Petting Them: An Anthology of Claw-ver Tails

by Tate James

  So they were a little misguided when it came to their relationship. But they were her friends. And no one talked shit about her friends.

  Inside the field, James yipped. “Ouch! I can’t do anything, Lawson, ease up on the zapping. Damn it.”

  Lawson glanced at her, but Michaella stared at him blankly, and he shrugged. It wasn’t her. She didn’t have that sort of ability.

  “We’ll talk about this later,” Zach murmured. “But be certain, we will talk about it.”

  “You saw David naked,” Bradley said. “You have to make an honest man of him.”

  “I’m going,” Lawson interrupted. “Good luck, Michaella. And despite what James has said, you don’t need to worry about Evan. The only way he’s getting out is if someone lets him out, and be assured, that isn’t happening.”

  Michaella nodded. Absentmindedly, she rubbed her shoulder where James had grabbed her. Between her back and her shoulders and the exhaustion from her foray over the ocean, she was toast.

  Without another word, Lawson popped out of existence, taking James with him and leaving her with three surly brothers.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I thought you forgave us,” Zach said, walking toward her.

  “I do,” she replied, her voice lifting in pitch.

  “You stood up for us,” Zach went on. He was getting closer, but his eyes were narrowed. Michaella took a step backward at the intensity he was throwing off.

  “You’re my friends.”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Not good enough.”

  “Look. I believe what you’re saying. I know you’re not trying to trick me or make me feel stupid—I know ‘girlfriend’ isn’t code for riffraff.”

  Zach’s tan face paled.

  “Michaella—” David’s voice was choked as he began to speak, but she held up her hand to stop him.

  “But you don’t want me as your girlfriend. I took care of you. Fed you. Sheltered you. What you think you feel for me? That’s just gratitude. I already like you more than I should, so just stop.” She let her hands drop to her sides. “Please.”

  “Fuck this.” Zach reached for her, his fingers strong as they wrapped around her upper arms and dragged her against him. “Fuck gratitude. From the first minute we saw you, we knew you were trouble. We knew you’d mean something to us, so we tried like hell to keep you away.”

  “Please.” Michaella leaned away and rolled her eyes. “You hated me.”

  Zach shook his head, his eyes so fierce the golden brown seemed to glow. “Never. We never hated you.”

  “We thought surely at some point you’d ring the bell, come in, and tell us to go fuck ourselves. But you never did. You never crossed the threshold, Michaella. Everyone does. We never had to do it.” Bradley walked to her side. “We didn’t know what to do with that. You just kept cleaning up the lawn. And yeah, we’re assholes. So we waited because we’ve never had to go to anyone for anything in our lives. We’re Addingtons, and we might in some ways be pariahs, but we’re rich fucking pariahs.”

  David, the silent one, stood on her other side. “So we came here. We’re here. We’ll prove it. We never have to prove anything. But we will. For you.”

  She sighed. “Guys, you’re going to change your mind, and it’ll break my heart. As it is, I need to sell this house. I can’t fit into your life.”

  “You’ll fit in just fine,” Zach whispered in her ear. “Because we’ll make you our life. Nothing to fit into.”

  That seemed like a lot of pressure. “I think maybe you should take some time and think about this. You had a traumatic experience.”

  “Not traumatized,” Bradley whispered and kissed her hard. She gasped against his mouth before she closed her eyes. She could say no; she could throw them out. But she didn’t want to. Did she think this could go anywhere? No. Did she still want to have sex with all three of them just this one time? Yes, yes, she did.

  She kissed him back, and he moaned, his hand coming down to cup her ass. She pulled back to breathe, but he didn’t give her an inch, and swept his tongue into her mouth. Her knees quivered, which was a funny feeling and not one she could remember ever having had before.

  “Now, little brother, time to share.” Zach’s hand came down to her side, his voice close to her ear. Bradley moaned one more time but released her.

  “Damn,” Bradley whispered a second before David took her and kissed her softly.

