Chapter Eight
Piper held the box of dishes shut while her father taped it. Even though everything else was already in boxes, somehow the dishes being packed away made everything final. She and Baxter were leaving Uphoria.
They had found a small apartment to rent near the new gallery, a nice big building with lots of space to be creative with. The house had also sold quickly, although in the end they had taken twenty thousand less than what they were hoping for. But both had agreed that getting away from the town as soon as possible was the best thing to do and now that her community service for hexing Wragge was up, they could finally go.
"Have you made a decision about this whole Werewolf threesome thing?" Piper’s father asked, straightening.
"She's not allowed to say," Baxter said quickly, stepping in to pick up the box.
Her father turned a raised brow on her.
"Patrick doesn't want to know until after the gala. He says it's easier to do business that way," Piper glanced around her empty home and sighed, waiting until Baxter had left the room before she spoke again. "I have made my choice, though."
"What are you going to do?"
Piper shook her head. "I'm not going to tell you yet. I think Baxter and Patrick have the right to learn first. But it's the right choice."
Her father stared at her hard for a few minutes then nodded. "I just don't like this deadline thing."
"It's fine, Dad."
"Not if you're rushing into something you'll end up regretting, Little Bug. You've gone through a lot these past couple months, I don't want to see you get hurt."
Piper smiled at the tender childhood nickname. "You won't, Dad. I promise."
***
It was only a week later that the gallery's opening gala took place. Spring had arrived suddenly to the world, bringing bright, hot sunshine with it. It seemed like the day after the snow melted Piper was already walking around in shorts and a T-shirt. With it being so warm outside and so many people inside the gallery for the gala, they had had to turn on the air conditioning.
Piper surveyed the scene, basking in happiness. Patrick had indeed invited many of his wealthy friends and business associates. Everywhere she looked, finely crafted silk suits and satin dresses were paired with twinkling jewels of every color imaginable. Waiters in white suit coats handed out glasses of champagne or small, tasty hors d'oeuvres.
"What did I say?"
Patrick's voice made her jump. She turned to him, smiling. "What did you say about what?"
"All this." His eyes twinkled.
"You're right about everything. I've never had so many compliments on my work before and I think we've made at least a hundred thousand just on people making me promise to paint portraits of their pets. And the dress is amazing."
She gestured at the strapless number she wore, covered in blue lace that hugged her every curve. She especially loved the sweetheart neckline–it made her breasts look huge.
"I have to say, Baxter's silent auction idea was good, too," Patrick said, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm. "Your landscapes are very popular."
"I don't paint landscapes. It's abstract."
Patrick wrinkled his nose. "They look like landscapes to me."
Piper was about to reply when she saw a most unwelcome sight. Her hand clenched tight around her champagne glass. Her eyes narrowed and her lip curled.
Thor Wragge.
Here, of all nights. The only consolation was that his suit didn't look so fashionable in this crowd and he was clearly ill at ease.
She marched towards him, but Baxter got there first and Patrick quickly pressed her into conversation with a nearby elderly woman before marching over to join them. From the way the three men were holding themselves, it was clearly a tense conversation. Piper wondered how long it would take for Wragge to get the message and leave.
The elderly woman was just asking her if she'd paint something for her grandson's birthday when a roar silenced everybody. All heads turned just in time to see Patrick sinking his fist into Wragge's stomach. Baxter grabbed the other Werewolf, pulling him back as Wragge gasped and wheezed.
Piper's eyes widened and she stared in shock. What was this all about?
Wragge's breathless voice carried through the hall. "She's a goddamned gold-digging whore!"
Baxter froze. Then both he and Patrick lunged.
***
"It's a switch from you two getting me out of jail at least," Piper said later, unlocking the door to her and Baxter's new apartment. The two Werewolves followed her in sheepishly.
"He had no right to say those things about you," Patrick said. "And he deliberately provoked us. He wasn't even on the invitation list!"
Piper took their tuxedo jackets, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been waiting for two months for this night, not only because of the gallery gala but also what she knew was going to happen after it. The incident with Wragge had interrupted things, but she was ready to put him behind her. Whatever he was after, he wasn't going to get it.
"I'd like to tear his head off," Patrick continued, growling.
"Forget about him."
Baxter snorted. "That's you saying that?"
Piper folded her arms. "Do you guys want to hear my decision or not?"
Both Werewolves stiffened. Baxter straightened, his eyes wide and eager, while Patrick's hands clenched into his pants, his knuckles going white. Piper couldn't help but feel sorry for him. She had been planning on dragging it out just a little longer, just to torture him, but found she didn't want to.
"Yes."
Patrick jerked like he had been electrocuted. He was on his feet in an instant, eyes bright, a smile blossoming over his face. "Yes?"
Piper nodded.
He crushed her to his chest, bringing his mouth to hers hard. There was something possessive about the way he thrust his tongue into her willing mouth, something territorial, as though he was claiming her as his own.
It was so erotic she felt herself growing damp just from that one kiss. Her arousal increased as Baxter joined them, trading kisses between her and Patrick's neck, moving constantly as though he would never be sated. Piper felt a tug inside her and she met the Werewolves' fervor with her own, hurriedly reaching for Patrick's belt.
Baxter stood behind the other Werewolf, caressing his body and slowly undressing him as Piper got to her knees. Patrick moaned but shook his head.
"Tonight we focus on Piper," he said in a strangled voice. "Tomorrow is Baxter. The next day is me."
Baxter switched gears instantly, moving behind Piper. He brought her to her feet and both of her men focused on her neck, one on either side. She moaned in delight, loving the feeling of being squashed between their firm, sexy bodies. Hands were everywhere and Piper could feel both of them aroused as they ground at her through their clothes.
"Wait, wait," she gasped.
Her men stopped, though they remained sandwiched together.
"I've got condoms and lubricant in the bedroom nightstand," she whispered. "And there's the bed…"
Patrick lifted her into his arms and all but ran into the bedroom, easing her onto the bed before stepping back to look at her. He looked so gorgeous, standing there with that gleam in his eye and Piper grinned at him.
With a groan he fell over her, pushing her expensive dress up to her waist and hooking his fingers under her underwear. His touch was inexperienced but made up for that in his eagerness.
She found him with her hand, answering his energy with her own. They rolled so they faced each other on their sides and Baxter laid behind Piper, naked himself, undressing her. Two sets of lips worshiped her body and heat flooded her senses. Piper stared into Patrick's wide, dilated pupils as he slipped on a condom and claimed her as his mate.
A cry of pleasure burst from her mouth and Patrick froze. Baxter's hands were on her ass at this time, lubricating and preparing her and he chuckled.
"She's a screamer," he told the other Werewolf.
Piper thrust her hips forward. "Don't stop."
Patrick's eyes were wide and he bit his lip, looking uncertain for the first time. "I didn't hurt you?"
Piper shook her head. "It feels wonderful."
"It does." Patrick moaned, beginning to move his hips and he buried his face into her neck. "It feels so good."
Piper was not prepared for the pleasure that flooded her as both her men concentrated on her, entering her from both sides, hands and mouths roaming her body. As they brought her closer and closer to that heavenly ocean of pleasure flooding her body, she clung to Patrick, thanking God that Baxter had made her go to that hockey game all those months ago.