Familiar Desires: 5 (Protective Affairs) (26 page)

“All right. You have a point about the attack on you
bringing more trouble than they’d want. How am I supposed to know if one of my
friends is targeting shifters and other witches?” Gina thrust her fingers
through her hair.

Now, that was a good question. How was anyone supposed to
know what someone else was doing? It would be especially hard when all of the friends
held the same beliefs. The witch giving the kidnapper inside information had to
be connected at least peripherally with Gina’s group of friends to know of
Gina’s desire to be rid of Alana. Gina didn’t freely talk with anyone else.

“Have any of them been doing things that you don’t?” Carson
paced along one end of the room.

“Of course, they do things I don’t and I do different things
than them.” Gina frowned.

“He means over the past year or so have one or two of them
been taking lunch dates or maybe meetings they don’t really talk about and
never invite any of their other friends. It would have been noticeable over
time.” Michael sat forward and watched his sister.

Gina sat in the seat for a while and then her eyes rounded.

“What do you remember? It’s time to decide, Gina. Who do you
care about? Michael and Kane or the people who are behind the attack on
Michael?” Alana asked. “I know you don’t want to think that they’d do something
like this, but the kind of talk and thinking you’ve been engaging in can skew
the line between right and wrong. You should easily realize that.”

Gina’s hands landed on the table and she stood. “Of course,
I care about my brothers and I don’t think any of my friends would do anything
like this. What are you trying to say? What should I realize?”

“It twisted your thinking. You might not hate all shifters,
but your hate of me made you blind to what others felt. You didn’t even think
of your brothers or the fact that it was their choice. If you love Michael and
Kane, talk.” Alana tilted her head and stared at Gina.

Michael could see the intensity on Alana’s face. He could
understand the urge to remind her, but it wasn’t going to help much. They
needed Gina’s help, not to get her resistance up.

“What did you remember?” Kane asked. The question drew Gina’s
attention away from Alana.

“Three of my friends have meetings like that every two weeks
or so. I only know because once or twice Trina received a text while we were
together as a group. She tried to play it off casually, but was too vague about
it when speaking to Des and Cass.” Gina took a deep breath.

“So, are you sure they’re not maybe planning someone’s
birthday party or something?” Alana’s voice softened and no longer held the
note of challenge it had before.

“One time, when Gail joked that she should go with them, all
three of them gave her such a cold look and a flat no that it was unmistakable
it wasn’t a lunch date or a hair appointment. Something strange was going on
with them.” Gina grimaced. “I don’t know if maybe it’s something innocent, which
they’re keeping secret, but they don’t act like it.”

“When they ask about what happened while you were in here,
you should have an answer ready for them.” Carson stepped forward put a hand on
the table.

“Keep it close to the truth. That way you won’t have to
remember details of a bunch of lies. You can’t tell them the full truth. If
they think we were asking about your friends, you could become a target.” Alana’s
fingers drummed on the table.

“I’ll tell them you accused me of being behind it, but had
to let me go because you didn’t have enough to charge me. It’s true. And if
they want more, I’ll tell them you interrogated me about my attitude toward you
and how my brothers didn’t defend me.” Gina grinned. “It will get me lots of sympathy.”

“The attention on you should keep them from asking you to
join them, but if they do, play oblivious. Do not accept or decline. We don’t
know what they’re doing with these people,” Mark instructed. “I’m going to have
one of my officers show you out. Look mad when you leave.”

“I can do that.” She glared at Kane and then her eyes locked
on to Michael. “You should have talked to me about it. You should have known
that I’d never do anything to hurt you. I might hate her, but once you’d fully
mated with her, I knew I’d have to get used to it.”

She stalked out and Michael watched her go. He felt a little
guilty about thinking she was a part of the attacks. Gina’s antagonism toward
Alana had been obvious after the way she’d confronted Alana at their house.
They’d had nothing except suspicion and a rumor. It didn’t make the feeling any
easier to deal with though.

