Embraced by Fur

3xtasy Lake 2

Embraced by Fur Carol never expected to attract the attention of one, let alone three, gorgeous men. She’s in town to help a friend out and never planned for a permanent change. Ecstasy Lake has secrets around every corner, and living here might end up more dangerous than going back to a normal life in the city. Can she break past her own insecurities and accept a triple dose of love? Jaxon, Kaden, and Sloan Henderson are known for their closeness and loyalty to each other, but lately the three of them have been fighting over everything. Now that they’ve found the woman of their dreams, how are they going to share her if they can’t have a civil conversation with each other? Can they get this big-city girl to give up the life she has known and come live in a small town with them? Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves Length: 55,678 words

EMBRACED BY FUR 3xtasy Lake 2

Corinne Davies

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

EMBRACED BY FUR Copyright © 2011 by Corinne Davies E-book ISBN: 1-61034-987-3 First E-book Publication: November 2011 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Embraced by Fur by Corinne Davies from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Corinne Davies’ livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Davies’ right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION For the two newest members of my family. Welcome to the world, Logan and Emily. Love, Aunti Corinne. I am blessed with so many people who support me during the creation of a book. My husband, for his constant support and encouragement. I love you, Honey! Jason Lorbetskie, for answering all my questions about the inner workings of Algonquin Park. All my wonderful friends and Righteous Perverts who are always there when I need to Rant and get things off my chest. Tracy and Heather, who critique my books and gently point out all the mistakes. Those commas. Oh, god. All those commas.  Diana, who is always there when I need to ask a question, and the staff at Siren-BookStrand, who work together to make the best publishing house, ever.

EMBRACED BY FUR 3xtasy Lake 2 CORINNE DAVIES Copyright © 2011

Prologue The large cat scented the hunter long before he ever saw him. The pungent scent of a fertile moose doe caught his attention. The knowledge that a doe shouldn’t be in heat as the summer days shortened drew him into the hunt. He pawed over the pine needles and leaves without a sound. Keeping low to the ground, he used the thick underbrush as cover as he stalked forward. The fresh scent of pheromones hung heavy in the air, leaving an artificial tang against the back of his throat. The artificial call of a female moose used by the hunter echoed in the trees around them. The acrid scent of gun oil and human carried on the breeze. Instinct drew the cat’s gaze up into the trees, and there he found his prey hiding. Silence fell over the area as the forest waited to see what happened next. The stupid human didn’t realize that the area around him was too quiet—that he wasn’t the only predator in the area. My home, trespasser. No one hunts here but me. A bull moose crashed through the trees, attracted to the false call and nature’s irresistible draw to that smell. The human male sat up at attention, lifting his large rifle in the direction of the noise.

Embraced by Fur

9

The tiger gathered his strength in his haunches, and at the precise moment before the weapon fired, he launched himself at the hunter’s back.

10

Corinne Davies

Chapter One “Help me!” Aaah. “Sweet Jesus, help me!” Panicked, high-pitched screams sent flocks of birds from the trees to the sky in a rush of squawks. A spray of gravel kicked up when Jaxon Henderson jumped on the brakes of his truck with both feet. The vehicle fishtailed, narrowly missing the man who came tearing out of the forest. Dressed from head to toe in what looked to be brand-new camouflage clothes and a large rifle in his hand, the man waved both arms above his head to gain attention as he ran on the gravel road. As the hunter moved up the passenger side of the vehicle, Jaxon dropped the window. “Sir, what’s the problem?” The foul stench of human bodily fluids and an incredible amount of moose estrus hammered his sensitive nose through the open window. Thankfully, he didn’t smell any blood. Jesus, he hoped the city cowboy hadn’t shot someone with the thirty-aught-six he was carrying. Moron wasn’t wearing an orange vest either which was asking to become a target. “A fucking tiger! I was attacked by a fucking tiger!” The hunter grabbed the passenger’s handle of the truck and began to yank on it. “It’s huge! We have to go. Go now! Open the goddamn door!” His eyes wide and panicked, his shrieked tones were enough to almost pop Jaxon’s sensitive eardrums. “Fuck, not again.” Slamming his hand against the steering wheel in frustration, he put the truck in park before opening his door. He really didn’t need to deal with this kind of shit today. The man paused in his dash back around the front of the vehicle. “Sir, stop right where you are.”

Embraced by Fur

11

“I saw it! We have to go! It was right behind me.” The man looked wildly around him, both hands on his rifle, ready to shoot…at anything by the looks of it. “Sir, there are no tigers in Algonquin Park.” “But it attacked me! I saw it with my own eyes.” Jaxon watched the hunter swing his rifle around, uneasy with the number of times it pointed in his direction. “Sir, place your weapon on the ground. It is illegal to approach an officer with a loaded weapon.” “Fuck the gun! Get me out of here.” Jaxon drew his pistol and pointed it at the hunter. Great, now he could add another hour of paperwork to the end of his shift because he drew his weapon. This was no seasoned hunter, but it was always better to err on the side of caution. Too many officers were caught off guard and ended up shot by a hunter wanting to escape prosecution for illegal poaching. “Sir, place your weapon on the ground in front of you. Now.” Having a gun pointed at him seemed to take a bit of the wind out of the man’s sails, and Jaxon’s tone caught his attention. He stopped and looked at the rifle in his hand. “Oh, shit, yeah, I forgot. Sorry, officer, but the tiger freaked me out.” He unloaded the weapon and left the action open before laying it on the ground and raising his hands. “I wasn’t going to shoot you, but don’t put your gun away because you might need to shoot at the cat if it comes out of the trees.” Right, because a handgun would stop a tiger. “Sir, place your hunting license on the hood of my vehicle. Take two steps to your left and place your hands on the hood.” “What the fuck is this? I didn’t do anything wrong!” It took a few minutes for the man to dig through all his pockets before he slammed the license down. “Don’t you get it? I was afraid for my life, and you’re treating me like some criminal! We need to get out of here or we’ll be tiger chow.”

12

Corinne Davies

Jaxon fought the urge to gag at the scents coming off the man. “Sir, you approached an officer with a loaded weapon, and you are attempting to illegally poach in a Provincial park.” “Park Rangers are supposed to see to the safety of everyone in the parks.” “I’m a Conservation Officer, not a Park Ranger.” “I was hunting coyote, not poaching.” Now the idiot decided to pay attention. It took him long enough to realize he was in deep shit. “It’s legal to hunt in the park.” “You are carrying a thirty-aught-six semiautomatic rifle, which is complete overkill for smaller game. If you were hunting coyote, you wouldn’t need anything more than a twenty-two.” Grabbing the license off the hood, he retreated before the smell made his eyes water. “You reek of a synthetic moose hormone, and you have a call hanging around your neck. Do you honestly expect me to believe a word you’re saying at this point?” “I’m not lying. I was practicing for moose hunting in a few weeks, but I wouldn’t have shot anything now.” “Are you certain you saw a tiger, sir?” “I know what a Bengal tiger looks like. Do I look stupid to you? It was huge and orange with white legs?” “Black stripes?” “Yeah…no. I mean they weren’t really black, more like dark red.” “Bengal tigers have black stripes.” “I know that!” “We’re in North America, not Asia. There are no tigers indigenous to this continent.” Except for the asshole I live with. “And even if there was, it’s not tiger season.” The hunter stilled and looked at Jaxon in fascination. “There’s a season for that? How do I get a tag?” It took every bit of his deeply ingrained control not to bare his teeth and growl at the stupid human. “Stay standing there. Don’t move.”

Embraced by Fur

13

Jaxon got back into his vehicle and closed the window, hoping to block the atrocious smell from the hunter. Too bad his brother, Kaden, wasn’t working today. They would’ve been able to contain this situation better. He called in the license and then the nearest park’s office. Let the Ontario Provincial Police deal with the “citidiot.” He had enough paperwork to do at this point. At least they could charge him with a long list of offenses, starting with endangering the public safety as the camp grounds were only eight miles south from here. Four hours later, his mood remained as foul as the hunter’s boxers when he pulled up in front of the large house he shared with his two brothers. Make that one soon-to-be-dead brother. Sloan didn’t look like a regular tiger, which was why Jaxon knew he wasn’t dealing with a rogue. He didn’t know where his brother came from because he never heard of anyone shifting into a rare “strawberry” tiger. They didn’t know who his parents were because their brother was an abandoned baby. Abandoned shifters were a massive concern because if they didn’t realize what they were, often they could be caught in their animal form after their first shift. Teenage panic and massive confusion altered their ability to make proper decisions, and that usually lead to death because they didn’t know how to hunt. What usually happened was they were killed by a larger predator or by man. Found under a stairwell of a library in Nova Scotia, Sloan floated through the foster system for years, never adopted. Shifter children tended to be wilder than most, and he couldn’t imagine how crazy Sloan would have been as a child. He was thirty-five now and still acted like a teenager sometimes. They might never have known if Gordon didn’t actively monitor the foster care system for children that exhibited the characteristics that drew his attention. Gordon sent Jaxon’s parents to meet with the boy, and it took one scent for his mother to decide to adopt him into their family. It was a risk putting a young feline predator into a family

14

Corinne Davies

of wolves, but at the time there weren’t any other families in the position to take him in. He and Kaden were already close and didn’t mind the carrottopped child who, with his endless enthusiasm for life, bounded his way into their hearts. Jaxon marched into the house looking for someone’s ass to kick. His brothers’ combined laughter floated though the house, leading him to the source. “One growl and this guy shits himself so bad I could smell him for miles.” Jaxon pushed open the screen door in time to hear the guilty confession. As if there were any other strawberry tigers within a hundred thousand miles of here. Kaden stood by the barbecue with a beer in hand, while their younger brother sat on the railing of their deck, nursing a cold one himself. “Hey, Jaxon, steaks are just about done. You hungry?” “Do you have any idea what that stunt of yours could have done?” Dinner be damned, he was hot and pissed off at the immature action. “Ecstasy Lake is supposed to be a safe haven, Sloan. You put us all in danger!” “Oh no, did you have to deal with him? Did he still smell as bad with a human nose?” His brother erupted into another gale of laughter and then drained the bottle in his hand. Jaxon thought for a moment of pushing him off the railing and letting him land on his ass, but the little shit would only land on his feet as usual. “Don’t you think you are overreacting a little bit, Jaxon?” He turned on Kaden and growled at him. “I had to leave a man freaking out about tigers in the forest with the O.P.P. When we end up with CityPulse24 up here doing a full report on exotic animals being let loose in the park, I’m handing both your asses to Gordon.”

Embraced by Fur

15

“Oh, come on, like anyone is going to believe him.” Sloan hopped off the railing, walked over to the beer case, and dropped the empty bottle into it. “Lighten up. He was stoned out of his tree.” “How the hell do you know that?” Granted, the overpowering foul scents masked anything else, but he wouldn’t have missed something so obvious. “Kaden talked to a couple of the guys working shift today, and they said he was completely under the influence. By the way, they’re thinking of making the Conservation Officers pay to have their car detailed. That guy made a mess of the backseat.” Knowing that the tiger story would be contained took a load off his mind, but he still couldn’t shake the mental image of finding his brother with a bullet between the eyes. He reached down and pulled a beer from the cooler. “Sloan, I’m telling you now, you keep this shit up and you’ll endanger us all. The leaves will start turning in a few weeks, and you can growl at the hunters in the fall. At least you’re camouflaged by the changing leaves, and they think they’re about to be eaten by a bear or wolf.” “What fun is that?” Jaxon stepped up into his brother’s space and growled low in his throat. His demeanor demanded that his brother acknowledge his place in the house and that Sloan wasn’t dominating enough to be the leader. They stood there having a stare-off. The air around them shimmered with tension. Sloan broke off first, chuffing at him as he rolled his eyes. “All right, it’s not like they don’t deserve it. Fucking poachers.” Jaxon grabbed Sloan in a one-arm hug. They all hated the poachers in their woods, but Sloan had to realize that taking them on face-to-face wasn’t the answer. Jaxon would never forgive himself if his brother got hurt. “You realize that many of those asshole poachers are carrying enough firepower to take down your cat?”

16

Corinne Davies

“You worry too much, Jaxon. I’m a big boy and a bigger cat.” Sloan elbowed him in the stomach, and he retaliated with a jab to his brother’s upper arm. That was all it took to ignite their tempers. “You’re not faster than a bullet, dumbass. Keep that in mind next time you try any more scare tactics.” They circled each other and threw punches that increased in effort as they tried to get past the other’s guard. “I’m not a kitten, Jaxon. I’ve faced scarier shit than a fucking citidiot with a gun.” “Oh, now all that time you spent sliding down a hill in Whistler makes you faster than a bullet?” “Fuck you, Jaxon. You’re talking out your ass. You board down an ice-carved mountainside, and I’ll check your shorts at the bottom.” Anger had Sloan’s eyeteeth elongated to the point that his words slurred slightly when he spoke. “Right, that’s the mountainside that you broke your fucking neck on. Remember, the one that ended your supposed extreme career?” Part of Jaxon wanted Sloan to understand that seeing him in the hospital bed with a halo screwed into his head scared the hell out of him. Sloan was still a kid and needed to grow up. Kaden carried a large platter of steaks and shouldered the two of them out of his way. “If you two would get your testosterone back under control and finish pissing all over each other’s territory, dinner’s ready.” “So you’re going to be the mature one here, Kaden?” Jaxon went to shove his brother in the shoulder but missed and hit the platter his brother carried. The scent of seared steaks and barbecued corn hung in the air as they all stared at the food that now littered the wood planks under their feet. Kaden whipped the platter out over the railing onto the lawn. “Now you can make your own goddamn dinner, assholes.”

Embraced by Fur

17

Two doors slammed. Out front, Kaden’s truck roared to life before racing down the drive in what sounded like an impressive spray of gravel. Almost at the same moment, screaming thrash metal started thumping from behind Sloan’s bedroom door. Jaxon paced across the lawn and waited for his anger to siphon out of him, drawn out by the forest that surrounded them. What the hell was happening to them? Lately the littlest things dissolved into a massive fight. All he wanted to do was give Sloan shit for taking unnecessary risks. The chance of him getting hurt made him feel nauseous. He didn’t worry about Kaden as much, but then Kaden was always the calm one. Up until the last few weeks, his younger brother was the first one to step between the two of them and break up any arguments, but now he seemed to be happy to let them beat the hell out of each other. That was when he wasn’t picking fights himself. All his life Jaxon knew that his brothers would always be there. They often talked about sharing one woman, but unless things changed between them, they would be living apart and not speaking to each other. Sighing, he stopped to collect the platter Kaden had thrown and then started to clean up the deck. He should have approached this differently than storming out onto the deck, but fuck, he couldn’t stand the thought of losing his brothers. But if they couldn’t figure out how to live together soon, this incredible fissure that was growing between them might divide them for life.

18

Corinne Davies

Chapter Two Carol McKade couldn’t understand why anyone would want to live in a small town. All the neighbors were in each other’s business, whispering gossip, ready to snub someone for any slight. This particular town had an additional detriment. They had bugs, bugs, and more bugs. The drive up to Ecstasy Lake was gorgeous. After what felt like a month of rainy days, the sun broke out this morning, and the temperature rose. Rolling the windows down, she turned up the music and tried to pretend that her life hadn’t taken a nosedive into the closest broken sewer main. She smacked her hand against her steering wheel thinking about it. Three years it took her to get her business off the ground, only to discover that the city was going to pull funding and close her no-kill animal shelter. They didn’t care that she had almost a full house of animals that needed immediate homes. Thankfully, she managed to find other no-kill shelters to take them to, but now she had nothing left. What really hurt was that her boyfriend…ex-boyfriend, was behind it all. Looking back, the signs were all there, but she chose to ignore them. He was her accountant but never had time to go over her books with her. She assumed that he would tell her if she was overspending. She wasn’t an idiot and was careful with her spending, keeping everything to a minimum. He continuously assured her she was doing fine. His schedule increased. There were late nights at the office, and then he wanted to get an apartment in the city to cut down on commuting. First, it was a day here and there, but over the last couple

Embraced by Fur

19

of months, he only occasionally made an appearance at their townhouse. Not that she minded because it meant that she could spend more hours at the shelter without feeling guilty. Animals loved unconditionally. She didn’t have any pets at home. David didn’t like to deal with them and found them a nuisance. This worked out because she preferred to be at the shelter where she could treat them all like her pets. They didn’t care if you weren’t built like a toothpick or always seemed to have cat, dog, or the occasional rabbit hair on almost all your clothes. Then the letter came from city hall that announced that she wasn’t eligible for funding anymore and was under investigation. When she tried to call, she was directed to one office after another. No one seemed to know anything about a letter being sent to her. Finally, she learned that her funding was recently diverted to another account. Confused and angry, she drove to David’s office to talk to him and see if he had any ideas of what she could do to rectify the situation. As her accountant, she thought he would be looking out for her interests. Did he know about the other account? What she discovered was he arranged for her to think she lost her funding. Meanwhile, he pocketed it all. He didn’t even give her the satisfaction of seeing his ass nailed to that wall because he cleaned out their bank accounts and his office before disappearing. Cowardly asshole. Now with a pending investigation into it all, any possible future funding had dried up. Cutbacks, she was told when she reapplied, but she had to wonder if that was really the case. Either way, she had next to nothing left. What was left of her belongings she packed into a storage unit and took her friend up on her invitation to come and visit and help out at her veterinary clinic. Hiding might not be the best solution to her problems, but she decided to think of this as a vacation. She would reassess her life and make some well-thought-out decisions. Not that she had much to choose from since she had enough gas to get her up here but not back.

20

Corinne Davies

TC, her fluffy calico, leapt into the front seat, distracting her thoughts as he curled up in a sunny patch on the passenger seat. Doing so meant that he covered all her maps, but she didn’t have the heart to brush him off. She wasn’t able to keep all of her animals, but she couldn’t part with this lovable cat. No matter how she tried to lock him in his travel crate, the cat always managed to get loose. He was the Houdini of the feline world, and she adored him for it. Life was never boring with him in it. Too bad his previous owners didn’t appreciate his character. They wanted a pristine life, and having a cat that repeatedly broke into the cupboards to play drove them to distraction. Not to mention the tumbleweeds of cat hair he left behind everywhere he went. They should have considered that before buying a cute fluffball for a kitten that grew up into a massive puffball of a cat. Her life might have gone to shit, but at least he still loved her. Not one to wallow in sadness, she turned her attention to the beautiful scene beyond her windshield. Things always happened for a reason. Losing her shelter broke her heart, but when her friend Brenna phoned and asked if she would be willing to come up and take care of her clinic for a few weeks, she jumped at the chance. Brenna always spoke well of the small town she lived in, and even though Carol found herself in the middle of nowhere, she could understand the attraction. She drove past a large sign that said “Welcome to Ecstasy Lake” but over the Ecs, someone had painted a backward E and an x, making it look like 3x. Strange, but Brenna always said her town was very unique. According to her directions, this was where she was to make her first left, and the road plunged into the thick of the forest. Her phone burst into a chorus of barking, alerting her to an incoming call. She hit the “hands free” button on her console to answer it. This way she didn’t have to pull over. “Hey, girlfriend! How close are you?”

Embraced by Fur

21

“Just passed the ‘welcome to’ sign. Did you know someone’s vandalized it?” “That happened a long time ago. Some smart-ass took a can of paint to it.” Brenna’s melodic voice sounded in her car. “No one’s gotten around to fixing it. So you’re almost here. I can’t wait to see you.” “I’m looking forward to visiting. Is there anything you want me to pick up on my way?” “No, I’m good, thanks anyway. Do you have the directions I emailed you?” “Yes, TC’s sleeping on them.” “I can’t wait to see the little Houdini. That little ball of fluff is going to have a blast here, and you will, too.” “If you say so.” “Trust me, Carol. You’re never going to want to leave here.” “Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m only staying to help out for a few weeks. Then I’m going back to find David and kick his ass all over city hall and get my funding back.” “If you say so, but I was at The Shack, and Catherine read my tea leaves. She said that I am going to have a visitor who will never leave.” Carol laughed with her friend. Brenna took all sorts of crazy fortune-telling things so seriously. Carol could never figure out how a woman as incredibly smart as her friend could be so gullible. “You must be having another visitor because you know I can’t survive without my Starbucks and Winners.” “Wait till you get here. I’ll bet you fall in love with the lake, and we have lots of animals up here.” “Yes, I’ve seen lots of your wildlife already.” Spraying windshield washer on her windshield, her wiper blades smeared crushed bugs across her line of vision. “Brenna, there isn’t any such thing as a were-insect, right?” “No, why?” She could hear the amusement in her friend’s voice.

22

Corinne Davies

“Just checking.” Carol sprayed more solution on her windshield, and the wipers cleaned off the residual smears. After Brenna was injured when they lived together, her father, Gordon, told Carol everything about their alter egos. Brenna was flying out in a couple days to stay with her pregnant sister. For obvious reasons, shapeshifters didn’t go to the hospital to have their babies. Since Carol already knew of their existence, it made sense for her to come and take care of the clinic while Brenna was gone. “I’m almost there. See you in a few minutes.” “As soon as you get here, we’ll go over to the Sugar Hut to get a couple milkshakes to celebrate your finally making it.” Carol debated on telling Brenna not to bother. Milkshakes weren’t going to help her get to her goal weight. In the end, she simply promised to see her friend shortly. It took her another eight minutes to get to Main Street. This was cottage country, and even though the weekend after next marked Labour Day, Brenna told her the area would stay busy until Thanksgiving. She turned down a bunch of different streets until finally making it to Main Street. For a tourist town they didn’t make it easy to find. Emerging from the densely wooded drive was almost magical. The trees dropped away and treated her to a beautiful view of the sparkling lake to her right. She drove slowly down the main avenue. Buildings lined up against one side of the road, and Ecstasy Lake dominated the view to the right. A wide boardwalk lined each side of the road with lots of people milling up and down the street. She passed a small hotel, the ice cream parlor, and a small restaurant, and then a couple buildings lined the lake side of the road. As she cruised past, she saw three elderly ladies sitting in rocking chairs in front of one store, knitting away. Two of them waved to her, and she waved back. The third pulled what looked to be an iPhone from her pocket and held it up, taking a picture. Okay, strange but not that bad.

Embraced by Fur

23

Next door to them was something that looked like a museum dedicated to a water monster and then an office of sorts. On her left, she passed an arcade and a couple more tourist-type shops before pulling into the animal clinic. Considering how small this town was, Carol didn’t expect Brenna’s animal clinic to be busy. But her friend explained that the city tourists often brought their very domesticated animals up north with them. Inevitably, these poor pets ended up getting hurt because often their owners never stopped to consider that a city dog would have no idea how to behave in a forest. Brenna often had to deal with pets infested with ticks or fleas, animals suffering from a mouth full of porcupine quills, or scratches and bites from sharp-clawed forest animals. She didn’t have her car in park before Brenna burst out from the front door and ran toward her. “You made it!” Brenna met her with an exuberant hug, and Carol felt her eyes start to well up. After all the emotional upheaval she’d had in the past weeks, Brenna’s hug made her feel as though she was truly welcome somewhere. **** With TC happily leaping from platform to platform in the “cat room” of the clinic and Brenna’s assistant, River, watching the counter, she and Brenna went for a walk. The sun inched closer to the tree line, creating lengthening shadows across the main street from the trees behind the buildings. “So the dirtbag stole your money? What a bastard. I knew I didn’t like him.” “I appreciate your coming in on my side, but you never met him.” “Sweetheart, any man who would rather stay at an apartment instead of coming home to you must be either in the closet or having an affair.”

24

Corinne Davies

“It wasn’t anything like that. Aside from the theft, he wasn’t the only one to blame. We are both workaholics, I was just as happy having him in the city so I could stay at my shelter and take care of things there and not feel guilty.” “Did he give you any reason to want to come home more often?” Carol wasn’t entirely certain what her friend was talking about. What possible thing could he have done to make her want to come home? “That’s what I thought.” They wandered over to the ice cream shop as they spoke and decided to get scoops of ice cream instead of a milkshake. Brenna had a double scoop of peanut butter chocolate. Carol’s choice of sherbet, because it was lower fat, might have been inconsequential to the shop owner, but Brenna eyed her choice as they wandered down the boardwalk. “Sherbet? You’re not doing one of those binge diets, are you? There isn’t anything wrong with the way you look.” “So says the woman who makes men want to fall to their knees in front of her.” “Yeah, well I wish. It’s been an incredibly long time since anyone was on their knees around me, and almost longer since I was on my knees.” Brenna sighed and shrugged her shoulders as if it was all out of her control. “You’re kidding me. I remember you had a different date almost every weekend in University.” “I wasn’t that bad.” Carol rolled her eyes and pretended to agree. They both knew that Brenna was lying. “All the guys around here have known me since I was a kid.” They crossed the street and headed down the stairs to the boardwalk in front of the lake. “What about that accountant your father set you up with?”

Embraced by Fur

25

“Um, well let’s see…accountant that my father approves of. Like that wasn’t doomed to fail. Thank god both my moms stopped him from messing with my love life anymore.” Carol jumped at the opportunity to change the subject. “How is your family?” “Oh, awesome as usual. My little sisters are the cutest little bugs. Wait till you meet them. They’ll crawl into your heart in two seconds.” “Your dad has me on his e-mail list for pictures.” Carol always looked forward to opening messages from Gordon and seeing how big Hope and Willow were getting. “I feel bad it’s taken me this long to get up here.” “They’re growing up quickly. Willow slept through the night for the first time last week and scared the hell out of my parents. She must have known how badly she frightened them because mom said she hasn’t done it since.” Carol listened to her friend talk about her family, but her attention was on the expanse of lake in front of her. Ecstasy Lake sparkled in the summer sun, but there was something eerie about it. As if it held ancient secrets below the black surface. Either that or she’d read Stephen King’s “The Raft” too many times as a kid, because that was what this lake made her think of. If she suddenly noticed a colourful oil slick on the surface, then she was running and never coming back. “Oh, and Hope has decided that she likes the name Lulu better and wants us to call her that.” That snapped Carol’s attention back to the conversation. “How did your sister come up with that?” “Carol!” A loud booming voice jolted her out of her thoughts before she found herself wrapped in a warm embrace. “I heard you made it. How was your drive?” “Hi, Gordon.” Brenna’s father was the sweetest man Carol ever met. He always gave her a big hug and made her feel like part of the family. He was one of those men who looked better the older he got,

26

Corinne Davies

only Gordon didn’t look his age in the slightest. Not many people knew his secret, but after an accident in college that involved Brenna, Carol discovered there was a lot more to her best friend’s family than simply being stunning people. “The drive up here was beautiful once I got off Highway 400. I love the way it smells here.” “That’s called fresh air, darling, and we have lots of it up here away from your big smoggy city.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before reaching out and pulling Brenna into a big hug. “Hello, baby girl.” “Dad, I’m thirty-five. I keep telling you that your babies are at home.” Despite her words, Brenna snuggled into her father’s embrace. “And I keep telling you that when you’re eighty-five, you’ll still be my baby girl.” “How are Helen and Ann? Please give them a hug from me.” Gordon’s smile reflected every bit of the love he felt for his wives. “They’re as beautiful as ever. Oh, and before I forget, I’m under direct orders from my ladies to remind you that you’re expected for dinner tomorrow night.” “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” That was another plus in favour of staying here. She would always feel welcome and be fed homecooked meals. Brenna’s mom was an incredible force in the kitchen. She always made elaborate meals when they’d come to visit them in University. “Brenna was telling me that Hope wants to be called Lulu now.” “Yup, my little girl is as strong willed as her mamas. A friend of Ann’s has been calling her Lulu. It means ‘little rabbit’, and since my Hope bounces around all the time, it fit. She’s taken quite the liking to it.” “I can’t wait to see them.” “Then we’ll see you tomorrow night. I have to go pick up some groceries for dinner. Can’t have my girls go hungry, because it makes

Embraced by Fur

27

them grumpy.” He pressed a kiss to Carol and Brenna’s heads as he hugged them before heading to the small market across the street. “How is it your dad can make me feel like a kid?” Brenna winked at her. “Because, he’s older than dirt, so we’re all kids to him.” “I heard that!” echoed across the street, sending both of them into a fit of laughter. Brenna tucked her arm into the crook of Carol’s. “Let’s get the clinic closed up, and then you and TC can get settled. I cleared out the spare room. It has a sliding door that faces the back, and I want you to be able to enjoy the view.” The back half of the clinic was Brenna’s apartment, which made it easier for her to be there for any animals in her care. They sauntered up the street back toward the clinic. Ahead of them, the three little old ladies rocked in matching chairs and, knitting, all smiled simultaneously. “Hi, Brenna. Hi, Carol,” they chimed out in unison. “That’s Poppy, Lily, and Lavender McGuigan.” Brenna laughed and headed in the direction of the ladies who greeted them. “We better go over and say hi, or they will be insulted, and trust me, you always want to be on their good side.” How did they know my name? Her question must have shown on her face. “Look up over the yarn shop and to the left. See the big window?” Brenna nudged her shoulder and pointed upwards. Carol followed where Brenna indicated. There was a man sitting in front of a desk with a maze of wires all over the place. He waved down at them, and they both returned his wave. “That’s Cris. He’s the voice of 3XTC, our own radio station. I mentioned this morning that you were coming, so he told everyone you were driving into town today.” “You’re kidding me. Everyone knows I’ve come for a visit?”

28

Corinne Davies

“Of course, this is a small town, remember? Word would have spread quickly, but Cris makes certain that the truth doesn’t get stretched too much, although he is the cause of some of the best Blavet rumours.” They came up on the trio of knitters as they chatted. “That boy keeps talking about the creature in the lake as if he knows him.” “All that talk is what keeps the tourists coming, but they never see it.” “That’s because he’s shy. He only comes around after the tourists go away.” “Who’s that?” Carol watched in wonder as the older women all continued knitting as they spoke. Not a single one of them looked down at their fingers as they worked the yarn around the needles. “Blavet, of course.” Poppy looked her over, and Carol felt as if she were being sized up for something. “Our local legend doesn’t like strangers, but I think he will like you.” Lily and Lavender nodded their heads in unison, and the three of them bestowed a kind smile on her. “You be sure to come down here one day, early morning, and say hello.” Brenna gave her a tug on the arm. “All right, I’ll do my best. It was very nice to meet the three of you.” “If you will excuse us, ladies, I’d like to get Carol settled in at home. We have a lot of catching up to do.” The three of them paused in unison to wave good-bye and then took up their knitting again. Carol was amazed by the fact that the three of them all knit at the same speed and in perfect time with the other two. Stranger and stranger…

Embraced by Fur

29

Chapter Three Hisss whisk merooow hisss. TC flew out of the waiting room at top speed, shooting past Carol’s feet and disappearing down the hallway. “What the hell?” Carol poked her head around the corner of the doorway to see what could have upset her so much. She hadn’t heard anyone come in. The sight that greeted her made her heart skip a beat. She blinked at the man standing there looking at one of the pictures on the counter. Her first thought was that he had the most beautiful smile. Incredible white teeth and bright blue eyes that looked her from head to toe. Uncomfortable with his open perusal, she pulled her sweater over her chest and crossed her arms. “Is there something I can help you with?” “Can I give you a list?” His lips curled up on one side, in what might be the most wicked grin she ever witnessed. It made her stomach tighten and her breasts tingle. “Pardon me?” “First thing you can help me with is your phone number.” He placed the picture back and started toward her. Thankful of the counter, Carol stepped behind it, using it as a shield. He was much taller than her and had long curly hair that made her think of freshly ground cinnamon, kind of like the American who won gold in the Olympics. “I can’t see why you would need that.” “Oh, I can…What’s your name, beautiful?” Part of her ached to move around this counter and step into his arms. He was the beautiful one, and she was just herself. Men like him didn’t think those things about her unless they wanted something.

