Tempted: A Cowboy Shifter Romance (Two Marks Book 2)

by Renee Rose

  I’d taken biology when I was a student. I didn’t remember much of it, but I was damn sure it wasn’t nearly as interesting as Caitlyn’s class.

  She launched into an extremely coherent lecture on genetics, with slides and entertaining tidbits to help students remember important facts that would be on the quiz she was giving Friday. Caitlyn was truly in her element—comfortable at the lectern, enthusiastic yet authoritative with her material. I got a hard-on just listening to her. She was in charge here and that was arousing, especially when we’d turn her into the submissive once we got her back between us.

  The best part, though, was when she peppered her lecture with stories of her own research interest—wolves.

  Landry leaned forward in his chair.

  “Recovery of the grey wolf—who can tell me the Latin name?”

  “Canis Lupus!” someone shouted out.

  “—Canis Lupus, very good Mr. Ingram—in North America has depended on several factors. One, minimizing human-caused mortality. Two, assisting wolves in migrating to suitable habitat presently unoccupied by wolves. What has artificially transplanting wolves to new areas done to the genetic variation of the wolves, though? This is why we’re examining the genetic variation of naturally colonized wolves versus transplanted wolves, to determine the effects on reintroduction projects.”

  Caitlyn went back to her material, then wrapped things up by asking for questions.

  “Anything unclear? You understand what you need to study for the quiz?” She scanned the lecture hall, then froze. “Oh.” She caught sight of us. She was speaking into a headset so she could be heard easily in the large lecture hall, so her little expression of surprise was picked up by everyone.

  Landry lifted his hand in a small wave.

  I just grinned.

  “Um…” She stared for a moment as her cheeks went pink. “Ah, that’s it for today, everyone. Quiz Friday, ten percent of your grade.”

  The students collected their things and began to leave.

  She removed her headset and jogged up the terraced aisle to reach us, weaving around departing students. If I’d had any doubt about how happy she’d be to see us, it was erased.

  “Auditing my class?” Her smile was so brilliant, it hurt my chest. And it was aimed at us.

  “Yep.” Landry settled a hand on her hip, as if to show every horny college boy in the lecture hall that she belonged to him—to us. The thing about scent-matches was that we didn’t get jealous of each other. It was why I hadn’t wanted to claim her on my own that night I met her at the bar. It hadn’t felt complete without Landry. We were programmed to mate in pairs—some quirk of evolution to preserve the survival of our time during more difficult times, I supposed.

  Maybe Caitlyn could figure it out.

  That thought landed in my head and took hold.

  Yes. That was exactly what we needed to do. Redirect Caitlyn’s passion for wolf science to the study of shifter genes. The Two Marks pack’s very particular genes. Only Cord McCaffrey, the shifter doctor, had done any study on why we were different, but she was an expert, had a doctorate on the subject.

  Maybe it would be as fulfilling to her as the research she’d have to abandon. It would ease the blow of giving up on the research that meant so much to her.

  Because that’s what we needed her to do—abandon her research. Stop tagging wolves, studying the data. Sharing it with the world.

  Let sleeping wolves lie.

  We didn’t want real numbers of any kind of wolf—canis lupus or our variety—getting out into the world. We couldn’t let that happen.

  “We wanted to know more about what you do here,” Landry said as the last of the students left.

  “And we missed you,” I added, reaching up to stroke my knuckles down her cheek. I couldn’t help myself. And neither could my wolf.

  Caitlyn’s nipples protruded with arousal, visible even through her bra and blouse.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.” Her laugh was breathy. Sexy. “How did you even find me?”

  “I’m pretty good with a computer,” I admitted. I didn’t need to tell her I hacked into the college’s records last week when I was researching her to get her schedule. “You were great up there. I wish I’d had professors like you when I went here.”

  “Yeah, but how would you concentrate on the subject material?” Landry’s hand started roaming up and down Caitlyn’s side now that we were alone.

  Caitlyn’s smile was knowing, like she already understood she had us both wrapped around her little finger. My wolf loved that.

