Page 92

Brandon's tone was even and calm—no hint of command—yet Hawk sat down on the end of the bed, looking surprised when he did.

"You two are hovering around each other, being oh so careful. That's an interesting thing to see. I'm not sure if it’s because you're both introverts, or because you're trying to deal with a guy that's less upfront and in your face."

Hawk stared at the two of us, then shook his head. "Trying to be a good bloke here. She's got a lot on her plate, this Sylvan dude, coming to Sanctuary, what happened down at Stores. Even fucking Jack."

"Even fucking Jack," Brandon agreed, but with a whole other emphasis on the words. "How did that feel, watching her fuck your lover?"

"You trying to analyse me?" Those fine dark brows drew down. His hands strayed to his pocket, reaching for a cigarette before he stopped, looking around at the grand alpha's place and reconsidering.

"Nope. Tell me, don't tell me, it’s up to you."

Hawk stared into Brandon's eyes steadily for a moment, before looking away and shaking his head. "You know how I felt. Has to happen to you every day with her mob."

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Tell me."

"Tell you what? That it's envy and jealousy and awe all rolled up into one?

That they looked so fucking beautiful together, like a pair of savages, tearing at each other until I wasn't sure if they were going to come or if they were gonna feast on the other’s hearts.

I've never seen sex look so much like fighting and still be fucking. I hated him, for a moment. Just then, she was mine. For one fucking moment, I had something apart from Jack. Then he barrelled in.”

Hawk’s eyes dropped to the bed.

“He does that, sucks all the oxygen from the room, and I'm there, light-headed and fighting for breath and wanting him all the same.

But what a sight it was." Hawk's eyes shifted to meet mine, something that seemed so hard for him to do until now.

"You were beautiful, Jules. Like some kind of fucking goddess.

" He turned to Brandon. "How do you do it, share her with other blokes? "

"Because I love her, not own her." I looked back over my shoulder and saw a startling expression.

It was all there, what he thought and felt.

Rather than kept locked up behind a wall of rationality, my breath caught in my chest at what I saw.

"For some, love is about squirrelling the other person away—to protect, to hold, to love—in a secret space just for the two of you.

There's nothing wrong with that, if that's what people want.

You fight for your relationship, your exclusivity, with a fierceness that further feeds that bond between you.

Me, I hold Jules as lightly as I can, not because I don't care, but because I do, so much.

I care enough to want to see her happy, loved, protected.

I care enough to know I'm not going to be able to provide everything she needs, and I love her so much I can't bear her to go without it.

She's got strong arms to protect her, and people to listen when she needs someone to talk to.

She's got blokes who'll fight for her and tell her how it is.

But I think what you want to know is about sex. "

Hawk's nod was stiff.

"Her pleasure is as much a part of her as anything else.

Just as I want to hear about her day or her complaints about what the others are up to right now, I want to hear her sighs and gasps, the hitch of her breath, the moans.

When I see her legs wrapped around one of the others, I want to sandwich myself between them so I can experience it all with her.

They love her, I love her, and she loves us. That's what matters."

"And others? She adds more to this pack, you're gonna get less time with her."

"That's not what I think about," Brandon answered. "I wonder if they're worthy. So, Hawk, that's my question to you. Are you worthy?"

I didn't give him a chance to answer, turning in Brandon's arms and grabbing his head and pulling it down to mine.

The burn of my venom filled my mouth as we kissed, the sensation spreading over his lips and mine, until it almost hurt to kiss.

I didn't care though. I felt like I was trying to climb into his mouth in an attempt to get closer to him.

"You've got to let me bite you," I said, pulling away.

"Not yet. Soon, but not yet," Brandon said with a wide smile.

"Slade says you’re always manoeuvring us into place."

"He's right. Can’t help it, but I promise, it'll be better to wait. Now, back to your suitor."

He turned me around gently, shifting so his body was a hard line against my spine. We both noted Hawk’s fingers plucking at the fine fabric of the bedspread, eyes watching his hands sightlessly. I covered his hand with mine, ceasing the picking.

He looked up, meeting my eyes. He felt warm and strong underneath me. My Tirian shifted within me, whuffing curiously, which was interesting in itself. She rarely paid attention to any of them initially.

