ROMANCE: MENAGE ROMANCE: Tapped and Taken by Two (Pregnancy Sports MMA UFC Fighter Romance) (Alpha Male Romance) (45 page)

Ruby let out a long, exasperated breath. “What about what I want? I’m gone in a few months. It’s not like Mac was going to stop that from happening.”

“He would’ve tried.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s the natural laws of the clan. You were marked by him and you were his mate. You can’t just walk away from it.”

“Like hell I couldn’t.”

“No one would find you if you tried to get away.”

Ruby was stunned silent when he said that. “You guys are monsters. Who the fuck do you think you are telling me what I can and cannot do.”

“Alpha Bears mate for life Ruby. He marked you for life, and that is very serious in our clan. Although I have no idea why. You are nothing like the girls he has gone after before.”

“That still does not explain why you think some guy can cum on me and tell me I need to marry him now.”

“It’s not easy to understand, but what he did was an insult to you and our clan. The Alphas only mark who they know will be their life mates. What he did to you was to get to me.”

“How did he know it would get to you?”

“Everyone senses it in town. I know you can’t tell, but it’s your scent. It’s what I dream about. You don’t notice it, but when we are in the room together our smells mix and become something magical. I know you don’t understand, but everyone who has been in a room with us at the same time knows. Even your uncle has heard people talking about it even though he does not sense it himself.”

Ruby was taken aback by all of this. “So we are meant to be together?”

“We are mates for life in my eyes.”

Travis, I need you to tell me everything from the beginning. What exactly does it mean that I’m marked by two alpha bears?” She paused a moment. “Why was Mac so afraid of you?”

Travis tackled her second question first. “I don’t know what his plan is, but all I can think is he didn’t want you knowing about the bears yet. If he fought me, he would have to turn into a bear in front of you, which I guess he didn’t want to do. Plus I would have kicked his ass, because I’m bigger and stronger. Which left running as his only option.”

“So what do I do now that I’m marked?”

He paused a moment. “We have to fight for you.”

“Fight?”

“Yeah. Show of dominance. Victor takes the spoils.”

Red anger poured through Ruby’s veins. “Spoils? Are you kidding? This is 2016. I’m not some prize to be won. I’m a woman.”

Travis ran his gaze over her rubenesque curves. “Oh I know you are, baby.”

“Shut up. This isn’t funny. Isn’t a joke. I’m out of here.”

“I don’t think you want to do that.”

“I don’t care what you think I do or do not want to do. I can’t stand being around you a moment longer.”

Travis sighed, stood, and picked up his car keys.

“No.” Ruby yanked on her sneakers. “You’re not driving me home. I can walk just fine.”

“Come on, at least—”

“I don’t want to hear another word from you, Travis Johnson.”

Travis sighed, threw his hands up, and sat back down.

“Do you at least have my number?” he said.

“Your Number? Why on earth would I want that? I never want to see or talk to you again.”

“If Mac wins, you might get your wish. If not, you’re stuck with me, baby.”

The final ‘baby’ threw her over the edge and she stalked out of the cabin.

*              *              *

Ruby got back to her uncle’s house about two hours later. Blisters burned on her feet, sweat soaked through Travis’ t-shirt, and she was exhausted. And terrified.
Marked
. What did he mean? Why couldn’t he just tell her? Why was it all riddles and doublespeak? She thought about reaching out to Mac, but she didn’t want to see or talk to him either. She took another shower, and let herself cry as the hot water sluiced over her. She was sore from all her love-making, and before she’d thought it was a good hurt, now she wasn’t so sure. She blow dried her hair, did her make-up—there was no crying after the mascara and eyeliner went on. Finally she put on a bra. She dressed in a checkered button down shirt, lots of cleavage, but then again she had yet to find many shirts suitable for summer weather that didn’t.

Hungry again, she headed out to the one place in town where she could get a sandwich.

No one in town would look at her. Nostrils flared as she walked past. She grabbed a sandwich from the cooler at the gas station, and Betty behind the counter took her money like it was diseased. What had she done? She scarfed her sandwich in the parking lot, not wanting to get the cold shoulder if she tried to eat at the picnic table outside.

Sandy, who had lived here all her life, worked at the Cozy Cup coffee shop. Maybe she would help Ruby figure out what was going on. She took a table in the corner, and from where she sat, she could see the other waitress, the cook, and Sandy with their heads together, occasionally casting glances her way. The only other patron was an old man who didn’t look at her at all.

Sandy came over to her table at last, walking like she tread on broken glass.

“Ruby, what have you done?”

Despite her make-up, the shocked look on her friend’s face made her start to cry again. “I don’t know! No one will tell me.”

“You have to leave, now. You can’t be out here until they fight and your match is made.”

“My match?”

“Alphas mate for life. Ruby, I like you a lot, and I’m happy to hang with you and stuff, but I can’t do it until you and the alpha are mated properly. I have to ask you to leave.”

“What do you mean? I had sex with them is all. What does this have to do with matches and being a mate? I get that you people are different and all that, but not me. I’m not in your clan.”

“It’s not a choice for you now Ruby.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Look, I’m not even supposed to be talking to you at all right now, but I can see you don’t really understand what’s happening here right now.”

“Exactly! I need someone to fucking tell me already!”

The entire room looked up when Ruby screamed out, but quickly went back to whatever they were doing before. Sandy sat down in the seat across from her.

“Mac shouldn’t have done what he did to you.”

“What did he do, we had sex was all. I wanted to do it.”

“It was a little different than just sex. He marked you.”

Ruby opened her mouth to ask another question but Sandy put up her finger to stop her.

“I know you have a lot of questions, but I don’t have time for a conversation so just listen to me for a bit.” Sandy looked over her shoulder and leaned in closer to Ruby. “What Mac did was a little different than just sex. He chose to mark you. It’s something only Alpha bears can do.”

