Surrounded By Fur [3xtasy Lake 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Corinne Davies

  3xtasy Lake 6

  Surrounded By Fur

  River Reynard has perfected the art of hiding in plain sight. Everyone in town knows her as a fun-loving eccentric goth woman who is fiercely loyal to her friends. Only a select few know of her oppressive past and the lengths she has gone to hide from it.

  Hugh, Boyd, and Gavin McNamara are brothers who grew up inside a small circle of bear shifters that wouldn’t accept their lifestyle, so they moved to Ecstasy Lake and opened the Big Bear Brewery. Each brother is enamored by River in different ways. Hugh admires her feisty independent spirit, Boyd loves the way she embraces life, and Gavin admires her unique streak.

  But, River’s past has caught up to her and it plans to make an example out of her and the town she’s made her home. River has to face her fears and accept the McNamaras' protection or nothing in Ecstasy Lake will be the same again.

  Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings.

  Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter

  Length: 52,368 words

  SURROUNDED BY FUR

  3xtasy Lake 6

  Corinne Davies

  MENAGE EVERLASTING

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

  SURROUNDED BY FUR

  Copyright © 2012 by Corinne Davies

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-501-4

  First E-book Publication: September 2012

  Cover design by Les Byerley

  All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Surrounded By Fur by Corinne Davies from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Corinne Davies’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Davies’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  I’m blessed to have a wonderful support system around me that keeps me sane. My husband Chris, who remembers all the things I seem to forget and makes certain that we’re all fed regularly. I love you, honey.

  For Heather and Bella, who at times had to arm themselves with floggers when dealing with me and my procrastination habit. I love you both for keeping me on schedule. Thank you!

  Tracy, my lovely beta who is the keeper of all those little details I seem to forget.

  And many, many, thanks to all the hard working people at Siren Publishing. I’m proud to call you home.

  SURROUNDED BY FUR

  3xtasy Lake 6

  CORINNE DAVIES

  Copyright © 2012

  Chapter One

  Gavin looked through the pane of two-way mirror that separated the brewery office and the bar. The crowd was having fun, and everything had turned out perfectly except for one gothic detail. “I can’t believe she isn’t here tonight.”

  His brother Hugh looked up from the paperwork that lay scattered over his desk. “Boyd said she went to a concert in Toronto.”

  “How the hell did he find that out?”

  Hugh shrugged. “Bartenders gossip. One of the guests told him.”

  Gavin turned back to the window looking out over the celebration. They had spent every waking moment of the last few months doing everything to get the brewery up and running and then the bar section. They borrowed facilities from other microbreweries to get their first couple batches under their belt so they could have something to jump-start sales and serve at their grand opening. A night they had been looking forward to and now it seemed a bit hollow.

  “Why would she go to a concert?”

  Hugh growled behind him and Gavin heard the papers on his brother’s desk rustle around. “Because she likes the band? It’s not like any of us personally asked her to come tonight.”

  “How did we forget to do that?”

  Something soft bounced off his head and a paper ball landed at his feet. “Gavin, go find someone pretty to distract you tonight, and stop with the fucking questions.”

  Gavin turned and looked at his oldest brother. Hugh never swore, and the fact he was letting F-bombs drop was proof enough that despite his calm exterior, Hugh was about to snap.

  “All right, try not to bore yourself to death.” Gavin ignored his brother’s growl and left the office. As soon as he stepped into the hallway the music hammered his senses. Volbeat pounded though the speakers around the dance floor and rumbled in his chest. He put the small receiver in his ear in case someone had to get his attention quickly.

  He knew why none of them had approached River Reynard about coming tonight, and it wasn’t anything they were proud of. She was so tiny compared to them, and they were all afraid of hurting her. He also suspected the spikes and platform boots that she liked to wear unnerved his brother Boyd.

  Out of the three of them Boyd tended to be the most like their animal counterpart. He was laid-back and liked to relax. It was why he worked so well at the bar. If Hugh was back there, he’d expect everyone to line up in an orderly manner and speak in a calm, clear voice. Gavin knew his own limitations. He’d wear himself out trying to serve everyone at the same time and end up running in circles.

