Doubly Protected [Werewolves of Hanson Mall 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (6 page)

“No problem, Cadfael. I’m only sorry we don’t have an answer yet.”

Cadfael clicked off the call. Yeah, he was sure as hell sorry there was no answer yet either. But something smelled wrong about Hamilton’s clinic, and he was fucking certain he wouldn’t let the problem go until Willow was safe no matter how long it took or how much money it cost him.

As well as that, someone was going to have to tell Hawthorne she couldn’t move out of the mall and live in an apartment yet. Not until he was positive she’d be safe. He hoped Willow’s sister wasn’t going to be angry about that. They were both redheads with the feisty spirit that typified their hair color. Too bad. Maelor would just have to get out his handcuffs and rope if she wouldn’t listen to him.

Dylan and Maelor had planned the walk carefully, wanting to show Hawthorne the highlights of the neighborhood, but without taking her anywhere near any areas that might be even the slightest bit unsavory. Not that anywhere around the mall was bad, or even particularly unsafe. There were no gangs here. But still, it wasn’t the top end of town either, nor was it like the apartment building the wolf pack owned, where every person living there was known to the others and held accountable for any guests they invited.

They chose the restaurant where they’d eat with the same attention to detail. It was a tiny pizza and pasta bar, with red and white checked tablecloths and the ma
î
tre d’ was the owner himself. His wife cooked the pasta, and their children were the servers. It was like something from a previous century, but the food was amazing and the service outstanding. Dylan was sure Hawthorne would enjoy visiting there.

And after that. Ah, after the pasta he hoped Hawthorne would agree to come home with them and this time they’d fuck her properly. They’d give her so many orgasms she’d want to stay with them forever.

Their walk began just the way Dylan had imagined it, with Hawthorne tucked between him and Maelor, setting the pace, and them all talking easily about the things they saw. Unfortunately it went off the rails within the first ten minutes. They came to an intersection and the men led the way to turn right.

“Why are we turning right? I can see stores and a tall building down this way?” she asked.

“There are big houses with nice gardens this way though,” said Maelor.

Dylan took one look at her determined chin and knew she wasn’t going to follow their plan. Just then the lights turned green for them to go the way Hawthorne wanted to, and she took off. He glanced at Maelor and they both shrugged, before catching up with her, and keeping her between them again.

But that set the pattern for their walk. Dylan’s careful plan was discarded and Hawthorne chose where she wanted to go. At least with the two of them to protect her she was safe, but he’d have much preferred her to stay on the path he and Maelor had chosen.

When they eventually worked their way around to the restaurant, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. She liked it. She laughed and chatted with their server, she read the menu carefully before choosing her preferred dish, and then she complimented them and the staff on the meal. Dylan’s heart beat faster. She was so lovely to look at and a delight to be near. He and Maelor could talk to her about the need to stay out of danger later. Only one thing remained. To convince her to come home with them.

As they left the restaurant, Dylan asked, “Will you please come home with us now?”

“Back to the mall?”

“Yes, but specifically to my apartment in the mall.”

“Your apartment?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We’d really like the chance to make love to you properly,” added Maelor.

“What made you choose your apartment, Dylan, instead of Maelor’s?”

“We can go to Maelor’s if you’d prefer, but my apartment is next to Rhion’s, which is vacant now, apart from all their stored things, until the new closets are finished, so we thought it’d be more peaceful for you.”

Hawthorne giggled. “In case I scream when I come?”

“I’d really like you to scream when you come. Scream loudly. But the neighbors might knock on the door to check you’re okay and that could spoil the mood,” said Dylan, hoping she was just teasing them.

It seemed she was teasing because she laughed again but made no more comments.

It was really nice walking the streets, now quite dark, with Hawthorne between them still looking around at everything they passed. It was hard to remember she’d been kept inside for weeks to be safe from Bailey Hamilton. Well, now he was in jail and she could start to enjoy her life again. In freedom and safety. Surely it wouldn’t be too hard for them to find an apartment together not too far from the mall. One that Hawthorne would like.

“You’ve made quite a few comments about the gardens, Hawthorne. Would you like an apartment with a garden? Some of them have shared gardens where you can grow things,” said Maelor.