30

Corinne Davies

Part of her wanted to play the game, but she knew too well how it would end. There was something about this man that whispered encouragement to try one more time, but she was done changing herself for other people. “Aren’t you a smooth one?” Tamping down her crazy thoughts, she flipped open the appointment book. Looking down, she ran her finger down the list of pets in the shelter, looking for a man’s name. “Are you here to pick up your pet?” “Nope.” She looked up and found herself eye to eye with him. He had both arms braced against the counter and was bent over to lean on it. Only his gaze wasn’t on her face. How typical. It resided about six inches below her chin. Lifting the book like a shield, she moved back and adjusted her sweater again. “What are you here for?” He was about to answer when she heard Brenna’s voice behind her. “Hey, Sloan! How are things?” That incredible smile never left his lips when he looked past her to her friend. For a moment, he looked disappointed by the interruption, but that had to be her imagination. Once Brenna walked in a room, she naturally attracted all the attention. “I’m thinking of getting a pet?” “Yeah, right.” Brenna laughed out loud at the man, surprising Carol. Usually her friend was much more tactful when dealing with the general public. Had living in a small town made her bitter? “What would your brothers say to that? Jaxon would freak at anything being disrupted, and Kaden would have to hold him down from killing you. That is if he didn’t scare the poor animal into fleeing.” “I’m looking into getting my own place, and I think another feline would keep me company. What about the cat that was in here a moment ago?” “That’s TC,” Carol replied. “He’s not up for adoption.” “Oh, god. I’m so sorry, Carol.” Brenna wrapped her arm around Carol’s shoulders. “Sloan, I want you to meet my closest friend. We

Embraced by Fur

31

met when I lived in Guelph. This is Carol McKade. Carol, this is Sloan Henderson. He lives with his brothers Jaxon and Kaden. Don’t listen to him about wanting a pet. He’s only thinking of doing it to piss his brothers off.” “Now, that’s not fair.” Sloan looked annoyed at Brenna’s accusation, but she could still see a mischievous curl to his lips. It made her wonder if he was the type of man who didn’t take much seriously. “I’m not that mean to animals, and Jaxon needs to be shaken up every once in a while.” Sloan continued. “I’m serious about getting my own place. I think it will be good for the three of us.” Carol didn’t understand the concerned look that crossed her friend’s face. Considering Sloan’s age, it made sense he would want a place of his own, but she’d get the details from her friend later. “Besides, I think my life is going to be shaken up quite enough.” That beautiful smile turned back to her, and she could feel her insides turning all warm under his gaze. He smiled at her as if he knew what a crazy mess he was making of her thoughts. “Really, and what prank do you have planned for him now?” Brenna asked. “Oh, I think I’ll let Fate take the lead on this one.” He flashed those baby blues in her direction and winked at her. Carol knew there were undercurrents to this conversation she didn’t understand, and that annoyed her. What really bothered her was the way Brenna stiffened up as if in shock. “What’s wrong?” Brenna looked back and forth between Sloan and her and back again, her eyes wide with surprise. “What?” Brenna paled considerably. “Nothing, nothing at all.” Carol worried if somehow this guy and his brothers were a threat. All his flirting was an act anyway. It wasn’t like he would really be interested in her.

32

Corinne Davies

“I’m going to take a walk with Sloan and explain why this idea of his is crazy.” “It’s not crazy.” He didn’t look like he wanted to move, but Brenna tugged hard on his arm. “We need to talk, Sloan. Now.” Carol felt sick for a moment, thinking that maybe she read the situation wrong. Brenna didn’t mention anything about seeing anyone, but what if Brenna was interested in this guy, and instead he stood there flirting with her. Brenna grabbed her purse and asked, “Carol, you’re still coming to dinner at my dad’s tonight, right?” As if she was not going to show up after the large man practically demanded her attendance the day before, not that she minded for a moment. “A home-cooked meal I don’t have to make myself? You bet I’m looking forward to it.” “Awesome. See you later, Carol.” “You, too, Brenna. It was nice to meet you, Sloan.” Faster than Carol could see him move, he stood in front of her, lifted her hand and pressed his lips against her knuckles. “Until later, Carol.” She looked up into his face and completely lost her train of thought. His incredibly blue eyes made her forget anything and everything else. What was the problem here again? He leaned closer to her, sending her heart into a wild tattoo against her chest, only to press his lips reverently against her cheek. Her body felt like she was having a hot flash, and a fine tremor ran along her limbs. Moisture flooded her pussy, and all she could imagine was Sloan lifting her up against the wall, pressing himself into her hard and fast. Her fingers curled into his shirt. “Sloan.” Brenna stood there glaring at him, her arms crossed against her chest. Crap. How did I forget we weren’t alone? Staring up at him, she saw the way his gaze flashed in annoyance. The way the lights from the window shone, it looked as if his eyes

Embraced by Fur

33

changed slightly. She was spending too much time with animals because it looked like his pupils elongated for a split second. “I’m sorry to leave you like this.” His eyebrows drew together slightly in a disappointed frown. She could almost believe he didn’t want to leave. She pulled her cardigan back over her chest, her armor back in place. “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine. See you around.” His eyes narrowed slightly before he jerked away from her. As he stalked past Brenna, she heard a low, aggressive growl rumble in the room. Was that Sloan? “Okay, so I’ll see you tonight.” Brenna said, smiling at her as if nothing was wrong. Carol could feel her skin warm up and knew she must be beet red. “I’ll lock up for you and see you over there in a bit.” With a bright smile and wave, Brenna spun on her heel and raced out the door after the man who had slammed through it a moment before. Stranger and stranger… **** Sloan figured he could be back on a mountain peak in Whistler and not feel the cold. Fuck, he felt so hot he figured he’d be able to melt all of Baffin Island. Carol was everything he ever wanted in a woman. She looked a bit shy, had a pretty smile and lush…oh god, those curves of hers. He wanted to curl up against her and wrap his arms around her. Better than that, he wanted to bury his face between her luscious breasts and taste every inch of them. Her scent tempted his nose and arrowed straight to his cock. He never met a woman as responsive, and he wanted to learn more about her. What he really wanted was to scoop Carol up and take her home. She was perfect for the three of them. They wanted someone who

34

Corinne Davies

would fire their passions and give back as good as she got. No stick for a woman would do for them, either. But then they weren’t in any condition to bring a woman into their lives. Just because sharing a woman had brought them such enjoyment before didn’t mean it was to be forever. Although, the idea of each of them having different mates didn’t sit well with him. Up until the last few months, they had assumed that one woman would be perfect. Now he wasn’t so certain. He needed to get himself under control before he did something stupid. Like turning around and following his cock back into the clinic to claim his mate. My Mate. He knew she was meant to be his the moment she walked around the corner in the clinic. She was the last thing he’d expected to find today, and now he fought the urge to run back to her. Jaxon and Kaden had to meet her, soon. A sick feeling cramped his stomach. What if she wasn’t their mate as well? The three of them accepted that they enjoyed sharing a woman. In fact, they assumed that one day they would find someone who could fill that role for them. This was one of those rare instances that they didn’t take into consideration the ramifications of his being a different breed. What if he wasn’t meant to share a woman with them? Could he walk away from her and share his brothers’ mate? The tiger inside him snarled a distinct negative. He found his mate, and there was no way he would not claim her as soon as possible. “Sloan!” “What!” Brenna stumbled as she ran toward him. Belatedly, he realized that he’d snarled at her and was baring his teeth. “Sorry, Brenna.” “Eyes.” Sloan flicked his sunglasses off the top of his head and put them on to cover his eyes. His inner kitty was riding him hard to go and get their mate, and anyone who didn’t like it could fuck off. “Do I need to ask what happened in there?”

Embraced by Fur

35

“She’s my fucking mate. I can’t believe this.” “Wow.” Brenna ran both her hands through her hair. “That’s amazing. Oh, are you in for it.” “What?” Sloan wasn’t in the mood for games right now. “You know what? I’ve changed my mind.” Brenna could lock up her own animal clinic. He was going to take his mate home and introduce her to his brothers. “Oh, no you don’t.” Brenna’s hand wrapped around his arm and squeezed. “Come walk with me.” “Why?” “Because you are one big hormone right now, and you need to relax a moment and stop to consider your next move.” “I already know what I plan to do.” “I know. I can smell you, too. Geez. You two almost burnt the place down in there. Good thing that Carol’s sense of smell isn’t as sensitive as ours, or I never would have been able to separate you.” He laughed and wrapped his arm around Brenna’s shoulders. They were close in age and practically grew up together, so he did think of her as a younger sister. Because of that, they rarely pulled punches when it came to telling the truth between them. “Jealous?” “Of you? Hell no.” Brenna shrugged her shoulders under his arm. “But I will admit to a bit of envy that you have found your mate. Carol is the sweetest person in the universe, you know.” “She’s a friend of yours, so that is a huge point in her favor. But...” “But what?” “What if she isn’t Jaxon and Kaden’s mate? We haven’t been getting along so well. What if this is Fate’s way of getting us ready for our own mates?” The idea of not sharing a mate felt so very wrong. “I think you’re missing a more important question.” “What’s that?”

36

Corinne Davies

“What if she doesn’t want to be a mate?” Sloan had no plan to acknowledge that idea. Carol was theirs, and nothing was going to change that. “She will once we convince her.” “Oh my god, the arrogance of you three is incredible. Maybe you should give Gaspar a call. I heard that they almost got their mate hurt by arrogantly making decisions for her.” “Nice try. I was talking to Vencel, and he said that their mistake was not telling Mai everything up front. I’ll take Carol home with me, and once she meets Jaxon and Kaden, then we will all live happily ever after.” “Sloan, she just got here. She’s had a lot of garbage heaped on her shoulders lately. As a massive favor to me, please wait a couple days, and I’ll owe you forever. I understand what you are saying, but let me have a bit of a visit with her first before you sweep her off her feet. Go slow, enjoy this, you only get to find your mate once.” She had a point, even if it went against every demanding instinct in his body, and Jaxon was the one always on his ass for jumping before looking. If it wasn’t for the fact that Brenna was such a good friend, he would have flipped her off and run away with Carol. “All right, but I’m still going to tell them about her.” “And you should, but remember that being told you’re someone’s mate is shock enough, but to discover that you are about to be shared by brothers would unnerve even the most open-minded people.” “Maybe I’ll tell her that first and then the shape-shifting part afterward. It might not be as intimidating after she meets my brothers.” Brenna wrapped her arm around Sloan’s and walked down the boardwalk with him. “I’ve known Carol for a very long time, and it takes a lot to shock her. She’s the calmest person I know.”

Embraced by Fur

37

Chapter Four Later that afternoon, Carol wandered up and down the two aisles that made up the local liquor store. There wasn’t an LCBO in Ecstasy Lake, but Carol remembered passing one as she drove along the highway into town. Since there weren’t any animals left to pick up, she closed up the clinic a bit early, which allowed her enough time to run a couple errands. She didn’t want to show up at Gordon’s house empty-handed and decided that a nice bottle of wine and some flowers would do the trick. Walking along the wall lined with spirits, beer, and liquors, she found that the two center islands were home to the wine selection. In the end, she decided on a red and a white wine from Ontario. She couldn’t go wrong with VQA. Balancing the wines in one arm, she dug through her purse to get her wallet. She never noticed the large man in front of her until it was too late. “Oomph!” She staggered a moment, expecting to drop to her ass and smash the bottles, but it never happened. Instead, for the second time today, she found herself caught up in a man’s arms. Looking up, she half expected to see Sloan’s face, but she didn’t recognize the man holding her. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bang into you like that.” He didn’t say anything, staring down at her as if she was a prime rib and he was ready for dinner. “You can let go of me now.” Juggling the bottles, she tried to step back, but instead the man tightened his hold on her arms and pulled her closer. “Um, excuse me, I don’t think I am who you think I am.”

38

Corinne Davies

“Yes, you are, and I believe the line is, I don’t think that means what you think it means.” “A man who can quote The Princess Bride? You are a rare species.” “You have no idea. Come home with me.” Okay, anything you want. Carol jumped all over her crazy inner voice. “Are you insane?” “Maybe, but I need you to meet my brothers.” He pressed his face into her hair. Is he sniffing me? To each their own, but she’d never heard of a hair fetish before. Carol couldn’t say the man wasn’t gorgeous. Exactly what was in the water in these parts anyway? She was tripping over handsome men. Unlike Sloan’s cinnamon lengths, this man’s hair was shorter, dark brown, and spiked around his head, which looked incredibly sexy. “Right. Well, that’s kind, but I have a dinner reservation already.” “Cancel it.” His words were as direct as his gaze. This man radiated an intensity that set her nerves twitching. “No.” She extricated herself from his grip and walked up to the counter. “I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. I’ll pass.” He followed her up to the cash register, standing close enough that she felt an urge to lean back against him and let him take all her problems away. No, you made that mistake once already, Einstein. His actions reminded her so much of Sloan. Really, should she be acting like this toward more than one man in a day? Her dormant libido had roared to life earlier today, and she was having a hard time reminding herself why she shouldn’t go home with Mr. HunkaHunkaBurninLove. She paid for her wine and scooped up the brown paper bag as he reached for it. “I’ll carry that for you.” He looked slightly offended when she prevented him from taking the bag. “No, that’s all right I can take care of myself, thanks,” she replied.

Embraced by Fur

39

He followed her toward the door, but the cashier’s voice echoed in the small store. “Kaden, you planning on paying for that beer?” She looked over her shoulder and noticed that he carried a couple six-packs in one hand. Is he that intent on me that he forgot to pay, or is he using me for cover? “Shit. Sorry, George. Give me a second.” He placed the beer on the counter, and she quickly left the building. He easily caught up to her. He had to be a good six inches taller than her, and she wasn’t a short woman. “Now you know my name, what’s yours?” “I don’t think that is a good idea.” Carol quickened her steps as she headed to her car. An old VW Bug wasn’t much protection, but she didn’t want to be out in the parking lot all by herself with a weirdacting stranger. At least, if she screamed, the cashier would still hear her. “Don’t be afraid.” Isn’t that what all serial killers say? Carol unlocked the car door and used it as a barrier between the two of them when she opened it. She wasn’t surprised that his senses picked up on her fear, especially after he’d tried to sniff her earlier. Kaden held back a few feet as if uncertain what to do. He shoved one hand in his pocket and scratched the back of his head with the other. His brows drew together over his intense gaze. He looked like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. “Listen, I’ve made a mess of this, I know. You caught me off guard, because I never expected to meet you like this.” “What are you talking about?” Carol quickly got in her car and slammed the door. The window might be open, but she knew that she could drive over him if she had to. She had the car started before he got any closer. Kaden held up a hand for her to wait but didn’t get too close to her door. “I’m sorry for scaring you. Please, all I’d like to know is your name.”

40

Corinne Davies

What harm could a name do, especially if it meant he would back off? “What’s your name?” “Kaden Henderson.” At least now she could ask Brenna about him. In a small town everyone knew everyone else, right? “I’m Carol McKade.” His expression softened as a large smile lit his face, causing her heart to skip a beat. “Thank you, Carol.” He stepped away from the car, and she reversed out of the parking lot. As soon as she hit the main road, she stepped on the gas, not wanting him to know what direction she was headed. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she could see that there was no need to worry. He wasn’t chasing her. Instead he stood in the middle of the parking lot watching her until she turned the corner and the trees blocked her view of him. Stranger and stranger and stranger… Carol never attracted that kind of attention from men, and here she met two gorgeous men who made her feel like the sexiest person on the planet. One at a time for Pete’s sake. She’d thought her sex drive had gone into reverse or at least gone into permanent hibernation. Meeting Sloan woke it up, and now she apparently was about to fall all over every man she met. Well, not every man, but she couldn’t explain her reactions today. **** Kaden stood in the middle of the gravel parking lot and stared at the car driving away from him. Karma was a fucking bitch who decided to yank his chain. One thought pounded against his skull over and over. My mate is human. There was no doubt in his soul that she was his True Mate. He could taste her scent on his tongue. A delicate floral scent still hung in the air from her perfume and branded his soul.

Embraced by Fur

41

He wanted to run after her car and find out where she lived, but his feet felt glued to the gravel. His inner wolf snarled in frustration at his inaction. She was getting away, and he was letting her go. People lived their entire lives wishing they would meet the one person destined for them, and he was watching her leave. He memorized her license plate. He knew enough guys on the force that he would be able to find her as soon as he got used to the idea. Trouble was, he already felt used to the idea and wanted her back here. Now. He thumbed his phone open, and paused. He was about to call Jaxon and tell him everything, but why bother? He couldn’t mate with a human and put the entire pack in danger again. Last time it was his best friend Jack who lost his life trying to protect a pack member’s human mate. What if something happened to her and this time it was one of his brothers killed trying to save her life? A sharp pain radiated in his chest and echoed out through his body. How was he going to live with the fact that he let his mate slip through his fingers?

42

Corinne Davies

Chapter Five Carol’s heart pounded for the entire drive to Gordon’s house. It wasn’t until she pulled into the long driveway that she started to relax again. Brenna’s father lived on the outskirts of Ecstasy Lake in a big A-frame house that looked almost like it had grown there and not been built. Carol pulled up next to a few trucks. It made sense that in this area she would need a bigger vehicle. Her VW Bug would never survive the amount of snow that got dumped on them every winter. “Carol!” Gordon’s voice boomed across the yard, making her jump. Damn it! I almost dropped the bottles again. She waved at him and then adjusted the gift bag holding the bottles before reaching in and grabbing the two bouquets of flowers. “Didn’t I tell you that you didn’t have to bring anything but your beautiful smile?” “Yes, you did, but I don’t like going anywhere empty-handed.” Brenna’s dad was a big man with salt-and-pepper hair and the biggest smile. She always felt safe with him. He had this calming way about him. He collected the gift bag she handed him and wrapped his other arm around her shoulders as they walked up to the house. Helen waved to Carol from where she stood leaning against the porch railing. “I’d give you another hug, but you know how jealous Brenna’s moms are.” “Good thing we chose not to marry such a massive flirt,” Ann quipped from where she stood waiting at the open door. She might sound sarcastic, but Carol knew it was all in fun. Ann looked amazing

Embraced by Fur

43

as usual, and Carol hoped that she looked half as good when she reached her age. “I can’t help but flirt with him, he’s so cute.” Carol played along and batted her lashes up at Gordon, who rolled his eyes at her actions and laughed. “Oh sweetheart, please don’t feed his ego any more. We work very hard to keep his feet on solid ground.” Helen commented this time. “I’ll take the wine in for you, Carol.” Gordon pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He kissed both Helen and Ann’s cheeks as he passed on his way into the house. Ann always reminded Carol of Lynda Carter—she never looked like she aged, either. Helen was a bit older, but she, too, was aging beautifully. Helen was Brenna’s other mom, and she came up behind Ann, wrapping an arm around her wife’s waist. Brenna shared the uniqueness of her parents’ marriage a long time ago, and Carol often wondered how they made it work so well. She didn’t think she would be able to share a man, but then both her moms loved each other as well. Maybe that made a difference? “Welcome to our home, Carol. Come on in.” Carol handed a bouquet of flowers to each of the women, who both oohed at them. “We love flowers so much. Thank you, darling.” Helen collected Ann’s flowers. “I’ll go put these in water.” Ann came forward and kissed Carol’s cheek. “Brenna told us about that jackass you left. Good girl.” Leaning closer, she whispered loudly, “Do you want me to ask Gordon to feed him to the wolves?” “Tempting, but I’d hate for the wolves to get indigestion.” “They have a very strong constitution. Don’t worry about them. I’d happily make him disappear for what he did.” “As difficult as it is, I’m trying to be the bigger person, but I reserve the right to change my mind. Where’s Lulu and Willow?” “Willow’s napping, and Lulu is sleeping over at a friend’s house,” Ann answered. “School starts in a couple weeks, and she is all excited

44

Corinne Davies

about being in senior kindergarten. She says she’s a big girl now and isn’t scared of anything. Which means she will make it until about ten or eleven tonight and want to come home.” They walked into the warm house, and Carol felt all the tension from the past few weeks evaporate. She wasn’t close to her parents at all, and this feeling of home made her want to move in and never leave. “You have a beautiful home, Ann.” The inside of the house looked as natural as the outside with large dark-wood beams that looked like branches of a tree stretching through the house. It was warm and inviting, much like the family that lived here. Large, colorful area rugs covered the polished wood floors. “Thank you, honey.” “What took you so long?” Brenna gave her a hug and pressed a glass of sparkling wine in her hand. Ann rubbed Carol’s arm. “While you two chat, I’m going to go check on Willow and have a quick nap.” “We’ll see you at dinner, Mom.” As soon as Ann left the room, Brenna turned on her. Her eyes narrowed, and she moved closer. “Something happened. I can tell by the look on your face, now spill.” “You would not believe it if I told you. Do you know a Kaden Henderson?” Brenna blinked and then one brow arched slightly over her curious gaze. “Yes, why?” “I met him at the LCBO. He’s a bit of a strange guy. I’m not certain what his problem is.” She took a generous swallow of her wine. Even thinking about him made her heartbeat go wild. “And I don’t want to discuss my reaction.” “Like what? Oh my god. You look like you have a sunburn, you’re so red.” Brenna might be her closest friend, but Carol wasn’t sure how to explain her reaction to Sloan, and then to Kaden.“There must be

Embraced by Fur

45

something in the air around here,” she muttered and took another swallow from her glass. “You might need a refill before dinner. In fact, why don’t you stay the night here?” “Why?” “Because you and I will end up polishing off at least one bottle of wine before you start to tell me the truth of what happened, and after that I bet we knock off another one. I’m staying over, too. It will be like old times.” Carol wasn’t immune to her friend’s enthusiasm, and TC was fine hanging out at the clinic for the night. “Top me up then.” **** Jaxon McKade came by earlier to tell Gordon about the hunter they arrested the other day. While it wasn’t a direct threat against the pack, he knew Gordon would want the details. At the end of their conversation, Gordon invited him to stay for dinner. Jaxon loved Helen’s cooking and jumped at the chance. A warm evening, cold beer, and a good meal, life didn’t get much better. He didn’t expect to be suddenly contemplating his future. He never really believed he would ever find his True Mate. Women came and went in his life. He shared some with his brothers, and others left at the mention of being shared. Deep down he never really believed that one day he would have to choose. That was until he heard a musical laugh dance along a summer breeze. The sound was like a siren’s call to him, pulling him away from the group he was talking with. He stalked across the lawn and stopped dead mid pace. Standing on the upper balcony, looking out over the lake with Brenna, was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever set eyes on. The breeze shifted slightly, carrying her scent to him—a combination of vanilla and honeysuckle that wrapped around his head and shot straight to his cock. Her dark hair brushed her shoulders, and red

46

Corinne Davies

streaks in the strands framed her big brown eyes. She had the softestlooking mouth. Her curves made him think of spending the next week in bed with her. He stepped back into the shadow of a nearby tree and watched her. She smiled and laughed, clinking glasses with Brenna as if the two of them came up with a plan to rule the world. His wolf demanded he get closer to her, whimpering for more. Was her skin as soft as it looked from here? To be on the safe side, he didn’t take his eyes off her as he headed across the grass toward the side door of Gordon’s house. Every animal instinct he had clamored for him to take what was his. She was most definitely his. His elation from moments ago deflated like a balloon. The three of them had planned on sharing a woman. It would take a special woman to take all three of them on. This woman was human. She wouldn’t know a thing about his animal side or his need to share with his brothers. “Whoa there, mister.” A delicate hand stopped him mid stride as he entered the kitchen. “You’re looking like you’re about to eat someone. Is everything all right?” “I hope so, Helen.” The wolf bristling inside wanted to rush past her and reach the luscious woman who ensnared his senses, but Jaxon didn’t want to show Helen any disrespect. Gordon’s first wife looked older than his second, but that was because she wasn’t his True Mate. Those meant to be together aged at the same rate, but Gordon met Helen before Ann. Jaxon was too young to remember their wedding, but he remembered the whispers when Ann came to town. “That sounds ominous.” Helen placed the vegetables in her hands on the counter. “Is there anything I can do to help you?” Considering the abstract conversations he and he brothers had in the past were about to become a reality, he realized Helen might be the perfect person to speak to about this.

Embraced by Fur

47

“Helen, I have an incredibly personal question to ask you. If you don’t want to answer, then I’ll completely understand.” She pulled up a stool and pointed at it. “You’re not the first one to begin a conversation like that with me, Jaxon. Sit and ask your questions.” Jaxon suddenly found himself at a loss for words. His future wasn’t as certain anymore, and he didn’t know how to handle it. “I think I might have found my mate.” Helen paused as she chopped celery and smiled. “That’s wonderful news, but I imagine you have your concerns. Did you want to ask me about my relationship with Gordon and Ann?” “Yes. You’re not True Mated with either of them, are you?” “No, sadly I’m not, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love them any more or any less. It means that my time with them is shorter than they have with each other.” “Doesn’t that bother you?” “To be truthful, sometimes, but not in a bad way. There are times that I’m very conscious that I only have a set amount of time with them, but you know that being a True Mate doesn’t make you invincible. Shape-shifters might heal quicker and be a bit stronger than humans, but you’re still mortal as well. Human or shifter, you need to show each other how much you care every day because no one knows when their meter is up.” A mental picture of Sloan lying in bed with a halo screwed into his temples flashed though his thoughts. He didn’t like to think about how close he came to losing his brother on a ski hill. She patted his hand where it lay on the table. “And the thought of leaving them behind one day breaks my heart, but I’m thankful that they will have each other to turn to when I’m no longer here to comfort them. But, that isn’t what you want to ask, is it?” “Odds are Sloan won’t have the same mate as us. Hell, I’m not completely certain that Kaden and I will have the same mate. I wanted

48

Corinne Davies

to know how to make it work with an unmated member in a relationship.” “Firstly, why do you think that Sloan will have a different mate than you two?” Helen paused in chopping vegetables and came around the counter. She patted his shoulder and sat down on a stool next to him. “Because he’s a cat, and we aren’t.” “Mai is human. Gaspar and Vencel Solfalvi are wolves, and they’re True Mates.” “I don’t see the similarity. They’re twins. It would be strange if they didn’t have the same mate.” “You know, I remember when Sloan came into our lives. Such a strange set of circumstances, a one-in-a-million chance that everyone would be in the right place at the right time to find that boy and have him end up in your family. Now, if Fate played such a big part in making certain that he became your and Kaden’s brother, do you really believe that you wouldn’t share a mate? I suspected the three of you plan to share one woman. The three of you insisted on sharing everything when you were growing up.” Jaxon could feel his ears start to burn, a telltale sign that his face was beet red. It was one thing to discuss this with his brothers. It was something completely different to talk so openly about it to a woman who reminded him of his mother. “And didn’t all three of you take the same girl to your prom?” Brittany Laurens, the first girl the three of them shared. She was a wild girl who made certain they knew she wanted them all. That night, a bond formed between the three of them that nothing could ever break. A sly grin curled the corner of Helen’s mouth, making him realize that he too was smiling as he recalled that night. “I didn’t realize that was public knowledge.” The burning feeling on his ears spread to his cheeks. “Well, okay, I see your point, and we decided that if one of us found our mate, then the other two would stop looking for theirs.”

Embraced by Fur

49

“Jaxon, how about this?” She stood up and kissed him on the forehead before gently patting his cheek. “Why don’t you wait until Kaden and Sloan meet this girl? If she isn’t their True Mate, come back and talk to me again.” He nodded at her common-sense approach, because he needed to have a plan in place for all circumstances. He needed to keep everything neat, organized, and in order. The compulsion to be prepared to whichever outcome occurred is what kept him calm and under control. “All right. Thank you for your time, Helen.” “Jaxon?” Pausing, his hand on the doorknob, he looked back over his shoulder. “Yes?” Helen’s eyes sparkled with mischievous humour. “If she is your Mate, I hope she throws as much disarray into your life as Ann did for mine. You’ll be happier for it.”

50

Corinne Davies

Chapter Six Carol and Brenna wandered out onto the deck off the living room, and Brenna introduced her to a couple already there. Jessica Cooke was a beautiful woman and had a body that looked like it belonged on the cover of a magazine. Only Jessica didn’t act like a fashion model. She didn’t wear a bit of makeup, and her hair was pulled back in an incredibly tight braid along the back of her head. Her gaze rarely lifted from her feet. Jessica stood there quietly next to her boyfriend, who acted as if she didn’t exist. Brenna had told her that Jessica had changed a lot since taking up with Geoff Reimer. Jessica didn’t do anything before checking with her boyfriend first. Carol knew that some people craved a relationship like that, but from her understanding, this was not a healthy example. Brenna held up the bottle of wine she used to top up their glasses. “Jessica, would you like a refill?” Jessica’s boyfriend wrapped his hand around the back of her neck in a blatant show of possession. “That might not be a good idea, Jess. You have worked so hard in the gym this week. You don’t want all of that to go to waste, do you?” “You know you’re right. Thanks, Geoff.” She covered the top of her glass. “I’m okay, Brenna. Another glass and I’ll have to do extra crunches, and I really hate those.” “I hate crunches, too,” Carol whispered to Jessica. Geoff’s gaze flicked over Carol quickly. His mouth curled in obvious dislike at what he saw. “Yeah, obviously.”

Embraced by Fur

51

Carol’s voice froze in her throat as Jessica gasped at Geoff’s rude comment. What an asshole. Carol debated on throwing her glass of wine in his face but figured he wasn’t worth the waste of wine. “Geoff, that’s not nice.” Jessica’s face turned red, and she looked as if she wanted to burst into tears. He glanced down and gave Jessica an icy look before looking back up. “Sorry, that came out wrong.” “I’m used to his habit of telling the blunt truth.” Jessica patted his arm and smiled up at him. “He is the best at motivating everyone at the gym.” “The sun is starting to set. We should go inside before the mosquitoes come out in full force.” Geoff winked at Carol as he jerked his arm away from Jessica and walked back into the house. Jessica followed him. “Good idea, Geoff.” Carol watched as the young woman tried to catch up to her boyfriend. Judging by her body language, this wasn’t the first time she’d faced a dramatic male temper tantrum. Jessica seemed like such a nice girl. Why would she hook up with such a jerk? “Were you coming in, too, Carol?” “I’ll be there in a moment.” Carol battled with the urge to go in there and tear a strip off of Geoff for being such a prick. But she didn’t want to make her hosts uncomfortable by making a scene, no matter how badly she wanted to. The entire scene reminded her of the way she placated her ex, David. His backhanded compliments and touchy attitude when it came to certain subjects. If only she’d stood up to him long ago. Perhaps, she wouldn’t have turned a blind eye to her suspicions about the shelter’s finances. She heard the patio door open behind her. Brenna asked, “Carol, you okay?” “Fine, simply fighting the urge to go in there and tell someone what I really think of them.”

52

Corinne Davies

“Geoff’s an asshole, and I’ve almost punched him in the mouth a couple times.” Carol spun around at the male voice that obviously wasn’t her friend’s. Standing behind Brenna was another incredibly gorgeous man. What the hell do they put in the water up here? “Carol, this is Jaxon. You met his brother, Kaden, earlier tonight and Sloan earlier today.” Brenna looked as though she was about to dissolve into hysterical laughter. One eyebrow shot up, and she grinned wildly watching Carol’s attempt to maintain some dignity. Jaxon stepped around Brenna and directly up in front of her. A shiver of awareness ran down her spine. This brother wasn’t as muscular as Geoff, but she had no doubt that he could wipe the floor with him. He carried an air of authority around him, similar to Gordon’s but not as intense. Not that it mattered, because her body responded almost identically the same as it did with both of his brothers. A warm flush ran up her spine, wrapping around her shoulders, making her breasts tingle. Her fingers itched to pull the dark T-shirt he was wearing out of the waistband of his jeans. “It’s…ah, nice to meet you?” Jaxon stepped closer to her. His gaze slowly slipped over her as he approached. She could almost feel him caressing her curves. Geoff might have been disgusted by her, but Jaxon made her feel like a goddess. She felt flush, and her breasts strained against her bra. She could almost imagine feeling his hands on her bare skin. “I hope my brother didn’t make you nervous earlier.” “Honestly, maybe a bit. He’s rather an intense guy.” Carol could have bit her tongue off as soon as the words came out of her mouth, but Jaxon seemed to take it in stride and not in offense. Perhaps she shouldn’t have had another glass of wine. “Strange. He’s not normally like that, but he makes up in his cooking skills.” “Are you heading home, Jaxon?” Brenna nudged him in the side.

Embraced by Fur

53

“No, Helen invited me to dinner, and I never pass up on her cooking.” He followed them into the house, but as soon as they got inside, Brenna pulled at Carol’s arm and led her away from him. “Come on and have a refill.” “What is going on around here?” Carol whispered the words against her friend’s ear in hopes that no one else heard. “You aren’t trying to set me up, are you?” “Hell no. I’m trying to keep them away from you.” Brenna tugged her into the back hallway toward the kitchen. “With Mom getting everything ready, it should cover up our voices if we talk quietly.” “Is your hearing that sensitive?” “Yes, but we learn to block out certain sounds and smells.” Carol could feel her neck start to heat up at the implications of what her friend admitted. “I’m going to need more wine, and you need to explain what I am missing here.” Her heart pounded like a drum against her chest, her breasts ached, and her panties were soaked for the third time today. At this rate, she was going to have to start carrying spare underwear in her purse. “You have no idea.” Brenna topped off her glass again. “Let me ask you something. Are you attracted to all three of them?” Carol could feel the familiar tickle and itching sensation spread across her chest and neck. No doubt her cheeks would resemble Rudolf’s nose at the moment. “Why do you ask?” “Because they are interested in you. All three of them.” “Holy crap.” Carol could barely wrap her mind around the idea of one of those gorgeous men thinking of her in that way but all three of them? “There has to be a mistake.” “Nope, but I told them to back off. We’ve hardly had any time to visit, and I don’t want them to steal you from me already.” This coming from a woman who routinely had men following her around campus in an attempt to garner her attention for a moment. Brenna didn’t realize her own looks, and while it was one of her best quirks, it could be incredibly annoying at times.

