by Jane Jamison
Darion’s voice held a sharp edge she hated hearing. She faced them again.
“No. I deleted it. I’d already deleted every minute of it from the camera as soon as I’d loaded into the station’s control panel. I guess I knew I wouldn’t go through with it. The world will never know those videos existed.” She reached for them, the need to touch them again overwhelming her. “After all, I love you, too. There’s no way in hell I’d ever hurt you. Or the people of Twisted, either.”
“What about your job? Won’t your skittish boss get after you?” David’s grin spread wider. “We can eat him, if you want.”
“He’s kidding.” Darion frowned. “At least, I think he is.”
“No one’s eating anyone. Harold won’t be a problem because I’m quitting.”
“Are you sure, baby?”
“How else am I going to move to Twisted? The commute’s way too long.” She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ve been thinking about doing freelance work for a while now.”
“Freelance reporting, huh?” David gave her a suspicious yet playful look. “Does that mean you’re still going after the big story?”
“You bet I am.” She took their hands and pulled them toward the door. “But from now on, all shifters are off-limits. I wouldn’t want anyone to learn about my men or my new friends, now would I?”
“Nope.” David shoved the door open, letting her go through first.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” added Darion.
“Then let’s get going, guys. I want to celebrate.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.”
“Hell, yeah, we do.” David led the way, rushing them past a nervous Harold who stood next to a security guard.
“Harold?”
“Yeah, Kristal?”
“Thanks for everything, but I quit.”
“What about the big story?”
She turned in a circle as she replied, “What story?”
* * * *
“What’d they say?”
Kristal looked up to find Lena standing in the doorway of their home. She would’ve answered, but she wanted to get inside first. After an hour talking to the pride’s council, she needed to sit down and relax.
“It went as we expected it would,” answered Darion.
David kept his hand on the small of Kristal’s back. “How else could it have gone?”
“You never know with the council.” Lena stood aside to let them enter. “Some of those old farts stick to the letter of the law no matter what the circumstances.”
Kristal plopped onto the couch. True to her giving nature, Lena had set out a tray of cookies and sandwiches along with a pitcher of lemonade. She appreciated her friend doing so, but would’ve preferred something with more of a kick to drink.
“They ruled Boyd’s death as self-defense. His father wasn’t happy, but everyone knew Boyd broke the rules about shifting. With our testimony about what happened, even he couldn’t deny that Kristal had no choice except to shoot his son.”
“Good.” Lena sat next to Kristal. “Honey, I know you’re beating yourself up about things, but I’m glad you kept yourself safe. You did what you had to do. What anyone would’ve done.”
Kristal refused the sandwich Lena offered. “Still, it doesn’t change the fact that I killed a man.”
None of them spoke for several minutes. Her guilt had weighed on her since returning to Twisted and it still did. As far as she was concerned, it always would.
“Baby, are you going to be all right?” David squeezed her hand. “I hate like hell to say this, but we’ve got some things that need attending to.”
She touched his cheek. “I’ll be okay. You and Darion go ahead and take care of the ranch. You’ve already taken off too much time for me.” The past few days had been a whirlwind. They’d stood by her through everything, including Boyd’s funeral as well as the council meeting. At last, it was over.
“Are you sure? We could call some friends to handle the stock,” offered Darion.
“I’m sure.” But was she?
Lena must’ve picked up on how uncertain she was. “Go on, you two. I’ll stick around for a while. We girls could use the time to catch up.”
“You’re sure?” David searched Kristal again and she smiled, trying to reassure both her men.
“I’m sure.”
“Okay. We won’t be long, baby.”
“Let’s go, brother.” Darion headed toward the door. “The faster we get things taken care of, the faster we’ll get back.”
Kristal watched as the men she loved went outside. She sighed, suddenly thankful they weren’t hovering over her any longer.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to have two good men by your side.” Lena wrapped her arm around her.
“It is.” She shifted to face Lena. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course you can, honey. Ask away.”
“Do you have a thing for my mates?” Would she ever get comfortable calling them her mates?
Lena’s laughter filled the room. “Now what would make you think that?”
“Well, when we first met, you kind of sounded like you had a crush on them.” She didn’t want to embarrass Lena, but she had to know.
“Oh, honey, I like all the young men. Just because I have gray hair doesn’t mean I’m dead inside. But I don’t mean anything serious by what I say. I was just trying to get you to open your eyes and see what great catches they are.” Lena hugged her harder. “I’m happy for you three. Really, I am.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Were you worried I’d steal them away?” Lena batted her eyes, acting coquettishly. “I can understand why you might worry. After all, I’m one hot mamma.”
She hadn’t really been worried, of course. She’d only been hoping Lena wasn’t lusting after them. It would’ve made things awkward. “You bet I was.”
Lena stood and smoothed down her skirt. “Well, don’t you worry about me stealing your men. You’re my friend and I wouldn’t think of wooing them away from you. Now, how about you get some rest?”
Suddenly, nothing sounded better. She stood and gave Lena a big hug. “Thank you for everything.”
“Don’t mention it, honey. We Twisted folks do for each other.”
