That morning was no different. Just minutes after Mason left, someone knocked on the door of the cabin, and Nikki knew it would be Luke. She guessed he must wait outside every day until he saw Mason leave. For all she knew, Mason gave him the thumbs-up as he left each day. He’d made it very clear that he thought she should forgive Luke.
Nikki grabbed a robe and wrapped it around herself, then went to open the door.
“Good morning, beautiful.” As usual, Luke’s smile lit up her world and she had to look away.
“Hi, Luke.”
“I know these visits are getting old, but I just want you to hear me out.”
“Luke, I—”
Please, don’t say anything. Just listen, just this once. I know what I did was wrong. Even though I didn’t outright lie, I deceived you. I should have told you that I wasn’t planning to live as your mate from the very beginning. And I shouldn’t have touched you a single time after the consummation if I didn’t intend to stay.”
“Okay—”
“Wait. I need to get this out. I know you think I played with your emotions, but I didn’t really entertain the idea of leaving for very long. All it took was a couple of nights with you and I swear, Nikki, I swear to you I was hooked. I was just afraid to tell Zion and Grey that and make it official, so I tried to have you and my easy exit, just in case. And, yes, I know now how stupid that was.”
“Because the sex was so good?” And she’d be damned if it hadn’t been.
“No, it’s not that. Making love to you is like nothing I ever imagined, but I found that I liked holding you in my arms while you slept, and I started looking forward to the way you sighed and sometimes whimpered a little in your sleep. I figured out that the worst thing I could imagine wasn’t losing my freedom. It was spending the night without you next to me. Nikki, I haven’t slept well since the last night of the hydan.”
Come to think of it, he did look tired. She opened her mouth to tell him she was ready to work past that, but he cut her off again.
“Nothing is as good without you. Food doesn’t even taste as good without you there to eat with me. I miss the sound of your voice, the way you get that little crinkle in your nose when you don’t like something. Hell, I even miss your smell. I love you, Nikki, and I want you in my life, for the rest of my life.”
Wow. Nikki was stunned. She’d expected him to say he loved her. He’d said it many times over the last few weeks, but everything else was more than she’d hoped for. Maybe he really did love her.
“So…I have something for you—”
“You didn’t have to bring anything. It’s not gifts that matter to me.”
“I didn’t bring a gift this time. I do have something for you, but it’s not here. I have to take you to it.”
“Luke, I really don’t need another gift. I was just going to tell you—”
“Don’t say it. Don’t shut me down again. Please, I’m just asking for this one thing. Come and see what I have for you, and if you don’t want it, I’ll give you some space. I won’t give up completely, but I’ll stop coming around every day, begging you to forgive me.”
Telling Luke she forgave him was turning out to be harder than she’d thought. He obviously expected her to reject him again. It was kind of cute, seeing him so eager and unsure of himself for once.
“Okay, where is it?” She was curious, after all, and maybe he’d let her get a word in edgewise after she’d seen it.
* * * *
“All of this mystery…Can’t you give me a little hint?” Nikki asked.
“Nope.” Mason had held firm. He knew what the big surprise was, but he wouldn’t give her even the tiniest bit of information. His job, as he’d apparently agreed with Luke, was to deliver her to his older brother. After that, he would leave them alone to talk.
“I don’t see why you can’t just tell me. Did I ever mention that I hate surprises?”
“Only about fifty times in the last five minutes.”
“And,” she continued, ignoring that comment, “I don’t see why you have to leave. I mean, we’re all in this together.”
“That’s true, but this misunderstanding or whatever you want to call it was between you and Luke, so I think it’s only fair that he gets some time alone with you to work it out. Besides, I won’t be far away. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I guess that’s okay.”
“Are you nervous about being alone with Luke?” Mason asked.
“No, it’s not that. Not really.” Maybe it was. She didn’t know what to expect, and it had been a while since they’d been alone for any length of time. Now that she’d forgiven him, she wondered if she could keep her hands off him long enough for him to unveil whatever this big surprise was.
Mason took her hand in his. “If you’re really bothered by the thought of me leaving, I’ll stay. It’s just that if it were me, I’d want at least a little time alone to make my apologies.”
“I’m fine. You’re right. I am a little nervous, but it’s time to put my big-girl panties back on.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear you’re okay with this, because this is as far as I go. Luke is waiting for you just around that bend.” He pointed ahead to where the natural trail they were walking on curved around a dense collection of trees. Nikki stood on tiptoe to meet his good-bye kiss. “I’ll stand here for a few minutes just to make sure you don’t change your mind.”
“You don’t have to. I can take care of myself.”
“I know, but I’ll wait anyway.”
Nikki squeezed his hand and let go, following the trail to the bend. Luke wasn’t far ahead. She could smell him now. She turned to wave at Mason and then rounded the bend, inhaling sharply as she saw Luke standing not far ahead, beckoning to her. He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of cut-off shorts, and as usual, the look of him made her want to melt. Nikki was relieved he wasn’t in wolf form. If he had to shift back and she had to stare at his naked body, the talking part might be seriously delayed.
