Sanibel Alpha Vampire Werewolf Menage (Fanged Romance Series Book 5.5) (12 page)

“You don
’
t want me to speak of that night for two reasons. One, you are frightened because the heart of you remembers responding to my touch. Two, you know any horrors that happened did so after you came in my mouth, again and again, quite easily.
”

“Stop,
”
she demanded hoarsely, stumbling backward but he caught her by the elbows.

“Not to worry,
”
he rasped,
“
soon I
’
ll be in you so deep that you
’
ll never say stop again.
”
His thumb reached over and flicked a traitorous nipple, making her back arch on its own violation for him to take her throbbing mound in his hand.  
“
And, by your profound arousal scent wafting to my nose and  the magnetism of your body seeking mine, you want me stroking that memorable cunt of yours as much as I want to be there doing it.
”

Oh, he said the
‘
c
’
word!
“
You
’
re crass,
”
she pulled away again on a shocked gasp.

“Tatum, you
’
ve no idea.
”

“Someone has to be lying to me.
”
Tatum groaned,
“
Isn
’
t there any formula out there for werewolves?
”

Bren shook his head no.
“
Mason said he could start on small bits of red meat, though.
”

“What?
”
He must be joking.

“You are perfection and strength, my son.  I can feel your power even now.
”  
Mike reached out for Ardan, his smile beaming.
“
I have much to teach you.  First off, remind your ma you aren
’
t human.
”
Ardan reached for Mike
’
s lip rings but Mike caught his curious fingers and kissed them.
“
And also, though we enjoy delicious milk, real males eat meat.
”

Tatum couldn
’
t believe how peaceful Ardan was while in Mike
’
s arms.  
“
He
’
s only napped fifteen minutes,
”
she managed another complaint, her sight catching on the cook setting up a bountiful lunch inside the South lanai.  Jayce had brought in extra help
—
all werewolves, and had given them strict orders that Tatum was to do nothing whatsoever around the house, and they
’
d adhered to their Alpha
’
s rules.  No matter how tired she was, she felt uncomfortable with the excess pampering.

“
Let
’
s get some food down you, as well, Tatum,
”
Bren said, casually studying the circles beneath her eyes while tugging her through the French doors leading to the lanai.  Mike walked alongside them, speaking to Ardan the whole way. He didn
’
t croon as Jayce did, but spoke to him as if he were already a young boy who could understand every word spoken.  Her son seemed intrigued by the difference.

Ten minutes into lunch, Ardan had gobbled a thin slice of steak and smashed a watermelon cube between his gums, with the tips of new canines poking down.  
“
How could teeth erupt this early?
”
she asked, hiding her horror behind a smile.

“No matter how you smile, Ardan can still scent your adrenalin,
”
Mike said as he placed the baby in her lap.  He was rooting again, and now she was afraid he would bite her.

“He won
’
t,
”
Bren answered her unspoken thought.

She found herself unfolding a linen napkin and covering herself for his feeding. Mike sighed and Bren rolled his eyes, muttering something about misplaced modesty in human society.   Still, Mike turned his body toward Bren in a way of respect and asked about Jayce
’
s meeting, the two speaking as if it were an everyday thing. Leaving Tatum to wonder if it were as Mike had said earlier.  Did they go back and forth, even while not living together, discussing her, discussing the Pack?

Something caught her attention.
“
What about the territorial Betas?
”

“They work under Bane, policing soldiers for districts across the country,
”
Bren said surprised.
“
You know the hierarchy under Jayce.
”

“Yes, I remember,
”
she replied, waving a dismissive hand.
“
You said there was disgruntlement brewing since the Gryphs attacked the Den. What
’
s going on?
”
Her heart thundered for Ail, Molly, and Heath.
“
Wait a minute.  Are those flying, vampire assholes after Ail again? I swear I
’
ll go to Maestru himself, if I have to.
”

Bren glowered.  
“
You won
’
t go anywhere near him! Besides, it wouldn
’
t do much good since all who attacked the Den were supposedly rogue. At least, that
’
s what we
’
re supposed to think because Prince Volos said so.
”

“Supposedly,
”
Mike continued,
“
we have the rogue count down to two or three. But that hasn
’
t stopped the questioning of Jayce
’
s leadership.
”

Bren growled low in his throat.
“
Off topic, Mike.
”

