by Clare Murray
Gareth’s head came up sharply. “Why not, honey?”
“I—I’m not ready to just…stay with you so soon. I’m sorry. And Patrice will be worried if I don’t come back.”
“Patrice is the name of the woman you’re renting from?” Finn asked. He came to her—they both did—touching her gently, almost reverently, yet with a certain possessiveness that made her heart thud faster.
Mari nodded. “She’s really nice. She says I remind her of her granddaughter.”
She’d had a grandmother who lived in New York, a nice old woman who smelled of lavender and sent cards with money inside for each birthday and Christmas. She had died at the age of eighty-one, having passed peacefully in her sleep a year prior to the Invasion. Mari was glad her grandma had been spared a violent death.
“What if we spend a little time here, then walk you back to where you’re staying?” Gareth suggested.
A blush suffused her cheeks as she caught his meaning. She wasn’t at all averse to spending time with these men—especially if it involved what she thought it was going to, but she wasn’t entirely sure how to express it. Still, she was eager to embrace her new freedom—and if a relationship with Twins was part of that, all the better.
“Is it true what you said about a relationship?” she blurted.
“That we want one? Yes.” Finn gave her a searching look, reminding her abruptly that, military training aside, these men hadn’t been socialized in the outside world. Most likely, they’d never been able to date someone properly.
Then again, nobody really dated properly anymore.
“All right. I wouldn’t mind a tour of your place,” she said, stepping over the threshold.
Behind her, Finn locked the door against unwanted intruders. Not that Mari figured anyone would dare try to interrupt them—at over six feet, the Twins didn’t look like men to mess with.
“So this is government housing?” she asked, glancing around. The place was passable, less homey than Patrice’s, more comfortable than her old shipping container. Ledgers lined the shelves, and a freestanding safe sat in the corner.
“Yep. The government still has some aces up its sleeve,” Gareth said. “When Twins travel to Cities, we’re welcome to request anything we need to get our mission done—from vehicles to housing and provisions.”
“Whether we get those requests is another matter entirely,” Finn said. He trailed a casual hand down her back, and she shivered in response, half turning toward him.
When she placed her hands on his chest, she felt some of the tension in his body ease. She ran her fingers across the fabric of his shirt, tracing a circle around one hardened nipple. That, it seemed, was enough to galvanize them both into action.
She watched, half-mesmerized, as they simultaneously shed their shirts, revealing broad torsos and heavily muscled shoulders. They had showered somewhat recently, for their hair smelled faintly of sandalwood and they were both freshly shaven—and very appealing.
She reached out to touch Gareth’s face, fingers sliding along his scar all the way down to his stubble. She stroked Finn’s cheek with her other hand, turning her full attention to him when he pressed a kiss into the palm of her hand. The small gesture was enough to make her tremble with desire.
Mari let Gareth guide her hand downward, hooking her fingers into the waistband of his jeans. His cock tented the denim, but he ignored it, leaning forward to concentrate on the buttons of her blouse. His large fingers were surprisingly nimble. Within a few seconds, she stood in front of both men clad in bra and skirt.
With anyone else, she might have found the situation uncomfortable, but she was beginning to feel safe with the Twins. Even so, she was grateful that she’d chosen to wear reasonably stylish underclothes. Most garments these days were either handmade or patched within an inch of their lives. Mari had been fortunate to find a local seamstress who sewed practical yet sexy bras.
The candles flickered, throwing shadows on the wall as Gareth reached to free her breasts. She let her hand dip, grazing against the bulge in his pants, and tensed as Finn came around behind her. His bare torso pressed against her back, the warm skin-to-skin contact both reassuring and exciting her.
She caught a brief glimpse of the small dwelling as they led her farther inside. There was a living room with a comfortable couch, a kitchen, a bedroom with two king-sized beds. Gareth turned to light another candle while Finn began teasing her skirt down, interrupting his more functional movements with the occasional caress.
Although she knew this was no permanent residence, the place had a masculine feel with its dark tones and sparse, heavy-duty furniture. Patrice’s place had been fairly bare as well, but there had been touches of decorations here and there, a hint of femininity this place lacked.
Her underwear fell to the floor as Finn tugged them over her thighs. Cool air washed over her sensitive parts as she stepped out of the garment, kicking it aside. She was trying her best to appear confident, but she was more nervous now than she had been on the train.
This is silly, she snapped at herself. I know what to expect now, and there won’t be any pain this time. Unless…
Mari swallowed. There were two of them. Of course they would want to try that.
Even so, her trepidation dissipated as they both came to her, Finn standing in front, Gareth behind. Finn’s bulge was as large as his brother’s, and without really thinking, she reached to ease it by unzipping his fly. There was an echoing zip behind as Gareth undressed, and their jeans fell to the floor with twin whumps.
Her eyes widened. “Isn’t it uncomfortable for men to go commando?”
“When you’re rock hard, yeah,” Finn said with a grin. “We didn’t take the time to get dressed properly after our showers earlier.”
Guilt prompted her to cast her gaze downward. “I’m sorry for running off.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” Finn said. “We should have kept a better eye on you, made it clear we wanted to keep you with us.”