54

Corinne Davies

While the thought of having the attention of three men on her at once sounded exotic, she wasn’t that kind of person. “I couldn’t handle one, let alone three, so I wouldn’t worry about their stealing too much of my attention. I’m here to visit you and help out at the clinic for a few weeks, and then I’m going home to start over.” Brenna clinked her wine glass with Carol’s. “To new beginnings.” “Dinner’s ready, you two.” Helen leaned into the hallway from the kitchen. “Can you help me take it all out?” “Absolutely.” Carol placed her wine glass on the counter before picking up a serving dish to carry out into the dining room. She hadn’t made it three steps out of the kitchen before she came up against Jaxon. “Here, let me take that out for you.” Jaxon reached for the steaming dish in her hands. “All right. You take this, and I’ll go and get another one. The sides are hot, so be careful.” She passed the dish to him without incident and fled back to the kitchen. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest, and she could feel her fingers tingle where his hand had brushed them. “Deep breaths, sweetheart.” Helen grinned at her and patted her on the back. “Oh, I’m fine. I find it a bit warm in here. It must be from the ovens.” “If you say so.” Helen sounded doubtful as she passed Carol the goblet she left on the counter. “I remember saying almost the same thing when I met Gordon and Ann.” “Oh, I don’t think this is anything like that.” Carol took a sip of her wine and then put the glass back down. Helen wrapped her arms around her and gave her a hug. “Sweetheart, take it from someone who knows. Don’t fight it.” Carol had a dozen questions to ask, but at that moment Ann walked into the kitchen holding their newest daughter, distracting her

Embraced by Fur

55

completely from Helen’s comment. “There’s the newest princess. Can I hold her?” “Please, then I can give Helen a hand.” Ann passed her infant daughter into Carol’s arms. “I’d hoped she would nap for a bit longer. I imagine it was all the new scents in the house that woke her up.” Helen pressed a kiss against her wife’s temple. “I don’t need any help in here. Why don’t you go sit down for a bit and relax? You look tired.” Ann replied, “You get up at night as often as I do, and you made dinner tonight for everyone.” Helen might be protesting, but even Carol could see the exhaustion in her face. “You know now much I love cooking. It’s been very therapeutic for me today.” She turned Ann and gave her a bit of a push. “Go get a hug from Gordon and let everyone fuss over you for a bit.” Brenna walked in with Jaxon on her heels. “See?” Helen lifted a hand toward the two. “I have lots of help to finish up in here.” “Hey, Mom. You all right?” Brenna wrapped an arm around Ann and hugged her before lifting a big bowl of salad from the counter. “I’m fine. Where’s your father?” “Out in the living room glaring at Jess’s obnoxious boyfriend. Geoff made a comment to Daddy about how frustrated he must be to have only girls and not a boy.” Ann grimaced and replied, “Oh, Jesus, I’d better get out there before he bites him in the ass.” The moment Jaxon spotted Carol standing off to the side, he moved toward her. Carol’s heart pounded harder, and Willow wriggled in her arms excitedly. “Hello, Baby Willow.” Jaxon offered his finger for her to grab on to. She wriggled and made gurgling noises in response, kicking her chubby little legs. “My brothers and I helped build the dock out back a couple weeks ago, and she got used to seeing us here.” “Do you like kids?” As if the way he smiled at the baby wasn’t an obvious answer.

56

Corinne Davies

“Love them. Kaden and I were a bit older when my youngest brother, Sloan, came into our lives, and it was the best thing that could have happened to us.” “Why’s that?” A part of her brain yelled at her for asking such personal questions, but she couldn’t help herself. After what Brenna told her, she was curious about him and his brothers. “Both Kaden and I were getting a little wild in those days. Then suddenly there was this little guy in our lives that wanted to imitate everything we did. Made us stop and think about what kind of influence we wanted to be.” If only more kids thought that way. “Jaxon, can you take the corn in?” Helen’s voice snapped the isolated bubble that Carol felt, and she remembered that she said dinner was ready. “Sorry, Helen. I said I would help. Here, Jaxon, would you like to hold her?” “No, that’s all right. I’ll help Helen, and you can get to know our newest town member.” He smiled at her, and Carol felt a flush creep up her neck. No, no, no. She couldn’t get involved with anyone when she knew she wasn’t going to stick around. That wouldn’t be fair to either of them. But it didn’t mean she couldn’t have some harmless fun if the opportunity arose. Carol relinquished Gordon’s daughter to him when she came into the dining room. He sat at the head of the table, eating with one hand as he held his daughter in the crook of his other arm. Willow reclined happily, watching everything that was going on. The ease with which he ate one-handed while holding the baby proved Gordon was an active dad. Not that she didn’t know that already. His daughters were the apple of his eye, regardless of their age. Carol took a sip of her water, having decided to stay away from the wine for now. She needed her wits about her if she wasn’t going to make a fool of herself around Jaxon every time he asked her a question.

Embraced by Fur

57

**** Jaxon tried to keep up to the conversation that floated around the table, but his attention was completely on the woman next to him. Jess’s boyfriend made some asinine comment, and Gordon gripped his fork to the point of bending it. Gordon shot the other man a dirty look every time he opened his mouth. Then either Ann or Helen would pat his arm or rub his shoulder, and he could see the tension drain from his Alpha. It would be so much simpler if Geoff were a shifter. They would take him outside and beat some manners into him. However, since he was human, everyone had to be on their best behavior. As they’d sat down to the table, Geoff had pulled out the chair as if to sit next to Carol. After what he’d said to her earlier, Jaxon wasn’t about to allow him to criticize one hair on her head. So he’d moved slightly faster than he should have in front of a human and slid into the chair. “Thanks, Geoff. That was thoughtful, but I can pull my own chair out.” He had tucked himself in to the table and proceeded to ignore the man. Carol had given him an odd look, which was understandable since his actions were on the rude side, but he couldn’t explain it to her now. How do I explain to someone who knows nothing about my heritage that the beast I’m hiding inside demands I protect her from even the simplest of insults? Carol leaned slightly closer to him, to say something to Brenna across the table, and her scent floated around his head, teasing his senses. As she sat back, he got a beautiful view right down the front of her top. He shifted in his seat and tried to relieve some of the pressure from his jeans digging into him. Thank god he’d laid his napkin over his lap. It helped to hide any evidence from her. He was fighting a losing battle with his wolf. His animal side recognized his True Mate and wanted to claim her. Here and now. Mark her for everyone to see, and it didn’t understand the human’s

58

Corinne Davies

hesitation. Frankly, he didn’t understand his hesitation. Why not take her from here to somewhere they could be alone? Once he explained everything, then she would understand. A sharp pain radiated up his shin, and it took every bit of his fraying control not to growl at Brenna for kicking him. Instead, he glared at her across the table, and she shot him a dirty look. He glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention, but the only gaze he met was Ann’s. She gave him a mischievous grin and winked at him. Shit. Carol might not be able to smell his interest, but apparently, he was broadcasting for the entire table. He had to wonder what Brenna’s dislike for his attraction to her friend stemmed from. The sharp reminder of his surroundings helped to ratchet his instincts down a bit. Sure, kidnapping the woman from a dinner party would do wonders for her to trust him. What if she wasn’t Kaden’s or Sloan’s mate? Suddenly their simple plans seemed incredibly stupid. He couldn’t give her up no matter what, and it wouldn’t be fair for him to expect his brothers not to look for their mates. Despite his better judgment, he was going to have to walk away for now, until he had a chance to talk to his brothers. He knew it was a next-to-impossible chance that she would be both his and Kaden’s mate, and less chance of her being Sloan’s as well. However, he’d always believed that everything happened for a reason, and until proven otherwise, he had to believe that she was meant to be all of theirs.

Embraced by Fur

59

Chapter Seven Jaxon spent the entire next day thinking of Carol and worrying about the future. The three of them had hardly spoken while they made dinner tonight. Kaden usually took care of the meals, but they all ended up helping out. The tension that hung over their table was almost a palpable entity. Each of them sat there and ate, no one speaking of what was on their minds. Kaden wasn’t eating any longer. Instead he sat in his chair with it pushed back on two legs and stared out the large kitchen window as he drank one beer after another. Sloan stared down at his plate, pushing around his potatoes as if he were looking for the meaning of life underneath them. Someone had to end this tension, and Jaxon knew it would have to be him, although he wasn’t entirely certain that saying anything would help or make it all worse at this point. Jaxon thought of Carol and how it wouldn’t be fair to bring her into the middle of this crap. All three of them spoke in unison. “I found my True Mate.” Stunned silence hung in the air around them before they started shouting at each other. “What the hell?” “Who is she?” “When the hell did this happen?” “All right,” Jaxon said and held up his hands. “One at a time. Sloan, you start. What do you know of your Mate?” “I met her at Brenna’s clinic yesterday. She’s up here helping her out for a few weeks.” Jaxon dropped back in his seat as a mixture of release and disbelief coursed through him in time to the beating of his heart. He

60

Corinne Davies

looked over at Kaden, who was looking back and forth between him and Sloan as if he were in shock. “Kaden, tell him.” “Tell me what, Kaden?” Sloan practically vibrated in his seat with excitement. “I met my mate at the LCBO yesterday. I don’t know much about her because I sort of lost my mind there and had a hard time controlling my wolf. I know her name is Carol.” Kaden didn’t sound a fraction as excited as Sloan did, and in fact he looked like he had been handed a death sentence. “Holy fuck! That’s my mate’s name.” He whipped his gaze to Jaxon for confirmation. “Your mate, bro?” Jaxon nodded and replied, “Is Brenna’s friend, Carol. I met her at Gordon’s last night.” “Whoo-hoo! We’re fucking mated to the same woman!” Sloan jumped to his feet and grabbed his car keys off the kitchen counter. “Let’s go get her.” “Sloan, we can’t steal the woman from Gordon’s house in the middle of the night.” “Why the fuck not? He won’t stop us, because Carol is ours.” “She’s fucking human.” Kaden kicked his chair back and paced to the counters. “We can’t mate with a human.” “Seriously, Kaden? She is our True Mate, and you are going to hold that against her? Since when did you become a bigot?” “I’m not a bigot. Humans don’t have any place in our world.” Kaden’s voice rose to meet Sloan’s level. “Look what happened when the Solfalvis brought Mai up here. People died because she wasn’t strong enough to protect herself.” Sloan snapped at Kaden, his irritation obvious. “She had nothing to do with that, Kaden, and you know it.” “I was there, Sloan. That entire situation exploded because they had a human mate.” “They should never have left Mai alone.” Sloan hammered the table with his hand. “Gaspar and Vencel never expected their old pack

Embraced by Fur

61

to come after them. The Hungarian wolves came into our territory without permission and threatened a pack member’s mate. That she was human made no difference to Gordon’s decision to fight back.” “How’s this for a question?” Jaxon snapped at both of them. They were bickering like schoolkids. “How are we going to share a wife if we can’t get along?” He glared at his younger brothers. “Kaden, you say one more thing about her being human, and I’m going to punch you in the mouth.” Both his brothers stopped their sniping. Sloan settled back in his chair with his arms crossed, and Kaden prowled back and forth across the kitchen. Tension hung in the room, irritating all their inner animals. In the past, they’d discussed the possibility of sharing a wife, including the challenges they might face, but until recently, their friendship was never a concern. Sloan was the first to break the silence. “Sorry, Jaxon. You’re right. We have some things to figure out first before we put her in the middle of it all.” “No worries, Sloan. But this short temper of yours is freaking me out lately.” Sloan nodded and ran his fingers though his long red hair. It was obvious to Jaxon that Kaden agreed with Sloan’s concern. With the arrival of their mate, he wondered if that might be the reason behind their recent behaviors. First, they needed to talk this out. “Sloan, why are you hesitant in claiming Carol? Two minutes ago you were ready to charge out the door.” “I forgot, Brenna made me promise not to. She hasn’t seen her friend in a long time and wanted some time to catch up before we demand all her attention.” “Why the hell would you agree to that?” Kaden looked ready to strangle his brother again, but Jaxon understood Sloan’s weakness for anything of the female persuasion. “Because at the time I didn’t know she was ours, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to wait a few days to be certain.”

62

Corinne Davies

Jaxon grinned and pointed at Sloan. “Or because our brother can’t say no to a woman. One smile and he will bend to their every desire.” Jaxon understood Sloan’s need to take care of the women in his life. It was Kaden’s bubbling anger that concerned him the most. He watched as Kaden continued to pace back and forth across the kitchen floor, taking a swig out of his beer with every turn. Sloan looked horrified by Jaxon’s accusation. “That’s not true. You’re making me sound like a doormat.” “Remember when Judy Owens asked you to help her move?” Kaden pointed out. “Or when Catherine asked you to help paint The Shack?” Jaxon added. “You had tickets to a Jays baseball game that weekend, and you gave them to Mahoney.” “No one says no to Catherine.” Kaden nodded his agreement. “True, she has the best sausage rolls in the province.” Sloan got up and leaned back against the kitchen counter. “Neither of you would say no to her sausage rolls either, so don’t start. Brenna asked for a few days to spend with her friend to catch up. You think it was easy for me to agree to that? We’ve waited this long, what’s a day or two?” “It feels like an eternity to me right now.” Jaxon stood as still as a statue and stared out of their kitchen window to the lake beyond. He wanted to honour Sloan’s promise to Brenna, but this was their mate. For all they knew someone could be planning to take her away. What if her car broke down on the highway coming home from Gordon’s? There were real bears in the woods, and she was a city girl through and through. There had to be a way they could protect Carol and get to know her better, while not breaking Sloan’s promise to Brenna. They needed a loophole, and hot on the heels of that thought, he came up with a solution. “Sloan, you agreed that we wouldn’t all descend on Carol at once, right?”

Embraced by Fur

63

“Yeah, so?” “It’s obvious that Fate doesn’t share our promise to Brenna, given how we all met her today. I have an idea.” “I don’t want any part of this,” Kaden spat. “You want to tie yourselves to a human, go ahead, but I’m warning you she will cause us nothing but trouble.” **** Startled awake, Carol opened her eyes and scanned her dark room. The apartment was silent. After dinner the other night, Brenna received a panicked call from her very pregnant cousin Skyler. She was afraid she might go into labour early and wanted Brenna there. Skyler lived with her mate in BC, so Brenna caught an earlier flight this evening to go and stay with her until after the baby was born. Carol would’ve thought she’d sleep like the dead up here after all this fresh air. She and Brenna had hiked some trails this morning, which wore her out completely. She wasn’t certain why she opened her eyes, and part of her felt as if she were still asleep and this was a dream. Lying in the darkness, she listened to the symphony of cricket noises and loons that filled the night. She could hear the clock out in the hall but didn’t really care to get up and check the time. It must be near morning because when she turned out the light last night, she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. Now she could make out the shapes of the furniture in the room around her. She was surprised that she could see as well as she could, considering how dark it still was. Outside the large sliding door, the stars lit up the sky like a million Christmas lights. She had never seen stars like this in the city. It looked like a sparkling blanket over the night sky. Hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights of varied strength. Now she understood the draw with regards to sleeping under the stars, and part of her wondered if she could. Sure, there were animals

64

Corinne Davies

around here, but they wouldn’t bother her, would they? She smiled and stretched. She must be dreaming because there was no way she would ever consider going anywhere out there on her own. Closing her eyes, she listened to the night sounds and waited to see where her dreams would lead her. A rustling sound outside caught her attention, and she opened her eyes again. That must be what woke her up in the first place. If she wasn’t going to get back to sleep, then maybe she would lie here and watch the sun come up. She rolled over and looked out the sliding doors. Blinking, she tried to understand what she was looking at. A large creature sat at the glass door looking in at her. She lay as still as possible, her heart pounding hard inside her chest. She wanted to scream, but the sound froze in her throat. As she watched, the creature opened his mouth wide and yawned. Yawned? The movement highlighted large, sharp teeth, but the action didn’t come across as aggressive. Willing herself to calm down before she had a heart attack, Carol tried to make herself wake up. She didn’t want to have a nightmare. Why couldn’t she wish a hot guy to appear in her dreams? Sloan made a carnal appearance in her dream last night, and she kind of hoped his brother would join him tonight, in fact. The large animal at the door stood on his hind legs and pressed against the glass with his paws. Her heart jumped in fear. That’s a massive wolf out there. The large animal sat back down and looked straight at her. He, and he was most certainly male, cocked his head to one side and stared through the door at her. Carol pushed herself up in bed and stared back at the animal. He didn’t startle or sidestep away from her movement. Instead he calmly sat by the door, waiting. There was no way Brenna would feed a wild wolf. She knew the dangers of such an action, which only left one logical explanation. Although, logical might not be the best word to use at the moment. Slipping out from under the sheet, she padded to the window and knelt down until she sat on the other side of the glass from the

Embraced by Fur

65

creature. A thick glass door would provide enough protection for her to get away if she needed to. Up here, the glass and doors had to withstand the harsh winter conditions that Mother Nature sent. They wouldn’t break under the strength of one wolf. Forcing herself to remain calm, she watched the large animal as well, assessing the creature from her side of the glass. The humidity of the night made the back of her neck feel sweaty, and she knew that her tank top was sticking to her damp skin. She tapped lightly on the glass, bringing the animal’s gaze up to her face. If she hadn’t realized what she might be dealing with before, she knew now. No wolf she ever studied or read about stared at a woman’s chest. “I don’t think you’re Sloan. Your coloring is wrong. I imagine him to be something redder. So are you Jaxon or Kaden?” The creature leapt to its feet, obviously surprised that she knew its secret. She watched the animal pace back and forth in front of the glass. He glanced at her a few times and bared his teeth at her. So he doesn’t like the fact that I know? Too bad. She understood animals enough to know that what looked like an aggressive move didn’t always mean that. He paused at the handle and pawed at it then sat back and stared at her. She swallowed nervously. Despite being certain that this was no normal wolf, there was still a kernel of doubt in her head. She wasn’t about to open the door without knowing for certain. “Occam’s razor states that the simplest explanation is the right one. This means, there is only one explanation for you being here. So, I’m not letting you in until you tell me who you are.” They sat at an impasse, each on one side of the glass, staring at the other. Carol wanted this creature to trust her enough to show her the truth. It didn’t take a psychologist to analyze her need for trust, but right now, she didn’t care. He came to her. So he could play by her rules for now. She crossed her arms and got up from the floor. “Fine. Go away then.”

66

Corinne Davies

The large wolf jumped to his feet and then lunged at the door. His paws hit the glass, nails tapping against the surface. On his hind legs, he towered over her. She pointed a finger at the creature and kept her tone even. She knew about their sensitive hearing. “You want in? Then ask in English.” If it weren’t for the fact that she was staring at the animal, she would have missed the air shimmer around him. One moment a large wolf stared at her, the next Jaxon stood naked on the other side of the glass. He looked pissed off, but she didn’t care. He’d tried to keep secrets from her. “Open the door, Carol.” “That’s ordering, not asking.” She couldn’t explain why she wasn’t going to let him get away with being bossy. Some instinct deep down inside her insisted on standing up to him, and being naked outside was no excuse to be rude. “Please, will you open the door?” “Better.” She flicked the lock and pulled open the sliding door. Jaxon stepped in and immediately invaded her personal space. She held her ground and didn’t step back from him. When she met his gaze, she thought she saw a bit of respect and humour shining there. “How long have you known?” “Known about shape-shifters or known that you are one?” Her eyes drifted over his incredible body. He was strong and beautiful. A light dusting of hair covered his chest and arrowed down to his cock. It twitched under her gaze. Its head flushed a dark red as the shaft hardened. She fisted her hands to stop from reaching out to touch him. Just because he came to her as a wolf and she made him shift in front of her didn’t mean he wanted her that way. “Looking at me like that isn’t going to get you out of answering the question.” His voice sounded lower than normal and held a distinct growl to it.

Embraced by Fur

67

Carol flicked her gaze back up to his face and hoped that the dim light hid the heat in her cheeks. “I don’t know why it matters, but I’ve known for a few years. That’s why Brenna asked me to take care of her clinic while she went to visit her sister. Hunting season will start while she is away, and she didn’t want to leave the town without a vet.” “Gordon trusts you.” Carol nodded, seeing the acceptance in Jaxon’s gaze. She knew that Brenna’s father was a well-respected man, but she didn’t realize how much until now. Jaxon stepped closer and crowded her, wrapping his fingers around the back of her neck. He pressed gently under her chin, tilting her face toward him. She felt his hard cock pressing against her tummy, and her raging libido reminded her, she had a naked man in her room! “Where did Brenna go late this afternoon?” Either the small-town rumour mill was impressive, or Cris saw Brenna rush out of town today. “Her cousin called in a panic the other night, afraid she was going into labour.” “I heard she wasn’t due for another month.” “It was false labour, but Skyler begged Brenna to catch the earliest flight out. I think Skyler’s mate is panicking as much as she.” “So that means you are all alone in the house?” A moment of panic fluttered deep in Carol’s chest and then dissipated as if it never existed. She might not know Jaxon all that well, but she’d never felt safer in her life. “We’re all alone.” A sensual grin curled his lips, making her stomach flip. Jaxon was a beautiful man, but when he smiled, a dimple impaled his cheek. She was a sucker for dimples. “That makes things much easier. I don’t have to worry about waking Brenna up.” “She’s a sound sleeper.” “Not sound enough for what I have planned to do to you.” He dipped his head and claimed her lips. His tongue flicked against the seam of her lips as if asking for permission. Parting her lips felt as

68

Corinne Davies

natural as breathing, and he swept in and stole every clear thought in her head. His hands slid around to her bottom, the warmth radiating through the light cotton shorts she wore. For a moment, she wished she had something sexier on than an old tank top and boxer shorts, but when she went to bed tonight, the last thought in her head was that one of the Henderson brothers would visit her outside of her dreams. “I’m not dreaming, am I?” Jaxon released her lips and traveled along her jaw, sending goose bumps down her spine. Her hands rested on his hard biceps. His hands squeezed her ass and pulled her up against his rock-hard cock. He held her in place and gently rocked his hips. The large blunt end of his cock tapped the entrance to her pussy as he walked them to the bed. “Jaxon, do you think we are moving a bit quickly?” He froze in his path along her neck and pressed a kiss to her skin before leaning back to look into her eyes. His eyes glowed amber in the darkness. If she didn’t already know that he was something more than human, that would have given it away. “No, but if you’re uncomfortable, tell me and I’ll stop. I swear I will, Carol.” She didn’t want him to stop. This was her life, and she wasn’t going to pass up a one-night stand because of some old-fashioned mindset about that sort of thing. She knew that shifters tended to work a bit quicker in this area of life, and right now, she was thankful. If left up to her it might be weeks before she had the nerve to say something to him. “I don’t want to stop.” She didn’t have the words completely out of her mouth when he bent his head and kissed her again. Words didn’t seem like they meant much, not when he managed to play her body like a musical instrument. When the thought of how he acquired this kind of experience entered her brain, she pushed it away. Nothing was going to spoil this moment for her. Even if this was only for tonight, she

Embraced by Fur

69

wanted to remember it always. “There are condoms in the night table drawer.” Reaching the bed, Jaxon bent over and followed her down. Pressing her into the bed, he arched his hips, driving his cock between her legs. The movement caused a delicious heat to radiate from her wet pussy. She wanted to feel him skin on skin. It felt as though her entire body throbbed in time to her quickening heartbeat. Carol pulled at the waistband of her shorts. “I want these off.” He chuckled against her lips. “Not yet. I’m going to plunge balls deep into you the moment that barrier is gone.” She couldn’t help the moan that escaped her throat as she arched up into the heady feeling his cock created as it dragged over her clit. He pulled away, and she grabbed his arm, afraid she’d done something wrong. “Don’t go.” “Shhhh. I’m not going anywhere. It’s okay.” He shifted and pressed his knees into the bed on either side of her, straddling her hips. His cock rested against her lower tummy, and she reached out and gripped it as best she could. Jaxon’s head dropped back, and she sat up to press a kiss against his chest. Nipping at the hard muscle under his skin, she pulled on his length in her grasp. A low growl rumbled in his throat, and he wrapped his hand around hers. “Stop, or this will be over before I get to the good part.” She raised her arms as he pulled her tank top over her head. Her breasts ached when he cupped them in his hands and pressed an openmouth kiss against each nipple. “You’re so beautiful, Carol.” “You don’t have to say that.” She looked in the mirror every day. She knew what she looked like and was comfortable with it. He didn’t have to pander to her ego. A flash of irritation crossed his face before she heard the click of his teeth snapping together behind his lips. “Carol, I never say things I don’t mean.” “All right.” She wasn’t about to have this mood-destroying argument half-naked while a gorgeous man stripped her.

70

Corinne Davies

He growled but thankfully let it drop. He wrapped an arm around her torso and gave her another toe-curling kiss. The world tilted as Jaxon pressed her back against the bed. Her head rested on the pillows as Jaxon cupped her face. His finger brushed over her brows and then circled her along her brow bone. His touch was tender, and he looked at her as if she was a precious treasure. His lips moved over hers like a silk caress. She arched up against him, feeling the crisp hairs on his chest tickle her nipples. Her breasts ached, and she pressed against his shoulders. He understood her wordless plea and ended the kiss, trailing his lips in a path downward. **** Jaxon loved that Carol wasn’t afraid to tell him what she wanted. She shifted her lush body underneath him, evidently wanting more contact and friction than he was willing to give at the moment. Truth was, every thought in his head was about anything except the luscious woman under his fingers. If he thought about it too much, he would have come all over her chest. He’d leave that up to Sloan. His youngest brother was obsessed with breasts and would have his cock between them as soon as he could. He loved her cute little feet. The sandals she wore to dinner the other night made him hard as hell. All those thin silver straps crisscrossing over her delicate feet, with her pink toes peeking out the tip, made his balls tighten up…Fuck! Think of something else. Her skin felt like satin under his lips as he trailed a path down her torso. He stopped to pay attention to her breasts before continuing downward. Slipping his fingers into the waistband of her boxers, he kissed her soft tummy and darted his tongue in her belly button. Her muscles quivered under his tongue, and she gripped his shoulders. “I don’t…” Her nails scored the tops of his shoulders. “I didn’t mean…”

Embraced by Fur

71

He paused, waiting to see if she wanted him to stop, but whatever concerns she had weren’t strong enough to tell him no. Thank god! He eased the material down her thighs, exposing her fragrant curls. Unable to resist, he dove in and licked a drop of moisture that clung to one of the curls. Her taste exploded like ambrosia on his tongue, igniting his senses. His wolf demanded more, and he was happy to oblige. Pulling the cute boxers off her legs, he tossed them to the side, forgotten. Her scent wrapped around him and drew him to her. He lifted one of her legs and pressed a kiss to her perfectly formed anklebone before doing the same to her other leg. She started to sit up, but he lunged for the prize between her legs, and as soon as his tongue licked at the seam of her pussy, she dropped back with a moan. His tongue explored every bit of sumptuous flesh and avoided the nub that pressed forward, demanding attention, until he felt her hands gripping his hair. Only then he shifted and drew that sensitive button into his mouth, sucking and flicking his tongue against it in an erotic attack against her senses. “Fuck yes, Jax. Oh god, yes!” Digging her heels into the mattress on either side of him, she rhythmically jerked her hips, pressing her pussy against his mouth. He plunged his finger into her, feeling her cunt fluttering around it. She arched her body with a cry, and a sweet, delicious cream burst over his tongue. He lapped up every bit and drew out her orgasm until she collapsed back against the bed. He lifted himself away from her as the animal inside him took over, no longer willing to play a human’s games. While she lay there dazed, he got a condom out of the night table. His hands shook as he ripped the package open and rolled it over his aching cock. He wanted to plunge his cock into her willing cunt and feel every inch enveloped in a moment of tight perfection. But she deserved better than a quick fuck. He stretched out beside her and stroked his hand lightly along her collarbone and then down along her creamy skin. He caressed the

72

Corinne Davies

delicate skin between her perfect breasts and watched as her nipples tightened again. Leaning forward, he curled his tongue over the tight nub and laved it with his tongue. He couldn’t resist nipping lightly at the delicate skin and was thrilled to hear a passionate whimper. She moaned softly and curled toward him, slipping a leg over his so she straddled his thigh. She lifted herself up on one elbow and smiled down at him. “Do you have any idea how exquisite you are?” She didn’t argue with him this time. Nor did he see the automatic denial flash across her expression. “Your skin is like silk, and I love the feel of you against me.” “We share that in common then, because I love rubbing against you.” Carol grinned as she rocked her hips against his leg. Her hot, wet pussy stroked against his skin, and he felt like she was branding him. “But I’d like it even more if you pinned me to the bed, under you.” Jaxon didn’t think his cock could get any harder, but he was wrong. He wouldn’t be surprised if he split his condom in half. “I love your honesty.” He growled playfully and flipped them both over, pinning Carol to the bed by laying over her. He pressed his hips against hers and trapped her legs under his. Careful not to hurt her, he kept most of his weight on his elbows on either side of her. “Is this what you had in mind?” “I don’t think I was clear enough.” Carol wriggled underneath him, and his cock rubbed against her soft tummy. She glared up at him, but there was no anger to her gaze. She looked like a hot, passionate woman. “I want to be pinned under you as you fuck me into the mattress.” “Oh, I understand now.” Jaxon shifted his body, and she immediately lifted her legs to wrap around him. Her hips cradled his body, and his cock slipped around in the moisture that covered it. He pressed against her pussy and felt her open for him. He pushed the tip of his cock into her and almost lost all control right then. Sweat slid

Embraced by Fur

73

down the side of his face as he mentally recited multiplication tables. He needed to take his mind off the heaven that awaited him inside her. Carol whispered, “A bit faster and we’re in business.” Jaxon barked out a laugh. Looking down at her, he saw understanding shining in her eyes. Her humour was enough to help him wrestle his control back. Certain he wasn’t going to lose his mind for the moment, he moved again. Her body gripped him in a hot, wet vise of perfection. Gripping her hips, he rotated his hips and then pistoned his cock into her. Her heels dug into his ass cheeks, allowing him the perfect angle to press deeper. She clawed at his back as he plunged her depths. Her hips arched into his in an erotic rhythm that drove him to madness. His testicles pulled painfully up against his body, aching for release. Her cunt fluttered against his cock as another orgasm ripped through her, taking him with her. He came deep inside her and collapsed with his face buried in her neck. “My brothers are going to love you,” he murmured as he licked her salty skin. She tensed up slightly under him, and he belatedly realized he might be jumping the gun here. Quickly he added, “But there’s no rush.” He gently stroked her until she began to relax. He and his brothers were going to have to convince her to stay here with them. He didn’t realize exactly how much tension he’d carried around until now. The aggression he battled daily was gone, and his wolf lay curled in a ball, completely relaxed in the back of his mind.

74

Corinne Davies

Chapter Eight “Gordon, we need to consider the possibility of increasing the number of Guardians in the pack.” Kaden sat with the pack’s Alpha, his wives, the Solfalvi brothers, and three of the senior Guardians. “Alec, I can understand why you want to do this, but this pack works because we don’t have any proverbial lines drawn in the sand,” Gordon replied. Alec was a very old man with a narrow-minded view of the world. Only his age kept him part of these meetings, because Gordon felt that the pack elders should be listened to. Kaden watched Alec try to argue his point further. “The fight and subsequent deaths of the Hungarian Alpha Timur and his daughter pretty much carved a large line. No one has entered our territory without contacting us first.” Ever since the incident a couple months ago with the Hungarian pack, they had debated this exact point. Kaden had lost his best friend, Jack, in that fight. Jack and he had grown up together and had shared more than their share of women. Losing him was like losing one of his brothers, and all over a human woman. Granted, Mai was mated to the twins sitting across from him. He tried to keep that in mind, but their entire existence was hidden from humans because of their tendency to hunt anything they feared. “That entire incident was our fault. We should have been more honest about our relationship with our former pack,” Vencel interjected. “We never expected them to come here to find us,” Gaspar continued. “When they took Mai…”

Embraced by Fur

75

Gordon held up his hand, stopping Gaspar. “Vencel, Gaspar, you are part of our pack and part of the family we are creating here. There is no need for apologies or explanations. I don’t lose a moment’s sleep because of the decisions I made on that day. If I had to do it all over, I would choose the same path. The Hungarians came in here and attacked part of our pack. They kidnapped a Mate and threatened her life. That is something I will never tolerate.” “I concur with Alec,” Kaden added. “If we had more properly trained Guardians, then we might not have lost any wolves in the attempt to save a human.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than both the Solfalvi brothers were snarling at him. Vencel looked about to tear his throat out. “That’s our Mate…” “…you’re talking about,” Gaspar finished. Ann looked at Kaden and shook her head sadly before looking away. He felt her disappointment as acutely as if she’d said the words. Seeing Jack die that day was like an open wound in his chest. Every time the subject came up, he tended to lash out like a wolf with a wounded paw. Gordon spoke up first. “Kaden, I know you still hurt from losing your friend, but that is no reason for me to turn this town into a military outpost. My concern with increasing the number of Guardians is I don’t want to bring about a territorial war. Algonquin is a massive amount of land, and I don’t need to control it all. I want to keep my family and our pack safe. If we look like we are shoring up our defenses, we will only put others on the defensive. Ecstasy Lake has always been a safe haven for those who don’t have anywhere else to go. I want to keep it that way.” Alec smacked the table with an open hand. “By looking weak, we leave ourselves open to attack. The Hungarians walked in here and caused all sorts of trouble because they weren’t afraid of consequences.”

