Circe's Recruits 1: Roane (13 page)

Roane felt her walls tightening around him and pushed harder, rubbing against her clit as he sought her womb.

She roared her release as the others descended on her once more, kissing her wherever they could reach. Roane closed his eyes, his climax so close. Lips and hands plucked at his nipples, his mouth.

He moaned into a man’s lips as he shot so hard, he nearly passed out.

It took him a minute to find his breath, to realize the others had stepped away and watched with replete, peaceful eyes.

“That was fucking incredible,” Derrick rumbled in the sudden quiet filled with harsh breathing.

“It changed something,” Ace said softly. “I feel…”

“Tied. Bonded to Caitlyn now,” Hale finished. He knelt to kiss her on the mouth.

“Welcome to Circe’s Recruits, honey.”

The others smiled and nodded, and Roane slowly pulled out of his mate and collapsed next to her.

“Damn.” Ace wavered and sat his ass on the floor. “I’m dizzy. That completely sucked me dry. Holy shit.”

“You said it.” Zack slid down next to him, not even blinking when Ace settled his head against his shoulder, an unexpected show of closeness Ace normally avoided.

Hale sat on the edge of the bed next to Derrick. The two stared at each other.

“This still doesn’t mean I owe you any money. She took advantage of me.” Derrick had to clear his throat to get the words out.

“That little thing?” Hale nodded to Caitlyn, who’d changed back into her normal form.

Seeing that, the others did the same.

“Nothing little about her beast,” Derrick said with a small grin. “I still say you can’t trust women. But for Caitlyn, I’ll make an exception.” Zack raised a brow.

“And Kelly too.”

Ace yawned.

Roane rubbed his eyes, suddenly tired as hell. “I’ll fill Doc in on the gist of what went on here. But we keep this between ourselves. Right?” Everyone nodded.

“Wait.” Caitlyn sat up, gloriously naked.

Roane wished he had the energy to take her again, but for the first time in forever, he didn’t have a hard-on in her naked presence. “Honey?”

“This is all so new to me,” she began. “The change, Circs, the danger out there. But from the beginning, you’ve all taken care of me. Protected me.” Tears slid down her cheeks, disturbing him. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me. And this…” She waved a hand to include all of them. “I feel like I’m really one of you now, despite feeling like the star in a porn movie.” They chuckled, and Roane smiled at her blush. “I hate to be overly emotional, but I love you guys.”

“Aw, honey.” Hale smiled.

“Caitlyn, we love you too.” Ace stood with Zack’s help.

“It’s okay,” Derrick said in a thick voice.

The men were suddenly there again, hugging and petting her. Nothing sexual about it.

This time, their touch was all about comfort while Roane watched with satisfaction.

Derrick ended the lovefest with a groan. “Nothing personal, but if I don’t get this sticky mess off my skin in the next two seconds, I’m gonna be sick.”

“Hell.” Hale ran a hand through his hair. “This whole room smells like sex.”

Zack snickered. “No kidding.”

“Laugh it up. I’m not the one who has to sneak out of here in case Kelly’s around,” Roane drawled.

That took care of his amusement.

Ace and Zack shared a frown. “At least our shorts are still in one piece. Can’t say anything for our shirts, though.”

As the others grumbled and dressed, Roane took Caitlyn in his arms. She looked like a sleepy cat, her green eyes fogged with repletion and with an affection that deepened as she stared up at him.

“We really do love you, hellcat.” I love you.

“I know.” She smiled and closed her eyes.

She still hadn’t admitted what he’d been hoping to hear. Annoyed with the softer side of him longing for a declaration, he hugged her to him and closed his eyes. “Guys? Make sure to close the door after you leave.” He slid into sleep as the door closed behind them, right where he wanted to be.

Kelly nearly ran into Zack dragging Ace behind him in the corridor. Both men looked as if they’d been through the wringer. “Are you okay?” They wore shorts but no shirts, their muscled upper bodies making her want to fan herself from the sudden rise in her body temperature. Their tousled hair, sleepy eyes, and lazy grins looked out of place. She could have sworn she smelled…sex?

“Kelly. I thought you were off today. It’s Saturday, isn’t it?”Ace pushed away from Zack. He flushed, a becoming shade of bronze that highlighted his Native American ancestry.

