Petting Them: An Anthology of Claw-ver Tails

by Tate James

  “We. Don’t. Care.” He emphasized each word. “Hell, I’m grateful that kids aren’t an issue. None of us ever planned to have any. Never. Along with our sparkling personalities, it’s part of the reason we’ve never had any long-term relationships. Most women want kids.” He shrugged.

  Even though James had once said something similar, Annabeth couldn’t help but want to believe Jake’s declaration. If they really didn’t want children, then maybe she could…

  Her mind stilled again. Why was he telling her this? It was as though he was trying to reassure her that her scars would have no bearing on… Nope. She didn’t get it. Or she refused to get it. But that was also a thought she wouldn’t allow herself to look at.

  It occurred to her then that she’d kissed all three of them. And the last, with Jake, had been right in front of the other two brothers. She snuck a look at Andrew and Carter, but they weren’t upset, simply… they waited, their expressions neutral.

  Okay then. “What are you saying?” she asked Jake.

  “Shall I jump in and make an even further mess of it?” Carter shot a mocking smirk at Jake.

  Jake glared. “Shut up.” He turned back to Annabeth. “What we’re saying is what Andrew told you. We think we’d be good for you. And you’d be good for us. For all of us. We want to see where this goes.” He took a breath as Andrew took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “We all have our issues. Andrew’s told you his. But the point is, we… don’t really do well apart from each other. Never have. Even when Carter and I were in Houston, Andrew wasn’t the only one having difficulties.”

  Carter rolled his eyes then nodded. “That’s truth. And, what my oh so eloquent brother is trying to say is that, for whatever reason, you’ve managed to slot into the ‘can’t be apart from’ category for us.”

  Jake nodded.

  “It was always ‘Jake, Carter and Andrew.’ Now,” Andrew said with a soft smile, “it’s ‘Annabeth, Jake, Carter and Andrew.’”

  They couldn’t be implying what she thought they were, what the kisses she’d gotten implied, what their smiles told her. Could they? All four of them. Together. More kisses. Sexy times. Waking up to bed-head and bad breath. Laundry. Dusting. Shared meals. Puppies and laughter and even more kisses.

  That couldn’t be what they meant.

  A hand waved in front of her face. “I told you we should have waited.” Carter put his face inches from hers. When had he moved? “Did we break you, Bethie?”

  She swallowed and swayed forward a bare inch, until her lips nearly met Carter’s. Then she jerked back. “I think I need y’all to clarify exactly what you mean.”

  Carter straightened. “Looks like you know just what we mean, but fine. We mean—”

  “We want anything you can give us,” Andrew said. “If that’s just friendship, we’ll take it. If it’s lazy days, and shared meals and laughter, we’ll take it. If it’s nights spent over, and sex… We’ll take it.” He swallowed and his cheeks flushed. “If it’s living here, being part of our family, we’ll take it.” Then he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “If it’s love, we’ll take it. But don’t tell the other two, I think if the L-word was mentioned they’d go running like a velociraptor was on their tails.”

  She smiled at his teasing tone. Then his words registered. Love? They had to be insane. She’d known them a few weeks. How could he possibly think he loved her in such a short time? That was the stuff of bad romance novels and cheesy movies. That shit didn’t happen.

  “We’ll take it slow,” Andrew said, pulling back and raising his voice to a normal volume. “We’ll get to know one another. We’ll figure out favorite colors and foods and songs. You’ll learn not to talk to Carter before he’s had at least three cups of coffee, and that I hate anything with beans in it. Oh, and that Jake lost his left pinky-toe in a freak toaster accident when he was ten.”

  “How the hell do you lose a toe to a toaster?” The question slipped out and she shook her head. “Never mind.” She shook her head again. “I’m sorry, I can’t— I mean— this is…”

  This was crazy.

  As crazy as uprooting your life and moving to the country to open an animal shelter?

  Crazier.

  But think of the kisses.

