Ray of Sunshine

by Becca Van

  “What can you tell us about the person threatening you?” Daire asked.

  “Nothing and that’s the problem. The police weren’t able to get prints from any of the notes. I’ve never hurt anyone in my life, so I thought I was dealing with a psychopath or something. It wasn’t until Elsa asked me a question that I realized that this was really about revenge.”

  “I’m sorry to ask this question because I don’t want to upset you, but how many people have you lost in the ER?” Crispin asked.

  “About ten,” she whispered.

  When Beckett saw her blinking rapidly, he realized she was trying to keep her tears at bay. He shoved an arm under her legs, another behind her back, and lifted her onto his lap before wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. Her breathing was fast and shallow, and when he nudged her face up toward his, he swiped the lone tear away that trailed down her face.

  “Do you know all the names of the patients you’ve lost, sweet thing?” Daire asked.

  “Only the most recent.”

  Crispin shoved to his feet and hurried toward the kitchen. He was back moments later with a pen and pad of paper. “Tell me the names you can remember.”

  Jaimie rattled off four names before saying, “I’d need to contact the hospital for the other deceased people. I feel terrible for not remembering who they are, but I see their faces in my mind constantly.”

  “It isn’t your fault that they died, baby.” Beckett tightened his arm around her shoulders, being careful not to bump her right arm. “I’ll bet you and the other medical staff did everything you could to save them.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder as she drew in a deep breath. “We did.”

  When her eyes slid closed and she yawned, he knew the medicine was working. He just hoped that she’d sleep for a while. When she woke up, he and his brothers would make sure she had something to eat and rested again.

  Beckett had a feeling she was going to fight them over everything, which he was looking forward to. He didn’t want a complacent mate. He’d always dreamed of having a woman who’d keep him and his brothers on their toes. His wish had come true. He gave a mental chuckle when he realized even though she was incapacitated, she wasn’t going to back down if she didn’t agree with him.

  He gazed down at her when her breathing deepened, evening out as she fell asleep and he settled deeper into the sofa, intending to savor every second she was in his arms.

  “We need to get the Louis brothers on this,” Beckett said.

  “I agree.” Daire frowned. “Maybe we can find out who this fucker is before things escalate.”

  “What makes you think this person is going to come here?” Crispin asked.

  “Experience,” Beckett replied.

  Crispin heaved out a breath as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I know. I was just hoping…” He shook his head.

  “Every time a mate has shown up, trouble has followed her,” Daire said. “Those notes were threatening from the start. This fucker wants our woman to suffer and he was escalating. He broke into her fucking home.”

  It was difficult for Beckett to remain still as anger and tension invaded his muscles. “We’ll find out who’s targeted her,” he said quietly so he didn’t wake their woman, but there was no way to keep the anger from his tone.

  “We will.” Daire nodded.

  “I’m going to call Preston,” Crispin said. “He and his brothers have way more contacts than we do. I’m sure one of his FBI colleagues can look into this for us.”

  Beckett watched Crispin as he walked down the hallway toward his room, hoping against hope that someone found out who was after their mate.

  If the fucker showed up in Ambrose, he was a fucking dead man.

  Chapter Nine

  Jaimie knew as soon as she surfaced from sleep that she was still sitting and half lying on top of Beckett. She couldn’t believe she’d fallen asleep on top of him, but she’d never been that great with painkillers, nor alcohol for that matter. She was what other people considered a lightweight.

  “How are you feeling, baby?”

  She inhaled through her nose and immediately wished she hadn’t. Beckett’s spicy, manly scent was so wonderful, she wanted to breathe him in again and again. Her insides heated as liquid desire pooled low in her belly. Her clit started throbbing and her folds moistened as her breasts swelled and her nipples hardened.

