by Anthology
The god’s lips twisted into something that resembled a smile. “In truth, it counts for much. I’ve a mind to reward you, wizard, for both your stewardship and your courage.”
Feeling the first rush of hope, Cian reached out for Lyra. They joined hands, bowing their heads in front of Achelous. The god put one hand on each of their shoulders. “Daughter of the waves, I bless your union with this man.”
“Thank you, River Lord.” Cian spoke reverently to the god. “I will care for her with my life.”
“I believe you, wizard.” He turned to Lyra. “You have already discovered that you can feed off him exclusively, so you needn’t worry about that.”
Lyra nodded.
The god continued. “You have both proven to me that you are devoted to one another and resourceful. I believe that between you, you can come up with ways to deal with your dependence on the water.”
“Yes, my lord.” Cian’s heart sank a little, but he knew they would eventually prevail, now that they would have the chance.
“And I assume you can arrange for all the proper papers so she can walk in your world?”
Cian nodded. Identification paperwork was the least of his worries. What magic couldn’t handle, money and connections could.
The god smiled at them both. “Very well, you have my blessing. I’ll expect to be invited to the mortal wedding posthaste.” With that he turned and strode back into the rippling black water. He stopped with just his head just above the surface, and threw an object at Lyra. Cian snaked out his hand and intercepted it. The small shell on a gold chain sloshed as if filled with liquid. “This should help. Consider it a wedding present.” Then he disappeared into the inky depths.
Lyra took the pendant. Her eyes widened as she studied it. Cian wrapped his hand around hers and felt the power that radiated from the object. “It is…the essence of the sea. When I wear this, it will be as though I am swimming.”
“Aye,” Cian agreed. “I’ll never take you from the water for long, but this will buy us time if the need arises.”
“A perfect wedding gift.” Lyra draped the necklace around her throat. Together, they staggered to the shore.
Cian’s knees gave out, and he sat down heavily, drawing Lyra down into his lap. He ignored the sharp poke of the rocks beneath his ass. It was done. He didn’t know whether to shout with joy or weep with relief.
Lyra felt tears of happiness trickle from her eyes.
“I’ll start the wedding preparations.” Cian’s grandmother hugged each of them, as did the older man who looked so much like his grandson. “Welcome to the family, my dear.” Then there was a flash and the older couple was gone.
“I love you.” Lyra wiped her watery eyes and clung to Cian for all she was worth. Then she pulled back one hand and smacked his shoulder. “I can’t believe you offered to fight a god over me. What were you thinking?”
“That I love you and that I’d do anything to be with you.”
How was she supposed to be upset about that? Lyra did the only logical thing she could do. She kissed him.
Seconds later she was flat on her back in a big soft bed. Their clothing had vanished and Cian loomed above her. His rock-hard erection prodded at her already wet and swollen entrance.
“You are mine, Lyra. For the rest of our lives and whatever lies beyond.”
“Of course I am.” Her heart was full to the point of overflowing. “I love you.”
He slid into her body, claiming it as surely as he had already claimed her heart.
White Valley
Lacey Thorn
Dedication
For PKP. Thanks for being there for me on every step of life’s journey…my sister, my friend.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Animal Planet: Discovery Communications
Playgirl: Playgirl Key Club, Inc.
Chapter One
Dakota walked slowly through the thick trees. There was a stitch in her side and her breath was coming in short pants as she struggled to fill her lungs with air. This was supposed to be a nice relaxing weekend away. Just her and nature. It was a way to step back into the past, to a time when she had a family to do things with. Before the accident that took her mom, dad and baby sister away. And it had been until she awoke this morning and got the bright idea to go hiking in a different part of the forest. If she had it all to do over again she would have ignored the voice that kept calling to her and urging her in this direction. Well, no, she wouldn’t have, but it was a nice thought.
Where she was going she had no idea. At least she had thought to grab her backpack from the tent this morning, so she had a few bottles of water and a box of granola bars along with a flashlight and first-aid kit among other odds and ends that she carried with her.
All she knew was that she had to keep going. Something was urging her on. She felt compelled to keep going, like she would know what to do when she got to the right place. She blew out another breath and switched her backpack to the other shoulder. Was she crazy? What the hell was she doing out here by herself? And hiking on an unknown trail alone? What was she thinking?
She came to a clearing in the middle of the forest and realized that she had no idea where she was anymore. This valley wasn’t on the topographical map, at least not any that she remembered seeing and she had been coming here since she was twelve. She stumbled along looking for some familiar landmark that would help her figure out just where she was. But no matter how hard she looked, nothing seemed familiar. She heard the sound of water and followed it until she reached a cool brook. Continuing along beside it, she soon found herself in what appeared to be a lush garden complete with waterfall and a base that seemed deep enough to swim in. Or if she was lucky, bathe in.
“Hello?” Dakota called though she didn’t know what she would do if anyone answered. “Hello?”
