by Kyle, Celia
Whitney raised her hand like they were in school. “Pec Pop of Lurve.”
“Yes, that’s it! We’ll call this the ‘Butt Bounce of Gabby Getting Rejected in Front of the Entire Fucking Gathering’.” She forced a grin to her lips, ignoring the thumping pain in her heart.
“Uh, I’ve got a quarter.” The deep, rolling voice coming from the man behind her sank into her bones. Damn, if she hadn’t found the two assholes she was meant to be with, she’d throw herself at the altar of Hello Sexy.
She peeked over her shoulder and flashed the guard a smile. “Perfect. Get to bouncing, baby.”
A deafening roar, followed by a snarl, echoed off the walls, and she tore her attention from Hello Sexy to the entryway.
“Touch her and die!” The words came from a half-shifted wolf with dark hair. His green eyes sparkled with rage, those orbs the only hint as to the man’s identity. His mouth had formed to a wolfen maw, and deep silver fur covered each inch of his exposed body.
“Mine!” Another beast stood beside the first intruder, just as shifted and deadly looking as the other, with dark hazel eyes and amber blanketing him.
Great, it was Tweedle-Find-Some-Other-Woman and Captain-Dick-Head. Obviously they’d escaped the Ruling Alphas.
The two man-beasts came toward her, lumbering steps bringing them closer with every passing heartbeat. She released her breasts, holding her hands out in an effort to halt their approach. Tension, rage, and fury battered at her, the wolves’ anger palpable in the room, nearly choking her with its power.
“Nu-uh, furballs. No interrupting the BBGGRFEFG.” At their confused looks, their bushy eyebrows lowering and wolf lips dropping into a frown, she elaborated. “It’s the ‘Butt Bounce of Gabby Getting Rejected in Front of the Entire Fucking Gathering’. You know, because the two of you rejected me. In front of the entire fucking gathering.” Low growls were their only response, but it was the third throaty sound behind her that drew her attention back to Hello Sexy. “Uh…”
“Gabriella, tell the wolf to back off before we do it for him.” Amber guy bared his teeth, snarling in warning.
Lovely.
“Mine!” The silver wolf took a step forward, flexing his claw-tipped hands.
She reached behind her and patted the guard. She may nearly hate (okay, dislike a lot) her mates, but she wasn’t willing to risk another’s life. She knew how protective and possessive wolves could be. As evidenced by the fact that Madden and Keller had killed an Alpha Pair the previous night, when two idiots threatened both their position and mating to Scarlet.
“I’m good, Hello Sexy.” Dear God she did not just say that. Snarls came from her mates. Okay, she did. “I’ll take care of them. Why don’t you run and hide.” She kept her gaze focused on the Captain and Lieutenant, noting the shift of muscle and bone beneath their skin. “For a while. Years even.”
The guard eased from behind her and edged toward a nearby hallway. All the while, her mates’ gazes remained transfixed on him. The moment he stepped out of sight, the hostility in the space eased, lowering from Kill Everything to Maim Everyone.
The rapid, heavy thump of booted feet colliding with the marble floors announced newcomers, and Madden and Keller slid into the room directly behind the Captain and Lieutenant. (How fucked was it that she still didn’t know their names?)
Breathing heavy, Keller bent and propped his hands on his thighs, fighting for air. “They…” He took a deep breath. “They got away.”
Scarlet’s voice broke into the ensuing silence. “Thank you Captain Obvious.” She huffed. “Now gather them up and send them on their way again now that you’ve caught up with them.”
“Scarlet…” Madden had just as much trouble breathing as Keller. “There are things going on that you don’t understand. There’s some history and magic here that are beyond your compreh—”
“Comprehension?” Scarlet froze and turned toward the Ruling Alphas, eyes blazing.
Gabby kinda wished she had some popcorn now. This show was about to turn awesome. Even Whitney, normally quiet and reserved Whitney, snickered and fought against a grin.
