Chapter Twenty-Nine
‡
The damn software convention had lasted way too long, and Heather Sutharlan was tired. Being surrounded by humans for days would stress anyone, even a sociable wolf like her. It was good to be back in the Gods’ territory, even if this wasn’t her own Rainier Territory.
Behind the Wild Hunt Tavern, she loped up the outside steps to the second floor where Vicki lived with her mates.
Alec let her in. “Hey, Heather. They’re in Vicki’s room doing those exotic things you females like to do during your Gathering pregame.”
“You are so full of it.” With long familiarity, she punched his arm. Back when they were cubs, Alec and Calum had run with Heather’s littermates…with Heather trying to keep up. She’d never succeeded, and not because she was female, but because Alec and Calum were tricksy cougars and her brothers were bears.
A single wolf rarely won if going one-on-one against bigger, stronger felines and bears. Seemed like she still owed Alec and Calum a few sneaky pranks as payback.
Giving her an easy grin, Alec handed her a beer and waved her toward Vicki’s bedroom. “Got a new female in there for you to take in hand.”
“So I hear. Darcy, right?”
And why would that question make the big cahir laugh?
Heather tapped on the door and heard Vicki call, “Come.”
Tears prickled Heather’s eyes with her relief. Her friend’s voice was still strong and unchanged. She’d survived a violent kidnapping and kept right on going.
That’s one tough kitty. Heather’d liked the younger female the moment they’d met. Vicki might be a cat, but her style was as blunt and straightforward as Heather’s.
Entering, she gave a quick glance around the room. Bree and Emma were on the bed, Angie in the armchair, and a black-haired female by the dressing table. Vicki sat in a new rocking chair with…with…
“A cub?” Heather rubbed her face, afraid her eyeballs were protruding from her skull. “You had…”
Vicki wore an evil feline smirk. “Three babies, no less.” She nodded at the bed. “That’s Toren.”
The blanket in Bree’s lap held a baby. A tiny, tiny baby. Even as Heather’s fingers twitched, desperate to hold the cubling, her belly felt empty. Barren. Although her moon-courses were still steady, so many, many years had passed without life kindling within her that she’d given up hope.
Her expectation of finding lifemates had also died.
And those weak, useless emotions had no place in this room. It was time to rejoice with her friend. “Three cubs? Truly the clan increases.”
Vicki’s gaze was gentle. The observant cat had undoubtedly noted Heather’s momentary despair. During several Wild Hunt evenings, they’d indulged in tongue-loosening brews, and Heather had perhaps shared more than was wise.
Because Vicki was the sister of her heart if not blood.
Beside Bree, Heather leaned down to touch the cub’s tiny hand. “Toren, may the Lord and the Lady bless you with courage and a life filled with love,” she said softly.
In the armchair, Angie cleared her throat. “Heather, this is Artair.” She drew back the blanket to reveal a beautiful cubling with brown eyes.
Heather brushed her fingertips over his soft round cheek. “Artair, may the Lord and the Lady bless you with strength and a joyful heart.”
She turned to Vicki. “And who do you have?”
Her friend’s lips curved. “You ran with Alec and Calum as a child. You were one of my first friends here, taking the time to explain all these fucking Daonain traditions and helping keep me sane.”
Inexplicably, Heather found her throat was tightening.
“So, speaking of traditions, Calum and Alec say the custom is to do this with the first meeting.”
“Do what?” Heather frowned. Maybe Vicki had spoken too soon about being sane.
“Heather,” Vicki rose and handed Heather the golden-haired infant she held. “Heather Sutharlan, this is Sorcha whose name means radiant. Here is a cub for your arms and your heart to hold. Will you serve as her caomhnor?”
“Oh.” Oh my Goddess. Heather’s escaping breath carried joy. Sang of her acceptance. And as she gathered Sorcha closer into her arms, she felt a sweet aching tug deep within her chest as the new bond of love settled in place.
As the ancient words came to her, her voice was thick and full of tears. “Aye. I will serve as her guardian-protector, teaching her and loving her for as long as my heart beats and the blood flows in my veins.”
Darcy felt tears spilling down her cheeks at the joy in Heather’s face. At the peace in Vicki’s expression as she patted Heather’s arm and resumed her seat.
Bree and Emma were sniffling.
Angie’s eyes were damp, but she lifted her glass of wine. “To cublings. The clan increases.”
Everyone lifted their glasses. “The clan increases.”
Wakened by the noise, Toren kicked up a fuss about wet diapers, and by the time he was changed, everyone was settled again. Emma made the rounds with more wine.
As Darcy sipped hers, she gave a happy sigh. Celebrations and family and babies.
And wasn’t it simply amazing to be free and able to drink wine, dress up, and gossip? Like a normal female.
She smiled at Heather who was still snuggling Sorcha. The female from Rainier Territory was around five-eight and slender with a thick mass of red-brown hair held back in a braid. She wore nice jeans, a snug golden top, and expensive cowboy boots.
