Slade Read online

  The pace was slower this time. Less urgent. But every bit as arousing. Slade slid into her in long, languid strokes. He kept enough distance between them so he could look down at the spot where he possessed her, encouraging her to watch as well as he took her.

  There was no warning before the bathroom door opened with a bang, hitting the wall and causing Kate to jump. Everything happened at once as Slade growled in anger and her bottom slid off the slick, wet countertop. Before she realized what was happening, two strong hands wrapped around her from behind, sparing her a bad fall.

  But whose hands were they? Kate looked up over her shoulder and met the startled golden eyes of Steve Redstone.

  “Sorry, man. Grif sent me to get you. I didn’t realize—”

  “Yeah, right. You didn’t get the hint from her scent all over my sheets?” Slade was angry but calm, his gaze speculative.

  “It’s her house. The whole place smells like her. And I didn’t really pause to think about it. I was in a hurry.” The cougar had the grace to look chagrinned. “Sorry, Kate.” He met her gaze as his hands lifted her to get a better grip.

  She was suspended, naked and wet, between Slade, who was still balls deep inside her, and Steve, who didn’t seem to be in any sort of hurry to leave. Kate felt her fear of falling disappear under first embarrassment, and then… arousal?

  Sweet Mother of All. One night with Slade had turned her into a nympho.

  Then again, of all the shifters she’d met before encountering Slade—which had changed her for all time—she’d speculated about Steve the most. He was the mysterious brother. The warrior. The Special Operator.

  And he was ruggedly handsome in a way that she’d admired. From afar. Never in a million years would she have imagined she’d ever be found naked, in his arms.

  “Well, since you’re here…” Slade looked speculatively from Kate to Steve and back again, seeming to pick up on her renewed arousal. Her cheeks flamed. How could he miss the way she creamed as she realized Steve’s hands were only inches away from her bare breasts.

  And Steve seemed to realize it too. He moved closer and she could feel something prodding her lower back through his pants. He was hard and getting harder.

  Oh, boy. The question was, how far would Slade let this go? And would she be able to keep up? She honestly had no idea.

  “Tell me true, kitten,” Slade’s voice coaxed as the fingers supporting her bottom began to move as the men readjusted their hold slightly to keep her safely suspended between them. “Are you up for a little play?”

  “Play?” Was that her voice? It sounded more like a croak.

  “Cats are friskier than most other shifters, doll,” Steve’s voice sounded from behind her.

  Holy shit. He seemed to be not only on board with the deviltry she read in Slade’s eyes, but encouraging it. She was in big trouble. Of the most delicious kind. Dare she dip her toes in the forbidden pool?

  “Uh, what are you suggesting?” Her mouth was so dry, she had to try a few times to get all the words out.

  “Nothing too drastic. We don’t have enough time, for one thing. For another, you’re mine, kitten,” Slade stated with finality. “As long as you remember that, the rest is just fun and games. Are we clear on that point? You’re mine.” He dipped his head and met her gaze with a steady fire in his mesmerizing blue eyes. “Say it,” he ordered in the sexiest whisper she had ever heard.

  “I’m yours,” she repeated, not daring to argue.

  Not wanting to argue, for that matter. She liked the hint of something perhaps a little more permanent, if that’s what it really was. Her heart hoped against hope that it was, but only time would tell.

  “Good girl. For that, how about we let Steve play with your tits? The way his hands are inching closer, I can tell that’s what he wants. Is that what you want too, kitten? To let him stroke your breasts and squeeze your nipples while I fuck you?”

  She moaned at the scandalous words and the images they formed in her mind. Slade must’ve taken that as a yes because he gestured with a jerk of his chin and Steve readjusted, leaning back against the small span of wall next to the door he’d opened. He lifted her slightly higher so that she was leaning back against his chest, while Slade stepped closer. She was caught more securely between them now, Slade’s hands under her ass as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  Steve moved forward to grasp her breasts, enveloping them with the calloused roughness of his warrior’s hands. His arms were under hers and he took a moment to shift first one of her arms up and back, to grasp his shoulders, and then the other. She was able to twist her hands enough to place her hands at the back of his neck and hold on for dear life as Slade began to pound into her, rubbing her back against Steve with every thrust.

