Ours

by Hazel Gower

  Hugging Sandy as close to him as the seat belt would allow, Jake leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’m a cop. Well, a detective like Zack’s big brother, Brock. We have a hard case at the moment, one that seems to really be getting to me. The perp is clever and he doesn’t follow much of a pattern. I would like to tell you more, but that’s all I’m allowed to say.”

  She nodded against his chest and rubbed her hands over his body. “I’m sorry to hear that. If you need someone to talk to, I’m a good listener.”

  He held her tighter knowing it was going to be easy to fall in love with this woman. He looked up to see Zack nod to him in the mirror. They’d gotten a good one.

  ****

  Jake watched as Sandy looked around the restaurant for the hundredth time, gulped her wine down, and poured another. She moved away any time he or Zack tried to touch her. It was such a change from the way she cuddled him in the car. The waitress who’d been flirting all night brought the food out and winked at him then fawned all over Zack. Jake chuckled when this seemed to finally get Sandy’s attention.

  She grabbed Zack’s hand and glared at the girl before she whispered, “Pass him your number or touch him again, and the hand you use will get broken.”

  The woman turned her smile on him and his chuckle turned into a laugh as Sandy continued, “Don’t even think about it. He’s mine too.” She grabbed his hand and stared up at the shocked waitress.

  Laughing harder than he had in days, he felt a hard kick in the knee from Sandy as she let go of their hands, drank her glass of wine, and snarled, “Shut it, both of you. I don’t see what’s so funny.”

  He looked over to see Zack laughing. Pulling her hand up, Jake kissed it. “Oh, Little Red, you’ve made a bad day into a much better one. It’s nice to know you are already starting to feel we’re yours.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “You’re not. Remember this is just one night. I had to agree to get Zack out of my room.”

  Jake snorted at her lame excuse.

  “Okay, fine, so maybe I want a repeat of last night and can’t be bothered to go out to a nightclub and pick up.”

  “No more picking up for you. We are it for you.” Jake couldn’t help the growl that followed her statement.

  Sandy shrugged, shoved food into her mouth, and downed another glass of wine. Jake turned to see a huge grin on Zack’s face.

  “Susie never said what you do for a living. You haven’t mentioned anything either. You know I’m a cop and teach self-defense as a side project.” Jake watched as she poured more wine and stared at him like she was debating what to say.

  She picked up her fork only to pause with the food halfway to her mouth. “I don’t know what Zack does.”

  He saw Zack swallow what he was eating, put down his utensils, and take a deep breath. “What do you think I do?”

  Sandy turned to Zack, swirled her glass of red, and then she looked at Jake and mouthed, “Help.” Jake shook his head. He wasn’t going to help, and Jake was interested to know what she thought his cousin did.

  “Um, I didn’t even know you existed until the other night so you can’t work at the gym. Not that I go there, but Jane does. You don’t look like the cop type, but then neither does Jake.”

  He looked down at himself and wondered why he didn’t look the part.

  Zack seemed to have done the same because he asked, “Why don’t you think I could be a cop?”

  “I never said that you couldn’t be a good cop. I said you don’t look like one.” Her hands trailed up Zack’s arm, circling every tattoo visible. “So what do you do?”

  Zack grinned down at Sandy. “Do you like my tattoos?”

  She nodded and grinned back at Zack.

  “Well, you and Jake are the only ones in the family who do. I own a tattoo shop called Enjoyment Ink. I just bought the only other tattoo shop in town. I’m refurbishing it, and in a month if all goes okay, I will open it again. So my shop is very busy at the moment. Open almost twenty-four hours.”

  She turned to Jake. “It was dark the other night, and I got distracted later with my family, so I didn’t get to check if you had any tats.”

  Zack laughed, and Jake watched as Zack’s shoulder dropped, and he sagged like he’d had a weight lifted off his shoulders. Jake knew Zack worried that his mate wouldn’t want to be with the black sheep of the family.

