by JL Madore
With him flat on the mattress, I push inside him again and reach under his pelvis to grip his cock. “Let me fuck you now, Bear. Let the mating bond lock.”
The fight he was about to mount dissolves and the tension in his muscles relax. With the mating bond in mind, I focus on how good it feels to connect with Brant. He’s more than a fun ride, he’s smart and brave and devoted to Calli and our quint.
The tremendous yearning I feel at the closeness of him overwhelms. I drop my mouth to his shoulder and bite his flesh. His bear grumbles and at the next press of my hips energy explodes between us.
I groan, still biting, still filling him and receding in long, languid strokes. Our mating bond takes hold and courses between us, swirling from my system to his and back again. As before, with Jaxx and Calli, the connection links us.
We two are now one. We are together, complete.
The fire of Calli’s phoenix licks over my skin and I feel her with us. Jaxx is here too. My mates.
Brant’s feeling it too. He groans, but not from pain.
He thrusts his hips into my palm, grinding and humping the mattress. My need to claim him increases and burns inside me. It’s torture. Succulent. Erotic torture.
“Mine,” I pant, my hips faltering with the building of my release. “Say it. You’re mine.”
Brant throws his head back and grunts. “Fuuuck.”
He’s thrusting into the sheets, his ass clenching and squeezing me beyond my control. “I’m yours. I’m so, fucking yours. I’ve never been this turned on.”
My release erupts in a fiery blast and I collapse on his back, marking him inside and out, with my bite, my hand, my mating mark. When I have the strength to roll off him, I flop onto the bed beside him and try to get reacquainted with breathing. The loss of heat makes me shiver and I lay flat on my back to cool off.
It is no wonder Calli passed out in the early days. What we are—the five of us together—is wild and overwhelming.
Brant groans beside me, lying flat out. “I may have just suffered a coronary.”
“Well, I’m no help to you. I can’t move a muscle.”
“Then I’ll have to die a happy man.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hawk
A squeeze of my arm wakes me from a deep sleep. I blink and look into Brant’s eyes. He presses a finger against his lips and I nod in understanding. With the key to the handcuffs I had him lock me in when we went to bed, he frees my hands. What’s got him so tense? When I’m free, he points up at the monitor in the corner.
The motion sensor in my office is triggered and showing me an empty room.
“Who was in there?”
Brant looks like he has something to say, but holds off.
“It’s okay. I made this room soundproof for obvious reasons. What did you see?”
“There was a tall guy, blond hair, pointy nose. He was at your desk with the ebony-haired woman I’m assuming is your assistant Jayne. They were fussing with each other. It seemed to me she was pissed.”
“Pissed about our little video maybe?”
“Maybe.”
I hop off the bed and grab the towel from the table. Barefooting it out to my office, I wrap the scrap of terry around my hips. The lights are still off and if Brant hadn’t told me they were just here, I never would have known. “Everything looks undisturbed. What exactly did they touch?”
“The guy was at your computer. The female stood on the opposite side of the desk with her arms crossed. Whatever they were arguing about, it wasn’t a friendly disagreement.”
“Maybe our video caused a stir in the rank of traitors.”
“Do you think you know who the guy was?”
“Blond guy with a straight nose and arguing with Jayne? Yeah. That’s Hunter.”
“Your Director of Operations.”
“Yep.”
“Do you think they’re in on it together?”
“I don’t know but it’s a little damning that they were snooping in my office at four o’clock in the morning on the day I retake control of my life. What did they touch exactly?”
Brant opens his mouth to tell me and the door to my office opens again.
Jayne stops dead in her tracks and her expression drops. “Oh… you’re here.”
“My office. The building still has my name on it… or has that been changed too? You and Hunter have been busy little beavers.”
Her expression falls. “It’s not what you think.”
I drop the towel and stride back to my dungeon to grab my pants. “It’s not what I wanted to believe but the evidence speaks for itself. We caught you here. The monitor activated the moment you and Hunter came snooping.”
“Then if you were watching on the monitor, you know I wasn’t helping him. He’s twisting things to make it look like you’re a traitor to the fae and his fucking around shines me in the light of the most likely suspect. You know me better.”
“I thought I did.” I button my slacks and sling on my shirt. “I didn’t want to believe it but yeah, ‘most likely suspect’ is what I came up with too.”
The fury and betrayal in her eyes stab me right in the gut. “After our years taking over the world together. Do you honestly think I’d do this?”
“You were pissed about Calli and the quint,” Brant says. “Nothing more dangerous than a woman scorned.”
She rolls her eyes. “Listen, moose. You look good naked and are probably still a little light-headed from a night with Barron in the dungeon, but let me lay something out for you. I love this company and whether or not he and I are fucking, I know he’s the best person to keep FCO on track. We see the fae world in the same light—that's why we work well together. You and your lunatic female can have his cock—there are plenty more—but this company means more to me than a lifetime of orgasms.”
“That’s nice to hear.” I finish buttoning my shirt and smile. “But if you call Calli a lunatic again, I snap your fucking neck. Other than that, I think you made your point.”
She rolls her eyes and flicks her manicured fingers at me. “We’ll agree to disagree on the mental state of your mate.”
