Their Rebel Mate [Helan Universe 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (16 page)

Thantos didn’t seem to have the same concern about touching her and boosted himself up so he was sitting next to her, pressing their sides together. His warm hand settled against her lower back, the fingers of his free hand twining with Kerek’s. “So, did Sathon send you the details of my file?”

Tabar nodded and motioned for them to join him in his private office. The door slid shut behind them, enclosing the four of them in a space so small, if she’d been claustrophobic, she’d have been hyperventilating within ten seconds. He flipped a switch, and Kerek, who had been as stiff as a board, relaxed instantly.

What the fuck?

Thantos leaned forward, his breath wafting over the sensitive shell of her ear. “Dr. Tabar has just switched off the recording device. I believe on Earth it’s called doctor-patient confidentiality?”

Oh. Well, that gave her a little more confidence in what they were going to talk about. Not.

Dr. Tabar began drumming his fingers on his desk. “Dr. Sathon did send along his notes. He indicated that any lengthy separation between Ambassador Thantos and Chief Kerek is extremely uncomfortable, particularly for Ambassador Thantos.”

Kerek snorted and stood up to pace the length of the room. “Uncomfortable is an understatement. Try agony. For both of us.”

The drumming increased as the doctor nodded. “He also notes that he believes that Ambassador Thantos would not be able to survive the death of Chief Kerek.”

Thantos reached out and caught Kerek as he walked by. “Yes. My physiology is too closely tied to Kerek’s now. According to Sathon, my body has become accustomed to the enzyme Kerek produces, and I will not survive if we are separated for too long or if he dies.”

The doctor nodded and flipped open his vidscreen. He ran his fingers down the screen slowly, his eyes moving from side to side as he read something on the screen.

She wanted to scream at the doctor to hurry up, to put her out of her misery and just tell them how her body had changed.

Finally, after what seemed like hours but was probably only thirty seconds or so, Dr. Tabar looked up. “The computer has been analyzing the samples the three of you gave. From what I can tell, while it would certainly be painful to separate from Kim, it would not be fatal for anyone.”

For some reason, she didn’t feel any better. At least she wouldn’t be killing Thantos when she left, though. “So, it would be okay for me to leave the ship?”

The doctor looked at her as if she’d suddenly grown an extra limb but simply nodded. “If you wish to leave, then yes. But don’t get me wrong. It will still be extremely uncomfortable to be separated from your mates. The sexual frustration alone is enough to drive some Helans crazy.”

That didn’t sound like much fun, but maybe she would be able think clearly about what she wanted to do.

She stood up and smoothed the skirt of her dress down. “Then my original decision stands. I will leave the ship immediately, provided there is a pilot available.”

Thantos cleared his throat even as Kerek began growling. “Doctor? May we use your office for a few minutes?”

Tabar rose from his chair and circled around them until he was standing in the doorway. “Of course, Ambassador. Take your time. But a word of advice?” he said, looking at Kerek and Thantos. “Don’t push her for more than she’s ready to give. Despite bonding quickly, a true mating takes time and work, and you can’t do that if she doesn’t trust you to let her make her own decisions.”

Then he looked at her and she felt his sorrow and loneliness almost as if it was a palpable sensation. “And Kim? Don’t push your mates away because of pride or fear. If you let them in, they will show you why fate decided to pair you together.”

The doctor, now looking pale and shaken, left the room with his head held high. Who had turned him away? Or had he done the walking away?

Her questions for Dr. Tabar would have to wait because Kerek was pacing again. “Can you tell us why you have to leave?”

Her heart, which had been pounding almost painfully against her rib cage, slowed just a little with his words. At least he recognized that it was something she had to do and not something she simply decided arbitrarily. There would be no arguing over her leaving the ship. And he was ready to actually talk to her and find out what made her tick, rather than just throwing out an order.

