“I know.” Melinda’s gaze was intent. “Don’t make me do that.”
“Why didn’t you say anything before now?”
“I had hoped it would be obvious on its own. And in a way it is. Every single effort you’ve made to prepare has been sabotaged. I’ve never seen so many signs that point to any one event like this.”
“Jesus. Maybe the other incidents that seem human-related are really spiritual.”
Melinda shrugged. “I can’t know for sure. I’ve honestly never heard of such a thing. Usually messages from spirits aren’t tangible. Tossing homes and sending e-mails is a very unlikely avenue for a spirit, but never say never.”
“Gah.” Rebecca scrunched up the empty bag of corn chips she’d been holding in suspended animation.
Melinda gave a wan smile. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know.” Rebecca leaned her head back on the couch and closed her eyes. “You can come get me now,” she told her mates.
“Thank heavens,” Miles replied. “Be there in ten.”
Rebecca smiled. They were close by. Of course they were.
•●•
Griffen had never been so relieved in his life. He’d paced Miles’ living room for the past hour, praying they didn’t have to go to bed without their mate. He didn’t think he could stomach it.
No. He knew he couldn’t. There would be no sleeping without Rebecca between them. They wouldn’t have even tried. If she hadn’t come around, he and Miles would have shifted and spent the night circling Melinda’s condo.
Miles made record time getting to his sister’s. In eight minutes they stood on her doorstep, entering without knocking.
Rebecca gave them a small smile. “Sorry?”
“Baby,” Griffen said as he approached, anxious to touch her, “it’s okay.”
He sat on the couch next to her and pulled her into his arms while Miles squeezed in on her other side to do the same. There wasn’t enough space, but they did it anyway.
Melinda wormed her way off the couch immediately and left the room. Bless her.
“You want to talk about it?” Miles asked.
“Not really. Not tonight. Can we just go home and sleep? I’m exhausted.”
“Of course, love.” Miles stood, drawing her body up with his. “Save it for tomorrow.”
It killed Griffen to go along with this plan. Their mate was keeping something from them. Something huge. But obviously it was important to her, and if she’d confessed anything to Melinda, she surely intended to do the same with her mates. On her timeframe. Not theirs.
Without saying another word, the three of them slipped out of Melinda’s condo and made their way back to Miles’ house.
Griffen followed behind Miles and Rebecca straight to the bedroom. It was late. The middle of the night.
That didn’t dampen anyone’s libido, though. Griffen could smell the need in the air. Even coming from Rebecca, who insisted she needed space just a few hours ago.
“Let us love you, baby,” Griffen muttered. “You don’t have to say a word. But the stress will ease if we make love to you.”
She nodded, biting one side of her lower lip as Miles moved in closer and pulled her shirt over her head.
Griffen leaned to tug her pants down while she kicked her shoes off. Next, he tucked his fingers into her panties and eased them over her sweet ass while Miles popped her bra and tossed it aside.
“No matter how frustrated I am with you two, I still get horny the second you walk into a room. Do you realize how much more frustrated that makes me?” She lowered herself onto the bed and scooted back toward the center.
Griffen quickly yanked off his clothes while Miles did the same. As Griffen crawled onto the mattress and stalked on hands and knees toward his mate, he frowned. “I’m sorry you’re frustrated with us.”
She flopped back. “It’s not entirely your fault. I get it.”
Miles stroked a hand up her thigh and settled it on her belly. “You want to talk about it now, love?”
“No. I want you to erase all thoughts of anything now. It will wait until morning.”
“We can do that, baby.” Griffen lay down along her side and leaned in to suckle her nipple. He cupped the globe with his hand to steady it and feasted until she cried out.
Of course the hand Miles had slipped between her legs might have contributed to her squeal…
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Hey, sexy.” Hot breath landed on her ear, a warm hand stroking languidly up over her ass and then her spine.
She opened one eye and blinked against the daylight streaming into the room.
“You gonna sleep all day?” Griffen was by her side. She knew he wasn’t naked because denim brushed against her leg. He’d been up.