Sweeter Than Wine (8 page)

She nodded. “I will. I promise.”

“That’s good enough for me.” Matt stood and picked her up, dumping her back on the sectional couch on her hands and knees. “Now for some more fun. Are you game?”

Sebastian fled the couch, afraid if he stayed near her head, he wouldn’t be able to resist the idea of feeling her mouth on his cock. That would come soon enough. Tonight was for her. He had to keep reminding himself of that.

By the time he looked back, Matt had mounted her from behind, driving his cock deep as she moaned, her breasts swinging in a rhythmic, arousing display under her as Matt pounded home. He varied the speed and depth of his thrusts, kneeling behind her on the couch, watching her ass with a speculative expression.

“If you were a cougar, and we were fucking in our fur,” Matt mused as he stroked his big hands over her rear, “your tail would be right about…” he spread her cheeks and rubbed one big thumb over, then above the tiny hole, “…here.” He rubbed again and she moaned. He sped up his thrusts, both nearing another pinnacle. “Fucking as a cat is nice, but nothing beats…the human…experience.” He punctuated his words with hard thrusts that lifted her off her knees as she cried out in the grip of another huge orgasm.

Matt followed her over the cliff, but pulled out after a few quick spurts inside her, spending himself in the crack of her ass. Sebastian almost feared what he could predict was coming next.

Matt leaned over her, resting a moment as he used one hand to rub his semen into the crack of her ass, using it as lubrication for his fingers. One dipped inside the tight rosette as she whimpered, but it wasn’t in distress. Sebastian watched her every reaction. He’d stop this at the first sign of trouble, regardless of the fact that she needed as much of Matt 57

in her—in every place possible—to grow as strong as she possibly could from this encounter.

“You like this, sweetheart?” Matt whispered as he bit down on her earlobe. “You like my fingers in your ass?”

She panted as he added another finger, stretching her. “Yes!” she cried and Sebastian’s cock hardened to the point of pain at the sexual anguish in her voice. “Yes!”

“Then you’ll like this even more, I bet.” Matt didn’t rush. He pulled his fingers from her, observing her level of readiness before proceeding. He was nothing if not a careful lover, which Sebastian was glad of at this moment. He wouldn’t have trusted any other man to initiate Christina this way. Matt rose so he could feed his cock—hard once again—into the tight rosette he’d stretched and made ready.

Sebastian moved closer, lured by the sight. He was entranced by the look on Christina’s beautiful face. She was in some far-off place where pleasure mixed with pain.

He knew it well. It was the realm of the vampire, the one that fed them and claimed them as they fed. Ecstasy edged with the barest hint of pain was their existence.

Matt, by contrast, was earthy and very mortal, regardless of the fact he would live the length of several human lifetimes, as did most
were
. He was careful with Christina, but he could never understand that realm where the vampire dwelled and flourished. Not completely.

Sebastian wanted so badly to join Christina in that place. He wanted to be inside her, his cock in her pussy, his fangs in her flesh, hers in his as they fed on each other, so close none could tell where one began and the other ended. He wanted all that. With her. Only her.

But not yet. He could wait. He must.

Once more should do it.

Let Matt have her this one last time and then she could rest and recover. Sebastian would bide his time until she became his alone.

Matt seated himself fully in her tight ass as Sebastian watched, his mouth dry, his pulse pounding through his body. Matt shifted and sat back on the couch, bringing 58

Christina with him in an unexpected move that set off another climax in her quivering body. Matt sat, content to have her on his lap, her legs straddling his, his cock buried in her ass.

But Christina wasn’t coming down. She was strung taut on the edge of something huge, and clearly in distress. Sebastian moved in front of her, wanting to help. Her eyes opened and the fire in her gaze struck him like a body blow. Her expression pleaded.

“Sebastian!”

Matt’s hands moved around and spread her pussy, playing with her clit as Sebastian watched, entranced. “There’s room for one more here, old buddy. Want to join us?” The
were
cougar licked her ear and bit down on the fleshy lobe from behind. “I bet she’d like it.” Matt seemed unaware of the danger. Sebastian was a man on the edge of control, a beast barely leashed.

“I cannot,” Sebastian breathed, knowing he shouldn’t, but wanting nothing more than to join with the woman whose eyes pled with him, whose heart tugged at his.