"I don't know if I'm worthy, Jules. But I want to find out," he said.

Hawk's voice was a ragged growl, something that sent a shiver up my spine.

The shirt he was wearing was swiftly unbuttoned and pushed off, revealing those tattoos scrolling across his broad chest. I felt Brandon's mouth on the back of my neck as Hawk came closer, crawling across the bed to me.

I shifted, unable to sit still, not sure if I wanted to back off or come closer.

He made the decision for me, taking his place lying in front of me.

I reached out and traced a finger along the lines of one of the tattooed wolves. "These are you and Jack." He nodded. "And how does he feel about all of this?"

"I don't know. I never fucking know, and right now, I don't care. He put me in this place, but I've got to know if there's anything there."

He came for me, looming large as I stayed curled within Brandon's body, then his mouth crashed down on mine.

In my mind, I saw his Tirian and mine running along a dark plain as his fingers dug into my hair, as his mouth pressed against mine.

They ran in tandem, not too close yet, but still arrowing towards the same point on the horizon.

He nipped at my lips, and I felt a thrill as those big square teeth grasped at my flesh, my hand going up into the heavy curtain of his hair.

He moaned into my mouth, his tongue sliding into it as my fingers bit down into his scalp.

Brandon's hand snuck around my waist, holding me where I was as Hawk pulled away. He chuckled when my lips followed his, wanting more of that biting pressure.

"You staying for this?" Hawk asked Brandon.

"If you're OK with that. I'm hard as nails over here, listening to the kitten noises you're pulling out of her," he replied.

Hawk smiled at that, drawing me closer so I rested on the length of his forearm lying across the bed. "That's it," Brandon said when Hawk kissed me again, harder, more insistent this time. "Down her neck. She loves that."

Brandon pushed my t-shirt up, rubbing his hand along my stomach where the burn started to build. Hawk's shoulders were heavy with muscle as I clawed at them. The tickling prickle of his beard against my skin had me bucking up underneath him, wanting something harder.

I was panting when he pulled back, and caught his nod to Brandon, the other man swooping in and taking over where he had stopped.

"Doing alright, love?" Brandon asked between little glancing kisses. It was driving me mad. Hawk's lips were trailing down my collarbone, and he pulled the neckline of my shirt back so he could get to more of my skin.

"Yes, now kiss me."

They were the perfect counterpoint: hungry and scratchy and soft and sweet.

I felt like I could drown in the sensations their lips wrought.

Finally, I pulled away and sat up, the two of them reclining like hungry beasts below me, lips bruised, skin flushed.

I scrambled off the bed and shut the door before my hand went to my shirt.

They followed my lead off the bed, boxing me in, one on either side.

One set of hands pulled my shirt up off my head, cupping my breasts and forcing the lace to rasp against my nipples for a moment, as another set undid my jeans and pulled them free.

Brandon's fingers toyed with the waistband of my knickers as Hawk's played with my breasts.

I watched his throat work as he stared, his thumb rubbing against the hard bead of my nipple.

"Sorry," Hawk said, shooting me a quick grin. "Still can't get over these."

"Then try this," Brandon said as he unsnapped my bra. The garment came loose, and I shrugged it off, Hawk's brows creasing and smoothing as my body was revealed.

There's a terrible vulnerability to standing naked in front of a guy you don't know that well, but all the automatic fears that rushed to the surface could have stayed where they were—in the past. Hawk put his hands on me like I was precious, something that had Brandon growling in appreciation.

His fingers trailed up and down my sides, my head falling back on Brandon's shoulder as Hawk’s lips closed around my nipples.

I heard Hawk's hum of appreciation through my own 'kitten noises', as Brandon called them. "So sensitive," he said.

"Not that sensitive," I replied. "You can go harder. A bit of bite is real nice." His fingers clamped down, a shot of pleasure-pain rocketing through my body. Gentle strokes were all well and good, but something with an edge to it had my clit sitting up and taking notice.

And so did Hawk. He noted the splay of my thighs, the rasp of my breath, and surged forward. His lips were all over me, one hand still tugging at my nipple and the other sliding into my pants.