  He touched her a little rougher than Slade, but he seemed to know just how far to push her. His fingers twisted her nipples lightly, then cupped her full mounds as Slade moved ever faster. She moaned and a moment later, Slade came, spurting hot jets of come inside her, triggering her own orgasm.

  She’d already lost count of how many times she’d come for Slade. He seemed to know her body better than she did. And now, he seemed to know her mind as well. He’d somehow realized she’d been attracted to Steve, and when fate had handed the opportunity to tease her with the other man’s touch, Slade had been all too ready to go with it.

  Fun and games, indeed. Kate had come so hard, it was going to be almost impossible to top anytime soon.

  Or so she thought.

  “Good girl, kitten, but I think we need to help Steve out a bit,” Slade said in a rough voice as he began to recover. He pulled out and lowered her feet gently to the floor. “Don’t you want to help poor Steve?”

  “What do you have in mind?” She didn’t want to sound scared, but she was very afraid that’s exactly how she sounded.

  Meanwhile, Steve had encircled her torso with his big arms and drawn her back against his chest. His hands still played with her breasts, renewing the fire that had never quite gone out. It seemed her body was capable of more pleasure than she had ever really thought was possible. For Slade, she seemed to become aroused and ready with just a few, well-chosen, intensely hot words.

  She wondered idly if he could make her come just from talking to her. It was something to explore later, if they had a later, that is.

  “Nothing scary, love, or too drastic,” Slade reassured her as he grabbed a few towels from the shelf above the toilet. He threw one on the closed lid and used another to dry off quickly and rub at his cock. To her shock, it was coming alive yet again. “Would you be willing to suck him off?” He let that bald statement hang in the air for just a moment while she tried to overcome first her shock, and then her shocking desire.

  Oh, yeah, she wanted to suck Steve off—but only because Slade wanted it. Having him there made all the difference. She wouldn’t have even considered it without him.

  She was Slade’s. That thought kept ringing through her mind for some reason. Even if it was only true for this short period of time, that one thought was uppermost in her mind. She would never seek out another man as long as she was Slade’s.

  If Slade forsook her at some point…well…she didn’t know what she’d do then. She’d have to deal with that heartbreak when it came. For now, she would revel in being his and do whatever he asked of her because she knew he had her pleasure and safety foremost in his mind. She trusted him.

  And…maybe…she loved him.

  Oh, boy.

  Rather than answer in words, Kate nodded, biting her lip. She heard a rumble of a low growl from Steve, who was still behind her. He let her go by slow degrees, allowing some space between them.

  “Come here then,” Slade ordered and she went to him, stepping into the warm towel he held out for her.

  He wrapped her in his arms and in the towel, rubbing lightly to dry her skin, even taking a moment to rub at her wet hair so it wouldn’t drip uncomfortably against her skin. When the damp tow
el—and his hands—reached between her legs, she spread wide for him, allowing him as much access as he wanted.

  She almost forgot about Steve being in the small room with them as Slade rubbed first the towel, then his bare finger against her clit, making her gasp.

  He turned her in his arms and she saw Steve. He was sitting on the closed lid of the toilet seat, on the folded towel Slade had dropped there. His pants were undone, his fly open and pulled down to mid-thigh, his erection standing tall and proud from a cloud of tawny hair that was sparse enough to be appealing and probably matched the color of his cougar’s coat as it matched the clean cut hair on his head.

  Steve was… impressive, was the only word she could come up with. He’d raised his T-shirt and she saw a very impressive display of washboard abs. He was every bit as handsome as she’d thought he’d be, but the man behind her, who had dropped the damp towel and now had his hands on her hips, guiding her forward, was the real turn-on in the room.

