Yes, she was the perfect one for them.
Chapter Four
“Easy big guy.” She rubbed her thumb along Madden’s pronounced cheekbone. “We’ll get there. Soon.”
Scarlet’s heart thundered, pummeling her rib cage as fear and need warred. Part of her ached to listen to Madden: to do as her body asked and follow them up to their room to solidify their bond.
Her Mark throbbed in an ever-increasing rhythm, each pulse reaching down to stroke her clit. Her nipples were hard within her top, pressing and straining against her silk and lace bra.
Their arousal was palpable. Even without their sensitive noses, she sensed their desire. For her. Her. Curvy, plump Scarlet Wickham. A nobody.
Keller and Madden’s nearness wreaked havoc on her body. She wanted to rub against them and purr like a cat. Yet she also ached to run and hide from the feelings their closeness elicited.
She had no delusions of a forever love or immediate appearance of deep emotions, but...but the Mark laid down the building blocks. It fed their emotions and encouraged them to bloom.
And there was some kind of blooming.
Her heart was already engaged with these two massive Alphas. While Madden seemed intense, Keller was banked aggression. The larger wolf charged in, and her other mate was more watchful but no less fierce.
“I still vote for dessert.” Madden’s voice no longer held the rough scratch of his wolf, but she saw it lurking beneath his skin.
Damn, she wanted them both. Ached for them to release their passions and claim her. Every part of her being screamed for their touch. There was only one thing she could do.
She’d calmed the raging wolf, and now she was about to poke him with a stick. Yum.
Turning from Madden, she gave Keller her attention. She noted the hint of yellow in his eyes, the sprinkle of barely-there fur along his cheeks and the flash of fang when he smiled. Her sweeter mate was on the edge.
“Keller?” She couldn’t breathe, lungs frozen from the choice she was about to voice.
“Yes, sweet?” He eased closer, his heavy scent enveloping her.
“I think it’s time for dessert.”
The man’s eyes did flicker yellow, then gray fur sprouted and coated his skin. A snarl echoed behind her, but her attention was focused on the battle warring across Keller’s features. The wolf wanted out, she saw it, but the human half of him wouldn’t let it free. He kept it caged and locked up tight.
She couldn’t have that.
Claw tipped fingers gripped her upper arms, and she was yanked back, Madden’s form molding against her.
“Mine.” His snarl overrode every other sound in the room.
Sharp fangs scraped along her exposed neck, and a shudder overtook her body causing arousal to slam into her. She tilted her head to the side, encouraging Madden’s attentions, letting the fierce wolf sample her.
Through it all, she kept her gaze on Keller, daring and taunting him with her intent focus.
Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through Madden’s hair, ran her digits through his strands. He licked and sucked her skin, stoking her desire with each touch.
When his tongue traced her ear, she moaned and gasped, pussy flooding with moisture. She wanted him, them. Now.
Scarlet squeezed her thighs together, taking pleasure in the pressure and working to alleviate some of the blissful ache surrounding her clit. Her heat clenched, tightening, and even more cream soaked her panties.
Before her, Keller’s nostrils flared, his wolf catching her scent.
Madden’s growls and groans intruded, adding to her panting moans. “Need.”
The word was barely recognizable, but she sympathized. Need was one way to put it. Soul deep craving was another, but whatever.
His large, warm hand stroked her side, squeezing gently before continuing its travels. The touch shifted and rose along her rib cage to cup her left breast.
His callused palm easily engulfed her plump mound. He squeezed and kneaded her flesh, thumb circling her hard nipple. The added touch sent another zing of ecstasy rocketing through her, heading to her needy pussy.
“Madden,” she gasped and moaned, pressing into his touch.
And still Keller observed them, eyes entirely yellow and glowing in the dim restaurant. His muscles were tense, straining beneath his skin.
She wanted him to lose control, let all that tension free.
Madden sucked on her neck, adding in a piercing nibble between licks.
“God, yes. Mate.” She moaned and rocked in her chair, searching for added pressure against her pussy.
