by Jane Jamison
“Someone did see it, took that video, and reported it to me.”
“You know what I mean. A white tiger loose in Texas? That’s a story for the major media outlets.”
He hated like hell to lie to her, but he was bound to keep the pride’s rules. Until she accepted them as her mates, she’d be kept in the dark about the existence of shifters. She nibbled again on her lower lip, her confidence fading.
“Maybe.”
“Again, no maybe about it.”
“David’s right. Please, give it up. Come into town with us. Or better yet, come out to our ranch.”
She glanced toward the pasture. “I know what you’re saying makes sense, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s real. My gut says so.”
“And how reliable is your gut?” asked Darion.
He could’ve smacked his brother. She wouldn’t have mentioned it if she didn’t think her instincts were good. Why remind her?
“Very reliable.”
“Crap,” muttered Darion.
They had to try a different tactic. “Okay, if you’re determined to stay, how about we stay with you?”
“Yeah.” Darion perked up, his grin spreading over his face. “We’ll be on the stakeout with you. We’ll be your partners fighting crime.”
Darion’s jokes often put a girl at ease and it didn’t fail this time. She visibly relaxed. “I’m not tracking an escaped convict, but okay. I guess there’s no harm in you two sticking around.”
“Good.”
“But,”—she whipped out a finger—“you have to promise we stay alert and focused on the job at hand. No more of what happened in the alley.”
He made a cross over his heart, once more angry at himself for lying. “Deal.”
“Okay, then. How about you make a suggestion? Where would you recommend we set up our stakeout?” She grinned at Darion.
* * * *
Kristal knew she was making a mistake. Either that or she was making the best decision of her entire life. She couldn’t decide which.
As soon as Darion and David had gotten out of the pickup, the strange sensation had come alive. Her mouth had dried up while her pussy had grown wet as she’d watched them saunter over to her car. Reason had gone straight out the window, giving way to an overwhelming urge to touch them. Staying out of their reach would only delay the inevitable. Seeing them meant she longed to be with them, ached to have them take her again. To break free of a drug addiction would’ve been easier than staying away from the Conroy brothers.
Darion was a sexy boy wrapped in a man’s body, ready to joke and play at the first chance. David was more serious, steady in his unwavering strength. They were alike in their coloring and even in the way they moved, but their personalities were as different as light and dark. She liked both of them for being exactly who they were.
Darion spread the blanket he’d pulled out of the back of the pickup out onto the patch of green grass next to the pond. The sun dipped lower toward the horizon. Night would soon fall, but the men had also brought flashlights and a small battery-operated lantern. Crickets set up a melody that set her at ease. Frogs joined in, putting them in competition with the small insects. The darker it became, the more lightning bugs found refuge in the air.
They took places on the blanket, the men settling on either side of her. She was once again between them and it felt like the most natural place for her to be. Taking her by surprise, her heart hurt, aching at the thought of leaving them behind.
Could she go back to Dallas and forget them? No, forgetting was impossible. But could she put the memory of them in a special spot, to be pulled out when she needed to feel both comfort and pain?
Or could she stay in Twisted, giving up her job and the future she’d worked so hard to attain? They’d said they were mates. Did that mean they wanted her to stay forever? She sneaked a peek at them. If any men were worth changing her life, wasn’t it the Conroy men? She sighed and resisted the urge to put her hand on Darion’s leg and lean her head on David’s shoulder.
Wasn’t that the way she thought of them? Darion, ready to run, ready to play while David was there to support her, keeping her safe? They were two amazing men each with their own unique set of assets.
This is dangerous thinking, girl.
Girl. Darion’s name for her.
Time passed and slowly she grew relaxed, determined to enjoy the time they had together and not think of the future.
“Let us know if you get cold, baby.”
One look in David’s eyes told her he wanted her to say she was chilled. Wanted her to give him a reason to wrap his arm around her. As if he needed one. “I will.”
“You know, there’s a lot more to see out here. Not a tiger, but things that are even more beautiful. All you have to do is look for them.” Darion pointed to the other side of the pond.
She narrowed her eyes, squinting against the night. The rising moon cast a pale light across the land. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. She gasped as the silhouette of a small animal inched closer to the water’s edge. The coyote stopped, lifted its head, its ears twitching forward. Had it heard them?
The men sat next to her unmoving and she followed their example. Having been raised in Dayton, Ohio, she’d never seen a coyote. Other than on television and at the zoo.
Why had the men had such bad reactions when she’d mentioned a zoo? She studied the coyote, loving the way it moved gracefully toward the water. It stretched its legs out, lowering its body. Dipping its muzzle to the edge, it drank.
It’s beautiful.
She wished she could ask them if it was a female or male, but she wouldn’t dare speak and scare it off. Instead, she watched in awe as it lifted its head and let out a plaintive howl.
She startled when David put his mouth against her ear. In the softest of whispers, he said, “She’s skittish, but she needs a drink. She’s hoping a rabbit or two will show up. See her belly? She’s eating for her pups.”
