by Milly Taiden
A waiter with a tray of filled fluted glasses passed by. She grabbed two, downing the first immediately. She’d need five or six more to get through the night.
Moving into the parlor, her eyes landed on a fifteen-foot-tall white dragon. It looked exactly like Frost’s animal. She put her hand on its side and realized it wasn’t real. Too hard of an exterior. Cold.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Raven turned to her mother.
“It is. Where did it come from?”
Her mom smiled. “One of the local restaurants let us borrow it for the night. It goes well with the theme, don’t you think?”
“Obviously,” Raven replied, gulping half the champagne in the glass. Her mother sighed.
“Raven, I’ve had enough of your moping. You stay in your home, barely coming out. You’re not eating. If you miss any more work, I’m going to have to pass it on to poor Jeff. You remember Jeff? One of your VPs. The one who just had a baby. Do you really want to keep him away from his family at a time like this? What is it you can’t get past?”
God, she didn’t need this right now. “Mom, you don’t understand.”
“Then make me,” she replied. “I try to stay out of your personal life. But I see you’re broken-hearted over something.”
Raven was surprised her mom had been that observant. “I fell in love, Mom, with two men, and I was just a way to pass the time until another assignment came along.”
“Are you sure of that?” Mom asked. “Have you talked to either of these men?”
Upon getting home, Raven had shut off her laptop and phone and any other device the guys could use to connect with her. “No. But I don’t need to talk to them.”
“Sometimes you young people make me happy my hair is naturally white, or else, I’d have gray from hard-headed youths,” said a voice behind her.
“Gerri!” her mother said excitedly to a beautiful woman about her mother’s age in a gold dress, who wore no mask. The woman’s blue eyes reminded her of her two dragons. Her clear porcelain skin made her look young, but the laugh lines around her eyes and something in her gaze spoke of many years of experience.
“Hello,” Raven said quietly.
“Gerri, this is my daughter, Raven. Raven, this is Gerri Wilder. I told you about her.”
She couldn’t remember anything her mother said about the woman, but she smiled. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Wilder.”
“It would be nicer to meet you if you’d given those two dragons a chance to explain themselves. Do you know what a pain it is to get a call in the middle of the night from two dragons panicked over losing their one true love?”
Her jaw dropped. “What?”
“Oh my god!” her mom squealed. “They’re the ones? The security guys were the ones you matched her with?”
Gerri nodded and sipped her champagne. “Indeed. I told you there was nothing to worry about.”
“But then, why won’t you speak to them?” her mom asked Raven, confusion in her eyes.
“Did you fall in love?” Gerri asked point blank.
Raven gulped. It was one thing to talk to her mother about this, but she didn’t know this woman.
“Honey, Gerri is the matchmaker I told you about. She owns the Paranormal Dating Agency. I asked her to find you a mate.”
Raven’s eyes wide, she gaped at her mother. “You what?”
Her mother waved a hand dismissively. “I asked you if you’d let her help you and you said yes.”
“I thought you meant later on, once I came back from Alaska!”
Her mother shrugged. “I’ve never been good at waiting. Besides, this killed two birds with one stone. She got you two mates and they were able to protect you.”
“I don’t even know what to say.”
“How about you stop stalling and answer my question,” Gerri said. “I’m sure the sex was hot enough, or you wouldn’t be moping like a love-struck teenager.”
“I’m not a love-struck teenager,” she ground out.
“You’re acting like a teenager. I was under the impression, from what your mother told me, that you’re a woman who knows her mind and what she wants in life. Yet, here you are. Ignoring Ice and Frost and their calls to you, their mate. How is that not childish?”
Fuck! This woman was getting on her last nerve. Mainly because she was right. She could’ve at least listened to them and what they had to say instead of running off like a little kid.
“Let’s try this a different way. Did either man tell you he loved you?” her mother asked.
The time in the ice igloo flashed in her mind. “Yes, but they were lying. They were paid to say that.”
