“Well, we'll have to remedy that.”
Sexual tension filled the sudden silence between them.
Someone cleared their throat nearby, and Jules glanced up to see Olivia standing by their table. She focused on their uneaten salads. A smile played at the corner of her mouth. “Um, you guys need to go. We have to leave.”
“Why?” Sheridan asked.
“Because you pushed Hayashi into a mating frenzy, and he barely made it into the SUV with Morgan before they needed to 'share some love.'” Jules grinned. “What about you?”
Olivia glanced at him with a smile. “I'm feeling it, but it's tempered by the baby, I think. Jesse is waiting for me, though. We don't want to leave you here by yourselves.”
“We're not alone. Tersch is here.”
Jules frowned at Sheridan. “What?”
“I saw Tersch when we walked in. He's with someone sitting around the corner. Out of sight, I guess.”
Jules had specifically told Tersch to stay home to watch after Mrs. Sharpe and Ava. A test to see if the big guy was having trouble following orders again. “Olivia, go on back with Fallon. Sheridan and I will round up Tersch and head back as well.” Olivia nodded. “I just wanted to say congratulations.” She laughed at the flush on Sheridan's cheeks. “The love between you two is so strong, it makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I'm so happy for you guys.” The pleasure on Sheridan's face made up for Tersch's blatant disregard for orders. Almost.
“Thanks.” Jules stood and accepted Olivia's bouncy hug. Sheridan did the same. Then he wrapped his arm around Sheridan's shoulders and squeezed, inhaling the warm scent of his mate.
After Olivia darted back to Fallon, Sheridan murmured, “Wow, she's walled a band of positive energy around the baby. I can't wait to see how he turns out.”
“He?” Jules wondered at his mate's abilities.
“Definitely a boy. And won't he be adorable with Jesse for a dad and Olivia for a mom? Good genes.”
Jules kissed her. “Imagine what ours will look like.” He inhaled and tensed at the same moment she did. That subtle variation in her scent. It spooked him.
“Oh, wow. Is that possible now, since I'm like you?” Sheridan looked shocked.
They had never used protection. His claiming of her had been more than intense. It had been thorough.
They reached Tersch's booth, a perfect distraction. A baby. Oh, man. He was ready to be a father, but… Jules forced himself to speak in an even voice. “Tersch.
What a surprise. I thought you were supposed to be home.”
“Dude, you don't look so good.” Tersch stood and grabbed his arm.
The man with him in the booth wore a baseball hat and seemed to shrink into himself. Quietly he said, “I'll see you back at the house,” and scooted out from the booth.
Sheridan gasped, and Jules immediately turned to her.
“What's wrong?” Had she finally felt that stirring of life within her? She'd seemed to accept her feelings for him, but would this sudden descent into motherhood be too much to bear?
“I'm fine. Great. Let's go home.”
Jules shrugged off Tersch's hand. “I'm fine, Tersch. But you're not going to be.
The three of us are going home to have a nice, long talk together.” Tersch shrugged. “Whatever.”
But an hour later, once back in Jules's bedroom, Tersch's casual disregard for Jules's orders faded under a more aggressive tone.
“Dude, you don't see what she is? She's trouble.” Tersch glared at Sheridan, who glared right back.
Jules wanted to praise her for not bowing under Tersch's anger, but he had to deal with Tersch first. He could feel the Circ's tension and knew what provoked him. Tersch suffered from their current mating heat and from the recent distance from Jules. Though the team had been together working to find Montaña, Jules hadn't sexually bonded with any of them since Sheridan's arrival. With the others mated, they could go to their partners for repletion. Jules knew Tersch hadn't gone to anyone.
Jules glanced at Sheridan. He could only hope she wouldn't have a problem with what he needed to do. Because accepting him meant accepting the team.
Talking about the mating heat was one thing, but seeing and participating in it was another.
“Sheridan's my mate, Tersch. We're getting married.” She smiled.
Thank God. Unfortunately, Tersch showed no such pleasure, and Jules growled, “I think it's about time I reminded you of your place.”
“Oh? Going to fuck me up the ass?” Tersch sneered, his gaze challenging as it rested on Sheridan.
She shared a look with Jules that he immediately understood. Her beast asked permission to come out and play. He couldn't wait and nodded to her. “Oh yeah. Do it.”
Jules grabbed Tersch and shoved him back against the wall. “Don't move, you bastard. You wanted our attention. Now you have it.”
“What 'our'?”
“Please.” Jules took a good whiff of Tersch's ripe need. “You're hot. And fucking hard. I'm not blind.” Jules palmed Tersch's cock, satisfied when the big man groaned. “You need to be taken in hand.”
“By you, not her,” Tersch rasped, but Jules saw his friend's hungry stare narrow on Jules's mate, as if the berserker couldn't help himself.
Jules asked her, “Remember what I told you earlier, baby? About being filled?” She nodded, the flash of wildness in her eyes a welcome reminder of how well they fit together. Her beast raced out to play. She unzipped her sundress, which fell to the floor, kicked off her sandals, and stood in nothing but a thong. Her nails lengthened as he watched.
“Christ.” Tersch ground his cock against Jules's hand. “She's beautiful,” he grudgingly admitted as Sheridan stepped out of her thong and fully changed.
Jules yanked Tersch's clothing off until he stood naked. Then Jules took off his clothes and changed as well.
“You stay as you are,” Jules commanded. “No beast. Not yet.”
“But—”
“You do as you're told,” Sheridan's gravelly voice echoed. She approached and sniffed Tersch's chest. Even changed, she only came to Tersch's pecs. But she'd filled out everywhere.
Her breasts pressed against Tersch as she leaned closer, and he groaned.
“Look at her tits. My tits,” Jules growled at Tersch. He left Tersch and stepped behind Sheridan. He cupped her breasts and then made her drag them across Tersch's flesh. “Her nipples are pretty, aren't they?”
“Yeah,” Tersch whispered.
“Tasty too.” Jules shoved his erection between Sheridan's ass cheeks and slid through the crease. “She's a hot one. My mate. She's important to me. She's not the enemy.”
“No,” Tersch agreed. “Not the enemy. God, you smell good, Sheridan.” He leaned down to lick her, and Jules grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head back, sandwiching Sheridan between them.
He snarled. “She's mine. You're fucking mine. You obey orders, Gunnar. Why were you at the restaurant?”
Sheridan paid little attention to him as her beast toyed with Tersch. She ran her hands up and down his body and caressed his cock. Jules saw and felt Tersch tense, but the Viking didn't touch Sheridan again.
“Thought you might have some trouble. Wanted to protect you,” Tersch rumbled, his beast obviously wanting to come out.
“Keep it in,” Jules warned. “I told you I was fine. The others were there.
Sheridan was there. I'm not fragile. I'm not going to disappear again.” Tersch growled, and Jules slammed his head back against the wall.
“Fucking listen to me. I’m in charge. You do what you're told when you're told.” Their gazes remained locked for a full minute. Then Tersch finally submitted.