“Hey, there’s a stream down here,” Tom called to him.
Mark wanted to hurry his steps to join Tom, but he restrained himself. “Wait up,” he called to him. Continuing down the slope, he finally caught sight of Tom standing beside a narrow stream where the path leveled off. The water was crystal clear. “That’s amazing.”
Tom looked at him and smiled. “There’s some tiny little fish in there. They don’t look like they have any eyes. Cavefish, I guess.”
Mark searched the water for the little fish and finally saw several swim toward them from behind a rock submerged in the water. He flashed his light on the surrounding rocks and flat surfaces nearby. “See anything that looks promising?”
“Not yet,” Tom said. “Let’s keep going.”
“All right,” Mark agreed, although their chances of finding any minerals didn’t look very good in this area. Mark followed Tom after letting him walk a little way ahead again. He scanned the high walls of this narrow canyon formed by the water cutting through the rock over the ages. He could imagine ancient tribes of people using this cave centuries before.
The air had become extremely humid. It was almost too humid for comfort. There was water dripping from the ceiling onto boulders of strange shapes that pointed toward the ceiling high above them. Crystals shimmered along the walls nearby. Strange-looking stalactite structures hung down from the ceiling in some areas, glistening with a thin film of water, and the constant sound of water dripping never stopped. In the distance, it looked like the ceiling slanted downward.
“There’s another steep slope here,” Tom called back to him. “Arrgh,” Tom yelled.
Mark heard a scuffling sound and rocks sliding up ahead. “Tom, are you all right?” He hurried to reach Tom’s location. Flashing his light ahead and along the path, he failed to find him. He hurried down the narrow sloping path.
“I’m here,” Tom called, his voice sounding strained.
Mark flashed his light in that direction, into the shadows, and saw his friend at the bottom of a ten-foot-long slope at the side of the path. “Are you all right?”
“I think I may have pulled something,” Tom said as he struggled to roll to his side.
“Wait, don’t move. I’ll help you. You could have broken something.”
“My flashlight went out when I stepped off the path and fell,” Tom explained.
Mark kept his flashlight focused on Tom and the slope he had stumbled down. He stepped carefully. It wouldn’t do for him to fall and hurt himself, as well. The ground beneath his feet was soft in some places and hard in other. It was strewn with fist-sized rocks and smaller rocks, making it slippery and treacherous.
Finally, he reached Tom. He looked him over with the light of his own flashlight. “You look a little scuffed up. Where do you hurt?”
“My right ankle and elbow hurt like crazy when I tried to get up.”
“Stay still and let me help you up,” Mark suggested. He moved carefully around his hurt friend, scanning his position and the whole area where he’d landed. “This appears to be the floor of the same cave. It’s level here, but it’s covered with rocks, and it’s going to be hard to walk here or back up the slope.” He looked around for another way to the path besides up the steep slope. About twenty feet farther on, there was a gentler slope up to the path. “Let’s go that way.” He helped Tom to his feet.
“I can put a little weight on my foot. My ankle isn’t killing me.”
“That’s good. Take it easy, though. We don’t want you to make it worse than it is. Put your arm around my shoulders and let me do most of the work.” Together they slowly made it to the path again following the gentler slope. “Now all we have to do is get back to the truck.” Mark shook his head.
“Shit,” Tom swore. “I’m sorry, buddy.”
“Don’t worry about anything but taking careful steps. We’ll get you out of here. It may take a little while, but we’ll do it, sooner than you expect.”
Slowly they made their way up the slope, heading for the mouth of the cave. It took three times as much time to go back, and in some more narrow places, they had to move sideways, edging their way between boulders and along tight curves. Mark heard Tom’s low moans in some places. He hated that his friend had been injured.
Finally they reached the main cave and had enough sunlight to turn off the flashlight. Mark stuck it into his pocket and was able to use both hands to help Tom down the hill from the cave to their truck waiting below. At last they reached it, and Mark opened the door and steadied Tom as he edged onto the seat of the truck. Mark helped him settle his foot with the injured ankle onto the floor. He waited as Tom sat back and relaxed a bit.