“I can’t think with the two of you around. I need you both in me every second I’m in your company, and it makes it difficult to know if every single emotion and every single opinion I’ve developed has been nothing more than a side effect of my hormones.”

Thantos propped himself against the edge of the doctor’s desk and nodded. “And you want some time away from us while you sort things through.”

“Yes, and since there are no other quarters available on board, I need to leave.”

Kerek leaned against the desk so close to Thantos that their arms were pressed together. “I’m not sure that separate quarters would really give you the space you need, even if there was something available.”

She had to struggle for breath. This was it. They were really going to let her walk away without even batting an eyelash.

In an instant, Thantos was kneeling at her feet, forcing his wide shoulders between her knees so that he could look up at her properly. “No,
lira
. We are not letting you go without a fight, but Tabar is right. It’s not fair for us to push you for something you’re not ready to give. But make no mistake. We will do everything in our power to win you over.”

The heat in his eyes, the determination in his expression, and Kerek’s answering growl all combined to make her shiver. She’d never had anyone look at her quite like they were looking at her now, and it was the hottest thing ever.

Thantos chuckled and stood up so that he loomed over her. He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Kerek will arrange for a shuttle immediately, and I’ll escort you back to Earth. But be prepared for us,
lira
. You will be seeing us regularly.”

She supposed that was as good as either of them was willing to give her. But the idea of seeing them regularly while she figured things out was not altogether unpleasant.

Her apartment seemed huge and empty, which was strange because the space was tiny and barely had enough room for her kitchen table, couch, and bed. She had a sneaking suspicion that the feeling was due to the lack of two big men crowding up against her at every chance.

She squirmed around in her chair, trying to relieve some of the ache that had been building up in her core for the entire three days since she’d left the ship. No amount of masturbation could help relieve the itch between her legs. She could orgasm, sure, but nothing could take the need away.

It didn’t help that Thantos and Kerek were in contact with her every single day. Kerek had given her one of the portable vidscreens he and Thantos owned, and the two of them had been hailing her at every possible second.

Thantos was back to lecturing here on Earth, but she hadn’t seen the man in the flesh yet. She’d been tempted to go down to one of the lecture halls, but both Kerek and Thantos had insisted that it was too soon.

Thantos in particular looked exhausted and just a little drawn. Kerek had told her that their lover was experiencing a little bit of withdrawal with her absence. She’d already known that, of course. She could still feel his emotions, even from such a distance.

Both of the men were determined to give her the space she needed to think, to really decide if the feelings she had developed for the two males on the ship were genuine or by-products of her freaking hormones.

The vidcreen beeped, and she rushed to it, pushing away the little embarrassment that she was essentially waiting by the phone for a guy to call. She flipped the screen on, smiling when Kerek’s face came into view. “Hi.”

He smiled back and inclined his head. “Hi, yourself. I had a need to hear your voice,
lira
.”

The heat creeping up her throat and cheeks told her she was blushing like a school girl, and she smiled almost shyly. “I’m glad you called, Kerek.”

“Mmm,” he purred. “I am, too. You look almost edible. I could just lick you all over. Is there cream for me?”

A rush of moisture pooled in her pussy at the thought of his tongue swirling around between her legs, pushing up into her folds and flicking over her clit. “Lots of cream for you.” She practically whimpered when he licked his lips.

“Tell me,
lira
, what is your favorite thing to eat?” he asked.

“You want me to pick just one thing?” she teased. Both he and Thantos had been doing this a lot in the past three days, asking her little things about her likes and dislikes. In return, they’d told her about themselves and had treated her to glimpses of what life might be like between them.

Well, they’d also given her an eyeful of what their private life might be like, too. Especially when they’d made love to each other in front of the vidscreen, both of them moaning her name when they’d come. Neither of them had been fully satisfied either, but still, the sight had been burned into her dreams for the past few nights.

“Well,” he drawled, leaning close to his screen, “what would your ideal meal be?”

