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  Josh inhaled deeply. His hands shook and he fisted them at his sides. He closed his eyes, leaned his head back, and sucked in air. His initial thought was to control himself and avoid howling, literally. But, the act of breathing also filled his nostrils with the truth. This Nathan guy indeed had not fucked Josh’s mate…yet. In fact, he hadn’t so much as touched her. His pheromones filled the room and mixed with Samantha’s and Josh’s, but other than being extremely aroused, Nathan was being honest.

  Josh lowered his face and relaxed his expression before turning to address Nathan. “You drove all the way here all day and didn’t make a move on her?”

  “It seemed prudent. Besides, Samantha would have slapped me.” He grinned. “She barely looked at me during the drive. She was completely true to you.”

  Josh turned to Samantha. He felt like an ass for doubting her for even a second. But, hell, at this point she’d spent more time with Nathan than Josh. The two of them probably knew each other better. Most of the time Josh had spent with her had been in bed. I think I came out the winner. He mentally slapped himself. This is not a contest.

  Samantha stood and stepped toward Josh. She lifted her face as she wrapped her tiny arms around his middle. Her fingers on his waist, and then his back, warmed him. She burned a trail around him with her touch. “I know this is strange. And I didn’t ask for it. It just happened. We have to deal with it. All three of us. Together.”

  “Do you feel the same thing for Nathan you do for me?” He set his palms lightly on her hips.

  “No. It’s not the exact same thing. It’s different. But just as intense. Kinda like a mother probably feels for both her kids.”

  Samantha wanted Nathan as badly as she’d wanted Josh yesterday? And yet she’d managed to keep from acting on that for eight hours in a car?

  As though he’d spoken those words out loud, Samantha responded. “It seemed like I would have been cheating on you to sleep with Nathan. As strongly as he affected me, you were the first to claim me and I couldn’t bring myself to take any sort of action until the three of us were together. It was crazy enough spending all that time together without you knowing, but I didn’t want to discuss it over the phone, and I knew you were having a rough day.”

  “She’s not kidding, man.” Nathan said. He remained seated. Bless him.

  Josh didn’t think he could handle any more yet.

  Nathan continued. “She hasn’t told me why we’re here. Just that you’d needed to come here last night and she needed to get here as fast as possible.”

  Samantha reached up and stroked Josh’s face. Her blouse brushed against his nipples and teased them into hard points. “Your sister?”

  “Don’t know yet. I’ve seen her husband twice, leaving this morning and returning this evening, but no sign of Ashley yet. Evan wanted to give her a few days to come out of the apartment. Tomorrow we will go to the door.”

  “Is Evan sure she’s even inside?”

  “No.” That one word deflated Josh.

  Nathan spoke. “Is your sister in trouble?”

  Josh set his chin on the top of Samantha’s head and stared at Nathan. “She left The Gathering four years ago with her supposed mate and has been increasingly detached from everyone. I’ve been searching for her for months.”

  “You think her mate was lying?”

  “I do.” Josh nodded and held Samantha tighter. Her presence in his arms steadied him, gave him strength. She wrapped her arms around his middle and clasped her hands at the small of his back.

  “God, how awful. I’m so sorry.” The man stood. He seemed less threatening to Josh by the minute. Nathan took a step closer. Finally, he set his hand on Josh’s shoulder and squeezed. “I’ll do what I can to help.”

  The sincerity and support coming from this stranger melted Josh a little. His touch soaked into Josh’s skin and reminded him he was almost naked, except for the towel. He’d intended to open the door to just Samantha and hadn’t felt the need to get dressed only to tear all the clothing off again the second she arrived.

  Now, he didn’t know how to proceed.

  Keeping eye contact with Josh, Nathan let his hand slide down Josh’s arm until he reached Samantha’s. He stepped closer behind her, sandwiching her between the two men. His other hand mirrored the first, and he slowly slid both palms down Samantha’s arms until he was wrapped around Josh’s middle on top of Samantha.

