Claimed by the Mate, Volume 1 (10 page)

Brad and Cain were both highly intelligent, strikingly handsome men, and yet, for whatever reason, they'd focused on her. But why?

Please,
she begged. Not like that other time, another guy who'd treated her like a goddess. And then he'd done something so cruel, so horrible to her, that she'd never been able to move past it. He'd seemed sincere, too, but it was ten years ago and guys grew up.

She couldn't picture Cain and Brad being cruel.

The problem, though, was that she couldn't understand why they were so damned nice, either. She wasn't anything special—there were five other women here, any one of them prettier than her. Maybe caffeine would help. A healthy dose of caffeine pumping through her system always cleared her head. It was almost six. With any luck, Brad should have coffee ready by now. She thought about taking a shower first, but she'd showered before dinner last night and that oil that Cain used for her massage had left her skin feeling so soft—she loved the subtle scent of vanilla.

She wasn't quite ready to wash that off.

Nor did she want to wash away the memory of Cain's mouth on her, or Brad's, either.

Or the best orgasm she'd ever experienced in all her twenty-eight years. Even better than the one Brad had given her before dinner.

Laughing, she went into the bathroom to wash up. Of course it was better—two incredible guys trumped one incredible guy every time.

*   *   *

Cain was still in his wolf form well after Brad had shifted, but he was planning to go check on the new pups. The wolf was a first-time mother and the male was young—Brad was glad Cain was keeping an eye on them. He took a quick shower and dressed, but the two of them hadn't really talked much about last night. He wondered if part of Cain's reason for not shifting was to avoid a conversation.

They really needed to talk about Cherry. Cain was convinced she was on to them or at least suspicious, but Brad wasn't all that sure. But if she was and she still liked them, wasn't that a good thing? He glanced out the window at the trail that led to Cherry's cabin and wondered if she'd gone back to sleep after booting them out. She hadn't seemed at all concerned about waking up with two wolves on her bed. That had to be a good thing, too. At least he hoped it was.

But what about two men in her bed? He glanced at Cain. The big silver wolf sprawled on the bed, watching Brad, and his heart actually hurt, thinking how much he loved the man. He knew Cain loved him every bit as much. They'd been together a long time, but they'd both agreed there was something missing in their relationship—a woman.

Was he just dreaming of moonbeams, imagining Cherry accepting both of them, loving them equally? She was so beautiful, not to mention the way she clicked so easily with the two of them, filling that empty spot that was so much more noticeable when she wasn't with them. Cain was the worrier—he wasn't sure she'd be happy, stuck up here in the woods with a couple of werewolves. She was used to the city, used to having her sister close by.

Not used to loving or trusting one man, much less two. Brad had argued that they had to show Cherry that their feelings for her were real, that they weren't leading her on or playing with her affections. He was certain they could make her love them, but it wasn't going to be easy.

They'd always known that any woman they found to love was going to have to love both of them. Now, though, they didn't want just any woman. He and Cain agreed on that point—they wanted to keep Cherry. Not as one of a couple, but as part of a triad.

They weren't talking two guys taking turns, either. Both of them wanted her in their lives, in their bed, the two of them and Cherry. Brad had no idea how to approach the subject.

He sat down on the bed and ran his fingers through Cain's thick fur. “I'm going downstairs to get the coffee going,” he said. “Trak will be here before long, even if the women come in later.”

Cain yipped and, while they couldn't actually communicate all that clearly telepathically, they'd been together long enough for Brad to know what his guy was thinking. “Good point,” Brad said. “I forgot Trak left with Suni and Fred … we may not see him until noon.”

Cain leapt off the bed and waited by the door. They shared a suite of rooms on the second floor of the lodge, just above the kitchen area. The other men had cabins, some of them shared, others lived alone, but Brad and Cain had been together for years, a young man's friendship that had grown into so much more. Brad liked to think they each made the other stronger, better men, but for whatever reason, when they'd gone into Feral Passions as investors it had been with the idea that if they found a mate it would have to be a woman willing to love both of them.

