“Please.”
“First of all, you need to tell Miles and Griffen about the e-mails and stuff. If there’s human or shifter involvement, they need to know.”
“Yeah, figured you’d say that.”
“And second—” she paused, squeezing her eyes shut for a second before she met Rebecca’s gaze again and spit it out, “—you can’t go to that race next Saturday.”
“What?” Rebecca’s voice rose an octave.
“Listen. I know what I do is foreign to you. And I’ll admit there’s no exact science to anything in the world of a shaman. Almost everything we know is from intuition. More of a feeling. It’s not like I have a solid picture in my head of some specific future incident. It doesn’t work like that.
“And unfortunately, sometimes I never know why I gave the advice I have to give to someone. I just know.” She leaned forward and grabbed Rebecca’s arm. “I’m so sorry, but I’ve known from the moment I met you that you can’t be at that race. My grandmother knows it too.”
Rebecca’s heart sped. “I’ve worked so hard for this.”
“I know. And there’ll be other races. But this one is not for you.”
“Have you told Miles that?”
“No.” She shook her head. “And I won’t. But I need you to do it. Please. Don’t put me in a position that forces me to betray your trust. We just met. I want us to be close. We’re family now. I don’t want to start out our relationship with me going behind your back to thwart your plans.”
“If you tell Miles I can’t race, he’ll forbid it.”
“I know.” Melinda’s gaze was intent. “Don’t make me do that.”
“Why didn’t you say anything before now?”
“I had hoped it would be obvious on its own. And in a way it is. Every single effort you’ve made to prepare has been sabotaged. I’ve never seen so many signs that point to any one event like this.”
“Jesus. Maybe the other incidents that seem human-related are really spiritual.”
Melinda shrugged. “I can’t know for sure. I’ve honestly never heard of such a thing. Usually messages from spirits aren’t tangible. Tossing homes and sending e-mails is a very unlikely avenue for a spirit, but never say never.”
“Gah.” Rebecca scrunched up the empty bag of corn chips she’d been holding in suspended animation.
Melinda gave a wan smile. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know.” Rebecca leaned her head back on the couch and closed her eyes. “You can come get me now,” she told her mates.
“Thank heavens,” Miles replied. “Be there in ten.”
Rebecca smiled. They were close by. Of course they were.
•●•
Griffen had never been so relieved in his life. He’d paced Miles’ living room for the past hour, praying they didn’t have to go to bed without their mate. He didn’t think he could stomach it.
No. He knew he couldn’t. There would be no sleeping without Rebecca between them. They wouldn’t have even tried. If she hadn’t come around, he and Miles would have shifted and spent the night circling Melinda’s condo.
Miles made record time getting to his sister’s. In eight minutes they stood on her doorstep, entering without knocking.
Rebecca gave them a small smile. “Sorry?”
“Baby,” Griffen said as he approached, anxious to touch her, “it’s okay.”
He sat on the couch next to her and pulled her into his arms while Miles squeezed in on her other side to do the same. There wasn’t enough space, but they did it anyway.
Melinda wormed her way off the couch immediately and left the room. Bless her.
“You want to talk about it?” Miles asked.
“Not really. Not tonight. Can we just go home and sleep? I’m exhausted.”
“Of course, love.” Miles stood, drawing her body up with his. “Save it for tomorrow.”
It killed Griffen to go along with this plan. Their mate was keeping something from them. Something huge. But obviously it was important to her, and if she’d confessed anything to Melinda, she surely intended to do the same with her mates. On her timeframe. Not theirs.
Without saying another word, the three of them slipped out of Melinda’s condo and made their way back to Miles’ house.
Griffen followed behind Miles and Rebecca straight to the bedroom. It was late. The middle of the night.
That didn’t dampen anyone’s libido, though. Griffen could smell the need in the air. Even coming from Rebecca, who insisted she needed space just a few hours ago.
“Let us love you, baby,” Griffen muttered. “You don’t have to say a word. But the stress will ease if we make love to you.”
She nodded, biting one side of her lower lip as Miles moved in closer and pulled her shirt over her head.
Griffen leaned to tug her pants down while she kicked her shoes off. Next, he tucked his fingers into her panties and eased them over her sweet ass while Miles popped her bra and tossed it aside.
“No matter how frustrated I am with you two, I still get horny the second you walk into a room. Do you realize how much more frustrated that makes me?” She lowered herself onto the bed and scooted back toward the center.
Griffen quickly yanked off his clothes while Miles did the same. As Griffen crawled onto the mattress and stalked on hands and knees toward his mate, he frowned. “I’m sorry you’re frustrated with us.”
She flopped back. “It’s not entirely your fault. I get it.”
Miles stroked a hand up her thigh and settled it on her belly. “You want to talk about it now, love?”
“No. I want you to erase all thoughts of anything now. It will wait until morning.”
“We can do that, baby.” Griffen lay down along her side and leaned in to suckle her nipple. He cupped the globe with his hand to steady it and feasted until she cried out.
