Theirs (12 page)

It didn’t matter now though. She was in my arms, where she belonged, at my mercy, and I was prepared to do bad things, every single item on my naughty list with her.

My wolf was roused and ready for action.

My body grew fiery as I drowned myself in her. Her taste exploded on my tongue. Her skin was soft and supple within my grasp. She molded to me perfectly, arching at exactly the right moments. The scent of her arousal permeated the air. I sensed that nothing was holding her back this time. This time, she would give in. This time, she would surrender to our command.

Jerry slyly broke between us, hoisting Kate into the air. She squealed, flushing beautifully. Damn. I wished I had all the natural equipment to please her.

A flutter of nerves curled in my stomach. I didn’t know if I would come out fully claiming her or not, but I’d be damned if I just gave up. She was mine. That knowledge ran soul deep. There was no doubt. And I was a big enough bitch to take her from anyone who dared to object.

Jerry lay Kate over his shoulder, her ass temptingly high in the air. She was a big girl, but I loved-
liked
every inch of her curves. I would never run out of flesh to taste and explore.

“
Let’s go upstairs.” The urgent edge in his voice said he didn’t want to be interrupted should we have uninvited guests, which was often.

I followed him upstairs. He tossed Kate on the bed and covered her in a split second. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous, but it came with the territory. We’re selfish beasts. We don’t share,
unless Mother Nature chooses to be a bitch to us
.

Okay, so I was still bitter. Deep down, I knew this was what Kate needed, and that’s what it was about: what Kate needed, not what I wanted, but it didn’t make reality any easier to accept. I would always prefer that she was mine exclusively.

My wolf roared as Jerry claimed her lips. I could tell by the flex of his muscles, the tension in his body, that he was holding back. I didn’t know how he did it. I couldn’t indulge and maintain control.
Dammit
. That was another reason.

I watched as Jerry indulged Kate, peppering her lips and face with affection. He wooed her with patience I didn’t have and probably never would.

Shit.
This was quickly becoming depressing.

Fuck it. She was my mate too. I deserved to be in on this all the way. I deserved to be a part of it all. Mother Nature declared so.

I stripped, tossing my clothes wherever they landed. I stalked towards the bed, on the prowl. It was time I reclaimed what was mine, at least my half of her.

—

Chapter Nineteen

JEREMIAH

My wolf lurked dangerously close to the surface, his anticipation amplifying my own. She was beautiful, sprawled out on the bed, like a delectable platter of steak. I understood Ellie’s struggle. The stress of holding back could wear down the best.

Kate’s eyes widened as Ellie moved into view. She licked her lips, swollen and shimmering from my touch.

Instinct had me blocking Ellie, but one look at Kate and I knew I needed to accept this. It was one thing to share a woman who appealed only to your human side, but when your wolf wanted her, all emotions were amplified. Everything intensifies. The tiniest smile from her lit up my soul.

After years, more than a decade of near perfect leadership of my pack, I finally had a weakness. As much as I hated to admit it, she was my vulnerability. I would love her with all I had, but that meant my enemies only needed to take her to destroy all of me.

My wolf snarled, vocalizing his distaste of the thought alone. Conviction rolled through my chest, constricting it slightly. We would always fight for her until our last breath…except with Ellie.

I pecked Kate’s cheek and moved aside.

Her gaze followed me, a question in her eyes.

I gave her a reassuring smile. “I like to watch.” I winked.

Rose painted her cheeks, but she didn’t cower. She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, her focus split between Ellie and me. “In that case…” She met Ellie’s blue eyes with trepidation. “Can I, um…you know…”

“
Not until you’re naked.” Ellie crashed onto the bed on her back beside Kate. “Jer, get behind her. I wanna know how wet I make her.”

“
There’s no hiding with you two I see.” She laughed nervously as she undressed as gracefully as possible on the forgiving mattress.

The sight of them two naked, side by side, lit a fierce fire in my groin. My earlier need was wimpy in comparison. They were opposites, Kate far more lush and feminine. Her curves did it for me.

Kate studied Ellie, excitement and uncertainty battling in her depths.

“
Let’s go, sweet cheeks. Get your sexy ass over here.” Ellie drew Kate atop her.

I clenched my teeth, biting back a groan as breasts crushed breasts, as Kate’s ass lifted enticingly in the air, just begging for me to take her.

Shit.
I rolled my shoulders, trying to displace the strain strumming through me. It was one thing to taste, touch and tease under clothes, but a whole other to have all you wanted poised for the taking. Any man’s ethics would have shaken.

—

Chapter Twenty

KATE

My enthusiasm was stifled by my nerves. I knew all eyes were on me, but, for once, I didn’t mind.
Let go.
I was breaking free of my shackles and diving in head first. I wasn’t doing this for them. This was for me. Yes, I wanted to please them. I wanted to show them that I could handle this – all of it. But, more than anything, I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t a failure, that I wasn’t doomed to write research articles for a weekly newspaper that was always on the verge of going out of business, that I wasn’t boxed in, that I wasn’t facing the fate of those I served at the homeless shelter. Yes, I had issues, but I was done allowing them to control me, to rule my life. I was more than a label, more than categories. Who cares if I’m gay or straight? Who cares if I’m fat or thin? I’m Kate, and that’s all that matters.

