Tygers

by Brenna Lyons

  His hands moved the soap over her skin, drawing a hot energy from her, and when he drew his hand between her thighs, her mind’s reaction was more his undoing than her body’s. Keith claimed her mouth with every intention of taking her right then and there, but he felt the compulsion to stop and growled in frustration.

  “Please,” he asked hopelessly.

  “Soon,” she assured him, mimicking the tone he used the night they were engaged.

  Katie turned off the water and stepped from the tub. Keith followed, but she stopped him short of touching her. Rather, she grabbed a towel and dried him with sensuous strokes that left him aching to do the same to her.

  She smiled, sinking down in front of him. Keith groaned in the knowledge that he couldn’t lift a finger to stop her. Her compulsion was adamant about that. He remembered how she moved against the fur-lined restraints and shivered in anticipation.

  “We’ll do that another time,” she assured him.

  He could feel her desire to be completely at his mercy again. Memories of the times Keith demanded to give her mindless pleasure without her interference sent a wild excitement through her.

  “Oh, God,” he breathed. “Now. Please, let me do that for you now.”

  “Next time,” she crooned. “I know you’d like the link for it.”

  Katie licked the sensitive underside of him in a torturous line as she had while he was on hold. When she sucked the tip in and ran her tongue in those maddening circles, Keith cried out—then again as he felt her excitement at his reaction.

  She released him momentarily. “You’ll have your turn. Now, I want you to feel this.”

  “Yes. Again, please,” he pleaded with her.

  Katie repeated the initial path of her mouth, but this time she ran her tongue around the tip without encasing him in her mouth. She was torturing him, teasing Keith with what she knew he wanted most. He longed to slide his hips toward her, but her hold on his actions was like iron. Katie laughed lightly and plunged him deep into her mouth. For a long moment, Keith was locked in shocked pleasure as she ran her tongue over him inside the warmth of her mouth.

  “Don’t stop,” he begged her.

  She didn’t. Katie used her mouth to bring him to the brink of insanity. Then she stopped. She suddenly pulled away, and a cry of frustration left his lips.

  Katie rose before him, flushed and excited. “Is that what you want this time? If it is—” she offered.

  Keith was torn, but he set out for a single purpose this time, and he would have it. There would be time for other experimentation later. “No. I want to feel you come for me,” he admitted. “I want to feel your reaction when I come in you. I want to touch you.”

  Katie handed him a towel. “Touch me,” she invited.

  Most of her body had dried on its own, but Keith ran the towel over her dutifully, drinking in the way the soft cloth aroused her. He moved behind her to dry her hair and rained kisses over her neck and shoulder while he considered all the things he wanted to do to her, to feel Katie experience in this link.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  Any question he had was answered when an image launched him into motion. He swung her up into his arms again, impatiently crossing the rooms to lay her on the bed. As Keith pulled back, she sucked in her breath and met his eyes. The visions he had in bathroom coursed back to him in a montage of what had excited her most.

  “God yes.”

  He dropped his mouth and spread her thighs gently to run a long lick over the heat of her. Keith gave her the same teasing Katie had used on him. He resisted taking her more fully until Katie’s desire swelled into an urgent demand, and they both cried out as he complied.

  Keith felt her arousal peaking, and some part of her cried out for him to take her hard and fast at the height of her pleasure. He moved quickly, groaning at the feeling of fullness from her.

  “I see why you like this,” he mused as he took her to the edge.

  His movements quickened, driving Katie to a shattering release that almost pulled him over with her, but he controlled himself. Or did he? Keith wanted to feel her reaction to his release separate from his own, and Katie may have helped him hold back for that.

  When all but the afterglow of her orgasm had fled, he roared his own release. The warm explosion touched some core of Katie and spread a wave of ecstasy through her that rocked him back. That was what Keith did to her, and it was glorious.

  He slowed his movements but an unspoken command drove him faster. “What do you want?” Keith asked in confusion, reading only her urge for him to continue.

