Shifted Temptations

by Black, C. E.

  “You’re wrong.”

  My head jerked up at the sound of Sam’s sharp voice. She stood in the hallway entrance, wearing only my shirt, her long hair falling over her shoulders. Even with her rounded belly, the shirt swallowed her whole, making her look almost frail, vulnerable. The shaky way she balanced on her crutches did not help the image.

  I rushed over and helped her to the sofa. She sat down with a sigh and graced me with a soft smile of gratitude. I held onto that smile like a dying man, even as she turned her attention to the fuming Alex.

  “Leave him alone, Alex. Jordan did not take advantage me. I wanted to be with him.”

  I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief at her words, but the guilt continued to nag at my subconscious.

  Alex threw his hands in the air in agitation. “Do you not remember what happened before I left to go to the store?”

  Sam blushed, but did not turn away. As pretty as she looked with that rosy glow, I wanted to throttle Alex for embarrassing her.

  That would have to wait it seemed, because at that moment, I was too busy trying to keep up with the two of them. It was like a ping-pong match, back and forth they went. I wondered when they would realize the fight was useless.

  “I remember you being a complete ass.”

  “Yeah, well better me being an ass than taking advantage of your crazy emotions.”

  “Crazy?”

  “Irrational! You threw a book at my head!”

  “You deserved it, you prick!”

  I watched as Alex came closer and closer to Sam with each shout. It was obvious what had happened. Alex had pushed Sam away, claiming her hormones were too unbalanced, when all he really wanted was to take her up on the offer. Sam, while it might be true that her emotions were up and down at times, knew exactly what she wanted.

  I let the argument play out, knowing how it would end. Alex loved Sam as much as I did and I did not doubt Sam felt the same.

  Alex was right in front of Sam, leaning down so that their noses practically touched. “You kissed me!”

  “You’re right, I did!.”

  “You shouldn’t have!”

  “No, you shouldn’t have run like a pussy!”

  I barely held back a chuckled as Alex pulled back, his mouth opened in shock at her blunt words. It didn’t take him long to recover.

  “Oh yeah, well maybe next time I won’t!”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah!”

  I grinned as their lips collided with an intense kiss.

  ~ 17 ~

  Sam

  I was so angry with Alex for tearing into Jordan and implying that I couldn’t make my own decisions. I acknowledged that I was feeling uneasy; so many different emotions were crashing into me at the same time. The one thing that had never changed was how much I wanted him and Jordan.

  As we argued, my need only increased until it had to have an outlet. Alex’s mouth was the perfect conduit.

  His lips were hot and fierce as he took possession of my mouth. For it was a possession. He owned me, they both did. I gave myself to him, letting him devour me with each stroke of his tongue. The anger dissipating and my need only grew stronger.

  His hands were everywhere. They skimmed down my back, up my thighs, my sides, over my stomach and breasts. However, even in his hurried, eager state, he remembered to be gentle, caressing my nipples softly and not squeezing my breast too hard.

  I was moaning into his mouth, becoming just as enthusiastic as I ran my hand under his shirt to feel the hard plains of his stomach. Suddenly, I was lifted off the couch. I wrapped my arms around Alex’s neck as he broke the kiss, only to run his tongue down my neck while he carried me to his room.

  We both fell to the bed, pulling at each other’s clothes. We were naked in seconds and I relished the feel of his bare skin against mine. His dark chest hair, brushed against my heated flesh, causing me to shiver with want.

  Alex moved over my body, his hands, mouth, fingers, tongue, they were everywhere, bringing me closer and closer to the edge. My mouth opened wide and I arched back as he thrust his thick cock into my wet core.

  He pressed deep, filling me completely, but carefully, keeping his strokes gentle and his weight off my middle. I was on the verge of an explosive climax when I notice Jordan standing in the doorway watching.

  His blue eyes were dark and fixated on my face. His hand was grasping his engorged cock, stroking slowing. I licked my lips, wishing he would come closer.