76

Corinne Davies

Kaden clenched his teeth and fought the urge to snap at the old man. If Alec was Alpha, he would have wanted to grasp every square inch of Algonquin as his own and kill anyone who set foot on it. Gordon appointed him as the leader for the pack Guardians five years ago, and that pissed Alec off. The old man wanted the position but proved time and time again that he was more interested in creating trouble rather than preventing it. “And yet they didn’t succeed in their plan to kill Mai or blackmail Vencel and Gaspar. Gordon stepped in and took care of what he needed to. We showed compassion to the wolves acting under Timur’s command, and the only ones who died were the ones who refused to back down and go home.” Alec acknowledged Kaden’s point with a very small tilt of his head. While Kaden didn’t want to see the area ruled with an iron fist, he didn’t believe any of them should die protecting the humans. “Kaden, if we were to promote anyone else to Guardian, then who would it be?” Gordon asked. Kaden thought about it for a moment. This was his chance to build up their forces, but he didn’t want to shove anyone into the position before they were ready either. “I have no plans to promote anyone else at this time. Daniel, Adam, and Lucas are fine men with a promising future. They’ve all served in the military and received specialized training. They have requested to stay on the reserve forces for the time being. That way they can serve our country if they need to but are also available for the pack.” The three men weren’t that much younger than Kaden himself. “There are a couple more that might work out in a few years, but I don’t want to put that kind of stress on them at this time,” he added. Gordon nodded. “Fair enough, keep an eye on them and we will revisit this subject in six months. Now unless anyone has anything else to talk about, I would like to spend some time with my girls.” As if she was waiting for her cue, Lulu flew into the room and launched herself at Gordon. “Daddy, I found a praying mantis today.” She held

Embraced by Fur

77

a handful of wild flowers and tucked one behind each of her father’s ears. “I wanted to keep him in my room, but he wanted to live in our garden.” Kaden couldn’t help but grin at the little girl’s antics. She turned her innocent smile up at him and waved a flower in his direction. “Here, Kaden. I have one for you, too. You have to wear it in your ear like daddy. It will make you pretty.” “Thank you, Miss Lulu. I’ll keep it there all day.” He took the large Queen Anne’s lace flower and tucked it behind his right ear. “Daddy promised to play pretty princess with me. Do you want to play, too?” Kaden glanced up at his Alpha, expecting the older man to be cringing, but instead he sat there and smiled at him. Is that what being a father meant? May he never be blessed with girls. “Oh, I have to talk to…the men…outside. You two have fun.” “Coward,” Gordon muttered as Kaden got out of that room before Lulu got it in her head to try to talk him into staying. He made it to the hallway before coming upon Ann standing next to the front door. She had that determined look in her eyes and crooked her finger at him. He felt his heart fall into his stomach. If he walked right past her and out the door, he knew she wouldn’t have stopped him. After an insult like that, he would never be able to look her in the eye again. Instead, he followed her into the kitchen. Food lay in partial preparation around them. Ann handed him a bag of potatoes and a peeler. “It’s been a while since you and I have had a chat. I know you’ve been avoiding me the last few weeks.” Cooking was an interest he shared with her, and he knew she deliberately brought him in here so he would feel a bit more comfortable. He sat on one of the barstools on the other side of the large butcher-block counter that sat in the middle of the room. He picked up the peeler and started working on cleaning the skin off the potatoes. He didn’t know what to say because he had been avoiding

78

Corinne Davies

her. The oven was on, and the incredible scent of strawberry rhubarb pie was beginning to tint the air around them. She leaned back against her kitchen counter. “Kaden, I’m worried about you.” “I don’t know why.” Picking up speed, he worked his way through a few spuds. “I’m fine. Working on the landscaping around the house has kept me busy lately. I want to get the gazebo finished before the summer is over.” “Then why are you sounding more and more like Alec? You never agreed with his views before, and now I see a change in that.” “Alec wants to keep us all safe, as do I. Although, his tactics are more aggressive than I’m comfortable with.” “I hope it stays like that. I know you and Jack both shared a vision for keeping the peace around here. What do you think he would say about your attitude toward humans lately?” Ann played dirty when she wanted to. Jack died protecting not only the pack but also the Solfalvis’ True Mate. Kaden knew Jack would kick his ass if he knew how his opinions toward the humans had changed. What could he say? Ann and Gordon’s wife, Helen, was a human, and he would protect her with his life, but he still resented Jack getting himself killed. His view of the counter blurred, and he blinked back the moisture that started to gather in his eyes. He concentrated on his work, and before he knew it, he’d finished peeling every spud. “You need to forgive Jack for dying.” Ann stood at the stove, stirring. Her words were soft enough that only with his sharp hearing he picked them up. “He shouldn’t have charged at the asshole that refused to drop his gun.” “We have been very lucky because the violence of that day is rare around here. Perhaps Jack wasn’t thinking straight, or maybe he saw something you didn’t and knew he didn’t have a choice. We’ll never know because his loss was immediate.”

Embraced by Fur

79

“I killed the bastard that put the bullet in his head.” “I know.” Kaden heard the sadness in Ann’s voice. Kaden darted a look over at Ann. He should have known that Gordon wouldn’t have hidden the details of that day from his wives. Ann never treated him differently, considering what he had done. He lost complete control that day and tore the other man apart with his bare claws. Losing control was such a sign of weakness that he’d been certain Gordon would strip him of his position of leadership. Instead, he told Kaden that the events of that day would stay within the walls of the cabin. The cabin burned to the ground. Everyone had been there to make certain that the fire didn’t spread, but at one point Gordon had met his gaze and nodded. Kaden had known then that his secret burned with the fire, never to be brought up again. Gordon didn’t lose faith in him, but he had lost faith in himself. “Kaden?” “Sorry, Ann. I was thinking.” “Well I don’t mind talking with you, but if you sit here much longer, I’m going to have you peeling carrots next.” Kaden smiled and held out his hand for the bag. “Hand them over.”

80

Corinne Davies

Chapter Nine “Well hello there, gorgeous.” Carol stumbled when a low voice called out as she sauntered down the sidewalk. She slowly glanced around, not that she expected the compliment to be in her direction. She didn’t get hollered at or complimented in that manner, but she couldn’t help but look around in case. Leaning against an archway she passed stood Sloan. Her body reacted immediately. Warmth spread over her skin, despite the obvious humidity in the air. Her libido raised its head and shivered at the sound of his voice. Considering she had his brother between her legs less than forty-eight hours ago, should she be reacting like this to someone else already? “Hi, Sloan.” Any uncertainty she had disappeared as she walked toward him. He slowly looked her over from her hair to her toes. She nervously brushed some strands off her face. The humidity had her hair sticking to the back of her neck, even as she walked on the shady side of the street. “You weren’t going to walk by and not say hello, were you?” “Sorry, I didn’t mean to. I wasn’t paying attention.” She was thinking about waking up in Jaxon’s arms yesterday morning. Jaxon made her breakfast and then kissed her good-bye before they both had to go to work. At some point, he programmed his number into her phone because she had received two text messages from him already thanking her and asking if she wanted to go to dinner. Did Sloan know she had sex with his brother? Would he be speaking to her like this if he did? Somehow, she doubted it. The rational part of her brain

Embraced by Fur

81

told her to wish him well and keep walking, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She felt as drawn to Sloan now as the other day. Strangely, the feeling was even stronger now. Opposite to her damp skin, Sloan looked cool and comfortable in this heat. He wore a pair of long camouflage shorts with a small black apron tied low over his hips. A black T-shirt highlighted his muscular chest. The sleeves pulled tightly over his arm muscles. “I could tell. You looked miles away.” He closed the distance between them and tucked a bit of hair behind her ear. “What were you thinking about?” Having sex with you and your brother. “The surgery I performed this morning. I had to fix a tomcat.” She tried hard not to grin at the look of horror on Sloan’s face. “Is this your place?” “Yup, McDurbin’s Arcade is mine. The McDurbins were a family that lived up here for years before they decided to move down south to retire. Come in and have a look.” Cool air bathed her as soon as she stepped inside the doorway. The musical sound of video games blended with the thumps and bangs of Skee-Ball filled the air. Kids laughed and hollered back and forth to each other as they played. Some carried around handfuls of tickets, gathering more as they played. “What do they do with the tickets?” Sloan pointed to a counter in the corner. “They save them up, and when they’re ready, they can cash them in for stuff.” “Wow, I’ve seen this kind of set up before, but you have some neat stuff in here.” Beach toys hung from the walls as well as the typical stuffed animals and a vast selection of smaller toys. There were also lots of things that could be used in the outdoors, like skipping ropes, binoculars, bug-catching kits, and Blavet merchandise. From what she could tell, Sloan didn’t try to rip off the kids. He had some decent toys in here for them, and the ticket cost wasn’t that crazy.

82

Corinne Davies

“Thanks, I like kids, and I used to hang out here when I was younger. Mr. McDurbin always had the coolest stuff to win, and I try to do the same. Kids need a place to hang out.” “Sloan’s the best.” A young boy rushed up from behind Carol and waved a paper at Sloan. “I did it! Look, Sloan, I got an A.” Sloan took the paper and looked it over, a large smile breaking out over his face. “Logan, this is amazing! I’m so proud of you.” He gave Logan a high five. “Looks like you put a lot of work into this. Way to go, dude.” He handed the paper back and then reached into his apron pulling out a handful of tokens. He counted out twenty coins with impressive speed and handed them to the boy. “There you go. Great work.” “Thanks, Sloan.” With a smile a mile wide, the boy ran over to what looked like a zombie apocalypse shooting game. “That was nice of you.” Sloan shrugged, pink tingeing his cheeks. “Logan did all the work. I have a deal with the local kids. If they do well in school and bring in their As and Bs for me to see, I give them tokens. Logan has a learning disability and has spent a lot of time with a tutor this summer, but all the kids work hard so they can earn tokens.” “I guess their parents don’t mind either since the kids are working toward better grades.” “I asked the parents first before I started doing this, and I didn’t hear any negative response.” Carol was very impressed. He wasn’t out to scam the kids and used his position in a positive way to get the kids working on their grades. I wouldn’t see anything like this is the city, that’s for certain. “Carol?” “Sorry? What did you ask?” “Do you want to play a game?” Insecurity hit her square in the chest. She would look like a fool trying any of these. Ping-pong was more her speed. “I don’t think so. All of this is way too technical for me.”

Embraced by Fur

83

“If you can skip rope, you can play this one.” He caught her hand and led her over to a corner away from the bulk of the kids. Standing there was a big oval disk, as tall as her, with flashing lights. A single red dot moved around the inside edge of the oval. There was a distinct mischievous crook to his smile. A look she decided that was part of his personality and made her want to play with him. “Come on. It’s fun.” “This is a skipping game?” “Trust me, it’s not hard. Step on the large square in front of it and think of the red dot as a skipping rope. As it swoops along the bottom of the oval, you jump. There is a sensor in the plate that tracks when you jump. If you’re still standing on the square when the red dot moves along the bottom, you’re out.” “That seems easy enough.” “Cool, give it a go then.” He dropped a couple tokens into the slot, and the game started up with flashing lights and music. It was very easy, and Carol had been good at skipping rope when she was a girl. The longer she played, the faster she jumped until the red dot moved too fast for her to keep up. There was a sad beeping as the red light flashed at the bottom, but she was laughing too hard to care. “Want to try again?” Nodding, she watched the red dot carefully, and this time she tried to keep her timing while trying to figure out the easiest way not to stop. She only made it a few seconds longer than last time, but beating her first time did feel good. “Don’t forget your tickets.” Sloan pointed at a long tail of brightly coloured tickets hanging out of the slot in the machine. “Wow. Look at all these. I did pretty good.” “Yes, you were amazing.” Carol wasn’t certain how to take that comment, but when she looked at Sloan, his focus was on the V of her T-shirt. Part of her felt as if she should be outraged by his obvious appreciation for her “girls,” but the other part of her enjoyed the attention from a man as

84

Corinne Davies

incredible as him. “Sloan Henderson, do you have any idea how many tickets I earned?” “Fifty-two your first try…” His eyes met hers, and the hunger she saw there made her next breath a bit more difficult. He moved much closer, and his warm breath brushed her ear as he spoke. “The second try I don’t have a clue because I couldn’t get my eyes off your incredible body. Good thing I’m wearing an apron.” “Thank you for the compliment.” She darted a quick kiss against his cheek before stepping away. “I had better get back to the clinic.” Sloan grabbed her hand and pulled her closer, but not too close. She saw him glance over her shoulder at the kids and then shake his head slightly. “Come out with me later tonight, after the game.” “Um, I don’t know if I can.” Nerves batted at Carol. What would she have to talk about with this incredible man? She slept with his brother for Pete’s sake. Better to stop this at casual flirting than risk another heart stomping. “I have plans.” Sloan’s gaze narrowed on her, and she felt for a moment that he knew she was lying. “All right, but I want to get to know you better, Carol.” “There isn’t much to know. I’m simply me, nothing that interesting.” “I don’t believe you, and I fully intend to prove you wrong.” He lifted her fingers to his mouth and pressed them against his lips. She felt a zing shoot through her body at the contact and almost told him the truth. “Sloan, I need some tokens,” one of the kids called out to him. “All right, I’ll be right there.” He rested his hand on Carol’s lower back and walked her to the door. “Until later, Carol.” The way he said her name was like a caress over her skin, and she felt herself flush. “Um, yes, I’ll talk to you later. Bye, Sloan.” The August humidity made it feel like she walked into a wall of pea soup. Turning around and going back into the arcade for the afternoon sounded like a good idea. She would skip all afternoon and see if Sloan got that hungry look on his face again. He looked at her

Embraced by Fur

85

as if she was a double-dipped chocolate ice cream, and damn, if she didn’t want him to take a lick. **** “Looks like someone discovered the arcade,” River commented from behind the counter as Carol walked into the clinic. “How did you know?” River nodded down at Carol’s hand where she realized she still held on to the tickets she won on the skipping game. “Oh, I forgot about these. I’ll stop by later and give them to one of the kids. Most of those games were way beyond my ability, but the skipping one I was pretty good at.” The other woman didn’t bother to hide her grin. “Skipping, in that top you’re wearing? I bet Sloan couldn’t take his eyes off you.” Carol could feel her cheeks warming up but didn’t get too embarrassed. “If he got any closer, I might have knocked him out when I was jumping.” She pulled up a chair and flopped down into it. She had to talk to someone about what she was feeling. Brenna was never horrified by her bluntness, and Carol hoped that her impression of River was correct. “Is it normal to feel like this around men like them? I mean, they’re brothers, isn’t there something immoral about lusting after siblings?” “If there is, then I don’t want to know about it. Carol, I’m the last person to ask about normal things. Living in this town will change your point of view drastically. I wouldn’t know normal if I tripped over it. You’re all consenting adults. As long as you all understand what you are getting yourselves into and no one is trying to hurt anyone else, then I don’t see the problem.” “But what about when I leave? I’m only here for a few weeks.” River raised both eyebrows. “Have you told them that?” “No, not really, but I haven’t said anything about staying up here permanently.”

86

Corinne Davies

“Don’t be surprised if they ignore anything they don’t want to hear. That is completely normal, from what Mai tells me. You know we should have a girl’s night tonight. You haven’t met Mai Solfalvi yet, have you? You two might have more in common than you realize.” “Why would you think that?” “Well, Mai lived in Toronto before moving up here, and she is married to Vencel and Gaspar.” “She’s married to brothers?” “Twins. If anyone is going to understand what you are feeling, then it would be her. She didn’t even know they were wolves when they first met, so it was a double whammy for her.” “Oh, please introduce me.” “Are you coming to the game tonight?” “Game? Sloan mentioned something about a game, but I got distracted and didn’t ask any more about it.” River practically vibrated with excitement. “Oh Carol, you have to come. I’ll teach you about the wonders of rugby.”

Embraced by Fur

87

Chapter Ten “What’re they doing?” “Picking the teams, it’s an old town tradition.” Carol watched as the men standing on the field pulled what looked like checker pieces out of a bag. River talked her into coming to that night’s local rugby game, and now she understood why her friend insisted she would love it. There was something about watching large men dressed in shorts and bare chests getting ready to play a rough sport. That might also explain why the number of women in the stands outnumbered the men three to one. “Strange,” Mai said, pointing at her husbands. “Vencel and Gaspar are playing for the same team.” “Why?” Carol asked. “Isn’t that bound to happen now and again?” “Gaspar and Vencel never play together because they get accused of cheating. They can tell what each other is about to do.” Mai frowned. “They have been in a foul mood ever since they sat in on the meeting with Gordon this morning.” River leaned forward. “Do you think Gordon said something to them?” “No.” Mai shook her head negatively. “It was something else, but they wouldn’t talk about it. All they said is it would all work out after the game.” “Oh, shit. This is going to be a brutal one then.” River whistled softly. “Someone has pissed them off, and they’re planning on getting their pound of flesh on the field.”

88

Corinne Davies

“That doesn’t seem fair if it’s two against one.” Carol watched Mai’s husbands and noticed that they continued to level black looks at Kaden Henderson. “Well, they must be expecting to have to go up against more than one.” Mai added, “That’s what usually happens when you try to exact some revenge during the game.” Sloan and Jaxon moved to stand on either side of their brother. Sloan had slicked his hair back into a tight ponytail. The effect was much different than when his hair flowed around his face. He looked intimidating and ferocious, not playful and warm like the other day. Both Kaden and Jaxon stood there with their arms crossed over their chests. She could feel a flush crawl up her skin, and it took a great deal of self-restraint not to fan herself. While the evening was still warm, she knew that River would understand it wasn’t the temperature overheating her. Despite her mental lecture to herself, seeing the three men together getting ready for a battle was turning her on. It must be some primitive genetic coding deep in her DNA because normally she would never even consider dating three men at the same time, let alone together, and brothers to boot. Kaden stood taller than his brothers, but Jaxon’s shoulders were a bit wider. Sloan and Jaxon were almost the same height, but the youngest brother was paler than the other two. All three of them had incredible arms that stretched their short sleeves. “The opposite team has all three Henderson brothers on it.” “I don’t think I can watch this.” Carol’s tummy flipped and then clenched. Somewhere deep inside of her the idea of watching any of the three brothers get hurt made her nervous. “Don’t worry, Carol. I get all fidgety before a game, too.” Mai patted her leg. “Remember, they will heal no matter what, and by the end of the game, whatever started the fight will be forgotten.” A group of teenage girls all screamed Sloan’s name in unison and waved signs declaring their feelings for him. He laughed and waved at the group before glancing out over the rest of the bleachers. As

Embraced by Fur

89

soon as he saw her, he grinned at her and blew her a kiss. Thankfully, enough people sat between them and the teenagers’ view of her. Four teenage heads swiveled as the girls bobbed up to see who had Sloan’s affection. River waved down at him, and Carol joined in, thankful for the cover. Jaxon looked up and found her immediately. He stared at her, and she could feel the heat of his gaze from where he stood. He smiled and waved up at them. When Kaden glanced up at her, his gaze found her immediately, making her think that perhaps he knew she was sitting there but pretended not to see her before. Mai bumped her shoulder against Carol’s. “Wow, after the look that Kaden gave you, I’m surprised you didn’t go up in smoke.” “I’m not entirely certain that is how he meant it.” Sure, his gaze was intense. Maybe he wanted to see what kind of woman fooled around with brothers? From the corner of her eye, she could see Mai and the incredulous look on the woman’s face. “You’re kidding me, right?” “No, she’s not,” River added, rolling her eyes. “Brenna warned me that Carol can be completely oblivious to some things.” Carol ignored the comment because it was pointless to argue. Besides, she was sitting beside two toothpicks for women. She didn’t doubt she looked huge sitting between them. She should have sat far away from them or next to the players’ bench. At least against the size of the men, she would look small. She watched as a few men spoke to Vencel and Gaspar and then pointed up at the stands to where they sat. River snickered and pointed at the men gathered on the other side of the field. “Looks like you are the talk of the team, Carol.” Oh, Shit. “Are you kidding me? What makes you think that they are talking about me?” “Because everyone already knows me and Mai.” She tapped her water bottle against Carol’s. “You’re new here, and they all want to know who you are.”

90

Corinne Davies

“Look at how furious that is making the Hendersons.” Mai nodded toward the three men who now wore similar scowls as they lined up to start the game. River reached across Carol’s lap and patted Mai’s leg. “I hope you have extra ice packs in your freezer, Mai.” Carol watched as the game started. They tossed the ball back and forth while more than one man got tackled hard into the ground. She could see that things were being said between the players, but she was too far away to hear. Kaden barked out a comment, and Gaspar broke formation and ran across the field. He slammed into Kaden’s back, forcing him to throw the ball forward to his brother. Mai jumped to her feet hollering, “Oh, dirty hit!” Carol watched as Vencel helped his brother to his feet and then held on to him as Kaden got up. She got the impression that Gaspar might go after him given another chance. “Did you hear what he said?” Jaxon and Sloan both met Kaden on the field, obviously making certain that he was okay. Mai sat down before answering. “No, they usually insult each other during a game, but there is something personal being dealt with there.” The whistle blew, and the men all gathered in a group in the middle of the field. “What are they doing? It looks like a big group hug.” Carol didn’t know a thing about rugby, but she’d heard it described as being brutal. A big group hug didn’t seem that tough. In fact, she thought this might be the best part of the game. Each team huddled together in a triangular formation. Linking arms, they pressed forward against the other team who stood in the same configuration. That put all their asses in perfect view, leg and thigh muscles flexed with the force as they all tried to kick the ball back to their own side of the huddle.

Embraced by Fur

91

“That’s called a scrum,” Mai said over the hollering and insults that coloured the air around them. “The ball gets kicked back and forth inside, and each team is trying to get it onto their side, and that means they have possession.” Carol watched the group of men shuffle back and forth. Their muscles strained as the scrum undulated under the extreme effort. She was starting to appreciate the value of rugby when River hollered out a cheer. “Cris has it!” Carol remembered Brenna pointing out 3XTC’s DJ the other day. A holler went up as Cris worked his way up the field. He held onto the ball for a while but then tossed it behind him. That player would run past him and then toss it back again. “Why the hell wouldn’t he toss it forward?” “Against the rules,” Mai answered. “You can only pass back to a player or it’s a knock on and there’s another scrum.” For the remaining time, Carol tried to keep track of the rules but soon decided enough was enough and cheered along with everyone. The funny thing was the spectators cheered for everyone regardless of what team they were on. The teenagers screamed the loudest when Sloan had the ball, and Carol couldn’t deny a flash of annoyance. “What is their problem anyway? Shouldn’t they be hanging out at a high school watching boys their own age?” Mai nodded and then grinned. “It’s infuriating sometimes. Tourists like to come to the games, and then when they fall all over my husbands, I get really pissed off. Thankfully, after the game everyone gets together for a barbecue. It’s at my place this time, and it’s for locals only. You’re invited, too, of course.” “Thanks, Mai. Do you need any help? I could bring something.” “No, not at all, but I appreciate your offer. Rugby night is taken care of by the boys. It’s an unwritten rule. Vencel and Gaspar have everything ready to go. All we have to do is show up. I tried to help and ended up in a bubble bath that Vencel made for me to get me out of the way.”

92

Corinne Davies

“Wow. That is pretty amazing.” “Yeah, I’m spoiled.” Mai smiled and blushed. “I’m very lucky to have found them.” Both River and Mai kept up a running commentary during the game, explaining the rules. Mai watched everything but always knew when one of her guys had a hard hit and if they were hurt or not. It was kind of eerie, but in a way, Carol was envious. To have such an intense connection to someone else, how amazing would that be? The first forty minutes of the game passed quickly, but the second half was much more brutal than the first. It became obvious that the Henderson brothers and the Solfalvi’s were pissed at each other, but with every hit, they seemed to get over it. By the end of the game, they were shaking each other’s hands and carrying on as if nothing ever happened. Carol was certain Kaden’s nose was broken, and Sloan had a nasty-looking bruise coming up on his cheek. Jaxon limped slightly and held on to his stomach. Mai’s husbands didn’t look much better. Mai fussed over each of them and then glared at the Hendersons. Carol looked over to where the Henderson brothers were standing talking to another couple of men. They were a breathtaking example of masculine beauty. Seeing the three of them, even dirty and roughed up, they looked incredible. She looked away before they caught her gawking at them. The brothers must have spoken by now about meeting her. She’d flirted shamelessly with Sloan and had the best sex of her life with Jaxon. Despite her intention to look everywhere but the group of men, her eyes were continually drawn to the three of them standing there. Kaden she couldn’t put a finger on. She felt drawn to him, but when he looked at her, she felt an icy tingle at the back of her neck. Her instincts told her to look but not touch, but her fingers itched to smooth his frown away. There was a sadness in Kaden’s eyes that she didn’t understand but wanted to.

Embraced by Fur

93

Sitting here watching all three of them sent a wave of longing through her that she couldn’t explain. She wanted all three of them, and that was not normal. Gordon might have two wives and Mai, two husbands, but was she pushing the limits considering three men? **** After the game, everyone met at the Solfalvis’ house as planned. The athletes had a chance to shower and change, and the effect was devastating to her libido. It was Gaspar and Vencel’s turn to barbecue, but everyone showed up with a dish of some sort. Carol hadn’t seen so much food outside of a buffet restaurant. Coolers lined the edge of the deck. Tiki torches surrounded the perimeter of the back yard, keeping the mosquitoes at bay, and added a bit of light as the sun set. Carol had declined a beer and ended up in a chair, holding on to Willow. The lively sounds of Great Big Sea played through speakers attached to the back wall of their house. Carol looked over the people milling about as laughter echoed all around her. She was struck by how perfect it all was. This was a life she could get used to, living in a community that cared for each other. Visiting with neighbors and bringing food to a barbecue even though it was not expected. Small towns meant that everyone was in everyone else’s business. It also meant that they could count on each other for help. Carol wished for a second that she could stay in Ecstasy Lake, but she knew it couldn’t last. She could only hide away here for so long. A man crouched down next to where she sat, and Willow kicked her feet excitedly. “Hi there, Miss Willow, who’s this pretty lady holding you?” He smiled at Carol. “I’d offer to shake your hand, Carol, but yours are full at the moment. My name is Cris.” “From the radio station. It’s nice to put a face to the voice.” “That’s me, and I’m glad to meet you in person, too. Brenna spoke so much about you when she said you were coming to visit.”

94

Corinne Davies

Cris had an easygoing manner that put Carol at ease right away. He spoke softly, and his voice had almost a magical quality to it. A career in radio was perfect for him. She would happily listen to him recite a grocery list. His hair drifted over her arm as a breeze picked up around them. His hair was shaggy, and it matched the scruff that lined his jaw. He wasn’t built as solidly as the Hendersons, but there was no denying he was a good-looking man, only he didn’t send her heart thumping or make her hands shake. “Brenna didn’t say how long you were going to stay up here. Were you thinking of moving to Ecstasy Lake?” A shiver of awareness danced up the back of her neck where Cris’s arm lay across the back of her chair. She darted a look over her shoulder and saw that all three of the Henderson brothers had arrived. They had cleaned up from the game. She could see some nasty bruising on their faces. As Jaxon walked toward them, he still limped slightly. “Um, no. I’m only here for a couple weeks to help Brenna, and then I have to return to the city to sort some things out at home. I’ll be going back after Labour Day.” With a scowl on his face, Jaxon led his brothers across the lawn toward them. Cris acted as if he didn’t notice the three brothers bearing down on them like a trio of warriors. Willow gurgled, kicked her feet, and waved the rattle in her hand as if she was excited to see them. “Hey, Jaxon, how’s your knee doing?” Cris asked casually. Carol looked down, but a continued awareness crept over her skin as though she could actually feel her gazes. She hadn’t completely come to terms with the idea of all three brothers being interested in her. Maybe Brenna had it wrong and they didn’t want to share her. Perhaps she was about to get the “one or none” talk. Well, she wasn’t going to sit here and have them stand over her and try to intimidate her.

Embraced by Fur

95

She shored up her confidence and looked up at them. They stood so close that she had to tip her head way back to see them all. The movement caused her to bare her throat, and she belatedly remembered Brenna warning her against doing such a thing. It made most shifter men think it was a challenge. She could almost feel the tension grow thick in the air around her. Dropping her chin, she looked down at Willow and tickled the baby’s cheek as she spoke. “Hi there, guys. If you will excuse me, I have to get Willow back to her moms. I promised them I wouldn’t keep her out here too long.” “I saw them in the house helping Mai set up all the food.” Cris stood and held out a hand to Carol. “Perfect, I can help Mai at the same time.” Before she could place her hand in Cris’s, he scooped up Willow out of her embrace. “No problems, I’ll take the baby in and give them a hand. You’re a guest here, sit and enjoy.” Carol got to her feet but didn’t get much farther. Jaxon didn’t move an inch, so she stood almost brushing his chest with her breasts. A small voice in her head begged to lean forward and close the space between them, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it in front of the other two. “Come here.” Jaxon pulled her forward and wrapped his arms around her. He tilted her head up and brushed her lips with his own. “That’s better.” Carol could feel the heat rise in her neck and face. She would be beet red in another minute, she knew. Everything she heard about the three of them flashed in her head along with a full-colour memory of Jaxon naked. He smiled down at her, and the laugh lines around his warm brown eyes crinkled slightly. “I think I can guess what you’re thinking.” “No. No, you can’t.” She stepped away from his embrace and tried to look unflustered.

96

Corinne Davies

A second later, Sloan wrapped his arms around her, and he claimed her lips like a man possessed. She couldn’t help but respond to his enthusiasm for a moment before she remembered where they were. She pushed against his chest with her hands and broke the kiss. “Sloan, stop. We’re surrounded by people.” She glanced around, but everyone standing near them before had moved away and weren’t looking in their direction. “You worry too much, Carol.” Sloan grinned at her and gave her a hug. “I plan on doing this every time I see you.” She glanced up at Jaxon, expecting to see him angry, but he grinned at her and winked. A low growl vibrated in the air, and Carol followed the sound to the third brother. Kaden stood at about six four with broad shoulders and long, strong legs. Carol almost melted like a pat of butter on a summer day. “Hello, Kaden. It’s nice to see you again.” “You, too, Carol.” He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand as he spoke. “I want to apologize to you for my behaviour the other night. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Carol wasn’t completely certain of the middle brother. While his apology seemed sincere, she didn’t understand what it was he had against her. “Don’t mind him, Carol.” Sloan elbowed his brother slightly, and she couldn’t help but return his smile. “He’s pissed that you beat his high score on Skip-It.” “You’re kidding me. I wasn’t very good at that game at all.” “All depends on where you were standing. I thought you showed incredible form while playing.” She stepped out of his arms and smacked him in the chest. “That’s because you couldn’t keep your eyes off my boobs. If you got any closer, I might have knocked you out.” She saw Kaden’s gaze drop to her chest and then over the rest of her. He frowned slightly and then took a couple steps back. “You

Embraced by Fur

97

know, I’ve got a couple things I have to finish before tomorrow. I think I’ll head out now. Nice to meet you again, Carol.” Obviously, her size was an issue with Kaden. If she were twenty or thirty pounds lighter, she’d bet he wouldn’t be going anywhere. She pulled her sweater closer together, figuring too much skin showing. Who knew a look could hurt so much? A hard lump formed in her throat, and the back of her eyes burned. “Nice to meet you, too, Kaden. See you around.” She turned to Jaxon and Sloan, who were both glaring at their brother. No way was she getting in the middle of this mess. “I told Mai I would help her with bringing some things out. How about I talk to you both later?” Jaxon grabbed for her hand. “Carol, I think you misunderstood.” She was not going to stand here and be embarrassed anymore by this. “No, I didn’t. Talk to you both later.” She rushed away toward the house and refused to acknowledge the sharp pain in her throat, or the tears that burned in her eyes. There was nothing to be worked up over she hadn’t dealt with before. A few weeks and she would put this town behind her. **** Jaxon regretted every tackle he’d blocked today to save his brother’s ass from the Solfalvis. He should have let them knock some sense into him because now he was going to kick Kaden’s ass himself. The look on Carol’s face before she turned away sent another wave of anger through him. He caught up to his brother after they rounded the house and were far enough away from everyone not to be overheard. “You selfish bastard.” Grabbing on to Kaden’s shoulder, he whipped his brother around with the intention of punching him in the mouth.

