by Jaci Burton
"There's a Carpathian lupine marriage ritual that I hadn't counted on. And it has to happen tonight."
"What is it? You don't have to sacrifice a chicken or anything, do you?"
"I wish it was that easy."
"Oh shit. Tell me."
"Katya has to fuck another man tonight."
Noah's eyes nearly fell out of his head.
Conner nodded. "Yeah, you heard right."
"Holy Christ, Con. Why?"
"It's their custom. The alpha male shares his female on the night of their marriage."
"Just tell her no. Refuse to do it."
He leaned against the table across from Noah and crossed his arms. "I wish it were that easy. But as Katya pointed out, and she's right, if I'm taking over as alpha, then I need to follow their customs and rituals."
"Okay. So who's the guy? And will he survive the night without you killing him?"
Conner laughed. "I hope so. Because I chose you."
Noah's eyes widened. "Me? No way. No thanks. I don't want any part of it."
"You'd rather have me watch her get fucked by a stranger, some guy that I'll have to worry about and maybe even have to kill if he ever looks at Katya again? Hell, Noah. You're the only one I trust to do this."
"Shit." Noah stood and walked to the window, staring out at the full moon. "You know I'd do anything for you, Con. But I don't want your woman."
"I know that. Which makes you perfect for this. I know you have no attachment to Katya. You'll be fulfilling an obligation."
Noah blew out a breath and dragged his hand through his hair. "It's one hell of an obligation."
"If you say no, I'll have to choose someone else. I hate this, Noah. And I know you do, too."
"How does Katya feel about it?"
"She's fine with it. Says it's a one-time thing, means nothing. I guess she's used to it since she's familiar with the customs here. It's not like a bomb was dropped on her tonight."
Noah turned around and faced him, a smirk lifting the corners of his mouth. "You're just worried she'll enjoy it too much."
"With you as my choice, I doubt it."
Noah laughed and shook his head. "I can't believe the shit I do for you, Con. So what's the game plan?"
Chapter Thirteen
Noah stood in the clearing with Conner, Elena and about a dozen other witnesses. Much fewer people than he expected. Then again, he supposed this wasn't a big deal to those who'd seen it before.
For that matter, it wasn't a big deal for him either. He wasn't a newcomer to the arena of menages, and had shared women with other men before. He'd even had several women at once, and they'd shared each other.
Hell, he liked sex. Liked it a lot. And Katya had a fiery passion that he couldn't wait to taste.
But he didn't love her, and Conner did. And this ritual was a big damn deal to his brother. This wasn't just a woman to fuck and discard as if she meant nothing. Katya was his sister-in-law now. She was a Devlin. And he'd have to tread carefully in this event.
Shit. He really needed to finish up this task with Conner and get the hell off this mountain. Some solitude was definitely in order. Maybe one of the islands, or even the jungle. The sooner he got a new assignment from the agency, the better.
There was too much emotion here. This love crap was fine for other people, but not for him. God help him when it came his time to take on a pack and a mate. He sure as hell wasn't ready for it right now. He might never be.
As a wolf, he was wild, untamed and as free as the night air swirling above them. The human part of him craved the same freedom.
No, he'd be unlikely to settle down anytime soon, much to his mother's disappointment. Then again, she knew him better than anyone, knew he hated to be tied down. That's why he chose the career path he had. It allowed him freedom of movement and never required him to settle in one place too long.
He'd already been here too long and felt the burning itch to run.
But not yet. First, he had a task to fulfill. A last duty to his brother.
Making love to a beautiful woman wasn't exactly an arduous task. He'd never tell Conner, but he actually looked forward to it.
He glanced over at Elena, enjoying the way she devoured him with her hot eyes. If he read Elena's signals right, Katya wouldn't be the only woman he had tonight.
His cock rose and pressed against his pants, a fact that wasn't lost on the icy blonde. She was perfect for him. Wild and free, loving sex for the pure satisfaction and thrill of it. No strings required. Elena was no more ready for love and relationships than he was, which made her the ideal sex partner for him while he was here.