Her mother grabbed one of her arms, Gerri the other and both dragged her to a far corner.
“Amanda,” Gerri said to her mother, “tell me she’s not this dense most of the time.”
Her mother shook her head. “I’m embarrassed you’re acting this way, Raven. But I know you’ve never really been in love, and never with two men, so I’ll let it slide.”
She gaped at her mother’s disappointed features. What the hell was going on?
“Give me one good reason why my dragons would lie?” Gerri asked.
Her dragons? Not in this lifetime. Those were Raven’s dragons. Only hers.
A bright blaze started in Gerri’s gaze. “We don’t have all night.”
Her mother sighed. “I’m not as stupid as you believe I am. But I’m starting to think you are a damn moron, pouting because you’re scared.”
Raven’s mouth fell open for the umpteenth time. Her mother had never said anything like that or ever used that tone. Instantly, her defenses kicked in. “I’m not scared.”
“Yes, you are,” her mom replied and glanced at Gerri. “What do you think?”
“Terrified.”
Raven growled. “I’m not.”
Her mother pursed her lips. “You’re afraid that others will think less of you if you go against the norm.” Raven shrugged. Her mom could be right. Leaving Ice and Frost had been easier because she’d had the reason of them being hired to protect her. Not like their relationship was going to be a real life forever threesome. That wasn’t a real thing, was it?
How would her parents’ friends and colleagues look at her? What if her relationship with two men ended up embarrassing her family? Raven couldn’t stand her parents being looked down on with disdain. “You know what I say to that?” Raven shook her head at her mom’s question. “Fuck them. Fuck everyone that’s got anything negative to say. This is not their business. This has nothing to do with them.”
Her eyes popped wide. “Mother! I can’t believe you said that!” She scanned the area to see if anyone was close enough to hear them.
“She’s right, Raven,” Gerri added. “I can see you’re worrying too much about what ifs and not enough about what really matters—feelings. Yours and theirs.”
“It’s true, Raven. If your heart says you love someone, even two someones, then you need to do everything in your power to make the magic happen.” Magic was the right word, she thought. “How many times have you had strong feelings for a man?” her mom asked.
That was easy. “Zero, going on none.”
“Exactly. And now you have found love. Don’t let it go. Fight for it.”
“You’ve got a lot to think and decide on, little girl,” Gerri told her. “Make your decisions quickly.”
Her mother straightened and smoothed back her hair. “Now, the auction starts in a few minutes. Be ready to come on stage.” She and Gerri started walking off. “Come on, Gerri. You need to meet my husband. He’s the sexiest man here tonight. Oh,” her mom said over her shoulder, “the two men Gerri hired were strictly business. The fact they fell in love with you and you turned out to be their mate was completely personal.”
Gerri met her gaze. “I never make a mistake, Raven. You belong with them.”
Raven wanted to ask her what she meant. But they disappeared among the guests. She sighed and turned bac
k to the beautiful statue. She hadn’t noticed before, but a stunning broach was attached to its throat. Sparkling emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, and rubies created a swirl within a swirl that drew her in. She reached out and touched it. Again, cold. Just like everything else in her life.
Joining the crowd, she found the mask she’d set down when she double-fisted the champagne glasses. She wandered into the ballroom, seeing all the different activities. There were silly carnival games where you tossed rings onto bottles, threw beanbags in a hole, and other things she remembered doing when she was young.
Out of place movement caught her eye. Not far from her, a tall mime folded a piece of paper into a dragon for a little girl then made a flower appear out of nowhere for her. Magic, her mother had said.
The child and mom moved on, and the clown swayed side to side on his stilts, spotting her looking at him. She was going to look away, but he caught her. She prepared herself for the interaction. Again, she didn’t want to talk to anyone.
He stepped in front of her and squatted to her height. A half-black, half-white mask covered his face. But his light blue eyes were visible, and they grabbed a hold of her. Distantly, she heard the auction getting started and knew she had to go, but his eyes wouldn’t let her.
