by Tara Rose
She swallowed hard, glancing around, but they were alone in the room. She’d have to deal with this here and now. “I know that, but…” But what? If she was supposed to trust them with everything, they would also have to trust her in turn. But she’d hadn’t even told Abby the details of her dreams. If she told them now, they’d know she’d lied to everyone about why she’d been running from her village that day.
“But what?” asked Micah, moving to stand closer to her.
Valerie inhaled their combined scents, and glanced from one man to the other, desperate to believe she could trust them completely. She needed to, or this would never work, and she knew that. She’d heard them both talk about trust between a Dom and a sub often enough to understand that it had to be the foundation on which everything else was built, or the relationship wouldn’t work. That was true of any relationship, but especially of the one they wanted to explore with her. “If I tell you, it has to stay between us for now.”
Micah frowned slightly. “All right. Agreed. Let’s go back to the suite so we can talk privately.”
“How? Abby watches everything I do.”
They exchanged a quick glance, and then Stephen took out his cell phone and sent a text.
“What are you doing?”
“Letting my father know we want him and Mother to keep Abby busy for a while so we can take you into our room and talk.”
“Won’t he assume you mean to do more than talk?”
Stephen chuckled softly. “In case you might not have noticed, my parents are pushing for that.”
“I noticed.” How could she not have? They’d barely flinched earlier when they’d caught their sons all over her in the cabin.
“Then what are you afraid of?” asked Micah, quietly. His words penetrated her very soul again, making her want to spill every secret, right then and there.
“I’ll tell you when we get back to the suite. I’ll tell you everything.”
Micah took her hand. “Let’s go.”
Valerie’s earlier resolve faded a bit when they returned, despite the fact that Drake told them Abby had already gone to bed, and when Emme had last checked on her, she was fast asleep. “We’re going to turn in as well,” said Drake. “Good night.”
She faced Stephen and Micah, feeling more self-conscious now than she had when they’d been alone in the cabin earlier. “Do you mind if I change clothes first?”
“Not at all,” said Micah, his gaze traveling over her. “Get as comfortable as you like and meet us in our room.”
Her lust for them was overshadowed by the knowledge that she’d have to get all this off her chest first, and once she did, any hope of pursuing a relationship with them might be gone before it had barely begun. But she owed them the truth. Once she’d brushed her teeth and changed into PJ bottoms and a tank top, she padded to the next room in bare feet and peeked in the open door.
Both men sat on one of the beds, talking softly. They wore sweat pants and T-shirts, and Valerie couldn’t stop staring at their muscles and tats. She’d see the jaguar head tattoos on their left forearms before, marking them as members of not only the Jargonian family, but the special forces of jaguars who hunted League members, but this was more intimate somehow. Even when she’d been at their house, she’d never been alone in a bedroom with either of them, except to work a puzzle, and that hadn’t been the same thing.
“Come in,” said Stephen. “And then close the door.”
She did, and then sat on the end of the bed, cross-legged, and waited.
Micah smiled. “You look like you’re ready to bolt from the room. Relax. Tell us what’s on your mind.”
“I don’t know where to start.”
“Start with the dreams Abby mentioned.”
“No. I have to back up further than that.” Valerie closed her eyes for a few seconds, sending up a silent prayer that this wouldn’t backfire. “My mother died the day after I turned seven. The healer in our village said it was food poisoning, but…” She stopped and took a deep breath for courage. “But I don’t believe that. I think my father killed her.”
“Why do you think that?” asked Micah, gently.
“Because over the years, as I watched he and my uncle Fendrel—his brother—pursue their activities, I also overheard enough of their conversations to learn that anyone who opposed them or tried to stand in their way ended up dead.”
Micah and Stephen exchanged a dark glance. “You mother opposed them?”
She nodded. “I don’t remember much about her, but I do recall she was always arguing with my father about the things he and my uncle were involved in.”
“What specifically were those activities?” asked Micah.
“Are. He’s still doing them. But he’s not in the League, if that’s what you’re asking. I know that for a fact.”
“Okay. But if you would elaborate anyway, we’d both appreciate it.”
“He and my uncle oppose the mating between different species of cats. They are part of a larger group in my home village who do. Technically, I was running from a killer the day that jaguars from your village found me. But what I didn’t tell anyone is that there were two killers. My father and my uncle. I saw them kill a jaguar from our village named Celestine, because she’d taken a leopard from Arizona as her mate. They’d already hunted down her mate and killed him a few weeks earlier, but Celestine didn’t know that. She didn’t know it was my father and uncle who had killed him. When she came home after his death, they did the same thing to her.”
Stephen was closer to her than Micah, and it was he who pulled her onto his lap. Valerie allowed herself to relax into his warm, muscled body. “That’s why I ran. I lied to all of you, and I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be,” said Stephen. “It’s not like you withheld vital information from us.”
“But if I had told you all the truth that day, you would have sent me back.”
“Not necessarily.”
She pulled away and glanced into his face. “I don’t understand. I’m not mated. I’m still his property.”
“You’re of age now. We’re under no obligation to notify your father that you’re in our village.”
“But I wasn’t of age when I arrived.”
