Juneau Heat

by Tressie Lockwood

  She looked up at Birk. “You don’t want me long term, right? You think I’m weak because I’m human?”

  “I don’t think you’re weak.” He touched her cheek, and she heard her brother swear. Birk didn’t spare him a glance. He smiled at her. “I should kiss you thoroughly right here, but it might be too much for them.”

  “Birk.”

  “Beautiful Shiya.” He sighed, and she thought she saw pain in his eyes. “Kotori killed several men today.”

  She gasped. The man in the cabin with her wasn’t the first.

  “If he feels you’re threatened, I can’t make him back off. Do you understand the kind of man he is?”

  She nodded.

  “He won’t hesitate if it’s your dad or your brother. He won’t even hesitate if it’s your precious sister. Had she stood in the way today . . .”

  Her throat dried, and she swallowed, trying to find moisture where there was none. They’d been to her suite, where she and Kasen had left Shae. “My sister—”

  “She’s fine.”

  “Th-Then we can’t be together,” she concluded.

  “You’re from a family of hunters. Unless they back off, which I think they won’t now that they know there are others like us here, we’re at an impasse. They kill us, or we kill them. If we kill them, you will never forgive us.”

  “If they kill you, I won’t forgive them either,” she insisted.

  Birk went on. “Your dad’s going to call you to his side, and to keep you safe, we will allow it.”

  She frowned.

  He ran a thumb over her bottom lip. “Damn it, I want to taste that mouth once more. Go to him.”

  “But they’ll—”

  “Go.”

  No! I’m not going to let this happen. I can’t.

  “Tell me one thing, Birk.” She turned to Kotori, whose glittering dark eyes barely reflected reason. Even though he hadn’t shifted into the bear, he appeared to be all animal. “Kotori.”

  He looked at her, and she didn’t see recognition in his gaze, but she trusted he knew who she was.

  “I want to know how you two feel about me. I want to know if I wasn’t a Keith, and if my family had nothing to do with us, what would you do?”

  Birk leaned toward her, and his breath warmed her ear. He whispered, “I would move heaven and earth to be with you forever.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes and fell down her cheeks. She peered at Kotori, and at first, she thought he wouldn’t answer or that he didn’t understand her words.

  “I love you.”

  The three words stole her own rationality, and she knew what she had to do.

  Chapter Twelve

  Shiya took a tumble into the snow for the millionth time. She couldn’t believe she’d just taken off running like she did, with both sides on her tail. Birk and Kotori could shift and catch her, but she noticed they stayed behind the humans just enough to be out of sight. She had no doubt they were back there—or hell, ahead of her—somewhere. Several of her father’s men dogged her heels. When one caught her arm, she went down on purpose and took him with her. A punch to the throat or a knee to the groin got her free.

  She had to keep moving. If she didn’t, Kotori would attack. She couldn’t let the death of another man be on her conscience, but she wasn’t willing to give up her lovers either.

  She wasn’t fool enough to think she could run back to civilization, but if she could get enough distance between her and her father’s people, Birk would come and get her. Then she would ask him to take her somewhere she could execute the second part of her plan.

  When her lungs burned and a stitch had started in her side, she began to think this whole situation was a bust. Her eyes blurred, and she blinked them several times to clear her vision. A shadow to her right and just ahead brought her to a stop, and she fought to hold her breath so she could hear something other than herself. The effort proved to be too much. She blew out a noisy breath and took a stance, her fists raised and legs planted firm, one leg forward so she could throw a kick.

  In every direction, there was nothing, just trees and more trees. Out here, the snow was deeper, and even the boots didn’t keep her feet warm. She needed socks. No, she needed a warm fire, some cocoa, and a blanket.

  A hand came down on her shoulder. She grabbed the wrist, flipped the hand off, and spun around to throw a punch. Kotori caught her fist in a huge palm, engulfing it with little effort. Curved dark nails touched her skin where he held her, but didn’t cut her. When he let go, she threw herself into his arms.