  He did not grant me my wish. He stayed where he was and continued to jerk his shaft. The sight had my sex gushing. With Alex’s cock pumping into me, combined with his thumb stroking my clit had my back arching as I detonated. I screamed Alex’s name and dug my nails into his shoulder as my orgasm rushed through me.

  I slowly came back to earth. My limbs were lax and my eyelids were heavy as Alex continued to thrust. He turned and motioned for Jordan to join us. Jordan shed his jeans and crawled across the bed until he kneeled beside my head. I didn’t hesitate to open my mouth.

  Jordan’s cock was big, but I had learned how to swallow just right to take most of him. He moaned as I swiped my tongue across the sensitive head, lapping up the salty juices that had began to seep out.

  I sucked him in deep, trusting Jordan to control his thrusts and not choke me. He placed his hand on my cheek, holding me gently. His gaze held mine, showing his appreciation.

  Alex’s finger rubbing circles over my clit had me bucking off the bed.

  “One more,” he gritted out of clenched teeth.

  He was close, but wanted me to come again. With the two of them loving me, it had not taken long.

  My thighs tensed as I came hard, crying out around Jordan’s cock. My screams cut short as ropes of hot cum shot down my throat.

  Alex and Jordan both shouted out as they reach completion. I swallowed as my body quivered with the intense orgasm, my sex clenching and throbbing, pulling Alex deeper.

  Moments later, Jordan slipped free from my mouth as Alex pulled out of my swollen flesh. They cuddled around me, caressing my flushed skin, calming my pounding heart. They wrapped themselves around me and I was in heaven. This was what I had been missing all those months ago.

  “I wasn’t too rough, was I?” Alex asked. He was facing me, running his fingers down my arms. Jordan nestled against my back, his hand warm against my stomach.

  “No,” I whispered.

  The three of us intertwined, just holding each other in silence. I could not believe I was with my two men again. I had thought they were out of my life for good and that was before the accident. I shuddered, thinking about what could have happened.

  Those few seconds before that car collided with mine were the scariest moments of my life. I was so thankful for the broken bones and bruises, because that meant I was alive and so was my child. To think of losing the baby or dying and never being able to tell Jordan or Alex how much I loved them, had me trembling.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Jordan asked in a hushed tone, as if he didn’t want to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere we were floating in.

  “Nothing’s wrong, I was just thinking about the accident. In a way, I’m glad it happened, because I got to be here with you again.”

  “That was absolutely the worst experience of my life,” Jordan said stiffly.

  I turned to look at his face. His expression was pinched as if he were in pain. I rubbed his arm, offering comfort.

  “I had never felt so terrified than when I heard you were in the hospital.”

  I stretched up to kiss him. “I’m okay.”

  Alex twisted a strand of my hair in his fingers. “We know you are...now,” he said. “But, I can’t say I’m happy it happened. I would have found you eventually.”

  “We would have found you.” Jordan asserted.

  “Found? You were looking for me?”

  Alex nodded. “Yes, we looked for a couple of weeks and truthfully, we gave up too soon. I think we, or at least I, thought
maybe it was better for you if we stayed away. I was breaking, though. I missed you too much. It was eating me alive not having you with me. It wouldn’t have been long before I would have broken down and searched again, and I would have never given up again.”

  My eyes filled with tears. Alex might never tell me he loved me, but his words sounded the same in my ears.

  “He’s dead on,” Jordan kissed the top of my head. “I was already wrecked, but I felt so guilty for the way I treated you. I told myself to stay away. I don’t deserve to have you in my life. Ultimately, though, I am a selfish man. I would have found you.”

  “Oh guys, there is nothing to feel guilty about. I forgive you for the harsh things that were said and done in that stupid argument. Honestly, I am also happy about the fight. I think it brought our attention to what we were doing wrong. I want to talk more, like we are doing now. No more hiding out of fear.”

  A tear dripped down my cheek and off my chin as I held them close. It was really happening. We were finally going to be together and I could not have been happier.

  “I love you,” I stated.

