“The room is beautiful.” Laurie’s answer drew him back to the present. “I’ve never had such a nice room. But the reason I’m here is for the peacefulness of the ranch.” She helped Tammy spoon some corn onto her dish then turned to face Jace once again. “I was on the deck before, and two wolves came up and sat with me.” The sparkle in her eyes showed her excitement and happiness.
Jace couldn’t keep the smile from his face as he watched her talk about him and Jackson. “Were you afraid?” he asked her quietly, holding his breath without realizing it as he awaited her answer.
“At first,” Laurie admitted, “but they were so calm and gentle. They were absolutely beautiful. And when they climbed up onto the lounge chair with me and I held them, it was amazing. I have never felt so calm and protected in my life.” She looked at Jackson and then back at Jace, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Does that make sense?”
Jackson smiled and lifted his glass of water to her, winking playfully. “It makes absolute sense,” he told her warmly, his deep voice making her shiver slightly.
Laurie looked from Jackson to Jace again and blushed lightly, unable to keep the desire she was feeling under control. If they knew that she was thinking about them and that she was attracted to them, they would laugh at her, and she would have no choice but to leave the ranch in humiliation. She would not allow that to happen. She wanted to enjoy her time here. Her private fantasies would remain just that. Private.
Jace inhaled sharply, the scent of her arousal reaching him and making his already achingly painful erection throb. When he looked at Jackson, he knew that his friend was suffering a similar fate.
I’m not going to be able to hold back much longer, Jace.
Jace looked at Laurie and smiled. He would do what it took to have this gentle woman accept them. And he needed to do it soon. Time was important.
Jackson, we will claim our mate together within the next few days.
Jackson nodded slightly, knowing both he and Jace needed Laurie with an urgency that she had no way of understanding. Looking at Laurie as she spoke quietly with the rest of their family, he knew she was going to be everything they had hoped for and more.
He settled back in his chair, relaxing as the realization that they were finally going to be part of a mated triad came over him. Laurie may be unaware of what he and Jace already knew to be true, but they would enjoy every moment of helping her to accept them and the future the Fates had planned for them. Their triad mating was going to happen, and it was going to happen soon. It may be fast from a human’s perspective, but not from a wolf’s.
He looked at Jace and barely contained the growl of possession that threatened to escape him. He had only one thought.
Mate.
Jackson’s voice was strong and sure as it resounded with conviction in Jace’s mind.
Jace nodded and smiled slyly.
More than that, Jackson.
Jackson’s eyebrows rose in question as he watched Jace look over at their mate, drawing her scent into his lungs with a slow inhale. Smiling, Jace turned his attention back to Jackson.
Our mate is fertile.
Chapter 4
Laurie sat silently beside Julia and her husbands on the oversized, brown, suede couch, watching Tammy as she climbed awkwardly onto Jace’s lap. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw Jace’s unmistakable joy as he reached down and helped the adorable girl climb up his legs and settle comfortably within the safety of his arms.
“Story time, Unca Jace.” Tammy giggled as she shoved the little storybook she had in her hand against his chest. “You promised.”
“Yes, I did, cub,” Jace told her warmly, taking the book from her and settling her back against his chest as he opened the little book.
Laurie found herself pushing back tears as Jace read the story about a little puppy to Tammy. The way he pointed to the pictures as he read and had her talk about each one showed that this was a common occurrence with the small child. It touched her in a way that scared her. And when she saw Jackson leave his recliner to sit on the floor beside Jace, to tenderly touch Tammy’s hair as she giggled about the story, she almost lost her composure.
“Look, Unca Jackson,” Tammy told him happily, squealing with delight as she pointed to the picture in the book.
“I see,” Jackson told her, smiling as she looked at him with such happiness.
“The little puppy is so cute!”
Jackson laughed as he leaned over and kissed Tammy’s cheek quickly. “Not as cute as you, darlin’,” he told her, smiling at her.
