by Em Ashcroft
As always, her mind shied away when it got to a certain part. The memory of the day she’d never forget was burned into her mind like a brand on a steer.
So much had happened, and it wasn’t as if she could have done anything about it. Thinking back, going over the incident time and time again, she came to the conclusion that, if she had it to do all over again, she’d act in exactly the same way.
It had been a clusterfuck, but not of her making.
But it had burned her out. She realized she’d felt nothing through the bloody, exhausting hours that had resulted in two deaths, only the need to do her job as efficiently as possible. People said that was the way she should be, that emotions got in the way in those situations, when every second counted, but afterward? Surely she should have felt something then. But she didn’t. She’d gone downstairs to the canteen, ordered the least objectionable meal on the menu, and eaten every scrap.
Lying here, that all seemed so far away. Night had fallen outside, stars bright in the sky. What a treat, to be in a place where the street lights didn’t obscure the view.
In her mind, a spark flickered, then glowed. How odd. When she turned her head, she saw Brennan watching her. The spark was when he’d woken up. A slow smile curled his mouth. “Hey, you. It’s good to have you here.”
“Hey yourself.”
“How do you feel?”
What was she supposed to say to that? Delving inside herself, she managed something. “Good.”
“Not sore?”
The men had taken great care of her. “Not much.”
“We should have bathed you, but you were tired.”
Reminded of the bathroom and the rest of the place, she added, “This is an amazing house. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“Good. We want it that way. We have parties here and show people what we can do. Or we did, when we first moved here.”
“You don’t do that anymore?”
He shook his head, strands of his hair clinging to the pillow. “Not so much. People know us and what we can do. We have a lot of stuff on the website featuring this house. So make all the mess you want.”
A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. “I’m not used to making messes. I’ve never lived in a place big enough to make a mess.”
“You will now.” Reaching out, he touched her waist. As usual, his touch was electric, but they didn’t move closer. “Stay here as long as you want.”
She wouldn’t do it, but she appreciated the offer. “You mean this wasn’t a one-off?”
“No it wasn’t.” A sleepy Seth joined in the conversation. “You two are so damn noisy. What am I going to do now I’ve woken up?”
Feeling daring, flirty and strangely safe with these men, she rolled onto her back. “I don’t know. Go back to sleep?”
A small crackle attracted her attention, then Seth was looming over her, blocking out the starlight. “Maybe in a while.” He closed his eyes, and she felt his invasion, a gentle incursion into her mind that felt like an intimate caress. “Let’s see what we can do about that.”
He produced a small packet, the ring of the condom evident through it. Since Brennan had come inside her last night, Seth would have to use protection if he didn’t want them to bond.
Reilly took it from him and opened it without taking her eyes from his face. His blazed with want, desire a flame in his eyes. “I’m very much afraid I’ve found my weakness, and it has a name. Who’d have thought a fiery Irishwoman would be my downfall?” He said it with a smile on his lips, but his eyes revealed only passion and sincerity.
His downfall? But by the sight of his thick cock pressing against her belly, something else demanded attention and far more urgently than solving his enigmatic comment. Reaching down, she slipped the condom over his cock. His flesh pulsed under her hands as she took her time rolling it down his length. When she’d sheathed him, she lingered on his balls, the sac tight and full, hot with need.
“Fuck me.”
That was all she needed to say. Lifting her knees, she hugged his thighs with her feet, urging him on. Seth lifted his hips, and slid his hand down her body, pushing his fingers into her crease and down toward her cunt. Whimpering, she arched up to him. “Do it now.”
“Yes.” He bent to kiss her, so softly, and then, without warning, deepened the kiss. His cock nestled against her cunt, opening her slowly, so slowly she wanted to scream. He lifted his head and watched her as he fucked her.
When he plunged inside she did scream, but into his mouth. He plunged deep, forging his passage inside her, but she felt his care, touching her mind to ensure she was okay with what he was doing. The mixture of tenderness and passion destroyed her. How could she refuse him? He drew his lips back over his teeth, gleaming white and perfect in the dim light bathing the room.
A low, animalistic growl from her side made Reilly turn her head.
Gasping, she took in the massive shape next to her. No longer human, but the other part of Brennan. A full-grown, stunningly beautiful tiger lay next to her.
Her body jerked away, the reaction instinctive. Seth held her in place, his powerful forearms bracketing her shoulders. “He won’t hurt you. His tiger must have demanded this.”
“You want me to...” She stared into his dark eyes, her fear making her shrink into herself.
“No, sweetheart, not that. We might fuck partially shifted sometimes, but never the whole way. It’s not our thing. I can’t speak for other shifters, but if they do, it’s their business. Not us. His cat wants to see you, that’s all. Touch him.”
She trusted Seth, she really did. Tentatively, she reached out until her fingers met warm, soft fur. She flinched back, but Brennan followed, pushing his body gently against her. Touch me. His voice whispered in her mind. Please.
That plea did her in. Such a huge, powerful being asking her to touch him? What else could she do?
Seth remained still inside her as she reached out again. This time she buried her fingers in Brennan’s fur. He squirmed against them, a big cat asking for a scratch.
