by River Ramsey
“It’s not safe for you to be out here,” Bishop said firmly. “If I found you, other toms can.”
“He has a point,” Sterling conceded.
Ella frowned. “Whose side are you on now?”
“I don’t like him being here anymore than you do,” he assured her. “But it’s obvious your heat isn’t ending anytime soon.”
Ella’s blush grew hotter, along with the heat building between her thighs. “It has to eventually.”
“No, it doesn’t,” said Bishop. “It’s hardly possible for a single male to get a queen out of heat, let alone her first one. Why do you think so many take multiple mates?”
“Another decent point,” said Sterling. “The fact that yours has been suppressed for so long is no doubt intensifying the effects.”
“You’re saying you want him to stay?” she asked in disbelief.
“Not at all,” he answered. “But if it’s what you need to get through this, yes.”
Ella considered his words, realizing that if he was willing to put aside his considerable differences with Bishop, it was more serious than she’d thought. And she did still have feelings for him. Those hadn’t changed, even if they had become more complicated.
“We’re not humans, Ella,” Bishop said in a tone that reminded her of the kind, patient man he’d been when they met. Or at least, the man she’d thought he was. “Grudges and jealousy have to take a backseat to a queen’s wellbeing. Especially when it comes to the future Empress.”
“What are you saying?” Ella asked.
“I know the way you feel about me has changed,” Bishop said, coming to stand in front of her. Ella stayed where she was this time, admittedly drawn to him. “But the way I feel about you hasn’t. Please. Let us both take care of you, and when we get back to the Academy, if you still don’t want anything to do with me, I’ll accept it.”
There was too much sincerity and pain in his gaze for it to be a lie. She felt her heartstrings tug in a way they hadn’t where he was concerned in a long time. Maybe it was just because this was the first hint of the Bishop she knew that she’d seen since that night.
“Alright,” she said, her voice hoarse with desire she hoped she could just brush off as tiredness. “You can stay.”
The relief on Bishop’s face was unmistakable. He didn’t seem to know what to say, and for that matter, neither did Ella.
“If you’re staying, you might as well sit down,” Sterling said, tossing the cold eggs into the trash before he turned on the stove again.
Bishop reluctantly walked over to the table. Ella took the seat across from them, watching Sterling with an amused glimmer in her eyes.
“Were you making breakfast in bed?”
He cast a deadly smile over his shoulder. “There’s more to tending to a queen in heat than just the obvious.”
Her face grew warm once again and she took a sip of the orange juice on the table in front of her. When she looked up, Bishop was watching her closely.
Ella realized he was probably coming to terms with the fact that there was something more between them than practicality, and she could understand his shock. She’d been far more surprised when Sterling confessed his interest in her. She also knew it wasn’t something the rest of the shifter world was going to accept.
As ridiculous as it was, she couldn’t help but wonder if Sterling was right and there would be contention due to the fact that he wasn’t from a royal family. Then there was the fact that he was her teacher.
She pushed the troubling thoughts out of her mind. She wanted to enjoy this little slice of paradise for as long as it lasted. It wasn’t like those problems were going to go away.
It turned out Sterling was an excellent cook, as if he wasn’t already perfect enough. Breakfast was tense, but not quite as awkward as Ella had feared.
She stood to put her empty plate in the sink and both males were up before she could move an inch.
“Here,” Sterling said, reaching for the dish.
“Don’t be silly,” Bishop said in a dry tone, snatching the plate before he could. “You cooked.”
The look Sterling was giving him was far more suited to a man who’d just keyed his car rather than one who’d offered to do the dishes. Ella stared at them both in disbelief. She knew toms had a reputation for losing their heads with possessiveness and doting when it came to caring for a female in heat, but she’d imagined they would be exceptions. The fact that they weren’t was at once flattering and amusing.
“I guess I’ll take a shower then,” she said, stretching out her arms as she left the table. When she glanced back over her shoulder, they were both staring at her like cats watching a mouse behind glass. “When you’re done arguing over the dishes, you can join me.”
She turned around, smiling to herself as she walked into the bathroom. It was more like a spa with a huge tinted window overlooking the slopes, and a hot tub more than big enough for three. Ella decided maybe she was more in the mood for a bath, after all.
She leaned over the edge of the tub and turned on the water. The jets roared to life, sending steamy bubbles up to the surface. Sterling’s family certainly knew how to furnish a vacation house.
Ella unbuttoned Sterling’s borrowed shirt and let it pool at her feet before slipping into the water. She hissed air through her teeth, slowly sinking in as her body adjusted to the searing temperature. It actually felt good against the heat of her skin once she got used to it.
She wasn’t alone for long. The water came up to her chest, but that didn’t stop Bishop from standing in the doorway and watching her intently.
“Well?” she asked, leaning back against the wooden rim of the tub. “Are you coming in?”
He snorted, walking closer. He took off his shirt and Ella found herself transfixed on his abs flexing as he pulled it over his head.
