A moan escaped her lips, and she rolled to her back and threw her arm over her eyes to block out the blinding streaks of light coming through the window. Why hadn’t she closed the blinds last night? She couldn’t decide if it was better that she’d drunk enough of that bottle of merlot to lull herself to sleep and forget her problems, or worse for causing the hangover she’d be dealing with for the next several hours.
Too late to question her motives now. The deed was done.
Slowly, she pulled herself to sit on the side of the bed. Her method was to judge the amount of damage control needed based on how much the room was spinning before she tried to stand.
“Not bad, Lindsey. Not bad at all. A few Tylenol and a glass of water and you’ll be good as new.” She wasn’t above talking to herself this morning … or afternoon. She stood and gingerly made her way toward the bathroom. “Okay, then, maybe a little coffee too.”
After a quick hot shower, she donned last night’s underappreciated lingerie and the black silk robe Kara had left on the bed. She almost felt sexy with her near nudity rubbing against the slick material of the robe. Almost. Except for the lingering headache.
Coffee.
Lindsey padded down the hall into the silent kitchen. The only sound was the ticking clock. She was glad she was alone. It was easier than facing everyone. Especially all the lying someones who lived in this house and didn’t have the common courtesy to let her in on the big secret.
She took a big whiff of the air and thanked whichever lying SOB had at least had the manners to leave her a pot of coffee.
In short order, she grabbed a mug from the counter and poured the steaming cup of heaven to the rim. The first sip forced a moan to escape her lips. The second drink would have been more of a gulp—if it hadn’t instead been sloshed over her hands at the unexpected sound of someone seemingly sneaking up behind her.
“Shit, Lindsey. I’m so sorry. Déjame.” Alejandro reached over and turned on the sink faucet. He grabbed the coveted elixir from her hand, set it on the counter, and then stuffed her hand under the cool running water.
“Let me see.” After a moment, he pulled her fingers up to his face for inspection. “Are you okay?”
“No. You took my coffee.” Her fingers weren’t her primary concern right now. Her need for caffeine trumped. Yanking her hand out of his grasp, she took two steps away from him, her eyes never leaving the craved liquid. If he looked as good as he smelled, she’d probably start crying on the spot. Her emotions were that precarious at the moment.
“How’d you get in here so silently? What are you, a panther?” She kept her back to him. Swallowed a long gulp of caffeine.
Alex sucked in a sharp breath behind her and held it.
“What? Did I hit the nail on the head? That’s the secret?” She turned to face him, pasting on a wry smile. “You’re really a cat?” She laughed at her own stupid humor before she let her gaze lift from his sexy torso to his face.
His brows were furrowed, his face a few shades lighter than she remembered. “What?”
He exhaled slowly and let his gaze fall below her face. Lindsey waited, but she was forced to glance down when he didn’t look back up or speak.
“Shit.” Her robe was hanging open, all her assets barely concealed by the sheer black material of her lace bra and panties.
Her head hadn’t quite overcome last night’s drinking binge yet. “I’m not in the mood for whatever you’re selling this morning, so go back to wherever you came from.”
Lindsey spun, a bit too sharply, on the balls of her feet and headed back toward the guest room. She didn’t need this yet. He may be sexy as hell with his hair still wet from a recent shower, slicked back from his face, his jeans hanging low on his hips, his dark T-shirt hugging his chest… But, the only thing he’d done for her so far today was cause her to spill her coffee.
She didn’t need that, no matter how her body was reacting to his presence.
“Lo siento, I’m sorry. Again. Can I start over?” He gently grasped her arm and leaned into her back, his hard length pressed against her ass. She paused at the recognition of his arousal.
“How far back do you want to go? Five minutes? Last night? Would that be before or after you went all psycho on me and started a fight with my friend’s brother-in-law … or whatever he is.”
A soft chuckle came out of his mouth on a breath of air, precariously close to her exposed neck. “I’ll gladly go back anywhere in time if it means you’ll look me in the eye again like I hung the moon. Please allow me to apologize for my behavior, both last night and today.” He leaned closer and nibbled kisses along her neck and collarbone. Her damn head lulled to the side on its own accord to give the bastard better access.
She nearly dropped the coffee this time. Luckily, he was paying attention and grabbed the cup before she had completely released it.
Without breaking contact with her heating skin, she heard the clink of the mug as he set it on the counter. The arm he’d reached across her to use for that necessity did not, however, return to the safety of his side. Instead it wrapped snuggly around her middle, just under her breasts, hugging her against him.
His chest was as rock-hard as it looked.
Lindsey’s eyes rolled back into her head and a soft moan escaped her parted lips, just loud enough to shake some sense into her.
“Stop that,” she uttered with no conviction. “I’m mad at you.”
“I know you are. I’m trying to make you unmad. Is that a word?”
Who cares?
