by Amy Sumida
“There were fourteen women taken,” Bryan said. “You rescued how many already?”
“We got three, eleven had been sold before I got there,” I said. “But now I know who has them.”
“Good work, even if you had to bring in civilians,” Bryan praised. “I’m not too happy about that, mind you.”
“I couldn’t let him take me off the case,” I huffed. “I had to at least go back for the women I left behind and I couldn’t do it alone.”
“Yes, I understand,” Bryan said. “But why are you calling me? Why not give Leighton this information and be done with it?”
“Because Leighton sent Raptor to replace me,” I growled.
“Raptor?” Bryan started typing again. “Oh, Alfonso Tremaine.”
“Raptor’s name is Alfonso?” I blinked.
“You going to make fun of someone’s name, Goldilocks?” Bryan asked.
I groaned.
“Oh yes, I know your codename. I even know how you got it. I have pictures.”
The Medvedevs raised interested eyebrows, but I shook my head.
“The curls were a nice touch, by the way,” Bryan went on.
“Raptor hasn’t been investigating the missing women.” I got us back on track. “He was asking around about me, and yesterday he was spotted having lunch with Derick Wright.”
“What did you just say?” Bryan’s voice dropped to a deadly level.
“Yeah, you heard me.”
“Is this information solid?”
“As steel.” I looked to Kael and nodded. “I trust the source implicitly.”
“Alright, Tempest,” Bryan sighed. “Now it’s my turn. We’ve been suspicious of Travis Leighton for awhile now. He’s had several agents under his supervision go missing, his case closure rate is dropping, and he’s begun to make requests for particular missions. We tapped his phone but got nothing substantial. His bank accounts, though, show some strange activity.”
“You think he’s dirty?” I leaned toward the phone.
“As a pig in July.”
“Fuck,” I whispered. “Then is Raptor dirty too?”
“I’m looking into it now,” Bryan said. “Tempest, you now answer to me. Do not call Leighton again. Do not make contact with Raptor. I will handle it. Here’s my personal cell number,” he rattled off the number and I memorized it. “Use it, and only it, from now on.”
“What about these women?”
“Give me the information. I’ll send some teams to pick them up quietly,” Bryan said. “I don’t want Leighton or Wright to know we’re onto them. Don’t worry about the women, Tempest, they’re as good as safe now. You saved them, and I’ll make sure you get recognized for that.”
“Thanks, Bryan.” I swallowed hard. “And the men I’m working with?”
“Thank them on behalf of the United States Government and the Supernatural Community Control and Intelligence,” Bryan spoke with the air of a president. I started to smile at the brothers, but then Bryan continued, “And warn them that I’ll be doing a background check on them. It’s mandatory. I’ll need their names as well, and your location.”
The Medvedevs looked concerned.
“I don’t know if I feel safe giving you our location at the moment,” I stalled.”What if someone’s listening?”
“This is the safest line there is,” Bryan huffed. “First, the women, give me the info you have.”
I went through the print out we’d taken.
“Wonderful,” Bryan said with relief. “Now, hang low for awhile. Are you able to stay where you are for another week?”
I looked up to the brothers and they nodded.
“Yeah, I’m good here.”
“Alright,” Bryan said. “I’m going to assign the rescue missions, then I’m personally shining a light up Leighton’s ass.”
“That’s just gross, Bryan.” I made a face at the phone. “Keep your perversions to yourself.”
“I really have missed you, Tempy.” Bryan chuckled. “I’m glad you called me.”
“Me too.”
“Now, the names of the men you’re with”
The brothers were shaking their heads at me emphatically. I probably should have given Bryan their names anyway. I mean, it was kind of a red flag that they didn’t want to be investigated. But then who really wants that? And these were men who valued their privacy. They’d been good to me, and they helped me save two women. They were helping me save even more. If they didn’t want to be known by SCCIT, then so be it.
“I gotta go, Bryan,” I cut him off. “I’ll call you right back.”