“Hi,” he said, smiling that knee-weakening smile of his.
“Hi,” she said. It was a little awkward. She didn’t know quite what to say.
“It’s just up ahead.”
Luke led the way to a large clearing that held huge piles of lumber. It took Nikki a minute to register what the lumber was for, probably because she was too busy admiring his pecs. “Someone’s building a house here?”
His expression was serious as he turned to her. “I am. I’m building our house. The home I hope you’ll want to live in with me, and Mason.”
“You’re building a house?” That was not at all what she’d expected.
“Not just any house. Our home. Over there will be a huge living room with a fireplace for relaxing in the cold season. That area over there…I’m thinking that will be the kitchen. Mason and I can take turns cooking our meals in there. I’m thinking all one level, so over there will be the master bedroom, and adjacent to that will be the bathroom with a separate room for the hot tub, one big enough for the three of us. The nursery will be just down the hall from the master bedroom.”
She’d been speechless until then. “The nursery?”
“Yes, for our pups. I know we’ll have to wait a while because of this mess with Ulric, but as soon as we’re sure that’s over…. Of course, all of this is negotiable. I want pups with you, but if you don’t want that, I understand. If you do, we’ll have to figure out how many other bedrooms to add. And if you prefer a two-story, we can work that out. None of that really matters. What matters is that you’re here with me and the three of us are never going to be separated again.”
Nikki couldn’t help it. The tears had started to fall when he mentioned a nursery. Now, she couldn’t help but laugh a little through the tears. “Do you even know how to build a house?”
“Not a clue, but I have a crew lined up to guide me through it. There are still some particulars to work out, but building begins in the morning.”
L
ooking around, Nikki realized they had to be on the border of Raven Clan territory, or maybe they were already on the former Lycan side. “Who owns this land?”
“We do. I bought it from my father and Zion this morning. It straddles the line that used to separate our clans, and I thought it would be nice to have our privacy, yet remain close to both settlements.”
“It must have cost a fortune. Where did you get the money?”
“Well, my mother left Mason and me some money in her will, and I added that to earnings I’ve saved over the years. Then, Mason chipped in his part. Our fathers offered us the land for free, but I want it to belong to us rather than the clan.”
“All this is really yours?” The tree-lined area he’d pointed out was huge. Nikki couldn’t even begin to imagine what they’d do with so much space.
“It’s ours, and I promise to make it a place you’re proud to call home.” Luke took her hand, his eyes shining. “All you have to do is say yes. Let me spend a lifetime proving how much I love you.”
Nikki was so overwhelmed that at first, she couldn’t speak. When she finally worked past the lump in her throat, she gave the only answer possible. “Yes, Luke. Yes!”
Luke swept her up in his arms and swung her in a circle before kissing her tenderly on the lips. Nikki leaned into his kiss, her body quickly recalling his. She wove her hands in his dark hair and kissed him with everything she had. The next thing she knew, they were rolling around in the grass, trying to remove each other’s clothing, yet unwilling to part long enough to do it properly. Luke had just managed to pull the top of her sundress down to her waist when Nikki realized someone else was there and looked up to see Mason staring down at her.
“Starting without me?” Mason asked. His timing was perfect.
Luke stood and offered her a hand up, but Nikki was intent on finishing what they started, right there in the place where they’d build a life together. Kneeling on the ground in front of Luke, she removed his sneakers and socks and then reached for the button of his cut-off shorts. Her eyes widened at the size of the bulge that stretched the denim, though she shouldn’t be surprised. They’d been apart for too long. She unzipped his shorts and tugged them down to his ankles. He hastily stepped out of them and kicked them away.
He was huge for her, breathtakingly hard, and Nikki licked her lips just looking at him. His sharp intake of breath made her look up. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been dreaming of making love to you again for what feels like forever, and you’re licking your lips two inches from my cock.”
Smiling at that, Nikki returned her attention to the body part in question. There was already a drop of pre-cum glistening on the tip, and she leaned forward to kiss it away.
Luke groaned. “That’s it. It’s obvious you’re trying to kill me.”
“Oh, alright.” She looked up and winked at him. Then, opening wide, she went down on his cock, taking his length into her mouth until there simply wasn’t any room for more. She thought he’d lose his balance, he seemed so unsteady on his feet, but then she felt his fists in her hair as he steadied himself, moaning low and long in the open air.
Nikki pushed forward and back, tonguing every inch of his cock from the hilt to the tip before pushing forward again to suck him back into her mouth. Her tongue danced along the swollen veins she felt there and played with the tender skin just below the head as she cupped his balls, squeezing just enough to elicit another tortured groan.
Luke tugged at her hair, pulling her back until she was forced to let his cock drop from her mouth. “Open your mouth for me. Stick out your tongue.”
She did as he asked, and Luke stroked his cock slowly along her tongue, drawing her forward with his other hand, until her tongue was touching his balls. She licked and mouthed them, reaching up to grasp his cock, pushing him toward the climax she could tell was only seconds away. He was so tense with need, she was surprised he hadn’t already erupted all over her face.
