Chapter Three
HORVAN AND Saul stood in front of the world map on the wide screen.
“This is good,” Horvan admitted. “Depressing but good.” The blue dots were the two camps they’d raided and shut down, one in Montana, the other in Texas.
Only two . And no idea how many more there were.
The twenty-three red dots were the shifter schools still to be closed down. The two black dots were the ones they’d already raided, in Boston and Croatia.
A row of green pins stood in a clump at the corner of the board, waiting to be placed on the map.
Waiting to show the locations of the camps.
Saul snorted. “Depressing is right. What’s the good in knowing where all these schools are if we’re not in a position to do anything about them? We’re not recruiting enough men.”
“Patience. We’ve got a whole new load of wannabes coming for assessment and interviews on Friday.”
Saul scowled. “At this rate, if they have a pulse, they’re in.”
Horvan knew better. Saul was ex-Delta Force, and he wouldn’t accept anyone who couldn’t live up to his own high standards.
He’s the best man to vet the potential recruits.
Even though sharing command had been Horvan’s idea, it had taken a while to get used to the reality. He and Saul would bust heads now and then, but they’d compromise in the end. And Saul was still one of the finest humans Horvan had had the privilege of knowing.
He was on a very short list.
Vic Ryder came into the office. “Aelryn wants a meeting. He’s on Zoom.”
Horvan grunted. “Well, God forbid we keep him waiting.” He went over to his desk and stabbed the keyboard. He didn’t really mind Aelryn’s manner, but he had a feeling he knew what was coming.
He thinks we’re losing this battle too.
Except it wasn’t a battle—it was a war of epic, horrendous proportions.
Aelryn’s long dark hair fell past his shoulders, and his glittering eyes focused on the three of them as Vic and Saul stood behind Horvan.
“Gentlemen, we need an army, and we need to be recruiting heavily now.”
Horvan nodded. “We’re on it.”
Aelryn’s brow furrowed. “But you’re one team. We all need to be on board with this, and unfortunately there are those who don’t believe that the situation is as grave as we’re making it out to be.”
“So not all the Fridans are singing from the same hymn sheet,” Saul observed.
Aelryn’s lips twitched. “Aptly put, Mr. Emory. But I do have an idea how we can… change their minds.” He paused. “We need someone to go to the team leaders directly. Someone who’s seen what the enemy is capable of.” Another pause. “Someone they already know and respect, whose word they would believe.”
Horvan smiled. “I agree. And that means there’s one obvious candidate.” He swiveled in his chair to stare at Vic. “Isn’t there?”
“No.” Saul moved to stand behind Vic, his hands on Vic’s shoulders.
“You know it makes sense,” Horvan reiterated.
“No.”
“I agree with Horvan.” Aelryn smiled. “And I think this is where I withdraw gracefully to let the three of you sort this out. Let me know of your decision.” The screen closed.
“Not gonna change my mind, Horvan.” Saul gripped Vic’s muscular shoulders, and Vic grimaced.
“Hey, easy there, okay?”
“This isn’t Saul the ex-Delta talking,” Horvan remarked. “This is the Saul who doesn’t want either of his mates out of his sight.”
Saul released Vic and folded his arms. “Fine. You’re right. Happy now? And it’s still no.”
“It’s also not your place to make decisions for me,” Vic said in a quiet voice. “So here’s my opinion, even if you don’t want to hear it. I agree with Aelryn and Horvan. It’s the best option. I’ve worked and fought with most of the teams, so it makes perfect sense to send me. Not to put down Aelryn, but he’s—”
“Royalty,” Horvan interjected. “And some people don’t like taking orders from a superior, even if he is shifter royalty, whereas if an oral historian known the world over shows up, one who’s also a fighter, they’d be more inclined to take notice.” Saul snorted, and Horvan rolled his eyes. “This is because I said ‘oral,’ isn’t it? You’re as bad as your mate.”
“I hope you’re not referring to me.” Vic walked over to the map and stared at it. “They’re everywhere, aren’t they? They spread like a fucking cancer.”
Horvan joined him. “Even more reason why we need to spread as fast as they do. They’re the cancer. We’re the cure.”
“But we still don’t know enough about the camps,” Saul said as he stood at Vic’s side. “How many there are, their locations…. God help us if there are as many camps as there are schools.”
