“Stop it, Charlotte.” Jax lifted his head to issue a reprimand. “This is for you, not us.”
Immediately, she let go of Ren’s fingers. With a nod of approval, Jax lowered his head to wrap his lips around her throbbing clitoris. As he sucked lightly, Lottie panted with need. While his brother laved her pussy, Ren dribbled some of the sticky perantha juice onto her breasts and began to lick it off, making circular motions over her erect nipples. Sensation assailed Lottie, coming at her so fast, she could hardly process it. Pleasure built as Jax thrust his tongue into her warm, wet pussy once more. She bucked her hips as he curled it upward to lap at that special spot just inside her. Jax gripped her thighs and Ren held her down with a hand on her abdomen as both brothers continued their ministrations. There was nothing hurried in the way they explored her with their fingers, their mouths. Every touch was slow, deliberate, intended to show her how much she meant to them. She couldn’t see where Marc was but the thought of him watching this erotic spectacle only added to the excitement firing through her veins.
Where usually her orgasms hit her like mini-explosions, this one came on more gradually. A warmth spread through Lottie and her skin prickled with delight. Ren sat up to watch her face twisting with ecstasy, her mouth and eyes opening wide as Jax continued to lick and suck her needy cunt. She arched her back as desire climbed to a peak. Her breath hitched and her body stiffened as she came. It was the most beautiful moment Lottie had ever experienced and that made her more aware of what was missing. Overcome with emotion, she started to cry.
Ren pulled her into his arms and stroked her back as she sobbed against his shoulder. The big, strong warrior cradled her like she was made of glass, soothing her with incredible gentleness while she purged the feelings of despair.
“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” Ren teased as she sat up and dried her eyes.
“No, that was perfect,” she said with a weak smile. “It’s just...”
“You wish Daen was here,” he completed the thought for her.
It was impossible to deny it. Misery threatened to swamp Lottie, but she fought back her tears. Three of her wonderful mates were here, showing her the sort of affection she’d feared she would never experience again.
“If we can forgive you, so can he.” Jax’s words surprised her.
“You’ve forgiven me?”
“How could we not?” Jax replied. “You mean everything to us, Charlotte.”
They might not be the most sugary words in the world but coming from the stoic Jax they were perfect. Still, Lottie could not shake thoughts of Daen from her head.
“What if he doesn’t forgive me?”
The brothers exchanged a worried glance and then fell silent as they considered the possibility that Daen might not come around. Nobody wanted to entertain the thought he might never get past the hurt and disappointment he felt. If he couldn’t forgive her, a terrible choice would have to be made. Even if the others wanted to keep her, Lottie could never come between them and Daen. She suspected they knew, deep down, that if push came to shove, they would have to choose their brother over her. They were family, meant to rule together. No woman could rupture the bonds between them, even her.
“Enough of this,” Marc said as the atmosphere threatened to become unbearably somber. “It’s my turn to taste that delicious pussy.”
He practically knocked Jax out of the way to get closer to Lottie. With a giggle, she lay back and spread her legs apart. There might be tough times ahead but, for now, she was going to live in the moment and enjoy everything her mates had to give.
Chapter Thirteen
When Lottie woke, it took her a minute to realize where she was. Sandwiched between Marc and Ren, she felt safe and warm. In the three days since the claiming ceremony, she’d spent each night here in her mates’ bed as they began to rebuild the trust she’d so carelessly torn down. Things on Bylanthia were still unsettled and officially she remained a prisoner, albeit one who enjoyed the special privileges that came from also being their mate. Until the situation improved and people were ready to accept her presence at Jax’s side, Lottie spent her days hidden away in their quarters while Jax and the others saw to the business of running the planet.
She had seen nothing of Daen but knew his brothers had all spoken to him, trying to convince him to give her another chance. So far, they hadn’t been successful and although nobody admitted it, they were all starting to worry about what the future held.
Feeling too hot lying next to the twins, Lottie sat up and looked around the room. Jax wasn’t in the bed but that didn’t surprise her. His brothers needed little sleep and Jax survived on even less. He generally enjoyed only a couple of hours’ shut-eye a night and he tended to remove himself to his own room once they’d finished fucking. Responsibility weighed too heavily on his mind to allow him to rest for long. Easing herself off the bed so she didn’t disturb her men, Lottie slipped a dress on over her head. She’d finally persuaded her mates she needed to wear clothes sometimes and they’d sent Marra to procure suitable garments for her. Lottie felt bad that they had the woman running around doing menial tasks on their behalf when she was a trained medic, but Marra didn’t seem to mind. Unfortunately all the clothes she’d brought her were made for Bylanthian women who seemed to favor drab grays and browns that did nothing for Lottie’s pale complexion. They were also a fair bit taller than the average human and Lottie found herself tripping over her skirts as she walked, which was a real pain. She wished she’d paid more attention during those awful sewing classes her mother had made her take when she was a child, so she could alter her clothes to fit.