If they'd had a checklist of their ideal woman, Cherry would fill every slot. He already felt a powerful connection to her, and while he couldn't yet call it love, it was damned close. Everything about her was appealing—the sound of her laughter, the joy in her smile. Her vulnerability. He wanted to be the man to protect her from the bastards who hurt her, because he knew she'd somehow been badly hurt along the way. He wanted to make love to that sexy body, lose himself in her soft breasts, bury himself between her perfect thighs, and he wanted to share all that was Cherry with the man he loved.

He wondered if Cain's hesitancy was because he'd fallen for Cherry. Cain had always been the one who pondered every nuance of every event, every person. Brad was one of the few who realized how deep Cain's emotions went, how powerfully he loved.

Was he afraid of loving Cherry and having to watch her leave?

Brad knelt beside the big wolf. “It's going to be okay. We'll make this work, Cain. I promise.” Cain whined, a low, sad sound. “I know. It's a risk, but we have to believe.”

Brad opened the door and let Cain out, but he followed Cain down the stairs, his mind on Cherry, on what the three of them had done last night. Brad hadn't been certain how well she'd handle the two of them, but she'd seemed to love every minute. She'd been amazing so far. It was already Tuesday. They had less than five days to convince her she really wanted to spend her life mated to a couple of werewolves.

At the rate they were going, it shouldn't be all that hard, should it?

*   *   *

It was growing brighter, but the sun still wasn't showing above the mountains when Cherry reached the lodge. The wolves were gone, probably back to their dens or wherever wild wolves went during the day. Or, if her growing suspicions were true, back to their human selves.

She stopped in the middle of the trail. “I don't believe I just thought that.” Her imagination was definitely running away with her logic. They were just hidden away for the day, that was all. Brad had told her they weren't as active during daylight, but she'd still managed to see quite a few of them.

Waking up with two in her bed wasn't anything she'd counted on, that's for sure. Thinking about that, about last night, about what an amazing time she was having in spite of all her misgivings about this trip, had her looking for Christa and Steph. She really wanted to find out how their night had gone.

She wasn't sure if she was ready to spill the beans about hers. Smiling, remembering, she walked up the steps and pushed open the door into the dining room. The place was empty except for Brad standing behind the bar with a cup of coffee and a newspaper spread out on the counter.

“Good morning.” She sat on one of the tall stools while he gave her a very serious once-over. Make that twice-over. She'd had some amazing orgasms, and the only one he'd had was an accident. He probably wouldn't appreciate a reminder.

He leaned close and kissed her, and she tasted coffee. “Hmmm … is this the only way I'm going to get my caffeine this morning?”

“Works for me.” He laughed and turned around to pour a cup for her. “How'd you sleep?”

“Like the dead. You and Cain are better than any drug I've ever heard of. I didn't wake up once during the night, though I certainly might have if I'd known I had visitors.”

At least he had the grace to look a little sheepish. “I hope you don't mind. You were out like a light when we put you to bed, and Cain and I were both worried that you might be disoriented if you woke during the night. The guys were outside when we got ready to leave, so we decided to let them in.” He shrugged. “It was sort of a spur-of-the-moment decision.”

She laughed. “I didn't mind at all. They were excellent bedmates, and they're definitely toasty to sleep with. Ya know, I never imagined sleeping with a wolf on my bed, much less two. It was actually pretty cool.” She glanced around the empty dining area. “Where is everyone?”

“Well, Cain's checking on mama wolf and the babies, and none of the others have shown up yet this morning. Considering how everyone paired up last night, I have a feeling they'll come straggling in a bit later than usual.”

“Does this happen every week? New women show up and the guys all find someone to sleep with?” She hadn't thought about it that way, that she might be one of a revolving carousal of women here for the men's pleasure. If that was the case … Damn. She didn't want it to be.

“Not usually.” Brad took a sip of his coffee. “Granted, it's hard to meet women living so far out in the woods, but we've only been open a month, so that's four sets of guests, six each week, and this is the most interesting group we've had. You're certainly the most interesting one I've met.”

