Zurlo, Michele - Riley [Daughters of Circe 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Michele Zurlo

  She licked her lips, desperately trying to bring feeling back to them. “Your compulsion is gone. We killed hundreds of them.”

  “I’m barely a wolf anymore. This is what you’ve planned all along, isn’t it?”

  “No.” She nearly choked on the word in her rush to reassure him. “I didn’t plan any of this. Soren, I love you.”

  “Riley loved me. You’re not Riley anymore. You’re Circe, and I don’t know her. I don’t want to know her.” His gaze slid past her and his body followed. “Shade, can I borrow a pair of pants?”

  Blood drained from her face, leaving it so cold the tear that fell burned as it slid down her cheek. Teigh’s arms engulfed her. She turned and buried her face in his chest. Once again, he held her as she cried over Soren.

  “He’ll come around, Circe. Give him time. Losing his ability to shape-shift isn’t easy. He’s defined himself as a wolf for as long as he can remember. He needs time to come to terms with it, especially now that you’ve gained that ability as well.”

  She lifted her head to stare into his warm brown eyes. “Teigh, we don’t have time. We have until tonight, and then we lose Caiden forever. All this time, all this pain and sacrifice will have been for nothing. I can’t let that happen. I can’t lose you or Caiden or Soren.”

  He smoothed his thumb down her temple and across her cheek. “Let me talk to him, babe. Let me see if I can get him to see reason.”

  With that, he turned her over to Torrey and Desiree. Torrey wrapped an arm around Riley’s waist. Desiree squeezed her hand. Together, the three of them headed to the house into which Soren hadn’t gone.

  Chapter 10

  Soren slid into a pair of Shaden’s jeans. They fit perfectly. He eyed the wall full of shelves that held all of Shaden and Torrey’s clothes. Out in the open like that, they probably didn’t trigger Shaden’s compulsion like things put away in drawers always did.

  Compulsion. Soren had always hated his compulsion, but he had worn it like a badge of honor anyway. Having one meant he was one of the most powerful wolves in his pack. Average wolves didn’t have compulsions, and Soren had always taken pride in his exceptionalism.

  “Torrey made you build these, didn’t she?”

  Shaden smiled. If Soren had been able to muster one, they would have been mirror images. The only real difference in their physical features lay in their coloring. Where Soren had blond hair and teal eyes, Shaden had black hair and brown eyes almost as dark as the night sky. A day’s growth of stubble stained both their jaws.

  “It seems my soul mate prefers a home where things are picked up. I’ve learned to clean up my messes.”

  Soren raised a brow. “It’s a compulsion. You can’t help it.”

  Shaden’s lifted a shoulder and let it fall. “If you don’t learn to control it, it will control you. Torrey and the kids help clean stuff up after I have an episode, which happens much less frequently than they used to. She doesn’t get mad or pissy about it, but she does find it frustrating. Soren, you’re stalling. I think the real issue is what the hell did you do to Riley out there?”

  The brightness of midday drew Soren to the window. Being on the second floor, the window offered a breathtaking view. A long yard led down to a stream. Across the way, the tree-covered slope rose to impressive heights. Wanderlust seized him just from looking at the vastness. The image of Riley as a wolf came to him. Full of reds, golds, and oranges, she displayed all the colors of the sun, as befit the daughter of the sun. He pinched the headache starting between his eyes, generated by shades of regret and pangs stemming from the bleakness of her eyes as he walked away from her.

  “I spent ten years looking for her. I wanted to apologize. I wanted to make it up to her. I wanted…” He pressed his forehead against the cool glass.

  “You wanted to make a life with her.”

  Soren nodded. “I never thought I would meet a woman that made me feel like I could be more than I am. But she did. I wanted to kick this compulsion for her. I left Lyton. I gave all of my responsibilities to Tiffany and I left the pack. I had no power and no way of getting any. I thought it was gone.”

  Shaden flopped down on the bed. He settled back against a bank of pillows and crossed his legs at the ankle. “Compulsions don’t go away.”

  The moment that demon had appeared, the truth of his curse had come crashing down on him.