Then her wishes were answered. Madden abandoned her breast, his hand wandering down her stomach, over the slight swell, and his fingers fisted her skirt. The hem rose higher and higher, increasing her arousal with each climbing inch. Cool air bathed her soaked, silk covered pussy.
She suddenly remembered their guards, but a quick glance revealed they still stood before the table, backs to them, and blocking their view of the restaurant. Okay, maybe guards came in handy. She’d have to thank the Ruling Alphas.
But now, she thanked God for her mates.
Thanked God because Madden’s fingers traced her inner-thigh, his digits drawing nearer and nearer to her heated pussy. She reached behind her, mimicked his movements and gripped his upper leg.
When his palm cupped her cunt, she grabbed his cock. When he traced her panty-clad slit, she stroked his dick.
Their actions mirrored. Rubbing, petting, pumping, and then the silk of her knickers disappeared.
All the while she watched Keller. Still, silent Keller.
“Do you see, Keller?” She panted and fought for breath.
Madden growled and groaned, yanking the same sounds from her chest when he delved between her folds. Blunt fingertips slid through her cream, rubbing her from hole to clit and back again.
Then...oh, fuck...then he pushed into her, shoving his fingers into her cunt and stretching her with his invasion.
“Mine.” The snarl was rough against her neck. His digits withdrew and pushed back in, tearing a choked cry from her throat. “Mine.”
Scarlet continued tormenting Madden’s cock as he plunged his fingers in and out of her wet hole.
“Do you see him fucking me?” The heel of the larger wolf’s hand pressed hard against her clit, sending a shard of pleasure through her. “God, Keller, he’s fucking me, gonna make me come.”
Madden shifted her, his right arm coming around her body and he squeezed her breast. “Ride me mate, come for me.” Scarlet rocked her hips in time with his thrusts, fighting to do as her mate demanded. “She’s so wet and tight, Keller. Gonna suck our dicks right in. Squeeze so hard.”
She arched into his touch, drawing on the pleasure of his fingers and hands. He pinched her nipple and thrust into her pussy, gripped her breast and stroked her G-spot. It all joined and coalesced, building within her as it grew and grew.
“He’s fucking me, Keller. Do you know how wet I am? I can’t wait for you both to fuck me, claim me.” Madden slammed in and out of her heat with bruising speed. “Is this how you’ll fuck me?”
She panted and moaned, fighting for her release, gobbling up every morsel of pleasure Madden handed over.
The wet sounds of the wolf’s thrust and retreat surrounded them, her scorching musk adding to the air. She knew the other wolves could hear and smell what they were doing, but she only had eyes for her self-restrained mate.
Scarlet was so close to coming, racing toward the edge of release. The pleasure built, growing and expanding to fill her from top to bottom. It crept into her toes, taking over her muscles, and she arched. Control was no longer hers, stolen by Madden’s ministrations until all she could do was feel.
“Need... Wanna...” She sobbed, stared at Keller and saw when the moment of indecision shattered.
Keller leaned forward and fisted her hair. His fingers slid through the strands and jerked her head toward him. He snarled, baring h
is fangs. She’d broken his hardened shell. “Come.”
He pressed their mouths together, shoving his tongue deep into her. They tangled, yet he dominated their coming together. He forced her to his will and she eagerly followed, reveling in her triumph.
The bliss that had been gathering blew, bursting into a million sparkling fireworks. The bright lights glowed behind her eyelids. She came with a blinding rush, muscles spasming, tensing and tightening until her chest stilled.
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think beyond the two men bracketing her. She was surrounded, encased in her mates. She trembled within Madden’s embrace, let Keller draw her into him, and her orgasm kept racing through her veins.
The infinite bliss racked her, tore her apart from inside out, and she sobbed against her mate’s mouth.
Distantly she heard growls and snarls, the sounds breaking through her pleasure-induced haze. Suddenly her men were gone. They’d built an impenetrable wall between her and whoever had invaded their space, their bliss.
She hoped they ripped the intruders into a billion pieces.