Epilogue
“Damn it, man, catch her!”
David’s fingers grazed Kristal’s arm as she faked going left then went right instead. She laughed, darting around Darion as he tried to block her way.
“I’m trying,” shouted Darion. “She’s gotten a hell of a lot faster.”
Just one of the perks of being a shifter.
After leaving her job at the cable station behind, Kristal had quickly settled in to ranch life. A month later, she’d asked them to change her. They’d both bitten her, driving their fangs into her arm and leg. The transformation had hurt like hell. Thankfully, she’d been feverish, lapsing into a fitful sleep, causing her memory of it to be vague. Three days later, she’d awoken to find David and Darion watching her, their relief evident in their smiles.
A week later, she’d gone through her first shift. Pain always came with every shift, but it was swift and gone as soon as her body had taken on fur and fangs. She loved her new white fur with the black stripes. Loved the power coursing through her. The heightened level of all her senses made exploring the world a daily delight. And sex? Sex as both human and animal were beyond anything she could’ve ever imagined.
Someone grabbed her hair, yanked, but then let go a moment later. A growl erupted from her and, after glancing over her shoulder to see her naked men right on her heels, she picked up speed and let her inner tiger loose.
Running at night had become a new game for them. At first, they’d caught her every time, but the more she learned about her new feline body, the better she became at dodging them.
She gritted through the aches ripping through her. The world’s color dulled as her human pupils were lost to the amber. Soon everything was the same. An a
mber horizon under an amber moon.
She didn’t break stride as she landed on four paws and kept running. The growls coming from behind her gave her heart a kick. As males, they were bigger and faster, but she didn’t worry about it. They’d let her run, giving into the play. Once they caught her, the real fun would begin.
Her paws dug into the dry earth as she whipped her tail to the left and headed in the direction of the house. Strong muscles worked and her tongue lolled out of her mouth. She laid her ears back and pushed on, feeling the air flow over her body.
She hit the house at a dead run, snagging the screen door into the kitchen open with a quick swipe of her paw. She bounded inside. The chase would end soon.
They pounced on her, knocking her off her feet. She snarled, biting Darion in the leg and making him hiss. Rolling end over end, she took David with her. He was too big for her to fight, but she did her best anyway. After all, what fun was giving in so soon?
Darion jumped on top of her adding to his brother’s weight. She growled, pretending anger.
They held her down. Darion’s fangs bit into her neck. David’s huge body held her down. She whimpered, trying to trick them into thinking she was submitting, but they didn’t fall for the old ruse. Instead, Darion swiped his tongue along her furry cheek. The low growl rumbling in his chest had nothing to do with anger. He wanted her to change back to her human body. He wanted her as his woman.
Unable to shake them, she did the only thing she could do. She gave in and shifted.
Although she’d played with them as a human to their tigers, she knew they wouldn’t hesitate to change, too. They were hungry men, men who were no longer satisfied with one sexual romp a day.
The pain came and went again as her body twisted, bones breaking and reforming, flesh replacing fur. The men rolled off her, deep into their own transformations. By the time they were all back to their human bodies, they were sitting on the floor and sucking in air.
“You’re getting damn fast, girl.” Darion leaned against the cabinet and dragged a hand through his hair.
She wouldn’t argue the fact that they’d let her win. At least, she thought they had. It was getting harder to tell now that she was getting better at running from them. “Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”
“Hey, what am I? Dog meat?” David sat close to her. He skimmed his palm along her leg.
“Hardly.” She took them in, their hard, sweaty bodies calling to hers. Instead of lessening in its intensity with their frequent lovemaking, the connection had grown steadily stronger. They turned her on more every day.
Her gaze locked with Darion’s. His obvious craving for her showed not only in his erect cock but in his eyes. She heard David’s low growl. Before she could look at him, he was on her.
As it often happened, they took her without saying a word. And as it often happened, they took her right where they were. Lena might never forgive them for the time the men had claimed her on the front porch of her bed and breakfast.
David gripped her behind the neck and pulled her mouth to his. His kiss was sinfully lust-filled, his craving flowing from him into her, ratcheting up the wetness between her legs. He nibbled on her lips, tugging, biting until she was sure he’d draw blood. It wouldn’t be the first time. God willing, it wouldn’t be the last time, either.
Darion’s warm breath drifted over her. Hands found their way between her legs, forcing her to spread them. Fingers drove into her pussy, searching for the sensitive pad. Her nipples ached as someone twisted first one, then the other. She tried to break free, knowing they enjoyed a little resistance.
David yanked her upward, pulling her on top of him, but with her back against his chest. “Drink her, brother.”
Darion gave a wicked grin then bent low and pressed his mouth to her pussy. The bond that made everything between them happen ripped into her. He lashed her clit, his tongue a weapon he used like a samurai with a sword. His fingers drove deeper into her pussy. She bucked, the uncontrollable lust taking her over.
Since becoming a weretiger, she’d learned what really living was all about. Every time Darion nibbled at her clit, every time he finger-fucked her, her body shook with the electrified current running between them.
