A Growl, a Roar, and a Purr Read online

  “I think we could all do with some sleep,” Doc said suddenly. “It’s been a long day.” He smiled at Vic. “You’ll be downstairs with me and the boys.”

  Hashtag clicked off the lamp in the corner of the room. “You’re sleeping on the couch.”

  Vic frowned. “Okay, but isn’t there another bed up there?” He pointed to the loft bedroom above the kitchen.

  Rael opened his mouth to tell him it was available, but Dellan got there first. “There is, but it’s… not comfortable.”

  Rael blinked. No one had even spent a night in that bed.

  “Besides, that couch is comfy,” Doc told him.

  “Yeah, and it’s nice and peaceful down there,” Roadkill added.

  “Quieter than it would be up here, that’s for damn sure,” Crank muttered.

  Warmth filled Rael as he realized what their friends were up to.

  “If you say so.” Vic got up from the couch, stretched, and yawned again. “Although it sounds like it’s going to be crowded down there. Especially when there’s only these three up—” He snapped his mouth shut, his face flushing. “Oh. Right.” He coughed. “Well, I’ll be saying good night, then.” He gave Rael, Horvan, and Dellan a cheerful nod. “Sleep well.”

  There were smothered chuckles and snickers from Crank, Hashtag, and Roadkill as they followed him out of the room. Doc was the last to leave, his lips twitching.

  He could have slept up here. Rael gave his mates a reproachful glance.

  No, he couldn’t. Even in Rael’s head, Dellan’s voice was firm.

  Why not? It’s not like we’ll be doing anything tonight.

  Dellan’s eyes sparkled. Says who?

  Rael stared at him. How can you be in the mood to fool around? After all that?

  All what? Dellan frowned. It’s not like he came to tell us we’re in danger, right? He told us about the two groups of shifters, that’s all.

  Although I’m pretty sure there was stuff he didn’t tell us, Horvan added.

  You think? Rael’s stomach clenched.

  Horvan snaked his arms around Rael’s waist. Not that you need worry about it now. Personally? I’m all for a little fooling around.

  And I’m damn sure I am. Dellan’s eyes gleamed.

  Part of Rael’s anatomy was already convinced. But… you haven’t gotten your results back yet.

  So? Dellan smiled. I had something else in mind for tonight.

  Care to let us in on it? Horvan gazed at him mildly.

  Dellan went over to the foot of the ladder and grasped a rung. He stared at them, and a wave of heat surged through Rael, leaving him breathless.

  Dellan nodded slowly. I want to watch.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  HORVAN GRINNED. “Kinky. I like it.” He peered at Dellan. “Well, what are you waiting for? Get that cute ass up that ladder.” He grabbed hold of Rael’s asscheek and squeezed. “Because I’m gonna do exactly what I promised.”

  “And what’s that?”

  Dellan gazed down at them, loving the shiver that rippled through Rael as Horvan’s lips brushed against his ear.

  “Fuck your brains out,” Horvan whispered as he reached out to mold his hand around Rael’s hard-as-steel dick.

  Dellan groaned. “Fuck, guys.”

  “That was the idea, wasn’t it?” Horvan followed them up the ladder, and when they reached the bed, he didn’t waste a second, pulling them both into a fervent three-way kiss. They kept their hands in constant motion, slipping under sweaters, sliding under waistbands, as the air filled with the sounds of muted gasps and rapid breathing.

  Horvan broke the kiss and undressed Rael hurriedly before he stripped off his own clothing. Then he roughly tugged Rael to the left side of the bed and stuffed pillows under Rael’s head. He nodded to Dellan. “Get comfortable.”

  Dellan was already naked, pulling on his erect cock. He climbed onto the other side, lay back against the pillows there, and spread his legs. “Don’t wait on my account.” His body tingled, and he realized he was experiencing Rael’s anticipation.

  Horvan’s grin was positively evil. “I was thinking of taking my time.” With one arm under Rael, he reached down to cup Rael’s stiff dick and stroked it gently. Rael writhed against him, apparently unable to remain still.

  “Fuck, he loves that,” Dellan whispered.

  Horvan glanced at him. “You can feel that?” His eyes gleamed. “Then tell me how this feels.” He let go of Rael’s cock and took Rael’s hand, dragging it to his own heavy, thick dick. Rael wrapped his fingers around the shaft and tugged on it, soft moans spilling from his lips.

