TamingTabitha (2 page)

“Yield to us, Seer. We have won you.” Lancaster echoed the
unflinching surety she’d heard resonate in Gage’s tone and another wave of
unbridled lust washed over her. If she didn’t yield, there was a chance she
would hit the ground running when they lowered the net—yet again trying to
escape the snare of fate. The rules of the Race insisted she yield of her own
free will, so even captured she could choose to elude them…

She’d put off the mating for too long. Her body didn’t care
about her doubts or worries. It didn’t care if she might not like them, respect
them or even share common priorities. Her flesh was only concerned with their
viability as fathers, their genetic matchup with fragments of herself so
microscopic no eye could see them. While her personality might have
reservations, while her spirit might doubt her ability to surrender to them,
her body registered no doubts and its demands were overwhelming. She wouldn’t
be able to hold out, fears notwithstanding—not tonight. “I yield.” She
whispered her submission through gritted teeth, closing her eyes as the
knowledge of what those two words would bring wakened the gnawing hunger only
the men below could satisfy. As if uttering the words etched it in stone, the
finality resounded through her like a box being unlocked—freeing all the
demands she’d so long controlled.

Neither man ribbed her further. Instead of a response, she
could feel the ropes securing her to the trees shift, tossing the net into
swinging motion. In moments, she found herself lowered to the ground. She
shoved away the loose netting and stood, brushing off her legs. Her body
ignited, beginning to adjust to a temperature for mating, and her clothes
suddenly chafed.

Standing, she still couldn’t see them. “Gage? Lancaster?” She
turned slowly, trying to determine by scent where they hid.

“We’ve been chasing you for over a decade, Tabitha.”

The quiet calm to Lancaster’s voice sent a chill up her
spine yet increased the warmth between her legs. Her knees nearly buckled at
the need it wakened. “Has it been that long?” She managed to pant out the words
even as she fought dizziness. She wanted flesh, needed skin.
Fast.

“At first we were amused. How powerful our mate, how clever
that she could run so far and so fast.” Gage’s voice sounded just as eerily
smooth, but her reaction to it was anything but calm.

Giving into the need to drop, she landed on her knees and
panted, finding her fingers back in the dirt for a second time. The ache for
them changed from need to white-hot hunger she couldn’t think past. “So you’ve
agreed to share and what? Torture me for making you wait?” She didn’t fear
them, not even with their proximity driving her into a frenzy, but she stalled
for time while trying to find reins to chain her physical response.

Finally, Lancaster stepped into the clearing and the
moonlight revealed his body. Although the ritual called for nudity, she still
bit her lip at the sight of all his dark, glossy skin. Behind her, Gage
answered. “Not torture you. But we’re really going to have to work not to hurt
you. We’ve been waiting for you, wanting you…and we may not be as gentle or
patient as we might have been.”

She didn’t look back at him, fascinated as Lancaster flexed
for her, the tremble of dark skin speaking to his repressed desire. “Gentle?
I’m a Seer. Some of the visions I’ve seen? No one ensured soft things only made
it into my Sight. Nothing in my life has been gentle or tempered, why start
now?”

Gage caught her hair and a gasp shuddered out of her as he
tugged her head back. The move was neither rough nor painful, rather a show of
masculine dominance that left the muscles between her legs clenching in
desperate need. “You may beg for it before this Claiming is done, Seer.”

Licking her lips, she smiled up at him. “Make me beg, if you
can, Hunter.”

Her eyes, glowing in the darkness with her power, didn’t
waver from his in the slightest. The scent of her readiness for them had taunted
his dreams and waking moments for so long, but this close the bouquet of it
called to him on such a base level he couldn’t resist her much longer. She was
ripe peaches, caramelized, and he craved a taste. Her mouth, her skin, the hot
place between her legs that must be aching for the Claiming…any of it and all
of it, he only knew he must sate the hunger. Iron will kept him still, looking
down at her and waiting for her to accept what they’d all known would be their
fate. Gage knew she would be like this, all vibrant and brave even once they’d
caught her. A decade-long chase—unheard of among their people—spoke to the
strength and independence of their mate. As boys they’d been taught how to be
what their mate needed, that no other act in their lives would be as important
as making the Seer happy. Not all men took their task seriously, but Gage had
felt it click into place when he’d first met Tabitha.

