by Sara Spark
“I want to kiss you, Trixie.”
Her lips fell open at the direct request. How did she respond to that? “Uhhh—“
“It’s my turn to kiss her! You already got to kiss her.” Hudson was standing very near. She swore that she felt his head brush her hair. She could feel Hudson leaning a little assertively towards Keo.
“So, I want to kiss her again!” Keo stiffened. “Besides you did kiss her. You kissed her hand.”
“Yes, but I wanna kiss her mouth. Have you seen those lips of hers? The way the bottom one curves….” Although she felt like the latest console for a video game, the way they were arguing over her, she couldn’t help but feel everything tighten way down deep when Hudson’s voice lowered and got all gravelly like that.
“¡Basta!” Enough! She had one hand on each of their chests and had to remind herself that the hand was not to go exploring. Although the temptation was great. Their muscular chests were just a feast of masculine toughness. She shivered slightly and as she was distracted she might have done a couple of light pets, but only very lightly.
Both of their chests moved deeply, taking a deep breath in.
“You smell so good, beauty.” Hudson nuzzled lightly in her hair, taking deep breaths. Keo had moved closer to her ear, his breaths breezily hitting the sensitive edge.
Her lips parted and she was caught in the hot tension feeding between the three of them. Frankly, she couldn’t even verbalize how they smelled. Sexy, hot, masculine. She’d like to bury her nose in the curve of his neck and just deep breath him in for a while, a long while. Which one? Either, both.
Next thing she knew, they both had apparently decided to kiss her at the same moment and knocked heads together. Clunk!
“Dammit, Hudson!” Keo was rubbing a red spot on his brow.
“I told you it was my turn, damn bird.”
She eyed them both, disgruntled, scowling, and rubbing their heads.
“You are fine. Shake it off, Locos.” They both grumbled, stepping back. “Good thing you didn’t try to seduce Blake-lyn with those moves. She would’ve fired you on the spot! That lady does not mess around.”
They both turned to her speechless for a moment and then Keo of all people, serious Keo, started laughing.
Both of them chuckling brought a smile to her face. She beamed at them enjoying the moment, but then they had been giving her, if unknowingly, many such chuckling moments since yesterday.
“I’ve got an idea.” Running into her bedroom she grabbed a jacket. “Can we get onto the roof of this building?”
“Yes. I would have to get it cleared through security, but yes. Why?” Keo looked puzzled. Actually, they both looked puzzled.
“Let’s go.” Grabbing the pastries and hurriedly shoving them in a box as Keo was on the phone talking with someone, probably security. Trixie, started enthusiastically gathering all the coffee things. Keo hurriedly put down his stuff to come and help, but Trixie had to wonder if it was just the urge to help or truly to supervise the packing of “his” coffee and what he deemed necessary to drink “his” coffee?
Hudson dug in a few cabinets and closets until he found a tote bag and he grabbed a blanket and several pillows.
Trixie was asking them questions as they went. She’d never been around any horses and so was full of questions for Keo.
“So how many do you have?”
“Around 120 give or take. Some are just getting stabled there for short periods by their owners. Some are just passing through on their way to stud farms or transfers across country.”
“And are you the boss?”
“Not the boss of the ranch, but the stables, yes.” They walked into the elevator at the end of that Q&A and for a moment Trixie’s voice died. She was facing the doors with her hands full of the pastries, bags of assorted items, and although she couldn’t see them, she could feel them. It was odd. Trixie was excruciatingly aware of their closeness, their heat. Their light breaths. She didn’t hear any movement, but somehow could feel them getting closer. The tension in her body increased.
No one spoke. Her breath shallowed and she realized she was panting a little. She forced herself to take a deep breath and slow everything down. Unfortunately, her deep breath brought in their scents. Trailing vines, fresh breezes, nature, leather, sawdust, wide-open spaces, hot males. That is what she smelled. And it was turning her on. Not just one of those scents, all of them. Combined. The irresistible mixture of the two entwined in and around her.
“Beauty.” Hudson murmured as his body brushed hers from behind.