“Sebastian,” she panted, in an agony of desire, “I need you. Please! I’m begging you!”

It was the begging note in her voice that pushed him beyond reason. With a growl, Sebastian lost control of the beast within. He tugged down his loose pants and knelt on the couch in front of her, between Matt’s legs. With a single, harsh thrust, he joined with her, plunging and fucking like a wild animal.

Teeth bared, he pulled her forward, his cock tight within her pussy while Matt’s filled her behind, but Sebastian was too far gone to know or care for possible consequences. He fucked her hard, nuzzling into her neck, panting hot breaths across her skin as she did the same. His mouth sought and found the point of her pulse, the sweet spot of her neck, savoring only a moment before plunging home with his fangs at the same time as his cock.

Dimly, he registered the feel of her petite fangs buried in his flesh and the wonderful feel of her sucking sent him over the edge of all reason. He sucked and fucked, coming to 59

a blinding orgasm in a huge fireball of urgency that swept all three of them up in it together.

He blacked out for a while, but as he came back, knowledge filled him.

She was in him.

As he was in her.

Her blood, her body, her lovely mind was joined with his, as he was with her. They were true mates. She was his One.

“Christina.”

“Sebastian? What is this?”

“The true bond. Can’t you feel it? We’re joined. Now and forever more.”

He lifted away from her and pulled free of her luscious body. In the wonder of finding his mate, he’d forgotten momentarily about the shapeshifter. He’d been part of them as the bond had formed. What consequences could that have? He didn’t know.

“Matt? Are you all right?”

The
were
cougar shook his head as if coming out of a stupor. And perhaps he was.

“Holy shit. What was that?”

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“You felt it?” Sebastian eyed his old friend.

“I felt…” Matt hesitated, a look of wonder coming over his features. “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. But…what was it, exactly?”

Sebastian pulled her into his arms and rested against the soft couch. “Christina is my mate. She will be my bride.”

“But I’m already married.”
He heard the objection in his mind, joined as they were.

They shared thoughts now, as only true mates could.

“Not for long.”

“What does that mean?”

“We’ll discuss it later. Right now, we need to deal with Matt.”

“I heard that,” Matt groused, out of breath still and looking dazed. “You two are buzzing at the back of my mind. Almost, but not quite out of earshot. This is weird.

What’s going on?”

“I fear some of our bond may have extended to you.” Sebastian’s mind raced. This was unprecedented. He’d never heard of such a thing happening before, but then, vampire and
were
rarely shared words, much less a lover between them. This was uncharted territory. “I’m sorry, Matt. It’s my fault. I wasn’t strong enough to resist.”

“It’s not your fault,” Christina stroked his cheek, love shining in her eyes. “I enticed you. I begged you.”

“Never be sorry for that, my dear. I should have been stronger. I should have waited until we were alone.” He turned to his friend. “Matt, I don’t know exactly what ramifications this will have.”

“I hear you, buddy. In my ears and in my mind. Is that how your kind joins? You can share thoughts, like telepathy?”

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“Not quite telepathy. It’s something much deeper. We share minds and souls. Right now, my mind is open to Christina’s as hers is open to me. Over time, we will come to know each other as deeply as if we were one person.” Sebastian took a moment to seek outside himself, comparing the amazing connection with Christina to the fainter connection formed between them both and Matt. “The good news is, from what I can see, you’ve received only a backwash of what we have. It’s faint, but it’s there, Matt, and for that I apologize. I didn’t intend to cause you harm.”

Matt put a hand to his chest and rubbed over his heart, wonder in his eyes. “This doesn’t feel like harm, Sebastian. It’s…it’s…really beautiful. Like nothing I’ve ever known before. It’s amazing, man. I feel the love between you. I feel the glow of discovery, the connection. It’s kind of humbling.”

Sebastian felt Christina’s heart open up to the other man, but experienced no jealousy. He was in her mind, in her soul, and he knew the kind of affection she held for Matt was quite different from the deep and true feelings that flowed from her heart to his and back again. In that moment they were of one mind. As long as Matt didn’t suffer, they would gladly share the echoes of their love with him. It was a joyous thing, meant to be shared with friends, not hidden.