  She kept her eyes closed, nodding and almost moaned when her cheek rubbed against his pectoral muscle. His tiny nipple was just as hard as hers felt. Jaimie had no idea a man’s nipple was as responsive as a woman’s. She might have been kissed a few times but that was as far as she gotten in her experience with the opposite sex. While she was highly attracted to Beckett, Crispin, and Daire, she felt as if she was in over her head. They were so handsome there was no doubt in her mind they weren’t virgins. Would they be turned off by her inexperience if they realized she hadn’t had sex?

  Beckett nudged her chin up as she opened her eyes.

  “I’m waiting for your answer, Jaimie.”

  “I feel much better.”

  He leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead before standing and taking her with him. Jaimie looped an arm around his neck before asking, “Where are we going?”

  “Bathroom.”

  She blushed but was glad he’d thought of her needs. There was no way she could have gotten to the bathroom on her own, but there was also no way she was letting him stay in there with her while she did her business.

  When he lowered her to the floor, she used her good hand to brace herself and balance on one leg. “I’ll undo your jeans and then leave you to it. If you have any trouble just call out, and I’ll come help you. I’ll be right outside the door.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She jutted her chin up with stubborn determination. It was embarrassing enough to need help just to get to the bathroom let alone for anything else.

  “Fuck, you’re stubborn.” Beckett frowned as he backed toward the door. “I know how the human body works, baby. I’ve seen naked women before. Do you think I’m going to jump your bones if I see bare skin? I have way more control than that, and I don’t get off on kinks.” He closed the door behind him.

  Jaimie breathed out a sigh of relief when he left. It was awkward for her to get her jeans and panties down with only one hand, but she managed. It was harder to pull them back up after she was done, but she managed that, too. As soon as she flushed the toilet, the door opened and without a word, Beckett swept her up off her feet before carrying her toward the sink. He set her ass down on the counter, turned the tap on, and helped her wash and dry her hand.

  She glanced longingly at the spa bath but knew she’d never be able to get in and out of it by herself.

  Beckett must have seen where she was looking. “You can have a bath after you’ve eaten something. I can hear how hungry you are.” He pushed her back slightly until her shoulder blades were resting against the mirror above the four sinks before zipping and buttoning her jeans up. “Hang on to me, baby.”

  She hooked her arm around his neck as he lifted her against his chest and carried her back through the house. She loved their home. It was probably deceptively bigger than it looked because it was so open, but it wasn’t small either. There were at least four bedrooms, a huge living area with an open fireplace, and the kitchen looked as if it was brand new. The dining area across from the kitchen was big enough to seat fifteen or more people as was the large table sitting smack dab in the middle of it. There were sliding glass doors leading onto a large covered deck and a wraparound veranda.

  “You have a wonderful home.”

  Beckett winked at her as he seated her at the dining table. He pulled the seat out next to her and shifted the chair before gently lifting her leg up onto the cushion. She glanced over to where Crispin and Daire were making sandwiches and wished she could help, but she was going to be useless for a while. She sighed with frustration.

  “What

’s wrong, little one?” Daire asked as he piled the made sandwiches onto a platter.

  “I hate not being able to do stuff.”

  “That’s understandable, honey,” Crispin said as he carried smaller plates as well as glasses over to the table before setting them out. “No one likes to be debilitated.”

  Daire brought the sandwiches over, setting the platter in the middle of the table. Crispin, who had gone back to the kitchen, carried over a jug full of water and a full steaming pot of coffee.

  “Is there anything you don’t like to eat, baby?” Beckett asked from the seat beside her. It was awkward for her to see him with her leg propped up, but she liked looking someone in the eye when she was speaking to them.

  “Turnips.”

  Crispin’s chuckle drew her attention. “You don’t have to ever worry about us serving you that shit, honey. We don’t like ’em either. They’re nasty.”

  Jaimie smiled. “Yes, they are.”

  She stared at the plate Beckett had filled. There had to be four whole sandwiches on it. She’d be lucky to eat two on a normal day, but pain medication seemed to dampen her appetite as well as make her sleepy. “That’s too much,” she said as she cricked her neck to meet Beckett’s gaze again.

