by Jane Jamison
“It’s not that bad. Everyone trips and falls at some point. And you had an extra reason to get careless with the buck chasing you. But did anything else happen?”
“I saw that weird creature, then three wolves. Then that’s when you showed up.” Why did she have the impression that he was fishing for something else?
“But did you see, or maybe feel, anything out of the ordinary?”
She was right. He was searching for answers. “Yeah. I did. When the buck was chasing me—Pete said its name is Jerry—I ran like hell. But then it was like I hit an invisible wall. One second, I was going full steam ahead and then, all of sudden, it felt like I was trying to run through water. I could feel this substance that was heavier than air rippling around me.”
She gave him a suspicious look. “Do you know what I’m talking about?”
His answer seemed sincere enough. “No. I’ve never experienced that.”
“So do you guys do that a lot?”
He blinked, thrown by her switching the subject. “Do what?”
“Name the animals. Like calling that buck Jerry.”
“Yeah, we kind of do.”
“Like pets?”
A flash of irritation swept over his features. “We don’t have pets because we don’t think any living being should own another.”
Touchy subject, huh? She decided not to push him.
“Tell me about the creature. Lyra knew what I was talking about and you do, too. I can see that you do.”
“They’re called The Cursed because of their ugly appearance. And they’re dangerous. Stay away from them and stay inside the camp area, especially after dark.”
“I’ve never heard of them, much less seen one before.”
“Like I said”—he took her hand again and gripped it harder—“stay in the camp.”
“I’m not planning on staying at all.”
“And here’s where the open mind part comes in.”
“Uh-oh. I don’t like the sound of that.”
He started walking again, pulling her along with him, and led her onto a narrow path leading into the forest. The sunlight dimmed as it struggled to get through the tree limbs. Animals scurried away and into the underbrush. Brilliantly colored flowers lined the path.
If any place is magical, this place is.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re meeting my brothers at the pond.” He picked up his pace even more and she had to jog to keep up.
“Do you remember the white-haired man you saw last night?”
“Sure. He was with the little guy that reminded me of an elf.” She hissed at her mistake. “I’m sorry. That was so un-PC of me. I can’t believe I said that.”
“Don’t worry about it. Titto wouldn’t mind. Anyway, the older man is Charlton and he heads up The Council. They’re the ones who determine the rules around here. What few we have, that is.”
“And?” She tensed up, expecting the worst.
“The Council has determined that you should stay a few days until we can sort things out.”
She froze. “And what if I don’t want to?”
“I’m sorry, Callie. That’s the way it has to be.”
He pulled her along with him until they broke through the tree line and to the edge of a beautiful pool of water. Even from where she was standing, several feet from it, she could see through the clear blue liquid to the bottom. Fish whipped about with one popping to the surface every once in a while.
Raine and Pete stood in the shallow part. Her heart picked up speed, almost forgetting what Blue had told her.
Holy crap. They’re naked.
* * * *
Blue could see the yearning on her face, but he could also see her hesitation. But he couldn’t blame her. Not after Raine told them what had happened last night. He’d almost lost control with his brothers. Both Pete and Raine had already lain with her—which drove him crazy—but not only had Raine done so, he’d done it after they’d agreed to leave her alone.
“Don’t worry, Callie. Nothing’s going to happen.” He couldn’t keep from running his gaze over her and imagining her body skimming through the water, her long hair trailing behind her. “Unless you want it to.”
Her response was swift and filled with anger. “Sorry. You’re shit out of luck. I’m not giving you the green light so you can complete the challenge, or game, or whatever the hell you guys want to call it.”
“That’s not what’s going on here.”
“Then why don’t you tell me what is going on?”
Although she was angry, her words spoken in a challenge, he could sense the longing inside her. She wanted to hear that she was wrong, yearned to believe what he’d tell her was the truth.
“I don’t know how to explain it well. You’re going to have to listen to your gut and recognize that what I’m saying is real.” He stepped closer to her, needing to touch her as though his touch would succeed where his words had failed. But she stayed out of his reach.
“There’s a special something happening between us. Between all four of us.”
Her anger diminished, but her knitted brow told him she wasn’t ready to accept everything he’d said. If she believed him enough to know that they weren’t playing games with her, then that’d be okay. For now.
“Do you trust us?” He stopped her with his palm up and facing her. “No, don’t answer yet. And don’t listen to your head. Listen to your heart. Then answer.” He paused, giving her time to do as he’d asked. “Do you trust us?”
“Yes. I think so.”
“Then believe me when I say this is not a game to us. Can you do that?”
She narrowed her eyes and he could almost see her mind warring with her heart. “Yes. I think I can.”
“Good. Then let’s have a little fun, okay?”
He paced to a large tree, reached out behind it, and brought out her backpack. “Pete brought this along.”
“Does that mean I can leave?” She took the bag from him and opened it to examine the contents.
Did she think they’d stolen her stuff? That and the way she’d glared at him cut him to the bone. He had a lot to make up to her, but, if he had his way, he’d have a lifetime to do it.