It would take some time to grow used to that, the feeling of being wanted. These men had gone after her with single-minded intensity, which didn’t unnerve her so much as fill her with relief that someone else was taking charge for once. With an unfamiliar warmth in her chest, she gladly gave herself over to them, leaning back against Gareth as Finn pressed close. The tip of his erection rested against her, neither asking nor demanding as Gareth supported her weight with his arms around her. He pressed a series of teasing kisses to her neck as Finn bent to taste her mouth, tongue flicking against hers in a move that made her dizzy.
Gradually, Gareth removed his arms, so that she was supporting her own weight again. She made a sound of disapproval against Finn’s lips as she heard the other man’s footsteps recede. She needed him—needed them both. Otherwise, she was afraid the fragile almost-relationship they were building might disintegrate.
Moments later, she gasped as Gareth returned and slid something cool and rubbery between her thighs. Instinctively, she spread her legs, but shivered as he nudged it against her back passage. Although it was lubricated, she stiffened in involuntary protest.
“Relax against it,” Finn said. Without urgency, he cupped her sex, toying with her clit in a way that made her squirm.
“I—I’m trying.” She sucked in a breath as Gareth gently but insistently worked the toy inside her. He caressed her thighs when he was done, causing her to gasp and wriggle, then immediately freeze at the unfamiliar sensation of the plug inside her.
“Walk here to me,” Finn urged, backing across the room. His gaze followed her appreciatively as she complied, the plug sending tiny jolts of pleasure at each step.
“So sexy,” Gareth said, his voice roughened with passion. When she reached the bed, he sat at the foot of it, pulling her atop him. She squeaked at the falling sensation, but Gareth’s strong hands kept hold of her, turnin
g her so she was astride him, his cock pressing deliciously against her pussy. She couldn’t help but give a little rub against him, then another, eyes glazing in pleasure. She felt so full with the plug inside her.
“That’s it, honey, get yourself off.” Gareth’s voice grew even rougher and his expression was avid as he watched.
He could easily have made her feel dirty, embarrassed, but all she detected in his attitude was lust, pure and simple. Her breath came in short pants as she thrust against him. She was nearly there, breath coming in short, uneven bursts—especially when Finn reached around to cup her breasts. She moaned as he stroked her nipples with movements that seemed to shoot fire right through her.
It was almost too intense, and she cried out when Gareth took hold of her hips and guided himself inside her. Closing her eyes, she shuddered in release, vaguely aware that the only sounds in the room originated from her as she whimpered in a sweet aftermath.
Gareth guided her forward so that she lay on his chest with him still inside her. Mari gasped as Finn withdrew the plug and stroked her anus, dabbing something cool and liquid back there. She tensed, and Gareth immediately rubbed her back.
“Easy, now. We’ll take this slow.”
She had half expected Finn to get it over with in one swift movement, but he worked slowly, inserting two fingers and curving them so that she nearly jumped at the sensation. Meanwhile, Gareth tilted her head up for a kiss. By the time he let her up for air, Finn had graduated to three fingers.
“Relax now,” he told her, and she felt the tip of his cock press against her. Two sets of hands held her still as Finn eased inside. Mari hissed at the sudden sting—Finn was larger than the plug had been—but the pain began to ease. Both men remained motionless within her, waiting for her to adjust.
Her arms didn’t seem to have enough strength in them to prop her up, but Gareth was more than willing to support her, which was a good thing since Finn began to move. Mari clenched the blankets in her hands, the powerful, concentrated pressure almost too much to take. The two men quickly hit their rhythm, and soon she was gasping, riding the edge again.
“That’s it, Mari. Let go. Scream for us.”
She obeyed because she simply couldn’t help it. The orgasm rattled her like a wolf shaking its prey, and she dug her fingers further into the blankets. Behind her, Finn groaned, driving hard into her as he spilled his seed.
When Finn withdrew, Gareth helped her into a sitting position, his cock jerking inside her as he neared his own completion. His green eyes bored into hers, the scar on his face barely visible in the golden candlelight. Mari knew her lips were parted, that her hair was a mess, but all she could focus on was Gareth.
His eyes never left hers as he released, letting out a deep sigh of pleasure. Mari thought she was too tired to respond, but she clenched against him in an involuntary response, a movement which seemed to heighten his pleasure, for he muttered an expletive.
“You all right, beautiful?” Finn lifted her off Gareth, gathering her close against his chest.
Mari managed a nod. “I—I don’t think I can stand quite yet.”
“That’s fine.” Finn took her into the adjacent bathroom, where the shower was already turned on. Although the water pressure wasn’t great in Scar City, Mari was thankful for the warmth. When Gareth climbed in after them, the men braced her between them, soaping her liberally. She sighed, resting her cheek against Finn’s chest, thoroughly sated.
By the end of the shower, she felt a little stronger—and smelled far more masculine than she expected. She toweled herself off and reached for her clothes as the men dried themselves. “Maybe I should lend you two some flowery soap for your shower. I smell like sandalwood now.”
“We won’t be here long enough to appreciate it.” Gareth paused to spear her with a look. His damp black hair stood almost on end, lending him a rakish look. “Mari, this City’s going to fall within the month at the very outside. I’d give it a week, maybe two, before there are serious problems here.”
