by Carol Lynne
Jarek smiled and licked a path up Suni’s neck to his lips. Suni accepted Jarek’s tongue immediately and the two of them spent the next several minutes kissing. Suni struggled to contain his lust as he squeezed the twin globes of Jarek’s ass. Gods, he wanted to bury his cock in the man.
Jarek gave Suni’s lip a playful nip before breaking the kiss. “Everything’s new to Mica. In some ways, he’s like a child discovering the world for the first time, but it’s also hard on him. He’s this big tough warrior on the outside, but fragile on the inside.”
Suni could see Jarek’s love for the man in his eyes as he spoke of him. Maybe the reason Jarek had been chosen for Suni was his ability to love? Jarek seemed to accept the best and worst in the people he loved unconditionally. Whatever Jarek’s special gift, he was definitely melting the ice around Suni’s heart.
“Do you think he’d come here?”
Jarek’s eyes lit up. “Mica? Yeah, I think so. If I asked him. Are you ready to meet him?”
The pressure of Jarek’s weight against Suni’s hard cock made him moan. He couldn’t resist running his fingers down the crack of Jarek’s ass to settle against his puckered hole. “We need to figure this out before this body of yours drives me insane.”
Jarek’s breathing picked up as he squirmed against Suni’s positioned finger until it pressed inside. The Jarek that began to ride Suni’s finger was not the happy shifter of a few moments earlier. This was a man filled with passion.
“I need to fuck you,” Suni admitted.
Jarek’s movements slowed. “I need that, too, but it wouldn’t be right. Not yet. I need to talk to Mica. I owe him that.”
Suni nodded. He couldn’t say he was happy about Jarek’s decision, but he had expected it. “If I get you back to town, promise you’ll return to me.”
Jarek threaded his fingers through Suni’s hair. “How could I stay away? You’re part of me. I can feel it. I still don’t know why Mother chose me for a man as special as you, but even though it’s only been a few days, I can’t imagine a life without you in it.”
Suni knew if Jarek continued to look at him with such love in his eyes, there was absolutely nothing he wouldn’t do for his mate. If it meant welcoming another into their bed, so be it. “Go find your stone man and bring him here.”
* * * *
Mica settled into the milky water across from Daniel. After the bandages had come off, he’d been disgusted at what he saw in the mirror. He was a monster.
“Are you comfortable?” Daniel asked.
Mica felt completely numb on the inside, his dream of one day being with Jarek over. “I’m fine.”
Daniel swam forward and stood in front of Mica. “These,” he reached out and ran a wet finger over one of the scars on Mica’s face, “don’t matter,” Daniel whispered before moving his hand to rest against Mica’s chest, “as long as this remains intact.”
Mica felt the sting of tears. “How can you say that? Look at me!”
Daniel moved back to his original spot. Mica could tell the Coyote King wanted to say something, but was struggling.
“There’s nothing you can tell me that will make me feel worse than I already do,” Mica informed him.
Daniel sighed. “Promise me you’ll hear me out before you get upset?”
Mica nodded. The pain in Daniel’s eyes was starting to worry him. “Is Jarek okay?”
“Yes.” Ryker joined them, staying in the shallow end of the spring.
“That’s the most important thing.”
“Yes, it is,” Daniel agreed. “But there’s something I need to tell you about the man who saved him.”
Mica stood, hands fisted at his sides. “Did Suni hurt him?”
“No! Suni would never do that because he’s Jarek’s…chosen mate.”
Mica fell back into the water, sinking to the bottom. Death would be a welcome release for him. He always knew Jarek deserved better, seemed he’d been right. The man he loved was so special even Mother Earth thought he deserved a king for a mate.
Strong arms lifted Mica out of the water. “None of that,” Ryker said, setting Mica on the bank.
Mica rolled over and curled into a ball. He knew he could ask Mother to turn him back into stone, maybe existing was better than living after all. Warmth pressed against his back. He knew it was one of his friends, but he didn’t have the strength to acknowledge them.
“Remember what I told you in the clinic? Jarek loves you, nothing will change that.” Daniel wrapped his arm around Mica and kissed his shoulder. “You need to have faith.”