Luckily or unluckily, the doors dinged open at the same moment.
“Here we are.” She said huskily trying to disrupt the sexual tension that had been permeating the elevator. Clearing her throat she stepped out to find a tall handsome man standing near a keypad at the top of a series of ramps.
“Keo.”
“Cameron.”
She looked inquiringly at both men. Looked like no one was going to introduce her. “Hola Cameron, I’m Trixie.” She smiled at him as they arrived at the top. Keo was all of a sudden in front of her blocking her view of Cameron. She frowned up at him, but he was facing Cameron with a fierce look. Hudson with a hand on her back urged her out the door that Cameron opened. She even thought she heard a growl from Hudson as they passed.
Cameron seemed unperturbed. “Just call when you are ready to come down.”
Keo nodded tightly. Trixie had made it onto the roof and was turning around watching the situation.
Cameron gave a chuckle and smacked Keo on the shoulder as he leaned in to whisper something to him. Then started laughing as he used one hand to hurdle over the ramp railings one after another till he was gone.
“What was that all about? Do you and Cameron not get along?” Trixie looked curiously at Keo.
“No, no. We’re friends. He was just being…”
“…annoying.” Hudson grumbled.
Trixie shrugged. “Sale, Locos.” Alright, crazies.
“So why are we up here?” Hudson asked looking around interestedly at the various small buildings and machines on the roof.
“To see the sunrise, of course! You woke me up early enough, why not? We’ve got a spectacular view up here!” She felt a blast of chilly wind in her face. “Breezy, but spectacular! Now where should we sit?”
Hudson wordlessly pointed to a low flat metal box more or less facing the area that was just a touch lighter than the rest of the sky. They settled down and then it was all 50 questions by Trixie who had the gift of rampant curiosity. She sat crosslegged on the blanket that Hudson had brought facing Hudson who was laying on his side, head propped on his arm (she tried not to notice the bulging biceps and triceps, well most of the time she tried not to stare at them) and Keo who was sitting casually with one leg bent and flat while he propped his arm on his upraised knee.
“So you run a nursery, Hudson?”
He nodded while popping a strawberry in his mouth, biting down and relishing the sweet berry flavor.
“What made you start that kind of business?” Trixie asked tilting her head to the side. “Is your family in the same business?”
Curious, Keo looked at Hudson. He knew next to nothing about Hudson. Hudson was a shapeshifter Chimeric bear who lived on the edge of town, owned his own nursery and was not part of a clan. Not part of a clan. Clanless. For a Chimera that was like walking around with a hole in your soul, day in, day out. An everyday, living, breathing punishment.
Chimera weren’t just human shape mixed with an animal shape. They were a different species. They had many human-like traits, many animal-like traits, but also many Chimera traits. One of the biggest traits, Chimera grouped together. Even animals that normally were enemies or animals that were usually solo in the wild as a Chimera they felt the need to group.
Chimera needed each other. They needed clans. They needed a fierce leader, an Alpha and a strong second, a Beta. They needed the touch of other Chimera. Sexual touch,
aside, they needed the warmth, scent and familiarity of their Clan and their Alpha & Beta. Sometimes, the Chimera inside just needed the presence of their Alpha. Hugs, pats on the shoulder, etc were common in a clan. That non-sexual touch soothed, healed and connected them. To be without it? Day in and day out? Keo couldn’t imagine.
“No.” Hudson was stilted in his answer. Red warning signs in every bit of his body language and his tone, he didn’t like this line of questions.
Trixie didn’t immediately respond, digging for a kolache. Successful, she brought it to her lips and paused. “Do you have a big family?”
“Yes.” By this time, Hudson sat up, stiffening.
“I only ask cause I have a big family. Una familia grande. And they are crazy.” Trixie shook her head. “Estan muy locos. Like you two. 5:37 in the morning!” She eyed them with a half-smile on her lips. “Anyways, we all talk at the same time, shout, dance, party and fight. Family reunions have to be far away from delicate structures or flammable items.” Smiling fondly, she turned back to Hudson. “Is your family like that?”
