Two for Protection (4 page)

“Sugar,
we can make all your fantasies and more come true.” Milo winked at her, sending
her heart fluttering.

“I
have no doubt about it.” She let her head fall back against Tad’s shoulder.
Exhaustion pulled on her, but she didn’t want the night to end. She wanted to
stay with them in front of the fire, watching the snow fall outside—a romantic
evening. Being snowbound with two handsome men, both wanting her as much as she
wanted them. If only there wasn’t a threat hovering over her head, she might
have taken them both to bed right then.

“Let’s
create a bed here in front of the fire and we can get to know each other better
until you’re tired,” Milo suggested.

There
was nothing she wanted more.

Chapter Five

Milo awoke
to the sun streaming through the windows, his arm wrapped around Courtney, the
back of his hand brushing against Tad’s hip. It was so peaceful; there was no
better way to start a day than cuddled next to one’s mates. He laid there for a
moment, enjoying the warmth of her body. The sweet strawberry shampoo and the
faint chocolate scent from the hot chocolate still clung to her. He was tempted
to snuggle back against her and sleep longer. The vibrating cell phone still
clipped to his jeans announced other plans.

Slipping
from the makeshift bed, he tugged the phone off his pants and brought it to his
ear, walking across the room so as not disturb them.

“Milo.”

“It’s
Quinn. There’s been a development in Courtney’s case. Jeffery Parks has skipped
town. The judge had him surrender his passport, but he’s gone. There’s been a
sighting of him boarding a private place yesterday, but no record of him being
on the flight. The flight plan says the pilot was supposed to go to Seattle and
back, but the plane never returned.”

“Shit!”
He glanced back at Courtney. Tad’s eyes were open and he was no doubt listening
to everything Quinn said.

“I’ve
got a friend with a private plane, and he agreed to bring me. We’ll get as
close as we can until the storm passes. Let me know if you suspect he’s there.
I’d prefer not to inform the Chief of Police. Last thing we need is him finding
out.” It was clear Quinn was implying he didn’t want the police to suspect they
were shifters. “My friend is one of us, so there’s nothing to worry about. He’ll
help if we need it.”

“Okay,
if you can’t get here, Taber is standing by with the plane. First break in the
weather, he’ll be here to get us to the compound. If you don’t make it before
that, meet us there.” Milo watched as Tad rose, moving to the window. He
glanced outside, then closed the curtains.

“Keep
her safe. We need her to wrap Jeffery Park up in a nice tight bow,” Quinn said.

The
thought of someone coming after his mate had the beast within him bubbling to
the surface, ready to take off the head of anyone who dared come near her. “No
worries there, no one will get near her.” He growled.

“You
haven’t…” Quinn’s tone was accusing.

“She’s
ours. No one will lay a finger on her. Tad and I will make sure of it. Anyone
who tries to hurt our mate will be eliminated.”

“Don’t.
I want to see him rot behind bars.”

“Then
you’d better get here before he comes after my mate.” Milo pulled the phone
away from his ear, sliding his finger across the end button, and met Tad’s
gaze. “You heard?”

“Yes.
I’m going to check the perimeter, and then shower. Stay with her.”

“Good.
I’m going to update Ty with the news from Quinn.” Milo sank down on the sofa,
watching over Courtney while she slept. He tried to remain calm and focused
while his tiger clawed at his insides. He was angry his mate was in danger
while he sat there unable to do anything except wait for the attack. He wasn’t
someone who liked to be on the defensive; he preferred to make the moves before
danger landed on his doorstep.

He
pulled Ty’s number up and placed the call before his beast demanded he wrap his
arms around her and hold her tight until the danger found them. The phone rang
and rang with no answer. He hung up, knowing Ty would call him back whenever he
was free from whatever business detained him.

Courtney
lay there, still deeply asleep and completely unaware of what might at this
very moment be outside preparing for an attack. If Jeffery left shortly after
she had, he could have made it before the blizzard was at its worst.

For
the second time that morning, his cell phone pulled him away from his thoughts
of her. Figuring it was Ty, he didn’t bother to glance at the caller ID. Instead,
he slid his finger over the screen and brought it to his ear.

