Learning Curve

by Jools Louise

  He began to cry, great racking sobs.

  “Call the sheriff,” John murmured to Slade. “He needs to see this.”

  Oliver held onto Ronan, crying, as well. “I’m glad you got Crash,” he said, sniffing. “He would never have stopped. This is brutal, and I feel sick that anyone would be put through this. I’m glad you did this, though. What he did to Mystery and Chill needed to be had to have consequences. He was evil, and he liked causing so much pain, for kicks. Thank you.” He stroked Ronan’s hair. “Don’t keep blaming yourself. Those two bastards, Ghost and Morag, spent years fooling people that they were decent. You weren’t the fool for being a good guy.”

  They heard footsteps on the stairs, seconds after Slade made the call to the sheriff, and turned to see Mazy, staring sadly at Ronan.

  “I’m sorry, Ronan. Sorry you had to put yourself through this. Why don’t we go and have a cup of tea, hmmm? While we wait for the sheriff. Then these guys can check on the others.”

  “I didn’t hurt anyone else,” Ronan said somberly, getting to his feet slowly. He followed Mazy back downstairs, moving slowly, awkwardly, as though every move hurt him.

  “We’ll sit with him,” Oliver said and followed the pair, Shark close behind him.

  When they’d disappeared, Slade looked at John. “Now what?”

  John’s green eyes turned feral. “I saw what the bastard did to Mystery and Chill. I heard what he did to Oliver and Shark and a bunch of others. I think it’s time to put Crash out of the loop forever, don’t you?”

  Slade nodded, understanding perfectly. “An execution.”

  “Let me do it.” A soft voice spoke, and they jumped, startled to see the young wolverine Mystery standing there. His arm was in a sling, his leg in a cast. He gritted his teeth as he hobbled closer, obviously in pain. “I’m the one who asked Ronan to make him suffer. I persuaded Ronan to make Crash pay for all the years of pain he’s caused, to so many people.” His eyes were dark with pain and the shadows of a childhood spent under the control of a madman.

  John eyed him, and Slade saw the decision in the man’s gaze, the compassion mixed with a hardness of purpose. He watched as John took a pistol from his waistband and narrowed his gaze, listening as John gave Mystery instructions how to shoot.

  Slade opened the door to the bedroom and stepped inside, wincing as he viewed the state of Crash’s body. He had to fight back his nausea, firming his resolve. This was justice. For everyone. Oliver and Shark had been terrorized, too. It ended here.

  “Fucking bastard,” Mystery said viciously, moving to stand beside Slade, with John guarding the doorway. He lifted the pistol and fired until the gun was empty, his eyes hard as diamonds, glittering with rage. Then he turned and hobbled out again. John lifted him gently and carried him out.

  Slade stared at the scene in front of him and shuddered. Mystery had gotten justice at last, but Slade hoped it hadn’t done more damage to the wolverine. He’d seen shifters go feral after taking too much abuse. Their animals took over, and their human side faded into the background. Hopefully, now that justice had been served, Mystery would find peace at last.

  At least Shark and Oliver would be able to relax, now. Crash was no longer a threat.

  He left the room, heading to check on the others with John, leaving the ruin that was Crash, and thought about what the future might hold now that Shark and Oliver were free of their terrifying shackles.

  Chapter Eight

  Slade heard a whisper of sound, a door opening and a muffled giggle, and then the feel of someone crawling, naked, onto the couch beside his prone form.

  “Hi, tiger,” he drawled, smiling as he heard another giggle, the feel of skin against bare skin sending his libido into overdrive.

  “Hi,” Oliver said, snuggling closer.

  Slade curled onto his side, kissing Oliver’s soft cheek as they spooned together, Oliver’s back against Slade’s chest.

  “Dammit, you beat me,” Shark protested, laughing softly as he came to stand in front of the couch. “You said it was our turn to make a move. This is it,” he chuckled, his cock jutting proudly. “We decided to celebrate.”

  Slade reached for him, tugging on his hand until Shark tumbled, then sprawled, as naked as Oliver, along Slade’s big body. He felt Shark’s soft kiss on his shoulder and closed his eyes as the gentle touch darted through him, energizing him instantly.

