by Gale Stanley
Cade bent to retrieve their discarded clothes. “Let’s shower first, and then I’ll go.”
Ayala sighed but nodded agreement, and he followed her upstairs. Cade stepped into the stall first and adjusted the water. When the temperature was just right, he moved back and made room for Ayala. She stepped under the spray and leaned her head back, letting the water run over her body and soak her hair. A shower caddy hung from the spout, and she reached toward it for the shampoo. Cade beat her to it. “Let me do that.” He massaged the lavender-scented shampoo into her long hair, loving the way the silky strands slipped through his fingers.
“Mmmm,” she mumbled. “Feels good.”
“To me, too.” He rinsed her hair and turned her so she faced the wall. Grabbing a bar of soap, he started at her shoulders and worked his way down. When he reached her firm ass, he felt himself getting hard again, but he continued down her delicious body, washing her thighs, her calves, her feet. Then he stood and pulled her back against his chest, his erection nudging her ass as he soaped her breasts and rolled her nipples.
Ayala whimpered, spread her legs, and wiggled back against the hard rod between her cheeks. Cade slid a soap-slick hand over her belly and lower. His fingers traced her slit, massaging the tender folds. He felt her legs tremble, and he kept a tight hold on her with one arm around her waist. Nipping her lobe, he whispered in her ear. “Tell me what you want, baby. My cock or my tongue.”
In answer, she turned in his arms and her mouth covered his hungrily, her tongue stabbing at his lips. His mouth opened, inviting her in, and her tongue sought his.
“Okay, sweetheart,” he murmured against her lips as he pressed her back against the tiles and maneuvered her hips so the spray hit her soapy cunt. She gasped as the warm water pulsated against her clit.
“Oh, God. Cade, that feels so good.” She gripped his arms hard enough to leave imprints.
“Better than my tongue?” he murmured.
“No. I want your mouth on me.” Whimpering, she tried to push him down.
Cade got to his knees, the water pouring over his back, and nipped the inside of her thigh. Ayala moaned and pulled on his hair, guiding him to where she wanted him most.
“Wait,” he groaned hoarsely. Tugging on her wet curls, he separated her labia and licked along her cleft. Looking up, he caught her heavy-lidded gaze. “Is that what you want, baby?”
“Oh, God, yes,” she hissed.
Grasping her ass, he drew her closer and lapped at her, carefully avoiding her clit peeking out of its hood. Her little mewling noises drove him crazy, and he plunged his tongue inside her, exploring and tasting. God, he would never get enough of her. Her fingers tugged at his hair, her hips rocked against him. She was close. He started using his tongue in earnest, plunging it inside her folds, teasing circles around her clit. She moaned and begged for release. He flicked his tongue over her hot button, and she shattered, clutching his shoulders and convulsing against his face in a series of shuddering spasms.
He scooped her up and carried her out of the shower. Grabbing a fluffy, white towel from a hook on the wall, he wrapped it around her and sat on the toilet, Ayala on his lap.
She snuggled into his arms. “You didn’t come.”
He rubbed her back with the towel. “There’s always next time.”
“The women will be back soon—”
“I didn’t mean now.” He paused, wondering the best way to say what was on his mind—a claiming and a formal union. He wasn’t very good with pretty words and flowery speeches and Ayala never gave him a chance to try. “Ayala, I’ve been thinking about us and—”
Ayala struggled off his lap and wrapped the towel around her. “I think I hear someone at the door. You better go.” She ran out of the bathroom and across the hall into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
His jaw dropped. Shit! Oh, well, there’d be time later.