He waved his hands around her face and pulled them back to reveal a small raven in his hands. She gasped. “How did you do that?” He tossed the bird up and it flew away, no one noticing. He put a finger over his lips as if telling her to keep his secret.
Someone took her hand and pulled her toward the stage, but her eyes didn’t want to leave the magic man. Then he lifted his hands and wiggled his fingers. Snowflakes drifted to the floor.
Ice! It was him! She yanked against whoever was guiding her, but they didn’t let go. Quickly, the crowd surrounded her, cutting off her view of the man—one of—she loved.
He was here. He came to see her. She knew how much Ice hated the city, but he suffered for her. Her mom’s words rang in her head: ...you have found love. Don’t let it go. Fight for it.
She would fight for it. She would stop worrying about others and what they thought and go where her heart led her. What was the purpose of living if there was no love in your life?
Climbing the stairs onstage, she looked over her shoulder, searching for her mime. He was gone from where she left him. Hearing her name snapped her attention to her mother standing at the podium talking into a mic.
“The highest bidder will enjoy this evening’s events with the person they bid on. This is all in good, clean fun, and for a great cause, so no hanky-panky. Please stay in the main rooms or the balcony. Thank you. Now let’s get this started. First up is my daughter, Raven. We’ll start the bidding at one thousand dollars.”
Raven about fell over hearing the price. She’d never been to a singles auction before and wasn’t looking forward to this one. Especially now that Ice was somewhere. Was Frost here? Was he going to bid on her maybe?
Several hands went up at first, then diminished with each higher dollar amounts. She studied the last handful of men, realizing none of them had the build or height Frost did. Her heart fell. Ice may have been there, but Frost didn’t care enough to bid money on her.
Tears stung, but she blinked quickly, pushing them away. The winning gentleman was a short, bald man with a black mask over his eyes. No offense to the guy, but she had no desire to be there anymore. Maybe she could sneak out the back. Surely her mom wouldn’t charge him the bid price since she was going to renig.
Before she could take any action, the man ran onstage and grasped her hand. Shocked, Raven glanced at her mom to make sure this was proper procedure. Her mother winked at her and smiled.
The little man pulled her forward through the crowd, nudging people out of the way. She lifted the front of her dress so she could hurry without stepping on it. What the hell was going on? He was headed for the front entrance. Her mom said to stay in the main rooms. She didn’t like this and started to resist. But the little turd was persistent.
Just outside the door, he stopped and gestured toward the open door of a limo. “This is where we part, sweet lady. Please enjoy the rest of your night.” With that, he turned and walked back inside.
Cautiously, she approached and glanced at the man holding the door. He smiled. “Good evening, miss. It is my pleasure to chauffer you this evening.”
“Chauffer me where?” She bent down to look inside the car. “Did my mother set up another blind date?”
A hand snapped out and grabbed her forearm, pulling her inside. She found herself on the lap of a familiar mime. His lips came down on hers. Tasting her man, she melted into him.
When he let her come up with air, she was lifted and placed on another lap. Her Frost was here. He hadn’t abandoned her. She glanced at the broach at the base of his neck. It was the same jeweled piece as on the white dragon inside.
She punched his arm. “Borrowed from a local restaurant, my ass.” The men laughed.
“Your mother and Gerri were very helpful in setting this up,” Frost said.
That brought to mind the whole issue of her mother hiring them to babysit her.
“Hey, now,” Ice moved next to her on Frost’s lap, “whatever you’re thinking is not true. Yes, you mother originally hired us to watch over you because she loves you.”
Frost picked up from there. “And like she said inside, us falling in love with you was completely personal. All that is real. Please, Raven,” he begged, “fight for us, fight for love.”
She leaned over and pushed the button that raised the window between the driver and the backseats. Then she pulled on the zipper of her dress. With a smile, she said, “I think you guys need to prove how much you love me.”
Ice stopped her, pulling the gown off himself. He growled by her ear. “I need inside you.”
She swallowed back a moan and leaned into Ice, her body aflame with every touch from both men.