Soon enough, he'd leave her, too. Only she wouldn't care. And neither would he.
If only life could always be that simple.
*
Katya headed into the woods, trying to summon up the courage to get through what came next. She wanted to be locked in her bedroom with her husband and spend the remainder of the night making hot, fiery love with him. But she had an obligation to fulfill first. Once that was done, she could start on her new life with Conner.
What was going to happen tonight made her nervous. First, because she never wanted anyone other than Conner to touch her. And two, because she worried he would think she desired another man.
Granted, if she had to choose another to partake in the ritual, she couldn't ask for one better than Noah. Not only was he ruggedly handsome, but he walked and talked with an inherent eroticism that intrigued her. The man had to be good, and despite the fact she was wholly and completely in love with Conner, the idea of having Noah just once wasn't at all unpleasant.
The bond Noah and Conner shared was evident. That made what was going to happen easier than if Conner was forced to share her with a stranger. Besides, she didn't think she could tolerate another man's touch. Noah, on the other hand, was family now. And that she could deal with. He and Conner were so close in looks and temperament that it would be like making love to a mirror image of her husband.
Her nipples hardened against the thin gown, her pussy clenching in anticipation of what would occur.
People had already assembled in the clearing. Not everyone who lived in and around the castle would attend, but they only required an audience for the first portion of the event. She saw Conner and Noah talking to Elena, who was no doubt explaining the steps of the ritual to them. Conner turned before she'd even cleared the last copse of trees. His eyes met hers and they connected on a level reserved only for the two of them.
He smiled, and she knew everything would be all right. Noah turned next and grinned, arching a brow. His gaze roamed appreciatively over her body and she felt her cunt moisten.
Conner met her halfway and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck. She shivered at the heated touch of his mouth to her skin. When he pulled back, he looked her directly in the eyes.
"Since you've never had another man but me, this is an opportunity for you to experience what it's like. After this, I won't have to worry that you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what it would have been like to fuck another man."
His generosity surprised her, and thrilled her at the same time. Knowing he was accepting of the ritual made what she was required to do so much easier. She reached for his face, touching his lips with her fingertips. "I won't ever need another man. You are all I want."
She may not be able to declare her love for him, but she could at least tell him that she wanted no one else but him. Right now, it was the most her heart would allow.
His eyes blazed hot, turning molten golden green. "And you are all I want. Shall we get this over with so we can spend the rest of our wedding night alone?"
The teasing glint in his gaze relaxed her completely. She slipped her hand into his and allowed him to lead her to the center of the clearing.
Noah approached and took her other hand. The warmth and strength of having two men by her side was comforting. Noah nodded and sent her a reassuring smile, then be
nt and kissed her cheek, whispering, "I'm much better at sex than Conner, but try to restrain your desire to leave him for me."
She giggled, knowing he teased her. When she looked to Conner, he just rolled his eyes.
Elena stepped forward and began to recite the ritual in Romanian. Katya translated for Conner and Noah.
"It is the custom of our people to share the mate of the alpha male with another male. This occurs on the night of the marriage of an alpha to his life mate. In this we ensure that the alpha acknowledges he belongs to the pack, his mate belongs to the pack, and the pack belongs to him. You will begin by disrobing each other. The act of possession can take place in any way the parties wish. Conner makes the choice. It can be oral, anal or vaginal penetration, or all three. Once it is over and fulfillment is reached, the ritual ends. What happens afterward is up to the participants, but no further witnesses are required."
"It all sounds so clinical," Conner whispered.
"Yeah, but fun," Noah said.
Katya smiled at the differences in opinion between the two brothers. Of course, to Noah this was just a one-time opportunity for sex. For Conner, it went deeper. And she loved him for that.
After she finished her speech, Elena turned back to them. Her heated gaze raked over Noah, centering on his crotch while she licked her lips hungrily. Katya got the idea that Noah would be entertained elsewhere when he finished the ritual this evening.
