by Wendi Zwaduk
“I screwed that up.” Kitty touched Vic’s hand, rubbing his palm with the pad of her index finger. “He thinks I’m moving too fast because I’m hurt.”
“He cares about you.” Vic scooted onto the couch beside her. “We both care about you, Kitty, but he’s fiercely protective. It’s because he’s a vampire.”
“You’re a wolf. Aren’t you supposed to be super territorial about your mate, too?”
“Notice I know exactly where Gale is?” He draped his arm around her shoulders. “I also know exactly where you are.”
“Vic.”
He sighed. Somehow he had to make her see reason. “Last night when we made love, you didn’t shy away from us. You accepted Gale’s need to feed as if it were commonplace. After we went to bed and I shifted, I sprawled out next to you. You didn’t jump, scream or shove my wolf away. That’s important. Few humans accept us for who we are, but you did.” He cupped her jaw in both hands. “I’m ready to make you my mate, but not here. I want it to be in our bed. Do you understand?”
She nodded.
“Okay,” Gale said and strode up to the couch. “If I’m not interrupting.”
Vic slid his gaze to his partner and chuckled. To most, Gale’s words would’ve been condescending. Vic knew his friend too well. “You are, but we’ll let it slide.” He stood. “What’s the plan?”
“First, I’ve put Jett, Dalton and Xander in charge.” Gale hooked his fingers into his belt loops. “I assured Maddox that they won’t hurt her and she seems to be warming up to them.”
Kitty wobbled to her feet between Gale and Vic. “Wouldn’t it be cute if they realized they belonged together, but needed our push?”
“Putting the cart before the horse…er…wolf shifter, aren’t you?” Vic stared at his other friends. Maddox was pretty and probably just what Jett would want in a mate. Xander acted sweet to everyone in order to get willing partners for his blood supply. He might be interested in Maddox, but Vic wasn’t convinced. But Dalton? He knew better. Dalton wasn’t interested in women. He only had eyes for another supernatural—a very male supernatural.
“They’ll have to sort that out later,” Gale said. “Xander’s arranging for a catering company to bring in dinner for tonight and I’ve given them all the orders to make this place more livable. I don’t know how you survived here, Kitty. William gave the humans no dignity at all.”
“I had someone—two someones—to live for.” She hooked one arm around Gale’s forearm, then the other arm around Vic’s. “Knowing you two would come back made me strong. Having your love made me stronger and your blood saved me. I can’t love you more than I do right now.”
“Why don’t we take her home for a little more TLC?” Vic asked. He winked at Gale. They’d be doing more than offering her tender loving care. He and his wolf needed to mate with her—now.
“The boys are in charge.” Gale led them toward the door. “Let’s go home.”
“Perfect.” Vic sandwiched Kitty between them and held onto Gale’s belt loops. He closed his eyes and snuggled the woman he loved. The air whipped by them as Gale propelled them across the city. Within moments, they landed on the balcony.
“Don’t want to wait any longer, either.” Gale carried Kitty into the bedroom. “Need you.”
Kitty held onto him tight. The two landed together on the bed in a heap of arms and legs. Vic grinned. God, they were sexy. He stood back to watch as Gale stripped Kitty bare. Her nipples beaded and perspiration glittered on her skin. She reminded him of a goddess. His wolf scratched him from within. Why was he watching them kiss and touch when he could be in the middle?
Gale stood long enough to rip his shirt over his head. He waved at Vic. “Gonna stand there like a statue?”
“Not a chance.” Vic grasped the hem of his shirt and pulled. The soft cotton ripped, baring his chest. The change in temperature eased a little of the fever surging through his veins. Christ, he needed them. He shoved his pants to the floor and stepped out of his socks and boots.
Gale stripped, then climbed onto the bed beside Kitty. “You’re sure?” He kissed her shoulder. “Really sure?”
“To do this,” Vic said. “We declare our feelings for each other and Gale and I leave our mark on you.” He crawled onto her other side, caging Kitty between him and Gale. “We make love as one. No barriers.”