Seeing Darcy, she smiled, open and comfortable. “You must be Darcy. Welcome to the Territories.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to be here.”
“So, Heather.” Bree waved a hand at Darcy. “Since she was a captive, she doesn’t know makeup, and we told her about your mad skills. Can you help get her ready?”
Heather grinned. “Absolutely. Makes me feel like an artist.” She handed Sorcha back to Vicki, grabbed her bag, and pulled a chair over to join Darcy at the dressing table.
Darcy glanced around, rather surprised that a bedroom was big enough to fit them all comfortably. Darcy looked around. “This is a great room, Vicki.”
A painting of the forested mountains around Cold Creek set a peaceful tone. An old-fashioned quilt of blues and greens was echoed by a green handmade rug on the hardwood floor. The well-filled bookcase occupied one wall, a dark wood dressing table with a beautifully carved mirror another. “But I didn’t realize a female would have her own bedroom and each male would have a separate, complete apartment.”
Vicki rocked gently as she nursed Sorcha. “Most littermates share a house, and each person has their own bedroom. This room was originally designed for the female, and as with most shifter houses, the male bedrooms had surrounded it. But since Calum and Alec didn’t share Calum’s first mate, they remodeled the floor into two separate apartments. Now I’m here, and they’re sharing everything again. Alec doesn’t use his apartment much.”
Heather stroked a dark brown shadow on Darcy’s eyelids. “Every mate-set chooses how they arrange the bedrooms. Some female bedrooms are huge, and the males join her there. That’s assuming they share in bed, since some shifters prefer one-on-ones.”
Breanne studied Vicki’s queen-sized bed. “I don’t think you, Alec, and Calum would all fit on there.”
“We don’t. The guys have huge beds, and we usually all sleep together in a pile. They decided this room is mine alone.” Vicki’s lips tilted. “They know I sometimes need space—and wanted me to know if I came here to sleep, they’d honor my wishes.”
“Your mates are so nice. But”—Darcy frowned—“if you join them in their rooms, when do they get to be alone?”
Heather started applying mascara. “I like your Darcy, Vic. She reminds me of Emma—always wanting to know why.”
Emma grinned at Darcy. “Well, I need to know why. You want to know how everything works—and how to fix it. Together we could rule the world.”
Darcy smiled back. Oh, she did love these females.
Vicki burped Sorcha, handed her to Angie, and took Artair. “Your turn, munchkin.” She looked over. “Alec never wants time alone. The guy’s totally gregarious. When Calum needs solitude, he heads into the mountains. He has some places in the forest he visits and just…sits. I asked him once, you know, as a joke, if the Gods visit him there, and he said, ‘Not always.’ ”
Bree stared. “Whoa, that’s a little scary.”
Darcy stared. “Uh-huh.” Then again, how did the Gods communicate? Was it in thoughts or images or…
“Here, your makeup is done.” Heather spun her around. “What do you think?”
“You’re an artist.” Darcy stared at herself. “My eyes look huge.”
“Mmmhmm. You have gorgeous eyes; they deserved to be played up.” Heather tucked her kit away.
Sipping her wine, Angie scrutinized Darcy. “Very sexy. We did well.”
The women had decided Darcy’s jeans and shoes would do, but she’d ended up in an emerald green tank top of Heather’s. The shirt was thin and not too low-cut, but somehow—when worn without a bra—appallingly revealing.
Vicki pursed her lips. “I better warn Alec there will be males fighting over her.”
“Very funny.” Darcy reached for her glass and realized no one was laughing. “You’re making a joke, right?”
“New and gorgeous female. Still wide-eyed. Yes, the males will work to get your attention any way they can.” Emma gave her a serious look. “You need to remember, Darcy, everything is up to you. If the gnome-brains want to fight, and you’re not into battles, walk away and find a male more to your liking.”
There were only two males to her liking. But she’d gone by their house earlier, and everything was dark. Why, why, why hadn’t they returned?
“Hell, we need to get moving.” Vicki rose. “If we’re late for the Daonain meeting, Calum will be displeased.”
“Meeting?” Darcy asked.
“Meeting first, then Gathering.”
Gathering. Please, Gawain and Owen, get back. Please.
*
In the back of the pool table alcove, Owen sat on a bench against the wall. The fucking tavern was packed, cheek to jowl, with shifters. He’d hoped Darcy would be here but so far he hadn’t gotten a glimpse or sniff of her in this crowd.
There would be time when all the non-single Daonain cleared out.
He wanted to hold her, to talk with her, to hear her laugh. And, although the full moon wasn’t even up yet, he wanted to be inside her. To sandwich her between him and Gawain and take her, over and over.
But tonight was the Gathering. He and Gawain would have to see her go off with other males. Touch other males. Mate with other males. And he wasn’t sure he could. All his instincts called for him to claim her and fight anyone who thought to touch her. A low growl escaped him.
Beside him on the bench, Gawain glanced over. Obviously understanding Owen’s thoughts, he gave a low snarl of agreement.