  Which is why Hugh takes care of the minute details of the business, and I take care of security. This way Gavin could wander around and keep an eye on things. Th
ey’d hired extra workers for tonight, and they knew to call him first if there was a problem. But other than two incidents everything was going smoothly, and he’d spent the last hour watching for River. All he managed to do was break up a fight between a couple of humans who wanted the same woman. Idiots. They could’ve shared her, and then they both wouldn’t be sitting at a table in the corner while the woman was now on the dance floor with Max Shay.

  An earlier incident had taken place outside. That one had been infinitely more dangerous since it involved a couple of shifters. It looked to be of a more personal nature than territorial, so Gavin had held back waiting to see if it evolved into excessive violence. Thankfully, they sorted it out, and he hadn’t had to wade in and start tossing them around.

  Being a bear did have its advantages when it came to breaking up fights. While he wasn’t as big as Hugh or Boyd he was still stronger than most shifters. He was well aware of a few shifters with the ability to wipe the floor with his ass, but thankfully they stayed clear of humans. He kept to the shadows watching everyone enjoying the evening. It looked like tonight was a better success than they’d hoped, and that would only mean better business later on.

  They’d taken a chance opening a small brewery so far from any of the cities. If business continued to grow and they upped the production during the winter, they could expand into the bigger markets come the spring. The bar was a perfect way to introduce their product to the tourists in the area. Only opening on Friday and Saturday nights kept costs down since they had to hire extra staff for those shifts. Hopefully, if the customers liked the beer, after they went home they would start asking for it in their local bars and liquor stores.

  A large-breasted woman wearing far too much perfume sidled up to him. “Well, hello there, handsome.” Bears had the best sense of smell in the shifter world, and her excessive perfume was already giving him a headache.

  “Hi. Are you having fun this evening?” He smiled down at her and tried to extricate his arm from her grip. A few months before he would’ve happily enjoyed what was obviously being offered, but that was before a raven-haired conundrum crossed his path.

  “This place is great and, wow, I love the service.” She looked over at Boyd, who watched them from the bar. She gave him a wave and then pressed herself harder against Gavin’s side. “But the bartender needs a bit more encouragement.”

  So she thought that by coming on to him, she would make Boyd jealous? Gavin looked over the massive cloud of blonde hair at his brother. Boyd was killing himself laughing at Gavin’s expense. I’ll get you back for this. “I hate to break it to you, but he doesn’t have a jealous bone in his body.”

  “Really?” The blonde pouted and then shrugged. “Oh, well. You’ll do as a substitute.”

  That’s flattering. He plastered a smile on his face and ground his teeth against the growl that threatened to surface. He didn’t mind forward women but there was a limit. “I’m afraid I’m working and not allowed to have any fun whatsoever, but if you’ll look over at the dance floor…”

  He pointed at Max Shay, who had finished his dance and was heading to the bar. “He’s a single guy and I’ve heard rumors of his…well, nothing I’m interested in.”

  The blonde’s eyes lit up behind the mascara and eye shadow he suspected she applied with a trowel. “It’s been nice talking to you.” She slithered off him and made a beeline for Max.

  “He’s going to kick your ass if he finds out you did that.”

  Gavin turned and smiled at the man beside him. “You’re not planning on ratting me out, are you?”

  Vencel Solfalvi grinned. “Nah, I like you too much. Looks like a great turnout tonight. Congratulations.”

  Gavin shook Vencel’s hand. “You built it.”

  “You and your brothers were just as involved in its creation.”

  Gavin didn’t comment. There was one thing that they forgot, and he was pissed about it. What was the point of building a future when you forgot to invite your future to the party?

  * * * *

  The sun had crept over the trees when River got home from her weekend in Toronto.

  “Thanks, Stone!” River gave her brother a big hug before hopping out of the big SUV with a wave. Her platform boots hit the ground with a dull thud. She was absolutely exhausted after spending time with her brother and sister. They all lived so far apart but made a point to get together once a year in a different location to keep their association safe. The three of them escaped an oppressive history and managed to stay close despite the geographic separation.

  She had enough time to change her shoes before tackling the list of things she had to get done. It was Sunday and the clinic was closed, but River had promised to inventory the medical supplies and make up an order for Carol to put in on Monday morning. She caught a bit of sleep in the truck on the drive back and asked her brother to drop her off at the clinic.