  Dellan’s groans echoed his. “I think you just turned up the heat.” He pulled on his cock, keeping time with Rael, his breathing staccato. When Horvan lowered his head to kiss Rael, a pang lanced through Dellan. His mates were beautiful together, but what enhanced the sight was his awareness of their urgency, their spiraling desires, which sent Dellan’s heart racing.

  Then Horvan broke off, panting. “Move,” he instructed Rael. “I wanna sit there.”

  Rael chuckled. “Bossy.” He sat up, allowing Horvan to take his place against the pillows.

  “Now kneel astride me, facing me,” Horvan instructed. Rael complied, and Dellan caught his breath as Horvan took Rael’s hard cock into his mouth, his hands on Rael’s ass, spreading his cheeks, fingering his hole.

  Dellan tugged harder on his dick. It was as if Horvan’s mouth was on his own cock. He could feel every slide into that wet heat, and his own hips matched Rael’s as Rael rocked between mouth and fingers. But what made him gasp was the look in Horvan’s eyes as he gazed up at Rael.

  He’s worshipping him. The realization flooded him with warmth, and Dellan ached to touch them. Before he could move, Horvan lifted Rael into his arms and lowered him to the bed. He stretched out his hand to the nightstand and yanked open the drawer.

  Horvan smiled at Dellan as he held up a bottle of lube. “At last I get to use it on someone else.”

  Dellan sensed the longing in him to be inside his mate. “Don’t make him wait. Take him. He needs you.” Rael’s soft moan confirmed Dellan’s words.

  Horvan spread Rael’s legs, slicked up a couple of fingers, and slid them into Rael’s body while he hunched over to take Rael’s cock into his mouth once more. Rael groaned, arching his back, his eyes closed, and Dellan felt the wave of exquisite pleasure that coursed through him.

  Rael raised his head from the bed and stared at Horvan. “Now. He’s right. I need you.”

  Horvan slicked up his own cock, turned Rael onto his side, facing Dellan, and guided his dick into position. Rael shifted his leg higher, and Dellan was afforded the perfect view of Horvan sliding leisurely into Rael’s tight hole. Horvan cradled Rael’s head in his hand as he gently rocked into him, and Dellan moaned aloud at the sensations that flooded Rael’s body.

  “I feel that too,” he whispered. “Even the burn as you inch your way inside him.”

  Horvan groaned, lifting Rael’s leg and hooking it over his own, spreading him wide before kissing Rael with such tenderness that Dellan wanted to weep. Rael shifted onto his back and flung his arms around Horvan’s neck, his breath catching as Horvan kissed and teased his nipples and pulled on his cock, moving gently inside him.

  Dellan couldn’t remain an observer a moment longer.

  He moved closer, leaning over to kiss Rael while he slid his hand down Rael’s body, until his fingers met Horvan’s warm, silken shaft as it stretched Rael’s hole, moving rhythmically. Their lips met in another three-way kiss, feeding each other soft cries and gasps as Horvan picked up speed.

  Dellan grabbed the lube and slicked up his fingers.

  “Oh yes, please,” Rael moaned.

  Horvan stilled for a moment as Dellan carefully pressed a single finger into Rael’s heat alongside Horvan’s dick. Rael’s eyes widened, and Dellan groaned at the burst of pleasure that surged through him. “More,” Rael demanded.

  Dellan added a
nother finger, and Horvan began to move again, slowly at first, only now the two of them were fucking Rael, ramping up the sensations.

  “Fuck, he’s tight.” Dellan stared at Rael’s flushed face and chest, the concavity of his belly, the rise and fall of his chest.

  “Let us share your pleasure.” Horvan met his gaze. “Feed him your cock.”

  The thought of it was enough to send more heat barreling through him, but common sense tempered his libido. “But I thought… the test results….”

  Both Horvan and Rael growled at the same time, and Dellan gave up any idea of protesting. Dellan withdrew his fingers, and Horvan shifted position, moving between Rael’s spread thighs. Rael wrapped his legs around Horvan’s waist, his hands on Horvan’s back as Horvan thrust into him.

  Fuck, he feels amazing. Horvan kissed Rael, both of them moving together as Horvan filled him over and over again. Do you feel this?