Of course the hand Miles had slipped between her legs might have contributed to her squeal…
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Hey, sexy.” Hot breath landed on her ear, a warm hand stroking languidly up over her ass and then her spine.
She opened one eye and blinked against the daylight streaming into the room.
“You gonna sleep all day?” Griffen was by her side. She knew he wasn’t naked because denim brushed against her leg. He’d been up.
Miles wasn’t in the room. She didn’t need to look to confirm that.
And her head hurt. Not as badly as it should, but enough.
Griffen held out a hand in front of her. Ibuprofen. Bless him.
She lifted onto her elbows, popped the two pills into her mouth, and then guzzled the orange juice he handed her next.
“Figured you might have a human hangover this morning.”
“God.” She flopped back onto the pillow face first. “You don’t get hangovers?”
“Nope.”
“Lucky you.”
“And as much as it pains me to say this, you’re gonna need human condoms today too. For the next few days, actually.”
She closed her eyes tight. That was too weird. How the hell could he know that?
He chuckled. “We can scent it, baby. Told you that. Every nuance. You’re ovulating.”
“Lord.” She flipped her head to the other side so she didn’t have to face him. “Even I don’t know when I ovulate. That’s creepy.”
“Yeah, well. You’ll get used to it.” He stroked his fingers up her side, so lightly she almost couldn’t feel them—until they grazed her breast and brought her fully awake.
She wiggled. “Stop that. I’m not even alive yet.”
“It’s nice out. Thought you might want to go for a run.”
“Thanks, but not necessary.”
“Excuse me?”
She shrugged. “Can we talk about this later when I’m like awake?”
She felt Miles enter the room. She couldn’t say she really heard him. It was more of a sensation. His presence sent a tingling up her back. Goose bumps
formed on her naked ass. Where was the sheet?
Miles sat on the side she was facing. “You get so hot in the night. We run a bit warm for you.”
“You’re in my head,” she muttered into the pillow.
“Your head is foggy from wine,” he teased.
“Go away.”
Griffen chuckled. “Tell me why you don’t want to run.”
Exasperated, she finally pulled herself a few inches off the bed and flipped over.
She glanced back and forth between her men, but neither of them met her eyes. They both stared hungrily at her chest and then down toward her pussy.
Her nipples puckered. She squeezed her legs together. She had to fight to keep her arms at her sides and not attempt to cover herself from their perusal.
Miles licked his lips and then moaned. “Damn. Hate condoms.”
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Stop saying that. It’s beyond weird.”
He finally met her gaze, his hand landing on her belly and trailing up to her breasts.
She flinched slightly when he surrounded one globe with his palm and molded around it.
“Tender?” he smirked.
She rolled her eyes and batted his hand away. “That’s even weirder. Stop it.” She squirmed out of his grasp and worked her way between the men to climb off the bed. A quick trip to the bathroom didn’t get rid of them.
They both still lay in the same spot when she returned. She spun around in a circle. “Don’t suppose you brought me anything clean to wear?”
“We did,” Griffen said.
“And I might find clothes where exactly?” She glanced around the room some more, looking for a bag of some sort.
“Can’t remember. Can you, Miles?”
“Not really. I’m sure we’ll come across it soon.”
She set her hands on her hips and glared at them. “My head is throbbing. I’m starving. We have shit to discuss. Stop looking at me like I’m breakfast and give me something to wear so I can go out on the porch and breathe air that isn’t tainted with your scents.”
The second those words left her mouth, she wanted to pull them back in. The last time she’d sat on Miles’ front porch, someone had been watching in the distance and taken pictures. The idea made her feel violated all over again. In fact, she lifted her gaze to the open window and immediately yanked the sheet from the foot of the bed and made herself a toga.
“Baby?”
She swallowed her mistake and turned for the kitchen. “Food.”
Bless her men. The kitchen smelled of pancakes and bacon. Perfect. Who the hell cared what she ate right now—seeing as she obviously wasn’t meant to run a race next weekend she’d spent months preparing for?
Dammit.
Rebecca filled a plate with the food she found warming on the stove and took a seat at the table while Griffen and Miles eased into the chairs on either side of her without speaking.
They were nervous. She could sense it without looking.
They had good reason.
She was about to make them more nervous, not to mention angry, probably even with her.
She ate with both men watching her. She needed the carbs badly. Bad enough she didn’t care about her audience.
Finally she leaned back and grabbed the cup of coffee one of them set near her. She looked at the ceiling.
“Why aren’t we going for a run?” Griffen prompted.
“Because I’m not running in the race.” She lowered her gaze.
His eyes widened. “And this would be because…?”
“Because your sister,” she yanked her eyes to Miles, “insisted I not.”
He furrowed his brow. “She know something?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “More of a gut feeling.”
“But you trust her enough to give this up, love?” He reached for her hand and held it, stroking the backs of her knuckles with his thumb. “Do you know how much that means to me?” he asked softly.
“Yes,” she whispered. “It’s not an easy decision. But she seemed sure.” She had to fight to keep her eyes from tearing up.
