52
THEA
My time’s limited now. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’m making my move on Cole soon and I need to be ready, even if training with Wes is the last thing I want to do. My body wants rest. I want to rest. But it doesn’t matter what I want right now. I need to survive and that’s more important than anything else.
So, I push open Wes’ door quietly. It’s early, the sun’s barely touching the sky. This is what we do, though. Early morning workouts. “Get it out of the way.” That’s what Wes always says.
Crawling over the comforters, I cuddle close to him. His arms are tucked in close to his body, clutching the blanket to his chest. My fingers sweep over his forehead and down over his jaw as I admire his sweet, sleeping face. His eyelashes flutter a little and I notice his body relax.
His arms loosen, then wrap around me. I can’t tell if he’s still asleep and somehow senses me or if I’ve woken him. As much as I want to get this workout in, I convince myself to linger in Wes’ embrace for a few moments.
I push in close to him, as close as I can. The warmth of his skin radiates toward me. His scent makes my eyes fall closed as I breathe him in. He nuzzles his face into my hair tenderly. Fuck, I don’t want to leave this bed. But that’s not an option.
Before I get pulled in past the point of no return, I bring my lips to his throat and whisper against it. “Time to get up, birthday boy.”
I get a groan in response. “Why?” He finally asks.
“I need you to train me this morning. Please,” I add. It’s not necessary, he’s always happy to do it.
Wes’ eyes slowly open. “Please? You never say please. What’s going on?” Fuck, too far.
Shrugging, I make something up. “Just woke up with a lot of energy. Figured you’d like to take advantage of that. You could work me out, then I could work you out. The first present of many today,” I tease in a low, sexy voice.
He smiles. “Any other time, I’d be happy to take you up on that. But I’ve got to take it easy for the next few days.”
My face scrunches. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I sit up a little, looking for signs of an injury.
“No. No. Nothing like that.” He sits up too. “I got a tattoo yesterday. I was Adrian’s first appointment. So I’m pretty sore.”
I search his body for the new tattoo. It’s not until he turns away from me that I see it. The fresh ink stands out starkly against the older tattoo that’s a little faded. The one of five wolves. There aren’t five wolves anymore. There’s six.
“Wes…” I don’t know what this means. I mean, I do, but he didn’t do this for me, I try to reason.
He looks back over his shoulder, studying my reaction. “I had him match the blue to your eyes. The exact shade. My favorite shade of blue.”
I don’t believe him at first, but the longer I look at the new wolf, I see it. The deep, dark blue is mine. My eyes find his. I want to say something, yet I can’t form any words. My mouth hangs open as I try to think of anything to say. “Why?” That’s what finally comes out.
Wes looks confused. I don’t think this is the response he expected. “Thea, do you realize how much you mean to me? I can’t ever live without you, so why wouldn’t you have a place among us? Why wouldn’t I honor you as part of our pack?”
I want to accept this gesture—I do accept it. Yet, there’s hesitation. First Damian’s confession of love and the ring. Now this. I feel the darkness give way a little—that’s the last thing I need. I can’t get weak now, not when I’m so close. But I also can’t hurt Wes.
Forcing a smile, I run my fingers over the old lines of his tattoo, keeping my distance from the new ink. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.” I mean it. I wouldn’t lie about that, but I can’t feel this as deeply as I want to.
To be honest, I feel absolutely horrible that he may have gotten this for no reason. He may have put me on his body just as I leave their lives. I sigh. “You get a pass today, only because it’s your birthday, but as soon as you’re feeling up to it, I want that training session.”
Wes nods. “Wanna shower?” The mischievous grin on his face tells me he wants to do more than get clean. I can’t resist. A birthday blowjob is just what he deserves.
I should’ve gotten balloons. Or streamers. Wes said he didn’t want anything more than just a nice dinner with me and his brothers. I listened, but now I feel bad.
The kitchen’s bustling as the five of us maneuver around each other. I’ve given each of them a task to help with. Even Wes insisted on joining in and while I told him to go relax since it’s his birthday, he refused. I could tell he wanted to be included, that this was something he might’ve missed out on growing up, so I obliged.
“Five minutes left on the steak,” Damian calls out.
