by DJ Bryce
I watched him for a moment, appreciating his grace and lumbering stride, then got up to go help Mal.
“Hey,” I said as I walked in to see Mal chopping lettuce.
“All good?” he asked with a smile.
“Yeah, I think so… it’s a little overwhelming,” I admitted.
“I understand.”
“Can I help?” I asked, rounding the counter to stand next to him.
“Yeah, sure, let me grab another cutting board. The steaks are almost ready to go on, so I was making a salad to go with them.”
Mal placed a cutting board, knife, and bag of cucumbers on the counter next to his board, then stepped aside so I could pass him to get to them.
“Thanks,” I said as I passed, then we started working side by side. After a few moments, I took a deep breath and asked, “So, have you guys done this before?”
“What?” he asked, grabbing tomatoes out of a bowl.
“You know, a, uh, trial period… with another woman.”
“Nope, you’re the first,” Mal said, glancing at me before resuming his task. “There were a couple others who contacted us, and a couple I nudged on the app, but none that ever made it this far.”
“What about, as far as…” Ugh, I was unsure how to word it. “I mean, not from the app, or to even mate… but have you and Kai ever, shared a woman?”
Mal stopped chopping and turned his body toward me.
“You mean, sexually?” he asked, his voice deepening on the word sexually, and causing a riot in my stomach.
“Yes,” I whispered, my cheeks flaming.
“No, we’ve never had sex with the same woman.”
Now I put down my knife and faced him.
“Then how do you know it’ll work?”
Mal shrugged.
“The same way I know I’m a bear and a man… that Kai is the most important person in my life, and that you are going to be our perfect mate.”
I gasped.
“Really, you think so?”
“I do.”
I bit my lower lip and asked the question that had been burning my brain since Mal had revealed I was intended to mate them both.
“And, are you and Kai together… sexually?”
I looked up at him from underneath my lashes, holding my breath as I waited for his answer.
“No, Kai and I don’t have a sexual relationship, it’s purely platonic.”
“Oh,” I breathed, and I wasn’t quite sure if what I was feeling was relief, or disappointment.
Seeing those two together would be hot as hell.
Mal chuckled.
“Look, although we both know it’s what we want, we’re on a learning curve just like you, so we’ll figure things out together over the next few weeks, then hopefully come to the decision that suits us all.”
I nodded, then held my breath when Mal brought his hand to my chin. He moved his palm across my cheek, sweetly, gently, and looked into my eyes.
“May I?” he asked, and I knew he was asking if he could kiss me.
My lids fluttered shut as I nodded slightly.
Mal’s lips against mine were whisper soft, coaxing, intent on discovery. I tilted my head and groaned at the brush of his tongue against the seam of my mouth, then opened for him.
Where Kai had been rough and demanding, Mal was smooth and thorough, and as the kiss deepened, I felt that same click within me, the same feeling of rightness that I’d felt with Kai.
Mal
I’d had a good feeling about Victoria as soon as I’d seen her profile on the dating app. I don’t know what it was… not just that she was attractive, or seemed like a good fit for us, but was something inside me that told me she was the one.
When I’d met her in person, I’d become even more sure.
But, when I kissed her, any and all doubts fled. She was the one. The mate Kai and I were looking for, I just knew it.
I grinned to myself as I finished cleaning up the kitchen and walked outside.
Tori had gone up to bed about thirty minutes ago, but I knew I’d find Kai out by the lake.
“I told you it was her,” I said as I approached.
Kai turned from his perusal of the lake, hands in his pockets and gave a slight shrug.
“We’ll see.”
God, I swear, sometimes he was so frustrating that I wanted to choke him.
“You must have felt it when you kissed her. The rightness.”
I’d felt it, and knew he had to have felt the same thing when he kissed her, too.
“I’m not going to deny we have chemistry, or that my bear felt a connection, but Mal, she’s young and running from something. How can we trust that she’ll stay?” He turned toward me, eyes intent. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up. This is only our first trial.”
“We won’t need another trial,” I insisted. I felt completely confident in Tori and our future with her. “She may be young, but she’s looking for family… stability… we can give that to her.”
Kai grunted in response, but I knew he’d come around. He just needed to see that Tori was serious about becoming our mate.
“I can’t believe she didn’t realize she was here to mate both of us,” I said with a chuckle. “That could have been disastrous, but she didn’t run for the hills. I think that’s a good sign.”
Kai scoffed.
“We’ll see if she can handle the both of us.”
I shook my head at his pessimism, but knew he had a point.
One bear shifter was a lot for a woman to handle. Two was probably going to give her pause, but I had to believe she could do this. Kai and I were very different, and required different things from our mate, and from each other. I was sure that as a unit, we would live a very happy and fulfilled life.
“I’m going to go out, see what kind of trouble I can get into,” I informed Kai.
He nodded, and I ambled off toward the woods, my eyes drifting up to the light in Tori’s window.
