BBW ROMANCE: Forbidden Desires [BBW Menage Collection] (New Adult Shifter Romance Short Stories, Stepbrother Menage Threesome) (7 page)

Chapter Two: Surprises

She took a short shower, washing away the heavenly scent of the men who had plied her all night before wrestling her messy hair into some semblance of order. She was lucky she was the kind of woman to always carry a fresh pair of underwear in her purse, and so by the time she left the hotel room, she felt less like she was perpetrating a walk of shame and more like she had come well prepared.

              However, when she left the small inn (the teenage girl behind the desk eying her with wide eyes the entire time) she was surprised to see that there was no taxi at the curb. She’d expected, of course, for her two “suitors” to take her wherever they planned in much the same way they’d spirited her to their hotel room – by taxi service. However, the moment she stepped out onto the curb and took in the sight of Logan straddling an immense, gleaming Harley Davidson, she could only stare.

              The gigantic man looked totally at home on the beautifully crafted machine and, just behind him, a gleaming silver Mercedes was parked at the carb. The moment he saw her, Aiden straightened at the wheel, cutting the engine to get out. “You look lovely.” The way the blonde’s eyes roamed over her suggested that he was perhaps more than a little sorry he hadn’t taken her up on her previous offer. “We’ll be taking you to our…organization. It’s about an hour or so outside of McKinley. Are you alright with that?”

              For the first time since she’d encountered the two men, Seline paused for a moment, considering. It was clear that her assumptions about these two were a bit off. Not only did they have their own transportation – which suggested they were somewhat local – but said transportation gleamed with care and affluence. They had money. Monied, devastatingly handsome men with whom she’d spent a single night wanted to spirit her off into the middle of nowhere.

              It sounded more than a little bit suspicious. She looked over each of the vehicles and then back to the man standing before her. There was, of course, the option to just walk away right now – in this instant. Whoever these guys were, it was evident enough that they were pretty sexually…liberal. They could have more deviancy planned for her.

              On the other hand, they’d made no move to do anything against her wishes. Aiden had asked her with the utmost politeness whether or not she was comfortable, time and time again.

              She sensed no danger her.

              But just to be safe…”I’m going to shoot a text to my girlfriend.” Seline’s eyes locked on his as she uttered the words. “Tell her that I’ve got plans and I’ll be back this evening.”

              Aiden’s eyes gleamed with admiration as he nodded. “Of course. I understand.”

              In two seconds, Seline had gotten a text off to Sophie, telling her that she was alright, but if she hadn’t checked in by the end of the day to give her a call. Then, she slid her phone back into her purse. “Soo…I take it you can’t tell me
exactly
where we’re going?”

              “Unfortunately, no.” This time it was Logan who chimed in from the seat of his bike. “What we can do, however, is ensure your safety. You’ll be fine with us, Seline. Today and any time hereafter.”

              The gruff man managed to make the words sound somehow sweet and endearing rather than possessive and a small smile touched her lips. “And I suppose you plan to tempt me onto that death trap?” She couldn’t, after all, let him know just how impressive she found the machine. That would give him the upper hand. Logan didn’t rise to her taunt, merely shooting her a devastating smile.

              “Only if you want. You can always go with Aiden in the Benz.”

              Seline gave the tall, dark-haired man a once over. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d been on a motorcycle – probably sometime when she’d been young, foolish and fearless. Glancing back at Aiden, she met his knowing smirk. “Go ahead, then.” Reaching out, he took her jacket from her. “I’ll follow behind.”
              Seline tried to hide her childlike excitement as she handed her things to him before joining Logan on his bike. She was surprised by how well she remembered how to mount, and flushed at the intensity of Logan’s gaze as he fastened the helmet under her chin. Another minute for him to start the engine, and they were off on one of the most exhilarating rides in Seline’s recent memory.

              They zipped out of McKinley and down one of the many two lane highways leading out into the countryside. Seline left the town so seldom that she’d forgotten how gorgeous the surrounding land could be- immense evergreens, miles of open green pasture and clear azure skies. There were, she supposed, some perks to living in such a remote town: the scenery was second to none.

