by Leah Brooke
Glenna struggled to get up, inwardly groaning when her sore feet protested. “You sent someone to kidnap my sister?”
Joe shrugged. “If necessary. If she’s smart, she’ll come willingly. Sit back down before you fall down.”
Ignoring him, she started for the stairs. “He can’t just kidnap her!”
Joe sighed, dropped the bags, and rushed down the stairs, swinging her up in his arms before starting up again. “She can’t stay in that shithole you called an apartment in that neighborhood. She doesn’t have a job, and this is a safe place for her to stay until she finds one. Besides, we figured you’d want her here when the baby’s born, and that she’d want to be here with you.”
Glenna’s heart lurched. “And what happens if she finds out about you? Put me down, damn it!”
“No.” Joe strode up the stairs, not even winded when he reached the top. “She’s family now, and you need her.” Grinning, he bent to brush a light kiss over her lips. “She won’t tell anyone about us, especially since she’s an aunt to a shape-shifter.”
Shaking her head, Glenna smiled at his logic and rubbed her tingling lips together. “So, you think you’ve got it all figured out, do you?” With a sigh at his arrogance, she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her face for another kiss. “Is this the kind of things you do on your jobs?”
Joe grinned and obliged her, letting his lips linger a little longer before lifting his head. “We have to anticipate everything, and Leland and I are used to being in charge.” Heading down the hallway to the bedroom she shared with them, he bent to kiss her nose. “And since you’re our most important mission, we’ve thought of every contingency.”
He sat her on the side of the bed and helped her out of her new coat, tossing it aside before bending to nuzzle her breasts, sending sizzling heat to her nipples.
Wrapping her hands around his neck again, she threw her head back, the feel of his warm lips moving over the upper curve of her breasts making it harder to concentrate. “So, I’m a mission now, am I?”
Lifting her shirt, he unfastened her new maternity bra, gently raising it to expose her breasts. “Our most important one.” Dropping to his knees, he held her closer, his breath warm against her nipple. “And our most delicious one.”
A moan escaped at the feel of his hot lips closing over her sensitive nipple. Gripping him tighter, she allowed her to ease her to her back. “That feels so good. You’re barely touching me and it feels so good.”
“That’s because you’re more sensitive now. We have to be careful with you.” His hands and lips never stopped moving, gently but steadily drawing her into a web of sensation.
Sliding his tongue over her nipple, he watched her, his eyes hooded. “Nice and easy, baby. We’ll take it real slow.”
Leland approached, his eyes holding hers as he sprawled next to her, and gently working her top over her head. “I thought she was tired.”
Joe smiled and lifted his head, sliding his hands under her and pulling her maternity jeans and panties down. “Not tired enough. She started to get upset about Joshua going to get her sister, so I figured this would be a good way to change the subject.”
A shiver of delight went through her when Leland tossed her bra aside and lowered his head to her nipple. “You can’t just—oh!”
Leland smiled, holding her gaze while he tenderly scraped his teeth over her sensitive nipple, a touch she barely felt, but that sent a jolt of heat to her clit. Lifting his head, he smiled, staring down at her while possessively caressing her now bared abdomen. “I could touch you all day, but you need a nap. Once you come, you’ll sleep even better.”
Joe tugged her socks off before sliding her jeans and panties completely from her. “Absolutely. Mitch wants you to stay calm, and an orgasm should calm you down nicely.”
She stilled at the feel of Joe’s silky hair against her inner thighs, moaning when he spread them wide. “I don’t think this is what Mitch meant.”
Taking her wrists on one of his large hands, Leland raised them over her head, his fingertips grazing lightly back and forth over her nipples. “I don’t need Mitch to tell me how to handle my mate.”
The first swipe of Joe’s hot tongue over her slit almost sent her over, the friction and heat so intense, she writhed to get closer. Fisting her hands, she cried out when he stabbed his tongue into her, her pussy walls tingling with heat.
