by Jane Jamison
“Let me go or I’ll scream.” Panic set in even as she fought to keep the fear under control.
“Go ahead, honey. Do you really think anyone’s going to hear you?” He twisted her around, his hold on her easing a little, but not enough.
“You’re hurting me.” She couldn’t stop the whine in her voice.
“I don’t want to.” He let go of her, but kept her close, his body hugging hers so that she had no room to escape. “I want us to be together again.”
She cringed as he caressed her cheek with his thumb. “That’s never going to happen.” Glaring, she put all her hatred in that one look. “Why now? Where were you when I was taking the blame? Where were you since then?”
He had the gall to appear remorseful. Not that she bought his act.
“I know, honey. I was an asshole and an idiot. There’s no excuse for what I did, setting you up and then taking off, but I was afraid. You know my record. I would’ve done hard time.”
“So it was okay for me to rot in a cell?”
“You got off easy, honey. You had a clean record so I knew they’d take it easy on you. Think of it as an investment in our future.” He smiled as though he were about to give her a wonderful gift. “I’ve still got most of the money. More than enough for us to start over.”
“I told you. I don’t want anything to do with you.” She pushed against him, but he held her back. “Go away, Robert, and I won’t tell the authorities you’re here. Or about the money.”
He chuckled and pushed his body against hers even harder. “Nah, honey. I’ve waited a long time for you. Enough time for everyone to forget about the money.”
If being forceful with him wouldn’t work, she’d try a different approach. “Please, if you ever felt anything for me, if you still do, please go away and leave me alone.”
He actually looked hurt. Had he really thought he could come back into her life and they’d get back together?
“I love you, honey. We’re a team. We’re going to be together again.”
She could almost hear the unspoken “whether you like it or not.” Shaking her head, she tried again. “I’m never going anywhere with you. I fucking hate you.”
The slap came so fast she didn’t realize he’d struck her until the heat seared into her cheek. Stunned, alarm took hold of her and silenced her.
“You’d better fucking shut the hell up. Do you hear me, Raven? You’re mine. Don’t you fucking forget it.” Spittle edged the corners of his mouth.
The sound of the crowd inside splintered the air as the doors opened, letting people spill out. Relief flooded her, but would the men get to her in time?
Robert glanced over his shoulder then turned his furious face back to her. “Keep quiet. You tell anyone about this, about me being here, and I’ll make you pay. You got that?”
All she could do was nod. She was too frightened to do anything else.
Robert threw her against the car and ran, disappearing into the night. She sucked in a hard breath, determined to stay on her feet even though her body shook so hard she was surprised she didn’t collapse.
“Raven?” Drake, his shirt torn and his face cut, hurried over. “Are you all right? What’s going on?”
She had to pull herself together. If she didn’t, she’d have to tell them the truth. “I’m fine.” Did she sound convincing? She kept her gaze averted, sure he’d see the fright on her face.
“Are you hurt?” Dugan, more serious than she’d ever seen him, came to her side. He, too, had a torn shirt with splatters of blood on it, but he didn’t appear hurt. “You’re shaking.”
“I’m okay. I was…kind of thrown by the fight.”
Harrin stopped running as he drew closer. His dark gaze took her in then darted in the direction Robert had gone. Instead of asking her how she was, he stood back, frowning as he stared into the darkness.
“Does that happen a lot?” Getting their minds off her was her best chance of keeping Robert’s appearance a secret.
“Does what happen a lot?” asked Dugan.
His palm slid along her arm, giving her more comfort than she would’ve ever thought a simple touch could. Robert’s touch had the opposite effect on her, making her queasy.
Even as the fear seeped away, the need for them came back, catching her off-guard in its intensity. She wanted to lean against them, to beg them to keep her safe, to plead with them to make love to her and make her feel whole again.
Yet Harrin wasn’t getting any closer. Alarm swiftly stiffened her, but for a different reason than before. Had Harrin seen Robert?
* * * *
As much as Harrin wanted to comfort Raven, to get as close to her as his brothers were, he couldn’t help but wonder if they were making a mistake. Not about her being their mate. His body, his heart, his soul told him she was the one they’d hoped they’d find someday. Maybe it was a mistake not getting to know her better first. Maybe they needed to wait even longer and find out exactly what was going on with her.
He shifted to make his eyesight better suited to the darkness. Where was the man he’d seen running away from her? He was certain he wasn’t anyone he knew, definitely not anyone from the area. Then why was he here? The only answer that made sense was that the man had come for Raven.
He searched the tree line and found nothing before coming back to her. Like a moth drawn to a bright light, he’d always want to be near her.
His body ached to touch her. Her hair floated around her face as the night breeze wafted over her. The lights above them cast shadows along the length of her, bringing out her curves. He pulled in a long breath and picked up her tantalizing scent. His mouth watered, thinking about how sweet her juices would taste.
His wolf railed against him, protesting the hesitant, suspicious human side of him. To his beast, her past didn’t matter. To his beast, any man she’d been with before him was long gone. To his beast, the only goal was to get her under him, her legs spread wide, her face captured in a rapturous expression.
