Stealing Mercury (Arena Dogs Book 1)

by Charlee Allden

  Samantha hadn’t been surprised when Mercury had insisted on going first to make sure it was safe for the others. The cocktail had done its job but left him weak. He and Carn were both sleeping off the effects. Lo had insisted on going last.

  He lay on a medical cot with an intravenous line in his arm feeding him a simple nutrient rich, immune boosting fluid. Felzaf had insisted on treating their malnutrition before giving them the chemical that would scrub the tracers from their blood. Samantha had given Lo her hand and he still gripped it in a death grip.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t think to explain about Felzaf before we came here.”

  Lo huffed. “The human arena medics couldn’t be trusted. They would drug us often. Aggression drugs to make us fight more viciously. The crowds had to be entertained.” He snarled the last sentence.

  “This bothers you more than Mercury or Carn.”

  He looked away. “From the first year I began to fight in the arena, I was often selected to service the human females who paid for the privilege of fucking one of our kind—the females who wanted a dangerous Dog from the arena instead of one of the submissive males available in the pleasure suites. They gave me drugs that made my body react as they wished and clouded my mind so I couldn’t think clearly enough to fight them. The drugs didn’t work as well on Mercury and Carn. They weren’t drugged as often.”

  Samantha stroked the length of his arm, her heart breaking over the awful things he’d been through. “I’m sorry, Lo. They should all be punished for what they did to you.”

  He released her hand to reach for the multicolored strands of her hair. He gave a little tug. “I see now where you get this. Moira is even more colorful.”

  She understood that he wanted to change the subject. “Her mother, my grandmother, was full blooded Cerrillian.”

  “She changes color,” said Lo.

  “Yes. It changes with emotion.” She tried to smile for him, but all she could think of was the past. Moira had always been at her most golden when her father was around. “Lo, why did Mercury act so...deferential toward her?”

  He slipped his hand back to hers. “We never had true mothers. He considers her special. And she’s important to you.” He hesitated. “You should’ve told her Mercury is your mate. It hurt him that you didn’t claim him when you introduced us.”

  Samantha’s heart thudded heavily. That sluggish organ already belonged to Mercury, but that didn’t make them mates. There were too many obstacles standing between them. “I didn’t mean to hurt him. It’s just that…none of us know what the future holds. I’m not sure I can be what he needs and when you have Hera back…” And she wasn’t sure he’d want her once it sunk in that he could find a more suitable mate on any block in Haverlee. Her throat squeezed shut as if a slither-constrictor had coiled around her neck, making it difficult to breath. Confronting what she might or might not mean to Mercury invariably left her heartsick. “I don’t know how to explain things to my mom.”

  Lo squeezed her hand, stopping the flow of words. “Because of me?”

  “That’s part of it. It hurt her so much that my father had other lovers. But that isn’t all of it.”

  “She’ll see the truth of things.” He rubbed his thumb across the inside of her wrist. “Will not claiming Mercury make it any better in her eyes?”

  She shook her head. A week ago she would never have dreamed he could be so wise. “You always surprise me, Lo.”

  “It’s fair then.”

  “Fair?”

  “You’re also a surprise to me.” His voice dropped to an awe filled rumble. “A prize I never imagined.”

  “Lo—”

  “When Carn took Hera as mate, I refused the bond.” His muscles tensed as if he’d confessed a terrible sin…or a dangerous truth.

  “Why?” But she wasn’t asking why he’d refused. She knew he had a terrible past where women were concerned. And she knew he’d bonded to her because he was the only one left of Mercury’s pack brothers who could. “Why tell me?”

  His ears flicked. “Go to Mercury now. I hear him getting up.”

  She stroked one of the velvet triangles and watched him tremble with pleasure. “I’ll get Felzaf. Then I’ll be back. Mercury wouldn’t want me to let you face this alone.”