“So are Alpha bears different? I mean different from the rest of you?”

“I told you to just be quiet and listen, but yes, and only the guys here are born this way. Alpha bears are another story. They are born only so often, and when they are born it’s basically a give-in that they’ll grow up to be the protector of the clan. It’s really scary for everyone to have two of the same age here. Frankly, everyone knew something like this was going to happen sooner or later.”

Sandy raised her finger again to stop another question.

“When you get marked it’s on you for life. Even if you run away people will see you differently. They won’t even know why but people won’t want to talk to you. Frankly, they’ll be a little frightened of you, and you can’t change that. Usually the Alpha bear picks a woman from the clan to be their mate, and that’s a huge honor, but they are not supposed to mark someone until they have declared their intentions and the woman prepares herself.”

“But why me?”

“Look, you need to get back to your uncle’s place and hide out until this is sorted out. But to answer your question…I think Mac planned all this. He saw the way Travis and you matched like everyone else and saw marking you as a way to force Travis’ hand. He knows he’s going to be pushed out sooner rather than later by Travis because Travis is the bigger Alpha. Mac must have known that Travis wouldn’t just let you be claimed without you knowing. Really, the only thing he could have done after you were marked to stop it would be to mark you himself and challenge Mac for the right.   

Ruby opened her mouth, closed it again, and hung her head. She went back to her car, where she pulled out her cell phone and called Travis. He answered on the first ring. “You would take me forever to save me from Mac?

“A life with you forever sounds better than a life totally without you.”

“I don’t know Travis. It’s all so scary. I haven’t seen too much happiness come from people trying to be together forever.”

“I’ve seen the opposite side though Ruby. Loneliness is its own kind of torture.”

“No one will talk to me.”

“They can’t. You could be trying to influence them to give one or the other alphas an advantage in the fight.”

“When is the fight?”

“Tonight.”

“You’ve talked to Mac?”

“It’s not like you can give me any more motivation to get rid of Mac than you already have. Anyway, this whole thing isn’t happening like it’s supposed to. It will be decided soon though. Two alphas at war will tear the town apart. It has to happen fast.”

War?

“Travis, I’m kind of freaking out. Can you come over?”

“You’re at your uncle’s?”

“Yeah. I’ll leave the door unlocked. Just come in.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She hung up and drove the few blocks back to her place. She parked and went inside. The pulled shades made her bedroom dark, and the air conditioner hummed. Ruby curled up in a ball on her bed. She wanted Travis, she really did. The idea of Mac winning terrified her. He was basically kidnapping her by having sex with her. Ruby regretted that whole experience on the hood of his car. How could she be so foolish? But, the thought of Travis rushing over to be with her filled her with a different kind of comfort and happiness that she hadn’t experienced before.

The front door clicked open and Travis showed himself in, knocking briefly before coming in to her bedroom.

“Ruby, I’m so sorry. I tried to tell you. I shouldn’t have let you go, shouldn’t have let you walk into that.”

He took her in his arms and she knew as long as he won the fight, everything would be all right.

“You can’t talk to anyone today, and tonight when the moon comes up, which should be about nine or so, Elder Wallace will gather us all together. Mac and I will fight it out for you.”

Elder Wallace—Bob Wallace? She had sold him parts for his truck. He had always been so kind to her.

“And then?”

“And then we are mated for life. Most of the couples will go and get a civil ceremony, but that’s just to appease the human world. One way or the other, today’s your wedding day.”

She gaped up at him, but didn’t move away.

“If I hadn’t stepped in, it would be you and Mac.”

“Will you win?”

“I’m stronger than he is. I have more practice fighting. But something tells me that Mac has something planned for tonight. Either way, I will beat him. There is no way I’m going to lose you.”

“Okay,” she said. “If it’s you I might be able to deal with that.”

“Oh, you can deal with me?” Travis teased. He kissed her, and even though her bits were sore, the touch of his lips reignited a fire down deep within her.

“I think I can manage.”

He threw her down on her back, pinning her wrists above her head with one strong hand. “How much do you like this shirt?”

“My shirt?”

“How much do you like it?”

“Not that much?” she wasn’t sure what he was suggesting. Then she watched as one finger turned into a wicked bear claw, and he sliced clean down the front, popping off all the buttons. The two sides flopped open, exposing a white bra. She hadn’t expected to get lucky again so fast, so she hadn’t worn anything special as far as her underwear went. Returning his claw to its normal finger form, he undid and pulled off her capris. White cotton panties.

“Oh baby, those slinky things last night were great, but these drive me wild. I can’t resist you a moment longer.”

He let her wrists go to unleash his hard cock.

“Travis, I’m so sore. I don’t think I can.”

It didn’t sway him. He tugged off the panties, smelling them deeply before he tossed them to the floor. He lowered his face to her cleft, kissing her so very, very gently, and paying lots of attention to her clit, and it wasn’t long before he was face to face with her and slowly sliding his cock into her as she caught the scent of herself on his lips.

His gentleness contrasted with how rough he’d been that morning. He moved slowly, easily, letting her accommodate him as he moved with easy, confident strokes. He rested the pad of his thumb on her sore clit, softly caressing it. She had never felt pleasure like this.

She cried out, clutched onto Travis like she would never let him go. She would never have to…the idea made her smile into the crook of his neck as he pumped into her. As she grew accustomed to the sensations, they moved faster and faster together, his motions going from soft and sweet to the rough stimulation Ruby loved. It was as though Travis could feel what she wanted, what she needed, and could always get there one step ahead of her. She pressed her lips to his, kissing him deeply as they simultaneously shuddered to an orgasm. After he dropped his head to her breasts, both of them sweaty and panting.