  They all stood still. Josh listened as their breathing began to sync. Their hearts beat hard and slowed to match each other. It was…magical.

  Josh’s demeanor softened. Sure, it was strange, but it was right. With Samantha’s face against his chest and Nathan’s mouth inches away from Josh’s, the scent of their connection mingled and strengthened.

  Josh examined this new man who would join them. He was a few inches shorter and his skin was an envious shade of brown most men hoped for but never attained. Women loved that tone. Bare chests in that bronze color looked like they belonged on a model. Of course Josh hadn’t seen Nathan’s chest yet, but he knew he was about to.

  As they stood there, Josh began to ponder the possibilities. Samantha was insatiable. He knew that from yesterday. The woman didn’t believe it about herself yet, but Josh could tell she would be a nymph in bed. He’d never be able to keep up. Now, that wouldn’t be a problem. Between him and Nathan, they could satisfy her over and over again.

  He braced himself. Could he do this? Share his mate with another man? Step back and watch as another man he’d met only minutes ago also claimed his woman?

  You don’t have a choice.

  The reality of that last thought sank in deep. Samantha was right. She belonged to both men. For whatever reason, Fate had made this choice.

  Nathan released Josh’s gaze, probably having judged by Josh’s expression he was safe from being punched. When Nathan lowered his face into Samantha’s hair, Josh’s pulse raced. He became aware of his fingers around Samantha, the backs of them against Nathan’s chest. He could feel Nathan’s heart pounding.

  Nathan inhaled long and slow. He held his breath. Josh understood perfectly. It was as though in doing so he could keep her essence inside him and never let it go without the exhale.

  Josh smiled for the first time since opening the door. Maybe this was going to be okay. “You guys didn’t bring any luggage.”

  “Nope. We left straight from court.” Nathan lifted his head. “Samantha’s only thought was getting here as fast as possible.”

  “Where did you meet? In court this morning?”

  Samantha tipped her face toward them. “He was the defense attorney. His client didn’t show up. I was glad. Gave me the chance to leave town. But then I breathed and my world turned upside down.” She angled her neck more so she could stare at Nathan. Her smile could melt an iceberg.

  Josh swallowed. He needed to kiss her. So he did.

  The second he lowered his face to hers, she opened to him. Her lips were soft and warm and her tongue darted out to meet his. She licked the seam of his mouth while he fell under her spell. The world disappeared, leaving him and Samantha…oh, and the man now pressing into her back. Minor detail.

  When Samantha moaned into Josh’s mouth, his cock swelled. He pressed his erection into her belly and gripped her firmly around the waist. He needed to be inside her. Craved the feel of her tight pussy around his cock like a drug.

  When he lifted his head to see her expression, she was buried in a haze of arousal. In fact, her pheromones filled the small room with her need.

  Without thinking, Josh glanced at Nathan and nodded at Samantha. Her eyes were half closed and glazed over. She probably didn’t notice.

  Her tongue reached out to lick her lips and it was the last thing he saw of her face before Nathan leaned in to take the same mouth Josh had just devoured.

  Samantha moaned loud at the first contact. With the top of her head resting on Josh’s chest, she was balanced precariously between the men. Nathan angled to one side and
deepened the kiss. A low sound rose from deep inside Nathan. Josh could feel the rumble.

  A new sensation squeezed Josh’s chest. Instead of jealousy or the need to kill someone, arousal flamed beneath his skin, burning him from the inside out. He melted under the view of another man pleasing his mate. He didn’t experience any of the emotions he’d expected. What he wanted more than anything was for Samantha to be happy, loved, cherished…made crazy with lust. Watching Nathan help in this endeavor only increased the stiffness of Josh’s cock.

  A chill ran down his spine as he pondered the implication, but he knew deep down the crazy, mixed-up claiming happening here was indeed strictly heterosexual as Nathan had suggested. Josh felt none of the desire toward Nathan he felt for Samantha.

  As Samantha pressed her pussy toward Josh, he knew it was time to remove some more clothes and up the stakes. This peculiar mating was about to get cemented.