Kitty blushed. “This is bad…how?” She sat up and curled her fingers under Gale’s chin. “I love you.” She kissed him, but splayed her free hand on Vic’s chest over his heart. When she ended the kiss, she turned to Vic. “I love you, too.” She gave him the same treatment.
The connection turned feral in moments. The wolf took over and he snared her in his arms. Electricity licked him from within. He pulled her across his lap. If he waited much longer, he’d come too fast.
“Take her,” Gale murmured. “Fuck her. Fuck our mate.”
“I’m yours,” Kitty said. Her breasts rubbed against his chest, sending shockwaves through his system.
Vic didn’t need any further convincing. He sat up, then slid his cock between her pussy lips. Her cream slickened his way. He groaned. They’d made love plenty of times and nothing compared to being with her. He lined his cock up with her hole, then surged within her. Every nerve ending sizzled.
His wolf howled. The animal loved her, too. Vic panted. He bounced her on his lap, basking in the sight of her so happy. She’d made him happy, too. She made him want to be a good man. He shivered.
“Do it,” Kitty said against his neck. “Mark me.”
He dragged a long breath into his lungs. His teeth elongated and a growl ripped from his throat. He met Gale’s hungry gaze as he buried his teeth into the soft spot connecting her neck to her shoulder.
He kissed the wound, then pulled her down hard on his lap. “Mine.”
“Yes,” she replied and nodded. “Yours and his.”
“Join us,” Vic said to Gale. He palmed her ass and stopped thrusting. “Ready for him?”
Her eyes widened. She touched the red spot on her shoulder. Kitty gazed at him a moment more, then turned her head and kissed Gale. “I’m ready.”
She slid off Vic’s lap and into Gale’s arms. He placed her on his lap, then handed Vic the lube.
Vic settled behind them, kissing her shoulder and grasping her hips. He needed to see the bite. Needed to know they were all one.
Gale’s eyes shimmered silver and when he opened his mouth, he bared his fangs. “Mine,” he growled, then sank his teeth into her skin. He added his mark to the wound already on her shoulder. Kitty held Vic’s hand, digging her nails into his wrist.
Kitty whimpered and swayed against Vic’s chest.
“From now until the end of time, you belong to us and we belong to you,” Vic said. He dribbled lube over his cock, then down the crack of her ass.
Gale reclined against the mattress and kissed her while Vic prepped her. Vic slid his middle finger into her asshole, pushing past the tight ring of muscle. She relaxed into his touch and moaned.
Vic’s desire grew. Holy shit. This is happening. His mates weren’t a figment of his imagination. He worked his finger out of her body, then lined his dick up between her ass cheeks.
“Please, Vic. Now.” Kitty let go of his wrist. “Make love to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He pressed the blunt head of his erection against her hole, then pushed. The moment he buried himself balls-deep in her body, he knew he’d come home. He belonged right there with Gale and Kitty. They completed each other.
In perfect rhythm, Gale pulled out of her cunt while Vic pushed into her ass. When Vic eased out, Gale sank into her. They’d marked her and she’d accepted them.
“Fuck,” Gale bit out. He grunted and filled her. “Come with me.”
“Please?” Kitty whimpered.
“Can’t hold back.” Vic buried himself to the hilt and came within her. From his head to his toes, his body felt weightless. He braced himself on his hands and knees over her
and Gale. He rested his face on her shoulder blade. None of them spoke for the longest time.
Gale broke the silence first. “Our mate.” He reached around Kitty and hugged her and Vic. “This feels so good.”
“Yeah.” Kitty snuggled between them. “This is where I’ve dreamed of being and where I belong.”
“You do.” Vic kissed her neck, then winked at Gale. They lived in the darkness, but she’d brought light to their lives. Because of Kitty, he and Gale changed their way of looking at life and the Store Front. She’d been the change they needed and the missing piece to make them whole.