A twinge of sadness gripped her chest as she thought about her mother. Lydia Calder was a slavish devotee to the High Council’s regime. It amazed Lottie that such an intelligent woman could be so eager to let the state treat her like a child, incapable of making even the simplest decisions for herself. Lydia’s stance had put her at odds with her husband and children. Lottie loved both her parents, but her father was the one she really looked up to. She’d been proud to join the rebels’ cause alongside him.
Not knowing if she would ever see either of her parents or her younger sisters again made Lottie’s heart ache, so she shoved thoughts of them to the back of her mind and headed through to the outer chamber where she found Jax sitting at the window. There was a pensive air around him as he looked out over the darkened city streets.
“You couldn’t sleep?” Jax looked up as she approached him.
Lottie shook her head and felt a sharp pain behind her eye.
“What’s the matter?” Jax must have seen her wince.
“Nothing, just a sudden headache.”
“Should I fetch Daen?”
“No,” Lottie replied vehemently.
The last thing she wanted was for Jax to bring his brother here to treat her for such a minor ailment. It would smack of attention-seeking and she didn’t want him to think she was trying to elicit sympathy as a way of winning him back.
“Marra, then?”
“No, it’s fine. It will pass.”
Jax looked unconvinced and it warmed her to see him showing her genuine concern.
“Do you think it’s something to do with your injury?”
“I don’t think so.”
Now that she thought about it, Lottie wasn’t sure. She hadn’t sat around waiting for aftercare when she woke from her coma and because she was so adamant about getting on with her life, everyone had taken that as a sign she was fit and well. The tests she’d had when she regained consciousness suggested there was no permanent damage, apart from the scar on her face. The headache was probably just one of those things.
“Come sit on my lap,” Jax instructed.
Lottie did as she was told and was surprised when Jax began to massage the tension from her neck with one hand while the other held her safe on his knee.
“What was it like to be unconscious for so long?” he asked.
Lottie pursed her
lips and tried to remember. Most of it was a blank. “It was peaceful, I suppose.”
“Your friends thought you were aware of our presence,” Jax said. “Were you?”
“I’m not sure. I did feel quite safe a lot of the time, like I knew people who loved me were close by.”
Jax continued to knead the knotted muscles at the back of her neck as he studied her face.
“But then something shifted.” Lottie recalled it quite clearly—a sudden sense of urgency. “There was a tension in the air, like there’d been a fight. I knew I had to get back to you quickly.”
Jax stopped rubbing her neck and she looked up at him in question. Guilt was etched in his harsh features.
“What?” Lottie asked.
“I argued with Allik Loarn’s mate.”
“Victoria?” Lottie grinned at the thought of her friend and Jax arguing. Nobody could win when one was unstoppable and the other immovable. Although he was much larger than Vicky, she was not an easy person to intimidate. She might let her mate redden her bottom every now and then, but no other man would ever make Vicky bow to him. Jax would have been at a loss for how to cope with her since he couldn’t very well take her over his knee. “Did you not get along?”
“It hurt to be around her. She reminded us too much of you.”
Lottie took that as a compliment. She saw a lot of herself in Vicky as well. They were both strong-willed and determined young women who wanted to rebel against the inequalities they’d faced back on Earth. Vicky had somehow managed to blend into New Cambridge society, though, and the same could be said for Lottie. While nobody had guessed that the prim Miss Walton was a member of the Hyde Ladies’ Circle and a militant one at that, Lottie had been watched closely. That was probably because of her father.
“What did you and Vicky fight about?”
“She said my brothers were cowards because they’d stopped visiting you.”
“Oh.” Lottie’s heart sank. She’d gotten the impression they’d kept a constant vigil at her bedside.
“It was only because they couldn’t bear to be confronted with what they’d lost,” Jax explained. “Even I was resigned to having to let go. After my disagreement with Victoria, I decided to release you.”
As much as that hurt, Lottie understood. If she’d shown no sign of ever waking up, they would eventually have to move on with their lives. It seemed ironic, however, that she’d woken up just as Jax had said goodbye. If she’d remained unconscious a few more days, they’d have left her behind. She wouldn’t have needed to try to drive them away by accusing them of vile abuses against her. Clearly the fates were playing games with them.
“Anyway, I knew something bad was coming so I tried to find my way out of the dark.” She screwed up her nose as she started to remember something. “I came to two doors and didn’t know which to go through. Then I heard Lucy singing and I followed her voice.”
“That’s what brought you back?”
Lottie shrugged. “I think so.”
Jax’s eyebrows drew down into a deep V and he looked troubled.
“What do you suppose was behind the other door?”
“I have no idea. I’m just glad the one I came through brought me back to the world.”
“As am I,” Jax said, before he was distracted by the communication device on the wall buzzing.
He set Lottie carefully down as he vacated his seat and went to answer the call. After a short exchange in Bylanthian, he disconnected and turned back to her. The look on his face caused an icy shiver of dread to slip down her spine.
“What is it?” she demanded, bracing for bad news. “It’s not Daen, is it?” After three days without seeing him, she had no idea if he was safe and well.
“No, it’s not Daen.”
“Then what?” Lottie practically shrieked.
“That was Taryn Duff. The Taar-Breckians have had word of an attack. The High Council raided the rebel encampment on the northern border of New Cambridge five nights ago.”