David played with her nipples, torturing them, peaking them. He skimmed his teeth over her shoulder then swept his tongue along the lobe of her ear. “You’re ours, baby. Now and forever.”
Did the white tigers in nature mate for life? She’d have to ask. Provided she could remember after the sex was finished.
“Growl for me, baby.”
She laughed. Sometimes she wondered if David liked her better as a human or as a tiger. The low sound climbed up her throat. The growl was good, but not as good as her tiger one.
He chuckled and shifted his body. His cock pressed against her ass, pushing its way between her butt cheeks. As a weretiger, she didn’t need the help of lube.
He plunged into her, taking her by surprise. Although why she hadn’t expected it, she’d never know. Each time was different with the Conroy brothers. Sometimes they wanted it slow and easy. Other times, they wanted it rushed and feverish. She loved both ways.
Had David gotten bigger? Was that possible?
He moved his hips, thrusting upward. The muscles of his thighs pushed at her ass. She reached behind him and turned her head, offering her lips to him. The kiss was passionate, driving her need higher still.
She gasped in mid-kiss as Darion clamped his mouth on her pussy, drew in her clit and demanded she come. Her eyes closed and her head went back as the climax blasted from her. She was still reeling when Darion lifted her off his brother and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Yet another cry was pushed out of her when his cock entered her, capturing her with his first thrust. She clung to his neck, her fingers digging into his skin. The tiger inside her growled, urging her to shift and drive her fangs into him, but she’d learned how to keep it at bay. Instead, she tightened her legs around him and did her best to push against him.
Shock hit her as David came from behind, ramming his cock inside her ass again. Now that she was a weretiger with added strength and stamina, they didn’t hold back. They pumped against her, making it impossible for her to move. All she could do was ride their waves.
Another climax rose within her. The swirling emotions of the connection mixed with the surging power of her body readying for another release. She cried out as it took hold of her, wiping her of her ability to think of anything except surviving the rush of her climax.
The men’s bodies stiffened at the same time, foretelling their orgasms. Their growls of ecstasy echoed hers. Together, the three of them came, their juices combining. Their bodies shook, none of them in control any longer.
Slowly, they sank to the floor again.
Darion went to his back and put his head on her leg. The amber flecks were still in his eyes when his gaze met hers. “You are one amazing lady, you know that?”
She felt like preening. Maybe even purring. “You think so, huh?”
“Ain’t no doubt about it, baby.” David pulled her back so she could lean on him.
She’d never felt better. Nothing else on earth could ever compare to being with her men.
“Do you miss it?”
“Miss what, Darion?” Nothing was missing from her life.
“Your job. Being a reporter.”
She fingered his hair and gave her honest answer. “No. I don’t miss the station at all.”
“Do you think you might later on?” asked David.
“No.” She reached behind her to caress his cheek, trying to soothe him with her touch, if not her words. She’d held her secret for the past two months since she’d come to live with them, but it was time they knew. “Besides, I have another job.”
Darion sat up, the surprise on his face echoed in David’s sudden tensing. “Another job? Where? Twisted doesn’t even have a newspaper let alone a television station.”
&nb
sp; She pushed away so she could see both of their faces. “I took a freelance job so I can work from home.”
They relaxed. At least, a little.
“And?” David studied her. “There’s more to this.”
“Please tell us you’re not going to write anything about weretigers.” Darion shook his head. “I’m not sure I could take it.”
“No, I’m not.” She wanted to hedge her answer, but knew she couldn’t. They’d already sensed she was holding something back. “Although, I am looking into other shape-shifters. But not weretigers.” They’d told her about the other supernatural creatures in the world. So far, she hadn’t seen one.
They groaned, physically leaning away from her. That was never a good thing.
“Not about werewolves, werebears, or even vamps, either, right?” David’s mouth thinned.
“Nope. Not about any of them.”
“Then another kind of shifter?” asked Darion.
“Yeah.”
“Kristal, come on. You’re killing us here.”
“Darion, calm down. I’m looking into myths. You know, like Big Foot.”
They paused then both started laughing. At first, she let them have their fun. But then, when they kept laughing, she arched one eyebrow and shot them a hard look. “It’s not that funny.”
“Yeah, it is.” David chuckled. “Big Foot doesn’t exist.”
“Like werewolves and weretigers don’t exist? Is that what you’re getting at?”
“They’re not the same thing at all.” He looked to Darion for help, but only got a shrug. “If anyone would know, we would.”
“I have to go to Vegas.” She’d blurted it out, but she was glad she had.
“Vegas?” Darion tried to smother a grin, but did a lousy job of it. “Was Big Foot sighted shooting craps in a casino?”
She’d had enough of their derision. “Nope. The rumor is that dragons are taking over the strip.”
At least they had sense enough not to laugh this time.
“Dragons?”
David’s scoffing was just as bad. “Yes. Dragons. I was going to ask you two to come with me, but now I think I’ll go by myself. The online magazine that gave me the lead is paying for my stay. We’re talking a great hotel room, lots to eat, and even tickets to a show.”