They were so fucked.
Out of sight near the bar, Calum reported the happenings of the past month, made introductions, and all that. Blah, blah, blah. Owen ignored him as he would a scolding blue jay.
Would Darcy be happy to see them?
A hand clamped onto his shoulder, and he realized Gawain had stood up.
“What?” Owen growled. I’m thinking here.
“Calum welcomed Darcy to the clan—and the meeting’s over.” Gawain yanked Owen to his feet. “Let’s go find our female.”
*
The Daonain meeting had ended, and most of the mated shifters departed. Vicki, Bree, and Angie—and the babies—were still over at the fireplace sitting area. Emma had jumped up on top of the bar so she could strum her guitar and flirt with her lifemates, Ben and Ryder.
With Heather, Darcy’d stayed near the door. Feeling the full moon humming in her blood, she knew the Gathering would start shortly. Hoping against hope, she’d looked around during the meeting and hadn’t seen Gawain or Owen.
She was stuck at a Gathering without them. Would be mating…without them. Her stomach churned queasily.
Someone came in the door, and she held her breath.
Not Gawain and Owen—Patrin and Fell had entered.
“Hey, guys!” She gave Fell a big hug—and got the same back. “I’m glad you’re back. Are you two all right?”
Patrin pulled her into his arms for his own hug, then held her out at arm’s length. “What the fuck are you doing in this place?”
“I’m attending the Gathering, of course. It’s the law, remember?”
“What law?” Disapproval darkened his face. “Do you realize what happens here? Chwaer, it’s not a good place for a little female.”
Her lips curved. He was cute, all brotherly concern and acting as if she’d barely been weaned. Actually, she understood since sometimes she forgot he and Fell were adults and not twelve. “I don’t think—”
“How about we take you back to the lodge?” Patrin’s question was more of a demand.
“Yeah. We can talk.” Fell took her arm.
Fell talk? That’d be the day. That he’d even offered showed his worry. Still, she couldn’t leave. She knew the law, even if they didn’t yet. As she shook her head, she spotted two males making their way through the room, overtopping the mostly male population. Her heart did a slow somersault in her chest. Owen and Gawain?
When she started toward them, Fell’s grip tightened.
Patrin stepped in front of her, making himself a barrier. Back to her, he glared at Owen. “She’s leaving. Use someone else to get your rocks off.”
Darcy thumped his shoulder. “What did you just say?”
Patrin glanced back. “We heard a bit about this full moon shit. It’s an orgy, chwaer.”
“What’s an orgy?” Owen stepped closer, forcing Patrin to look at him.
And Gawain quietly circled to approach her from the side. “Darcy.” He held his hands out. His blue eyes were warm, and the sun lines beside his eyes crinkled with his smile.
“Oh, I am so glad to see you.” When she tried to go to him, Fell didn’t let her go.
Her hand fisted. No, don’t hurt him, tinker. After all, her brothers had always been over-protective. As Gawain’s eyes narrowed ominously, she told him, “Hold on.”
She turned and stared up at Fell. “Let. Go.”
His hand fell, but his expression turned grim. “Chwaer, no.” He touched her hair. “No orgy for you.”
“Darcy, you don’t know these guys. They want only one thing from you.” Patrin backed up to take her other side. “We love you. Let us—”
“Guys, I have to stay here tonight.”
“What’s going on?” Holding Artair, Vicki approached, her gaze assessing. Jamie was beside her.
Ignoring Vicki, Fell scowled at Darcy. “Chwaer, you’re leaving.”
Beside Vicki, Jamie put her hands on her hips, confronting Patrin and Fell. “Leave her alone. She’s not in your fucking army, so you can’t tell her shit.”
“Oh, fuck, Jamie, your language,” Vicki muttered. “Calum’s going to kill me.”
“He is considering that possibility,” came the soft deep voice as the Cosantir strolled up.
Oh, Mother of All, why was there nowhere to hide? Darcy almost cringed. If prison had taught her anything, it was to avoid attracting attention from the person in charge.
Calum frowned at his daughter. “We’ll discuss appropriate language later. What is the problem here?”
Jamie pointed at Patrin and Fell and said indignantly, “They said our Darcy has to leave right now.”
“Did they indeed.” As the Cosantir regarded Darcy’s brothers, the power of the God shimmered around him. “The moon is rising. Were you planning to break the Law?”
Patrin frowned. “We’re not breaking any law. We simply came to get our sister.”
Darcy saw Calum’s eyes darken.
Oh, no. “Cosantir, please.” Darcy jumped between Calum and her brothers.
His dark, dark gaze fell on her. “Aye?”
“Patrin and Fell spent a decade with humans, learning to kill and nothing else. And…as I told you, my brothers and I never knew anything about the Daonain even before we were captured.”
Fell flinched.
“They don’t know what a Gathering is. They think it’s an orgy. Please, my brothers need instruction rather than…” She bit her lip, unable to continue. Don’t kill them, please, Cosantir.
