by Zara Chase
She swallowed. “But that’s not allowed.”
“No.” Bryce shook his head. “Unfortunately not.”
She looked as though she wanted to say something more. Instead she reapplied her attention to his cock, sucking it into her mouth all the way to the back of her throat. Bryce’s hips moved without his permission, thrusting deeper, heat building within him at a speed he was unable to control.
“That’s it, baby,” Bryce said, his voice a husky whisper. “Take it all. Wrap your sweet lips round it, darlin’. Make me come for you.”
He placed a hand behind her head and pushed it forward. The pressure she was placing on his balls increased just at the right moment, sending a shudder through Bryce’s entire body. He prided himself on his control but knew he’d met his match in Caitlyn. Her tongue swirled as her lips sucked and nipped down the sensitive underside of his cock. It tickled the thick vein pulsing down its upper length as he released him from her mouth and then slowly sucked him deep again. It was the most exquisite torture he’d ever known and he wouldn’t last two minutes if she kept it up. But telling her to stop simply wasn’t an option because the little witch had him at boiling point.
“Shit!”
He thrust into her mouth as his balls pulled tighter and a white-hot explosion of unleashed energy erupted. Caitlyn swallowed as fast as she could, but it felt to Bryce as though he’d never stop coming. Panting and straining he rode the crest of his orgasm, watching the glint of satisfaction in Caitlyn’s eye as she held him at her mercy and drank down his sperm like it was vintage wine.
“Damn,” he said, sliding out of her mouth and pulling her onto his lap. “Has anyone ever told you how good you are at that?”
“Looked good from where I was standing.”
Bryce looked up and saw Jared leaning against the doorjamb, unsmiling, arms folded across his chest. “How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to enjoy the show.”
“Come and join us,” Caitlyn said. “I owe you both, and I always pay my debts.”
“We need to eat,” he said curtly. “We missed lunch. I was thinking about going over to the Whiskers.”
Why was Jared so pissed? “Sure, give me a minute,” Bryce said.
Caitlyn slid from his knee. “I need to tidy up,” she said, casting Jared a curious glance as he removed himself from the doorway and let her pass.
* * * *
Caitlyn made her way to her room, furious at Jared for ruining such a sweet moment. Just because he didn’t want her, that was no reason for her not to have some fun with Bryce. And the way he didn’t even bother to respond to her invitation was downright insulting. Who did he think he was, looking at her with such censure in his eyes? She could do what she damned well liked, and it was no business of anyone else’s, especially not his.
She delved into her bag, looking for her cell phone. She felt guilty for barely having spared poor Mia’s plight a second thought that afternoon. What if she’d called and Caitlyn had missed it? What sort of friend did that make her? The guys said she wouldn’t hear from her for a couple of days, but they couldn’t know that for sure. Damn, where was her phone? It wasn’t in her bag. Then she recalled that she’d left it charging in the kitchen. She went to fetch it, but it wasn’t there. One of the guys must have it.
She returned to the den to ask them but stopped short of the doorway when she heard raised voices coming from inside. She shouldn’t listen to their private argument but heard her name mentioned and had to know what she’d done to cause a rift between them. She stepped closer, careful to keep out of sight.
“You’re delusional, man,” Bryce said. “You couldn’t fight your way out of a paper bag right now, and we both know it. Let me do it.”
“No, that would be admitting weakness.”
“Oh yeah, and falling asleep in the middle of the day isn’t? How long has that been going on, and when were you planning to tell me about it?”
“It was nothing.”
“You know better than that. We’re alphas, for fuck’s sake. We don’t tire, that’s why we’re the ones in charge.”
“You’re making something out of nothing.”
“Caitlyn won’t think the worse of you for admitting you’re too worn down to kill bears for her. She doesn’t want either of us to do it anyway, so she’ll probably be relieved.”
“That’s because she doesn’t understand.”
“She understands more than you think.”