  “All of you and all of me,” she whispered as she drove him on.

  “But we’ve—” The rest was lost as Katie moved against him frantically, reaching for something he couldn’t fathom but craved none-the-less.

  Her hand moved to his head. “Only for you,” she told him as she pitched over the edge of the abyss for him again.

  Katie sent a command to the pleasure centers of his mind and body as she shattered. Keith cried out wildly as he achieved a second release, a draining release that seemed to go on and on. He lost all sense as they both were driven beyond conscious thought. All that was left to him was Katie—around him, beneath him, in him, and she had the same sensation of him.

  Finally, her hand moved through his hair.

  Keith tried to capture it, wanting to hold her in his mind for just a few more seconds. “Not yet,” he begged.

  Katie smiled sadly. “I have to.”

  He felt her draw back, and her exhaustion beat at him abruptly. Keith realized that he could never feel it until he was released and wondered if it was a defensive circuit for her protection that those she controlled couldn’t feel what it cost her while they were being controlled.

  Keith started to push away. “Sugar.” He had to get carbs in her and get her to sleep for a little while.

  “Not yet. Hold me for just a few minutes. I like feeling you inside me.”

  He smiled crookedly. “You’ve got two of me in there already. Are you sure it’s not going to get too crowded?” he teased.

  “For you, never. Now, your children get the boot after nine months or so. But, after what you just felt, do you have any doubts about why we were so successful at this whole baby making thing?”

  “If that’s what I do to you, I’m surprised it’s not quints,” Keith joked, running a hand over her belly lightly. “And, I hope that reaction never ends. Do you have multiple orgasms often?”

  Katie laughed. “Not until you. How about you? Did you enjoy it?”

  He groaned and buried himself deep inside her, eliciting a moan as the aftershocks made her contract rhythmically around him. Keith drove her on until her hands gripped his waist and she screamed his name, the contractions gripping her fully again. A satisfied smile curved his mouth. Katie was so responsive it took his breath away.

  “Have your answer?” he teased, kissing her lightly.

  She nodded and buried her face in the mat of curls on his chest. “Don’t ever stop,” she whispered. “I want this to last forever.”

  “I don’t think that’s a problem,” he assured her, “but next time I’m having the replacement carbs ready on the nightstand.

  “Next time, we’ll use the Bolan’s candies on you and kill two birds with one stone,” she promised.

  * * *

  “Ready to go?” Keith asked.

  “I think so.” Katie shouldered her backpack and looked toward the door.

  “You don’t have to go, you know,” he invited. “We’ve already spent the night together. I’ve already seen you on our wedding day.” He ran a hand over her hip playfully.

  She removed it smoothly. “Oh, no you don’t. Next thing you know, we’ll be late to our own wedding.” Katie glanced at her watch. “And, I only have an hour to get ready and to that church as it is.” She planted a quick kiss on his lips. “I have to go. My dress is at Carol’s.”

  “Wait. That’s all the kiss
I get?” Keith protested, as she pushed the door open.

  “Oh, you’ll get kissed,” she promised. “Don’t you dare back off on me, either.”

  “Is that a challenge?” he teased.

  “Maybe.” Her eyes glittered as she ducked out the door and jogged toward the city steps.

  Keith took a slow, calming breath and closed the door. It was time to get ready. He padded to the shower clad only in his jeans. Typically, his state of near undress would have been enough to convince Katie of almost anything. As Keith peeled off his jeans and stepped into the shower alone, we wished it had the usual effect today.

  He drank in the heat of the spray and tried to will himself to calm down. He was marrying her. She was giving him two babies—as a starter. It was everything Keith had ever dreamed of, and he was still scared to death. Scared that something could go wrong, scared that luck like this simply wasn’t possible.

  Finally, he dressed and headed downstairs. Keith would arrive first. That was the plan. He wouldn’t see her dress until Katie walked down the aisle. He pulled the door shut and fished the keys for Katie’s MDX from his pocket. Keith smiled as he realized that the guys—his or hers?—had already decorated it with signs, flowers, and the traditional cans.