“I’m doing all right,” Tom said. “Let’s go home.”
Mark closed his door and hurried around the side of the truck to the driver’s side. He slipped inside and started the engine. “We can wrap your sore joints when we get there, and then you’d better think about having those joints looked at by a professional.”
“I’ll see how I feel. This could just be slight sprains.”
Mark knew he’d say that. “Okay, we’ll see how you do.” He didn’t want to stress his friend. Hopefully he’d be all right and not need to see a doctor.
When they reached their house, Mark helped Tom inside and to his bathroom so he could help Tom wrap his sore joints.
“I think I can manage to undress and wrap my ankle, but I’ll need some help with my arm.”
“I imagine you’re going to discover other sore muscles during the night,” Mark said. “You took a good tumble.”
“Do you think it would help to use the whirlpool setting in the big tub?”
“Yeah, that could help,” Mark agreed. “Call me when you’re ready and I’ll help you get in so you don’t slip.” He grinned at Tom.
Tom smiled back at him. “Don’t worry. Once was enough for today.”
“I’ll check on you in a bit unless you give me a yell sooner.” Mark left him on his own, hoping he didn’t get into a worse fix.
As he headed down the hall to his own bedroom, his cell phone beeped. He pulled it from his pocket and opened it. The number was from Trey and Derek’s house. “Hello?”
“Hi, it’s me, Brenda.”
“Hey, how are you?” he asked.
“I’m doing great. How about you guys?”
“Well, I’m all right, but Tom took a fall during a hike today.”
“Oh no. Is he all right?”
“He’s not too bad. We think he may have sprained his ankle, and he bruised his elbow pretty bad. We just got home, and he wants to take care of it himself.”
“Oh, dear. Can I help?”
“Sure. I know he’ll feel better with a visit from you, babe.”
“What about your lunch and dinner? Doesn’t he usually cook for you both?”
“Yeah, he does the cooking. I guess I’d better order something for us.”
“Do you have anything for lunch?”
“I hadn’t thought about that either.”
“Let me pick up whatever you need from the bar and dancehall, and bring it over. I can do that right now.”
“That sounds great. I’ll call and order the meals. They can put it on our tab.”
“Okay. I’ll pick it up and come over and help you. See you in a bit.”
“Thanks, babe.” The call ended, and Mark put his phone back in his pocket.
Chapter Eight
Brenda slipped into her white Civic and drove to town to pick up Mark’s order for the three of them at Austin and Rex’s place. With their meals safely placed in her car, she headed to the other side of town and the highway that went through Wolf’s Crossing. She remembered exactly how to get to Mark and Tom’s place.
She’d sworn off being involved with any man ever again after her heart was broken in college. But now she was falling hard for two men and had no desire to run from them.
She was still afraid to believe their relationship wo
uld become long-term.
She drove up their driveway and parked her car by the walkway to the front entrance. Mark met her at the front door.
“I thought you guys could probably use something tasty for lunch and dinner.” She presented the sack of boxed meals to Mark. “Austin had nachos for three prepared for us. Some other goodies, as well.” She gave Mark a big smile.
He took the box from her. “Smells great. Come on with me. I’ll take this to the kitchen and we can put lunch in the oven to keep warm. This is just what we need. Thanks, babe.”
“No problem. I’m happy to help. How is Tom doing?” she asked softly.
“He’s doing better,” Mark said, sounding encouraged.
“Can I say hi to him?”
“You sure can,” Mark said, putting his hand on her back. “Come on. He’s in the Jacuzzi with the whirlpool setting massaging his sore joints. His right ankle and his right elbow took the worst of his fall. He’s looking forward to seeing you. I need to warn you, though. He’s not wearing anything.”
She shook her head and grinned at Mark. “That won’t bother me. His injured joints should benefit from the whirlpool, and that’s great.”