Okay, she was going to need some time to process this. She shook her head, an automatic reflex against what her gut reaction told her was the truth. But it couldn’t be—coming here was a move of desperation. Her father had even said so on his death bed, gripping her hand weakly as he tried his best to communicate, speaking through the haze of expensive, black-market medication. She’d helplessly memorized his last words, scrawling them down in a futile protest against death. During the last two days, he’d repeated the same thing over and over in a gradually weakening voice.
“Find it, daughter, before it’s too late. Read the notes I left for you. Do what I should have done years ago. Then seek your own fortune—somewhere safe.”
Scar City had been the only logical choice. But she’d been thinking in terms of her own desperation, her own need for money, food and lodging. She had assumed that whatever her father had left behind in Scar City was valuable.
“So soon?” she blurted. She would give herself a week to find the hidden device before she had to get out. She wasn’t stupid—but neither did she know where to go next. Mari felt as if a rug had been ripped out from under her feet.
“Given the state of those walls, yes,” Gareth said. He made no move to get dressed yet, instead leaning against the damp, tiled walls, staring at her with that hungry, possessive look of his. It made her want to chatter like a schoolgirl.
“So you’ll head back to…” She trailed off, unsure which City they hailed from. Washington DC? Or perhaps Chicago, where the majority of the Twins had been…born or created or whatever they called it.
“Chicago,” Finn confirmed. He wrapped his towel around his waist, never taking his gaze off hers. “You’ll be comfortable and safe at the Complex—that’s where the majority of the Twins live. We’d like you to come back with us, Mari. I’m stating that up front in case you try to disappear again.”
“The scientists would allow me there?” Her thoughts whirled. Coming to Scar City had seemed like the only way to fix her life, the only way to get away from Tim. Now that was being taken away from her, what else could she do but throw herself on the mercy of the Twins?
Crawl back to Flagstaff City, beg for her old shipping crate back? Accept Tim’s offer of marriage—if it still stood, given her lack of virginity? She rejected that immediately. Ugh.
Gareth pulled on a pair of boxers, his movements sharp, forceful. “Allow isn’t the operative word here. The scientists should not run our lives. That’s down to us.”
Mari pulled on her clothes, hoping she hadn’t offended them. With the superhuman way the Twins had fought, she realized that the scientists who created them would no longer have the upper hand. Not in this day and age.
“We’ll talk about this later,” Finn said with a glance at his brother that suggested they were also communicating telepathically.
“Damn straight we will.” Gareth jammed on his boots and straightened to look directly at Mari. “I hate the thought of being separated from you for even one night.”
“Do you always move this quickly with women?” Mari tried to keep it light. Gareth was simmering with pent-up rage. As far as she could tell, it wasn’t directed at her, but she wasn’t entirely sure what to say or do.
“We’ve never shared a woman before.” Gareth stopped en route to the door of the bedroom. “Like we said, we’ve never even been attracted to the same woman—before you. I’m going to go scout ahead, see if there’s anyone else to fight in this godforsaken City.”
“He’s right, you know.” Finn hooked an arm around her waist. He was shirtless, but the night air wasn’t cold. “You’re a first for us, and Gareth feels very strongly about protecting those he loves.”
“I’ll be fine,” Mari said automatically. How many times had she told her father that? It seemed to reassure him every time. But the words didn’t reassure Finn.
“You think so, but you can never be sure. Gareth and I lost someone special in the first flush of the Invasion, back before we knew the aliens’ Achilles heel was sensitivity to UV light. She was a scientist, our foster-mother, a wonderful, ethical woman who…well, basically raised us as her own.”
Finn paused, looking out into the night as the howls of the aliens rose and fell. “She died rushing off to save her neighbors. Told Gareth and me she’d be back in an hour. By the time we followed, she’d been killed. By a goddamn human, in fact.”
Mari said nothing but reached out for him, letting her actions do all the talking. With her arm around his waist, they walked down the City streets until Finn suddenly stopped again.
“So you can see why we might not want to let you separate from us. Rationally, we know we can’t smother you. Emotionally…yeah, that’s a whole different ballgame. It takes a special woman to accept both of us. Losing you would be pretty damn tough, Mari.”
“I promise I’ll be careful. I really like you guys too. It’s just…we’re moving so quickly, and I need to catch my breath.”
They passed the Wanderer Inn. More people had arrived at its downstairs gaming hall, and strains of loud rock music leaked into the night. Mari wondered if they cranked it up to drown out the howls of the aliens that sought their flesh. Perhaps they knew they were living on borrowed time. Perhaps not.
“I understand,” Finn said. “Let’s get you to bed. We’ll be there for you in the morning.”
Chapter Four
“You’ll be all right out there?” Finn sent.
“I’m fine.” Gareth’s reply was terse, curt. He was still seething—not at Mari, Finn knew, but at the world itself. Mari was staying in a clean, well-appointed house, but its only occupant was an elderly woman and her dog. They wouldn’t be much protection for Mari if some junkie broke in, so the Twins had mutually agreed to watch over the house that night.
