Christmas Three (4 page)

“You were mad at us and I think we deserve a little compensation for the trauma.” Dominic was completely naked when he spoke. “We decided a hot shower together is a good way to start.”

“Oh, really?”
She couldn’t help the smile that broke across her face. “What about my compensation?”

Dominic grinned. “Oh, that’s part of it too. Come on, fiery
Tempest,
get clean with us in the shower.”

Alex shook his head.
“Wrong words, Dom.
It’s going to be dirty, so very dirty.”

“In that case, you go start the water and I’ll get undressed and meet you in there.” Tempest pulled her sweater over her head. “Hurry, boys, I want to see you both hot and soapy when I get in there.”

“Our mate has spoken,” Alex said and moved towards the bathroom.

“Hurry, my love,” Dominic said.

Oh, I’ll hurry
, Tempest thought with an excited smile and stripped quickly. Luckily, Vanity’s noisy reality show and the fact that they were in the bathroom would probably drone out some of the noise they made. She wanted to let loose and her boys never had a problem making her scream.

By the time she slipped into the large standing shower with them, Alex and Dominic were hard and ready to please her. Tempest grabbed the soap from Dominic’s hands and began soaping him up. He kissed her long and deep while her hands glided over the hard muscled contours of his body. Behind her, Alex’s hands ran over her skin and she smelled the familiar scent of her vanilla sugar and
shea
butter bath wash. The combination of her delicate scented soap and their manly spiced soap filled the air that was thick with steam.

“Every time you come out of the shower smelling of this, I want to eat you up,” Alex said in her ear.

Dominic groaned in her mouth as she stroked his cock with slippery hands. She bit his lips gently before turning in his arms. Now her ass was nestled against his cock and it was Alex’s turn to be kissed and caressed. The hot water ran down their bodies as the three of them moved and strived to be closer as the passion between them grew.

“I can smell you over the soap,” Dominic said. “I know the minute you’re wet and aroused, because it makes my cock hard as soon as I
scent
it in the air.”

His words excited them all. Dominic cupped her breasts and massaged them in his big hands almost savagely. He rolled her nipples between his thumb and forefingers until she moaned and a whimper escaped her and
was
swallowed by Alex’s kiss. His tongue played lazily in her mouth while he ran his hand down her stomach and cupped her sex. His thick fingers slipped between the slit of her pussy and slowly circled her clit, teasing and making her writhe. He sank one digit inside her and used it to bring her to the brink of pleasure before removing it from her aroused snatch.

Alex lifted his head from hers, brought his finger to his mouth and moaned as he tasted it. “I can never get enough of you.”

Dominic turned her and took her lips in a searing kiss. Her mates’ cocks were hard and throbbing by now, begging to be taken inside her body. Tempest was glad to oblige. Tempest took Dominic’s cock in her hand and sank to her knees on the tiled shower floor. She took his cock deep in her mouth and laved it with her tongue before torturing him mercilessly. His harsh cry filled the air as she continued pleasuring him with her mouth. She was rewarded with the salty taste of his pre-come.

“Oh, damn girl.” His words came out in an almost painful groan.

Tempest delighted in pleasing him, licking the hard shaft and moaning at his taste, cupping his balls in her hand and squeezing them lightly. Under her onslaught, Dominic’s hips bucked in pleasure as he leaned back against the tiles of the shower wall. She gave him another long, slow lick before turning to her other wolf mate.

Tempest blew a saucy kiss to Alex before wrapping her lips around his thick rod. It was his turn to cry out as she loved him with her mouth. His primitive moans brought goose bumps to her skin even in the heat of the shower and steam rising between them. He sank his hands in her wet hair and fucked her mouth slowly, pushing himself between her lips. Tempest had never experienced anything this wild in her life; the energy in the air was so thick it was almost palpable and the feeling between them was more connected than it ever had been. Each time with them was a surprise, a roller coaster ride of sensations that promised more pleasure than the one before it.

“Oh, baby. It’s time we take you. No more foreplay,” Alex brought her to her feet and kissed her until her senses swam.

They always took turns in who did what to satisfy her. Dominic lifted her against him and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She was sandwiched between their bodies and their heat seemed enhanced by the water of the shower. Alex’s cock was pressed up against the crack of her ass and his hands were braced on the wall beside her and Dominic’s head.