I look over at him, then at the meat. My mouth’s watering, it looks amazing. “Two minutes for potatoes,” I answer in return. “Adrian, can you take these plates to the table?”
Yes, even Adrian’s helping. Although, I’m sure that was more of Damian’s handy work. I imagine he told him to play nice today. I haven’t received one dig or even a scowl. So I’m playing nice too. He takes the plates from my hand and heads to the dining room.
A knock makes all of our heads snap in the direction of the front door. My immediate thought is that it’s Detective Williams—here to take me away. My heart thuds and my stomach sinks. I’ve been waiting for news that my fingerprints or hair came back as a match for some evidence they’ve found.
Sutton opens the door and thankfully it isn’t the detective, although I’m not sure the person standing there is a much better alternative.
Wes’ mom glances around at all of us, nervously biting her lip as her fingers clutch the gift-wrapped box in her hands. “Sorry to intrude. I—I just wanted to bring this by for you,” she says, looking at Wes. “Happy birthday.”
We all watch quietly as he walks to her. Their exchange is low, but I still pick up on most of it.
“Do you want to come in? You can stay for dinner. It’s no problem.” It’s a kind gesture, however, after he opened up to me about his mixed feelings about her coming back into his life, I’m unsure if it’s wise for her to stay. At least tonight. They need to work things out without an audience.
Linda shakes her head, the long blonde braid hanging over her shoulder swaying with the movement. “No, you should have a nice evening with your family. I can see you another time. I just wanted to give you this. Open it later.”
Wes doesn’t try to change her mind, he only takes the gift from her hands. But then he adds, “Maybe you can come by Christmas morning, just for a little while.”
“I’d like that,” she replies, smiling sweetly. “Happy birthday, Wes.”
He watches her walk to her car, then closes the door. We all refocus on our tasks as if we weren’t intently watching the interaction. Normally, I think he’d say something coy about us liking to watch and being perverts. But today, he doesn’t. He simply stares down at the box in his hands.
She told him to open it later—that makes me nervous. I wonder if what’s inside is something that might make him emotional. I wonder if he can handle that right now. That’s a problem for another time. I want Wes to have an amazing night.
“Steak’s done,” Damian whispers in my ear from behind me. “Let’s eat.” The way he says it, low and sultry, makes me think he means other things. Things that might come later. My cheeks heat at the thought.
I herd everyone to the table where we spend the next two hours feasting, showering Wes with gifts, and laughing as they reminisce about growing up together. It’s the first time that things feel good—really good. Like there’s no Cole and there’s no pain or trauma or the threat that all of this is going to be taken away. I have to force back the tears that sting my eyes.
I don’t want to get emotional. I just want to take in every moment, every smile, every joke. I want to remember it all because it’s very likely that this will be the last time I’ll be a part of a celebration like this. Things could change so much in the next few days. And I need something happy to think back on when it gets dark.
“I should head to bed,” Adrian announces, standing up and gathering our empty plates. “Happy birthday, bro.” No one tries to stop him, and I’m relieved.
While the evening has been lighthearted, mostly, the sexual tension between me and Damian, Wes, and Sutton has been building. In small ways that maybe Adrian didn’t notice. Or maybe he did and that’s why he’s excusing himself.
It started with small touches, the brush of a leg or hand. Then kisses that lingered longer and longer. Glances across the table that spoke volumes. I think we’re all hoping for another night, all together, it’s been too long.
My suspicions are confirmed when Wes pulls out my chair, leans down, and whispers, “Let’s go watch a movie.” It’s not what he says, it’s how he says it and the looks I get from Sutton and Damian that tell me that we’re all hoping for the same thing. I let him lead me downstairs, but it’s me that’s going to take the lead in a bit. Hopefully, I won’t get much push back.
“What’s this all about?” Damian asks impatiently. I’ve had them sitting on the couch in the theater room for a couple of minutes. Sutton and Wes are content, but their brother isn’t used to someone else taking control.
The last time all of us were together, I let him call the shots—we all did. Now, it’s my turn.
Normally, this wouldn’t be my thing. I prefer being told what to do, at least when I’m getting fucked. But not tonight. Although, my reason for needing to exert control goes far beyond some kink.