A low growl, like a purr came from above her. Half afraid of what she might see, Reilly turned her attention to the man fucking her.
Despite the animalistic sound, he was still a man. “That is fucking amazing,” he said. Finally, he moved. He withdrew and then slid into her, his thrust sure and slow, as if he wanted her to feel every part of him.
With her hand buried in Brennan’s fur, she watched the expressions flit across Seth’s face. He opened to her, showing her his emotions as he took her, fucking her slowly and relentlessly. She arched up to him on every stroke, her breasts grazing his chest every time their bodies came together. Her orgasm built, and she marked the stages, from arousal to her body soaking him with pre-cum, bathing the hair at his groin.
He glanced down to where they joined, watched as his cock partially left her body only to plunge deep once more. “I love that tuft of red between your legs.” He groaned as she wriggled, trying to align them better.
Despite her new profession, and the parties she held, Reilly kept her pubic area more or less au naturelle, neatly shaved and trimmed, but with that telltale blaze of hair at the apex of her thighs. She’d never shave again, if he liked it.
Brennan’s chest heaved as he breathed deep, and she glanced at him. His muzzle was partially drawn back, revealing long fangs. He could tear her apart in a minute, but she knew in her heart that he would never do that. The thought humbled her, the sensation creeping through her terror. That was the instinctive terror of prey coming face to face with its predator.
Her body rose to the challenge of Seth’s cock urging her with every thrust to come closer, rise and open her mind to him. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain. She let him feel, and he did the same to her, giving her access to his excitement, and the way he loved Brennan lying next to them, watching them, waiting his turn.
It took a brave man to open himself so freely. All she could do was
return the sentiment.
Heat and sensation rose inside her, slowly at first, and then with a power she was helpless to resist. She let herself flow into it, let her orgasm take her away until she knew nothing but her men and the way they worshiped her body. She cried out, screaming Seth’s name as pure feeling flowed over her head. She drowned in it, reveling in the perfection they’d made together.
Seth called out and wetness flooded her. She was coming more than she ever had before, liquid flowing between her legs. She loved it and held her arms out to keep him with her while he pulsed through his own climax.
Immediately he withdrew, and rolled off her, but kept his body touching hers, stroking down her, his eyes dreamily taking her in.
Sometime during her climax, she’d lost her hold on Brennan, but that was explained now. He was back, Brennan the man, his cock rampant and ready for her. Glancing at his breed partner, he rolled on top of her and took his place. Reilly welcomed him with open arms.
Brennan was in more of a hurry than Seth. He pounded into her, forcing her up and over once more. He’d taken her so fast she hadn’t come down from her previous orgasm.
She clutched him, and wrapped her legs around his waist. Brennan rolled to one side, and then onto his back, taking her with him. She pressed her knees against the mattress and used her elbows to lift off him, enough to give him the fucking he so richly deserved. A few golden and black hairs remained on the pillow, evidence of what had lain there shortly before.
He put his hands on her shoulders and helped her sit up, so she could control what they did. She wanted this. Any shame or embarrassment she’d felt had gone hours ago. Now she gloried in the fact that Seth was leaning up next to them, watching them with a pleasure she couldn’t deny him. His chest, shaded with dark hair, heaved as his breath deepened. She smiled at him and blew him a kiss, making him surge forward to claim her mouth. He kissed her and cupped her breasts, tugging them as she moved.
Her fever rose, so high, so fast, and Brennan groaned. “The only thing better than me kissing you is watching Seth kiss you.” Seth’s tongue flicked in and out of her mouth, as he massaged her breasts into straining awareness.
Frantic to come, to feel Brennan explode inside her, she bore down, then up, riding him hard. She gave him no quarter. The kiss with Seth grew messy the more she moved, but she loved the slide of his tongue over her skin and the way he gripped her breasts, as if guiding her in her onward gallop to victory.
Brennan yelled, then called her name, “Reilly! Fuck!” just before his cock throbbed as it delivered the first spurt of its load inside her. Hot cum trickled out of Reilly, over Brennan’s cock and balls, and still he gave her more.
Seth leaned back, releasing her breasts, watching them bounce as she rode his breed partner to a screaming climax. Brennan’s powerful body bowed, and he gave himself up to her completely.
She took it all, her cunt clenching his cock in rhythmic pulses as she experienced a high the like of which she’d never known before. It was different, somehow, even to the mighty fucking she’d already received. She could still feel both men, the impression of Seth’s cock, and Brennan’s for real.
She sat on top of Brennan, unable to move, barely able to catch her breath. As gentle as he’d been forceful a moment before, Brennan grasped her waist and lifted her off him to lie between them.
“Now you can have that bath,” he said, smiling, and leaned over her to give her a gentle kiss.
“Guys,” Seth said, a warning note in his voice. “I think we have a problem.”
* * * *
Brennan knew Seth only used that tone of voice when he was seriously disturbed about something. How could they have a problem? Things were going so well he hardly dared believe it. They had connected, and Seth had joined them, wanting Reilly as much as he did. Sure, it was Brennan who had a thing for redheads, but Reilly would be pretty as a blonde or brunette, and she had enough sass for both of them. As for her body—spectacular.
