Had he ever laughed in bed with a woman before? Had he watched his cock disappear, gripped by the lips of her pussy? He couldn’t remember, and there’d been a lot of women before her. It was as if her presence in his life, in his bed, had erased all other women from his head.
He slid his palms up the curve of her waist and leaned forward, cupping her luscious breasts, the nipples stabbing at him. “You’re everything, Nina. Everyfuckingthing to me.”
He saw her lips curve in a smile and she made a contented squeal as she slid back and met his thrust. Over and over, the wet sounds of their union echoed through the room and the scent of their sex hung in the air. It wove a sensual spell through his senses, the bond deepening with each plunge his cock took into her.
He felt his orgasm begin to tingle, arc up his spine, skitter over his scalp. His fingers tightened and she grunted a bit, not in pain. It shot out of the head of his cock in wave after wave and he let a growl go and pulled her closer and bit down on her neck, holding her in place while he fucked into her with feral intensity. His wolf roared close, he could feel it just beneath his skin, and when she met that feral intensity with a growl of her own he let go of her neck, reared back and gave a triumphant howl.
They both collapsed to the mattress, and he felt her slip consciousness and fall into sleep, his cock still pulsing inside of her.
* * * * *
Nina awoke to the sounds of murmured conversation. She turned over and saw the place where Lex had been sleeping. She rolled over and soaked in his warmth, his scent. The man was a heater. She’d woken up cold and had just snuggled in close, his arms had come around her and his heat had blanketed her immediately.
She smiled. She shouldn’t be feeling this way, but she did, and for once in her life she was just going to go with it. What she had with Lex Warden was amazing and deep and the best thing she’d ever felt.
Lex came back into the room and she gave him a lazy smile. He was wearing low-slung pajama bottoms and she watched the ripple of his muscles as he came to her. Her smile faltered when she got to his face. He looked tense, worried.
She sat up. “What?”
He heaved a sigh. “You remember last night you said you wanted to hear the whole story?”
She nodded.
“Can Cade come in? He and I both need to explain it all.”
She leaned over and grabbed his T-shirt from the night before and pulled it on, keeping her naked butt under the covers. “Okay,” she said warily.
Lex moved to her and kissed her forehead and lips. “It’s okay. This won’t change anything between us. Believe that.”
“You’re scaring me, Lex.”
“I’m sorry, beautiful. I don’t mean to. I love you.”
“Just get him in here and let’s get this over with.”
He nodded and moved to the door. Cade came in and sat at the foot of the bed. “Morning, Nina.”
“Morning, Cade. Now, tell me what’s going on. I’m sure my imagination is only making it worse than it really is.”
Cade laughed but it was strained.
“The bond between mates is really strong. Wolves, in their natural state, mate for life. Did you know that?”
“I think I read something about that a few years ago.”
“Well, with werewolves it’s the same. We mate for life. The claiming and the establishment of bonds between mates is at the cellular level. And the higher status a wolf has in a Pack, the stronger the bond is.”
Nina nodded, not seeing where the hell this was going.
“So you know that Lex is Second in this Pack, right below me?”
Nina raised her eyebrows, showing impatience. “Yes. Where is this going?”
“Okay so the deal is that when werewolves mate, they have something called the tri-bond. It’s to establish an anchoring bond for two really important reasons. First, so that the female won’t lose herself in the emotional and hormonal surge of the claiming, and also to keep her alive should something happen to her mate.”
“Tri-bond?”
“Well, you bonded with Lex. Now you need to bond with another wolf. That bond will stabilize your connection to him, keep you safe.”
She pulled the sheet up higher. “Bond? Like how?”
“Like you bonded with him.”
Narrowing her eyes, she jumped out of bed and began to pace, forgetting that her butt was naked beneath the T-shirt she was wearing. “Like I bonded with him? You mean fucked? I’m supposed to fuck some other wolf to save myself? Oh and does he get to fuck someone else to save him?”