  “Birk,” she mumbled against his chest.

  “I’m here.”

  She looked around and found her other lover. Just as she thought, they’d circled around and gotten ahead of her.

  “You caused quite a stir back there,” Birk told her, amusement in his eyes.

  “I had to do something.”

  “Kotori and I could have taken care of it.”

  She moved out of Kotori’s arms and put her hands on her hips. “Yeah, like leaving me. That was an unacceptable solution. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m freezing my ass off out here. Can you take me back to Juneau?”

  Birk frowned. He scanned the distance past her and sniffed. “They’re close. Honey, I don’t think they’ll let you go so easily. Your dad may have already called ahead to have someone waiting at your suite. Maybe your sister and that other person.”

  Shiya almost laughed at the disgust in his tone when referring to Joe. “Don’t worry. I’m not going back there, but I need civilization just for a short while. I need access to a computer, and then I’ll go anywhere we need to, to be safe—together.”

  “You’re determined.”

  “I’ve never been so sure. I think we Keiths have been blind for a long time, and there’s nothing I can do to make up for all the damage we’ve caused, all the pain and suffering. I threatened my brother with wiping out everything, but I don’t think he believed me. I’m hoping he didn’t, or that he’s been so distracted he didn’t call it in. Their network is about to disappear permanently.”

  The trek to Birk’s car felt like it took forever with her being worn out. She resisted being carried, and Birk and Kotori shifted into their bear forms to stay warmer. They flanked her on both sides, small ears perked up on their heads to listen out for the enemy. By the time she climbed into the SUV, she didn’t feel like arguing against Birk’s suggestion that she curl up on the backseat. She slept all the way to town—or what she’d assumed would be Juneau but wasn’t.

  She sat up and rubbed her eyes, yawning. The surroundings were still mountainous, full of trees and snow, but several buildings dotted the landscape, with plenty of space between them so one occupant wouldn’t feel like their neighbor crowded them. The cabins were all of the quality Birk’s and Kotori’s cabin had been when she spent several days with them alone. Behind the cabins, some ways off, was a body of water, and polar bears dotted the shoreline.

  “Where are we?”

  Her answer came when she spotted Kotori’s grandmother heading their way. So this was where his people lived when away from Juneau. She could never forget the old woman’s disapproving face, but this time, she didn’t appear so annoyed when she drew up to Shiya as she stepped from the vehicle.

  “You’ve decided,” the old woman said.

  Shiya raised her brows. “I’m sorry?”

  “Come,” the woman snapped. “Devil’s club juice will help frostbite.”

  Shiya tossed Birk an amused, if doubtful look. “Seriously?”

  He chuckled.

  Kotori, who seemed calmer now, spoke in the Tlingit language to his grandmother and repeated it in English for Shiya’s benefit. “She has to take care of some business, and then she will submit to your treatment.”

  His grandmother appeared to accept his explanation, and Shiya followed Birk and Kotori to one of the cabins. Once inside, she marveled at the equipment—two computers with massive monitors, printers, and other peripherals.r />
  “Damn, what do you have going on out here?” she mused. “And can you even get an Internet signal?”

  “Satellite,” Birk answered and hooked a thumb in Kotori’s direction. “He may look like a muscle head, but he manages a lot of his operations from here. He has a manager for day-to-day tasks and oversees from a distance.”

  She whistled. “Of course, he’s not much of a city man.”

  Kotori snatched her into his arms as if he would punish her for her criticism, but he tipped her chin up and kissed her roughly. Shiya parted her lips, inviting his tongue into her mouth, and she moaned, pressing closer to him. Birk came up behind and spooned her ass. Her pussy clenched in excitement.

  Birk reached around to stroke it, but she covered his hand and broke away from the two of them.

  “I’m not getting anything done if you two don’t stop.” She dragged a hand over her mouth, but missed Kotori’s lips. Her gaze met Birk’s when she turned. His obvious desire heated her skin, and she had to fight not to jump into his arms. Instead, she sat down at the nearest computer terminal and typed in the log-in and password Kotori gave her.