“Just because she gave you a decent blow job.”
“Jealous, lover?”
“It’s not that, but you know it’s dangerous to get involved when you can’t finish what you start. Especially with her.”
“Yeah, I know.” Caitlyn glanced around the door and saw Bryce clutch Jared’s shoulders. “But that’s not what this is about.”
Jared quirked a brow. “Isn’t it?”
“Think of Impulse.” Bryce’s voice softened. “Think of me. I love you. I don’t think…think I could go on without you.”
Jared expelled a long breath. “It won’t come to that. We’ll get through this somehow. We’ve learned a thing or two about taking on stronger opposition in our time. Besides, it’s not up to me. Salter will decide who he wants to fight, you know that.”
“He can’t select you if you’re not there.”
“You think I won’t go and face the fucking bears?” Jared asked. “That would play right into their hands. They’d spread the word that I was too cowardly and that would be the end of any respect I’ve earned.”
“Jared, I don’t care. All I care about is you.”
Caitlyn could feel the tension between them as the two men embraced and then kissed. It was such an intimate moment that she felt like an intruder. She backed away from the door, deciding to leave them to it, but walked into a table and knocked a book to the floor. It fell onto the tiles with a loud thud, causing both men to look her way.
“What are you doing there?” Jared asked.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I’m looking for my cell phone. Have you seen it?”
“What, this?” He produced her phone from the pocket of his jeans.
“Thanks.” She reached for it. “I thought Mia might have called.”
“She hasn’t.”
“Well, I’d like my phone back, please.”
“Why?” Jared quirked a brow. “So you can run off the moment she calls?”
How the hell did he know that was precisely what she intended to do? She opened her mouth to defend herself and then closed it again. It was none of his damned business.
“My phone,” she said again.
“I’ll hang on to it for now,” Jared replied.
“You can’t! You have no right.”
They faced one another like prize fighters, Caitlyn with her hands on her hips, Jared looking mildly amused. Tension sizzled between them like an electric current, and Jared’s amusement turned into something else. She thought she saw passion in his eyes, but before she could be sure, Bryce came between them.
“Children, children!” he said. “Let’s go and get something to eat. We can talk about this later.”
Chapter Nine
Caitlyn walked across to the Cat’s Whiskers a short time later, flanked by Jared and Bryce. No one spoke, and the tension was palpable. Marvin invited himself along, winding in and out of their legs, almost tripping them up. As soon as they reached the bar, Marvin dashed ahead, jumped onto the counter and mewed at the guy serving.
“I think he’d like a saucer of cream, Brad,” said an amused female voice.
Caitlyn glanced across the crowded bar and noticed Chantal and another lady sitting together. A young guy had grabbed Jared’s attention as soon as they arrived. Bryce got her a glass of wine and then excused himself.
“I think Rafe needs a word,” he said, nodding to acknowledge the colony’s leader’s gesticulation from the other side of the bar. “Will you be okay with Chantal for a moment
?”
“Sure, go ahead. I don’t need babysitting.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Take all the time you need.”
Chantal smiled when Caitlyn reached her table. “Hey, looks like you’ve been deserted, too. Come and join us. Have you met Layla? She’s Mikael and Philo’s mate.”
The ladies shook hands and Caitlyn sat herself down. “Nice meeting you, Layla.”
“You too. Welcome to the madhouse.”
“How’s it going?” Chantal asked.
“They’re totally impossible,” Caitlyn replied. “Especially Jared.”
Chantal and Layla shared a knowing smile. “Ah, so you’re getting the alpha treatment already.”
“Jared’s confiscated my cell phone, if that’s what you mean. He thinks I’ll do a runner once Mia calls.”
“Is that what you intended?” Layla asked.
“Well—” Caitlyn managed a tiny smile. “I absolutely don’t want anyone getting killed because of me, and that’s what’ll happen if I stay. I just know it.”
