She looked up at Calder when he gently squeezed her hand.
“What is it, sugar?” He was smiling at her, but his brows were furrowed in concern.
Using their connected hands she pulled him close enough to whisper in his ear. “You might find this a strange request, but would you mind staying? I’m not comfortable being alone with those men. I’m so sorry.”
Peata felt awful for asking him to do this, but she just couldn’t bear the alternative.
“You heard the lady,” Calder told Drake. His tone was sharp despite the warm smile he was still directing at her.
“You can stay then, Calder, but keep it civil or I will enjoy tossing you out on your hairy ass,” Drake said, glaring pointedly at Calder. He didn’t seem to like Calder very much, which seemed curious to her. He was so sweet and kind.
Caine and Drake worked efficiently to connect her to monitors and do their tests. They had to work around Calder, who sat fixed by her side, holding on to her hand the entire time. His hand was huge around hers and his thumb was rubbing little circles on her arm.
To stay calm, she blocked out the paramedics completely and focused on Calder’s touch. It was heating her skin and causing delicious little tingles to run up her arm. From there, the tingling seemed to head straight to her clitoris, which throbbed in response. Making even more juices trickle from her pussy.
Calder made a low rumbling noise in his chest, which was then echoed by Max and Axel. God, that just made her panties even wetter. Shit, damn and bugger. What the hell is happening to me?
She may never felt any kind of sexual attraction to a man before, but she was not naïve. She knew exactly what was happening to her.
“When was the last time you had a drink, or something to eat, miss?” Drake asked, taking her attention away from Calder and his brothers. “You are quite dehydrated and your blood sugar is really low.”
She was glad he had interrupted her thoughts. She had been staring at them. How embarrassing. They were just doing their jobs. They didn’t need her ogling them.
“I ate the day before yesterday, and I had some water yesterday.” Oops, what am I telling them that for?
She should have lied. She blamed Calder. He was scrambling her brain the way he was looking at her. He was so sexy with that sweet smile and those darkly sparkling eyes, let alone his amazing choice of cologne. She shook her head, trying to get it to work right. When have I ever found anyone sexy before?
“Why were you out here with no food or water and no warm clothes, baby?” Max asked, his voice firm.
She opened her mouth to tell them why. About the shooting, about running away. What the holy hell is wrong with me?
She tried to lie, but it was so hard it made pain shoot through her brain. The truth a compulsion she was fighting against.
“I forgot to eat,” Peata finally said, unable to look at them as she lied. She could usually lie easily enough. She’d had to become quite adept at it in order to avoid men all these years.
“That didn’t answer Max’s question, sugar, and it was a terrible lie,” Calder said. “We will discuss the need for honesty amongst us when we get you home.” He cupped her cheek and kissed her gently on the lips. Closing her eyes, she moaned, relaxing completely against his big warm hand and enjoying her first ever kiss.
“What’s wrong with me?” she asked, when his lips left hers. “Why am I letting you touch me like this, Calder? I don’t like men touching me…not now. I’m so confused.”
As she confessed this, she felt her eyes sting with tears. One overflowed and ran down her cheek. He kissed it away and licked his lips, making that rumbling sound again in his chest. Peata wanted to feel the vibrations so badly that she sat on her hand to stop herself from reaching out and touching his chest. He had said that they wanted to take her home with them, and the very thought was making her nipples hard and her breasts tingle. This is insane. I am supposed to be running, but I want to stay with them.
Caine cleared his throat, thankfully breaking Peata out of her trance. “I think you should spend today in the hospital, Peata, get rehydrated while they watch your airways.”
“No, no hospitals,” she said with a determined whisper. “I’m sorry, but I’m refusing treatment. I know I can do that, so I am. Thank you for helping me, but I need to leave.”
Peata reluctantly pulled away from Calder and began to take off the monitor leads. It felt so wrong to be leaving these men even when she didn’t know them.
In the end, she decided, it didn’t matter. She had to get moving. She had to find somewhere to stay so she could think this whole mess through. If she kept running blindly like this they were going to catch her.
Chapter 5
Max was shocked at the small amount of information she had already shared. Peata was obviously frightened and on the run. But from what or whom was she running? Whatever it was it had nearly caused her death in the fire. His mate was not going to be scared or alone ever again.
Caine stepped out of the ambulance. “We can’t make her go to the hospital, but she needs help. Not just medical help either. She smells scared, really scared. She’s your mate?”
“Yes, she’s our mate, so stop sniffing her. We will give her all the help she needs, whether she wants it or not,” Axel said, his anger barely contained.
“Calm down, Axel, she will come with us and we will keep her safe,” Max reassured him. “She has already started the bonding process. The mating musk has her trusting us on an instinctual level. She just doesn’t understand what is happening to her. She found that lie nearly impossible to tell.”
Caine left them alone as Calder stepped down out of the ambulance. “She needs to come home with us, Max, she’s terrified. She has nowhere to go or she wouldn’t she have been in that fucking barn. I also think someone is chasing her,” Calder said softly, obviously not wanting Peata to hear him.
