by Marie Harte
“Bas?” She sounded weak. She didn’t like that.
“What?”
“What aren’t you saying?”
He fell silent.
Now that she took a good look at him, he looked leaner, haggard. Worried. “You look like shit.”
He laughed, and his joy made her feel better. “Thanks. First real laugh I’ve had in days.”
She tried to sit up and felt a jolt of pain.
“No, no. Lie still. You’re still recovering from a massive injury.”
“How long was I out? What happened?” Where was Gray? If he loved her so much, where the hell was he? The big liar.
“It’s been a week, and it’s been touch-and-go.” Bas stroked her cheek, his blue eyes impossibly bright. “Ali, I thought you were going to die. I love you. I didn’t say it before because I thought it might freak you out.”
“And you might have to kill me.” She felt better with each breath she took. Hearing the big lug say he loved her didn’t hurt either. But that didn’t mean she trusted him.
“Okay. I know Gray told you the truth. We thought Al Ross was a guy, a mutant or rogue trying to kill, or start an army. When I saw you, I knew I could never harm you. Even before you took horrible, sexual advantage of me, I was in lust and in love.”
“Shut up.” She didn’t want to smile but couldn’t help herself.
“Seriously. My beast knew you right away. You make me feel the way Gray does. Yeah, it’s gonna take time for you to trust us. And that’s okay. But we’re not going anywhere. Not without you.”
Her head started to spin. Bas seemed like he meant what he said. She remembered him putting himself between her and Watts. His worry, his kindness. “All this we talk. So where the heck is Gray?”
Bas frowned.
“Bas, where is he?”
“He’s downstairs in your room under the cabin. He’s been out of it since he used himself to heal you.” He paused. “Without him, you would have died.”
She didn’t understand. “He can heal?”
“No. But it’s different with you and me. Gray’s family comes from a long line of shape-shifters and shamans, apparently. He connected with both of us, and that mental and physical connection allows him to plug in to us, so to speak. He can share his energy to keep us alive, because without us, Gray hurts.” Bas smiled, but she could read his anxiety. “He’s fully healed from the wounds Watts inflicted. Bastard was on death’s door and still nearly tore Gray’s heart out.”
“Oh my God. I need to see him.”
Bas nodded. “Slowly.” He helped her sit up.
She hissed at the pain as he helped her to her feet, his arm around her.
“I know you’re still pissed that we lied. But we didn’t lie about loving you. Gray nearly died to heal you. And he’s not out of the woods yet. After you lost consciousness and he healed you, he’s been asleep. I can hear him sometimes, but he’s growing weaker. Maybe you can talk to him.”
They made their way downstairs, and with each step, Ali willed herself to recover. She still couldn’t absorb the fact Gray had nearly died for her. First killing Watts, then healing her with his psychic crap.
“He really means it,” she whispered.
“Yeah. He does. He’s conceited, bossy, and he’s a know-it-all. But when he commits, it’s all the way.”
They stopped in the room at the foot of the bed. On it, Gray lay still. A blanket was tucked around his waist, but his torso remained bare. No new scar marred his chest that she could see, but his breathing was too slow. His eyes didn’t flicker under his lids. She could barely detect the rise and fall of his chest.
“Okay, you. Wake up.”
Nothing.
She moved closer with Bas’s help and stroked his chest. “All healed up, aren’t you? Don’t think taking on Watts for me relieves you of that problem you have about telling the truth.” She felt tears well, the past connecting with the present. And her sudden future unfolded before her. “You say you love me? Well, prove it. Because if you don’t wake up, that’s just another lie, isn’t it? Wanting a future with me, but you’re too much a coward to face me.”
A stirring in her mind alerted her to Gray’s presence. “I’m resting, dammit. Would you two ease up on the maudlin tears and let a guy recuperate? How the hell will I fuck you both senseless if I’m still in recovery?”
His chest filled and released, and his mouth parted.
Bas hugged her tight. “I knew you’d badger him to wake up. Figures hero won’t answer when I call him.”
“Easy, junior. Soon as I’m up and running, we’re claiming our woman. Don’t think you aren’t going to answer to us for all your shit either. Boy, you need discipline.”
She and Bas looked from Gray to each other. Then she smiled wide, more than excited to do any number of the things Gray suddenly poured into her mind.
“Oh hell.” Bas groaned, but the sparkle in his eyes told her he looked forward to the same thing.
Chapter Ten
Lying on his back, Gray took a deep breath and eased her down over him. He’d been hard and waiting for too long. First his imposed coma had slowed progress. And then his interfering grandmother had shown up on Ali’s door to say I told you so and welcome the poor woman to the family.
It was now a full week since he’d heard Ali’s beautiful voice badgering him to heal. He’d thought he might die from his permanent erection. But they finally had the cabin to themselves again.
And now he and Bas would claim her for their own.
She’d wanted to remain in her woman’s form for the joining. He understood. Driven by her beast and her mutant blood for so long, Ali now reveled in feeling human.
“You feel so fucking good,” he whispered as he filled her with his cock. He had to work to remain still, because the urge to thrust up and come hard consumed him. Instead, he filled his hands with her breasts and played with her nipples. Her sultry scent flooded the small space underground, the only bed large enough to fit him, her, and Bas.
“Oh that is a pretty picture.” Bas grinned at him over her shoulder. “Her ass is perfection.”
“So fuck it already,” she snarled. Then she winked down at Gray.
Love seemed to fill the entire room. Gray couldn’t help but fall more into love with her every day. Her and Bas.