  “That’s not going to work,” Crispin said.

  She frowned in his direction as he shoved his chair back and stood. Jaimie had no idea what he was talking about, but it wasn’t long before the penny dropped.

  He scooped her up into his arms, shoved the chair she’d been resting her leg on out of the way and sat with her in his lap crossways so that she was facing Beckett, her leg propped over his lap and Daire was opposite her on the other side of the table.

  She couldn’t believe how observant or diligent they were, although she shouldn’t be surprised either. They were trained Marines, after all, and were no doubt more aware of what was going on around them and their surroundings than the average human being. Add their shifter DNA into the mix and they probably had superpowers as well as enhanced senses.

  “I called Preston Louis earlier,” Crispin said as he picked up a ham and cheese sandwich before lifting it to her mouth. “Eat, honey. I know you’re hungry.”

  Jaimie took a bite, chewing as she waited for Crispin to continue. “He was going to contact the hospital and get a list of names of all the people who died while you were on shift. If there is anything to find, he and the feds will.”

  “I’m not sure they’ll find anything,” Jaimie said after she finished chewing and swallowing. “Most people usually come back and thank us for trying to save their loved ones.”

  “We’re not going to leave any stone unturned, sweet thing.” Daire reached across the table, covering her hand with his. “You’re our mate, and we will protect you with our lives.”

  “I don’t want you doing that.”

  “Too fucking bad,” Beckett said. “If it comes down to your life or ours, you’ll be the last one standing.”

  “I couldn’t live with my conscience if anything happened to y’all. That’s the reason I left Natchez in the first place. That asshole was threatening to kill the people I worked with.”

  “He was watching you,” Crispin said.

  “He was. He’s already tried to kill me once and almost succeeded.”

  “Fuck! Is that how you broke your hip?” Daire stood and began pacing. “Did he fucking do that?”

  “Who told you about my hip?” she asked. “Did Dr. Higgins tell you? He’s bound by the Hippocratic oath. He’s legally bound to keep patient confidentiality.”

  “He didn’t break his oath, honey,” Crispin answered. “His mate and wife Dusty did. She’s not bound by any medical ethics. She only told us because she was worried about you. We didn’t know how you’d been hurt.”

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Daire said between clenched teeth. “He hurt you didn’t he?”

  Jaimie nodded.

  “Motherfucking son of a bitch,” Daire ranted.

  “He’s a fucking dead man,” Beckett snarled.

  When she gazed up at Crispin, she could tell he was just as angry as his brothers because he was grinding his teeth. He didn’t say anything, just held the sandwich to her mouth until she took another bite. No one said another word as they ate, but as soon as she’d had enough to eat, Crispin cupped her face between his hands, lifting her eyes up to his.

  “Tell us what happened, honey.”

  Her stomach roiled with remembered fear, but she ruthlessly pushed it away as she sucked in a deep breath and blinked the tears from her eyes. “I’m not even sure if it was him.”

  “Let us be the judge of that, baby?” Beckett laced his fingers with hers, giving her hand a comforting squeeze.

  Jaimie shifted restlessly on Crispin’s lap but stilled when she felt his hard cock under her ass. He kissed her lightly on the lips before drawing back. “Ignore my dick, honey. I can’t control how I respond to you, but I can control my urges.”

  She glanced aside, licking her lips when a shiver of heat skated up her spine, hoping Crispin hadn’t felt her shudder of desire, but knew he had when she heard him groan. She quickly started telling them how she’d been hurt before she left Natchez, trying to diffuse the sexual tension in the air.