Just the feeling of the tip of Dominic’s cock probing at her opening made her sigh involuntarily, and when he entered her and filled the slick cavern of her pussy, she moaned loud and long. She then felt Alex take her ass, slow and caring and filling her with such tenderness that it made her love him all the more.

Her head fell against Dominic’s shoulder and she wrapped her arms around his thick, corded neck. They began to move together, slow, deep strokes catching each other’s rhythm. She called out their names and heard their groans in response. The steam was thick and heavy and hot around them but it was nothing to the heat their passion was creating. Their pace increased. Tempest leaned backwards so her back was flush against Alex’s chest and lifted her hands and cupped the back of his neck to anchor
herself
in place. It lifted and exposed her breasts to Dominic’s hungry mouth, and he sucked a nipple deep into his mouth.

“Oh, God, yes, yes!” she cried out as the onslaught of sensations sent a pulsating shaft of pure need shooting down to her core. Their movements took a frenzied tone and she closed her eyes as her orgasm overtook and swamped her entire being. They drew out every last drop of pleasure from her body. They never stopped their lustful tasking of her body until she was almost weeping from the intensity of what she was experiencing. With a hoarse cry, Alex came first and soon Dominic echoed the sentiment by calling her name harshly as he filled her with his seed.

Somehow, they managed to stay standing after all of that and she was pliant as they washed her body and then their own. After toweling dry, they fell into bed naked, entwined and completely sated. She didn’t have to dream to know what the future would bring. It would be her men, the love they all shared and the unity that no one could break. No one could get between them. She dared anyone to try because she would fight for her men as much as they would fight for her. And they would win.

3

Chapter Four

The day before Christmas Eve was colder than she even thought possible for
Cormina
.
They woke up to frost and the rain that had fallen the day before had formed crystal icicles on the trees. It was a winter wonderland in every way except that so far on the local radio channel there had been at least two accidents. She had her long grocery list made up for Christmas dinner and dozens of cookies stacked in boxes that needed taken to the retirement home residents. As she and Vanity calmly got everything packed up to head into town, her wolves voiced their doubts.

“The roads are slick, Temps. Maybe you should put this off until after Christmas,” Dominic said.

“Cookies to the retired
folks
days after Christmas spoils their holiday,” she pointed out. “Plus, I have to get to the grocery store. We’re running on empty with three wolves to feed and one with a baby on the way.”

Alex spoke up. “The threat of Vernon is still there and we shouldn’t give him an opening like this.”

“He hasn’t even been around your property for two days. He’s probably scared out of his wits at the fight that’s coming,” Vanity said. “I’ve even felt his energy retreating from the pack bonds, which in turn is strengthening the others.”

“He’s never stepped foot in
Cormina
. You
now
how outsiders are treated, and we’d have heard of it by now with the way rumors are spread like wildfire here,” Tempest pointed out. “Plus, we have more friends now who would have said something to us. The amount of friends we have now outnumber those who still look down on our lifestyle. I’m safe in town. Let me go do what I need to do and be back home to you guys before dark.”

“Afternoon,” Dominic said.

“Late afternoon, by at least four,” Tempest said. “We’re going to hang out with the old folks for a bit, then stop at the store.”

“If it’s one minute after four and you’re not through that door, we’re coming to find you,” Alex said. “Keep your eyes open. And Vanity, you keep your senses tuned. You are the only early warning system she may have.”

“She’s pregnant. She can’t be put in any position that could bring harm to her or her baby,” Tempest retorted. “Under no circumstances do I want her fighting or anything of the sort. Since we know they don’t venture into town unless it’s close to Acadia—” She picked up a crate filled with red and green cookie boxes and handed it to Dominic. “—it won’t be an issue, so quit worrying and, hey, it will give you time to wrap my gifts. I’ve already got yours done and hidden.”

“Since when?
I haven’t seen wrapping paper or anything,” Alex said.

“Since Thanksgiving.
I am proactive in my holiday gift buying and I’m very sneaky.” Tempest kissed him. “If a package arrives today, it’s for Vanity. Do not open it.”

“Tempest, you didn’t have to do that. I don’t need anything. You’ve already done so much,” Vanity said. The emotion in her voice was evident.

“You’re under our roof and no one should wake up Christmas morning without gifts under the tree,” Tempest said with a smile. She kissed Dominic as he came back inside from taking the crate to the truck. She smiled and pulled on her coat before teasing Vanity. “Grab your coat and let’s go. One minute after four and they’ll be tearing down
Cormina
brick by brick.”