Okay, most friends wouldn’t share their new connection on this deep a level, but Matt had always been a special case. He was one of the few
were
whom Sebastian—and now Christina—thought of as family. They were brothers under the skin and had been close for many years. Oh, Matt was still a youngster compared to Sebastian’s three centuries, but the kinship they shared went beyond their differences.

Christina learned all this as Sebastian thought it. He reveled in the close bond they shared and marveled at the compassion and friendship she felt for the
were
cougar.

Sebastian understood the depth of her gratefulness for the gift Matt had bestowed.

Sebastian also saw how she liked the idea Matt would learn what love should be by hearing some of their internal discussion. Sebastian took it one step further and thought of the potential uses such a connection could have.

“Can you hear me, Matt?”
Sebastian asked.

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“Loud and clear. Well, not real loud, but that time was definitely louder than before.

It’s like you’re speaking to me through a door. Weird.”

“This could be useful. I wonder if the connection works both ways. Try thinking something back at me.”

“Your woman has the sweetest pussy I’ve ever tasted.”

Christina blushed to the roots of her hair and Sebastian laughed out loud. Leave it to Matt to be as audacious as possible.

“I guess you heard that, huh?”
Matt winked at her, a broad, unapologetic grin on his face. Christina lobbed a throw pillow at his head, but he ducked.

“Do us a favor and stick around here today, Matt. Unless you have other business.”

Sebastian was thinking fast, planning ahead.

“Nothing that can’t wait.”

“Good. See if you can figure out what Jeff Kinsey has been up to.”

“Who’s Jeff Kinsey?” Matt wanted to know.

Christina stiffened in Sebastian’s arms. “My husband.”

“The swine who hurt her. I want to know if he’s still in jail. And if he is, I want you to use your contacts on the police force to get someone to notify us the minute he gets out. If he’s already out, I want you to call that
were
private eye and get him on surveillance. He’ll do it for you, though I suspect if I asked, he wouldn’t give me the time of day. I’ll pay, of course.”

“Hastings owes me a favor. If Kinsey is out, he’ll be watched by
were
twenty-four/seven. Count on it. Now,” Matt rose and stood in front of them for a moment, unashamed of his nudity, “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. I’ll be outside prowling the grounds.” He shimmered with magic and a moment later, the man was replaced by a golden cougar with topaz eyes. He padded out the door with a last look over his shoulder and the wink of one feline eye.

Sebastian took Christy back to his room—
their
room now—the luxurious master suite, built on the interior of the fortress-like house, with no windows and heavy doors.

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She knew from the memories he now shared with her that this room was his retreat, but he seldom slept here. No, this room had a well-concealed secret doorway which led downward into the sublevels of the house, below ground.

“Why didn’t you take me below ground last night? It’s got to be safer for us to be
away from the sun altogether.”

“Because for most newly turned, it takes some time to get used to the idea of being
underground. I didn’t want you to feel threatened in any way and showing you my
dungeon could have been interpreted as a threat by some people.”

“Dungeon?”
The word tripped through her mind as he chuckled.

“Just a small part of the underground complex beneath the house. You’ll see it all,
eventually. But not tonight. Tonight I only plan to show you the bedroom. We still have a
few hours before sunrise. The rest of the night is ours.”

“I can still hear you, you know,”
came Matt’s voice, more faint than before, through their shared link.
“It’s not quite as loud, but you’re definitely there, buzzing in the back of
my mind. Man, this feels weird.”

“No doubt,”
Sebastian answered.
“I’m hoping distance will dull the connection so
you won’t be subject to our internal dialog all the time. Is it lessening at all?”

“Yes,”
came the reply, fainter than the last as they moved downward into the earth.

“I can barely hear you now.”

“Good. Rest well today, my friend. We’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Goodnight, friends.”

That last was the faintest communication yet and Christy knew a moment of relief that Matt wouldn’t suffer too much for what had happened. She felt guilty about enticing Sebastian into that threesome, though it had felt wonderful at the time. Still, if anyone was going to be joined with them for all eternity, she supposed Matt was a good choice.

He was a steadfast friend, with enormous strength and a good heart. She felt the truth of those thoughts as she saw some of Sebastian’s memories of Matt in their shared minds.