              For more than an hour, they rode smoothly along the highway. Beneath her, the motorcycle thrummed loudly as Seline clutched tightly to Logan. The man was a masterful navigator, making sure never to take a turn too sharply or to frighten her with rapid acceleration. After a while, familiar mountains melted into wilderness and Seline found herself wondering exactly how far from McKinley they were planning to go.

              Then, all at once, they pulled off the highway and onto a dirt road leading off into the woods. The terrain was rougher and, carefully, Logan maneuvered the Harley over bumps and around potholes. Slowly, the highway behind them disappeared and Seline found herself growing nervous once more. Christ, when these boys said the wilderness, they really meant
the wilderness
.

              When they pulled to a stop about two miles into the trees, Seline couldn’t deny feeling jittery. Cutting the engine right in the middle of the dirt road, Logan dismounted as Aiden pulled to a stop behind them in the Mercedes. Turning, the dark-haired man lifted his helmet to fix Seline with his blue-eyed stare. “We have to go on foot from here.” Logan announced.

              “On foot?” Seline repeated, her voice touched with alarm. “How far is it?”

              “About ten miles.” Whirling, she faced a newly emerged Aiden with her incredulous expression. “
Ten miles
?”

              “We’ll get you there, Seline. And in relative comfort too. All you have to do is trust us.” The blonde’s gray eyes held a mixture of apprehension and warmth that had Seline looking from one man to the other in confusion.

              “Trust you? What on earth are you talking about? We can’t walk ten miles in a few hours!”

              “Not like this we can’t.” Logan’s baritone rumbled through her as he crossed to stand before her, his expression unreadable.

              Not like…
this
?

              In a split second, the man in front of her began to change. Logan grew upward at an astounding rate, even as his snout lengthened from his mouth and his arms and legs began to thicken. The clothes that he wore began to rip as his limbs became too burly to be contained, thick, copious brown fur sprouting over the length of his body.

              Before her eyes, an immense man became an equally immense grizzly bear, over nine feet tall with flashing claws and teeth the length of pocket knives.

              Seline stared, mouth agape, as her mind tried to process the site before her. After trying and failing several times, she inhaled sharply before her legs gave out beneath her and she dropped to her knees in shock.

              Holy hell.

              Holy
hell
.

Chapter Three: Our World

            
 
She was taking it…better than he had expected.

              His heart in his throat, Aiden watched Seline’s eyes grow to the size of saucers as she witnessed Logan’s transformation. He was, without a doubt, the den’s biggest bull, so if Seline was going to be terrified of one of them, it would be him. However, the woman wasn’t fleeing. While her legs collapsed beneath her and she stared up at Logan in a mixture of awe and disbelief, there was no fear in her gaze.

              “Oh my God.” The words were uttered low – almost inaudible. “I’m dreaming.”

              “You’re not.” Carefully, Aiden made his way to her side to kneel beside her, touching her shoulder gently as he, too, gazed up at Logan’s immense form. The younger bull had always been impressive, and now, even Seline couldn’t tear her eyes from him. “This is very real, Seline. Logan and I…we’re shifters. Bears are our…alternate forms.”

              Seline’s gaze whipped around suddenly to fix him with an equally surprised expression. “You too?”

              “Me and…everyone in our den.”

              “Your
den
?” Aiden was fairly certain if the young woman’s brows went any higher they’d disappear into her hairline.

              He nodded once more, reaching out to cup her face – it was as much contact as he dared at this juncture, lest he risk scaring her away. “Seline, you have to understand by now that we meant everything that we told you last night. Our kind…they mate for life. And there is no refusing the call – at least, not for us.”

              For a moment, Seline just stared at him, her green eyes clouded in confusion. She looked back to Logan’s towering form above them before reaching out. Her hand found Aiden’s shoulder and, carefully, she hoisted herself back to her feet with his assistance. She took one step forward towards the gigantic bear – and then another. Leaning over, Logan sniffed her cursorily. In their animal forms, they could not talk. However, the grizzly’s large eyes were still the same icy blue that Logan’s were in his human form.

              Seline reached up to touch his muzzle gently and Logan made a soft sound of approval low in his throat. The young woman jumped slightly, drawing back for a moment before she reached out once more to stroke through the length of Logan’s dark fur. Then, all at once, she turned back to Aiden. When she spoke, her voice was surprisingly steady.

              “Show me. I want to see.”