Before Calum could speak, Alec’s infectious laugh sounded. The sheriff clapped a hand on Calum’s shoulder. “Don’t kill her littermates, brawd. It’s a pain in the tail at a Gathering to have to clean up your mess.”
Calum shot his brother an unreadable look, then his lips twitched and his eyes lightened to gray. “An orgy? Instruction is needed, indeed. Alec, please assign mentors to our new Daonain.”
Patrin’s eyes narrowed. “We already know how to shift.”
Alec gave him an easy grin. “That’s just the beginning. You need to learn to live within the Daonain traditions and Laws. How a female chooses a male, how you know if she’s interested, what the next step is.”
Her brothers looked blank, and Darcy remembered how Owen had lifted her wrist, how his first inhalation had given him the scent of her interest.
“With help, you two might not step on your own tails tonight.” Alec looked around. “Joe. Can you take them on? Give them the Laws of Gathering—as well as etiquette for male/female interactions. I doubt they’ll ignore you.”
Joe Thorson, the grizzled owner of the bookstore, stalked out of the crowd. The old, lean cougar was scarred from the tips of his fingers to his face, and Darcy knew no one interested in survival would ignore him.
Eyes narrowed, he scrutinized Fell and Patrin before he turned. “Do you wish me to take on this task, Cosantir?”
Calum inclined his head.
Thorson bowed slightly. “Your will, Cosantir.”
And Darcy knew Thorson had delivered his first lesson—how a shifter should deal with the God-chosen guardian of a territory.
From Fell’s intent expression, he was absorbing the lesson as quickly as he did everything else. Her brothers were brilliant…when they weren’t being over-protective idiots.
Owen and Gawain moved forward.
Fell blocked their way.
Oh, honestly.
Even as Darcy kicked her brother hard enough to make him grunt, Thorson’s hand fell on his shoulder. The old werecat growled, “A female chooses who she wants, cub.”
Darcy realized the Cosantir was still watching.
Patrin cleared his throat. “Sir. We heard how she talks about these two. They saved her life and she’s obviously… Well, she hardly knows them. She’s so young and—”
“Oh, honestly, you dumbasses,” Darcy snapped. “I’m the same age you are, and I do know what I’m doing.”
Fell’s brows drew together. “Don’t want you to get hurt, chwaer.”
“Sweetie, you’re not experienced, and it’s easy to get confused about sex,” Patrin said, shooting a glare at Owen.
She snorted. “Guys, I escaped the prison well over two months ago. I’ve already experienced a full moon Gathering.”
Patrin’s mouth dropped. “You…what?”
“Did I mate with more males than Gawain and Owen?” she asked lightly. “Yes.”
“And it was an honor to be with you on that, your first Gathering Night.” Donal stood nearby and gave her a slight bow.
“It was.” Tynan smiled at her.
She grinned at the two.
“Just so you know, female, there are others who’d be delighted to be with you tonight,” a burly shifter said, stepping forward.
“I, too, would be pleased to fight for your favor.” A bear-sized shifter presented himself. “You have other choices, you know.”
Choices. The masculine scents and sounds from the gathering males swirled around her. As she breathed in, she remembered her first Gathering. All the males had smelled unique and tantalizing, like a banquet of wonder, and she only had to choose which to sample first.
No one smelled interesting tonight.
She shook her head and sniffed again. Even Tynan and Donal weren’t a temptation. Her feet moved her back a pace.
Calum studied her. “Is there a problem, Darcy?”
“I’m just…” She shrugged. “Not really interested in anyone tonight. Can I have some wine instead?” She could buy Owen and Gawain a drink. She frowned and realized Owen no longer stood in front of Patrin. Where did they—
“There is always wine.” A corner of Calum’s mouth lifted, and he glanced behind her. “However, might you find an interest in those two?”
She turned and Gawain and Owen stood behind her. Their scents washed over her…and suddenly she was drowning in need. Her blood scalded her veins, fogged her mind, and her words came without thinking. “I always want them. Every minute of every day. Especially now.”
She flung herself into their arms. “I missed you.”
Side-by-side, they caught her, and she was lifted off her feet and hugged forcefully enough her ribs creaked. Her arms wound around two necks, fiercely gripping their hair.
And she kissed them. Owen, Gawain, Owen, Gawain.
When they let her down, she took Gawain’s face between her hands and pulled him down so she could look in his deep blue eyes. Would he—did he still…?
Her brothers were wrong, and she was right. Her instincts—human and cat—said leap.
“I love you,” she said firmly and kissed him again.
Turning, she reached up to Owen, and he was already bending to her. Hands on his clean-shaven jaw, she looked into his forest-green eyes and saw her answer already there. “I love you, Owen.”
As cheers resounded through the room, they squished her again—and she heard them. Gawain’s smooth voice, “I love you, sweetling. Love you so much.”
And, to her astonishment, Owen’s gravel voice was right there, too. “I love you, Darcy.”
