Authors: Ruby Shae
Tags: #BBW, #Mail-Order Bride, #Paranormal, #Menage, #Bear-Shifter, #Romance, #Werebear, #Adult, #Erotic, #Contemporary, #Identical Twins, #Doctors, #Lonely Life, #Appreciation
They’d gone for a simple, one carat, princess cut diamond guarded on each side by two smaller princess cut emeralds. The three stones were set in a platinum gold band.
Hawk removed the ring from the box and slid it down her finger. Seeing her hand garnished with their ring made his cock harden. He wanted her again.
“Thank you.”
She leaned forward and kissed him gently, swiping her tongue across his lips. He opened his mouth and allowed her to leisurely explore. Too soon, she broke the kiss and granted Hawk the same exploration. Hawk leaned her back onto the pillow, and slowly slid his hand down her stomach and over her ass. Gavin knew is brother’s next move, but Ava’s stomach decided it was hungry again, and the intimate moment was ruined by the three of them falling into a fit of laughter.
Ten minutes later, Gavin and Ava sat at the island laughing while Hawk hovered over a skillet full of scrambled eggs, cheese and ham. Ava had worked the toaster and he’d set the table and given everyone a bottle of water.
They gobbled up the hot food in silence, cleared the table, and then shuffled back to the bedroom, exhausted. They resumed their original positions, and Gavin saw the evening light reflect off of Ava’s ring. The three dots of color shone on the ceiling, and he smiled and closed his eyes.
This time sleep came quickly.
Chapter Six
Ava finished drying her hands and admired her reflection in the bathroom mirror of the fancy hotel where the Literacy Gala was being held.
Earlier in the week, she’d gone shopping with Bree and the girls and they’d helped her pick a dress for the evening. The dark blue, semi-formal, satin cocktail dress accentuated all of her curves. It was sleeveless with a square neckline and two inch wide straps, a form fitting top, and a skirt that flared out slightly with the help of a tulle petticoat. A black satin belt completed the classic look.
She wore a modern style black satin shoe with a two inch heel, and her late mother’s diamond solitaire necklace and earrings. Her wild curls looked only slightly under control, but she didn’t care. Her men liked wild, and they’d reminded her of it every day since they’d officially marked her and claimed her as their own.
The cut of the dress left nothing to the imagination when it came to her marks, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She was proud of her men, and of their triad, and she didn’t care who knew. The ring on her finger shone in the mirror, and she smiled. The emeralds were a constant reminder of her men and their love.
It had been a little over a week since their mating, and she couldn’t believe how drastically her life had changed. Gavin and Hawk had worked the morning after their mating, and she’d checked out of the hotel and moved her first few things into their home. The weekend had involved several trips to the city as they packed up her apartment, and her old life.
Not surprising, the men didn’t mind the stairs at all.
They’d easily found a perfect rhythm as she, Gavin and Hawk permanently occupied the master bedroom. Hawk had kept his office upstairs, and they’d deemed the empty room next to Gavin’s office a guest room. The two empty rooms on the top floor would be for their cubs, when they had them.
The guys supported her idea of opening an honor library, but she wasn’t rushing into anything. Right now she only wanted to spend time with her men.
She turned to leave when the door to the stall behind her opened and Claire walked out. The bookstore had never earned enough money to purchase plates at the benefit, and she doubted it was doing any better since she’d left.
She hid her surprise and smiled.
“Hello, Claire.”
“You look ridiculous with those marks on your neck,” Claire said.
“Funny, I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”
Her sister had always been a bitch, but Ava was of sick of not sticking up for herself.
“Whatever,” Claire said. She washed her hands and reapplied her lipstick. “You might think you’re something special, coming here with two dates, but those men will never stay with you. In fact, as soon as they get a good look at me, I’ll prove how easy it is to steal them away. Just like I did with David.”
“They are nothing like David,” Ava said smiling, “but go ahead and give it your best shot.”
“I plan on it.”
Claire flipped her hair and walked out of the restroom.
Ava rolled her eyes, double checked the mirror and excited the room. She wasn’t worried about Claire approaching the guys. She was confident in their bond, and in herself.
Everyone had gathered for appetizers in the bar before the dining room opened, and on her way down the hall, David blocked her path.
“Ava, you have to come with me. I need your help,” he said, reaching for her arm.