Chapter Five
The baby let out a piercing wail, startling everyone at the mating ceremony. All eyes turned to watch the infant struggle in its mother’s arms, little plum-sized fists waving in the air. Amid the laughter of the others, only Ayala frowned. If anyone had asked the she-wolf why she was so annoyed, she really couldn’t say. She didn’t want a child of her own. Not really. Maybe it was because the child was a half-breed. She still couldn’t believe the Alpha had accepted the human woman, Janis, and her half-human, half-Lycan baby into the pack. The woman had mated Noah and Wade, two wolf-shifters who had been Ayala’s bed partners many times in the past. Not that she wanted either man for herself, she just thought they deserved better. But the goofy expressions on the men’s faces told a different story. The two Lycans seemed blissfully happy and totally smitten with their human wife and hybrid baby. And Ayala didn’t understand Janis at all. Weren’t human women supposed to be more independent than Lycan females? She’d always thought so, yet Janis had given up a career and her own apartment in the city and tied herself to two dominating men. Well, Ayala would be more than happy to take her place in the free world, even if it meant hiding among humans.
And now there was to be another mating. The Alpha had arranged a ceremony for not only Gage, Tanner, and the she-wolf, Kate, but Kate’s human boyfriend as well. Unbelievable! At least Shiloh Ford would only be around when he wasn’t traveling with the rodeo.
The community room had been cleaned, the tables set with white cloths and colorful Indian pottery. Handmade dream catchers hung from the ceiling and floated over the guests. And the smell of barbeque wafted in from outside.
The Alpha smiled indulgently. It had been a long time since the pack had heard a baby’s cries. Wade juggled the infant in his arms, and the baby’s cries ceased. Everyone turned their attention to the Alpha. Alex nodded to the foursome waiting for his signal, and they approached. The barefoot bride fairly floated in a sleeveless, floor-length white dress. Her long, black hair flowed loose over her shoulders, and she wore dream catcher earrings with colorful feathers. The grooms looked very handsome in their white pants and loose, white shirts with red grosgrain ribbons. Flashbulbs went off in a frenzy of picture taking, and a jolt of jealousy speared Ayala. If this mating produced children, at least the offspring would have family pictures to jog their memories. She had nothing. Everything had been lost with the massacre of their people in the Pine Barrens. New traditions and new pictures were all any of them had.
Ayala and the other three unmated Lycan women came forward and wrapped the bride and her grooms in blue blankets, representing weakness, sorrow, and failure. The Alpha blessed their union, and the quad shed the blue blankets and were enveloped in white, representing happiness, fulfillment, and peace.
After the ceremony, there was much hugging and kissing, and Ayala joined the other women outside to carry in platters of chicken, steaks, and ribs. Electronic music played, and the alcohol flowed endlessly. She picked at a plate of food and tried to decide if she could leave without seeming impolite.
* * * *
Brady stared at Ayala, picturing her standing by his side in a long white dress, smiling up at him, promising to love, honor, and obey him for the rest of their days. Cade elbowed him and brought him back to present day reality. Brady frowned when he noticed his friend eyeing Ayala with interest, and he couldn’t help the little growl that escaped. Cade gave him a funny look, and he turned away.
Cade wasn’t the only man studying Ayala, and it was damn hard not to be jealous. Earlier today the Alpha had announced there would be no more mating schedules. The men were free to find mates without the worry of sharing their attentions. Ayala was beautiful and a skilled bed partner, and any one of the men, Cade included, would mate her in a heartbeat. He didn’t intend to give them the chance. Ayala belonged to him, and he intended to press her for a commitment. He started across the room to ask for a dance.
Cade got to her first. He whispered a few words in her ear and led her to out to the dance floor for a slow number. Cade held her a little too tightly for Brad
y’s liking. Fuck! Next time he’d move faster. A few turns around the floor, and he’d cut in. Cade was a good dancer. The bastard. They floated closer, and Brady got ready to make his move. He took a few steps toward them and—
The Alpha stepped up to the dancing couple, and Alex tapped Cade on the shoulder. “Excuse me, you can’t keep this beautiful woman all to yourself.”
Cade released his hold on Ayala, but instead of taking her in his arms, the Alpha led her outside. What’s that all about?
Brady caught Cade’s eye, and his friend walked over to join him. “What’s going on?”
Cade shrugged. “Don’t know. I was just about to make my move and wham, bam, Alex steps in and sweeps her away.”
“Move? What move?”
Cade leaned in a little closer. “Don’t say anything, okay? I don’t want anyone to know yet. I want to surprise her.”