“
Hey.” Ellie’s brows furrowed. She stroked my cheek, assessing me. “You okay, honey?” Her voice had softened. Ellie liked to put on a hard front, pretend she had an icy heart; but she was warm, she was full of love, loyalty and heart for all those who saw past her exterior.

I smiled, nodding my reply. “Just a little scared. I’ve never done this before.”

“
A pussy is like a cock; as long as a tongue is involved, you can’t go wrong.”

I laughed, relaxing against her. I didn’t worry about crushing her or sucking in. No barriers, no lies, no secrets meant being raw, vulnerable and real in every way. I kissed her, sweeping my tongue along hers. She was sweet, in the way clean water is after spending the day in the salty ocean. I was content to straddle her all day, but I wanted more. I wanted to give them a taste of the pleasure they’d given me.

I slid down, feathering her with kisses along the way. Her body was hard yet soft. She was cut differently than me. She felt like a statue draped in velvet. I drew my tongue down the valley between her breasts. I was rewarded with a small snarl, her eyes flashing with honey as she watched my every move. I relished her reaction. I loved the control I had over her. I was the reason for her slip.

I met her gaze. Desire gave me courage; it made me diligent. Without warning, I darn near swallowed her breast.

Her eyes popped open. Her hands molded to my head, keeping me in place. “Fuck!” she bowed into me.

I smiled against her, passing my tongue playfully across her pert peak. Her nipple puckered and tightened in my mouth. Excitement raced through me as I gently tugged on it. The desire to devour more, to play rougher, tougher, longer, with her breast stunned me. There was something alluring and fun about teasing a nipple to a turgid high. I finally understood the appeal of breasts. I got a thrill in handling them, sucking and nibbling on such sensitive flesh. I relished the progressive swell of it.

“
Fuckin’ she-devil.” Her breathing was sharper; her gaze fixated on me.

She didn’t put up a fight when I switched to the other breast, laving it with love the way I liked it done to me. That’s all I had to go on was what I enjoyed as a woman.

I went to move down her, but she clung to me. She kissed me hard. “Look behind you, sexy.” Her voice was a seductive whisper feathering across my lips.

I glanced back over my shoulder. My breath hitched.

Jerry stood, muscles bulging, hand stroking, nostrils flaring, eyes blazing at the foot of the bed. Power emanated from him.

A chill chased down my spine. My nipples pebbled, aching as they brushed Ellie’s. My pussy fluttered in anticipation. I licked my lips, lost in him.

Ellie chuckled. “How wet is she, Jer?”

“
She’s fucking glistening.”

I averted my gaze, feeling my cheeks heat.

Ellie curled a finger beneath my chin, forcing me to look her way. “No way, sweet cheeks. You can’t go shy on me now. Bring back the minx.”

“
Kiss me.”

She must have heard the plea in my voice because her features softened. “Anytime, babe.” She cupped my cheeks and gave me a sensual caress with her lips. She kissed away my insecurities, assuring me with her every touch.

I smiled against her, heat replacing uncertainty. Worst case scenario, I could leave. Best case, we’d all collapse in bed utterly satisfied in the end.

She leaned in close to my ear, brushing her cheek to mine. “You’ve got this, sweet cheeks.”

I turned my head, using the moment to kiss and suckle her neck. She could easily become an addiction. She tasted just sweet enough to crave more, but not enough to overindulge too quickly.

Her hands gripped my hips, clinging to me as if I were a lifeline. “See, you’re doing great already.”

Something in that phrase, in the way she spoke it perhaps, had the image flashing before I could stop it. Instinctively, from that one line, I knew Ellie would be great with kids. She could be soft and wonderful when the time called for it. When a child was feeling down, I could picture her encouraging him or her the way she was me, and darn if that didn’t make me love-
like
her a little more.

I shook myself mentally, focusing on the sexy as sin woman. I nipped and nibbled my way down her fit physique, over firm muscles beneath a thin layer of silky flesh, swirling my tongue along her skin periodically, savoring the feel and taste of her beneath me.

She wiggled, encouraging me to lose myself in her.

I paused as I reached her apex. I shivered as Jerry pressed himself against me.

He delivered sensual kisses along my spine, romancing me into him. He nuzzled my neck, nosing away my stray hairs. “Have no mercy on, El. She doesn’t deserve it.”

“
Neither does Kate.” Ellie winked at me.

“
Deal. No mercy for either of you.” Jerry bit my shoulder, eliciting a shudder.

Their eyes narrowed slightly, challengingly on me. Patience mingled with anticipation in their depths. They were letting me set the pace, but were watching me closely until I did.

Jerry hovered over my shoulder, practically as deep in Ellie’s crotch as I was.

Ellie watched from the pillows. She didn’t bat a lash. She made me well aware of how bad she wanted this from the gleam in her eyes to the seductive purse of her lips and high peak of her nipples.