Tangled Shadows (11 page)

“What are you so afraid of?” Nikolai asked.

Brooke dropped her gaze and curled in on herself. “Nothing,” she muttered.

Galen tightened his arm around her waist. “It’s not nothing.” Brooke tried to suppress the shiver his caress evoked. “It’s not important right now.” She came up on her elbow and struggled out between the two. “How will you fix the mess the Ferals left in my mind?” She pulled part of the blanket around herself and sat at the foot end.

Nikolai made a move to join her, but Galen shot him a look, which stopped him in his tracks.

“It’s a mixture of Naema and Vampire magic,” Galen said as he moved up and leaned against the wall.

Brooke’s focus wasn’t on his words. “Did you just talk to Nikolai mind to mind?” Nikolai shrugged and joined Galen. “It’s no big secret.” Brooke frowned. “If it’s no big secret, why do the two of you look like I’ve caught you with your hands wrist-deep in the choc-toff jar?”

“It’s the first time somebody felt it,” Nikolai said.

Brooke studied the men. “You mean, the first time a human noticed. You can’t tell me that other Vampires or Naemas wouldn’t know.”

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“They might know from our faces that we’re talking, but they wouldn’t feel anything. Was it the first time you’ve observed this?” Galen asked.

She tucked the sheet more securely around herself. “No, I’ve felt a tingle, this energy running between the two of you at our first meeting, when you came to my table at the bar.”

The men exchanged another look, but it was only a look, no words. Both smiled like lunatics.

“What’s so exciting?”

“It means that you’re more sensitive than humans in general,” Nikolai said.

Brooke had a feeling that there was more to it, but Galen’s earlier words finally sunk in. “What do you mean it’s a mixture of Naema and Vampire magic? A Naema collaborating with the Ferals?”

The smiles drained from their faces. Nikolai cupped the back of his partner’s neck as Galen nodded, his lips tight. “Nikolai and I caught a glimpse of the barrier.” Brooke’s heart stopped for a beat. A Naema and Ferals working side by side was unexpected and hurtful. She swallowed. “Can you fix it?” Nikolai began to tickle her toes, sticking out from under the sheet. When she didn’t protest he pulled her foot onto his lap and gave it a massage. “It’s complicated,” he began, focusing on his work. “If it was only Vampire magic, something I’d seen the Ferals use before, I could untangle it. But the addition of Naema magic means Galen and I need to work together.”

“Neither of us has seen this kind of collaboration before,” Galen added.

Brooke took a deep breath. For a moment she’d thought there was a way out.

“What do you need to fix it?”

The men exchanged a glance. Brooke slapped her hand on top of the sheet. “Stop looking at each other like you’re trying to figure out how much to tell me. Don’t decide for me what my little female head can comprehend. Tell me everything.” Nikolai took her other foot and began his ministrations.

Their silence killed her. “What?”

Galen shuffled a little to the side, making room between them. “Come here,” he said.

Brooke felt the blood drain from her face. The news had to be awful if they had to hold her while they told her.

Galen watched Brooke pale. He leaned forward, took her by the hand and pulled her between Nikolai and him. “I didn’t mean to scare you. You’ve been too far away for too long.” He nuzzled her neck. “I need to touch you.” Brooke softened a little, but she still resembled a tightly coiled wire. “Tell me.” Galen kissed her. “Nikolai and I need to see the barrier to work on it.” 74

Nikolai had taken her hand and began to play with her fingers. She shivered. “The only time we caught a good look was during our last session.” He caught Brooke’s eyes.

“It wasn’t good enough for us to work on. The link flickered too much, making it difficult to see the detail we need.”

Brooke swallowed. “So we’re back to me being the filling in the sandwich.” Galen nodded. “We still think it will be the only way to clear this mess.” He stroked her hair, the sensation of the silky stands increasing his heat level. “We could try it like we did last time, but it’ll take longer and we might not catch everything they did.”

Brooke squeezed her eyes closed. Galen felt a stab of pain in his chest. She looked so discouraged. He pulled her close and Nikolai curled around her back. “If you trust us, Brooke, we can make it good for you, even fantastic. You’ll drown in pleasure. There will be no pain, no memories. We will take care of you.” Her racing heartbeat was audible to both men. She swallowed. “If it’s the only way to finish this nightmare.”