  “So how much do you teach? I thought you were a researcher?” Landry asked, glancing around the empty room.

  “Usually just one class per semester. I am primarily a researcher, with funding for my job provided by a grant, like I said. But the teaching is supplemental income, which is what I need right now. Do you guys want to see what I’m doing with the trackers you helped me place?”

  “Sure,” I answered. More like, definitely. We needed to know exactly what her research looked like, in case—and I hated thinking this—we needed to thwart it.

  Landry and I had led her on a wild goose chase on Sunday after we agreed we shouldn’t allow her to put any more trackers in wolves on our land. Instead of leading her directly to a group of wolves, we’d gone for a hike in the woods. The only animals around had been small forest creatures.

  It had felt dastardly, but until we’d won our mate over and explained what we were, we couldn’t risk any more exposure for the pack. Once she knew, hopefully she’d understand our position. Hopefully, she’d back off.

  But considering how enthusiastic she’d appeared talking about her research to her class, these were very tricky waters.

  Which meant we were still in fucking trouble. We hadn’t heard from Gib since the weekend—I was going to thank their mate for keeping him well occupied—so Landry hadn’t had to tell him the truth. We’d been given a reprieve to handle this issue our way.

  Caitlyn led us up another flight of stairs to her office, a very small space in the corner of a laboratory. There were a few students in the lab doing their own thing, and they gave us curious stares as we came in, but Caitlyn didn’t introduce us.

  “This is my office. The quarters are a bit tight, especially with you two in here.” She laughed, her gaze sweeping across Landry’s broad shoulders to mine.

  My thoughts immediately turned dirty, and apparently, so did hers, because the scent of her arousal made Landry growl. He cleared his throat when Caitlyn startled at the sound. “Allergies,” he said gruffly.

  Her eyes flared, and pink tinged her cheeks.

  Yeah, she was thinking dirty things. Like the fact that she’d called us when she returned to her apartment on Sunday, and we’d talked her through removing the butt plug then touching herself to completion. Phone sex wasn’t anything like the real thing, but fuck… I’d get her to come any which way. That was my—our—fucking job now. Literally.

  Our. Fucking. Job.

  Caitlyn started up her computer, leaning over her desk. It reminded me of the position we’d put her in to spank her by the property-dividing fence. The urge to repeat that delectable activity made my cock go rock hard.

  “This is my GPS tracking system on all the wolves we’ve tagged in Wyoming.” She opened a screen that showed over a dozen dots moving on a map. She located the two in West Springs, and pointed. “You see? That’s White Paw and Comet.”

  “What now?” Landry asked.

  “The two wolves you helped me tag last weekend.”

  “It’s so cute that you name them.” I was unable to resist a smile.

  She lifted her chin. “Of course I name them! They’re part of my life now. Your help in getting these two was huge. We’ve been wanting to get samples from wolves in your area for a long time, but it’s been difficult. Now, I’ll be able to study not only the genetic makeup of wolves that haven’t been transplanted, but how far their territory extends, a
nd whether they mate with wolves of other packs and species.”

  “And your paper?” Landry asked. “You translate this data into findings.”

  She nodded. “It’s on my computer as well. I’ve written the outline and have been adding data as it comes in, but I will have to finalize it soon. Publishing is the only way to get ahead in my field.”

  “Publish or perish?” I asked, remembering the saying.

  “Definitely publish.”

  Landry and I turned at the voice. And found a short, balding man staring at Caitlyn’s ass.

  Only when she turned to face him did he look away. When he realized we’d caught him, he didn’t look the least bit contrite. In fact, the corner of his mouth tipped up as if it was Caitlyn’s fault she was too hot for him to ignore.

  Landry growled, and that got the guy’s attention.

  “Dr. Andrews,” Caitlyn said.

  This guy was her boss? He wore jeans and a T-shirt that had some ridiculous math joke on it, as well as a coffee stain. The sneakers on his feet were broken in but, based on his gut, it wasn’t from running.

