Clair of Earth: Brintex Centurions Book One (7 page)

Dr. Mirna went on to explain how this enabled a woman to mate again if her Centurion was killed in battle, a common occurrence in the distant past. So while her two lovers where more than married to her, she was essentially free to leave them.

There was a way Clair could join the mate-bond at the cellular level but obviously Clair had never heard of this from her overly protective mates. Thanking the kind doctor, Clair didn’t miss the knowing smile on the woman’s face as the physician left.

Clair had considered for several hours before figuring out how to give them what they needed without taking something painful from these two proud Centurions. They had supplied her every need, every desire. They had made sure of not only her family’s safety but gone about providing for them with the same excess they gave to Clair.

What they had never done was ask Clair to do more than commit to them in the most basic mate-bond. Never explained their situation in relation to hers. These two powerful males had not risked asking if she could love them with everything she had.

So it was time. Rising to kneel between the two males sprawled on either side of the bed, Clair lightly rested a hand on the nearest calf on either side of her. Two pairs of sleepy male eyes opened at her touch. Looking down their bodies at her, they both appeared to study her with the half-lidded passion of possessive men.

Dropping her gaze to her own knees, Clair asked softly in formal Brintex, “Beloved Mates, may I ask a favor?”

Above her, both male brows furrowed in instant concern. Glancing at Helix to see if he knew what this was about, Trel was deeply concerned when Helix shook his head in denial. Apparently they had failed her in some way if she had to ask for something. His gut tightened.

“Ask, kitten,” Trel answered. He really couldn’t do a damn thing about the deep growl of his tone.

“What is it, baby?” Helix soothed her with his easy manner.

Clair did not look up but her rib cage expanded in a deep breath. Trel closed his eyes. This was not good. She was afraid to ask whatever it was. The myriad of things it could be were all bad. What if she wanted to leave them? Had she grown tired of the royal garbage they were subject to? It could be she missed Earth and wanted to return? Whatever it was, they couldn’t deny her. Not in reality.

Her soft voice interrupted his dread.

“I beg training. I love you both deeply. Please, teach me what I need to be worthy of being more than bound. It is my dearest desire to submit to the true Brintex mating.”

Trel sucked in a breath and hadn’t realized he’d been holding it.

She loved them. Deeply.

She loved them deeply!

Deeply!

Trel’s brain spit out the information but he remained quiet in case there was more. Possibly he had misinterpreted her meaning. It was Helix who convinced Trel that he hadn’t misunderstood.

Jackknifing out of the bed, Helix thundered, “Who dared to say you were not worthy? Kitten, someone will die for this viscous lie. You are prefect. Name him!”

Clair’s body started and then shook as she stared at Helix in alarm. “No, no. No one said it. I assumed since you never…” Her words trailed off as she looked down again, a flush rose on her cheeks.

Trel smiled in relief and sat up to gather their little mate into his arms. His lips in her hair he said softly, “I love you, Clair of Earth. More than you can know, I love you.” Trel’s eyes closed because he sure as damnation was not going to let Helix see the glassy state they were in. “We have never told her we love her,” he explained as soft arms curled his neck and the woman he held shuddered in silent sobs.

Swearing under his breath, Helix came back on the bed, kneeling, facing Trel holding Clair. Her back to him, he could see the shudders as she tried not to cry. Putting a hand up, Helix smoothed her hair and cupped the back of her head. “Precious, where did you get such a fool idea that you are not worthy?”

“Well,” her voice muffled in Trel’s shoulder, “I love you both so much and you never told me about the mate-bond so I knew I wasn’t, um, doing something right.” Her head rose to glance back at Helix. “I’m sorry.”

“Damn it!” Helix reached for her.

Trel let his brother pull their mate into his arms. Helix might appear more easy-going than Trel was, but it was not a truth. His brother simply hid his need better than Trel did.

After a moment of holding her tightly, Helix ground out, “If you ever imply you are not worthy of anything, your bottom will feel my hand until you get your mind right. Do you understand me, Clair?”

Her face buried in his neck, she nodded.

Gently his hands moved to wrap around her ribs, just below her breasts, and drag her off his chest. Giving her a little shake, he demanded in a rough voice. “Look at me, kitten, and say it properly.”

“Yes, Beloved,” big eyes glanced up at him shyly.

Helix growled and his mouth took her lips in a deep, thrusting kiss.

Trel let it go on for a bit. Helix’s lips came off her and Trel took Clair back into his arms, his mouth fastening on hers. Plunging into his sweet mate, he let his body tell her how much he needed exactly what she gave him.

They did not leave their chambers that day, or the next. It was only on the third sun rising that Clair’s mates were satisfied she understood the error of her thinking. It was also the day they invited the doctor back to perform the procedure that would make Clair as much theirs as they were hers. It was a simple treatment that allowed a female to accept her mates’ on a cellular level just as they did her. Of course it involved taking both of them at the same time to close the sequence. Something they insisted on repeating just to be sure. Clair agreed with the overabundance of caution.

Epilogue

Earth became a Brintex protectorate but the damage had been done. The entire universe knew of the treasures so long hidden on the blue planet. Brintex Centurions now had to patrol the surface to stop slavers risking a trip to steal more females, as well as monitor surrounding space. There was little hope of finding all the women already stolen but the effort had to be made.

Trel was not surprised at the overwhelming number of volunteers for these assignments.