Lindsey's Wolves Read online

  “This is Ryan.” Or maybe not.

  “Okay… Ryan, my love,” she mocked, “would you go get Kara for me?”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” Ryan lifted his head and turned for the door, nudging it open with his muzzle.

  The moment he was gone, Lindsey relaxed marginally. Although, she continued to shake uncontrollably and didn’t seem to notice.

  “Please hurry,” he nearly screamed through the connection. “I think she’s in shock or something.”

  “Almost there. She’s in the yard.”

  Alejandro simply held Lindsey as tight as he dared. Words would only make things worse right now.

  Luckily, Kara flew around the corner and nearly pounced across the bed, nudging Alejandro out of the way. “Let me talk to her.”

  He reluctantly slipped from the room without a sound.

  Chapter 4

  The next time Lindsey woke up it was dark out. Her face was toward the window and she simply stared at the rays of moonlight peeking through the clouds.

  She didn’t move a muscle. Maybe if she stayed really still, she could return to dreamland and continue pretending the last forty-eight hours had all been a figment of her imagination.

  Someone was in the room with her. She could sense their presence, which was peculiar since she’d never had that sort of sixth sense before. If she wasn’t so damn hungry, she’d stay there for the rest of her life, pretending not to know someone was watching her, pretending her life hadn’t just taken a right turn … into a ditch.

  “Are you hungry, babe? You must be starving.”

  Alejandro. She’d recognize the unique lilt in his voice anywhere. And she was so bone tired, she didn’t even want to fight her attraction to his Latin self right now.

  She rolled over and found him sitting in the chair next to the bed, leaning his forearms over his knees. How long had he been like that?

  No matter what, he must really like her to be so persistent.

  “Ryan is getting you something to eat.”

  “I don’t even want to ask how he could possibly know I’m awake.”

  The smile she gleaned through the moonlight streaming through the window was genuine. He didn’t attempt to placate her, which she appreciated.

  Right on cue, Ryan backed into the room. “Are you up? You’ve been dead to the world for hours. That pill of Kara’s must have been strong. I bet you’re starving.” He turned to set a tray of steaming food on the dresser. He was rambling. She could feel his nervousness wafting off him.

  The smell of Kara’s beef stew tugged at her stomach, which took the opportunity to growl loudly.

  “No one can resist Kara’s cooking.” She sat up, noticing she now wore a T-shirt of Kara’s over her bra. It was better than the last time she’d woken.

  Two men eagerly fiddled around her, arranging the blankets and settling the tray in front of her. Ryan pulled a bottle of water seemingly out of thin air and handed it to her. Bless him.

  “I can get you … well, anything you want, from the kitchen that is, just name it.”

  “Why are you both still here? Don’t you have lives? I know it’s a Saturday and all, but did you spend the entire day hanging around here basically waiting for my lucid moments so you could weave tall tales of shape-shifting every time I opened my eyes?” Lindsey gulped. They were tales, right?

  “Yep,” Alex replied. “We are here to stay. Well, not here precisely, but in your life.”

  “And if I don’t like that idea?”

  “It’s rare.”

  “What’s rare? That a woman rejects your advances?” That she could believe.

  “You could … turn us down that is. But you most likely won’t. I’ve never known it to happen.”

  She had just stuck the first forkful of the mouthwatering stew between her lips when he spoke, and she turned her face to see Alex’s self-confident sincerity.

  She swallowed the spicy tomato sauce. “Do you know how ridiculous and cocky you sound?” She took another bite, the potatoes, beef, and carrots melting on her tongue.

  “Do you know you moan aloud when you enjoy your food?” He smiled.

  “Does she do that often?” She jerked when the other male model in the room spoke from where he’d perched himself on the other side of her.

  “Every time. Makes me squirm in my seat wishing those lips were wrapped around me instead of that damn fork.”