* * * *
Three weeks later…
Kitty opened the closet doors in a newly remodeled apartment. “You’ll see the closet space is big enough for you to put your things.” She smiled at the woman. “No one will use you for blood any longer.” She draped her arm around the crying lady’s shoulders. After changing the name of the Store Front into The Refuge, the word spread had that the humans had a place to stay until they were well enough to move on. Some of the humans eventually paired off with the supernaturals sympathetic to their causes. Many of the men who’d come to the Store Front had done so because they’d fallen in love with their particular human woman.
“Come down to the cafeteria space when you’re ready to eat. There’s always something down there for you.” Kitty hugged the woman. “I’ll leave you alone to rest.”
“Thank you,” the woman murmured. “Truly, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” Kitty strolled out of the apartment, then down to the main office. Changing the building over had made differences in the lives of the humans. Some days the building was overrun with people needing assistance, but she didn’t mind. William wasn’t there to hurt them any longer. She shivered at the thought of her former boss.
“There you are.” Gale tugged her into one of the spare rooms beside the office. “We’ve been waiting hours for you.” He nuzzled her neck along the wound he and Vic had left on her skin as their mark. “Love you, little one.”
“I love you, too.” She draped her arms around his neck.
“Don’t forget me.” Vic eased up behind her. “I’m part of this trio, too.”
“Yes, you are.” She glanced over her shoulder and kissed her other mate. The safety in their embrace warmed her body. “I am wearing a skirt, boys.”
“Damn, she read our minds,” Vic said and groaned. He moved the soft material up her hips to her waist, baring her lower body.
She grinned and pressed her face against Gale’s neck. A dick sliding between her ass cheeks and one between her pussy lips…what more could a girl ask for? She’d been taken in by their charm, but won over by their love and devotion. As three, their future looked bright and just what she wanted.
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Firelit Magic
Wendi Zwaduk
Excerpt
Chapter One
“The witch is going to get it tonight.” Officer Tommy Barnes stared at the incident report. Five black kittens stolen. Some people wouldn’t care about stolen animals. Most people weren’t witches, either. According to the owners, the witch had taken the cats in order to use them for a sacrifice. He gritted his teeth. Maybe the witch wasn’t involved in the cat-nappings. Maybe his fear finally got the better of him. But thinking of helpless animals being used for God only knew what didn’t sit well with him.
He climbed into his patrol car and sped across town to Madame Scarlett’s Potion shop. Havan wasn’t a bad witch. If his good friend Neil had decent taste in women. Sure, she wasn’t the most conventional looking woman, with bright blue hair and dark makeup, but she smiled all the time and brought out the best in Neil. The other woman at the shop? She stuck in his brain.
Cian Roston. Who named their kid Cian? And why in the name of all things mighty did she have to dye her hair flame red? No one in their right mind had hair that color. And why did she stick in his mind? Because he liked her? Because he didn’t think she was dangerous. Outlandish and attention-grabbing, maybe, but not harmful to anyone.
He pulled to a stop outside the magic shop and paused. He was there to check up on a tip about the kittens. If he came off like a dick, then she’d get defensive. If the tip was false, then he’d look like an even bigger dick. Time to be slick and smooth. He adjusted his hat then switched off the engine. He was just there to prove a point to himself—she had nothing to do with the cat-nappings.
Tommy strolled into the shop. Instead of the flame-haired witch, Havan sat behind the counter. Bent over with her hair obscuring his view of whatever she was doing, she waved her hand.
“Hi, Tommy. What brings you in today?” She didn’t look up, but one of the beads rolled down the counter. “Neil didn’t mention you two were going to hang out.” She finally sat upright. “Oh, you’re in your formal wear.”
“Is Cian here? I need to speak with her.” He stuffed one hand in his pocket and rested the other on the glass counter.
Havan’s eyes lit up. “You’re finally going to ask her out, aren’t you?”
Ask her out? Tommy opened then closed his mouth, trying to form words, but no sound came out. Where in the name of God had she got the idea he wanted to ask Cian out? From Neil? The tips of his ears burned. Cian wasn’t a bad looking woman, if someone wanted a garish girl with a booming voice…and a sexy figure encased in her customary corsets and tight jeans…oh hell. He wasn’t supposed to be thinking about her as sexy. But every time he was around her it was like he’d touched a live wire. Sparks zapped at his belly. She wasn’t his normal type, but really, who needed a type?