But who was the man? The man he was wouldn’t give in to the animal need clawing at him, tearing at his insides demanding to be set free.
Drake and Dugan were goners, lost to their lust. They couldn’t get enough of her, but he could tell that they were trying to restrain themselves, desperately trying to keep their agreement to take it slowly. He knew they wouldn’t last much longer.
He hated the way he was thinking, yet the logical side of him wouldn’t let go of the question. Who was the man? He was about to suggest that Raven head home when Drake wrapped his hand behind her neck and pulled her to him.
The kiss, their bodies melting together, sent Harrin’s wolf into a lust-filled rage. It demanded release, demanded to be the one kissing her, taking her first. He stepped forward, his jaw set, his mind whirling with a need that was all-consuming.
Drake’s hand found its way under her T-shirt. She wasn’t resisting. Hell, from the way she wrapped her leg around his, she was ready to do more.
Dugan let out a low growl and wedged her between him and Drake. He cupped her fine ass, squeezing as he nibbled on her shoulder.
Harrin’s animal howled, going crazy. Watching his brothers take their mate would be good, and after he’d quenched his need for her, he’d be able to stand back and watch. Until then, watching wouldn’t satisfy the longing tearing at him to push them aside and take what was his. He moved closer.
Her moans were like a siren’s call, driving him to come to her. When Drake finally broke the kiss to lower his head to her nipple, her sex-clouded gaze met Harrin’s.
“Come to me. I dare you to stay away.”
Whether or not it was real, he heard her voice inside his head, taunting him. He took another step closer.
Man fought against beast. The war raged on as he forced his attention from her to the spot where the stranger had disappeared. His cock told him to do one thing while his gut told him to do another.
What would it hurt to go ahead and fuck her? Sh
e wanted it, that much was certain. The man he’d seen was gone and they had plenty of time to find out more about her later. After all, whatever they learned wouldn’t change the fact that she was theirs. They’d work through whatever problems she had—if there were any at all.
His gaze shifted to the darkness and he wondered again about the man who’d rushed off. There was a problem, all right.
Fuck her problems. Hell. Fuck her.
He rushed toward the threesome, ready to join in. He’d lift her and throw her into the back of their pickup. Then he’d tear her clothes off her and make sure she knew exactly who they were. She’d know without a doubt that they’d chosen her, that they wanted her and that they’d have her no matter what else or who else was in her life. Nothing would get in the way of an alpha claiming his mate.
He moaned, the sound morphing into a growl. Her mouth was parted and her expression one of ecstasy. Drake had uncovered one of her breasts and was giving it his full attention. Dugan’s hands were under her short skirt, a delighted grin on his face. Harrin could see his brother’s hands moving under the material and wished it was his hands exploring her nice, round ass.
“Come here, woman.” He’d said the words so low, yet so filled with passion that he wasn’t surprised when she looked at him, confused, probably wondering if she’d heard him correctly. Shoving at both his brothers, he let out a snarl and yanked her into his arms.
Oh, yeah. She feels so good. Hard and soft in all the right places.
His wolf howled its delight and ignored his brothers’ growls.
I’m going to have you now, Raven. Spread your legs for me.
Laughter broke the air as a large group of people exited the bar. He tried to shake off the noise, but it made it through to his mind anyway.
Damn it. Not now. Go away.
He gripped her breast, his thumb finding the already-taut nipple.
Laughter broke through again.
No. Damn it. No.
His wolf growled, urging him to keep going. Yet the human side of him rose to the surface once more. He couldn’t go on. As much as it would pain the animal inside him to turn her free, he couldn’t take her. Not there. Not like that.
She deserves better.
That thought alone pushed his animal back into submission.
Dugan grabbed her a second before Drake did, making her a treasured toy they’d fight over. Harrin growled again, knowing he was risking Raven hearing him and seeing the amber flare in his eyes. The world around him turned to shades of gray with an amber hue. He lowered his gaze, but didn’t back down.
“No. Not like this. Not here. Not this way.” His words were garbled, his need muffling the sound, but his meaning was clear to his brothers.
They turned toward him, fangs out, nostrils flaring, eyes shining amber. Fortunately, in turning, they’d put Raven behind them.
“Not here.” His voice dipped lower. “No.”
The group of partiers was almost on top of them. As shifters, too, he knew they wouldn’t think twice at seeing his brothers’ partial shifts.
Drake was the first to return to his human appearance. His fangs retracted and the amber gave way to the dark of his eyes. “He’s right. Not here.”
Although he shifted back, Dugan was still ready to argue. “It doesn’t matter where.”
Drake had regained control of his animal. “Yeah, it does. It matters a lot for a woman.”
“We’re not doing this here.” If he had to fight his younger brother, he would.
Fortunately, Dugan reluctantly gave in. “Right. I get it.”
Raven leaned against the car. She was shaken, but this time it was because of the overwhelming passion flowing through her. A human on the brink of having sex with her werewolf mates would be overpowered by their need. It was both an intoxicating and sometimes frightening experience. Harrin hoped she’d been too immersed in the heat of the moment to notice the changes in their appearances.
Harrin took her by the arms and leaned closer so he could look her deeply in to her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“How many times are you guys going to ask me that?”