              For a moment, Aiden was taken aback by her candor. A light shone in her green eyes that both intrigued and excited him.

              She wasn’t frightened – and she wasn’t running away.

              She was curious.

              He changed.

              It was always curious, to feel your bones lengthening and the structure of your body altering. The fur itched as is sprouted from his skin and his teeth lengthened into fangs, and then, all at once, he stood above her – not quite as tall as Logan, his fur a brilliant golden color, his eyes dark and gleaming.

              Seline stared - and stared.

              Slowly, Aiden lowered his large mass onto all fours so he could meet her gaze at eye level. With his flat head, he gestured to the expanse of his back. There was still so much they had to show her.

              It took Seline a moment to discover what he wanted, but when she did, for a moment, apprehension entered her gaze once more. Then, seeming to steel herself, she took a deep breath, wrapping slender fingers in his fur to haul herself onto his back in a smooth motion.

              Her weight was warm, and she balanced fairly well. Logan eyed them with an amused expression before beginning off into the forest at a fast paced lope. Within moments, Aiden fell into step beside him, carrying their precious cargo on his back.

              The most difficult part was done.

              Now, they just had to show Seline their world.

**

She was lost.

All her life, Seline had been under the impression that, as a writer, she was one of the few lucky ones that came the closest to bridging the gap between fantasy and reality. Never had she even begun to contemplate whether or not real fantastical creatures lived among them.

Now, she’d been thrust headlong into a world completely and totally unfamiliar, on a thin thread of trust that both Aiden and Logan had extended to her.

She trusted them to carry her through miles of woodlands on the broad backs of huge animals settled on all fours. She trusted them not to abandon her in the middle of the wilderness – and to lead her to something that would challenge her perceptions of reality just as powerfully as the instant in which she’d seen Logan standing before her in the form of an immense grizzly bear.

She
trusted
them – men she’d just met.

And they delivered beyond her wildest dreams.

After about thirty minutes atop the Aiden’s long, sloping back, they arrived on a clearing that emerged suddenly from the woodlands. In that clearing was a series of low dwellings cut into the earth, around which men, women and children milled peacefully.

Upon the arrival of Aiden and Logan, every one present stopped what they were doing and rushed over to greet them, putting Seline immediately on the spot. In an attempt to make herself small, she slid from Aiden’s back and shrank behind him as he was swamped with no less than ten men and women, all murmuring their welcome. To her surprise, Logan hung back a bit as well, even as those present offered their greetings.

Everyone that Seline laid her eyes on was in human form, and they seemed to think nothing of greeting a bear in English as if it were the most common thing in the world. It didn’t take long, however, for their eyes to fall upon her questioningly.

Seline watched, trying not to gape as both men transformed before her eyes, just as before. This time, their huge bear forms shrunk, fur melting back into smooth skin and snouts shrinking back into humanoid faces. Within minutes, they were completely human – and utterly bare before her. Seline averted her gaze, flushing as the events of the previous night rushed back at her in vivid color.

These people, she knew, didn’t know her from Adam. So, it wouldn’t help her to go around as if she had been blatantly intimate with two men it was apparent they respected. Within moments, a few women – completely straight faced – had provided clothing for the two men and both Aiden and Logan were dressed.

              Then, in human form, they turned to address the crowd.

              Thus beginning one of the most mind-boggling and perception-altering days that Seline had ever experienced.

              She was introduced as a human “friend”, which seemed to garner some skepticism from everyone present. However, it was clear that Logan and Aiden hosted some kind of authority that overturned any feelings of unease their brethren might have had over her presence. It took them about twenty minutes, but they managed to calm everyone into going back to their business as usual.

              And what business it was.

              Some women roasted meat over open fires while others chased their half-naked children through the brush. However, it was clear from the way these people dressed – some in suits and polished shoes and others in jeans and hoodies – that they were men and women from all walks of life.

              Aiden explained to her that the den was a place that they could all gather periodically – a safe location where one could connect with one’s family and those they called their den mates. For the most part, all shifters lived outside of the den. They led multi-faceted lives with high rise apartments, spouses and children, all the while having the secret haven of the den to return to if they needed to get back to their roots.