Hudson cleared his throat, looking away. “No.” He glanced back at her. “But your’s sounds like fun.”
“As long as you don’t mind having to climb the tree in a ‘rescue the piñata’ operation or go calm down a cousin cause she didn’t win the Salsa contest.” She laughed. “Or the rapid fire, but short fights between Tio Pedro and his wife Tia Alicia.”
“What about your family Keo? Did you grow up around here?”
“No, I grew up in Oklahoma on a reservation.”
“What tribe?”
“Sauk.”
“Do you have a big family?”
“No, only me.” Keo’s face was a little distant. My father died when I was young and my mother never really recovered. She was always in ill health. She finally passed away when I was 6.”
No one spoke for a moment. “I am so sorry, Keo.” Trixie put her hand on his shoulder.
“She is with my father now, with the Mater. It was where she wanted to be. My grandfather always said my parents were—“ Keo said a long word in Sauk.
Hudson asked quietly, “What does that mean?”
Keo interlocked his fingers. “Together, entwined, inseparable.”
“So did your grandfather raise you?”
Keo smiled at Trixie. “Yes, I couldn’t sit still for very long, so raising me was certainly a challenge.” He paused reminiscing. “Really, the only thing I had time for—that I sat still long enough to learn anything about—was horses.”
“You had horses on the Reservation?”
Keo shook his head. “No, we were too poor for that. But my grandfather had a knack with horses so ranchers from all over would consult with my grandfather. Ailments, behavior problems, training, anything really to do with a horse. Sometimes we would stay on a ranch for a while if he was training a horse. Those are some of my favorite memories.” Keo gave a diffident smile. “I would be surrounded by horses with all the equipment to train them.”
“So you started your career early!”
Keo chuckled. “I never thought about it like that. I guess so. When my grandfather died, I left and roamed around the country doing anything, and everything to do with horses. Hell, I even did the rodeo circuit for a little while.”
“Not exactly fair.” Hudson pointed out to Keo, knowing that Trixie wouldn’t understand the comment, that as a Chimera his strength would certainly control and command a horse a lot faster than a human’s would. Keo’s eyes sliced to him as Trixie frowned in puzzlement.
“I didn’t break horses. I did tricks, barrel racing. I don’t like the whole concept of ‘breaking’ a horse. I can connect with a horse and build a lasting partnership with a wild horse without all the fear, brutality and violence.” Keo scratched his chin. “Did get a few operations shut down cause they were drugging the horses. That sickened me. By that time, I figured out what I wanted. I wanted to run a stables.” Keo shrugged.
“So you came to Stone Ranch?” Trixie prompted.
“No, I went to a few other operations first, but they didn’t seem right. I didn’t connect with the Alph—er—boss,” Keo coughed as he tried to cover up him almost talking about Alphas with a human who would have no idea what we was talking about. “That went on for about a year, then Magnus needed help with Stone Ranch stables.”
“You connected with Magnus.”
Keo nodded. “He’s a good boss.”
Trixie turned to look at the horizon. “Oh, it’s coming. The sun’s coming up.”
They all turned to look at it for a moment. Enjoying that magical time that wasn’t night nor was it day. But something in between, something precious.
“We should make a toast.” Keo took her cup, added more coffee and refilled Hudson’s water. “Here you are, heathen,” he humphed as he pulled her powdered creamer and sugar out of another bag. She laughed unsympathetically. “Little minx.” Keo’s lips twitched.
“What should we toast to?”
“To finding our ma—magnificent Trixie.” Hudson tried to cover up his almost spilling the word ‘mate’ into the conversation. Keo looked at him and Hudson shrugged his shoulders slightly as he raised his water bottle.
“To finding new friends.” She raised her cup.
“To making love with new friends.” Keo intoned as he raised his coffee.
Trixie spewed coffee everywhere. Choking and gasping. Hudson gave her an enthusiastic pat on the back and she almost went face first into the pastries, but Keo caught her at the last second.
