First Beast (8 page)

Her outburst and attitude gave Caleb further proof that what he was doing was a necessary evil. She was far too independent and opinionated for him to allow her to run loose without the firm control of a man marking her actions. “As a member of this pack, you will do as your husband commands.”

“In a pig's ear. But just for clarity's sake,” she said, her tone dripping sarcasm, “exactly what has my
husband
commanded?”

He ignored her pointed barb, her contempt only adding to his determination. “That you become my mate. That you take
me
as your husband.”

The color left her cheeks again. “He agrees to this?”

“He does. All that remains is that you give your consent.”

“And…and if I don't?”

“You'll be making things difficult for yourself.” He paused, for effect. “And for your husband.”

“If I agree to this ridiculous situation, I'll be making things
impossible
for myself.” A look of suspicion clouded her already pale face. “And how would it make things difficult for Josh? Oh, don't tell me. As
leader,
you can make his life a living hell, is that it?”

She didn't know the half of it.

“Something like that.”

“Which is the only reason he would have agreed to this.” She tightened her arms across her chest and swayed a little. Then her eyes snapped to his. “And what exactly do I get out of it?”

He took a step toward her. Hell. She was a firebrand when she was angry. It stirred something so deep inside him that he felt his body tremble. Which was obviously the only reason he was allowing her to disrespect his position right then. The way she'd sneered his title at him, as if
leader
was a dirty word. He'd let her get away with it. For now.

“What do you get out of this?” He felt ridiculously pleased when he took another step toward her and watched desire spark along with the wariness in her eyes. She dropped her arms to her sides and took a step away, but since the wall was at her back, she had nowhere to go. Except into his arms.

“I'll tell you what you get out of this, sweetheart.” He slid his hands to her hips and levered her up against him, letting his mouth hover a breath above hers. “You get me.”

His lips crashed down on hers. He'd meant to claim her, to make her see how futile her protestations were when matched against his own wants and needs, but her taste exploded against his mouth, on his tongue, and he dragged her hard against him. Damn, but she swamped him, her scent flowing around and inside him until he emitted a low and desperate growl from deep within his very core.

He was vaguely aware that her hands were on his biceps, but she wasn't pushing him away. Instead, her fingers kneaded firmly into his flesh, her tongue clashing with his.

When she moaned and tightened her hold on him, he wanted to howl with triumph, but the need was pounding through him now, making his cock throb, his blood burn. Damn it to hell. He couldn't remember ever having a response like this to a woman.

Grabbing her backside, he brought her up tight against his erection, grinding his hips against her until she had no option but to spread her legs to accommodate his throbbing cock.

Her breathing, like his, came fast and deep; their bodies tangled, tongues dueled, until he didn't know where he ended and she began. He yanked her legs around him, desperate to feel her against his cock.

He pressed her back hard against the wall, and she slid her arms around his neck and clung. Still he kissed her, unable to tear himself away from the lure of her hot sweet taste. He released one hand to grab at her panties. Using little finesse, he hooked his fingers into the side of the lace. He was about to rip them off when she gasped into his mouth. Her whole body tensed, before she squirmed in his arms and pressed her hands to his chest.

She struggled back to a standing position, looking at him with those big eyes, her breath coming in gasps, which only served to make her delicious breasts rise and fall with the effort to steady herself.

Caleb knew how she felt. He was feeling damn unsteady himself.

“You've got a whole lot of nerve.” She smoothed down her skirt. “I thought there was some kind of honor system amongst you…
males
.”

This time he had to grin. Unlike the contemptuous way she'd said his title, this time she said
males
as if they were a bunch of Neanderthals. To the likes of her, maybe they were. Which further alerted him to the differences between their shifter community and her human one. Things would be different when they were married, mated. Then she would do as he commanded, and would learn never to disrespect or disobey him. No matter what she thought of him, he was leader. In time, she would come to realize the power his position afforded him.

But for now he grinned and allowed her some latitude. “Honor has been known to go out the window when there's a woman involved.”

“Huh, in that way you're not much different from the rest of the male population. You know, humans, those men who can't actually shift into wild beasts at the drop of a hat.”