“Bossy mate. Both of you.” Bas grunted as he leaned over her. “Don’t worry, honey. I’m nice and wet for you. Sorry, but I’m bigger than Gray. So this may sting. But I have a feeling your beast will help us.”
“Come on, Chatty Cathy. Do it already.” Gray fought not to come, and the sexy Circ smiling down at him knew it. “Witch.”
She leaned down to kiss him and blew his mind. “Don’t lose it now, hotshot.” Her smile faded and her lips parted as Bas penetrated her ass.
“Oh fuck. She’s tight. So fucking tight.” Bas moaned as he moved, and he shared with them every delectable thought about how wonderful she felt as he thrust. “There we go. All the way in to my balls. So good.”
Gray felt him through the thin membrane inside her. The sensation was incredible.
“I’m so full. Stuffed with both of you.” Affection and lust permeated Ali’s being. She had yet to say the L word, but Gray knew it would come in time. They’d spent the week talking, relaxing, getting to know one another. And that downtime made this mating all the more powerful, because they all sensed what they hadn’t necessarily said. They loved one another. But more, they’d grown to trust each other.
“Move, Bas.” Gray felt his partner shift, and then he moved. They found a slow, steady rhythm that drove Ali crazy. She tensed between them, wanting more. Gray wondered if she knew what a treasure she was. How lucky he and Bas were to have her to themselves.
“I do. I do know,” she whispered as they fucked.
Bas groaned behind her. “I need to come. I can’t last. Oh shit. Now. Need to come now.”
Gray wanted to be mean, but he also wanted Bas to know p
leasure. His mates’ enjoyment came before his own. Always, if he had anything to say about it. “Come, Bas. Right in that hot ass.”
“Fill me up,” Ali murmured, her voice thick and sexy.
Bas shuddered behind her, his bliss impossible to ignore. Then Ali ground harder against Gray’s pelvis, pushed there by Bas. “Oh yes. I’m coming,” she keened and scratched his shoulders when her claws popped out.
Her loss of control pushed Gray past his. He climaxed and continued to come, unloading all the lust, seed, and love he had inside him. The thrill of finally sealing the three of them together was his undoing, and his vision blurred.
“I knew you’d punk out,” Bas teased, watching him over Ali’s shoulder.
Ali lay sandwiched between them, sexy, unbreakable. Theirs.
Gray felt her energy snap into place with his and Bas’s. Love and contentment settled over the three of them like a warm blanket. So soft and right. He couldn’t believe he’d been so against taking a mate. Now he had two.
“And we’re not going anywhere without each other,” Bas reinforced, his low voice thready. “Admiral London agreed we need some time off.”
“And I want to meet other Circs. Your sister seems nice. She says you’re the best uncle.”
Gray groaned. “Ava’s a witch. Her husband’s an asshole, and her kid is… Well, precious, because she’s just like me. Still, we should stay far away from the Tersch family.”
“I don’t know, Gray. How about your grandmother? Alicia was here this week, and she’s the nicest woman. Not sure why you give her such a hard time—her words, not mine,” Bas added with a sly grin. “Her husband thinks the world of you.” He pulled out of Ali and lay next to her on the bed. They shared a smile.
“I like her too,” Ali agreed.
Gray frowned. “You would. The woman schemed to get me to your mountain under false pretenses. Because of her, I thought I had to kill you.”
Ali kissed him. Then she leaned over to kiss Bas, but Gray wouldn’t let her part from his body. His cock started to swell again.
“She explained all that.”
Bas took over. “Yeah. About you being too cocky, too sure of yourself. How you needed me to keep you straight and Ali to soften your rough edges. You need us, hero. And now you know it.”
Gray would have argued for the sake of it, but Ali’s and Bas’s concern reached him. “Oh hell. You know I love you both.”
Bas beamed. Then they looked at Ali.
“What?” She flashed her fangs at them. “I might love you too. Maybe. Well, if you’re sure you don’t mind a mutant in the family, I’m in.”
“Hey. He was born this way.” Bas made a scared face, but Gray could hear him mentally shouting up and down at Ali’s declaration. “I’m a telekinetic freak. I’d say you fit in perfectly.”
“And I know just how to cage all that fury.” Gray rolled her under him. Then he pulled out of her and rose to his knees, pleased at how his mates focused on his slick, thickening shaft. “First, you lick me.” He pointed to Ali; then he turned to Bas. “Then you stroke me.” Gray grinned. “And then you both love me.”
“We already do, hero,” Ali said in a soft voice. She and Bas laughed, and then they followed his orders. To the letter.
Life was finally perfect.
Loose Id Titles by Marie Harte
Mirror, Mirror
Reaper's Reward
Saturnalia
Satyr's Myst
Tied & True
Willa's Wish
* * * *
The CIRCE'S RECRUITS Series
Roan
Zack & Ace
Derrick
Hale
* * * *
The DAWN ENDEAVOR Series
Fallon's Flame
Hayashi's Hero
Julian’s Jeopardy
Gunnar’s Game
Grayson’s Gamble
* * * *
The POWER UP! Series
The Lost Locket
RetroCog
Whispered Words
Marie Harte
Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic, but especially all things romance. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with the warmth of first passion and knew writing was her calling. Twenty-three years later, the Marine Corps, a foray through Information Technology, a husband and four kids, and her dream has finally come true. Marie lives in Georgia with her family and loves hearing from readers.
Find out more about Marie at http://www.marieharte.com.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Loose Id Titles by Marie Harte
Marie Harte