  “I was hit by a truck. It was dark since it was my turn to work the night shift. I was walking across the parking lot when I heard a vehicle coming toward me. I know it was a man because of his size, the broadness of his shoulders. I thought for a minute he was out of control, but when he didn’t hit the brakes, I knew I was wrong. I ran toward the parked cars, in an effort to get between them so I’d be safe, but I didn’t make it. The front left quarter panel hit my hip. I have no idea how I didn’t end up under the truck. I was thrown up into the air and hit the ground hard. My head smacked into the asphalt, and I was knocked out. I think that was a blessing because I was in agony. When I woke in the hospital bed, I was told I’d had surgery to pin my pelvis back together.”

  “Fucking geezus,” Crispin whispered.

  “I’m okay. I was in the right place to get hurt. The country’s leading orthopedic surgeon just happened to be visiting at the time. If he hadn’t been on hand, I might have ended up with a permanent disability, but because of the doctor I only limp slightly. Not that I really cared. All that mattered was that I was still alive.”

  “We’ll make sure he pays for what he did to you, honey. I promise.” Crispin rested his forehead against hers with his eyes closed as he tried to slow his ragged breathing.

  “I don’t want revenge, Crispin. That’s what started all this in the first place. I have no idea what I did to deserve being a target, but I would beg for forgiveness if it helped that man to deal with whatever is tormenting him.”

  “You’re so fucking amazing, honey. Not many people would think like you. If more people were as forgiving, caring, and loving as you are, maybe there’d be peace in this world.” Crispin hugged her against his chest.

  “I’m no one special.”

  Daire rose, skirting around the table until he was standing behind her and Crispin. He grasped her chin between his finger and thumb so she couldn’t look away. “Now, that’s where you’re wrong, sweet thing. You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. I hate seeing you upset or in pain.”

  “We can do something about that,” Beckett said.

  “What?” Jaimie frowned.

  “Your pain.”

  “What are you talking about?” she asked.

  Beckett glanced at each of his brothers before gazing intently into her eyes again. “If you accept us as your mates, let us claim you, our DNA will heal your injuries faster.”

  Crispin nodded. “Everyone is different. Some of the women heal within a few hours to a day. Others take longer to heal.”

  “What does mating involve?” Jaimie asked nervously. She tried not to imagine how amazing it would feel to have these three handsome men touching and kissing her naked body, but her body and mind seemed to be off on an intimate tangent, no matter how hard she tried to keep the picture out of her head.

  “We’d each make love to you,” Daire said in a raspy voice. “One after the other. As you climax, we’ll bite into the crook of your neck and shoulder, passing you some of our genome.” She shivered when he caressed his thumb over her skin. His hazel eyes heated even more, causing her pussy to clench, which forced juices out onto her already damp panties. Daire leaned down until his mouth was inches from hers.

  “Say yes, sweet thing.”

  * * * *

  Crispin held his breath as he waited for Jaimie to answer. He could see that she was thinking about all the pros and cons of being in a relationship with him and his brothers. While he wanted to speak and sway her in their direction, he wanted her to want them as much as they wanted her, for their mate to decide without any persuasion. The choice was hers to make, and while he was on tenterhooks, he wasn’t about to try to convince her to say yes if she was unsure.

  If he and his brothers coerced her, she might end up resenting them and walking away from them after all.

  He wanted her to be with him, Daire, and Beckett for the rest of their lives, without any regrets.

  Crispin loved her enough to let her walk away.

  “Yes,” she whispered so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

  Daire straightened, his face a blank mask, but the hunger in his brother’s eyes told its own story. Crispin had no doubt he probably looked just as famished.

  Beckett cupped her cheek. “Be very sure, Jaimie. Once we claim you, there is no going back. We’ll be connected on an emotional level that will never be broken. There’s no divorce or separation in the shifter world. Once mated, we’re mated for life.”

  Jaimie swallowed audibly as she licked her lips. Her gaze skittered nervously from Daire, to Crispin, to Beckett and back to Daire again. Her cheeks tinged pink, and Crispin wondered if it was because she was aroused, embarrassed, or nervous. Maybe it was all three.

  She nodded.

  “We need the words, Jaimie,” Daire said. “We need to know you’re sure about what you’re getting yourself into.”

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