Brooke couldn’t look at either of them. She wanted to be rid of the Ferals’ hold on her. Galen and Nikolai had shown her so much pleasure. Maybe they could get her over her issue and even make her enjoy it. But what then? Would they disappear into the galaxy and leave her?

Nikolai hugged her tighter. “What’s underneath the fear? Whatever just ran through your head had nothing to do with anal sex.” Brooke stiffened and tried to move, but they held her without trouble. “Brooke, you need to tell us what’s going on, otherwise we won’t be able to help.” Brooke kept her eyes closed. “What happens once you’ve repaired my mind and I remember what happened? You climb aboard the
Mercy
and chase Ferals?” The men stayed silent. Brooke didn’t want to face them, but when they remained quiet she couldn’t stand it any longer.

Galen’s brilliant-blue eyes captured her the second their gazes met. They appeared filled with sunlight. “Is that your worry?” he asked. “We jet off and leave you behind without a backward glance?”

Brooke couldn’t turn away. She tried to keep her body language casual, as if the answer didn’t matter to her.

Nikolai bit her neck.

“Hey.” Brooke attempted to move away, but Nikolai nipped her again. At least he hadn’t brought out his fangs.

The pain from his bite shot through her body like a lightning strike. Her pussy started to cream.

“Do you really think you stand the slightest chance to get away from us, now that we’ve found you?” he whispered in her ear.

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“What do you mean?” Brooke barely dared to hope they returned her feelings.

“You can’t just keep me.”

“Wanna bet?” Nikolai smirked.

“That’s exactly what we’re doing,” Galen said, his eyes filled with fire.

Brooke felt as if she stood frozen on the edge of Kantator Abyss—an abyss which had never been measured and no scientist had ever reached the bottom. Part of her wanted to know where she stood, wanted all their feelings out in the open, but another part was scared.

Galen read the answer in her eyes. He gave her the sweetest, gentlest kiss. “For now, believe we want you and we’re not leaving you behind.” He kissed her again.

“How will we make it work? We’ll talk once we’ve removed the barrier and know what happened on the
Nebokka
.”

She leaned into Nikolai’s warmth. He rested his chin on her shoulder and she rubbed her cheek against his stubbly one. Brooke curled one hand around Galen’s neck and pulled him close for a deep kiss.

Nikolai released her. “Let’s untangle this barrier.” Brooke exhaled.

She trusted them, not only with her body, but she’d begun to also trust them with her heart, something she hadn’t done since she’d been a teen.

They would get her through this.

She looked at her Vampire and at her Naema. “Let’s do this.” Nikolai felt all his blood draining south. Brooke had agreed to one of the most erotic acts he could think of. Making love to her while feeling Galen in her at the same time would probably kill him.

But hey, who wants to live forever?

He stroked his hand down Brooke’s back. Where up until now she’d been a soft, flexible weight in his arms, she now reminded him of an iridium pole. He stroked his hand across her body until he covered her heart.

It raced fast enough to give the hyperdrive a run for its credits.

He looked across her shoulder at Galen.
Calm her down or keep her distracted and
occupied?

Galen chuckled.
I don’t have to ask what you’re thinking.

Brooke interrupted the exchange. “Guys, we’ve been over this. No keeping me in the dark, tell me what you’re talking about.”

Nikolai nipped her neck. The thought of biting her for real had been growing in his mind. He drank from Galen regularly, but his lover was an ArchNaema and could regenerate if Nikolai took too much. Brooke was more fragile. Maybe, in time, with Galen supervising?

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Brooke turned and grabbed his ear. It was not a lover-like grip. “What are you jagging on about?”

“Nikolai is trying to decide if we should ease you in through pampering and soft touches or if he can go to town and bring his inner Dom into the game. We’ll keep you so busy with different emotions and experiences you won’t have time to worry.” Brooke studied Nikolai. “Have you been holding back on my behalf?” Nikolai shrugged, a little uncomfortable with putting his dominance out there like that. “Not really holding back, more redirecting.” He caressed her cheek. “You’re human. I worry I’ll take it too far.”

She cupped his face in her hands. “I am sorry you felt you had to hold back on my behalf.”

He pulled her close and held her as she leaned against him. He may be the Dom, but in this instance Brooke was in charge and had to decide which road they would take.