I hung up before he could say anything more.
“Wanna tell me why I just hung up on the Director of Shifter Affairs who also happens to be my only friend?”
“He’s not your only friend.” Blaise took my hand.
“I know.” I sighed. “Which is one of the reasons I hung up before I questioned you. Now, I’m questioning you.”
“We don’t like the Government knowing our whereabouts,” Kael said gruffly. “Mom taught us to live under the radar.”
“No phones.” I tapped the cell. “No computers.”
“We have cable, though,” Blaise said brightly.
I gave him a dry look.
“Our family doesn’t trust the authorities,” Blaise said soberly. “They’ve been unfair to our kind in the past.”
“Your kind?” I asked.
“Mountain folk,” Zaire said quickly. “We don’t pay taxes.”
“You don’t pay taxes?” I frowned.
“They put people in jail for that.” Kael nodded. “Just do us a favor and leave our names out of this… Tempy.”
“Oh no, do not use that name.” I pointed at Kael.
“Nicknames bond people.” Blaise smirked. “Like Baby Bear. I’m fine with that.”
“Yeah, how did I get stuck with ‘Mama Bear’?”
“She’s the middle bear.” Blaise laughed. “That’s you.”
“She’s not the middle bear,” Zaire argued. “She’s the mother, half of a couple. You are my brother, not my child.”
“Well, we were trying to work with the fairy tale.” Blaise shrugged as Kael roared with laughter.
“I am not okay with being called ‘Mama Bear’.” Zaire crossed his arms over his chest.
“You got some nice pecs,” Blaise pointed out.
We all looked to the mounded muscles Zaire’s movement had made.
He dropped his arms with a grimace. “I think it’s time we changed the fairy tale.”
Chapter Eighteen
It was Blaise’s day. I don’t know what I was expecting from my date with Blaise, but I was happy I could actually go on one without worrying about missing women. Bryan would find them, I was sure of it. And that was a huge relief for me. So I wasn’t really paying attention while Blaise drove, just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.
I had worn a dress, as requested, and a nice pair of shoes. So I was fairly certain he wasn’t taking me hiking. My feet were nearly healed, but walking long distances still made them ache, and Blaise knew that. I assumed this meant a restaurant or maybe even a movie.
I was not expecting the opera.
“Opera?” I asked as we pulled into the parking lot for the Opera House Theater.
“Theater.” Blaise pointed at the key word. “It’s an old opera house, but they do live theater in it now.”
“Really?” I went to open my door, suddenly excited. I’d never seen a live show.
“Wait!” Blaise exclaimed, and rushed out, leaving his door hanging open so he could get to mine. “Allow me,” he said smoothly as if he hadn’t just sprinted over to open my door for me.
“Why, thank you, Baby Bear.” I kissed his cheek.
He grinned as he locked up the truck, and was still smiling as we made our way to the ticket counter. We got programs and directions to our seats, and there was even popcorn at the concession stand. The play we were watching was called Unne
cessary Farce and was a comedy involving cops and surveillance. It didn’t sound like it would be funny at all, though it did have content I’d be familiar with. I wondered if that was why Blaise had chosen it. I didn’t have high hopes for it. Despite that, I wanted to have a good time with Blaise. So, I took my seat intending to focus on the pluses; a comfy chair to sit in, a tasty snack to munch on, and a hot man beside me.
It was an intimate theater, but the seats were large enough that I didn’t feel crowded. Then the show started, and I forgot about everything else. I decided that I loved live theater. It made you feel as if you were a part of the story. Every once in awhile an actor’s eye would catch mine, and I’d feel truly connected to the performance. And it was funny. So funny.
When Blaise first slid his hand onto my thigh, I barely noticed, I was laughing so hard at the performance. Then his fingers eased up a bit, pushing the hem of my dress to a naughty level. I stiffened, and Blaise started to draw his hand away. I pressed mine on top of his and gave him a smile. His gaze turned wicked, and he slid his palm more firmly around my thigh.