When they finally let her go, she saw that Fell and Patrin were staring.
“Now, brawd, we do it now,” Owen growled.
But he didn’t grab her. She blinked—and looked down to see her two males kneel in front of her.
Owen took her hand. “We love you, Darcy. More than anyone like me could ever say. But I’ll try to tell you how much I love you—through this life, and in all our lives to come.”
Oh, she knew how incoherent he felt, because when she tried to answer, the words stuck in her throat.
Gawain’s clear blue eyes were deeper, wider than the entire sky, filling her universe. “We love you, Darcy. Our lives aren’t complete without you with us. Be our lifemate and share our love and lives from this day on.”
Their voices blurred together, dancing back and forth in a rumbly, growly chorus of wonderment.
“You can fix anything that is broken, including our hearts.”
“We’ll help you leap any obstacle in your path.
“We’ll never boss you around. Much.”
“No nightmare will find you when we’re with you.”
“We’ll love you until the last star falls from the sky.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Oh, yes.”
As they rose, they gathered her in, claiming her with lips and arms for all the world to see.
“Let’s go home.” Owen took her left hand, Gawain her right.
To one side, Vicki was smiling beside a grinning Jamie. Bonnie had her hands over her huge grin, her eyes filled with happy tears.
Darcy barely had a chance to smile at them before her mates led her out of the building to the sound of such cheering it was surprising the building still stood.
In the light of the rising moon, they’d walked down the hill from the tavern and into their gravel drive. With his arm around Darcy and his heart light enough to slip out of his chest, Gawain turned toward the barn instead of the house.
“Brawd?” Owen frowned.
“We have lifemating bracelets to make. Let’s do it now.”
Owen studied him and grinned. “Aye. I can think of nothing better.”
Their little catling’s eyes lit, and she nodded.
After picking up bracelets from the barn, Gawain led them outside to his ritual area. In the dark night, he could hear the splashing of the stream within the circle of river stones. The moon was full, and the area was awash with power.
Needing to feel her again, Gawain hugged Darcy to him. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me, too.” Like a cat, she rubbed her cheek against his chest, leaving her fragrance behind, marking him with her scent. He breathed her in and handed her to Owen to hold.
Without any hesitation, his brother wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and laying his cheek on the top of her head. The bond was there, oh yes, it was.
This was a good lifemating.
Just by being in their lives, she’d changed them for the better, opened them, healed them. And they’d been good for her as well.
He couldn’t help but smile, just looking at her. Her dark eyes were wide, her lips curved. Happiness radiated from her.
Gawain lit the brazier, added incense, and felt the elements merging—earth and water, fire and air. Holding the bands over the spiraling smoke, he added the fifth—spirit—and opened to the Mother.
This time…
By the Mother’s grace, this time when She touched him in inquiry, the names and images of the potential lifemates included himself. His own elation danced through his heart and to her.
To his surprise, he felt his brother move forward to join him, and instinctively, they pulled Darcy between them so they stood connected, shoulder to shoulder to shoulder. Owen and Darcy’s joy mingled with his own, flowing to the Mother.
He could feel Her delight. And then Her power flowed through him, magicking the lifemating bands, and filling him and his lifemates with her love.
Darcy leaned into him.
Tears were in Owen’s eyes.
Gawain squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “That’s a Mother’s love—and our cubs will have that from their mother.” He handed Owen a lifemating band and watched wonder fill his brother’s eyes for the band still resonated with the Goddess’s gift.
Slowly, Owen’s smile appeared. “Darcy.” His voice was rough. Husky. He took her hand and slid the bracelet onto her left wrist before kissing her. “By the God, I love you so fucking much.”
She was blinking back tears now.
Gawain bent and kissed her and added his bracelet next to his brother’s. “I love you, Darcy.”
After a minute of looking at the bracelets on her pretty wrist, she took the heftier male bands. One went on Owen’s left wrist with a kiss and the second on Gawain’s with another kiss. “I love you two, enough for this lifetime and many, many more.”
As the full moon’s power started to make itself felt, the scents of arousal filled the air.
She was with her males. Lifemated. Together. Finally. Darcy couldn’t stop smiling. Her feet seemed to be inches above the ground as Gawain and Owen led her into their house, up the stairs, and down a hallway.
Owen’s arm was behind her back.
Gawain was holding her hand, pulling her forward. “Darcy.” He sounded…worried. “Owen has the left room, I have the right one, and if you like it…want it…this is your room.”
She almost laughed. “If you’re here, that’s all I need.”
Owen squeezed her waist. “We left it mostly unfurnished so you could decide how you want it to look.”
The room was even bigger than Vicki’s. Carvings of flowering vines circled the doors and windows. The balcony faced the east, and the first glow of the Mother’s moonrise lit the glass door.
The only furniture was a bed standing between two windows.
She touched Owen’s beautiful carvings on the headboard in wonder. Three cougars snoozed on a rock under a crescent moon.
