by Joyee Flynn
“Take my hand, and we’ll move farther away, angel. Don’t panic. I’d never let anything happen to you.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” I whispered as he led me a good distance away. I couldn’t even really feel the heat from where we were standing. “I trust you, and I know you’d protect me, Curtis. It’s just really hard when I can’t see and something like fire is around me.”
“I know, angel. We just have to stay for a bit and then we can leave, okay? One of the guys was finding the paperwork I need to sign as the owner. Then we’re gone. We’ll get some lunch and check on your brothers.”
“And then make love to your mate and drink from me,” I added with a purr. “You’re thirsty, and I can still feel your fear since we met Diets. I love you, Curtis. I’m not going anywhere or choosing him over you. It’s the three of us.”
“I know. You’re my entire world, my angel. It’s hard not to worry that your other mate could take you away from me. I’ll try, okay?”
“Good,” I answered, hoping it really was the end of the discussion. We had a big enough hurdle getting Diets to accept there were shifters and vampires and not run away. Much less mate with me in the next two days. I would do everything I could to comfort my mate and reassure him that we were fine, but I needed his help, and his insecurities could do more damage to the situation.
Chapter 5
It was about quarter after four when my date showed. I was in one of the front sitting rooms away from all the vampires and other confusion in the house. Curtis was in the connecting room listening so he knew when to join us. I was vibrating at the idea of claiming our mate and had need for him crawling all over me.
“I’m glad you came,” I said as Diets' scent hit my nose, and the vampire closed the door behind us.
“W–Who are you? Is this all yours?” he asked, and I could hear the apprehension in his voice.
“No, it’s a family estate where I just moved to,” I answered. It was the truth, with certain facts missing. I held out my hands to him as I stood there in front of one of the couches waiting for him.
“Why are you so warm, Shem?” he asked softly after taking my hands in his.
“I tend to run on the hot side,” I purred as I stepped closer to him. “Are you glad you came, Diets?”
“I couldn’t not come if that makes sense.” He leaned down as I moved against his body, and I stood on my toes to brush my lips against his. “I was distracted the rest of my shift. All I could think about was you.”
“Naked?”
“Yes, that, too,” Diets groaned before mashing his mouth down to mine. I opened for him, loving that he immediately slid his tongue in my mouth. Throwing my arms around him, I purred when he lifted me up and moved my legs over his hips. I yanked off my shirt as he sat down on the couch with me in his lap. “Fuck! I’ve never wanted someone as badly as I wanted you. You’re like my own personal angel.”
“Your what?” I gasped as my hands froze on the hem of his shirt.
“You’re an angel, Shem,” he said in that husky tone that drove me insane. “I know that’s where Shemael comes from. It’s the name of an angel, and that’s what you are.”
“Do you want me to be your angel, Diets?”
“Yes, more than anything,” he answered and went to kiss me again, and I caved. I knew we needed to talk, but I just wanted another taste before I told him everything. “Do you want me, angel?”
“More than you know,” I purred as I pulled off his shirt. I nuzzled his neck and chest, marking him with my scent.
“Are you part cat?” Diets chuckled, and I felt fear wash over me. It was now or never time.
“Would it be so bad if I was?” I whispered before leaning back. “What if I told you I was different? Would that matter to you? Would you run from me?”
“T–That depends h–how different you were, I guess.”
“Will you promise to hear me out and not run? Please, Diets? It’s important.”
“You’re shaking, Shem,” he said gently and cupped my cheek. “Whatever it is can’t be that bad. Do you have a nut-job ex-boyfriend or something?”
“No,” I answered, shaking my head as I got off of his lap and stood. I toed off my shoes and took off my jeans.
“You’re stunning, angel,” Diets whispered as he touched my hip. “Why are you getting naked if we need to talk?”
“Because it’s more a show-and-tell before the talking. Promise you won’t run, okay?”
“Okay, angel. I promise.”