Brady nodded, tightlipped. Cade’s eyes sparkled with an intensity Brady had never seen before. Damn it to hell! His best friend wanted his woman. Why hadn’t he made his move sooner?
Cade was practically bouncing on his toes. “Now that Alex has loosened up and started thinking rationally, I’m going to take Ayala for my mate.”
Brady’s heart stopped. “How do you know she wants a mate?”
“They all want a mate, a home, cubs. I’ll take good care of her, give her everything she needs.”
Brady wanted to punch the smug expression off Cade’s face. “You’re crazy. She’ll never say yes.”
Cade narrowed his eyes. “How do you know?”
Brady shrugged his shoulders. “I know her, how she thinks.”
“And I think you’re full of shit.”
Brady got up in Cade’s face until they were nose to nose. “Is that right?”
Cade shoved him away, and without a second thought, Brady hauled off and swung at his face, landing a solid punch. Cade shook his head, and bloody snot flew from his nose. Furious, he started swearing and came back with a vengeance. He had just enough time to blacken Brady’s eye before the other men came running and hustled them out the door.
They stood outside glaring at each other. Cade spit at his feet. “You want her, admit it.”
“Maybe I do. We have something special.”
“The fuck you say!” Cade unleashed his jealousy on a nearby garbage can and kicked it to the curb. “Why don’t we let her choose? When she comes back, we’ll talk to her together.”
Brady didn’t like the idea, but what choice did he have? If she really wanted Cade, she’d turn down his offer anyway. They might as well cut to the chase, and they would, as soon as she came back.
* * * *
Who says wolves can’t fly? Ayala had a seat on cloud nine. When the Alpha asked to speak to her in private, and escorted her up to his office, she feared he was going to rain on her parade. Instead, he’d offered to help her if she still wanted to leave. She did. More than ever. Both Cade and Brady had looked at her with serious intent in their eyes, and she had no intention of tying herself to either one of them.
The Alpha’s proposal wasn’t without restrictions, but she could deal because it included a one-way ticket to the big city. There was a job waiting for her at the Foundation for Infertility and Reproductive Medicine, the pack-funded facility in Philadelphia. Dr. Roy Granger himself, the head of the FIRM, would be training her. Her Alpha’s words rang in her ears. Roy is one of us. While you are in Philadelphia, I want you to regard him as your Alpha. He’ll keep you safe. Ayala promised Alex she would do as he asked, but she had no intention of going from one Alpha to another. Once she stepped foot in the city, all bets were off.
Filled with excitement, she didn’t return to the party. Instead, she went back home to start packing. Dressed in an old, baggy T-shirt and cutoff jeans, she started going through her closet, only packing wasn’t as much fun as she thought it would be. The entire contents of her closet and dresser were strewn over the bed and floor. The open suitcase on her bed remained empty. Nothing in her wardrobe would be appropriate in the city. Jeans and sneaks were okay here, but they would never work in Philadelphia. She would buy new clothes as soon as she settled in.
At the sound of a sharp rap, she threw open the door, surprised to see both Brady and Cade standing there.
“You left so quickly, we were worried—” Brady looked beyond her and his face went dark. “What’s going on?”
Ayala flipped her hair in annoyance and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m cleaning out my closet.”
Brady raised a brow. “Looks like a little more than spring cleaning.”
“What do you want?” she snapped.
“Sorry.” Brady cleared his throat. “Look, can we come in? I… we just want to talk for a few minutes.”
“I’m a little busy—”
“Please,” Cade added.
Amazing how one little word can have so much sway over a person. Ayala sighed and stepped aside to let them enter. Their bruised faces didn’t go unnoticed. It must have happened after she left the ceremony, but she refused to bring it up and prolong their visit. Hoping to get this over quickly, she didn’t ask them to sit either. Ayala remained standing as well. “So what’s this all about?”
* * * *
Brady looked at Cade. “I—”
Cade looked back at Brady. “We—”
They both started laughing, and then Cade spoke up. “I want to claim you as my mate in a formal union.”
Her jaw dropped in surprise. “I can’t marry you.”
“Ha!” Brady gave a hoot of excitement. He knew she wanted him over Cade. “I want you to be my mate.”
