Abbey's Protectors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 4] (Siren Publishing Menage & More) (38 page)

“Meeka Martin!” Suzie barked. “You are
not
leaving me.”

Meeka turned to face Suzie and reached out to take her hand in hers. “Suzie. I have to go. I can’t stay here anymore.”

“Meeka, I’ve seen you happily mated to Reece and Wade,” Suzie insisted.

“Suzie, you admitted to me that the dream you had about us was not clear.” Meeka smiled, determined not to be sad. “Reece and Wade are great guys and they’re wonderful with Eric, but they don’t want me. You just can’t make someone want to be with you no matter how much you want them.”

“I think they do care about you, honey,” Suzie insisted softly. “I don’t know why they’re so reluctant to open their hearts to you. Maybe they need you to help them.”

Meeka shook her head. She wasn’t about to argue. She knew what the two men needed. They needed a woman to love them. But she also knew that they didn’t want her to be that woman.

“Come on, let’s go shopping,” Meeka said finally, standing and turning to face both of them. “I need to get some inexpensive clothes. I have to be ready to start my new job when it’s offered to me.”

She turned and walked toward the two enforcers who had driven them to the mall as they stood just outside the store she had just come out of and smiled. Brett Garner and Nathaniel Barrett were large, intimidating, and serious. They were powerhouses of muscle, and she felt safe with them. They had stood by silently, giving the women the privacy they needed, and Meeka had been surprised by their kindness and wicked sense of humor. She hadn’t expected them to be anything but stoic and vicious in their protection of them. To some degree they were, but they were also comfortable, caring men. She hoped someday they would find their triad third. Just because she didn’t find that she was part of a triad mating, it didn’t mean she didn’t wish that happiness for the rest of Beckett’s pack family. She saw how happy Suzie and Abbey were with their mates. She also saw the many loving relationships throughout the entire pack. It was a shame she couldn’t be gifted with that same happiness.

“Come on, guys,” she called up to her companions. “We don’t have a lot of time left. I want to get back to Eric soon. Mia was great to watch him for me, but I promised him we would go to the sandbox at the playground and meet Julia and Tammy this afternoon.”

Suzie and Abbey stood and walked on either side of Meeka as she made her way through the crowd. Brett and Nathaniel followed at a close distance. Neither man allowed the women to get more than three feet from them at any time.

Abbey smiled as she watched the men make sure that they were safe. It was definitely a pack trait to be so protective of the women. All of the men were caring and protective people. It amazed her that Brett and Nathaniel never complained despite the time Meeka spent in the store she found with inexpensive clothing.

“I’d like to go into that store,” Abbey said quietly, pointing to the small novelty store off to the right of the mall walkway.

“I’ll go in with you, Abbey,” Brett offered, fighting to keep his smile contained as he looked in the direction that Abbey was pointing. He knew that Hunter and Clay were going to benefit from whatever Abbey bought from that store. Lucky bastards. “Nate can go with Suzie and Meeka into the clothing store.”

Nathaniel smiled and nodded at his triad partner. He couldn’t help the small wave of sadness that came over him as he thought about the lack of a triad mate in his and Brett’s lives. It was sometimes too much to think about. They were both thirty-five years old and were nearly ready to give up on the hope that they would ever find their mate.

“I’ll meet you in half an hour,” Abbey told them, blushing lightly.

“Okay, have fun,” Suzie told her, her voice light and teasing.

Abbey nodded and turned to walk into the small store. She saw that Brett walked in behind her and stood by the doorway with his massive, muscled arms folded across his broad chest. She nodded at him in thanks as she realized he wouldn’t hover over her, but he would be close enough in case she needed him.

She walked to the back of the boutique, appreciating the rainbow of colors as she took in the assortment of lingerie. Seeing a beautiful, turquoise blue teddy with a trim of black lace that edged the bodice and straps, she reached out to touch the silk and smiled. She always liked the way that color complimented her dark hair and tanned skin.

Checking the size, she sighed. Why was it that every store insisted that women could only be a size zero to be sexy? Sliding the hangers forward, she found her size and plucked it off the rack. She was so thankful that her men were completely happy with her body. They appreciated her curves. They never made her feel inadequate or ugly. Quite the opposite, actually. Hunter and Clay made her feel sexy, feminine, and desired.

Walking over to the small display of sex toys, she couldn’t stop the blush that filled her cheeks. She had no idea what she was looking at. Talk about zero experience with things like this!

Soft laughter coming from a woman to her right brought her out of her thoughts. Turning, she saw the most incredibly beautiful woman. She was a little taller than she was, but where Abbey had dark hair and blue eyes, this woman had blonde hair and the most amazing amber eyes she had ever seen. Her face was open and caring, and Abbey felt comfortable with her immediately. She didn’t understand it, but she couldn’t refute it. She felt the woman’s kindness and goodness.

“Are you a newbie?” the young woman asked.

Abbey nodded, smiling. “I have no idea what I’m looking at.”

“I’m Dara,” the young woman introduced herself, extending her hand in greeting.

“Abbey,” Abbey introduced herself, reaching out and taking Dara’s hand to shake it firmly before releasing it.

“I felt inadequate when I first was mated,” Dara told her softly. “But I had two wonderful men who were patient and gentle with me.”

Abbey looked at her in shock. This woman had just admitted to being mated to two men. How could she know that Abbey wouldn’t betray her secret?

“You don’t have to worry,” Dara explained calmly. “I can see the marks on your shoulders where your mates have claimed you.”

Abbey gasped and tried to pull her shirt closed so that no one else would see her secret. She had promised the beautiful lady that she would always keep the secret of the magic of the shifter world. She was jeopardizing their safety.