98

Corinne Davies

Kaden never raised his hands in defense. It was obvious he planned to take whatever Jaxon chose to dish out. The stark acceptance across his brother’s face drained the buildup of steam he was about to release. “Kaden, what is going on with you?” “I can’t do it, Jaxon.” His brother ran an agitated hand through his hair and started to pace back and forth. “I look at her and…I can’t. It feels like my head will explode.” He gripped at his shirt as if he were having a heart attack. “It’s too much.” Jaxon stepped into Kaden’s path, blocking his movement. “Talk to me. Explain it to me. What do you feel when you look at her?” “Everything, Jaxon, my wolf is clawing the shit out of my insides over this. I’m fighting my own instincts, and it hurts.” “Kaden, you said that she was your mate. Did you mean it?” “Yes, but how can I get involved with a human?” “The same way you would if she was a shifter. You can’t blame her for what happened to Jack.” “I know, but it’s more than that. Look what happened to Mai. When the Hungarians took her, the Solfalvis almost went feral looking for her.” Kaden shook Jaxon’s hands off his shoulders. “What if something happened to Carol because we brought her into our world? Could you live with yourself over that?” “You know as well as I do that there is nothing in our world that is certain. Shifters die in battles, and they die in accidents.” After their father’s death in a freak mining accident, Kaden had become incredibly protective of their mom. It took them moving to Ecstasy Lake and her meeting her True Mate here for him to start to relax again. Their mother mourned their father, but she survived because they weren’t True Mates. Jaxon knew if they lost Carol, he wouldn’t be far behind. “What if I can’t protect her enough?” Jaxon wrapped an arm around Kaden’s shoulders. Out of the three of them, Kaden was always the one to take everything to heart—the loss of their father and then the violent death of his best friend in front

Embraced by Fur

99

of him. “We’ll protect her, Kaden. She will have the three of us to care for her. Don’t you think the idea of her getting hurt scares the hell out of me? Between her and Sloan, I expect to start sprouting gray hairs any day.” “Jaxon, I don’t know if I can do that, but I don’t know how I can walk away from her.” “Then stop pushing yourself. Let it happen. But I’m telling you, the longer you wait the harder it will be. You’re creating a massive distance between the two of you, Kaden. You didn’t see her face tonight. You’ve hurt her, and you have to make it right with her.” “I will, as soon as I can think clearly. I’m going to let my wolf run and see if I can straighten my head out. I have to work early tomorrow anyway. Pass on my good-byes to everyone for me.” Without anther word, he stripped out of his jeans and shirt and leaped into the forest as a wolf.

100

Corinne Davies

Chapter Eleven Three hours later, Carol had convinced herself that she was overreacting. Both Jaxon and Sloan had tried to talk to her, but she rebuffed them as gently as she could each time. She didn’t want to hear any excuses, and eventually they stopped trying to corner her. They might think they wanted to share her, but that wasn’t a realistic idea, especially since their brother obviously wasn’t interested. They would find some tiny fashion model to pass around, and then they could all live happily ever after. Sitting curled up in a swing chair, she looked out over the large yard while sipping white sangria out of a fishbowl for a goblet. Tiki torches lined the edge of the large deck, keeping the bugs at bay, creating flickering shadows against the backdrop of the forest. There were still a few people milling around, but most everyone had gone home by now. Jaxon left an hour earlier, but not without curling her toes with another incredible kiss and a promise to call tomorrow. She glanced over at the bonfire they’d started earlier. Sloan stood out in the yard talking to Vencel and Gaspar, but she had no trouble knowing him by his silhouette. “I don’t think I have ever been this relaxed.” She sipped at her drink and then picked a large frozen red grape out of her glass and popped it into her mouth with a dramatic sigh. Both Mai and River laughed in response. River lay sprawled out on a lounger, and Mai sat curled up on another wicker swing chair. A small table sat in the middle of them with their second pitcher of sangria perched on it. “See, that is the fresh air getting to you.” Mai waved her glass, and a bit of sangria sloshed over the edge and on to her hand. “Soon

Embraced by Fur

101

you will wonder why anyone would want to live in a smoggy city— all the crowds, dirt, and crime.” “I don’t think so. I have to go back so I can reopen my animal shelter.” “Right after she kicks her ex in the nuts for stealing all her money.” River lifted her glass in a toast, and all three of them took a sip, then dissolved into giggles. “Is that what happened? Do the police have any idea where to look for him?” “I don’t know. I hope so, but even if they do find him, I doubt I’ll ever see my money back. He could be on the other side of the world by now for all I know. Ann offered to feed him to the wolves, but I couldn’t in good conscience risk Gordon getting indigestion.” Carol didn’t understand Mai’s shocked look and for a moment thought that River had told her something Mai didn’t want shared. River waved her hand in the air. “It’s okay, Mai. Carol knows all about us.” This time Mai’s shocked look turned in her direction. “Did I miss a memo because I’m starting to think I was the only person who didn’t know about shape-shifters until I moved up here?” “I only know because Brenna and I used to share a crappy apartment when we were in University. The wiring was shoddy, and one day Brenna electrocuted herself trying to change a fuse.” “Holy shit, what happened?” River leaned closer to Mai and said, “Brenna told me she shifted, right there in front of Carol, and freaked her out completely.” “Well, hell yeah.” I’ll never forget that moment. “One minute I’m nagging at her not to touch the stupid power box and the next the power goes out. When I flipped on my flashlight, there is an unconscious wolf at my feet.” Mai lifted her eyebrows high over her wide-open eyes. She looked completely entranced in Carol’s story. “What did you do?”

102

Corinne Davies

“Turned and ran of course. I phoned her father and freaked out. It’s almost funny now to think about it because I’m sure I sounded like a lunatic on the phone. But he’s always so calm, and he told me to sit down and take some deep breaths. Not long after, Brenna came back upstairs. We sat there in the most uncomfortable silence because we didn’t know what to say. Gordon drove to our place and immediately ordered us to move. He and Brenna then sat me down and told me everything. I never would have said anything, but it put my mind at ease.” Gaspar jogged up the stairs to the deck and headed toward them. “Sorry, ladies, don’t mean to interrupt.” He paused and gave Mai a kiss. “Having fun, Angyalom?” Carol mentally sighed at the sweet endearment Gaspar used. Mai told her earlier, when she inquired, that it meant “Angel” in Hungarian. “Yes, how about you guys?” Mai patted her husband’s chest and grinned up at him. “Nothing but boring guy talk, you know.” He kissed her again and then continued into the house, emerging a moment later carrying three bottles. That was the third beer run that her husbands had made, and they never failed to check on her as they passed. “Holy shit, Mai. Are your husbands always this sweet?” “Usually.” Mai’s impish grin morphed into something more seductive as she watched the men walk across the lawn. “Sometimes they drive me insane, though.” “They’re why you stayed up here instead of going back to the city?” “They might have had a hand in convincing me to stay up here.” A tipsy giggle escaped her lips, and she covered her mouth, looking around to see if anyone else heard. River laughed out loud. “Don’t listen to her. They came up here because she wanted to move from Toronto. They popped up here now and again to let their wolves run free, but after they met her, the three of them all moved here.”

Embraced by Fur

103

“Wow, I couldn’t make things work with one. I can’t imagine how hard it is to split your attention between two men.” “I don’t understand.” Mai sipped her drink as she waved to her husbands. They waved back and each blew her a kiss. “Doesn’t one man get jealous if you’re spending more time with the other one?” “No, of course not.” Mai placed her glass on the table in front of her and sat forward in her seat a bit. “I don’t know if it’s because they are twins, but they get as much pleasure out of sharing me as I do.” “That is a lot of demand on you.” “Something I can’t get enough of anyway.” She laughed. “But I’m never alone, and I like that. One of them is always around if I need to talk to someone or need help with something. They’re insanely protective, but after everything that happened earlier this summer, I’m glad for it.” River filled her in on some more details. “They’re originally from Hungary, and their pack came here demanding their return. Having a human mate wasn’t an acceptable companion, so one of them decided to take care of Mai.” “Oh my god, how did you get away?” Mai moved to lean on the arm of her chair and missed. Giggling, she corrected herself and then proceeded to speak in a very loud whisper. “I’ll let you in on a secret. Werewolves have very sensitive noses. You hit one of them hard enough in the snout, and it’s like kicking them in the balls with a wooden shoe.” Mai smacked her hands together. “Bam! Down they go.” River refilled their glasses, and Mai lifted hers up from where she’d placed it on the table. “To protective men and knowing how to knock them on their asses when need be.” “Mai is different though, because she is True Mated to her men.” River flopped back, making her chair ease back and forth in small waves. The tone of her voice was wistful, but Carol could see that her new friend wasn’t merely acting dramatic.

104

Corinne Davies

“True Mates? You’ve never mentioned that term before. What is it?” “Think of True Mates as soul mates. I was meant to be with Gaspar and Vencel, and they waited a very long time to find me. I can’t really put it into words, but when I’m with them, everything feels…right.” Carol had a good idea what Mai meant. Everything she said sounded like how she felt when she was with one of the Henderson brothers. With that thought, she understood why Brenna’s parents’ relationship made sense. “That is why Gordon knew that Ann was meant to be with him. She is his and Helen’s True Mate.” “Kind of. The forces that dictate True Mates also allow free will. Gordon loves Ann and so does Helen. But Helen isn’t his Mate. Which means that her life force isn’t tied to theirs.” “What have life forces got to do with anything?” “If something happens to either me or my guys, then the other two won’t survive. It sounds tragic, but honestly, I can’t imagine living without either of them. Shape-shifters are very long lived but not immortal. My husbands are older than Gordon.” “Oh god, that means that one day Helen will pass away, but Gordon and Ann will live on.” Carol felt tears prick her eyes at what sounded like such a tragedy. “That’s horrible.” “It’s life. No one knows when they will die, so that is why each day is so important.” Carol pushed her toes against the ground, making her chair rock as she sipped at her drink while watching the flames from the tiki torches flicker against the night sky. All that True Mate stuff sounded horrible. Is that what the brothers thought she might be? Did she want to be responsible for three other lives? What about when they got sick of her or irritated with her and then couldn’t get away from her because of this strange bond between them? The idea of being caught in a forced relationship with no chance of escape made her feel sick.

Embraced by Fur

105

“Wow, for something so incredible, it really brings a party down.” Mai sipped more of the sweet sangria from her glass. “I wouldn’t change this bond with my guys for anything. They’re my rocks. You’ll both understand when it happens to you.” Carol waved her free hand in front of her as she spoke. “Oh no, not me. I’m not meant to be caught in anything like that. River, you go ahead and tell me all about it later.” Both Mai and River burst out laughing. “Okay, Carol.” River lifted her glass in a mock salute. “You keep telling yourself that, but no one ends up in Ecstasy Lake by accident.” “She’s right. I’ve heard the stories. It’s true. That lake creature they love to talk about should’ve been named Serendipity instead of Blavet.” Mai shrugged her shoulders as if there was no point in arguing about it. River looked at Carol as if that should explain it all. When Carol didn’t say anything, she continued. “Carol, my mom ended up here by accident. She was seven months pregnant with me, and running away from family. She didn’t know my dad was a shifter, and her parents didn’t like having an unwed mother for a daughter. Her car broke down out by the antique shop, and Miss Anilla called Gordon. Gordon could tell by her scent that I was going to be born a shifter. Ann is the one who sat down and told her everything.” “There is a story for almost everyone in this town.” Mai pointed at the sangria on the table. “We would need another pitcher for me to tell you the story about how I met Gaspar and Vencel.” “But there wasn’t anything mystical about why I came up here.” As interesting as all this sounded, Carol couldn’t believe that Fate had a hand in any of it. “Brenna asked me to help out for a few weeks while she went to stay with her sister.” “And her cousin needed her sooner than expected, leaving you here and available for the taking?” River had a point, but Carol couldn’t wrap her brain around the idea of staying here. “But I’m moving back to the city.” “You keep telling yourself that, Carol.”

106

Corinne Davies

Chapter Twelve Pain pierced Carol’s skull when she tried to open her eyes. Her mouth tasted like…better not think of an example because her stomach rolled dangerously at the idea and made her moan, “Oh, please. Kill me now.” A low chuckle from next to her caused the breath to freeze in her chest. What did I do? Covering her eyes with one hand to block the sunlight, she tried to peer out from underneath. Sloan lay on the bed next to her. She could see his chest was bare but didn’t have any clue about the rest of him. Oh god, I’m in bed with the wrong brother. Fragmented memories of the night before shuffled slowly through her thoughts, but nothing surfaced of how she ended up in bed with Jaxon’s brother. “Good morning, I’m not going to bother asking you how you’re feeling right now.” “I’m dying.” She shifted her weight and tried to figure out what she was or wasn’t wearing. She had a T-shirt on and her panties, but that was all, from what she could tell. A quick glance down and she realized that it was the one Sloan wore last night. He leaned down and pressed a kiss against her head. “I imagine so. If it’s any consolation, I think that River and Mai feel the same way?” “Really?” River’s metabolism broke down alcohol so quickly that she’d bragged about never being hungover. “No, not really, but I hoped it might make you feel better.” “No…yes.” Her patchy memory worried her. What the hell was she thinking drinking like that? With incredibly slow movements, she

Embraced by Fur

107

rolled onto her side facing away from Sloan. If she humiliated herself, she didn’t want to see the sympathy in his gaze. Her hair drifted over her face, and she closed her eyes, content to pretend she was hiding as she whispered to him. “Did I do anything stupid? Make a fool of myself? Do I need to apologize to anyone? My memories are very foggy.” Sloan curled around her and brushed her hair off her face. “No. Not at all. River and Mai were cute drunks. You’re sexy as hell, and behaving myself was the hardest thing I’ve done in a long time. Especially when you insisted I give you my T-shirt to sleep in.” “I don’t feel so sexy right now. I have to get to the clinic and check on the animals.” Although the thought of cleaning anything animal related made her stomach roll dangerously. “Oh, baby, let me take care of you. Close your eyes and rest a bit more. River said she would take care of the clinic for you today. There weren’t any appointments scheduled, and she will call if there is an emergency.” “What about your arcade? You’ll have a line of kids waiting for you to open.” “I have a couple of reliable teenagers that work there as well, and it’s my day off, so you’re stuck with me. How about I make you something light to eat when your stomach is feeling up to it?” “Really? You would do that for me?” Carol couldn’t help but be surprised. She was so used to taking care of everything around her that it almost felt wrong to lay back and do nothing. “This is all my fault. You don’t have to. I’ll get up.” “That’s enough of that.” Sloan’s sharp tone surprised her. “So you tied one on last night with the girls and now you feel like shit. It’s nothing to beat yourself up over. Let me take care of you. I want to.” “Does Jaxon know you’re here with me?” “Yeah, and he’s pissed because I’m here and he isn’t. We played rock-paper-scissors for the honour.” “That’s sweet, Sloan.”

108

Corinne Davies

“No, baby. I’m not being sweet. You promised me all sorts of immoral things last night, and I want to nurse you back to health. The sooner you feel better, the sooner I can work through your list with you.” “List? I made a list?” Of all the habits to keep to when she was drinking. Despite the wretched hangover plaguing her, she felt a small wave of excitement ripple though her. She still had some problems with Jaxon and Sloan’s willingness to share, but a part of her very much wanted to explore the idea of being shared. “Can I see it?” “Hell no. You might change your mind on some of them, and I don’t want you to.” The warmth of his body eased hers and soothed her deep-seated insecurities. The wretched feeling she woke up with already seemed to be receding. “I don’t think I’ll be able to get back to sleep again.” A large yawn slipped out as she finished her sentence. “That’s all right. Close your eyes and relax. I’m not going anywhere.” His arms wrapped around her and pulled her closer. The throbbing in her head eased as she relaxed against him. Funny, Carol thought as she drifted off. He sounded like he meant that. A few hours later after a very hot shower, a bit of breakfast, and a large cup of coffee, Carol was feeling back to herself. An incredible feat, considering the intense hangover she woke up with. Sloan offered to drive her home since River drove her out to Mai’s the night before. During the drive home, Sloan managed to get the conversation to a much more personal level. Carol found herself admitting things she’d never told another soul. She whispered one of her top five in his ear. Sloan looked at her in complete surprise. “You’re kidding me? Never?” “No, never, and it’s not that big a deal. It’s not like I’m the only one.” Carol started to feel foolish about her admission. She didn’t mean to tell him, but he’d wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and

Embraced by Fur

109

she’d curled into his side as he’d driven. When he’d asked her about her fantasies, it had slipped out. Carol tried to move away from him, but Sloan wouldn’t let her go. “It’s not a big deal. Forget I mentioned it.” Embarrassment pressed against her, and she could feel her cheeks getting hot. “Oh, there is no way I’m going to forget something as fucking hot as that.” Sloan glanced at her and grinned before turning his attention back to the road. “Now you’re teasing me.” “Hell no, baby, and I have the perfect place for us to pop your fantasy cherry.” Carol started to panic. She never expected that he would want to do it right now. “We can’t do it now. I don’t have anything with me for it.” “Of course we can, and you don’t need anything. That’s the point.” He pulled off the road onto what looked like a trail. He flipped the switch, putting his Jeep into four-wheel drive, and lurched forward again. “Trust me. You’ll love it.” “Is it safe out here? What if we get caught?” Carol was secondguessing her decision. Part of her wanted to experience this, but she’d never thought she would have a chance, certainly not immediately. Sloan stopped the truck and put it into park before turning in his seat. His playful grin was curling his lips, but she could see in his expression something deeper. It made her feel cherished and protected. “I promise to keep you safe, Carol.” He leaned forward and at the same time pulled her closer to him. Suspended across the console, she didn’t have anything to hold on to but him when he captured her lips in the most incredible kiss. “Forget skinny-dipping. Let’s stay here and make out.” She couldn’t help but laugh at his outrageous comment. “All right.”

110

Corinne Davies

“Nice try.” Sloan shook his head. “You’re not getting out of this that easily.” He picked up his phone and texted a quick message. “I’m letting Kaden and Jaxon know that we are going to be a bit late and to not start cooking yet.” “I didn’t realize I was having dinner with all three of you tonight.” “I wanted to surprise you. I know you have been busy at the clinic since Brenna needed to leave town so quickly.” “The two of you are really serious about dating me at the same time? I don’t know how many times I can tell you that it’s a bad idea.” “The three of us want to, but Kaden has issues he needs to work through before he gets his head out of his ass. But we can argue about later. Right now, I want to play,” he said with a wicked grin. Sloan opened his door and hopped out of the Jeep. “Stay there, Carol. I have boots on, and I don’t want to risk you walking through a patch of poison ivy or something. You’re wearing those small sandals that look sexy as hell but wouldn’t be any protection.” He came around the vehicle and opened her door. “Jaxon will kill me if you get a scratch on those pretty feet of yours. Put your arms around my neck.” He’s going to hurt his back doing this. “You cannot carry me, Sloan. Don’t be ridiculous.” “Wanna bet?” In one fluid movement, he pulled her out of the Jeep and into his arms. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and he kicked the door shut. He walked confidently through the forest with her secure in his arms. Carol never felt as light as she did at that moment. They came to an outcropping of large rocks, and that is where he put her down. “Be careful to step on the rocks and not in the crevices. I don’t think there are any snakes in there right now, but no point in risking a bite.”

Embraced by Fur

111

Carol knew she didn’t need to worry about poisonous snakes. The really dangerous ones weren’t indigenous to this area, but a bite could prove to be incredibly uncomfortable anyway. He held her hand securely in his own and led her to the water’s edge. It was a beautiful spot. The lake stretched out in front of them, and she could just make out the thin shadow of the other side in the distance. “Where are the shops in relation to where we are?” Sloan laughed. “We are almost directly across the lake from any buildings. You afraid we’re going to get caught?” “I’m afraid of Cris announcing over the radio that he spotted Blavet’s big white ass in the distance.” “No chance of that.” He moved closer, and Carol’s heartbeat picked up. “It’s not fair to keep your brothers waiting. What if they are hungry?” “Oh, I know they are hungry, sweetheart, but you’re the one they’re interested in tasting.” He looked at her as if she was a large chocolate sundae. Her body warmed under his hungry gaze. She covered her cheeks with her hands and felt the heat she radiated. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop blushing around you.” “Good.” He reached out and slipped the top button on her sweater free. “Come play with me, Carol.” Another button came loose and then another. Carol reached out and traced her fingers along the waistband of Sloan’s jeans. Hearing Sloan’s certainty about Kaden’s interest worried her. Couldn’t they see that he wasn’t interested and that she didn’t want to be the one to come between them? This is nothing but a brief end, of summer affair. She tried to remind herself of that, but her heart felt differently. He stepped back and gave her a bit of room. “Undo them for me.” Carol slid her fingers to the front of his jeans and manipulated the metal button loose as he finished the ones on her sweater. He caught the edge with his fingers and stroked the inside of each breast in a seductive caress as he moved up to her neck and then slid it off her

112

Corinne Davies

shoulders, leaving her with her lace-encased breasts exposed. He moaned and leaned forward to press his lips against her cleavage. “You have the most incredible breasts I have ever seen in my life.” His tongue darted out and pressed against a lace-covered nipple. She gripped his jeans and pulled him closer to her, wanting more. Sloan pressed his forehead against her collarbone and then stood up. “You make me want to do all sorts of dirty things to your incredible body, but we are here to swim.” “Are you certain you want to?” “Hell no, but I am going to. Now do me a favour and finish what you started.” She blinked at him, uncertain of what he meant. “We still have way too many clothes on.” Skinny-dipping had long been something she wanted to do, but when she’d fantasized about it, it was dark, and she was already in the water. The idea of getting naked under a warm sun to go swimming with a man as perfectly gorgeous as Sloan was far more intimidating than she had anticipated. He liked her breasts, but then they were one of her best features. He hadn’t seen how generous the rest of her was. She wasn’t as skinny as Brenna, who looked incredible in a bathing suit. She knew he wouldn’t let her get away with partially undressing. “Whatever is going on in that head of yours, I don’t like it.” In a move faster than her brain could register, Sloan stepped closer and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her closer. He kissed her and scattered her negative thoughts. She felt his hand wrap around hers and bring it to the zipper on his jeans. Carol smiled and gripped the metal tab. His cock twitched underneath the thick fabric, and she worried that she might catch him. “I don’t want to hurt you.” “Hold on.” Sloan slid his hand into his pants and winked at her. “All safe now.” She couldn’t resist looking down as she slowly pulled on the zipper. Seeing his hand disappear down his pants, knowing his fingers were wrapped around his own cock, created a dark throb up inside her. She wanted to watch him pleasure himself. Would he do that for

Embraced by Fur

113

me? She didn’t dare look up at him in case he saw the question in her eyes. She might have only met him a short time ago, but she knew he would do it if she asked. Sloan was wild and made her want to do crazy things with him. Pulling on the tab, she slowly unzipped him and exposed the incredible sight of his hand wrapped around his own cock. She lay her hand over his and felt the tremors beneath her fingers. Sloan moved his hand so that she held on to his exceptionally thick cock, with his hand wrapped around hers. Her fingers barely met around his velvety length. He was going to split her in two. He guided her hand to stroke him, and he shuddered under her ministrations. He wrapped his arm around her and buried his face into her neck. “Christ, that feels too good, babe.” “You like that?” She felt like the most powerful woman in the world right now. “What if I wrap my lips around you?” “Fuck!” He gripped her hand and stopped her from moving along him. “Don’t move.” He took a long deep breath through his nose, and she heard a low vibration in his chest that sounded suspiciously like a purr. She wanted him to let her move. In fact, she wanted to feel him as he slid his cock into her mouth. It wasn’t something she enjoyed with her past boyfriends, but the urge to taste Sloan whispered seductively in her thoughts. She let go of his length and slipped down to her knees in front of him. Wrapping her arms around his hips, she squeezed his hard ass and then gently scored his skin with her nails as she dragged them around to the front. “Holy fuck.” The words ground out from between clenched teeth. She looked up and gasped at the colour of his eyes. His eyes glowed like Jaxon’s, but Sloan’s were a bright blue. His long auburn hair created a natural frame for his face and made his eyes look particularly vibrant. His brow wrinkled in concentration when she pulled his hand away from his cock, and it stood up hard on its own.

114

Corinne Davies

She could tell that he wanted to say something, but she didn’t want him to stop her. She felt so powerful right now, even though she was the one on her knees at his feet. She leaned forward and cupped his balls as she licked a path up his cock. The monster twitched against her tongue, and she kept her motions slow as she crested the top and licked a pearl of moisture from the tip. Sloan growled low in his throat, the sound making her insides flip-flop, and moisture soaked her panties. He gripped her hair in his fingers but didn’t try to direct her motions. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, his long hair slipping off his shoulders. She stroked the heavy sac between his legs with her nails as she gripped the base of his cock and slipped the head into her mouth. She sucked hard on him, and Sloan barked out a shout above her. She let him go with a pop and then licked his length again. This time as she crested the top, she sucked his length into her mouth as deep as she could manage. Sloan growled out a litany of swear words that would have made her laugh if she hadn’t been concentrating so hard. He got very creative, and it fueled her desire. She slid up and down his length, sucking him hard enough to hollow out her cheeks and then holding him at the back of her throat for a moment before allowing him to slowly pull out to the tip. He caressed her cheek with one hand as his other hand braced himself on her shoulder. Over and over, she moved, increasing her speed and then slowing down until her cheeks began to get sore. “Stop. Can’t. Not.” His hips jerked toward her face, punctuating each word. She could feel him tremble under her hand, and she knew he fought his desires, but she wanted to taste all of him. This time she sucked until her cheeks hollowed out, and when he reached the back of her throat, she swallowed around his length.

Embraced by Fur

115

“No, fuck, yes, Carol!” He gripped her hair and fucked her face in short jabs, careful even at this point not to go too deep. She tasted him as he erupted into her throat, and she swallowed him down. The sounds that Sloan made over her didn’t sound human and sent shivers running along her skin. In a flash, her back was against the cool, smooth rock. She heard the distinct sound of fabric ripping, and then he was on her. Teeth bared, he lunged at her, ripping her panties from her body before he dove into her pussy. He sucked her clit into his mouth and lashed it mercilessly with his tongue. Carol didn’t have a chance to take a breath before the first orgasm hit her with the force of a Mack Truck. She curled up and pulled on handfuls of Sloan’s hair as he continued to lash her oversensitive flesh. He pushed two fingers into her cunt and pumped in and out. “Oh stop! I can’t handle any more.” He pulled away, and she instantly felt the loss and wanted to beg for more. Before she could vocalize her feelings, he rose up over her and kissed her. She could taste her own tangy flavour on his lips as he ravaged her mouth. A large, blunt force pressed against her cunt, and she arched her hips, wanting to feel him. Holy shit, he was hard again already? “Yes, do it. Do it!” His hand gripped her hips, and he lunged into her. Her pussy stretched to accommodate his thickness, the unused muscles aching with the strain. “Oh fuck, you’re tight.” He retreated and then pressed back into her again. Each stroke became easier as her body acclimated and soaked his length. She didn’t have the words to say what she felt. He surrounded her and overpowered her. She loved every second as the entire world narrowed down to just the two of them. The grip on her hips would leave bruises on her pale skin, and she loved the idea of being marked by him. I want to be marked by all of them. The thought of each brother claiming her in such a primitive way thrilled her. Sloan pistoned in and out of her, driving her toward the edge. Until he froze

116

Corinne Davies

mid stroke. His lips curled up in an expression of agony, his body trembling with the effort of being still. “Sloan, what’s wrong?” “Fuck. No condom.” “Oh, holy shit.” Carol couldn’t believe that she’d been so stupid. Not that she had to worry about diseases, because shapeshifters by nature didn’t carry any. But a pregnancy right now, when her life was in turmoil, wouldn’t be a wise choice. Knowing her luck, this would be the one-in-one-thousand chance of it happening. With an anguished cry, Sloan pulled himself from her. Instantly she felt the loss and arched up against his hand where it lay on her stomach. He stroked down to her mound and cupped her pussy. He scraped her clit with his thumb as he plunged two fingers into her. He loomed over her like a predator. He stared down at her with his unnaturally bright eyes watching her reactions to his movements. The intensity of his gaze ratcheted up the emotions she felt. She couldn’t hide anything from him like this, nor did she want to be that selfish. “Oh yes, Sloan. Yes. Yes.” She reached up and tangled his fingers in her hair, needing the contact to ground her. She felt like her body was a mass of electrical currents he controlled. With every firm stroke of his fingers, her nerves sparked until white-hot pleasure washed over her and engulfed her senses. “That’s it, baby.” Sloan’s voice cut through the haze, and she looked up at him. She hadn’t completely recovered from that orgasm when he slipped another finger into her. He curled them inside her and stroked her sweet spot. Another intense pleasurable ache burst deep inside her, radiating out and increasing the throbbing between her legs. Three fingers stretched her cunt as he bent over and sucked on her breasts, biting her nipples enough to sting and then laving away any hurt with his tongue.

Embraced by Fur

117

“Again,” he demanded, and her body immediately obeyed his command. Her orgasm ripped through her like a forest fire, and her scream echoed in the trees around them. Before she managed to recover from that one, Sloan straddled her hips and pushed her breasts together. Scissoring her nipples between his fingers he rolled and pinched them as he thrust his cock between her breasts. Her own moisture smoothed the way, and her body immediately reacted to this new sensation. Every time, he pushed his cock up between her breasts, she would lick the tip with her tongue. She loved watching the way he reacted to what she did. His face looked flushed, and his hair stuck in tight curls along his hairline. The effort from holding back showed in the sharp angle of his face and made her body continue to hum. “Now, with me.” Her cries matched his as they echoed out over the water. The mixed sensations he treated her breasts with as hot jets of his cum spurted across her chest and throat took her over the edge again. Sloan shifted his body down hers, stretching out along her side, and lay there, panting. Once they both caught their breaths, he lifted up onto his elbow next to her. His hair partially blocked her view of his face. Reaching up, Carol tucked some damp curls behind his ear. Serious concern coloured his expression, and she feared she’d done something wrong. Sloan spoke before she had a chance to ask him what was wrong. “Oh, babe. I’m sorry. That really lacked finesse of any fucking kind.” He sounded so sincere, she almost laughed out loud. “Yeah, and the three times you made me come really hard sucked, too.” She felt his laugh dance over her neck as he inhaled against the warm skin behind her ear. The small puddle of cum started to cool in the hollow between her collarbones. This is what I get for wishing to be marked by him. “Are you sniffing me? Don’t do that.”

118

Corinne Davies

“But you smell so good, makes me want to take a bite. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” “My back feels a little tender, but I’m fine.” She ran her fingers through his long hair and let it fall against her shoulder. Sloan wrapped his arms around her and rolled them so she rested on his chest. The sun felt warm on her back as she lounged over him. When she did try to move, he grunted and laid his hands over her butt to keep her there. Reality threatened to bring her down from the cloud she floated on, so she pushed all those thoughts aside. For now she would pretend that she wasn’t acting like a…not thinking that. This was not a forever thing. It couldn’t be. This could only be an incredible vacation she would remember forever. “I need something to clean up with.” She pushed herself away from the intimacy the moment offered and refused to meet his eyes right now. Lifting off him she tried to get to her feet. A plan that proved to be a bit more difficult then she anticipated. Her thighs quivered and she didn’t feel all that sturdy. For a moment, she feared landing on her ass but Sloan wrapped his arms around her hips supporting her. He pressed soft kisses along the soaring part of her spine and back. Sloan destroyed all her efforts to put some physical distance between them by scooping her up into his arms, in one fluid movement. She gripped his neck as he carried her over another couple large boulders. “What are you doing? I was going to get dressed.” “We came here to skinny-dip, and I want to play in the water with you.” “No way, how about another time? That water will be cold, and I’m all nice and warm right now.” He stepped up onto a higher rock and moved out to the edge. “The only way to get in is to jump and get it over with. If you think about it, you’ll talk yourself out of it.”

Embraced by Fur

119

“I don’t need to think about it. I don’t want to swim now.” She looked down at the water a few feet below them. “I’m not kidding, Sloan. If you drop me, you’re a dead man. Put me down.” “It’s only cold for a second, babe. It will make your back feel better.” “No!” She felt his muscles flex in warning, but she wasn’t strong enough to break his hold. Gripping her tight, he jumped off the rock.

120

Corinne Davies

Chapter Thirteen “Sloan Henderson, you’re an asshole!” Carol yelled as soon as she reached the surface. He still held her wrapped in his arms, but even his body heat couldn’t compete with the chill of the lake. He laughed at her and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Oh, come on, admit it. This feels great.” “You’re a dead man swimming, buddy.” Laughing, he let her go, and Carol swam a few strokes away from him and quickly rinsed her skin off before she dove after him and gave chase. He managed to keep a few strokes ahead of her, which was annoying as hell. After a few minutes her temper chilled, no doubt thanks to the water’s temperature. She was still a bit pissed off but had to admit that after such an intense fuck, this did feel good. The water felt like silk over her skin. It was completely understandable why anyone would want to swim naked. Being so self-conscious, she never was one to wear a bikini, so feeling the water directly on her skin was sensuous. She treaded water and enjoyed the feeling of the current swirling around her. Sloan ducked under the surface, and she started kicking wildly, knowing that he would try to sneak up on her. She spun in a circle and laughed as she waited for him to break the surface. Swimming in an erratic pattern, she tried to figure out where he was. The moment she paused, she felt him bite her butt and then pull her under. The cold water closed over her head, and she opened her eyes. The sunlight highlighted his hair under the water, and she punched out with her hand, connecting with his shoulder. They both came up for air laughing.