Thinking back on it, it wasn’t anything debauched. His hand was on my thigh, that’s it. But it felt as if it were much further up, that’s how aware I was of his touch. And his proximity to a very sensitive place on me made it even more sensitive. I shivered while I laughed, unconsciously easing myself forward towards his fingers. My muscles kept clenching, need growing inside me, excitement turning into an ache, then ache easing towards pleasure. By the the end of the play, Blaise was nearly where I wanted him, and I was nearly where I wanted to be, hanging right on the edge of ecstasy. The curtain fell, and as everyone started cheering, Blaise grazed me with the tip of his finger. I pushed myself into him and came. Throwing my head back, I cheered with the rest of the crowd. Though my screams may have been a bit more passionate.
Chapter Nineteen
Blaise had a hotel room reserved for us so we didn’t have to make the long drive back to Trout Creek. I was a little nervous after that erotic episode in the theater, but he put me at ease by taking me to dinner first. It was just a casual meal in a diner down the street, but the food was good, comforting, and the coffee was strong.
“I want to have a serious conversation with you about us,” Blaise said over dessert. “You and me, and my brothers. I think it may be easier for you to talk about this with us individually.”
“Alright,” I agreed. “We’ve already established that I’m willing to try this. What else do you want to talk about?”
“Sex,” he said blandly.
I gaped at him.
“I want to be with you, and I think you made it very clear tonight that you want me too,” Blaise said in a matter-of-fact manner.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“But I love my brothers, and I won’t go there with you tonight, not without them being here too,” he said.
“You want our first time together to include them?” I blinked at him, a flush going up my cheeks.
“I think it would ease any feelings of jealousy if we were all with you the first time.” He nodded. “And yes, I know we can’t actually all be first. But perhaps we can all be involved in the process.”
“Involved in the process?” I gaped at him. “I’m becoming less comfortable with this. When it was about dating three men, me being with each of you separately, that was something I could handle. But all of you together?” I shook my head. “I don’t know about that.”
“It will happen, Tempest,” Blaise said simply. “If you want to be with all of us, there will come a time when we are all together. It’s just the way of such things.”
“The way of such things.” I rolled my eyes. “Like this is a normal…” I trailed off as I realized that it was normal for him, and he wasn’t too happy about me saying otherwise. “I’m sorry. I know your parents lived like this, but…”
“It was beautiful and romantic, and all of us felt loved,” he smiled. “You’ve taken a few tiny steps towards it. Can’t you try a little harder? Go a little further? I’m not asking for you to do this right now. I’m saying that when you do reach the point where you want to be intimate with us, we should do it together.”
“I need to think about it.”
“Okay.” Blaise held up a conciliatory hand. “Until then, why don’t we check into our hotel?”
“You just said…”
“There are other ways to enjoy each other.” He stood and left some cash on the table for the meal. “Or we could just go to sleep.”
“I’m not tired.” I stood and took his hand.
“Good.” He grinned. “Neither am I.”
Chapter Twenty
I went for Blaise as soon as the door was locked behind us. Our kiss was wild, all roaming hands and savage tongues, but then Blaise pushed me away. He backed up a few steps, breathing hard.
“I can’t.” He started taking deep breaths. “Tempest, if I start touching you, I won’t be able to stop.”
“What happened to enjoying each other?” I frowned.
“I didn’t realize it would be like this.” Blaise closed his eyes and seemed to get himself under control. Then he took my hand. “Come here.” He led me to the bed. “Sit down, and just watch for now.”
Blaise stood back and started to undress. Slowly. One button at a time; slip, slip, slip. His thick fingers popped his shirt apart as he kept his gaze fastened on mine. The planes of his sleek chest were revealed, curving muscles and golden skin. The fabric slid across a dusky nipple, tightening it into a tiny bud. My mouth watered. His hands lifted to the shirt collar, pulling it back, another slide over wide shoulders. Perfect skin, with a freckle here and there. I could smell him suddenly, the rich, earthy scent of a man. Blaise didn’t need cologne. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.
