by Alicia White
“I’m going to the kitchen to heat up some soup for Katie. Ryan, why don’t you stay in here, just in case she needs anything. Lucas and Ethan can help me.” He walked out of the room, trying to figure out what their next step should be. He didn’t want to come on too strong. He wasn’t sure if Katie could really deal with four men. She was such a small thing, and she looked so fragile. How was this going to work? He felt confused. How could she be a mate to them all, and could she even handle them? He’d been waiting so long, and now she was here. They needed a plan, a real plan.
Chapter 3
Katie stepped into the tub, and the warmth shot through her body instantly. She moaned loudly as she moved to sink herself deep into the water. She leaned her head back against a towel that was lying on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes. She floated in the water, thinking about Nathan, Ryan, Lucas, and Ethan. She tried to think of other things, anything but them, but her mind kept returning to the same picture. She kept replaying the same images in her head.
She stood in front of four perfectly dressed, hugely muscled, and extremely gorgeous men. They all stared at her, eyeing her, judging her, and she couldn’t stop shaking. Her throat was dry, and she tried swallowing the lump that made it hard to breathe. She was shaking uncontrollably, and she felt scared but also excited. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, and she looked down, realizing she was naked.
They weren’t talking, and that’s what scared her the most. Nathan sat on the far left of her. He was the biggest, and he was the leader of this group. The brothers all looked very similar with deep blue eyes and large, broad shoulders. They stared at her, moving their eyes up and down her body, but none of them said anything. She wanted to speak, but something prevented her from doing so. Maybe it was their eyes, smoldering, growing deeper, and the pupils expanding.
She felt like their prey, as if they were assessing her to see if she was good enough for them. Did she even want to be with them? It was all of them or none of them, but the choice didn’t really seem to belong to her. They were in charge. They would decide what to do with her. She felt sexy. In a weird way, she knew they wanted her, craved her, would do anything to possess her.
She stood up straighter, fixing her posture. She would show them just how sexy she could be. She wanted them to remove their suits, to touch her, to lay her naked body out on the table and pleasure her. Katie moved then. She walked toward the table that stood in her way, blocking her path. She climbed onto the table and crawled toward them. Their eyes never left her, not once, and she started feeling powerful, a hidden vixen rising to the surface. She moved until she was within reaching distance and lay down on her back, opening her legs, exposing her sex to the four of them.
They didn’t move, like she hoped. They didn’t automatically reach for her. They sat, staring, licking their lips. She was wet and achy, needing to be filled, needing the release that was boiling so close to the surface. She moved her hands down her body, stopping to pinch and tweak her nipples. She moaned and shifted, moving her hips in invitation, wanting one of them to do something, to at least touch her, but again they didn’t move, just shifted in their seats. She pushed her hand down until her fingers reached her pussy. If they weren’t going to do anything, then she would. Using her left hand, she spread her nether lips apart, giving them a perfect view of her wet pussy. With her right hand, she moved her fingers, touching her clit first, rubbing in slow circles.
Finally, she got what she wanted, male groans and growls. They were affected. The sounds they made pushed her on, made her want to come, made her want to really give them a show. She pushed two fingers into her pussy, but it wasn’t enough. She needed more, she needed one of her men to do something. She focused on them, on their faces, as she pumped her fingers. She pictured them taking her together, pictured Nathan fucking her pussy, Ryan pushing into her ass, sucking on Ethan’s cock, and using her hands to pleasure Lucas. It made her hot, and her juices leaked out, soaking her hand.
Katie moved her left hand to her clit. She was getting close. She moved her hips, fucking her hand as she played with her clit, flashes of the different men popping in her mind, thinking of all the ways she could give and receive pleasure. She threw her hand back and screamed as she came, yelling their names and begging for more.
The bathroom door flew open, slamming into the wall, jolting Katie. She screeched, threw her eyes open, and stared at Ryan. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she looked around, wondering what had made him run into the bathroom the way he did.
He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I heard you yell my name.” He cocked his head to the side. “Did you masturbate?” She looked down and realized that she had, and she actually came. Holy cow, that had never happened before. “I don’t mean to embarrass you. Shit, I’m sorry, Katie.” Ryan backed out of the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
Katie got her breathing under control before grabbing the towel and standing up. Her legs felt a little shaky as she dried herself off. She wrapped the towel around her body and stepped out of the tub. She looked at herself in the mirror as she got dressed in the clothes Ryan had put there for her. The sweats and shirt were huge and hung loosely on her body. She rolled the pants a few times so they didn’t fall off her waist.
When she walked out of the bathroom, all four of the men were in the room waiting for her.
“Did you masturbate in there?” Lucas asked, throwing her a sideways grin. She looked around at the other men in the room, all of them with matching curious looks. It had only been a dream after the long day she had. She was tired. It wasn’t that big of a deal.
“Shut up.” She whispered the words fiercely as she walked past him toward the chairs by the fire. Nathan was waiting for her, holding a tray of food. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her she hadn’t eaten most of the day.
“Baby, if you need some cock, just ask.” His words stopped her, and she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and plastered a fake smile on her face. His words went through her mind again, all or nothing.
