“I’m starving,” Samantha stated.
Nathan looked back as he entered the bathroom. “I was thinking the same thing. And I could use a run.”
“Sounds perfect.” Josh sat up, taking Samantha with him as she straddled his waist. The woman still had Josh impaled inside her.
She nibbled a path across Josh’s chest. “You okay?” she muttered.
Nathan stepped into the bathroom and turned on the water. It wasn’t unreasonable to expect the two of them to need a moment alone. Yesterday they’d thought they were a mated twosome. Today, their world had shifted. He understood. His world was dumped on the floor and spread out clumsily so he felt like he was going to need to bend down and sift through the rubble to find anything that resembled his former state of being.
What would they do now? Where would they live? Thank God they were all living and working in St. Louis. But, God. How were they going to manage this new twist?
The water warmed as Nathan held his hand beneath the spray and pondered the about face that was his new existence.
Chapter Nine
Samantha looked into Josh’s eyes, holding his shoulders. She squinted to ensure he was telling her the whole truth. “I mean it. Please tell me if this feels weird to you.”
He laughed. “Weird?” He squeezed around her waist and kissed her soundly on the lips. “This is beyond weird, baby. It’s like a dream and I’m gonna wake up and find out I fell asleep waiting for you to arrive and you’ll be at the door—alone—when I hear the knock.”
She grimaced.
“But,” he continued, putting a finger over her lips, “it’s right. I know it is. Not quite what I expected or ever planned, but it’s what Fate has for us. I can feel it. Strange will be my new middle name for a while, but we’re in this together and we’ll figure it out. What about you? Are you good?”
She nodded, cocking her head to one side and biting her lower lip. A flush heated her face. “Beyond good. But I feel a bit embarrassed to admit that.”
“Don’t.” He pressed a finger to her nose.
“I get the best end of this stick. Two men just rocked my world and set it on fire.”
“Oh, now I wouldn’t say you got the better deal. It may seem peculiar, but I really got off watching Nathan make you come. I mean, really.” He raised his eyebrows. “Made me so hard to see you shatter at his hands. Can’t say it’s explainable, but I loved it.”
“So you like to watch?” she teased.
“Well, we certainly aren’t adding anyone else to the mix, but I like to watch Nathan and you. Gotta draw the line somewhere. It was meant to be.” He lifted her off his cock and set her on her feet in front of him. Immediately she hated the disconnect, but they needed a shower and food.
Her legs wobbled, unsteady and she thanked heaven he didn’t let her go.
“You gonna make it there?” He held her with both hands.
“My muscles won’t cooperate. My thighs are sore.”
“I’m sure. Hot water will help. And maybe I can be convinced to massage them later.”
“My thighs?” She lifted her head. That would lead to nothing but trouble. “I think you’d better keep your hands to yourself for a while so I can recover.” She steadied herself and stepped back, nodding to the shower. “Water’s running.”
Samantha headed into the bathroom as Nathan pulled back the curtain to step in. “Ladies first.” He bowed and held the plastic out of the way.
She stepped over the side of the tub and under the spray, and moaned. It felt so good. She sighed and scooted back to make room for her men. Nathan entered first, grasping her around the waist as he held her under the spray. “Don’t move yet. The hot water has to be soothing.”
“It is.” Her shoulders relaxed as she watched Josh enter on the far side behind Nathan. It was tight with all three of them in there. She laughed. “How are we all going to wash in this space?”
Nathan grabbed the shampoo and filled his hand. “Turn around, hon.”
She did, letting her head fall back into Nathan’s hands as he massaged her scalp. It took effort to avoid leaning into him. If she did, she knew where it would lead and she couldn’t possibly have sex again until she had some recovery.
Samantha kept her eyes closed against the soap suds falling down her face while Nathan spun both of them until she stood in the middle of the tub. She could feel Josh’s breath on her face. He rubbed the suds down over her chest, cupping her breasts with both hands as he went. When he nudged her legs apart and soaped between her thighs, she had to grab his head. “Stop,” she muttered. “I’m still. . .”
“Aroused?” Josh asked. “I see that.” He scooped one finger through her slit and across her clit.
Her knees buckled, but Nathan wrapped his arms under hers and held her up. “Let Josh love you, hon.” He kissed her temple.
Soap still cascaded down her face, making it impossible to open her eyes.
“Just feel,” Nathan urged.
Samantha emptied her mind of all other thoughts and concentrated on Josh’s hands. He used both palms to spread her thighs and paused while water sluiced down between her legs. Thank God. The soap was going to burn.
When Josh was satisfied, he stroked her folds with his thumbs and pressed into her without warning.
Her legs went to complete jelly.
“Wrap your legs over my shoulders,” he directed.
She peeked at him in confusion and found him on his knees, his face at her pussy. She lifted first one leg and then the other over his shoulders and sat on him wide open as his tongue delved into her core. When she leaned her head back into Nathan’s chest, the soap ran out of her hair.
Nathan smoothed it away from her face. He whispered in her ear, “Keep your eyes closed, hon. Just feel.”