Lottie’s face drained of all color as he came and crouched in front of her.
“My father?” Her voice shook as she asked the question.
“No, he was not among the dead and nor were your sisters.”
Her relief at that was short-lived as Jax took both of her hands in his and ran his thumbs soothingly over her wrists. Lottie felt a knot of dread twisting around her stomach.
“Who?”
It had to be one of her close friends. Words began to repeat in her mind. Don’t say Elizabeth, don’t say Elizabeth, don’t...
“Elizabeth Chatterton,” Jax said, the sympathy in his eyes almost too much for her to bear.
Lottie shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. Elizabeth was only nineteen, two years younger than her. How could she be gone, just like that? She had people who loved her deeply, friends who hoped to reunite with her one day, if not in their own homeland then on Taar-Breck. Shit! She had her sister, Caroline, desperately waiting for news.
“I have to go to Taar-Breck,” Lottie said.
“This is not a good time.”
Because they’d only just retaken the throne. Lottie knew that. Her mates had a lot of work to do here and there was no way they could leave Bylanthia when so much was up in the air.
“I can go alone.”
“Absolutely not.” Jax’s tone was firm. “There is already enough speculation about us.”
Lottie didn’t have to ask what the gossip was about. People had to be wondering why Daen hadn’t taken part in the claiming ceremony when all four brothers had been in a relationship with her for some time. They would see it as a sign of a rift in the ruling family. If she went off by herself right now, it would undermine the sense of unity and strength Jax was trying to convey. As much as she wanted to be close to her friend right now, she needed to show her mates, and the rest of Bylanthia, that she was with them.
Reluctantly showing her acceptance of Jax’s decision with a nod, she got up and walked away.
* * *
He was supposed to be discussing ways to distribute food supplies to the southern regions that had been cut off during the civil war, but he couldn’t concentrate. His advisor was running through the various options for ensuring people had enough to eat but it was all going over Jax’s head. All he could think about was Charlotte and the look on her face when she’d heard her friend had been killed. Human emotions were a mystery to him, so he had no idea what she was feeling. She’d assured him she was fine, but he suspected she was putting on a brave face. It had taken some persuasion on her part but, eventually, he and his brothers had decided to leave her to her own devices while they attended to their duties. He wasn’t entirely happy about it, though. Charlotte hadn’t been pleased when he told her she couldn’t go to Taar-Breck and although she’d accepted his decision, his trust in her was still shaky. It was entirely possible she might try to sneak off.
“So we will ask Taar-Breck to increase their supply of meat to us?” Bayren asked.
Jax looked up at the older man.
“Yes,” he confirmed. It was the logical solution. The people needed to eat and until his battle-scarred planet could produce its own food, they would have to rely on their neighbors. Now that he’d secured peace with Taar-Breck, it made more sense to get food from them than it would to import it from Earth, which was another two days’ travel away.
“Is something wrong, Highness?” Bayren asked, obviously picking up on how distracted Jax was.
“A private matter.” Jax hoped that would end the conversation.
“Your brother still does not accept your mate?”
Jax wished he could tell the other man it was none of his business, but unfortunately, he was having to learn to be diplomatic. Bayren was a high-ranking member of the aristocracy who’d been one of his father’s closest confidantes.
“It’s not that. Our mate is in mourning for a friend who was killed in the conflict on Earth.”
“A prim
itive race, the humans,” Bayren said with obvious disgust. “Little more than savages, really.”
A muscle in Jax’s jaw twitched. He was quite sure the humans would have similar things to say about them and it was not as if his own people were averse to killing each other. There was a lot of myth about humans floating around and they were not trusted here. Their people had not had much contact with each other and it left a lot of room for rumors to develop.
“She wishes to go to Taar-Breck to be with her other friends,” Jax said, “but now is not the time for me to leave Bylanthia.”
“Indeed, it is not,” Bayren agreed. “Perhaps your mate could go alone.”
Jax shook his head. “I cannot allow it. She needs to be here, so the people can grow to love her.”
“I fear that will never happen,” Bayren said with a sad shake of the head. “Perhaps it would be best to let her go to Taar-Breck. Set her free for the sake of unity. You and your brothers could find a more suitable Bylanthian woman to claim. It is essential you show your bond is strong.”
Now Jax wanted to wring the man’s neck. He knew, however, that Bayren was just saying what others were thinking and he couldn’t react with violence every time he heard something he didn’t like.
“That will be all, Bayren,” Jax said dismissively.
Obviously realizing it wasn’t wise to press his point, the older man rose from his seat and bowed, a gesture that was laden with contempt rather than the respect it should have conveyed. Jax decided to let it slide. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed the support of men like Bayren.
When he was alone once more, Jax sat back and scrubbed a hand over his face. A warrior, accustomed to the field of battle, he wasn’t cut out for dealing with all this political nonsense. The trouble was Bayren had a point about them needing to show strength. Daen’s continued refusal to claim Charlotte as he and the others had done gave the impression of a rift in the family and that was something their enemies would soon try to exploit. He decided to go and speak with his youngest brother, to try to reason with him once more.
Tamed by Her Mates Page 13