Page 45

Clark

T he outdoor pavilion sparkled with lights. People drank, chatted, and did karaoke. The lovely dinner, which was full of speeches from friends and family, with memories and pictures of the couple, was long over. Cooter’s speech had been spectacular.

The Sasquatches’ goalie was hysterical, and I could see how he was Tenzin’s bestie. He was a good foil for the reserved defenseman. Even if I had trouble understanding his thick Appalachian accent.

I sat at a table with Tenzin, Dimitri, and Carlos. Cooter was currently on the karaoke stage, singing a country song about a woman who dumped her ex’s truck in the lake.

Tenzin checked his phone and frowned. Gwen had showed up for a bit on the animal walk, introduced everyone to her niece and nephew, chugged a cocktail, had some ice cream, then left with them.

I guess she knew a lot of people here for the other wedding and went to say hello. Made sense. The people from that wedding seemed fancy and there was a lot of security.

Carlos, Dimitri, and some others took a turn singing, leaving Tenzin and me alone. I’d already been up there with Carlos. Carlos had disappeared during the animal walk and appeared right as food was being served, looking a bit rumpled.

“Hi.” Gwen slipped into my lap, still in what she’d been wearing earlier, and not cute evening outfits like everyone else.

“Hi.” My arms wrapped around her, trying to pour all my love into her, and she nuzzled my neck.

“Hey, Firecracker. Are you okay? Are you hungry? Dinner’s past but there are snacks. Would you like a drink?” Tenzin asked, brows knitted.

“A beer?” she asked.

Tenzin squeezed her hand and went off to the bar.

“Did you have fun?” I asked. She leaned into me, eyes closing as I played with her hair.

“It was good to catch up. I miss Matty and his family. It was nice to see some of the others. I knew his mate’s family pretty well.” Her face stayed buried in my chest, so I held her tight.

Snuggling Gwen was my favorite job.

I’d give her more if she wanted. She might like some physical reassurance later. Or maybe she’d like to sleep nestled in my arms like last night. Eating her out on my motorcycle had been fun, maybe she’d let me taste her on the bed? Or take a shower with her?

Tenzin came back with a beer and a plate of food from the snack buffet. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” She downed half the beer. “I’m so sorry I kept going with them.”

“Gwen, it’s fine,” I replied.

“I feel bad. Here you are and I’m running off to see other people. I’d forgotten that I like some people and I’ve missed them.” Her head ducked.

“If you want to see them, you should,” Tenzin told her, as he put two fingers under her chin and pushed it up. “I, too, have a brother that I haven’t talked to in a long time. If he and his mates and children showed up and wanted to see me, I’d absolutely drop everything.” A wistful look crossed his face.

“You have a brother, Tens?” I asked, still holding Gwen on my lap.

“Yes. When our parents died, he was studying at a university. My younger sister and I were with our parents when they died. I was the only one to survive.” The pain in his voice, his scent, was evident.

“Tens,” I breathed, and squeezed his arm. Survivors’ guilt was a bitch.

Gwen got up and sat on his lap. “I’m so sorry.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “I went to live with Zaya in Nashville, because he was mad that I’d lived and no one else had, and convinced some of our relatives to send me to her. I’ve tried to reach out, but he’s even returned the gifts I’ve sent his children.”

Ow. “I’m so sorry you’re treated like that.”

“That is really shitty.” She put her head on his chest. “You have us now.”

“You do,” I told him. Someone was mad because his sibling survived? How awful.

“Thank you. He’d always been my favorite, so it hurt for a long time. It is what it is.” His expression grew pained as Carlos, Dimitri, and the others crooned in the background.

Gwen moved to get up, and he pulled her back down.

“Eat, Gwen.” His voice grew growly.

“Clark, I didn’t mean to dismiss what you said earlier. I hear you, and it means everything. Please forgive me if I don’t say it back yet?” Her look turned pleading, as she shoved cheese in her mouth, like she hadn’t eaten all day.

What did I say? Oh.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I assured. She could take her time in saying I love you back.

As she ate her food and drank two beers, she showed us pictures of her ice skating and of her family and childhood. Her mother was beautiful, and her dads were all very imposing. My favorite was Gwen: tiny goalie.

“Hey, what does your family do? They have a company that some of your siblings work for?” I asked, trying to figure everything out a little more.

