Taken by the Pack (12 page)

They went home after work.
Home
. Jackson liked that word. He had his place with his brothers out in the bayou, but that was simply the spot he crashed, when he needed shuteye and a safe place to lay his head. He didn’t have to worry about skin hunters sneaking up on him there. Eden’s place had definitely not earned a place on the safe list. Since last night had been quiet, however, and Luc hadn’t sent up a distress signal, it should be okay.

The small cottage perched near the edge of the river. It was also full of comfortably rundown furniture, tiny knickknack things, gauzy curtains and way too many cats. Indoors, outdoors—his Eden practically had her own zoo. Hell, he was scared he’d crush something.

She’d picked up take-out Chinese on her way home and, while he got out her plates and silverware, she’d changed into pajamas, a thin tank top with cotton pants. For a moment, he considered skipping dinner altogether and stripping those sexy pants right off her. The faded fabric clung to her ass and her thighs and, if pink flamingoes hadn’t been his thing before, they sure were now.

He’d arranged the cartons on her dining room table. The table was a big ugly piece from an antique market. He knew that, because she’d told him, patting the pockmarked surface proudly as she waltzed by en route to her bedroom. He had no idea where she’d gotten the girly armchairs she’d stuck at the head and foot, but he definitely wouldn’t be shopping there. She also had a pair of benches on either side of the table and damned if he didn’t feel like Goldilocks because none of these chairs were just right.

When she came out, he handed her a plate, all loaded up with Chinese. It was a shame about her table. The surface was nicked up and battered, but someone had painted it with a glossy varnish. He’d bet it was her. It was the kind of thing he could imagine her doing, salvaging something good from the bad.

“If you wan’, I could smooth this down some.” Or just buy her a whole new table.

She flashed him a grin. “I like it because it’s banged up. It comes with a story.”

“Uh-huh.” He’d still buy her a table. “You’re goin’ to love my brothers then. They’ve got more scars and stories than your table.”

She nudged the Kung Pao toward him with her chopsticks. “Am I going to meet the rest of them?”

“Whenever you wan’.” He grabbed a fork and dug in. If she wanted to twiddle with sticks of wood, that was fine. He’d starve before he got enough in if he did that.

“Okay.” She sucked in a breath. “I’d like that.”

Well, yeah. He stuck the fork on his plate and wrapped his hand around hers. He’d like that too. He wanted to do couple things with her.

“As soon as you want,” he said. “You’ve met Luc, but the rest of them are up at the camp. They were givin’ us our space last night, but they’d love to get to know you.”

She nodded and rummaged in the box, looking for some bit she liked best, and right then and there the world went to hell. The wide picture window in her living room exploded in a spray of glass. Rolling, Jackson took her with him as he flipped her table over onto his side.

Goddamn, but he hated vampires.

Something sharp and hard hit her table and cartons of Chinese flew everywhere. Jackson’s face peered down into hers, fierce and intent on hers. “You stay down. You hear me, Eden?”

He didn’t give her time to agree, palming his handgun and a knife as he vaulted over her table. Right. Stay put. She compromised by peeking.

The snarling sounds of animals fighting filled the room, along with the unmistakable sounds of fists meeting flesh. There was a wet tearing sound and then something large and unhappy bounced off the table and back into the fight.

Her front door burst open and a wolf pack came rushing into her home. Canines flashed as they howled. The first two into the room bit down on the second vamp harrying Jackson, rending and tearing. Behind them, though, a third vamp dropped through her busted-out window.

Do something.

The table had landed kitty-corner to the antique hutch. Her position could have been worse—the hutch and its contents could have been clear across the room. Glass rained down on her as the leaded doors took a direct hit. It was as if she were moving in slow-mo while the rest of the world fought in fast forward. The house didn’t matter, nor did the furniture. She’d mourn them a little, but not like she would the men fighting for their lives and hers.

There.

She curled her fingers around the lower door and tugged hard. The door popped open and there it was. Her back-up emergency responder kit, tucked out of the way so none of the cats could get into it. She unzipped and dumped. No time to be neat. She grabbed the dart pistol that had seemed like a luxury when she’d ordered it. Not now. Rapidly, she pumped air into the gun. Breathed to steady herself.

One chance to aim. Three darts in the chamber.

Three CCs of Ketamine to deliver.

Don’t hit too soft
. If the thing had the hide of a rhinoceros, she was screwed.

She popped her head up over the table. Jackson fought with his back to her, keeping his body between hers and the vamps. As she watched, he fired the handgun in his left hand, pumping round after round into the neck of the vampire nearest him. When there was nothing left of the creature’s head, he dropped it.