Neither man seemed to strain under her weight. As Josh sucked her from in front, Nathan caressed her breasts and then flattened his palms on her belly.
“That’s the fucking sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” Nathan mumbled.
Samantha let her head roll back against his chest. The things Josh did with his tongue were surely illegal. He flicked and sucked and reached into her until she writhed beneath him, squeezing his head with both hands. It didn’t take long for her to stiffen and crest. When she reached the peak, her pussy clenched around his tongue. After being taken twice in the last hour by her mates, she couldn’t believe how hard she could come again. Whoever said women couldn’t perform like that obviously hadn’t ever been with two sexy shifters before.
Josh eased her back onto her feet and stood. He lifted her chin as he licked his lips. “Divine.” He pulled her against his chest to hold her steady. “I’ve got her if you want to wash,” he said over her head.
Nathan chuckled behind her. “I’m not sure. It might take two of us to keep up with her. Hell, do you suppose this is it? How do we know we aren’t going to meet a third man? She’s insatiable. Maybe that’s why Fate arranged for us to both be with her.”
“That’s not even kinda funny, Nathan.” She twisted in Josh’s arms to face the smirk behind her. “This has to be enough. The shower can’t hold another.”
Josh wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands resting under her breasts. She loved the contact, but swatted at his fingers as he began to stroke upward. “Don’t touch my nipples again. They’re too sensitive and I need a break.”
“Got it.” He kissed the top of her head and held his fingers still.
It barely made a difference though. Her breasts felt heavy no matter what he did or didn’t do. She was hyperaware of his palms across her belly, his fingers under her globes, holding them up.
A tingling between her legs made her push him away. “You have to…stop touching me.” She spun on him. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Josh held his hands up in defeat.
“I’m done.” Nathan stepped out. He reached a hand toward her. “You wanna get out too?”
“Yes.” Samantha stepped
over the side of the tub onto the towel, leaving Josh to have a turn under the spray.
The rest of the bathroom was hardly bigger than the tub itself and the two of them bumped into each other as they reached for towels and began to dry.
When Nathan opened the door, a whoosh of cool air soothed her skin. She wrapped the towel around her middle and padded into the main room. “We don’t have any clean clothes.”
“True.” Nathan sat on the edge of the bed. They’d fled St. Louis with no thought other than getting to Jasper, Alabama, as quickly as possible. “I don’t think we need any right now. We are far enough out in the middle of nowhere we should be able to pull on the minimum, drive a few miles west and shift. The run will feel fantastic. No one will notice. We can order takeout later.”
“Perfect.” Samantha grabbed her blouse and skirt off the floor and put them on without underwear. She could leave the two easy pieces in the car while they ran.
Josh stepped out. “My wolf is at the surface. I don’t usually feel the urge this strongly for no reason.”
Nathan pulled on his pants, also commando. “I don’t think mating is no reason. I think it’s something we are driven to do as part of the process.”
“True. I guess all mates shift fairly quickly after mating, but I didn’t realize the impulse would be so strong. Insistent. Hell, demanding.”
“It is uncanny. I’ve never felt such a driving need.” Samantha stood at the door now. “Let’s go soothe the beast.” She laughed.
It took only minutes to get out of the residential area. They took Josh’s car. When he pulled off the main highway onto a side road, no one was in sight.
Samantha peered out the window. “It’s a farming community. No one’s going to take this road after dark like this.”
“I think you’re right,” Josh added as he opened the door. “And thank God for trees.”
No wolf liked to be caught out in the open. Samantha was as glad for forests as her mates. The grove would shelter them so they could run without detection.
Without saying another word, Samantha shed her skirt and blouse and stepped out of the car alongside both men. They shifted in moments and she found herself towered over by two huge wolfs. The darker one on the left was Nathan. Even in his animal form she could scent him and recognize his stance. Something about the way he cocked his head to one side and stared at her made her realize she would recognize him anywhere.
Josh was lighter, his fur almost white. His blue eyes glowed in the faint light of the moon. He tipped his head back and howled as she watched. With a nod to one side, he indicated they should follow him.
They took off at a rapid pace. The breeze and the cool night air soothed Samantha’s body. She would gain energy from the shift and strength from spending some time in her animal form. Her body would heal some from her earlier mating also. She relaxed as they bound between the trees.
They went several miles before popping back out beside the car. She’d followed the men the entire time, paying little attention to their direction or location. It felt nice to enjoy the run and rely on them to lead her. In her profession, she was always in charge. Always having to guide her clients in some direction. She’d never been one to follow. A warmth spread through her at the thought of letting some of that control go, giving it over to her two mates. It was freeing.
As they drove back to the main town area, she sat behind the men, letting them have the front seat. She could sleep easily. Thank goodness it was only a matter of minutes before they returned to their hotel, or she would have. She needed to eat first or her body would be sluggish and she’d be famished by morning. There was no reason to worry about that, however. The men would need nourishment even more.
As she considered this, her stomach growled and Josh pulled into a fast food joint next to the hotel. “This work for you?” he asked over the seat.
“Yep.” She leaned forward and set her hand on his shoulder. The same sparks that flew the first time they touched, and every time in between, still startled her. “Order me a chicken sandwich.”