She licked her lips, aware that both men followed the movement with more attention than it deserved. “I forgot my purse last night and realized I must have left it here.” Kelly should have kept her mouth shut, but she couldn’t help it. “What the hell have you two been doing?”

“Team meeting,” they said in unison, which prodded her doubt.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” Zack ran a hand through his black hair, a shade lighter than Ace’s. The movement showed off his large bicep.

Stop ogling him, Kelly. He’s not yours, she tried telling herself. But he could be, another part of her whispered. She turned her attention to Ace. They could be. Her mouth felt dry, and her heart raced, reminding her she was due for her monthly shot. Either that, or she was having a breakdown due to unfulfilled desire.

Ace froze. “Kelly?”

Scared that she’d taken an involuntary step forward, she dug her nails into her palms, welcoming the pain that freed her from insanity. Yeah, right. As if I could handle Ace and Zack. God, I can barely handle Stephen, and he isn’t half as captivating as either one of them.

Why the hell would they want me when they can have any woman at the snap of a finger?

“Um, sorry, guys. I don’t really have time to chat. Got a hot date tonight, and I need to get my hair done.”

“Date?” They said again as one.

It was ironic how in tune they seemed to be with each other’s feelings and thoughts, considering the way they constantly bickered.

“Tell Doc I’ll see him Monday. If he needs me sooner, he can page me.” She hurried away from the best male bodies on the planet, scooped up her purse sitting on the counter between the kitchen and the residential hallway, and nearly ran out of the house.

“I’ve gotta get Doc to up my meds,” she murmured and started her car. As she backed out of the driveway, an odd feeling made her stop. She put her foot on the brake and looked at the house, only to see Ace and Zack standing in front of the door. Hands on hips and scowls on lips. A pair made especially for me, that inner voice added with a purr. “God, now I’m rhyming. Badly. Time to meet Stephen and see if he can take my mind off you two.” She waved out the window, then tore out of the driveway. She raced toward her hair appointment, praying tonight might be the night she stopped fantasizing about a pair of annoying, sexually enthralling, out-of-her-league ex-Marines who weren’t even fully human.

If only it were that simple.

Caitlyn found flowers on the bed stand the day after she’d “bonded” with the squad.

The next day she found chocolates on the pillow Roane had used just the night before. A week of gifts and love notes followed. She wanted to hug him. She wanted to throttle him.

For with every caress and kiss came the same demand. Roane mandated that one Circ remain with her on guard duty at all times. He refused to allow her to leave the compound.

The jerk actually thought the incredible sex they had each night would soothe her savage beast. She snorted. Right. Granted, she’d be a fool to turn down his body, and Caitlyn was nobody’s fool. But if she didn’t get out of this place, nice as it was, she’d go stark raving mad.

The alarm went off, telling her to officially rise and shine. Yawning, she turned to find a red rose, a chocolate heart, and a note on Roane’s pillow. She smiled, unable to resist his exasperating charm. You’re sexy even when you sleep. And I’m still waiting, the note said.

He’d mentioned waiting in a few other notes as well. Waiting for what, exactly?

After Caitlyn showered and dressed, she found him in the kitchen with the others having breakfast.

Leaning down, she planted a solid kiss on his lips. “Thanks for the chocolate.”

Derrick rolled his eyes. “First flowers, then chocolates? Oh, yeah, he’s whipped.” The others laughed. Caitlyn chuckled at the dirty look Roane shot Derrick.

“I think it’s nice,” Kelly said, sipping coffee as she stood against the counter. “When a guy buys you flowers and candy, he’s showing he cares.” Everyone stared at the bouquet of carnations sitting next to her.

“Your guy is an idiot,” Ace muttered. “You’ve been going out for a month, and he doesn’t even know your favorite flower. Besides, carnations are cheap.”

“But pretty.” Caitlyn tried to ease the anger darkening Kelly’s face.

“And it’s the thought that counts,” Hale added, smirking when Zack flipped him off.

Kelly glared at Ace. “Oh? So what’s my favorite flower, genius?”

“Roses,” he and Zack answered. “Pink ones,” Ace added. “You like the sweet smell.

Carnations have no scent.”

He dumped what remained of his coffee in the sink, scowled at the flowers, and left.

Zack shook his head at Kelly and followed Ace.

“What’s the matter with them?”

Caitlyn wanted to tell her to give it up already. Everyone knew that Zack and Ace had feelings for her. Hell, Caitlyn had only joined the team a few weeks ago, and she’d clearly seen how much the men doted on the woman.

