Destiny of Three (11 page)

“Where’s Hubbard’s?”  Banks asked.  Jansen was standing beside him, anxiously waiting. 

“Come on, I’ll give you directions so you can go get her,” Reece answered. 

Banks and Jansen followed Reece out of the room.  Their only goal tonight was to find Star and mate with her.  Once that happened she would be with them forever.  She was their mate and they needed each other.  He would apologize, grovel, or get on his hands and knees and beg for her for forgiveness if he had too.  He understood everything River had told him and Banks.  They needed to start thinking about her and how she perceived things. But first, he needed to hold her in his arms to get rid of this dread he was feeling. 

“Something is coming.  I feel it.  I think you need to pull everyone in and get prepared.  My grandmother was adamant that we stay together.  She meant all of us.”  Jansen nodded and walked out the door with Banks.

Star explained all the details about Jansen and Banks and how they’d told her that she was their mate, but then they ran off to do something without telling her good-bye, or anything, for that matter.  June said that she understood, and that Star had a right to be angry with them, but that like most men, they just don’t get it.  June sat and listened to her vent, and she needed to get that off her chest.  Just talking to someone who had nothing invested but was willing to listen made a lot of difference to her.  After their talk, June wouldn’t let her help clean up, and shooed her off to the library.

Star sat down on the comfy couch and started reading.  This was perfect, she thought.  The fire was keeping her nice and toasty as she carefully opened the pages of her book.  She brought the leather-bound book up to her nose and inhaled the crisp papers as she closed her eyes.  Books were a passion of hers, and she loved the old bound books.  She had a few, but could never afford a book like this one. 

She tried reading, but her thoughts always went back to Banks and Jansen.  Were they home by now?  And if so, did they even care that she was gone?  She loved them, but unfortunately they seemed too caught up in their job or how they wanted things done.  She wanted her opinion to be important, too.

Instead, she got bossy and bossier in her two mates. 
Were
they her mates, or just a shifter and a wizard who wanted her for sex?  The question plagued her mind over and over. 

Star closed her eyes when the headache started.  She’d been stressing about what could happen with Jansen and Banks until the pain pounded against her eyes.  All she needed to do was close her eyes and relax for a few minutes. 

“Baby, baby, wake up.”  Star’s eyes fluttered open to see Jansen and Banks standing over her.

“What’s wrong?”  Star struggled to get up.  Fear ran up and down her body, as she thought maybe something was wrong with River or Sky.  “River, Sky?”

“Nothing.  Calm down, baby.”  Jansen’s voice was low and soft as he bent down to talk to her.  “They’re fine.  Everyone is fine.” 

Star slowly sat up on the couch and turned to them.  Banks sat down beside her and pushed her hair behind her ear.  “You look beautiful when you’re sleeping.” 

“So I’m ugly when I’m awake?  You shouldn’t have woken me up.”  Star rolled her eyes.  Nothing had changed; and here they were messing up her nice getaway, already criticizing her. 

“Star, I can’t say anything to you without you taking it the wrong way!  I’ve never met anyone as beautiful as you.”  Banks kneeled down in front of her.  “But you’re going to have to cut me some slack on this.  I’ve never felt this way about a woman, and I’m terrified that something is going to happen to you or that you’ll be taken from me.  I’m not a soft man, Star.  But I can promise this, I will love you with all my heart and protect you from anyone,” Banks confided.  She could tell he was nervous about telling her how he felt. 

“Why did you leave and not call me?”  Her voice was hoarse.  “You think I want to be with someone who doesn’t think I matter enough for a phone call?  I mean you checked in with Jonas, but someone who you say you love, you don’t even text or give them a phone call?  How do you expect me to believe you guys?”  Star responded, and sighed. She got off the couch and put the book back on the shelf.  She could tell Banks and Jansen were watching her every move, but they had to know that they’d hurt her.  Star paused, then turned around and said, “I’m tired, guys, and I’m going to bed.”  She started to walk off, then stopped again.  “I’m glad you’re safe.”

Star got upstairs and into her room before she broke down.  She hated being so mean, but she wouldn’t be a mate who stood in the background and waited until her mates spoke or allowed her to do something.  Her night had started off pretty good, but now it was going to shit fast. 

