“Hello? I’m sitting right here and I’ve just said I didn’t want to interrupt you. Get on with it, we have a lot of stuff to cover.”
“Don’t get pissy with me, Tracy. I’m not going to say another word until you tell me what the hell is wrong.” Gabe loomed over her.
Tracy raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. “Pissy? Let’s talk about this later. In private.”
“What? No. There’s obviously something wrong! Talk to me, damn it. Talk to us, we’re your mates.”
“Oh for cripes’ sake!” Cade exploded. “Even I can see it and according to Nina I’m a blind jerk. You said that your being here was a problem. You’re here because of her. Nick’s Pack’s business is being uncovered in light of the whole shitstorm from the Pack house the other night. Ergo, she feels like she’s responsible in that totally insane way that women have about shit like this.”
Gabe got up and dragged Tracy out of the room. “We’ll be back in a few minutes,” he called over his shoulder. Nick followed.
Milton yawned and padded over to Nina, who leaned back against the couch, absently scratching behind his ears and feeling mildly sorry for Gabe and Nick.
“Well, I suppose a plus of having two males to one female is that you’re not the one always on her shit list. Unless you’re our sister and manage to be upset with both of them.” Lex chuckled.
“Hmm, maybe I need to look for another mate then,” Nina shot back and that shut Lex up.
* * *
Gabe hauled Tracy downstairs and out onto the back deck overlooking the wilderness behind the house. “First of all, when I hurt your feelings, I’d like it if you told me when I ask you directly. It’s not fair of you to be hurt and not let me try and fix it.”
“Why do you always have to be so fucking reasonable, Gabe?” Tracy stormed off to the other side of the deck where Nick stood. She sighed and leaned against the rails.
“Why do I have to be reasonable? What kind of question is that? I’m a reasonable man, it’s what I do. It’s who I am.”
Nick moved to stand in front of her. He tipped her chin up with a fingertip. “Baby, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad in there. There’s plenty of guilt to go around, but none of it is yours. My brother and Sarah have that dubious honor. And me too. I’m the Enforcer and I missed that. You’ve done nothing wrong. You’ve been good and loving and strong for me. A true mate and partner.”
Gabe spoke, watching her from across the deck, “And yes, I need to get back to Boston but that doesn’t mean that you’re impeding me. I want to be here with you. I love you. I have a job that makes this complicated and well, the whole tri-mate thing makes it even more difficult to work around, but certainly we will. We will because it’s how we’ll have to be. In order for this to work we all have to do our part. That means you have to tell us when you’re upset and we’ll do the same and all of us have to try to accommodate each other.” He pushed himself away from the railing and went to her.
Tracy nodded up at him. Nick put his arm around each of their waists. “We’ll make this work. One step at a time.”
Gabe leaned down and brushed his lips over hers and that familiar fire sparked and caught Nick with a gasp. Suddenly his mouth was hot on her neck, just below her ear, feasting on her hammering pulse.
“Turn around, hands on the railing,” Gabe murmured into her ear.
“What? My parents are inside!”
Nick spun her and reached around, unzipping her jeans around her slapping hands. “They’re not coming out here, we’re making up from a fight. They won’t want to interfere. And you were told to do something, Tracy.”
“Hey! You can’t tell me what to do. This isn’t a cave or the Dark Ages!”
Nick leaned in, his body against the long line of her back, while Gabe yanked her jeans and panties down. The cool of the evening caressed the bare skin of her thighs. “But I can. Gabe can. What’s more, Tracy, you like it.” He reached down and slid his fingertips through her pussy. Finding her slick, he chuckled. “Tell you what, let’s be blunt. You like to be dominated and we like dominating you. It won’t go past sex, we won’t tell you what books to read or who you can go to the movies with.”
“But when I tell you to turn and grab something and spread your thighs, you’ll do it. And we all know you’ll like it.” Gabe’s lips moved against her ear and the sound of unzipping flies brought a shiver of desire through her and she moaned softly.