  “No, they don’t, especially not when you flip for someone who turns out to be a minor Goddess.” He sat on the edge of the bed opposite his brother. “Shaden, she took some of my power. I understand why she did it. I dragged her here to have you guys perform the ceremony to restore her immortality, and then I planned to harvest her power. I’m barely a wolf now, and I’ve never been much of a man.”

  Shaden scooted across the bed to sit next to Soren. “Stop beating yourself up. She fell in love with the man, not the wolf. When you had her at the house, she had no idea you were a wolf. She spent that time getting to know you. Believe me, I’ve spent years watching her hold on to her anger toward you because that’s all she had left.”

  Anger indicated strong feelings. It hadn’t taken much for Soren to convert her feelings to positive ones. He knew the point Shaden tried to make, yet he couldn’t get over the way weakness constricted his chest. He’d always been the strong one. He was the pack leader. Nobody had more developed senses. If he no longer held claim to any of those things, what did he have to offer a mate?

  Soren waited, knowing his brother hadn’t finished speaking. When the silence stretched, he turned and found Shaden rubbing his jaw, deep in thought. “You don’t seem upset about what she’s done to me.”

  Shaden laughed briefly, and then he regarded Soren with a somber expression. “She’s given you back to me. If that makes you a weaker wolf, so be it. I can’t find it in my heart to be angry at a woman who made it so that my best friend and brother can be part of my life again.”

  A knock at the door interrupted anything more Shaden might have said. Soren should have been able to identify the scent of the person standing on the other side of that slab of wood, but his senses failed him. He growled in frustration.

  The door opened to reveal Teigh. The handsome man rested a hand on each side of the door frame. “Does that growl mean I should come in or go away?”

  Soren’s heart pounded. Would Teigh reject him now, subjecting him to the same heartbreak he had dealt Riley? “Come in.”

  Teigh crossed the room and held his hand out to Shaden. “I’m glad to see you made good use of that address. Torment is exceptionally happy, and those girls are just lovely.”

  Though he didn’t forget his manners, confusion wrinkled Shaden’s brow and pursed his lip. He shook Teigh’s hand. “Have we met?”

  “Teigh’s the Shadow Man,” Soren supplied. “And my lover.”

  The wrinkles disappeared as Shaden’s brows shot to his hairline. “I didn’t see that coming, but I guess I should have. Torrey told me she and Des had three fathers.”

  “Caiden will join us as soon as the girls get the ritual going.” He threw a look at Soren that sent Soren’s heart into overdrive. “That is, if Soren can get his head out of his ass.”

  Shaden stood, hands parked on his hips. “She siphoned off a fair bit of his power. He can barely shift. Still, I think it’s not stuck, but he could use help pulling it out.”

  Though his brother had just been trying to talk him into realizing the necessity of Riley’s actions, he didn’t hesitate to defend Soren. His twin was his other half, his conscience, and his best friend. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed having Shaden on his side.

  Unimpressed, Teigh stepped into Shaden’s personal space, a risky endeavor when confronting a wolf. He poked a finger into Shaden’s chest. “He knew this power wasn’t his to keep when he accepted it.”

  Soren slid between his lover and his brother before Shaden lost his temper. “I don’t have the memories you have, Teigh. This isn’t easy for me.”

  �
�No, I guess breaking Circe’s heart and making her cry is much easier to do.”

  Shame flamed his face. Soren had fled that morning at the first sign of her tears. He closed his eyes and hung his head. “At least she has you.”

  Teigh hissed and turned away. He headed to the window Soren had so recently vacated. “She remembers loving me, Soren, but she loves you. I won’t have that with her until after the ceremony when her memories all return. Watching her with you, knowing I’m getting the scraps because she can’t truly remember me, that’s sucked majorly. Even you feel the emotion toward me, but you have no logical basis for it. You don’t remember all the time we’ve spent together. You’re taking it on faith and intuition. You don’t really remember me either.”

  Soren felt Shaden looking at him. He felt the weight of his brother’s unasked questions. More than that, he finally understood that Teigh had endured just as much pain. He’d lost all of the powers he’d wielded as the Shadow Man, yet he hadn’t complained once. He’d watched as the woman and the man he loved barely included him in the deepest levels of their hearts.