Something about the imperious curve of her chin, and the haughty, prim tone, made him want to ruffle those tantalizing feathers even more. “We need more than the drop of a hat to go primal, sweetheart. Of course, certain things make it happen quicker, faster than would normally be the case.”

That chin shifted up another notch, but Caleb noticed the flare of interest, the curiosity of an outsider keen to known their panther secrets. “Such as?”

He leaned in a little closer, letting his mouth drift dangerously close to her ear. “Such as the scent of a female in heat.”

She jerked back, her eyes narrowing at the gleam in his. “You really are an arrogant jerk. And in case you haven't gotten it into that thick head of yours, this woman is already spoken for. That you think I'm some sort of danger to this community is the only reason you want to make me your wife.”

“Not the only reason. You'd need to be an idiot not to realize that I want you. My cock has yet to recover from the feel of you pressed against me.”

She flushed a little, but rolled her shoulders back. “So you're attracted to me, I get that. But it still doesn't make it right to poach on someone else's territory, does it?”

“Normally, no. But as we've discussed, the circumstances we find ourselves in are far from normal.” He ran his finger lightly down her arm, enjoying the way she shivered beneath his touch. “Despite your protestations, you're not immune to me. Like me, you wonder what we'd be like together. My hands free to roam over your body, my mouth sucking your juices, my cock deep inside you.”

She swallowed, the flush spearing across her cheekbones again. “Joshua takes care of all my needs, thank you very much.”

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

His smile was feral. “We'll see.”

Chapter Six

The click of the back door signaled that Josh had returned from wherever he'd obviously been making himself scarce. Without preamble, Talia reared on him. “You've agreed to this?”

He glowered at Caleb before meeting Talia's gaze. “Yes.”

Talia stared at him for long moments, hoping that he'd tell her he was joking or something. The two men were brothers after all, or at least half-brothers. Siblings messed around all the time, didn't they? Not that she'd had too much experience with that, seeing as her own brother was much older and didn't want his pesky little sister around messing up his life.

When both Joshua and Caleb remained silent, Talia pressed her fingers to her temples. “God, this is unbelievable.”

“It's the way of it, Talia,” Joshua said tightly, placing his keys on the worktop next to the door. “Caleb's leader. He can do what the hell he wants.”

Since Joshua looked to be grinding his teeth, Talia had the distinct impression that negotiations for this farce hadn't exactly been smooth going and her husband hadn't been as philosophical about the whole thing as he appeared. That being the case, maybe she could change his mind and get him to stonewall this preposterous farce.

“The ceremony will take place tomorrow.”

Both Talia and Joshua jerked their attention toward Caleb, who stood with his feet planted and his hands on his hips. The audacity of the man never ceased to amaze her.

“Not if I'm not there, it won't.”

Caleb shot her a glare before addressing Joshua. “I suggest you take time to persuade your wife that her continued protestations are futile.”

He walked toward the door and stopped in front of his half-brother. The two men were tall, but Caleb had a good three inches on Josh and leaned down into his space. “You have twenty-four hours.” His tone was low, menacing. “Then it goes away.”

Talia waited until Caleb was safely out of the house before speaking. “What did he mean?” she demanded. “Then what goes away?”

Josh averted his gaze, moving past her to the sink, where he turned on the tap. “Like I said, he's leader. He thinks he rules the fucking universe.”

He soaped his hands, rinsed them and grabbed for the towel.

“Don't treat me like a fool, Josh. What's going on? And I swear if you try and fob me off, I'll do something rather unpleasant to your balls.”

“It concerns my mother.” He threw the towel aside, leaned back against the counter and stared at the floor. “She always resented Caleb, thinking that as firstborn to our father he was the favorite. I think she always believed my father loved Caleb's mother more than he loved her. Anyway, it appears she was behind Caleb's imprisonment in South America.”

Talia had heard many theories about Caleb's kidnapping, but never one that concerned his stepmother. “Oh my God. That's awful. What will happen to her?”

Still, he wouldn't meet her eyes. “My mother will face charges from the Principals and she could be banished to an overseas community where she'll be treated like an outcast, the lowest of the low.”

