Trouble Comes in Threes (8 page)

Dolf

D
OLF
TANGLED
his fingers with Tal’s. Together, they stroked across Kirk’s chest, and then Dolf eased his and Tal’s hands away. Tal pouted but let his hand drop.

“Besides the fact that we both want you? Well, Tal started the mating process by biting you and taking your blood. We told you that. We only feel the urge to bite during sex. That’s any type of sex, Kirk, including oral sex. The problem is, Tal now has twenty-four hours to finish the process. He drank your blood, and now he has to come in you. It takes both things to finish the process and claim you.”

“Whoa, come in me? I don’t bareback. That’s not smart.”

Tal spoke quickly, not wanting Kirk to completely panic. “It’s good to know you’ve been safe. But we have to come in you. It’s the final step in the process, something about sharing our very essence with each other. And don’t worry about barebacking. You can’t give shifters human diseases. We have an accelerated immune system. Because of that ability to fight off disease, we don’t have anything to give you. I guess I should tell you we heal quicker than normal too.”

“Of course you do, and probably leap tall buildings in a single bound.”

Dolf frowned.

“Sorry, the smartass in me couldn’t help it. Okay, then what happens? Will I… change into what you guys are?”

Dolf patted Kirk’s leg. “No. Your lifespan will extend, and you’ll have our healing abilities. That’s it. You won’t be able to shift as we do. Now, vampires, for example, do change their mates. They’re the only ones I know of that do, but I might be wrong. There are so many paranormals out there, and I’m not exactly up-to-date on all of them.”

“Why are vampires able to change their mates?” Kirk shuddered. “Just curious.”

“What we have is a genetic mutation. Vampires are cursed. Big difference,” Dolf said. “When we give the mating bite, you are infected. You don’t die. When a vampire gives you the mating bite, he sucks you dry. You die. Then they feed you their blood, and you come back as undead.”

Kirk paled. “Jesus, what has my life become?”

Tal laughed softly. “A lot more interesting?”

“That’s one way of looking at it.” Kirk turned to Tal. “You bit me, right? So, I’m infected?”

Dolf nodded. “Yes, he broke the skin and drank your blood. It’s started, Kirk. There’s no going back.”

“No going back, huh?” Anger flashed over Kirk’s face. “You know, I’m trying here. I really am, but listen to yourself, Dolf. There might be no going back, but take a minute and look at this from my point of view. All of this happened to me without my agreement. While I’m all for getting blowjobs, Tal didn’t ask me first.”

“Oh, Kirk, I’m so, so sorry!”

“I know that, Tal, but it doesn’t change the fact that I was not completely with it at the time. It doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been infected. So, Dolf, while I mean no disrespect, back the fuck off the attitude you got going there before I find mine.”

Dolf rubbed his temples. “I… I didn’t mean it to sound so unfeeling, Kirk. Truly. I do know how we’ve turned your life upside down. I’m sorry. I am so sorry, too, that it happened this way. But Kirk, you don’t understand how horrifying it is if the process isn’t finished.”

“Okay, then, tell me what happens if it isn’t.”

“In the beginning, you’d feel sick, like you have a bad case of the flu. Eventually, you’d get to the point where you’d have this low-grade body ache all the time, but you’d be able to function. It wouldn’t be pleasant, but you’d survive.” Dolf’s voice dropped to a growl. “You’d always feel empty, though. Forget trying to have a relationship with anyone. It’d feel wrong. You wouldn’t even be able to get hard, because you wouldn’t feel desire.”

Kirk’s mouth fell open. “Fuck.”

“That’s what you
won’t
be doing, unless it’s with us. Once we find our mate, we’re done. No one will ever draw our attention.” Dolf reached across Kirk and grabbed Tal’s hand. “We’re faithful because of it.”

“We tend to be possessive too. Our mates are everything to us.” Tal tightened his grip on Dolf’s hand.