  Fingers flying over the keys, she familiarized herself with Kotori’s computer and then logged on to the Internet. She found the site that would give her remote access to her family’s database and held her breath. The password was accepted, and she sighed in relief. Without a single qualm, she coded the system to delete eighty percent of the data. Afterward, she did a line-by-line search for anything they had on Alaska shifters and trashed it.

  When her feet began to bother her, she winced and leaned away from the computer. She didn’t have a chance to complain before Birk had dropped to his knees and begun removing her boots. Kotori, who had disappeared from the cabin, came in carrying a basin. The steam rising from it told her the water it held was hot. Kotori stooped beside Birk and placed the basin on the floor. He spun her chair so her feet were within his reach, and gently, he began to wash her feet with a warm, wet cloth.

  Shiya leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. A few moments later, something nudged her arm, and she looked up to find Birk had brought her cocoa. “I can’t believe you two. Thank you.”

  She took the mug and sipped the hot liquid. Warmth stole over her body. When Kotori brought the temperature of her feet to a safe level, he placed them to soak in the water, and she couldn’t help the moan that escaped her lips.

  “If you do that, baby . . .” Birk began. Kotori only answered her moan with one of his own.

  She grinned at them. “Just a little more. I have to tie up loose ends and send my family a message. I know how to cover myself so they can’t trace it, so you don’t have to worry about that.” Neither man appeared to get what she was talking about, and didn’t care. She laughed and moved the cordless keyboard to her lap to finish up her work. She would miss working for them, but she could no longer do it in good conscience. She had no intention of allowing them to kill shifters, so she attacked the backup systems, all that she’d set up herself.

  With a few more taps, she sent off the message, including personal correspondence to Shae.

  I’m sorry, sis, but this is what I feel I have to do. I’m not coming back. You were right. I love Birk and Kotori, and as long as they want me with them, this is where I will be. You know, as a Keith, I will protect my own. I will stand in the family’s way of ever hurting them. Convince them, please, Shae. Convince them to pull out of Alaska and to never return. Know that I love you and Sakura and Dad. I even love that fool Kasen. This is my life to choose. Good-bye.

  She double-checked her entry points and covered her tracks. Then she logged out of the system and off of the computer. When she put the keyboard up and turned to Birk and Kotori, she took them in—their handsome faces, their sexy builds, and most of all their gentle care of her.

  She’d thought she loved Joe at one point, and when this first began, maybe she still did, but not now. Not when she felt consumed by the emotions she had for these two men.

  Yeah, they were men. Real men who loved her and wanted to be with her. She sensed it and saw it in everything they did. Nothing came before her. Kotori had even called in his family to help save her. He’d exposed the existence of the other shifters on her behalf. She would never forget that or walk away knowing what he gave up for her.

  Birk grabbed the towel that Kotori had brought in slung over his arm, and he used it to dry her feet before helping her to stand. They faced her, and she entwined her fingers with theirs, one hand joined with each. They leaned down and nuzzled her cheeks, their lips soft as they kissed their way to her throat. She trembled with pleasure, but moved back a little so she could speak. They watched her, interest in their gazes, paired with hunger. She wouldn’t deny them for much longer.

  “I love you two so much. I never thought I could feel this way. Definitely not for two men at the same time, and yet, it feels right.”

  Birk squeezed the hand he still held. “I love you, Shiya. You are my mate, and I was willing to give you up because I thought it was best for you. When you chose to stay with us, I couldn’t deny myself again. I admit it. I’m selfish. I want you. So you better be ready for us.”

  “Oh, I’m ready.” She raised an eyebrow and grinned.

  Kotori grunted. “That’s enough talking. I want you in my bed.”

  “Yes, sir!” The playful salute went wrong when Kotori’s last bit of patience snapped, and he lifted her and thumped her down on the only bare spot of the desk and tore her jacket open. She looked down at the zipper bent beyond repair. “Well that’s ruined.”