“What you have to understand,” Layla said, “is that alphas are extremely proud. Jared knows that Salter is targeting him, and if it looks as though he’s avoiding the confrontation he’ll never be able to hold his head up in shifter society again.”
Caitlyn made a scoffing sound at the back of her throat. “That’s just plain dumb.”
“It seems that way to us,” Layla said, “but then we don’t have penises.”
Chantal nodded. “I thought they were being stupid, too, when I first came here. Rafe was in a similar situation, only he had to face a lion. I tried to run to save him getting killed, but he couldn’t back down and came after me, which made matters ten times worse for him in the end. He almost died because of me.”
“But Jared is so weak he fell asleep this afternoon. I didn’t think anything of it. I mean, people fall asleep during the day all the time. Especially, I would imagine, if they spend half the night doing…well, doing whatever it is these guys do at night. I’m still trying to get my head around all that.”
“I didn’t realize it had gotten that bad,” Chantal said quietly.
“What do you mean?”
“Shifters don’t sleep during the day,” Layla said authoritatively. “They sleep in late in the morning, and that’s it. They have way more energy than us mere mortals.”
“Oh, that would explain why Bryce was so worried when he found Jared asleep this afternoon. He tried to hide it from me, but I could tell.” Caitlyn took a sip of her wine and grimaced. “So he doesn’t stand a chance against this Salter guy. I still don’t understand why it has to be him that fights, or why anyone should, come to that.”
“Men fight,” Chantal said with a wry smile. “It’s what they do. The rogue bears won’t take on Impulse shifters en masse. The air here gives our guys the edge, and everyone knows that. So, when a combat situation arises, the challenger names the person he wants to have face him. Everyone respects that decision and doesn’t intervene. Rafe fought the lion for the future of Impulse. So, too, did Vadim, only his opponent was a wolf.”
Caitlyn gasped. “What, the whole colony, everything you do here, risked on the outcome of one fight? That’s madness!”
“Tell us about it,” Layla said, rolling her eyes. “That’s why we live in a near-siege situation, always ready to clear out at a moment’s notice.”
“Then Impulse is doomed,” Caitlyn said flatly. “Salter’s bound to select Jared as his opponent, and Jared doesn’t stand a chance.”
“This fight won’t be for occupation of Impulse, but purely for the release of your friend Mia,” Chantal said.
Caitlyn shook her head. “You’ve lost me.”
“By killing Tony and kidnapping an innocent girl, Salter’s made himself a renegade even amongst rogue shifters. By overstepping the mark he’s forfeited the right to challenge anyone for Impulse, and very few rogues will support him.”
“Then why has he bothered?”
“You tell me.” Chantal shrugged. “To prove a point? To win a fight against an Impulse alpha? To gain the respect of other rogue shifters and get them to join forces with him? That’s Rafe’s main concern. At the moment our enemies are too busy fighting one another to organize themselves against us, but if the day ever comes when they wise up, we’ll be in serious trouble.”
“You’re in trouble anyway if Jared goes ahead with this madness,” Caitlyn said glumly, propping her elbows on the table and dropping her chin onto her clenched fists.
“You care about them?” Layla asked softly.
“They saved my life. Of course I care.”
Chantal and Layla exchanged a protracted look. It was as though there was something important they wanted to say but couldn’t decide whether or not to do so.
“What is it?” Caitlyn asked. “Tell me.”
“Rafe would tan my backside if he knew I was saying this.”
Layla laughed. “He will anyway. That’s what they enjoy doing the most.”
Caitlyn hoisted a brow, pretty sure they weren’t joking. “They do?”
“Not in my current condition, unfortunately.” Chantal shrugged and returned her attention to Caitlyn. “You know what Jared needs in order to restore his powers?”
“Yes, and I’d do it in a heartbeat, but he’s not interested.”
“Bullshit!” Chantal and Layla said together.
“His eyes haven’t left you since you walked in,” Chantal added alone.