  And the complications. What would the people in town say? Oh, god, the Neirguards.

  Think of how comfortable you are. Right here. Right now. Does it truly matter what those other people say or don’t say?

  But it won’t always be this comfortable. How could they possibly be okay with… with sharing her? It was a disaster waiting to happen.

  But aren’t they here, now, telling you they want to?

  She had no answer for the voice. Did she want to be shared? Could she handle the possible rumors, the sly looks? Because no matter how careful they would be, those looks were bound to happen.

  Do you want to be loved by three men, who already are changing their lives just for you?

  But was it love? If she truly wanted them, wouldn’t the opinions of others not matter?

  Don’t you want to find out what could be?

  She did. There was no hesitation in her answer, and that surprised her. She wanted to see where this went. But…

  Why are you anticipating disaster before it’s even happened? Take a chance, Bethie.

  Take a chance. Could she? It was quite a risk, to open her life, her heart to them this way.

  Isn’t it already open? Haven’t you already let them in?

  She looked at each of them in turn. Andrew with a hopeful and gentle smile, Jake with his near-blank expression, and Carter with furrowed brows and an unconscious smirk.

  Could you imagine life without them? Without all three of them?

  The answer was, again, instant. No.

  “Okay,” she whispered. Then louder, “Okay. I’ll try this.”

  Jake’s shoulders slumped and Carter’s smirk transformed to a real smile. “Good,” he said, then went back to his chair.

  “Yes, good.” Andrew pulled her feet back into his lap and resumed his semi-foot-rub.

  “So.” She fumbled for what to say. Where did they go from here?

  “So.” Jake jumped to his feet. “I’m going to get the sketches and ideas I’ve worked up from our last meeting. I need your input, again. And, please, don’t try to rearrange everything. Again.” The admonishment was stern, but there was a teasing tilt to his lips, making him look just a bit like Carter. “I also need to know if you got that survey ordered. I’ll need that before much longer.” He rushed up the stairs.

  “And it’s my turn to do some chores. Better get to it and sweep.” Carter rose with a sigh and a small grin.

  Why is he grinning about sweeping?

  “I’ll stay here with you for a bit, until Jake gets back,” Andrew said, his hands warm as they found a knot near the ball of her foot and went to work on it. “And, after you’re done with him, we can watch another movie, or maybe all have dinner together.”

  Nice and easy, just like they’d said. They’d take this a step at a time. Annabeth gave Andrew a short nod then groaned as his thumb found another tense spot.

  A few minutes later, just as Andrew’s fingers were about to put her to sleep, Jake appeared with a pile of tracing paper and sketches, and Carter appeared with a… leaf blower? Andrew shifted from under her feet. “I’ll see you in a bit. Gonna check on Dusty again and catch up on some paperwork.”

  Jake took his place and laid out the sketches. One, a rough concept, was drawn in easy lines, with swashes of color highlighting the various features. It was simple, the lines long and low to the ground, just as they’d discussed. Above it, running along the top of the paper, were the words “Bethie’s Haven.”

  “I like it,” she whispered. She still hadn’t come up with a name for the shelter. It was now at the very top of her list, because she couldn’t file any of the paperwork without it. She reached out to run a finger over the letters. They were in a classic script,
slight curls at the ends of each letter, but still simple.

  Then Carter started up the leaf blower on a low setting. She twisted to stare, eyes wide. What was he…?

  He started at the end of the end of the living room closest to the kitchen, and worked his way over the hardwood, aiming the blower under the various stands and chairs and the entertainment center. Clumps of dog hair and a few stray leaves were flushed out and herded toward the door.

  Jake groaned as Carter’s grin grew to a smile. “I’m sweeping,” he mouthed at her, and she laughed.

  It was certainly effective.

  Then the puppies were there, barking at the leaf blower, the air, her feet, the fur clumps, and basically anything that moved. It was chaotic and lively and…

  Perfect. It was perfect.

  My haven.