“I don’t think so,” Vic murmured. “At least I hope not. It doesn’t help that we have absolutely no intel about them.”
“Hey, we found two, didn’t we?” Saul remonstrated.
“Sure, but that was because we got lucky,” Vic fired back. “Yes, Hashtag located them by hacking into a US spy satellite, but he had an idea where to search both times. Since then, there’s been nothing. And to find all the camps, we don’t need luck—we need a miracle.”
VIC STOOD at the kitchen countertop, vaguely pondering what he wanted for a snack.
Except I’m not really hungry.
He stared through the window toward the lake, where stacks of building materials had begun to congregate. Dellan had moved swiftly, and the plans for Vic, Saul, and Crank’s home had been drawn up within a week of getting back to Homer Glen from Montana.
Our own place.
Not that Vic wasn’t comfortable in Dellan’s home—it was an amazing space—but privacy was a rare commodity, and having two alpha mates who were both incredibly loud when it came to sex had made them the butt of Roadkill’s and Hashtag’s jokes, which showed no signs of petering out.
Two strong arms enfolded him from behind, and Vic gave himself up to Saul’s embrace, leaning against Saul’s hard body.
Saul’s lips brushed his ear. “You know we’re gonna miss you.”
Vic turned and looped his arms around Saul’s neck. “I’m happy you said ‘we.’” A warm mouth met his, and Vic surrendered to Saul’s claiming kiss, his dick rising when Saul reached down to cup Vic’s ass and squeeze it, pressing Vic to him, molding him against the rock wall of firm flesh that was Saul.
That was all it took to have Vic entertaining carnal thoughts that had no place in a kitchen.
Then again, the countertops were sturdily built and at exactly the right height, and it was Mrs. Landon’s day off, so they weren’t about to have her walk in on them….
Saul chuckled. Now you’re talking.
Except the sexy hug took Vic’s mind off on a tangent, and he knew what he had to say.
He pulled back and looked Saul in the eye. “One thing. When I go―”
“So you are going.” Before Vic could confirm, Saul smiled. “It’s okay. Aelryn and Horvan were right. You’re the obvious choice. And I was thinking with the wrong head.”
Vic bit back a smile. “Actually, it’s that head that I want to talk about.”
Saul leered. “Then let’s find a flat surface to ‘talk’ on,” he air-quoted. “A bed, a table, a wall….” He shrugged. “I’m easy.”
Vic did his best to shove aside the image of Saul plowing into his ass while he was bent over the kitchen table, holding on for dear life.
“When I go,” he persisted, “you and Crank—”
“We’ll count the days. Our bed is gonna think it’s done something wrong, with no action.”
Vic nodded. “And that’s what I want to talk to you about. While I’m gone, I want you and Crank to….”
Saul widened his eyes. “To fuck?”
Vic simply nodded once more.
“But… it’s been the three of us ever since we got back.”
Another nod. “Which is why I think this is a really good idea.”
“But when Crank was here, and we were in Duluth, we didn’t fuck. We waited till we were together.”
“Of course we did. That was only right. It was our first time, after all. But this is different.”
Saul’s frown said otherwise.
“Oh, come on. You’re both horndogs. You’d fuck three, four times a day if you could.” He stared at Saul. “Well? Do I lie?”
“Okay, you got me there.”
“So imagine how you’d be if I was gone for months at a time. I’m not saying it will be that long, but at this stage, I don’t know.”
Saul was very still. “Months? With no sex? I’d die.”
Vic chuckled. “And I wouldn’t want that on my conscience. So what I’m saying is, you and Crank should… get to know each other. Manhandle each other.”
I like the sound of that. Crank’s mental cackle was evil.
Saul laughed. I knew you’d be listening in if sex was mentioned.
Bullshit. You made sure I was listening. Boys? I think you need to get up here ASAP.
Vic groaned as an image filled his mind: Crank’s long, thick cock, his hand gently tugging it.
What about your hole? Saul demanded. Is that on the table too?
You wanna fuck on the table? Fine by me, but if I fall and break something, on your head be it.
Vic snorted. The only thing to break would be the table.
Are we done talking now? Because I’ve got the lube out, and time’s a-wastin’. Get your asses up to our room.
As they hurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs, Vic reasoned that there were some orders you obeyed without question.
