“No, we came for another reason. Xavier—”
“Master Xavier,” she interrupted.
“Master Xavier called Chase. A kid kinda manifested in his office. He thought we might know something about it.”
True alarm showed on her face. “Abraxas?”
“Don’t know for sure, but we can’t take the risk. You need to come home. Tonight.” His skin prickled, and he looked up, then shivered as Master Xavier stared directly at them. To his mortification, Hunter looked away first. Holly noticed.
“Don’t feel bad. He’s a dominant. A true master. It’s a trait not many humans possess. I certainly can’t stare him down.” She looked over at Xavier, who smiled and nodded, then turned away. He’d been checking up on her.
They were both sitting up now, and Hunter gazed down at her body. She was lithe and beautiful, as comfortable in her skin as she’d been in her pelt. His hard-on hadn’t completely gone away since he’d first stepped into this place, and now arousal slammed into him once again. He swallowed, forced it back.
“If he was a shifter, he’d be an alpha.”
She nodded. “Not like most alphas, though. Like Chase. Someone who masters the other dominants.” Her gaze followed Xavier as he moved through the room in Tex’s direction. She slid back down on the bed and rested her head on Hunter’s thigh.
“So, here’s the big question. How are you?” She looked up at him, her eyes dark and intense. “You were close there for a while.”
“Yeah, I was… I am turned on. But that was for you.”
She smiled and reached up to stroke his face. “No, not close to orgasm. Your wolf. He was closer than I’ve sensed in years.”
Hunter moved away abruptly, letting her head slip from his thigh. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”
She reached out and clasped his arm, stopping him from leaving their temporary lair.
“That’s not right, Hunter. You need your wolf. You need to…” She sighed as he turned away. Hunter stared out at the room, seeing nothing.
“I need to stay in control. You know what I did, Holly.” He wanted to sound firm, maybe even angry. Instead he sounded small and pathetic.
“I saw what you did. You fought until you passed out.”
He flinched.
“You did what the rest of us wanted to do if we’d been free. Those people… They hurt me. They hurt all of us, Hunter.”
“They didn’t stand a chance.”
“No. They didn’t. But they knew what we were. And you know, we didn’t stand a chance against them. Not when they used control collars and drugs. Not when they killed us casually as though we were…rodents or bugs.”
Hunter sighed and rolled away to lie on his side. When she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his body, he remained motionless, torn between the peace of the moment and the confusion of emotions that raced through his mind. He couldn’t let the issue die. He didn’t turn to look at her as he spoke.
“Did they rape you?”
She was quiet for a long moment, her hand falling still on his chest.
“Not the same way they did some of the men. They’d come for me, knock me unconscious, and then I’d wake up back in my cage. A few weeks later, they’d test me. If I was pregnant, they’d leave me alone. If I wasn’t…” He understood what she wasn’t saying. Fury raced along his spine, but relief came over him as well. She’d been spared the humiliation of the sort of violation he’d endured.
As though he was unable to refrain from touching a sore spot, he forged on to the next fear that had been preying on him.
“Do you love him?”
“Tex?”
He nodded. He already knew the answer, already knew she’d chosen, and much as he might wish otherwise, she’d chosen them both.
“I initially ran when I realized I loved both of you. My wolf… She’d been growing…possessive. And when he’d come back from a town, I’d scent his lovers. I was furious. I was angry with you too.”
“Me? I wasn’t doing anything.”
“Exactly.” She gave a little chuckle. “You weren’t doing anything to connect with me. You watched and brooded. When Tex would come home, you’d be angry too, but you’d just turn away like it was none of your business.”
He rolled to his back, and his defensive anger faded in the face of her nudity. “It wasn’t my business, Holly.”
She lay there on her side, and the curves of her body mesmerized him. She stretched and then sat up, her face just inches from his.
“Tex was—and is—your business. He’s not your mate, and I know that being lovers with him isn’t on the table for you. But he’s your partner in this. Do you realize that every time he touches you, you flinch away?”