“Mica? Oh my Gods, Mica what’s wrong?”
Mica tensed as he heard Jarek’s voice. Although he wanted to throw himself into the shifter’s arms, he knew he no longer had the right. He curled into himself even more, squeezing his eyes shut to block out the hurt. Mica felt Jarek’s touch against his cheek.
“What happened?” When no one responded to him, Jarek’s voice rose. “Dammit, what happened to him?”
“Maquay,” Daniel said.
“Why? Because of me?” Jarek asked.
The tears in Jarek’s voice threatened to break Mica’s resolve to let his lover go.
“When Mica couldn’t find you, he went to Maquay,” Ryker informed Jarek.
“I hope to hell someone killed that sonofabitch,” Jarek spat. Jarek’s hand continued to pet Mica’s face. “Come on. Open your eyes for me. Tell me you’re going to be okay.”
Mica knew he couldn’t resist the man he loved. He opened his watery eyes and stared at Jarek. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was so worried.”
Jarek shook his head and leaned in to kiss Mica. Giving in to his love wasn’t an option any longer. Mica pulled back slightly and shook his head. “Don’t. You don’t belong to me anymore.”
Jarek’s gaze shot to Daniel and Ryker. “What’s he talking about?”
Ryker cleared his throat. “He knows about Suni.”
Jarek gasped and looked back down at Mica. “Is that it? You think because I’m meant to be with Suni, I can’t be with you, too?” Jarek shook his head. “It’s why I came back. Suni wants to meet you.”
Mica could easily allow himself to believe what Jarek was saying, but he knew things had changed since the last time Jarek had seen him. “Do you honestly think a king would be with someone who looks like I do?” Mica closed his eyes. “I love you, Jarek, but you need to go.”
“Fuck that.” Jarek’s hand slapped against Mica’s chest. “Get your ass up.”
Mica opened his eyes. He wasn’t used to anyone speaking to him in such a tone, especially Jarek.
“Come on. You’re too damn big for me to carry. On your feet.”
“Why are you doing this?” He felt bad enough without having the man he love talk to him like that.
“Because I’m pissed.”
“You’re pissed? I’m the one who’s just been told the man I love has a chosen mate. Look at me. How can I possibly compete with Suni for your attention?”
Jarek stood and crossed his arms. “Since the moment I found out that Suni was my chosen, I’ve made my feelings for you clear to him. He knows we come as a package deal. If he’s willing to meet you, you owe him the same respect.”
Mica stood and spread his arms, allowing Jarek to see each and every scar on his body. “Sexy, isn’t it? What do you suppose Suni will think?”
Jarek surprised him by stepping forward. He ran his hands over Mica’s body, touching the individual jagged scars. “He’ll think you’re a man who loves me so much you almost died for me. The only one who’ll see these scars as disgusting and shameful is you.”
Mica broke eye contact. The sincerity in Jarek’s words was too much for him. No matter what Jarek said, Mica knew he’d always be second in the man’s eyes, but what was the alternative?
When Jarek wrapped his arms around Mica’s waist, he couldn’t hold out any longer. On a sob, he returned the embrace. He would take every scrap of love Jarek had for him.
Daniel step
ped forward and kissed them both on the cheek. “Once the reunion is over, come up to the house. We need to figure out what to do about Maquay.”
Jarek rubbed his cheek against Mica’s chest as Daniel and Ryker left them alone. “I’ve missed you.”
Mica pulled Jarek down into the soft grass. “Tell me what happened the night you disappeared.”
Biting his lip, Jarek sat back and lifted the bottom of the oversized shirt. “Maquay gave me the first one right after I came to Refuge. The other three were given to me after the night he caught us together.”
“I don’t understand. You’re shifter. These should’ve healed.”
Mica listened as Jarek went into the story of the night he’d gone in search of Suni. The more he heard, the angrier he became. “He touched you?”
Jarek nodded. “It wasn’t sexual. I think he was trying to humiliate me more than anything.”
Still angry at the thought of Maquay daring to touch Jarek, Mica had more questions. “Do The Guardians know about the gold dust that Maquay is using against his own people?”