  He closed his eyes as if her words wearied him. It sent shards of doubt through her. She had never been good at relationships and she’d never let it bother her, but this time she was navigating the trickiest of waters and she was afraid she’d tip the boat in the wrong direction and all of them would drown.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Haverlee Refugee Camp, Krena

  Gollerra Sector

  2210.170

  “Will you open your father’s box in the morning?” Mercury had already pulled off his new clothes and crawled into the collection of stuffed mattresses they’d stretched across the floor of her old bedroom. A strategically placed blanket prevented her from drooling over him—too much.

  “I don’t know.” Samantha pulled the comb through her hair one last time then set it aside. “It doesn’t really matter. Nothing in that box could change the way he lived his life.”

  Though Samantha was beginning to see that just because she didn’t understand something that didn’t make it wrong.

  “Moira speaks of him with happiness in her voice.”

  “She always did.” She crawled into the bed still wearing her tank and briefs. The others would be joining them to sleep. Somehow it had seemed wrong to ask Carn to sleep in the other room, and then there was Lo.

  “You should speak to her about it.” He leaned against her, nudging her temple with his jaw.

  She shrugged. “Maybe.”

  He nipped at her lips then stared her down. “Maybe?”

  She was saved from having to answer when Lo stepped into the room. He’d taken off his boots, detracting from the more civilizing effects of the clothes he still wore.

  “Carn is walking Moira down to visit with one of her friends for a few hours.” Lo stood very still by the door.

  Samantha looked from Lo to Mercury. Both men watched her as if she were a star with nova potential. “You arranged for her to be gone?”

  Mercury stroked a hand down her back. “You’re uncomfortable with your mother knowing about us.”

  So he’d made it possible for them to have sex without her mother hearing. “I’ll explain it to her in the morning.” Because she didn’t want him thinking she was ashamed of him.

  She could see her promise made him happy.

  Mercury looked up to Lo. “Come closer.”

  Lo didn’t budge. “It must always be her choice. Not yours.”

  Samantha realized then they intended to make love to her together. Lo hadn’t gone with her mother because he wanted to be included. He was hovering by the door because he waited for her to welcome him into her bed for more than sleeping. Both men waited, tense, for her response. She could see that Mercury wanted Lo with them, but he wouldn’t force the issue.

  She’d been too busy and too exhausted to do more than sleep on the transport ship, but there was no more reason to put off dealing directly with what she’d done. She’d taken them both as lovers. She hadn’t planned it, but they needed to know she didn’t regret it either. She might not be comfortable with it, but she didn’t want to undo it.

  She reached out a hand toward Lo. “Come here. Please.”

  He moved in a blur of motion. In the next breath she was on her back with Lo over her, his face buried against her neck.

  She heard Mercury laugh—a low, gravelly sound that flooded her body with anticipation. He shoved Lo off her, but it was a playful gesture. Lo rolled with fluid grace, to lie beside her.

  Mercury leaned over and kissed her lips, nipping gently then tracing the tender area with his tongue. She followed his lead, using her teeth and tongue and got lost in the back and forth of it. Mercury could always do that to her, overwhelm her with just a kiss.

  Her
breasts ached and tension coiled low in her belly. She arched her back, needing his touch. He reached for her, one big hand firmly stroking. Stroking from her belly button to her ribs. He palmed her breast and gently squeezed.

  “More,” she pleaded.

  “Yes, courra, we’ll give you more.” He pushed at her top and she helped him pull it over her head.

  The spell Mercury had woven broke long enough for her to be aware that Lo hadn’t gone far. He lay close, watching. He’d stripped his clothes off and had his cock in his hand. Seeing him stroke his thick cock made her pussy clench.

  Mercury ran a fingertip down her nose, tempting her thoughts back to him. His eyes darkened, eclipsing the silver almost entirely. She reached for him and he came over her, nuzzling her neck. He trailed kisses down to her breasts. Wet heat engulfed one nipple and expert fingers teased the other to painful attention. She squirmed with pleasure.