“First, I’m going to fuck you. Hard and fast so those sweet breasts jiggle the way I like. Then Gabe’s going to fuck you. Your job is to come. A lot.” Nick underlined this with a long, hard thrust into her until he slid in to the root.
Gabe ducked under where her hands grasped the railing and faced her. “Now,” he said quietly as Nick began to move into her body at her back, “let’s get started with your part, shall we?”
He leaned in to kiss her while his hands found her nipples under her sweater. She arched her back, pressing into his palms.
Coherent thought escaped her. She should be scandalized, having sex out on the shadowy deck with her parents in the house behind them. She should be outraged that her mates just ordered her to fuck them. But she wasn’t. God, she was turned on beyond all bearing. So turned on she’d have to feel ashamed of herself later because all she had was endorphins racing through her system and pleasure intoxicating her as their hands and mouths were on her and Nick’s cock filled her over and over.
Nick reached around and found her clit swollen and slick for him and circled it slowly, ramping up the need, pushing her desire higher and higher. Knowing that someone could walk out at any moment was a dark thrill and her first orgasm slammed into her when Gabe’s teeth closed over the tendons in her neck.
Writhing between them as she came, she was only barely cognizant of Nick’s climax as his hand at her hip convulsed and her name came as a hoarse sigh from his lips.
Nick pulled out and Gabe picked her up. He sat on one of the Adirondack chairs, putting her on his lap reverse cowgirl. Her body faced away from him and she locked eyes with Nick as Gabe’s cock filled her cunt, still fluttering from climax.
Nick knelt before them both and looked into her eyes. “I love you so much, Tracy. You’re so beautiful and sexy.” Shoving her sweater up, he licked over her nipples until she made soft sounds of entreaty and squirmed against Gabe.
He kissed down her belly and spread her open, exposing her clit. She looked down at him, at the top of his head. His glossy black hair was soft between her fingers as she moved her hands to caress his skull between her palms.
She did feel beautiful and sexy. Loved, cherished and desired. Despite the ugliness of what they’d found out and the uncertainty of that part of the future, she felt assured of her place in the world with these two men at her side. It didn’t matter where or how, she just knew, accepted for a certainty that things would be all right because they were meant to be.
Gabe held her hips tight, pressing her down on his cock. He wasn’t so much thrusting as circling himself into her, pulsing deep.
Nick certainly knew his way around her pussy. The flat of his tongue slid over her even as Gabe held her tight against him. The dual sensation of being filled with Gabe’s cock and Nick’s tongue on her clit shocked through her, singeing her senses until she fell into another orgasm.
“Oh damn, yes. You feel so good, Tracy.” Gabe’s words were against the back of her neck. Strained, as he worked toward his own end. Which he found some moments later.
He sat there, breath heaving, heart pounding, head against her back, breathing her in. “I’m a lucky wolf, babe. Sixteen years younger than me, a completely sexy woman and the perfect saucy sub. I love you.”
She cracked a smile as he helped her stand and she pulled her pants back up and her sweater back down. “I love you too.” She looke
d to Nick. “And you. God, that was pretty damned hot. But I’m not sure that two orgasms count as coming a lot.” She raised a brow at them.
Gabe gave a surprised laugh as he pulled her to him. “You’re correct. We’ll rectify that when we get home.”
“Now, let’s go back inside and finish all this up.” Nick held out a hand and she took it.
“Of course, we reek of sex. God.” Her face was hot.
Nick grinned. “The ones who’re mated will understand. The ones who aren’t will be envious.”
Chapter Seven
The next morning, refreshed from make-up sex and a nice run in the woods behind Cade’s house, their first since bonding, they woke up and got working.
Her sisters and Nina came over to supervise the movers while Tracy went to the store to talk with Charity, who was thrilled by the idea of running Spin the Black Circle full-time for her while she was in Portland. She also encouraged Tracy to open another store there.
Some hours later they’d handed over the keys to Tegan and had loaded Milton into Tracy’s Outback and they were all heading back south for the meeting later that day with Ben.