  “Did you seriously just mention wanting a blowjob? I’ve been awake all of three minutes and that’s the best thing you can think to say?” Why exactly did the idea make her cheeks inflame? Ignoring the telltale signs of her own arousal, she continued, not bothering to wait for her mouth to be empty.

  Hey, if these guys were as attached to her as they seemed to be, they could surely overlook a little talking with her mouth full. She was so hungry she could eat a wolf. They didn’t need to know that. Their heads would grow.

  In the most mocking, squeaky, sing-songy voice she could conjure, she repeated their words. “Listen to yourselves—‘You could turn us down. But you most likely won’t. I’ve never known it to happen.’” She raised an eyebrow and glared at both men through the dimly lit room. “Not one woman has ever turned your sexy asses down? Surely, not everybody in the world finds you as attractive as I do.”

  Alejandro the Spanish stud just smiled.

  “That’s it? No witty comeback?”

  “I didn’t mean it the way you took it.”

  “Really, now. How was I supposed to take it then, stud muffin?”

  Ryan interjected, “He didn’t mean to infer that no woman had ever turned him down, though I doubt they have to be honest. What he meant was it’s rare when wolves find a mate for her to reject them. In general.”

  “Wolves again? Are we back on that topic?” She thought back to her conversation with Kara, the one she’d conveniently suppressed since awakening this evening.

  She had to admit, her friend had done her best to explain things to Lindsey. It wasn’t her fault she’d gotten so agitated. Who wouldn’t when two men insisted they “own” you, one of them seemly turns into a wild animal in front of your very eyes, and your best friend verifies it’s all true!

  It’s a wonder she didn’t run screaming half naked from the house. Perhaps she was just tired. When Kara suggested a sleeping pill so she could rest, she’d jumped at the idea and had spent the rest of the day in dreamland.

  Now she was wide awake, still hungry, and itching to get out of this room.

  “Why don’t we all go outside for a while?” Alex asked.

  Could he read her mind? That wasn’t the first time he’d verbalized her thoughts almost precisely.

  “It might make you more comfortable in open space to see us in action.”

  “Doing what?” She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.

  “Shifting, for one.”

  “Shifting?”

  “Lin, baby, did you forget the entire afternoon?”

  “Oh, no, I remember all right. I was just hoping it had all been a dream, a very weird one.”

  Ryan reached over and laid a hand on her thigh. Even through the layers between them, her leg seemed to heat at his touch.

  “We are wolves. It isn’t going to go away. We realize it’s all new to you and you are in shock … and denial. And we have unlimited patience where you are concerned. Almost unlimited. Fuck, no, we actually don’t have any patience at all, but we are doing our best to fake it and let you catch up, wrap your mind around the idea.” Ryan looked at her … guiltily.

  “Kara left you some of her clothes. How about you get dressed and meet us outside?” Alejandro added.

  As soon as they backed out of the room, Lindsey polished off the rest of the stew. She’d have licked the bowl if she’d had slightly less scruples. Maybe she could grab something else on the way out.

  Kara was much shorter than Lin, but the yoga pants and tank top were fine. After an entire day sequestered in this room practically nak
ed, she was grateful for any clothing at all.

  Padding down the hall barefoot didn’t alert anyone to her approach, and she managed to leave her bowl in the sink and grab a handful of homemade oatmeal cookies on her way to the back door. Fresh air would be awesome.

  The screen squeaked on its hinges when she emerged to find all four males and Kara on the porch.

  “Hey, hon.” Kara jumped from her perch on the banister and hurried over to Lindsey. “Feeling better? Was it too much? Oh, you found the cookies. Good.”

  “Much better,” she mumbled around the first heavenly clump still in her mouth. “These are to die for.”

  “Come sit on the swing with me.”

  Justin, currently taking up the majority of the swing with his huge body, leaped from the seat and indicated with a hand motion the ladies should take over.

  “I’m fine, really.” She glanced around at all of them. “Don’t go out of your way for me.”

  Kara pulled her onto the vacated swing anyway and curled her legs under her on the cushion. “You okay with the boys shifting and going for a run? They look so carefree and playful when they do. It makes me envious.”