“Nathan, Lucas said something earlier, and I just wanted to clarify. I want to make sure I understand.”
“I’d be happy to answer any questions you have, baby.” Nathan sent a look to Lucas, and she knew it was to shut him up. He helped her into the chair and put the tray on her lap. The tomato soup looked heavenly, and her mouth watered.
“Yum, this looks fantastic. Thank you.” She leaned toward him and brushed her lips against his cheek. She really did like him. He was turning out to be such a sweet man.
“You’re welcome.” He smiled back at her and moved back to the seat across from her.
“Lucas told me that the four of you work together, and that if I wanted to move forward with you, Ryan, or Ethan”—she turned and made a face at Lucas, excluding him on purpose—“I’d also be stuck with him. Is that true? Is it really all or nothing?” She made her best sad face at him, hoping that she could get Nathan. Her body was on fire.
“Oh, Jesus, cut that boo-face crap. You aren’t fooling anyone, princess.” Lucas moved to the sitting area by the fire and sat down on the couch. He looked annoyed, as if he had any right to.
“Why are you so upset with me? Nobody said you had to sit here. Why don’t you go play with your little friend from earlier and leave me alone?”
“You think I want to be here? Do you think I want you for a mate? I’m stuck.” His words were harsh, and they affected her more than she wanted them to. They sliced her heart open, and she had a hard time breathing. “Oh, shit, I’m sorry, Katie. I didn’t mean that.” He watched her closely, pain evident on his face. She couldn’t understand why she was so affected by him, and she needed some space and time alone.
“I want you to leave. All of you, please. I want to be alone.” She stared at the fire. She could hear them talking to her, but she seemed to zone out, lost in thought. Her emotions were a huge, confusing mess, and she couldn’t seem to follow her body’s r
esponse either. She felt broken. Nothing connected. Her body, mind, and heart were all pulling her in different directions, and she couldn’t understand it.
She hadn’t been at their house a whole day yet, and she felt them. It was weird. She took a few more bites of her soup and laid the tray on the ground. She walked in a daze to the bedroom door and moved the lock into place, blocking them from entering. The bed looked inviting, and she moved to climb in, covering herself completely, closing her eyes. She just needed some sleep. Tomorrow everything would be clearer.
* * * *
Things had gone from bad to worse in such a short amount of time. Ryan filed out of Katie’s room and headed toward the living room. It seemed that Nathan, Ethan, and Lucas’s little trip to the kitchen earlier hadn’t been very productive. They were supposed to be on the same page. They were supposed to be trying to make Katie feel comfortable. She was in a new place, surrounded by four men. Any woman would feel wary, but she belonged to them. The only woman in the world who mattered, and they were all messing things up. He should’ve taken her to Adam and Brandon, and then he could’ve gone on a few dates, taken things slow before introducing her to his idiot brothers.
He was pacing, fists clenched, angry with himself and at Lucas for not being able to keep his big mouth closed. Nathan took on the role right away, gaining her trust and becoming her favorite quickly. Ethan kept his mouth shut, unsure of what to say, nervous energy surrounded him, but Lucas was another story. He was angry, and it made no sense.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He moved quickly when Lucas walked into the living room, grabbing and pushing him against the wall. He kept his voice low, not wanting to upset Katie more than she already was, not wanting her to hear what Lucas had to say. The pain she felt only a few minutes ago had his stomach in tight knots. “Is she your mate? Do you feel the pull? Is it just me and Nathan?” He needed answers. If she wasn’t a mate to Lucas and Ethan, then they could move out and he could move forward with Nathan.
“I don’t want a mate,” Lucas said behind clenched teeth. His answer seemed to surprise everyone. They had been looking and waiting for a mate for longer than he could remember. She was the one person who could hold their hearts, who could have their children and complete the bond. Most brothers mated with the same woman, but every once in a while, it didn’t work that way. That was the case with his uncles and fathers. He stepped back, realizing that maybe that was the case with Lucas and Ethan. They were twins. Maybe they were meant for another woman.
“That didn’t answer my question. Is she your mate or not?” He looked over at Nathan, wondering if he was thinking the same thing. Did Katie only belong to the two of them? Lucas stayed quiet, so he turned to Ethan. “Well?”
“Yeah, she is.” Ethan’s voice was quiet, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to claim her or not.
“Okay, Lucas? I’m going to assume she’s your mate as well and that you’re an ass. You’re treating her horribly. If you don’t want Katie to be your mate, then you need to leave. Every time we make a little progress, you ruin it by opening your mouth. Do you want her or not? Make a decision and follow through. I’m finished with this shit.” Ryan stalked out of the living room and headed toward his bedroom. His room was to the left of Katie’s.
He changed his clothes quickly, pulling on a pair of sweats before getting in bed. He sent a silent little prayer that tomorrow would go easier and that Katie would let them have a fresh start. He closed his eyes, thinking about her beautiful little pixy face and her expressive eyes. She was everything he had wished for, and he wanted her to choose to stay with them.
Ryan could hear doors farther down the hall closing and knew that everyone was going to bed. He hoped Nathan told them off, hoped that maybe Lucas and Ethan would make the decision to either stay or leave without hurting Katie any longer. His bedroom door opened, and he turned over, ready to face his brothers.