Dara laughed lightly, reaching out and touching Abbey’s hand gently. Abbey was filled with warmth and calm, and suddenly felt that she could trust this woman. Breathing in deeply, she relaxed somewhat, somehow knowing that this woman wouldn’t hurt the people she now considered her family.

“Here. I would suggest this toy,” Dara told her, picking up the small package with a vibrant pink gel ring that had four unique extensions.

Abbey took the package from her and blushed as she looked at the toy and read the name of it on the packaging.
Super Quad Vibrating Ring
blazed across the top of the package. She looked at Dara with wide eyes, her face red with embarrassment.

“It’s a cock ring,” Dara whispered, leaning in and touching Abbey’s shoulder lightly. “It has a switch on it that will vibrate against his balls and your clit. Turn it on once you get it in place, then straddle your man and have fun.”

She winked at Abbey, making her laugh out loud. “Sounds like you’ve got some experience with this toy,” Abbey told her, holding her hand against her cheek as she felt the fire of her blush deepen.

“Oh, yeah. It’s great. My mates love it, too.”

Dara reached over to pick up another package. She handed it to Abbey and smiled. “You’ll need two—one for each of your men.”

Abbey looked down at the package in her hand and couldn’t stop the laughter that burst from her. The item was an exact duplicate of the toy she already held, except it was neon purple.

“Oh. My. Goodness.” Abbey held the two boxes against her chest. “I can just imagine my mates’ reaction to these.

“I know they’ll love them,” Dara told her with certainty. “Mine sure did.” She reached up and rubbed her swollen belly gently. “The night I first used that toy on them was the night we had a marathon of lovemaking. It was awesome. And it was the night we conceived our cub.”

“Congratulations, Dara. I’m so happy for you.”

Dara’s golden eyes sparkled with happiness. “I can sense your goodness, Abbey,” she told her softly. “Thank you for your good wishes. As much as I would like to have the freedom to walk around the mall and shop a little longer, or even go to a movie, I have to get going. I have two mates who are calling to me in my mind. They don’t like it when I’m away from them for too long. Gil and Josh are telling me to come home. They’re worried about me being out in public. Ever since I got pregnant, they’ve ramped up security. I can’t make a move away from our pack land without a full security team.”

She turned and pointed to the group of four men who stood just inside the doorway of the shop. Abbey saw Brett nod his head toward them in acknowledgment. It made Abbey relax knowing that Brett didn’t perceive them as a threat.

“I know what you mean,” Abbey told her, completely understanding the need for safety. “I’m beginning to be surrounded by the same protection.”

“I was pretty angry about losing my freedom at first,” Dara admitted quietly. “But now that I have my baby to worry about, I can understand just how important it is to always be safe. There are too many people out there who would hurt us or hurt our mates through us.”

Abbey nodded, reaching out and touching Dara’s arm lightly. The very thought of Hunter or Clay injured or killed because of her not being safe sent a shard if ice through her heart.

“Then we’re both going to have to be extra careful so our mates won’t suffer because of us,” Abbey conceded.

Dara nodded and smiled. “It was very nice to meet you, Abbey,” Dara told her, reaching out and touching her hand one last time. “I have to get back to my men. I have a nice surprise for them.” She raised the small bag with the store’s logo on it and smiled.

Abbey laughed and squeezed Dara’s hand lightly. “Thanks for the guidance,” she told her, winking. “I’m looking forward to using these toys.”

“Wear the teddy, too. It’s really beautiful. Your mates will be
very
happy.”

Abbey nodded, watching as Dara turned and walked out of the store. She was immediately surrounded by the four men. With one last wave at Abbey as she looked over her shoulder, Dara walked away and disappeared into the sea of people in the crowded mall.

Abbey turned and made her way over to the register. Placing the two toys and the lingerie on the counter, she smiled as the woman behind the counter winked at her and began to ring up her purchases. Taking out her wallet and removing the cash she needed to pay for the items, she thought about how her men were going to react. She hoped they would enjoy what she had planned for them.

Abbey looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She brushed her hair one last time, carefully pulling its length forward to settle over her shoulders to rest softly against the bodice of the turquoise blue teddy.

Honey?

Yes, Clay?

I’m up at the family lodge meeting with Jace and Jackson. I’ll be home in about an hour.

Okay. Is Hunter with you?

No, he’s on his way home right now. Is everything all right, Abbey?

Yes, Clay. I’m just missing you both.

Baby.

The deep emotions that Clay was feeling warmed Abbey deep down in her soul. The wonder he had of being the recipient of her love traveled through their mating bond and made Abbey realize just how much he cherished her. She could sense his happiness. She could feel his love. And she was filled with her own happiness that what she felt for him was returned in spades. Reaching out through the ribbons of their bond, she searched for Hunter and found him.

Hunter?

Yes, sweetheart?

Are you almost home?

I’ll be home and holding you in my arms within the next ten minutes, Mate.

Abbey’s soft laughter traveled through their bond. She made sure to fill both of her men with the warmth and happiness she was feeling.

Have fun, you two,
Clay called to them, chuckling softly.

Abbey closed her thoughts to the men, careful to share only her feelings and not her plans. She wanted to surprise them both.

Only minutes later, she heard the front door open and a thrill raced through her. She could hear Hunter going through his routine of removing his uniform jacket and hanging it up on the coat rack beside the front door.

“Abbey?” he called out to her.

“I’m upstairs in our bedroom, Hunter.”

The heavy tread of his footsteps on the stairs sent a rush of excitement through her. She closed the bathroom door so he wouldn’t see her. When he opened the bedroom door and stepped inside, she realized she was suddenly nervous.

“Sweetheart, are you okay?” he asked, standing outside the closed bathroom door.

“Yes,” she told him softly from her hiding place behind the door, amazed by how he had picked up on her nervousness. “How was your day?”