IT MIGHT only have been a couple of months since Saul and Vic popped Crank’s cherry—as far as sex with guys went—but he hoped the feeling he got every time they were close to each other would never grow old. It was more than the heady rush whenever he slid into Vic’s tight little body, or the tingle that trickled down his spine when Saul’s tongue danced over his hole, or even the three-way kisses that blew his freakin’ mind. It was the rightness of it all, the balls to bones conviction that this was meant to be.
They were meant to be.
He’d lured them upstairs with the promise of his dick, but what he really wanted was the best sensation of all—the three of them, connected, locked into an ever-circling spiral of pleasure, desire, and a joy that made his heart want to sing.
After the fastest cleaning session in history, Saul knelt on the bed, Crank facing him, with Vic sandwiched between them. Crank loved the way Saul cupped Vic’s jaw as they kissed, while Vic stroked Saul’s girthy cock and Crank played with Vic’s hole. The noises that poured from all of them stoked the fire already burning in him, but experiencing Saul’s enjoyment of Vic’s lips, tongue, and hand, reveling in Vic’s pleasure when Crank slid slick fingers into his body….
That was hotter than any porn ever .
Love you both. Crank leaned in to demand a kiss from Saul, his dick pressed between Vic’s asscheeks, the heat of him compelling Crank to take him, just fucking take him, the way he knew Vic loved, raw and primal and possessive.
Vic turned his head, his eyes glowing. Love you too. So much.
Our boy . Saul reached down to trace the stony line of Vic’s shaft. Our very hard boy.
Vic chuckled. And you know exactly what this boy wants.
Saul met Crank’s gaze, and they each moved back a little, allowing Vic to go onto all fours between them. Saul nudged the head of his cock between Vic’s lips, moaning when Vic swallowed him to the root. Crank bent down, spread Vic’s asscheeks, and began to lick a trail from hole to taint, breathing in the scent that heated his blood and pushed him to forget about rimming and get to the fucking part.
But Crank wanted to take the slow path. He wanted to enjoy his mates while he had the chance.
Saul moved his hands from Vic’s shoulders to his chest, tweaking his nipples until Vic moaned around Saul’s shaft, turning his face upward to gaze into Saul’s eyes as Saul pushed his cock into Vic’s cheek.
Fucking love it when you do that.
Vic pulled free. “Good, because I love watching your face while you’re fucking mine.” Then he went back to sucking Saul’s dick, rocking a little as he took him deep.
Saul bent over him and pulled Vic’s cheeks apart. Now, Crank. Make him moan.
Crank slicked up his shaft, kissed Vic’s hole with the head of his cock, and pushed home.
Oh God, yeah. Like that. Vic rocked faster, shuttling between Saul’s dick and Crank’s thick shaft, and the noises that fell from his lips, combined with the sensations that coursed through his body, almost brought Crank to the edge.
Not yet. Saul leaned toward Crank, who met him halfway, and they kissed, slow, sensual kisses that were the perfect accompaniment to Crank’s languid thrusts. Saul’s and Crank’s foreheads met as they fucked Vic, both of them spearing him with their cocks.
Saul shuddered. Fuck, that mouth….
That raised a chuckle from Crank. I’d love to. He pulled free of Vic’s tight hole. Turn around, love.
Vic rose to his knees and turned, but instead of resuming his sucking, he held Crank’s face between his hands. Love. I’ll never get tired of hearing that.
Crank couldn’t resist the siren call of Vic’s lips, and he took Vic’s mouth in a bruising kiss, exploring him with his tongue. Saul joined them, and three mouths met in a tangle of lips, all of them feeding each other’s desire. Then Vic went down onto his elbows, and Crank filled that hot wet mouth with as much of his dick as Vic could take, his lips stretched wide around it.
Saul reached over to raise Vic’s leg, one foot flat to the mattress, and slid into Vic, going deep as he stroked Vic’s rigid shaft.
Crank let it all wash over him: Saul’s unfettered joy as he filled Vic over and over again; Vic’s explosion of pleasure as he was both fucked and stroked; and their mingled voices in Crank’s head, both of them drowning his own ecstatic internal hollers. He leaned on Vic’s shoulders, both arms pressing Vic into the mattress, hips pumping as he fucked Vic’s mouth.