“We agree totally, Calder, we’ll ask her to come and stay with us until she’s recovered, she won’t turn us down now that the mating has begun. Did you notice her scent change when you kissed her?” Max asked his brothers, his mouth watering as he remembered the heady scent of her arousal.
“I nearly came in my damn pants, she smells so fucking delicious,” Calder said, adjusting himself. “I am so hard right now.”
Axel grinned at him. “Hold on a bit longer, brother, we can’t complete the mating until she knows what we are.”
“We are going to have to be very careful with her. I think our mate has been hurt quite badly. She said she never lets men touch her,” Max said, feeling overwhelmingly protective of his mate.
“I have already decided to hunt down and kill whoever put that fear and pain in our mate’s eyes,” Calder said, his tone chillingly calm.
“On this I agree, Calder. I will gladly hold him down while you kill him,” Max said coldly, his gaze fixed on Peata. He was not normally prone to violence, but Peata’s immense pain had been palpable and he was ready to kill for her.
“You two need to chill the fuck out, or she’ll decide not to go anywhere with us. You both look scary as hell. Why not delay the murder and mayhem until we know what has caused her to feel that way? Besides, we need to be with her, not be behind bars,” Axel said, being their voice of reason.
Trying to control his anger, Max smiled at his brother. “You’re right, of course. Let’s go and watch the new and improved Calder, sweet talk our lovely mate into coming home with us.” Max slapped Calder on the back, and shoved him toward the ambulance. “Then we will ask Shana and Melanie to come for a visit. Finn has made it a mandate that the women be there when a human mate is told of the existence of shifters. Apparently, they all did such a bad job that their mate, literally, ran for the hills.”
* * * *
Peata decided to ask Caine and Drake if they would drop her off at an inn on their way back to their station. If she asked them both to ride up front, she wouldn’t have to be alone with either of them.
She was so tired and her throat felt raw. She needed time to think and recover her strength. After buttoning up her top she rose slowly on her wobbly legs and went to sit at the back doors of the ambulance. Looking around for Drake or Caine she saw Max, Calder and Axel approaching.
Calder came to stand between her knees with a big smile plastered on his face. He looked so sexy that her core clenched and she leaked more juices onto her panties. The three men crowded around her and she felt no panic or fear. They were very calming. I just don’t understand what is so different about these men?
“You really won’t go to the hospital, sugar?” Calder asked, lifting her chin with his finger. Peata hadn’t realized that she had been staring at his wide chest and bulging biceps.
“I can’t, it’s too dangerous for me. But thank you for your concern,” she said, looking at each of them. “Thank you for getting me out of that barn, too. I was so cold that I lit a fire with some straw. I intended to stay awake to watch it, but obviously, I fell asleep. When I woke there was smoke everywhere, I crawled along and thought I had found the door, but I couldn’t get out. That’s all I remember until I woke up coughing.”
Max handed her the bottled water when she started to cough. She smiled at him gratefully, taking a welcome sip.
“I found you collapsed in one of the stalls, you must have gotten turned around with all the smoke,” Axel told her, stroking a hand up her thigh to her hips.
“We won’t push for you to go to the hospital, but you are obviously in need of help or you wouldn’t be sleeping in an abandoned barn.” Calder placed his finger across her lips when she opened her mouth to protest. “We would like you to come home with us while you recover? We can watch over you and keep you safe for as long as you need. We are known and respected in this town. You are in no danger from us.”
Peata couldn’t understand why they would do this. Maybe they often helped homeless people. She knew she should say no, but she was inexplicably drawn to them.
“I don’t want to say yes, but I will. You are all very kind to help a stranger like this. Thank you.” She looked up to see all of them smiling sweetly at her.
She would not stay long enough to endanger these men. Once she had decided how to deal with the corrupt police back home, she would leave. Her decision to go with them had nothing to do with the way her body responded to their touch.
“Thank you for trusting us, baby. But we don’t consider you a stranger and we are very glad you are giving us the opportunity to get to know you better.” Max held her face gently in his large, rough hands and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“That felt really good,” Peata gasped. She hadn’t stopped to think, the words just popping out. Wanting desperately to reach out and touch Max, she wrapped her arms around herself instead.
“I’m feeling left out here, honey,” Axel said with a smile. Reaching under her hair, he grasped her nape and slowly lowered his lips to hers. She was given time to move away. She didn’t. The kiss was gentle, and as his tongue licked along her lips, she shuddered.
They had all kissed her and she had responded equally to each of them. Dammit, what am I doing? She may not have had any intimate contact with men since the night her innocence was taken from her, but she wasn’t naïve. Why the thought of having sex with all three of them didn’t have her running away, was a total mystery.
“Let’s get Peata home so she can wash up and get something to eat and drink before she has a sleep,” Calder said. He picked her up and carried her to the fire truck.
As he placed her in the back and buckled her in, he kissed behind her ear and down the column of her neck. It felt so good that she stretched her neck to give him better access. An unexpected moan escaped from her lips.
“I’ve never been kissed there before, I like it.”