The footboard showed a female cougar leaping into a tree with her mates watching. She could almost see the laughter on Owen’s whiskered face and the approval on Gawain’s.
Her eyes widened at the size of the bed.
Looking at it, she understood her males’ hopes and dreams. They hadn’t given her a small bed to sleep in alone, but a giant one big enough for a towering cahir, a huge blademage, and one small mate.
They knew her so well. Given her choice, she’d never sleep alone again.
She took a breath as urgency filled her blood.
“What? We can change something, anything.” Gawain squeezed her shoulders.
A line furrowed Owen’s brow. “We’ll burn the place down if you want. The only nonnegotiable point is that we stay together.”
“Burn it down?” She realized she’d been so lost in her dreaming she’d missed seeing their worry. “I love it,” she said firmly. “But…”
Owen growled. “Speak clearly, little female. What’s wrong?”
Ah, her grumpy cat had returned.
And the rough, dark sound of his voice made her insides quiver. “I was just thinking we’re overdressed—and it’s the full moon—and we need to try out that bed.”
With a shout of laughter, Gawain leaned forward and whisked her top right off.
Owen had already knelt to strip off her jeans.
A second later, she landed on the bed—bare-ass naked.
As they joined her, she wrapped her arms around them and breathed in their masculine scents. Her happiness filled her heart, the room, the universe. “I love you…my mates.”
Their first mating was fast and furious.
The second slower.
Now Owen lifted his head so he could watch the candlelight flicker over Darcy’s face, so he could see the way she looked when he ran his tongue over her clit, the way her lips parted as she pulled in a breath. How her back arched up when Gawain sucked on her nipples.
She had the heart-stopping beauty of a crystal-clear snowy morning in the mountains.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he murmured.
She blinked, obviously trying to remember if they’d been talking. He loved how she gave herself to making love—how she gave of herself, because she trusted them. And loved them.
By the God, she loved them. Would he ever stop feeling this sense of elation?
He licked over her again and felt her hips trying to squirm. She was slick and fragrant with her arousal. Using his thumbs to open her more, he flicked his tongue over her clit.
Over the past weeks, he’d learned what she liked. And Darcy, who gave back as generously as she received, had figured out the same about them. Every time was better.
He wanted to take the next step. During their shared showers, he’d worked on stretching her, preparing her to take them both at once. The way her excitement increased with his fingers in her back hole, she’d enjoy a cock even more.
And if she didn’t, he wouldn’t mind. She was far more important than some variation in the mating act.
He rose up to kiss her before returning to her pussy, scratching her inner thighs with the faint stubble on his chin. He grinned when he saw her toes curl.
As he and Gawain continued, she gave a delightful moan. Under his hands, her hips wiggled. “More, please, Owen, please.” She gripped Gawain’s long hair, pulling him down to her breasts.
With a rumbling chuckle, Gawain licked one breast, turning his head to check if Owen wanted to order something. He didn’t mind taking direction—actually enjoyed it.
Even better, the bossy little cat didn’t want to be in control, not when mating.
Owen considered. In their earliest adventures, he and Gawain had worked out a silent routine. Did his littermate remember?
Balanced on an elbow, Owen closed his fingers around his brother’s ankle and squeezed once.
Gawain’s head came up. He frowned, lowered a hand out of Darcy’s field of vision, and held up one finger. He remembered.
Grinning, Owen nodded. Raised fingers or squeezes indicated the method of choice. Taps would coordinate their efforts. One finger, one nudge, or one squeeze meant: lick until further direction. He saw Gawain’s tongue run in a circle around Darcy’s nipple. Owen lowered his head and ran his own circle around a pink clit that was growing more and more swollen.
Darcy’s tiny purr stuttered with excitement.
Deciding to move them on, he gave Gawain’s ankle two squeezes—for sucking.
As Gawain sucked once on a nipple, Owen sucked on Darcy’s clit. Her gasp was most satisfying.
Time to coordinate. Tap. Tap. Tap. Pause. Suck-suck-suck-pause. Not being female, he had to wonder what it felt like to have a nipple and clit rhythmically sucked on at the same time.
He squeezed once, and they played with licking for a minute.
Two squeezes. Tap tap tap, pause. Tap, tap, tap, pause.
Between his lips, her nerve-ridden nub poked out from under the hood, swollen to hardness. Her hips pressed up for more. Her purr alternated with moans.
Time to end this before she got too frustrated. He squeezed Gawain’s ankle three times and caught his littermate’s grin. Bring down the prey with whatever it takes.
Gawain bent to her breasts, using his hands, his mouth, his tongue—even his teeth.
Her back arched.
Owen bent to his own trail, penetrating her with a finger as he licked a circle around the swollen nub. Thrusting slowly, he savored the satin heat around his fingers. His cock was rock-hard.
He added another finger, pumping faster as he laved and sucked.
Her core tightened around his fingers, and her breathing changed to long pauses between gasps.
