
“Nice to meet you Jacob. Go check and see if your aunt needs anything, she seemed to be... needy,” she was trying to seem nonchalant, but she had sensed another shifter approaching with less than good intentions, and wanted Jacob out of the way.
“She’s always needy, but yeah I’ll check.”
Just as he made it around the corner there was a sound of a gun cocking. Micah scoffed and turned to face the shifter. “A gun, really?”
“Call for your boyfriends, tell them you need them,” his deep voice penetrated the quiet night.
“I don’t do damsel in distress,” Micah said. A moment later the hand holding the gun was broken backwards, and a swift, fierce kick had him flying in the air and hitting a tree with an explosive sound. Not two seconds after that Jessiah and Shane were in the backyard looking at him then her.
Micah was sitting back on the bench looking at her nails. “He tripped,” she said, her voice even, her breath even calmer.
“David?” the blond called.
Micah got up, wanting to be anywhere where she wasn’t and went toward the driveway. She paused just as she was about to pass her and without looking at her said, “Next time you want Shane to play the hero, you better pray to your goddess’ that I haven’t accepted their Mate Claim.”
“I don’t understa...” blondie started.
“I don’t do stupid, witch. Keep your wards up then you won’t have to worry about yogi bear over there.” Then she left and met up with Jacob at the front of the house. “Hey, let me see your phone.” He pulled out an iPhone and handed it to her. Micah set herself up in his contacts and handed it back to him. “If you ever need to talk or just want to get out of the house of the needy. Give me a call or a text. It’s Micah. See you around Jacob.” She entered the SUV and waited for her Mates to join her. When they did she was back to staring up at the stars, her arms resting around her waist, her expression blank.
Micah didn’t pay attention to their presence as Jessiah pulled out of the driveway.
“Wards?” Shane asked.
Micah shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You really should at least know what form of supernatural you decide to slip your dick into before doing the dirty.”
“Cindy’s human.”
“Sure she is, and I’m a single natured shifter,” she huffed. She saw Jessiah’s eyes in the rear view mirror and released a pent up breath. “She’s a witch. Literally. And a powerful one at that. Anyone with a fourth of her strength would’ve been able to incapacitate the Kodiak without blinking. If you don’t believe me then google it. I bet she offers her services,” she paused. “In more ways than one,” she mumbled.
Again, Micah ignored Jessiah’s punch to Shane’s arm as she closed her eyes and pretended to need sleep. Fools.
The SUV stopped and her door was opened by Shane who leaned in to scoop her up. “I can walk.”
“I’m aware.” He slipped his arm under her knees and the other behind her back.
“I don’t want you touching me,” she said. “You smell like platinum Barbie.”
She pushed him out of her way and walked past him to the building taking the stairs at an unnatural pace. She heard Jessiah growling and then a few minutes later the shower was turned on and a marathon shower was taken by Shane who walked in the bedroom once again naked, but this time with water drops all over him. Micah groaned inwardly. Maybe she should’ve kept her mouth closed. At least then she would’ve been turned off by fake tanned Barbie’s scent.
Jessiah had showered as well--even though Mattel didn’t touch him--and came in looking like a shiny Greek god. Ugh. Her beasts were roaming again, pacing, wanting to be prey. She had to do something as her body was beginning to heat up. She grabbed her bag and went into the bathroom Jessiah just exited. After brushing her teeth, and combing her hair, she returned to the room in a black tank top and boy shorts. Growls sounded in the room which she ignored. She went to Jessiah’s side and he lifted her up and placed her in the middle of the bed without a word. Shane grumbled something under his breath until she slipped into the covers. Then he cursed darkly as her firm legs slid against his briefly.
Micah said nothing but laid on her back, stretched and closed her eyes with her hands across her waist. She even ignored the fact that both males had the covers still lifted and were ogling her. She was too upset and frustrated to be bothered with... well Shane especially, but she didn’t want a Mate so Jessiah was added to the shit-list as well.
Micah woke to the smells of bacon, eggs, homemade waffles, sausages and biscuits. She began stretching and the instant she did she heard a groan to her right; and felt the feel of warm hard muscles against her back. That had her jolted up and fully awake in a nanosecond. She faced the male responsible and was met with beautifully mismatched eyes and it was her turn to groan. A fingertip traced her spine.
“Mornin’ beautiful,” Jessiah said. “Sleep well?”