Hunter’s cheeks grew hot with embarrassment. Anger. He looked away.
“Don’t be angry at me, Hunter.”
Mutely he shook his head. Swallowed. He simply had no words to address this issue. He hadn’t realized he’d been so obvious. When the chain curtain parted, Tex lightly hopped on the bed, grinning as it swayed. Hunter wondered if he’d overheard.
“Kinda like being in a tree house. In the wind.” He lowered himself to sit Indian style. He’d kicked off his boots and socks. Hunter glanced down at his own black cowboy boots. All thoughts of play had fled.
“You two look a bit long in the face.”
Neither volunteered an answer, and as he watched, Tex’s bright eyes dimmed just a bit.
“Had me a nice conversation with that girl from the front. Desiree.”
“Destiny,” Holly corrected.
“Yeah, her. She’s a real nice girl; seems real fond of you, Holly.” He winked at Hunter. “Threatened to take off my balls with a grapefruit spoon if I messed with you.”
“Ow!” Hunter winced, bringing a laugh from both of them.
“So, little miss. She’s waiting over there for you to come tell her we’re the loves of your life…your knights in black leather. In your own words, of course.”
Holly smiled, leaned forward, and kissed him—once on the forehead, once on the lips. She turned to Hunter and gave him the same embrace. Without so much as a blush, she slipped from the platform.
“Be quick. And don’t forget to bring your clothes back,” Tex reminded her.
Holly ducked her head back through the chains. “Yes, Master.”
He chuckled as she left. When he turned to Hunter, the smile slowly faded. For a few heartbeats, he studied Hunter, and Hunter grew uncomfortable as the moment stretched out. His wolf…his wolf stirred, whined, and settled back down, leaving him with the uneasy feeling of abandonment.
“Hunter, my solemn vow to you: I will never, ever push you into anything you don’t want. I will do my best not to make you uncomfortable, but the reality is, if she shares her bed with us, there will be contact. I won’t initiate anything or do it on purpose, but it will happen.”
Hunter’s eyes stung. He looked away and watched Holly talk to the girl at the other end of the room.
“Do you trust me?”
Hunter looked down; his fingers were entwined. He was completely unaware he’d been wringing his hands.
“I do, Tex. I do. Since we came to your pack, you’ve been there for me…for all of us, but mostly for me.”
Tex nodded in agreement. He propped his arms on his knees, and his hands dangled down. They were tough hands, hardened by countless hours of hard work. Hunter rubbed his fingers together, feeling similar calluses on his own skin. When he’d first come to Truckee, he’d been wild still, shy and fearful. Frankly, he’d been pretty much good for nothing. Unlike Chase’s men, he hadn’t been trained for battle. He knew how to fight…he knew how to take orders. He’d fought his way up to become one of the pack’s betas. He’d fought equally hard to earn his place on one of Tex’s construction crews.
Why? To help the pack, or to bond with the other man?
“You’re bi. You like men.” He kept his gaze low, unwilling to see the expr
ession on Tex’s face.
“I am, and I do like men. But being mated… That’s a big change in the game.”
“How?”
Tex sighed. “Hunter, my entire sexual focus is on her. If you were bi, we might eventually go there, but you aren’t.”
“And it doesn’t bother you?”
“Are you able to have my baby?”
Hunter looked at him in confusion.
“We aren’t human, my friend. At our core, we’re animals. We’re driven by the need to hunt, to stay warm and dry, and to reproduce. Everything else we are springs from that. Sex with you could be fun, but it’s not an issue of survival. To survive as a species, we need food, shelter, and we need to reproduce. My wolf can’t see past Holly. She’s my sexual focus, and you’re my partner.”
He made it sound so logical. And slowly, Hunter began to believe him.
“Are we friends?”
Tex laughed at his question. “Yes, we are friends, Hunter. Maybe not the way Ethan and Kurt are friends, but still, you’re my friend. Given the circumstances, I guess we’d better be, eh? We seem to be in it for life.”