She thought for a few seconds before answering. “With you guys? I would go for something bite sized, something we could eat together. You know, feed each other. Like strawberries or small brownies. Maybe something creamy I could…lick off your fingers.”

Kerek’s rich laugh came through the speakers, and she shivered. “I’m going to forward you a book I just finished. I think you’ll enjoy it. It’s a suspense. I’ve had it translated into English for you.”

Her heart melted a little with Kerek’s change of subject. They’d been chatting about the little things that all new couples chatted about, and she and Kerek had been surprised to find out they had very similar taste in books.

“Thanks. I can’t wait to read it.”

Kerek fussed for a few minutes until her screen beeped again, indicating that something had downloaded. “You’re most welcome. You should be able to download it onto your e-reader.”

She smiled and glanced at the file, quickly scanning the book blurb. It did sound good, like something she would have picked out herself. And it gave her an idea. “I have something for you, too. Can you access my computer?”

“I can.” Kerek fiddled with something else before looking back up at her. “Done.”

“Download the second show I recorded. It’s a movie of one of our most famous fictional heroes, Sherlock Holmes. And the fifth show is one I recorded with Thantos in mind. It’s a history of an ancient people here on Earth. I think it’s right up Thantos’s alley.”

Kerek smiled. “I’ve uploaded both of them, thanks. It does sound like something Thantos would like.”

The ache in her chest had eased a little, something she now understood would only totally go away when she was with both of her men. Suddenly, Kerek frowned. “What’s wrong” she asked, a little panicked. Had something happened to Thantos? Why couldn’t she sense what was wrong?

“I can’t feel you anymore,” he answered sadly.

She focused on her body and misted up a little. The burning need to be filled by one or both of her men was gone. She searched frantically for a connection with either Kerek or Thantos, even a tiny one, but there was nothing. “What happened?” she whispered.

“Our bond is broken. You’re finally free,
lira
. Your body and your mind are your own again.”

She searched her mind again, looking for anything, anything at all, that still connected her to the two men and still didn’t find anything.

It had been what she’d been hoping for when she’d left the ship, the ability to truly separate her feelings and emotions from the feelings her bond with the men may have caused her to have.

But if this was what she’d been waiting for, why did she feel so miserable?

* * * *

Thantos jerked as he felt the last of his bond with Kim melt away. He managed to stay on topic though, not even stumbling over his words at all. The portable vidscreen beeped quietly from its perch on the podium, and he discreetly flipped it on, knowing it would be Kerek checking up on him. He didn’t address Kerek directly but continued to give his lecture, knowing that Kerek would hear and feel his disappointment but also that he was all right.

He finished up his lecture, smiling at the females who paused to ask a few questions before they left. The questions were the standard ones, easy to answer without actually thinking.

Finally the lecture hall was empty except for his contingent of bodyguards. “
Talan
, how are you this fine evening?”

Kerek smiled, although it didn’t reach his eyes. “A little sad, but you already know that. I’m just hailing to see how you’re doing.”

He heaved a sigh and started to pack up his handouts while he spoke to his mate. “Sad, too. You felt it, right? Do you think Kim knows?”

Kerek pressed his lips together. “Yes, I felt our bond with Kim dissolve. And I was speaking to Kim when it happened. I think the best thing to do is to back off right now.”

“No.” The word came out of his mouth without even a conscious thought. It was the first time he’d ever disagreed with Kerek so strongly.

Kerek quirked an eyebrow but said nothing. Thantos relaxed slightly when he felt Kerek’s curiosity but no anger. He was clearly waiting for Thantos to continue though.

Clearing his throat, Thantos chose his words carefully, taking the time to gather his thoughts and really examine his emotions before speaking. “I know our bond is broken, but I don’t feel any differently. At all. In fact, my love for Kim is even stronger than before. Maybe it’s because I know it’s genuine, but whatever the case, I can’t just walk away. We said we’d fight for her, and I’m ready to wage a war to make her see how good it could be between the three of us.”