  “The data from the wolves you tagged last weekend is remarkable.”

  “These are the men who helped me find them.”

  Landry’s back practically snapped with the tension in it. The results of what he’d agreed to do, the compromise, was this. Satisfying a man who enjoyed staring at our mate’s ass.

  Andrews had to tip his chin back to look us in the eye.

  “You all eat your vegetables in West Springs,” he said, making us sound like bumbling hicks instead of the half-shifter guys who could crush him with the squeeze of a hand around his tiny neck.

  Caitlyn must have picked up on the fact that her boss was close to being squashed like a bug because she cleared her throat. “I’ll be returning this weekend, with the rest of the trackers.”

  That was to appease Andrews, not us.

  We just wanted her returning… without the fucking trackers.

  He smiled. “Good, good. The more wolves in the study, the better.”

  I didn’t like the sound of it. In fact, neither did my wolf, who snapped and snarled.

  “Why’s that?” Landry asked, pretending to be an idiot.

  The guy shifted his patronizing gaze to him. “Science is based on factual data. If Caity doesn’t have enough wolves in her study, the findings will be thin. Her observations could be easily shot down.”

  “Shot down,” Landry repeated.

  “Caity?” I asked at the same time, our tones much colder than moments ago.

  He glanced back and forth between us. “Dr. Shriver,” he corrected. “As for shot down, it’s just a figure of speech. One or two wolves doesn’t set a pattern or precedent for her research.”

  “I have sixteen,” she said. “Fourteen, after…” She cleared her throat, not saying anything about the two wolves who’d been shot down.

  I wasn’t the alpha here, but this fucker had to go.

  I stepped toward him, and Andrews backed up. I took another step, putting myself between him and Caitlyn. He couldn’t even see her now, but tried, by leaning around me.

  “Yes, well. I’m sure your friends, Dr. Shriver, will be leaving soon so you can return to your work.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Actually, I’m staying. I’ll be here the rest of the week, and escorting Dr. Shriver to West Springs.”

  “You are?” Caitlyn asked and I turned to face her, all but snubbing the weasley boss.

  Her face lit up with happiness, and my wolf preened.

  I only knew Andrews left because the office door shut behind him. While his scent lingered, it wasn’t strong now. Thank fuck.

  I stroked my fingers down her cheek. “I’ve been hard for you all week,” I admitted.

  Her gaze dropped to the front of my jeans, and she couldn’t miss the truth of my words.

  “Me, too.” Landry moved to stand beside me.

  “You’re both staying?”

  Landry shook his head. “I have to head back. Wade will take care of you.”

  She glanced at his dick, which I guessed was as hard as mine. We were alone with our mate.

  A little frown formed in her brow. “How… how does this work? I mean, with two guys and only Wade staying. Before, you didn’t—”

  “We won’t always take you together. Sometimes, like the next few days, it’ll be you and me.”

  “Friday night, I’ll be waiting,” Landry said, full of promise.

  My nostrils flared when I scented her arousal.

  “You’re not j-jealous of each other?”

  I ran my thumb over her lower lip. “Of each other? No. But we don’t share with anyone else.”

  She licked her lips as she took in this part of being in a triad. She had two men to please, sometimes apart, sometimes together. But we’d always satisfy her.

  Caitlyn turned to face Landry, and she boldly cupped him through his jeans. “You can make it until Friday?” she asked, her voice a sultry purr that made my dick jump and my wolf lick his lips.

  Landry growled, tangled his fingers in her hair. “You want to get on your knees for me, sugar?”

  She looked up at him through her lashes, and nodded.

  As Landry undid his belt and Caitlyn sank to the floor in front of him, I leaned against the closed door and watched. To keep from coming in my pants at the sight of our mate sucking so well, I thought of Andrews. I didn’t like him, and not just because he was paying attention to Caitlyn in more than just a professional manner. I was going to spend some time looking into him, because I was going to protect our mate from everything. Including her boss.