“I don’t know, but Suni has the word EXILED burned on his hip. It’s one of the reasons he’s been living by himself for so long.”
Mica shook his head. “No. Maquay doesn’t have the power to exile the king. Doesn’t Suni know that?”
“I think he does, but whatever happened between Maquay, Bly and Suni left him empty.”
“What does Bly have to do with any of it?”
Jarek sighed. “I guess Suni and Bly were lovers once. Suni didn’t know it at the time, but apparently Bly and Maquay are also lovers.”
“And their brothers, too?”
Jarek nodded. “Before he found out the truth, Suni lived in Denver. He’d travel to the country to see Bly, but afterwards he gave up everything he had and exiled himself to the mountains.”
Mica brought Jarek closer to him. It seemed they’d all been through hell. Although he’d never met Suni, Mica admitted he assumed the man shunned society out of hatred for his fellow shifters, but now he wasn’t so sure. Perhaps it was the hatred of two shifters that had kept the king from leading his people.
“Let’s go talk to Ryker about Maquay and Bly. They can’t be allowed to retain their position with everything we know about them.” Mica had thought Bly was the good brother. It was Bly who’d helped him get away from Maquay’s damaging claws and tended him until the doctor had arrived. After listening to Jarek, Mica knew Bly was as guilty as his brother. He may not have been the one inflicting pain, but he had to know what his brother was doing and did absolutely nothing to stop it.
* * * *
Suni watched from the mouth of the cave as Jarek and Mica made their way up the mountain. At first, he’d wondered why Jarek hadn’t shifted, but then he realized Mica wasn’t able to.
With his keen eyesight, Suni studied the large dark-skinned man as he helped Jarek scale the rocks. Why hadn’t Jarek mentioned the scars on the stone man? Although Mica was still incredibly handsome, the scars weren’t something someone wouldn’t mention.
His heart squeezed as Mica lurched forward, catching Jarek mid-slide. It was obvious by the gentle way Mica handled the small man that he loved him. How could Suni compete with that? His connection with Jarek was pre-designed by Mother. Would Jarek ever love him as much as he loved Mica?
As they neared the cave, Suni wiped his hands on his pants. Had he ever been so nervous? He reached out and grasped Jarek’s hand, helping him over the final ledge. Despite the questioning expression on Mica’s face, Suni couldn’t help but to pull Jarek into his arms. “I’ve missed you.”
Jarek chuckled. “I haven’t even been gone for twenty-four hours.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Suni tucked Jarek under his arm and turned to lend a hand to Mica. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Mica wiped the sweat from his forehead and avoided eye contact as he dropped his hold on Suni’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, as well.”
Suni turned with his arm still wrapped tightly around his mate and walked into the cave. “It’s not much, but welcome to my home.”
He led Jarek over to the pallet of furs and sat down. “Please, have a seat.”
Jarek grinned up at Mica and patted the space beside him. “Come on. Sit with us.”
Mica folded his larger-than-life frame and sat cross-legged next to Jarek. “I need to apologize for the way I look. I’m sure you didn’t expect it.”
Jarek launched himself into Mica’s arms and kissed him. “You’ve got absolutely nothing to apologize for, so stop it.”
Still clinging to Mica, Jarek turned his head to regard Suni. “When Mica went to Maquay to find out where I was, Maquay attacked him.”
Suni’s eyes narrowed as he studied the visible scars. “He shifted.”
Mica nodded. “Although Ryker was able to heal the wounds, I’m not shifter, so he couldn’t take away the scars.”
Suni reached out and, with a shaking hand, ran his fingers over the scars on Mica’s face. In each raised line of flesh was further evidence of Mica’s love for Jarek. “Jarek’s right. You have no reason to apologize. You have the skin of a warrior who’s gone to battle for the man you love.”
Mica’s eyes rounded. “You’re right. I do love Jarek.”
“As do I. So where does that leave us?”
“That’s what the three of us need to figure out. There’s going to be a trial for Maquay in seven days. We have until then to explore a new kind of love.”
“What kind of trial?” Suni’s hand went from Mica’s face to Jarek’s back. It was hard to admit, but there was a certain amount of jealousy he’d have to get over if he was going to give Mica a fair shot at joining them.