“Yes, we are.” Dolf stared at Tal. “So, while not finishing the mating process would be bad for you, for Tal…. Pain is the first sign. Horrible pain, like he was being broken into tiny pieces slowly. We really don’t know why there is such pain. Next, he’d stop sleeping and eating. After that, the hallucinations. Finally, he would spiral into madness and go feral. At that point, he’d shift and stay shifted. He’d look and behave like a rabid animal. Tal’s humanity would be gone. Then… the shifter is put down. Do you understand? Since I’m his mate, I’d have to be the one to do it. I’d try to kill anyone else who tried—we protect our mates above all else.
I’d
have to take the life of the man I love to end his suffering.”

“Oh… my God. My God, Dolf. That’s… that’s ghastly.”

Tal shrugged. “It’s a downside of the mating process.”

Kirk whistled. “That’s some downside.”

“With advantages come disadvantages. Call it yin and yang.” Dolf cleared his throat. “The point is, he’s my mate, Kirk. Please, I can’t stand the idea of that happening to him. Don’t make me have to…. Kirk, please, I know you didn’t ask for this but… help us. Help him. I… beg you, please.”

“But you two are mated, right?”

Dolf dipped his head in agreement. “Yes. We’ve been together for thirty years.”

Kirk threw his hands out, motioning at the both of them. “Then… how did I end up in the mix?”

“We….” Tal hesitated.

“We think…. We believe you will balance Tal and me. Tal likes to top on occasion, but I… don’t like bottoming. At all. Before you ask, yes, he takes time and prepares me. It hurts, no matter how much time he takes. I just don’t care for it. Tal has needs I can’t meet, and he certainly can’t go elsewhere.”

“So, what? I’m like a patch for your sexual problems? Fuck that.”

Dolf shook his head. “Not hardly. And that right there is a perfect example of why you aren’t just a ‘patch,’ as you called it. Kirk, have you noticed how you stand up to me? You’re not afraid to say what you think.”

Tal snorted but didn’t say anything.

Kirk huffed. “Maybe I just don’t know better.”

“That’s crap and you know it. I make you uncomfortable. I know I do. I can hear how your heartbeat increases, how your breath quickens around me. But you, you stand up to me. You might feel the need to submit, but it’s not in your nature. You fight—you don’t give in.”

“Like I do,” said Tal.

“Tal is an Omega. He’s sweet and kind. There isn’t a mean bone in his body. Tal smoothes out my rough edges. But at the same time, it’s nearly impossible for him to go against me. It’s not in his nature to tell me I’m wrong about something, or to argue with me, or tell me I’m being an ass. You won’t have that problem. I need you just as much as I need Tal.”

“He’s right. We’re not like wolf packs in the animal world. Omegas are not the weakest, not the ones picked on by everyone. We’re just the most peaceful, at least in our society.”

Kirk glanced at Tal. “So, what do I get in all this?”

“Us!” Tal winked.

A soft smile broke over Dolf’s face as he gazed at Tal. “Yes, you get us. Two mates who will love you, who will support you, who will stand with you through the good times and the bad… no matter how bad the bad times are. When you work long hours, we will be there to help you, including making you eat or rest when needed. We will celebrate your successes and help you through your failures. You get two partners, Kirk, who will love you no matter what.”

Kirk rubbed his neck, grimacing. Leaning his head back against the headboard, he closed his eyes. Long moments passed as the three sat silently. Tal opened his mouth, but Dolf shook his head. This was something Kirk had to come to on his own.

Finally, Kirk opened his eyes. “O-okay. This scares the hell out of me, but I’m attracted to the both of you. Fact is, I’ve never felt such feelings before, so that has to mean something, right? Tal has to finish the mating, or we both suffer. For some reason, that really bothers me. I don’t want him to hurt as you say he will. Nothing is going to change in twenty-four hours, so why wait?”

Dolf sighed. “Well, one reason would be you probably have a mild concussion, and you’re hurting.”

Tal made a small hissing noise, but stared closely at Kirk. “
Are
you hurting?”

Kirk carefully nodded.

Tal licked Kirk’s neck, then looked at Dolf. “What should we do, then?”

“Let Kirk rest tonight,” Dolf said. “We have tomorrow to finish the mating. He’d enjoy it more if he’s not in pain. Kirk, do you have a guest room?”

“Down the hall on the left.”