At the end of the hall, beyond the bedrooms, Mark opened a door into the room where she could hear the Jacuzzi going. Mark led the way around a corner into a tiled area where a huge Jacuzzi held Tom, reclining against one end in the corner, completely naked, the water swirling around him with gentle waves lapping against his shoulders and chest.
“Hey, Tom, how are you doing?” she asked him as she walked close enough to see his expression.
“Hey, it’s great to see you, hon. I’m already doing better with you here.” He gave her a big grin. “I’d love to have you join me. What do you say?”
Brenda smiled at him and glanced at Mark to see his reaction to Tom’s suggestion before she said yes or no.
“Sounds good to me, as well,” Mark said as he grinned at her, his expression daring her.
“How can I say no?” She gave Tom a big smile. “Where do I change out of my clothes?”
“Right in here,” Mark said. He led the way through a partially open doorway to a spacious bathroom, which had a shower and, next to it, hooks for clothing and towels or robes. There were a couple of robes on two of the hooks beside the glassed-in shower.
“Great. I’ll just be a minute.” She closed the door behind her and crossed to pick out a robe. Undressing by the shower, she placed her clothing in a handy chair. She slipped into a comfy robe and headed back out of the bathroom to join them. She saw that Mark had undressed and slipped into the Jacuzzi already. He rose and held out a hand to help her step into the water after she draped her robe on top of the nearby bathroom counter. She appreciated that he didn’t let go until she sat down in the water. “This feels wonderful.” She looked at Tom with raised eyebrows.
“Yeah, it’s not too bad. Would be better if I was a hundred percent. Come closer, hon.”
She scooted close to his uninjured left side, and he pulled her snuggly against him. His skin was warm. “You’re feeling good?” she asked him.
“I’m feeling fine. Even better with you beside me.” He smiled at her, pulled her snuggly against his side and kissed her.
She kissed him back. She could relax now that she’d seen him and he looked all right. She put one hand on his muscular torso to steady herself. She couldn’t resist smoothing her fingertips over his expansive chest. She heard his groan of pleasure. She broke the kiss and pulled back to get a look at his condition. He looked ready to play.
“Come on top of me, hon,” he urged her, his voice sounding low and strained with his need.
“Are you sure this won’t hurt you with me coming on top of you?” she asked him, worried she could make his bruises hurt painfully.
Mark crossed to the cabinet and opened a drawer. He took out a couple of packets and opened them then tossed a condom to Tom.
“You won’t hurt me, hon.” He caught the condom Mark tossed to him with his left hand. Reaching under the water, he rolled the condom down his hard cock with the same hand. He slipped his hand under her hips and nudged her up.
She complied and carefully put one leg over his hips. With her hands steadying herself on his chest, she lowered her body, took hold of his cock, and guided him to her opening. She moved slightly until the broad head slid inside her ever so slowly. She ached inside and all around her pussy with her arousal. With his legs spread and his left leg slightly bent at the knee, she had easy access to his swollen balls. Before she sank down all the way on his cock, she reached between her pussy and his thighs and bobbled his balls. She heard his deep growl and looked up at his face. His eyes were half closed and hot with his arousal. She caressed his balls and let go gently. Ever so carefully, watching his face for any sign of pain or discomfort to his sore joints, she lowered herself all the way down and took his cock deep inside her until they were connected as deep as possible.
“Put your hands on my shoulders, hon, for support and lean forward so I can touch those beautiful pink tits of yours.”
She did as he said, and he cupped her breasts one at a time with his left hand and caressed her nipples, bringing them both to hard nubs.
She heard Mark lower himself into the water and move close to them behind her on her right side. He caressed her back and then each butt cheek as she leaned over Tom. When he stroked down her back to her crack and slid a finger between her butt cheeks, she couldn’t prevent a quick gasp of air from the aching sensations he aroused. As Tom continued to caress her breasts, she held on to his shoulders. Mark slid his finger deeper and caressed her puckered flesh. He circled the sensitive skin and then pushed gently in the center of the ring. She moaned at his slow caress.