  “I’m sorry.” Words were inadequate. Soren closed the space between them in three steps. He slid his arms around Teigh’s waist. “I’ve been selfish. I’m sorry.”

  Teigh leaned his weight against Soren and let his head rest against Soren’s shoulder. “You always were a selfish bastard. But you’re also one of the most generous men in the world. Nothing about this has been easy, but if you can find it in your heart to forgive Circe and return her power to her, we can finally be together. All of us.”

  Teigh turned in his arms and lifted his lips. Soren kissed him with all the love and tenderness in his heart. Maybe he didn’t completely remember Teigh, but they had forged new memories, and Soren had fallen in love with Teigh all over again.

  Behind him, the door closed softly as Shaden left them alone.

  * * * *

  Riley paced the length of Desiree’s long living room. Seven nieces followed her about and clamored for her attention. Normally, she would revel in spending time with the kids, but now she couldn’t keep her gaze from wandering to the door every five seconds.

  Finally, Desiree called them away for lunch, leaving her alone with Torrey. For as long as she could remember, Riley had worshipped the ground Torrey trod upon.

  “Don’t expect me to call you ‘Mom.’”

  Riley laughed and sat on the sofa next to her sister. The huge room afforded an unexpected level of privacy. Situated away from the bedroom and kitchen, it sported two long couches and four overstuffed chairs. Everything centered around a low wooden table that had to measure six feet across and three feet the other way.

  She lifted her feet to rest on that scarred surface. “I don’t even expect you to call me Circe, though the more time passes and the more powers I absorb, the more I remember that name. I may be that person, but I’m still your little sister.”

  “So, how long have you known?”

  Riley lifted a shoulder and let it fall. Soren had reentered her life only five days ago, yet it seemed he had always been there. “I’m still acclimating. It’s like I have this life as Riley and now all these other memories and this whole other identity are imprinting in my mind. Last week, I was moping because I hadn’t been on a date in a few months. This week, I have three lovers. Next week…”

  She couldn’t voice the thought sending ice through her veins. If Soren didn’t come around, then Caiden would fade away. She might spend the rest of her life with Teigh, but they would both always be missing Soren and Caiden.

  Torrey leaned forward and took Riley’s hands in her own. “You haven’t been a wolf for that long. One of the things you’ll come to realize is how being a shape-shifter becomes an integral part of who you are. If Soren’s losing that on top of all the hell he’s put himself through because of the demons, then he needs you to be understanding.”

  “I know.” Riley swallowed hard. “I wish we had time for him to come to terms with this on his own, but I don’t. If we don’t do the ceremony before the next dawn, Caiden pays the ultimate price. We all do, though it will be delayed for us.”

  Torrey nodded. “So maybe you don’t want to wait here all day. Maybe you want to head over to my house and talk some sense into him. I bet he’ll have a much more difficult time staying away from you if you’re there with him.”

  As always, Torrey gave excellent advice. Riley pushed to her feet and threw her sister a grateful smile. “I guess I’m off then. Wish me luck.”

  Torrey rose and enveloped Riley in her arms. “You don’t need luck. He loves you. Capitalize on it.”

  * * * *

  Ten minutes later, Riley stood outside the door leading to Torrey and Shade’s bedroom. She heard the murmur of voices as Teigh and Soren spoke, and she hated to interrupt. Finally, she took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

  She’d been inside Torrey’s bedroom many times before. Shelving dominated one wall and a huge bed took up half the available floor space. Given the impressive dimensions of the room, that meant the bed could easily sleep Torrey, Shade, and all three of their kids on a stormy night.

  Comfortable chairs were situated under the window. Teigh and Soren occupied those. Both sat forward on their cushions, leaning toward one another. As one, each man sat up a little straighter. Soren rubbed his palms on his thighs, fingers spread wide.

  Teigh held out a hand, beckoning her closer. She closed the door and crossed the room. “Circe, babe, I’m glad you’re here.” He vacated the seat and pushed her gently into it. “Soren has something he needs to say to you.”