Life. This was all about life and surviving and the next generations of the pack. He looked at Tex. The cowboy leaned back now, braced on his elbows. His eyes were closed. He appeared relaxed, but was undoubtedly in tune with the entire building.
That was when it hit him: Tex made him stronger. And he did the same for Tex. During Holly’s absence, they’d formed a powerful bond. It was something Hunter hadn’t anticipated, and yet it was precious.
“She told me she left because of us. She left because she loved us both.”
“And the two of us weren’t gettin’ with the program, were we?” He didn’t open his eyes as he spoke. “I was out fucking around, trying to figure out how to scratch the itch. You were lost in anger and confusion, and our darlin’ Holly was too afraid to risk taking her human form and claiming us as her mates.”
Hunter gnawed on his lip. “It wasn’t a bad thing, was it? We all came a long way this past year.”
“That we have.” Tex flopped onto his back. “What’s taking that girl? I think it’s time to move this party along.”
Hunter closed his eyes, remembering Holly’s orgasmic cries, and within seconds, blood was filling his shaft. He replayed the interlude, hearing her cries, tasting the salty sweetness of her skin and fluid. Those images segued into things that hadn’t yet happened: plowing deep into her pussy, her arms bound… Holly pinned beneath his weight. He imagined a bed… Four posters with stout leather bindings for her hands and feet… His skin went warm—and not completely out of embarrassment.
Uncomfortably he glanced at Tex, noting that his jeans were tight with his erection. Had he been having similar fantasies? A lifetime of want and need was coming to a close. A new path opened, and Hunter could barely absorb its meaning. He’d come to accept a future alone, and now he was looking at a mate and children. He was looking at a partner who watched his back and, more important, would help keep their family safe and secure.
His sexual frustration had an edge it lacked before. He was impatient. Knowing that culmination was within his grasp, Hunter felt nearly wild with need.
“Sometimes it’s the dominant who suffers the most,” Tex murmured, deep dimples showing in his cheeks. He reached down and unfastened the lariat from his hip. “I’m tired of behaving. How ’bout you?”
Chapter Eight
“Holly, in all the months you’ve been here, you never mentioned a boyfriend. You certainly didn’t mention two boyfriends!”
Destiny stood before her. She should have looked silly wearing nothing but cheap plastic nipple shields and toy six-shooters. She tilted her head, and a tiny diamond flashed on her upper lip. Like Holly, the curvy little woman was completely comfortable in her skin.
Tentatively Holly reached out and rested a hand on the other woman’s arm. She felt a frisson of…something. Destiny started to pull her arm away and then stopped to turn her hand to grip Holly’s arm.
“Really, sweetie, are you okay? You worked so hard to find your inner dommie self. Then these guys show up, rope you, and lead you around the club? It’s just…weird. Sexy as hell, but weird.”
“Not weird.” Holly smiled. “I’ve known Hunter most of my life. Tex…years now. I left home because my wo—I knew we were meant to be together. But they needed to figure it out without me in the way. Now they’re here, and it’s all good.”
She bit her lip, inwardly chiding herself for almost saying the word “wolf.” Hopefully the other woman hadn’t noticed.
Destiny folded her arms, a frown on her pretty face. She’d changed her hair again; the golden curls were spiked with purple. Holly briefly wondered about doing the same thing. Maybe blue…
“And you’re leaving with them?”
Holly looked away, unable to meet her friend’s gaze. San Francisco had opened a new world to her. Not only the club and the scene, but people…thousands of people. Traffic and buildings and gemstones of history hidden between decay and renewal. Music and art and food she’d never before encountered. Dim sum and high tea and a different museum every day.
Uneasiness stirred in her gut. What was the story with the boy who’d appeared out of nowhere?
Abraxas.
“I need to go home, Des. But in a way, this city’s my home too. We live only a few hours away. Near Tahoe. Maybe you could come visit me.”