Nikolai rubbed his hand up and down her back. “What is it to be?” She straightened and looked him in the eyes. Hers were more purple than blue and simmered with heat. “Other than this little hang-up,” she drew quotation marks in the air with her fingers, “I prefer to approach things head-on.” Galen chuckled and Nikolai had to bite his tongue not to laugh. “Really? We hadn’t noticed.”

Her lips twitched.

He gently held her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. He found no fear, only a storm of emotions tumbling about too fast for him to capture their meanings. “Head-on it is.” He clasped her hand and sucked her finger into his mouth. The scent of her musk grew, perfuming the air around her.

He stroked his tongue along her finger. Her eyes nearly closed. He nipped at her finger. “You may have bitten off more than you can chew,
milaya
.” She didn’t hesitate or waver. Instead a fire grew in her eyes. A fire he’d seen flicker before, in moments when the balance between pleasure and pain was difficult to distinguish. His Brooke had a darker side to her and maybe now was a good time to reveal it. “Show me your worst and we’ll see.”

Nikolai laughed. He never walked away from a dare and definitely not from one thrown down by Brooke. “You’re on.” He nodded at his partner. Nikolai trusted him to make sure he didn’t go too far in the heat of the moment.

Then he looked at Brooke. “This will be so much fun.” His fangs snapped down.

“For me.”

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Galen couldn’t help but smile as the two most important people in his life challenged each other. His cock grew rock hard at the thought of watching his partner take Brooke to the place where she couldn’t decide if she wanted more pleasure or pain, where torment became ecstasy.

He trusted Nikolai implicitly. His partner wasn’t as confident in his control and worried about hurting her by accident, but Galen knew he would never do so.

Nikolai had taken Brooke by her shoulders and thrust her on the middle of the bed.

“Galen,” he called. “Take her hands while I get some of the essentials.” He moved and took her wrists in one of his hands. She wasn’t a weak woman, but she didn’t stand a chance against a Vampire and a Naema. “You’ll love it.” He leaned forward and kissed her. He thrust his tongue into her soft mouth as if he stormed a Feral outpost. She didn’t back down and gave as good as she got.

Their tongues rubbed against each other, her sweet taste a life-saving elixir. He wouldn’t let her go, no matter the problems or obstacles. She belonged to them and anything else was out of the question.

He leaned away. She licked her lips as if clinging to his taste and any blood he had left in his head went straight to his dick.

Nikolai instructed the wall to open the doors to their play chest. Galen didn’t turn until his lover stepped to the foot of the bed.

They watched as Nikolai opened a small bag and pulled out a number of items.

Two vibrators of varying size, one vibrating beaded wand that made her frown. Galen realized she wasn’t quite sure about its function. A paddle as well as an oversized bottle of lube followed.

Galen knew Nikolai only attempted to distract her with most of the toys, refocus her thoughts, but her expression of confusion and interest was priceless. They’d have to come back to this once Brooke was more comfortable.

The last item he pulled out of the bag was a small box, which rattled when he shook it, and an arm-length of padded cable. Nikolai threw him the cable and he proceeded to tie Brooke’s hands. The line was made from T-Guard, meaning she felt everything but she could no longer use her arms.

She attempted to move and for a second Galen read panic in her eyes. He was about to calm her, but Nikolai had seen the same.

His fingers circled her ankle. “Choose a safe word.” Brooke frowned.

78

“The safe word is your protective net. You say the word and we’ll stop what we’re doing. It’s your way out if we go too far,” he explained.

“It helps if you choose something you wouldn’t usually say while making love, to avoid any confusion,” Galen chuckled.

“Strawberry,” Brooke said.

His brows rose. “Why strawberry?”

She tried to shrug, but her tied arms made it impossible. “Strawberries were hideously expensive when I grew up. When I began flying for the Merchant Guild and had earned enough money, I treated myself to a whole basket.” She closed her eyes and smiled. “They tasted absolutely amazing.” Her eyes opened. “And until I met you, they were my usual treat to reward myself.”

“Now you have us,” Nikolai stated.

Brooke nodded. “Now I have you.”

“Strawberry it is,” Galen said.