  12

  CAITLYN

  Wade pulled off the highway onto the road that led to West Springs. Out here in the dark, it was hard to see more than a few feet in front of the car, but thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about it.

  “Text Landry and tell him we’re almost there.” Wade was behind the wheel of my car because… alpha male. Honestly, I didn’t mind. He wasn’t controlling about it, he just offered to drive to West Springs, and when I asked if it was because he needed to be in the driver’s seat, he flashed that devastating grin and said he liked to take care of me.

  Swoon.

  Having him at my place for the past few days had been… amazing. Intense. But also easy. I’d felt comfortable with Wade even as turned on as he made me. Or maybe it was just all the orgasms that had me so relaxed. Each morning, I’d gone off to the university, and he’d worked from his laptop at my small kitchen table. At night, in bed, he’d taken me so many different ways. While I’d loved every second of being with Wade, I had missed Landry. Wished he was in bed with us too.

  This was the most interesting my love life had ever been, and as out-of-the-box and confusing as it was, I wouldn’t change a thing. It felt… right.

  Now, late Friday night, as we bounced down the dirt road toward Wade’s cabin to stay the weekend, my belly was fluttering over seeing Landry. Over having these guys take me… together. As they’d promised to do.

  I texted Landry and he replied immediately. Already here waiting for you, sugar.

  I smiled. “He says he’s already there.” I stole a glance at Wade’s handsome profile. “You guys really don’t get jealous? I mean, he’s not going to punch you in the nose or something for being with me solo?”

  “No, sugar. I’m sure he’ll be eager for your attentions that he’s missed since Tuesday, but there’s no jealousy.”

  “You prefer to share?” I asked, flipping the visor down to block the sun. “I… I’m just confused about how this all started.”

  Wade looked over and winked. “What’s wrong? Two men too much for you to handle?”

  My pussy clenched in anticipation of our reunion. Of being with both of them again. “Nope.”

  Wade slowed, then turned down his dirt drive, parked beside his truck, and climbed out. He picked up my bag before I could even reach for it, lifting his
chin toward something behind me.

  I turned, and ran straight into the rock hard abs of my other lover.

  I heard Wade’s laugh as Landry’s hands gripped my upper arms.

  “Hey there.” Landry backed me up to the car, pressing his body against mine. “I missed you.” His lips were at my temple, his hand stroking my nape. He took a moment to hold me and breathe me in. I lifted my mouth for a kiss and he claimed it, his tongue sweeping authoritatively between my lips, turning my legs to Jello.

  He kissed differently than Wade. More… dominant, instantly taking control. Strangely, they smelled the same. Woods and wilderness, soap and sexy man. Did they use the same shampoo?

  “Landry,” I panted, looping an arm around his neck and hanging on.

  “Have you been a good girl?”

  I nodded, not exactly sure what I could have done to be bad.

  He stroked my hair back and studied me. “Worn your plug to get ready for us?”

  Another clench of my pelvic floor, and a flash of heat. I knew my cheeks were bright red. He could talk about something so naughty as if he were asking if I’d picked up my dry cleaning.

  “Yes.” There was a little warble to my voice that made Landry chuckle.

  Wade had made me wear the plug every time I left my apartment without him to remind me that I belonged to them. Seriously, every time. I’d discovered the original plug Landry had put in wasn’t all that huge because Wade had brought others. Bigger ones, ones he said still weren’t as large as either of their dicks.

  Landry palmed my ass and lifted my hips up to rub my crotch over his obvious erection. I straddled his waist to make it easier. “That’s right, sugar. Spread your legs for your mate.”

  “Mate?” I asked, laughing, then rocking into him. My clit pulsed even though Wade had gone down on me in the shower a few hours ago.

  “Man,” he corrected, carrying me into the cabin after Wade. In his strong arms, I felt tiny and light. “I started up the grill, but I think dinner may have to wait. Fuck, you smell good.”

  “Agreed.” Wade stood in the doorway of the master bedroom with heat blazing in his eyes. “We should definitely start with dessert.”