  Zach laughed. “See, Michaella, they only pretend to listen to me. David just cut in line.”

  That seemed funny to her, but then she couldn’t think at all because it turned out that David might not always have a lot to say, but he certainly knew how to use his mouth.

  He skimmed his lips down her neck, placing little bites of kisses along her skin. Hands went around her waist, holding her up as she swayed toward David. She felt the drag of his tongue at the point where her shoulder met her neck. “I want to mark you,” he said. He bit her gently before sucking hard on her skin. He moved to the next spot, sucked, and released.

  There was a demanding tug on the back of her head. Zach. With his hand fisted in her hair, he jerked her back. The pinch of pain had her closing her eyes, because at the very same time, David dipped his hand below the waistband of her pants.

  And his hand was joined by another. Eyes closed, Michaella concentrated on each sensation. Rough fingers. Calloused palms. One finger teased her opening before thrusting inside her. Any sound she made was caught by David’s mouth. Behind her, Zach was hard against her lower back. His hips rolled against her like a promise.

  Michaella was a witch, and she was open to a lot. She knew nature worked in ways that couldn’t be explained by human science, and she knew magic could make people do crazy things. What she felt with the Addingtons was the perfect combination of magic and real life. Her body was made for them. No experience in her past had ever had her responding the way their touch did. Her instinct told her these men were hers. They might toss her aside after this, but her heart had decided.

  They’d entrenched themselves, forever and fully, in her soul.

  Her eyes fluttered open, and she was caught in Bradley’s blue-eyed stare. The three of them moved fluidly. Where one left off, the other moved in. Maybe it was the connection they had and the power they shared.

  “Stop thinking,” Bradley said.

  “We’re doing something wrong.” Zach chuckled against her back. His hands touched her skin, lifting her shirt away. Bradley and David jerked back for a second, allowing their brother to remove the piece of clothing. The two brothers stared at her body, and she resisted the urge to cover herself, until they smiled. Then she realized that instead of being nervous, she should have been frightened. Their mouths opened in identical wolfish grins. With a snap of their fingers, her clothes were gone.

  She squeaked, and Bradley glanced up at her. Somehow, he’d fallen to his knees. He held her breast in one hand, plumping the flesh so her nipple was at mouth level. “Magic,” he said. And winked. She laughed, and he touched her belly. Michaella wasn’t the fittest woman, and she had curves where other women had planes, but he looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

  And who was she to argue?

  Bradley’s hand still held her breast, kneading the flesh and rolling the nipple against his thumb when his tongue dipped into her belly button. She giggled, peeking over at David, who watched his brother, enraptured.

  “This way.” Zach dragged her, and therefore all of them, into her bedroom. They had a bigger bed, but this would have to do since she wasn’t walking naked across the lawn to their house.

  He laid her down on the bed and all of them were over her. Like before, all she could do was close her eyes and let them make her feel. Her breasts ached. It was like they knew, and their hands were on her. Zach took her nipple in his mouth, rolling his tongue over it.

  Michaella’s eyes went back in her head, and she shut them. Colors popped behind her closed
lids.

  Then another mouth took her pebbled nipple. Cool metal touched her skin, and she jumped, opening her eyes. She glanced down to receive another Bradley wink before David moved over her. He took control of her mouth. Who needed to breathe?

  One mouth left her breast, and she shivered as her wet skin was exposed to the air. Rough hands pushed her knees apart, and she had to open her eyes. Zach pulled away, staring down at her even as his brother placed his mouth on her clit.

  Michaella arched off the bed, while Zach glanced behind them. Holding himself above her, he stared at his brother. When he faced her again, his mouth was tight and his color bright. “Eyes open,” he told her. “I want to watch.”

  Watch? In Michaella’s wildest dreams, she’d never imagined this. And if Zach wasn’t staring at her, daring her, she’d have chickened out, too nervous to continue.