“They’re in shipping. They have trucks and boats and planes. You see them all over Canada. They also partner with other companies in other countries. It’s their money, not mine. I’m not poverty cosplaying, if that’s what you’re asking. I’ll be super pissed at Austin if he was.” She popped a little tiny sandwich in her mouth.

“I don’t even know what that means,” I told her.

“All I have is what’s in my bank account. I’m happy to show you that balance.” She grabbed a handful of nuts from the bowl on the table. “My parents didn’t have an education fund or trust, or anything like that for me. I was told that much when I was younger. If any relatives left me anything, no one told me.”

“If you didn’t have an education fund, did they not expect you to go to university?” I frowned. While my education fund hadn’t had much in it, I had one.

“Oh, they did. But you had to ask the dads and, of course, they’d only pay for it if they approved. Which was why my sister Isa attended an omega academy in Vancouver and not a fashion school in Paris, like she wanted to.”

Oh. That seemed mean.

“My mom left me some jewelry when she passed, but it’s at my dads’, if it hasn’t been pillaged by my siblings.” She sighed. “If… if you want me to pay rent and stuff, I’ll make it happen. I guess when I was living in a closet, I could have called Matty, but I’d rather live in a small, dusty space, than ask my family for help.” Gwen lifted her head, eyes teary.

“The fact you’d rather live in a closet than take their help says everything,” Tenzin told her.

“I don’t need you to pay anything. That wasn’t why I was asking.” I shook my head.

“Yes. I’d rather be broke and happy than have all the money and be chained to a bed.” Her eyes pleaded with me.

My heart broke, and I pulled her to me. “Gweny. I care so much for you.”

Her head rested on my shoulder. “I care for you, too. Can we dance for a bit?”

“Um, sure.” It wasn’t really dancing music, but I’d give her whatever she wanted.

We stood, and she wrapped her arms around my neck, while JP and Celine sang a love song almost on key. Her hand snaked out and grabbed Tenzin’s wrist, pulling him to her.

The three of us swayed to the music, her in the middle, as the day was clearly taking its toll on her. Eventually, her body relaxed into me. Her scent also changed to something less sad and more needy.

“Do you want to leave the party?” I asked, as someone sang something that made me hope all the kids had gone to bed. “Go back to the room. Maybe watch a movie or cuddle.”

Have some naked, full body snuggles in that gigantic bed we have. Tenzin can join us if he wants. Even if he only wants to watch like he did when we were on the bubble wheel.

She nodded. “I’d love to go back to the room and, um, snuggle with the both of you, please? Maybe some full body snuggles with both of you at the same time, with me in the middle?”

“I’d be happy to, Gweny. Thank you for communicating your needs with us.” I stroked her hair. “Just so you know, I’ve never done anything like what I think you’re asking.”

“I’ve never had two people at once. But I need you both. Possibly twice.” She bit her lower lip, an anxious look on her face, though her eyes were lit with desire, her scent full of arousal.

“What I’m hearing is that my sweet little Firecracker needs us at the same time to make her feel better?” Tenzin’s lips moved close to her ear.

I’d never done that. But I’d do that with her–and Tenzin. Mmmm. Yeah. Not a hardship.

“Please? You can decide between yourselves who gets what hole.” That minty scent turned sour and her lower lip quivered. “Unless I’m asking too much, too soon?”

“Firecracker, I’m so glad you feel safe coming to us. It’s been a big day for you. I’d love to make you feel better.” Tenzin squeezed us to him.

She moaned softly in our arms. “Good. I really need you both tonight. Maybe more than once.”

“My dick is yours, Gweny. We’re happy to take care of you.” It was rock hard, so I rubbed it against her, to let her know what she already possessed.

Gwen took both our hands. “Please, Alphas, take me to bed.”

Those words went straight to my cock. I squeezed her hand. “As you wish.”

Gwen held both our hands as we walked toward our villa, swinging them a little. Her face tipped up. “The stars are so pretty. Is the golden beetle out tonight?”

“It is.” I put an arm around her and pointed it out. It made me think of the night Tenzin and I laid on the beach, looking at the stars.

Yeah, I was in love with that man. Just like I was in love with her.

I took Gwen’s hand, then gave him a coy look as I outstretched my hand toward Tenzin.

He growled. “Don’t you dare.”