Setting his tongue at the top of her clit below the hood, he rubbed…hard.
Her spine arched upward, her thighs closed on his shoulders as if to hold him in place, and he could feel her center contracting in spasms around his fingers. “Ooooooh, oh, oh, oh.”
Laughing, he sucked again—and set off her wail again.
This—this made him feel like the luckiest male in the territory.
As her muscles went limp with occasional quivers, he licked his fingers and nodded to Gawain. “Let’s try it the way we talked about.”
“Aye.” Eyes lit with heat, Gawain helped Owen reposition her on her knees and elbows in the center of the bed.
Owen ran his hands over her shoulders and back, enjoying the way her waist widened into a beautifully round ass. Her skin was silky smooth except for the tiny ridges of scars. But the humans who’d hurt her were dead. It was time to celebrate life. He leaned forward and kissed her shoulder.
As he straightened, she grinned over her shoulder at him. “Doggy style? Are kitty shifters allowed to do this?”
“I believe the original term was the panther pose,” Gawain said in a pompous voice. He handed Owen a condom, glove, and lube packet.
“What’s that?” Darcy almost toppled over trying to see.
“Extras. Humans can be canny, at times.” After condoming up, Owen squeezed lube on his gloved fingers, spread more on her puckered anus, and slowly inserted one finger.
“Oh. Oh.” The surprise of his finger pressing through the narrow rim and up inside her anus sent a shudder through her. Her nerves in her pussy and clit were extremely sensitized now, yet he’d bypassed them, going straight for her back hole.
Her nipples puckered into a throbbing ache.
“We’ve done this in the shower, remember?” Owen’s rough voice was amused.
This position was more vulnerable and exposed than she’d realized, and she tried to swivel her butt out of danger.
He held her in place with a firm grip on her hip. His finger slid out and back in, deeper this time.
“Oh Gods.” Her skin turned to goosebumps at the strange sensation.
Gawain sat beside her hip, one hand resting on her back. “Breathe, sweetling.”
Breathe, how? There was almost no air in the room—and even less when Owen used two fingers. The increased diameter burned slightly, but his slickened fingers slid in and out easily.
Gawain ran a hand down her stomach, and his fingers grazed her swollen clit.
She jumped—and Owen laughed. “She almost squeezed my fingers off. Do it again.”
Owen’s firm strokes in her ass, Gawain’s caressing her clit—at the same time—sent tremors of excitement coursing across her body. Her shivers increased as they held her in place—Owen gripping her hip, Gawain’s arm latching around her waist—as they played with her.
“All right, kitten, I’m going to go slow.” Owen’s fingers slid out.
He was going to…what?
Something pressed against her anus—something bigger than his fingers.
Oh Gods, his shaft. Her fingers curled against her palms. She knew they had intended this…eventually. Now?
Slowly, he breeched her opening, blazing a trail of fire in her back region. His cockhead stretched her to the point of pain before it was finally in. He stopped. “That’s the hardest part, cariad. Are you all right?”
Firmness and caring. Orders and concern. What she’d wanted all her life.
“Darcy?” Gawain asked.
She turned her head to look at him. He looked like a god, burning blue eyes, tanned skin, all muscles—and all hers.
His eyes narrowed, and he stroked her hair. “Catling?”
“I’m so fine.”
His grin appeared, white within his light brown beard. He glanced at Owen and nodded.
Owen pressed in, slowly penetrating her. His shaft was ever so long…and she giggled.
Both males froze.
“What?” Owen’s voice was hoarse. “Have we’ve driven her crazy?”
“I’m just so glad it’s you and not Gawain back there. He’s very…”
Gawain gave a shout of laughter…because the girth of his erection was impressive. Owen was longer, Gawain thicker.
Even as he laughed, Owen continued to press in, deeper and deeper until his thighs rested against the backs of hers. His groin pressed against her buttocks.
So strange. She gave a wiggle and squeaked as his cock moved inside her. Her whole back area was throbbing around the burning intrusion, yet her clit was tingling, her nipples tightly bunched and aching.
She knew Owen was waiting—and finally, she nodded. “I’m good.”
“Thank you, little cat,” Owen said, his voice rough. “For your trust.” He slid out and in, slowly, adding more lube, wakening new nerves until everything back there seemed alight. “Ready, brawd?”
“Mother of all, yes.” Gawain had his hand wrapped around his thick erection. She really loved his cock, and she licked her lips, wanting her mouth there.
“Not this time, pretty panther,” he said.
Owen curled over and above her, his chest against her back. Wrapping one arm low on her pelvis, and the other over her breasts, he rolled sideways and over onto his back, landing on a pile of pillows. His shoulders and head were supported by the pillows so he was propped slightly up. His ass was on the bed—and his shaft was still in her back hole.
“What…” Squirming against the feeling of being impaled, she lay on top of him with her back against his chest and her head in the hollow of his shoulder. His long legs hung off the mattress—and his feet undoubtedly touched the floor.