Alana sat between Michael and Kane at one of the shifter
dance clubs. The music was played at a lower level than at human clubs to
protect the sensitive ears of the shifter patrons. They’d had a very nice
dinner at a restaurant before coming here. They didn’t have to explain their
motivations. It was blatantly obvious. They were trying to soothe her after the
attack this afternoon and both men seemed intent on showing her they were fine
and nothing was wrong.

While she enjoyed the attention, it wasn’t what she craved. Her
muscles were tight and her mind circled, wondering if she’d missed something.
The attacks made her think she might have and that they wanted her distracted. She
needed to feel them inside her and have that small space of time where she
thought of nothing except them and the pleasure they gave her. That urgency
wasn’t going to fade, but the time close to them was sweet. It gave her a
little perspective, although she still planned to fuck them both once they were
alone.

“Come dance with me again.” Michael stood and held out his
hand.

Alana took it and rose to her feet. When they walked out
onto the dance floor, a slow love song began playing. As his arms hooked around
her waist, she eagerly settled into his embrace. He tugged her closer, his
large body guiding hers over the dance floor She looped her arms around his
waist and enjoyed the feel of his thighs brushing hers and the solid warmth of
his chest.

She really didn’t know how long she’d be able to play nice.
She knew this wasn’t simply about her though. They had to be seen by as many
people as possible. There was always the chance it would draw someone into
making a move. Alana didn’t hold out too much hope on that possibility.

The torturous time in public also served another purpose. It
showed whoever had ordered the attack on Michael that the assault didn’t matter.
She wanted them to think they hadn’t made an impression at all. If the witch
believed it, anger might draw action at some point. If there was anything
witches and wizards hated, it was being ignored.

The mere possibility of getting her hands on the person
responsible didn’t give Alana any satisfaction at the moment. She needed to get
her hands on whoever did this or on her mates. Dancing and being near them was
simply a long, frustrating tease. Even though they were touching and had
kissed, she had to get them alone and naked soon.

“Relax and enjoy, Alana. We’ll go home soon and we can do
anything you want.” Michael’s lips brushed over her ear.

“It’s not easy. Not when I want to take you into the nearest
room with a lock and fuck you until you can’t move.” She ran her nails over the
back of his neck.

“Until I can’t move?” He dropped a kiss on her cheek.

“You two can’t go anywhere if you’re tired and if I’m with
you they’ll have to go through me to get to you.” Alana deliberately undulated,
grinding her hips against his.

He groaned. “Wicked woman.”

She laughed. “If I’m going to feel the burn of hunger, so
are you.”

“I already do want you. You think I can be near you and not
want you?” He nuzzled the hair away from her neck.

“Well, I’d hope not.” She grinned and led him back to the
table.

She pulled out her chair to take her seat, but Kane tugged
her into his lap. As she settled across his legs, she hooked an arm around his
shoulder, relaxed against him and laughed. When she nestled closer to him, she
brushed her cheek over his in a soft caress.

His hand settled on her stomach and began rubbing in slow
circles. She resisted the urge to wriggle and arch into his touch. She wanted
his hand to move higher, but she was conscious of where they were and what they
were doing. He must have been conscious of it as well, because he kept his
touch on her rib cage and abdomen.

“I can’t wait to get you alone,” Kane whispered.

Alana didn’t want to wait either and wiggled in his lap. When
her thigh brushed over the stiff ridge of his cock, he drew in a hissing
breath. She chuckled, satisfied that she’d drawn a reaction from him. He groaned
and turned her before his lips opened over hers and his tongue thrust across
the seam, demanding entry.

Her mouth opened eagerly before her head angled so she could
meet the gliding exploration. Her arms twined around his shoulders and she
pressed on his hard chest. Her body had become accustomed to having her mates
nearby and ready to satisfy her. Already her nipples hardened and desire built
low in her belly. It wouldn’t take much and her juices would soak through her
panties.

The sound of a clearing throat filtered through the haze of
pleasure. Kane’s lips lifted and he turned his head. Alana looked up and met
the amused gaze of Mark Whitesage. Heat rushed up her cheeks at being caught in
a public clinch.