  Jake had his own worry that maybe he was too old and dominant for Sandy, especially after meeting her father and brothers and knowing how she felt about them being so alpha. He would have trouble reining it in, but when he looked at Sandy, he already knew he would do anything to keep her. If that meant toning down his dominance, he would.

  ****

  Dinner went better than he thought it would, especially after her reluctance that morning. Zack was even happier that Sandy liked his tattoos. That’d been something he’d worried about. His family wasn’t too fond of them, and his mother hated the fact her son owned two shops. She said too many notorious people hang out in tattoo shops, and the Bear family didn’t socialize with them. Zack really didn’t care what his family thought, but the snide comments annoyed him all the same.

  After pulling into Sandy’s driveway, he got out of the car and waited for Jake to come with Sandy. She was drunk. They probably should have slowed her down or cut her off, but neither he nor Jake wanted her to think they wanted to control what she drank. She was old enough to know when to stop. Well, they thought she’d know.

  He watched as she stumbled against Jake’s arm, muttering, “Crap, I drank too much, and it’s all you guys’ faults.”

  Zack went over to help hold up her other side as she’d refused in the car to be carried. “How, Firebird?”

  Sandy glared up at him. “Because you two make me nervous. Last night was like a dream, and I got scared of what would happen tonight, and that waitress and women kept looking at you and they were all”—she made an elaborate gesture with her hands to herself—“thinking what’s a chubby no one doing with hunks like you. I know I have lots of competition because you two are so handsome and could have any woman, and one with lots of experience. I was a virgin until you boys came along. I don’t know much, and I don’t want to like you and then have my family chase you away or you figure out I’m not worth the effort, but it’s too late I’ve already fallen in…” She trailed off as she covered her mouth with her hand, pushed away, ran to the flowerbed in front of her house, and vomited everywhere.

  Jake took the keys out of her hands and opened the door, while Zack held Sandy’s hair and rubbed her back.

  “Oh, go away. This is so embarrassing.” She lamely pushed him away.

  Once she’d finished, Zack picked her up over her protests and carried her to the bathroom.

  She rinsed out her mouth and groaned. “Please just put me to bed and leave me alone. Maybe if I don’t see you again, I won’t be reminded of what a fool I’ve made of myself. I’m not a drinker.”

  “I can tell,” Zack muttered.

  She nodded and Zack picked her back up and carried her to the bed before laying her gently down. Jake passed him water and some paracetamol.

  “Here, take these,” Zack said as he stroked her hair.

  She downed two tablets with the water before curling into a ball and closing her eyes. They slowly started to walk away when she muttered, “Will you both just hold me for a while?”

  Zack looked at Jake who was already getting in behind her. Without saying a word, Zack got in the opposite side, kissed her forehead, and watched as her breathing slowed and she snuggled into them.

  “I could get used to this.”

  Zack barely caught her whisper before he closed his own eyes.

  ****

  Zack awoke to a mobile ringing and Jake’s rough voice growling “What’s up?”

  He watched his cousin go from barely awake to jackknifing up and out of bed to gather his stuff.

  Ending the phone call, Jake looked over at him. “Stay with
her. I have to go. There’s been another murder.”

  Zack nodded, pulled Sandy closer to him, and watched Jake rush out of the room before he drifted back off to sleep.

  The next time he woke an alarm clock was going off.

  Sandy groaned into his chest. “No, it can’t be six o’clock already. I don’t want to go to work. I hate early shifts.” She pushed against his chest. “Where’s Jake?”

  Zack leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “He got called into work, so it’s just me. How about you get a shower and dressed, and I’ll make coffee, or would you rather some tea with a piece of toast?” He smiled at her shocked expression.

  “You know how to cook?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t call putting toast into a toaster cooking, but yes, I can cook. I have to feed myself somehow.”

