by Fran Tullo
She shook her head, but took a deep, trembling breath. “I don’t… hell, Braydon, I don’t even know where to start…”
He caught Jace’s gaze over her head and nodded, rubbing her back as Jace spoke up. “How about what just set you off? You were smiles and business and then just… the switch flipped. So what set you off?”
Braydon brushed some of her short hair back from her face, giving her a soft smile. “Did we do something, love? Let us know and it won’t happen again…”
She shook her head again, leaning into the soft touch and making Braydon’s heart thud in his chest. “No… you guys didn’t… except being you. Don’t…” She took another breath, turning her hand to grip Jace’s where it was resting on her wrist. As she leaned into Braydon’s chest, he couldn’t quite keep himself from burying his nose in her hair, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Don’t stop that, okay? This is me, not you guys. I’m just… it’s a long story.”
Braydon purred against her hair, making her chuckle a little. “And we have all night, so start wherever.”
Chapter 13
Lexi
She honestly couldn’t believe she was even considering it. Talking… well, talking about anything of substance besides her job… it just wasn’t in her nature. At least not anymore. Maybe it used to be, but she’d thought she’d gotten rid of the need to talk things out. Buried it beneath her job and burned it from her in hours of regret and self-loathing. But here she was, actually considering talking to someone, telling them how she was really feeling? She was losing her mind, that’s for sure. She hadn’t done that since… Abram.
She nodded, closing her eyes. “I’m… I’ve been alone. For a really long time.” She sniffled, wiping at her face without pulling away from Braydon. “I can’t… It sounds foolish. It feels foolish.”
Jace shifted a little, gently pulling them all down to lay across it, sandwiching Lexi between them again. “Feelings aren’t foolish, sweetheart. They just are.”
The leopard nodded in agreement and brushed her hair back again. “You’re not alone now.”
Lexi sighed, rubbing her hands over her face again and staring at the ceiling. At least she wasn’t crying anymore… that was mortifying. “I’ve been on my own for… well, nine years, three months and seventeen days. That’s, uh, that’s how long it’s been since my only family was murdered and I ran.” Jace opened his mouth, but she was already speaking again. “It was a Death Pack… they were trying to get me, but I wasn’t home… My mentor, my Grandmother, Millie. She caught all of it.” There was a tremble in her voice as she spoke of the roving gangs of shifters and mages that not only hated Reds and the jobs they did, but actively tried to kill them whenever they could find them.
Braydon spoke quietly, fury in his low tone. “They killed your grandmother?” He couldn’t imagine… especially if she came home to find it.
“Not by blood, but… she found me when I was young. Discovered I was a Red and trained me. I lived with her… hell, I worked in the library she ran in our hometown all through school until…” She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “When I left… there was a guy. Not… we weren’t really anything romantic, but he was my best friend. He was also the son of the local Alpha. I was sixteen. I was furious, I was terrified… I grabbed what I could throw into a bag and I left. I never looked back. I have an apartment across the state now, but thankfully, they haven’t needed to call a Red.” She opened her eyes, swiping at the tears that slid down the side of her face and into her hair.
“I’m sorry… I know it makes me sound like a piece of shit. There are so many things I would have done differently if I’d been more prepared, been older, maybe know what I know now. But I didn’t. All I knew was that she was dead and if I didn’t run, Abram and his entire pack might have been next, just for being around me. Hell… so could you. It’s not safe to be around a Red too long.”
“The hell with that.” Jace pushed himself up on his elbow to look down at her. “Death Packs are cowards and brutes. They have to find Reds young, or they can’t handle them. The fact that they found you just means you’re powerful, which is definitely not a bad thing normally.” He leaned forward, brushing a kiss on her forehead before wiping the tears from her skin. “We’re not going anywhere, sweetheart. If anyone wants to come at you, we’ll be at your back.”
Braydon’s eyes widened a little at what Jace was promising, and Lexi braced herself for protest. “You’re ours now, love. Whether that’s just until this is over, or longer… that’s your choice.” Her eyes flew wide in shock and she turned to look at him, then back at Jace.
“Do you… you guys are…”
Braydon just shook his head, leaning forward and capturing her lips. She was so tired of fighting… with a soft moan, she sank into the kiss, sliding a hand into his hair and holding him closer. He grabbed her hip, pulling her body tight against hers. She was lost in the feeling of his tongue twining with hers until she felt another hard body press against her back. With a wanton groan into Braydon’s mouth, she arched into Jace’s touch as he ran his hand up her leg.
Jace pressed a kiss to her neck before murmuring into her ear, “You’re gorgeous together… like you were made to be right here, like this.” He nipped at one of her pierces before teasing his tongue along her lobe. She shivered at the touch, arching again as Braydon’s hand brushed over her nipple through her shirt.