“Surely there could be some leniency, now that Caleb is safe and well.”

“Crimes against our leader are considered the highest form of treason.”

Talia huffed. She could imagine the high and mighty Caleb McLeod making demands because someone had dared to transgress against him. Although, if she was being honest, kidnapping and imprisonment were pretty heinous crimes.

Even so…

“Caleb has offered to bury the charges against my mother.” Now he looked at her. “I can't let my mother suffer, Talia. Okay, she's done wrong, but something happened to her mind when my father died. She needs taking care of. If she's banished, I won't know where she's gone. I'll never know what happened to her.”

“That's what Caleb meant about the offer going away?” A sudden chill shivered through her, and Talia wrapped her arms around herself. What in hell sort of people had she gotten herself involved with? Banishing someone, for God's sake. What bloody century were they living in? “If I don't agree to this marriage, he'll withdraw it?”

“Yes.” He took a few steps toward her, but when she thought he'd try and take her in his arms, he slipped his hands in his pockets. “This whole deal sickens me. But I can't let my mother suffer any more than she already has.”

Talia thought of the woman she had yet to meet. Mentally unstable, she spent her days in a care home on the other side of the moor. Despite her wishes to meet her future mother-in-law, Joshua had expressly forbidden Talia to visit the home, citing that his mother was always confused and upset by strangers. Talia had no wish to further distress the poor woman.

Although it seemed the woman was obviously
compos mentis
enough to have arranged for a kidnapping. But then, the mind was a strange and baffling organism and once distorted, was capable of many bizarre and curious things. Even so, someone so frail and obviously unhinged didn't deserve the cruel fate threatened by Caleb.

Talia knew that banishment for a shifter, although rare, was the cruelest of outcomes. They were not only stripped of all their assets and abandoned by their own pack, but ostracized and treated like scum by the pack into which they were banished and forced to live as slave labor. It was considered a fate worse than death.

A chill ran down Talia's spine. How could she even think about agreeing to shack up with a monster of a man who would threaten someone so weak, so vulnerable?

“Who does he think he is?” She mumbled it almost to herself. “Threatening sick old ladies and blackmailing people.”

Josh gripped her arm so tightly Tania winced. “You can't tell him you know about this. Part of the deal is that nobody else knows about it.”

Which meant nobody would think badly of their esteemed leader, Talia thought with a sneer. Everyone could continue to believe they were led by a man of principle, honor and integrity.

Joshua tightened his hold on her arm. “You've got to promise me you won't say anything to him. The only reason I told you is because I don't want you thinking this was my idea. The thought of sharing you incenses me, especially sharing you with
him
. But I have no choice but to beg you to go through with this.”

“Do you realize what you're asking?”

“Yes.”

Anger erupted through the initial shock and fear, through the claustrophobia clutching at her.

“How is it supposed to work, exactly?” she said, rounding on Joshua. “You get to do me, and then Caleb does? Or because he's leader, maybe he gets to go first? Or what? One night with you and then the next with him? Maybe you get to take me together, one in front and one behind.”

Through the rant, her voice hitched, and Joshua ran a hand along her cheek. “Please, babe. We'll work it out.”

She shucked off his hold. “I can't do this now. I need to think. Need to be alone for a while.”

He looked as if he were about to say something, then simply nodded, walked over to grab his keys and left the kitchen.

Alone, Talia stared at the closed door.

How could she even consider such a crazy arrangement? Two husbands, for crying out loud. Two lovers.

The memory of Caleb's hands on her, his mouth, his cock grinding against her, sent shockwaves trembling through her body. She couldn't deny the thrill buzzing through her, even though it was topped with a huge layer of guilt. Another time, another place, she might have allowed herself to enjoy the way he made her feel, but she had made a commitment to Joshua. He was her husband, her
true
husband. He had his faults, but they didn't include trying to control her.

Okay, he hated that she hung out with her work colleagues, was maddened by her continued refusal to bear his mark, but she couldn't imagine him resorting to the kind of flat-out cruelty Caleb seemed capable of administering. His controlling ways were the antithesis of everything she believed in.