Ayala turned to Brady. “I can’t marry either of you.” She hesitated as if looking for the right words. “I care for both of you. I couldn’t possibly choose one over the other.”
“Mate us both,” Brady blurted out.
Cade narrowed his eyes at Brady, sending him a look that said what the fuck is wrong with you? Brady glared right back at him. Maybe Cade didn’t like the idea of sharing her. If that was true, he’d better get over it real quick. They were here to convince Ayala to choose one of them as her mate, and she just admitted she couldn’t choose. A triad was the only answer.
Never before had Brady thought about bringing Cade into the picture, but as soon as the words left his mouth he knew it was the right solution for them. Hell it was more than right, it was perfect. He and Cade had been together since they were kids, orphaned and trying to survive in a world where everything had been taken from them with the strike of a match. Through the years they had become so close a physical relationship was inevitable. They were good together and they’d be good for Ayala as well. Taking mates meant security. She’d never want for a thing and in exchange she would take care of them and hopefully bear their cubs. They wouldn’t be the first to have such an arrangement. Wade and Noah were happy with their relationship. He and Cade could make it work, too. He knew they could. “Cade and I will take good care of you.” He looked over at Cade, who nodded reluctantly.
“I would do anything for you, Ayala,” Cade said softly. “I know Brady would, too.”
Ayala’s fingers were splayed out in a fan against her breastbone. She looked from one to the other. “You’re really serious about this?”
“Damn right,” Cade answered. “I wanted to talk to you about a mating the other day and then at the party, but you didn’t give me a chance. Maybe that was for the best because now we can work this out between the three of us. ”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Brady told her.
“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t want a relationship.”
Well, fuck me! Am I hearing right? Brady couldn’t believe his ears. Lycan women were passionate and hot blooded. They all wanted mates who would take care of them and protect them. Didn’t they?
Chapter Six
Trying to let the men down easy had backfired. Instead of being put off, they’d suggested
a triad. Truth be told, the idea of a ménage a trois made her wolf sit up and beg. It gave her pause for all of thirty seconds.
What the hell am I thinking? Brady and Cade wanted more than just an occasional threesome. They wanted to leash her. Being under the thumb of one wolf was bad enough. Two would be unbearable. If they wanted unconditional obedience and unfailing nurturance, they were barking up the wrong tree. How could she make them understand that she didn’t want to take care of a man, or men, and be taken care of in return? She needed to be her own person, not an extension of some testosterone-fueled, overprotective wolf.
“I’m leaving here.” She winced at the expression in their eyes. “I want to see some of the world outside the pack, get a job—”
“A job?” Brady looked at her like she had an extra head on her shoulders. “You have a job here.”
She glared at him. “Sex slave doesn’t qualify.”
“The Alpha will never let you go,” Cade stated firmly.
“That’s what you think.” She huffed. “He’s already given me his blessing.”
“Son of a bitch.” Brady started pacing furiously. “He’s letting you go off by yourself?”
“Where?” Cade asked. “It’s too dangerous. I’ll go with you.”
Ayala rolled her eyes at his oh-so-wolfish attitude. Why do they all prefer women who are useless? Is it an ego thing? “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Besides, I have a job and a place to stay waiting for me in Philadelphia. I’ll be fine.”
Cade stood in front of her. He lifted her chin with a finger. “You really want to leave?”
“Yes.” She felt Brady at her back, his hard erection pressed against her ass. Lycan men thought they could solve everything with sex. Brady cupped her breasts and squeezed. They meant to sway her to their will by fucking her. It wouldn’t work.
Of course she wanted them. Four hands, two mouths, and two hard cocks ready and willing to pleasure her was her ultimate fantasy. Even more exciting was the thought of seeing these two hot men pleasure each other. Already her pussy throbbed, and her shorts were damp at the thought of having both of them in her bed. Her Lycan genes screamed, “go for it,” but just because her extremely sexual nature was inherent in every bit of her genetic makeup didn’t mean she needed or wanted a permanent relationship. She would enjoy them now, but when it came time to leave, she’d have no problem saying good-bye.