I nodded and let the change flow over me until I was in full cheetah form. I heard him gasp as I opened my eyes. Diets started to reach out to touch, but then stopped. I leaned forward and rubbed my head against his hand.
“You can see me now, can’t you?” I nodded as much as I could. “Can you understand me?” Again, I nodded as Curtis slipped into the room soundlessly. “This can’t be real. Did you drug me?”
“No, we didn’t do that, Diets,” Curtis said gently as he joined us. “When could we even have done that? You walked in, kissed Shem, and he shifted. There was nothing we could have slipped drugs into.”
“Right, right, I’m just hallucinating then,” he replied as he glanced from me back to Curtis. “Are you a cat, too?”
“No, but I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors of who lives here.”
“A cult of some kind,” Diets said, his eyebrows scrunching together in thought. He probably didn’t even realize he was doing it, but he was still petting me. I purred loudly to get his attention again, and he turned to me. “W–Will you change back please? I have questions.”
I shifted back to human form and ended up kneeling in front of him with my head on his thighs. He hesitantly touched my hair before running his fingers through it.
“Still think I’m an angel?” I whispered, scared out of my mind that he would reject me.
“Why are you telling me all of this?”
“Remember how you said you’ve never been as drawn to someone as you are to me?” I asked as I moved to straddle his lap.
“Yes.”
“Shape shifters mate for life,” I said slowly as I placed my hands on his chest. “Fate chooses our mates for us, and we know them instantly. Whether they be another shifter, vampire, human, it doesn’t matter. Both people will know that the other is their mate or just someone special that they’re drawn to.”
“And I’m your mate?”
“If I answer that, will you still not run?”
“Can Curtis leave?” he answered after a moment. “This seems a little personal to be sharing with him. And why does he get to see you naked?”
“Was it just me you were pulled to, Diets? Or did you feel something for Curtis when you met him?”
“No fucking way,” Diets shouted as he stood suddenly. I obviously didn’t see it coming and got thrown off of his lap and landed a few feet away on the floor by the coffee table.
“Angel, are you okay?” Curtis asked as he dove to the floor by me.
“Shit, shit, shit, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Shem,” Diets said, his voice reaching a higher octave than normal in distress. “Are you hurt?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve taken way worse spills when someone moves the furniture on me,” I replied with a chuckle. It was more nerves than anything funny. I moaned loudly and got instantly hard when they each touched one of my arms and helped me sit up.
“You don’t sound like you aren’t hurt, Shem.”
“Wasn’t that kind of moan,” I panted as I turned towards him, letting him see my hard cock. I sniffed the air as his arousal filled the room. His hand was still on my arm so I knew exactly where he was and pounced. He fell back to the floor as I sprawled all over his body and attacked his lips. At first he kissed me back, his hands running all over me until he seemed to snap out of the lustful haze we were in when he touched my ass.
“Wait, stop. This is going too fast,” he said firmly as he pulled away from me. I did as he
asked but took it as a good sign when he just sat up and didn’t move me off of his lap. That and he kept his hands on my ass. “You really are gorgeous.”
“So are you,” I purred, but kept my distance. It was true, too. I’d gotten an eyeful of our hot fireman mate when I was in cat form. He had dark chocolate eyes and matching hair that he kept short. I’d never imagined a man as tall as him at about six-six would have dimples, but he did. And he had to be about two-eighty of hard muscles. “I’m blind in human form, but I can see in cheetah form. And I can partially see when I’m in half and half form.”
“Okay, run me through this slowly,” Diets said, and I gave him a nod. “You’re a cheetah shape shifter.”
“Yes, I was born this way. My whole family is.”
“And what, Curtis is a werewolf?” Diets snickered, and I felt the blood drain from my face. Oh shit. I hoped to get him used to the idea of me being different before throwing in Curtis.
“No, but he’s not human either,” I whispered and glanced toward where our other mate was sitting. “Are you sure you’re ready for more, Diets?”