“Nina…” Lex began, standing up.
“No! Answer the question!” She stopped in front of him, her hands on her hips.
“No, I’m not going to have sex with anyone else. It’s just for the female of the bonded couple. We don’t know why it works that way but it does.”
“Let me get this straight. You want me to fuck another man?” Cold hurt replaced the warmth of connection she’d felt when he’d first come into the room.
“No! Damn it, I don’t. I don’t want anyone else touching you, but we have no choice. Nina, without the anchor of the tri-bond you’ll drown in the sensation of our connection. It will slowly overwhelm you until you can’t handle it anymore. Those females who didn’t have to be institutionalized have killed themselves over it. And even if you could overcome that, I have a dangerous position in the Pack. If I died you’d follow me. The tri-bond will save your life! Do you think I want you insane or dead? I love you, Nina. I want to protect you.” His voice caught and she shook her head.
“And you didn’t see fit to tell me about this before you claimed me? Oh yes, you didn’t ask to claim me either! And you love me but you want to share me?” She spun and yanked open drawers until she found her clothes and began to put them on.
Lex stood there. He could feel the pain knifing through her and as such, it knifed through him too. He didn’t want her to be with anyone else but it had to happen to protect her. She was right to be angry that he hadn’t told her.
When he saw her reach for her bag and begin to toss clothes into it, he sprang into action. “What are you doing?” he asked, grabbing the bag.
She reached for it but he tossed it to Cade, who opened the door, threw it in the hall and closed the door, his back against it.
“What the hell are you doing? You can’t keep me here!”
“You can’t leave, Nina. In the first place, it isn’t safe for you out there. In the second place, the tri-bond needs to be sealed today. It’s dangerous to let it go much longer. The longer we’re bonded the worse it will be.” Lex tried to pull her into his arms but she pushed him off.
“Oh so my substitute fuck is here? Where?” She was sarcastic until she saw Cade against the door and it finally dawned on her.
“You have to be kidding me! You two lure me up here to wolf mansion and now, oh gee, I have to fuck you both or I’ll go crazy? Has this worked on other women? Oh my god, what a fool I’ve been. I actually fell for all of this mate stuff.”
Lex growled and grabbed her upper arms, hauling her to him gently but firmly. “You are my mate, Nina. You can’t deny it. And there is no other woman. You’re it! You know this is real. Stop lying to yourself, stop lying to me.” He was desperate to make her see the truth of it all.
“Lex, why don’t you give us a few minutes.” It wasn’t a request. This was the Alpha speaking. Lex growled at his brother but felt compelled by his Alpha.
“I’ll be just outside the door, baby. We will work this out,” he said and went to the door. “Don’t hurt her, Cade.”
Cade growled low and menacingly and Nina pressed herself back against the dresser in reaction. “How dare you, Alexander? Do you think I would hurt any member of my Pack without reason? Do you think I would harm your mate? Get out into the hallway, now.”
Lex gave her a look back over his shoulder and left the room.
“Sit down, Nina.”
“He may cow to you but
I don’t. I’m not a werewolf, you’re not my king.”
“Have it your way.” He sat down on the bed. “You’re hurting him, you know that don’t you?”
“What?” she asked, incredulous. “I’m hurting him? The man who fucks me and then comes into the bedroom and announces that I’m supposed to have sex with his brother? I hurt him? Puhleeze!”
“Oh cut the tough act. I can see how upset you are. But to answer your question, rhetorical though it may be, yes, you hurt Lex. He doesn’t want this, Nina. He loves you. But it’s the only way.”
“Oh, and what a sacrifice for you,” she said sarcastically.
He sighed. “Let’s cut the shit shall we? Total honesty. On one level, I hate this because he’s my brother. He’s taken a bullet for me. He spends his life protecting me and this Pack. That he’s found you is a wonderful thing. It grounds him in a world that’s chaotic with violence and threat. So yes, on that level it is a sacrifice because I have to do this and it hurts him.