Her clit burned even hotter when Leland’s mouth closed over one nipple while his fingertips gently caressed the other. “Please, take me. I want you so much.”
Leland groaned. “No. You’re too weak and you still need a lot of rest. Just relax and let it feel good.”
Naked, aroused, and lethargic, she didn’t stand a chance of holding back, their mastery over her body allowing them to tear through her defenses with ease.
Every thrust of Joe’s devious tongue sent her higher, her breath catching when he withdrew his tongue from her pussy and focused on her clit.
Without warning, the tingling sensation sharpened, becoming so intense that she cried out, writhing in an effort to escape.
To her delight, Joe held firm, his hands tightening on her hips, keeping her in place for his decadent assault.
The heat exploded, sending her over in a rush of sensation, her body tightening as waves of ecstasy raced through her.
“Oh! Oh, God!” Her nipples and clit burned with erotic heat.
Leland lifted his head, his expression one of indulgence as his hand smoothed over her tight abdomen. “That’s it. That’s my mate. A little more. Yeah, that’s it. Just let it take you.”
Joe eased back slightly, using light flicks of his tongue to keep the waves rolling through her, sliding his hands from her hips to the sides of her belly. “So sweet.”
Leland released her hands, gathering her close. “Now, go to sleep, my mate.”
Opening her eyes proved more difficult than she would have liked, but it was worth it to see their smiles. “Okay, but don’t think that you’re always gonna get your way like this.”
Bending over her, Joe nuzzled her neck before rising. “I wouldn’t think of it. When you wake up, you can pick out the paint color for the baby’s room.”
“Hmm.” Rolling to her side, Glenna moaned at the slide of the soft, warm blanket over her trembling body and let her eyes close again. “Yellow. Pale yellow. Happy color.”
Warm lips brushed against her forehead, and Joe’s soft chuckle vibrated over her skin. “Happy it is, my mate. Sleep. If you need us, just call out. We’re never too far away.”
“Hmm.” She’d forgotten to call her sister, but was too tired to get up. She’d call after a nap. “Love you.” With a sigh, she let sleep claim her.
* * * *
Standing over her, Joe smiled and ran his fingertips over her hair. “I love you, too, my mate—so much that it would probably scare the hell out you.”
Sitting on the other side of the bed, Leland tucked the covers around her shoulder, eyeing her thoughtfully. “Feeling about her the way I do, I can understand the violent fights our parents had to deal with. I’d be ready to kill anyone who tried to take her away from me.”
Joe nodded, watching indulgently as his mate sought a more comfortable position. “Can you imagine what it must have been like for them to realize that the woman meant for them already belonged to someone else?”
With a sigh, Leland rose, his gaze possessive as it lingered on Glenna. “I’m ashamed to say that I wouldn’t give a damn. I’d do everything in my power to have her for my own.”
Joe nodded, his stomach clenching at the thought of falling in love with Glenna, and realizing she belonged to another man. “I’m sure that’s what happened. It must have been hell for them—pitting pack mates against each other. We can only survive by sticking together.” Lifting his gaze to Leland’s, he sighed. “If this is going to work, you and I are going to have to make sure that doesn’t happen with us.”
Smiling, he bent to pick up
Glenna’s clothes where they’d dropped them. “Our pack mates seem to regard Glenna as a sister. They’re very protective of her, and will probably spoil her rotten if we’re not careful.”
Straightening, he blew out a breath, meeting Leland’s gaze. “We’re going to have to make some changes, though, especially if our stalking comes sniffing around again.”
Leland nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I know. Glenna’s sister is on her way, and I don’t want that asshole anywhere near the women.” He bent to kiss Glenna’s hair, smiling at her soft sigh. His eyes held a tenderness reserved just for her as he ran a hand over her hip before straightening. “We’ll worry about that later. Now that we know what color she wants, let’s get the nursery painted before Glenna wakes up.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gently rubbing her side where her baby kicked, Glenna rolled to her other side.