Brant advances, his frame growing more intimidating as his muscles grow rigid. “And we agree that your neck is a twig if you mouth off about her ever again.”
Jayne has the good sense to look afraid. “Agreed. I shall speak nothing but saccharine-sweet praise when it comes to our phoenix. Surely the universe sees something in her I don’t.”
I finish tucking in my shirt and latch my belt. “Tell me what the hell has been going on here.”
“I can’t,” Jayne says. “Not because I don’t want to. I can’t…” her words cut off and she growls.
I feel the tingle of magic in the air. She grimaces and takes a step back. “I am sorry, Hawk. I’ve tried to catch your attention but my hands are tied.”
“How is Victor?”
Jayne flashes me a look of utter relief. “Surrounded by powerful people.”
“Send him my regards.”
“Thank you.”
She turns to leave and my mind is whirling through information. “Jayne?”
“Yes?”
“How much time do we have until the Eddison deal is finalized?”
The side of her mouth turns up in a crooked smile. “It won’t be long now. Days… a week or two at most.”
“Alright. I’ll take it from here.”
She nods. “Understood.”
When it’s just Brant and me in the office once more, he turns to me. “What the hell was that about? What’s the Eddison deal?”
I round my desk and wake up my computer. “The Eddison deal was something I was considering when I first took Jayne under my wing and promoted her as my assistant. I was so sure it was a money-making winner, I missed a few financial cues that the company was dealing in illegal fae magic. Jayne was a young startup, looking to impress me and dug her heels in. Her father, Victor, is an empath and it made him a king in business. Ja
yne shares his gift and instincts.”
“And she saved you from making a big mistake?”
“She saved FCO from total destruction. The Eddison deal would’ve brought down the whole house of cards.”
“So when you asked how long we have until the Eddison deal is finalized…”
“Yeah, we haven’t got long before the world around us crashes to the ground.”
Calli
Lukas is waiting at the kitchen table for us first thing in the morning. And, for once, Jaxx and I are showered and dressed and ready for guests. That’s a win. Yay team. Kotah flipped into his wolf and has gone for a morning run.
“Good morning,” I say, as Jaxx and I head straight for the coffee machine. It’s hot and ready. Another win. We’re killing it this morning. “Do I have you to thank as our brewmaster this morning?”
“I just pushed the button. I thought the smell might lure you down.”
Jaxx pulls out the egg carton and milk and starts puttering at the stove. “Omelet?”
Lukas waves that off. “I’m good. Your mother fed me and I’m stuffed.”
I pour two steaming cups and take them to the counter where Jaxx has the milk. “Well, thank you for the java lure. I’m grateful to not have to wait.”
Jaxx pulls out a wedge of ham and a block of cheese. “So if not my cookin’, what brings you by so early?”
Lukas points to the laptop Hawk gave me on the table. “Check your inbox, Calli. I sent you a video you should see. It seems Barron and Brant were busy last night.”
I snort and look at Jaxx. We know just how busy he and Brant were last night but… a video? That doesn’t seem like their style. And why would Lukas have it?
I set down my cup of java and sign in. And yep. there is indeed a video in my inbox from CFO head office. As the file loads, Jaxx pulls up a chair beside me and sips at his mug.
The image opens with Hawk looking very corporate, sitting in a leather chair with a fancy lamp beside him.
“Good evening everyone,
My name is Hawk Barron. Many of you know me as one of the chosen Guardians of the Phoenix. What you might not know is that I am also the Owner/Operator of the Fae Concealment Office, and am the civilian representative of Fae and Monster Rights for the Fae Council.
It has come to my attention over the past weeks that a villainous faction is working behind the scenes in my company, the Fae Palace, and the Fae Council to undermine the opening of the Portal Gate.
When I say villainous, I want you to understand, it is not hyperbole. My mates and I have had our helicopter sabotaged, our vehicle run off the road, and have been set upon by militia armed with automatic weapons and rocket launchers. Some of you will remember the attack at the Bastion last month. All four of my mates were in that cabin when it exploded.
Even before we were aware of this plot and working to track down those responsible, the poison was spreading. Empowered teenagers were kidnapped and held hostage, human women and illegal guns were sold... the list is as extensive as it is deplorable.
It has been made to look like I am behind it, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The group hiding in the shadows call their leader the Black Knight. Well, I’m here to tell them that there are no more shadows. I’m shining a light on you.
The Phoenix rose for a reason. The Portal Gate will be opened. And the Black Knight and his or her followers will be crushed.
This morning, Nakotah Northwood, your Fae Prime in Waiting survived an assassination attempt. I’m pleased to say he’s standing strong and fighting mad as are we all. Until this plot is stopped, I’m invoking a halt on all calls-to-action, pending changes, and motions put before the Fae Prime’s office, the Fae Council, and the FCO. Consider our governing bodies on a time-out until the weeds are pulled.
So, Black Knight, it’s on. There will be no closures of fae reservations, no transfers of deeds, no fucking with our lives. If you want to come at me, grow some fucking balls and come at me head-on. The fact you chose a game of chess proves what a pathetic bunch of pussies you are.
