by Marla Monroe
“Stop it! Both of you,” she snapped. Then she put her hand to her head. “God, that hurts. Stop antagonizing it, Carver. I don’t think I can take any more arguing right now.”
Both men stepped back again, and thank goodness the animal calmed down, slowly lowering to her side once again. More importantly, it stopped growling. The sudden silence around her felt like a sigh to her soul. After believing she had died and ended up in hell then finding out she hadn’t had been enough of a shock without adding three alpha males arguing in the middle of it all.
Oh, yeah. The wolf-dog is just as badass alpha as the other two. I bet if I weren’t around, they’d all be pulling out their dicks to see who’s was the longest and who had the biggest balls. Men!
“Can you keep the beast quiet while I look him over?” Carver finally asked. “We need to know what he is and be sure there isn’t anything wrong with him.”
“There’s nothing wrong with him,” she told him, narrowing her eyes.
“Look,” Lance began. “The asshole got a few good kicks in on him. You don’t want him in pain, do you?”
“No! Why didn’t you tell me?” Vella started to sit up to look the animal over for herself, but the sudden movement nearly blew her head off as she clutched it with a moan.
“Easy there, babe. Don’t try that again. You turned a whiter shade of pale there, Vella,” Carver said.
“Really? You’re quoting a song at me? Eric Clapton, right?”
“Procol Harum. They wrote it and performed it first,” he said with a half-grin. It was one of the first spontaneous ones she’d seen on him.
“So, can he look at the mutt?” Lance asked.
“Um, okay. It’s not like he’ll listen to me if he doesn’t want you touching him or anything.” Vella wasn’t sure it was a good idea to prod a wild animal.
“Just soothe him and tell him it’s all good. He seems smitten with you, so I feel like as long as you’re happy with it, he will be, too.” She looked from him to Lance.
“What do you think?” she asked him.
“I think Carver’s right. The beast seems to follow your lead unless you’re in danger. Then he does whatever he thinks is best.” Lance nodded at her.
She shrugged then wished she hadn’t. Pain lanced through her skull once more. She slowly nodded at Carver and hoped the wolf-dog wouldn’t hurt anyone. She was fairly sure if he attacked that one of the men would shoot him. She desperately didn’t want that to happen. She liked the big animal, and having one of the men she was slowly growing attached to kill the creature would cut deep.
Carver scooted over on his knees until he was within touching distance of the now very alert animal. He held out one hand, palm up, and waited as the wolf-dog slowly extended his neck and sniffed his hand. He didn’t immediately break out into a vicious snarl, which was a good thing. The overly large dog or wolf turned and sniffed her before turning back and sniffing Carver again.
“Why’s he doing that?” she asked. “Going back and forth like that?”
“I think he smells you on me and me on you. He’s processing that maybe I’m okay by association,” Carver told her.
“Really? He can do that? I mean, how can he smell me on you? You’ve been gone all day and touched a lot of different people’s stuff. I would think my scent would be lost by now.” Vella watched the huge dog lie back and stare at them. His long tongue uncurled out of his mouth as he panted with a doggy smile.
“Okay. He’s not attacking me,” Carver pointed out. “Pet him for me while I try to check him over.”
Vella reached over and ran her hand down the animal’s fur, murmuring to him that everything was all right and he was just fine.
“Just lay here with me, big boy. Carver’s just going to check you over for any injuries. That mean man hurt you for trying to help me. I need to know that he didn’t do any damage. Okay, boy?” She noticed that he hadn’t moved.
When she looked over to where Carver had been kneeling, she found him running his hands over the wolf’s side from his front leg to his back hip area. The animal endured it without so much as a whimper or growl.
“I can’t find anything obviously wrong, but it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have some bruising that could make him snap if you inadvertently touch a sensitive spot,” Carver pointed out.
“Okay. So, what do you think he is—dog, wolf, or hybrid?” she asked.
“Hard to tell, really. He’s not a dog—that much I know. But if he’s wolf or hybrid, there’s really no sure way to tell. Looking at his teeth, I’d say he’s about four years old. It wouldn’t be unheard of for a dog to meet up with a wolf out here now that everything’s back to being wild.” Carver ran his hand down the animal’s back once more then stood up.
“So,” Lance said. “What are you going to name him? He’s obviously staying.”
“I like Beast,” she said with a smile. “As big as he is and as protective as he was, Beast suits him.”
* * * *
Vella woke sandwiched between two men and loving it. Beast lay protectively at her feet, so that between the three of them, she was completely protected. She wished in that moment that they never had to leave the cave. She was happy here and afraid that once they left it would all disappear.
“What’cha thinking about so hard over there?” Lance asked.
“That I don’t want to leave here. Right now it’s as if the world around us doesn’t exist, and I can believe for a little while that nothing is wrong. I feel safe here with you and Carver,” she admitted.
“That’s because you know we’d never allow anything or anyone to take you from us.” Carver’s deep voice did dirty things to her.
She couldn’t remember ever having a physical reaction to a man’s voice until him. Right now she was soaking wet between her legs, and her nipples stood up so tight and hard that the shirt she was wearing rubbed them just right.