“Yeah, just give it to me all now.”
“I’m a vampire,” Curtis said, and I knew his fangs were extended from the change in his voice. I hoped he didn’t go all vamp on Diets. I’d heard it was scary enough.
“And were you born that way?” Diets asked softly.
“Yes.”
“And you guys are mated to each other?”
“Yes,” I answered this time.
“And you’re saying I’m your other mate? Or are there more?”
“Cat shifters get two mates,” I said gently as I moved my hands over his chest. It wasn’t seductive, more a calming gesture. “After we’re mated, we go into heat with the lunar cycle. Fate gives us two mates because for those three days we become nymphos, and it takes two mates to keep up with us.”
“So we’d share you?”
“No, the three of us are all mates,” I answered and placed both hands over his heart. “Can’t you feel it in here, Diets? Did you just know something was different about us when you met us? It wasn’t just me you were thinking about today, right? You were thinking about Curtis, too.”
“Yes,” Diets answered so softly I barely heard him. He slowly moved me to sit on the floor before I felt him stand. “Okay, I listened and didn’t run. But I need to go. This is too much.”
“No,” I whimpered, wanting to reach out to him but keeping my hands in my lap to cover my wilting erection.
“I’m sorry, Shem. You’re breathtaking, and I thought you could be my own angel. But this is too much for me. I–I can’t get involved in all of this. I’m so sorry.”
I nodded and turned my head away as if he’d smacked me as tears burned in my eyes. Reaching out, I found my pants and started to pull them on as our mate walked toward the door.
“I’m sorry, Diets, you can’t leave,” Curtis said firmly.
“The fuck I can’t,” Diets growled, and I heard skin smacking and guessed someone shoved the other one. “What are you going to do, keep me prisoner?”
“Don’t, Curtis. Please, just let him leave. It’s what he wants,” I sniffled as the first tears escaped. “He doesn’t want us, okay? Just leave him be.”
“No!” Curtis shouted, and I could feel his anger and grief. “No! I won’t lose you, my angel cheetah. I won’t let you die because he’s too scared to deal with this! He could have everything, have you, and he’s going to walk away. We could be a real family and make you happy if he’d pull his head out of his ass. He can’t leave!”
“It’s not what he wants, big guy,” I whispered as I stood up. I felt the couch and made my way to the door, counting my steps. “Let him go.”
“I won’t lose you because he’s an idiot,” Curtis cried out.
“Why would you lose him? What do you mean let him die?” Diets asked in a frantic voice. “Why is anyone dying?”
“If Shem doesn’t claim his mates within forty-eight hours of scenting them, he dies,” Curtis choked out. “If you deny him, he will get sick and die, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I won’t lose him.”
“He told you that?” Diets asked.
“Yes.”
“Bullshit.” Diets laughed, and it wasn’t a nice laugh. Oh god, that was just the knife in the back. I crumbled to my knees as he howled so loudly it was as if he was slapping me over and over again. I couldn’t hold back the tears, sobbing as I curled into a ball. “Why is he crying?”
“You’ve just rejected him, called him a liar basically, and signed his death sentence,” Curtis answered with a snarl. “Why do you think he’s crying?”
“This can’t be real. He can’t die because of this,” Diets denied adamantly. “You guys are trying to trick me. This is some type of scam.”
“Why? Why would we lie, Diets? What would we have to gain from trapping you as our mate? It’s forever. You think we’d want a mate forever that didn’t want us?”
“I don’t know, but things like this don’t happen,” Diets shouted.
“What can we do to make you believe us at least? Let’s start there,” Curtis begged as I sat up and shook my head.
“No,” I whispered, but they ignored me.
“I don’t know, Curtis. You’re going to get some other shifter or vampire, which I still can’t believe is real, to feed me the same crap. How does this end? You need a human sacrifice for something, and you guys trick people this way?”