To you, the bystanders of all this. If you witness activity unbecoming our community or have seen or heard something that threatens our people, call the FCO head office. Ask the switchboard for the Guardians of the Fae Realms line and someone from my team will hear your concerns.
I am truly sorry for anyone who has been negatively impacted by these cowards. Your representatives will do everything in our power to make it right.
Thank you, and good night.”
I blink and look up at Lukas. “So, that happened.”
Lukas chuckles. “It was a bold move to throw it into the public eye. But that’s our Barron. If you stab him you better make damn sure he’s dead or else he’ll get up and make you wish you were.”
I nod. “Into the city, I take it?”
“Yep. Finish your omelets. I’ll be back in twenty to take the three of you in.”
CHAPTER NINE
Calli
Lukas calls the helicopter back to Montclair and takes me, Jaxx, and Kotah to Manhattan to join our mates. Kotah’s back in wolf form and I’m not sure why. Jaxx and I had a wonderful session with him in the kitchen and then moved upstairs to the bed to slow things down for some sensual loving. Everything was good until we felt the twang of Brant and Hawk’s mating bond activate.
Then Kotah withdrew.
I believe his wolf taking over yesterday was to protect him from physical danger. I’m not sure what it’s about today.
When we get close, Lukas slows and pulls into the curb lane. “Do you want to be dropped at the road and go in through the main entrance or parking garage and up?”
Jaxx looks at me and then shrugs. “Let’s keep a low profile until we talk to Hawk about what they found last night. No sense tipping our hand to the conspirators that the Phoenix Quint is descending if they haven’t already clued in.”
Lukas hits the indicator and drives us in the side of the building and down a concrete ramp.
“Have you spoken to him this morning?” I ask.
Lukas navigates the underground parking and takes one of three spots right next to the elevator. “Several times. He and Brant spoke with Jayne. He officially removed her from the list of traitors. He believes she’s being coerced into compliance but has been trying to warn him for weeks, he simply was too preoccupied to notice.”
“I hate that bitch.”
Jaxx chuckles. “Easy, kitten. Your first encounter stands as one of our most memorable moments, but perhaps you both got off on the wrong foot. Hawk’s a keen judge of character. If he knows what he knows and still values her, there has to be a reason.” He catches something in my expression and shakes his head. “And that reason has nothin’ to do with residual affection for her. He loves us now.”
Kotah’s wolf chuffs beside me and he lifts his lips, exposing his canines.
Yep. it’s going to be another cranky wolf day.
Lukas waits until we’re all out of the truck and then locks up. The beep of the alarm echoes against the hard surfaces of the parking garage. It’s close to nine and most of the spots are filled for the day.
He pockets his keys, steps into the elevator kiosk, and bypasses the steel doors of the public elevators. Opening a door to the right, he stops before a smaller, black metal door.
“This is the executive elevator,” he says, pressing his palm on a scanner. When the device reads his palm, it flashes his name and allows us entrance.
“Fancy,” Jaxx says. “It’s fun sleepin’ with the boss.”
The elevator car thumps and bumps as it settles into place and when the doors open, we’re on our way.
Checking his phone, Lukas punches two floors. “Jaxx, he asks that you go to Legal on eighteen. Brant’s there working with Penny from Property Rights and a junior clerk tracking down anything the Black Knight might have fucked with. Calli and Kotah, I’m to escort you two up to his office on thirty and warn you that Jayne is there and he’s s
orry she upsets you but he needs her at the moment and would appreciate you not burning down his building.”
“I hate that bitch.”
Jaxx chuckles. “You may have mentioned that once or twice.”
When the elevator doors open, Jaxx kisses my temple and steps onto the floor. Kotah trots off at his heel.
“Aren’t you supposed to come with me, Wolf?”
Kotah exposes his canines and growls.
I flash him my palms. “Or not. Okay, we’ll regroup later. Love you boys, good luck.”
The door closes and we continue to rise. What the hell is going on with Kotah? “Hey, Lukas?”
Hawk’s right-hand man finishes with his phone and slides it in his pocket. “Yes? Something you need?”
“Nope.” I step forward and hug him. He stiffens like a plank of hardwood and I smile. He’s about as comfortable with random physical affection as Hawk was in the beginning. I put him out of his misery quickly and step back. “Thank you. I want to say you’re appreciated. Your dedication and skill don’t go unnoticed. We think you rock.”
He stretches his neck and swipes his tongue across his lips. “You’re welcome. I… think you are all worth the effort.”
The elevator doors open. He’s still discombobulated and I chuckle. No wonder he and Hawk get along so well. Neither of them is into touchy-feely. With a firm hand on my lower back, Lukas guides me through the upper floor of the Fae Concealment Office headquarters.
We pass the open door of the office beside Hawk’s and I catch a glance of Jayne. She’s sitting with her ankles crossed at her glass desk, looking sleek and powerful in her designer dress and her Louboutins. Bitch.
I admit, not all of my hatred and distrust of her comes from a place of reason. There is a part of me that recognizes that she is everything I’ll never be: sophisticated, a corporate mogul, and the logical match for a man like Hawk Barron.
Our gazes meet as we pass and I flip her the bird.