“He’s been talking to that young guy all the time. He doesn’t even know where I’m sitting.”
“Yeah he does. He’s been keeping an eye on you.”
Caitlyn looked his way, convinced the ladies had gotten it wrong. Her gaze clashed with the elusive warmth of Jared’s. His lips turned up briefly at the corners before looking away again.
“Oh,” she said, unsure what to make of it. “He’s been shitty to me ever since he woke up and found Bryce and me…well, never mind what he found us doing.”
“Darlin’, he’s mad about you,” Chantal said emphatically.
“Well, he’s got a funny way of showing it.”
“It’s another aspect of their pride,” Layla explained.
“Or stubbornness,” Chantal added. “These guys could teach a mule a thing or two about being stubborn.”
Layla nodded. “That’s certainly true. Anyway, I’m a journalist and got wind of what Mikael was doing here to help sick kids. My little girl, that’s her,” she said, pointing to a child dressed from head to toe in sparkly pink, riding on the shoulders of a handsome man with white-blond hair. The pair of them were laughing like crazy. “And that’s Philo, acting as her pony. He’s Mikael’s partner and my other mate.”
Caitlyn blinked. “Do all the ladies here get to have two gorgeous men each?”
“Only the lucky ones,” Layla replied, laughing. “All the alphas have one human mate between two. It’s harder for alphas to find the right person than it is for other shifters because of the extra responsibilities they bear. They absolutely can’t afford to get it wrong, which is why they play with each other until their mate comes along. By the time she does, they’re too into each other to quit.”
Caitlyn’s expression probably reflected her astonishment. “So the guys still fuck each other as well as you?”
“Oh yeah!” Chantal and Layla said together, sharing another secretive smile.
“And, let me tell you,” Chantal added alone. “It’s one hell of a turn-on, watching what they do to each other.”
Layla nodded her agreement. “Anyway, as I was saying, I came here looking for a cure for Amy. She only had months to live, and as you can imagine, I was desperate. Mikael almost killed himself, using the last of his power to help Amy.”
“It obviously worked,” Caitlyn said, smiling at the child’s antics. “She seems like a perfectly normal, healthy kid.”
“She is, thank goodness.”
Layla waved to her
daughter as she and Philo loped past them. She noticed Philo send Layla an elongated glance that simply reeked of adoration. Caitlyn felt empty inside as she noticed it. She would give ten years of her life to have a man she loved look at her that way.
She’d give twenty years if it was Jared.
“What I didn’t know, because they didn’t want to pressure me by telling me,” Layla continued, “is that if I’d slept with Mikael before he cured Amy, he wouldn’t have almost lost his life in an attempt to make her well.”
“Why would that have been a pressure?”
“Life in Impulse isn’t for everyone,” Chantal said. “I knew the moment I laid eyes on Rafe and Vilas that they were the ones for me. It was a lightbulb moment, as though I’d found something I’d been looking for my entire life. That a missing part of me had clicked into place. And that’s how it’s turned out. I have no regrets about my decision. As far as I’m concerned, the benefits more than outweigh the drawbacks.”
“I can see the way your guys look at you both,” Caitlyn said, trying to keep the envy out of her voice. “It’s like they’re always protecting you, even when they’re not actually with you.”
“Yeah, it is,” Layla said. “That’s exactly how it is. I’ve always been well able to take care of myself, but I’ve got to tell you, there’s nothing wrong with having two hunks worshiping the ground you walk on.”
“It must do wonders for your self-confidence.”
“Oh, it does,” Chantal replied. “Nicole, whom you haven’t met yet, recently mated with our alpha pumas. She agreed to be their mate, but they kept her waiting for over a week before they sealed the deal. It would have been even longer, but in the end she got fed up with waiting and took matters into her own hands.”
“Is that what you’re suggesting I should do?”
Chantal leaned forward. “Only if you’re absolutely sure that you love them both and are prepared to give up everything in your previous life to live in Impulse.”