  Every inch of him, Dellan assured him. He moved to kneel at Rael’s head, holding his dick steady. Rael didn’t waste a second. He turned his head toward Dellan, opened wide, and Dellan groaned aloud as Rael took him deep. He rocked back and forth, going further with every thrust, until his cock was slick with Rael’s saliva and tears pricked Rael’s eyes.

  Don’t stop, Rael pleaded, his fingers digging into Horvan’s back. He rolled his eyes. Holy fuck, what you’re feeling….

  Dellan rocked faster, moaning as Horvan kissed Rael’s chest. Every touch, every intimate caress only added to the sensations, and Dellan was lost in a world of sheer sensual bliss. Rael’s mind was a blur, his thoughts losing their coherence as Horvan pushed him closer to the edge.

  This is… transcendence. Dellan’s body was on fire, his senses alight as each sight, smell, and touch propelled him to the mind-blowing orgasm he knew awaited them, their trajectory assured.

  Horvan sat upright, his hips in constant motion, his hands gripping Rael’s ankles as he spread his legs wide. Dellan leaned back to meet him in a blistering kiss, and the intimate embrace served to deepen the connection. Dellan shuddered as wave upon wave of sensual rapture took Rael higher and higher. Rael cried out, the sound muffled by Dellan’s cock, as Horvan snapped his hips, driving his dick into him with almost savage thrusts.

  Dellan held on to Horvan as he pistoned into Rael’s mouth. Close. So close.

  Rael gazed up at him. Come on me. Let me feel it. Dellan pulled free of his mouth, and Rael cried out as Horvan filled him to the hilt, his hips rocking.

  Oh fuck, we’re there. Horvan stiffened, and Dellan shot his load onto Rael’s chest, the three of them locked into a mutual climax as Rael came with a drawn-out, almost euphoric, cry. Their thoughts collided, merging into a chaotic mess of ecstasy, fulfillment, and joy.

  Horvan collapsed on top of Rael, and Dellan laughed at Rael’s undignified squeak. “Feels like a bear squashed me,” Rael gasped.

  Horvan laughed and rolled off him to lie beside him. Then all three kissed, a tender, unhurried embrace accompanied by sated murmurs and gentle caresses, until they were breathing normally again, their bodies warm and sticky.

  Dellan stared at them both in wonder. “You sensed what I was feeling too.”

  Rael laughed softly. “Are you kidding? Why the hell do you think I came so fast?”

  “Because I fucked your brains out?” Horvan suggested with a grin.

  Rael rolled his eyes. “Duh. But….” He shook his head. “I have no words.” He peered at Horvan. “Have you ever had sex with a shifter? Not that I really want to know, but….”

  Horvan gave a casual shrug. “A couple of times. Not in shifter form, though. But that was just sex. This? This was off the scale. No comparison.” He cupped their faces, his eyes shining. “Imagine how it’s gonna feel when the three of us are making love.”

  In the quiet that followed, as they held one another, Dellan let Horvan’s words seep into his mind.

  Making love. That was the perfect description.

  Rael cleared his throat. “Now, can we get down the ladder and into the bathroom without waking up the others? I need a cleanup.”

  Dellan chuckled. He met Horvan’s gaze. “I love his naivete. He thinks they’re asleep. With all the noise we made.”

  Yeah, right.

  Something still nagged at the back of his mind. “I wanted us all to be safe.”

  Rael sighed. “You wait and see. Those results will come back, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

  “You know something I don’t?”

  Rael smiled. “Just what my senses tell me. I’m learning to pay more attention to them.”

  Horvan grinned. “What he said. Although I am jealous. He got to taste your dick.” His pout was adorable.

  Rael rolled his eyes. “Have you seen that cock? Trust me, there’s plenty to go around.”

  Okay, that made Dellan feel like a million bucks.

  “GREAT. YOU’RE awake. Get your ass over here.”

  Dellan laughed as he reached the floor, Rael on the ladder above him. Horvan was finishing getting dressed. “And good morning to you too, Hashtag.” He peered at the white sheet hanging from the crossbeam. “What are you doing?”

  Hashtag pointed to a spot in front of the sheet. “Stand here, facing me.”

  Dellan chuckled. “Will that get me an answer?”

  “If you do as I say, sure.” Hashtag narrowed his gaze. “Here. Now.”

  Dellan stood where instructed. “Now what?”