“Don’t think we won’t,” Dominic warned.

“I have no doubt of that. Bye, my lovers.” She stepped outside and reluctantly shivered as the cold prickled at her face and burned her throat with each breath. Vanity closed the door and Tempest held her hand as they moved carefully down the slippery steps together. The driveway was salted and clear. Dominic took care of that as soon as he heard about the frost. The drive on the main road into
Cormina
was pretty uneventful, but in the town limits she had to drive more slowly because of slick spots on the streets. As the
Cormina
Retirement Home was at the far end of town, it took almost forty-five minutes before they got there and pulled into the parking lot. They were getting out and about to start moving boxes inside when Lorna came walking up.

“Oh, I could have done without seeing this one,” Tempest said under her breath to Vanity.

“I remember her. I could hear her shrieking in my head for weeks after Halloween,” Vanity said and wrinkled her nose. “She smells like she’s been swimming in cheap pharmacy perfume.”

Tempest was unable to hold back her laughter just as Lorna came to stand in front of her.

“Well,
ain’t
you the paragon of goodness taking stuff to these old crones?” Lorna’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Lorna, isn’t this where your grandmother lives?” Tempest asked.

She snorted.
“Like I care.
Hopefully Daddy doesn’t bring her out for Christmas dinner. Last year I was stuck sitting next to her and she smells funny.”

“No worse than you, I’m sure,” Vanity murmured.

Tempest coughed to hide her laugh and Lorna turned her attention to Vanity. She looked down at the petite woman and acted as if she had found something on her shoe. “Who’s this? Wait,
lemme
guess. One of those two men you’re playing whore with got this one knocked up, so now she’s living with y’all and you’ve accepted it because, well, that’s just you.”

Tempest shook her head.
“Lorna, dear, stop putting me in your shoes.
I think there are a few baby Bubbas floating around.”

Vanity looked Lorna up and down before smiling wide. “This human doesn’t even smell edible. Should I just snap her neck, my Beta?”

“Do what now?
My Beta?
What is she saying?” Lorna took a step back and her heels slipped on the icy sidewalk. It was only holding on to the back of the truck that kept her from sprawling wide onto the ground. She righted herself and glared at Tempest and Vanity before pointing her finger. “Y’all are doing some nasty stuff out in that farmhouse. You are all ungodly and plain
ol
’ perverted. When this town finally figures it out, I’ll be the one to tell them I told you so. Just know I got my eye on you.”

“As usual, your threats inspire me to feel…nothing,” Tempest said dryly. “Figure it out, Lorna. No one cares what you think. You are tolerated simply because your father is mayor.”

Pregnant Vanity with the flaming red hair stepped forward. “I’ll be watching you. No one threatens her under my watch. Sleep lightly.”

“That’s a threat!” Lorna cried out. The high pitch of her voice caused Tempest to wince.

“No, it’s a promise,” Vanity snarled and snapped at her.

“What is she, a feral cat?” Lorna backed away.

“Vanity, behave,” Tempest said.
“Merry Christmas, Lorna.
Now run along like a good girl.”

Lorna walked away quickly, throwing a hesitant look back over her shoulder. Vanity grabbed another crate from the back seat and together they cautiously went up the walk to the retirement center. Vanity ended up having just as much fun as Tempest did with the older residents of
Cormina
. They gave her an impromptu baby shower sans the gifts and more games. The nurses played along and gave them rolls of ribbon to guess how round she was around the middle. They played music on the piano and sang along and even danced with a few of the spry old men. The residents appreciated all the work and effort that Tempest and Vanity put into making them care packages for the holidays, especially those who had no family to visit or to come see them for the holidays.

They were invited to stay for lunch which, even though it was cafeteria food, was wonderful. But when two o’ clock rolled around, it was time for them to go and for the older folks to rest. They went shopping and stocked up on food and everything they needed for Christmas dinner and got back into the truck to head home. Halfway between
Cormina
and the plantation house, the truck began to sputter and died completely.

Tempest threw Vanity a curious look. “I know the guys work on their cars like they are their babies. There should be no reason for it to do this.”

They’re coming
. A flash in her mind’s eyes made her gasp and grasp tight to the steering wheel. Vernon and his men did this; they wanted the two women to be helpless and far enough away from the plantation that Alex and Dominic couldn’t get to her and Vanity very quickly.