“Geez. It’s not like Stephen and I are serious.” Kelly glanced away from Caitlyn and the others. “I have things to do.”

After she left, Derrick sighed. “Like I said, women are trouble. Kelly’s being damned naive. You don’t have to be Circ to see how hungry the boy toys are whenever they’re around her.”

“The boy toys?” Caitlyn grinned.

Hale snickered. “You should see what happens when Derrick calls them that. Last time, they put him on his ass for days, even with the quick healing the change gives. Remember, D.?”

“Whatever.” Derrick pushed his plate away. “Time to see Doc. Got a mission to take care of, remember, Hale?” Derrick mimicked. “See ya, Caitlyn.” Hale sighed and stood. “Later, Caitlyn.”

Roane was the last to leave her. “I hate that we have to go, but we can’t ignore this one.”

Doc recently caught wind of an out of control Circ killing people in south Jersey. A job for Circe’s Recruits. Caitlyn wanted to go with the others but knew she was nowhere near ready for such a battle. She’d never killed anyone, never even been in a fistfight. At this stage in her new life, she had no way to successfully assist the men who’d spent years in military training.

“Good luck. I’ll be sitting here, keeping out of trouble. Time to join the working class again.” With Doc’s assistance, she’d hired a moving company to put most of her things into storage except what she needed to run her Internet business. She’d set up a small office in one of the guest rooms. All of her clothes were hanging in Roane’s closet or sitting in his drawers, much to the bossy man’s satisfaction. A temporary arrangement, she kept telling herself, wishing she believed it.

“I’ll miss you, hellcat.” Roane lifted her to her feet. He pulled her against him, his erection firm, despite the fact they’d made love early that morning. He gave her a swift kiss and a pat on the ass.

“You’ll only be gone a few days.”

“A week at the most,” he agreed. “But I’ll be checking on you daily. Don’t leave the compound.”

Oh, please. Not again. Not wanting to argue with him, she nodded. “And you stay safe.

If you get hurt, I’ll kick your ass.”

He grinned, his brown eyes dancing with laughter…and something more. “And?”

“And what?”

“What else am I still waiting to hear?”

Nonplussed, she stared at him, her attention gradually focusing on his talented mouth.

“That I’ll miss you? I will.”

“Nope.”

“That I’ll stay here? I said I would.” Even though I really won’t.

“No.”

“That I think you’re hot?” she tried.

He glared at her. “Are you really that dense?”

“Excuse me?” What the hell had crawled up his butt?

“Shit. Never mind. See you later.” He kissed her hard, then left.

I’ll never understand the male mind. She shook her head and finished her breakfast.

The men departed an hour later. She didn’t see them go, focused as she was on setting up her office with the intent to avoid watching Roane leave. Her distraction wasn’t working.

Damn it. She was going to miss him. A lot.

“So what is all this for? What do you do?” Kelly asked an hour later as she helped Caitlyn organize.

“I run a Web design company. Or I should say, I used to work for a Web design company. Now I’m going to open up my own business. Not like I can commute to Philly every day. Too much driving.”

“You’re really staying here?” Kelly asked.

“I am. Is that a problem?”

“Not at all.” Kelly grinned. “I’ve been around nothing but men for too long. For three long years, I’ve worked here. I love the guys, but it’s going to be so much better with another woman around to talk to.”

“I was hoping you’d feel that way. I’m like you. I didn’t have that many friends at home. Since my family passed, it’s pretty much just been me. I was a workaholic until I got sick.”

“But that’s gone now. It was just you turning beastly, right?”

“Beastly. Yeah.” Caitlyn chuckled. “Being a Circ is actually pretty cool, once you can control it.”

“Really?”

Sensing Kelly’s interest, Caitlyn decided to ask a few questions of her own. “Kelly, you’re Doc’s right hand. You should know a lot more about all this than I do. So why don’t you?”

Kelly shrugged. “I handle most of his personal stuff. Because of the nature of what he and the others -- you -- are, we can’t exactly have regular staff. Diego will be back soon, thank God, so I can stop cooking. But I like keeping the house, doing the bills, and even Doc’s clothes shopping. That man needs me, let me tell you. The guys do their own cleanup, though. As if I’d be caught dead washing Ace’s dirty socks.”