Jessiah growled angrily at her comment. But Shane just laughed. “Don’t take too long or I’ll gladly go in after you,” Shane said, his tone hopeful. Hopeful that she tested him and took her time that is.
Micah mentally flicked him off, and when she heard him laugh the sound not only made her heart clench but confirmed once again they were Mates. If he could sense that and they hadn’t even kissed yet, then yes, once again she admitted... she was doomed.
Jessiah jumped out of bed adjusting his boxers to accommodate his still pending erection. Perfect I’m getting online. “Fix this,” he told Shane before he left the room. Shane nodded to him and returned to the kitchen and the breakfast he was making.
Eleven minutes later Shane was ready and willing to go busting into the bathroom when Micah strolled out in a fitted black knitted dress, her toned calves on display. He groaned at the sight of her legs, ankles and feet. Feet? Yup it was official--he was whipped. Not once in all his years did he find feet sexy. They could be cute, sure. But sexy. He was cooked. Well done. Toast.
As if she knew he was about to head her way she smiled up at him, her still damp hair clinging to her face and back in waves and said, “Looking for me?”
“Since I was born,” Shane mumbled. “Hungry?”
“Sure. Smells deli...” Shane was behind her now. His arms wrapped around her, his hands splayed over the flat of her abs, light pressure pushing her back into his brick of a body. He dipped his head into the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply then growled. His lips touched down and her body came alive, her beasts perked up wanting more. But Micah wanted out of his clutches so she pushed at his arms until they detangled.
“You’re cute when you’re jealous,” Shane teased her.
“Sorry Shane, I’m not blond, I have a very high IQ,” she smiled at him. “I’m not taking the bait.”
“About last night. I told Cindy who you are and explained that she’ll have to contact the authorities next time she needs help.”
“Bravo for you. Hang up your tights and cape did you?”
He growled. “You’re not going to make this easy are you?”
“I’m going to presume that’s rhetorical.”
He pulled her into his arms. “You smell delicious. I’ll feed you if you feed me,” Shane said with a voice so sexy her knees went weak and he had to tighten the hold on her to keep her in his arms.
“Sure I’ll make two plates,” she pulled out of his arms. “Do you like sausage?”
He growled at her not liking the innuendo. She gave him an innocent smile, her smoky blue eyes bright and wide. He wasn’t buying it. He began stalking toward her his intent clear in his sexy chocolate brown eyes. She took a step back, then another, and another until her back met a seven foot wall of muscle. Another set of arms went around her. She looked down at Jessiah’s muscular forearms, his thick wrists, and strong manly hands. Her head lulled back onto her shoulders and hence onto his chest. Did he have to have the sexiest hands she’d ever seen?
He kissed her ear and she purred unintentionally. “Mmm, I could get used to that,” his deep voice sent a wave of tingles down her spine. Her hands clasped his wrists in an attempt to pry them apart so she could escape, but then Shane completed the Micah sandwich and the backs of her hands were plastered to his abs. She could feel the tension in his muscles on them. Was that even possible? Feeling ab muscles on the back of your hands... Guess so...
There she was between the kitchen and the living room with Shane’s lips on her chin leaving sparks on her skin as it traveled up toward her ear and Jessiah’s tongue trailing electrical shocks from the base of her other ear to her shoulder. Oh no! He bit down with blunt teeth and a spark went straight to her core. Her body tensed and she bit her lip in an attempt to stifle her longing moan.
Six days, six days, six days.
She should pull away. Should think about the long list of blonds Shane no doubt had in his past. She didn’t want to be Mated. Didn’t want to get hurt again. She braced herself to slip out from between the two when Shane nipped her ear lobe then soothed it by sucking it into his mouth and lapping at it, a growl chasing the action. A needy, high pitch moan--more like a wolf’s whine--slipped past her now parted lips and her tiger purred in excitement. Before her mind could catch up to her body, her tongue shot out and tasted Shane’s neck while her hips jerked back into Jessiah inviting him to play. There was a low growl in front of her, and a vibrating purr behind her. Then her hands were moving and Micah was on fire. Her right hand clasped Jessiah’s strong hamstring and pulled him into her body, while her left hand snaked up Shane’s abs and chest to grab onto the back of his neck so she could angle his head and...
