Laurie’s Wolves(22)

It was early. They had wanted to get moving as soon as the sun came up before the slopes were groomed and opened.

Zach knew the slopes would open a little late today, but he also knew his parents would have arranged extra hands to be ready to groom the slopes as early as possible.

The fewer people they had to encounter at the base before escaping, the better. He was far more interested in sequestering himself with his mates than chitchatting with anyone—even his parents.

“Zach said you picked up skiing like a pro.” Corbin bent to snap the buckles shut on his boots and then handed her a set of poles.

“He might have exaggerated,” she muttered. “I’d hardly call careening into the trees, crashing, and losing my skis the actions of a pro.”

Zach snapped his boots into his skis and turned toward them. “Ready?”

He let Laurie go first, watching as she gingerly made her way through the powder. After her first few turns, she picked up speed—as well as confidence. He could tell by her stance. She straightened her back and grew less wobbly by the minute.

He nodded at Corbin to start, and then he took the rear. It was slow moving down the mountain, but they made it back to the lower lodge eventually. Laurie looked relieved to unload the skis and boots. “Give me a few days before we try this sport again.”

He wrapped a hand around the back of her head as they walked through the nearly vacant lodge and pulled her face closer for a kiss. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“Hey, Mr. Masters,” a young kid called from the rental area as Zach leaned Laurie’s rentals against the return wall. “Heard you got stuck on the mountain. Bummer.” The kid glanced at Laurie and then grinned wider. “Or not…”

Corbin came up on Laurie’s other side and grabbed her hand. He leaned into her space and claimed a kiss next.

Zach couldn’t blame him. He would have done the same thing. All three of them were consumed with the mating process. The only thing on their minds was getting the fuck someplace where they could fuck again. Their woman was sandwiched between them with no space to move.

Nevertheless, Zach winced as he watched the teenager’s face go flat. The boy had noticed both men touching and kissing Laurie. He glanced from Zach to Corbin and back. “Deputy Archers,” he mumbled. “Good morning, sir.” He turned and fled the room.

Zach would have laughed, but he also realized the rumors would be flying by lunch. “Shit.” He imagined what a teenage boy would tell his friends the moment they showed up for work—or hell, even sooner probably.

“Fuck.” Corbin released Laurie’s hand. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking with the big head.”

“It’s okay,” she muttered. “It’s bound to happen. We’re going to have to face it at some point.”

“There will be some who frown upon our arrangement. Let’s go back to my place. It’s closest. We’ll figure something out and make a plan.”

Corbin leaned in and kissed Laurie’s neck. “After we consummate this thing again, please,” he whispered.

»»•««

Laurie shook hands with Logan, Zach’s youngest brother, and watched as the man rolled his eyes and moaned. “I swear, we brothers switch houses more often than anyone I’ve ever met. I’ve only been here six months.”

Zach chuckled. “It’s only temporary. I owe you. I mean you could stay, but…”

Logan held up his hands in defeat. “Hell, no. God.” He backed up several paces. “I’d rather have my nails ripped from their beds than endure the three of you mating in the room next to me.”

Zach caught Laurie chewing on her lower lip while she watched Logan rant. He already knew her well enough to realize she was fighting against laughter.

“We won’t stay in the condo forever. Just give us some time to sort out where to move, and then it’s all yours.”

“Until Sharon decides to move in.”

“Well, there’s that.”

“Sharon is the youngest, right?” Laurie asked.

Zach squeezed her hand. “Yep. And the only girl.”

“And lucky for her, she’s destined to lead a normal life with only one mate,” Logan added.

“How do you know that?” Corbin dropped his backpack on the floor next to the front door.

They hadn’t made it past the threshold before confronting Logan with the fact that he needed to move back in with their parents for a while.

Zach headed toward the kitchen area. “This threesome thing apparently only extends to the males in our family. We have cousins in Oregon who are slightly older. They are also four boys and a girl, although their sister, Tessa, is the oldest. She mated only one man. The boys all mated in threes with another man.”