“Fuck… you don’t play fair…” She shivered a little, pulling away just long enough to pull her top off and throw it away from the bed. Before she could get to her bra, Jace’s fingers were already there, while Braydon shifted and pressed a hot kiss to the bruise fading on her ribcage. He trailed kisses down her ribs to her belly, tracing a couple of tattoos with his tongue. Jace tugged her bra free and it followed her shirt before he sat up, nipping at her shoulders and giving her something to brace against as the snow leopard slid from the bed to the floor.
Lexi was panting as Braydon pulled his own shirt off and Jace reached around her to undo the button on her pants. She lifted her hips to give Jace room to push them off, and Braydon took advantage of the position to bite lightly at her pelvic bone. She moaned again and he grinned up at her, using one finger to slide her panties to the side before using the flat of his tongue to lap at her slit. Her head fell back to Jace’s shoulder as Braydon pulled away just long enough to remove her pants completely dropping them off to the side and lifting her legs to drape them over his shoulders.
She couldn’t think, didn’t want to think as Braydon’s mouth dipped back to her center, licking and nipping lightly at her folds. Jace’s hands wrapped around her middle, one splayed across her stomach to keep her from squirming away from Braydon’s devious tongue while the other slid between her legs. She arched sharply when the rough pad of his finger brushed across her clit. He grinned against her neck before sinking his teeth into the skin just below her ear and flicking her nub. Lightning flashes of pleasure ripped through her, making her grind against Braydon’s face.
The leopard hooked his arms over her hips, spreading her folds to bury his tongue inside her as Jace tormented her. Her eyes slammed shut and she couldn’t stop moaning as they teased her, winding her body tighter and tighter. She was so close to release, but with some unspoken command, they both stopped, pulling away from her throbbing body just long enough for her to whine and sag into their grips before they dove back in again, starting the spiral over.
“Fuck… that’s not… fair….”
Chapter 14
Jace
Jace couldn’t believe where he was. Lexi kept grinding her ass against him every time she sagged into his arms, and his finger was soaked with her arousal. He could practically feel Braydon’s purr, and he knew him well enough that every time he paused, Jace pulled his hand away from her, reveling in her whining protests.
“I think he wants you to say please, sweetheart…” Jace licked at the mark he’d put on her neck, just a little disappointed that it wo
uld fade quickly. “Tell us what you need. Trust us to take care of you.”
She shook her head, a stubborn refusal to give in. It only made him grin, digging his fingers into her soft stomach to keep her from writhing away. He could see how over-sensitive she was getting from the tight draw of her nipples and the rapid, harsh breaths that made her tits bounce with each movement. He pressed against her ass, letting her feel how hard he was just feeling her in his arms, listening to her. He was almost desperate to get rid of his own pants, but Braydon liked to play the long game, and he wasn’t about to deny his mate his fun.
The leopard pulled away again, staring up at her with molten eyes as he licked his lips. “We can keep doing this all night, love. All you have to do to end this is say please…” He grinned wickedly before biting her inner thigh sharply. Her whole body jerked against Jace, and he hissed at how perfect, and cruel, she felt against his cock. She looked like she was about to protest again, but then Braydon stood up and stilled her words with a finger against her lips. Jace watched him slowly remove his pants and he knew Lexi was just as arrested by the sight as he was, shivering in his arms and letting her legs fall farther apart.
There was a sharp whine of protest as Braydon dropped to his knees again, blowing cool breath across her overheated sex before lapping at her again. Jace pinched her tight bud before flicking it again, making her gasp as the snow leopard pressed two fingers inside her next to his tongue. “Fuck… please… oh, gods, I’m close… let me cum, please, Braydon… please, Jace, I can’t…” She tossed her head about until Jace captured her lips, kissing her deeply.
Braydon purred right against her, shoving his fingers as deep as they’d go and curling them along her inner walls. She broke the deep kiss from Jace to cry out as her body spasmed, slicking Braydon’s face with her cum. When she finally sagged, shaking and panting harshly, Braydon stood up and leaned over her to kiss Jace.
He lost himself in the taste of Lexi mingled with the familiar sweet salt taste of Braydon on his lips and tongue. He didn’t even notice Lexi move until the tight pressure on his cock eased as his zipper was pulled down and his pants were tugged off his hips. His moan was swallowed by his sweet leopard when Lexi swallowed his length, sucking hard and bobbing her head as much as she could with Braydon over her.
Chapter 15
Lexi
She knew exactly when her brain shut down and her instincts took over, gently pushing Braydon out of the way so she could move up and slide herself down on Jace’s length. Braydon grinned at her as Jace collapsed against the bed and she grinned back when the leopard grabbed her hips and guided her movements. Leaning back against her chest, she did exactly what they’d been asking her to… she put herself completely at their mercy, letting Braydon use her to pleasure his mate. The feeling of being held, manipulated in such an erotic way, was quickly spiraling her toward orgasm again and she intentionally tightened around Jace, shivering at his deep groan.