It wasn’t anything as material as how she looked, though his
mate was by far the loveliest of the Seers. Something deeper, some soul-level
knowledge determined no other would do. As a hunter, he trusted his gut—even
when it told him he would never be enough for her alone.

They’d joined forces, he and Lancaster, knowing this day
would come for years. Another Seer, an Old Mother, had taken them aside when
they’d been young and foreseen something she could only whisper to them for
fear of censure. Her dreams said something was unbalanced in the universe,
something that called for traditions to change and rules to be broken. A mating
like none before, she’d told them. If they followed their fate, they’d live a
life other than ordinary, with rewards like they couldn’t imagine.

Like most visions, her vague directions hadn’t made sense
and he and Lancaster had pored over texts, searching for meaning. They’d
traveled together, searched together and had only caught glimpses of Tabitha in
the meanwhile.

One of those glimpses seared through the fog of the Old
Mother’s vision, casting brilliant light on their fate—if they chose to accept
it. Tabitha lying on her belly in a club, a human club rippling with sexual
energy so hot that their senses shot into overdrive at the feast. He and
Lancaster were little more than boys at the time and when she’d spotted them,
she’d fled. The scent of her desire was rich in the air and they’d peeked to
see what so fascinated her.

Three humans, bodies twined and undulating in a dance of
flesh, lay in the room that so enchanted their mate. At first, they’d both
ignored the possible meaning…

And then one day they’d known. They’d understood. They’d
come to terms and agreed to do what they could to see her happy.

The thrill he’d felt at the idea of being with Lancaster and
the Seer should have caused shame. Instead…

He’d met Lancaster’s dark eyes and known it was meant to be
from the moment they’d realized what the vision meant. Not once in the years
since had either of them wavered from their chosen path. His body throbbed,
desire to take his mate warring with the reins of his patience for control. “Oh
you’ll beg.”

Lancaster nodded, a signal, and Gage moved to pull Tabitha
carefully to her feet. Once she stood, she began to disrobe without further
hesitation. He understood her need to be rid of the garments. His flesh burned
and her flushed cheeks spoke to her own internal struggle as her body
temperature, no doubt, prepared for the Claiming. “We’ll see, hunter.” Her
snide comment would have held more power if she’d not stopped in her disrobing
to make sure they both watched.

Her hair hung like a golden banner, framing her amber eyes
and making them mysterious in the moonlight. Skin like the warmest part of
flickering yellow flames glowed, illuminating her every movement as the
Claiming continued to ready her for the mating. The glow might be simple
biology—his logical mind knew its intended purpose was to tempt him and enhance
her natural beauty—but his reaction to it didn’t feel simple or logical. He
longed to possess her, protect her… He held his stance, waiting. Soon.

Since she was down to undergarments, he had to fist his
hands to keep from reaching out to snatch aside the last scraps of fabric
hiding her flesh from his view. Her eyes closed as she slid the straps of her
bra down before cupping her breasts and tweaking the nipples. Again her gaze
fastened on them, feasting on the hunger she could no doubt read in their
expressions. The sight of her tiny hands cupping the weight of her full breasts
made his balls tighten up, he became even more aroused if it was possible.

Dropping the bra, she stepped out of her panties and stroked
her slit with her palm. Her eyes closed and she breathed out a soft sound and
Gage panted, almost shaking with the need to move, to take her.

“No, don’t touch yourself,” Lancaster ordered, his tone
sharp. Gage tried to find his own voice past the hunger she was ratcheting
higher with her movements, but couldn’t. “We touch you. I name it a rule.”

“A forever rule or a for-now rule?” Her lower lip popped out
in a pout.