“Tag.” I tapped his shoulder and started running, still holding Gwen’s hand. She giggled and ran with me.

Tenzin let out a long, rumbling growl which echoed through the dark night. A wolf howled in the distance.

“Caught you.” He picked up Gwen and threw her over his shoulder, and she squealed. His eyes focused on me.

I smirked. The moonlight made him look like a sculpture.

His nostrils flared. Holding my gaze pointedly, he gave a little grunt, then continued walking, Gwen still over his shoulder. Catching up to them, I ruffled her hair as we made our way across the grass to the villa.

I let us in–it was so quiet. Everyone else was still at the party.

“Oh, look at the wolves.” Gwen, upside down, kicked a little and Tenzin put her down. She pressed her face to the glass window.

One of them watched her. The same one from earlier, maybe?

Tenzin came up behind her, pressing his body against her back, sandwiching her between him and the glass. I joined them, putting an arm around her, sliding it between her and Tenzin’s bodies.

The wolf came up to us and gave Gwen a little yip, looked at Tenzin, growled, and went off. Animals could sense designations, too.

“Where’s your room?” Tenzin picked her up again, and she yelped.

I flipped on the light, closed the door behind us, and turned on the fireplace, since it felt right.

Tenzin kicked off his shoes and flopped her onto the bed. “What are your expectations for tonight, Firecracker? I’d love to make you feel better by eating that pussy of yours. Also, I claim your ass first. Is there anything you don’t like?”

Gwen stretched out onto the bed, toeing off her shoes, looking like a painting. “That sounds delightful. I don’t want to be tied up or blindfolded, and I don’t like mean words. The only expectations I have are that I want your knots and your cuddles. I’m happy you’re willing–I’d understand if you’re not.”

“You want my knot, Gweny? You’re a beta, will it hurt you?” I’d never knotted anyone before. But I’d give it to her. I’d give her anything and everything. After all, she already had my heart.

“Me? No. I might just be a beta, but I can take a knot real good in either hole. I… I’ve been fantasizing about both your knots at the same time. I’ve never done that. It should still feel as good for you.” Her voice was breathy and part pleading. “Again, I'm sorry that this is such a jump, I…”

“There’s no just about you, Gweny. You being a beta changes nothing, diminishes nothing. Please, communicate your needs to us. I will give you everything and anything. Also, I really don’t like you talking bad about yourself.” I took a step closer to the bed.

I didn’t like her thinking her being a beta wasn’t good enough for me. Us. Or that she shouldn’t ask to have her needs met.

“Okay.” She leaned into me.

My arms wrapped around her. “That’s my good girl.”

“We’re happy to be here with you. We care about you so much and if you need to feel better we’ll comfort you any way you’d like,” Tenzin added.

The fact he said that made me feel good, given his previous hesitations about us. Though he had been the one to chase her in the fun house and have her fuck me on a ride. This felt different, and I was happy for the progress.

I brought her into my arms, then fell backwards on the bed with her. I pressed my lips to her temple. “Please don’t talk bad about yourself. You have the best heart of anyone I know. It’s part of why I love you so much.”

“Okay.” She nuzzled into me. “I adore your big heart, too.”

Awww.

I kicked off my shoes, hearing them clunk on the floor, then I wrapped my legs around her. I attacked her lips, tangling my hands in her hair, trying to show her how much I cared about her.

A hungry growl filled the room and Tenzin stood there, shirtless, holding a washcloth.

“Come here, Firecracker, let me clean you up a bit.” Tenzin sat on the corner of the bed.

Mmmm, shirtless Tens. I couldn’t wait to see him naked.

Gwen crawled across the bed, and he stripped her, then gently ran the washcloth over her. I took off my shirt.

Tenzin kissed her forehead. “Think of a safe word. Something we wouldn’t usually use in bed, just in case you need to slow down or stop. You never need to worry about using it. It is always okay. We can use it too, since this is new for everyone.”

A safe word? I’d never heard of that. It seemed like a good idea though. I wasn’t sure how both of us knotting her at the same time was going to work.

Gwen considered this for a moment as he finished washing her. “Raccoon.”

Of course that was her chosen word.

“Perfect.” Tenzin kissed the top of her head. “Don’t be afraid to use it.”

“Yes, Alpha.” She gave him a coy little look.

“Good girl,” he growled. “Now get on the bed and sit on my face.”