Don’t think about
that
.
She needed a clear shot. Taking down one of her new Pack members wasn’t part of the plan. Up. Aim. Fire. She could do this. Think of the vamp as a particularly grouchy crocodile.

With teeth.

The vamp’s teeth glistened with blood and there was more blood on its face and arms. It moved impossibly fast and the wolves were fighting simply to keep it contained.

One down.

One wolf bleeding. One human bleeding. Dre. Maybe. Shit. Why hadn’t there been time for introductions before she’d been attacked? When Dre-or-whoever-he-was feinted away, she seized her chance and fired. The darts arced through the air, slamming into the vamp’s exposed neck.

The dosage should have dropped him in his tracks. She’d packed the darts for renegade crocodiles and anything else nasty the bayou might serve up. The vamp, however, was down but not completely out, because, God damn it, the thing must have the constitution of an elephant. She’d pumped it full of Ketamine, nailing it in the neck and side with three darts. Even Jackson had gone down after one. Two seconds after impact, its legs collapsed and it faceplanted on the floor, still trying to shove upward. To come for
her
.

But Jackson was already on it, the blade in his hand flashing. Animal noises tore from his throat as he moved with lethal force. Planting himself on the vamp’s back, he yanked its head back and sawed the knife across the exposed throat. Bile in her throat mixing with the adrenaline pumping through her veins, making her heart bang hard against her ribs.

The vamp stopped moving.

All the heads in the room swiveled to stare at her. Luc applauded slowly.

The last wolf shifted and then Landry Breaux stood there naked as a jaybird in her dining room. Nature had definitely been kind to the Breauxs. Focusing her eyes on his face, she tossed him the tablecloth.

He caught it with a grin. “You’re goin’ to fit into this family just fine, darlin’, but remind me never to piss you off.”

The Pack, it turned out, was fairly handy with a hammer. Luc and Dre boarded up her front window with a piece of plywood they’d scavenged from somewhere. While they pounded nails, the guys had alternated between taking turns in her shower and eying her like she might fall apart. They’d also promised more cleanup for tomorrow. Right. Like she was worried about broken glass and property damage when the right could have turned out so much worse.

“All done.” Luc turned to her, as Jackson padded out of her bathroom. He’d dressed, which was a bummer. She still had plenty of adrenaline pumping through her and “expending” some of it on Jackson was appealing. How did these guys fight like this all the time?

“You should be good for the night,” Luc continued.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll take a kiss,” Luc said and she froze, not sure what he meant. Jackson gave a bark of amusement. He didn’t seem pissed—or concerned—but damned if she could figure out what was so amusing. Did he think she wouldn’t do it? Or that Luc was playing games with her? There was only one way to find out.

She leaned up and planted one on Luc’s mouth. She took his mouth, covering his lips with hers and stroking her tongue over the closed seam. If he wanted a kiss, she’d give him one. And…he took charge. His mouth slanted over his, opening up and nipping at her lower lip. His tongue pushed into her mouth, exploring her as his hands came up and cupped her face. Holding her in place and pulling her closer at the same time.

Holy…
more please.
Who knew Mr. Stern and Deadly could kiss like that? And Jackson didn’t seem to mind. Instead of going all territorial or backing off,
he moved closer until she was sandwiched between the two males in the best possible way. Her back rested against his chest and her front was pressed up against Luc’s chest and thighs. Two men. Two hard, hard bodies. And…one really wicked fantasy? What kind of person did wanting two different men make her? She broke off the kiss, wondering just who had showed whom here.

“I—”
had no idea what to say. Or to whom.
Neither Luc nor Jackson moved away, though. And neither seemed bothered by her close proximity to them both.

“You choose,” Jackson said gruffly. “I want you. That doesn’t mean Luc here doesn’t also want you or that you can’t have a taste of us both.”

“I’ve—”

“Never done that before?” A smile tugged at Luc’s mouth as he looked down at her. She was intensely aware of his hands at her waist—his hands
and
Jackson’s. “And you don’ have to unless that’s what you choose. My kind, we don’ mind sharin’. It’s the Pack way.”

She licked her lips. “What about
you
, Jackson? What do you like?”

“You, happy,” he said roughly. “That’s the only thing that matters in this equation, Eden.”

Or maybe not, she realized. Luc, for all his tough and gruff exterior, was lonely. He was the only one of the brothers who was mate-less, right? So he didn’t have anyone now to go to home. She and the other women had done that to him and, while she was sure he wanted nothing but the best for his brothers, that had to sting some. Jackson had said something else when they were talking.

