“Yeah. I’m being ridiculous. And you’re both being unbelievably considerate. Thank you.” She loosened up and let some of her muscles relax from the tense ball she was in. Fear clenched her brain, but lust ran rampant through her traitorous body.
“What do you sense when you read us, baby?” Trace asked.
She sighed. “That’s the weird thing. I can’t get a good read on you. Neither of you. But also nothing bad. I can tell your intentions are pure. I know you’re both mine, deep in my soul. I just can’t shake the need to remain in control of my faculties.”
“I can understand that.” Trace grazed the edge of her bottom lip with his thumb. “Will you come to bed with us? We promise not to pressure you.”
“Yes.” Some level of relief seeped into her. It was refreshing to have told them everything in her heart. She had no idea why she’d been so reluctant. A huge stress was lifted.
Keegan stood, tucked the blanket under her, and lifted her into his arms.
Surprise at his movements clouded her ability to speak as he carried her back to his bedroom. Trace yanked the comforter down to the foot of the bed, and Keegan settled her in the center.
Chapter Five
Trace was shaking. Partially because he needed to claim his mate with every fiber of his being. Partially because he felt so strongly for her that he wanted to ease her tension any way he could. And if that meant proving he could keep his hands to himself and love her unconditionally, then so be it. He would.
He knew Keegan agreed. In fact, the two of them were already starting to sense each other inside their heads. Even without the completed claiming, he could feel Keegan’s same anxiety and need.
Melinda lay rigid under the blanket they’d covered her with in the living room.
He cringed. They would get through this. Everyone did. But it wasn’t going to be easy.
Keegan yanked off his shirt on the other side of the bed, grabbed a pair of loose shorts, and then padded to the bathroom. Two seconds later, he reappeared without his jeans and climbed up next to Melinda, dragging the comforter over the lower half of his body.
Melinda appeared to concentrate on only one thing—breathing.
Trace imitated Keegan, borrowing another pair of his shorts without a word.
“I’m sorry,” Melinda muttered as Trace turned out the light. As lupines, they could see fine in the dark, but light from the moon streamed in through the window, illuminating the room, casting Melinda in perfect beams and shadows.
He propped up on his elbow and smoothed a lock of hair off her face. “Don’t ever be sorry. You are who you are. And we’ll take this at your pace.”
Her gaze wandered down to his exposed chest. She swallowed. “Do you guys do anything besides work out?”
He grinned. “Sometimes.”
She turned her face toward Keegan and groaned. “Jeez. Both of you. You’re ripped.”
Keegan chuckled. “Were you hoping for a skinny, flaccid mate?”
She giggled.
Trace loved that sound. It was music.
“Never thought about it. I had hoped…” She didn’t finish that statement.
“Hoped what, babe?” Trace encouraged.
“Hoped I never met my mate.”
Silence hung in the air.
“Why?” Keegan leaned closer, twisting onto his side to match Trace.
She shrugged. “I didn’t have parents. My grandmother was awesome. I love her dearly, but as far as I knew, both my parents left me. Of course I recently learned my dad was a rapist and my mom’s hand was forced, but for twenty-seven years I’ve felt abandoned—ever since my mother left when I was three. If I never mated or had kids, I would never feel that rejection again.”
“Oh, baby. I’m so sorry. That’s horrible.” Trace couldn’t help reaching for her, stroking one finger down her cheek. He needed to touch her with every fiber of his being. His cock ached. Thank God it was hidden beneath the comforter.
“We’ll work through this, hon.” Keegan also touched her tenderly, a hand on top of her head. “You can trust us. And no one is leaving anyone for any reason.”
“Yeah. I’m sure my mother felt that way also, but she was backed into a corner. It happens.”
“Times have changed,” Trace said. “We’re a unit. We won’t be separated for any reason. Your mother had a complex situation, caught between the man she was drawn to in the same way we three are pulled toward each other and two kids who didn’t belong to her mate. That must have been excruciatingly difficult every day of her life.”
Melinda nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek.
Trace wiped it away and leaned in slowly. He kissed her forehead. When she didn’t flinch, he continued kissing her, nibbling a path down the side of her face until he reached her lips.