“I wouldn’t understand?” Scarlet’s voice was low and filled with soon-to-be explosive anger.
“Scarlet…” Keller kept his voice soothing and low while glaring at Madden.
Best. Day. Ever. If Gabby’s life was going to be filled with drama, it was only right that her sister was there with her.
“Lemme ask you something: I’m the ruler of the vagina, right? Queen of Vaginaville, home of the platinum plated hoo-ha. So, how does it feel to have your passport revoked?” Scarlet flashed the men a smile, exposing all of her teeth.
Even Gabby’s half-shifted mates chuckled at that one, earning them a glare from the Ruling Alphas.
“You’ve got your own problems,” Madden snapped.
“Go fix your issues while we deal with this.” There was an unmistakable order in Keller’s words.
The men moved faster than a blink. One moment the Captain and Lieutenant were on the other side of the room, and the next they were next to Gabby. The Captain swung her into his arms and the Lieutenant leaned toward her, rubbing his fur-coated cheek against hers.
She hated that she responded, that her Mark pulsed in recognition, and her body grew hot and heavy with desire. She wanted them desperately; she just didn’t want to want them. At all. Hated it even.
Glaring at the men in turn, she didn’t bother struggling against the Captain’s hold, grudgingly allowing him to carry her off to another section of the suite. As they moved through the space and past her sisters, Scarlet’s voice continued to rise.
“Deal with this? Deal with this? Oh, there’s nothing to deal with. Wait, maybe there is. Why don’t you deal with finding your fucking Wardens and figure out what the hell is going on with Whitney, huh?” With that, Scarlet stomped in the other direction, Whitney laughing and trailing in her wake.
Which left Gabby. Alone. With her mates. At least one of which didn’t want her.
* * *
Jack fought the beast with every step, pushing and shoving at his wolf as they traveled down the hallway. His every inhale brought with it more of his mate’s seductive scent. It held those hints of cinnamon and apples and woman that he recalled. Recalled. God damn, it seemed like an eternity between finding Gabby and now.
So much had changed, yet nothing at all. He still didn’t believe he should have a mate. Didn’t believe he was capable of treating a woman as she deserved. And a mate deserved much.
Yet…yet he couldn’t imagine letting her go. Not when she was so close, cuddled in Berke’s arms like a babe. She laid her head on his friend’s shoulder with a sigh and then those chocolate eyes focused on him, delving into his soul. That sweet contentment that’d been drifting across her features was wiped away by anger, fear, hurt… He’d caused those emotions, been the source of her heartache, and he slumped beneath her gaze. Already he’d chipped away at whatever burgeoning connection they’d made.
Already he was like his father.
Already he’d hurt those he loved. Or, at least, would come to love someday.
How long before he destroyed them all?
Berke’s progress slowed, easing as he stepped into a room on the left. The moment he moved across the threshold, Gabby’s scent grew, the room holding her flavors. Jack inhaled, drawing the aroma into his lungs, and the wolf reacted, snapping and snarling, urging him to mate with their luscious Gabriella. Now.
A look at the woman in question, her shuttered expression, showed that his desires wouldn’t be satisfied any time soon.
With care, the Captain lowered their mate, her body sliding along his front until her feet settled on the floor without a sound. Her eyes were wide, pupils dilated, and a gentle blush stained her cheeks. Then the most delicious scent drifted to him on the barely-there breeze from the air conditioner.
Heavenly musk, hot and thick in the air, hanging heavily as it coated him in the aroma of
her essence. Sweet Gabby was aroused, not unaffected by their presence and closeness. His left bicep pulsed and throbbed in recognition while his cock thickened within his uniform pants, filling what little room he had. His prick ached to be free, and damn the consequences.
But he already cared for her, and his emotions weren’t enough of an incentive to throw her life away, throw Berke’s life away. They could mate, could love, but someday it would all crumble apart into puddles of blood and gore.