“I can’t believe you can take engines apart and put them back together again, but a crib has you stymied.” The frustration in Graham’s voice had a bubble of laughter escaping before she could prevent it.
“Shut up. You’re the one who won’t let me see the directions.”
Forcing her eyes open, she rolled to her other side again, listening to their banter through the bedroom walk.
Even though the baby stopped kicking, she idly ran her fingers over the spot where the baby’s foot rested.
Even when they argued, the closeness between the men came through loud and clear.
They were a family, and had begun to make her feel a part of it, and she knew that her child would be welcomed with open arms—something that was a great relief to her.
“I showed you where the damned thing went, didn’t I?”
“Get out of the way. I can put my nephew’s crib together.”
Smiling at the pride in Vincent’s voice, Glenna rolled to her back and stretched again. She hadn’t felt so rested in such a long time, and wanted to linger in bed and enjoy this feeling a little while longer.
Running a hand over her belly, she smiled to herself. She hadn’t slept naked since Leland and Joe had become her lovers, and had forgotten how good it felt.
“I’m beginning to think letting all of you help was a big mistake.”
The baby began kicking in earnest at the sound of Joe’s voice. Glenna ran her hand over her abdomen again, amused at the thought of the baby recognizing his father’s voice. She rolled to her side again, enjoying the way the men teased each other, while luxuriating in the feel of being surrounded by warmth and softness.
She’d never take being warm for granted again.
The baby stopped kicking as the argument continued.
“What do you mean—let us help? You can’t shut us out of something like this. We won on helping set up the nursery.” Graham’s disgruntled tone made her smile again.
“See? That’s where it goes.” Thomas sounded pleased with himself.
“No. It doesn’t.” The exasperation in Graham’s voice made her giggle.
“Look at the damned instructions!”
“Watch the cussing. We can’t be using that kind of language in front of the baby.”
“Well, the baby’s not here to hear it yet, now is he? Look. It says J goes here. That’s J.”
“You are not helping put up the swing set.”
Glenna blinked at that. Swing set?
“You all might be divvying out the ways you can help, but I’m her doctor. Keep those fans going and that window open, and keep your mate out of here until tomorrow.” Mitch’s no-nonsense tone effectively ended the bickering. “She needs to rest. How long has she been asleep?”
“Couple of hours. I just checked on her a few minutes ago.”
Glenna grinned when the sound of Leland’s voice got the baby kicking again. Lowering the light blanket, she traced a finger over the baby’s foot where it pushed at her. “So that’s why you woke me up. One of your daddies came in the room.”
Only the fans could be heard—all conversation in the other room coming to a halt.
“She’s awake.”
“You’re the one who woke her up, talking so loud.” Thomas’s accusation led to another argument.
Graham was ready with a retort. “I wasn’t talking loud. You’re the one who dropped the screwdriver.”
“It landed on the carpet.”
For the first time, she understood that their hearing had to be sharp for them to have heard her, something that probably had something to do with the panther side of them.
The baby suddenly began kicking in earnest, and within seconds, the door to the bedroom flew open.
Joe came through first. “Hey, sleepyhead. You okay?” Grinning, he sat on the edge of the bed next to her and running a hand over her stomach. “Wow, he’s sure kicking up a storm in there.”
The baby instantly settled, just as her stomach rumbled.
“He always kicks up a fuss when he hears his daddies’ voices.”
Closing the door behind him, Leland shared a stunned look with Joe and rushed closer. “Really?”
“Yep.” Grinning at the looks of awe on their faces, Glenna nodded. “And he only settles down again when you rub my stomach. He apparently knows his daddies.”
Laughing softly, Joe pulled the covers down and bent to kiss her belly, smiling when the baby settled and her stomach rumbled again. “We’d better feed him before he breaks out and makes a run for it.”