Braydon set a hard, fast pace that Lexi wasn’t honestly sure she could keep up with if he wasn’t the one holding her hips and moving her. Jace’s hands were balled in the sheets, head tilted back with a flush that colored his cheeks and spread all the way down his neck and chest. Lexi could tell he was holding back, and scraped her nails down his chest to make him look up at her. When he did, she ran the same hand down his chest to her clit, letting him watch her as she and Braydon worked her to orgasm. As she tightened around him and cried out, she felt him lose his control, spilling inside her with a guttural shout of his own.
Braydon gently pushed her onto Jace’s chest and crawled up the bed, where Jace opened his mouth, sucking his mate down. Braydon’s fingers twisted in Jace’s hair and he only managed a few thrusts before Lexi could see the fox’s throat working to swallow his release. She purred and drug her fingers along his throat until Braydon dropped to the bed beside them.
“That, uh… that was fun. Not exactly, uh..” She couldn’t believe she was blushing. After what she’d done, what they’d done… she was blushing. She huffed and pushed herself up, looking around for her bag. “Shower?” She grabbed clean clothes, needing to step away for a minute and regain her equilibrium before anything else spilled out of her.
When Braydon nodded, she turned on her heel and, well, she didn’t flee exactly, but the sound of her feet on the floor mocked her for the hasty retreat. Standing under the spray of the shower, she closed her eyes and let herself just feel. She didn’t try to talk herself out of it, for once, and didn’t feel the need to battle with herself. She didn’t know where the inner peace was coming from, but she decided, maybe for the first time ever, not to question the good fortune. Instead, she practiced a habit that Millie had taught her years ago, that she had buried when she ran. She picked through each emotion, the mental equivalent of picking it up, looking it over and setting it back down before moving on to the next. She realized with a bit of surprise that she wasn’t scared. A little nervous, but the soul-killing fear that normally accompanied the act of actually getting to know someone, letting them in… it wasn’t there. She wasn’t exactly calm, but definitely more settled than normal.
Lexi truly trusted them. She didn’t know why, or exactly when it started. But letting them in, letting them see pieces of her she’d buried back when she figured Abram had buried Millie… it didn’t scare her. It hurt, it would always hurt, but the hurt made her want to curl up with them, rather than run away. The fear was in wondering if she’d still be able to do her job. Getting in, getting shit done, getting out, those were her trademarks. And of course, what she would do when it was time to leave.
Because that time would come. She would leave them behind, and they’d have each other, and she’d be alone again. That thought made her throat close and she shoved her face under the spray to keep from giving in to that fear. She would do what she always did. Deal with the problem, and then bury what she couldn’t.
Not exactly the healthiest solution, but it had kept her alive and mostly sane so far, so she’d take it.
With that decided, she quickly washed up, allowing herself a small smile when she recognized the scent of Braydon’s shampoo. It would probably make the kitty nuts that she smelled like him. Or, she thought it would. Honestly, the only shifter she’d been close to was a wolf, so who knew how the feline would react. She turned the shower off and got herself dried and dressed before padding back out to the bedroom.
The view that greeted her would make a lesser woman make some obnoxious cooing sound. It was a near thing, but she only had to admit that to herself, because she managed to keep her mouth shut. Jace and Braydon were entwined in each other, either sleeping or so close that opening their eyes was too much effort. Lexi smiled and quietly grabbed her laptop to settle in the chair Jace had abandoned. She had some more work to do, and sex always energized her.
Chapter 16
Lexi
The next morning, the boys stirred and Lexi yawned a little and stretched. She had caught a catnap after she finished her work. There would be a package delivered in an hour, and once it got there, all that was left to do was find the witch and kill it. “What do you guys do for takeout around here?”
Braydon sighed and stretched, arching his back like his counter-ego. “We generally call the bakery if we want breakfast stuff. They’ll run it over in about fifteen minutes.”
Lexi nodded and pointed to the phone. “Coffee. And bread of some kind. I’m starved.” She smiled as Braydon made a face, but grabbed the phone anyway. “I’m expecting a delivery myself. Once it gets here and we’ve eaten, I wanna head out.”
Jace groaned, rubbing his face. “It’s not even light out yet, sweetheart… can’t you just come to bed for a bit?”
“Are… are you whining?” Lexi teased, walking over to snuggle up to his back as Braydon made their order. “If I go to sleep now, I will be a royal bitch for several hours. It’s far better for you if I stay awake.”
He huffed and rolled over to wrap an arm aro
und her waist, kissing her nose. “Ugh… fine. Save the world, then cuddles. Pain in the ass.”
Lexi chuckled and ran her fingers through his hair. “That’s the life of a Red, foxy. Saving the world comes first. At least I get the cuddles this time. Isn’t usually in my job description.”
He frowned and kissed her softly. “It is now.”
Braydon hung up the phone and leaned over Jace to kiss her as well, before giving him a soft peck as well. “Damned straight it is.”
She sighed a little and shook her head. “Don’t make promises, ok? Let’s get through this first.” As much as she was enjoying their company, she knew once the witch was dead, there’d be another fight, another group of supernaturals who needed protected. Downtime wasn’t much of a thing for her, and Jace and Braydon… they had families and lives and she would never ask them to give that up for her nomadic life.