“I think you should place this one in the family room and bring the one of Jolie in here,” he admitted, handing the painting to Jacques. “This one is more family room appropriate. The other one is a bit more risqué.”
Flynn found that amusing. Vampyres didn't notice nudity, and wouldn’t, even if it slapped them upside the head.
He still didn't get that.
Jacques carefully untied the twine until the paper fell away. He imagined it would be good, but this painting was spectacular. “Wow! Mathew, this is amazing!” he exclaimed, looking up at the young vampyre.
“Let me see,” Jolie said, bouncing on the bed. Jacques turned it toward her and her eyes filled with tears. “Oh Mathew! It’s beautiful.”
Here, he had painted a picture of Jolie and her two mates. She stood in the middle dressed in a white flowing dress, her black hair whipping around her in an invisible wind. In her hand was the same sword with jeweled hilt that she held in the first painting.
But that wasn’t all.
On each of her sides was a mate, and they were dressed in all black and looked down at her, protectively guarding her. It gave whoever was admiring the picture the impression of Jolie being angelic, and yet guarded by two dark angels.
“Holy shit, Mathew! This painting is amazing!” Flynn agreed, placing his hand on the young vampyre’s shoulder. “I’m impressed.”
Jolie started to sniffle, and then the first tear fell. “It is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she admitted.
Mathew looked alarmed by the sudden emotion, so he glanced at her mates to see what he did wrong.
Then, he heard it.
‘Relax. This is pregnancy hormones and nothing more.’
Jolie wrapped her arms around his waist as she placed her head on his shoulder. He instinctively closed his arms around her body, and then realized what he did.
He was touching the mistress, and in front of the masters. He had to be insane.
When he glanced up at the two men, they weren’t even looking at him. Instead of angry glares from them, he noticed they were too busy examining their new gift.
So, this is what it felt like to be accepted.
“I have a problem,” she stated.
All the men glanced over at her.
“What?” Mathew asked.
“I don’t know if I can bear to let this one out of our room,” she said, freeing Mathew to inspect the painting again. “I’m sorry, Mathew, but we’re not taking your advice on this one. This painting is going to stay here--with us.”
He was pleased that they loved it.
The men agreed with her.
Taking it from Jolie’s hands, Jacques carried the painting to the fireplace. He placed it delicately on the mantle before stepping back to inspect it. “I’ll have it sent out to be framed in some ridiculous antique frame that won’t even come close to the magnificence of this painting.”
Mathew blushed.
“Thank you,” Flynn said, grinning at the man.
“It’s really me who should be thanking you,” he stated, catching both men off guard.
“Why?” they asked together.
“For what you’ve given me and continue to give me. I’ve never had a real home before, and I certainly never had someone who loved me.”
Jolie took their hands in hers.
“I can’t tell you what it means to have Jolie in my life. I know you both think it’s for something different, but I wanted to reassure you that I’ll keep her safe. I love her too.”
Flynn knew he shouldn’t go there, but he didn't care. He did it anyway.
“Even if sex is off the table--forever?”
“Yes. Jolie made me see how silly that would be. I wanted to share my body with her to make her want me to stay. Now I understand that she values me more than that. I don’t need to pimp myself out to have a family. Coming here,” he began before pausing, “was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. While I’d be lying to say I’m not attracted to her, I will say that her love, and the sense of family, greatly outweighs the physicality.”
Jacques stared at him. “Thank you for being honest.”
Flynn wasn’t sure if he trusted him completely. This was going to be something that had to build over time.
Jolie was pleased that the men closest to her were giving Mathew a shot. It was all she could ask. While she got their trepidation, she was touched by their kindness.
“I hate to change the subject, but I still have one more problem,” she stated.
“What?” Mathew asked.
“Now I need to commission a painting,” she said touching his cheek. “I want one done without me in it. Is there any way you can do one with the men in my life?” she asked.
“I’ll work on one with your mates,” he replied, pleased that he’d have another piece to create. This was his true passion in life, and it gave him peace.
Jacques came forward. “I don’t think that was what she had in mind, Mathew. I do believe that Jolie wants us and her guardian in training in the painting.”
He looked surprised. “Me?”
Mathew looked at Jolie for confirmation.
“Really?”
She laughed. “Yes, Mathew, even you. Why wouldn’t I? This is my inner circle. I have the men I love all here with me. Someone has to put that on a canvas.”
He didn't know what to say.
“I’d love to do this for you, Mistress.”
“Jolie.”
He grinned.
“I’m going to death now,” she stated. “Can we discuss this later? I have some ideas we can use to truly capture the essence of my mates.”
Flynn stared at her. “You better behave.”
She snickered. “Get out of my mind.”
Mathew couldn’t help but grin. It was hard not to. The three before him were genuinely good souls, and he was blessed to be in their midst.
Before heading toward the bed, Jolie crossed toward Mathew. Gently, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”
He took a chance, dropping a kiss to her forehead. When neither mate protested, he relaxed.