She took her clothes off and got in the shower.  She felt better as she washed her body and the tears fell.  Jansen and Banks were good men, but they were also Alphas.  She’d hoped that being around the other mated couples would teach them something, but she was mistaken.  The fact that they never called her told her everything she needed to know. 

There was a battle coming, she knew that from her dreams, but she wished them well and hoped that they found them a mate who was everything they wanted.  She just wasn’t that type of person.  Star turned the water on hotter and allowed the warm spray to take away her stress.  She only wanted to get some peace in her life.

Getting out, she dried herself off, tired of all the events that had occurred.  Her hair was still wet, but she didn’t care. She only wanted to get underneath the covers and go to sleep.  Hoping that the nightmares wouldn’t come, she slipped a towel around herself and stepped out into her bedroom, then froze.  Jansen and Banks were both under the covers in her bed. 

She narrowed her eyes at both of them. “What are you doing in my bed?”

“Waiting for our mate,” Banks replied.

She lifted her chin and ignored their comments.  “I thought I already told you that I’m not the mate for you.  I won’t be left behind like I don’t matter, and if you think that I’m going to change my mind then you two are sadly mistaken.  Really, did you hear any of what I said?”  Star pulled her towel tighter around her.  “Oh, I get it, you think just because you said we’re going to be together then that’s all that matters.  Well, screw you.”  She grabbed the clothes she’d laid out on the dresser, sat down on the foot of the bed and started them on.  Before she could get her leg inside her pants, Jansen grabbed her underneath her arms and dragged her up on the bed. 

He put his hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t scream.  “Now, listen to me first, and if you still want to go after that then I won’t stop you,” Jansen said firmly.

“We
are
your mates, and yes, we heard what you said.  We fucked up, Star, and we’re very sorry.  We should have called you the moment we left.  We’re hoping you’ll give us something of a learning curve here, since neither one of us has ever had to tell anyone where we were going or keep in touch with someone.  We both love you.  God, we would have to.  You’re a smart-ass, you take things the wrong way, but even with all of your faults we love you and accept you as you are.  Can you give us the same consideration?  We can’t promise you that we’re not going to screw up again and again, but you have our permission to tell us when we are.  But I need for you to listen to this most of all: when we left, we went to go see my grandmother.  She knows people, and we wanted to locate someone who could help us when this vampire comes for you and your siblings.  The one thing she stressed to us was to stay together, no matter what.  I’m scared, I admit that, baby.  I’m scared for you, and I’m scared that someone will try and take you away from Banks and me.  But you have to help us out here and stop running.  We will too.  We’ll tell you everything we do from now on.  We left for you.”   

Tears ran down her face.  They left for her.  “Did you say you would start telling me everything?”

Banks and Jansen laughed.  “That’s all you heard?  We told you we loved you.”

“Oh I heard that, and I’m glad you do, because I love you too, but I won’t be left out,” Star said as she looked back and forth between her two mates.

Jansen reached over and jerked the towel away from her, baring her breasts.  “We’ve waited long enough, my love.  Tonight is the night.  Are you ready?” 

She smiled, then whispered, “Yes.”

Banks swept his fingers across her breasts, watching as the small buds hardened.  He leaned forward and licked her nipple, then sucked it into his mouth.  Star gasped and pressed her chest forward, wanting more.  She could hear a small chuckle coming from Banks as he continued to lick and play with her breasts until she closed her eyes. 

“You are so beautiful.  Your red hair glitters like gold in the firelight.  I fell in love with you the first time I saw you.”  Jansen’s voice was hoarse with lust.  He leaned over and licked the outside of her ear, making her shiver.  He could smell her arousal as she moaned from the soft touches.

When she opened her eyes, Jansen waited until he had her attention, then started moving down her body, placing wet kisses along her smooth, pale skin until he reached what he was looking for.  He looked up at her as she leaned up on her elbows. 

“I want to see your expression when you come.  Stay with me.” Jansen expressed.

Star nodded.  He leaned over and kissed the top of her clit, then opened her up and gave a long, slow lick.  She shivered and when he looked up she was still watching him and Banks.  Their eyes met as he slipped his finger inside of her, catching her by surprise.  He didn’t stop there; as he licked her again, he stuck two fingers inside of her.  He loved getting to know his mate, from her throaty moans to her green eyes sparkling in the light.

