Marshal Law (20 page)

He sighed. Though he realized she’d become quicker with experience, watching her body convulse as her joints creaked and popped had cut hard, and he wondered if he and Jude had ever been like that. If they’d been that vulnerable all those years ago.

Jude tsked, lowering his hip to the edge of the bed beside Ethan after walking into the room. “She’s fine. I know the transformation looked painful, but…we know firsthand it isn’t like that. Sure, there’s a fair amount of pressure, and that odd tingling sensation, but she’s not hurt. And remaining a wolf for so long healed the worst of her injuries. There’s just a mild amount of bruising around her eye and across her cheek. We should be thankful her other half took care of her as well as it did. Having it happen under those circumstances…” He gave Ethan a pat on the shoulder. “Could have turned out much worse.”

“She damn near got herself killed. Lagging back to watch over me…”

“Not your fault. Woman’s stubborn. Didn’t expect anything less from her wolf. Wench took on one of Bret’s men to save my sorry ass, too. So, I’m just as guilty for putting her at risk. Besides, her loyalty and courage are two traits we love most about her. Probably half the reason she’s our mate. I just hope we’re worthy of her sacrifice—that we don’t let her down. If anything had happened to her…”

Ethan smiled. “Our girl held her own. Eliminated more than a couple of threats. I’m thinking her wolf is just as skilled as her other half. But we
will
have a discussion with her on the concept of keepin’ her ass glued to a chair when instructed to.” His gaze drifted back to McKenna. “You sure we shouldn’t have moved her up here to the middle of the bed?”

Jude laughed. “And risk waking her wolf again? As much as I could stare at that beautiful creature all day, I’d like another chance to hold the woman. She seems comfortable enough.”

“Damn cute the way she made several circles before settling in. I wonder…”

He let his voice fade as McKenna stirred, humming out her next breath as her eyes blinked open, brilliant blue orbs staring back at them. The tension that had been plaguing her since they’d first met her had eased, a genuine smile curving her lips. He reached out his hand to her, and she crawled toward him, taking his fingers in hers before lying across his thighs, her head nestled in his lap. He stroked her hair, drinking in her scent as she snuggled against him, her chest rising and falling gently against him.

Jude walked around to the other side of the bed, climbing in behind her. She sighed when his arm curled around her chest, holding her close as he reclined beside them. She seemed content to just lie there, wedged between them, nothing but the whisper of breath sounding in the room.

Ethan ran his fingers through her hair, enjoying the feel of the soft strands brushing across his skin. “You okay, sweetheart?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “My head doesn’t have that unrelenting pressure in it anymore, and I don’t feel as if my skin’s going to split open.”

“It’s a start.”

She huffed. “Okay, why don’t you boys just gloat and get it over with.”

“Gloat?”

She pushed up, twisting to face them, her breasts peeking out from beneath her hair. Ethan’s gaze dropped to the tight buds, arousal heating his flesh. With her wolf threatening to emerge, he hadn’t really taken the time to discover every inch of her—neither of them had—and he couldn’t help but think now was the time.

“Ethan!”

He tore his gaze from her chest at her firm tone, meeting her stern gaze.

“It’s hard to talk to you when you aren’t looking me in the eyes.”

“It’s hard to talk when your body is so obviously tempting us.”

She glanced down, inhaling sharply as if just now realizing she was naked. She crossed her arms on her chest. “Not having clothes make the change with me is definitely going to be a negative to this whole shifting issue.”

A low rumble vibrated through Ethan’s chest. “Not really an issue from where we’re sittin’. In fact, it might come in extremely handy. And we weren’t gloating. We’re just glad you’re okay and relatively unscathed.” He grazed his finger down her cheek. “You scared ten years off our lives. When we realized Bret had taken you…”

Her expression softened. “I couldn’t sit there and let those men kill you. There were over a dozen of them and just three of you. And you were trapped in that damn office.”

“We appreciate you coming to the rescue…again. We just wish we could have been there to help you through your first shift. Your wolf…” He whistled. “She’s very impressive, and perhaps even more stubborn than you.”

A tentative smile touched her mouth before fading into a frown. She pursed her lips together, looking more beautiful than ever in her uncertainty.

Jude cupped her hand, drawing it against his chest. “What has that pretty head of yours upset?”