“Yeah. I know.” There wasn’t anything more to say to that. She should get up and figure out what to do about breakfast.
“She’s ours,” Carver said out of the blue.
“Carver?” Lance sounded worried.
“We’ve fought for her,” was all he said before Vella found herself beneath the big, hulking form of Carver.
“Carver?” she echoed Lance’s questioning word. What was going on? Fought for her?
“W–what does that mean?” she asked whoever would answer her.
“It means that in today’s society that makes you ours because we defended you and kept you safe.” He watched her face as he hovered just above her, his arms taking all his weight. “It means that Lance and I care about you and want to share you as our wife.”
Vella didn’t even have to think about it. She was desperate, not stupid. There was no way she’d pass up the opportunity that was staring down at her. They were good men who’d risked a lot to first save her from drowning and then from dying of pneumonia. To make it even easier to decide, they’d just saved her the day before from someone who’d have raped and sold her to the highest bidder.
“Yes! I want that, too,” she confessed.
“Are you sure, hon?” Lance asked.
“Positive. I’ve always had to deal with less than honorable men. Well, after my brother, that is. I know the difference. Despite how weak I’ve been, and even when I was up and walking around, neither of you have even asked, much less forced yourself on me. In my world, that’s a miracle. It just doesn’t happen.” She stared up into Carver’s amazing light-green eyes, entirely mesmerized now with how they didn’t change color.
“You’ve been off-limits until now, babe. If you’re agreeing to be our wife, that stops here and now. I want you, Vella, and one or even two times isn’t going to be near enough to satisfy me if you agree. I’m a hard-loving man. It’s the only way I know how to be,” he said, staring hard into her eyes.
She smiled. This was right. It was what she wanted—what she needed in her life. Two big, strong men who’d alw
ays protect her and hold her between them. She didn’t need to think about it, despite the promises Carver was giving her.
Hard-loving man? Check. I can handle anything he throws my way. All I need to be happy is to feel safe and to never worry that they’re keeping anything from me.
“Bring it on,” she said.
Chapter Nine
As if that one short sentence held the key to a rusty lock, Carver’s snarl before he claimed her lips told her all she needed to know. She was going to die—die of pleasure. The man could fucking kiss! Warm, plush lips covered hers as he sealed them together, mouth to mouth, chest to chest, and pelvis to pelvis. There was no denying that he was hot for her. The bulge pressing into her abdomen didn’t lie.
“She said yes?” Lance’s voice drifted to her as Carver devoured her mouth with his.
The way he licked her lips had her gasping with need. The man didn’t waste any time slipping his tongue inside to claim her there, as well. She didn’t want it to stop, but she needed to be sure Lance was part of this or it would never work.
When she pulled back from Carver’s kiss, she could see just how reluctant he was to pull back and release her. For a brief second, everything seemed to stop around her. If Carver balked at there being three of them, then it would ruin everything. She needed him to accept Lance. She was romantic at heart, but she’d learned the hard way to appreciate practicality. She needed at least two men to keep her safe.
Carver relaxed and rolled to the side with a sigh. When he looked up at Lance, Vella could see the regret and worry on his face.
“She did at that,” Carver said, giving the other man that half-smile of his. “Better kiss the bride before she changes her mind.”
Lance’s face exploded when he smiled. Vella couldn’t believe just how excited he was that she’d agreed to be with them. Did he really care that much about her so soon? It made her feel guilty that she’d been thinking more with her mind than her heart. Yes, she cared about them more than anyone since her brother. And yes, she was pretty sure she was already falling in love with them, but part of her had been afraid and held back from showing how she felt as much. Now, after seeing the way Carver had initially balked at making her their woman, Vella wasn’t so sure it was going to work out after all.
Lance leaned over and gently placed a kiss on each corner of her mouth then the center of her mouth before he ran his tongue along the seam, coaxing her to open for him. She was eager to find out what flavor of kisser he was. His initial gentleness seemed to evaporate once his tongue breached her lips. Where Carver had conquered her using his mouth as the weapon, Lance moved in and swept her off her feet, storming through her until everything else just ceased to exist in that moment.
When Lance drew back, Vella opened her eyes, still in a bit of a daze, and looked over at Carver then back at Lance.
“I want this, guys. You’ve been great to me, and not once have either of you tried to talk me into fooling around with you. You have no idea how much I appreciate that. I also like that you’re honest with me. I hate it when people lie to me to get what they want.” She stopped and decided to go head-first. “Carver. Are you going to be okay with the relationship? If not, we need to stop now. I can’t go down this road if it ends in disaster. I’ve had enough to last me two lifetimes.”
Lance squeezed her hand, drawing her gaze back toward him. She could see worry in his eyes, telling her that he’d noticed the same thing she had. Fear that Carver wouldn’t be able to handle not being the only man in her life sent her heart into a fast gallop even as her lungs seemed to try and shut down.
“Carver?” Lance asked.
