STORY EXCERPT

Patrick always got the short end of the stick. He’d volunteered to be the one to challenge the Rockford wolves so that Cassidy didn’t have to witness the entire pack shift at once. Now she fucking hated him.

She’d developed a close relationship with the other members of his pack, but he kept holding back. He could lose her…or himself. Garret hadn’t officially marked her, which was part of the reason they were in this situation in the first place. If his alpha really expected to claim the human girl, he should have transitioned her into their world long ago.

Now Patrick was the monster. She still sidled up to Evan, so he obviously hadn’t manned up to the truth. Patrick was stuck explaining everything, and he’d never been good with words. Cassidy was naked, smelled sweet, and his territorial nature was off the charts. The more she pulled away from him, the more his wolf demanded he stake his claim.

“I know you remember me,” he said. “My wolf remembers you.” He ran the backs of his fingers along her jawline, savoring the soft femininity of her skin.

She cringed every time he touched her.

“I’ll never hurt you, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

He tilted her chin up so she’d have to meet his gaze. Patrick knew his eyes would have a slightly inhuman glow, even in his human form.

“I remember,” she whispered.

“Do you remember running your hands through my wolf’s fur? Were you afraid then?”

She shook her head, still looking in his eyes.

“He likes you. A lot. He claws within me all the time, demanding I keep you close, keep you safe.”

“He?”

Patrick smiled. “My wolf. He lives inside me, only allowed to be free when I shift forms. And know that he’d never harm you, not a hair.”

When a tear slipped from her eye, he felt a sense of deep-seated relief. She didn’t hate him. She was just distraught.

“I don’t know what to think.”

“You have to allow yourself to accept things you were taught are fiction. That’s not easy to do.”

“Does everyone know?”

All her lovers were shape-shifters. He closed his eyes for a moment, wondering how to break the news to her, and if it would be too much for her naïve mind to handle. “It’s a carefully guarded secret. Only my closest friends know the truth.”

“I should have known this was too good to be true,” she said.

“What was?”

“That five amazing men would actually fall in love with a nobody like me. I’ve never had a place I belonged…until I came to Climax. Now I don’t know anything.”

He took her hand and held it to his heart. “Do you feel that? I’m a flesh-and-blood man.”

Patrick and emotional declarations did not go hand in hand. He lived in the moment, kept his inner demons in check, and played his role in the pack. Emotion led to weakness, and he wouldn’t leave himself so vulnerable ever again. Although he never expected to find a mate, he’d follow the lead of the alpha. If Garret marked her for the pack, he’d accept it. But were his feelings for Cassidy just sparked by the possessive nature of his wolf, or were they more complex? Could he actually love the little human, trust her with his heart? He’d vowed never to put confidence in a human being again, and since their females were the only potential mates for a shifter, Patrick never expected to find love.

Already Cassidy had proved fickle, turning away from him as he’d expected she would when discovering his secret. The day by the river was engraved in his memory, one of the happiest in his life. To have Cassidy look upon his wolf with adoration and acceptance was more powerful than an illicit drug. Apparently her affection didn’t extend to shape-shifters. But he could never be just a man or just a wolf. He was torn between two worlds, forced to find balance when society didn’t even know his kind existed.

“Do you still feel the same about me?”

“I feel the same as I always have,” he said simply. “You’re the one I worry about.”

Maybe he’d just let Garret handle her. Once she received the love bite, it would act as a bonding agent, connecting them on an intimate level. Any fears or misgivings she had for their wolfen heritage would subside.

“Sometimes I just want to close my eyes and never wake up. I’m tired, Patrick. My life has been a roller-coaster ride since I moved to Climax.”

“The ride is half the fun.” He wrapped one arm around the small of her back, pulling her flush to his body. This time she didn’t fight.

“But what does it all mean? What happens to us now?”

He kissed her forehead, trying to think of ways to reassure her. “Nothing has to change. The only difference is you’ll know I’m capable of defending you—under any circumstances.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“Close your eyes. Relax.” Matthew spread her legs apart, tugging her so she lay flatter. The first swipe of his tongue up her moist folds made her gasp aloud. She felt the trickle of fluid escape as her body ignited. When he settled over her clit, it was a mix of relaxation and pressure building in her pussy. She knew any one of her men would stay with her until she orgasmed, never leaving her unsatisfied. There was no need for her to feel rushed or anxious. All she had to do was drift away and enjoy every skilled movement of Matthew’s tongue.