"Shall we begin?" Katya asked, anxious to get this over with as quickly as possible so she could begin her life with Conner.
"You're in charge here, baby," Conner said. "Go ahead and start. We'll take this at your pace."
She looked up at the moon, its silver beauty and power compelling her, bringing out the primal beast in her and reminding her that animal passion was part of her nature. She turned to Conner. "Kiss me."
His gaze gleamed hot and he pulled her against his hard chest. His lips touched hers gently at first, then with hard, passionate possession. She drank in his fiery kiss and gave the same back to him, lost in the sensations of being held in his arms.
Oh, what she wouldn't give to share this moment alone with him! And she knew he wanted it that way, too.
But then Noah stepped behind her, the heat of his body tripping along her nerve endings. She inhaled, taking in the scent of him. He was aroused, primed and ready so quickly. He ran his hands over her shoulders and down his arms. His cock nestled against her buttocks as his mouth came down on her neck, singeing her skin.
She shuddered and looked at Conner, his lips curling upward. "I'll bet every woman wants to know what it's like to be taken by two men." He cupped her chin and traced her jawline with one fingertip. "Did you ever wonder what that felt like, Katya?"
"Yes," she said, shuddering at Noah's tongue raking her neck. "In my fantasies I sometimes imagined two men making love to me."
"Your fantasy is about to become a reality, baby. Are you ready for this?"
Surprisingly, she was. What had started as ritual and required now became an intense desire to experience lovemaking with two men. To be the center of attention between two alpha males was more than she could have ever imagined. She couldn't have chosen a better third for this ritual than Noah. His powerful body rocked against her back and buttocks. He reached around her to unbutton her gown and slide it off her shoulders.
When it pooled at her feet, Conner's gaze grew hot. "You are so beautiful." He circled her nipples with the tips of his fingers, smiling when the buds puckered and stood erect.
Noah cupped her breasts, holding them out for Conner. He bent over to lick one, then the other. She leaned back against Noah, her senses filled with the overwhelming sensation of two men touching her.
"Undress," she managed, needing to feel naked skin against her.
She heard the rustle of clothing behind her while her gaze was glued to Conner as he quickly shed his clothes. She admired his flat abdomen, then looked lower, following the line of dark hair as it ended in a nest above his cock.
She couldn't resist the smile and smug sense of satisfaction. That beautiful body belonged to her, now. She could have it anytime she wanted it.
"Keep looking at me like that and Noah isn't even going to get a chance. I'll be inside you before he has a chance to get hard."
"Wanna bet?" Noah said.
Before she could respond to Conner's tease, Noah had turned her around to face him.
Conner's brother wasn't unpleasant to look at, either. Though not as tall as Conner, he was broader in the shoulders and thighs. Powerful muscles spanned his massive chest. Where Conner was well-muscled and possessed the body of a runner, Noah's body spoke of power and strength.
She arched a brow and studied the curling mat of hair on his chest, then followed that dark trail to a very long, very thick cock.
"Like what you see?" he asked.
When she looked up and met the teasing glint in his amber eyes, she nodded. "Very much."
Conner pressed against her back, sweeping her hair to the side and nibbling the side of her neck.
Noah brushed his lips against hers. He tasted like sex, his scent filled with the barely leashed power she sensed he held in check.
Unbridled, Noah would be formidable, indeed.
"I'll take very good care of you tonight, princess," Noah murmured against her lips, then turned her around to face Conner once again.
Her husband took her mouth in a fiery kiss, as if he wanted to erase the touch of Noah's lips against hers. She met his passion eagerly, sliding her tongue inside his mouth.
Noah kissed her neck, his lips blazing a heated trail down her spine. The leaves underneath them crunched as Noah's hot tongue swirled over first one buttock, then the other. Then he dipped to his knees, nudging her legs apart.