“Rest well tonight,” Jacques called, as Jolie returned to their bed. She was pleased that while their day began rocky, it was definitely much better now.
Mathew was smiling.
She wasn’t sharing her body with anyone but her mates.
And the men in her life were calm.
She couldn’t ask for more than that.
Well, other than Zola’s head on a silver platter.
Climbing into the bed, her mates flanked her. “See you all later,” she stated, accepting a kiss from both mates before slipping into the darkness.
They waited until she was gone.
Mathew stared at them, waiting for them to really tell him how they felt about him being near the mistress.
“Will you need help getting ready for the biker bar?” Flynn asked, cuddling down in bed against Jolie.
It caught Mathew off guard.
“I might.”
“If you do, let me know,” Flynn stated. “I’ve done stakeouts before in seedy places. We have to make sure we’re seamless, or they’re going to smell a trap a mile away.”
He nodded. “I think I have something that will work.”
Jacques rolled to his side, dropping his arm over Jolie and Flynn’s bodies. They were now connected. This was the preferred way they slept.
“I’m going to go to death soon, but I’ll patrol the house first, if you don’t mind.”
Jacques was pleased. “That’s an excellent habit to get into, Mathew. I did the same before I headed to death many mornings. You always want to make sure your family is safe. It’s the guardian’s primary duty.”
He headed toward the door. “Rest well,” he stated.
Then, he was gone.
“What do you think?” Flynn asked. He was thrilled Jolie had gone to death, so they could talk.
&nb
sp; “I’m hopeful. You?”
“I feel better that Jolie isn’t sleeping with him, but I still don’t know if I would have been so magnanimous as a guardian to not insist on my rights.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t give that up.”
Jacques knew how hard that was. “So, he’s either going to cave and want sex, or he isn’t meant to be her guardian.”
Flynn didn't like either of those explanations.
“When you’re the perfect guardian, you feel a connection to the person you’re protecting. From that builds the need for physical contact.”
“So, he either has no desire to sacrifice himself to keep her safe, or he’s going to struggle with the lust and want to jump her bones.”
“Pretty much.”
“Christ on a cracker,” Flynn muttered. “Why can’t this ever be easy? Damn you vamps and your crazy ways.”
Jacques laughed. “Uh, our lunacy made us a threesome. One of us wouldn’t be here if this was a human thing.”
“Good point.”
“I’m worried about tomorrow,” Jacques admitted. “I have a sick feeling.”
Flynn laughed. “That’s every day for me. Welcome to my damn vampyre nightmare.”
Jacques took no offense, since he knew what Flynn was saying.
With that, the men retired.
Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.
* * * H a r c o u r t e * * *
Monday Afternoon
Jolie could feel herself being pulling away from death and knew that Jacques was right behind her. She could sense him chasing her back from the dark, like he’d done for centuries.
It always made her feel safe.
As the darkness abated, Jolie could feel Flynn beside her too. It appeared that her human mate was still sleeping. She was glad. It was rare that they all woke together. Usually, one of them, Flynn, was gone to work.
As she opened her eyes, Jolie found herself tangled among their limbs. Flynn’s muscular thigh was wedged between hers, his head was beside her throat, and Jacques was pressed to her back.
She didn't need to open her eyes to know that he was wide awake and aroused. The proof was there.
“Morning, my love,” he whispered into her hair, as he let his lips caress her shoulder. “I love the way you taste when we wake.”
It was hard not to get distracted. She was pressed between two truly sexy men.
“What do you think about making our morning even more amazing?” he asked.
When his hands wandered down her back, cupping her derrière, Jolie heated up.
If he thought she was going to say no to that, then he’d lost his mind.
Reaching behind her, she stroked his erection with chilly fingers. The feel of hot flesh against cold skin was so erotic, that she shivered.
“Wake our Flynn,” he murmured, wanting to share their morning with their mate.
Jolie could do that.
Leaning down, she ran her mouth over his, teasing him awake with seductive kisses. When she bit his lower lip, giving it a tug, Jolie knew she had his attention.
“Mmmmm, good morning, baby,” he said, finally opening his eyes. “Did you need something?” he asked.
When her hand found him beneath the sheet, and she stroked him too, that was all the prompting he needed.
“Jolie,” he muttered, leaning back on the pillow as she worked his and Jacques bodies with her very eager hands.
Their moans were simultaneous, proving how hungry they were for her.
“I need you both,” she admitted. “I woke in bed with two very sexy men, and I think you need to show me who’s boss.”
It was hard to think as she continued touching their bodies.
“Anything,” Flynn muttered.
“Yes,” hissed Jacques.
Jolie went to her knees between the men. She loved watching the pleasure on their faces. “I think I need to taste you both,” she admitted, continuing to stroke Jacques, but taking a break from Flynn’s erection.
His eyes opened. “More,” he begged.
Her mouth trailed a line of heated kisses down his torso. At his erection, she blew warm breath across it.
He bobbed in need.
Before Flynn could comment on her teasing him, Jolie swallowed him whole.