  “We’d be more comfortable in bed,” Oliver said, turning in Slade’s arms. He lifted his face up for a kiss, and Slade obliged eagerly, fusing his lips to Oliver’s, drinking the younger man’s nectar. He heard Shark moan above him and turned his head, taking turns with the two shifters, kissing them passionately, groaning as they responded fervently to his touch. They shared a sexy three-way smooch, getting hot and bothered as their passion ignited.

  “Lift up, baby,” Slade said hoarsely. “Give me your cock, Oliver. I need your taste in my mouth.”

  Oliver whined, shuddering, and moved as Slade rolled onto his back. Straddling Slade’s chest, he positioned himself close to Slade’s avid mouth, his cock thick and needy. Slade groaned as he felt Shark’s fingers on his cock, jacking him off skillfully. Then moist lips surrounded his dick, and he jerked impulsively, as though tasered.

  “God, yes,” he growled. “Suck my dick, baby.”

  Shark did as requested, humming with pleasure as he bobbed up and down, sucking greedily. Oliver slid his cock between Slade’s lips, balancing on the arm of the couch and then fucking Slade’s mouth with short, shallow strokes, panting breathlessly.

  “That’s it, sweetheart,” Slade murmured approvingly, his voice muffled. “Let me taste you.”

  Oliver groaned when Slade took control, gripping Oliver’s slender hips, rocking him back and forth as he slurped and sucked. Slade brushed against Oliver’s tiny hole with his thumb, probing gently as Oliver whimpered with delight.

  “So fucking tight,” Slade grunted, sinking one thick finger an inch deep into Oliver’s chute, feeling the subtle clench of the man’s anus as it adjusted to the intrusion. Then he yelped as cool gel was applied to his cock, and heard a deep groan, as searing heat began to envelop his dick a moment later. Shark was seating himself on Slade’s cock, plunging down slowly until Slade was fully sheathed inside his hungry ass.

  “Oh God,” Shark choked out. “It’s been so long since I bottomed. This is incredible.” Slade arched his back, eyes closing with bliss as Shark began to move up and down, fucking himself slowly, increasing the pace gradually.

  “I’m gonna come,” Oliver cried, and spurted, lashing Slade’s throat with warm seed, jerking helplessly as he came.

  “There you go, darlin’,” Slade muttered, licking his lips as Oliver eased out of Slade’s mouth and then slumped forward, kissing Slade hungrily. Slade slid his finger deeper, fucking in and out of Oliver’s ass slowly, and then added a second digit, preparing Oliver gently.

  “Am I hurting you?” he asked, gasping when Shark moved faster, bouncing now, using Slade’s dick as his own personal fuck toy.

  “No, that feels fantastic,” Oliver whimpered, shoving his hips against Slade’s fingers, driving them deeper.

  Slade cupped the back of his head, dragging him closer, kissing him tenderly, knowing he was in love with both shifters. They’d spent weeks playing tag, and they’d proven to be brave, loving, and cute as anything. Slade couldn’t have wished for better partners. He was glad he hadn’t pushed them. They would never have trusted him as they did now.

  He felt Oliver moan and heard a slurping sound, figuring Shark was taking advantage of Oliver’s upended-ass position, even as he pleasured himself. It sounded as though Shark was eating Oliver out. Driving upward, he shoved up into Shark, nearly unseating him, and heard a surprised giggle.

  “Ride ’em cowboy,” he chuckled against Oliver’s sweet lips. Shark giggle again, doing just that as Slade jerked his hips, like a bucking bronco, as Shark clung to him.

  “You’re crazy,” Shark pro
tested, clutching at Slade’s thick thighs for support.

  “Crazy about you,” Slade replied, just before his balls clenched tightly, then erupted, jetting thick ropes of cum deep inside Shark’s hungry ass. Shark let out a wail and painted Oliver and Slade with his own ejaculation, coming hard. Oliver, jerking erratically came again, his seed splashing Slade’s chest, undone by his lovers’ pleasure, as Slade’s finger fucked his ass.

  The wolverines collapsed against Slade, snuggling close. Shark moved up Slade’s big body, unlatching himself from Slade’s sated cock, and kissed him fervently. “Hmmm, that was fun—can we go at it again soon?” he teased.

  Slade laughed, stroking the man’s gorgeous ass and then sank a finger inside the slick, cum-filled hole. “Anytime, anywhere,” he agreed. They both laughed and then exchanged a kiss that had Slade heating up again.