“Okay, then, here’s what we’re going to do. Tal and I will stay in the guest room. I want you to rest, and you won’t with two strange men in your bed. Not that this bed is big enough for three grown men to sleep comfortably, anyway. Either Tal or I will be coming in on the hour to check on you.”

“That’s not really necessary.”

“With a concussion, it most certainly is.” Dolf left the door cracked as he and Tal left the room.

It didn’t take long to get the fire roaring again. Dolf had just finished cleaning off the hearth when Tal found the remote to the TV. Kirk only had basic cable, but after a quick look, they found the local weather channel.

Tal pointed to the radar. “Oh, thank the goddess, the bad weather’s gone. Even though it’s January, it says we’re going to hit the lower forties tomorrow.”

Dolf sat on the couch. “The snow will start melting.”

Tal plopped down next to him. “Good.”

Tal flipped through the channels until he found a program. Suddenly, his stomach growled. “Hungry, sweetheart?”

“Starving.”

“Well, come on. Let’s see what there is to eat.”

Tal followed Dolf to the kitchen. While Dolf checked the pantry, Tal picked the water bowls Kirk had set out for the cats off the floor and washed them. He left them to dry on the counter along with other plates and glasses.

“There isn’t much, I’m afraid. I see cans of vegetable soup and I think… yes, he has bread. Let me check to see….” Dolf shook his head at the harvest-gold refrigerator. “Good grief, where’d he find this old thing?” He opened the door and peered inside. “He has cheese and butter. I can fix some grilled cheese sandwiches to go with the soup.”

They ate, and Dolf fixed himself another tall glass of water. “Hopefully, all that water will help me wake up so I can check on Kirk. Good night, sweetheart.”

“Night, Dolf.”

Kirk

E
ITHER
D
OLF
or Tal checked on me every hour. Frankly, I was tempted to hit whomever walked through that door next. God, I just wanted to sleep, and wouldn’t you know it, here I was, wide awake. But I did notice, as the sun rose, they weren’t coming in quite as often. Lying there, I listened to them. I couldn’t understand what they said even with the door open, but their voices comforted me. Dolf’s voice was deeper, somewhat growly. Tal’s voice was lighter. Dolfoon and Talise. Unique names. I wondered how that had come about and decided I’d have to ask them.

If I was to believe what they said, their goddess had matched us. A balance, Dolf had said. Soul mates. I didn’t know if I believed that, but then again, why not? After all, there were two shifters standing in my house. I knew that was true. So if
that
was possible, then maybe the mate thing was possible too.

All I ever desired was someone to care for me. To be part of something. Someone who would let me be when I needed some alone time. Who would drag my ass inside when I worked all day without eating. Who would understand when I had to work late. Who wouldn’t get upset when I came in smelling awful and covered in grease. Who would care when I started growling and stomping around in the barn because a vehicle was being difficult. I wanted love, trust, understanding.

I wanted to be wanted.

I just never expected
this
.

Movement in the kitchen caught my attention. Sounded like they were fixing something to eat, and suddenly, I was starving. I sat up, found another pair of night pants, pulled on mismatched socks, then grabbed my robe. I stopped right before I got to the kitchen. They were talking about me.

“Tal, let’s see how Kirk feels before we start worrying about all the other stuff.”

“What other stuff?”

“Where we’re going to live, for starters.”

“What? But we have a home with our clowder.”

“He has a home and a business here.”

“Oh goddess, Dolf. But… but… I designed and built our home myself. And how could we not live in our clowder? Everyone we know—our Alpha, our families….”

“It can’t be all about just us now, Tal. Kirk has—”

“Kirk has no reason to stay here.” I stood there, a threadbare robe wrapped around me. “You know, if you’re going to talk about me, at least do it more quietly. Otherwise, I feel compelled to join the conversation.”

I would’ve laughed at the looks on their faces if the situation weren’t so serious. I’d heard the pain in Tal’s voice when he said he’d built his and Dolf’s home. This place was indeed mine, but it was nothing special. It certainly didn’t hold important memories. I could move, no problem. Maybe rent this place out. All I really needed was somewhere to work.