They stopped by the new house, which Milton heartily approved of, especially the addition of a doggie door just his size that led into the back yard, and were there for the delivery of the new bedroom furniture that Tracy ordered for the master bedroom. She’d brought over the clothes from her house and some of Nick’s and Gabe’s as well. Between Tracy’s stuff from her house and what Nick had and some things Gabe would have shipped, the house would have plenty of furniture.
For the time being, they decided to all share a bedroom. They all wanted to sleep against each other every night. Nick would have an office of his own on the first floor and Gabe would have one just off the master bedroom.
Tracy didn’t need one, if she set up a shop she’d do the books at home but her laptop could go anywhere.
It came up on six and they ate, showered and got in the car to drive to the Pack house. Nick consulted with Josh, the Third, and some of the other guards who would all be there to get his back if need be.
Tracy was nervous as hell. She wanted very badly for this to work out. Nick had asked to be allowed to deal with the money laundering suspicions his own way and Gabe and Tracy agreed.
It was only the Inner Circle that night, the Alpha pair, the Second through Fifth and Tracy and Gabe as Nick’s mates and Seconds. Nick and Ben’s parents were there as well, as the retired Alpha pair.
When they entered the room Sarah narrowed her eyes at Tracy, who sent her a mental fuck off but ignored her.
Until she spoke. “He is not welcome at this meeting.” Meaning Gabe.
“On the contrary. As he is part of the tri-mate bond, he is also Second here. He shares my status as much as Tracy does.” Nick didn’t raise his voice or show any emotion. He sat and Tracy settled to one side, Gabe to the other. There was no inclination of the head.
“All we have is your word about that,” Sarah sneered and Tracy growled.
“Yes, well, some of us can be trusted.” Gabe looked at her with disdain. “In any case, everyone here who is a wolf knows the truth. You can all scent it. I’m not arguing it with you.”
“How dare you speak to her that way?” Ben growled at Gabe.
Nick held up a hand and touched Gabe’s arm slightly to stay him. “He merely spoke the truth. Do not raise your voice to him again. Let’s get moving with this, I don’t want any of my time wasted.” Tracy looked at Nick, his eyes were hard, mouth set. He emanated strength and menace. It made her all tingly to watch.
“Fine. I demand an apology from you and your mates. Both of them. And I want it in front of the Pack. I want to see obedience from you in the future.”
Tracy fought the urge to burst out laughing. This was serious for many reasons and it was Nick’s family, she didn’t want this to hurt him any more than it had to.
“Try again.” Nick’s face was still an impassive mask.
Ben paled a bit and Sarah sat forward in her chair. “Nick, how can you turn your back on your family like this? Can’t you see that she’s manipulating you? She’s making you betray your Pack. And for what? A scrawny piece of ass?”
Nick’s eyes went that otherworldly blue and a deep growl trickled from his lips. The hair on the back of Tracy’s neck rose and she grabbed his hand. “She’s goading you,” Tracy murmured.
“She should be aware that I have no patience left in this matter. She should be aware that people with a modicum of intelligence and craft can look into bank accounts and see some very irregular things. She should be aware that she has betrayed this Pack and with the aid of her mate, a man I used to be proud to call Alpha and brother.” Nick’s voice had gone emotionless again. He was almost a different man like this. A machine. A big fucking scary bad wolf who was interested in the truth and nothing more.
“What did you say?” Josh demanded.
“Nick?” Their mother looked at him, confused.
“I think Ben and Sarah should tell you all what they’ve been up to.”
Ben had the good grace to look ashamed but Sarah’s face was an angry mask. “I don’t need to defend myself against stupid accusations. Jealous accusations. She wants to be Alpha, Nick, and you’re handing it to her!”
Nick looked at her and shook his head. “Ben? Come on, just admit it. It has to be wearing on you. I can’t believe you’d get behind this purely for profit. Be a leader, own up to what you did.” Nick’s eyes held a light of tenderness.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Nick. I think Sarah is right and Tracy has turned you against your own family. It breaks my heart but I fear I’m going to have to sever your ties to Pacific.”
