“Take care of her, Tug. Don’t let anything else happen to my little sister.”
He smiled. “Let them try.”
He couldn’t wait to have Cecil in his arms.
* * * *
Cecil crawled into the giant bed after putting away what Jaycee and Sheila had given her. This was her first night where she felt almost safe from their clutches. Pulling the pillows behind her, she leaned against the headboard as Rory came into the room, smiling.
“Where should I put this?” He held up the other bag.
“Just put it in the closet for now. I’ll hang them up tomorrow.”
She nodded, then snuggled under the blankets. She had put on one of the long nightgowns since the T-shirt had smelled like dye and was covered in her hair.
Rory stepped into the bathroom, stripping out of his shirt. She watched the play of muscles on his back, making the tattoo of a wolf move as he bent over the sink splashing water in his face.
The door opened and Tug stepped into the room, closing the door behind him and locking it. He grinned, stripped out of his shirt, and threw it to the dresser. He unsnapped his jeans and pulled them down. He wore 28
nothing underneath them. His cock stood straight and hard. Tug reached up, pulling the band holding his long brown hair. His hair fanned out across his large shoulders.
He moved to one side of the bed and pulled back the covers, eyeing her nightgown. “I take it this was one of the items in the small bag?”
“The T-shirt was all stinky from the dye.” Her face heated as he crawled into bed and cuddled up next to her.
“It’s beautiful on you.” He gently moved his hand down the side of her body, sending a chill through her.
Cecil glanced up and watched Rory move to the bed, his body rippled with muscles. “Umm, we’re going to have to thank Jaycee and Sheila, that’s for sure.” He climbed in on the other side of the bed, lifting up on his elbow, and looked down at her, as did Tug.
“We’re supposed to be sleeping.” Cecil scooted further down on the bed.
“Don’t you think you’d be more comfortable without this on?”
Tug gently pulled on the little spaghetti strap.
“You’ve already seen me naked, Tug, so what difference does it make?” She grinned.
“Hey, I didn’t, and I have to agree with Tug. This needs to come off.” He snapped the strap in half and inched the silk material down, uncovering her breast.
“Hey, I just got this.” She laughed and tried to grab the other side, but Tug beat her, ripping the material.
“We’ll buy you many more just so we can peel them down your body. Move your hands, Cecil. Let us see your beautiful body.” Rory kissed her bare shoulder, pulling the material from her hands, slowly exposing her breasts to their view.
Tug traced his finger around her nipple and leaned down, sucking it into his mouth. “Oh my…” Cecil reached for his head, but he grabbed her arm and put it under him, trapping her hand.
“No touching. Just relax. Let us explore.” Rory grabbed her other hand, trapping it under his body while he leaned down, capturing her other breast.
“But…” Cecil couldn’t think. Her body was burning up—needing what, she didn’t know.
Tug kissed down her stomach, pushing the silk material further down her body. “Lift up, Cecil, so I can take this off, and leave your hand there at your side.” He lifted her ass and pulled. The silk slid down the rest of her body as if someone had ran their hand down her skin, warming her 29
further. Tug slid in between her legs, grinning up at her.
“I can’t wait to taste you.” He glanced down at her mound and separated her lips, moaning. “Look at how wet you are.” Tug mumbled slowly, licking up one side of her clit.
Rory sucked her nipple in between his teeth and nibbled on it, sending little tremors through her body.
Cecil thrust her hips forward, wanting more, and froze when she ran her tongue over her teeth. Fangs poked at her tongue. “No!” She cried, jumping off the bed and running to the bathroom, locking the door.
She glanced in the mirror, opened her mouth, and cried, grabbing the cup and smashing it into the mirror. The glass shattered, falling around her and cutting her hand as she fell to the floor, hugging her legs. “I’m a fucking freak! I have to leave.” She cried, staring down at her hand. The blood dripped onto her leg, but she didn’t move, not caring.
The door handle shook. “Cecil, open up, honey. It’s okay.” Rory called through the door.
“Just go away and find someone else.” Gut-wrenching sobs shook her body. “I can never be with a man.” Cecil’s breath came in short gasps.
The door clicked as a key was turned in the lock, and both Rory and Tug pushed into the room. “Come here, Cecil, now.” Tug ordered, holding out his hand.