“I’m surprised you’re still here. I would have bet you would
have dragged both of them out of here about thirty minutes after you arrived.
You’ve lasted nearly two hours.” Mark looked at his watch.

“I’m sure a male would last about that long. You’re all
emotional, overprotective and possessive.” She smiled sweetly at him.

Mark frowned at her. “You, not possessive. I saw you when
you arrived after Michael was attacked. If Gina was a little slower with her
answers you would have strangled her at the very least.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t possessive. Just that I handled it
better than a male.” She tilted her head and waited for a reaction.

“All right, enough teasing the chief of police,
troublemaker. Let’s get you home and you can cause trouble where it will do us
the most good.” Michael grabbed her hand and tugged at it.

Alana allowed him to tug her from Kane’s lap, but instead of
gathering her purse and jacket to get ready to leave, she twined her arms
around his waist and snuggled up close to him. As she rubbed her cheek over his
shirt, his loose embrace tightened, holding her close.

Kane’s hand settled on her butt and squeezed. “I’m feeling
left out now. Let’s go home.”

She looked at him and saw the lust burning in his eyes, but she
didn’t see even a hint of jealousy coloring his gaze. The tease just wanted to
move this to a place where they could finish it or prolong it for their
enjoyment. Teasing them and Mark was great, but she did want some private time
with her mates. And it was past time that she got it.

She grabbed Kane’s hand and gave it a tug. “Well, let’s go
then. I believe we have some serious discussion planned.”

Alana couldn’t curb the grin curving her lips. Oh yes, they’d
be talking quite a bit with their hands, lips and bodies. Hot, sweaty, physical
intimacy was exactly the kind of communication they needed.

They left the club and Kane drove them home. Alana sat in
the back seat with Michael, although she kept her hands to herself. All of them
were securely buckled in, but even though they could play and tease, she kept
her attention on the road behind them. They were being followed by the men Mark
and the Council had set to watch them, but it was the unknown that kept her on
the alert. She wouldn’t feel safe until they were all inside the house. Michael
and Kane had gotten into the practice of putting a spell to keep them safe
while they were there. It was the only time she truly relaxed. The spell might
not stop someone if he or she was determined and powerful, but it would give Michael,
Kane and Alana warning and time.

When they parked in the driveway, Alana wiggled impatiently.
She wanted them inside and peeling off their clothes. Michael seemed to have
been waiting for the Jeep to stop, because once it did, he unbuckled her
seatbelt and popped his free. After opening his door, he tugged her out after
him and tossed her over his shoulder. She laughed and grabbed onto his shirt.

Her hand slipped beneath the hem and glided over the warm
skin. She edged her fingers under the waistband of his pants and ran her
fingernails over the upper curve of his buttocks. As her hand eased even lower,
his hand tightened on her thigh.

“Behave. We need you as much as you desire us. That last
hour was torture.” Michael bounced her a little while he carried her into the
house.

“Ahh, poor wizard.” Alana patted his ass. “I’m sure it was
hard for you.”

“No, it’s hard for you,” Kane said. “I’ll set the spell. You
take her to bed.”

She laughed and shook her head. She was surprised he hadn’t
grabbed her hand and shown her just how hard he was or maybe that was simply
what she wanted. He’d followed them into the house and locked the door behind
them.

“Oh, yes, bed or maybe the table or the couch.” She reached
around Michael and slid her hand across the hard ridge of his cock.

He groaned and stopped for a moment. “I think you might need
a spell almost as much as the house does.”

“Nope, I want my men. Get moving.” She pinched his leg.

“Hey, that hurts.” He grabbed her hand and carried her into
the room.

“I’ll kiss it and make it better.” Alana tapped his leg,
hoping he’d move a little faster. She’d kiss a lot of things if he’d just let
her down and strip off those clothes. “All you have to do is get undressed so
my lips can do the work.”

“You will?” His voice rose with interest.