  Epilogue

  Margie nudged Adam with her shoulder. They’ll be fine now.

  He took a few steps away as a river appeared in the distance. Past the river was a field of waving grass and shapes that darted about in playful abandon. One of those shapes threw back its head and howled, the sound filling Adam with eagerness. Then he looked over his shoulder to the house that held Bethie and the triplets. Are you sure?

  I’m sure. It’ll take some work, but I’m sure. It’s time to go.

  Adam nodded as Margie trotted toward the river. The he set off himself. Finally, his Bethie had found her happiness again.

  About the Author

  To read more from this author please follow on Amazon:

  Amazon.com/Cecilia-Randell/e/B073ZHHRL9

  Or visit her website:

  https://ceciliarandell.com

  SHIELD IN THE STORM

  ONE OF US SERIES

  KIM FAULKS

  Description

  I came to the city for a reason - to bring those who hunted us to justice.

  I wanted to be their shield, to protect those like me.

  Those with powers.

  Those they call different.

  But when violence and death followed, I was forced to run.

  I never expected to find salvation...I never expected to find love.

  In an abandoned animal shelter I found the most unlikely of champions.

  And as the wind and the snow raged around us, we huddled together.

  Three dogs and a kitten.

  That night we fought those who came for us...and we survived.

  That night I learned who I truly was.

  They call me Shield.

  And this is my storm.

  1

  Senator Leah Williams was all over the news. Her perfect face on every channel…and every TV. I watched her through the window of the appliance store as she stepped out of the sleek black car and head for the front doors of the Marriott Hotel.

  Mossman Gready, a close friend and ally of President Harper is due to stand before the committee at nine a.m tomorrow morning to answer to allegations bought forward by Senator Leah Williams on charges of child abuse and trafficking. Allegations that will send shockwaves through the Presidential office. The teletext scrolled across the screen as the bitter wind picked up behind me.

  It would cause shockwaves…after all it was the President who sanctioned the things that’d been done to us.

  All of us.

  Mossman Gready was a vile piece of shit. He’d hurt me…hurt all of us. I could still feel the bite of the electroshock therapy. I could still feel his hands on my flesh…still hear his words eating their way into my soul.

  And as bad as he was, his stone-cold killer of a son was worse.

  The kicker was he was just like us. I glanced at my wrist. Black numbers marred his skin, the same way they did mine…the same way they did all of ours. Jason Gready burned my home to the ground…he took away everything I loved—and he made me run.

  Until they found me.

  “You good to go?” The deep growl came from behind me.

  I turned and then lifted my head to the six foot four male behind me. Renegade stepped close and lifted his hand. Two eight eight zero.

  The tattooed numbers were thick and ugly on the inside of his wrist. But it was the softness of his fingers that captured me as they slid around the nape of my neck and with sheer brute strength pulled me closer.

  I swallowed a shudder and stepped in, pressing my face into his muscled chest. His fingers moved against the back of my neck and then pressed against my shoulders.

  “We’ll keep you safe,” he murmured, just as he had all those months ago, and the urgency raced to fill my ears.

  I lifted my hand, sliding it along his arm and then turned my wrist. Six two six five…the glaring numbers made my gut clench.

  Renegade would protect me…they all would.

  But this wasn’t about me. It was about us…all of us.

  All the boys and girls now grown.

  All those with tattooed numbers on the inside of their wrists, and nightmares inside their heads.

  We couldn’t get away, not from our past…or the terror of our future.

  I glanced at the window and Senator Leah Williams—but this way we had a chance—a fighting fucking chance.

  My hand fell away as I stepped backwards. Cassian shoved the rest of the supplies into the back of the old Jeep and then straightened. “This will last us at least two weeks, that’s if Garbage-guts here doesn’t have another binge.”

  “I was emotional,” Renegade snarled and his top lip curled. “Maybe next time, I’ll just eat you instead?”

  There was a smug smile as Cassian motioned for the door. “Tempting, but no thanks.”