Unsteadily, she pushed to standing, catching herself on the chair as she rose. On wobbly feet, she peeked around the bodies. Garron and Quentin were being held back by a guard, the row of strips on his sleeve indicating that he was the Captain.
Her mates met the danger with rolling growls, but the other two wolves didn’t appear threatened.
No, Garron opened his mouth and yelled into the tense space. “We call right of challenge! We challenge the Ruling Alphas!”
Scarlet gasped. No. Not only were her mates being challenged, but... Her mates were the Ruling Alphas? No. No, no, no. She was not the right girl for the job. Ever. Never ever, even.
But it was too late. A low exclamation of “witnessed” came from the other side of the restaurant. The word dashed her hopes that her mates, her Ruling Alphas, could get out of the situation without a fight.
Keller sighed, and she knew what he’d say before the word left his mouth. Part of her wanted to silence him, slap her hand over his lips so he couldn’t say a word. But the challenge had been witnessed, and it had to go on.
“Accepted.”
Chapter Five
“Only you,” Gabby grumped. “Only you would come to our first Gathering and, without realizing it, snag the Ruling Alphas.”
“You knew? Why didn’t you tell me so I didn’t make an ass of myself?” Scarlet glared at her sister.
“Because it was fun.” Gabby stuck out her tongue. “And, amazingly enough, if you’d listened to me at any point before this moment, you would have known about them, too. Funny how that works.” Gabby glared back at her, and Scarlet realized that her sister was right. Damn it. “Anyway. Then, you’d be the only one whose Alphas were challenged for rank and mate.” Gabs huffed. “Have they decided to let you keep the cat or is he going to be a snack?”
She wanted to laugh. Almost. Burger would shred them before becoming dinner. He was a fierce little feline.
But her belly churned, nerves rolling and rumbling in her stomach as she watched the clock tick toward eight. Her mates had retreated to their rooms to prepare, requiring solitude while they got ready for the fight to come. A fight to the death.
She’d been sad to see them go, stride off to seclusion, but had understood. Since their mating was incomplete, the guys wouldn’t be able to focus on the coming fight with her hanging around. They’d be too concerned with how they could finagle her into bed. And, being the Ruling Alphas, strongest of the wolves across the nation, their need to mate was more pressing than most.
But suddenly, Gabby’s words interrupted Scarlet’s thoughts.
Scarlet froze for a moment and focused on her sister. “Wait. Challenge for mate? Can they do that?”
Gabby rolled her eyes. “Duh. Have you been listening?”
“Don’t ‘duh’ me, woman,” she snapped. Damn it, Scarlet should have paid better attention to all those rules thrown at her during the flight.
Gabby rolled her eyes. Again. “If the challengers are unmated, they can fight for simply rank, or rank and mate if they feel the female belongs to them. Garron and Quentin claim that you’re actually theirs, and you’re only after Keller and Madden because of their position.”
Rage, pure, hot, molten rage overtook Scarlet. “Those assholes.”
“We could kill them. That would be fun.” Whitney bounced over, faux smile in place, the expression not quite meeting her eyes.
“Bloodthirsty, much?” Scarlet looked her sister over, noting the fatigue that lined her face. She reached out and snagged her sister’s hand, tugging her close. “What’s up with you, babe?”
Whitney leaned her head against her shoulder and snuggled close. This was how it’d always been between them. Scarlet was their leader, their protector. Gabby got to be the loud mouthed, obnoxiously adorable brat, and the two of them protected emotional Whitney.
“I went back to the registration table to talk to them about my lack of Mark, and they told me to come back in the morning. The Wardens should arrive tomorrow and they’re who I need to talk to about this stuff. So, for now, I’m stuck in butt sniffing limbo.”
Scarlet squeezed her waist in a small hug. “Well, I’ve got an ‘in’ with the Ruling Alphas so the Warden guys won’t have a choice about helping you. We’ll figure it out. And, hey, at least the sniffers are hot, right? I mean, if they’re gonna get up close and personal, we should be happy they’re attractive.”
A low growl warned her that her mates had come upon them, but it was Keller who spoke. “Who’s attractive?”
The growl deepened.