Vic pulled back with a splutter. I want to ride.
Crank had to laugh at the speed with which Saul dropped onto his back, his hand around the base of his shaft, holding it steady. All aboard.
Vic straddled Saul’s hips and reached back to guide Saul’s cock to his hole, impaling himself. Crank loved to watch Vic’s body swallow that wide shaft.
His dick wasn’t done, however.
Lean back , he demanded. Show us how flexible you really are.
Vic laughed and arched his back, almost into a crab position. He held on to Saul’s legs as Crank inched his cock into Vic’s mouth, Saul tugging on Vic’s shaft while he thrust into that glorious ass.
Crank lowered Vic’s head to the mattress. You okay like that?
Vic’s eyes gleamed. Bring it on.
Crank straddled Vic’s head and thrust into his mouth, hips bucking as he face-fucked Vic, Saul’s hands moving leisurely over Vic’s thighs, his own thrusts gathering speed.
The graceful arch of Vic’s back and the lure of that mouth proved too much for Crank to ignore, and he slid his cock free to bend down and meet Vic’s lips in an upside-down kiss. Saul held Vic’s hands, and the kiss continued.
Crank didn’t want this to end.
Saul stuffed pillows under his head. Suck me off, please. I want to come in your mouth.
Vic was on his front in a heartbeat, lying between Saul’s legs as he took Saul’s cock once more, and Crank mounted Vic, driving his shaft deep, sensing his orgasm wasn’t far off. He stared into Saul’s eyes as he thrust, and suddenly all three of them were locked into a battle to stave off their impending climaxes.
Saul nodded. Let go. Push him over the edge. Let him feel that throb he loves. Let me feel it too.
Crank groaned as Vic tightened his internal muscles around Crank’s dick, and that was all it took to have him pulse into Vic’s hole, his own body trembling as he came. Saul’s eyes widened and Crank relished Vic’s moan of pleasure as Saul filled his mouth. Then Crank slid his hand between Vic’s legs, squeezing his balls and tugging on his cock.
Vic’s muffled groan as he shot onto the comforter was the release of tension Crank had been waiting for.
They ended as they always did, Vic lying between them, his leg hooked over Saul’s thigh, his arm up and back around Crank’s neck as they kissed. Both Crank and Saul had their hand on Vic’s ass, their fingers meeting at Vic’s hole where Crank’s come trickled and Saul pushed it back into him.
Crank pressed his lips to Vic’s neck. Fucking beautiful.
Vic turned to smile at him. More like beautiful fucking.
Saul laughed. You’re both wrong. Beautiful fuckers. He claimed Vic’s mouth once more before they moved into a lingering three-way kiss. I fucking love that smell.
Crank arched his eyebrows. “You talking about my sweat? ’Cause you can shove your face into my pits if you like. Don’t bother me none.”
Saul chuckled. “I think it’s a mates thing. Whenever I’m around you, there’s this scent. A mix of spicy and sweet. And it’s only you two.”
Vic smiled. “I smell it too. So yeah, it has to be a mates thing.”
Crank’s heart rate slowly returned to its normal rhythm as he stroked Vic’s body, dragging his fingers through the sheen of sweat that covered him, appreciating the way Saul’s damp chest glowed in the lamplight. He sniffed, and a sweet scent filled his nostrils.
“Oh wow. I never noticed that until now.” Crank liked it. Liked it a lot.
“Kiss me again, both of you,” Vic demanded.
Crank would spend all fucking day kissing his mates if he had the chance.
“You’re sure about this?” Saul said at last.
Crank didn’t have to ask what this was; he’d heard the whole conversation.
“Are we talking about Vic going on this mission, or you and me fucking without him?”
Vic smiled. “While the shark’s away, the humans play. Besides, you might work out some new tricks for when I get back.”
Saul’s chuckle was positively evil.
“Now you’ve gone and done it. We’ll have to come up with new ways to wear you out.”
Crank pressed his chest to Vic’s back. “Be safe, okay?” He couldn’t contemplate losing either of them. Not now.
Vic kissed him, then Saul. “I will, I promise. Besides, I’m visiting Fridan groups. I’ll be perfectly safe.”
Even with his limited experience so far, Crank knew it was foolish to say such things.
No one knows what lies around the corner.