Authors: Dixie Lynn Dwyer
“He is out cold and snoring, Lord Venificus.” Ferlow bowed then took a seat across from Charity. She avoided his gaze but not before giving him a dirty look. Then Ferlow winked at her, and Luther and Dante growled simultaneously.
Maximus began speaking.
“Charity, there are some questions we would like to ask you, and perhaps you will not be as evasive as your boss.”
“Lord Venificus, I will try,” Charity bowed her head and avoided his gaze.
“Does your boss have no respect for his Alpha?”
Charity looked up in shock.
“No, Lord, on the contrary, the owner of Caliber has much respect for you and your family.”
“Then why does he have his own company in Europe and now appear to be attempting to take over some of the largest sub companies of V-Con here in the United States?”
Charity could sense the anger in Maximus’s tone. She needed to maintain some control here. She hated to lie to the brothers and felt the upset as her stomach ached. But there was more to worry about here than sexual attraction. The Fates had not stated that they wanted her to reveal her true identity to the triplet Alphas. She had no choice but to wait. If she spoke as if in third person referring to herself as the owner instead of Val, then maybe she would survive this interrogation.
“I can tell you in all honesty that the owner of Caliber is not trying to overtake V-Con.”
Luther laughed, as if the possibility of V-Con being eliminated by Caliber was too ridiculous to even speak of.
“What is it that you find so amusing?” Charity asked, directing her question toward Luther.
He smirked slyly, as if he had some kind of control over her now that he kissed her and she didn’t stop him.
She released an exasperated sigh and decided that these brothers were a bit too cocky for her liking. Did they really think they were invincible?
“I do believe that your employees are the ones who should be questioned here.” Charity looked toward Ferlow and Delta. “Your employees of Selcon should be able to answer the question of why they could not provide adequate protection and other services to their clients without subcontracting Caliber.”
“We have gone over our employees’ poor performance, Charity,” Dante replied, trying to ease the tension in the room. Charity didn’t want to use Ferlow and Delta as scapegoats but around the Venificus brothers she felt defeated. There must be some kind of magic spell in their kisses. It was the only logical explanation as to why she wanted to look into their eyes, melt into their embrace, and confess.
“We should have been made aware of the situation months ago.” Luther began to speak, but Charity couldn’t quite focus on his words. Her eyes locked on to those incredible lips of his and the way they felt pressed against her neck.
Maximus released a sigh, crossing his muscular arms in front of his chest, and Charity’s gaze fixed on his mouth. She couldn’t help but desire those lips against her own again. She practically felt the tickling sensation of that small patch of perfectly trimmed hair with the gold hoops disappearing under his lower lip. How amazing would that feel brushing against her neck, her breasts, or between her thighs?
A gush of cream pooled between her legs, and Charity squeezed them tightly together.
All three brothers looked at her with half-smirking and half-reprimanding expressions.
Here she was, fantasizing about them in her own mind, and they could smell her arousal, feel her desire for them.
I have to get out of this room!
“What is going on here? Is the beauty of this woman and her instant attraction to you blocking your good judgment? How do we know she is not some sort of trap to lure you or attack you? I can smell her scent!” Ferlow yelled, and Maximus appeared angry however held his temper in place.
“Do remember who you are speaking to, Ferlow?”
Maximus was staring angrily at Ferlow and then back at Charity as if she were at fault.
“Don’t try to blame me for your poor business skills, Ferlow. Lord Venificus, why weren’t you aware of the decrease in business and the lessening of your clientele list until recently, when many clients have not been with Selcon for nearly a year? And what, Lord Venificus, I find quite worrisome is why haven’t you kept better track of the sub companies of V-Con? Under Caliber watch there have been no successful attacks. The same cannot be said for V-Con.”
“Wait one second there! Who are you to come in here and question our performance?” Ferlow scolded angrily.
“Lord Venificus, someone has not been doing their job.”
Charity looked toward Ferlow then back at Maximus.
“We don’t take kindly to insults against our family members,” Dante stated, agitated.
Charity sighed. She needed to get out of this room and not have to answer questions that could reveal the true purpose of Caliber. If the brothers were told that she was protecting them, they would surely flip out. Dominating Alphas would never allow protection for themselves. She struggled with wanting to tell them who she was, but the Fates forbid her.
“I do believe that your problem lies within house. These two individuals are the ones you should be annoyed at and questioning. You are trying to use Caliber’s expansion of business as a scapegoat for the true problem. For if it wasn’t for their poor business skills, lack of good record-keeping, and if they simply did the job their Alpha appointed them to do, then you would still have control over Selcon. But you don’t. Caliber could have taken over Selcon months ago, but out of respect for the Venificus family, we have not. I gather that once Val arises from his current state, you can kiss Selcon good-bye completely!”
Charity stood from her seat. Maximus rose along with his brothers.
“How dare you stand before being dismissed!” Ferlow yelled. Charity had had just about enough of him and his attitude. The fact that he winked at her every opportunity he got was disrespectful and made her feel uneasy. She needed to appear more superior. She still had not revealed her ranking among the were packs.
Playing submissive to a bunch of overzealous, macho werewolves was exhausting and annoying. She clenched her fists in anger.
That Ferlow were gave her the creeps. Especially the way he kept trying to manipulate her activities since she arrived here.
Then Ferlow had tried to corner her alone early this morning but was unsuccessful because Val appeared. He was up to something. All her senses warned her to not be caught alone by him.
“This meeting is not over,” Luther exclaimed, interrupting Charity’s thoughts.
“I mean no disrespect, Lord Venificus. I am simply stating the truth. You owe my boss an apology, and be ready to lose Selcon to a better company. The owner of Caliber is not trying to destroy V-Con or the Venificus name. We are trying to protect you.”