She looked away, but not soon enough to avoid getting caught. Bishop gave her a knowing smirk and made a point of slowly undressing the rest of the way, pulling his zipper down to reveal the sizable bulge in his boxers.
Ella’s mouth watered in spite of herself, but she couldn’t look away. She’d seen him naked before, but she was beyond the shame that had made her so bashful then.
He pushed his jeans and boxers down, freeing his thick cock, and Ella’s breath hitched in her throat as he climbed into the tub with her. She realized they weren’t alone as Sterling walked into the room and paused when he saw them. He seemed hesitant about staying, so Ella called after him, “Come join us?”
He and Bishop exchanged an awkward glance. It was obvious that as understanding as both men were of the situation, they’d never actually shared a female in heat, but Sterling undressed and came to join them. Ella moved to his side, eager to put him at ease.
To be fair, she’d been just as uncertain a few moments ago, but now that they were together, the idea of having them both to play with was too tantalizing to waste energy on trepidation. He seemed surprised by her sudden aggression, but when she kissed him, he returned it immediately.
She moaned in satisfaction as his hands roved her curves. The self-consciousness had faded, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of the heat, or how worshipfully he’d tended to every inch of her body the night before. Probably a bit of both.
Ella was lost in Sterling’s kiss, having all but forgotten they weren’t alone when she felt something hard and firm against her back. She sank back against Bishop’s muscular chest as he cupped her breasts in his hands, fondling her gently.
The touch immediately spiked her arousal and she lost track of whose hands were where. She turned to face Bishop, still seated on Sterling’s lap. He kissed the back of her neck as Bishop’s tongue delved into her mouth. Their hesitation didn’t last long as they soon adapted to working in tandem.
Ella slipped her fingers into Bishop’s hair and gasped as Sterling lifted her up enough to position himself at her entrance. She moaned as he filled her once more, grinding against his lap as she
pulled Bishop in for a deeper kiss.
“Ella,” he breathed, his own fingers tangled in her hair. The steam filling the room made the whole thing feel even more like a dream.
Sterling’s hands traveled up the soft curves of her hips as he continued working her neck with his tongue enough to make her shiver. Bishop was pressed against her, his stiff cock rubbing up against her stomach. Ella reached between them, her fingers itching to touch him.
Bishop let out a low growl of need against her lips as she stroked him. His fingers bit into her shoulders, and she felt the same possessive need course between them as she’d felt with Sterling all along. The flavors of their lust were distinct yet equally pungent, and she couldn’t get enough of either.
When Sterling hit just the right spot inside of her, Ella’s body went rigid before her spine arched back and she gave a delirious moan. Bishop caught her with his arm around her waist, lowering his head to claim her nipple between his lips.
His stimulation of the erogenous zone just brought her closer to the edge, and when he stopped suddenly, she let out a helpless whimper.
There was a devilish look in his eyes as he stared down at her. “She’s close.”
“Mmh,” Sterling murmured in distracted agreement, still nuzzling her neck as he held her on his lap. Ella knew it had to take restraint not to thrust into her as he’d done the night before, but she found this position a nice change of pace, being in control of both their pleasure. He seemed to be perfectly content with the arrangement as well.
“You know, I’m pretty good at holding my breath,” Bishop said against her lips. Before Ella could ask what he was talking about, he took a deep breath and disappeared beneath the water.
She gasped as he reappeared between her legs, running his tongue along her clit. The combination of the intimate touch and Sterling’s cock buried fully within her was almost too much. She leaned back against the older tom, reaching back to dig her fingers into his hair as the other man took her sensitive flesh into his mouth.
Between the two of them, the pleasure was more than she could bear. Sterling was still teasing her nipples with light pinches and alternating caresses as he came, and she released a cry of ecstasy.
Bishop finally resurfaced, running a hand through his damp locks as he caught his breath. There was a triumphant smirk on his face as he watched her, but far more arousal. “Guess I didn’t have to hold it for long.”
Ella gave him a half-hearted glare, climbing off Sterling’s lap to let him recover. She pushed Bishop against the wall of the tub and kissed the smirk off his face. He moaned against her lips, his hand traveling around to rest on her backside. He squeezed the soft globes, pulling her up against him.
She was still panting from her last orgasm, but she wanted him.
No. Needed him.
And she wanted him to make good on every promise he’d made during that phone call.
Bishop put his hands on her hips, lifting her onto his cock. She ran her nails down his scalp, savoring the way it felt to have him easing inside of her. She’d imagined this moment so many times, but it was so much better in reality.
Bishop’s arms wrapped around her firmly as she rode him, as if she wasn’t already clinging to him tightly enough. His breath was ragged and raw against her lips, and the heat between them made the water feel cool in comparison.
A ravenous hunger overtook Ella, building up momentum rather than slowing down. The need within her was growing, and even as the irresistible males tending to her addressed one, another rose up to take its place.