She nodded, only then realizing the coyote was indeed a pregnant female. Take care, little mamma.
The coyote’s head jerked up, looked straight at them, and then whirled around. She disappeared into the brush surrounding the pond.
“Aw. You must’ve spooked her.” Would the coyote come back?
“Maybe.”
“David always did have a big mouth,” joked Darion.
“This is amazing. Thank you for pointing her out.” She gave in, leaning against David while she hooked her arm in Darion’s.
“Tell us about yourself, girl. We know you’re a reporter with a cable station, but what about your family? Are you a native Texan?”
“I’m not a real Texan at all.” She laughed. “At least that’s what people have told me. A friend of mine said that until I’ve learned the two-step, shot a shotgun, and ridden a horse, I’m not a real Texan. Plus I’m from Dayton, Ohio.”
“Oh, hell, no!” Darion jerked away from her, but he didn’t turn her arm loose. “Say it ain’t so. Say you’re not a damn Yankee.”
“Sorry. One transplanted Yankee here.”
David took the opportunity to pull her closer. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll make you a real Texan soon enough.”
Will you? She met his gaze, searching for more than amber flecks. She looked past the color, hoping to see into his heart. “Promise?”
He crossed his heart as though he knew what she’d thought. “Promise.”
“And your family? Are they all in Ohio? Do you have any family around these parts?”
“My sister Kay is in New York City working as a neonatal nurse and my brother Bill’s in California trying to become an actor.”
“Aw, hell, girl. You’re a Yankee, your sister lives in New York City, and you have an actor as a brother. You’re breaking my heart.” Darion clutched his fist against his chest. “What next? Please tell me your parents aren’t Democrats.”
“Hey! No talk about politics or religion. Got it?” Yet David’s tone wasn’t
harsh.
“Yeah, Darion. Listen to your older brother.” She grinned, knowing he wasn’t actually upset. “And yes, they are.”
“Holy crap. Our woman is a Yankee Democrat.” Darion fell backward onto the blanket. After a moment, he sat back up and took her hand. “It’s okay. I forgive you. After all, it’s not your fault. You didn’t pick your family.”
David reached around her and slapped him on the shoulder. “Knock it off.”
“What about you two? You know all my shameful secrets. Now it’s your turn to tell me yours.”
She’d been joking, but at the strange look that passed between them, she had to wonder if she’d hit a sore spot.
“There’s nothing much to tell. We were born and raised in Chartreus, Louisiana.”
“I’ve never heard of it. Then again, I’d never heard of Twisted, either.”
“Not many people have heard of either one.” David stretched out his long legs. “Our dad worked on a charter fishing boat, but his fantasy was to own his own ranch. I guess he gave us the same dream. Our mom was a high school math teacher. They’re both retired now.”
“Fishing and teaching, huh? Those are a long way from running a ranch. So how’d you learn how to ride horses and herd cattle?”
Darion tugged her closer, taking her out of his brother’s arms. Would they always vie for her undivided attention?
“We hired on with Bob Peters. He owned the Nine Lives Ranch before we bought it from him. It was rough going at first, but he taught us everything we know. We couldn’t have done it without him.”
“Nine Lives Ranch, huh? That’s kind of an unusual name for a ranch, isn’t it?”
Again, the men glanced at each other as though seeking an answer from the other. Darion shrugged. “I guess so. Then again, a man can call his land anything he wants. We didn’t see the need to change the name.”
“A man can do most anything he wants,” added David.
The easy way between them disappeared in a heated flash. Suddenly, she found it hard to breathe, hard to think about anything other than the bulges in their jeans. Had they been there before?
She turned toward David, lifting her face to his, urging him to understand her blatant longing for him. For them.
Taking her by the hair, he met her gaze. “You’re ours.”
Why did they keep saying that? And yet, she couldn’t say no. Saying no would feel like a lie.
Darion grabbed hold of her running shoes and yanked them off. Together, the men worked on her shirt, helping each other pull it off. Darion unhooked her bra while David tossed it away.
The warm breeze flowed over her bare breasts as she worked to get David’s shirt off. Darion tore his off then began undoing his jeans. His zipper was barely down before he was already shoving his jeans off along with his boots.
They didn’t speak. Words weren’t needed. Words weren’t even possible. Not when every ounce of their attention focused on getting undressed.
David stood, leaving her grasp, to work his jeans and boots free. She reached out to him, but was pulled back. Darion rolled her on top of him, picking her up easily, and then positioning his face underneath her pussy.
She sucked in a hard breath when he crushed his mouth to her, pushing aside her pussy folds. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, dancing under the moonlight. She looked down to see his eyes, amber flecks spotting the darkness, as he gazed up at her from between her legs.
His tongue tortured her, whipping around her clit in frenzied movements. His mouth assaulted her clit, sucking it in, using his teeth with just enough force to give her bursts of pain. He slid his tongue along her folds then drove it inside her pussy.
She bucked, once wanting to be ridden, now becoming the rider.