  She’d do anything for Slade. Anything.

  That this audacious act would bring her pleasure too was part of why she trusted him. He would never do anything to hurt her or to demean her. She trusted him with her safety, her sexuality and her heart.

  Her power flared off his, meshing, joining, teasing and flirting before winding around them both and making each other stronger. They were so compatible on so many levels. Slade would push her to new heights, but they were steps she was willing—very willing—to climb. All she needed was him to show her the way.

  Slade pushed downward on her back, indicating how he wanted her to bend over. Was he?

  Oh, yes. He was hard and he was going to take her from behind while she went down on Steve’s oh-so-impressive cock. She almost came right then and there, just from the thought of it.

  But she was made of stronger stuff than that. Right?

  Kate bent the way he wanted and set to work. She started out slow, trailing her hands up Steve’s lightly haired thighs. The feel of his blond body hair was softer than she’d expected. It was a turn-on. A sensual delight.

  She teased his groin with fingers first, then with her breath as she lowered her head to blow a stream of air out of her puckered lips at the very tip of his cock. He squirmed and she felt the power she had over him at that moment. It was a heady feeling.

  Almost as heady as the moment Slade slid into her from behind. He timed his gentle thrust to coincide with her opening her mouth over Steve’s cock. She took him inside her mouth, as deep as she could take him. She wasn’t exactly an expert at giving head, but she’d done it a time or two and picked up a few tricks along the way. Although she couldn’t take such a big cock all the way, she did her best to make sure he didn’t feel slighted.

  She grasped the thick base of his shaft with her hands as her mouth worked over the top half of him, sliding, slipping, licking and sucking as she went. She even nibbled on him gently as one hand dipped to play with his balls.

  Slade set up a rhythm, timing his thrusts with her forays to take Steve deeper into her mouth. The double stimulation was amazing and when Steve lowered his hands to pluck at her hanging nipples, she moaned with Steve in her mouth and clenched her pussy around Slade’s cock as he thrust deep into her from behind.

  Both men groaned and she felt a deep satisfaction rise up from within her deepest feminine heart. This was what it meant to be the Earth Mother. This was the power of the eternal female to bring pleasure and healing to the male.

  For this was a healing as well as an extremely naughty fucking. Steve was wounded in his soul by what had been done to his family. He—a warrior—had not been able to safeguard his own mother and Kate knew that had to cut deep.

  In a way, this was her way of giving a little comfort, not to mention a lot of pleasure, to him. It wasn’t quite the normal way a priestess comforted those who relied on her for guidance, but she’d take it. Steve was a special case. As was Slade.

  She felt her healing magic rise up in a form it had never taken before. It went from her, in subtle waves, to Steve’s broken heart. It would not heal it completely, but the magic would help him begin the process, if he was receptive.

  At the moment, he was very receptive. Kate increased her pace, hollowing her cheeks as she sucked him deep. Slade picked up the pace behind her, sliding in and out in sharp thrusts that made her whimper with need. She was close to coming again and she wanted both of these special men to come with her.

  She redoubled her efforts and within moments she felt Steve tense as his seed boiled up. Slade drew her away with a sharp tug as Steve came in long spurts over her breasts. Slade came too, spurting deep inside her yet again as she cried out and came, sobbing as her body quaked in the most exquisite ecstasy.

  How long she stood there, supported by Slade’s trembling arms, she didn’t know. It was Steve who toweled his come off her breasts with gentle motions and a half smile on his handsome face.

  He leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth, his tongue tangling with hers for a short moment in what felt like thanks. He kissed her sweetly. It wasn’t quite like the way Slade kissed her. Slade was more primal. Steve’s kiss was one of tender gratefulness and fledgling happiness. Healing and Light.

  What she had tried to give him with her magic. Apparently, on some small level, it had worked. She returned the kiss with a lighter heart.