“Jackson said you guys can get lost in your wolf. Is that happening to you?” He actually smiled then. “Not tonight, honey.”

“Okay,” she said, answering his earlier question. “For a little while.”

His growl of satisfaction was loud and clear. “Be very clear about what you want.”

“I shouldn’t—”

Jackson cut her off. “The only thing you
should
do is whatever the hell you wan’ to do. I don’ care what the rest of the world thinks. The only one who matters is you. You don’ have to be ready to make love to both—or even one—of us tonight. I’ll wait until you’re ready. I’m good at waitin’.”

A sweet zing of emotion shot through her. She could definitely love this man. If she wasn’t there yet, she soon would be.

Luc stepped away, like he was recognizing something between Jackson and her. Letting him go didn’t feel right, either. She reached out a hand and stopped him.

“Stay.” The decision felt right. “Stay with us tonight.”

He was big and tough on the outside. The inside, however, she wasn’t so certain about—but she wanted to find out.

“Are you sure?”

She looked over at Jackson. “It won’t bother you if I’m with both of you?”

If he decided afterward that he wasn’t willing to share, if he said
yes
tonight and then meant
no
tomorrow…well, she had a feeling that her heart would be paying the cost and no night of fantasy sex, no matter how hot, was worth that kind of price tag.

“No,” he said roughly, bending to brush a kiss over her mouth. “I don’ mind sharin’ with Luc here. You honor us that you’d think about sharin’ yourself with the both of us. It’s not about keepin’ score or who did what first or to whom. It’s about bein’ together.”

“Touchin’,” Luc said in his gravelly voice.

“Can we take you to bed?” Jackson asked.

“Please.” Her pulse raced and her throat dried right up. Her next steps weren’t clear, but it didn’t matter. It was okay to be unsure because, now that she’d agreed, Jackson and Luc took charge.

Sweeping her up in his arms, Jackson strode down the hallway to her bedroom. Her room seemed far too cozy and small for two werewolves. She looked around as she arrived in his arms. She loved the fabric-covered headboard on her bed and the completely silly, absolutely beautiful silver studs. She had herself a dresser and a chaise lounge covered in books and clothes. It wasn’t fancy, but it was hers. Up until Jackson and Luc’s arrival, it had all seemed very familiar and ordinary. When Luc stepped into the room right behind her, the resident cat streaked out. Her fur baby wasn’t okay with the arrival of two wolves.

Jackson set her down carefully and she wanted to tell him she wouldn’t break. Not that she was inviting him to be rough—she wasn’t stupid and,
hello
, werewolf—but he didn’t need to treat her like a princess or a piece of porcelain. And yet, as soon as her back hit the mattress, she couldn’t fight off a flash of shyness. Which was followed by heat. God. She was really doing this. She had two gorgeous alpha males in her bed and they were taking her or she was taking them. Both ways worked for her.

“Get naked,” she ordered, because this fantasy belonged to her and they’d do it her way. Luc’s husky laugh as he deposited an arsenal of handguns and knives on her dresser said he had her number. His weapons looked out of place next to the pretty silver trays with her auntie’s French perfume bottles. She didn’t mind that, she realized. He could and would protect his family and she respected that.

“You picked a bossy one, Jackson. She thinks she’s in charge.”

He did what she asks, however. And that was how this worked, she realized. Their being here in her bedroom was a delicious game, one where they all pretended that her guys were in charge, but they weren’t.
She
was. There was no doubt at all in her mind that if she said stop, they stopped.

Luc pulled his T-shirt over his head. He must have snuck away at some point post-vampire killing for a shower, because there were no residual signs of the fight. His hair was damp and he smelled like her rose-scented soap. The scent brought a smile to her lips. Buying more manly soap needed to go on her to do list. Irish Springs or something, because who’d ever heard of werewolves smelling like flowers? And…she was babbling. To herself, in her head, because she was nervous.

Luc’s hands went to his belt. He unbuckled, unbuttoned and unzipped. He didn’t hesitate at all as he shoved his jeans down and kicked them away. She had no idea when or how he’d lost his boots. It didn’t matter. All she had eyes for was the thick cock that he displayed for her. He was hard. That was good. That meant they were on the right track here because, God, she couldn’t have imagined the mortification if he hadn’t been into her. She stared shamelessly, mentally mapping out her plan of attack. She’d trace those veins with her fingers, then her tongue. Moisture beaded on the tip as if Luc shared her impatience.

Jackson’s warm hands closed on her shoulders. While she’d been staring at Luc, he’d stripped down. Darn it. She was the only one still wearing any clothes. On the other hand… the view was downright amazing. No complaints here.