Griffen cupped her neck behind her head and drew her gaze to his. “I’m so sorry, baby. I know this race meant a lot to you. I swear we’ll find another one soon and get you in it.”
“Yeah.” She took a deep breath. “You know what the worst part is?”
“What’s that, love?”
“We’ll probably never know why.”
“Yeah. That sucks.” Griffen leaned closer and kissed her forehead.
She loved the touch. A lot.
“What else is bothering you, love?” Miles asked.
“Caught that, did you?” She forced a grin.
“For days, baby. We just don’t know what to make of your emotions.” Griffen released her neck, but grabbed her free hand. “Open up to us. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”
She needed to buck up and give it to them straight. “I think there’s more than just a spirit after me.”
Miles squeezed her fingers. “We talked about that possibility. I agree it’s not out of the question.”
She shook her head. “No. There’s more. I haven’t told you everything.”
Both men stiffened visibly. “Why?”
She glanced back and forth between them. “Because you’re both so extremely overprotective. You’re smothering me. At times to the point of choking.”
“Sorry, baby. We only mean to keep you safe.”
“Yeah, well, if you knew the half of it, you would have tied me to the bed and not let me leave the house for the last week, and I couldn’t deal with that.”
“Mmm, that does sound like a good plan. Can we do it either way?”
She shot Miles a hard look, a smile fighting to lift her lips. “Maybe.”
And she could not believe she’d just said that…
Miles couldn’t either. His mouth opened, but he said nothing.
Griffen groaned. “Don’t say things like that. Get back to who or what is giving you grief.”
She licked her lips and began. “First there was my apartment. Well, I mean if we don’t count the hurricane in your house that happened before we went to town the other day.”
“What about your apartment, love?” Miles asked.
“It was tossed.”
“I knew it.” Miles jerked. “I knew there was something off about that situation.”
“How did you know? I never said a word to anyone. I just figured you thought I was a total slob when we entered my bedroom.”
“Yesterday at Griffen’s. You kept those piles of clothes all tidy, even straightening them. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but now I get it.”
“Do you think someone entered your apartment and made a mess of things before the fire?” Miles asked.
“Had to be before the fire because all the items on the floor were soaked and covered in black.”
“True,” Griffen agreed.
Miles blew out a breath. “Okay, but that’s not much different than what happened here at the house. What else?”
“The rest is worse. Please do not freak out and make me regret telling you.”
“Can’t promise that. But we’ll try.” Griffen pushed her plate back farther and set his free elbow on the table. “Spit it out.”
“Someone’s been sending my boss e-mails at work. Two of them, actually.”
“Pardon?” Miles asked.
“The first was a long-range photo taken of the three of us on your patio the day I sat on your lap wearing a sheet. This one.” She tugged at the current toga she wore.
“Fuck.” Miles released her hand and ran it through his hair.
“And then there was a second one. It was a simple message threatening my boss to let me go because I was a whore.” Her voice fell as she said that last word.
“Please tell me you’re mistaken,” Griffen gritted out.
“Wish I could.” She shook her head and braced for the storm.
“
Fuck,” Miles repeated. “What exactly did it say?”
She cringed and then mumbled, “‘Fire the whore or suffer the consequences.’”
Miles jumped up from his seat, so forcefully it fell over backward. “Rebecca… Love…” He paced behind her, and she didn’t turn around for the longest time.
He was mad. At her, yes. And at the situation. She couldn’t really blame him. If either of them had received threats and didn’t tell her, she’d pitch a shit fit.
Suddenly she jerked her head up and grabbed Griffen’s arm. “Have either of you been receiving similar threats?”
“No, baby.”
She narrowed her gaze. “You would tell me.”
“No. Not a chance in hell,” Miles said from behind her, “but the answer is still no.”
She wanted to scream at him for how irrational he was being. She released her grasp on Griffen and jumped from her seat. “So this truth thing,” she waved a hand back and forth between the three of them, “it only goes one way?”
Her blood boiled.
“Exactly.” Miles set his hands on his hips, his damn sexy hips that held up his fucking hot jeans, barely.
She stepped back. “That’s fucked, Miles.”
“It’s reality, love.”
She couldn’t believe he could be so blatantly nonchalant about lying to her.
“Miles, calm down,” Griffen said in a low steady voice. “This isn’t helping.”
“Somebody has been threatening our mate, she chose not to tell us, and you want me to fucking calm down?”
“Yes.” Griffen stood also.
Rebecca stared at Miles. His chest rose and fell at a rapid pace. His face was red with anger, directed halfway at her, and he was currently behaving like a world-class asshole.
She held on tight to the sheet and stomped from the room, mumbling as she went. “And this is why I didn’t want to tell you.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rebecca crawled back into the bed she’d slept in an hour ago with her men—mates. She wrapped the comforter around her and buried her face in the pillow, trying to calm down.
She didn’t have any other option. It wasn’t like she could leave—just walk out the door. She would need to look for clothes first to do that, which would mean facing Griffen and Miles and possibly interacting with them.
Rebecca's Wolves (Wolf Masters Book 6) Page 20