His steps quickened and he carried her into the bedroom. As
he put her down at the end of the bed, his hands went to the buttons of his
shirt. She began taking off her top. After she unbuttoned her jeans, she
wiggled and pushed them over her hips.

When she looked up, she saw Michael already stepping out of
his pants. He stretched out in the middle of the bed. Sprawled across the bed
that way, he looked as if he had all the time in the world. His eyes swept from
her head to toes and she felt his hungry gaze linger on her breasts and pussy
for a few moments.

“I’m ready to feel your lips soothing this sting.” He laced
his hands behind his head and continued to watch her.

She stepped out of her pants. Crawling up the bed, she
locked eyes with him. She moved between his thighs. Touching and playing had
helped eased away some of the tightness and intensity within her. Even her cat
was willing to play and tease a little as long as she had her mates here with
her.

Alana kissed his thigh. She deliberately rubbed her lips
across a spot to the right of the slightly reddened area. “Was that the spot?”

“No, the ache’s a little higher than that.” He looked down
at her and a smile crossed his face.

She moved up beyond the little red patch. His dick jerked,
demanding attention. Oh yeah, he was definitely interested in getting her mouth
on more than the spot she’d pinched. She kissed his thigh, running her tongue
over the skin.

“Well, you tell me just when I get close to the spot that requires
attention.” She grazed her teeth long his inner thigh and then worked her way
outward.

“Higher, Alana. The sting is a little higher.” Michael’s
voice sounded a little strained, but carried a little lightness.

As she traced a meandering path up his leg, she let her palm
brush across his cock. Her hand moved away as if it was merely an accident. She
planned to tease him a little more before she followed his urgings. She lapped
at his thigh and drew her other hand up over his knee. Her nails scraped over
his outer thigh and she dropped fleeting pecks in a line trailing up his body.

“Alana, teasing the wizard is a very bad thing.” Michael
tangled one of his hands in her hair.

“I’m not teasing. I’m trying to find the spot I pinched. I
know it was somewhere along your thigh.” Alana looked up at him.

“But it’s not my thigh that’s aching now and you promised to
kiss the hurt away.” He guided her head up and over until her mouth hovered
over his dick.

She breathed out, blowing warm air over the rounded head. A
drop of pre-cum eased out of the slit. She loved that she could have such an
effect on him. Her tongue swept out to gather the droplet before it could fall
away and the slightly salty, musky taste drew her back for more. Her fingers
stroked the length of his shaft while she licked around the top. As she closed
her lips around it, she teased the tip with her tongue.

“Hey, you started without me.” Kane’s voice sounded loud in
the quiet room, startling her a little.

“You took too long, but just from my vantage point, it looks
like you’ve got plenty of ways to have fun with our little cat. Why don’t you
get the lube?”

Alana looked up and met Michael’s eyes. His cock fell from
her lips. Her mind immediately pictured her straddling him while Kane moved in
behind her, his thick shaft hard and ready. She wanted to take them together,
but knew it couldn’t be tonight. Even though it made her a little nervous, she
craved the closeness. They’d need time to stretch her to prepare for double
penetration.

“Definitely.” Kane’s hand ran over her ass and tapped it
once before he walked around the bed.

She heard him open a drawer, but once again focused her
attention on Michael. Her head dipped, taking his dick into her mouth. She
sucked at the head and drew it a little deeper while her fingers circled the
base. His thighs tensed under her hand. She wanted to draw more of a reaction
than that from him. She wanted to hear his groans and maybe even a yell.

His fingers caressed the back of her head, urging her to
move on him, but not applying any pressure. She removed her hand and took him
deep. Sucking and flicking her tongue along his length, she concentrated on
giving him as much pleasure as she could.

Hands smoothed over her back and drew Alana’s attention away
from Michael’s cock. Kane eased in between her legs. She looked back over her
shoulder. Her eyes trailed over his broad chest and hard, muscular thighs. He’d
stripped off his clothing and she stared at the darkened head for moment. She
wanted to feel that pounding into her. The muscles within her pussy clenched.