Gage took two steps closer, capturing her hand before
Lancaster could answer. Just the sensation of her fingers in his eased the edge
of the grating fire burning his senses. He hadn’t planned to touch her but
couldn’t seem to resist some contact.

“For-now rule.” Lancaster moved behind her, his dark gaze
asking permission. Since Gage had touched her first, this moment was a tenuous
one. Technically Gage could call challenge, refuse to share his mate. They’d
caught her, but he’d touched her first and could go back on his promise and
call her his alone…

Discarding the idea with a fast shake of his head, he knew
they could have so much more together and he kept his word to his friend. “Now
we touch her.” Having conceded to share didn’t mean he wouldn’t take some
liberties because of his faux pas. Gage moved in to meld his lips with hers, eating
the moan that slipped from her. Their tongues tangled and he pressed closer
until the silky heat of her nude body rubbed against his. He couldn’t get
enough of her, not fast enough, and he greedily gulped down her kisses and the
feel of her skin against his. Like cotton candy, drips and drabs of power clung
with each touch, only increasing his pleasure and feast.

A hand nudged at him and he backed up a little. Releasing
her from the kiss, he glanced down her body to see Lancaster’s dark fingers
close around one of her heavy, pale breasts. Gage’s cock bobbed, he was strangely
thrilled by the sight of that hand and the other man ducking close to press
open-mouthed kisses up their mate’s neck. A swirling dance of color sped across
her golden glow, the magic of them merging with each embrace and kiss.

“I want to touch you both. I need skin.” Her raspy cry
wasn’t quite begging, but the plea in it was like a stroking finger, thrumming
to life ancient dictates deep inside him.
Please your mate. Make her scream.

“As you wish, Tabitha.” Running his hands up her thighs,
Gage pushed her back to cradle her against the frame of the bigger man.
Lancaster spoke no complaints, simply reached around and filled his other hand
with plump flesh. Meeting Gage’s eyes, he tweaked the nipple roughly. Both men
smiled as she cried out and flowed into the contact.

Gage fulfilled her desire for skin by lowering himself
between her spread legs. Stroking her thighs farther open, he gazed at the
plump flesh glittering with wetness. Her mound practically quivered, begging
for his touch, and he dipped one fingertip into the dark slit. She arched into
the touch, bucking, and he glanced up to see Lancaster grimace as the wave of
her body rubbed her against the aching bits of his. He could sense through
their connection the sweet agony Lancaster suffered.

You okay?
Gage used the mind-to-mind connection with
the other man rather than wasting breath when his mouth could be buried in that
sweet nectar between her jerking legs. Peaches, just as she’d smelled, but
sweeter and somehow unique, the flavor burst on his tongue, waking magic he
didn’t know he possessed. Using his tongue, he shoved a thread of power into
her and followed her hips as she bucked at the sensation.

Better than okay. Keep licking her. She’s rubbing her ass
right against my cock…

The gruff mental response caused Gage’s dick to twitch. He
wished, suddenly, that he lay beneath her so he could feel her grinding against
him. He must have given some of his thoughts away in the still-open connection
because Lancaster’s laughter echoed in his head.
Look, man, you’re in the
position to Claim her first. If you want to trade…

Gage ignored that comment, focusing on the feast at hand.
Cupping her ass in one hand, he held her spread wide for his erotic kissing.
With every lick of her clit, Tabitha pressed herself harder into his face.
Finding a rhythm that allowed him to breathe, he inserted two fingers into her
clenching opening and sucked on the hard little clit, allowing her to ride his
face and reveling in her reaction to his touch. Fluttering his tongue fast
against her while he held the bud between his teeth, he heard her carnal scream.

My mate wants me.
His heartbeat throbbed so hard at
the knowledge, he felt each pulse of it in his aching cock.

Some empty piece of himself, long hungering for this moment,
found salvation in her cries and her bucking hips. He was made for her, for
this, and he satisfied his destiny with the act of making love to his mate.
Speeding his motions, he felt her rocking go unsteady moments before she
screamed, the sound echoing off the trees, and clamped her thighs hard around
his head.