  The church was only six blocks away, but the hall was well over a mile away, and Katie would be in heels—he thought. The truth was, Keith knew absolutely nothing about her outfit except that Katie’s dress was white. He smiled at the surprise in store for him while he drove to the church.

  Steven and Bryan—funny how he’d started thinking of Mitchell by that name since Katie’s MRI—met Keith out front and directed him to his parking place. Once they were inside, his grandfather pinned his boutonnière to his lapel.

  “At least, you’ll make a good showing,” Steven joked.

  “At least? Nana would have planted me in a shallow grave for any less.”

  “True.” Steven tried to brush a lock of hair back from his forehead. “You couldn’t have gotten a haircut?” he complained.

  Keith smiled the rakish smile Katie liked so much. “Katie loves it this way. The hair stays.”

  The older man rolled his eyes and nodded. “You’ll spoil her,” he warned.

  “I intend to. She spoils me enough.”

  “Uh oh,” Steven muttered.

  “Uh oh what?” he demanded in return.

  “You’re in big trouble. Sounds like love to me. Before you know it, it’ll be fifty-five years from now. You need to remember one thing if you want to survive a love like that.”

  “What’s that?” Keith asked seriously.

  “Cherish her every day like you do today, and you can’t go wrong.”

  Keith nodded mutely, unable to form the words to express his thanks.

  Steven clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s get out there, if you’re ready.”

  “More than ready. Let’s go.”

  Keith’s nerves were shot. He glanced at the faces on Katie’s side. He smiled at Mama Toni and Sherry. Other than the two of them, the pews seemed to be a sea of disapproving faces. Keith hoped Mac had the promised talk with them.

  The organ music started up, and Keith squared his shoulders. He looked to the door and smiled as Kyle marched smartly down the aisle with an ornamental ring pillow. The real rings were in Steven’s pocket, of course—he hoped. Keith gave himself a mental shake. Nothing was allowed to go wrong today.

  Kyle smiled as he laid eyes on Keith, and he charged the last quarter of the aisle. Keith scooped him up and gave him a quick hug before deciding that he was using the child as a sort of shield against his adopted uncles.

  “Good boy,” Keith complimented him. “Stand by grandpa for me, okay?”

  Kyle nodded as Keith set him down. The child took Steven’s hand with a wide smile.

  Predictably, Keith’s family had all but adopted Carol and Kyle as part of Katie’s family. With the Thompsons keeping their distance, and never actually taking an interest in the child except for revenge, Steven and Laura quickly entered the cool category with Kyle. Keith wondered how much of Steven’s involvement was pure interest in seeing how a child like Kyle would develop and handle his strange talents, but the affection was genuine.

  Carol was halfway down the aisle when Keith looked back. Her blue dress complemented her short, blond curls and blue eyes beautifully. Her smile was radiant. Carol really was a beautiful and caring woman, and she deserved someone that would treat her right. He hoped that she would get the chance to walk down this aisle again someday with a groom waiting for her that was worthy of her. She smiled at him and nodded as she took her place.

  The music changed, and Keith held his breath until Katie came into view. He exhaled and reminded himself to keep the rhythm going. Forgetting to breathe wasn’t as ridiculous as it sounded. At that point, forgetting to keep his heart beating seemed entirely possible.

  The dress was an evening gown, floor length white on white brocade. The boat neck ended off the edge of her shoulders, and long tapered sleeves came to points over her hands. The dress fell in what Nana called princess seams, snug across the bodice—probably more so because of the babies—to her hips and flaring out into a full skirt. A drop belt of dark pewter hung low over her hips, and the emerald necklace and engagement ring added just a touch of color. As Katie hiked her skirt slightly to step up on the dais next to him, Keith caught sight of the matching anklet above white satin heels. Her hair fell in unrestrained curls down her back. A touch of lipstick and eyeshadow were the only makeup she wore, but Katie was simply beautiful.