Havan burst into laughter. She clasped her hands together and leaned back on her seat. “If you could see the look on your face right now. It’s priceless. You want to ask her out. You’re dying to, but you won’t. Just do it.”
Tommy cleared his throat. Once he’d got the case straightened out and had proven Cian was innocent, then he’d worry about the giddiness in his veins. “What do you know about Ms Roston’s involvement with stray animals? I’ve heard she takes in strays.”
Havan sobered and folded her hands. “She does. Neil and I help her at the shelter.”
“Shelter?” Now Cian called the barn behind her house a shelter. Somehow, he wasn’t surprised—or irritated.
“Oh for crying out loud.” Havan stood. “Cian? Officer Barnes is here about the cats and I need to see what the pattern is for this bracelet.” She flipped her blue hair over her shoulder. “He thinks you’re doing something hinky with cats and I need your help.” She turned her attention back to Tommy. “These things have been flying off the shelves lately. I don’t know if people like the colors or they think the bracelets have been enchanted. They haven’t.”
“He’s here because I’m a witch,” Cian bellowed from the other room. Her footsteps clunked on the wooden floor as she entered the main shop. “You’re a witch, too. Does that mean you eviscerated cats, too? Goddess.” Her jewelry clinked with each step. Three gold chains dipped down to her ample cleavage and the black corset accentuated her curves. “I didn’t kill any cats.” She picked up the bracelet. “Oh, that one doesn’t have a pattern. Just string them together. The elegance is in the chaos of it.”
“Cool.” Havan continued to string the beads.
Once again, Tommy opened and closed his mouth without saying a word. Damn it. The moment he’d caught sight of Cian, he’d lost all sense. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her. Was that rational? Maybe not, but kissing her sounded like heaven.
“The guy comes here determined to talk to me, but he doesn’t talk. Good Goddess.” Cian rested her hands on her hips. “Look, you’re a man of the law. Technically we’re both on the same side. You arrest the jackasses who hurt my cats and I rescue said cats. Now, what is it you wanted?” Havan tipped her head to the side, but kept her mouth shut.
“I need to ask you some questions about a group of five black kittens that were
stolen from the McCorkell family farm.” He slid his notebook from his pocket. “According to Pete, you were the last one seen with the kittens.” The second he finished talking, he realized how foolish he sounded. He cleared his throat again. “I don’t know what you’re doing with the cats, but you have to give them back if you indeed stole them.”
She crooked one dark eyebrow and narrowed her eyes. Cian took a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Okay, you’re the cop. Did you happen to look at the sign at the farm? Old man McCorkell was offering the kittens up for free and advertising they were black and great for Halloween.”
He’d noticed the sign and the significance, but let her finish. The more she talked, the more he knew she wasn’t guilty.
“Black cats get treated like shit this time of year because too many assholes get the idea a sacrifice is a good thing. Those poor babies get hurt and killed. I’m not about to let any more black cats die because he wanted to unload them.” Her voice cracked and she balled her fists.
“So you took them?” Part of him wanted to nab her for the theft—if there was one. The rest of him wasn’t so sure. First, the sign read free kittens. She couldn’t steal what was free and she had a point—every Halloween at least a dozen black cats ended up on the wrong end of a sacrifice. He respected her need to prevent their deaths. Or was she using the cats for something horrible? He doubted Neil and Havan would be involved in something so evil, but Havan was a witch, too.
“I know you’re not as dumb as you look.” She stabbed the glass counter with her index finger. “You’ve got your cruiser here. I’ll take you to the house. You can see what I did with them.” She stomped around the display. “And before you ask me again, I talked with Mrs McCorkell and paid her fifty bucks for all five. Yeah, I paid for them. They’re at the house, safe and sound.” She sashayed past him, her clunky boots clomping on the floor. “Come on.”