Nikolai smacked the paddle against his palm. “Let the games begin.” Brooke had trouble breathing. She’d never expected to find herself in a situation where she was tied and had two men eager to plunge her into a vortex of passion and pleasure. Throwing caution to the wind and challenging Nikolai without thinking now didn’t seem quite such a good idea. He had a dark glint in his eyes and Galen, the soothing influence, looked as if he anticipated Nikolai’s actions.

The fact she needed a safe word didn’t calm her nerves, but at the same time she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so alive, tied to a bed and about to be pushed way beyond her comfort zone.

Nikolai continued to slap the paddle into his palm. Brooke wasn’t too sure about the whole spanking thing. The paddle was heart shaped and made from leather. A border of metal studs decorated the frame. They looked painful.

“I see you’re admiring my friend,” he said. “It’ll be you new best friend soon.” She frowned. “I’m not so certain.”

Nikolai tapped the leather against her upper thigh. “Are you questioning me?” She swallowed. He’d always been easy with his smiles, but now there wasn’t a hint of levity.

Her heart rate increased. The anticipation had her blood pumping as if it were trying to set a new hyper-speed record. Every part of her had come to attention. Her nipples were hard, her pussy creamed, and her clit throbbed, desperate to be touched.

Much to her surprise the threat of pain appeared to heighten her arousal. And watching both of them naked was no hardship. Their bodies gleamed in the cabin light and both cocks stood at attention.

Brooke licked her lips. She couldn’t wait to have them in her mouth again.

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Galen lay down next to her and started to stroke his hand across her body, avoiding the places that wanted to feel his touch. His hard length rubbed against her leg when he caressed the outside of her breast, her waist, the inside of her arm. He came back to her breast and circled around the tip.

Nikolai stood at the foot end of the bed, one hand holding the paddle, the other stroking his dick. Watching this gorgeous man stroke up and down his hard length left her breathless. Never mind how many times she’d seen the two play with themselves and one another, each time sent her into overdrive, wanting to be the one stroking the hard length.

“You want this, don’t you?” He waved his cock at her.

She swallowed and nodded.

“You can’t have it.”

The denial shot through Brooke like a lightning strike. Her mouth watered and she wanted nothing more than to suck his dick.

Nikolai chuckled.

“Hey, I’m here, too.” Galen pulled her focus to him. He circled closer and closer to her attention-seeking nipple.

She swallowed again. “Stop playing and touch me.”

“You have no say in this tonight,” he whispered into her ear and nipped at her earlobe. “We will play with you however we want, and there’s nothing you can do to stop us.”

Brooke’s heart rate went up even further and sweat built on her upper lip. “But you’re not doing anything,” she burst out.

Galen frowned at his partner. “Did you hear? We’re not doing anything.”

“We’ll have to change that.” Nikolai dropped the paddle on the mattress and picked up the little box. She couldn’t see what he removed from it. He climbed on the bed and spread her legs before kneeling between them.

But he didn’t touch her. On the contrary, he planted his hands next to her hips and leaned close to Galen, who stopped caressing her breast and kissed Nikolai. It wasn’t an aggressive kiss, but deep and long and delicious.

Brooke panted.

Nikolai moved slightly back and nibbled on Galen’s lips, nuzzling his lover’s face with a delicacy they hadn’t shown before.

She was so engrossed in their kiss, she’d lost track of their hands. When they moved apart, Galen held something she couldn’t see. “What is it?” Neither man replied. Galen returned to circling the sensitive tips of her breasts, always coming close, but at no time close enough. She hadn’t thought it was possible for her nipples to grow so tight.

80

Nikolai caressed up and down her legs. Brooke discovered the sensitivity of the back of her knees. He came as close to her throbbing clit as the sensitive curve where leg and torso met, but he never came near enough to where she needed him.

She was one step away from sobbing. They continued to drive her up and up, to then stop and let her drop, only to start again. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could stand this.

Finally, after an eternity, Galen gently surrounded her nipple with his fingertips and applied pressure. Brooke couldn’t suppress a moan. “More,” she whispered.

“Please more.”

He stopped. She nearly yelled. The little pinch had pushed her closer to the abyss, but now she dropped away.

“You keep making demands,” Galen whispered. “You need to be punished.” Before Brooke could comprehend his actions, she felt a Jade-awful tweak on her nipple and yelped. When she looked down, she saw a metal clamp covering the tight peak. “What are you doing?” she moaned. The pain definitely outweighed the pleasure.