  Almost as an afterthought, Keith’s mind connected, and he became aware of Mac’s presence at Katie’s side. Keith nodded to the older man and shook his hand solemnly before turning toward the minister.

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union in holy matrimony of Katheryn Anne O’Hanlon to Keith Alexander Randall.” He paused. “Who gives this woman?”

  When Mac didn’t answer, a stab of fear coursed through Keith, and he looked at Mac in confusion and urgency. He was trying to make sense of the faint amusement on the older man’s face when a movement over Mac’s shoulder caught Keith’s attention, and he shifted to get a better view. At his startled gasp, Katie turned on Mac’s arm to see what the fuss was about.

  One by one, the men on Katie’s side of the church, her uncles, stood. Three stood at the end, waiting a long moment after the others. My problem uncles, the ones who will be cornering me for a talk later.

  Katie swung back to stare at Mac with tear-misted eyes.

  Mac gave her an indulgent smile and cleared his throat before announcing his intent to the rest of the church loud and clear. “Her uncles and I do.” He placed Katie’s hand in Keith’s. “Take care of her for us.”

  Keith squeezed her hand and nodded. “I will. Thank you, Mac.”

  * * *

  Keith called the three uncles right. Between dinner and the cake cutting, he found himself joined in the men’s room by the same three men. Katie had already identified them for him, with the same idea he had that they would have words for one or both of them at some point. Bruce, Bugsy, and Prentice were the three she claimed she would have laid odds on having this reaction anyway, so it was neither a surprise nor a concern for her that they did.

  Keith took in their appearances in the mirror as they filed in.

  Bruce was well muscled even for his obvious age, though his hair was solid gray. He stood about Keith’s height, though he was much more physically impressive.

  Bugsy was a mountain of a man, close to six and a half feet tall and three hundred pounds, and he looked capable of snapping a man in two; but though his eyes were guarded, not a touch of malice was evident in their blue depths.

  Prentice, on the other hand, seemed steeped in malice. His salt and red pepper hair was rivaled only by the high points of color on his pale cheeks, and his green eyes glittered dangerously.

  Keith took a deep breath and turned to
dry his hands. “What can I do for you gentlemen?” he asked cordially.

  Bruce’s voice rumbled off the walls. “We just wanted to talk to you for a moment, Dr. Randall. Mac has his opinions, but only a fool doesn’t do his own research.”

  “Commendable,” Keith commented as he threw the wadded paper towel into the fifty-gallon trashcan. “What can I tell you?”

  Bugsy’s voice was softer than Keith would have imagined considering his formidable bulk. “We understand there’s a baby involved here?” he prodded.

  Keith smiled. “Two, actually,” he replied in pride.

  “What?” Bruce demanded.

  “Two. It’s twins. The ultrasound pictures are at home, but if you stop by in the next few days—”

  Prentice’s jaw tightened, and his face turned a deeper red than his hair by far. “You and Katheryn?” he asked.

  “That’s the usual way. Yes.”

  Keith controlled the urge to smirk—barely. Katie was right. The stunned expressions on the other men’s faces more than made up for the anger Prentice could not mask.

  “If that’s why,” Prentice began, obviously believing it was.

  “No, it’s not. We really did it in the right order—sort of. We decided we wanted to get married. She moved in with me. We decided to have a baby right away, while we’re still young.” Okay, in actuality, it all sort of happened at once with me staying night after night with her in one bed or the other, telling her I wanted it all, being rather non-specific on that point, and us deciding to throw caution to the wind; but that wouldn’t come off as neatly. “No one got trapped here. You have no idea how badly we want these babies.”

  “You seem to want Katheryn pretty badly, too,” Bruce commented pointedly.

  “The kiss?” Keith guessed.

  That kiss was a challenge if Katie ever issued one, though whether it was a challenge to his self-control or her uncles, Keith wasn’t really sure. It was hot, hard, and mindless; and by the end, so were they.