by Aubrey Ross
“Where are you going?”
“Just downstairs. I won’t be gone long.”
She slipped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom. Her modesty was charming after the intimacies they’d shared. He found his jeans and pulled them on as his mind filled with speculation.
He was expecting too much from her. She hadn’t laughed in his face or screamed in horror, which likely meant she was still in denial. Ignoring the pessimistic thought, he took a clean T-shirt out of his closet and struggled into it as he made his way back downstairs.
“We don’t have to ask how your night has gone,” Evan said with a mischievous smile. “We had to turn up the volume on the TV.”
“Twice!” Leos added.
Refusing to feel embarrassed by the pleasure he’d shared with his mate, he plopped down in a chair adjacent to the large couch on which they lounged. “You two weren’t the only uninvited guests.”
Leos flipped off the wide-screen television and scooted to the edge of his seat. “Were you able to identify him?”
“No, but I was right. He is definitely a Dichotomy.”
“What exactly do you mean by uninvited guest?” Evan asked. “Did he slip past your shields?”
“He was using Kendra. It won’t happen again.”
“But how is that possible?” As usual, Evan’s questions outnumbered Leos’s three to one. “I didn’t think we could infiltrate an unwilling mind.”
“How many of us have tried?” Torral responded.
“He’s escalating.” Leos stood and began to pace in front of the coffee table. Watching his back-and-forth motion was enough to keep Torral from doing the same. “If we are dealing with a Dichotomy then the list of suspects has narrowed considerable. Our bloodline is the only one with this sort of power.”
“Our bloodline has been around for a very long time,” Evan pointed out. “This could be a previously unidentified branch of our family tree.”
Torral shook his head. “Possible, not probable. I don’t think we need to look any farther than our usual list of suspects, namely the Nicholsons.”
“The Nicholsons aren’t the only ones with an ax to grind,” Evan argued. “Let’s be honest, we’ve made enemies.”
Leos sat in the chair facing Torral and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter if this is one of the Nicholsons or someone entirely new, we can’t act without proof.” Leos paused, waiting until the other two looked at him. “We might have to find a way to force his hand. We can’t spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders and reinforcing our mental shields.”
“I agree.”
“Is Kendra all right?” Evan wanted to know.
“Would I be down here if she wasn’t?”
“How much does she know?”
“The real question is how much does she believe? I’ve told her almost everything.”
“Don’t rush it,” Leos advised.
“That’s easier said than done.” Torral pushed to his feet. “Mainly, I just wanted to let you know our shadow is on the prowl.”
Kendra was asleep by the time he returned to the bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed and gazed at her, savoring the peaceful moment.
A “charming inconvenience”. Her casual admission had torn at his heart, but he hadn’t wanted to compound her pain with his reaction. He would shower her with all the tenderness she’d missed as a child. His family would embrace her and support her from this day forth. He wanted her to be happy, but they still had far to go.
He got into bed and pulled her into his arms. She sighed and immediately snuggled against his side. Perhaps they’d made more progress than he realized.
* * *
A warm hand cupped her breast and Kendra instinctively arched into the caress. Torral’s image had followed her into sleep, filling her dreams with pleasurable echoes of the intimacies they shared.
“The sunrise is glorious,” he whispered against her lips, his breath warm and moist. “I didn’t want you to miss it.”
She groaned. “You woke me up for a sunrise? If you hope to survive the day, you better have coffee.”
He chuckled and nipped her jaw. She smiled and stretched her arms over her head. He liked to nibble. She’d noticed that last night. In fact he might well have the sexiest mouth on the planet.
“There’s a tray on the dresser. Are you always so feisty in the morning?”
“I’m self-employed. I set my own hours and they seldom include sunrises.”
He dragged her out of bed and thrust a steaming mug into her hand. “Please, drink.”
She’d borrowed one of his T-shirts the night before, not yet comfortable enough to parade around naked. After several leisurely sips of coffee, she strolled across the room toward the French doors. He pulled one side open then joined her on the railed balcony. She inhaled the fresh morning air, enjoying the cool breeze on her bare legs. The sun had just peeked over the horizon, streaking the sky with ribbons of color.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured.
“Kendra.” His voice sounded strained and urgent.
She looked up at him and set the mug aside. His skin was pale, his eyes unusually bright. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s dawn.”
She glanced at the sunrise then back at him. Realization burst within her and she gasped. If his wild story was true, he was about to transform. “Do you need help? What should I do?”
“Don’t be afraid. This is a natural part of our existence.”
He took her by the hand and hurried back into the bedroom. Her stomach knotted and her hands shook. It was a story, a creative come-on, a fantastical…
His skin went from ashen to gold like someone playing with color filters on a digital photo. He closed his eyes and held his arms out to either side of his body. Was he in pain?
The air around him crackled and light burst from his chest. Captivated yet terrified, she stood perfectly still. A silhouette formed within the light. Holy shit! It was true. They were some sort of morphing alien. Torral’s body remained intact as Ryan materialized in the light. She watched it all in stunned disbelief.
