by Jayce Carter
Better yet, when she opened her eyes, she found Bryce and Kaidan there, too. Joshua sat in a chair to her left, Kaidan to her right and Bryce was already standing as if he couldn’t keep still. All three had looked better, she supposed, all showing signs of weariness. Dark circles and years of aging had come up in however long she’d been out. Knowing them, they’d hardly slept.
A glass with water was brought to her, the straw placed between her lips by Kaidan, of course. After the small drink, enough so her throat wasn’t dry, she asked, “Where’s Tiffany? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine, just a few rooms down. They sedated her for the rest of her heat and set her arm. It looks like Randy didn’t touch her. She should be able to leave by tomorrow.” Joshua set a hand on hers, below where the IV was. “You can go see her in a while.”
“They’ll let me leave this bed?”
“No, but I’ll carry you in there myself. I bet you they don’t say a word to me about it.” Joshua kept that grin, the playfulness.
Claire laughed, but it caused her to groan at a pain in her back. When had she even hurt her back? Right, when he’d thrown her on the ground. That also accounted for her throbbing headache.
“Don’t make her laugh,” Kaidan chided, then ran his fingers through her hair. “We washed you up the best we could. I figured you didn’t want to wake up covered in blood.”
“And to think I slept through my sponge bath.” Claire sat up, hands on either side of her helping to take the weight and strain. “I’m waiting.”
“For?” Joshua frowned.
“For you to yell at me. To tell me off for taking off again.”
Bryce answered, shaking his head. “I’ve yelled at you before, but since this keeps happening, I’m going to assume it doesn’t work. If you keep getting yourself in trouble, we’ll just work on your self-defense so you don’t get knocked around so much. Well, that and try to keep you busy enough so you have no time for trouble. Besides, you’re in no condition to fight with us, and what fun is that?”
“What am I? An invalid because I lost another fight with an alpha?”
“You killed him, sweetheart. I don’t think anyone would consider that losing.” Kaidan stroked his hand over her arm.
Bryce leaned on the edge of her bed, a wince so quick, she almost missed it. It was then she realized he wore a pair of sweats, bagged out from what had to be a wrap. He was on his feet, which meant he was okay, even if hurting. “You saved us. We were so sure you needed us, but you ended up saving us. If you hadn’t gotten to him when you had, if you’d just waited for us to save the day, he’d have hit at least one of us, maybe more. We might all be dead.” He cupped her cheek, thumb brushing over her skin. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you before, that I didn’t trust you to understand, to listen.”
Claire set her hand over his. “It’s okay. I get it, I do. I realized how easy it would have been to lose this, to lose you all, and suddenly it seemed totally insignificant to be angry over that, especially to keep holding on to it. I’m not going to let anything stop me from being happy, from having what I want, what I finally have.” Uncertainty crept into her voice, forcing her to shift in the seat. “I mean, if you still want me, that is. If this is still what you—”
Bryce shut her up with a kiss, one rougher than she knew she’d get from the others. His forehead rested against hers when he broke the kiss. “We ran out there with the possibility of getting shot. There’s no way we’re letting you go, omega. I suggest you get used to it.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
A week later and Claire had finally gotten home. Joshua had insisted she spend longer in the hospital than needed, but after the close call, he wasn’t willing to risk anything, not when it came to her.
In front of him, she sank to her knees between his spread thighs. She still had that shyness, that uncertainty. He wasn’t sure it would ever fully go away. In fact, she hadn’t gone straight to her knees. No, she’d shifted her weight from foot to foot, her gaze hungry as it had roamed over him.
‘You want to sit here?’ he’d asked and patted the couch beside him. When she shook her head, he’d cocked up an eyebrow and caught wind of her scent. ‘You want to drop to those pretty knees and suck my cock?’
That had won him a blush and a nod.