Tammy reached out and grabbed a handful of Jackson’s hair, hanging on tightly as Jace finished the story. Laurie watched them silently, amazed at the honest comfort level both men had with the little girl. There was an ache in her chest as she saw the way Tammy snuggled against Jace’s chest, and her eyes went from the book to Jace and then to Jackson as she enjoyed herself so totally.
When Jace finished the book, Tammy let go of Jackson’s hair and twisted her little body to turn into Jace’s embrace, giggling as she kissed his face sloppily.
“That was a good book, Unca Jace,” she told him sweetly before turning and jumping into Jackson’s arms, tumbling him to the floor before kissing his cheek as well.
Jackson laughed as Tammy quickly scrambled off of him and ran to the couch to climb up quickly onto Laurie’s lap. Both men grew immediately serious at the sight of Laurie opening her arms and cuddling the child to her quickly, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
The men looked at each other, neither able to put into words the feelings that rushed through them as they watched the warmth that Laurie shared with a child she barely knew. As Tammy settled against Laurie and they watched their mate tenderly stroke the little one’s hair, they both flashed a picture to the other of Laurie cuddling their own child against her. It was a beautiful image that made them feel a desire so strong for the scene in their minds to be their future reality.
Jace sat back in the big leather recliner that sat at an angle to the fireplace. Jackson stood and walked back to the matching black recliner that sat at the opposite side of the fireplace and leaned back to lounge comfortably. They watched silently as Laurie slowly pet Tammy’s hair, lulling the child to sleep and holding her tenderly as she snuggled against her chest. Laurie held her gently, rubbing her shoulder lovingly as she slept peacefully.
“She’s such a great kid,” Laurie spoke softly to Tammy’s parents as they sat next to her on the couch.
Julia smiled at Laurie then turned to her husbands Adrian and Colin, and touched their hands gently. “She is at that,” she agreed, whispering her fingers across her mates’ hands lovingly. “She’s the sweetest baby, just like her daddies.”
Adrian smiled and held his mate’s hand, squeezing it tightly before bringing it to his lips to kiss it lightly. “She’s just like you, honey,” he argued, smiling.
“Hopefully the next baby will be just as sweet,” Colin added, reaching out to touch Julia’s belly gently, leaning in to kiss her cheek tenderly.
Laurie looked at Julia and smiled, her eyes sparkling at the joy she felt for the three of them. “Congratulations,” she offered sincerely. Her eyes filled with tears at the news. She couldn’t help the emotions that filled her as she watched the loving trio as they sat cuddled against each other.
Unable to stop herself, she reached out and touched Julia’s hand, squeezing it lightly. Julia looked at her with such happiness that Laurie couldn’t stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. How wonderful that this young woman could be so happy with these two men, who obviously were just as happy as she was at the prospect of having another child.
Adrian stood and gently pulled Julia to her feet, kissing her cheek lightly as he tenderly covered her growing baby bump. Turning to Laurie, Colin reached forward and lifted his sleeping daughter into his arms.
“It was nice meeting you, Laurie,” he told her quietly, touching his daughter’s face gently as h
e spoke. “See you in the morning.”
Laurie nodded and smiled at them as they walked away, their arms around each other. She sighed sadly, wishing it had been that way for her. But it hadn’t been. Standing slowly, she turned away from the three of them to find both Jace and Jackson watching her silently.
“Do the majority of the people here end up in relationships of three people?” Laurie asked them curiously, not one hint of judgment in her voice.
“Yes, Laurie,” Jace answered her instantly, his voice strong. “Does that bother you?”
“Bother me?” Laurie asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. She hesitated briefly, wanting to choose the right words as she worked out exactly what she felt about these uncommon relationships. “No, it doesn’t bother me,” she answered slowly. “It’s just so different. But it seems to be right for them.”
“Yes, it is,” Jace agreed, the sureness in his voice never wavering. “It’s the way it should be.”
“I think so, too,” she agreed, looking back at the doorway that the happy family had just exited through. “I’m glad for them,” she admitted softly.