This time when he looked up, her head was leaned back.  From way she was moaning, he knew she was close.  She needed to know that when they mated she’d have them both at the same time.  He was a wizard, but Banks was a shifter and needed to pierce her skin with his bite to make her his mate. 

“Star, look at me.”  Without hesitation, Star lifted her head and stared down at him.  “Are you ready, baby?  We both have to take you at the same time.”  Jansen loved how flushed her pale skin was as they made love to her.

“Yes,” she whispered. 

Jansen looked over at Banks and nodded.  They’d already discussed this beforehand.  They knew their mate wasn’t experienced, and they would need to be gentle with her.  At no time would they ever hurt her.  She deserved everything, and tonight would be no exception. 

Banks pulled Star over on top of him.  She straddled his wide hips, having to stretch her legs wide, since he was so large.  Banks slid his fingers back in to continue stretching her.  Both of them were big men, and they would hurt her if they didn’t. 

Jansen got down off the bed, went into the bathroom and looked around in the cabinets until he found a small bottle of baby oil.  This was exactly what he needed to help Star with the pain. 

He got back on the bed and dripped some oil down between her ass cheeks, then slowly ran circles around her rim until she was digging her fingernails into Banks chest.  “Feel good baby?” Banks whispered in her ear. 

“Yes, don’t stop,” Star moaned as they both kept touching her, bringing her higher and higher.  Her eyes had dropped to half-mast when Jansen stuck the tip of his finger inside her ass, then back out again.  Banks watched as her eyes glowed brighter and her breathing quickened. 

Banks wanted to come right there as he watched Star tilt her head back and start to orgasm.  Her voice was low as she groaned deep.  It was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen and nothing could be better, unless he was inside of her when she came again.  He watched as her head fell forward onto his chest.  Her breathing calmed down as he moving inside her again, with three fingers this time. 

“I love to watch you come, baby.  Your eyes sparkle and turn me upside down.”  Banks’ breathing increased as he continued to tease her.  She looked up at him and smiled; he pulled her closer then put his lips over hers and kissed her.  He could feel his balls tightening as he continued to tease her.

“You ready?”  Jansen asked him.

“Been ready.”  Banks muttered as he put her nipple into his mouth and sucked, hard, until she started to shake.  He knew she was ready.  He released her, then picked her up and slowly slid her over him. 

“Go slow, baby,” Banks’ voice grew hoarse as Star started to lower herself down.  She was so wet that she slid all the way down and then squeezed.  He almost came, and had to let go of her waist when his claws came out.  He stuck them into the bed as she rose up, then slipped back down again.

“Oh, sweet mother of God,” Banks growled out.  His bear wanted her so bad.  He wanted to pound into his sweet mate, but he wouldn’t hurt her for anything.  He let her set the pace, getting used to his size.  He pushed up one time, and knew that if he didn’t stop he was going to come like a sixteen-year-old cub having sex for the first time.  “You got to hurry, man.  Her pussy is so sweet that I’m struggling here.” 

Jansen slowly slid in further as Banks pulled out.  He’d pulled her head down to his so they both could take her.  “Just a little more,” he said.

Star had her head down on Banks’ chest, and he needed to know if she was okay or if he was hurting her.  “Star, come on, baby, let me know you’re okay.”  He leaned over and grabbed her hair, then gently pulled her head back.  She had her bottom lip between her teeth, and she was panting. 

“You okay?” Banks asked, concerned when she didn’t respond.  He started to pull out, and her eyes jumped open. 

“Don’t stop.  It’s okay, just trying to get used to it.  Please move.  It feels better when you move,” Star whispered.

Banks and Jansen both started moving, and once she got used to how big they were she loved every moment of it.  Her body shuddered as her second orgasm flared upward.  This was so much better than the first time she’d sex.  She could tell that her mates were going easy on her, but she needed more to push her over the edge. 

“More,” Star growled out.  Her fingernails were digging into Banks’ chest, but every time she tried to remove them he told her no.  She figured bears must like that, so she dug them in deeper when she felt her orgasm push forward.  She couldn’t move; it felt like electricity was rushing through every nerve in her body.  Arching her back, she screamed out.