“Sorry,” Hudson said sheepishly.
Trixie waved him off as she mopped the coffee off her face. “We are not making love.” She looked at both of them sternly.
“Why not? We obviously need the practice.” Keo said reasonably, like he was asking her to pass the salt. “Our moves are more likely to knock someone out.”
She snorted. “Can’t argue with that. But I am not your inflatable doll to be passed around and used for experiments.” Had Keo gotten closer or was that her imagination?
“You are attracted to us, and you are not a stand in for anyone.” Hudson pointed out.
“I hardly know you!”
“But you feel the attraction, don’t you little minx?” Somehow they both had managed to get very close to her without her realizing and she was getting wrapped up in their delicious smell.
“I take the 5th.”
“Trixie,” Hudson gently turned her face to him. “I really want to kiss you.” His sweet, gentle brown eyes didn’t look so sweet. They looked hot. One big hand came up to caress the side of her face. Her lips parted from the heat of his hand and the heat of his gaze. His eyes landed on her lips as he gently pulled her forward. His hands tender and gentle.
But his mouth wasn’t tender and gentle. His mouth was firm and hot and those chiseled lips took control of hers. He sucked and nibbled and kissed the hell out of her. Unknowingly, she rose up on her knees to get a better angle. Hands on her hips steadied her, preventing her from tipping over. She felt chills and her nipples hardened into pinpoints but she was too far from Hudson’s body to get any relief. One hand was on her ribcage. Thumb tucked under the curve of one boob. She moaned at how close it was to taking care of her problem.
Hudson’s hand on her face had migrated to the back of her head and threaded through her hair pressing her to him. Hudson’s tongue took advantage of her parted lips and moved in to claim her mouth in addition to her lips. Flushing with heat even though her nipples and body were shuddering with chills, her mind was in a whirl.
Deep in the sexy kiss, her hands tightened on Hudson’s shoulders and she felt the solid rock of his shoulder muscles. She could just imagine them tensing and moving as he thrust deep inside her. The shift and movement of those sexy muscles made her wet and she wiggled her hips trying to put a little needed pressure on her wet pussy. She was so warm front and back. The lips nibbling on her shoulder were driving her insane. Sucks and nip
s were stealing her sanity. And the hard body brushing against the back of her—wait, qué?
Chapter 4
She pulled away from Hudson, who resisted for a millisecond and then let her go. Falling back to her knees she realized now why she was warm front and back up here on this chilly rooftop. And why she felt so many hands on her. Hands on her hips, on her ribcage. Exciting and sexy. Keo was flush behind her! Now that she had fallen back to her knees, he was basically straddling her hips. The move downward hadn’t deterred him at all. Easily following her down, he just nuzzled her jacket and shirt aside again and continued on his nibbling quest.
“Wait!” Scooching out quickly from between them, she tried to catch her breath. Both sets of masculine eyes were fixated on her and she almost felt like a deer in a crosshair. She held her hand out to them like a cop at an intersection even though they hadn’t moved. For a moment, Keo’s eyes shone like laser lights, almost otherworldly, but when she looked again the light was gone.
“Wait a minute, this is all too fast.”
“Not fast enough for me.” One of them muttered, but she’d put her head down for a moment so she couldn’t tell which one.
“I am finding this very hard to believe.”
“What’s hard to believe, beauty?” Hudson finally asked. He was a bit distracted. His eyes stroking up and down her body.
She stood up brushing herself off, fussily straightening her clothes trying to give her body a chance to calm down.
“This is all part of a bet. I am that Blake-lyn chick’s stand in, aren’t I?” She narrowed her eyes staring at them.
“No.” Keo was shaking his head back and forth emphatically. They were looking at her like ‘No fucking way, not in this lifetime.’
“Two hot guys like level 10 hot guys both are interested in me at the exact same moment? Directly after they were trying to seduce two other women? Or at least one other woman?”
“Well, anything is gonna sound bad when you put it like that.” Hudson muttered.
She turned away. “Let’s head downstairs.”