She nodded, too stunned to speak. Her body burned to feel him but she knew he was right.
Thomas gathered her clothes and handed them to her. “Go. We’ll see you downstairs in the dining room.”
“Okay.”
“You’ll have your month, little mate. But then we finish this.” Grayson watched her walk toward the door.
Medina shut it behind her and scurried down the hall to the safety of her room, her body still reverberating from the power of their joining. She had her month and she hoped to the goddess it would be long enough. Her flesh burned and her pussy throbbed but still she ached to be with them again.
Please. Please let me get through the next moon and not hurt anyone.
She hurried inside and shut the door behind her, suddenly ravenous. She would be a part of this family for as long as they let her and hoped to the goddess the curse wouldn’t taint what little happiness she managed to find.
She went down to dinner not sure what to expect. Grayson and Thomas’s eyes followed her through every bite and damned if she didn’t feel like she was on display. How could she stay here and how could she leave? Her sisters. It was possible that they could find her, she’d tried not to leave any traces of where she was going, but they were tied together by more than mere blood. They shared history and a long one at that. They were immortal. They knew her. She may change lives but her personality didn’t change that much. She had bits and pieces of her old self enough to know the things she’d done before.
They helped her when she wrote her books, but also in a lot of ways kept her from living. She had a chance and she wanted to take it. These men wanted her to be their mate. But she wasn’t shifter. She changed sometimes with the moon, but it would be another month before she wouldn’t be able to hide behind her human face any longer. She would stay with them, she decided. For one month and then they would see.
The days moved quickly and soon a routine was established. Medina studiously avoided the men, trying to focus her energies on Gabby instead. Anything else would have pushed her too far into her head and that was the one place she didn’t want to go. The panic attacks had been left behind and she settled into a schedule of classroom style learning mixed with some outdoor fun so Gabby could still play and keep alert.
She grew closer to Gabby, her heart opening up to the child. Learning what made her happy, what scared her and made her angry. It all fused together and she fell a little more in love every day. In conversations she’d overheard, she understood Gabby’s mother had left her, effectively divorcing herself from the entire family, Gabby included. It made her heart sad, but she vowed to give the girl all that much more attention. Each day her love for the child grew until she couldn’t imagine not having her in her life.
Thomas and Grayson would leave her small gifts. A book here. A trinket of this or that. She would catch them watching her and in those moments her heart began to melt. She felt secure here. Loved. But was she safe from the darkness inside of her?
She found herself staring at the closed door to their bedroom, her hand reaching for the door knob, knowing in her heart that if she took that selfish chance, it could very well be the end of the fragile balance they had established.
One afternoon, they were working on the new pile of workbooks that had just arrived in the mail and Gabby happened to glance at the calendar. One more day until the full moon. Her snakes had been suspiciously quiet since she cut off all alone time with the men and she figured they were freezing her out. But how could she agree to be any more than what she was until she could be sure she wasn’t a danger to the very life she was brought here to nurture?
“You look at this here. And then you do this.” Medina counted the pictures of fruit on the page and pointed to how one would make a fraction. They sat at Gabby’s desk, her room a lavender swirl of unicorns and pink princesses.
“I don’t understand.” Gabby scrunched up her face, eyes intent on the math problem in the workbook on the table.
“It’s easy, you just kind of follow these steps and it’ll come to you. It just takes practice.”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I like it.”
Medina laughed. “It’s math. Some of it, well…I don’t see the reasoning. But it sure does help when you need to bake a cake or figure out how much money you have in the bank for new lipstick.”
Gabby grinned. “Okay.”
Grayson appeared in the doorway to Gabby’s room. “How are we doing today, girls?”
“Oh, fine.” Gabby wiggled her pencil in the air and played with the flower eraser on the end.
“What are you learning?”
“Well, we’re working on a little bit of math and then I thought we could walk down over by the cliffs so Gabby could show me some of the rock formations.”
Grayson had a hesitant look in his eyes. “Be careful. The winds are strong.”