  Bradley swirled his tongue, and she was done. As she lifted off the bed, the light next to the bed popped, shattering, and sparks exploded. Not one of them seemed bothered. Zach didn’t give her a moment to recover. He kissed her. Slightly at an angle, his body half off the bed, he moaned against her mouth.

  David stayed at her breast, his fingers moving to take the place of Bradley’s tongue. Michaella closed her eyes again. Bradley kissed his way up her body, his fingers tangling with David’s as Zach thrust his tongue into her mouth, swirling it around hers. This was too much. The entire experience moved in a blur. Zach’s skin was against hers, sweat beading between them as his brothers moved, and he pushed inside her.

  It had been a long time since Michaella had broken up with her boyfriend, and an even longer time since she’d had an orgasm from another person. Not counting the one Bradley had given her.

  Actually, she wanted to count it. That one was incredible.

  “Stay with me.” Zach’s voice was breathless, but he chuckled, as if he knew she’d wandered away and had to be reined back. She was. She was with him fully. Completely. He changed his angle, grabbing her ass in his hands to lift her. Each pump inside her dragged his length across her g-spot, and in seconds, she came again.

  Limp and breathless, Michaella watched David take Zach’s place. If Michaella had considered this in her waking life, a four-way with the Addingtons, she’d have wondered about the mechanics of it. Would they take a shower between guys? Would it be weird? Would she be sweaty and gross?

  None of that mattered. David dragged her to the end of the bed, pulling her so he held the lower half of her body. He slid into her, eyes closing, head going back, the smooth column of his throat displayed as he groaned. He moved differently. Even if Michaella had closed her eyes again, she’d have known it was David. Each thrust was deep. Each circle of his hips slow. He built her up, like he had a plan and he’d be damned if anyone hurried him. With David inside her, Zach and Bradley joined her on the bed. Bradley kissed her, and she could taste herself on him. He pulled back, watching her for a reaction. If he expected her to be shocked, she wasn’t. If he was challenging her, then she would meet it. Eyes open, she leaned up, working abdominal muscles that would be sore tomorrow. She licked the seam of his lips, then pulled away again and lifted her eyebrows.

  She felt someone play with her clit, and she knew it had to be Bradley. It was too much. In seconds, she was coming, pulsing around David and drawing out his own climax. He groaned, the sound deep and satisfied. Zach and Bradley made room for him to curl around her body, kiss her stomach, and carefully withdraw from her.

  Their breathing filled the room. Michaella covered her face with her hand, rubbing across her eyes as she tried to gather herself. But she should have known, Bradley wasn’t going to give her any time. He’d watched his brothers take her, and it was his turn. He grabbed her hands and pulled her up until they were standing. “Ready?” he asked.

  “Um.” What the heck was he planning that she had to be ready? This whole thing was not something she was ready for. But she was going with it, because good gracious, the look in their eyes and the way they moved around her, pushing her to higher limits and past her boundaries… It was beautiful.

  Bradley spun her around and her head whirled, but Zach and David were there to catch her. Zach kissed her as Bradley moved into place. Cool metal touched the sensitive folds beneath her legs, and she gasped. He slid inside her, and those small spheres rubbed against the front of her. Zach reached between them, circling her clit with one finger in lazy strokes while Bradley drilled inside her. He pulled almost all the way out before driving back in again.

  “Brad,” she warned. She wouldn’t have thought she could come again, but if he continued like this…

  “David. Zach.” Bradley’s voice was huskier than normal. Zach moved away, making way for David, and then they both were kissing her. One at her neck, the other along her jaw. Their fingers tangled between her legs, building the heat inside of her until she was unable to contain it. Everything coalesced and then exploded outward in a surge of light, before the room plunged into darkness and they fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs.

  Somehow, she was on top of Bradley, next to Zach and David. Everyone panted.

  David closed his eyes. Was he just going to go to sleep? Under her, Bradley also seemed to be settling in to not move for the afternoon. His hand splayed on her stomach. Zach squirmed slightly before he also settled in for a nap.