“I won’t lie. It’s going to be hard to deal with, but Vella already means a lot to me. She’s the first woman I’ve been around in a long time who didn’t completely freak out the first time she saw me. On top of that, she seems to get me—really get me. I miss my family being around me, knowing we’ve all got each other’s backs when things are rough. I want that again. If that means sharing you with Lance, well, I’ll do it.” Carver ran a hand through his hair, his face a mask of indifference, as if whatever she decided would be fine with him.
Vella knew he wasn’t going to be okay with it if she decided she didn’t want to be with them. She was unsure if she could trust Carver to hold up his promise to be fine with the sharing, yet he’d been a man of his word so far.
Thinking back to when he’d talked a little about his life before, Vella remembered that one of the things he seemed most upset about was losing his “brothers,” as he’d called them, the other members of his club. He’d talked like they were his family and they would always be there for each other. She was sure he didn’t enjoy being alone now and wanted a family again. She could give him that if he would only accept Lance.
She looked at Lance then Carver. “Carver. Lance and I will be your family if you let us. It’s going to take some work, but anything worth having is worth the effort it takes to make it happen. You’re going to have to tone down the possessiveness, and Lance and I are going to have to be patient with you. I understand that. Part of why I’m so drawn to you is that you are strong and your no-nonsense attitude. I know that you and Lance will keep me safe. I know that you won’t give up. That’s important to me.”
She looked back at Lance. His handsome face smiled back at her with an edge of uncertainty. He didn’t think Carver could handle it either. Vella struggled to figure out what to do. She wanted them both, and that was the safest way to live with so many of the bondsmen and black market scavengers out there just waiting to find a female without someone to protect her.
“Lance. I love your smile and the way you’re always making the best of every situation no matter how difficult it seems. You’re flexible, which is something we’re all going to need to be while we get used to each other. I love how you are so careful with me. I know that you won’t hurt me.” She looked over at Carver again. “Neither of you would ever hurt me. That alone makes you winners in my world.”
“We’ll make you happy, Vella. I promise,” Lance said.
She looked up at Carver once more and saw what she thought might have been fear before it was gone. What could he possibly be afraid of?
Is he afraid of not being able to handle Lance being a part of the family? Or is he worried that I’m going to decide I don’t want him as a husband?
The idea that she had the power to make him worry, much less show that fear long enough for her to see it, only made him a little more human in her eyes. She wanted him and Lance. They were a pair to her, and one without the other just wouldn’t be the same. Plus, there was no way one of them could protect her by himself. Maybe once they reached the little community she’d named New Hope, one of them could keep her safe among the much larger group, but there were no guarantees. She wanted to feel safe again. She hadn’t felt that way in so long, she almost couldn’t remember anymore.
“Vella?” Lance gently prodded. “What do you want to do, hon?”
Tears burned the backs of her eyes as she struggled to keep them from falling. She wanted a family, and happiness, and to feel safe again. She wanted them.
“I want the three of us to be together,” she said. “I want a family.”
* * * *
Carver realized he’d been holding his breath while Vella had been thinking. He’d never held his breath waiting for the outcome of someone else’s decision before. Nothing had ever really mattered enough to him until now. How had he gone from just getting her to the safety of the community they were looking for to wanting her as his ole lady? When had he changed his mind?
It had to have been when he’d seen her with that bastard’s hands on her and the gun in his hand. Realizing that he could easily lose her in the blink of an eye had to have been when she went from someone to protect to his someone to protect.
Yeah, right. I made the decision before I ever left the cave to find clothes for her. I just wasn’t admitting it to myself. What am I going
to do when she finds out what I was doing up until a year ago?
Because Carver knew she’d find out. Someone was bound to recognize him at some point. Plus, she deserved to know, just not before they got her safely to where they were headed, Once she was safe so that if she kicked him to the curb after she’d found out about his past then he would tell her. It left a bitter taste in his mouth to know that he might only have her in his arms for a short time. To top it all off, he would be sharing her with Lance. He wasn’t one to share.
“We want that, too, hon. Right, Carver?” Lance was saying.
He pushed his thoughts back to the present and what he knew to be fact right then. Vella wanted him—wanted them. It was more than he would have ever thought possible.
“Yeah. We want that, too.” He looked from her face to Lance’s and nodded at the other man.
Lance’s eyebrow’s lifted, but barely a second passed before he had latched on to the opportunity Carver had given him to be the first to touch, hold, and love their new wife. The other man stretched out next to her and pulled her closer until their noses were nearly touching. Carver wanted to walk away while they were together but knew that would be as good as admitting that he couldn’t do this. He forced himself to settle down next to them and watch. Participate? He wasn’t sure he could do that yet. Sharing was as foreign a concept to him as breaking the law would be to Lance.
His eyes burned as the other man kissed Vella with passion but without the feral heat that he would have kissed her with. Which way did she prefer to be kissed? Was he too rough for her? He knew how to fuck, sex for sex’s sake, but this that Lance was giving her was entirely different. The man had to already be in love with Vella to be so gentle and careful with her.
“You taste like heaven, hon. I can’t wait to get my mouth on that sweet pussy,” Lance was saying. “Let’s pull this off of you so we can touch every part of you.”