He stroked his fingers through her long hair. How the hell had he gotten so lucky? After losing his mate, after losing his unborn child, he’d figured that was it. No one struck it rich twice in one life. He’d had a shot, and he’d lost it. He had expected to fuck his way through the years he had left without any attachments, without caring about anyone or anything else. Hell, he’d resisted the idea of anything more. He’d fought against finding anyone else, against anyone else creeping into his heart.
How his little omega had crawled beneath his defenses, had made him realize that while love hurt a hell of a lot, it could be worth it, he’d never know. She’d faced off against the worst of his fears, his worries, and she hadn’t flinched.
She wrapped her full lips around his waiting cock, the warmth of her mouth and the touch of her tongue against his heated flesh enough to make him fight coming already, if for no other reason than because he wanted to give her what she wanted, what she needed. After watching her in a hospital, he needed to have her, to get back what he’d worried they’d lost.
It wasn’t about sex, not entirely. That was just a language they used, a way to bridge the gaps between them until no space remained for anything else.
Joshua leaned back as Claire worked his dick, as she took him deep then pulled back. He’d never grow tired of watching her take her pleasure from him, the way she’d pause at times as though she’d just realized how much she enjoyed it. A smile more real than the ones he wore out of habit slid across his lips as he stared at the woman he never expected, the woman who’d given him a second chance, the woman he loved.
Claire on her knees would affect even the most stone-hearted man and Kaidan was no exception. She bobbed her head over Joshua’s lap, his cock disappearing past her pink lips, her lust-drunk eyes turned up to his, full of affection.
Trust from anyone was an amazing gift, but from a woman who had never been given much reason in her life to offer it, it humbled him. How she could have come so far, how she could give herself over to them after what she’d suffered, he’d never understand. That was what filled those eyes, though. Trust.
Kaidan dropped down behind her, setting a hand on the shapely curve of hip. “It’s just me, love.” The pet name warmed him, especially when she relaxed anytime he used it.
When she went back to working over Joshua’s cock, Kaidan pulled her pants and underwear to her knees, using the clothes to shackle her legs in place. He plunged two thick fingers into her snug cunt, delivering a steady stroke that tore a muffled moan from around Joshua’s length.
Ah, I’ll never get tired of that sound. The moan was bathed in both pleasure and need, like she’d had a lick of something she wanted to devour. Still, he knew that wasn’t what she wanted, not really, and he loved to give her what she wanted. Bryce would claim he was spoiling her, would complain that he turned omegas into brats. Still, the way her cheeks flushed a lovely pink when he gave her what she wanted—it never failed to warm him.
Kaidan flicked open his pants with one hand, then drew his erection out. He spread his legs wide to position himself at her soaked pussy, then pushed into her heat. He flexed his fingers on her hips as he forced himself to give her a moment. All he wanted was to slide as deep as he could, to enjoy each inch of her body, to draw forth every broken whimper and desperate whine from her delicious body, but she’d only just returned.
He had to take care with her.
He rolled his hips, and she answered by pushing back against him, her hands pressed to Joshua’s hips for leverage. Kaidan gave in to her, to what she wanted.
Even as she took, she gave. She worked her teasing lips over Joshua’s length, her focus on him, her body giving to Ka
idan everything he could want. She’d never been content to take, to lie there and have someone else service her. No, not his Claire.
She took care of the omegas she found, mothering them. She took care of all three of the men, always ensuring they ate, rested and took care of themselves. There were nights when Kaidan remained up too late, when she’d walk into his room and put him to bed, crawling in beside him to ensure he stayed put.
As much as Kaidan loved to care for others, it was the first time in his life he’d truly felt cared for, like all that affection he had was returned, and it only added to the bond with her. He’d never really thought he’d find a mate, and certainly not one he could fall for so completely.
Yet, as he set a pace, burying his thick cock into her tight body, he knew he’d found the only woman who would ever make him happy, and the family he’d always wanted.