“I can protect her. I have wings.” Gabby protested, sending Grayson a proud look.
“You do, don’t you?” Medina smiled, warmed by Gabby’s strength. She would be no shrinking violet in this house full of men. How she was going to love getting to know her, but then her heart twisted as she considered the full moon looming so close. What would the men think of a woman who could turn anyone around her to stone when she had a bad day? Her girls didn’t make for lasting relationships and she couldn’t ask them to put Gabby at risk. Not for her. They slid underneath Medina’s skin, edgy with the coming moon. She fought her attraction to both men daily, taking great pains to stay away until she could find a way to disappear without a trace. There was no other way. A flapping motion from Gabby drew her back into the conversation and she tried to bury her dark thoughts. “I do. They’re getting bigger every day too. Did you want to see them?” The child grinned up at her, eyes twinkling, with an infectious grin.
“Maybe later.” She peered over at Grayson. “And I’d love to see you use your wings, too.” She’d seen Grayson watching her in his gargoyle form atop the house when she was outside with Gabby earlier in the week and had been fascinated despite herself. How could it be when he was a man of flesh and blood?
“Do you have wings?
She folded her hands on the table, hoping for something to happen so she didn’t have to go into what exactly she did have. “No, honey, I don’t.”
“Okay, neither does Mrs. Talbot, but I still like her too.”
Medina laughed. “Well that’s good.”
“I’m glad you two are getting on.” Thomas lounged in the doorway observing them. “I think Mrs. Talbot has a special treat for you in the kitchen, sweetheart. Why don’t you go and see what she has for you?”
“She’s a great kid.”
Gabby stretched and hopped up from her chair. “Okay, Daddy. Medina, are you coming too?”
“No thank you, sweetheart. You go ahead and I’ll join you in a moment, okay?”
The little girl skipped away.
“I’m glad that you’re here.” Grayson’s tone rumbled heavy, deep like stones tumbling down a hill, it stroked a cord inside her.
They were so much like the men in her dream. If only they were, it would be perfect. But she wasn’t a fool. There was still tomorrow night to get through and even though she knew Grayson was a stone warrior, that didn’t mean that she couldn’t still hurt someone when her cursed form took over.
His gaze was probing and she felt like a creature under a microscope. Her cheeks heated and she had to fight the urge to throw herself into his arms. A man of stone. Two of them if she guessed right. She’d yet to see Thomas in his gargoyle form but if Gabby was his daughter, he would have to be, right? Could it be possible to find happiness here? So far she had. But tomorrow would be the test.
“You didn’t leave me much choice did you?”
“No and I’m not sorry. You belong here. With us. I know it in my heart.” He turned and left the doorway, but she still felt the pull of his body. She wanted it to be true, terrified that it was at the
same time. “Tomorrow night, Medina. We will have your answer.”
“I hope you’re right,” she turned toward the sea, letting the sound of the waves drown out the hissing of her girls. “Goddess, but I hope your right.”
****
“It’s hell waiting for her.” Grayson watched Thomas on the bed, his cock throbbing. He was already under the covers, but he could see the tent where his dick hid beneath the blankets.
He loved this room. It was all Thomas, with the dark woods and artful old furniture. Paintings dating back centuries hung from the walls and he looked on his lover with appreciation. “I love you.” He liked Thomas’s choice of colors. Fluid grays and muted browns, it was a masculine room, but not overwhelmingly so. The dark wood furniture and paintings that lined the walls spoke of the man he loved and each time he came in here, he saw a new facet of him.
“I love you too. And yes. It is.” Thomas rested against the headboard watching Grayson’s every move. “Why don’t you come to bed?” He patted the blankets and gave him a cocky smile.
Grayson couldn’t get the sight of him fucking Medina out of his head. He wanted to claim him and be claimed in the same way but they hadn’t had time. With his trip back to Carrick’s estate to make sure the paintings arrived safely and Thomas’s work on the new set of pieces, their private times together had been few and far between.