Hands took her breasts. David fondled them, twisting her nipples. She turned her head, saw his erect cock close to her face and took him in. She drew him in, then released him before drawing him in again, hollowing her cheeks harder with each suck. He moaned and rocked his hips.
She was possessed. It was that simple. Possessed by two men she hardly knew and yet knew better than her own name. She no longer cared if it made sense. No longer cared how long they’d have together. For now, this was all she needed.
They were all any woman could ever hope for. All any woman could ever ask for. They were beyond any men she’d dreamed of.
Darion took her hips, picking her up and scooting his body upward. She eased back and straddled his thighs. With a wicked chuckle at having moved her away from David, Darion eased her down onto his cock.
The movement was slow and easy, but still took her breath away. He filled her, pushing at the limits of her vaginal wall. His eyes glinted with a passion that matched her own.
Please, fuck me hard.
As though he’d heard her, he slammed against her, driving his cock inside her until she was sure it would come out the other end. Muscles rippled in his chest and abdomen as he worked into her, helping to lift her and bring her back down. She cried out, the sound floating on the air to become as much a part of nature as the wildlife surrounding them.
A soft growl from David had her answering him. She circled her tongue around his glistening length, then drew his cock inside her mouth. An inch at first, then another. Then it was one quick blast to the curly mass of dark hair. Another growl turned into a groan. Gripping her hair, he leaned back, his hard abdomen tightening.
She rode Darion, exhilarating in the sense of empowerment flooding her. She controlled his lust as he controlled her movements. She enveloped David’s cock and cupped his balls, adding to the feeling of dominance.
Yet the feeling was a pretense. She knew who was really in charge. They proved it with each thrust of their hips.
Since meeting them, she’d learned what real sex was like. The rest had only been precursors to the real thing. Physical acts that had involved bodies and sweat, but no real involvement. Sex with the Conroy men was more. It was a living wild being that wrapped around the three of them. They were joined not only by their bodies, but by their very essences.
Was it part of the connection?
Her mind wondered for a brief moment then once more gave into the surging passion roaring between them. Her climax spun her faster, higher, tensing her, readying her for the time when it would hit the ceiling of her pleasure and shatter it.
Darion took her breasts, squeezing them hard enough to make her whimper. He gritted his teeth, making his jaw muscle jerk. “Damn,” he whispered.
His hot cum shot into her, burning its way to the end of her then traveling back to slide down her inner thighs. She clenched her pussy, determined to keep as much of him inside her as she could. At that moment, in that time, she would’ve sworn an oath to have his children.
David pulled away from her and went to his knees beside them. “Come.” He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off his brother.
“Down.”
She did as he ordered. Putting a hand in the middle of her back, he put her on her forearms, her forehead touching the ground.
“Mine.” His tone was guttural, animal-like.
Frightening.
Sexy.
Lifting up her ass, he plunged his cock inside her pussy, fucking her doggy-style. His huge cock entered her, driving into her as he leaned backward. Like his brother, he filled her completely. She rocked with each of his thrusts and moaned when his cock skimmed over her spongy spot.
If he hits it a little harder…
When it happened, her world spit apart. Her orgasm tore at her, a locomotive of unrelenting power, taking every bit of strength she had left. She didn’t cry out this time. Instead, she screamed her full-throated lust for all to hear.
David rammed against her and bellowed his release. Her butt cheeks rippled against the onslaught. Her forearms rubbed over the grass. Her cream mixed with his cum as it filled her. She pushed back, aching to have more, unable to know if she could handle more.
Falling to t
he ground, she closed her eyes and let the shudders of his orgasm move against the trembling of hers. He moaned and rolled off to the side, but kept a hand flattened against her back.
With the men at her side, they moved onto their backs then stayed that way. The quiet of the world that had stopped to listen gave way as the sounds of the animals, secure that they were safe once again, began to move.
She could’ve remained there for the rest of the night, but life wouldn’t allow it. She sat up and gathered her clothes. The men, their intense gazes lingering on her, did the same.
“Kristal, look.”
She pulled her shirt over her head and followed Darion’s direction. A deer and her fawn stood next to the water. “Oh.” How could anyone find the right words to describe the serene animal and her baby? Seeing such a tender sight was the perfect ending to their time together.
She’d felt the difference between sex with David and Darion and her previous sexual relationships earlier, yet she hadn’t known how to describe it. Now she did. They hadn’t merely had sex. They’d made love.
I’m in love.
Love was supposed to be a good thing, a wondrous thing. Yet how could it be when the people involved lived so far apart? How could she trust a feeling that had come so fast and hard?
I don’t care. I love them. I do.
“Come on. Let’s leave them to it.” David pulled her to her feet, bringing his arm around her again.
“Yeah. Sure. Leave me to pick everything up.”
“That’s what you do best, little brother.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. If she didn’t, her chest would break open trying to hold back the joy.
Chapter Five
I’m in love.
The last thing Kristal had wanted was to fall in love. Especially not with a couple of cowboys who lived in a small, nowhere Texas town miles from her life and work. And yet there was the proof, staring at her straight out of the rearview mirror. She scowled at her love-sick reflection.