  Whatever was going to happen, Lindsey felt numb to it by now. “I guess.”

  When four giant muscular men started undressing right on the patio, she yanked herself to attention. “Do they have to strip? Holy shit, Kara. What the fuck?” She sat up straighter and pressed herself to the back of the seat. “Your men are getting naked … on the porch, for crying out loud.” With one hand she covered her eyes … sort of. She wasn’t dead, just shocked. Who wouldn’t watch the strip tease happening in the moonlight in the woods?

  Several chuckles carried through the air from the peanut gallery, but no one stopped their routine.

  Lindsey let go of her face, and whatever pretense she had of pretending to be appalled.

  “I’ve been to strip clubs that weren’t half this good,” she added when they were all down to their briefs and boxers. All but, Alejandro. He’d been commando and was now gloriously standing in front of her in his birthday suit, his fine cock front and center … and huge … and stiff. And he was staring at her in a predatory way that made her feel like she was his next meal. And she didn’t care. She’d gladly be whatever he wanted as long as he used that cock on her—in her—soon, roughly, and often.

  Roughly? Since when do you like kinky sex?

  Hell, she was just at this point in her life getting around to being open to straight conventional sex. What the hell was she thinking?

  Ryan, who must have finished shucking his briefs, stepped up from behind Alejandro, and placed a hand on the other man’s biceps.

  They were both huge, no pun intended, and muscular. But where Alejandro had a more relaxed European look, blonder and a shade darker, Ryan was stiffer, more uptight, his hair a deeper brown, above and below.

  His cock was equally glorious, but maybe a shade longer and a hair narrower. As if that mattered when one was considering that level of girth.

  Lindsey squirmed, her back frozen rigid against the swing. Her cheeks were flushed and it suddenly seemed to be much hotter outside than it had moments ago with the cool breeze blowing her long hair around her face.

  She clenched her legs together. To keep from leaking the pooling moisture? Or maybe to add pressure against her aching clit? In fact, she had to grip the sides of the seat cushion with her hands to avoid reaching for her crotch in front of everyone.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  “You’ll be fine, baby.” Alejandro took a step in her direction. “It’s all normal.”

  “Stop.” She held out a hand. “Don’t come closer.” She didn’t think she could continue to act as a lady should in public company if he did. And, to be honest, she was a little freaked out by his seeming ability to read her mind.

  Ryan chuckled. “Well, she seems to like what she sees at least.” The man actually grabbed his shaft and ran his hand from the base to the tip before letting go. It was so sexy, Lindsey thought she’d come after all, without even needing to masturbate. Could she orgasm from watching them get off?

  We’re in public. My best friend is sitting next to me watching this show.

  Except a glance in her direction proved she was wrong. Kara had her own show, and her gaze was plastered to the two other men now naked before her. She licked her lips. Licked her lips, for heaven’s sake.

  Lindsey couldn’t even begin to picture her previously sweet naïve friend giving head.

  The other important detail she gleaned from dragging her gaze to Kara was that the swing was tipped forward and Kara was hanging on to the arm of the seat to avoid falling onto the wooden porch floor.

  Lindsey, in a futile effort to distance herself as much as possible from the strip show, had pushed back with her long legs and was rigidly holding the swing as far back as she could, tipping Kara to the point of dumping her tiny frame.

  When she let go, the swing surged forward, rocking the two of them with a soft rhythmic squeak.

  “We won’t be long.” The Latin accent was all she needed to know who spoke.

  Four seemingly human men who could take first through fourth place easily in any of multiple categories ranging from modeling to weight lifting, dropped in front of her and transformed into the biggest animals she’d ever seen. Wolves.

  By the time they bounded off the porch and lumbered toward the wooded area behind the house, her eyes were dry and stung from not blinking.

  “I’m never going to get used to that,” she muttered.

  “You will. Isn’t it beautiful? I love watching them in their natural state.”