They’d been through a lot together, Sebastian and Matt, and had been criticized by each other’s races for their close friendship. She saw that Matt had brothers, and two 64

sisters, one now dead at the hands of her mate. Sebastian was friendly with the entire Redstone Clan, which was led by Matt’s oldest brother Griffon. They were builders by trade, and Christy remembered seeing the name Redstone Construction and a cougar emblem on the side of more than a few trucks and construction vehicles throughout her travels. Very successful builders, Sebastian’s memory soon affirmed.

Apparently
were
strength was put to good use in such occupations and many of the Redstone employees were no doubt
were
creatures of one kind or another. Matt was the youngest of the brothers, but by no means a child. He was a few decades older than Christy herself, though he looked to be in his mid-twenties or early-thirties. Again, those
were
genetics and corresponding long lifespan played a role in her perception. She had to get used to the idea that these people didn’t always look like what they actually were.

Sebastian, for one example, was more than two centuries older than her, and some of her friends’ new husbands were even older than that.

It was a lot to take in.

“Hiro is coming back tomorrow night and we’ll continue your training.” Sebastian broke into her thoughts as he stopped before a door in the secret passageway. There was no need for lights in the dark tunnel. Her vision adjusted to allow her to see in the dark as clearly as if it were day. Another cool thing to get used to.

“What are you training me for, exactly?”

Before the words were even out of her mouth, she saw the truth in his mind.

Jeff. He wanted her to face Jeff.

“No!” Her mind rebelled, but Sebastian was there, his strong arms around her shoulders, guiding her through the door he’d opened. “I won’t do it. I don’t ever want to see him again!” She lost control of the fear filling her mind. She thought she’d been doing so well, putting her past behind her, but apparently the terror Jeff had taught her would not be denied. She knew Sebastian felt her uncontrollable response and that made it somehow worse. He saw the full extent of her weakness now. She was a coward.

“No, my love
,
” he crooned, rocking her in his arms. “You’re no coward. Jeff is the coward. It’s easy to beat up on those weaker than yourself, but not honorable or brave.

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I’d like to see him try to hurt you now. You’d show him a thing or two. You’d teach him a lesson he’d never forget.”

“Is that what you really think? Is that why you had Matt give me his super-blood?

Because if that’s what you’re after, I don’t think I can do it, Sebastian.” She drew comfort from his embrace, even while her mind objected. “I’m not strong enough.”

Sebastian seemed to consider her words. “Physically, you’re much stronger now than any human—especially a weakling like Jeff Kinsey. It’s the psychological strength we need to work on, my love. And we will. We have lifetimes ahead of us to work on it, but it starts with you facing your fear of this mortal head-on.”

She would have objected, but he shushed her with a gentle finger on her lips. “Not tonight, not tomorrow night either, but one night soon, you’ll be ready to take the first step on your path to recovery. I’ll be beside you every step of the way, my love.” Leaning close, he kissed her lips, little butterfly kisses meant to comfort. “I will always be with you now. We are One.”

“Sebastian.” She breathed his name as he lifted her in his arms and carried her to a soft, wide bed draped with blood red silk sheets. It was an antique no doubt, with heavy velvet curtains in the same dark red and black, and wider than any bed she’d ever seen in her life. He deposited her on the cool sheets, and followed her down into the softness of a mattress stuffed with down.

“I’ve wanted you since the moment I first saw you, Christina. You’ll never know how hard it was for me to let you leave your friend’s wedding with Jeff. I knew something was wrong with your relationship, but I didn’t know the extent until Jena called Kelly from the hospital. Thank heavens I was at Marc’s that night. Otherwise I would have heard too late.” His voice cracked with emotion as he drew her close, cuddling her under his chin. “I comfort myself that your friends would have saved your life anyway, but another would have been your maker. I knew the moment I saw you, I wanted that responsibility—that honor—for myself. I wanted to teach you and coach you, and stand back and marvel while you blossomed into the woman you always should have been. The woman you would have been without Jeff in your life.”

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“I’m glad you were there. I can’t imagine sharing this with anybody else.” She began undoing his buttons one by one.

“I know I surprised you with Matt. I’m sorry for that, but I had my reasons.”

Christy paused, spreading one hand over his warm, hard chest. “I understand, Sebastian. It startled me at first, but last night and earlier tonight were some of the most amazing moments of my life.”