Embraced by Fur

121

Sloan flicked a small wave of water at her. “That was mean. You punched me.” “You bit my ass.” “It’s not my fault you’re so tasty.” Two large wolves emerged from the woods. Sloan treaded water in front of her, his back to the rock so he didn’t immediately see what she did. One snarled in their direction, while the other simply stared at them. “Are those your brothers, or am I going to have to worry about more than your teeth on my ass?” One of the wolves walked out of view, and a second later a very naked Jaxon dove into the water near them. His head broke the surface next to hers. “Whoo, now that feels good!” She felt him reach for her and pull her up against his body. “Look at you all naked and wet. Good morning, gorgeous. How did you sleep last night?” Cold water obviously doesn’t have the normal effect on the Hendersons. Her thoughts must have shown on her face because he smiled and rubbed his hard cock against her hip. “One glimpse of your naked body, and I’m as hard as a rock at the North Pole.” Carol laughed and pushed away from him, swimming toward the shore. She wanted to wrap herself around his body, but with Sloan a few feet away, it didn’t seem right. “You two crazies can stay in here, but I’m getting cold.” She made it to the lower ledge when she realized she had a problem. “Sloan, we didn’t bring any towels.” A pair of feet appeared in front of her, only to be hidden a moment later by a towel. She looked up to see who was holding on to it and sank back into the water. “Hi, Kaden, you can leave it there. I’ll get out in a minute.” Hell would freeze over before she got out of the water with him watching. “I won’t look, Carol. I promise.” “We will.” Sloan called out with an unapologetic grin on his face.

122

Corinne Davies

Carol frowned at him over her shoulder. “You’re not helping, Sloan.” “Carol, please.” Kaden reached out for her, looking her straight in the eye. There was a vulnerability hiding behind his dark eyes, as if he expected her to reject him. If she was a vindictive bitch, she might want to make him feel bad, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She slipped her hand in his, and he lifted her out of the water with ease and then wrapped a towel around her shoulders. A couple wolf whistles sounded behind her, so she wiggled her butt for their entertainment. “Kaden, you’d love the view from this angle.” There was a low growl to Jaxon’s words, and Carol reached back only to realize that the towel had flipped up and her bare bottom was completely exposed. “Hey, you could have said something.” “Why?” Sloan and Jaxon swam toward the rock they stood on. She tried to step forward, but Kaden didn’t move. His hands slipped into the front pockets of his jeans, framing his well-muscled chest. A familiar heat wrapped around her, and it wasn’t from the towel. She didn’t want to feel anything toward this brother. It was hard enough coming to terms with lusting after two of them. “I didn’t know that shifters carried clothes around with them.” Kaden looked a bit embarrassed, and he glanced down at his bare toes. “They’re my jeans from yesterday. Jaxon must have thrown them in the back of Sloan’s truck after I left the Solfalvis’.” “Come on, you two. Get out of the way.” Jaxon and Sloan both waited to get out of the water “I can walk,” she protested as Kaden bent and scooped her up into his arms. “What is it with you guys wanting to carry me everywhere?” “Because, this way we can make certain that you will get there safely.” Kaden nimbly jumped up the levels of rock to where she started out.

Embraced by Fur

123

He carried her a few feet away from the rocks before letting her stand on a patch of soft grass. “I wanted to talk to you alone for a moment. Carol, I owe you an apology.” “No, you don’t. I know Jaxon and Sloan have been making comments about sharing me, but to be honest I’m having second thoughts about the whole thing myself, too. There isn’t any reason why you need to feel obligated to go along. I’m not your type, and that’s okay, too.” “I didn’t realize how much I fucked all this up until now.” “What do you mean?” Kaden cupped her face in his hands and brushed his lips against hers. Her body jerked in reaction, but not away from him. Her thoughts were spinning and conflicted. She wanted to wrap herself around him and press her breasts against his bare chest and feel his brothers crowd in around them. Wanting three men isn’t natural or fair, and someone is going to end up hurt. Kaden stopped the kiss gently, stroking his fingers along her jaw with exquisite tenderness. “Please understand, I don’t want to rush this. I know I have a lot to make up for.” As he stepped back, it felt natural for Carol to move closer, but she caught herself and stayed put. “Kaden, I don’t understand.” “You will.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. His mixed signals confused her. His kiss rocked her to her toes, but then he stepped away as if she didn’t affect him at all. Maybe she didn’t, and he was following along? That thought filled her veins with ice. “You spend some time with my brothers, and I’ll see you later on. I promise. If it’s all right with you, I’d like to take you out to dinner tomorrow night.” Large hands rested on her shoulders, and she looked over her shoulder into Jaxon’s face. He looked at his brother and nodded slightly. Kaden moved closer and trapped her between them. He kissed her, igniting fires that hadn’t completely extinguished from her

124

Corinne Davies

earlier encounter with Sloan. Her back pressed against Jaxon’s chest, and she felt his cock bob against the back of her lower back. “Until tomorrow,” Kaden whispered on her lips and then turned and walked toward the vehicles. A moment later, a wolf darted out from between the trucks and dove into the forest beyond. “What just happened there?” Carol snapped out of her stunned silence and turned on Jaxon. “Kaden doesn’t like me. Did you say something to him?” “No, I wouldn’t do that.” Jaxon might have let her step away from him, but he grabbed her hand before she moved too far. “Kaden is struggling with something that has nothing to do with you but affects how he feels about you.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but didn’t. “That makes even less sense.” “I think our brother finally pulled his head out his ass.” Sloan wrapped his arms around her waist. “Do you ever look hot when you’re squished between two of us, baby.” He hugged her, rubbing his hardened cock against her stomach. “I bet you would look incredible between the three of us.” “I think you both want something that isn’t going to happen. You can’t make Kaden like me, and I wouldn’t want him that way.” “So, you’re considering taking the three of us on?” She didn’t have the heart to crush the hope she heard in Sloan’s voice. She felt water drip from her hair onto her shoulders, and a shiver danced up her spine. “I refuse to come between the three of you.” “You won’t, Carol. I promise you.” Jaxon stepped up against her back, trapping her between him and Sloan. The two of them generated enough warmth to chase away her sudden chill. “Just give him time, and he will see what we see in you.” “Why don’t we see what happens and let the future unfold as it will.” It sounded more and more like the Hendersons wanted a relationship, but she knew it was simply a late-summer affair. In a few weeks, she would go back home and her time at the Lake would

Embraced by Fur

125

be a wonderful memory. The boys would move on to their next conquest and who knew when she’d be back. “Let’s head home.” Sloan darted a teasing kiss against her neck. “I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m starving.” Jaxon lifted her up into her arms. She laughed and said, “Jaxon, I can walk!” He ignored her and strode to the truck. She had to admit to herself that she liked the way they scooped her up and carried her as if she weighed as much as a fashion model. No one had ever made her feel this special. David never tried. Perhaps that should have been her first clue. She was always responsible for taking care of herself, and it was nice to simply go with the flow for a while. Jaxon lifted her up to the seat and slid his hands down her legs, lifting her feet up. “What are you doing?” “Making certain you didn’t hurt your feet on the rocks.” He brushed his hands over her arches and under her toes. “No scratches. They’re fine.” He pressed a kiss to the top of each foot before allowing her to swing her legs into the truck. His cock looked rock hard, the crown flushed a dark purple, and she had an insane urge to swipe her tongue around the tip. Sloan jumped into Brenna’s seat with her clothes in his arms, disrupting the moment. He’d managed to get a pair of jeans pulled on but left them unbuttoned, and they looked as though they were going to fall off his hips. Jaxon growled low, and the primitive sound vibrated through the cab. Sloan’s gaze snapped to his brother. “What did I do?” Instead of answering him, Jaxon pinned her with a hungry gaze that made her pussy weep. “Whatever you were thinking, hold that thought till we get home.” He shut the door and stepped away from the vehicle. Sloan started the truck. “Race you!”

126

Corinne Davies

Jaxon disappeared in a shimmer, leaving behind a large wolf that darted into the forest as Sloan threw the truck in gear and backed out to the road. “So what did you do to get my brother all worked up?” “I have no idea.” She felt wound as tight as a top, and her body ached. She knew what the two of them had in mind taking her home, and the idea excited her more than she could imagine. She didn’t want to think she was one in a long line of women they shared, but that would make it easier to separate in the end. “So do you two do this often?” “Race?” “No, share women.” **** Sloan’s intention to drive like a lunatic flew out the window with her question. She didn’t ask what the winner of the race got, which would have been an easier question to answer. He wanted to make certain that she understood how much she meant to them, but he didn’t want to frighten her off, either. “I’m not going to lie to you, Carol. The three of us have shared women before, but we’ve never brought one to our home.” She nodded as if she understood, but he could almost hear her thought process speeding along in her head. They might not have known each other long, but he knew she wouldn’t understand how they felt about her. He laid a hand on her bare leg, wanting to distract he from her thoughts. “What would you say to taking off your seatbelt and sliding closer to me?” “I’d say that’s a one hundred and twenty-five dollar ticket, if you get pulled over.” He winked at her, his expression full of mischief. “Nah, we’ll be home in a moment. Come on, be bad with me.” Carol turned on the seat to face him. Her towel slipped lower on her breasts, stopping a breath above her nipples.

Embraced by Fur

127

He almost drove off the road. Jerking the wheel straightened them out, and she grinned and turned to face the front. “All right, point taken.” If she did move closer to him, they’d end up in the ditch. He wondered if twenty years from now she would still have this kind of power over him. He glanced at her and caught her staring down at his lap. Her tongue slid over her lower lip, and he hardened enough that he knew his cock was peeking over the waistband of his jeans. Yup, she’ll be getting me hard with a look when I’m a hundred. He pulled into their driveway a moment later. Jaxon stood with one shoulder propped up against the porch support. He’d made it back with enough time to get in the house and pull on a pair of shorts. There was no missing the smirk on his brother’s face from here. What might have pissed him off and pricked his temper a few days ago only amused him. He couldn’t really blame Jaxon. Had he won the race, he would have been much more vocal and much less mature about it. Carol was about to hop out of the truck on her own when he lifted her into his arms. “Sloan, put me down.” “You know, sooner or later you’ll get use to this and give up trying to boss us around.” “Don’t bet on it.” Her finger poked against his chest, but he could tell there wasn’t a lot of heat behind her threat. This was perfect, because he loved the feel of her in his arms. Wrapped in nothing but a towel, she tried to hold it together with one hand between her boobs. He might hide her clothes so she didn’t have any choice but go naked or try to keep covered with little, tiny towels. Jaxon strode down the stairs and met them, taking her out of Sloan’s arms. “Really, guys, I can walk. I’ve been doing it for a very long time.” “Then you deserve a break.” Jaxon silenced any more arguments by kissing her. Sloan jogged up the stairs and opened the door for his brother so he wouldn’t have to break his kiss.

128

Corinne Davies

Somewhere between the bottom of the stairs and the bedroom, Carol had practically wrapped herself around Jaxon. Her hands were in his hair and legs were now around his waist. His brother stumbled and then moved to the sofa a few feet away. Thank god, it looked like they weren’t going to make it all the way upstairs. Waiting to get his hands on her again was maddening. He wouldn’t complain about their fun on at the lake, but he wanted a soft surface under her back when he plundered her. Thinking about the feel of her soft, drenched pussy as it fluttered around his cock was enough to make him almost come in his jeans. As much as he’d happily kick the ass of the guy who fucked her over, he also owed the asshole a beer for being so shortsighted. Carol was as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. The kindness in her heart reflected in everything she did, in the way she loved animals, to the openness of her personality and her giving nature. Most people might have planned revenge when wronged or hidden somewhere they were familiar with to lick their wounds. Carol packed up what she had and came to an entirely different community to help a friend. She was so incredibly responsive to all three of them. There was still tension between her and Kaden, but that was his brother’s doing. He knew that Kaden was coming around, but now he would have to convince Carol that he meant what he’d said to her. A soft sigh from their woman brought his attention back to earth. Our woman, I love thinking of her like that. Jaxon knelt on the floor between her knees, feasting on her succulent skin. There wasn’t a single jealous bone in his body watching his brother pleasing her. Carol’s fingers gripped Jaxon’s arms, her nails scoring pale red lines along his skin. Sloan pulled off his shorts and gripped his cock tightly, waiting for the initial urge to climax to pass. Her eyes opened slightly, and a ghost of a smile crossed her features. Sloan glided his hand along his length, experimentally pumping his cock a few times. Fairly certain he could handle the

Embraced by Fur

129

stimulation and not blow his load, he leaned back against the doorframe and continued to jerk himself. Carol watched him hungrily, her gaze never leaving his cock. He reached down and cupped his balls, squeezing them gently to increase the intensity. The sensation of watching her watch him jerk his cock sent white-hot currents up his spine. From this angle, he could see Jaxon’s hand moved up her thigh, his fingers parting her folds to plunge two fingers into her. “Oh, god!” Carol’s hips jerked up against Jaxon’s face. Her eyes closed, and her head fell back. Jaxon picked up the pace, finger-fucking her as he slurped and sucked her cunt. Her feet were braced on his shoulders, and Jaxon rubbed his cheek against one ankle and then the other, drawing out her pleasure. Sloan squeezed the base of his cock and shivered as he fought the impulse to come right there. The only place he would allow himself to come would be deep inside her. Watching Carol in the throes of an intense orgasm was almost enough to make him change his mind. She gripped Jaxon’s arm with one hand while the other clutched his hair. Sloan watched as a vivid flush stained the pale skin of her shoulders, neck, and breasts. Her body instinctively curved up and almost over his brother as another wave of pleasure took her over the edge. She flopped back against the sofa with an exhausted sigh, and Sloan sat down next to her. His cock stood out hard from his body, and Jaxon’s looked to be in the same condition. Although, his older brother seemed content to sit on the floor for the moment and press kisses against the top of each foot while stroking the delicate skin between her heel and ankle. Sloan leaned closer to her and rested his head against the cushion next to hers. He gazed on her serene expression and couldn’t resist brushing his fingertips along her cheek. He lightly traced a path from her cheek, down her neck, and along the generous curve of her breasts. Her nipples were still hard like erasers, and he played with them by running the pads of his fingers back and forth over them. A

130

Corinne Davies

sultry smile curved her lips, and she blinked a couple times as she focused on him. Her hand curved around his rigid cock and stroked it, feeling like a silken caress. “That was so fucking hot.” “I can’t believe I’m not dying from embarrassment.” Her words were spoken with humour, but he could see the confusion in her expression. “There isn’t any reason to be embarrassed.” Jaxon rose from between her legs and kissed her. Sloan wondered how Carol felt about tasting herself on his lips, but thankfully, it didn’t appear to bother her as it did some women. “Not with us.” Jaxon gave Sloan a quick pat on the calf, reminding him of a conversation he and his brothers had had long ago. They joked about “tagging” each other in so as not to make the woman they were with feel awkward while they changed positions. With that simple move, Sloan knew the next move would be his. “What do you want, Carol?” “You both.” She stroked his length and then reached down and wrapped her fingers around his brother’s cock. “I think it’s only fair I say thank you to Jaxon for making me feel so unbelievable.” Jaxon’s reaction was almost immediate as a shudder visibly ran through his body. “Sweetheart, no thanks needed. It’s my pleasure.” Sloan remembered with vivid detail what a talented mouth Carol had. “Don’t listen to him, baby. I think you have an excellent idea there.” “But I want you, too.” She gripped his cock as her arousal scented the air around them, tickling his senses, making his mouth water and his cock throb. “I want you to fuck me at the same time.” Her explicit words pulled cock-deep groans from him and his brother. “Let me go get…” Jaxon reached into his back pocket and pulled out a condom, handing it to Sloan. “I told you to go into Boy Scouts when you were a kid.”

Embraced by Fur

131

“And am I ever glad one of you did.” Carol plucked the condom from his brother’s fingers. “Allow me.” Carol bent over and ran her tongue over the tip of Sloan’s cock. “Fuck!” His hips jerked uncontrollably, and she giggled. “I’m going to make you pay for that.” She grinned up at him as she rolled the condom over his cock. “Promises, promises…” Sloan didn’t wait for her to get the rest of her smart-ass comment out of her pretty mouth when he lifted her up and over to where Jaxon reclined in his favourite lounger. She willingly bent over and presented Sloan with her heart-shaped ass. He traced the outline of her silky globes with his fingers and then slid them through the glistening, puffy folds of her pussy. Sloan replaced his fingers with his cock, and she wriggled her ass at him as she made delicious sounds around Jaxon’s cock. Her hand gripped the bottom of his length as she sucked his cock deep into her throat. Sloan pressed against the underside of his cock, praying he would last a bit longer. With one long stroke, he pushed into her slick depths with relative ease thanks to his brother’s hard work. The walls of her pussy clenched around his assault, wrapping him in heat. He withdrew almost entirely and then pushed his length into her again. Carol became more and more vocal with each stroke, and Sloan quickly settled into a steady rhythm with long strokes in and out. He adjusted his angle a bit and felt her body jolt the next time he plunged into her. “Oh, yeah, baby. That’s the spot, isn’t it?” Her body quivered, and her pussy fluttered around his length as he shortened his strokes. Over and over, he lunged into her, hitting that perfect spot. He kept a steady grip on her hips, supporting her as he fucked her hard and steady. Her muffled cries around Jaxon’s cock had to be driving his brother insane. Jaxon groaned deep in his throat, ending in a growl. “Sweetheart, I’m not going to last more than a few seconds longer.” Sloan slowed his movements to allow her to concentrate on his brother. True to his

132

Corinne Davies

word, Jaxon didn’t last long under Carol’s ministrations. His hands gripped the armchair so tightly Sloan could hear the wood creak under the pressure. Jaxon came with a yell that morphed into a howl. As soon as it looked like Carol was finished with Jaxon, Sloan picked up the pace again, plunging into her body hitting her sweet spot with every stroke. “Your turn, baby,” he ground out from between clenched teeth. He slid his hands around her hips, spearing his fingers through her curls. He found her clit and mercilessly stroked small circles around it. Carol’s upper body dropped down against his brother. Jaxon supported her upper body, whispering hot, encouraging words into her ear. Her ass angled up, presented to him like a gift. Ignoring the little voice that suggested he take her up on her offer, he quickened his movements on her clit. This time she screamed out her pleasure, the sound ringing in his ears. Confident his brother would support her, he gave in to the pleasure pulsing inside him. His cock swelled against the clenching of her cunt as he roared out his completion. Sloan locked his knees to stop from collapsing on her. After a moment, he lifted Carol into Jaxon’s lap. She curled up against his brother as he headed to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. He ran a soft cloth under warm water and then returned to the living room where neither Carol nor his brother had moved. He quickly cleaned away any excess from Carol and then scooped her up into his arms. “I’ll meet you in there?” “I’m right behind you.” Jaxon stood up and headed for the bathroom as Sloan carried Carol upstairs to their room. She didn’t make a peep about being carried, but he figured that had more to do with her being exhausted than giving in. The custom bed had been made to accommodate four adults, and right now, he figured it was worth every penny they spent on it. As his brother dried off, Sloan placed Carol in the middle of the bed. She

Embraced by Fur

133

sighed and curled onto her side, rubbing her face on one of the pillows. She fell asleep seconds later. “Is she asleep?” Jaxon whispered as he slid under the covers behind her. Sloan nodded as he slipped beneath the covers and up against her chest. Jaxon rested his arm over her waist, so Sloan slid a hand to rest in the cleavage between her breasts. “I love you, Carol,” he whispered into the night. “So do I.” His brother echoed his words and kissed the side of her neck. Sloan met his brother’s gaze over her shoulder. Excitement rushed through him, as did the need to mate with her and ensure that she bonded to them. Carol was their True Mate, and the one thing they needed to be happy was Kaden. “He’ll come around. You need to give him time.” Jaxon nodded his agreement to Sloan’s silent request, to wait to bond completely with Carol until they had Kaden with them.

134

Corinne Davies

Chapter Fourteen “You need to go. I’ll catch up with you later.” Carol jerked awake from her sleep at those words. Struggling to get her bearings, she watched as Jaxon rolled out of bed and into his clothes faster than she had ever seen someone move. She pulled the sheet up over her chest. He wants me to get out? She tried to ignore the nauseous feeling that washed over her. She tried to sound sincere, but the lump in her throat made her words stilted. “Yes, sure. No problem. Sorry for falling asleep.” An ache pierced her heart, and the need to get out of here and away from this room filled her. Rejection pounded at her. What the hell was she thinking she could hold the interest of someone like him? She forgot herself at some point in the last few hours and actually started toying with the idea of a future here. “Carol, what’s wrong?” “Hmm?” Schooling her features into what she hoped was a casual expression, she glanced up at him, careful not to meet his eyes. “Nothing. Looking for my clothes. I’ll head out as well. That way you can lock the door behind me.” He stood a scant inch away from her a moment later. “You’re lying.” “No, I’m not.” She tried to step around him, but he moved in front of her. Anger fueled by embarrassment ignited deep in her heart. “Jaxon, get out of my way.” “Make me.” His dark tone sent a shiver up her spine. She shoved at his chest with her one hand while the other clutched the sheet closed in front of her.

Embraced by Fur

135

“Carol, I can tell something is bothering you. Look at me.” Not a chance. That last thing she wanted right now was for him to realize how much she hurt. They didn’t agree on anything permanent or exclusive. Hell, she had sex with his brother as well, and Sloan was nowhere to be seen. “If I’m looking at you, I can’t look for my clothes.” “Carol. Look. At. Me.” Unable to resist the dark tone of his voice, she placed a hand on her hip and huffed as she arched an eyebrow at him. “What?” “You’re staying here.” “No, I most certainly am not. You might be able to get your clothes on in record time, but I need a moment or two more. I could’ve been done by now if you’d move out of my way.” His sharp gaze caressed her face as she tried to ignore him and replied, “You said I need to go. I’m not complaining, but I need more than three seconds to wake up and get dressed.” “No. No, you don’t understand.” He pounced on her, cupped her jaw, and kissed her. His lips stroked over hers in a way she couldn’t resist. Tears prick the corners of her eyes. It wasn’t fair that he could kiss her like this and not feel the same way. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were awake,” he whispered against her lips. “What’s that got to do with anything?” Jaxon pulled her close to his chest and stroked her back. Her halfawake brain attempted to process the confusion that clouded it. “I was speaking to Sloan about an emergency when you woke up. A couple and their young daughter didn’t arrive back from a canoe trip. Sloan left already, but we didn’t want you to wake up alone.” “Go. Now.” Fear for an innocent child filled her and pushed away her own insecurities. Carol shoved against his chest with both hands, this time realizing her mistake. “We’ll talk about this later.” “Be here when I get back.” “Go. I won’t be hiding if that’s what you’re worried about.”

136

Corinne Davies

He pressed another kiss against her lips and then raced out of the room faster than she had ever seen him move. Moments later she heard the door slam behind him. She dressed as quickly as she could, and then ran into the living room and dug in her purse for her cell phone. “Hi, Helen, it’s Carol. What can I do to help?” **** The sun was setting behind the trees when Kaden clipped a cell phone to the collar of the wolf in front of him. “Search the southern ridge. Call when you can.” The wolf yipped an affirmation before streaking out into the dark. Everyone was supposed call in to help with the search, but they needed to be especially careful. The trackers were the best at finding the girl, but they wouldn’t be able to approach a young girl in wolf form without frightening her half to death. The best they could do was to shift, call in, and then keep the predators at bay until the human authorities could get to her. There were enough shape-shifters working for the Ontario Provincial Police that they could cover for a wolf. He double-checked the schedule to see who was due to come back in. He would take the next shift out because this waiting was driving him insane. They began rotating shifts as soon as the call came in, but he hadn’t left yet. He couldn’t after the short nap he took earlier. Long enough to have nightmares of finding Carol’s body with her throat torn out. The memory made his chest ache and his inner wolf pace in frustration. He wanted to be out in the search, but as head of the Guardians, he had to stay here and keep it all organized. Early this morning they’d found the parents wandering the forest, calling for her. The woman had suffered a broken arm, which her husband had already splinted. Thankfully, they had lodged a trip plan with the office before they’d headed out. Their canoe overturned in

Embraced by Fur

137

some rapids, and their daughter got caught in the current and was swept downstream. Several groups were scouring the water’s edge looking for her, but it left a large amount of ground to be covered in the search. Now that dark had fallen they could enlist the help of animals like Sloan that couldn’t risk being seen in the daylight. “Kaden!” He looked up and met Carol’s gaze. She looked tired and rumpled, as if she had rolled out of bed and into her clothes, and she still looked gorgeous. His cock twitched at the thought of her stretched out on his bed, between him and his brothers. “Hi. What are you doing down here?” “Catherine told me where to find you, and she sent something for you to eat. I’m to make certain that you eat it all, too.” “What kind is it?” He pulled at the wrapper to see what kind it was. He would eat anything she brought to him, regardless of if he liked it or not. Not seeing her all day gave him time to think, and he knew he had a lot to make up for, considering his attitude toward her. Carol smiled as she spoke. “I’m not certain. She had an assembly line of sandwiches set up. After every one she made, she wrote someone’s name on it and sent it out. I think she consulted her tea leaves on the matter.” Kaden couldn’t have stopped the smile that curled his lips, and a lightness filled him. He heard over and over today about Carol rushing all over town, helping out everywhere she was needed. She’d only lived here a week, but already the town thought of her as one of their own. It was Carol who had brought sunshine into his heart and had made everything seem possible even in the face of such adversity. There was a child out there somewhere in the park, alone and scared, and somehow she’d managed to make him smile. “As long as she didn’t sprinkle any tea leaves on my sandwich, we’re good.”

138

Corinne Davies

“How’s the search going? I know that many of the pack are scouring the woods and more want to be out there.” “There is only so much we can do without revealing ourselves. There are a couple of aquatic shifters in these parts, and they have scoured the river and lake edge. The police are still concerned she might have drowned, but we know she hasn’t. If one of our people finds her, then they will call in the location and keep her safe until help comes.” Carol twisted her fingers together, and he could see the anguish she was feeling. Her body reflected her emotions like a neon sign. “But, Kaden, what if she is hurt? She might not be able to wait.” Kaden put his sandwich on the hood of his truck and pulled Carol into his arms. She truly had the biggest heart of anyone he’d ever met, and he could love her for that. She was getting worried about a child she had never met because she knew the girl might be in danger. He’d been such a selfish asshole toward her. “They have already thought of that. If she is in any immediate danger, then whoever finds her will carry her to the nearest rendezvous spot and make certain that she gets the help she needs.” “I wish I could be out there looking for her. Sitting here waiting is killing me. I can’t imagine what her parents must be feeling. What if she didn’t make it?” “None of that. I want you to think positive. We assume she is healthy and fine and we will find her in good health. Her parents are accomplished campers, and they have taken their daughter out on many trips. There is no reason to believe that she won’t be found. Now let’s see what Catherine’s leaves predicted I would be in the mood for.” “It’s not as good as her sausage rolls, but it’s still delicious.” Carol smiled and took a sip of her coffee. “I’ll never tell Catherine you said so, I swear. In fact…” His radio crackled as one of the teams reported in.

Embraced by Fur

139

“Base, we’ve found the child. She’s in stable condition and speaking. Frightened but no signs of any physical trauma. We’re coming in with her.” “Woo-hoo!” Carol jumped up into his arms, and he spun around the clearing with her. The tension that had knotted his shoulders for the past day let go, allowing him to relax and enjoy this moment with her. Kaden let loose an ecstatic howl that echoed through the trees around him. A moment later, the joyful howl repeated in the distance, and then again after that. “Is that an echo?” Tears of happiness shone in her eyes. “No, this way the wolves will carry the news all over the park. Everyone knows they can come home and she is safe.” He started toward the car with her in his arms. With her legs wrapped around his waist like this, he was tempted to push her against the nearest tree. His cock rubbed against her pussy with each step, and he could smell her body getting wet. “Kaden, put me down.” Embarrassment tinged her tone, but it was her scent that concerned him. There was an edge to it. As if she hadn’t convinced herself yet that he was truly interested in her. Something he planned to dissuade her of immediately. “Carol, I could walk fifty miles with you in my arms, and it wouldn’t be long enough. I like having you here. Get used to it.” Several townsfolk waved at them as they headed out. Carol wanted to stick around and help clean up, but they insisted that she and Kaden could leave. He gently placed her in the passenger seat of his SUV and then headed around to his side. They drove in companionable silence for a while until he turned off on a small side road. “Where are we going?” Her scent carried curiosity but not fear, and Kaden took that as a victory. There would have to be an element of trust for her to let him take the lead here. “There is something I want you to see.”

140

Corinne Davies

He backed up on an incline that looked out over the lake. The moon shone brightly over them, not quite full yet. A few more days and the woods would come alive with the preternatural beings. The full moon didn’t control him or his brothers, but all shifters took it as a day of having fun and allowing their inner animals to have free reign.. She watched him closely as he put the truck in park and set the emergency brake. As soon as he was certain the vehicle would stay put, his inner wolf demanded its prize for being patient. “Oh, that is gorgeous.” Carol hopped out of the truck before he could get to the door and walked toward the back. He opened the hatch and then wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the truck bed. Her legs swung casually, and she leaned back on her hands looking out into the night. “Are you certain we’re safe here?” “I’ll know if anything comes too close. You are perfectly safe here. The animals usually steer clear when they hear a vehicle.” “Do you come up here often?” “Not since I was a teenager.” She glanced over to him. “Don’t tell me this is a make-out place.” Kaden smiled. The last girl he’d brought up here broke his heart four days after he took her to prom. “What are you planning?” “What makes you think I’m planning anything? I simply thought you might enjoy the view of the lake from here.” He hopped up next to her and pointed out to an open area to the east. “If you look closely, you might see the monster on the water’s surface. Part of the legend is Blavet appears close to the full moon.” “I don’t see anything.” He shifted and leaned closer to her. Her hands landed on his shoulders, and her fingers played with his hair. It almost felt like petting, which he loved, and for a brief moment he considered shifting so she could pet him properly. Burying his nose in the crook of her neck, he inhaled her scent, and that innocent thought dissolved for much more illicit ideas. She smelled of soap and perfume and lush female. He licked the line of

Embraced by Fur

141

her collarbone and tasted the salt on her skin. Carol laughed lightly, and her head dropped to the side, allowing him more access. His cock twitched, and he could feel his pants getting tighter. She felt soft under his hands, and he reached out and unbuttoned the top few buttons of her shirt. She stilled and met his gaze. “My, what interesting eyes you have, Kaden.” He smiled down at her and slipped the next few buttons free. “All the better to see you with, my sweet.” Her shirt parted, and he pushed it off her shoulders. Lifting each of her hands in turn, he slipped it down her arms and over her hands. With only a silk bra covering her luscious breasts, Kaden almost skipped playing and gave in to the desire of burying his cock between her legs. Her arousal was like a bright light to his senses. Every moment it burned brighter, beckoning him to her. A growl rumbled in his throat as he looked her over, leaned down, and sucked on one of her nipples through the silk of her bra. She arched her back and shifted slightly, pressing closer as if she couldn’t get enough. He quickly unhooked the annoying bit of fabric and slipped it off her, then threw it toward the backseat. Her breasts filled his hands. Her porcelain skin almost glowed in the moonlight. Thanks to his enhanced vision, he could see every inch of her in the dim light. Her smile had a decided mischievous tilt to it, and he had a feeling what was coming next. “My, what sharp teeth you have, Mr. Henderson.” Concerned he wasn’t as in control as he thought, he quickly touched his teeth with his tongue to make certain that they hadn’t shifted as well. He liked the obvious fact that she trusted him enough to play with him, too. Finding her and Sloan skinny-dipping looked like fun, and he wanted to play with her, too. “All the better to bite you with, my sweet.” He nipped at the underside of her breast, and she tugged at his shirt until she managed to pull it over his head and sent it sailing over her shoulder into the

142

Corinne Davies

vehicle. She could keep a formality to his name for the moment, but he planned to have her screaming his given name before long. Kaden wrapped an arm around her chest and another around her hips and lifted her, shifting her up the truck bed and giving him the room to straddle her hips. He stripped her of her jeans and panties so that he had the pleasure of viewing her bare body. She didn’t try to hide from him, and he figured it must be because she didn’t realize exactly how well he saw in this light. That one truth he wasn’t going to admit to her any time soon. He loved her body. Her lush curves made him imagine running his tongue over every inch of her. His cock throbbed, and he fought the urge to grab her hips and flip her over and press his cock between the globes of her ass. He pressed her breasts together and flicked her berry nipples with his tongue before catching one between his lips and lavishing it with attention. He loved the soft gasps she made and the way she wriggled beneath him. She rhythmically pressed her hips against him, rubbing his cock with her body. He shifted his position and deepened their kiss as he pressed a thigh between her legs. Her hands clenched his shoulders as she moaned into his mouth at the pressure. He broke the kiss and ran his tongue over her creamy skin, licking a path along her collarbone and up her neck. “My, what a long…tongue you have, Mr. Henderson.” Kaden couldn’t help but laugh even though part of him was certain if he didn’t get to fuck her soon, he would go mad. “All the better to lick you with, my sweet. In fact, when we get you into bed, we’ll be licking every inch of your incredible body.” She opened her mouth to say something, but he kissed the words away. He didn’t want to hear her deny what was inevitable. She was theirs, and that was that. She could argue with Sloan and Jaxon about it all she wanted. He decided to kiss her every time the topic came up. “Sloan is going to pay particular attention to these gorgeous breasts, you know that, right?”