Jarek turned sideways on Mica’s lap and pulled Suni closer. “After a long discussion with Mother Earth, Ryker determined the cougars were the only ones who could rightfully judge their Alpha. We need to be there to tell the others what Maquay has done to us. And you need to come forward as Alpha and King.”
Suni shook his head. “I can’t.”
“What? Why? It’s what you were born for.”
How did he tell his mate he was the one who told Bly what gold dust did to cougar shifters? It was because of him that Jarek would forever carry Maquay’s marks. “I don’t want to talk about it. Please?”
Jarek’s face took on the worried expression Suni was beginning to get used to. Suni really didn’t feel like getting into the discussion of Maquay or the gold dust, especially when he had his mate so close. He knew things with Mica would be uncomfortable at first, but there was no time like the present to ease their way into it.
Suni reached out and pulled the shirt he’d loaned Jarek over his head. “I think we can dispense with clothes for now.”
Jarek grinned and nodded. He glanced at Mica. “I know you’re embarrassed by your scars, but Suni’s going to see them sooner or later. Unless, of course, you’ve figured out a way to fuck me with your clothes still on.”
Suni chuckled at Mica’s shocked expression.
“I can make love to you?” Mica looked from Jarek to Suni. “Is that allowed?”
“Allowed by whom, us? We’re the only ones in this. We don’t need anyone’s permission to do what feels right.”
Mica shook his head. “I meant is it okay with you? I know Jarek’s your chosen mate.”
Suni had given it a lot of thought while Jarek had been away. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. Mother Earth may have chosen Jarek to be my mate, but Jarek chose you with no outside influence. I’m the one who should be asking you the same question. Will you share Jarek with me?”
Giggling, Jarek held up his hands. “Hey, guys? There’s enough of me to go around. The only problem we have is that Mica and I haven’t done this before, but I brought something.”
Jarek stood and walked over to the mouth of the cave where Mica had dropped a large backpack. Suni had assumed it was full of clothes or food,
but Jarek came back brandishing a large bottle of lube. “Daniel gave it to me.”
Before Jarek could sit back down, Suni stopped him. He began unfastening the old-fashioned jeans and slowly peeled them down Jarek’s thighs, exposing his mate’s hardening cock. Although he’d felt Jarek’s pretty cock, he’d yet to taste it.
Suni held Jarek by the back of the thighs and nuzzled the soft wrinkled sac, inhaling the earthy scent of his mate. He licked a path from Jarek’s balls, up the length of his cock to swallow the head.
“Oh, fuck.”
Suni wasn’t sure if the words had come from Jarek or Mica. He swallowed Jarek’s shaft as far into his throat as he could before pulling off and sitting back on his heels. “Why don’t you lay down, baby?”
Jarek steadied himself with a hand to Suni’s shoulder as he kicked out of his shoes and jeans. Suni glanced over to Mica. “Let’s all get naked.”
Mica gazed into Suni’s eyes for several moments before giving a hesitant nod. Suni knew the big man was self-conscious about his body, but Suni planned to show Mica how pleasurable a body could be, scars or no scars.
After settling Jarek down on the pile of furs, he stood and began taking off the restrictive clothing. He much preferred life either completely naked or in his cougar skin. As he dropped his pants to the floor, Suni noticed Mica’s gaze go to his hip.
Suni reached down and ran a hand over the word. “We all have our scars.”
He knelt beside Jarek and together they watched Mica undress. As Mica slowly peeled away the layers of clothing, Suni couldn’t help but run loving hands over Jarek’s body.
Jarek reached down and wrapped his hand around Suni’s cock as Mica’s shaft was exposed. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Beautiful couldn’t begin to describe the biggest cock Suni had ever seen. He glanced down at Jarek’s small body. “It might take a little practice before you’re ready to take him.”
Jarek ran his hand up Mica’s leg. “Come down here.”
Mica knelt and leaned over to kiss Jarek. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Jarek shook his head and touched the bulbous head of Mica’s cock, coming away with a dollop of pre-cum. Suni watched in awe as Jarek began sucking the juice from his fingers. “Damn, that’s hot.”