Her feet, of course, were dangling in the air.
She turned her head to glare up at him and saw only the bottom of his jaw. “What are you doing?”
Owen chuckled. “I do enjoy each time she asks that question. Want to tell her, brawd?”
Gawain walked to the end of the bed. His lips curved. “He’s giving me access, aye?”
Access to… Oh my Gods.
As Gawain stepped between Owen’s knees, he put an arm under her left leg, catching her knee in the bend of his elbow. With his other hand, he guided his shaft to her pussy, pressing lightly against her entrance. “Are you ready, Darcy?”
She looked up at him. His trim beard covered a strong jaw. Thick muscles widened his chest and shoulders. His biceps bulged as he held her leg up in the air beside his waist. Had there ever been a more gorgeous male? And his deep blue eyes were full of heat—and love—for her.
She managed a nod. Barely.
Owen fondled her breast with his left hand and the other cupped her mound. He lifted his head to whisper in her ear, “Breathe, kitten.”
Gripping his left forearm to anchor herself, she sucked in a breath.
Gawain pressed in slightly—and her breathing stopped. Oh Gods.
He stopped. “Look at me, Darcy. You’ll tell me if it hurts.”
Staring up into his perceptive eyes, she managed to nod.
“All right.” He held her gaze trapped as he relentlessly filled her.
So full. So damn far in.
When he was balls-deep, he stopped and studied her.
Everything inside her was stretched and throbbing. Overwhelmed, she couldn’t think, could only cling to Owen’s arm as he fondled her breasts. His other hand slid lower to stroke her clit lightly—and at the exquisite sensation, everything tightened.
No, she was already too full. Oh, Gods!
Owen’s laugh made his chest shake beneath her—made her jiggle on his cock and gasp at the burning, tingling, amazing feeling. Too many sensations.
Gawain lifted her other leg over his shoulder, leaned forward, and braced his hand on the bed. His erection slid out and back in more forcefully.
She gasped as searing, electrifying pleasure shot through her.
Smiling slightly, he did it again.
Oh Gods, she was so full. Owen didn’t move—which was good since she might have had a heart attack. She could barely manage one cock.
Instead, he slid his finger over and around her clit, and heat zipped up her spine. Her clit swelled and throbbed. Her pussy clutched around Gawain even tighter.
“Our catling.” Gawain ran his hands over her legs, stroking her. “I love sharing you with my brother. Love giving you my seed.” He moved slowly, in and out, simply enjoying her, and grinning every time she wiggled and moaned.
He sped up slightly and every thrust felt so…different with Owen’s shaft inside her, too. Her nipples gathered into aching peaks, and Owen laughed and pinched one.
When her lower half contracted, they all groaned.
Gawain started thrusting fast and forcefully. “Join us, brawd. She’s ready.”
Keeping his hand on her clit, Owen set his other arm around her waist in a hard, unmovable band, and slid partway out of her ass.
She gasped.
Tilting his pelvis, he plunged back in.
Oh, oh, oh. At the ferocious pleasure, everything within contracted around both cocks.
Both males kept moving. Owen slid in, Gawain out. Gawain thrust; Owen withdrew. Their merciless pace increased, and then Owen’s fingers rubbed over her clit.
Her core clenched, and excruciating pleasure fireballed inside her, pouring through her, sending her flying. Her whole body shook as she came.
Without a pause, Gawain continued thrusting as Owen pistoned into her from behind—and ceaseless waves of molten pleasure rolled over her, as endless as the tide.
With a low groan, Gawain gripped her harder, and she felt his shaft spasming inside her.
A second later, Owen did the same with a low growl. His arms tightened around her as he kissed the side of her head. “Thank you, my mate.”
Still embedded deeply inside her, Gawain leaned forward to kiss her, rubbing his cheek against hers like the cat he was. “Thank you, my mate.”
Her arms felt boneless as she put them around his neck and took herself a proper kiss.
“Stay put for a minute.” He withdrew and lifted her up, and she gasped as Owen’s softening erection left her ass. Solid and sturdy, Gawain set her on her feet and held her against him.
Owen laughed, patted her butt, and rolled off the bed to go clean up.
Gawain lay back on the bed with her in his arms. “Thank you, Darcy, for letting us share.”
She considered teasing them by saying she didn’t like it. But…even if her lying abilities worked, they knew better. She’d never come so long and hard before. In fact, it had been amazing to be sandwiched between them, both cocks inside her, feeling…everything. “Thank you for making it lovely.”
Owen returned, crawling in to snuggle behind her, warming her with his superheated body.
The bed was the perfect size for all of them.
Exhausted and delighted, she squirmed until Owen moved forward, squishing her against Gawain’s side. Pinning her between them.
Purring in pleasure, she settled her head on Gawain’s shoulder, feeling Owen rubbing his chin on the top of her head. Gawain’s hand rested on her shoulder.
As the last glimmer of the moon disappeared from the window, she gave a happy sigh. This…right here…was where she belonged.