“On another level, I am very attracted to you. Part of it is that you’re an alpha, even if you are a human female. In many ways a warrior. Because you are mated to my brother, chemically, my attraction to you is very close to a mate connection. It won’t be hard for me to bed you on that level. I’m hard right now just thinking of it.”
Nina stared at him, mouth agape.
“It has to happen. I’m not lying. Lex isn’t lying. Hell, you can call my grandmother and ask her about it. All females who are mated to wolves need the tri-bond. And as a human it’s even more urgent. Lex tells me that you had a very severe reaction after the claiming—that concerns me. And as your Alpha—and I am your Alpha, Nina—and Lex’s brother, I’m driven to do what’s best.”
“Get out,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Nina, be reasonable.”
“GET OUT!” she screamed and threw a vase at his head, which just barely missed him.
Lex opened the door and saw her, standing legs apart, fire in her eyes, rage running through her system. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded.
“You and your brother need to get out! Get away from me right now. I can’t stand to look at either one of you.”
“Okay,” Cade said, his hands up, palms out. “Think about this, Nina. Think about your feelings for Lex. Do you think he’d lie to you? Be honest with yourself. It doesn’t have to be some long seduction, you know. He can be in the room with us. We’ll figure it out. Do it in the way you feel most comfortable with. I know this is hard to take in. Just examine your heart.”
He stepped back and pushed Lex out of the room behind him. She slammed the door in their faces, locking it.
* * * * *
Furious, Nina paced as she thought about the whole series of events. Damn werewolves were nothing but problems from the moment they materialized in her life. They turned her brother then they killed him and now she was trapped with these men who just so happened to have to both fuck her to save her life.
Gah! Men! She never should have let him into her bed. She had been weak and look where it got her. She stomped into the bathroom, slamming and then locking the door. She may as well shower the scent of that asshole off her skin while she thought of a way to get out of there.
* * * * *
“I’d ask you what you said to her but I heard you through the door. This is more than just duty for you, Cade,” Lex growled as he paced.
“Control your wolf or I will,” Cade said with menace. Lex had partially transformed twice in the last half hour. Cade had never seen his brother lose control this way. “Yes, it’s more than duty. I will enjoy fucking her. Is that what you wanted to hear? I wish it weren’t true but it is. Nina is a very alluring woman. But I know who she belongs to, Lex. I would never step over that line and you know it.”
“God, can’t you two do even this right?”
They both spun and caught the entrance of their youngest sister, Tracy.
“Thank god you’re here!” Lex said.
“Where is she?”
“Upstairs in our room. She’s really angry and hurt.”
Tracy examined both of her brothers. So strong and handsome, if they couldn’t convince a woman that it would be a great idea to have sex with both of them she didn’t see much hope for the next generation of the Pack. Dumb as stumps. She snorted.
“Well, you claim her without telling her the details and then you spring, hey, you have to sleep with my brother to keep from going crazy, on her after a night of what I’m guessing was lovely post-bond sex. Really. First Sid handles Layla all wrong and they nearly break up and then you go botch this.”
Lex glowered at her. She was the little rebel of the Pack. Tattoos and piercings god knew where. “Are you going to help or not?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course I am. But you don’t think I’d miss the chance to give you both some shit over it do you?” She turned and left the room without waiting for an answer.
Shaking her head in disgust, she jogged up the stairs and stopped outside Lex’s door, tapping softly. “Nina? It’s Tracy. We met yesterday? I’m Lex’s youngest sister. Can I come in, please?”
“Why? Do I have to have sex with you too?” came from the other side of the door.
Tracy laughed at that. She really liked her new sister-in-law. She had all the fire it would take to keep Lex in line. “No. Are you disappointed?”
The door yanked open and Nina was there, looking imperious right down to the single raised eyebrow. “What do you want?”
“Oh come on and let me in. You know you’re curious. What do you have to lose?”
She sighed, waved Tracy into the room and relocked it after her.