  She closed her eyes and snuggled into him for a moment. “A coffee and toast with butter would be heaven. I like mine milky with one big sugar.” She gave him a quick kiss, got out of bed, and walked straight to her bathroom.

  Zack watched her walk away in a lace bra and undies. Adjusting himself, he knew he wouldn’t be getting rid of his morning boner anytime soon. He moaned and got out of bed.

  Zack looked in almost every cupboard in the kitchen until he found what he needed. After making coffee and toast, he sat at the table and waited. A moment later Sandy came out tucking her white shirt into a black tight-fitting pencil skirt. She held black high heels in her other hand. Sandy dropped the shoes on the ground and slipped into them then sat next to him before downing the coffee and shoving the toast in her mouth.

  “Thanks for doing this. I have to run. It’s my turn to open.” She kissed his stunned cheek and rushed for the door yelling, “Don’t forget to fix the front door.”

  Following her, he grabbed her arm just as she was about to leave. “You never told us where you work.” Zack let go of her arm, and she walked to her car.

  “I work at a construction company as an assistant.” She got in her car and drove away, leaving him standing in front of her house in just his boxers.

  Sighing, Zack walked back into the house and told himself he would get a more information that night. He pulled his mobile out and called one of his cousins who owned a hardware store. Zack asked if he could send people over to fix Sandy’s broken front door and said he would be there for an hour or so to help.

  Chapter Five

  Jake dragged himself into his house. He was dying for a shower and clean clothes. It was currently six o’clock, and he’d been up since 4:40 that morning and hadn’t stopped. All he could think of was getting a shower, packing some clothes in a bag, and going back to spend time snuggling with his mate.

  Letting the hot spray wash away the dirt, he wished it could wash the images of the old werepanther couple slashed to pieces with “Animal” written above their bodies in blood.

  The couple had been friends of his family. Jake was still close friends with their sons and daughter. That’d been the worst part of his day, having to go and talk to the victims’ family. He’d felt like a schmuck referring to them like that, but he had no choice. It was all a part of his job. He tried not to close his eyes, afraid of what he would see.

  After turning the taps off, he reached for the towel, wrapped it around himself, and walked to his closet. He chucked a couple of days’ clothes and work uniforms in his large black backpack. He slipped into track pants, needing to feel comfortable. Not bothering with a shirt, he slipped into his shoes and picked up his joggers, slung the bag over his shoulder, and walked through his house to his car.

  Jake arrived at Sandy’s to see the lights on. Jake couldn’t see Zack’s motorbike, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t here. He frowned when Sandy’s front door opened with a slight creak. Why the hell didn’t she lock her door? Anyone could get in. Jake didn’t even want to think of all the things that could happen.

  Locking the door behind him, Jake stormed into the house and followed the strongest smell of honey and strawberries. Sandy sat on the lounge in the family room opposite the kitchen with a book in her hand. He could smell a roast chicken in the oven, almost done.

  Angry that she’d left the door open for anyone to enter and do unthinkable things to her, he grabbed her as she gave a startled squeal and sat in her spot with her on his lap.

  “Why the hell isn’t your front door locked? Anyone could walk in and do a number of things.”

  He didn’t give her a chance to respond. His mouth came down on hers, and he pulled and tugged her clothes off. Satisfied when she was naked in his arms, he moved his mouth down her body and basked in the fact he’d left her breathless and wanting more. She tried to pull back, but he wasn’t letting her because he was the one in control.

  Reaching her belly button, he lingered and looked up at her. “Promise me you’ll lock your door from now on.”

  Sandy stared down at him with passion-filled eyes and let out a loud groan. “Sure. Just don’t stop.”

  He grinned as she arched her body up to get him to continue. “I mean it, Little Red.”

  Her eyes narrowed

  “If you don’t lock your door, anyone could come in a number of things like this…” He dived for her pussy, lapping at her and nipping her nub.

  “Jake, more. Give me more.” She clutched his hair to hold him to her.