“Fuck,” Bishop panted against her lips, looking down at Ella, taking her full breasts in his hands. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”
His words filled her with a heady sense of satisfaction, but she had better uses for his mouth at the moment. She usually would have blushed and brushed the compliment off, but all her shyness had fled her. There was only desire, and the empowering rush that filled her knowing both men were hers to touch and kiss and taste.
She reached for Sterling’s hand and pulled him close, longing to taste his lips as she rode the other male, already close to orgasm. He seemed to have lost all his reluctance to be so close to another tom during lovemaking, all his focus directed at her to the point of being blind to the other. Bishop was equally transfixed, and as they worshipped her body, Ella felt safer between them than she’d ever imagined possible.
She was trembling with need as Sterling started touching her between her legs, stroking her expertly as Bishop drew nearer to climax. Ella sank back against Sterling, her entire body tensing and unfurling as his fingers brought her to completion at the exact moment that Bishop’s seed filled her.
A desperate cry escaped her lips as the final wave of tension left her shaken and numb with pleasure. She collapsed in bliss, letting the warm water soothe her aching muscles as she settled between them. She was too overwhelmed by satisfaction to put it into words, but the flame still burned deep within her core. If it wasn’t for the fact that she could tell she’d worn both toms out, judging from the dreamy, deeply contented looks on their faces, she might have been tempted to see if they were up for round three.
Chapter 19
Ella
It had been a day and a half since they’d arrived at the cabin, and while Ella had gotten to know both Sterling and Bishop on a far more intimate level, her heat showed no sign of subsiding anytime soon.
The two males had been more than valiant in attending to her every need, but she could tell even they were growing concerned. Of course not even her heat could go according to plan.
She’d overheard Bishop and Sterling discuss the possibility of “calling in help,” whatever that meant, while they thought she was sleeping. The idea of them calling a doctor, which was the only thing they could mean, was even more humiliating than anything else.
And yet, she still felt like she was running a temperature of a hundred degrees at all times. She’d decided to take another cold shower that morning in hopes that it would help the flames beneath her skin, if nothing else.
While Ella had previously thought a heat was just about being sexually satisfied, there was nothing left wanting in the torrid encounters she’d shared with Sterling and Bishop. Maybe she was just broken.
The thought remained too troubling to dismiss until she heard what sounded like a knock at the door.
No. Not a knock. It sounded like someone was trying to tear the cabin down.
Ella turned off the water and wrapped herself in a thick bathrobe before venturing out to see what was going on. Maybe Bishop had locked himself out again. Both males had been more than occupied enough not to need to shift and go for a run, but he’d gone up to the store in town the night before for supplies.
When Ella came into the living room and found both Bishop and Sterling blocking the path of their visitor, she knew from their tense body language something was wrong even before she realized who it was.
“Axel,” she cried, staring at him in disbelief.
He’d been avoiding her for days leading up to the trip, so this was the last place she’d expected to see him. Before she could process it fully, his eyes locked on hers, green and wild.
She knew that look. He was about to tear into her, for what she couldn’t fathom, but it turned into something else entirely as he refocused on her, as if seeing her for the first time. She felt the shift in his energy, from furious to predatory, and realized he must have just caught her scent.
Her face grew warm and she took a step back. She wasn’t sure if he was picking up on her heat, or the fact that she’d mated with both Bishop and Sterling. Maybe both. Either way, he had no right to an opinion, so why was she the one feeling flustered?
No matter how much progress she’d made, there would always be part of her heart willing to betray her the moment Axel showed up. The harder she tried to cut it out, the stronger it became.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded. “How did you even find
us?”
“I told him,” Sterling said before Axel had the chance to answer.
Ella stared at him in shock. “You what? Why?”
“Because he started calling me nonstop trying to find out where you were,” Bishop said wryly. “Bryant thinks he can help.”
Ella’s head spun as she realized that was what they’d actually been discussing the night before. “Please don’t say what I think you’re going to say.”
“You’ve been holed up in a cabin with these slackers and you’re still in heat,” Axel said, his irritation replaced with smugness for the time being. “I could’ve saved you all the time and told you it would take a real man to do the job.”
Bishop shot him a death glare, but Sterling merely rolled his eyes. He was probably the one person whose skin Axel wasn’t capable of getting under.
“For some unfathomable reason, there’s obviously a connection between you,” said Sterling. “It would be remiss to rule out the possibility that it’s part of this.”
If Ella could have crawled under a rock, she would have. Then again, that was a waste of a perfectly good projectile to lob at Axel’s inflated head. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Then why did you give me a ring?” Axel countered, raising his hand as proof.
“To shut you up,” Ella quipped. “Throwing a shiny object at you is one of the only ways that’s a guarantee.”
Axel’s smug expression turned back to indignation and he set his jaw, clearly about to respond.
“Come along,” Sterling said, putting a hand on Bishop’s shoulder to give him a push toward the door. “It’s obvious these two have much to discuss.”
“I’m not leaving,” Bishop growled, planting his feet.