Her mind whirled. She had to break contact with him this instant. He was currently the enemy. Her body hummed to a different tune. Desperately seeking more of his touch. His arm brushed against her bare skin beneath her chest where her damn robe had once again fallen open. If he would just reach around with his free hand and grasp her breasts…
As if he were telepathic, he did just that. Not quite as firmly as her body demanded, but still, he began to gently fondle one breast and then the other, weighing each one in his hand before he brushed over a nipple with his thumb. The caress was so light, it could have been in her mind. Again, who cares? If her mind deemed to conjure up an image that fine without the repercussions, so be it.
The warmth of Alejandro’s hand heated her skin, where her robe hung open. Last night’s sexy tidbits were getting their intended use after all.
“Qué linda eres.”
Whatever that meant really didn’t matter. It was so sexy when he spoke to her in Spanish.
“Te quiero, cariña.”
“Damn it, Ramos. You said you were going to see if she was up, not fuck her in the kitchen.”
The harsh words jerked Lindsey from her sexual stupor and she yanked herself out of Alex’s grasp, pulling her robe as tight as possible around her.
Embarrassed beyond measure, she turned to face… “Ryan?” She should have recognized that voice from last night, but it was so much like Justin’s, and she’d heard so few words from him…
Wait, what?
She groaned loudly. “Not this again. What is up with you miscreants?”
“I had things under control, Masters. Until you showed up, anyway.”
“Under control? What am I? A challenge?”
“No, of course not.” Ryan stepped forward.
“Get out. Both of you. Go outside and wrestle in the mud or something. Alex, you’re standing on thin ice with me. And, you, Ryan, if you want Alex for yourself … you can have him.” She stomped form the room, heading back to the guest bedroom.
Jeez, she wished she’d grabbed that damn coffee on her way out.
*
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Masters?” Alejandro glared at Ryan, his blood boiling. And his cock was harder than a nail from brushing up against Lindsey’s fine ass.
“Me? We said we were going to handle this together. And the next thing I know, you’re in here mauling her like a cub.”
“It just happened, okay? I wasn’t
Ryan shifted his weight, still glaring daggers at Alex.
“Why do they even call it a robe, when it isn’t really covering anything? That stupid piece of silk did nothing but make my dick leak.”
Now Ryan laughed.
“Were her tits as fine as they look?”
“Tits? Do you have to be so crude?” Alex glanced down before adding, “Yeah, better.”
“Sorry, man. I’d’ve done the same thing in your shoes. We’re both on edge.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
Ryan angled his head toward the hall and gave a nod. “Let’s go talk to her. Time’s a wastin’.”
“Do you Americans ever enunciate anything? My English is good, but it would help if you’d use full words,” he grumbled, following Ryan down the hall.
Two sharp knocks were all Ryan gave before opening the door to the guest room.
Lindsey was back in bed, the covers drawn over her head. The robe was hanging on the chair next to the mattress. Which meant…
Which meant Alejandro had to once again adjust his raging hard-on.
He glanced over to see Ryan completing the same action, also eyeing the silky cause of their distress.
“Doesn’t anyone around here knock? And if that’s you, Alex, take your sexy, body-building ass out of here and leave me be. You’re jinxed.”
Ryan laughed first, which made Lindsey whip the sheet off her face. Just her face, but still, it was progress.
“Ryan? You too? What is this? An episode of ‘Let’s see how crazy we can drive Lindsey before she cracks?’”
The sheet went back over her head and she flopped back down.
“One step forward. Two steps back.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
As if planned, Alejandro headed to one side of the bed and sat next to Lindsey while the man he was forced to share her with did the same on the other side.
“We have to talk.”
“You do realize every time one of you opens your mouth, nothing makes any sense, right?”
Alex chuckled lightly. “Yes, we do. And we’re sorry. And we want to explain. If you’d please just look at me?”
“If you have something to say, say it. I’m fine right here.” Her voice was muffled by the blanket.
“She has spunk, you have to give her that,” Ryan provided through their link. “Sinfully sexy with a backbone to go with it. I love her already.”
Alex tugged on the covers until she released her tight grip and allowed him to reveal her face. Her hair was strewn all over the pillow and across her eyes, pieces sticking up in all directions from the static created by the sheet. She’d never looked sexier than she did right then, all pouty-lipped and pissed off.
Alex reached to cautiously brush the loose strands from her cheeks and forehead. He couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t pounce on him.
“Remember how you accused me of being a panther?”
She stared at him, finally nodding.
“I must have stared at you like you were possessed.”
Again with the nodding.
“That’s not far from the truth.”
Alex could feel Ryan’s urge to reach out and touch her himself. “Not yet. She’ll freak.”
“Doing my best here.”
“Uh huh. You’re a cat. Got it. Can I go back to sleep now while you two quietly slink your nimble bodies out?” She turned to face Ryan. “I suppose you’re a cat too? Fine. I forgive you, both of you. Now leave me alone to lick my wounds … whiskers.” She chuckled as though this were all a big joke.
“She’s not getting it … at all.”
“Yeah, I got that. Claro. Let me think.” Alejandro took a deep breath. Time to jump in with both feet.
“We’re wolves.”
Two heartbeats. “Oh, not cats. Wolves.” Lindsey sat straight up, her furious eyes darting from one man to the other.