“Uhh, god,” she whimpered. WHIMPERED!!! Shane’s lips grabbed her bottom lip, his tongue licked the seam then penetrated her mouth and, “Hmmm,” another whimper this time on an exhale. He tasted like cinnamon and nutmeg. She wanted, no needed more. All of her did, her entire soul. One of Shane’s hands roughly grabbed her hip and he rubbed his erection into her belly, while the other clasped the nape of her neck as he deepened the kiss.
Her knees gave out and Jessiah caught her pulling her into him while he circled his hips into her body. She didn’t want to, but she had to break the kiss. She needed to taste Jessiah, experience what he tasted like, how he’d make her feel. Would her stomach flip-flop like Shane made her, would he warm her blood past the boiling point. With reluctance and excitement she broke the kiss with a wet sound and twisted in his arms to face Jessiah.
His eyes locked onto hers then to her swollen, pink kissed lips. And with a swivel of her hips and a parting of her lips she stood onto her toes and, Oh yes, god yes! His full lips met her bottom one, his teeth pulled her closer then without preamble he was making love to her with his tongue. In. Out. A twist here, a stroke there, a sting of a bite then soothing lick. He tasted like warm whiskey, just like the one she liked to order. Both beasts vocalized their appreciation.
Ours. Mates. Tiger-wolf. Ours.
And in a response to their non-vocalized pronouncement, she heard Jessiah and Shane’s beasts not only within her head, but within her heart; her soul. Claim. Mate. Triad.
She was shocked and in all honesty a little scared. Her eyes widened, her movements paused. “Jessiah?”
He shouldn’t already love the sound of his name on her voice, but he wouldn’t lie to himself--he did. Absolutely loved it. Unfortunately he had no answer to give her. It was a first for him too, and he knew it was the same for Shane. He looked over her head at his co-mate and the stunned expression that met his eyes confirmed it. All three of them were out of their comfort zone, treading in new territory. He had to admit he had more than a little trepidation with what just happened. Not only were his beast and Shane’s in sync, but they actually were able to take control and mentally vocalize their desires.
Shane shook his head slightly then nuzzled into her neck to try and comfort her. It seemed to have worked as her head went back against his chest and she pulled Jessiah’s shirt into her so he could continue the best assault of her life. With their tongues dueling and Shane’s grip on her hips, and both Mates rolling their hips into her, Micah did the only thing she could do. She took it a step farther. Her hands grazed their throbbing erections reveling not only in the fact that their sheer size made her hands feel utterly small, but also their reactions at her touching their covered members. Then she said, “I need to feel...” she didn’t get to finish the sentence. A phone sounded nearby, Darth Vader’s theme song ringing high. Micah couldn’t help it, she laughed and a big smile slid over Jessiah’s face.
Yes, he’d be the first, ok not the first, but he’d eventually admit that he was now a sap. But damn did she light up when she laughed. The sound deep, throaty
and husky.
He shared a knowing look with Shane before he kissed Micah one more time--hard--then turned her in Shane’s direction. Man was that hard to do, release her and step away, when the only thing he wanted to do was throw her on the bed and pounce on her. But you don’t ignore that ring tone...
Micah thought of her boss when that ring tone sounded, she always did. Hell. He was scary and she was like his adoptive daughter, he loved her and she loved him, but still he was scary none-the-less. She’d had it as her ring tone for him after they’d just met, but after he took her under his proverbial wing she’d changed it to the song from the original Annie that she called ‘We got Annie.’ After all she felt like she was adopted by a Daddy Warbucks. Not in the monetary kind of way, she had plenty of money; but in a SIA kind of way. Helping her to feel as if she was a valued member of the team. And... well what do you know? Her phone went off with that very song. Odd too, the timing that is.
Shane chuckled at the ring tone and while she’d been in deep thought he’d been running his soft plush lips over her neck and collarbone. But now it was her turn to have to disengage and aside from the fact that her beasts were none-to-happy about it, Micah herself was also less than pleased. Damn she’d been turned on for like six days now. It started with Jason, and frankly she was ecstatic and a bit hesitant at the fact that she’d never been so turned on in her life when Shane and Jessiah were around. But when they touched her it was like everything erupted inside her. Her senses went... what’s beyond wild? Insane? Utterly deranged? But in a sensory overload kind of way to the point that she knew she could come--and come hard--by just their touch. And damn did she want to do just that.
But Warbucks was on the line. She pulled away from Shane and found herself a bit disappointed that it seemed to be so easy for him to let her go. She zipped upstairs where her phone was charging and answered it.