“Tempest, what is it?” Vanity’s voice broke through the pain the vision had left in her head. Her first instinct was not to protect herself but the woman who had become her friend and the unborn child she carried.

“Vernon and those three idiots are on their way,” she said as calmly as she could to Vanity. “You’re going to have to head to the plantation alone.”

Vanity shook her head furiously. “Mistress…Tempest, I cannot leave you to them. I have to protect you.”

“Listen to me, Vanity,” Tempest said firmly. “The baby you are carrying will be hurt. They will not even let you get back to the camp grounds. They are going to kill you and that little boy. I won’t allow that; I can’t allow that. But if you go now and you make it to the plantation, Alex and Dom will know and they will come rescue me. Nothing will happen to me, I swear it. I know how to deal with them. Now go, sweetie. Can you shift while pregnant?”

“Yes, I can, until the very last weeks,” Vanity said. “I don’t feel like I should leave you though. I am supposed to help you; this is my duty as the helper of the Beta.”

Tempest pulled the only card she knew would get Vanity to leave. She grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake before speaking in a fierce, urgent voice. “I order you to go, Vanity! I order it! Do as you’re told or by God…” She opened the door to the passenger side. “Shift and go get my men. I’ll
stave
them off as long as I can.”

Tears were running down Vanity’s cheeks as she stripped out of the tights and bulky sweater she wore. She shifted and scampered out of the open door of the truck. Tempest closed and locked it behind her, and then sat back and watched for what was to come. She didn’t have to wait long because across the dry, withered pasture that carried the frost of winter she saw the four wolves she dreaded coming towards her. Vernon shifted on the deserted road and came up to the cab of the truck stark naked. He knocked on the window and Tempest looked over and gave him the finger. He grinned and without hesitation used his fist to break the window and open the driver side door. He dragged her out of the truck by her hair, but Tempest refused to scream.

“
Lookie
here, boys, we caught us a cat.” Vernon chuckled and then nuzzled her neck. Tempest wanted to gag and she slapped him hard. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head back painfully. “Yeah, this cat likes to scream. We heard you that night. I’ll make you scream louder before I’m done.”

“With what, that shriveled up twig and berries between your legs?” Tempest scoffed. “Please, give me a break.”

“Find Vanity and kill her,” Vernon told one of the others.

“You should know by now that she’s back at the plantation,” Tempest said bravely. “My vision saw you coming and we led you into this trap. My wolves are coming and you are all going to die.”

The minions looked around at each other and then to Vernon who tried to look uncaring but failed. He spoke to one of his men. “Fix the spark plugs and let’s go. We’ll have better footing on Acadia grounds. They can’t fight the whole pack under my control. I have her now; they’ll be as submissive as pups.” He grabbed her crotch through her jeans and laughed nastily. “You’ll be submissive too, fiery Tempest. You’ll beg me soon enough.”

So you think,
Tempest thought. She was going to embrace being the pack Beta fully when they got to Acadia. It was time to bring this bastard to his knees. He pushed her back in the truck and got in beside her. “All done, gun it!” His man slammed the hood and hit it with his open palm before jumping into the bed of the truck as Vernon pulled off.

“You’re going to die, you know,” Tempest said calmly. “Before Christmas day, you and the three that follow you are going to be dead.”

“Did your visions tell you that?” He sneered.

“Don’t pretend you’re not afraid, because you are. You think whatever little trap you have set at Acadia is going to stop Alex and Dominic?” Tempest shook her head. “Go ahead and fool yourself. You should run and keep running. They won’t stop until you’re dead.”

“They’ll be dead, not me, and you’ll watch me piss on their bodies after,” Vernon snapped.

“We’ll see. You could’ve had a good life if a little power didn’t go to your head,” Tempest pointed out. “Time has run out for you.”

He said nothing more but she felt him glance at her more often than was comfortable as he sped the truck towards Acadia. She felt a sudden rush of panic, rage and fear.
Tempest!
She heard her name in her head clearly. It was Alex and Dominic calling her name and she knew that meant Vanity made it to the plantation. Her mates probably knew before she even got there but at least the young woman was safe. Now it was just a matter of time before they came for her. She almost felt sorry for Vernon and his three minions. They didn’t know the hell they just brought down on their own heads. A storm was coming and they would not survive Dominic’s and Alex’s wrath.