“Off topic for who, me?  That
’
s not the way we roll in this family, Bren, and you know it.
”
Tatum brought Ardan up to her shoulder, patting his back and wondering what else they were keeping from her.  She had a nagging suspicion that she couldn
’
t shake.
“
The territorial Betas are questioning Jayce
’
s leadership, truly?
”

Mike lifted Ardan from her arms, bringing the baby to his broad chest as if he just couldn
’
t get enough of him.
“
Big for a male werewolf, even for four weeks old, how much does he weigh?
”

Tatum took a sip of water.
“
Thirty-four pounds and I
’
m not distracted that easily.
”

Bren glanced at Mike.
“
Tenacity is Tatum
’
s foreplay.
”
Then to Tatum he said,
“
When the Dynasty Vampyrs threatened Ail with what was basically going to be a death sentence over the incidence that occurred on the Sanibel Causeway, Jayce took it as a threat of war.  There are certain territorial Betas, four in particular,
”
he stalled, running the tip of his finger over the rim of his water glass,
“
who say Jayce risked thousands for one when Sanibel Island was attacked.  Two out of the four Betas have recently deserted their positions.
”

Outrage hit her square in the chest. Jayce Jordan
’
s heart was as big as his oversized body. How dare they!
“
Yet if any of those four had been in Ail
’
s boots, they would have expected the same.
”

“Most assuredly,
”
Mike agreed, working a burp out of Ardan and the beginnings of his first laugh.  
“
That doesn
’
t change history. When it didn
’
t happen in that way, they can
’
t see it that way. Not when they or their family members weren
’
t the ones needing protection. Jayce would have gone toe-to-toe with Prince Volos for any of them.  Then there
’
s the Beta of North America. These particular four have no loyalty left for Bane, disregarding everything he has accomplished for this Pack as a whole, as well as those in Ireland and Scotland.
”

Tatum found rage pulsating through her body in an entirely new way. She wanted to bite and to claw, go after anyone who questioned her Alpha male. And there was Bane, the male who would lay down his life for any Pack member no matter what, how his pride must sting.  
“
Who are the four?
”

Bren picked her up and placed her in his lap, rubbing his hand down her spine in a calming gesture.
“
You haven
’
t exactly met these particular Betas. We went to the Academy together.
”

Since Ardan had fallen asleep against Mike
’
s chest, she quieted her voice, steadied her breathing. But her anger wouldn
’
t rest.
“
Exactly met them?
”

“You were friends with Jill Holm,
”
Mike whispered back.
“
They
’
re her brothers.
”

Tatum
’
s brows rose.
“
She was a werewolf?
”

Bren tightened his arms around her, her very male security blanket.
“
Part werewolf, though I could never scent her other half.
”

“Jayce,
”
she stopped before she said it, trying not to remember that Jayce had fucked Jill.  It was too long ago to count.
“
Never mind.
”

Mike nodded.
“
Some things are better left in the past.
”
Tatum didn
’
t miss his double meaning, but stopped cold when he added,
“
Jill was one of our females who was taken by the Habalines.
”

“That
’
s horrible.
”
Tatum was better than petty jealousy.  
“
I
’
ll help her personally.  Tell me how to get in touch with her.
”

Mike shook his head sadly.
“
She was used by those freaks for breeding and died during her first birthing.
”

Bile burned her throat; reminders of the world she was rearing her son in stung her eyes.
“
Then her brothers have grieved horribly.
”

“They
’
re strong males.
”
Bren worked her fingernails from her palms, kissing the inside of each hand and reaching the very soul of her with his soothing love.  He never ceased to amaze her, his ruthless sex, his passion for her body, and his aching tenderness were necessary to her and she counted on him daily.  Somehow, he always read what she needed, so did Jayce.  Her eyes flicked up, meeting Mike
’
s and wondering if he could do the same thing.
“
So maybe after Jill's brothers
 work through the grieving process, they
’
ll settle down with their other disgruntlements, and those who left 
their positions will come back to work.”

“
I doubt that.
”
Bren nipped his mark between her shoulder and throat and Mike
’
s eyes flared with his werewolf.
“
Jayce may offer all  four positions to other males. We
’
ll see.
”

“Does Jayce actually fire them?
”

“Not exactly,
”
Mike whispered over Ardan
’
s golden head.
“
Unless Rock or Bane actually have the Holm brothers apprehended for proven crimes, Jayce
’
s only recourse is to allow others of Beta blood to challenge Rannan, Xhaiden, Padg, and Mabon for their districts.
”