Several gasps filled the room and Tracy wanted to leap over there and punch Ben Lawrence in the nose. Arrogant, lying asshole! How dare they call her mate a liar! She felt how it tore him up inside to deal with this betrayal.
Bending, Nick opened the case at his feet and tossed a file to Josh. “It’s all there. Sarah and Ben have been using the Pack to launder cash for the Pellini Group. This has been going on for nearly a year.”
Despite the appearance of a lack of emotion, Tracy felt his inner turmoil. She and Gabe both moved a bit closer to him, trying to lend him some comfort with their presence.
The Fourth, who had been solidly on Ben’s side, and the Fifth moved in close to Josh to look at the papers while Ben and Nick’s parents stared, shocked, at Sarah and Ben.
Sarah jumped up and tried to grab the paperwork but Ben intercepted her and yanked her down beside him.
After a few minutes of silent reading, the others all looked up to stare in disbelief at their Alpha pair.
Nick sat, solid and unmoving. His muscles were tight and his teeth were clenched. Tracy ached for him and caught Gabe’s eye, saw he was worried too. But she knew if she touched him or tried to overtly comfort him it would weaken his position. Right then he was the face of justice for the Pack. It was his job as Enforcer to see that right was done.
“Ben, I think it’s time you told the truth. Why would you do this? You’ve endangered us all with your association with the Pellini Group. You’ve betrayed your position as Alpha. Your job is to protect this Pack but you’ve turned your back, abandoned your responsibilities to your wolves.” Nick stood and took the papers back and looked at Ben and Sarah, waiting.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! It’s all lies!” Sarah jumped at Tracy, who stood and moved to the side, knocking her fist into Sarah’s temple.
“Stand down!” Ben stood, screaming. Nick pushed him back into his chair.
“You stand down, Ben. Be a fucking Alpha! Own this or I’ll have to end it my way.”
Tracy’s foot was on Sarah’s throat. “Don’t even think of getting up. I
will challenge you, and you and I both know how that’ll end up.”
“Okay! Just let her go, damn it. I’ll tell you everything.”
Tracy looked back at Nick, who waited a long moment before nodding shortly. She removed her foot but growled, “Don’t piss me off any more tonight, Sarah. Now go sit the fuck down.”
“How dare you?” Sarah spat as she started to stand.
“Sarah, for god’s sake, shut up!” Ben thundered and they all turned to look at him in surprise. “You’re making this worse.” Chastened and a bit shocked, she went to him and sat at his side.
“Sarah was in trouble with work. She’d overextended herself and had used client money in a way she wasn’t supposed to.” He told them of the dance she’d done, shuffling money around until she was facing jail and had no choice but to go to Pellini. He’d been looking through the Pack statement three months back and had gotten the shock of his life. When he confronted her, the whole story spilled out.
“I was trying to find a way out of this mess but you mated with the one family Pellini hates more than any other! Don’t you see, it’s her, it’s Tracy. She’s the problem. If she hadn’t come along we’d still be friends. We’d still be a family.” Sarah’s voice was a whine by that point and Tracy ached to knock the shit out of her.
“This is all you!” Nick screamed so loud that Tracy jumped and Ben’s nose started to bleed. “You’ve done this to our family. You’ve betrayed us all with your fucking greed. Damn you! You’ve ruined my brother. You’ve betrayed all the feelings I ever had for you. You’ve turned him into something that disgusts me. He’s turned his back on what is right for you and you dare to blame Tracy? Do you have any idea the situation you’ve placed me in?”
Sarah was crying in earnest and Ben’s eyes were closed at the realization. “Just let me fix this, Nicky,” she sobbed.
Josh reached out to touch Tracy’s arm when she made a move at the use of the endearment. He shook his head subtly. She knew, she knew, but oh how she wanted to take that bitch down.