  Chapter Seven

  Samantha couldn’t concentrate on all the sensations assaulting her at once. All she knew in that moment was Nathan—his incredible lips, his demanding tongue, his taste. He had a completely different style from Josh, but his kiss was as powerful.

  Nathan’s hands slid from on top of hers, across her forearms, and landed on her waist. He gripped her center and then inched up until his fingers splayed her belly and his thumbs grazed her breasts.

  A shiver shook her entire frame. Her blouse was thin and her bra was skimpy lace. His fingers penetrated through both layers as though she were naked, heating her and forcing her nipples to poke into the suddenly abrasive lace.

  She grew unsteady on her feet. Thank God Josh still held her up.

  When Nathan cupped her breasts outright and squeezed them, she moaned. Her knees wobbled. She arched into his touch. And just as fast, he released her and went to work on the buttons down the front of her blouse. His tongue reached deep into her mouth and swirled with her own.

  While he opened her shirt with all the delicate care of a slow-motion mime in action, he sucked her tongue in a rhythmic motion, pulling and releasing. She couldn’t imagine how he could do the two opposite tasks at once while she couldn’t even stand on her feet and hold on to both men for dear life.

  Nathan released her lips as he popped the last button and opened her blouse. Both men stepped back, leaving her between them, exposed and confused from the intensity of the kiss.

  While Josh turned to pull the comforter off the bed, Nathan unzipped her skirt and let it flutter to the ground. Samantha stepped out of it with Nathan’s hand grasping her biceps.

  He nudged her toward the bed. “Thank God it’s king-sized.” He chuckled.

  “I hadn’t planned for three in it, but it seemed like a good idea at the time anyway,” Josh added.

  Both men were tall and built. It would barely hold them, let alone her. She would be swallowed up if they all slept there. And, hell, we are all going to sleep there.

  Reality hit hard. What were the three of them going to do exactly? She’d thought about several possibilities on the drive in the silent moments, but hadn’t quite finished the vision. None of the prospects seemed reasonable.

  Samantha’s legs bumped into the mattress and she froze. Both men stared down at her. Her skin crawled under their gazes. She gripped the sheet behind her with her fists and sat down, stiff and unsteady on her feet. “How is this going to work?”

  She glanced back and forth between them. It was hard to think with her arousal level shooting sky high. She hadn’t been this aroused yesterday with Josh. Two men, double the level of pheromones in the room. She was doomed.

  Josh and Nathan looked at each other and nodded simultaneously as though they were privy to a secret she didn’t share.

  Samantha narrowed her gaze at Josh. “Josh, are you okay with this? Whatever this is?”

  His brow furrowed. He stepped to her side and stroked her cheek with his fingers. He was calm, but his face was strained.

  “I didn’t do this on purpose, you know,” she muttered.

  “Oh, baby. I know that.” He leaned down to kiss her brow and then straightened again. “I have mixed emotions. Don’t worry. This will sort itself out. I’ve heard of matings between three people before. I’ve just never known anyone personally it happened to. I don’t have an instruction manual for this, but my gut is directing me.”

  “And what is it telling you?” She glanced at Nathan and then back to Josh. The two were in accord somehow.

  “Nathan is going to claim you now. It’s not exactly what nature demands, but it’s his right since I already claimed you yesterday. Perhaps we were all three meant to meet at the same time, but for whatever reason, it didn’t go down that way and I got a jump start.” He grinned, but the wrinkle between his eyes stayed.

  “What are you going to do?” Confusion over his role scrambled her brain.

  “Watch.” Now his smile widened. The wrinkle eased. He found this arousing?

  Her mouth fell open. Watch? Was he kidding?

  Renewed moisture pooled in her panties. She’d been wet for two days, but this was intense. Never had she considered herself interested in voyeurism, but the idea of Josh watching her with Nathan made her heart race and her nipples swell. She was losing her mind.

  Samantha closed her mouth, swallowed hard, and licked her dry lips. Her gaze lowered in embarrassment over her craving.

