Authors: Lynnette Bernard
“
Are you doing okay, honey?” Jackson asked her worriedly, reaching down to brush a strand of hair from her sweaty face.
Laurie smiled up at him and stroked her hand over his cock, pulling a gasp of pleasure from him as she ran her finger over the weeping slit and drawing it back to her mouth to suck her finger slowly.
“
I’ll be even better when you put this where it belongs,” she told him, tugging on his cock and smiling at the deep groan that escaped him.
“
And just where does it belong?” he teased, his eyes sparkling at the joy and fun she brought him.
“
Deep inside me,” she whispered, her voice filled with need for him. “Please, Jackson.”
Jackson lay down beside her, kissing her shoulder lightly before leaning down to take her breast in his hand, capturing her peaked nipple within his mouth and sucking on it lightly. Her moans pleased him, and he couldn’t help but smile when she pulled at his hips to get him to settle between her legs. Reaching down, she took firm hold of his rock-hard shaft and guided him to the entrance of her body, both of them groaning as he sank into the warmth of her body and seated himself balls-deep.
“
Love her, Jackson,” Jace told him from his spot next to their mate as he gently pet her belly.
Jackson moved slowly at first, watching her face as he pushed into her core, smiling at the moan she released at the deepness of him inside her. “I love you, Laurie,” he whispered as he held himself still and felt her warm channel squeeze him. “You belong to us now. Forever.”
“
Love you, Jackson,” she whispered, the tears of happiness falling from her eyes as she looked up into the honest caring of his soft brown eyes. “You both belong to me now.”
Jackson growled in triumph at her words. Leaning forward, he kissed her lips with a passion that stole every bit of oxygen from her lungs. When he leaned back and looked down at her, there was no doubt in her mind that they meant what they said, down to their very souls. And so did she.
Pulling out so that just the head of his cock remained inside her, he looked down to where their bodies were joined and growled in appreciation. Looking up at her face, he watched as pleasure burst through her as he plunged deep and hard, nearly losing control as she moaned and her hips rose to meet each thrust. Jace reached between them to find the swollen bud that begged to be stimulated and rubbed it firmly. Laurie screamed out their names as she came, Jackson filling her with his seed as she settled back into the blankets and lost consciousness.
* * * *
Jace’s bedroom door slammed open, and he staggered out into the hallway, meeting Jackson as he stumbled out of his own room.
“Holy shit!” Jackson roared, wiping his face and looking at Jace. “Did she project that dream to you, too?”
Jace’s heart was slamming against his chest. He stood in the hallway with just his black boxer briefs on, his cock still fully engorged despite the fact that his briefs were soaked from the spilling of his seed, and not caring one damn bit that they were.
Jackson was in the very same predicament, groaning as he tried to adjust himself behind his own navy boxer briefs soaked with his own seed.
“It was absolutely unbelievable!” Jace managed to get out, still shaking with desire.
“Have you ever heard of any mates sharing dreams like that before they had actually mated?” Jackson asked Jace in astonishment.
Jace shook his head. “Never,” he said, still winded from the experience.
“That was fucking amazing!” Jackson barely whispered. “She is going to be perfect for us. I felt so much love and desire.”
Jace took a deep breath and smiled. “I did, too. There was not one feeling of being played. Not one ounce of deceit. Just tenderness and caring.” His heart constricted at the thought that this woman would truly love them both and give them the gentleness and love that they both needed so desperately.
“Maybe I was wrong about having a mate,” Jace told Jackson quietly, his eyes mirroring just how unsure he was.
Jackson looked at his best friend and alpha and smiled sadly. “Jace, you were right to mistrust all those women,” he told him with certainty. “They were wrong for us. They wanted something from us that would never satisfy either of us for a lifetime.”
Jace nodded and looked at the door that separated them from the woman who already meant more to him than he had ever dared to acknowledge or hope for. “I know,” he admitted finally. He turned to face his friend. “That woman in there doesn’t want anything from us except our love and respect.” His voice broke slightly, and he closed his eyes to gather his strength. Opening his eyes, he stared at Jackson, his blue eyes flashing with determination. “And that’s exactly what we’re going to give her.”
Jackson nodded and stepped toward the closed door. Leaning his hands against the door at shoulder level, he took a deep breath. When he looked back at Jace, he knew his eyes had to be glowing as his wolf fought for control just as Jace’s eyes mirrored his own wolf’s struggle.
“I can smell her arousal,” Jackson told him, trying to steady his breathing. “Jace, I don’t think I can stop myself from going into her room right now and making that dream a reality.”
“I know,” Jace agreed, reaching out to grab Jackson’s forearm to prevent him from doing just that. “We can’t, Jackson,” he told him, just as frustrated as his triad partner was. “If we do, we could lose our chance to have that for real.”
Jackson rubbed his free hand across his face in frustration. “When, Jace?” he demanded.
Jace looked at him and smiled slowly. “Tomorrow.”
Jackson nodded and turned to go back to his bedroom, stopping and turning to face his alpha once again. “You’d better make sure that room at the end of the hall is ready because after we claim her tomorrow, the three of us will be sharing that room for the rest of our lives.”