“There’s a condition attached to that law, at least in our village. If the unmated female has reason to fear for her life from any males in her household, she may seek protection from another male.”
“So you wouldn’t have sent me back?”
“Probably not.”
Valerie breathed a sigh of relief. Her withholding the entire truth from them didn’t have the consequences she’d assumed it would have had, at least not in the Jargonian village. “But would that law hold up in my village?”
Stephen shrugged. “I have no idea. But our father could find out.”
Valerie shook her head. “No. I don’t want anyone to know this. Not unless…not unless what I’ve been dreaming about is true. And then I’ll have no choice but to tell your parents and Abby.”
“Abby doesn’t know this?” asked Micah.
Valerie shook her head. “No. And she doesn’t know the details of my dreams, either.”
“Tell us.”
“I keep dreaming that he’s found me. And when I wake, I see him standing across the street.”
“That’s not possible. You know how protected our borders are. He’d never get past the patrol, even in jaguar form.”
“I know, but I see him, regardless. When I walk away and come back, he’s gone.” She held up a hand before Micah could speak again. “I know what you’re going to say. That it’s the remnants of my dream. But I know what I saw. He was there.”
Micah’s expression turned dark and dangerous, but his tone was gentle. “Then we need to tell our parents. You know this is true. If your father has somehow found a way to sneak into our village, they need to know that. And if you fear that much for your life, they need to know that, too. Because Stephen and I are not g
oing to let anything happen to you. Haven’t you figured that out by now?”
Chapter Seven
Stephen fought with every ounce of self-control he had not to simply kiss Valerie. What had this poor girl been through? No wonder she was so withdrawn and shy. She’d believed for three months that when they found out the truth about why she’d run away, they’d send her back. There was no way he was going to let that happen, and Stephen hadn’t even needed to hear Micah say the words. One look at his brother’s face and he knew that he felt the same way.
“You’re kidding.”
Stephen gave her a tight squeeze. “There you go again. Stop that, or I swear I’m going to put you over my knee and spank you.”
Oh stars. Why had he said that? The look in her eyes was filled with lust. She tried to rein it in, but it was too late. He’d seen it. “I…I mean…you’re not upset with me. I can’t believe you’re not both upset with me.”
“Why would we be?” asked Micah. “You didn’t know any of us when you came to our village. Why would you have trusted total strangers with such a terrible secret?”
She opened her mouth but nothing came out.
“Just because Abby took you in didn’t mean you knew for certain that one of us wasn’t sending word back to your village. I wouldn’t have said anything, either, under those circumstances.”
She shook her head slightly, glancing from one to other. “But it’s been three months. I should have told you before now.”
“Three months isn’t such a long time.”
“I still wish I’d told you sooner. This has been pressing down on me.”
“I’m sure it has been,” said Stephen. “But you’ve told us now. That’s all that counts. You trusted us enough to tell us. And in the morning, we’re going to tell our parents. Let my father’s friends help. They can find out where your father is, and whether you have anything to fear from him.”
“They would do that?”
“Of course they would. We don’t turn females over to known killers, no matter what the circumstances. We can’t stop your father or uncle from doing what they’re doing in their village, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to force you to return home and live with him.”
“Thank you.” She gazed at him with perfect trust and gratitude, and Stephen sensed something shift slightly, as though the earth had suddenly turned on its axis one degree too much. He’d felt off kilter for three months, ever since the first time he’d looked into Valerie’s big green eyes.
He and Micah had often discussed whether they actually believed there was one mate for every man. Considering how picky they’d both been over the years, it was a wonder their parents had put up with them for so long. All three of their brothers had found their mates before the age of twenty-five.
But Valerie was the first woman Stephen had met where the words “soul mate” had taken shape in his mind each time he looked at her. He knew that Micah felt the same way, as they’d discussed it often enough. But until earlier today in the cabin, he’d begun to believe nothing would ever happen. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss, or lying on top of her, all through dinner. Now that he was this close to tasting her lips again, he could hardly contain his emotions or his lust.
Did this girl have any idea how damn adorable she was? She had no self-confidence at all. But instead of annoying him, that fact made him want to teach her everything. It made him want to protect her from all harm, and keep her close to him for the rest of his life. He was in deep, deep trouble here, but he didn’t care. He welcomed it.
* * * *
Micah could feel Stephen’s lust for Valerie coming off him in waves, and he was sure that Stephen could feel his as well. He’d suspected that her story hadn’t been quite truthful when she’d first told it, and had shared that concern with his father. But of course his father had merely told him to tread carefully and let Valerie open up to them when, and if, she was ready to. As usual, his father had been right. The fact that she had assumed all this time that they’d be upset by finding out the truth made him angry, but not at her.
He wanted to make a few phone calls right now and find that rat-bastard father of hers, and her uncle as well, just for good measure. Then he’d make them both disappear for what they’d put her through. If her mother really had been murdered, they were going to get to the bottom of that, too. Micah didn’t care how much his father would balk that it was none of their business. Valerie was unlike any girl either of them had met, and Micah wanted to avenge her mother’s death because no little girl should have to grow up without her mother.
