Hale nodded. “Right. No pain for me, because Circs are so damned fragile.” Hale rolled his eyes. “You are one stupid ass.”
Not expecting that reaction, McKinley could only blink up at him.
“You spent at least three years with Elliot Pearl at Pearson Labs. Didn't you ever learn about the mating heat?”
“Of course I did.” McKinley might be a sick bastard, but he wasn't stupid.
“Then you know a Circ can only be satisfied by another Circ. Hell, the first mating heats my squad went through were bloodier and more violent than that little episode we had earlier. It took us a long time before we could contain ourselves, coming without nearly killing each other. The females help tame that. They normally don't tolerate blood unless they're spilling it. Don't get me started on Caitlyn.” At the name, McKinley grimaced.
“Why do you do that? Whenever Ca—her name is mentioned, you freeze up.”
“I don't know. It hurts me to think of her. I can't explain it.”
“Then explain something else.” Hale placed a hand on his chest, and McKinley's whole body eased at the comfort, except for his cock, which hardened noticeably. “Have you ever had sex with a Circ? Besides me and Paige, I mean.”
“No.” If you could call what I did having sex.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Hale stared at him in amazement.
“No. Neither has Paige. During the times when she needs, she seeks other men. It never bothered me, because I knew I couldn't have her without hurting her. But when she had you, another Circ…I was jealous.”
“Holy shit.” Hale shook his head. “Now listen up, you monster. Like I said. A Circ can only be satisfied by another Circ. Humans can't fill the need we have to procreate.
That's why when you're screwing those men and getting off on the blood, it's because your beast needs to sate a hunger. It can't get the Circ cum it needs, so it uses the blood as a substitute. Damn. That was one of the first things Doc warned us about. Why do you think so many rogues are killing humans when they escape? It's because they can't control themselves. It's a miracle you haven't killed anyone during sex. How long have you had the mating heats?”
McKinley stared, not sure whether to believe him. “Ten years or more. I don't know. I just dealt with it.”
Paige suddenly stepped out of the bathroom wearing a long shirt. She stood tall but human, her eyes glassy. “Exactly. You dealt with it. The same way I did.”
“You said she was getting us food.”
“I lied.” Hale smiled, a true expression of happiness. “Dumbass. Of course you would never hurt Paige. It's obvious to anyone with a pulse how much you love her.
But didn't you see that little bitch in heat?”
“Hey.” Paige glared at Hale, but McKinley sensed an easiness between them that hadn't been there prior to their joining.
“Sorry. But it's true. When Paige was in heat, she didn't want nice. She didn't want gentle. She wanted to be owned, taken. Tell him.”
“As arrogant as he sounds, Hale's right.” Paige smiled down at him, her expression so sweet, Robbie wanted to crawl into a hole, not worthy of such affection.
“Robbie, listen to me. My beast was never happy with those human men I had to sleep with. Hell, I used to go through a good three or four of them just to get a decent night's sleep where I wasn't crawling out of my own skin. And I was probably as rough with them as you were with your own lovers. But my first time with Hale was so different. I wanted to sleep there in his arms, forever.”
Hale threw an arm around her shoulders and hugged her tight, tugging the large shirt she wore, emphasizing her curves. “So did I. It's been a lot easier being Circ with the others here. Sex with them was a necessity, but we survived a helluva lot better than you two did on your own. Jesus, I still can't believe you never even turned to each other.”
Paige wouldn't look at him. “I wanted to, but Robbie didn't want me.” Could what they were saying be true? “That's bullshit, Paige. I wanted you then, the way I want you now. I just couldn't stand the thought of hurting you. I'm a big man,” he said, feeling his cheeks flush when both Hale and Paige stared at his raging hard-on. “And I'm not gentle. Paige, I didn't want you to see me that way.”
“But I needed to. Didn't you feel how right it was? It wasn't dirty, Robbie. It wasn't wrong. I'm not normal, not human. I need more than simple lovemaking.” She wiped at a tear. “Am I terrible for that?”
“Hell, no.” Robbie pulled at his arms, wanting to soothe her. “Paige, honey, I'm sorry. I don't want you to cry. I just…hell. I don't know. I thought I'd hurt you. Are you telling me I didn't?” He looked to Hale. “I heard your pain when I violated you,” he admitted. “And it turned me on. That's sick!”
“No, that's Circ,” Hale said with a grin. “Robbie, we're not human, like Paige said.
Get your mind out of the notion of labeling everything. There's no gay or straight, no kink or perv. We're Circ, and we have special needs. I like it rough. Paige likes it rough.
But we also like it softer. Like when you took me in my bedroom.” Paige's eyes widened. “And when I fucked Paige that second time against the car door. Or in the shower stall an hour ago.” His gaze was tender as it rested on Paige, then McKinley.
“Do you understand what I'm saying? All of us. Roane, Zack, Ace, Derrick, and me. Caitlyn, Sabrina, and Kelly. Now you and Paige. We all need more than what's considered 'normal.' It doesn't make us bad or wrong. Just different.” Paige joined Robbie on the bed and kissed him on the mouth. “Another thing Hale and I talked about, this—us—is new. It's super intense right now. But it won't always be so powerful when we're together. Well, maybe it will. Hale tells me I'm hell on wheels.”
“Damn right,” Hale murmured.
“You're perfect,” Robbie agreed.
“I liked it when you grabbed my hair. When you showed me your strength and took charge, my beast was orgasmic. I liked it when you topped Hale too.” Hale gave them a mock frown. “I'm not always gonna be on the bottom, Robbie.
The point is, what we did was perfect for us. Paige is right for you and me. And you're right for us. I won't lie and say we're all in a happily-ever-after. I just met Paige, and you and I don't really know each other. I sure the hell haven't known you as long as you've known each other. But we're all connected. I'd die for either of you. My beast knows it. I know it.” Hale paused. “Don't stop this before it has a chance. I always knew I'd spot my mates when I laid eyes on them. And I did. It's you and Paige.” McKinley lay there, too stunned to move. All that he'd thought about himself came into question. Could he be normal for a Circ? Was he just a man, needing more?
He'd grown up mostly on his own. The things he'd seen at Pearson Labs and in those clubs made the sex he needed seem more like a perversion than clean, clear need.
“Let us show you.” Paige nodded at Hale.
“Yeah, that's a damned good idea. You've got such a handsome cock. And look at the size of him, Paige. We can't let that go to waste.” The sparkle in Hale's eyes told him to be wary. The Circ was trying to charm McKinley into a better mood, and damn, it was working.
“Ooh, you're right.”
“As usual.”
“You wish.” Paige flirted, teasing them both by lifting the hem of the large shirt she wore. Flashes of her pussy had McKinley aching. And the scent of the three of them together made him want to experience it again. “But I'm hungry. I never did get any dinner.”
“Good point. Neither did I.”
In seconds, both his mates took off their clothing and sat on either side of him on the bed. When they continued to stare at his groin, he swallowed hard and groaned.
“Don't, please. I don't want to hurt you.” He tried to resist. But their words circled in his mind. What if they could make it work? What if he could finally find heaven in Paige's body? In Hale's strong arms?