  Jake played, sucking her honey and feeling her body buck against him. His cock strained in his pants, and his bear hummed in contentment. Slowly he sank a finger into her soaking core as she begged him to make her come.

  “Oh, Jake. Please… I need… make… me come. I need…” She ground against him.

  He removed her hands from his hair and slowly licked and sucked his way back up her body. She looked beautiful, like a goddess laid before him. Her eyes were hooded, her body arched towards him, and her lips pouted. He moved away, yanked his pants off, and returned to hover over her before she had the chance to move.

  Aligning his cock at her wet entrance, he reached for her legs and wrapped them around him as he kneeled by the couch. Jake watched as his dick slid into her tight pussy, inch by inch. Sandy’s eyes were closed and she groaned as he pushed himself in. “Oh, Little Red, you are heavenly.”

  Her eyes snapped open, and she eased herself down so he was fully seated inside her. Leaning down, he kissed her mouth, tangling their tongues. Her hands circled his neck, and slowly he stood. Sandy groaned into his mouth as his cock almost left her before it slammed back home when he sat, moving her legs to either side of him. Looking into her eyes, he growled, “Ride me. Let me watch your tits bounce, and your face as I fill you with my cum.”

  Her eyes seemed to glaze over at his words, and she at first slowly lifted herself, only to fall back down onto him again. Sandy’s core pulsed around him, and he felt the tension in him about to explode. Holding her waist, he helped her pick up her pace. He let one hand fall to rub over her clit. Jake put more pressure on her nub and she fell apart.

  “Jake. Oh my God.” She quivered around him, squeezing his cock.

  Growling, Jake moved his hands to her arse and lifted her almost all the way off before he slammed back home and emptied himself into her. His yell of triumph resonated through the house at the same time as the oven timer went off.

  He sat with her on top of him as they tried to ignore the noise from the kitchen.

  “I better get that,” Sandy groaned.

  Jake let her go reluctantly, watching Sandy walk into the kitchen naked. He was one lucky Bear.

  ****

  Sandy turned the oven off. She paused when she felt the wetness on her thighs. Oh crap. They’d forgotten to use a condom again. Today her father had come around and she’d had the most embarrassing conversation ever with him. He’d come in, sat on the lounge in the family room, and faced her without saying anything for a while.

  “Is everything okay, Dad?”

  He’d cleared his throat several times before he muttered, “’I’ve noticed that
those men don’t seem to be leaving. And, well, I never did have the sex talk with you. Um, I just thought—”

  “Oh God, Dad, please don’t. Look, I already know about sex and all that. It’s easy to find out things these days with videos and the Internet.” Sandy’s cheeks felt like they were on fire as she forced a smile at her father. “Don’t worry about me, Dad.”

  Her father had relaxed instantly, got up, patted her on the back, and added, “I’m, er, glad you know to practice safe sex. Make sure you always have a condom because you can’t trust some guys.” With saying that, he’d nodded to her and almost ran out her door.

  Thinking over everything she’d done with Zack and Jake, she started to freak out when she realized that not once had they used a condom or had she asked them to use one.

  Not caring about the roast anymore, she walked back to Jake, who lay on the lounge. “You don’t have any diseases that I should know about, do you?

  Jake’s brow furrowed as he gave her an odd look. “No, shifters don’t get diseases. Why do you ask?”

  She looked his perfect muscle-clad body up and down. “Can you smell when a woman is fertile, in heat or whatever?”

  He sat up and pulled her to him. “Why are you asking?”

  Pushing at him, Sandy struggled until she gave up, knowing she wasn’t going to get anywhere. “Because every time I’ve been with either you or Zack, we haven’t used a condom. So I’m trying not to freak right now, as I’m not taking any contraceptive.”

  He sat her so she straddled him and cupped her face with his hands. “Would it be so bad if you had our cubs?”

  “Cubs! I would give birth to cubs?” She tried to get away again, but he wouldn’t let her go and held on tight.