Delicious sensations licked over her heated skin as Conner crouched, too. He nuzzled her sex, his tongue snaking out to taste her. She bit her lower lip and caressed his dark hair, knowing it wouldn't take long to reach an orgasm. Especially when Noah parted the flesh of her buttocks and probed her anus with his tongue.
She whimpered, her gaze focused on Conner, but feeling the wicked touch of another man's tongue behind her was indescribable. She wished she could watch both men pleasure her.
Noah's fingers dug into her hips, squeezing as his tongue slid into her tight hole. At the same time, Conner tongue-fucked her pussy like a tiny cock, drinking in the juices that poured from her slit.
"Please," she begged, not even knowing what she asked for. The dual pleasures were too much too bear and she was helpless against the sensations bombarding her. When Conner covered her clit and sucked, she catapulted over the edge with a loud cry of fulfillment, her cream flooding his hot tongue. Relentless, he refused to stop despite her nails digging into his shoulders. Noah continued to plunge his tongue inside her puckered hole, driving her into another orgasm more powerful than the first.
Her legs trembled and she could barely stand. Conner lay back on the ground and pulled her on top of him, dragging her mouth down to his.
She tasted her completion on his lips and licked her own juices, cleaning his mouth and chin like a kitten lapping up sweet milk. He groaned, his cock jutting between her thighs. She rocked her pussy against its length, rewarded with his deep groan.
What wondrous magic this was! She had no idea that having two men pleasure her could be this fulfilling. And yet despite the passion she encountered with both Conner and Noah, she knew her heart belonged only to one.
Her alpha. Her husband. The man she loved. Yet she still couldn't find the words to tell him how she felt. Words that, once spoken, made her vulnerable to loss again.
She never wanted to feel that way again. Forcing the clenching pain away, she devoured Conner's mouth, sliding her soaked pussy against his blazing hot cock.
His breath was ragged as he pulled his mouth away and spoke. "Fuck me, Katya."
Spasms squeezed her womb at his erotic words. She turned and noticed the ot
hers watching. Some had disrobed and had begun to fuck the nearest partner. Others, like Elena, touched themselves through their clothing. She'd been so caught up in the whirlwind of sensations created by Conner and Noah that she'd completely forgotten they had an audience.
For her, there were only two men in existence right now. And she found herself wanting much, much more of the sweet pleasure.
Conner inhaled sharply as Katya raked her sweet cunt over his hard flesh. As much as he loved the times they'd made love before, there was something very special about this time. Maybe it was the full moon, which always increased his reactions to anything primal or sensual. Maybe it was the fact that his new bride responded to both him and Noah with such wild abandon. And maybe he was just in love with her, and that made sex that much more special.
Hell, he didn't know, and right now, he didn't care. He'd even tuned out the witnesses until just now, then realized they were all seeking their own pleasure. Elena's dark gaze focused on Noah as she rubbed her nipples with one hand, the other stuffed inside her pants, busily stroking her pussy. His cock lurched against Katya's moist slit, and more juices poured onto his balls.
Noah loomed above them, mostly silent, his expression intent as he stroked and kissed Katya's back and buttocks.
It was time to get past this point and move on.
"Come on, baby. Slide that hot pussy over my dick and fuck me," he urged, then nodded to his brother.
Noah stood and moved over to Katya's side. Fuck, his cock was hard. He needed release after tasting the fiery beauty. When she came, her scent poured over him, her sweet cream dripping between her legs and he couldn't resist a taste of her pussy juice.
Katya was one amazingly passionate woman. And his brother didn't deserve to be so fucking lucky. As he stood there watching Katya lower herself onto Conner's shaft, her head tilted back and a look of such emotion on her face, a pang that Noah had never felt before hit him in the gut.
What the hell was it? Regret? Did he actually feel remorse that he was missing out on a relationship like this?
No way. Noah didn't need women for anything other than fucking and as an occasional partner on a mission. Other than his family, he lived alone, did his work alone, and liked it just fine. When he needed a woman, one was always handy, no matter what part of the world he occupied at the time.