  Slade grabbed both mates and lunged to his feet, carrying them through to the bedroom. They shrieked as he dumped them both on the bed, then followed them down, crawling up the bed and taking turns to suck both their cocks as they lay before him, a banquet of sexiness.

  “Oh God, that’s so good,” Shark wailed, clutching at Oliver as they shared a heavy-duty smooch, writhing under Slade’s avid mouth.

  Slade flipped him, lapping at his hole, still oozing cum, until Shark was a whimpering mess, begging to be fucked again. Slade tongue fucked him for a while and then turned to Oliver, gently easing the slim shifter’s legs up, so his knees were near his chin, then sinking two fingers into his loosened hole again.

  “Let me know if I hurt you,” he murmured, watching carefully in case he went too far. Oliver moaned, clutching at the sheets.

  “Make love to me,” Oliver whimpered. “Please.”

  Slade slid to his knees, positioning himself between Oliver’s slender thighs and then sank forward, spearing Oliver with his big cock, groaning as the damp heat engulfed him. Oliver was tight and warm, as Shark had been, and Slade knew he’d found heaven.

  “That’s so fucking sexy,” Shark murmured, kissing Oliver tenderly. “I love watching you come apart, baby.”

  Oliver whined, his back arching, splayed out wantonly for their pleasure.

  “Take his cock, darlin’” Slade urged Oliver, dragging Shark closer for a kiss as Shark knelt and then fed Oliver his dick.

  “Hmmm,” Oliver moaned, stuffed both ends, fully impaled by his lovers as they shared another kiss.

  Slade moved gently, sinking in and out of Oliver’s warm sheath, making love to him. This was no quick fuck. These were his mates. He gathered Shark closer, moist lips eating his lover up, their tongues mating as they played tongue tag. The dance was languid, tender, no hurry to their movements as the initial urgency had dissipated. Now it was time to enjoy each other, exploring one another’s every bump and crevice. Slade tweaked Oliver’s tiny nipples, stroking his hand over the man’s taut, cum-smeared abs. Releasing Shark’s mouth, he sucked at Oliver’s toes and smiled when Shark took the man’s other foot. Oliver undulated beneath them, undone by the dual assault, shivering with bliss as they played. He shuddered, quaking under their sensuous advances.

  “You’re gorgeous baby,” Slade said gruffly, seeing the tortured pleasure on Oliver’s face. He turned his head, saw the erotic hunger on Shark’s visage, and kissed him again, sharing Oliver’s toes between kisses.

  Moving gracefully, unhurriedly, Slade built up to his next orgasm, wanting his mates to reach their peak first. He saw Shark lose it, saw the man’s brown eyes widen, then he jerked, spewing warm cum into Oliver’s greedy mouth. Oliver was next, fisting his cock as Slade thrust into his ass, milking Slade as he came, until Slade erupted again. Lunging forward, he sank his fangs into Oliver’s neck, claiming him. Then, before they’d finished, he did the same to Shark, feeling the bond between them strengthen. A moment later, both wolverines claimed him, biting deep into his neck on either side, until the bond was complete.

  Slade shuddered, holding them close as his eyelids drooped. After the events of the day, he hadn’t expected his mates to even look at him, let alone claim him. Now they were mated, and he’d never been happier.

  He snuggled against them, hearing their breathing deepen as they slept, and then followed them into slumber, completely sated.

  * * * *

  Shark’s ass ached like hell, a good kind of pain, evidence of a night of fun and frolics with his two mates. He grinned as he slid quietly out of bed, rubbing his sore butt ruefully. He couldn’t help the dart of glee as he observed Oliver and Slade, cuddling together among the rumpled sheets. His grin widened. They’d had to remake the bed twice after all the activity on it.

  Yawning, he headed for the shower, needing to pee and get clean again. His smile drooped a little as he recalled the day before and the horrific events. Crash was finally dead.

  “Hey,” Slade said softly, kissing his neck. Shark drooled as he flipped on the shower, watching his lover relieve himself, then stretch, giving Shark a beautiful display of power as Slade’s muscles rippled and tensed, dancing under his skin. “Care to share?” Slade asked, waggling his dark brows, and Shark smiled at him, crooking his finger invitingly.

  “Hmmm,” Slade said as he joined Shark, planting a hard kiss on his mate. “You look gorgeously fucked.” They both laughed, kissing hungrily as they embraced under the warm water sluicing down. “I just got a call from Ryder,” he said. “Fly was rescued yesterday, while we were dealing with Crash and Ronan. With all the kerfuffle, John forgot to tell us when we realized where Crash was being held. Fly was taken to the clinic, and he’s under observation, next to Noah.”