No doubt Seth had picked up on something. Seth generally liked everything in its place, just so. He’d prowl around the house folding throws into neat shapes and arranging the handles of the pans on the stand in the kitchen so they all faced the same way. Maybe they were too messy for him.
No, it wasn’t that.
Seth’s mouth was set in a firm, straight line. “The condom broke,” he said flatly. “Only a small tear, but that’s all we need.”
“Then why didn’t you stop me? You’d have given me blue balls, but this...”
Reilly was staring at them, bewildered. “I’m on the pill,” she offered.
“Well, that’s one thing we have to be grateful for,” Seth muttered. “Not that it matters much.” He’d withdrawn into himself again, his inbuilt pessimism coming to the fore.
Brennan saw when the truth hit Reilly. She’d been dazed with sex, at least he liked to think so, but she wasn’t stupid, and her brain had finally kicked back into action. Her eyes widened. “The bonding thing?”
“Yeah,” Seth drawled. “The bonding thing. That split condom probably joined us for life. At least if we ever want kids it does.”
“I’m not sorry.” Brennan knew as sure as she was sitting next to him, the sheet drawn up over her breasts, as if she was determined to defend herself. He didn’t want her feeling defensive around him, ever. “I knew we had a connection the minute we met. Of course, in an ideal world, I’d have preferred to give us all some breathing space. But I believe it was always going to come to this.”
Seth said nothing, but refused to look at them, and his mind was blocked. He rarely did that. He must be deeply upset by his discovery. So why hadn’t he stopped Brennan and made sure he was protected?
A revelation hit him. Maybe, deep down, Seth wanted this. The unthinking, emotional part of him, the part he usually kept hidden even from his breed partner. Brennan knew Seth had hidden depths, that underneath that tough hide lay a sensitive soul, one that had been repeatedly hurt in his early years. He didn’t know the details, since he and Seth hadn’t grown up together and Seth wasn’t exactly forthcoming about his background.
That would explain Seth’s delay. They could have prevented this.
Try though he might, Brennan couldn’t feel entirely sorry. He wanted Reilly. He’d never met anyone he liked so much before, never met anyone he’d connected with so instantly. Her resilience and her tough character would make her a good mother.
Seth’s voice chimed deep in his mind, where only he had access. What if she did it? If she’s a murderer?
Brennan almost snorted. I don’t think so.
The evidence points to it. Trust Seth to test everything. He might support Brennan’s stance in refusing to believe it, but Seth rarely trusted anyone, much less someone he’d met in the last few days.
She didn’t do it. Read her. Find out for yourself. Nothing had convinced him that Reilly was guilty. Nor would it. If Seth couldn’t do better than that, they were set.
But she needed reassuring. Gently, he drew Reilly close, despite her feeble efforts to resist him. He settled her against his chest and immediately felt better. “This doesn’t mean we have to live together forever, or that we fall in love. All it means right now is that there’s a possibility of our bonding. If that happens, then we, that is Seth and me, can’t have children with anyone else. That’s all. You have surrogates in the human world, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Sure, but I thought bonding meant more than that.”
“That’s if we mate. People often link the two, since that’s what usually happens.” He kissed the top of her head. “But we can take our time over that part. Mating is a commitment, a decision to share our lives. We might not be ready for that yet, but don’t let go of the possibility. It could happen.”
“Bonded trios can communicate at a deeper level,” Seth said. He didn’t look happy about saying it, but it was only the truth. He had to know Brennan would tell her. “The possibility of a mating is increased ex
ponentially.”
“Big words,” she said, her voice low but tinged with amusement. She was recovering from her shock.
“We went to school,” Seth told her. “Meantime, you’re released into my custody, so it’s not like you’ll be moving out soon. Unless they find the murderer tomorrow.”
“Or murderers,” she said. “We don’t know how many there were yet.”
Brennan liked the way she kept her mind open. That boded well for their future.
If they had one.
Chapter Nine
“Have you ever held a gun permit?”
Chris asked the question almost before Reilly sat down on the hard chair in the interview room at the police station in Goldclaw. Her jaw dropped, and she took a moment to scrape her chair along the floor, trying to give herself time to think. A week after she’d first moved in with the men, she was still there, still sharing their bed, and still fucking them every night.
Being brought in here was the first shock. Chris was obviously trying to take her off guard. Chris had called to courteously ask them to come in. As soon as they’d entered the station, he’d separated her from the men and brought her in here. Anxious to clear up the problem, Reilly had agreed, overriding the demurs of her—her what? Better she called them Seth and Brennan for now. Any other description could be wrong.
Seth had instantly delayed the meeting he was due to attend that morning, and declared he wanted to stay with her. That had given her heart. Brennan had called their lawyer, and while the men were still fussing, she came in here with Chris. She wasn’t naive enough to believe that just because she was innocent didn’t mean she would be exonerated, but she was willing to take the risk. She’d do anything rather than have this business hanging over her head. She was losing business, and her reputation must be suffering. In a small town, gossip ran like wildfire.