Petting her through the orgasm, he let the sound of her
harsh breathing fill the suddenly quiet night. Not even crickets or the song of
tree frogs interrupted the silence. He waited. He’d always waited, or so it
seemed.

She’d not be satisfied, not by just the oral sex. She needed
a Claiming. Their kind demanded it.

Still, he waited. After so long building up to his one
chance at winning her, he could afford not to rush when he’d made it so close
to the goal. He wanted her out of control. At least this first time, he wanted
her choice and desire to be unstoppable.

Her head rose with a snap and her glowing eyes met his. “Are
you going to Claim me, Gage? Or was this all for show?” The fierce growl made
him grin.

He’d known her long enough now to see the bravado. She
snarked to resist submitting, but he didn’t want a submissive mate. He wanted
her, all of her. He moved back and away from her to lie on his back as if unaffected
by the situation. With his arms cradling his head, he could look up her naked
body. He simply reveled in the view of her framed by the dark man’s shining
masculinity. The image burned itself on his mind. His mates. The idea felt so
right, he didn’t question it.

He waited.

With a growl, she rose and knelt over him. “I asked if you
were going to claim me.”

He knew she’d come to him. Once she’d straddled him, shifting
her body teasingly close to what he wanted, he captured her hips and slammed
her home in one smooth move. The time for teasing was gone. The feel of himself
buried deep in the still clenching, wet heat of her was so good he bit his lips
and closed his eyes to keep from coming then and there. “We’re claiming each
other, Tabby. This isn’t a traditional Claiming. I think we can all agree to
that.” He panted the words and managed to open his eyes to watch her.

Her head, lolling back at the pleasure he still tried to
control, rolled forward to reveal her slow grin. “Well then, let me get
started.” With a wiggle of her hips, she rose up and then dropped down fast and
hard and he cried out at the sheer ecstasy the sensation caused. More colors
spiraled across her flesh, icy whites and blue, marking her as his. Her gold
traced across his flesh and he could see it dancing up his arms as he reached
for her.

“Feeling left out here.” Lancaster moved until he stood at
Gage’s head, one foot at each ear, and Gage looked up at the other man’s
impressive cock.

Their mate only smiled bigger, one sassy brow cocked over
her amber eyes. She didn’t look worried, not daunted in the least by the
challenge facing her. “Well, let’s see if I can fix that.” She reached one
pale, slim-fingered hand to cup Lancaster’s cock. Both gold and icy blue danced
from her light touch, and inky-black bled down her arm and eventually traced
across his skin.

Gage began lifting her slowly and easing into her, picking
up an easy rhythm so he could hold on longer and delay the inevitable. Between
the pleasure and the dancing light of power, he didn’t think any of them would
manage to delay it for very long, regardless of his tempo.

Watching her mouth close over the dark bulb from this angle
left Gage digging his fingertips into her hips. No, he wouldn’t last long, slow
or otherwise. “Suck him harder, Tabby. We’ve both waited so long for you.”

She obeyed, needing their pleasure as much as they craved
hers. Head bobbing, she touched trembling fingertips to his balls and Gage
watched as the other man began to pump into her, the muscles of his legs tight.

Although the image was sexy, Gage closed his eyes to it,
lifting his hands to find her breasts. With the nipples caught between his
thumb and forefinger, he began to stroke and massage them in time to his thrusts,
reveling in the clutching, wet heat of her and the sounds she made around her
meaty mouthful as she rode him a bit faster. He moved his hand lower, circling
her clit, her movements became jerky. He could hear Lancaster grunting and knew
the other man must be close.

Catching her hip with one hand and continuing to torture the
tight bud of her clit, he pistoned into her, shoving hard into her body. She
must have released Lancaster because she was suddenly kissing him. Her
mouth—he’d dreamed of her mouth. Her kiss seared him as their tongues danced
and he rolled with her, pushing her legs higher so he could get more of an
angle.