His reaction didn’t surprise him. This girl had crawled under his skin the first time he’d heard her voice. It touched his soul, as did her wistful, hesitant glances. He didn’t know whether he believed in the concept of soul mates, but if they did exist, this woman was his. He’d known it the moment he’d kissed her this afternoon in the cabin. And now, no one was going to take her away from him, and certainly not a man who may have murdered her mother. “You don’t have to thank us.”
“Yes, I do. Don’t you understand? I’ve been afraid for three months. I was afraid to tell anyone, and then when the dreams started, I was afraid to go to sleep. But now I’m not anymore. You’ve changed all that.” She glanced from one to the other. “Both of you. You’ve given me hope. I’ll never be able to make this up to you.”
Micah’s dick was twitching now. If he didn’t kiss her again, he’d go out of his fucking mind. “I know one way you can.”
He swore he could actually see her shiver, but the gesture wasn’t from fear or revulsion. Oh no. The desire in her eyes shocked him because it was so powerful and complete. She might still be a virgin, but there was fire in this girl. Not a girl—a woman. She was a grown woman now. Not a child. And she wanted him. She wanted both of them.
Micah brushed a finger along her face, not surprised to find her skin so warm. He was on fire as well. When he leaned in and kissed her, she wrapped her arms around him and parted her lips, letting his tongue inside. Fireworks danced behind his closed eyelids, and he had to concentrate hard not to come in his pants.
* * * *
Valerie felt like she was melting into both men, Stephen behind her and Micah in front. Her joy at realizing they weren’t upset by the truth about her father and uncle was only slightly overshadowed by the sensation of Micah’s mouth on hers. But when Stephen reached under her arms and began to tease her nipples through the thin fabric of her tank top, she forgot about her home in New Mexico, her father, her uncle, her dreams and everything else except his hands and Micah’s mouth.
The world tiled on its axis, or it could have been that she was now lying on her side, and Micah was still kissing her. Stephen’s hands on her breasts sent shivers up and down her spine, and electric shocks to her soaking wet pussy and throbbing clit. She threw her top leg over Micah’s, and was rewarded with his hand between her legs, rubbing her clit through her PJ bottoms.
Valerie cried out as he released her mouth and planted tiny kisses and nibbles up and down her neck. She was so close to coming, and if he kept that up with his hand, she would do so in a matter of seconds. Did he know that?
Stephen took off her tank top and resumed playing with her breasts as Valerie’s cries became a steady, soft moan. She clung to Micah’s hair as his lips and tongue teased her neck and collar bones. When he increased the pressure on her clit with his thumb, Valerie cried out again as the strongest climax she’d ever felt washed over her. Wave after wave of contractions rocked her body, and even when Micah removed his hand to take off her pants, they still went on.
“We’d better try and keep it quiet,” whispered Stephen, his breath warm in her ear.
“I…Sorry. I came. Oh God.” She giggled and clamped a hand over her mouth as the giddy excitement bubbled up.
“No shit,” said Micah, grinning up at her in a way that made her want more of the same. He slid a finger along her wet slit. “And I think you
might have a few more in you tonight.”
Valerie could only stare at him, unable to process all the sensations, and hardly daring to believe this was really happening.
He rolled her onto her back. “Spread your legs. I won’t hurt you.”
She couldn’t have disobeyed him if she’d wanted to. His voice gave her no choice but to do as he asked. He blew on her curls, teasing her, while Stephen leaned over her breasts and began to gently lick and suck her nipples. Valerie stuffed two fingers into her mouth to keep from screaming. She was dizzy, excited, and wanted to laugh, all at the same time. Nothing in her wildest fantasies had prepared her for the reality of this. She didn’t have words to describe what it felt like.
Micah’s mouth was on her pussy, licking her wetness, and then her swollen clit. She writhed on the bed and tangled her fingers in his hair, and then she moved her hands to Stephen’s head, and then back to Micah’s hair again. She didn’t know what to do or how to make sense of all the competing sensations.
Stephen smiled down into her face. “Does that feel good? Do you like what we’re doing?”
“Oh, yes…Yes, I do.”
“Call me ‘Sir.’”
“What?”
“I said, call me ‘Sir.’ Call us both by that title from now on when we’re alone together. Do you understand?”
Valerie sighed out loud. Sir. They were asking her to call them by a title that a sub would call a Dom. Everything they’d said about wanting to get to know her better, helping her explore her fantasies, and the remarks about what kind of a collar would look good on her suddenly gelled together and made sense in a way they hadn’t before. This wasn’t a game, and they weren’t simply being polite to her or trying to seduce her for the sake of sex alone. They were serious about this. And they’d expect her to commit to it one hundred percent.
Was she ready for that? Could she give them everything they wanted? She knew so little about their lifestyle, but she knew enough to know it was what she wanted. And she’d already done what she’d always believed would be the most difficult thing to do. She’d told them the truth about why she’d been running that day, and instead of becoming angry, they were touching her, kissing her, licking her, and unless she was quite mistaken, she wouldn’t be a virgin much longer. Yes. She was ready for this. She’d been ready for it the first moment she’d looked into their eyes. “Yes, Sir. I understand.”