Mason knelt behind her, whispering in her ear, “I could come just watching you suck his cock.” He slipped his hand under the dress he’d insisted she wear and fingered her pussy. She’d hoped her talk with Luke would end with lovemaking, so she hadn’t bothered wearing any panties.
Gasping at his touch, she looked over her shoulder at Mason. His face was darkened with need. “So this is why you insisted on a dress?”
“Easy access,” he admitted. “Actually, the dress was Luke’s idea.”
“You knew…this would happen?” It was hard to get the words out because Mason had found her clit.
Luke shrugged. “I hoped like hell.” His voice was strained, and she knew he was trying to prolong the inevitable, but when she moved to take him back in her mouth, he stopped her. “I need your pussy, Nikki. I need to be inside you.”
Her men changed positions so quickly and easily that Nikki wondered if that had been part of their plan as well.
Luke pushed the skirt of her sundress up until it was bunched around her waist and stroked an exploratory finger up and down her slit. “Fuck! You’re soaking wet.”
There was no need to wait. She was more than ready to take him and pushed back hard against his hand to make that point clear. “Make love to me, Luke. Fuck me now.”
He didn’t make her say it twice. Luke pushed into her hard and strong, fingers locking on her hips as he began to ride her.
Mason fisted her hair, almost as urgent as Luke, despite having made love to her just hours ago. “Give me your mouth.”
Nikki braced herself against Mason’s thighs as she gave herself over to the blissful feeling of pleasing both her men. They surrounded her with raw masculinity as they filled her mouth and pussy at once, treating her ears to the sounds of their groans and growls of pleasure.
As Luke rode her faster and harder, reaching between her legs to roll her clit between his thumb and forefinger, Nikki dug her fingers into Mason’s thighs, arching into Luke’s thrusts, surprised at how quickly she was approaching orgasm. She moaned against Mason, trying to keep her focus on sucking him off but quickly losing control. Hearing Luke’s shout of release pushed her just to the precipice and his hand between her legs clutching and squeezing her pussy shoved her over. Nikki came moaning and whimpering against the cock that was still pumping in and out of her mouth.
All at once, Mason stepped away, and Luke moved backward, drawing her with him until he was lying on his back, still inside her, with her legs spread wide on top of him. Mason came down between her legs, pressed the head of his cock against her still-throbbing clit and shot his load all over her pussy.
“I love you,” Mason said, rubbing his thumb over her clit. It slipped back and forth in his jism, and though Nikki would have thought it too soon, that bit of friction was too much. With zero warning, the aftershocks wracking her body built to a quick and intense crescendo, flinging her into another world-tilting climax.
* * * *
Nikki wasn’t sure how long it took her to come down off her post-orgasmic high, but eventually she realized Luke was moving inside her once more, and Mason’s talented mouth was working its magic on her breasts.
Luke’s lips grazed her ear, his deep voice sending jolts straight to her pussy. “Round two?”
As if he had to ask.
* * * *
Nikki insisted that they spend their first night back together on their new land. She was amazed and overjoyed at the ideas Luke had dreamt up. In the aftermath of their lovemaking, she learned that he’d approached Mason after he’d found what he’d believed to be the perfect location. Mason had readily agreed and put most of his savings toward the venture, though Luke would have primary responsibility for the building. Nikki intended to contribute as well, though they both insisted that wasn’t necessary. They said they were happy to provide for her, but she was sure there would be something along the way that would require more cash, and she’d be proud to throw her savings in then.
At first, her men
had laughed at the idea of sleeping in a tent, and she supposed it seemed silly that a wolf shifter would do so. After all, many slept in the rough. But Nikki was used to the comforts of indoor living, and the idea of spending the night as a feast for mosquitos didn’t appeal to her. Besides, the walls of the tent afford them privacy from the men her father had insisted on posting on the edges of their land. With news of Ulric’s attacks on other clans becoming more frequent, Zion and Grey had increased patrols of the entire new clan territory and almost vetoed Nikki’s plan to camp out. She’d put her foot down, though, and managed to win that argument.
Once her men had realized she was serious about the tent, they’d walked her back to the cabin and gone off in search of one while she showered and gathered supplies. They’d share the cabin until their home was built, but their first night back together was special, and Nikki thought it romantic to spend it where they would raise a family and grow old together.
And they would grow old together. Despite the threat Ulric represented, despite the threat of war with the vampires, they’d decided to move forward with building a life. They would grab on to love and life, riding both hard while things were relatively peaceful. And if war did make it to River’s Bend, they would face it together.
Now, Nikki lay nestled between her mates. They were both asleep or on their way there. Luke had one hand curled possessively around her left breast and Mason’s chest served as her pillow. Nikki had never felt so content, so happy, and so hopeful for the future. Pups. She still couldn’t believe Luke wanted pups. They both did, and she was only too happy to oblige. She smiled sleepily, thinking how lucky she was to have them. Thinking mine. My fated. As she drifted off, she heard their voices in her head, echoing each other. Yours. Forever yours.
Nikki's Fated [Wolves of River's Bend 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 17