She pouted her lips, making his wolf once again howl its craving for her. When she lifted her fingers and pressed the tips of them to his mouth, the wolf leapt higher, so fast and so hard he barely stopped it in time. He closed his eyes, struggled to maintain control, and then opened them once he was sure he could handle his beast.
“Go home, Raven.” Those were the last words he wanted to say, but they were the ones that had to be said.
“Maybe we should take her home.”
He wanted to agree with Dugan, but, for her sake, couldn’t. Getting into their truck or her car in an enclosed space would make it impossible to keep their paws off her. “No. She has to go alone.”
“Alone?” Her eyes were becoming less dazed. She glanced toward the darkness of the surrounding trees.
She wants us to go home with her. But why? Because she stills wants us? Or to protect her? Or was it for both reasons? He’d gladly protect her, but he didn’t know if she was in any real danger. The stranger hadn’t hurt her.
“Why can’t you go with me?”
He ignored the invitation he so desperately wanted to accept. “Do you have anything you want to tell us? Is someone bothering you?”
“Bothering me?” The corners of her mouth twitched upward. “Yeah. You three. But in a good way.”
Dugan widened his eyes as if to say, “See? She wants us to take her home.” Drake arched an eyebrow, showing that he realized Harrin had his reasons for turning her down, but wasn’t happy about it.
“Can you drive?”
“Are you asking if I’m drunk?” Her eyes flashed with irritation as she pushed away from the car. “No. I’m not drunk. Not even a little tipsy.”
She’d been drunk a few minutes ago. Not on beer, but on lust. “Good. Then go home and call it a night.”
She smoothed down her clothes, her annoyance sifting off her in waves of thick aroma. “I need to make sure the other girls are safe.”
“They’re fine. Trust me. They have men looking after them.”
She hesitated, wanting to say more, but deciding not to. Her confusion warred with her anger. “Fine. If that’s the way you want it.”
Dugan, still behind her, shook his head frantically. Drake smothered a chuckle while Harrin didn’t let his brother’s adamant gesture faze him.
“Then we’ll see you soon, okay?” It hurt deep inside him to send her on her way.
“Yeah. Okay.” She shot him a confused look, then walked around her car and opened the driver’s door. “Soon?”
He couldn’t help but feel excited by her question. “Soon. I promise.” Yes. They’d see her again soon, and when they did, they’d put her in their bed.
She nodded and then slid behind the wheel. A minute later, she was driving her car out of the parking lot.
Dugan used both hands to shove him backward. “What the fuck’s wrong with you? Why’d you cock-block us, man?”
It hadn’t been easy for him to turn her down, either, and he finally let his frustration go. “Just back the fuck up, Dugan. I’ve got my reasons.”
“Better tell us what they are,” demanded Drake. “I know it’s more than the ‘wrong place, wrong time’ bullshit.”
He ground his teeth together, pushing down the urge to strike out at his brothers. “First, it’s like I said. When we take her for the first time, we should do it someplace private, not out in the open in a fucking bar parking lot. She deserves better.”
Even Dugan found it difficult to argue with that logic. Drake folded his arms. “Like I said. The rest?”
“I saw someone, a man, running away from her.”
“When?” asked Drake as he began searching the darkness surrounding them.
“Right before we found her out here. I guess you two were too set on getting to her to notice.”
“Who was he?”
; “I don’t know, but he sure as hell took off like a bat out of hell.” The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that Raven was hiding something. But what?
“Where’d he go? Why didn’t you say so before?” Drake kept looking around even though he had to know the man was long gone.
“He disappeared in to the trees. At first, I wasn’t sure what to do, or even that it was a problem. Then, just like you, I had a hard enough time holding my wolf back once I got close to her.”
“I’m not sure how much longer I can last.” Dugan let out another growl. “We’ve already given her a couple of months. What do you want from me? A fucking year?”
“Patience,” said Drake. “You think she might be in trouble, don’t you?”
“After the other night at her house and that guy coming up behind her when Dugan was there? Yeah. I think it’s a fair bet that she is.”
“Was it the guy from the other night? The one who surprised her?” Drake’s dark eyes shone with bits of amber.
“I knew I should’ve stuck around,” grumbled Dugan.
“By the time we got back, he was gone. Besides, she was okay. We saw her walk past her bedroom window. And to answer your question, Drake, I do. I haven’t gotten a good look at his face yet, but I think it’s the same guy.”
“So you watched her like a couple of perverts? That’s messed up, bros.”
Harrin scowled at Dugan. “We watched to make sure she wasn’t hurt.” And to see if she was alone. It had torn him apart to think she might’ve invited the man inside. “You’re the only one who’s seen his face. If only you’d been paying more attention tonight instead of panting all over her, we’d know if it was the same man.”
Drake pivoted on his boot heel and started toward their truck. “Come on. We’ll drive by her house and make sure she got home.”
“Playing stalker again?”
Harrin slapped Dugan on the back of his head. “Shut the fuck up.”
He stalked after Drake, his gut churning. If Raven was in danger, he’d do everything he could to keep her safe. Even if it meant turning his wolf loose.
Chapter Five