  Shark eased back, staring into Slade’s azure gaze. “Is he okay?” he asked, annoyed with himself that he hadn’t thought to ask about poor Fly. They had visited Noah, but he’d been recovering from surgery, after having three slugs removed from his chest. Despite his shifter healing powers, he was still critical. Perhaps with Fly back home, it would give Noah the incentive to get better.

  “He’s fine,” Slade replied, grabbing a washcloth and the shower gel, then washing Shark all over. “He’s a little shaky, though. Ghost and Morag were both killed. Apparently they were going to have him participate in their fight rings. His first opponent was going to be a lion shifter. They’re trying to track down who else was involved. There’s a suggestion that the organization is closer than we think.”

  Shark considered what that meant. “I’m glad they’re dead. Ghost has done enough to people in this town, and Morag was a bitch. Then this really is over?” he asked hopefully.

  Slade shrugged as he turned Shark and then thoroughly cleaned his backside. “Meredith killed her own sister,” he said grimly. “Ghost had a close encounter with two extremely pissed-off lions, David and Evan. He didn’t recover. I heard the mini critters had something to do with finding Fly, though, and they apparently have some new and improved skills that is giving John palpitations when he heard.”

  Shark smiled at that and then shuddered, spreading his legs as his lover paid particular attention to his anus and genitals. “Those kids are a blast,” he laughed, and then groaned, his mind splintering, the cleansing ritual turning more sensual.

  Slade ducked his head, mouthing Shark’s balls, and then swallowed his dick in one gulp. Shark yelped, arching his back, pumping his hips as he fucked Slade’s face.

  “You started without me,” Oliver complained as he entered the bathroom, yawning and scratching his head. He kept one eye on the sex show as he peed, then washed his hands before joining the duo in the stall.

  “Hey, babe,” Shark said, kissing his lover, panting a little as he plowed Slade’s mouth.

  “Hmmm, that’s hot,” Oliver said approvingly, kneeling behind Shark, then shoving two fingers inside his hole.

  Shark jerked and then moaned deeply, his ass already loosened from the night’s sex fest. He felt a warm tongue lashing his chute, stabbing in and out ruthlessly, in time to Slade’s thrusts. Shark gave himself over to his lovers, fu
cking himself back and forth, until he gave a low, guttural grunt and spurted. Oliver smacked his ass, shoving him to his hands and knees, then shoved his thick dick into Shark’s hole and began fucking him hard. Shark gasped out his pleasure, bracing on Slade’s strong thighs, his nails biting into Slade’s muscular flesh as Oliver went to town, thrusting steadily.

  “Fuck, suck my dick, baby,” Slade cried, kneeling and presenting his hard dick. Shark moaned, taking the engorged tip into his mouth, then sucking desperately as he was impaled at both ends.

  Over his head, Slade and Oliver shared a sexy kiss and then began to fuck harder, until Shark was bouncing between the two of them. Slade held Shark’s head, gripping his hair tightly as he set up a steady rhythm, driving to the back of Shark’s throat with each stroke. Oliver shunted back and forth, slamming into Shark until Shark gave a low, desperate cry, and spurted all over the stall. Slade grunted, gifting Shark with his seed, which Shark drank down greedily, then felt Oliver’s hot cream warming his insides, filling his hole to the rear.

  “Oh, God, you feel amazing,” Oliver whimpered, still spurting, and then latched onto Shark’s neck with his sharp fangs, claiming his lover again.

  Slade did the same, leaning down with his cock still embedded in Shark’s mouth, and added his mark to the others from the previous night. Shark cried out again, his cock letting out a second, surprising load of cum, before he collapsed at their feet, shuddering violently as the cooling shower rained down.

  “Morning,” Oliver giggled, kissing his cheek, then eased out of Shark’s ass, smacking him gently. Shark eyed his lover, thinking that Oliver was definitely coming out of his shell in the sex department. He’d never topped before. Shark wasn’t complaining, though. He loved the new, confident version of the small shifter.

  Shark grinned, grabbing Oliver and kissing him hard, then began tickling his mate ruthlessly. Squealing, Oliver tried to escape, only for Slade to join in, until all three were laughing hysterically.