“Milo.”

“Ty is
dealing with a shifter in Pennsylvania who wants to join a clan, possibly
Korbin’s in Ohio, and he asked me to call you. What’s going on?” Raja’s rich
voice came through the phone. Even with the miles that separated them, the
stress was clear in his voice. They had been dealing with a lot since Tabitha
announced herself as Queen to the Tigers.

“Quinn
believes Jeffery might already be here. All they know for sure is he left Texas.
Supposedly he was seen boarding a plane, but there’s no record of him doing so.
Can you get someone in Texas to see if they can come up with any leads? Quinn
is on his way, but with the airport closed he won’t be able to get here quickly
enough, so if he can’t make it before Taber does, I asked him to meet us at the
compound.”

“I’ll
have Tex look into Jeffery. Do you want me to ask Devon or one of the other
Brown brothers to come assist you and Tad? They are closer than any of us are
and might be able to make it off the island.”

Milo
dragged his hand through his hair and considered it for a moment before shaking
his head. “Not yet. If we need it, Tad can call his brothers in.”

“Very
well. I’ll let you know if we find out anything.” Raja sighed. “Not that you
need the additional stress, but we’ve received confirmation that the Arizona
Tigers have dispensed. Those loyal to our kind were killed and the rest are
rogues, joining Randolph’s ranks. Minnesota’s Alpha is giving us some problems
as well. Ty and I are working to gather the Alphas of the clans loyal to
Tabitha and our kind to put a plan of action together. This is getting bigger
than we expected.”

“Tad
has his laptop here, so let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. I
also might be able to help with Minnesota if it comes down to it.” Randolph had
taken over when Pierce was killed, heading up the rogues. Their determination
to kill Tabitha was stronger than ever.

“There’s
nothing for you to do right now. We just need you both back and ready to work
when this blizzard passes. Is Courtney going to be ready for that? Have you
told her what you are?”

“Yeah,
it would have been hard to keep it from her since she’s Tad’s and my mate. Not
to mention I strolled into the house in tiger form when she first saw me. We’ll
make sure she’s ready when the time comes. She’s scared and grew up believing
the rumors of Tad’s family. A family of assassins, can you believe it?” Milo
chuckled at the thought. All of the Brown males were intimating; they could be
cold when the situation called for it, but every single one of them had a heart
of gold when it came to innocents.

“I’ve
heard those rumors. I think Devon’s father started it to keep intruders off the
island, but you’d have to ask one of the brothers to be sure. Hell, Devon works
for the police department up there when they have a rough case, why anyone
would believe they’d let a killer work with the department is beyond me.”

Courtney’s
eyes fluttered open. “I’ve got to go, she’s awake. Let me know if Tex finds out
anything.” He ended the call, with a brief thought to the youngest Alpha, Tex.
Unlike most Alphas, Tex didn’t have to fight for his position, he took over the
remaining members of his former clan when they killed Avery, the previous
abusive Alpha. Tex had his work cut out for him to get the clan back on the
right track and heal the damage Avery had done.

“How
long have you guys been up?” she asked, adjusting so she could look at him.

“Not
long. I got a call that woke us.”

“Now
that you’re off the phone, why don’t you come back?” She patted the blanket,
inviting him to join her.

“That’s
an offer I can’t refuse.” He slid off the sofa and onto his knees next to her.
She rose off her elbow, coming closer to her, while the fireplace cast a warm
glow around her, making her look angelic. His beast rubbed along the edges of
his skin, the desire for his mate growing stronger. “You’re beautiful.” A warm
blush spread across her cheeks like a brush fire.

She
tugged a hand through her hair. “I’m sure I look a mess. My hair…”

He pressed
his lips to hers. The sweet kiss to show her how he felt turned passionate as
the desire pulled closer to the surface. Sliding his tongue between her lips,
he explored the contours of her mouth. The sweet taste of her pulled him farther
in. Drawing his hand through her hair, he kissed her deeper, drinking her down
as if he couldn’t get enough of her. When he finally broke the kiss, they were both
breathless.

“Where’s
Tad?”