“No.”
She pulled herself taller. “And what if I take off right now?”
“I’ll have to stop you any way I can.”
“So I’m still a prisoner. Are you planning on tying me up again?”
“Only if you want me to.” If she said yes, he’d grab the first thing he could to tie her up, then strip her clothes off. His wolf howled with delight as he pictured her, bound, lying on the green grass at his feet.
Her eyes flashed before she took a step back. “Don’t even think about it. Can I at least take some photos? Or is that not allowed, too?”
“Sure. Go ahead.” Whatever pictures she took would never leave The Hidden. He would make certain of that.
“And I’ll be your first subject.”
He pivoted along with her to face a very wet and very aroused Raine. The sweet scent of lust flowed off her, cocooning him until he thought he’d lose his mind. His wolf roared again, howling at her nearness and demanding that he answer the call of the wild.
She opened to her mouth to speak, closed it, then tried again. “Okay. Yeah. Why not? At least that way I can keep my eye on you.”
“How about me? I’m better looking than this fugly dude.” Pete shoved Raine out of the way and struck a pose.
Blue was relieved to see her smile, but it was gone all too soon. Maybe, just maybe he could get that smile back. He tugged off his shirt as he toed off his boots. “How about a threesome?”
Shit!
“Sorry. I didn’t mean that kind of threesome. Just three men to shoot.” He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t resist. “Unless you want a foursome instead.”
Was it just wishful thinking, or did she almost accept his offer? But her mouth slammed shut as she regrouped. “Foursome,
no? About shooting you? Don’t I wish. But I’m sorry to say I don’t have a gun.”
Pete covered his junk with both hands. “Ow. And here I was going to ask you to make sure you got my best feature in the photo.”
Again, her face softened a little more. They were making inroads to lighten her anger. She pulled the camera from the backpack and checked it, making sure things were ready. “You three are something else.”
“Which makes us perfect for you.”
Blue bumped his shoulder against Raine’s. “You got the wrong impression from him last night, but he’s dead-on right now.”
“Will everyone stop talking about shooting something? Little Pete’s having a hard time staying up.”
Blue jumped at the opening and struck a pose right out of a clothing catalogue. “Take my picture first, Callie.”
She lifted the camera and aimed. He heard the click, but she didn’t act happy when she lowered the camera and looked to Raine then Pete. “I still have to know. Why did you do that? Why did you sleep with me? Was it to have fun with a girl you knew wasn’t going to hang around for long? Or did you think I owed you for helping me? I know you don’t know me—”
“We know enough.” Blue hoped she could see the truth on his face.
“I know I shouldn’t have hopped into the sack with you guys, but…I thought it was…real.”
Raine moved forward, but Blue held him back. She needed her space. “I thought you said you believed me. They—we—were never playing a game.”
“What I said and did was straight from the heart,” added Pete. “As I’m sure it was for Raine.”
Raine chimed in. “It’s true, Callie. You’ve got us all wrong.”
“So you’re saying it was more than just sex?”
She was vulnerable and he could smell it drifting off her. “I haven’t gotten the honor of lying with you yet, but I know it was a lot more than that for them.”
He wanted to hold her, to reassure her with his touch as well as his words, but she wasn’t ready. Instead, he’d have to make his words count like never before. If he had to say it a thousand times to reassure her, he would.
“This is hard to believe even for us, and I know it’s got to be even harder for you to accept. But, Callie, you’re the woman we’ve waited for.”
She shook her head, denying his words. But her open expression told him she wanted to trust him. “We only met yesterday.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Pete whispered, but his tone carried as though he’d howled the words.
Pete glanced at him, but Blue waved him back. No matter how hard it was to keep away from her, that’s what they had to do. For now. But his inner wolf, scratching to take over, didn’t like it any better than he did.
“That’s how it is with us. When we meet the woman who’s supposed to be our mate, then we know. Sometimes in an instant, but other times it takes a little longer.” He grinned. “Even a whole day.”
She shot him a doubtful look. “So I’m the woman for all three of you?”
He finally took that step forward and was relieved when she didn’t tell him to stay where he was. “You are.”
“That’s not possible.”
Did he hear yearning in her voice? “It is. I’ve seen it. You can ask people back at camp. For us, it happens that way.”
“For us? What does that mean?”
He couldn’t tell her they were werewolves. Not until she accepted the possibility that she was meant for them. “Tell me you haven’t felt anything for us above and beyond the physical.”
She couldn’t and she wouldn’t. He had to believe that even if she didn’t trust him yet, her gut would tell her the truth.
“Is that why I can’t leave right now?”
“Yes.”
Raine shifted back and forth on his feet and Pete cleared his throat. Blue could sense the beasts inside them, pacing, waiting. Like him, they knew there were more reasons, but wasn’t love the most important one? The fact that it wasn’t The Time for Leaving or that they weren’t sure if the portal was still there didn’t matter. All that mattered was getting her to trust them and to realize she belonged with them.