She bit her lip after offering the invitation but then relaxed. Sometimes Briony had her friends up; one of the betas just ran a flag up the pole in the front yard, warning that there were humans on the grounds.
“Tahoe. That’s like…mountains and snow and wild things.” Destiny wrinkled her nose. “Maybe, but only for you.” She grinned.
Holly glanced back at the men. The silvery chains around the bed partially obscured them from her view. The bed was toward the back of the room and was barely lit. Her belly jumped, a feeling she was beginning to associate with arousal.
“I’ll call you, Des.” She turned back, noting that her friend’s smile had once again fled.
“What’s your number? Shit. That’s right. No cell. What a barbarian!”
“I’ll get one. Soon.” Feeling bold, Holly leaned forward and gave the shorter woman a brief hug. It felt awkward, but she was certain that with practice, it would become easier.
It was time to go. She felt them both watching…waiting. Neither had reached culmination, and surely they wouldn’t let her forget that. She turned from Destiny, and without looking back, she crossed the room.
“Hey, Holly! Your clothes!” Holly stopped and laughed, and then gasped when a rope settled over her head and torso then snapped tight to pin her arms. Destiny burst out into laughter. “Looks like you’re tied up again, baby!” She set the clothes on a bench near the stairs. “Come and get them when you’re ready.” With that, she started up the stairs.
A tug on the rope brought Holly’s attention back to the bed and the men who were waiting.
The game was back on. She stifled her grin, dropped her gaze, and walked obediently to the swinging platform. She dropped to her knees, waiting for the next command.
“Holly.”
“Yes, Master Hunter.” She didn’t look up but ran the risk of peeking through her lashes. Tex and Hunter reclined on the bed, both looking dangerously relaxed. The men were staring at her. Their comfort was belied by the intense expressions on their faces. She could see the shadow of their erections through the heavy denim of their jeans. Her belly quivered in both fear and arousal. She remembered the orgasm they’d given her, and her head went momentarily light. She’d never dreamed a physical response to stimulation would be so all-encompassing, surging through every cell of her body. She’d never expected it to shatter her emotions, bringing her to both laughter and tears.
“Check and see if any of the rooms are vacant.”
Tex’s voice pulled her back to the moment. She went high on her knees,
straining to look over her shoulder. “Yes, Master Tex. The door to the Medieval Room is open.”
“Go there. Close the door and wait for us. We’ll join you shortly.”
She rose to her feet, puzzling over the rope that still pinned her arms. Was she to take it off? Leave it? Since Tex said nothing, Holly left the rope in place and walked to the room. She couldn’t use her arms normally, so she worked the soft rope with her fingers, pulling it into the room so she could get the door closed properly. She fussed with the door for several moments, then finally clasped the handle with her fingers and walked forward to drag it shut. Immediately she was surrounded by the hushed atmosphere of the little room.
She’d been in here a few times, mostly when she was working as dungeon monitor. Holly was more comfortable playing in the open. Too much could happen in privacy. Things could go too far when the lights were dim and the doors were closed. She swallowed. This time she wanted the privacy. She wanted the two men to herself, with no prying eyes to witness their consummation.
There were peepholes, mostly for safety purposes. This room wasn’t set up for voyeurism like the Victorian Room was.
She surveyed the space, finally deciding to wait right in the middle of the stone-paved floor. Would they want her on her feet or on her knees as she waited?
What would I expect of a sub?
She kicked a flat silk pillow to her chosen spot and lowered herself to her knees, then sat back on her heels.
There were furs and pillows piled all around the floor, as well as a low platform bed and a thronelike wooden chair. Large silver goblets winked at her in the muted light. A wooden box on a rough table held condoms and lube packets. Bindings and other accoutrements were tucked away in drawers and cubbies around the room.
Holly let out a breath and took in another, feeling as though she hadn’t had oxygen in weeks.
Doms of Dark Haven 2: Western Night Page 17