Bryce huffed a laugh at the three of them. Not even two hours home and there they were, already lost in each other. He leaned his shoulder against the doorway to watch.
They were perfect. A give and take between all three, a bond visible to anyone. Each time Kaidan shifted forward, hands on her hips so she didn’t rock forward far enough to gag, Claire would swallow Joshua farther into her mouth.
Joshua lifted his head up and opened his eyes, catching sight of Bryce. He slid a finger across Claire’s cheek, who pulled off his cock.
She turned her to find Bryce standing on the outskirts as he often did. He’d always been the one who stood apart, the one who watched out for others but wasn’t a part of them. He’d made his place to protect his family but not expect to be part of it.
Her lips pulled into that sweet smile that could melt even him. “Don’t just stand there.”
“I’m okay here,” he offered, quick to suggest it before someone else did.
“Well, I’m not okay with it.” Her words broke into a throaty moan when Kaidan slid deep, the slap of his hips against her ass loud. She dug her nails into Joshua’s side, her eyes fluttering closed against the fullness.
As if he could resist a sight like that.
Bryce crossed the small bit of space to crouch beside her and grasped her hair in a tight grip. Ah, there was that pretty moan again.
“Go on, omega. I think you were doing something. I’d hate to distract you.” He pressed her forward, Joshua’s hand around his cock to guide it back to her lips. Joshua traced her lips first, a tease, before Bryce pushed her forward to engulf Joshua’s length in her eager mouth.
The moment between them, when they all worked together, moved together—it startled him at the closeness of it. He didn’t watch it from the sidelines, didn’t watch other people have what he wanted. He’d spent his entire life on the outside, observing life but never a part of it. Even with Kaidan and Joshua, he’d always stood apart.
Claire had washed that distance away.
He was finally included, finally had things of his own, a place to belong, an omega who humbled him with her strength and her humor. What had been the three of them had turned into a family. He couldn’t have imagined a better mate, a more perfect fit to what the four of them had built.
And he owed it all to the woman beside him, the woman he’d never get enough of, the woman he’d spend his life trying to earn.
Claire closed her eyes, giving over to the sensation, to the men, to what they wanted. She’d never allowed herself that before, never considered that endless trust. She’d spent her entire life running from it, avoiding it, terrified of it.
She’d wanted to survive, but living had passed her by. Her life had been lonely and dark, endless but barren.
Bryce yanked her hair, then pushed her farther onto Joshua’s demanding cock, the dominance and control in the touch causing her pussy to flutter in response.
That was why it worked, because each alpha brought something different. No one man could have made her fall, could have been everything she needed him to be to get beneath her defenses, to overcome her past.
Joshua reminded her of fun, of the simple things. She hadn’t laughed in so long, had had no reason to. He made her want to laugh, to smile, to try something new and never stop.
Kaidan was her safe spot, a soft place to land she knew would never move. No matter what happened, no matter what she did or how far she stretched, she knew he’d be there, at her back, to ease her back down.
And Bryce? The one she’d fought the hardest against? He challenged her, believed in her, kept them strong together. His grip in her hair was exactly like everything else, pushing her past what she thought she could do, making her reach for more, not letting her hide behind fear. His belief in her gave her the courage to try anything, especially since she knew he’d never leave.
Each one of the men taught her, helped her grow, gave her what she’d never realized she needed. Together, they’d given her a home and a family, and no matter what happened, she’d never let that go.
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Taming the Beast:
Mastering the Beast
Tina Donahue
Excerpt
Zoe stormed toward a treatment room, ready to rumble.
As the top enforcer at From Crud to Stud, the New Orleans’ makeover service for supernatural beings, she didn’t take lip or attitude from anyone. She’d made that fatal mistake in the past. First with hard-nosed villagers during the Salem witch trials, which had been way worse than the fluff shown on the History Channel. Then with Satan after he’d wooed her to Hell using his typical bait-and-switch scheme. What a creep he’d turned out to be.