“I was just wondering…” She sighed. “Since I can’t see my wolf…”

Jude chuckled. “You’re stunning. Thick, white fur, delicate paws.” He raised his hand to her face. “But the same blue eyes…except for when you’re angry. They turn more of a slate gray then.”

“So you’re okay with…” She waved her hand at her body. “That? With me?”

Ethan frowned, looking at Jude but the man merely shrugged. “McKenna. Sweetheart. We love you. All of you. Whether you’re dressed in pale, smooth skin or soft, white fur—there isn’t an inch of you we’d change.”

Tears glistened in her eyes, accentuating the intense blue color. “So even after everything that happened, you don’t regret saving me? Bonding with me?”

“Regret? We’d die for you. Why would you even consider that?”

She fisted her hands in her lap, staring at them as she sighed. “I’m not like you guys. I can’t control… I let my wolf take over. Then I couldn’t rein her back in. What I did… Those men…”

Ethan glanced at Jude, then back at their mate. “Those men were going to kill you. Or us. Jude gave them a chance to leave. They chose to burn down the barn.”

“But I killed them. Tore out…” She blew out a shaky breath. “What if I’m a cold-blooded killer after all? What if you boys were wrong about me?”

“McKenna.” He raised her chin until she met his gaze. “Protecting those you love without concern for your own safety doesn’t make you a killer. You were willing to die for us…for Marshal Winchester and those people in the saloon. Not a cold-blooded bone in your body. Jude and I just hope we measure up. That you aren’t the one who regrets mating with us. You were right before. We didn’t really give you much of a choice, because there never was one in our minds. But if you still have doubts…”

Surprise widened her eyes as she looked from him over to Jude then back again. “I love you. Both of you. And I will until the day I die. Not a chance I’ll ever regret that.”

Her words eased the tight feeling in his chest, her easy smile making his heart pound. He leaned forward, breathing her in—aware he could spend a lifetime loving her and never grow tired of it. Never have a day pass by without wanting to hold her in his arms and watch her give herself to him and Jude.

Jude nuzzled her neck, nipping at her skin. “We’ll help you learn to control your wolf. Make peace with her, though I’m not sure that’s going to solve the stubborn issue…for it or you.”

McKenna punched him in the shoulder. “You two boys are just as bad.”

“At least we didn’t break our promise to keep our ass glued to a barstool.”

“I wasn’t the one who damn near ran their wolf to death.”

“Ethan had good reason, but you have a point. Can’t help it if our wolves are possessive, darlin’. It’s in their nature.”

“Then it’s in mine, as well, seein’ I’m every bit a wolf as the two of you.”

“That you are. Which is good because you’ll understand why we need to do this.”

He nodded and Ethan reached for her, lifting her toward him as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, planting them on the floor before shuffling her forward and lowering her over his lap. She inhaled as she landed across his thighs—breasts brushing his legs, her beautiful ass bared to their gaze. He rubbed his hand across her skin, the smooth feel of it soothing the ache in his chest.

He’d thought they’d lost her. That they’d find her body bloody and broken at the hands of the men they’d sworn to protect her from. After all the outlaws they’d faced, it was the first time Ethan had ever truly been afraid, and he knew Jude felt the same. He’d sensed it. The overwhelming panic. The pain. Now that they knew she was okay, they needed to ease the unsettled feeling inside them. Calm the animal side of them. And there was only one way to achieve that.

McKenna squirmed in his lap, huffing out an irritated breath. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Lift me up.”

Ethan continued to caress her ass, inhaling her desire. It surrounded them like a comforting blanket, every pass of his hand increasing its strength. He bent low over her, trailing his fingers up her spine. “I think you know what’s coming, and your wolf loves the very thought of it—the girl, too. We told you to stay put. To wait for us. You almost died.”

“They would have killed you. I couldn’t let that happen. As it was you got shot…”

Her words morphed into a moan as Jude jumped off the bed, kneeling beside her. His hand disappeared beneath her torso and Ethan knew the man was playing with her nipples. His arm brushed down the side of Ethan’s leg as he switched sides, drawing another throaty rasp from her.

He leaned across her, nipping at her shoulder muscles. “It’s our right as your mates to protect you. You made that very difficult.”

“You’re my mates, too. That means I get the same concession… God, Jude.” Her breath panted across Ethan’s skin as her body stiffened against him.