  Renegade took a step, his body shuddering as he moved, and in a heartbeat, he duplicated, splitting down the middle to surround Cassian as he stepped up the sidewalk.

  Even at five foot nine, Cassian was swallowed by Renegade’s size of not just one of him, but two.

  Still, the guy never flinched, barely even raised a brow. Instead he just disappeared. One second he was there…the next there was nothing more than an open car door.

  “Neat party trick,” he murmured, stepping out behind Renegade and heading my way. “But I’ve seen that one before.” He lifted his head, dark eyes caught mine. “We really need to go.”

  I glanced over my shoulder as the news report changed to the panicked face of the weatherman.

  Darkened skies moved in above us, and a biting wind howled as I stepped toward the car.

  Lorcan skirted the front of the Jeep and stepped up the pavement. “I don’t like this. It feels wrong.”

  Electric blue eyes bored into mine, but it was the pressure against my mind that stole my breath. It was soft…softer than he used to be. Still the invasion was a flayed nerve, pulsing.

  We have no choice, the words resounded inside my head. She’s the only way.

  “We’ll be there,” Renegade growled…both of him as he stepped together, merging once more.

  “They’ll never see us coming,” Cassian broke in, his hand shimmering before it faded and then returned in an instant.

  Renegade climbed onto the rear seat as I made for Lorcan. He lifted his hand, catching my fingers. His dark skin pressed against mine. He was quiet, sometimes too quiet, holding everything inside. But when he spoke, I listened. “What can I do to make you feel better about this?” I asked.

  Perfect lips curled for a second as he answered, “Don’t go. Is that on the table?”

  I shook my head. It never had been. Senator Leah Williams was the key; not only to justice, but to finding the rest of us.

  In the back of my mind nirvana waited. But it wasn’t a tropical paradise, or the deep shadowed forest—it was a field…a perfect open field with grass that skimmed my hands.

  They waited for us there…all of them. Even the girl in the lightning, the one Senator Williams called Spark. She was the reason the Senator was here. She was the reason we were as well. “Safety in numbers, remember?”

  There’s also risk. His voice slipped through my min
d.

  “A risk we need to take,” I answered. “Aren’t you tired of running? I sure as fuck am.”

  “Now we’ve got that sorted,” Cassian muttered. “For the hundredth fucking time.”

  My phone vibrated in my pocket. I dug into my jeans and pulled my cell free. 10th floor, room 6. The message filled the screen. I glanced at the unknown caller ID and nodded. “Tenth floor, room six.”

  “Got it.” Renegade slammed the door shut.

  I dropped Lorcan’s hand and made for the front of the car. He followed, skirting the rear of the Jeep, climbing into the rear seat as I climbed into the front.

  The wind picked up, roaring through the gaps of the windows as Cassian started the four-wheel drive and then pulled out into the street.

  The others were quiet…too damn quiet. I swallowed hard and stared out of the window. Black clouds swirled overhead, brewing into a damn supercell.

  City streets swept away in a blur. I shifted in my seat. Panic seeped through the gaps of the window with the piercing howl and the sharp scent of ozone followed, drawing me back to that night.

  The night I met Senator Williams, and her daughter…Spark.

  President Harper, we want answers! Why did you take them…what have you done? YOU’RE the monster…YOU’RE the beast. An ache flared with the memory at Momma’s voice.

  She fought. She fought so damn hard…and she paid the price. I swallowed the hard lump in the back of my throat and felt panic slip under my skin.

  Everything Momma had done for me came down to this moment.

  Justice, the word raced and I felt the pressure inside my head—not hurting this time—just there. Lorcan swept in, reminding me why I was doing this…it was for us.

  For them I’d fight the monsters of my nightmares…for them I’d fight the world. I was the protector…the shield.

  I lifted my hand and power surged, flowing through my veins and then just pushed. The car surged forward. Cassian glanced at me and then back to the road as the bubble swallowed the car and then four foot in front of us.