Twice in her existence, she’d let guys determine her future. No more. She was her own woman now, uninterested in men. Her work here was all she needed, guided by her determination to do things the mortal way—suffer and endure, no supernatural powers allowed.
She pushed open the door and faced a sickly looking vamp who sported a pasty complexion and a man bun. Hardly a babe magnet. Only fierce dedication and hard work would turn him into Mr. Charm. “Yo. On the table. Now.” Before the staffers helped him to suppress his inner beast, she had to strap him down. An easy-peasy job for a reformed demon with hardcore ways.
He licked his fangs flirtatiously. Some might say hungrily. “Hey. I’m—”
“I’m not going to ask again.”
“Easy, cupcake. I’m just trying to make conversation. What’s your name?”
“Kim Kardashian.”
“Yeah?” He regarded her scrawny figure. “You changed. Like a lot.”
“It’s an illusion. Call it my work uniform. Once I’m on my own time, I blossom.”
“Cool.”
They circled each other, both ready to pounce.
Given his powers, he struck first and sank his teeth into her neck.
She tapped her foot but let him do his thing.
“Gah.” He gagged and recoiled. “Damn, you taste like hell.”
Surprise, surprise. “Time for you to learn some manners. Good thing you came to us.”
He eyed a female staffer strolling by and gave her a toothy grin.
Zoe got in his face. “Park your butt over there now.”
“When I’m good and ready, sweetheart.” He craned his neck to watch the staffer. “Run along.”
Zoe rammed her saddle shoe into his foot and her elbow into his gut, wrestled him to the table then strapped him in so he’d never get free. Not even if he morphed into a freaking bat. His frustrated hiss mingled with a reaper’s wail, zombie grunts and were howls.
Lovely sounds, ordinarily. However, tonight something was off, the evening heavy with tension that breathed danger. Similar to when another demon slunk nearby.
Warily, she approached the last two treatment rooms. Both were empty. The walls bore claw marks from former inhabitants.
Maybe she was overreacting due to the calendar date. Halloween approached, the dumbest and most inaccurate holiday ever.
Heather, a healer and the goo
d fairy receptionist there, had decorated her desk with plastic skulls. Fake cobwebs hung from the faux gas fixtures. Rubber spiders stuck to the coral walls and spelled out Boo! on the artificial brick floor.
Zoe resisted the urge to roll her eyes or say anything unkind, since Heather was her BFF.
Heather smiled adoringly at Daemon, a former satyr. He’d come to the service more than a year ago to ditch his horns, tail and hooves in order to look fully human so he could boogie with mortal babes. Not only did he work there now as an enforcer, he and Heather had shacked up, their love more enduring than Romeo and Juliet’s. They laughed easily and gazed at each other with tenderness and respect whenever they weren’t busy making out like sex-starved teens.
Loneliness tightened Zoe’s chest. She ached from unexpected longing but shook it off.
Romance wasn’t what she needed or could risk. She’d learned that brutal truth centuries ago when she’d had wanted one guy, just one, more than life itself. What a hot mess that had turned out to be, especially after she’d sold her soul to get his affection. Talk about false advertising. What she’d ended up with was a one-way ticket to Hell along with Satan’s negligent shrug and pissy explanation about what had happened.
“It all boils down to free will.” He’d grinned. “The guy doesn’t want you. What can I do?”
Satan made first-class louses look like Prince Charming.
However, he had taught her an important lesson. No way would she ever fall for another man and give him her heart, if she’d had one. These past years, she’d sworn off dating, companionship and especially sex even though celibacy was killing her. Especially tonight.
The only thing she couldn’t figure out was why.
“Zoe.” Becca, another BFF and the half-mortal witch who owned this place, motioned her to the other hall. “Can we have a word in my office?”
That same edgy feeling returned and grew stronger. She expected a demon to pounce from behind the feathery ferns or potted plants that adorned the reception area.