“It’s strange. I do like plants very much. But I don’t have the patience to grow them myself. I either overwater them, or forget to water them at all. Either way I don’t have a very good record with growing things. Even potted plants on the balcony don’t survive well under my care.”

Dylan had the feeling she was about to say something more, when she frowned and pulled her cell phone out of her jeans pocket. “Willow wants us to go up to her apartment as soon as we get back to the mall. She said to text her when we reach the building and Rhion will come down to swipe us up to their floor.”

“Something’s wrong,” said Maelor.

“I agree.” Unconsciously Dylan began walking faster as did Maelor. Hawthorne lengthened her stride to keep up with them.

What the fuck has happened?

* * * *

Hawthorne paced the floor in Cadfael’s apartment, which was where Willow lived now with him and Rhion. “So what you’re saying is that Bailey’s brother Jackson is also doing something wrong. Something that involves his wellness, no, well-being—what a stupid name—center. Like, he’s killing people off, or keeping them trapped there or something?”

“Harry doesn’t know for certain. But that’s what he’s thinking right now,” said Cadfael.

“And he could still be looking for Hawthorne and Willow to lock them up,” added Maelor.

“Yes. Which means both women are still at risk,” said Rhion, pulling Willow closer to himself.

“What a fucking nuisance. Just when I thought my life was my own again.”

“You’re safe inside the mall, but I don’t know how safe you are outside where anyone could see and recognize you. We don’t know if he has people looking for those he wants or not,” said Cadfael.

“You mean he could have a list of people to be captured?” Hawthorne’s heart beat even faster but she wasn’t afraid. She was angry. She was sick and tired of Bailey trying to control her life and she was absolutely not going to submit to him or his brother again.

“Yes.”

“What about that wolf I saw? Whatever happened about him? Is he a clue?” Hawthorne asked.

“Harry wasn’t looking into that for me. Someone else was. And it’s rather difficult. It’s not like I could paste a sign up on a store window telling him to contact me.”

Hawthorne couldn’t help smiling. No, likely that wouldn’t work. “Well if you do find anything out, please tell me. Meanwhile, I’ll ask Helena at the beauty parlor to make my hair brown again. There are a whole lot more brunettes in the world than redheads.”

“Ugh. I’ll come with you and get mine redone, too. Or maybe we could go blonde,” said Willow.

By the time Hawthorne left Willow’s apartment with Maelor and Dylan, all thoughts of sex had faded from her mind. When Dylan pushed open the door to his apartment, she sat down on his couch and asked, “What do you think about whether or not Jackson is collecting people and locking them up? Why would he do that? Do you think rich people are paying him to keep their troublesome or drug-addicted kids safely out of the gossip magazines? Or could there be something else behind his actions?”

“It could be wealthy people getting rid of troublesome family members. Maybe someone who has a mental impairment or an addiction. But because of the shape-shifter you saw, I’d be inclined to think Hamilton’s center is being used to get either people who believe in shape-shifters out of the way, or else to lock up shape-shifters themselves. That would be my worry. Not that it’s fair to lock up people just because they have a mental health issue. Plenty of people live useful and happy lives while dealing with such issues,” said Maelor.

Deep down Hawthorne knew he was right. The wolf she’d seen was the trigger that had started this whole problem off. And getting Bailey out of her life hadn’t solved the underlying problem at all.

“Well, fuck. That’s a real hassle then.”

“It’s nothing we can solve right now. Cadfael has people working on it, and we just need to be patient and keep you safe until the issue is resolved,” said Maelor.

“But fucking would be good. It’s something we’d very much like to do with you,” said Dylan.

Both men were standing in front of her now. Dylan stretched out his hand and pulled her to her feet. She liked the way he did that. Maelor had done it before, too. It was them exerting their control over her, but in a gentle and helpful way. It didn’t make her feel helpless or subservient, just protected and cared for.

Fucking. Yes. She’d been looking forward to it all day. It was something she wanted. She was ready to do that with these men. She liked them both very much. Not that she was ready to commit to being with them or anything, but she was more than ready to spend time with them and get to know them better. Right now, getting to know them in bed sounded good to her.

“All right. I agree. Have you got condoms?”

Like matching bookends both men reached into their pants and pulled out a box of chocolate-flavored edible condoms. “I don’t think we’ll need quite that many.” She giggled.

“Oh, you never know,” said Dylan.