She stepped to the side and he collided with air.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Ava said. “What are you and Claire doing here anyway?”
“I’m trying to secure a backer for an expansion, but Claire made a bad first impression,” he said. “If you don’t help me, we’ll lose the bookstore.”
“That stopped being my problem six months ago.”
She stepped around him, leaving him behind, and walked into the bar. Gavin and Hawk stood with their backs to her, but she could tell by their posture they were annoyed. A short, petite woman stood in front of them talking, and she didn’t have to see the woman’s face to know that it was Claire.
Hell, the woman had probably run past David to get to them before she could. The vision made her smile. Claire and David had both betrayed her, and they’d both gotten exactly what they deserved.
As she approached the trio, she heard Claire’s voice first.
“Wouldn’t be fun to go find an open storage room, or coat closet somewhere, and have a quickie while everyone else is sitting down to dinner?”
“You’re right,” Hawk said, deadpan, “that would be fun.”
She stepped between the two men, and they both wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Hi baby,” Hawk said, placing a kiss on her cheek.
“I missed you,” Gavin said, simply.
“I missed you, too,” she said, smiling up at him.
Their eyes shone with the devotion she’d always dreamed of, and despite her mate’s obvious irritation with Claire, she looked at her sister and smiled.
“What would be fun?” she asked, innocently.
Claire’s smile grew into a knowing smirk, but it fell when Hawk started talking.
“Claire suggested we go find an empty storage closet somewhere and get it on. Apparently, she has a thing for knowing others are fucking while she’s eating an expensive dinner.”
Gavin turned his head and coughed to cover his laugh, and she gathered the back of his jacket in her fist. It took everything she had not to burst into giggles.
“Really?” Ava asked her sister. “Wow Claire, I had no idea you were so kinky. Come on boys, let’s see what we can do.”
They all turned to walk away, and she and Gavin broke down in a fit of laughter. They had no intention of escaping to a broom closet, at least not tonight, but they had reserved a hotel room for later.
On their way to the dining room, a man stepped in front of them and introduced himself as a popular publisher she’d communicated with several times via email when she’d still owned half the store.
“Ava Redmond?”
“Yes,” she replied. Gavin and Hawk flanked her, one on each side.
“I’m Mark Stanton,” he said. “We’ve been emailing back and forth about the bookstore expansion.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Stanton, but I sold my half of the bookstore over six months ago. I’m not sure who you’ve been talking to, but I sent a note to your office alerting them to the change before I left.”
“We received it,” he said, “but then a retraction came a few weeks later. Someone has been posing as you, Ms. Redmond, and I refuse to back a dishonest company. Where are you working now?”
“I’m not working anywhere, sir, but I’m considering opening an honor library and beverage bar. My mates and I are still discussing the details, though.”
“An honor library sounds fantastic,” he said, handing her a card. “Whatever you decide to do, if books are involved, I’ll proudly back you.”
“Even if it’s in Bear Canyon?” she asked.
“Anywhere,” he confirmed.
“Thank you,” she said as he walked away.
By the end of the evening, she had several more cards, and Claire and David had been quietly asked to leave after Claire had caused a scene yelling about how much she hated books and reading. Ava was surprised to find so many backers and supporters without even looking.
“Either these people really hate David and Claire, or I really made an impression,” she said.
“You’ve made an impression on me,” Gavin said.
“On me, too,” Hawk chimed in. “It only makes sense that others love you, too.”
“I love you,” she said, leaning forward to kiss Hawk. It was chaste and simple, but left a promise of more to come.
She turned toward Gavin and kissed him, too.
“I love you,” she said against his lips.
“Let’s steal dessert and go up to our room,” he suggested.
The three of them stood, and Hawk led the way.
Considering the price of dinner, she wasn’t surprised when no one stopped them from each carrying two plates of dessert out of the dining room and into the elevator.
Later that night, Ava found out what happens when you combine two starving bears, their eager mate, plates of cake without utensils, and a whole lot of frosting.
The End
From the Author
Thank you for purchasing this book. Your support allows me to continue doing a job I love every day. If you liked this story, please consider leaving a review so more people can find and enjoy my books.
Hugs,
Ruby Shae
About the Author
I write sizzling, sexy, shifter romance.
Until I find my own tall, muscle bound, alpha shifter…I’ll keep writing about them.
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Also by Ruby Shae
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Savage Bear (Book 3) – July 2015!