Ryan rubbed his temples, his eyes still closed.
“We become aware of everything that happens to the other in a dizzying rush of images and emotions,” Torral explained when Ryan didn’t move. “It takes a minute or two to complete the transformation.”
“When will you disappear?” she asked, her gaze fixed on Ryan.
“Are you that anxious to be rid of me?”
“No, I… This is a little overwhelming.”
“It can happen quickly if we’ve expended too much energy, but we usually have about an hour.”
Ryan looked at the bed and then at each of them. “You didn’t waste any time.”
Torral shot him a warning glare. “I just stoked the fire you started.”
They were the same person. How could they argue with themselves? It was a fascinating—dichotomy.
“Do you believe me now?” Torral’s tone was filled with gentle challenge.
* * *
Aidan fidgeted on the wooden chair. The Java Hut had been open for thirteen minutes and Holly had yet to arrive. If the worthless whore failed him today, she would have officially outlived her usefulness. Fucking her had become boring and he seriously doubted she would learn anything of value at the tasting room.
Having a spy in the enemy camp had appealed to his hunger for revenge. But the reality of what she could learn was miniscule compared to the risk of her revealing something harmful.
He took a sip of coffee and let his mind wander back to the night before. Experiencing sex from a female’s perspective had been unbearably stimulating. He’d instigated the link out of curiosity, meaning to check on Kendra’s state of mind and then slip away. If she hadn’t been so distracted by Torral’s skillful titillation, she would likely have sensed his presence sooner.
“Sorry I’m late.” Holly came bustling up to the table and slipped into the cha
ir facing him. “I hope this won’t take too long. I’m supposed to be at work by nine.”
“We’ll have you in the care of your employers long before then.”
Her delicate brows drew together over her nose. “What does that mean?”
“I need something the Burton brothers have hidden out at their fancy house and you’re going to provide a distraction so I can get it.”
“Not you too.” She groaned and rubbed her eyes with her fingertips. “Aidan is obsessed with that family. Is this errand for him?”
Aidan took a deep breath and reinforced his role. He might look and sound like Connell, but acting like him was more difficult. “Aidan can be a domineering asshole. I know that better than anyone. Still, he’s justified in his hatred of these men. They’re arrogant and heartless.”
“Beyond being rich and successful, what have they done to deserve Aidan’s wrath?”
He hesitated. She was an employee, a woman willing to debase herself for money. She should do as she was told without question. He was Connell. Connell liked this worn-out jade. Connell would try and convince her to cooperate. Connell was a fool!
“It’s complicated.”
She shot him a challenging look that made him want to slap her. “Surely you can tell me the basics. If I’m going to be directly involved in this, I have a right to know.”
He balked at her expectancy. He owned her! She only had the rights he saw fit to give her. Yet Connell wouldn’t see it that way. “Aidan’s grandfather was banished by the Burtons. He accepted the decision, but his son, Aidan’s father, felt it was unjustified and tried to clear his family’s name.”
“Banished? You make the Burtons sound like royalty or something.”
“They belong to an element of society you know nothing about. Nothing happens without their knowledge and approval. They might as well be royalty.”
“If you say so.”
He balled his hands into fists and leaned across the table. “Don’t mock me.”
“I wasn’t.” She picked her purse up off the floor as if she meant to leave. “I just don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
Meticulously schooling his expression, he reached across the table and squeezed her upper arm. “I told you it was complicated.”
“Aidan’s father went back to the Burtons and they still wouldn’t acknowledge him?”
“Nothing so simple would garner the hatred smoldering inside Aidan. The family was rounded up and taken to a secret compound. They were physically altered to keep them from reproducing. Aidan lost the ability to father children before his body was mature enough to… It was a travesty. No one has the right to force that on someone else.”
She stared at him in horror. “My God! You can’t be serious. Why didn’t Aidan’s father turn them in? Can Aidan prove who did this to him?”
“The Burtons are above the law. They do as they please with no repercussions. I was—Aidan was kept under lock and key until a few months ago.”
“What do you need from their house?”
Perhaps there was some merit to Connell’s approach. An impassioned ally was bound to perform better than a reluctant employee. I want to make a sex slave out of their human mate. That explanation would never do.
“They have records and information that can finally allow Aidan to bring them to justice. Their crimes have gone unpunished for far too long. If they realize Aidan is free, they’ll destroy the evidence.”
“We can’t let that happen. What do you want me to do?”
Chapter Seven
“It’s a little hard to dismiss what you’ve seen with your own eyes,” Kendra said. “Everything you told me has proven to be true. I sensed the danger for myself; you and Ryan are obviously not twins in the human sense, and I still ache for you.”
Ryan looked from Kendra to Torral and back. Her hair was messy, her face rather flushed, and her eyes wide and luminous. He had some serious catching up to do! “Are we any closer to identifying our voyeur?”
“He left enough of an energy imprint in Kendra’s mind for me to confirm that he’s a Dichotomy. Other than that, we’re still in the dark.”
“Did you explain what’s accelerating our attraction to each other?”