  Kotori followed by shoving her blouse and sweater up and ripping her bra to shreds. Her breasts filled his palms, and he bent his head to lick the pebbled nipples. Shiya moaned in ecstasy. She tangled her fingers in his hair and brought his head closer as she arched into his touch. When he reached between them to unbutton her pants and thrust a hand into the waistband, she didn’t stop him. White-hot pleasure radiated her entire body when his fingers sank into her wet pussy. She humped his hand, wanting more. Even while she was exhausted, she needed to feel him inside of her.

  “Kotori, fuck me now,” she begged.

  He sat up and ripped her pants down her legs and tore her panties to strips of cloth. His roughness only served to make her hotter, and she raised and spread her legs in invitation. Kotori stared down at her wetness, his eyes glazed over with lust. The button on his jeans hit the floor, and he scarcely got his pants and boxers down over his hips before he thrust into her.

  Shiya screamed his name. He yanked her forward and pounded so deep, a shudder shook her from head to foot. Kotori drove into her, withdrew his dick, and then pounded in again. She hung on to his shoulders, head back and eyes closed. He ravaged her body, his pelvis brushing her sensitive clit until she had to grit her teeth to take it. An orgasm began to build, and she encouraged it, arching into her lover. The climax took hold. She found Kotori’s mouth and kissed him. Their tongues curled together, Shiya moaning and tasting. She caught his bottom lip between her teeth, and he growled. He wrapped both arms around her and crushed her to his chest.

  One final thrust, and his hot seed exploded into her channel.

  Birk strode around the desk, and Kotori backed off. She thought her other lover would take her, but Birk hooked a finger in the air. “Get down.”

  She slid off of the desk and pulled her clothes on. She frowned, wondering what he was up to. She knew he wanted her—the tent in his pants a good indicator—but Birk led her from the cabin and along a row of others like it.

  They headed toward the back of the compound, to a cabin set farther away from the others. All of a sudden, she knew Birk just wanted her somewhere more comfortable for the three of them.

  The cabin was warm with a fire going in the fireplace. She noted it was smaller than the one they’d shared alone. A thick carpet covered the floor, and heavy, durable furniture decorated the place. At least here the curtains at the windows were nicer,
and she guessed with women in the area, they had something to do with it. One bedroom was set off from the main area.

  “Do you share this cabin?” she asked.

  “It’s mine,” Kotori told her. “Birk lives closer to Juneau.”

  “But I’ll be staying out here with you two, or at our other cabin, until I know the hunters have left the area.” He strolled over to Shiya and turned her toward the bedroom. “You will be getting some rest after the long trek over here and your ordeal before that.”

  “But . . .”

  “No buts.” He swatted her ass. Shiya glanced up at him when he pushed her down onto the bed. Birk still had a hard-on, which she could take care of, but he refused until she got some sleep. Her heart swelled with love for him. She gave in to his encouragement to get some rest, and as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out.

  * * * *

  Shiya opened her eyes to a quiet room. No sounds reached her from the other room. She checked the clock on the bedside table and found she’d been out several hours. A long stretch pulled the kinks from her muscles, and she rose to go into the bathroom. A hot shower restored more of her energy, and she lingered in there, scrubbing strawberry-scented shower gel over her skin. Since she didn’t imagine Kotori used the stuff, she figured Birk had borrowed it for her from one of the women. She silently thanked him and then rinsed off and stepped from the shower. She wondered where her lovers had gone. She missed them and wanted to spend every moment in their presence—at least for a while, until they got used to each other and the sense of being pulled apart passed.

  She found lotion on the sink, the same brand and scent as the gel. Since it didn’t appear to be a cheap kind, she smoothed some on her legs, over her belly and breasts, and down her arms. She grinned thinking how much Kotori would want to lick her when he got a whiff.

  Shiya left the bathroom and froze. “What the hell?” Her eyes widened, and she took in the sight before her in unbelief. She glanced up toward the ceiling. “When did you . . . What do you plan to do with . . .”