If she didn't agree to go through with this marriage to Caleb, it would mean that Joshua's mother would suffer, and as a result, Joshua would suffer too. She couldn't bear that. She couldn't be responsible for driving Joshua's mother into exile. For having a sick woman pay such a harsh price for something she likely didn't even remember.

The only option, apart from actually agreeing to this insane situation, was to consider asking Joshua for a divorce and leaving. Although that would open an entirely different can of worms, seeing as with her marriage she had accepted she could never leave the pack without the approval of its leader.

And yeah. Like that was going to happen. Seemed she was damned if she did, damned if she didn't.

The awful inevitability of her situation snuck through her frenzied thoughts. God almighty. What would other people think? A woman with two husbands. How would she keep something like that a secret? She couldn't. At least not for long.

She really needed to talk to someone. Debbie was the obvious choice, but what the heck would she say to her colleague?
Hey, Debs, I'm marrying another man tomorrow, which means I'll have two men to satisfy between the sheets. Want to be my bridesmaid?

Talia squeezed her eyes shut and leaned back against the wall. What would she be letting herself in for? She already knew that Joshua was demanding, at least sexually, and she'd always been happy to oblige. She loved him. But what of Caleb?

She had an idea that she wouldn't really know what demanding meant until she found herself flat on her back beneath him.

She'd told him that Josh took care of all her needs. Was that true? Wasn't there still that empty space inside her that she'd been trying to fill? When they made love, it was great, but afterward it was like something was missing.

Maybe allowing him to mark her would make things better between them. Perhaps that was the missing component that would fill her emptiness.

Except Caleb hadn't marked her, had barely touched her, yet already it felt so amazingly different with him. Intimate and…satisfying.

Images of Caleb, naked and aroused, flitted beneath her eyelids. She opened her eyes and fled to the bedroom, where she crawled onto the bed and pulled the duvet over herself. Maybe if she squeezed her eyes shut and willed it all away…

Memories came of another time long ago, another night when she'd tried that little trick. She'd been lost and terrified and alone on the moor. Closing her eyes and willing away the fear hadn't worked that time either. And when she'd opened her eyes, she'd stared into the eyes of a wild beast, one who had consequently covered her, protected her and kept her safe until morning.

Longing trickled through her and she pulled down Josh's pillow, hugging it to herself. He had been so beautiful that night. His sleek black fur providing warmth, the soft gleam in his golden eyes conveying he meant no harm. She'd felt the connection with him instantly. A special bond that, strangely, she hadn't experienced since.

It was difficult to understand why. She had accepted the destiny her grandmother had told her about. She had accepted the triangle. Yet still there remained that missing link.

She was happy, but the connection she'd felt with the young Joshua in panther form had never morphed into her reality with the adult male. It was hard to understand. She'd accepted Josh, she'd accepted his beast, their triangle was formed, but…

Talia's eyes flew open. Had the triangle referred to something else entirely? Had it referred to her, Joshua and Caleb?

She threw off the duvet and swung her legs off the bed. Was she supposed to accept this mating with Caleb willingly? Was it somehow connected to her future happiness? Something she had to endure to reach her destiny?

How she ached to talk to her grandmother about this, but since her beloved gran had passed away shortly after Talia moved to Bodmin, there was no likelihood of soliciting her advice. Yet, deep down, as if some instinct guided her, she felt a clarity about the situation that had eluded her until then.

She had to go through with it. Accept it. In doing so, she would help Joshua and his mother, which was her duty as his wife. Her duty as a member of the pack. Who knew what course life would take? Perhaps she needed to go through this in order to come out the other end with her happiness intact. Maybe that was the missing aspect of her relationship. She had to surrender, to sacrifice. That way she could feel complete and whole in her relationship with her husband.

Padding through to the living room, she headed for the cabinet in the corner. God. She needed a drink. Something alcoholic and numbing. She didn't want to think any more, didn't want to reason any of this through.

Talia took a swig from the shot of whisky she'd poured, then another. Anything to appease the dragging feeling in her stomach.

Tomorrow she'd accept Caleb as her mate. Her husband.

With another shot of whisky, she prayed that she was doing the right thing.