  Hashtag grabbed his phone. “Now you look at the camera and don’t smile.” Dellan ran his fingers hastily through his hair, but Hashtag stopped him with an impatient wave. “You look fine.” He held up the phone. “Keep still. And remember, no smiling.” Seconds later, he clicked a couple of times. “Don’t move yet,” he warned, holding up a single finger. “I gotta check if these are okay.”

  “Are you going to let us in on whatever you’re doing?” Rael inquired. He glanced around the cabin’s interior. “Where is everyone?”

  “The doc had to go into Salmon. Roadkill and Crank took him, as they were hunter-gathering groceries. Vic went along for the ride.” Hashtag beamed. “Perfect. Okay, Dellan, you can move now.” He went to the table where he’d set up his laptop. “There’s coffee made.” Hashtag gestured absently toward the countertop as he sat down.

  Dellan poured two mugs and then joined Hashtag, while Rael went about preparing breakfast. “So why do you need my photo?”

  Hashtag held out his empty mug. “I’ll have another while you’re there.” Dellan took it, and Hashtag pointed to the monitor. “I woke up realizing there are things to be done sooner rather than later. My first task of the day is to organize a temporary ID for you.”

  “ID?”

  Hashtag arched his eyebrows. “Well, unless you were carrying ID in a cute little bag around your neck when we got you outta there, you don’t have any. Correct?”

  For the first time since he’d arrived at the cabin, Dellan realized how much of a bubble he’d been living in. “I didn’t even think about ID,” he said slowly.

  Hashtag gave a knowing nod. “You’ve had other things on your mind. Well, leave the ID to me.”

  “You can do that? Get me an ID?”

  Hashtag grinned. “You’d be amazed at some of the things I can do. And no, it’s not exactly legal, and it could be detected if it’s examined too closely, but if you’re gonna travel, you’ll need it. And seeing as there was no little bag with an ID, that means no credit card either.” He peered at Dellan. “I don’t suppose you happen to remember the number, expiration date, and security code.”

  It was Dellan’s turn to grin. “You’d be amazed at some of the things I can do.” Hashtag chuckled at the repetition, but his eyes widened as Dellan rattled off the figures.

  “What the fuck?”

  Dellan shrugged. “What can I say? I have a head for numbers.” Then Hashtag’s question sank in. “Why do you need my credit card details?”

  “Because you never know
when you’ll need ’em to lay a false trail.”

  “Excuse me?” Rael stared at him.

  Hashtag sighed. “Okay. Picture this. Dellan goes back to Chicago to kick little half brother’s ass and take back his company. But Dellan’s been gone for more than a year. People are bound to ask where he’s been. Now, he can’t exactly say, ‘Hey, I was forced to shift into a tiger and then I was kept like that in a glass cage,’ can he? So we need to show he’s actually been places during his absence.”

  “How can you do that?” Dellan was officially impressed.

  Hashtag tapped the side of his nose. “The trick is not to go overboard. I create digital receipts that show you were someplace. Not too many, just enough. Of course, they wouldn’t stand up to too much scrutiny, but why should anyone look too closely? It’s not like you’re wanted for murder, right?” He pointed to a notepad and pen beside the laptop. “Write down your card details for me, please.”

  Dellan did as asked. At that moment the cabin door opened and Doc and Vic entered, stomping their boots on the mat and shivering, Roadkill and Crank behind them.

  One look at the coffeepot told Dellan he needed to make more.

  “So you finally got up?” Crank commented as he dropped his box of groceries onto the table. “Not that I’m surprised. I guess you had a disturbed night.” He smirked. Roadkill smacked him on the arm, and he glared. “Just because you’re too prissy to say anything.”

  “Prissy has nothing to do with it,” Roadkill retorted. “It’s called being polite. Considerate. Insert other appropriate adjectives as required.”

  Horvan snorted. “I could’ve laid money on Crank being the first to say a word.”

  Hashtag gave Crank a smug glance. “I managed to have an entire conversation without bringing it up once. You’re in the place for less than two seconds, and your mouth runneth over.”

  Doc walked over to Dellan and held out an envelope. “This is for you.”

  Dellan opened it and slid out the single sheet of paper. Warmth flooded him. “Oh. I see.” Rael looked at him with interest, and Dellan smiled. Guess who got the all clear.