He wandered to the dresser and fingered a wooden hairbrush, ridges carved into the base and handle. “I still owe you a swat for bringing in our resident art thief without a security check.”
Thomas flushed, a spark of indiscernible emotion peeking from inside his eyes. “Mmmm. You do. That was a foolhardy thing. I admit it.”
Grayson picked up the hairbrush. “You can’t compromise your safety. Yours or Gabby’s. Not to mention anything about Carrick’s precious art.” He moved toward the bed and beckoned Thomas forward with his finger. His beast slid underneath his skin, eager to mark the flesh of his beloved.
Thomas raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching. “What are you going to do?”
“What I should have done that very night.” He held up the brush and gave a good swing through the air. “I’m going to paddle your sweet ass and make it pink.”
His mate slid from beneath the covers, his erect cock bobbing in front of him as he made his way toward Grayson. “Promises, promises.” Thomas’s voice was husky.
“Put your hands on the bed and give me that ass.”
Thomas braced himself against the bed, his eyes smoldering as he looked over his shoulder.
“Face forward and brace yourself, boy.” Grayson was hard. He gripped the brush in his hand and swung, the back of it smacking down hard against the muscular round globe of Thomas’s glorious backside.
Thwack!
“Omfph!”
“Yes. I want to hear every moan that comes out of your mouth.” He raised his hand again, bringing the brush down on the other cheek. Giving him no time to respond, Grayson dropped the brush and used his hand, smacking Thomas hard where the first blow landed. How he loved to use his hand when administering discipline. It had been so long. He and his wife had enjoyed the balance it gave their relationship. It remained to be seen how Thomas and Medina would embrace it.
“You have to remember to keep yourself safe.”
Smack!
“Anything else will not be tolerated.”
Pop!
His hand moved from one butt cheek to the next until a nice rosy glow began to appear and Thomas squirmed, a soft whimper slipping past his lips.
“Are you ready to say you’re sorry?”
Thomas nodded, his arms still holding up his body. His ass had a fine pink shine to it and as Grayson ran his hand along the tender flesh, he shivered under his touch.
“Good. Now open your legs.” Grayson pulled a packet of lube from his pocket, quickly divesting himself of his jeans and shirt. He wanted this man and now he meant to have him. He was his for the rest of their days and he couldn’t wait to begin exploring him inch by inch.
His cock sprang free and he ambled toward the bed, his toes sinking into the lush carpeting. He slid in behind Thomas and rubbed his cock over his ass, sliding it between Grayson’s well-muscled thighs.
“Gods, but I have to be inside you.”
Thomas sucked in a ragged breath and squeezed his legs together, the pressure almost sending Grayson over the edge.
He hissed and began to move, the friction of Thomas’s thighs a heady thing. Reaching around the front of Thomas’s body, he grasped his cock and wrapped his hand around it. “I’m going to fuck you and make you come all over my hand.”
“Do it,” Thomas groaned. “God, I’m going to go mad if you don’t fill me. Now.”
Grayson let go of his member and opened the packet of lube with shaking hands. He squirted some on his cock, spreading the liquid on the blunt tip of him, and then moved to drizzle some down the well-formed crack of Thomas’s ass.
Thomas gasped, arching his back, giving Grayson greater access to what he sought. He slid a finger down to his puckered hole and liberally applied more lubricant, inserting his finger to test him.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes. God, yes.” Thomas cried out. “Take me. Don’t be gentle. Fuck me.”
Grayson took his cock and guided it to Thomas’s back entrance, the tip of his head resting against his opening.
“I love you.” He pushed, opening him wide as his cock slowly entered, filling him. The muscles fought him, but as Grayson kept going, soon they sheathed him tight.
He rested for a moment and his need took over. Reaching around Thomas, he pressed a kiss to his back, taking the other man’s cock in his hand. Thomas instinctively arched toward him, a sound of appreciation sounding from his throat.
Thick and hard, Grayson groaned as he moved inside of him, the tightness of his back channel making him dangerously close to coming for the second time in so many minutes.