Berke’s arms remained firm around Gabby’s waist, holding her against his body, and Jack couldn’t get over how petite the Marked was when cuddled against his friend. He couldn’t seem to move past the way her wavy brown hair cascaded over Berke’s forearms. Or how her abundant curves molded to the other man’s body like a finely-tailored suit. She was meant for Berke. No question about it.
Jack could feel Berke’s contentment through the half-formed bond that existed between them. It flowed with emotions and arousal. He craved Gabby like a drug, true, but there were deeper, stronger emotions in play. Already the draw of a wolf to a mate laid down the foundations of love.
Unfortunately, Jack felt the same. Fear collided with his soul-deep need, flowing over and through him, shredding the feelings that’d begun blooming. It pounded and pummeled every ounce of caring that her presence had cultivated, and the wolf howled in protest. His beast demanded he surrender to Gabby, follow his instincts and mate the woman before she realized that he wasn’t good enough to stand at her side.
Berke leaned down and nuzzled Gabby, burying his now human face in her hair and breathing deep. Those drowsy brown eyes met Berke’s for the barest moment, her arousal easily apparent, and then fluttered closed. She moaned and tipped her head back, opening herself to his friend’s touch with abandon.
Jack flexed his hands, fighting his wolf with every ounce of his energy, refusing to allow his instincts to lead him on the path to hell. Closing his eyes, he pleaded with the wolf, begging him to recede so that he could stop what was to come. Words were spoken easier through a human mouth rather than a wolfen maw.
Seconds ticked by and his fur slipped back through his pores, the beast allowing him to appear human once again. His face shifted, bones and muscles changing until no hint of his wolf remained in his features.
Unfortunately, his freedom from the beast’s control was only on the surface. He took an involuntary step forward, and then another, each shift of muscle pushing him closer to his destined mate. He didn’t want this, want her. Not really. She was too beautiful, too innocent to know what mating to him would mean.
Heartache. Pain. Death.
But maybe he could be different than his father… No.
Yet he still moved, boots silent on the thickly carpeted floor. One pace and then another. Another, another, another… Until he stood beside the entwined couple.
Unable to resist the temptation, he slid a single finger along Gabby’s cheek. He cataloged the softness of her skin, the increased flush, and the way her breath hitched with his touch.
Low murmurs filled the room, the deep tone of Berke’s voice unmistakable, but Jack couldn’t force himself to pay attention to his friend’s words. He could feel the heat of Gabby’s body. The heady scent of her need wrapped around him with ethereal, welcoming arms. Her aroma was like a physical thing, caressing him with invisible strokes and sliding beneath his clothing to pet his skin.
He wanted. God damn, he wanted.
A soft gasp was her only response to his touch and nearness, her eyes fluttering open until their gazes clashed. He watched the expressions that flitted across her features, anger and fury warring with arousal and need. Other emotions clouded her gaze: distrust, attraction, wariness, and then a hint of tenderness and affection that he didn’t want to accept. Because he found himself feeling the same.
Jack let his finger slide over her lower lip, noting the difference in texture and softness with his tiny caress. Gabby opened her mouth, and her small, pink tongue darted out to lap as his digit. The warm touch went straight to his dick, forcing him to harden further while his beast howled in triumph. It was cocky and proud, rejoicing in the fact that his human half hadn’t destroyed their chance at mating with the luscious creature that called to them.
She did call to him, the siren’s song beckoning him closer, inviting him into her seductive world.
The question became: could he ever love her enough not to kill her?
* * *
Gabby should stop, push the Captain away and punch the Lieutenant in the junk. Yeah, that sounded good. And she’d do that. Just as soon as the Captain stopped laving her neck with his talented tongue, or ceased murmuring a combination of endearments and pleas between whisper-soft kisses.
The gentle words had begun the moment he’d carried her into the room. His low voice delved into her and wrapped around her heart as if he’d belonged there from the beginning of time.
Then again, he had. Both of them were meant to fit and fill her body…someday her heart.