When I opened my eyes, his shirt was on the floor, and his hands were at the waistband of his jeans. He paused and my gaze jerked up to his. A wicked smile, then his fingers undid the button. The sexy sound of a zipper sliding had my legs clenching. Blaise peeled back the fly of his jeans like he was opening a present. His thumbs hooked into the material, and he started to push. Dear God, I was sweating. He wore boxer briefs; snug and black.
Blaise pushed the jeans down, to puddle around his feet. Then slipped his fingers into the waistband of his boxers. An inch. Half an inch. The edge of a golden thatch of hair appeared. Another inch and sleek skin came into view. The outline of his manhood was clear through the fabric. It was pushing against the band, bent at the top, aching for release. Damn, I wanted it freed too. Just a little bit more… Blaise stopped.
“What the hell?” I looked up to find him laughing.
“I’m getting to it.” He smirked.
“Payback’s a bitch,” I vowed. “Just remember that.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Blaise growled.
Then he slipped his hand into his underwear and grabbed hold of himself. I tensed. His other hand went to the boxers, pushing them out of the way while he pulled the sleek length of his manhood out. Pale and perfect, velvety skin blushing at the tip. I nearly fainted. Blaise released his member and pushed his underwear down to his jeans. Then he stepped free of them both. Gloriously nude, he stood before me and rubbed a hand down his chest, straight to that hard length. He took himself in hand and rubbed; once, twice, three times.
“Oh God,” I whimpered.
He started forward, and I reached for him, but he swept to the side.
“Uh-uh.” He chuckled, climbing onto the bed behind me. “Your turn.” He eased back onto the pillows, stretched his legs out, and crossed his arms behind his head.
I stood and enjoyed the picture he made. All those muscles curving and bulging, leading my eye across his chest, down to the light trail of gold around that rock-hard rod. Blaise seemed so casual, but he couldn’t hide his desire, and his gaze was hot enough to burn the clothes right off me.
I kicked off my shoes. He swallowed roughly. I began to lift my dress
, and he sat up, all poise gone. Inch by inch I pulled the hem upwards, till my pale pink panties came into sight. Blaise whimpered. My fingers slipped “accidentally” and dropped the hem.
“Come on!” Blaise cried, and I smirked. “You’re evil, woman, absolutely evil.”
“You love it.” I grinned and began to pull the dress up again.
This time I made it to my bra line before I dropped it. Blaise groaned, begging for mercy. I turned and undid the back zipper slowly, letting the fabric fall down my arms. I looked at him over my shoulder, smiled, then dropped my arms, letting the dress slide off me completely. Blaise gaped at me.
I undid my bra, then crossed my arms over my chest before I turned to face him again. As he whimpered, I let the bra straps fall, then slowly, so slowly, lowered my arms. The bra clung to my nipples and I let it hang there a moment, my eyes on his quivering shaft. His hand went to it, stroking himself, as my bra fell to the ground.
“Fuck, Tempest,” Blaise groaned, “I’m nearly there.”
“So am I, honey,” I drawled as I slipped my fingers into the sides of my panties.
He was at the edge of the bed now. Mere inches separated us. All he’d have to do was lean forward to take my breast in his mouth. But he stayed where he was as I pushed my panties down, and let them fall to the floor. I stepped out of them, and stepped back, to give him the same show he’d given me. Hands sliding over flesh, one dipping between my legs.
“Oh damn me to hell!” Blaise picked me up and laid me on the bed.
He jerked me forward so my legs hung over the edge, then pushed my thighs apart roughly. I looked down my heaving chest at him, his face poised right above my most intimate place. His breath was hot on me, making me shiver, and then he licked his lips.
“Just this,” Blaise whispered. “Just a taste.”
I nodded, beyond words, and he lowered his lips to me.