“Protect us! This woman is insane,” Ferlow yelled, and Maximus raised his hand for him to stop.
Maximus stared at Charity. It was an intense gaze, and she held his, completely forgetting about his hypnotizing skills. She focused on his emotions and knew he was torn between wanting the respect he deserved as Alpha and his attraction to her. He wanted to make an example of her but couldn’t find it in him to cause her hurt or embarrassment. She easily felt his power and momentarily absorbed it in fascination. He was talented and strong in mind, but that power was nothing compared to hers.
Charity didn’t want to insult or hurt him. And there was this aroma in the room coming from all three brothers that felt as if it sought her out.
Confused by its power, she focused on escaping the room and getting away from them. Being diplomatic and obedient came difficultly for her.
Charity bowed her head and walked closer to Maximus.
She took his hand, momentarily shocked by the connection she felt. It appeared that Maximus felt it, too, but regained his authoritative expression before he warmed to her touch. Slowly she kissed the top of his hand before bowing away.
Raising her eyes to meet his, she was surprised at what greeted her.
The twinkling emeralds were powerful indeed. She was probably one of the few people, if not the only person, capable of not being paralyzed by such a gift as his. The vibrations that traveled through her hand, her arm, and into the core of her body from his simple touch had her wanting to embrace him and love him.
Love him? The emotion tore at her soul. What did she know about love? About men? About wolves?
The intense feeling in the room did not go unnoticed. She needed to gather her strength and resolve the tension. She didn’t like when Maximus was angry. It made her feel off-kilter.
She pretended to be somewhat affected by his power as she held on to the corner of the table while Maximus held her other hand.
“Lord Venificus, I must apologize for my outburst. I do not mean to cause conflict among your pack. In fact we are working toward the same goal, and that is to keep the Venificus as royalty and as the lead pack. Our goal, like yours, is to provide safety to this realm and other realms that may be threatened by evil. Please accept my apology.”
Maximus squeezed her hand.
What felt more like minutes than seconds to Charity had passed. The silence in the room was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Charity looked to see who it was. Ferlow held her gaze a moment, and she looked back at Maximus.
“I think perhaps we need a break before continuing. We have been at it for quite some time.” Maximus smiled at her, but when she attempted to move her hand, he held it firmly.
Charity whispered a nearly silent gasp of surprise at the pressure of his restraint.
“Ferlow, Delta, you may leave. I will let you know when the meeting will begin again.”
Ferlow and Delta bowed their heads at their Alpha and left the room. The door closed behind them, and Dante swiftly checked the knob. She heard the turning of the lock.
* * * *
“What are you going to do, Maximus?”
Luther asked silently.
“She is up to something, and I want to know what,”
he replied.
“Do you think she is an enemy? Do you believe that Ferlow is correct, and she is setting a trap for you…for us?”
Dante asked, sounding distraught at the possibility. He already had strong feelings for Charity, and Maximus sensed them. If he were at all honest with himself, then he would admit to having the same feelings as his brothers.
“I am not certain. But I do know that she desires us as well. I can smell her arousal, her need for us. The bond is beginning, yet we haven’t marked her as our own. It is quite interesting, don’t you think?”
Maximus held Charity’s gaze. She appeared mesmerized by his silence instead of concerned.
Interesting.
“What do you plan on doing?”
Dante asked this time.
* * * *
“I heard that wolves can speak to one another through their minds, if there is a deep connection like mates or twins.” Charity spoke, breaking the conversation between the triplets.
Maximus crinkled his eyebrow at her as if he was suspicious about her observation.
“Is that what you think we are doing?” Maximus asked her.
He looked her over as if she was his next meal. Her insides stirred with desire. She was no one’s prey. If anything, she was the hunter. She had to remain strong.
“It would be my guess, considering the silence of all three of you. Alone, each of you is never at a loss for words.”
Maximus let his other hand glide up Charity’s arm then back down again.
Her breath caught in her throat at the intense attraction between them. The look into his green eyes and the way his goatee appeared rough and masculine caused her mind to erupt into one erotic fantasy after another. Chin to chest, she tried to regain her composure.
“Do you really want to know what my brothers and I are thinking?”
Before Charity could respond, Maximus lifted her onto the table, her rear hitting the hard wood as his muscular hips separated her thighs.
She gasped.
The palms of her hands reached back to brace herself from falling as her stockings caused her legs to slip further apart. In this position, her scent rose up and attacked the air. Three separate and unique growls rumbled through the room. Charity remained still and motionless.
Strong, solid hands caressed Charity’s legs. The thin layer of mist-colored stockings added to the intensity of the sensations. Her mound throbbed in anticipation and want.
When she looked into Maximus’s eyes, they were glowing yellow.
“You have a bit of a temper on you, Charity. You speak your mind and worry about the consequences later,” Maximus whispered to her as his hands glided between her legs and she attempted unsuccessfully to close her thighs to his invasion.
“Do I look worried,” she replied, compelled to challenge her Alpha. Her Alpha, when did she decide to allow him to be her Alpha? Just one look into those green eyes, and with each inhalation of rapid breath, she anticipated his touch. She desired the feel of his hands on every inch of her body. She felt the need to touch him, to be part of him, and for him to claim her as his mate. He was sexy and intimidating, and her need to have him all over her was all that mattered. It was obscene, the way she craved and desired the three of them. Her pussy lips throbbed with need. A deep inner itch swelled from within her. She didn’t know them, but it seemed her body did, for every caress of skin or breath alone sent her into flames. Unconsciously she rocked her hips against the table in attempt to lessen the need.