Thinking herself alone, she tumbled to her knees and began slowly taking off her shoes. She just wanted to wash the dust off and maybe the memories of what had driven her to take this trip by herself this weekend. The memory of walking in on her fiancé while he was with another woman. The same fiancé who thought it was so important that she remain a virgin before they were married. Because he wanted their wedding night to be so special. Please. She was a gullible, stupid fool. She just wanted to wash it all away and go back to the way things used to be. She shook her head with disgust. No, she didn’t. She couldn’t lie to herself. She wanted to forget what’s-his-name ever existed.
Why fate had stripped her of people who had loved her completely and unconditionally and then put her in the hands of such a jerk she would always wonder. She’d never made friends easily and now that she had severed her tie with him, she was truly all alone in the world. When would she find a family of her own? People to love and comfort her? When would it be her turn for happiness?
The water seemed to call to her as if it would give her exactly what she desired. With renewed energy Dakota began peeling her clothes off with only one thought. Submerging in the crystal blue water before her.
Dimitri and Sebastian Cordova followed the sounds to the bridal pool and stood hiding behind the lush foliage to watch the woman undress. Her hair was a cascade of sun-kissed brown curls that reached nearly to the small of her back. Her breasts were high and full, her stomach concave. The flare of her hips called to man and beast alike urging them to take and mount her. Her buttocks were creamy and smooth and it was all they could do to control the wolves that sought to howl inside them. She was sheer perfection and the brothers wanted her.
Who is she? Sebastian asked through his link with his brother. Have you ever seen her before?
Never, Dimitri answered. She cannot be from the Valley.
But she bathes herself in the bridal pool. Sebastian stated that fact as they continued to watch her frolic and splash in the water. It is only
for those who are preparing to mate. You know what the water will do.
Dimitri’s grin was carnal. Yes, we do. But I’m guessing that she doesn’t.
Sebastian laughed softly. Good thing that we are here to see that she does not suffer needlessly.
You are saying that you want us to claim her? Dimitri asked just to be sure that his brother was thinking the same thing that he was.
We have reached our twenty-fifth year. It is time that we claim a mate. Sebastian turned to look at Dimitri’s face. Tell me you do not want to mount her right now. Tell me that your wolf is not howling for release.
You know that it is, Dimitri told him.
It won’t be long now. The waters will work their magic soon and then she will be ours. Sebastian glanced back at the woman and almost groaned when she stood from her play. Water dripped from her pebbled nipples. It clung to her body and he wanted to lick every inch of her skin before placing her on her hands and knees and claiming her in the way that his wolf demanded.
Soon, Dimitri murmured, his eyes glued to the woman as well. Soon all three of their lives would change. The bridal pool would ensure it.
Dakota stepped from the water and frowned. She had been so sure that the water would cool her off but it felt like her body was on fire. She groaned and lifted her hands to her breasts. A thousand tongues seemed to be licking over her body, exploring her. She gasped again and one hand slid down to her curl-covered mound. She could feel the moisture slipping from her vagina to mix with the water on her thighs. She burned there, deep in her center with a need for something she had never known before.
Her hand tentatively went to her clit, so swollen with need that it protruded from its hiding place, begging for attention. She brushed her fingers over it and cried out at the pleasure that so small a movement sent through her. Her nipples were on fire and she took her other hand up and pinched one of them as hard as she could handle. And came. Her orgasm rippled through her womb and spiraled out until she felt it in her fingers and toes as well.
She collapsed onto the plush grass at her feet and lay back, eyes closed, panting. The orgasm should have helped, but if anything, it had only made things worse. Her nipples were even harder and her empty channel was clenching, trying to grasp something that wasn’t there. She cried out as her body’s demands grew more and more intense. What was happening to her?
“Oh, God, what do I do?” she cried. “How do I make it stop?”
“You don’t,” a voice spoke softly from just above her and Dakota jerked her eyes open. “We do.”
She didn’t realize that she was holding her breath until her vision started blurring. She let it out with a whoosh and inhaled again, filling her lungs with more than just air. She could smell the sexual musk of the two men standing over her, undressing. Undressing! Oh my God, they were undressing and they looked even better without clothes on. Sweet merciful heaven, if this was a dream then she didn’t want to wake up.
The two men were almost identical in every way. Both had long dark hair that hung in waves to their necks. Two sets of bright green eyes were busy looking their fill of her splayed body. They were maybe six feet tall with long, lean muscles that made her think of runners’ physiques. As the clothes continued coming off she caught her breath again. Each chest was covered with crisp black curls that tapered down a washboard abdomen to what lay below. And there was a lot below.
As they stepped out of their jeans she could see just how excited they were. Both cocks stood to attention. They were mouthwatering, like the cocks displayed in the Playgirl magazines she often looked at. They weren’t overly long, but the width was almost as thick as her wrist.
“I’d like to do that for you,” one of them said to her and when he nodded at the hand buried between her legs she was startled to realize that she was fingering herself. She had been so wrapped up in watching them that her body had taken over. But now that she was aware she felt the enormous pressure building inside her, the violent clenching of her vagina.