              Children, they told her, were made familiar with their heritage and history – raised as much in the world outside as they returned to the secret haven in the forest. Their kind, it seemed, were growing in number rather than shrinking, so it was important to keep their existence a secret until the world was ready.

              “When, exactly, that will be, no one knows.” Aiden admitted with an ironic smile. “Maybe not in our lifetime, or that of our children, but someday.”

              “You have to understand,” Logan growled gruffly, “Most people don’t react as…calmly as you did upon catching one of us mid-transformation.”

              Seline could only imagine. People could be greedy, skeptical and cruel. If the general population got wind that an entire community of shape-shifters existed in the Kentucky wilderness, the media would have a field day.

              But it only got more intriguing.

              Seline listened with wide eyes as Aiden revealed that their den wasn’t, by fair, the only one in existence. There were at least one hundred, he promised, scattered all over North America, and many beyond that – the members of which his den mates had never encountered. They were secretive and very careful when they met up, and Seline needed no one to tell her why.

              They, together, Logan told her, comprised the leadership of this particular den. He told her how Aiden and he had met during their childhood and had been fast friends ever since; how he tended to be the muscle in difficult situations while Aiden provided the brains behind solving inter-den conflicts and even petty squabbles among their members. Separate, they wouldn’t be as successful as they were.

              But together? Together they were a force to be reckoned with.

              “A human.”

              Aiden and Logan’s tales were interrupted by a low tenor near them. Seline glanced over to see a dark-eyed male with raven-hued locks working on whittling an image from a small block of wood. His fingers were lithe and dexterous, his smile quick, and when he looked at Seline, she blushed.

              It was as if he could see every experience she’d had for the past twenty four hours.

              “Ian.” With a low chuckle, Logan reached across to clasp arms with the man. “Don’t act like you’ve never brought one back.”

              “That was once.” The dark eyed male grinned. “And we all know how well that worked out.” His eyes turned back to Seline, and he perused her from head to foot. “This one…she seemed different though. A lot calmer, for one. I suppose you two were smart for marking her before you brought her back. Might have had some troubles, otherwise.”

              “Marked?” The word escaped Seline before she could prevent it and immediately, she looked herself over in an attempt to find the marks Ian had spoken of. Hickeys? Scratches?

              Her troubles only made the tall shifter snicker lowly. “That’s not what I meant, honey.
Scent
marking. The kind that comes from an...intimate encounter.” He twirled his whittling knife expertly in a hand as she flushed. “These boys haven’t been apart since they were suckling at the same teat. I suppose it makes sense they’d fixate on the same woman.”

              Standing, he winked at her playfully. “Just make sure they don’t run you
too
wild.” Aiden groaned at this proclamation, before eying Ian in warning.

              “Don’t you have something more important to do? Like jumping in a lake?”

              Ian merely chuckled, waving as he sauntered off. “Soften them up a little for me, will you, sweets?”

              Seline liked him. She couldn’t help it. It was obvious that he was closer with Logan and irked Aiden somewhat, but the shifter’s smiles were infections and she could appreciate his sense of humor.

              She spent the rest of the day making her way around the encampment. Logan and Aiden introduced her to several of the other shifters, some male and some female. Seline didn’t think she’d ever be able to remember all the names – it was hard enough to force her brain to keep functioning every time she watched a roughhousing child transform into a fuzzy bear cub mid-motion.

              The den ran like a well-oiled machine, people coming and going as they pleased. More than a few of them sought out either Aiden or Logan to offer their greetings or have conversations in hushed voices. For these occurrences, Seline stood to the side respectfully, trying to slow her racing heart as she came to terms with what was happening.

              She, a small town smutty writer with absolutely
nothing
outstanding to offer, had been chosen as the preferred mate of not only one, but
two
Alpha-male shifters. And now, as she was pulled deeper and deeper into their world, she was beginning to realize that this wasn’t something she could merely walk away from.

              The rest of the day was spent deep in thought. Even as Aiden and Logan continued to regale her with stories about their den and adventures, Seline’s mind was awhirl with all she’d seen.

              What on earth was she going to do?

              She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t attracted to them, but mating…that sounded like something long term. Something permanent. She still had only the slightest inkling of how their society worked. Even on the
very
small chance that she agreed to their terms, how could she insert herself into their den…into their
environment,
as she was now?