Tracy opened up the bag she had with her and tossed Nina something. “Here, it’s a sandwich. Chicken salad. Thought you might be hungry after Frick and Frack sprang the tri-bond on you without warning.”
Nina sat on the bed and gestured for Tracy to do the same. “Thanks.”
“No problem. There’s chips and a cookie in the bag too,” she added as she opened up her own sandwich and began to eat.
“Why are you here? I don’t mean to be rude, but let’s just be blunt.”
“You know why I’m here.” She looked up at Nina. “Lex called me in a panic and I rushed over. Come on. Admit it. You know, deep down, that Lex and Cade aren’t lying. I bet you’re feeling a bit shaky about now. My sister Layla didn’t want to do the tri-bond either.” Tracy tucked her feet beneath her as she ate. “Anyway, so she and Sid had sex and the claiming happened. Only they didn’t know they were mates, they thought it was just a lust thing.
“Lay flipped out! She didn’t want to be mated to anyone, much less an artist. Sid’s a painter, by the way, he’s quite good. Anyway, so she tried to walk out on it. Even growing up in a Pack and knowing about the necessity of the tri-bond. He tracked her down with his cousin and she raged all over him about it.
“But it didn’t change the facts and after three days she had to admit it. She was starting to slip control of her emotions and she was generally losing it. Sid was just about to involve my parents,” Tracy rolled her eyes, “when Lay finally allowed the tri-bond to go forward.”
Tracy leaned forward and took Nina’s hand. “I know you love Lex. What will happen with Cade can be fun, or not, but it has to happen. I won’t say it’ll be meaningless because you’ll be connected to him in a deep way, but it won’t be the same as what you and Lex have and it will save your life. It’ll save Lex’s life too.”
“What do you mean it’ll save Lex’s life?”
“He didn’t tell you, did he?” Tracy snorted. “When you lose it mentally, you’ll drag him down with you.”
“He didn’t say,” Nina said faintly.
“And what does that tell you?”
“He didn’t want to use that to force me into a choice.”
“That would be my guess. He’s pretty sensitive for such a tough guy.”
“He’s a tool.”
/> Tracy looked surprised for a moment and then laughed so hard tears ran from her eyes. “Yeah. But he’s your tool. What are you going to do?”
Nina sighed. “Why didn’t Layla come?”
“She’s carpool mom today. And we thought that I’d be the best person to talk to you about it. Plus, I like you.”
“I like you, too. Did that hurt?” Nina asked, pointing to the ring in Tracy’s eyebrow.
“Nah, not as much as the nipple ring.”
Nina laughed. “Let me finish this sandwich and then I’ll get around to having sex with Cade. I can’t believe I’m actually complaining about that. If it weren’t for Lex I’d be all over him. And oh, I suppose that’s pretty icky for you to hear.”
Tracy smiled. “Yeah, well, no need to go on about it. They’re both handsome wolves. ‘Nuff said.”
Half an hour later Tracy came down, tossed the trash in the can under the sink, looked at her brothers and sighed. “Go on, I fixed it for you. And a tip for the future? Just tell her up front or she’s never going to be able to trust you.”
With that she gave a wave and headed out the door.
“Well, let me go up first. Then follow in a few minutes,” Lex said to Cade as he started out of the room toward the stairs.
Cade nodded and went back into the kitchen.
* * * * *
Lex tapped on the door and called her name softly. She opened it and motioned him inside.
Nina saw the pain on his face.
“I’m sorry, baby. I really am. I didn’t want to spring this on you, hell, I didn’t want it to be at all but it can’t be avoided and I know it’s unfair and you must hate me but I love you and it’s necessary and we’ll get through it…”
“Babbling again,” she said and put her finger over his lips. “It’s just once, right?”
He nodded.
“Okay. Can we just get it over with then?”
He nodded again and moved her finger away. “Do you want me in the room?”
“If you’re not in the room will you imagine all sorts of things?”
He thought about it for a moment and nodded.