“What if he doesn’t come back?” She didn’t know how she could remember her own name, never mind her current predicament. Patrick just weighed so heavily on her mind.

“Garret will make sure he does.”

Evan and some of the others may hang off every word Garret uttered, but Travis and Patrick had always been ones to turn a deaf ear. What if Patrick refused to return? She should have talked with him about her fears and doubts rather than waiting until he was gone. Cassidy imagined he’d have some of his own insecurities. It would be difficult fitting into regular society when he was something that shouldn’t exist in the civilized world. If she claimed to care so much about him, she should be by his side through any trial.

“But—”

Travis cupped her breasts from behind, rolling the pads of his thumbs over her beaded nipples. The combined stimulation was enough to shut her up for the time being. Her men always seemed to work some magical spell over her, making her insatiable. They were so good to look at, rough and ready, all brawn and muscle.

“You smell like sex,” said Travis. “I thought you were afraid of Patrick.”

“I–I was. I mean, I am. No, I’m not.”

Matthew never stopped suckling her, bringing her higher and higher. She didn’t want to talk or think, not now. Even if she was fully cognizant, her own feelings were a mystery to her. Patrick was a werewolf. How could she digest that in one day?

“Did he fuck you harder? Was there a difference in his cock?”

“What?”

“He’s not fully human. You must have noticed a difference,” said Travis.

“No, he hasn’t changed.”

Her declaration made her think. Maybe her ménage relationship could work, including Patrick. Maybe being part wolf wasn’t much more outlandish than being a citizen of Climax. Rules of the norm didn’t seem to apply here.

“Good girl. Don’t forget it.” Travis reached down to free his cock, thrusting her up for a moment. Matthew rose to his knees, his eyes glazed over, his lips swollen. He looked hungry, reminding her of a wolf. She shook her head, dismissing her obsessive thoughts.

“Fuck me,” she said. Her men had her body thrumming with need. A steady pulse beat deep within her walls. She yearned to be filled, to be fucked by two cocks at once. Cassidy knew she was addicted to being double-teamed. There was nothing quite like it. She yearned for the sensation of being full to overflowing, every cell stimulated at once, with two powerful men sharing her body.

“She learns fast. We didn’t even need to spank her,” said Matthew. He rose to his feet to collect the salve they kept in the cabin. Just knowing it would be used to prepare a cock to breach her ass sent her spiraling toward a spontaneous orgasm. She clamped down hard, feeling empty and anxious.

“Not yet,” said Travis. “She may give us trouble yet.”

Matthew handed him the small jar. Travis shifted her to the side as he lubed up his hefty cock. In a minute she’d be sitting on it and couldn’t wait.

“I want it,” she whined.

“You’re right,” said Matthew. “She’s trouble.”

“Up.” Travis helped her rise up high enough to fit over his erection. As he lowered her down, his hands supporting her weight, she reached down and helped guide his lubed cock into her asshole. He was so slippery, and he could easily slip into her pussy, but that entrance was reserved for Matthew. He’d done an amazing job readying her, helping her forget her worries and just enjoy the moment.

She moaned as she exhaled—a deep, satisfied sound that filled the small cabin. There was nothing quite like having her ass filled, thousands of unique cells sparking to life.

“Nice. You can take my whole cock nicely now, sugar.” Travis held her close, her back to his chest. He gave her time to adjust once she was fully seated. Every second that passed brought her closer and closer to a new realm, one where nothing mattered but fucking.

“I like it.” She wriggled slightly, needing to feel all those thick inches rub against the inside of her ass. After the ordeal she’d endured, she wanted it hard, rough, and dirty. Exactly the kind of sex her Gregor miners were capable of giving her.

“Do you want more, Cassidy? Can you handle two of us?”

Even though she’d recently had sex with Patrick, she was ready for more. She nodded, licking her lips in invitation. Matthew leaned forward and kissed her lips. He dominated her mouth, his tongue delving in, playing with hers. Her ass began to spasm around Travis’s cock as her excitement increased.

Matthew impaled her pussy with two fingers. She was tight, Travis’s cock taking up so much room inside her. He managed to hit her G-spot effortlessly, making her completely wanton.

“Oh God, just give it to me. The real thing.”

“Sorry, I’m not sure what you want.” Matthew continued to finger-fuck her, Travis’s cock swelling inside her ass. She was going to lose it any minute if they didn’t help her reach her peak.

“Your cock! I want it inside me.”

“Where do you want it?” He trailed those searing kisses down the side of her neck.

“My cunt.”

“That’s right,” he said. “I love my dirty girl.”