Finally a throat cleared behind him, and with one last lingering lick he turned to meet Jonas's gaze. Jonas smiled.
“Much as I'm enjoying the show”—and he was, his hand was pumping his cock—“dinner is ready.”
Grunting, he rose, kissing his way up her body. “It can wait.”
She looked at him with glazed eyes when his cock nudged her entrance.
Pushing against him, she pleaded, “Now, Mick. Now.” He didn't hesitate and knew there was no way he was going to last when she came immediately, her inner muscles clamping around him in fierce undulating rhythm. He fucked her through it. Jaw clenched, hands gripping her hips too hard.
When he couldn't fight the orgasm pulsing at the base of his spine anymore, he lifted her to him, tilted her head to the side Jonas hadn't marked. Her pale, creamy skin was all the invitation he needed. His incisors lengthened. Her skin broke under the pressure as jets of his cum spurted into her. Marking her in the most primitive way of both man and beast.
Reluctantly, he released her, swiped his tongue over the drop of blood, cock still thrusting shallowly inside her. When there was no more fluid to ejaculate, he slid from her, picked her up, and turned to sit on the bed. It took a long time to catch his breath, to slow his heart.
Jonas watched from the doorway with the slight sexy smile that always made Mick inhale sharply. The look that said the evening was just getting started. When she began to stir, Jonas went into the bathroom and came back with a short red robe, and placed it in her outstretched hand.
“Nothing under that robe, darlin'.”
His voice was hard and stern, and for a second Mick thought Jonas might be pushing her too hard. But she nodded and lowered her eyes, a slight tremble rocking her body as she stood clutching the garment in front of her. Mick's cum trickled down her leg, and he grabbed the robe, placing it on the bed.
“Wait a minute, sugar. Come with me.”
Mick led her to the bathroom and wet a washcloth with warm water. He started at the end of the trail and moved up, cupping her pussy and pushing one cloth-covered finger a mere inch inside her.
“Mick, there is no way—not so soon,” she protested with a drawn-out groan, but her body welcomed him.
He tossed the cloth in the hamper and followed her to the bedroom, where she put the robe on, belting it tight over her waist. He grinned. Did she think that would be any kind of deterrent? If anything she was sexier wearing the short, satiny thing.
Chapter Six
Jonas waited in the kitchen. He'd made steak and scrambled eggs and handed her a plate when she entered. She sat at the table and stared at it a moment before a laugh bubbled up. Jonas gave her a stern look.
“Eat.”
“This is way too much,” she complained, rolling her eyes, but picked up her fork.
She didn't do much more than nibble and push it around her plate, though. His voice lowered to a sexy growl. “Do I need to feed you, darlin'?” Her glance at him was startled, and to his disappointment she took a real bite of the steak. The idea of feeding her by hand was strangely appealing. She ate, not enough to appease him, but by the third time she tried to hide a yawn, he gave in.
He pushed back from the table, picked her up, and headed into the living room, where he settled on the long sofa.
Mick moved around the kitchen, probably cleaning up, and Jonas picked up the remote from the side table. He flipped through channels, looking for anything interesting. He was wired. Mick probably was too. Their mate, on the other hand, was exhausted. Hell, she'd had a busy day. Looking down, he brushed strands of hair off her face, and his heart stuttered. She was so beautiful in sleep. Calm and peaceful with none of the fear and worry that seemed to haunt her eyes while she was awake. He wanted to see her like this in the morning. For the rest of his mornings.
It was a stunning realization.
How had he gone so quickly from wanting an entirely different kind of woman to suspecting it would rip out his heart if he couldn't live with this soft, delicate creature? Mick sat down next to them, close enough to widen his legs and brush his knee against Jonas's. Mick laid his head against the back and looked over to meet his gaze, deep and soulful and as always knowing exactly what Jonas was thinking.
“She soothes the wolf.”
“Yeah.” He stared at her, ran his fingers through her hair. “I didn't expect that,” he admitted.
“Because you're so much a protector. A defender. You expect everything in life to be a battle.”
“And the two of you don't,” he murmured confirmation, knowing it was the truth.
Mick shrugged. “I'll fight to protect the ones I love. But I am a healer.” Jonas didn't envy him. To be a healer in a wolf pack was to have dual natures.
His wolf was just as predatory as Jonas's, but his human soul made him pay for causing pain or death. It was something Mick was born to do, the same kind of calling to help and cure human physicians felt. Jonas had always admired him for the way he walked the line between his two natures with honor. He loved him for so much more. His dedication. His loyalty. Mick was the kind of man who'd always have your back.
Now they'd brought this woman into the mix, and Jonas wasn't quite sure what to make of her. He'd thought he knew her. Thought he knew what he wanted.
He was beginning to accept he was wrong.
His hand rested above her knee, and he itched to slide it up. He wanted to know every pale inch of her. Wanted to find all the hidden spots that turned her on, that tickled. Wanted to discover all the old hurts and make them better. The lighting in the room was dim, but he didn't need more to make out the scars crisscrossing her thighs. He hadn't missed them when she'd turned her back and walked into the bathroom with Mick earlier.
He kept a tight stranglehold on his rage. It wouldn't help her to see it, but he couldn't fight the desire to find the monster who'd left them on her and rip him apart piece by piece. If he'd claimed her before her father had shown up at their gates demanding her return, he would have known, and the man wouldn't still be breathing.
The need for vengeance grew to a pulsing fury. His hold on her tightened until she voiced a sleepy complaint, and he released her so fast she almost fell off his lap.
This was his worst nightmare, inadvertently hurting his mate because she was human. Because sometimes he forgot his own strength. It was only her hand twisted in his shirt and Mick's quick leap that saved her from a nasty bump on the head. He didn't release her to Mick's hold, though. He pulled her close, careful this time not to do it too tightly, and met Mick's gaze over her head.
“The moon is still up,” Mick said softly. “Let's go run.” His first instinct was to refuse. How could they leave their mate unprotected?
“She's safe here,” Mick reminded him. “She's on our land, and no wolf would dare touch her. She carries our scents now.”
Still, Jonas hesitated until Mick rolled his eyes and huffed. “You can't stand guard all the time, and neither can I. She has a long way to go to heal, and overprotectiveness will stunt that healing,” he said bluntly. “Is that what you want?”
“Of course not.”
“Then take charge of the wolf. You're letting the animal have control.” Jonas responded to the insult with a low growl, but he didn't try to defend himself. After standing, he passed her over to Mick, who carried her down the hall and put her in bed. Jonas had to force himself to step outside and strip.
He didn't want to leave her alone, but he could see the wild joy in Mick as he joined him and shifted. It was the only night a month they could run together.
Jonas owed it to him. He had no control over the twist of fate that left Mick only able to change on a full moon. It had taken a couple of years to get over feeling a bit guilty about it.