He laughed softly and sat down next to her, wrapping an arm protectively around her shoulders. She leaned into his hard chest, as close as the seatbelt allowed. She was drawn to his warmth and strength, when she would normally be repelled. Confusion and desire battled in her tired brain.
“What’s happening to me, Calder? You know, don’t you?”
“Yes, sugar, I do. We won’t allow anything to harm you ever again. Can you trust us enough to tell you the rest as soon as you’re ready to hear it?” He looked down at her, his face a picture of absolute sincerity.
“I trust you,” she sighed. She felt the truth of the words in her very soul. Closing her eyes and stifling a cough, she laid her head on his warm chest and hoped that her decision didn’t put these men in harm’s way.
Chapter 6
Once they reached the fire station, Calder carried Peata to his truck and settled her in the back, staying with her while the others worked inside. Two minutes later Axel approached wearing jeans and a shirt. Out of his uniform she could see his wide shoulders and slim hips. He could be a model with his body. It made no sense that these good-looking men would be interested in her. Axel wrapped his warm jumper around her and Calder left to get changed.
“Don’t you all have to work?” Peata rasped, taking another sip of water.
“Max is the chief, honey. He’s called in some of the off-duty men to replace us for the next few shifts.” He pulled her close against him as they sat together in the back of the truck.
“That’s really nice of you, but I feel terrible causing trouble for so many people.” Peata had never been a burden on people, she had always managed on her own.
“They all have families and are grateful for the overtime. Honestly, you’re doing them a favor,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “Once we get you clean and fed, will you tell us about yourself and what has you running scared?”
“I probably will. I seem to tell you everything, whether I want to or not,” she said, beginning to doubt the sense in going with them.
“I’m worried that you will be hurt if I’m with you. You should let me leave.” She looked into his eyes, trying to gauge his reaction. His eyes narrowed marginally, but his smile was unwavering.
“Not happening, honey, we’re going to make sure you’re safe from now on.”
No longer able to resist, she reached over and touched his lightly stubbled jaw, his beard softer than it looked. He made a growling noise deep in his chest. That’s so damn sexy.
“Thank you, honey. You have no idea how happy that makes me. We’re all very attracted to you,” Axel said, smiling at her.
She had said that out loud? She was mortified and felt herself blush.
“You need to share your story with us so we can keep you safe,” Axel said firmly, kissing her cheek again.
When Max and Calder returned they left the firehouse. She felt safe and warm pressed up against Axel. He smelt like Calder. She found she really liked the way they smelt. She liked the way they all made her feel too, like she was finally whole.
They soon turned down a long driveway. The paddocks on either side were neatly fenced and each held several grazing horses.
“The horses are beautiful,” Peata whispered, her throat feeling tight and raw.
“We own the ranch with our fathers and we work it with them in our off-duty time,” Max said. “We breed and train the horses and make a good living from it. Do you like to ride, baby?”
“I grew up in the city and was raised by grandmother until I was seventeen. We never had enough money for anything other than food and bills. So I never got the chance to try. One day I’d really like to.”
Pausing, she realized what Max had just said. “Did you say fathers, plural?”
“We have two dads, they’re brothers, they’ve been happily married to our mum for…a very long time now,” Calder said.” “I’m sorry you’ve never had the chance to ride. It will be our great pleasure to teach you.” Turning in his seat, he winked at her.
They came from a ménage family background, no wonder they were all so comfortable with kissing and holding her the way they had. She felt her core tighten at the possibilities
, then reality broke her out of her daze. She was here for a day or two to recover, then she had to deal with the events of three nights ago.
They stopped in front of a huge two-story home. It stood on the rise of a hill with several out buildings behind it. The wide, covered verandah went all the way around the house. The lower level had no solid walls. Instead it was made up entirely of large windows and glass doors. Inside you would have uninterrupted views of the rolling fields, the vast wooded areas and the mountains beyond.
“It’s a beautiful home, do you all live here?”
Axel helped her to step down into Max’s waiting arms. “We all live here, our parents have a home on another part of the property. We own several thousand acres so there is lots of room to run around,” Max said, carrying her up the steps to the front door.
It felt so good in his massive arms that she didn’t protest at being carried. He was a huge man, tall and thickly muscled.
She smiled at him and his bright blue eyes seemed to glow in response. “You’re very tall, Max,” she murmured. He kissed the tip of her nose in reply.
The front door opened straight onto a large living room and kitchen. She had been right, you could see for miles from inside of the house.
“Food or shower first, baby?” Max asked her.
“I would really like to wash. Even before the fire I’m sure I stank. I haven’t stopped travelling for a couple of days,” she confessed.
“We will hear the reason for that soon, Peata, but you smell edible to us,” Max said, looking down at her with heat in his eyes. Still holding her in his arms he walked them across the room and up the central staircase.
He opened the door at the end of the corridor and they entered a huge master bedroom. The bed in the center of the room could have slept six people easily. Or, the three of them and one woman.
The walls were painted in a muted sky blue. It blended with the sky outside, making the room seem even bigger. The comforter Max placed her on was a deep burgundy. It felt thick and soft under her.
Peata [Eminence Shifters 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 3