“I
kiss you like that and your mind is on another man. If the three of us weren’t
mated, I’d be jealous.” He kept his tone low and playful, making it clear he
was only joking.

“She
doesn’t want me to miss the fun.”

Milo
turned to see Tad standing in the doorway, his clothes wet from being outside.

“Both
of you are all I’ve thought about since we first touched,” Courtney admitted,
her skin flushed. “The surge of power that flowed through us must have done
something to me, because I can’t think of anything else right now. I don’t
understand what’s happening, or why…but I want you both…now.” She held out her
hand to Tad.

He
kicked off his shoes and tugged off his shirt before accepting her hand.

“What
are you saying, Courtney?”

* * *

She
took a deep breath and pushed her fears aside. No longer would she deny her
body what it craved, not when her future was looking so bleak.

“I
thought it was clear. I want you. Take my mind off everything else, relieve
this burning desire within me.” With one hand still in Tad’s, she used her
other hand to reach out and grab hold of Milo’s shirt. “This is so unlike me,
but I can’t control this. I need you both.”

Milo
wasted no time stripping his clothes off, and she suspected he was also
overcome by yearning. Naked, he crawled onto the makeshift bed next to her and
tugged her shirt up over her head. Instinctively, she drew her hands up to
cover her nakedness, but he stopped her.

“Don’t.
I want to see all of you. You’re beautiful.”

Tad
nodded. “I thought the same thing when I pulled you from your car. You stole
all logical thought when I first saw you.”

She
wanted to deny it; she didn’t see herself the way they did. She was a full
figure woman, with curves in all the areas many women despised. As a journalist
she was always busy chasing down a story, even worked out a few times a week to
keep in shape just in case, but it never surpassed her love of baking and
sweets. Thoughts of her appearance were pushed away when Tad stepped toward
them.

He
tugged off his wet jeans before joining them on the other side of her, then
claimed her mouth. She moaned around Tad’s unrelenting kiss. For a brief moment
she felt a twinge of jealousy from Milo but it passed quickly, to be replaced
with the knowledge there was enough of her for both of them.

Milo
pushed her bra to the side as his lips feverishly claimed her nipple. His other
hand went to the waistband of her yoga pants, pushing them down her legs. With
them went her last shred of reservation.

“Please…”
She reached out, her hand landing firmly on Milo’s chest, forcing him closer to
her. Milo’s shaft pressed tight against her thigh. They had her captive between
their bodies, making her feel safe and wanted.

Milo’s
fingers slipped between her legs and teased her bundle of nerves, dragging
pleasure from her in hard, hot waves. She moaned around Tad’s unrelenting kiss.
Milo’s fingers thrust into her as his thumb continued to wring more pleasure
from her core.

Tad’s
teeth grazed her lower lip and he pulled back enough to let her cries of
frustration escape.

“I
need one of you inside me. Please…” They stopped, sharing a glance before Milo
slipped on top of her, angling between her spread thighs. He hovered above her,
his shaft teasing along her entrance without entering as he watched her.
Waiting, he gave her another moment to change her mind before his desire took his
last shred of control and he drove into her with one powerful thrust. He gave
her no time to catch her breath before he began rocking in and out.

Tad
scooted from behind and knelt before her, his hard length jutting toward her.
Without invitation, she took him into her mouth, working her way to the base.
She used her hand to cup the end of the hard shaft, moving her mouth up and
down the length, slowly at the tip. Tad groaned and reached to cup the back of
her head. He allowed her to set the pace.

Trapped
in the tempo of Tad’s thrusts, she fought to find the perfect cadence to allow
them to work together. Their rhythm quickly synced and she moaned, knowing they
were being pleasured as one, rocking together in perfect harmony, as her
ecstasy began to overwhelm her. Digging her nails into the back of Tad’s
thighs, she held on to him as every pump sent pulses exploding through her. She
came apart at the seams, her inner muscles clenching around Milo as he
continued to drive his shaft into her.

Rapture
engulfed her. Tad cried out his release. She writhed beneath Milo, swallowing
Tad’s juices, before another wild climax spiraled through her. Milo cried out
as he slammed home a final time before he collapsed next to her, their legs
still entangled.