Embraced by Fur

143

He glanced up and saw her nod her agreement. Cupping her breasts, he bit slightly on her nipple, and she jumped in response to the slight pinch. The scent of her arousal wrapped around his head, filling his senses like a drug. “And do you know what Jaxon likes?” “He has a serious foot fetish. I noticed he watches me walk all the time.” “You’re right, and I’ll let you in on a secret. You let him paint your toenails a pretty pink colour, and he will do anything you want.” The sound of her laugh went straight to his hard cock. He loved that sound. “And have you figured me out yet, Carol?” “No, although if you know I’ve been watching you, then I imagine that you have been careful around me.” “Not really, sweetheart, but you don’t have eyes in the back of your head. That’s when I’m watching you the most.” “You’ve been checking out the junk in my trunk?” “Hell, yes, and there isn’t anything junky about your ass.” Quickly, before she realized what he planned, he rolled her over and moved her so that her legs hung off the back of the truck. “Kaden!” She tried to roll back, but he put a hand on her ass and cupped the creamy curve. “Wait one second.” He grabbed a blanket and rolled it up, tucking it under her hips. “There, is that better?” “Actually that is pretty comfortable, but my feet don’t touch the ground like this.” She swung her legs slightly. He followed the length of her curvy limbs. She was right, her feet were at least six inches from the ground. Knowing she was at his mercy appealed to him more than he would ever admit to her right now. “This is better than I could have imagined.” **** Carol couldn’t deny the relief that simple sentence gave her. She couldn’t bear the thought of being one in a long line of women he

144

Corinne Davies

brought up here. She didn’t kid herself. There was no way Kaden was a monk. She could easily believe that he brought other girls up here, but she was happy believing that she was the first he ever had hanging off the bed of his truck. She shifted her weight against the blanket cushioning her hips. “Are you certain you are comfortable?” His concern for her made her even more at ease with this. It was disconcerting lying in this position, but she felt secure. “I’m fine, but I’m trying to figure out what you plan to do with your big cock.” His dark chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. “All the better to fuck your ass, my sweet.” An intense throb pounded in her chest at his words. Is that what he really had planned or was he playing with her? His fingers traced the line of her spine to the top of her ass. There he laid a hand on each cheek and licked a path between them. A cry escaped her, and she tried to move, but he held her firmly in place. His large hand held her delicate wrists at the small of her back. The combination of being held down while he played between the globes of her ass sent a wave of unease throughout her body. She tried this once before without much success, but then never did the guy pay as much attention to preparing her as Kaden was. He kissed her back entrance and then traced it with his tongue. “You have the prettiest little rosebud, my sweet. I can’t wait to see it stretched around my cock. Is that what you want, Carol?” He moved up until he loomed over her and whispered into her ear. “It’s just you and me here, in the dark without anyone else around. Do you want my cock, Carol?” He tossed down an empty condom wrapper next to them. She knew that shape-shifters didn’t carry STDs, but she appreciated him not making any assumptions with their health. “Oh, god, yes.” She felt the blunt end of him press against her pussy. He slipped inside her and then pulled away.

Embraced by Fur

145

“I want your ass, Carol, but I want to feel your hot little pussy wrapped around my cock, first. I want you to soak my cock with your juices, okay?” She wanted to answer, “does a bear shit in the woods,” but the best she could manage was a nod. Her feet swung as he adjusted her position. She felt vulnerable and completely at his mercy. An intense feeling all on its own, but mixed with the situation, she could already feel her orgasm coloring the edges of her reality. Kaden wasn’t finished describing what he planned. “I’m going to fuck you hard, Carol, and there isn’t a thing you can do about it.” The blunt end of his cock stretched the walls of her vagina as he pressed inside her. Pressing his advance and then retreating. With each pass, she felt him move easier as her body coated him with her moisture. Kaden’s slow pace felt like he was blowing on a small flame, causing the fire inside her to burn hotter with every stroke. He kept her arms restrained behind her but supported her so that she didn’t feel too much strain in her shoulders. “That’s right, my sweet. You’re getting me so wet. I might not need to use the lube I have next to me.” His strokes continued, long and slow, and the fire inside her burned hotter and hotter. Every stroke dragged over her G-spot, threatening to make her head explode with pleasure, but it wasn’t enough to send her over. A dribble of something cold ran down the crack of her ass, making her jump. “Feels cold, huh?” Kaden let her arms go, and she braced herself by her shoulders, arching her back so her ass angled up toward him. “That’s nice. You want my big cock in your tight little ass, don’t you?” More cool liquid dribbled between the seam of her ass. He circled her back door with what felt like a finger and then pressed inside her ass, as his cock pressed deep into her pussy. The combined sensation teetered her on the edge of orgasm, but he didn’t move again, and the electric explosion subsided.

146

Corinne Davies

“Move, dammit.” She needed more. Needed to feel him pound her hard and prove that he was stronger than her. A low chuckle sounded behind her. “You’re getting bossy, my sweet. I might need to teach you some patience.” He pressed deep inside her with one long thrust, and she cried out with the sensation. Every time he moved inside her, the world receded a little more, until there was only the two of them. With one hand holding her to him and anchoring her in place, she felt him pour more lube onto her exposed rosebud, and then he went back to fingering her ass. She could feel his fingers moving and stretching her, alighting nerves she didn’t realize she had. Kaden pulled out of her pussy and then pressed back in. This time he pressed another finger in her bottom and started sliding in and out, opposite to the motions of his cock. The dual penetration clouded all her thoughts, and she never wanted this to end. He kept up the rhythm of his fingers scissoring in and out of her ass, as his cock pounded against her pussy. “Oh, fuck! Oh, yes, more. More!” Kaden let go of her hip, reached around, and pinched her swollen clit. The sharp sensation was too much to add to those that already coursed through her body, and the inferno that burned inside her went supernova. She wasn’t able to contain the resulting explosion, and it took over every one of her senses. Stars flashed behind her eyes as she panted and gripped the blanket beneath her. Kaden stood perfectly still behind her, and Carol felt a twinge of disappointment. She wanted to try taking him anally. Her voice sounded soft to even her own ears as she whispered, “Are you okay?” His hand gripped her hips. “Don’t move, Carol.” Kaden’s voice was much lower than usual, and there was a distinct growl behind his words. It was then she realized he was still hard as a rock. She kept still, not wanting to ruin his concentration. A moment later, he drew in a sharp breath, and she felt him physically shudder as he pulled out of her.

Embraced by Fur

147

Her body throbbed with the movement, making her feel like there were white-hot flames licking at the soles of her feet. “Oh god, that is so sensitive.” “Good, because I’m not done.” With that growled comment, she felt herself being pulled back and more lube dribbled over her sensitive skin. Kaden slipped his length between the cheeks of her ass and rubbed in the lube, pressing against her ass repeatedly. She arched up against him, loving the way it felt. “Hold still, my sweet.” The blunt force of his cock pressed against her. It felt as though he was attempting to push a Louisville Slugger into her ass. Carol gasped and tried to move forward, but Kaden gripped her hip. “Relax, it’s okay. I promise you can do this, but you need to relax so I don’t hurt you.” Carol panted now and concentrated on relaxing the muscles of her ass. As soon as she did, she felt him slip in a bit further. It burned white hot, but after a moment the pain subsided into a darker pleasure. She didn’t know a person could feel so much. It threatened to take her over. “Oh, fuck, yes. You are so motherfucking tight.” Kaden retreated and then pressed forward again. Her ass burned, but every time he pulled back, it felt incredible. His movements were slow and precise. She felt more lube sliding over her ass as he shuttled his cock in and out of her. Just when she didn’t think she could take any more, she realized that he lay over her back, and his balls rested against her pussy. “You did it, my sweet, and you feel so good.” He nipped at her ear, and she shifted beneath him. She didn’t know what to say, but she wanted him to move. Wriggling herself helped to convey her message, since forming words was beyond her ability at the moment. He understood, and each delicious thrust felt better than the last. He gripped her hips and pulled her back against him as he plunged into her ass. The pressure quickly built within her again. She felt as

148

Corinne Davies

though she floated in a world that consisted of nothing but the burning pleasure that consumed her. She arched her back and screamed out her pleasure as it peaked. Her pussy quivered with orgasmic spasms, and her ass clenched around his length. Kaden’s howl joined hers, echoing out over the lake.

Embraced by Fur

149

Chapter Fifteen Sloan opened the passenger door the moment Kaden brought his truck to a complete stop. Carol lay curled up on the seat with a blanket tucked in around her. He met Kaden’s gaze, and his brother nodded to his silent question. The emotional roller coaster of the past two days had caught up to her. That, and he knew she and his brother had some time together. He stopped for a second, waiting to tamp down a wave of jealousy, but there wasn’t one. He was glad that Kaden had some time alone with her. That was something they would need every once in a while. He had been researching polyamorous relationships on the Internet and concluded that every relationship was different, and what worked for one didn’t for another. They were better following their own instincts and communicating with each other. Taking care not to jostle Carol too much, Sloan slipped his arms under her knees and around her torso. He lifted her up against his chest, taking the blanket with them. Kaden closed the truck door with a soft click, then jogged ahead and opened the house door. As he stepped up onto the porch, Carol stirred in his arms and blinked up at him. She had the cutest confused look on her face, as she obviously was having trouble focusing her thoughts and vision. “Hey there, beautiful lady,” he whispered against her forehead. “Close your eyes again. The lights are on in the hallway. I don’t want them to hurt your eyes.” “Where’d Kaden go?” Her voice sounded a tad strained, and he wondered how many times Kaden had made her scream.

150

Corinne Davies

“I’m right here.” Sloan paused as Kaden stepped closer and caressed her cheek. “It’s late, and Sloan and I want to get you settled between us.” Carol sighed, rubbed her cheek against Sloan’s chest, and yawned. He hadn’t expected her to be so accepting of this idea. In fact, after getting Kaden’s text that he was bringing her home, he’d expected to have to help convince her as soon as she got home. Having her curled up in his arms smelling all warm and sleepy made him never want to let her go. “Wait a sec…” Her brow wrinkled as she squinted through her lashes. “This isn’t my place. I thought Kaden said he was taking me home.” The lights flicked off around them as Sloan headed through the living room to the master bedroom. As more lights turned off, Carol’s eyes opened more. “He did take you home—to our home. Stop worrying.” He could almost see her thought process start to speed up. They might have caught her sleepy and agreeable, but she was quickly rebuilding her stubborn side. Kaden stripped off his clothes and crawled between the sheets. Sloan placed Carol on the edge of the bed and pulled her shirt over her head. She blinked up at him and shook her head. “Oh, fine. I’m too tired to argue with you about this.” Sloan thought his decision not to comment on her losing the argument was a good choice. Instead, he and Kaden divested her of every stitch of clothing. She lay down and immediately curled up against his brother’s chest. He knew that Jaxon would be thrilled to find her here when he made it home, and then they could all work on convincing her to stay. **** Carol was in the middle of an incredible dream. She lay in a puddle of sunshine on a large ship, basking in the warmth that seemed

Embraced by Fur

151

to be all around her as she watched Jaxon and Sloan fight off marauding pirates. Jaxon fought with measured strokes, sharp and precise. Sloan jumped around wildly and swung his weapon in wide arcs. A large black wolf blocked her sunshine, growling at the creatures who threatened them. That must be Kaden. She wished he would stay human for her, but he always hid behind his wolf with her. Shouldn’t I be more worried about this? But she wasn’t concerned in the slightest, trusting that they would keep her safe. Playful tingles danced over her skin, and she looked down to see a dozen dragonflies fluttering around her. They felt like warm kisses when they landed against her skin. She stretched out, much like TC liked to do when looking for attention. A soft chuckle echoed around her, and she felt the ship dip behind her as if she were on a bed. Or was she? A kitten brushed against her ankle, and as it moved up closer to her, it grew into a massive tiger who stood over her. Sultry warmth rolled over her, and she arched her back with the feeling. Hands stroked her arms and cupped her breasts while her pussy tingled with excitement. She'd had this dream before, but it always ended just before she reached the pinnacle. “Don't stop,” she mumbled to herself. “You don’t have to worry about that, baby.” Reality tugged her to the surface, and she slowly opened her eyes, meeting Sloan’s bright blue gaze. “Watch where you’re swinging that sword.” Amusement shone in his eyes before he glanced away from her. She followed his gaze and noticed Jaxon sitting beside her, grinning. She blinked as she tried to clear her confused thoughts. Was she still dreaming? She rubbed her eyes and speared her fingers through Jaxon’s short hair. He sucked on one of her nipples, giving her sharp little bites that didn't hurt but did increase her sensitivity. Sloan cupped a hand over her other breast while he lay propped up on her other side.

152

Corinne Davies

Her pussy throbbed, and she glanced down, meeting Kaden's eyes over her mons. She tried to shift out from under him, but he growled and wrapped his arms around her hips. “Don't think of going anywhere, sweetheart.” Jaxon kissed her neck under her ear. “I don’t think he has any plans to let you go.” “Are you certain I'm not dreaming? Because, I didn't expect this to ever happen outside of a dream. I mean…” Sloan cut off her words by mating her mouth, stealing her breath and her thoughts. “We don’t want you to think right now, baby. We want you to lay there and feel. Feel what it's like to be the center of our universe.” In short, it felt remarkable. Kaden swirled his tongue over her clit and then flicked at her entrance. Her body throbbed, and she arched up again under their ministrations. She was still sore from her time with Kaden earlier, but it had no chance of overtaking the concentrated force of the three of them touching her. Breaking the kiss with Sloan, she turned her head toward Jaxon, tugging his hair. He moved in and claimed her mouth, his tongue sweeping in and caressing hers in a move that tasted like possession. A low growl vibrated along her clit and sent her spiraling over the edge and into an abyss of pleasure. Her breathing didn’t have a chance to calm down before she felt them shift positions, and a thick, blunt cock pressed against the entrance to her cunt. “You feel so good, baby.” Sloan’s large hands cupped her hips, tilting her pelvis up. She wrapped her legs around Sloan’s hips and dug her heels into his ass as he pounded into her. Jaxon and Kaden lay stretched out on either side of her, stroking her skin and playing with her breasts and pussy as Sloan fucked her. Kaden leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth, flicking his tongue out to taste her lips. She curled a hand up around his neck and tugged at him. Opening her mouth, she welcomed his gentle assault. She could taste her own tangy flavour on his lips, and she liked that she had branded him, even temporarily, as hers.

Embraced by Fur

153

Kaden released her lips, and Jaxon boldly took possession again. He nibbled and licked her lips. He must be able to taste her flavour as well because he kissed her as if she were water to a thirsty man. Kaden moved down and played with her, tugging and sucking on her sensitive nipples. After her time with Sloan and now this, she was convinced that there was a bundle of nerves that directly connected her breasts with her pussy. The pressure built up again in her, and she arched up into their combined touch. She gasped for air when Jaxon finally broke their kiss. Panting, she tried to get a hold of herself but couldn’t manage it. Someone’s fingers rubbed small circles over her clit, and she didn’t have a clue which one of them it might be. “Don’t fight it, sweetheart.” Jaxon’s voice sounded deeper than usual as he whispered the soft words into her ear. A sure sign he was struggling for control. “Sloan is fucking you good and hard, and I want you to come all over him. Can you feel Kaden’s greedy fingers on your clit? I want you to come all over them, too. Because once they are done, it’s my turn, and I’m going to flip you over and have my way with you.” She could feel the trembling in Sloan’s hips echoed in her own limbs. The tension inside her stretched taut and hung there waiting…until Kaden stopped circling her clit and pinched it between two fingers. Her orgasm roared over her, leaving her in a crumbled heap. She didn’t think that she had an ounce of energy left in her body. Until she felt Jaxon’s hands roaming over her hips and remembered what he whispered in her ear. He encouraged her to get up onto her hands and knees, backing her up to the edge of the bed. He stood and slipped his cock inside her. From this angle, he felt so much deeper, and her body came alive again. A tension built around her but spun out wildly. She didn’t understand what this feeling was but wanted more of it.

154

Corinne Davies

Sloan flopped out along the bed, completely spent by the looks of it. A large cock, with a deeply flushed head, blocked her vision of Sloan. Looking up, she met Kaden’s gaze. There was still an uncertainty there she didn’t understand, but she wanted him to know she cared about him, too. Flicking out her tongue, she trailed it along his length and smiled when his head dropped back in pleasure. His fingers curled over her shoulder in a caress. “Oh, fuck, yeah. Suck me, please, my sweet.” His name for her reminded her of their time in the back of his truck and his own fetishes. She gripped the base of his cock to stop him from driving his cock in too deep right away. Kaden wasn’t as thick as his brothers were, but he was the longest. She sucked hard enough to hollow out her cheeks and took him to the back of her throat. A garbled moan echoed above her, and she felt his fingers gently stroke her jaw. Hands gripped her ass as Jaxon jabbed her with shallow strokes. “Fuck, Carol. You’re killing me. Take him all because I want to fuck you hard.” Feeling empowered and knowing that she was driving both men mad, she allowed Kaden to slip almost entirely from her lips and then slurped him back into her mouth, swallowing when he reached the back of her throat. Jaxon drove his entire length into her at the same moment, and that set the rhythm. As he and Kaden shuttled in and out of her, she flicked her tongue over Kaden’s cock while tightening her pussy around Jaxon’s cock. She glanced over to her side and saw that Sloan held his cock in his hand, stroking himself in time to his brothers’ movements. She couldn’t believe it when a familiar tightening started in her womb, as another orgasm worked its way to the surface. Bracing herself with one hand, she let go of the base of Kaden’s cock and slid her fingers down to cup his testicles with her hand, rolling the orbs in her palm. Using a couple fingers, she rubbed the sensitive stretch of

Embraced by Fur

155

his perineum. An inhuman howl spilled from his mouth, letting her know she’d managed to send him over the edge. His cock throbbed against her tongue as he flooded her mouth with his cum. She quickly swallowed every bit and licked him clean. Kaden slipped in beneath her and wrapped his arms around her as he slowly moved back and brought her down with him. Dropping her shoulders so low forced her to stick her ass high in the air, changing the angle of Jaxon’s cock against her walls. He gripped her hips, and she felt his cock slide against an incredibly sensitive area deep inside her. “You got her, brother.” She shuddered in Kaden’s arms as he spoke to Jaxon. “Right there, keep going.” An incredible force stronger than before rose up inside her, and she cried out with every stroke of his cock. Kaden whispered encouraging words into her ear and told her next time he would fuck her ass in this position. She strained in Kaden’s arms as her body exploded in pleasure. Jaxon stiffened, and she felt him pulse inside her, and she heard Sloan give in to his own body’s desires, drawing out her own orgasm for an endless time. She collapsed against Kaden, worn out and exhausted. Thankfully, she felt hands gently clean her up and slip her beneath the sheets because she didn’t have the energy to even open her eyes. Her body hummed and vibrated despite her exhaustion. Whispered words she didn’t quite understand floated above her, and then she felt the unmistakable feel of three kisses. She was surrounded by warm bodies before oblivion demanded her. **** The full moon lit up the bedroom enough that even without his superior night vision Jaxon would have seen Kaden sliding out the bedroom door. Sloan said earlier that he still had too much energy

156

Corinne Davies

left, had to be the full moon’s effect on him, so he wanted to let his tiger loose for a bit. Carol lay beside him, curled up around a large pillow. Her face buried in the blankets tucked around her. He slid out from between the sheets and pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from the floor where he’d dropped them earlier. A quick peek into Sloan’s bedroom proved that his youngest brother wasn’t home from the woods. He caught Kaden pacing the length of the kitchen. He remembered doing the same thing the first time Kaden and Sloan stayed out all night. He knew they would be fine, but there was still the crazy worry that something might have happened. “Kaden, are you all right? I’m sure Sloan is fine if that is what you’re worried about.” “Jax, man, I don’t know if I can do this.” Kaden opened the kitchen door and headed out to the porch, and Jaxon followed him out. “Do what?” “Have a human mate, and what is she going to do when we start fighting again? She’s going to end up getting hurt.” “Kaden, Carol is what is stopping us from fighting. Without her, we would be forced to live separately or end up going feral on each other.” “I haven’t stopped fighting this animalistic need to claim her, and I refuse to allow it to control my choices. Carol isn’t the type of woman I wanted as a mate. I don’t even know if I ever want one.” Kaden paced the length of the porch and then headed out into the yard, pausing to slam a fist against a nearby tree. “I can’t stop that voice in my head that reminds me constantly that she’s human. That she could get any one of us killed if something dangerous happened. The only thing worse than losing her would be if anything were to happen to either of you.”

Embraced by Fur

157

“I don’t see what the problem is.” Jaxon flexed his fists as he spoke. His inner wolf flexed its claws, voicing the need for some freedom. Sloan had gone out for a run earlier and was due back any time. The moon hung full and heavy in the sky above them. The lunar phase didn’t mean that they had to shift, but it was an ingrained tradition that caused a bit of extra aggression. Jaxon speared his fingers through his hair and paced back and forth. “You’re so caught up in your own thoughts, Kaden. Do you honestly think that any of us can give her up? She’s our mate.” “I know, and I agree, but, Jaxon, if anything was to happen to her...” “We aren’t psychic, Kaden. We don’t know what will happen to us tomorrow, or the day after. I want to live every moment with Carol as if it were our last. I want her life filled with all the love and security we can give her.” “So do I.” The deep fear of anything happening to her was based on an emotion that frightened him to the core. “Is it too soon to be in love with her?” Jaxon slapped him on the back and gave him a reassuring hug. “If it is, then you’re not alone. I know Sloan feels the same way.” “Sloan fell in love with her the moment he laid eyes on her exquisite tits.” He shared a smile with his brother and felt the last of his heartache drop away. They would be fine, and now they had an incredible mate who would lean on them as they leaned on her. “Come on, let’s go for a run.” Jaxon pulled off his shirt and tossed it on the ground behind him. “Sloan will be back any moment. She’ll never know we were gone.” The idea of a run under the full moon did sound perfect. When they came back, their mate would be there to celebrate the new start to their lives.

158

Corinne Davies

Chapter Sixteen “Kaden, Carol is what is stopping us from fighting. Without her, we would be forced to live separately or end up going feral on each other.” “I haven’t stopped fighting this animalistic need to claim her, and I refuse to allow it to control my choices. Carol isn’t the type of woman I wanted as a mate. I don’t even know if I ever want one.” Kaden and Jaxon moved off the porch and across the lawn. Carol physically flinched when she saw Kaden’s violent explosion as he punched the tree. She tried to inhale but only managed a soft gasp. They don’t want me here? No, Jaxon wanted her here, but that was because she was some kind of brotherly antidepressant. How did she manage to get her signals so incredibly crossed? Her pained thoughts were like a bucket of ice water over the remnants of pleasure that warmed her when she woke up. Kaden getting up woke her slightly, but Jaxon leaving the bed was what pulled her fully to the surface. This was the second time she’d woken up to voices, but unlike before, there was no chance of her misunderstanding. Did they know the window was open? They moved far enough away that she couldn’t hear their conversation anymore. Perhaps they wanted her to leave but didn’t want to make a scene? She should have known better. She glanced back out the window in time to see two wolves bound into the woods. With trembling hands, she gathered up what she could find of her clothes and put them on. She searched the house, but Sloan was gone, too. She wasn’t going to stick around and see if he felt the same way as his older brothers. She did have some pride. Her purse sat on the

Embraced by Fur

159

floor by the front door, and if that wasn’t a direct hint, she didn’t know what was. Lifting a set of keys off the hook by the door, she walked out into the night. Anger started burning under the pain and embarrassment that boiled on the surface. If they wanted her gone, one of them should have manned up and driven her home. Since they all ran into the forest to hide, they could come into town to retrieve the truck. It started on the first try and purred like a well-kept machine. She knew it wouldn’t take long for the truth to come out. Ecstasy Lake was a small town after all. Perhaps she should head back to Guelph. They wouldn’t be able to find her there, not that she expected them to come looking for her. She would drop the truck off at the clinic, pick up TC, and then drive home in her car. **** The next morning found Carol leaning against the boardwalk railing, looking out over Ecstasy Lake. A mist caressed the watery surface, creating a magical image. The sun kissed the very tips of the trees above her, making the tops glow. The air was cool, but she could already feel the humidity rising with the sun. It would be another scorcher today, which made it hard to believe that four months from now the lake might be frozen enough to walk on. Maybe she would drive up here for a visit in the winter and watch the annual hockey game they played out on the ice. Oh, who am I kidding? I can never come back here again. Seeing them every day, knowing that they didn’t want her, would rip her heart out over and over. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to leave. Since when did I become such a masochist? She could almost make out the other side of the lake where she had gone skinny-dipping with the brothers. In the short time she had been here, it already felt like home. She had so many memories she’d created in such a short time.

160

Corinne Davies

The bugs were a nuisance, but they weren’t that bad as long as she remembered to spray her ankles with bug spray. It was cold in the winter, but the pristine snow up here would be prettier than the gray grimy slush that covered the streets in the city. She could almost imagine curling up on the sofa to watch movies with the boys. They would build a fire, and she would get the liquor store to bring in some of their favourite wines. There wasn’t any reason why she couldn’t drive to the city for some retail therapy when she needed it. She could take care of the clinic when Brenna was needed elsewhere, and she could get a job or take some online university courses. A deep voice startled Carol out of her thoughts. “It makes you think of forever. Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you.” His voice was coloured with a slightly Nordic accent when he spoke. She could almost physically feel it wash over her. She looked up and then kept tilting her head. Damn, he’s tall. A big man with broad shoulders and a strong jawline. Blond hair hung past his shoulders and softened his features slightly. Not enough to make him look feminine, if anything he looked more masculine. “How the hell did you sneak up on me like that?” The man tilted back his head and laughed. The booming sound echoed over the water and reinforced the Viking image that first crossed her mind when she looked at him. “I’m afraid that you were caught up in your own thoughts. I tend to stomp when I walk. Here. I brought you a coffee. Double-double right?” A large takeout cup was placed in front of her. She recognized The Shack’s logo on the side of it. “How did you know what I took in my coffee?” “Catherine told me. She asked me to bring this to you.” “That was very thoughtful of her.” I’ve only picked up a coffee once or twice, and she remembered what I like in it? She’d been going to the same coffee shop in the city every day for five years, and she had to tell them every day how she took her caffeine. Not for the

Embraced by Fur

161

first time this morning, she questioned if she was doing the right thing to even consider going back. “I saw the look on your face as I got closer. The lake has that effect on people.” “I don’t know what you mean.” “Sure you do.” He leaned a hip against the rail next to her and sipped from the cup in his large hand. “I was simply passing though when I first spotted that big black puddle. I sat on a rock and thought of things I hadn’t wondered in years. Next thing I realize, five years had passed. I had a home I didn’t know I wanted, and a family I wasn’t born to. You look too close and it will make you question everything you think you know.” “What if you don’t know the truth or have any answers to the question?” “Then keep looking.” A hawk screeched and dove toward the lake, plucking a fish from its surface. “Oh my god. Did you see that?” She turned to the big man, but he was gone. She looked back and forth, scanning the length of the boardwalk and up the stairs behind her. He was gone. Curiouser and curiouser. But then this was Ecstasy Lake, and she was fast learning that things were much different here than anywhere else in the world. The words she overheard last night repeated in her thoughts all night long, and every time her heart broke again. Standing here watching the rising sun, she forced herself to consider the possibility that she’d misheard. Part of her rebelled at the idea of justifying what was said, but she had to think objectively. She should have confronted them right away instead of allowing what Kaden had said to poison her thoughts. If she did misunderstand, how did they feel when they’d discovered her gone? Worried or indifferent? Deep down she knew the answer and that she owed them an apology for running like that. She wasn’t a coward, and it was that thought that had her turning the car around at four in the morning to drive back up here. Balancing her

162

Corinne Davies

coffee on the railing in front her, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed Jaxon’s number. **** Jaxon couldn’t believe it when Catherine mentioned that the big man had gotten a coffee for Carol this morning. “You Henderson boys might have a wee bit of competition brewing,” she said with a grin. Fuck that. This wasn’t a competition. This was their mate she was talking about. He hurried across the street, trying not to look like he was rushing. Fucking Viking asshole—sneaking around on those silent feet of his. If Lars thought he was going to get one paw on Carol, then he was going to pull back a stump. Jaxon and his brothers had spent the night looking for her. Kaden had nearly lost his mind, convinced she’d been kidnapped and killed. When they’d found Sloan’s truck at the clinic and her car gone, it was obvious that she’d left, but why? She hadn’t returned their calls or messages, and they didn’t know what had gone wrong. When they got home, Sloan pointed out the open window. It was then that he and Kaden remembered their conversation. He couldn’t recall it verbatim but knew that enough was said that could have been taken the wrong way. He breathed a sigh of relief and watched Carol as she leaned against the railing. She was safe. The first thing he did was text his brothers the news. Then he took the moment to watch Carol as she leaned against the railing, sipping her coffee. She looked to be fascinated by the lake, as if beneath its watery surface lay the answers to everything. Not likely. She could easily be daydreaming of her future in the city. That was more likely. There wasn’t anything to keep her up here. Lars might have sniffed at her ankles but obviously scented him and his brothers all over her. He wanted to be a part of her, wanted to be in her pores as she was in theirs. Over time, their scents would

Embraced by Fur

163

fade, and she would find some safe human to warm her toes at night, but there wouldn’t be anyone else for them. The thought of taking another woman to bed made him physically ill. She was their True Mate, and they were going to have to let her walk away from them. They could make her stay if they tried hard enough. Keep her in a perpetual state of orgasmic bliss, fill her belly with their puppies, or kittens as the case might be, but it would only be a matter of time before resentment settled in and she hated them for it. Turning on his heel, Jaxon walked away from her. It felt like there was a lump the size of his fist lodged in his throat. His coffee cup landed in a nearby garbage can. His wolf howled, and he fought the urge to release the agonized call out to echo in the trees around them. Doing the right thing hurt like a motherfucker sometimes. His phone rang, and he glanced down, expecting to see his brother’s number. It took him a moment to recognize Carol’s. Turning around, he saw the surprise reflected in her face. Her coffee cup lay on the ground next to her, her phone still held to her ear, but it was the mix of fear and sadness on her face that got him moving. Before she could stop him, he gathered her up in his arms and held her close to him. The tightness in his shoulders from hours of fear and confusion dissipated, knowing she was safe in his arms again. She hadn’t said a word, but a soul-deep despair he could relate to tainted her scent. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for leaving and not saying anything, but I can’t live like that.” Pain lanced through Jaxon’s chest at the idea that she didn’t want to be part of their family, but there’d been enough assumptions for one day. As much as hearing the words fall from her lips would hurt, he had to know what scared her. “Can’t live as a mate to the three of us? Can’t share our bed? What did we do wrong?”