She turned toward Jace and Jackson and smiled sadly.
“How’s your shoulder?” she asked Jace, suddenly remembering his injury. The surprise on Jace’s face made her smile. She couldn’t help but laugh as she stepped closer to him. “I never forget anything,” she explained to him quietly, turning to Jackson to smile at him.
Jackson stood and walked toward her, unable to stop himself from being as close to her as he could. Jace turned in his chair and watched as Laurie made her way toward him. He couldn’t have spoken if his life had depended on it. Just the fact that she was looking at him and smiling as she came closer to him made his heart race. Her scent encompassed him, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.
When her hand gently touched his shoulder, he closed his eyes and turned his face into her arm and breathed in deeply. When she laughed, he opened his eyes and looked up at her, embarrassed at having been caught.
“I know. I smell it, too. What is that smell? It smells so good.”
Laurie looked at Jackson and smiled as she caught him taking in a deep breath as well. “We’re all crazy!” Laurie laughed and reached up to wipe the tears from her cheeks. Taking another breath, she turned to walk away. “I’ll go get the liniment for you,” she told him as she left the room.
Jackson turned to Jace and was happy to see the look of contentment on his triad partner’s face. “She’s perfect for us, Jace,” he told him quietly. “She makes me smile all the time.”
Jace nodded and leaned back in his chair. “She’s already made the members of the pack feel comfortable with her. I would have never believed it if I hadn’t seen it.” He turned to Jackson and sighed. “They seek her out. It’s as if they know she’ll comfort them and accept them.”
“It’s amazing,” Jackson agreed. “Every moment we spend with her makes me calmer and more centered. My wolf is so calm, I can’t believe it. He actually purrs when she touches us.”
Jace stood up and began to unbutton his shirt. Pulling it from his body, he threw it on the chair behind him and reached down to grab the hem of his T-shirt, pulling it up and over his head to throw it on the chair as well.
“What are you doing?” Jackson asked him, smiling.
“Getting ready for Laurie to rub the liniment into my shoulder,” Jace told him, winking at him quickly and schooling his features as Laurie came back into the room.
She stumbled slightly as she walked through the doorway and saw Jace with no shirt on. The muscles upon muscles that graced his body made her mouth drop open in awe. Placing the tube of liniment on the side table near the couch, she stepped back and looked at both men before quickly lowering her eyes. “Use as much as you need,” she told Jace quietly, her face blushing hotly as she forced herself to look up at him. “Good night.”
With that, she turned and left the room as quickly as her legs could take her. She fought the urge to turn around and gaze at the stunning loveliness of his body. She wanted to touch him, kiss him, and lick every inch of his body. Once she made it to the stairway, she took the steps two at a time and quickly ran to her bedroom, closing the door behind her and locking it quickly. She leaned her back against the door and struggled to control her breathing.
Jackson turned to Jace and shook his head.
“Too much?” Jace teased, grinning devilishly.
Jackson burst out laughing, holding his side as he struggled to contain his laughter so Laurie wouldn’t hear him. He had never, in all the years he had known Jace, seen him so carefree and happy.
Yup. Laurie was just what they needed to bring joy into their lives.
Chapter 5
Jace leaned in and kissed the side of Laurie’s neck, opening his mouth and scraping his canines against her body where her neck met her shoulder. Laurie moaned and reached out to clasp her hands around his neck to pull him closer to her. He reached up and covered her mouth with his, coaxing her lips open to accept him, gently thrusting his tongue into her mouth and sweeping its sweetness, moaning his approval as she responded shyly with her own tongue.
One of his large hands was holding the back of her head as he leaned in to claim her mouth once again while the other swept her body to feel the silkiness of her skin and settle gently against her breast, circling her already taut nipple.
“Laurie,” he moaned as his mouth left hers, and he trailed kisses down her body to her full breast before taking the rosy nipple into his mouth and sucking hard before laving it gently with his tongue.