Unable to resist, she lapped at the Lieutenant’s finger, allowing his innate flavors to flow over her tongue. Warmth suffused her, sweetness and man filling her mouth with that simple lick. The Captain’s words filled her ears while the other wolf’s presence crept into her heart.
“Give him a chance, sweetheart…”
“We both want to love you…”
“He’s broken, but you can heal him…”
“Don’t give up on us before we can prove ourselves to you, love…”
“We’ll cherish you…”
“You belong to us… Forever…”
“Our gorgeous, sexy mate…”
Okay, the gorgeous and sexy got to her. Like, really. Her body heated and pussy moistened, not just because of his words, but his nearness and touch as well. Anger was pushed away to make room for arousal. She had no doubt that her rage would rekindle and rush forward the minute their seduction ended, but for now she’d embrace the two men meant for her.
The amber wolf pulled his finger free of her mouth, and she noticed his breathing, the rapid rise and fall of his chest. His eyes glowed yellow in the room’s subdued lighting, telling her how close his wolf lurked. He’d shifted like the Captain, assuming his fully human skin once again, revealing his handsome features. She hadn’t gotten a good look at the man when he’d first embraced her in the restaurant and then rejected her in the hallway.
Dark red wavy hair framed his face, strands falling across his eyes. The soft threads partially obstructed her view. As she stared at him, those eyes faded from yellow to their natural hazel hue, flecks of green dancing amongst the hints of brown. Like all male wolves he was tall, much taller than her five feet four inches, and muscular with broad shoulders and thick arms. She had no doubt that not an ounce of fat decorated his strong body, a stark contrast to her abundant curves.
She glanced down his body and noted the large bulge at the juncture of his thighs. It appeared the Lieutenant didn’t mind her plump body, large breasts, wide hips, and full ass.
She whined when he brought the slick digit to his mouth and slid it between his lips. Heat flared in his gaze, and he leaned closer to her. He released himself with a soft, lingering kiss to the tip of his finger. “Delicious.”
“Yes, she is.” The rumbled words against her neck reminded her of the Captain’s presence, his solid body pressed against her.
The thick length of his hard cock branded her hip, showing her how much he desired her. Did he want her—Gabby—or was he only hard because she was his mate? The same question could be posed to Jack. The amber haired wolf had denied her, but here he stood, hard and seemingly ready to claim her forever.
Her neck was treated to another long lingering kiss followed by a light nibble, a barely-there scrape of the Captain’s fangs. Her pussy clenched in response, panties growing damper by the second, and her nipples hardened within her silk bra. The heat, the need, was just as Scarlet had described. Her body called out for both
men, the morning’s events be damned.
The amber wolf leaned toward her, eyes lightening with every breath. He paused inches from her, motionless and silently asking for permission before moving farther.
She couldn’t have held the single word within her had her life depended on it. Arguments could come later. Right now she needed what he offered. “Please.”
The Lieutenant struck like a snake, slamming his lips against Gabby’s in a fiercely possessive kiss, capturing and holding her tight within his grasp. He forced his way into her mouth, plunging and sweeping into her depths without hesitation. His taste exploded, bathing her with his masculine heat and warm sweetness. She twined her tongue with his, giving and taking in equal measure.
He pressed against her, molding his front to her side, crowding her as the Captain’s arms remained around her waist. The heat from their embrace seared her very soul, and she was weak from their dual assaults. Teeth and lips explored her neck while another set ravaged her mouth.
She sucked and flicked the amber wolf’s tongue, teasing him and urging his passion higher. Another arm slid around her back, a third joining the Captain’s to touch and stroke her. Sexual heat slithered through her veins, sending her blood boiling.
There was no doubt that she wanted these two men, these two wolves, but there were still so many unanswered questions. Her body begged her to relent, sink into them and damn the consequences. Except the rational side of her, the bit that realized that if she gave in right now, knew they’d be tied together with no way to part.
Easing back, she pulled from the kiss, struggling to end the enticing torment of his lips. A second longer and she’d beg them to take her, bite her, and claim her.