“You have room for two more?” His dark hair was tousled, the thick waves free of its tie.

“The closer you get, the better I can touch you.” She patted the space on the bed and Luc promptly dropped down beside her. Maybe the guy could learn to take orders.

Jackson followed Luc down, pulling her over his lap until she straddled him. That worked for her. With her legs draped on either side of his hip, she had him pressed right against her core.
Good times.
The bed dipped as Luc shifted, moving behind her until her back pressed against his chest.

Jackson seemed to like her new position just fine too. He ran his hands down her arms, peeling the thin straps of her tank top down, his fingers skating sensually up and down her arms. Luc gripped her hips, lightly anchoring her as he drew small circles against her skin.

Jackson tugged on the bottom of her shirt. “May I?”

She nodded because, yeah, she was so on board with the
get naked and have crazy sex
plan. She might not be totally sure of the choreography, but this was one of the most intensely erotic moments of her life and she wanted to experience it all. Jackson didn’t hesitate, lifting the tank top over her head. She’d skipped a bra because the shirt had one of those built-in bras and his move left her top half bare and her head battling an unexpected wash of vulnerability. She and Jackson had had sex yesterday but this was the first time she’d stripped down in front of Luc. What if he didn’t like what he saw?

“Beautiful,” Luc rumbled in her ear, kissing his way up her throat.

Jackson leaned up and found her breast with his mouth. His lips closed around one nipple and sucked. Her back arched as pleasure streaked through her.
So good.

So bad.
Luc’s hands joined Jackson’s, cupping her breasts and shaping her for Jackson’s kiss as he teased her nipple with his fingers. She rubbed against Jackson, luxuriating in their touch as they loved on her. What felt like hours later, Luc lifted her gently up so Jackson could slide away first her pajama bottoms, then her panties.

“These are too pretty to tear.” Jackson dropped the scrap of pink lack onto the bed and then flipped her around so she faced Luc.

Luc smiled slowly. “You don’ like somethin’, you tell us.”

“No worries,” she said. She’d never been a shut up and put up person.

Jackson urged her gently down as he moved backward and his hands rearranged her effortlessly, easing her forward so he could kiss her from behind. Oh. My. God. He blew on her swollen pussy and she bit back a moan. She’d never been kissed like this and who knew? She loved it. Jackson leaned in and
licked
and yeah… the man had to grab her hips to keep her in place, a willing prisoner to that talented tongue of his.

Not wanting Luc to feel left out, she circled his thick length, testing the silky, smooth skin and he hardened further. His rough exhalation summed up how she was feeling when she skimmed her fingers lightly over his balls. Jackson went to work on her core, licking and kissing like she was his sweet treat and no way she lasted long. Luc looked like he was in the same boat. The head of his penis was swollen and ripe, just begging for kisses. She rubbed the tip against her cheek, reveling in the softness.

“Tease,” Luc accused roughly, but there was laughter in his voice. “You better encourage her, Jackson.”

Jackson didn’t say anything, but he moved down some and his tongue nudged at her opening, dragging roughly downward and in. She gasped and Luc pressed lightly against her lips in a silent demand. She opened her mouth and swallowed the tip of him, her fingers curling around his shaft as she rolled her tongue over the ripe head, learning his smooth curves and taste. Fluttered her fingers up and down what she couldn’t take yet.

She’d worried doing this with the two of them would be awkward and that she wouldn’t know where to put her hands or her legs. Instead, being here with them both was the most intensely erotic moment of her life.
Beautiful
. These two men made her feel beautiful.
Loved.
Jackson’s tongue worked her clit as he plunged a finger inside her, building the tension inside her. Her muscles quivered
Almost there.

Wanting to spin out the moment for as long as she could, she licked and sucked, slowly drawing as much as she could of Luc into her mouth. His fingers fisted her hair as he fucked her mouth in a slow, lazy rhythm.

She sucked him deep, moving her mouth in a rhythm to match his as she dragged her tongue over the length of him. He supported her arms as she felt Jackson positioning himself at her opening.
God, yes.

“Take him.” Luc’s sexy order filtered through her sensual haze.

Oh, yeah.
She didn’t know if she was coordinated enough to pull this off, but she’d try. She lowered herself down onto Jackson, her body taking him one slow inch at a time. Luc popped free of her mouth with a harsh groan. She leaned up, recapturing him and slowly lifting off Jackson. Up, then down, riding Jackson in a slow, erotic wave.
Oh.

She wished she could see Jackson’s face. She could feel him
there
, though, and when she looked up through her lashes at Luc, his face was fierce and intent. Focused on her and what they were doing.