  A razor-sharp lump cut her throat, rendering her temporarily incapable of speech. She met Soren’s somber gaze and managed a nod.

  His hands rolled into fists. He flexed them a few times. “I’m sorry, Riley. I know this is the way things are supposed to happen, but it’s a blow. I wasn’t expecting any of this. When I found you after all this time, I thought the hardest part would be convincing you to give me a chance. I thought being with you, spending my days loving you, would be the easy part.”

  She opened her mouth to assure him she had no idea any of this would happen, but Teigh motioned for her to stay quiet.

  Soren shook his head. “I might not have a clear memory about how we got into this mess, but I don’t want out of it. Honey, can you forgive me?”

  Instead of answering, she threw herself at him. He caught her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his hair. Relief flowed through her. Tense muscles relaxed and she molded her body to Soren’s. His arms enveloped her, one looping round to hold her close around the waist and the other rising to tangle his fingers in her hair.

  Teigh’s warm body pressed against her from the back, sandwiching her between two of her lovers. The palm of one hand played up and down her bare arm, pushing up the edge of the short sleeve when he encountered it. His other arm wound around Soren. They stayed like that for a long time, basking in the warmth and love each had to give to the other two.

  The hair spilling down her neck on one side moved. Teigh replaced it with the weight of his lips. They skimmed up and down her sensitive skin, and gooseflesh traveled down her back. She let her head fall back to be cradled by his shoulder.

  Dipping his face to her throat, Soren took advantage of the offering. His lips sent new waves of desire lapping through her body. Hands touched her everywhere. Someone tugged her shirt up. She raised her arms. The soft cotton slipped away, exposing her torso. She hadn’t been wearing a bra.

  Teigh’s lips traveled down her spine and his hands reached around to cup her breasts. He kneaded the globes, and she moaned. Soren lifted her hips and stripped off her borrowed jeans and panties in one motion. He pushed her thighs apart. One finger separated her wet folds. He spread her cream along her labia, massaging it in as he went.

  Behind her, Teigh adjusted her position so that she sat across Soren’s lap. He opened her thighs wide and watched Soren teas
e sweet heat into her slick pussy. His brown eyes lightened, sparkling with love and need. She wanted to reach for his cock, but Soren held her with one arm across her midsection. She whimpered a protest, and Teigh’s gaze rose to meet hers. He smiled and captured her lips in a searing kiss that made her toes tingle.

  When he released her, he kissed his way down her body, pausing at Soren’s arm to worship him a little. Then he crouched lower. His tongue flicked the tip of her clit, the barest hint of a promise. Soren’s fingers continued their lazy ministrations. Teigh didn’t avoid Soren at all. His tongue flicked and licked both Soren’s fingers and her weeping pussy.

  The heat remained steady, and neither of them did a single thing to increase it. At this rate, she would never orgasm. She might die of pleasure, but not of completion.

  “Teigh.” She figured he would respond first. He had never denied her anything. Soren and Caiden both needed to dominate her in bed, but Teigh skipped the games. “Please.”

  She hoped he would remove Soren’s fingers and replace them with his own, pumping into her as he sucked her clit until she screamed his name. Instead, he sat back on his heels and peered up at Soren.

  Soren lifted her and set her on her feet. She wobbled a bit, but her knees didn’t give out. He stood before Teigh. With slow, reverent movements, Soren unbuttoned Teigh’s flannel and pushed it from his shoulders. Riley unbuttoned the cuffs and tugged the sleeves until the flannel fell away to reveal Teigh’s magnificent torso. Lacking Soren’s methodical patience that seemed to have come from nowhere, she ran her hands over Teigh’s smooth skin.

  She explored his back, adding her lips and tongue to the mix. Reaching around to the front, she slid a hand down the front of his jeans. Soren opened the fly to give her more room to maneuver, and she used the space to wrap her hand around his hard cock. Soren knelt in front of Teigh. He slid Teigh’s pants down with the same sedate pace that was beginning to rub off on Riley. The urgency, the need to come, receded. In its place, she felt a profound need to make love with both men.