* * * *
Laurie woke up drenched in perspiration. The dream had been so real, and so embarrassingly decadent. She couldn’t stop the shivers that still wracked her body. Her breathing was still labored. She was still experiencing tremors from her orgasms. Multiple orgasms! She had never had an orgasm during sex with her ex-husband. But one dream about these two men, and off she shot like a rocket! Twice!
Her attraction to Jace and Jackson was powerful. She’d had erotic dreams over the years but never to the extent and detail that she had just experienced. It was as if she could feel their needs and their desires. The dream made her feel their deep love for her. But it had been just a dream. It didn’t matter that it was what she hoped for deep in her lonely heart. Their kindness to her and all the people at their ranch, especially little Tammy, had drawn her to them, but she knew that she was overreacting. It was just that she wanted them to be attracted to her.
They were genuinely nice to her—something that was foreign to her. She knew that her dream to have them be a permanent part of her life was strictly because of her own needs and desires. It was not because that was what they felt for her. How could they? They didn’t even know her. They were just being kind as they were kind to every guest. They had no desires for her. She knew that.
Tears filled her eyes as she slowly got out of bed and pulled her drenched nightgown from her body. Stepping into the bathroom, she turned on the shower and stepped inside, closing her eyes and letting the warmth of the water soothe her tense body.
Only when she couldn’t hold back any longer did she allow her tears to fall. She sobbed into the wet washcloth that she pressed against her mouth to mute her anguish. She didn’t know how much longer she could stand this life of loneliness. One person could not be expected to live as she had lived, without love or respect. It was just too much.
Her fantasy about Jace and Jackson just made her feel even worse about herself. What kind of a horrible person was she that she wanted both men and dreamed about having sex with both of them? At the same time! She was disgusted with herself, and more depressed than ever that she could only find happiness in her fantasies. How pathetic was she that she could only get by from day to day with unrealistic, desperate dreams? Very pathetic. Her ex-husband was right after all.
There was only one way to deal with it. She would keep her distance from the two men. She couldn’t risk them guessing even one bit of her attraction toward them. If they ever realized her ridiculous obsession with them, she would be embarrassed and devastated. She couldn’t handle it if they laughed at her, or worse, pitied her. Maybe she should just leave.
Chapter 6
Martha stood by the sink, watching Jace and Jackson stride toward the tree line, knowing that they needed to let their wolves run free. She smiled as she saw her son Alexander and his triad partner Butler shadowing the two leaders. She was proud of them. They had proven to be fierce protectors and took their jobs as lieutenants for the pack very seriously. No one would harm their alpha or beta with them on the job. She would have to have a talk with them so they would include Laurie in their protection from now on. It didn’t matter that the rest of the pack didn’t know what she already knew just yet. It would only be a matter of time before her alpha and his beta would claim her. And then, maybe, soon there would be pups in the house again.
“Good morning, Martha,” Laurie greeted her, smiling as she walked into the kitchen.
Martha turned and faced the woman who had already brought happiness to Jace and Jackson. She couldn’t help but already care about her. She had a natural gift of understanding and showed genuine caring and support to all of the pack members she had met so far. And she was wonderful with the children. She was everything that was needed as the mate of the pack’s alpha and beta.
“Good morning, Laurie. Did you sleep well?”
Laurie hesitated before looking at the kind woman and pasting a practiced smile on her face. She nodded, unable to allow any lie to pass her lips. “It’s so beautiful here, Martha,” she said finally, sitting on one of the stools behind the counter so she could visit with her.
Martha smiled and placed a plate filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, and a toasted bagel on the counter. She noticed that there were dark circles under Laurie’s eyes, and there was an aura of sadness surrounding her. Her heart hurt at the obvious pain that this young woman was in.
Walking to the refrigerator, she opened it and took out the pitcher of orange juice and a carton of milk, pouring a glass of each and placing them before Laurie and smiling. She would do her best to comfort her and then have a talk with Jace and Jackson as soon as she could. She would not let any of them miss out on any of the happiness she knew was in store for them.
“Martha, this is too much for me!” Laurie laughed, taking the fork and napkin that Martha handed her.
“Nonsense!” Martha told her sternly. “You must eat a balanced breakfast so that you remain healthy and not waste away to nothing.”
Laurie snorted and took a quick drink of the orange juice before spearing a small amount of eggs and eating them slowly. “You’re good for my ego, Martha,” Laurie told her, laughing.
Martha’s old gray eyes crinkled with enjoyment as she watched Laurie eat. “You must stay healthy for the babies you will carry.”
Laurie put down her fork slowly, all appetite sufficiently killed. “That’s not a possibility, Martha,” she told the woman seriously. “I’m not going to be having any more children.”
“But you’re so wonderful with Tammy and the children in our family. You would have beautiful babies,” Martha encouraged her.
Laurie stood slowly and put on the heavy black cardigan sweater she had brought with her to the kitchen. Lifting up her small backpack, she faced the older woman and smiled sadly. “I’m going for a walk. Have a nice day, Martha.” With that, she turned and left the kitchen, making her way out onto the deck and walking down the steps to lose herself in the beautiful countryside of the ranch. She didn’t have the strength to explain herself. She was just so very tired of it all.