  “Hey, try to get some real sleep soon!” Her brother grinned at her as he shook his head. “After the way you chased Paavo Lotjonen around backstage I didn’t think you would wake up on the way home.”

  “Like I would sleep when I finally have a chance to visit with you without all your women hanging off you.” She teased him back as she shut the heavy truck door. Her brother was a self-admitted man slut and enjoyed every minute of it. She was thrilled because they were finally happy. Sure, it meant they couldn’t see each other often, but that made their visits even more special.

  “You be careful, Stone. I don’t want to have to kick some bimbo’s ass for breaking your heart,” she said through the open window. “Feather will come back from Texas and help, too.” Stone laughed as he pulled away and she headed into the clinic.

  There was so much that frightened River in the world but nothing more than losing her family. That’s why she, Feather, and Stone had escaped the compound. She’d known they’d be hunted for a long time. Ecstasy Lake was the first place she’d felt safe.

  River still remembered the night she arrived. She had Gordon Roberts’s name and address and had known that if she could get to him, he would help her. She, Feather, and Stone had been separated, and she’d been desperate to find Gordon Roberts. An early winter blizzard had roared down on the area and she hadn’t known how to handle it. She’d grown up on the west coast where it was much milder. There she’d been, completely helpless, when this big man who looked like he could snap her in two picked her up and wrapped his coat around her. It had been the first hint that he wasn’t part of a large Guardian force, and everyone looked out for each other. But Lars had been the one who found her half frozen in a snowbank, and she had a special place in her heart for him.

  Lars had brought her home and warmed her up. She’d ended up confessing everything to him in a flood of honesty. When she finished, he’d packed her up on his bike and taken her up to meet Gordon. Her life changed forever that night, and the River they all knew and loved was born in this town.

  Years later, she and her brother and sister had reconnected. Stone had gone away to art school and worked at an animation studio in Vancouver, while Feather continued to live a nomadic lifestyle in the southern States.

  With Lars and Gordon’s encouragement, she had gone to college and become a veterinary assistant. Brenna had needed one in the clinic and wanted to keep a shifter in place in case of emergencies. River loved learning and recently started taking a massage therapy course at a local college but had been enjoying her summer break.

  A large shadow blocked the sun and she turned, almost jumping out of her skin. A large man had come up behind her, downwind so she didn’t immediately pick up his scent. She’d been so lost in her own thoughts she hadn’t heard him approaching. “Holy shit! You scared the hell out of me.”

  “You didn’t come home last night.”

  She didn’t recognize his voice, and there was something very wrong about him. A thick black beard and mustache covered the lower half of his face. The hair on his head stuck out wildly aroun
d his face. He smelled like gun oil and refuse, but it was his eyes that unnerved her the most. They were so dark she couldn’t tell the pupil from iris and were completely devoid of emotion.

  An icy-cold shiver danced down her spine. She stepped back slightly and rested her hand in her pocket. She kept a small can of Mace in there, and this guy was going to get it if he didn’t step back. Mace was very uncomfortable for humans, but it would practically immobilize a shifter. “Do I know you?”

  “No, but I know you, Brittney.”

  Icy fear poured through her veins at that name, and she struggled to keep what she hoped was a curious expression on her face. It’d been years since she heard that name, and now she knew someone had tracked her here. “That’s not my name. You must have me confused with someone else.” She casually slipped the key into the lock and opened the door, placing her finger over the panic button on the alarm. “If you don’t mind, I have to take care of a few things. I hope you find your friend.”

  “We both know I’ve found her, Brittney…River, whatever you’re calling yourself. But I’ll play your game for now. You’re going to have to admit it soon enough, and then we’ll have another chat.”

  The man backed away, his lips pressed in a tight smile that made her think of the mouth of a snake. She shut the door and relocked all the locks and then punched in the code to turn off the alarm. Fighting the urge to recheck all the windows and locks, she rearmed the system. If anything opened, the alarm would go off. River crept to the window edge and peeked out, watching a large, rusted silver car pulling out of the parking lot. It paused for a moment and then pulled out onto the street and drove off.