  Samantha traced her hands over Mercury’s chest. His skin was hot and touchable over hard muscle. She flexed her fingers digging into resilient flesh. He growled around her nipple, sending pleasure vibrating through her body. He liked firm handling. The evidence of that pressed against her hip then lifted away as he moved lower and began to pull at her briefs.

  She lifted her hips to help him. Lo yanked away the blankets that had been tangled around them. Presumably, because they’d been blocking his view. His eyes were on her now completely bared body.

  She had to close her eyes and concentrate on her breathing to control the strange hitch that thought had caused in her pulse.

  “Samantha?” Mercury sounded concerned, but she didn’t know how to respond.

  He’d moved to lie alongside her. The heat of his body warmed her, but he didn’t touch her other than the undemanding press of skin. It must have taken some doing to keep his impressive cock from pressing against her.

  He was trying to be considerate. How did she tell him that was the last thing she wanted him to be?

  He wrapped his hand around her neck and squeezed gently. “Samantha?” His tone was sharper this time and her eyes shot open.

  “It’s okay. Just—" Lo watching Mercury strip her naked had seemed both terrifying and exciting. What would they think of her if they knew the idea of Lo watching Mercury slide his cock into her made her damp and needy. She knew it had to be what they wanted, or at least part of it, but was she supposed to want it to? “Stars, this is confusing.”

  She heard Lo shift and knew he’d leave. The sadness in Mercury’s stormy eyes gave her the excuse she needed to twist and make a grab for Lo. Her fingers dug into his hip and he eased back toward them in response.

  “Don’t go.” And she meant it, one hundred percent. Mercury was all her heart needed, but that didn’t mean her heart didn’t welcome Lo. The rest of her body had no objection at all to him being a part of their lovemaking.

  Luckily, she didn’t have to ponder it for long. Mercury touched his lips to hers and she was lost in him again. He pressed quick kisses across her lips, cheeks, jaw, and then it all changed when he got to her neck. Big, open-mouthed tastes made her squirm beneath him.

  His tongue traced along her throat and she clutched at his biceps, trying to pull him over her. The bulk of him didn’t budge, but she could finally feel his hard length against her thigh again. Stars, his cock was big. How had he ever gotten inside her?

  She’d have turned her body to press along his, if she could have, but he easily held her in place until his hand slid down the front of her body. Then she no longer wanted to move.

  His hand trailed down further, molding over her curves and ending with the firm press of his hand between her legs. There was nothing she could do to stop the movement of her hips as she arched into him, needing more pressure, more contact, more anything.

  “Please,” she urged.

  He obliged her with enthusiasm. His fingers dipped between the folds of her sex, shooting sparks of electricity through her nervous system.

  “Is she wet?” Lo’s voice sounded eager and dirty and it made her want to spread her legs wider, to give Mercury more room to explore.

  “Very.” Mercury confirmed it between kisses as he slipped a long finger into her damp heat. “It feels so good,” he spoke against her skin. “I want to push my cock into her now. I almost don’t want to wait.”

  But apparently, almost wasn’t enough to deter him from his chosen course. And hearing them discuss her as if she wasn’t needed in the conversation they were having didn’t cool her need. It only made her more wound up.

  Mercury had to know she was ready for him, but he didn’t make a move to shift further over her. He added a second finger then pressed his thumb over her clit.

  “Stars, yes.” Her voice shook with need. Both men moaned at hearing her.

  Mercury seemed to remember exactly how she liked to be touched, what rhythm drove her wild. He put that knowledge to work, bringing her quickly to the point of orgasm.

  The tip of his cock dampened her thigh. She needed to do something to get him inside her. She didn’t want to come around his fingers. She wanted that thick cock filling her up. When had she turned so greedy?

  Samantha reached for him, but he had her pinned exactly how he wanted her and apparently letting her touch his cock wasn’t part of his plan.

  Lo made a noise, half chuckle and half groan. “I think she wants you to fuck her, Merc.”

  She looked over to him. He was still stroking his cock. His hand squeezed the long length as he pulled slow and steady. The tip had gone dark and the slit was weeping with moisture. She knew Mercury would look much the same, pressed against her hip. She groaned.