“Jace,” she gasped, her body arching up toward his touch. Wanting. Needing. “Please don’t stop,” she pleaded. “I need you.”
“Oh, baby,” he groaned, laughing, his voice gruff with passion, “I have no intentions of stopping until you scream my name as you come.”
Laurie moaned and reached out to grip his head, threading her fingers through the silkiness of his black hair and pulling him back toward her breast. She lost herself in the sensations of his mouth suckling at her breast and his hands petting her body. She was floating in sensations as her body received such total gentleness and love.
Her legs were slowly parted, and she felt Jace kiss his way down to her inner thigh. She reached down and touched his head lovingly as he leaned back to look up at her.
“I’ve been needing to taste you since the moment I saw you,” he whispered, gently spreading her lower lips to reveal the shiny pinkness that awaited him. She was already wet and ready for them, and he wanted to make her know the ecstasy that they would give her.
The moan that escaped her made him smile as his tongue took one long swipe from her delicate opening to her clit, humming in satisfaction at the glorious taste of her juices. His tongue speared deep inside her, and he pulled out to latch onto her clit and suck gently before biting down on it carefully.
Laurie’s hips lifted off the bed, and he smiled as she cried out his name. Jace chuckled and reached forward with his large hand to gently rub the swollen bud as Jackson inserted two fingers into her tight opening and curled them slightly to rub against the elusive spot inside her, his body pressing against her hip as he settled comfortably beside her. Laurie nearly shot off the bed at the explosion that shot through her body.
They slowed their movements to gently coax her down from her orgasm, kissing her face, her breasts, her stomach, as they soothed her. Moving as one, Jace settled between her legs and placed his cock at the entrance to her body, leaning in slightly so she could feel the pressure of the tip of his erection.
“Do you want this, Laurie?” he asked her quietly, stilling all movement until she gave him permission to enter her body. “If you say yes, there’s no going back.” His voice was deep and serious. She looked up at him and saw the need in his face, but her eyes filled with tears at the love she also saw there. “If you say yes, you’ll be ours.”
She looked over at J
ackson. He waited beside her on his knees as he watched them, his heavy cock hard and dripping with pre-cum. His eyes held a longing that stole her heart, and she saw the love he had for her shining back at her. Tears filled her eyes as she looked from Jackson to Jace, and she reached out to gently touch Jace’s face with her right hand and Jackson’s face with her left.
“I love you both,” she whispered, her heart nearly breaking at the love she felt for both men. “Please make love to me. Make me yours.”
Jace covered her body with his, moaning against her neck as she took hold of his shaft and brought it to her waiting channel. He rocked into her in small increments, groaning at her tightness. It took every bit of effort to work his way into her body with careful thrusts, easing himself into her with a gentleness that would ensure he didn’t hurt her. She was so tight, so exquisite, he feared he would spill his seed before he even seated himself deep within her. Hearing her moan with pleasure as he pushed the last inch of his rock-hard cock into her, he had to stop and gather his control as he felt the tip of his shaft touch her womb. Pulling out gently, he surged back into her waiting warmth, making her moan in pleasure at the feel of him deep inside her.
He stilled, searching her face for any fear or pain, allowing her body the needed reprieve to relax and open to accommodate his size. Only when he felt her body grow pliant beneath him, did he start to move again. Each pull of his cock within her silky channel made the most erotic sounds escape her mouth. She canted her hips to take him deeper into her body. He leaned down to kiss her gently, picked himself up on his arms to get a better angle, then slowly rocked in and out of her body, groaning in ecstasy as her internal muscles gripped him as if she never wanted him to leave the warmth of her body.
Laurie moaned and turned to Jackson, reaching out to grab his cock and gently pull him toward her mouth. His length and girth were impressive, but Laurie was determined to take every inch of him. When he hit the back of her throat, she swallowed, and he moaned her name as he pet her hair and rocked slowly back and forth within the warm depths of her mouth.
Bernard, Lynnette - Laurie's Loves [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 4