Ethan moved his hand back to her ass. “We’re not disputing that fact. But you will see what happens when you scare us, sweetheart. And we were scared. More than you’ll ever know.”

She sighed in defeat, humming when he traced the seam of her pussy lips, dipping his finger into her cleft. Warm, wet fluid eased his way, her obvious arousal spiking his cock against her hip.

“Fuck. You’re already dripping. I wonder how badly you’ll want us by the time I’m done?” He removed his finger, smiling at her snort. “How many?”

“Two. You get one each.”

He tsked her. “Not nearly enough. You frightened us more than that. How about a dozen?”

She twisted to look at him over her shoulder. “A dozen? Why?”

“One for every man who could have killed you on that street and in that house.”

“That’s not fair, I…”

His hand landed on her ass, her flesh giving beneath it. Her head arched back, her breath hissing free.

Ethan nodded at Jude, moving his hand aside to give his buddy room. Jude caressed her slightly flushed skin, adding a second slap. She jerked against Ethan’s legs, her scent thickening in the air around them.

Ethan went next, savoring the feel of her ass connecting with his palm before Jude spanked her again, her body flexing with each pass of their hand. They kept going, taking turns, not stopping until they’d reached twelve. McKenna’s breath sounded loud in the sudden stillness, each shuddering breath further soothing their previous fear.

“Oh, sweetheart. Your ass is so pretty all pink for us. I can’t wait to sink inside it.” Ethan trailed his fingers through her crease, dipping lower to gather her cream on the tips. “So wet. Open and let Jude see how sorry you are for risking what’s ours.”

A strangled hiss broke from her chest as Ethan slipped inside her. “Mine.”

He chuckled. “Yes. Now open your legs.”

Jude’s hand moved in beside his, his finger sliding between her folds as she inched her legs apart, granting them access to her clit. She gasped as Jude rubbed his finger across it, swirling her juice along her skin as Ethan pumped two fingers inside her. Her body flowed around him, the hot clasp of her sex making his wolf howl.

He eased his hand back, teasing the entrance only to claim her again, harder. Deeper. Her back bowed at the firm intrusion, the muscles in her ass flexing.

He hummed, licking his fingers clean before penetrating her again. “After we’ve reasserted our claim, I’m going to spend the next few hours tasting you. Licking your pussy until there’s an imprint of my tongue on your clit. But this time…”

He eased his fingers free, moving them to her ass—using her arousal to ease his way inside. Her walls clamped around his invasion, the tight ring of muscles finally allowing his access.

Her breath hitched, her head falling forward as if she lacked the strength to hold it up. “Ethan. God, don’t tease me. I need you. Both of you.”

“How do you need us? Tell us?”

“Inside me. Claiming me. Damn it, Ethan. So close.”

He kept thrusting his fingers, loosening her muscles, staving off his own release as he felt her walls quiver. “Promise us you won’t scare us like that again. That you’ll protect what belongs to us.”

“Couldn’t let you die.”

“Naughty wench. You are a stubborn soul.”

“I love you, too. I promise to protect that love. It’s all I can do. I won’t lie…yes! Jude.”

Ethan felt Jude’s fingers claim her pussy through the thin membrane separating them, the ghosted caress unhinging his control. He stared at the woman writhing on his lap, heard her echoed vow of love ring through his head, and knew he’d truly come home.

He sighed, aware he’d give her anything just to hear her say she loved them again. “We love you, McKenna. Now come for us.”

He held his hand still, his fingers lodged deep as Jude increased his pace, his head somehow wedging between her legs. The sound of the man sucking her clit made Ethan’s breath hitch, his thighs tensing as he fought off the rush of need down his spine. McKenna cried out, scratching at Ethan’s legs as her body tensed, her head tilting back before she broke, her pussy rippling around Jude’s penetration, the steady contractions working along Ethan’s fingers as he slowly pulled them free of her ass.

“No. Ethan, don’t go.” She wrapped her hands around one leg, her teeth scraping his skin.

“Easy, sweetheart. Not going anywhere. Let’s get you upright. We need you, too.”

She moaned when Jude eased back, his mouth wet from her release. He helped Ethan lift her up, the carnal gleam in his eyes a visible warning his wolf was edging to the surface. She growled her own warning, teeth flashing white against her pink lips as she pounced on top of the other man when he went to his back.