Tearing the clothes off Ice, she glanced over her shoulder to Frost. He was already naked and roaming his hands down her naked back. Ice grabbed her hands and placed them on his chest, then caressed his way down his abs down to his hard cock. “Is this what you want?”
God, yes! Instead of screaming out a reply, she met his gaze and licked her lips. He groaned and pulled her to straddle him.
“Christ,” he groaned, his hand fondling her pussy and gliding between her folds. “You’re soaked and so hot. I need you.”
She curled her hands around his neck and pulled her face to his. “I need you, too. Both of you. In me.”
“Fuck, you say the sexiest shit, baby.” Frost kissed the back of her neck, sliding his tongue down her spine. “I’ll never get tired of this,” Frost murmured against her skin, his breath warm. “You, all hot and slick for us.”
His hands glided down her sides, curled back and grasped her ass cheeks.
She gasped at the wetness that dripped from her sex. “I’ve never felt this desperate.”
Ice kissed her, his tongue instantly invading her mouth and aggressively possessing her. God, she loved his aggression.
“That’s it, baby,” Ice groaned. “Open for me.”
An electric shudder raced down her spine. He took her lips, her mouth, her whole damn body and owned it. Their tongues rubbed over each other like a decadent massage. Then she slowly lowered over his cock, taking his large length into her slick sex.
They both groaned into their kiss. His hands pulled her down and forward, pushing her body to take all of him. She gasped, leaning closer to his body.
“That’s sexy as hell,” Frost grunted. “But I want some attention, too.”
Ice broke off their kiss and ran his tongue over Raven’s lips. “Say no more.”
Before she knew what was going on, both men had her by the waist, flipping her around. In the blink of an eye, she was once again impaled by Ice’s cock.
“Now,” Frost grinned, seated across from her. “I like this much better.”
&nbs
p; She licked her lips and leaned forward, riding Ice and gripping Frost’s thighs. His massive hard cock was in front of her face. Hot. Enticing. She circled the head of his sex with her tongue, giving a suck to the slit. The salty, creamy taste of him made her slicker between her legs.
“Fuck,” Ice groaned. “I felt you squeeze my cock when you sucked his dick. That felt amazing.”
Frost fondled one of her tits and pulled her hair away from her face. Ice fingered her asshole with one hand while rubbing on her clit with the other. “Ride my dick, baby. Take all of me and squeeze. Suck my cum deep into your pussy.”
She groaned, sucking deep and leaving a saliva trail coating Frost’s cock when she pulled her head back. Ice thrusted in and out of her “Do you like his dick fucking you deep?”
“Oh, god…”
“Tell me,” Frost asked. “How do you like feeling him stretching you until you can’t take any more?”
“Please,” she begged, her body burning with the need to let the tension curling inside unfurl and feel the wave release she knew was coming.
“Or do you prefer him rubbing your pussy walls and making fire light deep inside you until you can’t take anymore?”
She pulled him out of her mouth and licked her lips. “God, yes!”
Ice lifted and dropped her over his dick, each drop allowing his length to fill her deeper than she ever thought possible.
“You have the tightest pussy,” he grunted. “So hot. So fucking wet.”
“She’s got an amazing mouth, too,” Frost said, a slick grin on his lips. “I want your lips wrapped around my dick again.”
Her pussy squeezed at his words and Ice gasped. “Fuck!”
Her body heated more and more the longer Ice fucked her. Taking Frost’s dick back into her mouth, she jerked him as she sucked, loving the way he threw his head back and his ab muscles tightened.
“Yeah,” he moaned. “Just like that. God, your mouth is fucking amazing.”
“I want you to come,” Ice said, biting the back of her shoulder. “I want to feel you tighten and suck my dick while I fill your hot pussy with my cum. I want you dripping, baby. Dripping. We’re going to get you pregnant. Both of us. My cum is going to slide down your pussy and ass. Then I’ll lick the trail and fuck my way back into your tasty heat.”