  “Yes,” said Mercury. “She wants me to fuck her. She’s small inside and tight, but she’s so wet I could get all the way in her with one stroke.”

  She was glad Lo didn’t feel the need to inform Mercury that he’d done exactly that when they’d been together. Instead he made another half laugh, half groan sound.

  “Do it,” he said. “I want to see you shove your cock in her nice and hard. Let her feel how big you are for her.”

  Mercury nipped at her chin, drawing her gaze back to his. “Is that what you want, courra? You want me to fuck you nice and hard?”

  “Yes.” It was beyond her ability to formulate anything more than that one word. “Yes.” Since it was all she could get to come out, she said it again as if he wasn’t already more than certain of how badly she wanted him.

  He nipped at her lips and whispered against them. “I’m going to fuck you hard, but I’m going to do it slow and I’m going to keep space between our bodies so he can watch. Is that okay for you, courra?”

  “Yes.” Again she was stuck with the one word and she hoped he wouldn’t be too shocked at her easy compliance.

  The thought slipped away as Mercury put his words into action. He moved over her but kept his arms extended. His cock slipped along her folds. All three of them groaned and Samantha looked down to see what Lo was seeing. Mercury’s cock was even harder and more engorged than she’d imagined and it now glistened with the moisture from where he’d stroked it across her.

  She started to reach for him but he moved again, sliding into her, unerringly finding the angle he needed. He shoved forward in a hard thrust that she felt all through her body. She gasped and he leaned forward to kiss her open mouth.

  When he pulled back, he slid his cock out slowly then started a pace that was sure to kill her. Her hands slipped along his ribs and his muscles jumped in response. He growled and the strain on his face assured her he was torturing himself along with her.

  He was huge inside her and the slow, thorough strokes were going to driver her crazy. Watching his body work, the thrust of his hips, the flex of muscles, made her feel swollen with need and on the edge. It wouldn’t take much. She just needed—she slid one hand down toward her clit. The slightest touch forced a moan across her lips.

  Mercury snarled again. His gaze snapped up to Lo. “Hold her hands.
”

  “No. Please.” She wasn’t above begging at this point.

  She would owe Lo some huge favor because he seemed to be on her side.

  “She needs it, Merc,” he said.

  “Not by her own hand,” Mercury protested.

  They were talking over her again. This time it was Samantha who growled. Mercury looked back to her and he must have seen the desperation in her eyes. He lowered his body, wrapped his arms around her and rolled, putting her above him.

  He barked-several small noises that seemed to set Lo in motion. Suddenly, he was behind her. Strong, warm hands wrapped around her ribs and he pulled her up to sit astride Mercury’s hips. Mercury was still lodged firmly inside her. The change in position shifted the pressure in a way that made her moan. Lo pressed close behind her, a blazing fire at her back. His fingers stroked across her ribs sending waves of sensation rippling across her skin. Lo banded one arm around her, holding her in place, his other hand dipped down between her legs and—oh. He pressed right where she needed it.

  Her pussy clenched around Mercury’s cock, drawing a groan from him. He thrust up and, hands on her hips, pulled her solidly against him. He seemed to be trying to push as far as possible inside her then he retreated, dragging his cock out until only the flared crown stretched her opening. He pulled her down slamming them together again. The strokes were short but intense and every pull moved Lo’s hand on her clit.

  “Careful,” said Mercury on a thrust.

  “I am,” answered Lo.

  She thought they must be talking about his claws, now positioned near her tender flesh. She didn’t feel the claws at all but the small circles he’d started, those she felt to her toes.

  Her orgasm broke over her out of nowhere. One moment she was on the raggedy edge the next she was flying apart. Mercury ground their hips together while Lo’s touch drew her pleasure out as long as possible. When her body went limp, he wrapped himself more firmly around her and lifted her off of Mercury’s still hard cock. He edged back and settled her on his thighs. Somehow he rearranged things until they were between Mercury’s spread thighs.