“So? Are we doing a photo shoot or what?”
“Yeah, Blue. We are. Pete, move onto that rock over there.”
She’d decided to accept what they’d said for now. But he knew she’d want a better explanation later. She’d need time to process the information he’d thrown at her, yet compared to other women he’d heard about, she was handling it well.
He motioned to Pete to get going. Pete clambered on top of the flat rock and stretched out, his cock erect and flying.
“How’s this?”
She clicked a photo then hurried to another position to take one more. “Perfect. And you’re okay with my showing these photos off? Would you be all right with my putting them in an exhibit? Maybe to sell?”
Pete’s eyebrows shot up. “I guess. But you have to promise me something.”
Blue almost laughed when she puffed out her exasperation.
“What is it with you guys and promises? Now what do I have to promise?”
“You have to swear you won’t get jealous. Once you show the photos of me to your girlfriends, they’re going to want to know where to find me. You make sure you tell them that I’m a one-woman man and that you’re the one woman.”
He should’ve told his brother to stop pushing, but when he saw her hesitation and when she didn’t answer, he couldn’t help but feel encouraged.
Pete sat up and flexed his muscles. “Is this a good pose?”
Before she could answer, Raine jumped on top of the rock and pushed Pete off. He yelped as he fell to the ground and Callie laughed. Blue dashed past them and into the pool as Callie regrouped and started taking more shots.
“Let’s get all three of you in the water.” She waved her arm, directing his brothers to join him. They posed, Raine and Pete with their backs to Blue, who stood in the middle with his hands clasped behind his back.
* * * *
Callie didn’t know what to think. Did she believe what Blue had told her? She couldn’t, could she? Every time she’d let her guard down, trusting in people who’d made promises to her, she’d always ended up getting hurt. Did she dare let the men into her heart? They were different, but was what they’d told her real?
She was afraid to take that risk, but a part of her ached to do so. Was that because this was the one time her heart wouldn’t get hurt? If she could believe, would she finally gain the love and the home she’d wanted her entire life? Wasn’t that worth the risk?
Could they love her so fast? Did she care for them?
She’d never been one of those girls who thought her white knight would arrive to make her life complete. And love at first sight? That bullshit was for hopeless romantics.
Wasn’t it?
Her mind whirled and her heart ached, needing answers to her questions. But taking the photos helped. Not only did it take her mind off what he’d told her, leaving it for later when she was alone and could think it through, but it was giving her shots any other woman photographer, professional or amateur, would kill for.
Wow, but they’re amazing.
She’d taken pictures of bodybuilders, models, and actors, men who made it their profession to look good, but the Deacon brothers put them to shame. Their muscles glistened as the droplets of water coasted down their hard chests and ripped stomachs. The water reached their lean waists, but she could still see their hard cocks through the clear water. Each was lined with blue-purple veins and capped with a bulbous end that begged her to lick it. Raine’s and Pete’s cocks were curved, but she doubted Blue’s would fail to find her sweet spot. She almost regretted her sexual romps with Pete and Raine because she hadn’t taken the time to feast on their cocks.
I’ll make sure I suck them the next time.
She paused, then went straight into the next shot as the men turned and gave her their backs to admire. The
y had the broadest shoulders she’d ever seen and her fingers itched to slide over their skin. Or to pinch their firm, round asses.
The next time?
If it were up to the Deacon men, there’d be a next time. But did she want that?
Hell, yeah.
She bit her lip. After giving them hell when she thought they were playing a sex game with her, now she was ready for more. Was she a hypocrite? Or was it her turn to choose the game?
Again, she felt the yearning to believe them. If they’d really fallen for her, could she refuse them? She’d be a fool not to want them. Her mouth watered at the idea.
She stopped, letting herself feel more than think the answers to the questions that could change her life forever.
Do I trust them? Yes.
Do I believe them? Yes.
Do I care for them?
The part of her that had been hurt so many times before tried to tell her to keep herself safe, to not fall victim to another lie. She swallowed, her nerves threatening to send her into flight mode again. But when her gaze fell on the men again, she had her answer.
Yes. As crazy as it is, I do care for them. How the hell did that happen?
She smiled, her nerves settling as the warmth that filled her heart overtook all her doubts.
Who cares how as long as it did?
“Guys, go over there by the waterfall.”
They did as she asked, pushing and shoving each other to get the best position. She liked how one minute they acted like men and then, in the next, they were three boys roughhousing with each other.
“Let the waterfall run over your bodies.”
They treaded water, but managed to keep their shoulders above the surface. Moving under the stream, they did their best to strike poses that were straight out of a sex magazine. She held the camera up and started taking pictures.
Holy hell. I couldn’t have found three more delectable-looking men if I’d ordered them for Christmas.
Blue closed his eyes and held back his head. Running his palms over his shaved head made his arms flex and he opened his mouth, closed his eyes, and adopted an expression that had her pussy clenching with need.
Is that what his face looks like when he comes?