30
Chapter Five
Tug glanced at the mirror, then at her hand as she placed her small bloody hand in his.
What happened?
her brother demanded.
I’ll explain tomorrow. She’s fine. We have her.
Tug cut him off, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her hand, as she stood. “Rory, grab the first-aid kit under the sink and a wet towel.” He swung her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, sitting down on it.
“Look at me, Cecil.” Tug ordered, but he was gentle when he lifted her chin. “We knew this might happen, but it doesn’t change anything. We’ll deal with it, and you’re not getting away from us. When I first saw you outside with your hand missing, everything in me stopped. I didn’t know why, but my wolf knew in that instant that you were mine.
Now, let’s see what damage you’ve done.”
Rory kneeled down next to them as they unwrapped the towel and gently washed the blood from her hand. One small piece of glass stuck out of her palm, but that was all the damage that had been done. Her skin was already trying to repair itself around the glass.
Gently, he pulled the glass out and watched as new skin replaced the torn skin. “You will never hurt yourself again, Cecil. Do you understand me? When we heard that glass shatter…” He placed his forehead to hers. “Just don’t do it,” he snarled and gazed into her eyes.
She gasped and reached up with her other hand, tracing his cheek.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I want to be with both of you.”
Cecil’s other hand, now healed, cupped Rory’s face. “But I’m too afraid I might hurt you. If I were to hurt you…” She shook her head. “I couldn’t live with myself.”
Rory stood, put away the first-aid kit, and started cleaning the broken glass while Tug tucked Cecil into bed. “Stay. I’m going to go get a broom. I don’t want you to wake up to use the bathroom and get cut.”
Tug unlocked the door and made his way to the kitchen when Sam stepped in front of him. “What happened?” He gritted his teeth and his hands clenched into fists.
Tug sighed, and grabbed for the phone. “It seems when she gets excited, the snake DNA comes out. She was afraid she’d hurt us and ran to the bathroom, but Sam…” He gazed up at him. “This won’t stop us. She’s ours.” He dialed Remi’s number and waited.
“This had better be important or I’m going to rip your throat out,”
31
Remi snarled into the phone.
“It is. When you go into the lab tomorrow, get the same injection that was given to Cecil. Have the doctor bring two syringes of the stuff here,” Tug said.
Remi didn’t say anything at first. “I take it she starts to turn when…”
Tug cut him off. “Yes, and Remi, she won’t mate with us. Cecil’s too scared.”
Remi grunted. “So both of you are willing to change for her?”
Tug glanced up at Rory as he came down the stairs. He nodded his agreement. “Yes, she won’t be alone in this, Remi.”
“Fine. I’ll have the doctor come with us so he can get the right injections, but Tug, you know there is no going back.”
“We know, but we have no choice.” He clicked the phone off and gazed at Sam.
He smiled and shook his head. “My sister is going to be furious, but thank you. I couldn’t have picked two better men to be with her.” Sam and his men turned and went into the living room.
“Rory, you should inform your family what we’re planning on doing.” Tug moved to the stairs, but Rory grabbed his arm.
“I was thinking while you were on the phone. The others in the labs might not have people to lean on as she does. It also might help her adjust to have others around her.”
Tug frowned and glanced up the stairs. “You’re right. We’ll have to talk to Remi when they get back. I know there are two empty cabins behind me we could use and another one on the left side. I’m sure Remi wouldn’t mind us using them, but right now she’s getting scared again.”
Tug flew up the stairs two at a time, Rory following.
Damn, forgot the
broom.
I’ll get it.
Rory turned and ran downstairs as Tug moved into the bedroom. Cecil was curled up in a ball. Fresh tears ran down her face, breaking Tug’s heart.
He crawled up onto the bed and pulled her tense body onto his.
“What’s wrong, Cecil? Why the tears?” Tug wiped the tears away from her face and kissed her lips.
“It’s nothing.” She tried to pull her face away, but he held on to her chin.
“Don’t lie to me, Cecil. It’s something to make you cry. Now, tell me.” He snarled.
“I didn’t lie.” She glared at him and he smiled.
“But not saying anything is the same as lying in my book. You 32
have two seconds to start talking.” He bit down on her shoulder and released her. “Or I will turn you over my knee and spank that cute ass.” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
“Jeez, talk about being bossy. I was just feeling a little sorry for myself, that’s all.” She squirmed on his lap.