She knew we were shifters, of course, but we needed to gain more trust with each other before we could introduce her to our bears. Plus, I knew she hadn’t had much interaction with shifters before, and I didn’t want to scare her, so, I made sure I was out of sight and deep into the woods before I took off my clothes and shifted.
I stood tall and stretched, getting accustomed to my natural form, then took off at a slow pace, enjoying my surroundings.
The night was crisp, and I could hear the sounds of the forest as I ambled through.
Shifting always brought me great peace. At least, it did now. When I was younger, alone and hungry, things were more difficult, but now I was free to relish being in my true form.
After a few hours of wandering, taking a dip in the lake, and catching a snack, I meandered back to where I’d left my clothes and shifted back. It was well after midnight, and I knew the house would be quiet when I arrived home.
Kai often went to sleep early, preferring to rise before the sun and shift during the day. While I had always been more of a night owl with frequent bouts of insomnia.
I let myself into the cabin and locked up.
I listened for sounds of life in the house, and when I only heard the soft, deep breaths of sleep, I went to my bedroom. Once I’d shucked off my clothes, I crawled under the covers and grabbed my book off of the nightstand.
Before I opened it, I thought of Victoria.
She really was beautiful, with her sandy brown hair and blue eyes, but it was really her easy disposition, sense of humor, and come what may attitude that drew me to her.
Then there was that kiss.
I closed my eyes and remembered the softness of her lips, the way she’d opened for me, and responded so beautifully.
I wanted to worship every inch of her body, and hoped I’d get the opportunity. She seemed to be as in to Kai and I, as we were to her, although Kai was still trying to fight, and I knew that we could fulfil her every desire if she’d give us the chance.
I imagined her, lying in her bed upstairs, body warm and flush from sleep, desire burning in her belly.
I’d seen her expression when she asked if Kai and I were intimate sexually. She’d been turned on by the thought. And, although we weren’t, I liked that she was comfortable enough in her own skin to be open to the possibility. That meant she may be adventurous, and willing to try new things, which I would be happy to show her.
My train of thoughts had my cock swelling, so I set the book aside and reached below the covers, taking myself in hand and picturing Tori as I stroked myself.
I remembered the heat of her mouth, the soft swell of her breasts against my chest, and the sweet sounds that had escaped her lips as I’d claimed her mouth.
It didn’t take long before I reached my release, Tori’s name a breath on my lips, and for the first time in a while, after I’d cleaned off, I was able to drift right off to sleep.
Tori
I dreamt of Mal and Kai that night. My mind pushing the boundaries of what may happen between us. And when I woke up, I was aching with the need to come.
With the images of me, Mal and Kai tangled in my sheets still fresh, I lowered my hand beneath the covers, into my sleep shorts, and under my panties. I was so wet and ready, that I knew it wouldn’t take much to push me over the edge.
With my eyes closed and my lower lip between my teeth, I rubbed my fingers over my swollen clit and struggled not to moan.
Within seconds, I came with a soft cry, my movements becoming slower as I milked the orgasm. Once I was done, I lifted my arms above my head and stretched, a smile on my face. I was excited to spend more time with Mal and Kai, even if Kai was still a bit intimidating.
Mal had promised we’d explore the property and go out on the lake, and I was really looking forward to it.
Needing coffee, I threw back the covers and eased out of bed, intent on going downstairs and making a pot. I opened my door to step out in the hall and was startled to find Kai standing in his doorway, his eyes dark on me, an inscrutable look on his face.
I opened my mouth to say, good morning, but before I could get a word out, he was on me.
I moaned as he growled against my lips. His hands were on my ass, urging me against his rock hard cock, and I felt the stirrings of desire hit me again.
Before I could rock against him, Kai pulled back, eyes still on mine, then lifted my hand and sucked my fingers into his mouth.
Oh my.
My heart beat roughly at the realization that those were the fingers that I’d just touched myself with, and with the knowledge that he must have heard what I was doing in my room. That’s why he met me in the hallway, turned on and almost savage in his approach.
In that moment, with those dark eyes on mine and his hot mouth around my fingers, I knew if he wanted to take me right there and then in the hallway, I’d be more than willing. In fact, just the thought had my panties becoming even wetter.
Kai’s nostrils flared and he moved back abruptly.
“Go,” he ordered, tilting his head toward the stairs.
“But,” I began, not wanting to end things.
“You’re not ready,” he replied, then turned and went into his room, shutting the door behind him.
I let out a squeak of dismay, then went down the stairs to the kitchen, cheeks flaming.
I’d started the coffee and was leaning against the counter waiting, my body thrumming… unsatisfied, when Mal came shuffling in.
He looked adorably ruffled, his hair mussed and face still sleepy.
“Morning,” Mal began, then he paused and I saw his nose twitch.
Oh, good lord, they could smell my desire. I’d never be able to hide anything from either of them.
Eyes suddenly bright and alert, Mal crossed to me, his hand coming to my cheek.
“Rough morning?” he asked softly, his touch so soft, it made me yearn.
I flushed, embarrassed, but knew there was no point in trying to be coy around men who could sense everything.
“There was an incident,” I managed.