“Playing,” Nikolai said and stabbed a thick finger into her dripping channel. Her walls closed on the intruder and in under a second her arousal shot through the roof again.

Brooke screamed. But this time it was out of pleasure.

Her head swirled. The constant changes were too quick for her to follow or prepare herself. Most likely their goal.

Nikolai moved his finger in and out, massaging her sensitive channel, but leaving her clit completely unattended.

Galen shifted to her other breast, once again circling the tip without touching it.

Brooke didn’t know where to focus her attention, the pain in her clamped peak, the growing sensitivity in her other nipple, or Nikolai’s finger moving inside her.

Before she could decide, Galen pinched her free nipple lightly. She tensed, expecting him to attach another clamp, but he only kept pinching delicately. Nikolai’s rhythm didn’t change either. She relaxed.

Big mistake.

Galen pounced and attached the second clamp. She screamed, climbing onto another plateau of arousal. The pain was unbelievable, but her clitoris felt huge and the juices dripping out of her cunt making Nikolai’s movements easier belied any attempt at saying she hurt.

Brooke panted, concentrating on the pain, trying to breathe through it. Then Nikolai attacked and added a second finger to her channel, pumping deep. His thumb caressed her clit, but so gently it wasn’t enough to push her over.

She moaned, her attention jumped between her aching nipples and her even more sensitive clit. Neither man seemed to be in the least bit of a hurry.

This would be a long night.

81

Nikolai admired the feast spread out before him. Brooke had given in to them, but there was still a small part of herself she held under wraps. For now she could keep her secrets.

He couldn’t wait to feast on her, but the first few moments were the most important and delicate. They needed to keep a fine balance between her pain and her pleasure.

But seeing her helpless before him, panting, trying to anticipate the next move, pushed him higher than he’d ever been.

He caught Galen’s gaze and saw similar arousal in his partner’s eyes. They’d shared women before, but it had never been so hot nor somebody so important. He couldn’t stop himself from leaning forward and kissing her rounded stomach, using his teeth for a small nip. Then he nodded at Galen.

His lover leaned over and, using an experienced twist, opened the first nipple clamp. Her nipple turned cherry red as the blood shot into it. Brooke screamed and when he moved his thumb across her clit, she convulsed. Nikolai chuckled and nodded at Galen. While his lover opened the second clamp, he sucked on Brooke’s throbbing clitoris and threw her into another orgasm, this time catching a brief link with Brooke as she became lost in the pleasure-pain.

Nikolai clamped his fingers around the base of his cock. Brooke’s emotions raced through him. He had to stop himself from exploding right alongside her. Galen caught the backlash of the link and dropped next to Brooke, moaning.

All three of them had trouble catching their collective breaths. Nikolai slowly took his hand off his member, once he was sure he wasn’t going to erupt any second now.

He slapped Galen’s leg. “No time to rest on the job.” Galen kept his eyes closed. “I thought this would be easy fun.” His eyes sprang open, filled with such light Nikolai had to hold up his hand to not be blinded. “How wrong can you be?” Galen chuckled.

“Turn down those spotlights, otherwise nobody is getting any more tonight,” Nikolai grumbled.

He turned to Brooke and stroked the hair out of her sweaty face. “How’re you doing?”

Her green eyes were cloudy and unfocused. “I’m fine.” Her voice was hoarse and she tried to clear it. “Let’s do it again.”

Nikolai’s lips twitched and his heart melted. “That’s my Amazon.” He pushed Galen. “Next step, you know what to do.”

Galen groaned. “This’ll be pure torture.”

Brooke frowned at them. “What’s the problem?”

Galen snorted. “We have to keep control to remove the barrier. That means you’re on the receiving end of multiple orgasms, but we can’t lose it.” 82

Brooke gaped for a moment and then burst out laughing. “By Jade, I can’t say I’m sorry. Serves you right for torturing me.”

Galen growled and pulled her above him, his long cock trapped between their two bodies. Brooke groaned and began to move on top of him, rubbing her pussy against his member.

Nikolai slapped her ass using the paddle. “None of that.” Brooke hissed and stopped, but little shivers continued to run through her. Galen hooked her still-bound arms over his head, so she ended up lying flat on his torso, her ass in the air, on her knees.