Marc wasn't stupid. He knew his buddies and Thea fucked while he ran errands with Jaxon. It kind of pissed him off. Why couldn't I have been second? Hell, forget second, why couldn't I be first? Just as attracted to Thea as his friends, his wolf just as eager to mark and claim, why was he forced to wait? I should have done or said something. Fighting, though, would have frightened her, so despite his disgruntlement, he went along. But he didn't like it. Especially not once he saw the soft looks and sated glow surrounding the three of them. As for the smell of sex, it still permeated the room, despite the fact that they'd showered. Not showing his annoyance-and, yes, his hurt, dammit-proved hard as he spilled his purchases on the bed. A part of him wanted to yell. Hit something. Or, even better, fuck her until he could also wear the same stupid look of satisfaction. He did nothing, knowing any of those actions would get his ass kicked six ways from Sunday. The hug she
The plan to contact the vamps worked better than expected. By sunset, on the day the ad emerged in several print publications around the country, Nathan's new disposable cell phone rang. For like the thousandth time. "If you're thinking of fucking with me," Nathan snarled in the receiver, "then hang up now before I come through this phone line and shove your head where the sun will never kiss it again." "Seeing as how the sun hasn't kissed me in centuries, I don't see the point of your threat, dog." The cool humor and fluid tones made Nathan tense. "Who is this?" "Wouldn't the better question be, what am I? Although given your rather public and gauche attempt at contact, I would assume you already know." "You're a vampire." "Give a treat to the dog." "I didn't place the ad so you could call and insult me," Nathan growled. "Really? I'm sorry. Perhaps I should skip right to the point and kill you for being such a fucking idiot." Natha
Talk about a passion-filled night. Thea woke in the morning alone, but by stretching her senses just a tiny bit, the familiar sensation of Darren and Trent tickled her and let her know they'd not gone too far. This new ability and what it meant should have freaked her out. Instead, it made her smile. A closeness like she'd never imagined existed between her and the men. And not just because of the sex, which was unbelievably explosive. No, the warmth she felt went beyond the physical. She trusted them. Knew on a level that transcended her gut instinct they wouldn't hurt her. That they truly cared for her and wanted only to see her happy. A heady feeling for a girl who'd not so long ago thought she would die horribly or, worse, live a life of pain and misery. She'd not said the L-word to them yet, though, despite her burgeoning feelings. She didn't really have to because she knew they felt her emotions too. Why did she hold back? She'd committed herself to them and, de
A less secure male would have never allowed another man to get so close to his junk. Trent was anything but. And while he had no interest in Darren per se, he couldn't deny enjoying the hot breath tickling the base of his shaft as his best friend teased their mate. Hands firmly gripped on her waist, Trent didn't move much, just pressed her down on his cock, letting her quivering muscles grip him sweetly while she cried out. Lips pressed to her neck, Trent watched as Darren lapped at her clit, his hands keeping her thighs spread wide as he licked. Thea's body tightened around him, her sex coiling itself, on the pinnacle of pleasure. Fuck, he loved how responsive she was. Loved everything about her from her bravery, despite what she'd been through, to her shyness when uncertain. He loved how joy lit her expression when she saw him and the way she teased him with words. I love her. He whispered this admission into her ear as he pushed her down hard on his cock. She shatt
Jaxon eyed Marc as he paced the room. The man he'd gotten to know over the past week seemed different. Edgier. Angry. And Jaxon bet he could spell the reason: Thea. His redheaded friend was jealous, and while Jaxon could sympathize-after all, Bailey never even claimed him until they were prisoners-he also knew it was a woman's choice. And women didn't like it when men got whiny or pissy about their affection. "Wearing a hole in the carpet won't make you feel better," Jaxon announced. "Who says I'm feeling bad?" An arch of a brow was Jaxon's only reply. A heavy sigh left Marc. "I don't know what the problem is. I thought I was fine with her taking her time. Getting to know me first before claiming me." "But?" "But how the hell is that supposed to happen if she's fucking Darren and Trent at every turn." "If she's meant to be your mate, then she'll choose you." "What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Are you trying to say I'm not?"
With nowhere safe to send Thea, they were forced to keep her with them as they waited for Roderick to show, an option Trent did not like at all. Jaxon claimed the monster approached, his strange bond to the creature an odd way of tracking for a wolf used to relying on his senses. As her mates, it proved natural for Trent and Darren to take up permanent residence with Thea in one motel room, ensuring one always remained with her as they took turns on guard duty. While Marc never came out and asked or said anything about the arrangement, Trent could see him watching. He also noted his discontent but did nothing about it. With them all caught in such tight quarters, Trent thought it more prudent to say nothing, unsure of how Marc would react if told Thea showed no interest in taking him on as a mate. Besides, perhaps it was the stress of the situation or the newness of her status making her say that. Perhaps once they returned home, the spark she felt before would return. If n
Thea paced, anxiety making her unable to sit still while Marc lounged in a chair watching her. His silent brooding made her uneasy, but with more things to worry about than his annoyance over not being allowed to go with the guys, she ignored it. It still pissed her off that Trent and Darren had left her behind with him as a babysitter. Didn't they know she wanted to help? That she wouldn't prove a liability? She'd finally admitted to Trent her immunity to the beast, the fact she'd also drank of his blood. His reply, "Don't care. You're staying here where I know you're safe." Didn't he know caveman declarations had gone out of style thousands of years ago? Although she did have to admit she found it kind of sexy. Not that she told him aloud. She didn't want him to think he could just go around giving orders-outside of the bedroom at any rate. As a matter of fact, she planned on defying his decree and would have followed, but he'd left her a guard in the form of Marc, who st
Trent loped on two legs along with the others, the clear scent of wolves, tinged with the unnaturalness he'd come to recognize, reaching his nose. The battle of good wolf against evil loomed, and he looked forward to putting the days of inaction and waiting behind him. Through his link to Thea, he felt her anxiety but no fear, and he wondered if they'd misread Marc's actions and words. Or Roderick's interest in Thea. Surely if Roderick intended to make his move, he wouldn't have his wolves coming to meet them so far from the motel still. Perhaps we misjudged Nathan's appeal to the creature after all. Movement in the trees had him tightening his grip on the gun he held. He'd opted to remain human in the coming fight, the long knife tucked through his belt, one of many scattered among their ranks in the hope one of them would get a chance to take out the vampire. But while he chose to remain on two legs, most of his companions were prepared to meet the enemy in their stronges