I need practice. I need to feel completely confident when I go up against Cole. I need to know if I have what it takes to take charge. And the only way for me to know is to practice on my boyfriends while letting them think that I’m in rare form tonight.
Leveling my gaze at Damian, I answer in a self-assured tone. “What’s the matter? Can’t let someone else be in charge for one night? C’mon Damian, it’ll feel so good.” I keep my eyes locked on him, despite the intake of a breath from either Wes or Sutton. I can’t tell which.
He shifts uncomfortably under my stare. “Princess,” he says with a warning in his voice.
“Uh uh,” I interrupt. “Not princess tonight.” My mind races as I try to think of what he can call me. I hadn’t thought this far ahead. I’m running out of time as Damian’s face scrunches—he’s trying to figure me out. He’s trying to undermine my power. Then, I think of something. “Mistress.” It’s such a strange thing for me to say, yet I force it out with sultry confidence.
The word seems to echo in the theater room, as if it carries weight. I finally break my stare with Damian and look at Wes and Sutton. Both are slack-jawed with eyes wide. A satisfied smirk tugs at my mouth.
The feeling of power grows, knowing that I’m getting a reaction out of them. I want to take it farther.
Taking two steps to my right, I position myself in front of Wes. “Birthday boy,” I address him. My gaze slips from his down to his mouth, then lower. My tongue runs over my lips partly in anticipation and partly because I know what the sight of it will do to him.
Almost on command, Wes shifts his hips and slides down on the couch a little. He palms the unmistakable bulge in his pants. My eyes narrow. “Did I say you could touch yourself?” He lets out a breathy laugh and holds his hands up to show that he’s eager to listen. “Look at you, so obedient for me.”
His eyes widen and his throat bobs at those words. “What should I touch, Mistress?” he asks, his voice low and meek. I feel a flare of power.
Pushing in closer to him, I place myself between his legs, then roughly grab his chin. I don’t give him the answer right away. Instead, I tilt my head slowly and make him wait patiently. “Me,” I finally tell him. He leans forward to follow my orders, but I stop him. “Wherever you touch, you must tell me why you love that part of me. Understand?”
“Fuck,” Sutton breathes out almost inaudibly. But I don’t give him my attention yet.
Wes nods eagerly before a wide grin spreads over his face. I let go of his chin so that he can get to work. He hooks an arm around the back of my knee, lifting so that my foot rests on the couch in between his thighs. Dipping his head, he looks up at me coyly as his lips press against the inside of my ankle.
“I love the strength of these ankles and how they can kick the shit outta me during training.” I nearly smile at his words, but force the weak urge away. Wes’ mouth moves up to my knee. “I love that this knee isn’t afraid to bust some balls when needed.” He’s making light of the situation and I’m nearly about to correct him when he gets to my inner thigh. “I love how biteable your beautiful thighs are.” His mouth presses against my pussy and he kisses me through my clothes. “I love how sweet you are and how wet you get for me.” There’s an audible grunt that comes from Damian, as if it’s a competition.
“Knock it off,” I scold him without looking over.
Wes’ mouth travels up to my belly. He pushes my shirt up. “I love these gorgeous marks on your stomach,” he says as his tongue traces a faint stretch mark. My body is on fire from his mouth’s attention and the praises. I want more. I need more than words.
With one hand, I push Wes backwards and place my foot back down on the floor. Slowly, teasingly, I peel off my pants and panties. I savor how all of their eyes are on me—that I have a hold on them. I pull my shirt over my head, holding it out by the sleeves. Rotating the shirt in my hands, the extra fabric folds over itself until I’m left with one long strip—a makeshift blindfold.
Wes sits forward eagerly, expecting the attention to be back on him. Instead, I move over to the right, two more steps to stand in front of Sutton. He gives me a shameless smile as he eyes me up and down, lingering a second longer on my bare lower half.
“Hey! It’s my birthday,” Wes argues.
My head snaps to him and my withering stare makes him shrink. “You’ll get your turn, don’t worry.” Turning my attention back to Sutton, I climb into his lap, straddling him. “Take off your glasses,” I order—he listens.