164

Corinne Davies

“It’s not the three of you. It’s the two of you. You have to accept that Kaden doesn’t want me, and I won’t be in a relationship where I’m not loved…by everyone involved.” Cupping her damp cheeks, he felt the tears that silently escaped. He forced her to look at him even though he knew she didn’t want to. The pain he saw reflected there echoed painfully in his chest. “Carol, I don’t know why you ran, but if you may have heard Kaden and I talking, I promise you there’s been a misunderstanding. I love you more with every breath I take. You heard the worst part of a conversation, but it was out of context. Kaden and Sloan love you, too. I promise you that.” She snuffled and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her body shook as more tears soaked the front of his shirt. His phone rang incessantly, and he almost threw it into the lake. “You’d better answer it.” He pressed a kiss against her cheek, catching a salty tear that ran down it. Holding her in his arms, he spoke to each of his brothers, reassuring them that she was safe and secure. He tucked his cell into his back pocket and scooped her up into his arms. “Jaxon, I can walk.” “I know.” He carried her down the street, nodding at the grins some of the town’s early risers gave him. Funny, he never remembered Queen Street being this busy at this time of the morning, but it seemed as though a great number of the locals decided to get to town early to do their shopping today. Carol laid her head on his shoulder, and he felt her start to drift off. “Did you sleep at all last night?” “No, I drove through the night. I made it about halfway home when I decided to come back.” Jaxon tried very hard to ignore the impulse to give her shit for driving without sleep. She could have dozed off behind the wheel, and I might have lost her for good. “Carol, I’m going to put you to bed, and then I’m going to call River to come in and watch the clinic for

Embraced by Fur

165

you. I want you to sleep for most of the day, and then we are going to take you out tonight. The four of us will have a nice long conversation over dinner and discuss our future.” “Uhhmm,” she sighed in agreement and then drifted off into sleep. As he approached the clinic, Lars appeared from around the corner and opened the door that led to the stairway to the apartment upstairs. Jaxon appreciated the help but wanted to make one thing very clear. He bared his teeth at the other man in warning. “Stay away from our mate, Viking.” Lars gave him one of his half smiles and nodded. “Too bad you got to her first. I think I would have enjoyed claiming her.”

166

Corinne Davies

Chapter Seventeen The moment Carol woke up in her bed, she’d received numerous texts from each brother making certain she was all right. What were a few mosquitoes when she had the three of them to take care of her? There wasn’t any reason she couldn’t open an animal shelter up here. In fact, she might be able to have a bigger one because there was so much more room and be able to assist a wider variety of animals. Whatever her decision, she knew that she would have the support of Jaxon, Kaden, and Sloan. Sloan had texted her and asked her to meet them at the clinic, using the excuse that he wanted to make certain that they talked and not simply fell into bed. They needed to discuss things before this went any further, and she agreed. Carol heard the door chime and pressed a hand to her throat, hoping to calm her heart, which felt like it had jumped there. Now or never. She wanted to make this night perfect and assure her guys that she would never run from them again. She took a deep breath and straightened the neckline to her dress before striding confidently out into the lobby. A moment of indecision crossed her mind. I hope they like how I look. She’d tried to take into consideration each of their tastes. From the plunging neckline and tight fit of the dress over her ass, down to the black patent peep-toe stilettos. Her hand trembled as she unlocked the office door. She looked up, and her jaw dropped. Her jerk-off ex stood in the doorway. “David! What are you doing here?”

Embraced by Fur

167

“I’m here to beg for forgiveness.” David Beuk stepped into the waiting room brandishing a stack of paperwork in front of him. “I fixed it all for you. Everything. What I did was underhanded and atrocious. Please, please take this.” “You’re kidding, right?” He pushed the folders into her hands and she didn’t have any choice but to accept them, or they would have landed on the floor. Flipping open the first one revealed a mass of legal gobbledygook. She saw her name mentioned a number of times as well as her shelter. Surprise washed over her. “Am I reading this right? David, what is this?” “Funding for everything you need. I fixed what I did, and I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I want you to come home, Carol. The townhouse is yours for as long as you want. I want to win back your love. Let me take you away from this backwoods town. The bugs are disgusting. Can you imagine the snow in the winter? You would freeze. You always complain about your feet being cold.” The astonishment rushing through her veins froze in that instant. She could have everything she wanted back. Her life as it had been, but what would she be giving up? She couldn’t deny the fact that she missed her shelter and the conveniences of living in a large city. But what caused her to ice over was the fact that she would have to leave the boys behind. Jaxon and Kaden wouldn’t leave their jobs. Sloan might come, but he would lose his mind being cooped up and not being able to hunt poachers in the forests. The idea of going anywhere without them made her heart ache in her chest. “I don’t want to get back together with you.” David dropped to his knees in front of her and grabbed her hand. “Please don’t make that decision so quickly. Give me a chance to win your love back. I can do it. I know you better than anyone in this hick town.” His hand felt cold wrapped around hers, and she fought the urge to pull it out of his grasp and wipe it on her hip. She was used to men

168

Corinne Davies

who warmed her with a look and made her feel sexy as hell. David didn’t have that ability and never had. If he was serious about all this, it wasn’t fair for her to lead him on. In the years she’d known him, David always had a secondary motive to everything he did. There had to be something else going on here, and immediately unease tingled along her senses. “David, how did you find me?” Nobody knew she was coming up here, and the couple of friends she still had in the city never would have told him. “Listen, Carol, I know I did wrong, and I’m begging you for forgiveness here. I’m asking…no, begging…for another chance.” A sick feeling came over her at his obvious avoidance of her question. “I asked you how you found me.” “It wasn’t that hard. You use your debit card for everything, and I checked your account online. All your recent transactions were here in town. All I had to do was lie to the trio of old bags sitting out in the sun, and they told me exactly where you were. Come on, I know you are about to lose your mind up in this backwoods hovel.” Carol bristled at his nasty description of the McGuigan sisters. They were great little old ladies, and she liked their eccentric ways. “I don’t think you know me at all, David. I’m happy here. How about I give you some suggestions for where you can divert that funding to. There are lots of shelters that could do with some more help.” His grip tightened on her hand as he got to his feet and towered over her. “Listen, Carol, I’m being patient and understanding here. Stop with the games already. I know I hurt you by nagging at you about your weight, but I can live with that part of you. I care about your health, that’s all. I never meant to make you feel inferior, and I’m not perfect either.” “No, neither of us are, but I deserve better.” Carol shoved the stack of paperwork at him, and the folders slapped against his chest. “Take all your papers and leave me alone.” “Fine. We’ll do this the hard way.” The papers spilled from the manila folders when he grabbed her other wrist and pulled her up

Embraced by Fur

169

against his chest. A spike of fear shot through her chest when the realization of her predicament washed through her. David’s expression filled with revulsion, and he moved back to ensure some space between them. Old insecurities scratched at her newly found self-esteem. This is what her life would have turned into if she hadn’t left. “David, I’m warning you. Get your hands off me.” “You are going to sign something for me, and then you can sit on your fat ass in this hole-in-the-wall for eternity. I couldn’t care less.” The air around them vibrated with a low violent growl. “What the fuck!” David yanked her in front of him, pulling her off balance. Carol staggered, trying to retain her equilibrium, but David shoved her hard in the back. Pain radiated up her knees and hands when she hit the floor. A set of white paws stepped in front of her. The animal growled low in his throat and bared his teeth, but she knew it wasn’t directed at her. “A little warning would have been nice, you know.” The wolf snapped his jaws and growled again before jerking toward her terrified ex. Kaden stepped past her, closer to David. “You know this thing, Carol? Call him off.” “What makes you think that I have any control over a wild animal, David? I’m a stupid, fat bitch who thinks she can talk to animals. That is what you said the night you left, right?” “That was taken out of context. I can repeat a lot of nasty things you have said in anger.” David never took responsibility for his own actions and always shifted blame. Why had she ever accepted that kind of behaviour? “No, you couldn’t because I am not that vicious.” She brushed off her hands after getting back to her feet. Her knees were sore, but she wasn’t going to let him see that. “You’ve never told me the truth, ever. I don’t even know why I’m still here speaking to you. Goodbye, David.”

170

Corinne Davies

“All right! All right!” His voice gained an octave as Kaden stalked closer to him. “So, I defrauded you out of your financial support, but there’s an investigation. I’m sorry. I’m going to jail if you don’t help me! Please, Carol. You’re an incredible, generous person. Much better than I could ever be. I know that you don’t want to see me in jail for a simple error in judgment. Please, Carol. Sign the papers and I’ll get you all your money back. I swear. You can have the townhouse. You can leave this hick town and come back to where you’re happy.” Carol stepped closer and scratched Kaden between the ears. He leaned against her leg and stopped growling for a moment. “I’ve learned a few things about myself over the past few weeks. I learned that I have an inner bitch who needs to be let out once in a while. Go fuck yourself, David.” He stumbled back and turned to run down the hall. He didn’t make it three steps when a large strawberry tiger leapt up from the shadows with a snarl. **** Jaxon stood at the entrance to the clinic, holding open the door for Jake to take Carol’s ex out of the building. The officer rolled his eyes as he passed Jaxon. “I’m going to take him into custody for his own safety.” “There was a wolf and a tiger!” The high-pitched tone hurt Jaxon’s ears, and the stench of human waste surrounding the man made his eyes water. “They were going to eat me. That psychotic bitch keeps them as pets. She made them attack me!” He pointed a shaking hand into the room behind him, but the officer’s grip on his arm kept him moving forward. “So you said, sir, but this is Algonquin Park, not the Toronto Zoo. We don’t have tigers up here nor do we keep wolves as pets.” Jake

Embraced by Fur

171

met Jaxon’s gaze, smiled at his quick nod of thanks and whispered, “Your brother will be detailing the back of my car tomorrow.” “I’ll be certain to send him over, but I expect it won’t be till later.” Jake glanced over his shoulder to where Carol knelt, picking up papers from the floor. “Understandable. When you come up for air, then send him over.” Jaxon would have preferred to see Mr. Beuk in handcuffs, but there was no reason, at the moment, to have him arrested. Once they ran his information through the computer, he knew that would be rectified. Carol repeated his confession to the police as they waited for David to calm down from his fear-induced state. “I don’t understand legal-speak.” The woman Jaxon craved as a mate stood looking over the papers she’d picked up. He slipped them from her grasp and tossed them on the desk. “Hey, I just picked those up.” Jaxon drew her into his embrace and laid her head on his chest as he said, “This is much better.” Sliding a hand to the small of her back, he encouraged her to step closer so every part of her luscious body pressed against him. The violence that threatened to explode within him simply evaporated now that he had her in his arms safe and sound. “Are you all right?” “Yes, I’ll admit that I was more than a bit nervous near the end, there. As soon as I heard that growl, I knew it would be all right.” “We’d never let anyone hurt you.” He ran his hands up and down her back. This would be much nicer if we were both naked. She laughed against his chest, and he looked down into her amused face. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?” “Yes, and I couldn’t agree more.” Her hips shifted back and forth, pressing against his hard cock, causing it to swell from uncomfortable to painful. Having her in their lives was a blessing he would never take for granted. Thinking about everything that occurred for this situation to come about made his head spin.

172

Corinne Davies

He looked up from his brave mate to see his brothers coming out of the back office. Dressed, but neither of them tucked in or buttoned up their shirts. As soon as they saw Carol wrapped in his arms, they both rushed over. Kaden ran his hands over her shoulders as he spoke. “Carol, sweetheart, are you okay?” “Did he hurt you?” Sloan growled low in his throat. “I knew I should have bit him while I had the chance.” “I was going to bite him in the ass, but he pissed himself as well when Sloan landed over him.” Kaden’s lips turned up in disgust. “I love you all.” She turned in Jaxon’s arms to face his brothers, her ass pressing against his aching cock. “You know that, right?” “Yes, my sweet.” Kaden captured a hand and pulled her toward him. Jaxon let her go and stepped back to lean against the desk. Crossing his arms over his chest, he watched as Carol melted against Kaden, caught up in his kiss. Sloan stood behind her and stroked her back, pressing kisses against her bare shoulders. The jealousy he feared never rose to the surface the way it had before. Instead, Jaxon felt a bond with his brothers that he never felt before with any other woman. He realized then that she’d dressed for them. Knowing what each of them preferred into her choices. Whether it was a subconscious choice or on purpose didn’t matter. She was their True Mate, and he couldn’t wait for the opportunity to claim her. In all fairness, they should tell her first, trusting she wouldn’t turn and run from the three of them. He wasn’t going to make a mistake like that with her. If he ever lost her, they would never completely recover. “Take me home.” The scent of her arousal wrapped around his senses like the finest silk. David Beuk never would have appreciated the perfection of this woman. He never would have treated her as they would. She would want for nothing and get bossier as the years went by because there wouldn’t be anything any of them could deny her.

Embraced by Fur

173

He feared for a moment that his inner thoughts had come out his mouth. He chuckled, thinking it was one thing to know that they wouldn’t deny her anything, but he didn’t want her to figure that out this quick. Sloan scooped her up into his arms and turned to look at Jaxon and Kaden. “We’re going home. If you voyeuristic weirdoes are done daydreaming, can we expect that you’ll be joining us?” Jaxon gathered up the papers that David had brought with him. He wanted to have a look at them before he turned them over to Jake. That way he would know if they should expect any more trouble from the man. **** Carol felt as though her life was finally complete. It might not be what she expected, but she wouldn’t change a thing. She loved Ecstasy Lake and everyone who lived here but no one more than her men. A small part of her still worried that this kind of relationship wasn’t meant to be. Sure, the town was used to seeing ménage relationships, but how would it look if she took on three men, not two? The brothers didn’t appear concerned with what other people thought. So why am I? The police officer tonight didn’t blink when Jaxon had told him that he and his brothers would take care of her. Considering she was sitting on Sloan’s lap with Kaden fawning over her at the time, the officer could have guessed what Jaxon meant.“What are you thinking about?” Sloan’s words drifted into her thoughts, distracting her. “Are you thinking of how tigers are so much more majestic than wolves?” Laughing, Carol gave him a light smack in the stomach with the back of her hand. Sloan playfully snapped his teeth at her before smiling. “Do that again and I’m going to bite you.”

174

Corinne Davies

She was turning into a sex fiend because Sloan’s heated threat made a fresh wave of moisture soak her already sopping panties. “Promise?” “You’re going to get it now.” Placing her on her feet, he opened the truck’s backseat door. “In you get.” She was halfway in when he smacked her hard on the ass. “Ow!” She jumped into the vehicle and rubbed her butt. The sensation was more of a shock than pain, but the way her nerves all snapped to life was what shocked her the most. The opposite door opened and Kaden slipped into the seat with her as Jaxon got into the front seat and started the car. He adjusted the rearview mirror, and she realized by the angle that it was directed to the V of her legs. Keeping her voice as saucy as possible, she wriggled slightly, trying to relieve the pressure that built there. “I don’t think that you can see that well out the back window like that, officer.” Jaxon growled and said, “Sloan, stop her from wriggling. Our girl doesn’t get to come until we let her. You understand that, Carol?” She loved that bossy voice of his and was tempted to act bratty, but why deny herself something she wanted too badly? “I guess you three better keep your hands to yourself then.” “Oh, no. It doesn’t work that way. You have to control your orgasm, and we are going to try our hardest to make you come.” “What happens if I come?” “Then we tie you down and tease you for a very long time.” That sounded like it had its advantages as well. Carol felt her body warming further. Her pussy felt slippery and wet as she shifted on the seat. “May the best girl win,” she replied in her snottiest voice. “Oh, you’re going to regret that.” Sloan twisted both of them until he sat in the corner of the backseat and Kaden faced her on the seat. “Put your right foot on the floor, Carol, and your left on the back of the seat.”

Embraced by Fur

175

If they wanted to tease, she wasn’t going to make it that easy for them. “I can’t in this dress.” “Easily fixed.” In a flash, Sloan caught her arms behind her, anchoring her in place as Kaden surged forward and grabbed the front of her skirt. He lifted a hand and made a fist. Four white pointed nails emerged over his knuckles. Every Wolverine fantasy she ever had flashed through her head. Hugh Jackman didn’t have anything on the Henderson brothers. “Not my new dress, Kaden!”

176

Corinne Davies

Chapter Eighteen Carol’s heart pounded as Kaden brushed the inside of her thighs with the backs of his fingers and then the sides of his nails. Her body trembled under his fingers, and she felt another gush of moisture trickle from her core. He lightly scored her skin and sent her heart beating even faster than before. “Oh, yeah, baby. You like this, don’t you?” She opened her mouth, but Sloan placed his hand over it. “I’m not ready to push my cock between those gorgeous red lips of yours, so you better keep your lips together before I change my mind.” “You want to suck Sloan’s cock, darling?” Jaxon drove but angled the rearview mirror until she could see his face. She nodded but didn’t open her mouth again. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to suck his cock into the back of her throat, but she didn’t want this magical moment to end. “Good girl.” Sloan whispered against the damp skin of her neck before running his tongue from her shoulder to her ear. Kaden stroked her inner leg then swept his thumb under her thong and along her pussy lips. “Fuck, you’re dripping, my sweet.” He traced the wetness through her folds and then brought his thumb to his lips. “Like nectar. You’re sweet as honey.” He punctuated his words with a sharp tearing sound. His nails dragged through the material in the front of her dress. The ragged piece slipped along her skin like a caress, and she whimpered softly. “I’ll buy you a new one, that way I can slice that one off you, too.” Kaden looked as though he enjoyed the idea of tearing her

Embraced by Fur

177

clothes off, and so did she. He cupped her calf in his hand. “Put your leg up here like we asked.” Carol moved her leg as Kaden flipped the tattered remains of her skirt out of the way. They’d bared her completely, and while she knew that they could easily see in the dark, it gave her a sense of security that they couldn’t see the parts of her she found embarrassing. Sloan reached up and undid the buttons at the back of her neck that held the halter portion up. Parting the fabric, he exposed the creamy swell of her breasts above her bra. “Please, don’t rip my new underwear.” “Did you buy this with us in mind, baby?” Sloan whispered against her skin. Here in the dark with her legs spread and three men paying attention to her, she’d never felt freer. “Yes, the underwear is a thong because I know Kaden likes my ass.” “You have that right, honey.” Kaden wrapped his hands over her hips and then slipped around them until he was cupping her ass. “I want to taste you, too, baby.” “I don’t think—” She paused as Kaden pressed an open-mouth kiss to the sensitive skin of her upper thigh. Her body shuddered as he stroked her with the harmless curve to his lethal nails. “I don’t think there is enough room.” Kaden’s grinned at her suggestively and replied, “I don’t plan on moving. I want you to slide your fingers along your sopping pussy and then let me lick them clean.” “Really?” She wasn’t afraid to touch herself, but she’d never touched herself knowing that someone watched. It sounded deliciously sensual, but she wasn’t certain she was brave enough to do it. “Oh, baby, that is going to be hot.” Sloan made the decision for her. Lifting her hand, he placed it on her own pussy. Her skin felt warm under her fingers, and she felt the hitch in Kaden’s breathing

178

Corinne Davies

against her leg. She curled her fingers over the scrap of material covering her pussy and pulled it out of the way. “Beautiful.” Kaden’s words drifted over her thighs, while Sloan cupped her breasts and stroked his fingers over her nipples. She’d shaved herself almost completely bare, and Kaden’s reaction proved it was a good decision. “Look how smooth you are. Touch yourself, my sweet. Show me what you like.” Never in her life had Carol felt as sexy as she did at this moment. She gently caressed her pussy, enjoying the silkiness of her skin. She could feel Sloan’s rock-hard cock against her back, and Kaden practically panted between her legs. She glanced up at the rearview mirror, and Jaxon looked like he was watching a tennis match. His eyes moved back and forth from the road to her reflection that often. She wanted to tease some more, but her body’s needs were catching up with her. Taunting them like this was having an equally intense effect on her. She cupped her hand over her pussy, and dipped her fingers into her sex. She couldn’t believe the amount of moisture that covered her fingers with that one pass. Pausing, she pressed down and rolled two fingers along her sopping folds and then held them up to Kaden. “Oh, fuck. Yes.” Kaden made a grab for her hand, but the truck jerked and threw them all off balance. Sloan grabbed her close and held her in place. “Shit. Sorry, guys.” “Jaxon, watch the fucking road!” Kaden snapped. Jaxon glared at his brother through the rearview mirror. “Really? Why don’t you come up here and try to drive while Carol looks like a goddamn sex goddess.” Sex goddess? Me? Using the distraction to his advantage, Sloan lifted her hand to his face and ran his tongue along her finger. A low groan of dark pleasure vibrated against her back. He slipped her fingers into his mouth and sucked on them, running his tongue over

Embraced by Fur

179

them. Carol felt every suck and pull in her pussy, making her ache for more attention. “My brother’s a sneaky bastard.” Kaden lifted one of her legs over his shoulder and dove into her pussy. His tongue swirled over her skin, similar to how she first stroked herself and then slipped between her folds. Elation punched into her senses as she instinctively rocked against Kaden’s face. Sloan leaned back, allowing Kaden easier access. Her fingers slipped from his mouth, and she reached back and wrapped her hand around his neck. Sloan plucked and stroked her breasts, worshiping them. She used him for leverage as she bucked up against Kaden’s relentless tongue. Icy hot tingles travelled up the back of her legs as her body tried to process everything that was happening to her. She glanced up at the rearview mirror and caught Jaxon’s blazing gaze in the dim light. “Don’t let them make you come, sweetheart. Fight them for it. We’re almost home, and I swear to you that you’ll lose count of your orgasms once we get you into a soft bed.” Kaden cupped her ass and ran his tongue in maddening circles around her clit. It threatened to pull her under despite her best efforts to stay in control. “How about one for the road?” Jaxon’s laugh made her smile, and Kaden paused in his ministrations to join in. The pause was enough for her to gather her tattered control, and the knife-edge of her orgasm slid back a bit. “They’re insane, baby. I would have loved it if you’d come all over my tongue.” Sloan stroked under her breasts and then spread his fingers over her stomach. “You’re so close to coming, we could probably talk you into an orgasm without ever touching you. Carol grabbed a handful of hair and pulled Sloan’s face closer to hers. She wasn’t about to allow him to test out his theory because she was certain it would work. She knew that Sloan would be the one to give in to her most often when she wanted something. Jaxon would protect her from silly things that might drive her insane, but wasn’t that better than being

180

Corinne Davies

ignored? They would all make her feel loved at all times, but she suspected that Kaden was the romantic of the three. She gently broke the kiss with Sloan to look down at Kaden. He sat crouched on the floor of the truck, his head resting on her thigh as he stroked the soft skin of her hip. He loved with every bit of his soul, and she would never do anything to hurt him. If she really was a True Mate to the three of them, then she would count herself the luckiest woman in the world. The truck jerked again, and this time it rocked to a stop. The boys moved faster than she could process, and before she realized anything, they had her out of the car. Kaden carried her upstairs while Jaxon and Sloan prowled along behind them. He took her straight to their bedroom and placed her in the middle of their humongous bed. “Now, that’s where you belong.” **** Jaxon gripped her heel and lifted her leg and flicked his tongue out to caress her ankle. “You little minx.” Heat washed up her leg to her throbbing pussy as she watched the way his eyes fluttered closed and he caressed her foot. “I love cherries.” She counted on that when she dabbed the bit of cherry flavoring on her anklebone. Jaxon never failed to mention what shoes she wore or comment on the colour of her toenails. He slipped her stiletto off and ran his tongue along the arch of her foot, creating a shiver that traveled up her leg and pooled in her pussy. She never realized what a sensitive area her foot could be. He pressed a kiss to the top of her foot and then rested it against his chest before reaching out a hand. “Give me your other foot.” The low vibration in his tone set her nerves alight. Jaxon gripped both her ankles together and lifted her legs up. Resting them on one shoulder, he rubbed his cheek against them for a moment. Carol watched, entranced by the look of complete rapture on

Embraced by Fur

181

his face. So much so that she didn’t notice his other subtle movements until she felt the large, blunt head of him pressing against her opening. “Mine.” He growled before sinking deep into her with one strong thrust. “Oh, yes!” Her body stretched to accommodate his girth with ease after the continued teasing Kaden and Sloan inflicted on her during the drive over. She never felt as sexy as she did with them, and she couldn’t bear the thought of this night ever ending. A sharp slap warmed her bottom, adding more heat to the growing inferno within. She snapped her eyes open, not realizing that she closed them. Sloan’s blue eyes shone with an almost magical light. “Pay attention, Carol. I want you here with us, not in your head.” She nodded, and he smiled down at her. He caressed her breast, scissoring the nipple between his fingers. “You’re ours, gorgeous.” She nodded and smiled at him. “Always.” Jaxon eased back and then plunged deep again, wringing a gasp from her. He held her legs tightly, keeping her off balance. “Can you see the look on his face?” Kaden asked as he moved to her other side and licked a path up her neck. He paused and curiously licked her neck again. Carol couldn’t stop the grin that curled her lips. “Is that chocolate I taste on your skin?” “I thought her tits tasted like coconut.” Sloan laved his tongue between her breasts and then grinned at her mischievously. “It is coconut. How did you know I’d like that?” Kaden moved forward and ran his tongue over her other nipple, sucking the hard nub into his mouth, flicking it relentlessly with his tongue. She struggled to formulate an answer, but Jaxon surged into her body, obliterating her thoughts again. With her legs together, Jaxon felt incredibly huge, stretching her. He pulled out, and she felt one of them slipping their fingers inside her. “You’re so fucking hot, my sweet.” Kaden moved his fingers, and Jaxon pushed his baseball bat for a cock deep into her cunt again. His stroking was relentless. Kaden slipped his wet fingers between the

182

Corinne Davies

cheeks of her ass, pushing past the tight ring. His slippery fingers danced over her back opening, teasing as Jaxon withdrew, and then plunged back in again. “My sweet, you are so damn wet. All I need is you.” He pushed into her ass as Jaxon pulled out. The double penetration drove her senses into overload. She gripped the sheets with one hand while the other tangled in Sloan’s silky curls. “Oh, baby, yeah, hold on. I’ve got you.” Jaxon fucked her relentlessly, Kaden’s fingers pumping her ass in time, and Sloan nipped at her breasts with little stinging bites that added an entirely new dimension to her pleasure. Unable to handle any more, her body arched up, and she screamed out her release. **** Kaden watched Carol’s orgasm rip through her. Her scream echoed in his ears. A sound he hoped he never forgot. His brothers might be surprised by the hidden flavours on her skin, but he wasn’t. Carol was the type of person to note little things about each of them. Like the cherry Danish Jaxon picked up at Catherine’s every morning with his coffee or that there was always a pack of piña colada gum in Sloan’s pocket. His cock throbbed painfully hard as he moved off the bed and slipped into the bathroom. He quickly cleaned up and got a couple damp cloths for his brothers. Carol lay on her back, higher on the bed. His brothers lay stretched out on either side of her, stroking her skin as they took turns kissing her. He handed his brothers each a cloth and turned his attention to the vixen in their bed. Jaxon moved out of his way, and he took his place next to her. She moaned slightly as he quickly wiped the excess moisture from her skin. “Are you comfortable, my sweet?” His cock bobbed against her hip in anticipation of plunging into her. When he claimed her, he wanted to be balls deep in her luscious, round ass. There was no doubt he would claim her tonight, as would

Embraced by Fur

183

his brothers. Her careful preparation for each of them proved her willingness to be theirs. Carol stretched and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close for a kiss. Throwing the cloth in the direction of the bathroom, he gave her his complete attention. “I feel delicious, but I think you and Sloan might be a tad uncomfortable.” Her fingers traced the length of him, and he feared her silken touch might be enough to make him come. He caught her fingers and lifted them away from his cock. “Not yet, but soon.” Sloan moaned against her shoulder, and Kaden had a good idea what Carol was doing with her other hand. “Why don’t you straddle Sloan and give the poor guy some relief.” “Oh, yeah! Mount up, baby.” With his typical enthusiasm, Sloan lifted Carol over him. Her body encased his length, and she shuddered as she bobbed up and down, taking in his cock bit by bit. Jaxon moved to the other side of the bed. “I hope that Sloan’s stamina is up to that ride you’re giving him, sweetheart.” “Fuck you, Jaxon.” The words sounded like they were pushed out from between Sloan’s teeth, but it looked like the comment was enough to keep him in check. Kaden didn’t know exactly how mating worked, but he knew that they would all need to be in her at the same time. She braced her hands on either side of Sloan’s head, causing her breasts to swing between them. “Oh, baby, I love you.” She pushed her breasts into his face. “I love you, too, Sloan.” Jaxon nudged Kaden’s leg, reminding him that he was next. He crawled behind Carol, pausing because he didn’t want this moment to go too fast. He stroked a hand over the perfect ivory curve of her ass. She should be sculpted, she was so beautiful, but then he would have to kill any other man, other than his brothers, who saw her like this. He crawled over her and bit her shoulder. She flinched and moaned deep in her throat then looked over her shoulder at him and winked. Her cheeks were flushed, and he could hear the racing of her heart, not in fear but anticipation.

184

Corinne Davies

He trailed a tongue down her spine, and the tangy flavour of raspberries exploded on his tongue. A simple flavour that made his heart almost burst from his chest. Carol had been listening to stories about his childhood. He and his best friend Jack used to raid Ann’s raspberry bushes when they were kids, trying so very hard to be sneaky, but they always got caught. Jack would have loved Carol, but not as much as he did. “I love you, my sweet.” She looked back over her shoulder, and the soft sheen of tears made her eyes sparkle. “I love you, too, Kaden.” She wriggled her bottom, making Sloan groan under her. Kaden knew when to take a hint. Jaxon held up a bottle of lube for him, and Kaden was relieved his older brother was thinking clearly. He dribbled the slick over the crack of her ass and watched as it coated her little rosebud. He pressed in one finger and then a second. She was so ready for him. Her body clenched hard on his fingers, and he waited a moment until she relaxed again. “Are you okay, my sweet?” “More.” If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn she was a she-wolf with that demand. Using more lube when Sloan retreated, he stroked deep into her ass, making certain that she wouldn’t feel any discomfort, and pressed a third finger. He stroked her a couple times and felt the tight ring of muscles relax. Satisfied she was ready, he removed his fingers. The next time Sloan withdrew, he pressed forward. The muscles fought his cock for a moment and then relaxed, allowing his cock to slip into her back passage. He could feel Sloan’s movements and moved in counterpoint. “Okay, you two, slow down a bit.” They both automatically obeyed Jaxon’s order. Hell, without it they would have ridden her to completion. Carol panted and trembled, her damp hair stuck to the back of her neck, and Kaden ran a hand down her spine in hopes of calming her a bit.

Embraced by Fur

185

Jaxon moved forward and wrapped his hands along Carol’s jaw. “I love you, sweetheart.” “I love you, too, Jaxon. I’ll love you all, forever.” She braced herself on Jaxon’s hip and grabbed his cock in her other hand. Wrapping her lips around it, she quickly brought Jaxon to the point where they were all moving in a frenzied pace. Kaden made love to his mate. Holding on to her hips, he pummeled her ass, feeling Sloan move in counterpoint to each stroke as Jaxon’s cock shuttled in and out of her mouth. There was an intensity now, building around them. He felt his wolf pacing in anticipation, clawing in need, demanding the woman under him. His heart raced, and his cock throbbed, and when the muscles in Carol’s ass clenched down on him, he thought he might go blind with pleasure. Ecstasy burst out over him, and for a moment, he swore he could feel it rush though him, his brothers, and Carol in an eternal spinning loop that increased in speed and intensity, carrying him away with it. His howl matched his brothers’ and was only slightly louder than his mate’s scream.

186

Corinne Davies

Epilogue A little over a month after she’d arrived in Ecstasy Lake, Carol relaxed on a custom-made lounger in the most beautiful gazebo she had ever seen. Her head rested against the soft belly of a large strawberry tiger while a wolf lay on either side of her. She sipped her coffee and watched the morning sun peek over the trees and glitter on the surface of the Lake. TC lay curled up in her lap, purring loudly as she stroked him. Embraced by living fur, she was completely warm and knew that her men wouldn’t allow a single inch of her to feel chilled this winter. She would never have found her perfect mates in the city and hadn’t seen any point in going back there. This was her home. She was in love with a tiger, two wolves, and an entire town that felt like her family. Yesterday morning, in a small private ceremony, the three of them promised in front of Gordon, they would cherish and protect her for as long as they all would live. On paper, she was legally married to Sloan. A decision they came to because Sloan met her first. She suspected there were many rounds of rock-paper-scissors played, but she didn’t care what the legalities were. It was a worthless piece of paper in light of what the four of them felt for each other. She was their True Mate. After a month, she continued to struggle to understand what that meant. It felt like the more time that passed, the more intense their link grew. She could almost tell what they were thinking, but perhaps it was more like what they were feeling. One thing she had no trouble sensing was how much they loved her.

Embraced by Fur

187

It might have been a private ceremony, but they came home to a small army of people who wanted to celebrate with them all day. Everyone brought food and presents. and a massive party was in full swing in no time. Secrets spread fast in Ecstasy Lake, thanks to Cris’s announcement on 3XTC, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

THE END WWW.CORINNEDAVIES.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Corinne Davies reads anything she can get her hands on, from the side of a cereal box to a historical book on the Riflemen during the Napoleonic wars. By day, she is a full-time wife and mother and works in the wine industry. At night, she avoids such mundane tasks as housework and laundry by creating her own worlds where mythology comes to life—worlds in which you are just as likely to be living next door to an ancient deity as finding a mystic treasure in the attic.

Also by Corinne Davies Ménage Amour: Believing Is Seeing Ménage and More: Sequel to Believing is Seeing: Believing Is Trusting Siren Classic: Haunted Hearts Ménage Amour: Steampunked Lust 1: Steam Powered Passion Ménage Everlasting: Steampunked Lust 2: Steamed Up Memories Ménage Everlasting: 3xtasy Lake 1: Caress of Fur

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com