“Hold on.” His voice was gruff, his beast close to the surface. He wanted to take him to the highest point on the roof and shout his satisfaction to everyone for miles. He’d found his mate. No. Not just one, but two.
Joy filled his heart as he moved within Thomas, matching the strokes of his hand with the thrust of his hips. Over and over he fucked him, until Thomas cried out, his seed splashing over the bedspread and Grayson’s hand.
The sound of his lover’s pleasure drove him over the edge and waves of ecstasy rolled through him. He shuddered against Thomas as his balls tightened and the hot rush of his release shot inside of his mate. He snarled, leaning forward and burying his teeth in Thomas’s shoulder, the taste of his blood mingling with the earthy scent of his flesh.
He pulled away and reached for some cloths and cleaned them both, setting everything to rights. Climbing into bed, he gathered Thomas into his embrace.
Thomas smiled, his eyes heavy, wincing only a little when he shifted on his sore bottom. “That was…”
“I know. Now sleep. Tomorrow will be a full day.” Grayson’s body thrummed, but his mind was active. Something stirred in the night and he had to remain vigilant.
“She’ll stay with us.” Thomas’s voice was sleepy and he turned his face into Grayson’s neck, letting his arm splay over Grayson’s chest as he fell asleep.
Chapter Six
The noise woke her. Normally the sound of the waves would lull her to sleep but that wasn’t it. The dream was the same. Two men with glowing eyes, both made of stone beckoned her forward. The future was murky but she stepped into the arms of the men, her panic subsided and the nightmares ended.
It was a scratching sound, almost like an animal trying to get inside of the house. Then a scream and glass breaking. She peered outside her window hoping to see Grayson on security detail but the roof was clear. The phone on her nightstand buzzed again and she glanced at Stef’s face and the text that flashed across the screen.
I know you’re mad but something is coming for you
. Please be careful. We’re on our way.
How the spit did she do that? A month away from her and still she managed to figure out where she was and that she was in danger? Please. If it had testicles, she could freeze it at twenty paces.
Unless it was a gargoyle, like Grayson. God, she was tired of this crap. She just wanted to build a life, damn it all. Mates. A child of her own. And here they were interfering.
Crap.
But what if Stef was right?
With a growl, Medina grabbed the phone and starting stabbing out words with her fingers.
No! She typed. You’ve done enough.
Tossing the phone back onto the nightstand, she gave a deep sigh and stretched.
She sat up, quickly throwing on a robe over her nightgown and eased out into the hallway. The pull of the moon made her restless, but the whispers inside of her spoke of something else.
Could she be onto something?
The pregnant silence made her pause. Nothing looked out of place so far. She cocked her head, searching for something, anything that shouldn’t be. Nothing.
No. She wasn’t going to fall for that crap. But she could walk the house just to make sure. Grayson was probably on the other side of the roof or something. With all the security he and Thomas had heaped on the place, it was a veritable fort.
At least she thought it was.
Gabby’s door was closed, so she eased down the hallway. A muffled cry caught her attention and she went into quick stealth mode, running down the hallway in her bare feet.
Broken glass littered the hallway and a trail of blood led her to the one room she hadn’t allowed herself to enter while she had been here. She didn’t trust herself not to hear the call of her muse and somehow lead her sisters to Thomas and Grayson’s door. Quiet sobbing raised the hair on her neck and then she saw him. Laid out on the floor was Grayson, his eyes closed, a wound on his forehead. He was in gargoyle form, his wings draped over Thomas, who had also shifted and was trying to stand.
“Get away from my daughter,” he growled, eyes glowing luminous green in the half light. He was fierce to look at and Medina went weak in the knees. He was a gargoyle. Muscled and powerful, he was a sight to behold. He lunged at the beast, his talons raking a deep wound down his chest. The creature swung, his closed fist connecting with Thomas’s face, sending him to the floor. He lay there, stunned and climbed to his feet, blood pouring from his stone face.
Westmore Wolves Series: Shapesifter Collection Bks 1-5 Page 12