  I wanted to start our new honest relationship with my biggest secret. Jordan and Alex were silent and I hugged them closer, reassuring them that it was okay.

  “I love you both. I always have. That’s why I ran, because I was scared it was only one sided, that you could never love me back. Now I know that is not true. You both have shown me plenty of times how you feel. I was just too dense to see it.”

  Sighing, I snuggled closer to the men I loved. Their warmth surrounded me. I felt cocooned in their reassurance and approval. I realized over the few months we were apart that I was a strong woman. It took leaving them to find that in myself.

  Jordan and Alex had never seen me as a weak person. I didn’t think they would have ever been attracted to me otherwise, but I just had not seen it in myself. I felt more confident and I knew that if things did not work out between the three of us, I would be devastated, but I would survive. You would think that knowledge would lessen my love for them, but on the contrary, it only made it stronger.

  “I needed you to know, because I wanted to be honest with you. I cannot hide anymore, don’t want to hide what I’m feeling, and I promise I never will again.”

  They held me in silence and I closed my eyes, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief. I found my voice and told them how I felt. Whether they acknowledged my feelings or not were up to them. I would not be pushy. They would talk to me when they were ready.

  It was the new me. The argument between us taught me so many things. The main lesson was that communication was absolutely necessary in any relationship. If I had spoken up about how I was feeling from the start, we would not have had to go through so much heartache.

  “There is so much we need to talk about,” Alex said and I could hear regret in his voice.

  I stayed quiet, nodding for him to continue.

  Alex cleared his throat. His caresses were speeding up, sliding up and down my arm nervously.

  “There was a reason we didn’t want to become involved with you. We definitely want this relationship now,” he quickly reassured. “In fact, we always did, but there were circumstances that kept us from making such commitments.”

  “And now we need to explain.” Jordan’s breath was hot against my neck. “Not only because you’re carrying our child, but because I will not lose you again.”

  I melted against him and place my casted hand over his, my fingers stroking over his knuckles. “I don’t want to lose you either.”

  Alex chuckled, yet his nerves continued to show in his wide eyes. “I’m glad that’s cleared up, because I don’t want to lose either of you. I love you, Sam. Jordan, you are my best friend. I could never imagine sharing the woman I loved with anyone else.”

  Before I could start crying, Alex somber gaze met mine. “We haven’t been honest with you and if you are going to be a part of our lives, which better be a yes, then it’s time we shared a few secrets.”

  I waited patiently, giving him my full attention. He licked his lips and his fingers drew circles over my shoulder, yet his brown eyes were steady on mine.

  “The reason we tried to stay so detached in the past was because we are different. We’re not exactly what you think we are.”

  “Okay, so what are you saying? What are you?”

  “We’re shifters,” Jordan answered.

  Eyebrows raised, I asked, “Shifters? What are trying say?”

  Alex cleared his throat again. “It’s hard to explain.”

  “No it is not, Alex. Just tell her what we are.”

  Alex ignored Jordan’s interruption. “You know that book you were reading?”

  I nodded slowly, unsure where he was going.

  “Well, we’re like that.”

  I blinked up at him. My mind wanted to supply the answer, but I just could not fathom that it matched up to what they were trying to tell me.

  “Oh, for shit’s sake, Alex, you’re no good at this.”

  “Watch your mouth, Jordan. There’s a baby listening.” Alex admonished.

  Jordan smiled and rubbed my belly. “Sorry, I’ll work on it. Anyway, what Alex here is so badly trying to tell you is that we are shifters. Meaning, we can turn into an animal. In our case, we change into jaguars.”

  I stiffened at his words. “Are you trying to tell me that you are werewolves?” I asked skeptically.

  “No, I just told you. We change into jaguars.”

  I thought about it a moment and I just could not grasp such a notion. Shifters? Such beings were imaginary. I was confident that I would have noticed supernatural creatures at some point in my life before then. No, they were definitely pulling my leg. My smile was big as I laughed at the joke.