  Josh ran a hand through her hair and tugged gently until her face met Nathan’s. The darker man was unzipping his dress pants. They’d fit him to perfection, tailor-made, and she’d stared at them all googly-eyed several times during the day, but now they fell to the floor, leaving him in briefs. His cock filled the white cotton so full his bulge could be seen behind the tails of his white dress shirt.

  Slowly, inching toward her, Nathan unbuttoned the shirt. The man had a thing about taking his time. He’d removed her shirt just as languidly.

  She licked her lips again when he shrugged out of the material, leaving him in his briefs.

  He chuckled. “Like that?”

  A flush crawled down her skin from her cheeks to her chest. Her breasts swelled and she squirmed against the mattress.

  The man was cut like a movie star. He seemed airbrushed even in person. Was that possible? His tanned skin was delicious and she wanted to lean forward and lick his nipples. The pink of each bud stood out as she was sure hers were under the lace material of her bra.

  When he hooked his thumbs into his briefs and lowered them to the ground, she sucked in a breath. She couldn’t control her reaction. His cock popped out as though the confinement had been a harsh punishment for way too long.

  Precum leaked from the tip and as he stepped closer to her, his length bobbed near her face.

  Josh’s grip on her head firmed. “Oh, shit, sorry.” He released her and stroked down her back. His towel fell away as she glanced his direction, and she found he was as aroused as Nathan.

  Not that she’d needed the display to know all this. The room was thick with their arousal.

  Josh took his shaft in his hand and stroked himself from the base to the tip. He moaned as he released the head. He leaned against the mattress as Nathan reached toward her.

  Before she could redirect her attention from Josh’s cock to Nathan, the darker man had his hands on her breasts. He weighed them, cupping and molding the globes for several seconds until his thumbs reached under the top edge of lace and stroked her nipples.

  Samantha closed her eyes as she arched her chest into Nathan’s touch. Every nerve was so sensitive she felt like tiny needles were piercing the skin on her chest and trailing down to her pussy.

  With exact precision, Nathan popped the front clasp on her bra. The tiny snap made her glance down. And holy hell. Her breasts were much larger than they’d ever been. Did this level of arousal really make them swell like that? And the tips were puckered and reaching for attention. They’d done the same thing yesterday under Josh’s attention.

  Nathan didn’t den
y her. He stroked the tips with both thumbs reverently. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.

  She bit her lower lip between her teeth as a pressure built between her legs. Shit. She was close to coming with just this stroking of her breasts.

  Between one second and the next, everything changed. The languorous speed switched to full throttle as Nathan lifted her by the waist and planted her in the middle of the bed, climbing over her and straddling her legs. She still wore her panties and she wished the material away.

  Before she got her bearings, he leaned over her and took her mouth in a desperate kiss that spoke of his own need.

  His lips moved fast, first dipping one direction and then changing to the other. He moaned into her mouth and she swallowed his need, combining it with her own to make her lift her hips toward him.

  He dodged her move, holding his body over hers, maintaining contact strictly with his lips.

  When she gripped his biceps with her hands and tugged, she accomplished nothing except for the smile that spread across his lips.

  Finally, he pulled back an inch, leaving her breathless and light-headed. “Is she always this demanding?”

  Ugh. He wasn’t even speaking to her, and she was reminded Josh was watching. She twisted her face to the side she instinctively knew he occupied and blinked at him.

  “She is.” Josh smiled and brushed a lock of hair from her face. He directed his next words at her. “What’s the rush? Relax.”

  She flushed darker, knowing there would be red splotches all over her skin by now. Was she really that anxious to get laid by the second shifter in as many days? She was insatiable. Her body craved Nathan’s touch as though she hadn’t had sex in months, years.

  Nathan drew her attention once again, grazing his fingers down her neck, her chest, her belly. He scooted back and pulled her panties off her body. She was forced to release the grip she had on his arms and her hands fell to her sides.

  “Spread your legs for me, Samantha.” Nathan set his hands on her thighs and pressed outward.