He sat up when he realized that it was Katie. Her scent hit him before his eyes adjusted. There were subtle hints of pain that still lingered with an underlying scent of arousal. He stopped himself before he groaned, not wanting to scare her off.
“Hey, baby. Are you okay? Is there anything I can get you?” He gave her a reassuring smile.
“Umm, I’m a little cold. I was hoping that maybe you’d consider holding me for a little bit.”
“Did you know this was my room? Or were you expecting someone else?” He tried to keep the hurt out of his tone. However, he knew she couldn’t have known which room was his.
“I heard you talking to yourself when you came upstairs. My bed is on the other side of the wall. I knew I was coming to see you.” His heart swelled at her words. He felt an unbelievable tenderness he had never known. He knew then that she had the ability to break his heart, to break him.
“Climb on in. I’d love to warm you up.” He scooted his body back, giving her room to climb into his bed. He pulled the covers over them both and opened his arms, letting her move, letting her get closer if she wanted to. She didn’t stop moving until they were chest to chest. He could feel her nipples pebble against his chest. She fit perfectly in his arms, her head under his chin. She shivered a little, and he lifted his left leg over hers, trying to let his body heat sink into her.
“You smell good.” Her whispered words carried across his chest and made little goose bumps appear.
“Thank you, so do you. Your shampoo smells like honeysuckle, like a warm summer day.” He took a deep breath, keeping his face against the top of her head, enjoying the small bundle in his arms.
“A warm summer day in Alaska. Do you even have those here?” She giggled and moved so that she could look at him.
“Yeah. Sometimes. Are you getting warm?” He could tell that she was. She had stopped shivering.
“Yeah. My lips are still cold, though.” He arched a brow and smiled widely. She amazed him. Even after everything that happened, she was in his bed, in his arms, asking for a kiss.
“We can’t have that now, can we?” He leaned down and slowly brushed his lips against hers. When she let out a little gasp, he took advantage and pushed his tongue in her mouth. He moaned and moved his body, wanting a better angle, needing more of her. He moved her easily, pulling her underneath his body. She surprised him by opening her legs farther and allowing his body to move closer to her heat. He tried to ignore his demanding cock begging for freedom, to be released from its prison. He focused on Katie, wanting her to feel comfortable.
His heart beat rapidly in his chest, but he moved slowly, being gentle, eating at her mouth, enjoying her taste. Her reaction to him was almost immediate. She moved her hands from his shoulders to the back of his neck. Her body relaxed further under his, and she kissed him back, pushing her tongue in his mouth, playing with him. He pulled his mouth back, licking his lips, and looked down into her dazed eyes. Her lips were swollen, and he found himself smiling. Her flushed skin made him feel alive.
“You’re so beautiful.” Her smile widened, and her eyes sparkled from the compliment. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, her jaw, and her neck. He inhaled her unique fragrance, and he moaned. He wanted to push her, to pull her clothes from her body and feast for hours. Instead, he moved to his side, pulling her into his arms. She trusted him, she had come to his room, and he wasn’t willing to push her too fast. His body was going crazy, though, and he was having a hard time keeping his hands from roaming over her body.
“Ryan…why is Lucas so upset with me?” Her voice carried a sad tone to it, and he wondered if she realized how she sounded. Usually when mates met, they couldn’t stand to be apart. There was something that pulled them. It happened with shifters and humans alike, as if your subconscious and body recognized the other as belonging to you. He couldn’t figure out what Lucas’s problem was, though. It didn’t make any sense, unless he just really wanted her attention and he didn’t care if it was negative.
“He’s not upset with you. You haven’t done anything wrong.�
� He rubbed her back, trying to reassure her.
“Will you take me to see my sister? I don’t want to be here anymore.” Her whispered words stung him, but he understood the confusion she was having. She wanted them, but at the same time, the new feelings were too much, too soon.
“I will, I promise. I just can’t right now.” He exhaled sharply, not sure what he should say, knowing he wanted to tell her everything, but his brothers most likely would want to be a part of that conversation.
“What are you going to do with me? Why do you want me here?” She pulled back and looked at him, searching his eyes for the answers.
“I want to answer all your questions. I want to put you at ease. I hope that you’ll be able to trust me when I tell you that we aren’t going to hurt you. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. We just want to make you happy.” He wanted to say more. He wanted to tell her that they would take care of her, pleasure her, and always make her happy. She was meant to be with him, with all of them, but the words stuck in his throat, and he didn’t want to risk losing her with the truth right now. He was content having her in his bed, in his arms. This was exactly where she belonged.
A look mixed of disappointment and relief ran across her face. She was so expressive and easy to read. He loved watching her, knowing what emotions she was feeling so easily. “I can tell you wanted me to say more. I’m just not sure of what I can tell you.”
“I knew there was more.” She pulled back from him, and Ryan immediately felt the loss. She came to him. He still couldn’t figure out why she hadn’t run to Nathan. They seemed to have bonded right away. Yet, here she was in his bed, practically begging for answers, and he didn’t know what to say.