He frowned and nodded. “Things will look better tomorrow, I promise.” He kissed her nose and hugged her tightly.
Rory came in with the broom. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, already,” Cecil snapped.
Tug flipped her over his knee and smacked her ass. “There was no need for you to get all snippy on him when he was worried about you, Cecil.” He gave her two more swats to each cheek when she cried out.
“I’m sorry, please.” She reached back, trying to cover her ass, but he moved her hands out of the way.
“You’d better be.” He spanked her three more times and lifted her up, frowning at her, putting her beside him. Tears slid down her face as she stared up at the ceiling.
Rory slipped in beside her and lifted the covers over them. “Sleep, Cecil. Quit worrying about things. We’ll work this out.” He kissed her lips softly and lay down on his back.
“When I turned sixteen, my mom and dad threw me this big birthday party. There were more than thirty of us there, boys and girls.
There was this one boy I had the biggest crush on, Mathew. But he had eyes only for my friend. That whole day I was hoping for one kiss, something. But, nothing. It’s funny—here I have two men who are my mates and I’m afraid to touch you. Even the wolf inside me is afraid to come out, afraid she’ll hurt someone.” She sighed and rolled over on her side, facing him as she closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry I’m such a coward,” Cecil whispered. “Good night.”
A single tear slipped down Tug’s cheek. “We’re all afraid, little wolf, but we each have to face that fear or we are nothing.” He bent down, kissing her head. “All my life I’ve been in control. In some ways I’m alpha, but I stepped aside knowing Remi was the most powerful and the rightful alpha of our clan. Don’t get me wrong—Remi and I butt heads often, but we respect each other. When Remi found out Jaycee was his mate, after all the things that have happened to her, I couldn’t figure out how Remi didn’t kill everyone in his path. But now, having you here and seeing what’s happened to you, I understand his actions. It’s taking every ounce of strength in me to control the rage I feel towards those who hurt you, but, like Remi, I know that right now the only thing that is important is protecting you, and to let others take care of those who threaten you.
33
Now that doesn’t mean that if they showed up here, I’d step aside. It just means that my place is at your side, no matter what happens. Am I afraid?
Hell, yes. Afraid you’ll be taken away from us after we just found you, afraid you’ll turn away from us and not trust us to protect you.” Tug gazed down at her. “So you see, we all have our demons, but if we’re together we can face them.”
Rory leaned over and kissed her shoulder. “I have a very big family. I’m the oldest of eight brother and sisters, but I wasn’t always the oldest. When I was about ten, my older brother Ran and I took off to go fishing. I had been bugging him nonstop for a week to go.” He laughed. “I loved to follow my brother everywhere. He was five years older than me and our father was always so busy with pack life that Ran took it upon himself to do things with me.
“On our way down to the lake I decided we should take this shortcut, but Ran said no, that it was too dangerous. Well, I didn’t listen and took off running down the path. I forgot about one side of the path, which had a steep drop-off, and I was running straight for it. Ran caught me just before I could plummet below, but he slipped and fell down the cliff. I sat there crying for a good ten minutes when I finally ran home to get my family. Ran died instantly, breaking his neck to save me.”
Rory sighed. Cecil turned to him, cupping his cheek.
“Ohh, Rory, I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you, but what Tug is trying to get you to understand, Cecil, is everyone has fears, but it’s what you do about them that makes you who you are inside here.” He laid his hand down on her chest, above her heart.
Tug leaned up and covered Rory’s hand. “Cecil, you have both of our hearts right next to yours, keeping you safe—if you’ll let us in. Let us be that family, or they have won. They will have finally beaten you.”
“I’m so tired, but I’ll try. Thank you for your stories. I knew it was hard for both of you to share those. Maybe one day I’ll be able to tell you what they made me do.” She tried to smile, but the pain behind those big brown eyes was haunting.
“We’re not going anywhere, Cecil. Anytime you’re ready, we’ll be here.” Rory kissed her cheek and lay down.
“Sleep. Tomorrow is another big day for all of us.” Tug kissed her lips and curled up to her. His cock pushed against her ass cheeks and he closed his eyes, trying to ignore the heat.