  “I guess we need another shower,” Slade observed when Steve let her go. There was no anger or jealousy in his voice. He seemed to understand.

  He’d already withdrawn from her body, but he was still supporting her. He had probably noticed the way her knees had turned to rubber, but she was feeling better now. Slade let her go and turned her toward the shower, swatting her playfully on the behind as he pushed her toward the still-running water.

  She didn’t need further urging. She definitely needed another wash—if she could get her legs to support her.

  When she left the shower a few minutes later, Steve was gone and Slade had begun to dress in the other room. She joined him and he pulled her in for a deep, almost drugging kiss before spinning her away to allow her to dress.

  “I’m sorry if that took you by surprise,” he said in a careful voice. She met his gaze in the mirror and saw the look of concern on his face. “Like Steve said, cats are friskier than other shifters. I hope that’s okay with you.” He walked over to her and turned her to face him, taking her loosely in his arms. “But I meant what I said, Kate. You’re mine. I would never ask anything of you that would hurt you in any way—physically, emotionally or magically.”

  She smiled up at him and saw the relief enter his expression by slow degrees. She reached up and brushed his dark hair away from his face.

  “I know that,” she whispered. “I trust you.”

  That statement hung between them. It was so much more than a simple admission of trust. For trust was something that was sacred to her. To the shifter community as well, from all she’d seen.

  For her it meant something deeper as well. Something she couldn’t come right out and say—not even to herself—at the moment.

  “The same goes for me,” Slade replied. His voice was calm, but those magical blue eyes of his flared. She felt the truth of his words. Then his gaze turned devilish. “And you have to admit, that was really hot.”

  She blushed. She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. Damn her pale skin.

  “It was pretty amazing,” she agreed, ducking her head to rest it on his shoulder.

  “I don’t do stuff like that all the time.” He startled her with his words. “Just sometimes. On special occasions, if you will.” She looked up at him and found he was laughing.

  “That’s good to hear because I’ve never done anything like that before in my entire life. I’m not sure I’d be cut out to do that sort of thing as a steady diet. I’m more a one man woman, I think.”

  “That’s okay by me,” he was quick to reassure her. “Consider this morning a one-off. We don’t have to invite anyo
ne else to join our fun ever again if that’s the way you want it.”

  “Well…” She was blushing again as she tried to be as honest as possible. “I’m not saying never. I’m just saying, not all the time.”

  His grin was her reward as he hugged her close. “All right, kitten. Whatever you want. I’ll give you all you can handle… When the time is right.”

  She could live with that.

  They hustled through dressing and raided the kitchen for whatever could be eaten quickly, while on the go. They were expected by the Alpha and it wouldn’t do to keep him waiting too long. When they were ready to go a few minutes later, Slade remembered the magical chalice from the night before. He asked Kate where it was and what she wanted to do with it.

  “I don’t want that evil thing in my house,” she admitted with a disgusted expression. Slade understood. The feel of the chalice’s slimy, blood magic was nauseating. “The Alpha’s house is more secure anyway. I’m sure he has a place we can bury this until we figure out how to deal with it once and for all.”

  She retrieved the bag that held the chalice while Slade found a plastic bag to put it in. He held the crinkly plastic shopping bag open while Kate dumped the bloodstained cloth that held the chalice inside. As camouflage went, the old plastic bag was both cheap and effective. Nobody watching them would know the evil they had trapped inside.

  That settled, they set off for the Redstone’s home. They were very late, but Steve had gone on ahead to let the Alpha know they were on their way.

  Chapter Ten

  When they finally arrived at the Redstone homestead, Kate felt very conspicuous. Not only were they late, but each of the shapeshifters she passed seemed to sniff her a little longer than usual. The response after that initial sniff varied, but usually involved either a wide-eyed look or a wink, then a quick glance at Slade, who remained at her side throughout. A few nods would pass between the men and then they’d move on.