Sighing, she turned around to face Madden and Keller. Without hesitation, she snapped her fingers in Madden’s direction, frown firmly in place. “Enough. You know I’m yours. I know I’m yours. The three of us are a big ball of yours.”
Keller’s laugh followed her words, and happiness danced in his eyes. The man didn’t laugh nearly enough. It sounded hoarse and rarely used.
Whitney’s giggle joined Keller, and Gabby’s snicker followed them. Poor Madden frowned, deep furrows between his eyes, and she strode toward him. Before he protested or pulled away, she wiped away the lines.
“Calm down. You need to save your grump for Garron and Quentin.” That got her a snarl, and she rolled her eyes. Without having to look, she reached out and tugged Keller close so she could wrap an arm around his waist.
“I expect you to both kick ass.” She shoved the idea that they’d fail aside, blinked away the threatening tears, and tipped her head back. She flashed him a forced, cheerful grin. “And fast, please. I’d rather not to have to wait for you two to heal before we get down and dirty.”
Keller’s expression turned wicked, and the rough texture of Madden’s five o’clock shadow scraped against her neck. A shiver of arousal snaked through her, and her mates breathed deep. She had no doubt they could scent the musk of her juices.
Ah, the joy of being mated to wolves.
The man she now recognized as the Captain of the Ruling Alphas’ guard cleared his throat and stepped into her line of sight. “Alphas, it’s time.”
Scarlet’s heart stuttered. The next few minutes would determine their fate. She had faith in her men; they hadn’t achieved their position through a democracy. They’d fought tooth and claw to rise above the rest. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t be injured.
She grabbed Madden’s hand and squeezed, snaring his attention. “I know you want to gut them. I know.” His growl confirmed her statement. “But you need to fight smart, not strong. They’re bullies. Neither of them have any control. If they did, they wouldn’t have approached us like they did. You get them angry and let them make a mistake. Just don’t let them do that to you, you hear me?” She squeezed again. “I need you back, safe and whole, Madden.”
The large wolf took a deep breath and a look of calm swept across him as he exhaled. “Yes, mate.”
She turned to Keller, her l
ess outwardly aggressive mate. “I know you don’t want to kill them, but this is to the death, Keller. They won’t settle for anything less, and you need to go into this knowing that four walk in and only two walk out. They want your position. They want me.”
He snarled, baring his elongated teeth. “Never.”
Scarlet jerked her head in a quick nod. “Good. I’d kiss you, but I need you hungry for them, not me.”
That got her the reaction she’d expected, both men chuckling as they turned to follow the Captain toward the center of the ballroom. The packs had to be paying a pretty penny to allow the desecration of carpet, but Scarlet wasn’t about to ask questions. Hell, for all she knew, the hotel was pack owned.
“Alphas.” The Captain bowed and brushed past them, on toward the center of the circle the watchers had formed. A wide space was left empty, bodies lining the area.
“We’ve gathered to witness a challenge between the Ruling Alphas and the Colson Alphas.” A murmur went through the crowd. “Alphas, step forward.”
Madden turned her toward him, hands gripping her shoulders, and he kissed her. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, sweeping into her in a grand stroke and she submitted to his assault. As quickly as it began, it ended, her mate placing her apart from him.
“Win for me.” She was panting, breathless.
“Always.” He strode toward the waiting Captain.
Then it was Keller’s turn, her mate drawing her forward and giving her a gentle kiss. He gifted her with a soft caress of his tongue against hers that left her equally panting when he pulled away.
“They’re going to underestimate you. They’re not going to be prepared for the ass-whipping you’re about to lay down. But you’re an Alpha, Keller. Show them.”
He nodded, brushed one last chaste kiss over her lips and then he was following Madden to the center of the ring.
Whitney wrapped an arm around her waist, resting her head on her shoulder. “They’ll be fine.”
Gabby twined her fingers with Scarlet’s. “They haven’t fought their way to the top for nothing. They’ll kick ass, and then they’ll boink you all night. It’s all good.”
Crazy About Curves: 10 Luscious Reads Page 20
