Melinda’s Wolves(15)
Unable to hold herself upright, she crawled onto the couch and curled up in the corner. Thank God the lights were out. She needed the dark to hide in. She was pissed she hadn’t insisted on driving herself. What she wanted more than anything was to leave Keegan’s house and go back to her condo, where she could at least breathe without the damn throbbing in her pussy and the consuming need in her belly.
Or could she? Now that she’d met them, maybe she would never feel normal again. She almost groaned at the idea.
A blanket landed over her, stunning her. She hadn’t realized the two men had entered the room. She was really off tonight.
Keegan stood next to her, tucking the blanket around her balled-up body. And then he sat at her feet.
Trace sat on the coffee table at her head. His face was less than a foot from hers. “I’m sorry, baby. Why didn’t you just tell us?”
She didn’t move.
“Okay. I kind of understand your position. It’s not the kind of thing one blurts out on a first date. But this is so much more than a first date. Did you intend to let us make love to you without saying a word?”
Yep. That had been her intention. Until she couldn’t bear the feeling of being out of control.
Keegan sighed. He set a hand gently on her shin. “Hon, you’re ours. Even though we haven’t claimed you and no matter how long it takes, you’re ours. And we’ll cherish you forever. We’ll go slow and gentle. Your pace.”
Finally, she conjured the courage to speak. “Is that even a thing you can do? From what I’ve heard, mates tend to fuck first and ask questions later.”
Keegan chuckled. “I’ve heard that. And I won’t deny the desire is there, but we’ve already broken that tradition. We asked all sorts of questions first. Hell, you and I have already had our first disagreement.”
She interrupted, yanking her head to face him. It was dark in the room, but all three of them could see fine in the dark. “Disagreement? That’s what you call your warped idea of turning my homeland into a circus?” She flung her arm out from under the blanket and slapped her thigh. “Ugh.”
Keegan chuckled again. “I’m gonna fight with you every day if that’s what it takes to get you to relax and be yourself.”
“Men.”
“Do you mean stupid white men who want to promote progress?”
“Yep. Those are the ones.”
He smirked. “Yes. I’m going to love sparring with you, hon.”
“Okay, break it up. That’s not helping.” Trace reached tentatively for her cheek and stroked the skin. Undoubtedly, he knew every time he did that she melted. “Come back to bed. Please. Sleep between us. Keep your dress on if you want. I need to be next to you. That’s all I’m asking.”
She stared at him, wondering if that was even a possibility, doubting she would be able to rest in the same room as them. Of course there was no chance she could sleep in the living room either, so what difference did it make?
“Can I ask one question?” Trace asked.
She nodded.
“Why? What happened to you to make you shy away from men? There has to have been hundreds of men who wanted you over the years. You’re gorgeous, sexy—stunning really—smart, witty, and the list goes on. Why swear off men?”
She shrugged, a little stunned by his pronouncement. “Not sure. I’m not like other lupines. That could have something to do with it. I can read people better than anyone. I can see into their souls sometimes. I never met a man I thought had the best intentions. Plus, I knew no one I ever dated when I was younger was my mate. Seemed ridiculous to fuck for the sake of fucking when it had no future.
“I don’t know how anyone does it. But then again, no one else can read people so well. On top of that, like I said, I like to be in control. I rarely get drunk. And when I do, it’s alone in my condo with a girlfriend. Not in public.”
“Well, I’m not going to deny you’ll be completely out of control when we claim you, and every other time we have sex for the rest of our lives. And truthfully, you won’t be yourself for weeks after the first time.” Trace stroked her cheek again.
She was afraid of that. She’d heard. She just hadn’t believed.
“However,” Keegan continued, “the problem is you aren’t going to feel less of any of that even if we don’t claim you. The urge is strong. It will grow. It will overwhelm you. Fate will win. That’s how it works. You can deny it. But it’s evidently difficult to the point of painful.”
He paused. “I’m not saying any of this to pressure you. I’m not kidding when I say we won’t rush you to do anything you aren’t ready for. I’m just pointing out what I’ve heard to be true.”