Running her hands through his hair, she smiled as Leland sat on the other side of her. “I’ve still got another month or so of this kicking to go. With you two around, I’ll be black and blue by the time he’s born.”
Leland stretched out next to her, his eyes suspiciously moist. “I’ll kiss every one of your bruises.” Sliding his hand over her swollen abdomen, he smiled when the baby kicked against his palm. “Having this baby has breathed life back into the entire pack.”
Glenna nodded, the sense of intimacy gone. “I’m glad.”
Aware of their scrutiny, she kicked the covers off and pulled away from them to get to her feet, swallowing the lump in her throat. She gathered her bra and panties from her suitcase and a new cotton maternity dress from one of the bags. Pausing at the bathroom doorway, she turned, meeting their searching gazes. “I’ll be down in a little while.”
Joe frowned. “Is something wrong?”
Warmed by his concern and grateful for all they did for her, she smiled and lifted her hand to his cheek. “Of course not. You and Leland are doing so much for me and for the baby.”
Leland reached into one of the bags, sorting through her new clothes as if looking for something. Using his teeth, he tore off the tag of the dress he held. “Wear this one, my mate.”
Glenna blinked, amused that someone like Leland would feel it important to pick out a dress for her. “Why?”
He cupped her cheek, the emotion in his eyes stealing her breath. “Because it’s the same damned color of your eyes when you’re aroused. Hell, I’ll be downstairs.” Turning, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
* * * *
Glenna jumped at the sound of the door slamming, blinking as she turned to Joe. “What the hell just happened?”
With a sigh, Joe gathered her close. “He wants you. We both do. A lot.” Running his hands up and down her back, he nuzzled her jaw. “We spent months looking for you, and when we finally found you—I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.”
Surprised at the hesitancy in is voice, Glenna leaned back to look into his eyes, finding his embarrassment endearing. “Try.”
Releasing her, he turned away, apparently uncomfortable. “By the time we found you, we were half-crazed, and finding you in danger made it even worse.” Turning, he met her gaze again, his look of embarrassment endearing. “If you hadn’t been pregnant and weak, we would have ravaged you as soon as we got back to your apartment.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Christ, it was almost overwhelming. It was like the animal in me made demands to
reestablish the physical connection with my mate.”
He turned back, his eyes searching hers. “We still feel it. It’s primitive. Wild. Demanding. I want to strip you naked and fuck you long and hard until you’re screaming my name.”
Aroused and incredibly touched, Glenna closed the distance between them. “You always make me feel so desired.” Giggling at his stunned look, she cuddled closer. “You probably thought that telling me that would disgust me or make me uncomfortable, didn’t you?”
Joe shrugged, his expression guarded. “It’s not just want with you, Glenna. It’s a hell of a lot more. Both Leland and I are scared of getting too rough with you, but there are times when it’s going to happen. Christ, if I ever scared you…”
Rubbing against him, Glenna stared into his eyes. “The only thing you could do to scare me is to not want me at all.”
Joe’s lips twitched, his arms coming around her again. “That won’t be an issue.”
Running her hand over his chest, she grinned up at him. “What would you say if I told you that I think it’s sexy as hell to be wanted that way, and I can’t wait to be ravaged?”
With a sigh, the tension eased from his big frame. Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her close. “I would say that you’re perfect for me.” He lifted her chin, his eyes hooded. “I just want you to promise to tell me if anything I do scares you.”
“I promise, but you could never scare me.” She’d do anything to convince them of that, and knew it would take a long time, and a lot of patience to convince them that the panther side of them didn’t repel her at all.
Running his hands up and down her back, Joe kissed the top of her head. “You’re anemic, malnourished, and exhausted. Mitch wanted to put you in the hospital for a few days, but knew the kind of care you would get here. We’re all watching you like a hawk, and pestering you to eat and rest. We know we can’t take you, but we want you so much. Just be patient with us, my mate.”