  Lindsey rubbed her eyes with her palms. When she peered out into the night again, she was still at Kara’s house, sitting on the back porch, the swing still swaying slightly from the recent jolt.

  “So, let me get this straight. The stuff of legends is real?”

  “Yes. Well, shape-shifters anyway. Not sure about any other stuff.”

  “How often do they do that?”

  “Depends. Sometimes every day. Sometimes once a week, if they’re too busy.”

  “Can you do it?”

  Kara smiled. “No. I’m not a shifter. You aren’t either. We just both happen to be their life-mates. Sometimes it happens. That a human mates with them. Not often, but it can happen.”

  “When you say mate…?” Her head was spinning again. It was a lot to swallow.

  “It’s like being married. Except it happens really fast for them. When they walk into a room they can sense their intended from across a crowd by her smell.

  “Remember when Ryan first came into the house yesterday and froze in his spot? That’s how fast he realized you were his mate.”

  “That fast?”

  “Yeah, and that was perplexing because he didn’t notice you the night I met Justin in Boot Scooters. Kinda strange. His dad thinks it has something to do with the fact the three of you were meant to be together, and fate didn’t mark you as his that night because it wasn’t time yet. Sort of like children don’t usually encounter their mate, even though they might suddenly realize someone they’ve know all their lives has come to claim them.

  “Female wolves can sense their mates too. We humans are in the dark. But believe me, your body will start to crave them like food and water, and probably already has.” She leaned forward with a questioning look in her eyes.

  “Yeah, I guess. If by ‘crave’ you mean that I want Alejandro to jump my bones every time he’s in the room.”

  “And Ryan? You can’t tell me you don’t feel the same way about him. I saw the two of you and both your responses when he first came into the kitchen yesterday.”

  “Yeah, Ryan too. But that’s just weird. I’m trying not to think about it.”

  “You’re going to have to face it soon.”

  “Face what? Choosing one?”

  “No,” Kara shook her head vehemently. “Lin, honey, they are both going to claim you. B
oth.” She leaned closer. “Sweetie, let go of your previous misconceptions that you must have just one man in your life. Believe me. You are going to love this and thank your lucky stars. Just imagine, not one, but two men are going to dote on you for the rest of your life. You will never, ever, be unsatisfied.”

  “Uh uh.” Not going to happen. “You know I could no sooner live with two men than I could chop off my own arm. You of all people know me that well.”

  “I know this is crazy and of all the people in the world for this to happen to, I can’t imagine why you, but it has.”

  “Years of therapy. Hundreds of hours spent just trying to reconcile with myself that it is okay to even have sex with one man. One, Kara! You know how hard the last few years have been for me. And I’ve dated. I’ve had sex without being married … gasp.” She threw her hand over her heart in mock jest.

  “I’ve even enjoyed it … sort of. I’ve let go of everything I was taught as a kid. Hell, I even have a vibrator and, Lord strike me down, I’ve used it. But this, this is too much. It’s not right.” She glanced at her best friend. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m no longer the prude I used to be. I pass no judgment over what lifestyle you choose to lead, but asking me to do the same? Not gonna happen.”

  “You’ll see.” Kara smiled, almost condescendingly.

  “I’m not sure I can even wrap my head around that part. I can no sooner accept that they are wolves than visualize myself engaged in a threesome.”

  “You will.” She just smiled again, that all-knowing grin that indicated she was overly confident she was right. Lindsey wasn’t so sure.

  “So how does this work, with you I mean? Do you each have your own room and the men take turns coming to you? Like Monday Wednesday Friday, Tuesday Thursday Saturday, or something?”

  Kara was shaking her head and chuckling before she’d even finished speaking. “No, we all three share one California King. I’m in the middle.”

  “And they like … uh … both have sex with you at the same time?”

  “Usually. It isn’t mandatory. Sometimes it’s just two of us, but never the men together. Me and Justin, me and Trev, or all three. They aren’t bi.”