“Are you okay with that?” Mark asked her softly.
“Yes, I’m good,” she answered, her voice sounding breathless to her own ears.
“Tell me if this causes you any discomfort, babe. I don’t want to hurt you or cause you any pain.”
“Okay,” she said, letting out the breath she held.
Mark slowly slid his finger over her tight hole. He stopped and caressed the rim in circular movements.
“Kiss me, hon,” Tom urged her.
She leaned down and pressed her lips to his. He delved inside with his talented tongue and stroked every surface then tangled his tongue with hers. She sparred with his tongue as he continued to tease her breasts. She moved tentatively upward, and his cock slid a little way out of her pussy. She pushed back down on his hard cock and increased her own pleasure as she heard his moan and felt the vibration through her body. She continued to move up and down carefully, increasing their pleasure, while Mark caressed her tight hole, following her movements up and down Tom’s rock-hard cock. Their kiss continued as they tantalized each other and Mark gave her more pleasure.
She felt Mark’s thick, hard cock against her thigh. She reached back and closed her hand around his cock right below the broad head and squeezed then moved her hand up and down his steel-hard length.
Suddenly she heard Tom growl deep in his chest. He squeezed her nipples, sending a zing of hot pleasure to her pussy. She heard Mark groan deep in his throat. They all climaxed together, their orgasms pulsing hard, Tom’s hips bucking against hers, and Mark’s fingers caressing her. A sharp moan of extreme pleasure escaped her as her hot, hard contractions continued.
Gradually the contractions eased and slowed. She and Tom broke their kiss, and Mark slid his finger from between her butt cheeks as Tom’s cock softened and slipped from her channel. More pleasure surrounded her as Mark and Tom caressed her arms and back with their stroking hands. She lowered her head to rest on Tom’s hard chest while she caught her breath.
“That was amazing, babe,” Mark said, his voice soft.
“It was fantastic, hon,” Tom said, his voice sounding low and rough as he relaxed.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” she admitted to th
em. “I wouldn’t mind doing that again sometime.” She smiled at both of them, feeling comfortable and happy inside.
She carefully moved off of Tom. “I’ll go put my clothes back on and we can have lunch.”
“Sounds great,” Tom said.
Mark helped her out of the Jacuzzi, and she slipped into the soft bathrobe and hurried into the bathroom to dry off and get dressed.
She heard Mark and Tom moving around in the big tub as she dressed. When she finished, they came into the bathroom with towels around their hips. Tom had an arm around Mark’s shoulders, and Mark gave him support with an arm beneath Tom’s. Tom was hopping on one foot. His other foot looked a bit swollen and his ankle was red and swollen.
She didn’t want to question him about how he was doing since he seemed to be determined to take care of his injuries on his own.
“I’ll go take our lunch out of the oven,” she said and headed for the kitchen.
Mark helped Tom slip on his shirt and cut-offs. “She was more relaxed with us this time,” he commented to Tom.
“I noticed that, as well,” Tom said.
“We should tell her about what we do, as well as what we are, before this goes so far that she would be badly hurt again if she can’t accept what we tell her,” Mark said softly so she wouldn’t overhear.
“You’re right,” Tom agreed, quietly. “I realize we need to tell Brenda about our true identities, including being shape-shifters. I’m afraid, though, that she will run from us as fast as possible and never let us touch her again.”
“It’s only fair to tell her now since she’s warming up to us,” Mark said. “If we wait any longer and she couldn’t handle it, we’d hurt her more, I think, than if we told her now. If she says she never wants to have anything to do with us again, we’ll just have to deal with it.”
Tom took the crutches from Mark. He’d been using them to walk with, trying to protect his ankle from more strain. “Let’s wait until we finish lunch,” he suggested.
“Sounds like a plan,” Mark said and headed down the hall to the kitchen with Tom right behind him.
Alpha Defenders: Heat (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 6