“No,” I said louder this time.
“What the fuck, man? Because I’m a vampire I sacrifice humans? That’s bullshit,” Curtis yelled back. “We’re not trying to hurt you! Being mated to Shem is the best thing that ever happened to me. He’s amazing. Fate gave you the chance for immortality and happiness on a silver platter, and you’re just going to walk away?”
“What do you expect me to say? Sure, sign me up and let’s fuck until we drop?”
“No!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. That finally got them quiet. I turned to where I knew Curtis was. “Just stop, okay? He wanted me until he knew what I was, doesn’t that tell you something? Do you think he’ll ever change his mind about us or ever want us? Just let him go.”
“I can’t do that, angel. He leaves, you die in two days. And then I die because I’m tied to you. You forget that part about being mated to a vampire. You die, I die, and not only could I not make it through losing you, but there are a lot of people who count on me. What about your family? What would they say if they found out you were going to die because our mate was running from you?”
“You know what they’d do,” I answered, shaking my head. “They’d break the bond before I died. But you know that’s wrong.”
“Wait, there’s a way to break this bond?” Diets asked with such venom in his voice I could almost feel it. “Nice of you guys to leave that tidbit out. Let’s do that. Let’s break this bond so everything can go back to normal.”
“No, we’re not breaking the bond,” I said firmly when Curtis started to speak.
“Why not? He’s willing to let you die,” Curtis grumbled. “I love you, Shem. I’d do anything to keep you alive.”
“What’s the big deal? How do you break a mating bond?” Diets shouted.
“Someone has to die,” I yelled back, my heart in shambles at the way this was turning out. “Curtis is saying my brothers would kill you so the bond was broken and I wouldn’t go into heat and then overheat and then die. Okay? That’s how you break the bond. Someone dies. And no matter what, I’m not willing to let you die. Whether you claim me or not, want me or not, you’re my mate.”
“You’re serious,” Diets whispered, and I heard him plop on his butt. “And you’d die to keep me safe if I don’t agree to mate with you?”
“You don’t want me because I’m a shifter.” I shrugged and went to stand but stopped when he grabbed my arm to keep me sitting. “Nothing I can do about that. I can’t change what I am anymore than you can.
So you want to run, go, okay? You don’t want me now because of what I am, fine, leave.”
“It’s not what you are that bothers me, Shem,” Diets said as he moved closer to me. “It’s all of this. There are shifters and vampires and mates, and it’s too much. I’m not any less attracted to you knowing you’re part cat or whatever. This isn’t about me rejecting you. It could be any shifter. It’s just too much to take in. A few hours ago I was a fireman, a normal guy who thought this kind of stuff was in the movies.”
“Then we dump all of this on you.” I nodded, trying to understand. “Let me ask you something then. If Curtis didn’t drop the bomb that I’ll die if I don’t claim you, would you ever have come back? I mean, if he’d let you leave, would we have ever heard from you again?”
Diets was silent for several torturous minutes before whispering one word. “Yes.”
“Yes, what?” Curtis asked as he moved closer as well.
“Yes, I would have come back,” he answered. “I just needed to get out of here, think about this. I know I said I couldn’t get involved in your world, with all of this. But I meant right now, ya know? Like this was too much to process when you’re sitting there naked and beautiful and everything in me was screaming to say fuck it and be with you. I need time to think.”
“What if you claimed Diets and that was it? Could he just leave then and you’d be safe?”
“I think so.” I shrugged. “I don’t think the lunar cycle affects humans after they mate with us. But my bite when I claimed him would leave a permanent mark on him.”
“And that would keep you alive and give me time to process all of this?”
“Yeah,” I sighed and pulled my knees to my chest. “The day after I met Curtis I started to feel sick from not claiming him. It was awful. I started to overheat, and it felt like thousands of bugs were crawling all over my skin.”
“So what happens? We just have sex?” Diets asked hesitantly.