I place the thick part of the shirt over his eyes and wrap the sleeves around his head, tying it securely. “What do you plan on doing, baby?” he asks in a mostly lighthearted and curious tone. However, I detect a hint of uncertainty.
“Do you trust me, Sutton?” I mimic his words from the day he blindfolded me. The slight smile on his face falls a bit. There’s no wax or ice here, so he has no idea what I’m up to. I don’t have anything in particular planned, however, just him not knowing is enough to satisfy me. “Well, do you?”
“Yes, Mistress,” he replies in a hushed voice. With my chest pressed to his, I feel his heart pounding and his breaths coming quicker. I can see why he enjoyed doing this. A rush of excitement courses through me. So this is how they feel when they dominate me? It feels good. I don’t think I could do it often, but maybe every once in a while.
Leaning in close, I lay the softest kiss on Sutton’s lips, then pull away abruptly and get back on my feet. His torture won’t be in the form of ice or wax—it’ll be in him having to hear what I’m doing to his brothers without participating—for now, at least.
Wes reaches for me as I walk past him. I smack his hand away. “Hands to yourself, for now.”
My focus is on the one who’s going to be the hardest to break. Standing in front of him, I give Damian a once over. His dark auburn hair is as perfect as ever, not a wave out of place. Icy eyes stare at me in challenge while his crossed arms tell me he’s entirely closed off. A momentary waver in my confidence makes me wonder if I can do this.
If I want to take Cole down, I can’t have any doubts about my abilities. Teasing and taunting aren’t going to work for Damian. He needs brute force, just like he gives to me.
Bending down, I meet him at eye level, hardening my gaze. His lip tugs up and he rolls his eyes. Just as he does, my hand flies out and grips him by the throat. I adjust my placement, then tighten my hold on him.
I watch as his gaze widens and his arms fall to his sides. The challenge in his face flees. All that’s left is shock and I think I see a touch of fear. No one’s ever done this before. I wonder if he’s realizing he likes it. Or if he’s trying to figure out a way to take his power back.
My lips graze along his jaw until I reach his ear and speak low, “Let me have this.” It’s less of a plea and more of a bid for his trust. We’ve come so far, but I don’t know if he’ll give this to me. Admittedly, this is a big ask.
Neither of us move for a minute. Then I feel his body relax under mine and his breathing slows. His silent surrender to me. I smile against his skin, then plant a soft kiss. “Thank you.”
Pulling away, I can see that everything aside from his face is at ease. His eyes are still filled with uncertainty. This isn’t comfortable for him and him giving me his trust is something I need to treat with care. I’m not going to abuse the power he’s given me. I just wanted to see if he would hand it over.
Straddling Damian’s lap, I don’t sink down—I want to maintain my authority. And I know if I feel the brush of his cock against me, my resolve will go out the window.
Dipping my head, I kiss him roughly. I bite his lip and slip my tongue into his mouth, testing to see if he’ll give me anything in return.
At first he resists, but soon gives in and matches my passion. Unintentionally, my hand tightens on his neck. I realize and begin to loosen it when a disappointed whimper climbs from his throat. My eyes fly open and find his already locked on me, heavy lidded and hungry with desire. Warmth pools low and I press closer to him, needing more than this teasing that I’ve been drawing out.
As much as I’ve enjoyed taking control and proving to them and myself that I could, I want to hand it back over. Well, less hand it over and more have it forcibly taken from me. But I need to cross the line first. Grinning against Damian’s lips, I speak loud enough for everyone to hear. “That’s my good boy.”
The last word is hardly out of my mouth before I’m being flipped onto my back and Damian’s over me, looking like a wolf about to devour its prey. “Is this what you want?” Damian snarls before adding in a mocking tone, “Mistress.”
“Yes,” I pant out breathlessly.
Just as I say it, another wolf appears. Wes crowds into my vision, looking equally ravenous. Finally, the third wolf emerges over the top of the couch. Sutton’s face is upside down as I look up at him, making the devious expression on his face look even more sinister.
They all descend on me at once. I can’t tell where one of them begins and another ends. Hands, lips, nails, teeth, and bodies collide in a wave of pleasure that is all-consuming. I happily drown in them. They bring me back to life and then drown me again. Over and over, all night long.