She shook her head. “Why, Brad? I don't get it. Are you and Cain for real? Because believe me, I am not usually the focus of any man's desire. I'm more apt to be the best friend that guys come to when they're having trouble with their girlfriends or, even worse, the butt of their stupid jokes.”

Crap. She hadn't meant to sound like such a bitch, but … She needed to take her coffee and go back to her cabin. Brad didn't deserve her anger.

“Cherry.”

She closed her eyes and looked away. She really couldn't look at him, but then he tipped her chin up with his fingers and gently turned her toward him. “I think you're beautiful. Plus, you're funny and smart, and I personally don't find anything attractive about a girl who's so thin she looks half-starved. Do you have any idea how much I want to take you to bed? Last night it about killed me when you fell asleep, because I wanted to be inside of you.”

She smiled at him. What a line this guy had. “That would have been difficult. Cain was there.”

“Cain wants you, too.”

“What?” She slapped her hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to squeak.

Brad peeled her hand away and kissed her. He took his time getting it right, and Cherry was breathing hard when he finally pulled away, but before she could catch her breath and respond she heard voices outside. Steph and Christa coming up the steps and she was sitting here, most likely beet red, totally incapable of a coherent thought.

“Relax. We can talk later when Cain gets back.” He raised his head and smiled. “Good morning ladies. Coffee?”

Suni and Fred arrived just behind them, and then Darnell wandered in. Cherry really wanted to talk to her sister and absolutely had to talk to Brad and Cain, but that would have to wait. Everyone was standing around, chattering about what a good time they were having, and yet she noticed that there was no mention made of the men they'd all gone home with last night.

That was good. It let her off the hook, at least for now. How could she possibly describe the night she'd had with Cain and Brad? It was a lot safer to talk about the wolves. Wolves were fine. They were so much simpler to deal with than two men who, for whatever reason, appeared to think she was sexy.

Which gave her an utterly superb opening. “Ladies, I need to tell you who spent the night in my bed last night.”

The room went stone quiet.

Brad laughed. “That's definitely the way to get a crowd's attention.” He leaned over and kissed her soundly before heading into the kitchen. “I need to get breakfast started. Behave, ladies.”

“Behave? Are you kidding?” Christa snagged the barstool next to Cherry. “Okay, girl. Dish.”

Chapter 10

Cherry sipped her coffee and took her time, at least until Cissy growled at her. “Okay,” she said. “Well, first of all, I got a massage last night. Cain's the masseur and he's wickedly awesome, but Brad was there, too. He helped Cain carry the table and his tote bags of massage stuff, and it was just what I needed after that hike.” And that was all they were going to hear about the massage. “I was so sleepy and relaxed when Cain was done that the guys dumped me into bed and left. Brad said he was worried about leaving me so zonked out, but the two wolves I've gotten to know were outside as they were leaving, so he sent them in.”

“Two wolves? You had two wolves in your room?” Suni's shoulders slumped. “Damn. I've hardly seen any wolves at all.”

“You'll see them. I'm sure of it.” Cherry hadn't realized how unique her situation was—she appeared to have two wolves really interested in her. “If you're lucky, you might wake up the way I did, trapped under your covers by wolves lying on top of the bedspread.”

“You're kidding! They were on the bed?” Christa laughed out loud. “And to think you didn't want to come on this trip.”

“I planned to tell you this morning that I'd changed my mind. I'm having a blast.”

Christa winked. “So am I, darlin'. So am I.”

Cain walked into the lodge before Cherry could ask Christa to expand on that comment. He had three big wolves with him, and they drew everyone's attention. All the chatter in the dining room fell silent as the beautiful beasts paused beside the equally striking man. Then he smiled, and the moment was broken.

“I was coming up the steps when I heard Suni saying she hadn't seen hardly any wolves, and these guys were just lying around being bums. Suni, they know you mean them no harm, so feel free to come over and tell them just how rude they've been, avoiding you.”