“Great minds think alike,” added Maelor.

The men led her into Dylan’s bedroom. His apartment was just an ordinary one, the room an average size, but the bed was big and the quilt on it was in multiple shades of brown all swirling around together. It was manly, but welcoming. Hawthorne looked all around and absorbed the atmosphere. It was really strange, but she felt at home here, as if she belonged in this place.

Dylan pulled the quilt down to the end of the bed, and Hawthorne caught a glimpse of deep gold sheets and tan pillowcases, and then Maelor was quickly stripping her clothes from her. She unbuttoned his pants and pushed them down his hips. It seemed like she’d been waiting for a very long time to see these two cocks. Already she thought of them as hers, but first she needed to look at them properly. And to taste them. Hell yes. What flavors would they be? Would she even like their taste? What if she didn’t? Oh well, the chocolate condoms would work she supposed.

As soon as Maelor’s pants had dropped she kneeled in front of him and lifted his cock out of his boxers. He was thick and long with a broad head. His skin was still darker than hers or Dylan’s, even on his shaft, which meant he was naturally olive toned. She flicked her tongue over his cockhead then dipped the tip of it into the little eye. There was just the tiniest bead of pre-cum sitting in the slit. She savored his flavor. Mostly salty, but the tiniest hint of almonds. Very nice. She licked up and down his shaft, sucked his head into her mouth again, and then scraped her teeth over the top of him before rolling his balls in her hand.

She was just about to stand up, when Maelor pulled her upright. “We’re supposed to be teasing you, not you teasing us.”

“But I haven’t tasted Dylan yet.”

“In a little while. First let’s finish undressing you.”

She was naked and on the bed in a flash, but just had time to grab hold of Dylan’s arm and drag him down with her. Quickly she scrambled on top of him, unbuckling his belt, unzipping his jeans, and pushing them down. Like Maelor, he was wearing boxers, but his were a sober dark blue whereas Maelor’s had skulls and crossbones all over them.

Hawthorne concentrated on releasing Dylan’s cock and getting to know it. It was just as long as Maelor’s but probably not quite as wide. But then, Maelor was muscular all over, so it was logical his cock would be bigger, too. Now for a taste. She sucked Dylan’s cockhead into her mouth and sucked. He was already leaking pre-cum and had a rich, spicy taste.

“Very nice.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

Maelor’s hands were on her ass. “Have you been fucked here before?”

“No.”

“May we introduce you to ass-fucking? We’ll be very gentle and prepare you properly,” said Maelor.

Suddenly that was what she wanted. More than anything she wanted both of them to fuck her. One in her cunt and the other in her ass. Her cream was coating her inner thighs she was so aroused. “Yes,” she whispered.

Maelor rolled off the bed and grabbed his pants, pulling a small tube of lube from his pocket.

“You’re quite the Boy Scout, aren’t you? Always prepared,” she said.

Maelor looked right into her eyes and said, “I’ve been waiting for tonight ever since I met you. I want to show you how I’ll love you,” he said.

Once again guilt rolled through Hawthorne. What was it about her and this man? He was kind, gentle, considerate, yet she was always saying cruel things to him. Something about his goodness brought out the very worst in her. “I’m sorry. That was rude. I’m glad you’re being thoughtful.”

“Let me distract you, while Maelor prepares you,” said Dylan, using both his legs to push hers wide apart, and wrapping his arms around her back so her body was pressed tight to his.

“I could suck your cock. That way I couldn’t say anything at all.”

“Yes, but your sexy naked body is enough to drive me crazy. If you put your mouth on my cock I might not be able to wait for the main event and that would be sad.”

“Hmm. I suppose so.”

Hawthorne relaxed into his arms and waited to see what these two wolves would do. Maelor was a big man all over, so she expected his finger in her ass to feel huge and intrusive. But he was smarter than that. First he teased around the outer rim, coating it with lube and only very gradually inserting the tip of a finger inside to rub the slippery gel around the opening of her rear channel. By the time his finger was inside her, she was trying to divide her attention between his hands on her ass and Dylan’s mouth trailing wet kisses up over her collarbone and along her neck. Several times she tried to turn her head to capture Dylan’s lips with hers, but he wouldn’t let her, constantly moving his mouth elsewhere in a sensuous slide that nearly drove her mad with the need for something more.