  “Good one guys. You had me going there for a minute. Thanks for loosening me up, but you can go ahead with the truth. I promise I won’t freak out on you.”

  I pushed at Alex’s shoulder playfully. He was so stiff, not a muscle in his body budged. My laughter began to fade as I stared up at him.

  When I found no hint of a smile, I closed my eyes in dismay. How could I have fallen in love with not just one, but two insane men? They had to be insane. Shifters? I would be crazy to believe in such things.

  “We are not joking, Sam.” Jordan whispered into my ear and even knowing he was mentally unstable did not keep the shiver from running down my spine.

  I had to be careful with my wording. I didn’t want to upset them. You never knew how the mentally unbalanced would react and they clearly believed what they were saying. I opened my eyes to see Alex watching me carefully.

  “Um, okay...” I began, not knowing exactly what I should say. Should I pretend to believe them? But then what? Run?

  “You don’t believe us.” Alex narrowed his eyes.

  “Well, I...”

  “Show her,” Jordan directed and Alex slid away from me.

  I shivered, as cool air danced across my bare skin. Jordan pulled the sheets over us then drew me firmly back into his arms.

  I watched, anxiously as Alex stood beside the bed. I couldn’t help but notice how divine he looked naked. His faced away from us, showing me broad shoulders that smoothed into a muscular back and tapered waist. His skin was smooth and tan, his ass was firm. I sighed in appreciation of the view. Even with my nerves tumbling around in my belly, I still wanted to grab hold of him.

  The twitching muscles in his back captured my attention. All thoughts of sexy bodies vanished as Alex began to jerk slightly as if he was having a small seizer. I wanted to go to him, help him, but Jordan pulled me back.

  Alex bent over and turned his head towards me. I gasped in horror. Glowing yellow orbs stared back at me. All traces of the nutty brown I was use to were gone.

  “Hold her.” His voice was deep, growling...inhuman.

  I jerked back, ready to run. Jordan held me tight, whispering soothing words in my ear.

  “It’s alright, S
am. Just watch. He is not going to hurt you. Neither of us could ever hurt you.”

  I swallowed hard, my eyes wide as I watched Alex’s skin stretch and move. His nose flattened and his jaw lengthened until it became more animal like. If I wasn’t so scared, I would have been fascinated by the way a wave of black fur spread across his skin. Whiskers even sprouted from his cheeks.

  It felt like hours later, yet was probably only minutes and his new body had stopped twitching. Alex was gone and in his place was a very large black cat.

  “Oh my God,” I whispered.

  Panic surged and I jumped back on the bed as best as I could. Jordan’s arms held me like a vise, but he did help me to sit up. The cat swayed closer, his long tail swishing as he walked. I tried twisting away from my captor, but Jordan just would not let go.

  A scream ripped from my throat, when the animal leaped onto the bed. It dipped with the cat’s massive weight. My arms wrapped around my stomach, instinctively protecting the child within. My feet scramble for leverage to pull away. I couldn’t catch my breath, my heart pounded in my ears and I began to see black spots dance before my eyes.

  “Shh, Sam. Shh, calm down, baby. You have to calm down.”

  Jordan was trying to sooth me, but all I could do was stare at the massive cat coming closer.

  “Sam,” Jordan said sharply. I jumped and looked up at him with wide eyes. “You have to take a deep breath. This isn’t good for the baby.”

  Jordan was right. The thought of hurting little Ava had me closing my eyes and trying to take a deep breath. I sucked oxygen through my nose, filling my lungs then blowing a stream out of my mouth in a steady pace several times before I began to feel a little calmer.

  Jordan rubbed my stomach and murmured soft words in my ear. I opened my eyes and looked up into his concerned face.

  “It’s alright, baby. He is not going to hurt you.”

  When I didn’t say anything he cupped my cheek in his palm.

  “Do you trust me?” He asked.

  I thought I had, but that was before I knew what they were. Jordan had shown me more than once how harsh he could be. Was he worse when he turned into an animal? Did he turn ruthless, ferocious? Was Alex bloodthirsty right now?