“Why is this happening to me?” she found the strength to ask.
“You bathed in the bridal pool,” the other one answered and they knelt on the grass, one on either side of her. Their cocks bobbed up from their laps, begging for attention, and Dakota really wanted to give it to them. More than anything she wanted to experience everything that she had been denied with her fiancé. She wanted to touch and explore. But most of all her body was screaming for sex. That pool of water seemed to have ignited her hidden hunger into a raging inferno that only the act itself could satiate. What had they called the pool?
“The bridal pool?” Dakota was lost again or maybe she just couldn’t focus.
“It is where our women bathe when they are preparing for the marriage bed. It aids in the first time,” the one on her left said and he gently ran a figure down her arm to where her fingers were still busy tugging at her nipples. “You do not know of the pool?”
“No,” she whispered, “I’m not getting married.” Not anymore, she added silently.
“But it is law,” was the reply from her right. “You cannot break the law without being punished.” His hand trailed her arm to where she had two fingers moving in and out of her desperate flesh.
“Punished?” she moaned.
“We will not let you be punished,” was the promise before her fingers were pulled from her nipple and replaced with the rougher, calloused ones.
“How,” she managed to force out as the fingers moved to her other breast and lips began to gently suck on the first one.
“You will form a marriage bond with us,” she was told and a thicker finger joined with her two, stretching her virgin channel.
“But, but…” There was something she needed to say but for the life of her she couldn’t think. What came out instead was, “Both of you? I don’t even know your names.”
“I am Dimitri Cordova,” said the man with his finger in her pussy. She glanced at the other brother but it was Dimitri who continued talking. “And since he is too busy enjoying your bounty to introduce himself, that is my brother Sebastian.”
“I… You can’t marry two men,” she whispered and almost laughed at the absurdity of this conversation. There were so many other things that she should be saying. Like, “I don’t talk to strangers much less fuck them”. Like, “I’ve never had sex with one man much less two”. Or what about, “Where are the condoms because I don’t see any lying around in the grass”?
“It is the way of our people for one woman to mate with two men,” Dimitri told her. Then he used his other hand to tug her fingers free and bring them to his mouth where he sucked greedily on them. They both moaned with pleasure. “You are so hot and wet, gripping my finger with your pretty cunt. Your taste is better than the sweetest wine, spicy and rich. I could eat you forever.”
“I’m Dakota,” she whispered. “Dakota—”
“Dakota Cordova,” Dimitri said, interrupting what she had meant to say. “From this moment on you will be Dakota Cordova.”
Sebastian finally released her nipple with a pop. “From now on you will be known as ours.” His eyes seemed to glow as he spoke. “From this moment on you will belong in White Valley as the sacred mate of the Cordova.”
“White Valley?” she questioned with the last shreds of nonsexual awareness she had.
“That is where you are, love,” Sebastian informed her. “White Valley, home of the weres for too many generations to count. The last true oasis for our kind.”
There was something so wrong with that sentence but she couldn’t put her finger on it at the moment. The heat was too much, the desire to be filled taking precedence over anything else. “I need,” she groaned and cried out when the finger pushing in and out of her channel was joined by anther.
“We’ll give you everything that you need, Dakota,” the promise was whispered in her ear as teeth nibbled along her neck and shoulders. “You have only to say the words.”
“What words?” she demande
d, her body screaming for relief.
“All you have to say is that you choose us. Just say that, Dakota, and we’ll make it all better.” The promise came from her other side and Dimitri’s fingers began pushing harder and faster, his thumb strumming over her distended clit. “Just say, ‘I choose Dimitri and Sebastian Cordova as my mates’. Only by freely accepting us and our desire to claim you can we aid you.” He lifted a hand and waved it over her body. The debilitating desire seemed to vanish for a moment so that she felt herself once more. Oddly, she missed the desperate burning ache from moments before.
She looked up and was lost in the deep green eyes staring into hers. With no thought to the consequences the words left her mouth. “I choose Dimitri and Sebastian Cordova as my mates.” And the all-consuming sexual need raced through her body once more.
She cried out at the feel of sharp teeth biting into her shoulder where it met her neck. It was like a dog’s bite, sharp and painful. Then a rush of euphoria went through her and it was better than any man-made drug. She felt boneless, like she was floating on clouds instead of on her back in the grass with two aroused males bending over her.
“You bit me,” she moaned as he licked over the mark he had left on her flesh. “Why did you bite me?”
“I marked you as mine,” Sebastian told her. “My saliva will help to relax you more and prepare you for what is next.”
She was mesmerized by his hand stroking the length of his thick cock up and down. She licked her lips, bringing a groan spilling from his lips. “What is next?”
His face was a mask of carnal intent that took her breath away. “Fucking. Next is fucking.”
“Yes,” she breathed the word, somehow knowing that her whole life would change in the aftermath of what she experienced next. But it wasn’t fear that she felt. It was anticipation and desire. She was most definitely ready for the fucking.