The sheet dropped to her waist, completely baring her full breasts covered only in a scanty scrap of black lace to their perusal. Now was not the time though.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? Would you stop speaking in metaphors and just spit it out? If you two are in a relationship with each other, that’s just peachy, but at least have the balls to admit it and leave me alone to mourn the loss to society. Really, I’m a big girl. I can take it. The two sexiest men within a hundred miles are both gay. I’ll get over it.”
Alejandro sucked in a deep breath. Ryan must have been holding his all along because a glance his way showed his face to be beet red.
“She thinks we’re gay?”
“You think we’re gay?” Alex mimicked the voice in his head. He flinched just uttering the words. He had nothing but respect for anyone who chose that lifestyle, but he sure as hell wasn’t one of them.
“Which part of my actions in the kitchen five minutes ago made you believe that?”
“I didn’t say it made sense. I just haven’t been able to come up with any other explanations.” Her chest heaved as she spoke, her nipples pressing against her bra, demanding release.
She turned to Ryan. “Is it just Ryan that’s homosexual? And he’s jealous because he wants you for himself?”
Ryan leaped up as though she’d burned him. “I am not into men,” he blurted with as much emphasis as possible. Alex could feel the stress radiating off him. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But, I’m as attracted to Ramos over there as I am to that lamp.” He pointed a finger to a corner with a gaze nobody bothered to chase.
“Fine. Two straight panthers just hanging out together. Not remotely interested in anything except torturing me to death with their strange antics.” Her voice rose with each word.
“Wolves,” they both stated at once.
Ryan sat back down gingerly. Not as close. “Think she might hit me?”
Alex ignored the rhetorical jibe.
“Wolves.” Her words were flat. “Great. Go lick each other’s wounds or something.” Just realizing her state of undress, she grabbed the covers in front of her and pulled them to her chin. “Jeez.”
“Did you mean it?” Ryan asked tentatively. “Do you really think we’re the hottest men this side of the Mississippi?” He beamed.
“I didn’t go quite that far. You might be geographically impaired though. It’s a common affliction for the mentally unstable.”
“Is that all you got out of her tirade? How the hell am I going to live with you for the rest of our lives? You’re so shallow. Caramba.”
“Oh, and your cock isn’t just as hard as mine right now.” It wasn’t a question.
“What do I have to say to get rid of you two?” She was whining now. Or moaning. His dick jerked in his jeans.
“You won’t ever get rid of us. You belong to us. Both of us.” Great, jackass, just blurt it out.
She stared at him, not even bothering with a smooth comeback this time.
“Listen. Hear us out. Then ask questions. Ryan and I, well, also Justin and Trevor and our entire families, we are shape-shifters, of the lupine variety. I know it’s mind boggling, but it’s true. Give us a moment to prove it.” Alex glanced at Ryan. “Shift for her, would you.”
“Why me? How about I soothe the human sensibilities of our mate while you shift?”
Alex glared at him. Ryan knew damn good and well that whatever tentative grip Lindsey had on any relationship at all at this time, it was with Alejandro.
Still muttering into Alex’s head, Masters quickly stripped and stood back.
“You did not just take your clothes off,” Lindsey yelled. “What is with you two?”
Alejandro climbed up next to her and wrapped an arm around her shivering form. Was she cold, angry, scared … or all three? “Watch.”
The rough sound of bones rubbing against each other preceded the distinct visual show in front of them. Alejandro was prepared to force her to watch if need be. He had his arm around her shoulders, her head locked forward without her realizing it. And she was shaking like a leaf.
It only took about fifteen seconds to shift, hair extending, jaw elongating, eyes receding into the fur. And there he stood before them. Alex had to admit he was a beauty. His fur had so many hues he couldn’t pick a particular one to call him exactly blond, brown, or black.
“Great. Now you think I’m sexy too.” Ryan rolled his deep brown eyes.
“Did I say anything to you?”
“Where did the dog come from?” Lindsey shook uncontrollably now and glanced at the window and the door.
“I … am … not … a … fucking … puppy.”
“You’re growling like one.”
To the woman who thought she’d gone completely insane, he said, “Wolf, babe.” He didn’t want to sound condescending, but… “We don’t really appreciate it when someone calls us dogs.”
Her face turned to his, her glare meant to kill. “A huge mammal just appeared in the room, seemingly taking the place of Ryan, and you want to argue semantics?”
Lindsey let go of the sheet once again to wipe her eyes.
Alex reached for the robe that luckily hung close enough to grab and stuffed it over her nearly nude chest.
He loved breasts just as much as the next guy, but right now, he was hanging on by a thread, and if he pounced her he’d surely lose her forever.
Fate may have brought them together, but a smidge of free will on her part could put a quick end to this charade. They hadn’t even claimed her yet. Not even close.
The rise and fall of her chest under his hand was almost his undoing even with the silk impediment.
His partner in this debacle ambled over to the bed and set his huge head on the mattress.
“He’s gorgeous.” Her breath released in shallow pants. “Wolves you say?”
“Yes.” She was coming around.
“How did he do that? Where’s Ryan?”
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