“That’s it?” Nathan asked.
She glanced down at herself. “I’m like a hundred and ten pounds. How much do you think I can eat?”
Both men shook their heads. The list Josh called into the tiny speaker was long. The woman would be shocked when they pulled forward to pay. She must have been thinking it was a van loaded with teenage boys.
The girl was too distracted by the next customer to notice, however, and within seconds they had armloads of food and were headed back to the hotel.
Ten minutes later, Samantha was scarfing her sandwich and sipping a large soda. They all three sat in a circle on the bed, the mountain of food and wrappers between them.
When she finished, she sat back and watched the men eat. Amazing how few bites they used to devour several burgers and fries. Her eyes grew heavy. The longest day of her life was pulling her under.
She leaned back against a stack of pillows and closed her eyes. She was vaguely aware of several hands freeing her from her blouse and skirt and slipping the covers over her body, but that was the end of her recollection.
Chapter Ten
At seven a.m. Josh sat in Evan’s car across the street from the apartment complex in which he sincerely hoped to find his sister this morning. He watched with Evan as Damon Parkfield, the bastard, left in his car. Dressed in the same khaki pants and standard polo shirt as yesterday, Josh suspected he must be working as a salesman for some local shop or something. Today’s shirt was a bright aqua color and it hung too large on the tall skinny man. As he bent to get into his car, Josh watched the way his hair hung to one side. It was too long. He was in need of a cut.
Moments later he pulled away from the curb and out of sight in the same direction as yesterday.
Evan had been there two days now. “I don’t think he’ll come home during the day. At least he hasn’t before.”
Josh hoped so. He didn’t want to have a confrontation. He just wanted his sister and she had showed no signs of exiting on her own, so he suspected she either wasn’t there or she was forbidden to step outside. Both ideas gave him the chills. But, he could only pray to set eyes on her today.
“Let’s give it a few minutes,” Evan added. “How was your evening?”
“Interesting.”
“Oh?” Evan glanced his direction, one eyebrow raised. “That’s not an answer I would expect from someone newly mated.”
Josh licked his lips. He’d slipped out this morning, not disturbing Samantha, but whispering to Nathan he’d text as soon as he knew something. “She wasn’t alone.”
“Pardon?” Now Evan gave Josh more of his attention. It wasn’t as though they were going to miss anything by staring at the front door of the apartment.
“It seems we have another mate.”
“Are you serious? She was with another woman?”
Josh chuckled deep and shook his head. “’Fraid not.”
“What?” Evan paused, and then his jaw fell open. “No. Say it isn’t so.”
Josh tipped his head to one side and raised his brows. “Oh, it’s so. Yesterday morning while I was here on surveillance with you, my sweet mate ran into a third, and yep, he’s definitely a man.”
“Are you sure?”
“As sure as the sky is blue. Guess you haven’t encountered many threesomes either, huh?”
“Nope. Never. I think of one of my distant cousins mated with two people, but not anyone I’ve met.”
“Yeah, well, us either. We were a bit weirded out, but it’s a sure thing. Believe me.”
“Huh. How does… No, never mind. You keep the details to yourself. There are some things I don’t need to know.”
Josh laughed. “One day. But right now, let’s concentrate on my sister and pray she’s in there.”
“Ready?” Evan reached for the handle.
“I guess.” Josh stepped out at the same time and followed Evan to the door. His palms sweated
and he rubbed them on his jeans. Please God…
Evan knocked. Silence. Several seconds went by. He knocked again. Nothing.
Fear was a tangible element crawling up Josh’s back. He stepped to the window next to the door. The curtains were sheer, but drawn.
Again Evan knocked, harder this time.
The flutter of material caught Josh’s eye. Someone was in there. He flattened his hands on the glass. “Ashley?” He tried not to yell, but Lord knew how badly he wanted the movement to be her.
The door opened a few inches and there she stood, his sister. She was skittish and only peeked out from the small space, not releasing her grip on the door. “Josh?”
“It’s me, Ash. Can we come in?”
She shook her head. “Not a good time. What are you doing here?”
Why wasn’t it a good time? It took all his control not to slam the door out of her grip and step around her to see the inside.
“I came to find you, Ash. You stopped answering our calls. We haven’t heard from you in over a year. I’m so glad I found you,” he continued in a rush of air.
“No. It can’t have been that long.” She shook her head again. “I spoke to you a few months ago.”
“No, you didn’t.” Josh tried to keep his voice controlled, soft. He didn’t want to scare her. She was no more than a waif and seemed younger than she had four years ago. Her hair was thin and unhealthy, the blonde locks dull and limp. Her eyes were deep dark holes in her head, not the vibrant green of her childhood. Her face was gaunt.
She looked like she came from a concentration camp and hadn’t been rescued yet.
“I’m really busy right now. Can you call me later?”
“No. Now, Ashley.” Josh pressed on the door, trying not to frighten her, but unwilling to give up this effort. The more he looked at her, the more he knew without a doubt he was removing her from this apartment this morning, even if he had to force her. She was neglected and abused.
Completed Page 9