“With Kai?” he asked, not at all jealous or upset, just concerned. For me.
I nodded. “I had a dream last night and when I woke up, I…. ah…”
“I understand,” Mal said gently, and I thought it was terribly sweet of him to save me from further embarrassment. “And then?”
“Kai was in the hall when I opened the door, and he… knew.”
“We have heightened senses. Sight, smell, hearing… and, once we’ve mated with you, we’ll be even more in tune with you. To your needs.”
“Oh,” I said, not sure if that was a good or bad thing.
“So, he started something, but couldn’t finish?” Mal asked.
“He, ah, said I’m not ready,” I admitted.
Mal looked in my eyes for a few beats, then said, “Come with me.”
He took my hand and led me out of the kitchen and into his bedroom. He shut the door behind us, then turned and indicated I should get on the bed, which still looked warm and rumpled.
My pulse thrummed nervously, but I followed his lead and laid down in his bed.
“Let me take care of you,” Mal said softly as he stretched out next to me.
He trailed a finger down my throat, then over my breasts, which were unbound and straining against my small tank top. Mal gave a murmur of approval as he took in the hard peaks but kept lowering his finger. Over my belly, then, finally, gently, over my pussy.
I shifted in the bed, restless, my eyes trained on that finger, before lifting to look at Mal’s face.
His gaze was hot on mine, his eyes almost glowing as he played with me over my shorts.
“Kai is worried that moving too quickly will scare you off, and he has his own worries and concerns that he’ll share with you when he’s ready. But our relationship doesn’t have to progress at the same pace. Eventually, we’ll culminate the relationship together, and claim you as our mate, but to me, this is an important part of the trial. Do you agree?”
“Yes,” I whispered, my hand coming up to cup his strong jaw.
“Do you want me to ease this ache he started?” Mal asked, and my hips bucked instinctively.
“Yes,” I said again. “Please, Mal.”
“As you wish,” he said with a satisfied grin, then he shifted until he was over me, and settled himself between my legs.
I watched as he pulled my shorts and panties over my hips and down my legs. Mal laid down and moved me until he was mouth level with my pussy and my legs were thrown over his shoulders.
That sight alone was enough to have me squirming beneath him, my tongue darting out to wet my lips while I held my breath with anticipation.
Mal kissed my thigh, then moved closer and closer to where I was burning for him, his teasing kissing driving me crazy. Until, finally, his mouth was there, hot and wet and he sucked my clit between his lips.
“Oh, God,” I moaned, my head falling back and my hands going to his hair.
I held on tightly as he ate me, licked me, and stroked me with his fingers. I bucked, writhed, and groaned as he gave me the best head I’d ever had in my life. His fingers fucked me roughly as he nibbled lightly, before flattening his tongue and flicking my clit rapidly.
I came hard, Mal’s name on my lips, then promptly dozed off.
Kai
I’d been lying in bed, thinking I should get up and head into the office, when I’d heard Tori moan in the other room.
At first, I thought the sounds were her waking, then they became more drawn out and the smell of her desire hit me. I listened as she made herself come, panting out her breaths in the sweetest way.
It was enough to have me out of bed and prowling to the door, ready to break down hers and lose myself in her.
When she opened the door, looking rumpled and flushed from sleep and her orgasm, I lost control of myself. One second, I was in my doorway, and the next, my hands were full of her supple ass and my mouth was covering her
s.
I knew I needed to back off, before I took her so hard and fast, scaring her and possibly causing her to bolt and not continue the trial.
I lowered her slowly, then, needing to torture myself further, I pulled her fingers into my mouth and sucked. They tasted sweet and salty, and I couldn’t wait to have my lips on her pussy and get an unfiltered lick.
I could smell her arousal and the way her pupils dilated told me that she wanted me as much as I wanted her. But… it was too soon.
When I told her to go, I knew she was upset, but there was really no other choice. I needed to keep my desires in check until we knew for certain she was our mate. I had no intention of sleeping my way through all of the prospects who came for trials.
I wanted to be sure that the next woman I claimed was my mate, mine and Mal’s.
So, I’d wait.
At least, to make things official.
I had a feeling there was no way I could keep my hands, or mouth, entirely off of Victoria. But, I’d do my best.
After a long shower which included me jacking off as I remembered the taste of her come coated fingers, I went downstairs and headed out of the house without running in to Mal or Tori.
My first order of business was to check in at work and make sure there weren’t any fires to put out, then I headed back home to shift and give my bear a little freedom. I didn’t have to shift every day, but with Tori here, my bear was restless, and needed the opportunity to roam.
Tori
It was a fabulous day.
Besides the morning orgasm, I got to explore the woods and spend the day on the water.
When we eventually got up, Kai was gone, so I spent most of the day with Mal. He was super sweet and attentive, and answered all of my questions without seeming the least bit bothered by them.
In fact, he seemed to like me as much as I was starting to like him.
He was easy to be around, funny, helpful, and a wealth of knowledge.
It was nice to throw on my bathing suit and lounge on the boat deck with him, too. We ate, drank, and made out.