Torral stroked her tousled hair and Ryan’s heart beat faster. He couldn’t wait to touch her, to enjoy the pleasures she had shared with Torral.
“There’s an important distinction in the way he phrased that,” Torral told her. “Our physiology responds to your compatibility, but if you weren’t attracted to us, it wouldn’t matter. That’s why Leos and Evan didn’t go crazy when they were around you. Genetic compatibility isn’t enough. There has to be mutual attraction as well.”
“You aren’t making me feel anything; you’re just making what I feel more intense?”
“Well put,” Ryan said.
“How are you feeling?” Torral asked.
“I’m still struggling with the concept of being involved with two men.”
“We aren’t technically two men,” Ryan pointed out. “Even humans have different sides to their personalities. With the Dichotomy you get different faces to go along with the moods.”
She smiled and lowered her gaze. “I have no objection with either of your faces.”
Torral curved his fingers beneath her chin and guided her gaze back to his. “We can take this one step at a time, but we need to establish a telepathic link before I’m summoned to sleep state. It will allow us to speak to you and sense anything that might threaten you.”
Anxiety took over her expression and she pushed his hand away. “Is the link permanent? You told me your family mates for life. I haven’t forgotten.”
“This is the first step in a soul bonding,” Torral admitted. “I won’t lie to you. But we can strengthen the bond gradually once you’re more comfortable with all we’ve revealed to you.”
“Will you be able to read my thoughts or just talk to me?”
“Spikes in your emotional state will trigger responses in us. It’s a safety mechanism. We won’t hear your thoughts unless we intentionally enter your mind.”
She glanced at Ryan then looked back at Torral. “How is the bond formed?”
“I anchor the link within your mind and it becomes stronger each time we come inside you,” Torral explained.
“But children aren’t a possibility until the bond is fully formed,” Ryan added.
She offered Ryan a hesitant smile. “What do I need to do?”
“Surrender,” he said. “Just accept us together for the first time.”
She licked her lips as desire flared within her eyes. “Such a sacrifice.” Inordinately pleased by her playfulness, Ryan moved closer. Torral whipped her T-shirt off over her head, causing her breasts to jiggle. “That was subtle.” She laughed.
Ryan swept his hands down her sides and said, “We really don’t have much time.”
“Then we better get busy.”
Torral wrapped his arm around her from behind and cupped her breast. His fingers tangled in her hair and he pulled her head back and to the side. She reached back to grasp his hips as his mouth found hers.
Ryan watched the heated exchange for a moment before returning his attention to his task. They had to reach orgasm at the same time to establish the link. One glance at her naked body had him primed and ready to explode.
Sinking to his knees, he eased her legs apart, giving him access to her feminine center. He caressed his way back up her legs. Her skin was smooth and delightfully warm.
He pressed his lips against her belly and inhaled her musk. Pressure built in his groin and his cock strained against the front of his pants. He closed his eyes, shocked by the power of his reaction.
Her fingers played through his hair and he opened his eyes. She stood between them, one hand squeezing Torral’s hip while the other urged him on. She was glorious.
He pushed his tongue between her folds, teasing her opening for a moment before settling over her c
lit. Her murmurs were lost in Torral’s kiss, but her liquid response told Ryan all he needed to know.
Her hips rocked, pressing her soft flesh against his mouth. They didn’t have time to play right now. He’d explore her limits at his leisure once the bond was anchored.
She groaned as he pulled away and pushed to his feet. “I was almost there,” she protested.
“I know.” He bent to pull off his shoes. “Don’t let her cool down.”
Torral was happy to oblige. He scooped her up in his arms and sat her on the side of the bed. “Lie back.”
As soon as she reclined, he knelt on the floor and draped her legs over his shoulders. “Oh!” She wiggled and gasped as he devoured her sex.
Ryan had never undressed so fast. He crawled onto the bed and held her arms as she writhed and twisted. Her nipples were pebble-hard and her breasts quivered.
“Fuck her mouth.” Torral raised his head just long enough to issue the command. “Those luscious lips have been shamefully underused.”
Brushing her lower lip with his thumb, Ryan stared into her eyes. “Would you like that, sweetheart? I know I would.”
She was panting hard and her eyes were passion bright. Her fingers wrapped around his wrists. “Anything. Just let me come.”
“Some things are worth waiting for.” He smiled and she licked her lips, an age-old invitation. Even after he released her hands, she remained submissive and giving. He guided his cock toward her mouth and she did the rest.
Kendra bit back a scream. Torral sucked at her folds and lashed her clit with his tongue, ruthless and commanding. Ryan supported her head with one hand and caressed her breasts with the other. She could already see the advantages of having two lovers. No part of her body was neglected. Sensations boiled through her, consuming everything but the impending pleasure waiting just out of reach.
She licked the underside of Ryan’s shaft, following the distinct vein to the plush head of his cock. Torral had deprived her of this pleasure. Excitement built as she closed her lips around Ryan and sucked him into her mouth. How could something so hard be so soft? She laved the tip with her tongue, fascinated by the velvety texture.