  She was wide-the-heck awake.

  Michaella stared at the ceiling. What had just happened? A ping sounded as a note drifted down to her. Her boss knew she had minimal magic and sent her messages this way. It drifted down to her.

  Come on in tonight.

  She sighed. It looked like she wouldn’t be napping even if she could. She squirmed and Bradley’s hand tightened on her.

  “Guys.” She hated to wake them and interrupt their delightful break with reality. “I have to go to work.”

  David lifted his head. “Are you kidding?”

  “No.” She held up the note. “You guys stay here if you want. The living room is sort of not very accommodating right now since my ex ran off with my grandmother’s chair. But, you can stay. I’ll be back to pass out in the morning.”

  Bradley squeezed her gently. “Can we talk about your schedule tomorrow after you’ve rested?”

  “Shower. Work.” She leaned up and kissed him. “Look. If they’re calling me in to work. They need me. There’s a reason. I need to go.”

  David groaned, but pushed himself up. “I’ll bring you.”

  Michaella made it to the bedroom door and opened it. Light spilled in from the hallway enough so that she could see the guys.

  She snorted. They were done. Like—wrecked. She nearly patted herself on the back. Not bad for a girl who’d had three previous partners, thank you very much. And none of those guys had been able to get her to come while they were in her.

  “Seriously.” She waved him down. “You couldn’t transport a glass of water up the stairs right now. I’m going to drive, and I’ll call you when I get there.”

  “Call?” Zach said. “Do we even have a phone?”

  “Then I’ll have someone send you a message,” Michaella replied tiredly. Geez. These guys could use a human world crash course.

  “I feel like an asshole, but I’m going to go with it and say I’m supporting my woman,” Bradley said. “Go to work. I’m going to sleep.”

  Before anyone else could argue, Michaella shut the door behind her and let out a breath. Then she studied the hall where she stood. Argh! All her clothes were inside the room. As if one of them had read her mind, a pile of clothing popped out of nowhere and landed at her feet. “Couldn’t transport a glass of water?” David called. “Booyah.”

  “Thanks,” she called to them before she hurried into the bathroom. She rushed through a shower and dressed herself quickly. One thing was for certain, the Addingtons were very attentive to details.

  In all things.

  10

  Prestige was quiet as she walked inside the building.
It wasn’t unusual. It was too late for the receptionist to stay, and most residents were eased into sleep by the healers.

  Michaella made her way to the healer’s station, feet clacking against the old tiled floors. The closer she got, the more a sense of wrongness built in her stomach. Every instinct she had told her this wasn’t right.

  The problem was, at Prestige, sometimes they admitted patients who could make the healers feel this way. Michaella didn’t know if her feeling was instinct or magic. So she forced herself onward, each step adding a layer to her dread.

  Michaella turned the corner to the healer’s station and stopped, stunned. No one was there tonight. That was unusual but maybe they hadn’t seen the need to call back the whole staff.

  She made her rounds slowly. Work was quiet. Most of the patients seemed pretty subdued, but when she touched them she could feel their angst. It ate at her. Sometimes having a patient, like the one they were keeping locked up by himself in the most shielded ward, could set off the energy of the entire place.

  Michaella knelt down in front of Erin Jacoby. She was the lovely old woman whose dementia had forced the removal of her powers. She was slowly slipping from the world, and she seemed okay with it. Her soul mate had departed the year before.

  “I remember my bonding ceremony. I can still feel him inside of me. His soul with my soul. Even without my powers, I carry it.”

  That was lovely and Michaella hoped it was true. She sent her some loving energy and held her hand for a while even as her mind stuttered. How had that worked for the Addingtons’ mother? Had she only bonded with one of the brothers? Or maybe they didn’t do the bonding. Every once in a while a family didn’t. She’d never understood it. One of the few benefits of being a witch was the soul bonding. The forever of that. They had made that crack about future wives.

  Although, sometimes people did that for companionship after a soul mate passed.