His whole body reacted to the sensation. His hands clutched at the silk sheets as she worked him hard. It was like she was starving, and he was the feast.
Jacques watched, struggling to not lose control himself. He was in Flynn’s mind, sharing the pleasure. That, and Jolie’s stroking fingers, was enough to push him close to the edge.
“Oh, shit, baby!” Flynn said, finally burying his hands in her hair. When she relinquished control, he was in heaven.
Flynn moaned.
Jacques shook.
Just when they thought they couldn’t take any more, Jolie set them free.
Both men moaned at the bereft feeling.
“Don’t worry, my loves. I’m far from done,” she promised. With that, Jolie switched it up, taking Flynn in her hand to stroke him, and Jacques between her lips.
Again, they shook in pleasure.
“Jolie,” whispered Jacques, as he watched her head bob furiously in his lap. While she worked Flynn hard, she was torturing him even more.
“Oh, God,” Flynn moaned, as he watched her saliva slick hand work his erection until he was close to losing it. If this was heaven, he never wanted to wake up.
Then, as quickly as the pleasure started, it stopped.
Jolie stared down at Jacques. His eyes were glazed with pleasure, and he was breathing heavily. “I want to ride you,” she murmured, straddling his pale hips.
Who was he to say no?
“Please,” he whispered.
When she did just that, Flynn watched them in fascination. When they first began their relationship, this frightened him. All three of them in bed was a scary thing to him. After all, humans didn't copulate like this.
His mother and father would be giving him one hell of a lecture, but he couldn’t help it. Something in Jolie, and in Jacques, called to him.
Flynn needed them.
They could hear his thoughts.
Jolie loved how honest he was with his feelings. Flynn used to hold back, but now…he shared. They couldn’t ask for more.
As she rode Jacques’s erection to pleasure, she could feel the bed shift. Flynn was moving in behind her, and her heart pounded in response.
Jacques’s eyes met Flynn’s and they shared a picture. They had something special planned for the woman between them. They simply couldn’t help themselves.
Getting into position, Flynn waited until Jacques was ready. When he suddenly pulled Jolie’s hips down, locking her to his body, Flynn struck.
He drove his fangs deep into her back in the same spot she’d used on them.
Jolie screamed in pain and pleasure.
Flynn slowly sipped from her, taking his time with the pleasure. While Jolie was locked to their mate, she was trapped between them. They loved when that happened. While she may be primus in the family, in their bed, there was no doubt who was boss.
And it wasn’t her.
Flynn released her, giving Jacques time to work himself in and out of her body, distracting Jolie with more heat. When she wasn’t thinking about the man behind her, again, they repeated the process.
Flynn’s fangs found a home in the lower part of her back, just missing her spine. She whimpered in pleasure, right before losing control. Her orgasm tore through all of them, making each lose the ability to think.
"Oh God,” she whispered, as wave after wave of heat swamped her.
Jacques hung on to control. It wasn’t easy.
“More,” he ordered, not giving her any time to regain her focus. Instead, he pulled her down harder and harder, burying his erection deep within her.
She gasped at the delicious tingle that rushed through her body. Jacques was stealing her breath, and Flynn was caressi
ng her body with his big, rough hands. It was an amazing feeling.
Then, it got better.
The bed shifted again, and this time, Jolie could feel Flynn’s body sliding up the back of hers.
Her heart pounded more.
They were both going to share her at once.
It wasn’t easy to concentrate. As Flynn’s hands came around her ribs, cupping her breasts, his erection poked at her derrière, looking for a home.
She was about to be taken, and hard.
Just as she was about to brace for the invasion, Flynn buried his fangs in her shoulder, pinning her in place. It was something their kind did when they didn't want their mate to escape.
Jolie moaned, and then gasped when he drove his erection into her body.
Both men were in pleasure overload.
They loved sharing her body like this. It was intimate, it was theirs, and it was special.
No one moved as Flynn drank from her shoulder. When the blood began dripping down her breast, Jacques sat up, taking her nipple in his mouth. As he sucked on the bloody offering, Jolie shook.
These men were going to be the death of her.
There was no doubt that Flynn was sharing her blood intentionally. Sex drove them, and blood sharing called to the predator in all of them.
It was going to be rough.
Flynn stared down at their other mate as he lapped and sucked the droplets of blood that he’d let run from his mouth. Everything in Flynn was waking up.
He wanted her.
Needed her.
Had to have her.
Being buried in her body with Jacques was making it hard to stay in control.
What he wanted to do was pound away at Jolie until they all exploded in that mind numbing heat.
In his head, he got his answer.
‘Please,’ she begged. ‘Claim me. I want you both to claim me.’
When Jolie began grinding her body desperately against his erection, what choice did Flynn have?
He was going to bring them all to orgasm.
Releasing her shoulder, he leaned back to begin stroking his way in and out of her body. He watched as she swallowed him, and then set him free. Flynn could feel Jacques’s erection being slid in and out of Jolie as he stroked with all he had.
All three moaned.
There was nothing more erotic than this.
Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4) Page 35
